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

ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," THE JOURNALISTS' ROUNDTABLE LOOKS AT, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE STATE HEALTH DIRECTOR LEAVING HER POSITION.

>>> ON CRONKITE NEWS, THE MENTAL HEALTH RAMIFICATIONS OF RECOMMENDING THAT MASKS BE WORN INDOORS.

>>> ON "BREAK IT DOWN," THE GLASS CLIFF AND IMPACT ON WOMEN OF COLOR.

THAT'S ALL COMING UP 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 CDC REPORTS IT'S POSSIBLE THAT THOSE WHO ARE FULLY IMMUNIZED AGAINST COVID-19 CAN SPREAD THE DELTA VARIANT OF THE CORONAVIRUS TO UNVACCINATED PEOPLE, REPORT SAYS THAT SUCH INSTANCES ARE RARE, BUT FULLY IMMUNIZED PEOPLE WITH BREAKTHROUGH CASES CAN SPREAD THE VIRUS, SOMETIME AS EASILY AS THOSE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN VACCINATED.

IT'S YET ANOTHER TWIST IN THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID, BUT HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE SAYING IT'S BETTER TO BE VACCINATED AND THAT THE CDC REPORT REINFORCES THE NEED TO TAKE THE VIRUS AND VACCINATION SERIOUSLY.

>> I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY VACCINATION RATES IN THE UNITED STATES ARE RISING.

I THINK PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO GET IT.

YOU DON'T SCREW AROUND WITH THIS VIRUS.

THIS VARIANT CAN KILL YOU.

SO IF YOU'RE NOT VACCINATED, IT'S NOT TOO LATE, YOU CAN DO IT TOMORROW.

TED: CDC INTERNAL DOCUMENTS DESCRIBED DELTA VARIANT AS SIGNIFICANTLY MORE CONTAGIOUS AS THE ORIGINAL VIRUS AND AS CONTAGIOUS AS CHICKEN POX.

>>> ARIZONA REPORTED MORE THAN 1900 CASES OF COVID.

STATE'S SEVEN-DAY AVERAGE IS 38% HIGHER THAN LAST WEEK, NOT GOOD.

VACCINATION RATES ARE 10% HIGHER THIS WEEK.

THERE'S THAT.

>>> ALSO THERE WERE 24 COVID-RELATED FATALITIES TODAY.

>>> THE PHOENIX UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT WILL REQUIRE MASKS INDOORS WHEN THE SCHOOL YEAR STARTS NEXT WEEK, EVERYONE REGARDLESS OF VACCINATION STATUS, DESPITE A NEW LAW THAT PROHIBITS SCHOOL DISTRICTS FROM REQUIRING MASKS OR VACCINATIONS.

GOVERNOR'S OFFICE RESPONDED TO THE POLICY BY SAYING THAT IT, QUOTE, HAS NO TEETH, IS NOT ALLOWED UNDER ARIZONA LAW AND UNENFORCEABLE.

PHOENIX UNION IS THE LARGEST HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT IN THE STATE.

>>> WE TALKED HOW THE FEDERAL MORATORIUM ON EVICTION SAYS RUNNING OUT ON JULY 31.

SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE NANCY PELOSI EMPHASIZED THAT POINT AND URGING CONGRESS TO EXTEND THE MORATORIUM.

>> THESE PEOPLE HAVE NOT GOTTEN THE MONEY, SO THIS IS -- I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'LL WORK OUT.

IT ISN'T ABOUT ANY MORE MONEY.

THE MONEY IS THERE.

RESTING IN LOCALITIES AND GOVERNOR'S OFFICES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

SO WE WOULD LIKE THE CDC TO EXPAND THE MORATORIUM, THAT'S WHERE IT CAN BE DONE.

TED: BUT THE HOUSE ADJOURNED FOR AUGUST RECESS WITHOUT PASSING EXTENSION.

ARIZONA REPORTEDLY HAS RECEIVED UPWARDS OF $290 MILLION FOR RENTAL ASSISTANCE WITH LESS THAN 20 MILLION DISTRIBUTED.

>>> JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT A VERY BUSY WEEK IN THE NEWS, HOWIE FISCHER OF EXPERT MEDIA SERVICES AND STEVEN GOLDSTEIN OF KJZZ.

WHAT A BUSY WEEK, HOLY SMOKES, HOWIE, START WITH YOU, DR. CARA CHRIST LEAVING AS STATE HEALTH DIRECTOR, DID HE JUMP OR WAS SHE PUSHED?

>> SHE JUMPED.

SHE RECOGNIZED WHATEVER YOU BELIEVE ABOUT HER RELATIONSHIP WITH THE GOVERNOR, WE CAN TALK ABOUT THAT.

SHE HAD A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FROM BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD TO BE THE CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER.

THIS IS A ONCE IN A LIFETIME, MAYBE TWICE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY, AND THE SIMPLE FACT THAT COME JANUARY 2023, SHE IS OUT OF A JOB.

SHE ADMITTED SHE DOES NOT HAVE A POSITION IN THE FUTURE ADMINISTRATION.

SOME OF THE REPUBLICANS THINK TEE SHE DID TOO MUCH, DEMOCRATS THINK SHE DID TOO LITTLE.

TAKE WHAT YOU GOT.

TED: STEVE, THIS CAME 24 HOURS AFTER THE CDC HAD NEW SCHOOL GUIDELINES AND THE GOVERNOR ESSENTIALLY POOH-POOHED THE GUIDELINES.

ANY CONNECTION AT ALL?

>> TED, HOWIE AND I BOTH SPOKE WITH DR. CHRIST A FEW HOURS AFTER THE ANNOUNCEMENT WAS MADE AND I ASKED HER DOES IT HAVE ANYTHING WITH THE DECISION OF THE GOVERNOR?

SHE SAID ABSOLUTELY NOT.

I WOULDN'T CHARACTERIZE THIS AS A DECISION WITH THE GOVERNOR.

HE NEVER SAID HE WAS AGAINST MASKS, JUST MASK GUIDELINES.

SHE SENT HER OWN CHILDREN TO SCHOOL WEARING MASKS, AND I DIDN'T REALIZE HER OLDER CHILD HAD BEEN VACCINATED AND SHE SENT THAT CHILD TO SCHOOL WITH A MASK.

THE BLUE CROSS IS A GREAT JOB, PRIVATE SECTOR SHOULD BE LESS STRESSFUL THAN THE LAST 16 MONTHS BUT LOOKS WEIRD BASED ON THE TIME.

SEEMS LIKE A JOB SHE COULD HAVE TAKEN A FEW WEEKS AGO.

>> THAT'S CRUCIAL.

LOOK, SHE'S BEEN A LOYAL SOLDIER ALL ALONG.

ONE OF HER PRESS CONFERENCES I SAID, LOOK, JUST BETWEEN US, DOCTOR, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

NO, WE'RE FINE.

I CAN'T HELP BUT BELIEVE THERE ARE TIMES WHERE EARLY ON THE GOVERNOR PROHIBITED CITIES FROM IMPOSING MASK MANDATES AND THEN SAID SURE, THAT'S GREAT.

AND THEN THERE WERE THINGS, LET'S LEAVE OPEN, FOR EXAMPLE, NAIL SALONS AND PLACE TO GET A HAIR CUT AS WE'RE CLOSING OTHER BUSINESSES.

I HAVE A FEELING SHE MAY HAVE BEEN ROLLING HER EYES ON THAT.

SHE WAS A GOOD SOLDIER FOR ALL OF THAT.

TED: WILL THE NEXT HEALTH DIRECTOR BE A GOOD SOLDIER OR HAVE THEIR MIND?

>> THEY'LL BE A GOOD SOLDIER FOR A COUPLE OF REASONS.

IT'S A STORE THE TIME JOB, I DON'T THINK YOU'RE GOING TO BRING IN SOMEBODY LOOKING TO CREATE A NAME FOR THEMSELVES IN THE 16, 17 MONTHS THAT REMAINS.

IT MAY END UP BEING SOMEBODY OUT OF THE GOVERNOR'S STAFF LIKE CHRISTINA WHO IS THE GOVERNOR'S HEALTH ADVISER, SHE IS A GOOD SOLDIER AND DON'T SEE HER DISAGREEING WITH THE GOVERNOR.

PLUS THE FACT.

THIS GOVERNOR IS NOT GOING TO HIRE SOMEBODY WHO'S GOING TO GO OUT THERE LIKE A WILL HUMBLE AND SAY BY THE WAY, GOVERNOR, THAT AIN'T GOOD HEALTH.

TED: BEFORE WE GET OFF THIS, REAL QUICKLY, PHOENIX UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT SAID JUST TODAY, WE'RE GOING TO REQUIRE MASKS FOR EVERYONE, VACCINATED OR OTHERWISE, COME SCHOOL YEAR, AND THIS GOES DIRECTLY AGAINST STATE LAW, DIRECTLY AGAINST WHAT THE GOVERNOR WANTS.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THIS?

>> ON THE RADIO PROGRAM EARLIER TODAY, WE HAD A PANEL OF THE GUESTS TALKING ABOUT DR. CHRIST AS WELL.

AND ONE OF THE GUESTS MENTIONED IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW SOON A LEGAL CHALLENGE IS PUT TOGETHER BY ONE OF THE LARGER SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE STATE AND YOU MENTIONED PHOENIX UNION DOING THIS.

THIS IS ONE OF THE SITUATIONS WHERE SOME TEACHERS, PROBABLY MOST, SOME TEACHERS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THIS, ADMINISTRATORS, PARENTS ARE CONCERNED AND PHOENIX UNION FELT THIS WAS THE ACTION TO TAKE.

NOW STATE LAW, FIGHTING STATE LAW IS DIFFICULT.

WE'RE SEEING THE PARTISAN DIVIDE SO STRAIGHT DOWN THE LINE, IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE, I WOULD BE SURPRISED IF PHOENIX UNION IS THE ONLY BIG DISTRICT.

TED: HOWIE THE LEGAL RAMIFICATIONS, IT'S A LOT OF TWISTS AND TURNS.

>> IT'S NOT THAT THE DISTRICT IS FILING SUIT.

THEY JUST SAID, GEE, GOVERNOR, THAT'S NICE.

TED: IF SOMEONE DOES DISEASE TO GO AFTER THEM, YOU CAN'T DO IT, THEN WHAT?

>> THEN YOU GO TO COURT.

THREE PROBLEMS WITH THE GOVERNOR DOING THAT.

THE LAW DOESN'T TAKE EFFECT UNTIL SEPTEMBER 29.

IT HAS A RETRO ACTIVITY CLAUSE TO JUNE 30.

YOU CAN'T HAVE A RETRO ACTIVITY CLAUSE FOR SOMETHING THAT HASN'T TAKEN EFFECT YET.

NUMBER TWO, PART OF 231 PAGE BUDGET RECONCILIATION BILL, AND SOMEONE IS READY TO CHALLENGE THE LAW AND THE SUBJECT REQUIRING A CONSTITUTIONAL SUBJECT.

NUMBER THREE, THERE IS NO PENALTY.

THIS ISN'T LIKE A GUN LAW WHERE YOU CAN'T HAVE THE GUN LAW OR LOSE STATE AID.

THE COURT SAYS YOU SHOULD FOLLOW IT.

THE BALL IS IN THE GOVERNOR'S COURT OR THE LEGISLATURE'S COURT BECAUSE PHOENIX UNION SAID WE'RE DOING WHAT WE ARE DOING, COME GET US.

TED: WE'RE DOING THIS FRIDAY AFTERNOON AND NO COMMENT FROM THE NINTH FLOOR.

LET'S MOVE ON.

WE FINALLY FOUND OUT, STEVE, WHO SOME OF THE FOLKS ARE, KIND OF, FUNDING THE SO-CALLED FORENSIC AUDIT.

WHAT DID WE LEARN?

>> I WANT TO GIVE CREDIT TO OUR FRIEND MR. FISCHER REPORTING ON THIS.

WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE $150,000.

WASN'T THAT THE NUMBER?

>> WE BLEW PAST THAT LONG TIME AGO.

>> CYBER NINJAS COLLECTED THE APPROXIMATELY $5.7 MILLION, AND HOWIE WILL CLUE US IN HOW WE CAN'T FIND THE SOURCES OF ALL THIS INFORMATION, BUT IT'S INDICATIVE OF WHAT WE'VE BEEN SEEING THE ENTIRE TIME ON THIS.

IT WAS EXTENDED, THEY HAD TO RENT THE SPACE, AND IT KEPT GOING AND WHO'S INVOLVED AND WHO ISN'T?

SO I THINK AGAIN, THE KEY POINT IS $150,000 AND 5.7 MILLION, AND CAME AWAY TO BE A FUND-RAISER TO THOSE SUPPORTERS OF PRESIDENT TRUMP BEING CYBER NINJAS.

TED: THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO GET AT, HOWIE.

$150,000, OBVIOUSLY THAT WAS A DROP IN THE BUCKET.

WE'RE TALKING 5.7, AND THE GROUPS ASSOCIATED WITH TRUMP SUPPORTERS AND ASSOCIATES AND THESE SORTS OF THINGS.

NOT A SURPRISE, BUT STILL -- THEY'RE NONPROFITS BUT ASSOCIATED WITH EVERYTHING A PERSON HAS BEEN INVOLVED WITH FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP.

>> SURE, ABOUT 3.2 MILLION COMING FROM AN ORGANIZATION FOUNDED BY PATRICK BURN, THE FORMER CEO OF OVERSTOCK.COM.

YOU HAD MONEY FROM A NONPROFIT BEING OPERATED BY CHRISTINA BOBB WHO SUPPOSEDLY IS A QUOTE, UNQUOTE REPORTER, I USE THE TERM LOOSELY FROM ONE AMERICA NEWS NETWORK, I'M COVERING IT BUT RAISING MONEY FOR IT.

ONE ASSOCIATED WITH GENERAL FLYNN, THE PRESIDENT'S NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER AND HAD TO BE PARDONED BY THE PRESIDENT AFTER HE PLEADED GUILTY TO LYING TO THE FBI.

THE PROBLEM AS STEVE POINTS OUT, THESE ARE 501C4 ORGANIZATIONS, THEY DON'T NEED TO DISCLOSE WHO GAVE THEM MONEY.

ALL WE HAVE IS THE BROAD GENERAL CATEGORIES AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE TO LIVE WITH.

TED: SOME OF THE NONPROFITS, STEVE, WERE ESTABLISHED TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE AUDIT.

>> WELL, AND THIS IS WHAT WE'VE SEEN WITH THE PHRASE WE ALL LOVE TO USE PLAYING TO THE BASE.

IT'S AN OBVIOUS THING COMING OUT OF NOVEMBER, AND EVEN WE SAW PRESIDENT TRUMP'S APPEARANCE IN PHOENIX OVER THE WEEKEND.

IT'S A FUND-RAISING THING, THAT'S WHAT THIS IS USED FOR, AND IT'S CONCERNING WHEN YOU SEE POLLS THAT SHOW TWO-THIRDS OF REPUBLICANS, MAYBE 40% OF THE STATE THINKS THE AUDIT IS A GOOD IDEA WHEN IT DOES SEEM SO MANY WAYS THE DRAMA WITH KEN BENNETT.

TED: WHAT IS THE LATEST WITH KEN BENNETT?

I CAN'T KEEP UP ANYMORE.

>> AS OF THE STATEMENT THIS MORNING, IT CAME DOWN TO HE'S BACK, HE'S TAN, HE'S RESTED, HE'S READY, HE WILL STILL BE THE LIAISON, SUPPOSEDLY RANDY POEHLER WILL BE THE ASSISTANT LIAISON, THE GUY WHO FIRED HIM IN THE FIRST PLACE AND PROMISED NOT TO SAY ANYTHING TO ANYBODY PRETTY MUCH.

I DON'T KNOW WHY KEN WOULD BE PART OF THIS.

HE IS THE FIG LEAF IN ALL OF THIS, GIVES IT SOME SENSE OF LEGITIMACY BECAUSE HE'S THE FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE.

BUT HE'S BEEN TOLD HE DIDN'T HAVE ACCESS TO CERTAIN INFORMATION LIKE THE THIRD COUNT, HOW THEY'RE COUNTING IT, ARE THEY FORCING THE NUMBERS?

HE DOES HAVE BACKGROUND ON NUMBERS LIKE CHAIN OF CUSTODY, WHAT'S THE POSITIVE HE'S GOING TO GET OUT OF THIS?

I DON'T SEE ANY WAY HE COMES OUT OF THIS LOOKING BETTER OTHER THAN A LOYAL REPUBLICAN.

TED: NOW THAT WE HAVE SO MANY NONPROFITS ASSOCIATED WITH DONALD TRUMP AND PEOPLE THINK IT IS RIGGED WITH THIS RECOUNT, DOES THAT INFORMATION CHANGE ANYONE'S MIND?

>> I WOULD BE HARD PRESSED.

WE'D HAVE TO LOOK AT INDEPENDENTS.

WE KNOW THAT MOST, IF NOT ALL, DEMOCRATS ARE AGAINST IT, TWO-THIRDS OF REPUBLICANS ARE IN FAVOR.

I CAN'T IMAGINE, UNLESS THERE'S THAT HALF A PERCENT THINK OF THEMSELVES, IT'S ON THE FENCE, IF THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT VACCINATED THINKING, WELL, MAYBE SOMEBODY SAYS SOMETHING THAT CONVINCES ME.

OTHERWISE IT'S A SMALL CHANCE.

TED: THIS IS SUPPOSED TO WRAP UP.

THEY RETURNED BALLOTS STARTING YESTERDAY, THEY GOING TO WRAP UP TODAY?

>> WRAP UP IS A FUNNY TERM.

WE HAVE CYBER NINJAS PREPARE THE REPORT, BUT REMEMBER, THERE IS A WHOLE NEW SET OF SUBPOENAS OUT THERE SUPPOSED TO BE PRODUCED MONDAY AT THE SENATE.

I WILL BE THERE.

MY GUESS IS THEY'RE NOT ROLLING IN THE ROUTERS.

MY GUESS IS CYBER NINJAS IS GOING TO GIVE A TWO WORD ANSWER, THE SECOND OF WHICH IS YOU AND THE FIRST IS NOT THANK.

AND PUT OUT PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST FOR KATIE HOBBS WANTING TO KNOW WHO SHE'S COMMUNICATING WITH?

I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE AUDIT.

MAYBE LOOKING FOR POLITICAL DIRT ON DEMOCRATIC GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATES.

>> AND MACHINE REPLACEMENT COST AS WELL.

THAT'S DOWN THE PIKE AS WELL.

STEVE, OUR LAST POINT WILL BE SENATOR SINEMA, QUITE THE WEEK ON CAPITOL HILL.

>> SHE IS SEEN AS BEING VERY INFLUENTIAL WHEN IT COMES TO THIS BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE THAT A NUMBER OF REPUBLICANS HAVE ACTUALLY SIGNED ONTO AT THIS POINT.

WORKED CLOSELY WITH OHIO SENATOR ROB PORTMAN ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE.

SHE MET EARLIER THIS WEEK WITH JOE BIDEN AS WELL.

INTERESTING WEEK IN THE SENSE, SHE IS VERY INFLUENTIAL ON THAT, AND CRITICIZED BY TABLOIDS FOR GOING ON VACATION EVEN AS DISCUSSION OF BUDGET RECONCILIATION PACKAGE, SHE'S NOT SURE SHE DIDN'T DO $3.5 BILLION THERE, AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE SEEN THE PHOTO WITH SENATOR PORTMAN.

THAT IS GETTING ATTENTION.

TED: WE'VE SEEN THE PHOTO, SENATOR, BACK TO RECONCILIATION, SHE GETS MAJOR KUDOS FOR CROSSING THE AISLE, WORKING WITH REPUBLICANS, GETTING THE INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE THROUGH AND PRESIDENT BIDEN WAS, QUOTE, VERY EXCITED, YET TURNS AROUND AND SAYS TO THE DEMOCRATS, BY THE WAY, THE BUDGET, THE 3.5 TRIL, I AIN'T GOING FOR IT.

>> STEVE TALKS ABOUT THE KUDOS, GETTING A LOT OF KUDOS FROM SOME REPUBLICANS, THOUGH IT'S GREAT DONALD TRUMP SAID TO THE REPUBLICANS DONT VOTE FOR ANY OF THIS.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT MEANS DOWN THE ROAD.

SHE DOESN'T HAVE AN ELECTION IN 2022 LIKE MARK KELLY DOES.

LOT OF THINGS COULD HAPPEN BETWEEN NOW AND THEN.

DOES SHE KEEP TRYING TO PLAY THE ROLE IN THE MIDDLE?

HOW DOES THAT PLAY IN THE BASE HERE, THAT SHE HAS TO DEAL WITH WITH A PRIME AND BY THE TIME SHE RUNS FOR RE-ELECTION IN 2026, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SAY YOU HAVEN'T DONE US ANY GOOD.

WE MIGHT AS WELL HAVE ELECTED REPUBLICANS TO THE POST.

TED: PRESIDENT BIDEN DOES NOT WANT TO GET RID OF THE FILIBUSTER, SINEMA IS ON BOARD WITH THAT.

PRESIDENT BIDEN EXCITED BY THE INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE, SINEMA SHEPHERDED THAT THING THROUGH.

SHE WAS ONE OF THE CO-LEADERS ON THAT THING.

>> AS HOWIE MENTIONED, IT'S LOOKING LIKE SHE'S TRYING TO A JOHN McCAIN-ESQUE FIGURE, A LITTLE MORE TO THE LEFT THAN SENATOR McCAIN WAS, AND I THINK SENATOR BIDEN, PRESIDENT BIDEN, WHEN HE WAS A SENATOR TENDED TO BE PRAGMATIC, HE WANTS TO PROVE HE'S GETTING THINGS DONE AND SENATOR SINEMA CAN HELP, THAT'S GOOD.

BUT I THINK SOME PEOPLE AS YOU MENTIONED, HOWIE MENTIONED, SHE'S NOT RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION FOR A FEW YEARS NOW, THERE'S REAL FRUSTRATION WHY SHE'S DOING THIS NOW.

WE'VE SEEN THIS CLOSER TO ELECTION, PEOPLE MORE ON THE MIDDLE, SHE'S TAKING UP GOOD SPACE THERE NOW.

TED: AND STILL NOT BUDGING ON A FILIBUSTER.

>> NO, NO.

THAT'S AN INTERESTING QUESTION.

THIS IS A WOMAN THAT CAME OUT OF ARIZONA LEGISLATURE.

IF WE HAD A RULE IN THE ARIZONA LEGISLATURE NEEDED 60% TO GET A BILL FORWARDED.

IT WORKS IN ARIZONA.

YET THE IDEA OF NOT EVEN A REAL FILIBUSTER, I'D HAVE NO PROBLEM IF SOMEBODY HAD TO STAND UP THERE, MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON AND DO A REAL FILIBUSTER.

I'M GOING TO TALK AND THEN GOES HOME.

TED: IF YOU'RE GOING TO FILIBUSTER, FILIBUSTER LIKE JIMMY STEWART DID.

>> EXACTLY.

TED: HOWIE FISCHER CAPITOL MEDIA SERVICES, STEVE GOLDSTEIN, KJZZ RADIO, GENTLEMEN, HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND.

>> THANKS.

>> UP NEXT, REMEMBERING CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST AND EDUCATION ADVOCATE ROBERT MOSES.

.

TED: ROBERT MOSES WAS REVERED AND INFLUENTIAL LEADER IN THE FIGHT FOR CIVIL RIGHTS.

HE DIED SUNDAY AT THE AGE OF 86.

AN EDUCATOR WHO BELIEVED THAT MATH LITERACY WAS THE NEXT PHASE IN THE BATTLE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS WHICH LED HIM TO DEVELOP THE GROUNDBREAKING ALGEBRA PROJECT.

HE CAME TO ARIZONA IN 2016 TO PROMOTE THE ALGEBRA PROJECT AND TALKED WITH JOSE CARDENAS.

HERE'S EXCERPTS FROM THE INTERVIEW.

JUAN: IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO HAVE YOU ON THE SHOW.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THE ALGEBRA PROJECT ITSELF HAS ITS ROOTS IN YOUR BACKGROUND, YOUR HISTORY IN THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.

LET'S START THERE.

TALK ABOUT YOUR ROLE.

>> I WAS THE FIELD SECRETARY IN CHARGE OF THE STUDENT COORDINATING THE MISSISSIPPI THEATER OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.

JUAN: IN 1960?

>> YES, STARTED IN 1961 AND WORKED THERE THROUGH 1965, AND SO IN THAT ERA, THE ISSUE OF VOTING WAS JOINED WITH THE ISSUE OF SHARE CROP ILLITERACY.

I WAS ACTUALLY ON THE WITNESS STAND IN 1963, AND THE COURTROOM WAS FILLED WITH SHARE CROPPERS FROM GREENWOOD.

WE WERE IN THE GREENVILLE DISTRICT FEDERAL COURT, AND THE JUDGE WANTED TO KNOW WHY IS NITPICKING REGISTERING TO VOTE.

IT CANNOT DENY PEOPLE ACCESS TO POLITICS, THROUGH SAYING THEY WERE ILLITERATE AND TURN AROUND, CANNOT DENY PEOPLE TO LITERACY THROUGH POLITICAL ARRANGEMENTS AND TURN AROUND AND SAY WELL, YOU CAN'T DO POLITICS BECAUSE YOU'RE ILLITERATE.

AND WE WON THAT BATTLE IN THE ENFORCEMENT POSITION OF THE 1965 VOTING RIGHTS ACT, AND IT CAME ABOUT THROUGH THE WORK THAT HELPED PUSH THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO FILE SUITS NOT JUST AGAINST INDIVIDUAL REGISTRARS BUT THE WHOLE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI AND THE STATE OF LOUISIANA.

JUAN: YOU YOURSELF HAD GRADUATED FROM HARVARD?

>> I GOT A MASTERS FROM HARVARD IN 1957, YES.

AND WHILE I WAS AT HARVARD, ACTUALLY I WAS IN THE PHILOSOPHY DEPARTMENT IN GRADUATE SCHOOL IN THE 1950s WAS THE PERSON THAT INITIATED THE THINKING THAT LED TO THE PROCESS THAT WE USE IN THE ALGEBRA PROJECT.

THE IDEA THAT THE LANGUAGES THAT THE KIDS OWN, JUST THE STREET, ORDINARY LANGUAGE IS AVAILABLE AS A BRIDGE INTO THE LANGUAGES OF MATH AND SCIENCE.

JUAN: AND THOUGH THE ALGEBRA PROJECT IS ABOUT 15, 20 YEARS AFTER YOUR EXPERIENCE IN MISSISSIPPI THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT, THERE'S A CONNECTION BETWEEN THOSE CIVIL RIGHTS EXPERIENCES, IN FACT, I THINK YOU DESCRIBED THIS MATH PROJECT AS PART OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.

>> I THINK OF IT AS PART OF UNFINISHED BUSINESS, IF YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT WE DID WITH THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT AND JIM CROW, WE WERE ABLE TO GET IT OUT OF ACCOMMODATIONS, WE GOT IT OUT OF ACCESS TO THE VOTE AND GOT IT OUT OF THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY STRUCTURE WHEN THE MISSISSIPPI FREEDOM DEMOCRATIC PARTY WENT TO THE 1964 CONVENTION FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

WE DIDN'T GET IT OUT OF EDUCATION.

THE IDEA OF SHARE CROP EDUCATION.

THE IDEA THAT THE EDUCATION YOU GET IS APPROPRIATE TO THE WORK THAT YOU'VE BEEN PREASSIGNED, RIGHT, AND THAT'S WHAT WE WERE FACING WITH THE JUDGE'S QUESTION, BECAUSE HERE PEOPLE HAD BEEN PREASSIGNED WORK, SO THEIR EDUCATION HAD BEEN TAILORED TO THAT KIND OF WORK.

THEY DON'T NEED ANY MORE WORK THAN AND ANYMORE EDUCATION WOULD BE REQUIRED FOR SHARE CROPPING.

JUAN: WE'VE GOT PICTURES WE WANT TO PUT UP ON THE SCREEN.

FIRST ONE REPRESENTS THAT BRIDGE BETWEEN THE CIVIL RIGHTS EXPERIENCE OF THE 60s AND THE ALGEBRA PROJECT, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THIS WAS TAKEN OUT OF THE OCCASION OF THE CELEBRATION OF WHAT THE 50th ANNIVERSARY OF FREEDOM.

>> FREEDOM SUMMER.

JUAN: AND YOU'VE GOT PEOPLE IN HERE WHO ARE VERY INVOLVED IN THE MATH PROJECTS.

>> YES.

THERE'S A YOUNG FELLA IN THE PICTURE, ALBERT SYKES IN THE 1990s WAS A MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT AT BRINKLEY MIDDLE SCHOOL AND GOT SWEPT UP INTO THE ALGEBRA PROJECT, WENT ON AND BECAME PART OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE'S PROJECT, A SPIN-OFF OF THE ALGEBRA PROJECT.

IN OTHER WORDS, KIDS WHO CAME UP IN THE ALGEBRA PROJECT FORMED THEIR OWN ORGANIZATION TO DEAL WITH MATH LITERACY IN THE AFTER-SCHOOL SESSIONS AND ALBERT WENT ONTO HIGH SCHOOL, COLLEGE AND BECAME AN ORGANIZER FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE'S PROJECT IN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE ALGEBRA PROJECT ITSELF, WHAT IS IT?

>> SO WHAT IT'S DOING IS WORKING WHAT I THINK OF AS THE DEMAND SIDE OF THE PROBLEM.

THAT'S WHAT WE WERE DOING IN MISSISSIPPI IN THE 1960s.

WE WERE WORKING THE DEMAND SIDE OF THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

HOW DO YOU GET THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE THE PROBLEM, THE SHARE CROPPERS, THE DAY LABORERS, THE DOMESTIC WORKERS TO ACTUALLY DEMAND THEIR RIGHT TO VOTE?

HOW DO YOU GET THE YOUNG PEOPLE AT THE BOTTOM OF SOCIETY TO DEMAND WHAT EVERYBODY SAYS THEY DON'T WANT, RIGHT?

THAT THEY WANT TO DEMAND THE EDUCATION THAT THEY NEED FOR THE 21st CENTURY, SO WE DO THAT BY SHOWING THE KIDS HOW THEY CAN ACTUALLY ACCESS THE WORLD OF MATHEMATICS, BECAUSE ONCE THEY FIGURE OUT THIS IS SOMETHING THEY CAN DO, THEN YOU HAVE A CHANCE FOR THEM TO SET EXPECTATIONS FOR THEMSELVES ABOUT WHAT THEY WANT TO DO WITH IT.

.

TED: ON THE NEXT "ARIZONA HORIZON," AN UPDATE ON THE INCREASING SPREAD OF THE CORONAVIRUS DELTA VARIANT IN ARIZONA.

>>> AND LOOK AT HOW HIGH POLLUTION LEVELS OVER PERIODS OF TIME NEGATIVELY AFFECT THOSE WITH ALZHEIMER'S.

.