TED: GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

ANOTHER DAY, ANOTHER DISQUIETING ARIZONA COVID REPORT, MORE THAN 5,000 NEW CASES OF COVID WERE RECORDED TODAY.

THE HIGHEST DAILY COUNT SINCE LATE JANUARY AND CONTINUES UNWARD TREND.

THE STATE ADDED 78 COVID-RELATED FATALITIES WHICH RANKS THE DEATH RATE PER 100,000, 14th HIGHEST IN THE COUNTRY.

>>> THE NUMBER OF COVID HOSPITALIZATIONS WITH 2400 RECORDED TODAY.

THERE ARE ENCOURAGING VACCINATION NUMBERS WITH STEADY INCREASES FOR THOSE SHOWN UNDER THE AGE OF 20 AND OVER 65.

SPEAKING OF VACCINES, ADVISERS TO THE CDC VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO RECOMMEND THE PFIZER AND MODERNA BOOSTER SHOTS FOR ALL ADULTS 18 AND OVER.

THE VOTE CAME HOURS AFTER THE FDA EXPANDED AUTHORIZATION FOR THE SHOTS DUE TO CLINICAL TRIALS SHOWING BOOSTERS AS SAFE AND 95% EFFECTIVE AGAINST SYMPTOMATIC COVID.

A NUMBER OF STATES OFFERED BOOSTERS TO EVERYONE 18 AND OLDER AHEAD OF THE HOLIDAYS.

>>> THE CITY OF PHOENIX LATE YESTERDAY ANNOUNCED THAT ALL CITY EMPLOYEES MUST BE FULLY VACCINATED AGAINST COVID-19 BY MID-JANUARY.

THE E-MAIL SENT TO MORE THAN 14,000 CITY WORKERS AND SAID EMPLOYEES WHO ARE NOT VACCINATED BY THE DEADLINE WILL BE SUBJECT TO DISCIPLINARY ACTION UP TO AND INCLUDING TERMINATION.

THE CITY SAID THE MANDATE IS NECESSARY BECAUSE PHOENIX IS CONSIDERED A FEDERAL CONTRACTOR AND THAT A RECENT WHITE HOUSE EXECUTIVE ORDER REQUIRES ALL FEDERAL CONTRACTORS TO BE FULLY VACCINATED BY JANUARY 18.

>>> AND NATIONAL NEWS, THE U.S. HOUSE PASSED PRESIDENT BIDEN'S BUILD BACK BETTER SPENDING INITIATIVE.

LEGISLATION AMOUNTS TO MORE THAN A $2 TRILLION PLAN TO OVERHAUL FEDERAL HEALTH CARE, EDUCATION, CLIMATE, IMMIGRATION AND TAX LAWS.

>> IT'S A BIG WIN FOR THE PEOPLE.

FOR THE AVERAGE WORKING MEN AND WOMEN OF AMERICA, FOR THOSE WHO STRUGGLE EVERY DAY AND HOPE THAT SOMEBODY IS ON THEIR SIDE.

SOMEBODY IS LISTENING TO THEIR PAIN AND THEIR STRUGGLE AND THEIR CHALLENGE.

THIS BILL IS AN ANSWER.

THIS BILL WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR LIVES.

TED: PASSAGE OF THE SPENDING PLAN OCCURRED THIS MORNING AFTER REPUBLICAN MINORITY LEADER KEVIN McCARTHY DELAYED THE VOTE WITH AN EIGHT HOUR SPEECH ON A VARIETY OF TOPICS INCLUDING THE ACTUAL LEGISLATION.

>> YOU KNOW, WHEN I LOOK AT THIS BILL, IT ANGERS ME.

WE ARE SO BETTER THAN THIS.

YOU ARE SPENDING SO MUCH MONEY.

NEVER BEFORE WE SPENT LESS, DEFEATING HITLER, MUSSOLINI AND JAPAN, THAN YOU'RE SPENDING TONIGHT.

TED: THE PACKAGE GOES TO THE SENATE WHERE MODERATES, MOST NOTABLY ARIZONA'S KYRSTEN SINEMA EXPRESSED CONCERN OVER THE COST AND SCOPE OF THE POLICY.

AND U.S. TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY PETE BUTTIGIEG WAS IN PHOENIX TO HIGHLIGHT THE $1 TRILLION INFRASTRUCTURE BILL SIGNED BY THE PRESIDENT EARLIER THIS WEEK.

ONE OF TODAY'S STOPS FOR BUTTIGIEG WAS METRO CENTER MALL WHERE HE FOCUSED ON $158 MILLION TRANSIT GRANT FOR THE SECOND PHASE OF THE NORTHWEST EXTENSION FOR LIGHT RAIL.

>> THE NORTHWEST EXTENSION OF LIGHT RAIL REFLECTS SO MANY OF THE VALUES THAT MATTER IN THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE COMMUNITY.

EQUITY.

BECAUSE COMMUNITIES WILL HAVE BETTER AND MORE AFFORDABLE ACCESS TO JOBS, HEALTH CARE, SERVICES, DOWNTOWN AND EVERYWHERE THE VALLEY METRO REACHES.

AND I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT MONEY SAVED ON GAS IS MONEY THAT YOU CAN SPEND ON OTHER THINGS THAT YOUR FAMILY NEEDS AND WANTS, AND THAT IS PART OF THE VIRTUE OF PUBLIC TRANSIT.

TED: BUTTIGIEG WAS JOINED BY SENATORS KYRSTEN SINEMA AND MARK KELLY FOR A ROUNDTABLE ON THE INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE AND A TOUR OF SKY HARBOR.

>>> TIME NOW FOR THE JOURNALISTS' ROUNDTABLE, AND HERE TO DISCUSS THE WEEK'S TOP STORIES ARE RONALD HANSEN OF "THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC" AND JEREMY DUDA FROM THE "ARIZONA MIRROR."

GENTLEMEN, GOOD TO HAVE YOU BOTH HERE, WE'LL START WITH PAUL GOSAR, BECAUSE OF AN ANIME VIDEO, WHAT DID THE VIDEO DEPICT?

>> THIS HAD SEVERAL DISTURBING ASPECTS TO IT.

I THINK NOTABLY THE ATTACK ON WHAT IS REPRESENTATIVE ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ BEING KILLED BY HIM, AND THEN WHAT IS AN ATTACK ABOUT TO HAPPEN TO PRESIDENT BIDEN ITSELF.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS ESPECIALLY DISTURBING IN ARIZONA WHERE, WE HAVE NOT THAT LONG AGO SEEN THE EFFECTS OF VIOLENCE AGAINST POLITICAL FIGURES INVOLVING REPRESENTATIVE GABRIELLE GIFFORDS.

TED: SOUNDS LIKE MUCH OF THE REPUBLICAN RESPONSE IN THE HOUSE, IT'S A CARTOON, IT'S NOT A DANGEROUS THING, YOU'RE OVERREACTING.

>> SURE, THAT'S BEING BLOWN OUT OF PROPORTION, NOT INCITING VIOLENCE, GOSAR SAYS YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND MEME CULTURE, HE'S STEEPED IN A LOT OF OTHER DISTURBING WAYS, KNOWN TO TWEET OUT MEMES AND GRAPHICS AND IMAGES THAT HAVE TIES TO THE FAR RIGHT, WHITE NATIONALISTS, SUPREMACIST GROUPS.

HE STEPS IN IT A LOT WITH STUFF LIKE THIS, AND THIS TIME IT WAS A BRIDGE TOO FAR WITH THE VERY VIOLENT DEPICTIONS, VIOLENT IMAGERY, AND AT A TIME WHEN WE'VE SEEN A COUPLE YEARS AGO, A MEMBER OF CONGRESS, ONE OF CONGRESSMAN GOSAR'S COLLEAGUES STEVE SCALISE WAS SHOT AT A BASEBALL GAME.

A VIOLENT MOB TRYING TO OVERTURN THE ELECTION.

THIS WAS THE STRAW THAT BROKE THE CAMEL'S BACK HERE.

TED: WAS IT A BRIDGE TOO FAR FOR GOSAR?

AFTER THE CENSURE, HE RETWEETS THE VIDEO.

IS IT A BRIDGE TOO FAR?

>> SEEMS LIKE IT MUST BE BECAUSE THIS TIME THERE WERE CONSEQUENCES.

THE THING THEY THINK HAS BEEN VERY FRUSTRATING FOR A LOT OF MEMBERS OF THE DELEGATION, OTHERS MORE BROADLY IN THE PUBLIC, THAT THEY'VE NOT UNDERSTOOD WHERE IS THE LINE?

WHAT WOULD BE OUT OF BOUNDS?

THIS IS SOMEONE WHO HAS CROSSED WHAT MOST PEOPLE WOULD HAVE CONSIDER THE BOUNDS OF BASIC HUMAN DECENCY MANY TIMES THROUGHOUT HIS CONGRESSIONAL CAREER.

SO THE FACT IT'S THIS ONE THAT FINALLY SENDS SOME MEASURE OF CONSEQUENCE TO IT IS A LITTLE SURPRISING, BUT IT'S LONG OVERDUE IN THE EYES OF A LOT OF HIS CRITICS.

TED: JEREMY, ANYONE FROM ARIZONA'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION SPEAKING OUT ON THIS AT ALL?

>> I THINK THE DEMOCRATS HAVE A LOT TO SAY, THEY ALL VOTED AGAINST THE CENSURE, THEY STOOD WITH HIM, POLITICAL CONSEQUENCES, REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

TED: DID I SEE CONGRESSMAN BIGGS SPEAKING JAPANESE DURING THE DEBATE ON THIS?

>> I DON'T THINK ANYBODY EXPECTED THAT ONE.

>> IT WAS JAPANESE ANIME MENGA.

>> HE HAD A BACKGROUND IN JAPANESE STUDIES, HE HAS BACKGROUND WITH IT.

TED: JEREMY, IS GOSAR LIKELY TO GET A FUND-RAISING BUMP OUT OF THIS?

WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS?

>> FUND-RAISING BUMP?

I DON'T KNOW.

GOSAR NOT A BIG FUND-RAISER, HE'S BEEN PRETTY SAFE.

IN TERMS OF POLITICAL CONSEQUENCES OR POLITICAL RAMIFICATIONS, WE'LL HAVE TO SEE.

WE HAVE TO SEE HOW REDISTRICTING SHAKES OUT.

GOSAR INDICATED HE'S GOING TO SWITCH DISTRICTS INTO A DISTRICT THAT IS OVERWHELMINGLY REPUBLICAN, AS LONG AS HE GETS OUT OF THE PRIMARY AND HARD TO SEE SOMEONE MOUNTING THE SERIOUS CHALLENGE, HE'LL BE FREE AND CLEAR IN THE GENERAL.

LIVES IN A DISTRICT THAT IS REPUBLICAN BUT STRONGLY REPUBLICAN BUT NOT QUITE ENOUGH FOR HIM TO BE THE MODERATE DEMOCRAT THAT LIVES THERE, SO AND STUFF LIKE THIS IS PROBABLY WHY IT WOULD BE A PRETTY WISE TO MOVE INTO THE OVERWHELMINGLY, THE DEEPLY RED DISTRICT RATHER THAN NOT NECESSARILY COMPETITIVE, BUT CLOSE ENOUGH THAT THERE'S LOT OF REPUBLICANS WHO WOULD RATHER SEE HIM RETIRE FROM CONGRESS AT THIS POINT.

TED: I KNOW ONE REPUBLICAN WHO SUPPORTS HIM, DONALD TRUMP.

>> THAT'S RIGHT, THE PRESIDENT MADE A FORMAL ENDORSEMENT OF CONGRESSMAN GOSAR AS RECENTLY AS THIS WEEK.

DR. GOSAR HAS BEEN A VERY STEADFAST SUPPORTER OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRETY OF THAT ADMINISTRATION, AND THERE'S NO DAYLIGHT BETWEEN THEM ON HOW THEY VIEWED THIS MATTER.

TED: JEREMY, WHO IS -- MOVING ON HERE.

WHO IS TALONYA ADAMS AND WHY IS SHE A FACTOR IN THE GUBERNATORIAL RACE?

>> TALONYA ADAMS IS A FORMER AND CURRENT STAFFER OVER AT THE STATE SENATE FOR THE SENATE DEMOCRATS.

A POLICY ADVISER.

IN GENERAL, FAIRLY ANONYMOUS POSITION FOR FOLKS WHO HAD IT.

SHE WAS FIRED IN FEBRUARY OF 2015 WHEN KATIE HOBBS NOW THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND DEMOCRATIC FRONT-RUNNER FOR GOVERNOR WAS THE SENATE MINORITY LEADER, SHE WAS FIRED AND COUPLE YEARS LATER SHE SUED THE SENATE CLAIMING THAT HER LOW PAY WAS DISCRIMINATORY BECAUSE SHE WAS BLACK AND A WOMAN, AND SHE WAS FIRED FOR COMPLAINING ABOUT THE DISCRIMINATORY PAY.

A FEDERAL JURY FOUND IN HER FAVOR ON THE PAY ISSUE SAYING THE PAY WAS DISCRIMINATORY BECAUSE OF HER RACE AND GENDER, BUT THE SENATE WAS ABLE TO GET THE RETRIAL ORDERED ON THE ISSUE OF WHETHER SHE WAS FIRED FOR COMPLAINING ABOUT THAT PAY OR WHETHER SHE WAS FIRED FOR CAUSE.

THE JURY CAME BACK AND SAID SHE WAS, IN FACT FIRED IN A DISCRIMINATORY FASHION, AND BECAUSE THAT FIRING WAS ESSENTIALLY ORDERED BY KATIE HOBBS, THIS IS A MAJOR FACTOR AND SOMETHING A LOT OF PEOPLE -- CASTING A PALL OVER HER CAMPAIGN NOW.

TED: THE REACTION FROM KATIE HOBBS IS GETTING ATTENTION AS WELL.

SHE'S SAYING SHE'S NOT RESPONSIBLE.

THE SENATE REPUBLICANS -- WHAT?

>> HER CAMPAIGN HAS NOT SATISFIED FOLKS THAT SHE HAS DISCLOSED HER ROLE IN THIS, AND SUFFICIENTLY ADDRESSED THE UNDERLYING ISSUE OF HOW TO HANDLE THESE ISSUES OF DISCRIMINATION.

IT REALLY SEEMS LIKE HER CAMPAIGN FUMBLED ON THIS ONE AND KEEPS OUT THERE AN ISSUE MANY WHO WOULD LIKE TO SEE A RESET ON THE RACE FOR THE DEMOCRATS ANYWAY, THIS IS THE OPENING THAT THEY HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR.

TED: SHE'S DENYING, JEREMY, HOBBS IS DENYING ADAMS WAS A VICTIM OF DISCRIMINATION.

GOP CONTROLS HOUSE PAY, STAFFERS MORE, THERE'S A LOT OF EXPLAINING HERE, JEREMY, AND YOU KNOW THE OLD POLITICAL SAYING, IF YOU'RE NOT EXPLAINING YOU ARE NOT WINNING.

>> PAID THE STAFF LESS THAN THEIR OWN STAFF, THEY DO THE GENERALLY SAME WORK.

IT'S PROBABLY FAIR, BUT TO SAY THAT HOBBS WAS NOT THE ULTIMATE DECISION-MAKER IN THE FIRING, THAT'S HARD TO ARGUE.

HOBBS, WHEN I SPOKE WITH HER SINCE THE VERDICT SAID SHE TAKES RESPONSIBILITY FOR HER ROLE AND PARTICIPATION IN THAT, BUT THERE IS STILL ISSUE OF KIND OF SAYING WELL, THE SENATE REPUBLICAN CHIEF OF STAFF WHO IS THE ULTIMATE DECISION-MAKER, BUT AS KATIE HOBBS OWN CHIEF OF STAFF FROM THE SENATE SAID THE REPUBLICAN CHIEF OF STAFF NEVER WOULD FIRE ANYONE WITHOUT THE DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP WANTING THAT.

SO THIS IS REALLY HER DECISION WHICH SHE SAYS SHE STANDS BY HER DECISION IN THE FIRING, TALONYA ADAMS WAS FIRED.

THAT'S NOT THE ANSWER PEOPLE WANTED TO HEAR.

WE SAW A COALITION OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN LEADERS SIGN A LETTER URGING PEOPLE OF COLOR TO RECONSIDER SUPPORT FOR KATIE HOBBS.

I SPOKE WITH A COUPLE OF THOSE FOLKS SINCE SHE PUT OUT HER STATEMENT YESTERDAY.

ONE SAID HE WANTED TO HEAR AN APOLOGY.

THE OTHER SAID IS AN APOLOGY YOU WANTED TO HEAR?

HE SAID I DON'T WANT TO HEAR ANYTHING FROM KATIE HOBBS RIGHT NOW.

TED: WHOA.

>> THIS IS GOING TO DO A LOT OF LASTING DAMAGE TO THE CAMPAIGN.

WE'RE A YEAR UP TO THE ELECTION.

TED: RON, LAST QUESTION HERE, THERE IS SOFT SPECULATION THAT CONGRESSMAN GREG STANTON WOULD SOMEHOW, SOME WAY FIND HIS WAY INTO A GOVERNOR'S RUN.

SO FAR NOTHING, ARE WE GOING TO START HEARING MORE ABOUT THIS?

>> I SUSPECT SO.

THERE'S BEEN THIS PRACTICE FOR SOMETIME NOW WHERE DEMOCRATS HAVE ESSENTIALLY CLEARED THE FIELD FOR THE MAJOR RACES.

WE'VE SEEN IT IN THE GUBERNATORIAL RACES AND SENATE RACES, U.S. SENATE RACES.

IN RECENT VINTAGE.

I THINK THERE WAS A SENSE THAT SECRETARY HOBBS WAS JUST PREORDAINED AS THE NOMINEE, THAT NEVER SAT WELL WITH DEMOCRATS AND GREG STANTON COULD BE THE BENEFICIARY.

TED: "ARIZONA REPUBLIC," YOU ARE INVOLVED WITH THIS, FIVE-PART SERIES ON THE AUDIT, THE ELECTION, STARTS OFF WITH SPEAKER BOWERS WHO APPARENTLY WAS GETTING HAMMERED RIGHT AND LEFT.

TALK TO US ABOUT THE SERIES IN GENERAL, BUT ESPECIALLY SPEAKER BOWERS AND BEING PUSHED BY TRUMP AND GIULIANI TO CHANGE THE RESULT OF THE ELECTION?

>> SO THIS IS A VERY INTERESTING STORY THAT I'VE WORKED ON WITH MY COLLEAGUE YVONNE, AND WHAT WE FOUND IS IN CONVERSATIONS WITH SPEAKER BOWERS THAT HE WAS SUBJECTED TO MANY OF THE SAME HIGH-PRESSURE CALLS AND APPEALS FROM THE TRUMP FOLKS.

THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF, RUDY GIULIANI.

OTHERS WHO CAME TO PHOENIX IN NOVEMBER TO HEAR FROM THEM ABOUT THE CASE FOR WIDESPREAD FRAUD.

ALL OF THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT THEY MADE THIS PITCH TO SPEAKER BOWERS AND HE ESSENTIALLY REJECTED IT.

HE SAID, LOOK, I SUPPORTED THE PRESIDENT, I VOTED FOR HIM.

SHOW ME THE EVIDENCE AND I'M WITH YOU.

THEY NEVER PRODUCED THE EVIDENCE HE THOUGHT WAS SUFFICIENT TO JUSTIFY.

THE EXTRAORDINARY STEPS THEY WERE ASKING FOR WHICH INCLUDED OVERTURNING THE ELECTION TO SEND THE ELECTORS TO PRESIDENT TRUMP INSTEAD OF PRESIDENT-ELECT BIDEN OR HOLDING A LEGISLATIVE HEARING ON THIS.

TED: AND COMPARE THAT RESPONSE TO SENATE PRESIDENT KAREN FANN'S RESPONSE.

>> SENATE PRESIDENT KAREN FANN WAS ALSO HEARING THE SAME KINDS OF APPEALS.

SHE WAS CLEARLY TROUBLED BY WHAT SHE WAS HEARING, BUT AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF THE PUBLIC COMPLAINTS IN ALL OF THIS, SHE FELT THE NEED TO DO SOMETHING AND EVENTUALLY LANDED ON A SENATE ONLY BALLOT REVIEW, EVEN WHEN SPEAKER BOWERS, ALONG WITH MARICOPA COUNTY OFFICIALS WERE OPEN TO DOING A JOINT AUDIT THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED BY AN ACCREDITED FIRM.

TED: YEAH, YEAH, JEREMY, WHAT DID YOU GET OUT OF THIS THING?

THIS IS THE INVESTIGATIVE PIECE AND IT IS VERY DEEP AND GOES INTO THINGS WE'VE BEEN COVERING SEEMS LIKE FOREVER.

>> FANTASTIC SERIES BY RON AND YVONNE.

WHAT WE SAW IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER WHERE RUSTY BOWERS WAS QUICK TO PUT HIS FOOT DOWN AND SAY HEY, I VOTED FOR TRUMP TOO, I WORKED TO HELP GET HIM RE-ELECTED BUT HE LOST, BIDEN WON FAIR AND SQUARE, THE ELECTION WASN'T RIGGED.

TIME TO MOVE ON.

VERY INTERESTING THE WAY HE AND PRESIDENT FANN WORKED MOVING IN TANDEM ON THIS POTENTIAL REVIEW OR AUDIT OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT WITH TWO CONDITIONS.

YOU WANTED ACCREDITED FIRMS WHICH KAREN FANN DID NOT HIRE ULTIMATELY AND WANTED NO SUBPOENAS FOR THE COUNTY WHICH OBVIOUSLY DID NOT HAPPEN, AND SHE WENT HER OWN WAY TO ISSUE THE SUBPOENAS WHICH CREATED A LOT OF FRICTION AND ANIMOSITY AND HIRED PRETTY MUCH THE FURTHEST THING YOU COULD HAVE FOUND FROM QUALIFIED FIRMS TO CONDUCT THIS SO-CALLED AUDIT.

THE WAY THEY WERE MOVING TOGETHER AND THEN ENDED UP WITH THE SPLIT WAS FASCINATING.

TED: AND RON, SPEAKER BOWERS SPOKE TO YOU, OBVIOUSLY.

WHY?

WHY DID HE SPEAK?

WHY DID HE SPEAK NOW?

>> THE TIME WAS RIGHT.

HE HAD SEEN THIS SITUATION PLAY OUT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, AND I THINK THAT WHAT HE SAW UNFOLD WAS BOTHERSOME.

I WILL TELL YOU HE WAS ENCOURAGED BY FOLKS WHO WERE FRIENDLY WITH US IN TERMS OF WANTING THAT MESSAGE TO GET OUT BECAUSE THIS WAS THE -- ESSENTIALLY THE MAJOR PIECE OF THIS STORY WE'D NOT HEARD PREVIOUSLY.

ONE OTHER THING TO NOTE ABOUT THIS AS WELL IS THERE WAS CONTACT WITH HIM IN JANUARY FROM JOHN EASTMAN WHO IS NOW OF INTEREST TO THE JANUARY 6 COMMISSION, TRYING TO PROMOTE THIS VERY NOVEL, RADICAL, LEGAL EXPERIMENT TO SET ASIDE ELECTORS AND ANDY BIGGS ON THE MORNING OF JANUARY 6 JUST AHEAD OF THE RIOT, CONGRESSMAN BIGGS ASKED HIM IF HE WOULD BE OPEN TO SETTING ASIDE THE ELECTORS AND THE SPEAKER ONE MORE TIME SAID NO.

TED: IT'S A FANTASTIC SERIES AND A GREAT READ, AND CERTAINLY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

RON, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

JEREMY, THANK YOU AS WELL.

GREAT CONVERSATION, GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE FOR THE ROUNDTABLE.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

TED: UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," A LOCAL CONNECTION TO A NEW SMITHSONIAN MUSEUM.

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TED: THE SMITHSONIAN WILL CELEBRATE 175th ANNIVERSARY BY OPENING HISTORIC ARTS AND INDUSTRY BUILDING FOR THE FIRST TIME IN TWO DECADES.

THE MUSEUM WILL FEATURE WHAT IS DESCRIBED AS AN EXPLORATION OF THE FUTURE.

THERE IS AN ARIZONA CONNECTION TO ALL THIS AS WE LEARN FROM AWARD-WINNING ARTIST BRIAN MILLER.

BRIAN MILLER, WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON," GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

TELL US WHAT IS FUTURES EXHIBIT, TALK TO US ABOUT THIS?

>> SURE, THE FUTURES EXHIBIT IS A NEW COLLABORATION WITH ASU CENTER FOR SCIENCE AND COLLABORATION, AND IT RUNS UNTIL JULY OF NEXT YEAR.

ALL SORTS OF TECHNOLOGY AND ARTWORK AND STORIES THAT IMAGINE OUR LIVES 50 YEARS IN THE FUTURE.

TED: VERY INTERESTING.

ART TECHNOLOGY, DESIGN, HISTORY, THE WHOLE GAMUT, THE KIT AND KABOODLE.

>> EVEN THE FLYING CAR.

TED: FLYING CAR?

ASU IS A PART OF THIS HISTORY WITH THE SMITHSONIAN.

>> THEY ARE KNOWN FOR THE WORK THEY DO WITH CORPORATIONS AND OTHER FOUNDATIONS IMAGINING DIFFERENT FUTURE SCENARIOS, IT WAS A NATURAL FIT TO CONNECT WITH THE SMITHSONIAN TO WORK ON THE FUTURES PROJECT SO WE COULD SIT DOWN WITH MUSEUMS AND IMAGINE WHAT THEIR FUTURE MIGHT BE LIKE 50 YEARS.

TED: SCIENTISTS AND FUTURISTS SAY THIS IS WHAT WE THINK THINGS WILL BE LIKE IN 50 YEARS AND THE SMITHSONIAN SAYS LET'S TAKE A LOOK.

>> YEAH, AND WEREN'T AFRAID TO DO IT.

ANY TIME YOU PREDICT THE FUTURE, YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR FAILURE.

WE LIKE TO THINK INSTEAD OF PREDICTING, WE'RE JUST TRYING TO OPEN THE DIALOGUE, OPEN THE CONVERSATION TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO IMAGINE WHAT THE FUTURE COULD BE LIKE.

TED: YOUR PART IN ALL THIS WAS TO DESIGN POSTERS AND GRAPHICS, CORRECT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

WE DID VIRTUAL MEETINGS DURING THE PANDEMIC, MET WITH EXPERTS AND SCIENTISTS WITH DIFFERENT PARTS OF SMITHSONIAN MUSEUM AS WELL AS PEOPLE FROM ASU AND WRITERS AND HAD LONG ZOOM MEETINGS OVER MANY WEEKS TO IMAGINE ALL THE POSSIBILITIES, AND MY JOB WAS TO DISTILL ALL THE CONVERSATION INTO ONE ILLUSTRATION FOR EACH OF THE EIGHT MUSEUMS WE'RE WORKING WITH.

TED: TAKE A LOOK AT THE ILLUSTRATIONS, START WITH THE SPACE MUSEUM IN SPACE.

>> YEAH, THAT WAS REALLY FUN TO DO.

YOU KNOW, I DO SO MUCH ARTWORK FOR "STAR WARS" ANYWAY, TO DO SOMETHING SPACE RELATED IS IN MY WHEEL HOUSE.

BUT WE LIKE THE IDEA THAT WHAT IF SMITHSONIAN AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM, SOMEDAY YOU COULD VISIT AN ANNEX IN SPACE, AND THAT BROUGHT ALL KINDS OF CONVERSATION, DOES SPACE TRAVEL BECOME ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE.

THE SMITHSONIAN MUSEUMS ARE FREE TO ACCESS, IT WOULD BE NICE IF ANYONE AND EVERYONE COULD GO THERE IN THE FUTURE.

TED: AS LONG AS YOU AVOID THE SPACE DEBRIS.

IT'S ALL OVER THE PLACE.

>> WE'LL TRY TO FIGURE IT OUT.

TED: THE OTHER IS THE 67th AMENDMENT WITH KIDS, CHILDREN GETTING THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

>> WHEN THAT CAME UP IN THE DISCUSSION, IT'S INTERESTING HOW IT SPLIT PEOPLE.

THEY WERE LIKE THAT'S A GREAT IDEA OR I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THAT.

AND WE KNEW BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF THAT DISCUSSION, IT WOULD BE AN ENGAGING ILLUSTRATION FOR PEOPLE TO SEE AND OPEN UP A DIALOGUE WITH THEM.

PEOPLE WERE DISENFRANCHISED, DON'T GET THE RIGHT TO VOTE, MAYBE IT'S SOMEONE WHO IS 16 OR 14.

MAYBE WE'LL FIGURE THAT OUT.

TED: HOLOGRAPHIC GALLERIES.

>> AMAZING TO SIT DOWN WITH EXPERTS FROM THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISTORY MUSEUM, THINGS THAT CAME UP WERE INTERCONNECTED CLOTHING AND HOLLOW GRAPHIC HEROES WHERE YOU COULD BE ON THE LAWN IN D.C. AND SEE THE ICONIC AFRICAN-AMERICAN HEROES AS YOU WALK ALONG THE MALL AND THE MUSEUM.

TED: THAT WOULD BE FUTURISTIC.

>> WOULDN'T IT BE AMAZING.

TED: YOU GET IT WHEN YOU SEE, IT IT'S A TROPICAL MUSEUM IN NEW JERSEY.

WHAT MESSAGE IS SENT THERE?

>> I THINK CONCERN ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE WAS A THROUGHLINE WITH ALL THE DISCUSSIONS THAT WE HAD, BUT I FOUND THE TROPICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE, ALMOST EVERY ONE OF THE EXPERTS HAD A STORY ABOUT VISITING LIKE A FIRE TOWER, OVERLOOKED THE WOODS OR GOING TO A TROPICAL ENVIRONMENT AND SCUBA DIVING AND IF THE CLIMATE CHANGE DOESN'T SLOW DOWN, WE MAY FIND NEW JERSEY IS WHERE WE HAVE OUR TROPICAL CLIMATE BUT WANTED TO CREATE THE IDEA OF THE FIRE TOWER IN THE WATER, WHERE YOU COULD LOOK OVER THE WATER AND GO DOWN AND SEE ALL THE LIFE TEAMING IN THE WATER.

TED: WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO TAKE THIS ON?

>> WOW.

I SPENT MY ENTIRE CAREER WORKING ON SCIENCE FICTION AND IMAGINE WORLDS FOR HOLLYWOOD, AND TO SIT DOWN WITH SCIENTISTS AND EXPERTS AND THINK ABOUT OUR VERY REAL FUTURE INSTEAD OF LIKE AN IMAGINED FUTURE, THAT IS WHAT ATTRACTED ME TO THE PROJECT.

TED: WE SHOULD MENTION, HAVE YOU DONE "STAR WARS" THINGS, DR. WHO THINGS AS WELL?

>> YES, I LIKE TO WORK ON A VARIETY OF PROJECTS, MY DAY TO DAY IS "STAR WARS," FOX STUDIOS, DR. WHO.

YOU ARE BASED IN THE VALLEY.

>> ALL THE TOYS I PLAYED WITH AS KIDS, I KEEP GETTING TO PLAY WITH THEM WITH ART AND DRAWINGS AND ILLUSTRATIONS.

TED: THE EXHIBIT IS A BIG DEAL, GIVE US A TIME FRAME FOR ALL THIS.

>> OPENS NOVEMBER 20, IT RUNS THROUGH JULY 22 AT THE ARTS AND INDUSTRIES BUILDING AT THE SMITHSONIAN.

THAT BUILDING HAS BEEN CLOSED FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, AND IT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST SMITHSONIAN BUILDINGS, THEY ARE REOPENING IT.

THE BUILDING WHERE THE ORIGINAL TELEPHONE WAS SHOWN TO PEOPLE IS GOING TO SHOW PEOPLE A POSSIBLE FUTURE.

TED: SOUNDS FASCINATING AND CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR SUCCESS WITH THIS.

BRIAN MILLER, APPRECIATE IT.

>> ABSOLUTE PLEASURE.

A MONUMENT OF FORT HUACHUCA, TODAY A HIGH-TECH TRAINING FACILITY BUT ALSO A KEY OUTPOST IN ARIZONA HISTORY, FOUNDED IN 1877 AS A TEMPORARY CAMP, CAMP HUACHUCA PROTECTED MINERS, TRAVELERS AGAINST ATTACK.

AFTER GERONIMO'S SURRENDER IN 1886, THEY SUPPORTED "BLACKJACK" PERSHING'S EXPEDITION AGAINST PONCHO VILLA.

IT CONTINUOUSLY SINCE 1913, WHICH THE TENTH CAVALRY MET HERE.

IN 1942, THE FIRST ALL-BLACK DIVISION WAS STATIONED HERE.

FORT HUACHUCA HAS A LONG AND DISTINGUISHED RECORD OF SUPPORT FOR THE PEOPLE OF ARIZONA.

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TED: AND ANOTHER PROGRAMMING NOTE, "A CHARLIE BROWN THANKSGIVING" WILL AIR RIGHT HERE ON ARIZONA PBS THIS SUNDAY EVENING AT 6:30.

>>> THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

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>> COMING UP, TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY PETE BUTTIGIEG CAME TO ARIZONA TODAY.

HIS PLANS FOR THE STATE FOLLOWING THE SIGNING OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE LAW.

>>> AND AFTER AN UPDATE ON THE BUILD BACK BETTER ACT AND THE STEPS THEY NEED TO TAKE MOVING FORWARD.

>> AND LATER ON "BREAK IT DOWN," THE IMPACT THE NATIVE AMERICAN CODETALKERS HAD ON WORLD WAR I AND II?

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