♪.

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

A LOOK AT THE WEEK'S TOP STORIES, INCLUDING PROTESTS AGAINST THE STATE'S TWO U.S.

SENATORS FOR PERCEIVED INACTION AGAINST THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

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, JEREMY DUDA OF AXIOS PHOENIX, AND WOULD LIKE TO NOTE JEREMY'S WIFE IS AN EMPLOYEE OF ARIZONA PBS.

ALSO WITH US IS HOWIE FISCHER OF CAPITOL MEDIA SERVICES AND JIM SMALL OF THE "ARIZONA MIRROR."

JEREMY, START WITH YOU, WE HAVE PROTESTS OUTSIDE THE OFFICES OF SENATORS KELLY AND GALLEGO.

NOT SO MUCH FOR WHAT WAS GOING ON BUT FOR WHAT WAS NOT GOING ON?

>> OBVIOUSLY, THE FOLKS ON THE LEFT ARE NOT SUPER HAPPY ABOUT WHAT THEY'VE BEEN SEEING FOR THE PAST FEW WEEKS OUT OF THE NEW TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

THEY WANT RUBEN GALLEGO AND MARK KELLY TO TAKE STRONGER STANDS, DO MORE TO FIGHT AGAINST THE ADMINISTRATION.

IN TERMS OF WHAT, I'M NOT ENTIRELY SURE BECAUSE DEMOCRATS ARE IN THE MINORITY IN THE SENATE.

LIMITED WITH WHAT THEY CAN DO.

I'M SURE THERE WILL BE A FILIBUSTER ON EVERY SINGLE PIECE OF LEGISLATION.

IN TERMS OF THE EXECUTIVE ACTS TRUMP IS DOING, WE'LL SEE LITIGATION.

THAT IS MORE THAN THE DEMOCRATS CAN DO.

THERE IS KIND OF A PUSH AND PULL AND I THINK FOLKS THAT MAYBE NOT BE TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION, THIS IS STILL A CENTER RIGHT STATE, AND MAYBE DEEM THE RESISTANCE IS NOT WHAT THE TWO SENATORS WHO HAVE RE-ELECTIONS THAT THEY'LL RUN FOR ARE LOOKING FOR.

TED: HOWIE, THE NOMINATIONS GOT THEIR GOAT.

IF YOU VOTE, AGREE WITH ANY OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S NOMINEES THAT THEY'RE RIGHT FOR THE JOB, YOU'RE WRONG FOR THE JOB.

>> SO MANY DEMOCRATS HAVE TAKEN THE POSITION, IF IT'S THAT PERSON'S PICK, MUST BE BAD.

WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE ARIZONA SENATE WITH KATIE HOBBS' NOMINATIONS AND HOW COULD SHE POSSIBLY DO THAT?

LOOK, THE FACT IS YOU JUDGE PEOPLE ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS.

WOULD THESE BE MY PICKS?

PATEL FOR HEADING A FEDERAL AGENCY?

PROBABLY NOT.

PICK AND CHOOSE, IF YOU VOTE NO, NOBODY LISTEN US TO.

IF YOU'RE WILLING TO SAY LOOK, THIS IS AN OKAY PICK, THIS IS NOT, YOU'RE PART OF THE CONVERSATION.

TED: ALSO, JIM, APPARENTLY MANY ON THE LEFT, MANY DEMOCRATS NOT CRAZY ABOUT ELON MUSK AND WHAT HE'S DOING.

WHAT IS HE DOING?

[LAUGHTER] >> WELL, I THINK HE'S DOING A LOT, RIGHT?

AND THERE'S A LOT OF REALLY SMART COMMENTARY THAT'S BEEN WRITTEN BY FOLKS WHO ARE REALLY FOLLOWING STUFF ON THE GROUND, AND ESSENTIALLY YOU HAVE A BILLIONAIRE WHO IS COMING IN AND HAS BEEN DEPUTIZED ESSENTIALLY TO GO INTO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

NOT A GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE.

NOT A GOVERNMENT AGENCY, AND ESSENTIALLY TAKE OVER LARGE SWATHS OF THE GOVERNMENT, AND INSTALL PEOPLE TO MAKE MASSIVE CHANGES AND DO A WHOLE LOT OF THINGS.

THIS IS ALL PART OF THE PROBLEM WITH NOT JUST KELLY AND GALLEGO.

I THINK DEMOCRATS ACROSS THE BOARD ARE FINALLY, WE SAW IN THE LAST 48 HOURS, STARTING TO WEAK UP AND COALESCE AND MOBILIZE AND WHAT THEY CAN DO ABOUT THIS.

I THINK DEMOCRATS WERE LARGELY CAUGHT FLAT-FOOTED, KELLY AND GALLEGO, WERE TRYING TO POLITICALLY FEEL THEIR WAY OUT AS TO WHAT THEY SHOULD OR SHOULDN'T DO.

DEMOCRATS ARE STARTING TO COME ALIVE, WE'RE SEEING POINTED STATEMENTS FROM KELLY AND GALLEGO OVER THE LAST DAY OR TWO ABOUT THINGS THAT THEY SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING AND WANT TO TAKE A STAND AGAINST.

I THINK DEMOCRATS ACROSS THE BOARD ARE STARTING TO DO THE SAME THING AND SEEING MORE OUTSPOKEN DEMOCRATS AND I THINK YOU'LL SEE THEM BREAK OFF INTO HERDS AND MAYBE ACT A LITTLE MORE IN UNISON THAN THEY WERE, WHAT SEEMED LIKE THE PAST TWO WEEKS, DEFEATED, IT'S ALL LOST, AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, AND ALL THIS DOOM AND GLOOM IS HAPPENING AROUND US, AND WE'RE IN THE MINORITY, WHAT CAN WE DO?

IS AN ATTITUDE THAT DID NOT BODE WELL.

>> LOOK, I RECOGNIZE WHAT GALLEGO AND KELLY ARE DOING.

OUR OWN GOVERNOR HAS DONE THE SAME THING.

WELL, I'M WILLING TO WORK WITH THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, WAVING AND PUTTING A FINGER IN THE AIR.

THERE ARE THINGS CAN YOU DO.

LOOK AT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, AND WHILE SHE'S BEEN OVERLY ACTIVE, SHE SAID BEFORE TRUMP IS ELECTED, HE WANTS TO DO SOMETHING ON PROJECT 2025, I'M READY TO SUE.

SHE'S BEEN PART OF ARIZONA ONLY LAWSUITS, PART OF SEVERAL DIFFERENT LAWSUITS THAT WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT, AND SAYS IF, IN FACT, WE CAN'T DO SOMETHING POLITICALLY BECAUSE WE'RE IN THE MINORITY, WE HAVE THE COURTS AS A BACKUP.

USE THE COURTS, USE THE LEGAL SYSTEM SO DEMOCRATS ARE NOT WITHOUT REMEDY.

>> SURE, AND THE FOLKS WHO ARE IN THE POSITION TO BRING THE LITIGATION THAT ATTORNEY GENERAL MAYES HAS, YOU MENTIONED WITH KATIE HOBBS AND KRIS MAYES HOW MUCH RESISTANCE THERE SHOULD BE, BUT I THINK A LOT OF DEMOCRATS, KELLY AND GALLEGO, MOST DEMOCRATS IN CONGRESS ARE GOING TO OPPOSE MOST OF WHAT TRUMP DOES.

YOU'LL SEE POINTED STATEMENTS, PEOPLE BEING OUTSPOKEN, BUT MAYBE PERHAPS LIMITED IN WHAT KIND OF ACTUAL DIRECT ACTION THEY CAN TAKE.

>> I DO THINK THAT GALLEGO, IN PARTICULAR, GOT OFF ON A WRONG FOOT WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE.

CAME INTO THE SENATE AND ALMOST THE FIRST THING THAT HAPPENED WAS VOTING FOR THE LAKEN RILEY ACT.

FOR FOLKS ON THE LEFT, AND MARK KELLY VOTED FOR IT AS WELL.

THAT WAS SEEN AS WHAT DID WE JUST DO HERE?

WE WERE MAD AT KYRSTEN SINEMA BECAUSE SHE WENT IN THERE AND ELECTED A DEMOCRAT AND IMMEDIATELY TURNED AROUND AND DIDN'T ACT LIKE A DEMOCRAT ON CORE DEMOCRATIC ISSUES AND NOW RUBEN GALLEGO GOT IN THERE AND VOTED FOR THIS DETENTION BILL FOR MIGRANTS THAT FOLKS ON THE LEFT WERE LIKE WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE?

HE RAN AGAINST KYRSTEN SINEMA, CHALLENGE HER ON THE LEFT, AND NOW IS IMMEDIATELY PULLING THINGS OUT OF HER PLAYBOOK.

I THINK THAT IMMEDIATELY SET THE TONE IN A WAY THAT PROGRESSIVES AND DEMOCRATS WERE LIKE MAKE THEM THROW THEIR HANDS UP IN THE AIR AND LOOK AROUND AND GO WHAT JUST HAPPENED HERE?

>> ONE OF THE THINGS WE HAVE TO REMEMBER, WHAT YOU WANT TO SAY ABOUT THE PRESIDENT, HE'S BEEN A BRILLIANT STRATEGIST.

THIS HAS BEEN LIKE A FIRE HOSE.

JUST TODAY, I WAS LOOKING AT THREE MORE EXECUTIVE ORDERS.

HE'S GIVEN THEM SO MANY THINGS TO SHOOT AT, THEY'RE NOT SURE WHAT TO DO, AND THAT'S PART OF WHAT'S HAPPENING, THEY'RE NOT AGE TO SAY, WE CAN CONCENTRATE ON LAKEN RILEY OR BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP.

HE'S DONE SO MUCH AND WHAT'S HAPPENED FOR A LOT OF DEMOCRATS IS SAYING, WHAT DO WE AIM AT?

TED: FLOODING THE ZONE.

>> SURE, NEVER SEEN A PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATION WHERE THEY WALK IN AND FLIP OVER TABLES FOR WEEKS ON END, AND THIS IS PROBABLY GOING TO GO ON FOR A WHILE.

I THINK A LOT OF DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO PICK AND CHOOSE THEIR SPOTS BECAUSE FOR THE FOLKS ON THE LEFT WHO DON'T LIKE WHAT THEY'VE SEEN SO FAR, IT'S GOING TO BE A LONG FOUR YEARS.

>> HOW WERE DEMOCRATS NOT PREPARED FOR THIS?

HOW WERE THEY NOT READY FOR THIS?

LITERALLY.

DONALD TRUMP SPENT THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL SAYING ON DAY ONE, I'M GOING TO HAVE 100 EXECUTIVE ORDERS, HERE'S ALL THE WAYS WE'RE GOING TO WREAK HAVOC WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THE LAWS WE CHANGE.

THE AGENCIES WE TRANSFORM, GUT, DESTROY, BURN TO THE GROUND, WHATEVER, DEMOCRATS KNEW HE LITERALLY CAMPAIGNED ON TRYING TO STOP THIS AND WALKED INTO THE SITUATION AND ACTED SURPRISED AS THOUGH THEY DIDN'T REALLY, I GUESS, TRUMP'S SUPPORTERS DIDN'T BELIEVE HE WAS GOING TO DO THE THINGS HE SAID HE WAS GOING TO DO.

TED: SURPRISED AND CONFUSED.

THEY LOOKED CONFUSED.

>> IT WAS ALMOST AS IF THEY GOT CAUGHT OFFGUARD AND AMBUSHED BY THIS STUFF WHICH THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN.

IT WAS ALL TELEGRAPHED.

90% OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE COME OUT AND THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION DOES ARE THINGS EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE RIGHTFULLY KNOWN WERE GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> BUT HOW DO YOU PREPARE?

LIKE THE CALIFORNIA FIRES, YOU'RE FIGHTING THIS FIRE AND ANOTHER ONE GETS STARTED.

HOW DO YOU PREPARE?

YOU'RE RIGHT.

THERE WAS THE PROJECT 2025.

HOW DO YOU PREPARE A FIGHT WHEN YOU'RE NOT SURE WHICH THINGS YOU'RE AIMING AT, WHICH THINGS ARE THE BEST THINGS, WHICH ARE THE ONCE YOU CAN TAKE TO COURT, WHICH ONCE YOU HAVE THE POSSIBILITY OF DEFEATING, AND WHICH ARE THE ONES YOU CAN LEAST STALL?

>> THOSE ARE ALL THINGS THEY HAD TWO MONTHS TO FIGURE OUT, RIGHT?

TED: PUT TOGETHER A PLAN FOR, RIGHT?

>> YEAH.

AS THE TRUMP TRANSITION TEAM WAS COMING TOGETHER AND SEEING THE ADMINISTRATION GET BUILT AND WHO BEING NOMINATED AND WHAT IDEAS WERE OUT, THERE AT THE SAME TIME, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WAS PREPARING FOR WHAT IT WAS GOING TO DO.

WHY ON GOD'S GREEN EARTH WERE THE DEMOCRATS PREPARING FOR HOW TO RESPOND TO IT?

>> I DON'T THINK THEY BELIEVED ALL OF THAT WOULD COME OUT IN THE FIRST THREE WEEKS OF THE ADMINISTRATION.

>> BUT YOU'VE NEVER SEEN A PRESIDENT WILLING TO BREAK WITH TRADITIONAL NORMS THE WAY THAT DONALD TRUMP IS.

OBVIOUSLY, HE DOES NOT CARE ABOUT PRECEDENT, NORMS, ABOUT WHATEVER CONVENTIONS OTHER PRESIDENTS HAVE FOLLOWED, AND REGARDLESS OF HOW MUCH YOU THOUGHT HE WOULD DO OR NOT DO, FOUR YEARS THINKING ABOUT WHAT HE WANTED TO DO AND TOLD US A LOT OF WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN HE GOT IN.

>> JUST TO ANNOY PEOPLE.

IT'S LIKE AT THE PENTAGON, LET'S TAKE OUT NBC AND ROITERS AND PUT IN ONE AMERICA NEWS NETWORK AS THE POLL REPORTER.

TED: HOWIE, YOU MENTIONED ALL THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS, SO MANY ARE RUNG THROUGH COURT CASES, YOU MENTIONED KRIS MAYES BEING INVOLVED.

BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP, SHE WAS INVOLVED WITH THAT AND NOW GOT A PAUSE ON THAT.

>> EXACTLY.

BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP IS PART OF THE 14th AMENDMENT.

AFTER THE CIVIL WAR, ORIGINAL INTENT WAS TO SAY BLACKS, FREED SLAVES, PRIOR SLAVES, FREE BLACK MEN ARE CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE STATE WHICH THEY'RE IN.

IT CAME TO A NEST 1898 IN A COURT CASE WHERE A MAN WAS BORN IN CALIFORNIA TO FOREIGN PARENTS AND THE SUPREME COURT SAID, NO, YOU ARE BORN HERE.

YOU HAVE LOYALTY TO THIS PLACE, YOU'RE NOT SERVING SOMEONE ELSE.

WELL, EVERYTHING HAS BEEN FINE EXCEPT FOR THE FACT THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP SAID I'M GOING TO TELL MY ADMINISTRATION YOU DON'T ISSUE BIRTH CERTIFICATES AND DON'T RECOGNIZE BIRTH CERTIFICATES OF ANYBODY NOT BORN HERE LEGALLY.

TWO LAWSUITS FILED, ONE INVOLVING KRIS MAYES AND TOOK IT TO A FEDERAL JUDGE IN WASHINGTON, AND BASICALLY HE TOLD THE ATTORNEY FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, YOU PEOPLE ARE STUPID.

WHAT PART OF THE CONSTITUTION DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND?

TED: BLATANTLY UNCONSTITUTIONAL IS I BELIEVE THE WORDS.

>> FROM THE FIRST INJUNCTION, THE SECOND INJUNCTION THIS WEEK, AND I'M LOSING TRACK OF THE COURT CASE ALREADY BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY.

THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IS CHALLENGING THE STANDS OF KRIS MAYES AND OTHER DEMOCRATIC A.G.s, COMMON LEGAL TACTIC BEFORE YOU GET TO THE LEGAL ARGUMENT, YOU GET IT TOSSED OUT ON MORE TECHNICAL GROUNDS.

THAT DID NOT WORK, THE SAME JUDGE ISSUED THAT INJUNCTION AND SAID WE'RE GOING TO PUT THIS ON HOLD AND THE ARGUMENT DID NOT HOLD MUCH WATER.

>> IN THE HEARING A COUPLE WEEKS AGO IN SEATTLE COURTROOM, THE JUDGE OPENLY WONDERED ALOUD TO THE D.O.J.

'S ARGUMENTS AND SAID HOW DID YOU PASS THE BAR?

THIS IS SUCH SETTLED CASE LAW AND BLACK LETTER CONSTITUTIONAL LAW.

HOW CAN SOMEONE WHO PASSED THE BAR STAND IN FRONT OF THIS COURT AND MAKE THESE ARGUMENTS?

IT WAS OBVIOUS TWO WEEKS AGO AT THE INITIAL HEARING WHAT THE VIEW WAS GOING TO BE.

THERE WAS A TEMPORARY ORDER TO BLOCK IT AND NOW TWO NATIONWIDE PERMANENT INJUNCTIONS.

>> PRELIMINARY INJUNCTIONS, THEY STILL HAVE TO GO BACK TO TRIAL.

THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION THOUGHT ABOUT THIS.

ONE OF THE THING THE COURT SAID IN THE 1898 CASE, THERE ARE THREE BASIC EXCEPTIONS.

ONE IS CHILDREN OF DIPLOMATS, TWO IS NO LONGER GOOD LAW WHICH IS NATIVE AMERICANS LOYALTY IS THE TRIBE, AND NUMBER THREE WAS TO ENEMIES OF THE UNITED STATES WHO PRO CREATE WHILE HERE.

TRUMP'S ARGUMENT WAS WELL, THIS IS AN INVADING ARMY, THEY ARE ENEMIES OF THE UNITED STATES, THEY FIT WITHIN THE EXCEPTION.

OBVIOUSLY, THAT DIDN'T SELL.

TED: THAT DIDN'T SELL AND SO MANY OF THE OTHER THINGS ARE IN COURTS AND WE WILL FOLLOW THEM.

AS YOU MENTIONED, ATTORNEY GENERAL KRIS MAYES IS STEPPING UP, AT LEAST MAKING HERSELF BE SEEN IN THESE RESPONSES.

>> LET'S JUST SAY SHE'S COUNTING ON A VERY TOUGH RE-ELECTION BID, AND FIGURES, LOOK, SHE'S NEVER GOING TO GET VOTES, SHE WON BY 280 VOTES.

NEEDS TO BUILD UP HER SUPPORTERS.

THERE IS POLITICS INVOLVED.

TED: STICK WITH THAT FOR A SECOND, IS THAT GOOD POLITICS FOR KRIS MAYES.

>> DEPENDS WHAT THE MIDTERM LOOKS LIKE, TRADITIONALLY THE PARTY HOLDING THE WHITE HOUSE LOSES SEATS.

WE'VE SEEN THE FIRST TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, THEY GOT WIPED OUT GOOD IN THE MIDTERM DESPITE A VERY GOOD ECONOMY, MAYES IS COUNTING ON THE HEADWINDS CARRYING DEMOCRATS THROUGH THE ELECTION, KATIE HOBBS IS NOT THE ONE STANDING UP AND MAKING THAT MUCH NOISE.

ATTORNEY GENERAL MAYES HAS JOINED GOD KNOWS HOW MANY LAWSUITS.

EVERY DAY THERE'S ANOTHER ONE ON FEDERAL FUNDING FREEZE OR FEDERAL EMPLOYEE, EMPLOYMENT BUYOUTS OR BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP.

WE'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT MORE OF THIS.

>> A LOT OF IT DEPENDS WHO THE REPUBLICANS NOMINATE.

WE HAVE RODNEY GLASSMAN ORIGINALLY A DEMOCRAT WHO CHALLENGED ON McCAIN, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH REPUBLICANS TRUST HIM.

HE HAS A LOT OF COURTROOM EXPERIENCE.

HE'S A JUDGE ADVOCATE GENERAL, AND SENATE PRESIDENT WARREN PETERSEN, YOU CALLED HIM A BABY LAWYER, A LAWYER FOR A YEAR OR SO, AND HE'S SAYING, YES, THE LAW SAYS I HAVE TO BE A LAWYER FOR FIVE YEARS BEFORE I CAN RUN FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL.

THAT'S NOT CONSTITUTIONAL, HE THINKS BECAUSE I MADE LAWS, I WOULD BE A GOOD ATTORNEY GENERAL.

TED: BECAUSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PROFILES, HE WAS IN WASHINGTON FOR THE PRESIDENT AND TRANSGENDER ATHLETE ORDER.

HE WANTS TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE SEES HIM AS KRIS MAYES IS TALKING ABOUT SEEING HER WITH THE ACTIVITIES.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT GUNS IN SCHOOLS, THE PRINCIPAL CAN BASICALLY DECIDE WHO GETS TO DO THIS?

HOW DOES IT WORK?

>> I THINK IT'S UNCLEAR, A SCHOOL OFFICIAL COULD DECIDE.

THIS IS AN IDEA WE'VE HEARD A LOT OVER THE YEARS FROM REPUBLICANS.

ESSENTIALLY THE WAY TO STOP VIOLENCE IN SCHOOLS AND STOP SCHOOL SHOOTINGS IS TO -- SIMILAR TACTIC.

APPLY THE TACTIC TO SCHOOLS THAT THEY APPLY TO GROCERY STORES AND OTHER PLACES, IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHO HAS A GUN AROUND YOU, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO DO SOMETHING WITH YOUR GUN BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO RISK GETTING SHOT, AND SO THIS IS PART OF A LONG -- I THINK WE'VE SEEN A NUMBER OF THE BILLS OVER THE YEARS TO OPEN THE DOORS AND MAKE IT EASIER AND MAKE IT MORE POSSIBLE FOR TEACHERS FOR OTHER STAFF PEOPLE AT SCHOOLS TO HAVE CONCEALED WEAPONS.

>> HOW DOES THIS DIFFER FROM WHAT'S ALREADY GOING ON?

>> THAT'S THE FUNNY PART.

THE DEMOCRATS IMMEDIATELY, KNEE-JERK REACTION WAS WE CAN'T HAVE GUNS IN SCHOOLS.

GUESS WHAT?

TITLE 15, THE STATE EDUCATION CODE SAYS IT'S UP TO SCHOOL OFFICIALS TO DECIDE WHO CAN CARRY A GUN.

WE HAVE A SCHOOL DISTRICT IN BULLHEAD CITY ALLOWING STAFFERS TO BE ARMED.

WE HAVE SIGN IN FRONT OF THE TOMBSTONE SCHOOLS SAYING TEACHERS MAY BE ARMED.

WHAT THIS BILL DOES CURIOUSLY ENOUGH, THOUGH DEMOCRATS WERE BUSY RAILING, SAYS IN ORDER TO DO THAT, YOU ACTUALLY HAVE TO GO THROUGH SOME TRAINING, YOU HAVE TO HAVE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF HOURS OF EXPERIENCE ABOUT WHEN YOU CAN USE DEADLY FORCE.

CERTAIN NUMBER OF HOURS ACTUALLY OPERATING THE FIREARM AND UNDERSTANDING ALL THAT.

CERTAIN NUMBER OF HOURS IN TERMS OF FIRST AID.

SO IN A LOT OF WAYS, THIS NARROWS WHAT'S AN EXISTING LAW, SO IT WILL BE INTERESTING ASSUMING THIS GOES UP TO THE GOVERNOR, WHAT DOES SHE DO?

SHE CAN'T SAY THIS IS ABOUT GUNS IN SCHOOLS, THERE'S NO WAY TO REPEAL THAT.

>> THAT WILL BE INTERESTING FOR A GOVERNOR WHO IS IN SOME CASES TRYING TO TACK A LITTLE TOWARDS CENTER, WILL BE A TOUGH RE-ELECTION NEXT YEAR, AND TO DO SOMETHING EVEN THOUGH TO DEMOCRATS SOUNDS BAD, LIMITS THE CIRCUMSTANCES AND PUTS MORE GUARDRAILS INTO THE SYSTEM.

THAT MIGHT BE A GOOD SPOT WHERE SHE WOULD SAY, TRY AND REACH OUT TO THE MIDDLE A LITTLE MORE AND FIND THAT IN SOMETHING SHE CAN TOUT AS BIPARTISAN ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.

TED: JEREMY, STICKING WITH YOU, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT.

WE HAD ANOTHER SPEEDING TICKET SITUATION WITH A LAWMAKER WHO WASN'T NEAR THE CAPITOL BUT CLAIMED IMMUNITY OR DEFERRED PROSECUTION OR CITATION BECAUSE THE LEGISLATURE WAS IN SESSION, AND NOW WE'RE HEARING THAT MAYBE LAWMAKERS HAD ENOUGH OF THEIR OWN STUFF.

>> LEGISLATIVE IMMUNITY STRIKES AGAIN.

ANOTHER SPEEDING TICKET.

WE JUST HAD THIS LAST YEAR WITH FORMER SENATOR JUSTINE WADSACK, SENATOR MARK FINCHEM GOT PULLED OVER FOR SPEEDING IN PRESCOTT COUNTY, HE SAID I'M A LEGISLATOR, WE'RE IN SESSION, YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO GIVE IT TO ME.

THE POLICE DEPARTMENT SAYS WE'LL HAVE IT DISMISSED WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO BRING IT BACK AFTER THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, AND YOU HAVE TO WONDER WHAT SENATOR FINCHEM GETS OUT OF IT.

IS IT REALLY WORTH GETTING OUT OF AN $80 SPEEDING TICKET TO GET THE NEWS STORIES AND HAVE EVERYBODY SEE YOU USING YOUR POSITION TO TRY AND GET THIS DEFERRED?

I'VE BEEN AROUND THE CAPITOL FOR A LONG TIME, AND SOME FOLKS WOULD NEVER THEY GET PULLED OVER, TAKE THE TICKET, WALK AWAY QUIETLY.

I'VE HAD LAWMAKERS SAY I GOT PULLED OVER, I WAS RUSHING TO THE CAPITOL, I WAS SPEEDING, I GOT PULLED OVER.

I TOLD THE OFFICER, I'M A LEGISLATOR, I HAVE TO GET TO THE CAPITOL, PLEASE GIVE ME MY TICKET AND I'LL BE ON MY WAY.

>> WE KEEP TALKING ABOUT IMMUNITY.

THIS IS NOT IMMUNITY.

THIS SIMPLY SAYS DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND FOR 15 DAYS THEREAFTER, YOU ARE NOT SUBJECT TO CIVIL OR CRIMINAL PROCESS UNLESS IT'S TREASON, FELONY, I THINK BREACH OF THE PEACE AND WHAT REPRESENTATIVE WYNN'S BILL ADDS TO THAT IS CITATION.

THIS IS A HOUSE-CONCURRED RESOLUTION AND HAS TO GO TO THE VOTERS BECAUSE IT'S PART OF THE CONSTITUTION.

NOW THE PURPOSE OF QUOTE, UNQUOTE IMMUNITY IS NOT A GET OUT OF JAIL FREE CARD FOR LAWMAKERS, BUT TO SAY, YOU MIGHT HAVE A SHERIFF WHO SAYS I DON'T WANT YOU GOING UP AND VOTING ON THE BILL, SO WE'RE GOING TO HOLD YOU HERE, LOCK YOU UP AND SO YOU CAN'T VOTE ON THE BILL THAT I DON'T LIKE.

THAT'S LESS LIKELY TO HAPPEN NOW, WHEN ANYBODY'S GOT A CELL PHONE AND CAN DELAY THAT.

TED: BUT THE IDEA OF SENDING THIS TO THE VOTERS, ARE LAWMAKERS GOING TO BE OKAY WITH THIS?

>> NO, NO, THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME WE'VE SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS.

I THINK THE MOST PROMINENT ONE WAS 2019, DOUG DUCEY, IN THE STATE OF THE STATE SPEECH TALKED ABOUT WE NEED TO DO THIS.

IT WAS AFTER A LAWMAKER FROM MOHAVE COUNTY HAD GOTTEN PULLED OVER DOING 95 MILES AN HOUR AND BRAGGING TO THE COP I WAS DOING 140.

YOU DIDN'T CATCH ME DOING THAT.

I'M A LAWMAKER, YOU CAN'T TOUCH ME.

THAT RIGHTFULLY OUTRAGED PEOPLE AND DOUG DUCEY SEIZED ON THAT IN THE STATE OF THE STATE AND TALKED ABOUT THE NEED TO REFORM THAT AND TREAT LAWMAKERS LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.

THAT WENT OVER WITH A DUD.

NOTHING HAPPENED WITH IT.

I CAN'T IMAGINE LAWMAKERS ARE GOING TO PICK THIS UP THIS YEAR EITHER.

CERTAINLY NOT FOR A -- WHAT IS REALLY A PIDDLEY SPEEDING TICKET FOR DRIVING 15 MILES AN HOUR OVER.

TED: THEY KNOW HOW VOTERS ARE GOING TO VOTE ON THIS.

THIS WOULD NOT BE A SECRET.

>> THIS IS THE FUN PART.

AS WE ALL KNOW, THERE ARE STEPS YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH.

BILL HAS TO BE FIRST RED, SECOND READ, ASSIGNED TO A COMMITTEE.

IF IT'S ASSIGNED TO PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE, THE CHAIRMAN JUST SIMPLY IGNORES IT AND IT DIES.

EVEN IF IT GETS OUT OF THE HOUSE, GOES TO ANOTHER COMMITTEE, GETS IGNORED AND DIES THERE.

ARE WAYS TO KILL LEGISLATION WITHOUT HAVING TO VOTE ON IT.

TED: SOUNDS LIKE APS, SRP, TEP, NEW NUCLEAR PLANT?

>> CAME OUT OF NOWHERE, BUT THE BIG THREE UTILITIES IN THE STATE LOOKING AT A NEW PLANT.

WE HAVE THE BIGGEST NUCLEAR PLANT IN THE COUNTRY HERE ALREADY.

WE HAVE POWER NEEDS.

YOU TALKED TO FOLKS WHO ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE UTILITY INDUSTRY.

THEY'LL TELL YOU THIS IS A CONCERN, THERE'S NOT ENOUGH POWER FOR THE BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WE'RE BRINGING IN THAT WE HOPE TO BRING IN.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD TAKE A VERY LONG TIME TO COME ON EARTH.

THE REGULATORY PROCESS, APPROVAL PROCESS, GETTING ZONING FROM WHATEVER COUNTY OR CITY.

FINDING THE FUNDING WITH IT, WITH PALO VERDE, THE CORPORATION COMMISSION LET THE UTILITIES JACK UP PEOPLE'S RATES PROSPECTIVELY TO PAY FOR THIS WHICH I DON'T THINK WAS POPULAR.

YOU ARE PROBABLY NOT GOING TO SEE IT AGAIN.

IF EVERY ONE OF THE STEPS FALSE INTO PLACE, THIS IS A LONG TIME DOWN THE ROAD, I THINK 15 YEARS.

PRESUMABLY THERE ARE LAWSUITS, A MILLION DIFFERENT WAYS TO GET HELD UP.

>> THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT, THE FUNNY THING, PALO VERDE, ONE OF THE NEWEST POWER PLANTS, AND WHAT HAPPENED IS THREE MILE ISLAND, EVERYTHING ELSE, PEOPLE BECAME CONCERNED.

NUCLEAR PLANTS USED A LOT OF WATER, PALO VERDE HAS ACCESS TO SEWAGE FROM THE VALLEY HERE, THE QUESTION BECOMES HOW DO YOU DO THIS?

THE NEW POWER PLANTS ARE SMALLER, THEY CAN RUN 24/7, UNLIKE PALO VERDE THAT YOU CAN'T SHUT DOWN WHEN YOU DON'T NEED IT, THESE CAN BE SHUT DOWN FOR BRIEF PERIODS OF TIME AND THAT MAKES THEM ATTRACTIVE.

TED: YOU HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE SEEING NUCLEAR AS CLEAN ENERGY.

>> I THINK SO, AND CERTAINLY IN TERMS OF CARBON AND GREENHOUSE GASES AND STUFF LIKE THAT, IT IS.

AND WE'VE HEARD FOLKS OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS REALLY TOUT THAT AS A MISSED OPPORTUNITY, AS THERE'S BEEN TRANSITIONS INTO WIND AND SOLAR AND HYDRO AND THINGS LIKE THAT ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THERE HAD BEEN A MOVEMENT AFOOT LARGELY BY THE POWER PLANTS.

OR BY THE UTILITIES, BUT TO PUSH FOR ADDING NUCLEAR AS ONE OF THOSE ARROWS INTO QUIVER FOR HOW DO WE SOLVE OUR ENERGY NEEDS TO MOVE FORWARD IN A WAY THAT DOESN'T RELY ON FOSSIL FUELS.

TED: SOME OF THE IDEAS THE REACTORS WERE IN AREAS OF COAL PLANTS MIGHT HAVE BEEN IN THE PAST.

>> YOU CAN DO THAT BUT YOU HAVE THE WATER NEEDS THERE.

TED: SURE YOU HAVE ALL SORTS OF THINGS.

>> THAT BECOMES AN ISSUE.

THERE IS STILL A CERTAIN LEVEL OF CONCERN.

PART OF THE REASON YOU GO TO PALO VERDE, THEY HAVE THE SIRENS AROUND.

WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE'S A MELTDOWN?

THEY HAVE THE TESTS REGULARLY.

THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO REMEMBER JANE FONDA IN CHINA SYNDROME AND THE WHOLE IDEA THERE, THERE'S JUST ENOUGH OF THAT, I THINK PEOPLE LIKE THE IDEA OF ALTERNATIVES TO FOSSIL FUEL.

THEY EVEN LIKEN THE ALTERNATIVES TO THE WIND TURBINES AND THE BIRDS THAT THAT CAN KILL, BUT MAYBE NOT IN MY BACKYARD.

TED: AND THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY OBVIOUSLY HAS A LOT OF SAY IN THIS.

THERE WAS A DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY UNDER THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, A NEW DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY UNDER THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

I WOULD IMAGINE THEY'D BE MUCH MORE OPEN TO SOMETHING LIKE THIS?

>> PROBABLY BUT WHO KNOWS BY THE TIME YOU GO THROUGH THIS.

WHO KNOWS WHO'S IN OFFICE AT THAT POINT?

THE EARLIEST ESTIMATE WAS 15 YEARS, AND GOD KNOWS IF IT WILL BE CLOSE TO THAT.

TED: WHO KNOWS IF IT WILL BE A DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY.

>> THE PRESIDENT WHO'S MOTTO IS DRILL, BABY DRILL, AND NO MORE WINDMILLS, HE MAY WANT MORE COAL-FIRED POWER PLANTS.

PREDICTING WHAT THE PRESIDENT WILL DO AND HOW HE WILL THING IS A FOOL'S ERRAND.

TED: THE NUCLEAR PLANT WILL BE TOO CLEAN?

>> PART OF IT IS ACCESSIBILITY OF URANIUM, MINING AROUND THE GRAND CANYON, GETS THE NEW NATIONAL MONUMENT THERE, IF YOU HAVE TO DO IT, GET URANIUM FROM RUSSIA, HOW DOES THAT FIT IN?

TED: GENTLEMEN, WE HAVE GOT TO STOP IT THERE.

GOOD CONVERSATION.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

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