>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION. >> A NEW YEAR RINGS IN A NEW
ELECTION SEASON. AND FOLLOWING A STATE SUPREME
COURT RULING, ALL NEW VOTING DISTRICTS.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG, TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," GOVERNOR TONY
EVERS AND THE STATE PARTY CHAIRS FORESHADOW THE YEAR AHEAD IN
STATE POLITICS AND ELECTIONS AND THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF
SCHOOLS SAYS NOW IS THE TIME TO FUND SPECIAL EDUCATION.
PLUS, HOW EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS ARE ADAPTING AND INCORPORATING
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN THE CLASSROOM.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR JANUARY 5.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
SCONSIN. JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS WI
>> GOVERNOR TONY EVERS SAYS NEW VOTING MAPS WILL BE IN PLACE FOR
THE 2024 ELECTIONS.
AS THE NEW YEAR KICKS OFF, WE ASK HIM ABOUT THAT AND OTHER HOT
BUTTON ISSUES. HE JOINS US NOW.
GOVERNOR EVERS, THANKS FOR JOINING US.
>> GOOD TO BE HERE, FREDERICA. >> SO DESCRIBE FOR US WHAT YOU
COUNT AS YOUR BIGGEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE PAST
YEAR. >> THERE'S A COUPLE THAT COME
TOLD. FIRST OF ALL, SHARED R EVENUE WAS
A HUGE BIPARTISAN WIN, BIPARTISAN WIN FOR THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN. I SPENT A LOT OF TIME WHEN I WAS
RUNNING FOR OFFICE TALKING ABOUT IT EVERY SINGLE DAY, ALL DAY
LONG, AND IT'S KIND OF A THING THAT MOST PEOPLE, SHARED
REVENUE, WHAT IS IT, THAT SORT OF THING.
BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, MOST OF THE HEAVY LIFTING FROM
GOVERNMENT HAPPENS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, NOT THE STATE OR FEDERAL
LEVEL. AND SO WE WORKED ON TH AT AND
COMPROMISED AND GOT SOME THINGS THROUGH, WHICH IT WAS A HUGE
WIN, HUGE WIN FOR THE PEOPLE OF WISCONSIN, WHETHER IT'S FIRE,
E.M.T., PUBLIC LIBRARIES, YOU NAME IT.
ANOTHER ONE THAT DOESN'T GET MUCH ATTENTION BUT WE HAD THE
LARGEST AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING EVER IN THE
STATE OF WISCONSIN. EVERYBODY TALKS ABOUT IT,
WHETHER YOU'RE A TOWN OF 50 OR A TOWN OF 50 MILLION.
ISSUE OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS CRITICAL AND WE'VE GOT NOT
ENOUGH MONEY TO SOLVE IT, BUT IT WAS A REAL BREAKTHROUGH
OPERATION. >> SO WHAT IS THE STATE SURPLUS
RIGHT NOW? IS IT 7 BILLION?
>> 7 BILLION WITH A "B," THAT'S RIGHT, AND THAT'S WHY WE SHOULD
BE UTILIZING SOME OF THESE MONEYS TO DO THINGS LIKE BOLSTER
OUR CHILDCARE SITUATION IN WISCONSIN. IT'S A NATIONAL TH
ING, BUT WE CAN TAKE CARE OF SOME OF THAT
HERE. THAT IN AND OF ITSELF IS GOING
TO HAVE A HUGE IMPACT ON OUR ECONOMY IN THE STATE IF PEOPLE
HAVE TO LEAVE THE WORKFORCE IN ORDER TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR
CHILDREN. THAT'S A THING AND IT'S A BIG
THING. SO, YES, WE HAVE THE RESOURCES
TO DO SOME REALLY EXTRAORDINARILY IMPORTANT
THINGS. >> SINCE WE LAST SPO KE, THE
STATE SUPREME COURT THROWN OUT THE EXISTING VOTING DISTRICT
MAPS. WHAT IS YOUR EXPECTATI ON THAT
NEW MAPS WILL BE IN PLACE FOR THIS YEAR'S ELECTIONS?
>> WE CAN GET IT DONE. I MEAN, THE LAST TIME WE WENT
THROUGH THIS, WHERE WE ENDED UP WAS THE MAPS WE HAVE NOW, WE HAD
THE SAME KIND OF SHORTAGE OF TIME LINE.
WE HAD TO GET THINGS DONE, WE HAD TO GET THINGS INTO THE
COURTS. IT'S THE SAME THING. LEGISLATURE HAD THEIR MAPS, I
HAD MINE. NOBODY COULD AGREE.
WE HAD TO GO TO THE SUPREME COURT BACK THEN.
AND ALL THAT HAPPENED IN THE SAME TIME LINE.
WE CAN GET THIS DONE. WELL, WE HAVE TO GET IT DONE.
AND SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO HAVING MAPS THAT ARE REFLECTIVE
OF THE PURPLE TYPE OF STATE THAT WE ARE AND, FRANKLY, WE CAN HAVE
MORE COMPETITIVE RACES. IT'S GOOD FOR VOTERS AND IT'S
GOING TO BE GOOD FOR OUR STATE. >> THE REPUBLICANS WANT TO TAKE
IT ALL THE WAY TO THE U.S. SUPREME COURT.
WHAT ABOUT THAT? >> I THINK THAT'S A STRETCH.
I MEAN, YOU HEAR THAT ON A REGULAR BASIS THAT SOMETHING'S
GOING TO GO TO THE SUPREME COURT, WHETHER IT'S THIS OR
SOMETHING ELSE. THE LAST TIME WE WERE THERE, THE
SUPREME COURT HAD SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT AND
WE -- AND THAT CAUSED OUR MAPS TO BE THROWN OUT, BUT SO WE ARE
VERY COGNIZANT OF THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE VIOLATING IT, AND WE CAN GET THIS DONE.
IF IT GOES TO THE SUPREME COURT, LAST TIME THEY SAID WE DID OUR
WORK, YOU DO YOUR WORK BACK IN THE STATE LEVEL.
STATE IS THE PLACE WHERE THIS HAS TO BE RESOLVED.
>> AND SO YOU FEEL CONFIDENT THAT THERE WILL BE NEW MAPS THAT
WILL BE BETTER FOR DEMOCRATS? >> BETTER FOR DEMOCRACY.
WE ARE -- I WON THIS LANDSLIDE RACE A YEAR AGO WITH 3% OF THE
POPULATION DIFFERENCE, VOTING POPULATION, SO I FEEL CONFIDENT
THAT WE ARE A BONAFIDE PURPLE STATE OF LEGISLATURE, CLEARLY
DOESN'T REFLECT THAT. SO HAVING MORE COMPETITIVE RACES
IS GOOD FOR DEMOCRACY AND GOOD FOR THE PEOPLE OF WISCONSIN.
>> WISCONSIN HIGH COURT IS ALSO EXPECTED TO HAVE TO CONSIDER THE
STATE ABORTION LAW AFTER A LOWER COURT RULING.
COMING INTO THIS ELECTION YEAR, IN YOUR MIND, HOW RESONANT DOES
THE ISSUE OF ABORTION REMAIN WITH VOTERS?
>> RIGHT NOW, WE ARE BACK TO WHERE WE WERE BEFORE ROE WAS
THROWN OUT BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, FEDERAL SCOTUS, SO
WE WERE AT WHERE WE WERE THEN. THEY WANT TO TAKE AWAY PEOPLE'S
RIGHTS. 6 TO 12 WEEKS IS TAKING AWAY
WOMEN'S ABILITY TO PRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND THAT IS JUST NOT
ACCEPTABLE. >> YOUR ADMINI STRATION FILED A
LAWSUIT OVER REPUBLICAN LEGISLATORS REFUSING TO APPROVE
THE PAY RAISES BEFORE EVENTUALLY KIND OF EXTRACTING RESTRICTIONS
ON DIVERSITY EQUITY AND INCLUSION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
WISCONSIN. THEY GOT THEIR SAL ARY INCREASES
AFTER THAT. BUT NOW THAT THE UW BOARD OF
REGENTS BENT TO THESE DEMANDS, IS THAT LAWSUIT MOOT, OR ARE
THERE OTHER ARGUMENTS? >> IT IS ABSOLUTELY NOT MOOT.
THERE'S ALL SORTS OF SITUATIONS LIKE THAT WHERE DECISIONS ARE
MADE THAT ARE EITHER NOT STATE LAW OR ARE STATE LAW AND -- BUT
THAT WAS A PERFECT EXAMPLE. WE HAD A BUDGET.
WE PASSED THE BUDGET. THE BUDGET WAS SET.
WE HAD 4% OR WHATEVER THE PERCENT INCREASE WAS.
THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE INSTEAD OF HOW CAN YOU NEGOTIATE
AGAINST WHAT'S IN STATE LAW, AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THEY DID.
IN THE SAME VEIN, THE REPUBLICANS IN THE BUDGET HAD
ISSUES AROUND DEI TO CRAMP DOWN ON THAT.
I VETOED THAT. THEY COULDN'T OVERRIDE THAT
VETO. AGAIN, THE IDEA THAT SOMEHOW
THEY CAN BYPASS THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH ON THAT IS JUST
UNACCEPTABLE. I ANTICIPATE WINNING THAT RACE
OR WINNING THAT CASE IN COURT AND BRING SOME SANITY TO WHAT'S
GOING ON BETWEEN THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH AND THE LEGISLATIVE
BRANCH. >> SPEAKING OF WHICH , IN A
RECENT INTERVIEW THAT WE CONDUCTED WITH SPEAKER ROBIN
VOS, HE SAID OF YOU, QUOTE, HE IS AN ABSENTEE GOVERNOR WHO IS
VERY UNINVOLVED IN THE PROCESS, SAYING THAT YOU DON'T MEET WITH
THEM AND YOU SIMPLY SIGN THINGS THAT THEY HAVE WORKED ON, NOTING
SHARED REVENUE AND THE BREWERS' FUNDING STADIUM PACKAGE.
WHAT'S YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT? >> TYPICAL.
TYPICAL. HE UNDERSTANDS, I BELIEVE, AND
IF HE DOESN'T, NOT ALL OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH, CERTAINLY NOT
MY JOB, IS TO JUST HANG OUT IN THE CAPITOL WAITING FOR HIM TO
COME UP WITH SOMETHING THAT WE CAN ALL TALK ABOUT AND BE HAPPY
ABOUT. MY JOB IS TO BE VISIBLE TO
PEOPLE ALL ACROSS STATE OF WISCONSIN. I'M AT THE CAPIT
OL WHEN I NEED TO BE AT THE CAPITOL, BUT OTHER
THAN THAT, I'M GOING TO BE ON THE ROAD LISTENING TO PEOPLE,
TALKING TO SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, TALKING TO PEOPLE IN
PUBLIC SCHOOLS, DOING THE GOOD WORK OF WHAT THE GOVERNOR DOES.
AND IF HE DOESN'T LIKE IT, FRANKLY, I DON'T CARE.
I TALKED ABOUT SHARED REVENUE BEING A THING A LONG TIME BEFORE
HE DID, AND BY GOD, WE GOT IT DONE.
PEOPLE IN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS KNOW WHERE IT STARTED FROM AND
IT STARTED WITH ME TALKING ABOUT IT, NOT ROBIN VOS.
IN FACT, I CAN'T REMEMBER THE LAST TIME HE DID TALK ABOUT IT.
HE IS WHAT HE IS. I AM WHO I AM, AND THAT'S THE
WAY IT GOES. >> ARE YOU WILLING TO COMPROMISE
WITH REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS OVER P.F.A.S. MITIGATION BY WAY OF
LIMITING THE D.N.R.'S AUTHORITY, WHICH THEY SEEK?
>> YEAH, THAT'S A PROBLEM. WE HAVE MONEY IN THE BUDGET.
IT WAS A BIPARTISAN EFFORT TO GET THAT INTO THE BUDGET.
NOW WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DISTRIBUTE THAT MONEY.
I AM CONCERNED THAT THE PRESENT BILL, WHICH WE HAVEN'T SEEN YET,
AND SO I'M RELUCTANT TO TALK ABOUT IT BECAUSE WHO KNOWS WHAT
IT'S GOING TO LOOK LIKE BEFORE IT GETS TO MY DESK, BUT IT DOES
NOT GIVE THE AUTHORITY TO THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
TO GET THE WORK DONE. AND THAT'S A PROBLEM.
I THINK THAT THE D.N.R. PLAYS A ROLE IN THIS, THAT'S THEIR JOB,
AND THAT'S WHY WE'VE ACTUALLY ASKED THE JOINT FINANCE
COMMITTEE TO RELEASE THE MONEY AND LET THE D.N.R. DO THEIR
WORK. THIS IS IMPORTANT WO RK AND THE
MORE WE MESS AROUND WITH IT, THE MORE PROBLEM WE'RE GOING TO
HAVE. SO I'M CONCERNED THAT THEY'RE
USING THIS AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO ESSENTIALLY NOT TO HAVE ANY
ACCOUNTABILITY FOR WHO IS ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS.
BACK IN THE DAYS WHEN OTHER THINGS HAPPENED IN THE STATE OF
WISCONSIN, WE HELD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE.
THERE'S NO INTEREST IN DOING THAT. WE HAVE TO HAVE THE
DEPARTMENT OF RESOURCE -- NATURAL RESOURCES
IN THE POSITION TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE HELD
ACCOUNTABLE. >> ALL RIGHT. GOVERNOR TONY EVERS, THANKS VERY
MUCH. >> GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
THANKS. >> A PUBLIC MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR
FORMER WISCONSIN U.S. SENATOR HERB KOHL WILL BE HELD IN
MILWAUKEE NEXT FRIDAY AT NOON AT THE FORUM.
KOHL PASSED AWAY ON DECEMBER 27th.
STARTING OUT AS A BUSINESS OWNER, HE SERVED ADD WISCONSIN'S
DEMOCRATIC SENATOR FROM 1988 TO 2013, SELF-FUNDING HIS SENATE
RACES, HIS SLOGAN WAS NOBODY'S SENATOR BUT YOURS.
HE WAS A STRONG ADVOCATE FOR CHILDREN'S ISSUES, AGING AND
AGRICULTURE. PRESIDENT BIDE N CALLED HIM ONE
OF WISCONSIN'S GREATEST EVER ADVOCATES AND A DEAR FRIEND.
K OHL WAS ALSO AS A FORMER OWNER OF THE MILWAUKEE BUCKS,
PURCHASING THEM TO KEEP THEM FROM LEAVING TOWN.
HERB KOHL WAS 88. >>> IN EDUCATION NEWS, THE TIME
IS NOW TO BOOST SPECIAL EDUCATION FUNDING IN WISCONSIN.
THAT'S ACCORDING TO SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC
INSTRUCTION, JOE UNDERLY, WHO, IN CALLING FOR AN INCREASE,
CITES THE PROJECTED STATE BUDGET SURPLUS OF MORE THAN $7 BILLION.
SUPERINTENDENT UNDERLY JOINS US NOW. THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEI
NG HERE. >> ABSOLUTELY.
THANK YOU. >> SO YOU'RE CALLI NG FOR AN
INCREASE TO THE SPECIAL EDUCATION REIMBURSEMENT RATE TO
60%, WHICH WOULD BE ABOUT A BILLION DOLLARS.
NOW, THIS WAS REJECTED BY THE REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE IN THE
BUDGET PROCESS. WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO
GO AROUND AGAIN ON THIS NOW? >> BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT.
WE NEED TO FUND OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND ESPECIALLY
EDUCATION. REIMBURSEMENT RIGHT NOW IS SO
LOW THAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE TO TRANSFER MONEY FROM THEIR
GENERAL FUND IN ORDER TO PAY FOR THESE SERVICES, WHICH ARE
REQUIRED BY LAW. SO IF WE WERE TO INCREASE THE
REIMBURSEMENT RATE, THEY WOULDN'T HAVE TO TRANSFER AS
MUCH MONEY AND WE'RE ALSO SERVING KIDS AND WE'RE ABLE TO
THEN FUND THE OTHER PROGRAMS THAT SCHOOLS DESPERATELY NEED TO
FUND. >> THIS HAS BEEN THE C ASE FOR SO
LONG. >> YEAH, IT HAS, AND YOU SEE IT.
IT'S HAVING AN IMPACT. I MEAN, IT'S BEEN HAVING AN
IMPACT FOR DECADES. BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE NUMBER
OF REFERENDUMS THAT SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE TO GO TO, IT'S
BECAUSE THEY NEED THE FUNDING. THEY'RE NOT GETTING REIMBURSED.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THINGS THEY WANT TO DO, LIKE RAISE TEACHER
SALARIES OR CREATE MUSIC PROGRAMS OR ART PROGRAMS OR
INCLUDING THINGS LIKE JUST GENERAL MAINTENANCE ON THEIR
BUILDINGS, THEY'RE LOOKING FOR THINGS TO CUT BECAUSE THEY CAN'T
FUND THEIR PROGRAMS, AND IF WE WOULD REIMBURSE SPECIAL
EDUCATION AT A HIGHER RATE, WE COULD DO THAT.
>> STANDARDIZED TESTS IN WISCONSIN TESTS SHOWED
IMPROVEMENT OVER PANDEMIC SCORES BUT STILL NOT RECOVERED.
FEWER THAN HALF OF STUDENTS STATEWIDE PERFORMED AT OR ABOVE
PROFICIENT IN MATH AND LANGUAGE, AND IN MILWAUKEE, THE NUMBERS
ARE LOWER, IN THE TEENS. WHAT SHOULD THESE SCORES LOOK
LIKE? >> YEAH.
SO WE WANT ALL KIDS TO BE SUCCESSFUL. AN ASSESSMENT IS
ONE WAY TO FIGURE OUT WHERE KIDS ARE AND
WHAT KIDS NEED, BUT WHEN WE LOOK AT IT, YEAH, WE'RE NOT WHERE
WEPT TO BE, AND SO HOW DO WE APPROACH THAT?
WELL, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE KNOW IS THAT POVERTY HAS A LOT
TO DO WITH HOW KIDS ARE GOING TO TEST. AND SO THAT BEING SAID
, ASSESSMENT IS JUST ONE PIECE OF
DATA, BUT IF WE COULD LOOK AT FUNDING THINGS LIKE UNIVERSAL
MEALS, MENTAL HEALTH, MAKING SURE ALL KIDS FEEL SAFE AND
INCLUDED IN THEIR SCHOOLS, THEY'RE GOING TO LEARN BETTER.
>> ONE THING THAT STOOD OUT WAS THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS ABSENT
FROM SCHOOL. AGAIN, IN MILWAUKEE, 58% OF
STUDENTS ABSENT 10% OF SCHOOL DAYS.
WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE? >> YEAH, WE SEE DO HAVE A
PROBLEM WITH CHRONIC TRUANCY AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S HAPPENING
AT A NATIONAL LEVEL. COMING OUT OF COVID, WE NOTICE
THOSE RATES INCREASE, AND AGAIN, IT'S REALLY LOOKING AT WHAT ARE
THE UNDERLYING CAUSES OF THIS. EVERY SITUATION IS GOING TO BE A
LITTLE DIFFERENT, EVERY KID IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
EVERY SITUATION FOR THEM IS GOING TO BE NOT THE SAME.
SO WE NEED TO LOOK AT WHAT SUPPORTS DO THEY NEED IN ORDER
TO BE ENGAGED IN SCHOOL. AGAIN, IT'S NOT ROCKET SCIENCE.
RIGHT? IT'S LOOKING TO MAKE SURE THAT
THEY ARE THERE, THAT THEY'RE ENGAGED, THAT THEY FEEL SAFE,
THEY FEEL INCLUDED, THINGS LIKE MEALS, THINGS LIKE CONNECTING
WITH STAFF MEMBERS, MAKING IT SEEM THAT -- MAKING IT SO THAT
KIDS FEEL SAFE AND WANT TO BE IN SCHOOL IS VERY IMPORTANT.
>> DO WE HAVE A SPECIAL KIND OF EFFORTS AROUND THIS?
>> YEAH. D.P.I. HAS BEEN WORKING ON A
CROSS-AGENCY COLLABORATIVE IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE.
WE HAVE FUNDED A PROGRAM CALLED THE GRADUATION ALLIANCE FOR
SCHOOL DISTRICTS SO THAT THEY CAN, WITHOUT CHARGE, ACCESS THE
INFORMATION AND SUPPORTS AND PLANS FOR KIDS WHO ARE
STRUGGLING WITH CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM. >> WHAT'S THE ST
ATUS ON THE SHORTAGE OF TEACHERS AND TEACHER
TURNOVER? >> YEAH.
SO THAT'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE A PROBLEM.
WE KNOW THAT, RIGHT NOW, IT'S NOT SO MUCH THAT WE DON'T HAVE
PEOPLE WHO DON'T WANT TO GO INTO TEACHING; IT'S PEOPLE STAYING IN
TEACHING. SO AFTER FIVE YEARS, WE ONLY ARE
RETAINING ABOUT TWO-THIRDS OF THOSE TEACHERS AND WE HAVE TO,
AGAIN, LOOK AT THE UNDERLYING CAUSES. A LOT OF IT HAS TO
DO WITH THE POLITICS THAT HAVE BEEN INFUSED
IN EDUCATION, LOOKS AT RESPECT FOR TEACHER AND THE LACK THEREOF
FOR TEACHERS. IT'S ALSO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE
PAY FOR TEACHERS AND THE FACT THAT THEIR SKILLS ARE
TRANSFERABLE TO OTHER INDUSTRIES AND ULTIMATELY WE HAVE TO LOOK
AT THAT WORK-LIFE BALANCE, BECAUSE WHEN WE TALK TO TEACHERS
AND THEY TELL US WHY THEY'RE LEAVING, IT'S BECAUSE IT'S AN
IMPOSSIBLE JOB. >> AS A MEMBER OF THE UW BOARD
OF REGENTS, YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO BE PRESENT FOR THE VOTE THAT
EVENTUALLY RESULTED IN DEI PROGRAMS BEING CUT IN EXCHANGE
FOR UNIVERSITY SALARY INCREASES AND OTHER FUNDING.
HOW WOULD YOU HAVE VOTED? >> I WOULD HAVE VOTED AGAINST
IT, AGAINST CUTTING DEI POSITIONS. MY RECORD HAS BE
EN VERY CLEAR. AGAIN, I'M DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND
INCLUSION AS A FUNDAMENTAL TENET OF EDUCATION AND I AM ALWAYS
GOING TO FIGHT TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL OF OUR STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS.
>> FINALLY, WITH THE PASSING OF FORMER WISCONSIN SENATOR HERB
KOHL, YOU REMEMBERED HIM AS A CHAMPION FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION IN
SCHOOL KIDS. HOW SO?
>> HE WAS THE BEST FRIEND THAT PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAD IN WISCONSIN.
HE FUNDED COUNTLESS PROGRAMS, WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT
SCHOLARSHIPS FOR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS AND PRINCIPALS.
THERE WAS A I REMEMBER A BANQUET WHERE HE ALWAYS, WHEN I WAS
THERE, HE WOULD ALWAYS GO UP TO AND CONGRATULATE EVERY KID AND
EVERY PARENT FOR THEIR SCHOLARSHIPS AND HE FUNDED
BACK-TO-SCHOOL WISH LISTS FOR TEACHERS. I MEAN, WE OWE SO
MUCH IN THE STATE TO HERB KOHL WHEN IT COMES
TO PUBLIC EDUCATION. >> ALL RIGHT.
WE LEAVE IT THERE. JILL UNDERLY, THANKS VERY MUCH.
AS THE NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT BEGINS TO SHINE ON WISCONSIN AHEAD OF
THIS YEAR'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, THE STATE POLITICAL
PARTIES ARE BEGINNING THE WORK OF ORGANIZING AND ENERGIZING
VOTERS. HERE AND NOW REPORTER STEVEN
POTTER SPOKE TO BOTH STATE PARTY LEADERS ABOUT THEIR PLANS TO GET
OUT THE VOTE AND THE IMPACT OF THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL
CONVENTION BEING HELD IN MILWAUKEE THIS SUMMER.
>> EVER SINCE REPUBLICANS RIGGED OUR MAPS FOR THE STATE
LEGISLATURE IN 2011, THE NUMBER OF DISTRICTS THAT ARE TRULY
COMPETITIVE HAS BEEN MICROSCOPIC, JUST A HANDFUL OF
SEATS. THAT MEANS MOST VOTE RS IN BLUE
AND IN RED DISTRICTS DON'T REALLY HAVE A CHOICE, AND IF WE
HAVE NEW MAPS FROM THE STATE SUPREME COURT, IT'S POSSIBLE
THAT THE NUMBER OF COMPETITIVE DISTRICTS WILL EXPLODE.
THAT COULD DRAW NEW PEOPLE, NEW FRESH BLOOD INTO THE POLITICAL
SYSTEM, PEOPLE RUNNING WHO HADN'T WANTED TO RUN IN A
TOTALLY RIGGED DISTRICT, AND IT COULD MEAN I THINK FOR BOTH
PARTIES THAT WE ARE WORKING IN MANY MORE PARTS OF THE STATE TO
SUPPORT A MUCH WIDER AWAY OF CANDIDATES IN A CAMPAIGN THAT
COULD BE CLOSER. >> WHAT I HEAR AROUND THE STATE
IS THAT PEOPLE DON'T WANT THOSE DISTRICTS CHANGED.
PEOPLE LOOK AT REDRAWING DISTRICT LINES EVERY 10 YEARS
AND WE HAVE TO DO IT BECAUSE OF THE CENSUS, BUT FOR THE LIBERAL
SUPREME COURT TO COME BACK WITHIN A YEAR AND A HALF OF WHEN
THE OLD LINES WERE SET AND SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, WE KNOW YOU'RE IN
THIS DISTRICT OR THAT DISTRICT, WHATEVER, WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE
THAT. IN FACT, YOU'RE SITTIN G ASSEMBLY
OR SENATE PERSON OR CONGRESSMAN THAT IS REPRESENTING YOU, WE MAY
CHANGE THAT, TOO. THAT'S NOT A POPULAR ISSUE OUT
AROUND THE STATE. I THINK THAT'S -- IF THE
DEMOCRATS ARE COUNTING ON THAT TO HELP THEM, I THINK THAT IS A
VERY UNPOPULAR ISSUE BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T WANT THE LINES
MOVING AROUND ALL THE TIME. >> IN JULY, THERE WILL BE THE
REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION IN MILWAUKEE.
WHAT ARE YOUR EXPECTATION GOING INTO THAT EVENT?
>> FOR US, IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO HIGHLIGHT TO REPUBLICANS AND
MEDIA FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHAT REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP HAS
LOOKED LIKE HERE IN WISCONSIN, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HIM AND A
REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR AND A DEMOCRAT GOVERNOR, BUT ALSO JOE
BIDEN HAS TO KEEP COMING BACK TO WISCONSIN CONSTANTLY.
HE'LL BE HERE AGAIN SOON BECAUSE HE'S IN TROUBLE IN THIS STATE.
ALMOST EVERY SET OF POLLING NUMBERS THAT YOU SEE OUT THERE
SHOW JOE BIDEN IS IN BIG TROUBLE, UPSIDE DOWN ON ANY
NUMBER OF ISSUES AFFECTING THE PEOPLE OF THIS STATE, AND SO
NEITHER PARTY CAN TAKE IT FOR GRANTED, BUT WE'RE GOING TO GO
TO THE WALL ON EVERYTHING. >> THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL
CONVENTION WILL MAKE VIVIDLY CLEAR WHAT TODAY'S TRUMPIFIED
MAGA REPUBLICAN PARTY STANDS FOR, AND WHAT WE'VE SEEN OVER
AND OVER IS THAT THE MORE VOTERS SEE FROM DONALD TRUMP AND THE
TRUMP-LIKE MAGA, THE LESS THEY WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH THAT
EXTREME WING OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. THIS IS NOT THE REPUBL
ICAN PARTY OF TOMMY THOMPSON.
THIS IS A REPUBLICAN PARTY THAT TRIED TO OVERTURN THE 2020
ELECTIONS, THAT PUT EXTREME SUPREME COURT JUSTICES ON THAT
RIPPED AWAY ROE VERSUS WADE, AND HAS TRIED TO CRIMINALIZE
ABORTION AND NOW IS TALKING ABOUT GOING AFTER CONTRACEPTION,
THINGS LIKE BIRTH CONTROL PILLS AND I.U.D.s.
THOSE ARE POLICIES SO OUT OF STEP WITH WHAT MOST
WISCONSINITES WANT THAT WE THINK REPUBLICANS HAVING A STAGE IN
OUR STATE WILL MAKE VIVIDLY CLEAR THE CONTRAST, THE CHOICE
PEOPLE HAVE BETWEEN A BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION THAT
STANDS UP FOR COMMON SENSE AND A MAGA G.O.P. THAT IS PUSHING WAY
FAR OUT TO THE FAR, FAR RIGHT. >> WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM
VOTERS ABOUT THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES IN THIS ELECTION CYCLE?
>> WHAT WE FIND IS THAT OVER AND OVER, WHETHER PEOPLE DISAGREE OR
AGREE, TAX POLICY, THESE FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS OF WHETHER
WE ALL HAVE THE FREEDOM TO LIVE THE KINDS OF LIVES THAT WE WANT
TO LEAD, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT LEADS VOTERS ACROSS THE
POLITICAL SPECTRUM TO VOTE AGAINST MAC GA REPUBLICANS AND
FOR DEMOCRATS. WE SAW THAT IN THE SUPREME COURT
RACE THIS SPRING, WE SAW THAT IN 2022. WE'RE GOING TO SEE THA
T AGAIN IN 2024.
>> LARGELY WHAT I HEAR AS WE GO AROUND THE STATE BUT ALSO IN THE
POLLING AND THE OTHER SURVEY WE SEE, ECONOMY, NUMBER ONE.
ALSO ABORTION HAS BEEN A MAJOR ISSUE HERE IN THE STATE.
IS IT ALSO GOING TO BE A MAJOR ISSUE IN THE PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION? >> YOU KNOW, I'M NOT AFRAID OF
THAT ISSUE, I'M REALLY NOT. I'M NOT SURE WE HANDLED IT AS
WELL AS WE COULD TWO YEARS AGO, BUT I THINK WE WILL THIS TIME.
>> IN MORE EDUCATION NEWS, THE WORLD OF MACHINE LEARNING
EXPLODED INTO EVERYDAY LIVES OVER THE LAST YEAR WHEN
GENERATIVE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE WITH ADVANCED
LANGUAGE MODELS AND CHAT FUNCTIONS BECAME AVAILABLE TO
THE MASSES. HERE AND NOW STUDENT JOURNALIST
JANE McCAULEY REPORTS ON HOW COLLEGE EDUCATORS AND STUDENTS
ARE ADAPTING TO THE NEW A.I. LANDSCAPE.
>> WE USE TERMS LIKE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND IT SOUNDS KIND
OF SCARY. >> POWERFUL SERVERS LIKE THESE
PROCESS AND ANALYZE LARGE AMOUNTS OF DATA TO PRODUCE
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE. IN FACT, WE USE A.I. TO GENERATE
SOME OF THESE IMAGES, BUT THE CONCEPT OF A.I. IS NOT A NEW
ONE. >> IN THE 21st CENTURY. IT'S LIKE TERMINATOR, CRAZY
STUFF LIKE THAT. >> MACHINE LEARNING DATES BACK
BEFORE THE '80s, BUT THE RELEASE OF A.I. PROGRAMS THAT
GENERATE PHOTOS OR TEXT, LIKE CHAT-GPT, HAVE ONLY BEEN IN
PUBLIC USE SINCE THE END OF 2022.
>> WE NEED TO USE THE FACT THAT... >> ENGINEERING PROFE
SSOR AT UW-MADISON FOCUS ON THE ETHICS
OF A.I. AND WAYS PEOPLE CAN LEARN TO USE IT SAFELY TO SOLVE
PROBLEMS. >> THESE ARE JUST VERY CAPABLE
TOOLS. THEY'RE USEFUL. THEY'RE DESIGNED WITH A PURPOSE.
THEY'RE DESIGNED BY PEOPLE. AND THEY HAVE LIMITATIONS.
IT'S JUST KIND OF LIKE THE NEXT STEP IN HELPING US IMPROVE.
>> BUT WHAT ARE THESE PROGRAMS AND HOW DO THEY WORK?
PROGRAMS LIKE CHAT-GPT ARE LANGUAGE-BASED MODELS, MEANING
THEY EXCEL AT CLEANING UP GRAMMAR AND ARTICULATING
WRITING. >> I HAVE STUDENTS T HAT SPEAK
ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE. THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT DON'T
COME NATURALLY IF YOU'RE NOT A NATIVE SPEAKER.
>> AND A.I. PROGRAMS CAN REARRANGE WRITING TO MAKE IT
SOUND NATURAL. >> GPT BECOMES SUPER HANDY IF
YOU GIVE IT A PROMPT LIKE, HEY, CAN YOU EDIT THIS TO MAKE IT
SOUND MORE NATURAL. OR CAN YOU EDIT THIS TO MAKE IT
SOUND MORE CONCISE? >> TEACHERS DIFFER ON WHETHER
THEY ENCOURAGE STUDENTS TO USE A.I. IN THE CLASSROOM OR AVOID
IT COMPLETELY. PROFESSORS LIKE NATE YOUNG TEACH
STUDENTS TO THINK CRITICALLY ABOUT HOW TO USE A.I. PROGRAMS.
>> I'M NOT TRYING TO GEAR THEM TOWARDS NOT USING IT OR GEAR
THEME TOWARDS USING IT. I JUST WANT THEM TO UNDERSTAND
WHAT IT IS AND HOW THEY CAN MAKE INFORMED CHOICES ABOUT ITS USE
IN SCHOOL AND BEYOND SCHOOL AS WELL. >> DURING CLASS, YOU
NG INVITES HIS STUDENTS TO HAVE OPEN
CONVERSATIONS ABOUT A.I., INCLUDING HOW TO USE IT TO
BRAINSTORM AND NARROW DOWN WRITING IDEAS.
>> THE COLLEGE WRITING CLASSROOM IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER,
PRECISELY BECAUSE I THINK IT'S ONE OF THE ONLY PLACES WHERE
STUDENTS WILL BE TAUGHT HOW TO RESPONSIBLY USE THAT TECHNOLOGY.
>> BUT MANY STUDENTS ARE HOPING TO TACKLE THESE QUESTIONS
THEMSELVES. >> WE SHOULD GET THUS.
IT'S NO BIG DEAL. >> BEN HAM FOUNDED THE WISCONSIN
A.I. SAFETY INITIATIVE CLUB TO GET STUDENTS THINKING ABOUT
BROADER QUESTIONS WHEN IT COMES TO A.I. SAFETY IN SOCIETY.
>> WHAT IF WE CREATE A STUDENT GROUP THAT CAN HELP MANY
STUDENTS YEAR AFTER YEAR INTO THIS REALLY IMPORTANT FIELD,
EDUCATING FOLKS ON IT AND RAISING AWARENESS FOR THE
PROBLEMS THERE. >> THE ORGANIZATION MEETS
THROUGHOUT THE SEMESTER TO DISCUSS USING A.I. TO SOLVE
ISSUES FROM CLIMATE CHANGE TO GLOBAL HEALTH.
THEY ALSO TALK ABOUT THE DANGERS OF A.I..
ANOTHER IS POTENTIAL BIAS OR EVEN PERSONAL TARGETING.
>> TARGET THIS INFORMATION PARTICULARLY YOU'RE SUSCEPTIBLE
TO GIVEN YOUR BIASES. >> AS THE EARLY STAGES OF
GENERATIVE A.I. EVOLVE, STUDENTS LIKE HAM STRIVE TO LEARN HOW TO
SAFELY INTEGRATE THIS NEW TECHNOLOGY INTO PEOPLE'S LIVES.
>> BUCKLE UP. GET READY FOR THIS.
BE AWARE WHAT'S HAPPENING. >> FOR "HERE AND NOW," I'M JANE
McCAULEY. >> FOR MORE ON THIS AND OTHER
ISSUES FACING WISCONSIN, VISIT OR WEBSITE AT PBSWISCONSIN.ORG
AND THEN CLICK ON THE NEWS TAB. THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG. HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS WI
SCONSIN.