Frederica Freyberg
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What Do Changes to Indefinitely Confined Voting Mean?
Barbara Beckert of Disability Rights Wisconsin talks about how proposed changes to the state’s indefinitely confined voting status would impact disabled voters in Wisconsin.
Friday February 26, 2021
Wisconsin Senator on U.S. Capitol Attack
Republican Senator Ron Johnson previously claimed that he didn’t believe the Capitol attack to be an armed insurrection because attackers were using flagpoles and sticks versus guns. After a hearing this week, Johnson was accused of spreading conspiracy theories.
Friday February 26, 2021
Underly on Race for Superintendent
General election candidate Jill Underly discusses her run for State Superintendent of Schools.
Friday February 26, 2021
Republicans Propose Voting Changes
Republican Senator Kathy Bernier, chair of the Senate’s elections committee, discusses a Republican proposal that would redefine how voters are considered for indefinitely confined status.
Friday February 26, 2021
Republican Reaction to Evers’ Budget
Co-Chair of the state’s budget writing committee Republican Mark Born discusses the Republican approach to the state budget plan Governor Tony Evers released on Thursday.
Friday February 19, 2021
Kerr on Race for Superintendent
General election candidate Deborah Kerr discusses her run for State Superintendent of Schools.
Friday February 19, 2021
President Joe Biden on Public School Plans and Vaccines
Earlier this week President Joe Biden spoke in Milwaukee about public schools during his town hall appearance. The President said it would be ideal for “the majority” of K-12 schools to be fully open by the end of his first 100 days in office. He also claimed that teachers should be moved up in the “hierarchy” for vaccinations as well as the plan for getting all Americans vaccinated.
Friday February 19, 2021
Charles Tubbs was the Chief of the Capitol police during the 2011 protests that drew thousands to the Capitol Square. He shares insight and how he ensured safety and that the protests remained peaceful.
Friday February 19, 2021
Biden Holds Milwaukee Town Hall During First Official Visit Back to Wisconsin
In a town hall hosted by CNN, the president fielded questions on the coronavirus, the vaccine rollout, and how to reopen schools safely.
Wednesday February 17, 2021
Did Act 10 Create Extreme Partisan Divide?
In 2011, former Republican Governor, Scott Walker, issued a budget repair bill known as Act 10. The Act cut 900-million dollars from funding K-12 schools in Wisconsin and hobbled public employee unions and their coffers. What Walker claimed was a “modest change” ended with a history-making storm of protest at the State Capitol.
Saturday February 13, 2021
Reflecting on a Decade of Act 10
Ten years ago, thousands of protesters flooded the State Capitol to protest a budget repair bill that later became 2011 Act 10. Former State Capitol reporter Jason Stein, who is now the Research Director for the Wisconsin Policy Forum, reflects on the impact Act 10 has had on Wisconsin in the decade since.
Saturday February 13, 2021
How Divisive Is a Second Impeachment
Former conservative talk show host for WTMJ, Charlie Sykes, provides his observations on Trump’s second impeachment trial and the future of the Republican party.
Saturday February 13, 2021
Wisconsin State Budget Proposals
The Joint Finance Committee backed a Republican measure that would connect some federal COVID relief dollars to the amount of in-person instruction a given school district conducts. The committee declared it as an “incentive” for districts currently operating under a virtual setting.
Saturday February 13, 2021
Yesterday Governor Tony Evers reinstated a new mask mandate immediately after Republican legislatures cancelled previous order.
Friday February 5, 2021
Karen Timberlake took over as DHS interim secretary last month, a post she had in the Doyle administration. She talks about the state's COVID response and what Wisconsin is doing to speed up the vaccine rollout.
Friday February 5, 2021
Dr. Amy Falk, a Wisconsin Rapids pediatrician, discusses the study she co-authored for the CDC showing schools as unlikely vectors of transmission for the coronavirus.
Friday February 5, 2021
Shon Barnes Takes Over as Madison’s Police Chief
On Monday, Shon Barnes was sworn in as Madison’s new Chief of Police, following the immediate departure of Mike Koval last year. Barnes shares his confidence about the new position as Madison and the U.S. are fighting the coronavirus and historically challenging issues of race relations.
Friday February 5, 2021
Vos on Mask Mandate, COVID Bill
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos weighs in on Republicans’ plans to throw out the state’s mask mandate and provides an update on the status of the state’s COVID-19 relief bill as it works through the state Legislature.
Friday January 29, 2021
The Democratic Assembly Minority Leader Gordon Hintz talks about the back-and-forth discussions of a COVID-19 response bill, the state’s mask mandate, and a plan to keep FoodShare benefits for hundreds of thousands of Wisconsinites.
Friday January 29, 2021
UW-Madison School of Journalism Professor Mike Wagner breaks down the impeachment vote as it turns heads to the Senate, and what that means for Trump and the future of the Republican Party.
Friday January 29, 2021
Tribes Work to Distribute Vaccines
Dr. Amy Slagle, tribal public health officer for the Menominee Nation, discusses ways the Menominee and other Wisconsin tribes are working to procure and distribute vaccine doses.
Friday January 29, 2021
Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley discusses ways to bolster equity in the state’s largest county, and how a new presidential administration may help those goals.
Friday January 22, 2021
Wisconsin’s Dem. U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin weighs in on the new administration and priorities she hopes to tackle, including COVID Executive orders, while in a Democratic-controlled Senate.
Friday January 22, 2021
UW-Madison Ups the COVID Testing for Students and Faculty
As students begin returning to campus for the spring semester UW-Madison implements new COVID testing protocols for faculty and students to lessen the degree of COVID that was experienced on campus during the fall semester.
Friday January 22, 2021
Political Panel on Polarization
“Here & Now” political panelist Bill McCoshen and Scot Ross weighs in on the political polarization the country has seen since the January 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, as well as what to make of the new Biden administration.
Friday January 22, 2021
Wisconsin COVID Legislation Gains Bipartisan Support
Governor Tony Evers speaks to COVID legislation. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos says Senate changes went too far to please the Governor.
Friday January 15, 2021
The state Senate passed a COVID-19 bill this week which the governor supports but received pushback from Assembly Republicans. Senate majority leader Devin LeMahieu talks about the status of COVID-19 relief in Wisconsin.
Friday January 15, 2021
Possibility of Further Violence
Dane County Emergency Management Director and former chief of the Wisconsin Capitol police Charles Tubbs discusses the possibility of further politically motivated violence, that could see the state Capitol as a target; and the preparations being made in the face of potential violent protests.
Friday January 15, 2021
Deputy Health Secretary Julie Willems Van Dijk talks about the procurement and distribution of the coronavirus vaccine in Wisconsin and what the state is doing to get more shots in arms.
Friday January 15, 2021
Full Interview: Noble Wray on His Jacob Blake Decision
Former Madison police chief Noble Wray breaks down his decision that officers used appropriate force in the Jacob Blake shooting, as well as weighing in on the police response as a crowd overtook the U.S. Capitol this week.
Monday January 11, 2021
U.S. Rep. Grothman’s Reaction to Calls of Removing Trump
In the aftermath of unsettling events at the U.S. Capitol, U.S. Representative Glenn Grothman (R-Glenbeulah) answers questions about the efforts to remove the President and whether Trump poses a national security risk.
Friday January 8, 2021
Noble Wray on The Jacob Blake Decision
National policing expert Noble Wray breaks down his decision that officers used appropriate force in the Jacob Blake shooting, as well as weighing in on the police response as a crowd overtook the U.S. Capitol this week.
Friday January 8, 2021
U.S. Rep. Pocan and Democrats Call to Remove Trump
In the wake of the chaos at the U.S. Capitol, U.S. Representative Mark Pocan (D-Madison) details why he thinks Democrats should pursue removing President Trump from office with only 12 days left in his term.
Friday January 8, 2021
In a tumultuous year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Tony Evers takes a look back at 2020.
Friday January 1, 2021
Bayfield Mayor Gordon Ringberg talks about the challenges faced by his and other Wisconsin cities, and what he hopes 2021 will bring.
Friday January 1, 2021
Racial Disparities and the COVID-19 Vaccine
Milwaukee Health Services, Inc. Dr. Tito Izard discusses the ongoing disparities seen among minority communities amid the pandemic, and how that will impact efforts to vaccinate the state.
Friday January 1, 2021
McCoshen and Ross Round Up 2020
Political panelists Bill McCoshen and Scot Ross made political predictions at the beginning of the year, and with 20/20 hindsight, revisit those predictions and prognosticate on the year to come.
Friday January 1, 2021
How 2020 Will Shape the Presidency
UW-Madison Political Science professor Ken Mayer, an expert on American elections, discusses the continued false claims of election irregularities and how 2020 will shape the presidency in the future.
Friday December 18, 2020
State epidemiologist and Wisconsin Chief Medical Officer Dr. Ryan Westergaard talks about the first doses of the COVID vaccine in Wisconsin and what is next for the state regarding the pandemic.
Friday December 18, 2020
As positive COVID cases spike at state nursing homes among residents and staff, State Director of AARP Wisconsin, Sam Wilson, talks about how the virus impacts seniors, as well as those living in long term care facilities.
Friday December 18, 2020
Restaurants Weather the Pandemic
Joanne Palzkill, who owns three restaurants in the Eau Claire area, talks about the struggles of staying open amid the pandemic and what another round of coronavirus aid would mean for the restaurant industry.
Friday December 18, 2020
Courts Rule on Wisconsin Election Challenges
Here & Now Senior Political Reporter Zac Schultz discusses the swirl of Trump campaign court challenges to the Wisconsin election result. He also speaks to the GOP legislative hearing on elections that took place Friday.
Saturday December 12, 2020
UW Health’s Dr. Matt Anderson discusses plans to store and distribute the first round of COVID-19 vaccines in Wisconsin starting as soon as next week.
Saturday December 12, 2020
Director of the Immigrant Justice Clinic at the UW Law School Erin Barbato breaks down a recent Supreme Court ruling that allows applications to the DACA program to continue.
Saturday December 12, 2020
Climate Change Task Force Releases Report
The Governor’s Task Force on Climate Change released a report this week includes 55 recommendations, which chair of the task force Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes discusses.
Friday December 11, 2020
Homeland Security Committee Approves Vaccine Therapies
U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson talks about this week's Homeland Security Committee hearing where medical clinicians voiced support of therapies that have been dismissed as unsafe by the FDA.
Friday December 11, 2020
Health Officials Forecast Rollout of Vaccine in Wisconsin
The first doses of COVID-19 vaccine are soon headed to Wisconsin and plans are being finalized for how to distribute them. “Distributing the COVID-19 vaccine is the most significant public health undertaking of our lifetimes,” Department of Health Services Deputy Secretary Julie Willems Van Dijk said. The Pfizer vaccine, which ...
Monday December 7, 2020
Court Challenges to Election Results
Here & Now senior political reporter Zac Schultz breaks down the multiple suits in both state and federal court that are challenging Wisconsin's election results.
Friday December 4, 2020
Realities in Private, Falsehoods in Public
Former Brown County Rep. Chairman Mark Becker wrote an article about his phone con. with U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, during which he acknowledged Joe Biden’s presidential win. Becker writes: “We can’t move forward together when we acknowledge reality in private and then peddle falsehoods in public.” He discusses the current political state as members of the Rep. party extend questioning election result
Friday December 4, 2020
Tiffany Weighs in on November Election
U.S. Republican Representative Tom Tiffany talks about the results of the November election and how some Republicans are declining to acknowledge a Biden victory. He also responds to Gov. Tony Evers' letter calling for more federal COVID relief.
Friday December 4, 2020
Pocan on Election, COVID Relief
U.S. Democrat Representative Mark Pocan weighs in on the pending court cases challenging the state's election, as well as the possibility of more coronavirus aid being passed in Washington.
Friday December 4, 2020
COVID Timeline, Flow of COVID in Wisconsin
Wiscontext partners show a timeline of how coronavirus cases have grown within the 72 counties of Wisconsin on a daily basis.
Friday December 4, 2020
Wisconsin Hits Record Daily Deaths, Bringing Death Toll to 3,420
Wisconsin hit a record daily number of COVID-19 deaths Tuesday, with the state Department of Health Services reporting 107 people died of the virus. That brings the total number of deaths to 3,420 as of Dec. 1. Daily positive tests were reported at 4,078 and DHS officials said hospitals across ...
Tuesday December 1, 2020
Revisiting Politics of Resentment
UW-Madison Political Science Professor Katherine Cramer's 2016 book "Politics of Resentment" investigated disillusionment felt by rural Wisconsinites. Four years and a presidential cycle later, she discusses the current political landscape of the Badger State.
Friday November 27, 2020
Presidential Recount and Marginalized Communities
Marquette University Law School Professor Atiba Ellis discusses what the presidential recount means for marginalized communities working to have their voices heard in the political landscape.
Friday November 27, 2020
Is COVID Affecting Those with Mental Illnesses
Dr. Ned Kalin, the Chair of the Dept. of Psychiatry at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health discusses the impact of COVID of those with mental illness and their care providers.
Friday November 27, 2020
Feeding America of Eastern Wisconsin President Patti Habeck talks about the struggles Wisconsinites face as they head into the fall and winter amid continuing pandemic stress.
Friday November 27, 2020
UW System President Thompson on Rapid Test Sites
UW System President Tommy Thompson talks about surge COVID-19 rapid test sites on UW campuses and support they are getting from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Students who decide to go home for the holidays must plan to get tested to prevent spreading the virus to their families and must take two tests upon returning to campus.
Friday November 20, 2020
Planning for Vaccine Distribution
While the COVID-19 surge in Wisconsin does not appear to be relenting, help is on the way. New vaccines are in the final stages of approval. State Department of Health Services Deputy Secretary Julie Willems Van Dijk talks about the complicated planning for distribution of a vaccine.
Friday November 20, 2020
Trump Campaign Allegations and Recount Process
Wisconsin Public Radio News Capitol Bureau Chief Shawn Johnson details the recount process requested for Dane and Milwaukee Counties by the Trump presidential campaign which is alleging mistakes and fraud in counting and return of votes. They'll also discuss the legislative logjam related to state management strategies for COVID-19.
Friday November 20, 2020
Dane County Clerk Outlines Election Recount Plan
Dane County Clerk Scott McDonell detailed plans to begin recounting 345,000 ballots Friday at the Monona Terrace Convention Center.
Thursday November 19, 2020
Evers to Extend Mask Order in Coming Days
The new emergency order that will re-up the statewide mask mandate will extend through January, 2021.
Wednesday November 18, 2020
Wisconsin Front Line, Nursing Home Workers to Get First Round of COVID Vaccine
The first people to get the COVID-19 vaccine in Wisconsin will be hundreds of thousands of front-line healthcare workers and support staff, along with nursing home workers and residents, and could come as early as the end of the year according to Department of Health Services officials. Officials reported Tuesday ...
Tuesday November 17, 2020
Trump Campaign’s Election Fraud Suit Dropped in Wisconsin
The lawsuit sought to throw out results from Democratic-heavy counties of Milwaukee, Dane and Menominee.
Monday November 16, 2020
Affordable Care Act Challenged in Court
The U.S. Supreme Court heard a challenge to the Affordable Care Act this week, and whether the whole act can stand if a part is thrown out. ABC for Health's Bobby Peterson reacts to the court hearing and discusses how the COVID-19 pandemic impacts current health insurance enrollment.
Friday November 13, 2020
The head of the Wisconsin Elections Commission Meagan Wolfe corrects misinformation of voter fraud during the 2020 presidential election and discusses the ongoing certification process.
Friday November 13, 2020
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos discusses the possibility of compromise between legislative Republicans and Gov. Tony Evers on coronavirus legislation, as well as his call to have an Assembly committee investigate fraud in the 2020 election.
Friday November 13, 2020
Gov. Evers addresses the Spike in COVID Cases
Governor Tony Evers took to the prime-time airwaves this week to make an urgent plea--and an Executive Order--to advise people to stay home amid a concerningly high percentage of positive COVID-19 cases.
Friday November 13, 2020
UW Hospital’s Dr. Nasia Safdar talks about how hospitals are coping with the influx of COVID-19 patients and nearly reaching maximum capacity and what they are doing in the wake of mounting staffing shortages.
Friday November 13, 2020
What Happens with a Disputed Election
UW-Madison political science Professor Barry Burden talks about the election polling, process, results, and challenges moving forward. He'll also add evidence-less claims of election irregularities in Wisconsin, and what to expect from a possible recount.
Friday November 6, 2020
Political Panel Breaks Down Election
Political panelists Bill McCoshen and Scot Ross discuss this week’s election and what it means for Wisconsin’s political landscape going forward.
Friday November 6, 2020
New GOP Leader Emerges after House Race
Here and Now’s Zac Schultz discusses the future of what the state legislature seats hold as Republicans retaining commanding majorities heading into next year.
Friday November 6, 2020
November 2020 Election Results: Biden Wins Wisconsin
With 95% of Wisconsin's ballots counted and reported, a razor thin margin favors Biden in unofficial results.
Tuesday November 3, 2020
PBS Wisconsin live election updates from reporters around the state.
Tuesday November 3, 2020
AG Kaul Talks Election Security Ahead of 2020 Election
State Attorney General Josh Kaul talks about Election Day security amid the threats on the part of militia groups or other possible polling upsets in Wisconsin.
Saturday October 31, 2020
Commissioner Urge People to Drop Ballots off in Drop Boxes
With nearly 1.9 million absentee ballots having been requested and some 223 thousand not yet being returned, Democrats have worked to try and extend the time ballots could be counted as long as they were post-marked by Election Day.
Saturday October 31, 2020
Last Marquette Poll Before Election
Marquette University Law School poll director Charles Franklin discusses the latest results, which show Democrat Joe Biden leading by single digits with less than a week left before the 2020 election.
Saturday October 31, 2020
COVID at ‘Nightmare Scenario’ in Wisconsin
State epidemiologist Dr. Ryan Westergaard called the state’s COVID-19 status a “nightmare scenario” as cases show no sign of slowing down. He talks about the status of the virus in Wisconsin, and what to expect in the weeks and months ahead.
Saturday October 31, 2020
AG Kaul Talks Election Security Ahead of 2020 Election
State Attorney General Josh Kaul talks about Election Day security amid the threats on the part of militia groups or other possible polling upsets in Wisconsin.
Friday October 30, 2020
Breaking: US Supreme Court Keeps Absentee Ballot Deadline Nov. 3
The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to let a lower court’s ruling stand, which means Wisconsin’s deadline to return absentee ballots will not be extended. Absentee ballots must be returned to elections officials by 8 p.m. Nov. 3 to be counted. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a Madison federal judge ...
Monday October 26, 2020
Debate, Campaign Visit, Final Stretch
Political panelists Bill McCoshen and Scot Ross react to the final presidential debate and forecast what’s ahead in the remaining days of election 2020.
Friday October 23, 2020
Patricia Gomez of Milwaukee PBS talks with members of the Latino community about the issues and preferences in the race for President.
Friday October 23, 2020
Governor Backs the Precautions Health Officials Suggest
Governor Tony Evers touches on the COVID-19 conversation from Thursday’s media briefing and that more people need to treat COVID like the real risk that it is. Evers explains that Wisconsin health officials have worked very hard to prepare the public for the worst of the come from COVID.
Friday October 23, 2020
Misinformation and the Pandemic
WisContext's Will Cushman discusses his new reporting on how misinformation became rampant during the COVID-19 pandemic, how it propagates, and the role partisan politics plays in perpetuating it.
Friday October 23, 2020
Northeastern Wisconsin Grapples with Hospitalizations
Emergency Department Medical Director at Bellin Hospital in Green Bay Dr. Paul Casey talks about how the region’s hospitals are handling the influx of COVID-19 patients.
Friday October 16, 2020
Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke discusses Republican legislative plans to address the pandemic and keep the economy running.
Friday October 16, 2020
Governor Stresses the Importance of COVID Precaution
Governor Tony Evers defends his 25% capacity order that is in place until November 6, after Wisconsin has seen persistent rises in COVID-19 cases since September.
Friday October 16, 2020
Wisconsin Sets New COVID-19 Records
The Department of Health Services reported 3,279 new cases Tuesday, with the seven day average for new daily cases up to 2,727.
Tuesday October 13, 2020
Absentee Ballot Change in Appeals Court Ruling
Late this week, a federal appeals court ruled that absentee ballots must to be delivered to Wisconsin election clerks by 8 p.m. on Election Day to be counted.
Friday October 9, 2020
Governor Tony Evers says new order will help slow the rate of COVID-19 cases. The order reduces establishment capacity to 25% in all retail stores, bars, and restaurants.
Friday October 9, 2020
What Should Wisconsin Be Doing for COVID?
UW-Madison public health expert Dr. Patrick Remington with the Global Health Institute talks about the current status of the pandemic in Wisconsin and what policy makers can do to help mitigate the further spread of the virus.
Friday October 9, 2020
Election Heads into Final Stretch
Marquette Law School poll director Charles Franklin breaks down the latest numbers and the state of the presidential race as it heads into the final stretch.
Friday October 9, 2020
Biden Holds Narrow Lead in New Marquette Law School Poll
In the latest Marquette Law School Poll released Wednesday, former Vice President Joe Biden leads President Donald Trump by a narrow five-point margin in Wisconsin. The poll was conducted between Sept. 30 and Oct. 4, following the presidential debate, with 700 likely voters responding for a margin of error of ...
Wednesday October 7, 2020
Update: Johnson Tests Positive for COVID-19, Says He Does Not Have Symptoms
U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson has tested positive for COVID-19 and is isolating. He told reporters during a Saturday morning conference call that he has no symptoms and has not received any medical treatment related to his diagnosis. Johnson received a test shortly before a Republican Party event in Ozaukee County ...
Saturday October 3, 2020
Questions Amid Pres. And First Lady Positive COVID Results
Political analysts Bill McCoshen and Scot Ross discuss what’s next in the race for President after incumbent Donald Trump tests positive for COVID-19.
Friday October 2, 2020
As COVID-19 cases spike in Green Bay, President and CEO of Prevea Health Dr. Ashok Rai joins to discuss the pressure that spiraling COVID cases in Brown County is placing on hospitals and health professionals; and how the area’s health care infrastructure is handling the surge.
Friday October 2, 2020
Health Secretary on COVID Surge
Wisconsin Dept. of Health Services Secretary-Designee Andrea Palm discusses the crisis-level surge in COVID-19 in parts of Wisconsin and ways the state is marshalling resources to combat the spread.
Friday October 2, 2020
Republicans Denounce Evers’ New Emergency Order
Last spring, the State Supreme Court struck down Governor Tony Evers “Safer at Home” order, after being challenged by the Republican-led legislature.
Friday September 25, 2020
How Are Voters Approaching Election Day in Rural Wisconsin
Eyes are on rural Wisconsin for the upcoming presidential election where a tight, statewide vote could be established.
Friday September 25, 2020
Former Police Chief Reviews Jacob Blake Shooting
Former Madison Police Chief, Noble Wray, brought in to review the Jacob Blake shooting investigation by State DOJ to reach a charging decision. Wray says no timeline has been established for a complete review.
Friday September 25, 2020
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