>> THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM IS A PBS WISCONSIN ORIGINAL PRODUCTION.

>> WISCONSIN'S MIDTERM PRIMARY ELECTIONS SAW ITS HIGHEST TURNOUT IN 40 YEARS.

SOME UNEXPECTED TWISTS AND TURNS MAY FORESHADOW WHAT'S TO COME IN THE FALL.

I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.

TONIGHT ON "HERE & NOW," WE BRING DOWN PRIMARY RESULTS WITH OUR POLITICAL PANELISTS SCOT ROSS AND BILL McCOSHEN, AND A CLOSER LOOK AT THE SWING THIRD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT WITH ANTHONY CHERGOSKY, AND THE U.S. HAS DECLARED MONKEYPOX A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY.

DR. RYAN WESTERGAARD TELLS US WHAT'S HAPPENING IN WISCONSIN.

IT'S "HERE & NOW" FOR AUGUST 12TH.

>> FUNDING FOR "HERE & NOW" IS PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS WISCONSIN.

>> THE MIDTERM PRIMARIES SET THE STAGE FOR THE BATTLE TO NOVEMBER 8TH.

WINNING CANDIDATES IMMEDIATELY PIVOTED TO THE 90-DAY CAMPAIGN AHEAD OF THE GENERAL ELECTION.

AS MARISSA REPORTS, THE RESULTS BROUGHT THE PREDICTED AND THE UNEXPECTED.

>> WISCONSIN'S PRIMARY ELECTION LEFT REPUBLICANS ON THE EDGE OF THEIR SEAT.

AS CANDIDATES REBECCA KLEEFISCH, "ESTABLISHMENT FAVORITE WITH YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AS SCOTT WALKER'S LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR" AND TIM MICHELS, THE SELF-FUNDED BUSINESSMAN VIED TO BE THE GOP NOMINEE.

>> WE FEEL WE ARE ON A SLIPPERY SLOPE TOWARD SOCIALISM AND CLOAKED BEHIND SOCIAL ISSUES.

AN OUTSIDER, A BUSINESSMAN AND VETERAN IN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

>> IN THE END, MICHELS PREVAILED, WITH THE BOOST OF DONALD TRUMP SUPPORT JUST DAYS BEFORE THE ELECTION.

PROVING THAT A REPUBLICAN CAN WIN THE STATE WITHOUT THE FULL BCKING OF THE MILWAUKEE SUBURBS.

AN I'VE CONCEDED THIS RACE TO TIM MICHELS AND I URGE YOU ALL TO STAY IN THE FIGHT BECAUSE THE FIGHT NOW IS TRULY AGAINST TONY EVERS, AND THE LIBERALS WHO WANT TO TAKE AWAY OUR WAY OF LIFE.

>> THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE AND INCUMBENT, TONY EVERS, WITH NO PRIMARY OPPONENT SAW AN EASY SLIDE INTO THE GENERAL ELECTION AND WAS JOINED BY HIS NEW RUNNING MATE, SARA RODRIGUEZ.

>> HE'S NOT AN OUTSIDER, NOT AN INSIDER, AND HE CAN WEAR A BLUE SHIRT TO HAVE A BLUE COLLAR.

AT THE END OF THE DAY I'M NOT QUITE SURE SOMEONE OF HIS STATUS WITH HOUSES ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY COULD SAY I'M JUST ONE OF YOU BECAUSE THERE'S NOT MANY OF HIM LIKE THAT IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN.

>> MANDELA BARNES OPTING FOR A RUN AT U.S. SENATE INSTEAD OF ANOTHER TERM AS EVERS' LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR TRAVERSED A CROWDED PRIMARY FIELD BUT SAILED TO A SMOOTH VICTORY AFTER HIS OPPONENTS DROPPED OUT A WEEK BEFORE THE ELECTION.

>> IT'S TIME FOR US TO BE REPRESENTED BY PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY SHARE OUR EXPERIENCES.

AND WHILE RON JOHNSON CONTINUES TO STACK THE DECK AGAINST US, I'M HERE TO TELL YOU WE ARE NOT GOING TO GIVE UP.

>> BARNES WILL TAKE ON INCUMBENT RON JOHNSON, RUNNING FOR HIS THIRD TERM.

HE ACKNOWLEDGED HIS GENERAL ELECTION OPPONENT ON TWITTER SAYING IT'S A CONTEST BETWEEN RADICAL LEFT SOCIALISM VERSUS FREEDOM AND PROSPERITY.

IT WILL ALSO PUT THE LIES AND DISTORTIONS OF DEMOCRATS AND THE MEDIA VERSUS THE TRUTH.

IN WHAT MAY HAVE BEEN THE MOST SURPRISING UPSET OF THE NIGHT, ROBIN VOS NARROWLY WON IN RACINE COUNTY.

AND STEEN WAS ENDORSED BY THE FORMER STATE SUPREME COURT JUSTICE WHOM VOSS HIRED TO INVESTIGATION 2020 ELECTIONS IN WISCONSIN.

NO PROOF OF ELECTION FRAUD OR MISCONDUCT AND HE IS BEING SUED.

VOSS FIRED BACK.

>> MIKE GEBELMAN IS AN EMBARRASSMENT TO THE STATE.

AND IN THE THIRD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, BRAD PFAFF READ OUT REBECCA COOK, AND NOW MOVES ON TO CHALLENGE DERRICK VAN ORDEN IN THE FALL.

>> WILD TWISTS AND TURNS.

AND BETTING OUR POLITICAL PANEL HAS SOME TAKES ON THIS, REPUBLICAN BILL McCOSHEN AND DEMOCRAT SCOT ROSS.

>> GOOD TO BE HERE.

>> WHAT IS YOUR TAKE, BILL, ON THE ESTABLISHMENT REBECCA KLEEFISCH LOSING TO TRUMP-ENDORSED TIM MICHELS?

>> A COUPLE THINGS, NUMBER ONE, DONALD TRUMP'S ENDORSEMENT, NO QUESTION THAT WAS A MAJOR FACTOR ON TUESDAY, AND OUTSIDER STATUS, NEVER HELD PUBLIC OFFICE BEFORE.

HE RAN FOR U.S. SENATE IN 2004 BUT HAS NEVER HELD A PUBLIC OFFICE AND THAT WAS APPEALING AND I THINK THE THIRD PIECE WERE THE RESOURCES, RIGHT.

HE HAD THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF RESOURCES TO GET HIS MESSAGE OUT THERE AND HE HAD A MESSAGE THAT RESONATED.

THERE WILL BE LOTS AND LOTS OF PEOPLE WILL SAY ONE, HE SPENT $13 MILLION OR WHATEVER THE FINAL NUMBER IS.

IF MONEY WAS THE DECIDING FACTOR, ALEX LASRY WOULD BE THE NOMINEE FOR THE SENATE.

>> TIM MICHELS FLEW IN FROM HIS PRIVATE JET FROM CONNECTICUT AND BOUGHT THE ELECTION.

AND THE FACT REBECCA KLEEFISCH IS THE STANDARD BEARER UNDER WALKER DOING THE RUBBER CHICKEN CIRCUIT, MAKING ALL THE ATTACKS ON DEMOCRATS, RAISING MONEY FOR REPUBLICANS AND THEN SHE LOSES THIS?

TO A GUY WHO CAME IN AND BASICALLY TOOK TRUMP'S ENDORSEMENT AND RAN WITH IT?

I MEAN, I THINK THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS TO DO A LOT OF HEALING.

MIGHT -- THEY MIGHT FINALLY ASK FOR THE MEDICAID MONEY SO THAT THEY CAN GET HEALTHCARE ACCESS TO HEAL THESE WOUNDS.

>> AND BILL, DOES THIS MEAN THAT SCOTT WALKER IS NO LONGER THE STANDARD BEARER FOR THE WISCONSIN GOP?

>> LISTEN, SCOTT WALKER WILL HAVE A PLACE IN HISTORY, AND ONLY GOVERNOR IN AMERICAN HISTORY WHO SURVIVED A RECALL.

SO, HE WAS A TWO-TERM GOVERNOR HERE, DID A LOT OF MAJOR REFORMS.

HIS BRAND WAS CLEARLY NOT AS STRONG AS DONALD TRUMP, AND TOMMY THOMPSON.

AND TIM MICHELS WAS ALSO ENDORSED BY TOMMY THOMPSON.

HIS BRAND WAS NOT AS STRONG AS THEIRS WAS, AND HE'S 54 YEARS OLD.

DONE IN POLITICS, I HIGHLY DOUBT IT.

I THINK WE WILL SEE SCOTT WALKER BACK AT SOME POINT BUT YOU KNOW, HE WAS NOT ABLE TO PULL REBECCA OVER THE FINISH LINE.

>> SCOT.

>> HAVE YOU SEEN ANYWHERE AROUND THE COUNTRY WHERE A FORMER GOVERNOR GETS INTO A GUBERNATORIAL PRIMARY TO ATTACK, YOU KNOW, OTHER CANDIDATES AND THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT SCOTT WALKER DID.

I THINK THE GUY'S EGO -- HE'S JUST LOST IT IN TERMS OF THAT, AND IT IS ALL ABOUT HIM AND IT WAS TO THE DETRIMENT OF REBECCA KLEEFISCH.

HE SHOULD HAVE NOT BEEN IN THE ADS.

AND 2018, PEOPLE WERE SICK OF HIM, AD AFTER AD AFTER AD.

SCOTT WALKER, I KNOW YOU DON'T TAKE ADVICE FROM ME, GET AWAY FROM THE PARKING LOT, GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL, MOVE ON TO THE NEXT PLACE.

>> WE AGREE ON THAT.

OUTSIDE OF TOMMY THOMPSON, THE MOST HARD WORKING REPUBLICAN, SHE GOT SOME BAD ADVICE DOWN THE STRETCH AND WORKED AGAINST HER.

>> BILL, ARE REPUBLICANS AT ALL SKITTISH RIDING THE COAT TAILS OF DONALD TRUMP WITH WHAT HE'S GOING THROUGH RIGHT NOW?

>> MICHELS RAN ADS WITH TRUMP'S PICTURE IN IT, I DON'T KNOW IF HE WOULD BE BACK IN THE GENERAL, IF HE DOES COME BACK, IN THE WAUSAU OR GREEN BAY AREA WHERE HIS SUPPORT IS ENORMOUS, I DON'T THINK YOU ARE GOING TO SEE HIM HIGHLIGHTED IN THE GENERAL ELECTION.

TIM MICHELS WILL FOCUS ON THE CONTRAST BETWEEN HIM AND TONY EVERS.

>> HE TOOK THE ENDORSEMENT FROM DONALD TRUMP OFF OF HIS WEBSITE AND THEN AFTER A REPORTER FOUND THAT OUT, HE PUT IT BACK UP.

DONALD TRUMP IS TOXIC TO SWING VOTERS AND TOXIC TO INDEPENDENT VOTERS AND TOXIC TO DEMOCRATIC VOTERS.

EVERY WOMAN IN THE STATE OF WISCONSIN HAD HER STATUS MADE SECOND CLASS BY THE DONALD TRUMP SUPREME COURT.

>> SO SCOTT, PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN'S POLLING NUMBERS ARE IN THE TANK.

HOW MUCH DOES HE HOLD BACK CANDIDATES IN HIS PARTY?

>> I DON'T REALLY THINK HE HOLDS THEM BACK.

HIS -- YOU KNOW, HE IS A MAKING OF WHAT THE CIRCUMSTANCES ARE RIGHT NOW.

INFLATION IS TOUGH, AND DEMOCRATS ARE TAKING STEPS TO SOLVE THAT PROBLEM.

BUT THE CHALLENGE IS THAT HE'S IN CHARGE SO HE GETS HIT WITH THAT.

I DON'T THINK THE TOXICITY THAT DONALD TRUMP HAS COMPARES IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM TO JOE BIDEN.

JOE BIDEN, YOU LOOK AT HIM, YOU KNOW HE'S TRYING TO HELP YOU.

>> I DISAGREE.

I THINK HE'S GOING TO BE A MAJOR DRAG ON DEMOCRATS, TONY EVERS AND MANDELA BARNES BUT NOT JUST THAT.

THE PRESIDENT'S NUMBERS ARE OK HERE, I THINK HE'S AT 42%, NOT GREAT, HE'S UNDERWATER FOR SURE.

THEY ARE IN THE 30s NATIONALLY.

THE OTHER THING WORKING AGAINST DEMOCRATS IS THE RIGHT DIRECTION, WRONG TRACK NUMBER, IN MANY SURVEYS NATIONALLY IS 80% OF THE PEOPLE THINK THE COUNTRY IS ON THE WRONG TRACK.

THAT ULTIMATELY SAYS CHANGE.

SO INCUMBENT DEMOCRATS RUNNING THIS YEAR ARE IN A TOUGH REQUIREMENT BECAUSE OF THAT.

AND TONY EVERS, ONLY ONE INCUMBENT EVER RE-ELECTED WHEN HIS PARTY CONTROLLED THE WHITE HOUSE, AND THAT WAS MY OLD BOSS, TOMMY THOMPSON.

>> TIM MICHELS HAS BEEN IN CONNECTICUT.

WHAT TONY EVERS IS DOING IS WHAT WISCONSINITES NEED HIM TO DO, GETS THE MONEY FOR SMALL BUSINESSES, LOCAL TAVERNS, COMMUNITIES ARE NOT LOSING BUSINESS BY GETTING MONEY FROM WASHINGTON, D.C. DURING THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC THAT HAS GONE ON FOR YEARS.

IF THE REPUBLICANS WERE IN CHARGE WE WOULD NOT HAVE THAT MONEY.

BUSINESSES ALL OVER THE PLACE WOULD CLOSE DOWN.

THANK GOODNESS TONY EVERS IS IN THERE AND TALK TO VOTERS OUT THERE AND SAY IS TONY EVERS ON MY SIDE, ABSOLUTELY HE IS.

I MIGHT NOT AGREE WITH EVERYTHING BUT HE'S ON MY SIDE.

>> RON JOHNSON'S BASE IS ALL IN ON THE SENATOR.

IS HE VULNERABLE?

>> HE'S IN BETTER SHAPE NOW THAN A YEAR AGO.

AND YOU HAVE A LOT OF SMART VIEWERS FOR YOUR SHOW.

WHEN TRUMP WON HERE IN 16, THE FIRST TIME A REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES HAD WON SINCE 1984.

JOHNSON GOT MORE VOTES IN 2016.

POPULAR POLITICAL FIGURE IN THE BASE AND DOES PRETTY WELL WITH INDEPENDENTS AND HE'S A STRAIGHT SHOOTER, TELLS IT LIKE IT IS.

ULTIMATELY I THINK THE RACE IS A FUNDAMENTAL QUESTION.

IF YOU LIKE THE DIRECTION OF THE COUNTRY OR THE LEADERSHIP OF JOE BIDEN, MANDELA BARNES IS YOUR GUY.

A DIFFERENT TAKE, IT'S RON JOHNSON.

>> LISTEN, RON JOHNSON, HIS APPROVAL IS 36%.

THAT IS AWFUL, THAT IS TERRIBLE.

HE, YOU KNOW -- HE HAS NOT BEEN ALL THAT VISIBLE UNTIL THE LAST COUPLE YEARS AND IT'S ALL BEEN NEGATIVE.

HE WANTS TO GET RID OF SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE, PUT IT ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK FOR A PARTISAN CONGRESS.

IF YOU ARE A SENIOR OUT IN RURAL WISCONSIN, OR A SENIOR ANYWHERE, HOSPITALS WOULD BE SHUT DOWN ACROSS WISCONSIN IF WE LOSE MEDICARE.

RESTAURANTS, GROCERY STORES, THEY ARE GONE IF RON JOHNSON GETS HIS WAY ON SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE AND DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO HANG THAT AROUND HIS NECK AND THEY SHOULD BECAUSE HE'S WRONG ON IT.

>> SO MUCH MORE TO TALK ABOUT HERE BUT I WANT TO GET TO THIS, HOW ROBIN VOSS JUST BARELY SNUCK OUT A WIN OVER A TRUMP-ENDORSED UNKNOWN CANDIDATE AND HIS OWN ELECTION INVESTIGATOR TURNED ON HIM ENDORSING THE OTHER GUY.

NOW, VOSS THEN CALLED GEBELMAN AN EMBARRASSMENT AND TODAY FIRED HIM.

>> I'M GLAD, I THINK IT'S LONG OVERDUE.

I THINK THE INVESTIGATION HAD RUN ITS COURSE.

WE HAVE TWO MORE CREDIBLE INVESTIGATIONS FOR THE WISCONSIN INSTITUTE FOR LAW AND LIBERTY AND THE AUDIT BUREAU, A CLEAR ROAD MAP ON THINGS TO GET DONE, LEGISLATURE HAS TRIED TO ADDRESS IT TWICE AND EVERS HAS VETOED IT.

>> YOUR REACTION TO THE FIRING?

>> THIS WHOLE INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN CORRUPT, CIRCUS, AFRONT TO DEMOCRACY.

REPUBLICANS WANT TO ATTACK YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE, PREVENT YOU FROM GOING OUT TO VOTE.

DEMOCRATS ARE EMBOLDENED BY THIS.

AND MAKE SURE EVERYBODY WHO HAS THE RIGHT TO VOTE GETS OUT AND VOTE.

A GOOD ELECTION NIGHT FOR DEMOCRATS.

>> SCOT ROSS, BILL McCOSHEN, THANKS VERY MUCH.

>> THANKS.

>> THE LINES ARE SET IN WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN.

REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE DERRICK VAN ORDEN WILL FACE OFF AGAINST BRAD PFAFF.

WHO ARE THE CANDIDATES?

WE TURN TO ANTHONY CHERGOSKY, PROFESSOR, THANKS FOR BEING HERE, FROM UW-LA CROSSE.

WHY IS THE THIRD SO CLOSELY WATCHED?

>> IT'S BY FAR THE MOST COMPETITIVE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES DISTRICT IN WISCONSIN AND SOME PROGNOSTICATION SERVICES SAY IT'S ONE OF THE MOST LIKELY DISTRICTS TO FLIP PARTY CONTROL.

REPUBLICANS HAVE THEIR EYE ON THIS DISTRICT AS THEY SEEK TO REGAIN MAJORITY CONTROL OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

>> SO LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THOSE CANDIDATES.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THEM, DERRICK VAN ORDEN FIRST.

>> HE IS A STAUNCH DONALD TRUMP ALLY.

SOMEONE WHO REALLY BRANDS HIMSELF AS BEING PART OF THE DONALD TRUMP MOVEMENT OF THE PARTY.

HE WAS FAMOUSLY IN D.C. ON JANUARY 6TH, 2021.

HE SAYS THAT HE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THE RIOT, HE WAS NOT IN A RESTRICTED AREA.

SOME OF THE FACTS ARE DISPUTED SURROUNDING THAT.

BUT WHAT IS CLEAR, DERRICK VAN ORDEN IS A STAUNCH, STAUNCH SUPPORTER OF DONALD TRUMP AND THIS DISTRICT DID GO DONALD TRUMP'S WAY BY A SMALL MARGIN.

THAT COULD BODE WELL FOR HIM.

>> WHAT ABOUT BRAD PFAFF?

>> BRAD PFAFF IS REALLY IN THE -- HE'S REALLY FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF RON KIND, I WOULD SAY.

RON KIND, THE LONG TIME CONGRESS PERSON FROM THIS DISTRICT WHO RAN AS A MODERATE DEMOCRAT, SOMEONE REALLY FOCUSED ON THOSE LOCAL ISSUES, SOMEONE WHO COULD DRAW THE KEY CROSSOVER SUPPORT FROM VOTERS WHO MAY VOTE REPUBLICAN IN OTHER RACES BUT VOTE FOR KIND IN THE RACE FOR CONGRESS.

PFAFF IS FOCUSED ON RURAL ISSUES, DEMOCRATS ARE HUNGRY TO CONNECT WITH THE KEY RURAL AUDIENCE.

>> ANY SENSE THAT THE FBI SEARCHES AND DEPOSITIONS AND INVESTIGATIONS INTO TRUMP WILL GIVE HIS SUPPORTERS IN THAT DISTRICT ANY PAUSE?

>> I'M NOT SURE, FREDERICA.

I MEAN, WE KNOW THAT THERE IS A STRONG RURAL URBAN DIVIDE IN THIS DISTRICT AND I THINK THAT'S THE KEY POLITICAL DEVELOPMENT IN WESTERN WISCONSIN IN THIS THIRD DISTRICT OVER THE LAST NUMBER OF YEARS.

WHERE RURAL AREAS HAVE BECOME VERY STRONGLY IN THE REPUBLICAN CAMP, THIS COULD HAVE AN EFFECT ON THOSE AREAS, HOW THEY TURN OUT TO VOTE IN NOVEMBER.

AT THE SAME TIME, WE KNOW THAT DEMOCRATS ARE HIGHLY MOTIVATED IN THE ELECTION DUE TO DERRICK VAN ORDEN'S PRESENCE IN D.C. ON JANUARY 6TH AND HIS STRONG SUPPORT OF DONALD TRUMP.

>> WHAT IN YOUR ESTIMATION ARE THE MAJOR ISSUES IN THE DISTRICT THERE?

>> WELL, DERRICK VAN ORDEN FOCUSES ON NATIONAL POLITICAL ISSUES.

VERY ACTIVE ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND REALLY FOCUSES ON THE ISSUES THAT ANIMATE THE REPUBLICAN BASE NATIONALLY.

CULTURE WAR ISSUES, ISSUES RELATED TO JOE BIDEN AND WANTING TO DEFEAT JOE BIDEN, WANTING TO UNSEAT THE DEMOCRATS FOR MAJORITY CONTROL.

SO HE'S REALLY IN LINE WITH THE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN MESSAGING.

BRAD PFAFF, ON THE OTHER HAND, IS TRYING TO LOCALIZE THE RACE.

AGRICULTURE A KEY ONE, EDUCATION BEING ANOTHER ONE.

WE HAVE MANY U.W.

CAMPUSES IN THIS DISTRICT.

U.W.

HAS A MAJOR PRESENCE IN THIS AREA.

SO ALL OF THAT COULD PLAY OUT IN THIS CAMPAIGN IN UNPREDICTABLE WAYS BUT WE KNOW DERRICK VAN ORDEN IS MORE FOCUSED ON THE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN BRAND.

BRAD PFAFF WANTS YOU TO DISTINGUISH YOURSELF AND FOCUS MORE ON THE LOCAL ISSUES.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT, WHICH WORKS BEST IN THAT DISTRICT IN YOUR ESTIMATION?

>> FOR YEARS RON KIND HAS BEEN ABLE TO WIN RE-ELECTION THROUGH FOCUSING ON THOSE LOCAL ISSUES AND CREATING SOME DISTANCE BETWEEN HIMSELF AND THAT NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY BRAND.

HE HAS BEEN ABLE TO SAY THAT HE'S DIFFERENT THAN OTHER DEMOCRATS.

HE'S MORE MODERATE THAN OTHER DEMOCRATS, AND THAT HE'S REALLY FOCUSED ON THOSE LOCAL ISSUES, THOSE AGRICULTURAL ISSUES, THOSE ISSUES RELATED TO OUR PRESENCE ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER, FOR EXAMPLE.

SO I THINK BRAD PFAFF IS TRYING TO REPLICATE THE RON KIND STRATEGY AND WE'LL SEE IF THAT WINS OUT OR IF THOSE NATIONAL FACTORS CARRY DERRICK VAN ORDEN TO A WIN.

>> OK, PROFESSOR ANTHONY CHERGOSKY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

>> A SWEEPING CLIMATE HEALTH AND TAX BILL DUBBED BY DEMOCRATS AS THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT WENT TO THE FLOOR OF THE U.S. HOUSE TODAY FOR PASSAGE.

LAST WEEKEND THE SENATE PASSED THE MEASURE WITH 0 REPUBLICANS VOTING IN FLAVOR.

$437 BILLION SPENDING BILL INCLUDES NEARLY 370 BILLION INVESTMENT IN ENERGY AND CLIMATE REFORM.

IT INCLUDES 60 BILLION FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE AND ALSO CONSUMER TAX CREDITS FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

ON THE HEALTHCARE SIDE, THE BILL INCLUDES ALLOWING THE FEDS TO NEGOTIATE PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES FOR MEDICARE, AND EXTENDS SUBSIDIES FOR AFFORDABLE CARE ACT HEALTH PLANS, AND THE MEASURE CREATES A 15% MINIMUM TAX FOR CORPORATIONS MAKING $1 BILLION OR MORE IN INCOME.

ALL TOLD, BRINGING IN MORE THAN $300 BILLION IN REVENUE.

ONE PART OF THE BILL GETTING NOTICE FROM FOLKS WHO MIGHT BE IN THE MARKET FOR CLEAN CARS, A NEW $7,500 TAX CREDIT FOR NEW ELECTRIC VEHICLES, AND A $4,000 CREDIT FOR USED ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

>> THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT WILL LOWER ENERGY COSTS FOR CONSUMERS AND HELP US MEET OUR LONG-TERM'S EMISSION GOALS TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE.

>> FRESH OFF VOTING FOR THE MEASURE, TAMMY BALDWIN TOURED A MADISON COMPANY BUILDING OUT ELECTRIC CHARGING STATIONS WITH THE LOCAL UTILITY.

>> TRANSPORTATION IS THE LEADING CONTRIBUTOR TO GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS IN THE UNITED STATES.

ADVANCING ELECTRIC TRANSPORTATION POWERED BY AN INCREASINGLY CLEANER ELECTRIC GRID IS KEY TO CREATING A MORE SUSTAINABLE FUTURE, LOCALLY AND GLOBALLY.

>> FOR HER PART, BALDWIN HERALDS THE CONGRESSIONAL LEGISLATION.

>> THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT MAKES THE BIGGEST INVESTMENT IN COMBATTING CLIMATE CHANGE THAT WE HAVE EVER MADE IN THE UNITED STATES.

>> I MEAN, THEY ARE DOING THINGS -- >> U.S.

SENATOR RON JOHNSON WAS AMONG ALL THE REPUBLICANS WHO VOTED AGAINST THE MEASURE AND AMONG OTHER THINGS RELEASED A STATEMENT CALLING ITS TITLE A MISNOMER, SAYING THE ORWELLIAN NAMED INFLATION REDUCTION ACT WILL DO NO SUCH THING.

THIS IS A GREEN ENERGY FANTASY TO DRIVE THE COST OF ENERGY UP RATHER THAN DOWN.

JOHNSON ALSO BLASTS THE 15% TAX ON BILLION DOLLARS PLUS CORPORATIONS AND MONEY IN THE PACKAGE TO BOOST IRS TAX ENFORCEMENT.

IN HEALTH NEWS, THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES HAS DECLARED MONKEYPOX A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY WITH MORE THAN 10,000 CASES REPORTED NATIONALLY.

HERE IN WISCONSIN THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES IS PRIORITIZING VACCINE DOSES THAT ARE IN SHORT SUPPLY.

CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER AND STATE EPIDEMIOLOGIST DR. RYAN WESTERGAARD IS HERE WITH AN UPDATE.

NICE TO SEE YOU, DOCTOR.

>> NICE TO BE BACK WITH YOU.

>> WHAT IS THE STATUS OF MONKEYPOX IN WISCONSIN.

HOW MANY CASES AT WEEK'S END AND HOW FAST ARE THEY CLIMBING?

>> YEAH, WE ARE IN A BIT OF AN ACCELERATION PHASE.

CASES ARE STILL RELATIVELY LOW.

NATIONWIDE IN THE U.S., OVER 10,000 CASES THAT HAVE BEEN REPORTED.

IN WISCONSIN THE NUMBER IS ONLY 40, AND THAT INCLUDES CASES INFECTED IN TEN OUT OF THE COUNTIES, AND WE ARE EXPECTING TO SEE MORE.

>> WHAT IS MONKEYPOX, EXACTLY?

>> MONKEYPOX IS A VIRUS THAT IS A COUSIN OF THE SMALLPOX VIRUS WHICH OF COURSE USED TO CAUSE A LOT OF SEVERE DISEASE BUT THEY ERADICATED THROUGH VACCINATION.

MONKEYPOX IS NATURALLY FOUND IN SOME ANIMAL POPULATIONS, WHICH IS WHERE IT GOT ITS NAME AND SPILLED OVER INTO HUMAN POPULATIONS VARIOUS TIMES, INCLUDING ABOUT 2002, 2003 THERE WAS AN OUTBREAK IN THE MIDWEST.

THIS PARTICULAR OUTBREAK IS DIFFERENT, ALTHOUGH IT'S NOT SPECIFICALLY CONSIDERED SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASE IT'S SPREADING THAT WAY IN THIS CURRENT GLOBAL OUTBREAK AFFECTING PREDOMINANTLY MEN WHO IDENTIFY AS GAY AND BISEXUAL.

>> WHY IS THAT, WHY ARE GAY MEN IN THE HIGH RISK GROUP?

>> I THINK THAT'S WHERE IT STARTED.

THE INITIAL INFECTIONS IN SPEED LIMIT WERE AMONG MEN WHO HAD TRAVELED, WHO HAD ATTENDED LARGE GATHERINGS WHERE A LOT OF CLOSE SKIN TO SKIN OR INTIMATE CONTACT WAS TAKING PLACE, AND IT SPREAD THROUGHOUT THOSE SOCIAL AND SEXUAL NETWORKS AROUND THE WORLD.

SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THAT -- THE GROUP OF MEN WHO HAVE SEX WITH MEN OR IDENTIFY AS GAY OR BISEXUAL KNOW THEY ARE AT HIGHEST RISK BUT ALSO IMPORTANT FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO KNOW ANYONE IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO THIS.

PEOPLE WHO ARE HOUSEHOLD CONTACTS, IF THEY COME INTO CLOSE CONTACT WITH A PERSON, OR EVEN WITH TOWELS OR LINENS SHARED CAN CONTRACT THIS VIRUS.

SO IT'S SOMETHING EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT.

>> HOW DANGEROUS IS IT IF YOU GET IT?

>> IT'S NOT PLEASANT, BUT SO FAR IN THE UNITED STATES NO FATAL CASES.

THERE ARE HOSPITALIZATIONS BECAUSE OF THE NEED FOR PAIN CONTROL.

THE SKIN LESIONS CAN BE PAINFUL, IN THE CURRENT OUTBREAK AFFECT THE GENITAL AREA, AND SOME REQUIRE HOSPITALIZATION FOR PAIN CONTROL.

IT'S PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS IN YOUNGER PATIENTS, PREGNANT PEOPLE, AND PEOPLE WITH SUPPRESSED IMMUNE SYSTEMS.

SO BEFORE THIS CURRENT OUTBREAK WE THOUGHT WE HEARD ABOUT A 1% MORTALITY, SO IT CAN CAUSE SEVERE DISEASE, BUT THESE DAYS IT'S PREDOMINANTLY AFFECTING YOUNGER AND HEALTHY MEN, SO NO DEATHS, THANK YOU FLY.

>> VACCINATIONS ARE IN SHORT SUPPL AND NOW BEING STRETCHED.

WHAT'S THE SITUATION IN WISCONSIN?

>> WE HAVE ADMINISTERED JUST UNDER 1,000 DOSES TO PEOPLE AT THE HIGHEST RISK, AND PEOPLE WHO WE HAVE DETERMINED THROUGH PUBLIC HEALTH INVESTIGATIONS HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO A PERSON WITH KNOWN MONKEYPOX OR HIGH RISK, THE POPULATION OF MEN WHO HAVE HAD MULTIPLE SEX PARTNERS SO TRYING TO GET THE WORD OUT AND SUPPORT ALL THE CLINICAL PARTNERS AND PROVIDERS AND THE STATE TO GET THIS NEW VACCINE, CALLED GENAOS, OUT INTO THE POPULATION AND GET AS MANY OF THE HIGHEST RISK PEOPLE FOR THE MONKEYPOX VIRUS VACCINATED.

GOOD NEWS WE ARE ABLE TO STRETCH THE VACCINE SUPPLY BY GIVING IT AT A SMALLER DOSE THROUGH A DIFFERENT ROUTE, AND BASED ON GOOD SCIENCE SHOWING IT WAS JUST AS EFFECTIVE AS THE TRADITIONAL LARGER DOSE ROUTE, SO WE ARE OPTIMISTIC WE HAVE ENOUGH VACCINE TO REACH THE PEOPLE AT THE GREATEST RISK RIGHT NOW.

>> ON COVID THERE IS NEW RELAXED GUIDANCE FROM THE CDC.

DOES WISCONSIN EXPECT TO FOLLOW THAT?

>> YES, WE DO, AND WORKING WITH PARTNERS AS WE HAVE IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS AND BUSINESSES AND UNIVERSITIES TO SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT THE NEW GUIDANCE, THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE IS THAT WE ARE DOING AWAY WITH QUARANTINE.

THESE DAYS AFTER THE NEW GUIDANCE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO A PERSON WITH COVID-19 IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD OR IN THE COMMUNITY, THEY DON'T NEED TO STAY HOME, NECESSARILY BUT DO WANT THEM TO WEAR MASKS.

THE NEW GUIDANCE IN THE FALL AND THE COLD AND FLU SEASON COMING UPON US, WEARING MASKS MORE WHEN YOU FIND OUT YOU'VE BEEN EXPOSED TO SOMEONE.

>> DR. RYAN WESTERGAARD, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> NICE TO BE WITH YOU.

>> VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT PBSWISCONSIN.ORG, AND CLICK ON THE NEWS TAB.

THAT'S OUR PROGRAM TONIGHT.

HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.

I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.

>> FUNDING FOR "HERE & NOW" IS PROVIDED BY THE FOCUS FUND FOR JOURNALISM AND FRIENDS OF PBS WISCONSIN.