>> Ted: NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON, FORMER DONALD TRUMP IS INDICTED ON 34 COUNTS OF FALSIFYING CRIMINAL RECORDS AND WE'LL LOOK AT THE HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE.

ALSO TONIGHT, MESA MAYOR GILES JOINS US TO END HUNGER.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

.

>> DONALD TRUMP SURRENDER THE IN NEW YORK WHERE HE WAS ARRAIGNED ON 34 CRIMINAL CHARGES, ALL HUSH MONEY IN THE FINAL DAYS LEADING UP TO THE 2016 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

TRUMP IS THE FIRST CURRENT OR FORMER PRESIDENT TO FACE CRIMINAL CHARGES.

THOSE CHARGES FROM AN AN INDICTMENT INCLUDE FALSIFYING BUSINESS RECORDS TO CONCEAL PAYMENTS TO AN ADULT FILM START TO KEEP HIS AFFAIR WITH THE WOMAN SECRET.

TWO HUSH OTHER PAYMENTS TO TWO OTHER PEOPLE WERE REFERENCED AND THOSE PAYMENTS WERE CHARGED AS FALSELY CLASSIFIED.

ALL OF WHICH EQUATES TO SERIOUS CRIMINAL CONDUCT ACCORDING TO THE MANHATTAN D.A.

>> WE CANNOT AND WILL NOT TOLERATE CRIMINAL CONDUCT.

>> Ted: TRUMP ENTERED NOT GUILTY PLEAS TO ALL COUNTS.

AFTER THE ARRAIGNMENT, THEY WERE ASKED HOW THE FORMER PRESIDENT WAS TAKING THE COURT APPEARANCE.

>> HIS REACTION WAS IF IT WERE TO HAPPEN TO ANYBODY, HE'S UPSET AND I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, HE'S MOTIVATED AND IT WON'T STOP HIM OR SLOW HIM DOWN.

>> Ted: AS FOR THE INDICTMENT, TRUMP'S ATTORNEYED ADDED, HE WILL FIGHT IT HARD AND HE WILL DELIVERY MARKS AFTER RETURNING TO HIS HOME IN FLORIDA.

HE HAD THIS TWEET, HEADING TO LOWER MANHATTAN, THE COURTHOUSE, SEEMS SO SURREAL, WOW, THEY'LL GOING TO ARREST ME AND CAN'T BELIEVE THIS IS HAPPENING IN AMERICA, MAGA.

A SMALL AND VOCAL CARD GATHERED AS THE FORMER PRESIDENT WAS ARRAIGNED.

CONGRESSMAN, GEORGE SANTOS JOINED THE CROWD AS DID MARGORIE TAYLOR-GREENE, WHO'S APPEARANCE DID NOT SIT WELL WITH NICOLE BOWMAN.

>> TAKE HER BACK TO WASHINGTON AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT GUN VIOLENCE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND DO YOUR FREAKIN' JOB, MARGORIE TAYLOR-GREENE.

YOU DON'T NEED TO BE IN NEW YORK CITY.

GO BACK TO YOUR DISTRICT!

>> Ted: THERE WERE NO REPORTED INCIDENTS OF VIOLENCE AMID TODAY'S PROTESTS.

FOR MORE ON THE HISTORIC EVENTS INVOLVING CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST A FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT, WE WELCOME PAUL CHARLTON AND GOOD TO HAVE YOU BACK HERE AND ANY SURPRISES OR ANYTHING YOU DIDN'T EXPECT?

>> THERE WAS ONE SURPRISE, TED, AND I THINK THERE IS A RECORDING THAT THE STATEMENT OF FACTS REFLECTS THAT THE PRESIDENT, THE FORMER PRESIDENT, TRUMP, WAS TALKING TO Mr. COHEN THAT REFLECTS THE FORMER PRESIDENT'S AWARENESS PAYMENT TO STORMY DANIELS AND HIS THOUGHT THAT, PERHAPS, THE PAYMENT SHOULD BE MADE IN CASH.

THAT'S A RELATIVELY NEW PIECE OF INFORMATION AND GOES TO CORROBORATION BECAUSE AS WE'VE DISCUSSED BEFORE, IF YOU HAVE AN INDIVIDUAL WITHOUT EXAGGERATION IS CONVICTED OF LYING AS Mr. COHEN IS, PERJURY, YOU'LL NEED CORROBORATION.

THIS IS GOOD CORROBORATING EVIDENCE AND IT'S IMPORTANT.

>> Ted: HOW SIMILAR TO THE CASE IS COHEN TO TRUMP?

>> DISTINCT IN THE FACT THAT Mr. COHEN'S CHARGES ARE FEDERAL AND PRIMARILY DEAL WITH ELECTION LAW ISSUES AND Mr. TRUMP'S CASE DEALS WITH THE FILING OF FRAUDULENT BUSINESS RECORDS IN ORDER TO CONCEAL OTHER CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.

THEY FINALLY ADDED, I THINK, THE MOTIVE IS IMPORTANT IN ORDER TO BENEFIT HIS POLITICAL PROSPECTS.

>> Ted: I WANT TO GET TO THAT IN A SECOND BECAUSE THAT'S AN INTERESTING ASPECT.

ALL FELONIES AND LOW LEVEL FELONIES?

>> THE LOWEST FELONY THAT NEW YORK HAS AND DOES NOT MEAN -- I SUSPECT WE WON'T GET CLOSE IN THE EVENT OF A CONVICTION TO THAT FOUR-YEAR MAXIMUM SENTENCE, BUT THEY ARE SERIOUS IN THE SENSE THEY'RE FELONY OFFENSES.

>> Ted: HOW LIKELY IT IS PROBATION?

>> Mr. TRUMP IS 72 YEARS OLD AND HIS CSO SPENT SOME MONTHS IN JAIL AFTER CONVICTED ON SIMILAR CHARGES.

SO SOMETIME IN JAIL IS NOT BEYOND THE CAN OF POSSIBILITY, BUT A SERIOUS AMOUNT OF TIME, A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME, IN A CONVICTION IS UNLIKELY.

>> Ted: THREE PAYMENTS, TO A PORN STAR, A PLAYBOY PLAYMATE AND SOME $30,000 TO A DOORMAN WHO SAID HE HAD, WHAT, INFORMATION THAT WOULD BE EMBARRASSING TO TRUMP?

>> AND TURNED OUT NOT TO BE TRUE, BUT EACH ONE OF THOSE POTENTIAL WITNESSES IS CORROBORATION.

AGAIN, A WITNESS WHO MAY COME IN AND SAY I WAS OFFERED MONEY TO STAY QUIET.

AS YOU KNOW, TED, SIMPLY OFFERED MONEY TO STAY QUIET, WHAT EVERYBODY TALKS ABOUT NOW AS "HUSH MONEY" ISN'T IN AND OF ITSELF A CRIME.

HOW IT IS YOU REFLECT THOSE PAYMENTS IN YOUR BUSINESS LEDGERS IS A MISDEMEANOR OFFENSE IF YOU FALSIFY THOSE RECORDS.

>> Ted: WHY ARE THESE FELONIES?

>> THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY ALLEGES THAT THOSE MISDEMEANOR OFFENCES WERE COMMITTED IN ORDER TO CONCEAL OTHER CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.

THEY SAY, THE D.A.

INCLUDES LOCALS AND LET'S JUST SAY NEW YORK ELECTION LAWS, FEDERAL ELECTION LAWS AND SOME TAX OFFENSES.

SO THOSE THREE OFFENSES WITHIN THE 34 COUNTS OF THE INDICTMENT ARE ALLEGE EDTO HAVE ALLEGED TO HAVE BEEN COMMITTED.

>> Ted: IT WASN'T DIRECTLY FROM TRUMP BUT FROM COHEN AND, AGAIN, TRUMP REIMBURSING COHEN AND THAT'S WHERE WE HIT THE MARK.

>> AND LODGING THAT AS LEGAL FEES.

WHEN, IN FACT, IT WAS THE HUSH MONEY AND THAT MISREPRESENTATION ABOUT THE PAYMENT AND THE WAY THE BUSINESS RECORDS WERE REFLECTED IS THE MISDEMEANOR OFFENSE.

IF YOU DO THAT TO AVOID ELECTION LAWS, THAT'S A FELONY AND THE MOTIVE, THEY SAY, IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PRESIDENT ISN'T EMBARRASSED BY THE ILLICTI AFFAIRS AND HAS A BETTER CHANCE OF WINNING THE ELECTION.

>> Ted: IF DONALD TRUMP WASN'T RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT AND ALL OF THIS HAPPENED, WOULD HE HAVE BEEN CHARGED?

>> THE D.A.

SAYS THAT OFFICE HAS A LONG HISTORY OF CHARGING INDIVIDUALS.

WE HAVE A TRACK RECORD, WE CHARGE THESE OFFENSES ALL OF THE TIME.

ACCORDING TO FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP AND HIS LAWYERS, NO SO.

THIS IS A POLITICALLY MOTIVATED PROSECUTION.

>> Ted: THERE ARE CRITICS AND MITT ROMNEY SAID, THE MANHATTAN D.A.

IS STRETCHING THIS THING WAY TOO FAR.

DOES THIS SOUND LIKE WHAT'S HAPPENING OR IS THIS SOMETHING -- IF THIS HAPPENS WITH OTHER PEOPLE, I MEAN, WHY WOULD IT NOT HAPPEN TO DONALD TRUMP?

>> SO ONE OF THE GREAT THINGS ABOUT OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND ONE I BELIEVE FOR ALL THE MANY FAULTS, THE GREATEST JUSTICE SYSTEM IN THE WORLD IS THAT WE WILL KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION EVENTUALLY.

ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK WE WOULD BE WISE TO DO IS TAKE A BREATH, STEP BACK AND WAIT AND SEE.

EITHER THE D.A.

WILL BE WRONG AND OUT OF ANY POLITICAL CAREER IN THE FUTURE OR THE PRESIDENT HAS COMMITTED CRIMES AND A JURY OR FINDER OF FACTUAL SAY SO AS WELL.

ALL OF THAT, THOUGH, WILL TAKE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME BECAUSE THE WHITE COLLARED CASES ARE NOT QUICKLY DECIDED.

>> Ted: IS THERE A POSSIBILITY THE D.A.

COULD HAVE BEEN WRONG ABOUT SOME OF THE FELONY COUNTS AND NOT THE OTHERS?

>> THERE COULD BE THAT AND WE'LL KNOW SOON BECAUSE YOU CAN BET THAT THE TRUMP LAWYERS ARE GOING TO BE FILING MOTIONS AND SOME OF THEM WEIGHTY AND SIGNIFICANT MOTIONS.

THERE'S A GOOD STATUE OF LIMITATION'S MOTION AND WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT.

SOME OF THE CHARGES, THE ELECTION LAW VIOLATIONS AND ATTORNEYS FOR FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP ARE NOT VIABLE AND WE'LL SEE IN THE MOTION PRACTICE AND THAT'S WHERE THE DEFENSE ATTORNEY'S FILE MOTIONS AND THIS IS NOT A PROSECUTION THAT GOES FORWARD.

WE'LL SEE WHETHER OR NOT THAT WINS THE DAY.

>> Ted: HOW LIKELY THAT DOES WIN AND THIS IS DISMISSED?

>> IT'S HARD TO PLACE A PERCENTAGE ON THAT KIND OF ARGUMENT.

THERE WERE OTHER AGENCIES WHICH HAD THIS CASE, IF YOU WILL, INITIALLY.

THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, THE FEDERAL PROSECUTORS HAD ASPECTS THIS CASE AND DECIDED NOT TO GO FORWARD WITH THIS CASE.

WE DO NOT GO WHY AND A NUMBER OF THEORIES ABOUT THAT.

COULD BE THEY THOUGHT THERE WAS A CREDITABILITY ISSUE WITH Mr. COHEN.

THE D.A.

SAYS HE HAS NO INFORMATION AND WILL BE BROUGHT FORWARD AND LET SEE IF HE DOES.

THAT'S THE GREAT THING ABOUT OUR SYSTEM AND A JURY WILL DECIDE.

I DOUBT WE'LL SEE A PLEA AGREEMENT HERE.

>> Ted: I WAS GOING TO ASK AND SEEMS UNLIKELY AND YOU SAY YEAH.

>> I DON'T UNDERSTAND OR BELIEVE THAT THERE'S A SCENARIO IN WHICH FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP WOULD AGREE.

>> Ted: FINGERPRINTED AND NO MUGSHOT AND IS THAT UNUSUAL?

>> IT'S UNUSUAL AND WE HAVE A SYSTEM OF JUSTICE TO TREAT ALL SYSTEM THE SAME AND THIS IS A FORMER PRESIDENT AND WE KNOW WHO HE IS AND WE DON'T NEED A MUGSHOT TO KNOW WHO HE IS.

FINGERPRINTS DID TAKE PLACE.

ONE UNUSUAL ASPECT IN THE ARRAIGNMENT BROUGHT BEFORE THE JUDGE IN THAT THE PROSECUTORS ASKED THE JUDGE TO EXERCISE CAUTION OR TELL THE PARTIES TO EXERCISE CAUTION BECAUSE FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP HAD ISSUED POSTINGS THAT REFLECTED, PERHAPS, DISMAY WAS THEIR AND THAT WAS THEIR VIEW, A THREAT OF VIOLENCE.

IT'S UNUSUAL AND FOR ANY DEFENDANT TO THREATEN VIOLENCE AND MOST UNUSUAL FROM A PRESIDENT.

THE D.A.

'S VIEW WAS THERE NEEDS TO BE CAUTION EXERCISED AND WE NEED ORDER INTERRED ENTERED.

THE JUDGE CAUTIONED BOTH PARTIES NOT TO ALLOW THAT KIND OF RHETORIC TO TAKE PLACE.

>> Ted: I WOULD IMAGINE THAT IS RELATIVELY UNUSUAL?

>> EXTRAORDINARILY UNUSUAL AS ARE ALL THINGS BECAUSE WE HAVE A FORMER PRESIDENT, BUT TO HAVE THAT KIND OF REQUEST FROM THE PROSECUTOR AND A JUDGE TO TELL A FORMER PRESIDENT TO EXERCISE CAUTION WITH REGARD TO THEIR RHETORIC IS EXTRAORDINARY.

>> Ted: DON'T HOLD A BASEBALL BAT IN A PHOTO NEXT TO THE D.A.

LAST POINT, WE TALKED ABOUT MITT ROMNEY SAYING THE D.A.

WAS STRETCHING AND TRUMP'S ATTORNEY SAID THE INDICTMENT ITSELF IS BOILER PLATE AND WHAT WAS HE GETTING AT?

>> INDICTMENTS ARE VERY MUCH LIKE THAT, BOILER PLATE, SUCH AND SUCH A DATE AND LOCATION, VERY BRIEF AND ABBREVIATED AND BARE BONES.

BUT WHAT THEY ALSO FILED WAS A STATEMENT OF FACTS, WHICH PUT MEAT ON THE BONES, IF YOU WILL, AND EXPLAINED IN GREATER DETAILED WHAT OCCURRED.

WE KNOW ABOUT THE THREE PAYMENTS AND THE RECORDING.

SO THERE ARE MORE FACTS THAN WE HAD YESTERDAY.

WHAT WE DON'T KNOW YET IS HOW MUCH WEIGHT TO GIVE TO THOSE FACTS.

FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP IS INNOCENT AND WE'LL SEE WHETHER OR NOT THOSE FACTS ARE BORNE OUT AT THE END OF THE DAY.

>> Ted: WAS NEXT?

>> A TRIAL SCHEDULED FOR JANUARY JANUARY.

>> Ted: JANUARY?

>> JANUARY, BUT IN WHITE COLLAR CASES, THAT'S LIGHT SPEED AND THE THREE GREATEST DEFENSES ARE DELAY, DELAY, AND DELAY.

[ Laughter ] >> I THINK WE CAN AND THE THIS TRIAL WILL NOT TAKE PLACE EVEN IN JANUARY UNTIL 2024 AND EXTENDED BEYOND, AS BEYOND, AS WELL.

>> Ted: GREAT INFORMATION.

GREAT HAVING YOU ON AND HELPING US TO FIGURE THIS OUT.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> Ted: UP NEXT, A LOOK AT HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE OF TODAY'S EVENTS IN NEW YORK.

>> Ted: THE INDICTMENT OF A U.S. PRESIDENT IS INPRECEDENTED AND FOR A LOOK AT ANGLES, WE TURN TO EXPERT AND AUTHOR, ROBERT MCWORDER AND YOUR THOUGHTS ON WHAT HAPPENED.

>> UNPRECEDENTED AND THE CLOSEST WAS RICHARD NIXON AS AN CO-CONSPIR FOR AND CONSPIRATOR.

AND USE ULSYYSE GRANT WAS PULLED OVER AND PRESIDENT PRESIDENT SAYING HOW SORRY HE WAS, HE WAS A RECIDIVISM AND TAKEN INTO THE POLICE STATION AS PRESIDENT AND THAT WAS THE CLOSEST.

>> Ted: LEAD FOOT WITH THAT CARRIAGE.

AND WHAT DOES THE SYSTEM SAY ABOUT CRIMINALLY CHARGING SITTING OR FORMER PRESIDENTS?

>> ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.

>> Ted: THE FOUNDING FATHERS NEVER EXPECTED THIS, DID THEY?

>> OR WHEN THEY WERE IN PHILADELPHIA, GOT TOO TIRED TO WRITE THIS.

THERE ARE ONLY THREE REQUIREMENTS TO BE PRESIDENT.

35 YEARS OLD, TO BE A NATURAL BORN U.S. CITIZEN AND HAVE SPENT AT LEAST 14 OF THE PAST YEARS IN THE UNITED STATES.

THOSE ARE THE ONLY REQUIREMENTS IT PROVIDES.

NOW, THERE IS A POTENTIAL THAT STATE LAW COULD DEFINE SOME OF THIS.

FOR INSTANCE, YOU CANNOT BE A FELON AND VOTE AND YOU CAN EXTEND THAT TO SAY TO GET ON A BALLOT IN THE STATE COULD BE DEFINED BY STATE LAW, WHICH THEY ARE NOW.

FOR INSTANCE, DONALD TRUMP, IF SHE'S CONVICTED COULD, PERHAPS, BE BLOCKEDBY GETTING IF.

>> Ted: HE'S ALLOWED TO SERVE BUT NOT GET ON THE BALLOT.

>> NOT ALL STATES HAVE THESE REQUIREMENTS.

ARIZONA HAS A REQUIREMENT AND MIGHT NOT GET ON IN ARIZONA.

THE 14th ARRANGEMENT PROVIDES IF YOU'RE AN INSURRECTIONIST UNDER THE 14th AMENDMENT.

>> IN IS THE HORS D'OEUVRESES AND HE HAS REALLY TOUGH CASES WITH THE ELECTION LAW IN GEORGIA AND TAKING CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS AND HOLDING THEM IN HIS HOUSE.

>> NOT TO MENTION THE FEDERAL CHARGES WITH JANUARY 6th.

>> Ted: COMPARE AND CONTRAST TO TODAY.

>> A LOT IS GETTING MADE THAT OH, THAT LOCAL PROSECUTOR AND FOR PROSECUTOR DABBLING IN THIS BROADER FEDERAL ISSUE, WHICH WOULD BE AN ELECTION LAW VIOLATION AND THIS INDICTMENT WHICH I HAVE READ IS CENTERED ON STATE LAW AND FRAUD CASES.

IN FACT, I WAS A BIT SURPRISED THE INDICTMENT WAS SO CENTERED ON THE STORMY DANIEL'S PAYMENT BECAUSE DON'T FORGET, THE TRUMP ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN CONVICTED OF A BROAD RANGE OF FRAUDS AND, IN FACT, I THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE A REPLAY BECAUSE THEY'VE WON THAT CASE.

>> Ted: ARE YOU SURPRISED THEY WENT AHEAD WITH THESE CHARGES, THESE FELONY CHARGES?

>> NO.

I'M SURPRISED THEY DOMINATED THE INDICTMENT.

I THOUGHT THE DOCUMENT INDICTMENT WOULD HAVE ONE OR TWO TO STORMY DANIELS AND THE REST WITH BROADER FRAUD CASES THAT RELATED TO THE PRIOR TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TRIAL.

>> Ted: WILL THAT COME OUT AT TRIAL OR SOMETHING THAT MIGHT HURT THE D.A.

'S CASE.

>> I DON'T THINK IT WOULD HURT THE D.A.

'S CASE BUT A PRIOR BAD ACT OR ACT OF THE DEFENDANT.

IT COULD BE THE SUBJECT OF ANOTHER STATE COURT NEW YORK COURT INDICTMENT.

THEY COULD INDICT HIM ON THAT, AS WELL.

>> Ted: WOULD THAT SITUATION HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT IF HE WERE STILL IN OFFICE?

>> THE CONSTITUTION SAYS NOTHING.

>> Ted: STILL SAYS NOTHING.

>> NO.

YOU MIGHT HAVE A LOGISTICAL PROBLEM OF HIM SERVING AND WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THE SECRET SERVICE AND PRISON GUARDS WORKING TOGETHER.

THAT'S A MESS, BUT NO PRECEDENT FOR THIS AND NOTHING IN THE CONSTITUTION ABOUT WHAT YOU DO.

>> Ted: TRUMP CLAIMED THE JUDGE AT ARRAIGNMENT HATES HIM AND, YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE POLITICAL PROSECUTION.

FROM WHERE YOU SIT, IS THIS IS A POLITICAL PROSECUTION?

>> IN TERMS OF THE WAY THE INDICTMENT IS WRITTEN, NO.

THE MOTIVATION, I CANNOT SPEAK TO.

I CAN'T SPEAK TO WHAT THE PROSECUTOR IS INTERESTED IN DOING.

THE FACT THAT HE CHOSE THE MORE SALACIOUS ONE HAS AN ELEMENTARY THATELEMENTTHAT A STATE CHARGE WOULD NOT HAVE.

DONALD TRUMP WOULD DRIVE ME CRAZY IF HE WAS MY CLIENT.

>> Ted: BECAUSE?

>> HE WON'T SHUT HI HIS MOUTH.

>> Ted: THERE'S NO GAG ORDER HERE AND THAT DOESN'T HELP DONALD TRUMP.

>> IF I WAS A PROSECUTOR, I WOULD NOT ASK FOR ONE.

I WOULD WANT HIM TO KEEP SPEAKING BECAUSE EVERYTHING HE SAYS CAN COME OUT AGAINST HIM.

ANYTHING YOU SAY WILL BE USED AGAIN YOU.

>> Ted: YES.

>> TRUMP'S LAWYER WILL GO CRAZY BECAUSE DONALD TRUMP DOESN'T GET THAT POINT.

>> Ted: SAYING SOME THINGS TONIGHT AS WE'RE ON THE AIR.

ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

>> SEE YOU.

MULBERRY.

♪♪ >> Ted: MESA MAYOR GILSLES IS HERE AND ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU HERE AND SPEAKING TODAY NOT ABOUT DONALD TRUMP AND GETTING SOMETHING DONE AND THAT IS ENDING CHILDHOOD HUNGER AND ENDING HUNGER IN GENERAL AND WHY WERE YOU BACK IF WASHINGTON AND WHAT DID YOU DO BACK THERE?

>> PRESIDENT BIDEN CONVENED THE FIRST CONFERENCE IN 50 YEARS ON THE TOPIC OF HUNGER AT THE WHITE HOUSE LAST OCTOBER.

AND COMING OUT OF THAT CONFERENCE WAS THIS CAMPAIGN WHERE PRESIDENT BIDEN VERY BRAVELY SAID, LET'S TACKLE THIS PROBLEM WITH HUNGER.

WE'RE A COUNTRY THAT HAS A BLESSING OF RICHES WHEN IT COMES TO FOOD AND THERE'S NO GOOD EXCUSE FOR CHILDREN, IN PARTICULAR, TO BE EXPERIENCING HUNGER.

THIS IS ROLLING OUT A NATIONAL CAMPAIGN TO END HUNGER IN THE UNITED STATES.

>> Ted: WAS IT LIKE 170 SOME ODD MAYORS AND YOU'RE A PROMINENT PART OF THIS GROUP.

>> I'M HAPPY TO BE THE CHAIRMAN OF THE MAYOR'S ALLIANCE AND THAT WAS THE HAT I WAS WEARING AT THE WHITE HOUSE.

>> Ted: IN YOUR ADDRESS, WHAT DID YOU SAY?

>> WELL, THIS IS NOT A ONE SIZE FITS ALL FOR ALL COMMUNITIES.

THE BEST THING ABOUT MAYORS, WE HAVE THE POWER TO CONVENE AND SO, THE PLAYERS THAT I'M GOING TO CONVENE IN MESA ARE PLAYERS IN St.LOUIS OR MIAMI OR OTHER CITIES.

BUT THIS IS A LOT OF BEST PRACTICES THAT WE CAN STEAL FROM ONE ANOTHER AND THAT'S THE POINT OF THIS ORGANIZATION IS TO SHARE THOSE BEST PRACTICES, BUT ALSO TO INSPIRE MAYORS AT A LOCAL LEVEL TO PRIORITIZE THIS ISSUE AND TO SHINE SOME LIGHT ON IT AND TO USE THEIR POWERS TO CONVENE RESOURCES TO ADDRESS IT.

>> Ted: ARE YOU GETTING BUY-IN FROM THE OTHER MAYORS?

>> AND PARTICULAR OFF OF THE COVID EXPERIENCE, THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT WE'RE ALL SENSITIVE TO AND THAT WAS MY EXPERIENCE AS A MAYOR DURING COVID.

THE FIRST THING WHEN WE GOT OUR MONEY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WAS A NEED'S ASSESSMENT.

WHAT WE DISCOVERED TO MY SURPRISE WAS THAT THE TOP CONCERNS OF MY COMMUNITY OF MESA REVOLVED AROUND FOOD INSECURITY AND HOUSING, THE BASICS OF LIFE.

THERE WERE MULTIPLE EXPERIENCES THAT I HAD DURING COVID WHERE I WOULD GO TO A FOOD DISTRIBUTION EVENT AND SEE EDERLY PEOPLE WHO OBVIOUSLY HAD UNDERLYING HEALTH CONDITIONS, STANDING NEXT TO EACH OTHER IN A LINE.

I CAME TO THE REALIZATION THAT THEY ARE LITERALLY PUTTING THEIR LIVES AT RISK, MOTIVATED BY FOOD INSECURITY.

DURING THE PANDEMIC, WE HAD 1400 CARS A WEEK COMING THROUGH OUR CONVENTION CENTER PARKING NOT PARK LOT PARKING TO PICK UP FOOD.

THIS NEEDS TO BE ELEVATED AND MORE SERIOUS THAN WE THOUGHT.

>> Ted: GETTING THINGS DONE ONCE IT'S ELEVATED IS ANOTHER AND ARE THERE THINGS WE CAN SEE IN THE EARLY PART OF THIS CAMPAIGN?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

HERE IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE FROM MY COMMUNITY IN MESA I SHARED.

THERE'S A WONDERFUL ORGANIZATION CALLED "ARIZONA BRAIN FOOD" STARTED BY A GROUP OF MOMS AND IT'S ENTIRELY RUN BY VOLUNTEERS AND LAST WEEK, I WAS THERE TO HELP THEM CELEBRATE THEIR ONE MILLIONTH BACKPACK AND THAT'S A WONDERFUL STORY AND HORRIBLE STORY AT THE SAME TIME AND THAT'S WHAT YOU CAN DO TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE.

>> Ted: DURING THIS WHITE HOUSE CHALLENGE, ONE OF THE CHALLENGES IS A NATIONWIDE CALL TO MAKE BOLD COMMITMENTS.

IS THAT DIFFICULT?

YOU COME FROM THE MAYOR'S ANGLE AND YOU CAN SPEAK TO OTHER FOLKS AND IS IT DIFFICULT TO MAKE BOLD COMMITMENTS ON SOMETHING LIKE THIS?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

I MEAN, THAT'S THE ONLY WAY ANYTHING GETS DONE.

THE SAYING IS POPULAR THAT ALL POLITICS ARE LOCAL AND I SAID, ISN'T THAT THE ONLY WAY PROBLEMS EVER GET SOLVED, IS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL?

YES, WE WILL BE BACK IN WASHINGTON LOBBYING ON THE FARM BILL AND THE FARM BILL IS MORE ABOUT FOOD INSECURITY THAN ABOUT AGRICULTURE AND THAT'S WHERE THE SNAP BENEFITS ARE DETERMINED AND LUNCH PROGRAMS.

THERE'S VERY MUCH A NATIONAL COMPONENT AND A LOT OF THE RESOURCES COME FROM THE NATIONAL LEVEL.

BUT IT HAS TO BE A STRONG PRIORITY AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

>> Ted: THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES FOR THIS DIRECTION, IS IT THAT FACT THAT IT IS LOCAL AND YOU'VE GOT TO GET THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES AND PEOPLE ON BOARD?

>> YES.

THE PARTNERS THAT COME TOGETHER ON THIS ARE SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, WE CELEBRATED NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH DAY.

WHAT I LEARNED FOR THE FIRST TIME, AND, AGAIN, I'M THE MAYOR FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, A LARGE MAJORITY OF OUR KIDS ARE NOT ONLY RELYING ON FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH DURING THE LUNCHTIME, BUT SCHOOL BREAKFAST IS A HUGE PART OF MOST KID'S LIVES NOWADAYS.

SO MORE AND MORE, WE NEED TO IDENTIFY WHAT THE RESOURCES ARE, HOW WE'RE ABLE TO TOUCH THESE FOLKS AND PARTICULARLY THE DISCONNECTED FOLKS.

THERE'S A LOT OF SENIORS THAT I INCOMED EARLIER THAT DON'T HAVE CHURCH GROUP OR FAMILY AND A LOT OF FOLKS THAT ARE DISCONNECTED.

>> Ted: GREAT WORK AND BEST OF LUCK.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Ted: THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

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