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TED: GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO AZ VOTES, "CANDIDATES IN CONVERSATION," A SPECIAL EDITION OF "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

TONIGHT, WE CONTINUE OUR "CANDIDATES IN CONVERSATION" WITH REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES FOR ARIZONA CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 1, WHICH COVERS NORTHEASTERN MARICOPA COUNTY AND INCLUDES LARGE AREAS OF SCOTTSDALE, PARADISE VALLEY AND FOUNTAIN HILLS.

"CANDIDATES IN CONVERSATION" IS NOT A FORMAL DEBATE, OPEN EXCHANGE OF IDEAS, GIVE AND TAKE BETWEEN CANDIDATES FOR INTERJECTIONS AND THE OCCASIONAL INTERRUPTION ARE ALLOWED PROVIDED ALL SIDES GET A FAIR SHAKE.

AND WE'LL DO OUR BEST TO SEE THAT HAPPENS.

JOINING US IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER, JAY FEELY, FORMER NFL KICKER AND SPORTS COMMENTATOR, AND JOHN TROBOUGH, A TECHNOLOGY BUSINESS EXECUTIVE.

WE SHOULD NOTE, CANDIDATE AND FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE JASON CHAPLIK AGREED TO APPEAR TONIGHT BUT EARLIER TODAY DECIDED AGAINST PARTICIPATING.

GENTLEMEN, GOOD TO HAVE YOU BOTH HERE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

JAY, START WITH YOU, THIS IS ARIZONA'S WEALTHIEST DISTRICT, SCOTTSDALE, PV, FOUNTAIN HILLS, WHAT IS THE MOST PRESSING ISSUE IN DISTRICT 1.

>> GOOD TO BE HERE WITH JOE.

JASON, HOPE EVERYTHING IS OKAY.

HE WAS POSTING ON X, I THINK EVERYTHING IS FINE.

TO ME THE MOST PRESSING ISSUE IS ECONOMY AND AFFORDABILITY.

FOR ALL OF US, WE WANT TO LEAVE OUR KIDS AND GRANDCHILDREN AN ECONOMY THAT WORKS FOR THEM, WHERE THEY HAVE HOPE FOR A FUTURE.

AND SO MANY YOUNG PEOPLE DON'T HAVE A HOPE FOR A FUTURE AND WORRY ABOUT CAN I PROVIDE FOR MY FAMILY.

WE CAN CREATE ATMOSPHERES CONDUCIVE TO CREATING MORE JOBS, BRINGING DOWN THE COST, AND AFFORDABILITY AND MAKING SURE AS REPUBLICANS AND CONSERVATIVES, WE ARE PROVIDING A ROAD MAP FOR THE FUTURE FOR CHILDREN THEY BELIEVE THAT OUR PRINCIPLES AND PRIORITIES ARE THE RIGHT PLACE TO GO BECAUSE THE OTHER SIDE, THE ALTERNATIVE IS DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISM, AND YOU LOOK AT THE RISE OF THE DEMOCRAT PARTY, SINCE PRESIDENT TRUMP MOVED AGAIN, THEY MOVED FURTHER TO THE LEFT.

EMBRACED AOC TO THE FACE OF THE PARTY, AND THAT'S GOING TO LEAD TO DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISM.

TED: THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE IN THE DISTRICT.

>> THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE IN THE DISTRICT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT IN THE STATE, AND WHY I GOT INTO THE RACE, WHICH IS THE ARIZONA ECONOMY IN PARTICULAR.

YES, I'M KEENLY INTERESTED IN WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE MACROECONOMICS AT A FEDERAL LEVEL.

ARIZONA IS AT A CROSS ROADS FOR THE NEXT 25 YEARS, WHAT HAPPENS OVER THE NEXT FOUR OR FIVE YEARS IN CONGRESS AND ABILITY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE MASSIVE TECHNOLOGY GROWTH AND EXPANSION IN ARIZONA IS KEY.

THAT'S WHY I GOT INTO THE RACE BECAUSE I SEE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HELP SHAPE, THAT HELP SHAPE THAT FOR ARIZONANS AND THEIR FAMILIES.

I CAN'T VEHEMENTLY DISAGREE WITH ANYTHING JAY SAID, WE AGREE WITH MANY OF THE THINGS AND THE SUPPLY SIDE ECONOMIC PRINCIPLES HE LAID OUT.

FOR ME IT'S ABOUT DRIVING ARIZONA ECONOMY AND DRIVE THAT GROWTH.

TED: WAS THAT ISSUE ADEQUATELY HANDLED BY THE CURRENT CONGRESSMAN, DAVID SCHWEIKERT?

AND IF SO, HOW WOULD YOU IMPROVE ON THAT?

>> WELL, I THINK, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS -- AND I'VE MET WITH DAVID A FEW DIFFERENT TIMES, AND ONE OF THE THINGS I LIKE AND RESPECT ABOUT DAVID IS HE IS A FISCAL CONSERVATIVE, AND AS A REAGAN CONSERVATIVE, MORE OF A TRADITIONAL CONSERVATIVE, I IDENTIFY WITH MANY OF HIS SUPPLY SIDE ECONOMIC PRINCIPLES.

WE SHOULD HAVE A BALANCED BUDGET, WE SHOULD ADDRESS OUR DEBT.

THESE ARE IMPORTANT THINGS.

WHERE I SEPARATE AND DIFFERENTIATE FROM DAVID IS WHERE ARIZONA IS TODAY.

WE ARE THE GATEKEEPER TO THE GLOBAL ECONOMY, AND I DON'T THINK PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT.

IN ARIZONA OR NATIONWIDE, AND I CONTINUALLY PREACH AND EXPLAIN TO PEOPLE WHY THAT IS THE CASE.

IT'S A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR ARIZONANS THAT DOESN'T PRESENT ITSELF ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE U.S.

>> THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY, A REPUBLICAN PRIMARY CONVERSATION HERE, IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO, AGAIN, SUCCEED.

CONGRESSMAN SCHWEIKERT, WOULD YOU BE AN IMPROVEMENT OVER CONGRESSMAN SCHWEIKERT.

>> WE NEED SOMEBODY TO COMMUNICATE.

WHEN WE LOST CHARLIE KIRK, WE LOST THE GREATEST COMMUNICATOR OF CONSERVATIVE CAUSES.

I DON'T BELIEVE ANYONE CAN REPLACE HIM, BUT BEING TEN YEARS ON BROADCAST TV, THREE HOURS EVERY SUNDAY ON NATIONAL TV CERTAINLY HAS PREPARED ME FOR THAT OPPORTUNITY.

I LOVE THIS COUNTRY AND THIS STATE AND I WANT TO BE SOMEBODY WHO ADVOCATES FOR IT.

DAVID SCHWEIKERT IS THE ONLY MEMBER IN CONGRESS IN ARIZONA ON THE HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE.

WE NEED SOMEBODY TO STEP IN WHO WILL GROW THE ECONOMY AND BRING JOBS HERE AND MAKE SURE WE'RE AT THE FOREFRONT OF THIS COUNTRY WHEN IT COMES TO THE NEW ECONOMIC DRIVER, WHICH WILL BE A.I.

TED: YOU MENTIONED CHARLIE KIRK.

DO YOU THINK DISTRICT REPUBLICAN VOTERS IN CD-1, THEY WANT A CANDIDATE ALIGNED WITH MAGA?

>> WELL, I THINK THEY WANT SOMEBODY WHO IS TRANSPARENT, AND THEY WOULD SOMEBODY WHO IS WILLING TO COMMUNICATE WHAT THEY BELIEVE AND STAND BEHIND WHAT THEY BELIEVE.

I'M PROUD OF PRESIDENT TRUMP'S ENDORSEMENT.

I'M PROUD THEY ASKED ME TO RUN IN THIS SEAT.

FOR THREE YEARS THEY'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT RUNNING AND ASKING ME TO RUN, I HAD TWO KIDS AT HOME IN HIGH SCHOOL AND DIDN'T WANT TO DO IT YET.

THIS WAS A GOOD TIME AS WE WERE GOING TO BE EMPTY NESTERS, YES, I'LL DO IT NOW.

WHEN HE WAS SHOT, THAT WAS A BIG MOMENT, I WANTED TO STAND UP AND SAY I'LL FIGHT FOR THE COUNTRY AND FIGHT FOR THE STATE.

WHAT PEOPLE WANT IS TRANSPARENCY, WHETHER THEY AGREE WITH YOU OR NOT, THEY WANT TO YOU COMMUNICATE, HAVE CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE THAT YOU TOTALLY DISAGREE WITH, WHICH IS WHAT CHARLIE KIRK DID.

I'LL SIT DOWN WITH ANYBODY.

YOU HAVE TO BE WILLING TO DO THAT AND THAT'S WHAT VOTERS WANT.

TED: IS THAT WHAT REPUBLICAN VOTERS IN CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 1, DO THEY WANT THAT KIND OF REPUBLICAN REPRESENTING THEM?

>> I THINK CD-1 IN PARTICULAR WANTS A MORE TRADITIONAL CONSERVATIVE.

WE WANT A REAGAN CONSERVATIVE, SOMEONE WHO'S A FISCAL HAWK WHO UNDERSTANDS SUPPLY SIDE ECONOMICS, SOMEONE WHO'S GETTING BACK TO THE BASIC OF COMMON SENSE AND BALANCING OUR BUDGET.

STOP DOING THINGS WE CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY FOR, GET BACK TO AMERICA FIRST POLICIES, AND LET'S DRIVE OUR ECONOMY, BOTH AT A NATIONAL LEVEL, BUT IN ARIZONA.

AS I SAID IN ARIZONA AND JAY MENTIONED A.I., MY BACKGROUND, I'M A FORMER A.I.

TECH CEO.

I UNDERSTAND A.I., AND A.I.

IS BOTH POSITIVE AND CAN BE NEGATIVE.

AND SO FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, I LOOK AT IT AND SAY, LOOK, THE RIGHT PERSON FOR CD-1 TO NAVIGATE THIS AND FUTURE ECONOMIC NEEDS IS ME.

PEOPLE WANT A COMMONSENSE TRADITIONAL CONSERVATIVE, AND THAT'S WHAT I REPRESENT.

>> WHAT THEY DON'T WANT IS SOMEBODY WHO WAS A DEMOCRAT, AND YOU WERE A DEMOCRAT BY YOUR OWN WORDS.

YOU WORKED IN THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION.

YOU SAID YOU WERE PROUD AS HELL TO WORK IN THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION.

YOU CALLED YOURSELF AN OBAMA BABY.

I DON'T THINK REPUBLICANS AND CONSERVATIVES HERE WANT SOMEBODY WHO IS A CALIFORNIA SILICON VALLEY TECH GUY WHO CALLED HIMSELF A DEMOCRAT, AND EMBRACE THOSE POLICIES AND WANTS TO REVITALIZE HIMSELF AS A REPUBLICAN AND A CONSERVATIVE.

TED: RESPOND, PLEASE.

>> I CAN SEE MR.

FEELY IS TAKING THE GLOVES OFF AND WANTS TO THROW PUNCHES VERSUS KICKING FOOTBALLS.

LET'S BE CLEAR ABOUT A COUPLE THINGS.

WHAT HE'S REFERRING TO IS THE FACT I WAS A PRESIDENTIAL INNOVATION FELLOW, IT IS A NONPARTISAN ROLE, AND I STARTED UNDER THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION AND WAS ALSO THERE IN THE BEGINNING OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AS WELL.

AND WORKED ON CHINA AND THE ORIGINAL TARIFFS WITH CHINA AND HOW CHINA WAS THE LARGEST VENTURE CAPITALIST IN SILICON VALLEY THAT HAD FASTER ACCESS TO DEFENSE TECH THAN OUR OWN NATION.

IT'S NOT ABOUT THROWING BARBS WHO'S A DEMOCRAT OR A REPUBLICAN, LET'S TALK ABOUT DOING WHAT'S BEST FOR THE NATION.

TED: YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF AS A SILICON VALLEY REPUBLICAN, WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

>> I DIDN'T DESCRIBE MYSELF AS A SILICON VALLEY REPUBLICAN, HE SAID IT.

>> YOU SAID I THOUGHT I WAS A DEMOCRAT, NOW I'M A REPUBLICAN.

TO ME, THAT IS NOT WHAT'S REPRESENTATIVE OF THE PEOPLE HERE IN ARIZONA, AND WHAT THEY WANT FROM A CONSERVATIVE.

THEY WANT SOMEBODY WHO BELIEVES IN CONSERVATIVE PRINCIPLES.

TED: LET HIM SPEAK THAT.

>> FIRST OFF, TO YOUR COMMENTS AND YOUR QUESTION -- TED: I HEARD YOU DESCRIBED AS A SILICON VALLEY REPUBLICAN.

>> I'M NOT SURE WHAT THAT MEANS A SILICON VALLEY REPUBLICAN.

I CAME TO ARIZONA ABOUT EIGHT YEARS AGO BECAUSE MY WIFE'S FAMILY WAS HERE TO HELP WITH HER FAMILY AND TO HELP RAISE OUR KIDS WITH THE GRANDPARENTS.

WHAT A SILICON VALLEY REPUBLICAN IS?

I DON'T KNOW.

THAT'S SOMETHING MR.

FEELY WOULD HAVE TO DEFINE.

TED: GO.

>> MR.

FEELY IS A SELF-DESCRIBED DEMOCRAT WITH PICTURES OF HIM AND HOW GREAT FRIENDS HE IS WITH BILL CLINTON.

LET'S NOT TALK ABOUT WHO'S A DEMOCRAT AND REPUBLICAN, LET'S TALK ABOUT POLICY, WHAT'S BEST FOR ARIZONA.

WE GOT BACK TO SAYING PEOPLE WANT TO GET BACK TO COMMON SENSE.

PEOPLE ARE TIRED OF THE NEGATIVITY.

PEOPLE WANT TO SEE REAL POLICY AND REAL UNDERSTANDING, AND I DON'T FEEL THE NEED TO GET INTO MUD WITH A CHILDHOOD FIGHT.

TED: PLEASE.

>> FOR ME, I'VE NEVER BEEN A DEMOCRAT, NEVER VOTED FOR A SINGLE DEMOCRAT.

I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A CONSERVATIVE.

ALWAYS BEEN A REPUBLICAN.

I WILL BE HONEST ABOUT PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE IN OFFICE, WHEN I HAVE PROBLEMS WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP AND I WILL TALK ABOUT THAT, I WILL BE HONEST ABOUT THAT.

THE THINGS I DISAGREE WITH HIM, I'M OKAY TALKING ABOUT THAT.

I'LL TALK TO PEOPLE THAT I CAN COMPLETELY DISAGREE WITH LIKE I DID WITH BILL CLINTON.

THE WORK I DID IN HAITI WITH HIM, I PUT SOLAR LIGHTS IN A DEATH VILLAGE IN HAITI, I'M PROUD OF THAT.

THEY ALLOWED US TO PUT SOLAR LIGHTS INTO A DEATH VILLAGE TO HELP PEOPLE IN THE POOREST, WORST PART OF THE ENTIRE WORLD.

HOW I DEFINE A SILICON VALLEY REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT, HAVE YOU PRONOUNS IN BIO ON SOCIAL MEDIA TODAY ON INSTAGRAM AND LinkedIn.

THAT TO ME IS NOT AN ARIZONA REPUBLICAN.

THAT IS NOT SOMEBODY WHO REPRESENTS THE PEOPLE OF ARIZONA.

TED: BUT YOU WERE INITIALLY RUNNING AS A CD-5 REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE.

>> TRUE.

>> YOU ARE NOW RUNNING AS A CD-1 REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE.

YOU DROPPED OUT OF THAT RACE, MOVED OVER TO CD-1 BY PRESIDENT TRUMP'S SUGGESTION.

WHY SHOULD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 1 VOTERS IN THE PRIMARY GO FOR YOU WHEN YOU WERE INITIALLY IN ANOTHER RACE?

>> AND I LIVED IN GILBERT SINCE WE MOVED OUT HERE.

WE MOVED OUT HERE IN 2010 TO PLAY FOR THE CARDINALS, WE DECIDED TO STAY HERE, TO RAISE OUR FAMILY AND GRANDKIDS NOW.

WE LOVE ARIZONA.

WHEN THE PRESIDENT ASKS TO YOU RUN IN A DIFFERENT DISTRICT.

WHEN HE LOOKS AT MR.

TROBOUGH, NO SHOW JOE, THEY CAN'T WIN, THEY'RE NOT STRONG ENOUGH AS A CANDIDATE, WE NEED SOMEBODY WHO IS A BETTER COMMUNICATOR, A BETTER FIGHTER, AND BE IN THE SEAT.

AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE REACHES OUT AND ASKS ME TO DO THE SAME THING, FOR THE GOOD OF THE PARTY, I WILL RUN IN THIS DISTRICT AND TAKE ON THE SLINGS AND THE ARROWS THAT PEOPLE THROW AT ME FOR MOEM MOVING IN THE DISTRICT BECAUSE IT'S MORE IMPORTANT TO MAKE SURE WE KEEP IN THE HOUSE IN THE MIDTERMS.

>> CARPETBAGGER OR TEAM PLAYER, WHAT DO YOU SEE?

>> A CARPETBAGGER.

HE IS CHASING ELECTIONS AND CHASING SEATS.

HE DOES NOT LIVE IN THIS DISTRICT, HE LIVES AN HOUR AND A HALF AWAY.

HE DOESN'T SHOW UP TO THE ISSUES AND TALK WITH THE PEOPLE.

MR.

FEELY DOES NOT REPRESENT THIS DISTRICT.

IN REGARDS TO HIS QUOTE, UNQUOTE ENDORSEMENT.

REASON I GOT INTO THE RACE IS BECAUSE ARIZONA SAT A CROSS ROADS WITH OUR ECONOMY, AND I LOOKED AT IT AND SAID WE HAVE AN ANNOUNCER AND A FOOTBALL KICKER WITH ZERO BUSINESS EXPERIENCE WHO'S GOING TO START TO DRIVE WHAT THE ARIZONA ECONOMY SHOULD LOOK LIKE.

WE HAVE SOMEONE WHO IS BOUGHT AND PAID FOR BY WASHINGTON, D.C.

WE NEED INDEPENDENCE.

WE NEED TRUE CONSERVATIVE VALUES WHO UNDERSTAND BUSINESS AND UNDERSTAND HOW TO DRIVE OUR ECONOMY.

AND MY JUMPING INTO THE RACE WAS EXACTLY BECAUSE MR.

FEELY DOES NOT REPRESENT ANY OF THOSE EXPERIENCES.

HE IS A NONQUALIFIED BUSINESS LEADER.

I STILL STRUGGLE TO UNDERSTAND HOW BEING AN ENTERTAINER QUALIFIES YOU -- >> HOLD ON.

TED: REAL QUICKLY, PLEASE.

>> QUALIFY TO YOU TALK ABOUT A.I.

OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT YOU KNOW HOW TO SPELL IT.

>> FOR 14 YEARS WHEN I PLAYED IN THE NFL, MY TEAMMATES VOTED ME AND ASKED ME TO BE THEIR LEADER IN THE NFLPA.

I NEGOTIATED BILLION DOLLAR CONTRACTS.

I WAS AT THE MEDIATION BUILDING SITTING ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE TABLE FROM THE OWNERS, WHICH IS WHY THE OWNERS SUPPORTED MY CAMPAIGN.

THEY SAW SOMEBODY WHO IS THOUGHTFUL, RATIONAL.

I SIT ON THE BOARD OF TWO PUBLIC COMPANIES, THE FIFTH GENERATION COMPANY, A COMPANY HERE IN SCOTTSDALE, A DEFENSE COMPANY I STARTED TWO COMPANIES AS AN ANGEL INVESTOR IN THE HEALTH INDUSTRY.

HE TRIES TO PROMOTE ME AS NOT HAVING A BUSINESS BACKGROUND BECAUSE I PLAYED IN THE NFL.

YOU HAVE TO HANDLE FAILURE HAVE, TO COMMUNICATE, NOT CARE WHAT PEOPLE THINK ABOUT YOU AND THE VOTERS IN ARIZONA WILL APPRECIATE THAT, AND THE LAST THING I WOULD SAY IS HE WAS IN THE RACE, JOE CHAPLIK WAS IN THE RACE AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES SAID THEY'RE NOT GOOD ENOUGH, WE NEED TO YOU RUN IN THIS SEAT, JAY.

THAT'S WHY I DID IT.

TED: DOES IT CONCERN THOUGHT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES DID NOT ENDORSE YOU?

>> NO, I THINK THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES IS GOING TO ENDORSE THE INDIVIDUAL HE THINKS HE CAN CONTROL THE MOST, AND I THINK HAVING PUPPET FEELY WHERE I PULL THE STRING ON THE BACK TO GET THE CANNED ANSWER IS A GREAT ADDITION TO THE SWAMP IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

THAT IS NOT WHO I AM.

I HAVE SPENT -- HE'S TALK ABOUT BEING ON THE SIDELINES CALLING PLAYS, I WAS SPENDING MY TIME IN THE MIDDLE EAST AS DEFENSE INDUSTRY CEO MEETING WITH INTEL COMMUNITY TALKING ABOUT SELLING SOFTWARE AND HOW WE IDENTIFY BAD GUYS BEFORE THEY GET TO THIS COUNTRY.

I APPRECIATE NEGOTIATING ENTERTAINMENT CONTRACTS FOR FOOTBALL.

THAT'S A LOT DIFFERENT THAN WHAT MY WORLD EXPERIENCES.

>> TED I WOULD NOT --.

>> I WANT YOU TO RESPOND TO THAT.

>> I WOULDN'T BRAG ABOUT DOING BUSINESS WITH THE MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD.

THEY PROVIDED INTEL TO GO AFTER THEIR DISSIDENTS, AND IDENTIFY WHO THEY ARE -- >> THAT'S A LIE.

>> THAT IS NOT WHAT I WOULD BRAG ABOUT.

I WOULD HIDE FROM THAT IF I WERE HIM.

AS FAR AS BEING A PUPPET, PRESIDENT TRUMP AND I OUR RELATIONSHIP GOES BACK TO BEFORE HE WAS IN POLITICS.

I WAS PLAYING FOR THE JETS IN NEW YORK.

OUR RELATIONSHIP GOES WAY BACK.

WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON THE GOLF COURSE, AT MAR-A-LAGO.

THEY UNDERSTAND I SUPPORT HIS BELIEFS.

I WILL CRITICIZE THE PRESIDENT IF I DON'T AGREE WITH HIM.

TED: WHAT DO YOU NOT AGREE WITH?

>> I WILL SIT DOWN WITH ANYBODY.

IF MSNBC SAID COME ON RIGHT NOW, I WOULD TALK.

THAT'S WHAT I RESPECTED ABOUT CHARLIE KIRK.

HE WAS WILLING TO SIT DOWN WITH BILL MAHER, WITH GAVIN NEWSOM AND HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS, SO THAT'S AN AREA WHERE WE DISAGREE.

TED: REAL QUICKLY, THE MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD ACCUSATION IS A LIE?

>> THAT'S AN ABSOLUTE LIE.

BOEING HAD BROUGHT A COMPANY THEY BROUGHT ME INTO TURN AROUND AND GIVE THEM OPTIONS.

ONE OF THE THINGS WAS TO CANCEL PREVIOUS CONTRACTS THAT THE COMPANY HAD GOTTEN INTO ON BEHALF OF GOING.

THAT'S AN ABSOLUTE LIE.

THAT GETS BACK TO HIS LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF BUSINESS, MUCH LESS NATIONAL SECURITY.

IT'S JUST COMPLETELY BEYOND -- >> CAN I ASK A QUESTION.

DIDN'T YOU HAVE TO STEP DOWN FROM THE COMPANY BECAUSE YOU SHARED SOME OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY SECRETS?

>> I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT.

NOW YOU'RE MAKING THINGS UP AND NOW WE'RE GETTING INTO LIES.

TED: I WANT TO KEEP THINGS MOVING HERE, SINCE BUSINESS AND THE ECONOMY SEEMS TO BE A FOCUS HERE, AND I IMAGINE FOR REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 1 IT'S A FACTOR.

WE'LL START WITH YOU, TARIFFS.

IS THE PRESIDENT DOING THE RIGHT THING, IF YOU WERE TO CONGRESS RIGHT NOW, WOULD YOU HOLD THE ADMINISTRATION MORE ACCOUNTABLE TO THINGS LIKE TARIFFS?

>> FOR 20 YEARS NEITHER PARTY WAS WILLING TO TAKE ON OUR TRADE DEFICIT.

NEITHER PARTY WAS WILLING TO TAKE ON MASSIVE DEFICIT $39 TRILLION.

NEITHER PARTY WAS WILLING TO TAKE ON WE HAVE MINUS 30 TRILLION, ONLY PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS WILLING TO UTILIZE TARIFFS AS THE FORCE TO FORTS COUNTRIES TO INVEST BACK INTO OUR COUNTRY.

TO GIVE US EQUAL TRADE PARAMETERS, TO MAKE THE NATO COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD, WHO WE PROVIDE THEIR DEFENSE FOR THEM AND SPEND LESS OF THEIR GDP TO SPEND 2, 3% OF THEIR GDP.

5% OF GDP.

PRESIDENT TRUMP FORCED THEM TO UTILIZE THEIR COUNTRIES, AND HE WAS WILLING TO TAKE THEM ON.

TED: ARE TARIFFS ANOTHER NAME FOR ATTACKS ON U.S.

CITIZENS WHEN THE PRICE GOES UP ON THESE THINGS?

>> WE HAVEN'T SEEN THAT, HAVE YOU INFLATION THAT RAN UP TO 9.5% UNDER JOE BIDEN BECAUSE THEY PRINTED TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

WHEN YOU PRINT MONEY, INFLATION IS GOING TO RUN UP.

INFLATION HAS STAYED AROUND WHERE IT WAS WHEN PRESIDENT TRUMP GOT INTO OFFICE.

YOU WANT 5% GDP AND UNDER 3% INFLATION.

THAT'S HOW WE GROW OUT OF DEFICIT.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO HAVE AN HONEST CONVERSATION ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON FROM TARIFFS TO IRAN TO VENEZUELA.

TED: RIGHT, I WANT TO GET BACK TO TARIFFS HERE.

>> BACK TO TARIFFS BECAUSE THERE IS SO MUCH LACK OF UNDERSTANDING THERE.

TED: ARE TARIFFS A GOOD THING FOR THE COUNTRY?

>> YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHY WE DID TARIFFS FIRST AND FOREMOST.

YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT OVER THE LAST 50 YEARS, WE HAVE PLAYED IN WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS A FAIR GLOBAL ECONOMY, BUT NOT EVERYBODY PLAYS BY THE RULE OF LAW.

WHAT THE PRESIDENT DID WAS ABSOLUTELY DRIVEN BY NATIONAL SECURITY AND THE FACT THAT WE HOLLOWED OUT OUR MANUFACTURING.

WE HOLLOWED OUT OUR ABILITY TO EVEN SMELL ALUMINUM FOR MILITARY AND DEFENSE PURPOSES.

I WANT TO REINDUSTRIALIZE THE U.S.

FOR NATIONAL SECURITY.

TARIFFS IS REFERRED TO MODERN SUPPLY-SIDE ECONOMICS, TO THE QUESTION ON INFLATION, THEY ABSOLUTELY CAUSE INFLATION.

ANYTHING ABOVE 2%, THE FED CAME OUT AND SAID 50% IS DIRECTLY ATTRIBUTED TO TARIFFS IT.

ABSOLUTELY IS A TAX AS WELL.

LET'S BE HONEST ABOUT WHY WE DID IT.

TED: DO YOU AGREE?

WHO SAYS THAT WE AS AMERICANS SHOULD BE OKAY WITH THIS AND STOP COMPLAINING ABOUT INCREASED PRICES THAT ARE COMING, SOME INCREASED PRICES THAT ARE COMING BY WAY OF TARIFFS.

>> LET'S TALK SPECIFIC TO TARIFFS, YOU GOT INTO AFFORDABILITY QUESTION THERE AND THEN TARIFFS.

TAKE TARIFFS.

I ABSOLUTELY BELIEVE THAT TARIFFS ARE A GREAT IMPORTANCE TO OUR NATIONAL SECURITY, AND I BELIEVE THAT THE PRESIDENT'S DONE THE RIGHT THING WITH TARIFFS TO REINDUSTRIALIZE THIS NATION FOR NATIONAL SECURITY PURPOSES.

IT ACTUALLY GOES BACK TO 2015 NATIONAL SECURITY POLICY WHEN HE FIRST CALLED FOR THIS, WHICH IS WHY THIS IS HAPPENING NOW, AND BEING AT THE WHITE HOUSE, WHEN ALL THAT 2015 POLICY WAS WRITTEN, I UNDERSTAND THIS, BUT I SUPPORT THIS AND BELIEVE THERE WILL BE A TIME WHEN WE WILL EASE OFF THAT AS WE BALANCE OUR TRADE WELL.

TED: THE IRAN WAR, IS THE U.S.

BETTER OFF NOW THAN WE WERE BEFORE THE WAR STARTED?

>> THE WORLD IS BETTER OFF NOW THAN IT WAS BEFORE THE WAR STARTED BECAUSE YOU HAD THE FOREMOST SUPPORTER OF TERRORISM IN THE WORLD IN IRAN, AND THE AYATOLLAH.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT FACT THAT THEY WERE WILLING TO SUPPORT HAMAS AND HEZBOLLAH AND THE HOUTHIS AND FUND THEM AND THEY WOULD PROMOTE THE HEZBOLLAH ATTACKS AND PROMOTE HAMAS AND WHAT HAPPENED ON OCTOBER 7, I THINK PRESIDENT TRUMP DESERVES A LOT OF CREDIT FOR DOING SOMETHING HE KNEW IN THE SHORT TERM WAS A NEGATIVE FOR HIS ABILITY TO WIN IN THE MIDTERMS, BECAUSE HE KNEW GAS PRICES WOULD GO UP AND INFLATION WOULD GO UP AS WELL IN THE SHORT TERM, AND KNEW ENERGY COSTS WOULD GO UP AND THAT WAS A NEGATIVE TOWARDS WINNING IN THE MIDTERMS AND UNDERSTANDS IF WE LOSE THE HOUSE AND THE DEMOCRATS IMPEACH RIGHT AWAY.

HAVE YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT HE TOOK ACTION IN THE BEST INTEREST TO PROTECT OUR COUNTRY THOUGH IT WASN'T IN HIS OWN BEST INTEREST IN THE SHORT TERM.

TED: DO YOU BELIEVE THAT HE BELIEVED THAT IRAN WOULD CLOSE THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ?

>> HE HAS VERY SMART PEOPLE.

YOU LOOK AT SCOTT BEST AND HOWARD LUTNICK, THEY KNEW IT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.

WE DIDN'T NEED IT TO BE OPEN, CHINA AND INDAH NEED IT TO BE OPEN, THAT'S WHERE THE MASSIVE AMOUNT THEIR CRUDE ENERGY COMES FROM.

TED: ARE WE BETTER OFF NOW THAN BEFORE THE WAR STARTED?

>> A LOT TO UNPACK, MISINFORMED ON GLOBAL ISSUES.

ARE WE BETTER FROM A TARIFF PERSPECTIVE?

YES, WE ALL KNOW THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING SITUATION FOR THE LAST 50 YEARS.

THE TIMING IS DIFFICULT TO ARMCHAIR QUARTERBACK AFTER THE FACT, BUT I DO AGREE WITH MR.

FEELY'S POINT ON THE FACT THAT THERE WAS A LOT TO RISK GOING INTO IRAN, SO CLOSE TO THE MIDTERMS, THAT THERE IS INFORMATION ON THE TABLE THAT NONE OF US HAVE VISIBILITY TO, ON THE ABILITY TO ARM FOR NUCLEAR WEAPONS.

IN REGARDS TO WHERE WE ARE TODAY, YEAH, HOW WE'RE GOING TO GET OUT OF THIS, I DON'T KNOW, BECAUSE LOOK, AT THE END OF THE DAY, REPUBLICANS CAMPAIGN ON THE FACT THAT IT WAS ABOUT AMERICA FIRST.

GET AFFORDABILITY UNDER CONTROL.

LET'S GET INFLATION UNDER CONTROL.

WE GOT TO TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN HOUSE BEFORE WE WORRY ABOUT EVERYONE ELSE.

AND SO THE TIMING THAT IRAN WAR, I TAKE ISSUE WITH, AND I WONDER, BUT AGAIN, I WASN'T IN THE ROOM SO I DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO ALL THE INFORMATION.

TED: GAS PRICES UP, REGIME HASN'T CHANGED.

THERE ARE NEW FACES BUT RAEM HASN'T CHANGEED.

>> WHAT REGIME?

TED: BLOCKADING A BLOCKADE, THAT'S IN THE ART OF WAR, IS THAT SOMETHING POSITIVE FOR THIS COUNTRY?

>> YEAH, I DON'T THINK RIGHT NOW -- I THINK THE OUTCOME FOR THIS IS GOING TO BE DIFFICULT.

I THINK THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY IS GOING TO HAVE TO STEP UP AND ADDRESS OPENING THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ.

RIGHT NOW THIS IS NOT SUSTAINABLE FOR THE GLOBE OR FOR THIS NATION.

>> LET ME JUMP IN ON THAT.

WHEN YOU LOOK WHAT THE HE DID IN VENEZUELA AND IRAN, PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS PLAYING THE LONG GAME.

HE WAS LOOKING AT THE NEGOTIATIONS HE'S GOING TO HAVE WITH CHINA THIS MONTH, LOOKING AT THE FACT THAT WE ARE COMPETING WITH CHINA IN THE NEXT A.I.

REVOLUTION AND THE ENERGY PRODUCTION RACE, AND 20% OF THE OIL THAT CHINA BRINGS IN, OF THE CRUDE OIL BECAUSE THEY ONLY PRODUCE 10% OF CRUDE OIL IN THEIR COUNTRY.

20% CAME FROM VENEZUELA AND IRAN.

HE CHOPPED ON A LEG FROM CHINA, AND UNDERSTANDS CHINA AND INDIA BENEFIT MOST FROM THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ BEING OPEN.

THEY NEED TO ENGAGE IN THE PROCESS AND HELP US.

HE'S TRYING TO MAKE THE COUNTRIES IN EUROPE, TRYING TO MAKE THE TWO COUNTRIES IN CHINA AND INDIA BE A PART OF KEEPING THE STRAIT OPEN.

TED: TEN SECONDS.

>> WE CAN'T BE THE GLOBAL POLICE FROM EVERYONE.

WE NEED TO ADDRESS WHAT'S GOING ON DOMESTICALLY AND HANDLE THE ISSUES.

TED: AND WE HAVE TO STOP IT RIGHT THERE, OR GO ON, THIS IS GREAT STUFF.

GOING IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER, WE START WITH JAY FEELY.

>> GREAT TO BE HERE, WE NEED MORE PEOPLE IN OFFICE WHO ARE NOT POLITICIANS, WHO HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL, WHO DON'T NEED THE OFFICE.

THAT'S WHY I STIEDED TO RUN.

WHEN PRESIDENT TRUMP ASKED ME TO RUN, I SAID YES BECAUSE THE PEOPLE OF ARIZONA NEED PEOPLE WHO AREN'T GOING TO D.C.

TO ENRICH THEMSELVES, WHO WANTS TO BE THE CIVIL SERVANT.

NOT JOE CHAPLIK, NO-SHOW JOE.

HE MISSED MORE VOTES THAN ANYBODY IN THE REPUBLICAN HOUSE.

ALMOST 500 VOTES.

HE MISSED THIS DEBATE TODAY.

NO-SHOW JOE CHAPLIK IS NOT THE ONE WE WANT IN OFFICE.

I THINK JOHN AND I ARE SIMILAR IN THAT WE WANT TO GO THERE TO SERVE THE PEOPLE.

WE'RE NOT CAREER POLITICIANS.

I'M GRATEFUL TO HAVE PRESIDENT TRUMP'S ENDORSEMENT AND EXCITED TO REPRESENT YOU IN CONGRESS.

TED: ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

NOW THE CLOSING STATEMENT FROM JOHN TROBOUGH.

>> YEAH, WELL THANK YOU, AND THANK YOU, JAY, FOR BEING HERE AND THE TIME TODAY.

LOOK, FIRST AND FOREMOST I WOULD SAY I'M A MORE TRADITIONAL REAGAN CONSERVATIVE, WHICH IS TO SAY I BELIEVE IN FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY AND SUPPLY SIDE ECONOMICS AND A BALANCED BUDGET.

I HAPPEN TO HAVE A DEEP BACKGROUND IN NATIONAL SECURITY AND A.I., AND WHERE ARIZONA IS TODAY, THAT IS WHAT WE NEED.

WE NEED TO CONTROL OUR GROWTH AND NEED THE EXECUTIVES WHO UNDERSTAND AND ARE WILLING TO GET ENGAGED TO HELP DRIVE OUR ECONOMY.

I'M ONE OF THE FEW ONLY CONSERVATIVE TECH CEOs TO GO TO CONGRESS TO HELP ADDRESS THESE ISSUES.

I'M NOT CARPETBAGGING FROM ANOTHER DISTRICT BECAUSE I WANT TO BE HERE.

I GOT INTO THE RACE BECAUSE I CARE ABOUT MY FAMILY AND CARE ABOUT YOUR FAMILY AND CARE ABOUT MAKING ARIZONA SUCCESSFUL.

THAT IS MY NUMBER ONE PRIORITY, ARIZONA FIRST.

TED: GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANKS, TED.

TED: APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.

THANK YOU.

NEXT AZ VOTES "CANDIDATES IN CONVERSATION" IS THURSDAY, IT INVOLVES THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY FOR ARIZONA CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 5 AT 5:00 P.M.

AND 10:00 P.M.

ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

ALL EPISODES OF "CANDIDATES IN CONVERSATION" ARE LIVESTREAMED ON YouTube AT AZPBS NOW AND CAN BE VIEWED AS WELL AT AZPBS.ORG.

THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.