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

WE'LL LOOK AT WEEK'S TOP STORIES INCLUDING THE LATEST ON THE FIGHT OVER CONFORMING ARIZONA'S TAX CODE WITH FEDERAL CHANGES.

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, HOWIE FISCHER FROM CAPITOL MEDIA SERVICES.

CAMRYN SANCHEZ FROM KJZZ RADIO.

JIM SMALL OF THE "ARIZONA MIRROR."

PANEL, GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

TAX CONFORMITY, WHAT IS TAX CONFORMITY?

WHY IS IT SUCH A BIG DEAL AND THEY CAN'T FIGURE IT OUT?

>> FIRST OF ALL, THE TRICK IS DON'T TRY TO DO YOUR OWN TAXES.

THAT'S WHY THEY MAKE THE PROGRAMS THAT HAVE CPAs, ARIZONA IS A PIGGYBACK STATE, YOU START TAXES WITH ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME AND MAKE ADJUSTMENTS AND SUCH, NORMALLY VERY SIMPLE.

BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL ENACTED A BUNCH OF THINGS.

HIGHER STANDARD DEDUCTION, NO TAX ON TIPS, OVERTIME, SENIOR DEDUCTIONS, THINGS LIKE THAMP THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE PREPARED OR THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE PREPARED TAX FORMS BASED ON WHAT CONGRESS DID ALONG WITH CONFORMING THE OTHER LITTLE THINGS.

TURNS OUT, A THE REPUBLICANS DON'T LIKE IT, AND, B, IF YOU ACTUALLY USE THOSE FORMS, THE ODDS ARE DECENT YOU HAVE TO FILE AN AMENDED RETURN BECAUSE THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS BUILT INTO THAT, FOR EXAMPLE, THE FEDERAL ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME INCLUDES HIGHER DEDUCTIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL TAXES, ABOVE THE LINE.

THEY'VE BEEN FIGHTING OVER THIS.

GOVERNOR VETOED THE FIRST REPUBLICAN PROPOSAL, SECOND ONE HEADED FOR HER NEXT WEEK, BASED ON NUMBER TWO.

SOMETHING LIKE 400,000 SOMETHING PEOPLE HAVE FILED RETURNS AND HOPING AND PRAYING THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO IT AGAIN.

TED: AND THE TAX CONFORMITY 2.0, 1.0 AS HOWIE MENTIONED IS VETOED.

THIS ONE THE SAME FATE.

HOWEVER, ON THIS ONE, THE REPUBLICANS WERE SAYING ALONG THE LINES, LISTEN, WHAT WE'RE DOING CONFORMS TO TAX FORMS THAT ARE ALREADY RELEASED AS HOWIE REFERRED TO AS WELL.

SO IT'S A LITTLE -- DOES IT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE AT ALL?

>> I THINK IT SHOULD MAKE A BIT OF A DIFFERENCE, BUT I DON'T THINK SHE'S GOING TO SEE IT THAT WAY.

WE STARTED OFF THE YEAR, THE MIDDLE-CLASS TAX CUT PACKAGE, IT IS A SMALLER PLAN BECAUSE IT DOESN'T INCLUDE ALL OF THEM, BUT SHE WANTS THEM TO ONLY PASS HER PLAN, PUT THAT ON HER DESK, AND THEN SHE SAYS WE CAN DEAL WITH EVERYTHING ELSE.

OTHER IDEAS AND PAYING FOR IT AND THE PESKY THINGS.

THE REPUBLICANS, OF COURSE, DIDN'T WANT TO PASS HER PLAN, THEY WANTED TO PASS HER OWN AND SIMILAR TO CONFORMITY BUT WITH A FEW TWEAKS.

SHE KILLED THAT, AND SAYING LOOK, WE'RE WAY TOO LATE ON THIS, BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE ALREADY FILING, AND AZDOR, THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE, UNDER HOBBS' JURISDICTION GAVE OUT GUIDANCE, THEY ASSUMED FULL CONFORMITY.

LET'S JUST DO, THAT WHAT THE GUIDANCE IS SO PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO DO AMENDED RETURNS AND GET THIS OFF OF OUR PLATES AND HAVE THE TAX CUTS IN ORDER.

TED: AND JIM, THE REPUBLICANS ARE SAYING THEY'RE CLEANING UP THE MESS CREATED BY GOVERNOR HOBBS.

GOT A POINT HERE?

>> THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU LOOK AT IT AND SO MANY OTHER STATES HANDLE THIS.

THIS ONE BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL GOT SIGNED INTO LAW IN JULY, AND THERE WERE LOTS AND LOTS OF STATES IN SIMILAR POSITIONS AS ARIZONA WHERE YOU HAVE TO CONFORM YOUR STATE TAX CODE TO THE FEDERAL CODE AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO THAT, THAT CAME IN DURING SPECIAL LEGISLATION SESSION, SORTED OUT IN THE FALL.

WHY ARIZONA DIDN'T, UNCLEAR.

GOVERNOR RELEASED THE PRAM IT EVERIES THIS TAX CUT IN MID-NOVEMBER, BUT THAT WAS AROUND THE SAME TIME YOU HAVE THE DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE SAYING, HEY, JUST FILE YOUR TAXES, WE'RE GOING TO UPDATE OUR FORMS TO MATCH WHAT THE FEDS ARE DOING.

A LOT OF MIXED MESSAGING, THERE WERE MISSED OPPORTUNITIES TO GET IT DONE, A, BEFORE THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, AND, B, BEFORE PEOPLE STARTED FILING.

TO HOWIE'S POINT, YOU CREATE THIS DRAMA THAT IS SELF-INFLICTED FROM THE GOVERNOR'S PART.

>> AND THIS IS THE PROBLEM.

WHAT YOU HAVE IS A SITUATION WHERE THE REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS IN NOVEMBER SAID TO THE GOVERNOR, LOOK, BEFORE WE COME IN, BEFORE PEOPLE START FILING, LET'S GET TOGETHER AND THE GOVERNOR'S RESPONSE WAS, WELL, WE NEED TO ENACT THE BUDGET FIRST, MEANING ALL THE STUFF SHE WANTS TO ADD IN, AND THEN WE'LL TALK, BUT YOU CAN'T ENACT MY THINGS, AND TRUST ME, I'LL BE SURE TO NEGOTIATE WITH YOU.

I'M SURE THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

THIS IS A SELF-INFLICTED WOUND AND I BLAME A LOT OF THIS ON THE GOVERNOR.

THE FACT SHE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY, LOOK, WE CAN DISCUSS THE PARAMETERS OF THE BUDGET.

I HAVE THINGS THEY WANT, THEY HAVE THINGS I WANT, THEY HAVE TAX CUTS THEY WANT, YOU COULD HAVE STARTED THIS OUT AND THE GOVERNOR COULD HAVE SAID MY WAY OR THE HIGHWAY.

TED: 2.0 MOST LIKELY HEADED FOR VETO, CORRECT?

>> YES.

TED: THERE'S A 3.0?

WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN HERE?

>> THERE IS SPECULATION TO MOVE THE BUDGET UP AND APPROVE THE BUDGET AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

DEMOCRATS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THAT IN YEARS PRIOR.

WE DON'T DO THE BUDGET UNTIL THE LAST POINT OF THE SESSION, APRIL, MAY, JUNE, BECAUSE WE GET MORE INFORMATION IN APRIL ABOUT WHAT THE STATE FINANCES ARE LIKE.

THAT'S BESIDE THE POINT.

THE PRESSURE IS GOING TO BUILD BECAUSE WE'RE IN A BAD MOMENT FOR EVERYONE FILING TAXES WHO DOESN'T WANT TO FILE AGAIN.

IT'S ANNOYING, AND IT'S EXPENSIVE IF YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH A SYSTEM LIKE SOME OF US WHO DON'T KNOW HOW TO FILE OUR OWN TAXES.

TED: JIM, IT'S POLITICAL.

LET'S GET POLITICAL.

WHO TAKES THE HIT ON THIS NOW AND IN THE FUTURE?

>> I THINK THE GOVERNOR IS THE ONE THAT IS HANGING OUT ON THIS RIGHT NOW, AND A LOT OF THAT IS BECAUSE, TO HOWIE'S POINT, HER POSITION, YOU KNOW, ESSENTIALLY COME IN LATE AND SAY MY WAY OR THE HIGHWAY, AND I DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING TO FLY, AND IF YOU HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE, HAVE YOU HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO REFILE TAXES, LIKE CAMRYN SAID, IT'S A PAIN, RIGHT?

NO ONE WANTS TO FILE TAXES IN THE FIRST PLACE, YOU REALLY DON'T WANT TO FILE AGAIN, ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE TO -- I GUESS, MAYBE IT'S A SALVE IF YOU PAY MORE MONEY BACK, IT'S LOGICAL.

TED: YOU GET MORE MONEY BACK, YOU DON'T WANT TO AMEND NOW AND THEN DOWN THE ROAD.

>> A VERY IMPORTANT POINT.

YOU CAN GO TO A TAX ACT AND THERE'S FREE FILING SOFTWARE.

AMENDED RETURNS HAVE TO BE DONE ON PAPER.

YOU CAN'T JUST GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL PROGRAM, AND THAT GETS IN SOME TRICKY THINGS FOR JOURNALISTS WHO ARE MATH IMPAIRED.

YOU DIDN'T ADD LINE 27 IN HERE, AND THAT IS SOMETHING NOBODY WANTS.

>> NO KIDDING.

LET'S MOVE ON HERE.

CAMRYN, WE HAD A RULING REGARDING ABORTION LAWS THAT WERE ON THE BOOKS EVEN AFTER THE VOTER APPROVED MEASURE IN 2024 WITH THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AND SUCH, AND THOSE LAWS NO LONGER ON THE BOOKS?

>> YEAH, THE WHOLE SERIES OF THEM VOIDED AS OF TODAY'S RULING, SO THEY DID A VARIETY OF THINGS, LIKE MAKING ABORTIONS HARDER TO ACCESS OR TAKE LONGER TO GET TO, LIKE A 24--HOUR WAITING PERIOD, OR GET BLOOD TESTED AND WAIT FOR THE DOCTOR TO GIVE YOU INFORMATION BEFORE YOU ARE ALLOWED TO HAVE AN ABORTION.

THAT'S NO LONGER THE CASE BECAUSE OF THE VOTER-PASSED MEASURE.

THE JUDGE GREED AND WE'RE EXPECTING AN APPEAL ON THAT.

TED: INDEED.

JIM, GOING TO YOU HERE.

BASICALLY THE JUDGE SAID SPECIFICALLY SAYS THAT THIS STUFF CAN'T STAND, AND SHOULDN'T STAND.

IS THAT A SURPRISE RULING?

WHY DID IT HAPPEN NOW?

>> WELL, I'LL ANSWER THE SECOND PART FIRST.

WHY IT HAPPENED NOW IS EVEN THOUGH VOTERS PASSED THIS CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT IN 2024, THERE'S STILL A WHOLE FRAMEWORK OF ABORTION REGULATIONS ON THE BOOKS THAT HAS BEEN ON THE BOOKS OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS.

MOST OF WHICH ARE AIMED AT TRYING TO -- AS CAMRYN SAID, TRYING TO DELAY ACCESS AND TRYING TO THROW HURTLES AND BARRIERS FOR WOMEN TO ACCESS ABORTION SERVICES.

JUST BECAUSE VOTERS PASSED THAT AND PUT IN THE CONSTITUTION, DIDN'T NECESSARILY MEAN IT WIPED OUT EVERYTHING, IT SET THE STAGE FOR ADVOCATES, FOR PATIENTS, FOR DOCTORS TO GO TO COURT AND SAY THESE LAWS ARE CONTRARY TO WHAT THE VOTERS SAID.

SO THAT'S WHAT ESSENTIALLY HAPPENED HERE.

I DON'T KNOW PROBABLY 10 OR 12 LAWS WERE CHALLENGED.

WATCHING THE TRIAL, THIS RULING IS NOT A SURPRISE.

I THINK THE JUDGE WAS PRETTY SKEPTICAL OF THE ARGUMENTS FROM REPUBLICANS -- THE LAWYERS FOR REPUBLICAN LEGISLATIVE LEADERS DEFENDING THE LAWS, AND THE CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISION SETS OUT A FRAMEWORK, WITH A MULTIPRONG TEST, ANY LAW THAT RESTRICTS ACCESS TO ABORTION NEEDS TO MEET THREE OR FOUR CRITERIA, AND ACROSS THE BOARD, NONE OF THE LAWS MEET ALL OF THEM.

THEY MIGHT MEET ONE, ALL THE TIME MIGHT MEET ONE OR TWO IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES BUT DON'T MEET THE CRITERIA AND THEREFORE ARE UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

>> THAT'S REALLY THE KEY.

IF YOU LOOK AT IT, NOT ONLY PUTS IN THE QUOTE, UNQUOTE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO ABORTION, BUT FURTHER DEFINES IT TO SAY THAT THE ONLY WAY THE STATE CAN COME IN IS IF THERE'S A COMPELLING STATE INTEREST, AND HAS TO BE IN A LEAST RESTRICTIVE MEANS AND CAN ONLY TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE HEALTH OF THE MOTHER, THE HEALTH OF THE FETUS IS IRRELEVANT.

SO YOU'VE GOT THIS MULTIPART TEST THAT'S SET UP HERE.

ALSO A SPECIFIC THING IN THE AMENDMENT ABOUT INTERFERING WITH A WOMAN'S AUTONOMY.

THE JUDGE MENTIONED THAT SEVERAL TIMES SAYING THE FACT THAT YOU CAN HAVE AN ABORTION IF YOU HAVE A FETAL DEFECT?

AND THE LAW SAID NO, YOU CAN'T DO THAT.

SHE SAYS NO, SHE'S ENTITLED TO THE AUTONOMY.

TED: WITH THAT IN MIND, IF THERE IS APPEAL, OBVIOUSLY THERE WILL BE APPEAL FROM REPUBLICAN LEADERS, WHAT'S THE APPEAL?

>> NO, STOP, WE DON'T LIKE THAT.

>> I MEAN, REALLY.

>> THE COMPELLING TEST IS THE HEALTH OF THE FETUS MATTERS AND ABORTION IS A RIGHT THAT AFFECTS THE PATIENTS.

IT'S A STRONG CASE.

IT SEEMS THAT THE PEOPLE WHO WROTE THE MEASURE HAD ALL OF THIS IN MIND AS THEY WERE WRITING IT AND EXPECTED THAT THE LAWS WOULD BE IN THEIR SIGHTS GOING FORWARD, AND THIS IS NOT THE ONLY CASE WE'VE SEEN.

ANOTHER ONE FILED THIS WEEK THAT'S CHALLENGING ONE OF OUR ABORTION RESTRICTION LAWS THAT'S ALREADY ON THE BOOKS.

>> THIS IS REALLY CRITICAL, YOUR POINT ABOUT THEY WILL SAY, THERE IS TWO PEOPLE INVOLVED IN THAT.

THE SPECIFIC LANGUAGE CRAFTED BY THE FOLKS WHO PUT TOGETHER PROP 139 SAID, IN SO MANY WORDS, THE FETUS IS NOT RELEVANT TO THIS.

IT IS ONLY WHAT MATTERS TO THE HEALTH OF THE MOTHER, AND THAT IS THE PRIME DIRECTIVE HERE.

TED: WE SHOULD MENTION, JIM, 60+% APPROVAL ON THE BALLOT MEASURE IN 2024.

>> RIGHT, OVERWHELMING APPROVAL, AND, IN FACT, IT WON IN EVERY SINGLE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT, NO MATTER HOW CONSERVATIVE THE LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT WAS, THIS PASSED AND WON VOTER APPROVAL ACROSS THE STATE.

>> WHAT'S VERY IMPORTANT IS, I HAD TALKED TO CATHI HERROD.

TED: WHO IS CATHI HERROD?

>> THE HEAD OF THE CENTER FOR ARIZONA POLICY, CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATION, VERY ANTIABORTION.

WHEN PROP 139 WAS PROPOSED, THEY SAID IT'S SO RADICAL, SO RADICAL.

I SAID WHY DID YOU PROPOSE SOMETHING MORE ACCEPTABLE TO YOU FOLKS IN TERMS OF ALLOWING THINGS LIKE ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I GOT RID OF WAS THE 15-WEEK BAN ON ABORTION.

AND THE ATTITUDE IS THIS WILL NEVER FLY, WE CAN DEFEAT IT.

FAILING TO UNDERSTAND THAT SINCE ABORTION WAS ILLEGAL IN ARIZONA SINCE 1973, WITH ROE v. WADE, PEOPLE ARE UNWILLING TO GO BACKWARDS.

TED: I DON'T KNOW IF WE HAVE IT OFFICIAL YET, SOUNDS LIKE A CANDIDATE IN CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 1 DOESN'T WANT TO BE A CANDIDATE ANYMORE BUT SECRETARY OF STATE LOOKS INTERESTING?

>> IT WAS, GINA SVOBODA CONSIDERS HERSELF I DON'T KNOW IF YOU WOULD SAY ELECTIONS WORKER BUT HAS EXPERTISE IN THAT FIELD, AND SHE IS GOING AGAINST JAY FEELY IN CD1 WHICH IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE THEY BOTH HAVE TRUMP'S ENDORSEMENT.

HE'S A STRONG CANDIDATE.

I THINK SHE'S CONSIDERING HER OPTIONS OR ALREADY MADE UP HER MIND AND NOT TOLD US YET.

IF SHE JUMPS INTO THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S RACE, SHE'S GOING AGAINST ALEXANDER KOLODIN.

THERE IS NO LOVE LOSS THERE.

PLUS HE DOESN'T HAVE TRUMP'S ENDORSEMENT.

>> AS FAR AS THE SWITCH WOULD BE CONCERNED, DID IT SEEM LIKE SOMETHING -- HAS HER CAMPAIGN IN CD1, DOES IT HAVE TRACTION?

I DON'T SEEM TO HEAR MUCH ABOUT IT.

>> IT'S VERY LOW KEY, AND I THINK WE'VE SEEN THE CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS THAT, YOU KNOW, SOME DIFFICULTY RAISING THE KIND OF MONEY YOU NEED TO MOUNT A COMMERCIAL CAMPAIGN PARTICULARLY IN A DISTRICT THAT'S HIGHLY COMPETITIVE LIKE THAT.

I THINK JAY FEELY, WHEN HE JUMPED INTO THE RACE, CAME IN WITH A MUCH BETTER NAME I.D., NOT NECESSARILY IN THE POLITICAL REALM BUT AS A FORMER PRO ATHLETE, WHO SPENT PART OF HIS CAREER IN THE VALLEY, AND SO, THAT REALLY COMPLICATED THINGS FOR HER, I THINK.

SHE JUMPED INTO THE RACE EARLY, ABLE TO GET TRUMP'S ENDORSEMENT QUICKLY AND ABLE TO BOX OUT A LOT OF THE OTHER REPUBLICANS.

WHEN JAY FEELY MOVED FROM THE EAST VALLEY DISTRICT INTO THE SCOTTSDALE-BASED DISTRICT, THAT SCRAMBLED THAT.

I THINK THERE IS -- THERE'S BEEN A BUNCH OF POLLING IN THE DISTRICT.

I LIVE IN THE DISTRICT.

I'VE GOTTEN THE POLLS FOUR OR FIVE OF THEM OVER THE PAST MONTH, ALMOST ALL FOCUSED ON FEELY AND SVOBODA AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT.

EVERYONE IS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT DOES THE LANDSCAPE LOOK LIKE?

IS THERE A PATH TO VICTORY FOR GINA SVOBODA, THE PATH IS A REALLY NARROW ONE.

>> THE FUNNY THING, AS CAMRYN SUGGESTED IS NOW SHE'S SAYING, WELL, I DID FILE A STATEMENT OF INTEREST, WHICH ALLOWS ME TO DO FUND-RAISING AND GET PETITIONS, BUT I WANT TO WAIT AND SEE WHETHER TRUMP'S ENDORSEMENT OF ME IN CD1 FOLLOWS ME INTO SECRETARY OF STATE.

>> I WAS GOING TO ASK IF THE ENDORSEMENT IS TRANSFERRABLE?

>> IT WOULD BE HARD FOR TRUMP TO SAY, WELL, I ONLY LIKE YOU FOR THIS, NOT FOR THAT.

THE PROBLEM IS GOING TO BE PROBABLY EVERYONE IN THE MAGA CROWD HAS WRITTEN TO TRUMP STAFF TO SAY, YOU DO KNOW THIS IS A WOMAN WHO SAID, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT MAYBE THERE SHOULD BE FORMS OF VOUCHER SYSTEMS.

THIS IS A WOMAN WHO ALSO SUGGESTED THAT TRUMP'S ACTIONS ON IMMIGRATION HAVE HURT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, AND THAT MAY DENY HER THAT ENDORSEMENT.

TED: AND THE MAGA THOUGHTS AND TURNING POINT, THE CLASH BETWEEN HER AND TURNING POINT AS WELL, IS THAT TRANSFERRABLE?

>> YEAH, TURNING POINT I WOULD SAY IS VERY MUCH BEHIND KOLODIN AND HAS BEEN, AS WITH THE FREEDOM CAUCUS, IT'S THE SAME ILK.

THEY'VE BEEN MAD AT SVOBODA FOR MANY OF THE SAME THINGS.

REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

IF THEY HAD A KIND WORD FOR TRUMP, NEVER STOP TALKING ABOUT IT.

IT'S ON THE FRONT PAGE OF THE WEBSITE FOREVER.

NO MATTER HOW MANY YEARS IT'S BEEN, YOU WOULD THINK THEY ARE BEST FRIENDS, BASED ON HOW MUCH IT COMES UP.

MAYBE SHE'S SHOWING HIM INTEGRITY, NOT SURE.

>> THE INTERESTING THING IS FOR THE REPUBLICANS TO DECIDE THIS IS A VARIATION ON THE GOVERNOR'S RACE AND THE SENATE RACE FOR THE REPUBLICANS BEFORE, IS ALEXANDER KOLODIN ACCEPTABLE?

HE HAS CERTAIN NAME I.D.

FROM THE THINGS HE'S PROPOSED BUT SOME OF THE THINGS HE PROPOSED IS A LITTLE OVER THE TOP.

FOR EXAMPLE, HE WANTS TO MAKE IT HARDER TO DROP OFF EARLY BALLOT ON ELECTION DAY.

SO SOME OF THAT IS GOING TO BE, IF YOU NOMINATE SOMEBODY WHO IS SO FAR OFF OF THE CENTER, YOU COULD GET THE NOMINATION, AND FONTES, WHO HAS BEEN VERY MUCH PROTECTING VOTER RIGHTS, YOU MIGHT HAVE A BETTER CHANCE.

I THINK SVOBODA WOULD HAVE A BETTER CHANCE AGAINST FONTES.

TED: THOSE EQUATIONS, DO THEY COME TO PLAY, ESPECIALLY IN THE PRIMARIES, WHERE THE MOST EXTREME ON BOTH SIDES SEEM TO HAVE THE UPPER HAND?

>> NO.

I THINK HISTORY WOULD TELL US THAT IN REPUBLICAN PRIMARIES IN PARTICULAR, I THINK NO.

I DON'T THINK THAT A FORETHOUGHT TOWARDS WHAT THIS MEANS FOR THE GENERAL SELECTION ON TOP OF MINDS OF ENOUGH VOTERS IN THE REPUBLICAN DEPARTMENT.

LOOK AT THE STATEWIDE RACES AND THE SENATE RACES OVER THE PAST SIX, EIGHT YEARS.

WE'VE HAD A SERIES OF REPUBLICANS WHO WERE GREAT IN THE PRIMARY AND HAD VERY OBVIOUS LIABILITIES IN THE GENERAL ELECTION, AND THEN WENT ONTO LOSE THAT ELECTION.

TED: THAT APPLIES TO CD1 AS WELL.

YOU WOULD THINK IN THAT PARTICULAR DISTRICT, IT IS AS HARD RIGHT AS SOME REPUBLICANS WANT IT TO BE, THAT SVOBODA WOULD HAVE A BETTER CHANCE AGAINST THE DEMOCRATIC?

>> I AGREE WITH JIM.

LOOK BACK TO THE STATEWIDE ELECTIONS, THAT WASN'T THE THOUGHT PROCESS WHO IS MORE ELECTABLE IN THE GENERAL ELECTION.

IS IT THE SAME PEOPLE IN THE PRIMARIES, THE DEMOCRATS HAD A BETTER YEAR THAN THEY EXPECTED TO.

TED: HOWIE, PLEASE, GO AHEAD.

>> THE OTHER PIECE OF IT IS A 1-1 IS BETTER FOR SVOBODA.

YOU HAVE A DEBATE HERE, AND IF IT'S THE PRIMARY, SVOBODA VERSUS KOLODIN, PEOPLE WILL SEE THE DIFFERENCES, IF IT'S SEVEN PEOPLE IN CD1, IT IS HARDER TO STICK OUT.

TED: THE GOVERNOR HAS A NEW KNOW YOUR RIGHTS WEBSITE.

WHAT'S THIS ALL ABOUT?

>> POLITICALLY OR LEGALLY?

TED: BOTH.

>> LEGALLY SPEAKING, SHE IS DOING WHAT A LOT OF GOVERNORS HAVE DONE AND SAY LOOK, THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF INSTANCES, CERTAINLY WHAT HAPPENED IN MINNEAPOLIS, PEOPLE BEING KILLED, PEOPLE BEING DRAGGED FROM CARS, YOU HAVE CERTAIN RIGHTS, SOME OF IT SOUNDS LIKE MIRANDA RIGHTS.

RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT, RIGHT TO AN ATTORNEY.

IF YOU THINK YOU ARE GOING TO BE PICKED UP, CARRY CERTAIN FORMS OF I.D.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO LET PEOPLE INTO YOUR HOME.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO OPEN THE DOOR.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE A JUDICIAL WARRANT WHICH PUTS HER AT ODDS WITH THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, WHICH SAYS NO.

THE POLITICAL SIDE OF IT IS, THIS COMES, AND THEY ASSURE ME IT IS COINCIDENTAL, SEVERAL DAYS AFTER THE GOVERNOR THROUGH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL UNDER THE BUS, IF THEY ARE CONFRONTED BY SOMEONE IN A MASK WHO THEY DON'T KNOW, AND USING WHAT THE STATE LAW ALLOWS IN TERMS OF DEADLY, PHYSICAL FORCE.

TED: I WAS GOING TO SAY, ANY MENTION OF STAND YOUR GROUND ON THIS WEBSITE?

>> NO, I DIDN'T SPOT ANY OF THAT, WHICH WAS WHAT KRIS MAYES MENTIONED AND THE THING THAT REALLY, I THINK, MADE REPUBLICANS AND A LOT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT IRATE, BUT NO, THERE'S REALLY NOT.

THIS IS INTERESTING.

THIS WEBSITE, IF ONLY THE SENSE IT DOESN'T MENTION TRUMP BY NAME BUT THE MOST POINTED CRITICISM WE'VE SEEN FROM THE GOVERNOR IN TERMS OF TRUMP'S AGENDA AND THE I.C.E.

VIOLENCE AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SHE'S BEEN TRYING TO KEEP HER HEAD CLEAR OF THAT.

THIS DEFINITELY LOOKED LIKE, THEY SAW SOMETHING GOING ON, AND WANTED TO KIND OF CATCH A WAVE A LITTLE BIT OF ENTHUSIASM OR MOMENTUM POLITICALLY WITH WHAT WAS GOING ON.

TED: THIS IS GUIDANCE BUT NOT LEGAL ADVICE?

>> SURE, I THINK IT'S REALLY FUNNY, I'M SORRY.

THE WHOLE THING WITH MAYES AND HOBBS.

I THINK IT WAS INTERPRETATIONAL TO DEMOCRATS THAT SHE WAS BETRAYING MAYES BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING INTO VERY DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS ON THIS WHOLE THING, AND SHE PUTS ON THE WEBSITE, WHICH IS SIMILAR TO MAYES' WEBSITE, BY THE WAY, HERE'S WHAT YOU CAN DO IF LAW ENFORCEMENT COMES TOWARDS YOU.

I DON'T KNOW.

I THINK IT'S HARD TO SAY IT WASN'T BASED ON WHAT MAYES WAS ALREADY DOING.

TED: OKAY, THEN WE WON'T.

TALK ABOUT GOING IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS.

MARICOPA COUNTY.

HOLY SMOKES, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS SUBPOENAS THREE WORKERS FROM THE RECORDER'S OFFICE?

AREN'T THEY -- CAN'T THEY JUST BE FRIENDS?

>> CAN'T WE ALL JUST GET ALONG?

THIS IS PART OF WHAT'S HAPPENED EVER SINCE THE ELECTION OF MR.

HEAP AS A RECORDER, WHO'S DECIDED, SHOULD I BE IN CHARGE OF EVERYTHING ELECTION RELATED.

ONLY THING WAS THAT HIS PREDECESSOR, MR.

RICHER, TOLD THE SUPERVISORS BEFORE HE LEFT OFFICE, BY THE WAY, YOU HANG ONTO THIS, HE DIDN'T SAY JUSTIN IS CRAZY, BUT TO A CERTAIN EXTENT THERE WAS A LITTLE OF THAT BUILT IN.

MEANWHILE, THE BOARD IS GOING AHEAD AND TAKING ITS ACTIONS.

HEAP SUED.

THEN YOU HAVE THE FACT THAT RETAINED HIS OWN ATTORNEY, WHICH CAUSED COUNTY ATTORNEY RACHEL MITCHELL TO SAY YOU CAN'T HAVE YOUR OWN ATTORNEY, AND THE BOARD HAS CONFLICTING TESTIMONY WHETHER PEOPLE WERE DISENFRANCHISED, SO THE JUDGE THIS PAST WEEK SAID, NO, LET'S NOT SUBPOENA ANYONE JUST YET UNTIL WE STRAIGHTEN OUT WHAT THE UNDERLYING ISSUES ARE.

TED: AGAIN, THIS IS BASICALLY, JUSTIN HEAP, THE COUNTY RECORDER IS SAYING THEY'RE BULLYING US, INTIMIDATING US, THIS IS NOT RIGHT.

>> YEAH, YEAH.

AND THIS IS A FIGHT THEY THINK WE CAN KIND OF SEE COMING AFTER HE GOT ELECTED LAST YEAR, AND CERTAINLY BEFORE HIS -- HE WAS FINALLY ELECTED, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TOOK SOME STEPS TO JUSTIN HEAP-PROOF THE ELECTIONS A LITTLE BIT TO TRY TO TAKE BACK SOME OF THE ROLES AND THE THINGS THEY HAVE WITH THEIR OWN ELECTION DEPARTMENT VERSUS THE RECORDER'S DEPARTMENT, AND WE'VE SEEN THERE'S GREAT REPORTING, VOTE BEAT DID GREAT REPORTING ON TEXT MESSAGES BACK AND FORTH ABOUT JUSTIN HEAP TRYING TO TRIANGULATE PEOPLE AND CLAIMING HE WAS WORKING WITH THE LONE DEMOCRAT ON THE BOARD, AND YOU KNOW, ALL OF THIS, TRYING TO GET HIS WAY AND TRYING TO SORT OF CURRY FAVOR, AND YOU KNOW, PIT SUPERVISORS AGAINST EACH OTHER.

THIS IS ALL TIED INTO THAT, AND THEY HAD A BUDGET PRESENTATION LASTIQUE WHERE IT WAS HIS FIRST TIME GETTING IN FRONT OF THE BOARD SINCE A LOT OF THIS HAD BEEN PUBLICIZED, AND THE BOARD WAS HIGHLY CRITICAL OF THEM, AND THERE WERE OBVIOUSLY HOT TEMPERS AND PEOPLE DID NOT FORGET WHAT HAD HAPPENED.

SO I THINK THIS IS ALL WRAPPED UP IN THAT, AND SO THE BOARD FEELS AGGRIEVED, JUSTIN HEAP FEELS AGGRIEVED, AND WE'RE IN LITIGATION NOW, SO THE COURTS HAVE TO SORT OUT WHO IS LEGALLY CORRECT.

TED: IS THERE CONCERN REGARDING THE ACTUAL ELECTION PROCESS IN MARICOPA COUNTY.

WITH ALL THIS MAYHEM, THE BROUHAHA, THEY HAVE A JOB TO DO THERE.

>> YEAH, THERE IS NOW BECAUSE I GUESS IT WAS THE SECOND TO LAST COURT HEARING.

I ACTUALLY WATCHED IT AND I WAS CONFUSED, I'M NOT AN ELECTIONS EXPERT AND HAD TO CALL FOUR PEOPLE AFTERWARDS TO MAKE SURE I UNDERSTAND.

THE STAFF SAID WE ARE MAD AT THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS BECAUSE WE DISENFRANCHISED VOTERS IN 2024.

WHAT?

HOW MANY PEOPLE?

THEY GAVE CONFLICT ANSWERS.

THIRDLY, THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE MACHINE THAT HEAP WANTS WHICH IS REALLY EXPENSIVE AND ANOTHER THING.

CORY, THE OTHER ATTORNEY SAID DON'T YOU HAVE MACHINES THAT DO THAT?

AND HEAP'S CHIEF OF STAFF SAID DO WE?

OH, BOY.

THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WAS LIKE ARE YOU ACCUSING US OF DISENFRANCHISING VOTING BECAUSE THAT'S A SERIOUS CHARGE?

THEY'RE LIKE NO, WE DIDN'T MEAN OUR OFFICE IS DOING THAT.

WHAT?

THE SUBPOENA AND THE JUDGE BASICALLY FOR BOTH OF THE CASES SAID PLEASE DO HAVE A CONVERSATION AMONGST YOURSELF AND LEAVE ME OUT OF IT.

I DON'T WANT TO SEE YOU IN THE COURTROOM.

YOU COULD SOLVE THIS BY HAVING A CONVERSATION.

HE DIDN'T SAY IT'S SILLY BUT I THINK THE JUDGE IS FED UP WITH THIS.

TED: IS THIS ANY WAY TO RUN AN AIRLINE?

WHAT'S GOING ON?

>> YOU HAVE KARI LAKE INSISTING SHE IS GOVERNOR OR SENATOR, I'M NEVER QUITE SURE WHICH.

HAVE YOU PEOPLE SAYING LET'S TAKE THIS BACK, GOING BACK TO 1998 AND THE WAY THE COUNTY HAS RUN THE ELECTION, SO THIS HAS ALL BEEN A BIG FARCE, AND THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WILL CONTINUE TO BELIEVE NO MATTER WHAT YOU TELL THEM, THAT SOMEHOW THE FIX WAS IN.

WE SAW THAT IN PIMA COUNTY.

CHRIS NANOS, HAS GOTTEN A LOT OF NATIONAL PUBLICITY, SAYING HE WAS ILLEGALLY PUT IN BECAUSE HE WAS A DEMOCRAT?

WHEN YOUR CANDIDATE LOSES, PARTICULARLY IF YOU'RE A REPUBLICAN, THE SITUATION SEEMS TO BE WE WERE CHEATED.

TED: REAL QUICKLY.

>> WANT TO CLARIFY BEFORE THIS GOES VIRAL, WE'RE TALKING UP TO 100 PEOPLE WHO VOTED FEDERAL ONLY AS OPPOSED TO PROVISIONAL.

FULL STATE.

TED: THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT.

PANEL, GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.