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TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," A CLOSER LOOK AT PAM BONDI, PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP'S NEW CHOICE FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL.

ALSO TONIGHT, MEET THE ASU PROFESSOR WHO RECEIVED THE 2024 MLK JR. FACULTY-SERVANT-LEADERSHIP AWARD.

AND A SENSORY FRIENDLY EXPERIENCE IS COMING TO THE PHOENIX ZOO LIGHT'S HOLIDAY SHOW.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

.

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

I'M TED SIMONS.

ISRAEL AND LEBANON AGREED TODAY TO A U.S. BROKERED CEASE-FIRE.

ISRAEL SECURITY CABINET APPROVED THE DEAL WITH HEZBOLLAH THIS AFTERNOON CLEARING THE WAY FOR THE TRUCE TO TAKE EFFECT.

PRESIDENT BIDEN ANNOUNCED THE CEASE-FIRE AT THE WHITE HOUSE.

>> THIS IS DESIGNED TO BE A PERMANENT CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES.

WHAT IS LEFT OF HEZBOLLAH AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO THREATEN THE SECURITY OF ISRAEL AGAIN.

CIVILIANS ON BOTH SIDES WILL BE ABLE TO SAFELY RETURN TO THEIR COMMUNITIES AND BEGIN TO REBUILD OUR HOMES, THEIR SCHOOLS, THEIR FARMS, THEIR BUSINESSES AND THEIR VERY LIVES.

LET ME BE CLEAR, IF HEZBOLLAH OR ANYONE ELSE BREAKS THE DEAL AND ISRAEL RETAINS THE RIGHT TO SELF-DEFENSE CONSISTENT WITH INTERNATIONAL LAW, JUST LIKE ANY COUNTRY, PLEDGE THAT COUNTRY'S DESTRUCTION.

>> THE PRESIDENT HOPED THE DEAL WOULD LEAD TO A CEASE-FIRE IN GAZA.

>>> PRESIDENT-ELECT TRUMP'S THREATS TO IMPOSE 25% TARIFFS ON GOODS FROM CANADA AND MEXICO MADE AN IMPACT ON WALL STREET TODAY.

SHARES OF THE BIG THREE AUTOMAKERS DROPPED 8% WITH INVESTORS CONCERNED ABOUT SUPPLY CHAINS AND PARTS AND PRODUCTION, PARTS CAN SOMETIMES PASS THROUGH ALL THREE NORTH AMERICAN COUNTRIES BEFORE A CAR IS FULLY MADE AND SOLD.

WHILE SHARES FOR AUTOMAKERS TOOK A HIT TODAY, THE REST OF THE MARKET SAW INCREASES WITH THE DOW AND THE S&P CLIMBING TO RECORD HIGHS.

THE PRESIDENT OF MEXICO CLAUDIA SHEINBAUM RESPONDED TO TRUMP'S TARIFF THREATS BY THREATENING TARIFFS OF HER OWN.

MEXICO IS MUCH MORE DEPENDENT ON THE U.S. THAN VICE VERSA, CHEMICALS AND SEMICONDUCTORS AND MEXICO AND CANADA ARE TOP TWO TRADING PARTNERS.

>>> BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS ANNOUNCING A PLAN TO EXPAND MEDICARE AND MEDICAID COVERAGE FOR WEIGHT LOSS DRUGS INCLUDING GLP-1 MEDICATIONS AND 7 1/2 MILLION AMERICANS WOULD GET ACCESS TO PRICEY DRUGS WITH OUT-OF-POCKET COSTS DROPPING 95%.

IT'S UNCLEAR WHO WILL BE ELIGIBLE AND IF IT WILL BE FINALIZED BEFORE PRESIDENT BIDEN LEAVES OFFICE.

>>> BEST-SELLING AUTHOR BARBARA TAYLOR BRADFORD DIED TODAY.

BEST KNOWN WORK, A WOMAN OF SUBSTANCE, A PUBLISHING SENSATION.

THAT SUCCESS HELPED MAKE BRADFORDS ONE OF THE WORLD'S WEALTHIEST WRITERS.

BARBARA TAYLOR BRADFORD DEAD AT 91.

>>> PAM BONDI IS PRESIDENT-ELECT DONALD TRUMP'S LATEST CHOICE FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL.

BONDI'S NOMINATION AFTER TRUMP'S PREVIOUS PICK FORMER FLORIDA CONGRESSMAN MATT GAETZ WITHDREW HIS NAME AMID A DRUG AND SEX ABUSE SCANDAL.

WHO IS PAM BONDI?

JOINING US IS PAUL CHARLTON, A PARTNER AT DENTON'S LAW FIRM.

WHO IS PAM BONDI?

>> PAM BONDI IS A VERY EXPERIENCED PROSECUTOR.

SHE WAS WHAT PROSECUTORS CALL A LINE PROSECUTOR, IN THE COURTROOM EVERY DAYS, WORKING FOR A D.A., A GREAT DEAL OF EXPERIENCE TRYING CASES, STANDING ON HER FEET AND MAKING ARGUMENTS.

A TWO-TIME ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

SHE HAD A GREAT DEAL OF EXPERIENCE MANAGING OTHER PROSECUTORS AND MANAGING OTHER CIVIL LAWSUITS AND REPRESENTING THE STATE OF FLORIDA IN THAT REGARD.

SHE WAS TERMED OUT, THAT PIECE OF HER BACKGROUND IS OBJECTIVELY GOOD, THE KIND OF THING WE WANT IN AN ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES.

HER CRITICS, HOWEVER, TED, POINT SHE IS OVERTLY POLITICAL AND A SUPPORTER OF FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP SOON-TO-BE INCOMING PRESIDENT TRUMP BECAUSE SHE HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN A NUMBER OF ELECTION DENIAL, A LAWSUIT SHE REPRESENTED THE PRESIDENT DURING HIS FIRST IMPEACHMENT TRIAL, AND SHE HAS BEEN A VOCAL SUPPORTER OF HIS IN THE MEDIA.

THESE TWO ASPECTS OF HER BACKGROUND, THE FIRST CAREER PROSECUTOR, SOMEONE SUPPOSED TO BE APOLITICAL AND REMOVED FROM THE POLITICAL PROCESS, AND THEN SOMEONE ELSE WHO IS VERY MUCH INVOLVED IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS ARE CONFLICTING AND EXISTING AT THE SAME TIME.

TED: TO MAKE IT CLEAR FOR SOME FOLKS, I IMAGINE SOME FOLKS DON'T GET THE FACT THAT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE A LOYALIST, NOT SUPPOSED TO BE SOMEONE WHO IS SUBSERVIENT TO THE PRESIDENT OR ANTAGONISTIC ON PURPOSE.

YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE APOLITICAL.

THIS DOES NOT SOUND LIKE THAT?

>> PRECISELY, TED, SINCE WATERGATE.

A VIEW THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IS SUPPOSED TO BE SEPARATE AND APART FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

THE PRESIDENT CAN DICTATE POLICY.

I REMEMBER WHEN JANET RENO WAS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOR FORMER PRESIDENT CLINTON, A BIG EMPHASIS ON ENVIRONMENTAL CRIMES.

WHEN BUSH CAME INTO OFFICE, DIFFERENT POLICIES WHICH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, HE HAD TWO ATTORNEYS GENERAL EMPHASIZED AS WELL.

IN THAT SENSE, POLITICS CAN AND SHOULD HAVE AN INFLUENCE IN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL BUT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE A PARTISAN POLITICIAN.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS NOT SUPPOSED TO TAKE ORDERS FOR THE PRESIDENT TO PURSUE THE PRESIDENT'S POLITICAL RIVALS.

TED: I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU ABOUT THIS, THE REVENGE, RETRIBUTION, ALL THE "R" WORDS THAT EVERYONE IS THINKING.

EVERYONE IS THINKING THIS BECAUSE TRUMP SAID HE WAS GOING TO DO IT ONCE HE WAS ELECTED.

HE IS ELECTED.

CAN HE DO IT THROUGH HER?

WILL SHE DO IT?

>> MS. BONDI SAID THAT THE FORMER PROSECUTORS SHOULD BE PROSECUTED THEMSELVES.

THE INVESTIGATORS WERE SOON TO BE THE INVESTIGATED.

HER WORDS IN THIS POLITICAL ARENA WOULD SEEM TO SUGGEST SHE IS WILLING TO CONSIDER PROSECUTIONS PERHAPS OF JACK SMITH, THE SPECIAL COUNSEL ON THE PROSECUTIONS INVOLVING TRUMP.

WE'LL HAVE TO SEE WHETHER SHE CAN SEPARATE HERSELF FROM THOSE WORDS SAID IN THE POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT FROM HER ROLE AND SEEMS SHE'S LIKELY TO BE CONFIRMED AS ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES.

TED: I THINK SHE SAID THAT JACK SMITH, QUOTE, WEAPONIZED HER LEGAL SYSTEM AND DONALD TRUMP SAID, FOR TOO LONG THE PARTISAN DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE HAS BEEN WEAPONIZED AGAINST ME AND OTHER REPUBLICANS, NOT ANYMORE.

>> CORRECT, AND THIS IS WHERE FAR RIGHT MEETS FAR LEFT AND THE LEFT IS CONCERNED THAT THEY ARE GOING TO WEAPONIZE THIS DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, PRESIDENT TRUMP AND ANY ONE OF HIS ATTORNEYS GENERAL ARE GOING TO PURSUE POLITICAL ENEMIES, AND TRUMP SAID THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED TO ME.

I WAS PURSUED BY POLITICAL ENEMIES, ALL OF THESE PROSECUTIONS WEREN'T JUST PROSECUTIONS THEY WERE POLITICALLY MOTIVATED.

WHETHER OR NOT THIS FOLLOWS AS A TIT-FOR-TAT WHETHER OR NOT THIS WAS A POLITICAL PROSECUTION AND SHOULD BE MORE POLITICAL PROSECUTION GOING FORWARD, WE'LL HAVE TO SEE.

TED: DOES THE PRESIDENT HAVE EXCLUSIVE AUTHORITY OVER WHAT THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL INVESTIGATE?

>> HE'S NOT SUPPOSED TO, BUT AGAIN, IF WE CAN GO BACK IN TIME TO THE WATERGATE ERA, PRESIDENT NIXON CALLED UP THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF UNITED STATES IN WHAT BECAME KNOWN AS THE SATURDAY NIGHT MASSACRE AND TOLD THE THEN-ATTORNEY GENERAL I WANT YOU TO FIRE THE SPECIAL PROSECUTOR INVESTIGATING ME, RICHARD NIXON.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL REFUSED TO DO THAT AND SET FORTH A CASCADING OF FIREINGS AND RESIGNATIONS UNTIL THEY FOUND ROBERT BORK WHO SAID YES, SIR, I WILL FIRE ARCHIBALD COX, THE SPECIAL PROSECUTOR.

THE PRESIDENT HAS MADE POLITICAL DECISIONS LIKE THAT, HINDERED HIS OWN PROSECUTION AND INVESTIGATION.

THE CONCERN AFTER WATERGATE IS WE OUGHT NOT TO LET THAT HAPPEN AGAIN FROM NOW ON AND GOING FORWARD, WE HAVE TO REMOVE THE PRESIDENT FROM POLITICAL DECISIONS SUCH AS THAT ONE.

TED: BUT THAT IS THE CONCERN, IF THE CONCERN DOESN'T EXIST NOW, LIKE IT DID THEN, I MEAN, IT'S AN OPEN HURRICANE, ISN'T IT?

>> SO MANY THINGS HAVE CHANGED.

SO THE PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS BEEN VERY OPEN ABOUT THE FACT HE WANTS TO PURSUE POLITICAL ENEMIES.

APOLOGISTS WILL SAY THAT ISN'T WHAT HE MEANS, BUT THE SUPREME COURT HAS GIVEN AN AVENUE FOR HIM WHICH HE MIGHT BE IMMUNE FROM SUGGESTING RIGHTLY OR WRONGLY THAT POLITICAL OPPONENT BE INVESTIGATED.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT IS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS SUPPOSED TO TELL THE PRESIDENT I UNDERSTAND YOUR DESIRE, I UNDERSTAND THAT REQUEST, BUT IT'S NOT CONSISTENT WITH MY MANDATE AS THE LEAD PROSECUTOR FOR THE NATION.

TED: YOU THINK SHE'S GOING TO DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

>> WE DON'T KNOW.

WE'LL HAVE TO SEE.

AGAIN, THE PRESIDENT'S DEFENDER WILL SAY THAT'S NOT WHAT HE MEANT.

I SUSPECT WHEN BONDI GOES THROUGH THE CONFIRMATION PROCESS, WE'LL HEAR SHE IS LOYAL TO THE CONSTITUTION BEFORE SHE PUTS LOYALTY TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTERWARDS, WE HAVE TO SEE.

TED: QUICKLY, THERE'S A $25,000 PAYMENT TO BONDI'S POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE BEFORE SHE HAD TO DECIDE ON TRUMP UNIVERSITY, AND I THINK THERE WAS BEFORE, AND SHE DECIDED ON TRUMP UNIVERSITY AND DECIDED NOT TO PURSUE THAT CASE AFTER GETTING THAT MONEY?

>> SHE DECLINED TO PURSUE A PROSECUTION OR CIVIL INVESTIGATION OF TRUMP UNIVERSITY AS DID MANY OTHER ATTORNEYS GENERAL.

THE ALLEGATION IS THIS WAS A KIND OF PAYOFF, THE $25,000 FOR THE DECISION NOT TO GO FORWARD.

THE DECISION IS THIS IS POLITICS, REAL POLITICS, WE GET CONTRIBUTIONS FROM A PAC AND EXERCISE OUR INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATION.

NOTHING FOLLOWED FROM THAT.

THERE WAS NO FORMAL DECLARATION THAT WAS INAPPROPRIATE BUT THE OPTICS ARE SOMETHING WE SEE IN THE COURSE OF HER CONFIRMATION.

TED: BEFORE WE LET YOU GO, I CAN'T LET YOU GO ABOUT TALKING ABOUT THE DISMISSAL OF CASES OF DONALD TRUMP, JACK SMITH SAID OUT OF HERE, WE CAN'T PROSECUTE A SITTING PRESIDENT.

IS DONALD TRUMP, RIGHT NOW, AS PRESIDENT-ELECT, AND SOON-TO-BE PRESIDENT, IS HE ABOVE THE LAW?

>> THE SUPREME COURT ESSENTIALLY SAID HE IS AFFORDED PROTECTIONS ABOVE THE LAW, ABOVE WHAT IT IS YOU AND I MIGHT EXPECT.

IN THAT SENSE, YES, HE IS ABOVE THE LAW THAT EVERY OTHER CITIZEN OF THIS COUNTRY CAN EXPECT IN TERMS OF PROTECTION.

JACK SMITH IN HIS PLEADINGS ASKING THE CASES BE DISMISSED, SUGGESTED THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE CASE BE DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE, IT COULD BE BROUGHT AGAIN.

AT THE END OF HIS TERM, PRESIDENT TRUMP'S TERM THAT PERHAPS ANOTHER PROSECUTOR COULD PICK UP THE BATON AND GO FORWARD, BUT THAT SEEMS LIKE A SLIM POSSIBILITY AS WE LOOK AT THIS TODAY.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT THERE ARE CIVIL CASES GOING FORWARD THAT RELATE TO THE JANUARY 6 EVENTS, CIVIL LITIGANTS, INCLUDING FAMILY OF A DECEASED POLICE OFFICER ARE SUING THE PRESIDENT FOR THE ACTIVITIES THEY SAY WRONGED THEM AND OTHERS, AND SO THOSE CASES ARE NOT IMMUNE.

THEY DON'T PROTECT THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

THOSE SUITS WILL GO FORWARD.

TED: REAL QUICKLY, SEEMS RATHER UNLIKELY BUT FOUR YEARS FROM NOW, HE'S NOT RUNNING AGAIN OR LOSES, HE LEAVES, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, A NEW ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE WHOLE NINE YARDS GOES THROUGH, CAN HE, JUST BEFORE HE LEAVES OFFICE, PARDON HIMSELF?

>> CONSTITUTIONAL SCHOLARS ARE WRINGING THEIR HANDS OVER THAT QUESTION, TED.

AND THE IDEA WHETHER OR NOT HE CAN PARDON HIMSELF, THE QUESTION IS STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS.

THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT HURTLES TO THE REAL POSSIBILITY OF WHETHER OR NOT FORMER NOW SOON-TO-BE PRESIDENT TRUMP WILL BE PROSECUTED FOR THE OFFENSES.

SEEMS MORE LIKELY OUTCOME IS IN THE FEDERAL ARENA, HE WILL NOT.

TED: WOW, SUCH LEGAL GOINGS-ON.

GOOD HAVE YOU HERE TO EXPLAIN IT.

APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU, TED.

.

TED: ASU PROFESSOR DR. JEFFREY WILSON IS THE UNIVERSITY'S 2024 MLK JR. FACULTY-SERVANT-LEADERSHIP.

WILSON IS A PROFESSOR OF STATISTICS AND BIOSTATISTICS AND ASU FACULTY MEMBER SINCE 1985.

WE WELCOME DR. JEFFREY WILSON TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

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

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

TED: IT'S BEEN A WHILE YOU GOT THE AWARD, YOU GOT IT EARLIER IN THE YEAR.

WHEN YOU GOT THE AWARD, WHAT WENT THROUGH YOUR MIND?

>> WHAT GOES THROUGH MY MIND, I'M NOT DESERVING OF THIS.

I WONDER WHAT THE COMMITTEE WAS THINKING.

TED: YOU HAD TO BE PROUD.

IT HAD TO BE GREAT.

>> BECAUSE I HOLD IT IN SUCH GREAT LEVEL, THAT I WAS IMPRESSED, I WAS REALLY THRILLED, BUT STILL THINK I'M NOT DESERVING OF THIS.

TED: YEAH, BUT YOU WERE DESERVING.

WHY DO YOU THINK YOU WON?

>> WELL, I HATE TO THINK THAT I WON.

I FEEL THAT THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE DOING A LOT OF THINGS, BUT MAYBE IT'S THE COMBINATION OF WORK THAT I'VE DONE SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE AT ASU, AND MORE SO IN THE RECENT TIMES.

I'VE BEEN PRESIDENT OF THE LEFT INITIATIVE.

I HAVE, IN MY COLLEGE, I'VE DONE THE SAME THING IN MY COLLEGE, BUT THESE ARE THINGS I WAS DOING BEFORE, I CONTINUE TO DO THOSE THINGS, HELPING OTHERS.

TED: YES, HELPING OTHERS SINCE 1985.

WHAT GOT YOU HERE TO ASU?

>> IT'S INTERESTING.

ASU IS THE ONLY UNIVERSITY THAT WAS WILLING TO GIVE, FOR TWO OF US.

I HAD OTHER SCHOOLS, BUT THEY WOULD HAVE ONLY GIVEN ONE POSITION TO ME, BUT ASU IS WILLING TO GIVE TWO POSITIONS, ONE FOR ME, AND ONE FOR MY WIFE.

TED: THERE YOU GO.

THE REST IS HISTORY, LITERALLY HISTORY.

DID YOU ALWAYS WANT TO BE A TEACHER?

DID YOU ALWAYS WANT TO BE AN INSTRUCTOR?

>> I ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A PROFESSOR.

MY MOTHER, SHE TAUGHT THE TEACHER WAS A PERSON WHO BROUGHT THE KIDS IN THE VILLAGE TOGETHER, AND I WAS ALWAYS HELPING HER, AND I MOVED WITH THAT SAME ATTITUDE THROUGHOUT MY GRADUATES AND AFTER.

I JUST LOVE TEACHING.

TED: YES, VILLAGE WHERE?

>> TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO.

TED: YOU EVER GET BACK?

>> I GET BACK LAST YEAR BECAUSE THE UNIVERSITY I WENT TO SCHOOL AT, I WAS DOING SOME WORKSHOPS, I WAS DOING FOUR WORKSHOPS IN TWO DAYS.

>> IT WAS NICE TO SEE THE OLD WORLD, BUT THIS IS YOUR HOME.

>> THIS IS MY HOME NOW.

TED: FOCUS IS BIOSTATISTICS, LAW, BUSINESS MANAGEMENT.

WHAT'S THE FOCUS?

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS MOST IMPORTANT TO YOU?

>> WELL, FIRST THE WAY STATISTICS WORKS, THE TACTICAL SIDE AND THE PRACTICAL SIDE.

WE PUBLISH IN JOURNALS AND SAY THE DEPARTMENT HAS A HIGH-RANKING, BUT THE APPLIED SIDE, WHERE I'M WORKING WITH ALZHEIMER'S AND TAKING THE DATA FROM ALZHEIMER'S AND HELPING INVESTIGATE THE RESEARCH AND UNDERSTAND HOW THE DATA WORKS SO THEY CAN PRODUCE BETTER RESULTS WITH PATIENTS.

TED: I WOULD THINK DATA ANALYSIS WORKS ACROSS A LOT OF DIFFERENT AVENUES, HUH?

>> WE SAY WE PLAY IN EVERYBODY'S BACKYARD.

TED: THERE YOU GO.

YOU WON AN AWARD FOR BEING A SERVANT-LEADER.

WHAT MAKES A GOOD SERVANT-LEADER?

>> AGAIN, I KNOW WHAT THE BOOK SAYS, I KNOW WHAT I DO.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT PEOPLE MEASURE.

IN THIS PROCESS, WE WERE LOOKING AT INCLUSIVE EXCELLENCE, AND THE WAY I MEASURE INCLUSIVE EXCELLENCE IS WE ALL ARE FROM DIFFERENT GROUPS.

WE ALL HAVE A DIFFERENT LADDER.

SOME OF US LADDER IS STEEPER THAN SOME OF US.

I BELIEVE MY JOB IS TO HELP PEOPLE CLIMB THE LADDER.

I BELIEVE SOME PEOPLE NEED MORE HELP AND SOME LESS HELP.

TED: WITH THAT SERVANT LADDER, HAVE STUDENTS COME BACK TO SAY THANK YOU AND SHOW APPRECIATION FOR YOU HOLDING THAT LADDER?

>> YES, MANY OF MY STUDENTS.

I ALSO DID THIS AS AN ASIDE, AS A VOLUNTEER, I ALSO COACHED SOCCER IN THE VALLEY FOR 26 1/2 YEARS.

ALL VOLUNTEER AND ALL OF THEM COME BACK, NOT JUST FROM THE UNIVERSITY BUT OTHER PLACES, THEY COME BACK AND SAY, AND THAT MAKES ME FEEL GOOD.

TED: MUST BE VERY REWARDING, CONGRATULATIONS ON THE HONOR.

MY LAST QUESTION TO YOU IS DO YOU HAVE A MESSAGE, THE MOST IMPORTANT MESSAGE THAT YOU WOULD GIVE A STUDENT?

WHAT WOULD IT BE?

>> I WOULD TELL A STUDENT BE CONSISTENT IN WHAT YOU DO, AND JUST WORK 5% HARDER.

DON'T WORK 100% HARDER.

IN THIS COUNTRY, HAVE YOU 5% HARDER, YOU WOULD BELIEVE THE RESULTS YOU GET.

BUT BE CONSISTENT.

WHAT WORKS IS BEING CONSISTENT.

YOU WENT TO PARTY TONIGHT, YOU HAVE TO GET UP IN THE MORNING AND BE CONSISTENT.

TED: GREAT ADVICE, DR. JEFFREY WILSON, CONGRATULATIONS ON THE AWARD, AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

.

TED: THIS YEAR'S EDITION OF ZOOLIGHTS AT THE PHOENIX ZOO INCLUDES A SPECIAL NIGHT FOR THOSE WITH NEEDS OF SENSORY FRIENDLY EXPERIENCE, A QUIETER LESS INTENSE ATMOSPHERE.

TO LEARN MORE, WE WELCOME JOAQUIN HIDALGO AND PEACH, A MADAGASCAR HEDGEHOG TENREC.

I CAN JUST CALL HER A HEDGEHOG?

>> THEY ARE NAMED HEDGEHOG BUS NOT RELATED TO HEDGEHOGS AT ALL.

SHE IS A CUTE LITTLE TENREC.

THE REASON WHY SHE LOOKS LIKE A HEDGEHOG, SHE TOOK ON CONVERGENT EVOLUTION, IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, WHEN YOU'RE THIS TINY LITTLE FLESHY THING, I THINK SPIKES ON YOUR BACK GO A LONG WAY TO HELP YOU.

TED: SHE DOES HAVE SPIKES ON HER BACK.

WE GOT HER HERE BECAUSE YOU'RE THE PHOENIX ZOO AND THAT'S WHAT YOU DO.

BUT YOU ALSO DO ZOO LIGHTS AND YOU HAVE THIS SPECIAL NIGHT.

>> WE HAVE SENSORY FRIENDLY ZOOLIGHTS.

IT IS OUR TYPICAL ZOOLIGHTS EXPERIENCE, BUT CATERED TO A CERTAIN AUDIENCE, WE TONE DOWN THE LIGHTS, BRING THE NOISES DOWN AND MAKE THE CROWDER LESSER SO FOR FOLKS WHO HAVE SOMEBODY IN THE FAMILY THAT IS SENSITIVE TO THAT.

JUST LIKE PEACH, PEACH IS SENSITIVE TO LOTS OF SOUND AND FLASHING LIGHTS.

FOLKS THAT HAVE POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS THAT DON'T WANT TO DEAL WITH BIG CROWDS AND LOUD NOISES BENEFIT FROM THE SMALLER EXPERIENCE.

TED: SMALLER CROWDS, QUIETER EXPERIENCE, LIGHTS DON'T FLASH.

>> ANYTHING THAT CAN TRIGGER EPILEPSY.

WE TONE IT DOWN, WE HAVE A DEDICATED ZOOLIGHTS TEAM THAT GOES OUT OF THE WAY AND HOW DO WE KEEP THE MAGIC STILL THERE FOR A DIFFERENT AUDIENCE.

TED: YEAH, HOW'S PEACH DOING?

>> DOING GREAT.

TED: DOING ALL RIGHT?

>> I THINK WE SHOULD GET HER HER OWN LITTLE CHAIR.

TED: I HAVE QUESTIONS BUT DON'T WANT TO BOTHER HER TOO MUCH.

THERE ARE SENSORY STATIONS THAT ARE AVAILABLE.

WHAT ARE THOSE?

>> A SENSORY STATION, THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT ONES.

ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR ONE IS A TOUCH STATION, SOMETIMES YOU NEED SOMETHING TO DO, SO THERE ARE THINGS CAN YOU TOUCH, FUR, DIFFERENT TEXTURES THAT GET YOU THE STIMULATIONS OUT, IF YOU NEED TO, AND THERE ARE SOME OF THEM THAT ARE QUIET ZONES, SO YOU CAN PUT A WEIGHTED BLANKET ONTO RELAX.

FIT THE NEEDS THAT PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR.

TED: GOTTA GET BACK TO PEACH.

ARE THE SPINES TOUGH LIKE A PORCUPINE OR WHAT?

>> IF I WERE TO TOUCH HER, I WOULD BE IMPALED, KIDDING, I WOULD BE FINE.

PREVENT THE ANIMAL FROM CHEWING ON HER.

THE REASON I'M WEARING THE GLOVES IS FOR COMFORT REASONS, IF SHE PUTS HERSELF IN A POSITION, I DON'T WANT TO DROP HER.

SHE'S DOING ALL THE WORK.

SHE'S AN EXCELLENT CLIMBER.

TED: SHE HAS A CUTE LITTLE FACE.

>> YOU PROBABLY SEE THE BEADY LITTLE EYES, SHE RELIES ON THE SENSE OF SMELL AND HEARING.

TED: HOPEFULLY SHE CAN SEE IN THE LIGHT.

IT'S LIGHT ENOUGH FOR ME.

YOU MENTIONED FEATHERS AND FUR, THERE ARE RECESS GAMES AND FIDGETS AND ALL THAT STUFF.

THAT'S ALL AVAILABLE?

>> YEAH, THAT IS ALL AVAILABLE ON THAT NIGHT AND HAND OUT SENSORY BAGS WHICH IS NOT EXCLUSIVE THAT NIGHT OF ZOOLIGHTS.

WE HAND IT OUT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

IF THE FAMILY NEEDS ADDITIONAL BAGGY TO HAVE THEIR KIDDO WITH, WE HAVE IT AT THE ZOO.

TED: DID PEOPLE SAY CAN YOU DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS?

>> STARTED THREE YEARS AGO AND FOLKS LOVED IT.

IT TOOK OFF.

WE DID IT IN NOVEMBER AND JANUARY, AND THE BIGGEST COMPLAINT IS HEY, WE WANT TO DO IT NEAR CHRISTMAS.

FOLKS LOVE IT.

IT'S A DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE IN A GOOD WAY.

FOLKS SHOWED UP NOT REALIZING IT WAS SENSORY RIGHT.

I WANT TO DO THIS EVERY YEAR.

TED: EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE SENSORY INFORMATION OVERLOAD OR SOMETHING, YOU CAN GO THERE AND ENJOY, RIGHT?

>> LOOK AT ME PERSONALLY.

I DON'T LIKE BIG CROWDS, I LOVE THAT NIGHT.

IT'S SERENE, YOU CAN HEAR THE ANIMALS, IT'S AMAZING.

TED: THE CROWDS ARE PART OF WHAT MAKES ZOO LIGHTS SO SPECIAL.

WHAT DO YOU THINK MAKES IT SO SPECIAL?

IT REALLY CAUGHT ON?

>> THE FACT THAT YOU ARE ENJOYING HOLIDAY LIGHTS AND IN THE DISTANCE YOU HEAR A LION ROARING, A LOT OF THE ANIMALS ARE NOCTURNAL, KNOWING YOU ARE PARTAKING IN THIS EXPERIENCE IS GREAT FOR FAMILY AND NATURE.

YOU ARE SUPPORTING LITTLE ANIMALS LIKE PEACH.

TED: DO THE ANIMALS GET BOTHERED BY THE LIGHTS?

>> WE DON'T FLASH THE LIGHTS IN THE HABITAT ITSELF, WHILE IT'S NOT ANIMAL VIEWING EXPERIENCE, WE HAVE ANIMAL PRESENTATIONS WITH NOCTURNAL ANIMALS LIKE PEACH.

TED: PEACH, GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> SHE'S BIG ON THE CLIMBING SIDE.

IF I LET HER, SHE COULD CLIMB ALL OVER ME.

WE CAN'T DO THAT, PEACH.

TED: JOAQUIN, GOOD LUCK AND THANKS FOR BRINGING PEACH.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING US.

TED: THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.