>> A PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL
PRODUCTION.
THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS PART OF
OUR "HERE AND NOW" 2020 ELECTION
COVERAGE.
>> TOTAL ACQUITTAL.
TOTAL ACQUITTAL.
>> PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP
VOICING HIS VINDICATION
FOLLOWING ACQUITTAL IN THE U.S.
SENATE.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," A
FIRST LOOK AT NOVEL CORONAVIRUS,
CONFIRMED IN WISCONSIN.
AFTER THAT, A CLOSER LOOK AT THE
IMPEACHMENT ACQUITTAL OF
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP.
THEN WE'LL LOOK AHEAD TO
ELECTION S IN WISCONSIN AND THE
TWO DIFFERENT AB ABSENTEE BALLOTING
BEING SENT OUT.
IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR
FEBRUARY 7.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.
>> TODAY, WE ARE ANNOUNCING THE
FIRST CASE OF 2019 NOVEL
CORONAVIRUS IN A WISCONSIN
RESIDENT.
>> IN OUR FIRST LOOK TONIGHT,
STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS ANNOUNCED
WEDNESDAY THAT THE NOVEL
CORONAVIRUS HAD REACHED
WISCONSIN.
THE 12TH CONFIRMED CASE IN THE
UNITED STATES.
THE ANNOUNCEMENT CAME SOON AFTER
THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL,
THE ONLY LAB CURRENTLY TESTING
FOR THE VIRUS, CONFIRMED THE
RESULTS.
WHILE THE PERSON'S IDENTITY IS
CONFIDENTIAL, LOCAL OFFICIALS
HELD A PRESS CONFERENCE LATER
WEDNESDAY SAYING THE POSITIVE
CASE IS IN DANE COUNTY.
>> PUBLIC HEALTH HAS BEEN BUSY
COORDINATING CITY, COUNTY AND
STATE RESOURCES, MAKING SURE WE
WERE READY IN THE EVENT THIS
VIRUS PRESENTED HERE.
GIVEN WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN OTHER
PARTS OF THE GLOBE, IT'S
REASONABLE TO ASSUME TODAY'S
NEWS WILL NOT BE THE LAST
POSITIVE CASE WE HE HEAR ABOUT
IN OUR REGION.
>> TONIGHT THE LATEST ON THE
CORONAVIRUS IN WISCONSIN.
WE ARE JOINED AGAIN BY THE STATE
EPIDEMIOLOGIST RYAN WESTERGAARD.
THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
WHAT ARE THE LATEST NUMBERS IN
WISCONSIN?
>> SINCE WE SPOKE LAST WEEK, THE
EPIDEMIC OF THE NOVEL
CORONAVIRUS HAS CONTINUED TO
EXPAND GLOBALLY.
THERE WERE ABOUT 14,000 REPORTED
CASES LAST WEEK.
IT'S INCREASED TO 31,000 NOW.
IN THE UNITED STATES SO FAR IT'S
BEEN RELATIVELY STABLE, A TOTAL
OF 12 CASES, AS YOU MENTIONED,
TEN IN RETURNING TRAVELERS AND
TWO CLOSE HOUSEHOLD CONTACTS.
SO IN WISCONSIN WE HAD OUR FIRST
CONFIRMED CASE TODAY AND THAT IS
ONE OUT OF A TOTAL OF 14
INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN UNDER
INVESTIGATION.
THE RESULTS OF NINE OF THOSE
INDIVIDUALS HAVE COME BACK
NEGATIVE.
WE'RE STILL WAITING FOR ABOUT
FOUR MORE.
SO THE ONE CASE RIGHT NOW IS
ISOLATED IN DANE COUNTY AND
WE'RE DOING ALL WE CAN TO
CONTAIN THE SPREAD FURTHER.
>> WHEN DO YOU EXPECT TO GET
RESULTS FROM THOSE OTHER PENDING
CASES?
>> THEY CAN COME AT ANY TIME.
THE LILT LIMITATION IS THE FACT THE
TEST IS ONLY BEING DONE IN
ATLANTA AT THE CDC.
THEY'VE MANUFACTURED ADDITIONAL
TEST KITS AND WILL BE
DISSEMINATING THAT TO STATE
LABORATORIES.
THAT WILL SHORTEN THE TURNAROUND
TIME.
BUT NOW IT'S A TWO TO THREE-DAY
TURNAROUND TIME.
SO IT COULD BE ANYWHERE BETWEEN
NOW AND THE BEGINNING OF, MIDDLE
PART OF NEXT WEEK BEFORE WE
HEAR.
>> SO THERE ARE MORE OF THESE
PEOPLE UNDER INVESTIGATION, THES
KIND OF PENDING CASES, SINCE THE
LAST TIME WE SPOKE.
HOW DID THEY RESULT?
WERE THESE PEOPLE WHO TRAVELED,
WHO HAD SYMPTOMS?
>> IT'S A COMBINATION.
TO BE CONSIDERED A PERSON UNDER
INVESTIGATION -- AND THERE'S A
SPECIFIC DEFINITION OF THAT --
YOU HAVE TO HAVE SYMPTOMS
CONSISTENT WITH A RESPIRATORY
VIRUS, WHICH SHARES MANY
SYMPTOMS WITH INFLUENZA AND A
WHOLE BUNCH OF VIRUSES WE
UNDERSTAND MUCH BETTER.
ALSO, YOU NEED TO HAVE CONTACT
TO THE GEOGRAPHIC AREA WHERE THE
VIRUS HAS BEEN SPREADING OR A
CONFIRMED CASE.
A SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE HAVE
MET THAT CRITERIA TO BE TESTED.
MOST OF THEM WE'VE HAD NEGATIVE
RESPONSE SO FAR.
>> HOW HAS THE STATE'S RESPONSE
CHANGED NOW THAT THERE IS A
CONFIRMED CASE IN WISCONSIN?
>> WE WERE NOT SURPRISED WHEN WE
GOT THE CASE.
MOST OF THE PEOPLE TESTED HAD
SOME RISK.
WE WERE PREPARED FOR WHAT WAS
GOING TO HAPPEN.
SO WE'RE STILL NOW IN
CONTAINMENT MODE.
WHAT THAT MEANS IS WHEN WE HOPE
TO IDENTIFY ANYONE WHO'S
INFECTED EARLY, WHICH WE'VE
DONE.
WE'VE ISOLATED THEM, WHICH MEANS
GET THEM OUT OF CLOSE CONTACT
WITH OTHER INDIVIDUALS TO WHOM
THEY COULD SPREAD THE VIRUS.
WE ALSO TO DO HOMEWORK WITH,
CONTACT INVESTIGATION TO SEE
WHILE THE PERSON WAS ARE
THERE INDIVIDUALS THAT MAY HAVE
BEEN IN CLOSE CONTACT THAT WE
NEED TO SUPERVISOR MORE CLOSELY.
>> YOU CALL THAT A CONTACT
TRACING?
AND YOU HAVE DONE THAT WITH THIS
DANE COUNTY PERSON WHO TESTED
POSITIVE, BECAUSE THIS PERSON
TRAVELED FROM CHINA, FLEW INTO
DANE COUNTY REGIONAL AIRPORT,
THEN WENT DIRECTLY TO THE UW
HOSPITAL EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT.
AND SO DESCRIBE SPECIFICALLY
KIND OF THE CONTEXT THAT YOU'RE
TRYING TO TRACE DOWN THAT THIS
PERSON MAY HAVE HAD CONTACT
WITH?
>> YES.
THIS IS A TRIED AND TRUE METHOD
IN PUBLIC HEALTH, SHOE LEATHER
EPIDEMIOLOGY, UNDERSTANDING
THEIR TRAVEL AND THE PLACES
THEY'VE BEEN.
WE HAVE A DEFINITION OF WHAT
CONSTITUTES A CONTACT THAT HAS
SOME RISK.
SO DURING THE PERIOD WHERE THE
PERSON WAS -- BEFORE THEY WERE
DIAGNOSED AND HAD ILLNESS, WE GO
HE TO SEE HAVE HEALTH CARE
PROVIDERS BEEN IN CONTACT WITH
THEM, HAVE HOUSEHOLD CONTACTS
BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THEM.
THERE'S PROTOCOLS IN TERMS OF
PEOPLE WHO WOULD HAVE BEEN
WITHIN SIX FEET ON THE PLANE.
THOSE PEOPLE GET NOTIFIED AND
EVALUATED IN A STANDARDIZED WAY,
GET OFFERED TESTING IF THEY HAVE
SYMPTOMS.
>> HAVE THOSE PEOPLE BEEN
CONTACTED AT THIS POINT?
>> THAT'S STANDARD PROCEDURE.
THOSE ARE UNDERWAY.
BECAUSE IT'S A LONG TRAIL
POTENTIALLY FOR ALL THESE CASES,
A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS, SOMETIMES
THESE EFFORTS GET COORDINATED BY
VARIOUS JURISDICTIONS, INCLUDING
THE STATE, LOCAL HEALTH
DEPARTMENTS AND ALSO NATIONALLY,
THE CDC, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT
INVOLVES TRAVEL BETWEEN SEVERAL
STATES.
>> WHAT SHOULD THE PUBLIC KNOW
ABOUT THIS?
>> WELL, OUR MESSAGE CONTINUES
TO BE THAT RIGHT NOW THE RISK OF
PEOPLE GETTING SICK WITH
CORONAVIRUS IS VERY LOW IN THE
COMMUNITY.
BUT WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF
RESPIRATORY VIRUS SEASON IN
GENERAL AND HAPPEN TO HAVE HAD A
BAD WEEK IN TERMS OF INFLUENZA.
OUR TEAM RELEASED THEIR NUMBERS
AND THERE WERE A TOTAL OF 3,000
INDIVIDUALS IN WISCONSIN ALONE
IN THE LAST WEEK WHO TESTED
POSITIVE FOR INFLUENZA.
SO INFLUENZA CAUSES A COMPARABLE
ILLNESS TO THE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS
AND RIGHT NOW IT IS A MUCH
GREATER THREAT TO THE PUBLIC
THAN THE NOVEL CORONAVIRUS.
SO OUR MESSAGE, WHAT PEOPLE
SHOULD KNOW ABOUT, IS LET'S DO
OUR BEST TO BE INFORMED AND
PREPARED FOR THE NEW VIRUS, BUT
DON'T FORGET ALL THE THINGS WE
KNOW HOW TO DO TO PREVENT THE
SPREAD OF VIRUSES WE KNOW ABOUT
AND INFLUENZA IS THE MOST
IMPORTANT OF THOSE BECAUSE WE
ARE APPROACHING THE PEAK OF THE
SEASON RIGHT NOW.
>> THERE'S A COUPLE DIFFERENT
STRAINS OF INFLUENZA OUT THERE,
RIGHT?
>> RIGHT.
IT'S A TRICKY VIRUS.
IT MUTATES ON THE FLY, WHICH IS
WHY WE NEED TO HAVE A NEW
VACCINE EVERY SEASON, BECAUSE IT
CHANGES.
THE VACCINE IS NEVER PERFECT
BECAUSE OF THE WAY THAT THE
VIRUS CHANGES.
BUT WE HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION
TO KNOW THAT ON AVERAGE IF
EVERYONE GOT THE INFLUENZA
VACCINE, WE WOULD CUT DOWN THE
NUMBER OF CASES SUBSTANTIALLY.
SO THAT'S STILL OUR
RECOMMENDATION FOR PEOPLE, TO GO
OUT AND GET THEIR VACCINE AS
SOON AS THEY CAN.
>> BUT MEANWHILE, UNLIKE THE
INFLUENZA THAT YOU HAD THESE
PEAK NUMBERS OF THIS WEEK, YOU
ARE ABLE, IEWSH YOU'RE HOPEFUL, TO
CONTAIN THIS CORONAVIRUS IN THIS
COMMUNITY.
>> THAT'S STILL OUR GOAL.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHERE WE
ARE IN THE UNITED STATES WITH
THE CONTAINMENT RESPONSE IS VERY
DIFFERENT, WHAT'S GOING ON IN
CHINA, WHICH IS A MITIGATION
RESPONSE.
THERE THEY HAVE SUSTAINED
TRANSMISSION IN THE COMMUNITIES.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE DOING OUR VERY
BEST TO PREVENT FROM HAPPENING
HERE IN THE U.S. AND WISCONSIN.
SO FAR THE PIECES ARE IN PLACE
AND THE SYSTEM IS WORKING.
SO WE'RE GOING TO STAY AT IT.
>> GREAT.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
FOR IN-DEPTH REPORTING ON
CORONAVIRUS IN WISCONSIN AND
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, PLEASE
VISIT OUR JOURNALISM PARTNERS
AT wiscontext.org
>> IN OUR CLOSER LOOK, THE TRIAL
OF PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP IS
OVER.
ON WEDNESDAY, THE SENATE VOTED
ON TWO ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT,
ABUSE OF POWER AND OBSTRUCTION
OF CONGRESS.
THE SENATE DID NOT HAVE THE
TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY NEEDED TO
FIND THE PRESIDENT GUILTY ON
EITHER CHARGE, WITH THE VOTE
CAST ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY ALONG
PARTY LINES.
THE PRESIDENT AS EXPECTED CAME
OUT SWINGING.
ONE DESCRIPTION: TRUMP ON
STEROIDS.
>> IT WAS EVIL.
IT WAS CORRUPT.
IT WAS DIRTY COPS.
IT WAS LEAKERS AND LIARS.
ADAM SCHIFF IS A VICIOUS,
HORRIBLE PERSON.
NANCY PEL LOSSSYUNANIMOUS -- PELOSI IS A
HORRIBLE PERSON.
>> RON JOHNSON AND TAMMY BALDWIN
SPOKE TO THEIR RESPECTIVE
POSITIONS AHEAD OF THE VOTE.
BALD WIN FOCUSING ON THE LACK OF
WITNESSES CALLED AND JOHNSON ON
THE LACK OF A CRIME COMMITTED.
BOTH REFERENCED AN AUGUST 31
CONVERSATION WHERE THE SENATOR
CHALLENGED TRUMP'S MOTIVATIONS
FOR WITHHOLDING AID FROM
UKRAINE.
>> LAST MONTH, PRESIDENT TRUMP'S
FORMER NATIONAL SECURITY
ADVISER, JOHN BOLTON, PROVIDED
AN UNPUBLISHED MANUSCRIPT TO THE
WHITE HOUSE.
THE RECENT MEDIA REPORTS ABOUT
WHAT AMBASSADOR BOLTON COULD
HAVE TESTIFIED TO HAD HE NOT
BEEN BLOCKED AS A WITNESS GO TO
THE HEART OF THIS IMPEACHMENT
TRIAL.
>> I REACHED OUT TO JOHN BOLTON
AND SAID IF YOU'VE GOT SOMETHING
TO SAY, GET IT ON THE RECORD.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO TALK TO OUR
COMMITTEE?
HE SAID HE'D ONLY RESPOND TO A
SUBPOENA, WHICH I RESPECT AS
WELL.
>> PRESIDENT TRUMP TOLD
AMBASSADOR BOLTON IN AUGUST THAT
HE WANTED TO CONTINUE FREEZING
$391 MILLION IN SECURITY
ASSISTANCE TO UKRAINE UNTIL THEY
HELPED WITH THE POLITICALS
INVESTIGATION.
HAD AMBASSADOR BOLTON TESTIFIED
TO THESE FACTS IN THIS TRIAL, IT
WOULD DIRECTLY CONTRADICT WHAT
THE PRESIDENT TOLD SENATOR
JOHNSON IN A PHONE CALL ON
AUGUST 31, 2019, WHERE,
ACCORDING TO SENATOR JOHNSON,
THE PRESIDENT SAID I WOULD NEVER
DO THAT.
WHO TOLD YOU THAT?
>> AND I'M THE ONE THAT RAISED
THE ISSUE.
MR. PRESIDENT, I HEARD THERE MAY
BE SOME POSSIBLE ARRANGEMENT IF
UKRAINE DOES SMK, SOMETHING, YOU
RELEASE THE HOLD, AND HE
IMMEDIATELY ANGRILY DENIED, NO,
I WOULD NEVER DO THAT.
NO WAY.
WHO TOLD YOU THAT?
>> JOHN BOLTON NOT ONLY HAS
DIRECT EVIDENCE THAT IMPLICATES
PRESIDENT TRUMP IN A CORRUPT
ABUSE OF POWER, HE HAS DIRECT
EVIDENCE THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP
LIED TO ONE OF OUR COLLEAGUES IN
AN ATTEMPT TO COVER IT UP.
>> TO ME, IT DIDN'T HAVE ANY
IMPACT.
I DON'T THINK WHATEVER JOHN SAYS
IS GOING TO REALLY AFFECT MY
EVALUATION.
AGAIN, WHAT WAS CHARGED IN THESE
TWO ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT IS
NOT IMPEACHABLE OFFENSE.
>> SO THERE YOU HAVE IT.
WHAT A WEEK.
WE NOW TAP INTO UW-MILWAUKEE
EMERITUS PROFESSOR AND POLITICAL
SCIENTIST MORDECAI LEE FOR HIS
TAKE ON WHAT'S AHEAD.
THANKS A LOT FOR BEING HERE.
>> YOU'RE WELCOME.
>> SO SENATOR BALDWIN SAID IN NO
WAY SHOULD THE ACQUITTAL BE
VIEWED AS AN EXONERATION.
HOW LIKELY IS IT THAT THAT
RESONATES ESPECIALLY AS THE
PRESIDENT REACTS TO IT RIGHT
NOW?
>> IN WISCONSIN RIGHT NOW WE'RE
LIVING IN TWO DIFFERENT
REALITIES.
47% OF THE VOTERS LIKE TRUMP AND
AGREED WITH THE OUTCOME AND 47%
OF WISCONSIN WISCONSINITES AGREED WITH
SENATOR BALDWIN.
IT'S ALMOST LIKE TWO SHIPS
PASSING IN THE NIGHT.
THEY DON'T EVEN LIVE IN THE SAME
WORLD.
>> HOW MUCH DOES THIS EMBOLDEN
PRESIDENT TRUMP AND HIS
SUPPORTERS?
>> WELL, I THINK IT EMBOLDENS
PRESIDENT TRUMP, BUT I'M NOT
SURE THERE'S NOT MUCH MORE TO EM
BOLD IN THE SENSE OF THIS HAS
BEEN HIS STYLE SINCE THE DAY HE
BECAME PRESIDENT.
HE'S A STREET FIGHTER.
HE NOT ONLY DISAGREES WITH HIS
OPPONENTS.
HE WANTS TO CRUSH THEM.
ONLY HE IS RIGHT.
EVERYBODY ELSE IS WRONG.
THAT'S A STYLE.
I GUESS YOU MIGHT SAY IT'S
ALMOST LIKE A NEW YORKIE STYLE
THAT HE'S CARRIED THROUGHOUT HIS
PRESIDENCY.
SO WHEN HE CAME OUT SWINGING, IT
WAS THE SAME OLD TRUMP.
I'M SURE SOME OF YOUR VIEWERS
CAN COMPARE IT TO PRESIDENT
CLINTON THE DAY AFTER THE
IMPEACHMENT VOTE WHEN HE WAS
ACQUITTED.
HE CAME OUT AND HE APOLOGIZED TO
THE PUBLIC AND HE SAID HE WANTED
TO WORK WITH THE OTHER PARTY.
SUCH A DIFFERENCE.
>> DOES THE ACQUITTAL HURT
DEMOCRATS?
>> I THINK THAT WHAT THE
ACQUITTAL DOES IS IT SAYS THIS
IS HOW IT'S GOING TO BE UNTIL
THE ELECTION.
IN OTHER WORDS, FOR THOSE PEOPLE
WHO REALLY DISLIKE PRESIDENT
TRUMP AND WERE SORT OF
FANTASIZING ABOUT HIM BEING
REMOVED FROM OFFICE, I THINK
THIS PUTS THEM BACK IN TOUCH
WITH THE FACT THE
REPUBLICAN PARTY IS NOW THE
TRUMP PARTY, THAT NO MATTER HOW
THEY FEEL ABOUT PRESIDENT TRUMP
BEHIND-THE-SCENES, THAT ALL
REPUBLICAN POLITICIANS IN THE
HOUSE AND SENATE WILL GO ALONG
WITH HIM, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF
ROMNEY, AND THAT THEY ARE
LOCK-STEP WITH HIM.
THIS IS WHAT THE REPUBLICAN IS.
THIS IS IN A SENSE THE NEW
NORMAL.
>> LET'S MOVE ALONG TO IOWA.
GIVEN THE SNAFU THERE WITH THE
NEW AND GLITCHY APP TO REPORT
RESULTS, THE DELAYS AND NOW AN
ASK FOR A RECANVASS, WHAT DO YOU
THINK ABOUT WHETHER THE IOWA
CAUCUS SHOULD BE PUT OUT OF ITS
MISERY?
>> WELL, THEY DON'T HAVE A VERY
GOOD TRACK RECORD, BUT I SUSPECT
THEY'LL FIGHT LIKE HECK TO HOLD
ON TO IT.
THEY'RE THE FIRST CAUCUS IN THE
SERIES, NOT THE FIRST PRIMARY.
SO I THINK IT'S GOING TO END UP
BEING THE SAME.
YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE STUFF THAT
WENT WRONG WAS JUST PLAIN
AMATEUR HOUR.
IT SORT OF REMINDS US OF THE
ROLL-OUT OF OBAMACARE WHERE
THERE WASN'T ENOUGH BETA
TESTING.
BUT I THINK IT'S ALSO
INTERESTING THAT THERE WAS SOME
JAMMING OF THE PHONE LINES, THAT
THERE WAS A BACKUP HOTLINE TO
CALL IN WHEN THE APP DIDN'T WORK
AND APPARENTLY SOME OF IT WAS
JAMMED BY SUPPORTERS OF
PRESIDENT TRUMP, ALMOST LIKE ON
A PRANKISH BASIS.
SO THERE'S A LOT OF BLAME TO GO
AROUND, BUT I DON'T THINK IOWA
IS GOING TO BE CHANGING IN TERMS
OF ITS ROLE IN PRESIDENTIAL
CYCLES.
>> AS TO THE RESULTS, WHAT'S
YOUR REACTION TO THOSE?
>> IT PERMITTED THE FOUR LEADING
CANDIDATES TO ALL MOVE ON TO NEW
HAMPSHIRE AND SAY I DIDN'T LOSE
BECAUSE THERE WASN'T ANY
DEFINITIVE WINNER.
SO THE OPTICS THAT YOU AND I ARE
USED TO, THAT ON THE NIGHT OF
THE CAUCUS SOMEBODY IS ON THE
PODIUM WITH THEIR HANDS RAISED
THAT THEY WON THE PRIMARY AND
THAT GIVES THEM THE BUMP TO GO
ON TO NEW HAMPSHIRE, THAT JUST
DIDN'T EXIST.
SO IT WAS ALMOST ANTICLIMATIC
THAT NOW NEW HAMPSHIRE WILL BE
THE ONE TO TELL US WHO IS THE
LEADER.
>> YOU SAID PREVIOUSLY THAT YOU
THINK THE FIELD WILL NOT BE
ARROWED BY THE NAME OF
WISCONSIN'S PRESIDENTIAL
PRIMARY.
DO YOU STILL THINK THAT?
>> YOU PROMISED ME YOU WERE
GOING TO ERASE THAT PART OF THE
TAPE, BUT I THINK THERE ARE AT
LEAST THREE, PROBABLY FOUR
LONG-DISTANCE RUNNERS.
IN OTHER WORDS, UNLESS SOMEBODY
DOES TERRIBLY IN NEW HAMPSHIRE,
SOUTH CAROLINA, NEVADA, THEY'VE
GOT THE MONEY TO STAY IN.
MAYBE IT WILL BE BLOOMBERG OR
PATRICK WHO COMES OUT, BUT I
THINK WISCONSIN IS GOING TO
REAL RACE.
SO FOR US THAT WILL BE GOOD.
WE MAY WELL BE THE PIVOT IN THE
PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATING PROCESS.
>> SAY THERE'S A DECENT
CHANCE OF A CONTESTED DEMOCRATIC
CONVENTION IN MILWAUKEE.
WHY?
>> WELL, IF I'M RIGHT ABOUT MY
PREDICTION ABOUT THE PRIMARY P,
THAT MEANS THERE'S ALSO A
LIKELIHOOD THAT THOSE TWO OR
THREE OR FOUR ARE GOING TO
SURVIVE BEYOND THAT AND COME TO
MILWAUKEE FOR THE CONVENTION AND
FIGHT IT OUT.
THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED WAS
J.F. KENNEDY IN 1960 IN
LOS ANGELES.
THE FACT THAT HE WON ON THE
FIRST VOTE WAS EVERYBODY'S
SURPRISE.
IN FACTS, HE WON WITH WYOMING,
THE LAST STATE, PUTTING HIM OVER
THE TOP.
SO WE MIGHT BE LUCKY.
IT MIGHT BE THAT THE MILWAUKEE
CONVENTION WILL BE A REAL
CONVENTION WITH WHO KNOWS WHAT
WOULD HAPPEN.
AND I THINK THAT'S GOOD.
YOU KNOW, WHEN A CON CONVENTION IS
MERELY A CORONATION PROCESS,
WHEN THERE'S NO NEWS THAT COMES
OUT OF A CONVENTION, IT'S
ANTICLIMATIC.
I'M HOPING THAT MILWAUKEE WILL
BE CLIMATIC.
>> AS TO REPUBLICANS, WITH ABOUT
A MINUTE LEFT, WITH TRUMP
UNOPPOSED, WHAT COULD HAPPEN
THERE?
>> OH, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
I THINK REPUBLICANS IN WISCONSIN
WHEN THEY COME TO THE
APRIL PRIMARY ARE GOING TO HAVE
TO DECIDE DO WE WANT TO SHOW
TRUMP THAT HE'S GOT SUPPORT?
EVEN THOUGH HE'S UNOPPOSED
SHOULD WE VOTE IN THE REPUBLICAN
PRIMARY FOR HIM?
OR SHOULD WE CROSS OVER AND
PERHAPS PLAY A LITTLE BIT OF
MISCHIEF, PERHAPS VOTE FOR THE
WEAKEST DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE?
WHEN YOU'VE GOT AN OWN PRIMARY,
SOMETIMES THE INTERPRETATION OF
WHAT IT MEANS IS VERY HARD TO
DISCERN.
>> COULD TRUMP REPUBLICANS
POSSIBLY BEAR TO CROSS OVER?
>> I THINK IT'S PRETTY COMMON IN
WISCONSIN POLITICS.
ONE-THIRD OF THE VOTERS
SOMETIMES VOTED IN REPUBLICAN
AND DEMOCRATIC PRIMARIES.
YOU'RE NOT BETRAYING YOUR PARTY
OR BEING FALSE IF YOU VOTE IN
THE OTHER PARTY'S PRIMARY.
SO I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO FEEL
FREE TO DO IT.
IT MAY WELL BE THAT THEY
COALESCE TO SAY I JUST WANT TO
TELL TRUMP THAT I SUPPORT HIM.
>> YEAH.
ALL RIGHT.
MORDECAI LEE, THANKS A LOT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> IN TONIGHT'S LOOK AHEAD, IN
THE FEBRUARY 18 SPRING PRIMARY
ELECTIONS IN NORTHERN WISCONSIN,
THERE COULD BE SOME CONFUSION
FOR ABSENTEE VOTERS.
THAT'S BECAUSE THERE ARE TWO
BALLOTS.
ONE WENT OUT EARLIER FOR THE
SPECIAL PRIMARY FOR
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 7.
ANOTHER CAME OUT LATER AND
INCLUDES BOTH THE 7TH
CONGRESSIONAL AND STATE-WIDE
JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT
PRIMARY AND OTHER COUNTY OR
MUNICIPAL CONTESTS.
WHAT HAPPENS IF AN ABSENTEE
VOTER FILLS OUT BOTH?
WE TURN TO THE CITY OF SUPERIOR
CLERK AND ELECTIONS OFFICIAL,
TERRY COLON, WHO JOINS US FROM
SUPERIOR.
>> GOOD MORNING.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.
>> WE WANT TO PUT UP
DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF THE
BALLOT.
WE HAVE THE "A" BAT LOCAL FOR
THE 7TH CONGRESSIONAL ONLY AND
THEN WE HAVE THE B BALLOT WHICH
INCLUDES THE SUPREME COURT RACE
AND OTHER LOCAL ELECTIONS.
DESCRIBE WHY THESE TWO VERSIONS
ARE NECESSARY.
>> WELL, BECAUSE THE
CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT IS A
FEDERAL ELECTION, A FEDERAL
POSITION.
THOSE BALLOTS NEED TO BE MAILED
OUT BY LAW 47 DAYS PRIOR TO THE
ELECTION, WHICH IS JANUARY 2.
OUR LOCAL FILING DEADLINE WASN'T
EVEN UNTIL JANUARY 7.
SO WE HAD TO SEND OUT A SECOND
BALLOT THAT INCLUDED THE
CONGRESSIONAL RACE ALONG WITH
OUR LOCAL RACES.
>> SO WALK US THROUGH WHAT
HAPPENS.
IF AN ABSENTEE VOTER FILLED OUT
BALLOT A, THEN GOT BALLOT B
LATER AND FILLED THAT OUT ALSO.
>> IF THEY RETURN BOTH OF THEM,
WE WILL REJECT BALLOT A AND WE
WILL COUNT BALLOT B.
>> SO -- YEAH.
IN THIS CASE WHAT HAPPENS IF A
VOTER FILLED OUT BALLOT A, THEN
GOT BALLOT B AND BECAUSE THEY'D
ALREADY FILLED OUT A IN THE
CONGRESSIONAL RACE, THEY DON'T
FILL OUT THAT PART OF BALLOT B,
THINKING, WELL, I DON'T WANT TO
VOTE TWICE?
>> YEAH.
THERE'S A LOT OF CONFUSION OVER
THAT AND WE'VE GOTTEN A LOT OF
PHONE CALLS.
BUT OUR DIRECTION FROM THE STATE
IS IF THEY RETURN BALLOT B,
BALLOT A IS REJECTED.
WE DON'T OPEN IT.
WE DON'T LOOK AT IT.
SO WE WON'T KNOW.
>> OH.
WELL, WHAT CONCERNS DO YOU HAVE
THAT SOME VOTERS' INTENTIONS
MIGHT BE NULLIFIED BECAUSE OF
THESE BALLOTS?
>> IT IS A CONCERN, BUT I'M
REALLY NOT SURE.
WE DIDN'T RECEIVE ANY OTHER
DIRECTION FROM THE STATE ON HOW
TO HANDLE IT.
SO WE'RE JUST FOLLOWING WHAT
THEY ARE TELLING US TO DO.
>> HAVE YOU GOTTEN ANY QUESTIONS
FROM CANDIDATES THEMSELVES OR
THEIR PARTIES ABOUT THESE KIND
OF DUELING BALLOTS?
>> NOT SO MUCH THE CANDIDATES,
BUT A LOT OF ABSENTEE VOTERS WHO
RECEIVED A BALLOT, HAVE BEEN
CONFUSED.
WE PUT SOME PRETTY GOOD
DIRECTIONS IN THE ENVELOPE WITH
THE BALLOT IN HOPES THAT THEY
WOULD READ IT AND UNDERSTAND IT
AND FILL OUT THE FULL SECOND
BALLOT.
>> WHAT IS YOUR MOST
STRAIGHTFORWARD GUIDANCE THEN
FOR THESE VOTERS?
>> TO FILL OUT THE B BALLOT
COMPLETELY AND RETURN IT.
>> AND WHY IS THAT?
>> BECAUSE THAT WILL HAVE ALL OF
THE RACES ON THERE, INCLUDING
THE CONGRESSIONAL, EVEN THOUGH
THEY VOTED THE A BALLOT WITH
JUST THE CONGRESSIONAL.
>> OKAY.
HOW MANY ABSENTEE VOTERS MIGHT
THIS AFFECT?
>> I THINK WE SEND OUT CLOSE TO
700 FOR THIS PRIMARY.
>> AND IT'S HAPPENING AGAIN FOR
THE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY; IS
THAT RIGHT?
>> CORRECT.
THERE'S GOING TO BE AN A AND B
BALLOT FOR THE SPRING
APRIL ELECTION.
THE A BALLOT WILL HAVE TO BE IN
THE MAIL BY FEBRUARY 20, WHICH
IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER, TWO
DAYS AFTER THE PRIMARY, AND THE
B BALLOT WILL GO OUT ON MARCH
17.
>> SO IT SEEMS POTENTIALLY LIKE
MORE WORK AND A LITTLE BIT MORE
READING AND FOCUS FOR VOTERS WHO
HAVE TO FILL THESE THINGS OUT.
BUT AT LEAST AFTER THIS
FEBRUARY ELECTION YOU'LL HAVE
HAD KIND OF SOME PRACTICE WITH
IT.
>> YEAH.
WE'RE STILL TRYING TO WORK
THROUGH THE DETAILS ON OUR END
HOW GOING TO DO IT,
BECAUSE CENTRAL COUNT OUR
ABSENTEE BALLOTS.
THEY'RE COUNTED AT OUR
GOVERNMENT CENTER BY ELECTION
INSPECTORS ON ELECTION DAY.
>> SO --
>> SO WE'RE JUST TRYING TO
FIGURE OUT THE DETAILS OF HOW
WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT.
>> IT'S COMING RIGHT UP ON YOU,
TOO.
>> IT SURE IS.
>> YEAH.
AFTER SEEING WHAT HAPPENED IN
THE IOWA CAUCUS, HOW GLAD ARE
YOU THAT YOU'RE JUST DEALING
WITH TWO BALLOTS?
>> VERY GLAD.
>> YEAH.
>> I WOULDN'T WANT TO BE IN
THEIR POSITION.
>> YEAH.
FOR SURE.
ALL RIGHT.
TERRY KALAN, THANKS VERY MUCH
FOR JOINING US AND GOOK
WITH ALL OF THIS.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> STATEWIDE THERE WILL BE
AN A AND B BALLOT FOR THE
APRIL 7 ELECTION.
FOR VOTERS WHO REQUEST AN
ABSENTEE BALLOT BEFORE MID-MARCH
THERE WILL BE ONE FOR THE
PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY AND ONE FOR
ALL RACES.
THE BEST GUIDANCE IS TO VOTE IN PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY ON BOTH
BALLOTS AND SEND THEM BACK TO
YOUR CLERK, WHO WILL SORT OUT
THE RIGHT ONE TO BE COUNTED.
MORE THAN 130,000 ABSENTEE
BALLOTS WERE ISSUED BY MAIL IN
THE 2016 PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY.
GOVERNOR TONY EVERS LATE THIS
WEEK CALLED A SPECIAL SESSION TO
ADVOCATE FOR MORE STATE FUNDING
FOR K-12 EDUCATION.
HE SAID THE GOAL OF THE SESSION
SHOULD BE TO RETURN STATE
CONTRIBUTION TO TWO-THIRDS OF
LOCAL DISTRICTS' COSTS.
HE SAID THE BOOST SHOULD COME
FROM THE STATE'S SURPLUS.
THE STATE WILL TAKE IN AN EXTRA
NEARLY $452 MILLION IN TAX
REVENUE THAN PROJECTED.
THEY WANT IT TO GO TOWARD
PROPERTY TAX CUTS INSTEAD.
NEXT WEEK ZAC SCHULTZ REPORTS
FROM NORTHERN WISCONSIN ON THE
SPECIAL PRIMARY IN THE 7TH
CONGRESSIONAL RACE.
I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.
HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.
>> FOR MORE "HERE AND NOW" 2020
ELECTION COVERAGE, GO TO PBS ORG
AND CLICK ON NEWS.
>> FUNDING FOR "HERE AND NOW" IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR
JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS
WISCONSIN.