[♪ THEME MUSIC ♪] >>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS ON ARIZONA PBS, ON ON ARIZONA HORIZON, U.S.

TROOPS ARE SCHEDULED TO EVACUATE AFGHANISTAN TOMORROW.

WHAT THAT MEANS FOR THE FUTURE OF AFGHANISTAN.

RESTRICTIONS ON U.S.

TOURISTS DUE TO COVID-19 CONCERNS, AND ON BREAK IT DOWN, THE INCREASE IN WOMEN OF COLOR RUNNING FOR PUBLIC OFFICE.

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

>>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

IT IS OVER.

U.S. MILITARY AND PRESENCE IN AFGHANISTAN OFFICIALLY ENDED TODAY.

>> I'M HERE TO ANNOUNCE THE COMPLETION OF OUR WITHDRAWAL FROM AFGHANISTAN AND THE END OF THE MILITARY MISSION TO EVACUATE U.S. CITIZENS, AND ALLIES.

THE LAST PLANE LIFTED OFF AT 3:29 EAST COAST TIME.

AND THE LAST MANNED AIRCRAFT IS NOW CLEARING THE SPACE.

>> THE EXIT MARKS THE END TO A 20-YEAR MISSION THAT RESULTED IN THE COMPLETE TAKEOVER OF THE COUNTRY BY THE TALIBAN.

OPERATIONS WERE WRAPPED UP A DAY EARLY.

WE'LL HAVE MORE ON AFGHANISTAN LATER IN THE PROGRAM.

>>> ONE OF SIX CASES OF COVID-19 IN MARICOPA COUNTY ARE IN CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 12 ACCORDING TO THE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT, WHICH REPORTS THERE IS NOW A DOUBLING OF COVID OUTBREAKS IN SCHOOLS EVERY WEEK, AND THAT SCHOOLS THAT DO NOT HAVE MASK MANDATES ARE TWICE AS LIKELY TO HAVE OUTBREAKS THAN THOSE THAT DON'T.

>>> A NEW STUDY SUGGESTS THAT MAST KING AND TESTING IN SCHOOLS COULD HELP.

WITH UNIVERSAL MASK USE AND TESTING CUTTING THE NUMBER OF OUTBREAKS EVEN MORE.

WITHOUT ANY MITIGATION EFFORT, FROM 75 TO 90% OF UNVACCINATED STUDENTS COULD GET INFECTED IN THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF SCHOOL.

>>> THE HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE IS SET TO ASK TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANIES TO PRESERVE THE PHONE RECORDS OF A GROUP OF REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, INCLUDING ANDY BIGGS AND PAUL GOSAR.

THE PHONE RECORDS OF DONALD TRUMP AND HIS FAMILY MEMBERS WILL ALSO BE REPORTED LY IN THE REQUEST.

>>> HURRICANE IDA IS NOW A TOPICAL STORM, BUT THE FLOODING AND DAMAGE IN LOUISIANA IS CONSIDERABLE.

IT HIT LOUISIANA YESTERDAY AS A CATEGORY 4 HURRICANE.

HERE IS LOUISIANA'S LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

>> I'M SURE WE ARE GOING TO FIND MANY PEOPLE IN THEIR ATTICS ON ROOF TOPS THAT ROAD THIS THING OUT, AND WE'RE HOPEFUL THAT WE HAVING FIND EVERYONE ALIVE, BUT LOOKING AT THE VIDEOS AND PHONE CALLS FROM SOME OF THESE AREAS THAT WERE RAINFALL INUNDATED, WE'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF DEVASTATION, AND HOPEFULLY VERY LITTLE LOSS OF LIFE.

>> THERE ARE TWO FATALITIES REPORTED SO FAR, AND A MILLION PEOPLE WITHOUT POWER.

BUT STILL THE MAYOR SAID, AS BAD AS IT IS, WE DID NOT HAVE ANOTHER KATRINA THANKS TO NEW LEAVE -- LEVEES.

AND GAS PRICES ARE EXPECTED TO PRIZE BECAUSE OF THE STORM DUE TO TEMPORARY CLOSURES OF OIL REFINERIES AND GAS PRODUCTION ALONG THE GULF COAST.

>>> THE U.S. IS NOW OFFICIALLY OUT OF AFGHANISTAN.

WHAT DOES THE WITHDRAWAL MEAN FOR THE FUTURE OF AFGHANISTAN, AND HOW COULD IT IMPACT U.S. NATIONAL INTERESTS?

WE ASKED JOHN CARLSON, WITH ASU'S SCHOOL OF HISTORICAL PHILOSOPHICAL AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES.

JOHN, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US AS WE TALK ABOUT AFGHANISTAN, YOUR THOUGHT -- LET'S GET AN OVERVIEW HERE.

YOUR GENERAL THOUGHTS ON WHAT HAS TRANSPIRED IN AFGHANISTAN.

>> WELL, I WOULD SAY THE COUNTRY OF THE ITSELF AS WELL AS AFGHANISTAN IS RECKONING WITH WHAT IS HAPPENING OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS, AND IT'S A VERY SUDDEN, ABRUPT, AND DIFFICULT RECKONING WITH VERY HIGH STAKES.

MY HUNCH IS THERE A PUBLIC CONVERSATION TAKING PLACE, AND THERE WILL BE PRIVATE CONVERSATIONS CONTINUING ABOUT HOW TO GET PEOPLE OUT WHO MIGHT QUALIFY, AND I THINK ONE HAS TO BE MUCH MORE WILLING, REGARDLESS TO WHAT ONE SAYS IN PUBLIC TO CONTINUE THIS EFFORT TO EVACUATE, BOTH AMERICANS, AND BOTH WHO WE HAVE ENDANGERED AND THOSE WHO WERE SUPPORTIVE OF U.S.

FORCES WHILE WE WERE THERE.

>> SO WE'RE NOT REALLY TOTALLY OUT OF THERE?

>> I WOULD EXPECT THAT NEGOTIATIONS WOULD NEED TO CONTINUE -- SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE SURE, AND WILL.

THE QUESTION IS, I THINK, HOW SUCCESSFUL THOSE CONVERSATIONS ARE, AND I THINK ONE COULD HAVE MADE A DECISION TO STAY WE'RE NOT GOING TO STAY PAST AUGUST 31ST, BUT AS WE HAVE ALWAYS SEEN IT IS A PERILOUS SITUATION.

>> WHAT SHOULD U.S. RELATIONS WITH THE TALIBAN BE LIKE FROM HERE ON?

>> WELL, AS MOST PEOPLE ARE SAYING, I THINK IT'S VERY MUCH A WAIT AND SEE APPROACH.

THE FIRST AND FOREMOST IS THE ONGOING CONVERSATIONS THAT ARE CONTINUING TO TAKE PLACE ABOUT NEED TO CONTINUE TO TAKE PLACE ABOUT GETTING AMERICANS AND AFGHANS WHO ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE EVACUATION, TO GET THEM OUT, AND RIGHT NOW THERE IS AN APPROXIMATE OVERLAP IN INTERESTS IN THE AMERICANS GETTING OUT, AND ALSO SOME OF THE BENEFITS THAT COULD COME IF THEY COOPERATE WITH -- WITH U.S.

FORCES, AND, YOU KNOW, TO HELP GET SOME OF THE AFGHANS OUT >> FOR THE AVERAGE AFGHAN, WHAT DOES THIS ALL MEAN?

WHAT KIND OF FUTURE DO THEY SEE FOR THEMSELVES.

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

THE AVERAGE AFGHAN ISN'T NECESSARILY A CATEGORY WE CAN FULLY UNDERSTAND.

IT IS DIFFERENT IN THE COUNTRYSIDE THAN IN THE CITY.

IT IS DIFFERENT IF YOU ARE A MAN OR A WOMAN OR A GIRL, SO IT IS GOING TO BE THE MOST KIND OF ABRUPT TURMOIL FOR PEOPLE LIVING IN CITIES AND GOTTEN ACCUSTOM TO MORE COSMOPOLITAN VALUES, AND WHERE PEOPLE AND GIRLS HAD GOTTEN MORE USED TO THE TRADITIONS.

AND IN THE COUNTRIES, SOME PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SO EFFECTED, AND IN SOME CASES HAD THEIR WARS TORN APART BY END LES WAR FAIR, AND THAT THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO ACCEPT WHOEVER IS IN CHARGE.

>> I HAVE OFTEN WONDERED, AFGHANISTAN, AS WE KNOW IT, CAN THAT COUNTRY EXIST AS A SINGLE NATION STATE?

ARE THERE SO MANY DISPARATE TRIBES, COUNTY, URBAN, THAT SORT -- IS THIS JUST A COUNTRY WAITING TO BE BROKEN UP?

>> I THINK THAT'S A COMPLEX QUESTION THAT REQUIRES A REALLY IN DEPTH UNDERSTANDING OF THE COUNTRY OVER MANY, MANY YEARS, INCLUDING WELL BEFORE THE UNITED STATES WAS THERE.

I THINK ANY COUNTRY DESERVES THE OPPORTUNITY TO TRY TO DETERMINE THEIR OWN FUTURE, AND WHILE THERE ARE ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT TRIBES, CONFLICTING INTERESTS, CONFLICTING VIEWS OF THE FUTURE, THEY ARE -- THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO -- TO -- TO DETERMINE THAT.

UNFORTUNATELY, I THINK WHEN YOU SAY, CAN IT BE A NATION STATE IN THE LIKELY FORM OF NATION STATE IS GOING TO BE THIS ISLAMIC EMIRATE THAT IS GOING TO BE VERY MUCH SHAPED BY THE TALIBAN, AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE KIND OF GOVERNMENT THAT MANY, MANY AFGHANS AND MANY OTHERS IN THE WORLD WOULD LIKE TO SEE?

>> ARE YOU OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE FUTURE OF AFGHANISTAN?

>> WELL, SOMETIMES WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE FUTURE WILL BRING, AND NOW WE'LL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THAT.

I, LIKE ME PEOPLE, AM HOLDING MY BREATH, AND I HOPE WE'LL SEE SOME KINDS OF REFORMS COME TO BARE, BUT I'M NOT ALWAYS OPTIMISTIC.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, TED.

>>> AND UP NEXT, HOW AN ORGANIZATION IN ARIZONA IS PREPARING TO HELP AFGHAN REFUGEES.

>>> THE INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE IN ARIZONA IS AT THE READY TO HELP AFGHAN FAMILIES WITH SPECIAL IMGRANT VISAS.

THIS PROCESS HAS BECOME MORE URGENT.

"HORIZONTE" HOST JOSE CARDENAS SPOKE WITH AARON RIPPENKROEGER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE IN ARIZONA.

>>> AARON RIPPENKROEGER, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

YOU ARE THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE THE INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE HERE IN PHOENIX.

YOU ARE GETTING READY TO RECEIVE, WE HOPE, A LOT OF AFGHAN REFUGEES, BUT AS I UNDERSTAND IT, NONE HAVE YET ARRIVED?

>> CORRECT.

WE HAVE RECEIVED SOME AFGHAN CITIZENS OVER THE COURSE OF THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, BUT THAT IS PART OF THE REFUGEE PROGRAM THAT WE RUN EVERY YEAR, AND NOW WE'RE PREPARING TO HOPEFULLY RECEIVE MORE IN THE COMING WEEKS.

>> AND WHAT DOES THAT ENTAIL?

>> RIGHT NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT OUR F STAFFING, MAKING SURE WE HAVE LANGUAGE CAPACITY, AND PERSONALITY CAPACITY, START LOOKING AT HOUSING OPTIONS WHERE THEY CAN STAY WHILE WE KIND OF WORK ON THAT, PREPARE FOR SCHOOL ENROLLMENTS, TALK WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS, KIND OF PUT THE WORD OUT FOR VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES, AND START PUTTING RESOURCES IN PLACE.

>> DO YOU HAVE ANY EXPECTATIONS AS TO HOW MANY AFGHANIS MAY COME HERE?

>> THE INFORMATION IS SO FLUID AND REAL TIME RIGHT NOW, THAT WE DON'T HAVE A RELIABLE FORECAST.

WE'RE HEARING THE NUMBERS IN THE NEWS, AND INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE BEING TRANSPORTED OUT OF AFGHANISTAN, SOME STIP PITS OF INFORMATION ABOUT FOLKS ARRIVING INTO THE U.S. WE'RE HOPING IT COULD BE IN THE HUNDREDS AT LEAST.

>> AND WHAT WOULD DETERMINE WHERE AND WHY AN AFGHANI WOULD GO?

>> TYPICALLY WHEN THEY ARE GOING THROUGH A REFUGEE PROCESS OF THIS NATURE, EVEN THOUGH THERE WILL BE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES THAT THESE FOLKS WILL BE COMING THROUGH, THEY USUALLY GO WHERE THEY HAVE FAMILY FIRST, AND THE -- OVER 50% OF THAT HAVE THAT SOMEWHERE.

IN THIS CASE, SO MANY OF THEM WORKED WITH U.S. MILITARY PERSONNEL, SO THERE MAY BE A CLOSE ACQUAINTANCE THEY HAVE WORKED WITH IN THE PAST, AND THEN BEYOND THAT, WE -- WE DO HAVE -- NONE U.S.-TIE CASES OR FREE CASES WHERE THEY REALLY ARE GIVEN A LIST OF CITIES THAT THEY CAN POTENTIALLY GO, AND IN MANY CASES IT IS UP TO THEM TO DECIDE WHAT SOUNDS BEST.

YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE AN ORGANIZATION WITH LANGUAGE CAPACITY AND SERVICES AVAILABLE TO HELP RECEIVE THEM AND GET THEM STARTED.

AND OUTSIDE OF THAT, WE TRY TO GIVE THEM SOME CHOICE IN THE MATTER WHEN WE CAN.

>> GOVERNOR DUCEY AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE SAYS THAT THE STATE WILL COOPERATE WITH FEDERAL AUTHORITIES.

>> THAT IS VERY ENCOURAGING.

ARIZONA HAS A LONG-STANDING TRADITION OF WELCOME FOR REFUGEES, AND PEOPLE COMING OUT OF CONFLICT ZONES SUCH AS THIS, SO WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THOSE MESSAGES, AND WE HAVE STARTED HAVING MESSAGES WITH RELATED DEPARTMENTS TO TALK ABOUT HOW TO COORDINATE AND COLLABORATE, BECAUSE THIS IS DEFINITELY GOING TO BE A MULTI-ORGANIZATIONAL EFFORT TO DO IT WELL.

>> YOU ARE REFERRING TO THE ARIZONA OFFICE OF REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT?

>> I AM.

AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS.

AND WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THAT, AND FOR THE GOVERNOR'S MESSAGING TO SAY, THIS IS IMPORTANT TO US, TO ARIZONA.

AND WE FULLY AGREE WITH THAT.

REFUGEES ARRIVING TO ARIZONA ARE VERY FORTUNATE.

WE THINK THIS IS A GREAT PLACE TO RESETTLE, REFRESH, AND GET A NEW LIFE GOING, AND IT REALLY TAKES ALL LEVELS, FEDERAL, STATED, COUNTY, CITY, PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS, AND WE'RE EAGER TO BE A PART OF THAT.

>> SO IT SOUNDS LIKE WE WILL BE FAIRLY READY TO TAKE CARE OF THE REFUGEES WHEN THEY ARRIVE.

AND WHAT ARE YOU HEARING ABOUT THAT?

>> HEART-BREAKING STORIES.

WE HAVE STAFF HERE IN ARIZONA THAT ARE ORIGINALLY FROM AFGHANISTAN AS WELL.

WE HAD URGENT CONCERNS AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS OR INDIVIDUALS THEY HAVE KNOWN WHO WORKED WITH THE U.S. MILITARY, AND WE'RE HEARING SUCH MIXED REPORTS ABOUT SOME INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE THE RIGHT DOCUMENTS, AND YET THEY ARE STILL TURNED AWAY, AND OTHER INDIVIDUALS THAT FIND A WAY.

WHAT WE'RE REALLY WORRIED ABOUT IS SOME OF THE CATEGORIES FOR FOLKS TO BE PROCESSED TO THE U.S.

REQUIRE THEM TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY FIRST BEFORE THEY CAN ACCESS THAT IMMIGRATION PATHWAY.

IN THIS CASE, THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE THAT OPTION RIGHT NOW.

THEY ARE TRYING.

WHILE THE ADMINISTRATION IS WORKING QUICKLY, THERE ARE STILL SOME OBSTACLES THAT ARE GOING TO HOLD A LOT OF PEOPLE BACK, AND WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT THAT.

>> I UNDERSTAND SOME OF OUR ALLIES, FRANCE, GERMANY AND OTHERS, HAVE MORE LENIENT IMMIGRATION REQUIREMENTS, AND THEY CAN BE RESETTLED LATER.

>> YES, WE WOULD SUPPORT IF GETTING THEM TO A SAFE LOCATION IS THE FIRST STEPH -- STEP, AND THEN MAKE SURE EVERYTHING CAN MOVE FORWARD IN AN ORGANIZED SAFE WAY.

>> WHAT CAN PEOPLE DO TO HELP?

>> THERE WILL BE, AS I SAID, PROBABLY HUNDREDS COMING, AND YOU CAN GO TO RESCUE.ORG/PHOENIX OR RESCUE.ORG/TUCSON TO FIND WAYS TO HELP.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

GRATEFUL.

>>> THE ARIZONA AGENDA IS A NEW MEDIA OUTLET THAT COVERS IN-DEPTH REPORTING AND PUBLIC ISSUES.

ARIZONA REPORTERS TEAMED UP TO TALK ABOUT THEIR NEW PROJECT.

THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

A COUPLE OF JOURNALIST ROUND TABLE VETERANS.

RACHEL, I'LL START WITH YOU.

WHAT IS ARIZONA AGENDA?

>> IT'S A NEWSLETTER ON THE TECH PLATFORM SUBSET.

SO YOU GET A ROUND UP OF THE DAY'S POLITIC NEWS INTO YOUR INBOX, AND THEN THERE WILL BE ONE THEME EACH WEEK, WHERE WE TRY TO FILL A WHOLE THAT WE DON'T SEE IN OTHER POLITICS REPORTING.

>> AND HANK, HOW DID THIS GET STARTED?

>> RACHEL JUST APPROACHED ME ONE DAY AND SAID DO YOU WANT TO START A NEWS LETTER?

AND I SAID SURE.

AND WE WERE AMONG A DOZEN PEOPLE IN THE WORLD WHO WERE SELECTED TO GET THIS SEED MONEY.

RACHEL AND I HAVE WORKED TOGETHER IN THE PAST, AND GENERALLY GET ALONG PRETTY WELL, SO I THOUGHT THIS WAS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

>> AND RACHEL, I JOKED ABOUT YOU GUYS BEING VETERANS OF THE JOURNALIST ROUND TABLE, BUT YOU ARE BOTH VETERAN REPORTERS.

WHY THIS?

>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

LIKE HANK SAID, WE DIDN'T THINK WE WOULD GET IT, ONE.

SO IT WAS A GENUINE SURPRISE.

AND WE HAVE JOKED OVER THE YEARS, LIKE WHAT WOULD IT BE LIKE IF WE DIDN'T HAVE BOSSES?

WOULDN'T THAT BE CRAZY?

AND THEN WE ARE GETTING TO TRY IT OUT.

AND WE CAN SEE IF WE SINK OR SWIM ON OUR OWN.

>> HANK THE FIRST BIG REPORT WAS YOURS ON STACEY BERKE.

AND WHO IS STACEY BERKE.

AND HER STORY FOUNDS FASCINATING AND JUST HORRIFIC IN MANY ASPECTS.

>> YES.

STACEY BERKE IS A LONG-TIME ACTIVIST OUT OF THE GILBERT AREA.

SHE HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN POLITICS FOR A LONG TIME, AND THIS YEAR WAS ONE OF THE RING LEADERS OF THE STOP TO STEAL MOVEMENT.

YOU REMEMBER THAT THE AUDIT WAS SEARCHING FOR BAMBOO FIBERS AND BALLOTS, AND THAT WAS BECAUSE STACEY BERKE AND SOME OTHERS HAD SAID THAT THERE WAS A VERY STRONG POSSIBILITY THAT POLONIUMS WERE BEING FLOWN IN FROM SOUTH KOREA.

OF COURSE THAT WAS NONSENSE, BUT STACEY BERKE HAS SLOWLY COME AROUND ON THIS STUFF.

WE STUMBLED UPON AN EMAIL OR TWO SHE SENT TO THE ATTORNEY'S GENERALS OFFICE AND SOME ELECTION FOLKS, AND SAYING, HEY, I FEEL LIKE A FOOL, ESSENTIALLY FOR BELIEVING ALL OF THESE CONSPIRACY THEORIES.

I NO LONGER BELIEVE THEM.

SO WE CALLED HER OUT OF THE BLUE, AND FOUND OUT HOW SHE IS FEELING AT THIS POINT.

NOW AFTER JUST A CRAZY, CRAZY NINE MONTHS THAT SHE HAS BEEN LIVING, SHE IS STARTING TO BELIEVE THAT MAYBE THERE WASN'T SOMETHING TO THE IDEA THAT THE ELECTION WAS STOLEN, AND MAYBE THE REAL CONSPIRACY HERE IS TO PRO MOTE THE BIG LIE THAT THERE WAS A STOLEN ELECTION.

SO SHE WAS JUST FASCINATING TO TALK TO, AND I THINK KIND OF RESEMBLES WHAT A LOT OF AMERICANS ARE GOING THROUGH NOW, NINE MONTHS AFTER THE ELECTION, WHEN WE'RE STILL TALKING ABOUT FRAUD, AND THERE HAS NOT BEEN A SHRED OF EVIDENCE OF THAT SO FAR.

>> AND YOU FOLLOWED UP WITH THE AUDIT REVIEW, RECOUNT, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT THERE, AND THERE IS SO MUCH HERE THAT THERE IS A PLACE FOR CONDENSING AND TRYING TO MAKE SENSE OF IT ALL.

>> YEAH, I THINK THAT'S A LANE THAT WE OFTEN WANT TO FIND OURSELVES IN.

WHAT IS THE BIG PICTURE HERE?

WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES?

AND WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR ALL OF US WHO ARE JUST TRYING TO PAY ATTENTION AND KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON IN OUR COMMUNITIES?

AND WE'RE JUST STEPPING BACK AND SEEING WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?

WE'RE NOT COVERING DAILY BREAKING NEWS, BUT WE READ ALL OF IT.

>> YEAH, AND HANK, YOU TALKED ABOUT HOW THE SCHOOL BOARDS ARE BECOMING LIGHTNING RODS FOR ALL SORTS OF ACTIVITY, AND IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS IS WHERE SOME EXTREMISTS ARE NOW DECIDING, LET'S GET A FOOTHOLD HERE AND MOVE UP, HUH?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THEY ARE PUTTING A LOT OF FOCUS ON SCHOOL BOARDS.

ENLISTING CANDIDATES TO RUN FOR THEIR LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS.

GETTING INTO DEMOCRACY AT THE LOWEST LEVEL, BUT SOME OF THE GROUPS THAT ARE DOING THIS ENCOURAGING, ARE NOT LOOKING FOR PARENTS -- LEVEL-HEADED PEOPLE, THEY ARE LOOKING FOR BOMB THROWERS, AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF THIS.

PEOPLE WHO HAVE NEVER HAD INVOLVEMENT IN POLITICS BEFORE.

MAYBE DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT THE JOB IS ABOUT MORE THAN TAKING OFF KIDS MASKS AND SCREAMING ABOUT CRITICAL RACE THEORY?

>> YEAH, AND WOULD YOU CALL THIS ADVOCACY JOURNALISM?

>> NO, WE HAVE SAID FROM THE BEGINNING THAT WE DON'T WANT TO CREATE FALSE EQUIVALENCIES, AND WE'RE -- WE'RE NOT PARTISAN IN ANYTHING WE DO, BUT IN SOME OF THE THINGS WE'RE REPORTING ON, WE'RE NOT GIVING EQUAL WEIGHT, BECAUSE EQUAL WEIGHT IN THOSE CASES DOESN'T NECESSARILY FEEL FAIR OR ACCURATE?

>> AND REACTION FROM FELLOW JOURNALISMS?

>> SO FAR WE HAVE HAD A LOT OF POSITIVE FEEDBACK, AND A LOT OF THEM SHARING THE DAILY AGENDA THAT WE'RE PUTTING OUT, AND TELLING OTHER PEOPLE TO SUBSCRIBE, WHICH IS GREAT.

AND I THINK WE FEEL MORE LIKE WE'RE COLLABORATING WITH THEM AND OPERATING IN THE SAME SPACE THAN COMPETING.

>> RACHEL LEINGANG AND HANK STEPHENSON ARIZONA AGENDA, CONGRATULATIONS, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANKS, TED.

>>> AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

>>> COMING UP IN THE NEXT HALF HOUR OF ARIZONA PBS, HOW A STORM IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN COULD IMPACT WEATHER HERE IN THE VALLEY, AND ON AND ON BREAK IT DOWN, THE INCREASE IN WOMEN OF COLOR RUNNING FOR PUBLIC OFFICE.