
08-26-22: Journalists' Roundtable
Season 2022 Episode 167 | 27m 46sVideo has Closed Captions
Journalists' Roundtable with Laurie Roberts & Bob Christie
On this week's Journalists' Roundtable, Ted Simons discusses this week's top stories including ballot initiatives, Kari Lake's recent candidate endorsement, Masters's scrubbed campaign website, voter fraud and fake electors. Guests this week are Laurie Roberts of the Arizona Republic and azcentral.com and Bob Christie of the Associated Press.
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Arizona Horizon is a local public television program presented by Arizona PBS

08-26-22: Journalists' Roundtable
Season 2022 Episode 167 | 27m 46sVideo has Closed Captions
On this week's Journalists' Roundtable, Ted Simons discusses this week's top stories including ballot initiatives, Kari Lake's recent candidate endorsement, Masters's scrubbed campaign website, voter fraud and fake electors. Guests this week are Laurie Roberts of the Arizona Republic and azcentral.com and Bob Christie of the Associated Press.
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship>> Ted: COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR ON ARIZONA PBS, IT'S THE JOURNALIST'S ROUNDTABLE AND THE WEEK'S TOP STORIES INCLUDING THE SUPREME COURT CLEARING THE WAY FOR INITIATES TO APPEAR ON THE PLOT AND THE IMPACT OF THE OVERTURNING OF ROE V. WADE.
IT'S FRIDAY AND THAT'S MEANS IT'S TIME FOR THE JOURNALIST'S ROUNDTABLE.
AND WE HAVE LAURIE ROBERTS AND BOB CHRISTIE AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND LET'S START WITH BALLOT INITIATES.
THIS, YOU KNOW, IT SEEMS WONKY, BUT MY GOODNESS GRACIOUS, THE STATE SUPREME COURT GETTING INVOLVED AND BOB, YOU'VE BEEN SPENDING YOUR ENTIRE LIFE WITH THIS.
>> SO THERE'S THREE INITIATIVES AND THE FIRST IS TERRY GODDARD'S MONEY AND THAT WOULD BAN ALL OF THIS DARK MONEY THAT YOU DON'T KNOW WHO'S BUYING THE ADS AND REQUIRE NONPROFITS TO REVEAL THEIR DONORS.
THAT ONE WAS CHALLENGED ON A SIGNATURE AS ALL THREE WAS AND IT SURVIVED.
THE SUPREME COURT SAYS, YEP, IT'S GOOD TO GO.
AND THE SECOND ONE IS SPONSORED BY A UNION OUT OF CALIFORNIA AND CALLED HEALTHCARE RISING AND END PREDATOR DEBT COLLECTION ACT.
PRIMARILY WHAT IT DOES IS IF YOU GO BANKRUPT OR OWE A BUNCH OF MONEY, IT RAISES THE HOMESTEAD TO $400,000 SO THEY CAN'T TAKE YOUR DEBT.
>> Ted: THIS IS MEDICAL DEBT?
>> OR ANY DEBT.
>> Ted: INTERESTING.
>> AND IT WOULD ALLOW YOU TO KEEP YOUR HOUSE AND MORE MONEY AND POSSESSIONS, A CAR WORTH 5,000 INSTEAD OF A THOUSAND AND SET IT UP FOR INFLATION AND BY THE BILL COLLECTION INDUSTRY.
THE SAME THING ON THAT AND CHALLENGED ON THE SIGNATURES.
YOU NEED 238,000 SIGNATURES TO MAKE THE BALLOT AND TURNED IN 450,000 AND THEY WERE CHALLENGED AND THEY SURVIVED AND CHALLENGED PART OF THE SUMMARY THAT PEOPLE SEE.
>> Ted: I THOUGHT THE CHALLENGE FOR THOSE -- THE ONE THE SUPREME COURT LOOKED AT WAS THE REGISTRATION PROCESS BY THE PETITION GATHERS AND THE CHALLENGE WAS, THEY DIDN'T PRE-REGISTERPRE-REGISTER BECAUSE THE COURT COULDN'T HANDLE IT.
>> THAT WAS THE BIG ONE AND PETITION CIRCULATORS, IF YOU'RE OUT OF STATE, YOU HAVE TO REGISTER WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND THEY LET YOU FILE ONE AFFIDAVIT IF YOU'RE A PAID PARTICIPANT, A PAID CIRCULATOR.
IF YOU DO A SECOND ONE, THEY DON'T ALLOW YOU TO DO ANOTHER ONE.
THE HIGH COURT SAYS, THE LAW SAYS THAT BUT BECAUSE THE SECRETARY OF STATE WOULDN'T ALLOW A SECOND AFFIDAVIT SAYING YOU'RE QUALIFIED TO CIRCULATE, WE LET IT PASS BECAUSE IT'S TO ALLOW THE LAW.
>> Ted: THE THIRD ONE AS WE SPEAK IS NOT SET IN STONE, BUT THE FIRST TWO, THE TERRY GODDARD MOVE FOR DARK MONEY, HE'S BEEN TRYING FOREVER FOR THIS.
>> HE'S BEEN TRYING SINCE 2016.
IN 2018, IT LOOKED LIKE HE WAS THERE AND IT WAS CHALLENGED BY THE SAME PEOPLE AND THROWN OUT ON SOME OF THE SAME SORTS OF TECHNICALITIES BECAUSE AS YOU KNOW, THE LEGISLATURE HAS CHANGED THE LAW MAKING ANY TECHNICAL ERROR GROUND TO THROW THESE THINGS OUT.
HE TRIED IN 2020 AND THE PANDEMIC THAT HIT AND DIDN'T HAPPEN AND NOW WE'RE AT 2022 AND I WOULD EXPECT THE DARK MONEY CROWD TO BIG THEIR BIG GUNS TO KILL THIS THING.
>> Ted: THEY BRING THEIR BIG GUNS AND IS THAT ENOUGH TO KILL THIS THINGS?
THE GENERAL PUBLIC, WHAT DO YOU THINK?
I CAN SAY, IT'S BEEN ON THE BALLOT IN TWO CITIES AND THE CITY OF PHOENIX AND IN PEM TEMPE AND IT PASSED WITH MIND NUMBINGLY WHOPPINGOVERWHELMING NUMBERS AND IT DOESN'T REQUIRE DISCLOSURE OF ANY LITTLE GRANNY WHO GIVES PROCEEDS TO ONE OF THESE CAMPAIGNS.
YOU HAVE TO BE ONE OF THE BIG FUNDERS IN ORDER TO REQUIRE DISCLOSURE.
>> Ted: $50,000 ON A STATE CAMPAIGN OR $25,000 ON OTHER REQUIRED DISCLOSURES, OF $5,000 DONATIONS.
YOU HAVE TO SAY SO.
SO GO AHEAD, PLEASE.
>> AND I DON'T KNOW HOW THIS WORK, BUT YOU HAVE TO IDENTIFY THE ORIGINAL DONOR OF THE MONEY AND THEY CAN'T LAUNDER THROUGH SEVERAL NONPROFITS.
>> Ted: BOB, LET'S GET TO THE THIRD INITIATIVE THAT THE STATE SUPREME COURT IS SUPPOSED TO BE LOOKING AT.
IT'S LIKE IT'S PING-PONGING BETWEEN THE HIGH COURT AND LOWER COURT AND THIS WOULD CHANGE ELECTION LAWS IN SIGNIFICANT WAYS, WOULDN'T IT?
>> CORRECT.
THIS IS SPONSOR BY A LOT OF DEMOCRATIC MONEY, 7.3 MILLION JUST OF COLLECTIVE SIGNATURES INDEPENDENT LAW.
THIS WOULD STOP THE CYBER NINJAS FROM RECOUNTING THE BALLOTS AND IT WOULD BASICALLY BAN ANYONE FROM GETTING POSSESSION OF BALLOTS OUTSIDE OF GOVERNMENT, WHICH IS WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE STATE SENATE AND HANDED TO THE CYBERANYONECYBERNINJAS AND ALLOW AUTOMATIC VOTING REGISTRATION INSTEAD OF ASKING FOR IT.
IT WOULD EXTEND VOTING.
>> Ted: THIS IS ANOTHER VOTER SIGNATURES?
>> MAYBE.
AFTER TWO WEEKS OF COURT BATTLES WHERE THEY HIRED AN OUTSIDE JUDGE TO LOOK AT ALL 400 SIGNATURES AND A COUPLE HUNDRED THOUSAND WERE CHALLENGED, THE JUDGE CAME BACK YESTERDAY MORNING AND SAID, YOU'RE 2400, IF I REMEMBER CORRECT OVER.
YOU'VE NOT IT.
AND UP TO THE SUPREME COURT AND BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE OPPONENTS DON'T LIKE THAT AND THEY APPEALED TO THE SUPREME COURT.
THE SUPREME COURT SAID, WE DON'T UNDERSTAND, JUDGE, HOW YOU DID YOUR MATH.
DO YOUR MATH AGAIN.
EVERYBODY EXPECTED THE JUDGE TO EXPLAIN IT AND AT 11:00, OH, I WAS WRONG.
IT'S 1800 VOTES SHORT.
>> Ted: HE DID THE MATH AND NOW IT'S SNORT.
>> ANDSHORT?AND IT'S APPEALED YET AGAIN?
>> IN FRONT OF THE SUPREME COURT AS WE SPEAK AND BY THE TIME THIS AIRS AND TWO HOURS BEFORE AIR TIME.
>> Ted: EXACTLY.
>> IT WILL BE GONE OR THE SUPREME COURT WILL OVERTURN THE LOWER COURT JUDGE AND SAY, NO, THE PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO LEGISLATE IS IMPORTANT LIKE THEY DID WITH THE OTHER TWO.
WE'LL SEE.
>> Ted: IF THIS DOES SURVIVE AND WE'LL KNOW ONE WAY OR ANOTHER ONCE THIS HITS THE AIR AND RIGHT NOW WE DON'T KNOW, BUT THIS IS THETHIS IS THE KIND OF THING VOTERS APPROVE.
>> THIS BRINGS DEMOCRAT LEANING INDEPENDENTS TO THE POLLS IF DROVES AND A LOT OF UPSET PEOPLE ABOUT VARIOUS THINGS, ELECTION REFORMS IF THE LEGISLATION HAS DONE AND SO MANY THINGS.
THEY WANT TO BLOCK -- I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS IN THIS LAW WOULD BLOCK THE LEGISLATURE IN THE FUTURE FROM OVERTURNING THE WILL OF THE ELECTORATE IN A PRESIDENTIAL LEX.
ELECTION.
REPRESENTATIVE FINCHHAM AND OTHERS HAVE TRIED TO DO THAT.
THIS IS THE ONLY WAY THE DEMOCRATS SEEM TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A CHECK ON WHAT IS A CONSERVATIVE LEGISLATURE.
SO I THINK THEY WILL COME OUT IN DROVES TO TRY TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.
ON THE OTHER SIDE, I THINK YOU WILL SEE BIG MONEY TO MAKE IT GO AWAY.
>> Ted: BACK TO THE POINT ABOUT DEMOCRATS COMING OUT, THAT HAS TO BE A MAJOR REASON WHY THE FIGHT ON THIS IS SO STRONG BECAUSE DEMOCRATS COMING OUT FOR THIS MEANS DEMOCRATS COMING OUT FOR OTHER THINGS.
>> REMEMBER, THERE IS ON THE BALLOT SOMETHING THE LEGISLATURE REFERRED LAST YEAR AND THAT IS IN-STATE TUITION FOR DREAMERS, IMMIGRANTS WHO HAVE BEEN HERE ILLEGALLY AND GONE TO HIGH SCHOOL HERE.
THAT'S ANOTHER BIG DRAW.
YOU PUT THAT TOGETHER AND IT'S BIG.
I WILL SAY, THIS IS A HUGE BILL THAT DOES -- I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PAGES WORTH OF STUFF.
AND WHEN VOTERS ARE UNSURE WHAT TO DID, THEY'LL VOTE NO.
I DON'T KNOW IF IT WOULD PASS OR NOT AND I DO KNOW IT WILL UP VOTER TURN-OUT AND THAT'S A PROBLEM FOR THE REPUBLICANS.
>> ANOTHER THING IT DOES, WHICH IS WHY WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THIS, ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO, THE LEGISLATURE CHANGED THE LAW ON INITIATIVE PETITIONS AND THEY USED TO BE REVIEWED UNDER -- BASICALLY IF THEY WERE SMALL ERRORS, WE GIVE THE PUBLIC THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT AND THEY CHANGE ED THISCHANGED THAT AND MADE IT STRICT CONSTRUCTION.
IF YOU PUT A BOX, IF YOU LEAVE PART OF YOUR SIGNATURE OFF AND YOU DO ANY PAPERWORK AREA, THOSE SIGNATURES ARE THROWN OUT AND THAT'S WHY ALL CHALLENGES ARE HAPPENING.
I HAVE A BIG SPREADSHEET FROM THIS ELECTION OF ALL OF THE CHALLENGES MADE AND THE FIRST ONE IS, SEVEN THOUSAND PETITION CIRCULATORS OR PETITION SHEETS WERE GUARDED GATHERED BY VOLUNTEERS AND OUT THEY GO.
>> Ted: IF THESE PETITION GATHERS, AND YOU NEED TO PRE-REGISTER AND NO WAY TO PRE-REGISTER AND THE FACT IS, IF THE SUPREME COURT SEES THAT IN THAT LIGHT, THE TICKY TACK STUFF, THE TECHNICAL STUFF, HOW TO YOU THINK THE HIGH COURT DEALS WITH THAT?
>> THEY HAVE REFUSED TO REVIEW THE STRICT CONSTRUCTION THING OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS AND IT'S BEEN UP TO THEM AND A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES TO SAY THAT VIOLATES THE CONSTITUTION AND YOU CAN'T DO THAT TO THE PUBLIC AND REFUSED TO INTERVENE.
>> Ted: IS THIS JUST THE BEGINNING OF WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE EVERY TIME AN INITIATIVE GOES UP THAT SOMEONE DOESN'T LIKE AND WE'LL SEE FUSSIN' AND FIGHTIN' OVER THIS?
>> WE'VE BEEN SEEING THAT ALL ALONG.
WHAT YOU'RE SEE, THEY'RE NOT LOOKING AT INDIVIDUAL SIGNATURES.
DID ENOUGH QUALIFIED VOTERS PUT THIS ON THE BALLOT?
IT'S BECOME NOT ABOUT THOSE PEOPLE.
YOU MAY BE A QUALIFIED VOTER AND YOU SIGN IT AND IF THE PETITION PERSON HOLDING THE CLIPBOARD MAKING ANY TICKY-TACK FOUL THAN YOU OR ANYONE THAT SIGNED THAT -- AND REMEMBER, THIS IS A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT AND IT'S BEEN IN OUR STATE FOREVER.
AND THE BOTTOM LINE IS, THE REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE MAKES LAWS AND DON'T LIKE IT WHEN THE CITIZENS TRY TO GO AROUND THEM.
THEY WERE STEAMED AFTER MEDICAL MARIJUANA PASSED AND AFTER THE MINIMUM WAGE WAS RAISED AND THIS CAME OUT OF THAT.
>> Ted: QUICKLY, YEAH.
>> AND LAURIE REFERRED TO THE BALLOT REFERRAL ON IN-STATE TUITION AND SEVERAL CHANGES ON THIS BALLOT THIS YEAR THAT THE LEGISLATURE PUT ON THAT WILL MAKE IT HARDER TO PASS AND 60% FOR ANYTHING THAT INCREASES TAXES.
THIS ELECTION LAW, IT HAS LOBBYIST STUFF AND SMALL BUSINESS TAXES WHICH WILL, INDEED, RAISE TAXES WHICH MEANS YOU WOULD HAVE TO HAVE 60% TO PASS IT AND SEVERAL OTHERS.
>> WHILE THEY WANT A 60% MARGIN, THEY'RE KEEPING THEIR OWN AT 50% PLUS ONE.
>> Ted: NO FILIBUSTER.
>> THEY'RE VETTED BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S COMPUTER AND THEY WON'T DO THAT FOR INITIATIVES.
>> Ted: SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE NOT HANDLING THE RE-RECOGNIZE DEMONSTRATION.
RELATIVE DEMONSTRATION.
>> IF YOU CAN'T RUN THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE, HOW CAN YOU RUN THE STATE?
>> GOVERNOR DUCEY AND MARK BRNOVICH SIGNED AN ON THOSE RULES IN 2019 AND THIS IS WHAT ALL OF THE RULES ARE BASED OFF OF IT.
>> Ted: ANOTHER SUIT AND FEDERAL JUDGE, LAKE AND FINCHHAM AND THEY WANT THE MACHINES OUT AND THE JUDGE SAYS NO.
>> THEY'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT A STOLEN ELECTION AND DESPITE SEVERAL AUDITS AND A NUMBER OF IT PEOPLE AND SPECIALTY PEOPLE LOOKING AT AN AUDITING AND PUTTING THESE MACHINES THROUGH THEIR PACES AND CONCLUDING THAT THERE IS NO HACKING GOING ON.
AND THUS NO FRAUD AND THEY CONTINUE TO BELIEVE THAT THESE TABOOTABULATION MACHINES AND THEY WANTED A HAND COUNT AND THE JUDGE THREW IT OUT, THE FEDERAL JUDGE, SAYING YOU LACK STANDING BECAUSE YOU LACK ANY PROOF THAT THERE'S A PROBLEM.
>> Ted: THE VERBIAGE, ONLY CONJECTURE AND INJURIES MUST BE REAL AND NOT ABSTRACT.
I MEAN, HE'S BASICALLY SAYING, YOU GIVE ME NOTHING HERE.
>> EXACTLY, AND THEY WERE GENERALIZE THE ALLEGATIONS AND SOME CONCERN ABOUT WHETHER THE VOTING MACHINES COULD BE HACKED DESPITE THE EVIDENCE THAT SHOWS THEY CAN'T.
>> Ted: ISN'T THAT THE WAY ALL CASES HAVE GONE?
>> THERE WERE 11 LAWSUITS CHALLENGING JOE BIDEN'S WIN AND THEY WERE THROWN OUT BY STATE OR FEDERAL COURT JUDGES.
IN THIS CASE, THEY LOST NOT OWN ON STANDING, WHICH IS THE RIGHT TO SUE AND THAT IS THE THRESHOLD MATTER AND THEYLESS ON THIS REALLY WONKY THING CALLED THE PURCEL DOCTRINE NAMED AFTER HELEN PURCEL HOW AN ELECTION CHALLENGE IN COURT WHERE THE SUPREME COURT SAID YOU CANNOT COME IN, DEMOCRATIC PARTY, REPUBLICAN PARTY AND I FORGET WHO WAS SUING AND SAID IF IT'S TOO CLOSE TO THE ELECTION, YOU CAN'T CHANGE IT.
THE JUDGE TODAY SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT?
WE'RE FOUR MONTHS AWAY FROM THE GENERAL ELECTION AND YOU'RE TRYING TO SAY YOU HAVE TO HAND COUNT EVERYTHING?
IT FAILS.
>> Ted: SO THAT'S ADIOS.
TALK ABOUT THE ENDORSEMENT FROM SOME STATE LAWMAKER FROM OKLAHOMA AND MAY NEVER HEAR OF.
SHE DIDN'T ENDORSE AND WHAT'S GOING ON?
>> LAST WEEK SHE ENDORSED JARON JACKSON IN OKLAHOMA AND WE KNEW ABOUT IT BECAUSE IT WAS NEWS IN OKLAHOMA.
THE MAN IS APPARENTLY FAIRLY WELL-KNOWN AND EXTENSIVELY COVERED, THAT HE BASHES LGBTQ COMMUNITY AND HE PUTS OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA THIS ANTI-SEMITIC TRASH AND THAT BLEW UP AND SAID IF HE SAID THESE THINGS, YOU KNOW, THEN, OBVIOUSLY, I WOULD BE AGAINST THOSE DEROGATORY STATEMENTS.
A, NEVER ACKNOWLEDGED HE SAID THIS OR EXPLAINED HOW IS IT YOU'RE ENDORSING THIS GUY WHEN A GOOGLE SEARCH TO STAY MILES AWAY FROM HIM?
SINCE THEN, HER CAMPAIGN SAID SHE WITHDREW HER ENDORSEMENT.
NO PUBLIC STATEMENT.
THE ENDORSEMENT REMAINED ON HIS WEBSITE.
>> SHE CALLED IT A BIG DEAL.
>> OF COURSE IT WAS.
IF YOU LOOKED AT HIS WEBSITE, NOT A LOT OF HIGH PRO PROFILE ENDORSEMENTED.
HE GOT KARI LAKE AND NO PUBLIC REPUDIATION OR NOTHING.
>> Ted: REMINDS ME OF BALL PLAYERS WITH STEROIDS AND NO IDEA WHO KNEW THE STEROID WAS THERE.
WHEN YOU USE, YOU SHOULD KNOW.
WHEN YOU ENDORSE, SHOULDN'T YOU HAVE AN INDICATE.
INDICATION.
>> THIS IS A LESSON FOR KARI LAKE'S CAMPAIGN OR ANY OTHER CANDIDATE WHO KNOW THEY WILL GET MEDIA SCRUTINY.
YOU CAN'T JUST OFF THE CUFF SAY THIS PERSON IS WONDERFUL BECAUSE IT WILL COME TO BITE YOU AND YOU CAN LOSE ELECTIONS IF ENOUGH OF THESE THINGS HAPPEN.
SHE'S ALREADY GOT, YOU KNOW, THE MARK PINCHHAMS FINCHHAMS OF THE WORLD AND WENDY ROGERS WAS CENSORED BY THE SENATE AND YOU HAVE TO BE CANCELED.
>> I WOULDN'T EXPECT HER TO BACK OFF AND I WOULD LIKED TO HAVE SEEN KARI LAKE COME ON CAMERA AND SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, I MADE A MISTAKE AND I SHOULDN'T HAVE DONE THIS.
ANYONE CAN EXCEPT SOMEONE WHO MADE A MISTAKE AND HER REFUSAL TO COME OUT AND IN STRONG LANGUAGE SAY, NO, THIS IS NOT RIGHT, WHAT HE SAID IS NOT CORRECT AND I DIVORCE MYSELF FROM IT, THAT'S A MISSED OPPORTUNITY.
>> Ted: ISN'T THAT THE TRUMP BRAND, THOUGH?
>> WE'RE NEVER WRONG.
>> Ted: YOU DO NOT ADMIT ANY MISTAKES AND SHE CAN'T DO THAT.
>> APPARENTLY, THAT'S HOW YOU REMAIN STRONG.
>> BUT REMEMBER, SHE MADE IT THROUGH A REPUBLICAN PRIMARY AND HOBBS MADE IT THROUGH A PRIMARY AND NOW YOU HAVE TO GET THE PEOPLE IN THE MIDDLE AND YOU DON'T GET THE PEOPLE IN THE MIDDLE ENDORSING.
>> Ted: THAT'S A NICE SEGWAY BECAUSE WE MOVE ONTO BLAKE MASTERS SEEMS TO BE MOVING QUITE HARD TOWARD THE MIDDLE.
HE HAS SCRUBBED PRO-LIFE STATEMENTS AND A BUNCH OF OTHER THINGS FROM HIS WEBSITE AND HE IS NOW BECOMING -- IS HE A MODERATE?
>> WELL, THAT WOULD BE A QUESTION AND WHAT EXACTLY IS HE?
WHICH IS THE REAL BLACK BLAKE MASTERS?
HE STOOD ABOUT A PERSONHOOD LAW WHICH IS A NATIONAL ABORTION BAN.
HE TALKED ABOUT BEING PURPOSE LIFE AND DIDN'T THINK IT SHOULD BE A DECISION THE STATES ARE MAKE.
AS SOON AS THE PRIMARY WAS OVER, HE STAT DOWN WITH RONALD HANSEN AND SAID, YOU KNOW, WHEN I TALKED ABOUT THE FEDERAL PERSONHOOD, I MET IN THE THIRD TRIMESTER AND I THINK ARIZONA IS BAN AT 15 WEEKS AND THAT WOULD BE FINE.
THIS WEEK, HE'S TAKEN ON THURSDAY, HE TOOK IT ONE STEP FURTHER AND SCRUBBED HIS WEBSITE OF ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WOULD, PERHAPS, NOT ENDEAR YOU TO THE MIDDLE.
WHAT'S GOING ON HERE, IS THAT HE'S SEEN THE POLLS AND DOWN IN THE POLLS AND ABORTION IS A BIG ISSUE AND MODERATE AND INDEPENDENTS THAT HE NEEDS TO WIN AND THE REPUBLICAN SENATE COMMITTEE, THE PACK GAVE UP EIGHT MILLION DOLLARS IN AD BUYS HERE THAT THEY HAD FOR HIM AND KEEP EIGHT MILLION.
THEY'RE PUTTING THE MONEY ELSEWHERE AND THIS IS NOT A GREAT INVESTMENT.
>> Ted: THAT HAD BEEN RUMORED FOR SOME TIME AND IT'S A DONE DEAL AND THAT'S MITCH MCCONNELL SAYING I HAVE BIGGER FISH TO FRY.
>> IF YOU'RE MICHELLE MCCONNELL AND ONE OF THE BIG INVESTORS IN STATE RACES AND GET POLLING BACK AND THIS HAPPENS, IT'S INTERNAL AND WHEN IT LOOKS BAD, YOU SPEND THE MONEY IN TIGHT RACES WHERE YOU CAN INFLUENCE STUFF.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE POLLS SAY, BUT WHEN YOU SEE SOMEONE PULL EIGHT MILLION DOLLARS OUT, YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY.
HE'S WAY BEHIND AND DON'T KNOW IF HE CAN CATCH UP AND THE ELECTORATE IS FICKLE AND HE HAS A CHANCE.
>> Ted: BUT CAN YOU EXPECT TO GET THE BASE OUT AND MASTERS WILL NEED EVERY BIT OF THE REPUBLICAN BASE TO BEAT THE INCUMBENT, AN ASTRONAUT, FOR GOODNESS SAKES.
CAN YOU GET THE BASE OUT TIP-TOEING BACK TO THE MIDDLE WHEN THE BASE DOESN'T LIKE TO SEE THAT?
>> THE BUSINESS ISTHE BASE IS THE BASE AND THEY ALWAYS VOTE AND THEY DO NOT WANT TO SEE MARK KELLY IN.
I THINK WHAT HE'S SEEING, I GOT THOSE PEOPLE AND THEY'RE A CAPTIVE AUDIENCE WITH NO PLACE TO GO AND HOW DO I GET ENOUGH OF THEM IN THE MIDDLE?
THIS UNDERLIES TO ME THE IMPORTANCE OF THE ABORTION ISSUE IN THIS RACE AND MORE IMPORTANT THAN I THOUGHT.
>> Ted: I WAS GOING TO ASK ABOUT THAT.
>> OH, YEAH, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
WE SAW IT IN KANSAS AND OVERWHELMING A STATE-WIDE ABORTION BAN AND IT WOULD HAVE REPEOPLED PART OFREPEALED PART OF THE STATE CONSTITUTION.
DEMOCRATS ARE RUNNING ON IT AND THE INTERESTING THING I SEE ABOUT THE KELLY-MASTER'S RACE, KELLY IS SPENDING HIS OWN MONEY ATTACKING MASTERS AND TRYING TO MAKE SURE THOSE VOTERS WHO WEREN'T PAYING ATTENTION KNOW WHO BLAKE MASTERS IS, HOW HE WANTS THEM TO KNOW.
>> AND HE'S GOT THE MONEY TO SPEND, TOO.
>> HE'S NOT SAYING, LOOK HOW WONDERFUL MARK KELLY IS BUT LOOK HOW BAD THAT GUY IS WHICH IS UNUSUAL AT THIS STAGE OF THE RACE.
>> Ted: BEFORE WE GO, WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT KELLY WARD, REPUBLICAN PARTY, NOW CLAIMS THAT THE FAKE ELECTORS WERE FAKE?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, THAT DOCUMENT THAT WE ALL SIGNED, ATTESTING TO THE FACT THAT WE WERE THE DULY ELECTED OF THE STATE OF ARIZONA AND SENT IT BY CERTIFIED MAIL TO THE U.S. CONGRESS AND TO THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES, THEY WERE JUST KIDDING.
APPARENTLY, HER POINT OF VIEW NOW IS THAT THEY WERE JUST PUTTING THAT TOGETHER IN THE EVENT THAT THE ELECTION WAS OVERTURNED AND NO SUCH LANGUAGE ABOUT THAT AND IF YOU GO BACK TO THE "NEW YORK TIMES" STORIES, THE EMAILS WHERE HE TALKED THAT WARD WAS WORRIED IN DECEMBER OF 2020, WHAT THEY MIGHT BE DOING IS TREASON TREASON TREASON ESS, THAT DOESN'T CULTCOME OUT IN THE WASH. >> ALL THEY HAVE TO DO, THOSE LAWYERS IS PULL UP PUBLIC COMMENTS FROM THE TIME AND FILE THOSE IN COURT AND SAY, JUDGE, DO YOU BELIEVE WHAT SHE SAID PUBLICALLY EVERY OR WHAT SHE'S PUTTING IN THIS PUBLIC DOCUMENT?
>> Ted: SHE'S SAYING THE SUBPOENA POSING A GREAT THREAT TO OUR DEMOCRACY THAN THE RIOT.
>> I THINK IT POSES A PUBLIC THREAT TO HER AND SETTING HERSELF UP TO TAKE A MAJOR ROLE IN STATE GOVERNMENT TOR PAUL GOSAR'S SEAT AND SHE DOES NOT WANT US TO KNOW WHO SHE WAS TALKING TO ON THOSE NIGHTS.
THERE'S A LEGAL PROCESS AND SHE'S BEEN SUBPOENAED AND I REMEMBER SHE WAS ONE OF THE CHIEF PEOPLE TO THROW A FIT WHEN THE MARICOPA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS DIDN'T OBJECT TO COMING ALONG WITH THE STATE SENATE SUBPOENA ON THE AUDIT.
THEY WENT TO COURT, CAN WE LEGALLY COMPLY.
SHE HAD A FIT AND NOW SHE'S FIGHTING A SUBPOENA.
>> Ted: I KNOW THE ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION, DOES THIS KIND OF THING RESONATE WITHIN THE G.O.P, NOT THE BASE?
I UNDERSTAND THAT.
BUT THE REPUBLICANS OUT THERE WHO ARE STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENED TO THEIR PARTY, WHEN THEY SEE THIS, WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR THEIR ELECTION?
>> THE MODERATES, THE 10%, 20% THAT ARE NOT ALL IN WITH THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND DONALD TRUMP ALREADY, THEY'RE TURNED OFF ABOUT EVERYTHING ABOUT THE 2020 ELECTION, ALL OF THE AUDIT STUFF AND THE DISBELIEF AND THIS DOES NOT HELP.
>> Ted: NOT MUCH FENCE SITTING, I WOULD IMAGINE?
>> HE'S RUNNING FOR SECRETARY OF STATE SO YOU WOULD EXPECT ELECTIONS TO BE HIS ISSUE AND THAT'S ALL HE HAS AND HE WANTS TO DECERTIFY THE 2020 ELECTION.
THE BIGGER QUESTION ABOUT HIM, IF HE IN HIS MIND HAS A QUESTION IN 204 AND HE HAS 2024 AND IT IS CERTIFIED BY THE 15 COUNTIES, DO FACTS MATTER OR HIS GUT OPINION?
>> Ted: GREAT TO HAVE YOU BOTH.
THAT'S IT FOR NOW AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND YOU HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!

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