♪.

TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," A LOOK AT TODAY'S SUPREME COURT DECISION REGARDING EMERGENCY ABORTIONS.

ALSO TONIGHT, THE SURGEON GENERAL ANNOUNCES THAT GUN VIOLENCE IS A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS.

AND THE DISCUSSION WITH THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE RUNG FOR MARICOPA COUNTY RECORDER.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

.

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

I'M TED SIMONS.

THE U.S. SUPREME COURT TODAY MADE A SUDDEN CHANGE OF SCHEDULE AND CONFIRMED THAT THE CURRENT SESSION WILL CONTINUE ON INTO JULY.

THE MOVE SIGNALS THAT A DECISION ON DONALD TRUMP'S PRESIDENTIAL IMMUNITY CLAIM COULD COME TOMORROW OR MONDAY.

THE COURT DID RULE ON A NUMBER OF OTHER CASES TODAY, INCLUDING REJECTION OF ONE OF THE MAIN WAYS THAT THE SEC ENFORCES LAWS AGAINST SECURITY FRAUD.

ANOTHER RULING REJECTED THE LIABILITY SHIELD AT THE HEART OF A SETTLEMENT INVOLVING CIVIL CLAIMS RELATED TO OPIOID EPIDEMIC.

AND THE HIGH COURT PUT A PAUSE TO THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATIONS PLAN TO PROTECT DOWNWIND STATES FROM HARMFUL POLLUTION EMISSIONS PRODUCED BY NEIGHBORING STATES.

THE RULING THAT GETS A LOT OF ATTENTION ALLOWS FOR EMERGENCY ABORTIONS IN IDAHO.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT THE COURT DECIDED AND RAMIFICATIONS OF THE DECISION, WE WELCOME JENNIFER PIATT FROM ASU'S SANDRA DAY O'CONNOR COLLEGE OF LAW.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> OF COURSE.

TED: TALK ABOUT THE DECISION OR THE NONDECISION?

>> VERY MUCH A NONDECISION TODAY.

WE HAVE A CASE INVOLVING CONFLICT OF FEDERAL LAW IN TALA, EMERGENCY STABILIZING MEDICAL TREATMENT OF EMERGENCY CONDITIONS, THE U.S. GOVERNMENT SAYS THIS CAN INCLUDE ABORTIONS WHEN THE HEALTH OR THE LIFE OF A PERSON IS IN DANGER.

ABORTIONS CAN ONLY HAPPEN WHEN THE LIFE OF A PERSON IS IN DANGER SO THAT HEALTH AND LIFE CAME TO A HEAD, AND THE COURT WAS REALLY AIMING AT TRYING TO SAY WHETHER AMTALA DOES PREVENT AND GET RID OF IDAHO LAW.

THEY DECIDED NOT TO TACKLE THE PREEMPTION QUESTION.

TED: REINSTATES THE LOWER COURT RULING THAT STOPS IDAHO'S NEARLY TOTAL ABORTION BAN?

>> YES, THAT RULING IS BACK IN PLACE.

IDAHO IS GOING TO HAVE TO ALLOW PHYSICIANS IN THE STATE TO PROVIDE EMERGENCY HEALTH PRESERVING ABORTIONS AS WELL AS EMERGENCY LIFE PRESERVING ONES.

TED: BECAUSE FEDERAL LAW STILL HOLDS SWAY.

>> THAT'S WHAT THE LOWER COURT DETERMINED AND THE U.S. SUPREME COURT SAID WE DON'T WANT TO DECIDE THAT ISSUE YET.

TED: THE CASE IS DISMISSED WITHOUT A RULING, NO MERITS INVOLVED AT ALL.

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

>> IT'S ANYBODY'S GUESS.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OPINIONS ATTACHED TO THE REALLY BRIEF ORDER FROM THE U.S. SUPREME COURT THAT KIND OF GIVE US A SENSE WHERE THE JUSTICES ARE COMING OUT ON THE ISSUE BUT LOOKS LIKE A MAJORITY OF THEM SAID MAYBE A LITTLE TOO EARLY TO GET INVOLVED HERE ACTUALLY, SO WE'RE GOING TO STEP OUT.

TED: WHY WOULD IT BE TOO EARLY, DO YOU THINK?

>> SOME OF THE ARGUMENTS IN THE ATTACHED DECISIONS LIKE JUSTICE BARRETT, THE CHIEF JUSTICE AND JUSTICE KAVANAUGH SAID IT SEEMS LIKE THE ARGUMENTS IN THIS CASE ARE STILL DEVELOPING AND KIND OF CHANGING DURING ORAL ARGUMENT.

MAYBE WE NEED THE ARGUMENTS TO SOLIDIFY AT LOWER COURT LEVEL BEFORE WE GET INVOLVED.

TED: BASICALLY, KEEP IT AS SIMPLE AS YOU CAN, PLEASE.

THE CASE ITSELF, WHAT HAPPENS?

>> SO IT GOES BACK NOW.

IT GOES BACK.

IT WAS IN VERY EARLY STAGES OF THE CASE IN THE LOWER COURT, IT GOES BACK AND KEEPS GETTING LITIGATED AND GOES THROUGH APPEALS TO THE NINTH CIRCUIT AND MAYBE COMES BACK TO THE SUPREME COURT AFTER THAT.

TED: AND COULD BE DECIDED ON MERITS SOMEWHERE ALONG THE LINE, YEAH?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

COULD COME RIGHT BACK TO THE U.S. SUPREME COURT AFTER ALL THIS IS DONE AND DECIDE THE AMTALA QUESTION, BUT THEY HAVE ANOTHER CASE SITTING IN FRONT OF THEM FROM TEXAS THAT DECIDED THIS ISSUE AS WELL.

THE FIFTH CIRCUIT DECIDED THIS AS WELL AND MIGHT ACCEPT SERT ANY DAY ON THAT NOW.

TED: HOW IS THIS DIFFERENT FROM THIS ONE?

>> SAME CASE BUT THE FIFTH SAYS AMTALA DOES NOT PREEMPT LAW.

IT'S THE SAME CIRCUIT BUT AMTALA DOES NOT TAKE PRECEDENT.

>> THE CASE OF IDAHO OVER TEXAS, IS THAT A SIGNAL?

>> I DON'T KNOW, THE IDAHO CASE HAS BEEN KITING ON THE DOCT, IF THAT HAPPENS, WHO KNOWS?

TED: WHAT DOES IT MEAN AS FAR AS ARIZONA IS CONCERNED?

>> DOESN'T MEAN A WHOLE LOT AT THIS STAGE BECAUSE THE SUPREME COURT DECIDED NOT TO DO ANYTHING, SO THEY COULD HAVE SAID AMTALA PREEMPTS ALL STATE LAWS THAT DON'T PROVIDE FOR HEALTH SAVING EXCEPTIONS AS BROADLY AS AMTALA DOES AND COULD BE AN ARGUMENT THAT MAYBE ARIZONA'S 15-WEEK BAN DOES NOT DO THAT BECAUSE IT HAS VERY SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES FOR WHEN EXCEPTIONS ARE ALLOWED, BUT BECAUSE THE COURT DIDN'T GO THAT FAR, WE DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER YET.

TED: WE DID GET KIND OF A PARTIAL ANSWER ON THIS FROM ATTORNEY GENERAL KRIS MAYES WHAT SHE PLANS TO DO AND HOW SHE SEES THE ABORTION LAW AND WHAT IT MEANS.

WE HAD HER ON A COUPLE NIGHTS AGO AND THERE'S A LOT OF CONFUSION AMONG DOCTORS OUT THERE.

WHAT DID SHE SAY?

>> 15- OR 16-PAGE AG ADVISORY, THE ONE POINT I WANT TO STRESS IS THIS IS ABOUT A CLINICIAN'S GOOD FAITH CLINICAL JUDGMENT, AND AS LONG AS THEY'RE ACTING IN GOOD FAITH, AS LONG AS THEY'RE ACTING HONESTLY AND NOT WITH MALICE OR MAL INTENT, THEN THAT'S GOING TO BE LAWFUL AND THAT'S GOING TO BE VALID AND NOT ABOUT WHAT A REASONABLE PHYSICIAN MIGHT DO, IT'S ABOUT WHAT THIS PHYSICIAN DID REASONABLY UNDER THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES.

TED: WHY DO YOU THINK SHE HAD TO MAKE THAT ADVISORY?

>> I THINK THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CONFUSION OVER MEDICAL EXCEPTIONS TO ABORTION BANS.

NOT JUST IN ARIZONA BUT ALL OVER THE PLACE, AND I THINK CLINICIANS ARE NERVOUS, THEY'RE STUCK BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE, THEY WANT TO TREAT PATIENTS AND DON'T WANT TO LOSE LICENSE OR FACE PROSECUTION.

GETTING CLARITY IS NECESSARY.

TED: GETTING CLARITY ON WHETHER THE COURTS DECIDE TRUMP'S IMMUNITY AND WHETHER THEY CAN BE PROSECUTED ON OBSTRUCTING OFFICIAL PROCEEDING.

TOMORROW, MONDAY, WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?

>> YOU KNOW, IT COULD BE TOMORROW AND SLIDE THAT INTO THE WEEKEND NEWS CYCLE AND BE COMFORTABLE WITH THAT, BUT IT COULD ABSOLUTELY BE MONDAY, WE JUST DON'T KNOW.

NORMALLY THEY DON'T GO INTO JULY.

SO SURPRISE TO SEE OPINIONS COMING OUT ON MONDAY AT ALL.

TED: WERE YOU SURPRISED TO SEE THAT BLOOMBERG NEWS HAD THIS PARTICULAR ABORTION RULEING?

WHAT WAS THAT ALL ABOUT?

>> I WAS SHOCKED AND THINKING EVERY NEWS AGENCY IS GOING TO REFRESH THESE PAGES A MILLION TIMES TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED IN THE COURT.

TED: THIS COURT HAS A PROBLEM KEEPING DECISIONS UNDER WRAPS.

>> YES, THEY DO.

THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE NOW IN RECENT YEARS, WHICH IS SURPRISING.

TED: DO YOU HAVE IDEAS AS FAR AS TRUMP'S IMMUNITY.

ARE THERE SMOKE SIGNALS COMING IN EITHER DIRECTION?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

I REALLY DON'T KNOW.

MAYBE WE'LL FIND OUT TOMORROW, MAYBE MONDAY.

TED: COULD IT BE PARTIAL IMMUNITY?

>> I DON'T KNOW, HONESTLY.

I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT DIRECTION THEY'RE GOING TO GO WITH IT.

I CAN'T SAY.

TED: THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT FASCINATING AND HAVE YOU ON THE PROGRAM.

JENNIFER PIATT, ASU O'CONNOR COLLEGE OF LAW.

ALWAYS A PLEASURE HAVING YOU ON.

>> OF COURSE, THANK YOU.

.

TED: U.S.

SURGEON GENERAL ISSUED ADVISORY TO GUN VIOLENCE IS A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS.

AS THE COUNTRY DEALT WITH ANOTHER SUMMER WEEKEND MARKED BY MASS SHOOTINGS, LEAVING DOZENS DEAD OR INJURED.

JOINING US IS WILL HUMBLE, DIRECTOR OF ARIZONA PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THIS IDEA OF GUN VIOLENCE AS I PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS, WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF IT?

>> ABSOLUTELY IS AND HAS BEEN FOR A LONG TIME.

TAKE FENTANYL AND OPIOIDS AS AN EXAMPLE.

PRETTY MUCH EVERYONE RECOGNIZES THAT AS A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS AND HAS BEEN FOR A LONG TIME.

MANY YEARS.

FIREARM DEATHS AND INJURIES IS ON PAR WITH THAT.

IN ARIZONA WE HAVE FOUR PEOPLE PER DAY DYING AS A RESULT OF A FIREARM, INJURY ACCIDENT, COULD BE HOMICIDE, SUICIDE OR ACCIDENT, SO THAT'S THE SAME AS OPIOIDS.

THIS IS A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS AND HAS BEEN FOR A LONG TIME.

TED: THIS WAS NOT AN EMERGENCY DECLARATION.

IT WAS AN ADVISORY.

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?

>> SO THERE'S AN EMERGENCY DECLARATION, THAT'S LIKE COVID-19.

THAT GIVES THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES A BUNCH OF EXTRA AUTHORITY THEY DON'T NORMALLY HAVE.

THIS ISN'T.

THAT THE NEXT LEVEL DOWN IS SURGEON GENERAL REPORT, AND THAT'S THE KIND OF THING THEY DID IN 1964, WHERE THEY SAID SMOKING CAUSES CANCER.

SO THAT'S THE SURGEON GENERAL REPORT.

THIS IS AN ADVISORY SO IT'S THE NEXT LEVEL DOWN.

IT'S MORE OF A TOOL TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC AND POLICYMAKERS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE AND IMPACT THAT FIREARMS HAVE ON OUR SOCIETY.

TED: NO REGULATIONS INVOLVED WITH SOMETHING LIKE THIS?

>> CORRECT, RIGHT.

TED: OKAY, THE RULE OF PUBLIC HEALTH IN MITIGATING GUN VIOLENCE.

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE STILL HAVE A PROBLEM PUTTING GUN VIOLENCE WITH PUBLIC HEALTH.

>> YEAH, THE CORE PART OF PUBLIC HEALTH IS IDENTIFYING A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE, IN THIS CASE, CRISIS, LOOKING TO THE LITERATURE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT ARE THE EFFECTIVE INTERVENTIONS THAT CAN STEM THE TIDE OF THE DEATHS.

SOMETIMES THAT'S SCIENTIFIC WHERE YOU'RE LOOKING AT MEDICAL RESEARCH, LOOKING AT VACCINE DEVELOPMENT.

SOMETIMES IT'S PUBLIC POLICY INTERVENTIONS THAT STEM THE TIDE OF THE DEATHS.

IN THIS CASE WITH FIREARM INJURIES AND ACCIDENTS, PUBLIC HEALTH'S ROLE IS TO LOOK AT WHAT IS THE IMPACT THAT VARIOUS STATE LAWS HAVE ON WHAT HAPPENS ON THE GROUND IN TERMS OF HOMICIDE, SUICIDE, ACCIDENTS AND INJURIES WITH FIREARMS?

YOU IDENTIFY THE LAWS THAT WORK AND DO YOUR ADVOCACY TO TRY TO GET THOSE IMPLEMENTED.

TED: LOT OF DATA COLLECTION, BEST PRACTICES, IN OTHER WORDS.

>> CORRECT.

>> ARE INTERVENTIONS TARGETING HIGH-RISK PEOPLE.

THESE ARE LOOKED AT AND ANALYZEED?

>> THAT'S CORRECT, THAT'S WORK.

STATES THAT HAVE THOSE LAWS IN PLACE HAVE MEASURABLY SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER NOT JUST HOMICIDES AND ACCIDENTS, BUT ALSO SUICIDES, SO I LOOK AT THOSE THREE FOUNDATIONAL ODDS THAT YOU JUST SAID AS THE REAL, THAT'S THE REAL CORNERSTONE.

THOSE THREE WORK REALLY WELL TOGETHER, SO SO MUCH OF THE PUBLIC DEBATE IS ABOUT BUMP STOCKS AND ASSAULT RIFLES.

WHEN YOU DIG INTO THE EVIDENCE AND SAY WHAT CAN WE DO TO SAVE LIVES?

IT'S SAFE STORAGE LAWS, RED FLAG LAWS, PROTECTION OF PEOPLE WHO SHOULDN'T HAVE A WEAPON, AND -- TED: OBVIOUSLY DATA COLLECTION AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

HOW DOES IT COINCIDE WITH A REPORT YOU DID AS FAR AS GUN VIOLENCE IN ARIZONA IS CONCERNED?

>> I READ THE SURGEON GENERAL'S REPORT, IT IS SPOT-ON.

REPORT WE SPOKE ABOUT A YEAR AGO, THE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE ALMOST EXACTLY WHAT WE HAVE IN OUR REPORT.

TED: WITH THAT IN MIND, HOW MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE DOES SOMETHING LIKE THIS MAKE, IN THE GRAND SCHEME, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE POLITICAL WINDS AREN'T NECESSARILY BLOWING IN THE SAME DIRECTION?

>> YOU MEAN THE REPORT ITSELF.

SURGEON GENERAL'S REPORT.

WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE, WILL?

>> I THINK IT CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN CERTAIN STATES THAT HAVE STATE LEGISLATURES AND GOVERNORS IN PLACE THAT ARE RECEPTIVE TO LOOKING AT EVIDENCE AND PASSING LAWS THAT -- ABOUT FIREARMS AND SO FORTH, AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO KNOW IF THAT'S THE CASE UNTIL AFTER THE NOVEMBER ELECTION IN ARIZONA, BUT IT'S ACTUALLY THE REASON WHY WE WROTE OUR REPORT.

THE SAME REASON THE SURGEON GENERAL WROTE HIS REPORT.

IF WE'RE ABLE TO GET A LEGISLATURE THAT WANTS TO TACKLE THESE ISSUES, OUR REPORT GIVES YOU THE EVIDENCE ON HOMICIDES, SUICIDES, ACCIDENTS, POLICE SHOOTINGS, SCHOOL SHOOTINGS AND GIVES YOU THE LAWS AND INTERVENTIONS IN OTHER STATES THAT WORK.

TED: HOW IS THE REACTION TO YOUR REPORT?

>> TEPID.

I MEAN, WE CAME ONTO "ARIZONA HORIZON" AND TALKED ABOUT IT.

WE MADE HARD COPIES, I BROUGHT THEM TO EVERY SINGLE LEGISLATOR AT STATE LEGISLATURE, JEN LONGDON HAD EIGHT BILLS INCLUDING ALL THE FOUNDATIONAL LAWS, NEVER GOT A HEARING.

TED: YOU WONDER IF IT'S CATCHING ON OR NOT?

>> NOT YET, OUR REPORT IS THERE.

IF THE LEGISLATURE CHANGES AND THE MATRIX, WHOEVER IS IN THERE NEXT YEAR IS INTERESTED, WE'VE GOT ALL THE DATA FOR THEM.

TED: ALL RIGHT, WILL HUMBLE, HAVE YOU ALL THE DATA FOR US, TOO.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> MY PLEASURE.

.

TED: OUR NEXT INTERVIEW WITH REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR MARICOPA COUNTY RECORDER JUSTIN HEAP.

ARIZONA PBS ERRORED TO BE PART OF THE RECORDER DEBATE ON JUNE 11, RESULTING IN HIS INABILITY TO PARTICIPATE.

TO CORRECT THE ERROR, ARIZONA PBS IS OFFERING MR. HEAP THIS INTERVIEW AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR HIS POSITIONS HEARD BY VOTERS.

JUSTIN HEAP, FIRST QUESTION HERE, YOU ARE RUNNING AGAINST A REPUBLICAN INCUMBENT.

YOU ARE A REPUBLICAN.

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?

>> WELL, IT'S CLEAR TO THE PARTY AND THE VOTERS THAT MARICOPA COUNTY'S ELECTIONS HAVE MADE US A NATIONAL LAUGHINGSTOCK.

THE LAST ELECTION CYCLE WAS THE WORST RUN ELECTION IN THE COUNTRY, AND THAT HAS CAUSED A MONUMENTAL COLLAPSE IN THE TRUST THAT THE VOTERS FEEL IN OUR ELECTIONS.

I GREW UP IN ARIZONA, I'M A SIXTH GENERATION ARIZONAN.

I LOVE OUR STATE AND DEEPLY CONCERNED THAT THE LOSS OF TRUST FROM FELLOW REPUBLICANS AND VOTERS FROM ALL POLITICAL PARTIES.

SO THE ONLY WAY TO ADDRESS THE CONCERNS OF THE VOTERS AND BRING MORE TRANSPARENCY AND REGAIN THE CONFIDENCE OF VOTERS IS TO REPLACE THE MAN IN CHARGE OF THAT OFFICE.

TED: WHY DO YOU THINK THERE'S BEEN A LACK OF TRUST AMONG THE VOTERS BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN NOTHING FOUND AS FAR AS EVIDENCE OF PROBLEMS WITH THE MARICOPA COUNTY RECORD'S OFFICE AS WELL AS ANYONE.

LOT OF COURT CASES, NOTHING'S COME OF IT, WHY THE LACK OF TRUST?

>> SEEMS THE ELECTIONS OFFICIALS FEEL THE LACK OF VOTER CONFIDENCE IN THE ELECTION IS EXTERNAL TO THE ELECTION PROCESSES, THAT ELECTIONS ARE INHERENTLY SECURE, BUT THAT PEOPLE EITHER BELIEVE MISINFORMATION OR FOREIGN INFORMATION COMING IN, THAT ALL OF IT IS EXTERNAL TO THE OFFICE.

THE TRUTH IS PEOPLE ARE LOSING CONFIDENCE IN THE ELECTIONS BECAUSE OF THE SYSTEMIC PROBLEMS THAT THE VOTERS SEE IN THE WAY ELECTIONS ARE RUN AND THE WAY THAT OUR COUNTY OFFICIALS DEAL WITH THE VOTERS.

I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OUTSIDE OF A COURTROOM THAT CAUSES A GREAT DEAL OF TRUST THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH COURT.

WE'VE HAD NOW TWO PANEL DEBATES IN FRONT OF AUDIENCES WITH STEPHEN RICHER.

STEPHEN RICHER CONTINUES TO INSIST HE'S DOING A GREAT JOB CLEANING VOTER ROLLS, MAINTAINING THE NUMBERS AND MAKING SURE ONLY REGISTERED VOTERS ARE RECEIVING EARLY MAIL-IN BALLOTS.

BOTH OF THOSE TIMES, I CAN COUNTER THAT BY ASKING THE AUDIENCE, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU OR ANYONE YOU KNOW RECEIVED EXTRA BALLOTS IN THE MAIL FOR SOMEONE ELSE.

I HAVE DONE THIS IN GROUPS ALL ACROSS MARICOPA COUNTY.

IF YOU GET A GROUP OF 100 OR SO VOTERS TOGETHER, A THIRD OF THE HANDS GO UP AND SAY THEY RECEIVED EXTRA BALLOTS IN THE MAIL.

THAT IS PROOF WE ARE NOT CLEANING VOTER ROLLS AND THE REASON WHY PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE ELECTIONS BECAUSE THEY SEE THE SAME SYSTEMIC PROBLEMS, CYCLE AFTER CYCLE AND CAN'T GET THEIR OWN ELECTED OFFICIALS TO ADMIT THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM.

TED: AND YET NONE OF THAT AFFECTS THE OUTCOME OF ELECTIONS, NONE OF THAT IS FOUND TO AFFECT THE OUTCOME OF ELECTIONS.

QUESTION IS, WHY IS LACK OF TRUST THERE?

IT CAN BE ARGUED THAT THE CONSTANT REFRAIN THAT THERE IS TROUBLE AND THERE ARE PROBLEMS INSTILLS THAT LACK OF TRUST.

HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT?

>> AS I SAID, THIS HAS BEEN SHOWN TO BE EFFECTIVE.

IT SEEMS FROM THE VOTER'S PERSPECTIVE, POTENTIALLY 100,000 VOTERS TO EXTRA VOTERS WHO SHOULD NOT BE RECEIVING THEM.

HOW DO WE HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT THIS IS ELECTION OFFICIALS DOING THEIR JOB, AND IF WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT CONFIDENCE AND ABOUT INFORMATION THAT THE VOTERS GET.

WE NEED TO LOOK AT OUR CURRENT COUNTY RECORDER AND THE WAY THAT HE DEALS WITH THE VOTERS.

HE TREATS ANYONE WHO HAS LEGITIMATE QUESTIONS WITH THE ELECTION AS IF THEY BELIEVE MISINFORMATION OR CONSPIRACY THEORIES.

HE IS WHILE SERVING AS RECORDER, HE'S RUNNING A SUPER PAC TO DEFEAT MAGA CANDIDATES OVER WHOSE ELECTIONS HE'S ABOUT TO OVERSEE.

TED: RIGHT THERE, ARE YOU A MAGA CANDIDATE?

>> IF YOU'RE ASKING ME DO I SUPPORT DONALD TRUMP.

I VOTED FOR DONALD TRUMP IN THE GENERAL ELECTION IN 2016, I VOTED FOR HIM IN 2020.

HE WILL BE THE NOMINEE IN 2024.

TED: RECORDS SHOW YOU DIDN'T VOTE FOR DONALD TRUMP IN 2016.

>> I WAS IN A DIFFERENT COUNTY.

I'M NOT SURE WHERE THEY'RE PULLING THIS DATA FROM, I WAS IN MARICOPA COUNTY AND I VOTED FOR DONALD TRUMP.

TED: I THINK YOU ONCE CALLED DONALD TRUMP A WOMANIZER AND PHILANDERER AS WELL AND SUPPORTED TED CRUZ.

MY QUESTION IS, IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, THE MAGA CONTINGENT IS STRONG.

WHY WOULD THE MAGA CONTINGENT WANT SOMEONE WHO CHANGED THEIR IDENTIFICATION, REGISTRATION TO INDEPENDENT AT ONE TIME.

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

AND WHY DO YOU THINK THIS IS -- THIS IS A REPUBLICAN PRIMARY, NOT TALKING GENERAL.

YOU'RE TALKING TO REPUBLICANS HERE.

WHY SHOULD THEY TRUST YOU?

>> WHAT THE VOTERS ACTUALLY WANT IS SOMEONE WHO'S GOING TO RUN THAT OFFICE AND RESTORE CONFIDENCE, WHO'S GOING TO BE MORE TRANSPARENT THAN OUR CURRENT COUNTY RECORDER.

I'M A FREEDOM CAUCUS MEMBER, I'VE BEEN ONE OF THE CHAMPIONS TRYING TO FIX OUR ELECTION SYSTEMS.

THE BIGGEST ISSUE WE'RE FACING RIGHT NOW IS THE LACK OF CONFIDENCE IN THE ELECTION.

IF VOTERS CAN'T TRUST SYSTEM, THEY WILL SIMPLY WALK AWAY AND STOP VOTING, AND VOTERS OF ALL PARTIES.

THIS ISN'T LIMITED TO THE REPUBLICANS IN THE PARTY.

THIS IS REPUBLICANS, DEMOCRATS, INDEPENDENTS, ALL REPORT LARGE NUMBERS WHO DO NOT HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE SYSTEM.

THAT IS A PRODUCT OF HOW WE RUN THE SYSTEM.

NOT OF ANY MISINFORMATION THAT IS SPREAD ONLINE.

TED: YOU VOTED TO REQUIRE HAND COUNTING OF BALLOTS?

>> YEAH.

TED: WHY DID YOU DO THAT?

ELECTIONS OFFICIALS WILL TELL YOU HAND COUNTING BALLOTS TAKES TOO LONG, IT'S LESS ACCURATE AND FAR MORE COSTLY THAN WHAT IS BEING DONE NOW WHICH SHOWS NO PROBLEM DESPITE THE FACT YOU HAVE A LACK OF TRUST.

WHY WOULD YOU VOTE FOR THAT?

>> WHY WOULD WE BE CRITICAL OF THAT WHEN WE MOVED TO VOTING CENTER MODEL IN 2018.

THAT VOTING CENTER MODEL HAS DONE NOTHING BUT MAKE LINES LONGER, REDUCED TRUST IN THE SYSTEM AND GIVEN US ALL THE PROBLEMS.

IN THE LAST ELECTION CYCLE, HALF THE VOTING CENTERS WENT DOWN HALF DAY UP.

THAT SYSTEM IS EASILY MORE MANAGEABLE IN THE BEST WAY THAT WE CAN DO IT.

TED: SO IF IT'S MORE COSTLY AND TAKES LONGER TO GET RESULTS AND NOT AS ACCURATE AS ELECTIONS OFFICIALS WILL TELL YOU, YOU SAY THAT'S WORTH IT BECAUSE?

>> BECAUSE THE PRIMARY GOAL OF WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO HERE IS NEED TO RUN THE RECORDER'S OFFICE LIKE A BUSINESS.

AND THE CURRENCY WE'RE TRADING IN IS THE CONFIDENCE OF THE VOTERS.

VOTERS DO NOT HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE WAY WE'RE RUNNING OUR ELECTIONS, AND THAT NOT A PRODUCT OF ANYTHING BUT THE PEOPLE THAT RUN OUR ELECTIONS AND WE HAVE GONE DELIBERATELY TO A SYSTEM, THE VOTING CENTER MODEL THAT DISENFRANCHISES VOTERS, MAKES IT HARDER TO VOTE.

WE KNOW WE HAD TENS, POSSIBLY HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE AT HALF OUR CENTERS GO DOWN THAT COULD NOT VOTE AND WERE HELD TO IS CHEAPER, IT'S CHEAPER TO DO IT THIS WAY.

I DON'T SEE THAT LOOKING AT THE BUDGET.

THE COUNTY RECORDER'S OFFICE INCREASED THE BUDGET ALMOST TRIPLE BY WHAT IT COSTS TO RUN ELECTIONS.

THE VOTERS IN MARICOPA COUNTY PAY TOP DOLLAR FOR THE WORST RUN ELECTIONS IN AMERICA.

TED: YOU TALK ABOUT CONVENIENCE IN VOTING, YOU VOTED TO END VOTING EARLY, WHY?

>> WE NEED TO LOOK AT HOW WE'RE VOTING.

WE KNOW THAT OUR VOTER ROLLS NOT CLEANED AND MAINTAINED.

WE'RE SENDING EARLY BALLOTS OUT TO POTENTIALLY HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE, WE'RE NOT DOING WHAT IS REQUIRED UNDER LAW TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN OUR VOTER ROLLS.

TED: DO YOU THINK REPUBLICAN VOTERS WANT TO END EARLY VOTEING?

>> THINK THAT'S THE QUESTION THAT'S SOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR.

WHAT WE NEED IS GOING TO HAVE TO BE MORE TRANSPARENCY IN THE WAY THAT WE RUN THE SYSTEM.

TED: THAT'S A QUESTION FOR YOU AND MARICOPA COUNTY REPUBLICAN VOTERS?

I'M RUNNING FOR THE MARICOPA COUNTY RECORDERS POSITION, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING IN THE RECORDER'S OFFICE.

TED: YOU VOTED TO END EARLY VOTING.

IS THAT SOMEONE YOU WANT TO PUT INTO THE RECORDER'S OFFICE?

SOMEONE WHO THINKS ALONG THOSE LINES?

>> I THINK WHAT VOTERS ARE DESPERATE FOR IS INTEGRITY AND TRANSPARENCY IN THE OFFICE.

WE HAVE A LOT OF VOTERS WHO WANT TO SEE THAT.

THAT LEGISLATION DIDN'T GO FORWARD AND I WILL FOLLOW THE VOTERS.

AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW, THE LAW SAYS WE ARE GOING TO HAVE EARLY VOTING.

I KNOW THERE'S PLENTY OF REPUBLICANS WHO LIKE TO SEE EARLY VOTING.

SO WHAT WE CAN DO, HOWEVER, IS MAKE THIS EARLY VOTING SYSTEM SECURE SO PEOPLE CAN HAVE CONFIDENCE AGAIN IN THE SYSTEM.

TED: LAST QUESTION BECAUSE WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME.

GET EVERYTHING IN HERE.

>> OKAY.

TED: DID DONALD TRUMP WIN THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN 2020 IN ARIZONA?

>> I KNOW THIS SEEMS TO BE THE ONLY QUESTION THAT PEOPLE WANT TO ASK.

TED: THE LAST QUESTION I ASKED AFTER A NUMBER OF OTHER QUESTIONS.

PLEASE ANSWER.

>> I'VE BEEN ASKED THIS QUESTION OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

I'M NOT INTERESTED IN DISCUSSING WHAT'S HAPPENED.

I'M AN ATTORNEY, I DON'T MAKE STATEMENTS THAT I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN PROVE, BUT WHAT I CAN SAY, I DON'T THINK OUR ELECTION LAWS WERE FOLLOWED.

I THINK THAT MANY PEOPLE WERE DISENFRANCHISED AND MAY HAVE AFFECTED THE OUTCOME.

WHAT WE'RE FOCUSED ON IS FIXING THE SYSTEM SO WHOEVER WINS, REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT, THE PEOPLE CAN FEEL CONFIDENT THAT THEY KNOW, IF YOU ARE GOING TO RUN THE WORST RUN ELECTIONS IN AMERICA, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT THE ULTIMATE RESULT IS.

A HUGE PERCENTAGE OF VOTERS ARE NOT GOING TO TRUST.

TED: THAT'S A YES OR NO QUESTION.

I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT KARI LAKE IN 2022.

DID SHE WIN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE IN ARIZONA?

>> AGAIN, THE PROBLEM WE HAD WITH THE SYSTEM THIS TIME IS EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM IN 2020.

WE ARE NOT RUNNING OUR SYSTEM IN A WAY THAT INSPIRES CONFIDENCE.

TED: SOUNDS LIKE YOU THINK SHE MIGHT HAVE WON.

>> PROTECTING AN INSTITUTION THAT THE VOTERS DON'T TRUST, AND WE NEED TO FIX IT.

THE BIGGEST PROBLEM WE HAVE FACING OUR ELECTION SYSTEM IS NOT THE POTENTIAL FOR FRAUD.

IT IS THE FACT THAT OUR VOTERS DO NOT HAVE ANY CONFIDENCE AND REALLY, THEY DON'T HAVE REASON THEY SHOULD FEEL CONFIDENCE IN OUR ELECTIONS BECAUSE OF THE WAY WE RUN IT AND WE WILL RESTORE THAT.

TED: MY LAST QUESTION TO YOU, REPUBLICAN VOTERS IN MARICOPA COUNTY, LOTS OF THEM, DO THINK DONALD TRUMP WON IN 2020.

THEY THINK KARI LAKE WON IN 2022.

I CAN'T GET A YES OR A NO OUT OF YOU.

>> BECAUSE I THINK THAT WHAT WE ARE FOCUSING ON IS FIXING A BROKEN SYSTEM SO THAT WE CAN REINSTILL TRUST.

THIS IS SOME SORT OF STRANGE "GOTCHA" QUESTION THAT PEOPLE KEEP TRYING TO ASK.

TED: IT'S NOT A GOTCHA.

>> THE IMPORTANT QUESTION IS: DID WE RUN ELECTIONS IN A WAY THAT WOULD INSPIRE CONFIDENCE IN THE PEOPLE?

WE DO NOT HAVE THAT RIGHT NOW.

TED: THE TWO OTHER CANDIDATES IN THIS RACE GAVE AN ANSWER, ONE SAYS DONALD TRUMP AND KARI LAKE DID WIN AND WERE RIGGED OUT OF AN ELECTION.

THE OTHER SAYS THEY DID NOT WIN, THE ELECTION WAS WON FAIR AND SQUARE.

THEY ANSWERED IT.

WHY CAN'T YOU?

>> THE ANSWER IS WHAT I THINK IS REALLY NOT RELEVANT TO THE QUESTION WE ARE LOOKING AT.

THE PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE IS OUR VOTERS DON'T TRUST THE SYSTEM, AND IF OUR VOTERS CAN'T TRUST THE SYSTEM, WE AS ELECTED OFFICIALS NEED TO ADDRESS THAT, AND THE ONLY WAY WE ADDRESS THAT IS BY SHOWING THEM IN A TRANSPARENT AND OPEN WAY WE ARE GOING TO FOLLOW THE LAW, THAT ALL OF OUR RULES AND SECURITIES ARE KEPT IN PLACE, AND IF PEOPLE CAN FEEL CONFIDENT IN THE SYSTEM, THEY WILL BE FINE.

I'M NOT INTERESTED IN PUTTING MY THUMB ON THE SCALE TO HELP EITHER SIDE WIN.

I WANT TO CLEAN UP AND FIX OUR ELECTION SYSTEM, AND WE WILL DO THAT.

TED: WE GOT TO STOP YOU RIGHT THERE.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU.

TED: AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.