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

WE'LL LOOK AT THE WEEK'S TOP STORIES INCLUDING REPUBLICAN KARRIN TAYLOR ROBSON ANNOUNCING CANDIDACY FOR GOVERNOR.

JOURNALISTS' ROUNDTABLE IS NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

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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 WAYNE SCHUTSKY OF KJZZ RADIO.

MARY JO PITZL OF "THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC" AND AZCENTRAL.COM, AND MARK BRODIE OF KJZZ.

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

ALL RIGHT, WE'LL START WITH YOU, NO SURPRISE KARRIN TAYLOR ROBSON.

IT'S A QUESTION OF WHEN, RIGHT?

>> YEAH, SHE WAS RUMORED TO BE GETTING INTO THE RACE FOR A WHILE ESPECIALLY AFTER PRESIDENT TRUMP THREW HIS BACKING BEHIND HER ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO AT A CONVENTION IN PHOENIX.

SHE FINALLY MADE IT OFFICIAL.

DROPPED A NICE GLOSSY VIDEO ON SOCIAL MEDIA SAYING I'M IN AND TRUMP IS BACKING ME, TRUMP IS BACKING ME, TRUMP IS BACKING ME.

TED: THE GLOSSY VIDEO HAD A LOT OF MENTIONS OF DONALD TRUMP, DIDN'T IT?

>> THERE WERE MORE MENTIONS OF TRUMP THAN HER OWN NAME.

TED: WOW.

>> THIS IS WHAT SHE'S GOING TO LEAN ON.

HEADED FOR COMPETITIVE PRIMARY WITH ANDY BIGGS IN THE RACE, AND TRUMP WON ARIZONA, HE WON THE PRESIDENCY.

HE'S A WINNING TICKET.

TED: HOW MUCH CAN SHE LEAN ON TRUMP, THOUGH?

THE MAGA CROWD IS NOT ENTIRELY CONVINCED.

>> WE'RE GOING TO FIND ON THE.

WE GOT A PRESS RELEASE TODAY, TRUMP ENDORSED KARRIN TAYLOR ROBSON.

THAT'S HOW SHE INTRODUCED HERSELF.

IT'S AN INTERESTING QUESTION, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE REPUBLICAN BASE WHO DON'T QUITE TRUST KARRIN TAYLOR ROBSON AND MIGHT BE INCLINED TO SUPPORT ANDY BIGGS, AND THERE IS PRECEDENT FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP ENDORSING MORE THAN ONE PERSON IN A COMPETITIVE PRIMARY.

WE SAW IT IN CD-8 LAST YEAR.

IT'S NOT OUT OF THE REALM OF POSSIBILITY HE COULD SAY BOTH THE CANDIDATES ARE GREAT.

>> A LOT OF THE CRITICS ARE POINTING OUT IT WAS A SOFT ENDORSEMENT.

HEY, KARRIN, ARE YOU GETTING IN THE RACE?

IF YOU ARE, I'LL SUPPORT YOU.

I BELIEVE THAT'S THE DIRECT QUOTE.

SO THE CRITICS, THE MAGA FOLKS WHO DON'T LIKE OR TRUST HER ARE SAYING WAS IT A REAL ENDORSEMENT?

WE DON'T KNOW.

I WAS AT THE STATE REPUBLICAN MEETING, THE GRASSROOTS FOLKS WHO TURN OUT IN THE PRIMARIES AND GAVE ANDY BIGGS IMPROMPTU SPEAKING SPOT.

>> WAS IT AMERICAN ENCORE DID A POLL THIS WEEK AND HEAD-TO-HEAD MATCHUP THAT BIGGS WOULD BEAT KARRIN TAYLOR ROBSON BY A POINT OR TWO?

EARLY IN THE GAME.

BUT HOBBS HAD A ONE-POINT LEAD OVER HOBBS-BIGGS MATCHUP.

TED: INTERESTING.

IT'S INCREDIBLY EARLY.

POLLS ARE SNAPSHOTS.

GIVE US A LITTLE HANDICAP HERE.

>> IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE THE MONEY IN THIS RACE.

BRILLIANT STATEMENT, WATCH THE MONEY.

SOMEONE LIKE KARRIN TAYLOR ROBSON, EXTREMELY WELL FUNDED, OUTRAISED KARI LAKE TWO YEARS AGO BY AN AWFUL LOT AND ANDY BIGGS HAS NOT HAD THE MOST SUCCESS IN FUND-RAISING IN HIS CAREER, AND NOT KNOWN AS A PRODIGIOUS FUND-RAISER.

IF IT'S JUST THE MONEY, GIVE THE ADVANTAGE TO ROBSON BUT SHE HAS THE MONEY ADVANTAGE TWO YEARS AGO AND COULDN'T PULL IT OUT.

>> YEAH, AND I WOULD SAY BUILDING OFF OF THAT POINT, WITH MONEY REMOVED, I THINK IT'S ALL GOING TO COME DOWN TO TRUMP.

SO GOING BACK TO WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT IN THE BEGINNING, IF TRUMP SWITCHES ENDORSEMENT, PUT THE MONEY ON BIGGS IN THE PRIMARY.

IF KARRIN TAYLOR ROBSON CAN GET TO CAMPAIGN EVENTS DOWN THE ROAD, THE SMART MONEY GOES ON HER.

>> IT WILL DEPEND ON TRUMP.

HE'S GOT A YEAR AND NINE MONTHS AS PRESIDENT AND SHE'S LOOKING GOOD RIGHT NOW.

WHAT WILL THAT LOOK LIKE IN A YEAR?

WOULD THAT ENDORSEMENT TURN OUT TO BE NOT SO HELPFUL, AT LEAST, FOR THE CENTRIST PART OF THE PARTY.

TED: AND YOU KIND OF REFERRED TO THIS, BUT BOTH BIGGS AND ROBSON AGAINST HOBBS.

I WOULD IMAGINE DEMOCRATS ARE SAYING GO ANDY?

[LAUGHTER] >> WHAT DO YOU THINK DEMOCRATS ARE -- DEMOCRATS ARE ACROSS THE AISLE GOING WE SURE WISH, WHO WINS?

>> THE SCUTTLEBUTT AFTER HOBBS DEFEATED KARI LAKE A FEW YEARS AGO WAS AMONGST MORE MODERATE REPUBLICANS WAS KARRIN TAYLOR ROBSON WOULD HAVE BEAT HER.

NOW HARD TO TELL IF THAT'S SOUR GRAPES OR AN ASTUTE POLITICAL ANALYSIS OR WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO?

[LAUGHTER] >> I WOULD SAY ANDY BIGGS' POLITICS ALIGN A LOT MORE WITH KARI LAKE'S THAN KARRIN TAYLOR ROBSON HISTORICALLY.

IF WE'RE TRYING TO LOOK BACK 20-20 VISION, ANDY BIGGS IS MORE OF A REPEAT OF KARI LAKE THAN BIGGS KARRIN TAYLOR ROBSON WOULD BE.

>> THE CLASSIC BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR, YOU MIGHT GET IT.

A LOT OF DEMOCRATS EXCITED ABOUT DONALD TRUMP BEING THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE FOR PRESIDENT IN 2016, YOU SEE HOW THAT WORKED OUT.

TED: EARLY VOTING LEGISLATION NOW AND THE GOVERNOR IS ALREADY SAYING BRING IT ON.

[LAUGHTER] >> BRING IT DOWN.

YEAH, THIS WEEK THE LEGISLATURE FAST TRACKED A BILL THAT IT'S HEADLINE IS THAT THIS SHOULD MAKE COUNTING BALLOTS FASTER, SO YOU CAN HAVE 95% OF THE VOTE COUNTED ON ELECTION NIGHT AND ACTUALLY KNOW IMPERCALLY WHO'S WON RACES, A HISTORY IN MARICOPA COUNTY WHERE IT TAKES TWO WEEKS SOMETIMES TO COUNT ALL THE BALLOTS.

THAT'S BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE USED TO BRINGING IN THEIR MAIL-IN BALLOT, SEALS THE ENVELOPE, DROPPING IT AT THE POLLS AND GOING ON THEIR MERRY WAY.

DON'T HAVE TO STAND IN A LINE.

THIS WOULD END THAT ABILITY TO DO THAT IN THE NAME OF SPEEDING UP ELECTIONS AND WILL DO A COUPLE OTHER THINGS.

TED: IT WOULD DO THAT IF THE GOVERNOR WERE TO SIGN IT.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

SHE HAS ESSENTIALLY SAID NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

SHE'S IN LINE WITH OTHER DEMOCRATS WHO SAY THIS IS GOING TO DISENFRANCHISE A SEGMENT OF VOTERS, THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE ESTIMATED 265,000 PEOPLE DROPPED THEIR EARLY BALLOTS OFF ON ELECTION DAY LAST TIME AROUND.

THIS IS BASICALLY REMEFING THE OPTION FOR THE SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF PEOPLE.

REPUBLICANS, ON THE OTHER HAND, SAY THEY'LL ADAPT.

WE'RE GOING TO GIVE THEM LOTS OF OTHER OPTIONS, IT DOES OPEN UP AVENUES FOR PEOPLE THAT DON'T HAVE IN-PERSON VOTING NOW, WE'LL DO INFORMATION CAMPAIGNS AND OPEN UP THE DIFFERENT METHODS OF VOTING, IT WON'T BE A BIG DEAL.

>> GO AHEAD.

>> AND THE BILL INTERESTINGLY WOULD REQUIRE PEOPLE ON THE ACTIVE EARLY VOTING LIST TO BASICALLY REAFFIRM THAT EVERY TWO YEARS, RIGHT?

AS OPPOSED TO AS LONG AS YOU VOTE IN THE ELECTIONS, YOU'RE AUTOMATICALLY KEPT ON, REMEMBER THE PERMANENT EARLY VOTING LIST, WHICH WAS DONE AWAY WITH A FEW YEARS BACK, AND YES, GOVERNOR HOBBS ESSENTIALLY SAID NO THANK YOU, BUT, OF COURSE, REPUBLICANS ARE LOOKING TO MAYBE JUST BYPASS HER AND PUT THIS ON THE BALLOT, WHICH AS WE KNOW, LOTS OF REFERRALS FROM THE LEGISLATURE IS ONE OF THE REASONS THE COUNTING BALLOTS TOOK A WHILE.

>> ANOTHER THING THAT'S TUCKED INTO THE LEGISLATION THAT'S ON ITS WAY TO HOBBS' DESK IS A REQUIREMENT THAT SCHOOLS MUST SERVE AS POLLING LOCATIONS IF THE COUNTY RECORDER MAKES SUCH A REQUEST, AND THE ARGUMENT THERE IS SCHOOLS GEOGRAPHICALLY, THERE'S A LOT OF THEM, AND IT'S EASIER TO GET TO, IT WILL SPREAD OUT THE LOAD OF PEOPLE, ALTHOUGH, I MUST SAY, I LIVE IN CENTRAL PHOENIX WHICH IS A DENSE PLACE POPULATIONWISE, AND I VOTED AT A VOTE CENTER, AND MY LINE BACK IN NOVEMBER WAS VERY, VERY BRIEF BECAUSE THEY'RE STAFFED UP FOR IT, BUT THERE IS AN INTEREST IN RETURNING THIS TO MORE ALMOST LIKE PRECINCT-BASED VOTING AT THE SCHOOLS.

INTERESTINGLY, AND THE GOVERNOR POINTED THIS OUT AT A NEWS CONFERENCE THIS MORNING, ONLY APPLIES TO DISTRICT PUBLIC SCHOOLS, NOT CHARTER SCHOOLS AND CERTAINLY NOT TO -- SOMEBODY SUGGESTED MAYBE WHAT ABOUT THE SCHOOLS THAT GET STATE MONEY LIKE THE ESA MONEY?

NOBODY'S DONE THAT.

TED: IF IT IS REFERRED, YOU THINK VOTERS SAY LET'S GO AHEAD AND TAKE THIS OPTION AWAY?

>> IT'S A HARD THING TO ANSWER BECAUSE POPULARLY WE HEAR ARIZONA, ARIZONA, WHY DOES IT TAKE SO LONG IN ARIZONA?

IT'S HARD TO DETERMINE WHETHER THAT'S A VOCAL MINORITY OF PEOPLE WHO ARE EGGED ON BY POLITICIANS WHO CARE ABOUT THIS AND WHETHER THE LARGER POPULATION CARES.

THE OTHER QUESTION THAT'S UP HERE IS, COUNTING THE VOTES TAKES THE SAME AMOUNT EVERY YEAR, TWO WEEKS BEFORE WE GET CANVASS, THE OFFICIAL RESULTS.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HAVING ENOUGH OF THE VOTES IN SO PLACES LIKE THE ASSOCIATED PRESS MAKE A CALL.

AND WHAT SOME DEMOCRATS HAVE SAID IS THAT'S NOT AN OFFICIAL THING, AND IT DOESN'T CHANGE THE OUTCOME OF THE RACE, WHY ARE WE RISKING DISENFRANCHISING ANYONE SO THAT FOX NEWS OR A.P.

CAN MAKE A CALL QUICKER?

TED: OBVIOUSLY, WHEN THEY'RE CLOSE RACES, GOING TO TAKE LONGER FOR THE A.P.s OF THE WORLD TO CALL.

WE DIDN'T HAVE SO MANY CLOSE RACES IN THE STATE.

WE'RE SEEING MORE OF THOSE.

NOTHING MUCH HAS CHANGED, HAS IT?

EXCEPT FOR CLOSER RACES, LONGER TIMES TO DECIDE.

>> YOU CAN ARGUE MORE PEOPLE VOTING, POPULATION HAS GONE UP BY A BUNCH.

THE RACES ARE CLOSER WHEN SOMEBODY IS WINNING BY 8 OR 10 POINTS, ONE CANDIDATE, DOESN'T MATTER THE LAST COUPLE THOUSAND VOTES.

IF RACES ARE WON BY A THOUSAND VOTES OR LESS, SLIGHTLY MORE, EVERY VOTE DOES MATTER TO THE ACTUAL OUTCOME.

LOT MORE ATTENTION IS PAID TO THIS NOW.

TED: LAST POINT ON THIS, CRITICS SAY EXPECT TO SEE LONGER LINES AT THE POLLS.

THINGS SLOW DOWN IN OTHER WAYS BECAUSE NO ONE CAN DO WHAT THEY'RE DOING NOW.

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

TO A CERTAIN DEGREE MAYBE.

I THINK THE EMPHASIS IF THIS WERE EVER TO HAPPEN, THAT THERE BE AN EDUCATION CAMPAIGN AND MAYBE WITH SOME TIME PEOPLE WOULD ADAPT, AND IF I REALLY DON'T WANT TO GO TO THE POLLS OR GO TO THE SCHOOL AND VOTE, I'LL MAIL MY BALLOT IN BEFORE THE DEADLINE OR I WILL TAKE IT TO COUNTY RECORDER'S OFFICE, WHICH IS STILL A JOURNEY, THERE'S ONE COUNTY RECORDER OFFICE IN MOST COUNTIES, SO I DON'T KNOW IF IT WILL REALLY LEAD TO LONGER LINES.

OVER TIME IT WILL LEAD TO A SHIFT IN VOTER BEHAVIOR, AND WE WILL HAVE INTERESTINGLY PERHAPS MORE PEOPLE VOTING BY MAIL EVEN THOUGH IT WAS JUST A CYCLE OR TWO AGO THAT THE REPUBLICAN MESSAGE WAS DO NOT DO MAIL-IN VOTING.

REPRESENTATIVE JOHN GILLETTE IS NOT A FAN OF MAIL-IN VOTING, BUT THAT'S A BETTER ALTERNATIVE IF YOU CAN GET QUICKER RESULTS.

>> THAT'S THE BIG REPUBLICAN ARGUMENT.

IF YOU GET AN EARLY MAIL-IN BALLOT, LET IT BE EARLY MAIL-IN BALLOT.

TED: IT'S EARLY VOTING.

>> YOU CAN SEE THE LOGIC OF THE ARGUMENT.

THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE OF THE ARGUMENT FOR THE BILL.

TED: STICKING WITH YOU, MULTISTATE COALITION, 14 STATES HERE SUING ELON MUSK, THE DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY, WHICH ISN'T REALLY A DEPARTMENT BECAUSE CONGRESS -- WE DON'T GO DOWN THAT RABBIT HOLE, BUT ATTORNEY GENERAL KRIS MAYES JOINS ON?

>> YES, ONE OF SEVERAL DEMOCRATIC ATTORNEYS GENERAL SUING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION OVER WHAT YOU JUST SAID.

HE CAN'T CREATE A GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT ON HIS OWN, BUT WHAT MUSK IS DOING IS FUNCTIONING AS A GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT, GOING IN, RUNNING THROUGH THE SYSTEMS, SLASHING BUDGETS, FIRING PEOPLE.

BASICALLY SAYING THE PRESIDENT, THE EXECUTIVE IS GOING WAY BEYOND THE POWERS THAT THE CONSTITUTION GIVE TO HIM BY DOING THIS, AND THEY WANT A JUDGE TO NOT ONLY TELL HIM TO KNOCK IT OFF BUT REVERSE OR PUT ON HOLD DECISIONS THAT MUSK AND THE D.O.G.E.

ORGANIZATION IS DOING HERE.

TED: ACCESS TO PRIVATE DATA SEEMS LIKE IT'S GOT EVERYONE RILED UP.

>> A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE FREAKED OUT ABOUT BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW WHO'S DOING THIS.

AS YOU SAID, THIS IS LIKE A QUASI GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY BECAUSE CONGRESS DID NOT CREATE THIS DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY.

PEOPLE DON'T KNOW WHO IS GOING IN AND PERHAPS GET SECURITY CLEARANCE OR NOT.

THE THING THAT IS INTERESTING IS YOU ARE STARTING TO SEE NOT JUST WITH THE LAWSUIT BUT MESSAGING, HOW DEMOCRATS ARE STARTING TO TARGET ELON MUSK AS OPPOSED TO JUST DONALD TRUMP, AND THERE'S POLLING THAT SUGGESTS THAT MUSK'S APPROVAL RATING IS LOWER THAN PRESIDENT TRUMP.

SO MAYBE THEY'RE TRYING TO MAKE HIM THE BOGEYMAN WITH EYES ON TWO YEARS FROM NOW, WHEN THEY CAN RUN AGAINST MUSK AS A PROXY FOR TRUMP.

TED: POLITICALLY HELPING OR HURTING KRIS MAYES.

>> DEPENDS WHERE YOU FALL OR HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THE PRESIDENT.

TED: BASICALLY THAT LINE DELINEATING RIGHT THERE.

>> WE SAW A POLL THAT TRUMP HAS 52% APPROVAL RATING.

HE'S GOT A MAJORITY OF THE VOTERS.

THIS LAWSUIT IS INTERESTING BECAUSE THE ATTORNEYS MADE A POINT THAT THIS IS THE BROADEST LAWSUIT THAT'S BEEN BROUGHT, CAN YOU IMAGINE, IN THREE WEEKS, WITH ALL THE LAWSUITS THAT WE'VE HAD.

THIS IS THE BROADEST ONE THAT ATTACKS WHAT D.O.G.E.

IS ATTEMPTING TO DO, AND IT'S A CONSTITUTIONAL ARGUMENT.

AS YOU SAID, CONGRESS CREATES DEPARTMENT OF CONGRESS HAS TO ADVISE AND CONSENT ON APPOINTEES SUCH AS MUSK IF HE'S A DEPARTMENT HEAD AND ALL THAT IS PUSHED TO THE SIDE.

TED: CONGRESS APPROPRIATES FUNDS AND EXPECTS THEM TO BE DISTRIBUTED AS DEMANDED AND STATUTE SAYS THAT'S UP IN THE AIR AS WELL.

>> THAT'S THE POINT OF OTHER LAWSUITS FILED THAT MAY HAVE BEEN SIGNED ONTO THAT RESULTED IN STAYS BECAUSE ESSENTIALLY THE PRESIDENT AND THE EXECUTIVE THEY WEREN'T DISTRIBUTING THESE FUNDS THAT WERE APPROPRIATED BY CONGRESS AND JUDGES HAVE, I BELIEVE, PUT IN TEMPORARY STAYS MAKING THEM DO THAT MONEY.

GOING BACK TO MARK'S POINT, MUSK WASN'T ELECTED AND THAT'S THE THROUGH LINE, DID TRYING TO USE, THE PRESIDENT IS RELATIVELY POPULAR.

PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE ELECTED HIM.

THEY DIDN'T ELECT THIS BILLIONAIRE TO SLASH FUNDING IN SOME CASES FOR WELFARE PROGRAMS AND PROGRAMS THAT BENEFIT THOSE IN NEED.

>> DESPITE THE FACT THAT ELON MUSK IS A VOCAL SUPPORTER OF PRESIDENT TRUMP, AND TRUMP SAID ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL I'M GOING TO HAVE ELON MUSK COME IN AND DO THE EFFICIENCY THING, SLASH THINGS.

THEY MIGHT NOT HAVE KNOWN WHAT THE AGENCY IS GOING TO DO, BUT CAN'T HAVE BEEN A SURPRISE OR SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN A SURPRISE TO PEOPLE IF THEY WERE PAYING ATTENTION, IF TRUMP GOT ELECTED, HE WAS GOING TO HAVE ELON MUSK HAVE AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN HIS ADMINISTRATION AND THIS IS THE WORK HE WAS GOING TO HAVE HIM DO.

TED: ALMOST LIKE PEOPLE WEREN'T TAKING HIM SERIOUSLY, THEY WERE WORDS AND FORGET IT.

WE GO FROM AN AGENCY THAT ISN'T REALLY AN AGENCY TO ELECTORS THAT REALLY AREN'T ELECTORS, FAKE ELECTORS.

THIS WAS A WIN TODAY, TALK TO US ABOUT THIS.

>> THERE WAS A SLATE OF REPUBLICANS WHO SAID WE HAD ALTERNATE ELECTORS, THE ATTORNEYS SAID LIKE FAKE ELECTORS, AND THUS THE NAME STUCK, AND THEY PRESENTED THEMSELVES AS THE LAWFUL ELECTORS REPRESENTING THE WINNER OF THE 2020 RACE IN ARIZONA, WHICH WAS DONALD TRUMP.

OF COURSE, THAT'S NOT WHO WON, AND THEREFORE THEIR VOTES DIDN'T MEAN ANYTHING.

IT TOOK, THERE WAS NO PROSECUTION ON THIS UNTIL LAST YEAR, ATTORNEY GENERAL MAYES IN HER SECOND YEAR IN OFFICE FINALLY GOT A LAWSUIT OUT BEFORE HER PREDECESSOR, REPUBLICAN MARK BRNOVICH OPTED TO, HE DIDN'T SEE AN ISSUE WITH THIS APPARENTLY.

SO NOW WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF THE ELECTORS SAYING THIS IS VIOLATING MY FREE SPEECH RIGHTS, WHEN I SIGNED THE CERTIFICATE SAYING I'M A DULY ELECTED ELECTOR, I'M EXPRESSING FIRST AMENDMENT PREFERENCES AND A JUDGE HEARING THAT CASE SAID, YOU GOT A POINT, BUT WE NEED -- LET ARGUMENTS GO FORWARD ON THAT FRONT AND MAYES HAS VOWED TO APPEAL.

TED: HE SAID IT WAS FAIRLY DEBATABLE OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES?

>> A FAIRLY NOVEL CASE DOING THIS UNDER THE ANTI-SLAP LAW, DESIGNED TO STOP WHAT ARE PERCEIVED AS POLITICAL PROSECUTIONS BASED ON TRYING TO STIFLE FREE SPEECH OR RIGHT TO PETITION THE GOVERNMENT, AND USED TO BE ONLY CIVIL CASES WAS EXPANDED BY REPUBLICANS TO COVER CRIMINAL CASES TWO YEARS AGO, AND THIS IS REALLY THE FIRST CASE WE'RE GETTING TO TEST THE CRIMINAL SIDE OF IT, AND THE FIRST STEP IN THE PROCESS LAID OUT IN THE LAW IS DETERMINING WHETHER THEY'RE MAKING A REASONABLE ARGUMENT THAT THAT HAPPENED AND THE JUDGE BASICALLY SAID THEY PRESENTED ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO SAY THAT OCCURRED.

THIS PROSECUTION COULD HAVE VIOLATED THOSE RIGHTS.

MAYES' OFFICE IS GETTING TO ARGUE WHY THAT'S NOT THE CASE.

TED: TALK ABOUT CERTIFIED, YOU ARE DULY ELECTED, TALKING ABOUT SENDING IT TO CONGRESS, SENDING IT TO THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES.

I WAS ALWAYS CONFUSED.

I CAN GO TO THE BASEMENT AND WRITE UP ANYTHING I WANT AND SEND IT OFF.

NO ONE THINKS THAT'S OFFICIAL.

THESE FOLKS DID.

>> I SUSPECT THAT'S GOING TO BE PART OF THE ARGUMENT WE HEAR FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE.

TO WAYNE'S POINT, THIS IS JUST THE FIRST STEP.

THERE'S A LONG, LONG WAY TO GO BEFORE WE -- THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE INVOLVED, A LOT OF POTENTIAL STEPS INVOLVED.

WE'RE A LONG WAY AWAY FROM KNOWING WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS GOING TO BE A LEGAL PROBLEM FOR THE FOLKS.

>> TRIAL ISN'T SCHEDULED UNTIL 2026.

TED: IN THIS CASE, THE JUDGE GAVE 45 DAYS TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE TO PROVE THIS WASN'T RETALIATION IN TERMS OF SPEECH RIGHTS.

>> THE JUDGE ASKED THE PROSECUTION HOW MANY DAYS DO YOU NEED?

AND THEY ASKED FOR 45, AND HE GAVE THEM THAT, AND THEN HE COULD POTENTIALLY ASK FOR MORE ARGUMENTS.

HE LEFT THAT OPEN, AND HE SAID I'LL READ YOUR BRIEF, READ THE RESPONSE AND DETERMINE WHETHER I NEED TO HEAR BACK FROM YOU.

BASICALLY WHAT THE DEFENDANT'S ATTORNEYS HAVE BEEN SAYING IS THIS WAS A CONTINGENCY, WE HAD A LAWSUIT PENDING CHALLENGING THE CASE WHICH WAS TECHNICALLY TRUE BECAUSE IT WAS ON APPEAL.

THE PROBLEM IS THEY DIDN'T PUT CONTINGENT ANYWHERE ON THE DOCUMENT THEY SIGNED.

THERE ARE SIMILAR FOLKS IN PENNSYLVANIA AND NEW MEXICO WHO DID PUT CONTINGENT AND THEY'RE NOT FACING CHARGES.

>> THAT IS THE DIFFERENCE, IS IT NOT?

SURE SEEMS TO BE.

>> I'M NOT A LAWYER BUT SEEMS TO BE IF YOU SAY THIS WAS A CONTINGENCY AND SPECIFICALLY DIDN'T SAY THAT AND OTHER PEOPLE DID, SEEMS AGAIN, NOT A LAWYER, THAT WOULD BE AN ARGUMENT THE PROSECUTION WOULD LEAN ON.

TED: MARY JO, WE HAD SANCTIONS ON GOSAR, THIS GOES BACK TO CHARLENE FERNANDEZ AT THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

TALK ABOUT THIS ONE.

WHAT'S THE CASE ALL ABOUT?

WHY WERE SANCTIONS LEVIED AND WHY DID THE LATEST JUDGE SAY NEVER MIND?

>> SO BACK IN THE DAY, IN THE WAKE OF THE 2020 ELECTION, CHARLENE FERNANDEZ, AS ONE OF THE TOP DEMOCRATS IN THE LEGISLATURE, WROTE TO FEDERAL OFFICIAL AND SAID, LOOK, YOU SHOULD TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT THESE FOLKS AND GOSAR AND ANTHONY KERN AND MARK FINCHEM HAVE BEEN SAYING.

THEY WERE SIGNING A LETTER THAT HAD TO DO WITH INVOLVEMENT WITH JANUARY 6.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> SHE SENT A LETTER TO FEDERAL OFFICIALS.

>> BASICALLY ASKING, JUST LIKE FYI AND YOU MIGHT WANT TO INVESTIGATE THIS.

THEY SUED HER AND SAID THAT'S DEFAMATION.

THAT PROCEEDS.

GOES THROUGH THE COURTS, AND SHE IS FOUND TO HAVE A CASE THAT SHE DID NOT.

SHE DID NOT DEFAME THEM, AND THE COURT PUT SANCTIONS ON THE THREE GENTLEMEN.

$75,000 EACH, I BELIEVE.

AND THEY APPEALED THAT, AND I WILL NOW PASS THE BALL TO ONE OF YOU GUYS BECAUSE SOME OF THE LEGAL REASONING I DON'T QUITE TRACK.

>> SO ESSENTIALLY, THEY PUT THE SANCTIONS ON THERE WHICH IS BASED ON SAYING THAT THIS WAS A BASELESS CASE.

SHE ASKED FOR A MOTION TO DISMISS AS MARY JUST SAID, THERE'S NO THERE THERE.

THAT WAS HER RIGHT ALONG WITH 22 PEOPLE WHO SIGNED THAT LETTER.

THEY CHOSE JUSTICE THROUGH HER, BUT WE HAVE A DIFFERENT CASE AT THE SUPREME COURT THAT INVOLVED ARIZONA REPUBLICAN PARTY, WHERE THEY BRING A SIMILAR CASE.

THE SUPREME COURT SAID NO SANCTIONS IN THAT CASE, REDEFINED WHAT A BASELESS CASE IS, THE APPELLATE COURT HAD TO LOOK AT THAT AND THEY DID AND SAID WE CAN'T SAY THIS WAS COMPLETELY BASELESS BECAUSE -- SO NO SANCTIONS.

TED: I THINK I USED THE PHRASE FAIRLY DEBATABLE.

THIS IS THE ONE THE JUDGE SAID FAIRLY DEBATABLE.

>> A LONG SHOT CASE DOESN'T MEAN IT'S AN OUTLANDISH CASE BECAUSE IT'S A LONG SHOT, SEEMS LIKE YOU DON'T HAVE MUCH OF A CHANCE OF WINNING AND YOU'RE TELLING ME THERE'S A CHANCE, DOESN'T MEAN YOU SHOULD BE SANCTIONED FOR BRINGING IT.

TED: WHAT ARE THE LESSONS HERE?

THESE KINDS OF ACTIONS?

THESE WORDS?

>> HANG IN THERE AND FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT, UNLESS YOU HAVE EXORBITANT ATTORNEY'S FEES.

YOU GOT TO WONDER HOW MUCH IS SPENT.

>> 75 GRAND JUST CHALLENGING THE INITIAL RULING.

I THINK THE TAKEAWAY FROM IT, AND I THINK THIS WAS PART OF THE SUPREME COURT DECISION THAT AFFECTED THIS WAS THERE IS ALWAYS A BALANCE BETWEEN SANCTIONS TO STOP BASELESS LAWSUITS VERSUS STIFLING SOMEONE'S RIGHT TO BRING A LAWSUIT TO DEFEND THEIR OWN RIGHTS.

ALWAYS A BALANCE IN THE COURT BETWEEN THOSE TWO THINGS PULLING AGAINST EACH OTHER AND IT WENT ONE WAY ON THIS ONE.

TED: BEFORE WE GO, LET'S DO A GENERAL THING HERE.

WHAT'S GOING ON AT THE LEGISLATURE?

WHAT'S THE HOT TOPIC DOWN THERE?

WHAT DO WE WATCH FOR IN THE NEXT WEEK OR TWO?

>> WATCH FOR VETO ON THE ELECTION BILL.

THAT'S PRETTY CLEAR.

WATCH FOR NEGOTIATIONS ON WHAT CAN BE DONE TO MAKE HOUSING MORE AFFORDABLE?

THERE WAS A BILL THAT WAS THE STARTER HOME ACT PUT ON THE CALENDAR FOR A VOTE TO GET OUT OF THE HOUSE, AND YOU KNOW GET SOMETHING MOVING, AND THE BILL WAS PULLED BECAUSE THEY ARE STILL MEETING, TRYING TO FIND COMPROMISE.

SO THAT'S A BIG ONE, AND THEN WATER DISCUSSIONS CONTINUE.

THOSE ARE REALLY HUGE TOPICS, AND WE HAVE THIS WHOLE FIGHT ON THE BUDGET FRONT OVER WHETHER THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OVERSPENT THE MONEY FOR DEVELOPMENTALLY DISABLED FAMILIES.

THE GOVERNOR SAID, LOOK, THIS WAS A PROGRAM THAT GREW, SO WE NEED MORE MONEY.

WE'VE COME BACK TO ASK FOR IT AND LEGISLATURE IS SAYING, BUT YOU SPENT THE MONEY AND THAT WASN'T APPROVED AND THE GOVERNOR SAID YES, IT WAS APPROVED AND WE'VE GOT THE BACK AND FORTH.

TED: MARK, SEEMS AS IF THINGS DOWN THERE, MAYBE BECAUSE WHAT'S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON AND STEALING ALL THE HEADLINES AND THE OXYGEN IN EVERY ROOM, BUT SEEMS LIKE WE HAVEN'T HEARD ABOUT MELEE'S DONNY BROOKS, THESE THINGS.

>> IF YOU ARE SAYING FEWER ETHICS COMPLAINTS, SURE.

THERE ARE HOTLY DEBATED BILLS.

AS WE GET TO THE POINT WHERE BILLS HAVE TO LEAVE CHAMBER OF ORIGIN, I SUSPECT WHEN WE GET TO THAT DEADLINE DOWN THERE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE MAYBE GET PASSIONATE.

THEY SEE THE DEADLINE COMING, AND THEY FIGHT A LITTLE HARDER FOR PARTICULAR BILL OR THEIR PARTICULAR ISSUE.

TED: YEAH, WE DON'T NECESSARILY WANT TO SEE A BROUHAHA, BUT THE HA-HA'S HAVE BEEN BREWED.

>> THE BUDGE IS ONE THAT'S GOING TO CAUSE THAT.

WE'RE HEARING WARNINGS THAT SIGNIFICANT CUTS ARE COMING FROM THE REPUBLICAN SIDE.

THEY'RE SAYING NUMBER ONE BECAUSE OF WHAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS DOING, WE'RE GOING TO SEE A SIGNIFICANT DROP IN FEDERAL FUNDING, BILLIONS OF DOLLARS PROBABLY.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, ARPA, THE COVID RELIEF FUNDS ARE EXPIRING.

ARIZONA HAS ONE OF THE HIGHEST PROPORTIONS OF STATE BUDGET MADE UP OF COVID RELIEF AT THE MOMENT.

THOUGH OUR ECONOMY FEELS GOOD, WE MIGHT HAVE A BUDGET THAT FEELS LIKE WE'RE MORE IN A RECESSION.

>> CAN I MENTION ON AN UPBEAT POINT BUT TODAY IS ARIZONA'S BIRTHDAY.

TED: IT IS.

>> STATE HOOD DAY.

ARIZONA IS 113 YEARS OLD.

THERE WAS A CEREMONY AT THE CAPITOL.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FONTES WAS READING THE PROCLAMATION FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP THAT DECLARED ARIZONA A STATE, THEN THERE WERE SPEECHES AND GRANDIOSE THINGS HAPPENING AND EVERYBODY HAD A SLICE OF CAKE AND CELEBRATED HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

TED: WHO DECLARED ARIZONA A STATE?

>> PRESIDENT TAFT.

TED: YOU SAID PRESIDENT TRUMP AND I ALMOST FELL OUT OF MY CHAIR.

HE WAS THERE BACK THEN TOO?

THIS WAS GOING ON BACK THEN?

[LAUGHTER] >> REAFFIRMING.

TED: HAPPY STATEHOOD DAY, VALENTINE'S DAY, AND THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING IN.

APPRECIATE IT.

THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

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