?
>> Announcer: THE FOLLOWING
PROGRAM IS A PBS WISCONSIN
ORIGINAL PRODUCTION.
>>> WITHOUT LEGAL ABORTION IN
WISCONSIN, PHYSICIANS ARE CAUGHT
IN THE LEGAL CROSS FIRE, AND
WITH THE BASIS UPON WHICH ROE
WAS OVERTURNED, MANY ARE WORRIED
GAY MARRIAGE COULD BE NEXT TO
GO.
THE APPROACHING PRIMARY ELECTION
HAS EVERYONE FROM CANDIDATES TO
CLERKS WORKING OVERTIME.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON ""HERE & NOW," TAMMY
BALDWIN AND THE NEWLY THINNED
DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY RACE, AND ANN
JACOBS, AND ZAC SCHULTZ OUTLINES
G.O.P. CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR
ATTORNEY GENERAL, AND AN ER DOC
ON THE DANGEROUS LEGAL LIMBO OF
MEDICAL ABORTIONS.
IT IS "HERE & NOW" FOR JULY 29.
>> Announcer: FUNDING FOR
"HERE & NOW" IS PROVIDED BY THE
FOCUS FUND FOR JOURNALISM AND
FRIENDS OF PBS WISCONSIN.
?
>>> THE NATION'S FIRST OPENLY
GAY U.S. SENATOR, TAMMY BALDWIN
OF WISCONSIN, WORKS TO GET TEN
REPUBLICAN SENATORS TO VOTE IN
FAVOR OF THE RESPECT FOR
MARRIAGE ACT, A BILL TO
ESTABLISH THE RIGHT TO SAME-SEX
AND INTERRACIAL MARRIAGE IN
FEDERAL LAW.
SUCCESS PILOT THE MAJORITY OF
THE PUBLIC SUPPORTING SAME-SEX
MARRIAGE, INCLUDING REPUBLICANS,
THE PUSH FOR PASSAGE OF THE BILL
ENSHRINING THAT RIGHT COULD BE
AN UPHILL CLIMB.
SENATOR TAMMY BALDWIN IS JOINING
US NOW, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR BEING HERE.
>> IT IS A PLEASURE TO JOIN YOU.
>> SENATOR, FIRST, WE WANT TO
ASK YOU WITH THREE DROPPING OUT,
WILL YOU NOW FORMALLY ENDORSE
MANDELA BARNES?
>> I WILL BE TALKING WITH THE
REMAINING CANDIDATES, AND,
CERTAINLY, AS I'VE ALWAYS SAID,
I'LL BE BEHIND THE NOMINEE.
IT APPEARS THAT WILL BE MANDELA
BARNES, AND I'M VERY EXCITED
ABOUT THE RACE AHEAD.
>> BECAUSE WHAT DOES THE
THINNING OF THE FIELD SAY ABOUT
HIS CANDIDACY IN YOUR MIND?
>> WELL, I THINK IT'S A STRONG
CANDIDACY.
HE IS CERTAINLY RUNNING A VERY
GOOD RACE AND GETTING ALL AROUND
THE STATE, AND TALKING TO THE
WISCONSIN VOTERS, BUT THE
CONTRAST IN THE GENERAL ELECTION
COULD NOT BE MORE CLEAR, AND
MANDELA BARNES IS SOMEONE
FOCUSED ON THE PEOPLE OF HIS
DISTRICT.
WHEN HE USED TO BE IN THE STATE
LEGISLATURE, AND NOW ALL OF THE
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF WISCONSIN
AS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.
>> SO AS TO THE RESPECT FOR WHAT
WE INVITED YOU ON TO TALK ABOUT,
WHY IS THIS BILL NEEDED NOW?
>> WELL, IN THE WAKE OF THE
SUPREME COURT OVERTURNING ROE V.
WADE, IT HAS IM IMPLICATED A NUR
OF OTHER CASES THAT THE COURT
HAS DECIDED ON SIMILAR GROUNDS.
WHETHER THAT'S ACCESS TO
CONTRACEPTION OR SAME-SEX
MARRIAGE OR INTERRACIAL
MARRIAGE, ALL WERE BASED IN PART
ON CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO
PRIVACY, WHICH THE MAJORITY SAYS
DOES NOT EXIST, AND SO PEOPLE
NEED CERTAINTY.
THIS IS A GREAT TIME OF FEAR AND
ANXIETY, BUT WHETHER SAME-SEX
COUPLES' MARRIAGE LICENSE WILL
BE VALID, AND THE RIGHTS AND
RESPONSIBILITIES ASSOCIATED WITH
MARRIAGE ARE CRITICALLY
IMPORTANT FOR ONE'S FAMILY, AND
SO THE RESPECT FOR MARRIAGE ACT
WOULD CODIFY THE OBERGEFELL AND
GRISWOLD V. CONNECTICUT
DECISION, AND PEOPLE COULD REST
ASSURED THEIR MARRIAGE
CERTIFICATE IS VALID.
>> NOW, I UNDERSTAND YOU NEED
TEN REPUBLICAN SENATORS TO VOTE
YES.
WHAT'S YOUR CURRENT COUNT?
>> THERE ARE FIVE REPUBLICANS
WHO HAVE PUBLICLY STATED THAT
THEY WILL SUPPORT THE RESPECT
FOR MARRIAGE ACT, AND I HAVE
SPOKEN WITH A ADDITIONAL MANY, T
FIVE ADDITIONAL MEMBERS HAVE
INDICATED THEY ARE LEANING IN
SUPPORT, BUT I THINK BECAUSE OF
HOW CROWDED THE CALENDAR IS FOR
NEXT WEEK, WHICH IS OUR LAST
WEEK BEFORE THE AUGUST RECESS,
AND IN LIGHT OF THE FACT THAT WE
CAN'T HAVE ANY ABSENCES, WE NEED
EVERYBODY THERE, AND WE HAVE A
FEW MEMBERS WITH COVID, THIS IS
PROBABLY GOING TO BE A VOTE THAT
OCCURS, WHAT I WOULD HOPE, IS
EARLY SEPTEMBER.
>> SO ON THE VOTE, THOUGH, THE
LATEST GALLOP POLL ON THE MATTER
SHOWS 70% OF THE PUBLIC SUPPORT
SAME-SEX MARRIAGE, INCLUDING 55%
OF REPUBLICANS.
IS THERE A DISCONNECT FOR
ELECTED OFFICIALS AS SO WHY, YOU
KNOW, YOU HAVE TO TALK TO THESE
OTHER FIVE?
>> THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED
STATES, SADLY, HAS OFTEN
FOLLOWED PUBLIC OPINION RATHER
THAN LED PUBLIC OPINION, AND I
AM STILL VERY HOPEFUL THAT WE
WILL HAVE -- IN FACT, I BELIEVE
WE DO HAVE THE TEN VOTES
NECESSARY TO AVOID A FILIBUSTER,
BUT, YEAH, IT IS SOMETHING WHERE
I HAVE -- IN THE ARENA OF CIVIL
RIGHTS, THE U.S. PUBLIC IS OFTEN
AHEAD OF THEIR ELECTED
REPRESENTATIVES, AND THAT'S TOO
BAD.
THERE'S ALSO, YOU KNOW, SADLY, A
VERY STRONG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
THE PARTIES.
EVERY DEMOCRAT IN THE U.S.
SENATE SUPPORTS THE RESPECT FOR
MARRIAGE ACT, AND I DON'T THINK
THIS SHOULD BE AN ISSUE FROM A
PARTISAN DIVIDE, BUT IT SEEMS IT
STILL IS.
>> THERE IS SENATOR RON JOHNSON,
ARGUABLY, ONE OF THE MOST
CONSERVATIVE MEMBERS, SAID HE,
QUOTE, HAD NO REASON TO OPPOSE
THE MEASURE, BUT THEN HE CAME
BACK ACCUSING DEMOCRATS OF
CREATING A STATE OF FEAR OVER AN
ISSUE TO FURTHER DIVIDE
AMERICANS FOR POLITICAL BENEFIT.
HOW DO YOU RECONCILE THAT?
>> WELL, I'M GOING TO TAKE HIM
AT HIS WORD WHEN HE SAID THAT HE
HAS NO REASON TO OPPOSE IT, AND
I WOULD VIEW THAT AS THAT HE
WOULD SUPPORT IT, BUT I THINK
THAT WE HAVE BEEN TRYING VERY
HARD NOT TO POLITICIZE THIS AND
TO RESPOND, AGAIN, TO THE FACT
THAT THE SUPREME COURT
OVERTURNED ROE VERSUS WADE,
PRESIDPRECEDENT OF 499 YEARS ANR
REASONING LEADS PEOPLE TO
LEGITIMATELY FEAR THAT THE
SUPREME COURT WOULD LATER
OVERTURN CASES INVOLVING ACCESS
TO CONTRACEPTION AND CASES LIKE
THAT DEAL WITH INTERRACIAL
MARRIAGE AND SAME-SEX MARRIAGE.
>> YOUR CALL FOR THE BILL COMES
AS A RESULT OF THAT CLARENCE
THOMAS CONCURRING THE OPINION IN
RAISING THE ISSUE OF REVERSING
ROE, BUT ON THAT, AS YOU KNOW,
REVERTS BACK TO THE 1849 LAW
WITH NO EXCEPTION FOR RAPE OR
INCEST.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OUR STATE
LEGISLATURE SHOULD DO ON THIS?
WHAT IS YOUR MESSAGE?
>> WELL, I THINK THAT THEY
CERTAINLY SHOULD NOT SEND WOMEN
BACK TO THE MID-1800s WHERE,
AT A TIME WHEN WOMEN DID NOT
EVEN HAVE A VOTE.
IT IS UN-- IT'S HARD TO PUT
WORDS -- INTO WORDS HOW CHAOTIC
THIS CASE HAS MADE THINGS IN
TERMS OF WOMEN BEING ABLE TO
ACCESS THE HEALTHCARE THEY NEED
AND TO BE ABLE TO HAVE BODILY
AUTONOMY AND CHOOSE WHEN AND
WHETHER TO HAVE A FAMILY.
THE FACT THAT WISCONSIN WOMEN
HAVE A FEWER FREEDOMS THAN THEIR
MOTHERS AND GRANDMOTHERS IS JUST
HARD TO WRAP OUR ARMS AROUND.
I THINK THE STATE LEGISLATURE
NEEDS TO APPEAL THAT 1849 LAW,
AND I BELIEVE THAT THEY SHOULD
CODIFY A STATE VERSION OF
SOMETHING SIMILAR TO ROE VERSUS
WADE.
>> WE NEED TO LEAVE IT THERE.
SENATOR TAMMY BALDWIN, THANK YOU
VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
?
>>> THE PEOPLE OF THIS STATE
DON'T FEEL THAT THE ELECTION WAS
CERTIFIABLE, THEREFORE, THE
REQUEST TO DECERTIFY IS ON THE
TABLE, AND IT SHOULDN'T TAKE AN
ACTION.
>> SO REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR
GOVERNOR AND STATE
REPRESENTATIVE, TIM RAMTHUN,
CONTINUES TO CALL ON THE
LEGISLATURE TO DECERTIFY THE
2020 ELECTION.
NOW, THAT IS REGARDED AS A LEGAL
IMPOSSIBILITY, BUT THE FALLOUT
FROM THE LAST ELECTION CONTINUES
TO ROYAL WISCONSIN AND IN ALL
THE WAYS WE KNOW.
THE GABLEMAN INVESTIGATION,
STATE SUPREME COURT RULINGS ON
DROP BOXES AND CALLS TO ABOLISH
THE ELECTIONS COMMISSION, AND
NOW THERE'S MORE THAT PROMPTED
AND EMERGENCY MEETING OF
COMMISSIONERS THURSDAY NIGHT.
SOMEONE AT THE EPICENTER OF
THIS, FORMER CHAIR OF THE
WISCONSIN ELECTIONS COMMISSION
AND DEMOCRAT, ANN JACOBS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING
HERE.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING
ME.
>> SO WHAT CAME TO LIGHT THIS
WEEK IS THE TWO PEOPLE TRYING TO
PROVE ELECTION FRAUD
VULNERABILITIES ADMITTED TO
COMMITTING FRAUD BY REQUESTING
ABSENTEE BALLOTS IN OTHER
PEOPLE'S NAMES INCLUDING ROBIN
VOS.
AS AN ELECTION COMMISSIONER,
WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT?
>> I'M ASTONISHED AT THE FACT
THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING OUT AND
INTENTIONALLY COMMITTING
ELECTION CRIMES AND PRETENDING
THEY ARE DOING IT TO SOMEHOW
PROVE FRAUD IN AN ELECTION.
WHAT THEY DID BROKE THE LAW, AND
THEY SHOULD BE PROSECUTED.
>> AND SO I KNOW THAT THE
ELECTIONS COMMISSION VOTED TO
PUT OUT FLIERS AHEAD OF THE
PRIMARY, KIND OF WARNING CLERKS
AND OTHERS ABOUT THIS.
WHAT MORE SPECIFICALLY DO YOU
WANT, AND HOW SOON?
>> WELL, WHAT WE WANT IS PEOPLE
TO STOP DOING THIS, AND WE THINK
LAW ENFORCEMENT SHOULD STOP
ENCOURAGING IT.
WHAT WE DID INDICATE WAS WE
WOULD SEND POSTCARDS TO PEOPLE
WHO HAD THEIR ABSENTEE BALLOTS
SENT TO AN ADDRESS OTHER THAN
THE HOME ADDRESS, HOME
REGISTRATION ADDRESS, TO ENSURE
THERE'S NOT THIS MONKEY BUSINESS
GOING AROUND ELSEWHERE.
WE ALSO DID NOTIFY CLERKS THAT
THEY ARE OBLIGATED TO REFER
CASES OF FRAUD, WHICH WOULD
INCLUDE CASES LIKE WHAT WE ARE
DISCUSSING, TO THEIR LOCAL
DISTRICT ATTORNEY IF THEY FIND
IT, AND WHAT WE'RE DOING IS
ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO USE THE MY
VOTE WEBSITE TO CHECK THEIR OWN
ABSENTEE BALLOT STATUS.
>> GREAT.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF CALLS FROM
TIM RAMTHUN AND DONALD TRUMP TO
DECERTIFY THE 2020 ELECTION IN
WISCONSIN?
>> ELECTIONS ARE NOT ABOUT
FEELINGS.
ELECTIONS ARE ABOUT NUMBERS.
IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN, WE
HAD AN ACCURATE, PROPERLY
TALLIED RECOUNTED ELECTION WHERE
DONALD TRUMP LOST BY 20,000
VOTES.
IN COMPARISON, IN 2016, WE HAD
AN ACCURATELY TALLIED, RECOUNTED
VOTE WHERE DONALD TRUMP WON BY
20,000 VOTES.
SAME ELECTION ADMINISTRATION.
SAME ELECTION OFFICIALS.
SAME RULES.
SOMETIMES VOTERS CHANGE THEIR
MINDS.
TELLING PEOPLE THAT PEOPLE FEEL
THE ELECTION WASN'T FAIR AND
ACCURATE SIMPLY REINFORCES THE
INCORRECT POSITION OUR ELECTIONS
WAS ANYTHING BUT ACCURATE.
>> FALSE PUBLIC ELECTORS LIKE
ONE OF YOUR FELLOW COMMISSIONERS
ARE ON THE RADAR OF FEDERAL
INVESTIGATORS.
WHY DID THE COMMISSION, THOUGH,
UNANIMOUSLY VOTE NOT TO SANCTION
THEM?
>> THE DECISION OF THE
COMMISSION, I THINK, IS BEST
ARTICULATED IN THE MEMO GIVEN BY
THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE THAT
WAS INCORPORATED INTO OUR
DECISION, AND IT WAS ON THAT
BASIS THAT THE COMMISSION MADE
THAT DECISION.
NOW, RECALL THAT THE COMMISSION
DID THAT WITH COMMISSIONER
SITTING IN ON IT, AND SINCE THE
LAWSUIT WAS FILED, HE'S NOW
AGREED TO RESCUE HIMSELF FROM
FUTURE DISCUSSING OF IT, AND
THERE'S NOW AN ACTION IN CIRCUIT
COURT TO RETURN THE
INVESTIGATION TO THE COMMISSION
FOR FURTHER EVALUATION.
WHAT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE IS A
LOT OF THE RECENT INFORMATION WE
RECEIVE ON THE FALSE ELECTORS
CAME OUT AFTER THE COMMISSION'S
DECISION.
>> THERE HAVE BEEN CALLS TO
ABOLISH THE ELECTIONS
COMMISSION.
WHAT'S YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT?
>> WELL, THAT SEEMS TO BE WHAT
THE WISCONSIN LEGISLATURE DOES
EVERY TIME SOMEONE THEY DON'T
LIKE WINS.
WE STARTED OUT WITH THE
SECRETARY OF STATE, AND THEY DID
NOT LIKE HOW THAT PERSON HAD THE
ELECTION, SO THEY CREATED A
STATE ELECTION BOARD.
THEY DIDN'T LIKE THAT, SO THEY
CREATED THE GOVERNMENT
ACCOUNTABILITY BOARD.
THEY DIDN'T LIKE HOW THE
GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY BOARD
WORKED SO THEY CREATED THE
ELECTIONS COMMISSION, AND NOW
THAT THE ELECTIONS COMMISSION,
WHICH REQUIRES BIPARTISAN
APPROVAL OF ALL OF ITS ACTIONS,
NOW THAT THEY DON'T LIKE THE
ELECTIONS COMMISSION BECAUSE
DONALD TRUMP LOST, THEY WANT TO
GO BACK TO A SECRETARY OF STATE.
>> HOW CAN I GET TO THIS WITH A
MINUTE LEFT?
WHAT EFFECT, IN YOUR MIND, DOES
ALL OF THIS, ALL OF THIS TALK OF
DECERTIFY CASES OF ELECTIONS,
AND LAW CHANGES HAVE ON THE
AVERAGE VOTER AND THE CLERKS?
>> WELL, ON THE CLERKS, IT'S
MADE THEM -- THEY HAVE BEEN
ACCUSED OF MALFEASANCE AND
PHYSICAL AND VERBAL THREATS MADE
AGAINST THEM.
THAT NEEDS TO STOP.
FOR THE AVERAGE VOTER, GO VOTE.
YOUR VOTE WILL COUNT.
THE VOTE IS ACCURATE.
IT IS SAFE.
WE WANT YOU TO GET OUT THERE AND
VOTE.
WE HAVE AN ELECTION COMING UP IN
AUGUST.
ANOTHER ONE IN NOVEMBER.
LET'S GO VOTE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
ANN JACOBS, THANK YOU VERY MUCH
FOR JOINING US.
>> THANK YOU.
>>> THE AUGUST 9 PRIMARY
ELECTION QUICKLY APPROACHES, AND
TWO G.O.P. CANDIDATES ARE VYING
TO BE THE NOMINEE TO TAKE ON
DEMOCRATIC INCUMBENT ATTORNEY
GENERAL, JOSH KAUL.
ZAC SCHULTZ HAS THIS STORY ON
THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES.
>> THE OFFICE OF ATTORNEY
GENERAL IS FREQUENTLY REFERRED
TO AS WISCONSIN'S TOP COP.
THE REPUBLICAN ERIC TONEY SAYS
HIS TEN YEARS AS FOND-A-LAC
PREPARED HIM FOR THE ROLE AND
DECIDED TO RUN AFTER THE BLAKE
SHOOTING IN AUGUST OF 2020 LED
TO RIOTS IN KENOSHA.
HE SAID JOSH KAU WILL NOT
PUBLICLY SUPPORT THE POLICE
OFFICER WHO SHOT BLAKE.
>> AND TO HAVE AN ATTORNEY
GENERAL THAT'S NOT STANDING WITH
OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT, I COULD NOT
SIT BACK AND WATCH THAT
CONTINUE, AND THAT'S WHAT GOT ME
ULTIMATELY IN THE RACE FOR
ATTORNEY GENERAL.
>> IT WAS TONEY'S CANDIDACY THAT
GOT HIM IN THE RACE.
>> I'M THE ONLY CANDIDATE IN THE
RACE WITH THE EXPERIENCE TO
IMMEDIATELY DAY ONE WALK INTO
THE OFFICE AND BE ABLE TO HANDLE
EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THE ISSUES
THAT WOULD COME BEFORE THE AG.
>> JARCHOW WAS IN THE STATE
ASSEMBLY, BUT OUT OF OFFICE IN
2021 WHEN HE SAID A CONSERVATIVE
CANDIDATE NEEDED TO CHALLENGE
TONEY.
>> A ROBUST PRIMARY WHERE
CANDIDATES ARE VETTED IS
INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT, AND ADD TO
THAT THAT MY PRIMARY OPPONENT,
ERIC TONEY, HELPED ENFORCE
EVERS' ILLEGAL LOCKDOWN
MEASURES.
>> HE SAID HE NEVER ACTUALLY
PROSECUTORRED ANYONE FOR NOT
OBEYING LOCKDOWN ORDERS IN THE
FIRST DAYS OF THE COVID-19
PANDEMIC.
>> MY OPPONENT ATTACKED ME
RELENTLESSLY FOR COVID WHERE MY
JOB IS TO FOLLOW THE RULE OF
LAW.
WHEN PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS
SUPPORTING THOSE SAFE AT HOME
EFFORTS IN THE FIRST 13 # 139 1E
USED DISCRETION TO DISMISS THEM
BAS IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO
DO, AND WHEN THE LEGAL EXTENDED
ORDER CAME HOME IN APRIL, WE DID
NOT ENFORCE IT HERE.
>> TONEY SAID IT'S HIS
EXPERIENCE AS DISTRICT ATTORNEY
THAT SETS HIM APART CONSIDERING
NEARLY EVERY ATTORNEY GENERAL IN
STATE HISTORY HAS PROSECUTION
EXPERIENCE.
>> VOTERS LOOK AT THE TOP COP,
AN THEY WANT SOMEONE THAT HAS
THAT EXPERIENCE PROSECUTING
BEING IN THE TRENCHES WITH THE
LAW ENFORCEMENT, AND I'M THE
ONLY CANDIDATE THAT'S ACTUALLY
DONE THAT.
>> THE THIRD CANDIDATE IN THE
PRIMARY IS REPUBLICAN KAREN
MILLER, AN ATTORNEY FROM CHIPP,
WA FALLS, BUT SHE DID NOT
RESPOND TO REQUEST FOR INTERSLEW
VIEW.
JARCHOW SAYS TIMES ARE CHANGING.
>> AS WE LOOK AT THE WAY THE
ROLES OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
EXPANDED ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY,
WE SEE A FEWER AND A FEWER
PROSECUTORS ELECTED TO THE
OFFICE.
THAT WAS KIND OF THE OLD MODEL.
THE NEW MODEL IS PEOPLE FROM THE
PRIVATE SECTOR OR WHO HAVE
LEGISLATIVE EXPERIENCE BECAUSE
SO MUCH OF WHAT YOU DO AS
ATTORNEY GENERAL IS MANAGE A
HUGE AGENCY.
>> THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS BEEN
A PARTISAN OFFICE, BUT WISCONSIN
VOTERS HAVE PREVIOUSLY VOTED FOR
A GOVERNOR OF ONE PARTY AND AG
OF THE OTHER.
BUT IN THE LAST DECADE, AGs
ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE BECOME
MORE ACTIVE, CHALLENGING STATE
AND FEDERAL LAWS, ACTING IN
CONCERT WITH THE POLITICAL
PARTIES.
>> IT IS INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT
BECAUSE IT'S AN ERA OF UNCHECKED
POWER OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
AND OUR OWN BUREAUCRACY HERE IN
THE STATE OF WISCONSIN, AND SO
YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE
ROLE OF THE AG CAN BE TORAN IN
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
>> TONEY SAID THERE'S LIMITS TO
PARTISANSHIP IN OFFICE.
>> I FOLLOW THE RULE OF LAW, AND
THE RULE OF LAW IS NOT ALWAYS
POPULAR.
>> POINTING TO THE DEBATE AMONG
REPUBLICAN VOTERS ABOUT THE
VALIDITY OF THE 2020
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.
>> WE HAVE NOT SEEN ANY COURT IN
WISCONSIN MAKE A DETERMINATION
OF FRAUD TO SOME LEVEL THAT
COULD HAVE HAD AN IMPACT ON THE
2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION HERE
IN WISCONSIN.
>> THERE WAS NO WIDESPREAD FRAUD
THAT IMPACTED THE OUTCOME OF THE
ELECTION, BUT DONALD TRUMP'S
CONSPIRACY THEORIES HAVE MANY
REPUBLICANS CONVINCED THE
ELECTION CAN BE OVERTURNED.
>> WE CANNOT DECERTIFY THE
ELECTION.
THERE IS NO WAY TO DO IT.
I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS ALL
ACROSS WISCONSIN.
I HAVE THESE DISCUSSIONS.
I HAVE THIS DIALOGUE.
THAT'S WHERE THE REPUBLICAN
PARTY IS AT.
THAT'S WHY I RECEIVED THE
OVERWHELMING ENDORSEMENT VOTE IN
THE STATE CONVENTION BECAUSE I'M
WILLING TO BE UP FRONT AND TELL
PEOPLE THE TRUTH, NOT JUST WHEN
IT IS POPULAR.
>> JARCHOW SAYS THE KEY TO
CONVINCING REPUBLICAN VOTERS
THAT IT WAS FAIR IS TO ELECT
REPUBLICANS.
>> IF WE SECURE THE ELECTIONS,
WHICH I BELIEVE WE DO WITH A ROM
GOVERNOR AND AG, THAT RESTORES
THE FAITH.
>> THEY WILL FACE JOSH KAUL AND
VOTER HAVE TO CONSIDER
ELECTABILITY.
IN 2018, JARCHOW LOST A SEAT
THAT HAD NOT VOTED DEMOCRAT IN
DECADES, BUT FLIPPED BACK TO
REPUBLICAN IN THE NEXT ELECTION.
>> IF YOU DON'T WIN THAT SEAT,
YOU DON'T WIN WISCONSIN.
THE COUNTY VOTED TO SUPPORT ME,
THE PEOPLE WHO KNOW HIM BEST
REJECTED HIM.
>> HE SAYS THE SPECIAL ELECTION
WAS A FLUKE IN A STRONG YEAR FOR
DEMOCRATS.
THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT HE EXPECTS
FOR 2022.
>> THEIR BASE TURNED OUT, AND
OURS DID NOT IN A LOW TURNOUT
SPECIAL ELECTION.
I DON'T THINK THAT'S INDICATIVE
AT ALL OF, YOU KNOW, THE KIND OF
CANDIDATE THAT I'VE HISTORICALLY
BEEN, WINNING ASSEMBLY SEAT BY
WIDE MARGINS, AND NOT INDICATIVE
HOW WE THUMP JOSH KAUL.
>> REPORTING IN MADISON, I'M ZAC
SCHULTZ FOR "HERE & NOW." >>> A
MONTH INTO THE U.S. SUPREME
COURT DECISION ELIMINATING THE
RIGHT TO LEGAL ABORTION, DOCTORS
AND PATIENTS ARE FINDING
THEMSELVES IN DESPERATE
SITUATIONS, PARTICULARLY
EMERGENCY ROOM DOCTORS UNSURE
WHEN OR IF THEY CAN INTERVENE
WITH A MEDICALLY NECESSARY
ABORTION TO SAVE THE LIFE OF THE
MOTHER.
MARISA WOJCIK SAT DOWN WITH
MILWAUKEE BASED EMERGENCY
PHYSICIAN AND A FELLOW OF THE
AMERICAN COLLEGE OF EMERGENCY
PHYSICIANS, DR. CHRISTOPHER
FORD, FOR MORE.
>> HOW HAS THE DECISION TO LIMIT
ACCESS TO LEGAL ABORTION
IMPACTED EMERGENCY PHYSICIANS?
>> YEAH.
SO WHAT WE ARE BRACING FOR, MORE
SO, IS AN INFLUX OF PATIENTS WHO
WILL, UNFORTUNATELY, HAVE
ADVERSARY PRECUSHIONS BASED ON
THE LIMITATION AND ACCESS TO
SAFE AND MEDICALLY SAFE
ABORTIONS.
>> AND WHEN SOMEONE FIRST COMES
TO THE ER, WHETHER THEY KNOW IT
OR NOT, THEY ARE PREGNANT, WHAT
ARE SOME OF THE SERIOUS
CONDITIONS THAT YOU ENCOUNTER?
>> YEAH.
SO WHAT WE TYPICALLY WILL SEE
REGULARLY ARE COMPLICATIONS
RELATING TO BLOOD -- BLEEDING,
AND COMPLICATIONS CAN BE
DEVASTATING AND DEADLY TOO.
>> CAN YOU GIVE EXAMPLES?
>> YEAH.
SO ONE OF THE CONDITIONS THAT WE
SEE -- NOT COMMONLY, BUT WE WILL
SEE IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT
EVERY NOW AND THEN IS A
CONDITION CALLED A RUPTURED
ECTOPIC PREGNANCY.
THIS IS A CONDITION WHERE THE
PREGNANCY IS NOT IN THE UTERUS,
BUT RATHER IN THE OUTSIDE AREA
OF THE UTERUS, AND SO ONE OF THE
CONSIDERATIONS FOR EBBING
PREGNANCY AND WHAT YOU HAVE TO
UNDERSTAND IS THE PREGNANCY IS
NOT VIABLE.
RIGHT NOW, IN MEDICINE, WE DO
NOT HAVE THE TECHNOLOGY OR THE
CAPABILITIES OF RESEEDING THAT
PREGNANCY IN THE UTERUS, AND SO
REGULARLY, TYPICAL STANDARD OF
CARE, THESE ARE PATIENTS THAT
WOULD GO INTO THE OPERATING ROOM
WITH THE PARTNERS FROM THE
GYNECOLOGY DIVISION TO HAVE
ESSENTIALLY AN ABORTION OF THAT
PREGNANCY IN ORDER TO SAVE THE
LIFE OF THE MOTHER.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WANT
TO CONTINUE TO HAPPEN BECAUSE,
AGAIN, THESE ARE LIFE-SAVING
THERAPIES, BUT ALSO, FOR PEOPLE
TO BE AWARE, WHO ARE PROVIDERS,
THAT THIS IS STILL SOMETHING WE
A OBLIGATED TO PERFORM.
>> AND IS THAT SOMETHING THAT IS
STANDARD, DO YOU THINK, FOR
EMERGENCY ROOM PHYSICIANS ACROSS
THE STATE?
>> MY CONCERN IS THAT AT THIS
POINT IN TIME IS WHAT IS GOING
TO HAPPEN TO, YOU KNOW, THE
RULE, YOU KNOW, WHEN SHE IS
WORKING AT 2:00 IN THE MORNING,
AND YOU HAVE THIS RUPTURED
EBBING PREGNANCY THAT COMES IN?
WHAT WE DON'T WANT TO HAPPEN IS
WE DON'T WANT THAT PHYSICIAN TO
BE ON THE PHONE WITH THE LAWYER
TO TRY TO DETERMINE WHAT'S THE
RIGHT THING AND WHAT'S WRONG,
AND WHAT COULD THE POTENTIAL
REPERCUSSIONS BE LEGALLY AND
PROFESSIONALLY IF SHE DOES WHAT
SHE KNOWS IS RIGHT FOR THE
PATIENT AND WHAT CAN BE LIFE
SAVING FOR THE PATIENT.
>> HAS THAT HAPPENED?
>> YEAH.
SO I HAVE READ MULTIPLE REPORTS
IN THIS POINT IN TIME BY ER DOCS
AND GYNECOLOGISTS ALREADY IN THE
STATE AND SOME OUTSIDE THE STATE
AS WELL WHO HAVE BEEN ON THE
PHONE WITH LAWYERS FOR A NUMBER
OF HOURS IN ORDER TO, AGAIN, TRY
TO NEGOTIATE WHAT IS GOING TO BE
THE BEST WAY TO CARE FOR THESE
PATIENTS, AND, AGAIN, WHAT
RAMIFICATIONS COULD BE FELT BY
THAT PROVIDER, YOU KNOW, SHOULD
THEY GO AHEAD WITH THE THERAPY
THEY DID, YOU KNOW, JUST MONTHS
AGO, AND WHAT IS THE TYPICAL
STANDARD OF CARE FOR THESE
PATIENTS SO IT IS A SITUATION
NOW THAT'S VERY SCARY TO BE A
PROVIDER AND ALSO DETRIMENT TO
THE PATIENTS WE ARE TREATING.
>> AND THAT'S FOR AN EBBING
PREGNANCY, WHICH IS CONSIDERED
TO BE MORE OBVIOUS, I GUESS, BUT
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER
CONDITIONS THAT ARE MUCH LESS
CLEAR FOR PHYSICIANS.
IS THERE ANY SORT OF GUIDANCE
THAT PEOPLE CAN GO TO THAT THEY
CAN MAKE A QUICK DECISION?
>> YEAH.
ONE OF THE POLICY STATEMENTS WAS
PERFORMED BY THE CENTERS OF
MEDICARE AND MEDICAID.
IT WAS MOST RECENTLY UPDATED IN
LATE 2021 IN WHICH THEY LEANED
ON THE FACT THAT WE ARE COVERED
AS PROVIDERS, BOTH IN THE
EMERGENCY SETTING AS WELL AS IN
THE OB SETTING TO DO THE BEST
THING FOR THE PATIENT IN THE
MOMENT IN ORDER TO PREVENT
MORBIDITY OR MORTALITY OR RISK
OR DEATH OR BAD OUTCOMES.
>> AND YET, WE ARE STILL HEARING
STORIES OF MOTHERS THAT ARE
INFECTED OR BLEEDING FOR MANY
DAYS.
HAVE YOU SEEN OR HEARD OF ANY
COMPLICATIONS WITH MISCARRIAGES?
>> THAT IS ESSENTIALLY THE
SITUATION IN WHERE WE HAVE
PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN ON THE
PHONES FOR A NUMBER OF HOURS NOW
IN ORDER TO TRY TO DETERMINE IF
THEY CAN GIVE THAT MEDICATION,
YOU KNOW, WHAT WOULD BE THE
LIABILITY BASED ON THAT, YOU
KNOW, IN A STATE MUCH LIKE OUR
OWN WHERE THAT MAY NOT BE LEGAL,
AND SO, FORTUNATELY, WE HAVE
CLEAR GUIDELINES FROM A FEDERAL
STANDPOINT, HOWEVER, THE
STATEWIDE STANDPOINT IS MORE OF
A GRAY AREA.
THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF MEDICINE
IS TO DO NO HARM.
WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO PROTECT
OUR PATIENTS AND CONTINUE TO DO
WHAT'S SAFE FOR THEM.
>> ALL RIGHT, DR. CHRIS FORD,
THANK VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> WATCH THE EXTENDED VERSION OF
THAT INTERVIEW ON OUR WEBSITE AT
PBSWISCONSIN.ORG AND CLICK ON
THE NEWS TAB.
THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.
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