TED: COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS.

ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," THE JOURNALISTS' ROUNDTABLE LOOKS AT THE CHAOTIC AND CONFUSING START OF THE STATE SENATE'S AUDIT OF MARICOPA COUNTY PRESIDENTIAL VOTES.

>>> ON CRONKITE NEWS, THE POLITICAL PUSH TO HELP BORDER BUSINESSES RECOVER FROM THE COVID PANDEMIC.

>>> AND ON "BREAK IT DOWN" AWARDS SHOWS AND RACIAL INEQUITIES.

ALL IN THE NEXT HOUR OF ARIZONA PBS.

ANNOUNCER: THIS HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS IS MADE POSSIBLE BY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE FRIENDS OF PBS, MEMBERS OF YOUR PBS STATION.

THANK YOU.

TED: GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

THE STATE SENATE'S AUDIT OF MARICOPA COUNTY PRESIDENTIAL BALLOTS BEGAN ITS RECOUNT TODAY, BUT NOT BEFORE ALL SORTS OF CHAOS AND CONFUSION.

HOURS AFTER THE AUDIT BEGAN, A COUNTY JUDGE ORDERED A PAUSE IN THE PROCESS DUE TO A LAWSUIT FILED BY THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND COUNTY SUPERVISOR STEVE GALLARDO.

THE SUIT ALLEGES THE AUDIT VIOLATES ELECTION LAW AND FAILS TO PROTECT VOTER INFORMATION AS REQUIRED BY LAW BUT THE JUDGE ORDERED THE PAUSE BE CONTINGENT ON THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY POSTING A ONE MILLION-DOLLAR BOND TO PROTECT THE AUDIT TEAM FROM FINANCIAL LOSSES.

THE RECOUNT IS BACK ON, BUT THE JUDGE WANTS THE AUDITORS TO PRODUCE AUDIT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES BY MOND.

WE'LL HAVE MUCH MORE ON ALL OF THIS IN JUST A MOMENT ON THE JOURNALISTS' ROUNDTABLE.

>>> OTHER NEWS, A PANEL OF CDC ADVISERS RECOMMENDED RESTARTING JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINATIONS, USE OF THE VACCINE IS ON HOLD DUE TO CONCERNS OVER A RARE RISK OF BLOOD CLOTS, THE CDC KNOWS OF 15 CASES OF THE BLOOD CLOTS REPORTED IN THE U.S. TO DATE.

>> ALL THESE 15 CASES WERE IN FEMALES AND 13 OF THE 15 WERE IN THE 18 TO 49-YEAR-OLD AGE GROUP, THE REMAINING 250+.

YOU CAN SEE THE DOSES ADMINISTERED THERE IN THE NEXT COLUMN, AND THAT TRANSLATES INTO A REPORTING RATE OF 7TPS CASES PERPMILLION DOSES ADMINISTERS OF THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON COVID VACCINE FOR WOMEN 18 TO 49 YEARS OLD.

FOR WOMEN 50+ THIS TRANSLATES TO .9TTS CASES OF DOSES ADMINISTERED.

TED: ARIZONA VACCINATION RATES CONTINUE TO DECLINE AND MOVE FURTHER BELOW NATIONAL AVERAGES.

27% OF THE STATE'S POPULATION IS FULLY VACCINATED WITH NEARLY 39% RECEIVING ONE DOSE.

OF NOTE, WOMEN ARE GETTING VACCINATED AT A HIGHER RATE THAN MEN.

20% MORE WOMEN IN THE STATE RECEIVED ONE DOSE OF THE VACCINE.

>>> ARIZONA REPORTED 896 NEW CASES OF COVID-19.

THERE ARE ALSO 17 NEW COVID-RELATED FATALITIES CERTIFIED ON THE DAY AS HOSPITAL INPATIENT AND ICU BEDS SHOWING SLIGHT INCREASES IN COVID PATIENTS.

>>> TIME NOW FOR THE JOURNALISTS' ROUNDTABLE, AS WE MENTIONED A LOT GOING ON AT THE VETERANS MEMORIAL COLISEUM ON DAY ONE OF THE STATE SENATE'S RECOUNT OF MARICOPA COUNTY'S PRESIDENTIAL VOTE.

WE WELCOME LAURIE ROBERTS OF "THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC" AND LUIGE DEL PUERTO OF THE "ARIZONA CAPITOL TIMES."

GOOD TO HAVE YOU BOTH HERE.

LAURIE, START WITH YOU, THE SENATE AUDIT AT THE VETERANS MEMORIAL COLISEUM, WHAT IS GOING ON?

>> WELL, FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE, AN INDEPENDENT AUDIT THAT'S GOING TO BRING OUT THE TRUTH FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, ABSOLUTE CHAOS BY PEOPLE THAT DON'T KNOW WHAT THE HECK THEY'RE DOING.

THE MOST INTERESTING THING TO COME OUT TODAY WAS "THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC," AZCENTRAL HAD A REPORTER TO BE ONE OF THE FIRST OFFICIAL OBSERVERS, WHICH IS, OF COURSE, NOT THE JOB OF A JOURNALIST, AND WE'RE PROTESTING IF THAT'S THE WAY WE CAN ONLY WATCH THIS THING.

SHE GETS IN THERE AND IMMEDIATELY NOTICES THAT THE COUNTERS ARE USING BLUE PENS, AND SHE SAYS YOU CAN'T USE BLUE PENS AND THE HEAD OF THE CYBERNINJAS, THE MAN WHO HAS TWEETED OUT PRO-TRUMP, PRO-CONSPIRACY THEORIES BEFORE HE GOT THE CONTRACT TO DO THIS INDEPENDENT AUDIT, HE SAYS WE CAN USE BLUE PENS AND SHE POINTED OUT THAT EVERYBODY KNOWS YOU USE RED PENS WHEN YOU ARE AROUND BALLOTS BECAUSE THE BALLOT MACHINERY CAN READ THE BLUE INK.

SO ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS GOT A VOTE FOR TRUMP, THERE YOU WANTED TO ADD ONE FOR BIDEN, YOU ADD ANOTHER PIECE OF BLUE INK AND THE BALLOT SUBSEQUENTLY WOULD BE THROWN OUT.

IT'S A RECIPE FOR DISASTER, AND INDICATION THAT THESE PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT ELECTIONS EXPERTS.

TED: LUIGE, THAT BIT OF INFORMATION FROM THE ARIZONA CENTRAL REPUBLIC ALONG WITH REPORTS OF THE LACK OF SECURITY GOING ON OUT THERE.

WE HAD A MARICOPA COUNTY COURT JUDGE PUTTING THE PAUSE ON THINGS UNTIL MONDAY.

UNTIL WHAT?

WHOSE ACT NEEDS TO GET IN ORDER.

>> THAT'S THE BIG QUESTION, WE KNOW THAT ARIZONA DEMOCRATIC PARTY SUED TO STOP THIS AUDIT.

THEY HAD TO PUT UP A ONE MILLION-DOLLAR BOND, ASSUMING THEY DO THAT, THIS IS OFF UNTIL MONDAY.

JUST TO DOVE TAIL TO WHAT LAURIE MENTIONED EARLIER, OUR REPORTER WAS KICKED OUT OF THE COLISEUM.

SO OUR REPORTER WAS THERE THIS MORNING.

SHE HAD SIGNED UP AS AN OBSERVER, WHICH AS LAURIE MENTIONED, IS PROBLEMATIC BY ITSELF, BUT SHE SIGNED UP AS AN OBSERVER, WENT THERE, SHE WAS NOT ON THE OBSERVER LIST, AND THE REASON THEY GAVE HER IS SHE HAD SIGNED UP ON THE GOOGLE SIGN-UP SHEET FROM A FEW DAYS AGO, A FEW WEEKS AGO, AND WHAT HAPPENED WAS THAT GOOGLE SHUT DOWN THE SYSTEM, AND DELETED PRESUMABLY ALL OF THE SIGN-UPS, INCLUDING HERS.

THE PROBLEM IS THAT JEN ALSO SIGNED UP VIA THE GOOGLE SHEET AND WASN'T ABLE TO GET IN.

OUR REPORTER KYRA WASN'T ABLE TO GET IN.

KEN BENNETT TRIED TO HELP HER AND GOT HER INSIDE, AND INSIDE SHE HAD ANOTHER EXCHANGE WITH ONE OF THE ORGANIZEERS WHO TOLD HER YOU'RE NOT ON THE OBSERVER LIST, YOU SHOULD NOT BE HERE, AND SO ULTIMATELY SHE WAS KICKED OUT.

SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S JUST THE FIRST DAY, PLENTY OF TIME FOR THINGS TO GO RIGHT OR TO GO WRONG.

>> LET ME PICK UP ON WHAT HE JUST SAID.

OUR REPORTER JEN, AFTER SHE -- I SHOULD POINT OUT THAT REPORTERS HAVE BEEN TOLD THEY DON'T HAVE SPACE IN THE 14,000 SEAT BASKETBALL ARENA FOR REPORTERS, THERE'S NOT SPACE FOR THEM, WHICH IS WHY OUR REPORTERS HAVE TO GO IN AS OBSERVERS AND DO SIX-HOUR SHIFTS, CAN'T TAKE NOTES, CAN'T TAKE A COMPUTER IN, CAN'T TAKE A CAMERA IN, CAN'T TAKE ANYTHING IN, NOT EVEN A BLUE PEN, AND SHE TWEETED OUT ABOUT HER EXPERIENCE WITH THE BLUE PENS ON HER BREAK AND WAS TOLD AFTER THAT, YOU CAN'T TWEET ANYMORE ON YOUR BREAKS, YOU CAN'T SAY ANYTHING.

THEY DO NOT WANT REPORTERS THERE WATCHING WHAT'S GOING ON.

THAT SHOULD BE PROBLEMATIC FOR THIS STATE.

TED: AND LUIGE, WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?

IF YOU HAVE THIS PROCESS, SO CHAOTIC, SO CONFUSING, I'M SORRY, SO SOPHOMORIC, WHO IS GOING TO BELIEVE ANYTHING THAT COMES OUT OF THIS FORENSIC AUDIT, WHICH I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT FORENSIC AUDIT IS AS OPPOSED TO AUDIT.

BE THAT AS IT MAY, WHO'S GOING TO BELIEVE THE RESULTS IF THIS IS THE MAYHEM, YOU CAN'T GET THROUGH DAY ONE WITHOUT ALL THIS HAPPENING?

>> WELL, STEP BACK FOR A SECOND.

TWO GROUPS OF PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE HERE, ONE GROUP OF PEOPLE BELIEVES THAT THERE WAS FRAUD IN 2020, AND THAT THIS ELECTION WAS STOLEN, AND THAT'S HOW BIDEN ENDED UP IN THE WHITE HOUSE, AND THERE ARE THOSE, A BIG MAJORITY, OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF PEOPLE, THE SECOND GROUP, BELIEVES THAT THE ELECTION WAS CONDUCTED, THERE WAS NO FRAUD, THERE WAS NO IRREGULARITIES THAT WOULD RISE TO THE LEVEL OF SOMETHING THAT WOULD BE DESCRIBED AS ELECTION BEING STOLEN FROM DONALD TRUMP.

I CAN TELL YOU, TED, REGARDLESS WHAT HAPPENS IN THE AUDIT, NONE OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO CHANGE THEIR MIND.

PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE THAT FRAUD HAPPENED, THEY'RE STILL GOING TO BELIEVE THAT FRAUD HAPPENED, AND THE PEOPLE WHO BELIEVE OTHERWISE THAT THERE WAS AN HONEST ELECTION, WILL STILL BELIEVE IT'S AN HONEST ELECTION.

I CAN TELL YOU IT DOESN'T BODE WELL FOR BOOSTING CONFIDENCE IN THIS AUDIT PROCESS WHEN WE SEE THE PROBLEMS MANIFEST THEMSELVES SO EARLY ON.

TED: AND LAURIE, AGAIN, LET'S SAY THAT ENOUGH BLUE PENS ARE THERE TO DO ENOUGH OF THIS.

THERE'S ENOUGH -- WE HAD QUESTIONS, THEN WHAT?

WHAT HAPPENS IF THE FOLKS WHO ARE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING FIND SOMETHING BY HOOK OR BY CROOK?

>> I THINK AS LUIGE SAID, THE PEOPLE WHO WERE INCLINED TO BELIEVE THERE WAS FRAUD WILL BELIEVE IT.

IT DOESN'T MATTER THAT THERE WAS AN INHERENT BIAS IN THE HEAD GUY WHO'S DOING THIS THING, DOESN'T MATTER TO THEM.

I'M GETTING THOUSANDS OF E-MAILS FROM ACROSS ARIZONA AND ACROSS THE NATION FROM PEOPLE WHO SAY WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM WITH THIS AUDIT?

REPRESENTATIVE PAUL GOSAR PUT SOMETHING OUT LAST NIGHT OR THIS MORNING SAYING WHAT ARE PEOPLE SO AFRAID OF?

I THINK WHAT THEY'RE AFRAID OF IS AN AUDIT THAT'S PHONIER THAN ANY ELECTION EVER COULD HAVE BEEN.

TED: WHAT ARE PEOPLE SO AFRAID OF?

LUIGE, WHAT ARED AUDITORS SO AFRAID OF TO NOT ALLOW -- YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE SOME MEDIA OVERSIGHT HERE, YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE TRANSPARENCY.

WHAT ARE THEY AFRAID OF?

TED, I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY WILL NOT SIMPLY ALLOW MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA TO NOT BE OFFICIAL OBSERVERS BUT TO DO THEIR JOB AS REPORTERS.

I MEAN, THINK ABOUT THIS FOR A SECOND, THIS IS A GOVERNMENT SANCTIONED ACTIVITY.

FUNDED BY THE STATE.

VIA THE STATE SENATE.

>> PARTIALLY.

>> PARTIALLY OR OTHERWISE FUNDED BY THE STATE.

SANCTIONED BY THE STATE.

THIS AUDIT IS HAPPENING EFFECTIVELY AS A RESULT OF STATE GOVERNMENT SAYING THIS AUDIT IS GOING TO HAPPEN, AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THERE'S NO TRANSPARENCY.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THEY'RE MAKING IT SO DIFFICULT FOR REPORTERS TO GET IN AND DO THEIR JOB AND REPORT THE NEWS, AND IF THEY'RE SO CONFIDENT ABOUT THIS PROCESS QUITE FRANKLY, YOU KNOW, WHY MAKE SO MANY -- WHY PUT UP ROADBLOCKS?

I DON'T GET IT.

TED: LAURIE, WHAT COULD HAPPEN HERE?

HOW COULD YOU TURN THIS PARTICULAR SHIP AROUND?

HOW COULD YOU MAKE THIS PROCESS SOMEHOW MORE CREDIBLE BECAUSE RIGHT NOW IT SIMPLY ISN'T?

>> THE ONLY THING THEY COULD DO IS BRING REASONABLE PEOPLE TO THE TABLE, AND WHEN I SAY THEY, I MEAN GOVERNOR DOUG DUCEY, SENATE PRESIDENT KAREN FANN, SECRETARY OF STATE KATIE HOBBS AND GET THEM TO AGREE THAT, OKAY, WE KNOW THAT HALF THE STATE HAS NO CONFIDENCE, THAT IS A PUBLIC PROBLEM.

BUT YOU HAVE TO PULL THE PLUG ON THIS THING.

I THINK THAT WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO, IF YOU REALLY ARE BOUND AND DETERMINED TO DO THIS AUDIT IS PULL THE PLUG ON THIS SUCKER AND START OVER WITH LEGITIMATELY INDEPENDENT PEOPLE WHO WILL TAKE A LOOK IN ACCORDANCE WITH STATE LAW, WITH THE PRESS PRESENT.

I THINK IT'S ALL RIDICULOUS, I DON'T THINK YOU'RE GOING TO FIND ANYTHING, BUT IT IS LEGITIMATE TO SAY THAT A NUMBER OF PEOPLE AT THIS POINT HAVE NO BELIEF IN OUR ELECTIONS BECAUSE CERTAIN ELECTED OFFICIALS AND OTHER HIGH-LEVEL REPUBLICANS HAVE BEAT THAT DRUM FOR FIVE MONTHS THAT YOU CAN'T HAVE ANY CONFIDENCE IN THE ELECTIONS, AND YOU COULD SAY, WELL, TOUGH ON THEM, WE SHOULD JUST -- IT'S JUST THE WAY IT IS, BUT YOU CAN'T DISCOUNT THE FACT THAT HALF THE STATE JUST FUNDAMENTALLY DOESN'T BELIEVE.

TED: BUT LUIGE, WOULDN'T THAT HALF OF THE STATE, WOULDN'T THEY BELIEVE, IF GOVERNOR DUCEY CAME OUT, IF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL CAME OUT, IF PRESIDENT FANN CAME OUT MORE FORCEFULLY AND SAID THERE IS NOTHING, KIRK ADAMS TWEETED TODAY, SOMETIMES YOU LOSE AN ELECTION AND YOU MOVE ON, JUST SAYING THAT, THAT'S NOT ENOUGH, IS IT, LUIGE?

>> NO, NEVER GOING TO BE ENOUGH, AND YOU HAD ATTORNEY GENERAL MIKE BRNOVICH SAYING SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT I DON'T FIND IRREGULARITIES IN THE ELECTION, AND THAT'S NEVER GOING TO BE ENOUGH TO.

LAURIE'S POINT, I SYMPATHIZE WITH LAURIE AND THE POTENTIAL STEPS THEY COULD TAKE TO MAKE THIS SOMEWHAT MORE CREDIBLE AND THE PROCESS A BIT MORE MANAGEABLE, IF YOU WILL.

YOU SEE THE PREMISE HERE IS THAT THERE WAS ELECTION FRAUD, AND LET'S FIND OUT IF THAT, IN FACT, HAPPENED.

THE PROBLEM WITH THE PREMISE, MOST PEOPLE IN ARIZONA BELIEVE THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

THE PROBLEM IS THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO -- FOR EXAMPLE, AS FAR AS I KNOW, ONLY KEN BENNETT -- ONLY KEN BENNETT IS A PERSON THERE, ORGANIZING THIS, THAT HAS ELECTION ADMINISTRATIVE EXPERIENCE.

SO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO IN AN AUDIT LIKE THIS IS PEOPLE WHO ARE KNOWLEDGEABLE, PERHAPS FORMER ELECTION ADMINISTRATORS, PERHAPS CURRENT ONES, SOMEBODY WHO KNOW WHAT PROCESS IS FOR BALLOTS AND WHO WOULD KNOW THE REAL PROBLEM WHEN YOU HAVE A BLUE PEN, AND NOT A RED PEN, RIGHT?

ALL THIS MINUTIA, ALL THE DETAILS.

THE PROBLEM IS TRYING TO GET THEM TO, YOU KNOW, FOR EXAMPLE, PULL THE PLUG ON THIS ONE AND START OVER, THE PROBLEM WITH TRYING TO GET THOSE PEOPLE WHO JOIN TO BEGIN WITH IS YOU RUN INTO THE PREMISE THAT THERE WAS ELECTION FRAUD, AND MANY OF THOSE FOLKS, NOT ALL OF THE FOLKS, THEY DON'T BELIEVE THERE WAS ONE.

YOU'LL NEVER GET THE PEOPLE.

TED: RIGHT, RIGHT, TO PULL THE PLUG AND START OVER AGAIN, WHY?

WE'VE HAD INDEPENDENT AUDITS.

WE'VE HAD MORE THAN ONE CHECK OF EVERYTHING THAT GOES ON AND EVERYTHING CAME OUT COPACETIC.

TED: .

>> I AGREE WITH YOU BUT THE SHIP HAS SAILED IN HALF OF THE STATE IS NOT GOING TO BELIEVE THIS UNTIL AND UNLESS IT'S VERIFIED.

PULL THE PLUG ON THIS THING.

THERE ARE TOO MANY QUESTIONS HOW THEY'RE DOING IT.

WE DON'T KNOW WHO'S COUNTING THE BALLOTS.

THEY WON'T GUARANTEE THE THREE-PERSON TABLE WITH THE PEOPLE IN THE DIFFERENT OUTFITS, WON'T GUARANTEE THEY ARE BALANCED WITH THE REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRAT AND INDEPENDENT.

ALL OF THAT HAS TO GO, BUT YOU STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM OF HALF OF THE STATE NOT BELIEVING.

TED: BUT LAURIE, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO STILL BELIEVE THAT BARACK OBAMA DOESN'T HAVE A BIRTH CERTIFICATE.

JOE ARPAIO STILL BELIEVES THAT.

THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO -- >> BUT HALF THE STATE DOESN'T, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT.

>> I WONDER.

>> THEY HAVE TO GET AWAY FROM THE IDEA OF THIS BEING AN AUDIT TO FIND OUT IF THE ELECTION WAS FRAUDULENT AS LUIGE IS TALKING ABOUT.

GIVE IT A PAUSE FOR A WHILE AND TAKE IT INSTEAD AS A STUDY TO SEE WHAT, IF ANY, PROBLEMS, HOLES WE HAVE IN OUR SYSTEM THAT WE NEED TO SHORE UP.

IT'S NOT REALISTIC TO THINK THAT IF THEY FOUND SOME BIG PROBLEM AT THIS POINT, THE LEGISLATURE IS GOING TO DO ANYTHING TO REMEDY IT, THEY'RE GETTING READY TO ADJOURN IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS AND THE AUDIT IS SUPPOSED TO GO ON FOR TWO MONTHS.

I THINK SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE, YOU HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT HALF THE STATE FEELS THE WAY IT DOES.

>> SENATE PRESIDENT KAREN FANN REPEATED THIS A COUPLE TIMES, SHE WANTS TO RESTORE CONFIDENCE IN THE ELECTION SYSTEM, PRECISELY FOR THE REASONS LAURIE IS SAYING.

A BIG NUMBER OF ARIZONANS WHO BELIEVE TRUMP SHOULD HAVE WON THE ELECTION.

THIS IS PRESUMABLY THE PROCESS IN WHICH WE CAN HELP TO RESTORE, WE AS A STATE CAN RESTORE CONFIDENCE IN THE ELECTION SYSTEM, BUT YOU KNOW, FIRST OF ALL, IT'S SO POLITICIZED.

THINK ABOUT HOW REMARKABLE THIS AUDIT IS.

IT'S AN AUDIT LED BY A GUY WHO BELIEVES THAT TRUMP, THE ELECTION WAS STOLEN FROM TRUMP.

WE HANDED OVER TWO MILLION BALLOTS TO A GROUP HEADED BY A GUY THAT BELIEVES THE ELECTION WAS STOLEN AND TO BE AUDITED BY, WE DON'T KNOW WHO.

WE KNOW RETIRED PEOPLE, MAYBE MILITARY TYPES.

JUST THINK ABOUT HOW EXTRAORDINARYNARY THAT IS.

TED: WHERE IS THE GOVERNOR IN ALL THIS?

>> MISSING IN ACTION, RUNNING CREDENTIALS BY RUNNING TO THE BORDER AND ELIMINATING MASS MANDATES AND THE NEXT BIG THING SINCE HE'S TERM LIMITED.

TED: LAURIE ROBERT, "ARIZONA REPUBLIC," LUIGE DEL PUERTO, "ARIZONA CAPITOL TIMES."

WE HAD SO MANY THINGS TO TALK ABOUT AND WANTED TO FOCUS ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE.

PANEL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH, APPRECIATE IT.

>>> UP NEXT, A LOOK INTO A ONE-OF-A-KIND SENSORY DESIGN SPACE LOCATED IN A PARKING GARAGE.

.

TED: A UNIQUE ART EXHIBIT IS ON DISPLAY AT ASU, CALLED LIGHT SWITCH, A DRIVERTHROUGH SENSORY EXHIBIT LOCATED IN THE CAMPUS PARKING GARAGE.

WE LEARN MORE FROM JOHN FEATHERSTONE, THE FOUNDING PARTNER OF LIGHT SWITCH.

JOHN FEATHERSTONE, GOOD TO SEE YOU, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THIS IS INTERESTING STUFF HERE, DEFINE TERMS AND GET DOWN TO BASIC.

WHAT IS LIGHT SWITCH?

>> LIGHT SWITCH IS A LIGHT INDIVIDUAL DESIGN PRACTICE, TED, WE DESIGNED CONCERT HALLS TO TV SPECTACULARS TO THEMED ENVIRONMENTS, SO WHAT WE COME TOGETHER IN COLLABORATION WITH ASU IS CREATE AN EXPERIENCE WHICH WE CALL DESIGN SPACE.

TED: OKAY.

I'VE SEEN THIS DESCRIBED AS A DRIVE-THROUGH MUSEUM, IS THAT ACCURATE?

>> I THINK IT'S REALLY ACCURATE.

WHAT WE TRIED TO CREATE IS IMAGINE HEAVEN FORBID THE CURATORS OF THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART OR THE PHOENIX ART MUSEUM WOULD ALLOW YOU TO DRIVE THROUGH THEIR MUSEUM.

THAT'S WHAT WE TRIED TO CREATE, AN IMMERSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL, EXPERIENTIAL DRIVE-THROUGH THAT IS COVID SAFE AND EVERYBODY COULD ENJOY.

TED: THIS EMPHASIZES LIGHT, AND SOUNDS LIKE IT EMPHASIZES A LOT OF DIFFERENT KIND OF LIGHT.

WHAT EXACTLY DO YOU SEE WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING THROUGH THE EXHIBIT?

>> YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

THE CLUE TO THE COMPANY IS IN THE NAME, TED.

WHAT WE TRIED TO CREATE IS A WHOLE NUMBER OF VISIONS, THERE ARE DIFFERENT PIECES CREATED AND CURATED BY DIFFERENT ARTISTS, ARTISTS FROM MY COMPANY, OUTSIDE ARTISTS AND AMAZINGLY STUDENT ARTISTS FROM ASU, GRADUATE AND UNDERGRADUATE ARTISTS, CANOPIES OF RAINBOW AND EXPERIENTIAL VIDEO ART INSTALLATIONS.

TED: SOUNDS VERY INTERESTING.

IS EVERYTHING INVOLVED WITH LIGHT, OR DO YOU HAVE ART OBJECTS THAT ARE THEMSELVES LIT?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION, TED.

THERE'S AN EXPERIENTIAL SITE-SPECIFIC ART COLLECTIVE CALLED HYBYZODO WHO DID BURNING MAN IN COACHELLA, PIECES IN THE COLLECTION OF THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTE.

SO THEY CREATE THE DIMENSIONAL PIECES WHICH CRY OUT TO BE LIT.

THEY JOINED WITH THE GROUP OF AMAZING STUDENT ARTISTS AND TECHNICIANS FROM ASU TO DO A SITE-SPECIFIC INSTALLATION FOR THIS EXHIBIT.

THERE ARE NUMEROUS OBJECTS, DIMENSIONAL LIGHTING AND VIDEO INSTALLATIONS, WE WANTED THIS TO BE AN EXPERIENCE FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES.

TED: WHEN YOU'RE A PATRON, YOU'RE IN YOUR CAR, YOU GOT TO KEEP YOUR LIGHTS OFF, I WOULD THINK, HOW FAST DO YOU GO?

WHAT ARE THE RULES?

>> WELL, THE RULES ARE, FIRST OF ALL, COME AND ENJOY THE EXPERIENCE AND HAVE A GOOD TIME BUT JUST LIKE ANY ART EXPERIENCE.

DIFFERENT PEOPLE WILL RESONATE WITH DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE INSTALLATION.

SO WE'RE ASKING EVERYBODY TO TURN OFF HEADLIGHTS, TO DRIVE AT A CRAWL, WIND THE WINDOWS DOWN BECAUSE THERE'S AN AUDIO COMPONENT TO THIS.

WE HAVE TALENTED AUDIO DESIGNERS FROM ASU WHO CREATED AUDIO AS WELL AS VISUAL PIECES.

IF SOMEBODY STOPS TO ENJOY A PIECE THAT DOESN'T RESONATE THAT MUCH WITH YOU, PULL AROUND, AND THE SAME WAY AS IF YOU'RE IN AN ART MUSEUM, IF THERE WAS A PIECE YOU DIDN'T ENJOY AS MUCH, MOVE PAST THE PERSON IN FRONT OF YOU AND MOVE TO THE PIECES THAT STRIKE A NERVE WITH YOU.

TED: WOW, THERE ARE PASSING LANES IN THIS EXHIBIT?

>> THE GREAT THING ABOUT THE WHOLE NEW WORLD WE'RE FINDING WAYS TO DELIVER EXPERIENCES, THE PARKING GARAGE, DESIGNED FOR VEHICLES TO PASS EACH OTHER.

IF SOMEONE IS LINGERING, PULL OFF TO A SIDE, ENJOY A PIECE, SOME OF THE VIDEO INSTALLATIONS ARE 15, 20 MINUTES LONG, IF THAT'S SOMETHING YOU WANT TO ENJOY, PLENTY OF SPACE FOR PEOPLE TO GET AROUND.

>> YOU MENTIONED THERE IS SOUND.

ARE PIECES EXPLAINED?

IS IT SPOKEN WORD?

IS THERE MUSIC?

>> MOSTLY AUDIO, THE GREAT EXAMPLE IS A PIECE BY A STUDENT ARTIST THAT EXPLORES DOPPLER EFFECT, THAT PULSING THAT YOU GET OF SOUND AS YOU MOVE CLOSER AND FURTHER AWAY, AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE TO GO THROUGH IN THE VEHICLE WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN.

LESS SPOKEN WORD, MORE AUDIO AND MORE MUSIC.

TED: THIS IS GOING ON THROUGH APRIL 25, CORRECT?

>> CORRECT, YES, GOES ON THROUGH SUNDAY.

TED: HOW DO YOU GET TICKETS?

HOW DO TICKETS WORK?

WHAT IF SOMEONE DECIDES TO JUMP THE LINE AND DRIVE RIGHT IN?

>> AGAIN, WE'RE IN A WHOLE NEW WORLD, TED.

THE TICKETS ARE CURATED AND ORGANIZED BY ASU GAMMAGE, AND THEY TEXT YOU OR E-MAIL YOU A QR CODE, YOU HOLD UP THE PHONE SO IT'S A SELF CONTACTLESS TICKETING METHODOLOGY AND TICKETS AT THE ASU GAMMAGE WEBSITE, YOU PICK THE TIME THAT YOU WANT TO COME AND SHOW UP AT THE PECKER DRIVE GARAGE AND WE HOPE EVERYBODY HAS A FABULOUS TIME.

TED: THIS IS AT PACKARD STADIUM, CORRECT?

>> THE PACKARD DRIVE PARKING GARAGE, THE OVERFLOW PARKING GARAGE ADJACENT TO THE FOOTBALL STADIUM.

TED: LIGHT SWITCH, SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF FUN, CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS, APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

.

TED: AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW, I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.