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TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

IT'S THE JOURNALISTS' ROUNDTABLE.

A LOOK AT WEEK'S TOP STORIES INCLUDING A POSSIBLE NEW NAME SHOWING INTEREST IN RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

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

.

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 OF CAPITOL MEDIA SERVICES.

WAYNE SCHUTSKY OF KJZZ RADIO.

AND MARY JO PITZL OF AZCENTRAL AND "ARIZONA REPUBLIC."

SPEAKING OF PUNCH BOWL NEWS, WE MIGHT HAVE ANOTHER ENTRANCE FOR THE REPUBLICAN SIDE OF THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.

IS THIS A SURPRISE THAT DAVID SCHWEIKERT WOULD BE INTERESTED?

>> WE DECIDED NEW SERVICE CALLED PUNCH BOWL MAKES YOU WONDER IN THE FIRST PLACE.

LOOK, WE'VE BEEN WONDERING ABOUT SCHWEIKERT FOR A LONG TIME.

AT TIMES WE THOUGHT HE COULDN'T SURVIVE HIS OWN CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT RACES.

I THINK THAT THERE MAY BE PEOPLE APPROACHING HIM SAYING LOOK AT WHAT WE'VE GOT HERE.

ANDY BIGGS, CERTAINLY PART OF THE MAGA CREW.

VERY STRONG THAT WAY, BUT MAYBE CAN'T WIN A GENERAL ELECTION.

YOU HAVE KARRIN TAYLOR ROBSON, NOT LIKED BY LARGE MEMBERS OF HER OWN PARTY, AND AFTER SPENDING $17 MILLION COULDN'T GET THE NOMINATION LAST TIME, SO HE MAY BE LOOKING FOR A PATH.

I DON'T SEE IT, THOUGH.

I DON'T THINK THERE IS THAT SPACE FOR HIM INSIDE THAT GROUP.

TED: AND AS HOWIE MENTIONED, THE REPORT SAYS HE'S BEEN ASKED BY SEVERAL PROMINENT REPUBLICANS THAT THEY ARE CONCERNED WITH THE CURRENT FIELD OF CANDIDATES?

>> AND AGAIN, AS HOWIE SAID, COMING FROM PUNCH BOWL, AS SOMEONE WHO CAME FROM THE PUBLICATION THAT DEALT WITH RUMOR SIDE OF POLITICS, THEY CAN CONFIRM THERE ARE TALKS GOING ON.

AS HOWIE SAID, I THINK KARRIN TAYLOR ROBSON IS HAVING A HARD TIME GAINING TRACTION WITH THE GROUP OF PRIMARY VOTERS SHE WOULD NEED TO GET A SECOND-PLACE FINISH LIKE LAST TIME.

SHE MADE A TRUMP WARD TURN BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM TO BE GETTING HER INTO THE GOOD GRACES OF THE MAGA WING OF THE PARTY.

THEY ARE SUSPICIOUS OF HER, THINKING SHE'S JUST SAYING WHAT SHE THINKS OF THE RIGHT THINGS THEY WANT TO HEAR.

TED: SCHWEIKERT, DAVID SCHWEIKERT, THOUGH, IS THE MAGA CROWD HAPPY WITH HIM?

THE NON-MAGA CROWD?

WHO'S HAPPY WITH HIM?

>> I DON'T THINK THE MAGA CROWD IS HAPPY WITH HIM.

HE'S NOT PART OF THAT CROWD, WHICH IS, I THINK, PART OF THE THINKING HERE.

THIS IS A NON-MAGA CANDIDATE, BUT HE'S MAGA ADJACENT.

HE VOTES FOR THE PRESIDENT'S PREROGATIVES MOST OF THE TIME, IF HE'S AWAKE FOR THE VOTES, WHEN THEY COME UP, AND IT'S A GOOD WAY TO GET YOUR NAME OUT THERE.

MAYBE HE REALLY IS GOING TO STICK WITH HIS CONGRESSIONAL SEAT, BUT PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT HIM NOW.

TED: THAT'S AN INTERESTING POINT BECAUSE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HIM AND OTHERWISE WE'D BE TALKING ABOUT THE DEMOCRATS TRYING TO REPLACE HIM.

>> EXACTLY.

I HEARD A THEORY AS HE'S ALLOWING HIS NAME TO BE FLOATED TO PERHAPS GO BACK TO THE HOUSE SPEAKER AND SAY LOOK, I'M A SENIOR PERSON.

WHY DON'T YOU GIVE ME A BETTER COMMITTEE AND I WILL STAY HERE.

PART OF THE 4D CHESS THAT EVERYBODY PLAYS.

>> AND GIVE HIM MORE MONEY, IF YOU CAN GET TO PACS AND STUFF.

LOOK, IF I'M GOING TO STAY, I NEED HELP HERE.

>> FOR YEARS, WE TALKED ABOUT HOW SCHWEIKERT IS A VULNERABLE MEMBER OF CONGRESS BECAUSE HE'S IN A COMPETITIVE DISTRICT.

HE'S SURVIVED CHALLENGES FROM DEMOCRAT AFTER DEMOCRAT, DIFFERENT CANDIDATES COMING AFTER HIM.

THEY WIN BY A SLIM MARGIN BUT HE KEEPS WINNING.

THE PROMINENT REPUBLICANS, DO THEY WANT HIM TO LEAVE THE DISTRICT?

TED: WHO WOULD THAT BE?

WOULD IT BE UNKNOWN OR KNOWN?

>> ABE HAMADEH COULD RUN WHERE HE ACTUALLY LIVES.

[LAUGHTER] >> YEAH, I THINK THERE'S A HANDFUL OF CANDIDATES IN AND OUT OF DISTRICT WHO MIGHT WANT TO JUMP IN AND TRY FOR THEIR HAND AT CONGRESS.

SPEAKING OF HAMADEH, THIS ISN'T LIKE WHEN HE RAN FOR DEBBIE LESKO'S SEAT, THIS IS THE SEAT OF A REPUBLICAN WHO HAS TO RUN FOR, NOT JUST RUNNING IN THE PRIMARY, A COMPETITIVE RACE TO THE END.

TED: DOES IT HELP OR HURT DEMS' EFFORTS TO TAKE THAT SEAT?

>> I SUPPOSE YOU COULD, IF SCHWEIKERT STAYS IN THE RACE, IT CAN BE USED AGAINST HIM SAYING, LOOK, HE'S NOT INTERESTED IN BEING YOUR CONGRESSMAN ANYMORE.

HE'S THINKING ABOUT RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

A LOT OF IT IS RAISING NAME ID, THE ELECTION, THE PRIMARY IS 11 MONTHS OFF.

LOT OF TIME YET.

>> AND HOW MANY TIMES AROUND THIS TABLE, HAVE WE PREDICTED HIS DEMISE SAYING THIS IS A GUY DISCIPLINED FOR ETHICAL VIOLATIONS BY HIS OWN HOUSE MEMBERS, AND YET HERE HE IS.

I'M ALWAYS HESITANT TO SAY HERE'S WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH DAVID SCHWEIKERT.

TED: WE KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WITH GOVERNOR HOBBS.

SHE'S GOING TO RUN AGAIN.

>> WE ALL KNEW IT, HER CAMPAIGN IS IN FULL SWING, STARTING TO GET THE GEARS ROLLING FOR THE NEXT ELECTION.

FILED THE PAPERS ALONGSIDE SECRETARY OF STATE FONTES AND KRIS MAYES, THE FIRST STEP THEY HAVE TO TAKE TO GATHER SIGNATURES TO GET ON THE BALLOT.

>> THE SAME DAY PRESIDENT TRUMP WENT AFTER MAIL-IN BALLOTS, TRUE?

>> WHAT TIMING.

PEOPLE REMEMBER KATIE HOBBS WAS ARIZONA'S SECRETARY OF STATE DURING A PERIOD WHEN TRUMP WAS ON THE BALLOT TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT IN 2020, AND ALSO WHEN THERE WAS A LEGAL FIGHT IN ARIZONA TO ELIMINATE EARLY VOTING, WHICH FAILED, AND THE SUPREME COURT DIDN'T EVEN WANT TO TAKE IT UP.

SO THAT GAVE HER SORT OF A PRETTY QUICK PLATFORM TO JUMP OUT ON.

EVERYBODY KNEW SHE WAS GOING TO RUN AGAIN.

NOW SHE'S GOT SOMETHING TO SAY AND PUSHING BACK AGAINST THE NOTION OF GETTING RID OF EARLY VOTING, WHICH REMAINS VERY POPULAR, IT GETS BEAT UP A FAIR BIT BUT POPULAR WITH VOTERS.

>> THAT'S THE KEY POINT, IT'S POPULAR WITH REPUBLICAN VOTERS.

REMEMBER, IT WAS REPUBLICANS WHO SET IT UP.

PRIOR TO 1991, YOU HAD TO FILE AN AFFIDAVIT SAYING I'M GOING TO BE OUT OF PRECINCT.

SEND IT IN, AND GET YOUR EARLY BALLOT.

NOW IT'S NO EXCUSE EARLY VOTING, AND THE REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE SAID THIS IS A GOOD THING, THEY'VE GOT THE FOLKS IN SUN CITY, WHY WOULD WE WANT TO HAVE OUR FOLKS COME OUT.

AUGUST PRIMARY?

HAVE YOU SEEN WHAT THE TEMPERATURE IS IN AUGUST IN ARIZONA?

I THINK THAT AS MUCH AS THEY TALK ABOUT CHEATING AND LORD KNOWS YOU HAVE KARI LAKE, PART OF THE PLAINTIFF'S LAWSUIT IN 2020, SAYING THERE'S NO WAY OF VERIFYING IT.

PEOPLE LIKE EARLY VOTING.

THEY LIKE SITTING THERE.

PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU HAVE SIX OR SEVEN EARLY BALLOT MEASURES AND YOU HAVE TO READ THROUGH THEM.

TED: DO PEOPLE LIKE CRITICIZING PRESIDENT TRUMP IN ARIZONA RIGHT NOW.

AS MARY JO MENTIONED, THIS IS A PLATFORM FOR HER TO DO THIS.

CERTAINLY HELPED IN HER FIRST RUN.

SHE BECAME A NATIONAL FIGURE THERE.

HOW DOES IT PLAY NOW?

>> I THINK DEMOCRATS VIEW THIS AS OPENING TO ATTACK THEM.

WHEN YOU ASK DO PEOPLE LIKE CRITICIZING TRUMP, DEPENDS WHAT THE PARTY AFFILIATION IS.

REPUBLICANS DO EVERYTHING NOT TO, BUT DEMOCRATS VIEW THIS -- IT'S POPULAR IN ARIZONA, 75% OF ARIZONA VOTERS USED THIS METHOD LAST TIME.

DURING COVID IT WAS UP AREN'T 90%.

SOMETHING VOTERS LIKE USING AND THE PRESIDENT SAYING LET'S GET RID OF IT, THAT'S GOING TO IRKFOLKS.

TED: AS FAR AS CAMPAIGN FUNDING, SHE LOOKS IN REASONABLY GOOD SHAPE?

>> SHE HAD 4.1 MILLION LAST TIME WE LOOKED.

SHE CAME BACK, FLEW IN FROM NANTUCKET AND MY ARMS ARE TIRED.

SHE HAD A FUND-RAISER THERE, WITH A BUNCH OF DEMOCRATIC FAT CATS.

YOU KNOW, SHE'S LEAVING NOTHING TO CHANCE.

SHE'S GOING TO BE HOOVERING UP MONEY LIKE NOTHING.

I THINK WE COULD EASILY SEE A 20, $25 MILLION CAMPAIGN IN THE GENERAL.

TED: SO FAR WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF THAT MONEY FROM OUT OF STATE, AREN'T WE?

.

>> NANTUCKET.

TED: EVERYTHING ELSE, SEEMS LIKE THE OTHER FOUR WHATEVER MILLION OUT OF STATEMENT DOES IT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE SO EARLY ON?

>> NOT AT THIS POINT.

ALTHOUGH THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS WORKING ON ENACTING A RESOLUTION THAT WOULD BAN BIG MONEY IN PRIMARY ELECTIONS AND TRY TO GET CANDIDATES TO SIGN ONTO A PLEDGE TO NOT TAKE PAC MONEY.

YEAH.

SOME PEOPLE WOULD ARGUE THAT'S SHOOTING YOURSELF IN THE FOOT.

>> IT'S MEANINGLESS.

SO MUCH OF WHAT IS SPENT ON THESE RACES COMES FROM INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES.

ANDY BIGGS HAD PRACTICALLY NO MONEY IN THE BANK, AND TURNING POINT HAS STARTED SPENDING MONEY ON HIS BEHALF THAT DOESN'T COUNT AGAINST HIM.

THAT'S THE PROBLEM.

EVERY TIME YOU TRY TO SELL OFF TO GET CONTROL, SOMEBODY IS GOING TO FIND A WAY AROUND IT.

TED: WE ALSO SHOULD MENTION THAT, AGAIN, AS FAR AS MONEY BEING RAISED AND SHE IS WAY AHEAD OF THE REPUBLICAN SIDE THERE.

THEY HAVEN'T STARTED IN ERNEST IN ALL RESPECTS.

WE HAVE TO REMEMBER IN THIS GOVERNOR'S RACE, THE REGISTRATION ADVANTAGE FOR REPUBLICANS SEEMS TO BE WIDENING ALL THE TIME.

>> WE SAW A NATIONAL STORY FROM NEW YORK TIMES THAT BASICALLY SAID DEMOCRATS ARE BLEEDING VOTERS EVERYWHERE, AND IN ARIZONA, REPUBLICANS ALWAYS HAD THE ADVANTAGE, AND AGAIN, ONLY BEEN GROWING IN THE PAST FEW YEARS.

SO OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE CRUCIAL INDEPENDENT VOTER BLOC, BUT THEY HAVE TO PULL IN THE INDEPENDENTS, MAYBE SOME OF THE MODERATE REPUBLICANS.

WERE ALL PART OF COALITION THAT ELECTED KATIE HOBBS THE FIRST TIME.

>> WASN'T THAT SOME OF THE REPUBLICANS NATIONALLY VOTED FOR KATIE.

MOST OF THE PEOPLE VOTED AGAINST A MARK FINCHEM, A KARI LAKE, OR JUST SAT IT OUT.

YOU LOOK AT FACT OF THE PEOPLE WHO WEREN'T HIGH-PROFILE, TOM HORNE GOT EASILY ELECTED, KIMBERLY YEE GOT EASILY ELECTED AS TREASURER BASED ON PARTY REGISTRATION.

WHEN THE PERSONALITY IS SUCH, PEOPLE SAY OVER MY COLD, DEAD BODY, THAT IS THE ISSUE WHAT WE START TALKING ABOUT WHO'S GOING TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR.

IF YOU HAVE SOMEBODY WHO HAS HIGH NEGATIVES, YOU ARE SHOOTING YOURSELF IN THE FOOT.

TED: YEAH, MARY JO, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ISSUED AN OPINION ON THE MVD VOTER GLITCH.

I BELIEVE IT'S OFFICIALLY A GLITCH.

WHAT WAS THE OPINION.

WHAT'S IT ALL ABOUT?

>> KRIS MAYES CAME OUT WITH AN OPINION REQUESTED BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE, ADRIAN FONTES AND SAID, LOOK, FOR THIS POOL OF 200,000 SOME ARIZONA VOTERS AFFECTED, NO COUNTY RECORDER CAN CHANGE THEIR REGISTRATION STATUS UNLESS THEY GET ABSOLUTE PROOF THAT THIS PERSON IS NOT A U.S.

CITIZEN.

THIS ALL REVOLVES AROUND THE CHANGING WORLD OF LAWS GOVERNING VOTER REGISTRATION AND MOST OF THESE PEOPLE, I THINK ALL OF THEM, REGISTERED TO VOTE BEFORE WE HAD A REQUIREMENT THAT YOU'VE GOT TO SHOW DOCUMENTS PROVING YOU'RE A U.S.

CITIZEN, IF YOU WANT TO VOTE THE FULL BALLOT IN ARIZONA.

GOVERNOR'S RACE, LEGISLATURE, JPs, ET CETERA.

TED: THIS IS AN EFFORT TO STANDARDIZE THE PROCESS THROUGHOUT THE STATE WITH COUNTY RECORDERS?

>> YES, BECAUSE IT'S NEEDED, BECAUSE COUNTIES WERE DOING THINGS DIFFERENTLY.

TED: INCLUDING MARICOPA COUNTY, WAYNE.

ALREADY AT 83,000 VOTES BEING TOLD, WHAT WAS THAT ABOUT?

>> A LOT OF MISCOMMUNICATION GOING ON.

LETTER GOT SENT OUT TO VOTERS, MAYBE YOUR REGISTRATION WAS GOING TO BE CANCELED, IT WAS REMOVED AND BLAMED ON THE PRINTER.

THEN THERE WAS A QUESTION OF, BUT WE SENT YOU THE PROOFS.

SOMEONE WHO GREW UP IN A PRINT SHOP, YOU HAVE THE CLIENT SIGN OFF ON A PROOF FOR A REASON?

YEAH, THIS IS CAUSING CONFUSION AMONG THE DIFFERENT COUNTY RECORDERS.

HOW ARE YOU GOING TO HANDLE THIS?

AND THE POLITICAL SIDE OF IT.

SOME THINK YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO CANCEL THE PEOPLE, SOME THINK YOU SHOULDN'T.

THEY SAY HEY, THIS IS HOW YOU HAVE TO HANDLE IT UNLESS YOU KNOW FOR A FACT THE PERSON IS NOT A U.S.

CITIZEN, UNLESS YOU SO PROOF, LEAVE THEM ON THE ROLLS.

>> IN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OPINION, CAN BE CITED TO JUSTIFY WHAT YOU'VE DONE, IT'S NOT LAW.

IT'S NOT THE SUPREME COURT.

NOW THE FACT IS THE SUPREME COURT, WHEN THIS FIRST CAME UP IN THE 2024 ELECTION SAID THE GLITCH PROBLEMS WERE NOT THE FAULT OF THE VOTERS, WE SHOULD ALLOW IT IN 2024.

I HAVE AN IDEA JUSTIN HEAP WILL WIND UP IN THE SUPREME COURT AND THE JUSTICES, THIS ISN'T THEIR FAULT, AND YOU SHOULDN'T PENALIZE THEM.

>> GO AHEAD.

>> BUT IT COULD EVOLVE INTO YET ANOTHER FIGHT OVER VOTER REGISTRATION THAT GETS TIED UP IN THE COURTS FOR A WHILE AS WE GET BIG ELECTIONS COMING UP, AND, YOU KNOW, HEAP'S OFFICE HAD SAID PRIOR TO THIS OPINION COMING UP, AND I HAVEN'T HEARD FROM THEM SINCE, THEIR APPROACH IS THEY MAILED ALL THE LETTERS FINALLY, THE CORRECT LETTERS TO THE VOTERS AND SHOW US PROOF, AND IF YOU DON'T RESPOND WITH PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP, WE'LL JUST KNOCK YOU DOWN SO YOU CAN ONLY VOTE ON A FEDERAL BALLOT.

THAT FOR CONGRESS -- TED: KNOCKED DOWN NEXT YEAR, GOODNESS GRACIOUS.

>> AND THAT CONFLICTS WITH THE ADVICE COMING FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

I WILL SAY, I HEARD FROM A COUPLE OTHER COUNTY RECORDERS WORKING ON THIS AND THEY HAVEN'T FOUND ANY PROBLEMS.

NOBODY KNOCKED OFF THE ROLLS, NOBODY IS DOWNGRADED, AS THE SUPREME COURT SUPPORTED AND THE POLITICAL PARTIES DID, THAT MOST OF THESE 200,000+ VOTERS WERE ALL PROPERLY DULY U.S.

CITIZENS, STEADY VOTERS, THERE WASN'T A PROBLEM.

>> HERE'S THE OTHER THING THAT GETS LOST AND YOU HAVE THE ELEMENTS OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY SAYING, OH, MY GOD, IT'S GOING TO BE FRAUD.

WE LOOKED AT THE DATA WHEN THIS CAMOUS, 300,000, 90,000, 219, WHATEVER THE NUMBER IS.

MORE ARE REPUBLICANS THAN DEMOCRATS.

TO THE EXTENT THEY'RE GOING TO DENY THESE PEOPLE A RIGHT TO VOTE, THE GOP SHOOTING ITSELF IN THE FOOT.

>> AND WORTH NOTING THAT THE HEAD OF THE ARIZONA REPUBLICAN PARTY, A FORMER ELECTIONS OFFICIAL AGREED WITH THE DEMOCRATIC ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OPINION.

WHILE THERE'S A LOT OF POLITICS FLYING, BOTH SIDES AGREED WITH THAT CONCLUSION.

TED: I WANT TO GET TO THAT ONE IN JUST A SECOND.

BEFORE WE GET THERE, TALK ABOUT THE PRESIDENT, AS WE MENTIONED, HE SAID HE'S LEADING A MOVEMENT NOW TO GET RID OF MAIL-IN BALLOTS.

>> YEAH, IN A SOCIAL MEDIA POST WHERE, WE GET THESE THINGS NOW, THE PRESIDENT INDICATED HE WILL ISSUE SOME SORT OF EXECUTIVE ORDER TO GET RID OF MAIL-IN BALLOTS AND VOTING MACHINES, A MORPHOUS TERM LIKE WE USE BALLOT COUNTING MACHINES IN ARIZONA BUT VOTE ON PAPER.

HUGE DEAL IN ARIZONA, OBVIOUSLY, WHERE MOST VOTERS VOTE BY MAIL, AND TO GET RID OF THAT, WOULD ALSO, ACCORDING TO MANY FOLKS, USURP THE STATE'S POWER TO DETERMINE HOW IT ADMINISTERS ELECTIONS.

>> THE PRESIDENT SAYING THE QUOTE WAS EVERYBODY CHEATS WITH MAIL-IN VOTING, DID YOU KNOW THAT?

>> I DON'T KNOW, I VOTE AT POLLS.

BUT AS YOU SAID, THOUGH, THIS COULD -- THE STATES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR CONDUCTING THEIR ELECTIONS, SO THE PRESIDENT TO COME IN WITH HIS EXECUTIVE ORDER, IF HE FOLLOWS THROUGH ON THAT, AGAIN, WE WILL BE IN THE COURTS FIGHTING ABOUT VOTER REGISTRATION.

BASICALLY WHICH HAS AN EFFECT OF SHAKING PEOPLE'S FAITH IN ELECTIONS AS WE ROLL INTO A CONSEQUENTIAL -- WHAT SHOULD BE A CONSEQUENTIAL ELECTION YEAR.

TED: ADRIAN FONTES, THE SECRETARY OF STATE DID SAY POUND SAND.

>> ONE OF THE QUOTES OF THE WEEK, YOU KNOW.

THE FACT IS THE U.S.

CONSTITUTION SAYS EXCEPT FOR CERTAIN THINGS, THE STATES RUN THEIR ELECTIONS, THEY DECIDE.

HAVE YOU PLACES LIKE OREGON WHICH SAYS ALL MAIL-IN VOTING, YOU SAY TO THEM, NO, WE KNOW BETTER.

TED: HOW MUCH OF THAT IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE BY CONGRESS?

>> WELL, AGAIN, PART OF THE PROBLEM IS SOME OF THIS IS FEDERAL CONSTITUTION, WHICH MEANS YOU NEED CONGRESS TO PASS AND SEND IT AROUND TO GET THREE FOURTHS OF THE STATES TO GO AHEAD AND RATIFY IT.

I THINK THAT CONGRESS COULD NIBBLE AROUND THE EDGES AND SAY, THE WAY CONGRESS DOES THINGS, IF YOU WANT CERTAIN FEDERAL MONEY, YOU WILL DO IT OUR WAY AND LINK IT THAT WAY.

I DON'T KNOW THAT CONGRESS IS THAT INTERESTED IN DOING IT.

HERE'S THE OTHER PROBLEM, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO WORRY ABOUT MAIL-IN BALLOTS.

I SCRIBBLE MY SIGNATURE ON THE BACK, I DON'T HAVE TO PROVIDE ID.

SOMEBODY IS GOING THROUGH THIS, SOMETIMES AT THREE SECONDS A SHOT, BUT THE REASON THAT PEOPLE ARE UNSATISFIED WITH MAIL-IN BALLOTS IS BECAUSE YOU HAVE CERTAIN PEOPLE, LIKE KELLI WARD, LIKE KARI LAKE, SAYING THEY'RE UNRELIABLE.

THEY'RE UNDERMINING IT, AND SAYING PEOPLE ARE UNSATISFIED.

GUESS WHAT?

THAT'S WHY.

TED: THE PRESIDENT SAYS EVERYONE CHEATS WITH MAIL-IN VOTING.

HOW MANY TIMES HAVE WE SEEN PEOPLE CAUGHT CHEATING WITH MAIL-IN VOTING.

>> YOU SEE INCIDENTS OF FRAUD IN EVERY ELECTION, A LOT OF TIMES IT'S SOMEONE VOTING A DEAD FAMILY MEMBER'S BACHLT WE HAVE NOT SEEN THE INSTANCES OF WIDESPREAD VOTER FRAUD THAT WOULD AFFECT THE OUTCOME OF AN ELECTION.

SOME FOLKS IN ONE PARTY CONTINUE TO SAY EXIST.

THEY'VE BEEN TO COURT, AND FAILED TO PROVE OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN THAT THESE WIDESPREAD COORDINATED CAMPAIGNS OF VOTER FRAUD.

>> MOST RECENTLY LOOKED AT THE CLOSE CONTEST FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL IN 2022, WHICH AT THE END OF THE DAY, KRIS MAYES WON BY 280 VOTES BUT THERE WAS A LOT OF SCRUTINY OF THE MAIL-IN BALLOTS AND THE RESULTS HELD.

>> YOU HAVEN'T BEEN LISTENING TO MR.

HAMADEH AND THEY DIDN'T COUNT 8,000 OF HIS VOTES?

>> LISTENING TO THE COURTS.

TED: SIDE WITH THE COURTS THERE, WE'RE FUNNY THAT WAY.

HOWIE, WHO IS GINA SVOBODA.

>> THERE IS GROUP A AND B OF REPUBLICAN PARTY.

SHE WAS GROUP A OF REPUBLICAN PARTY, AFTER JEFF DeWIT LEFT, THAT WAS ANOTHER STORY.

SHE WAS ASKED TO RUN BY DONALD TRUMP, SO SHE'S CLEARLY GOT HER STREET CRED.

SHE HELPED DONALD TRUMP WIN, BUT SHE'S ALSO SOMEBODY WHO, HAVING WORKED FOR DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN SECRETARIES OF STATE, UNDERSTANDS ELECTION LAW.

SHE GOT IN TROUBLE LAST YEAR BECAUSE, AS PEOPLE WERE SAYING WHY THE BALLOTS COMING IN SO LATE?

MUST BE CHEATING GOING ON.

SHE DID A WHITE BOARD PRESENTATION, YOU GOT 280,000 BALLOTS, IT TAKES THIS MUCH TIME TO COUNT.

SHE'S LOOKED AT THINGS GOING ON.

TRUMP DEFUNDING PBS AND MORE SPECIFICALLY THE ISSUE OF VOUCHERS, EMPOWERMENT SCHOLARSHIP ACCOUNTS AND SAID, LOOK, I'M A SUPPORTER OF VOUCHERS, I BELIEVE IN VOUCHERS, TO THE EXTENT HAVE YOU CRAIG HARRIS AT CHANNEL 12 COMING UP WITH A $17,000 CELLO WITH DIAMOND RINGS WITH OUT-OF-STATE TRIPS, WE NEED TO FIX IT, THAT MADE THE HARD RIGHT OF THE PARTY SPLOET EXPLODE.

TED: NOT ONLY THAT, SHE PRAISED CRAIG HARRIS' REPORTING, SAID THIS IS IMPORTANT STUFF.

>> THAT WAS JUST WAY TOO FAR FOR THE TWO NATIONAL REPUBLICAN COMMITTEEMEN IN ARIZONA, SENATOR JAKE HOFFMAN AND FORMER STATE LAWMAKER LIZ HARRIS, AND THEY ARE CALLING FOR HER TO STEP DOWN AS CHAIR OF THE PARTY.

AND SVOBODA'S RETORT, I'LL LET HOWIE GIVE IT, BECAUSE YOU GOT IT.

>> THE PERFECT OTHER QUOTE OF THE WEEK.

HOFFMAN AND HARRIS, WANT TO DESTROY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN ARIZONA.

THANK YOU GINA SVOBODA.

TED: WHY DO THE TWO INDIVIDUALS HAVE PROBLEMS?

>> THIS IS THE LATEST THING TO SET THEM OFF, BUT WHEN GINA SVOBODA WAS ELECTED IN 2024, SHE WAS UP FOR RE-ELECTION THIS YEAR, AND JAKE HOFFMAN AND LIZ HARRIS RAN A CANDIDATE AGAINST HER.

THIS GOES BACK TO THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR, RAN CORY McGARR WHO LOST HIS RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN, AND HE LOST.

IT WAS A FAIRLY CLOSE VOTE.

A COUPLE -- OUT OF NEARLY 2,000 VOTES, A COUPLE HUNDRED VOTES SEPARATED THEM.

SHE WON RE-ELECTION, AND I THINK LARGELY ON THE STRENGTH OF THE PERFORMANCE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY LAST YEAR AND THE FACT THAT DONALD TRUMP HIMSELF ASKED HER TO RUN.

TED: WITH THAT IN MIND WILL THE REPUBLICAN RANK AND FILE SIDE WITH MR.

HOFFMAN, MR.

FAKE ELECTOR AND MR.

HARRIS TO ASK FOR CURIOUS TESTIMONY AT THE CAPITOL.

>> THE ISSUE IS THIS IS UP TO THE STATE COMMITTEEMEN WHICH THE AVERAGE FOLKS AREN'T GOING KNOW.

THESE ARE THE DIEHARDS OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

REGARDLESS WHAT PARTY YOU ARE IN, THEY ARE NOT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC, THEY ARE SO MUCH MORE ENGAGED.

IT'S HARD TO DETERMINE HOW THEY'RE GOING TO ACT.

I WILL SAY, JAKE HOFFMAN AND THE FREEDOM CAUCUS AND THAT GROUP OF PEOPLE HAVE A LOT OF INFLUENCE OVER THE FOLKS.

TED: ENOUGH TO GET SVOBODA OUT OF THERE?

>> I THINK A LOT OF THE STATE COMMITTEE MEMBERS ARE TRUE GRASSROOTS PEOPLE WOULD AND PROBABLY LISTEN TO THEM.

I DON'T KNOW.

WE'VE HAD ALL THE TURMOIL ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE, SWING IT OVER TO THE REPUBLICAN SIDE FOR LEADERSHIP, AND DO YOU REALLY WANT TO CHANGE CHAIR PEOPLE IN MID STREAM WHEN YOU HAVE BIG ELECTIONS COMING UP, WHEN SVOBODA HAS REESTABLISHED FUND-RAISING FOR THE PARTY, WHICH WENT NOWHERE, ALL DRIED UP AFTER KELLI WARD.

IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE FORCES, TO WHOM?

>> THAT'S THE OTHER POINT, THE FUND-RAISING, A VERY IMPORTANT POINT THAT MARY JO MAKES.

THE FACT IN 2024, IT WAS A GOOD YEAR FOR REPUBLICANS.

YES, KARI LAKE LOST, BUT AGAIN, KARI LAKE WAS GOING TO LOSE NO MATTER WHAT.

REPUBLICANS PICKED UP SEATS IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE.

THEY'VE GOT A BUNCH OF OTHER RACES, LOCAL RACES THEY'VE WON, BEEN GOOD FOR REPUBLICANS.

WHY WOULD YOU TAKE THE PERSON WHO'S IN CHARGE OF TRYING TO BUILD THESE THINGS, BUT THIS PARTY IS STARTING TO TEAR ITSELF APART.

JAKE HOFFMAN HAS RECRUITED CANDIDATES TO RUN AGAINST TWO REPUBLICAN CORPORATION COMMISSIONERS.

RECRUITED KIMBERLY YEE WHO CAN'T RUN FOR TREASURER AGAIN TO RUN AGAINST TOM HORNE BECAUSE TOM, GOD FORBID, WANTS TO SEE IF WE CAN CONTROL THE UNUSUAL SPENDING FOR VOUCHERS.

SO HE WANTS HIS OWN TO PURGE THE PARTY AND THE LEADERSHIP OF EVERYBODY THAT ISN'T PURE.

TED: IS THAT GAINING TRACTION?

>> IN TERMS OF?

TED: IN TERMS OF THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, IN TERMS OF THE RANK AND FILE?

>> IT'S HARD TO SAY.

THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ACTUALLY CALL A MEETING TO GET THIS DONE, AND HAVING COVERED THE ONE ANNUAL MEETING THEY ALL GO TO EVERY YEAR WHERE SVOBODA WAS ELECTED LAST TIME.

IT IS LIKE HERDING TURTLES.

I DON'T THINK THEY'LL GET THE PEOPLE TO SHOW UP AND VOTE.

IT'S IN A LONG LINE OF BLUSTERY DISAGREEMENTS BETWEEN TWO SIDES OF THE PARTY WHO DISAGREE ABOUT THE DIRECTION OF THE PARTY, ADMINISTRATION OF THE PARTY AND HOW THE MONEY IS SPENT.

WORTH NOTING, SVOBODA, PART OF THE CAMPAIGN SHE RAN WAS A COORDINATED CAMPAIGN TO SUPPORT CANDIDATES UP AND DOWN THE BALLOT AND RAN THAT THROUGH A CONSULTANT, CHRIS BAKER, CONGRESSMAN SCHWEIKERT'S OPPONENT, AND ANOTHER GUY, THE JAKE HOFFMAN-TYPE FOLKS ARE NOT FANS OF.

THEY'D RATHER SEE THE MONEY GO TO PLACES LIKE TURNING POINT USA.

THE POLITICAL BATTLES FROM THE SAME SIDE BUBBLES TO THE SURFACE.

TED: THE 9th CIRCUIT BLOCKED THE COPPER MINE, THIS GOES ON AND ON FOREVER, BUT THIS GOT THE ATTENTION OF THE PRESIDENT.

HE CITES THE CRITICS OF THIS MINE AND OTHER MINING AS UN-AMERICAN.

>> WHICH IS FASCINATING GIVEN THAT MANY OF THE OPPONENTS OF THE MINE WERE HERE LONG BEFORE ANY OF OUR ANCESTORS, SO WHO ARE THE TRUE AMERICANS?

THIS IS A PRESIDENT WHO THROWS AROUND TERMS LIKE THAT BECAUSE HE THINKS, AND IT DOES GET HIM HEADLINES LIKE THAT, BUT THE QUESTION BECOMES, ARE JOBS FOR THE SAKE OF JOBS GOOD?

LOOK, RESOLUTION COPPER WOULD BRING IN A LOT OF JOBS AND INCOME.

IT'S NOT AS CLEAN AN INDUSTRY AS INTEL OR SEMICONDUCTOR, BUT IT'S ALSO A SITE THAT IS SACRED TO THE NATIVE AMERICANS.

SO HOW DO YOU DETERMINE WHO IS A GOOD AMERICAN IN TERMS OF WHAT THEY WANT.

TED: WE SHOULD MENTION THE CRITICS SAY IT'S A FAR NORTH CORPORATION THAT WANTS TO EXTRACT THE ARIZONA MINERALS AND SEND THEM ELSEWHERE.

>> THE STATES OF FONDOMONTE.

>> IT HAS FOREIGN OWNERSHIP AND EXECUTIVES RECENTLY MET WITH THE PRESIDENT BEFORE HE MADE THOSE COMMENTS.

THERE ARE ISSUES THAT THE CRITICS ARE POINTING OUT WHO'S INFLUENCING WHO HERE.

>> THAT GOES TO THE FACT THAT DONALD TRUMP IS THE PRESIDENT, AND WHOEVER THE LAST PERSON HE TALKED TO, THAT'S WHAT COMES OUT OF HIS MOUTH.

TED: WE'RE RUNG OUT OF TIME, WE MENTIONED PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP NUMEROUS TIMES HERE.

THE IMPACT OF HIS ADMINISTRATION RIGHT NOW, IT'S A NEW HEADLINE EVERY DAY, MARY JO, AS YOU WELL KNOW.

COME NEXT YEAR, IS THIS IN THE DIM AND DISTANT PAST OR MAKE A HUGE FACTOR IN THE RACES NEXT YEAR?

>> THESE ISSUES HE'S BRINGING UP?

TED: YES.

>> OAK FLAT'S BEEN IN COURT FOR A LONG TIME.

THAT'S GOING TO BUMP ALONG.

I COULD SEE THAT MIGHT STILL PLAY BECAUSE IT'S GOT A JOBS ANGLE TO IT, AND IN CLOSE RACES HERE IN ARIZONA, THAT COULD BE IMPORTANT.

>> I THINK THERE WILL BE NEW ISSUES.

LOOK, WHEN SOMETHING STOPS BEING AN ISSUE, HE COMES BACK AND SAYS WHAT ABOUT THIS AND THAT, AND 42 EXECUTIVE ORDERS AND MAKE PEOPLE DO THE THINGS I WANT.

TED: AND I WANT YOU TO STOP TALKING BECAUSE WE'RE DONE.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I'M TED SIMONS.

YOU HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.