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

>> HOSPITALS ARE FULL UP AS DELTAA REEKS HAVOC AND OFFICIALS LOOK FOR WAYS TO ALLEVIATE ELECTION STATUSES.

PHYSICALS CLAIMS AND CONFUSION.

AND NEW SHELTERS BRING WARMTH FOR PEOPLE WITHOUT HOMES.

I'M FREDERICA FREIBURG TONIGHT ON "HERE & NOW", DR. RYAN WESTERGAARD GIVES UPDATES ON THE STATUS OF COVID-19 AHEAD OF THE HOLIDAYS.

AND SENATOR ANDRE JACQUE SHARES ONE SOLUTION TO ALLEVIATE THE BURDEN ON HEALTHCARE WORKERS.

WE HEAR FROM THE MADISON MAYOR ON THE ELECTION DISPUTE AS WELL AS ANALYSIS FROM POLITICAL SCIENTIST BARRY BURDEN AND A NEW SUPER INITIATIVE COULD SERVE AS A MODEL TO PROTECT PEOPLE AGAINST WISCONSIN WINTERS.

IT'S "HERE & NOW" FOR DECEMBER .

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

♪ [ MUSIC ] ♪ >>> DESPITE OMICRON EMERGING AS THE NEWEST VARIANT OF CONCERN, WISCONSIN IS DEALING WITH DELTA.

THE STATE HAS BEEN AVERAGING MORE THAN 3,000 NEW CASES OF COVID-19 EVERYDAY, AND THE NUMBER OF COVID RELATED HOSPITALIZATION HAS INCREASED BY MORE THAN 200 IN THE LAST WEEK.

FOR THE LATEST ON HOW THE STATE IS MANAGING THE GROWING CRISIS WE TURN TO STATE EPIDEMIOLOGIST FROM THE WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES, DR. RYAN WESTERGAARD.

THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE AGAIN.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME BACK.

>> HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE SITUATION WITH THE AVAILABILITY OF ICU AND OTHER HOSPITAL BEDS IN WISCONSIN RIGHT NOW?

>> WE'RE IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION.

IT'S NOT STRICTLY ICU BEDS, IT IS ALL HOSPITAL BEDS, IT'S EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS AND IT IS THE MOST GENERAL AVAILABILITY FOR BANDWIDTH OF HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS AROUND THE STATE THAT IS VERY STRAINED.

WE HA VER HAVE VERY FULL HOSPITALS THAT MAKES IT VERY HARD TO GIVE PEOPLE THE HIGHEST CARE THEY NEED WHEN THEY NEED IT.

>>> WOULD IT BE TRUE THAT THE HOSPITAL CRISIS OR NEARING CRISIS AS PRESCRIBED IS PREDOMINANTLY A STAFFING SHORTAGE BECAUSE OF COVID PATIENTS TAKING EXTRA CARE?

>> COVID PATIENTS CAN BE QUITE SICK AS EVERYONE KNOWS IT CAN TAKE A LOT OF RESOURCES AND THE PHYSICAL SPACE ISN'T GENERALLY THE LIMITING STEP.

WE NEED TO HAVE HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS WHO CAN ADMINISTER THE CARE, MANAGE VENTILATORS, PROVIDE MEDICATIONS AND MONITOR PEOPLE CLOSELY.

SO YES, GENERALLY IT'S NOT PHYSICAL SPACE IT'S ITS CAPACITY FOR OUR PROVIDERS, OUR NURSES, PHYSICIANS AND THERAPISTS TO DO THE WORK THAT THEY NEED TO DO.

>> GOVERNOR EVERS SEEKS 100 HOSPITAL WORKERS FROM FEMA AND NATIONAL GUARD MEDICS ARE ALREADY HELPING STAFF STATE MENTAL HEALTH HOSPITALS, IS THIS ENOUGH?

>> WE CERTAINLY HOPE SO.

YOU KNOW, WE -- WE WILL NEVER STOP IF WE DON'T TURN PEOPLE AWAY WHO NEED CARE.

WE WILL ALWAYS DO WHAT WE CAN TO PROVIDE THE BEST LIFE-SAVING CARE THAT WE CAN.

THE ADDITIONAL HELP THAT IS NEEDED OF COURSE IS FOR WISCONSIN RESIDENTS.

THERE ARE THINGS WE CAN DO TO RELIEVE THIS STRAIN THAT IS TO PREVENT DISEASE AND DO THE THINGS WE KNOW PREVENT COVID-19 PREDOMINANTLY VACCINATION, MASKS, GETTING TESTED, SOCIAL DISTANCING STAYING HOME WHEN YOU ARE SICK.

I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT GOALING INFLUENZA VACCINE.

WE'RE LAGGING A BIT.

OUR GOAL IS FOR 70% TO GET A FLU VACCINE WE'RE ONLY AT A THIRD RIGHT NOW.

THESE ARE THINGS EVERYONE CAN DO TO PREVENT OUR HOSPITALS FROM BEING FULL TO PREVENT YOURSELF FROM GETTING SIX AND NEEDING MORE CARE.

>> WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO THE FACT THAT SO MANY PEOPLE ARE NOT TAKING THOSE STEPS?

>> WOMAN IT'S UNDERSTANDABLE BECAUSE EVERYONE IS TIRED OF LIVE THROUGH A PANDEMIC, EVERYONE IS TIRED OF HAVING THEIR LIFE BE DIFFERENT THAN IT WAS IN THE PAST.

SO I HAVE A LOT OF COMPASSION FOR PEOPLE WHO SAY THAT I'M REALLY SICK OF THIS AND I WANT LIFE TO BE BACK TO NORMAL.

BUT WHAT I WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT WE HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THE IMPORTANT THING WHICH IS TO SAVE LIVES.

OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS IT'S GOING TO BE REALLY STRESSFU STRESS IN OFUL IN OUR HOSPITALS AND WE HAVE THE ABILITY BY TAKING SMALL STEPS TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION WHICH IS TO PREVENT THE SPREAD OF DISEASE, AND SAVE LIVES OF PEOPLE EXAMINE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

>> IN TERMS OF THE HOSPITAL CAPACITY, WAS IT EVER THIS BAD IN THE FIRST WAVE OF COVID?

>> IT'S GETTING CLOSE.

THE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE HOSPITALIZED WITH COVID IS ON PAR WITH WHERE WE WERE IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER OF 2020.

WHAT WE HEAR IS THAT PEOPLE ARE GENERALLY YOUNGER AND STAYING IN THE HOSPITAL FOR LONGER.

THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE ON VENTILATORS, MECHANICAL VENTILATION BECAUSE OF RESPIRATORY FAILURE IS HIGHER THAN ITS EVER BEEN SINCE WE'VE BEEN COLLECTING DATA.

SO THIS IS UNFORTUNATELY THE VIRUS HASN'T LET UP AND WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO DO THE THINGS TO TRY TO MITIGATE THE CASES FROM NUMBERS FROM GETTING WORSE.

>> MEANWHILE, IF DELTA IS WHAT IS CRUSHING WISCONSIN RIGHT NOW, WHAT ARE YOU LEARNING ABOUT THE OMICRON IN THE STATE?

>> THERE IS STILL A LOT TO LEARN.

WE'VE DETECTED A FEW CASES THROUGH SEQUENCING, FEWER THAN TEN AT THIS POINT.

SO YOU'RE RIGHT WITH GREATER THAN 99% VIRUS POPULATING IS THE DELTA VARIANT.

WE'RE IN A PERIOD WHERE WE'RE GOING TO LEARN A LOT OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.

THE EARLY EVIDENCE IS THAT IT SPREADS EVEN EASIER SO STANDING ACROSS THE ROOM A PERSON CAN BE INFECTED IF SOMEONE IS INFECTED IN THE ROOM.

THE ENCOURAGING NEWS IS THAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN EVIDENCE THAT IT CAUSES MORE SEVERE DISEASE.

IN MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN DETECTED OF HAVING THE OMICRON VARIANT, WHO HAVE BEEN VACCINATED HAVE MILD SYMPTOMS AND HAVE NOT REQUIRED HOSPITALIZATIONS.

SO STILL A LOT TO LEARN, BUT ANYTIME WE HAVE A VARIANT THAT IS MORE TRANSMISSIBLE THAN WHAT IS ALREADY AROUND IT'S ANOTHER REASON FOR CONCERN AND WE REALLY CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE A LOT MORE CASES THAN WE ALREADY HAVE.

>> INDEED.

DR. RYAN WESTERGAARD, THANKS VERY MUCH AND THANKS FOR YOUR WORK.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> IN A BRIEFING WEDNESDAY WITH THE GOVERNOR, DHS SECRETARY DESIGNEE KAREN TIMBERLAKE SAID, MORE THAN 270 HOSPITALS AND LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES HAVE REQUESTED STAFFING BY THE STATE.

THEY ARE LOOKING AT ALLOWING VETERANS WITH MEDICAL BACKGROUNDS TO TEMPORARILY PERFORM CERTAIN DUTIES IN THE HEALTHCARE SETTING WITHOUT FIRST OBTAINING A LICENSE.

DE PERE SENATOR ANDRE JACQUE COAUTHORED AND JOINS ME NOW.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME ON THE PROGRAM.

>> THE FIRST THING I WANT TO ASK IS HOW YOU'RE FEELING AFTER YOUR OWN VERY SERIOUS BOUGHT WITH COVID?

>> I'M FEELING GREAT.

FEELING GREAT.

GREAT TO BE WORKING ON LEGISLATION AND YOU YOU BEEN A VERY PRODUCTIVE SEASON.

AND OF COURSE THE MAGIC OF THE SEASON.

>> THERE IS THAT AS WELL.

YOU HAVE FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE WITH HOW MUCH CARE AND STAFFING SOMEONE VENTILATED AND CRITICALLY ILL TAKES.

DID THAT FACTOR IN AT ALL TO 2 IN LEGISLATURE THAT YOU'VE INTRODUCED TO GET MILITARY MEDICAL PERSONNEL INTO THE HOSPITALS TO EASE THE CRUSH.

>> WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS LEGISLATION GOING BACK TO BEFORE THE SESSION STARTED.

FOR OVER A YEAR NOW WE'VE BEEN PARTICIPATING STAKEHOLDERS AND CERTAINLY YOU LOOK AT THE WORKFORCE CHALLENGES AND I SERVE ON THE COUNCIL AND WORKFORCE INVESTMENT, BUT WE HAVE SERIOUS CHALLENGES THROUGHOUT THE ECONOMY IN TERMS OF WORKERS LEAVING THE WORKFORCE QUICKER THAN THEY ARE ENTERING IF.

THIS IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING I HAVE WORKED ON IN THE LONG-TERM.

SOMETHING I HAVE WORKED ON CLOSELY WITH VETERAN GROUPS FOR A LONG TIME.

FOR THE VFW AND AMERICAN LEGION.

WAS PLEASED TO WORK WITH THOSE GROUPS THAT ARE VERY MUCH IN SUPPORT OF THIS LEGISLATION, BUT CERTAINLY WHEN YOU LOOK AT HEALTHCARE NEEDS, THAT CERTAINLY IS NOTHING NEW.

AND IN IS, THIS IS CERTAINLY SOMETHING I THINK IS AN INNOVATIVE PROGRAM.

CERTAINLY IS GOING TO HELP WITH A CRITICAL NEED.

>> SO THE LEGISLATION WOULD ALLOW THESE MILITARY MEDICS TO TREAT PEOPLE UNDER SUPERVISION WITHOUT A LICENSE.

WHO WOULD ASCERTAIN THEIR SKILLS AND ABILITY?

>> WELL, YOU WOULD BASICALLY HAVE TO HAVE A THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING THAT IS PROVIDED BOTH TO THE EMPLOYER AS WELL AS THERE IS OVERSIGHT BY THE APPROPRIATE EXAMINING BOARD.

THERE HAS TO BE WORKING TOWARDS A CREDENTIAL.

SO WE HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE POST SECONDARY INSTITUTIONS THAT HAVE ALREADY REGISTERED IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL.

THEY'VE BEEN PART OF IF REALLY THROUGHOUT.

BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU KNOW WE WORK WITHIN THE EXISTING STRUCTURE.

WE'VE TALKED TO THE PROFESSIONALS AS WELL AS THE SYSTEMS LIKE THE HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION, PRIMARY HEALTHCARE ASSOCIATION, RURAL WISCONSIN, HEALTH COOPERATIVE.

SO WE'RE CERTAINLY WORKING WITH INDIVIDUALS THAT ALREADY HAVE A VALUABLE SKILL SET THAT ARE ABLE TO DO CERTAIN PROCEDURES THAT MAY TIMES THROUGH MILITARY MEDICS AND CORPSMAN TRAINING.

WE'RE 23409 TALKING ABOUT SURGERY OR PRESCRIBING DRUGS THAT SORT OF THING.

>> AS YOU SAY THE BILL WOULD ALLOW FOR EVENTUAL LICENSE UR WITH THE HELP FROM EMPLOYING HOSPITALS, BUT WHY NOT LICENSE THEM RIGHT OUT OF THE GATES?

>> WELL WE CURRENTLY HAVE CR CREDENTIALS THAT MIGHT SPEAK TO WHERE A INDIVIDUAL IS AT IN TERMS OF THEIR SKILL LEVEL.

AND CERTAINLY JUST TO GO BACK FOR A SECOND, ONE OF THE FOCUSES WE REALLY HAVE HAD IS HOW DO WE GET MORE OF OUR MILITARY MEN AND WOMEN TO COME BACK TO WISCONSIN?

WE HAVE AN ISSUE IN WISCONSIN WHERE INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE ENTERING THE SERVICE AND NOT COMING BACK PER CAPITA WE WERE BEHIND.

ONE OF THE THINGS I'M MOST PROUD OF FROM THIS MOST RECENT BUDGET, BASICALLY ELIMINATING THE TAX ON ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY PAY WHICH MANY TIMES FORCED OUR MILITARY MEN AND WOMEN TO SWITCH THEIR RESIDENCY OUT OF STATE AS SOON AS THEY WERE DEPLOYED OR WENT OUT FOR TRAINING.

AND SO THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO BASICALLY SAY, YOU HAVE A SKILL SET, A WORK ETHIC AND WE WANT TO KEEP YOU IN THE HEALTHCARE PROFESSION.

WE HAVE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES TO YOU KNOW, SHORTLY AFTER YOU END YOUR TIME IN THE SERVICE BEING ABLE TO CONTINUE SERVING HERE ON CIVILIAN BASES.

>> HOW MANY MEDICNESS COS COULD THIS LEGISLATION PROVIDE TO WISCONSIN?

ANY ESTIMATES?

>> IF YOU LOOK AT VIRGINIA STILL A RECENT PROGRAM, THEY'VE HAD OVER 350.

I'M SURE THEY ARE PROBABLY PUSHING OVER 400.

I KNOW THAT WE'RE SOMEWHERE IN THE AROUND 50 TO 60 PLUS WITHIN THE FIRST YEAR.

SO IT CERTAINLY I THINK IS STILL SUBSTANTIAL AND I CERTAINLY THINK THAT IT CAN BE YOU KNOW MUCH HIGHER THAN THAT DEPENDING ON YOU KNOW AGAIN, WE HAVE THINGS LIKE OUTREACH HISTORICALLY THAT WE'VE DONE ON MILITARY BASES THAT WE'VE STEPPED BACK FROM A LITTLE BIT AS A STATE.

HOPEFULLY WE'RE GOING TO GET BACK INTO THAT.

I KNOW THERE IS LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS TO THAT.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR INFORMATION ON THIS.

WE ARE GLAD YOU ARE FEELING WELL SENATOR ANDRE JACQUE.

THANKS.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> WAUKESHA JUDGE THIS AFTERNOON HELD A HEARING RELATED TO THE COMPELLING OF TESTIMONY FROM THE MAYORS OF MADISON AND GREEN BAY UNDER THREAT OF JAIL TIME.

THE CASE STEMS FROM FORMER JUSTICE MICHAEL GABLEMAN INTO THE 2020 ELECTION.

>> WHY ARE WE HERE?

WE'RE HERE BECAUSE THE MAYORS -R7 SUBPOENAED.

THEY FAILED TO APPEAR FOR THE DEPOSITIONS.

THIS IS JUST A OUTRAGEOUS ABUSE OF PROCESS AND VIOLATION OF THE LAW.

>> THE MAYOR OF MADISON, SATYA RHODES-CONWAY, ALONG WITH THE MAYOR OF GREEN BAY, ARE IN THE CROSSHAIRS OF THE GABLEMAN INVESTIGATION.

IT'S BEEN A BUMP RIDE.

MAYOR RHODES-CONWAY JOINS US NOW WITH HER REACTION, AND THANKS VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US >> IT'S MY PLEASURE, FREDERICA.

>> SO, WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO BEING SUBPOENAED TO APPEAR AND TESTIFY BEFORE FORMER JUSTICE G >> WELL, YOU KNOW, I THINK I'M ALWAYS HAPPY TO TALK ABOUT WHAT A GOOD JOB OUR CLERK'S OFFICE HAS DONE IN OUR ELECTIONS, BUT THINK IT'S REALLY INAPPROPRIATE FOR THIS INVESTIGATION TO BE TAKING PLACE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, AND IT'S BEING PAID FOR WITH TAXPAYER DOLLARS.

THE SUBPOENA THAT THEY USED IS ONE THAT YOU USE TO COMPEL PEOPLE T TESTIFY BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE.

AND I THINK THAT THIS NEEDS TO BE OUT IN PUBLIC.

I AM HAPPY TO GO TALK TO A LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE ABOUT THE ELECTIONS PROCESS HERE IN MADISON.

AND REALLY, YOU KNOW, IT'S A BLOCK AWAY.

I'M HAPPY TO WALK UP THE STREET.

ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS INVITE ME.

BUT I THINK THAT WHA WE CAN SEE HERE IS THAT IT'S NO ACTUALLY ABOUT HOW OUR ELECTION WERE RUN.

ALL THE EVIDENCE WE HAVE, ALL THE COURT CASES, ALL THE INVESTIGATIONS ARE, YOU KNOW, HAVE SHOWN THAT WE DID A REALLY GOOD JOB HERE IN MADISON THIS IS ABOUT TRYING TO INTIMIDATE US.

THIS IS ABOUT TRYING TO INTIMIDATE VOTERS AND TO CAST DOUBT ON FUTURE ELECTIO >> DID YOU FAIL TO COMPLY WITH SAID SUBPOENA?

>> NO, ABSOLUTELY NOT.

AND OUR LAWYERS HAVE BEEN TALKING TO ATTORNEY GABLEMAN AND HIS STAFF AT THIS ENTIRE TIME.

WE PRODUCED REAMS OF DOCUMENTS FOR THEM.

AND AT THAT TIME, THEY TOLD US THAT IT WAS NOT NECESSARY FOR US TO COME AND TE >> SO, HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THIS PROCESS OF THIS INVESTIGATION AS IT PERTAINS TO >> YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT IT'S BEEN JUST ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER SHOWING THAT THEY REALL ARE NOT INTERESTED IN RUNNING A AN ACTUAL FAIR INVESTIGATION, BUT RATHER THEY ARE INTERESTED IN TRYING TO CREATE A LOT OF DRAMA AND A LOT OF DOUBT IN THE PUBLIC REALM.

AND YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE DONE, YOU KNOW, ON OUR SIDE HAS BEEN COOPERATIVE AND TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY WANT FROM US.

AND, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HEA BACK FROM THEM.

WE HEAR FROM TH PRESS WHAT THEY'RE SAYING RATHE THAN DIRECT COMMUNICATION BACK TO OUR OFFICE.

>> DO YOU KNOW WHAT HE WANTS TO ASK YOU?

>> I HAVE NO IDEA.

>> WHAT WOULD YOU SAY ABOUT THE 2020 ELECTION IN >> I WOULD SAY THAT OUR CLERKS AND OUR POLL WORKERS DID A REMARKABLY GOOD JOB RUNNING A SAFE, FAIR, AND TRANSPARENT ELECTION IN THE MIDDLE OF A GLOBAL PANDEMIC.

>> AND WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY TO VIEWERS OR VOTERS ACROSS THE STATE AND FRANKLY ACROSS THE NATION ABOUT THIS INVESTIGATION INTO THE ELECTION AND YOU?

>> I THINK THAT THIS INVESTIGATION IS YET EFFORT BY PEOPLE WHO ARE UNHAPP WITH THE OUTCOME OF THE NOVEMBE 2020 ELECTION AND WANT TO MAKE IT EASIER TO QUESTION FUTURE ELECTIONS.

THE TRUTH IS THAT ELECTIONS IN MADISON, ACROSS TH STATE OF WISCONSIN, AND I BELIEVE ACROSS THE COUNTRY, ARE VERY WELL RUN BY OUR MUNICIPAL CLERKS AND BY POLL WORKERS WHO ARE YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS.

AND SO, I WANT PEOPLE TO HAVE CONFIDENCE IN OUR ELECTORAL SYSTEM AND TO UNDERSTAND THAT WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO HERE IN MADISON IS TO MAKE IT EASIER FO EVERYONE WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO CAS A BALLOT.

>> MAYOR SATYA RHODES THANKS VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> EARLIER THIS WEEK IN A BLOW TO REPUBLICAN ATTEMPTS TO FIND WRONGDOING IN THE 2020 ELECTIONS WISCONSIN ELECTIONS COMMISSION UNANIMOUSLY THROUGH OUT A CLAIM ALLEGING ILLEGAL FUNDING WAS DISTRIBUTING TO ♪ [ MUSIC ] ♪ TYES INCLUDING THE FIVE LARGEST IN THE CITY OF WISCONSIN.

HOLD THE PHONE JUST AFTER THAT TWO REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF THE COMMISSION CHANGED THEIR MINDS SAYING THEY DO IN FACT WANT TO CONSIDER THE COMPLAINT.

AND THERE IS MORE, WEDNESDAY, AN ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS COMMITTEE CALLED A NUMBER OF PEOPLE TO TESTIFY WHOSE CREDENTIALS AS EXPERTS WERE QUESTIONED INCLUDING BY OUR NEXT GUEST PROFESSOR BARRY BURDEN.

THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> WHAT IS GOING ON HERE.

IT REALLY FEELS LIKE THESE ELECTION PROBES ARE KIND OF SPINNING OUT OF CONTROL.

>> IT IS A BIT OF A THREE RING CIRCUS.

WE ARE MORE THAN A YEAR FROM THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AND STILL THERE ARE PROBE ITS, INVESTIGATIONS AND AUDITS UNDERWAY IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER.

ALL SEEM TO BE OPEN ENDED WITH NO CLEAR GOALS, UNCLEAR WHO WAS INVOLVED, WHAT DEADLINES ARE SET FOR PRODUCING SOME KIND OF REPORT OR CONCLUSION.

SO MY FEAR IS THAT THEY ARE UNFORTUNATELY DOING THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT THE PROPONENTS SAY THEY ARE DOING.

INSTEAD OF BUILDING CONFIDENCE IN THE ELECTION SYSTEM THEY ARE CONTINUING TO RAISE SUSPICIONS, MAKE ALLEGATIONS AND LEAVE QUESTIONS ON THE TABLE THAT ARE LIKELY TO LOWER PUBLIC TRUST IN ELECTIONS.

>> HOWEVER DO YOU BELIEVE THAT'S BY DESIGN AND IF SO, WHAT WOULD BE THE MOTIVATION FOR THAT?

>> I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S BY DESIGN.

IT COULD BE BY INCOMPETENCE, LACK OF EXPERIENCE, MICHAEL GABLEMAN HAS SAID HE DOESN'T KNOW HOW WISCONSIN ELECTIONS OPERATE SO THERE IS A LEARNING CURVE FOR SOME OF THE LEGISLATURES AND INVESTIGATORS WHO ARE INVOLVED.

I THINK THERE IS ALSO KIND OF SYMPATHY FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP AND THE CONCERNS HE HAS RAISED FOR THE INTEGRITY OF THE ELECTION IN WISCONSIN SPECIFICALLY.

SPEAKER VOSS INTRODUCED MICHAEL GABLEMAN AFTER MEETING PRESIDENT TRUMP IN A RALLY IN ALABAMA.

SO THERE IS CLEARLY EXTERNAL PRESSURE TO KEEP THESE ISSUES ALIVE.

>> WOULD YOU REGARD IT AS MORE THAN SIMPLY AND POTENTIAL POLITICAL NECESSITY?

>> WELL, IT'S TRUE THE BASE OF THE PARTY, THE COURSE OF QUARTERS THAT PRESIDENT ARE STILL SKEPTICAL OF THE ELECTION.

WHAT IF UNCOVERED AND INVESTIGATED.

THAT'S DESPITE THE FACT DOZENS OF LAWSUITS INCLUDING I THINK SEVEN OR EIGHT IN WISCONSIN HAVE CONFIRMED THE RESULTS.

IN WISCONSIN WE HAVE DONE A FULL RECOUNT OF DANE COUNTY AND MILWAUKEE COUNTY AT PRESIDENT TRUMP'S REQUEST.

THAT VALIDATED THE RESULT.

THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO MATTER.

IT DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE AN INVESTIGATION LOOKING FOR FACTS, IT SEEMS TO BE AN INVESTIGATION TRYING OR INVESTIGATIONS, PLURAL, TRYING TO FIND AN ASSUMPTIONING OR CONCLUSION THAT'S ALREADY BEEN REACHED.

>> IN THE LATEST INFORMATIONAL HEARING HELD AT THE CAPITOL FOR REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS INVESTIGATING THE 2020 ELECTION IT HAD YOU TWEETING "I DON'T HAVE THE TIME TO LIVE TWEET CORRECT THE NONSENSE THAT SO-CALLED ELECTION EXPERTS ARE GIVING STATE LEGISLATURES."

WHY DID YOU CHARACTERIZE THOSE WHO TESTIFIED IN FRONT OF THE REPRESENTATIVE BRANCH ON WEDNESDAY AS EXPERTS IN QUOTATION MARKS?

>> WELL THE PEOPLE WHO ARE INVITED THIS WEEK AND IN A PRIOR HEARING, THAT COULDN'T BE HELD, ARE MOSTLY ELECTION DOUBTERS EITHER CONSPIRACY THEORISTS OR PEOPLE WHO HAVE FILED LAWSUITS.

THEY ALREADY HAVE A CONCLUSION TO WHAT THEY THINK ABOUT THE VALIDITY OF THE ELECTION AND THEY ARE PRESENTING TO THE COMMITTEE WHAT LOOK LIKE AUTHORITATIVE ANALYSIS WITH STATISTICS AND CHARTS, BUT THEY ARE ALL AMATEURS WHO ARE DONALD TRUMP SUPPORTERS AND PART OF THE PEOPLE WORKING IN THE GABLEMAN INVESTIGATION.

IT'S NOT THE KIND OF BIPARTISAN SERIOUS LOOK THAT THE I WOULD HOPE THE LEGISLATURE WOULD DO AFTER EVERY ELECTION TO DO TWEAKS, BUT INSTEAD IT'S FEEDING INTO THIS NARRATIVE OF THE QUESTIONS OF THE HA VALIDITY OF THE ELECTION ITSELF.

>> WHEN YOU ARE ASKED YOUR OPINION HOW SHOULD VOTERS TAKE THIS?

WHAT SHOULD THEY DO WITH ALL OF THIS INFORMATION BEING GENERATED FROM ALL OF THESE INVESTIGATIONS?

>> YOU KNOW, THE PEOPLE TO TRUST ARE THOSE WHO ARE IN POSITIONS OF AUTHORITY WHO ACTUALLY ADMINISTER ELECTIONS AND UNDERSTAND HOW THEY ARE RUN.

THOSE ARE MAINLY THE COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL CLERKS ACROSS THE STATE.

EVERY CITY, TOWN AND VILLAGE HAS ITS OWN CLERK.

THEY ARE HAPPY TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS AND TELL YOU THEY ARE CONFIDENT IN THE ELECTION.

THEY WON'T SAY IT'S PERFECT.

IT'S A COMPLICATED HUMAN PROCESS THAT HAS SOME ERRORS AND SOME INCONSISTENCIES, BUT THEY ARE PEOPLE WHO KNOW FROM FIRST PANNED EXPERIENCE HOW THESE THINGS OPERATE AS OPPOSED TO OUTSIDE OBSERVER WHO IS ARE FLOWN IN TO OFFER OUTLANDISH SPECULATION.

>> ALL RIGHT PROFESSOR BARRY BURDEN THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> GLAD TO BE WITH YOU.

>>> IN OTHER NEWS, AS YOU TURN UP YOUR THERMOSTAT OR THROW LOGS ON THE FIRE, IMAGINE LIVING AND SLEEPING OUTSIDE.

HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN WISCONSIN ARE DOING JUST THAT TONIGHT.

IN MADISON ALONE, LAST YEAR, THEIR NUMBERS SWELL TO AROUND 600 BY SOME COUNTS, BUT THIS WINTER ABOUT 30 PEOPLE ARE NEWLY SHELTERED FROM THE COLD IN A NEW WAY.

THEY ARE RESIDING IN AN ENCAMPMENT OF SMALL, BUT PRIVATE DWELLINGS THE CITY ERECTED FOR PEOPLE WHO UNTIL JUST RECENTLY WERE LIVING IN TENTS.

>> YOU KNOW YOU JUST FEEL HUMAN AGAIN.

>> JAY WELCOMED US INTO HIS NEW PLACE.

>> THIS IS MY BED WHICH IS, [LAUGHTER] >> IT'S COMFORTABLE.

>> HE HAS BEEN LIVING IN THE 8 BY 8 SHELTER NOR LESS THAN A MONTH.

>> HERE'S MY KEYS.

WHEN THEY HANDED THEM TO ME THE DAY I GOT HERE I THINK THAT'S WHAT KIND OF -- YOU KNOW -- PUT ME OVER THE EDGE A LITTLE BIT.

>> WHY?

>> BECAUSE I KNEW I WAS GOING TO BE SAFE.

>> BEFORE BEING GIVEN THE KEYS TO HIS FRESH START, HE HAD LIVED IN A TENT IN THIS CITY PARK ALONGSIDE NEARLY 100 OTHERS.

>> IT WAS MORE SURVIVAL MODE.

YOU KNOW, YOU HAD A FULL-TIME SURVIVING MORE THAN LIVING AND YOU KNOW GETTING BACK ON TRACK.

>> THE CITY HELPED MOVE 35 PEOPLE OUT OF THE DEPARTME TENTS TO A HOTEL NEAR THE PARK.

30 MORE CAME HERE WHERE THERE ARE BATHROOMS AND HOT SHOWERS AND ROWS OF TINY HEATED TEMPORARY HOMES.

>> YOU DON'T REALLY REALIZE A WARM BATHROOM, HOT SHOWER, HEAT, ELECTRICITY THOSE ARE ACTUALLY NECESSITIES.

[LAUGHTER] >> IT'S REALLY, REALLY, REALLY BENEFICIAL TO FOLKS TO BE ABLE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT THEIR NE NEXT STEPS ARE GOING TO BE.

>> BRENDA KUNKLE RECRUITED ON SIGHT RECOVERY SERVICES FOR RESIDENCE.

>> THIS IS THE FIRST TIME FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT SOMEBODY HAS BEEN ABLE TO JUST LISTEN WITHOUT INTERRUPTION AND PEOPLE CAN TELL THEIR STORY.

SO THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT JUST WANT TO COME IN AND BE HEARD AND JUST TALK.

>> SOME ADVOCATES SAY THE SHELTER IS NECESSARY, BUT THEY ARE STILL CRITICAL.

>> IT'S BETTER THAN A TENT, BUT CERTAINLY A GOVERNMENT CAN DO BETTER THAN TRYING TO HOUSE PEOPLE FOR THE WINTER IN 8 BY 8 SHANTIES.

>> MYSELF I WAS PROBABLY A LITTLE SKEPTICAL OF THE PROJECT THINKING IT WAS JUST A BAND AID.

>> BUT SEEING RESIDENTS FACES LIGHT UP AND SMILE, KUNKLE SAYS IT CAN SERVE AS A MODEL, ANOTHER OPTION FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.

A PEOPLE THAT HE FOUND HIMSELF AFTER BAD CHOICES, BAD LUCK, AND BAD CREDIT.

>> I DIDN'T ASK FOR THIS.

YOU KNOW, I DIDN'T ASK FOR THIS.

HOMELESSNESS.

I DIDN'T ASK FOR IT.

>> WHEN OUTREACH WORKERS ASKED HIM TO MOVE FROM THE TENT, HE SAYS THE FEAR, THE PAIN AND THE STRESS MELTED AWAY.

>> YOU KNEW YOU WERE GOING TO BE WARM.

YOU KNEW YOU WERE GOING TO BE SAFE HERE.

>> DONATIONS POURING TO THE SITE AND THIS DAY, ONE WAS MARKED FOR DELIVERY TO JAY.

>> TOWELS, SILVERWARE.

>> A DIFFERENT MEASURE OF WARMTH FROM STRANGERS HE NEVER KNEW CARED.

>> A SIGN THAT WILL BE HUNG UP.

[LAUGHTER] >> THE CITY OF MADISON WILL SPEND ABOUT $2 MILLION FROM FEDERAL COVID RELIEF FUNDS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF THE SHELTERS INCLUDING ON SITE SERVICES.

AS FOR JAY, HE IS LOOKING FOR WORK AND THEN A PERMANENT HOME.

>>> FOR THE LATEST ON COVID-19 VISIT PBSWISCONSIN.ORG AND THEN CLICK ON THE NEWS TAB.

THAT IS OUR PROGRAM, I'M FREDERICA FREIBURG.

HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.

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