TED: COMING UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON: AN UPDATE ON THE IRAN WAR AS THE U.S.

AND IRAN ARE EXCHANGING ATTACKS AGAIN.

ALSO TONIGHT: NEW STATEWIDE POLITICAL-POLLING SHOWS SUPPORT FOR INCUMBENTS AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET.

AND A LOOK THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S NEW PLAN FOR EXPANDING COAL MINING ON THE NAVAJO NATION.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE, NEXT, ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

TED: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THE U.S.

AND IRAN WERE BACK EXCHANGING ATTACKS EARLIER THIS WEEK AS THE SIX MONTH LONG WAR SHOWS LITTLE SIGN OF ENDING.

WHAT DOES THIS NEW ROUND OF ATTACKS MEAN TO FINDING AN END TO THE CONFLICT AND AT LEAST THE "HOPE" OF A LASTING PEACE IN THE REGION?

JOINING US NOW IS EVELYN FARKAS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE MCCAIN INSTITUTE AT ASU.

ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> THANK YOU, TED.

TED: ALL RIGHT.

SO THEY ARE AT IT AGAIN.

WE'RE AT IT AGAIN.

UM, IS THERE ANY DIFFERENCE IN THE LATEST BACK AND FORTH WITH AIR ASSAULTS HERE?

>> I DON'T THINK SO, REALLY.

I AM NOT EXACTLY SURE WHAT IS INTENDED HERE EXCEPT TO RETALIATE AGAINST IRAN FOR ATTACKING OUR PERSONNEL IN KUWAIT AND OTHER LOCATIONS, AND THEN OF COURSE, TO TRY TO DETER THE IRANIANS FROM BREAKING THROUGH THE BLOCKADE OR PREVENTING US FROM MAINTAINING THE BLOCKADE, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THAT WILL CHANGE ANYTHING IN THE NEAR TERMS.

THAT IS THE MOST FRUSTRATING THING ABOUT ALL OF THIS.

INDEED, I WANT TO GET BACK TO THAT IN A SECOND HERE.

IT SOUNDS LOOK THOUGH U.S.

MILITARY SAID WE WERE FOCUSING ON MILITARY TARGETS BUT A WEDDING LOOKED LIKE IT WAS HIT.

ANOTHER ONE OF THESE SITUATIONS WHERE A TARGET NOT ACHIEVED.

>> RIGHT.

I MEAN, AT THIS POINT AND TIME, GIVEN THE TECHNOLOGY WE HAVE.

WE SHOULD NOT BE MAKING THESE KINDS OF MISTAKES.

THAT IS FRUSTRATING.

IT GOES TO THE POINT, TED, THAT ACCORDING TO "THE NEW YORK TIMES," OTHER MEDIA ACCOUNTS, OUR GENERALS HAVE SAID TO SECRETARY AND PROBABLY TOLL THE PRESIDENT, THAT, YOU KNOW, THESE ATTACKS DOING MORE MILITARY STRIKES ON THE IRANIANS IS NOT GOING TO CHANGE THE TIDE.

IT IS NOT GOING TO PERSUADE THE IRANIANS TO MAKE A DEAL.

AND IN FACT, WHAT IT IS DOING IS DEPLETING OUR ARSENAL.

>> IT IS MAKING PLACES LIKE JORDAN, KUWAIT, IRAQ AS WELL.

I MEAN, FLEECE THE TARGETS BY IRAN ONCE WE STARTED TARGETING THEM.

>> THAT IS RIGHT.

SO IT IS MAKING IT HARDER FOR THEM IN SOME SENSES TO, YOU KNOW, RALLY TO OUR SIDE, ALTHOUGH, OF COURSE, THEY ARE FRUSTRATED WITH THE IRAN INS WHY.

THE ONLY PROBLEM IS, THAT ALL OF THIS JUST SEEMS VERY INCREMENTAL, TED.

IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE, YOU KNOW, WE WILL GET TO THE ECONOMIC SIDE OF IT.

YOU KNOW, LIKELY TO CHANGE THINGS AGAIN IN THE NEAR TERM.

>> LET'S GET ECONOMIC SIDE OF IT.

U.S.

NAVAL BLOCK AID OF IRANIAN PORTS.

I MEAN, HOW MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE DOES THAT MAKE WHEN CHINA IS STILL BUYING SO MUCH OF IRANIAN OIL?

>> YEAH.

I MEAN, AGAIN, THIS IS THE CASE WHERE IN THE NEAR TERM, NOT THAT MUCH DIFFERENCE, APPARENTLY, THERE IS A FAIR AMOUNT OF IRANIAN OIL STILL FLOATING OUT THERE ON THE INTERNATIONAL WATERWAYS, AND SOP THE CHINESE CAN GET ACCESS TO THIS OIL.

THE CHINESE; HOWEVER, DON'T RELY FULLY ON IRAN.

THEY HAVE A LOT OF OTHER OUTLETS, AND I THINK, I IS ONLY 2% OF THEIR OIL, THAT IS, THAT IS PRODUCED, THAT THEY PURCHASED FROM IRAN.

THE REST OF IT COMES FROM ELSEWHERE BECAUSE THE CHINESE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO AVOID BEING SANCTIONED BY THE UNITED STATES, SO THEY USED SMALLER REFINERIES THAT ARE MORE IMPERVIOUS U.S.

SANCTIONS SO FAR AT LEAST.

I DON'T SEE THINGS CHANGING DRAMATICALLY.

TED: YEAH.

YEAH.

IRAN SEEMS LIKE IT IS QUITE A BIT, IN SOME WAYS , DEPENDENT ON CHINA WITH RAW MATERIALS, TECHNOLOGY, THESE SORTS OF THINGS.

I MEAN, WHAT CAN THE U.S.

DO TO STAUNCH THAT?

>> WELL, THERE, I THINK, YEAH.

BECAUSE, OF COURSE, AS I MENTIONED, CHINA IS NOT RELIANT ON IRAN, BUT THE FLIP SIDE IS TRUE.

SO IRAN MIGHT, AT SOME POINT, FIND, THAT IT IS IN A PINCH.

BUT THE PROBLEM THERE IS THAT THIS IRANIAN REGIME SEEMS TO BE REALLY MUCH MORE SKEWED TOWARD THE HARD-LINERS.

THEY SEEM TO HAVE THE FINAL WORD, WHICH IS TO SAY THE SECURITY FORCES, AND THOSE FORCES DON'T REALLY CARE WHETHER THE IRANIAN PEOPLE, OR THE IRANIAN BUDGET IS BEING SQUEEZED.

WE HAVE TO REMEMBER PLACES LIKE NORTH KOREA, THEY CAN STARVE THEIR PEOPLE.

IRAN IS NOT NORTH KOREA, I THINK WE UNDERESTIMATE THE ABILITY TO OPPRESS THEIR PEOPLE AND PUT THEM UNDER STRESS.

ULTIMATELY, OF COURSE, THE IRANIAN PEOPLE COULD RISE UP, BUT IT WOULD TAKE A LOT FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT AND, AND LET ME JUST MAKE A FINAL POINT ON IT, TED.

WHAT THE IRANIAN REGIME HAS TO DO IS TO MAINTAIN CONTROL IS REALLY FEED THE SECURITY FORCES.

SO THAT IS EASIER, IT IS A SMALLER SUBSET, THAN MAKING SURE THE POPULATION IS WELL-FED.

>> WELL, THEN, I AM GLAD YOU BROUGHT THAT UP.

BECAUSE PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS URGED IRANIANS TO RICE UP AND FIGHT.

WHAT IS THE STATE OF RESISTENCE IN IRAN.

DO WE KNOW RIGHT NOW?

>> WELL, WE PROBABLY DON'T KNOW FULLY BECAUSE THE IRANIANS DO NOT HAVE GOOD ACCESS TO INTERNET.

IN THE BEGINNING OF THIS CURRENT WAR, THE IRANIAN GOVERNMENT CUT OFF, YOU KNOW, GENERAL ACCESS TO THE INTERNET, AND THEY ONLY APPLY IT TO PEOPLE WHO THEY DEEM SUPPORTIVE OF THE REGIME AND MOSTLY THOSE ARE MEMBERS OF THE REGIME.

SO WE DON'T REALLY KNOW THAT MUCH FROM AVERAGE IRANIANS, ALTHOUGH, OBVIOUSLY, SOME INFORMATION DOES GET OUT.

WE KNOW AS THIS PEOPLE REMAIN UNHAPPY WITH THEIR GOVERNMENT.

BUT, THE SECURITY FORCES ARE IN CONTROL.

AND AS LONG AS THEY ARE IN CONTROL.

PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING TO BE WILLING TO PUT THEIR NECKS OUT IN THE LARGE ENOUGH NUMBER, YOU KNOW, FRANKLY, TO TURN THE TIDE, OVERFLOW THIS GOVERNMENT.

>> WELL, REAL QUICKLY.

I SAW REPUBLICAN OPERATIVES SOMEONE WHO MAY HAVE A HIGH POSITION IN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION RELATIVELY SOON SAYING, THIS IS A QUOTE, "WE HAVE ALREADY WON, WE HAVE BEATEN THEM, WE HAVE WON THIS WAR."

ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THAT?

>> LOOK, MILITARILY, WE CERTAINLY WEAKENED THE IRANIAN GOVERNMENT.

AND TOGETHER WITH THE ISRAELIS, WE HAVE WEAKENED HEZBOLLAH, HAMAS, THE PROXIES, BUT WE HAVE NOT DESTROYED THEM.

CERTAINLY THE IRANIAN GOVERNMENT IS BEING LEAD BY MUCH MORE HARD-LINE BEFORE THIS.

YOU KNOW, THEY STILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO RECONSTITUTE THEIR NUCLEAR WEAPONS PROGRAM.

ALTHOUGH, AGAIN, THAT WOULD TAKE A LOT.

SO I DON'T SEE ITS A VICTORY AT THIS POINT AND TIME.

YES, WE HAVE SIGNIFICANTLY WEAKENED IRAN, THERE IS NO VICTORY UNTIL WE GET THEM TO AGREE, THEY WILL FREEZE THE NUCLEAR WEAPONS PROGRAM.

FRANKLY, OF COURSE, IDEALLY, WE WOULD LIKE THEM TO RESPECT THE RIGHTS OF THEIR PEOPLE.

>> LAST QUESTION HERE.

THIS IS WAVELET LEFT FIELD.

IF YOU ARE NOT UP ON THIS, I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND.

WHAT AM I SEEING THIS?

GERMANY IS BLAMING RUSSIA FOR A DRONE ATTACK AT AN AIRPORT IN THE DO YOU KNOW WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT?

>> OH, I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THIS IS ABOUT, TED?

THIS IS REALLY DANGEROUS IN.

THIS IS WHY, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THINGS LIKE THE IRAN WAR, WEAPONS BEING DEPLETED.

WE HAVE TO REMEMBER, THE NUMBER ONE THREAT RIGHT NOW, THE MOST DESPERATE, YOU KNOW, MILITARY POWER, ON THE PLANET AT THE MOMENT, THAT HAS THE ABILITY TO HARM THE UNITED STATES, AND ITS ALLIES, PARTNERS IS RUSSIA.

RUSSIA, RIGHT NOW, IS CONDUCTING THESE OPERATIONS, USING MUNITIONS, THESE ONE OF THESE DRONES WAS ARMED, AND BASICALLY, HIT A CARGO AIRCRAFT THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO DELIVER WEAPONS OR PEOPLE, SOMETHING TO UKRAINE, TO SUPPORT THE WAR.

IT DID NOT DETONATE.

TWO OTHER DRONES WERE FOUND IN THE AIRFIELD.

MIND YOU, THIS IS NOT JUST A MILITARY AIRFIELD.

IT IS ALSO CIVILIAN AIRFIELD.

RUSSIAS PLAYING WITH FIRE HERE LITERALLY.

THERE ARE OVER 140 DIFFERENT ATTACKS THAT RUSSIA HAS CONDUCTED IN EUROPE SINCE 2022.

EVERYTHING FROM ARSON, TO THINGS LOOK THE ARMED DRONES, ASSASSINATION CYBER ATTACKS.

RUSSIAS TESTING EUROPE.

THEY ARE TRYING TO GET EUROPE NOT TO SUPPORT UKRAINE.

BUT IN THE MEANTIME, IT COULD LEAD TO WAR.

THIS IS WHY WE NEED TO SUPPORT UKRAINE, TO BRING THE WAR AND RUSSIA TO AN END ASAP.

I WANT TO, WHEN I READ THIS.

YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING ME.

THE McCAIN INSTITUTE.

THANKS SO MUCH.

IT IS GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> THANK YOU, TED.

LIKEWISE.

♪ ♪ TED: A RECENT STATE-WIDE POLL CONDUCTED BY HIGHGROUND PUBLIC AFFAIRS SHOWS CONSIDERABLE LEADS FOR INCUMBENTS AT OR NEAR THE TOP OF THE TICKET.

THE POLLING SHOWS THAT INDEPENDENTS ARE IN GREAT PART PUSHING DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES AHEAD OF REPUBLICANS AND THAT REPUBLICANS ARE ALSO DEALING WITH, WHAT NOW, APPEARS TO BE A LESS SOLIDIFIED BASE.

TO LEARN MORE, WE WELCOME PAUL BENTZ, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF RESEARCH AND STRATEGY AT HIGHGROUND.

PAUL, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

TED: THANKS FOR DOING THIS.

WE DON'T GET POLLING LIKE WE USED TO.

WHEN WE GET IT, WE GOT TO BRING YOU IN, BECAUSE SOME OF THE NUMBERS WERE SURPRISING.

LET'S START WITH THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.

KATIE HOBBS, 49.5 TO 34.3.

WHAT IS GOING ON?

>> WELL, IT IS ABOUT 15-POINT LEAD RIGHT NOW.

THERE IS A COUPLE OF THINGS TO BEAR IN MIND.

POLLS ARE A SNAP SHOT IN TIME.

I DO EXPECT IT WILL GET CLOSER TO THE ELECTION.

WE HAD AN EARLY PRIMARY.

WOE HAVE A LATE LABOR DAY.

WE ARE IN THIS DOLDRUMS RIGHT NOW.

BUT WHAT WE ARE SEEING FROM THAT DATA IS A COUPLE OF THINGS.

NUMBER ONE, YOU MENTIONED IT ALREADY.

INDEPENDENCE BY LARGE NUMBERS ABOUT 30 POINTS WORTH ARE GOING TOWARD HOBBS RIGHT NOW.

AT THE SAME TIME, BECAUSE IT IS STRUGGLING WITH 90% OF THE REPUBLICAN BASE, NEARLY ONE OUT OF EVERY FIVE REPUBLICANS HAVE NOT MADE UP THEIR MINES IN THAT RACE YET.

I FIND THAT WITH DEMOCRATS, HOBBS IS 93% WHICH IS SOMETHING YOU BEAKS.

YOU WOULD EXPECT, I MEAN, BIGGS WON THE PRIMARY PRETTY BIG PURCHASE SO TO SPEAK.

BUT IT IS NOT TRANSLATING.

>> HE WON, HANDILY, IN FACT, HE WON, BIGGER MARGINS THAN WE HAVE SEEN REPUBLICANS WIN MORE RECENTLY GUBERNATORIAL PRIMARIES HE HAS THE PART OF THE BASE THAT SUPPORTS TRUMPS AND SHOWN UP.

THE CHALLENGES THE GENERAL ELECTION IS A LITTLE BIT BIGGER.

AND THAT CROSSOVER THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT.

HOBBS HAVING 90% PERCENT OF DEMOCRATS USUALLY WE SEE REPUBLICANS AT THAT 90 PLUS% SO THE CROSSOVER VOTE WASHES THEM OUT.

NOW LESS THAN 1% OF DEMOCRATS ARE GOING FOR BIGGS COMPARED TO 12% OF REPUBLICANS FOR HOBBS.

THAT IS REALLY CONTRIBUTING TO THAT LARGE MARGIN WE ARE SEEING RIGHT NOW.

THAT'S THE TRUMP EFFECT, DIDN'T ISN'T.

>> A LITTLE BIT OF THAT.

BIGGS HAS BIT OF A CHALLENGE.

HE HAS GOT TO GET MORE INDEPENDENTS ON HIS SIDE.

THEN RATE THEM, BUT THERE IS STILL A LOT, A LITTLE LACK OF ENTHUSIASM, IN THE REPUBLICANS, WE SAW DURING THE PRIMARY.

WE EXPECTED TURNOUT TO BE 30%.

IT WAS DOWN TO 27%.

I MEAN, 200,000 VIEWER VOTERS THAN EXPECTED SHOWED UP IN THE PRIMARY.

THAT WAS A LOT OF LACK OF REPUBLICAN ENTHUSIASM.

INTERESTING T. ALL RIGHT.

ATTORNEY GENERAL'S RACE.

THAT IS A SURPRISE?

>> WELL, IT IS A SURPRISE BECAUSE MAYES WON SO NARROWLY FOUR YEARS AGO.

THAT IS A SURPRISE FROM EVERYONE.

SHE HAS DONE A GREAT JOB BEING OUT, IN FACT, THIS WEEK TALKING ABOUT DATA CENTERS HAVING HER FINGER ON THE PULSE ON ISSUES LIKE WATER THE THING WE DO SEE.

PETERSON, AMONG ALL THE REPUBLICAN STATEWIDE CANDIDATES WE TESTED AMONG REPUBLICANS.

HE WAS ALMOST AT 80% OF THAT REPUBLICAN NUMBER.

BUT WHAT WE SEE IS ONCE AGAIN, 20% OR SOV INDEPENDENCE RIGHT NOW WITH MAYES.

I WAS GOING TO BRING THAT YOU.

THIS RACE IN PARTICULAR.

THAT IS A LOT OF PENTS GOING IN ONE DIRECTION AS WE SAW IN THE GOVERNOR'S POLLING?

WHAT WE SEE IS AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET.

BASICALLY FOR THE INCUMBENT.

YOU ARE MENTIONED THIS IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S RACE, THE AG'S RACE.

THEY ARE BENEFITING FROM HAVING NAME I.D.

RIGHT NOW.

THE INDEPENDENCE INDEPENDENTS ARE LEANING TOWARD THAT INCH WHEN WE GET DOWN THE BALLOT, THAT REPUBLICAN BUILD-N ADVANTAGE THAT WE USUALLY SEE STARTS TO SWING BACK A LITTLE BIT.

SECRETARY OF STATE.

WE HAD OUR CANDIDATES IN CONVERSATION WITH WEEK WITH A WAS SPIRITED AFFAIR.

43 FOR FONTEZ.

35.3.

INDEPENDENTS, FEMALE VOTERS, YOUNGER VOTERS, BIG.

>> BIG ON ALL THREE OF THOSE.

BOTH SUFFER FROM THE SAME THING WHERE THERE ARE 35% OF THE VOTE.

THEY HAVE THE LACK OF SOLIDIFIED REPUBLICAN SUPPORT PROBABLY BECAUSE OF THE MEGA ALIGNMENT, ALSO, THE CLOSENESS TO TRUMP FOR BOTH OF THEM LEAVES THEM VULNERABLE.

RIGHT NOW, WITH AFFORDABLE, GAS PRICE, THE CONFLICT YOU JUST SPOKE ABOUT.

THOSE ARE REALLY UNPOPULAR WITH PENT VOTERS, AND SO, THOSE WHO ARE CLOSELY ALIGNED WITH TRUMP ON THE TOPICS, RIGHT.

UNFORTUNATELY SEEING NEGATIVE RESULTS WHEN IT COMES TO THE POLLING.

WHEN YOU ARE TAKE SECRETARY OF STATE, CHIEF ELECTIONS OFFICER.

DON'T SOUND LIKE ELECTION WINNERS TO ME, AM I WRONG SNEER.

>> IN FACT BOTH OF THOSE ITEMS ARE UNPOPULAR WITH THE ELECTOR.

VOTE BY MAIL IS INCREDIBLY POPULAR IN THE STATE.

ELECTION DENIAL ITCH IS NOT A WINNING TOPIC.

WE HAVE SIGN THE TIME AND AGAIN.

WE HAVE SEEN MULTIPLE FOLKS LOSE WITH THAT.

THOSE ARE NOT WINNING IDEAS, QUESTIONING THE DEMOCRACY, QUESTIONING THE VERY POPULAR METHODS LIKE VOTE BY MAIL ARE NOT WINNING PROPOSITIONS TO GET THOSE INDEPENDENT VOTERS TO COME YOUR WAY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

TREASURES RIGHT NOW STARTING TO SEE A LITTLE BIT WITHIN THE, YOU KNOW, THE MARGIN OF ERROR.

TED: YEAH.

I WAS FOG GET THERE.

NOT BY MUCH, AGAIN, WHEN DOES ARIZONA ELECT A DEMOCRAT FOR TREASURE?

>> TYPICALLY, THEY DO NOT.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS AS WE GET DOWN THE BALLOT.

THEY FALL WITHIN THE MARGIN OF ERROR.

WHAM WE SEE IS A BUILD-N REPUBLICAN ADVANTAGE.

REPUBLICANS HAVE A REGISTRATION ADVANTAGE BUT A PARTICIPATION ADVANTAGE.

SO PEOPLE AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET ARE PICKING MORE DEMOCRATS THAN USUAL.

YOU ARE GOING TO SEE SOME OF THOSE, REPUBLICANS WHO MAY BE DON'T KNOW, THEY ARE NOT ON THE RACES, LESS INFORMATION, THEY ARE GOING TO START SWINGING BACK TOWARD THE REPUBLICANS.

SO THAT DATA WHILE WE DO SEE NARROW LEALLY LEADS FOR THE DEMOCRATS IS GOING TO BE CLOSE ON THESE.

>> YEAH, KIMBERLY, YEE, THE SHINING OF THE LAST STATEWIDE ELECTION FOR THE REPUBLICANS.

SHE IS RUNNING, SHE IS NOT A AHEAD BY YOUR POLLING OVER TERESA.

I MEAN 42.3 TO 41.

3.

WITHIN THE MARGIN OF ERROR.

BUT TILL, BOY, SHE IS THE BEST CHANCE TO AVOID A SHOUT OUT FOR REPUBLICANS NOW.

THAT IS ACCURATE.

I THINK, WHAT YEE IS A WELL-KNOWN COMMODITY.

SHE'S HAS GOT NAME I.D.

SHE WAS THE STATE TREASURE.

HE WAS ON A LOT OF ADS TALKING ABOUT THINGS SHE HAS DONE.

SHE'S THE MOST KNOWN COMMODITY.

THE LEAST ALIGNED, WE SAW IN THOUGH LAST CYCLE, ABOUT WITH SOME OF THE TRUMP POLICIES THAT MADE, SOME OF THE OTHER FOLKS LESS ELECTABLE SHE HAS A COMPETITIVE CHANCE, WHAT THIS SPEAKS TO RIGHT NOW IN THE PERIOD OF TIME, IN THIS CERTAINLY COULD CHANGE.

THAT REPUBLICANS ARE REALLY STRUGGLING.

THEY ARE STRUGGLING WITH THE FAVORABILITY RATINGS AND STRUGGLING BEING TIED WITH TRUMP AND ANSWERS FOR AFFORDABILITY.

IT IS TAKING IT DOWN THE TICKET.

HAVING AR NEXT TO THE NAME USED TO BE A MASSIVE ADVANTAGE IN THE STATE AND SEEN PROPOSITION.

>> REAL QUICKLY.

THE LAST QUESTION HERE.

SO MANY REPUBLICANS MIGHT SAY THIS NOW.

BUT WHEN YOU GOT THE THING IN FRONT OF YOU.

YOU ARE MAKING IN AND FILLING IN THE LITTLE HOLES EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.

A LOT OF FOLKS REVERT BACK TO THE PARTY DON'T THEY.

IT'S THE ARE CLOSER RACES THAN WE EXPECT.

I MEAN, I AM NOT EXPECTING THESE TO BE DOUBLE-DIGIT BLOWOUTS BUT WHAT WE LOOK AT IS TRENDS RIGHT NOW THE TREND ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE.

THEY ARE DOING QUITE WELL.

KATIE HOBBS IS WINNING THE AIRWAVES GAME.

HE DON'T SEE THE CALVARY COMING OVER THE HILL.

REB IN AS INTO ED A CALVARY THEY NEED SOMEONE TO COME IN TO HELP THEM OUT AND DOESN'T SEEM TO BE HAPPENING AT THE SAME LEVEL WE HAVE SEEN IN THE PAST.

I DOUBT HAVING PRESIDENT TRUMP WILL COME WILL HELP THAT MUCH ACCORDING TO THE NUMBERS SHOW.

PAUL, GREAT WORK.

WE APPRECIATE.

THANK YOU.

♪ ♪ TED: THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS MOVING FORWARD WITH A PLAN THAT ALLOWS THE NAVAJO NATION TO EXPAND A MAJOR COAL MINE ON TRIBAL LAND ALONG WITH ALLOWING MINING TO CONTINUE IN THE REGION FOR ANOTHER 100 YEARS.

THE MOVE IS PART OF THE ADMINISTRATION'S ATTEMPTS TO REVIVE THE AMERICAN COAL INDUSTRY.

GABRIEL PIETRO-RAZIO HAS BEEN COVERING THE STORY, HE'S SENIOR BROADCAST FIELD CORRESPONDENT AT KJZZ NEWS.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

GOOD TO BE BACK.

YEAH.

HOLY SMOKES.

THIS IS NAVAJO.

THAT IS COAL MINING ACTIVITY CAN GO ON FOR 110 YEARS.

>> HOLY SMOKES.

>> 2136.

PROBABLY LONG GONE BY THEN.

>> I AM PRETTY SURE ABOUT THAT.

BUT IT ALSO EXPANDS THIS COAL MINING AND OTHER 12,000ACRES TRUE?

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

THE PLAN IS, THIS IS PREEXISTING MINE.

GENERAL MOTORS USED TO OWN BHP USED TO HAVE IT.

NOW IT IS OWNED BY THE NAVAJO TRANSITIONAL ENERGY COMPANY THAT WAS CREATED BY THE NAVAJO NATION IN 2013 AND OWN THE COAL DEPOSIT.

THEY BELIEVE THEY THERE IS OVER 500MILLION-TONS OF COAL THERE AS PART OF THE EXPANSION PLAN.

THE COMPANY HAS TOLD ME IT WILL NOT BE 110 YEARS OF COAL BIN MINING PAUSE THEY ARGUE THEY WILL HAVE TO GET PERMITS EVERY FIVE YEARS TO MAKE THE UP KEEP BUT EVENTUALLY THAT 12,000ACRES YOU HAD MENTIONED IS PART OF THAT AREA NOW.

>> THE REASON THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION PUSHING THIS IS DENYING HURTS THE U.S.

ENERGY AGENDA, THIS IS A BIG PART OF THE U.S.

ENERGY AGENDA FOR THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

IT IS IT NOT.

>> FOR SURE.

WE HAVE SEEN A LOT OF COAL EXECUTIVE ORDERS.

A LOT OF WORK TOWARD COAL MINING.

A LOT OF ATTENTION ON THIS INDUSTRY THAT SOME PEOPLE SEE AS ANTIQUATED.

THAT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE COAL WAS THE MOST DOMINANT ENERGY SOURCE IN THE COUNTRY WAS 1509'S OR 60'S OR SO LEADING AT THE TABLE OF THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION TO NOW.

AND WHAT WE ARE SEEING!

IN NORTHERN ARIZONA, WE VERY A LONG LINGERING COMPLICATED COAL MINING WITH NAVAJO NATION AND THE TRIBE SO THIS IS LIKE A RENEWAL OR REVIVAL A COAL REVIVAL IN SOME WAYS, UM, THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO GET THIS PERMIT APPROVED UNITED NATIONS THE ADMINISTRATION.

>> IT SOUNDS LIKE, AS WELL, THIS WOULD REVIVE, HELP REVIVE, OR KEEP GOING THE NAVAJO ECONOMY UP THERE WHICH IS A MAJOR PART.

TRUE.

>> THAT IS TRUE.

ITS THE ECONOMIC BEDROOM OF THE NAVAJO NATION, THIS MINE IN PARTICULAR.

THE NAVAJO MINE HAS BEEN RUNNING SINCE 1963, SO THAT HAS BEEN SOLELY SUPPLYING DOLE THE FOUR CORNERS POWER PLANT WHICH IS OWNED BY APS AS WELL AS ELECTRIC POWER.

SRP, THE PUBLIC NEW MEXICO CORPORATION IS ALSO PART OF THAT.

THEY ARE STAKEHOLDERS IN IT.

THEY HAVE TOLD US THEY ARE GOING TO DIVEST WITHIN THE COMING YEARS, THAT LEASE SET TO EXPIRE IN 2041 SO THAT FA FACILITIES AGING ON THE WAY OUT.

I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU.

WHAT THIS MEANS.

THIS STUFF GOES, I WOULD IMAGINE GOES THERE FOR THE MOST PART.

DOES IT GO.

>> EXCLUSIVELY.

IT IS EXCLUSIVE.

SO WHAT DOES THAT DO AS FAR AS THE PLANT'S FUTURE.

>> WELL, INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH.

IN THE FINAL RECORD OF DECISION IN THE OFFICE.

THE FEDS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THEY DON'T KNOW HOW THE NEXT BUYER IS OF THIS COAL.

AND THEY SAY, THAT CANDIDLY AS PART OF THE DECISION TO GRANT THE PERMIT, THEY SAID AFTER 2041 WE DON'T KNOWHOWS THE NEXT BUYER COULD BE.

THE COMPANY HAS DISCLOSED IN PREVIOUS NAVAJO COUNCIL MEETINGS THAT THEIR MAJORITY OF THEIR CUSTOMERS ARE BASED IN ASIA, ACTUALLY, SOUTH KOREA, PLACES LIKE JAPAN, AND EXPANDED IN PLACES LIKE MALAYSIA, TAIWAN, VIETNAM, THERE IS A GREAT DEMAND FOR COAL, AND ENERGY PRODUCTION, THAT MAY NOT BE AS CLEAN AS OTHER SOURCES, AND THEY CONSIDER THEMSELVES TO BE THE THIRD LARGEST COAL PRODUCER IN THE COUNTRY AND OWN MINES IN MONTANA, WYOMING AS WELL.

OK.

THE GOVERNOR SIGNED A FIVE-YEAR PACT WITH TRIBAL LEADERS WHERE DOES THIS FIT WIN THAT.

WELL, THINK, IT WATTS RESPONSE TO THE CONCERNS OF NAVAJO MEMBERS BRINGING ATTENTION TO A PANEL WE HAD WHERE SIX DAYS OR SO AFTER THAT, WE ASKED WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF THE COUNTRY THIS THE RESPONSE WAS, THIS FROM THE HOBBS ADMINISTRATION THE NAVAJO NATION AND ALL THE PANELISTS SAID THERE IS NO FUTURE FOR COAL IN THE NAVAJO NATION.

THAT WAS THE RESPONSE.

IT CONCERNED A LOT OF PEOPLE THERE ARE A LOT OF COALMINERS AND A LOT OF POM WHO DEPEND ON THIS FOR A DAILY LIVING SO THE ADMINISTRATION IS LOOKING AT MONITORING THE CLOSURE OF COAL MINES, AND COAL FIRED POWER PLANTS WITHIN THE FOUR CORNERS REGION AND LOOKING TO SUPPORT COALMINERS WHO MAY POTENTIALLY LOSE THEIR JOB ONE DAY, AND FIND WORK ELSEWHERE EVENTUALLY.

REAL QUICKLY HERE.

THIS 12,000-ACRE EXPANSION IN THE 110 YEAR EXPANDED LEASING, THAT IS A DONE DEAL?

IS IT CLOSE TO A DONE DEAL?

IT IS DONE IN THE EYES OF THE FED.

SO THE DECISION HAS BEEN MADE.

THROUGH THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT AND EVENTUALLY, NOW, THERE IS LIKE IMPLEMENTATION PHASE, AND THIS WILL LEAD ALSO TO THIS DISPLACEMENT OF NAVAJO FAMILIES SO THERE IS COMMUNITY LESS THAN 200 OR SO RESIDENTS NEAR SHIP ROCK NEW MEXICO JUST NORTH OF GALLOP, 5-MILES THERE.

I MET WITH THE FAMILIES WHO MAY LOSE THEIR HOMESITES EFFECT LIFE BECAUSE OF THIS DECISION THEY WILL BE PERMANENTLY DISPLAYED ALONG WITH THE LIVESTOCK AND OTHER ANIMALS AS WELL AS THE MINE CONTINUES TO GROW.

A YEAH.

YES.

>> GABRIEL, GOOD WORK ON THIS AND WE'LL KEEP AN EYE ON IT.

OBVIOUSLY, THERE IS MOOR TO COME.

THANKS.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

>> I AM TED SIMONS.

THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.