WHAT TO MAKE OF THIS AS THE LATEST NATIONAL MARQUETTE LAW
SCHOOL POLL SHOWS IT AN EVEN RACE.
WE TURN TO ANTHONY CHERGOSKY, POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR AT
UW LACROSSE. THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. >> SO JOE BIDEN SAW MORE THAN
42,000 PEOPLE VOTE UNINSTRUCTED, PRESUMABLY OVER HIS POSITION ON
ISRAEL AND GAZA. HE ONLY WON WISCONSIN IN 2020 BY
20,000 VOTES. HOW BIG OF A RED FLAG IS THIS
FOR JOE BIDEN? >> I THINK IT'S A RED FLAG FOR
SURE BECAUSE WISCONSIN WAS DECIDED SO NARROWLY IN 2020.
IN FACT, THE UNINSTRUCTED MOVEMENT HAD A GOAL OF 20,000
VOTES AND THEY EASILY SURPASSED THAT.
20,000 WAS ROUGHLY THE MARGIN OF VICTORY FOR JOE BIDEN IN THE
LAST PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION HERE IN WISCONSIN BETWEEN BIDEN AND
TRUMP. SO IN WISCONSIN, ANY LITTLE
MOVEMENT OF VOTERS CAN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE, ANY LITTLE SHIFT
HERE AND THERE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
SO THERE ARE CERTAINLY SOME CAUSE -- THERE'S CERTAINLY SOME
CAUSE FOR CONCERN FOR THE BIDEN CAMPAIGN.
>> HOW LYLE DO YOU THINK IT WOULD BE TO CHANGE HIS POSITION
ON ISRAEL BECAUSE OF THIS? >> I'M NOT SURE HOW LIKELY IT
WOULD BE, FRED, BUT WHAT I CAN SAY IS THERE'S A LONG TIME
BETWEEN NOW AND THE NOVEMBER ELECTION.
THIS GENERAL ELECTION CAMPAIGN IS JUST HOW LONG IT'S GOING TO
BE. THERE'S A LIFETIME BETWEEN NOW
AND NOVEMBER, SO I CAN IMAGINE THAT THE POLICIES AND THE ISSUES
ARE GOING TO EVOLVE AND WE COULD BE IN A VERY DIFFERENT PLACE BY
THE TIME WE GET TO NOVEMBER. >> ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE
AISLE, DONALD TRUMP SAW MORE THAN 120,000 PEOPLE VOTE FOR
SOMEONE ELSE ON THE BALLOT, LIKE A NIKKI HALEY, AND HE HAD HIS
OWN 19,000 UNINSTRUCTED VOTERS. IS THIS WORSE FOR HIM OR FOR
BIDEN AT THIS POINT? >> I THINK THE TWO SIDES HAVE
DIFFERENT CONCERNS. FOR BIDEN, THE UNINSTRUCTED
MOVEMENT HAD SPECIFIC ISSUES WITH THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.
THEY HAD SPECIFIC OBJECTIONS TO THE POLICIES AND THE APPROACHES
OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION. ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, WE'VE
SEEN THIS TIME AND TIME AGAIN IN STATES DURING THIS NOMINATION
PROCESS, WHERE THERE'S A CERTAIN CHUNK OF REPUBLICAN VOTERS WHO
JUST AREN'T THERE WHEN IT COMES TO VOTING FOR DONALD TRUMP IN
NOVEMBER OR FEELING LIKE THEY'RE READY TO VOTE FOR DONALD TRUMP
IN NOVEMBER. WE'VE SEEN NIKKI HALEY
CONSISTENTLY PEEL OFF KEY VOTERS IN THE SUBURBS, THOSE
WHITE-COLLAR PROFESSIONALS, COLLEGE GRADUATES WHO HAVE
ALWAYS BEEN PROBLEMATIC FOR DONALD TRUMP WITHIN THE
REPUBLICAN COALITION. SO BIDEN AND TRUMP HAVE CONCERNS
COMING OUT OF THE APRIL ELECTION HERE IN WISCONSIN, BUT THOSE
CONCERNS ARE VERY DIFFERENT IN NATURE.
>> SO WHAT BREAKS LOOSE IF AN RFK, JR. INDEPENDENT MAKES IT
ONTO THE BALLOT? >> I THINK RFK COULD HAVE A KEY
IMPACT ON THE ELECTION, NOT BECAUSE HE HAS ANY SHOT OF
WINNING WISCONSIN, BUT BECAUSE HE COULD TAKE ON THAT SPOILER
ROLE. AND FROM THE APRIL ELECTION
RESULTS HERE IN WISCONSIN, WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE DEMOCRATS
WHO ARE UNHAPPY, BIDEN, WE KNOW THERE ARE REPUBLICANS WHAT ARE
UNHAPPY WITH TRUMP. THE KEY QUESTION IS IF
THIRD-PARTY CANDIDATES CAN BE THAT LANDING SPOT FOR VOTERS ON
EITHER SIDE WHO ARE NOT HAPPY WITH THE CANDIDATE OF THEIR
PARTY. ON EITHER SIDE PLUG THEIR NOSE
AND VOTE FOR THE CANDIDATE OF THEIR PARTY.
SO A LONG TIME TO GO BETWEEN NOW AND NOVEMBER, BUT I DO THINK THE
INFLUENCE OF THIRD PARTY CANDIDATES IS WELL WORTH
WATCHING. >> SO REPUBLICANS WON THEIR TWO
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS IN WISCONSIN PROHIBITING PRIVATE
GRANTS IN RUNNING ELECTIONS. HOW SUGGESTIVE IS THAT WIN WHEN
IT COMES TO ELECTION OUTCOMES IN NOVEMBER?
>> I AM A BIT HESITANT ABOUT MAKING PREDICTIONS FOR NOVEMBER
BASED ON THE APRIL ELECTIONS. WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO SEE
SUBSTANTIALLY HIGHER VOTER TURNOUT IN NOVEMBER AND THERE'S
A LOT OF TIME FOR THE CAMPAIGN TO PLAY OUT BETWEEN NOW AND
NOVEMBER, A LOT OF TIME FOR VOTERS TO MAKE UP THEIR MINDS.
AND THE PSYCHOLOGY OF VOTERS, THE DECISION-MAKING PROCESS OF
THE VOTERS IS GOING TO CHANGE AS WE GET CLOSER AND CLOSER TO
NOVEMBER. SO I'M NOT SURE I WOULD READ TOO
MUCH INTO IT, BUT WHAT I CAN SAY IS THAT REPUBLICANS WERE
EFFECTIVE AT MESSAGING THOSE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS, THEY
WERE EFFECTIVE OF FIRING UP THEIR BASE ON THE ELECTION OF
INTEGRITY. >> SO DONALD TRUMP CONTINUES TO
CAMPAIGN ON THE LIE, FRANKLY, THAT HE BEAT JOE BIDEN IN
WISCONSIN IN THE LAST ELECTION INCLUDING THIS WEEK IN GREEN
BAY. WHY IS THIS PERSUASION SO
ENDURING IN WISCONSIN AND ELSEWHERE?
TOP. LEADER OF THE REPUBLICAN FATTER
AND SO REPUBLICAN VOTERS ARE GOING TO RESPOND WHEN DONALD
TRUMP SAYS SOMETHING. FRED, I THINK IT SPEAKS TO THE
BIND THAT REPUBLICANS ARE IN. WE'VE HAD PEOPLE HIGHER UPS IN
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, PEOPLE LIKE RON JOHNSON, TRYING TO
ENCOURAGE REPUBLICAN VOTERS TO VOTE EARLY, VOTE BY MAIL, BUT
THEN DONALD TRUMP COMES TO GREEN BAY AND CASTS DOUBT ON VOTES BY
MAIL. SO WITH THE TRUMP INFLUENCE AND
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, FREQUENT DONALD TRUMP SAYING ONE THING
EVEN AS PARTY LEADERS ARE TRYING TO PUSH THE PARTY INTO A
DIFFERENT DIRECTION, SUCH AS WITH VOTE BY MAIL.
>> ALL RIGHT. WE LEAVE IT THERE.
ANTHONY CHERGOSKY, THANKS VERY MUCH.
>> IN EDUCATION NEWS, THE UW BOARD OF REGENTS THIS
WEEK-APPROVED A TUITION HIKE THAT AVERAGES NEARLY $400 MORE
PER YEAR. FOR MANY COLLEGE-BOUND STUDENTS,
PART OF PLANNING FOR COSTS INCLUDES FILLING OUT THE FREE
APPLICATION FOR FEDERAL STUDENT AID, OR FAFSA.
IT'S A NECESSARY STEP TO SEE WHAT THEIR FINANCIAL AID PACKAGE
LOOKS LIKE AND WHETHER OR WHERE THEY CAN ENROLL, BUT THIS YEAR,
THE FAFSA PROCESS IS A MESS FOR STUDENTS AND COLLEGES.
A NEW STREAMLINED FORM FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
CAME OUT MONTHS LATE, WAS DIFFICULT OR IMPOSSIBLE TO
ACCESS, AND THEN WAS FILLED WITH GLITCHES SO BAD, FINANCIAL AID
OFFICES AT COLLEGES CAN'T EVEN MOVE AID AWARDS ALONG.
IN WISCONSIN, MORE THAN 126,000 STUDENTS FILLED OUT THE FAFSA
LAST YEAR AND WERE AWARDED FINANCIAL AID.
FOR A LOOK INSIDE THE MESS HAPPENING THIS YEAR, WE TURN TO
KATIE WEISENBURGER, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF FEDERAL AWARDS OF
THE UW-MADISON OFFICE OF STUDENT FINANCIAL AID.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. >> QUITE THE SETUP.
I CAN'T EVEN BELIEVE YOU HAVE TIME TO BE HERE, BECAUSE I
UNDERSTAND THAT PEOPLE LIKE YOURSELVES ARE WORKING NIGHTS
AND WEEKENDS JUST TRYING TO DEAL WITH THIS.
WHAT IS HAPPENING IN YOUR OFFICE?
>> ABSOLUTELY. THINGS ARE CHANGING EVERY DAY.
SO WE ARE OFTEN ON PHONECALLS FIRST THING IN THE MORNING, LAST
THING AT NIGHT, SENDING MESSAGES TO EACH OTHER, MAKING DECISIONS
BASED ON THE CURRENT INFORMATION.
BEEN ON WEBINARS EVERY DAY WITH FEDERAL STUDENT AID, TRYING TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT'S HAPPENING AND WHAT WE CAN AND CANNOT DO.
>> SO HOW DELAYED ARE FINANCIAL AID AWARDS THIS YEAR?
>> THEY'RE EXTREMELY DELAYED. FOR AN EXAMPLE, AT UW-MADISON,
WE TYPICALLY HAVE AID OFFERS OUT FOR OUR NEW STUDENTS IN JANUARY,
AND IT'S APRIL AND WE'RE -- WE ARE GETTING CLOSER BUT WE'RE NOT
QUITE THERE YET. >> HOW MANY UW-MADISON
APPLICANTS ARE AFFECTED? >> ALL OF OUR UW-MADISON
APPLICANTS ARE AFFECTED, OR I SHOULD CLARIFY, ANYBODY WHO IS
APPLYING FOR FINANCIAL AID. >> ARE THERE CONCERNS THAT
STUDENTS WILL END UP NOT ATTENDING BECAUSE OF THIS?
>> CERTAINLY, THERE ARE CONCERNS.
CERTAINLY ACROSS THE STATE AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
>> WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES OF THE PROBLEMS THAT PEOPLE ARE
EXPERIENCING WITH THIS FAFSA FORM?
TECHNICAL ISSUES. AT THE BEGINNING, THERE WERE
SOME STUDENTS AND FAMILIES WHO COULDN'T COMPLETE THE
APPLICATION AT ALL. MOST OF THOSE TECHNICAL ISSUES
HAVE BEEN RESOLVED, BUT THE BIGGEST ISSUE RIGHT NOW IS THAT
PEOPLE JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO RECEIVE FOR
FINANCIAL AID. SO IT'S REALLY HARD TO MAKE
THOSE DECISIONS ABOUT WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO GO TO SCHOOL,
WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO STUDY WITHOUT HAVING ALL OF THE
INFORMATION. TYPICALLY, WE ARE RECEIVING
FAFSA RECORDS IN OCTOBER AND WE JUST STARTED TO RECEIVE THEM AND
WE HAVE JUST BEEN TOLD THAT AT LEAST 20% MAY NOT BE ACCURATE.
SO NOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION TO REPROCESS THOSE FAFSA RECORDS SO WE CAN HAVE
ACCURATE INFORMATION. >> SO HAS YOUR OFFICE, THEN,
BEEN INUNDATED WITH CONCERNED STUDENTS AND FAMILIES?
>> YES. YES, WE HAVE.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, THERE'S JUST NOT A LOT WE CAN SAY BECAUSE WE
DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING AND WHEN IT'S GOING TO
HAPPEN. FAMILIES HAVE BEEN ABSOLUTELY
PATIENT AND UNDERSTANDING, BUT IT'S VERY STRESSFUL,
PARTICULARLY FOR THOSE FAMILIES THAT HAVE -- THIS IS MAYBE THEIR
FIRST TIME APPLYING FOR FINANCIAL AID, SENIORS IN HIGH
SCHOOL TRYING TO MAKE THAT BIG DECISION ABOUT WHERE THEY'RE
GOING TO ATTEND COLLEGE. >> SO WHAT IS YOUR GUIDANCE,
THEN, TO FAMILIES AND BE STUDENTS IN THE MIDST OF THIS IS
THIS. PATIENT.
PLEASE BE KIND. BUT MOSTLY, CHECK YOUR EMAILS,
PARTICULARLY THE STUDENT'S EMAIL.
SO PARENTS OFTEN CHECK THEIR EMAILS, BUT WE WANT THE STUDENT
TO CHECK THEIR EMAILS BECAUSE IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT WE NEED,
WE WILL EMAIL THAT STUDENT DIRECTLY.
IS TO PAY ATTENTION TO THOSE EMAILS AND THOSE COMMUNICATIONS.
>> SO HOW IS THE ADMISSIONS OFFICE DEALING WITH ALL OF THIS?
BECAUSE THAT'S THE UPSTREAM PROBLEM.
RIGHT? >> SURE, YES, YEAH.
OUR ADMISSIONS TEAM HAS BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE OF OUR FINANCIAL
AID OFFICE, AND THE BIGGEST THING THAT THEY HAVE DONE IS
THEY HAVE MOVED THE DECISION DATE FROM MAY 1st TO MAY
15th, AND A LOT OF OTHER SCHOOLS HAVE DONE THAT ACROSS
WISCONSIN AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
THAT'S THE BIGGEST IMPACT THAT WE'VE DONE FOR OUR STUDENTS
HERE. HAVE IN-PERSON SESSIONS THIS
MONTH TO HELP STUDENTS WITH FAFSA.
>> YES. >> ONE OF THEM HAPPENED TODAY.
>> YEAH. >> IN YOUR TENURE AS A FINANCIAL
AID OFFICER, HOW EXTRAORDINARY IS THIS YEAR?
>> THIS IS THE CRAZIEST YEARS I'VE EVER SEEN IN MY 23 YEARS IN
FINANCIAL AID IN HIGHER EDUCATION.
AND I THINK IN THE LONG RUN, A YEAR FROM NOW, THIS IS GOING TO
BE WONDERFUL BECAUSE MORE PEOPLE WILL HAVE ACCESS TO THE FEDERAL
PELL GRANT, IT'S AN EASIER APPLICATION, JUST BUT RIGHT NOW
THE PROCESS OF IMPLEMENTING IT HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE.
TO PUT IT FRANKLY. >> TO PUT IT FRANKLY.
ALL RIGHT. WELL, KATIE WEISENBURGER, THANKS
VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> IN CONSUMER NEWS RELATED TO HEALTHCARE, PEOPLE WHO SIGNED UP
FOR MARKETPLACE AFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE ACT PLANS SHOULD BE
AWARE OF UNSCRUPULOUS INSURANCE BROKERS WHO COULD DO A BAIT AND
SWITCH. SWITCHING PEOPLE'S EXISTING
PLANS WITHOUT THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND POCKETING EXCESS PREMIUMS
ACCORDING TO THE KAISER FAMILY FOUNDATION.
IN WISCONSIN, MORE THAN 250,000 PEOPLE ARE ON ACA PLANS THROUGH
THE FEDERAL MARKETPLACE. CAROLINE GOMEZ-TOM IS AN ACA
ENROLLMENT NETWORK AND ACCESSIBILITY MANAGER FOR
COVERING WISCONSIN. SHE JOINS US NOW AND THANKS VERY
MUCH FOR BEING HERE. >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME,
FREDERICA. IN WISCONSIN MIGHT BE VICTIMS OF
THESE WEB INSURANCE BROKERS? >> WE'RE STILL KIND OF
UNDERSTANDING AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE VOLUME OF VOLKS
TFOLKSTHAT ARE IMPACTED BY THIS. WE WERE BROUGHT AWARE OF THIS
BASED ON SOME OF OUR NAVIGATORS WHO HAVE SEEN INDIVIDUALS COME
TO US BECAUSE THEY WERE DULY ENROLLED IN MEDICAID OR THE
MARKETPLACE AND WE'RE HEARING IT FROM OTHER STATES WHERE THEY'RE
GETTING A LOT MORE MALICIOUS PREDATORS, ESSENTIALLY, WHO ARE
TRYING TO TARGET SPECIFIC COMMUNITIES, BUT WE'RE
DEFINITELY SEEING MORE COME UP WEEK AFTER WEEK.
>> WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES YOU'VE SEEN IN TERMS OF UNSUITABLE
POLICIES BECAUSE OF COVERAGE OF COST?
IS SOMEONE IS ACTUALLY STILL ELIGIBLE OR ENROLLED IN
MEDICAID, WHICH IS THE STATE'S PROGRAM FOR LOWER INCOME FOLKS,
AND EITHER THEY ARE UP FOR RENEWAL SOON OR THEY DO NEED TO
RENEW AND SOMEONE EITHER REACHES OUT TO THEM PROACTIVELY, SOMEHOW
GETTING THEIR CONTACT INFORMATION AND THERE'S A WAY OF
SOMEONE JUST PUT HEALTH INSURANCE IN A GOOGLE SEARCH AND
WENT TO A BAD WEBSITE. THEY COULD HAVE ACCIDENTALLY GOT
ON THIS LIST OF NUMBERS THAT PEOPLE WILL CALL.
OTHERWISE, IT'S ACTUALLY SOMEONE THAT MAYBE THEY REACHED OUT,
TOO, BUT THEY'RE OUT OF STATE AND THEY'RE NOW GETTING SIGNED
UP FOR A MARKETPLACE PLAN, USUALLY A ZERO-DOLLAR A MONTH
PLAN, BUT BECAUSE THEY ACTUALLY SHOULD STILL BE ON MEDICAID, ARE
NOW DUALLY ENROLLED IN THESE PROGRAMS, AND IT'S NOT UNTIL
THEY'RE ACTUALLY TRYING TO SEEK HEALTHCARE OR TAX TIME WHEN NOW
THE I.R.S. IS SAYING THEY HAVE TO RECONCILE TAX CREDITS THAT
THEY NEVER KNEW THEY HAD, THEY'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
WHAT WENT WRONG. >> SO I UNDERSTAND THAT MANY OF
THESE BROKERS DOING THIS ARE OUT OF STATE.
>> WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANY BAD ACTORS THAT ARE FROM WISCONSIN,
SO I WANT TO LEAD WITH THAT. AND WE ACTUALLY DO A REALLY GOOD
JOB OF WORKING WITH OUR AGENT AND BROKER COMMUNITY HERE IN
WISCONSIN. PARTNER WITH THEM, AND WE
ACTUALLY HAVE QUITE A LENGTHY SCREENER BEFORE WE EVEN INCLUDE
THEM IN HOW WE ADVERTISE FOR ENROLLMENT ASSISTANCE.
>> SO WHAT CAN PEOPLE DO TO PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM THIS?
>> SO, OF COURSE, KNOWING THE WEBSITE THAT YOU'RE PUTTING IN
REGARDING SEEKING ENROLLMENT FOR HEALTH INSURANCE, MAKING SURE
THAT IT HAS A .GOV ENDING. IF YOU'RE ENROLLING IN THE
HEALTH INSURANCE MAIRKT PLACE, IT'S HEALTHCARE.GOV.
AND THEN YOU'RE SEEKING ASSISTANCE AND YOU'RE TALKING TO
SOMEONE ON THE PHONE OR SOMEONE REACHES OUT TO YOU, DON'T
HESITATE TO ASK QUESTIONS, BECAUSE IF THERE'S ANY RED
FLAGS, YOU SHOULD JUST STOP THE CONVERSATION AND SAY, I WILL
CALL SOMEONE IF I NEED ADDITIONAL HELP AND JUST END IT
THERE. BUT ASKING QUESTIONS LIKE WHAT'S
YOUR LICENSE NUMBER? WHO ARE YOU -- WHO DO YOU WORK
FOR? THE OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER
OF INSURANCE OR COVERING WISCONSIN OR THE HEALTH
INSURANCE MARKETPLACE? ANY PERSON WHO IS LEGITIMATELY
TRYING TO HELP YOU CAN EASILY ANSWER ANY OF THOSE QUESTIONS
AND USUALLY AUTOMATICALLY GOES THROUGH A CONSENT PROCESS.
WE ALWAYS JUST ENCOURAGE FOLKS EVEN TO CALL US DIRECTLY FROM
THE GET-GO, BECAUSE EVEN IF IT'S JUST A QUESTION TO MAKE SURE
THEY'RE AT THE RIGHT SPOT, LIKE WE'D RATHER THEM DO THAT THAN BE
UNSURE AND THEN FIND OUT THE HARD WAY.
>> YEAH. THANK YOU FOR THAT IMPORTANT
INFORMATION FOR WHAT PEOPLE SHOULD LOOK FOR.
CAROLINE GOMEZ-TOM, THANKS SO MUCH.
>> HEADING UP NORTH, THE STORY AND HISTORY OF OPPRESSION AND
RESISTANCE OF NATIVE TRIBE ALONG LAKE SUPERIOR IS TOLD IN A NEW
DOCUMENTARY CALLED BAD RIVER. THE FILM TRAVELS CENTURIES BACK
IN TIME CHRONICLING BROKEN TREATIES, LAND LOSS AND ATTEMPTS
TO WIPE OUT THEIR IDENTITY. BUT DEFIANCE AND RESILIENCY
REMAIN THE COMMON THREAD TO OVERCOMING STRUGGLE.
THE BAD RIVER BAND IS FIGHTING THE EXISTENCE OF A 70-YEAR OLD
PIPELINE FROM ENBRIDGE FROM CANADA.
LINE 5 IS ON LAND LEASED BY THE BAND IN A LEGAL AGREEMENT LONG
EXPIRED. MOREOVER, EXPERTS FEAR THE
IMMINENT RUPTURE OF THE AGING INFRASTRUCTURE.
WANTS THE LAND FOR THEIR OWN PROFIT.
THE LAST AUTHORITY OF DENIAL FOR US.
THE TRIBE, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE YOUR MANAGER.
>> IT'S OUTRAGEOUS THAT ENBRIDGE CONTINUED TO PUMP.
>> YOU HAVE A VITAL RESOURCE AND EFFECTIVELY YOU HAVE TRIBAL
COMMUNITY SAYING WE WANT TO SHUT ALL OF THAT DOWN AND WE DON'T
CARE ABOUT THE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE THAT ARE DEPENDENT ON
540,000 BARRELS OF OIL THAT ARE GOING THROUGH THAT PIPELINE ON A
DAILY BASIS. >> MY LITTLE TRIBE IS STANDING
UP AND SAYING, WE'RE PROTECTING THE WATER, NOT JUST FOR US,
WE'RE PROTECTING WATER FOR THE PLANET.
>> FILMMAKER, MARY MAZZIO AND FORMER CHAIRMAN OF THE BAD RIVER
BAND, MIKE WIGGINS, JOINS US NOW.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US. >> FIRST TO YOU, MIKE.
WHEN YOU FIRST SAW THIS FILM, WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION?
>> MY FIRST REACTION WAS ACTUALLY I HAD A VERY POWERFUL
EMOTIONAL REACTION. THE CHRONICLING OF THE BAD RIVER
HISTORY, SOME OF IT NOT BEING THE EASIEST TO LISTEN TO AND
WATCH, CULMINATING WITH THE EXPRESSION OF VALUES AS IT
PERTAINS TO THE SEVENTH GENERATION, OUR CHILDREN THAT
ARE STILL ON THE WAIT AND ALSO OUR LANDSCAPES AND OUR WATERS.
IT JUST WAS A VERY, VERY POWERFUL KIND OF REACTION FOR ME
WAS BASICALLY TEARS. >> WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO
ENBRIDGE SAYING THAT THE TRIBE DOESN'T CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE
WHO DEPEND ON THE 540,000 GALLONS OF OIL GOING THROUGH
THAT PIPELINE EVERY DAY? >> WELL, THAT'S A
CHARACTERIZATION FROM A CORPORATION, A PRIVATE
CORPORATION BEING OPERATED FOR PROFIT AND OBVIOUSLY THE REST OF
THAT STORY IS WE HAVE OUR SET OF VALUES AND OUR CONCERNS THAT
DRINKING WATER, AQUIFERS, THE ABILITY FOR OUR PEOPLE TO STAY
IN OUR FOREVER HOME NOW AND INTO THE FUTURE, AND SO I REALLY
THINK IT'S PART OF THE LOW BROW BOOK OF TACTICS THAT ENBRIDGE
HAS UNLEASHED ON OUR PEOPLE TRYING TO CHARACTERIZE US IN A
NEGATIVE WAY WHEN REALLY THERE ARE OPTIONS, THERE ARE OTHER
PIPELINES THAT ARE RUNNING TO THOSE PARTICULAR PEOPLE AND
AREAS AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, THAT ENBRIDGE SPOKESPERSON IS
REALLY TALKING ABOUT HIS VERY OWN CORPORATE PROFIT.
>> MARY, WHY WAS THIS FILM IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO MAKE?
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING US, FREDERICA.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A STORY THAT HAS NOT HERETOFORE
HAD VERY MUCH ATTENTION AND IT'S ABOUT THIS SMALL NATIVE
COMMUNITY THAT, WITH MONUMENTAL EFFORT, IS LOOKING TO PROTECT A
RESOURCE, AND AS FARM FORMER CHN HAS SAID, IT'S THE FRESH WATER
OF AMERICA. HERE ARE PEOPLE FIGHTING TOOTH
AND NAIL TO PROTECT THE RESOURCE, TURNING DO DOWN $80
MILLION AT LAST CHECK TO SETTLE THE CASE AND THEY'RE DOING IT
NOT FOR THEMSELVES, THEY'RE DOING IT FOR ALL OF US.
AND THAT IS A REMARKABLE ACT OF SELFLESSNESS, OF LONG-TERM
THINKING, AND FOR ME AS A NONNATIVE, WHAT A ADJOURN THIS
HAS BEEN AND IF ONLY I CAN START THINKING IN A MORE
GROUP-ORIENTED WAY WHAT IS BETTER FOR COMMUNITY, WHAT IS
BETTER FOR SOCIETY, HOW AMAZING WOULD THAT BE IF MORE OF US
COULD DO THAT. >> MIKE, BACK TO YOU.
A FEDERAL JUDGE GAVE ENBRIDGE THREE YEARS TO REMOVE THE
PIPELINE. THAT?
>> WELL, THE VERY -- THE ELEPHANT IN THE CORNER ON
NOTIONS OF REMOVAL CENTER AROUND ENBRIDGE'S DESIRE TO REROUTE,
STAYING WITHIN THE WATERSHED. THE REROUTE IS GOING TO BE
CATASTROPHIC. MINNESOTA THE BREACHING OF
AQUIFERS AND WATER TOXICITY. THE REROUTE AS IT PERTAINS TO
BAD RIVER IS IN A REALLY SENSITIVE AREA OF THE UPPER
WATERSHED WHERE GROUNDWATER AND SURFACE WATER INTERACT.
AND THEN THERE'S THE TOPIC THAT'S NEVER BEEN DISCUSSED,
WHICH IS THE DECOMMISSIONING AND SAFE REMOVAL OF THE PIPE AND ALL
OF ITS BEGGED BEC BEDDING BECAUE BEDDING IS NOT VERY GOOD FOR THE
ENVIRONMENT, BUT THE DECOMMISSIONING AND REMOVAL FROM
THAT RESERVATION IS GOING TO BE A JOURNEY, TOO, AND THERE'S
NOBODY TALKING ABOUT THAT IN TERMS OF IMPACTS AND COSTS.
>> I WANTED TO ASK YOU, YOU SPOKE TO THE REROUTE.
IN AN OPINION PIECE IN THE SENTINEL THIS WEEK, A BAD RIVER
TRIBAL MEMBER SAID THAT SOME TRIBAL MEMBERS, HE SAID PERHAPS
MANY, WANT THAT PIPELINE, THAT REROUTE OF THE PIPELINE BECAUSE
IT REPRESENTS CONSTRUCTION JOBS FOR THEM.
WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT? >> WELL, THAT PARTICULAR OPINION
PIECE, I'VE SEEN THE TRADEMARK FINGERPRINTS OF ENBRIDGE'S
PUBLIC RELATIONS ARM IN THAT LETTER, BUT AT THE END OF THE
DAY, WITH THAT TRIBAL MEMBER SIGNING THAT AND TAKING
OWNERSHIP, I THOUGHT THE OVERALL LETTER BASICALLY CENTERED AROUND
MONEY, IT'S CENTERED AROUND SELF-INTEREST IN TERMS OF --
HE TALKED ABOUT MONEY AND GOING DIRECTLY TO PEOPLE, AND IT'S
HARD TO FAULT FOLKS FOR THEIR DESIRE IT OFF MONEY IN THEIR
POCKET. NATION-BUILDING ISSUE THAT HAS
RIPPLE EFFECTS THAT GO DECADES AND PROBABLY CENTURIES INTO THE
FUTURE, SO OUR GOVERNING BODY HAS CONTINUED TO TAKE A UNIFIED
STAND AGAINST THESE TYPES OF CORPORATE ACTIVITIES IN THE
WATERSHED AND PART OF THE ENBRIDGE STRATEGY HAS BEEN TO
TRY TO USURP THE TRIBAL GOVERNMENT, TO GO DIRECTLY TO
PEOPLE, TO PUSH FOR ESSENTIALLY THE TAKEOVER AND/OR THWARTING OF
THE TRIBAL GOVERNANCE STANCE. THAT LETTER WAS PER THE SCRIPT.
>> MARY, HOW HAS THIS FILM BEEN RECEIVED?
>> WELL, WE OPENED WITH AMC THEATRES ON MARCH 15th IN 12
CITIES. WE NOT ONLY EXTENDED BUT
EXPANDED TO 25 LOCATIONS, ACTUALLY, MOSTLY IN WISCONSIN,
CHICAGO, MINNESOTA. E CONTINUE TO PLAY TODAY IN
MADISON AND MANY OTHER LOCATIONS.
IF YOUR VIEWERS GO TO BAD RIVER FILM.COM, THERE'S ON-LINE
TICKETING. THEATRES, PARTICULARLY THE
ASHLAND THEATRE, WAS THAT THE FILM HAD OUTPERFORMED DUNE,
GHOSTBUSTERS AND GODZILLA, WHICH IS JUST UNHEARD OF FOR A
DOCUMENTARY FILM. AND SO I THINK WHAT WE'RE SEEING
IS EXTRAORDINARY REACTION TO THE PROJECT, A LOT OF LEARNING BY
NONNATIVES THAT GO IN TO SEE THE MOVIE AND WERE VERY EXCITED
ABOUT THE ADJOURN AHEAD. >> ALL RIGHT.
WELL, WE WANT TO THANK YOU BOTH VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US TO TALK
ABOUT THIS IMPORTANT PROJECT. MARY MAZZIO AND MIKE WIGGINS,
THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU SO MUCH, FREDERICA.
>> FOR MORE ON THIS AND OTHER ISSUES FACING WISCONSIN, VISIT
OUR 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