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

TAKE A LOOK AT THIS WEEK'S TOP STORIES INCLUDING THE DEATH OF TURNING POINT USA FOUNDER, CHARLIE KIRK.

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, BOB CHRISTIE FROM CAPITOL MEDIA SERVICES, HOWIE FISCHER, ALSO FROM CAPITOL MEDIA SERVICES AND JIM SMALL FROM THE "ARIZONA MIRROR."

PANEL, GOOD TO HAVE YOU ALL HERE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

BOB, START WITH YOU, OBVIOUSLY, BIG STORY NATIONWIDE, BIG STORY IN ARIZONA.

CHARLIE KIRK, A RESIDENT OF ARIZONA, TURNING POINT USA BASED IN ARIZONA.

IT'S A BIG STORY.

>> A HUGE STORY, A HORRIBLE TRAGEDY FOR ARIZONA, FOR THE COUNTRY, FOR DEMOCRACY, IN GENERAL.

THIS IS A YOUNG MAN, 31 YEARS OLD.

MARRIED, COUPLE KIDS, WHO BUILT THIS QUITE AMAZING POPULIST POLITICAL ORGANIZATION, DESIGNED, FOCUSED ON COLLEGE KIDS.

EXPANDED, HE'S A BIG SUPPORTER AND CHEERLEADER FOR DONALD TRUMP.

HE'S BUILT THIS HUGE, VERY POWERFUL ORGANIZATION, AND TO HAVE A POLITICAL ASSASSINATION LIKE THIS, IT'S SO TROUBLING, IT'S HARD TO WRAP YOUR ARMS AROUND IT.

TED: HOW DID TURNING POINT USA, IN GENERAL, CHARLIE KIRK IN GENERAL, GET TO BE SO INFLUENTIAL?

>> STARTED WITH THE ORIGINAL TURNING POINT USA.

BOB POINTS OUT IT WAS AN ORGANIZATION DESIGNED TO MOTIVATE THE YOUTH.

ORIGINALLY IT FALTERED TO THE EXTENT HE BACKED VERY CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATES, KARI LAKE, PRIME EXAMPLE.

THEN IT DIDN'T SHOW UP.

HE SHIFTED TO THE POINT WHERE THEY'RE DOING BALLOT CHASING, AND BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE IN ARIZONA VOTED EARLY, YOU CAN FIND A LIST OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT SENT THEIR BALLOTS, AND YOU SEND PEOPLE TO THOSE HOMES, YOU CAN COLLECT AN AWFUL LOT OF BALLOTS FROM PEOPLE WHO YOU THINK ARE GOING TO VOTE YOUR WAY.

THIS ALSO INGRATIATED HIM WITH THE REPUBLICAN PARTY BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T DONE THAT KIND OF THING.

OBVIOUSLY, HE'S GOTTEN THE NATIONAL AUDIENCE.

HE WAS CAMPAIGNING WITH THE PRESIDENT, CAMPAIGNED FOR THE PRESIDENT, AND HAS BECOME ALSO SORT OF -- YOU CAN FIND HIM EVERYWHERE, PARTICULARLY GOING TO COLLEGE CAMPUSES, AND DOING EXACTLY WHAT HE DID IN UTAH, WHERE HE SAYS PROVE ME WRONG.

TED: JIM, THE EMPHASIS IS ON THE KIDS.

YOUTH, HE REALLY, REALLY HAD A WAY OF GETTING THE YOUTH VOTE OR GETTING THE YOUTH ATTENTION AS FAR AS POLITICS AND RIGHT OF CENTER POLITICS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK PROBABLY MORE THAN RIGHT OF CENTER.

TOO FAR RIGHT POLITICS.

THAT IS WHAT THE ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN ABOUT.

IT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK HE STARTED WHEN HE WAS 18 YEARS OLD.

IN COLLEGE HIMSELF.

SAW A NEED BASICALLY TO TRY TO COALESCE YOUNG VOTERS AND MOVE THEM TO THE RIGHT AND GET THEM TO SUPPORT REPUBLICANS AND CONSERVATIVES AND THOSE IDEALS, AND IT REALLY DID GROW INTO THIS, YOU KNOW, MONUMENTALLY LARGE AND INFLUENTIAL ORGANIZATION, UP AND DOWN REPUBLICAN POLITICS.

I THINK THAT HE WAS THE FACE OF THE ORGANIZATION.

HE WAS THE PRIMARY PERSON WHO WAS OUT THERE BOTH DOING THE PUBLIC EVENTS LIKE WHAT WAS GOING ON IN UTAH AND WHAT HAPPENED AT COLLEGES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND AT THE SAME TIME, OUT THERE RAISING MONEY FROM VERY DEEP-POCKETED CONSERVATIVES, WHICH IS HOW THE ORGANIZATION WAS ABLE TO GROW AS LARGE AS IT WAS, AND THEY HAVE DONE ALL KINDS OF CONFERENCES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THESE BIG GIANT GALAS.

THESE BIG EVENTS, LOTS OF MEDIA, PODCASTS, WEB SHOWS AND ALL KINDS OF THINGS.

IT REALLY IS A SMALL PART OF THE CONSERVATIVE MEDIA EMPIRE IS TURNING POINT USA AND CHARLIE KIRK WAS THE FOREFRONT OF THAT.

TED: REPUBLICANS, THE RIGHT, TRIED FOR A LONG TIME TO CONNECT WITH YOUNG PEOPLE, TO CONNECT WITH YOUTH.

HE DID, AND HE DID IN A BIG WAY.

WHY DID HE SUCCEED, AND HOW DID HE SUCCEED WHERE OTHERS FAILED?

>> THERE'S A COUPLE DYNAMICS TO PLAY AND HAVE TO BE CAREFUL WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT CHARLIE KIRK, IN THE 48 HOURS AFTER HIS ASSASSINATION.

HE PLAYED TO SOME BASIC CONSERVATIVE VIEWS, BUT HE ALSO KIND OF TOUCHED ON SOME ANTI-WOKE STUFF.

DID NOT BELIEVE THAT TRANSGENDER RIGHTS WAS A LEGITIMATE THING, AND THAT AND GAY RIGHTS AND A FEW OTHER HOT BUTTON, REPUBLICAN ISSUES.

THAT RESONATED.

SOME WOULD SAY THERE MIGHT BE A TINT OF RACISM BEHIND IT, AGAINST ANTI-DEI, YOUNG WHITE MALES ARE DISAFFECTED BECAUSE THEY DON'T THINK THEY'RE GETTING THE SAME LEG UP THAT MINORITIES GET NOW.

THAT WAS UNDER THE SEAMS, BUT YOU COULD SEE IT HAPPENING AND IT HELPED TO BUILD HIS ORGANIZATION.

ONE OF THE THINGS THEY REALLY AM WONDERING ABOUT NOW IS WHAT HAPPENS TO TURNING POINT USA?

HE'S SUCH A -- HE CONNECTED SO WELL, THAT IS SO RARE.

DONALD TRUMP HAS IT.

OBAMA HAD IT, HAS IT STILL, BUT CHARLIE COULD REALLY TOUCH AND GRAB PEOPLE'S IMAGINATION AND GET THEM INTERESTED IN SOMETHING THAT, AS YOU SAID, IS RARE TO GET THROUGH THE COLLEGE STUDENTS TO DO THAT, AND I DON'T SEE A FACE, MAYBE JAKE HOFFMAN CAN DO THAT WITH THE YOUNG PEOPLE.

>> YOU TALK ABOUT SOMEBODY LIKE JAKE HOFFMAN WHO BENEFITTED FINANCIALLY BECAUSE CHARLIE'S GROUP WOULD PUT A LOT OF MONEY INTO THE BALLOT CHASING AND THE OTHER STUFF, BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE A CERTAIN PERSONALITY, AND AS -- SOME OF CHARLIE'S POSITIONS WERE ULTRA, HE TENDED TO DO IT WITH A SMILE.

I DON'T KNOW HOW ELSE TO EXPRESS IT.

HE WASN'T HOSTILE, JAKE HOFFMAN IS IN YOUR FACE, YOU'RE WRONG, YOU'RE AN IDIOT KIND OF THING.

I DON'T KNOW WHO FITS INTO THAT, WHETHER THERE IS SOMEBODY IN THE ORGANIZATION.

I DON'T KNOW WHETHER HIS WIFE TAKES OVER.

THIS IS A GUY WHO BASICALLY SAID WOMEN SHOULD STAY HOME AND NOT HAVE A CAREER, I DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT FITS IN.

TED: JIM, WHAT KIND OF EFFECT ARE WE GOING TO SEE FROM THIS?

IS THIS SOMETHING THAT WILL STILL BE SOMEWHERE NEAR TOP OF MIND OR IN MIND FOR VOTERS, FOR THE POLITICAL SEASON NEXT YEAR?

HOW DOES THIS IMPACT, WE'LL STICK TO ARIZONA FOR THE MOST PART HERE.

HOW DOES THIS IMPACT COME NEXT NOVEMBER?

>> I DON'T KNOW THAT IT WILL.

I THINK A LOT OF IT WILL DEPEND WHAT TURNING POINT USA'S INFLUENCE IS GOING TO BE GOING FORWARD.

HE WAS THE FACE AND THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THAT ORGANIZATION, SO FILLING IN, FILLING THAT ROLE AS HOWIE IS SAYING IS GOING TO BE INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT AND I THINK A MONUMENTAL CHALLENGE FOR THE ORGANIZATION, ONCE THEY ARE PASSED THE INITIAL STAGES OF GRIEVING AND LOOK AT HOW DO THEY KEEP THAT GOING CONCERN AND WHAT DOES IT TURN INTO?

MY INITIAL THOUGHT IS WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN MORE IS WE'RE GOING TO SEE -- WHAT IS THE RESPONSE FROM CONSERVATIVES, FROM REPUBLICANS, FROM THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION?

THEY IMMEDIATELY BLAMED LIBERALS AND BLAMED THE LEFT FOR THIS MURDER, FOR THE ASSASSINATION, AND AS WE FOUND OUT, AS WE'RE LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE ACTUAL SHOOTER, SEEMS THAT AT BEST, THERE WAS NO CLEAR IDEOLOGY, AND THIS IS SOMEONE WHO CAME FROM A TRUMP LOVING FAMILY.

IN UTAH, SOMEONE WHO BY ALL ACCOUNTS SEEMS TO FIT THE AUDIENCE FOR TURNING POINT USA MORE SO THAN -- TED: EXCEPT FOR REPORTS HE CAME OUT AGAINST CHARLIE KIRK AT A FAMILY GATHERING AND AGAINST HIS POSITION AND NOTED HE WAS COMING TO THE AREA.

>> YES, BUT YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT CHARLIE KIRK, WHILE HE WAS INFLUENTIAL AND TURNING POINT IS INFLUENTIAL WITHIN REPUBLICAN CIRCLES, IT IS NOT AS THOUGH 100% OF REPUBLICANS AND CONSERVATIVES WERE BEHIND HIM.

THERE ARE A LOT OF SCHISMS WITHIN THE REPUBLICAN MOVEMENT AND A LOT OF CONSERVATIVES DID NOT LIKE CHARLIE KIRK AND SPENT RECENT WEEKS VERY OPENLY ATTACKING HIM FOR SOME OF THE POSITIONS HE'D BEEN TAKING ESPECIALLY WITH REGARD TO THE EPSTEIN FILES AND TRUMP.

THERE'S A HUGE GULF WITHIN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, IT'S UNCLEAR WHAT HAPPENED, AND I THINK THAT IT'S NOT IN ANY OF OUR BEST INTEREST TO MAKE PRESUMPTIONS ABOUT WHAT MOTIVATED THIS, IF THERE WERE POLITICS BEHIND IT AT ALL, BUT I DO THINK THAT WE'VE ALREADY SEEN STATEMENTS FROM THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, AND OTHER REPUBLICANS IN OFFICE, WHO HAVE BASICALLY SAID WE'RE GOING TO USE THIS AS THE PRETEXT TO GO AFTER OUR POLITICAL ENEMIES, AND I THINK THAT IS THE KIND OF THING THAT MAY ULTIMATELY HAVE MORE INFLUENCE IN 2026.

>> AND THE POINT OF THE SCHISM IS IMPORTANT, IT DOES EXIST IN ARIZONA.

I MEAN, YOU HAVE THE FREEDOM CAUCUS, THEY'RE BACKING, TRYING TO GET RID OF THE CURRENT STATE SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT, GET RID OF REPUBLICANS RUNNING ON THE CORPORATION COMMISSION, SO IT MAY FALL WITH OR WITHOUT CHARLIE KIRK, WITHOUT TURNING POINT, YOU MAY STILL HAVE THE IDEA OF THE FREEDOM CAUCUS AND THAT SCHISM THERE.

CAN THE REPUBLICANS UNITE AROUND DEMOCRATS AND LEFTIES?

I DON'T KNOW, THAT SCHISM WILL BE THERE WITH OR WITHOUT CHARLIE KIRK.

>> THIS YOUNG MAN IS 23, 24 YEARS OLD?

WE DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT HIM YET, HE WOULD FIT INTO THE SCHOOL SHOOTER, LONE, DISAFFECTED YOUNG MAN WHO DOES THESE THINGS, HE MAYBE GOT FIXATED ON CHARLIE KIRK FOR WHO KNOWS WHY.

I THINK POLITICS IS A LEAGUE TOO FAR FOR HIM.

TED: LAST QUESTION QUICKLY, DOES THIS EVENT CHANGE POLITICAL DISCOURSE IN ARIZONA, AROUND THE COUNTRY?

DOES IT LEAVE A MARK?

>> WELL, IT LEAVES A MARK NO DOUBT.

IT SCARES PEOPLE.

WE'VE HAD MINNESOTA LAWMAKERS KILLED, GOVERNOR OF PENNSYLVANIA, THEY TRIED TO BURN DOWN HIS HOUSE.

OBVIOUSLY PRESIDENT TRUMP WAS THE VICTIM OF AT LEAST ONE AND ANOTHER ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT.

THIS IS BAD FOR DEMOCRACY ALL THE WAY AROUND, IT'S GOING TO SCARE REGULAR PEOPLE FOR RUNNING FOR OFFICE, EVEN FOR SCHOOL BOARD OR THE STATE LEGISLATURE, AND, YOU KNOW, YOU END UP WITH PEOPLE WHO AREN'T SCARED, AND THAT'S SCARY.

>> THE PROBLEM IS IT HASN'T CHILLED THE CONVERSATION, WE'VE SEEN IT HERE IN ARIZONA.

PEOPLE LIKE RACHEL KICHEL.

>> EXTREMISTS MAKE IT WORSE INSTEAD OF BETTER.

>> THE QUESTION IS NORMALLY AFTER THIS, YOU HAVE PEOPLE SAYING LET'S KEEP IT DOWN.

THIS SEEMS TO BE THE REVERSE.

AND, IN FACT, WHAT'S FUNNY IS THE GOVERNOR IS TALKING ABOUT CHILLING SPEECH, AND I SAID, EXCUSE ME, YOU USED TERMS LIKE DANGEROUS AND EXTREMIST TALKING ABOUT REPUBLICANS, WILL YOU STOP USING THEM?

SHE SAID I'M NOT HERE TO POINT FINGERS.

SHE DOESN'T INTEND TO BACK OFF WHEN SHE WANTS TO CALL SOMEONE AN EXTREMIST.

TED: LAST WORD ON THIS, JIM, WILL THIS KEEP PEOPLE FROM RUNNING FOR OFFICE?

WILL IT AFFECT THE POLITICAL DIALOGUE OR DO WE JUST MOVE ON LIKE WE DO ALWAYS WITH THESE EVENTS?

>> I DON'T KNOW, BUT I KIND OF AGREE WITH WHAT WAS SAID EARLIER.

I THINK THIS SEEMS TO BE EMBOLDENING MORE CALLS, IN A VERY UNUSUAL WAY, MORE CALLS FOR EXTREMISM FROM CERTAIN ELEMENTS OF, YOU KNOW, OF THE KIND OF POLITICAL CLASS AND POLITICAL ACTIVISTS, AND I THINK IT IS A DANGEROUS TIME, AND THERE'S A LOT THAT COULD BE DONE, THAT MIGHT BE DONE DOWN THE ROAD, TO REALLY CLAMP DOWN ON, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO GET BLAMED FOR WHAT HAPPENED, WHETHER THEY WERE DIRECTLY INVOLVE OR NOT.

TED: JIM, STICKING WITH YOU.

THIS IS AN "ARIZONA MIRROR" STORY.

JOHN GILLETTE, WHO IS JOHN GILLETTE AND WHY SHOULD HE FACE A HOUSE ETHICS COMPLAINT?

>> MEMBER OF THE HOUSE IN KINGMAN, IN MOHAVE COUNTY AND SPENT THE BETTER PART OF THIS MONTH ON X, USED TO BE TWITTER, POSTING ALL ABOUT HOW HE DOES NOT LIKE MUSLIMS, AND USING INCREDIBLY PROFANE AND DEROGATORY LANGUAGE ABOUT MUSLIMS ATTACKING GOVERNOR HOBBS BECAUSE AT ONE POINT SHE MET WITH THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY LEADER, BASICALLY CALLING PEOPLE WHO PRACTICE THE FAITH OF ISLAM SAVAGES AND TERRORISTS AND SAYING THEY SHOULD GO BACK TO THEIR HOME COUNTRIES, AND HE USED A COLORFUL EPITHET THAT DONALD TRUMP FAMOUSLY USED IN THE FIRST TERM.

TED: REPUBLICANS THINKING THERE IS ETHICS COMPLAINT REGARDING ALL THIS?

>> FOR SOME REASON, JIM'S FOLKS WERE UNABLE TO GET AHOLD OF STEVE MONTENEGRO OR OTHER REPUBLICANS ON THIS.

NOT SURPRISING BECAUSE WE'VE COME TO A PLACE IN POLITICS WHERE, IF THIS HAD BEEN TEN YEARS AGO AND JOHN GILLETTE HAD SAID THAT, DOESN'T MATTER IF HE'S FROM A DEEP RED COUNTY LIKE MOHAVE COUNTY, HE WAS GOING TO GET TALKED TO AND TOLD HE NEEDED TO RESIGN OR WOULD FACE A CENSURE VOTE IN THE STATEHOUSE.

AS A REPUBLICAN, THEY HAVE FOUR-SEAT MAJORITY.

THEY WANT TO KEEP THAT, ALL OF THEM, AND I DON'T SEE HIM GETTING A LOT OF PENALTIES FROM THE REPUBLICAN-LED ETHICS COMMITTEE.

>> THE CONVERSATIONS HAVE BECOME COARSER OVER THE YEARS.

JIM'S SEEN THIS, BOB'S SEEN IT, I STARTED IN THE CAPITOL IN '82, AND YOU DIDN'T HAVE THIS VERY PERSONAL ATTACK, NOT ONLY ON EACH OTHER, THE ISSUE OF ANALISE ORTIZ, ETHICS COMPLAINT IN THE SENATE FOR WHAT SHE POSTED, BUT IT'S BECOME PERSONAL, THIS TRENCH WARFARE, AND IT DOESN'T HELP ANYONE AND THERE MIGHT BE A COMPLAINT THAT THE DEMOCRATS FILE, WILL THEY HAVE A HEARING?

I DON'T KNOW.

FOR JOHN GILLETTE, AGAIN, POINTING OUT HIS IS A DEEPER DISTRICT OUT THERE, HE MAY SAY BRING IT ON.

I'M HAPPY TO EXPLAIN WHY MUSLIMS ARE BAD PEOPLE.

>> I THINK WE ALL HAVE SEEN THIS.

>> I ASSUME HE WILL SAY IT'S THE FIRST AMENDMENT, HE HAS A RIGHT TO SAY THIS STUFF AND THEY'LL LET IT SLIDE.

I WANT TO SAY THERE ARE A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF LAWMAKERS AND POLITICIANS IN THE STATE WHO ARE NOT EMBRACING THIS STILL.

TED: YEAH.

>> AND WE DON'T WANT TO PAINT TOO WIDE A BRUSH, I DON'T THINK.

TED: ALL RIGHT, JIM.

TOM HORNE, SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION WANTS A PARTICULAR STATE SUPREME COURT JUSTICE OFF OF A CASE REGARDING, AGAIN, TALKING ONCE AGAIN ABOUT ENGLISH LANGUAGE.

TALK TO US ABOUT THE CASE, WHY DOES HE NOT WANT JUSTICE BILL MONTGOMERY TO BE A JUSTICE IN THIS CASE?

>> ALL RIGHT, SO THE CASE INVOLVES MULTILINGUAL INSTRUCTION IN ARIZONA.

ARIZONA VOTERS SAID THEY COULDN'T DO IT, SCHOOLS HAD DUAL LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION TO HELP TEACH KIDS ENGLISH, OR IT WOULD BE ALMOST THE ENTIRE DAY WOULD BE IN SPANISH INSTRUCTION TO HELP STUDENTS CATCH UP ON ENGLISH AND AT THE SAME TIME STILL LEARN MATH AND SCIENCE AND HISTORY AND READING AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION APPROVED A COUPLE OF WAYS, SORT OF I GUESS AROUND THAT VOTER APPROVED LAW, THAT ALLOW FOR SOME KIND OF MULTILINGUAL STUFF, AND THEY'VE APPROVED IT, TOM HORNE DOES NOT LIKE IT, HE'S A FOE OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION PRETTY MUCH HIS ENTIRE POLITICAL CAREER, SO HE SUED AND THE LAWSUITS WERE TOSSED OUT OF COURT.

THE COURTS SAID YOU DON'T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO SUE, THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION CAN SUE, YOU CANNOT.

HE WANTS THE ARIZONA SUPREME COURT TO WEIGH IN AND SAY YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO SUE TO GO BACK TO THE BEGINNING AND ACTUALLY DO THIS CASE.

HE DOESN'T WANT BILL MONTGOMERY TO HEAR THE CASE IF THE SUPREME COURT TAKES IT UP, WHICH THEY HAVEN'T YET, BECAUSE BACK IN 2012, I THINK, BILL MONTGOMERY, HIS OFFICE OPENED AN INVESTIGATION INTO TOM HORNE BECAUSE TOM HORNE WAS ACCUSED OF VIOLATING CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAWS AND HIS CAMPAIGN WAS AND MONTGOMERY HAD THE CASE BRIEFLY BEFORE HE KICKED IT TO ANOTHER COUNTY ATTORNEY, AND TOM HORNE SAID HE'S BIASED AND PREJUDICE AND SHOULDN'T BE ALLOWED.

TED: HASN'T HE BEEN INVOLVED IN OTHER HORNE CASES?

ANYTHING BEEN INVOLVED SINCE THEN?

>> NOT REALLY.

A CASE INVOLVED A PRIVATE PRACTICE WHICH HE ASKED BILL MONTGOMERY TO RECUSE HIMSELF, AND HE DID.

WHAT MAKES IT TRICKY, AT THE TIME, BILL MONTGOMERY WAS MARICOPA COUNTY COUNTY ATTORNEY.

HE HAD REPORTS FROM THE FBI, AND NORMALLY YOU SEND IT UNDER PROCEDURES TO A HEARING OFFICER, BUT THEN BILL GETS THE FINAL WORD.

BILL MADE THE CONCLUSION LONG BEFORE THE HEARING OFFICER SAID ANYTHING, WELL, HE'S OBVIOUSLY GUILTY AND TOOK THAT CASE GOING THROUGH A TRIAL JUDGE TO THE SUPREME COURT SAYING YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ON THERE, SO TOM IS SAYING, HE'S OBVIOUSLY PREJUDICE TOWARD ME.

I DON'T KNOW.

THE QUESTION OF SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED WHILE TOM HORNE IS RUNNING FOR SUPERINTENDENT IN 2010, IT'S 2024, 2025 NOW, WITH THE 2026 ELECTION COMING UP, I DON'T KNOW THAT YOU ACTUALLY DO YOURSELF ANY FAVORS.

IF YOU KILL A KING, YOU BETTER MAKE SURE YOU DO IT.

TED: AND THE SUPREME COURT BASICALLY SAID WE'RE OKAY HERE?

>> WE'RE OKAY HERE.

I THINK I CAN UNDERSTAND THE REASON THE COURT DIDN'T EXPLAIN THEIR ORDER.

IT HAS BEEN 12 TO 15 YEARS.

BILL MONTGOMERY WAS A PROSECUTOR AT THE TIME.

THAT WAS HIS JOB TO REVIEW AND INVESTIGATE THESE THINGS.

HE'S BEEN A JUSTICE FOR SEVEN YEARS NOW?

EXCUSE ME, JUSTICE MONTGOMERY?

TED: I THINK SO, YEAH.

>> AND THERE'S BEEN NO SIGN OF ANY PROBLEM.

NO SIGN OF BIAS FROM THE JUSTICE SINCE HE'S BEEN ON THE COURT.

I'VE TALKED TO HIM A FEW TIMES OVER THE YEARS, SINCE HE'S BEEN A JUSTICE, AND HE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ANYWHERE NEAR AS POLITICAL AS HE WAS IN MARICOPA COUNTY.

HE'S STRAIGHT DOWN THE LINE ON THE LAW.

>> THERE WAS A PRECEDENT.

YOU REMEMBER THE ABORTION CASE WHETHER THEY WERE GOING TO ENFORCE THE 15 WEEK LAW.

PLANNED PARENTHOOD SOUGHT TO HAVE HIM RECUSED BASED ON THINGS HE SAID AGAIN, AS COUNTY ATTORNEY, VERY POLITICAL, AND ORIGINALLY SAID NO, AND FINALLY SAID YES.

HE TOOK HIMSELF OFF.

THIS ISN'T LIKE THIS IS TOTALLY OUT OF THE BLUE.

>> WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE ABORTION CASE, WHICH BILL MONTGOMERY HAS VERY STRONG ANTIABORTION VIEWS AND VOICED THEM PUBLICLY MULTIPLE TIMES.

THIS IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

TED: JIM, JUSTINE WADSACK, MIGHT BE THE LAST TIME WE TALK ABOUT THE PARTICULAR LAWSUIT.

SHE SAID I'M OUT OF HERE, I'M DONE.

>> YEAH, THIS IS THE $8 MILLION LAWSUIT.

WE TALKED ABOUT IT SEVERAL MONTHS NOW THIS HAS BEEN UNFOLDING IN FEDERAL COURT IN TUCSON.

YEAH, THIS HAS TO DO WITH HER CITATION FOR SPEEDING, FOR DRIVING TWICE THE SPEED LIMIT ALLEGEDLY IN TUCSON AND HOW THAT GOT -- I GUESS SHE GOT A CITATION AND HOW THE STORY MADE IT INTO THE LOCAL MEDIA AND STATEWIDE MEDIA AND THE ALLEGATIONS OF CONSPIRACIES AND ATTEMPTS TO PERSONALLY INJURE HER, BUT IT SEEMS AS THOUGH THAT CASE, SHE MAY BE DROPPING THAT CASE BECAUSE SHE CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY HER ATTORNEYS, WHY HER ATTORNEYS ASKED TO GET OFF THE CASE.

>> NOT ONLY THAT, SHE DIDN'T SHOW UP IN COURT THE WAY THE FEDERAL COURTS RULE, I'D LIKE TO PUT IT IN MOTION, YOU CAN'T DO IT UNTIL THE JUDGE SAYS OKAY.

JUDGE JENNIFER ZIP SAID JUSTINE, YOU WILL BE IN COURT.

SHE WAS NOT ONLY IN COURT, SHE WAS AT A TURNING POINT USA EVENT.

TED: YES, SHE WAS.

>> AT THE SAME TIME.

AND HER EXCUSE WAS, YOUR HONOR, I GET THINGS CONFUSED.

>> SHE SAID SHE WAS HAVING PERSONAL FAMILY HEALTH CRISIS, WHICH SEEMS THAT IT'S HER OWN HEALTH CRISIS.

WHO KNOWS?

SHE DOESN'T HAVE TO TELL US.

JUSTINE WADSACK WAS TRYING TO MAKE HEY WITH THIS.

SHE SPENT A LOT OF TAXPAYER MONEY DEFENDING THIS.

DENNIS WILLENCHUCK IS ON THE HOOK FOR EVERY BILL SHE CANNOT PAY AND ACCUSED THE TUCSON POLICE AND TUCSON CITY COUNCIL AND EVERYONE WHO HAS SAID ANYTHING BAD AGAINST HER IN TUCSON.

>> THEY'RE ALL OUT TO GET HER?

>> ALL OUT TO GET HER.

IF THE JUDGE ACCEPTS THIS, OF COURSE THE JUDGE HAS TO ALLOW THIS, MIGHT AS WELL TALK SANCTIONS FIRST, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HAVE A PERSONAL CRISIS OR NOT, YOU HAVE A CALENDAR AND YOU KNEW WHAT DAY IT WAS.

>> THE JUDGE FINALLY ALLOWED HER TO WITHDRAW IT AND DISSOLVE THE REQUEST FOR THE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE OF THE SANCTIONS.

SO AT THIS POINT, AS YOU SAY, MAYBE WE DON'T HAVE TO TALK ABOUT JUSTINE WADSACK ANYMORE.

TED: WHEN WE DO, IT WILL BE A WHOLE NEW ADVENTURE.

JIM, THE GOVERNOR AND COVID-19 VACCINATIONS.

INTERESTING COMBINATION.

INTERESTING NEWS THIS WEEK.

>> YEAH, GOVERNOR HOBBS ISSUED EXECUTIVE ORDER THIS WEEK TO EXPAND ACCESS TO COVID-19 VACCINATIONS.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, OF COURSE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES HAD RESTRICTED IT AND SAID IF YOU'RE OLDER THAN 65, YOU CAN GET ONE.

EVERYONE ELSE NEEDS A PRESCRIPTION TO GET IT.

THE GOVERNOR'S EXECUTIVE ORDER ATTEMPTS TO WORK AROUND THAT AND SAY THAT, NO, THEY'RE AVAILABLE TO EVERYBODY.

THE ORDER ACTUALLY EXPANDS FAR BEYOND COVID-19 VACCINES AND PRETTY MUCH EVERY OTHER VACCINE AS WELL.

BUT THE IDEA IN HER STATEMENT WAS THAT ARIZONANS DESERVE TO MAKE THEIR OWN HEALTH CARE CHOICES NOT TO HAVE THE GOVERNMENT ESSENTIALLY -- WITH NOT A LOT OF BASIS OR THIN BASIS, ROLL BACK THE ACCESS TO THESE VACCINES AT A TIME WHEN WE HAVE NEW VARIANTS THAT ARE SPREADING, AND THEY REMAIN DANGEROUS FOR PEOPLE, PARTICULARLY THOSE WITH OTHER HEALTH CONCERNS.

>> IT WAS A MODEL AFTER OTHER STATES HAVE DONE.

WE SAW IN CONNECTICUT AND FEW OTHER STATES.

IF YOU NEED A PRESCRIPTION, CVS WILL NOT GIVE A COVID VACCINE WITHOUT A PRESCRIPTION.

FRY'S WON'T GIVE IT TO YOU IF YOU ARE NOT OVER 65 WITHOUT A PRESCRIPTION BECAUSE EVERYBODY IS PARANOID OVER ROBERT KENNEDY AND THE FDA AND THE CDC.

THIS IS THE WAY OF TELLING THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT, YOU WILL ISSUE A STANDING ORDER, A BLANKET PRESCRIPTIONS, IF YOU WANT ONE, YOU GET A PRESCRIPTION.

THERE IS A FAILSAFE THAT REQUIRES YOU TO GO TO THE PHARMACIST AND THE PHARMACIST FILLS OUT A CHECKLIST TO SEE IF YOU SHOULD BE HAVING IT.

YOU HAVE NOT SEEN A DOCTOR BY THE TIME YOU GET THAT PRESCRIPTION.

>> SAME STANDING ORDER THAT GOVERNOR DUCEY AND GOVERNOR CHRIST ROLLED OUT FOUR YEARS AGO.

THEY WERE BROADLY ADOPTED FOUR YEARS AGO, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE WHO GET THEM NOW.

I GET ONE EVERY YEAR.

MY WIFE, TWO YEARS YOUNGER THAN ME, WAS NOT ABLE TO GET ONE BECAUSE SHE'S 63 AND I'M OLDER THAN 65 -- TED: WE FIGURED IT OUT, BOB.

>> AND SO THIS GIVES FOLKS WHO ARE IN THAT -- WHETHER THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT KIDS GETTING SICK OR WORRIED ABOUT THEM GETTING SICK AND GIVING IT TO PARENTS WHO ARE OLDER, THIS GIVES THEM THE OPTION TO GET A VACCINE THEY'VE RECEIVED FOR YEARS, HASN'T HAD ANY BAD EFFECTS, THEY WANT ONE.

TED: REALLY QUICKLY, HELP, HURT, NO EFFECT ON RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN FOR THE GOVERNOR?

>> I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING MATTER AT ALL.

CAMPAIGN WON'T BE ABOUT THAT.

TED: WHAT DO YOU THINK, BOB?

>> VERY SMALL, MINUSCULE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WILL CARE IN A YEAR.

>> I THINK IT HELPS.

REMEMBER, THIS DOESN'T REQUIRE YOU TO GET A VACCINE.

THIS ISN'T LIKE THE ORDERS DOUG DUCEY ISSUED, YOU STAY AT HOME, WEAR A MASK, CLOSING DOWN BUSINESSES.

THIS IS IF YOU WANT THE VACCINE, GET THE VACCINE.

I THINK THIS HELPS WITH A LOT OF FOLKS IN ARIZONA.

TED: HOWIE, SINCE YOU ARE THE REPORTER EMERITUS AS YOU CONSTANTLY LIKE TO REMIND US HERE.

BOB CORBIN.

>> YES.

TED: WHO IS BOB CORBIN AND WHY IS HE SO INFLUENTIAL IN AMERICAN HISTORY?

>> BOB CORBIN WAS MOST RECENTLY ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE STATE AND BEFORE THAT MARICOPA COUNTY ATTORNEY, MARICOPA COUNTY SUPERVISOR.

HE ALSO SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN THE SUPERSTITIONS, BUT HE WAS VERY OPEN PERSON.

LOOK, IN THE DAY I COULD JUST GO INTO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE, GO UP TO HIS OFFICE, HEY, WHAT'S GOING ON?

VERY OPEN.

VERY WILLING TO TALK WITH THE PRESS AND VERY WILLING TO SAY I DON'T CARE WHAT PEOPLE'S POLITICS ARE.

THE OTHER THING, AS A JOURNALIST I ADMIRED HIM FOR, THE OPEN MEETING ENFORCEMENT ATTEMPT TO.

WHEN I HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE BISBEE CITY COUNCIL, I'D CALL UP AND STEVE TWIST, THE CHIEF DEPUTY SAID STEVE, THESE PEOPLE DON'T THINK THE OPEN MEETING APPLIES TO THIS.

STEVE WOULD GET ON THE PHONE AND THAT WOULD END THE PROBLEM.

TED: HE PROSECUTED ERNESTO MIRANDA OF MIRANDA RIGHTS FAME AND SUSPECTS IN THE DON BOWLES CAR BOMBING, DIED THIS WEEK, A LONG LIFE AND ACTIVE AND ADVENTUROUS LIFE.

BOB CORBIN.

GENTLEMEN, 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.