The Gaggle: An Arizona politics podcast

Leading up to the November election, pollsters across the nation showed Arizona to be one of the most swingy of the swing states. How Arizonans would vote in the presidential race and down-ballot contests were the equivalent of a coin flip. But as results were tallied over the past few days, it is clear now which party won convincingly. It's not necessarily the red wave effect, though. All of these races had the potential to go to Republicans or Democrats, proving that Arizona is just right of center. One Arizona race that moved against that tide was for the U.S. Senate. Late Monday night, Democrat Ruben Gallego clinched a win over Republican Kari Lake. This week on The Gaggle, a politics podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl discuss how Gallego prevailed over the red wall and what's next for both the legislature and Kari Lake. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode expresses the views of Arizona Republic opinion columnists, not the views of The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com news department or the Gaggle hosts. Columnists Greg Moore and Phil Boas spoke virtually after election night 2024 to discuss the results and how Trump won back America. The conversation is moderated by editorial page editor, Elvia Diaz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Tuesday heading into Wednesday, the presidential race was less than 1 percentage point apart, and once again, Arizona is the closest state in the country, for the time being. Republicans also wiped out the narrow Democratic majority in the U.S. Senate, but in Arizona, Democrat Ruben Gallego appeared to be headed to victory. Fox News has already called the presidential race for Donald Trump. In Arizona, Democrats fared quite well, at least in the unofficial results released Tuesday night. They could win key races in the Legislature and pick up two congressional seats. With more ballots to be counted and a mandatory hand count audit on Saturday still to come, most of Arizona’s political future is still up in the air. 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 political reporters at The Republic to break down what went down on election night 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Unlike states like Florida and Colorado, it takes Arizona anywhere from days to almost weeks to find out the results of the election. In the last midterm election, the results of the governor's race were announced six days after Election Day. Cable news famously called Arizona for Joe Biden on election night in 2020, but that contest would stay in headlines for months to come after a ballot recount. So far, 1 million early ballots have been received in Maricopa County alone. But early voting won't speed the process up. 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 are joined by data reporter at the Republic Sahana Jayaraman. Together they discuss a new tool to gather result data and explain why it takes so long to find out who won in Arizona. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It is crunch time for politicians and campaigns right now to try to win your vote for the Nov. 4 election. Early voting ballots have been sent out, and with a few close races in the polls, candidates know that every vote matters. Candidates down ballot have held rallies and aimed conversations at all different demographics in the last weeks leading up to the election. Both presidential candidates have visited border towns in Arizona, speaking to the importance of border security. But is that what it takes to win one of the key battleground states in the nation? 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 two political strategists from both sides of the aisle to give insight on what it takes for a campaign to win in Arizona. Constantin Querard, president of one of the state's most popular political consulting firms Grassroots Partners, has worked on Republican campaigns for almost two decades. Andy Barr is the managing director at Uplift, an agency focused on Democratic campaigns and fundraising. Barr has worked on more than 100 campaigns across the country. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From now until your ballot arrives, The Gaggle, a politics podcast by the Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, collaborated with our politics team to connect with candidates so you can hear them make their case in their own words. This is part of a series of bonus episodes featuring Q&As on the state’s most important races. In this episode, reporter Sasha Hupka ask both candidates to represent District 3 on the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors why voters should choose them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some of this election cycle's biggest issues are what stirs the electorates here in Arizona. No debate or interview is complete without asking a candidate about abortion and immigration. Political angst regarding the border could be a defining factor on who wins the White House, the state’s U.S. Senate race and other contests further down ballot. And unlike most of the country who choose candidates’ based on their views of immigration and the border, Arizonans have a ballot measure that will help shape policy, as well. 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 The Republic's immigration issues reporter Rafael Carranza to explore the border security ballot proposition 314 and why the U.S.-Mexico border is still a pressing political issue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode expresses the views of Arizona Republic opinion columnists, not the views of The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com news department or the Gaggle hosts. Columnists Greg Moore and Phil Boas spoke virtually after the Senate debate between Republican Kari Lake and Democrat Ruben Gallego about who won and what stood out. The conversation is moderated by editorial page editor, Elvia Diaz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Gaggle, a politics podcast by the Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, collaborated with our politics team to connect with candidates so you can hear them make their case in their own words. This is part of a series of bonus episodes featuring Q&As on the state’s most important races. In this episode, reporter Laura Gersony talked with Democratic nominee for Congressional District 1 Dr. Amish Shah about key topics. Republican nominee David Schweikert did not respond to our request to participate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Taking up a lot of the ballot’s real estate are 13 propositions. From abortion rights to worker tips, arguments for and against the propositions fill up more than 300 pages in the state’s official Publicity Pamphlet. And the language can get confusing. Plan to spend more time than usual in the voting booth, or around the kitchen table, as you work through this ballot. This week on The Gaggle, a politics podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl try to simplify the most high profile ballot propositions to make them easier to understand. Republic reporter Stacey Barchenger joins The Gaggle to talk through Proposition 139, the Arizona Abortion Access initiative and Proposition 137, which would end term limits for judges − two topics she's been closely covering. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From now until your ballot arrives, The Gaggle, a politics podcast by the Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, collaborated with our politics team to connect with candidates so you can hear them make their case in their own words. This is part of a series of bonus episodes featuring Q&As on the state’s most important races. In this episode, reporter Sasha Hupka ask both candidates to represent District 1 on the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors why voters should choose them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From now until your ballot arrives, The Gaggle, a politics podcast by the Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, collaborated with our politics team to connect with candidates so you can hear them make their case in their own words. This is part of a series of bonus episodes featuring Q&As on the state’s most important races. In this episode, reporter Sasha Hupka ask Democratic nominee for Maricopa County Recorder Tim Stringham about key topics. Republican nominee Justin Heap did not respond to our request to participate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The future of control of the state house depends on eight competitive districts on your ballot this November. Driven by redistricting, lots of donation money, and Gov. Katie Hobbs’ long-stated intention to flip the Legislature blue, Arizona's political future is again toeing the line. 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 Ray Stern to discuss observations about the complexion of the contests and how they are playing out in select districts across the state. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Early ballots are being packaged up to be sent out to Arizona voters by October 9th. This year is the big one. From contentious mayoral races to electing a new Maricopa County recorder, the local elections will come to define how the state runs. On the national scale, Arizona has one of the most watched Senate races in the country and both Presidential candidates know how crucial winning Arizona will be to putting them in the White House. From now until your ballot arrives, The Gaggle, a politics podcast by the Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, collaborated with our politics team to connect with candidates so you can hear them make their case in their own words. This is part of a series of bonus episodes featuring Q&As on the state’s most important races. In this episode, reporter Laura Gersony asks Incumbent Juan Ciscomani and Kirsten Engel about key topics and why they deserve your vote this November. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Early ballots are being packaged up to be sent out to Arizona voters by October 9th. This year is the big one. From contentious mayoral races to electing a new Maricopa County recorder, the local elections will come to define how the state runs. On the national scale, Arizona has one of the most watched Senate races in the country and both Presidential candidates know how crucial winning Arizona will be to putting them in the White House. From now until your ballot arrives, The Gaggle, a politics podcast by the Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, collaborated with our politics team to connect with candidates so you can hear them make their case in their own words. This is part of a series of bonus episodes featuring Q&As on the state’s most important races. In this episode, reporter Stephanie Murray sat with VP Kamala Harris' senior advisor, Jen Cox, to discuss their plan for Arizona. Former President Donald Trump's team declined to participate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Early ballots are being packaged up to be sent out to Arizona voters by October 9th. This year is the big one. From contentious mayoral races to electing a new Maricopa County recorder, the local elections will come to define how the state runs. On the national scale, Arizona has one of the most watched Senate races in the country and both Presidential candidates know how crucial winning Arizona will be to putting them in the White House. From now until your ballot arrives, The Gaggle, a politics podcast by the Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, collaborated with our politics team to connect with candidates so you can hear them make their case in their own words. This is part of a series of bonus episodes on the state’s most important races. In this episode, all 6 candidates running for Arizona Corporation Commission debate on why they deserve your vote. Audio is brought to you by the Arizona Media Association. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 2024 ballot will be one of the longest in recent history with 13 propositions to vote on. Among things like police power at the border and abortion access, nearly one third of the measures deal with how elections function in the state. There are four measures on the November ballot that are directly related to elections procedures, further enforcing that how democracy is run is a hot-button topic this election season. Two propositions come at primaries from the opposite side, one introduced by the Arizona Legislature and one introduced by the people. The other two directly impact how citizen initiatives make it onto our ballots. 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 nuances of these measures, explain the pros and cons and help you understand a typically confusing section of your ballot. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Early ballots are being packaged up to be sent out to Arizona voters by October 9th. This year is the big one. From contentious mayoral races to electing a new Maricopa County recorder, the local elections will come to define how the state runs. On the national scale, Arizona has one of the most watched Senate races in the country and both Presidential candidates know how crucial winning Arizona will be to putting them in the White House. From now until your ballot arrives, The Gaggle, a politics podcast by the Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, collaborated with our politics team to connect with candidates so you can hear them make their case in their own words. This is part of a series of bonus episodes featuring Q&As on the state’s most important races. In this episode, reporter Maritza Dominguez asks Mark Freeman and Scott Smith about key topics and why they deserve your vote this November. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Along with everything else that’s on the ballot this election year, so is the U.S. House of Representatives. All nine seats of Arizona’s congressional delegation are before voters, but in reality, only two are expected to have any suspense. Congressional district 1 features a showdown between Republican Congressman David Schweikert and Democratic Dr. Amish Shah. Congressional District 6 is a rematch between Republican Juan Ciscomani and former state Sen. Kirsten Engel. This week on The Gaggle, a politics podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, host Ron Hansen is joined by one of the Republic's national politics reporters Laura Gersony to talk through who the competitors are for these districts and how they define themselves. Later, Kyle Kondik joins The Gaggle. He is the managing editor of Sabato’s Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics. He clues us in on how the results of Arizona's election will have a seismic impact on who holds power in Congress for the next two years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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