>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS, ON ARIZONA HORIZON: THE JOURNALISTS' ROUNDTABLE LOOKS AT THE MANY QUESTIONS INVOLVING THE STATE SENATE'S AUDIT OF MARICOPA COUNTY BALLOTS.

ALSO ON ARIZONA HORIZON: WE HEAR FROM A SCOTTSDALE PHYS-ED TEACHER NAMED NATIONAL P.E.

TEACHER OF THE YEAR.

AND ON BREAK IT DOWN: A CONVERSATION ON THE HARM OF RACIAL GASLIGHTING.

THAT'S ALL IN THE NEXT HOUR ON ARIZONA PBS.

>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THE STATE SENATE'S AUDIT OF MARICOPA COUNTY PRESIDENTIAL AND U.S. SENATE VOTES CONTINUES.

TODAY'S AUDIT HEADLINES INCLUDE GOVERNOR DUCEY ORDERING STATE TROOPERS TO PROVIDE ROUND-THE-CLOCK PROTECTION FOR SECRETARY OF STATE KATIE HOBBS.

THIS AFTER HOBBS RECEIVED DEATH THREATS IN REGARD TO HER OPPOSITION TO THE AUDIT.

AND SENATE PRESIDENT KAREN FANN TODAY TOLD THE U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT THAT SHE'S, QUOTE, "INDEFINITELY DEFERRED" ANY PLANS TO KNOCK ON PEOPLE'S DOORS TO VERIFY AUDIT-BASED VOTER REGISTRATION INFORMATION.

THAT REPORT FROM THE ARIZONA MIRROR, WHICH ADDS THAT FANN TOLD THE D.O.J.

THAT THE DECISION TO HOLD OFF ON CANVASING NEIGHBORHOODS WAS MADE WEEKS AGO, THAT DECISION WAS APPARENTLY KEPT CONFIDENTIAL.

THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT HAS EXPRESSED CONCERNS THAT SUCH CANVASSING WOULD AMOUNT TO VOTER INTIMIDATION.

ARIZONA WENT OVER THE 3-MILLION MARK TODAY FOR TOTAL NUMBER OF PEOPLE RECEIVING AT LEAST 1-DOSE OF COVID VACCINE.

THAT EQUATES TO OVER 41-PERCENT OF THE STATE'S POPULATION.

THE NUMBER OF THOSE FULLY VACCINATED IS OVER 2.4-MILLION OR 32-PERCENT.

BOTH NUMBERS ARE SLIGHTY BELOW NATIONAL AVERAGES.

A NEW FORECAST MODEL PREDICTS THAT 185-MILLION AMERICANS WILL BE VACCINATED AGAINST THE CORONAVIRUS BY SEPTEMBER.

THE MODEL IS OUT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON.

IT SHOWS THAT MORE THAN 70-PERCENT OF AMERICANS WILL HAVE AT LEAST ONE SHOT BY THE END OF THIS MONTH, WITH 65-PERCENT FULLY VACCINATED BY MID-JUNE, BUT THE FORECAST ALSO CAUTIONS THAT VACCINE AVOIDANCE COULD LEAD TO ANOTHER SURGE THIS WINTER.

PFIZER TODAY APPLIED FOR F.D.A.

EMERGENCY-USE APPROVAL OF ITS VACCINE ON 12-TO-15-YEAR-OLDS.

IF THE F.D.A.

GIVES THE GO-AHEAD, PFIZER WOULD BECOME THE FIRST VACCINE AVAILABLE TO THAT AGE GROUP.

ARIZONA RECORDED 820-NEW "CASES" OF COVID TODAY.

THAT'S OVER A HUNDRED CASES HIGHER THAN THE 7-DAY AVERAGE THE PAST TWO WEEKS.

THE STATE ALSO CERTIFIED 24-KNOWN COVID-RELATED FATALITIES TODAY, ARIZONA'S DEATH RATE THE PAST WEEK IS NOW 22ND HIGHEST IN THE COUNTRY.

OTHER NEWS: A FEDERAL GRAND JURY INDICTED DEREK CHAUVIN AND THREE OTHER FORMER MINNEAPOLIS POLICE OFFICERS ON CHARGES OF VIOLATING GEORGE FLOYD'S CIVIL RIGHTS IN THE ARREST THAT CAUSED FLOYD'S DEATH LAST YEAR.

THREE OF THE FORMER OFFICERS, INCLUDING CHAUVIN, WILL STAND TRIAL ON TWO COUNTS EACH, WITH!O THE FOURTH OFFICER FACING A SINGLE CHARGE.hP &C% THIS COMES LESS THAN THREE WEEKS AFTER CHAUVIN WAS FOUND GUILTY ON MURDER AND MANSLAUGHTER CHARGES IN FLOYD'S DEATH.

THE THREE OTHER OFFICERS ARE ALSO FACING STATE 2ND-DEGREE MURDER AND MANSLAUGHTER CHARGES IN THE CASE.

THE LATEST U.S. JOBS REPORT WAS RELEASED TODAY AND IT'S NOT THE BEST.

THE ECONOMY ADDED JUST 266,000 JOBS LAST WEEK.

THAT'S A MUCH LOWER NUMBER THAN ECONOMISTS EXPECTED.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION PREFERS TO SEE THE REPORT IN GOOD NEWS/BAD NEWS TERMS.

>> WE CAME TO OFFICE, WE KNEW WE WERE FACING A ONCE IN A CENTURY PANDEMIC AND A ONCE IN A GENERATION ECONOMIC CRISIS AND WE KNEW THIS WOULDN'T BE A SPRINT, IT WOULD BE A MARATHON.

QUITE FRANKLY, WE'RE MOVING MORE RAPIDLY THAN I THOUGHT WE WOULD.

>> THESE JOBS REPORT UNDERSCORES THE LONG HAUL FIGHT BACK TO RECOVERY.

LET ME BE CLEAR.

THE 266,000 JOBS ADDED IN APRIL REPRESENT CONTINUED PROGRESS.

>> AND REMEMBER THAT OUT-OF-CONTROL CHINESE ROCKET WE MENTIONED YESTERDAY, THE ONE THAT'S GONNA CRASH INTO EARTH SOMEWHERE, SOMETIME, IN THE NEXT TWO DAYS?

WELL, HERE IT IS.

THAT'S THE TELESCOPIC IMAGE.

CHINA IS NOW SAYING NO WORRIES, MOST OF THE ROCKET WILL BREAK UP ON RE-ENTRY TO EARTH'S ATMOSPHERE AND MOST OF THE "DEBRIS" WILL LIKELY LAND IN INTERNATIONAL WATERS.

THAT SAID, THE U.S. IS KEEPING AN EYE ON IT.

TIME FOR THE JOURNALISTS' ROUNDTABLE AND THE FOCUS THIS WEEK IS THE STATE SENATE'S AUDIT OF MARICOPA COUNTY BALLOTS.

OUR GUESTS: HOWIE FISCHER OF CAPITOL MEDIA SERVICES AND JEREMY DUDA OF THE ARIZONA MIRROR.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

HOWIE, WE'LL START WITH YOU AND THE GIANT STORY HERE AND AROUND THE COUNTRY, THE SENATE AUDIT OF MARICOPA COUNTY VOTES.

WHAT IS THE LATEST FROM THE COLISEUM?

WE'LL JUST START THERE.

>> HOW LONG DO YOU HAVE?

LET'S PUT IT THAT WAY.

WE HAVE THE FACT THAT THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE DONE BY MAY 14 AS THEY SUSPECTED.

A QUESTION OF WHAT THAT IS IN THE INTERIM CAN THEY LOCK THEM UP SOMEWHERE SECURE AND THAT'S WHAT WE'LL GET INTO LATER ON BALLOT SECURITY.

WE HAVE THE QUESTIONS OF BALLOTS BEING EXAMINED FOR BAMBOO BECAUSE LORD KNOWS SOMEBODY FLEW IN SOME BAT LOTS FROM SOUTH ASIA.

THEY ARE CHECKING THE INK.

WE HAVE THE GATEWAY PUNDIT BEING GIVEN ACCESS TO THE FLOOR AS LEGITIMATE JOURNALISTS WHERE LEGIT JOURNALISTS AROUND GIVEN ACCESS.

HOW DO YOU PLAIN WHAT IS GOING ON?

THERE IS SO MUCH HAPPENING, YOU COULDN'T MAKE THIS UP AS A POLITICAL FAIRYTALE.

>> ONE THING THAT IS NOT HAPPENING IS AN ACTUAL CANVAS OF THE BALLOTS HERE.

THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE OUT OF THE COLISEUM BY MAY 14.

>> WE WERE ORIGINALLY TOLD THIS WOULD TAKE 20 DAYS, THAT WAS THE EXPECTATION, GIVE OR TAKE, COULD TAKE LONGER.

KEN BENNETT TOLD US WE'RE ON PACE TO FINISH MAY 14.

ACCORDING TO BENNETT AS OF YESTERDAY, THEY'VE COUNTED SOMEWHERE AROUND 200000-200,000 BALLOTS, TURN% OF THE BALLOT.

THIS IS AFTER TWO WEEKS AFTER THEY WERE SAYING OH, WE'VE IMPROVED OUR PROCESSES, THINGS ARE MOVING FASTER, NOW THERE'S TALK OF GOING INTO JULY.

KEN BENNETT SAID THEY HAVE TO BE OUT AT THE 14th, THERE'S GRADUATIONS AFTER THAT.

THE WEEK AFTER THAT, WE CAN MAYBE STORE ALL THIS STUFF IN ANOTHER BUILDING ON THE FAIRGROUNDS SITE AND COME BACK A WEEK LATER AND KEEP GOING AND THERE'S NOT ANOTHER CONFLICT UNTIL JULY 1.

JULY 1 FOR SOMETHING THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE BEGUN BY MAY 14 AND IF IT'S DONE BY THEN, PRESUMING THEY STAY ON PACE, THIS COULD BE GOING INTO THE MIDDLE OF SUMMER, WHICH IS ASTONISHING.

>> THERE'S POLITICAL IMPLICATIONS.

KELLY TOWN SEND WHO HELD OUT HER VOTE ON ONE OF THE BILLS SAID I DON'T WANT TO VOTE ON ANY ELECTION BILLS UNTIL WE SEE THE RESULTS OF THE AUDIT.

DOES SHE HOLD OUT ON THE BUDGET AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

THE THOUGHT OF US HERE IN JULY, STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT CHANGE DO WE NEED TO MAKE ON ELECTION BASED ON WHAT MAY OR MAY NOT BE A FLAWED AUDIT IS JUST SCARY.

DOES THE SENATE NEED TO BE IN SESSION FOR THIS AUDIT TO CONTINUE?

>> NO, THE AUDIT CAN CONTINUE NO MATTER WHAT WITH THAT THE QUESTION IS WILL THEY ADJOURN.

THEY HAVE ELECTION BILLS YOU BE, CUTTING DOWN THE VOTING, MAKING IT EASIER TO KNOCK PEOPLE OFF THE HE REALLY VOTING LIST.

DO THEY WANT TO STAY HERE THAT LONG.

THE ONE THING THEY NEED TO DO IS ADOPT A BUDGET.

IT'S MAY 7.

IT'S DAY 118 OF THE 100 DAY SESSION AND WE'RE STILL WAITING ON A BUDGET AND OF COURSE THAT GETS TIED UP IN THE AUDIT IN TERMS OF NOT JUST GETTING THE VOTES BUT WHAT OTHER THINGS DO WE NEED TO DO, PUT MORE MONEY INTO ELECTION SECURITY AND IT ALL FITS TOGETHER AND HERE WE ARE TREADING WATER.

>> JEREMY, THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT IS NOW NOSING INS AROUND A LITTLE BIT HERE TRYING TO GET ANSWER TO SAY QUESTIONS THAT A LOT OF US HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET ANSWERS TO.

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE WITH THE DOJ?

>> JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SENT A LETTER EARLIER THIS WEEK IN RESPONSE TO THE BRENNAN CENTER AND OTHER ELECTION GROUPS RAISING CONCERNS WITH THEM.

WHAT THEY BASICALLY SAID IS FROM WHAT EVE SEEN, WE THINK THIS AUDIT IS VIOLATING A COUPLE OF BIG FEDERAL LAWS, ONE WOULD INVOLVE THE 1960 CIVIL RIGHTS ACT THAT REQUIRES THE PRESERVATION OF BALLOTS FOR I THINK 22 MONTHS AFT AN ELECTION IN CASE THEY NEED TO GO BACK AND INVESTIGATE AND LOOK AT THEM.

THEY'RE VERY CONCERNED THESE BALLOTS AREN'T BEING PROPERLY SECURED, COULD BE DAMAGED, SPOILED, SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT AND SAY COUNTY ELECTION OFFICIALS SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE ONES WHO RETAINED POSSESSION.

IT'S WORTH NOTING THEY GAVE THEM TO THE SENATE AND SAID WE REFUSE TO HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS AUDIT BECAUSE THEY DON'T ANY IT'S LEGITIMATE.

THAT'S ONE CONCERN.

THE OTHER THING A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT IS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO GO TO PRECINCTS WHERE THEY FOUND ANOMALIES AS THEY PUT IT, I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY'RE DEFINING THAT AND KNOCKING ON DOORS TO CONFIRM VOTER REGISTRATION INFORMATION, ASK PEOPLE ARE YOU REGISTERED TO VOTE.

DID YOU VOTE IN THE LAST ELECTION.

THAT'S RAISED A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT POTENTIAL VOTER INTIMIDATION AND JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SHARES THOSE CONCERNS SAYING THAT COULD CONSTITUTE VOTER INTIMIDATION VIOLATING THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT AND THEY WANT ANSWERS FROM PENALTY FAN ABOUT WHAT DO YOU DO TO PREVENT VIOLATION OF THESE TWO LAWS.

>> THAT'S REALLY CRITICAL.

LET'S SAY YOU HAPPEN TO BE A RESIDENT OF A MINORITY NEIGHBORHOOD AND ALL OF A SUDDEN SOME WHITE NICE PERHAPS WITH MAGA HATS SHOW UP AT THE DOORS, WE ARE HERE IN AN OFFICIAL CAPACITY, ACTING UNDER COLOR OF LAW AND WE WANT TO KNOW DID YOU VOTE, HOW DID YOU VOTE, DO YOU ALWAYS VOTE, BECAUSE WE WANT TO SEE IF IT MATCHES UP WITH OUR PRECINCT TALLIES.

FIRST OF ALL, I THINK MOST PEOPLE ARE GOING TO TELL THEM WHAT THEY CAN DO.

IT WOULD BE INTERESTING IF THEY WASTE A COUPLE OF THESE SWEARS, JUST GET LOST.

THE SURVEYORS THEN COME BACK AND SAY WE WEREN'T ABLE TO MATCH WHAT WE HEARD FROM THIS PRECINCT WITH THE TOTAL AND THEN SAY SEE, THE ELECTION IS FLAWED.

>> THAT'S MY QUESTION.

IF YOU COME TO MY HOUSE WITH THAT, I WILL LET YOU KNOW WHERE YOU CAN TAKE YOU AND YOURSELF AND ALL YOUR LITTLE FRIENDS.

>> EXACTLY.

>> BUT DOES THAT MEAN THAT THE BALLOT THAT THEY ARE LOOKING AT AT MY ADDRESS NOW IS CONSIDERED INVALID.

NOW IS CONSIDERED IT DOESN'T COUNT ANYMORE?

COME ON NOW.

>> THE THING IS THEY CAN'T EVEN TRACE IT BACK TO AN INDIVIDUAL BALLOT.

THE BALLOTS HAVE BEEN SEPARATED FROM THE ENVELOPES.

YOU CANNOT TELL WHERE THE BALLOT CAME FROM, SO THEY CAN'T INVALIDATE IT BUT THEY'RE GOING TO USE THIS AS PART OF THIS BECOMES THE BILLING LIE, SEE THESE RESULTS HERE SHOWED THAT TRUMP WON ARIZONA BY 10,457 VOTES ARE INACCURATE, BECAUSE WE COULDN'T MATCH UP THE VOTERS WITH THE NUMBERS THAT CAME OUT OF THAT PRECINCT.

IT'S ALL PART OF THE CONSPIRACY.

>> JEREMY, IT ROUNDS LIKE SECRETARY OF STATE HOBBLING IS ALSO AT NOW AT LEAST THREATENING A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE SENATE AUDIT, TRUE?

>> SHE'S CERTAINLY RAISED A LOT OF CONCERNS.

THERE'S A LOT OF FOLKS, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF LITIGATION SO FAR, I THINK MORE THREATS OF LITIGATION POTENTIALLY TO COME.

SHE HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MOST VOCAL PEOPLE IN RAISING A LOT OF THESE CONCERNS.

SHE SAID THEY HAD TO GO TO COURT TO GET OBSERVERS REPRESENTING HER OFFICE DOWN ALLOWED ON THE FLOOR.

THEY'VE BEEN THERE I THINK MOST OF THE WEEK AND CAME BACK YESTERDAY AND SAID THIS IS WHAT WE'VE SEEN.

WE HAVE CONCERNS HOW THEY'RE TALLYING BALLOTS, THESE CONSTANTLY SHIFTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES, WHAT THEY ARE DOING EXAMINING BALLOTS FOR BAMBOO OR WATER MARKS OR UNUSUAL FOLDS OR ANY OF THAT, UNSECURED LAPTOPS, LAPTOPS LEFT OPEN TO STUFF THEY ARE ENTERING TALLIES AND OTHER INFORMATION IN.

THERE'S A LOT OF CONCERNS.

THERE'S SERIOUS ACTION HERE, I'M PROBABLY EXPECTED TO COME FROM THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT.

>> YOU MENTIONED BAMBOO.

WELL OF COURSE, I MEAN WE'RE ALSO LOOKING FOR HEMP, COTTON, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW, USED SHIRTS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

THE THEORY IS AND I USE THE TERM THEORY VERY, VERY LOOSELY THAT SOMEHOW BALLOTS WERE FLOWN IN FROM ASIA, TAKEN OFF OF A PLANE AT SKY HARBOR AND TAKEN TO THE MARICOPA COUNTY ELECTION CENTER WHERE THEY WERE MIXED IN WITH ALL THE OTHER BALLOTS.

WE'VE HEARD FIGURES AS HIGH AS 40,000 OF THESE SO THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GOING TO FIGURE THIS OUT TO DETERMINE WHETHER THESE WERE LEGITIMATE BALLOTS IS BY EXAMINING EACH BALLOT WITH WHAT THEY CALL A 5K CAMERA.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT THAT THAT IS AND I'M A PHOTOGRAPHER AND WE'RE GOING TO DETERMINE IF THERE'S FIBERS IN THERE THAT DON'T BELONG.

THAT PRESUMES A THAT ASSUMING BALLOTS SAME FROM CHINA THAT THEY ARE USING BAMBOO, B.

THAT BALLOTS DON'T HAVE BAMBOO FROM HERE AND SOMEHOW THAT WOULD AFFECT THE TOTAL TALLY COUNT.

NONE OF THIS MAKES SENSE BUT BY GEORGE, WE'RE GOING TO CHASE THIS RABBIT DOWN THE HOLE.

>> OK, YOU CAN ONLY GO SO FAR DOWN THE BAMBOO THING.

EITHER YOU CHASE THAT RABBIT DOWN THE HOLE OR YOU DON'T.

THE FORMER STATE LAWMAKER WAS AT THE U.S. CAPITOL ON THE DAY OF THE CAPITOL RIOT.

IS HE STILL DOWN THERE HANDLING BALLOTS.

>> TO MY KNOWLEDGE, HE STILL IS AND THE FOLKS IN CHARGE OF THE AUDITS DON'T SEEM TO SHARE CONCERNS.

FORMER REPRESENTATIVE KEARN WAS A VERY AVID STOP THE STEAL ADVOCATE PROMOTING THE NOTION THAT THE ELECTION WAS RIGGED AND THERE WAS A LOT OF FRAUD.

HE WAS AT THE CAPITOL JANUARY 6.

HE SAID HE DIDN'T GO INSIDE.

FOOTAGE WE'VE SEEN IN THE PAST WEEK SHOWS THAT HE WAS A BIT CLOSER WE THOUGHT, THAT HE WAS IN AN AREA THAT WAS ACTUALLY BREACHED BY THE RIOTERS, NOW DOWN COUNTING BALLOTS.

WE KNEW HE WOULD BE INVOLVED IN SOME CAPACITY BECAUSE HE TWEETED THAT HE VOLUNTEERED HERE TO HAVE SOME KIND OF ROLE.

I CALLED SECRETARY BENNETT.

HE SAID NO, NO, HE'S NOT COUNTING BALLOTS, JUST A VOLUNTEER OBSERVER.

ONCE WE SAW HIM DOWN ON THE FLOOR COUNTING BALLOTS I CALLED KEN BENNETT BACK AND SAID WHAT GIVES.

HE SAID I THOUGHT HE WAS ON THE OBSERVER LIST BUT I DIDN'T KNOW HE SIGNED UP AS A COUNTER, I DON'T HAVE ANY CONTROL OUT OF THAT.

AT THE BEGINNING WE WERE TOLD THEY WERE GOING TO BE VETTING THESE PEOPLE TO BE SURE THERE WEREN'T FOLKS WHO HAD DEFINITIVE IDEAS ABOUT THE ELECTION BEING RIGGED AND THERE'S A NUMBER OF FOLKS FOUND IN THERE WHO ARE SUPPORTERS OF THE STOP THE STEAL MOVEMENT, INCLUDED BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANTHONY KEARN.

>> THIS PLUGS INTO EVERYTHING ELSE GOING ON FOR EXAMPLE, WHERE IS THE MONEY COMING FROM.

THIS IS A LEGISLATURE THAT JUST PASSED A BILL SAYING COUNTIES CAN'T ACCEPT OUTSIDE GRANTS EVEN THOUGH THEY KNOW WHERE THEY'RE COMING FROM EVEN THOUGH THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS PROVE IT BECAUSE YOU CAN'T TRUST ANYTHING WHERE YOU DON'T KNOW THE SORES.

NOW WE HAVE $2.8 MILLION BEING RAISED PERHAPS BY GROUPS THAT HAVE SAID STOP THE STEAL.

WE HAVE AS JEREMY POINTS OUT, THE IDEA THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO BE VETTED SO THAT WE CAN RELY ON IT HAVE NOT BEEN VETTED.

YOU COULDN'T HAVE TO GO VERY FAR INTO ANTHONY KEARN'S TWITTER FEED TO SEE HIS VIEWS, AND YET PEOPLE ARE SAYING YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TRUST US.

IF YOU CAN'T TRUST BASED ON WHO GO FUNDING IT, BECAUSE THE MONEY'S NOT GOING THROUGH THE SENATE, THIS IS GOING DIRECTLY TO CYBER NINJAS AND HEAD OF CYBER NAN.

>>S HAS SAID PREVIOUSLY THAT HE DOESN'T THINK THAT DONALD TRUMP LOST.

>> WE HAVE A MINUTE AND A HALF LEFT HERE.

JEREMY, WHERE IS THE LEADER OF THE STATE ON THIS, WHERE IS GOVERNOR DUCEY LAUGH LAUGH.

>> GOVERNOR DUCEY HAS HAD EXTRAORDINARILY LITTLE TO SAY.

WE ASKED HIM ABOUT IT.

HE SAID WAIT UNTIL IT'S DONE AND MAYBE HE'LL COMMENT THEN.

HE HAS DEFEND'S THE STATE'S ELECTION AS FAIR.

HE HASN'T REALLY SAID MUCH ABOUT THE CONSPIRACY THEORIES AND FRAUDS BUT THE AUDIT, THAT'S A SENATE THING, BASICALLY DON'T ASK ME AND HE'S DONE ALL HE CAN TO WASH HIS HANDS OF IT SO FAR.

WE WILL SEE IF THAT CONTINUES ONCE THE FINDINGS OF THE AUDIT COMES OUT BUT HE VERY, VERY CLEARLY DOESN'T WANT TO COMMENT AT ALL.

>> THE REALLY SAD PART IS THIS IS A GOVERNOR WHO HAS BUILT HIS REPUTATION, ARIZONA'S REPUTATION PROMOTING THE STATE, SAYING WE HAVE THE FAIR OF THE ELECTIONS THAT WE KNOW WE HAVE GREAT ELECTION LAWS AND HERE WHEN YOU HAVE HIS OWN ELECTION PARTY TRYING TO TEAR THEM DOWN AND TALK ABOUT HOW BAD THE LAWS ARE AND SOMEHOW PROVE JOE BIDEN LOST, HE IS AWOL, ASCEND WITHOUT ANY SORT OF LOGIC.

>> GOOD TO HAVE YOU BOTH HERE.

>> GLAD TO BE HERE.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> UP NEXT, AN ARIZONA TEACHER IS RECOGNIZED AS THE "NATIONAL" P.E.

TEACHER OF THE YEAR.

>> IT'S NATIONAL TEACHER APPRECIATION WEEK, AND OUR NEXT GUEST, KYLE BRAGG OF SCOTTSDALE'S ANASAZI ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, IS CERTAINLY APPRECIATED.

HE'S BEEN NAMED THE "NATIONAL" P.E.

TEACHER OF THE YEAR.

>> KYLE, THANKS FOR JOINING US, NATIONAL P.E.

TEACHER OF THE YEAR.

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?

>> WELL, THANKS FIRST OF ALL, TED FOR HAVING ME ON.

I'M JUST REALLY EXCITED TO HIGHLIGHT NOT ONLY OUR SCHOOL BUT ALSO OUR DISTRICT AND ALSO OUR STATE AND JUST HIGHLIGHT THE IMPORTANT THINGS ABOUT PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND ALL THE SPECIAL THINGS WE ARE DOING IN CLASS BEYOND PHYSICAL SCHOOLS, SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING AND PROBLEM SOLVING GOING ON AND THINGS THAT CAN BE USED IN OTHER SETTINGS.

I'M REALLY HAPPY THAT I CAN NOW ADVOCATE, HAVE A PLATFORM TO ADVOCATE FOR PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND HIGHLIGHT HIGH STUDENTS.

>> THE PANDEMIC HAD TO CHANGE YOUR TEACHING QUITE A BIT.

>> YEAH, IT'S BEEN A CRAZY YEAR.

WE'VE BEEN IN-PERSON FOR A WHILE NOW BUT ON LINE FOR ABOUT FOUR MONTHS AND THAT WAS TOUGH.

THE COOL THING IS, THOUGH, WE CAN USE THOSE ON LINE LESSONS MOVING FORWARD.

FOR EXAMPLE, IF A STUDENT ISN'T ABLE TO COME COME TO P.E., MAYBE THEY HAVE A DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT, I CAN STILL ACCEPT THEM A LESSON WE'VE DONE ON LINE THIS PAST YEAR AND THEY CAN ACCESS AND FEEL A PART OF IT, EVEN IF THEY'RE NOT ABLE TO GET IN PERSON.

INSTEAD OF GETTING RID OF THE LESSONS AND THINGS WE'VE DONE, I PLAN ON USING THEM IN THE FUTURE FOR PEOPLE WHO MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO GET TO P.E.

>> THAT MAKES SENSE.

SO WHAT MAKES A GOOD PHYSICAL EDUCATION TEACHER?

>> SOMEONE THAT JUST TRULY CARES ABOUT THE KIDS.

I THINK WHAT I'M REALLY PASSIONATE ABOUT IS GETTING THEM TO UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT HOW FAR YOU KICK A BALL OR HOWEVER YOU THROW A BALL.

IT'S ABOUT HOW YOU TREAT PEOPLE AND, YOU KNOW, LET'S THINK OF IT, NOT VERY MANY PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GROW UP AND BE A PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE SO I'M TRYING TO TEACH THINGS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO USE FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIFE, WHETHER THEY'RE A DOCTOR, LAWYER, TEACHER, WHATEVER, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GET ALONG WITH PEOPLE.

WE REALLY EMPHASIZE THAT.

I PRAISE THE THINGS THAT EVERYONE IS CAPABLE OF DOING.

SO INSTEAD OF SAYING HOW I'D LOVE HOWEVER YOU THREW THAT BALL, I PRAISE I LOVE THE EYE CONTACT YOU'RE GIVING YOUR PARTNER, I LOVE THE ELBOW BURNS YOU'RE GIVING YOUR PARTNER BECAUSE EVERYBODY IS CAPABLE OF DOING THAT.

THAT ALLOWS EVERYONE TO FEEL COMFORTABLE, NOT JUST THE ATHLETES.

ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU HAVE CULTURE AND CLIMATE AND BYE BUY IN THAT EVERYONE LOVES TO COME TO CLASS.

>> IS THAT WHAT YOU MEAN BY PHYSICAL LITERACY?

>> YES, SO PHYSICAL LITERACY, BEING ABLE TO LEARN THINGS THAT CAN BE APPLIED IN DIFFERENT SETTINGS.

WHAT I ALWAYS SAY IS I'M TRYING TO GIVE THEM PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPERIENCE A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS, WHETHER IT'S A HIKING TRAIL DOWN THE STREET THAT WE GO TO, MARTIAL ARTS, WHATEVER, GETTING THEM TO EXPERIENCE DIFFERENT THINGS AND THEN THEY CAN GO FIND OUT WHAT THEY LOVE AND PURSUE THAT BEYOND PHYSICAL EDUCATION.

I'M GIVING THEM OPPORTUNITIES TO FIND WHAT THEY'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT AND THEY'RE TAKING THAT FURTHER OUTSIDE OF P.E.

AS LONG AS THEY CAN GET ACTIVE OUTSIDE P.E., I'M REALLY HAPPY.

>> IT SOUNDS LIKE GONE ARE THE DETAILS YOU BLOW A WHISTLE AND LET THE KIDS RUN AROUND THE PLAY YARD THEMSELVES.

IT'S A DIFFERENT WORLD, ISN'T IT?

>> DON'T GET ME STARTED ABOUT DODGE BALL.

WE DON'T PLAY THAT.

WE WANT EVERYBODY TO FEEL COMFORTABLE.

WHAT I THINK ABOUT P.E., WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT BEYOND WHAT WE'VE TALKED, BY THE NATURE OF ITS CONTENT, IT'S THE ONLY SUBJECT AREA IN SCHOOL THAT CAN LITERALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN HOW EVERYBODY PERSON FEELS FROM TODAY AND THE REST OF THEIR LIVES, RIGHT?

WE TALK ABOUT PHYSICAL HEALTH, MENTAL HEALTH, HOW TO GET ALONG WITH PEOPLE.

THEY'RE GOING TO NEED THAT FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.

IF THEY DON'T KNOW THEIR MATH FACTS, THAT'S NOT GOING TO AFFECT HOW THEY FEEL, DOESN'T AFFECT HOW LONG THEY LIVE.

I THINK PHYSICAL EDUCATION IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO NOT ONLY TEACH ABOUT PHYSICAL HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH AND HOW TO GET ALONG WITH PEOPLE.

AS A PERSON WHO TEACHES, I CAN BE THAT ROLE MODEL THAT EVERY PERSON DESERVES BUT NOT EVERY PERSON GETS AT HOME.

IT'S A GREAT IF YOU DIDN'T FOR ME TO IMPACT THE ENTIRE SCHOOL.

SOME KIDS COME TO SCHOOL AND THEY DON'T HAVE ANY OF THAT.

THEY DON'T HAVE A DAD, MAYBE A MOM WHO'S NOT THERE.

I WANT TO BE THAT PERSON THEY CAN COUNT ON.

THEY CAN COME TO ME AND REALLY TRUST ME AND TALK TO ME BEYOND JUST IN CLASS, OUTSIDE OF CLASS I WANT TO BE THAT PERSON THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE WITH.

>> HOW DO YOU BALANCE THAT, THOUGH, WITH CRITICISM OF PARTICIPATION TROPHY WORLD WHERE NO ONE WINS, EVERYBODY PARTICIPATES, EVERYONE HAS SUCCESS.

THERE ARE KNOWS WHO SAY THAT'S, YOU GOT TO HAVE SOME COMPETITION.

HOW DO YOU BALANCE THAT?

>> YEAH.

THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

I LIKE TO THINK OF IT AS WE ALL ARE AT DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE LEVELS IN EVERYTHING.

LET'S SAY TED, YOU'RE GOOD AT SOCCER.

WHEN WE GET GET TO SOCCER I EXPECT TED AND BRAYDEN AND WHOEVER TO HELP THOSE PEOPLE LESS EXPERIENCED, SO THEY GET A LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITY AND OTHER PEOPLE GET BETTER BECAUSE OF THEIR HELP, RIGHT.

LET'S SAY WE'RE GOING TO DANCE AND I FEEL COMFORTABLE AND I CAN TEACH YOU HOW TO DANCE, SO EVERYONES EXPERIENCES ARE DIFFERENT BUT WE ALL HELP EACH OTHER INSTEAD OF GOING AGAINST EACH OTHER, WE LIFT EACH OTHER UP.

WE HAVE A LOT OF SELF GUIDED PROGRESSION.

IT'S AN IDEA FROM VIDEO GAMES, WE START AT LEVEL ONE AND ADVANCE AT THEIR OWN PACE.

THAT GIVES EVERYONE AN APPROPRIATE CHALLENGE.

LET'S SAY YOU'RE LEVEL FIVE AND I'M THREE, THAT'S OK, I'M STILL APPROPRIATELY CHALLENGED AND HAVE THAT WE CALL IT GOLDILOCKS ZONE, THE RIGHT CHALLENGE.

YOU MIGHT BE HIGHER BUT I CAN LEARN FROM YOU, YOU CAN HELP ME.

THAT MAKES ME FEEL OK BECAUSE I'M NOT WORRYING ABOUT OTHER THINGS.

I HAVE KNOW OWN CHALLENGES AND KIDS LOVE TO BE IN CHARGE, SO IT GIVES THEM A CHANCE TO REALLY BE IN CHARGE AND GIVE THEM THAT AUTONOMY TO GO AT THEIR OWN PACE.

>> SOUNDS LIKE YOU KNOW YOUR BUSINESS, YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB.

CONGRATULATIONS, A NATIONAL P.E.

TEACHER OF THE YEAR THERE.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON.

>> WE WANT TO TO HEAR FROM YOU.

SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

>> I'M JUDY WOODRUFF, TONIGHT, GETTING BACK TO WORK AFTER THE LONG DISRUPTIONS OF THE PANDEMIC, COMING UP AFTER YOUR HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS.