♪.

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

ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," THE JOURNALISTS' ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSES SENATOR KYRSTEN SINEMA'S CONTINUED IMPACT ON PRESIDENT BIDEN'S AGENDA.

>>> ON CRONKITE NEWS, ENCOURAGING NEWS FOR HISPANIC HOMEBUYERS IN THIS VOLATILE HOUSING MARKET.

>>> AND ON "BREAK IT DOWN," HOW THE PANDEMIC INCREASED PHYSICIAN BURNOUT?

IT'S ALL AHEAD IN THE NEXT HOUR ON 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 U.S. FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION TODAY ISSUED EMERGENCY-USE AUTHORIZATION FOR PFIZER'S COVID VACCINE TO BE ISSUED TO CHILDREN 5-11.

THE RECOMMENDED DOSE IS ONE THIRD THE AMOUNT PEOPLE AGE 12 AND OLDER RECEIVE.

PFIZER SAYS TRIALS SHOWED 90% PROTECTION FOR COVID AGAINST YOUNGER KIDS AT THE ONE THIRD DOSE.

THE COMPANY HOPES THE LOWER DOSE WILL REDUCE SIDE EFFECTS.

THIS ALL GOES TO THE CDC WHICH WILL CONSIDER THE FDA'S RECOMMENDATION NEXT WEEK WITH THE FINAL DECISION COMING SOON THEREAFTER FROM THE CDC'S DIRECTOR.

>>> TODAY'S ARIZONA COVID REPORT SHOWS CLOSE TO 3700 NEW CASES IN THE STATE.

THAT'S MORE THAN THE PAST FEW WEEKS WITH NOTED INCREASES IN NEW CASES AMONG THOSE OVER THE AGE OF 65.

THE NUMBER OF COVID-RELATED FATALITIES INCREASED BY 63 AND PUTS ARIZONA'S DEATH RATE AT 11th HIGHEST IN THE COUNTRY.

>>> OTHER NEWS, THE STATE'S INDEPENDENT REDISTRICT COMMISSION APPROVED DRAFTS OF CONGRESSIONAL AND LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS LAST NIGHT.

THE NEWLY DRAWN CONGRESSIONAL MAPS SHOW INCUMBENTS TOM O'HALLERAN AND PAUL GOSAR IN THE SAME DISTRICT.

ONE OF THREE SOLID REPUBLICAN LEANING DISTRICTS WITH SOME LEANS MORE THAN OTHERS.

THERE ARE TWO DISTRICTS STRONGLY LEANING DEMOCRAT AND REMAINING FOUR HAVE NO STRONG PARTISAN ADVANTAGE.

AS FOR LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS, THE "ARIZONA MIRROR" REPORTS THAT REPUBLICANS HAVE MORE SAFE SEATS BUT SIX COMPETITIVE DISTRICTS THAT COULD GIVE DEMOCRATS CONTROL OF EITHER OR BOTH THE HOUSE AND SENATE.

THE PUBLIC WILL HAVE 30 WAYS TO COMMENT ON THE MAPS BY A LISTENING TOUR AROUND THE STATE.

THE COMMISSION SET A DECEMBER 22 DEADLINE FOR THE FINAL MAPS.

BY LAW THEY NEED TO BE DONE BY JANUARY 2.

>>> AND TIME NOW FOR THE JOURNALISTS' ROUNDTABLE, AND TONIGHT WE WELCOME HOWIE FISCHER OF CAPITOL MEDIA SERVICES AND LAURIE ROBERTS FROM "THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC."

GOOD TO SEE YOU BOTH.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WE GOT A LOT TO GO OVER HERE.

HOWIE, START WITH YOU, YOU'RE IN STUDIO LOOKING AT ME AND TALKING ABOUT KYRSTEN SINEMA, AND SHE IS MAKING HEADLINES EVERY TIME YOU TURN AROUND.

>> SHE WAS ALWAYS ONE WHO COULD GET ATTENTION.

LAURIE AND I COVERED HER WHEN SHE WAS IN THE LEGISLATURE.

IT'S ALMOST LIKE SHE'S DECIDED I'M GETTING A LOT OF INK NATIONALLY, BUT SHE'S ALSO DECIDED THAT I DON'T KNOW WHETHER SHE JUST DOESN'T CARE ABOUT HER IMAGE ANYMORE, SHE'S NOT TALKING TO REPORTERS.

GOT A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF PUBLICITY FOR WHAT SHE WORE PRESIDING OVER THE SENATE.

I DON'T KNOW THAT IT WAS A BIG DEAL, BUT PART OF A LARGER GROUP OF THINGS GOING ON WITH HER.

HER MAIN PROBLEM AT THIS POINT HAS TO DO NOT WITH ANYTHING GOING ON, NOT EVEN WITH THE BUDGET PLAN BUT THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY.

IF YOU ASK PROBABLY 85% OF ARIZONANS SAY THEY'D LIKE MEDICARE AND MEDICAID TO NEGOTIATE PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES.

SHE'S AGAINST THAT AND YET TAKING A LOT OF MONEY FROM THE INDUSTRY.

IF SHE WANTS TO RUN FOR RE-ELECTION IN THREE, FOUR YEARS FROM NOW, THAT'S GOING TO CAUSE HEART BURN.

TED: LAURIE, SHE WALKED BACK A LITTLE ON THE PHARMACEUTICAL ISSUE, NOT TOO MUCH.

TALK TO US ABOUT THAT.

>> I DON'T THINK SHE WALKED IT BACK VERY FAR.

SHE HAS DECIDED AND GOTTEN PRESIDENT BIDEN TO AGREE TO A SLIMMED-DOWN, GREATLY SLIMMED-DOWN VERSION THAT WOULD CAP SENIORS OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES FOR PHARMACEUTICAL AT A PRETTY HIGH RATE.

MOST SENIORS I DON'T THINK MEET THE CAP, AND IT WOULD ALLOW MEDICARE TO NEGOTIATE A VERY SMALL NUMBER OF MEDICATIONS GIVEN IN HOSPITALS AND THOSE THAT HAVE PATENTS THAT HAVE RUN OUT.

IT IS NOWHERE NEAR WHAT THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS WERE EXPECTING WHEN THEY ELECTED SENATOR SINEMA, WHO CAMPAIGNED ON A PLANK OF LOWERING PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES.

THIS IS NOTHING LIKE THAT, AND I THINK THIS IS THE PROBLEM FOR HER.

>> AND MAYBE SHE'S FIGURING THAT UNLIKE MARK KELLY, SHE'S NOT UP FOR ELECTION THIS YEAR.

PLENTY OF TIME TO HEAL.

SHE AND JOE MANCHIN DECIDED THEY ARE THE POWER BROKERS NOW IN THE SENATE, AND I THINK SHE'S RATHER ENJOYING THAT.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I NEVER EXPECTED HER TO SIDE WITH THE PROGRESSIVE WING OF THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS, AND I SUSPECT THERE'S PLENTY OF MODERATES THAT ARE HAPPY SHE'S TAKING THE HEAT.

MANY PEOPLE IN ARIZONA ARE NOT HAPPY WITH A $3.5 TRILLION SOCIAL AND CLIMATE SPENDING PLAN, AND SHE CAN RIGHTLY TAKE CREDIT FOR REDUCING THAT.

MANY OF US DON'T THINK THAT, FOR EXAMPLE, FREE COMMUNITY COLLEGE FOR EVERYBODY IS NEEDED, WHEN YOU COULD INSTEAD TARGET GRANTS OR SCHOLARSHIPS OR WHATEVER IT IS TO THOSE WHO REALLY DO NEED IT.

THE LOW INCOME.

SHE HAS TO BE GIVEN CREDIT FOR REDUCING THAT PRICE TAG, BUT NOT GOING ALONG WITH THE MEDICARE NEGOTIATING PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES, JUST MAKES NO SENSE.

MEDICARE IS ABLE TO NEGOTIATE THE PRICES OF EVERYTHING ELSE IT DOES EXCEPT FOR PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.

>> AND HOW YOU MENTIONED SHE WORE LIKE A JEAN VEST OR SOMETHING PRESIDING OVER THE SENATE.

WE ALSO HAD A BISBEE WEDDING SHE PRESIDES, OFFICIATING THE WEDDING, AND PEOPLE WERE TOLD TO WEAR COSTUMES AND SOME HAD COME IN TRADITIONAL NATIVE AMERICAN DRESS.

SHE SAID SHE DIDN'T KNOW THESE PEOPLE BUT RENOUNCED THAT BEHAVIOR, AND THEN WE GOT THIS TED LASSO THING, A POPULAR PROGRAM ON I THINK APPLE AND IT'S A STREAMING PROGRAM.

WE GOT A SHOT OF MITT ROMNEY PORTRAYING TED LASSO, THE LEAD CHARACTER.

KYRSTEN SINEMA, SENATOR SINEMA IS PLAYING THE BOSS IN THE SHOW, BUT TO ME, HOWIE, THIS RAISES THE QUESTION, WHAT IS SHE DOING?

TO WHAT END IS ALL OF THIS?

>> SHE'S ALWAYS ENJOYED THE THEATER OF IT, EVEN IN THE LEGISLATURE, SHE'S ENJOYED THE THEATER.

REMEMBER ALSO WHEN SHE CAME ON THE SENATE FLOOR TO VOTE ON SOMETHING SHE DID THIS THUMBS-DOWN, AND COURTSIED.

I APPRECIATE ANY POLITICIAN WHO DOESN'T TAKE HIMSELF OR HERSELF TOTALLY SERIOUSLY, BUT A LINE IN THERE AT WHICH POINT VOTERS SAY WAIT A SECOND, I SEND SOMEBODY TO WASHINGTON TO CREATE PUBLIC POLICY, NOT TO BECOME A MEME.

TED: LAURIE, LAST THOUGHTS ON THIS.

>> I HAVE TO WONDER IF SHE'S DECIDED MAYBE SHE'S NOT RUNNING.

HER PROBLEM IS THAT SHE'S LOSING HER BASE, AND THAT WOULD CONSIDER THAT BASE IS MODERATE, INDEPENDENT/DEMOCRATIC VOTERS WHO PUT HER INTO OFFICE.

SHE'S GOING TO HAVE TROUBLE OBVIOUSLY WITH THE PROGRESSIVES, BUT ASSUMING SHE CAN GET BY THEM, WITH THE PRESCRIPTION DRUG THING SHE'S GOING TO HAVE TROUBLE WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE.

AND MAYBE SHE DOESN'T CARE.

SHE HAS GOTTEN $100,000 AFTER ALL FROM THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY JUST THIS YEAR, A FIFTH OVER WHAT SHE'S GOTTEN HER ENTIRE CAREER.

MAYBE IT IS ABOUT THE MONEY.

TED: LET'S MOVE ON, HOWIE.

THE SENATE AND THE NINJAS, THEY WERE KUMBAYAING AND THE SENATE IS FIGHTING THE NINJAS, WHAT IS HAPPENING THERE?

>> TWO LAWSUITS AND WE'LL TALK ABOUT BOTH OF THEM.

THE FIRST WAS FILED BY AMERICAN OVERSIGHT, THE INDEPENDENT WATCHDOG GROUP, PROBABLY LEFT LEANING BUT SAY NONPARTISAN.

THEY SUED THE SENATE FOR PUBLIC RECORDS AND THE JUDGES SIDED WITH THEM AND SAID WHAT THE SENATE HAS IS PUBLIC AND CYBER NINJAS BECAUSE THEY WERE ACTING IN THE SENATE INSTEAD, THEIR RECORDS ARE PUBLIC, TOO.

THE SENATE IS ON ORDER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BE FOUND IN CONTEMPT, YOU GET THE RECORDS FROM CYBER NINJAS, SENATE PRESIDENT KAREN FANN SENT A LETTER TO DOUG LOGAN, THE HEAD OF CYBER NINJAS, SAYING IF YOU DON'T DO THIS, YOU'RE IN BREACH OF CONTRACT.

THEY ONLY PAID HIM $150,000.

ARE THEY GOING TO MAKE HIM GIVE THAT BACK?

TED: SCORPIONS IN A BOTTLE?

THE TWO SIDES ARE GOING AFTER EACH OTHER.

>> I COULD HEAR THE LAUGHTER COMING OUT OF SARASOTA, FLORIDA, THE HOME OF THE CYBER NINJAS HERE.

WE'RE IN BREACH OF CONTRACT, WHO CARES?

WE MADE MILLIONS AND MADE A REPUTATION AND THAT'S WHERE THE SENATE HAS SWAY OVER THEM IN A CIVIL SUIT, WHERE THEY COULD BE SUING THEM IN COURT HERE OR PERHAPS IN FLORIDA.

TED: ALL RIGHT, THE SECOND SUIT IS ANOTHER PUBLIC RECORDS CASE, HOWIE.

YOU ARE CHOMPING AT THE BIT ON THIS ONE, WITH "THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC."

WHAT'S PUBLIC AND WHAT'S NOT PUBLIC RECORD?

>> WELL, THAT'S A SECOND JUDGE, JUDGE HANNA WHO RULED THAT EVERYTHING THE SENATE HAS IS PUBLIC, AND EVERYTHING THAT CYBER NINJAS AND ITS SUBCONTRACTORS HAVE IS ALSO PUBLIC TO THE EXTENT IT RELATES TO THE AUDIT BECAUSE THEY WERE DOING THE SENATE'S BUSINESS.

THE REPUBLIC WAS SMART ENOUGH NOT ONLY TO NAME THE SENATE AS DEFENDANTS BUT NAMED CYBER NINJAS AS A DEFENDANT AND THAT LEADS TO THE POSSIBILITY WE WILL HAVE A CONTEMPT CITATION NOT ONLY AGAINST KAREN FANN, IF SHE DOESN'T PRODUCE, BUT AGAINST DOUG LOGAN, AND JUDGES DON'T LIKE BEING TOLD YOU CAN'T HAVE SOMETHING, AND A CONTEMPT CITATION, YOU BASICALLY, IF YOU'RE IN CONTEMPT OF COURT, YOU CAN BE FINED BUT ALSO ORDERED TO REMAIN IN JAIL UNTIL YOU PURGE YOURSELF OF CONTEMPT AND WHAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE PRODUCED.

TED: LAURIE, JUDGES DON'T LIKE BEING TOLD YOU DON'T HAVE JURISDICTION HERE.

>> THEY DON'T.

LATE THIS AFTERNOON, THE JUDGE DID SAY HE'S NOT GOING TO ISSUE A CONTEMPT CITATION.

HE'S REASONING WAS THAT THE ACTUAL ORDER CAME FROM THE COURT OF APPEALS.

I DIDN'T QUITE UNDERSTAND HOW THAT COULD BE, BUT HE DID SAY, IF THIS COMES BACK TO ME AND THE STAY IS TAKEN OFF OF ME, I'M NOT HEARING ANY MORE ARGUMENTS AND BASICALLY SAID THAT THE CYBER NINJAS WERE PLAYING WITH FIRE HERE.

NOT A HAPPY CAMPER THAT JUDGE.

TED: LET'S MOVE ON.

WE CAN GO BACK AND FORTH WITH THE COURT CASES BUT KNOW WHERE WE STAND ON THOSE.

WORKING ON REDISTRICTING, WE GOT THE FINAL DRAFT MAPS BUT NOW GOT 30 DAYS FOR EVERYONE AND THEIR BROTHER TO GO I DON'T LIKE THAT AND DON'T LIKE THAT AND THAT.

>> BELIEVE ME.

I'VE SAT THROUGH REDISTRICTING GOING BACK TO WHEN THE LEGISLATURE WAS DOING IT.

SAT THROUGH THE LAST THREE OF THEM.

NOBODY IS GOING TO LIKE EVERYTHING.

THE PROBLEM BECOMES HAVE YOU 30 LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS AND ROUGHLY EQUAL IN POPULATION AND THE GROWTH IS HERE IN MARICOPA COUNTY, HAVE YOU ONLY NINE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS WHICH WE DIDN'T GROW AND HAVE TO BE PRECISELY EQUAL IN POPULATION ACCORDING TO THE U.S. CONSTITUTION.

SO THAT MEANT MOVING A LOT OF THINGS AROUND IT.

MEANT THAT MOST OF THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS HAVE SOME TIE ALL THE WAY INTO PHOENIX.

IF SOME OF THE TUCSON DISTRICTS GO UP INTO PHOENIX, WHAT YOU'VE GOT IS A SITUATION AS YOU POINTED OUT AT THE TOP OF THE SHOW WHERE ON THE CONGRESSIONAL SIDE, YOU HAVE THREE SAFE REPUBLICAN DISTRICTS, TWO SAFE DEMOCRATIC DISTRICTSS, AND THE OTHER FOUR COULD BE UP FOR GRABS.

A LOT OF IT DEPENDS WHAT ELSE HAPPENS?

IF JOE BIDEN IS UNPOPULAR, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW WHICH WAY THEY'LL GO.

THE LEGISLATIVE IS CRUCIAL BECAUSE NOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, AS YOU POINTED OUT, CONTROL OF THE HOUSE AND SENATE.

THE HOUSE HAS ONLY GOT 31 OUT OF 60 IN REPUBLICANS, AND SENATE HAS 16 OUT OF 30, AND EXTENT THAT ONE SEAT CHANGES HAVE YOU BIPARTISAN, AND TWO SEATS CHANGE, STATE HOUSE HAS NOT BEEN IN DEMOCRAT HANDS SINCE 1964.

TED: THAT COULD CHANGE.

LAURIE, AS FAR AS THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS ARE CONCERNED, WHO'S IN TROUBLE NOW?

WHO'S WORRIED?

>> I THINK THAT CONGRESSMAN SCHWEIKERT PROBABLY WOKE UP THIS MORNING AND SAID WHAT THE HECK HAPPENED TO ME?

I'M SITTING HERE IN MY COZY, COMFY, SOLIDLY REPUBLICAN SCOTTSDALE DISTRICT WHERE EVERYBODY JUST, I GOT NO PROBLEMS, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I'M IN THE STATE'S MOST COMPETITIVE DISTRICT, AND REPRESENTATIVE GREG STANTON IS ALSO IN THAT DISTRICT AND IT FAVORS TO A TEENY TINY BIT, A TOSS-UP DISTRICT THAT COULD BE A TEENY TINY DEMOCRAT?

WHAT THE HK HAPPENED TO ME?

IF YOU'RE GREG STANTON, YOU'VE GOT TO SAY I'VE DONE FROM A BARELY SAFE DEMOCRATIC DISTRICT, AND THOUGH IT HAS A TINY DEMOCRATIC LEAN, MOST OF THE DISTRICT IS SCHWEIKERT'S OLD DISTRICT BECAUSE MY OLD DISTRICT GOT SUCKED DOWN TO A NEW DISTRICT IN THE SOUTHEAST OF THE VALLEY.

IF I'M GREG STANTON, I'M CALLING THE MOVERS AND SAYING I THINK I NEED TO MOVE TO AHWATUKEE, MY OLD DISTRICT BACK.

>> AS LAURIE KNOWS, YOU DON'T NEED TO LIVE IN YOUR DISTRICT.

I DON'T THINK PAUL GOSAR LIVES IN HIS NOW, THAT ISN'T AN ISSUE THE WAY IT IS FOR LEGISLATORS.

WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS THAT WHEN VOTERS APPROVE THE INDEPENDENT REDISTRICTING COMMISSION, ONE OF THE GOALS IS TO CREATE AS MANY COMPETITIVE DISTRICTS AS POSSIBLE.

CERTAIN AREAS OF THE STATE, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET A DEMOCRATIC DISTRICT IN MOJAVE COUNTY, NOT GOING TO GET A REPUBLICAN DISTRICT IN SOUTHWEST PHOENIX.

TO THE EXTENT THEY'VE TRIED TO DO THIS, THE POLITICIANS CAN'T COMPLAIN, THAT'S WHAT VOTERS APPROVED AND WANT.

THEY WANT SOMETHING THAT'S NOT DECIDED IN THE PRIMARY.

TED: THE O'HALLERAN-GOSAR MATCHUP COULD BE FUN TO WATCH EVEN THOUGH THE DISTRICT LEANS REPUBLICAN.

>> IT LEANS REPUBLICAN BUT NOT BY ENOUGH.

IF I'M PAUL GOSAR, GOD FORBID, IF I WAS PAUL GOSAR, I'D BE RUNNING TO MOJAVE COUNTY DISTRICT, THAT HAS A COZY, COMFORTABLE 27-POINT REPUBLICAN ADVANTAGE.

I DO NOT THINK YOU'LL SEE GOSAR RUNNING IN THE DISTRICT HE STILL LIVES.

I DON'T SEE IT.

YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE LEGISLATURE A LITTLE BIT?

TED: PLEASE, PLEASE.

>> I SEE SIX COMPETITIVE DISTRICTS, IF YOU WANT TO STRETCH IT AND LOOK AT NUMBERS FUNNY.

WE HAVE THREE NOW, MAYBE FOUR.

THIS PROPOSED MAP WHICH I THINK WILL STILL BE CHANGED A LOT, SEEMS TO HAVE SIX COMPETITIVE DISTRICTS, TWO OF THEM VIRTUALLY TOSS-UPS.

SO THAT'S WHICH GOOD NEWS COMING OUT OF THERE.

I DON'T KNOW THEY AGREE WITH WHAT YOU SAID AT THE TOP OF THE SHOW THAT DEMOCRATS HAVE A CHANCE AT TAKING OVER.

THEY WOULD HAVE TO WIN EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THE SIX COMPETITIVE DISTRICTS, TWO OF WHICH LEAN PRETTY FAR INTO THE REPUBLICAN TERRITORY FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.

I THINK THAT YOU WILL SEE, UNDER THESE MAPS, YOU WILL SEE DEMOCRATS TAKING CONTROL RIGHT AROUND THE TIME THAT WENDY ROGERS CONCEDES THAT DONALD TRUMP IS NO LONGER PRESIDENT.

TED: YOU AGREE WITH THAT?

>> IT IS, AS LAURIE POINTS OUT, THE NUMBERS ARE TRICKY FOR THE DEMOCRATS, GIVEN THE WAY THE DISTRICTS ARE DRAWN.

THERE ARE CHANGES TO BE MADE.

ONE OF THE BIG FIGHTS IS OVER A DISTRICT THEY CREATED SPECIFICALLY FOR REPUBLICANS IN SOUTHERN ARIZONA, ADMITTING THEY WERE CREATING A DISTRICT FOR REPUBLICANS THAT SHOULD BE A TOSS-UP DISTRICT.

IF YOU CHANGE IT AROUND AND BRING IN THE AREAS THAT SHERRY LERNER, THE DEMOCRAT ON THE COMMISSION WANTED, THAT COULD BE A TOSS-UP.

A LOT DEPENDS, IF JOE BIDEN'S NUMBERS ARE IN THE TOILET, WE'RE TALKING TWO MORE YEARS OF REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS.

TED: WE'LL STOP IT RIGHT THERE.

THANK YOU MUCH.

GOOD CONVERSATION, GOOD TO SEE YOU BOTH.

APPRECIATE IT.

>>> COMING UP, FORMER SPOKESPERSON FOR FORMER ARIZONA ATTORNEY GENERAL GRANT WOODS REMEMBERS HER CLOSE FRIEND.

.

TED: WE ROUND OUT TONIGHT'S SHOW WITH ANOTHER FRIEND OF GRANT WOODS, THE FORMER ARIZONA ATTORNEY GENERAL WHO DIED LAST WEEK AT THE AGE OF 67.

KARIE DOZER SERVED AS SPOKE PERSON FOR WOODS AND REMAINED CLOSE TO WOODS AND HIS FAMILY AFTER WOODS LEFT OFFICE.

WE SPOKE TO KARIE DOZER EARLIER TODAY.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN, HAVEN'T SEEN YOU IN AWHILE, THANKS FOR BEING HERE AND TALK ABOUT YOUR FRIEND.

IT'S BEEN A FEW DAYS, STILL A SHOCK?

>> YEAH, I STILL CAN'T GET USED TO IT.

I WROTE DOWN LAST NIGHT THE DATE AND TIME OF THE FUNERAL SERVICE, AND I COULDN'T HIT ADD, I COULD NOT SAVE IT.

IT DIDN'T SEEM REAL.

TED: IT SEEMS AS THOUGH WE'RE GOING TO GET A SMART ALECKY THING ACROSS TWITTER, SEEMS TWITTER IS QUIET.

>> I KEEP THINKING I'M GOING TO CALL HIM TO TALK ABOUT IT, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

I LOVE TO BOUNCE THINGS OFF HIM EVEN NOW.

TED: FOR THOSE NEW TO ARIZONA, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE NEW TO ARIZONA, WHO GRANT WOODS?

>> GRANT WOODS WAS, FOR ME, HE WAS MY FAVORITE BOSS, IF I CAN CALL HIM THAT.

HE WOULD HAVE LAUGHED.

BUT I WENT TO WORK FOR HIM WHEN HE WAS ATTORNEY GENERAL, AND I WAS 24 YEARS OLD.

WAY OVER MY SKIS, BUT THANKFULLY HE GAVE ME A CHANCE, AND I FOLLOWED HIM DOWN AN ELEVATOR IN A RADIO STATION WHERE I WAS WORKING AT THE TIME, AND I SAID HEY, COULD I COME WORK FOR YOU?

HE SAID YEAH.

I NEED SOMEBODY JUST LIKE YOU RIGHT NOW.

I SAID GREAT.

HE HIRED ME.

I WORKED FOR HIM AT THE AG'S OFFICE FOR ABOUT FIVE YEARS.

TED: WHAT WAS THAT LIKE?

>> THE COOLEST JOB I EVER HAD.

I LEARNED MORE EVERY DAY THAT THE JOB THAN I'VE LEARNED IN YEARS AT OTHERS.

LIKE I SAID, WAY OVER MY SKIS, 24, NOT AN ATTORNEY, I WAS THERE TO ANSWER MEDIA CALLS, AND I WORKED WITH THE MOST PHENOMENAL GROUP OF PEOPLE, AND HE HAND PICKED EVERY ONE OF THEM.

>> I WOULD SAY, SEEMED LIKE THAT WAS A SHARP CROWD FOCUSED ON CONSUMER INTEREST, OBVIOUSLY THE TOBACCO SETTLEMENT WAS THE MAJOR DEAL THERE, BUT THAT WAS A HARD-WORKING GROUP?

>> A BRILLIANT GROUP, AND THEY WERE A VERY DIVERSE GROUP OF PEOPLE.

IF YOU HAD THROWN THAT GROUP OF ATTORNEYS INTO A ROOM AT ANY OTHER WORKPLACE IN ANY OTHER SETTING, I DON'T KNOW THEY WOULD HAVE JIVED.

I DON'T KNOW THEY WOULD HAVE HAD ANYTHING TO TALK ABOUT.

YOU HAD THE BEST CONSUMER PROTECTION LAWYERS, THE BEST INVESTIGATORS, THE BEST CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEYS, ENVIRONMENTAL LAWYERS, ALL IN THE SAME PLACE, ALL COMPLETELY PASSIONATE LIKE HE WAS TO DOING THE RIGHT THING.

TED: IN PUBLIC, GRANT WAS -- LIKED TO MIX IT UP.

THE QUIP, THE ASIDE, THE COMMENTARY, WASN'T AFRAID TO MIX IT UP.

BEHIND THE SCENES IN THE OFFICE, THE AG'S OFFICE, WAS THAT DIFFERENT?

>> NO, HE LOVED TO SAY THE FUNNY THING.

AND THE OTHER THING ABOUT THAT JOB IS HOW MUCH WE ALL LAUGHED BECAUSE THAT WAS A FUNNY GROUP, BUT PEOPLE USED TO ASK ALL THE TIME, DID HE SAY THAT THING DO, THAT THING TO UPSET THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OR JUST TO GET UNDER THE GOVERNOR'S SKIN?

I'D SAY NO.

THE FACT THAT IT DID, IT WAS FUN TO WATCH AND MADE FOR GOOD NEWS, BUT IT WAS NEVER WHY HE DID IT.

HE DID EVERYTHING BECAUSE HE ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY BELIEVED IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

TED: REGARDLESS OF CONSEQUENCES.

>> THE IRONY WAS HE GOT THE ATTENTION FOR BEING THE CRAZY MAVERICK GUY BUT DIDN'T DO ANY OF IT FOR THOSE REASONS.

IT WAS WITHIN HIS HEART.

TED: HE WON A SECOND TERM BY A MONUMENTAL AMOUNT, AFTER THAT HE DOESN'T RUN AGAIN, REMAINS A REPUBLICAN, DOES THAT SURPRISE YOU?

>> A LITTLE.

EVERY TIME I TALK TO HIM, HE'S GOT SOMETHING UP HIS SLEEVE, AND HE DID HAVE A LOT OF PLANS, IT NEVER INVOLVED RUNNING FOR OFFICE.

TED: I WONDER IF THE OTHER COOL STUFF, THE RECORDING, THE THEATER, THE WRITING, THE PLAYWRIGHT, IF HE SAID I WANT TO DO THIS NOW, HE CAN STILL BE AN ATTORNEY, A SUCCESSFUL ATTORNEY BUT I WANT TO DO THIS, TOO.

>> HE FOLLOWED HIS PASSION, WHEN YOU ARE AG, YOU HAVE A PLATFORM AND LIFE'S A GOOD FIGHT AND MAKE SURE THE ELDERLY WEREN'T SCAMMED AND THE ENVIRONMENT IS PROTECTED, THAT'S A GREAT THING, HE DID THAT ON HIS OWN ANYWAY.

TED: YEAH, YOU TALKED ABOUT HOW HE SAID WHAT HE SAID REGARDLESS OF THE CONSEQUENCES.

IS THAT WHAT MADE HIM ATTRACTIVE TO PEOPLE WHO LOOKED FOR SOMEONE TO MAKE SENSE OF A WORLD THAT OFTEN DOESN'T MAKE SENSE AT ALL?

>> YEAH, I THINK SO, IT'S WHAT WAS ATTRACTIVE TO ME.

I LOVED HE WAS HONEST ABOUT, YEAH, WELL, WE CAN'T DO THAT, EVEN IF IT WAS THE POPULAR THING, WAIT, WE CAN'T DO THAT, HERE'S WHY.

HERE'S WHAT WE CAN DO.

HE DIDN'T CATER TO ANYBODY, BUT HIS HEART WAS IN THE RIGHT PLACE.

TED: AND I THINK AS A SPOKESPERSON, THE FACT HE MADE THINGS SIMPLE.

WE CAN'T DO THAT.

THAT WOULD BE BASICALLY A GRANT WOODS QUOTE.

WE CAN'T DO THAT.

>> SORRY, WE CAN'T DO THAT.

TED: THAT WOULD BE EASY BUT ALSO A LITTLE DIFFICULT BECAUSE SOMETIMES FOLKS WANT TO OVERTHINK THINGS.

>> EXACTLY.

AG IS A BROAD OFFICE, A BIG JOB, YOU CAN DO WHATEVER YOU WANT TO DO.

PURSUE THE CASES YOU WANT TO PURSUE, AND HE HAD A LOT OF INTERESTS.

MY FIRST DAY I WAS DIGGING THROUGH PAPERS OF MY PREDECESSORS AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IS THE THEME HERE?

WHAT ARE WE DOING?

AND THERE WERE STACKS OF ENVIRONMENTAL PRESS RELEASES, CIVIL RIGHTS PRESS RELEASES AND CONSUMER PROTECTION PRESS RELEASES AND THOUGHT THIS IS NOT THE FILE FOLDER OF AN ELECTED REPUBLICAN.

IT DIDN'T FIT ANY MOLDS, BUT BOY WE DIDN'T.

TED: WAS HE AN OPTIMISTIC PERSON?

>> YEAH, I THINK HE BELIEVED IN THE GOODNESS OF PEOPLE.

HE LOVED TO GO AFTER THE BAD GUY.

THE SCUMBAG, HE WOULD CALL HIM, WHO FLEECED YOUR GRANDMOTHER OUT OF MONEY OR RETIREMENT.

HE LOVED TO GO GET THAT PERSON, BUT HE REALLY CELEBRATED INDIVIDUAL PERSONALITIES AND LOVED TO FIND THE SHOP OWNER, THE SHOE SHINE GUY, THE GUY AT THE STATE FAIR WHO WAS BACK EVERY YEAR AND HE WAS FASCINATED WITH THOSE PEOPLE, THE UNIQUENESS IN HUMAN BEINGS.

>> THE SLICE OF LIFE KIND OF GUY.

YOU WROTE HE TOLD YOU TO BE STINGY WITH YOUR TIME AS YOU GOT OLDER.

>> YEAH.

TED: PROBABLY MEANS A LOT RIGHT NOW, DOESN'T IT?

>> HE ASKED ME WHAT'S THE MOST VALUABLE THING YOU HAVE?

I HATE WHEN I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER.

I SAID I DON'T KNOW.

HE SAID IT'S YOUR TIME.

BE REALLY CAREFUL WHO YOU GIVE YOUR TIME TO.

I ASKED HIM WHAT HE THOUGHT ABOUT A JOB OR PROJECT AND DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT.

HE WAS SAYING IN HIS OWN WAY, THAT'S NOT WORTH YOUR TIME.

FIND SOMETHING BETTER.

TED: YEAH, WELL THANK YOU FOR SPENDING YOUR TIME WITH US, IT'S BEEN DIFFICULT FOR A LOT OF FOLKS, YOU INCLUDED, AND TOOK A LITTLE TIME FOR YOU TO COME WITH US, AND WE APPRECIATE IT BECAUSE -- AS I SAID, EVERYONE THINKS THEY KNOW GRANT WOODS BECAUSE HE WAS OUT THERE IN MANY WAYS.

YOU KNEW HIM VERY WELL, WORKED WITH HIM, A CLOSE FRIEND OF HIS AND THE FAMILY.

THANK YOU.

>> I'M GLAD YOU ASKED.

I'M REALLY HAPPY TO DO IT.

.

TED: AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

COMING UP IN THE NEXT HALF HOUR ON ARIZONA PBS.

ON CRONKITE NEWS, IT'S THE TIME OF YEAR TO SEE WHAT SOME SEE AS STEREOTYPES ASSOCIATED WITH WITCHES.

>>> ON "BREAK IT DOWN," HOW THE PANDEMIC INCREASED PHYSICIAN BURNOUT?