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

>> LIFE AT FORT MCCOY CONTINUES FOR AFGHAN REFUGEES, INCLUDING CHILDREN GATHERED IN OUTSIDE CLASSROOMS UNDER THE INSTRUCTION OF RED CROSS VOLUNTEER TEACHERS.

BUT EVEN AS DONATIONS TO FORT MCCOY FLOW IN, CONCERNS ABOUT LIVING CONDITIONS THERE ARE RAISED BY A WISCONSIN CONGRESSWOMAN.

>> I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.

TONIGHT ON "HERE AND NOW," A UW LAW SCHOOL PROFESSOR DESCRIBES HER WORK WITH REFUGEES INSIDE THE FENCES OF FORT MCCOY.

THE ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL IMPACT ON STUDENTS RETURNING AFTER A YEAR OF VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION.

A PEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASE DOCTOR WEIGHS IN ON COVID CASES IN SCHOOL.

AND THE RETURN OF THE "HERE AND NOW" POLITICAL PANEL.

MCCOSHEN AND ROS LOOK AHEAD TO THE RACES SHAPING UP FOR CAMPAIGN 2022.

IT'S "HERE AND NOW" FOR SEPTEMBER 17.

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

>> FORT MCCOY IN WISCONSIN IS NOW REPORTEDLY AT OR NEAR ITS CAPACITY FOR HOUSING NEWLY-ARRIVED REFUGEES FROM AFGHANISTAN.

AN ESTIMATED NEARLY 13,000 ADULTS AND CHILDREN FROM THAT COUNTRY ARE TEMPORARILY RESIDING AT THE UW ARMY INSTALLATION NEAR TOMAH.

WHAT ARE THEIR LIVES LIKE AND WHAT ARE THEIR NEEDS AND HARD HARDSHIPS?

WE CHECK IN WITH ERIN BARBATO AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN LAW SCHOOL.

SHE AND HER STUDENTS HOPE TO SUPPORT THE LEGAL CLINIC AT FORT MCCOY AND SHE HAS RECENTLY VISITED THERE.

THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANKS SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> SO WHAT SERVICES ARE YOU AND YOUR LAW STUDENTS HOPING TO PROVIDE AT FORT MCCOY?

>> WELL, WHAT WE'RE HOPING TO DO IS ENSURE THAT PEOPLE ARE WELCOMED WITH DIGNITY, ENSURING PEOPLE KNOW THEIR LEGAL RIGHTS WHEN THEY ARE IN THE UNITED STATES.

WHAT ARE THEIR PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP?

SO WE'RE HOPING TO SUPPORT THAT MOVEMENT AT FORT MCCOY IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

>> WHAT SPECIFIC TYPE OF LEGAL ASSISTANCE DO YOU EXPECT THEY WILL NEED?

>> WELL, ALL OF THEM HAD AN EVACUATE IN AN EMERGENT SITUATION.

SOME WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THEIR LEGAL PROCESS.

FOR EXAMPLE, MANY OF THEM I MET WITH HAD PENDING SPECIAL IMMIGRANT VISAS, PEOPLE WHO WORKED FOR THE EMBASSY OR FOR THE U.S. ARMY AS INTERPRETERS.

BUT THEY HAD TO FLEE BEFORE THEIR PAPERWORK WAS COMPLETE.

SO WE'RE HOPING TO LEARN WHAT THE NEXT STEPS WILL BE FOR THEM AND TO SUPPORT THEM THROUGH THAT PROCESS.

>> SO HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE EXPERIENCE OF BEING AMIDST THE THOUSANDS OF NEWLY-ARRIVED PEOPLE AIRLIFTED OUT OF AFGHANISTAN?

>> IT WAS A SIGHT I HAD NEVER ANTICIPATED SEEING, ESPECIALLY IN WESTERN WISCONSIN.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL AREA OF WISCONSIN WHERE THIS SPRAWLING MILITARY BASE IS.

WE WERE DRIVE ARING TH DRIVING 5 MILES AN HOUR.

I SAW FAMILIES JUST WALKING THE STREETS.

IT WAS SOMETHING I NEVER ANTICIPATED SEEING BEFORE.

SO IT WAS PRETTY SURREAL.

>> IS THE TRAUMA OF THE PEOPLE WHO WERE LITERALLY PLUCKED OUT OF KABAL PALPABLE?

>> IT WAS.

WHEN I MET WITH THE FAMILIES, WOMEN, CHILDREN, FATHERS, SINGLE MEN, WE HEARD THEIR STORIES AND THE EMERGENT SITUATION THAT THEY HAD TO FLEE WAS CLEAR.

EVERYONE WAS QUITE GRATEFUL TO BE WHERE THEY WERE, BUT THEY WERE WORRIED ABOUT THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS STILL IN AFGHANISTAN OR MEMBERS WHO FLED TO OTHER COUNTRIES.

IT'S COMMON IN THE IMMIGRATION SYSTEM, BUT THESE FAMILIES WERE TORN APART, OFTEN IN THE SITUATION THAT THEY HAD NO CONTROL OVER.

>> AND NOW THEY ARE HERE.

WHAT ARE CONDITIONS LIKE FOR PEOPLE HOUSED AT FORT MCCOY?

WHAT ARE THEY TELLING YOU ABOUT THEIR HARDSHIPS OR THEIR BARRIERS THERE?

>> MOST OF WHAT I DISCUSSED WITH PEOPLE WERE THEIR LEGAL OPTIONS.

DURING THOSE DISCUSSIONS SOMETIMES THEY DID DISCUSS WHAT THE LIVING ENVIRONMENT WAS FOR THEM AT FORT MCCOY.

AND AS I SAID BEFORE, PEOPLE SEEMED TO BE INCREDIBLY GRACIOUS.

BUT IT WAS CLEAR THAT THERE WERE HARDSHIPS.

MANY TOLD ME THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE A CHANGE OF CLOTHES OR THAT THEIR SHOES WERE NOT THE RIGHT SIZE AS WELL AS WAITING IN LONG LINES FOR FOOD.

AND NOBODY REALLY WANTED TO COMPLAIN, BUT I COULD TELL THAT THIS WAS NOT THE SITUATION WHERE WE WERE WELCOMING SOMEONE WITH DIGNITY AND I THINK WE COULD DO A MUCH BETTER JOB.

>> YOU HAVE TOLD US THAT YOU FELT AS THOUGH THE AUTHORITIES OR THE PEOPLE AT FORT MCCOY WERE TRYING HARD TO MAKE THINGS BETTER.

IS THAT WHAT YOU BELIEVE ABOUT THAT?

>> I DO.

I MEAN, THE FIRST THING I SAW WHEN I PULLED UP TO GET MY SECURITY PASS TO ENTER THE BASE WAS A MAN, A VETERAN ARRIVING IN A HUGE TRUCK FULL OF DONATIONS.

AND WE'VE SEEN PEOPLE ACROSS WISCONSIN COME TOGETHER TO DONATE MONEY AND MATERIALS TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE DO HAVE WHAT THEY NEED.

BUT I THINK BECAUSE OF THE EMERGENT SITUATION AND PEOPLE ARRIVING SO QUICKLY, WE JUST DIDN'T HAVE EVERYTHING SET UP IN A WAY THAT COULD GET THE MATERIALS TO PEOPLE WHEN THEY NEED T. BUT I COULD SEE PEOPLE WORKING AS HARD AS POSSIBLE TO BRING SUPPLIES TO THE PEOPLE WHO SO DESPERATELY NEED THEM.

>> IN YOUR ESTIMATION, WHAT HELP CAN THEY USE NOW AND GOING FORWARD?

>> I THINK BECAUSE THERE'S 13,000 PEOPLE, AN ESTIMATED 13,000 PEOPLE THERE, THERE'S A NEED FOR NEW CLOTHING AND MATERIALS AND ALSO JUST MONETARY DONATIONS SO THAT ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE SUPPORTING THE WORK ON THE GROUND THERE CAN USE THAT MONEY AS CONDITIONS CHANGE AND AS NEEDS ARISE.

>> NOW, IT'S REPORTED THAT OF THE THOUSANDS OF NEW ARRIVALS, ABOUT 400 ARE LIKELY TO RESETTLE IN WISCONSIN?

WILL YOUR PROJECT CONTINUE TO HELP SERVE THOSE PEOPLE?

>> YOU KNOW, IF THERE'S A NEED, I HOPE WE CAN, BUT OFTENTIMES IF THEY WERE SETTLED THROUGH THE REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT AGENCY THEY CAN GET LEGAL ACCESS TO ATTORNEYS THAT WAY.

SO WE'RE STUDYING THIS PROCESS AND MY STUDENTS ARE VERY EAGER TO HELP IN ANY WAY WE CAN.

BUT I'M ALSO HOPING THAT THE RESETTLEMENT AGENCY IN WISCONSIN WILL HAVE THE CAPACITY TO SERVE THEM AS WELL.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

ERIN BARBATO, THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

>> NOW TO COVID NEWS AND A VISIT FROM FIRST LADY JILL BIDEN TO A MILWAUKEE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.

BIDEN WAS THERE TO OBSERVE AND LEARN HOW SCHOOLS WERE DOING IN THE RETURN TO IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION.

HER VISIT WEDNESDAY COINCIDED WITH CITY HEALTH OFFICIALS ANNOUNCING RISING NUMBER OF COVID CASES AMONG SCHOOL CHILDREN AND STAFF, NUMBERS THEY SAID NOW ACCOUNT FOR NEARLY A THIRD OF THE CASES IN THE CITY AND COUNTY.

>> AND THE LATEST NUMBERS TONIGHT, MILWAUKEE PUBLIC SCHOOLS REPORT MORE THAN 400 POSITIVE COVID-19 CASES IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS AMONG STUDENTS AND STAFF.

A MAJORITY OF THESE CASES ARE AMONG STUDENTS, MANY OF WHOM ARE UNDER 12 AND CANNOT BE VACCINATED.

TO BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW COVID-19 IS IMPACTING THESE STUDENTS, WE TURN TO DR. JOSEPH MCBRIDE, A PEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASE SPECIALIST AT UW HOSPITAL.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> SO WHAT ARE YOU SEEING IN CHILDREN WITH COVID INFECTIONS IN TERMS OF NUMBER OF NEW CASES?

>> I THINK WHAT WE'RE SEEING HERE IN MADISON AND THROUGHOUT WISCONSIN AND THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY IN GENERAL IS MUCH LIKE WHAT'S BEEN REPORTED IN MILWAUKEE.

WE'RE SEEING INCREASED RATES OF COVID-19 IN CHILDREN AND ALSO A LITTLE BIT MORE INCREASED SEVERITY IN SOME OF THE ILLNESSES THAT ARE EXPERIENCED.

>> SO HOW CONCERNING ARE THESE NUMBERS OF POSITIVE CASES BEING REPORTED IN PLACES LIKE MILWAUKEE AND, AS YOU SAY, ACROSS THE STATE?

HOW CONCERNING IS THAT?

>> YEAH.

I THINK IT'S REALLY CONCERNING FROM THE STANDPOINT OF, AS YOU MENTIONED, THIS IS A LARGE GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO ARE UNVACCINATED AND THEN THEREFORE UNPROTECTED AT THE SAME AMOUNT OF IMMUNITY WHEN WE COMPARE IT TO ADULTS.

WHENEVER WE HAVE LARGE GROUPS OF CHILDREN UNVACCINATED TOGETHER, THERE WILL BE A RISK OF TRANSMISSION THAT WILL BE HIGHER THIS YEAR COMPARED TO LAST YEAR, WHEN MANY OF OUR SCHOOLS WERE CLOSED.

>> ONE THING THAT STANDS OUT IS THAT YOU JUST SAID THAT THESE INFECTIONS ARE ALSO PROVING MORE SERIOUS IN THIS PEDIATRIC POPULATION.

DESCRIBE THAT.

>> SO WHENEVER WE'RE DEALING WITH AN INFECTION, THERE'S ALWAYS A SPECTRUM OF ILLNESS.

SOME PEOPLE ARE ASYMPTOMATIC.

OTHERS HAVE MILD ILLNESS.

ON THE OPPOSITE END WE HAVE MORE SEVERE ILLNESSES.

SO THE RATE OF MORE MODERATE TO SEVERE ILLNESSES WITH SOME OF THE MORE RECENT VARIANTS LIKE THE DELTA, IS SKEWING TOWARD MODERATE TO SEVERE AT A HIGHER FREQUENCY THAN WE DID EARLIER IN THE PANDEMIC.

>> WHAT OF BREAKTHROUGH CASES OF OLDER, VACCINATED CHILDREN?

>> SO BREAKTHROUGH CASES ARE CASES OF COVID-19 IN SITUATIONS WHERE PEOPLE HAVE RECEIVED THE COMPLETE VACCINE SCHEDULE.

AND WE SEE BREAKTHROUGH INFECTIONS WITH EVERY TYPE OF VACCINE THAT'S OUT THERE.

THANKFULLY, THE CASES ARE LESS FREQUENT AND LESS SEVERE IN GENERAL THAN THOSE IN THE UNVACCINATED POPULATION AND CHILDREN BETWEEN THE AGES OF 12 AND 18 WHO HAVE BEEN PROTECTED ARE NO DIFFERENT THAN ANYBODY ELSE.

WE CAN SEE BREAKTHROUGH INFECTIONS IN THIS POPULATION.

>> AND SO OF THOSE WHO ARE NOT GETTING THE BREAKTHROUGH, BUT ARE THE POPULATION THAT IS UNVACCINATED, ARE THESE PATIENTS BEING ADMITTED IN ANY NUMBER TO THE HOSPITAL?

>> YEAH.

OF COURSE.

WE DO SEE ADMISSIONS TO THE HOSPITAL DUE TO COVID-19 IN PEDIATRIC CASES AND WE DID SEE SOME LAST YEAR AS WELL.

THERE IS A SLIGHT INCREASE IN THE FREQUENCY OF SOME OF THESE HOSPITALIZATIONS WITH SEVERE CASES.

AS THE VIRUS CHANGES, SO DOES OUR LEVEL OF ADMISSIONS AND RESPONSE, A FURTHER REASON WHY WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO GIVE OUR CHILDREN IMMUNITY WHEN THE VACCINE IS AVAILABLE TO THEM.

IN THE INTERIM, WE AS A COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY ADULTS, HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN IN ORDER TO LIMIT THE SPREAD OF COVID-19, VACCINATING OURSELVES, MASKS OURSELVES AND OTHER METHODS THAT ARE RECOMMENDED.

>> WHAT SHOULD PARENTS KNOW ABOUT WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN THEIR CHILDREN WHO MAY BECOME INFECTED AND WHEN IT IS POTENTIALLY SERIOUS?

>> YEAH.

SO ANY KIND OF RESPIRATORY VIRUS, WHETHER IT'S DUE TO COVID OR INFLUENZA OR RSV, WHICH HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR YEARS, CAN CAUSE A WIDE SPECTRUM OF SYMPTOMS.

THE CONCERNING THINGS INVOLVING CHILDREN ARE BREATHING PROBLEMS, HAVING A HARD TIME EATING AND KEEPING DOWN FOOD, HIGH FEVERS, BEING LISTLESS.

THESE ARE SOME OF THE SYMPTOMS THAT PEOPLE SHOULD SEEK OUT MEDICAL CARE FOR NOT JUST FROM VOAFCOVID, BUT ANY RESPIRATORY INFECTION.

>> HOW DO WE BALANCE KEEPING KIDS IN SCHOOL AND KEEPING THEM AND STAFF SAFE?

>> BOY, THAT IS SUCH A CHALLENGING QUESTION AND I MYSELF AM A FATHER OF TWO YOUNG SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN.

MY WIFE AND I REALLY STRUGGLE WITH THIS.

WE DO KNOW THAT IN-PERSON SCHOOL IS IMPORTANT.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT CHILDREN REALLY GET A BENEFIT OUT OF AND THE CDC SCHOOL GUIDELINES REALLY STRESS THIS.

OUR GOAL IS TO SCE KEEP CHILDREN SCHOOL FOR LEARNING.

SO HOW DO WE BALANCE THIS IS A CHALLENGE.

WE HAVE TO MITIGATE THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS.

BEST TECHNIQUES ARE MASK USE, GOOD HAND HYGIENE, HAVING SOCIAL DISTANCING, THE FOLLOWING THE CDC GUIDELINES FOR SCHOOL EDUCATION, WHICH ARE WIDELY AVAILABLE AND FOLLOWED BY MANY DISTRICTS AND OF COURSE THE BIG THING IS VACCINATING THOSE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE THE VACCINE.

IF WE'RE ABLE TO GET OUR LEVELS DOWN, THEN OF COURSE THERE WILL BE LESS OPPORTUNITY FOR KIDS TO BE INFECTED >> ALL RIGHT.

WE LEAVE IT THERE.

DR. JOSEPH MCBRIDE, THANKS VERY MUCH AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR WORK.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> EVEN AS THE DELTA VARIANT OF COVID-19 CAUSES A SURGE IN CASES ACROSS THE STATE AND IN SCHOOLS THIS FALL, THE FALLOUT FROM LAST YEAR WITH ITS VI VIRTUAL LEARNIG MODEL HAS LEFT MANY CHILDREN ADRIFT.

FOR MORE ON THE EFFECTS OF THE PANDEMIC, WE TURN TO PROFESSOR OF HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND FAMILY STUDIES IN THE SCHOOL OF HUMAN ECOLOGY, SARAH HALPERN-MEEKIN.

THANKS VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> SO WE HAD AN A ANECDOTAL EXAMPLE OF A SECOND-GRADER WHO IS MORE LIKE A KINDERGARTENER DUE TO LOSS IN LEARNING.

HOW COMMON IS THIS KIND OF DEFICIT?

>> WELL, KIDS HAVE BEEN IN A REALLY WIDE ARRAY OF SITUATIONS OVER THE COURSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

SO WE'VE HAD SOME KIDS WHO HAVE RECEIVED A LOT OF INSTRUCTION, SOME OF IT IN PERSON, SOME OF IT REMOTE, AND WE HAVE OTHER KIDS WHO HAVE HAD REALLY VERY LITTLE INSTRUCTION.

THE OTHER THING THAT HAS VARIED AMONG KIDS, HOWEVER, IS HOW MUCH THEIR NEEDS WERE BEING MET.

SO STUDENTS WHO MAY HAVE NEEDED SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES, THAT THEY WERE NOT RECEIVING DURING THE PANDEMIC, MIGHT HAVE HAD EVEN MORE LEARNING STRUGGLES THAN A CHILD WHOSE NEEDS WERE BEING MET THROUGH ONLINE OR IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION.

>> HOW HEAVY OF A LIFT IS IT TO GET CHILDREN THEN IN THAT KIND OF CIRCUMSTANCE BACK TO WHERE THEY NEED TO BE SO THAT THEY CAN LEARN EFFECTIVELY?

>> SO ONE THING THAT WE WANT TO REMEMBER IS HOW RESILIENT KIDS ARE.

SO PEOPLE ARE AMAZING.

KIDS' BRAINS ARE AMAZING, ESPECIALLY THE BRAINS OF YOUNG KIDS.

THEY'RE DOING SO MUCH GROWING YOU A THE TIME.

AND SO WHAT THE SITUATION IS NOW IS CERTAINLY FAR FROM DESTINY, RIGHT?

BUT IT'S A MATTER OF CONNECTING KIDS WITH THE RIGHT SERVICES AND SUPPORTS AND THEN ALSO MAKING SURE THAT THE ADULTS IN THEIR LIVES HAVE THE SERVICES AND SUPPORTS, THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED AT THEIR DISPOSAL SO THEY CAN BE THOSE SUPPORTIVE, PRESENT ADULTS IN KIDS' LIVES PROVIDING THE KINDS OF INTERVENTIONS THAT KIDS NEED IN ORDER TO MEET THEIR REGULAR NEEDS, CONTINUE BUILDING THEIR COPING SKILLS AND, YOU KNOW, MOVE FORWARD IN A POSITIVE WAY.

>> YOU ALSO TALK ABOUT HOW OBVIOUSLY ALL CHILDREN, AND YOU MENTIONED IT EARLIER, ARE NOT KIND OF SUFFERING DEFICITS OR LOSSES EQUALLY.

HOW SO?

>> WELL, WE KNOW THAT THERE WERE ACHIEVEMENT GAPS THAT EXISTED BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, AND SO THESE INEQUITIES THAT HAVE GOTTEN A LOT OF ATTENTION DURING THE PANDEMIC ARE CERTAINLY NOT NEW.

BUT THE PANDEMIC HAS FORCED US TO FACE THEM PERHAPS IN A DIFFERENT WAY.

FOR EXAMPLE, JUST THE BASIC ISSUE OF WHETHER OR NOT SCHOOL DISTRICTS COULD AFFORD DEVICES FOR STUDENTS TO USE FOR ONLINE LEARNING PUT SOME STUDENTS IN A MORE ADVANTAGEOUS POSITION THAN OTHERS.

WHETHER FAMILIES HAVE ACCESS TO HIGH-SPEED INTERNET VARIES FROM PLACE TO PLACE.

BUT THOSE ISSUES OF INFRASTRUCTURE LIMITATIONS, THOSE AREN'T NEW DURING THE PANDEMIC.

THEY'RE JUST SHOWING THOSE PROBLEMS IN A NEW WAY.

SO THOSE EXISTED BEFORE.

BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT SOME OF THE INEQUITIES THAT KIDS DEALT WITH BEFORE MANIFESTED THEMSELVES IN DIFFERENT WAYS DURING THE PANDEMIC.

SO WHEN KIDS WERE SENT HOME TO LEARN, SOME OF THEM WENT HOME TO PARENTS OR CAREGIVERS WHO WOULD NORMALLY BE STAYING AT HOME AND COULD PROVIDE ATTENTIVE SUPPORT AS THE KIDS WERE DOING ONLINE LEARNING.

IN OTHER FAMILIES, PARENTS OR CAREGIVERS WERE TRYING TO JUGGLE WORK AND FIRST GRADE MATH AT TH.

AND SOME PARENTS REALLY HAD TO MAKE HUGE FINANCIAL SACRIFICES TO STAY HOME WITH THEIR KIDS, LIKE GIVING UP THEIR JOBS.

IN OTHER FAMILIES, SOME ADOLESCENTS MAY HAVE BEEN LEFT TO SUPERVISE THEMSELVES.

SO THE LEVEL OF SUPPORT OR SUPERVISION THAT KIDS HAD AND THE SACRIFICES THAT FAMILIES HAD TO MAKE VARIED A LOT, YOU KNOW, FROM PERSON TO PERSON.

THE OTHER MAIN POINT THAT I WOULD EMPHASIZE IS WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT BEFORE WITH KIDS WHO NORMALLY RECEIVE SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES WHO HAVE INDIVIDUALIZED LEARNING PLANS.

WE KNOW THAT ONLINE LEARNING COULDN'T REPLACE OR REPLICATE WHAT THEY NEEDED OFTENTIMES TO RECEIVE AN EQUITABLE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT, AND SO SCHOOL-BASED SPEECH OR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY, FOR EXAMPLE, THEY MIGHT JUST NOT HAVE HAPPENED AND KIDS WHO MIGHT NORMALLY HAVE HAD THE SUPPORT OF A PARA PROFESSIONAL IN THE CLASSROOM THROUGHOUT THE DAY, THEY JUST DIDN'T HAVE THOSE THINGS.

SO FOR THOSE KIDS THEY WENT WITHOUT A LOT OF THEIR CORE LEARNING TOOLS THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC.

>> IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO HAVE KIDS BACK IN THE CLASSROOM AS LONG AS WE CAN DO SO SAFELY.

SARAH HALPERN-MEEKIN, THANKS VERY MUCH.

<!32768> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> FRESH OFF THE ANNOUNCEMENT THAT HE WILL NOT RUN FOR GOVERNOR OF WISCONSIN, WE GET THE POLITICAL PANELIST BAND BACK TOGETHER ON "HERE AND NOW."

REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST BILL MCCOSHEN AUNITED STATES NOD THIS WEEK HE IS TAKING A PASS ON BEING A CANDIDATE IN 2022.

SO HE'S HERE ALONG WITH DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST SCOT ROSS AND WELCOME TO BOTH OF YOU.

>> GOOD TO BE BACK.

>> WELCOME.

>> SO, BILL, COME ON, THIS IS A LOT MORE FUN THAN RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR, IS IT NOT?

>> WELL, IT'S A LOT LESS DANGEROUS, THAT'S FOR SURE.

>> SO, SCOT, WERE YOU SURPRISED THAT BILL BOWED OUT?

>> YEAH.

I MEAN, I WOULD ASSUME HE'D GET MORE TELEVISION IF HE WERE RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR SO I WAS SURPRISED ABOUT THAT FOR SURE.

BILL'S A GOOD GUY.

HE WOULD HAVE BROUGHT A LOT TO THE FIELD.

I THINK HE WOULD HAVE BROUGHT SOMETHING BADLY NEEDED TO THE FIELD, A LITTLE BIT OF MODERATION, LESS RADICALISM.

SO IT IS DEFINITELY BAD FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

>> BILL, ONE THING YOU SAID THAT STOOD OUT WAS THAT, QUOTE, HIS STORY SAYS THE GOP NEEDS A COMPETITIVE PRIMARY TO BEAT AN INCUMBENT DEMOCRAT GOVERNOR IN 2022.

SO YOU THINK FORMER LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR REBECCA KLEEFISCH NEEDS SOME COMPETITION?

IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING?

>> I DO.

>> WHY?

>> BUT I DON'T WANT YOUR VIEWERS TO MAKE IT THE WRONG WAY.

IT DOESN'T MEAN I'M AGAINST REBECCA.

NOT AT ALL.

IN FACT, IN MY LIFETIME REPUBLICANS HAVE ONLY DEFEATED AN INCUMBENT DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR TWO TIMES, ONCE IN 1978 AFTER A PRIMARY BETWEEN DREYFUSS AND KASTEN.

DREYFUSS BEAT BEATED SCHRIEBER.

WE REMOVED THAT TAG.

THE SECOND TIME WAS TOMMY THOMPSON IN 1986, WHO WON A FIVE-WAY PRIMARY BEFORE DEFEATING TONY EARL, NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH TONY EVERS.

SO IT'S HAPPENED TWICE IN MY LIFE.

BOTH WERE AFTER A COMPETITIVE PRIMARY ON THE GOP SIDE.

SO THERE IS NO PRECEDENT FOR BEATING AN INCUMBENT DEMOCRAT WITHOUT A PRIMARY.

DOESN'T MEAN IT COULDN'T HAPPEN.

>> BILL, I WANT TO BACK UP AND GIVE YOU A BRIEF CHANCE TO TELL US WHY YOU DIDN'T THROW YOUR HAT IN THE RING.

>> YOU KNOW, IT CAME DOWN TO TWO THINGS REALLY, FRED.

I HAVE BEEN ON SUCCESSFUL STATEWIDE CAMPAIGN'S.

IN '90 I WAS CAMPAIGN DIRECTOR, IN '94 CAMPAIGN MANAGER AND HE WAS ELECTED TO A THIRD FOUR-YEAR TERM.

I KNOW ABOUT STATEWIDE GUBERNATORIAL CAMPAIGNS.

YOU NEED TWO THINGS.

YOU NEED TIME AND YOU NEED MONEY.

I FELT PRETTY CONFIDENT ABOUT THE FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS I HAD FROM ACROSS THE STATE TO RUN A COMPETITIVE CAMPAIGN.

BUT THE REALITY I RAN OUT OF TIME.

THERE'S 417 DAYS UNTIL THE GENERAL ELECTION, BUT THERE'S ONLY 326 DAYS UNTIL THE PRIMARY NEXT AUGUST 9.

AND REBECCA HAS A VERY BIG HEADSTART IN THAT FRONT, HAS BEEN ON THE STATEWIDE BALLOT FIVE TIMES WITH SCOTT WALKER AND SHE WON A PRIMARY IN 2010 TO GET ON THAT TICKET AND SHE'S BEEN WORKING THE CIRCUIT FOR TEN YEARS.

SO I NEEDED MORE TIME.

THE SALE OF MY BUSINESS THROUGH NO FAULT OF ANYONE TOOK LONGER THAN I EXPECTED, BUT I'M EXCITED TO JOIN STRATEGIES ON OCTOBER 1.

>> DO YOU THINK ALSO THAT REBECCA KLEEFISCH NEEDS SOME COMPETITION HERE?

>> I THINK REBECCA KLEEFISCH IS RADICALLY WRONG FOR WISCONSIN.

SHE WAS SCOTT WALKER'S LIEUTENANT, AND SHE CHAMPIONED A FAR RIGHT AGENDA THAT ATTACKED THE ABILITY OF YOU TO GET AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE, THE RIGHT OF WOMEN, THE RIGHTS OF WORKERS AND BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE AND OF KIDS TO GET A QUALITY PUBLIC EDUCATION.

IN ORDER TO TRY TO WIN THIS PRIMARY, SHE HAS COME UP WITH THE ANTI- ANTIVACCINE COVID DENS AND VICTORY DENIERS.

THIS IS THE WRONG WAY FOR WISCONSIN.

GOVERNOR EVERS HAS DONE WHAT HE NEEDED TO DO.

HE HAS PUT WISCONSIN BACK ON TRACK.

CONTINUES TO DELIVER FOR THE PEOPLE OF WISCONSIN.

HIS INVESTMENTS HE MADE IN PUBLIC EDUCATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE AND IN HEALTH CARE ARE ALL PAYING DIVIDENDS FOR WISCONSIN.

WE ARE AMONGST THE LOWEST UNEMPLOYMENT RATE AFTER COVID AND WE HAVE LOST FAR LESS JOBS THAN OUR NEIGHBORS.

>> I WANT TO JUMP IN AND ASK BILL, DOES SCOTT WALKER CAMPAIGN FOR HIS FORMER LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR IN THIS RACE?

>> HE ENDORSED HER ON DAY ONE AND HIS SON ALEX IS GOING TO BE THE CAMPAIGN MANAGER.

THIS IS A RISKY MOVE, I THINK, BY THE KLEEFISCH TEAM.

I THINK SHE NEEDED A LITTLE BIT OF DAYLIGHT BETWEEN SHE AND FORMER GOVERNOR SCOTT WALKER.

SHE NEEDED TO BE HER OWN PERSON.

AND TYING HERSELF COMPLETELY TO WALKER IF THERE IS NO PRIMARY MEANS SHE OWNS EVERYTHING HE DID WHILE HE WAS GOVERNOR.

WHILE THOSE OF US ON THE RIGHT THINK HE DID A LOT OF GOOD THINGS, A LOT OF PEOPLE ON THE LEFT DIDN'T THINK HE DID A LOT OF GOOD INKS THIS.

-- THINGS.

IT FIRES UP THE LEFT.

SHE SHOULD HAVE HAD DISTANCE SO SHE COULD BE HER OWN PERSON.

<!32768> BILL, YOU YOURSELF ARE CAST AS A MODERATE REPUBLICAN.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE WISCONSIN ELECTORATE IS LOOKING FOR?

>> I'M NOT SURE THAT'S A FAIR CHARACTERIZATION.

I CONSIDER MYSELF A CONSERVATIVE.

TO SOME I'M CLOSER TO THE MIDDLE OF THE SPECTRUM THAN THE FAR RIGHT.

I THINK REPUBLICANS WANT SOMEBODY WHO CAN WIN, NUMBER ONE.

AND NUMBER TWO, I THINK THEY WANT SOMEBODY WHO CAN DO THE JOB IF THEY DO WIN THE ELECTION.

THAT WAS THE LANE I WAS GOING TO TRY AND RUN UP, IS I HAD BEEN IN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE FOR SIX YEARS, SERVED IN ALL THE TOP POSITION.

I'D BEEN COMMERCE SECRETARY FOR SIX YEARS.

BEEN ON THE INSIDE FOR TEN YEARS IN THE TOP POSITIONS AND I KNOW HOW TO RUN A GOVERNOR.

>> SCOT, I'M SORRY, I JUST WANT TO GET SCOT IN AND ASK HIM WHAT HE THINKS THE WISCONSIN ELECTORATE IS LOOKING FOR.

>> PEOPLE WHO MAKE GOOD ON THEIR PROMISES.

WITH ALL THE NOISE ON THE RIGHT, WITH REPUBLICANS STANDING IN THE WAY OF THE COMMON SENSE, SCIENCE-BASED SOLUTIONS THAT GOVERNOR EVERS HAS WORKED TO PUT FORTH TO MAKE US GET THROUGH THIS PANDEMIC WITH OUR LIVELIHOODS STILL INTACT AND WITH OUR HEALTH STILL INTACT.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR.

REBECCA KLEEFISCH -- IF SCOTT WALKER DOESN'T CAMPAIGN WITH HER, DEMOCRATS WILL MAKE SURE THAT THOSE TWO ARE TIED TOGETHER BECAUSE SCOTT WALKER IS INCREDIBLY POLARIZING AND DEMOCRATS WILL RUN OUT TO UNELECT HIM AGAIN WITH HIS LIEUTENANT ON THE TICKET, ABSOLUTELY WITHOUT A DOUBT.

BUT, AGAIN, REBECCA KLEEFISCH HAS LEARNED FROM SCOTT WALKER.

SHE LEARNED FROM THE MASTER.

SHE HAS BEEN CAMPAIGNING ILLEGALLY USING A TAX EXEMPT NONPROFIT TO CAMPAIGN FOR GOVERNOR, WHICH IS AGAINST THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF WISCONSIN WHEN IT COMES TO CAMPAIGNS AND AGAINST THE IRS LAWS WHEN IT COMES TO NONPROFITS.

>> WE HAVE OUT OF TIME.

WE NEED TO LEAVE IT THERE.

WE ARE SO THRILLED THAT YOU ARE BACK ON THIS PANEL FOR US ON THIS PROGRAM.

SCOT ROSS, BILL MCCOSHEN, THANKS VERY MUCH.

>> GOOD TO BE BACK.

>> THANK YOU.

>> FOR MORE COVERAGE, INCLUDING ON WISCONSIN'S COVID CONDITION, GO TO pbswisconsin.org AND THEN CLICK ON THE NEWS PAGE.

THAT IS ALL FOR TONIGHT'S PROGRAM.

I'M FREDERICA FREYBERG.

HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.

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