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TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," IT'S THE JOURNALISTS' ROUNDTABLE.

A LOOK AT THE WEEK'S TOP STORIES INCLUDING NEW DEVELOPMENTS REGARDING THE THREAT TO FOOD STAMP BENEFITS WITH THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.

THE JOURNALISTS' ROUNDTABLE IS NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

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

I'M TED SIMONS.

IT'S FRIDAY, AND THAT MEANS IT'S TIME FOR THE JOURNALISTS' ROUNDTABLE.

AND JOINING US TONIGHT JIM SMALL FROM THE "ARIZONA MIRROR," JEREMY DUDA FROM AXIOS PHOENIX AND WAYNE SCHUTSKY FROM KJZZ RADIO.

PANEL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

WAYNE, YOU'RE RIGHT OVER THERE, RIGHT?

>> I'M HERE.

TED: WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE YOU THERE.

LET'S START WITH YOU SINCE YOU DIDN'T GET YOUR PROFILE.

TODAY'S NEWS, THE LAWSUITS AGAINST THE S.N.A.P.

FUNDING, THE FUNDING OFF THE CLIFF AND ALL THE NINE YARDS THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TOMORROW, SOUNDS LIKE THE JUDGES HAVE MADE A DECISION?

>> STARTING TO SEE MOVEMENT ON THAT.

NOT GOING TO HAPPEN UNTIL MONDAY BUT BASICALLY SAID THE STATES, THE CITIES THAT ARE SUING WERE CORRECT IN THEIR INTERPRETATION THERE'S THE CONTINGENCY FUND AVAILABLE FOR EMERGENCY SITUATIONS WITH S.N.A.P., THERE'S NOT THE MONEY TO COVERT FOOD STAMPS WHICH WE HAVE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.

TRUMP ADMINISTRATION SAID WE CAN'T TAP INTO THE FUNDS, NOT GOING TO GET INTO THE SPECIFIC REASONS BUT SAID THIS SITUATION DOESN'T APPLY.

THE JUDGE SAID I THINK YOU'RE WRONG.

TED: BASICALLY WHAT ATTORNEY GENERAL MAYES SAID WHEN SHE JOINED THE 24 OTHERS.

>> WE NEED A WHITE BOARD IT LIST OFF EVERY ONE OF THE LAWSUITS, 29 OR SOMETHING.

>> 29.

>> SHE ENTHUSIASTICALLY JOINED THAT.

THIS IS A HUGE ISSUE FOR HER AND DEMOCRAT ATTORNEYS GENERAL AND GOVERNORS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

42 MILLION PEOPLE RELY ON S.N.A.P.

BENEFITS.

900,000 IN ARIZONA.

THIS IS A MAJOR ISSUE.

A LOT OF CONCERNS FOR FOLKS, THEY DID NOT REALIZE THIS WAS ABOUT TO HAPPEN, AND IT WAS GREAT FOR THEM THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE INTERRUPTED -- PEOPLE WERE STARTING TO SEE PEOPLE RALLYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET FOOD, GET BENEFITS, REPLACE THIS, AND FOR HOW LONG THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

THAT'S STILL THE QUESTION GIVEN THE AMOUNT OF CONTINGENCY FUNDS HERE.

>> THE LAWSUIT SIGNED OFF ON AND IN PART HER COMMENTS REGARDING THE LAWSUIT, CALLS THE PRESIDENT'S ACTIONS DELIBERATE, UNNECESSARY AND CRUEL, SHE WENT AFTER THEM BUT THE JUDGES ARE BASICALLY SAYING, YOU GOT A POINT WITH THE CONTINGENCY FUND BUSINESS.

>> YEAH, THE JUDGES POIGNANTLY IN THE STATE CASE IN MASSACHUSETTS POINTED OUT THE CONTINGENCY FUND WAS DRAWN UP BY CONGRESS AND MONEY WAS PUT INTO IT.

IT'S EXPLICIT, IF THERE IS NO REGULAR APPROPRIATION, THEN YOU ARE TO TAP INTO THIS MONEY.

NOT REALLY PERMISSIVE.

IT IS A SHALL, REALLY, IN THE LAW.

AND THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION LOOKED TAT AND DECIDED THAT ALL OF THE PAST SHUTDOWNS, THE PAST TWO OR THREE WHERE THE CONTINGENCY FUND EXISTED, WHERE THE S.N.A.P.

BENEFITS HAVE NOT BEEN INTERRUPTED BECAUSE THEY USED THE CONTINGENCY FUND.

THIS CASE WAS DIFFERENT AND DECIDED IT WOULD BE ILLEGAL FOR US TO TAP INTO THIS MONEY THAT CONGRESS PUT HERE FOR THIS CAPACITY REASON.

THE COURT SAID, NO, OF COURSE, IT'S NOT.

I THINK IN REALITY WHAT'S GOING ON IS YOU HAVE THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TRYING TO ARM TWIST DEMOCRATS IN THE U.S.

SENATE INTO VOTING FOR THE FUNDING PROGRAM -- FOR THE FUNDING BILL TO REOPEN THE GOVERNMENT WITH THE IDEA BEING IF THEY'RE GOING TO APPLY PAIN TO PROGRAMS THAT DEMOCRATS BROADLY SUPPORT AND FORCE PEOPLE TO NOT HAVE FOOD, DEMOCRATS WILL REOPEN THE GOVERNMENT WITHOUT HAVING TO NEGOTIATE.

TED: IS THERE ARM-TWISTING ON THE REPUBLICANS WHO ARE PART OF ALL THIS?

LAST I CHECKED, REPUBLICANS HAD CONTROL OF THE HOUSE, THE SENATE AND OBTAIN WHITE HOUSE.

IF YOU KEEP YOUR CAUCUS, THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN.

>> THAT'S THE ARGUMENT MAYES HAS MADE.

SHE SAID THAT AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE.

THEY CONTROL ALL LAYERS OF GOVERNMENT, SO DEMOCRATS AREN'T TO BLAME FOR THIS.

YOU NEED THE 60 VOTES IN THE SENATE TO PASS THE SPENDING PLAN, SO THEY NEED DEMOCRATS ON BOARD.

SO IT'S THIS BACK AND FORTH BLAME GAME AND BOTH SIDES, AS JIM ALLUDED TO, ARE BANKING THAT THE OTHER SIDE IS GOING TO TAKE THE BLAME FOR THE PAIN THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE FEELING, THAT'S THE GAMBIT GOING INTO THE ELECTION YEAR AND COULD PLAY TO VOTERS.

>> WE MIGHT FIND OUT HOW MUCH BLAME AND ARM-TWISTING IN PROBABLY A COUPLE OF WEEKS, IT'S 5.5 BILLION IN CONTINGENCY FUNDS, THAT ISN'T ENOUGH FOR FULL MONTHS OF BENEFITS.

9.SOMETHING BILLION NATIONWIDE.

GOVERNOR HOBBS MOVED OVER AT THE STATE LEVEL, THE FEDERAL LEVEL THIS ISN'T GOING TO LAST FOREVER, NOT GOING TO LAST THE FULL MONTH AND WHO KNOWS HOW LONG THE SHUTDOWN IS GOING TO CONTINUE.

MAY BRING PEOPLE TO THE TABLE A COUPLE WEEKS FROM NOW.

>> I THINK IT'S CLEAR.

YES, IT IS KIND OF A POLITICAL GAMBLE, RIGHT?

FOR GOING OUT AND DOING THIS.

BUT WE'RE SEEING POLL NUMBERS THAT SHOW VERY CLEARLY THAT THE PUBLIC LOOKS AT THIS AND GOES WAIT A SECOND, REPUBLICANS ARE IN CHARGE.

THIS ISN'T THEIR FAULT.

2-1 WERE A COUPLE OF THESE NATIONAL POLLS THAT CAME OUT PEOPLE ARE BLAMING REPUBLICANS BECAUSE AS YOU SAID, TED, THEY CONTROL THE WHITE HOUSE AND BOTH CHAMBERS OF CONGRESS, AND PEOPLE SAY WHY CAN'T YOU GET SOMETHING DONE, FIGURE OUT A WAY TO KEEP THE GOVERNMENT OPEN?

REALLY THE BUCK STOPS WITH MAJORITY PARTY.

>> AND IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO FEEL PAIN REGARDLESS OF THIS COURT RULING.

IT SAID ON MONDAY, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS TO SAY WHETHER THEY CAN TAP INTO THE CONTINGENCY FUND OR ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO COVER THE AMOUNT.

IT IS NOT LIKE ONCE THEY SAY YES, THE MONEY FLOWS TO THE STATES.

THERE'S A LOT OF PROCESS THAT GOES INTO THAT.

PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GO A WEEK WITHOUT THEIR MONEY.

TED: THAT TAKES US TO GOVERNOR HOBBS AND BEFORE THE RULING.

GOVERNOR HOBBS DID ADDRESS THE FOOD STAMP, THE FUNDING CLIP, RELEASED 1.8 MILLION.

THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY BUT NOT A LOT OF MONEY WHEN IT COMES TO FOOD STAMPS.

>> TO US IT'S A LOT OF MONEY FOR A PROGRAM THAT COSTS 150 MILLION A MONTH AT THE STATE LEVEL, NOT SO MUCH.

AND GOVERNOR HOBBS REFERRED TO THIS AS A DROP IN THE BUCKET AND URGING PRESIDENT TRUMP TO RELEASE THE CONTINGENCY FUNDS, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WILL HELP SMALLER AMOUNTS OF MONEY, HELP WITH THE FEDERAL MONEY AND THE GOVERNMENT SAYS THERE IS NO STATE MONEY, NOTHING CAN BE RELEASED WITHOUT LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL.

WE HAVE A RAINY DAY FUND, 1.6 BILLION AT THIS IMPORTANT.

OTHER STATES USE THAT REQUIRES LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL, LEGISLATEIR CONTROLLED BY REPUBLICANS.

NOT A LOT OF APPETITE DO THIS THERE.

SO THE GOVERNOR WAS TRYING TO FIND WAYS THE STATE CAN HELP.

ESPECIALLY OUTSIDE OF SESSION AND OUTSIDE OF LEGISLATIVE AGREEMENT, THERE IS ONLY SO MUCH TO BE DONE.

TED: 1.8 MILLION IN UNSPENT COVID RELIEF FUNDS AND 1.5 FOR FOOD BANKS, TRYING TO GEAR UP FOR THIS.

HOW MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE IS THIS?

COULD THIS BE THE BRIDGE BETWEEN SATURDAY AND WHENEVER THE COURTS BASICALLY SAY YOU GOT TO OPEN UP THE PIPE AGAIN?

>> IT'S NOT NOTHING BUT OBVIOUSLY LIKE THE GOVERNOR SAID DROP IN A BUCKET.

THIS IS 1% OF WHAT THE STATE WOULD NORMALLY BE ALLOCATED FOR THE S.N.A.P.

BENEFITS, AND THE MONEY IS NOT GOING DIRECTLY -- VERY LITTLE OF THE MONEY IS GOING DIRECTLY TO PEOPLE.

I THINK PEOPLE WITH EBT CARDS ARE GETTING VOUCHERS FOR $40 TO SPEND ON FRESH PRODUCE.

RETAILERS.

NOT NOTHING, BUT DOESN'T REPLACE THE $300 OR SO AVERAGE PEOPLE GET IN ARIZONA FOR THIS PER MONTH.

YOU CAN'T MAKE THAT UP WITH 30 BUCKS AND CERTAINLY WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE CROWDING INTO FOOD BANKS WITH SUCH INCREASED DEMAND, IT'S GOING TO BE A STRUGGLE, AND THEY'RE FACING CUTBACKS THEMSELVES FROM THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, WHICH YOU KNOW, CUTS A COUPLE MILLION POUNDS WORTH OF FOOD FROM FOOD BANKS EARLIER THIS YEAR WITHOUT WARNING.

THIS IS A PERFECT STORM IN A LOT OF WAYS FOR, YOU KNOW, FOR THE HOUSING -- FOR THE AFFORDABILITY CRISIS THAT PEOPLE IN ARIZONA AND ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE FACING.

TED: WHY DID THE GOVERNOR DO WHAT SHE DID WHEN SHE DID?

SOME ARE SAYING SHE WAITED LONG FOR THIS?

>> ONE OF THE COMMENTS IS SHE KNEW ABOUT IT, WHICH THERE IS REPORTING FOR POTENTIAL FOR S.N.A.P.

TO GO UNFUNDED, BUT OTHER THAN THAT, IT'S HARD TO SAY.

ON THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S SIDE, THEY HAD TO WAIT FOR THE DIRECTIONS TO COME DOWN TO SUE OVER IT.

FROM THE GOVERNOR'S SIDE, IT SEEMS LIKE THERE COULD BE A PR CAMPAIGN TO GET PEOPLE INFORMED ABOUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING.

IN TERMS OF THE ACTUAL ACTION SHE TOOK, WITHOUT LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL, THERE IS NOT THAT MUCH MONEY THERE, AND WE'VE SEEN OTHER REPUBLICAN-LED LEGISLATURES, LOUISIANA, TAP INTO RAINY DAY FUNDS.

SENATE PRESIDENT AND HOUSE SPEAKER SAID THE ONLY WAY THEY GET THIS MONEY IS IF OUR DEMOCRAT SENATORS VOTE TO REOPEN THE GOVERNMENT.

>> ON THE PR FRONT, I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY HOBBS DEMAND REPUBLICANS DO THIS AND POINT TO LOUISIANA AND OTHER STATES OR, HECK, CALL THEM INTO SPECIAL SESSION TO FORCE THEM TO SAY NO, WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THIS.

SEEMS FROM OUTSIDE PERSPECTIVE, LIKE A REALLY EASY -- LOW HANGING FRUIT AND POLITICAL POINTS TO SCORE FOR A CANDIDATE WHO IS GOING TO BE RUNNING INTO A VERY COMPETITIVE RACE NEXT YEAR, AND THE CHANCE TO REALLY HIT THE REPUBLICAN-LED LEGISLATURE LIKE A PINATA.

I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY DIDN'T DO THAT.

THAT'S WHAT KRIS MAYES WAS PUSHING FOR, SHE SAID WE TALKED WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, URGED THEM TO DO THIS AND THEY REBUFFED US AND SAID WE'RE NOT INTERESTED IN THAT, AND I'M NOT ENTIRELY CERTAIN, HAVEN'T GOTTEN AN EXPLANATION WHY THAT IS.

>> SURE, THIS IS A VERY DIFFERENT ATTITUDE THAT GOVERNOR HOBBS AND ATTORNEY GENERAL MAYES HAVE TOWARD THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

THIS IS A LEGISLATIVE ISSUE FOR THE REPUBLICANS BUT TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AS A PROXY AS WELL THAT MAYES MADE HERSELF THE FACE OF THE DEMOCRATIC RESISTANCE AND HOBBS IS PICKING AND CHOOSING FIGHTS MORE CAUTIOUSLY AND TRYING TO FIND PLACES WHERE I AGREE WITH THE ADMINISTRATION HERE AND NOT HERE, AND FAIRLY FORCEFUL ABOUT IT YESTERDAY CALLING ON THE PRESIDENT TO RELEASE THE 5.5 BILLION.

OBVIOUSLY, THIS CAME TO A HEAD THIS WEEK, AND HAVEN'T HEARD MUCH ABOUT IT FROM THE NINTH FLOOR PRIOR TO THAT.

TED: YEAH, ANYTHING SHE CAN DO, CALLING IN THE NATIONAL GUARD, WHICH STATES ARE TALKING ABOUT, ANYTHING ELSE SHE CAN DO?

>> I THINK SHE DID MENTION POTENTIALLY DOING THAT HELP OUT AT THE FOOD BANK, BUT THERE'S JUST NOT THAT MUCH MONEY AROUND THAT SHE CAN PLAY WITH ON HER OWN.

FOR A LONG TIME, GOVERNORS HAD THE EXTRA COVID MONEY AND WERE ABLE TO HIT THEIR PRIORITIES WITHOUT THE LEGISLATURE, BUT AS WE'RE SEEING, THAT MONEY HAS ALMOST -- IS ALMOST ENTIRELY GONE.

>> THE GOVERNOR MENTIONED, WAS ASKED ABOUT EMERGENCY DECLARATION, SHE POINTED OUT THAT FREES UP FUNDING, IF THERE IS NO FUNDING TO TAP INTO, NO POINT TO DOING THAT.

TED: HOW MUCH IS IN THERE?

1.SOMETHING BILLION?

>> 1.6 BILLION, IT'S AS FULL AS IT CAN BE RIGHT NOW.

TED: WHAT IS IT FOR?

>> TO BRIDGE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN IN THE BUDGET, TO BRIDGE GAPS IN FUNDING FOR REALLY FOR WHATEVER THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR DECIDE TO SPEND IT ON, AND YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT THEY DO SEE A LOT OF POTENTIAL NEEDS FOR THAT MONEY COMING DOWN THE PIKE HERE WITH ALL OF THE CUTS THAT CONGRESS HAS ENACTED AND THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS PUSHING FORWARD.

THOSE ARE GOING TO BE PUSHED OFF ONTO THE STATES, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, YOU DO HAVE THAT POT OF MONEY SITTING THERE, AND IT'S, YOU KNOW, FOR PR PURPOSES, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE HARM IS IN DEMANDING REPUBLICANS DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

TED: I KNOW PEOPLE WHO GET S.N.A.P.

WILL PROBABLY SAY IT'S RAINING RIGHT NOW.

GRAB AN UMBRELLA.

HERE WE GO.

AS FAR AS THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY, DAVID SCHWEIKERT'S DISTRICT, GINA SVOBODA SEEMS TO BE THE FRONT-RUNNER.

GOT A LOT OF ATTENTION AT TRUMP'S SEMI THING ENDORSEMENT.

THE FIELD IS CLEAR AND ALL REPUBLICANS ARE HAPPY WITH HER, RIGHT?

>> WRONG.

AS WE'VE SEEN MANY TIMES WITH GINA SVOBODA, SHE'S IN THIS ONGOING FIGHT WITH THE FAR RIGHT WING OF HER PARTY LED BY TURNING POINT FOLKS LED BY SENATOR JAKE HOFFMAN AND THE FREEDOM CAUCUS.

THEY DON'T LIKE EACH OTHER FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS.

EVEN THOUGH SVOBODA CAME OUT WITH THE TRUMP ENDORSEMENT, HOFFMAN CLAIMS SHE IS NOT THE BEST CANDIDATE FOR THE JOB.

TED: WHAT'S GOING ON HERE, JEREMY?

>> TWO FIGHTS GOING ON HERE.

ONE IS OVER CD1 AND TURNING POINT AND THE FREEDOM CAUCUS AND FOLKS ARE GOING TO FIND ANOTHER CANDIDATE.

I'M SURE THEY'RE LOOKING FOR, TYLER BOWYER FROM TURNING POINT SAID WE HAVE DISTRICTS OVER HERE, THE OTHER FIGHT IS WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE ARIZONA REPUBLICAN PARTY?

IT'S RARE A SITTING CHAIR WOULD ANNOUNCE FOR A CONGRESSIONAL RUN BUT NOT RESIGN.

SHE IS GOING TO STICK AROUND UNTIL JANUARY AND LET THE STATE COMMITTEE PICK A REPLACEMENT.

SENATOR HOFFMAN AND OTHER ENEMIES WITHIN THE PARTY ARE NOT HAPPY ABOUT IT AT ALL.

THEY WANTED HER OUT A FEW MONTHS AGO, THEY TRIED TO FORCE HER OUT, ACCUSING HER OF SUPPRESSING THE VOTE OF THE STATE COMMITTEE BECAUSE THE MEETING IS IN PRESCOTT VALLEY, AND WE DIDN'T GET MOVED AROUND THE STATE.

THERE'S A COUPLE FIGHTS AND MAYBE WE'LL SEE A COUPLE MORE POP UP BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING TO GET HAPPIER AND CONTINUE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO OPPOSE HER IN THE PRIMARY.

TED: JIM, THE LANGUAGE IS STRONG HERE.

TURNING POINT, CONSERVATIVES PLAYED BY HER ARE, QUOTE, VERY, VERY STUPID, CLEAN THE ARIZONA SWAMP BY TAKING OUT THE TRASH CD1.

THAT'S NOT GOOD.

>> NO, IT'S NOT.

I QUESTION THE UTILITY CALLING PEOPLE WHO YOU WANT TO SUPPORT YOUR CANDIDATES VERY, VERY STUPID.

I DON'T KNOW IF THE CAMPAIGNING HANDBOOK IF THAT'S THE BEST MOVE.

THIS IS INDICATIVE OF THE INTRAPARTY FIGHTS, AND ALL OF US HAVE COVERED REPUBLICAN PARTY INTRAPARTY FIGHTS AND DEMOCRATIC PARTY FIGHTS OVER THE YEARS, AND THIS IS THE LATEST ITERATION OF IT.

TO JEREMY'S POINT, IT IS VERY UNUSUAL SHE IS REMAINING CHAIR OF THE PARTY AS SHE'S AN ACTIVE CANDIDATE.

ONE CAN ONLY SURMISE THAT THE REASON TO DO THAT IS SHE DOESN'T LIKE THE VICE CHAIR WHO WOULD BE ELEVATED TO BECOMING THE CHAIR PERSON BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WOULD HAPPEN.

IF SHE FELT COMFORTABLE TURNING THE REINS OF THE PARTY OVER TO THAT PERSON, I THINK WE WOULD HAVE SEEN HER RESIGN.

I THINK THE PRETTY OBVIOUS TAKEAWAY IS SHE DOES NOT THINK THAT THAT PERSON IS SOMEONE WHO SHOULD BE IN CHARGE OF THE PARTY, SO THAT'S UNDERSTANDABLY GOING TO UPSET A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO DO SUPPORT HER AND, YOU KNOW, OR ON THE FLIPSIDE ALSO THAT OPPOSE GINA SVOBODA.

TED: TODD GRAHAM, MATT GRESS, ARE THEY GOING TO RUN AND MAKE A SERIOUS CAMPAIGN OUT OF IT, AND IS DONALD TRUMP GOING TO GO AHEAD AND ENDORSE ALL OF THEM?

>> THESE ARE ALL GOOD QUESTIONS WE'VE BEEN ASKING.

IT WAS SURPRISING AFTER DAVID SCHWEIKERT ANNOUNCED HE WAS NOT GOING TO RUN FOR RE-ELECTION TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR, WE THOUGHT WE HAD ALL THESE NAMES AND PEOPLE ARE GOING TO JUMP IN AND GOING TO BE A FEEDING FRENZY LIKE IT WAS WITH ABE HAMADEH.

THERE'S A LOT OF RUMOR, PEOPLE THINKING ABOUT, IT SVOBODA WAS THE FIRST NAME TO JUMP IN, AND JUMP IN WITH THE TRUMP ENDORSEMENT AS WAS POSTED TO TWITTER, IT'S A BIG SWING AND PROBABLY HAS FOLKS THINKING TWICE.

A LOT OF THE FOLKS COULD RUN FOR RE-ELECTION IN THE STATE RACES.

NOW THEY HAVE TO THINK DO I WANT TO GO AGAINST A TRUMP ENDORSED PERSON OR HANG OUT IN LEGISLATURE LONGER?

>> WE HAVE RADIO SILENCE FROM SOME OF THE PROSPECTIVE CANDIDATES, SEAN NOBLE SAID CONSIDERING, IT MAKING A DECISION, AND EVERYONE ELSE, YOU CAN'T GET THE FOLKS TO RETURN A PHONE CALL.

NO ONE WANTS TO SAY ANYTHING.

MATT GRESS HAS NOT COMMENTED, JOSEPH CHAPLAIN A MEMBER OF THE FREEDOM CAUCUS WHO CAN GET THAT SUPPORT.

MAYBE FOLKS ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT TO GET A TRUMP ENDORSEMENT, TOO.

ASK KARRIN TAYLOR ROBSON, JUST BECAUSE YOU GOT THE ENDORSEMENT DOESN'T MEAN YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE IN THE RACE WITH ONE.

TED: HE IS KING OF THE HILL, ISN'T HE?

>> THE BIGGEST FISH IN THE POND FOR RIGHT NOW.

FORMER PINAL COUNTY SHERIFF, CARRIES SOME WEIGHT WITHIN REPUBLICAN AND CONSERVATIVE CIRCLES IN ARIZONA AND NATIONALLY HAS A BIT OF A NATIONAL PROFILE.

SO THE OTHER FOLKS THAT WERE IN THAT RACE ARE -- SOME OF THEM ARE PEOPLE WHO, IF YOU CLOSELY FOLLOW ARIZONA POLITICS, YOU KNOW WHO THEY ARE.

FORMER LAWMAKERS AND PEOPLE ACTIVE IN LOCAL CONSERVATIVE POLITICS, BUT SHERIFF LAMB IS EASILY THE BIGGEST NAME AND ENTERS INTO THAT RACE FOR RIGHT NOW AS THE FRONT-RUNNER.

TED: WHAT DO YOU THINK, WAYNE, TRAVIS GRANTHAM, JAY FEELY, DANIEL KEENAN, THESE ARE NAMES, SOMEWHERE FAMILIAR, SOMEWHERE NOT, SOME ARE FAMILIAR FOR DIFFERENT REASONS.

ARE THEY GOING TO STICK AROUND?

MAKE THIS INTERESTING?

>> THINK JAY FEELY IS AN INTERESTING NAME TO ME.

FORMER NFL KICKER, HE DID ANNOUNCING FOR COLLEGE.

HE HAS A NAME THAT PEOPLE KNOW AND HE IS BUDDIES WITH THE PRESIDENT.

LOT OF GOLFING PHOTOS WITH THE PRESIDENT AND THE PRESIDENT'S SON, THAT'S SOMEONE WHO COULD SNEAK IN THE TRUMP ENDORSEMENT.

TRUMP ENDORSEMENT ISN'T WHAT IT USED TO BE IN REPUBLICAN PRIMARIES GIVEN HE MIGHT DOUBLE ENDORSE AND BACK MULTIPLE CANDIDATES.

HE IS SOMEONE I WOULDN'T COUNT OUT GIVEN THE CONNECTION TO THE PRESIDENT.

TED: DOES HE GET HURT AT ALL IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY WHICH IS THE DEAL IN CD5, DOES HE GET HURT AT ALL FOR GOING AGAINST KARI LAKE?

>> PROBABLY THE IN.

MARK LAMB, HIS REPUTATION AMONG PRIMARY VOTERS, FOLKS MORE ON THE RIGHT, IT'S VERY GOOD, HE HAD A CELEBRITY PERSONA IN THAT WORLD, VERY RECOGNIZABLE WITH HIS COWBOY HAT AND FLAK JACKET AND ALL THAT.

A LOT OF CABLE NEWS ANNOUNCED ON THE CHARLIE KIRK SHOW.

HE HAD THE AURA.

I DON'T THINK PEOPLE REMEMBER AS MUCH ABOUT HIM BEING SOMEONE WHO WENT AGAINST KARI LAKE, THAT WAS NOT THE MOST ENERGETIC OF PRIMARIES.

ALSO HIS CAMPAIGN SAID HE WON THAT DISTRICT AND THAT PRIMARY, WHICH IS A PRIMARY THAT WAS NOT PARTICULARLY CLOSE.

I HAVEN'T SEEN THE ACTUAL NUMBERS.

EIGHT PERCENTAGE POINT.

THAT WOULD BODE WELL IN A DISTRICT THAT IS 20, 25% PINAL COUNTY.

TED: ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, JIM, CD1, THE INTRIGUE IS FAR DEEPER?

>> YEAH, IT IS.

AND I THINK REALLY IT ALL CENTERS AROUND IS THE TURNING POINT USA FACTION, ARE THEY GOING TO BE ABLE TO RECRUIT A CREDIBLE CANDIDATE TO RUN IN THE RACE, THEY CAN PUT UP AGAINST A TRUMP ENDORSED CHAIR PERSON.

TED: SOMEONE THEY HAVE TO THINK THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND REPUBLICAN VOTERS THINK CAN WIN A GENERAL ELECTION.

YOU GO TOO FAR TO THE RIGHT, THE DISTRICT IS NOT GOING TO GO FOR IT.

>> REPUBLICAN VOTERS CARE ABOUT THAT?

WHEN DID THAT BEGIN?

TED: I AM SPEAKING THEORETICALLY HERE.

>> CD1 IS THE ONE THAT MIRRORS ARIZONA AS A STATE MOST CLOSELY IN TERMS OF VOTING PATTERNS.

IT VOTED AGAINST DONALD TRUMP IN 2020, AND HE WON IT IN 2024 BY LESS OF A MARGIN THAN STATEWIDE.

IT IS A REPUBLICAN-LEANING COMPETITIVE DISTRICT BUT HAS A LOT OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE-TYPE REPUBLICANS WHO HAVE VOTED FOR DEMOCRATS IN THE PAST.

>> WE'VE SEEP A HIGH-RANKING FIGURE OF TURNING POINT TRYING TO PERSUADE PEOPLE FOR RACES.

>> JAY FEELY.

>> JAY FEELY, YOU WOULD BE A GREAT CANDIDATE IN C DID 1.

FEELY'S CAMPAIGN SAYS NO, THEY'RE STAYING PUT.

LOOKS LIKE A LOT OF CANDIDATES IN THE RACE, BUT A FOUR-WAY PRIMARY IN CD5, INCLUDE DANIEL KEENAN, $925,000 OF MONEY INTO HIS ACCOUNT.

TED: THAT WILL GET YOU KNOWN.

JIM, THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WANTS REVISIONS TO TEACHING STANDARDS, DEI AGAIN, THE BOARD OF EDUCATION NOT AMUSED, DENIED THE REQUEST.

WHAT'S GOING ON?

>> BASICALLY TOM HORNE, WHO HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN KIND OF -- ANY SORT OF PUSH WITHIN ARIZONA TO GET RID OF WHAT WE NOW REFER TO AS DEI, BUT BEFORE, RACIALLY SENSITIVE TEACHING AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

ETHNIC STUDIES PROGRAM, TOM HORNE CUT HIS TEETH ON TRYING TO GET RID OF THOSE PROGRAMS, THE LATEST VERSION OF IT.

THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION PUT OUT EXECUTIVE ORDERS THAT, YOU KNOW, THREATEN TO TAKE AWAY FUNDING FOR SCHOOLS AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT INVOLVE DIVERSITY EDUCATION AND INCLUSION EDUCATION, AND HE WENT TO THE STATE BOARD OF ED AND SAID WE NEED TO STRIP THIS, CHANGE IT OUT, WE'RE AT RISK OF LOSING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

HE'S ON THE BOARD, NOT ON THE BOARD, BUT CAN'T VOTE.

AND THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION REJECTED THIS PUSH HE WAS MAKING AND SAID WE'LL COME BACK AND LOOK AT IT LATER IN THE YEAR.

TED: HAS HE GOT A POINT?

$806 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING, COULD BE IN JEOPARDY.

YOU KNOW HOW THE ADMINISTRATION FEELS ABOUT DEI?

>> THERE'S AN EXECUTIVE ORDER QUESTIONING THIS THING.

QUESTIONING PROGRAMS THAT ARE FUNDED THAT CROSS WHATEVER LINE THE ADMINISTRATION IS TRYING TO GET RID OF OR HIT THE ENTIRE FEDERAL FUNDING FOR EDUCATION?

ADDITIONALLY, THERE'S A COURT ORDER BLOCKING MOST OF THAT EXECUTIVE ORDER AND WHY THE STATE BOARD WAS LIKE WE'RE NOT AS MUCH OF A HURRY FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT TO DO THIS.

LET'S BE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT THIS, IT'S NOT LIKE YOU WANT TO CONTROL F THE TEACHING STANDARDS FOR ECDY AND DELETE IT, WHICH SEEMS LIKE WHAT THE SUPERINTENDENT WANTS TO DO.

>> THE BOARD WANTS TIME TO LOOK AT IT, DO THESE THINGS NEED TO GO?

SOME OF THESE THINGS ARE ISSUES THAT YOU WOULD LOOK INTO, THIS IS GOING TO BE A RED FLAG FOR THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, FOR FOLKS TRYING TO ROOT OUT DEI.

CELEBRATING DIVERSITY AND LANGUAGE LIKE THAT.

AND ENGAGING STUDENTS DIRECTLY AND EQUITABLY.

BECAUSE THE WORD EQUITABLY IS IN THERE, DOES IT MAKE IT PART OF DIVERSITY, EQUITABLE AND INCLUSION, IS THAT DEI OR JUST A LITTLE MORE COMMON SENSE?

IS THERE GRAY AREA?

IS ONE PERSON GOING TO LOOK AT THAT AND SAY AM I GOING TO INTERPRET IT THIS WAY?

TED: JIM, DOES THIS MAKE HIM MORE ATTRACTIVE IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY TO KEEP HIS JOB?

>> I THINK IT'S ANOTHER THING TO POINT TO CERTAINLY.

AGAIN, A LOT OF HIS POLITICAL CAREER, ESPECIALLY IN THE EDUCATION ARENA, REVOLVED AROUND THINGS LIKE THIS, AND THIS IS THE LATEST VERSION.

I THINK WHEN HE GOT ELECTED A FEW YEARS AGO, THE CRITICAL RACE THEORY WAS THE BIG BUZZ WORD IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARIES AND IN THE ELECTIONS AND DEI HAS SUPPLANTED THAT AS THE NEW BOGEYMAN HERE.

IT WILL HELP, BUT I THINK THE RACE IS GOING TO BE ABOUT A LOT MORE THAN JUST THAT.

IT'S GOING TO BE ABOUT PERSONALITIES.

IT'S GOING TO BE ABOUT VOUCHERS.

THERE'S A WHOLE MESS OF THINGS I THINK THAT ARE GOING TO BE -- CANDIDATES ARE GOING TO BE APPEALING TO REPUBLICAN VOTERS WITH, WITH HIM AND KIMBERLY YEE, THE STATE TREASURER.

TED: IMPACT ON THE PRIMARY, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I TEND TO AGREE WITH JIM, IT'S PART OF IT, BUT ULTIMATELY I DON'T KNOW HOW BIG OF A ROLE.

I THINK THE ESA THING IS A MUCH BIGGER ROLE, WHICH IS HOW THE TURNING POINT WING LAUNCHED KIM YEE INTO THE RACE.

I THINK SO MANY PARENTS OPTED INTO THE PROGRAM BECAUSE THEY'RE CONCERNED HOW THE PROGRAM IS MANAGED AND MONEY IS SPENT THAN THE DEI THING.

IT IS A GOOD BUZZ WORD AND BRINGS ATTENTION TO THE CAMPAIGN, BUT ULTIMATELY A HOST OF ISSUES.

>> ENOUGH TIME FOR A YEA OR NAY.

DOES IT IMPACT THE RACE?

>> PART OF THE BODY OF WORK THAT TOM HORNE IS GOING TO PRESENT TO PRIMARY VOTERS, AND A LOT OF FACTORS AS WELL.

AND HAVE TO SEE HOW THE ESA THEORY PLAYS OUT.

KIM YEE IS SAYING HE'S NOT PRO-ESA ENOUGH.

TED: PANEL, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.