>> Ted: COMING UP ON ARIZONA HORIZON, KRIS MAEYSYES WILL JOIN US AND A CELEBRATION OF ARIZONA.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO"ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

.

COURT PROCEEDING OF NOTE TODAY IN DENVER AS A TRIAL TO DETERMINE IF THE CONSTITUTION'S BAN ON INSURRECTIONISTS FOR DONALD TRUMP TO SERVE AS PRESIDENT AGAIN AND DOES THAT MEAN TRUMP CAN'T APPEAR ON COLORADO'S BALLOT.

NOT THIS IS BACKED BY A LIBERAL WATCHDOG GROUP AND THE CLAIM IS THAT TRUMP'S ROLE IN THE ATTACK ON THE U.S. CAPITOL DISQUALIFIES HIM FROM OFFICE.

>> OUR CONSTITUTION PREVENTS PEOPLE WHO BETRAYED THEIR SOLEMN ONLY AS TRUMP DID HERE FROM SERVING IN OFFICE AGAIN.

TRUMP ENGAGED INSURRECTION AND THEREFORE, CANNOT APPEAR ON THE BALLOT.

NO PERSON, NOT EVEN THE FORMER PRESIDENT IS ABOVE THE LAW.

>> Ted: THE BENCH TRIAL IS SCHEDULED TO LAST ABOUT A WEEK AND LOTS OF WAR NEWS TODAY.

ISRAEL SAYS IT RESCUED AN ISRAELI SOLDIER KIDNAPPED BY HAMAS DURING THE OCTOBER 7th OCTOBER 7th ATTACK AND THE FIRST SOLDIER TO BE RESCUED BY ISRAEL SINCE 235 PEOPLE INCLUDING DOZENS OF SOLDIERS WERE KIDNAPPED AND TAKEN BY HAMAS.

ISRAELI FORCES ARE EXPANDING OPERATIONS IN GAZA WITH THE MILITARY SAYING IT KILLED DOZENS OF HAMAS FIGHTERS AS THE GROUND CAMPAIGN.

ISRAEL'S PRIME MINISTER REJECTED CEASE-FIRE USING UNITED STATES AFTER PEARL HARBOR AND 9/11 SAYING THEY'RE FIGHTING THE ENEMIES OF CIVILIZATIONS ITSELF.

>>> THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT SAID 158 TRUCKS HAVE PASSED THROUGH THE EGYPTIAN PASSING INTO GAZA LAST WEEK, THE MOST SINCE THE CROSSING OPENED UP AND AS MANY AS 100 TRUCKS A DAY MOVING INTO THE STRIP.

THE STATE DEPARTMENT SAID THE U.S. WOULD CONTINUE DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS TO CONTINUE DAILY DELIVERIES OF FOOD, WATER AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES AS THEISM THE UN IS WARNING THERE'S A GROWING HUMANITARIAN CRISIS.

>> ARIZONA ATTORNEY GENERAL SUBPOENAED TWO SUPERVISORS REFUSING TO SUPERVISE LAST YEAR'S ELECTION RESORTS.

VOTES.

WE WELCOME K RIS MAYE.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS REPORT AND YOU INVESTIGATING A COUPLE OF SUPERVISORS.

THE ONE SAYING WE WON'T DO THIS.

YOU'RE LOOKING INTO THIS?

>> HEAR WHATHERE IS WHAT I WOULD SAY ABOUT THIS AND THERE'S NOT A LOT I CAN SAY.

IT APPEARS THAT Mr. CROSBY STEPPED BAY WAY OVER THE LINE THAT HE WAS NOT ALLOWED TO REREAL.

REVEAL.

WE'RE NOT TAKING A LOOK AT HIS ACTIONS IN THAT REGARD AND, YOU KNOW, WE'LL GO FROM THERE, BUT JUST NOT A LOT I CAN SAY ON THE RECORD ABOUT THAT.

>> Ted: GRAND JURY PROCEEDINGS, ET CETERA.

>> CORRECT.

>> Ted: BUT THE REFUSAL TO CERTIFY, IN THE GRAN GRAND SCHEME OF THING, CAN'T DO THAT, CAN YOU?

>> THAT'S THE UNDERLYING INVESTIGATION, OBVIOUSLY, IS INTO WHAT HAPPENED IN COCHISE COUNTY AND THE REFUSAL TO CERTIFY THE DELAY TO HAPPENED AND ALL OF THE CHAOS THAT OCCURRED DURING THAT TIME FRAME.

SO, OBVIOUSLY, VERY TROUBLING AND THERE'S A TROUBLING SORT OF GENERAL SITUATION IN COCHISE COUNTY, IN REGARD TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OR TWO OF THE THREE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WITH REGARD TO VIOLATING OPEN MEETING LAWS, REFUSING TO CERTIFY THE ELECTION AND SO, OBVIOUSLY, WE TAKE THOSE THINGS SERIOUSLY.

WE WILL CONTINUE TO INVESTIGATE THEM AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO ENFORCE THE LAW.

>> Ted: THE IDEA THAT THEY DECIDE WHEN TO EXPAND THE HAND COUNT, WHAT THAT REQUIREMENT AND WINDOW IS, YOU CAN'T DO THAT EITHER, CAN YOU?

>> NO.

AND YOU CAN'T DO THAT, THE LAW ISN'T ALLOW IT.

THE COURTS HAVE WEIGHED IN, AS WELL, AND SO, NO, YOU CAN'T DO THAT AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO MAKE THOSE POINTS AND CONTINUE TO ENFORCE THE LAW.

>> Ted: I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU HAD A CHANCE TO RESPOND.

OBVIOUSLY GRAND JURY PROCEEDINGS ARE HUSH-HUSH.

>> SECRETS FOR A REASON, YES.

[ Laughter ] >> Ted: AS FAR AS THE PROBE INTO OVERTURNING THE 2020 VOTE, WHERE ARE YOU WITH THAT BECAUSE THERE ARE REPORTS YOU'RE EXPANDING THAT INVESTIGATION.

>> AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, WE ARE INVESTIGATING THE FAKE ELECTOR'S SCHEME AND IT'S AN IMPORTANT INVESTIGATION.

WE ARE TAKING IT VERY SERIOUSLY, SOLEMNLY AND I UNDERSTAND THE DESIRE FOR UPDATES FROM MY OFFICE, BUT THIS IS NOT AN NFL FOOTBALL GAME AND WE'LL DO THIS BY THE BOOKS.

SO I'M NOT GOING TO BE PROVIDING A LOT OF DETAIL ON THAT.

I KNOW THE "WASHINGTON POST," IT LOOKS LIKE TALKED TO SOME FOLKS INTERVIEWED, BUT ONTHAT, ONTHAT, BEYOND THAT, I WON'T COMMENT.

>> Ted: WE TALKED ABOUT THE FAKE LECTORS ELECTORS AND CAN'T DO THAT.

>> CORRECT.

>> Ted: EFFORTS TO OVERTURN IN MARICOPA COUNTY AND IT'S BEEN ON "06 60 MINUTES," ARE YOU LOOKING TO EXPAND BEYOND THAT?

>> FOLKS BEYOND POLITICS AND WHO ARE TOUCHED BY THIS ALLEGED SCHEME, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY IS FAIR GAME AND THAT'S OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

WE ARE TAKING ALL OF THAT INFORMATION AND WE'RE OBVIOUSLY TALKING TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS WE NEED TO, BUT, AGAIN, I WON'T PROVIDE TOO MUCH IN THE WAY OF AN UPDATE.

>> Ted: ELLI SESSIONIS PLEADING GUILTY, IS THAT IMPACTING WHAT YOU'RE DOING?

>> WATCHING GEORGIA AND MICHIGAN CAREFULLY AND THOSE TWO STATES HAD, BASICALLY, A TWO-YEAR HEAD START ON US AND MY PREDECESSOR, UNFORTUNATELY, IT APPEARS AS THOUGH HE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING ON THIS INVESTIGATION.

AND SO, I GOT THERE IN JANUARY AND WE STARTED LOOKING INTO THIS WHEN I GOT THERE AND, YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT A 1 LITTLE BIT OF CATCHING UP TO DO.

>> Ted: THE PLEA DEAL, SOMETHING THAT AFFECTS WHAT YOU'RE DOING?

>> POTENTIALLY IT COULD AFFECT WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND EVERYTHING HAPPENING IN THOSE OTHER TWO STATES, WE'RE WATCHING CLOSELY, BUT WE'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT.

>> Ted: EVERY STOP OF THE WAY, DONALD TRUMP'S ATTORNEYS ARE BASICALLY SAYING YOU CAN'T DO THIS BECAUSE HE'S RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT AND HAS FREE SPEECH RIGHTS.

HOW DOES THAT PLAY INTO WHAT YOU ARE DOING?

>> IT'S AN INTERESTING POINT AND, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, PROSECUTORS TRY TO BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT THEY DO, ESPECIALLY AS AN ELECTION GROWS CLOSER.

I DON'T THINK WE'RE IN THAT TIME FRAME YET, NOT BY A LONG SHOT.

I BELIEVE AND HOPE THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO CONCLUDE OUR INVESTIGATION IN A TIMELY FASHION IN A WAY THAT WOULDN'T BE IMPACTED BY THE ELECTION AND THAT WOULDN'T IMPACT THE ELECTION.

>> Ted: CAN WE JUST SAY THAT YOUR INVESTIGATIONS, PLURAL, ARE ACCELERATING?

>> I'LL LET OTHER PEOPLE BE THE JUDGECH THAT.

JUDGE OF THAT.

>> Ted: I DIDN'T GET A NO OR YES AND WE'LL LEAVE IT AT THAT.

>>> REGARDING MYTH PRISTINE, WAS THAT ABOUT?

>> IT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT DRUG NEEDED FOR MEDICATION, ABORTION AR AT LEAST ONE OF TWO DRUGS USED FOR MEDICATION ABORTION WHICH IS THE SAFEST FORM OF ABORTION IF A WOMAN NEEDS IT.

WE ENTERED INTO A CASE IN WASHINGTON STATE THAT ALLOWED US TO PROTECT MIFFY IN ARIZONA.

IT IS PROTECTED IN ARIZONA, BUT THIS IS A CASE THAT SORT OF INVOLVES ALL OF THE STATES, HEADED TO THE SUPREME COURT AND WE JOINED WITH THOSE AG'S TRYING TO PROTECT ACCESS TO IT.

>> Ted: AND SOME ARE CALLING THIS THE SUPREME COURT'S MOST IMPORTANT ABORTION CASE SINCE THE OVERTURNING OF ROE.

>> I THINK THAT'S ACCURATE BECAUSE OF JUST HOW IMPORTANT THIS PARTICULAR DRUG IS TO ABORTION.

AND I MEAN, AGAIN, IT'S UNFATHOMABLE TO ME AND THAT THEY WOULD BLOCK ACCESS TO MIFFY AND THEN, AGAIN, DOBBS WAS UNFATHOMABLE AND THE EARTH SHATTERING AND EARTH SHAKING FOR WOMEN ACROSS THIS LAND.

SO WE'RE GOING TO FIGHT AS HARD AS WE CAN.

>> Ted: LAST QUESTION ON THIS, YOUR PREDECESSOR WAS CRITICIZED FOR JOINING INTO ALL SORTS OF NATIONAL SUITS, ALL SORTS OF PURSUITS AND DIDN'T SEEM TO HAVE A LOT TO DO WITH ARIZONA.

YOU'RE INVOLVED WITH THIS ONE.

WHY?

>> BECAUSE IT AFFECTS ARIZONANS AND IT IS HUGELY IMPACTFUL TO ARIZONANS AND ESPECIALLY FOR ARIZONA WOMEN, BUT ALSO FAMILIES THROUGHOUT OUR STATE.

SO WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO STAND UP FOR ABORTION ACCESS, FOR THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN TO DETERMINE THEIR OWN FUTURES, TO PLAN THEIR OWN REPRODUCTIVE FUTURES AND THEY HAVE BODILY AUTONOMY AND ACCESS TO MIFEPRISTONE IS A CRITICAL PART OF THAT.

>> Ted: PRACTICING LAWSUITS AGAINST META, WHAT IS THAT ALL ABOUT?

>> I WAS ONE OF -- ACTUALLY, MOST OF THE ATTORNEYS GENERAL ACROSS THE COUNTRY DECIDED TO SUE META, WHICH ESSENTIALLY MEANS FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM, FOR WHAT WE BELIEVE ARE DECEPTIVE PRACTICES AND UNFAIR PRACTICES IN THE FORM OF THEIR ADDICTIVE ALGORITHMS AND CONSTANT ALERTS, THEIR INFINITE SCROLLS AND META, PARTICULARLY INSTAGRAM, THAT HAS SUCH A HARMFUL EFFECT ON OUR KIDS.

THESE SOCIAL MEDIA APPS ARE ADDICTIVE AND THE COMPANIES KNEW IT AND THE COMPANY KNEW THIS WAS ADDICTIVE AND IT WENT FORWARD WITH THESE PLATFORMS AND TARGETED THE CHILDREN ANYWAY.

AND SO WE DECIDED TO FILE A LAWSUIT THAT ESSENTIALLY IS ONE THAT WOULD UPHOLD ARIZONA'S CONSUMER FRAUD ACT AND ALSO SOMETHING, A FEDERAL LAW CALLED COPA, THE CHILDREN'S ONLINE PROTECTION AGENCY ACT.

>> Ted: THE FACT IS, THEY KNEW WHAT THEY WERE DOING AND DID IT ANYWAY.

THAT'S THE DECEPTION?

>> THEY KNEW WHAT THEY WERE DOING AND DID IT ANYWAY.

IT'S ALSO UNFAIR TO KIDS AND HARMFUL TO OUR KIDS.

>> Ted: THIS SOUNDS A LITTLE BIT LIKE PARALLELS TO BACO SETTLEMENTS IN YEARS PAST.

>> I THINK IT'S MUCH LIKE THE TOBACCO LAWSUIT THAT THE FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL, GRANT WOODS ENTERED INTO WITH.

THE AG OF MISSISSIPPI AND THAT WAS A CASE WHERE, YOU KNOW, BIG TOBACCO KNEW IT WAS ADDICTING AND THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY AND THEY CONTINUED TO SELL THE PRODUCT AT A PROFIT FOR A PROFIT KNOWING THEY WERE HARMING AMERICANS.

>> Ted: AND WE SHOULD MENTION REGARDING YOUR PREDECESSOR, THIS GOT STARTED UNDER HIS ADMINISTRATION, DID IT NOT?

>> IT DID.

SO A FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL, BRNOVICH, LAUNCHED THE VISUAL INVESTIGATION IN 2021 AND I MADE THE DECISION THIS YEAR TO FILE THE LAWSUIT.

>> Ted: ONE OF THE MOST CONSEQUENTIAL LAWSUITS IN U.S. HISTORY.

>> I THINK SO.

I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT WILL BE BORNE OUT THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT LAWSUITS WE'VE EVER FILED, CERTAINLY THE AG'S ACROSS THE COUNTRY HAVE FILED, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU CONSIDER HOW HARMFUL THESE PLATFORMS HAVE BEEN.

INSTAGRAM WITH ITS BODY ALTERING FILTER THAT HAS CAUSED SO MUCH BODY DYSMORE DYSMORPHIA AND TAKEN FEATURES AND ALGORITHMS.

SO I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY WANT THE AG'S ACROSS THIS LAND WANT TO SEE HAPPEN IS WE WANT TO SEE THESE COMPANIES CHANGE THEIR WAYS.

THEY COULD AGE GATE THESE PLATFORMS.

THEY COULD SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, NO ONE UNDER THE AGE OF 16 CAN USE THEM OR THEY COULD NOT USE INFINITE SCROLL OR THEY COULD NOT HAVE THESE CONSTANT ALERTS.

YOU KNOW, TED, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT IN CHINA, FOR INSTANCE, A DIFFERENT COMPANY NOW, BY TIKTOK AND CHINA, IT'S NOT AVAILABLE MORE THAN A CERTAIN NUMBER OF MINUTES PER DAY.

>> Ted: RIGHT.

>> SO WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU ABOUT WHAT THEY REALLY KNOW ABOUT THESE PROGRAMS?

>> Ted: WE'VE TALKED ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS AND THE SUPREME COURT, OBVIOUSLY, WILL HAVE A SAY AS FAR AS THE ABORTION BUT AS FAR AS ELECTIONS AND THIS LAWSUIT, THE TIMELINE FOR THESE THINGS, DO YOU UNDERSTAND -- YOU MENTIONED A PLAY-BY-PLAY ANNOUNCER, BUT DO YOU UNDERSTAND THE FRUSTRATION WHEN PEOPLE HEAR THESE THINGS, SEE THESE THINGS AND THEY JUST KEEP GOING ON?

>> I UNDERSTAND.

I'M A FORMER JOURNALIST AND I GET IT.

I THINK THAT WE ALSO LIVE IN A TIME OF INSTANT GRATIFICATION AND EVERYBODY WANTS TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON, EXACTLY WHEN IT'S HAPPENING.

BUT WE HAVE DUE PROCESS IN THIS COUNTRY AND WE HAVE, YOU KNOW, A COURT SYSTEM AND WE HAVE FAIRNESS TO CONSIDER.

AND WE IN THE CASE OF THE FAKE ELECTORS AND WHAT WENT ON IN 2020, WE HAVE A SITUATION THAT IS GREAT AND SERIOUS.

AND SOMETHING THAT CAN'T BE TAKEN LIGHTLY AND I CAN'T JUST SORT OF SPEED UP BECAUSE FOLKS WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING.

IT'S GOING TO BE DONE RIGHT AND IT'S GOT TO BE DONE RIGHT THE FIRST TIME.

>> Ted: ATTORNEY GENERAL, KRIS MAYES GLAD TO SEE YOU THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>>> THANK YOU.

>> Ted: UP NEXT, THE FUTURE OF ARIZONA CELEBRATES 20 YEARS OF SERVICE.

>> Ted: THE CENTER FOR THE FIVE OF ARIZONA IS CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF SERVICE BY HONORING PAST WORK AND LOOKING AHEAD TO A THREE-YEAR CAMPAIGN TO CELEBRATE THE NONPROFIT'S PROGRESS.

CIVIL FRANCISFRANCIS IS THE CEO.

LET JUST START WITH THE BASICS HERE, WHAT IS THE CENTER FOR THE FUTURE OF ARIZONA?

>> SO WE'RE A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION, JUST CELEBRATED OUR 20th ANNIVERSARY AND COMMITTED TO A BRIGHT FUTURE FOR ARIZONA AND FOCUSED ON CREATING A POSITIVE AGENDA, LISTENING TO WHAT MATTERS MOST TO ARIZONANS AND DELIVERING SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS ACROSS THE STATE TO HELP US ACHIEVE THAT.

>> Ted: BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER BY FINDING OUT WHAT MATTERS TO THEM, CORRECT?

>> YES.

SO VERY EARLY ON, WE DECIDED WE MIGHT BE SMART, BUT WE'RE NOT SO SMART THAT IT'S UP TO US TO SAY WHAT WE SHOULD COULD DO FOR OUR FUTURE.

VERY EARLY ON, WE DECIDED TO WHAT MATTERS MOST TO ARIZONANS.

WE HAVE SPECIFIC WAYS AND LISTEN CLOSELY TO WHAT ARIZONA WANTS AND FOCUS ON THOSE THINGS WE AGREE ON AND WHERE TO COME TOGETHER AROUND A POSITIVE AGENDA, TO WORK TOGETHER AND MAKE THAT FUTURE HAPPEN.

TED WITH >> Ted: WITH THAT IN MIND, WHAT IS "THE ARIZONA WE WANT"?

>> IT'S FROM A PUBLIC OPINION'S SURVEY OVER THE LAST 15 YEARS.

I THINK I MIGHT HAVE BEEN ON IN THE PAST TO TALK ABOUT OUR UNIQUE OPERATE WITH THE GALLUP ORGANIZATION AND WE CONDUCTED TO MASSIVE SURVEYS THAT COVERED ALL ISSUES IN TERMS OF OUR FUTURE, EDUCATION, JOBS, ENVIRONMENT, EDUCATION AND OTHER ISSUES.

WE ASKED ARIZONANS AND IDENTIFIED WHAT WE AGREE ON AND GAVE IT THE NAME, "THE ARIZONA WE WANT."

>> Ted: WERE THE RESULTS DIFFERENT?

>> MOST PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S DIFFERENT WHEN YOU DO A SURVEY AND WHAT'S PROFOUND IS WHAT WE FOUND THAT ARIZONANS HAVE WANTED THE SAME THING FOR A LONG TIME.

THERE'S NO REASON THAT WHAT ARIZONANS WANT FROM OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM OR WHAT THEY WANT FOR OUR ENVIRONMENT AND AND CREATING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE WOULD CHANGE.

WHAT CHANGES IS HOW WELL WE'RE DELIVERING ON WHAT ARIZONANS WANT.

SENTIMENTALLY, THE FINDINGS HAVE BEEN CONSISTENT.

>> Ted: SO WITH THAT, WE MOVE ONTO PROGRESS METERS.

YOU'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THOSE AND TELL US AGAIN, WHAT IS AN ARIZONA PROGRESS METER?

>> SO IF WE KNOW WHAT ARIZONANS WANT, WE SAID, WELL, HOW DO WE MEASURE AND REPORT ON HOW WE'RE DOING?

BECAUSE WE'RE ALL ABOUT SHARING INFORMATION, SHARING DATA WITH LEADERS AND COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE THAT THEY CAN USE TO MAKE DECISIONS, TO ADVANCE ON A POSITIVE AGENDA FOR ARIZONA.

THE PROGRESS METERS MEASURE HOW WE'RE DOING AND YOU CAN GO TO OUR WEBSITE AND YOU CAN FIND PROGRESS METERS ON EDUCATION, ON JOBS, ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND OTHER ISSUES, TO SEE HOW ARE WE DOING IN ARIZONA?

WE CAN ASSESS IF WE HAVEN'T ACHIEVED THE ARIZONA WE WANT, WHAT CAN WE DO TO ACHIEVE THAT?

>> Ted: WHO IS DOING THE MEASURING?

>> ALL DATA IS FROM PUBLICALLY AVAILABLE TRUSTED DATA.

WHAT WE DO THAT IS SO HELPFUL, IT'S CURATED DATA, SO IT'S VERY HARD FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL OR SOMEONE IN A SCHOOL TO REALLY HAVE ACCESS TO THE KIND OF DATA THAT CAN HELP THEM MAKE DECISIONS.

SO WE MAKE THE JOB EASIER BY COLLECTING IT, PUTTING IT INTO A FORMAT THAT'S ACCESSIBLE AND USEABLE AND THEN GIVING ACCESS TO ANYONE WHO WANTS IT.

>> Ted: OBVIOUSLY EVERYTHING FROM EDUCATION, JOBS, ENVIRONMENT, JUSTICE, PEOPLE, I WOULD IMAGINE, I'M NOT ALL THAT SURPRISED THAT PEOPLE KIND OF WANT THE SAME THINGS.

HOW YOU GET THOSE THINGS AND DIVING DEEPER MIGHT BE WHERE YOU GET SOME VARIATION.

HOW DO YOU SMOOTH THOSE EDGES?

>> I WANT TO PAUSE FIRST ON THIS IDEA THAT WE DO AGREE ON SO MUCH BECAUSE I THINK IT'S NOT THE MESSAGE WE'RE GETTING FROM OUR ENVIRONMENT.

MANY IN THE MEDIA, I WOULD NOT SAY YOUR APPROACH, BUT SO MUCH TALK ABOUT POLARIZATION AND DIVISION.

SO THAT WHEN I MAKE PRESENTATIONS TO GROUPS SAYING WE AGREE MUCH MORE THAN WE DISAGREE, PEOPLE ARE SHOCKED.

THEY'RE SAYING IT'S NOT WHAT BA IT WHAT I SEEMS LIKE LISTENING TO THE NEWS.

THERE'S AN IMPORTANT ROLE WE PLAY THAT WE DO AGREE ON MUCH MORE.

AND THEN IN TERMS OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT, IT'S VERY IMPORTANT, THEN, TO BE TAKE THAT INFORMATION AND BUILD ON IT AND ADVANCE ON THOSE IDEALS.

>> Ted: WITH THAT IN MOON NOW, IN MIND NOW, A THREE-YEAR CAMPAIGN INTO THE FUTURE.

WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THAT?

>> WE'RE A NONPROFIT.

IT'S OUR FIRST EVER FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN.

WE'VE RAISED MONEY FOR OURSELVES OVER THE YEARS AND IT'S EXCITING TO LAUNCH THIS BUILDING "A BRIGHT ARIZONA TOGETHER."

>> Ted: IF WE AGREE ON SO MUCH, WHY IS THERE SO MUCH DOES AGREEMENT?

>> I'VE BEEN ASKED THAT QUESTION FOR MANY YEARS AND I HAVE NOT HAD A GREAT ANSWER.

YOU KNOW, PEOPLE SAY TO ME, WHY DON'T WE HAVE BETTER PEOPLE RUN FOR OFFICE?

IF THIS IS WHAT WE WANT, WHY DON'T WE HAVE THAT?

>> I THINK WE'RE A NON-PARTISAN ORGANIZATION, SO WE DON'T TAKE -- WE DON'T ENFORCE POLITICAL CANDIDATES OR TAKE POLITICAL STANCE.

BUT I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE A HARD LOOK AT HOW THE ELECTIONS ARE DESIGNED.

SO WHAT IS THE INCENTIVE IN OUR ELECTION SYSTEM.

RIGHT NOW, THERE'S A PARTISAN PRIMARY AND IT AMPLIFIES THE VOICES OF THE BASE OR THE EXTREMES OF EITHER PARTY AND THOSE ARE THE VOICES THAT GET HEARD MOST OFTEN.

IT LULLS US INTO THINKING WE'RE DIVIDED WHEN THE BIG MIDDLE IS NOT REPRESENTED.

WE HEAR THE EXPRESSION THAT POLITICIANS HAVE TO PIVOT FROM THE PRIMARY TO THE GENERAL AND WE TAKE THAT FOR GRANTED.

BUT WHY?

WHY SHOULDN'T POLITICIANS BE SPEAKING TO ALL VOTERS FROM THE BEGINNING?

>> Ted: QUESTION FOR THE AGES.

>> YES.

>> Ted: THANKS FOR JOINING US AND CONGRATULATIONS ON 20 YEARS.

>> WONDERFUL TO BE HERE.

>> Ted: AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING!

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