♪.

TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," SENATOR MARK KELLY JOINS US TO DISCUSS HIS RE-ELECTION TO THE SENATE AND HIS PRIORITIES FOR HIS NEXT TERM.

>>> AND THE LATEST ON BRITTNEY GRINER'S RELEASE TODAY FROM A RUSSIAN PRISON.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

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.

PHOENIX MERCURY STAR BRITTNEY GRINER TODAY WAS RELEASED FROM A RUSSIAN PENAL COLONY WHERE SHE WAS IN PRISON FOR TEN MONTHS AFTER BEING CONVICTED OF DRUG CHARGES.

HER RELEASE WAS HARD OF A PRISONER EXCHANGE INVOLVING RUSSIAN ARMS DEALER VIKTOR BOUT.

GRINER'S WIFE CHERELLE WAS AT THE WHITE HOUSE.

>> I'M STANDING HERE OVERWHELMED WITH EMOTIONS BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT EMOTION IS SINCERE GRATITUDE FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN AND HIS ENTIRE ADMINISTRATION.

TED: REACTION FROM U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE ANTONY BLINKEN.

>> RELEASE OF AMERICANS WRONGFULLY DETAINED IS TOP PRIORITY FOR ME AS SECRETARY OF STATE, AND SOMETHING WE WORK ON EVERY SINGLE DAY, AND SO WHILE WE'RE ELATED AT BRITTANY RETURNING HOME, WE CONTINUE TO WORK RELENTLESSLY TO BRINGING PAUL WHELAN HOME AS WELL.

TED: INDEED, PAUL WHELAN IS IN RUSSIAN CUSTODY JAILED SINCE 2018 ON ESPIONAGE CHARGES.

THERE WAS THOUGHT THE U.S. COULD SECURE WHELAN'S RELEASE AS WELL BUT THAT WAS NOT AN OPTION ACCORDING TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

>> THIS WAS NOT A CHOICE OF WHICH AMERICAN TO BRING HOME.

THE CHOICE WAS ONE OR NONE.

I WHOLEHEARTEDLY WISH WE COULD HAVE BROUGHT HOME TODAY ON THE SAME PLANE AS BRITTANY JUST AS AT THE TIME I WISH WE COULD HAVE BROUGHT BRITTANY AND PAUL HOME WHEN WE SECURED THE RELEASE OF TREVOR REED.

TED: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES VOTED TO APPROVE THE RESPECT FOR MARRIAGE ACT WHICH PROTECTS SAME SEX AND INTERRACIAL MARRIAGES.

>> WE HAVE HISTORY IN THE MAKING, BUT NOT ONLY ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY, WE'RE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE FUTURE.

EXPANDING FREEDOM IN AMERICA.

>> THE MEASURE IS ALREADY PASSED THE SENATE WHICH MEANS IT'S ON ITS WAY TO THE PRESIDENT'S DESK WHERE IT'S EXPECTED TO BE SIGNED INTO LAW.

>>> U.S.

SENATOR MARK KELLY RECENTLY WON HIS RE-ELECTION BID DEFEATING BLAKE MASTERS.

THE RACE WAS CLOSELY WATCHED WITH KELLY'S WIN HELPING DEMOCRATS REMAIN THE MAJORITY PARTY IN THE SENATE.

WE SPOKE WITH SENATOR KELLY ABOUT THE ELECTION AND WHAT LIES AHEAD?

SENATOR KELLY, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, APPRECIATE THE TIME.

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR VICTORY.

WHY DO YOU THINK YOU WON?

>> FIRST OF ALL, TED, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME ON THE PROGRAM.

HEY, ELECTIONS ARE ABOUT CHOICES.

I OBSERVED IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE NOW OVER TWO YEARS.

LEADING UP TO THE ELECTION, WHEN WE GOT IN CAMPAIGN MODE AND BEFORE THAT, FOR TWO YEARS I SPENT THE TIME TRAVELING AROUND ARIZONA OFTEN IN THE LITTLE AIRPLANE LISTENING TO PEOPLE ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT ARE FACING THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES.

MAYBE THEY'RE SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS, FOLKS ON TRIBAL NATIONS LISTENING, TAKING THAT BACK TO WASHINGTON AND DELIVERING FOR THE FOLKS IN ARIZONA ON SO MANY ISSUES WHETHER IT'S SEMICONDUCTOR CHIPS THAT YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT A LITTLE BIT.

ISSUES AROUND BORDER SECURITY.

DROUGHT IN THE WEST.

WILDFIRES.

THEN, YOU COME UP TO NOVEMBER OF AN ELECTION YEAR, AND IT'S ABOUT CHOICES, AND YOU KNOW, SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, I FEEL LIKE I'VE WORKED INCREDIBLY HARD, AND I THINK THE FOLKS OF ARIZONA REALIZED THAT AND FELT IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO TO SEND ME BACK TO WASHINGTON FOR A FULL TERM IN THE U.S. SENATE.

TED: LET'S GET TO THE ISSUES THAT YOU MENTIONED.

THE SEMICONDUCTOR ISSUE, THE PRESIDENT HERE FOR TAIWAN CHIP MANUFACTURING COMPANY.

WHY DID THEY CHOOSE ARIZONA?

>> WELL, I MEAN -- FIRST OF ALL, THEY'VE GOT TO MAKE A DECISION TO CHOOSE TO BE IN ANOTHER COUNTRY OTHER THAN TAIWAN.

THAT WAS THE FIRST QUESTION.

FOR THEM, AND ALSO FOR US, I BELIEVE THIS IS A NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUE.

THEY RELY ON THE UNITED STATES IN THE EVENT -- AND WE HAVEN'T MADE OUR INTENTIONS CLEAR, I WANT TO BE PERFECTLY CLEAR ABOUT THAT.

WE'VE GOT A POLICY THAT'S QUITE AMBIGUOUS ON THIS ISSUE, BUT YOU KNOW, TAIWAN IS A COUNTRY WE'VE SUPPORTED AND RELY ON SEMICONDUCTOR INDUSTRY, OUR MILITARY RELIES ON MICROCHIPS FROM TSMC, SO I THINK IT WAS CLEAR TO THEM AND STRESSED THIS TO THEM MANY TIMES, IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE THIS CAPABILITY HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.

THE BEST SEMICONDUCTOR CHIPS IN THE WORLD BEING MADE IN THE COUNTRY THAT INVENTED SEMICONDUCTORS, AND IT'S NOT GOOD FOR US TO HAVE A SUPPLY CHAIN THAT GOES ACROSS THE OCEAN.

WHY ARIZONA?

WE'VE GOT A GREAT WORKFORCE.

WE'VE GOT A REALLY GOOD BUSINESS CLIMATE.

PEOPLE LIKE TO LIVE IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA.

I GUESS GEOGRAPHICALLY, IT'S CLOSER TO THE WEST COAST, SO MAYBE AS A COMPANY IT'S BETTER FOR THEM, SO THEY MADE THE RIGHT CHOICE, AND THEY REALIZE THAT, AND THAT'S WHY THEIR INVESTMENT A COUPLE DAYS AGO WENT FROM $12 BILLION IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA TO $40 BILLION.

TED: SENATOR, IS THERE ENOUGH WATER FOR ALL OF THIS MANUFACTUREING?

>> YES, THERE IS ENOUGH WATER.

WE HAVE GOT A CRISIS ON THE COLORADO RIVER.

COLORADO RIVER HAS 15 MILLION ACRE FEET OF WATER A YEAR, THE LOWER BASIN GET HALF OF THAT.

LAKE POWELL AND LAKE MEAD ARE AT HISTORICALLY LOW LEVELS.

BUT I ADDED $8 BILLION TO THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL, $4 BILLION TO INFLATION REDUCTION ACT TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUE, THAT'S GOING TO HELP US DEAL WITH THIS, AND THERE IS NO BETTER COUNTRY IN THE WORLD THAN ENGINEERING OURSELVES OUT OF A CHALLENGE, THIS WILL BE A CHALLENGE I'M HEADING TO LAS VEGAS NEXT WEEK FOR THE WATER USERS CONFERENCE FOR ALL OF THE PARTIES FOR THE COLORADO RIVER, TO DISCUSS THIS ISSUE IN DETAIL AND WHAT WE NEED TO DO MOVING FORWARD, AND WE'RE GOING TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.

IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT THAT WE BRING DOWN COSTS FOR PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY, BUT ALSO HAVING THESE SEMICONDUCTOR PLANTS IN ARIZONA, IT RESULTS IN GREAT PAYING JOBS THAT YOU CAN REALLY RAISE A FAMILY ON THAT DOES NOT REQUIRE A FOUR-YEAR DEGREE.

THAT'S WHY I WAS ONE OF THE FOLKS THAT SHEPARDED THIS LEGISLATION, MY LEGISLATION, THE CHIPS AND SCIENCE ACT THROUGH THE UNITED STATES SENATE TO GET THIS DONE.

TED: SENATOR, WANT TO GET BACK TO THE WATER ISSUE.

YOU SUGGESTED THAT MAYBE YOU'RE WILLING TO HOLD BACK FEDERAL FUNDING FOR THE CLEANUP OF THE SALTON SEA TO CALIFORNIA IF CALIFORNIA DOESN'T DO BETTER AS FAR AS COLORADO RIVER ALLOTMENTS ARE CONCERNED.

SOUNDS LIKE PLAYING HARDBALL, HUH?

>> WE GET 2.8 ACRE FEET FROM COLORADO RIVER EVERY YEAR.

CALIFORNIA GETS 4.4 MILLION.

IN THE TIER 1 AND TIER 2A OF THE DROUGHT CONTINGENCY PLAN, WE'VE GOT TO TAKE CUTS AND GOT TO TAKE MORE CUTS WHEN LAKE MEAD GETS TO THE LEVEL WHERE TIER 2B OF THE DRAFT CONTINGENCY KICKS IN.

CALIFORNIA DOESN'T HAVE TO YET.

WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER AND FOLKS NEED TO STEP UP AND THE STATE OF ARIZONA STEPPED UP.

WE NEED SUPPORT FROM OTHER STATES IF WE'RE GOING TO ADEQUATELY SOLVE THIS PROBLEM THROUGH CONSERVATION.

I'VE ALSO TALKED TO THE ADMINISTRATION, SPECIFICALLY COMMISSIONER TOOTEN MULTIPLE TIMES AND WORKED WITH THEM.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT MIGHT TAKE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO STEP IN AND SAY HEY, HERE'S WHAT WE HAVE TO DO.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THINGS THEY COULD DO.

ONE IS ACCOUNT FOR EVAPORATION.

I'M STARTING TO GET INTO TECHNICAL DETAILS ABOUT THIS.

BUT OVER DECADES WE HAVEN'T ACCOUNTED FOR EVAPORATION.

IF YOU LIVE IN THE DESERT, WE LOSE A LOT OF WATER TO THAT.

IF WE ACCOUNT FOR THAT, THERE WILL BE NATURAL DECREASES IN THE AMOUNT OF WATER THAT EACH STATE IS ALLOTTED, AND THAT'S GOING TO HELP SOME.

LONG TERM, WE NEED A BIGGER ENGINEERING SOLUTION.

I'M STARTING TO WORK ON THAT.

IT MIGHT CONSIST OF LARGE SCALE DESALINATION OR MOVING WATER FROM THE WATERSHED.

WE KNEW ABOUT THIS DECADES AGO WHEN THE CENTRAL ARIZONA PROJECT WAS FIRST ENVISIONED AND THE MONEY WAS APPROPRIATED, IT WAS UNDERSTOOD THAT WE WOULD DO THESE OTHER THINGS.

WE JUST HAVEN'T DONE THEM.

TED: WHEN PRESIDENT BIDEN WAS HERE FOR THE SEMICONDUCTOR PLANT, THE VISIT, HE DID NOT GO TO THE BORDER.

THAT RAISED SOME CONCERNS, HE SAID THERE ARE MORE IMPORTANT THINGS RIGHT NOW.

YOUR THOUGHTS WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE BORDER AND EVERYTHING FROM WE'RE SEEING GOVERNOR DUCEY PUTTING UP BINS DOWN THERE.

WHEN IS SOMETHING GOING TO GET DONE?

WHAT SHOULD GET DONE?

>> A LOT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH MY SENATE COLLEAGUE SENATOR SINEMA, OTHER DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS, ON A PLAN THAT INCLUDES BORDER SECURITY.

TECHNOLOGY, POTENTIALLY MORE BORDER PATROL AGENTS AND PAY, COMING UP WITH ASYLUM SYSTEM THAT WORKS BETTER ESPECIALLY FOR BORDER STATES.

AT THE SAME TIME, PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP FOR DREAMERS.

YOU KNOW, PROGRAMS THAT WILL HELP WITH THE WORKFORCE.

I SPOKE TO THE PRESIDENT ABOUT THIS SPECIFIC ISSUE AS WE TRAVELED TO ARIZONA TOGETHER ABOUT THE BORDER, AND THAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER TO SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS.

I'VE TAKEN SOME STEPS TO CLOSE SOME OF THE GAPS IN THE WALL SOUTH OF YUMA, FOR THE GAPS.

WE'VE GOT CONTRACTS THAT HAVE BEEN LEFT.

I UNDERSTAND GOVERNOR DUCEY'S FRUSTRATION WITH THIS.

I'M FRUSTRATED, TOO.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FAILED ON THIS ISSUE FOR DECADES.

THE BORDER IS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR SO MANY REASONS.

I MEAN, IT IS A NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUE.

IT'S ALSO AN ECONOMIC ISSUE.

TO SOME EXTENT, LARGE EXTENT WE BENEFIT FROM BEING A BORDER STATE ECONOMICALLY.

SO THERE'S A LOT THAT GOES INTO THIS AND WE'RE CONTINUING TO WORK ON THIS.

I'M FOCUSED ON THIS EVERY SINGLE DAY IN WASHINGTON.

TED: WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE THE ADMINISTRATION DO REGARDING TITLE 42.

I KNOW THERE WAS A LETTER TO THE DHS SECRETARY SAYING BE CAREFUL ABOUT THIS.

HOW CAREFUL DO WE NEED TO BE ABOUT THIS PROGRAM?

AND IS THERE A TIME TO GET RID OF TITLE 42?

IS THERE A GOOD TIME?

>> IT'S GOING TO BE LIFTED HERE BECAUSE OF A COURT IN WASHINGTON, D.C. THAT SHIP HAS SAILED.

SO THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I SPOKE TO THE PRESIDENT ABOUT IS WE CAN'T HAVE A -- WE CAN'T HAVE CHAOS ON TOP OF A CRISIS, SO THEY'RE GOING TO NEED TO CONTINUE TO WORK WITH ME, SENATOR SINEMA, THE GOVERNOR OF ARIZONA, TO MAKE SURE WE DON'T WIND UP WITH A WORSE SITUATION AT OUR SOUTHERN BORDER AS TITLE 42 IS LIFTED.

TED: BEFORE WE LET YOU GO, I GOT TO GET A REACTION TO BRITTNEY GRINER BEING RELEASED BY RUSSIA.

THAT IS A DONE DEAL.

PAUL WHELAN IS STILL OVER THERE, SINCE 2018.

JUST IN TERMS OF FOREIGN POLICY, YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE RELEASE AND JUST FOREIGN POLICY ISSUES IN GENERAL, OUR SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE, SOME IN CONGRESS SAYING WE'RE GOING TOO FAR.

YOUR IMPRESSIONS?

>> WE'RE NOT GOING TOO FAR.

WE HAVE TO BE SURE UKRAINE HAS WEAPONS SYSTEMS TO FIGHT BACK THIS ILLEGAL INVASION FROM RUSSIA.

PUTIN AND HIS MILITARY AND HIS ALLIES AND GOVERNMENT ARE COMMITTING WAR CRIMES AGAINST THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE.

THAT COMPLICATED THE SITUATION WITH INSURING THE RELEASE OF BRITTNEY GRINER.

I WAS SPEAKING TO BRITTANY'S WIFE CHERELLE, THIS IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

I WORKED WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT AND THE PRESIDENT.

I SPOKE WITH THE PRESIDENT ABOUT IT ON TUESDAY, WE KNEW IT WAS COMING HERE AT THE END OF THE WEEK.

IT'S BEEN TOUGH TO NEGOTIATE WITH RUSSIA, BUT I THINK WHAT IT DOES SHOW IS UNDER THE CHALLENGING CIRCUMSTANCES THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE IMPORTANT THAT WE CAN ACCOMPLISH AND WE CAN COME TO A RESOLUTION.

I'M GLAD TO SEE HER COMING HOME.

I THINK SHE'S GOT TO STOP IN SAN ANTONIO ON THE WAY BACK.

IT WILL BE GREAT TO HAVE HER BACK IN ARIZONA.

TED: SENATOR MARK KELLY THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

APPRECIATE IT, SIR?

>> THANK YOU.

TED: UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," THE LATEST ON TODAY'S RELEASE OF BRITTNEY GRINER FROM A RUSSIAN PRISON.

.

TED: AS WE MENTIONED, PHOENIX MERCURY STAR BRITTNEY GRINER WAS RELEASED FROM RUSSIAN PRISON.

GRINER WAS ARRESTED TEN MONTHS AGO AND SENTENCED TO NINE YEARS ON A DRUG CHARGE, INVOLVED PRISONER EXCHANGE WITH VIKTOR BOUT.

THE EXCHANGE DID NOT INCLUDE AMERICAN PAUL WHELAN IN RUSSIAN CUSTODY SINCE 2018 ON ESPIONAGE CHARGES.

EARLIER TODAY WE TALKED ABOUT THE PRISONER SWAP WITH FORMER NATO AMBASSADOR KURT VOLKER.

AMBASSADOR VOLKER, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US HERE AS WE TALK ABOUT THE PRISONER EXCHANGE.

THAT'S WHAT IT WAS.

YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> VERY, VERY INTERESTING.

FIRST OFF, I'M VERY HAPPY FOR BRITTNEY GRINER AND HER FAMILY.

THIS IS GREAT NEWS FOR THEM.

SHE WAS DETAINED IN EXCESS OF ANYTHING REASONABLE THAT THE RUSSIANS COULD HAVE DONE THERE.

SO FOR THEM TO LET HER GO IS TERRIFIC.

TED: WHY DID THEY -- I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T MEAN TO INTERRUPT YOU, WHY DID THEY HOLD HER SO LONG?

>> THAT'S OKAY.

NOW THAT BEING SAID, THEY HELD HER BECAUSE THEY'RE TRYING TO PUT LEVERAGE ON THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION FOR A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT REASONS, SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE, THE IDEA OF HAVING NEGOTIATION AND DIALOGUE WITH RUSSIA WHICH PUTS RUSSIA IN A POSITION OF POWER IN NEGOTIATING WITH US.

THE FACT THAT THEY HAVE ANOTHER AMERICAN STILL THERE WHICH GIVES THEM BARGAINING ROOMS, SO THE RUSSIANS ARE PLAYING THIS FOR THEIR OWN POLITICAL PURPOSES, SO GOOD DAY TODAY FOR BRITTNEY GRINER, BUT STILL VERY, VERY TOUGH FOR THE OTHER AMERICAN THERE, AND A REALLY TROUBLING -- TROUBLING CIRCUMSTANCE TO SEE VIKTOR BOUT, A CONVICTED ARMS DEALER RESPONSIBLE FOR DEATHS OF AMERICANS IN THE PAST AND WILL LIKELY BE SO AGAIN, HIM BEING RELEASED.

TED: I WAS GOING TO ASK ABOUT THIS VIKTOR BOUT FELLOW.

WHO IS HE?

WHAT IS HE CONVICTED OF DOING?

IS HE LIKELY TO GO BACK DOING IT?

>> YOU BET, YOU BET.

NOTORIOUS ARMS DEALER, SENDING RUSSIAN-MADE WEAPONS TO ALL KINDS OF CONFLICTS ALL OVER THE WORLD, INCLUDING SOMALIA AND ETHIOPIA AND THOSE WEAPONS HE PROVIDED THAT DID KILL AMERICANS IN PREVIOUS CONFLICTS.

WE KNOW WHAT HE'S ABOUT.

HE WAS ARRESTED IN THAILAND MANY YEARS AGO, AND BROUGHT TO THE UNITED STATES, FOUND GUILTY AND IN OUR PRISON SYSTEM HERE, AND HE WAS RELEASED BY THE ADMINISTRATION IN EXCHANGE FOR BRITTNEY GRINER, AND I THINK THAT THIS IS SEEN IN RUSSIA AS A VERY BIG DEAL, THAT THEY GOT THE BETTER END OF THIS, AS THEY SEE, IT HE'S A MORE NOTORIOUS PERSON, AND I THINK HE WILL INDEED GO BACK INTO THE ARMS TRADING BUSINESS ALL OVER AGAIN.

>> YOU MENTIONED CONSIDERED A SUCCESS THE DEAL, THE EXCHANGE IN RUSSIA.

WAS THIS SOMETHING THAT VLADIMIR PUTIN NEEDED AFTER SO MANY MONTHS OF JUST -- LOOKING BASICALLY, AMBASSADOR, LIKE A LOSER?

>> YES, THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

THE RUSSIAN PEOPLE KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN UKRAINE.

THEY KNOW THEY'RE LOSING.

THEY KNOW THAT THE WEST IS PROVIDING ARMS TO UKRAINE, UKRAINIANS ARE FIGHTING BACK, THEY KNOW THEY'VE LOST TERRITORY THAT THEY CLAIMED TO ANNEX, THEY KNOW THEY'RE NOW NOT ABLE TO ADVANCE ON THE GROUND ANYMORE.

IN FACT, BEEN BEATEN BACK, THEY LOST THE CITY OF KHERSON AND THE SURROUNDING REGION.

SO THIS IS A SERIES OF BAD NEWS FOR PEOPLE IN RUSSIA.

ALSO SUFFERING FROM SANCTIONS, ALSO WATCHING GOVERNMENT GO SHOPPING FOR ARMS IN NORTH KOREA AND IRAN.

ALSO SEEING THAT THEY'RE UNABLE TO PRODUCE THEIR OWN ARMS ANYMORE.

SO MANY THINGS THAT THE RUSSIAN PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF.

THEN VLADIMIR PUTIN WENT IN FOR THE MASS CONSCRIPTION OF PEOPLE IN RUSSIA TO BRING THEM INTO THE ARMY SEEKING TO GET 300,000 RECRUITS.

HE ENDED UP DRIVING A MILLION PEOPLE OUT OF COUNTRY INSTEAD AND STILL DIDN'T GET THE 300,000.

PEOPLE IN RUSSIA KNOWS THIS LOOKS BAD FOR VLADIMIR PUTIN.

SO GETTING SOMETHING LIKE THIS THAT SHOWS HIM IN A POSITION OF POWER, VERY IMPORTANT TO HIM PERSONALLY.

TED: OBVIOUSLY VERY IMPORTANT TO BRITTNEY GRINER AND HER FAMILY AND TO AMERICANS WHO SAW WHAT WAS HAPPENING THERE.

IT WAS SIMPLY WRONG IN A VARIETY OF WAYS, YES, SHE SHOULDN'T HAVE DONE WHAT SHE DID, BUT THE PENALTY AND PUNISHMENT WAS RIDICULOUS.

>> EXACTLY.

TED: THAT SAID, IS THERE A MESSAGE THIS TRANSFER, EXCHANGE GIVES TO RUSSIA, GIVES TO THE REST OF THE WORLD, OTHER COUNTRIES?

>> WELL, I HOPE NOT BECAUSE IF THERE WERE A MESSAGE, IT WOULD BE TAKE A FEW HOSTAGES AND NEGOTIATE GOOD TERMS TO GIVE THEM BACK.

THAT WOULD BE A TERRIBLE MESSAGE TO SEND.

I HOPE THIS IS KIND OF A ONE-OFF, THAT WE STILL CONTINUE TO NEGOTIATE PAUL WHELAN'S RELEASE AND DO NOT FLINCH FOR A MOMENT WHEN IT COMES TO SUPPORTING UKRAINE AND HELPING THEM FIGHT BACK AGAINST RUSSIA'S AGGRESSION.

TED: LAST QUESTION, DOES IT IMPACT GETTING PAUL WHELAN HOME.

HE'S BEEN THERE SINCE 2018?

>> HE'S BEEN THERE A LONG TIME.

THE RUSSIANS ACCUSED HIM OF ESPIONAGE.

THEY HAVE NOT BEEN WILLING TO THROW HIM INTO THIS DEAL, SOMETHING THAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION WANTED TO DO, BUT THE RUSSIANS REFUSED, AND SO WE WENT ALONG WITH JUST GETTING BRITTNEY GRINER OUT INSTEAD, AND CONTINUING TO NEGOTIATE FOR PAUL WHELAN, AND I THINK THAT THE RUSSIANS ARE GOING TO HOLD ONTO HIM AS A HOSTAGE AND BARGAINING CHIP FOR AS LONG AS THEY CAN.

TED: ALL RIGHT, AMBASSADOR KURT VOLKER, ALWAYS A PLEASURE SIR.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU, TED, THANK YOU.

.

TED: THE COVID PANDEMIC RESULTED IN TEACHERS LEAVE THE PROFESSION IN RECORD NUMBERS AND STUDENTS FALLING BEHIND ACADEMICALLY.

IN THE PAST YEAR, A NEW TYPE OF SCHOOL HAS COME TO THE EDUCATION SCENE, MICROSCHOOLS OFFER A PERSONALIZED EDUCATION.

PRODUCER SHAWNA FISCHER AND PHOTOGRAPHER JUAN MAGANA TAKE US ON A FIELD TRIP TO ONE OF THE SCHOOLS.

>> Reporter: TUCKED INTO A SHOPPING CENTER IN THE HEART OF FOUNTAIN HILLS IS WHAT SOME CALL THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION.

>> ADAMO EDUCATION IS A MICROSCHOOL, A SMALLER MORE PERSONALIZED LEARNING ENVIRONMENT.

WE HAVE ONE TEACHER WITH NO MORE THAN 12 STUDENTS AND ABLE TO CUSTOMIZE THE LEARNING FOR STUDENTS AND GIVE THEM A DIFFERENT TYPE OF EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY.

>> Reporter: TAMARA BECKER STARTED ADAMO IN AUGUST 2021 AFTER SPENDING 25 YEARS AS A TEACHER AND ADMINISTRATOR.

>> AND I SAW AN OPPORTUNITY FOR EDUCATION TO INNOVATE ITSELF, AND AS WE WERE GOING THROUGH THE PANDEMIC, I REALLY THOUGHT THIS WAS THE TIME FOR EDUCATION TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT AND PUT KIDS BACK IN THE FOCUS.

>> LET'S GIVE JO JO OUR ATTENTION.

>> Reporter: WHAT ATTRACTED ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER ROSE MARIE BARKER.

>> I FEEL LIKE WORKING WITH CHILDREN IS DEFINITELY MY CALLING.

I LOVE THE KIDS.

THEY ARE HYSTERICAL, THEY'RE FUNNY, MAKE ME LAUGH EVERY DAY, BUT NOT ONLY, THAT JUST TO SEE THE AH-HAH MOMENT THEY GET WHEN THEY GRASP A CONCEPT IS REWARDING.

THAT'S THE BEST PART BEING A TEACHER.

>> Reporter: FOR YEARS SHE WAS FRUSTRATED.

THINGS LIKE CLASS SIZE, AS MANY AS 30 CHILDREN IN HER KINDERGARTEN CLASS.

LACK OF SCHOOL SUPPLIES AND SUPPORT.

BARKER SAYS 2020 WAS THE HARDEST YEAR OF HER DECADES LONG CAREER, WATCHING COLLEAGUES STRUGGLE WITH TEACHING DURING THE PANDEMIC LEFT HER FEELING WEARY.

>> WE HAD TO LEARN A WHOLE NEW PLATFORM.

WE HAD CHILDREN ONLINE AND HYBRID AND HALF ONLINE AND HALF AT HOME, AND THEN WE WOULD SWITCH SO THE CURRICULUM THAT YOU TAUGHT WAS REALLY STRESSFUL BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T KNOW WHO GRASPS A CONCEPT, WHO DID NOT.

DID I TEACH THIS?

IT WAS REALLY TIME CONSUMING AND VERY STRESSFUL, AND THEN YOU DIDN'T HAVE THAT PARENT INVOLVEMENT BECAUSE MOST PARENTS ARE WORKING THEMSELVES.

>> Reporter: BARKER WENT LOOKING FOR A MORE FULFILLING AND BETTER OPPORTUNITY.

AT ADAMO SHE FEELS CLOSER TO STUDENTS AND PARENTS THAN IN A TRADITIONAL CLASSROOM.

>> WHEN I DECIDED TO BECOME A TEACHER, I DID WANT A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PARENTS BECAUSE IT IS AN EXTENSION OF SCHOOL.

WHEN YOU GO HOME, IT'S NOT STOP LEARNING, IT'S CONTINUE LEARNING, AND SO WHEN YOU DO HAVE THAT CLOSE RELATIONSHIP, YOU CAN LET THEM KNOW WHAT WE'RE WORKING ON AND IT EXTENDS AT HOME.

>> THE EIGHTH AND FARTHEST PLANET FROM THE SUN, NEPTUNE.

>> Reporter: THE CONCEPT OF MICROSCHOOLS IS A HYBRID OF SCHOOLING OF THE PAST AND HOME SCHOOLING.

>> NO CHARGE, NO TUITION, NO FEES.

WE'RE HELD TO ALL STATE AND FEDERAL GUIDELINES LIKE ANY OTHER PUBLIC SCHOOL.

>> Reporter: IN ORDER TO KEEP ADAMO TUITION FREE AND RECEIVE FEDERAL DOLLARS, IT PARTNERS WITH THE LARGEST CHARTER GROUP EDKEY, IT ENCOMPASSES KINDERGARTEN THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE.

BEFORE STARTING ADAMO, BARKER WAS EDKEY'S SUPERINTENDENT.

WHILE ANYONE IS ALLOWED TO TEACH AT A MICROSCHOOL, BECKER REQUIRES ALL HER TEACHERS HAVE CERTIFICATIONS.

BECKER AND HER TEACHERS RECOMMEND STUDENTS COME IN THREE TIMES A WEEK FOR THE MOST BENEFIT, AND THE SCHOOL DAY IS STRUCTURED SIMILAR TO TRADITIONAL SCHOOLS WITH 45 MINUTE CLASSES.

STUDENTS GROUP TOGETHER IN PODS AND DO A COMBINATION OF TEACHER DRIVEN LEARNING AND SELF-GUIDANCE.

ONE BIG DIFFERENCE WITH MICROSCHOOLS, ALL OF THE GRADES INTERACT AT SOME POINT DURING THE DAY PROVIDING SOCIALIZATION TIME.

WHEN ROMAN'S CHARTER SCHOOL SHUT DOWN, HE DIDN'T WANT TO SWITCH TO A TYPICAL PUBLIC SCHOOL.

>> I FEEL I'M GETTING MORE ATTENTION THAN MOST OTHER SCHOOLS BECAUSE IT'S SMALLER AND MORE -- SMALLER AREA THAT I'M ABLE TO INTERACT WITH THE TEACHERS AND GET MORE INFORMATION THEY NEED FOR THE FUTURE.

>> Reporter: THE SIXTH GRADER PREFERS ADAMO'S FORMAT BECAUSE HE WANTED TO AVOID THE PRESSURE TO FIT IN SOCIALLY.

>> HONESTLY IT'S KIND OF HARD BECAUSE WITH ALL THE NEW TRENDS AND HOW PEOPLE LIKE TO INTERPRET THINGS, IT GETS DIFFICULT TRYING TO KEEP UP, BUT I FEEL LIKE HERE, PEOPLE AREN'T TOO PUSHY ABOUT IT.

THEY'LL ACCEPT YOU FOR WHO YOU ARE.

>> Reporter: PROPONENTS SAY ANOTHER ADDED BENEFIT OF MICROSCHOOLS IS INCREASED PARENT-TEACHER INTERACTION.

>> WE PRETTY MUCH HAVE A MINI PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCE AT THE END OF EVERY DAY.

PARENTS KNOW WHAT WE'VE WORKED ON, AND WHAT THEY CAN DO TO SUPPORT THEM WHEN THEY'RE NOT WITH US.

>> Reporter: STILL, MICROSCHOOLS ARE NOT FOR EVERYONE.

CONCERNS RANGE FROM THE LARGE EMPHASIS BASED ON INDEPENDENT LEARNING VERSUS IN-PERSON LEARNING WITH A TEACHER TO LACK OF OVERSIGHT BY THE STATE'S EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.

BECKER UNDERSTANDS THE CRITICISM BUT SEES MICROSCHOOLS AS VIABLE ALTERNATE TO ALREADY TAPPED AND STRAINED EDUCATION ARENA.

>> I THINK THAT THE NEED FOR SCHOOL CHOICE IS IMPORTANT, SO IN A COMMUNITY LIKE FOUNTAIN HILLS WHERE THERE WAS NO SCHOOL CHOICE, I FELT FOR THE FAMILIES AND THE STUDENTS HERE, SO I WANTED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THIS COMMUNITY.

TED: ADAMO EDUCATION OPENED UP ANOTHER SITE, THIS ONE IN QUEEN CREEK.

THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.