♪.

TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," WHAT DOES LAST WEEK'S ELECTION MEAN FOR THE STATE AND FEDERAL CASES AGAINST FORMER AND NOW PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP.

>>> AND CHANDLER CENTER FOR THE ARTS.

THOSE STORIES AND NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

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

I'M TED SIMONS.

ARIZONA REPRESENTATIVE STEVE MONTENEGRO VOTED IN AS THE STATE'S NEW SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.

REPRESENTS PARTS OF THE WEST VALLEY INCLUDING GOODYEAR AND SURPRISE THE FIRST LATINO TO SERVE AS HOUSE SPEAKER.

MONTENEGRO SUCCEEDS BEN TOMA.

AS FOR THE STATE SENATE, WARREN PETERSON WAS SELECTED AS SENATE PRESIDENT.

>>> CNN HAS JOINED AP AND NBC IN CALLING THE RACE FOR GALLEGO WHO WITH THE WIN BECOMES ARIZONA'S FIRST LATINO UNITED STATES SENATOR.

GALLEGO WILL SUCCEED TO RETIRING TURNED WANT IN SENATOR KYRSTEN SINEMA.

PRESIDENT-ELECT TRUMP CONTINUES TO NAME CABINET MEMBERS.

FORMER ARKANSAS GOVERNOR MIKE HUCKABEE ANNOUNCED AS NOMINEE FOR U.S.

AMBASSADOR TO ISRAEL.

IN A STATEMENT TRUMP SAID HE LOVES ISRAEL AND WILL BRING PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST.

SARAH HUCKABEE SANDERS SERVED AS AMBASSADOR DURING TRUMP'S FIRST ADMINISTRATION.

>>> ELISE STEFANIK AS U.S.

AMBASSADOR TO THE U.N., AND WERE ESPECIALLY VOCAL DEFENDING TRUMP.

>>> LOUISIANA LAW REQUIRING THE TEN COMMANDMENTS TO BE DISPLAYED IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS IS BLOCKED FOR NOW.

THE RULE IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND GRANTED A PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION.

THE CASE INVOLVING A GROUP OF PARENTS THAT SUED THE STATE ARGUING THE LAW VIOLATES RIGHTS TO HAVE A SAY IN CHILDREN'S RELIGIOUS UPBRINGING.

U.S. SUPREME COURT REJECTED APPEAL FROM JANUARY 6 RIOTER, HE CLAIMED THAT THE LAW THAT BANS DEMONSTRATING AT THE CAPITOL VIOLATES FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS, AND THE APPEALS COURT REJECTED THAT DEFENSE SAYING CAPITOL BUILDINGS ARE NOT OPEN TO PUBLIC PROTESTS AND THE HIGH COURT TODAY DECIDED TO END IT AT THAT.

>>> DONALD TRUMP WAS ELECTED PRESIDENT LAST WEEK, THAT DESPITE FACING A NUMBER OF ONGOING STATE AND FEDERAL CRIMINAL CHARGES.

WHAT HAPPENS TO THE CASES NOW THAT TRUMP IS PRESIDENT-ELECT AND WHAT IS LIKELY TO HAPPEN ONCE TRUMP TAKES OFFICE?

JOINING US IS FORMER U.S. ATTORNEY PAUL CHARLTON, A PARTNER AT DENTONS.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

A LOT TO TALK ABOUT HERE.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR -- WE CAN GO THROUGH THE CASES ONE BY ONE, BUT IN GENERAL, WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

>> BRIEFLY, AS FOR THE STATE CASES, THERE ARE TWO OF THEM.

THEY ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO BE DELAYED, AND AS FOR THE FEDERAL CASES, WE CAN SAY THEY'RE GOING TO BE DISMISSED.

TED: FOR THE FEDERAL CASES, TRUMP PLANS TO FILE THE SPECIAL PROSECUTOR, HE'S GOING TO DO IT IN TWO SECONDS, IS THE PROSECUTOR GOING TO WAIT?

>> HE'S NOT.

AND FOR DIFFERENT REASONS.

WHAT JACK SMITH, THE SPECIAL PROSECUTOR FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE HAS SAID THERE IS A DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE POLICY, A GOOD POLICY THAT SAYS WE OUGHT NOT TO CRIMINALLY PROSECUTE SITTING PRESIDENTS.

THERE IS GOOD REASON FOR THAT.

A PRESIDENT IS SUPPOSED TO BE LOOKING OUT FOR INTERESTS OVERSEAS IN A DANGEROUS WORLD AND DOMESTICALLY AS WELL.

IF THE PRESIDENT IS REQUIRED TO SIT IN A COURTROOM EVERY SINGLE DAY CONCERNED ABOUT LIBERTY INTEREST BEING TAKEN AWAY, WE LOSE THE ABILITY TO HAVE A PRESIDENT FOCUSED ON INTERNATIONAL AND DOMESTIC ISSUES.

THAT IS TRUE FOR ANY PRESIDENT, TRUE BACK TO NIXON, THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION, AND JACK SMITH SAID I NEED TO GO BACK AND I NEED TIME, HE TOLD COURT IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

I NEED TIME TO FIGURE OUT HOW IT IS WE'RE GOING TO ESSENTIALLY WIND DOWN THESE PROSECUTIONS BECAUSE OF THIS LONGSTANDING DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE POLICY.

THAT IS VERY MUCH WHAT'S HAPPENING BOTH IN MANHATTAN NOW WHERE THE PROSECUTORS THERE HAVE SAID THERE'S A SENTENCING COMING UP ON NOVEMBER 27, WE NEED TIME TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THAT SHOULD GO FORWARD AND ENVISION WHAT IT WOULD BE TO HAVE A PRESIDENT AT RISK OF BEING INCARCERATED WHILE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

THE PROSECUTORS ASKED FOR TIME TO THINK THIS OVER, AND THE DEFENSE LAWYERS FOR MR. TRUMP WERE VERY WILLING TO HAVE THAT OCCUR AS WELL, AND THEN WE HAVE THE GEORGIA CASE, WHICH IS ON HOLD, FOR COMPLETELY DIFFERENT REASONS, BUT I EXPECT THAT THESE ISSUES ARE GOING TO BECOME VERY MUCH A PART OF THAT PROSECUTION AS WELL.

>> I WANT TO GO TO EACH OF THE CASES IN A SECOND HERE, BUT DELAYING.

DELAY, DELAY, DELAY.

THAT WORKED TO TRUMP'S ADVANTAGE, DIDN'T IT?

>> WORKS IN EVERY SINGLE CRIMINAL CASE AS WE TALKED ABOUT BEFORE.

IN THIS CASE, THE EXTRAORDINARY NATURE OF THIS CASE.

NOT JUST THAT A PRESIDENT IS CHARGED, INVESTIGATED FOR CRIMES, BUT THAT A FORMER PRESIDENT, ONCE AGAIN, BECOMES A PRESIDENT AND HAS ALL OF THESE POWERS AVAILABLE TO HIM, INCLUDING PARDON, HIRING AND FIRING OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, WANTS TO PUT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IN PLACE RIGHT AWAY WITHOUT WAITING FOR SENATE CONFIRMATION, SO WE'VE NEVER FACED ANYTHING LIKE THIS IN OUR NATION'S HISTORY, SO THE DELAY IDEA WHICH WORKS IN EVERY CRIMINAL CASE IS ALL THE MORE SUCCESSFUL FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP.

TED: LET'S GO TO THE NEW YORK CASE, CONVICTED 34 SOME ODD COUNTS OF FALSIFYING BUSINESS RECORDS.

HIS ATTORNEYS WANT IT CANCELED BECAUSE HE WILL BE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

WHERE IS THE SUPREME COURT'S RULING ON PROTECTION FOR PRESIDENTS?

EXEMPTIONS AND SUCH.

>> THE U.S. SUPREME COURT THAT GRANTED THE EXECUTIVE, THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES BROAD IMMUNITY SOUNDS SIMPLE IN THE CONCEPT.

IF IT'S A CORE ISSUE, GRANTING PARDONS IN THE UNITED STATES, IS IMMUNE, IT'S A PRIVATE ACT, SO FOR EXAMPLE, IF IT'S A PRESIDENT DEALING IN HIS OWN PERSONAL BUSINESSES, THAT MIGHT NOT BE.

BUT SO MANY INTERSECTIONS BETWEEN PRIVATE LIFE AND A CORE FUNCTION OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES BUT NOT EASY OFTENTIMES TO DETERMINE WHEN IT IS A PRESIDENT SHOULD BE IMMUNE FROM PROSECUTION AND NOT TO BE IMMUNE, THE COURTS IN THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVEL ARE WRESTLING WITH THE VERY ISSUE.

TED: EVEN IF IT'S A STATE CRIME?

>> CORRECT, EVEN IF A STATE CRIME.

IN GEORGIA, PRESIDENT TRUMP WILL ARGUE, WHEN I WAS MAKING PHONE CALLS TO SECRETARY OF STATE IN GEORGIA, THAT WAS PART OF PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

THE CONSTITUTION PROTECTS ME IN THE COURSE OF ACTING IN THE CORE ROLE AS PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

OTHERS WOULD SAY THAT WASN'T A CORE, YOU WERE A CANDIDATE, NOT THE PRESIDENT.

AGAIN, NOT A CLEAR ANSWER, AT LEAST SO FAR AS THE COURTS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DETERMINE YET.

TED: WHAT IF, IN THE NEW YORK CASE, THIS IS THE ONE HE'S CONVICTED.

HE'S A CONVICTED FELON HERE.

WHAT IF THE JUDGE SAYS I'M SORRY, YOU'RE A CONVICTED FELON, SENTENCING YOU TO HOWEVER MONTHS IN PRISON, WHAT HAPPENS?

>> THE MOST REASONABLE OPTION AFTER THAT DECISION, IF WE COME TO THAT DECISION.

IT'S NOT CLEAR THAT WE WILL IS FOR THE JUDGE TO SAY I'M GOING TO DELAY IMPOSITION OF THAT SENTENCE UNTIL SUCH TIME AS YOU LEAVE OFFICE.

FOUR YEARS FROM NOW, MAY BE YOU WOULD FACE A TERM OF INCARCERATION, IF THAT'S THE SENTENCE THE JUDGE IMPOSES AND IF WE ARRIVE AT SENTENCING BECAUSE NONE OF THAT IS CLEAR NOW.

TED: TALK ABOUT NOT WANTING TO LEAVE OFFICE, YOU WILL NEVER GET HIM OUT OF THERE, IF THAT'S THE CASE.

>> HAD TO BE A REASON FOR WANTING TO BECOME PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, YOU ARE AFFORDED THE EXTRAORDINARY PROTECTIONS THAT YOU AND I WOULDN'T OTHERWISE BE GRANTED.

TED: IF THE D.C. AND FLORIDA CASE, IN D.C., CHARGED WITH TRYING TO OVERTURN THE VOTE.

THE FLORIDA VOTE WHICH I FIND PERSONALLY I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW ANYONE DOESN'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS, TAKING TOP SECRET DOCUMENTS OUT OF THE WHITE HOUSE AND HAVING THEM AROUND YOUR HOUSE, THESE CASES, AS YOU MENTIONED, THEY'RE WINDING DOWN, HE'S NOT GOING TO BE PROSECUTED FOR THAT, IS HE?

>> HE'S NOT GOING TO BE, FOR TWO REASONS AS WE DISCUSSED.

JACK SMITH IS GOING TO EMPLOY THIS AT THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT, AND ON JANUARY 20, THIS DEFENDANT IS GOING TO BE SITTING PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, SO JACK SMITH CORRECTLY SAID THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE POLICY SAYS WE CAN'T GO FORWARD, BUT PERHAPS MORE CONCLUSIVELY, PRESIDENT TRUMP IS GOING TO FIRE ANY PROSECUTOR WHO WOULD GO FORWARD WITH THE PROSECUTIONS, REMOVE JACK SMITH MOST CERTAINLY, IF HE HASN'T STEPPED DOWN, TELL HIS ATTORNEY GENERAL TO STOP THE PROSECUTION, AND DISTINCT FROM THE CASE IN WASHINGTON, D.C., TED, THERE ARE TWO DEFENDANTS IN THE FLORIDA DOCUMENTS CASE, IN THE CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS CASE IN FLORIDA, WHO WOULDN'T OTHERWISE BE AFFORDED THE IMMUNITY THAT A PRESIDENT WOULD BE AFFORDED BUT THE PRESIDENT CAN SAY, WITH THE NEW POWERS ON JANUARY 20, I PARDON THE TWO INDIVIDUALS.

WE DON'T KNOW AS TO THE STATE CASES WHETHER THERE IS DELAY OR TERMINATION FOR THE CASES.

TED: OKAY, LET'S SAY, THAT FOR WHATEVER REASON, IN A REPUBLICAN DOMINATED CONGRESS, DONALD TRUMP IS IMPEACHED, HE'S CONVICTED, HE'S REMOVED FROM OFFICE, HE'S BACK AMONG THE NORMAL CROWD.

DO THESE INVESTIGATIONS PICK UP?

CAN THEY BE STARTED AGAIN?

IS THAT DOUBLE JEOPARDY?

HOW DOES THAT WORK?

>> SO DOUBLE JEOPARDY HASN'T ATTACHED TO ANY OF THE CASES UNTIL A JURY IS SWORN IN.

WHAT IS ANOTHER PROBLEM THAT LAWYERS HAVE TO PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO IS STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS, THESE ARE EVENTS THAT TOOK PLACE IN 2016 BY AND LARGE, WE'RE IN 2024, SOME NUMBER OF YEARS LATER, THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS MAY CAUSE A SIGNIFICANT HURTLE FOR A PROSECUTOR CONSIDERING REJUVENATING OR BRINGING THE PROSECUTIONS BACK TO LIFE.

TED: THEY DON'T JUST END BECAUSE THE PROSECUTION DECIDES WE CAN'T PURSUE THEM BECAUSE HE'S A PRESIDENT?

>> WE DON'T KNOW BECAUSE THERE ARE TWO WAYS CAN YOU DISMISS A CASE.

WITHOUT PREJUDICE, WHICH IS TO SAY WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME BACK AND BRING THE CASES AGAIN, OR A JUDGE MAY SAY, I'M GOING AGREE WITH YOU, WE SHOULD DISMISS THE CASE.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT IS THE JUDGE'S DECISION.

THE JUDGE WILL SAY IT'S DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE.

YOU WILL BE BARRED FROM INCURRING THE CHARGES AGAIN.

TED: CAN HE GRANT HIMSELF A PARDON FROM ANY PAST AND FUTURE PROSECUTIONS?

>> THAT'S A QUESTION THAT CONSTITUTIONAL SCHOLARS HAVE BEEN WRESTLING WITH AS IT RELATES TO FORMER PRESIDENT AND SOON-TO-BE PRESIDENT AGAIN TRUMP.

HE HAS OTHER VEHICLES AVAILABLE INCLUDING WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT, WHICH IS PUTTING ATTORNEY GENERAL IN OFFICE WHO WILL FOLLOW THE DICTATES OF HIS DESIRES AND MAKING SURE THERE ARE NO PROSECUTORS MOVING FORWARD WITH THE FEDERAL CASES HE HAS IN PLACE RIGHT NOW.

AS YOU KNOW TOO, TED, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, EVEN THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES DOESN'T HAVE ORDER THIS OVER THE MANHATTAN DISTRICT ATTORNEY.

HE DOESN'T HAVE AUTHORITY OVER THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY IN GEORGIA, BUT THERE IS THIS LAW NOW CAUSING PROBLEMS, WHICH IS IMMUNITY, NUMBER ONE, AND NUMBER TWO, THIS POLICY, A GOOD POLICY, THAT WE OUGHT NOT TO DISTRACT A SITTING PRESIDENT BY CHARGING HIM WITH A CRIME, BY FORCING HIM TO BE IN COURT EVERY SINGLE DAY.

TED: TANGLED WEB.

>> MULTIPLE CRIMES.

TED: PAUL CHARLTON, GREAT EXPLANATION.

GOOD STUFF, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME, TED.

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TED: THE FUTURE OF DEMOCRACY IS THE SUBJECT OF A POST-ELECTION PANEL DISCUSSION SET FOR TOMORROW AT ASU.

PANELISTS INCLUDE FORMER ARIZONA SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE RUSTY BOWERS, MARICOPA COUNTY RECORDER STEPHEN RICHER AND MITZI EPSTEIN.

MODERATED BY THE PBS "NEWSHOUR"'S STEPHANIE SY.

WELCOME JOHN CHARLESON, DIRECT OFFER ASU STUDY OF RELIGION AND CONFLICT AND CO-DIRECTOR OF TRUTH PROJECT, THIS IS THE BABY FOR YOU.

>> IT IS.

TED: THE QUESTION IS WHAT'S NEXT FOR DEMOCRACY?

WHAT IS NEXT FOR DEMOCRACY?

>> WELL, THAT'S THE TOPIC FOR TOMORROW NIGHT.

WE'VE GOT GREAT PEOPLE TO TALK ABOUT IT.

OBVIOUSLY, TWO MAJOR DEFENDERS OF DEMOCRACY, RUSTY BOWERS AND STEPHEN RICHER, BOTH OF WHOM LOST THEIR PRIMARIES ULTIMATELY FOR STANDING UP FOR WHAT WAS CORRECT, ACCURATE, TRUTHFUL INFORMATION, AND GETTING PUNISHED BY THEIR PARTIES FOR IT.

TED: WHAT DOES THIS SAY THIS IS EVEN A TOPIC OF DISCUSSION?

>> YEAH, YEAH.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE ASKING THAT.

WE HAVE A REALLY DIVIDED ELECTORATE.

WE HAVE PEOPLE FOCUSED ONLY ON PRIMARILY ON ISSUES LIKE THE ECONOMY OR IMMIGRATION, BUT THEN WE'VE GOT A WHOLE OTHER GROUP OF FOLKS WHO ARE DEEPLY, DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE FUTURE OF DEMOCRACY, THAT IS, ALL OF THE CUSTOMS, ALL OF THE PRACTICES, THE PEACEFUL TRANSFER OF POWER, PRESERVATION OF RULE OF LAW AS PREVIOUS GUEST WAS DISCUSSING.

THE CONCERNS ABOUT BASIC PROTOCOLS, YOU DON'T PUNISH OR TRY TO PROSECUTE DEMOCRACY.

ALL OF THOSE ARE UP FOR GRABS.

TED: WOULD YOU SAY DEMOCRACY IS IN CRISIS?

WOULD YOU SAY DEMOCRACY IS BACKSLIDING RIGHT NOW?

>> I THINK MANY WATCHDOGS AND BASIC CITIZENS AT THE INTUITIVE LEVEL HAVE SAID YES.

WE'RE IN UNCHARTERED TERRITORY.

THIS IS UNPRECEDENTED IN TERMS OF THE RHETORIC, WHICH IS A REALLY IMPORTANT STAPLE UPON DEMOCRACY.

PRESIDENTIAL RHETORIC, WE'VE NOT SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS IN TERMS OF THE PEACEFUL TRANSFER OF POWER, IN TERMS OF ACCEPTING SOMEONE'S LOSS, WEATHER RATHER THAN ANTICIPATING THAT, THE INSURRECTION, THAT IS VERY MUCH A PHENOMENA.

A LOT OF REASONS FOR CONCERN.

TED: THE CHANGING MEDIA LANDSCAPE, ADS AND BOTS AND VIRAL VIDEOS, AI, ALL OF THIS STUFF, THE IMPACT ON WHAT SOME SEE AS A BACKSLIDING DEMOCRACY?

>> I THINK THAT'S TRUE, I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, BUT EVEN BEFORE WE GET TO AI AND BOTS AND ALL OF THE OTHER THINGS, WE HAVE -- AMERICANS ARE LIVING IN TWO FUNDAMENTAL REALITIES IN TERMS OF THE NEWS SOURCE THEY'RE GATHERING, THE INFORMATION THEY ABSORBED, THE KIND OF VIEWS THAT THEY FORM, BASED UPON THEIR MEDIA SOURCES.

SO WE DON'T EVEN LIVE IN A COMMON WORLD OF FACTS OF WHAT'S TRUE, WHAT'S REAL, WHAT'S AUTHENTIC, WHAT'S TRUSTWORTHY OR NOT, AND THAT'S NOT EVEN TO GET INTO THE DIFFERENCES IN OUR VALUES.

TED: AND SHOULD MENTION THE "WASHINGTON POST" WILL BE AMONG THE PANELISTS AS WELL.

>> VERY IMPORTANT FOR US.

TED: "NEW YORK TIMES" COLLEGE POLL, NEARLY HALF VOTERS DO NOT THINK DEMOCRACY DOES A GOOD JOB OF REPRESENTING PEOPLE, WHAT DO YOU TAKE FROM THAT?

>> THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THINGS TO THINK ABOUT.

ONE IS WHAT DO WE MEAN BY REPRESENTATION?

WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?

THERE'S A CERTAIN VIEW THAT TRADITIONAL VIEW THAT THE DIFFERENCES GO BACK TO OUR FOUNDING THAT SAYS REPRESENTATIVES OUGHT TO BE EXPERTS, KNOWLEDGEABLE, ABOUT GOVERNMENT, MORE KNOWLEDGEABLE THAN WE ARE, AND OUGHT TO GO INTO THE WORK OF GOVERNMENT TO REPRESENT OUR INTEREST THAT WE DON'T ALWAYS FULLY AREN'T ABLE TO ARTICULATE IN OUR OWN WAY BECAUSE WE DON'T WORK IN GOVERNMENT.

THERE'S ANOTHER VIEW COMMON AMONG POPULISTS WHO SAYS WE WANT SOMEONE WHO LOOKS OR SOUNDS LIKE US OR WHO'S GOING TO TAKE A WRECKING BALL TO THINGS LIKE I WOULD DO IF I WAS IN GOVERNMENT RIGHT NOW.

AND THE TWO VIEWS OF WHAT REPRESENTATION AND DEMOCRACY IS ARE VERY MUCH CLASHING.

>> THE FIRST GROUP THAT YOU MENTIONED SOUNDS LIKE WHAT ARE BEING DESCRIBED AS A PEJORATIVE AS ELITES.

>> EXACTLY RIGHT.

TED: COULD IT BE -- I CAN SEE CRITICS THIS IS POLE CLUTCHING AND HAND WRINGING BECAUSE ONE SIDE WON THAT THE OTHER SIDE ISN'T HAPPY ABOUT IT AND CAN'T CONTINUED BUT THAT'S THE WAY IT GOES.

YOU COUNT THE VOTES AND YOU LIVE WITH THE RESULTS, DO THEY HAVE A POINT?

>> CERTAINLY A POINT IN TERMS OF ACCEPTING THE RESULTS AND LIVING WITH THEM EVEN IF YOUR SIDE LOST.

I THINK THAT WAS THE POINT THAT MANY DEMOCRATS MADE IN 2020 AND 2022 ESPECIALLY HERE IN ARIZONA.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE FOCUSING ON IN THIS PANEL, ARIZONA POLITICS, BECAUSE IT'S AN IMPORTANT CROSS-SECTION OF THE NATIONAL ELECTORATE.

THE REASON WHY IT'S NOT A PARTISAN ISSUE, SOME PEOPLE LIKE TO MAKE IT OUT TO BE, I CAN TELL YOU TWO REASONS WHY.

NUMBER ONE, IF YOU LOOK AT THOSE WHO THOUGHT THAT THE PRESERVATION OF DEMOCRACY WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUE ON THE BALLOT, 80% OF THEM VOTED FOR HARRIS BUT WEREN'T ALL DEMOCRATS.

IT INCLUDED A LOT OF CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANS, INCLUDED FOLKS WHO WERE DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE STATE OF DEMOCRACY.

THE LIZ CHENEYS OF THE WORLD.

THAT'S NOT SIMPLY A PARTISAN ISSUE.

TED: CONTINUE.

>> I THINK THE OTHER REASON IT'S IMPORTANT IS THAT THOSE WHO SAY DEMOCRACY IS MOST IMPORTANT, 80% OF THEM VOTED FOR HARRIS, INTERESTINGLY THOSE WHO THOUGHT THAT IMMIGRATION OR THE ECONOMY WAS MOST IMPORTANT VOTED FOR TRUMP, YOU'VE GOT A FUNDAMENTAL CONFLICT ABOUT WHETHER ELECTIONS ARE ABOUT SETTLING POLICIES AND DIFFERENCES THERE.

THAT'S TRADITIONALLY HOW THEY'VE BEEN.

NOW, YOU'VE GOT A GROUP THAT SAYS WAIT A MINUTE, THIS IS ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE HAVE A DEMOCRACY, FIGURE OUT THE RULES BY WHICH WE FIGURE WHICH POLICIES TO EMBRACE.

TED: SOUNDS LIKE IT'S A GREAT DISCUSSION, WHERE CAN PEOPLE FIND IT OR LEARN MORE?

>> CAN YOU GO TO THE WEBSITE THAT SHOULD BE ON THE SCREEN RIGHT NOW.

TED: IT IS.

>> GOOD.

YOU CAN GOOGLE ASU LIVE AT 4:30 P.M. AND YOU CAN SEE IT ON THE AZPBS YouTube CHANNEL.

TED: OUR YouTube CHANNEL, WE'LL BE STREAMING IT.

ALL POINTS, 4:30 TOMORROW.

SOUNDS LIKE A GREAT DISCUSSION.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

TED: GREAT.

.

TED: ASHLEY IS THE NEW ARTIST AND RESIDENT FOR THE CHANDLER CENTER FOR THE ARTS, WORKING ON DEVELOPING A MUSICAL, ORDINARY FOLKS WHICH INCLUDES LARGELY FORGOTTEN AFRICAN-AMERICAN FOLK TALES WITH R&B.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

TED: WE HAD YOU ON A WHILE BACK, BUT YOU ARE A RESIDENT NOW?

>> I'M BASED IN CALIFORNIA, THE TOWN IN CHANDLER CENTER FOR THE ARTS, I GET TO MEET LOCAL ARTISTS AND USE THE SKILL AND DEVELOP LOCAL CULTURE AND ARTS.

>> A THREE-YEAR RESIDENCY?

>> IT IS, YEAH.

TED: ORDINARY FOLKS.

WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT HERE, AND START WITH THE TITLE.

>> A LOT OF MY WORK, I WORKED IN CHILDREN'S ENTERTAINMENT AND FAMILY PROGRAMMING AND BASED ON FOLKLORE, AND PEOPLE SOMETIMES HEAR THE TERMS FOLKLORE AND MUSIC, THEY THINK ABOUT BANJO AND FOLKLORE, IT INVOLVES CULTURES FROM AROUND THE WORLD INCLUDING AFRICAN-AMERICAN FOLKS AND THE MATERIAL DEVELOPED BY YOU AND ME, NOT NECESSARILY PROFESSIONAL INDIVIDUALS.

WHEN YOU LISTEN TO FOLKLORE AND FOLK MUSIC AND THE STORIES PEOPLE TOLD AROUND FIRES AND AROUND KITCHEN TABLES, YOU LEARN ABOUT PEOPLE IN THE GROUP.

TED: THE LEGEND OF JOHN HAMMOND AND SUKI THE MERMAID.

>> JOHN HENRY IS AN INCREDIBLE STORY ABOUT A MAN WHO MAY OR NOT HAVE BEEN REAL, BUT OUTRAN THE DEVELOPMENT OF TRAINS AND THINGS.

TED: I THOUGHT IT WAS JOHN HAMMOND, IT'S JOHN HENRY?

>> JOHN HENRY.

MENTIONING THAT, YOU KNOW, IT'S FOLKS LIKE, YOU KNOW, ALL THE WONDERFUL FOLK SINGERS WHO CAME BEFORE ME THAT INSPIRED ME TO DO THIS WORK, BRINGING THE STORIES FROM PERSONAL CULTURE TO FOLKS ACROSS THE WORLD.

TED: YOU'RE DOING IT WITH JAZZ AND GOSPEL AND R&B, YOU HAVE A BOOK ON YOUR LAP HERE?

>> THE BOOK OF NEGRO FOLKLORE, I'VE BEEN STUDYING BOOKS LIKE THIS, AFRICAN-AMERICAN FOLKLORE, I'M DIGGING REALLY DEEP TO FIND THE STORIES THAT HAVE BEEN LARGELY HIDDEN FROM US, I FIND THAT LOTS OF TIMES AFRICAN-AMERICAN FOLKS DON'T DIVE INTO THE TEXT BECAUSE IT CAN BE DANGEROUS, IT CAN FEEL PAINFUL, IT CAN FEEL LIKE WE'VE BEEN TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF BECAUSE OF THE WORK, BUT I THINK THIS IS OUR MOST HONEST WORK, WE LEARNED THAT BLACK FOLKS HAVE BEEN MULTIDIMENSIONAL FOR ALL OF TIME.

WE'VE BEEN CREATIVE, TOLD STORIES WE LOVED AND MADE SONG ALL THIS TIME.

TED: NOW YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE STORIES AND JOHN HAMMOND AND DESIGN A SET, COSTUMES, MAKE THE MUSIC, TELL THE STORY.

IT'S A LOT OF WORK?

>> IT IS.

I HAVE MY WORK CUT OUT BEFORE WITH THE MUSICAL BASED IN THE ANTEBELLUM SOUTH, I'VE HAD THE EXPERIENCE BUT I FEEL CALLED TO THIS WORK.

I ALWAYS WANT TO CREATE SOMETHING THAT FEELS APPROACHABLE TO ALL PEOPLE REGARDLESS OF THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORK AND THE PEOPLE IT COMES FROM.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, I JUST WANT TO TELL THE STORIES IN A WAY PEOPLE FEEL CONNECTED TO.

TED: YOU FEEL CALL TO THE WORK, BUT IS THERE EXTRA ANXIETY THERE BECAUSE YOU'RE DEALING WITH CEMENTED STORIES, THIS IS HISTORY HERE AND YOU DON'T WANT TO MESS IT UP.

>> YEAH, I WANT TO DO IT RIGHT AND HAVE SEEN IT DONE WRONG OVER TIME SO MUCH.

I'M THANKFUL TO FOLKS WHO HAD THE RESOURCES TO PRESERVE THIS WORK, BUT OFTENTIMES THEY USE THAT WORK TO MAKE FUN OF US AND SAY WE WEREN'T ENOUGH.

IT FEELS LIKE A LOT OF PRESSURE THAT I'M WILLING TO TAKE ON TO TELL THE STORIES THAT CELEBRATES OUR CULTURE INSTEAD OF DEMEANS IT.

TED: IN TERMS OF DEVELOPING ORDINARY FOLKS, YOU HAVE WORKSHOPS AND EDUCATIONAL THINGS?

>> YEAH, THIS IS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL COMMUNITY OF FOLKS.

I'M GOING TO HAVE WORKSHOPS WHERE I HEAR FROM LOCAL FOLK ARTISTS AND FOLK TELLERS WHO CAN HELP ME THINK OF WAYS TO STAGE THAT IS APPROPRIATE TO LOCAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

>> HOW LONG BEFORE ORDINARY FOLKS IS READY TO GO?

.

>> SUPPOSED TO GO ON STAGE 2026.

TED: 2026?

YOU GOT UNTIL THEN TO FIGURE IT OUT.

HOW'S IT GOING.

>> I AM CREATING SONGS ON THE COUCH AND CREATING MELODIES ON THE PIANO, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL STAGE.

TED: THAT SOUNDS GREAT TO BE CREATIVE LIKE THAT, HAVE THE ROOM TO DO IT.

>> THE RESIDENCY GIVES ME THAT ROOM, IT'S A BEAUTIFUL GIFT.

TED: CONGRATULATIONS ON THAT.

BEST OF LUCK ON THE PRODUCTION.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

THAT IS IT FOR NOW, I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.