>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION. >> YOU'RE WATCHING "HERE AND
NOW" 2024 ELECTION COVERAGE. >> HELLO, MILWAUKEE.
>> BATTLEGROUND WISCONSIN. PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN MAKES HIS
SECOND VISIT TO THE STATE THIS YEAR.
COURT TAKES A SWING AT BRINGING BACK
BALLOT DROP BOXES. I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER ZAC
COURT RECONSIDERING ABSENTEE SCHULTZ ON THE STATE SUPREME
BALLOT DROP BOXES. CRITICAL SHORTAGES OF LICENSED
PRACTICAL NURSES IN WISCONSIN HOSPITALS, LESSONS LEARNED FOUR
YEARS AFTER THE COVID EMERGENCY WAS DECLARED IN WISCONSIN, AND
POLITICAL PANELIST, ROSS McCOSHEN, SAYS THE
PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN IS ON. IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR MARCH
15. >> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS WI
SCONSIN.
>> WE START TONIGHT WITH THE QUESTION OF WHETHER THE
WIDESPREAD USE OF ABSENTEE BALLOT DROP BOXES WILL BE COMING
BACK FOR THE NOVEMBER ELECTION. >> THIS WEEK, WISCONSIN'S
LIBERAL MAJORITY SUPREME COURT DECIDED TO CONSIDER AN APPEAL TO
THE COURT'S RULING OF LESS THAN TWO YEARS AGO THAT THE DROP
BOXES OR ILLEGAL AND THAT BALLOTS MUST BE PERSONALLY
DELIERED TO THE MUNICIPAL CLERK.
THE COURT'S CONSERVATIVE DISSENT HARSHLY CONDEMNED THE NEW ORDER
CALLING IT, QUOTE, ANOTHER SHAMELESS EFFORT BY THE MAJORITY
TO READJUST THE BALANCE OF POLITICAL POWER IN WISCONSIN.
-APPROVED BY THE STATE ELECTIONS COMMISSION FOR USE IN 2020
DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC, MORE THAN 500 ABSENTEE BALLOT DROP
BOXES ACROSS WISCONSIN ALLOWED CONTACTLESS VOTING, BUT WHEN
DONALD TRUMP LOST THE ELECTION, HIS BLAME INCLUDED THE BOXES,
CASTING DOUBT ON THE RESULTS. IN 2022, THE THEN-CONSERVATIVE
MAJORITY WISCONSIN HIGH COURT RULED THEY WERE ILLEGAL FOR
FUTURE ELECTIONS. FAST FORWARD TO TODAY AND
THEY'RE UP FOR CONSIDERATION AGAIN.
HERE AND NOW SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER ZAC SCHULTZ IS HERE
WITH MORE. HI, ZAC.
>> HELLO, FRED. >> SO HOW UNUSUAL IS IT FOR A
COURT TO REACH BACK TO DECIDED LAW AND CONSIDER AN APPEAL?
>> WELL, IT DOESN'T HAPPEN VERY OFTEN, BUT THERE ARE SOME HIGH
PROFILE EXAMPLES. ON A NATIONAL SCALE, DOBBS
OVERTURNING ROE VERSUS WADE JUST A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO IS
OBVIOUSLY A PRETTY BIG ONE THAT HAS POLITICAL RAMIFICATIONS, BUT
THERE'S ACTUALLY PRECEDENT HERE IN WISCONSIN.
BACK IN 2016, THE CONSERVATIVE SUPREME COURT RULED THAT THE
LEGISLATURE HAD OVERSIGHT OVER THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC
INSTRUCTION IN THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT.
HAVE OVERSIGHT. FLASH FORWARD JUST A COUPLE OF
YEARS LATER AND THE MAKEUP CHANGED WE KNOW JUSTICE KELLY
JOINED THE COURT, SO THEY OVERTURNED AN EXAMPLE.
WHEN I ASKED HIM WHY, HE SAID THAT WAS BECAUSE THAT ORIGINAL
DECISION WAS FRACTURED, IT WASN'T A SOLID MAJORITY THAT
MADE IT UP. IT WAS CONCURRING OPINIONS.
AND THE REASON THAT'S IMPORTANT IN THIS EXAMPLE, FREDERICA, IS
BECAUSE THE TEAGUEN DECISION FROM JULY 2022 WAS ALSO A VERY
FRACTURED MAJORITY OPINION. IN THAT CASE, JUSTICE BRIAN
HAGEDORN JOINED THE MAJORITY FOR ONLY ABOUT HALF OF THE ACTUAL
MAJORITY OPINION. HE CONCURRED WITH ONLY 30 OF 87
PARAGRAPHS IN THE ENTIRE DECISION.
E CONCURRENCES AND SO THE ONLY THING THAT
STANDS OUT OF THAT ORIGINAL DECISION IS THAT DROP BOXES ARE
NOT VALID IN STATE LAW BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED, BUT
THEY'RE ALSO NOT NOT ALLOWED, AND THAT'S WHAT THIS DECISION IS
GOING TO TAKE A LOOK AT AGAIN. >> SO I CAN SEE HOW THIS IS RIPE
FOR THAT APPEAL, BUT THE CONSERVATIVE DISSENT TO THIS
ORDER SAYS THAT BY GRANTING IT, QUOTE, THE MAJORITY AIMS TO
INCREASE THE ELECTORAL PROCESS EXPECTS OF ITS PREFERRED
POLITICAL PARTY. IS IT PROVEN THAT BALLOT DROP
BOXES HELPED DEMOCRATS? >> WELL, CERTAINLY IN 2020, MORE
DEMOCRATS TOOK ADVANTAGE OF DROP BOXES AND ABSENTEE VOTING THAN
REPUBLICANS DID. HISTORICALLY, THAT'S NOT ALWAYS
THE CASE. DIFFERENT STATES VOTE LARGELY BY
MAIL. OTED
ABSENTEE IN FLORIDA IN PRIOR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS, BUT IT
WAS TRUMP WHO MADE THE CASE AGAINST ABSENTEE VOTING IN 2020
AND THE LEAD-UP TO THAT ELECTION THAT CONVINCED A LOT OF
REPUBLICANS NOT TO TRUST THAT PROCESS AND THEN IT WAS TRUMP
AFTER THE ELECTION THAT MADE IT PART OF HIS CONSPIRACY THEORIES
ABOUT FRAUD IN THE ELECTORATE THAT TURNED REPUBLICANS AGAINST
IT. BUT IMPORTANTLY, REPUBLICANS,
INCLUDING THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF WISCONSIN, IS TRYING TO SHIFT
BACK TO ABSENTEE BALLOTING FOR THIS ELECTION.
THEY'VE MADE A BIG PART OF THEIR PLATFORM BECAUSE THEY UNDERSTAND
IT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT IN TRYING TO WIN ELECTION.
>> SO AS THE CONSERVATIVE MINORITY ON THE WISCONSIN'S HIGH
COURT THINKS THAT IT'S A POLITICAL KIND OF DECISION ON
THE PART OF THE LIBERAL MAJORITY.
WOULDN'T OUTLAWING THESE BOXES MEAN THE FORMER CONSERVATIVE
MAJORITY WAS AIMING TO INCREASE THE ELECTORAL PROSPECTS OF ITS
PREFERRED POLITICAL PARTY? >> WELL, CERTAINLY, THE DECISION
FELL IN LINE WITH WHAT THE STANDARD BEARER, AT THAT TIME,
FORM PRESIDENT TRUMP WANTED, AND WHAT THE MAGA OPINION THROUGHOUT
MOST OF THE CUB WAS, IS THAT DROP BOXES ARE RIPE FOR FRAUD.
THAT CERTAINLY HASN'T BEEN PROVEN IN MOST CASES.
IT CERTAINLY WASN'T PROVEN IN WISCONSIN.
THAT PLACES IN RURAL WISCONSIN WOULD BENEFIT
JUST AS MUCH FROM DROP BOXES BECAUSE CLERKS AREN'T ALWAYS
PRESENTLY FOR SOMEONE TO COME IN AND VOTE ABSENTEE IN PERSON
EARLY AND THEN DROP BOX WOULD BE A NICE EASY WAY FOR SOMEONE TO
DROP OFF A BALLOT. RURAL WISCONSIN BEING SLIGHTLY
MORE CONSERVATIVE THAN URBAN WISCONSIN.
>> RIGHT. WHAT ABOUT THE ISSUE OF SOWING
CHAOS IN NOVEMBER FOR ELECTION OFFICIALS HAVING TO GIVE
GUIDANCE TO CLERKS? HOW LIKELY IS IT THAT THIS WOULD
CONTINUE TO BE LITIGATED? >> WELL, IT'S UNLIKELY IN THE
SENSE THAT THE SUPREME COURT IS FAST-TRACKING THIS.
THEY WANT ORAL ARGUMENTS BY MAY, LIKELY A DECISION BY JUNE, SO
THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF TIME BEFORE WE GET TO THE AUGUST
PRIMARY BEFORE A DECISION WOULD HAVE TO COME UP IN THAT CASE SO
A DECISION WOULD BE IN PLACE. IT'S UNLIKELY IT COULD BE
APPEALED TO THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT SO THAT DECISION
WOULD BE FINAL, BUT THERE'S ALWAYS LAWSUITS IN THE LAST
COUPLE OF MONTHS BEFORE AN ELECTION.
>> HOW SURPRISING IS IT THAT IT'S FAST-TRACKED IN THIS WAY?
I MEAN, I GET IT THAT THEY'RE UP AGAINST THE NOVEMBER ELECTION,
BUT THIS SUPREME COURT SEEMS TO BE MAKING SOME MOVES DIFFERENTLY
THAN THE LAST COURT. >> THAT'S RIGHT.
WITH THE LIBERAL MAJORITY TOOK OVER, THEY CHANGING SOME OF THE
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESS TO MAKE SURE THAT THINGS COULD GO ALONG
SMOOTHLY AND QUICKLY IN A LOT OF THESE EXPEDITED CASES.
IN PART, THAT'S BECAUSE TRADITIONALLY THE CHIEF JUSTICE
OF THE SUPREME COURT HAS A LOT OF POWER OVER HOW FAST DECISIONS
MOVE ALONG AND THAT SUPREME COURT CHIEF JUSTICE IS A
CONSERVATIVE. ALS HAVE CREATED A
NEW PROCESS TO MAKE THINGS FASTER, IN THIS CASE, EXPEDITING
THIS CASE SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE A DECISION BEFORE THE END OF
THIS TERM, WHICH WILL AFFECT THE FALL ELECTION.
>> ZAC SCHULTZ, THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> AS TO ABSENTEE BALLOTS IN ITS FINAL SESSION DAY, THE STATE
SENATE DECLINED TO TAKE UP THE BILL TO LET CLERKS GET A HEAD
START ON COUNTING THEM. ALSO, EIGHT MORE OF TONY EVERS
NOMINEES WERE REJECTED TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, INCLUDING TWO
ON THE UW BOARD OF REGENTS. IN OTHER BUSINESS, EVERS ONCE
AGAINST URGING THE LEGISLATURE TO RELEASE $15 MILLION TO HELP
SUPPORT HEALTHCARE WITH THE COMING CLOSURE OF HOSPITALS IN
EAU CLAIRE AND CHIPPEWA FALLS, CLOSURES THE WISCONSIN HOSPITAL
ASSOCIATION CALLS UNTHINKABLE, BUT PART OF FEARED RESULTS FROM
STAFF SHORTAGES AND FINANCIAL PRESSURES.
JUST OUT WITH ITS 2024 WISCONSIN HEALTHCARE
WORKFORCE REPORT, WHICH DESCRIBES A CRITICAL CONDITION.
ANN ZENK FROM THE WISCONSIN HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION JOINS US
NOW. THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. >> SO IN WHAT HOSPITAL POSITIONS
ARE THE SHORTAGES MOST ACUTE? >> I THINK THE BIGGEST IMPACT
RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE THERE'S SUCH A LARGE PART OF OUR WORKFORCE,
IS THE REGISTERED NURSE SHORTAGE.
>> AND SO WHAT HAPPENS FOR THE DAY-TO-DAYCARE OF PATIENTS WHEN
A HOSPITAL IS SHORT OF THOSE NURSES?
>> FOR NURSING, REGISTERED NURSES CAN FILL LOTS OF ROLES ON
HEALTHCARE TEAMS. SO A SHORTAGE LEAVES LOTS OF
GAPS. THAT MIGHT MEAN STAFF WORKING IN
ROLES BESIDES THE ONES THEY NORMALLY DO.
IT MIGHT MEAN THEY HAVE TO WORK IN DIFFERENT AREAS.
THEY'RE CERTAINLY BEING ASKED TO WORK EXTRA SHIFTS OR DIFFERENT
SHIFTS. ECT PATIENT
CARE? RIGHT?
BECAUSE THEY'RE TRYING TO DO EVERYTHING THEY CAN DO TO FILL,
BUT WHAT ABOUT PATIENT CARE? >> YEP.
YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT. HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS IN
HOSPITALS, IT'S OUR JOB TO MAKE SURE PATIENTS GET THE CARE THEY
úNEED, BUT WHEN THERE ARE STAFF SHORTAGES OR INTERRUPTIONS IN
THE CONTINUUM OF CARE, PATIENTS WAIT LONGER, THEY MIGHT HAVE TO
TRAVEL FARTHER FOR CARE, THEY MIGHT EVEN END UP COMING TO THE
EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT. >> WHY HASN'T THE STAFFING
SITUATION RIGHTED ITSELF FOLLOWING COVID?
>> THERE'S SO MANY FACTORS. I'D SAY THE PREDOMINANT ONE, AND
UNFORTUNATELY ONE THAT WE REALLY CAN'T INFLUENCE MUCH, IS WHAT WE
CALL THE SILVER TSUNAMI, THE SURGES OF RETIREMENT AS BABY
BOOMERS AGE. THAT'S A BIG GENERATION.
THE OTHER ISSUE FOR HEALTHCARE IS THAT NOT ONLY IS OUR
AVAILABLE WORKFORCE SHRINKING BUT HEALTHCARE DEMAND IS
ESCALATING. SO AS FAR AS THAT SILVER
TSUNAMI, AS YOU REFERRED TO IT, HOW LIKELY IS IT THAT PROGRAMS
PRODUCING A SCHOOL OF NURSING PIPELINE AND CAREER ADVANCEMENT
CAN KEEP PACE WITH THOSE RETIREMENTS?
OME OF THOSE PROGRAMS ARE NOW REALLY CRANKING
UP. >> YEP.
FOR SHORTER-TERM CREDENTIALS, THOSE FRONTLINE TECHNICAL
POSITIONS THAT TAKE A YEAR OR TWO TO ACHIEVE, WE MIGHT BE ABLE
TO CLOSE THOSE GAPS. FOR LONGER-TERM CREDENTIALS LIKE
NURSES AND PHYSICIANS, WE JUST CAN'T KEEP PACE WITH THE
INCREASED HEALTHCARE DEMAND AND THERE'S LOTS OF BABY BOOM NURSES
FROM THE '70s AND '80s WHO ARE NOW GOING TO RETIRE.
SO IT'S KIND OF UNLIKELY THAT OUR WORKFORCE CAN GROW FAST
ENOUGH. >> YOU SPOKE TO THIS AS WELL,
BUT ALL OF THIS IS HAPPENING IN A STATE, WISCONSIN, THAT'S
RANKED AS HAVING AN OLDER POPULATION, AND SO THIS OLDER
POPULATION NEEDS MORE CARE, FURTHER SQUEEZING THIS WHOLE
SITUATION. >> CORRECT.
WHAT WE'RE ALSO SEEING IN HOSPITALS AND HEALTH SYSTEMS IS
A PAIR SHIFT. THE INSURANCE PATIENTS HAVE,
THEIR PAYER IS CHANGING. AS WE ANA AGE, WE SHIFT FROM PRE
INSURANCE TO MEDICARE AND SOMETIMES AS OUR RESOURCE
SHRINK, EVEN TO MEDICAID, AND WE KNOW THAT MEDICARE AND MEDICAID
RATES DON'T COVER THE FULL COST OF CARE.
>> SO THIS IS HAPPENING ACROSS THE STATE.
OF COURSE IT'S ACUTELY FELT RIGHT NOW IN KIND OF THE
NORTHWEST PART OF THE STATE WITH THE CLOSURE OF 19 CLINICS AND
TWO HOSPITALS, ONE IN EAU CLAIRE, ONE IN CHIPPEWA
FALLS. TO THE
CLOSURE OF THOSE FACILITIES? >> WELL, YOU SAID IT.
UNTHINKABLE. RIGHT?
BUT IT'S ALSO A SIGNAL OF WHAT'S GOING ON IN HOSPITALS, NOT JUST
IN WISCONSIN, BUT ACROSS THE STATE.
GS. IT'S WORKFORCE SHORTAGES,
INCREASED LABOR COSTS, INCREASED SUPPLY COSTS, BUT WHEN YOU REACH
THAT BREAKING POINT OR THE COMBINATION OF FACTORS, IS WHEN
YOUR VOLUMES START TO SHIFT, WHEN YOU HAVE FEWER INPATIENTS
TO TAKE CARE OF, WHEN YOU'RE GETTING LESS REIMBURSEMENT
BECAUSE YOUR SERVICES YOU CAN OFFER ARE SHRINKING.
THAT CAN BE THE BREAKING POINT FOR HOSPITAL CLOSURE, BUT WE'RE
ALSO SEEING IT IN SERVICE CLOSURES ACROSS THE STATE.
>> SO VERY, VERY BRIEFLY, YOU SAY THAT THERE ARE SIGNS OF
HOPE. >> YES.
ABSOLUTELY. HOSPITALS ARE HAVING TO RELY
LESS ON TEMPORARY AGENCY STAFF, STAFF THAT LEFT DURING THE
PANDEMIC ARE COMING BACK. WE'RE SEEING THAT.
THAT'S GREAT. WE'RE ALSO SEEING FOR THE FIRST
TIME SINCE BEFORE THE PANDEMIC ENROLLMENTS INCREASE IN
HEALTHCARE PROGRAMS, AND THAT'S AWESOME.
>> WE'LL BE LOOKING TO NEXT YEAR'S REPORT TO SEE THE SIGNS
OF IMPROVEMENT. ANN ZENK, THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. >> FOUR YEARS AGO THIS WEEK, THE
STATE OF WISCONSIN DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY BECAUSE OF
COVID. THE VIRUS HAS TAKEN MORE THAN
16,000 LIVES IN WISCONSIN, AND WHILE THE THREAT HAS FADED, THE
EFFECTS OF THE PANDEMIC LINGER. "HERE AND NOW" REPORTER ADITI
DEBNATH SPOKE TO THE WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES,
DR. JASMINE ZAPATA TO TALK ABOUT LESSONS LEARNED AND CURRENT
STATUS. HER COMMENTS INCLUDE DISCUSSION
OF SUICIDE. >> WHERE DO WE STAND TODAY IN
WISCONSIN WITH COVID-19 INFECTIONS?
VE THAT IT'S BEEN FOUR YEARS.
IT SEEMS LIKE THAT TIME JUST WENT BY SO QUICKLY.
AS IT RELATES TO WISCONSIN, WE'RE ACTUALLY SEEING IN OUR
WASTEWATER LEVELS, OUR EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT VISITS AND OUR
PERCENT POSITIVITY THAT THE RATES ARE GETTING LOWER.
SO WE ARE DEFINITELY IN A BETTER PLACE THAN WE WERE FOUR YEARS
AGO. >> WHAT SHOULD OR COULD HAVE
PUBLIC HEALTH PROVIDERS DONE DIFFERENTLY DURING THE FIRST FEW
MONTHS OF THE PANDEMIC? >> THAT'S SUCH A GREAT QUESTION
AND WHEN YOU LOOK BACK, OF COURSE, HINDSIGHT IS 20/20
VISION. WE KNOW THINGS THAT COULD HAVE
BEEN DONE DIFFERENTLY. FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY I'M
REALLY PROUD OF THE FACT THAT WE ARE STILL HERE, THAT WE GOT
THROUGH THIS. THAT WAS A VERY, VERY HARD TIME.
WE'RE STILL FACING DIFFERENT COMPLICATIONS AND RIPPLE EFFECTS
FROM THE PANDEMIC, SO WE'RE NOT COMPLETELY DONE WITH THIS.
BUT I'M JUST PROUD OF THE FACT THAT WE ARE STANDING, WE ARE ARE
STILL HERE AND THAT WE LEARNED A LOT OF IMPORTANT LESSONS.
ONE OF THE BIGGEST LESSONS THAT I TRULY BELIEVE THAT WE LEARNED,
AND WHEN PEOPLE ASK WHAT COULD WE HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY IF WE
COULD GO BACK, IT'S REALLY A QUESTION OF IF WE COULD HAVE
GONE BACK IN TIME EVEN BEFORE THE PANDEMIC STARTED, CONTINUING
TO BUILD THAT TRUST BETWEEN OUR COMMUNITY AND HEALTHCARE AND
PUBLIC HEALTH. WHEN WE AS PUBLIC HEALTH
PROVIDERS AND AS A PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM WENT INTO COMMUNITIES AND
TALKED ABOUT VACCINES AND THIS IS A PANDEMIC AND EVERYBODY GET
VACCINATED, HERE'S WHAT TO DO TO BE SAFE, THE FACT THAT THERE
WERE SO MANY LIVES LOST BECAUSE OF A DISTRUST IN THE HEALTHCARE
SYSTEM, EVEN BECAUSE OF LACK OF ACCESS, BECAUSE OF MANY
DIFFERENT BARRIERS, THAT'S HEARTBREAKING.
THINGS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED, BUT THAT
WAS WORK THAT NEEDED TO BE DONE YEARS AND EVEN DECADES BEFORE
THE PANDEMIC STARTED. SO I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY ONE
THING THAT WE COULD HAVE DONE IMMEDIATELY AT THAT TIME.
THE REAL WORK IN PREVENTION NEEDED TO START EVEN YEARS
BEFORE THE PANDEMIC EVEN OCCURRED.
>> THE PANDEMIC ALSO CAUSED A LOT OF PROBLEMS AND PAIN FOR
HEALTHCARE WORKERS ON THE FRONTLINE.
TRY WILL NEVER RETURN BACK TO NORMAL.
AS A FRONTLINE WORKER AND A COMMUNITY DOCTOR, WHAT ARE SOME
OF THOSE PROBLEMS THAT ARE STILL LINGERING IN THE HEALTHCARE
FIELD? >> THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT
ISSUES, BUT ONE OF THEM IS BURN-OUT.
LD, WE HAVE ONE OF THE HIGHEST RATES OF
SUICIDE, AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT'S VERY DISTURBING.
I'VE PERSONALLY HAD COLLEAGUES THAT I'VE GONE OUT TO DINNER
WITH, THAT I'VE TALKED WITH ON THE PHONE, HAD CLOSE
RELATIONSHIPS DIE FROM SUICIDE, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS
HARD TO TALK ABOUT, BUT IF -- UNLESS WE TALK ABOUT IT MORE,
IT'S NEVER GOING TO CHANGE. SO IT WAS ALREADY A BAD PROBLEM,
BUT ESPECIALLY DUE TO THE PANDEMIC AND JUST THE WAY THAT
THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM WAS OVERWHELMED, THAT DEFINITELY HAD
A LONG-TERM IMPACT ON THE MENTAL HEALTH OF EVEN PROVIDERS.
>> DR. JASMINE ZAPATA, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> MM-HMM. THANK YOU.
>> TURNING TO WISCONSIN AS A KEY BATTLEGROUND STATE IN THE
NOVEMBER ELECTIONS, IT'S GAME ON.
THIS PAST TUESDAY'S PRIMARY ELECTIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY
CEMENTED DONALD TRUMP AND JOE BIDEN AS THE MAJOR PARTY
CANDIDATES FOR PRESIDENT. AGAIN.
CANDIDATES FOR U.S. SENATE IN WISCONSIN ARE ALSO OUT OF THE
CAMPAIGN CHUTES. WE CHECK IN NOW WITH OUR
POLITICAL PANELIST, REPUBLICAN BILL MCCOSHEN AND SCOT ROSS.
THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US. >> GREAT TO BE HERE.
>> TO START THINGS OFF, I MEAN, WE HAVE ONE CANDIDATE DESCRIBED
OFFICIALLY AS OLD AND FORGETFUL AND ANOTHER AS AN INDICTED
THREAT TO DEMOCRACY. GIVEN THAT, WHO IS IN A BETTER
POSITION HERE? BILL?
POLLS OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS HAVE
SAID THIS IS THE RACE NO ONE WANTED.
TWO-THIRDS OF VOTERS SAID THEY DIDN'T WANT A REMATCH FROM 2020,
YET HERE WE ARE. IT'S GROUNDHOG DAY IN AMERICA.
WE HAVE NOT SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS, A REMATCH OF PREVIOUS
CONTENDERS IN 68 YEARS. IKE VERSUS STEVENSON WAS THE
LAST TIME WE'VE SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS.
THE LAST TIME WE SAW A FORMER PRESIDENT RUN AGAINST A CURRENT
PRESIDENT WAS 134 YEARS AGO, GROVER CLEVELAND AGAINST
BENJAMIN HARRISON. SO IT'S PRETTY RARE.
>> DON'T YOU DARE MAKE A BIDEN JOKE.
>> IT'S PRETTY RARE IN AMERICAN POLITICS, AND, YOU KNOW, THIS
RACE I THINK IS ALREADY BAKED. THERE'S NOT A LOT OF UNDECIDEDS.
EVERYBODY NO, SIR THESE TWO PEOPLE.
THEY EITHER THINK BIDEN IS OLD OR TRUMP'S GOT ISSUES AFTER
ISSUES. SO, YOU KNOW, I HOPE IT'S NOT A
BATTLE TO THE BOTTOM, BUT I'M HOPING THAT BOTH OF THEM CAN
ELEVATE THE GAME AND INSPIRE AMERICA AND WIN THE JOB, BUT
WE'LL SEE OVER THE NEXT EIGHT MONTHS.
GEST PRESIDENTIAL JEN ELECTION WE'VE
EVER HAD. >> AND A BLOODBATH, I IMAGINE.
>> SO, SCOTT, WHAT ABOUT YOU? WHO DO YOU THINK IS IN A BETTER
POSITION GIVEN THE DESCRIPTIONS OF THESE TWO CANDIDATES?
>> I'D SAY THIS. SO YOUR HOUSE IS ON FIRE AND
YOU'VE GOT AN 81-YEAR OLD GUY WHO COMES FROM SCRANTON WITH A
BUCKET OF WATER FIRE HOSE AND A GUY, 77 I DO RECALL FROM NEW
YORK OR FLORIDA WHO COMES WITH A GALLON OF GASOLINE.
WHICH ONE ARE YOU GOING TO HIRE THE JOB THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE
WHICH IS TO PUT THE FIRE OUT IN YOUR HOUSE.
I THINK THIS IS BIDEN'S RACE TO LOSE, BUT THEY'VE GOT TO DO ALL
THE WORK, AND I CARE ABOUT WISCONSIN.
HAPPENED IN 2016 IS NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN
HERE AGAIN. LIKE THEY WILL INVEST, THEY'RE
INVESTING HEAVY. AT THE SAME TIME, THEY'RE DOING
ALL THAT INVESTING HERE, YOU'VE GOT THE STUFF WITH THE RNC WHERE
THEY'VE LOST DOZENS OF STAFFERS. THEY JUST ANNOUNCED THEY'RE
CLOSED OUTREACH CENTERS IN MILWAUKEE AND YOU'VE GOT A
CANDIDATE WHO NOW HAS TAKEN OVER THE RNC AND YOU DON'T KNOW IF
THEY'RE GOING TO SPEND THIS MONEY ON HOVDE AND BENNETT OR IF
THEY'RE GOING TO SPEND IT ON HIS LEGAL BILLS.
THERE'S A LOT THERE. ON THE ISSUES I THINK BIDEN HAS
IT TOP TO BOTTOM, STARTING WITH ABORTION, FIRST AND FOREMOST.
>> I'M SOMEWHAT AMAZED THAT I'M SAYING THAT DONALD TRUMP IS IN
THE FRONTRUNNER SPOT RIGHT NOW, NATIONALLY.
MOST NATIONAL POLLS. THERE'S A COUPLE THAT SHOW BIDEN
IN THE LEAD. ALL THE REST SHOW TRUMP IN THE
LEAD AND IT HAS HIM LEADING IN CRITICAL STATES LIKE MICHIGAN.
IPSOS HAD HIM UP THREE POINTS IN MICHIGAN AND THE PRO-PALESTINIAN
MOVEMENT IS PART OF BIDEN'S PROBLEM THERE.
AS IT RELATES TO WISCONSIN, I WOULD GIVE DONALD TRUMP AND HIS
TEAM THIS ADVICE. LESS IS MORE.
I WOULD GO GOLFING FOR THE NEXT EIGHT MONTHS.
I WOULD DO WHAT BIDEN DID IN 2020.
THAT HE HAS ARE VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE
HE'S VERY UNDISCIPLINED ON THE STUMP.
S, HE WINS THIS THING EASILY.
IF HE ENGAGES ALL THE WAY ALONG FOR THE NEXT EIGHT MONTHS, IT'S
GOING TO BE A COIN TOSS. >> HUH.
SO WHAT IS IT LIKE FOR ESTABLISHMENT REPUBLICANS TO GO
WISCONSIN? DON D TRUMP IN
OPTION. RIGHT?
RE -- I WANTED SOMEONE WHO COULD SERVE
TWO TERMS, WHO WAS MORE CONSERVATIVE.
I LOST. SO FOR ME, I'M HOPEFUL THAT
HE'LL PICK SOMEONE AS HIS RUNNING MATE THAT WILL APPEAL TO
THE SUBURBAN VOTERS. DONALD TRUMP DID NOT DO WELL
WITH THE SUBURBAN VOTERS IN WISCONSIN AND IN MULTIPLE OTHER
SWING STATES IN TO 20. HE HAS TO FIX THAT IN THIS
ELECTIONMENT IF HE PICKS A SYCOPHANT WHO IS JUST LOYAL TO
HIM, FIERCELY LOYAL TO HIM, I DON'T THINK THAT CHANGES THE
DYNAMIC FOR HIS ELECTION. HE NEEDS TO PICK SOMEBODY WHO
LOOKS LIKE THE FUTURE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.
>> I AGREE WITH WHAT BILL IS SAYING.
HE SHOULD DO THAT. I DON'T THINK HE WILL.
HE'S GOING TO PICK A SYCOPHANT. AND WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT
THE SUBURBAN VOTERS, TWO THINGS: ABORTION AND THE FACT THAT HE'S
CURRENTLY TRYING TO PAY OFF A DEFAMATORY SUIT AGAINST HIM BY A
VICTIM OF HIS SEXUAL ASSAULT. IF WOMEN WERE TURNED OFF BY
ABORTION, THAT'S JUST THE NAIL IN THE COFFIN.
AGAIN, GOT TO DO THE WORK. >> TOP TWO ISSUES ARE
IMMIGRATION OR THE BORDER AND THE ECONOMY, AND TRUMP'S RIGHT
SIDE UP ON THOSE. HE'S PLUS 10 AT LEAST ON BOTH OF
THOSE ISSUES. SO IF THE ELECTION IS ABOUT
THOSE TWO ISSUES IN THE FALL, HE'S GOING TO WIN.
>> IT'S INTERESTING, THE ISSUE OF THE ECONOMY.
I MEAN, I GUESS IT'S HOUSING COSTS THAT ARE MAKING PEOPLE
THINK THAT IT'S BAD, BUT BY OTHER METRICS, IT'S JUST NOT.
>> I'M GOING TO STIPULATE THAT A LOT OF THE ECONOMIC DATA IS GOOD
FOR THE PRESIDENT. IT IS NOT TRANCE RATING INTO
SUPPORT AT THE BALLOT BOX. VOTERS DON'T FEEL IT.
THEY DON'T SEE IT. AND UNLESS AND UNTIL THEY DO,
IT'S GOING TO BENEFIT DONALD TRUMP.
E U.S. SENATE RACE, REPUBLICAN ERIC
HOVDE IS ON THE RACE OF. HE WOULDN'T THE LAST TIME WE
SPOKE. ARE HIS DEEP POCKETS A THREAT?
>> I THINK THAT THE THREE BIG CHALLENGES THAT ERIC HOVDE HAS,
FIRST IS THAT HE'S FACING AN INCREDIBLY FORMIDABLE CANDIDATE
IN TAMMY BALDWIN, WHO HAS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT ACROSS THE
BOARD FOR WHAT SHE HAS DONE FOR THE STATE OF WISCONSIN, THE
DAIRY PRIDE ACT, THE A.C.A. AND LETTING 26-YEAR-OLDS BE ON
HEALTHCARE, THE ISSUE OF ABORTION AND BUY AMERICA.
THOSE THINGS, THINGS THAT WERE MADE PERMANENT BY PUT IN PLACE
WITH TRUMP'S SIGNATURE, MADE PERMANENT BY PRESIDENT BIDEN.
HOVDE, SO THAT'S HIS FIRST CHALLENGE.
ALLENGES ARE A LITTLE BIT, YOU KNOW, HE'S VERY
CLEARLY RUNNING HIS OWN CAMPAIGN, AND ANY CANDIDATE WHO
IS TRYING TO RUN THEIR OWN CAMPAIGN IS A DISASTER IN
WAITING AND THE THIRD POINT I WOULD SAY IS THAT HE'S TRYING --
AS HE'S TRYING TO CREATE A CULT OF PERSONALITY AROUND HIMSELF,
AND THERE'S ONLY ONE CULT FIGURE IN THE G.O.P. AND THAT'S TRUMP.
>> WE'RE GOING TO AGREE ON THE FIRST PART, TAMMY BALDWIN IS
GOING TO BE A TOUGH OUT. YOUR VIEWERS SHOULD BE REMINDED
THAT ONLY ONE STATEWIDE INCUMBENT LOST ANYWHERE IN THE
COUNTRY IN 2022 AND THAT WAS THE GOVERNOR OF NEVADA.
SO BEATING A STATEWIDE INCUMBENT IS A VERY HIGH MOUNTAIN TO
CLIMB. HAVING SAID THAT, I THINK ERIC
HOVDE'S OFF TO A VERY, VERY GOOD START.
THE FIELD.
VE A PRIMARY WHICH WILL ALLOW HIM TO
MANAGE HIS RESOURCES BETTER. TIM MICHAELS TWO YEARS AGO WAS
SPENDING NEARLY A MILLION DOLLARS A WEEK TO BEAT CLAYFISH
IN THE PRIMARY. HOVDE WON'T HAVE TO SPEND THAT
KIND OF MONEY TO GET THROUGH THE PRIMARY, BUT HE'S GOT TO
INTRODUCE HIMSELF TO WISCONSIN. THEY'VE BEEN NIMBLE ON HIS FEET
SO FAR. I LIKE THAT HE'S ADVERTISING IN
DANE COUNTY BECAUSE A REPUBLICAN CANNOT GET SWAMPED IN DANE AND
MILWAUKEE COUNTIES AND WIN STATEWIDE, SO I GIVE HIM AN "A"
FOR HIS FIRST MONTH ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.
>> WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE. THANKS VERY MUCH.
FOR MORE ON THIS AND OTHER ISSUES FACING WISCONSIN, VISIT
OUR WEBSITE, PBSWISCONSIN.ORG AND CLICK ON THE NEWS TAB.
THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT. I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
A GOOD WEEKEND.
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