?
>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A
PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
>> ANOTHER TRUMP INDICTMENT
ZEROS IN ON WISCONSIN IN THE
FAKE ELECTOR SCHEME.
TEACHER TURNOVER IN WISCONSIN
SOARS.
AND ECHOES OF COVID REVERBERATE.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG, TONIGHT
ON "HERE AND NOW," ZAC SCHULTZ
EXPLAINS THE LINKS BETWEEN
GEORGIA AND WISCONSIN IN THE
LATEST DONALD TRUMP INDICTMENT.
NEW RESEARCH POINTS TO RECORD
NUMBERS OF PUBLIC SCHOOLTEACHERS
LEAVING THE PROFESSION.
DR. MICHAEL OSTERHOLM GIVES HIS
LATEST TAKES ON COVID AND
LESSONS LEARNED, AND STEVEN
POTTER BRINGS THE NEXT STORY IN
OUR SERIES ON ABORTION.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR AUGUST
18th.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE & NOW" IS PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
?
>> WISCONSIN IS ONCE AGAIN IN
THE MIX AS FORMER PRESIDENT
DONALD TRUMP AND 18 OTHERS ARE
INDICTED ON CHARGES OF
RACKETEERING IN GEORGIA THIS
WEEK.
THE CHARGES ARE THE RESULT OF
TRUMP'S ATTEMPT TO OVERTURN THE
RESULTS OF THE 2020 ELECTION,
CULMINATING IN THE JANUARY 246 h
INSURRECTION AT THE U.S.
CAPITOL.
WHILE EFFORTS ARE ON TRUMP'S
EFFORTS TO FLIP GEORGIA'S VOTES,
THE INDICTMENT REFERS TO A
SIMILAR PLAN IN THIS STATE.
"HERE AND NOW" SENIOR POLITICAL
REPORTER, ZAC SCHULTZ, EXPLAINS
WHILE NO ONE FROM WISCONSIN WAS
INDICTED, A COUPLE OF PROMINENT
STATE REPUBLICANS SHOW UP IN THE
EVIDENCE.
>> THE INDICTMENT COMES FROM THE
FULTON COUNTY PROSECUTOR IN
GEORGIA, BUT IT DOESN'T TAKE
LONG FOR WISCONSIN TO ENTER THE
PICTURE.
THE CHARGING DOCUMENT ALLEGES A
CONSPIRACY HATCHED BY DONALD
TRUMP AND HIS ASSOCIATES,
REFERRED TO AS THE ENTERPRISE IN
DOCUMENTS, THE PLAN WAS TO HAVE
REPUBLICANS IN KEY BATTLEGROUND
STATES SIGN UP AS A SLATE OF
FALSE ELECTORS TO DELAY THE
CERTIFICATION OF JOE BIDEN AS
PRESIDENT.
THE PROSECUTOR SAYS ACTS 39 AND
46 OF THE CONSPIRACY INVOLVED
JIM TROUPIS, A PROMINENT
WISCONSIN REPUBLICAN LAWYER IN A
MEMO URGING HIM TO GET A SLATE
OF FALSE ELECTORS TO MEET IN
WISCONSIN ON DECEMBER 14th,
2020.
ACTS 50 AND 64 INVOLVE MEMOS IN
A MEETING WITH BRIAN SCHIMMING,
THE CURRENT CHAIRMAN OF THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY OF WISCONSIN.
THE DOCUMENTS SAY SCHIMMING WAS
GIVEN PROPOSED LANGUAGE FOR THE
FALSE ELECTOR DOCUMENTS, AND
DURING A MEETING TWO DAYS BEFORE
THE REAL ELECTORS MET, SCHIMMING
WAS ON A PHONECALL WITH TRUMP
LAWYER AND CO-DEFENDANT, RUDY
GIULIANI, WHERE HE WAS TOLD TO
KEEP NEWS OF THE FALSE ELECTORS
AWAY FROM THE MEDIA.
SCHIMMING DID NOT ANSWER
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE GEORGIA
INDICTMENT DURING A PRESS CALL
THIS WEEK, BUT ISSUED A
STATEMENT THAT READ, "AS STATED
PREVIOUSLY, REPUBLICAN ELECTORS
MET IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE
STATUTORY GUIDELINES ON THE
ADVICE OF ATTORNEYS AND WITH
PRECEDENT TO PRESERVE ALL LEGAL
OPTIONS STILL PENDING BEFORE THE
COURTS.
HAD THE COURTS RULED
DIFFERENTLY, THE ALTERNATE
ELECTORS WOULD HAVE BEEN
NEEDED."
HOWEVER, ACT 107 OF THE
CONSPIRACY SAYS THE FALSE
ELECTORS WERE NOT FOR THE COURTS
BUT FOR JANUARY 6th.
IT SAYS REPUBLICANS WERE TO
CONTEST THE COUNTING OF
ELECTORAL VOTES DURING THE JOINT
SESSION OF CONGRESS.
THEN VICE PRESIDENT MIKE PENCE
WAS NOT TO OPEN VOTES FROM
WISCONSIN AND FIVE OTHER STATES,
DECLARE THE ELECTOR VOTES IN
DISPUTE AND ALLOW THE FALSE
ELECTORS TO SWING THE ELECTION
TO TRUMP.
TWO WISCONSIN REPUBLICANS,
CONGRESSMAN TOM TIFFANIE AND
SCOTT FITZGERALD, DID OBJECT TO
COUNTING THE ELECTORAL VOTES
FROM TWO OTHER STATES, BUT NOT
WISCONSIN.
A TOP AIDE FOR WISCONSIN
REPUBLICAN SENATOR RON JOHNSON
TRIED TO COORDINATE A MEETING
WITH VICE PRESIDENT PENCE TO
HAND OVER WISCONSIN'S SLATE OF
FALSE ELECTORS, BUT PENCE'S
STAFF SAID NO.
THE COUNT WAS STOPPED DURING THE
INSURRECTION, BUT ULTIMATELY THE
CORRECT VOTES WERE COUNTED AND
JOE BIDEN BECAME PRESIDENT.
REPORTING FROM MADISON, I'M ZAC
SCHULTZ FOR "HERE AND NOW."
>> PRESIDENT BIDEN VISITED
MILWAUKEE THIS WEEK TO TOUT WHAT
HE CALLED BIDEN-OMICS.
HIS APPEARANCE PRECEDES A
PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE NEXT WEEK,
ALSO IN MILWAUKEE.
WHILE PROMOTING HIS RECORD ON
JOBS AND THE ECONOMY, HE TOOK
SHOTS AT SENATOR RON JOHNSON.
>> BETWEEN THE YEAR 2000 AND
JANUARY 2021, WISCONSIN ALONE
LOST MORE THAN 136,000
MANUFACTURING JOBS ALONE.
I'D LIKE TO SEE SENATOR JOHNSON
TALK TO US ABOUT THOSE 136,000
PEOPLE AND TELL THEM IT DOESN'T
MATTER, WHETHER IT'S
MANUFACTURING HERE AT HOME OR
OVERSEAS.
>> JUST AS THE SCHOOL YEAR IS
ABOUT TO BEGIN, NEW RESEARCH
SHOWS A RECORD NUMBER OF TEACHER
TURNOVERS LAST YEAR IN
WISCONSIN.
THAT'S LEAVING THEIR DISTRICTS
OR THEIR TEACHING PROFESSIONAL
TOGETHER.
WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THESE
TRENDS?
THE WISCONSIN POLICY FORUM JUST
RELEASED A REPORT ON TURNOVER
RATES FOR TEACHERS, SPANNING
FROM 2009 TO 2023, DESCRIBING
LAST YEAR AS A SURGE.
THE TURNOVER RATE WAS NEARLY 16%
WITH MORE THAN 9,700 TURNOVERS
LAST YEAR, UP FROM ABOUT 11 1/2%
WITH MORE THAN 97,000 TURNOVERS
OVER THE LAST 15 YEARS.
WE TURN TO THE FOLLOWS FORUM
SENIOR EDUCATION RESEARCHER,
SARA SHAW, FOR MORE ON THIS.
THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.
>> MY PLEASURE, FREDERICA.
>> DID THESE NUMBERS SURPRISE
YOU AT THE END OF THIS RESEARCH?
>> THE PANDEMIC NUMBERS AS A
WHOLE, STARTING WITH 2021, WAS
THAT FIRST FULL YEAR OF THE
PANDEMIC, WERE A LITTLE BIT OF A
MYSTERY BOX.
WE HAD BEEN HEARING CONCERNS OF
TURNOVER FOR YEARS.
IT'S PART OF WHY WE WANTED TO
LOOK INTO THE ISSUE.
AND IN 2021, INSTEAD OF SEEING A
SURGE, WE ACTUALLY SEE A DIP TO
BELOW AVERAGE TURNOVER, AND IN
HINDSIGHT IS ALWAYSHINDSIGHINDSF
COVID WERE STAYING PUT EITHER
BECAUSE OF THE ECONOMIC SECURITY
AND/OR WANTING TO BE THERE FOR
THEIR KIDS, AND THEN 2022, IT
STARTS CREEPING UP, AND BY THE
TIME WE HIT 2023, IT'S THE
HIGHEST RATE OF TURNOVER THAT WE
SAW IN THE YEAR STUDIED.
THAT INCLUDED THE HIGHEST RATE
OF MOVES, SO TEACHERS MOVING
FROM ONE DISTRICT TO TEACH IN
ANOTHER DISTRICT AND LEAVES,
WHICH ARE TEACHERS WHO ARE
LEAVING THE PUBLIC SCHOOL
CLASSROOM IN WISCONSIN
ALTOGETHER FOR WHATEVER REASON.
>> WHAT DID YOU FIND OUT ABOUT
WHY THIS IS HAPPENING?
>> THOSE LEAVES IN PARTICULAR
AND THE MOVES SEEM TO BE TIED
NOT ONLY TO SOME OF THE THINGS
THAT PEOPLE THINK ABOUT SPECIFIC
EDUCATION, WHICH IS TO SAY THE
STRAIN OF THE PANDEMIC, THE
INCREASE POLITICIZATION AND
OTHER EXTERNAL FACTORS REALLY
PUTTING PRESSURE ON THE SYSTEM,
BUT ALSO THE BROADER ECONOMY.
SO IN THE SAME WAY THAT IN 2010
AND 2011 WHERE WE HAD THE GREAT
RECESSION BECAUSE TEACHERS WERE
STAYING PUT BECAUSE TEACHING IS
A STEADY PAYCHECK, THE REACTION
TO THE ECONOMY IN THE LAST YEAR
WHERE IT'S VERY LOW UNEMPLOYMENT
RATES, A VERY TIGHT LABOR MARKET
AND HIGH INFLATION SEEMS TO HAVE
GIVEN TEACHERS MORE MOBILITY,
AGAIN, NOT JUST TO LEAVE THE
PROFESSION, BUT ALSO BETWEEN
DISTRICTS.
>> WHERE IS THE TURNOVER MOST
ACUTE IN WISCONSIN?
>> SO IT IS GENERALLY WIDESPREAD
ISSUE.
WE DIDN'T HAVE A SINGLE DISTRICT
TYPE THAT WE LOOKED AT THAT WAS
UNDER A 10% TURNOVER RATE ON
AVERAGE, BUT IT IS BEING FELT
MOST IN OUR DISTRICTS THAT CAN
LEAST AFFORD TO BE ABLE TO HAVE
SUCH TURNOVER.
SO SPECIFICALLY OUR SMALLEST
RURAL DISTRICTS WERE REALLY HIT
HARD.
THAT'S LOOKING OVER THE
FULL-TIME PERIOD THAT WE
STUDIED.
IN ADDITION, OUR DISTRICTS THAT
ARE SERVING MAJORITY OF LOW
INCOME STUDENTS AND THE MAJORITY
OF STUDENTS -- A MAJORITY OF
STUDENTS OF COLOR WERE ALSO
SEEING HIGHER THAN AVERAGE RATES
OF TURNOVER, AND THAT'S
PARTICULARLY CONCERNING DURING
THE COVID YEARS WHEN, OF COURSE,
THE PANDEMIC CREATED SO MUCH
INSTABILITY.
A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF TEACHER
TURNOVER IS NOT A BAD THING.
IT MIGHT BE JUST THE WAY THAT
PEOPLE MOVE BETWEEN JOBS TRYING
TO FIND A GOOD FIT, BUT ELEVATED
LEVELS IS WHEN WE START TO
WORRY.
>> SO WHERE DO ELEVATED LEVELS
OF TURNOVER LEAVE THE CHILDREN
THAT THESE TEACHERS ARE
TEACHING?
>> IT LEAVES CHILDREN WITHOUT
CONSISTENCY.
SO THAT MEANS BOTH WITHOUT
CONSISTENCY OF RELATIONSHIPS, OF
BEING ABLE TO KNOW THERE'S AN
ADULT IN THE CLASSROOM FOR THEM,
BUT ALSO CONSISTENCY IN THE
SCHOOL CULTURE.
IT CAN BE VERY HARD IN A SCHOOL
THAT IS FACING A LOT OF TURNOVER
OF TEACHERS TO MAINTAIN AN
IDENTITY OR TO MAINTAIN ANY KIND
OF CHANGE IN IMPROVEMENT
PROCESSES THAT A LEADER OR A
DISTRICT MIGHT BE TRYING TO
UNDERTAKE SO IT CAN BE DONE, AND
CERTAINLY IN CASES WHERE PERHAPS
THERE'S A LESS EFFECTIVE TEACHER
BEING REPLACED BY A MORE
EFFECTIVE TEACHER, MAYBE THAT'S
A GOOD THING, BUT THAT'S OFTEN
NOT THE WAY THE MOVEMENT GOES
AND TYPICALLY THE STUDENTS PAY
THE PRICE.
>> SO BLACK TEACHERS IN YOUR
RESEARCH HAD SIGNIFICANTLY
HIGHER TURNOVER RATES THAN WHITE
TEACHERS.
WHAT EXPLAINS THAT?
>> SOME OF IT IS EXPLAINED
CIRCUMSTANCE SUBSTANTIALLY IN
THAT THESE TEACHERS WHO ARE
BLACK ARE ALSO CONCENTRATED IN
DISTRICTS THAT SAW OVERALL
TURNOVER RATES THAT WERE HIGHER
FOR ALL RACES AND ETHNICITIES OF
TEACHERS, SO IT MAY BE THAT IT'S
THESE DISTRICTS THAT AS A WHOLE
ARE EXPERIENCING HIGHER THAN
AVERAGE TURNOVER.
IT COULD ALSO BE SOMETHING
UNIQUE TO THE EXPERIENCE OF THE
TEACHERS, AND THE FORUM HAS IN
THE PAST RECORDED ON TEACHER
DIVERSITY AND THE BARRIERS THAT
TEACHERS OF COLOR FACE IN
GETTING TO THE CLASSROOM IN THE
FIRST PLACE AND THEN REMAINING
THERE FEELING LIKE THEY ARE
VALUED AS PART OF A SCHOOL.
>> WITH REALLY JUST ABOUT A
MINUTE LEFT, WHAT ARE THE POLICY
PRESCRIPTIONS FOR RETAINING
TEACHERS?
>> WELL, THE FIRST IS TO THINK
ABOUT IT AS RETENTION.
OFTENTIMES WHEN WE THINK ABOUT
THE PAY PLAN FOR TEACHERS,
THERE'S A LOT OF FOCUS ON
RECRUITMENT AND GETTING NEW
TEACHERS INTO THE CLASSROOM.
THIS REPORT SHOWS US THAT WE
NEED TO BE THINKING ABOUT
RETENTION JUST AS MUCH AS WE'RE
BRINGING NEW TEACHERS IN AND NOT
KEEPING THEM IN THE CLASSROOM,
THE PROBLEM CONTINUES.
THERE ARE TAILORED SOLUTIONS
THAT CAN HELP RETAIN TEACHERS,
WHETHER IT'S FIGURING OUT
HARD-TO-STAFF AREAS,
HARD-TO-STAFF SUBJECT AREAS AND
SCHOOLS AND ATTACHING WHETHER
IT'S SUPPORTS OR FINANCIAL
INCENTIVES TO REALLY HELP TARGET
WHERE THE NEEDS ARE TO RETAIN
TEACHERS THERE.
>> ALL RIGHT.
SARA SHAW FROM THE WISCONSIN
POLICY FORUM, THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, FREDERICA.
>> THE COVID PANDEMIC IS IN THE
REAR VIEW FOR MOST OF US, BUT IS
IT?
THERE'S A NEW VARIANT
CIRCULATING AND SEVERAL COUNTIES
IN WISCONSIN REPORT HIGH
CONCENTRATIONS OF THE VIRUS IN
WASTEWATER RIGHT NOW.
STILL, IT'S NOTHING COMPARED TO
THE WORST DAYS OVER THE LAST
THREE YEARS.
ARE WE AS A NATION AND A STATE
PREPARED FOR THE NEXT PANDEMIC?
WE TURN TO DR. MICHAEL
OSTERHOLM, FORMERLY A BIDEN
WHITE HOUSE ADVISER ON COVID,
FOR HIS TAKE.
THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.
>> THANKS.
GOOD TO BE BACK WITH YOU AGAIN.
>> SO YOU SAY IT'S NOT DONE WITH
US YET.
WHY DO YOU SAY THAT?
>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, I'M QUITE
CONVINCED THAT THE BIG PANDEMIC
CRUX THAT WE SAW FROM 2020 TO
2023 IS, IN FACT THE PANDEMIC
BEHIND US.
WHAT WE'RE REALLY DEALING WITH
NOW IS WHAT WILL IT LOOK LIKE
GOING FORWARD.
JUST LIKE IF YOU HAVE AN
INFLUENZA PANDEMIC, THE NEW
VIRUS CAUSES REAL CHALLENGES FOR
SEVERAL YEARS AND THEN IT
BASICALLY ADAPTS INTO THE
SEASONAL FLU PATTERN.
WHAT WE DON'T KNOW WITH COVID
YET IS WHAT IT WILL LOOK LIKE.
IS IT A SEASONAL VIRUS?
WELL, RIGHT NOW IT'S IN ALL FOUR
SEASONS, SO I GUESS YOU CAN SAY
IN THAT REGARD IT'S SEASONAL,
BUT DOES IT LOOK LIKE ANYTHING
LIKE THE RESPIRATORY VIRUSES
LIKE INFLUENZA OR RSV WE SEE?
NO.
DO WE SEE CASES INCREASES IN THE
SUMMER?
WE SEE THEM INCREASE IN THE
FALL.
SO WE'RE REALLY UNCLEAR WHAT
THIS PATTERN IS GOING TO LOOK
LIKE, BUT IT'S VERY CLEAR THAT
THE VIRUS IS STILL HERE WITH US.
>> SO YOU AND FELLOW WHITE HOUSE
VIRUSES WROTE ABOUT YOUR
TAKE-AWAYS FROM THE PANDEMIC,
INCLUDING THAT AS A NATION, WE
SHOULD PREPARE NOW FOR WHATEVER
MIGHT COME NEXT, BUT DIDN'T OUR
EXPERIENCE OF COVID RESULT IN
STOCKPILES OF SCIENTIFIC
KNOWLEDGE, INFRASTRUCTURE,
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE GEAR AND ALL
OF THAT?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, THIS IS BEST
A VERY COMPLICATED TOPIC.
FOR EXAMPLE, YOU MENTIONED
RESPIRATORY GEAR.
ONE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT WE
HAD IS, EARLY ON, WE RECOGNIZED
THAT THE VIRUS WAS BEING SPREAD
BY THE AIRBORNE ROUTE, JUST
BREATHING AIR THAT WOULD MOVE
THROUGH A LARGE ROOM, AND YET WE
HAD MANY WHO CONTINUED TO USE
SURGICAL MASKS, THE KIND OF
MASKS THAT ARE NOT TIGHT FITTING
AROUND THE FACE, AND WHILE THEY
MAY HAVE THOUGHT THEY WERE
PROTECTED OR IF THEY WERE
PROTECTING OTHERS, THEY REALLY
WEREN'T.
AND SO WE STILL HAVE MANY
HOSPITALS THAT ARE USING
OUTDATED RESPIRATORY PROTECTION
GEAR SOME THREE YEARS AFTER THEY
SHOULD HAVE SWISHED TO N-95
SWITCHED TO N-95 RESPIRATORS.
WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO.
THE OTHER THING THAT IS
CHALLENGING IS THAT PUBLIC
HEALTH HAS AS A DISCIPLINE
ALWAYS RELIED ON BASICALLY THE
TRUST OF THE PEOPLE, THE BELIEF
THAT, IN FACT, YOU KNOW, WE WERE
DOING WHAT WAS RIGHT FOR THE
POPULATION TO PROTECT THEM
AGAINST, IN THIS CASE, A VIRUS.
WE'VE LOST A LOT OF TRUST AND
THE SUPPORT OF THE PUBLIC OVER
THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS BECAUSE
THEY FELT LIKE WE WERE NOT BEING
TRUTHFUL WHEN WE SHOULD HAVE
SAID WE DON'T KNOW, WE MADE
STATEMENTS THAT SUGGESTED WE
KNEW MORE THAN WE DID AND THEN
IT TURNED OUT TO BE WRONG, AND
SO I THINK WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK
YET TO DO FOR THE NEXT PANDEMIC,
AND IF I HAD TO GIVE YOU MY BEST
PROFESSIONAL JUDGMENT, I WOULD
SAY WE'RE LESS PREPARED FOR A
PANDEMIC TODAY THAN WE WERE IN
2019.
>> IT JUST DOESN'T SEEM POSSIBLE
THAT THAT'S TRUE WITH ALL OF THE
EFFORTS, INCLUDING YOUR OWN,
THAT WENT INTO THIS DURING THE
WORST DAYS OF THE PANDEMIC.
BUT AS TO THE PUBLIC TRUST, IN
PUBLIC HEALTH, CAN THAT BE
REGAINED?
>> WELL, I THINK IT CAN BE
REGAINED, BUT WE HAVE LESSONS TO
LEARN AND WE HAVE TO REALIZE
WE'RE IN A VERY DIFFERENT WORLD
TODAY THAN WE HAVE BEEN FOR THE
LAST HUNDRED YEARS WITH REGARD
TO HOW PUBLIC HEALTH IS VIEWED.
I MEAN, WE NEED TO LOOK NO
FURTHER THAN OUR POLITICAL
CLIMATE TODAY IN THIS COUNTRY TO
UNDERSTAND THE DISTRUST, THE
MISTRUST, AND SO MANY
ESTABLISHMENTS OR INSTITUTIONS
OF OUR SOCIETY, AND THAT IS
REALLY A CRISIS.
WHEN SOMEBODY SAYS YOU MUST
EVACUATE NOW, YOU MUST GET OUT
NOW, THAT IS NOT UP FOR
DISCUSSION OR DEBATE, BUT PEOPLE
WILL ONLY DO THAT IF THEY TRUST
THAT WHAT YOU'RE TELLING THEM IS
TRUE.
NOW, WE DON'T HAVE TO EVACUATE
FOR A PANDEMIC, BUT WE WANT
PEOPLE TO GET VACCINATED.
IN THIS COUNTRY, ONLY 42% OF THE
PEOPLE WHO ARE AT HIGH RISK FOR
SERIOUS ILLNESS,
HOSPITALIZATIONS OR DEATHS, GOT
THE BOOSTER DOSE OVER THE LAST
YEAR, AND I THINK WITH THE NEW
BOOSTER DOSE THAT'S COMING OUT
IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, AN EVEN
SMALLER PERCENTAGE OF THOSE AT
RISK FOR SERIOUS ILLNESS ARE
GOING TO GET EVACUATED.
WHY IS THAT?
WHY WOULD SOMEONE NOT TAKE A
LIFE-SAVING, AND IF NOTHING
ELSE, AT LEAST REDUCING YOUR
RISK OF SERIOUS ILLNESS VACCINE?
WHAT HAVE WE DONE THAT HAS LED
PEOPLE TO NOT WANT TO GET THOSE?
SO I THINK WE STILL HAVE A LOT
OF WORK TO DO TO UNDERSTAND
THAT, AND I KEEP SAYING TIME AND
TIME AGAIN, THE FIRST AND MOST
IMPORTANT LESSON WE SHOULD HAVE
LEARNED IS THE CRITICAL,
CRITICAL NATURE OF HUMILITY.
WHAT DO WE KNOW?
WHAT WE DON'T KNOW.
WHAT DO WE KNOW, HOW DO WE KNOW
IT, AND WHAT WE DON'T KNOW, WHAT
ARE WE GOING TO DO TO FIND SNOUT
THAT IS STILL A MAJOR LESSON
THAT WE SHOULD ALL TAKE HOME
FROM THIS PANDEMIC.
>> I DON'T HAVE MUCH TIME LEFT,
BUT I DO WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT
ANOTHER ONE OF YOUR IMPORTANT
TAKE-AWAYS, AND THAT IS THAT
SCHOOLS SHOULD NOT BE SHUT DOWN
EXCEPT IN RARE CASES, BUT I ASK
WAS NOT THE COVID PANDEMIC A
RARE CASE.
>> ONE MESSAGE HAS ALWAYS BEEN
WE SHOULD BE BASING IT ON DATA.
ARE WE SEEING INFECTIONS IN
SCHOOLS?
IF SO, WE MAY NEED SNOW DAYS.
WE MAY NEED TO TAKE TIME TO LET
THE VIRUS IN A COMMUNITY COME
DOWN SOME, BUT WHERE WE DON'T
SEE EVIDENCE OF OUTGOING
WIDESPREAD INFECTION, THEN WE
SHOULDN'T BE CLOSED DOWN.
WE PUT IN BLANKET DO THIS OR DO
THAT WITHOUT REALLY
UNDERSTANDING HOW WE HAD TO
REACT AND WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN
THE COMMUNITY, WHAT ARE THE DATA
SUPPORTS, AND THE PERIOD OF
2022, EARLY 2023, I SUPPORTED
CLOSING SCHOOLS WITH OMICRON.
WE HAD UP TO HALF THE TEACHERS
OUT SICK.
HOW DO YOU PROVIDE EDUCATION,
AND, OF COURSE, WE WORRY ABOUT
THE KIDS, BUT IN THAT FIRST YEAR
OF THE PANDEMIC, FRANKLY, HAVING
CLOSED SCHOOLS WAS NOT LIKELY
ANYTHING THAT PROVIDED
ADDITIONAL PROTECTION FOR THE
COMMUNITY.
SO THIS IS, AGAIN, ANOTHER VERY
COMPLICATED MESSAGE OF PUBLIC
HEALTH HAS TO GET BETTER AT
SHARING WHY DO WE DO WHAT WE DO
AND WHY DON'T WE DO WHAT WE
DON'T.
>> DR. MICHAEL OSTERHOLM, THANKS
VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> LAST WEEK, WE HEARD FROM
THREE WOMEN WHO HAVE HAD
ABORTIONS.
TONIGHT, CONTINUING OUR SERIES
ON ABORTION IN WISCONSIN, WE
BRING YOU A STORY ABOUT WHAT ARE
CALLED PREGNANCY RESOURCE
CENTERS, WITH DOZENS OF THESE
NONPROFITS ACROSS THE STATE
ENCOURAGING WELL TO KEEP THEIR
PREGNANCIES ADVOCATING AGAINST
ABORTION.
REPUBLICANS WANT TO PROVIDE THEM
WITH STATE FUNDING, BUT CRITICS
WARN OF THEIR NON-ACCREDITATION
AND SOMETIMES FALSE INFORMATION.
STEVEN POTTER HAS THIS STORY.
>> AT FIRST, I WANTED AN
ABORTION BECAUSE I NEVER WANTED
KIDS, BUT AFTER I HEARD HIS
HEARTBEAT, IT MADE IT DIFFICULT
FOR ME TO GET AN ABORTION, I
GUESS.
>> ABORTION BECAME ILLEGAL IN
WISCONSIN MORE THAN A YEAR AGO
WHEN SUPREME COURT RULED THAT
STATES WOULD INDIVIDUALLY DECIDE
ON ABORTION ACCESS.
THAT LEFT STANDING A WISCONSIN
LAW PASSED IN 1849 THAT
EFFECTIVELY BANNED ABORTION, AND
BECAUSE OF THAT, SOME
ORGANIZATIONS SAY THEY'VE BECOME
MUCH BUSIER.
>> WE ARE SEEING A LOT MORE
WOMEN COMING IN THAT, YOU KNOW,
ARE SEEKING OPTIONS BECAUSE THE
ABORTION ISN'T READILY AVAILABLE
HERE.
>> THAT'S RU RITA NECESSARY,
MANAGER FOR NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION IN WAUKESHA COUNTY
CALLED LIFE'S CONNECTION.
>> LIFE'S CONNECTION IS A
MEDICAL, EDUCATIONAL AND
RESOURCE CENTER.
>> THE ORGANIZATION OFFERS
PREGNANCY, S.T.D. TESTING,
PRENATAL COUNSELING, ADOPTION
SUPPORT, AMONG OTHER SERVICES.
>> WE CAN SEE ANYONE FROM A TEEN
ALL THE WAY THROUGH MARRIED
COUPLES THAT COME IN AND JUST
WOULD LIKE OUR LABOR AND
DELIVERY CLASSES OR TO PREPARE
FOR PREGNANCY OR NEWBORN CARE.
THIS IS OUR ULTRASOUND SUITE.
HERE'S WHERE WE'RE ABLE TO
REALLY CONNECT MOM WITH BABY.
AGAIN, SEE THAT TRUE
DEVELOPMENT.
WE CALL IT THE WINDOW TO THE
WOMB.
>> BUT ONE THING THEY WON'T DO
AT LIFE'S CONNECTION IS REFER
ANYONE WHO IS PREGNANT FOR AN
ABORTION.
>> WE DON'T OFFER REFERRAL FOR
ABORTION, BUT WE DO EDUCATE.
WE HELP THEM TO UNDERSTAND WHAT
ABORTION WOULD LOOK LIKE FOR
THEM AND FOR THE BABY NOW AND IN
THE FUTURE AND HOW PHYSICALLY
AND EMOTIONALLY THEY COULD BE
IMPACTED.
>> ACCORDING TO CHOOSE LIFE
WISCONSIN, THERE ARE MORE THAN
70 PREGNANCY RESOURCE CENTERS
LIKE LIFE'S CONNECTION AROUND
THE STATE.
AND BECAUSE OF THEIR PRENATAL
SUPPORT AND THE FACT THAT THESE
ORGANIZATIONS DON'T REFER
PREGNANT PEOPLE FOR ABORTIONS
AND DO ACTIVELY DISCOURAGE
ABORTIONS, SOME REPUBLICAN
LAWMAKERS IN WISCONSIN THINK
THEY SHOULD RECEIVE STATE
TAXPAYER FUNDING.
>> IF YOU WALK INTO A PREGNANCY
RESOURCE CENTER, THEY'RE NOT
GOING TO REVERE YOU TO AN
ABORTION.
THAT'S NOT WHY THEY EXIST.
>> STATE SENATOR ROMAINE ROBERT
QUINN, HAS INTRODUCED
LEGISLATION TO FUND THESE
CENTERS, WHICH ARE SOMETIMES
CALLED CRISIS PREGNANCY CENTERS,
WITH STATE MONEY.
HE'S PROPOSING GIVING THE
CENTERS $1 MILLION PER YEAR.
THAT MONEY WOULD BE FUNNELED TO
THE CENTERS THROUGH GRANTS
ADMINISTERED BY CHOOSE LIFE
WISCONSIN.
THE SENATOR SAYS THE STATE
SHOULD PROVIDE THE MONEY BECAUSE
THESE CENTERS DO NECESSARY WORK.
>> THEY JUST GIVE AN ENORMOUS
AMOUNT OF SUPPORT AND SERVICE
AND A PLACE FOR FAMILIES TO GO
THAT THEY'RE QUESTIONING AM I
READY FOR THIS PREGNANCY OR
MAYBE IT'S UNEXPECTED OR MAYBE
I'M FLEEING AN ABUSIVE
RELATIONSHIP AND FOUND OUT I'M
PREGNANT, SO THERE'S SO MUCH
GOOD THEY DO.
>> GABRIELA BOLDON SAYS SHE
WASN'T PLANNING TO GET PREGNANT
A YEAR AGO.
>> I TOOK A PREGNANCY TEST AND
IT WAS POSITIVE AND I STARTED
CRYING.
IT WAS NOT SOMETHING THAT I
WANTED, I GUESS.
I WAS GOING TO PLANNED
PARENTHOOD FIRST AND IT'S
ACTUALLY RIGHT NEXT TO THE LIFE
CONNECTIONS IN WAUKESHA, SO I
SAW, LIKE, ULTRASOUNDS AND STUFF
RIGHT ON THE SIDE SO I WAS,
LIKE, WE'RE GOING TO GO HERE AND
SEE WHAT, LIKE, THEY OFFER.
>> DURING HER VISIT WITH THE
NURSE AT LIFE'S CONNECTION, SHE
SAYS THEY DISCUSSED ABORTION AND
SHE WAS GIVEN AN ULTRASOUND.
SHE FELT ENCOURAGED BY STAFF AT
LIFE'S CONNECTION TO HAVE THE
CHILD AND BECOME A MOTHER.
>> I WAS ASKING HER, LIKE, WHAT
IS -- LIKE HOW DO ABORTIONS WORK
AND SHE WAS JUST TRYING TO,
LIKE, WEIGH OUR OPTIONS AND TO
SEE WHICH ONE WAS BETTER AND
JUST TO GIVE US, LIKE, WELL,
GIVE ME HOPE THAT I COULD DO IT.
IT WAS AFTER WE SEEN AND HEARD
THE HEARTBEAT IS WHERE I SAID,
NO, I DON'T WANT TO GET AN
ABORTION ANYMORE AND I JUST
WANTED TO KEEP HIM.
>> NECESSARY FLOREZ SAYS THAT L
BELIEFS IS THAT ABORTIONS ARE
HARMFUL TO WOMEN.
>> A WOMAN THAT GOES THROUGH AN
ABORTION IS GOING TO BE IMPACTED
EMOTIONALLY AND PHYSICALLY, AND
SO AT NO POINT WOULD IT EVER BE
SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE GOOD FOR
HER IN ANY WAY.
>> THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF
HEALTH, HOWEVER, SAYS THAT
HAVING AN ABORTION DOES NOT
INCREASE A WOMAN'S RISK OF THE
HEALTH DANGERS OFTEN CITED BY
PREGNANCY RESOURCE CENTERS.
NOR DOES IT INCREASE THE RISK
FOR MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES.
SARA FINGER LEADS THE WISCONSIN
ALLIANCE FOR WOMEN'S HEALTH.
SHE SAYS THE PREGNANCY RESOURCE
CENTERS ARE SPREADING
MISINFORMATION.
>> THE KIND OF INFORMATION THAT
THEY'RE GIVING IS OFTEN ACTUALLY
FULL OF LIES.
THEY HAVE STUDIES THAT ARE
SHOWING HOW THESE WEBSITES AND
THE CENTERS THEMSELVES ARE
TALKING ABOUT FALSELY CLAIMING
THAT ABORTION WILL INCREASE YOUR
MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES.
THEY'RE FALSELY INDICATING THAT
YOU CAN -- ABORTIONS WILL LEAD
TO BREAST CANCER OR IN INFERTIL,
AND THESE ARE ALL LIES.
>> PHYSICIANS GROUPS HAVE RAISED
RED FLAGS ABOUT PREGNANCY
RESOURCE CENTERS.
>> AND THE AMERICAN MEDICAL
ASSOCIATION, WHO IS A
PREDOMINANT LEADER IN TERMS OF
HEALTHCARE IN THIS COUNTRY AND
THE PROVIDERS AND THE AMERICAN
CONGRESS OF OBSTETRICIANS AND
GYNECOLOGISTS BOTH HAVE BRIEFS
WARNING PEOPLE ABOUT THE DANGERS
AND THE UNETHICAL BEHAVIOR OF
THESE FAKE CLINICS.
>> FLOREZ REJECTS CLAIMS THE
PREGNANCY RESOURCE CENTERS
PROVIDE MISLEADING INFORMATION
TO THEIR CLIENTS.
>> WE TELL THEM EXACTLY WHAT IT
LOOKS LIKE TO PARENT, WHAT IT
LOOKS LIKE TO ADOPT -- TO
CONSIDER ADOPTION AS AN OPTION
AND ALSO WHAT ABORTION WOULD
LOOK LIKE FOR THEM, SO I FEEL
THAT WE'RE, YOU KNOW, AS
TRUTHFUL AS WE ABSOLUTELY CAN
BE.
WE DON'T HIDE ANYTHING.
AND THEN WE GUIDE THEM TO
WHATEVER SERVICES THAT THEY
MIGHT NEED WITH THE EXCEPTION OF
REFERRING FOR ABORTION.
>> SHE ADDS THAT ORGANIZATIONS
LIKE HERS COULD CERTAINLY
BENEFIT FROM THE STATE FUNDING
BEING PROPOSED IN SENATOR
QUINN'S LEGISLATION.
>> WE ARE A 501(c)(3), SO THAT
MEANS EVERYTHING THAT WE DO AS A
NONPROFIT IS DONE BY DONATIONS
EITHER BY INDIVIDUAL OR BY, YOU
KNOW, A CHURCH, AND ANY OTHER
KIND OF A GROUP THAT WOULD LIKE
TO DONATE TO US.
>> BUT FOR SARA FINGER FROM THE
WOMEN'S HEALTH ALLIANCE, THAT
CONNECTION BETWEEN PREGNANCY
RESOURCE CENTERS AND FAITH-BASED
ORGANIZATIONS IS ANOTHER REASON
THAT THE CENTERS SHOULDN'T GET
STATE FUNDING.
>> I'M SORRY, BUT IF THERE'S
EVEN ONE DOLLAR OF TAXPAYER
FUNDED MONEY GOING TOWARDS TO
SUPPORT THESE FAKE CLINICS, WHO
ARE NOT LICENSED, WHO ARE NOT --
THEY'RE NOT REGULATED, THEY'RE
NOT ACCREDITED, AND THEY DON'T
HAVE TO FOLLOW HIPAA
REGULATIONS, THEY DON'T HAVE TO
PROTECT YOUR FOR THE REST OF OUR
LIVES AND YOUR CONFIDENTIALITY,
WHY ARE WE EVEN CONSIDERING
PUTTING A SINGLE DOLLAR TOWARDS
THESE FAKE CLINICS ANYWHERE IN
THIS COUNTRY?
>> SENATOR QUINN SAYS HE'S
UNBOTHERED BY ANY FAITH-BASED
CONNECTION GNAT PREGNANCY
RESOURCE CENTERS HAVE AND SAY
THE CENTERS DESERVE FUNDING.
>> I DON'T CARE WHO DOES THE
WORK.
THEY'RE DOING GREAT WORK, SO IF
IT'S FAITH-BASED OR NOT
FAITH-BASED, IT'S NOT A CRITERIA
THAT'S A MUST, SO IT SHOULDN'T
BE THE OTHER WAY THAT YOU CAN'T
BE THAT.
I GET FRUSTRATED SOMETIMES WHEN
PEOPLE CALL THEM FAKE CLINICS OR
THINGS LIKE THAT AND IT'S LIKE,
YOU KNOW, NOT EVERY BABY IS
GOING TO BE ABORTED, AND SO FOR
THOSE FAMILIES THAT WANTED TO
RAISE A CHILD AND WANT SUPPORT,
WHY NOT SUPPORT THEM AND SUPPORT
THE VERY CENTERS THAT GIVE THEM
THE SERVICES, THE CLASSES, A
SHOULDER TO LEAN ON AND TALK TO?
>> REPORTING FOR "HERE AND NOW,"
I'M STEVEN POTTER.
>> NEXT WEEK ON HERE DISPOWN, A
REPORT ON THE LAWSUIT OVER THE
1849 ABORTION BAN NOW IN PLACE,
WITH BR PRACTICING PHYSICIANS
TRYING TO UNDERSTAND HOW BEST TO
PROVIDE CARE TO THEIR PATIENTS.
YOU CAN ALSO TUBE INTO A
ESSENTSPECIALSERIES OF REPORTS E
TITLED HOW WE GOT HERE, ABORTION
IN WISCONSIN SINCE 1849.
FOR MORE ON THIS AND OTHER
ISSUES FACING WISCONSIN, VISIT
OUR WEBSITE AT PBS WISCONSIN
DOT-ORG AND THEN CLICK ON THE
NEWS TAB.
THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.
(CLOSED CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY
RIVERSIDE CAPTIONING COMPANY)
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>> FUNDING FOR "HERE & NOW" IS PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.