of local news on Arizona PBS.

A "Arizona Horizon" renewed scrutiny on fake presidential electors from Arizona.

On "Cronkite News" the latest analysis of COVID numbers in the state.

And on break it down, diversity in movie and television characters, that's all ahead in the next hour on Arizona PBS.

>>> This hour of local news is made possible by contributions from the friend of PBS.

Members of your PBS station.

Thank you.

>> Good evening, and welcome to "Arizona Horizon."

I am Ted Simons, Arizona senator Mark Kelly today announced that he will support a change to the U.S. senate's filibuster rule, but only for voting rights legislation at that eco response ares including two major bills on the table the freedom to vote act and the John Lewis voting rights advancement act.

Kelly said today, quote, if campaign finance and voting rights reform are blocked against this will I will support the proposed changes to pass them with a majority vote.

Kelly added, quote, protecting the vote by mail system used by a majority of Arizonans and getting dark money out of our election is his too important to fall victim to Washington disfunction.

Kelly's announcement was criticized by the Republican national committee, which said that Kelly's decision, quote, demonstrates he is bout and paid for by the radical left.

Other political news a new gallop poll shows president Biden's approval rating at its lowest level to date.

Only 40% of Americans approve of president's job performance, down 17% from its highest level the poll found the president's first year in office was the most polarized first year of any president with extremely high approval ratings from Democrats and extremelily rateings from Republicans the white house today announced that 400 million N-95 face masks are set to go out to the public for free.

The goal is to get the high quality masks out to those who need them as early as next week.

The masks will be available at local pharmacies and community health centers.

Officials say N-95 provide better protection against COVID than masks made of cloth.

This has Arizona reports another 20,000 new cases of COVID-19.

They also added 21 new COVID-related fatalities.

One new COVID note.

New research from the C.D.C.

shows the best protection against COVID is a vax nice not a previous infection, based on 1 million vaccinated and unvaccinated people.

Study shows that vaccination and prior infection each help protect against new infections vaccinations protect against hospitalizations, significantly more than natural immunity alone.

The study was conducted through November prior to the introduction and spread of the omicron variant.

After year's election, two separate slates of fake presidential electors tried to reverse Arizona's presidential election by sending fake election certificates to the national archives to learn more about why anyone would come up with such an idea and whether or not these actions are legal.

We spoke to Paul Charlton the former U.S. attorney for Arizona and the partner in the denton's law firm.

Good to see you, Paul, thanks for joining news studio and good to have you on set as opposed to zoom.

Good it see everyone here as opposed to zoom and we continue to try to Transition back to the set.

We are talking about these fake electors.

And they are fake electors they are not the really lectors.

First of all, as far as the presidential election is concerned, who are electors and how are they chosen?

What kind of authority do they have?

>> In this state, Ted, electors are chosen by the party to whom the candidate belongs.

So then president trump had a slate of electors chosen by the Republican party who would represent the Republican party in the electoral college the Democrats had their own set of electors who would and did vote for now president beaten in the electoral college, they are chosen by the parties to whom the candidate belongs.

>> And once the election is over, candidate "A" let's call him, I don't know, bides en, his cast of the electors that group is the official elector for Arizona and candidate "B" trump's group they have -- they are done, they go home.

>> Correct, in this state it's a winner take all electoral college.

So the popular vote, goies to the Court, our opinion general the governor, went to now president Biden.

So all 11 lex to recall votes went to president bite glen and the governor signs a certify ascertain little and everything is done, deal, signed and exempt when you have a group of folks, now, first of all, these group of folks who are pro trump, were these the same group that was the official Republican slate or is this a different crowd?

>> There are two different entities if you will that, purported to be the dually elected electors from our state and who were, in fact not those dually elected election tours one group called themselves sovereign citizens submitting a document that had the official state seal on it to the national archives contends that go they should be voting for or should our state should vote for president trump.

Another group, led by Kelly ward, the head of the Republican party in this state, also contended that they were the dually elected electors and instead of placing those votes for now president bind, they said and filed this document officially.

Saying that they instead were voting for then president trump.

>> So you had two different groups, you could possibly have had three different groupings on president trump's side as a slate of -- who gets to choose which one is the real one?

>> So the president was elected, so says the governor of the state, who signed off on the certificate, says the attorney general who reviewed it, sent to the national archives that look today make sure the documents that they received were the official documents from the secretary of state.

These other, if you will, people who contended that they were electors may have crossed the line by Smith document that wasn't authentic.

>> I was going ask about that, one of these groups submitted a document with the official seal of Arizona on it.

Sent it to the national archives I guess even to the sent at or the white house one to the archives the other I don't know where it is, but that sounds ill throwing me.

>> And I think a prosecutor reviewing the facts here, Ted, would have good cause to contact an investigation and determine whether or not those people who claimed to have been the lawful lectors but were not, crossed a line.

And, in fact, committed a crime by submit a false document to an official entity such as the national archives.

>> Back up a bit here.

Why would these groups think theft authority?

Where did this idea come from?

>> If we were to ask them, Ted, I suspect it's a fair assumption that they would argue that they believe in good faith that the result of the last election was one of fraud and that's because their president told them so.

It's because the lawyers from the president's office told them so.

President trump said so and his lawyers said so they believed they were acting in faith what a prosecutor has do is look in to the mind of these individuals to see if they knew these documents were fraudulent.

You have to look at other evidence, like we discussed the fact that our governor believed that Biden had won the election.

The fact that our Republican attorney general believed that Biden had won the race for president, and that every court that has looked at this, Ted, has determined that president Biden is our president.

>> In fact.

And I would think that if you were the group that thought your candidate lost the election because it was quote, unquote, rigged I mute have a set of electors that you have gathered in some way, shape, our form but you hold on and wait and see what the courts say, what the governor says, what a whole slew of people.

As opposed to just send this is stuff off and saying, that's it, we are now -- Donald trump has won the say of Arizona.

It doesn't make any sense to me.

>> One attorney general, Ted, who is in a similar situation from a state like ours, Michigan, has reviewed the facts of these individuals who submitted a document to the national archive contending to be votes for then president trump, and she believes that it is, in fact, a fraud, that it's a violation of state law and she contends because there was coordination among a number of states, she thinks, Arizona, Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, that it's the kind of fraud so broad in scope, that the federal government, the U.S. attorney general, ought to investigate and she has referred this matter formally for investigation by the attorney general of the United States.

>> Interesting.

Has this kind of thing been thought of before?

>> I don't know that we have ever seen this sort of broad scope of individuals who would pretend to be electors when they, in fact, are not.

We have electors who have appeared at the electoral college and voted for a candidate to whom they were not sent to vote.

Those small issues have occurred.

But one with this breadth and depth and number has never occurred in our nation before.

>> It sounds lying I get together with a bunch of friend and I say I think I won the State of Arizona and send something off to the national archives.

Where do you think -- >> That's part of the problem, we all have a First Amendment right to espouse or believes right or Wrong it's one thing to that you believe the election was a result of fraud.

It's another to submit what purports to be an official document contending that the true winner of our electoral votes is then president trump.

That's where this aspect, these facts, are going to and should involve some scrutiny by prosecutors whether or not, Ted, that results at the end of the day in charges, we can't say.

>> Is this kind of saying could it be interesting, could it be relevant as far as January sixth inquiry.

>> I think we know that investigators from the January 6th committee have been out to Arizona already and interviewed some of our public officials.

So that part of the equation, what will happen in congress, what will be the result of their investigation, I think we can predict that this will be a part of that.

What happens, though, behind the closed doors of Prosecutors and law enforcement officials we don't have that transparency in to their decision making process to know other than I think we can say with confidence they are probably considering it.

We'll have to see whether or not it's the kind of issue that they will take up and move forward with.

>> I gotta tell you it sounds like a junior high school civics class gone wrong.

It just is hard to explain and to understand, but thank you so much, Paul, we do appreciate you.

Good to sea.

>> You good to see you, thanks for having me.

>> You bet.

Coming up on "Arizona Horizon", a new program for cannabis studies at the university of Arizona.

♪ Music Playing ♪ >>> This winter.

>> Is this America?

The land of the free and the home of the brave?

♪ Music Playing ♪ >> You belong here.

This is your home.

>> It was changing and so was America.

>> You have to embrace the whole story and the whole sift.

>> It's a season to remember.

>> People reached out to us they wanted these untold stories told.

>> We want to have something to say about our destiny.

♪ Music Playing ♪ >>> The university of Arizona will soon be offering three new noncredit cannibis certification programs to edge skate students have the skills needed to succeed in the rapidly-growing candace industry, we learn more from online distance ends indication vice pro vest at the U of A. Craig Wilson welcome to "Arizona Horizon."

Good to have you here as we talk about the three noncredit cannabis certificate programs at the University of Arizona what, is this all about?

Tell us more this.

>> Yeah, so, again, it's three different areas one is the business of cannabis, another one is for healthcare and the third one is for law and policy.

>> Let's start with business now.

What will they be thought.

What do they need to know in terms of the business of cannabis?

>> So let's see.

The first one covers the actual history of the candace industry.

The second course within the business side, covers from sea to scale -- excuse me from, sea to sale.

And the third one is scaling operation.

You know, so if you already have an operation and a defense pence are you, how do you scale it.

It's like any other business, you know, where you are looking to make it viable and maybe expand it.

This covers it, but with a cannabis focus.

>> And the cannabis focus I would imagine comes in to sharp focus when you talk about cannabis and the law.

Which is another one of these programs, tell us more about that.

>> Yeah, so for the long side let me take a quick look at the law side it covers law and policy from a historic perspective and regional analysis as well as he merging sectors, so it looks at policy and looked at emerging sectors for regulation and things that have nature and that is geared for lawyers, legal professionals.

Law enforcement and those interested in compliance.

>> That sound like it could be change at a moment's notice, too, that's how that works in that industry.

>> Yeah.

I would agree.

I imagine that will become a very sought after area of study.

>> The aspects of cannabis, health care and medicine what, will be talk in that particular course line?

>> They'll cost essentials of cannabis medicine and integrated clinical practice of cannabis medicine.

Geared to those in allied health, health care professional and things that have sort.

>> Okay.

Who are the teachers, who are the instructors for these certificate programs?

>> That's a good question.

The teachers are board certified physician, psychiatrist, particularly in the healthcare industry, a clinical specialist, pharmacologist and the like.

And with respect to the law and policy, these are attorneys and other legal professionals who are in the cannabis industry and with respect to business, those are covered by topics effectives in the field to include entrepreneurs already in the business and, again, lawyers and what have you who cover it from a business standpoint.

>> Who do you see as likely students for these certification programs?

[Speaking at the same time] >> Yeah, that's interesting.

I think, again, for the law and policy, it kind of is self select.

For the healthcare side it's also seem to self select.

But you -- I would imagine the business one is the most open.

However, a person can, in fact, enroll in the other one, you probably want to have some sort of baseline foundational knowledge.

So everybody for instance, law and policy we see the folks to be law enforcement, for lawyers, or folks who are in to compliance.

>> Are there any -- it would seem like there is not a heck of a lot of precedent for team these kind of courses and classes, you mentioned history to a certain extent that's there.

In terms of legal cannabis that's a whole -- that's a brand-new baby here.

Are there other programs around the country, best practices you can look at or is this thing hitting the ground and you'll just see what happens?

>> Well, yeah, there are other programs throughout the country.

And other states, particularly where it's been legalized for recreational use.

And as well as states that are considering it or states that are using it for medicinal purposes.

It's a nationwide in terms of scope.

And you know, here in Arizona, our main concern -- our main point, say, focus is to make sure that as folks are contemplating entering that space that, we are doing what we can to help them with professional icing the practice and also to provide professional development for those who might already be in the industry.

But are seeking to figure out ways to provide professional deposit to this what they are doing.

>> Very good.

All right, registration when and classes start when?

>> Sure, registration is open now.

Classes start in March.

I encourage if you are interesting to go to CE.Arizona.EDU for more information.

>> And real quickly the cost just under $3,000 percent S that's a ballpark figure?

>> That's correct $2,950 for those interested in the March which is our first offering we are offer a 500-dollar discounts.

>> Craig will songs university of Arizona, we thank you for your time.

>> My pleasure, thank you.

>>> I am Judy Woodruff tonight in a news hour in a rare news conference president Biden defends his agenda one year in to his administration, that's coming up after your local news on Arizona PBS.

>>> Bassem Youssef will be performing at A.

Such this weekend, a beens dubbed the Jon Stewart of the Arab world and lived quite a life as an activist, political Comedian and author of children's books, he's also a former heart surgeon, we spoke to Bassem Youssef el were today.

Bassem Youssef, welcome to "Arizona Horizon" good to have you here.

>> Thank you so much I am happy to be here.

>> This is great to have you.

I gotta ask, before we get to stand up comedy and acting and middle east and the U.S., you are a former heart surgeon.

>> Yeah.

I did that for 19 years, physical school for seven years and 12 years as a working heart surgeon.

>> So how does a heart surgeon become a stand-up come snick.

>> I have no idea.

[ Laughter ] >> Well, something drastic had to happen which is in my case the arab spring, the revolution, when that happened everything was fluid and I didn't everybody think of growing in to entertainment but what I did was I did Youtube videos satire icing the stayed-run media.

I was very mesmerized by Jon Stewart.

I just put it on the internet.

I didn't even think twice this would go anywhere.

And then it exploded and suddenly I am host paying apolitical satire show and it's the biggest show in the middle east and it was fun and scary and interesting and it was stressful.

And all of the above.

And for three years I did the show, it was very successful, but the government didn't like me that much.

They hated me the military hated me.

And I ended up having to leaved Egypt and coming to the United States and continuing my career as a stand-up comic.

>> You are fascinated by Jon Stewart, you became the Jon Stewart of the middle east.

>> Yeah, yeah.

[ Laughter ] >> And now when you say you had to leave Egypt, did you have to leave Egypt or else?

>> Oh, yeah, yeah, there was actual lay verdict against me.

It was political in nature I had to pay 100 million pounds as a fine for the network that actually canceled me the lawyer said, listen this is the way they'll get you without appearing in front of the rest of the world that they are like putting you for freedom of expression and it's like you need to leave right now.

So the verdict was at 12:00 noon and my flight as at 5:00.

>> If that had not happened do you think you would have stayed in Egypt?

>> I don't might have stayed but I don't think my conditions would be very optimal.

>> Eventually this would happen one way or another?

>> Yeah.

And I think like -- I mean, at the time I was very nervous, I didn't know what to do.

I didn't know where -- what I would even do in the United States.

But it's just like you had to -- I had to re-wire my brain to do come did I in a different language, English is my second language.

>> Right.

>> Piping yourself doing stand-up comedy in a foreign language to a foreign audience, in a totally like foreign, like setting.

>> Yes.

>> Because we didn't-- like stand-up comedy is not really an established Art in Egypt in, the Arab world in general.

I had to teach myself a new form of Art.

>> That's really interesting.

-- did you find that what folks in the middle east laughed at maybe folks in the U.S. either Don lavas much at or don't quite get and vice versa?

>> No.

Every language has a secondary language which is comedy.

Because therefore references, history, punchlines even the used words is different.

What can work in a language is not necessarily translated in a different language, you have to get -- use, for example, it's a stupid example, but people all over around the world love "friends."

>> The show.

>> Slap stick, sure.

But not many of them can get "Frazier."

Which is the -- >> Why?

>> Because it's kind of like a more of a sophisticated Condie.

Many people don't get "seinfeld" because it's a show about nothing and it's different.

>> Is it the physical stuff?

>> No, nuances for each language very -- even when you speak Arabic.

Somebody in Iraq who speaks Arabic like Egypt the comedy does not translate sometimes.

They don't understand what you mean, you know?

>> Yeah.

>> So it's -- >> That's really fascinating.

And, again, there topics that an American audience will laugh at and not so much middle east and the middle east finds hilarious and the American audience stairs?

>> Given if everybody understands each other's language you find a lot of people would love.

So, for example, I didn't understand Jon Stewart in the beginning you was fascinated by him but I didn't understand what he was talking about, what are Democrats, what are Republicans, what is Fox news I saw people laughing but I didn't understand why it was funny.

Toyed understand the references and the background of these jokes to understand the joke.

So it's like a joke not just a punchline it's much deeper than that.

It's a lot of nuances, references, history, background, that you have to educate yourself about that.

>> There is a fraternity of stand-up Comedians and men and women who are in this business, they really stick together.

They help each other.

Sometimes compete against each other.

>> They hate each other.

>> They hate each other.

Did you find, though, a helping audience, a helping crowd there when you got in to the business here in the U.S. >> I had very positive experiences when I started in the U.S., when I started crafting my show I had a residency in Joe's pub in New York, which is a place where artists go and they try out the material.

>> Yes.

>> Some nights were not very good.

>> Sure.

>> And some nights were great.

But it is -- it's the culture here in the United States, where people can go to a place knowing that this is not really the final product.

And you can see that a lot on Broadway.

>> Off Broadway.

>> Go to not just off Broadway even when the show is getting ready.

They go to see the rehearsal and dress rehearsal.

It's kind of like I love the fact that a lot of -- there is kind of like a support for performance Art.

>> Yes.

>> And this is why I am happy to be in ASU because this is something that you don't see in the middle east.

You know, like a theater, that big, that amazing in the middle of a university campus, my fair lady, Hamilton all player on a university campus, this is amazing.

So I real like the fact that there is a lot of support for people here that want to see Art, people want to experience Art, people wants to laugh.

People want to cry and laugh with you, that's why I love being here.

>> Yeah, well, it's good to have you here, it's good to have you here on "Arizona Horizon", and Gammage as well.

Bassem Youssef, thank you so much.

Best of luck to you.

>> Thank you.

>> Again no thoughts of ever going back to thoracic surgery or anything?

>> No, no, I don't miss the night shifts.

No.

I don't miss the long -- I don't miss any of it.

>> Not at all?

>> I love going out and performing and I know that like so far the ticket sales and Gammage is going very well and I hope the people watching will come to the show.

>> Right.

>> I hope people come doesn't matter if you are Arab or American, doesn't matter a lot of people can relate to the show.

I am a storyteller and I love to tell my story and people engage with that heart and I hope to see everybody.

>> Bassem, thank you so much for joining us.

>> Thank you so much.

>> Good it have you here.

>> Thank you.

>> And this is it for now, I am Ted Simons, thank you so much for joining us, you have a great evening.

>>> Coming up in the next half hour on Arizona PBS, on "Cronkite News", how members of the military are helping care for COVID patient at Arizona hospitals.

And on break it down, Hollywood's evolving casting practices.