COMING UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

IT'S THE JOURNALISTS' ROUNDTABLE.

WE'LL LOOK AT THE WEEK'S TOP STORIES, INCLUDING CONGRESS- WOMAN DEBBIE LESKO ANNOUNCING THAT SHE'S NOT RUNNING FOR FOR REELECTION.

THE JOURNALISTS' ROUNDTABLE, NEXT, ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M TED SIMONS.

IT'S FRIDAY AND THAT MEANS IT'S TIME FOR THE JOURNALISTS' ROUNDTABLE.

JOINING US TONIGHT FOR A LOOK AT THE WEEK'S TOP STORIES: HOWIE FISCHER OF CAPITOL MEDIA SERVICES, LAURIE ROBERTS OF THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC AND AZCENTRAL.COM, AND CAMRYN SANCHEZ OF KJZZ RADIO.

OF GOOD HAVE I ALL HERE.

WE'RE STARTING WITH CONGRESS DEBBIE LESKO SOON-TO-BE FORMER.

WHAT'S THIS ALL ABOUT?

>> WELL, LOOK, DEBBIE LESKO WAS KIND OF A BIG FISH IN A SMALL POND HERE AT THE LEGISLATURE AND ACCOMPLISHED A LOT BEING AT THAT KIND OF POSITION.

THE WHOLE IDEA OF VOUCHERS, SHE ADMITTED WHEN THEY FIRST PUT IT IN FOR SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS IT WAS PART OF A LONG-TERM PLAN TO GET UNIVERSAL VOUCHERS.

WELL, GUESS WHERE WE ARE?

SHE ALSO WAS THE PERSON THAT DECIDED EVERYBODY GETS A BED AND BREAKFAST AND AIRBNB IN THEIR HOME.

WE SAW THE FALLOUT OF THAT.

BUT SHE WAS ABLE TO DO THINGS.

I THINK BEING ONE OF A SMALL MAJORITY IN THE U.S. HOUSE, THAT DIDN'T WORK.

HE THINK THERE'S A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF FRUSTRATION WHEN GAME THERE AND SAY, HEY, OH MY GOD, THIS IS A PROBLEM.

>> AND THAT'S AS A MEMBER OF A SMALL MOUNT, YOU MIGHT -- MAJORITY ISSUE, YOU MIGHT NOT EVEN BE IN THE MAJORITY THE NEXT GO AROUND.

>> THEY KEEP GOING THE WAY THEY ARE.

I DON'T SEE A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE RESIGNING THOSE POSITIONS OF POWER BECAUSE THEY'RE FRUSTRATED.

I GOTTA GIVE LESKO CREDIT.

SHE SAYS WASHINGTON'S BROKEN.

SHE'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

SHE SAYS IT'S NOT WORTH HER TIME ANYMORE.

SHE'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, BUT I DON'T SEE HER COLLEAGUES TAMPA BAYING THAT SUBSTANCE.

>> AND A 94-YEAR-OLD MOTHER, TRAVELING BACK AND FORTH FROM WASHINGTON HAS TO BE A REAL HASSLE.

SHE HAS A FAMILY, HUSBAND, CHILDREN, GRANDCHILDREN.

AND I DON'T BLAME ANYBODY FOR NOT WANTING TO DO THIS NO MATTER HOW MUCH THEY'RE PAID.

>> BUT THISES WOULD SURPRISE.

I KNOW OPEN THE BARN DOOR AND HERE THEY COME.

>> IT WAS A SURPRISE TO ME WHEN SHE SAID THAT SHE WAS RUNNING AND WE JUMPED ON THE WAGON.

I HEARD THAT SHE TALKED TO HIM BEFORE SHE ANNOUNCED THAT SHE WAS LEAVING AND ASKED IF HE WAS INTERESTED AND HE MIGHT BE BECAUSE HE'S NOT GONNA BE SPEAKER AGAIN NEXT YEAR AND HE'S WELL-KNOWN, WELL-LIKED BY CERTAIN PEOPLE, AND THEN THERE WERE OUR RUMORS ABOUT MONSNAGER SAID NO BUT I SUSPECT TWO OR THREE REPUBLICAN ALSO RUN.

>> AND ACE HOLIDAY I DON'T THINK HE WAITED UNTIL SHE WAS DONE WITH THE ANNOUNCEMENT.

>> YEAH, THE POT WAS NOT COLD YET AND THE BLOOD WAS STILL PUMPING AND HE SAID, WAIT A SECOND, I KNOW I'M ONLY 208 VOTES BEHIND BUT I'M SURE THERE'S 6,000 VOTE OUT THERE FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL BUT JUST IN CASE, I WANT TO BE IN CONGRESS.

NEVERMIND HE DOESN'T LIVE IN THE DISTRICT BUT HE SAID LOOK AT ME.

I HAVE NAME ID AND THEREFORE I SHOULD GET THE JOB.

>> AND HE VERY WELL MAY.

WE KNOW IT'S A HEAVILY REPUBLICAN DISTRICT.

THE LIKELIHOOD IS THAT A REPUBLICAN WILL WIN.

THE LAST TIME A DEMOCRAT WAS ELECTED WAS 1980.

AND WITHIN A FEW MONTHS HE CHANGED HIS STATUS TO REPUBLICAN.

BUT ACE ALREADY GOT KERRY LAKE'S ENDORSEMENT AND IN THAT PARTICULAR DISTRICT, THAT'S A LOT.

>> WELL, I WANT TO ASK ABOUT THAT BECAUSE WHEN YOU SAID HE WAS INTERESTED IN RUNNING, YOU SAID PRESIDENT TRUMP IS UNDER ATTACK.

HE NEEDS BACK-UP, FOR THAT DISTRICT, NOT JUST REPUBLICANS IN GENERAL, BUT THAT PARTICULAR DISTRICT, THAT KIND OF THING GONNA PLAY WELL OR CAN A BLAKE MASTERS OR A MORE MODERATE LOW TAX LOW SPEND -- >> I THINK IT SHOULD PLAY VERY WELL, IT'S A PRETTY CONSERVATIVE AREA, A PLUS 14 DISTRICT.

AND LIKE IT OR NOT, MOST REPUBLICANS ARE STILL STANDING WITH DONALD TRUMP.

I THINK THE BETTER QUESTION IS, OF THE 800 AND 11,000 PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THAT DISTRICT NONE OF THEM ARE CAPABLE OF GOING TO CONGRESS AND REPRESENTING THE AREA.

YOU HAVE TO REACH TO SCOTTSDALE TO GET SOMEONE TO DO THAT?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

YOU KNOW, THE QUESTION OF -- YOU'RE RIGHT.

HE AND KARI LAKE HAVE BEEN ON STAGE, SIDE BY SIDE, HE INTRODUCED HER WHEN SHE DID HER SURPRISE SENATE BID AND ALL THE REST OF IT.

BUT I'M STILL WONDERING WHETHER ARIZONA IS A -- IS SORT OF BURNED OUT ON ALL OF THAT, IN TERMS OF SAID AND IN KARI.

UNAVOIDABLE FOR COMMENT, AT LEAST FOR CERTAIN ELEMENTS OF THE PRESS, PROBABLY NOT LAURIE AND I.

BUT I THINK PEOPLE MAY BE SAYING IT'S TIME TO MOVE ON BEYOND TRUMP IS OUR LEADER.

>> WHO IS SAYING THAT, THOUGH?

IT SEEMS TO ME THAT AS SOON AS SHE GOT INTO THE RACE, LIKE MASTERSON, HE'S NO LONGER TALKING ABOUT A SENATE RACE, MARK LAMB, NOBODY KNOWS WHO HE IS ANYWAY.

IT SEEMS TO ME THAT AS SOON AS SHE KNEW SHE WAS IN THE RACE, SHE HAD A REPUBLICAN NOMINATION.

I WILL AGREE WITH YOU WHEN YOU GO ON TOE A GENERAL ELECTION IT'S DIFFERENT.

BUT WHEN WE'RE TALKING CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 8 IS THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY, REALLY THE ONLY ELECTION THAT MATTERS.

>> BEN TOMAH, SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, IS HE A MAGA REPUBLICAN OR -- >> NO.

>> THROUGH GO.

IF HE WINDS UP IN THIS, IT'LL BE A VERY INTERESTING MATCH-UP.

>> YEAH.

I HATE TO USE THE WORD TRADITIONAL BUT'S TRADITIONAL CANDIDATE.

HE'S BEEN AROUND.

HE'S ESTABLISHED.

HE'S OLD SCHOOL IN TERMS OF THAT SORT OF REPUBLICAN.

YOU'VE GOT THE MODERN REPUBLICANS AND THE OTHER REPUBLICANS.

HE HAS OLDER ALLIES AND AGAIN HE'S FROM THE AREA.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO LIVE IN THE AREA TO RUN FOR CONGRESS BUT I THINK IT'S A BONUS IN TERMS OF RECOGNITION WITH YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND YOU CAN SAY I LIKE YOU.

I AM IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD AS OPPOSED TO I DON'T LIVE THERE, BUT I WISH YOU WOULD ELECT ME.

>> I WAS GONNA SAY -- >> HE'S ALSO GOT SOME LEGISLATIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS THAT SO MANY OF THE MAGA PEOPLE DON'T BECAUSE THEY SIMPLY JUST HAVEN'T EVER BEEN COLLECTED TO ANYTHING.

YES, HE'S NOT A CULTURE WARRIOR, WHICH IS SORT OF REFRESHING TO HAVE A REPUBLICAN TALKING ABOUT TRADITIONAL REPUBLICAN THINGS LIKE FREE TRADE AND LOW TAXES AND THINGS.

BUT TO REDUCE TAXES FOR A LOT OF -- MOST PREDOMINATELY WEALTHIER ARIZONANS, I THINK AVENUES SPONSOR OF THE BILL TO GO TO UNIVERSAL BUT HE'S GOT SOME LEGISLATION BEHIND HIM.

HE CAN SAY HERE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT I HAVE DONE AND I THINK THAT WILL PLAY WELL WITH A LOT OF REPUBLICANS.

THE BIG QUESTION WILL BE, AS THE QUESTION ALWAYS IS IN THESE REPUBLICAN RACES STILL IS WHO WILL DONALD TRUMP ENDORSE?

BECAUSE HE IS SURE TO WANT TO WEIGH IN.

AND I THINK THAT KARI LAKE IS THAT PERSON.

>> AND HE DOESN'T LIKE TO ENDORSE SOMEONE WHO'S AUTOMATICALLY A WINNER.

HE NEEDS TO BACK THE WINNER.

IF HE THINKS THAT HOLIDAY IS NOT QUITE THERE, WHAT'S HE GONNA DO?

>> WELL, HE DOES THIS, HE'S ALWAYS DONE THAT KIND OF THING IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, I HATE LOSERS, AND HE MAY SAY, WELL, YOU'RE A LOSER.

AND THERE'S ONE OTHER THING THAT MAY PLAY IN THE NORTHWEST DISTRICT THAT BEN TOMAH DID.

HE GOT A PROVISION INTO THE EXTENSION OF PROP 400.

THAT WAS THE MAIL TAX AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT SAYS A-DOT HAS TO STUDY RAISING THE SPEED LIMIT ON I-17.

SO EVERYBODY WHO'S GOTTEN A TICKET THEY DON'T REALIZE IT'S 55 MILES PER HOUR ALL THE WAY UP TO DUNLAP IS SUDDENLY GOING TO SAY, WAIT, I LIKE THIS GUY.

>> ANYTHING TO ADD ON THIS?

>> I WAS JUST GONNA SAY THIS IS A BLOOD RED DISTRICT, SO IT SWITCHED FLAVOR FOR THE REPUBLICAN THEY WANT, THE HOLLIDAY OPTION OR THE TOMAH OPTION.

>> BLAKE MASTER IS STILL IN THE MIX, IS HE NOT?

>> I HAVEN'T HEARD THERE HIM THIS WEEK.

>> WELL, HE'S POLL FORGET WHAT I HEAR.

>> MAYBE HE'S LAYING LOW UNTIL THE POLLING IS FINISHED.

>>> HOW ABOUT THE NINTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS?

WE HAVE LAKE, FINCH HAM AND THE WHOLE BASIS OF THIS ARGUMENT PRESENTED BEFORE THE 2022 ELECTION IS THAT TALLY MACHINES ARE APPARENTLY UNRELIABLE, THEY ARE HACKABLE AND THEREFORE WE SHOULD REQUIRE AS THE FEDERAL COURT JUDGE REQUIRES A MANDATORY HAND-COUNT IN THE '22 ELECTION.

ALTHOUGH CURIOUSLY NOT ONLY IN MARICOPA COUNTIES.

WHERE IS YOUR PROOF, HAVE YOU SHOWN THAT A MACHINE HAS EVER BEEN HACKED HE SAYS, HAVE YOU SHOWN THAT THE RESULTS HAVE BEEN UNRELIABLE.

AND THE JUDGE WALKED THROUGH THE SCENARIO THAT WOULD HAVE TO HAPPEN THAT YOU WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A NEAR DO WILL, GET INTO THE MACHINES, CHANGE THE OUTCOME AND IT WOULD CHANGE THE RESULTS OF THE RACE, AND THEY CALL THAT BASICALLY PREPOSTEROUS.

THE CASE WENT TO THE NINTH CIRCUIT AND THE NINTH CIRCUIT SAID, A, WE'RE NO LONGER DEALING WITH THE 2022 ELECTION AND, B, WHAT PART OF THIS DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND?

YOU NEED SOME ACTUAL PROOF AS OPPOSED TO WHAT KARI LAKE IS DOING EVEN IN HER OWN CASE OF SAYING THIS COULD HAPPEN.

IT COULD HAVE BEEN 300,000 FAKE BALLOTS.

>> THAT'S ALWAYS THE ARGUMENT.

THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN.

IT'S POSSIBLE THIS COULD HAPPEN.

>> WELL, IN OTHER CASES THEY KEEP CLAIMING TO HAVE EVIDENCE BUT NEVER ACTUALLY BRING ANY EVIDENCE, BUT THEY KIND OF HAVE EVIDENCE, IN THIS CASE THEIR ATTORNEY HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THIS IS JUST A HYPOTHETICAL THAT SOMEBODY COULD HACK IT AND WE COULD MAYBE NOT CATCH IT AND IT COULD CHANGE THE RESULTS OF AN ELECTION, THEREFORE WE SHOULD CHANGE THE WHOLE SYSTEM TO COMMUNITYING WHICH WILL TAKE A LOT MORE TIME, MORE EXPENSIVE AND NOTORIOUSLY UNRELIABLE.

>> AND IN A DISTRICT COURT THE JUDGE CALLED IT A FRIVOLOUS SUIT, IS THIS THE END THOUGH?

>> NO.

>> EVERY DAY I WAKE UP AND THERE'S MORE -- I DREAM OF A DAY WHEN IT ENDS.

>> I'M SO GLAD.

THERE'S ALSO SOMETHING ELSE THAT OCCURRED THIS WEEK.

COACHES COUNTY YOU MAY REMEMBER WANTED TO DO A MANDATORY HAND COUNT OF ALL THE BALLOTS AND THE COURT OF APPEALS UPHOLDING A TRIAL COURT JUDGE SAID NO, HAVE YOU READ TITLE 16, HAVE YOU READ THE ELECTION CODE?

THERE IS A PROCEDURE THAT WHEN YOU DO THE RANDOM HAND COUNT, IF IT DOESN'T COME OUT CLOSE, YOU YOU CAN DO A LARGER THIS COMMUNITY EVENTUALLY CAN GET TO A FULL HAND COUNT.

YOU CAN'T JUST SAY WE'RE GOING TO START WITH THE FULL HAND COUNT.

EVEN SONY BERELLLY HAS BEEN RUNNING AROUND SAYING WELL, WE PASSED THE RESOLUTION AND THE LEGISLATURE SAYS YOU CAN DO THAT.

NEVERMIND.

IT'S A RESOLUTION, WHICH HAS ALL OF THE FORCE AND EFFECT OF ME SAYING IT.

>> THIS MAKES NO SENSE.

IF YOU EVEN GO BACK TO THE AUDIT THAT THEY DID, THE VON TANG SENATE AUDIT, THEY DID HAND COUNT MARICOPA COUNTY.

TOOK THEM WHAT, FIVE YEARS TO DO IT.

SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

AND THEY FOUND THE MACHINE TABULATION WAS ACCURATE.

SO THE HAND COUNT THAT THEY DO BY LAW, THEY DO SAMPLE HAND COUNTS WERE -- ALL COME UP AS ACCURATE.

SO I DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THE PROBLEM IS THAT THEY SEE OTHER THAN IF THEY WANT TO THROW ANYTHING AT THE WALL THEY CAN THAT'S GOING TO STICK.

>> IT COMES DOWN TO UNDERMINING PUBLIC CONFIDENCE.

WE SEE THESE THINGS OUT OF RASMUSSEN, WHICH USED TO BE A REPUTABLE POLLING FIRM BUT NOW IS BUSY SAYING PEOPLE ARE NOT CONFIDENT AND THEY'RE FEEDING THE FIRE.

AND THE MORE YOU THROW YOU KNOW WHAT ON TO THE FLAMES, PEOPLE ARE GONNA DOUBT IT.

AND THAT'S ALL THEY'RE TRYING TO DO IS BUILD DOUBT FOR THE NEXT ELECTION.

>> REAL QUICKLY BEFORE WE LEAVE THIS.

WHAT ARE THE ATTORNEYS FEES THAT NEED TO BE PAID SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE IN THIS CASE?

DO WE KNOW?

ANYONE?

>> $22,000 THAT HAD TO BE PAID INCLUDING SOME THAT HAD TO BE PAID BY ALANER WITNESSES.

MY GUESS IS THAT WE MAY SEE SOME ADDITIONAL ONES BUT IT'S KIND OF COME DOWN TO NOTHING STOPS THESE PEOPLE.

FINCH UM GOT HIT FOR MORE LEGAL FEES.

NOTHING IS STOPPING HIM.

HE'S STILL FUNDRAISING OUT THERE BECAUSE HE SAYS NOW I NEED THE MONEY TO BECOME THE STATE SENATOR FROM PRESCOTT WHERE NEVERMIND HE DIDN'T LIVE THERE, BUT WE'LL LEAVE THAT ASIDE.

>> HAS ANYONE TALKED TO HIM SINCE DEBBIE LESKO'S RETIREMENT.

>> WE WERE TEXTING TODAY AND I ASKED IF HE WAS GOING TO APPEAL AND SOMETHING ABOUT THE CORRUPT COURTS BUT MAYBE THE SUPREME COURT WILL SEE THE LIGHT.

>> REMEMBER HE WAS GOING TO RUN FOR SECRETARY OF STATE.

>> I THOUGHT HE WAS RUNNING FOR MARICOPA COUNTY -- >> NO, LATELY IT'S SENATE, HE'S GOING TO GO TO THE SENATE AND FIX THE JUDGES WHO ARE CORRUPT AND CHANGE THE LAW.

>> IT'S LITERALLY BECOME A PARLOR GAME.

>>> KARI LAKE, NEW YORK TIMES, A TACTICAL RETREAT INVOLVING HER STANCE ON ABORTION.

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

>> THEY SPOTTED SOMETHING RASMUSSEN DIDN'T SEE THAT SHE ANNOUNCED, I THINK IT WAS LAST WEEK, FOR THE SENATE, SHE REALLY DIDN'T TALK MUCH ABOUT ABORTION AT HER -- WHAT DO YOU CALL THIS THING?

I GUESS YOU CALL IT -- I WAS GONNA CALL IT SOMETHING ELSE, WHERE SHE'S PREACHING TO THE CHOIR ABOUT THINGS.

SHE DIDN'T REALLY TALK ABOUT IT OTHER THAN TO SAY WOMEN DESERVE CHOICES.

EVEN THOUGH THE CHOICES SHE HAD IN MIND MAY BE DIFFERENT THAN WHAT OTHER PEOPLE THINK OF AS CHOICES.

AND WHILE SHE'S STAYING ALL OF THIS STUFF ONLINE SHE'S PUTTING OUT HER CAMPAIGN POOINGS AND ONE OF THEM, LOW AND BEHOLD, IS SHE IS OPPOSED TO A NATIONAL ABORTION BAN.

NOW, THIS IS A WOMAN WHO WENT ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE CUBA THAT FORRIAL RACE, REPEATEDLY TALKING ABOUT HOW SHE IS UNAPOLOGETICALLY PRO-LIFE AND WILL NEVER BACK DOWN FROM THAT.

SHE EVEN CALLED THE 1864 TERRITORIAL LAW, WHICH CRIMINALIZED ABORTION, A GREAT LAW AND MADE IT CLEAR THAT SHE'D LIKE TO SEE THAT BACK ON THE BOOKS, OF COURSE, THAT'S BEFORE THE -- >> THE TEXAS -- >> AND YET TO THE SENATE, SHE WON'T VOTE FOR A BAN.

SO IT'S PRETTY CLEAR WHAT'S GOING ON HERE IS THAT ABORTION IS AN ALBATROSS THAT'S AROUND THE NECKS OF SOME OF THESE FAR RIGHT REPUBLICANS, AND THEY'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT DO WE DO TO GET OUT FROM UNDER THIS BECAUSE PUBLIC POLLING SHOWS THAT PEOPLE DO INDEED AGREE THAT SOME -- SOME DEGREE OF ABORTION SHOULD BE ALLOWED.

SO SHE'S TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO I CREEP OVER HERE WITHOUT MAKING THE PRO-LIFE PEOPLE TOO ANGRY.

>> IS SHE CREEPING OVER EFFECTIVELY?

>> I THINK MAYBE.

I THINK LAST TIME I WAS HERE YOU ASKED IF SHE'S GOING TO PIVOT, THIS LOOKS LIKE MAYBE THE START OF A PIVOT, LIKE A PIVOT IN A SERIES OF LITTLE PIVOTS, MAYBE.

BECAUSE INITIALLY WAY BACK WHEN SHE WAS THE DRAG QUEEN BEFRIENDING OBAMA, VOTING LADY THAT WE NO LONGER KNOW AND THEN SHE BECAME, YOU KNOW, TRUMP'S NO.

1 LADY, AND NOW SHE WANTS A POSITION AGAIN, BUT MAYBE SHE'S GONNA TRY TO DO IT WITH INDEPENDENTS, MAYBE ABORTION IS ONE STEP TO THAT.

>> DOES IT HELP OR HURT HER WITH THE TRUE BELIEVERS?

>> WELL, IT'S SUBTLE.

CHOICES.

THAT'S A BIG TERM.

I DIDN'T PICK THAT UP INITIALLY.

I THINK MAYBE NOT EVERYONE WHO'S SEEN IT YET, THEY PROBABLY STILL HAVE ENOUGH FAITH IN HER, I THINK MAYBE SHE CAN RETAIN THE SUPPORT THAT SHE HAS.

>> WHERE ARE HER PEOPLE GONNA GO?

YOU KNOW, IT'S SORT OF -- >> WELL, THEY COULD STAY HOME.

>> BUT SORT OF LIKE DONALD TRUMP SAYING I COULD KILL SOMEBODY IN TIMES SQUARE AND PEOPLE WOULD STILL VOTE FOR ME.

HER SUPPORTERS ARE HER SUPPORTERS.

WHAT'S INTERESTING AND I THINK PART OF WHAT'S BEHIND THE TIMING IS SOMETIME BETWEEN NOW AND THE PRIMARY AND CERTAINLY BETWEEN NOW AND THE GENERAL ELECTION, THE ARIZONA SUPREME COURT WILL HAVE A RULING.

AND WE'RE EITHER GONNA HAVE A 15-WEEK LAW OR WE'RE GONNA HAVE, AS LAURIE SAYS, A LAW THAT BASICALLY SAYS NO ABORTIONS, NOT EVEN TO SAVE THE LIFE OF THE MOTHER, YOU KNOW ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

SO SHE'S TRYING TO POSITION HERSELF THAT NO MATTER WHAT, SHE TOLD A REPORTER RECENTLY WHEN HE ASKED ABOUT HER ABORTION STANCE, SHE SAYS, WELL, ARIZONA HAS A 15-WEEK LAW AND WALKED AWAY FROM HIM.

SO SHE HAS BEEN ALL OVER THE BOARD.

AND THE OTHER PIECE OF IT OF COURSE IS THE PLANNED PARENTHOOD AND THOSE ALLIES ARE PUTTING THE MEASURE ON THE BALLOT.

THEY'RE GONNA SPEND 40 TO $50 MILLION ON THE ISSUE OF A WOMAN'S RIGHT TO CHOOSE, AND THAT'S -- MAY OVERWHELM ANYTHING SHE CAN SPEND.

>> OKAY.

THAT IS -- WE'VE PIVOTED NOW TO THE U.S. SENATE RACE AND I WANT TO GET THERE BY WAY OF SENATOR KIRSTIN CINEMA, BIG APPROPRIATIONS SPEECH, SUCCEEDING DIANNE FEINSTEIN ON APPROPRIATIONS, CHUCK SCHUMER ASSOCIATED WITH IT ALL.

>> YEAH, I THINK IT'S VERY INTERESTING.

IS SHE OR IS SHE NOT GOING TO RUN FOR RE-ELECTION TO TRY TO HANG ON?

BUT GALLEGO WAS WONDERING THE SAME THING.

HE'S THE ONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO TAKE OVER HER SEAT.

HE'S THE DEMOCRAT AND GOTTA BE THINKING TO HIMSELF, HUH, WHY IS SCHUMER HELPING CINEMA WHEN CINEMA WILL BE TAKE VOTES AWAY FROM HIM.

I THINK THAT THE DEMOCRATS ARE IN A LITTLE BIT OF A PICKLE IN THAT THEY CAN'T -- IF YOU LOOK AT BIDEN, HE IS DEFINITELY GOING TO NEED ARIZONA IF HE WANTS TO BE RE-ELECTED.

HE'S GOING TO COME TO TOWN AND TOUT HIS LEGISLATIVE SUCCESSES.

ONE OF THE LEGISLATIVE SUCCESSES HAS OCCUR CITIZEN CINEMA'S NAME ON IT.

SO HOW DO YOU COME OUT AND TALK ABOUT THAT AND GET BEHIND GALLEGO.

SO I THINK THE DEMOCRATS HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A PROBLEM.

>> SURE.

I ASKED THE GOVERNOR THIS PAST WEEK, I SAID, SO, WHO'S A BETTER CANDIDATE AGAINST KARI LAKE.

, YOU KNOW, IS IT RUBIN OR KIRSTEN AND SHE GOES, WELL, YOU KNOW I THINK THE DEMOCRATS ARE QUAKING IN THEIR BOOTS ABOUT WHAT THIS ALL WILL MEAN AND THEY DON'T KNOW.

NOW, DOES IT MEAN ANYTHING, FOR MOST VOTERS NO.

BUT THE ABILITY TO BRING HOME THE BACON MAY MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

>> MOST VOTERS KNOW, BUT TO THOSE INVOLVED IN POLITICS AND LOOKING TO SEE WHO'S GROIN GET THE BRUNT OF THE SUPPORT AND THE MONEY, CHUCK SCHUMER COULD HAVE PICKED A WHOLE LOT OF FOLKS TO GO ON THERE.

HE PICKED HER, AN INDEPENDENT.

>> IT'S A GOOD THING FOR HER.

APPROPRIATIONS IS KIND OF A JEWEL IN ITEMS OF COMMITTEE, NOT JUST AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL BUT THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

APPROPRIATIONS IS THE MONEY CURSE.

APPROPRIATIONS IS A POWERFUL JOB.

YOU KNOW, EVERYONE IN THE CORPORATIONS COMMITTEE IS KIND OF GETTING SHMOOZED.

SO FOR HER TO BE ON THAT COMMITTEE SHE NEEDS TO BE HOLDING THE FIRST DRINKS AND PEOPLE WILL NEED HER WHEN IT COMES TO THE BUDGET.

SO I THINK IT'S A GOOD THING AND IF SHE DECIDES TO CAMPAIGN SHE SHOULD TOUT WHATEVER THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE IS CALLING FOR.

>> AND THE FACT THAT EVERY SPECIAL INTERESTS IS GOING TO SAY, YOU KNOW, I KNOW YOU'RE FUNDRAISING LAST QUARTER WASN'T SO GOOD, MAYBE WE CAN HELP.

>> RIGHT.

DOES THIS IN ANY WAY, SHAPE OR FORM DO YOU THINK IMPACT HER DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO RUN?

>> GOSH, WHO KNOWS.

KIRSTIN CINEMA IS WEIGHING HER OPTIONS AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHICH WAY DO I COME OUT WELL ON THIS.

POLLING DOES NOT SHOW WELL FOR HER BUT THERE IS A PAST THERE BECAUSE SHE GOT A VERY LIBERAL DEMOCRAT AND A VERY CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN TO RUN AGAINST HER, AND THERE'S A WHOLE LOT OF MIDDLE GROUND.

IF SHE CAN GET THE MONEY TO PUT OUT HER STORY, IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT PEOPLE DO BECAUSE IN SOME WAYS SHE IS RIGHT WHAT THE PEOPLE IN THE MIDDLE SAY THEY WANT, SOMEONE WHO'S WILLING TO WORK ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE, SOMEONE WHO'S FOCUSED ON GETTING THINGS DONE.

>> I'M NOT SURE THE FACT THAT -- WELL, INDEPENDENTS ARE THE LARGEST VOTING BLOCK.

>> WELL, THEY'RE NOT A BLOCK.

>> BUT THAT'S EXACTLY THE POINT.

WHILE PEOPLE SAY THEY'RE INDEPENDENT, THEY TEND TO GO ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.

INDEPENDENTS HAVE NOT HAD A LOT OF LUCK GETTING ELECTED OR RE-ELECTED IN THIS STATE.

AND THE QUESTION IS WHEN PEOPLE GO TO THE POLLS IN NOVEMBER -- ASSUMING SHE STAYS IN THE RACE.

AND I MY BELIEF IS, I THINK I SAID IT, I THINK SHE'LL LOOK AT THE POLLS AND DROP OUT.

BUT IF SHE DOES STAY IN, I THINK PEOPLE WILL SAY, YOU KNOW, IS SHE RELIABLE FOR MY PARTY.

CAMERYN WE HAD AN INDEPENDENT REGARDING TURNING POINT USA, BASICALLY HARASSING AN -- WINDS UP LIKE AN ASSAULT, SOMEONE HIT THE PAVEMENT HERE.

WHAT IS THIS ALL ABOUT AND TURNING POINT USA.

WHAT IS THIS GROUP, HOW MUCH INFLUENCE DO THEY HAVE?

>> A LOT GOING ON THERE.

YEAH, THERE WAS AN INCIDENT WHERE AN PROFESSOR PART OF THE LGBT WEST COMMUNITY WAS IN AN ALTERCATION WITH MEMBERS OF TURNING POINT, I THINK TWO.

AND IT WAS CAPTURED ON VIDEO FOOTAGE THAT I THINK A LOT OF US SAW BECAUSE IT WAS REQUESTED AND POSTED AND BASICALLY HE SORT OF REACHES FOR ONE OF THE GUY'S CAMERAS, THE PROFESSOR, AND GETS PUSHED TO THE GROUND AND, YOU KNOW, HE GOT HURT.

AND THE SCHOOL -- THE LAWMAKERS WHO ARE ALIGNED WITH TURNING POINT, SO REPUBLICANS WANTED LAWMAKERS TO DEFUND THE SCHOOL AND THAT CALL HAS BEEN MADE BUT NOT REALLY HAPPENED.

>> THE GUY THEY PUSHED THE OTHER GUY TO THE GROUND IS THE VICTIM, ACCORDING TO THE LAWMAKER.

>> ACCORDING TO THE LAWMAKERS, YES.

>> RIGHT.

>> WELL, THE FACT IS, YOU KNOW, EVEN ASSUMING THAT THIS GUY DID LUNGE AT THE GUY WITH THE CAMERA, LOOK AT THE WHOLE TAPE.

THEY WERE GETTING HIM.

THEY WERE BASICALLY TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO GET HIM TO DO THIS, PUT HIS HAND UP IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA, THEY WERE GOATING HIM.

IT'S REALLY ANNOYING.

AND THEY WERE PROVOKING THIS.

FOR THEM TO SAY, POOR US, WE ARE THE VICTIMS BECAUSE WE HARASSED THIS GUY, THE TWO OF US, TWO ON ONE THING, AND SOMEHOW WE'RE THE VICTIM?

YEAH, OKAY, NO.

>> I THINK ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS HERE WAS THAT MICHAEL CEO CAME OUT ASU'S PRESIDENT PRETTY QUICKLY AND HAD A FULL THROATED -- AND BLAMED IT ON THE TURNING POINT PEOPLE, MICHAEL CEO BETTER BE CAREFUL WAS WHAT THE TURNING POINT'S REACTION WAS.

HE BETTER BE CAREFUL HOW HE SPENDS THIS.

AND LOW AND BEHOLD MAYBE THREE DAYS LATER THE ARIZONA FREEDOM CAUCUS COMES OUT WITH THIS.

>> I THINK HE CALLED THEM COWARDS TOO.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND THE FREEDOM CAUCUS COMES OUT.

EXPLAIN TO VIEWERS WHO THEY ARE AND HOW MUCH IMPACT THEY HAVE.

>> WELL, IT'S A SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE AN OUTSIZED AMOUNT OF POWER BECAUSE THE REST OF THE REPUBLICANS ARE DESIRED DEATH OF THEM BECAUSE THEY'VE THREATENED THE PRIMARY, ANYBODY THAT GOES AGAINST THEM.

THEY SEEM TO HAVE ALL OF THE POWER, RUN BY JAKE HOFFMAN IN THE SENATE, AND HOFFMAN WILL TELL YOU JUST FULL DISCLOSURE HERE THAT THE CALL TO DEFUND IS NOT JUST BECAUSE OF THIS INCIDENT, BUT BECAUSE OF THE FAILURE OF THE UNIVERSITY TO CONDEMN THE HAMAS PROTEST AND GENERAL LIBERAL LEANINGS.

>> AND THAT'S THE POINT.

THEY'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT DEFUNDING ALL THREE UNIVERSITIES FOR YEARS BECAUSE THERE ARE LIBERALS THERE.

THIS IS EVEN AFTER THEY PUT MONEY INTO THE BUDGET DURING THE DUCEY YEARS FOR WHAT'S CALLED FREEDOM SCHOOLS.

SORT OF RIGHT WING THINK THANKS THERE, BUT THEY'RE STILL CONVINCED THAT SOMEHOW THESE ARE HOT BEDS OF LIBERALISM AND THAT STUDENTS ARE RAISING QUESTIONS THERE, AND WE CERTAINLY CAN'T HAVE THAT.

>> YES.

>> SCHOOLS ARE NOT LIBERAL.

PEOPLE WHO HAVE DEGREES AND ACADEMICS SEEM TO BE MORE LEFT LEANING BUT IS THAT A REASON TO FUND A PUBLIC UNIVERSITY?

>> I THINK THE IMPORTANT POINT HERE IS TURNING POINTS INFLUENCE AND CONTROL, APPARENTLY, OVER THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.

THEY SAY YOU BETTER WATCH OUT, MICHAEL CEO, AND TWO DAYS LATER LOW AND BEHOLD HERE COMES THE FREEDOM CAUCUS, PRETTY POWERFUL GROUP FOR MICHAEL CROW.

>> SOUNDS A LITTLE BULLYING AND SOUNDS A LITTLE BIT LIKE WHAT WE'RE SEEING ON CAPITOL HILL, WHERE A SMALL GROUP SAYS LISTEN TO ME, HEAR ME ROAR, AND EVERYONE ELSE IS -- IT'S CHAOS THAT ERUPTS.

NOT NECESSARILY CHAOS IN THIS CASE BUT TO A CERTAIN DEGREE IT'S A SMALL GROUP WITH OUT-SIZED INFLUENCE.

>> AND AS YOU POINT OUT THIS WHOLE JIM JORDAN THING, PART OF THE REASON HE LOST THE THIRD ROUND AND KEPT LOSING VOTES IS THAT HIS SUPPORTERS WERE THREATENING PEOPLE.

YOU KNOW, YOU WANT TO MAKE YOUR CASE ABOUT FUNDING THE UNIVERSITIES, YOU WANT TO MAKE YOUR CASE ABOUT JIM JORDAN VERSUS McCARTHY FOR SPEAKER, THAT'S FINE.

BUT IS THE TENDENCY TO THINK WE'RE GOING TO ROAR, WE'RE GOING TO INTIMIDATE PEOPLE, WE WILL PRIMARY YOU, WE WILL HAVE YOU KICKED OUT OF THE PARTY.

LOOK, THE MARICOPA COUNTY REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE IS ALWAYS KICKING PEOPLE OUT OF THE PARTY.

THAT'S THEIR WAY.

>> YEAH.

>> YOU CAN PAINT A BATHROOM WITH THE NUMBER OF CENSURES THEY'VE HANDED OUT TO THEIR OWN PEOPLE.

>> REAL QUICKLY CAPITOL HILL, IS THAT GOING TO AFFECT VOTERS?

ARE THEY SEEING DYSFUNCTION ONLY ON ONE SIDE OR IS THIS SOMETHING THAT WILL FLOAT ON BY BY ELECTION DAY?

>> IT'S NOT A GOOD LOOK FOR US.

I THINK IT MAKE US LOOK LIKE WE'RE A MESS AS A COUNTRY.

AND TO YOUR POINT EARLIER, I DON'T THINK THAT THE TURNING POINT USA IS DISSIMILAR TO THE STATE FREEDOM CAUCUS, WHICH IS VERY MUCH SIMILAR TO THE U.S. FREEDOM CAUCUS.

ALL VERY MUCH A SIMILAR OR IN SOME CASES THE SAME THING.

>> ALL RIGHT, SIR, WE'LL STOP IT RIGHT THERE.

GOOD CONVERSATION.

THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US.

THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.