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TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," IT'S THE JOURNALISTS' ROUNDTABLE.

A LOOK AT THE WEEK'S TOP STORIES INCLUDING PREVIEW OF THE UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE SESSION WHICH KICKS OFF NEXT WEEK.

THE JOURNALISTS' ROUNDTABLE IS NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

.

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

I'M TED SIMONS.

IT'S FRIDAY, AND THAT MEANS IT'S TIME FOR THE JOURNALISTS' ROUNDTABLE, AND JOINING US TONIGHT, MARK BRODIE FROM KJZZ VIDEO.

JESSICA BOEHM FROM AXIOS PHOENIX.

AND WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT FOR THE NEXT SESSION?

>> IT IS ELECTION YEAR, THE CONVENTIONAL WISDOM IS LAWMAKERS WANT TO GET OUT EARLY TO GET ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL AND GET DONATIONS WHICH THEY CANNOT DO DURING THE SESSION.

THERE'S A LOT OF BIG ISSUES THAT HAVE TO BE DEALT WITH.

THE BUDGET IS A BIG ONE.

THE STATE IS NOT IN A TREMENDOUS FINANCIAL SITUATION.

COLORADO RIVER WATER SITUATION THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH, THE EXTENSION OF PROP 123.

TAX CONFORMING.

A LOT OF BIG ISSUES AND FOR A LOT OF THEM NOT A TON OF CONSENSUS BETWEEN GOP LEADERS IN THE LEGISLATURE AND GOVERNOR AS WE'RE GOING TO SEE.

TED: JESSICA, THERE IS NOT A TON OF CASH.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN AS FAR AS NEGOTIATIONS AND THE SESSION IS CONCERNED?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

YOU WILL HAVE TO SEE A LOT OF GIVE, AND NO ONE WANTING TO GIVE IT.

I THINK WITH THIS BOTH BEING A YEAR OF DIFFICULT BUDGET AND AN ELECTION YEAR, ESPECIALLY WITH THE GOVERNOR REALLY MAKING HER CAMPAIGN MESSAGE THAT SHE'S WILLING TO NEGOTIATE AND BE BIPARTISAN, I THINK REPUBLICANS ARE GOING WANT TO TO EITHER TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT OR NOT GIVE HER ANY EASY WINS TO CAMPAIGN UPON THAT SHE WAS VERY EAGER TO BE BIPARTISAN.

TED: ELECTION YEAR MORE PARTISANSHIP, NOT AS MUCH PARTISANSHIP, WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?

>> MORE, WHICH SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE, IF YOU LOOKED AT THE WAY THINGS HAVE GONE DOWN THERE, BUT MORE.

REPUBLICANS SET OUT I THINK PRETTY MUCH THE DAY THAT KATIE HOBBS GOT INTO OFFICE, AND SAID OUR JOB IS TO MAKE SURE SHE DOESN'T GET RE-ELECTED, AND WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO UPSTAGE HER AND EMBARRASS HER AND HOLD HER DOWN IN WHATEVER WAYS WE CAN.

AND WE'VE SEEN THAT PLAY OUT OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS.

THE FACT WE'RE HAVING THE ONGOING BATTLES OVER OR AGENCY NOMINATION.

WE ARE THREE YEARS INTO HER TERM AND SHE HAS NOT HAD A STABLE COTERIE OF CABINET MEMBERS BECAUSE THE REPUBLICANS IN THE LEGISLATURE WILL NOT LET HER, AND THEY POLITICIZED THAT PROCESS.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE MORE OF THE SAME.

WE'VE SEEN IT OVER BUDGETS, POLICY, SEEN IT OVER EVERY SINGLE THING.

THAT'S GOING TO CONTINUE.

REPUBLICANS ARE DESPERATE TO KNOCK KATIE HOBBS OUT OF GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, DESPERATE TO KNOCK KRIS MAYES OUT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE.

THE SENATE PRESIDENT IS RUNNING FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL.

WE'RE GOING TO SEE POLITICS GET TURNED UP FROM 11 TO 12 OR 13 THIS YEAR.

TED: AND I THINK AS YOU MENTIONED, EIGHT AGENCY HEADS ARE STILL NOT CONFIRMED.

TO THE GOVERNOR, HER STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS, WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR THERE?

>> TO JESSICA'S POINT, SHE'S MADE AFFORDABILITY, MIDDLE CLASS AFFORDABILITY, DEMOCRATS NATIONWIDE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT.

THAT SEEMS TO BE WHAT SHE'S TALKING ABOUT THIS YEAR ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.

I WOULD EXPECT A GOOD AMOUNT OF THAT, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO LAY OUT HER POLICY IDEAS.

INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT, IF ANYTHING, SHE HAS TO SAY ABOUT ESAS.

SHE'S GONE FROM TRYING TO SHUT DOWN THE UNIVERSAL EXPANSION TO SOME SMALLER CHANGES TO THAT.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT SHE HAS TO SAY ABOUT THAT, IF SHE HAS ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT THE BUDGET AND THE STATE OF THE STATE'S FINANCE.

THOSE ARE THE THINGS TO WATCH OUT FOR.

TED: YEAH, AND AS FAR AS PROP 123.

SOMETHING'S GOT TO GET DONE THERE, DOES IT NOT?

SEEMS SOMETHING HAD TO GET DONE LAST YEAR, BUT IT DID NOT HAPPEN.

IS PUSH COMING TO SHOVE HERE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AS YOU MENTIONED, WE ALL KIND OF THOUGHT PUSH WAS COMING TO SHOVE LAST YEAR, BECAUSE THE FUNDING IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE.

LAST YEAR THE LAWMAKERS HAD TO COME UP WITH EXTRA FUNDING FOR EDUCATION.

NOW AS WE'VE ALL BEEN TALKING ABOUT, THERE'S NOT A TON OF MONEY LEFT TO DO THOSE THINGS.

SOMETHING HAS TO GIVE QUICKLY AND, OF COURSE, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WILL BE -- HAVE TO BE APPROVED BY VOTERS.

SO THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR DOESN'T NECESSARILY MATTER TO THE REPUBLICANS WHO WANT TO PUT THAT ON THE BALLOT, BUT I THINK THE REAL QUESTION BECOMES HOW DO YOU MAKE THAT BALLOT INITIATIVE THE MOST PALATABLE SO IT DOES PASS ON ITS FIRST ATTEMPT.

TED: INDEED.

>> AND ON TOP OF THAT, HOW DO YOU GET REPUBLICANS TO AGREE TO WHAT THEY WANT TO DO?

THAT'S WHY WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING YET.

JESSICA IS RIGHT, THEY DON'T NEED HER INVOLVEMENT IN THIS.

THE ONLY REASON PROP 123 PASSED IN THE FIRST PLACE IS EVERYONE WAS INVOLVED.

YOU HAD A GOVERNOR BEHIND IT, THE LEGISLATURE BEHIND IT, AND BARELY PASSED BY THE SKIN OF ITS TEETH TO.

FIND SOMETHING THEY CAN AGREE ON, THERE IS A DISPUTE HOW MUCH MONEY TO TAKE OUT OF THE STATE LAND TRUST AND HOW TO DIRECT IT AND WHAT STRINGS TO PUT ON IT.

IF REPUBLICANS CAN'T GET ON THE SAME PAGE ON THAT, IT DOESN'T MATTER, WHAT THE GOVERNOR WANTS TO DO IN THAT REGARD AND VOTERS NEVER GET THE OPPORTUNITY.

THIS MONEY, $300 MILLION IS GOING TO KEEP COMING OUT OF THE STATE'S GENERAL FUND AT A TIME WHEN THE STATE NEEDS THE MONEY TO PAY FOR A LOT OF CORE SERVICES THAT ARE CUT BECAUSE OF THE BUDGET.

TED: ON ALL GENERAL ISSUES, IF REPUBLICANS CAN'T GET TOGETHER ON THIS, IS THERE A WAY TO GET, GOD FORBID, A COALITION.

SOME SORT OF BIPARTISAN GROUP THAT SAYS LISTEN, WE CAN WORK TOGETHER AND GET THIS ON THE BALLOT?

>> I MEAN, STRANGER THINGS HAVE HAPPENED.

MEDICAID EXPANSION HAPPENED THAT WAY WHEN THEN-GOVERNOR BREWER GOT SOME OF THE REPUBLICANS ON THE LEGISLATURE AND MOST IF NOT ALL OF THE DEMOCRATS ON BOARD WITH IT.

I WOULD NEVER SAY NEVER.

I DON'T KNOW.

I MEAN, IT SEEMS UNLIKELY THERE WOULD BE A BREAKOUT RASH OF BIPARTISANSHIP AT THE LEGISLATURE IN AN ELECTION YEAR, BUT STRANGER THINGS HAVE HAPPENED.

TED: BIPARTISAN CAN REAR ITS UGLY HEAD, HUH?

>> NOT THIS YEAR.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> OKAY, LEAVE IT AT THAT.

AND WE SHOULD MENTION THAT HERE AT "ARIZONA HORIZON" WE WILL RUN THE GOVERNOR'S STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS IN ENTIRETY.

WE'LL HAVE EXPERTS, POLITICAL CONSULTANTS TO TALK ABOUT IT.

CHECK THAT ON MONDAY.

JIM, MARK KELLY, DEFENSE SECRETARY PETE HEGSETH.

THEY'RE GOING AT IT, HUH?

>> THEY ARE.

LET'S SPIN THIS IN A GOOD WAY.

MARK KELLY IS NOT GOING TO GET COURT-MARTIALED, RIGHT?

THAT WAS THE ORIGINAL THREAT, WE'RE GOING TO COURT-MARTIAL HIM.

THE SECRETARY OF DEFENSE ANNOUNCED THAT THEY WERE GOING TO GO AFTER MARK KELLY'S RANK AND DEMOTE HIM AFTER HE'S BEEN RETIRED FROM THE NAVY FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS, AND IN TURN GO AFTER HIS PENSION BENEFITS.

AS A RESULT OF THAT.

THIS STEMS FROM LAST FALL, MARK KELLY WAS ONE OF SEVEN OR EIGHT DEMOCRATIC MILITARY VETERANS WHO PUT TOGETHER -- WHO ARE IN CONGRESS, WHO PUT TOGETHER A VIDEO THAT SOUGHT TO REMIND TROOPS, HEY, YOU HAVE A DUTY TO NOT FOLLOW ILLEGAL ORDERS THAT COME DOWN FROM YOUR COMMAND, AND IT WAS OBVIOUSLY AIMED AT DONALD TRUMP AND HIS ADMINISTRATION AND AT THE PROSPECT OF THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF SENDING ORDERS, YOU KNOW, DIRECTLY TO THE TROOPS THAT TELL THEM TO DO SOMETHING THAT IS, IF NOT BLATANTLY ILLEGAL, THAT IS QUESTIONABLE, AND REMINDING THEM THEY HAVE A DUTY TO THE CONSTITUTION, AND NOT TO THE PRESIDENT, AND THAT THEY NEED TO BE MINDFUL OF THAT.

AND THAT OUTRAGED TRUMP, OUTRAGED HEGSETH, AND THEY HAVE SPENT A COUPLE OF MONTHS LOOKING FOR A WAY TO GO AFTER MARK KELLY IN PARTICULAR.

TED: THIS ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION OBVIOUSLY IS DIFFERENT THAN LEGAL ACTION.

HEGSETH DID THREATEN LEGAL ACTION, BUT THESE ARE THINGS THAT THE DEFENSE SECRETARY HIMSELF SAID BEFORE HE WAS THE DEFENSE SECRETARY.

>> THAT IS A POINT THAT MARK KELLY IS MAKING A LOT RIGHT NOW, THAT THESE ARE THINGS, A THAT ARE FACTUALLY AND LEGALLY TRUE, THAT ARE IN SORT OF THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT MANUAL, AND THAT THE DEFENSE SECRETARY HIMSELF HAS SAID AT LEAST ONCE, IF NOT MORE, WITHOUT INCIDENT.

THAT IS SORT OF MARK KELLY'S DEFENSE, AND HE KEEPS SAYING I'M GOING TO FIGHT, THIS THEY'RE NOT GOING TO SHUT ME UP.

I'M GOING TO FIGHT THIS WITH EVERYTHING I HAVE.

THERE'S A PROCESS, A 30 TO 45-DAY PERIOD, HE CAN APPEAL THIS.

INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT HIS RESPONSE TO THIS LOOKS LIKE, AND THEN WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THAT.

BUT YEAH, WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO BE TALKING ABOUT THIS FOR A LITTLE WHILE.

TED: JESSICA, IF WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TALKING ABOUT IT,S NATION WILL BE CONTINUING TO TALK ABOUT IT AND TALKING ABOUT MARK KELLY.

WHAT DOES THIS DO TO HIS POLITICAL PROFILE?

>> THAT'S CERTAINLY BEEN THE QUESTION.

IT'S NO SECRET THAT BOTH OF OUR U.S.

SENATORS HAVE BEEN FLOATED AS POTENTIAL PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES, AND THIS CERTAINLY KEEPS HIM IN A NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT.

I THINK THE ONE THING I AM REALLY WATCHING.

I GOT A CHANCE TO TALK TO A LOT OF MILITARY ATTORNEYS THIS WEEK THAT HANDLED THIS VERY SPECIFIC AREA OF ADMINISTRATIVE LAW, THE TWO THINGS THEY'RE TELLING ME, ONE, THE FACT HE WASN'T COURT-MARTIALED IS SIGNIFICANT.

THERE IS A VERY HIGH BURDEN OF PROOF FOR THAT.

IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THE DEFENSE SECRETARY COULD NOT MEET THAT.

THE OTHER THING IS THAT TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS KIND OF DEMOTION, IT USUALLY ONLY REFERS TO THINGS THAT COME TO LIGHT THAT HAPPEN DURING A SERVICEMEMBER'S SERVICE, NOT THINGS THAT HAPPENED MORE THAN A DECADE AFTER HE'S RETIRED.

THEY'RE VERY QUESTIONABLE.

THE LEGAL PREMISE IS QUESTIONABLE IT.

MAY STILL OCCUR, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY LONG LEGAL PROCESS THAT ALL OF US AND ALL OF YOU ARE GOING TO PAY FOR.

TED: AND RETIRED, AND ALSO UNITED STATES SENATOR, WHOSE JOB IS TO OVERSEE WHAT THE MILITARY IS DOING.

ONE LAST POINT ON THIS.

SEEMS AS IF HEGSETH, THE DEFENSE SECRETARY WAS BRINGING UP, ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION, THAT KELLY WAS CRITICAL OF HIM, HEGSETH, HIRING YES-MEN, AND IT WAS PERSONAL.

HE DIDN'T LIKE THE PERSONAL NATURE OF IT, AND THAT'S WHY HE'S GOING AFTER KELLY, AND THAT'S WHY KELLY THINKS HE HAS A PRETTY GOOD CASE.

>> YES, ALL OF THAT SEEMS TO BE TRUE.

AS WE'VE SEEN, WE SAW THROUGH TRUMP ONE AND NOW TRUMP TWO, IT IS AN ADMINISTRATION THAT IS INCREDIBLY THIN SKINNED AND ACTS VISCERALLY AND TAKES PERSONAL ATTACKS AND TAKES THINGS AS PERSONAL AFFRONTS.

IT CAN BE HELD UP AS A SHINING EXAMPLE OF THAT.

TED: MARK, LET'S TALK ABOUT I.C.E.

STORY OUT OF BULWARK, A POLITICAL NEWS SITE, SAYING THAT PHOENIX COULD BE THE NEXT FOCUS FOR I.C.E.

AND APPREHENSIONS AND DETENTIONS AND IMMIGRATION ACTIONS.

THIS FOLLOWING -- THIS REPORT HAPPENED PRIOR TO WHAT HAPPENED IN MINNEAPOLIS AND NOW WHAT'S GOING ON IN PORTLAND.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF ALL THIS?

>> I WILL SAY IT'S FROM AN ONLINE SITE THAT CITED SOURCES, A NUMBER OF ANONYMOUS SOURCES, PEOPLE WHO HAD WORKED, I BELIEVE, FOR DHS, WHO ARE NOT WORKING THERE ANYMORE BUT STILL CONNECTED OR COMMUNICATE WITH FORMER COLLEAGUES WHO WORK THERE.

SO WHATEVER YOU THINK OF ANONYMOUS SOURCING, TAKE THAT.

THAT'S WHO IS SOURCING THERE.

I MEAN, IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE.

IT SEEMS LIKE PHOENIX WOULD BE KIND OF A NATURAL TARGET FOR THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO SEND I.C.E.

TO.

IT'S A BORDER STATE RUN BY A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR.

PHOENIX RUN BY A DEMOCRATIC MAYOR.

SEEMS LIKE THE KIND OF PLACE THAT TRUMP WOULD SEND I.C.E., AND FRANKLY TO SOME PEOPLE, IT'S SURPRISING HE HASN'T YET.

TED: AND NOT TO A SAME DEGREE HE SENT TO CHICAGO AND LOS ANGELES AND MINNEAPOLIS, AND THERE'S ALSO TALK IN THE STORY ABOUT INCREASED DETENTION FACILITIES, MAYBE A MASSIVE WAREHOUSE AS THEY CALL IT, IN GLENDALE.

THIS WOULD BE QUITE, AS MARK MENTIONED, SOME THINK THIS MAKES SENSE, YOU'RE AT THE BORDER, RIGHT THERE.

SOUNDS LIKE, ACCORDING TO THE STORY, THEY'RE IN THE PROCESS OF WORKING THIS OUT.

>> YEAH, THAT IS DEFINITELY WHAT THOSE FOLKS HAD MADE CLEAR WAS THAT THIS IS NOT ONLY GOING TO BE A PLACE WHERE THEY INCREASE THE VISIBLE PRESENCE OF I.C.E., BUT ACTUALLY HAVE THE DETENTION FACILITIES EXPANDED, I BELIEVE, ALSO IN PINAL COUNTY, AND SO IT WILL BE INTERESTING.

I THINK TO MARK'S POINT, WHETHER THIS DOES OR DOESN'T HAPPEN, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SURPRISED IT HASN'T YET, AND I KNOW THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ON THE GROUND IN CITIES LOCALLY HAVE TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE BEEN PREPARING FOR THIS, GOING INTO THIS ELECTION YEAR, IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME.

TED: YEAH, AND JIM, THERE WAS AN I.C.E.

RAID AT HOME DEPOT AT 36th STREET AND THOMAS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE FLEEING.

HAS IT ALREADY BEGUN?

>> I THINK THAT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN I.C.E.

DOING ITS WORK AND EVEN STEPPED-UP WORK WE'VE SEEN OVER THE PAST YEAR HERE IN A MORE PUBLIC FASHION VERSUS WHERE THEY DESCEND THE WHOLE OPERATION AND BLITZ INTO A CITY, WHICH WE SAW IN CHICAGO AND L.A.

AND MINNEAPOLIS AND NEW ORLEANS, AND OTHER PLACES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WHERE THEY'VE KIND OF -- PACK UP THE TEND AND THEY GO AND SHOW UP IN A PLACE AND SPEND A WEEK OR TWO ON THE GROUND IN SATURATION PATROLS AND GO AFTER FOLKS, AND PHOENIX DOES SEEM LIKE, AT SOME POINT, IT'S GOING TO ROLL THROUGH TOWN, AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SEE IT, AND THE COMMUNITIES HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE EFFECTS OF THAT, AND THE COMMUNITIES AS A WHOLE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE EFFECTS OF IT AS WE'VE SEEN IN PORTLAND AND CHICAGO AND MINNEAPOLIS.

TED: POLITICAL IMPACT, MARK?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

ANDY BIGGS, SOMETHING HE'S WELCOMING, SOMETHING HE'S SAYING HOLD OFF A LITTLE BIT, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I THINK IN LARGE PART, IT'S YOU HAVE TO SEE HOW IT GOES.

SOME PERCENTAGE OF THE POPULATION IS GOING TO CHEER IT ON AND SOME PERCENTAGE OF THE POPULATION IS GOING TO PROTEST, IT NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, BUT IT SEEMS AS THOUGH KIND OF CONCEPTUALLY MUCH LIKE ELECTIONS IN ARIZONA COMES DOWN TO THE FOLKS IN THE MIDDLE.

THE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT IN A BASE OF EITHER PARTY.

HOW THAT SATURATION GOES, AND WHAT HAPPENS AND HOW THEY SEE IT, TO DETERMINE WHAT KIND OF POLITICAL IMPACT IT MIGHT HAVE?

TED: AND AS FAR AS ARIZONA OFFICIALS REACTING TO WHAT HAPPENED IN MINNEAPOLIS, STRICTLY ALONG PARTISAN LINES.

>> VERY MUCH SO.

AND I THINK NOT ONLY AMONG POLITICIANS, BUT I THINK YOU'RE SEEING THAT AMONG EVERYDAY AMERICANS, TOO.

EVERYBODY IS WATCHING THE SAME VIDEOS AND HAVING VERY DIFFERENT TAKES.

THAT'S REFLECTED.

TED: HAVE WE SEEN ANYTHING FROM SCHWEIKERT AND CISCOMANI.

OBVIOUSLY, SCHWEIKERT IS RUNNING FOR A DIFFERENT OFFICE BUT STILL RUNNING.

CISCOMANI?

CRANE, EVEN?

>> HAVEN'T SEEN MUCH FROM SCHWEIKERT AND CISCOMANI.

FOR THOSE IN COMPETITIVE DISTRICTS, THERE IS A SENSE OF WE'RE GOING TO KEEP OUR HEADS DOWN AND NOT ENTER THE FRAY ON AN ISSUE THAT COULD BE BEFORE IT.

TED: GET THE LAY OF THE LAND BEFORE YOU END THERE.

JIM, STICKING WITH YOU, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE SUING ARIZONA OVER DATA ACCESS REGARDING ELECTIONS, AND THEY WANT UNREDACTED VOTER ROLLS.

SECRETARY OF STATE COLORFULLY SAYS NO.

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

>> WHAT HE SAID WAS POUND SAND WAS HIS OFFICIAL STATEMENT.

AND YEAH, SO THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE THE SUMMER WHEN TRUMP DIRECTED -- ISSUED EXECUTIVE ORDER AND SAID THE STATES NEED TO TURN IT OVER AND THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE STARTED GOING TO EVERY STATE SAYING WE NEED ACCESS TO THE VOTER FILES.

FROM THE BEGINNING, THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE REFUSED TO DO IT.

ADRIAN FONTES, THE DEMOCRATIC SECRETARY OF STATE, SAID I'M NOT GOING TO WILLINGLY SURRENDER ANY OF THIS.

WE HAVE STATE PRIVACY LAWS, FEDERAL PRIVACY LAWS, THE REQUEST VIOLATES THAT BECAUSE THEY WANT EVERYTHING UNREDACTED AND THE RESULT IS A LAWSUIT.

ARIZONA IS JUST THE LATEST STATE THAT THE D.O.J.

HAS SUED OVER THIS BECAUSE A NUMBER OF STATES HAVE OBJECTED TO IT, AND YOU KNOW, HE TOLD A PODCAST FOR A DEMOCRACY ORGANIZATION JUST HOURS BEFORE THIS WAS FILED AND SAID, LOOK, I'M SO COMMITTED TO THIS, I WILL GO TO JAIL IF I NEED TO.

I DO NOT CARE.

I WILL VIOLATE COURT ORDERS IN ORDER TO KEEP THIS INFORMATION PRIVATE AND NOT TURN IT OVER TO THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

TED: JIM, REFER TO THE NAME, ADDRESS, BIRTH DATE, DRIVER'S LICENSE NUMBER, LAST FOUR DIGITS OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER.

ALL OF THE THINGS THE ADMINISTRATION WANTS.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

AND THAT'S WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO, RIGHT?

THE ADMINISTRATION BELIEVES THAT THIS INFORMATION IS IMPORTANT TO ENSURE, THEY WANT TO TAKE A LARGER ROLE IN ENSURING THERE'S NO VOTER FRAUD, THAT OUR ELECTIONS ARE FAIR, AND THEY BELIEVE THAT ALL OF THAT INFORMATION IS NECESSARY TO DO SO, AND OBVIOUSLY, OUR SECRETARY OF STATE SAYS POUND SAND, AND SO HAVE, I BELIEVE, MORE THAN HALF OF THE STATES IN THIS COUNTRY.

WE'LL SEE.

TED: AS FAR AS POLITICALLY, WHAT DOES THIS DO TO THE FONTES RE-ELECTION EFFORT.

WHAT DOES IT DO TO KRIS MAYES'S EFFORT AS ATTORNEY GENERAL.

SHE'S PROMISED TO DEFEND ADRIAN FONTES.

>> THAT'S AN INTERESTING THING.

THE WHEELS OF JUSTICE DON'T MOVE AT WARPED SPEED.

THERE'S A DECENT CHANCE IF THIS GOES TO COURT OR TRIAL, IT WON'T BE BEFORE THE ELECTION, THE SELECTION COMING UP IN 10 1/2, 11 MONTHS NOW.

WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WITH MARK KELLY, FONTES CAN SHOW HIMSELF AS STANDING UP TO THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, STANDING UP TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

STANDING UP FOR ARIZONA VOTERS IF THAT'S HOW HE WANTS TO TRY TO PORTRAY IT.

THAT'S GOING TO BE REALLY INTERESTING.

ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THE PERSON HE'S MOST LIKELY GOING TO BE FACING IN THE GENERAL ELECTION, ALEXANDER IS A SKEPTIC.

I WOULD IMAGINE WOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM TURNING THIS INFORMATION OVER.

THAT'S GOING TO BE A REALLY INTERESTING CONTRADICTION TO SEE BETWEEN THE TWO.

TED: JIM, SOUNDS LIKE THE PRESIDENT HAS GIVEN FULL ENDORSEMENT TO YET ANOTHER CANDIDATE ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE IN CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 1.

HOW CAN YOU HAVE TWO FULL ENDORSEMENTS?

>> I DON'T KNOW, ASK KARRIN TAYLOR ROBSON AND ANDY BIGGS IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE, RIGHT?

THIS IS SOMETHING TRUMP HAS DONE BEFORE AND GOING TO KEEP DOING.

I LIKE THIS PERSON, I'M GOING TO ENDORSE HIM.

I'VE ALREADY ENDORSED?

I LIKE THEM BOTH.

HEDGING ITS BETS.

IT MAKES IT MORE LIKELY AND DRAMATICALLY MORE LIKELY THAT CHOSEN CANDIDATE IS GOING TO GET THROUGH THE PRIMARY AND WIND UP IN THE GENERAL AND THEN BE ABLE TO CLAIM VICTORY.

TED: IS JAY FEELY GOING TO GET THROUGH THIS OVER GINA SVOBODA ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE?

>> TOUGH TO SAY.

IT'S EARLY IN THE CAMPAIGN.

THEY ARE SETTING THE STAGE FOR THEIR CAMPAIGNS.

JAY FEELY, OF COURSE, MOVED HIS CAMPAIGN INTO THAT DISTRICT.

WAS RUNNING IN THE EAST VALLEY DISTRICT THAT ANDY BIGGS CURRENTLY HOLDS, BUT WHEN MARK LAMB JUMPED INTO THE RACE, IT BECAME CLEAR, EVIDENT, THERE WASN'T MUCH OF A PATH TO VICTORY AS OPPOSED TO THE OPEN SEAT FOR SCHWEIKERT WHERE GINA SVOBODA IS LARGELY UNKNOWN, RANK-AND-FILE REPUBLICAN VOTERS DON'T KNOW WHO SHE IS.

JAY FEELY HAS SOME SEMBLANCE OF NAME I.D.

FORMER PRO FOOTBALL PLAYER.

I THINK MORE PEOPLE KNOW HIS NAME.

I'M SURE THAT VERY FEW VOTERS KNOW MUCH ABOUT THE POLICIES OF EITHER OF THESE CANDIDATES AND WHAT SETS THEM APART OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT DONALD TRUMP IS BACKING THEM.

TED: WE SHOULD MENTION, HE MADE THE SWITCH AT THE URGING OF PRESIDENT TRUMP WHO TOLD JAY FEELY, FIND SOMETHING ELSE TO DO, AND HE FOUND SOMETHING ELSE TO DO.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN AS FAR AS THE RACE IS CONCERNED?

>> WE WERE EXPECTING THE ENDORSEMENT HAD TO BE COMING AFTER THAT URGING.

WHAT IT MEANS AS FAR AS WHAT WE KNOW AT THIS POINT IS GINA SVOBODA HAD A NO GOOD REALLY BAD DAY BECAUSE SHE HAD THIS ENDORSEMENT.

THE ENDORSEMENT MEANS LESS WHEN TWO PEOPLE HAVE IT, DOES NOT CARRY THE SAME WEIGHT.

THAT BEING SAID, LIKE HE MENTIONED, IT IS SO EARLY IN THE PROCESS, AND THEY'RE NOT THE ONLY TWO CANDIDATES.

>> I WAS GOING TO ASK, NOTHING FOR JOSEPH CHAPLIK?

>> HE MUST NOT BE HAVING A GREAT DAY.

HE IS A BIG SUPPORTER OF THE PRESIDENT.

A MEMBER OF THE FREEDOM CAUCUS.

SURPRISING HE DIDN'T GET LOVE, TOO.

WHO KNOWS?

IT MIGHT BE COMING.

TED: EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE A FULL ENDORSEMENT, MARK?

>> THE OPRAH ENDORSEMENT, YOU GET AN ENDORSEMENT, YOU GET AN ENDORSEMENT KIND OF THING?

>> THE DEMOCRATS HAVE A ROCK 'EM SOCK 'EM PRIMARY, LOOKS LIKE REPUBLICANS ARE AS WELL.

>> YEAH, DEMOCRATS, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY CANDIDATES ARE IN THE PRIMARY ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE.

IT IS A FAIR NUMBER OF THEM, INCLUDING A COUPLE WHO RAN TWO YEARS AGO, INCLUDING AMISH SHAH WHO WON THE NOMINATION, MARLENE GALAN-WOODS, THESE ARE TWO REALLY, REALLY INTERESTING PRIMARIES IN ONE OF THE MORE COMPETITIVE AND POTENTIALLY INTERESTING DISTRICTS IN THE WHOLE COUNTRY.

TED: AND A LOT OF MONEY, JIM, GOING IN THAT ONE?

>> A LOT OF OUTSIDE MONEY GOING INTO THAT.

IT IS ONE OF THE MOST COMPETITIVE DISTRICTS IN THE COUNTRY, ONE DEMOCRATS HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET OVER THE HUMP ON DAVID SCHWEIKERT.

NOW THAT THE SEAT IS OPEN, IN WHAT IS SHAPING UP TO BE A GOOD YEAR FOR DEMOCRATS IN A MIDTERM, I THINK THEY ARE ABSOLUTELY GOING TO GO FOR BROKE ON THAT RACE, AND AS FAR AS THE DEMOCRATS ARE CONCERNED, IF EITHER OF THE TRUMP-ENDORSED CANDIDATES GET THROUGH THE PRIMARY, THAT'S GOOD FOR THAT.

THEY WANT THAT.

THEY WANT TO BE RUNNING AGAINST TRUMP AND HIS POLICIES AND TIE WHOEVER THE REPUBLICAN IS IN ANY RACE, BUT ESPECIALLY IN COMPETITIVE RACES.

TED: THAT PARTICULAR DISTRICT AS WELL.

SOUNDS LIKE KARI LAKE WILL NOT BE A CANDIDATE IN CD1.

WE DON'T KNOW YET.

SHE COULD GET HIS FULL ENDORSEMENT AS WELL.

BUT SHE PURCHASED A CONDO IN DAVENPORT, IOWA, WHY IS THAT MAKING NEWS?

>> WELL, EVERYONE IS WONDERING WHAT'S NEXT FOR KARI LAKE.

THE QUESTION IS, IS WHAT'S NEXT IN IOWA.

THERE IS A LOT OF SPECULATION THAT SENATOR CHUCK GRASSLEY WILL NOT RUN AGAIN.

HE'S IN HIS MID 90s, I BELIEVE.

SO PERHAPS SHE WILL RUN FOR SENATE ONCE MORE, BUT NOT IN OUR STATE BUT HER HOME STATE OF IOWA.

TED: AND THIS FOLLOWES TWO STATE LOSSES HERE IN ARIZONA.

SHE'S BORN AND RAISED IN IOWA.

NOT LIKE IT'S A STRANGE COUNTRY TO HER, BUT ARE THEY STRANGERS TO HER.

>> THAT'S A REALLY GOOD QUESTION.

SHE HAS SPENT TIME CAMPAIGNING AND TALKING TO FOLKS IN IOWA.

IT'S WORTH NOTING THAT WHILE I AM LOATHE TO ASSIGN MOTIVE TO PEOPLE THAT I DON'T REALLY KNOW, IT'S WORTH NOTING THERE IS A GOVERNOR'S RACE THERE THIS YEAR.

A U.S.

SENATE RACE.

JONI ERNST IS NOT RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION.

THERE ARE RACES TO BE RUN THERE.

COULD THIS BE SHE WANTS TO BE CLOSER TO FAMILY, WHO REALLY KNOWS?

TED: DOES SHE HAVE A BETTER POLITICAL FUTURE IN IOWA THAN ARIZONA, JIM?

>> IN THE GENERAL ELECTION, PROBABLY.

IOWA LOOKS MORE NOW LIKE WHAT ARIZONA DID A DECADE AGO.

IF YOU'RE A REPUBLICAN, YOU GET ON A STATEWIDE BALLOT, ALMOST CERTAINLY YOU'RE GOING TO WIN.

THAT'S GENERALLY THE CASE I THINK IN IOWA.

AND WHAT THE PRIMARY LOOKS LIKE, I DON'T KNOW.

I'M NOT THAT WELL-VERSED ON IOWAN REPUBLICAN POLITICS.

ARIZONA IS A PURPLE STATE, AND WE HAVE BEEN TRENDING PURPLE FOR THE LAST 10, 15 YEARS AND I THINK WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT BATTLEGROUND.

IOWA IS SOLIDLY RED.

TED: WE DO NOT HAVE TIME ON AUSTIN SMITH BEING SENTENCED FOR SIGNATURE FRAUD, BUT GOT A FIVE-YEAR BAN RUNNING FOR OFFICE.

NO MORE FAKE SIGNATURES FOR THE TIME BEING?

>> NOT ON NOMINATING PETITION, NOT ON HIS NOMINATING PETITION.

TED: INCLUDING I BELIEVE ONE FROM A DEAD WOMAN THERE.

WE'LL LET THAT PASS.

STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

WE REBROADCAST THAT AT 5:00 AND AT 10:30 THAT NIGHT.

IN ENTIRETY WITH EXPERT OPINION AFTERWARDS.

SEE YOU THEN, THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

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