>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION. >> YOU'RE WATCHING "HERE AND
NOW" 2024 ELECTION COVERAGE. >> FOLKS, IT'S A NEW DAY IN
WISCONSIN. >> NEW VOTING MAPS ARE
OFFICIALLY SIGNED INTO LAW. AND THE U.S. SENATE RACE FINALLY
HAS A REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER. I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," NEW MAPS AND A NEW SENATE CANDIDATE
HAS THE STATE REVVING UP FOR THE NOVEMBER ELECTIONS.
THE STATE OF THE TRIBES ADDRESS LOOKS AT VICTORIES AND
CHALLENGES AHEAD FOR 11 TRIBAL NATIONS IN WISCONSIN.
WHAT EARLY ABSENTEE BALLOT COUNTING WOULD MEAN FOR
COMMUNITIES OF ALL SIZES. AND HOW ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
COULD BE USED IN POLITICAL ADS. IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR FEBRUARY
23. >> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
>> WISCONSIN ELECTORAL POLITICS ARE CHANGING COURSE BECAUSE AS
OF THIS WEEK, THERE ARE NEW VOTING DISTRICT MAPS.
SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER, ZAC SCHULTZ, EXPLAINS THE
IMPLICATIONS. >> WITH THE STROKE OF A PEN,
GOVERNOR TONY EVERS ENDED THE FUTURE OF A REPUBLICAN
SUPERMAJORITY IN THE LEGISLATURE AND GAVE DEMOCRATS A PATH BACK
TO THE MAJORITY. >> THIS WILL BECOME ACT 94.
[APPLAUSE] LIBERAL MAJORITY ON THE
WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT CHOOSING MAPS EVEN MORE FAVORABLE TO
DEMOCRATS, REPUBLICANS IN THE LEGISLATURE TOOK THE GOVERNOR AT
HIS WORD WHEN HE SAID HE WOULD SIGN HIS PROPOSED MAPS INTO LAW.
FEARING A TRICK AND A FEDERAL LAWSUIT, DEMOCRATS IN THE
ASSEMBLY AND SENATE LARGELY VOTED AGAINST THE MAPS AND SOME
ENCOURAGED THE GOVERNOR TO VETO HIS OWN MAPS AND WAIT FOR THE
SUPREME COURT. EVERS SAYS HE TALKED WITH THOSE
WITH CONCERNS BUT NEVER CONSIDERED A VETO.
>> LAST WEEK, REPUBLICANS PASSED THE MAPS I SUBMITTED TO THE
WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT AND THOSE ARE THE EXACT MAPS BEFORE
ME TODAY. THEY'RE MY MAPS, NOTHING MORE
AND NOTHING LESS. TO ME, THE DECISION TO ENACT
THESE MAPS BOILS DOWN TO THIS: I MADE A PROMISE TO THE PEOPLE OF
WISCONSIN THAT I WOULD ALWAYS TRY TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND
KEEPING THAT PROMISE TO ME MATTERS MOST EVEN IF MEMBERS OF
MY OWN PARTY DISAGREE WITH ME. >> Reporter: AFTER THE
SIGNING, DEMOCRATS CELEBRATED THE NEW MAPS BUT REPUBLICANS
PROMISED THEY WOULD CONTINUE TO WIN LEGISLATIVE MAJORITIES IN
THE FALL. >> UNDER THESE MAPS, WE'LL SEE
MORE COMPETITIVE CONTESTED RACES BY MAKING IT MORE LIKELY THE
LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS WILL FIT FOR ONE PARTY'S CONTROL TO
ANOTHER WHEN VOTERS' PREFERENCES CHANGE.
EVERY VOTE MATTERS AND THAT'S ALSO GOOD FOR DEMOCRACY.
>> I WAS A HUNDRED PERCENT, IF NOT MORE, THAT THE GOVERNOR
SHOULD DO WHAT HE DID. I'M REALLY PROUD OF HIM.
>> TOLD HIM CULLEN IS A FORMER DEMOCRATIC STATE SENATOR AND
LONG AGO SERVED IN REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR TOMI THOMPSON'S
ADMINISTRATION. BIPARTISANSHIP WAS THE NORM AND
SAYS FAIR MAPS WILL HELP BRING THAT ERA BACK.
>> IT JUST DOES ONE SIMPLE THING: IT MEANS THE VOTES IN
NOVEMBER MATTER AGAIN. ALL THAT'S MATTERED FOR THE LAST
13 YEARS WAS THE PRIMARY VOTES AND HOW DO YOU AVOID A PRIMARY?
YOU STICK WITH YOUR BASE, DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS.
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? YOU DON'T WORK TOGETHER.
IF YOU WORK TOGETHER, YOU GET CALLED A COMPROMISER OR A
MODERATE OR SOMETHING, YOU WILL GET A PRIMARY.
>> Reporter: MOST ANALYSIS OF THE NEW MAP SHOWS WHILEúDEMOCRAT
WINNING THE ASSEMBLY THIS FALL, IT WILL LIKELY TAKE FOUR YEARS
TO HAVE A SHOT AT THE STATE SENATE SIMPLY BECAUSE ONLY HALF
THE SEATS ARE UP EACH ELECTION. BUT EVERS SAYS A MORE BALANCED
LEGISLATURE COULD MEAN IT MIGHT BE POSSIBLE TO FIND COMPROMISE
ON ISSUES LIKE EXPANDING MEDICAID.
LEAST ONE REPUBLICAN IN THE HOUSE OR THE SENATE THAT AGREES
WITH US ON THAT AND MAYBE WE CAN FIND A SOLUTION.
>> Reporter: REPORTING FROM MADISON, I'M ZAC SCHULTZ FOR
"HERE AND NOW." >> NEXT UP, THE STATE SUPREME
COURT CONSIDERATION OF A LAWSUIT OVER CONGRESSIONAL MAPS.
MEANWHILE, IN THE STATEWIDE ELECTION FOR U.S. SENATE,
REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE ERIC HOVDE ANNOUNCED HIS RUN THIS WEEK.
STEVEN POTTER HAS MORE ON THAT RACE.
>> Reporter: REPUBLICAN AND MILLIONAIRE REAL ESTATE
DEVELOPER, ERIC HOVDE, SAYS THERE ARE A NUMBER OF REASONS
HE'S RUNNING FOR THE U.S. SENATE.
>> I PROMISE YOU I'M GOING TO GO AFTER IN FIXING OUR ECONOMIC
ISSUES. BORDER, AND IMMEDIATELY, AND END
THE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS THAT IS GOING ON RIGHT NOW TODAY.
>> Reporter: 59-YEAR OLD MADISON NATIVE, HOVDE IS LOOKING
TO UNSEAT DEMOCRATIC TAMMY BALDWIN WHO IS SEEKING HER THIRD
TERM IN OFFICE. THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME HOVDE
HAS CHALLENGED BALDWIN. HE LOST IN THE PRIMARY ELECTION
IN 2012. BALD REIN CALLS HIM AN OUTSIDER.
>> CALIFORNIA BANK MULTIMILLIONAIRE IS GOING TO
IT SEEMS TO BE THE PLAYBOOK THESE DAYS.
SO, YOU KNOW, YOU HEAR A LOT OF TALK ABOUT HIM IN WASHINGTON,
D.C.. NOT AS MUCH HERE IN WISCONSIN.
>> Reporter: NATIONALLY, THIS RACE IS ONE TO WATCH AS
DEMOCRATS TRY TO HOLD ONTO A VERY THIN MAJORITY IN THE
SENATE. FOR "HERE AND NOW" I'M STEVEN
POTTER. >> ALSO THIS WEEK AT THE
CAPITOL, THE STATE OF THE TRIBES ADDRESS WAS DELIVERED BEFORE THE
FULL LEGISLATURE. FOREST COUNTY POTTAWATOMIE JAMES
CRAWFORD DESCRIBED ACCESS TO NUTRITIOUS FOOD, AFFORDABLE
HOUSING, GOOD JOBS AND HEALTHCARE.
>> THE RECOGNITION OF TRIBAL SOVEREIGNTY IS ONE OF THE MOST
IMPORTANT TENETS OF NATIVE PEOPLES.
TRIBES HAVE BEEN GOVERNING HOW THEIR OWN PEOPLE LIVE, ACT AND
RULE FOR COUNTLESS GENERATIONS. AND EACH TRIBE IN WISCONSIN IS
ITS OWN SOVEREIGN NATION AND HAS ITS OWN DISTINCT CHALLENGES AND
OPPORTUNITIES. SOMETHING WE HAVE BEEN GRANTED;
BUT IS SOMETHING WE HAVE ALWAYS INHERENTLY HELD.
THIS INHERENT SOVEREIGNTY IS WHAT TRIBES CONTINUOUSLY WORK TO
PRESERVE, PROTECT AND ENHANCE FOR OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
THE PERSPECTIVES BROUGHT BY WISCONSIN TRIBES AND
COLLABORATION WITH THE STATE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED POSITIVE
THINGS FOR ALL OF US. FOR EXAMPLE, HEALTHCARE.
HEALTHCARE IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT AND COSTLY SERVICES
THAT TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS PROVIDE TO BOTH THEIR PEOPLE AND THE
GREATER COMMUNITY. AND BECAUSE OF TRIBAL HEALTH
CENTERS -- AND BECAUSE TRIBAL HEALTH CENTERS SERVE LARGE
POPULATIONS THAT ARE MEDICAID ELIGIBLE, THEIR CONTINUED
OPERATION IS ESSENTIAL. >> TRIBAL NATIONS IN WISCONSIN
WANT TO BUILD AN ADOLESCENT RECOVERY AND WELLNESS CENTER IN
ONEIDA COUNTY ABOUT AN HOUR NORTH OF WAUSAU.
THE YOUTH RECOVERY CENTER WOULD BE A 36-BED RESIDENTIAL FACILITY
FOR TEENS AGED 13 TO 17 WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE DISORDER.
BOARD MEMBERS OF THE TOWN OF CASHEN WHERE IT WOULD BE LOCATED
OPPOSE IT, CITING SAFETY AND REDUCED PROPERTY VALUES, AMONG
OTHER CONCERNS. THE RECOVERY CENTER HAS BEEN ON
HOLD BECAUSE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT OPPOSITION.
MEANWHILE, THE OPIOID CRISIS HAS OVERTAKEN NATIVE AMERICAN
COMMUNITIES IN WISCONSIN WHERE OVERDOSE DEATHS ARE THREE TIMES
THE STATE RATE. THE MENOMINEE TRIBAL CHAIR
SAYING OUR NATION IS IN CRISIS. THE GREAT LAKES CENTER TRIBAL
COUNCIL IS BUILDING THE CENTER. WE SAT DOWN WITH ITS C.E.O.,
BRIAN BAINBRIDGE, FOLLOWING THE STATE OF THE TRIBES ADDRESS.
SO DESCRIBE FOR US WHAT THAT OPIOID CRISIS LOOKS LIKE AMONG
TRIBAL NATIONS IN WISCONSIN. >> WELL, THE OPIOID CRISIS LOOKS
LIKE ANY OTHER COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT WISCONSIN.
NOT JUST TRIBAL. AS WE MOVE FORWARD AND THE
TRIBES ARE SEEING THE CRISIS AND NEEDING TO REACT.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A PLACE, SAFE PLACE, SAFE
SPACE WHERE WE CAN HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAVE OUR KIDS,
SAVE OTHER PEOPLE'S KIDS THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE STATE.
AND SO AS THE FACILITY IS PLANNED, YOU KNOW, OVER 20 YEARS
IN THE MAKING, THE THOUGHT AND MOVING FORWARD AND THE NEED, YOU
KNOW, IT'S -- IT'S REALLY ABOUT, YOU KNOW, MAKING SURE SOMEONE
HAS A GOOD PLACE TO GO AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S -- WITH JUST ABOUT
ANY TYPE OF TRAUMA OR INCIDENT, THERE'S A BACKGROUND, THERE'S A
STORY TO THAT, FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL.
THEY'RE COMFORTABLE TELLING THAT STORY IN ORDER TO MOVE THEM
FORWARD. CONCERNS ON THE PART OF THE
LOCAL GOVERNMENT? >> WELL, I RESPECT THEIR
CONCERN, AND EVEN THROUGH -- FROM THE BEGINNING AFTER WE
PURCHASED THE -- THE TRIBES PURCHASED THE LAND, THAT WAS THE
FIRST THING I DID WAS REACH OUT TO THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT, THE
TOWN BOARD AND SAID, HEY, I WANT TO BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR.
I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WHAT WE'RE PLANNING ON DOING HERE WITH THIS
PROJECT AND EVEN INVITED THE CHAIR TO MY OFFICE.
SHE SHOWED UP AND WE TALKED ABOUT IT.
I HAD CONCEPTUAL DRAWINGS OF THE FACILITY BECAUSE THERE WAS SOME
FEARS OF THINKING IT WAS A DETENTION CENTER OR JUVENILE
PRISON-TYPE SETTING AND THE PURPOSE, IT'S FOR INDIVIDUALS
THAT REALLY WANT TO BE IN A PLACE AND GET TO A PLACE OF
WELLNESS. AND IT'S NOT MEANT TO BE
INSTITUTIONAL, BECAUSE THAT'S NOT CONDUCIVE TO HEALING.
YOU KNOW, THE STIGMA IS ALREADY THERE AND WHEN SOMEONE IS GOING
THROUGH IT, HAVING A PROBLEM WITH SUBSTANCE USE OR EVEN
MENTAL HEALTH, WE REALLY WANT TO DE-STIGMATIZE THAT AND KEEP
THOSE ELEMENTS OUT OF THE PROPERTY.
SO, YOU KNOW, MOVING THINGS FORWARD AND EXPLAINING THAT
JUST, TOO, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT CONCERNS OF THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT
OF MAKING SURE THEY HAVE THAT UNDERSTANDING OF REALLY WHAT THE
PROJECT IS AND EFFORTS THAT THE TRIBES ARE PUTTING FORTH, NOT
ONLY FOR OUR TRIBAL MEMBER CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, BUT FOR
NON-TRIBAL AS WELL. IF THERE'S A NEED AND IT'S ONLY
36-BED WITH VERY LIMITED RESOURCES AND FACILITIES WITHIN
THE STATE, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IF THERE'S -- IF THERE'S A PLACE
AND SOMEONE HAS A NEED, NO MATTER WHO YOU ARE OR WHERE YOU
COME FROM, THAT WE'RE GOING TO TY TO HELP.
AND WE WANT TO DO THAT IN A WAY TO REALLY SET THE GOLD STANDARD.
>> DID IT SURPRISE YOU, THE OPPOSITION?
ANYTHING, ANY NEW DEVELOPMENT, WITHOUT ALL THE INFORMATION, YOU
KNOW, PEOPLE SPECULATE AND THAT GOES THROUGH THE COMMUNITY, AND
I WANTED TO GET AHEAD OF THAT. WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO DO
THINGS AS WE DEVELOP TO BRING RESOURCES TO THE COMMUNITY WITH
UPGRADED BROADBAND. WE'LL NEED THAT FOR A FACILITY.
UPGRADES IN THE POWER. AND UPGRADING THE ROADS.
THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THAT BENEFIT EVERYBODY WITHIN THAT
TOWNSHIP, THAT COMMUNITY. >> WHEN A CHILD COMES OUT OF
THIS RECOVERY AND WELLNESS CENTER, WHAT IS THE HOPE FOR
THAT PERSON? >> THE MOST IMPORTANT PART IS TO
ACKNOWLEDGE THE PERSON AND LET THEM KNOW IT'S OKAY TO BE
VULNERABLE FOR A SECOND, BUT GET PAST THAT VULNERABLE POINT TO BE
ABLE TO FUNCTION AND DO GOOD. AND AS WE'RE WORKING WITH THEM
INSIDE THE FACILITY, WE'RE ALSO PREPARING FOR THAT TRUE
WRAP-AROUND SERVICE. SO WHEN I SAY WHAT IS OUR HOPE,
YOU KNOW, THAT IS TRULY WHAT WE HOPE FOR, IS TO GIVE A PERSON
OPPORTUNITY TO DEFINE THEIR OWN SUCCESS AND WHAT THAT MEANS.
>> IN MORE ELECTION NEWS, THEY SHOULD JUST COUNT THEIR BALLOTS
FASTER. THAT'S THE SENTIMENT OF THE
WISCONSIN SENATE MAJORITY LEADER IN EXPLAINING HOW HIS CHAMBER
DOES NOT HAVE THE VOTES TO PASS A BILL THAT WOULD ALLOW
MUNICIPALITIES TO COUNT ABSENTEE BALLOTS THE DAY BEFORE AN
ELECTION AND REQUIRE IT IN MILWAUKEE, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE
PANDEMIC, EARLY ABSENTEE VOTING HAS BEEN ON THE RISE, LEAVING
ELECTION CLERKS SOMETIMES SWAMPED WITH OPENING ENVELOPES
WELL INTO THE NIGHT. THAT CAN CAUSE SWINGS IN RESULTS
LIKE WHAT HAPPENED IN 2020 WHEN DONALD TRUMP FALSELY CLAIMED
VOTE DUMPING IN MILWAUKEE. FOR AN ELECTION CLERK'S TAKE ON
THIS, WE TURN TO LEA LISA TOLLE. WHAT KIND OF INCREASES HAVE YOU
SEEN IN ABSENTEE VOTING? >> SO IN 2020, WE HAD 60% OF OUR
POPULATION VOTED ABSENTEE. PRIOR TO THAT, IT WAS 20 TO 25%.
IT HAS NOT GONE DOWN TO THAT RATE OF 20, 25%.
I'M EXPECTING TO SEE A LOT MORE IN THIS COMING UP ELECTION AND
IN NOVEMBER. WE MIGHT NOT REACH 60%, BUT IT'S
GOING TO BE DEFINITELY HIGHER THAN IN THE PAST.
>> SO WHAT DO THOSE KINDS OF NUMBERS MEAN ON ELECTION DAY AS
FAR AS COUNTING THE RESULTS? >> SO ABSENTEE BALLOTS TAKE A
LOT MORE TIME TO PROCESS. YOU'RE HAVING TWO PEOPLE REVIEW
EVERYTHING. LOG IT.
THERE'S A WHOLE PROCESS THAT'S AN EXTRA STEP THROUGHOUT, AND
ALL OF THAT TAKES TIME, AND YOU DON'T WANT ANYONE TO RUSH.
YOU WANT THEM TO BE ACCURATE AS POSSIBLE.
WHEN PEOPLE COME IN TO VOTE IN PERSON, THEY'RE DOING ALL THAT
WORK FOR YOU. THEY SIGN THE POLL BOOK, THEY
GIVE THEM A NUMBER, THEY GET THEIR BALLOT, THEY PUT IT IN THE
MACHINE. YOUR ABSENTEES, YOU HAVE TWO
PEOPLE DOING ALL THAT WORK FOR THAT VOTER.
IT TAKES A LOT OF TIME. >> AND SO KIND OF THE INCREASE
AND THE CRUSH OF THIS IS NOT JUST DIFFICULT FOR LOCATIONS
LIKE MILWAUKEE? >> NO.
IT INCREASES FOR EVERYONE. EVERYONE EITHER HAS MORE POLL
WORKERS ON. WE HAVE MUNICIPALITIES BUY EXTRA
MACHINES JUST TO HANDLE THAT EXTRA VOLUME TO MAKE SURE THAT
THEY COULD GET THEM PROCESSED. YOU CAN'T EXPECT SOMETHING THAT
TAKES LONGER TO DO IN THE SAME AMOUNT OF TIME THAT YOU ALREADY
HAVE. YOU CAN'T DOUBLE YOUR TIME.
IT DOESN'T WORK. >> WHAT WOULD IT MEAN, THEN, TO
BE ABLE TO BE COUNT ABSENTEE BALLOTS THE DAY BEFORE THE
ELECTION? >> SO THERE'S A COUPLE OF
ADVANTAGES, IS THAT YOU CAN GET THOSE BALLOTS DONE AND YOU CAN
TAKE YOUR TIME TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING'S PROCESSED AND
DOUBLE-CHECKED. DO ARE THE REMAINING OR JUST THE
ONES THAT COME IN ON ELECTION DAY AND THEN YOU CAN FOCUS ON
TAKING CARE OF THOSE VOTERS THAT COME INTO THE POLLS ON ELECTION
DAY. IS THE BIGGEST PLUS.
IF YOU CAN GET EVERYTHING DONE AS CLOSE TO 8:00 AS POSSIBLE,
ALL THE RESULTS COME IN EARLY, THERE'S NOT AS MUCH CONFUSION
AND IT'S A LOT CLEARER AS TO THE RESULTS BEFORE THOSE MANY, MANY
PEOPLE GO TO BED BEFORE IT'S FINISHED ON ELECTION NIGHT.
>> CAN YOU IMAGINE HOW THERE WOULD BE ANY ISSUE WITH ELECTION
INTEGRITY IF THESE BALLOTS WERE COUNTED THE DAY BEFORE?
>> THERE ARE SO MANY SECURITY IECES IN THIS, AND IN OUR WHOLE
SYSTEM, WE LOCK EVERYTHING DOWN. THERE ARE SECURITY SEALS.
EVERYTHING HAS A CHECK AND BALANCE THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE
SYSTEM. IT'S IN OUR SYSTEM.
IT'S IN PLACE WITH THIS NEW BILL.
THIS WOULD -- I DON'T SEE THAT AS BEING THE ISSUE.
EVERY BALLOT, EVERY ABSENTEE BALLOT IS TRACKED THE ENTIRE WAY
THROUGH THE SYSTEM, WHEN IT'S ISSUED, WHEN IT'S MAILED, WHEN
IT'S RECEIVED, WHEN IT'S COUNTED.
EVERYTHING IS TRACKED. >> SO INTERESTINGLY, THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY OF WISCONSIN IS NOW ENCOURAGING EARLY ABSENTEE
VOTING, CALLING IT BANKING YOUR VOTE.
MORE INTEREST IN THIS FOR THE NOVEMBER ELECTION BECAUSE OF
>> ABSOLUTELY. THAT?- I AM DEFINITELY ORDERING MORE
ABSENTEE BALLOTS SO WE'RE READY TO GO.
>> WHAT ELSE ARE CLERKS KIND OF DEALING WITH THIS ELECTION
CYCLE? >> WE ARE LOOKING AT ALL
DIFFERENT THINGS. YOU'RE LOOKING AT A.I..
WHAT HAPPENS IF WE GET SOME -- THAT ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
COULD GET SOME MESSAGING THAT COULD BE CONFUSING.
WE ARE LOOKING AT SAFETY PROTOCOLS WE'VE NEVER LOOKED AT
BEFORE TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS SAFE FOR OUR VOTERS AND OUR
POLL WORKERS. THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS IN THE
BACKGROUND WE ARE PREPPING FOR TO MAKE SURE WE'RE READY.
>> WHAT ARE THOSE KIND OF SAFETY PROTOCOLS THAT YOU'VE NEVER DONE
BEFORE THAT YOU'RE NOW DOING? >> LOTS OF CONTINGENCY PLANS.
LOTS OF CONTINGENCY PLANS. AND SOME OF THEM, I DON'T LIKE
TO TALK ABOUT SO EVERYONE KNOWS WHAT THEY ARE, BUT MAKING SURE
THAT IF WE NEED TO MOVE, IF WE NEED TO SECURE SOMETHING
DIFFERENTLY, THERE'S -- THERE'S PIECES THERE THAT WE ARE
DEFINITELY PREPPING FOR TO MAKE SURE WE'RE READY.
>> WHAT ABOUT STAFFING? IS THAT AN ISSUE?
I MEAN, IT'S AN ISSUE FOR EVERYONE EVERYWHERE.
RIGHT? OTHER CLERKS?
>> I DON'T SEE IT RIGHT NOW, BUT I HAVE A FEELING AS WE GO CLOSER
TO NOVEMBER AND WE SEE A LOT MORE ABSENTEE BALLOTS, WE'RE
GOING TO NEED MORE STAFF. AND EVERYWHERE, WE'RE HAVING
TROUBLE HIRING. WE NEED MORE PEOPLE TO STEP
FORWARD TO HELP. SO ANYONE TO THINK ABOUT IT,
MORE ABSENTEE MEANS MORE WORK, MORE CHECKS AND BALANCES THAT
NEED TO GO THROUGH EVERY ONE OF THOSE ABSENTEE BALLOTS.
>> ALL RIGHT. WELL, WE WISH YOU AND OTHERS
LUCK. LISA TOLLEFSON, THANKS VERY
MUCH. >> IS THAT THE CANDIDATE'S
ACTUAL VOICE AND IMAGE ON THE AIR OR ON-LINE, OR ONE GENERATED
BY ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE? IN AN EFFORT TO DECEIVE VOTERS?
THIS ELECTION SEASON, IT COULD BE HARD TO TELL.
THE RECENT RELEASE OF OPEN A.I.'S LATEST TEXT-TO-VIDEO
FEATURE CALLED SORA MAKES HYPER REALISTIC YET COMPLEX
ARTIFICIALLY GENERATED VIDEOS. THE IMAGES ARE POTENTIALLY
IMPOSSIBLE TO DISCERN AS FAKE. THAT'S WHY STATES INCLUDING
WISCONSIN ARE MOVING TO ENACT LAWS AROUND THE USE OF A.I. IN
CAMPAIGNS. A BILL MOVING QUICKLY THROUGH
THE LEGISLATURE WOULD REQUIRE CAMPAIGN ADS THAT CONTAIN
SYNTHETIC MEDIA, OR AUDIO OR VIDEO CONTENT SUBSTANTIALLY
PRODUCED BY MEANS OF GENERATIVE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO
INCLUDE A DISCLAIMER. THAT'S A GOOD THING, ACCORDING
TO EDGAR LIN, WISCONSIN POLICY STRATEGIST AND AN ATTORNEY WITH
THE NONPROFIT, NON-PARTISAN, PROTECT DEMOCRACY.
HE JOINS US NOW. THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.
>> SO ARE THERE EXAMPLES THAT WE'VE ALREADY SEEN OUT THERE
THAT ARE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE GENERATED CAMPAIGN MATERIALS?
>> YES. THE U.S. ELECTION SEASON IS ONLY
IN THE MIDST OF ITS PRY NARES AND ALREADY WE HAVE EXAMPLES OF
POLITICAL PARTIES, CAMPAIGNS AND AT LEAST ONE SUPER PAC USING
A.I.-GENERATED CONTENT IN ADS, CAMPAIGN VIDEOS IN VOTER
OUTREACH. I'LL GIVE YOU TWO EXAMPLES.
LAST SPRING, THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE RESPONDED TO
PRESIDENT BIDEN'S RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN ANNOUNCEMENT WITH AN
A.I.-GENERATED VIDEO ILLUSTRATING THE COUNTRY'S
PROJECTED FUTURE DURING A SECOND BIDEN TERM.
THE OTHER EXAMPLE THAT I CAN GIVE IS AT THE END OF LAST YEAR,
SHERIFF MAIN DANIELS, A DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE IN
PENNSYLVANIA, LAUNCHED AN INTERI HAVE A A.I. POWERED CAMPAIGN
CRAWLER FOR VOTER OUTREACH, SO THEY ARE BEING USED.
WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN THE U.S. CONSISTENT WITH PROLIFERATION OF
A.I. GENERATED CONTENT IN ELECTIONS AROUND THE WORLD,
ELECTIONS IN SLOVAKIA, ARGENTINA LAST YEAR, MOST RECENTLY TAIWAN
AND INDONESIA. >> ARE THEY ALWAYS USED
DECEPTIVIVELY? THAT WILL DEPEND ON THE AD
ITSELF. >> SO WHO IS MAKING THIS STUFF?
>> WELL, I THINK -- THERE'S A LOT OF TECHNOLOGY PLATFORMS THAT
ARE CREATING THESE TYPES OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
TECHNOLOGY AND THERE'S A LIST OF THEM THAT I THINK PEOPLE
GENERALLY HEAR ABOUT THEM. THERE'S CHAT-GPT, THERE'S --
THERE'S A WHOLE SLATE OF THEM. >> ARE THEY EASY OR HARD TO SPOT
FOR THE AVERAGE PERSON? >> HEH.
THIS IS A GREAT QUESTION. IT DEPENDS.
NOW, I WILL SAY THAT IT'S AN ARMS RACE IN TERMS OF SPOTTING,
IN TERMS OF THE TECHNOLOGY. DETECTION CAPABILITIES ARE
DEVELOPING, BUT THEY ARE AND NEVER WILL KEEP UP WITH AN
INCREASE OF SOPHISTICATION AND REALISM OF A.I. GENERATE
CONTENT. PHOTOS FROM MAYBE LAST YEAR
WHERE PERHAPS THE FINGERS ARE A LITTLE UNUSUAL.
BUT TODAY, THAT TECHNOLOGY HAS ALREADY INCREASED CAPABILITIES
TO A LEVEL THAT WE -- WHAT WE HAVE TODAY IS DIFFERENT FROM
LAST YEAR. >> SO HOW LIKELY IS IT THAT
SYNTHETIC MEDIA WOULD DECEIVE VOTERS?
>> YOU KNOW, IT IS LIKELY, AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE
NOT USED TO BECAUSE HISTORICALLY, WE TRUST WHAT WE
SEE AND WE TRUST WHAT WE HEAR. THAT'S VIDEO AND AUDIO.
IN TODAY'S WORLD AS THE TECHNOLOGY RAMPS UP AT AN
INCREASING SPEED, THE DETECTION IS VERY HARD AND SO WITH THAT,
THE LIKELIHOOD OF DECEPTION IS VERY POSSIBLE.
>> SO AT THE VERY LEAST, HOW IMPORTANT IS IT IN YOUR MIND
THAT THERE'S A DISCLOSURE THAT SAYS THE AUDIO OR VIDEO CONTAINS
CONTENT GENERATED BY A.I.? >> YOU KNOW, IT IS INCREDIBLY
IMPORTANT. VOTERS SHOULD ANTICIPATE THEY
MAY ENCOUNTER A.I. GENERATE CONTENT RELATED TO THE ELECTION
AND SHOULD NOT JUST RELY ON THEIR SENSES ALONE TO IDENTIFY
WHAT'S HUMAN-GENERATE VERSUS-WH. SO IT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT IN
THIS -- BUT I'LL JUST SAY THAT THERE IS A -- THIS IS A
PORTFOLIO OF TOOLS. THERE IS NOT ONE SILVER BULLET.
DISCLOSURE IS ONE. DETECTION, YOU KNOW,
JOURNALISTIC INTEGRITY, ALL THESE ARE A HOST OF TOOLS THAT
COULD BE HELPFUL FOR PEOPLE VIEWING THESE ADS.
>> HOW COULD THIS SYNTHETIC OR A.I.-GENERATED MEDIA CAUSE EVEN
MORE MISTRUST IN ELECTIONS THAN ALREADY EXISTS?
>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. SO THE THREATS TO OUR DEMOCRACY,
THE MISINFORMATION, THE PLAYBOOK THAT PEOPLE USE, THEY'RE STILL
THE SAME. THE DIFFERENCE IS THAT A.I.
MAKES THINGS BIGGER, FASTER AND STRONGER.
IT'S ABOUT THAT ACCESSIBILITY TO THE PUBLIC, BECAUSE YOU CAN
IMAGINE IN THE PAST, WE WATCH MOVIES.
THEY'RE VERY GOOD, BUT THAT'S LIMITED TO PEOPLE WHO CAN MAKE
THOSE. EVEN IF YOU THINK OF PHOTO
SHOPPING. RIGHT?
THAT'S LIMITED TO PEOPLE WHO KNOW HOW TO USE PHOTO SHOP WELL.
BUT WITH SYNTHETIC MEDIA, WITH A.I.-GENERATED CONTENT, THAT
DOOR HAS BEEN OPENED FOR THE PUBLIC TO USE AND SO IT'S ABOUT
ACCESSIBILITY TO THESE AWESOME TECHNOLOGIES.
EDGAR LIN, THANKS VERY MUCH. >> THANK YOU.
>> 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.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR