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

>> WE ALL REMEMBER THE ATTACK ON THE U.S. CAPITOL BUT ONE YEAR ON, UNITY AMONG AMERICANS, INCLUDING IN OUR OWN STATE, IS VERY FAR FROM REALIZED.

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN MARKED THE ANNIVERSARY IN A FIERY ADDRESS.

>> THOSE WHO STORMED THIS CAPITOL AND THOSE THAT INSTIGATED AND INCITED AND THOSE WHO CALLED ON THEM TO DO SO HELD A DAGGER AT THE THROAT OF AMERICA.

>> DEMOCRACY ITSELF UNDER CONTINUED ATTACK, HE SAID, WITH UNRELENTING INVESTIGATIONS IN THE 2020 ELECTION.

ON THE PANDEMIC FRONT, WISCONSIN HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE CALLING THE RAPIDLY RISING CASE NUMBERS ASTONISHING AND SAY OVERLOADED HOSPITALS MAKE IT UNSAFE FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED MEDICAL CARE.

I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.

TONIGHT ON HERE & NOW, EXPLODING COVID 19 INFECTIONS IN WISCONSIN, THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE VIOLENT ATTACK ON THE U.S. CAPITOL AND THE WISCONSIN RESPONSE FROM CONGRESS.

AN INTERVIEW WITH REPUBLICAN ASSEMBLY SPEAKER ROBIN VOS AS HE EXPANDS THE ELECTION INVESTIGATION AND POWERFUL REPORTING FROM JOURNALIST MURV SEYMOUR ON CALLS TO ACTION FOR TRANSGENDER PEOPLE.

IT'S HERE & NOW FOR JANUARY 7.

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

>> COVID 19 INFECTIONS ARE EXPLODING IN WISCONSIN WITH RECORD HIGH DAILY CASE NUMBERS TOPPING 12,000.

THE MOST SINCE THE START OF THE PANDEIC.

THE HIGHLY INFECTIOUS OMICRON VARIANT IS BLAMED FOR THE EXPLOSIVE INFECTION RATE.

IT'S REPORTED TO CAUSE LESS SEVERE SYMPTOMS BUT THE SHEER CASE COUNT IS STARTING TO HOBBLE SCHOOLS AND HOSPITALS.

WHAT IS THE LATEST IN WISCONSIN ON COVID 19?

FOR THAT WE TURN TO DR. JEFFREY POTHOF, THE CHIEF QUALITY AND SAFETY OFFICER FOR UNV WEALTH, ONE OF THE LARGEST IN THE STATE.

THANKS VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> WHAT IS THE CURRENT SITUATION WITH YOUR HOSPITAL?

>> YOU KNOW, I WISH I COULD PAINT YOU A NICE PICTURE BUT RIGHT NOW, WE'RE IN A REALLY ROUGH SPOT.

OUR NUMBER OF COVID 19 ADMISSIONS HAS INCREASED DRAMATICALLY OVER THE LAST WEEK AND A HALF TO TWO WEEKS.

WE'RE TEETERING WITH THOSE RECORD VOLUMES WE HAD LAST THANKSGIVING.

TO MAKE FURTHER -- OR TO MAKE MATTERS FURTHER WORSE, OUR HOSPITAL WAS ALREADY MORE FULL TO START WITH.

AND OUR STAFF, ALTHOUGH THAIK THANKFULLY VACCINATED, ARE HAVING BREAKTHROUGH CASES MAKING OUR STAFFING PROBLEMS EVEN WORSE.

SO WE'RE IN A SITUATION WHERE THERE ARE FOLKS AROUND THE STATE CALLING US AND SAYING, CAN YOU TAKE MY PATIENT?

THEY'RE COMPLEX.

YOU HAVE THE EXPERTISE TO DO WITH THEIR PROBLEM.

AND WE CANNOT SAFELY TAKE THEM.

THEY HAVE TO WAIT WHERE THEY'RE AT OR FIND A DIFFERENT HOSPITAL TO TAKE THEM.

WE CANNOT TAKE THAT NEXT PATIENT >> THAT IS EXTREMELY SCARY, OF COURSE, FOR THE PEOPLE WHO NEED THE SERVICES OF THE HOSPITAL FOR THINGS LIKE STROKE OR HEART ATTACK.

TELL US WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THAT.

>> YEAH.

SO YOU KNOW, WHAT WE TRY TO DO WHEN WE CAN'T TAKE PATIENTS PHYSICALLY TO OUR LOCATION IS WE PROVIDE AS MANY RESOURCES AS WE CAN TO THOSE PATIENTS WHERE THEY ARE, WHETHER THAT'S OUR EXPERTS AVAILABLE BY TELE HEALTH, WHETHER THAT'S COORDINATING WITH OTHER HEALTH SYSTEMS ACROSS THE STATE, EVEN OUTSIDE THE STATE TO HELP FIND THAT NEXT BED, PROVIDING OUR HELICOPTERS TO PROMOTE TRANSPORTS TO FAR AWAY HOSPITALS THAT MIGHT HAVE A ROOM.

WE'RE DOING THINGS LIKE THAT BUT ULTIMATELY WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT FOLKS WHO OTHERWISE WOULD GET A DIFFERENT STANDARD OF CARE ARE GETTING A LITTLE BIT LESS THAN THAT.

FOLKS DOING THE BEST THAT THEY CAN BUT UNLESS WE CAN REDUCE HOSPITALIZATIONS IN THE STATE, THAT'S, YOU KNOW, THE BEST WE CAN DO RIGHT NOW.

>> YOU KNOW, WE UNDERSTAND THAT THESE SYMPTOMS OF THE OMICRON VARIANT, COVID 19 ARE LESS SEVERE AND YET, YOUR HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE UP DRAMATICALLY, YOU SAY.

IS THAT JUST AS A RESULT OF THE SHEER NUMBER OF INFECTIONS?

>> IT IS.

AND I THINK THERE'S A BIT OF A MISUNDERSTANDING.

WHEN FOLKS HEAR THAT OMICRON IS LESS SEVERE, I THINK THEY THINK IT'S MORE LIKE A COLD.

IT DOESN'T MAKE PEOPLE SICK.

WHY ARE HOSPITALS WORRIED?

THAT'S NOT WHAT WE MEAN WHEN WE SAY LESS SEVERE.

WHEN WE SAY LESS SEVERE, WE MEAN IF YOU TAKE 100 PEOPLE AND YOU GIVE THEM OMICRON, A LOWER% ENTS OF THOSE PEOPLE WILL NEED A HOSPITAL BED BUT IT'S NOT TO SAY OMICRON CANNOT CAUSE SEVERE DISEASE.

WHEN YOU TAKE THE EXTRA CASES WE'RE SEEING, OMICRON IS SO MUCH MORE CONTAGIOUS, WE'RE ACTUALLY SEEING AN INCREASE IN HOSPITALIZATIONS DESPITE OMICRON BEING LESS SEVERE IN GENERAL.

>> WHAT IS THIS LIKE FOR THE STAFF THERE ON THE FRONT LINES?

>> IT'S DIFFICULT.

YOU CAN IMAGINE, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LOT OF STAFF THAT ARE OUT EITHER GETTING TESTED OR THEY'VE TESTED POSITIVE.

THEY WANT TO GET BACK TO WORK.

WE'RE WORKING WITH THEM ON THAT.

THEY'RE TYPICALLY NOT OVERLY SICK, THEY'RE ALL VACCINATED BUT THAT MEANS THOSE HEALTH CARE WORKERS WHO ARE LEFT ARE WORKING MORE SHIFTS AND COMING BACK QUICKER TO DO ANOTHER SHIFT AND STRETCHING THEMSELVES A LITTLE MORE THIN.

AND YOU KNOW, THROUGHOUT THIS PANDEMIC, THESE HEALTH CARE WORKERS HAVE BEEN HEROS AND THEY CONTINUE TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE BUT IT'S HARD AND WE'VE LOST A LOT OF PEOPLE TO BURNOUT BECAUSE THERE'S JUST ONLY SO MUCH YOU CAN EXPECT OF A HUMAN BEING.

THIS PANDEMIC HAS CERTAINLY NOT BEEN SHORT.

>> HAVE YOU EVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS IN YOUR CAREER?

>> NOT ONLY HAVE I NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS, THIS WASN'T EVEN ON MY RADAR GOING THROUGH MEDICAL TRAINING.

WE HAVE ONE OF THE MOST WELL RESOURCED HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS IN THE ENTIRE WORLD, AND TO THINK WE'RE AT THE POINT WHERE PEOPLE WHO NEED CARE FOR THINGS LIKE HEART ATTACKS, STROKES, MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO GET IT, THAT NEVER CROSSED MY MIND WHEN I WAS GOING THROUGH MEDICAL TRAINING THAT THAT WOULD BE THE SCENARIO WHERE I WORK.

>> YOU KNOW, WE HAVE READ THAT IT IS THE UNVACCINATED THAT ARE TAKING UP THE BULK OF THE HOSPITALIZATIONS FOR COVID 19.

IS THAT ACCURATE?

>> IT'S DEFINITELY ACCURATE.

YOU KNOW, WE DO SEE MORE BREAKTHROUGH CASES WITH OMICRON.

THEY OFTEN DON'T GET ADMITTED.

WHEN THEY GET ADMITTED, IT'S OFTEN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, A DAY, TO DAYS.

BUT BUT THE UNVACCINATED MAKE UP THE MAJORITY OF CASES IN THE HOSPITAL AND THEY DON'T STAY FOR ONE DAY OR TWO DAY.

SOMETIMES IT'S MONTHS ON HIGH END THERAPIES THAT TAKE A LOT OF OUR ROOM UP AND A LOT OF OUR STAFF RESOURCES UP AND IF WE COULD REDUCE THAT, WE WOULD MAKE THESE OTHER THINGS FIT.

FOLKS IN THE STATE WOULDN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT A HOSPITAL IS GOING TO BE READY FOR THEM WHEN THEY SUFFER THEIR MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

>> IS IT YOUR EXPECTATION THAT THIS OMICRON WILL BURN QUICKLY THROUGH THE POPULATION AND WE COULD COME OUT ON THE OTHER SIDE TO QUIETER DAYS?

>> I HOPE THAT IS THE SILVER LINING.

THAT IS THE EXPERIENCE THEY HAD IN SOUTH AFRICA.

I'M HOPEFUL THAT, YOU KNOW, THIS GOES ON FOR A FEW MORE WEEKS AND THEN THINGS START TO TAPER DOWN AND GET A LITTLE MORE BACK TO NORMAL.

OR MAYBE LIKE WE WERE THIS SUMMER.

BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S GOING TO BE A ROUGH COUPLE OF WEEKS BEFORE WE GET THERE.

I'M NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO THAT PERIOD OF TIME.

>> GOOD LUCK TO YOU AND ALL OF YOU THERE PROVIDING CARE, DR. JEFFREY POTHOF.

THANKS VERY MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> SEVERAL LARGE SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE DELAYED THE RETURN TO THE CLASSROOM IS AS THEY FACED RISING INFECTION NUMBERS AND STOF SHART JOINLS, INCLUDING THE MADISON AND MILWAUKEE DISTRICTS.

HAD SON ANNOUNCED SCHOOL WOULD BE IN PERSON AS OF MONDAY AFTER PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT, TESTING AND BOOSTER CLINICS.

IN A VOTE LATE THURSDAY, MILWAUKEE DECIDED TO REMAIN OUT OF THE CLASSROOM UNTIL JANUARY 18 BUT WILL STAY WITH VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION IN THE MEANTIME.

TURNING TO AN ANNIVERSARY MARK THIS WEEK, JANUARY 6, 2021 SHOCKING SCENES AS DONALD TRUMP SUPPORTERS STORMED THE U.S. CAPITOL LOOKING TO OVERTURN THE ELECTION.

HUNDREDS HAVE BEEN CHARGED IN CONNECTION WITH THE BREACH, INCLUDING SIX FROM WISCONSIN.

DEMOCRATIC U.S.

SENATOR TAMMY BALDWIN SPOKE FROM THE SENATE FLOOR NOW A YEAR LATER.

>> FAR TOO MANY WOULD LIKE TO WHITEWASH THE VIOLENT DAY AND PRETEND THE INSURRECTION WAS NOT AN EXISTENTIAL THREAT TO DEMOCRACY.

WE HAVE COLLEAGUES WHO HAVE INEXPLICABLY SAID THE VIOLENT MOB WAS A GROUP OF MERE TOURISTS.

MY REPUBLICAN COUNTERPART FROM THE GREAT STATE OF WISCONSIN EVEN CALLED JANUARY 6 A PEACEFUL PROTEST.

THESE FLY IN THE FACE OF THE TRUTH.

THIS IS NOT RIGHT AND WE CANNOT ALLOW THE TRUTH TO BE BURIED.

WE MUST ALL CONDEMN THIS INSURRECTION IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS AS WELL AS THE BIG LIE ABOUT THE 2020 ELECTION THAT DROVE THE MOB TO DESECRATE THIS HALLOWED CHAMBER.

AND WE MUST HONOR AND STRENGTHEN OUR DEMOCRACY BY PASSING LEGISLATION THAT PUTS AN END TO THESE CEASELESS ATTACKS ON VOTERS AND THE INTEGRITY OF OUR ELECTIONS.

>> FOR HIS PART, REPUBLICAN SENATOR RON JOHNSON'S OFFICE SENT OUT A STATEMENT THAT SAID SENATOR JOHNSON IMMEDIATELY AND REPEATEDLY CONDEMNED THE VIOLENCE THAT OCCURRED ON JANUARY 6MENT ENLZ THE AMERICAN PEOPLE DESERVE A FULL AND ACCURATE ACCOUNT OF WHAT HAPPENED AND HE ALSO DETAILED THE QUESTIONS HE'S RAISED ABOUT JUST WHO WAS INVOLVED CITING AGENT PROVOCATEURS AND FAKE TRUMP SUPPORTERS.

SCOTT FITZGERALD ALSO REACTED TO THE ANNIVERSARY AND THE PRESIDENT'S SPEECH MARKING THE OCCASION.

HE TWEETED OUT, QUOTE, THE PRESIDENT CREATED MORE DIVISION, NOT UNITY, IN HIS SPEECH TODAY.

THE V.P.

SHAMELESSLY LIKENED JANUARY 6 TO SEPTEMBER 11 AND PEARL HARBOR, BOTH ATTACKS THAT LEFT THOUSANDS OF AMERICANS MURDERED.

THIS ISN'T LEADERSHIP, HE SAID.

THIS IS THEATER TO DISTRACT FROM THIS ADMINISTRATON'S FAILURES.

THE MINDSET OF MANY TRUMP SUPPORTERS THAT INDEED HE WON THE ELECTION BECAUSE OF ELECTION FRAUD IN PLACES LIKE WISCONSIN, ROYALS, DEMOCRATS AS FALSELY UNDERMINING FAITH IN ELECTIONS AND AS AN ATTACK ON DEMOCRACY.

THOSE INCLUDE GOVERNOR TONY EVERS WHO, IN AN INTERVIEW WITH ZAC SCHULTZ, CRITICIZED REPUBLICANS FOR CONTINUING INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE 2020 ELECTION, CALLING IT A CLOWN SHOW.

>> IT'S A SELF FULFILLING PROPH PROPHECY.

THERE'S GOING TO BE PEOPLE SAYING, YOU KNOW, IS THIS SYSTEM BROKEN OR NOT?

SO I'M DISAPPOINTED THAT THE LEADERSHIP AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS DECIDED TO TAKE THIS TACTIC BECAUSE IT'S SELF FULFILLING AND FOR THEM TO SAY AS MORE PEOPLE DON'T TRUST THE SYSTEM, HE'S TOLD THEM THAT.

HE'S TOLD THEM THAT WITH NO DATA.

HE'S TOLD THEM THAT WITH FRANKLY LIES.

AND SO IT'S A CLOWN SHOW, FRANKLY, THAT NEEDS TO END.

WE HAVE A GOOD SYSTEM, IT'S SECURE AND WE WILL -- I WILL MAKE SURE THAT WE'LL DO WHATEVER WE CAN TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE OF WISCONSIN CAN FEEL COMFORTABLE THAT THE SYSTEM WORKS AND FRANKLY, ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO VOTE INSTEAD OF DISCOURAGING PEOPLE TO VOTE.

>> DEMOCRATS ACROSS COUNTRY ARE ACCUSING REPUBLICANS OF ACCUSING DEMOCRACY ITSELF.

DO YOU THINK REPUBLICANS IN WISCONSIN ARE ATTACKING THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS?

>> OF COURSE THEY ARE.

VOTING IS THE MOST TRUE PART OF DEMOCRACY, WHETHER IT'S WISCONSIN OR THE COUNTRY.

AND IF PEOPLE ARE OUT THERE SPEWING LIES AND MISTRUTHS AND FULFILLING THEIR OWN PROPHECY THAT THINGS AREN'T RIGHT, THAT IS AN ATTACK ON DEMOCRACY.

>> FOR HIS REACTION, REPUBLICAN SPEAKER ROBIN VOS SAT DOWN WITH SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER ZAC SCHULTZ AND HE STARTED BY ASKING THE SPEAKER HIS RESPONSE TO THE GOVERNOR'S CLOWN SHOW CLAIMS.

>> I THINK GOVERNOR TONY EVERS IS OBVIOUSLY IN CAMPAIGN MODE.

HE'S FOCUSED ON MORE HYPERBOLE THAN FACT.

WE KNOW CLEARLY A MAJORITY OF WISCONSINITES, ACCORDING TO OLDER POLLING BUT I'LL STILL BELIEVE IT'S TRUE, A MAJORITY OF REPUBLICANS AND HUGE NUMBER OF INDEPENDENTS BELIEVE THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH THE 2020 ELECTION.

I'VE SAID OVER AND OVER THAT JOE BIDEN IS THE PRESIDENT.

THIS IS NOT ABOUT OVERTURNING THE ELECTION OR RUINING DEMOCRACY BUT IT IS ABOUT MAKING SURE WE HAVE FAITH IN THE RESULTS, WHOEVER WINS, WHOEVER LOSES.

AND I THINK WE CLEARLY KNOW, NOW WE'VE HAD THE LEGISLATIVE AUDIT BUREAU, INVESTIGATION BY WILL AND THE FINAL INVESTIGATION BEING DONE BY JUSTICE GABLEMAN.

ALL ARE GOING TO SHOW WE HAD ISSUES.

FIRST TWO CLEARLY DID.

I'M CERTAIN THE LAST ONE WILL AS WELL.

FOR GOVERNOR TONY EVERS TO IMPLY THE WELL RESPECTED, NON PARTISAN BUREAU WAS ATTACKING DEMOCRACY AND ON A WITCH HUNT, THAT'S NOT ACCURATE, MUCH LESS IT'S JUST A BOLD FACED LIE.

SO I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AND SAY, LET'S FOCUS ON THE FACTS, NOT ON HYPERBOLE.

WE KNOW THERE WERE PROBLEMS.

WE KNOW THAT THERE WERE THINGS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE DIFFERENTLY.

I THINK HISTORY IS GOING TO JUDGE THAT THINGS WERE NOT DONE CORRECTLY IN 2020 AND ALL WE CAN DO IS TRY TO MAKE IT BETTER.

>> WITH THE GABLEMAN INVESTIGATION, THERE HAVE BEEN SOME PROCESS ERRORS, SOME ERRORS THAT SEEM LIKE THEY SHOULD BE HAPPENING WITH AN INVESTIGATION THAT'S WELL FUNDED, THIS WELL PURPOSED.

WE'VE HAD CRITICISM FROM BOTH REPUBLICANS, OBVIOUSLY DEMOCRATS, IN THE END, DO YOU THINK THAT YOU'RE GOING TO CONVINCE THE PUBLIC WITH THE RESULTS OF THAT INVESTIGATION?

>> WELL, THERE'S BEEN AN AWFUL LOT OF MONEY SPENT BY LIBERALS TO TRY TO DISCREDIT THE INVESTIGATION.

YOU'RE RIGHT, NOT EVERYTHING GOES PERFECT.

WE HAVE HUMANS, THEY'RE DOING THEIR VERY BEST BUT I THINK WHEN YOU HAVE GROUPS COMING IN AND ATTACKING FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, GOING AFTER THE LEGISLATIVE AUDIT BUREAU, A WELL RESPECTED INSTITUTION IN THE STATE CAPITOL AS ANY, TO TRY TO DISCREDIT THEM, IT'S NO SURPRISE THEY'RE GOING TO CONTINUE THAT ALL THE WAY UNTIL THE END.

WE NOW KNOW THAT THERE HAVE BEEN LAWSUITS FILED, PEOPLE HAVE TRIED TO SAY THE LEGISLATURE DOESN'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO ISSUE SUBPOENAS.

OF COURSE WE DO.

IT'S A POWER WE'VE HAD SINCE STATEHOOD.

THESE BASIC IDEAS BEING ARGUED IN COURT, IF YOU WOULD HAVE TOLD ME THE VERY FUNDAMENTAL IDEA THAT WE DIDN'T ISSUE SUBPOENAS, WE WOULD BE IN COURT, I WOULD THINK YOU'RE CRAZY.

NOW WE HAVE GROUPS ON THE LIBERAL SIDE TRYING TO UPSET WHAT'S BEEN STANDARD IN WISCONSIN.

I THOUGHT WE WOULD BE DONE BY THE END OF THE YEAR BUT THEEN THROWN UP EVERY POSSIBLE ROAD BLOCK THEY COULD TO TRY TO STOP WHAT SHOULD BE A SIMPLE, EASY, WELL UNDERSTOOD IDEA WHICH IS AT THE END, LET'S SEE WHAT WAS DONE RIGHT, WHAT WAS DONE WRONG AND THEN TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT THINGS THAT WERE DONE WRONG ARE CREDITED.

>> YOU'VE ACCOUNT THAT JOE BIDEN IS LEGITIMATELY THE PRESIDENT BUT THERE ARE MEMBERS OF THE CAUCUS AND THE PUBLIC THAT DON'T BELIEVE THAT, THEY AREN'T CONVINCED.

IT'S BEEN SHOWN THEY HAVE BEEN LIED TO BOTH BY REPUBLICANS AND BY OPERATIVES AND BY CON MEN AND OTHER PEOPLE TRYING TO MAKE A BUCK ON THEM.

SO AT WHAT POINT IS IT UP TO LEGISLATORS TO MAKE MORE OF A SAY, NO, THIS IS LEGITIMATE.

WE'RE LOOKING AT MINOR PROCESS ISSUES IN WISCONSIN ELECTIONS OPPOSED TO OVERTHROWING IT WHICH SOME OF YOUR OWN MEMBERS HAVE INTRODUCED BILLS THAT WOULD CHANGE SOME OF THE OUTCOMES IN FUTURE ELECTIONS.

>> I DON'T THINK THERE WERE MINOR PROCESS ISSUES.

LET'S START WITH THAT.

WE HAVE A SINGLE MEMBER WHO HAS SAID WE SHOULD DECERTIFY THE ELECTION SO LET'S NOT CAST A WIDE NET THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE OVERTURNING THE ELECTION BECAUSE THERE'S ONE.

I DON'T SPEAK FOR EVERY SINGLE REPUBLICAN IN THE STATE NOR IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE BUT I KNOW THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE I SPEAK WITH UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE.

IT'S NOT FOCUSED ON THE PAST.

DO I BELIEVE THAT WE SHOULD ALLOW OUT OF STATE BILLIONAIRES TO COME IN AND COMINGLE PRIVATE DOLLARS OF PUBLIC FUNDS TO ONLY TURN OUT PEOPLE IN CERTAIN ZIP CODES OF A CERTAIN DEMOGRAPHIC BECAUSE THEY TEND TO VOTE ONE WAY?

I THINK IT WOULD BE WRONG IF WE DID IT FROM THE KOCH PROBLEMS TO TURN OUT THE MOST REPUBLICANS TO VOTE JUST LIKE IT WOULD BE WRONG IF WE SAID WE'RE GOING TO GO INTO MINORITY AREAS IN MILWAUKEE BECAUSE THEY TEND TO VOTE DEMOCRAT.

THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED IN 2020.

PEOPLE SHOULD BE OUTRAGED THAT WE USED PUBLIC RESOURCES MIXED WITH PRIVATE DOLLARS TO REALLY, IN ESSENCE, TRY TO RUN AN ELECTION.

THIS WASN'T DONE WHERE YOU BUY COMMERCIALS OR YOU HIRE PEOPLE TO GO DOOR TO DOOR.

THAT'S CAMPAIGNING.

THAT'S WHAT DEMOCRACY IS ABOUT.

BUT THE IDEA WE'RE GOING TO USE PUBLIC RESOURCES IN A WAY THAT INFLUENCES THE ELECTION, THAT SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE ARE ALL OUTRAGED BY AND THE FACT THAT DEMOCRATS AREN'T OUTRAGED IS DISAPPOINTING TO ME.

IF REPUBLICANS DID THAT, WITH BILLIONAIRE DOLLARS TO TRY TO INFLUENCE THE PROCESS BY HAVING PEOPLE LITERALLY WORK THE POLLING PLACE, PAID FOR BY THESE PARTISAN GROUPS, I THINK THEY WOULD BE OUTRAGED.

AND THEY SHOULD BE THIS WAY, TOO.

>> WE'VE ONLY GOT A FEW MONTHS OF THE SESSION LEFT.

DO YOU THINK THE LEGISLATURE STILL HAS A ROLE TO PLAY IN ADDRESSING THE PANDEMIC AT THIS POINT?

>> I THINK THAT THE BIGGEST PART OF WHAT WE'RE DOING IS TO MAKE SURE WE FOCUS ON THE PRIORITIES THAT WE CAN CONTROL.

WE NOW SEE GOVERNOR TONY EVERS SAYING IT'S THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO FIX IT AND JOE BIDEN SAYING IT'S STATE GOVERNMENT WHO SHOULD FIX IT.

UNFORTUNATELY WE SEE AT THE NATIONAL AND STATE LEVEL, WE HAVE A LOT OF FINGER POINTING GOING AROUND.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS I'M VACCINATED.

I HOPE THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE WATCHING THIS CHOOSE TO BE VACCINATED.

IT SHOULDN'T BE MANDATED.

WE DON'T NEED VACCINE PASSPORTS, REQUIREMENT TO GO TO A RESTAURANT OR THAT KIND OF THING BUT SHOULD WE FOCUS ON THE IDEA OF KEEPING EACH OTHER SAFE AND TRYING TO BE VACCINATE SND YES.

THAT'S A COMMON SENSE THING WE CAN ALL FOCUS ON.

>> OBVIOUSLY LAST SUMMER THE GOVERNOR SIGNED A REPUBLICAN STATE BUDGET AND HE'S BEEN OUT CAMPAIGNING AND PROMOTING SOME ITEMS IN THE BUDGET AND I'VE SEEN A LOT OF NEGATIVE REACTION FROM REPUBLICANS, ALMOST ANGRY THE GOVERNOR IS TAKING CREDIT FOR A BUDGET HE DIDN'T SIGN.

WHY IS THAT?

>> GOVERNOR TONY EVERS PROPOSED A MASSIVE EXPANSION OF WELFARE, ALMOST A 10% SPENDING OF INCREASE, OVER A BILLION DOLLARS OF NEW TAXES, ALL THEN HE WAS FRUSTRATED WHEN WE TOOK THOSE THINGS OUT OF THE BUDGET.

WE PASSED WITHOUT A SINGLE IOTA OF INPUT FROM GOVERNOR TONY EVERS WHERE ALL HE DID WAS SIGN IT WITH A PEN.

HE DESERVES THE CREDIT FOR THE TEN SECONDS IT TOOK TO SIGN IT BUT FOR THE ABILITY TO CRAFT IT AND PUT IT TOGETHER, THAT'S A REPUBLICAN BUDGET.

I THINK WITH GOVERNOR TONY EVERS GIVING CREDIT TO REPUBLICANS FOR THE BUDGET THAT HE SPENT TEN SECONDS SIGNING, WE WOULD BE LESS FRUSTRATED BUT HE'S A POLITICIAN.

HE CAN SAY WHATEVER HE WANTS WHETHER IT'S TRUE OR NOT.

>> SPEAKER ROBIN VOS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME >> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

TAKE CARE OF THE >> THIS NEWS OUT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN, FORM ARE GOVERNOR TOMMY THOMPSON ANNOUNCED HE WILL STEP DOWN FROM HIS POST IN MARCH.

HE WAS BROUGHT IN DURING THE PANDEMIC.

IN HIS ANNOUNCEMENT, THOMPSON SAID THE U.W.

BOARD OF REGENTS WILL SOON BE ANNOUNCING A FINAL CANDIDATE TO REPLACE HIM AND AS A DISCLOSURE, PBS WISCONSIN IS A SERVICE OF U.W.

MADISON.

TURNING TO LONG FORM REPORTING, REPORTING THAT BRINGS UNDERSTANDING AND AWARENESS OF TRANSGENDER PEOPLE IN WISCONSIN.

THEIR HOPES AND FEARS, STRUGGLES AND TRIUMPHS, EVEN IN THE FACE OF RECORD VIOLENCE AGAINST THEM.

THIS EXCERPT OF A STORY FROM HERE & NOW REPORTER MURV SEYMOUR STARTS THE TRANS DAY OF REMEMBRANCE AT THE STATE CAPITOL WITH THOSE IN ATTENDANCE SEEKING JUSTICE AND EQUALITY FROM LAWMAKERS.

>> TRANS DAY OF REMEMBRANCE IS NOT ONLY A DAY TO MOURN BUT IT'S A DAY FOR ALLIES TO TAKE ACTION, CALL FOR JUSTICE, MAKE SURE THAT THEIR WORKPLACES ARE TRANS INCLUSIVE, THAT WE'RE CALLING OUT FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS WHO WILL CONTINUE TO BE TRANS.

THERE ARE SO MANY BLACK TRANS WOMEN AND GIRLS WHO HAVE BEEN ASSAULTED.

>> AFTER THE EMOTIONAL RALLY AT THE STATE CAPITOL -- >> I WOULD DESCRIBE THIS AS A PRE-TRADITIONAL SPACE IN WHICH WE WORSHIP.

>> ABOUT THREE MILES AWAY INSIDE THE WALLS OF FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF MADISON -- >> THAT WE SOMETIMES USE IN A PRETTY UNTRADITIONAL WAY.

>> THE EFFORTS TO RAISE TRANSGENDER AWARENESS CONTINUES AS HISTORY IS BEING MADE HERE.

>> MY SEXUALITY IS A BIG DEAL AND ISN'T A BIG DEAL.

YOU DON'T FIND OPENLY GAY PASTORS IN A LOT OF CHURCHES.

>> PASTOR TIM SCHAEFER WHO PREFERS YOU CALL HIM TIM, SPEAKS TO HIS CONGREGATION AND HIS COMMUNITY.

>> I WAS IN A WAY CALLED TO THIS CHURCH DESPITE MY SEXUALITY.

>> HE'S THE FIRST OPENLY GAY PASTOR OF THIS CHURCH IN THE ALMOST 175-YEAR HISTORY.

>> I HOPE THAT WE CAN CONTINUE TO DO ON A YEARLY BASIS WITH THE TRANS DAY OF REMEMBRANCE -- >> THE WAY WE RAISE AWARENESS IS BY SHARING STORIES.

>> HE HELPS SHARE THE STORIES AND STRUGGLES OF TRANSGENDER PEOPLE.

>> WHETHER IT'S MY OWN STORY OR SOMEONE ELSE'S STORY.

JESUS TEACHES IN PARABLES, IN STORIES.

THESE ARE HUMAN BEINGS JUST LIKE YOU AND ME.

THEY'RE OVERLOOKED, MISUNDERSTOOD AND TARGETED.

IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO BE POLITICAL.

WE ARE HERE IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.

WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE CONCERNS OF THE CITY.

WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT THINGS LIKE RACISM AND XENOPHOBIA AND TRANS PHOBIA.

IF WE JUST STAY SILENT ON THE ISSUES, THEN WE'RE IRRELEVANT.

>> WE WILL HEAR THE NAMES OF THOSE WHO HAVE DIED IN VIOLENCE >> DAY ONE, FIRST BAPTIST HOSTS THE FIRST EVER TRANSGENDER REMEMBRANCE INSIDE THE SANCTUARY WHILE OUTSIDE THE DOORS, PROVIDING ACCESS TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES FOR THOSE WHO NEED IT.

>> TRANSGENDER MEANS SOMEONE WHOSE GENDER IDENTITY IS DIFFEREN THAN THE ONE THEY WERE ASSIGNED AT BIRTH.

>> ON THE VERY FIRST DAY -- >> GROWING UP I HATED MYSELF.

>> BEING TRANSGENDER IN AND OF ITSELF IS NOT A MENTAL ILLNESS.

>> A PANEL DISCUSSION TO EDUCATE.

>> THE FIRST KIND OF FEELINGS THAT I HAD WHEN I WAS FIVE WERE JUST THAT I'M UNCOMFORTABLE WITH MY NAME.

>> ON ALL THINGS TRANSGENDER.

>> SUPPRESSING MY TRUE SELF, MY TRUE NATURE WAS MAKING ME DEPRESSED AND MAKING ME MISERABLE.

>> IT BEGAN TO DAWN ON ME THAT I WAS SELF DESTRUCTING.

I'M VERY HAPPY THAT I WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL IN TAKING MY OWN LIFE.

>> WHEN YOU ARE TRANS, YOU'RE OPENING YOURSELF UP FOR POTENTIAL VIOLENCE.

>> THERE IS AN ESTIMATED 1.4 TO TWO MILLION TRANSGENDER PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES.

>> WE HAVE TRANS PEOPLE.

WE HAVE LGBTQ PEOPLE IN OUR PEWS.

EVEN THOSE CONGREGATIONS WHO THINK THEY DON'T, THEY DO.

>> I GUARANTEE YOU THAT AT LEAST ONE OF THE PEOPLE YOU'VE BEEN ATTRACTED TO IN YOUR LIFE WAS NOT BORN THE BIOLOGICAL SEX THAT YOU MAYBE ASSUMED THEY WERE.

>> WE'RE A PART OF THIS WORLD LIKE ANYONE ELSE.

WE'RE NOT ALIENS.

WE'RE NOT VISITORS FROM ANOTHER PLANET, YOU KNOW.

WE'RE, YOU KNOW, YOUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS AND YOUR MOMS AND DADS AND YOUR KIDS.

WE'RE NOT REALLY ASKING FOR A SEAT AT THE TABLE.

WE'RE JUST TRYING TO TAKE UP SPACE AT A TABLE WE'VE ALREADY BEEN AT.

WE WERE JUST TRYING TO SAY, HEY, WE'RE HERE.

WE'VE BEEN HERE AND WE DESERVE A VOICE.

>> WHEN PEOPLE SEE ME, THEY DECIDE THAT I'M A WOMAN THAT I USE SHE/HER PRONOUNS.

>> NOW I'M ABLE TO DRESS AS I WANT AND EXPRESS MYSELF THE WAY I WANT TO, I'M A WHOLE LOT HAPPIER THAN I EVER WAS.

>> I KNEW I WAS TRANS BUT I WAS PRETENDING TO BE SOMEBODY I WASN'T.

I WAS PRETENDING TO BE A STRAIGHT DUDE.

>> WHEN YOU COME OUT, IT'S -- TO PEOPLE ON THE OUTSIDE, IT CAN APPEAR VERY, VERY SUDDEN BECAUSE TO THEM, IT'S ALL NEW.

BUT FOR MOST OF US, WE'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THIS FOR YEARS, IF NOT OUR WHOLE LIFE.

I STRUGGLED TO FIT IN AS A CHILD.

I WASN'T SAYING, YOU KNOW, I'M TRANSGENDER AS A BABY.

I KNEW SOMETHING WAS UP BUT I REALLY REALIZED WHAT IT MEANT WHEN I WAS ABOUT TEN YEARS OLD.

COMING TO FACE WITH MY OWN MORTALITY MADE ME RECONSIDER MY IDENTITY TO ANYONE WATCHING WHO IS TRANS, I UNDERSTAND THE REASONS TO STAY IN THE CLOSET.

I DO.

BUT I PROMISE ANYONE WATCHING THAT WHEN YOU FEEL SAFE TO COME OUT, IF YOU CAN, YOUR LIFE WILL GET INFINITELY BETTER.

INFINITELY BETTER.

AND EVERY DAY AFTER COMING OUT WILL BE EASIER BECAUSE THAT IS THE HARDEST THING THAT YOU WILL EVER DO.

I DON'T HAVE ANY DELUSIONS THAT I'M GOING TO REALLY SEE THE WORLD I WANT WITHIN MY LIFETIME.

MY DREAM IS FOR CALM AND NORMALITY.

I JUST WANT THE SAME THINGS THAT EVERYONE ELSE WANTS.

AND IT'S THE FACT THAT BASIC THINGS FEEL IMPOSSIBLE.

I'M TIRED OF BEING DEPRESSED ABOUT BEING TRANS.

I WANT TO BE DEPRESSED ABOUT PAYING BILLS.

I WANT TO BE DEPRESSED ABOUT AGING.

PEOPLE OUT THERE TRANS PHOBIC, YOU KNOW, LIKE TO SAY THINGS LIKE GOD DOESN'T MAKE MISTAKES.

I AGREE GOD DOESN'T MAKE MISTAKES.

I FEEL LIKE I'M LIVING EXACTLY THE WAY I WAS CREATED.

>> HOPEFULLY ONE DAY WE WON'T NEED A TRANS DAY OF REMEMBRANCE.

>> I'M MURV SEYMOUR.

>> YOU CAN SEE THE FULL LENGTH STORY AND ITS VERY POWERFUL REPORTING ON THIS FROM MURV SEYMOUR BY GOING TO PBSWisconsin.org AND THEN CLICKING ON THE NEWS TAB.

THAT IS OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT.

HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.

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