♪.

>> COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

NEW POLLING SHOWS DONALD TRUMP LEADING PRESIDENT BIDEN IN FIVE BATTLEGROUND STATES, INCLUDING ARIZONA.

ALSO TONIGHT, WE'LL HEAR ABOUT A NEW APP DESIGNED TO HELP THOSE LIVING WITH DEMENTIA AND CAREGIVERS.

>>> AND A PREVIEW OF THE NEW SEASON OF POETRY IN AMERICA.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE COMING UP ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

.

>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

ARIZONA SUPREME COURT GRANTED REQUEST TO HOLD OFF ON ENFORCEMENT OF THE 1864 ABORTION LAW FOR 90 DAYS.

THAT MEANS THAT THE BAN CANNOT BE ENFORCED UNTIL AUGUST 12 WHICH GIVES MAYES TIME TO REINSTATE THE BAN TO THE U.S. SUPREME COURT.

A NEW LAW ABOLISHING THE BAN PASSED BY THE LEGISLATURE AND SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR BUT WILL NOT GO INTO EFFECT UNTIL 90 DAYS AFTER THE CURRENT LEGISLATIVE SESSION ENDS.

>>> DONALD TRUMP'S ONE-TIME FIXER MICHAEL COHEN A STAR WITNESS TODAY.

COHEN SAID TRUMP TOLD HIM TO, QUOTE, JUST TAKE CARE OF IT.

PRIOR TO THE 2016 ELECTION.

COHEN'S $130,000 HUSH MONEY PAYMENT TO DANIELS IS AT THE HEART OF THE CASE WHICH TRUMP IS CHARGED WITH FALSIFYING DOCUMENTS TO HIDE THE TRANSACTION.

>>> OF NOTE, OHIO SENATOR J.D.

VANCE WAS IN THE COURTROOM TO SHOW SUPPORT FOR TRUMP.

VANCE LATER ATTACKED MICHAEL COHEN'S TESTIMONY ESSENTIALLY SPEAKING FOR TRUMP UNDER A GAG ORDER.

>> WHAT'S GOING ON INSIDE THAT COURTROOM IS A THREAT TO AMERICAN DEMOCRACY, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

WE CANNOT HAVE A COUNTRY WHERE YOU GET ON PROSECUTE YOUR POLITICAL OPPONENT INSTEAD OF PERSUADING VOTERS.

JOE BIDEN'S ENTIRE STRATEGY IS TO CHARGE DISTRACTION, INFLATION AT HOME AND WAR OVERSEAS WITH THE SHAM TRIAL.

>> VANCE WAS ONCE AN AGGRESSIVE CRITIC OF TRUMP THAT WAS BEFORE RUNNING FOR OFFICE.

HE HAS BECOME ONE OF TRUMP'S LOYAL DEFENDERS AND CONSIDERED A VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE.

>>> A NEW RULE THAT BRINGS MAJOR REFORM TO THE U.S. ELECTRICAL GRID, CHANGE AIMS TO MAKE IT EASIER TO BYPASS STATE OPPOSITION TO BUILD ELECTRIC TOWERS TO DELIVER MORE ELECTRICITY AND CLEAN ENERGY TO THE GRID AND BETTER HANDLE INCREASED DEMAND AND WEATHER-RELATED ISSUES, THE MOST SIGNIFICANT POLICY TAKEN BY THE FEDERAL AGENCY REGULATORY COMMISSION IN MORE THAN A DECADE.

>>> A NEW STUDY OF CHINA FINDS MAINTAINING A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE CAN REDUCE RISK OF DYING BY 62% REGARDLESS OF GENETICS.

RESEARCHERS LOOKED AT THE SOCIOECONOMIC AND DISEASE HISTORY OF 350,000 PEOPLE FOR THE LANDMARK STUDY.

>>> NEW POLLING SHOWS DONALD TRUMP LEADING PRESIDENT BIDEN IN FIVE OF SIX BATTLEGROUND STATES INCLUDING ARIZONA.

"NEW YORK TIMES," AND "PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER" POLL SHOWS GAINS OF YOUNG, BLACK AND HISPANIC VOTERS ARE THE REASON FOR IT.

JOINING ME IS CHUCK COUGHLIN OF HIGHGROUND.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF ALL THIS?

>> IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND WHO THEY TALKED TO.

THEY TALKED TO REGISTERED VOTERS.

MY FIRST CRITICISM OF ALL POLLS IS 25% OF REGISTERED VOTERS DON'T PARTICIPATE IN THE CYCLE, AND THEN YOU TALK TO KNOWN VOTERS, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

YOU WANT TO TALK TO VOTERS.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE A SUPER CLOSE ELECTION.

WE KNOW THIS, ANY TIME A POLL GETS A LITTLE SOMETHING WRONG, IT'S GOING TO GO MORE THAN A LITTLE WRONG.

>> IN POLLING YOU HAVE REGISTERED VOTERS, LIKELY VOTERS.

>> YEP.

>> BUT WHAT REALLY COUNTS ARE THE VOTERS.

>> THAT'S WHO WE CALL.

AT HIGHGROUND, WE HAVE A PROFILE WHAT'S GOING TO TURN OUT IN A CYCLE.

WE BELIEVE, THIS IS A FORECAST, IT WILL BE LIKE THIS CYCLE, 36% REPUBLICAN, 32% DEMOCRAT, AND 28% OTHER.

SO WE FILL QUOTAS THAT WAY, BUT CALL PEOPLE WHO ARE TWO OUT OF THREE.

WE KNOW THEY VOTED IN THE PAST.

>> FOR THIS POLL, THOUGH, SIMILAR RESULTS TO LAST IN NOVEMBER, AND SINCE THEN THE STOCK MARKET HAS GONE UP 25%.

DONALD TRUMP IS ON A CRIMINAL TRIAL FOR SALACIOUS STUFF YOU COULDN'T IMAGINE A PRESIDENT, FORMER FUTURE, CURRENT BEING INVOLVED IN.

WHAT'S GOING ON?

>> THERE'S A LOT OF ANXIETY ABOUT GAZA, STRESS ABOUT THAT.

LET'S THINK ABOUT THIS.

WE KNOW THIS IN COMMUNICATION, THAT NEGATIVE MESSAGING ALWAYS RESOUNDS OR RESONATES MORE STRONGLY WITH THE ELECTORATE THAN POSITIVE MESSAGING, SO THAT NEGATIVE DISPOSITION INFECTS AN ELECTORATE BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT'S BEING TALKED ABOUT ALL THE TIME, BUT WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO AT THE END OF THE DAY IS HOW DO THE UNDECIDED VOTERS, HOW DO THOSE PEOPLE THAT ARE PERSUADABLE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER FALL.

I'VE NEVER SEEN A POLL TO DATE WITH DONALD TRUMP OVER 50% OF THE ELECTORATE.

NOT SEEN THAT.

AND SO IT'S AN IMPORTANT THING TO WATCH, BUT MY IMPRESSION IS THAT THE NEGATIVE NATURE OF THE NARRATIVE RIGHT NOW, SO FORECAST FORWARD, THEN, MAYBE YOU GET A RATE CUT, YOU GET THE WAR IN GAZA TO BE OVER WITH, MAYBE YOU GET BENEFICIAL NEWS IN THE CYCLE THAT COMES ALONG THAT THE PRESIDENT CAN CLAIM CREDIT FOR, BUT WE DON'T KNOW THAT.

WE DON'T KNOW THAT.

>> RIGHT, RIGHT.

POLLS ARE SNAPSHOTS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> WITH THAT IN MIND, THOUGH, THE SIMPLE DESIRE FOR CHANGE.

IT SEEMS LIKE THAT WAS A FACTOR IN THE NUMBERS.

>> YEAH, NOBODY LIKES THE MATCHUP.

LET'S BE CLEAR ABOUT THAT, TOO.

NOBODY LIKES THE REMATCH OF THESE TWO GUYS GOING AT IT AGAIN.

BOTH AGED MEN, NOBODY THAT'S CAPTURED, I'M READING DORIS KERN GOODWIN'S BOOK WITH THE 60S AND LBJ'S CAMPAIGN AND THE END OF THE KENNEDY, BEGINNING OF BOBBY KENNEDY'S CAMPAIGN, AND USED TO PACK A BALLROOM WITH PEOPLE THAT WERE SO EXCITED, RIGHT OUT OF COLLEGE.

THAT KIND OF ENTHUSIASM IS NOT CAPTURED IN THE ELECTORATE TODAY.

IT DOESN'T REALLY EXIST RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THERE'S NOBODY IN THE NARRATIVE OF THE CYCLE TALKING ASPIRATIONALLY ABOUT WHAT THE COUNTRY IS THAT THEY WANT TO HAVE.

>> WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE FACT THAT ARIZONA, NEVADA, GEORGIA, SUNBELT STATES AS OPPOSED TO MICHIGAN, WISCONSIN, PENNSYLVANIA, MORE GREAT LAKES REGION, THE SUNBELT STATES, THE MARGIN WAS WIDER.

>> RIGHT.

>> WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THAT?

>> I MAKE OF THAT THAT WE HAVE LARGER PERCENTAGES OF UNDECIDED VOTERS IN THE SUNBELT STATES.

HAVE YOU PEOPLE MOVING OUT HERE.

THESE ARE DYNAMIC STATES WHERE THE ELECTORATE IS CONSISTENTLY CHANGING WHEREAS IN THE OTHER STATES THEY'RE MORE STATIC, PENNSYLVANIA, MICHIGAN, THOSE STATES ARE MORE ELECTORALLY STATIC AND WE KNOW THIS HOMOGENEOUS POPULATION THAT'S GOING TO TURN OUT AND VOTE.

>> WITH THAT IN MIND, DO WE EXPECT TO SEE MORE OF PRESIDENT BIDEN AND SUPPORTERS OUT HERE BECAUSE OF THE GAP AND LESS OF THEM IN THE GREAT LAKES REGION?

>> CERTAINLY.

I WOULD THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE TRUE.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE UP THERE AS WELL, BUT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF THE BIDEN CAMPAIGN OUT HERE AND IN NEVADA AND ALL THE UNION VOTES IN NEVADA THAT ARE AROUND CLARK COUNTY AND VEGAS WITH ALL OF THOSE SUPPORTIVE NETWORKS OF PEOPLE, AND LET'S REMEMBER THIS, NONE OF THAT IS ENGAGED YET.

NONE OF THAT IS FULLY ENGAGED IN A GET OUT THE VOTE TURNOUT CAMPAIGN, WHICH I ANTICIPATE IS GOING TO BE A VERY AGGRESSIVE EFFORT.

WE'VE SEEN THIS DISCREPANCY IN FUND-RAISING, AND THAT THE BIDEN CAMPAIGN IS ENJOYING SUBSTANTIAL MARGINS OVER THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN RIGHT NOW.

HOW THAT MONEY GETS DEPLOYED IN TERMS OF TURNOUT EFFORTS WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE AS WELL.

>> WHAT DOES THIS SAY ABOUT THE U.S. SENATE RACE IN ARIZONA, WHERE TRUMP HAS THIS MARGIN, AND IT'S QUESTIONABLE AS IT IS.

IT'S STILL A MARGIN, STILL THERE AND SEEMS CONSISTENT, AND KARI LAKE DOESN'T.

>> RIGHT, I SAW GEORGE CALIFF'S POLL, VERY ORBTASHLGS I THINK HE HAD GALLEGO UP SIX OR EIGHT POINTS.

I BELIEVE GEORGE'S POLL.

HE LOOKED AT THE LIVE VOTER I.D.

CALL.

THAT'S WHO HE'S TALKING TO.

HIS DEMOGRAPHICS WERE SIMILAR TO WHAT I JUST TALKED ABOUT, AND HE HAD REUBEN UP BY A BIT.

THAT'S A FACTOR OF TWO THINGS.

ONE, LAKE HAS BEEN IN FRONT OF US NOW FOR NEARLY TWO YEARS IN TERMS OF IN FRONT OF THE ELECTORATE, AND SO SHE HAS A PROFILE THAT PEOPLE EXPECT AND KNOW.

REUBEN'S FROM THE SMALLEST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT IN THE STATE.

HE'S JUST BEGUN NARRATING A CAMPAIGN.

MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHO RUBEN GALLEGO IS UNTIL THEY'RE SEEING HIM ON THE TELEVISION ADS HE'S SPENDING UPWARDS OF $20 MILLION ON, TO FRAME HIS NARRATIVE.

SO YOU HAVE A NO NARRATIVE AND AN UNKNOWN NARRATIVE.

I DON'T THINK KARI HAS DONE A GOOD JOB WITH THE BACKWARDS LOOKING RHETORIC ON THE ELECTION DENIALISM, THE FULL EMBRACE OF THE INITIAL ON THE CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUE OF ABORTION AND SAYING THIS IS A GREAT LAW AND THEN SAYING WE NEED TO GET RIT OF THIS LAW.

SHE HASN'T HAD THE BEST SEVERAL MONTHS IN FRONT OF ARIZONA ELECTORATE.

>> LAST QUESTION, WITH THE POLLS, AND THEY COULD FLIP, THEY COULD GET TIGHTER IN SOME WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM, BUT DOES THAT MEAN THAT ONCE THE ELECTION HAPPENS AND IF TRUMP OR IF REPUBLICANS, CERTAIN MAGA CANDIDATES LOSE, WE'RE GOING TO GET THE ELECTION DENIALISM AGAIN.

LOOK AT POLLS, POLLS SAID THIS, THAT AND THE OTHER.

ARE WE GOING TO GO THROUGH THIS AGAIN.

>> LET'S REMEMBER ONE THING, THE ONLY POLL THAT COUNTS IS THE ONE ON ELECTION DAY.

OF COURSE YOU'RE GOING TO GET THAT.

HE'S PREDICTED THAT RIGHT NOW.

HE'S PREDICTED IT.

TIM SCOTT, ONE OF THE PEOPLE AUDITIONING FOR HIM FOR VICE PRESIDENT SAYING ON THE NEWS THE OTHER DAY, THAT HE WOULDN'T ACCEPT THE OUTCOME.

NOT NECESSARILY ACCEPT THE OUTCOME.

YOU'VE GOT THIS INFECTION GOING ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE OF THE PARTY RIGHT NOW QUESTIONING THE MECHANISMS UNDER WHICH WE VOTE.

DESPITE THE LEGAL RECORD WHICH SHOWS NO FAILURES.

>> NOTHING.

>> IT'S ZERO.

COMPLETELY SPECULATIVE, BUT I FEAR THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE GOING TO FIND IN THIS UPCOMING NOVEMBER.

>> INTERESTING STUFF, CHUCK COUGHLIN, HIGHGROUND, ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> A NEW APP IS OFFERING A WAY TO ASSIST DEMENTIA PATIENTS AND CAREGIVERS BY HELPING TO SPARK MEMORIES AND STIMULATE CONVERSATION AND ESTABLISH CONNECTIONS, AS PART OF MONTHLY AARP SEGMENT, WE LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS APP CALLED MEMORY LABEL.

BRUCE ELLIOTT IS THE CO-FOUNDER AND CEO OF MEMORY LANE GAMES, AND HE JOINS US NOW.

BRUCE, GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> I'M THRILLED TO BE BACK HERE IN PHOENIX.

>> MEMORY LANE APP FOR THOSE WITH DEMENTIA.

SO ARE THESE GAMES?

HOW DOES THIS WORK?

>> YES, WE STARTED MAKING GAMES FOR OUR OWN MOMS AND WANTED SOMETHING REALLY SIMPLE AND ENGAGING.

WE DID MULTIPLE CHOICE QUIZ-STYLE GAMES BUT FRIENDLY FOR PEOPLE WITH DEMENTIA, AND THIS SIMPLE IDEA TOOK OFF ALL AROUND THE WORLD, WE HAD 100,000 DOWNLOADS AND GAMES PLAYED IN 100 COUNTRIES WITH GAMES PLAYED ON A HOBBY OR CITY OR TOWN OR SPORT, OR WHATEVER YOU'RE INTERESTED IN, WE GIVE PEOPLE WITH DEMENTIA SOMETHING THEY WANT TO TALK ABOUT.

THAT'S WHAT'S UNIQUE, WE GET PEOPLE TALKING, SOCIALIZATION.

>> STIMULATE CONVERSATION, TRIGGER MEMORIES, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

>> WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT HAVEN'T TALKED FOR MONTHS AND PLAY A GAME AND HAVE SOMETHING THEY WANT TO TALK ABOUT.

>> MAYBE THEY SEE A CAR OR SEE WHAT?

>> WE HAVE GAMES ON CLASSIC CARS.

WHAT'S THE NAME OF THIS CAR?

AND IT'S THINGS THAT ARE FAMILIAR AND INTERESTING AND IF YOU WERE INTO THAT OR IN WIMBLEDON TENNIS OR CATS AND DOGS OR WOODWORKING TOOLS.

WE HAVE GREAT GAMES ON ALL OF THOSE AND IT'S TO CATCH THE MAGIC OF WHAT'S INSIDE SOMEONE THAT THEY WANT TO TALK ABOUT.

>> WHEN YOU SAY GAMES, THOUGH, WHEN I THINK OF GAMES I THINK OF COMPETITION, THERE IS NO COMPETITION HERE?

>> WE'RE ALL ABOUT SOCIALIZATION, NOT SCORING.

WHEN YOU PLAY OUR GAMES, IF YOU GET AN INCORRECT ANSWER, IT GENTLY DISAPPEARS, OUR FRIENDS AND PARTNERS AT MAYO CLINIC DESCRIBE THAT AS ERRORLESS LEARNING.

>> THERE MIGHT BE TIMES WHERE PEOPLE SEE SOMETHING AND IT JUST -- CAN'T QUITE GET IT, AND YOU DON'T WANT IT TO BE FRUSTRATING AND DON'T WANT IT TO BE A NEGATIVE EXPERIENCE.

>> FRUSTRATION FREE IS WHAT WE DO.

THAT SIMPLE IDEA WAS DESIGNED FOR OUR OWN MUMS AND THEY LOVE THE GAMES AT THE BEGINNING AND WE BUILT MORE AND TAKEN OFF AROUND THE WORLD.

>> TALK ABOUT THE CALMING INFLUENCE SOMETHING LIKE THIS CAN HAVE?

>> MANY OF US KNOW DEALING WITH DEMENTIA, THERE CAN BE AGITATED BEHAVIOR, ESPECIALLY AROUND SUNDOWNING OR AS SOMEONE WANTS TO START WANDERING, SO PEOPLE USE OUR CAREGIVERS AT BENEVIA OR MANUAL ARE USING OUR APP TO TALK WITH PEOPLE TO USE THE APP.

THEY START TO SEE A GAME ON ELVIS, ONE FELLA WAS PLAYING THE GAME AND SAID ROY ORBSON IS A WAY BETTER SINGER, AND HE HASN'T SPOKEN FOR MONTHS.

AMAZING BEHAVIOR.

>> I WAS GOING TO MENTION DISTRACTION, THAT IS A PART OF IT AND SOMETHING YOU DON'T THINK ABOUT BECAUSE SOMETIME YOU THINK, WITH DEMENTIA, EVERYONE IS DISTRACTED TO A CERTAIN DEGREE.

MAYBE TOO MUCH.

YOU ARE SAYING THIS DISTRACTS IN A GOOD WAY.

>> IN A REALLY POSITIVE WAY.

IT'S SOMETHING FAMILIAR, AND SOMETHING CONFIDENT THEY CAN GET SO EASY TO PLAY, IT'S ON CLASSIC CARS, IF YOU KNOW YOUR DAD WAS A BIG CLASSIC CAR FAN, HE'LL HELP YOU FIND THAT RIGHT ANSWER, AND YOU PLAY THROUGH IT AND PLAY IT AGAIN, AND THAT SPARKS THE POSITIVE MEMORIES AND STARTS THE CONVERSATION.

>> I WOULD IMAGINE HUMOR PLAYS A BIG PART IN THIS?

>> IT DOES WHEN.

SOMEBODY GETS AN INCORRECT ANSWERS, THEY OFTEN LAUGH.

OR WE HAVE GAMES ON DOGS WITH JOBS.

EVERYONE LAUGHS AT THAT GAME.

THAT'S ONE OF OUR MOST POPULAR.

JARED: HAVE YOU DONE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH, THE KIND OF STUFF WHERE YOU CAN SEE WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE BRAIN WHEN THE GAME SUCCESS PLAYED?

>> SO WHAT WE'VE DONE IS DONE IN THE U.K., CLINICAL TRIALS THAT SHOW THAT 92% OF THE CAREGIVERS FOUND THEY WERE MORE RELAXED AND 67% WERE HAPPIER PLAYING OUR GAMES WITH SOMEONE WITH DEMENTIA.

WE KNOW THE APP TRIGGERS POSITIVE MEMORY, AND THAT'S A VISUAL STIMULUS, A COGNITIVE STIMULUS, EMOTIONAL STIMULUS AND ALL OF THOSE WITH FINE MOTOR SKILLS AND BRINGS IT ALL TOGETHER TO TRIGGER A MEMORY IN THE CONVERSATION.

>> IS IT THE KIND OF THING YOU KEEP AT IT EVERY DAY DO, IT SPORADICALLY, HOW DOES IT COME ABOUT?

>> THREE TIMES A WEEK FOR 15 OR 20 MINUTES WITH DAD, THAT SHOWED POSITIVE RESULTS IN U.K. CLINICAL TRIALS AND PARTNERS AT ASU ARE LOOKING TO REPLICATE THAT TRIAL IN THE U.S., THE FDA.

WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

>> GIVE ME AN INDICATION OF THE RESPONSE YOU HAVE HAD WITH THIS?

>> OVER HALF OF THE CAREGIVERS REPORTED THE PERSON WITH DEMENTIA WAS COMMUNICATING MORE, AND THE CAREGIVERS WERE FEELING THEY WERE SO HAPPY, THEY WERE RELAXED, FOUND THE APP WORTHWHILE.

THAT'S MUSIC TO OUR EARS.

>> USUAL TIME, HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO PLAY THE GAMES?

>> A COUPLE MINUTES TO PLAY A GAME, BUT PEOPLE PLAY ON AVERAGE TEN MINUTES A SESSION, AND WE HAVE GAME PLAY UP TO AN HOUR OR TWO.

>> WOW.

>> WE GET INTERGENERATIONAL PLAY, PLAYING GRANDMOTHERS AND KIDS, AND WE'RE SEEING WONDERFUL SUPPORT HERE IN ARIZONA FROM THE ARIZONA HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

WE'RE BUILDING GAMES FOR UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS, WE CAN DO EXACTLY THE SAME THING BUT ON THEMES THAT IMPACT A PERSON WITH DEMENTIA FAMILIAR WITH OTHER PLACES AROUND THE WORLD AND THEMES AS WELL.

SO THE CHAMBER HAS BUILT 25 GAMES FOR US.

>> DIFFERENT FOLKS HAVE DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES.

>> BRUCE ELLIOTT, MEMORY LANE GAMES, CONGRATULATIONS AND CONTINUED SUCCESS.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

.

>>> POETRY IN AMERICA IS A TV SERIES THAT BRINGS POETRY INTO CLASSROOMS AROUND THE WORLD.

EVERYDAY AMERICANS DISCUSSING AND INTERPRETING AMERICAN POEMS.

POETRY IN AMERICA IS HOSTED BY LISA NEW, WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I'M THRILLED TO BE HERE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, WE'RE THRILLED TO HAVE YOU, POETRY IN AMERICA, GIVE ME A BETTER DEFINITION OF WHAT YOU'RE DOING HERE?

>> POETRY IN AMERICA IS A TELEVISION SERIES IN THE FOURTH SEASON WHERE, EACH EPISODE TAKES YOU MUCH DEEPER INTO AN AMERICAN POEM THAN YOU EVER HAVE GONE BEFORE, AND, YOU KNOW, MANY PEOPLE ARE QUITE INTIMIDATED BY POETRY, AND TENTATIVE, AND THIS SERIES SEEMS TO BE CATCHING ON.

>> HOW DO YOU DO THAT?

I'VE SEEN ELIZABETH BISHOP IN HERE AND MR. ICE CREAM GUY, WALLACE STEVENS.

I'VE READ SOME OF THEIR POETRY, IT CAN BE IMPENETRABLE.

HOW DO YOU GET PAST THAT AND MAKE POETRY FOR THE MASSES?

>> WHAT DO YOU IS GATHER A LITTLE PICKUP TEAM OR ENSEMBLE CAST OF READERS WHOM YOU THINK MIGHT BRING THE LIFE EXPERIENCE OR CURIOSITY TOGETHER TO READ THIS POEM, AND WHAT I HAVE DISCOVERED, AND I ACTUALLY DISCOVERED THIS AS A PROFESSOR, AN ENGLISH PROFESSOR FOR YEARS, POETRY IS WRITTEN FOR NOT FOR ONE, NOT JUST FOR ONE PERSON, POETRY IS WRITTEN FOR ALL OF US WHO SHARE A LANGUAGE.

ONE WAY WE BRING THESE POEMS, WE LIFT THEM UP AND CLARIFY THEM IS A BUNCH OF PEOPLE IN A ROOM WILL BE INTERPRETING THEM, AND THOSE PEOPLE MIGHT INCLUDE SHAQUILLE O'NEAL AND THEY MIGHT INCLUDE JOE BIDEN, AND IT MIGHT BE KATIE COURIC, AND IT MIGHT BE THE BOY NEXT DOOR, AND THESE INTERPRETERS TOGETHER PUZZLE THROUGH WHAT IT IS TO READ A POEM.

>> OF THOSE FOUR PEOPLE, NO ONE HAS THE RIGHT WAY TO DO IT.

IT HITS ME DIFFERENTLY THAN IT HITS YOU, THEN WE ALL WIN?

>> WHAT I HAVE FOUND SO INTERESTING AS THE HOST OF THIS SHOW IS THAT SOMETIMES, IN ALMOST EXACTLY THE SAME WORDS, BILL CLINTON AND A FOURTH GRADER WILL INTERPRET A LINE, AND IT'S PRETTY FUN IF YOU'RE THE FOURTH GRADER I GUESS OR IF YOU ARE A FOURTH GRADER TO SAY, WOW, BILL CLINTON AND THE FOURTH GRADER SAY EXACTLY THE SAME THING, AND ON THE OTHER HAND, AND ON THE OTHER HAND, SOMETIME JOE BIDEN AND SOMEONE ELSE WILL HAVE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT RESPONSES AND BOTH OF THEM WILL SEEM REASONABLE TO YOU AND THE VIEWER WHO'S WATCHING WILL OFTEN SAY, WELL, WHY AREN'T YOU SAYING THIS?

>> YOU'RE MISSING SOMETHING HERE.

>> YOU'RE MISSING SOMETHING, AND THAT'S EXCITING TO THINK ABOUT THE VIEWERS WHO ARE SO ENGAGED BY THE DEVELOPING INTERPRETATION OF A POEM THAT THEY'RE IN THERE.

>> DO YOU INCLUDE VERSE?

DO YOU INCLUDE SONG LYRICS?

>> WE INCLUDE POETRY IS NOT WRITTEN IN MOST CASES FOR THE COLD PAGE.

WE WERE ALL TAUGHT THAT YOU SHOULD POSITION YOURSELF IN FRONT OF THE POEM AND LET IT -- I DON'T KNOW, MAN HANDLE YOU IN SOME WAY.

>> YEAH.

[LAUGHTER] >> VERY OFTEN POEMS WERE WRITTEN TO BE PERFORMED, THEY WERE INSPIRED BY MUSIC.

THEY WERE INSPIRED BY PHOTOGRAPHY.

THEY WERE INSPIRED BY A WALK IN THE CITY.

THEY WERE INSPIRED BY THE MUSHROOMS ON YOUR DINNER PLATE, AND SO WHAT WE TRY TO DO IS RESTORE POEMS TO THE RICH CONTEXT THEY BELONG TO, AND SO YES, WE SING, WE KIND OF DO EVERYTHING ON THE SHOW.

>> HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHICH POEMS TO INCLUDE?

>> THAT IS MY PRIVILEGE.

AS I -- SO WHAT I DO EACH SEASON IS LOOK FOR A POEM FOR EVERYONE.

A POEM THAT WILL REACH SOMEONE WHO CARES ABOUT SCIENCE.

A POEM THAT WILL TAKE US INTO AN AMERICAN COMMUNITY.

WE MIGHT NOT KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT, A POEM THAT WILL TAKE US INTO THE WORLD OF PERFORMANCE, AND SO I'M THINKING ABOUT DIVERSITY OF ALL KINDS.

I'M THINKING ABOUT HISTORICAL DIVERSITY, AND SO EACH SEASON I ASSEMBLE AN ANTHOLOGY OF POEMS AND THEN I LOOK FOR WHO ARE THE PEOPLE OUT THERE IN THE WORLD THAT VIEWERS AND LEARNERS ARE GOING TO WANT TO HEAR FROM ON THIS POEM?

>> I MEMGSED WALLACE STEVENS AND ELIZABETH BISH ON.

YOU HAVE BILLIE HOLIDAY AND STRANGE FRUIT, WHICH IF ANYONE HAS KNOWN ANYTHING ABOUT THAT SONG, THEY KNOW THERE'S A WHOLE LOT GOING ON THERE.

>> A BIG STORY TO TELL.

>> THERE IS.

NOW ARE THERE DIGITAL CLASSROOM STUFF AVAILABLE FOR FURTHER LEARNING?

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

THERE'S A PBS LEARNING MEDIA COLLECTION THAT TEACHERS HAVE BEEN USING FOR YEARS NOW, BUT IN ADDITION, I SIT HERE AT ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY NOW, I HEAD A CENTER IN EDUCATIONAL MEDIA INNOVATION, AND WE OFFER COURSES FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, FOR CLASSROOM TEACHERS, THAT ARE ALL BASED ON POETRY IN AMERICA MATERIALS.

>> VERY GOOD, I'M GOING TO PUT YOU CONFINED, POETRY IS BEST WHEN CONFINED, HAVE YOU 30 SECONDS, 30 SECONDS.

>> UH-OH.

>> HOW DO YOU READ A POEM?

BEST ADVICE.

>> I'M GOING TO GIVE BILLY COLLINS, THE EXTRAORDINARY POET BILLY COLLINS.

BILLY COLLINS SAYS DON'T READ IT LIKE A TORTURER, LIKE YOU ARE THE INTERROGATOR AND THE POEM IS TIED TO THE CHAIR AND YOU'RE BEATING IT WITH A RUBBER HOSE.

INSTEAD READ A POEM AS YOU MIGHT HAIL A GUY ON WATER SKIS.

YOU SAY, WOW, THAT'S DELIGHTFUL, I'M KIND OF INTERESTED IN THAT, CASUALLY.

>> LOVE IT.

LOVE IT.

>> LISA NEW, POETRY IN AMERICA, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, LOVED IT.

>> THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.