The Gaggle: An Arizona politics podcast

Arizona being called for Joe Biden early on election night 2020 became the start of a movement: the state was officially a swing state. Trump speaks to the state’s conservative roots. But continuous election denialism and disinterest in John McCain-style conservatism has some Arizonan Republicans questioning their support. When President Biden dropped out of the race this July and Harris took over as the Democratic nominee, polls showed a more competitive race in Arizona. Her stance on abortion and border security aligns with a newer set of voters coming to the polls. But independent voters are now one of the largest demographics for Arizona politics. So how are the two presidential candidates vying for Arizona’s vote? This week on The Gaggle, a politics podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl are joined by Republic reporter Stephanie Murray to discuss the state of play in the presidential race in Arizona. Later in the episode, Inside Politics' deputy editor Jacob Rubashkin joins the hosts to analyze what Arizona’s role is in the national picture. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This November, voters have the choice between Democratic nominee Ruben Gallego and Republican nominee Kari Lake. Neither are new to politics or campaigning, but both are new to the Senate race. Lake is bringing her national recognition from former President Donald Trump to the table, while Gallego could consolidate his party's support. But neither can call themselves a centrist, so what are less partisan diehards to do? This week on The Gaggle, a politics podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl break down where the race stands now and offer some insight into each candidate. Later in the episode, Cook Political Report editor Jessica Taylor joins the hosts to analyze how this race fits into the national picture. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It goes without saying: You must be a U.S. citizen to vote in U.S. elections. Even so, the idea of proving your citizenship has been hotly contested. Proponents say it's crucial to prevent non-citizens from voting in U.S. elections. Opponents say that this creates roadblocks that disenfranchise voters. In Arizona, the Legislature sought to reinstate a state law requiring residents to provide proof of citizenship to register to vote. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of the state Republicans' request on Aug. 22. The request is also backed by the Republican National Committee. However, the court turned down a request to reinstate the portion of the same law that would bar federal-only voters from participating in federal elections. So what does this all mean? In this episode of The Gaggle's monthly series, Election Dissection, hosts Mary Jo Pitzl and Sasha Hupka explain the law and explain who's effected by it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The general election is less than seven weeks away on Nov. 5, and the presidential race is gaining the most attention. However, for Arizonans, there are some really important races down your ballot that you don't want to skip over. In Maricopa County in particular, there are four races worth your attention: county recorder, sheriff, board of supervisors, and superintendent. In this episode of The Gaggle, hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl sit down with the Republic's county watchdog reporter, and co-host of The Gaggle's Election Dissection series, Sasha Hupka. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the first time in 10 years, Mesa has to choose a new mayor. Politically, Mesa is a study in contrasts. The current mayor, Republican John Giles, is known for his relatively moderate views and willingness to cross party lines, as he has again in the presidential election this year. But it’s also the political base of U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs, a MAGA conservative. Mayoral candidates Scott Smith and Mark Freeman will be on the ballot for voters in November in a runoff election after what started as a five-way race. This week on The Gaggle, a politics podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl are joined by reporter Maritza Dominguez, who covers Mesa and other East Valley cities. They compare the two candidates, get a sense of where Mesa is headed politically and hear about what current Mayor Giles thinks of his two possible replacements. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Slow job growth could be one reason why markets worldwide took a nosedive on Monday. At the beginning of August, the U.S. jobs report showed sluggish growth in July. However, the stock market has been stabilizing. And for those of us in Arizona, things are looking up. At least a little. Inflation is cooling - though that doesn't mean prices are going down, except for gas prices. Those have dropped almost 40 cents. For more than a year wages have outpaced inflation. So why do Arizonans, and most Americans, still feel a pinch in their pocketbooks? Groceries, housing, childcare, health care, everything feels so much more expensive. Why doesn't the good news feel like it's good? In this episode of The Gaggle, hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl sat down with Jared Bernstein, the chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers, on Friday, August 2, to discuss the state of the U.S. economy, how it's affecting Arizonans, what special challenges are state is facing, and what the Biden Administration is trying to do about. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Voters across Arizona headed to the polls Tuesday to cast their vote in the 2024 primary election. A low voter turnout resulted in few complications on primary election day. There were no noteworthy technology glitches or long lines deferring voters from participating. But that doesn't mean that everything will be smooth sailing on the big day in November. This week on The Gaggle, a politics podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl are joined by reporters from the Republic's politics team to dissect who the big winners were, how election day went, and what that could mean for November. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The election process is being carefully watched. From security cameras at county offices to candidates monitoring polling places, there are eyes and ears on alert to ensure the safety of the voting process. But another group plays a key role in ensuring the integrity of the vote: election observers. With less than a week before the 2024 primary election in Arizona, these observers are already at work. They're watching as early ballots are being processed at county election offices. These volunteers are often overlooked on election day, but they are an important part of the voting process. This week on Election Dissection, an elections series of The Gaggle podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, hosts Mary Jo Pitzl and Sasha Hupka talk with some people who watch democracy in process. Jeff and Robin Greeson have been observers with the Maricopa County Democratic Party since 2018. They tell Election Dissection how the job really works and lessons they've learned over the past few years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Republican National Convention is underway in Milwaukee, Wisconsin this week, and Donald Trump is the GOP's official pick for president. But Trump's bombastic attitude and brash words aren't new to American politics. Sixty years ago, another grandiloquent and explicitly extreme presidential candidate appeared on the scene: Barry M. Goldwater. For longtime Arizonans and political historians, the name Goldwater is synonymous with "extremism" and the man who voted against the 1964 Civil Rights Act. For conservatives, he was a leader they could rally behind during a time of immense change. Just who was Goldwater and was he really as extreme as history says he is? In this episode, we look back at that historic campaign between Goldwater and Lindon B. Johnson. Want to learn more about Arizona's unique brand of extremism? Subscribe to Rediscovering. Season 4 "The Roots of Radicalism" drops Monday, July 22. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Saturday, former President Donald Trump was shot at during his campaign stop in Butler, Pennsylvania. Three people were injured including the presidential nominee, who suffered an injury to his ear as a bullet skimmed the side of his head. One man died while shielding his family from the gunshots. The assassination attempt is still under investigation, but the gunman has been identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, just outside of Pittsburgh. Meanwhile, the Republican National Convention starts today in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Along with his newly announced running mate J.D. Vance, the Senator from Ohio, delegates voted today that Trump will lead the GOP on the 2024 Presidential ballot. On this bonus episode of The Gaggle, a politics podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl are joined by political consultants from both sides of the aisle to examine the potential political fallout from the shooting at Trump’s rally, and how it could affect the November general election. Joining the show are Constantin Querard, a GOP political consultant and the founder and president of Grassroots Partners, a consulting and public affairs firm, and Alfredo Gutierrez, former state senator and a longtime force in Arizona Democratic politics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At the end of July, Arizonans will vote in the primary election to say who will represent them for the Republican and Democratic parties. But the work is already underway on the ballot for the November general election. A legislative panel signed off on the language that describes what ballot propositions would do, and last week, supporters of three citizen initiatives brought in petitions with a combined 1.8 million voter signatures. Arizonans decided that abortion access, a minimum wage increase and the opportunity to create open primaries were topics they wanted to vote on in November. All three are currently under review to ensure there were enough valid signatures to make the ballot in November. This week on The Gaggle, a politics podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, host Mary Jo Pitzl is joined by state politics reporters Stacey Barchenger and Ray Stern to discuss the citizen initiatives that collected enough signatures and the likelihood you'll see them on the November ballot. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This year, Americans will choose their next president and many other lawmakers, and decide which initiatives to enshrine in local law. It's a practice made possible by rebels of the British Crown more than two centuries ago. Since then, America has evolved dramatically, and the stage is set for history to be made once more this November. However, instead of looking ahead, we are looking back at the start of it all. On July 4, 1776, 56 men signed a document declaring 13 British colonies as one United States of America. By this charter, they formed a new country - one free from a distant king's rule. The Declaration of Independence showcased the rights and beliefs of the new country. It was a written record of what America would stand for and was signed by the nation’s founding fathers. To honor the country’s 248th birthday, The Gaggle presents a reading of the Declaration of Independence. Here to read the country’s founding document are reporters and other staff members at The Arizona Republic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ballots for the July 30 primary election will soon be arriving in voters' mailboxes. In Maricopa County, a postal worker will drop off a distinctive, light yellow oversized envelope. Some counties will get light green. Others will get light blue. But they will each have been filled right here in the Valley. These ballots get tailor-made for each voter, down to a personalized QR code to ensure that your vote is connected with your county and your voter ID. It will have the partisan races that pertain to where you live, from the Senate down to your local school board. Creating these ballots is a detailed process that starts months in advance of the primary. Thousands of pounds of paper and gallons of ink are used to ensure you have the opportunity to voice your opinion. And for about half of the country, all of it gets done in Phoenix, Arizona. This week on Election Dissection, an elections series of The Gaggle podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, hosts Mary Jo Pitzl and Sasha Hupka take a field trip to Runbeck Election Services to get an upfront look at what it takes to build a ballot. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On June 13, the U.S. Department of Justice released a long-anticipated report on its investigation into the city of Phoenix and its Police Department. Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division laid out the results of the 126-page report after a nearly three-year investigation. Thus far, the reaction from the majority of Phoenix City Council has been fairly muted. Police union officials categorically denied those allegations. In this episode of The Gaggle, hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl sit down with The Republic's criminal justice reporter Miguel Torres and Phoenix reporter Taylor Seely to dig further into the report and what the political reaction has been so far. Read the full story on the DOJ report on The Arizona Republic at azcentral.com. Episode transcript can be found here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At least $2.3 billion has been milked from Arizona taxpayers since 2019 in a shocking fake rehab program that mainly targeted Indigenous communities. Scammers posing as legitimate workers or counselors for sober living communities in Phoenix would patrol areas where Native Americans would gather to buy and consume alcohol. They would then pick up people who were intoxicated on drugs or alcohol and take them to Phoenix. Once there they'd have them sign up for the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, or AHCCS. Once signed up, the victims would have their AHCCS accounts billed for alleged mental health treatment or addiction rehabilitation. But none of these treatments were ever provided. But the fraud cut deeper than just loss of money. Victims found themselves stranded in the Valley, blackmailed and with no real support. Some even lost their lives in these fake sober living homes. "For years, these providers have allegedly defrauded the state of millions of dollars while creating a large-scale humanitarian crisis that disproportionately affects Arizona’s tribal communities," Gov. Katie Hobbs said at a press meeting. "This is tragic," Attorney General Kris Mayes added. "What has happened is tragic and outrageous. And, and I’ll just speak for myself as the attorney general of this state, I believe the state of Arizona owes our tribal nations an apology. In this episode of The Gaggle, host Mary Jo Pitzl sits down with the reporters who covered the story: Stephanie Innes, Arlyssa Becenti, and Richard Ruelas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Judges are getting more scrutiny these days, from the U.S. Supreme Court to Arizona’s top justices to local jurists. U.S. Supreme Court Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas have been the topic of numerous news stories that raise ethical questions about the justices' actions as members of the high court. In southeastern Arizona, Cochise County Judge John Kelliher Jr. has drawn outsize attention for his conduct: Four formal complaints about this courtroom demeanor in two years. What does all of this mean for the public confidence in the judicial system? Are we reaching a tipping point of lack of confidence more broadly? Or is this just all par for the course in a time of political teeth-gnashing? In this episode of the Gaggle, we prob those questions and more. Hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl sit down first with Arizona Republic reporter Sarah Lapidus. She has followed Kelliher’s track record with the Judicial Conduct Commission and explains why he continues to draw complaints that lead to high-profile reprimands. Then, Keith Swisher, a professor of legal ethics at the University of Arizona James E. Rogers School of Law, shares his views on what is going on at this moment in time and how the judicial process is perceived. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Arizona is just two months away from the July primary. Voters will decide who represents them on the November ballot for the Republican and Democratic parties. But the results of that election will require a little bit of patience. All 15 Arizona counties are looking for more poll workers to volunteer before the primary as millions of Arizonans are expected to vote. The state's largest counties say recruiting is going smoothly, but the sweltering heat, summer vacations and the popularity of a presidential election is expected to bring in more volunteers in November. In February, the Legislature passed a law that would guarantee the state's new recount margin wouldn't impact the deadlines. Because of this, the primary election was moved from its usual spot in August to July 30 for the first time this year. An early election does mean earlier results, but not necessarily fast results. The new election calendar comes with a provision that mandates poll workers in every county to hand count the number of ballots turned in on Election Day. This is not a hand count of results, but to double-check the number of early ballot envelopes dropped off by voters. This week on Election Dissection, an elections series of The Gaggle podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, hosts Mary Jo Pitzl and Sasha Hupka go through the themes heading into the July primary and what you need to know before heading to the polls. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s the home stretch of the legislative session. Maybe. Lawmakers are running out of bills to vote on, and budget talks are slogging along behind closed doors. The House is in the midst of a two-week break. But there is one exception to this very unhurried schedule: Ballot referrals. These are proposed laws that go directly to the voters, avoiding the governor and her veto stamp. Others are amendments to the state Constitution, which require a vote of the people. This month, two new referrals popped up like blooms on a saguaro cactus. Why are these measures showing up months into the legislative session? In this episode of The Gaggle, host Mary Jo Pitzl is joined by Paul Bentz, pollster for the political consulting firm HighGround. Together they discuss what might find its way onto the ballot this year and why Arizonans could expect a longer-than-normal ballot. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 2024 presidential race, Arizona’s congressional races and potentially several abortion-related measures command a lot of attention this election year. But there’s another set of really important races that are also on the ballot: the Legislature. Republicans have two-seat majorities in both the Arizona House and Senate. That means if Democrats could make a net gain of even one seat in either chamber, Arizona would have a divided government that mirrors the house and senate in washington. And if they pick up control in both chambers, well, that would be the first time since the 1960s, so we can only wonder what that might be like in this long-red state. In this episode of The Gaggle, hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl sit down with The Republic's Ray Stern to discuss where Democrats have to win if they really intend to flip control of the Legislature and who is trying to do it. But first, in several key districts, we have to get through some competitive primary races. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Republicans have always had the numerical advantage in Arizona. A little more than a third of the state is registered with the GOP. But Republicans have slowly yet steadily lost ground to Democrats in this state. Why is that? It's more than just changing demographics. In this episode of The Gaggle, hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl sit down with Samara Klar, a political science professor at the University of Arizona to tease apart Arizona voter's preferences. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a U.S. Senate race often dominated by Republican front runner Kari Lake, it’s easy to forget that Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb is running for the GOP nomination, too. He’s got a low-key demeanor and his personal style doesn’t seem to linger the way Lake’s combative politics does. When Lake entered the Senate race in November with former President Donald Trump’s prominent endorsement, many people thought the nominating race was over. But Lamb has stuck around. In this episode of The Gaggle, Sheriff Lamb shares his views in an exclusive interview on the 1864 abortion law, why he wouldn’t have voted for Senator Kyrsten Sinema’s bipartisan border security bill and ultimately why he wants your vote on the July 30 primary. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Wednesday, April 24th, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes shared a video on X, formerly Twitter, announcing that 11 Arizona Republicans and seven others have been charged for falsely certifying that Donald Trump won the state in 2020. This is despite of the fact that Arizonans narrowly favored Joe Biden. While the names of those charged have yet to be officially revealed, clues in the the 58 page indictment make it clear that the architects of Trump's national campaign to steal the election are also facing charges in Arizona. Some of those individuals appear to be Trump lawyers Rudy Giuliani and John Eastman, former chief of staff Mark Meadows, lawyers Jenna Ellis and Christina Bobb, and Trump advisers Boris Epshteyn and Michael Roman. Trump, who is asking voters to return him to the White House this year, is “unindicted coconspirator 1,” according to the indictment. In this special episode of The Gaggle, state politics reporters Mary Jo Pitzl and Stacey Barchenger sit down at The Republic's capitol bureau to hash out what we know from the indictment and what may happen next. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Artificial intelligence is a booming business. With a few dollars anyone can create a deep faked voice online. ChatGPT and other AI writing programs can take a student essay and polish it to a Ph.D. level. Manipulated videos can show an official saying or doing something outrageous -- and fake. With such powerful technology at everyone's fingertips the question arises: how can we keep our election systems safe from bad actors using AI? In this episode, our election dissectors, Mary Jo Pitzl and Sasha Hupka, speak with Don Palmer, the vice chair of the Election Assistance Commission. This is a bipartisan commission that was created by the Help America Vote Act of 2002, and it is tasked with certifying voting systems across the country. It also supports state and local election officials in their efforts to ensure accessible, accurate and secure elections. Palmer explains both the pros and cons of AI and why it's important to set parameters on how it can be used. You will also hear an example of deep faked voices of our hosts. Listen closely and see if you can tell the AI from the real voices. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In her second year, Gov. Katie Hobbs has used her veto stamp much less than her first year. By this time last year, the Democratic governor had denied a record-breaking 63 bills presented by the GOP-dominated Legislature. This year, Hobbs is at 42 vetoes. Her second red stamp came across House Bill 2570, or the Arizona Starter Homes Act. Introduced by Rep. Leo Biasiucci, R-Lake Havasu City, it was intended to make homebuilding more efficient and thus more affordable. But Hobbs said the bill couldn’t guarantee affordable home prices. She argued it went too far because it cut much of the local control cities have over development. This week on The Gaggle, a politics podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, host Mary Jo Pitzl is joined by housing expert Mark Stapp, the Fred E Taylor professor of real estate at the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University. He says the solution is more complicated than it seems. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Tuesday, April 9, the Arizona state Supreme Court ruled to uphold near total-ban on abortions dating back to 1864. After the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, the exact parameters for Arizona went into question. Just months before, then-Governor Republican Doug Ducey signed a law that limited abortions to the first 15 weeks of pregnancy. In 1973, when Roe v. Wade went into effect nationally, Arizona had an abortion law dating back to its territorial days. So the question became: which ruling would be the law of the land in Arizona? At the time, the state Court of Appeals overruled and instated the 15-week law. This week, the Arizona Supreme Court reversed this decision, allowing the 19th century law to take affect. Today on The Gaggle, hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl dissect Arizona's new, but ancient, abortion law and how it will impact the state politically and legally. First, state politics reporter Stacey Barchenger joins the podcast to break down why the justices allowed at 160-year law to stand and who will benefit politically from the decision. Later, University of Richmond law professor Carl Tobias joins The Gaggle to investigate the legal fallout from the court's decision. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Imagine there is a ballot with several candidates seeking the same seat. And you like most of them. But you can only pick one because that’s what the rules require. When that happens, the vote in a multi-candidate race is split – and the outcome often is the candidate you least like wins. This is called vote splitting, a phenomenon that happens when a race attracts at least three candidates who have similar positions or maybe similar demographics. This makes it attractive for a contrasting candidate to benefit from the divided vote and prevail. It’s happened time and again across the nation and here in Arizona. Think Paul Gosar. He emerged from an eight-candidate field in 2010 to win the GOP primary in a heavily Republican district. It cemented his standing as an incumbent and he hasn’t lost since. There’s a move afoot to stop vote splitting by introducing “approval voting,” a system where voters could vote for all of the candidates in a given race who appeal to them. And they could do that without ranking them. This is something the Center for Election Science, a national, nonpartisan nonprofit focused on voting reform, is pushing. In this episode of The Gaggle, Mary Jo Pitzl examines the effect of vote-splitting, the potential issues it can cause, and some of the unintended consequences of the practice. You'll also hear about the related practice of ticket splitting, which factored prominently played a big role in the 2022 general election. Joining Pitzl via Zoom are Nina Taylor, the organization’s CEO, and Chris Raleigh, director of advocacy and communication and a specialist in campaign management. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trust in the election system in Arizona is eroding. Some may even say it's broken all together. One side says the vulnerability of voting machines and delay in election results is what makes the system distrustful. This was most obvious during the Maricopa County recount of the 2020 ballots that lasted months. The other side says it's the new found distrust in the system that makes it broken. But either way a question remains among most American, and specifically Arizonan, voters: how can we make elections better? This question fuels the work of David Becker. He is a co-founder of the Center for Election Innovation and Research and he believes that technology and reliance on data can help us toward improving elections. He also helped launch the Election Official Legal Defense Network, which connections election officials with free legal advice. This week on Election Dissection, an elections series of The Gaggle podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, hosts Mary Jo Pitzl and Sasha Hupka sit down with Becker to discuss why he's confident in the safety of our elections systems, how America ended up in this position and why he's keeping an eye on those who oppose Donald Trump come next January. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rents in Arizona have jumped significantly since the pandemic. In 2021, metro Phoenix made national headlines when rents skyrocketed by 30%. An investigation by the Arizona Attorney General's office reveals that a group of nine landlord companies have been using a software that allows them to see what other properties are charging and thereby "fix" their rental prices to match. Attorney General Kris Mayes is not having it and is seeking restitution for those affected. But that could take years. What about renters who need help now? In this episode of The Gaggle, producer Amanda Luberto sits down with Stacey Barchenger, our state politics reporter, and Catherine Reagor who covers real estate issues. They hash out what could happen and what resources renters have access to right now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

U.S. Rep. Debbie Lesko has had enough of Washington, D.C. Lesko has represented the northwest Valley for six years after winning a special election to fill the spot for Trent Franks, who stepped down after allegations of sexual harassment involving his female staffers. Lesko has been a strong supporter of former President Donald Trump, voting against his impeachment and voting in Congress to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. But when former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy was being pushed out of office in a Republican-led coup, Lesko decided that she was done with Capitol Hill. This week on The Gaggle, a politics podcast by the Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, host Ron Hansen is joined by Laura Gersony to dive into the crowded Congressional District 8 race to replace her. The Republic's two national politics reporters dissect the approach and positions of the candidates eyeing the open seat and discuss who has a chance of winning the primary in August. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The battle over copper mining at Oak Flat, an area sacred to Native tribes, has been waged for two decades. On March 1, the dispute marked a significant milestone: The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals narrowly rejected the argument from the grassroots group Apache Stronghold that mining activity would destroy First Amendment religious rites observed by Native tribes. The court voted 6-5 to uphold a lower court’s denial of a preliminary injunction that sought to halt the transfer of federal land to Resolution Copper for the mining project. The suit, Apache Stronghold v. United States, was filed in January 2021 in federal district court. After losing that ruling, the Native rights group took the case to the appeals court, where a three-judge panel rejected Apache Stronghold's assertion that the mine would pose a substantial burden to their First Amendment religious practice rights. Oak Flat, located just shy of 70 miles east of Phoenix, is regarded as one of the most sacred sites to the Apache people. It has been at the center of debate on religious protections. Apache Stronghold, with the backing of the nation's largest religious freedom law firm, Becket Law, is resolute in its commitment to fight for the religious site's protection. However, with this narrow ruling – a victory for Resolution Copper – the question now is: what’s next for the Apache people? In this episode of The Gaggle, Mary Jo Pitzl and Kaely Monahan sit down with Indigenous Affairs Reporter, Debra Krol, to find out what's next for the sacred site. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Suspicions about Arizona's voting returns have been growing for several years. It hit its peak in 2020, in the immediate aftermath of Joe Biden's narrow win over Donald Trump in this swing state. In response, the Arizona state Senate launched what it called an audit of all Maricopa County ballots cast in November 2020. In reality, the organizer couldn't even vouch for the hand count of 1 million ballots. This recount stirred not only conspiracy theories, but also worries from citizens that their ballots were not being counted. Attention switched to the early voting system, which allows people to vote by mail, in the 2022 election. Kari Lake, who lost the governor's race, contends that she did not win because of ballot tampering and is still arguing that point in court, even as she runs for U.S. Senate. As Arizonans head into the newest presidential election, debate continues on the best way to vote: drop off boxes, vote centers, in-person or by mail. These options are the subject of legislation and litigation leading up to the big day in November. This week on Election Dissection, an elections series of The Gaggle podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, hosts Mary Jo Pitzl and Sasha Hupka examine different voting practices, their origins and their critiques. County recorders for Maricopa and Yavapai, Stephen Richer and Michelle Burchill, discuss how they're keeping constituents reassured this election year. Rep. Rachel Jones, R-Tucson, explains why she’s sponsoring a ballot referral to end vote centers. You'll also hear opinions on polling places from Rep. Jake Hoffman, R-Queen Creek, Sen. Bennett, R-Prescott, and Rep. Michael Carbone, R-Buckeye. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Everyone knows 2024 is an election year but amid the chatter of who will be president of the United States is a wide selection of smaller, important local Arizona elections. Residents in the small town of Litchfield Park will have the opportunity to cast their vote to be an official charter city. It's the first city in the Valley to do so in 40 years and will grant them independence from the state on things like when their elections are held and term limits on elected officials. Tempe voters have the chance to elect who will sit on their city council. They will also vote on a proposition that will impact Tempe's ability to grow. In this episode, producers Amanda Luberto and Kaely Monahan are joined by Republic reporters to discuss not only who is running and what is on the ballot, but why voters should turn out for these hyper-local elections. We’ll also hear about one state senator who is trying to make changes to how cities can run their elections. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The clock is ticking for Sen. Kyrsten Sinema to make a decision on running again for her seat. The collapse of her bipartisan border security bill unceremoniously ended her hopes of adding a deal on perhaps the most difficult issue in congressional politics to her legislative scorecard. Since quitting the Democratic Party in December 2022, Sinema’s fundraising has plummeted and she is about 20 percentage points behind her challengers in most of the polling on the race. Democratic frontrunner, Ruben Gallego, and Republican front runner, Kari Lake, both have outraised Sinema, I-Ariz., of late. Sinema ended 2023 with her worst fundraising quarter in three years — and she spent more than she brought in. All of which begs the question, does Sinema have a path to reelection, and what does that mean for the race if she’s stepping out of politics? In this episode of The Gaggle, an Arizona politics podcast, hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl are joined by Jessica Taylor of the Cook Political Report to look at how the Arizona senate race is stacking up and if there are any hints that Sinema might run for re-election. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The U.S. has newly-released an $118 billion national security bill. It includes approximately $20 billion for border provisions, including $650 million for the border wall and funding for asylum judges, expanded detention capacity and other programs. In a interview with CBS' Face the Nation, Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema says that the deal will address a multitude of issues including the record surge of migrants. But Republicans in both the Senate and the House are stirring against the proposal, with House Speaker Mike Johnson saying it's "dead on arrival." In this episode of The Gaggle, hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl sit down with The Republic's immigration and border reporter, Rafael Carranza to hash out what is in the bill and whether or not it's truly "dead on arrival." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A busy election year is here. It starts with the March 19 presidential preference election, followed by the Aug. 6 primary, and then the Big One: the Nov. 7 presidential election. On that day, voters all over the country will be ponying up to the polls to fill in the bubble of the candidates they want most. This year, the presidency is on the line. But first comes the preference election. This election, also referred to as the primaries, isn't the same date in every state. Republican voters in New Hampshire and Iowa have already decided that former President Donald Trump is their pick to represent their party. Democrats in Iowa vote on March 5. In Arizona, only Democrats and Republicans can vote on Tuesday, March 19 for which candidate they want to put forward into the big fight come November. Independent voters are out of luck for the preference election. But how does all of this work? Who gets a say and why does it matter? This week on The Gaggle, a politics podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, hosts Mary Jo Pitzl and Sasha Hupka kick off a new series called Elections Dissection. Each month this year, they'll be breaking down a new elections process so you understand how voting in Arizona works. In this episode, Mary Jo and Sasha talk with the man who brought preference elections to Arizona, a politician whose career was defined by a botched preference election, and an active county recorder who is working to avoid confusion at the polls. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The "Gilbert Goons" have made headlines here in Arizona and nationwide. Young men from affluent families have been indiscriminately targeting others for violent beatings. One such attack ended in the death of 16-year-old Preston Lord. Amid the many questions swirling around this case is one of particular relevance to you, our Gaggle listeners. What is the political fallout? Producers Kaely Monahan and Amanda Luberto sat down with the team that broke the story: investigative reporter Robert Anglen and criminal justice reporter Elena Santa Cruz. Both are journalists in our newsroom. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2024 is a pivotal year for Arizona. Not only is it a presidential election year, but the state is entering its second year with a divided government. Gov. Katie Hobbs has lined out her agenda for this year in her recent State of the State. Speaker of the House, Ben Toma R-Glendale, has his own thoughts on how Arizona's 2024 should go. He currently presides over a narrowly divided chamber at the Phoenix capitol, and will help juggle the state's policy agenda. The Republican from Glendale arrived at the Legislature in 2017 and is running for the West Valley congressional seat being vacated by Republican Debbie Lesko, who is retiring from Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gov. Katie Hobbs officially started the new legislative session this week with her second State of the State address. She focused on areas where she's hopeful for bipartisanship: housing, the border and the state's water supply. This year, Republican lawmakers mostly listened in silence. One senator, Anthony Kern, once again turned his back on Hobbs, literally, as he had in 2023. Despite the turbulence and at a time when the state is facing a budget shortfall, this year’s speech had moments suggesting potential bipartisan cooperation. Kern’s protest was the only one of its kind this year, which was also an improvement over last year. This week on The Gaggle, a politics podcast by the Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl are joined by Democratic political strategist Tony Cani and Kirk Adams, former chief of staff to previous Gov. Doug Ducey. Together they break down Hobbs' Jan. 8 State of the State address to explore whether her strategic roadmap to bipartisanship is achievable and her goals for 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's the beginning of a big year in Arizona politics. Next week, Gov. Katie Hobbs will give her second "state of the state" address, reviewing her first year in office and her goals for the year ahead. This could set the tone for state politics in 2024. Nationally, Arizona is expected to hold the political spotlight as one of a handful of swing states on the electoral map. President Joe Biden’s narrowest victory in 2020 came in Arizona. Democrats are looking to ride the blue wave and Republicans are looking to win back a state they had carried for years. Arizona's U.S. Senate race could offer a rare three-way contest for the seat held by independent incumbent Kyrsten Sinema. That race already includes Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego and Republican headliner Kari Lake. And the state could play a key role in the battle for control of the U.S. House of Representatives, with two seats currently held by the GOP on Democrats’ radar. Both chambers in the state Legislature are narrowly divided, and Arizona voters likely will weigh a ballot measure to determine whether to enshrine abortion rights in the state’s constitution. While you're writing down your New Year's resolutions, we're writing down a long to-do list. This week on The Gaggle, a politics podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl are joined by other Republic reporters to give listeners a peek at our list. You'll hear from state politics reporter Stacey Barchenger, investigative reporter Robert Anglen and Maricopa County reporter Sasha Hupka, among others. Together, they discuss what they're keeping an eye on for 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Another year in Arizona politics has come and nearly gone. What might be remarkable elsewhere is almost par for the course in the Grand Canyon State. The year started with Arizona's first Democratic governor in more than a decade being sworn in on the ninth floor of the executive tower just before a legislative session with Republican majorities in both houses. Gov. Katie Hobbs went on to veto more bills than any other governor in state history. Election denialism remained a theme. Kari Lake made statements and legal challenges over the year insisting the 2022 election for governor had been corrupted. More than 1,400 text messages between Cyber Ninjas' CEO Doug Logan and others were revealed by Republic reporters using a simple software trick, uncovering more information about the "audit" of Maricopa County ballots in the 2020 presidential election. Free speech battles raged on over college campuses, and a community near Scottsdale lost, then found, access to water. This week on The Gaggle, a politics podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl are joined by other Republic reporters, many of them Gaggle regulars, to break down the year 2023 in politics. You'll hear from state politics reporter Stacey Barchenger, investigative reporter Robert Anglen, Maricopa County reporter Sasha Hupka and national politics reporter Ryan Randazzo. Note: This episode was recorded before the death of former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. While O'Connor is not discussed in this episode, The Gaggle has multiple exclusive interviews on her life. Listen wherever you get podcasts or by clicking here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The ranch girl from Duncan, Arizona who grew up to be the first woman to sit on the U.S. Supreme Court, passed away on December 1st, 2023. On December 18th, she entered the highest court in the land one last time. Thousands of Americans came to pay their respects. Today we hear from her younger brother, Alan Day, about what it was like growing up with the ranch girl who would be come a Supreme Court justice. National politics reporter and Gaggle host Ron Hansen connected with Alan Day remotely in the spring of 2022. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, the first woman to sit on the U.S. Supreme Court was laid to rest this week. As the country said its final farewells to Arizona ranch girl, we here on The Gaggle have been honoring her life and legacy through a series of interviews with those who knew her. Welcome to the third episode of The Gaggle’s mini series on Sandra Day O’Connor. Thus far we have heard from O’Connor’s biographer and a historian. Today we turn to someone who was closer to the justice: Ruth McGregor. A former chief justice Arizona Supreme Court, McGregor shared that she’s known Sandra Day O’Connor since the mid 1970s. First they worked solely as associates in the same field, but a friendship grew that lasted a life time. McGregor sat down in the Gaggle studios in April 2022. Former Gaggle host, Yvonne Wingett Sanchez led the interview. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, the country has said its final goodbyes to the first woman to ever sit on the U.S. Supreme Court. To mark Sandra Day O'Connor's historical life, The Gaggle is sharing in-depth interviews with those that knew her. Yesterday we heard from her biographer, Evan Thomas. Today, we’ll hear from Linda Hirshman, a lawyer, cultural historian, and author of many books – including the 2016 “Sisters in Law: How Sandra Day O’Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg Went to the Supreme Court and Changed the World.” Hirshman sat down in the Gaggle studios in spring 2022 with then Gaggle host Yvonne Wingett Sanchez. For Hirshman, O’Connor is something of a complicated figure. In her words, O’Connor opened the door for extreme conservatism to enter the highest court in the land. At the same time, O’Connor was a defender of moderation, and believed strongly in nonpartisanship when it came to interpreting the law. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sen. Mitzi Epstein, D-Tempe, spent years as a computer systems analyst before turning to a career in politics. Finding a lack of support and finances for her children's education inspired her to change paths. She now holds a leadership position in the Arizona Senate. Epstein is no stranger to the Arizona Legislature: Although this is her first Senate term, she served three terms in the House of Representatives. She represents a district that increasingly has trended Democratic, covering Ahwatukee Foothills, much of southern Tempe and parts of Chandler. In the 30-member Senate, Epstein leads a caucus of 14 Democrats. This week on The Gaggle, a politics podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, Epstein joins hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl to discuss the state's budget and political balance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Justice Sandra Day O'Connor has been laid to rest on December 19, 2023. In this special mini series we to bring you the interviews of those who knew her conducted by our host Ron Hansen, as well as former host and Republic reporter Yvonne Wingett Sanchez. We begin with O’Connor’s biographer Evan Thomas. He is a historian and journalist, and penned "First: Sandra Day O'Connor." Speaking from his home in Washington D.C., Thomas shared his reflections on O’Connor with Ron Hansen and Yvonne Wingett Sanchez – both of whom you’ll hear in this interview. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Republican Warren Petersen leads an Arizona state Senate that has been aggressive in pursuing its policy goals and, in many cases, defying Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs. A third-generation resident of Gilbert, Arizona, Petersen was first elected to the Legislature in 2012 and has served in both the House, where he was the majority leader, and now in the Senate. As Senate president, Petersen along with his Republican counterparts in the House, brokered a state budget deal with Gov. Hobbs, as well as a compromise agreement on a regional transportation plan that gave everyone some claim to victory. In this episode of The Gaggle, a politics podcast by the Arizona Republic, Senator Petersen sits down with hosts Mary Jo Pitzl and Ron Hansen to discuss working in the rare state of divided government in Arizona and what lies ahead in 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Americans from President Joe Biden on down have paid tribute to the late Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor since her passing on December 1, 2023. Most of the tributes and memories have understandably focused on her time on the court. She was historic, after all, as the first woman to sit on the Supreme Court. But she was fiercely proud of her roots as an Arizona ranch girl. In fact, she wrote a book about that period of her life with her brother, Alan Day. In this episode of The Gaggle we hear from Alan Day as he takes us to the family ranch, Lazy B. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sandra Day O’Connor, the Arizona ranch girl who was a fixture in Arizona’s statehouse and judiciary before becoming the first woman to sit on the U.S. Supreme Court, died Friday December 1, 2023 of complications related to advanced dementia and a respiratory illness. She was 93. In this bonus episode of The Gaggle, Ron Hansen shares her life story and her impact on Arizona and US politics. He is joined by former justice of the Arizona Supreme Court Ruth McGregor, her brother Alan Day, her biographer Evan Thomas, and more. The Gaggle looks back on the life and legacy of first woman Supreme Court justice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mesa is one of the fastest growing cities in Arizona. The East Valley is now just shy of half a million residents and has been a magnet for growth. For the the last decade, this boom has been shepherded by Mayor John Giles. He chalks up Mesa's success to several factors including smart investments in the city's properties. This in turn has paved the way for many of the world's biggest companies – Amazon, Apple, Google – to laid down roots here. As Giles begins to wrap up his tenure as mayor of the Valley's largest suburb, he stopped by The Gaggle studio to reflect on how Mesa has evolved, the challenges its overcome and ones it still has, and where he sees himself going next. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When it comes to the holidays, the last thing most people want to think about are politics. The plethora of stories, memes, jokes, and comedy skits about "don't bring up politics at family gatherings" are a testament to the unspoken taboo. But sometimes its easy to forget that our elected officials are people too. And being a politics podcast, we here on The Gaggle wanted to bring you a different side to the men and women who help run our state. In this Thanksgiving episode, we'll hear from legislatures, mayors, and more about their family traditions, new recipes, and cherished holiday memories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices