Milwaukee in international spotlight, thanks to the Republican National Convention

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Over the past couple of days, CBS 58 has reported on how Milwaukee is in the national spotlight, thanks to the Republican National Convention.

Around 50,000 people were expected to flood the city for the massive event -- including media from all over the world.

On Wednesday, July 17, CBS 58 spoke with some international news teams about their impressions of the Brew City.

“It’s a beautiful city and it’s surprised me that there is no traffic here," said Mohamed Bedewy, a journalist based out of Washington D.C. who works for Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.

For Anders Tvegard with Norwegian Broadcasting, what stood out was the culture.

"A lot of Norwegians know Milwaukee due to Miller and Harley Davidson," Tvegard said laughingly. "I love being here because of the river walk and you have great restaurants."

Pearl Matibe, a journalist for multiple news outlets in Africa and the European Union, said she's now experienced first-hand the "Midwest nice."

“I’ll tell you one key thing that seems to be consistent, the people are very, very welcoming," Matibe said.

So, with Milwaukee on the global stage, CBS 58 asked, what do people in the countries they cover, think about the politics here?

“I believe that Norwegians are more interested in U.S. elections than in our own elections," Tvegard said. “People are getting more interested in politics I guess because here is so fragmented and what is happening here could happen in our country in 10, 15 years.”

Matibe agreed, noting that Wisconsin is "going to be one of the states, when it comes to the election, that people are going to need to watch."

Logan Church, who works on-air at Television New Zealand, said whatever happens in the White House will ultimately affect the world.

“Every country’s sort of face is connected and at the heat of that is the United States of America," Church said. “I mean, American politics are unlike anywhere else in the world. People are super passionate, and they are super engaged, and I’ve not seen anything like it anywhere else.”