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TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," THE POLITICAL GROUP TURNING POINT USA IS SHAKING UP SRP'S GOVERNING BOARD ELECTIONS.

>>> ALSO TONIGHT, YOU'LL HEAR ABOUT NEW CLINICAL TRIALS AIMED AT FIGHTING ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE.

>>> AND THE WORLD'S FIRST LICENSED PILOT BORN WITHOUT ARMS.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

.

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

I'M TED SIMONS.

SALT RIVER PROJECT'S GOVERNING BOARD ELECTION IS ATTRACTING ATTENTION, TURNING POINT USA BASED IN PHOENIX.

HEAVY INVOLVEMENT IN WHAT IS USUALLY AN UNDER THE RADAR ELECTION SUGGESTS THAT THE GROUP IS WORKING HARD TO ESTABLISH ITS INFLUENCE ON OTHER RACES IN THIS YEAR'S ELECTION.

WE WELCOME JEREMY DUDA COVERING THE STORY FOR AXIOS PHOENIX.

ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

THANK YOU, SIR.

SRP BOARD OF DIRECTOR.

THIS ELECTION, WE HEAR ABOUT IT BUT DON'T HEAR TOO MUCH ABOUT IT.

WE'RE HEARING MORE ABOUT IT BECAUSE OF TURNING POINT, HUH?

>> USUALLY AS YOU MENTIONED, A VERY QUIET, LOW KEY AFFAIR, VERY UNDER THE RADAR, VERY SMALL NUMBER OF VOTES THAT GET CAST FOR THIS EVERY TWO YEARS.

THERE'S A COUPLE OF GROUPS THAT ARE HEAVILY INVOLVED IN THE RACE RIGHT NOW PUSHING FOR THIS SLATE, TURNING POINT BY FAR, THE MORE WELL-KNOWN ONE OF THEM, EVERYONE HAS SEEN THE SIGNS ALL OVER TOWN.

LOGO.

THE CORNER THERE.

THEY'VE GOT DOOR KNOCKERS GALORE AT THE VERY EXTENSIVE GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION AND THEY'RE GOING ALL-OUT AND RAISING A LOT OF AWARENESS FOR WHAT'S NORMALLY A SLEEPY AFFAIR.

TED: WHY IS TURNING POINT SHOWING SO MUCH ATTENTION TO THIS ORDINARILY SLEEPY AFFAIR?

>> THE MAIN THING IS THAT THEY WILL SAY IS THEY WANT TO STOP GREEN NEW DEAL-TYPE POLICIES.

OVERAGGRESSIVE PUSH FOR RENEWALS THAT MAKE ENERGY MORE EXPENSIVE BUT THERE IS A POLITICAL CALCULUS AS WELL, AND I SPOKE WITH LAST YEAR WHEN IT STARTED HEATING UP, I SPOKE WITH TYLER BOWYER FROM TURNING POINT ACTION, THERE IS A POLITICAL VOTER OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES THAT NO ORGANIZATION IS SERIOUS INFLUENCING ELECTIONS HERE WOULD WANT TO PASS UP.

THERE'S BOTH SIDES OF THAT.

IF YOU TALK TO THEM, THEY SAY THE OTHER MAIN THING IS THEY DON'T WANT TO GIVE UP THE SRP BOARD TO PEOPLE THEY CALL RADICAL LEFTISTS, THE GREEN NEW DEAL POLICIES.

DEFINITELY KEEP AN EYE ON THE OTHER ANGLE AS WELL, THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR HELPING TO BUILD OUT THAT GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION.

TED: AND INDEED, THAT'S KIND OF THE REASON WE WANTED YOU TO TALK ABOUT THIS BECAUSE WITH TURNING POINT, SOUNDS LIKE THEY'RE INTERESTED, INVOLVED, AND OTHER GROUPS ARE AS WELL, BUT ALMOST LIKE IT'S A TRIAL RUN, A TEST RUN FOR ALL OF THE ELECTIONS COMING UP LATER IN THIS YEAR, AND SHOWING HOW MUCH INFLUENCE TURNING POINT ACTION HAS.

>> IT COULD WELL BE, WHEN YOU LOOK AT A STATEWIDE RACE, ONLY SO MUCH INFLUENCE A GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION CAN HAVE, EVEN A VERY LARGE ONE.

A SMALLER RACE, TURNING POINT ACTION WAS INVOLVED IN THE MESA CITY COUNCIL RECALL ELECTION AGAINST FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER JULIE SPILLS BURY WHO ENDORSED KAMALA HARRIS AND RUBEN GALLEGO, AND MADE A LOT OF ENEMIES, THEY HELPED THE ELECTION RECALL GET GOING, AND ONCE IT WAS ON THE BALLOT, THEY SENT FOLKS KNOCKING ON DOORS IN MESA, SPILLSBURY LOST AND THE SRP BOARD, THERE'S TWO OF THEM, THE SAME FOLKS RUNNING FOR BOTH, VERY SIMILAR THINGS, SMALL NUMBER OF VOTES.

THERE'S DISTRICT RACES BECAUSE IT'S ACREAGE BASED, THE VOTING IS WEIRD BUT A RELATIVELY SMALL NUMBER OF BALLOTS IN PEOPLE VOTING ON THESE.

IN 2024, I THINK IT WAS 7,000 OR 8,000 TOTAL VOTES IN EACH OF THE RACES.

>> TALK ABOUT THE VOTING.

IT IS KIND OF ODD IN THE FACT THAT SOME OF THE VOTING DEPENDS HOW MUCH LAND YOU OWN AS AN SRP USER?

>> THE WAY THIS BREAKS DOWN, YOU HAVE -- TWO BOARDS ACTUALLY, ONE THAT IS OVER ENERGY AND ONE OVER WATER, AND BROKEN DOWN INTO DISTRICTS AND THEY HAVE AT-LARGE DISTRICTS.

THIS IS WHERE YOU GET THIS FUNKY SYSTEM WHERE VOTING FOR ALL OF THESE IS ONLY OPEN TO LAND OWNERS WHO LIVE IN SRP TERRITORY, BUT SOME VOTERS COUNT MORE THAN OTHERS IN THE DISTRICT RACES.

THE VOTES YOU HAVE IS BASED ON HOW MANY ACRES YOU OWN.

IT HAS TO BE NONCOMMERCIAL LAND OWNERS.

FOLKS WHO OWN LARGE AMOUNTS OF LAND HAVE A LOT OF VOTES.

I'M GUESSING IN SOME OF THESE RACES, A COUPLE OF PEOPLE WHO MAKE THE DIFFERENCE.

THE AT-LARGE, IT'S STILL LAND OWNERS BUT IT IS ONE VOTE PER LAND OWNER.

IT'S PROBABLY EASIER TO SWING THINGS WITHOUT INFLUENCING ONE OR TWO PEOPLE.

HAVE YOU MORE PEOPLE, YOU CAN REACH OUT TO.

TED: TURNING POINT ACTIONS INVOLVEMENT, OTHER GROUP'S ACTIONS AND THEIR INVOLVEMENT AND PUSHING, WE'RE LOOKING AT THOSE PUSHING FOR THE CONSERVATIVE SLATE.

THERE ARE GROUPS PUSHING FOR THE CLEAN ENERGY SLATE, THE LIBERAL SLATE AS WELL.

ARE THEY AS INVOLVED AS WHAT WE'RE HEARING NOW FROM TPA?

>> IT COULD BE.

I HAVEN'T SEEN AS MUCH INVOLVEMENT.

I THINK WE SAW A LOT OF THAT A COUPLE YEARS AGO, THIS IS PART OF THIS IS A RESPONSE TO WHAT WE SAW IN 2024, THE CLEAN ENERGY SLATE THAT CAME OUT AND TOOK THIS RACE THAT MOST PEOPLE IN THE TOWN HAD NOT THOUGHT ABOUT FOR MANY YEARS AND MADE AGGRESSIVE PUSH TO GET THE FOLKS ON THE LEFT ELECTED TO THE BOARDS, AND JANE FONDA'S CLIMATE PAC GOT INVOLVED.

I THINK THEY'RE INVOLVED AGAIN THIS YEAR.

I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHAT THE EXTENT OF THEIR INVOLVEMENT IS.

I HAVEN'T SEEN MANY CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS.

THEY HAVE A LIST OF THE CANDIDATES THEY'RE ENDORSING IN THAT RACE.

THEY DID PHONE BANKING A COUPLE YEARS AGO FOR THEM.

RIGHT NOW THE CLOCK'S KIND OF TICKING SO THE DEADLINE TO REGISTER PEOPLE TO VOTE FOR THE ELECTION HAS PASSED, AND YOU HAVE TO REGISTER SEPARATELY THAN OTHERS.

IF YOU ARE REGISTERED TO VOTE BUT HAVEN'T SEPARATELY REGISTERED FOR THE SRP ELECTIONS.

THE ELECTION SURROUND WAY.

ELECTION IS APRIL 7.

WE HAVE A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME TO MAKE AN IMPACT.

TED: YES, IN THAT RESPECT, WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE FACT WE HAD THE GROUPS COMING IN HERE, WHETHER IT'S FONDA PAC OR TPA.

OTHER WAY, IS THERE -- WHEN IT COMES TO POWER AND COMES TO ENERGY AND WHEN IT COMES TO WATER, IS THERE CONCERN THAT THIS IS NOT WHERE YOU WANT TO GET PARTISAN POLITICS INVOLVED?

>> I MEAN A LOT OF FOLKS -- PROBABLY BOTH SIDES SAY THAT AND POINT THE FINGER AT THE OTHER SIDE.

ANYONE FOLLOWING ENERGY DEBATES IN THIS STATE FOR THE LAST 10, 20, PROBABLY A LOT LONGER THAN THAT YEARS, SEES THE PARTISAN FLAVOR IN THE DEBATES.

IT'S THE SAME DEBATES AT THE CORPORATION COMMISSION, HOW MUCH TO PUSH FOR RENEWABLES, REGARDLESS OF COST AND PUSH BACK ON FOSSIL FUELS OR MORE CONVENTIONAL METHODS THAT ARE POLLUTING AND CHEAPER AND RELIABLE, THIS IS A CONSTANT PARTISAN DEBATE AT THE STATE CAPITOL, FEDERALLY.

SO THAT IS THE CORE OF WHAT THIS FIGHT IS ABOUT.

ON THE ENERGY LEVEL, THAT'S WHERE MOST PEOPLE ARE, THERE IS ALSO THE WATER BOARD, AND I THINK THERE'S A LOT -- I HEARD A LOT LESS TALK ABOUT THAT.

OBVIOUSLY SUCH A CRITICAL ISSUE IN ARIZONA RIGHT NOW, PROBABLY LESS PARTISAN FEUDING ON THAT, AT LEAST IN THIS PARTICULAR CONTEXT WANT.

>> TO SEE MORE PRAGMATISM THAN PARTISANSHIP.

SRP COMMUNITY OWNED, YOU HAVE THAT IN THAT AS WELL, IS THAT THE NEW NORMAL WHEN IT COMES TO NOT JUST THIS PARTICULAR RACE BUT SCHOOL BOARD RACES, CITY COUNCIL RACES, THINGS THAT DID FLY FOR SO LONG, ARE BIG GROUPS WITH CERTAIN VIEWPOINTS, WHETHER IT'S CONSERVATIVE OR LIBERAL, ARE THEY STARTING TO TAKE NOTICE AND SAYING LET'S MAKE A CHANGE HERE AND BUILD UP?

>> SURE, I THINK WE DEFINITELY SEE IT.

SRP IS A LATE COMER TO THE TREND, WE'VE SEEN THE CITY COUNCIL RACE, THINK ABOUT 20 YEARS AGO, PHOENIX CITY COUNCIL, YOU PUT AN ELEPHANT OR DONKEY ON YOUR SIDE, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SCREAM BLOODY MURDER OF TAKING THE PARTISAN RACES AND MAKING THEM PARTISAN.

NOW EVERY SIGN SAYS DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN FOR THE MOST PART.

SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS, SEEN AN INCREASE IN THE PARTISAN ACTIVIST -- ACTIVITIES NOW.

SRP BOARD, WE SAW THIS A COUPLE YEARS AGO AND FOLKS ON THE RIGHT WOULD POINT TO THE LEFT AND SAY HEY, YOU ARE THE ONES WHO STARTED THIS, COULD THIS BE THE NEW NORMAL ON THIS PREVIOUSLY, VERY LOW KEYBOARD -- THERE'S ANOTHER GROUP FUNDED BY BUSINESS GROUPS, DATA CENTERS, FOLKS WHO HAVE ARIZONA'S FOR RESPONSIBLE GROWTH.

THEY DON'T HAVE THE GRASSROOTS PRESENCE THAT TURNING POINT BECAUSE FEW IN THE STATE DO, BUT THEY HAVE A LOT OF MONEY THEY THINK THEY'VE BEEN THROWING AROUND.

AT THE START, THEY EXPECT TO SPEND HALF MILLION ON THIS RACE.

THIS MIGHT BE THE NEW NORMAL, THE VERY SLEEPY RACES ARE GETTING A LOT MORE ATTENTION AND MONEY.

TED: JEREMY DUDA, AXIOS PHOENIX, GOOD STUFF.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

.

TED: BARROW NEUROLOGICAL INSTITUTE IS WORKING ON TWO CLINICAL TRIALS AIMED AT TREATING ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE BY USING EXISTING DRUGS THAT ARE CURRENTLY USED TO TREAT CANCER AND MULTIPLE SCLEROSES.

JOINING US IS DR.

MARWAN SABBAGH AT THE MEMORY DISORDERS PROGRAM.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

TED: A COUPLE NEW CLINICAL TRIALS INVOLVING ALZHEIMER'S AND EXISTING -- ARE THESE YOUR TRIALS?

NATIONAL TRIALS?

HOW DOES IT WORK?

>> BOTH CASES, THESE ARE STUDIES THAT WE DEVELOPED, WE GOT THE GRANT, WE'RE DOING THE STUDY, WE GOT THE APPROVALS FROM THE FDA TO DO THIS KIND OF WORK.

TED: AND THIS IS INVOLVING BOTH STUDIES INVOLVING DRUGS THAT ARE ALREADY OUT THERE, TREATING OTHER THINGS?

>> YES, AND THIS IS WHAT MAKES IT PARTICULARLY EXCITING.

THE FIRST STUDY IS LOOKING AT CANCER DRUGS, REPURPOSED FOR ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE.

IF YOU THINK WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT?

IT'S BECAUSE CANCER DRUGS, OF COURSE, TREAT SOME OF THE INFLAMMATORY CHANGES IN CANCER AND WE THINK THOSE CHANGES OCCUR ALSO IN ALZHEIMER'S AND COULD BE PARTICULARLY USEFUL.

THE ADVANTAGES, THE ORAL MEDICATIONS, EASY TO TAKE, APPROVED FOR DECADES, AND WE THINK THEY COULD HAVE EFFECTS ON REDUCING INFLAMMATION IN THE BRAIN OF ALZHEIMER'S PEOPLE.

AND THE SECOND ONE IS A MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS DRUG.

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

THE PARTICULAR DRUG IS TO TREAT BONE CANCER, CORRECT?

>> REVLOMID TREATED BONE CANCER, MYELOMA BUT THINK IT HAS EFFECTS ON INFLAMMATORY PROCESS OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE.

TED: INTERESTING.

TREATING INFLAMMATION IS ONE THING, TREATING INFLAMMATION WITH THIS TARGETING IS ANOTHER?

>> YES, WE'VE UNDERSTOOD THERE'S A LOT OF INFLAMMATORY CHANGES IN THE BRAIN FOR ALZHEIMER'S FOR MANY YEARS, DECADES, PERHAPS.

EVERY INFLAMMATORY TRIED AND TRIED AND TRIED, WE KNOW TAKING NAPROXIN AND ADVIL DON'T WORK, EITHER FOR TREATMENT OR PREVENTION.

THAT'S BEEN TRIED, BUT THE IDEA OF INFLAMMATION, WE'RE TRYING NONTRADITIONAL ROUTES, NOT THE NSAID ROUTE BUT NONTRADITIONAL ROUTES AND CANCER DRUGS HAVE THE SAME EFFECTS TO TREAT THEIR CONDITIONS AND REDUCE INFLAMMATION.

TED: THIS PARTICULAR DRUG, ANECDOTALLY SEEM TO BE STRONGER THAN THE OTHER CANCER DRUGS?

>> CORRECT.

WE STUDIED IN ANIMAL MODELS AND NOT ONLY REDUCED INFLAMMATION BUT OTHER NEUROPATHOLOGICAL PROCESSES.

WHEN WE TESTED IT, WE WERE WAY AHEAD OF THE PACK BECAUSE NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN, EVERYBODY WANTS TO REPURPOSE CANCER DRUGS FOR ALZHEIMER'S.

WE WERE AHEAD OF THE PACK ON THAT ONE.

TED: WHAT ABOUT MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS, WHY THIS PARTICULAR DRUG?

>> IT IS ONE OF THE DEFINITIONS OF A CONDITION THAT HAS AN INFLAMMATORY PROCESS, SO WE'VE KNOWN THAT FOR YEARS, BUT THE CONCEPT WITH THIS DRUG IS THAT WE'RE REPROGRAMMING THE IMMUNE SYSTEM TO WORK IN A NORMAL WAY LIKE YOU WOULD IN AN MS WAY.

LOOKING AT IT FOR ALZHEIMER'S.

IDEA IS YOU REPROGRAM THE IMMUNE SYSTEM TO WORK NORMALLY RATHER THAN ABNORMALLY.

TED: AGAIN, IS THIS THE KIND OF THING WHERE YOU SAW CERTAIN THINGS FROM MS PATIENTS ON THE DRUG?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

WE SAW THERE WAS COMMONALITY IN THE PROCESS THAT COULD LEAD TO AN MS AND ALZHEIMER'S PROCESS.

THEY ARE SEPARATE DISEASES, I DON'T WANT TO IMPLY THEY ARE SAME DISEASE BUT THE INFLAMMATORY MECHANISM, WE'VE SEEN THAT IN ALZHEIMER'S, NOW LOOK AT THE SAME DRUG IN ALZHEIMER'S, AND IT'S AN ORAL MEDICATION, VERY, VERY SAFE.

THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE TAKE THE MEDICINE, WE'RE TRYING IT IN ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE.

TED: CLINICAL TRIALS ARE UNDER WAY.

YOU'RE LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS, AREN'T YOU?

>> BOTH OF THEM, YES.

TED: WHAT DO PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THAT?

>> THEY NEED TO GO TO THE BARROW WEBSITE AND LEARN ABOUT THE STUDIES, WE'RE LOOKING FOR PARTICIPANTS.

BOTH HAVE TO KNOW THERE'S A CHANCE OF A PLACEBO BUT WE'RE ALWAYS FOCUSED ON SAFETY IS OUR FIRST PRIORITY BUT THESE ARE APPROVED DRUGS, NO CHARGE TO THE PATIENT OR THE INSURANCE COMPANY, AND THIS WOULD BE IN ADDITION TO WHATEVER YOU'RE ON.

TED: AGE 50+?

>> AGE 50+.

TED: OKAY, WHAT ABOUT THOSE THAT ARE ALREADY ON MEDICAL TREATMENT FOR?

>> THEY CAN BE IN THE STUDY.

TED: THAT'S PART OF THE PROCESS, HOW THEY INTERACT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

TED: THE IDEA OF REPURPOSING DRUGS, FEELS LIKE WHEN COMMUNITIES DO INFIELD PROJECTS.

MAKES SENSE, WHY HASN'T IT BEEN DONE MORE OFTEN.

WHY HASN'T THIS BEEN DONE MORE OFTEN?

>> THEY ARE NOW AT PARTY.

THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE INTERESTED IN THIS KIND OF THING.

TED: YEAH, BUT AS FAR AS THE RESULTS, ARE THERE CONCERNS THAT, AGAIN, THE ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE IS ONE THING BUT GETTING THE CLINICAL TRIALS AND THE STUDIES, THAT'S QUITE ANOTHER.

IS THAT A CONCERN?

>> SO THERE'S A LOT OF STEPS, WE DON'T JUST SUDDENLY RANDOMLY SAY I'M GOING TO GIVE A CANCER DRUG.

WE HAD TO GET A GRANT.

WE HAD TO GO TO THE FDA, GET APPROVAL.

THE FDA SAID YOU'RE GIVING PEOPLE WHO DON'T HAVE CANCER A CANCER DRUG, WE WENT THROUGH A LOT OF SAFETY STEPS, AND SO WE GOT ALL THE APPROVALS, AND WE THINK WE CAN DO THIS SAFELY IN PATIENTS WITH ALZHEIMER'S.

TED: I WAS GOING TO ASK ABOUT THAT, SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T HAVE MS, DOESN'T HAVE BONE CANCER, IS THIS SAFE TO TAKE?

>> THAT IS THE THING THE FDA IS ASKING.

WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH A LOT OF PAPERWORK AND APPROVALS TO EVEN TEST IT.

TED: LAST QUESTION BEFORE YOU GO QUICKLY.

FOR YEARS YOU'VE BEEN DOING ALZHEIMER'S ON THIS PROGRAM, FOR YEARS NOTHING WAS HAPPENING.

THINGS ARE HAPPENING?

>> IT'S FINALLY HERE.

I SPENT 30 YEARS TO BE THE PERPETUAL OPTIMIST.

I'M HAPPY TO TELL YOU A LOT OF THINGS ARE MOVING.

TED: VERY GOOD.

DR.

MARWAN SABBAGH, IF YOU HAVE MORE QUESTIONS GO TO BARROW'S WEBSITE.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

TED: OKAY, GOOD TO HAVE YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

.

TED: JESSICA COX IS THE WORLD'S FIRST LICENSED ARMLESS PILOT.

ALSO AN AUTHOR, MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER AND THE FIRST ARMLESS BLACK BELT IN THE AMERICAN TAE KWON DO ASSOCIATION.

WE SPOKE TO THE ARIZONA NATIVE OF HER LIFE CONVINCINGLY ON DEFYING EXPECTATIONS.

JESSICA, GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

I SEE YOU BROUGHT A FRIEND.

WHO IS THE FRIEND?

>> THIS IS CHEWBACCA.

>> CHEWBACCA, HE IS YOUR DOG?

>> YES, HE HELPS ME OUT TOO.

TED: YOU ARE THE FIRST LICENSED PILOT WITHOUT ARMS, FOURTH DEGREE TAE KWAN DO BLACK BELT.

YOU RIDE HORSES, YOU SLACK LINE, WHEN DO YOU SLEEP?

>> I SLEEP PLENTY.

I JUST LIKE DOING NEW THINGS.

>> WHAT MOTIVATES TO YOU DO ALL THESE THINGS?

>> YOU KNOW THE ADVENTURE OF ALL IT AND KNOWING NO ONE HAS DONE IT WITHOUT ARMS.

>> THAT IS INTERESTING, THERE'S NO MANUAL FOR THAT.

>> YOU'RE RIGHT.

TED: IS IT A TOUGH DISCOVERY PROCESS FOR YOU?

>> IT IS, BUT IT KEEPS IT INTERESTING, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT A NEW WAY TO DO THINGS, BEING CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE, THAT'S HOW MY LIFE HAS BEEN FROM THE START, IT'S ALMOST LIKE A MUSCLE THAT STRENGTHENS OVER TIME.

LIVING LIFE IN A WORLD DESIGNED FOR ARMS AND HANDS AND WHY NOT TAKE IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL AND DO NEW THINGS, NEW OPPORTUNITIES.

>> YEAH, TELL US ABOUT YOUR HISTORY.

BORN WITHOUT ARMS?

>> BORN WITHOUT BOTH MY ARMS.

SINCE DAY ONE, THIS IS MY NORMAL.

I DID HAVE PROSTHETIC LIMBS FOR A WHILE, THERE BUT I DECIDED THAT WAS HOLDING ME BACK MORE THAN HELPING ME.

TED: TALK ABOUT THAT, AGE 14, IF I READ CORRECTLY, YOU DECIDED I DON'T WANT THESE THINGS ANYMORE.

WHAT WENT INTO THAT DECISION?

>> PROSTHETICS ARE WONDERFUL FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOST LIMBS DUE TO TRAUMA OR DISEASE.

VETERANS THAT COME BACK AND NEED TO HAVE LIMBS RESTORED.

BUT FOR ME, THIS IS ALL I'VE KNOWN, AND SO NATURALLY, MY FEET BECAME MY HANDS FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, FROM THE GET-GO, AND EATING WITH CHOPSTICKS WITH MY TOES, THAT'S NORMAL FOR ME.

>> I THINK I READ WHERE YOU SAID THE PROSTHETIC FOR MAKING YOUR LIFE AVERAGE?

>> IT WAS.

THE EXPERIENCE, IT WAS GOOD TO HAVE THE OPTION.

I'M VERY GRATEFUL I GOT THE OPTION, BUT FOR ME, IT WAS MORE OF TRYING TO ASSIMILATE AND BE LIKE EVERYONE ELSE AS OPPOSED TO CELEBRATE THE DIFFERENCE THAT I'VE BEEN BLESSED WITH.

TED: DID FAMILY MEMBERS, FRIENDS, TRY TO TALK YOU OUT OF IT?

AGE 14 IS AN IMPRESSIONABLE AGE?

>> IT IS AN IMPRESSIONABLE AGE.

I REMEMBER MY BEST FRIEND GROWING UP, SHE SAID I LIKED THE JESSICA WITHOUT ARMS BETTER THAN THE JESSICA WITH ARMS BECAUSE THAT'S WHO I AM.

THAT ACCEPTANCE AND UNCONDITIONAL LOVE IS WHAT I WAS ALWAYS SURROUNDED BY.

>> I WAS GOING TO ASK HOW DIFFICULT IT WAS TO LEARN TO DO THINGS WITH YOUR FEET.

YOU'RE SAYING FROM THE GET GO YOU WERE DOING THINGS WITH YOUR FEET.

>> I REMEMBER THE FIRST THING PEOPLE WERE IMPRESSED WITH WHEN I WAS THREE OR FOUR YEARS OLD.

I WOULD TAKE APART A BALL POINT PEN WITH MY TOES, AND PUT IT BACK TOGETHER AND THEY WERE IMPRESSED I HAD THE DEXTERITY WITH MY TOES TO DO THAT.

THAT'S HOW I DID THINGS.

>> WHEN DID YOU REALIZE DID YOU THINGS, THE REST OF US CAN'T DO THAT.

HOLY SMOKES, THAT IS A SKILL.

>> I DIDN'T THINK OF THE WORDS I CAN'T.

IT WAS LIKE LET ME FIGURE IT OUT.

TED: ALL RIGHT, YOU'RE IN MARTIAL ARTS, YOU'VE BEEN IN BEAUTY PAGEANTS, YOU'RE A PILOT.

TALK ABOUT THIS PLANE, YOU'RE BUILDING A -- THIS IS A NONPROFIT VENTURE HERE?

>> YES, I HAVE AN AMAZING NONPROFIT TO SERVE CHILDREN WITHOUT ARMS BECAUSE I NEEDED THAT SUPPORT GROWING UP AND DIDN'T HAVE IT.

WE WANT TO GIVE IT TO THE WORLD, TO THE CHILDREN BORN WITHOUT LIMBS ALL AROUND THE WORLD, AND WE'RE BUILDING AN AIRPLANE.

THE FIRST PURPOSE BUILT AIRPLANE THAT CAN BE FLOWN WITH THE PILOT ALONE IN THE COMMAND SEAT.

TED: WOW.

WHERE CAN WE GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS?

>> GO TO THE IMPOSSIBLE AIRPLANE.COM.

TED: LET'S GET TO FLYING.

WHAT GOT YOU INTERESTED IN FLYING?

ESPECIALLY KNOWING THAT IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE FEET FIRST!

>> I WAS TERRIFIED OF FLYING.

I WAS ACTUALLY JUST TOTALLY UNCOMFORTABLE WHEN I FLEW ON COMMERCIAL FLIGHTS.

JUST LOSING CONTACT WITH THE GROUND SCARED ME, AND I WANTED TO OVERCOME THIS FEAR.

WHAT BETTER WAY THAN TO BECOME A PILOT.

THERE IS STILL SOME ANXIETY THERE A LITTLE, I'M NOT COMPLETELY COMFORTABLE IN THE COCKPIT, BUT IT KEEPS ME ON MY TOES.

TED: YOU'VE USED THAT ONE BEFORE, TOO.

WAS THERE PUSHBACK WHEN YOU DECIDE YOU WANTED TO BE A PILOT?

>> THERE WAS UNSPOKEN PUSHBACK BECAUSE PEOPLE WOULDN'T TELL ME TO MY FACE, I COULD TRADE ON THEIR FACE THEY ARE QUESTIONING ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY.

BUT I WILL TELL YOU THE AVIATION COMMUNITY REALLY EMBRACED ME, IF YOU WANT TO FLY A PLANE, YOU'RE THE FIRST TO DO THIS WITHOUT ARMS, WE'RE GOING TO HELP YOU GET HERE.

TED: THAT'S GREAT TO HEAR.

I HAVE TO ASK YOU, DO YOU FEEL DIFFERENT?

>> I DO NOT.

IT'S FUNNY BECAUSE WHEN I GREW UP IN A SMALL TOWN SIERRA VISTA, IN MY HOME, IN MY MAYBED, PEOPLE SAW ME AS JESSICA.

IT WAS THE MOMENT I STEPPED OUTSIDE OF MY COMFORT ZONE THAT PEOPLE REMINDED ME YOU ARE DIFFERENT BECAUSE THEY WOULD STARE OR ASK QUESTIONS, AND I, OF COURSE, HAD TO LEARN HOW TO ADVOCATE FOR MYSELF.

HOW TO SPEAK UP, WHETHER TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, WHETHER TO ENTERTAIN THE CURIOSITY OR GO ABOUT LIVING MY LIFE.

TED: AND AN ADVOCATE FOR OTHERS.

YOU'RE A MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER NOW, AREN'T YOU?

>> I WOULD HAVE NEVER THOUGHT, AT THE BEGINNING OF HIGH SCHOOL OR MIDDLE SCHOOL, ABOUT BEING A PUBLIC SPEAKER, BUT NOW I HAVE BEEN SPEAKING FOR THE PAST 19 YEARS AND 28 COUNTRIES AROUND THE WORLD.

TED: WOW!

WOW!

LAST QUESTION HERE, AND WE TALK MORE ABOUT CHUY BUT HE'S TAKING A NAP NOW.

HE'S HAD ENOUGH FOR ONE DAY.

WHEN YOU DO THE MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKING, WHEN YOU TALK TO PEOPLE, WHEN YOU WANT TO GET YOUR MESSAGE CROOD, WHAT IS THAT MESSAGE?

>> THAT THAT MESSAGE IS FOR THE INDIVIDUAL WHEN.

PEOPLE SEE ME, THEY HEAR THAT I FLY PLANES, I PRACTICE TAE KWAN DO, I SWIM, SURF, I THINK THEY FEEL THE WORLD PUTS LIMITATIONS ON THEM, PERHAPS AND THE AVERAGE PERSON RECEIVES 1 80,000 NEGATIVE INFERENCE BY AGE 18.

THAT'S A SHOCKER.

I WANT TO BREAK THROUGH THE THOUGHTS, THOSE MISCONCEPTIONS, THOSE LABELS, THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING WITH THE AIRPLANE.

TED: YEAH, I IMAGINE IT'S VERY REWARDING WHEN YOU BREAK THROUGH AND GET SOME OF THE RESPONSES, ESPECIALLY FROM KIDS.

>> IT GIVES ME GOOSE BUMPS KNOWING THAT IT SHAKES UP THEIR WORLD AND PERCEPTION WHAT THEY THINK IS POSSIBLE.

TED: CONGRATULATIONS ON ALL YOUR SUCCESS.

JESSICA COX, THIS IS -- WHAT'S THE NAME THE PLANE?

>> THE IMPOSSIBLE AIRPLANE.COM.

TED: OKAY, THE IMPOSSIBLE AIRPLANE.COM.

CONGRATULATIONS ON ALL YOUR SUCCESS, YOU GOT BIGGER THINGS COMING UP FOR SURE.

THANKS FOR COMING IN.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU, TED.

TED: AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.