>>> COMING UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON, WE'LL LOOK AT THE WEEK'S TOP STORIES INCLUDING WHY BEEN IS RESIGNING FROM HER LEGISLATIVE POSITION.

THE ROUND TABLE IS NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

>>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M STEVE GOLDSTEIN IN FOR TED SIMONS.

IT'S FRIDAY AND TIME FOR THE JOURNALIST ROUND TABLE.

JOINING US TONIGHT JEREMY OF AXIOS PHOENIX, JEREMY'S WIFE IS AN EMPLOYEE OF PBS, AND CAMERON SANCHEZ OF KGZE.

LET'S START OFF WITH SENATOR BIRCH RESIGNING FROM POSITION.

PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD REASONINGS.

>> SHE DOESN'T GET PAID ENOUGH AND ALSO THE DEMOCRATS DON'T HAVE THAT MUCH POWER TO DO WHAT THEY WANT TO DO IN THEIR REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED LEGISLATURE, WHICH IS PRETTY TRUE, AND ALSO THE CAUSE FOR DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS LEAVING THE CAPITOL OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

THIS IS NOT THE FIRST, THE SECOND OR EVEN I THINK THE FIFTH PERSON TO DO THIS.

>> LET'S REMIND PEOPLE WATCHING THEY'RE THINKING, YOU KNOW, BIRCH, WHY DO I KNOW THAT NAME.

>> BECAUSE THERE WAS A BIG DEBATE ABOUT ABORTION LAST YEAR, AND SHE WAS ONE OF THE MAIN VOICES IN THAT BECAUSE AS A LAWMAKER, WHO'S ALSO A NURSE, SHE ANNOUNCED TO HER COLLEAGUES ON THE FLOOR THAT SHE WAS GOING TO HAVE TO GET AN ABORTION BECAUSE ME AND HER PARTNER WANTED A CHILD, BUT THERE WERE PROBLEMS AND BASICALLY THAT'S WHAT THEY DECIDED TO DO, THAT'S WHAT HAD TO HAPPEN, AND SHE WAS, YOU KNOW -- IT STIRRED UP A LOT OF EMOTIONS FOR PEOPLE AND GOT A LOT OF ATTENTION, AND -- WHICH MAKES SENSE.

AND IT WAS THE SUBJECT OF A LOT OF NATIONAL COVERAGE OF THE ISSUE, AND ULTIMATELY, YOU KNOW, WE -- THE COURT DIDN'T GET TO DO -- UPHOLD THE ABORTION BAN BECAUSE WE WE HAVE IN YOU A ABORTION RULE THAT PASSED IN NOVEMBER.

>> I LIKE TO READ THINGS ON THE AIR.

I WAS STRUCK BY SOME OF THE WORDING.

I KNOW I'M NOT THE FIRST NOR WILL I BE THE LAST PERSON GOOD PERSON TO FIND THEMSELVES A CASUALTY OF LEGISLATIVE PAY.

IT IS A LOSS FOR US ALL WHEN THOUGHT OF LEVEL-HEADED LEADERS CANNOT OFFER THE BEST FOR THEIR JOB.

DOES THAT INDICATE SOMEBODY MAY BE RUNNING FOR OFFICE IN THE FUTURE SHALL.

>> MAYBE IF SHE WANTS TO HIRE A PAYING ONE, IF SHE WERE GOING TO RUN FOR SOMETHING, PRETTY PRETTY MUCH ANY PUBLIC OFFICE IN THE STATE PAYS MORE THAN THE $24,000 THAT THE STATE LEGISLATORS GET PAID.

I THINK SHE'S VERY MUCH RIGHT IN TERMS OF THE COMPLAINT YOU HEAR IF YOU'RE AT THE CAPITOL ALL THE TIME, IS I THINK FOLKS JUST DO NOT GET PAID A HECK OF A LOT.

IN THEORY, ON PAPER, IT'S A PART-TIME LEGISLATURE.

IN REALITY, WE HEAR THROUGH JUNE AND SOMETIMES JULY, HAVE YOU SPECIAL SESSIONS THROUGH THE YEAR AND COULD YOU SPEND UP TO HALF A YEAR HERE.

IF YOU WANT TO MAKE THAT WORK, HAVE YOU TO HAVE -- YOU'RE A SPOUSE THAT MAKES A LOT OF MONEY AND RUN YOUR OWN BUSINESS AND HAVE FLEXIBILITY IN YOUR HOURS AND A JOB THAT'S WILLING TO GIVE TIME THAT YOU REALLY NEED TO DEDICATE TO THAT, AND, YOU KNOW, BE RETIRED, SOMETHING WHERE YOU COULD MAKE THAT WORK.

A LOT OF FOLKS YOU JUST CAN'T.

>> AND ALSO HELPS WITH -- YOU GET THE PER DIEM AND HAVE THE EXTRA TRAVEL TIME, AND SINCE SHE'S FROM MESA, SHE DOESN'T HAVE THAT.

FOLKS FROM NORTHERN ARIZONA SOMETIMES DRIVE AS FAR AS FIVE HOURS TO GET HERE.

BUT A MUCH EASIER COMMUTE FOR HER, BUT STILL THE MONEY AND DEPENDING HOW LONG THE SESSION GOES, YOU GET MORE PER DEE YUM, BUT EVEN THAT, THAT'S PROBABLY NOT ENOUGH TO MAKE IT WORTH IT IF YOU'RE DEVOTING THATCH OF YOUR TIME TO THAT JOB.

>> LEGISLATIVE PAY HAS BEEN $24,000 SINCE 1998.

I'M NOT GONNA ASK YOU HOW MANY TIMES -- DO YOU ENVISION A TIME WHEN THERE WILL BE ENOUGH SUPPORT FOR, IT $24,000, 1998, TO TODAY'S MONEY, YOU KNOW.

>> TO YOUR POINT, THIS OFTEN GOES TO VOTERS AND VOTERS ROUTINELY SHOOT IT DOWN, USUALLY BY NOT PARTICULARLY CLOSE MARGINS, IT SEEMS LIKE IT WOULD BE KIND OF A TOUGH SALE, I JUST TALKED TO SOME FOLKS THIS WEEK, SEEMS LIKE -- ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW, IT WOULD BE A VERY TOUGH SALE TO ASK VOTERS, HEY, DO YOU THINK THAT WE SHOULD GIVE LEGISLATORS MORE PAY, ESPECIALLY WHEN, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF FOLKS ARE STILL KIND OF STRUGGLING FINANCIALLY, SHOULD WE RAISE, EVEN THOUGH, AS YOU POINT OUT, IT'S BEEN THIS WAY FOR A LONG TOMB NOW, AND IT IS REALLY -- EVEN IF IT'S THE -- THE LEGISLATURE IS IN SESSION FOR 100 DAYS, WHICH IT NEVER IS ANYMORE, TO DO THAT JOB WELL, YOU HAVE TO DEVOTE AN AWFUL A LOT OF TIME TO IT.

>> I GUESS I'M WONDERING, WE'VE ALL HEARD THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST CONCEPT, SO, CAMERON, IF THE SALARY WERE TO GO TO $36,000, ARE WE GOING TO SEE BETTER PEOPLE, WHEN PEOPLE BRING UP THAT, IT SEEMS LIKE A RED HERRING TO ME.

>> I HAVE HEARD THIS ARGUMENT QUITE A LOT.

FIRST SOMETHING ABOUT HOW YOU BASICALLY GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR, AND WHAT -- WHAT YOU END UP WITH IS PEOPLE WHO ARE INDEPENDENTLY WEALTHY OR DISPROPORTIONATELY REPRESENTING US IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

TAKE THAT AS YOU WILL BUT WE'RE SUPPOSED HAVE A CITIZEN LEGISLATURE, WHICH IS LIKE US, YOU KNOW, FAMILIAR, UNDERSTANDING, BUT IF YOU HAVE A BUNCH OF PEOPLE WHO ARE AT A PARTICULAR KIND OF BRACKET, MAYBE SOCIOECONOMICALLY, MAYBE THAT'S A DISSERVICE TO VOTERS BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT GETTING PEOPLE WHO ARE FROM ALL STRIPES.

YOU'RE ONLY GETTING CERTAIN KINDS OF PEOPLE.

WE HAVE A LOT OF ATTORNEYS IN THE LEGISLATURE, A LOT OF REAL ESTATE PEOPLE ALL THE TIME.

DON'T HAVE A LOT OF McDONALDS WORKERS AT LEGISLATURE, IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT MEANS THAT, YOU KNOW, EVERYONE'S BEING KEPT OUT, WHO'S THE MOST BRILLIANT CANDIDATE BUT SOME PEOPLE ARE PROBABLY NOT BOTHERING TO APPLY.

>> AND WE'VE HEARD THE PROCESS, WE'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS MANY TIMES BEFORE, HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO REPLACE BIRCH AND I GUESS IT DOESN'T REALLY MATTER.

>> WELL, AND THEN THERE WILL BE COMPLAINT BESIDE NOT HAVING A LOT OF JUICE DOWN THERE FOR BEING IN THE MINORITY PARTY.

IT PROBABLY WON'T MATTER A HECK OF A LOT.

BUT I FORGET EXACT TIMELINE, THE PROCESS HAS TO MOVE FAIRLY QUICKLY WHEN THE LEGISLATURE IS IN SESSION BECAUSE THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS REPRESENTED.

THE DEMOCRATIC PRECINCT COMMITTEE PEOPLE FROM THAT DISTRICT WILL CHOOSE THREE CANDIDATES.

THEY'LL SEND THAT TO THE MARICOPA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND THEY WILL CHOOSE -- BY TRADITION, GENERALLY THE PICK GOES TO THE SUPERVISOR WHO REPRESENTS THAT AREA, I FORGET WHICH SIDE -- WHAT LINE THAT DISTRICT IS ON BUT HOPEFULLY THE RESIGNATION IS IN EFFECT UNTIL NEXT WEEK, NEXT FRIDAY WHEN SHE OFFICIALLY RESIGNS, ONCE THAT HAPPENS, THAT WILL TRIGGER THE PROCESS.

>> AND IT'S NOT ELECTION YEAR BUT ANY CHANCE THIS OPENS THE FLOOD GATES BECAUSE A LOT OF DEMOCRATS WOULD HAVE THE SAME COMPLAINTS.

>> I SAW A NUMBER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, A NUMBER OF DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS RESIGNED.

I GUESS YOU COULD ARGUE THAT, YOU KNOW, THE SALARY WAS IN NOVEMBER WHEN ALL OF THESE CANDIDATES WERE RUNNING, IT IS -- IT WAS THEN WHAT IT IS NOW, BUT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THEY THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, DEMOCRATS THOUGHT THEY'D BE IN THE MAJORITY OR AT LEAST IN 30-30 -- 15-15 SENATE OR TODAY TO IN THE HOUSE OR HAVE SOME MORE POWER.

BUT, I MEAN, IT'S TOUGH TO SAY.

IT'S STILL REALLY EARLY IN LIKE THE FIRST YEAR OF THEIR TERM.

IT'D BE A LITTLE SURPRISING IF IT SORT OF OPENED THE FLOOD GATES, I WOULD THINK, BUT CERTAINLY IT'S POSSIBLE THAT MORE -- ESPECIALLY DEMOCRATS WILL RESIGN BEFORE THE END OF THIS TERM.

>> AND THIS IS A FAIRLY COMPETITIVE DISTRICT OUT HERE, DISTRICT 9.

SO, MOST OF THE DISTRICTS IN THE STRAIGHT EITHER HEAVY DEMOCRAT, HEAVY REPUBLICAN, THERE'S NO GENERAL ELECTION TO SPEAK OF.

THIS IS WHEN THE GENERAL ELECTION MAY ACTUALLY MATTER AND WHERE THE REPUBLICANS ARE FULLY GOING TO TRY TO CONTEND FOR THAT SEAT.

WHO GETS THAT MAY VERY MUCH MATTER NEXT NOVEMBER.

>> PROP 123, INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF MONEY OF WHAT PUBLIC SCHOOLS RECEIVE FROM THE TRUST FUND.

WE'VE SEEN GOVERNOR HONEST, SOME REPUBLICAN LEADERS, IT EXPIRES IN JUNE.

GOVERNOR HOBBS.

IS A DEAL POSSIBLE?

>> WELL, ONE SENSE OF THE SWORD EVERYONE THAT AGREES THAT WE NEED CONTINUE IT, HAVE SOMETHING PERMANENT, HOPEFULLY AND USE A LOT OF IT OR MOST IT OR ALL OF IT, FOR FUTURE PAY INCREASES.

SO THAT'S THE GOOD NEWS.

WE'VE BEEN IN AGREEMENT FOR I GUESS YEARS NOW.

THE PART WHERE PEOPLE DISAGREES IS IN THE DO TAILS.

I HAVE SAID IN THE PAST HOBBS HAS A DIFFERENT PROPOSAL THAN OTHER REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS DO, EVEN THOUGH SHE'S SEEMED TO COMPROMISE SO FAR ON THAT.

BUT SHE SAYS WE DON'T NEED TO JUST FUND TEACHER PAY BUT ALSO OTHER THINGS LIKE MAINTENANCE OF THE SCHOOLS, AND THE REPUBLICANS ARE SAYING NO, IT'S FOR US TO PUT SOMETHING TO VOTERS, JUST TEACHER PAY INCREASES AND DEVOTE ALL THE MONEY TO THAT.

>> 10 YEARS AGO, DID THIS SEEM LIKE IT WAS A GREAT IDEA?

IT PASSED NARROWLY.

I REMEMBER THINKING AT THE TIME SO MANY PEOPLE WERE ON BOARD.

IS THIS A GOOD TIME, 10 YEARS LATER, WHERE ARE WE SITTING IN TERMS OF -- SEEMS LIKE WE HAVE THE SAME K-12 FUNDING PROBLEMS WE HAD 10 YEARS AGO.

>> WELL, THE REASON IT ENDED UP ON A BALLOT IN 2016, IN THE FIRST PLACE, WAS TO SETTLE A LONG-RUNNING LAWSUIT OVER EDUCATION FUNDING AND WHETHER THAT -- THE COURT'S RULING THAT THAT VIOLATED A MEASURE FROM 15 YEARS BEFORE, STARTED IN THE GREAT RECESSION WHEN EVERYONE'S BACKS WERE TO THE WALLS AND IT BARELY PASSED WITH PRETTY MUCH EVERYBODY AT CAPITOL SUPPORTING IT.

IT SEEMS LIKE THERE'S SORTED THIS RECOGNITION THAT IF THEY DON'T HAVE SOMETHING THAT EVERYBODY CAN AT LEAST SUPPORT TO SOME EXTENT, IT'S LIKE HAVING DUDE -- SOME POLITICIANS SAYING YES, SOME POLITICIANS SAYING NO IS A REAL PROBLEM WHEN IT GETS TO THE BALLOT.

>> AND MARK MENTIONED THIS IS A BALLOT WHERE REPUBLICANS DON'T NEED THE GOVERNOR'S SIGNATURE.

THEY CAN SEND WHATEVER THEY WANT TO THE BALLOT, WHEN I SPOKE WITH SENATOR J.D.

THE OTHER DAY, ONE OF THE REPUBLICANS WHO THE HOBBS ADMINISTRATION HAS SPOKEN WITH ABOUT, THIS YOU KNOW, I ASKED HIM, I SAID WHY DO YOU NEED TO DEAL WITH THE NINTH FLOOR?

HE SAID, WELL, YOU KNOW, WE WANT ADDITION, NOT CONTRACTION, IT BARELY PASSED 10 YEARS AGO.

WANT AS MUCH SUPPORT AS WE CAN FROM REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS ALIKE, WITH MANY PEOPLE ON BOARD.

DON'T WANT TO SEE IT SQUEAK BY LIKE IT DID IN 2016 ALTHOUGH I THINK 2016 IS PROBABLY A BIT HARDER TO EXPLAIN TO FOLKS.

AGAIN, THE DETAILS ABOUT THE LAND TRUST, THE LAWSUIT.

THIS TIME I THINK THE MESSAGING WILL PROBABLY A LOT CLEARER.

VOTE YES FOR MORE MONEY FOR TEACHERS THAT WILL BE A MUCH MORE POPULAR THING BUT IF YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT IT BETWEEN DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS, NO ONE KNOWS WHAT IT WILL LOOK LIKE IF IT COMES DOWN TO A SPECIAL ELECTION.

YOU WANT TO GET AS MUCH SUPPORT AS YOU CAN.

>> WON'T THAT HURT PERCEPTION IF DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS WORKING TO ON SOMETHING?

>> I THINK IT'S NICE, BUT MAYBE I'M TOO OPTIMISTIC.

I THINK THAT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL.

YOU WANT EVERYBODY WHO COULD POSSIBLY BE LOBBYING FOR THIS DOING THAT TO MAKE SURE THAT IT PASSES BECAUSE OTHERWISE IT'S GOING TO BE A BIG HOLE.

IT MAKES ME NERVOUS TO PREDICT THINGS.

EVERYONE LIKES TEACHERS AND TEACHER SALARIES, IT'S PROBABLY MORE COMFORTABLE KEEPING THE STATUS QUO THAN CREATING A NEW FUNNEL THAT'S COMPLICATED AND MAYBE THEY DON'T PASS.

>>> IN NOVEMBER, YOU MAY HAVE HEARD ABOUT, IT A LOT OF CONGRESSIONAL RACES.

THE DEMOCRATS THOUGHT THEY WERE GOING TO KNOCK OFF SCHWEIKER.

ELON WOODS FINISHED THIRD IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY, DECIDED ALREADY MARCH OF 2025 TO JUMP IN AND RUN AGAIN.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THIS EARLY ENTRY?

>> I MEAN, A LOT OF TIMES WHEN PEOPLE ANNOUNCE EARLY, IT'S AN ATTEMPT TO SORT OF NOT CLEAR THE FIELD, BUT MAKE SURE THAT OTHER CANDIDATES DON'T GET IN, TALKING TO SOME PEOPLE, DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THAT IS GOING TO BE THE CASE.

ANOTHER REASON IS FUNDRAISING, TO BE ABLE TO START RAISING MONEY.

SEALS LIKE SHE'S HAD SOME AMOUNT OF SUCCESS DOING THAT, SO FAR.

SHE SENT OUT A RELEASE WITH -- SHE WAS VERY PLEASED WITH THE AMOUNT OF MONEY SHE RAISED AND THE NUMBER OF DAYS SHE ANNOUNCED.

I'M NOT REALLY SURE WHY ELSE, OTHER THAN LIKE PEOPLE JUST MISS ELECTIONS MAYBE.

IT'S BEEN A FEW MONTHS SINCE SHE'S HAD ONE AND HEARD FROM CANDIDATES.

MAYBE THAT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT.

>> IT TAKES ME BACK A LITTLE BIT -- IT WAS A CLOSE RACE, THE TOP WERE VERY, VERY CLOSE.

YOU WERE HEARING THAT AMISH IS A WHO ACTUALLY GET THE NOMINATION WOULD PROBABLY RUN AGAIN AND HUNTER PROBABLY WON'T.

I GUESS I'M WONDERING, WHO DOES SHE APPEAL TO THAT SHE DIDN'T APPEAL TO IN AUGUST?

>> THAT'S A REALLY GOOD QUESTION.

I MEAN, YOU HAVE -- SHE WAS SEEN BY A LOT OF PEOPLE AS PERHAPS THE MOST -- THE STRONGEST CANDIDATE TO GO AGAINST DAVID SCHWEIKER ESPECIALLY IN A YEAR WHEN DEMOCRATS THOUGHT ABORTION WAS GOING TO BE A REALLY WINNING ISSUE FOR THEM AND SHE COULDN'T MAKE IT OUT OF THE PRIMARIES, YOU REFERENCED.

SO I'M NOT REALLY SURE.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW MANY CANDIDATES ULTIMATELY GET INTO THIS CASE.

OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE A LONGWAYS TO GO BEFORE WE KNOW WHAT THE FIELD WILL LOOK LIKE.

BUT THERE WERE, WHAT, SIX LAST YEAR, MAYBE THAT MANY, MAYBE MORE.

WHO KNOWS.

>> IT'S AN ATTRACTIVE DISTRICT.

I MEAN, IT'S ONE THAT IS KIND OF SEEN AS A SWING DISTRICT.

MAYOR SCHWEIKER WINS EVERY TWO YEARS BUT IT DOES FEELIC THE DEMOCRATS THINK THE RIGHT MODERATE FIGHTER WILL SOMEHOW WIN THE STREET.

>> YES.

AS MENTIONED IN 2022, THEY DIDN'T EXPECT IT TO BE -- THEY WERE VERY, VERY CLOSE TO WINNING WITH THE CANDIDATE NOBODY WAS PUTTING MUCH SUPPORT BEHIND.

TYPICALLY THE MID TERMS FAVOR THE PARTY THAT'S NOT IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

YOU KNOW, THINGS HAVE BEEN VOLATILE, TO SAY THE LEAST.

I THINK WOODS IS HOPING TO CAPITALIZE ON THAT AND PLANT HER FLAG NOW AND LET OTHER FOLKS WHO ARE THINKING ABOUT RUNNING GET IN THERE.

SHE'S PROBABLY HAD THE ARGUMENT OF SAYING, ESPECIALLY WITH SCHWEIKER, YOU KNOW, HE HAD HIS CHANCE LAST TIME AND DIDN'T GET IT DONE.

IN THE GENERAL ELECTION IT CERTAINLY COULD PLAY WELL.

BUT DAVID IS A SURVIVOR.

HE'S IN CONGRESS.

HE FIRST GOT ELECTED IN 2010, YOU KNOW, UP FOR MOST OF HIS CAREER HE DID NOT HAVE A DISTRICT THAT LOOKED LIKE THIS, IT WAS NOT COMPETITIVE LIKE THAT, BUT SO FAR HE'S DONE, YOU KNOW, PRETTY WELL THERE.

SO SO NO MATTER WHAT THE MID TERM LOOKS LIKE, I THINK IT WILL PROBABLY STILL BE A TOUGH RACE.

>> A LOT OF PUNDITS WHEN THIS RACE STARTED WAS BECAUSE ABORTION WAS AN ISSUE IN 2024, WE'RE THINKING, OH, HERE'S THE FEMALE CANDIDATE AND SHE'S GOING TO WIN AND THEN SHE DIDN'T.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THIS STARTING SO CENTER.

>> WOMEN.

>> BUT IT'S MARCH, THE IDEA THAT -- I MEAN, LAST TIME AROUND IT WAS MAY I THINK BEFORE THE ELECTION CAREER.

>> I THINK THAT MAYBE THE DEMOCRATS ARE WATCHING TRUMP BE TRUMP AND, YOU KNOW, BIG AND SCARY TO A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE HE DID THE FIRST TIME AROUND, AND HOPING THAT THE PENDULUM SWINGS BACK LIKE TO DID AFTER HIS FIRST TERM AND I THINK THAT WHAT I SAW FROM HER ANNOUNCEMENT VIDEO WAS A FOCUS ON TRUMP DESTROYING THE WORLD, I'M GOING TO SAVE IT.

AND I THINK MAYBE TO THAT, AS OPPOSED TO THE ABORTION THING, I THINK MAYBE SHE'S BANKING ON THAT BEING A MUCH BETTER SELLING WINNING CAMPAIGN MESSAGE IN TERMS OF HOW SHE DEALS WITH THE OTHER DEMOCRATS, I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THAT, BUT THAT'S FOR US TO DISCOVER IN THE PRIMARY.

I'VE HEARD, I WILL SAY SINCE I MOVED TO ARIZONA FOUR YEARS AGO THAT THIS WAS THE TIME TO DEFEAT HE DAVID SCHWEIKER, AND THEN JENNA WAS GOING TO DO IT.

THEY WERE CLOSE, BUT SCHWEIKER IS JUST, YOU KNOW, HE'S JUST IMMOVEABLE.

>> HE'S A FIGHTER, TOO.

LET'S STICK WITH TRUMP BEING TRUMP.

THEY HOST THE OTHER ATTORNEYS GENERAL WITH THE HIGH SCHOOL BASICALLY TO DISCUSS COMPLAINT BESIDE DOGE.

SO WHAT IS CHRIS MAYS -- HOW MANY LAWSUITS HAS SHE FILED SO FAR?

>> I DON'T EVEN KEEP COUNT.

A LOT OF THEM ARE HER AND JOINING ON WITH A BUNCH OF OTHER PEOPLE FOR THINGS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, BUT THIS IS VERY TYPICAL.

SHE'S A FIGHTER LIKE SWRAWRNZ, AND SHE IS VERY -- LIKE SWAWRNZ, AND VERY CLEAR ABOUT HER PRIORITIES AGAINST TRUMP AND WANTS TO SORT OF STIR UP THE PEOPLE AND MAKE IT CLEAR BY THESE TOWN HALLS THAT ARE THEY'RE GOING TO HOST, THIS IS THE FIRST OF A FEW, THAT PEOPLE ARE UNHAPPY AND PEOPLE ARE SCARED BECAUSE OF THESE LAYOFFS, AND INDICATING ALSO, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING ILLEGAL ABOUT IT, IT'S I THINK POSSIBLY ALSO LAYING THE FRAMEWORK FOR OUR NEXT CAMPAIGNS.

>> SIGNIFICANCE FOR THIS KIND OF EVENT?

>> IT'S GOTTA BE TAKEN INTO CONTEXT WITH EVERYTHING ELSE.

THIS IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THINKING THAT IT DOESN'T SEEM TO REALLY NIT WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S TYPICAL DUTIES FOR HER SO THIS VERY MUCH NITS WITH THE ROLE SHE'S FASTENED HERSELF STARTING IN THE WEEK OF THE ELECTION AND THE LEADER OF THE DEMOCRATIC OPPOSITION TO TRUMP IN ARIZONA.

HOBBS IS THE HIGHEST ELECTED DEMOCRAT IN THE STATE AS GOVERNOR BUT TAKING A MORE CAUTIOUS APPROACH, PICKING AND CHOOSING HER FIGHTS A LITTLE MORE WHEREAS MAYS HAS JUST KIND OF COME DOWN -- I THINK EVERY MORNING SHE WAKES UP AND SAYS HOW AM I GOING TO PUBLICALLY OPPOSE TRUMP TODAY.

>> DO WE HAVE WHIPLASH FROM THE TARIFFS IN CANADA AND MEXICO?

MEXICO IS ARIZONA'S MOST IMPORTANT TRADE PARTNER.

HOW ARE PEOPLE FEELING ABOUT THIS?

>> NOT GREAT.

AND CANADA IS ARIZONA'S SECOND BIGGEST TRADING PARTNER.

SO THAT'S A LOT OF GOODS AND A LOT OF MONEY AT STAKE HERE, AND IN ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT IT SOUNDS LIKE THE TARIFFS ACTUALLY GO INTO EFFECT OR DON'T GO INTO AFFECT, THAT MIGHT CHANGE BY THE TIME WE ALL WAKE UP TOMORROW, WHO KNOWS.

BUT JUST THE UNCERTAINTY.

BUSINESS HATES UNCERTAINTY.

THIS IS NOTHING BUT UNCERTAINTY FOR BUSINESS.

AND A LOT OF THEM ARE NOT THRILLED WITH THIS.

>> WHAT ABOUT THIS CHIPS ACT, IN PRESIDENT TRUMP'S DECREASE CONGRESS THIS WEEK, LET ME QUOTE, THIS IS A HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE LAW.

PEOPLE IN ARIZONA DON'T KNEEL WAY.

>> FOR SURE ARIZONA'S SENATORS DON'T FEEL THAT WAY, AND I'M SURE A LOT OF FOLKS WHO ARE WORKING UP IN NORTH PHOENIX PROBABLY DON'T FEEL THAT WAY EITHER.

>> JEREMY, WHAT ABOUT THE PHRASE SOMETHING IN WE KNOW THAT DONALD TRUMP SAYS A LOT OF THINGS, BUT THIS IDEA THAT THIS HAS BEEN -- AND WAS THIS THE DAY AFTER OR THE DAY BEFORE TFMC ANNOUNCED EVEN MORE INVESTMENT?

>> IT WAS THE DAY AFTER.

TRUMP IS LIKE, THEY DO THIS BECAUSE OF THE TARIFFS NOT BECAUSE OF THE -- OBVIOUSLY THESE THINGS GET SORTED OUT LONG BEFORE THEY ACTUALLY GET ANNOUNCED.

SO I THINK WE'LL SEE SOME OTHER REPORTS THAT SAY IT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS FIGURED OUT AND DETERMINED BEFORE TRUMP ANNOUNCED THE TARIFFS.

EITHER WAY THE CHIPS ACT HAS BROUGHT IN A LOT OF MONEY AND RESULTED -- REGARDLESS OF THE LATEST INSTALLMENT OF THEIR PLAN, IT'S BECAUSE OF THAT, AND, YOU KNOW, THIS HAS BROUGHT A LOT OF EMPLOYMENT HERE.

A LOT OF HIGH TECH, HIGH WAGE TO THE OTHER STATES.

SO WEATHER TRUMP IS ACTUALLY GOING TO TRY MAKE A NEUTRAL APPEAL, I DON'T KNOW THAT WOULD HAVE THE SUPPORT FOR CONGRESS TO ACTUALLY DO, THAT BUT ANOTHER THING HERE, AS MARK MENTIONED, THE CASE OF UNCERTAINTY, YOU KNOW, HAVING THAT POTENTIALLY ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK, THEN A RHETORICAL SENSE, IS JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE UNCERTAINTY BECAUSE THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY ABSOLUTELY LOVES THAT.

>> AND A FEW MORE SECONDS LEFT.

I IMAGINE YOU CAN'T FOLLOW SUIT ON THIS ONE.

>> WELL, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN OR IF IT'S JUST TALK ABOUT A HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE BILL.

I THINK THAT CHIPS HAS IMPACTED ARIZONA IN PARTICULAR.

WE HAVE SO MUCH LIKE RIDING ON THAT IN A WAY, AND IT WASN'T JUST A DEMOCRAT BABY.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF IT'LL GAIN THE TRACTION THAT IT NEEDS.

>> OKAY.

THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.

THAT IS ALL FOR ARIZONA HORIZON TONIGHT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.

>> HELLO, FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS VIEWERS IN ARIZONA HAVE RELIED ON AZ