WEBVTT 00:07.266 --> 00:11.200 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% Funding for Crossroads, a conversation with America is provided by 00:11.200 --> 00:14.800 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% the following. And viewers like you. 00:16.633 --> 00:20.400 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% Thank you. Welcome to this PBS News special, Crossroads, a conversation 00:22.833 --> 00:27.233 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% with America. Good evening. I'm Judy Woodruff. Tonight we are in 00:27.233 --> 00:32.233 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% Milwaukee and we are joined by more than 50 Wisconsin residents from 00:32.233 --> 00:36.166 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% across the political spectrum to hear what's on their minds at this 00:36.166 --> 00:41.066 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% moment, just 6 weeks before this highly contentious presidential 00:41.066 --> 00:45.666 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% election. Our focus is on how deeply divided we find ourselves as 00:45.666 --> 00:49.366 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% Americans, families, Las, coworkers. 00:51.100 --> 00:55.866 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% How divided do you think Americans are today? I know they're divided 00:55.866 --> 00:58.866 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% nationally. I feel like it is very. 01:00.600 --> 01:02.366 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% Bad right now I think the divisions have gotten much worse in my 01:02.366 --> 01:06.200 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% lifetime, and it's hard to not be divided when a lot of people's 01:06.200 --> 01:10.433 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% identities are under attack. For the past year and a half, I've traveled 01:10.433 --> 01:15.433 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% the United States for the PBS Newshour for my reporting series America 01:17.100 --> 01:20.066 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% at a Crossroads talking with people across the political spectrum 01:21.766 --> 01:24.166 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% about how they see the country. There's so much divisiveness in this 01:24.166 --> 01:27.966 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% country right now. It does get heated. We have big fights that people 01:27.966 --> 01:31.566 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% just felt like we've always Left behind. So why is it going to be 01:31.566 --> 01:36.000 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% different now? I've spoken with experts who've been documenting rising 01:36.000 --> 01:37.366 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% partisan hostility 01:39.066 --> 01:42.833 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% now in the home stretch of the 2024 election when so many of these 01:42.833 --> 01:47.800 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% divisions are cast in sharp relief. We will make America great again. 01:50.333 --> 01:55.300 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% We are not going. We're in the critical swing state of Wisconsin 01:57.233 --> 02:01.600 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% to listen to Americans, Republicans and Democrats, conservatives 02:01.600 --> 02:06.466 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% and liberals and folks in the middle, urban, suburban and rural to 02:06.466 --> 02:10.700 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% ask how they see these divisions in their own lives. Some clients 02:10.700 --> 02:15.700 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% found out which way I lean and stopped coming. I've got. 02:17.433 --> 02:20.700 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% Family members on all sides of the political spectrum. There are 02:20.700 --> 02:25.033 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% times that gets tense. I've also lost quite a few friends, um, because 02:25.033 --> 02:29.200 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% we don't agree on a lot of issues. I don't know how many people know 02:29.200 --> 02:33.833 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% that I support Trump. How these divisions are affecting the serious 02:33.833 --> 02:38.300 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% issues we face as a country, the price of prescription drugs is skyrocketing. 02:40.100 --> 02:41.833 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% The difficulty with insurance is getting worse and worse. The housing 02:41.833 --> 02:44.633 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% market is getting worse. We've never had this many immigrants come 02:44.633 --> 02:49.633 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% over that are unvetted that's. That's the issue. It's very easy to 02:51.433 --> 02:53.833 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% have an opinion about abortion. When you've never experienced any 02:53.833 --> 02:57.000 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% difficulty like that in your life. How they're affecting the ways 02:57.000 --> 03:01.000 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% we interact with one another. We used to agree to disagree, and it 03:01.000 --> 03:04.200 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% was fun and robust to talk about the differences like these like 03:04.200 --> 03:07.533 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% big grandstanding arguments that people have with each other don't 03:07.533 --> 03:10.500 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% change each other's minds. I think right now America is in that space 03:10.500 --> 03:13.833 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% where everybody's angry about something and we're not getting anything 03:13.833 --> 03:18.833 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% done. So many Americans feel stuck, frustrated, and even afraid for 03:20.066 --> 03:22.066 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% our future, no matter what the other side. Say 03:23.800 --> 03:27.600 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% our first instinct is to say no when you have a divided country and 03:27.600 --> 03:32.600 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% unhappy people and almost no solution for some people. It can feel 03:34.466 --> 03:36.500 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% like the end of the world. The United States' biggest threat is within, 03:38.266 --> 03:40.066 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% not from. Another country, it's almost like people sometimes talk 03:40.066 --> 03:42.866 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% about a civil war now. People are getting to the point where they're 03:42.866 --> 03:46.966 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% so fed up they're like, we have to do something now, and I with as 03:46.966 --> 03:49.033 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% many guns as in America, I don't think it's necessarily going to 03:49.033 --> 03:54.033 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% be peaceful this evening from downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin at best 03:55.900 --> 03:59.800 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% place at the historic Pabs Brewery. This is Crossroads, a conversation 04:01.633 --> 04:05.500 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% with America. Joining us here tonight are 3 special guests people 04:07.233 --> 04:09.400 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% who have spent a lot of time thinking about the things that we're 04:09.400 --> 04:14.233 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% going to be talking about tonight. They are retired US Navy commander 04:14.233 --> 04:19.233 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% and writer Theodore Johnson, University of Wisconsin Political science 04:21.033 --> 04:25.166 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% professor Catherine Kramer and Wisconsin native and longtime conservative 04:26.900 --> 04:30.666 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% commentator Charlie Sykes. Welcome to each one of you. Thank you 04:30.666 --> 04:35.666 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% so much for being here. Tonight. Now, the most recent PBS News and 04:37.133 --> 04:41.633 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% Marra's poll shows almost 8 out of 10 Americans say they believe 04:41.633 --> 04:46.633 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% we are mostly or completely divided about the issues facing our country. 04:48.300 --> 04:51.000 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% Cathy Cramer, let me start with you. You have spent years studying 04:51.000 --> 04:54.900 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% these divisions, including how they played out here in Wisconsin. 04:56.633 --> 05:00.066 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% Is this what you see? I do. I think that one thing that Americans 05:01.733 --> 05:05.000 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% seem to agree on right now is that we are deeply divided, so, um, 05:06.733 --> 05:09.266 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% we see that here in Wisconsin, we see divisions in terms of what 05:09.266 --> 05:14.266 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% people, um, um, want to see in terms of the the outcome of this election, 05:15.966 --> 05:20.700 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% and we see it around the country. And, and Ted Johnson, what do you 05:22.200 --> 05:24.966 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% see from your work in terms of what's behind this division? 05:26.733 --> 05:31.400 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Politics where compromise is a bad word and so our in our party system, 05:33.133 --> 05:34.966 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% you are forced to put on a hat of a team and hate the other side 05:36.766 --> 05:40.100 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% and democracies require that we deliberate and hyperpolarize democracies 05:40.100 --> 05:44.600 align:left position:30% line:77% size:60% are incapable of deliberating in a way that's conducive to a civil 05:44.600 --> 05:48.700 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% society. So the division is not just about politics, it's along racial 05:48.700 --> 05:52.900 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% lines. It's a long nation of origin, class, rural urban, you pick 05:52.900 --> 05:56.900 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% one, we have a politics that will find a way to weaponize Anything 05:56.900 --> 05:59.933 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% that's different among us and then turn us against one another in 05:59.933 --> 06:03.900 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% hopes of out of expedience or in hopes of winning elections. Charlie 06:03.900 --> 06:07.166 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% Sykes, you've been such a close observer of politics here in the 06:07.166 --> 06:10.933 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% state of Wisconsin and and around the country. A lot of people say 06:10.933 --> 06:15.800 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% it's worse now than they ever remember it being. How do you see that? 06:17.566 --> 06:20.033 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% I think it is and you know, and that's part of the irony as you as 06:20.033 --> 06:22.700 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% you were asking the question I was thinking about the divisions in 06:22.700 --> 06:23.900 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% Wisconsin. We've had 06:25.633 --> 06:27.400 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% significant political divisions here in many ways I think we were 06:27.400 --> 06:30.466 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% much more divided than the rest of the country a few years ago, but 06:30.466 --> 06:34.200 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% the rest of the country has caught up with us, but Wisconsin mates 06:34.200 --> 06:37.366 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% are not divided on everything. I mean, we're not divided on the Green 06:37.366 --> 06:40.900 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% Bay Packers. We're not divided on how we feel about beer. There's 06:40.900 --> 06:44.266 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% no division about how we feel about Illinois, but, 06:45.966 --> 06:49.000 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% but, but, but when you begin talking about politics, suddenly there 06:49.000 --> 06:53.666 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% is this tremendous cognitive dissonance, and it has become bitter 06:53.666 --> 06:56.966 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% and I think part of it is that we don't just disagree on policy that 06:56.966 --> 07:01.000 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% we regard it as a commentary on The person's character that I don't 07:01.000 --> 07:04.333 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% just disagree with you about taxes. If I disagree with you on this, 07:06.000 --> 07:08.300 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% you're a bad person. You're evil, you're dangerous, and I'm being 07:08.300 --> 07:12.766 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% told. Over and over and over again to fear you and to dislike you, 07:14.466 --> 07:16.000 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% and it and it sounds like you're all saying this is something that's 07:16.000 --> 07:20.466 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% grown worse, um, in, in, in this particular election cycle in the 07:22.233 --> 07:24.700 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% last several years. So now I want to bring in our audience and start 07:24.700 --> 07:29.700 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% with Penny Petrazinski. Hello, you are a nursing assistant. You live 07:30.900 --> 07:34.100 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% in West Bend, Wisconsin. You're a Republican. 07:35.833 --> 07:39.366 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% How have you felt these divisions in your own life, um, with family 07:41.133 --> 07:44.466 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Um, I have family members that, um, wanna, um, you know, throw the 07:46.166 --> 07:51.033 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% racist card at me and um I wanna let people know as a Trump supporter, 07:52.733 --> 07:56.566 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% I am not racist and I don't believe that Trump is either. Um, I believe 07:56.566 --> 08:01.566 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% that the media has tried to divide us. I think it's, I think it stems 08:03.300 --> 08:07.000 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% and blames. I blame the media for most of the rhetoric that. has 08:07.600 --> 08:07.900 align:left position:40% line:89% size:50% been 08:09.566 --> 08:13.066 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% thrown at us and they're teaching, they're teaching everybody to 08:13.066 --> 08:17.500 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% hate one another and that's not the case. And you're seeing it, you 08:17.500 --> 08:22.500 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% said in your family, neighbors, no, just with um family members on 08:24.333 --> 08:28.733 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% my dad's side, um, they're kind of like all lean towards the democratic 08:30.433 --> 08:34.866 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% views and um, you know, we just don't share those views, you know, 08:36.633 --> 08:40.133 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% with abortion and. Um, immigration and different things like that, 08:41.833 --> 08:45.166 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% so. And that and we wanna talk about some of that tonight, but it's 08:45.166 --> 08:49.766 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% it's a Thanksgiving dinner is difficult. Yeah, yeah, um, we mainly 08:49.766 --> 08:53.433 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% don't get together on that side, uh, me and my dad still do, but 08:53.433 --> 08:58.433 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% I don't see all the other ones, um, as of the last few years, so, 09:00.366 --> 09:05.333 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% yeah. Sounds tough, yeah, yeah. Grant Hagen, uh, you're with us. 09:07.000 --> 09:10.533 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% Hello, Grant. Um. You are a veteran and you're a retired cabinet 09:12.266 --> 09:16.100 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% installer, you're a Democrat, um, you told us that you feel these 09:16.100 --> 09:19.033 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% divisions that we've just heard from Penny, but you feel them from 09:19.033 --> 09:24.033 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% another perspective. Tell us about that. It's partially a family 09:25.533 --> 09:29.366 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% situation, friends, uh, just a general feeling that um there's 09:32.300 --> 09:37.300 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% Animosity where it doesn't need to be there. There's misunderstandings 09:39.000 --> 09:43.033 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% abound, uh, too many people are have a narrow stream of information 09:45.266 --> 09:49.766 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% and I feel a, a broadened, um, 09:51.566 --> 09:56.200 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Bombardment of information would be much more um beneficial to everybody, 09:57.966 --> 10:01.400 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% if, if you're not listening to your neighbor, if you don't talk to 10:01.400 --> 10:04.200 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% your neighbor, you're, you're not gonna know what he's thinking, 10:05.066 --> 10:07.900 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% um, but you also have to um 10:09.700 --> 10:13.166 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Have an engagement that's civil, you can't be screaming and yelling 10:13.166 --> 10:16.766 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% stuff at each other. That doesn't do any good. Are you saying that 10:16.766 --> 10:20.600 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% narrow band of information is only applying to the other side you're, 10:22.333 --> 10:25.766 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% you're a Democrat. I am a Democrat, so, uh, some of that is going 10:25.766 --> 10:29.900 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% towards, I don't want to mention any Fox News names, but when you've 10:29.900 --> 10:34.900 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% been uh sued for $750 million and you were uh I admit that you lied 10:37.233 --> 10:41.566 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% and that your present have all lied. That's one of those things that, 10:43.333 --> 10:46.033 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% that kind of makes me think, maybe you should try somebody else and 10:46.033 --> 10:50.133 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% see what they have to say. Well, let me, on that point, I want to 10:50.133 --> 10:53.566 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% come back to Penny. We hear Grant saying that he thinks people 10:55.300 --> 10:58.500 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% who have a different view from him are not getting the whole story 10:58.500 --> 11:02.000 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% that it's just too narrow. What would you say to that? I think we 11:02.000 --> 11:05.366 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% think the same thing, you know, um, it goes right back, you know, 11:06.666 --> 11:10.500 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% that, um, um, we believe that the Media is telling. 11:12.166 --> 11:17.066 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% Just one side and um I've been to many of Donald Trump's rallies, 11:18.033 --> 11:19.633 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% and I hear it from his mouth 11:21.366 --> 11:25.200 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% and I'll hear a little bit on TV and it will be totally turned around 11:26.666 --> 11:31.566 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% and um the news coverage in the news coverage and um I wanted to 11:33.033 --> 11:37.900 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% add to, um, for the first couple of years that Trump was running, 11:39.533 --> 11:43.500 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% we were actually afraid for our lives. You know, um, to be able to 11:43.500 --> 11:47.233 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% put signs out in front of our house. Well, let me bring in Antoine 11:47.233 --> 11:52.200 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% Carter. Antoine, you work for a nonprofit here. You're a Democrat. 11:53.433 --> 11:56.100 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% When you hear someone like Penny saying 11:57.866 --> 11:59.866 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% she feels disrespected by the other side and she feels she's not 11:59.866 --> 12:03.433 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% getting that that your point side isn't getting the whole story. 12:05.066 --> 12:08.566 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% What does that make you think? I think personally, um, I am in fear 12:10.533 --> 12:15.533 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% of my life all the time. As a black man, and I think the issue I 12:17.166 --> 12:18.466 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% see is that 12:20.133 --> 12:23.200 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% When people in these conversations talk about race. It's never 12:24.966 --> 12:29.033 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% necessarily viewed with respect and so thinking that I, that an immigrant 12:30.700 --> 12:34.166 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% is trying to take my job as a college educated black man. I don't 12:34.166 --> 12:39.166 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% think that's true. Um, I don't think that to relate to me is to be 12:40.900 --> 12:44.666 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% a felon, because I am not a felon. And when you referred us, people 12:44.666 --> 12:46.900 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% calling, talking about felons 12:48.600 --> 12:51.366 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% in the United States or coming across the border, you're referring 12:51.366 --> 12:56.233 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% to comments by former President Trump. Is that what you're. Yeah, 12:57.933 --> 13:01.600 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% as a black man, the only thing that he tries to identify with is 13:03.333 --> 13:06.933 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% my struggle, not me being a parent, not me being a person trying 13:06.933 --> 13:11.200 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% to work and pay bills and buy a home and things like that. He is 13:11.200 --> 13:15.000 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% trying to lean in the fact that he assumes that black people are 13:15.000 --> 13:20.000 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% felons, that he assumes that minorities operate in a deficit and 13:21.466 --> 13:25.800 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% because of that, he rubs me the wrong way. I want to bring in uh 13:27.600 --> 13:32.033 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% at this 0.2 of our guests from Green Bay. You are John and Liz McKinney, 13:33.966 --> 13:36.900 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% uh, John, you are the manager at a construction company, you're Republican, 13:38.633 --> 13:40.566 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% but you've told us you do not plan to vote and you don't support 13:40.566 --> 13:45.566 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% former President Trump. Your wife Liz, um, you do support former 13:47.300 --> 13:49.333 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% President Trump. So my question to both of you is, how do you manage 13:49.333 --> 13:53.800 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% this in your marriage, John? When it comes to managing, you know, 13:55.566 --> 13:57.766 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% political differences in our household. Um, it, it's not difficult. 13:59.500 --> 14:02.033 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% I love my wife because she's intelligent, she's educated, and she's 14:02.033 --> 14:05.433 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% thoughtful. Um, I know that if she makes a decision about something, 14:07.166 --> 14:10.000 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% she's not coming by that decision lightly. So I respect her decision. 14:11.733 --> 14:15.300 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% I think she respects most of mine. But um, you know, as a nation, 14:17.000 --> 14:21.333 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% we're so much bigger than one vote for one political candidate. So 14:22.433 --> 14:23.766 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% my wife may be voting for Trump. I 14:25.433 --> 14:28.366 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% made the decision that I'm not voting for either candidate, but I 14:28.366 --> 14:32.500 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% respect her decision. Liz McKinney, can you, do you ever try to change 14:32.500 --> 14:37.000 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% his mind? How do, how do you, can you even talk about politics certainly 14:37.000 --> 14:41.433 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% talk about it. Um, I think one of the biggest misconceptions people 14:41.433 --> 14:45.233 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% have about people like me is that we can't talk about issues or that 14:45.233 --> 14:49.166 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% we can't get along with people that we don't agree with. Um, I'm 14:49.166 --> 14:51.900 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% from where I work at a company that's headquartered in Atlanta, so 14:51.900 --> 14:54.833 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% I have friends that come from all over the different parts of the 14:54.833 --> 14:58.266 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% United States now for Koch Industries, and they have all different 14:58.266 --> 15:02.033 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% race and credos and I think our Differences help us get to a better 15:02.033 --> 15:05.800 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% outcome. Thank you. Thank you both. Thank you all. I want to turn 15:05.800 --> 15:10.800 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% to our panel now and turn to Kathy Kramer. Cathy, we're hearing that 15:12.266 --> 15:15.533 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% these are painful, uh, divisions people. How has it gotten to be 15:15.533 --> 15:19.500 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% so painful? Charlie addressed this earlier and, and so did Ted, but, 15:21.233 --> 15:23.366 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% but what would you say about that, I think one thing that's going 15:23.366 --> 15:28.300 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% on for all of us is whether or not you pay a lot of attention to 15:28.300 --> 15:33.000 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% politics, um, Political divisions are mapping on to so many other 15:33.000 --> 15:36.666 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% divisions in our lives whether we're talking about race or sometimes 15:36.666 --> 15:41.666 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% gender, uh, region where we live, um, so that's part of it like the 15:43.633 --> 15:48.633 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% it's, it's painful because when someone criticizes your um your political 15:50.466 --> 15:51.266 align:left position:40% line:89% size:50% team 15:52.933 --> 15:55.200 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% oftentimes we take it as criticism of so many other parts of who 15:55.200 --> 15:59.800 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% we are. And I think it's also, I mean, it's painful here in Wisconsin 15:59.800 --> 16:02.966 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% because our visions have been building for a long time. This is not 16:02.966 --> 16:07.966 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% this election. It's not even 2016, right, but back in 2012, we ran 16:07.966 --> 16:08.866 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% a survey uh at 16:09.600 --> 16:13.133 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% at um UW UW Madison 16:14.900 --> 16:18.500 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% that found that 1 in 3 Wisconsinites had stopped talking to someone 16:18.500 --> 16:22.300 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% they cared about because of politics that long ago, so we've been 16:22.300 --> 16:27.300 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% feeling these divisions for some time. Wow, it goes back, um, the 16:28.766 --> 16:32.300 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% next thing we want to do now is, is Drill down a little, um, and 16:32.300 --> 16:37.166 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% we want to look at how people are divided on specific issues. 16:38.833 --> 16:42.100 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% The one issue that should be addressed and looked at the hardest. 16:43.833 --> 16:46.300 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% I think the economy is the one that hurts people the most out of 16:48.066 --> 16:49.833 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% All of the generations in my family, I am one of the people who are 16:49.833 --> 16:53.033 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% making the most in my age range, and I am still living paycheck to 16:53.033 --> 16:57.766 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% paycheck. Prices are higher this you can't deny that. You can't say 16:57.766 --> 17:01.733 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% our current government it didn't play a part in that. Family planning 17:01.733 --> 17:05.866 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% services and abortion services are extremely, extremely important, 17:07.566 --> 17:10.100 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% not only to me but the women in my life and in my circle when I had 17:10.100 --> 17:14.166 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% a pregnancy crisis of my own hearing the political noise, 17:15.666 --> 17:19.600 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% knowing that my options were limited. Because of politics. 17:20.666 --> 17:24.066 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% Made it so much harder. In my faith 17:25.800 --> 17:29.500 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% We support life. It's a last resort to take it and snuff it out. 17:31.366 --> 17:33.866 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% Immigration is is the one that's the most emotionally charged viewpoint 17:33.866 --> 17:37.800 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% that's getting pounded over and over again, uh, on the, on the campaign 17:37.800 --> 17:41.800 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% trail. It worries me in terms of What life would look like for a 17:41.800 --> 17:46.700 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% lot of people, whether it's people that will be. Hurt by an immigration 17:46.700 --> 17:51.700 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% policy that might tear their family apart blaming immigrants for. 17:53.166 --> 17:57.700 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% The woes of the country. Uh, is very easy to a group that has no 17:59.466 --> 18:01.066 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% rights and no ability to defend themselves. I don't think anybody 18:01.066 --> 18:03.866 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% is saying that immigrants should not come to our country. I just 18:03.866 --> 18:07.700 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% think they should be vetted. My parents both immigrated here legally. 18:09.400 --> 18:12.400 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% We have laws we need to enforce them and live by them. On the last 18:12.400 --> 18:15.833 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% issue that we raised there, immigration. We have some data to share 18:17.566 --> 18:20.466 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% illegal border crossings into the United States have soared in recent 18:20.466 --> 18:25.466 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% years, hitting an all-time high of about 2.5 million encounters with 18:27.166 --> 18:30.566 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% unlawful migrants at the southern border in 2023, including some 18:30.566 --> 18:35.000 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% who came more than once, but the number of encounters has dropped 18:36.200 --> 18:39.000 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% dramatically this year. Cheryl Rebholz. 18:40.666 --> 18:43.933 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% Hello, we're we're glad you're here. We just heard from you in that, 18:45.666 --> 18:47.566 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% in that tape. You are the daughter of immigrants. You own a shooting 18:47.566 --> 18:52.566 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% range and you own a beauty salon in Mequan, uh, uh, Wisconsin, you're 18:54.033 --> 18:57.966 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% a Republican. Why is immigration become such a critical issue for 18:57.966 --> 19:02.500 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% you? My grandmother, my mother's side of immigrated from Mexico. 19:04.200 --> 19:06.833 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% My grandmother, when she got here, learned English and assimilated. 19:08.300 --> 19:09.433 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% She said she kissed the ground, she lived on and she would never 19:11.100 --> 19:13.200 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% Turn because it afforded her all kinds of possibilities. On the other 19:13.200 --> 19:17.100 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% side of my family immigrated from Poland, and what brought them together 19:17.100 --> 19:22.100 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% was New York. And so from both sides of my family, we are blended 19:23.800 --> 19:26.766 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% family, and they've taught me about American exceptionalism, pride. 19:28.566 --> 19:32.366 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% To exercise our educational system and to appreciate our US Constitution, 19:34.033 --> 19:38.166 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% which in Mexico, um, they don't have that great document and I and 19:39.233 --> 19:41.800 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% to respect and. Cause it's reversed. 19:43.533 --> 19:45.800 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% We can't go and enter other countries like they're entering ours 19:47.533 --> 19:49.600 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% and we have to embrace and enforce the laws, otherwise we have civil 19:51.066 --> 19:55.000 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% chaos and, and we're all feeling it in every single state. We can 19:55.000 --> 20:00.000 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% tell you feel strongly about this. I want to bring in now Antonio 20:01.800 --> 20:05.466 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% Alcazar right back here, I think there you are. You own a small business. 20:07.166 --> 20:10.333 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% You are an immigrant yourself. You came as a child, of parents who 20:10.333 --> 20:14.800 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% arrived here without documentation. They still don't have documentation. 20:16.500 --> 20:18.733 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% You cannot vote and you have a different view on all this. Tell us 20:18.733 --> 20:20.766 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% about your thoughts. So 20:22.466 --> 20:25.066 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% I want to push back a little bit. So, uh, here I, I feel like it's 20:25.066 --> 20:28.333 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% important to note that uh when you're fleeing a country, you're fleeing 20:28.333 --> 20:33.333 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% it out of necessity and this country is, uh, absolutely without a 20:35.133 --> 20:38.466 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% doubt, the most prosperous nation on the planet, and uh the people 20:38.466 --> 20:42.900 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% who are leaving are leaving. Uh, in order to find stability and safety 20:42.900 --> 20:47.200 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% and work uh for their family. My family specifically did exactly 20:47.200 --> 20:51.166 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% that. Uh, they left unimpoverished zone and and it's an area that 20:51.166 --> 20:56.133 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% I wouldn't have had any amount of uh resources or prospects or options, 20:57.900 --> 21:01.200 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% and yet now I'm a successful business owner and that is uh something 21:01.200 --> 21:04.066 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% that's come through a lot of struggle, especially being undocumented 21:04.066 --> 21:09.066 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% until 2012 when President Obama passed a deferred Action for Childhood 21:10.800 --> 21:14.733 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% Arrivals. So like I. I, I hate this idea that uh that there's crime 21:16.433 --> 21:17.900 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% and gangs coming over. There's crime and gangs all over the world, 21:19.633 --> 21:21.366 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% but the people who are fleeing their country are fleeing for good 21:21.366 --> 21:25.700 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% reasons generally. Thank you, Antonio. I want to come now to Amy 21:27.133 --> 21:30.833 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% Totenberg. Uh, Amy, you work as a medical interpreter. 21:32.500 --> 21:35.000 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% Uh, you're a Republican, you also have strong views about the border. 21:36.666 --> 21:39.833 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% I believe that those who believe in open borders are using our neighbors 21:39.833 --> 21:44.100 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% from the southern border to bring them here in a situation where 21:44.100 --> 21:48.433 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% they will not be giving any rights or visas they do not require companies 21:48.433 --> 21:52.733 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% to provide them with visas so that they can use them to lower the 21:52.733 --> 21:57.433 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% wages of workers in this country. I believe that they are. Really 21:57.433 --> 22:02.400 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% just using them to exploit people and to and to undermine American 22:04.100 --> 22:06.833 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% workers' rights and pitting us against each other, and it is wrong 22:06.833 --> 22:10.433 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% that someone should live here for 20 years and not be able to vote. 22:12.133 --> 22:14.066 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% I do not believe that the Democratic Party has any intention, they 22:14.066 --> 22:18.666 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% call, they say a path to citizenship. I believe that they bring people 22:18.666 --> 22:22.033 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% here with that idea. What if, what if we had brought slaves here, 22:23.833 --> 22:25.800 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% you know, back in the day saying, oh well, yeah, but we're providing 22:25.800 --> 22:30.800 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% them a path to freedom. let me, let me use them first and then never 22:32.500 --> 22:34.266 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% really fulfill that if you are going to bring here, I believe in 22:34.266 --> 22:37.400 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% hospitality, if you're gonna bring people here, you either give them 22:37.400 --> 22:41.400 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% a visa to be here legally or they don't come here. So do I hear you 22:41.400 --> 22:46.400 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% saying that you think the system, the government doesn't treat Immigrants, 22:48.100 --> 22:49.900 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% first of all, you're saying the borders need to be tighter. That's 22:49.900 --> 22:53.333 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% what you're saying and you're also saying that immigrants, the way 22:53.333 --> 22:57.233 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% our system of immigration is not treating immigrants the way it should. 22:58.900 --> 23:01.400 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% Do I hear you correctly. I mean, it's very simple. If you're gonna 23:01.400 --> 23:05.000 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% let people come here, you either get them a visa or or the rights 23:05.000 --> 23:08.900 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% to be here so they can do things legally, or you don't like there's 23:08.900 --> 23:12.000 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% no in between and that's what that's what they're allowing. 23:13.700 --> 23:17.666 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% Let me come back to you, Antonio, uh, hearing that, uh, do you think 23:17.666 --> 23:22.666 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% the system did you wrong? 100% right. Um, like 23:24.366 --> 23:26.666 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% we're we're on opposite ends of the political divide, but she's right, 23:28.366 --> 23:31.200 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% uh, immigrants are used largely as a slave labor force. There, there's 23:31.200 --> 23:34.066 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% an enormous amount of people that work with no rights, no ability 23:34.066 --> 23:36.800 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% to say anything, because if they say something they could get in 23:36.800 --> 23:39.966 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% trouble. And so they just have to take what they're given and oftentimes 23:39.966 --> 23:44.566 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% they are abused or oppressed or not. Paid and they can't do anything 23:44.566 --> 23:49.133 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% about it, and yet we maintain that system, so I don't believe that 23:49.133 --> 23:53.433 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% immigrants are anything more than a political. Talking point and 23:53.433 --> 23:57.766 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% we actually need them in order to do the slave laborer of the country. 23:59.533 --> 24:02.833 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% Thank you. Such a big subject, Ted Johnson, um, you have written 24:02.833 --> 24:04.000 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% a lot about 24:05.633 --> 24:08.600 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% Speaking of immigration, our country is changing demographics? How 24:08.600 --> 24:12.266 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% does that play into the pulverization, the division that we're here 24:12.266 --> 24:16.900 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% talking about tonight is a complex issue. There's a policy conversation 24:16.900 --> 24:19.566 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% around immigration that's very important and I think we're getting 24:19.566 --> 24:22.200 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% at some of that. And then there are the people in the middle while 24:22.200 --> 24:26.100 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% the policy conversation happens. So policy, do we need more border 24:26.100 --> 24:30.100 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% agents? Do we need more intelligence? Do we need partnerships and 24:31.566 --> 24:33.333 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% and um a border wall, etc. those are policy conversations. Should 24:33.333 --> 24:37.166 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% there be an easier path to immigration? Or, or a more difficult 11 24:37.166 --> 24:41.433 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% that's vetted more policy conversations, but the people waiting for 24:41.433 --> 24:44.600 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% these deliberations to happen are left in the lurch. If you're a 24:44.600 --> 24:48.100 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Haitian immigrant in Ohio right now waiting for Congress to do something, 24:49.566 --> 24:52.200 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% you can't go to school. You, the bomb threats are being called in 24:52.200 --> 24:55.133 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% because on a debate stage one of the candidates, Donald Trump, said 24:55.133 --> 24:58.600 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% that black people in Ohio, black migrants are eating cats and dogs. 25:00.333 --> 25:02.100 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% That's not a policy conversation. The policy conversation becomes 25:02.100 --> 25:06.166 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% secondary and so what we're finding, what we're Seeing is that the 25:06.166 --> 25:09.633 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% cultural conversation about who America is and who we should be and 25:09.633 --> 25:13.833 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% who we allow in has dominated the policy conversation about the best 25:13.833 --> 25:18.500 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% way to create a path to citizenship and and and frankly, it's, it's 25:18.500 --> 25:22.800 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% advantageous in a partisan sense, but it is destructive for what 25:22.800 --> 25:27.500 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% this kind of talk can cause in America. Another divisive topic that's 25:27.500 --> 25:31.066 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% getting so much attention right now is, of course, abortion, 25:32.533 --> 25:36.633 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% following the 2022 Supreme Court overturned. Of Roe v. Wade. That 25:36.633 --> 25:40.566 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% issue was returned to the states, as all of you know, um, and right 25:40.566 --> 25:45.566 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% now 14 states ban abortion altogether. Um, it is a national divide 25:47.366 --> 25:52.033 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% is reflected here in Wisconsin, Emily Schultz, you are a mom working 25:53.833 --> 25:57.966 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% part-time at a nonprofit. Uh, you're a Democrat and you told us you 25:57.966 --> 26:02.966 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% had a very personal experience with a pregnancy that you lost, uh, 26:04.400 --> 26:07.800 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% a few years ago. Share some of that with us. Yeah, um. 26:09.466 --> 26:11.666 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% My husband and I want to desperately be parents from the minute we 26:11.666 --> 26:16.333 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% were married and we had a complicated journey to getting there and 26:18.000 --> 26:21.700 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% we were blessed with twins in 2016 and in 2021, we found ourselves 26:23.400 --> 26:26.933 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% um pregnant again, a very deeply wanted, um, blessed pregnancy and 26:28.300 --> 26:31.766 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% At our scan at 18.5 weeks we found out we had 26:33.433 --> 26:36.733 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% the first of many medical complications. Um, for both me and our 26:36.733 --> 26:37.866 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% child and 26:39.666 --> 26:43.500 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% We also immediately found, as we were processing that, that 26:45.233 --> 26:49.033 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% Most of our options were very limited, not by our wishes, not by 26:49.033 --> 26:53.900 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% our doctors or their recommendations. Um, but by politicians. Who 26:57.366 --> 27:01.100 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% In my opinion, are grandstanding and making TV and sound bites and 27:01.100 --> 27:04.100 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% not thinking about the people who their policies 27:05.766 --> 27:07.666 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% affect these politicians here in the state of Wisconsin, the state 27:07.666 --> 27:10.200 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% of Wisconsin and around the country and we soon found out that our 27:10.200 --> 27:15.200 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% son wouldn't survive. And I had to walk around for 2 weeks. 27:16.966 --> 27:20.300 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% Knowing I had a baby that I could feel kicking inside me. Who would 27:20.300 --> 27:24.300 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% never survive birth. Who never get to come home with me. 27:26.100 --> 27:29.200 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% And I couldn't be induced into labor because it would be considered 27:29.200 --> 27:34.200 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% termination. I couldn't, I had medical professionals look at me and 27:35.933 --> 27:38.233 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% say there's nothing we can do. If you want to go terminate you can 27:38.233 --> 27:41.433 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% terminate, but we can't do it here. You can't do it in the neighboring 27:41.433 --> 27:44.566 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% state. You're too late. You'd have to fly across the country to get 27:44.566 --> 27:45.733 align:left position:40% line:89% size:50% care and 27:47.500 --> 27:50.966 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% To take a moment that was so emotional in my life, in our life, in 27:50.966 --> 27:53.966 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% our family's life. 27:55.766 --> 27:58.966 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% It's so easy to look at abortion and say I'm pro-life or I'm pro-choice. 28:00.666 --> 28:03.033 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% Like it's a team sport. And the reality is there's a million shades 28:03.033 --> 28:06.200 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% of gray in between. And there's 1 million medical procedures and 28:06.200 --> 28:11.200 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% treatments that fall in that gray zone in between. Painful experience 28:12.833 --> 28:17.000 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% and we thank you so much for sharing it. sharing it with us. I want 28:17.000 --> 28:22.000 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% to come to Mark Holland, having heard from you, Emily Mark, you are 28:23.700 --> 28:27.500 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% a truck dispatcher and a Republican in your case, you and your wife 28:29.266 --> 28:32.800 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% had an experience with IVF, um, and you came away with a different 28:32.800 --> 28:37.800 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% view of abortion. Explain. So, um, I think that 28:39.600 --> 28:42.800 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% Um, Republicans and Democrats are actually closer than we think about 28:42.800 --> 28:47.400 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% this issue. We went through IVF as well, um, that's how we have our 28:47.400 --> 28:52.300 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% son, uh, through IVF and it was a long arduous journey. We had been 28:52.300 --> 28:56.933 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% trying for 10 years before that. Um, and it is painful as far as 28:56.933 --> 29:01.933 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% abortion, um. I do believe that um. Some people 29:04.100 --> 29:04.900 align:left position:40% line:89% size:50% use it 29:06.733 --> 29:10.400 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% as a um. Like an oops kind of thing. Oh, you know, we, we got pregnant, 29:12.133 --> 29:16.633 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% oops, let's get an abortion. That's the issue I have with it. Um, 29:18.300 --> 29:22.433 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% the responsibility part, the um the uh part that, oh, well, the baby's 29:24.200 --> 29:26.566 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% in the 3rd trimester. Let's go ahead and get an abortion. That that 29:26.566 --> 29:31.566 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% to me is a problem as opposed to the areas where, um, if a woman 29:33.333 --> 29:37.200 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% is, um, raped or if there's a um the danger of the mother or if there's 29:39.066 --> 29:44.033 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% um uh you know, something like then. I would say yes, it would be 29:44.033 --> 29:48.900 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% OK. Um, even like she mentioned an area where you have to carry a 29:48.900 --> 29:51.633 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% baby that you know is not going to make it, you should be able to 29:51.633 --> 29:56.200 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% have an abortion in that case. So that's what my views are. And we 29:56.200 --> 30:00.200 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% know late-term abortions very rare. Having said that, I want to ask 30:00.200 --> 30:04.600 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% the two of you. Can you see from your position 30:06.466 --> 30:09.433 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% on abortion and and your, I mean both of your positions are reproductive 30:09.433 --> 30:12.033 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% rights. Can you see common ground 30:13.733 --> 30:15.966 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% somewhere between the two of you? I think there's a lot of common 30:15.966 --> 30:16.733 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% ground in 30:18.166 --> 30:20.900 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% between parents who desperately want to have children, um. 30:22.733 --> 30:27.733 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% And that's where. The political conversation to me makes so much 30:29.466 --> 30:34.100 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% noise that's unnecessary. There's sound bites and there's making 30:35.833 --> 30:37.700 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% the headlines and all things, all sorts of things that become more 30:37.700 --> 30:42.400 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% important than making good policy that takes care of people in Very 30:44.066 --> 30:46.800 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% vulnerable and sometimes very desperate situations. Thank you. Thank 30:46.800 --> 30:51.766 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% you to you and, and to Mark Charlie Sykes as someone who's watched 30:53.500 --> 30:56.066 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% this issue among others, but this has been a tough issue across the 30:56.066 --> 31:00.466 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% country and here in Wisconsin for some time. Tell me what you're 31:00.466 --> 31:05.166 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% thinking after hearing this. Now on abortion. And I say this as somebody 31:05.166 --> 31:10.166 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% who comes from the pro-life community. What has happened has been 31:11.633 --> 31:14.033 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% a tragedy for women, but also I think for the pro-life movement. 31:15.766 --> 31:19.033 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% Because instead of coming up with reasonable common ground solutions, 31:20.733 --> 31:23.000 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% what we've done is we've had people who have decided to exploit it, 31:24.833 --> 31:27.666 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% passing laws that are performative and draconian without having thought 31:27.666 --> 31:32.066 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% it through the pro-life movement had 50 years to come up with a pro-life 31:32.066 --> 31:37.066 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% policy, pro, uh baby, pro-family policies, and they didn't do it. 31:38.800 --> 31:40.600 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% They were the dog that caught the car, and I think that you're seeing 31:40.600 --> 31:44.933 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% this playing out as as a as a tragedy. People of goodwill. I think 31:44.933 --> 31:48.333 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% could work out compromises as they have through much of the rest 31:48.333 --> 31:52.500 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% of the world, but I think we have political political class that 31:52.500 --> 31:55.833 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% isn't interested in coming up with common sense, common ground solutions. 31:57.566 --> 31:59.866 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% They want us to be at each other's throat. They want an issue. They 31:59.866 --> 32:03.100 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% want us to fear and dislike one another. And do you think that's 32:03.100 --> 32:07.566 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% on both sides? No, look, there's politicians will always look for 32:07.566 --> 32:11.500 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% their, their advantage, but what's happening now, we have to understand, 32:13.266 --> 32:15.233 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% we talk about the toxicity of American politics. And I say this as 32:15.233 --> 32:20.066 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% somebody that has been a conservative for decades. What Donald Trump 32:20.066 --> 32:25.066 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% is doing. With his rhetoric and the extremism does not represent 32:26.066 --> 32:27.400 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% the people in this room because 32:28.866 --> 32:30.800 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% I'm guessing the people in this room would be able to go out and 32:30.800 --> 32:35.666 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% have a beer together, but this is not what the rhetoric of this presidential 32:35.666 --> 32:39.233 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% campaign is about, and that's what we want to try to pursue with 32:39.233 --> 32:43.733 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% as many of you as possible and right now the other issue we want 32:43.733 --> 32:48.066 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% to, we want to get to is the economy. Despite the fact that the overall 32:48.066 --> 32:51.200 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% economy is in strong shape, low unemployment rate, 32:52.933 --> 32:56.866 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% Market hitting record highs this year, um, uh, inflation is easing, 32:58.600 --> 33:02.166 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% wages are rising. Many Americans say they still feel the higher cost 33:03.900 --> 33:07.800 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% of living since the COVID-19 pandemic. Camille Mays, um, you live 33:09.566 --> 33:12.533 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% here in Milwaukee, you're a community organizer, you're a Democrat. 33:14.266 --> 33:17.366 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% What is the economy look like to you? A lot of people are struggling 33:17.366 --> 33:21.366 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% now. A lot of people who weren't struggling before. Um, I'm hearing 33:21.366 --> 33:25.833 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% a lot of people talk about the mortgage going up, um, just regular 33:25.833 --> 33:29.400 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% conversations about the groceries we cared about how high the groceries 33:29.400 --> 33:30.266 align:left position:40% line:89% size:50% are and 33:31.966 --> 33:35.900 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% a trip to the grocery store. And um. I've been finding a lot of people 33:37.600 --> 33:39.933 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% cutting back on things. Um, a lot of people aren't able to do some 33:39.933 --> 33:43.566 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% of the things that they used to do because of these rising costs 33:45.266 --> 33:47.033 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% and we're just wondering when is it gonna change? Why are the groceries 33:47.033 --> 33:51.600 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% so high? You know, and, um, they had went down for a while, but things 33:51.600 --> 33:56.600 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% are back up and it's ridiculous. Do you blame one party or one administration, 33:59.133 --> 34:03.900 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% I don't, I don't really know what the answer is. I know again it's 34:03.900 --> 34:08.900 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% just a tactic, you know, used to. Divide everybody blaming one party 34:10.700 --> 34:14.800 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% or the other. Jim Blumell, you're here somewhere, where are you right 34:16.066 --> 34:20.333 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% there, um, you live in Greenfield, Wisconsin. 34:22.000 --> 34:24.466 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% You own a landscaping business. You're a Republican. How does the 34:24.466 --> 34:27.600 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% economy feel to you? Well, it's a 34:29.066 --> 34:30.566 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% You know, two different types of economies that we got going on. 34:32.266 --> 34:34.033 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% We have a huge labor shortage and you can say that the unemployment 34:34.033 --> 34:37.200 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% rate is low, but the amount of people in the, in the employment pool 34:37.200 --> 34:41.466 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% has dropped dramatically. Since COVID and a lot of that is because 34:43.166 --> 34:45.466 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% you give them free money for long enough, they find ways that they 34:45.466 --> 34:48.066 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% don't need to go to work anymore or that they're going to stay home 34:48.066 --> 34:52.300 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% just because it's easier and they're getting a check already. Who 34:52.300 --> 34:57.300 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% do you blame, uh, where do you see the fault lies here? Well, there's 34:58.966 --> 35:00.866 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% a billboard in Wisconsin Milwaukee, downtown Milwaukee that you drive 35:00.866 --> 35:05.733 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% past and it tells you that the national debt is upwards of $104,000 35:07.433 --> 35:09.300 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% per person and there is no stopping it. I mean, look at the of a 35:09.300 --> 35:13.233 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% car these days. I can't afford a car. I, I cannot, I cannot. I used 35:13.233 --> 35:15.900 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% to be able to afford a car. I can't afford a car now. There's no 35:15.900 --> 35:19.500 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% way to go buy a new car like that. When you have the president standing 35:19.500 --> 35:23.300 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% with the in the picket line telling these guys they deserve a 40% 35:23.300 --> 35:26.600 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% increase in pay. What do you think that does to the price of a car? 35:28.366 --> 35:29.033 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% What do you think that does to health insurance? What do you think 35:29.033 --> 35:29.500 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% that does to 35:31.133 --> 35:33.500 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% everything that touches any aspect of the economy you're referring 35:33.500 --> 35:38.500 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% to President Biden, correct? Thank you. I want to turn to Tiffany 35:40.200 --> 35:44.433 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% Koehler. I think you're here. Tiffany, hello, uh, you live in Slinger, 35:46.233 --> 35:49.600 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% Wisconsin. You are an Army veteran. Do you think one party or another 35:49.600 --> 35:53.100 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% is more responsible for what we see right now in this economy. 35:54.566 --> 35:58.566 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% Personally, I do not think that one party over the another party 35:58.566 --> 36:00.466 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% is responsible. We 36:02.166 --> 36:05.366 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% are rebounding from a global pandemic. I think our country has done 36:05.366 --> 36:09.566 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% pretty well in recovering, and I think we should give ourselves credit 36:11.033 --> 36:15.233 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% again. Politicians, well, use us as a wedge issue because no one 36:15.833 --> 36:16.633 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% likes to pay 36:18.100 --> 36:20.966 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% more for anything when you go to the store and I'm not trying to 36:20.966 --> 36:25.533 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% say that, you know, it hasn't been tough at times, of course it has, 36:27.200 --> 36:30.500 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% but I, I don't trust the president who wants to get returned to the, 36:31.100 --> 36:31.666 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% the Oval Office 36:33.433 --> 36:36.466 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% who's filed bankruptcy 6 times. I just think he's a poor excuse of 36:36.466 --> 36:40.066 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% someone you can't even. Runner's own economy, 36:41.733 --> 36:44.066 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% his personal, you know, and it starts at home. And I just want to 36:44.066 --> 36:47.366 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% point out you told us you voted Republican and Democratic. You, you 36:47.366 --> 36:52.100 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% voted in both parties over time. Kathy Kramer, I want to come to 36:52.100 --> 36:57.100 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% you, um, we're hearing some pretty tough stories from your Wisconsin 36:58.733 --> 37:03.100 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% neighbors. How is this? I mean, people are agreeing the economy is 37:03.100 --> 37:07.700 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% not in great shape. So is this having an effect on our division? 37:09.333 --> 37:12.833 align:left position:30% line:77% size:60% Yeah, well, it's interesting that there is a kind of common ground, 37:14.500 --> 37:17.766 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% right, where so many of, all of you just spoke and lots of people 37:17.766 --> 37:21.400 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% in Wisconsin and around the country have this feeling like this economy 37:21.400 --> 37:26.200 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% was not built for me. Right? This economy is not built for people 37:26.200 --> 37:30.066 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% like me, uh, we talk about how well the economy is doing. 37:31.733 --> 37:35.666 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% We talk about the stock market and GDP. That's not my daily life, 37:37.333 --> 37:40.833 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% right? So, um, I'm seeing actually a lot of common ground here as 37:40.833 --> 37:43.966 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% opposed to divisiveness, um, 37:45.666 --> 37:48.900 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% because I think one thing that I, I hear a lot from Wisconsins and 37:48.900 --> 37:53.333 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% people around the country is just this basic level of wanting just. 37:55.000 --> 37:59.133 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% To not have to worry so much about basic things like housing, uh, 38:00.933 --> 38:03.600 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% groceries, and this is the basic things we all need in order to have 38:03.600 --> 38:07.300 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% a good life. So the data is better, the statistics are better, but 38:07.300 --> 38:11.866 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% people aren't feeling it clearly. What we've been asking people around 38:11.866 --> 38:16.566 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% the country for the last year and a half is how do we move forward 38:16.566 --> 38:19.766 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% given these divides, what is it going to take? 38:21.400 --> 38:25.333 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% I would absolutely like to see more um compromise in our politics. 38:26.800 --> 38:28.833 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% Our political leaders need to do what's best for the country, not 38:28.833 --> 38:32.833 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% what's best for the political party. It has to start with changing 38:32.833 --> 38:34.500 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% the tone and changing 38:36.233 --> 38:39.133 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% how we campaign against one another if we all take a little bit more 38:39.133 --> 38:44.133 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% humility in our approaches to these issues and a little less. 38:45.933 --> 38:49.666 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% Hardened tribalism. I feel like we could find a lot more common ground. 38:51.400 --> 38:55.066 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% I do worry about not being able to get. Um, these divisions under 38:56.733 --> 38:59.833 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% control, and can it get worse? Sure, it can. You'll see more fighting 38:59.833 --> 39:03.900 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% among your neighbors. You'll see more vilification. For people who 39:03.900 --> 39:08.900 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% aren't in charge, you'll see a divide that will create struggle in 39:10.700 --> 39:13.166 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% ways that we haven't experienced yet. So based on what we just heard, 39:14.633 --> 39:16.366 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% it's clear that a number of you are worried that we're not going 39:16.366 --> 39:20.366 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% to be able to get this division under control. I just want to say 39:20.366 --> 39:24.833 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% in our recent poll, most Americans said they want to see an effort 39:24.833 --> 39:29.333 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% at compromise. So first, raise your hand if you think it's more important, 39:30.966 --> 39:34.000 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% uh, to seek compromise, to to seek common ground. Raise your hand. 39:35.766 --> 39:38.700 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% That's a lot of hands. OK, and then how many of you think it's more 39:38.700 --> 39:41.800 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% important to stand your ground, stand on that principle that you 39:41.800 --> 39:46.800 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% believe in. OK. It depends on the principal. I see some I do see 39:48.500 --> 39:53.266 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% some hands. Sidney Lee, we've seen you in our videos tonight. You 39:54.733 --> 39:57.966 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% live here in Milwaukee. I talked to you last year. You worked for 39:57.966 --> 40:02.466 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% several liberal causes. You're a Democrat, um, do you think compromise 40:02.466 --> 40:07.466 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% is possible? I do think compromise is possible if both sides are 40:09.166 --> 40:12.166 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% coming from a genuine place of wanting to get to a common ground. 40:13.900 --> 40:16.466 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% You have to have both sides listening and Not just listening to be. 40:18.166 --> 40:21.566 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% Heard but listening to understand and listening to connect in a way 40:21.566 --> 40:25.333 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% that has empathy along with policy. I think if you don't have both 40:25.333 --> 40:28.300 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% of those things connecting, then you're never gonna get to a common 40:28.300 --> 40:31.233 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% ground. I feel like that's where a lot of our miscommunication comes 40:31.233 --> 40:36.000 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% from, but when you combine empathy and listening with the need to 40:36.000 --> 40:40.200 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% want to understand, then I think we can get somewhere. Gary Blueill, 40:42.066 --> 40:45.666 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% um, hello, you live in Waterford. You're a retired electrical engineer. 40:47.400 --> 40:49.500 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% You're a Republican, you're Planning to vote for Donald Trump. Our 40:49.500 --> 40:53.333 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% most recent poll found that more than 8 in 10 Americans 40:55.066 --> 40:57.500 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% say the country is so divided that they think there's a serious threat 40:57.500 --> 41:02.300 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% to the future of our democracy. Does that ring true to you? Is it 41:02.300 --> 41:05.200 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% something that worries you? It definitely worries me. I think we're 41:05.200 --> 41:08.966 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% very divided. People are digging in. I, we keep going with this. 41:10.633 --> 41:12.433 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% It's getting worse every year. It's lesser two evils that you're 41:12.433 --> 41:15.700 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% voting for. Something's got to change. And the root cause, I believe, 41:16.200 --> 41:16.333 align:left position:40% line:89% size:50% is the 41:18.066 --> 41:20.500 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% partisan primaries. Most people are elected in the primaries in which 41:20.500 --> 41:23.866 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% only half the people vote for that for that party. They're elected 41:23.866 --> 41:27.733 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% by their side, by their party, not necessarily by the general public. 41:29.500 --> 41:31.233 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% So they're elected by one side or the other and so it's either we 41:31.233 --> 41:33.266 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% elect the extreme right or extreme left, and then we put them in 41:33.266 --> 41:36.866 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% a room. OK, you two get along now. It's like, well, but they were. 41:38.666 --> 41:40.700 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Elected with the contests that they're not gonna give in to the other 41:40.700 --> 41:45.033 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% side. So we're asking for failure. Do you think that's what's happened 41:45.033 --> 41:48.466 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% and this of course Kamala Harris is a new nominee of the Democratic 41:48.466 --> 41:52.900 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% Party. She's not the incumbent, but do you think that's led to the 41:52.900 --> 41:56.366 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% candidates that we have Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, I believe 41:56.366 --> 41:59.500 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% so, not just in a in a presidential election, but all the elections 41:59.500 --> 42:02.400 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% in the Congress and all the Congress in the Senate and the House, 42:04.233 --> 42:07.000 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% people, if you're a moderate Republican or Democrat, you're eliminated 42:07.000 --> 42:11.833 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% in the primary election. So all we have in Congress are extreme left 42:11.833 --> 42:16.433 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% and extreme right, put them together. Get along that they're, they're. 42:18.233 --> 42:20.633 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% Elected saying they're not gonna get along. We're not going to cooperate, 42:22.400 --> 42:25.433 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% not, not, not compromise. Sitting right next to you, and I'm going 42:25.433 --> 42:29.333 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% to ask you to stand as Ren Botford, is that right? You are, you met 42:29.333 --> 42:33.466 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% here in Milwaukee live here in Milwaukee and I saw you raise your 42:33.466 --> 42:37.700 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% hand a minute ago. Uh, we need, we need to thank you, share the mic. 42:39.433 --> 42:41.200 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% Um, I saw you raise your hand when I asked who thinks we need to 42:41.200 --> 42:46.200 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% stand on principle? Why did you say that? I need to stand on principle 42:46.966 --> 42:47.700 align:left position:40% line:89% size:50% because 42:48.400 --> 42:49.933 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% If a person 42:51.833 --> 42:55.900 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% Hm, if a person looks at me, As 42:57.300 --> 43:01.900 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% I'm a gay person. I have a son, I have a wife. 43:03.900 --> 43:08.900 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% And I cannot compromise with somebody. Who says that my child would 43:10.633 --> 43:14.733 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% be better, not with my wife and I, but in a foster system or with 43:16.466 --> 43:20.900 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% um a mom and a dad. I, I cannot compromise with that person. I am 43:20.900 --> 43:25.100 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% a teacher. My wife is a nurse. Our son is perfect 43:27.200 --> 43:31.700 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% and And I cannot compromise with somebody who sees me as a human 43:31.700 --> 43:32.300 align:left position:40% line:89% size:50% being 43:33.400 --> 43:37.000 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% that that is better off dead. Then 43:38.766 --> 43:41.100 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% Alive and present and raising my family. And if you cannot look at 43:41.100 --> 43:44.200 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% me and see that I am a human being with worth, 43:45.933 --> 43:50.366 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% then I cannot compromise. Is anyone here want to respond to what 43:52.066 --> 43:55.666 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% Wren just said, I'm going to open it up. Is there anybody here who 43:57.400 --> 44:01.300 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% Yes. I'm gonna give you the microphone. So I understand where she's 44:03.000 --> 44:06.733 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% coming from in regards to. I understand where she's coming from, 44:08.433 --> 44:10.600 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% he's coming, I'm sorry, where they are coming from. But I think we're 44:10.600 --> 44:13.833 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% closer than than what you're talking about. Nobody's looking to kill 44:13.833 --> 44:18.100 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% you, or I shouldn't say nobody, I should say 99% of the people are 44:18.100 --> 44:22.000 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% not looking to kill you. 99% of the people don't care what you live 44:22.000 --> 44:26.100 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% your life like 99% of the people are happy that you have a child 44:26.100 --> 44:28.600 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% and you're raising a child in a good requirement and giving that 44:28.600 --> 44:32.566 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% child a good education and and and actually making him a privileged 44:32.566 --> 44:36.233 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% child in that he has a good relationship, a loving relationship that 44:36.233 --> 44:38.600 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% he's in. That's, that's the privilege that we really talk about. 44:40.066 --> 44:42.866 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% What I, what I disagree with is that I don't want to have a drag 44:42.866 --> 44:46.933 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% show at my kids' grade school. I don't want to have a drag show at 44:46.933 --> 44:51.000 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% the at the library and I don't want my children, my girls competing 44:51.000 --> 44:56.000 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% against someone that is changed over from a male to a female. I have 44:57.833 --> 44:59.866 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% a major problem with that. That's where I am not willing to compromise, 45:01.666 --> 45:03.800 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% but as all the rest of the stuff. You go on and do live your life, 45:05.466 --> 45:08.133 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% you be you, I'll be me. Right, I'm going to come back to Ren for 45:08.133 --> 45:13.133 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% a comment before we move on. I understand that 99% of this room don't 45:15.000 --> 45:18.633 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% want me dead, and the 1% of you who do, I guess we'll talk about 45:18.633 --> 45:19.700 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% that later, but 45:21.366 --> 45:25.733 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% Um. There are, there are policies being made that affect trans youth. 45:28.466 --> 45:32.533 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% I have not heard or read about any Drake schools and elementary schools. 45:33.266 --> 45:34.300 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% Um, I would love to 45:35.966 --> 45:39.200 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% to see evidence of that. Um, Drake shows in libraries like if I, 45:40.966 --> 45:43.966 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% I believe that if you don't want your child to see a drag queen in 45:43.966 --> 45:48.233 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% a library. Go, go to a different library. 45:49.933 --> 45:53.000 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% I, you have, you have every right to take your child to a different 45:53.000 --> 45:56.733 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% library that is not doing Drake shows the same way that if I were 45:56.733 --> 46:01.300 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% to take my child to a drag show, um, that's fine. I also think that. 46:03.166 --> 46:06.533 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% Um, There are a lot fewer. 46:08.333 --> 46:12.400 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Uh, There are a lot fewer incidents with uh drag queens being aggressors, 46:14.833 --> 46:15.433 align:left position:40% line:89% size:50% then 46:17.300 --> 46:22.300 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% Not drag queens being aggressors, um, and then with the trans people 46:23.966 --> 46:27.300 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% in sports, if you're transitioning um female, male to female, um. 46:29.133 --> 46:31.366 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% You have to make sure that you're under a certain level of testosterone 46:32.066 --> 46:33.266 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% to participate in 46:34.733 --> 46:38.800 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% uh those high level sports. It's a complicated subject. 46:40.800 --> 46:45.800 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% I want to turn to Ku Tiana Cargill. I believe that's you raising 46:47.466 --> 46:49.433 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% your hand back there, you are here in Milwaukee work in the tech 46:49.433 --> 46:53.200 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% industry, you're a Democrat, you too have told us you're worried 46:54.566 --> 46:56.700 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% about what happens if we don't come together. Explain. 46:58.400 --> 47:02.166 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% I think we have. Examples of. 47:03.833 --> 47:08.100 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% How our politicians can push communities to act out in violent ways 47:10.400 --> 47:14.200 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% that if a politician wouldn't have said something, it would not have 47:14.200 --> 47:19.000 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% occurred. I think January 6th is a great example I think of 47:20.766 --> 47:24.566 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% what our previous president said about. People eating cats and dogs 47:25.966 --> 47:29.300 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% and now. People being hurt or impacted by things that 47:30.966 --> 47:34.433 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% our previous presidents shared. I think I very clear implications 47:34.433 --> 47:37.900 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% of what could occur. And I think we are all worried about this right, 47:39.633 --> 47:42.966 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% we've already seen it, um, and I think we are all worried that the 47:42.966 --> 47:44.000 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% height of 47:45.733 --> 47:49.200 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% How far that could go. I want to quickly hear from Martin Moldenhauer 47:49.200 --> 47:52.333 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% sitting right next to you, aren't, you're a retired college professor. 47:54.233 --> 47:57.200 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% You told us you're conservative. How worried are you about the consequences 47:57.200 --> 48:02.200 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% here. Well, I have 10 grandchildren, Jim. I don't have 11, and I 48:03.833 --> 48:07.066 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% don't think I have another one on the way, but I'm concerned about 48:07.066 --> 48:12.066 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% those children in that generation. Uh, here in Milwaukee, I, I have 48:13.766 --> 48:17.566 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% some Milwaukee police friends and they've told me we're about 200 48:17.566 --> 48:22.566 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% police officers down from what we should be. So yes, I do see a. 48:23.333 --> 48:25.366 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% A future that could be 48:27.133 --> 48:31.100 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% poor, it could be related to the election. If, if people of faith, 48:32.900 --> 48:36.533 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% uh, were staunch to their beliefs, I think all of this would be less 48:36.533 --> 48:41.533 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% of a problem. Thank you. And I want to come now to Be Bauer. Where 48:43.300 --> 48:47.533 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% are you, Beth? You are right here. I knew you were in this vicinity, 48:48.833 --> 48:51.400 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% uh, retired businesswoman, live here in Mequan, 48:53.133 --> 48:55.233 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% uh, Wisconsin, you're a Democrat, you're involved with this bridging 48:55.233 --> 49:00.100 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% group across the country called Braver Angels. That means you must 49:00.100 --> 49:04.966 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% believe that a civil, more respectful kind of set of relationships 49:04.966 --> 49:09.966 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% is possible. What gives you that belief? Braver angels is the largest 49:11.733 --> 49:15.666 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% organization in the country that really works toward bringing both 49:15.666 --> 49:19.900 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% sides together. We get them in groups and we asked them, what do 49:19.900 --> 49:24.900 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% you think about an issue and they may have differences about issues, 49:26.266 --> 49:29.933 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% but you know what we do find? They have more In common 49:31.700 --> 49:35.700 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% Then they have differences. And that if we let the people stand up 49:37.333 --> 49:41.766 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% rather than our parties, we really can come together, but it's going 49:43.433 --> 49:47.266 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% to take all of us in this room to really stand up and say, let's, 49:49.000 --> 49:52.000 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% let's work on how we can find common ground because we really can. 49:53.466 --> 49:56.900 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% Beth Bauer, thank you. Listening to Beth, listening to all of you 49:56.900 --> 50:00.933 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% in every part of this room, um, I want to come back now finally to 50:00.933 --> 50:05.933 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% our panel, um, and ask you, do you come away more hopeful, Ted, uh, 50:07.600 --> 50:11.233 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% after hearing this, or, or more concerned about the direction we're 50:11.233 --> 50:16.233 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% headed. I, I came in the room hopeful. Um, I, I buy stock in America 50:16.233 --> 50:21.233 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% every day. I, I come from a tradition of optimism, the black church, 50:22.900 --> 50:25.233 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% if you are. Sort of raised in this tradition that you recognize that 50:25.233 --> 50:29.133 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% struggle is not the end of the story is as much as it may 50:30.966 --> 50:35.000 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% seem impossible to overcome. So, um, I, I am as hopeful in this country 50:36.733 --> 50:39.200 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% in this moment as I was when I walked in, nothing that's been said 50:39.200 --> 50:43.800 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% in this room has made me think maybe we've lost our way, except The 50:43.800 --> 50:48.266 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% choices we have when we go to on election day, not this particular 50:48.266 --> 50:51.500 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% election day, but election days period at the local, state and federal 50:51.500 --> 50:55.033 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% level, as has been mentioned, a lot of times the views that we have 50:55.033 --> 50:59.900 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% are not as polarized as the politics that we get. And so until we're 50:59.900 --> 51:03.300 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% able to perform a system that can more accurately capture the voice 51:03.300 --> 51:08.300 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% of Americans and then channel that energy into responsive policies 51:10.166 --> 51:13.000 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% to the public that incorporates different views and then finds compromise 51:13.000 --> 51:15.866 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% so we can at least fight another day and live peacefully while we 51:15.866 --> 51:19.666 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% do so until that happens, we're going to continue having these kinds 51:19.666 --> 51:22.966 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% of conversations because the end result of our participation in our 51:22.966 --> 51:26.900 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% democracy has not resulted in the kind of country that we want, but 51:26.900 --> 51:30.300 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% I'm not down on America. I'm not low on it because of of the very 51:30.300 --> 51:32.766 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% sentiments we've heard in the room. Cathy, what about you? Do you 51:32.766 --> 51:37.766 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% come away more hopeful or something else? Kind of like Ted. I'm similarly 51:39.233 --> 51:42.700 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% hopeful. I came in hopeful, but I have to say I, I sense in this 51:42.700 --> 51:45.566 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% room a lot of people. on their best behavior tonight 51:47.466 --> 51:51.200 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% right? and I think we all, I mean, folks said, agreed to come because 51:51.200 --> 51:55.333 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% they have strong opinions. And I think we're all going to go home 51:55.333 --> 51:59.400 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% and and talk in a little bit stronger language about what we feel. 52:00.933 --> 52:05.800 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% And so it it worries me. Right? Um, and yet it gives me hope 52:07.600 --> 52:12.200 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% because we can be in the same room and get along, and I think that's 52:13.866 --> 52:18.866 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% a really important quality like how to know how to share the same 52:20.533 --> 52:23.933 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% space with other people and listen to what they're saying and to 52:25.666 --> 52:29.300 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% be direct when you can about what what it is you're feeling, and 52:31.000 --> 52:34.266 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% I, um, we need it in our political realm. We need it in our Our leaders, 52:35.166 --> 52:36.100 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% as many of you have said that 52:37.800 --> 52:40.900 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% we can do it, right? We have to demand it from the people we're putting 52:40.900 --> 52:45.766 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% in the office. Charlie Sykes, what about you, more hopeful or I am 52:45.766 --> 52:50.766 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% not an optimist, um, but I am hopeful and optimism and hope are not 52:52.533 --> 52:55.233 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% the same thing, which we don't have time to get into. Um, it really 52:55.233 --> 52:58.833 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% does strike me, and I, I agree with Cathy, um, you know, this has 52:58.833 --> 53:02.400 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% been an interesting dialogue. Um, I'm not sure that it's real life. 53:04.066 --> 53:07.400 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% In, in the, in the sense that, you know, people are, are willing 53:07.400 --> 53:12.200 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% to engage in this particular format, but the thing that is absent, 53:13.933 --> 53:15.466 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% I think, in so much of our political dialogue and I was, I was struck 53:15.466 --> 53:19.133 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% by a comment that one of the one of the panelists earlier that if 53:19.133 --> 53:22.633 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% you have an assumption of goodwill. You can disagree about just about 53:22.633 --> 53:26.033 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% anything. So I think this is the key thing and what we lack in our 53:26.033 --> 53:29.233 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% politics, and one of the panelists also made it just an excellent 53:29.233 --> 53:32.600 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% point about the way our political system is structured with the, 53:34.300 --> 53:37.000 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% you know, hyper partisan gerrymandering. The reality is that in our 53:37.000 --> 53:41.966 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% political system, we don't have to have these cross ideological conversations. 53:43.666 --> 53:45.633 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% Liberals do not have to talk to conservatives. Conservatives do not 53:45.633 --> 53:49.700 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% have to talk to two liberals. You don't have that. So what happens 53:49.700 --> 53:52.833 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% is that you have these perpetual. outrage machines and those are 53:52.833 --> 53:56.833 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% the only things that drive the debate. So again, I'm not optimistic 53:56.833 --> 53:59.533 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% because I think we're going through some very, very difficult times, 54:00.366 --> 54:00.933 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% but we've been through 54:02.400 --> 54:05.466 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% way more difficult times. People remember this is a country that 54:05.466 --> 54:09.466 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% actually did have a civil war, but it also had a president who appealed 54:09.466 --> 54:13.466 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% to the better angels of our nature. We can be torn apart, but if 54:13.466 --> 54:17.866 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% we appeal to the better angels of our nature, we can heal, but if 54:17.866 --> 54:22.000 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% we have a president or political leaders who tell us that we need 54:22.000 --> 54:25.966 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% to fight with one another that we need to eliminate one another, 54:27.700 --> 54:31.300 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% then. That's going to be very difficult. Thank you so much, all three 54:32.000 --> 54:34.500 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% of you. Thank you. 54:51.833 --> 54:56.066 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% And better where the other is coming from and that through that, 54:57.966 --> 55:01.366 align:left position:10% line:77% size:80% find ways to resolve some of the biggest challenges we face as Americans. 55:03.133 --> 55:05.366 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% I want to thank our wonderful audience tonight for joining us here. 55:07.100 --> 55:09.333 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% You're all amazing. I want to again thank our panelists for your 55:09.333 --> 55:12.500 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% help, for your contributions. You've all been spectacular. 55:14.400 --> 55:16.600 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% We've got lots more to talk about, so we're going to keep this conversation 55:16.600 --> 55:20.500 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% going a bit online, so please go to PBS.org/newshour 55:22.233 --> 55:26.033 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% and to our YouTube page for more. For everyone at PBS News. I'm Judy 55:27.200 --> 55:30.200 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% Woodruff. Thank you and good night. 56:00.666 --> 56:04.566 align:left position:20% line:77% size:70% Funding for Crossroads, a conversation with America is provided by 56:04.566 --> 56:08.200 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% the following. And viewers like you. 56:08.833 --> 56:11.833 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% Thank you. 56:13.533 --> 56:15.100 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% You're watching PBS.