ORGANIZATION NEED YOUR HELP HOW CAN YOU VOLUNTEER TO HELP WITH THE PIGGY PROBLEM?

BREAK IT DOWN CONCERNS OVER ONLINE HARASSMENT IN THE GAMING WORLD.

IT'S ALL COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR ON ARIZONA PBS.

>> [TED SIMONS] GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M TEXT.

THERE'S NEW EVIDENCE THAT THE DELTA VARIANT OF COVID-19'S 40 MARICOPA COUNTY.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO THE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT WHICH RELEASED A STATEMENT TODAY SAYING THAT A VARIANCE BUT IDENTIFIED IN AN OUTBREAK OF LONG-TERM CARE FACILITY.

THE COUNTY'S AS OF THIS IS ONE INCIDENT THAT SHOWS HOW CONTAGIOUS IS.

IT IS AND HOW QUICKLY CAN SPREAD FROM PERSON-TO-PERSON, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE NOT VACCINATED.

THE COUNTY AT THE BEST PROTECTION AGAINST THE VARIANT IS TO GET FULLY VACCINATED.

THAT SAID, THERE'S INCREASING CONFUSION OVER COVERT VACCINE BOOSTER SHOTS.

PFIZER REPORTEDLY IS STEPPING UP EFFORTS TO DEVELOP A THIRD DOSE, IT SAYS THAT WILL HELP PROTECT AGAINST A VARIANCE OF THE CORONAVIRUS.

BUT THE FDA AND THE CDC ARE BOTH SAYING THAT AMERICANS DON'T NEED BOOSTERS YET AND THAT SCIENCE, NOT DRUG COMPANIES, WILL DECIDE WHAT BOOSTERS MIGHT BE RECOMMENDED.

GOVERNOR DUCEY TODAY SIGNED A BILL THAT REQUIRES ARIZONA SCHOOL STUDENTS TO LEARN ABOUT THE HOLOCAUST AND OTHER GENOCIDES AT LEAST TWICE BETWEEN THE SEVENTH AND 12th GRADE.

THE GOVERNOR SAID THAT THE BILL IS QUOTE A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO FIGHT ANTI-SEMITISM IN OUR STATE.

ADDED TO THAT QUOTE, ANTI-SEMITISM IS REAL.

ARIZONA ALREADY REQUIRES THAT STUDENTS LEARN ABOUT THE HOLOCAUST ONCE IN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND THEN AGAIN IN HIGH SCHOOL, BUT TODAY'S SIDING WITH THOSE REQUIREMENTS INTO LAW.

PRESIDENT BIDEN TODAY SIGNED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER TO PROMOTE BUSINESS COMPETITION.

THE PRESIDENT SAID THE GOAL IS TO REIN IN CORPORATIONS THAT DOMINATE MARKETS AND HOPES OF LOWERING PRICES TO CONSUMERS, INCREASING WAGES AND BUILDING AN ECONOMY THAT QUOTES, WORKS FOR EVERYONE.

THE PRESIDENT ADDED THAT QUOTE, CAPITALISM WITHOUT COMPETITION IS NOT CAPITALISM.

IT'S EXPECTATION.

FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMPET SCHEDULED TO VISIT PHOENIX ON JULY 204th FOR A RALLY AT THE ARIZONA FEDERAL THEATRE DOWNTOWN.

THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC REPORTED THE EVENT IS TITLED QUOTE THE RALLY TO PROTECT OUR ELECTIONS.

IT WILL BE TRUMP'S FIRST TRIP TO ARIZONA SINCE LOSING THE ELECTION IN NOVEMBER.

AND THE CONFIRMED DEATH TOLL IN THE CELL FOR A CONDO CLASS INCREASED TO 79 TODAY AFTER 14 MORE BODIES WERE RECOVERED.

SIXTY WHEN PEOPLE ARE STILL MISSING AND FEARED DEAD AMID THE WRECKAGE OF THIS 12 STORY BUILDING, WHICH IS NOW DOWN TO NEARLY GROUND-LEVEL DUE TO THE 13 MILLION POUNDS OF DEBRIS HAVEN'T BEEN REMOVED FROM THE SITE TIME NOW FOR THE JOURNALIST ROUNDTABLE AND FOR A LOOK AT THE LATEST ON MARICOPA ABOUT LIT COUNTY RECOUNT IN THE WHERE THE DENTAL TROP IS PLANNING TO VISIT PHOENIX, WELCOME STEVE GOLDSTEIN FROM KJ'S EASY RADIO AND JIM SMALL FROM THE ARIZONA MIRROR.

WE ARE SO GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE AND WE ARE SO TALK ABOUT THE SENATE RECOUNT AND WHAT HAVE YOU.

THE MARICOPA COUNTY BALLOTS AND WHERE PEOPLE ARE WONDERING WHERE THE BALANCE WHAT'S GOING ON?

>> [STEVE GOLDSTEIN, KJZZ RADIO] SPEAKING IS A MEMBER SAYING THIS APPARENTLY PEOPLE HAVE NOT BEEN REPORTING WITH HER SUPPOSED TO.

AT THIS POINT, WE ARE SEEING THE END CORONET OF COURT BATTLES.

IN COURT BATTLE THIS POINT WOULD BE MORE INTERESTING.

THIS IDEA THAT HOW MUCH INFORMATION THAT THE CYBER NINJAS HAVE TO ACTUALLY SHARE AT THIS POINT.

I'M ALSO THINKING ABOUT WHEN IS THE NEXT LEASE EXPIRATION?

THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF GOING ON RIGHT NOW WE DON'T HAVE THAT MUCH INFORMATION?

>> [TED SIMONS] JIM WHAT IS THE LATEST OF ALL THIS?

>> [JIM SMALL, ARIZONA MIRROR] THE LATEST IS THAT THE BALLOTS HAD BEEN MOVED OUT OF THE MAIN COLISEUM AT THE FAIRGROUNDS AND INTO AN ADJACENT BUILDING THAT IS NOT HAVE AIR CONDITIONERS AND IS ACTUALLY RECOMMENDED BY THE FAIRGROUNDS NOT TO BE USED BETWEEN MAY AND SEPTEMBER BECAUSE IT IS SO HOT.

THEY ARE IN THERE, THEY HAVE MOVED IN SOME PORTABLE AIR CONDITIONERS AND THE GOAL RIGHT NOW IS TO RECOUNT ALL OF THE BALLOTS.

I CAN HEAR YOU SAYING WAIT A SECOND THEY CAN'T DO THAT.

THEY DID THEY RECOUNTED THE BALLOTS TO SEE WHETHER THEY WONDERED WHETHER HE WON THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE AND U.S. SENATE RACE.

THIS TIME IT IS TO COUNT THE PHYSICAL PIECES OF PAPER TO SEE HOW MANY ACTUAL BALLOTS THEY HAVE IN THE BOXES.

THIS WILL REQUIRE THEM TO GO THROUGH AND TO DUPLICATE WHAT THEY DID BEFORE.

WHICH IS GO THROUGH EVERY SINGLE BOX AND FOLLOW THE SECURITY PROTOCOLS THAT WERE RELEASED DURING THE ORIGINAL AUDIT.

THE ORIGINAL BALLOTS REVIEW IS FOREVER CHANGING AND THEY ARE BRINGING IN SPECIAL MACHINES TO ADJUST AND COUNT THE ACTUAL PIECE OF PAPER TO VERIFY HOW MANY BALLOTS ARE ACTUALLY THERE.

>> [TED SIMONS].

WHAT IS THE ENDGAME HERE STEVE?

ONE OF THE GOING TO STOP COUNTING AND RECOUNTING THE COUNT?

>> [STEVE GOLDSTEIN, KJZZ RADIO].

THIS IS BEEN A REDUCTION IN THE SITUATION TO DEAL WITH.

THE CEO OF OVERSTOCK HAS PUT IN MONEY INTO THIS.

HE IS QUOTED AS SAYING, WE, WAIT A SECOND THEY, THE OPENING IS MESSED UP IN TERMS.

THIS HAS NEVER BEEN AN UNBIASED SITUATION AND WE ARE VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE CYBER NINJAS AGAIN.

THE CONNECTION TO ALL OF THESE THINGS, THE FACT THAT THE PUBLICATION AND THE DOCUMENTARY THAT WAS INCLUDED ABOUT THIS INFORMATION.

IT LOOKS LIKE A LOADED SITUATION AND WITH HIS OTHER RECOUNT THAT WE ARE HEARING ABOUT IT'S GOING TO END BEFORE AUGUST OF 2022 BEFORE THE NEXT PRIMARIES.

THE SATISFACTION HERE IS TO RAISE MONEY, AS THEY SAY JEN AT THE BASE.

OTHER THAN THAT I CAN'T FIGURE IT OUT.

>> [TED SIMONS] IT SOUNDS LIKE FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD WILL BE IN THE VALLEY ON JULY 204th OF THE FEDERAL THEATER DOWNTOWN.

THERE'S GOING TO BE A RALLY, BUT HE IS GOING TO BE HERE.

THEY COULD STILL BE COUNTING SOMETHING BY THEN AND THEN IT SEEMS LIKE IT BECOMES A RALLYING POINT TO REGARDLESS WHAT THE RESULTS MIGHT SHOW.

>> [STEVE GOLDSTEIN, KJZZ RADIO].

I THINK THAT WAS THE ENTIRE POINT I ALONG.

WE HAVE SEEN ALL OF THESE E-MAILS THAT HAVE BEEN RELEASED BETWEEN SENATE LEADERS AND IN PARTICULAR, SENATE PRESIDENT KAREN, WHO LED THE CHARGE ON THIS.

AND DIFFERENT PEOPLE IN THE TRUMP ORGANIZATION AND PEOPLE WHO WORKED ON THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN, THE WHOLE POINT FROM THE BEGINNING FROM ALL OF THOSE POSTS WAS TO HAVE AN AUDIT.

IT WAS NOT TO RESTORE INTEGRITY IN THE ELECTION OR RESTORE CONFIDENCE IN THE ELECTION, IT IS TO PROVE THAT THERE WAS SOME KIND OF MALPRACTICE.

COUNTY ELECTION OFFICIALS HAVE INSISTED UP AND DOWN THIS DID NOT HAPPEN.

ALL OF THE STATUTORILY REQUIRED CHECKS HAPPENS IN THE ALL OF THE POSTELECTION AUDITS OF THE COUNTY AND STATE BOARD DID NOT HAPPEN THAT THERE IS, FRANKLY, NO EVIDENCE FOR IT.

THE ENTIRE TIME THIS HAS BEEN A PARTISAN REVIEW AND IT HAS BEEN AIMED SOLELY AT, AS YOU SAID, GINNING UP THE BASE.

PASSING OUT ON THE ELECTION AND REALLY TRYING TO MAKE EXCUSES FOR THE REASON THAT TRUMP LOST IN ARIZONA, WHICH FRANKLY IS BECAUSE HE TURNED OFF A LOT OF REPUBLICAN VOTERS AND INDEPENDENTS.

THOSE PEOPLE VOTED FOR JOE BIDEN AND AS WE SAW THEY DID NOT VOTE FOR DONALD TRUMPET.

>> [TED SIMONS] LESS QUESTION STEVE.

IT LOOKS LIKE SOME VIEW OR IRREGULAR VIDEOS FOUND.

WITHERS RESULT FROM THE COUNTY BALLOTS, I JUST CAN'T KEEP TRACK OF WHAT'S BEING COUNTED ANYMORE.

SOME EXPLAIN THIS.

WHO DO YOU BLAME AND HOW DO YOU KNOW WHAT WAS AT FAULT?

IS IT CAN BE THE MACHINES IS MEGABYTE THE PEOPLE COUNTING WHO IS AT FAULT HERE?

WHAT IS THE POINT?

>> [STEVE GOLDSTEIN, KJZZ RADIO].

WELL TED THERE'S NO WAY TO FIGURE THIS OUT FROM THIS POINT.

EVEN IF THERE WAS A MISTAKE IT WAS LIKELY A QUOTE UNQUOTE HONEST MISTAKE BECAUSE THERE ARE GOING TO BE OCCASIONALLY SHOWS THESE THINGS.

THERE WAS A LIFE WIDESPREAD VOTER PROGRAM THAT'S BEEN PROVEN OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

THIS IS ABOUT POLITICS AND KEEPING A CERTAIN BASE READY TO GO BECAUSE GUESS WHAT THAT MAKES PEOPLE HAPPY.

>> [TED SIMONS] JIM, SPEAKING OF POLITICS, SOME SAY THAT SECRETARY KATIE HOBBS OUT TROLL CANDIDATE IS THAT THERE ARE OTHER REASONS WHY SHE IS WANTING THE WHITE HOUSE TO INVESTIGATE.

CERTAINLY ARIZONA OFFICIALS TO A BUS TICKET AS WELL BUT WE WILL SELL FOR THAT GOES.

INVESTIGATE THE PHONE CALLS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE, THE TRUMP WHITE HOUSE AND TRUMP SUPPORTERS TO ARIZONA OFFICIALS REGARDING THE ELECTION ITSELF.

TALK WITH US ABOUT THIS.

>> [JIM SMALL, ARIZONA MIRROR].

WHAT WE LEARNED AND THANKS TO SOME GREAT REPORTING FROM THE ARIZONA OWNER THIS WEEK.

WHAT HAPPENED IN GEORGIA ARE BIG STORIES ABOUT TRUMP AND THE PEOPLE IN HIS CAMPAIGN APPARATUS REALLY TRYING TO APPLY PRESSURE IN GEORGIA TO STOP COUNTING AND TO LITERALLY SIGN.

THEY WERE PUTTING THE SAME KIND OF PRESSURE HERE.

JUST ENDED DIFFERENTLY.

IN GEORGIA THEY WERE GOING AFTER REPUBLICAN SECRETARY OF STATE AND HERE IN ARIZONA THEY ARE GOING AT THE REPUBLICAN LEADER OF AMERICA HANNAH BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

I THINK THE OTHER REALLY BIG DIFFERENCES WHILE IN GEORGIA THE REPUBLICAN OFFICIALS TOOK THOSE CALLS AND WENT TO THE WHITE HOUSE AND SPOKE TO DONALD TRUMPET AND HIS ATTORNEYS, HERE THEY DID NOT.

THEY LET THOSE CALLS GO TO VOICEMAIL AND THEY NEVER RETURN THEM.

THERE IS CERTAINLY A WHOLE TRAIL OF VOICEMAILS AND TEXT MESSAGES FROM ARIZONA REPUBLICAN PARTY CHAIRWOMAN AND OTHERS WHO LITERALLY ASKING REPUBLICAN OFFICIALS TO STOP COUNTING BALLOTS IN THE WEEKS, DAYS, AFTER THE ELECTION.

KATIE HOBBS HAS JOINED THE CHORUS OF OTHER PEOPLE AND OTHER CRITICS ACTIVISTS AND OPPONENTS OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN SAYING, THIS LOOKS LIKE GREAT STATE LAW.

WE HAVE GREAT STATE LAWS TO ENTER TO BAR PEOPLE FROM INTERFERING IN THE COUNTING OF AN ELECTION.

THIS MIGHT CROSS THAT LINE, SO SHE IS CALLING ON ARIZONA REPUBLICAN'S ATTORNEY MARC BURBAGE TO TALK ABOUT IT AND ALSO THE US JUSTICE DEPARTMENT.

>> [TED SIMONS] WE ALSO MENTIONED NO ONE TO CLARIFY PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND HE WON'T INVESTIGATE FOR MORAL REASONS OR WHATEVER REASONS YOU CAN FIND, THEN PASS ON TO ANOTHER AGENCY HOW LIKELY ANY THIS GOING TO HAPPEN?

>> [STEVE GOLDSTEIN, KJZZ RADIO].

IT'S NOT.

I COME BACK TO SECRETARY STATE HOBBS FOR GOVERNOR,.

[INAUDIBLE] THOUGH HE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST WELL-KNOWN REPUBLICANS TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST SOME OF THE DISCUSSION AND A FRAUD, HE ALSO CAN SEE HAS CHANGED HIM A LITTLE BIT.

HE IS BEEN OUTGOING IN SAYING THAT THE DOJ, UNDERWOOD SIMMONS GOVERNMENT AT TEN.

>> [TED SIMONS] WOULD IT SURPRISE YOU KNOW NO ONE WELCOME FOR THAT AS WELL.

>> [JIM SMALL, ARIZONA MIRROR].

HE CAME OUT WAS VERY CRITICAL OF MARC EVENTUALLY THERE'S A WAY THAT ARIZONA COULD SUPPORT HIM AGAIN.

>> [TED SIMONS].

STEVE BACK TO YOU.

THE SURPRISE OF APSLEY NOBODY HE'S GOING TO RUN FOR SECRETARY OF STATE.

HE IS A FORMER MARICOPA COUNTY RECORDER.

EVERYTHING HAPPENING WITH THAT BALANCE IN MARICOPA COUNTY, HE IS FOCUSED WHERE THE UMBRELLA IF YOU WILL.

AND PEOPLE HE DID LOSE HIS RACE IN MARICOPA COUNTY.

>> [JIM SMALL, ARIZONA MIRROR].

HE LOST A TOY THAT CONTRADICTS ALL OF THE FRAUD CLAIMS.

HE'S AN HONEST MAN.

>> [TED SIMONS].

THROWN ME FOR A LOOP.

>> [JIM SMALL, ARIZONA MIRROR].

RUNNING AGAINST HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER, WANT TO SWITCH HE KEEPS THROWING OUT HIS PROTECTOR MOXIE.

IS ALSO MADE A LOT OF NATIONAL MEDIA APPEARANCES AS WELL.

HE'S VERY MEDIA SAVVY.

I THINK HE WILL BE ABLE TO, COMMUNICATION WISE, SPEND SOME OF THIS IN A POSITIVE.

>> [TED SIMONS] APPEARED EARLY HANDICAP JIM EARLY >> [JIM SMALL, ARIZONA MIRROR] I THINK IT'S REALLY SAD TO THINK THAT IT'S GOING TO COME DOWN TO SOME EARLY RESOURCES.

I THINK WHO IS ABLE TO COALESCE AND BE ABLE TO GET EARLY MONEY BEHIND THEM HE WAS ABLE TO COALESCE ON THOSE ENDORSEMENTS.

IN PARTICULAR, PERHAPS SOME OF THE OUTSIDE GROUPS IN THE OUTSIDE DEMOCRATIC GROUPS AND SEE IF THEY RALLY AROUND ONE CANDIDATE OVER THE OTHER.

I THINK YOU'D HAVE TO GIVE THE EARLIEST TO AJ BECAUSE IT IS BETTER KNOWN IN MARICOPA COUNTY, AMONG DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS.

AND THEN JUST A BROADER ELECTORATE.

>> [TED SIMONS] JUST QUICKLY STEVE, THE REPUBLICANS SAY DECIDE ANY FAVORITES?

SPEAK TO.

I WOULD SUSPECT SOME OF THE CONSERVATIVES TO KNOCK EACH OTHER OUT WITH MARC PYNCHON, SHAWNA BULLOCK, THERE IS A HUGE LIST AND I GUESS WHOEVER IS THE, IS THERE COMMON SENSE CONSERVATIVE?

WHOEVER THAT PERSON IS.

>> [TED SIMONS].

ALL RIGHT, LAST POINT HERE BEFORE WE GO TO TALK ABOUT THE SUPREME COURT APPOINTMENT, KATHERINE HECKERT KING FORMER DEPUTY ATTORNEY AND DEPUTY COUNSEL, GENERAL COUNSEL TO THE GOVERNOR.

THE POINT HERE STEVE THOUGH IS THIS IS THE SIXTH SUPREME COURT APPOINTMENT FROM GOVERNOR DUCEY.

>> [STEVE GOLDSTEIN, KJZZ RADIO].

SINCE WE SELL THE ISSUE AND EXPANSION OF TUMOR SEEDS IN THE COURT HAS BEEN, LIKE NOTHING WE'VE EVER SEEN BEFORE IN HISTORY HERE IN ARIZONA TED.

WHAT IS INTERESTING THAT THE PEOPLE HE HAS CHOSEN FROM, WE USED TO SEE THIS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL WE DON'T SEE THAT ANYMORE.

A CHOICE OF PEOPLE THAT ARE NOT AS COMING FROM JUDGESHIPS, BUT PEOPLE COMING FROM FORMER ATTORNEY HE WAS REALLY MORE OF A THOUGHT LEADER ON THE CONSERVATIVE SIDE AND ELLEN IN THIS CASE AS WELL.

MS. KING WAS INVOLVED IN THE BOARD OF REGENTS AND WORK FOR THE GOVERNOR AS WELL.

IT'S INTERESTING TACTIC AS FAR AS LEGOS.

>> [TED SIMONS] PURITY MAKE OF THIS JIM?

THE GOVERNMENT HAS A LOT OF SAY IN THE CURRENT MAKEUP OF THE COURT.

>> [JIM SMALL, ARIZONA MIRROR].

I DON'T THINK THAT THE SELECTION OF JUSTICE KING WAS SURPRISED ANYBODY WAS WATCHING THE PROCESS.

I THINK SHE WAS NEW AND THE ODDS ON FAVORITE BECAUSE FOR CLOSE TIES TO THE GOVERNOR.

BUT I THINK STEVE REALLY FASCINATING POINT.

OF THE SIX JUSTICES THAT HE HAS APPOINTED A BULLY FOUR OF THEM HAD NO PRIOR JUDICIAL EXPERIENCE.

THAT IS IN ADDITION TO HAVING TO APPOINT SIX PEOPLE TO THE COURTS, THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE TAKEN SO MANY PEOPLE WITHOUT A BACKGROUND IN AN JURISPRUDENCE AND BEING ON THE BENCH AND RUNNING ON CASES I THINK REALLY DOES DRAMATICALLY RESHAPE THE WAY THE COURT WILL OPERATE AND THE WAY WILL VIEW CERTAIN THINGS THINGS.

>> [TED SIMONS].

ALRIGHT GENTLEMEN GENTLEMEN, GOOD STUFF AND GOOD CONVERSATION.

I CAN'T LEAVE THIS ASSENTED TO RECAP MARICOPA COUNTY RECOUNT.

REAL QUICKLY, WHAT IS NEXT ALL OF THIS?

>> [STEVE GOLDSTEIN, KJZZ RADIO].

GOSH TED, I SHOULD OPEN UP A SHOP TO FIGURE THIS OUT BECAUSE I HAVE NO IDEA.

IT IS GOING TO LEAD TO MORE ATTEMPTS AT AUDIT LEGISLATION IN ARIZONA.

>> [TED SIMONS] JIM IS ABLE TO AIMING AT HERE?

WHATEVER RESULTS ARE FOUND THEY WILL POINT TO THIS AND THEY WILL MOVE TO THAT?

>> [JIM SMALL, ARIZONA MIRROR].

YES THEY WILL.

BUT I THINK THEY ARE JUST GOING TO USE THAT AS PAPER COVER TO IMPLEMENT RESTRICTIONS THEY WERE ALREADY PLANNING ON AN ALREADY HAD DESIGNS ON.

THAT IS JUST GOING TO BE THE EXCUSE TO DO THAT.

SO IT IS GOING TO BE FASCINATING TO SEE WHAT COMES OF THIS REPORT FOR SURE.

AND THEN EXACTLY WHAT ALLEGED ERRORS THEY FIND IN OUR ELECTION SYSTEM.

>> [TED SIMONS] PAID WE WILL WRAP IT UP RIGHT THERE.

JIM SMALL ARIZONA OWNER AND STEVE GOLDSTEIN WITH KJ'S EASY.

UP NEXT, CONCERNS OVER THE HARVESTING OF THE HALLUCINOGENIC VENOM OF A NATIVE DESERT TOAD.

>> [TED SIMONS] THE SONORAN DESERT TOAD IS A NATIVE AND FABIAN IT APPEARS THROUGHOUT THE REGION WHEN SUMMER RAIN STARTS TO HIT.

THE TOAD IS ALSO TARGETED BIRDS HALLUCINOGENIC VENOM, WHICH AMUSED HIMSELF BY THE GATE.

AND THAT'S RAISING A NUMBER OF CONCERNS.

WE LEARN MORE FROM ROBERT VELA OF THE TUCSON HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

WE ARE WELCOMING YOU AND IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE SONORAN DESERT TOAD.

TELL US ABOUT THIS TEAM THING.

>> THIS IS AN AMPHIBIAN VERSION OF THIS OR BORROW AND NOWHERE ELSE EXCEPT THE SONORAN DESERT'S IS FOUND.

IT IS THE LARGEST AMPHIBIAN IN THE SOUTHWEST AND THEY ARE SORT OF EMBLEMATIC OF IT IN MANY WAYS.

THE LARGEST INDIVIDUAL THAT'S LITTLE BIT SMALLER THAN A FOOTBALL AND THEY ARE OLIVE GREEN AND AND SOMETIMES THEY MIGHT HAVE SOME ORANGE SIDING ON THEM.

BUT LIKE ALL TOADS THEY ARE VERY CONSPICUOUS AND THEY HAVE GLANCED BEHIND EACH SIDE.

>> [TED SIMONS].

IT'S A GLANCE OVER TO TALK ABOUT HERE BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE THEY HAVE HALLUCINOGENIC VENOM, CORRECT?

>> YES, IT'S A TOXIN THAT AND THIS ONE TONE AND NOT ANY OTHER TOAD IS ONE TOAD PRODUCES NEARLY PURE AMOUNTS OF THE TOCSIN.

SO FAR AS WE KNOW IT IS THE ONLY VERTEBRA ON EARTH THAT DOES THIS.

AND UNFORTUNATELY WHEN THIS WAS DISCOVERED, WHICH WAS A VERY UNUSUAL STORY IN AND OF ITSELF; BUT ONCE THAT WAS DISCOVERED IT KIND OF PUT IN A KIND OF PUT PRESSURE ON THE TOAD AT FIRST.

THIS WAS IN THIS 1970s IN THE 1980s, IT WAS A BIT OF AN UNDERGROUND THING THAT WITH THE PSYCHEDELIC RENAISSANCE WITHIN THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS THAT DEMAND HAS BEEN MUCH GREATER THAN BEFORE BY ORDERS OF MAGNITUDE THIS IS WHY WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THIS NOW IN THE FIRST PLACE BECAUSE WE WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE STATUS OF THIS TOAD IS IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO AFFORD IT TO THE PROTECTION THAT IT DESERVES.

>> [TED SIMONS].

PEOPLE SELF-MEDICATING WITH THE VENOM, THAT CANNOT BE GOOD FOR THE TOAD ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE HARVESTING THE VENOM.

IT IS NOT SELECTED TO BE ALL THAT GOOD FOR THE PEOPLE AS WELL.

ALTHOUGH THERE IS SOME IDEA THAT COULD HELP WITH CERTAIN PSYCHIATRIC CONDITIONS.

>> [ROBERT VILLA, TUSCON HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY].

WE SEE THIS IN MANY OTHER ANIMALS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD THAT HAVE BECOME ENDANGERED BECAUSE THEY EITHER PROVIDE OR ARE THOUGHT TO PROVIDE REALLY STRONG BENEFITS.

LIKE A CURE FOR CANCER, OR SOME WONDER DRUG AND IN THIS CASE IT IS TRUE THAT THIS TOAD, AFTER INHALING THE SMOKE FROM BURNING THE SECRETIONS OF THIS TOAD, PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED THAT THEY NO LONGER ARE DEPENDENT ON SUBSTANCES LIKE METH OR OPIATES.

THEY HAVE SEVERELY REDUCED PTSD, IS NOT COMPLETELY GONE.

UNFORTUNATELY, THIS IS SUCH A STRONG DRUG THAT THERE ARE SMALL AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT WILL DIE FROM IT BECAUSE PERHAPS THEY DON'T KNOW OF ANY UNDERLYING PRE-EXISTING HEALTH CONDITIONS.

OR DON'T TAKE THOSE INTO CONSIDERATION BEFORE THEY TAKE THE SUBSTANCE.

THE FACT IS THAT THE AMOUNT OF FACILITATORS IS GROWING.

THERE IS REALLY NO RUBIK OR STANDARD THAT THESE PEOPLE CAN BE CERTIFIED IN ANY SORT OF WAY.

YOU REALLY NEED QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS, NEVER MIND THE FACT THAT IN THE UNITED STATES IT IS A FEDERALLY SCHEDULED SUBSTANCE.

PEOPLE OFTEN DO THESE THINGS IN MEXICO OR IN COUNTRIES WHERE IT IS NOT ILLEGAL.

UNFORTUNATELY, IF THEY HAVE A REALLY BAD REACTION IT CAN BE REALLY DIFFICULT TO FIND AN ACTUAL MEDICAL HELP THAT COULD BE NEEDED.

BECAUSE THEY MIGHT BE FAR AWAY FROM THE HOSPITAL OR OUT OF A CELL PHONE SERVICE.

>> [TED SIMONS].

RIGHT, AGAIN IT CAN'T BE GOOD FOR THE TOAD.

I HEARD THAT IT WAS DISAPPEARING FROM SOME REGIONS ALREADY.

>> [ROBERT VILLA, TUSCON HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY].

WHEN I FIRST FOUND A FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS ISSUE IT WAS BACK IN 2014, I HAD BEEN INVITED WITH A COLLEAGUE TO THE YAQUI REASON OF SONORAN DESERT.

BY THAT POINT THE TOAD HAD BEEN DISAPPEARING FROM CERTAIN AREAS OF THE REGION.

AND THAT'S WHEN I LEARNED ABOUT THE DEMANDS AND THEN AT THAT TIME AND I HAVE NO WAY OF VERIFYING THIS.

AT THAT TIME I'M BEEN TOLD THAT TO TONS OF TOAD HAD BEEN CONFISCATED BY THE AUTHORITIES AND DESTROYED.

WHERE WE STAND NOW IS THAT THERE IS A GROWING INDUSTRY.

MAYBE A COTTAGE INDUSTRY BUT THERE IS ENOUGH OF A DEMAND IN MEXICO WHERE THE TOAD AND OR ITS SECRETIONS ARE BEING TRAFFICKED OUT OF OUR REGION INTO MEXICO CITY AND THEN TO THE REST OF THE WORLD.

THE THING IS, WE REALLY CAN'T POINT AND DO ANYTHING ABOUT A PROBLEM UNLESS WE UNDERSTAND WHAT A HEALTHY POPULATION OF TOADS LOOKS LIKE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

WE NEED A CONTROL.

THE FACT IS, THAT SCIENTISTS ARE SO BUSY WORRYING ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE ALREADY ON THEIR WAY OFF THE GLOBE THAT THEY NEGLECT WHAT THEY PERCEIVE AS A COMMON AND ABUNDANT SPECIES.

AND UNTIL RECENTLY THEY THOUGHT THAT WAS THE SCENARIO FOR THE TOAD.

AS IT STANDS THERE ARE PROBABLY MILLIONS OF SONORAN DESERT TOAD ON THE LANDSCAPE.

BUT AT A CERTAIN POINT, AN ADULT WITHIN THE POPULATION CAN BE TAKEN OR KILLED THAT THE POPULATION CAN'T REBOUND ANY FURTHER FROM THE AMOUNT OF COLLECTION THAT IS GOING ON.

SO, IT IS REALLY A PERCEPTION OF ABUNDANCE THAT LIES IN THE FACE OF ACTUALLY PROTECTING THESE ANIMALS.

SO, WE NEED TO JUMP ON THE BOAT RIGHT NOW.

THIS SUMMER WE ARE GOING TO FUND THE FIRST OFFICIAL STUDY TO UNDERSTAND THE STATUS OF THE SONORAN DESERT TOAD.

>> [TED SIMONS].

WE WILL CERTAINLY LOOK AN UPDATE ON THIS FASCINATING STORY.

ROBERT VILLA, TUCSON HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

>> [ROBERT VILLA, TUSCON HERPETOLOGICAL SOCIETY].

THANK YOU.

>> [TED SIMONS] THAT IS IT FOR NOW, I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

COMING UP IN THE NEXT HALF HOUR ON CRONKITE NEWS: THE LEGACY OF PATT TILLMAN IS BEING PASSED ON TO NEW GENERATION AND ON BREAK IT DOWN CONCERNS ON ONLINE HARASSMENT IN THE GAMING WORLD.

ON THE NEXT ARIZONA HORIZON THE LATEST ON THIS PART OF COVID-19 DELTA VARIANT AND HELP WANTED SIGNS ARE EVERYWHERE.

SO WERE T