>> Ted: COMIN G UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON,," IT'S THE JOURNALIST'S ROUNDTABLE AND A LOOK AT THE WEEK'S TOP STORIES INCLUDING A STATE SENATE COMMITTEE.

THE JOURNALIST'SROUNDTABLE NEXT.

>> Announcer: THIS IS MADE POSSIBLE BY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE FRIENDS OF PBS.

THANK YOU.

>> Ted: GOOD EVEN ING AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

IT'S IT'S FRIDAY AND JOINING YOU TONIGHT FOR A LOOK AT THE WEEK'S TOP STORIES IS HOWIE FISCHER AND BOB CHRISTIE AND JIM SMALL.

GENTLEMEN, GOOD TO HAVE YOU AND BOB, THANKS FOR JOINING YOU ON THE ROAD AND WE'LL GET TO YOU HERE IN A SECOND.

HOWIE, WE'LL START WITH YOU AND START WITH YET ANOTHER NOMINEE FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICER GETTING THE OLD HEAV HO.

WHAT'S GOING ON?

>> NO QUESTION FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE HEARING THEY WEREN'T GOING TO CONFIRM HER.

JAKE HOFFMAN STARTED THE HEARING ABOUT SAYING THE GOVERNOR WANTS YES PEOPLE AND SHE JUST WANTS PEOPLE WHO WILL AGREE WITH HER AND DON'T HAVE ANY ORIGINAL THOUGHT.

REMEMBER TO HEAD THE HOUSING AND HEADED THE ARIZONA KOA LIST COALITION FOR A DOZEN YEARS.

THEY COULDN'T ATTACK HER ON THAT.

THEY DID A DEEP DIVE AND FOUND OUT SHE WOULD SEND OUT LETTERS, FOR EXAMPLE TO HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND TO FOOD AGENCIES AND SHE WOULD QUOTE, UNQUOTE, CRIB AND PLAGIARIZE FROM OTHER AGENCIES PRESENT FOUND.

THEY FOUND A BUNCH OF ARTICLES SHE SENT OFF OVER HER SIGNATURE TO CREATE THE THIRD VOTE, WHICH WAS TJ SHOPE THAT EVERYBODY SENDS OUT COMMON LETTERS AND THIS ONE WAS JUST TOO MUCH.

>> Ted: BOB, PLAGIARISM WITH HOUSING AND WHERE TO THE TWAIN MEET HERE?

>> THEY DON'T MEET THE.

THE PROBLEM FOR THE GOVERNOR IS KIND OF SILLY.

SHE'S NOT IN ACADEMIA OR ANY POSITION TO WHERE, YOU KNOW, COPPING AND PASTING ON A LETTER TO AN AGENCY MAKES ANY DIFFERENCE.

WHAT MATTERS IS THE CONTENT.

THERE WAS NO CRITICISM OF THE CONTENT THERE'S NO CRITICISM OF HER EXPERIENCE.

THEY DUG UNTIL THEY FOUND SOMETHING THAT THEY COULD HANG THEIR HAT ON, Mr. HOFFMAN DID, AND THE OTHER TWO REPUBLICANS WENT ALONG WITH IT.

>> Ted: JIM, THE RESPONSE FROM THE CHAIRMAN THERE AND THE LEADER, Mr. HOFFMAN, "UNFIT TO SERVE THIS POSITION."

THAT'S PRETTY SHARP STUFF HERE.

>> IT IS AND OF A PIECE WITH WHAT WE'VE SEEN OUT OF THIS COMMITTEE BY AND LARGE.

THIS IS AN ENTIRELY NEW COMMITTEE AND I DON'T THINK IT'S REALLY ANY SURPRISE TO SCORE POLITICAL POINTS TO HAMPER THE GOVERNOR'S MILL POLITICAL AGENDA.

THAT'S WHY THIS COMMITTEE IS THERE AND WHY THEY COMPLETELY CHANGED UP THE PROCESS AND WHY THEY, YOU KNOW, WHY SENATOR WARREN PETERSEN TURNED IT OVER TO THE CLOSEST ALLY, JAKE HOFFMAN.

>> THEY WERE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING.

THIS WHOLE ISSUE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT ABOUT BUCKEYE AND QUEEN CREEK NOT HAVING A 100 YEAR WATER SUPPLY AND THERE'S A CODE THAT HAS TO BE DONE IN THAT SITUATION.

WELL, JAKE HOFFMAN AND JUSTINE WYSIAK THAT THOSE ARE THE HEARINGS WITH THE NEW HOUSING APPLY, SOMETHING JONES SERVICE SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT AND THE GOVERNOR'S FAULT FOR NOT INVITING TO TALK ABOUT WATER SOLUTIONS.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OPTIONS THE GOVERNOR HAS IN TERMS OF WHAT THE 1980 GROUNDWATER CODE APPLIES.

>> Ted: THE HISTORY IN HOUSING AND HOUSING MATTERS, THEN WHO?

>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

THE GOVERNOR HAS ALREADY HAD TO FIND REPLACEMENTS FOR WHAT IS IT, THREE NOW, OTHER NOMINEES.

THERE'S NOT A HUGE, DEEP BENCH IN DEMOCRATIC CIRCLES WITH PEOPLE OF ADMINISTRATIVE EXPERIENCE TO RUN THIS AGENCY.

I THINK THIS SERVICE WAS THE OBVIOUS PICK FOR KATIE HOBBS.

THAT MIGHT BE A PARTY OF THE STRATEGY FROM Mr. HOFFMAN, KNOCK OFF THE VIABLE CANDIDATES AND SHE MAYBE WILL HAVE TO PICK A REPUBLICAN.

>> I'LL GO BEYOND THAT, BOB, BECAUSE I THINK THEY'RE TRYING TO PARALYZE HER ADMINISTRATION.

THEY DO NOT WANT TO SEE HER SUCCEED.

THIS IS LIKE WHEN THE REPUBLICANS SAID, WE'LL DO EVERYTHING TO BLOCK BARACK OBAMA AND WE WENT INTO THIS WITH THE PIMA COUNTY HEALTH DIRECTOR AND SAID YOU'RE NOT QUALIFIED BECAUSE YOU ADVISED WHAT TO DO WITH COVID.

>> Ted: JIM, WHEN DOES THAT COME AROUND THE BACKSIDE AND HIT YOU IN THE REAR-END?

>> FOR THE REPUBLICANS?

>> Ted: YES.

>> THE SENATE HAS TO APPROVE THESE NOMINEES AND HAVE THE LATITUDE TO HANDLE THE NOMINEES HOWEVER THEY WANT TO.

SO I DON'T KNOW WHETHER IT DOES OTHER THAN POLITICALLY, ELECTORALLY AND I THINK IT CERTAINLY POTENTIALLY COULD GIVE DEMOCRATS, YOU KNOW, ANOTHER TALKING POINT.

I DON'T KNOW THERE'S ONE THAT WILL RESONATE WITH VOTERS A LOT AND ONE THAT, YOU KNOW, THROWING MONKEY WRENCHES INTO THE GOVERNMENT AND NOT SOMETHING I DON'T THINK THAT IS GOING TO CAPTURE THE ATTENTION OF VOTERS ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL AND, YOU KNOW, IF AND WHEN KATIE HOBBS HITS THE TRAIL IN THE UPCOMING ELECTION, I WOULD IMAGINE THIS WILL BE 15th DOWN THE LIST TO TALK ABOUT.

>> Ted: HEY, BOB, LET'S MOVE ONTO COURT CASES.

VOTER REGISTRATION AND THE JUDGE, BASICALLY BLOCKS THEM, HUH?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

BLOCKED THEM AS EXPECTED BECAUSE AS EXPECTED BY THE LEGISLATURE SO LAST YEAR, NOT THIS SESSION BUT DOUG DUCEY'S LAST SESSION, THEY PASSED A COUPLE OF VERY LARGE SWEEPING ELECTION LAWS THAT WERE DESIGNED IN THEIR VIEW TO MAKE SURE THAT CITIZENS ONLY WERE VOTING AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERYBODY WHO WAS REGISTERED TO VOTE WAS LEGALLY HAD THE RIGHT TO.

THE PROBLEM IS, THEY RAN UP AGAINST A NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION ACT AND ASKED CONGRESS TO MAKE IT EASIER TO VOTE, AND THIS IS DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS WHO VOTED ON THIS, TO MAKE IT EASIER TO VOTE, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS FILL OUT A POSTCARD AND SIGN YOUR NAME SWEARING YOU'RE A CITIZEN.

ARIZONA NEVER LIKED THAT AND CAME UP WITH THEIR OWN PLAN TO WHERE THOSE PEOPLE CAN ONLY VOTE IN FEDERAL ELECTIONS.

AND IT'S BEEN TO THE SUPREME COURT AND APPROVED.

THE LEGISLATURE PASSED A LAW SAYING THOSE PEOPLE HAVE TO APPROVE CITIZENSHIP REGARDLESS OF WHAT THE FEDERAL LAW SAYS AND CAN'T VOTE BY MAIL IF THEY DO.

SO THE FEDERAL JUDGE SAYS THIS IS A NO BRAINER.

THIS GOES DIRECTLY TO THE SUPREMACY CLAUSE AND THIS IS BLOCKED.

>> Ted: THE LEGISLATURE, WEREN'T THEY TOLD BY STAFF THAT THIS IS A NO BRAINER.

>> IN FACT, SOME OF THE REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS SAID, YEAH, IT'S A FIGHT WORTH HAVING AND LORD KNOWS SPENDING TAXPAYER MONEY TO ATTACK A FEDERAL LAW IS A FIGHT WORTH HAVING.

BUT THIS IS IT.

IT'S A VARIATION ON WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT AND FIGHTING THAT THIS IS A PHILOSOPHICAL ISSUE HERE.

WE'RE PROTECTING THE SANCTITY OF THE VOTE AND, WELL, THEN GET CONGRESS TO ROW PEEL REPEAL THE NATIONAL VOTER REGISTRATION ACT AND NOT THAT WE'RE DIFFERENT HERE IN ARIZONA.

>> THE FIGHT WE'RE HAVING IS IN COURT RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THEY LOOK AT THE CURRENT MAKEUP OF THE U.S. SUPREME COURT AND SEE THAT AS A FRIENDLY PLACE TO TAKE THESE CHALLENGES.

A SUPREME COURT THAT HAS SHOWN THAT PRECEDENT ISN'T MATTER A LOT IF, YOU KNOW, IT RUNS UP AGAINST THE IDEA IDEOLOGICAL VIEWPOINT THEY WANT TO SUPPORT.

THE END GOAL IS TO GET THIS THREW THE APPELLATE COURT AND THEY HOPE WILL BE AMENABLE TO THIS ARGUMENT.

>> Ted: HOWIE, IT SOUNDS LIKE THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE CAME IN AND IF YOU WANT TO BE A PART OF THIS, OPEN UP YOUR COMMUNICATIONS AND WILL THEY AGREE TO THAT?

>> AND THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE IN ESSENCE, ON ISSUES OF ELECTION LAW CHANGES, NOT ONLY IN THIS CASE, BUT JUDGES HAVE SAID MOTIVE MATTERS.

IF YOU'RE DOING IT FOR A RACIALLY BIASED PURPOSE, AN ILLEGAL PURPOSE, THAT UNDERMINES WHAT YOU CAN DO.

AND SO WHAT THEY'VE SAID TO THE SENATE PRESIDENT AND TO THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE IS, OK, WE WANT TO SEE YOUR COMMUNICATIONS.

WE WANT TO KNOW WHAT ROLE YOU PLAYED AND WHETHER, IN FACT, IN WAS DONE WITH A WINK, WINK, NOD, NOD, WELL, YOU KNOW FEWER BROWN PEOPLE WILL VOTE.

>> Ted: THEY WANT TO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE AND WITHIN WANT TO AVOID DISCOVERY.

IT DOESN'T WORK LIKE THAT.

>> THEY WALKED INTO COURTHOUSE, PLEASE LET US IN AND THEY'RE IN THE GAME AND THE JUDGE SAYS YOU CAN'T PLAY HALF THE GAME.

YOU HAVE TO PLAY ALL OF IT AND YOU HAVE TO BE SUBJECT TO DISCOVERY, THE DEFENSE OR THE PLAINTIFFS IN THIS CASE HAVE A RIGHT TO ASK FOR THE EMAILS THAT YOU SENT AND RECEIVED REGARDING THIS ISSUE.

AND THERE NO LEGISLATIVE, YOU WAIVED IT WHEN YOU KNOCKED ON THE COURTHOUSE DOOR.

>> Ted: BOB, THAT'S JUST THE SPEAKER AND SENATE PRESIDENT, NOT THE REST OF THE LEGISLATURE, CORRECT?

>> CORRECT.

THEY INTERVENED DIRECTLY.

>> Ted: HOWIE, A NINTH CIRCUIT IN TOWN FOR HERE WE GO, LAKE AND FINCHEM.

>> WAIT, I'VE SEEN THIS MOVIE, I THINK.

THIS IS KARI LAKE INSISTING THAT THE GOVERNOR, BUT THIS GOES TO THE WHOLE QUESTION OF THE USE OF VOTING MACHINES.

VOTING MACHINES, SHE SAYS ARE INHERENTLY UN UN-TRUST WORTHY AND CAN BE HACKED.

WHAT THE TRIAL COURT JUDGE SAID, THAT'S ALL VERY NICE, BUT WHERE IS YOUR EVIDENCE ANY OF THAT HAPPENED?

CAN YOU SHOW ME THE VOTE TOTALS WERE CHANGED?

>> NO.

CAN YOU SHOW ME THEY WERE HACKED?

>> NO.

BUT THE POTENTIAL IS ENOUGH, WE THINK, TO BE ABLE TO HAVE YOU SAY, YOU CANNOT USE MACHINES, WHICH THEN LEAD TO THE QUESTION OF, WAIT A SECOND, IF THE ABILITY TO CHANGE VOTE TOTALS IS THE GROUNDS FOR DOING THIS, THEN HAND COUNTS WORK THE SAME WAY.

PEOPLE DESTROYED BALLOTS, MISREAD BLOTS AND THE JUDGE SAYS IF ANYTHING SUBJECT TO MA LIP MANIPULATION IS ILLEGAL, WHAT ARE WE LEFT WITH, LITTLE BLACK BALLS AT THE BOX?

>> Ted: WE HAVE NO EVIDENCE AND IT COULD HAPPEN AND SO BECAUSE IT COULD HAPPEN, LET'S GO WHOLE HOG.

IS THAT WHAT I'M HEARING?

>> THIS IS A LAWSUIT WHEN IT WAS FILED ONE OF THE REMEDIES, THEY DEMANDED THAT THE COURT MAKE ARIZONA USE PAPER BALLOTS.

>> Ted: WELL, WE DO.

>> Ted: THEY INVENTED -- I MEAN, COMPLETELY FICTICIOUS SET OF FACTS.

THEY CAN BE COUNTED AND RECOUNTED WHICH, SPOILER ALERT, HAPPENED IN 2022 IN THE AG'S RACE.

THE ABILITY TO GO BACK AND DO HAND SHOT CHECKS UNDER STATE LAW AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SANCTIONS HAVE BEEN APPLIED AND AMAZING WE'RE STILL LITIGATING THIS CASE BECAUSE IT WAS FILE, WHAT, LIKE APRIL, MAY OF 2022.

>> Ted: BOB, IS APPEAL ON THE DISMISSAL, THE SANCTIONS, A LITTLE BIT OF BOTH OR WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?

>> THEY'RE APPEALING THE JUDGE'S DECISION TO THROW THE CASE OUT AND SO, YOU KNOW, NOW THEY'RE AT THE APPEAL'S COURT WITH THREE JUDGES AND THEY DIDN'T KNOW BETTER THE DAY BEFORE YESTERDAY THAN.THESE ARE NOT VOTING MACHINES, BUT VOTE COUNTING MACHINES.

YOU STICK IT INTO A MACHINE, IT READS IT AND OFF YOU GO.

IF YOU WANT TO AUDIT IT, YOU DO A HAN COUNT HAND COUNT IS RIGHT.

THEY SAY THESE MACHINES ARE IN CHINA AND THEREFORE, THEY COULD BE HACKED.

THE PARADE OF HORRIBLES OF WHAT COULD POTENTIAL GO WRONG AND THE JUSTICES -- THE JUDGES THIS WEEK AND A YEAR AGO WHEN THIS CASE WAS INITIALLY THROWN OUT, BUT THIS IS JUST RANK SPECULATION.

DON'T COME TO MY COURT THAT WAY.

>> THAT'S IMPORTANT, POINT JIM AND BOB ARE MAKING, YOU HAVE LOGICAL INACCURACY TESTS TAKING A SET OF BALLOTS AND THEY KNOW THE RESULTS AND RUN THEM THROUGH.

AFTER THE ELECTION, THEY RUN THEM THROUGH AND DIDN'T COME OUT THIS WAY.

THE RANDOM HAN COUNT, HAND COUNT AND THEN YOU LITERALLY WILL HAND COUNT AND COMPARE.

IF IT COMES WITHIN SOME VERY TINY MINORITY OF PERCENTAGE POINTS, THEN IT'S FINE RECOGNIZING THINGS CAN GO WRONG AND BUGS CAN GET STICK.

IT'S DONE AND STILL SAY, BUT THAT CAN BE GERRY-RIGGED, TOO.

>> Ted: THIS MAKES A GREAT CASE AND THE OTHER SIDE, WHO CARES IN THIS GUY CAN STILL FALL.

IS THAT WHAT I'M HEARING HERE?

>> SUDDENLY IT'S FINE AND NO ISSUES AND THAT'S WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO IS THESE ELECTION LIES AND ALL OF THESE LAWSUITS ARE BASED OFF OF FABRICATED IDEAS OR RANK SPECULATION, THESE FICTICIOUS SCENARIOS THAT ARE NOT HAPPENING AND NO EVIDENCE THEY HAPPENED AND USING THEM TO TRY TO UNDERMINE THE SYSTEM BECAUSE THEY'RE UNHAPPY TO WRITTEN ELECTIONS.

>> THIS GOES BACK TO THE FIRST THING WE TALKED ABOUT.

THEY CHANGED THE LAW WHO CAN VOTE FOR PRESIDENT BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT THE 024 2024 ELECTION WITH TRUMP AND THEY ARGUED IT WAS THE MACHINES THAT CHEATED DONALD TRUMP OUT OF 2020 AND CHEATED KARI LAKE OUT OF THE 2022 AND WE'RE STILL FIGHTING THE 2020 ELECTION AND THIS HAS BEEN THE NATURE OF LAKE AND HER FRIENDS AT THE G.O.P.

>> Ted: LET'S TALK ABOUT THE ADMINISTRATION SUING THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION OVER THE NATIONAL MONUMENT AND THE GRAND CANYON.

>> A AMONG AND A HALF AGO, PRESIDENT BIDEN FLEW AIR FORCE ONE OVER THE GRAND GRAND CANYON AND LAND NORTH AND SOUTH TO THE GRAN CANYONGRANGRAND CANYON.

ANY DEVELOPMENT IS OFF THE TABLE AND NO NEW MINING CLAIMS CAN BE MADE AND A LOT OF OTHER STUFF.

THE REPUBLICANS JUST CALLED A TYRANNICAL LAND GRAB AND THIS WAS ALL FEDERAL LAND IN THE FIRST PLACE, RIGHT?

SO THEY'RE JUST CHANGING THE DESIGNATION OF IT AND RESTRICTING IT A LITTLE MORE THAN BEFORE.

THE REPUBLICANS AND THE LEGISLATURE SPEAKER, SPEAK TOMA AND PRESIDENT PETERSEN, WE'LL GET A COALITION OF FOLKS AND SUE THE ADMINISTRATION OVER THIS LAND GRAB.

YOU THINK IT WILL AFFECT ARIZONA'S ECONOMY, AFFECT DEVELOPMENT AND AFFECT THE ABILITY TO BE ENERGY INDEPENDENT BY RESTRICTING URANIUM MINING AND OTHER ISSUES.

>> HERE IS THE PROBLEM, YES, THE PRESIDENT DID DO THIS UNILATERALLY AND THIS GOES BACK TO A 1910 LAW CALL THE ANTIQUITIES ACT ALLOWING THE PRESIDENT TO DESIGNATE NATIONAL MONUMENTS, NOT PARKS, BUT MONUMENTS.

THE LAW DOES SAY THE MONUMENTS SHOULD BE NO LARGER THAN NEEDED TO EFFECTUATE THE PURPOSE.

YOU MIGHT HAVE A BUILDING BEING DESIGNATES.

THESE ARE SACRAL LANDS AND RUINS ON THERE AND THE PROBLEM IS THAT JUDGES TEND TO DEFER.

WE JUST HAD A CASE THAT BOB REPORTED OUT OF UTAH WHERE THE SAME THING HAPPENED, WHERE THEY SUED IN UTAH OVER THE BEAR'S EARS AND EXPANSION AND THE JUDGE SAID, NO, THAT'S WITHIN THE POWER OF PRESIDENT.

>> Ted: I WAS GOING TO BRING UP UTAH AND SOUNDED LIKE THEY WERE ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THAT ONE.

HOW MUCH WILL ALL OF THIS COST?

>> HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?

WE WILL FIND THAT OUT, CERTAINLY, AND I DO THINK THAT THE LEGISLATURE WILL GET A LESSON IN FEDERALISM AT THE COURT BECAUSE THAT'S REALLY WHAT THIS BOILS DOWN TO, RIGHT?

THIS IS A LITTLE UNCLEAR HOW THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAN CONDUCT A LAND GRAB OF ITS OWN LAND.

SO THAT'S KIND OF THE CORE ISSUE HERE.

YOU KNOW, SORRY, WHAT WAS FIRST PART OF YOUR QUESTION, TED?

>> HOW MUCH WILL IT COST AND WHAT IS THE POINT OF ALL OF THIS?

>> THE POINT IS TO FIGHT AGAINST THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS IS PARTISAN LEGAL WARFARE.

SO YOU'VE GOT THE REPUBLICANS THAT WILL DO WHATEVER THEY CAN TO THROW SLINGS AND ARROWS AND MUD AND WHATEVER ELSE THEY CAN AT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

THIS IS FERTILE GROUND FROM THEM.

>> Ted: THIS ONE WILL COME AROUND AND BITE YOU IN THE REAR END BECAUSE IT DOESN'T MATTER IF IT DOESN'T OR DOESN'T.

STICKING WITH YOU, JIM, YOU WROTE ABOUT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, STATE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND FINANCES.

NOT LOOKING VERY GOOD.

>> NO, NOT LOOKING VERY GOOD.

HEADING INTO -- GETTING READY TO HITTING THE SPRINT INTO THE ELECTION SEASON, THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION SEASON, JUST A FEW MONTHS AWAY FROM PRIMARIES STARTING AND THE ARIZONA REPUBLICAN PARTY'S FINANCES, PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TALKING FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS ABOUT THE TENUOUS STATE OF THE FINANCES AND JEFF DEWIT, NASA WORKING FOR TRUMP CAMPAIGNS UNDER A PLEDGE HE WOULD TURN AROUND THE PARTY'S FUNDRAISING.

AND THEY WOULD HAVE THE RESOURCES TO MOUNT EFFECTIVE CAMPAIGNS AND MOBILIZE REPUBLICANS.

THAT'S NOT WHAT HAPPENED.

HE TOOK OFFICE WITH $150,000 IN THE BANK AND 90% OF THE MONEY IS GONE AND STRUGGLING TO RAISE MONEY AND THEY ARE SPENDING WAY MORE THAN THEY'RE TAKING IN AND THE RESULT IS, NOW THEY HAVE $15,000 IN THE BANK AND THEY'RE STARTING TO TAKE ON A LOT OF DEBT.

>> Ted: THEY'RE IN DEBT, TOO, AREN'T THEY?

>> THEY ARE.

THEY SPENT TWICE AS MUCH AS THEY WERE ABLE TO KIND OF MUSTER CASH THIS PAST MONTH AND IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY RAISED, FOUR AND A HALF TIMES OF WHAT THEY RAISED.

THAT'S THE THING, A LOT OF REPUBLICANS ARE LOOKING AT THAT AND HAVE BEEN HOLDING THEIR BREATH THAT MAYBE JEFF DEWIT WOULD CHANGE THINGS AND SEVEN YEARS IN AND THINGS NOT GETTING BETTER.

>> Ted: HOW MUCH OF A CARRYOVER FROM THE KELLY WARD ERA IS GOING ON HERE?

>> THE VAST MAJORITY OF IT IS A FALLOUT FROM THE DIRECTION THAT THE ARIZONA REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS TAKEN.

DEWITT IS DOWNPLAYING THE ELECTION AND MARICOPA COUNTY REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE AND THE LOCAL COMMITTEES ARE NOT.

AND THE BIG DONORS HAVE BEEN TURNED OFF BY THIS.

THEY'VE SEEN ARIZONA LOSE THREE SENATE ELECTIONS IN A ROW TO DEMOCRATS.

THEY'VE SEEN THEM LOSE THE GOVERNOR, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE SECRETARY OF STATE BECAUSE OF THE ELECTION DENIALISM AND THE CANDIDATES AND THE RICH DONORS ARE SAYING WE'LL GO TO ANOTHER STATE OR WE WON'T GET TO THE STATE PARTY.

THEY'RE JUST NOT.

>> THE OTHER HALF OF THIS AND BOB WROTE A NICE STORY ON THIS, TOO, THAT STILL FIGHTING THE 2020 ELECTION.

THE REPUBLICAN PARTY FILED SUIT RIGHT AS THEY WERE DOING THE HAND COUNT AUDIT OF THE 2020 ELECTION SAYING ARE YOU TO DO IT BY PRECINCT EVEN THOUGH COUNTIES LIKE MARICOPA USE VOTES.

THE JUDGE SAID, WAIT, WHEN DID YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS?

YOU CAN'T COME IN AFTERWARD SAYING THIS WAS AN ILLEGAL PROCEDURE.

SLAPPED $16,000 IN SANCTIONS AND WENT TO THE COURT OF APPEALS AND THE COURT OF APPEALS SLAPPING FOR SANCTIONS ON THEM AND UP TO NEARLY $27,000.

YOU WONDER, WHY IS PARTY IN TROUBLE?

WAIT, ASK ME.

>> Ted: JIM, HOW LONG CAN THIS GOES ON AND WHAT HAPPENS IF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN ARIZONA GOES BANKRUPT?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

I THINK SPEAKING WITH REPUBLICANS IN REPORTING THE STORY OUT, I THINK THERE'S A REAL CONCERN THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT THIS BORDERLINE FINANCIAL CRISIS RIGHT NOW AND YOU DO RUN THE RISK OF THE PARTY BECOMING INSOLVENT AND A SHELL OF ITSELF.

IF THAT HAPPENS, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES?

THERE ARE THINGS THAT ONLY STATE PARTIES CAN DO.

WITH FEDERAL CAMPAIGNS FOR SENDING OUT MAIL IN PARTICULAR, THE PARTIES PLAY A LARGE ROLE IN THAT FOR BEING STEWARDS OF MONEY THAT COME INTO A STATE AND GO OUT FOR FEDERAL CAMPAIGN PURPOSES.

IF THAT GOES AWAY OR IF YOU'RE LEFT WITH ESSENTIALLY KIND OF A NAME AND NOT A LOT ELSE GOING ON THERE, IT'S REALLY, I THINK, DIFFICULT TO SEE.

IN THE SHORT-TERM, YOU HAVE A LOT OF PACKS AND INDEPENDENT GROUPS AND SUPER PACKS TO TAKE UP SOME OF THAT MANTHE, BUT LONG TERM, IT'S A BIG QUESTION FOR REPUBLICANS.

>> WE SAW LAST TIME AROUND BECAUSE FOLKS DID NOT TRUST THE COUNTY UNDER KELLY WARD, THEY FOUNDED IT UNDER THE YUMA COMMITTEE.

THE COUNTY DOES NOT HAVE THE SAME RIGHTS IN TERMS OF REPORTING AND EVERYTHING ELSE.

FOLKS DECIDED IF THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE MONEY SIDING THE ARIZONA REPUBLICAN PARTY IS IRRELEVANT AND BEING HEADING IN THE DIRECTION THEY DON'T WANT, THEY WON'T GET MONEY.

SIMPLE.

>> THIS MAY COME BACK TO DOUG DUCEY WHO, I FORGET THE NAME OF THE ORGANIZATION HE STARTED A MONTH OR TWO AGO TO FUN CANDIDATES.

DOUG DUCEY IS THE BIGGEST FUNDRAISER IN STATE HAS EVER SEEN AND IF HE NEEDS MONEY AND HE CAN'T FUNDRAISE, HE'LL WRITE HIS OWN CHECK.

HE MAY BE POSITIONING HIMSELF TO BE MUCH MORE INFLUENTIAL IN THE 2024 ELECTION THAN WE'VE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE.

>> Ted: STICKING WITH YOU, THE GOVERNOR, BOB, WAS ASKED ABOUT KEEPING DONALD TRUMP OFF THE BALLOT AND THE GOVERNOR BASICALLY SAID, WHAT KIND OF QUESTION IS THAT?

IT SOUNDS LIKE SHE DOESN'T THINK IT'S A GREAT IDEA AT ALL.

>> IT'S NOT UP TO ME, IS WHAT SHE SAID.

THAT'S A QUESTION FOR THE COURTS AND EVEN IF IT IS A QUESTION FOR THE COURTS, I'M NOT GETTING INVOLVED.

THIS 14th AMENDMENT ISSUE BEFORE THE 2020 ELECTION, ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO NOW, FOR THE 2022 ELECTION, THERE WAS A LAWSUIT THAT TRIED TO KEEP ANDY BIGGS AND TWO OTHER CONFERENCEMEN OFF -- PAUL GOSAR -- >> AND FINC CCHEN OFF THE BALLOT.

>> THE JUDGE SAYS.

ATHIS IS ANINTERSECTION AND IF INSURRECTION AND IF YOU ARE, YOU CAN'T RUN FOR OFFICE PUP.

WHAT'S HAPPENING AROUND THE COUNTRY AND NOT JUST IN ARIZONA, PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT THIS INSURRECTION ACT AND SAYING, YOU KNOW WHAT, DONALD TRUMP FITS SQUARELY ONTO THIS AND DIRECTED AN INSURRECTION AND SHOULDN'T BE QUALIFIED.

THE PROBLEM IS, YOU HAVE TO GET A CONVICTION FIRST.

>> WHAT'S INTERESTING, OF COURSE, THAT THAT'S THE SAME CONCLUSION THAT KEN BENNETT, NOW SECRETARY OF STATE AND SAID NOT WITHIN MY PURVIEW AND ADRIAN IS NOT QUITE AS CONVINCED AS THE GOVERNOR.

I THINK HE'S FIGURED IT OUT BUT WILL KEEP HIS POWDER DRY FOR THE SAME TIME.

>> Ted: THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR JOINING US AND GOOD TO HAVE YOU ALL HERE.

THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND YOU HAVE A GREAT WEEK