TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," A LOOK INTO RISING TENSIONS BETWEEN STATE ELECTION OFFICIALS AND THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

ALSO TONIGHT, WHAT AN OVERHAUL OF HEAD START COULD MEAN FOR THE FEDERALLY FUNDED PRESCHOOL PROGRAM?

>>> AND A NEW ARIZONA PBS DOCUMENTARY SERIES "RESOLVE TO SOLVE" PREMIERES TOMORROW.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

.

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

I'M TED SIMONS.

♪.

TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," A LOOK INTO RISING TENSIONS BETWEEN STATE ELECTION OFFICIALS AND THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

>>> ALSO TONIGHT, WHAT AN OVERHAUL OF HEAD START COULD MEAN FOR THE FEDERALLY FUNDED PRESCHOOL PROGRAM?

>>> AND A NEW ARIZONA PBS DOCUMENTARY SERIES "RESOLVE TO SOLVE" PREMIERES TOMORROW.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

.

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

I'M TED SIMONS.

TENSIONS BETWEEN MANY OF THE NATION'S ELECTION OFFICIALS AND THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ARE RISING AMID THE APPROACHING MIDTERM ELECTIONS.

THE SITUATION WASN'T HELD BY A RECENT SECURITY CALL HOSTED BY THE ADMINISTRATION'S AGENCY IN CHARGE OF CYBERSECURITY.

A CALL IN WHICH ARIZONA SECRETARY OF STATE ADRIAN FONTES WENT AFTER THE AGENCY FOR WHAT HE CALLED THEIR LACK OF SUPPORT.

FOR MORE ON ALL THIS, WE'RE JOINED BY DION NISSENBAUM, SENIOR NATIONAL REPORTER FOR VOTEBEAT.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THIS IS IN GENERAL, A DETERIORATING SITUATION FOR A WHILE.

SOUNDS LIKE IT'S NOT GETTING ANY BETTER.

>> NO, IT'S GETTING WORSE AS WE GET CLOSE TO THE MIDTERM.

THAT'S PROBABLY WHY THE TENSIONS ARE RISING.

THIS AGENCY WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2018 TO HELP STATES PREPARE FOR POTENTIAL CYBERATTACKS, AND TO DO TABLE TOP EXERCISES ON PROBLEMS, AND IN THE SECOND TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, THEY'VE DONE ALMOST NOTHING, AND A LOT OF STATES HAVE TRIED TO STEP IN AND FIND NEW WAYS TO DEAL WITH A LACK OF FEDERAL SUPPORT, BUT IT'S REALLY JUST SORT OF ONE EPISODE THAT'S CREATING TENSIONS BETWEEN THE STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OVER ELECTIONS.

TED: YEAH, YEAH, AND I WANT TO GET MORE ON THAT RELATIONSHIP HERE, BUT THIS SECURITY CALL IS SOMETHING YOU FOCUSED ON IN YOUR WRITING, REPORTING ON THIS.

WAS THIS SOMETHING THAT THE ELECTION OFFICIALS WANTED TO HAVE HAPPEN?

WAS THIS SOMETHING THAT CISA INITIATED?

>> THIS WAS ORIGINATED BY THE FEDERAL AGENCY, AND THEY HAVE BEEN SILENCE BETWEEN THE STATES AND THE FEDS MORE THAN A YEAR.

THE AGENCY USED TO PROVIDE TABLE TOP EXERCISES TO WEIGH THINGS OUT, TO LOOK FOR VULNERABILITIES IN ELECTIONS SYSTEM, IT PROVIDES THEM WITH CLASSIFIED INTELLIGENCE ON A POTENTIAL THREAT COMING FROM FOREIGN ACTORS, AND THAT'S DISAPPEARED.

SO THE STATES WERE LIKE, OKAY, YEAH, MAYBE THE FEDS ARE COMING BACK AND TELL US WHAT ARE THE THREATS WE'RE FACING IN NOVEMBER?

HOW CAN YOU TELL US HOW TO TEST THE EQUIPMENT?

THEY DIDN'T GET THAT IN THE CALL.

TED: WHAT DID THEY GET IN THE CALL?

>> ONE PERSON DESCRIBED IT A CYA CALL, A COVER YOUR BUTT, WE'RE GOING TO PREPARE YOU FOR 2028.

TED: I WAS GOING TO ASK THAT.

WE HAVE TO ADMIT THEY ARE VERY CLOSE AND SEEMS LIKE ELECTION OFFICIALS WOULD FOCUS ON THAT BUT THEY'RE FOCUSED ON THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN 2028, WHAT'S THAT ABOUT?

>> A LOT OF THINGS AT PLAY HERE.

PRESIDENT TRUMP DEEMPHASIZED THIS AGENCY.

STAFFS HAS GONE AWAY, NOT THE SAME NUMBER OF PEOPLE TO WORK ON THESE THINGS, AND, OF COURSE, THIS IS A PRESIDENT MORE FOCUSED ON THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION THAN THE MIDTERMS, SO THEY JUST WERE FOCUSED -- AND THEY DON'T HAVE TIME ANYMORE, THERE'S 90 DAYS, 80 DAYS BEFORE THE ELECTION, THERE'S NOT MUCH TO DO TO HELP THE STATES AT THIS POINT.

TED: DIDN'T THE ADMINISTRATION LAUNCH AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE DIRECTOR OF CISA?

>> THEY DID, CHRIS CRABS KNOCKED DOWN THE PRESIDENT'S CLAIM THAT THE 2020 ELECTION WAS STOLEN, WHEN HE CAME BACK INTO OFFICE, THE PRESIDENT LAUNCHED AN INVESTIGATION INTO HIM.

IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS HE'S DONE TO DELEGITIMIZE SISA.

TED: CISA STANDS FOR CYBERSECURITY AND SAFETY AGENCY, DO THEY HAVE A DIRECTOR ANYMORE?

>> THEY HAVEN'T HAD A DIRECTOR SINCE PRESIDENT TRUMP CAME BACK INTO OFFICE.

IT'S A SIGN HOW LITTLE HE CARES ABOUT THE AGENCY'S OPERATIONS.

>> AND SHOULD MENTION ARIZONA SECRETARY OF STATE ADRIAN FONTES WAS VERY MUCH FRONT AND CENTER IN THE CALL.

WE'VE HAD HIM ON THE PROGRAM MANY TIMES HERE AND EXPRESSED FRUSTRATIONS WITH THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION REGARDING ELECTION SECURITY, INFORMATION, COMMUNICATION, WHAT DID YOU HEAR?

WHAT WAS SAID, AT LEAST, ON THIS CALL, THE SECURITY CALL WITH CISA?

>> SECRETARY FONTES SPOKE FORCEFULLY AND SAID WHY SHOULD WE TRUST YOU?

YOU'VE COME OUT, CISA FALLS UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND THE SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY THREATENED TO PROSECUTE SECRETARIES OF STATE IF THEY LEAVE NONCITIZENS ON VOTING ROLLS OR ALLOW THEM TO VOTE, THAT HAS CREATED A LOT OF TENSIONS BECAUSE SECRETARY FONTES SAID WHY SHOULD WE TREAT YOU AS A PARTNER WHEN YOU ARE THREATENING TO POSSIBLY ARREST US IF THERE ARE NONCITIZENS ON OUR ROLLS?

THAT WAS THE HEART OF THE FRUSTRATION THAT I HEARD FROM BOTH SECRETARY FONTES AND OTHER DEMOCRATIC SECRETARIES OF STATE ON THE CALL.

TED: HASN'T THE ADMINISTRATION ALSO THREATENED TO HOLD BACK FUNDS IF SECRETARIES OF STATE OR ELECTION OFFICIALS AND STATES DON'T GO ALONG WITH THE ADMINISTRATION'S PLANS?

>> THIS IS THEIR MAIN LEVER THEY HAVE, TRYING TO WITHHOLD FEDERAL FUNDS IF STATES DON'T IMPLEMENT THE CHANGES.

THERE IS A LAWSUIT THAT HAS BEEN FILED BY SOME OF THE STATES BECAUSE FEMA IS WITHHOLDING SOME OF THIS MONEY.

THIS IS ALL PART OF THESE TENSIONS THAT ARE RISING BETWEEN FEDERAL AND STATE OFFICIALS THAT SHOULD BE WORKING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS RUN SMOOTHLY.

TED: AND TO THAT EFFECT, HOW MUCH SHOULD THE REST OF US BE CONCERNED THIS TENSION IS HAPPENING HERE, THIS COMMUNICATION -- COOPERATION ISN'T HAPPENING.

WE HAVE ELECTIONS COMING UP IN 80 DAYS, HOW CONCERNED SHOULD WE BE?

>> WELL, A LOT OF STATES HAVE STEPPED UP AND TRIED TO BACKFILL WITH THEIR OWN SUPPORT, THEY'LL BRING IN PRIVATE CONTRACTORS TO DO TESTING FOR THEM.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT STATES AREN'T ABLE TO DO IS TO GET THIS CLASSIFIED INTELLIGENCE ABOUT THE FOREIGN THREATS, SO YOU KNOW, FOREIGN ACTORS ARE TRYING TO DISRUPT AMERICAN ELECTIONS, THEY'LL CARRY OUT SORT OF INFORMATION CAMPAIGNS, PROPAGANDA CAMPAIGNS, THEIR ABILITY TO AFFECT ELECTIONS EQUIPMENT OR CHANGE VOTES IS NOT REALLY POSSIBLE, SO THE CONCERNS I THINK HAVE TO BE SEEN IN THAT CONTEXT, YOU KNOW.

THE STATES RUN ELECTIONS, THEY'RE NOT RUN BY FEDERAL OFFICIALS, AND THE PLACES WHERE YOU HAVE PROBLEMS, STATE OFFICIALS ARE WORKING TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN ADDRESS THEM.

SO I THINK WE ALL SHOULD BE LOOKING TO MAKE SURE THAT ELECTIONS ARE GOING TO BE SECURE, BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO KEEP IT IN CONTEXT.

THIS ISN'T LIKE A, YOU KNOW, A FIVE-ALARM FIRE KIND OF CONCERN.

IT'S SOMETHING THEY WOULD LIKE TO HELP THEM PREPARE FOR THREATS, BUT IT'S NOT A DIRE EMERGENCY.

TED: INDEED, AND STATES ARE -- STATES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ON THEIR OWN, SUPPOSED TO BE ON THEIR OWN BY DESIGN, BUT SOUNDS LIKE THEY'RE ON THEIR OWN NOW BECAUSE SOMETHING THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO HELP DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ALL THAT HELPFUL?

>> YEAH, THE TENSIONS INDEED CONTINUE TO RISE, AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT PRESIDENT TRUMP WILL TRY AND DO BETWEEN NOW AND MIDTERM ELECTIONS TO TRY AND ISSUE A NEW EXECUTIVE ORDER OR TRY AND TAKE NEW STEPS THAT COULD THROW MORE WRENCHES INTO THE PROBLEM.

IT'S ALWAYS A DYNAMIC TIME ESPECIALLY IN THE THREE MONTHS BEFORE THE ELECTION.

WE'LL HAVE TO KEEP WATCHING AND SEE HOW IT PLAYS OUT.

TED: DION NISSENBAUM, SENIOR NATIONAL REPORTER FOR VOTEBEAT, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS, TED.

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TED: THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION RECENTLY ANNOUNCED PLANS TO OVERHAUL HEAD START, A LONGSTANDING FEDERALLY FUND PRESCHOOL PROGRAM.

THE PLANS INCLUDE ELIMINATING MANY OF HEAD START'S REGULATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS, A MOVE THAT CRITICS SAY COULD CHANGE THE NATURE OF WHAT HEAD START IS DESIGNED TO DO.

TO LEARN MORE WE WELCOME EVE DEL REAL, PRESIDENT OF THE ARIZONA HEAD START ASSOCIATION.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

TED: GIVE ME A BETTER DEFINITION OF HEAD START?

>> IT'S AWESOME.

IT'S A HIGH-QUALITY, EARLY EDUCATION PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES SERVICES TO VULNERABLE CHILDREN, BUT THE UNIQUE ASPECT OF HEAD START THEY THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO HIGHLIGHT IS THAT IT INCORPORATES COMPREHENSIVE SERVICES, NOT ONLY DOES IT PROVIDE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, BUT IT EMBEDS MENTAL HEALTH, INCLUSION SERVICES FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITY, NUTRITION, AND THE FAMILY SERVICE ASPECT THAT HELPS FAMILIES DURING SOME OF THE MOST CRITICAL POINTS IN TIME, ESPECIALLY DURING ADVERSITY.

IT'S A PROGRAM THAT HAS A 61-YEAR HISTORY, AND IT'S BACKED BY EVIDENCE THAT WE KNOW THAT IT DEFINITELY MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES.

TED: BUT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WANTS TO OVERHAUL THE PROGRAM AND WANT TO DO SO BY CUTTING A LOT IN THE WAY OF REGULATIONS.

FIRST OF ALL, IT'S LIKE 1400 REGULATIONS AS FAR AS HEAD START.

COULD SOME OF THAT BE TRIMMED BACK OR HOW DO YOU SEE THIS?

>> AS WE'RE LOOKING AT THE NOTICE OF THE PROPOSAL OR CHANGE, WE'RE FINDING THAT THE CRITICAL COMPONENTS THAT LEAD TO HIGH-QUALITY EXPERIENCE FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES ARE GETTING ELIMINATED.

FOR US, THERE IS CONSIDERABLE CONCERN ABOUT THE IMPACT AND WHAT THAT WILL DO IN TERMS OF THE SERVICE THAT WE'RE PROVIDING FOR FAMILIES.

ESSENTIALLY IT WATERS DOWN THE SERVICE, AND IT COULD LEAD TO JUST THE ELIMINATION OF WHAT HEAD START WAS DESIGNED TO DO.

TED: SOUNDS LIKE THE ADMINISTRATION WANTS TO SEE MORE IN THE WAY OF LOCAL DECISION-MAKING.

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?

>> IT DOESN'T.

HERE IN ARIZONA, ONE OF THE THINGS IN THE NOTICE OR PROPOSAL IS FOR EXAMPLE, THE GROUP SIZE OR RATIO, WHICH IS AN IMPORTANT TENET TO THE HEAD START MODEL WHERE WE'RE ABLE TO PROVIDE INDIVIDUALIZED SERVICES TO SMALLER GROUP SIZES.

IT IS DESIGNED FOR CHILDREN WITH HIGHER NEEDS, CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES.

IN ARIZONA, THERE IS NO CAP ON GROUP SIZE, SO WHEN WE LOOK AT IT AND COMPARE IT WITH WHAT THE OUTCOME WOULD BE, IT WOULD NOT PROVIDE CHILDREN WITH THE SAME EXPERIENCE.

TED: WHEN THE ADMINISTRATION SAYS THE RULES AND REGULATIONS CAN DRIVE UP COSTS, LIMIT THE REACH OF THE PROJECT, YOU SAY -- >> NO.

I THINK THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO, YES, LOOK AT REGS, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, UTILIZE EXPERTISE TO ENSURE WHATEVER IS BEING PROPOSED COMES FROM A SPACE THAT STILL PRESERVES THE QUALITY ASPECT OF THE PROGRAM.

TED: YEAH, AND I WANT TO GET BACK TO THE IDEA OF MORE LOCAL CONTROL.

WHAT YOU'RE BASICALLY SAYING IS STATE CONTROL IS THE BARE MINIMUM AS OPPOSED TO WHAT EXISTS RIGHT NOW, CORRECT?

>> CORRECT.

TED: WHEN PEOPLE HEAR THERE'S 1400 REGULATIONS, GOT TO GET RID OF SOME OF THE -- WOULD NOT BE A GOOD THING TO SEE SOME OF THOSE TRIMMED, LOOKED AT AGAIN?

>> IT COULD BE, BUT OUR MAIN CONCERN IS THAT THESE STATUTES THAT PROMOTE HIGH-QUALITY TEACHING, FAMILY SERVICES, SERVICE FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES ARE THE ONES THAT ARE BEING SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED OR ELIMINATED, SO OUR QUESTION IS WHY HURT CHILDREN?

THERE ARE OTHER AREAS THAT WE COULD LOOK AT ADMINISTRATIVE BURDENS THAT COULD BE CONSIDERED.

IT'S DIFFICULT FOR US AS WE'RE LOOKING AT THE PRACTICES THAT WE KNOW LEAD TO HIGHER OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN THAT ARE ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK.

WHY DO THAT?

TED: WHEN YOU MAKE THE ARGUMENT, THIS COULD DILUTE THE PROGRAM, WHAT DO YOU HEAR FROM ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS?

WHAT HAS BEEN HEARD, I SHOULD SAY?

>> THAT THE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO UTILIZE LOCAL STATUTE WOULD PROVIDE ADDITIONAL ACCESS TO CHILDREN, WHICH IS CHALLENGING FOR US TO MAKE THAT CONNECTION WHEN WE KNOW THAT HEAD START, AGAIN, THRIVES WHEN IT'S ABLE TO PROVIDE SERVICES AT THE INDIVIDUALIZED CAPACITY FOR CHILDREN THERE ARE VULNERABLE.

IT'S DESIGNED FOR CHILDREN THAT ARE HOMELESS AND FOSTER CARE, LOW-INCOME CHILDREN THAT HAVE HIGHER NEEDS.

TED: THE OVERHAUL PLAN, IS IT SET IN STONE, THINGS MOVED AROUND, STILL NEGOTIATIONS?

WHAT'S GOING ON?

>> YES, SO RIGHT NOW, WE'RE GOING THROUGH THE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD WHICH CLOSES OCTOBER 6.

SO WE'RE ASKING OUR COMMUNITIES, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT HAVE HEAD START PROGRAMMING TO PLEASE PROVIDE COMMENT, PROVIDE PERSPECTIVE ON WHAT THE ELIMINATION OF SOME OF THE STATUTES WOULD DO IN TERMS OF THE SERVICES THAT WE'RE PROVIDING.

ESPECIALLY IN RURAL COMMUNITIES WHEN WE KNOW THAT HEAD START IS THE ONLY SERVICE AVAILABLE THAT ONLY PROVIDES EARLY CHILDHOOD, BUT INTERVENTION SERVICES, ELIMINATING THE ASPECT OF SCREENINGS, WOULD SIGNIFICANTLY HARM CHILDREN IN THOSE AREAS.

TED: WHERE CAN PEOPLE GO TO LET THEIR COMMENTS GO?

>> GO TO THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES WEBSITE.

IT'S OPEN UNTIL OCTOBER 6.

ANY SUPPORT IS SIGNIFICANTLY APPRECIATED AT THIS TIME.

TED: IS THIS THE KIND OF THING THAT A LEGAL CHALLENGE, A, IS LIKELY, AND, B, WOULD DELAY IMPLEMENTATION?

>> IT COULD.

IT COULD BECAUSE ONE OF THE CONCERNS THAT WE HAVE IS THAT, YES, REVISION TO THE STATUTE CAN HAPPEN, BUT IF IT AFFECTS THE QUALITY, THE SCOPE OR CONGRESSIONAL INTENT, THEN IT'S QUESTIONABLE.

SO WHAT WE'RE ASKING IS THAT WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT ALL OF THE FACTORS ARE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION AS THEY'RE PROPOSING THE REVISIONS TO THE STATUTE, AND DONE IN A FAIR AND INFORMED PROCESS, AND ENSURE WE'RE NOT HURTING CHILDREN.

TED: WHERE TO GO FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS?

>> THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES WEBSITE, THE FEDERAL WEBSITE.

TED: ALL RIGHT, EVE DEL REAL, HEAD START, EARLY HEAD START, INTERESTING CONVERSATION, GOOD TO HAVE YOU BACK.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

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TED: ARIZONA PBS IS RELEASING ITS FIRST NATIONAL DOCUMENTARY SERIES TITLED "RESOLVE TO SOLVE" WITH MILES O'BRIEN.

THE SERIES EXPLORES HUMAN INGENUITY AND SCIENCE INNOVATIONS USED TO TACKLE CLIMATE, WATER AND HEALTH CONCERNS.

WE SPOKE TO THE HOST OF THE SHOW, VETERAN SCIENCE JOURNALIST MILES O'BRIEN.

MILES O'BRIEN, GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON THIS NIGHT BEFORE THE BIG -- DO YOU -- ARE YOU EXCITED ABOUT THE FACT THAT YOUR SHOW IS PREMIERING TOMORROW NIGHT?

>> I'M THRILLED, TED.

THIS IS A DREAM, A JOURNALISTIC DREAM, I'VE BEEN DOING THE SAME THING FOR 40 YEARS NOW.

I'M A ONE TRICK PONY.

ALL I DO IS GET UP, FIND STORIES OUT OF CURIOSITY, MEET FABULOUS PEOPLE, AND TELL THOSE STORIES HOPEFULLY TO A LARGE AUDIENCE.

THIS SHOW HAS BEEN THE CULMINATION OF EVERYTHING I LOVE AND AM INTERESTED IN, "RESOLVE TO SOLVE."

LOOKING AT BIG PROBLEMS AND THE COOL PEOPLE COMING UP WITH THE SOLUTIONS.

>> HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THIS?

DID YOU COME UP WITH THIS?

WAS IT COLLABORATION?

>> IT WAS A COLLABORATION, YOUR BOSS SCOTT WOELFEL SAID I HAVE INTEREST IN A SCIENCE SHOW, A NATIONAL SHOW OUT OF PHOENIX ON ARIZONA PBS, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO DO ON SCIENCE?

>> I WANT TO DO SOLUTIONS.

>> HE HAD THE TITLE "RESOLVE TO SOLVE."

THE WAY I'VE BEEN DESCRIBING IT TO PEOPLE IS ANTHONY BOURDAIN MEETS SIR ATTENBOROUGH, IT'S A GREAT WAY FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS MOTIVATING SCIENTISTS AND REALLY GET TO KNOW WHO THEY ARE.

TED: AND WE SAW FROM THE INTRO THERE, THE SEGMENT ON BEAVERS, THE ECOLOGICAL IMPACT ON BEAVERS, FOR GOODNESS SAKES, HOW DID YOU COME ACROSS THAT ONE?

>> WHAT ARE THE CHANCE BEAVERS WOULD HAVE THAT MUCH IMPACT.

YOU WOULD BE SKEPTICAL UNTIL YOU LOOK INTO IT.

THESE ARE THE STORIES I RUN INTO IN THE COURSE OF DOING MY WORK FOR THE PBS "NEWSHOUR," FOR EXAMPLE, AND THE PBS "NEWSHOUR" GIVES ME SIX OR SEVEN MINUTES, WHICH IS GREAT, BUT TO DIVE IN WITH SOMEBODY LIKE EMILY FAIRFAX, A LEADING RESEARCHER ON THE IDEA THAT BEAVERS CAN CHANGE THE ENVIRONMENT, CAN CHANGE THE LANDSCAPE IN A WAY THAT PRESERVES THINGS LIKE THE COLORADO RIVER TO.

DIVE INTO THAT IS A TREAT.

TED: YOU HAVE A STORY ABOUT EMILY?

>> STORY IS FABULOUS.

GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE, HAD A LOT OF STUDENT LOANS, ENDS UP AT THE LOS ALAMOS NUCLEAR LABORATORY, WORKING ON WEAPONS.

IT WASN'T DOING IT FOR HER.

ON COMES PBS "NATURE," AND THE SHOW WAS LEAVE IT TO BEAVERS, ABOUT BEAVERS HAVE A TREMENDOUS IMPACT ON ECOSYSTEM IN THE FACE OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

SHE QUIT HER JOB AND NOW IS THE LEADING RESEARCHER.

THAT TELLS YOU WHAT PBS CAN DO FOR ALL OF US.

TED: INDEED.

INDEED.

ANOTHER SEGMENT THAT INVOLVES COWS AND METHANE, AND WE ALL KNOW THAT'S AN ISSUE, BUT IT SOUNDS AS THOUGH THERE IS A WAY TO SOLVE THAT PARTICULAR PROBLEM?

>> YOU KNOW, YOU WOULD NEVER KNOW IT, BUT THERE IS AN ADDITIVE IN A CERTAIN KIND OF SEAWEED THAT WHEN YOU PUT IT IN COW FEED IN SMALL AMOUNTS IT CAUSES A CHEMICAL REACTION IN THE COW'S PART OF THE STOMACH THAT CREATES THE METHANE, WHICH NEGATES THE PRODUCTION OF METHANE AND METHANE IS AN EXTREMELY POTENT GREENHOUSE GAS, AND LIVESTOCK ACTUALLY PRODUCES MORE METHANE THAN THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY COMBINED.

IT'S A REAL PROBLEM AND WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO EAT OUR STEAKS AND BURGERS, RIGHT?

TED: IS IT A BOUTIQUE ANSWER OR VIABLE?

>> IT'S LIKE A LOT OF THINGS YOU RUN INTO IN THE SHOW, ALL ABOUT SCALE, A PROVEN TECHNOLOGY, HOW DO YOU SCALE IT UP, AND MANY OF THE DECISIONS WE HAVE TO MAKE AS A SOCIETY ARE OVER PRIORITIES AND INCENTIVIZE SOME OF THESE IDEAS.

SCIENTISTS HAVE PUT GOOD IDEAS ON THE SHELF, BUT UNLESS WE MAKE A DECISION AS A SOCIETY TO MAKE IT A PRIORITY TO SCALE THEM UP, WE'RE NOT GOING TO MOVE THE NEEDLE.

TED: INDEED.

INDEED.

THESE KINDS OF STORIES WE'LL BE SEEING ON "RESOLVE TO SOLVE," HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE STORIES BEFORE YOU START?

>> WE DO A PRETTY DEEP DIVE BEFORE WE GET OUT THE DOOR.

YOU KNOW, IT TAKES A LOT TO -- YOU KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO GET OUT IN THE FIELD, IT'S AN EXPENSIVE PROPOSITION.

WE'RE ON THE ZOOMS AND PHONE CALLS AND DOING DEEP DIVES ON THE RESEARCH, AND TESTING OUT, FRANKLY, THE PEOPLE WE WANT TO TALK TO BECAUSE WE WANT SCIENTISTS WHO ARE ABLE TO COMMUNICATE TO A BROAD AUDIENCE AND EXPLAIN THEIR SCIENCE IN A WAY THAT CONNECTS A LARGE AUDIENCE.

THAT'S A KEY THING.

THERE ARE A LOT OF GREAT SCIENTISTS WHO AREN'T GOOD AT THIS, FRANKLY, AND WANT TO FIND THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE ABILITY TO FIND A SOLUTION AND TELL THEIR STORIES.

TED: WHEN YOU'RE ON A SHOOT AND THINK YOU HAVE X, Y AND Z COVERED AND YOU LEARN A, B AND, C, HOW OFTEN DOES IT HAPPEN, CHANGE GEARS?

>> HAPPENS A LOT, AND SHAME ON US IF WE DON'T CHANGE GEARS.

WE'RE NOT DOING OUR JOB.

WE TRY TO GET EVERYTHING FIGURED OUT BEFORE WE'RE OUT THE DOOR, SOMETIME STORY WILL MAKE YOU ZAG WHEN YOU SHOULD BE ZIGGING AND VICE VERSA.

TED: I WANT TO LEARN MORE, YOU HAD A CAREER, A LONG CAREER, STORIED CAREER, SO MUCH SUCCESS.

DOING THIS NOW, HOW DOES IT FIT INTO EVERYTHING HAVE YOU DONE?

>> THIS, TO ME, IS THE ONLY THING I TONT DOING RIGHT NOW, TED.

AS I SAID, 40 YEARS OF JOURNALISM.

I'VE ENJOYED MEETING PEOPLE AND TELLING STORIES.

MY FEELING RIGHT NOW IS THE PROBLEMS WE FACE ARE COMPLEX AND CRITICAL, AND I DON'T FEEL THAT THE MEDIA AT LARGE IS DOING A GREAT JOB TELLING PEOPLE THERE ARE SOLUTIONS THAT WE CAN ADDRESS AND BRING TO MARKET TO ACTUALLY MOVE THE NEEDLE.

THIS KIND OF JOURNALISM, SOLUTIONS JOURNALISM, THIS SERIES IS CRUCIAL, AND THE ONLY THING I WANT TO DO RIGHT NOW.

TED: SOLUTIONS JOURNALISM, DID THAT EVER EXIST?

>> EXACTLY.

THIS IS THE PROBLEM.

THERE'S A BIAS AGAINST TELLING THE STORIES OF SOLUTIONS IN MANY NEWSROOMS.

LOT OF EDITORS SAY THAT SOUNDS LIKE PUBLIC RELATIONS TO ME, BUT IF YOU LOOK AT IDEAS THAT ARE NASCENT THROUGH THE PRISM WITH THE RIGOR OF A JOURNALIST AND WITH THE KNOWLEDGE THAT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO BUILD UP OVER THE YEARS, YOU CAN APPLY JOURNALISM TO THESE SOLUTIONS, IT'S NOT PUBLIC RELATIONS.

IT'S JUST AN HONEST WAY OF LOOKING AT THINGS THAT MIGHT BE JUST AROUND THE CORNER.

TED: NOT LIKE FEEL GOOD STUFF, NOT FEATURE STUFF.

>> VERY DIFFERENT.

TED: YES, VERY DIFFERENT.

REAL QUICKLY BEFORE YOU GO, WE HEARD ABOUT BEAVERS, COWS BURPING, WHAT ELSE YOU GOT HERE?

>> WE'VE GOT SO MUCH.

IT'S A SERIES THAT IS HARD TO DESCRIBE, INCLUDING AN EXPERIENCE I HAD WITH PSYCHEDELIC MEDICINE.

TED: OH, MY GOODNESS.

>> WE DON'T DO JUST CLIMATE.

I SUFFER FROM PAIN AS AN ARM AMPUTEE, I PARTICIPATED IN A STUDY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN DIEGO, WHERE THEY ARE USING PSILOCYBIN AS A WAY TO ADDRESS CHRONIC PAIN, AND THERE HAVE BEEN DRAMATIC RESULTS AMONG MANY AMPUTEES GRAPPLING WITH PHANTOM PAIN.

WHEN YOU WATCH THE EPISODE, YOU WILL SEE HOW I DID.

TED: THE BEST TEASE I EVER HEARD.

HOLY SMOKES!

>> I HOPE YOU WATCH.

TED: I'M GLAD YOU SURVIVED IT ALL.

>> IT WAS QUITE AN EXPERIENCE, A TRIP.

TED: IF YOU ARE HERE FOR US.

MILES, GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE, CONGRATULATIONS ON THIS, AND BEST OF LUCK?

TED, IT WAS A PLEASURE.

.

TED: AGAIN, "RESOLVE TO SOLVE" DEBUTS TOMORROW NIGHT ON ARIZONA PBS.

THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.