A long-standing Wisconsin reporter in the Milwaukee area, Meg Kissinger, was covering a campaign event featuring Michelle Obama giving a speech on behalf of Democrat Candidate Mary Burke.
Michelle is filling in for President Obama on the Wisconsin stump because President Obama is too toxic to be seen assisting a candidate.  POTUS would not help.
The goal for Dems in Wisconsin is to defeat Conservative Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker.
The White House officials and candidate reps told the reporters they were NOT permitted to talk to the crowd at the event:

“Never seen anything like it in 35 years as a reporter covering dozens of political events,” she added on Facebook. “White House and Burke aides telling reporters we were not allowed to talk to the people on the other side of the rope. But that’s what reporters do: we talk to people. In America, that’s our job.”