>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION. NOW" 2024 ELECTION COVERAGE.
>> STUDENTS AND FACULTY AT UW-MADISON ARE ARRESTED WHILE
PROTESTING THE ISRAEL-GAZA WAR. MEANWHILE, DONALD TRUMP COMPARES
THE NATIONWIDE CAMPUS PROTESTS TO THE ATTACKS ON JANUARY 6th.
AND PRESIDENT BIDEN MAKES HIS FIRST REMARKS IN THE MATTER
SINCE THE PROTESTS BEGAN. >> THERE'S THE RIGHT TO PROTEST,
BUT NOT THE RIGHT TO CAUSE CHAOS.
>> SAYING THE PRO-PALESTINIAN STUDENT DEMONSTRATIONS WILL NOT
SWAY HIS FOREIGN POLICY. GOOD EVENING, I'M ZAC SCHULTZ.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," WHAT HAPPENED AT UW-MADISON AND
MILWAUKEE PROTESTS THIS WEEK AND HOW CAMPUSES ON THE OTHER SIDE
OF THE STATE FEEL ABOUT THE DEMONSTRATIONS.
THEN, ELECTION OBSERVERS ARE EXPECTED TO BALLOON THIS YEAR.
WE LOOK AT A NEW RULE THAT DETERMINES HOW CLOSE TO VOTERS
THEY CAN BE. AND FINALLY, THE EMERGING SPREAD
OF BIRD FLU IN DAIRY COWS. WE SPEAK WITH THE LEAD
INVESTIGATOR ON THE POTENTIAL THREAT.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR MAY 3rd.
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR WISCONSIN.
URBAN. >> STUDENT PROTESTS ON CAMPUSES
AROUND THE NATION HAVE LED TO VIOLENTLY POLICE CRACK-DOWNS, SO
WHEN PRO PALESTINE ENCAMPMENTS SPRUNG UP- TO MILWAUKEE AND
MADISON CAMPUSES, ORGANIZERS AND OFFICIALS WEREN'T SURE WHAT TO
EXPECT. STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS
ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ISSUE AND HAS THIS REPORT.
>> WE HAVE SEEN THAT HE UNIVERSITY HAS REFUSED TO TAKE
US SERIOUSLY AFTER MONTHS OF PROTESTS, AND SO WE ARE HERE TO
STAY. >> THIS WEEK, PROTESTERS LIKE
PALESTINIAN AMERICANS DALIA SABA AT UW-MADISON AND AMIN AT TA AT
UW MILWAUKEE JOINED THE BROADER CAMPUS MOVEMENT TO SUPPORT
PALESTINIANS UNDER SIEGE IN GAZA.
>> MY PEOPLE ARE SUFFERING FROM A BRUTAL BOMBARDMENT THAT HAS
LASTED OVER 200 DAYS AND THEY HAVE FULL SUPPORT FROM THE
AMERICAN GOVERNMENT. OUR JOB IS TO FOCUS ON EVERY
SPACE THAT WE ENTER AND PRESSURE TO DIVEST FROM ISRAEL AND CUT
ALL TIES TO ISRAEL. >> STUDENTS AT OUR UNIVERSITY
ARE EXTREMELY EXHAUST BY THE WAR AND THEY DO NOT WANT TO
PARTICIPATE IN THE WAR, AND THEY ALSO WANT THE ADMINISTRATION TO
OPENLY ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO THAT WAR, AND I
THINK THAT'S COMPLETELY REASONABLE.
THE UNIVERSITY TO DIVEST FROM COMPANIES THAT PROFIT FROM
SELLING WEAPONS AND EQUIPMENT TO ISRAEL.
OUR MONEY IS GOING, THE MONEY THAT WE GIVE THIS SCHOOL, THAT
THE SCHOOL MAKES OFF OF US. >> ON MONDAY, THE STUDENTS PUT
UP TENTS IN CONCURRENCE WITH CAMPUSES IN OTHER STATES AND
OTHER COUNTRIES. THERE ARE PEOPLE IN GAZA WHO
HAVE LOST THEIR ENTIRE BELONGINGS, THEIR HOMES, THEIR
LIVELIHOODS, THEY'RE LIVING IN TENTS AND NOW THEY ARE BEING
BOMBED IN TENTS. >> THE TENTS ALSO REPRESENT A
BREAKING POINT FOR STUDENTS. >> IT'S INTERESTING THAT WE'VE
ONLY HAD THE EAR OF THE CHANCELLOR SINCE THE TENTS HAVE
BEEN PUT UP. >> THE ENCAMPMENT VIOLATES
UNIVERSITY POLICY, A STICKING POINT FOR UW-MADISON CHANCELLOR
JENNIFER MINUKIN, WHO INITIALLY REFUSED TO MEET WITH STUDENTS
UNTIL THE TENTS WERE TAKEN DOWN. >> IT'S IMPORTANT TO US THAT THE
FOCUS IS NOT ON OUR RIGHT TO PROTEST OR BE HERE, BUT THE
FOCUS SHOULD BE ON OUR MESSAGE, WHICH IS TO DISCLOSE THE
UNIVERSITY'S FUNDS, TO DIVEST FROM COMPANIES THAT ARE FUNDING
THE GENOCIDE AND FOR THE CHANCELLOR TO FULLY MEET WHAT
OUR DEMANDS ARE, AND WE WILL NOT LEAVE UNTIL WE DO THAT.
>> ON WEDNESDAY MORNING, THE CHANCELLOR AUTHORIZED THREE LAW
ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO DISMANTLE THE ENCAMPMENT AT
UW-MADISON, AND PROTESTERS RESISTED.
[SCREAMING] AND FACULTY WERE ARRESTED,
POPPING MADISON INTO NATIONAL HEADLINES.
SO FAR, UW MILWAUKEE HAS NOT MET THE SAME FATE.
>> WITH THE RISING TENSIONS IN COMBINATION WITH FINALS SEASON
AND ALL OF THAT, IT'S REALLY, YOU KNOW, HAD OUR MINDS
COMPLETELY SCRAMBLED. >> STUDENTS AT THE UW HALAL
FOUNDATION, TAKE ISSUE WITH THE PROTESTERS' MESSAGE AND MESSAGE.
>> THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE TAKEN THE ADMINISTRATION HOSTAGE
TO A SET OF DEMANDS THAT ARE UNREASONABLE AND UNMEETABLE BY
ANY STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION. AND SO I UNDERSTAND WHY THE
CHANCELLOR MIGHT NOT WANT TO MEET THEM.
>> THEY HAVE BEEN SCREAMING HER NAME, SAYING CHANCELLOR, YOU
CAN'T HIDE, WE CHARGE YOU WITH GENOCIDE.
FROM HER PERSPECTIVE, I WOULD SEE THAT AS A THREAT.
SHE'S A JEWISH WOMAN. ALL OF THESE CHANTS,
ANTI-SEMITIC CHANTS, THEY'RE ALSO THREATS.
>> HEARING THE WORD "GENOCIDE," KNOWING HOW IT CORRELATES BACK
TO THE HOLOCAUST IS VERY UPSETTING.
STUDENTS, FACULTY AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO STAND WITH THE
PROTESTERS. I AM VERY, VERY DISTURBED BY THE
FACT THAT BOTH OF MY GOVERNMENTS SUPPORTING WHAT IS
UNQUESTIONABLY A GENOCIDE CURRENTLY AGAINST THE
PALESTINIAN PEOPLE. >> FOR S.D., TENS OF THOUSANDS
GAZANS KILLED IN THE WAR IS HISTORY REPEATING.
HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR WHO WAS ALSO A HOLOCAUST HISTORIAN, AND AS I
WAS GROWING UP, AMONG PEOPLE WITH NUMBERS TATTOOED ON THEIR
ARMS, THE BIG QUESTION WAS HOW COULD THAT HAPPEN WITH THE WHOLE
WORLD WATCHING? >> A CORE ISSUE FOR MANY, NO
MATTER THEIR BACKGROUND, IS THE QUESTION OF WHETHER ANTIZIONISM
EQUATES ANTISEMITISM. >> THAT CONFLATION OF
ANTIZIONISM OR CRITICISM OF ISRAEL WITH ANTISEMITISM IS
EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. >> I'M JEWISH, I GREW UP IN A
ZIONIST FAMILY, AND I TOOK TIME UNLEARNING A LOT OF WHAT I
LEARNED GROWING UP AND RECONCILING WHAT I HAD BEEN TOLD
AND I TRULY BELIEVE THAT WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE, WHAT'S HAPPENING
ACROSS THE NATION, ACROSS THE WORLD IN TERMS OF STANDING IN
SOLIDARITY WITH PALESTINIANS IS NOT ANTI-SEMITIC.
IN FACT, IT IS HOLDING SO FIRM TO OUR JEWISH FAITH TO LEAVE THE
WORLD A BETTER PLACE, TO CARE FOR OTHERS.
>> IT FEELS LIKE IN ORDER TO BE WHAT THEY CONSIDER A GOOD JEW,
YOU HAVE TO GIVE UP YOUR BELIEFS OF ISRAEL AND ZIONISM AND
SUPPORT THEIR CAUSE FULLY AND IT'S HARD TO DO THAT WHEN WE'RE
HEARING THEM CHANT THESE WORDS THAT, AGAIN, MAY NOT MEANT TO BE
HARMFUL BUT ARE. >> I MEAN, I DON'T NECESSARILY
AGREE WITH EVERY SLOGAN THAT IS BEING CHANTED HERE, BUT WHEN YOU
MAKE CORRELATIONS WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, YOU HAVE TO
ACCEPT THAT YOU WILL NOT AGREE WITH EVERYONE.
>> HOURS AFTER POLICE CLEARED THE MADISON ENCAMPMENT, NEW
TENTS WENT UP. BY THURSDAY, A GROUP OF
PROTESTERS MET WITH UW-MADISON OFFICIALS.
HORIZON, NO ONE CAN YET SAY WHAT WILL COME OUT OF THE
CONVERSATIONS. PEOPLE WHO ARE OUT THERE IN THE
ENCAMPMENT ARE -- REPRESENT SMALL SECTION OF THE POPULATION
OF 44,000 UNDERGRAD HERE. I BELIEVE THAT MOST PEOPLE
ACTUALLY DON'T CARE THAT MUCH. >> IF THE UNIVERSITY IS
DISSATISFIED WITH THOSE DEMANDS, THEY CAN TAKE IT UP WITH THE
VALUES THAT THEY INSTILLED IN US.
>> FOR HERE AND NOW, I'M MARISA WOJCIK IN MADISON.
>> FOR SOME STUDENTS, BOTH THE ISRAEL PALESTINIAN WAR AND THE
CAMPUS PROTESTS SEEM A WORLD AWAY.
JOINING US NOW IS PETER HART-BRINSON, UW-EAU CLAIRE
COMMUNICATION DEPARTMENTS. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. >> SO GIVE US THE PERSPECTIVE
FROM YOUR CAMPUS A COUPLE HOURS AWAY.
PROTESTERS THERE? >> UP UNTIL VERY RECENTLY, I
THINK VERY FEW STUDENTS HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THE EVENTS THAT
HAVE BEEN HAPPENING AT CAMPUSES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
I THINK PRIMARILY BECAUSE WE HAVE RELATIVELY FEW STUDENTS WHO
ARE JEWISH OR MUSLIM OR OF MIDDLE EASTERN DESCENT, AND
STUDENTS ARE REALLY BUSY FOCUSING ON THEIR STUDIES AND
THEIR WORK. AND BE GIVEN THAT THIS IS SUCH A
COMPLICATED GEOPOLITICAL CONFLICT, STUDENTS HAVE BEEN
HESITANT TO ENGAGE, I THINK. SO THINGS HAVE BEEN RELATIVELY
QUIET AMONGST OUR STUDENTS ON CAMPUS HERE AT UW-EAU CLAIRE.
>> SO YOU'VE BEEN ADDRESSING THIS IN ONE OF YOUR CLASSES.
CAN YOU DESCRIBE THE DISCUSSION? WHAT QUESTIONS ARE STUDENTS
ASKING AND WHAT DOES THAT CONVERSATION LOOK LIKE FOR
AWARE OR HAVE A FAMILY OR A FRIEND CONNECTION OR A HISTORY
CONNECTION TO THAT AREA. >> SURE.
THE CLASS I'VE BEEN TALKING TO MY STUDENTS ABOUT, ABOUT THIS
WITH IS A SOCIAL MOVEMENTS CLASS.
CONVERSATION AT ALL, THE FIST STUDENTS -- FIRST THINGS
STUDENTS WANTED TO KNOW IS WHAT IS THIS ALL ABOUT.
THE ISRAEL-PALESTINE CONFLICT, OF COURSE, GOES BACK DECADES,
AND IT'S SUCH A COMPLICATED ISSUE THAT STUDENTS REALLY DON'T
UNDERSTAND FOR THE MOST PART THE BASICS OF THE CONFLICT.
SO WE SPENT A LOT OF TIME JUST TRYING TO GET UP TO SPEED ABOUT
WHO THE PLAYERS ARE, WHO IS HAMAS AND HOW ARE THEY DIFFERENT
FROM PALESTINIANS. FOR EXAMPLE, SINCE THE POLICE
HAVE BEEN USED TO BREAK UP PROTESTS AT COLUMBIA AND
U.C.L.A. AND ELSEWHERE, WE'VE BEEN TALKING A LOT ABOUT WHEN
POLICE ACTION IS EFFECTIVE AND WHEN IT'S NOT.
SOMETIMES POLICE ACTION TO BREAK UP A PROTEST CAN ACTUALLY MAKE
THINGS WORSE, AND I THINK THAT WE'VE SEEN THAT HAPPEN AT
COLUMBIA AND ELSEWHERE. >> SO FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF
THE STUDENTS IN MADISON OR AT UW MILWAUKEE, WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN
IN ORDER FOR SOMEONE IN EAU CLAIRE TO REALIZE, HEY, THIS
IS A BIGGER THING, I SHOULD PAY ATTENTION TO THIS, MAYBE I
SHOULD TAKE A STANCE. >> I THINK STUDENTS ARE SHARING
A LOT OF INFORMATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND THEY'RE GETTING A LOT
OF THEIR INFORMATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA, WHICH MAKES IT EASY FOR
PEOPLE WHO ARE PROTESTING IN ONE PLACE TO GET THEIR MESSAGE OUT
TO STUDENTS IN ANOTHER PLACE. AND SO THE MORE STUDENTS WHO
HAVE BEEN TAKING UP THE CALL TO PROTEST AT CAMPUSES AROUND THE
UNITED STATES, I THINK IT BECAME HARDER AND HARDER FOR STUDENTS
ON OUR CAMPUS TO IGNORE AND TO ASK THEMSELF, MAYBE WE SHOULD
GET INVOLVED IN THIS, TOO. >> AND HAVE YOU HEARD ANYTHING
ABOUT STUDENTS THERE TRYING TO GET INVOLVED, START A PROTEST OR
DO ANYTHING ON YOUR CAMPUS? >> EARLIER THIS WEEK, I WAS
INFORMED THAT A PROTEST IS BEING PLANNED FOR TODAY, ACTUALLY
ABOUT 30 MINUTES BEFORE -- UNTIL NOW, WHILE WE'RE TAPING THIS
INTERVIEW, SO THERE LOOKS TO BE A PROTEST OF SOME KIND OF
SCHEDULED FOR UW-EAU CLAIRE. I'M UNAWARE OF SIMILAR PROTESTS
HAPPENING AT OTHER UW BRANCH CAMPUSES, ALTHOUGH THEY COULD
BE. >> SO BROADEN THIS OUT BEYOND
THE CAMPUS ENVIRONMENT. THE UW ENCAMPMENT WASN'T EVEN A
FEW HOURS OLD, WE HAD POLITICIANS WEIGHING IN ON
SOCIAL MEDIA, BREAK THEM UP OR SUPPORT THE FIRST AMENDMENT
RIGHTS. HOW DOES THAT -- THE POLITICIANS
TRYING TO LEVERAGE THIS MOVEMENT IMPACT HOW PEOPLE IN AREAS
FARTHER AWAY FROM THE ACTUAL PROTEST PERCEIVE IT?
>> BOTH STUDENTS AND FACULTY ARE SCARED, AND THIS IS NOT JUST AN
ISSUE THAT PERTAINS TO THIS PARTICULAR CONFLICT, BUT ABOUT
ANY TOPIC THAT PERTAINS TO RACE OR GENDER OR SEXUALITY OR
EDUCATION. HIGHER EDUCATION HAS BECOME SO
POLITICIZED IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS THAT STUDENTS ARE
SCARED TO SPEAK IN THE CLASSROOM AND MANY FACULTY ARE SCARED TO
TALK ABOUT IT. NATIONALLY, ABOUT TWO-THIRDS OF
ALL FACULTY ARE ADD CONJUNCTIVITIS AND THEY CAN BE
FIRED AT WILL. THEY DON'T HAVE THE PROTECTIONS
OF TENURE. AND SO WHEN STUDENTS AND FACULTY
SEE THE KINDS OF ALLEGATIONS THAT ARE BEING LEVELED AGAINST
THE PROTESTERS, THAT THEY'RE ANTI-SEMITIC SIMPLY BECAUSE
THEY'RE CRITICIZING THE GOVERNMENT OF ISRAEL, OR THAT
OPPOSING THE KILLING OF INNOCENT LIFE MAKES YOU PRO HAMAS, THAT
KIND OF POLITICAL FRAMING MAKES PEOPLE SCARED TO EVEN HAVE A
CONVERSATION ABOUT THIS ISSUE. >> ALL RIGHT.
WELL, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.
UW-EAU CLAIRE. >> EARLIER THIS WEEK, DONALD
TRUMP SPENT HIS DAY OFF FROM HIS CRIMINAL TRIAL IN NEW YORK TO
VISIT WISCONSIN FOR A RALLY IN WAUKESHA.
REPEATED HIS LIE THAT THE 2020 ELECTION WAS STOLEN.
>> THE RADICAL LEFT DEMOCRATS RIGGED THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
IN 2020 AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO ALLOW THEM TO RIG THE
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN 2024. [CHEERS]
>> WE WON'T HAVE A COUNTRY LEFT. >> AGAIN, THE 2020 ELECTION WAS
NOT STOLEN, BUT WE SHOW YOU THAT CLIP BECAUSE THE BIG LIE RELATES
TO A RULE CHANGE CURRENTLY BEING PROPOSED BY THE WISCONSIN
ELECTIONS COMMISSION. THE RULE WOULD DETERMINE HOW
CLOSE ELECTION OBSERVERS CAN GET TO VOTERS WHEN THEY CAST A
BALLOT AT THE POLLS AND REPUBLICANS RECENTLY ANNOUNCED
THEY PLAN TO RECRUIT $100,000 ELECTION OBSERVERS NATIONWIDE IN
AN EFFORT TO, QUOTE, MAKE SURE THAT VICTORY CAN'T BE RIGGED.
JOINING US NOW IS EILEEN NEWCOMER, VOTER EDUCATION
MANAGER AT THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. >> LET'S START WITH WHAT AN
ELECTION OBSERVER IS AND WHY WOULD THE REPUBLICANS WANT TO
RECRUIT ANOTHER HUNDRED THOUSAND OF THEM FOR 2024?
>> ONE THING THAT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW, HERE IN WISCONSIN,
ELECTION OBSERVERS HAVE MORE ACCESS THAN THEY HAVE IN OTHER
STATES, BUT WITH THAT ACCESS COMES ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS AND
RESPONSIBILITIES OF ELECTION OBSERVERS.
ANYONE WHO IS INTERESTED IN SEEING HOW ELECTIONS ARE RUN,
THEY CAN GO INTO THE POLLING PLACE AND OBSERVE WHAT'S
HAPPENING, THEY CAN OBSERVE DURING EARLY VOTING, THEY CAN
OBSERVE THE PREELECTION EQUIPMENT, AUDITS.
IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO LEARN MORE
ABOUT HOW OUR ELECTION SYSTEM WORKS TO GO AND BE AN OBSERVER
SO THAT THEY CAN SEE FOR THEMSELVES HOW IT WORKS.
>> SO I'VE OBVIOUSLY COVERED THE POLLS AT PRIOR ELECTIONS.
ELECTION OBSERVERS ARE NOT NEW. MOST OF THE TIME, THEY JUST KIND
SIT IN A CHAIR IN THE CORNER AND DO DO MUCH.
MANY I'VE SPOKEN TO SAY THEY'RE QUITE BORED.
WHAT KIND OF FRAUD OR RIGGINGS ARE THEY SUPPOSED TO BE LOOKING
FOR? >> I KNOW WE TRAIN OUR ELECTION
OBSERVERS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE NORMAL PROCESS LOOKS LIKE SO
THAT THEY CAN IDENTIFY IF THERE'S A DEVIATION OF THE
NORMAL PROCESS, AND IF IT -- IT CAN BE SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS
THE REGISTRAR NOT FULLY UNDERSTANDING ALL OF THE PROOF
OF RESIDENCE OPTIONS AND WRONGFULLY SENDING SOME AWAY
BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT THAT SOMETHING THAT WASN'T ACCEPTABLE
RESIDENCE OPTION ISN'T, SO WE WOULD TALK TO THE CHIEF
INSPECTOR IN THAT CASE AND OFTEN IT'S SOLVED RIGHT THERE, SO IT'S
REALLY THE MINUTIA AND MECHANICS THAT OBSERVERS ARE THERE TO
WITNESS AND TO SEE, AND TO THE COMMENT ABOUT THEY'RE NOT REALLY
DOING THAT MUCH, THEY REALLY ARE THERE TO OBSERVE, TO WITNESS, TO
DOCUMENT, TO REPORT THINGS THAT THEY SEE, IF THEY WANT TO
ESCALATE IT, IF THEY'RE NOT CERTAIN ABOUT SOMETHING, AND
THAT REALLY HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN HAPPENING IN OUR
STATE FOR MANY, MANY YEARS AND THAT THE LEAGUE HAS BEEN RUNNING
OUR ELECTION OBSERVER PROGRAM FOR OVER 10 YEARS NOW.
>> SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THE RULE CHANGE, BECAUSE PART OF THIS HAS
TO DO WITH HOW FAR AWAY AN ELECTION OBSERVER NEEDS TO BE
FROM THE VOTER OR FROM CERTAIN AREAS AND IT'S THIS RANGE OF
THREE TO EIGHT FEET. WHY THAT FORTUNATE AND WHAT
DIFFERENCE CAN -- WHY IS THAT FORTUNATE AND WHAT DIFFERENCE
CAN THAT MAKE? >> THE THREE TO EIGHT FOR THE
RULE IS ACTUALLY IN THE STATUTE SO THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT'S
GOING TO CHANGE WITH THIS PROPOSED RULE BECAUSE THAT'S IN
THE LAW AND THE THREKS COMMISSION CAN'T SUPERSEDE
SOMETHING THAT'S IN THE STATE LAW.
THREE TO EIGHT-FOOT TRAINING IS THERE TO GIVE POLL WORKERS SOME
FLEXIBILITY OF WHERE TO STATION ELECTION OBSERVERS, WHERE THEY
NOT INTERFERE WITH THE VOTING PROCESS, NOT INTERFERE WITH POLL
WORKERS WHO ARE TRYING TO CONDUCT THE ELECTIONS, NOT
INTERFERE WITH VOTERS WHO ARE THERE TO CAST YOUR BALLOT AND
EXERCISE THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE. AND I DO THINK THAT THREE TO
EIGHT FEET IS ENOUGH SPACE FOR YOU TO SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING,
WHAT'S GOING ONMENT I DO KNOW THAT SOME PEOPLE WANT TO BE
CLOSER, BUT THREE FEET IS REALLY A SHORT DISTANCE EVEN OF ITSELF
AND YOU CAN SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE CURRENT GUIDELINE
THAT'S IN PLACE. >> NOW, THESE RULES APPLY TO ALL
SCENARIOS, NOT JUST THE VOTING BOOTH ON ELECTION DAY, AS YOU
MENTIONED. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF
CONTROVERSY, SPECIFICALLY THE CITY OF MILWAUKEE.
IF THERE'S A RECOUNT, ELECTION OBSERVERS CAN BE IN THOSE PLACES
AS WELL. WHAT KIND OF ROLLS TO THEY PLAY
THERE AS FAR AS WITNESS SIGNATURES AND ABSENTEE BALLOTS
AND WHAT KIND OF -- I DON'T WANT TO SAY CHAOS, BUT WHAT COULD
HAPPEN IF SOMEONE WHO IS UNTRAINED OR NEW PEOPLE COMING
IN TRYING TO CREATE THIS IMAGE OF FRAUD THAT MAY NOT BE REAL,
WHAT COULD HAPPEN IF THEY'RE THERE.
>> SO IF SOMEBODY IS AT -- THE THINGS WE TRAIN OUR OBSERVERS TO
LOOK OUT FOR IS JUST MAKING SURE THAT THEY ARE PROPERLY
PROCESSING THE BALLOTS, NOT COUNTING THEM BEFORE 8:00 P.M.
BECAUSE THOSE ARE THE RULES AND SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT
THAT IS BEING CONDUCTED FAIRLY, AND ALSO KEEPING A CLOSE EYE OUT
FOR IF BALLOTS ARE BEING REJECTED, WHY ARE THEY BEING
REJECTED. THAT COULD BE BECAUSE THERE'S A
MISSING WITNESS ADDRESS ON THE ABSENTEE BALLOT CERTIFICATE,
MAYBE THE VOTER DIDN'T SIGN, THINGS LIKE THAT ARE THE KINDS
OF THINGS WE'RE LOOKING FOR THERE.
AND THE WAY THAT IT DOES RUN AND REALLY SHOULD RUN IS THAT
OBSERVERS, IF THEY HAVE AN ISSUE, THEY HAVE A POINT OF
CONTACT OF WHO THEY TALK TO TO FIGURE OUT MORE INFORMATION
ABOUT THAT ISSUE, WHETHER MAYBE IT'S THEIR MISUNDERSTANDING OF
HOW THINGS SHOULD BE OPERATING OR IF IT IS A LEGITIMATE
CONCERN, THEN THEY CAN BE ADDRESSED IN REAL TIME.
WITH THAT POINT OF CONTACT, IT ALSO MEANS THAT OBSERVERS SHOULD
NOT BE TALKING TO EVERY INDIVIDUAL POLL WORKER WHO IS AT
THE LOCATION AND DISRUPTING THEIR WORK AS WELL.
AND THEN ALSO THE CHIEF INSPECTOR, OR IN THE CASE OF
CENTRAL COUNT, USUALLY THE CLERK IS THE ONE RUNNING THEM.
THEY MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE LOCATION.
BECAUSE THEY'RE BEING INTERRUPTIVE, THAT PERSON IS
REQUIRED TO LEAVE. SO THERE ARE A LOT OF SAFEGUARDS
TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE CAN WITNESS WHAT'S GOING ON AND TO
SEE HOW TRANSPARENT OUR PROCESS IS, BUT IF THEY'RE UNRULY OR
DISRUPTIVE, TO HAVE THOSE PEOPLE LEAVE SO THAT THE ELECTION CAN
GO ON. >> IS THERE A RULE FOR OBSERVERS
TO OBSERVE OAR OBSERVERS IN A SENSE IS THIS MAYBE PEOPLE WHO
ARE NEW AND DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY CAN OBJECT TO OR INTERFERE AND
INSERT THEMSELVES INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE VOTING PROCESS?
>> CERTAINLY. OUR OBSERVERS MONITOR EVERYTHING
THAT'S GOING ON INCLUDING IF THERE ARE OTHER OBSERVERS THERE
AND IF THEY'RE BEING DISRUPTIVE, AND IF THEY'RE BEING DISRUPTIVE
AND NOBODY IS DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT, THEY WILL ESCALATE
THAT TO THE CHIEF INSPECTOR AND SAY, HEY, YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR
MAINTAINING THIS POLLING PLACE, THIS PERSON IS BEING DISRUPTIVE,
MAYBE THEY'RE INTIMIDATING A VOTER OR PREVENTING A POLL
WORKER FROM DOING THEIR JOB AND THAT PERSON SHOULD LEAVE.
IF THE CHIEF INSPECTOR DOESN'T DO ANYTHING, WE DO HAVE ROUTES
TO ESCALATE THAT FURTHER AND MAKE SURE THAT THE CALMNESS OF
THE POLLING PLACE IS MAINTAINED. >> WE'VE GOT JUST A FEW SECONDS
LEFT. TALK TO ME ABOUT THIS TRUJILLO
AND WHETHER YOU -- RULE AND WHETHER YOU BELIEVE IT WILL BE
IN PLACE BECAUSE LEGISLATURE CAN WIPE OUT RULES AT A MOMENT'S
NOTICE, THERE'S ALL SORTS OF LAWSUITS OUT THERE.
>> WE SUPPORT THE RULE AS DRAFT. THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF WORK
THAT'S GONE INTO IT, A LOT OF VOICES HAVE BEEN LISTENED TO IN
DRAFTING THE RULE ITSELF. I AM ALWAYS HOPEFUL THAT IT WILL
BE IN PLACE BY THE FALL ELECTION, BUT REALISTICALLY, IT
PROBABLY WON'T BE IN PLACE UNTIL NEXT YEAR JUST BECAUSE THE
LEGISLATURE HAS ENDED THEIR SESSION.
RIGHT NOW. >> ALL RIGHT.
WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME TODAY.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. >> SWITCHING TO AGRICULTURE
NEWS, A STRAIN OF AVIAN BIRD FLU HAS BEEN FOUND IN DAIRY COWS AND
CONFIRMED IN HERDS IN NINE STATES.
WISCONSIN, BUT IT IS IN MICHIGAN.
AND RESEARCHERS FROM UW-MADISON ARE HELPING TO MONITOR THE
SPREAD. JOINING US NOW IS DR. KEITH
POULSEN, DIRECTOR OF THE VETERINARY DIAGNOSTIC
LABORATORY. >> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> SO THIS PARTICULAR STRAIN OF AVIAN BIRD FLU IS CALLED H5N1
AND YOU'VE BEEN TRACKING IT SINCE 2022.
IS IT SPREADING FASTER NOW? >> WELL, THIS PARTICULAR STRAIN
SINCE 2022, IT'S SPREAD IN THE MIGRATING WILD BIRD POPULATION,
HAS ACTUALLY BEEN THE WORST FOREIGN ANIMAL OUTBREAK IN
RECENT HISTORY. IT'S KILLED OVER A HUNDRED
THOUSAND BIRDS. WHEN WE WERE JUST COMING OFF
COVID IN 2022, IT WAS AFFECTING SNOWY OWLS AND BALD EAGLES, THEN
WE NOTICED IT WAS IN OUR CARNIVORES, LIKE FOX OR OTHER
SCAVENGERS, AND WE'VE SEEN THAT EVEN NOW WITH THE SEALS THAT ARE
EATING DEAD BIRDS OFF THE COAST OF WASHINGTON STATE.
BUT WHAT REALLY CHANGED IN THE LAST FIVE OR SIX MONTHS WAS THAT
WE'VE NOTICED THAT IT HAS NOW COME INTO OUR DAIRY CATTLE
POPULATION, WHICH IS A VERY NOVEL EVENT.
>> SO TESTING RIGHT NOW IS LIMIT TO COWS THAT ARE TRANSPORTED
OVERSTATE LINES, BUT YOUR REPORT SAYS THAT'S 50,000 COWS A WEEK.
SO HOW SOON BEFORE THAT JUST OVERWHELMS AND PEOPLE MAYBE STOP
TESTING? >> YEAH.
GREAT QUESTION. I DO THINK THAT TESTING WILL
RAMP UP EVEN FURTHER BEFORE WE GET OUT OF THIS OUTBREAK, BUT
THAT'S THE BEST WAY THAT WE CONTROL ANIMAL DISEASES, IS
MOVEMENT ACROSS STATE LINES WITH THE STATE ANIMAL HEALTH
OFFICIALS, BUT I DO THINK THAT WISCONSIN IS A LITTLE BIT
DIFFERENT THAN THIS ONE PARTICULAR BUSINESS MODEL THAT
MOVES A LOT OF LACK TAKING THE COWS, BECAUSE THAT'S OUR BIGGEST
RISK RIGHT NOW FROM A WHAT WE KNOW.
WE'RE ONLY A COUPLE MONTHS INTO THIS, SO OUR BIGGEST RISK IS
REALLY LACTATING COWS. WISCONSIN DOESN'T MOVE A LOT OF
LACTATING COWS INTO THE STATE. WE TEND TO MOVE PREGNANT
TWO-YEAR-OLDS AS THEY'RE BEING AND WE BRING THEM BACK.
IT'S A HIGHER RISK OF MOVING YOUNG LACTATING DAIRY COWS.
>> GOING FROM BIRDS TO MAMMALS, H5N1, AS YOU MENTIONED, FOXES,
SEALS, SAW A REPORT ABOUT FARM CATS, POSSIBLY.
ONE PERSON IN TEXAS WHO WAS EXPOSED GOT CONJUNCTIVITIS.
IS THE BIG FEAR THAT THIS TURNS INTO A COVID-19 TRANSMISSION
WHERE IT JUMPS INTO HUMAN POPULATION?
>> YEAH. ON THE PUBLIC HEALTH SIDE, WE'VE
KNOWN ABOUT 40 DIFFERENT MAMMALIAN SPECIES THAT HAVE BEEN
FROM EATING OR DRINKING RAW MILK ON THE FARMS.
THEY PRESENT VERY DIFFERENTLY THAN OUR DAIRY COWS.
THEY PRESENT WITH NEUROLOGIC DISEASE.
OUR DAIRY COWS PRESENT BEING OFF FEED AND THEN THEY DROP IN MILK
PRODUCTION, BUT REALLY WHETHER YOU LOOK AT IT FROM A
30,000-FOOT VIEW IS ON THE PUBLIC HEALTH SIDE, WE KNOW THAT
INFLUENZA VIRUSES SCORCHING, THEY REASSORT.
FLU VACCINE EVERY SEASON. WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT THE
BARRIERS TO MOVING INTO PEOPLE WHERE IT BECOMES LIKE A
PANDEMIC, POTENTIAL PATHOGEN, THEY'RE VERY HIGH.
THERE'S A LOT OF AREAS THAT WOULD PREVENT THAT, BUT IT'S NOT
A ZERO RISK, AND THE LONGER WE DON'T HAVE GOOD RISK MITIGATION
AND THERE'S MORE VIRUS IN THE ENVIRONMENT OR CIRCULATING IN
THE COWS, THE HIGHER THAT RISK BECOMES THAT THE VIRUS WILL
CONTINUE TO REASSORT. >> SO YOU'VE ALSO FOUND GENETIC
MATERIAL IN MILK, BUT YOU SAY THAT RIGHT NOW THERE'S NO
EVIDENCE THAT A PASTEURIZED MILK PRESENTS ANY PROBLEMS TO SOMEONE
CONSUMING IT, BUT RAW MILK IS QUITE POPULAR AND GROWING IN FOR
LARRAÑAGAITY. >> ABSOLUTELY.
AS A PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERT AND ALL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, WHETHER
THEY'RE VETERINARIANS OR M.D.s OR JUST OUR RURAL HEALTH
PRACTITIONERS, IS THAT RAW MILK PRODUCTS.
I GREW UP ON RAW MILK. MY KIDS DON'T.
AND SO THE BIGGEST PROPOSITION OF RAW MILK DRINKERS TEND TO BE
HIGHLY EDUCATED AND UPPER MIDDLE CLASS, BUT BECAUSE THEY'RE
LIVING IN URBAN ENVIRONMENTS, IT'S NOT A GREAT IDEA TO BE
CONSUMING RAW DAIRY PRODUCTS AT THIS TIME.
THE PASTEURIZED NIBBLING ORDINANCE FROM 1926 HAS REALLY
DECREASED FOOD-BORNE DISEASE FROM DAIRY PRODUCTS AND WE NEED
TO MAINTAIN THAT NOW. >> SO WHAT SHOULD FARMERS BE
LOOKING FOR? >> SO DEFINITELY NEED TO HAVE
REGULAR CONVERSATIONS WITH THE HERD VETERINARIAN, SO WE'RE
LOOKING FOR COWS THAT ARE USUALLY SECOND LACTATION OR
GREATER, SO THREE TO 4 YEARS OLD, AND THEN THEY TEND TO BE
MID-TO LATE LACTATION, SO 150 DAYS IN MILK OR SINCE THEY'VE
CAVILLED AND THEY TEND TO DROP IN THEIR FEED CONSUMPTION, THEY
WEAR RUMINATION MONITORS OR THEY WEAR PEDOMETERS JUST LIKE A
SMART WATCH TO KNOW HOW MANY STEPS I'VE TAKEN, AND WHEN I
DON'T FEEL WELL, I DON'T TAKE ENOUGH STEPS.
TYPICALLY THE COMPUTERS WILL PULL THEM OUT.
THEN THE PARLOR SOFTWARE WHERE MONITOR A DROP IN MILK AND IT
WILL AUTOMATICALLY SORT THEM. THOSE COWS TEND TO HAVE A FEVER
THEN WHEN WE'RE LOOKED AT BUT THEN THEY RECOVER IN ABOUT 10 TO
12 DAYS. SO, REALLY, WE LOOK AT PEAK
INCIDENTS ON FARM, WHICH GOES UP TO 10% AT FOUR TO SIX DAYS.
INCIDENTS DROPS ABOUT TEN OF TO 14 DAYS AND THEN THE HERDS ARE
RECOVERED USUALLY BETWEEN 20 AND 45 DAYS AFTER INFECTION.
>> ALL RIGHT. DR. KEITH POULSEN, THANKS FOR
YOUR TIME. >> THANK YOU FOR THE
OPPORTUNITY. >> FOR MORE ON THIS AND OTHER
ISSUES FACING WISCONSIN, VISIT OUR WEBSITE AND THEN CLICK ON
THE NEWS TAB. THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.
FREDERICA FREYBERG WILL BE BACK NEXT FRIDAY.
I'M ZAC SCHULTZ. HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
WISCONSIN.