>> COMING UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON: COVID-SHOTS FOR HEALTHY YOUNGER ADULTS AND CHILDREN WILL NO LONGER BE ROUTINELY APPROVED... ALSO TONIGHT: THE IMPACT OF AN EXECUTIVE ORDER AIMED AT LOWERING THE PRICE OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS IN THE U.S.... AND THE PHOENIX GAY MEN'S CHORUS CELEBRATES ITS 34TH SEASON.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE, NEXT, ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THE U.S. HOUSE PASSED PRESIDENT TRUMP'S DOMESTIC AGENDA OVERNIGHT.

THE BILL MOST NOTABLY CUTS TAXES ADDS TO FEDERAL DEFICITS AND MAKES CUTS TO MEDICAID.

PASSAGE IN THE HOUSE MEANS THE BILL NOW GOES ON TO THE SENATE, WHERE THERE IS SOME REPUBLICAN OPPOSITION.

>> AND BORROWING THIS MONEY JUST ISN'T FISCALLY CONSERVATIVE.

I'VE TOLD HIM I CAN SUPPORT THE PACKAGE IF THEY SEPARATE THE DEBT CEILING.

I WANT NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT.

I DIDN'T VOTE FOR THE SPENDING.

I DIDN'T VOTE FOR THE DEBT AND NOT WILLING TO VOTE ON PEOPLE WHO WANT IT.

>> SOME OF THE FREEDOM CAUCUS PEOPLE ARE SAYING NOT TO WATER DOWN ANY OF YOUR CUTS.

WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THEM?

>> YOU HAD YOUR CHANCE.

SOME OF THESE CUTS ARE NOT REAL, AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OVER A DECADE, YOU KNOW.

IF YOU DO A TRADE AND A HALF, IT'S LIKE A PERCENT AND A HALF.

SO LET'S DON'T GET HIGHER ON A HORSE HERE THAT WE'VE SOMEHOW MADE SOME MAJOR ADVANCEMENT OF REDUCING SPENDING, BECAUSE WE DIDN'T.

>> THE HOUSE BILL'S IMPACT ON ARIZONA INCLUDES CUTS TO FOOD STAMPS AND MONTHLY FOOD ASSISTANCE.

IN ARIZONA, CLOSE TO 900,000 PEOPLE RECEIVE THAT ASSISTANCE.

AND, CUTS TO MEDICAID COULD MEAN UP TO 300,000 ARIZONANS COULD LOSE THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE.

THAT'S OUT OF ABOUT 2 MILLION PEOPLE WHO USE MEDICAID IN ARIZONA.

RESPONSE TO THE BILL SPLIT ALONG PARTY LINES: DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN GREG STANTON CALLED IT A, QUOTE, "REPUBLICAN TAX SCHEME THAT LOWERS TAXES FOR BILLIONAIRES WHILE THE POOREST AMERICANS FOOT THE BILL."

BUT REPUBLICAN JUAN CISOMONI, FROM A COMPETITIVE DISTRICT IN SOUTHERN ARIZONA, THANKED PRESIDENT TRUMP ADDING THAT THE BILL DOES A, QUOTE "MUCH BETTER JOB OF GETTING OUR SPENDING UNDER CONTROL AND PRIORITIZING THE THINGS THAT TRULY MATTER TO THE HARD-WORKING TAXPAYER."

OTHER HEADLINES: THE U.S. SUPREME COURT TODAY REJECTED A PLAN TO ALLOW OKLAHOMA TO USE GOVERNMENT MONEY TO RUN WHAT WOULD BE THE NATION'S FIRST RELIGIOUS CHARTER SCHOOL.

IT WAS A 4-TO-4 DECISION, WITH JUSTICE AMY CONEY BARRETT RECUSING HERSELF DUE TO HER CLOSE FRIENDSHIP WITH AN ADVISER TO THE SCHOOL.

THE DEADLOCK ALLOWS AN EARLIER RULING BY THE OKLAHOMA SUPREME COURT TO STAND.

IT ALSO MEANS THAT THERE'S NO SUPREME COURT PRECEDENT ON THE QUESTION OF STATE-SPONSORED AND FINANCED RELIGIOUS AND CHARTER SCHOOLS.

AND THAT MEANS THE JUSTICE ALSO LIKELY SEE A SIMILAR CASE IN THE FUTURE.

EXISTING HOME SALES IN THE U.S. FELL HALF-A-PERCENT LAST MONTH.

THAT'S DOWN 2% FROM A YEAR AGO AND IT'S THE LOWEST PACE FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL SINCE 2009.

INVENTORY IS UP, BUT BUYERS FACE HIGH PRICES AND MORTGAGE RATES NEAR 7%, THE HIGHEST LEVEL IN THREE MONTHS.

AND INVESTIGATORS ARE LOOKING AT DENSE FOG AS THE LIKELY CAUSE OF A SMALL PLANE CRASH INTO A RESIDENTIAL AREA OF SAN DIEGO LAST NIGHT.

SIX PEOPLE ON BOARD THE PLANE ARE REPORTED KILLED, WITH A NUMBER OF OTHERS INJURED.

AT LEAST EIGHT HOMES CAUGHT FIRE IN TIERRA-SANTA NEIGHBORHOOD.

ABOUT 100 RESIDENTS HAD TO BE EVACUATED.

THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION SAYS THAT ANNUAL COVID-19 SHOTS FOR HEALTHY YOUNGER ADULTS AND CHILDREN WILL NO LONGER BE ROUTINELY APPROVED.

IT'S A MAJOR POLICY SHIFT THAT ALSO INCLUDES DRUG COMPANIES CONDUCTING MORE EXTENSIVE STUDIES BEFORE APPROVING VACCINE UPDATES.

FOR MORE ON THIS, WE WELCOME DR. BOB ENGLAND, HE'S THE FORMER DIRECTOR OF THE MARICOPA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

AND OFTEN A FREQUENT GUEST ON ARIZONA MORE RISE SONS.

GREAT TO SEE YOU.

WHAT ARE WE TALKING ABOUT, WHAT IS THIS ALL ABOUT?

>> WELL, THE FIRST THING FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW IS HOW UNUSUAL THIS PRACTICE IS.

THE FDA AND THE CDC BOTH HAVE ADVISORY COMMITTEES REGARDING VACCINES.

THE FDA'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE LOOKS AT CLINICAL TRIAL DATA, DECIDES WHETHER A VACCINE SEEMS TO BE SAFE AND EFFECTIVE, AND MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE FDA REGARDING LICENSED, THAT GETS THE VACCINE LICENSED.

AND THEN THE CDC COMMITTEE LOOKS AT REAL WORLD INFORMATION, EPIDEMIOLOGY, WHO'S GETTING SICK, WHO'S GETTING MORE SICK, WHO SEEMS TO BE SPREADING THE DISEASE, AND MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS ABOUT WHO SHOULD GET VACCINE.

AND BASED ON THAT, ONCE THE CDC HAS APPROVED THOSE GUIDELINES, THEN INSURERS WILL PAY FOR THAT VACCINE.

>> IS THAT WHAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION SAYS WHAT WAS ROUTINELY -- DID THEY CALL THAT ROUTINE?

I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT "ROUTINE" MEANS.

>> HERE'S WHAT HAPPENED.

TWO DAYS BEFORE THE FDA'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE WAS TO MEET -- THEY MET TODAY TO DISCUSS NEXT YEAR'S COVID VACCINE.

TWO DAYS BEFORE THEY WERE TO MEET, THEY MADE AN ANNOUNCEMENT THAT FROM NOW ON ONLY PEOPLE OVER 65 YEARS OF AGE -- THE VACCINE WOULD ONLY BE LICENSED FOR PEOPLE OVER 65 YEARS OF AGE OR PEOPLE WHO HAD CERTAIN CHRONIC CONDITIONS.

REALLY INTERESTING EXCEPTIONS TO THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE OBESE ARE STILL ON THE LIST.

PEOPLE WHO ARE OVERWEIGHT, WHO ARE ALSO AT HIGHER RISK, WERE NOT INCLUDED.

PEOPLE WHO TAKE CARE OF VERY SUSCEPTIBLE PEOPLE AT HOME, CAREGIVERS, WERE NOT ON THE LIST.

WE'VE BEEN RECOMMENDING TO PEOPLE SINCE THE BEGINNING THAT IF THEY'RE AROUND REALLY VULNERABLE PEOPLE, THEY SHOULD GET THE VACCINE SO THEY'RE LESS LIKELY TO TRANSMIT IT.

HEALTHCARE WORKERS ARE NOT ON THE LIST.

SO NEXT COVID SEASON, IF YOU'RE A HEALTHCARE WORKER, YOU'RE GOING TO BE TOLD, YOU NEED TO TAKE CARE OF THOSE COVID PATIENTS BUT WE'RE NOT GONNA LET YOU GET THE SHOT.

>> THAT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE, DR. BOB.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT.

>> I HEAR YOU.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING ABOUT THIS, THOUGH, IS THAT THIS DECISION WAS MADE BEFORE THE FDA'S COMMITTEE MET AGAIN AND NEXT MONTH THE CDC'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON IMMUNIZATION PRACTICES MEETS.

THEY PREEMPTED BOTH OF THOSE, AND ESSENTIALLY TWO OFFICIALS AT THE FDA, WHO ARE APPOINTED OFFICIALS, ESSENTIALLY POLITICAL APPOINTMENTS, THEY'RE DOCS, THEY'RE SMART PEOPLE.

IT'S NOT LIKE THEY'RE NOT EDUCATED.

AND THEY MAKE SOME INTERESTING ARGUMENTS, THAT SOUND REALLY GOOD, BUT THESE FOLKS CIRCUMSTANCE VENTED THE USUAL OPEN MEETING ADVISORY PROCESS WHERE EVERYBODY GETS TO HAVE A SAY.

>> AND BACK TO THE IDEA OF YOUNG ADULTS, HEALTHY PEOPLE, WHO DECIDES WHO IS HEALTHY?

HOW IS "HEALTHY" DEFINED HERE?

>> THERE'S A LIST OF HIGHER RISK CONDITIONS, WHICH THERE'S GOOD EPIDEMIOLOGICAL DATA THAT YOU TEND TO GET INTO MORE TROUBLE ONCE YOU HAVE COVID.

MOST OF IT MAKES SENSE.

MOST OF THE USUAL DISEASES AND CONDITIONS ARE ON THERE.

BUT IF A MANUFACTURER WANTS THEIR VACCINE TO BE LICENSED IN YOUNGER, HEALTHIER, MAYBE EVEN SOMEWHAT HIGH RISK PEOPLE, BUT NOT ON THE LIST, THEY'RE GONNA HAVE TO DO A CLINICAL TRIAL WITH CLINICAL END POINTS.

NOT DID THE VACCINE GIVE ANTI-BODIES.

DID YOU GET SICK FROM COVID THE NEXT TIME THE DISEASE WENT AROUND.

YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO DO IT WITH PLACEBOS EVEN THOUGH WE KNOW IT GOT A SAFE AND EFFECTIVE VACCINE.

AND YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO DO IT ON THE SPECIFIC VARIANT THAT YOUR VACCINE IS FOR.

OFTEN, IT WILL BE A DIFFERENT VARIANT EVERY YEAR.

>> YES.

>> SO FAR.

SO THE POINT IS, YOU CAN'T DO THAT TRIAL UNTIL IT'S CIRCULATING.

THAT'S GONNA BE THE NEXT BIG RESPIRATORY DISEASE SEASON.

YOU'LL GET YOUR DATA, YOU'LL SUBMIT IT TO FDA, AND BY THE TIME IT'S APPROVED, NOW IT'S A DIFFERENT VARIANT.

>> I MEAN, DID THE IDEA BEHIND THE BOOSTERS FOR COVID WAS TO GET WHAT WAS NEW, GET IT EARLY, GET IT OUT QUICK, IT SOUNDS LIKE ANYTHING BUT GETTING IT OUT EARLY AND GETTING IT OUT -- YOU COULD BE A CYCLE BEHIND.

>> YOU WILL BE, MOST LIKELY, A CYCLE BEHIND.

BY BIGGEST CONCERN WITH THIS IS THAT THE VERY SAME LOGIC, IF YOU WANT TO SAY THAT YOU NEED A FULL-BLOWN CLINICAL TRIAL TO CLINICAL END POINTS FOR EACH VARIANT OF COVID, YOU COULD -- THE SAME LOGIC COULD APPLY TO FLU.

SO THAT THE NEXT SHOE TO DROP MAY BE YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO STUDY YOUR FLU VACCINE FROM THE BEGINNING, SPECIFIC TO THIS YEAR'S CIRCULATING FLU VIRUS, BY WHICH TIME -- YOU KNOW, BY THE NEXT YEAR, IT'S A DIFFERENT ONE.

>> YEAH.

REAL QUICKLY, THE ADMINISTRATION'S RESPONSE IS THAT THE U.S. WAS TOO AGGRESSIVE.

THAT'S THEIR WORDS -- TOO AGGRESSIVE IN PROMOTING BOOSTERS.

AND I BELIEVE RFK, THIS IS A QUOTE, DON'T KNOW A HEALTHY 52-YEAR-OLD WOMAN WITH NORMAL BMI WHO'S HAD COVID THREE TIMES AND RECEIVED PREVIOUS VACCINE SHOTS SIX TIMES WILL BENEFIT FROM A SEVENTH DOSE.

>> YOU DON'T KNOW.

AND THAT'S A LEGIT ARGUMENT.

BUT THAT HAS TO BE PUT IN CONTEXT WITH ALL THE EVIDENCE THAT IS STILL BEING COLLECTED.

EACH TIME THERE'S A BUMP IN THE CASES OF COVID, THERE'S A LOT OF DATA BEING COLLECTED.

YOU HAVE TO PUT IT IN CONTEXT WITH ALL THAT AND HAVE A LOT OF VERY SHARP BE MINDS WEIGH IN ON IT.

AND THAT'S WHY THEY'VE ALWAYS USED THIS COMMITTEE PROCESS.

>> SO, AGAIN, THE ONE SIZE FITS ALL, YOU THINK THEY'VE GOT A VALID POINT HERE, THAT THE ONE SIZE FITS ALL MAY NOT BE THE BEST, BUT MAYBE THE RIGHT MESSAGE, WRONG MESSAGE CENTER.

>> MAYBE.

I MEAN, THEY ARE LEGIT POINTS TO DEBATE.

MANY COUNTRIES HAVE A VERY DIFFERENT SCHEDULE THAN WE DO.

BUT -- FOR EXAMPLE, THE U.K., I WAS LOOKING, THEY OBVIOUSLY INCLUDE HEALTHCARE WORKERS AND CAREGIVERS AS TARGETS FOR THEIR COVID VACCINE.

>> YEAH.

>> DR. BOB ENGLAND, FORMER DIRECTOR OF THE MARICOPA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, IT IS ALWAYS A PLEASURE, VERY INTERESTING STUFF.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> GREAT TO BE HERE.

THANK YOU.

>> PRESIDENT TRUMP RECENTLY SIGNED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT SETS A 30-DAY DEADLINE FOR DRUG-MAKERS TO LOWER THE COST OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS IN THE U.S.

IF THE DEADLINE ISN'T MET, DRUG PRICES WILL BE TIED TO LOWER PRICES PAID BY OTHER COUNTRIES.

JOINING US NOW IS SWAPNA REDDY ASSISTANT DEAN OF ASU'S COLLEGE OF HEALTH SOLUTIONS.

GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> NICE TO SEE YOU.

THIS IS KIND OF CONFUSING.

DID I GET THAT RIGHT?

>> MORE OR LESS.

MORE OR LESS.

WE RECEIVED AN EXECUTIVE ORDER LAST WEEK BY PRESIDENT TRUMP, AND BASICALLY WHAT HE STATED IS THAT HE WANTS THE UNITED STATES TO JOIN IN THE MOST FAVORED NATION STATUS FOR DRUG PRICING IN THE WORLD.

SEEMS LIKE AN A LOTTABLE GOAL.

AND THE WAY TO DO IT IS HE DIRECTED DRUGMAKERS TO REDUCE ALL OF THEIR NON-GENERIC PRICES OF DRUGS TO MATCH THOSE OF THE SAME DRUG PRICES IN PEER NATIONS, SO OTHER DEVELOPED NATIONS, AND BASICALLY SAID IN THE NEXT 30 DAYS, THE SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, KENNEDY, WOULD SET TARGETS FOR THOSE PRICES, AND THEN THE PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES WOULD NEED TO VOLUNTARILY MEET THOSE PRICES, AND IF NOT, THERE MIGHT BE SOME REPERCUSSIONS.

>> REPERCUSSIONS LIKE FEDERAL INVESTIGATION AS SOON AS.

>> YOU GOT IT.

FEDERAL INVESTIGATIONS.

MAYBE DIRECT CONSUMER SALES.

IMPORTING DRUGS, ET CETERA.

NOT A LOT OF CLEAR DIRECTIVES ON WHAT THOSE REPERCUSSIONS WOULD BE, AND NOT REALLY A CLEAR TIMELINE EITHER.

>> DRUGMAKERS SAY THAT IF THIS AFFECTS PROFITS, THIS AFFECTS RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT.

HAVE THEY GOT A POINT?

>> DRUG MAKERS HAVE BEEN SAYING THAT FOR A LONG TIME IN THE UNITED STATES, THAT ONE OF THE REASONS WHY OUR PRICES ARE SO HIGH IS THAT THOSE PRICES HELP TO SUBSIDIZE ALL OF THE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT THAT TAKE PLACE IN THE UNITED STATES.

NOW, THE MORE RECENT EVIDENCE, AS IN THE LAST 15 TO 20 YEARS, DOESN'T NECESSARILY SUPPORT OUR STEEP CLIMB IN DRUG PRICES TO THE COST OF R AND D, BUT DEFINITELY THAT IS THEIR POSITION, AND THEY WILL LIKELY HOLD ON TO THAT POSITION ALL THE WAY TO COURT.

>> DOES IT GIVE FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS, THOUGH, THE UPPER HAND IN TERMS OF MEDICAL COSTS HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.

>> >> SO THAT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT POINT.

I MEAN, WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHO THOSE PEER COUNTRIES ARE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT COUNTRIES LIKE FRANCE, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE U.K., WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CANADA, ET CETERA.

WHAT DO ALL OF THOSE COUNTRIES AND THEIR HEALTH SYSTEMS HAVE IN COMMON IS THEY ALL HAVE SOME FORM OF SOCIALIZED OR NAGSIZED HEALTHCARE.

ALL OF THOSE KINGS DIRECTLY NEGOTIATE THEIR DRUG PRICES OR THEY SET DRUG PRICE CAPS, RIGHT, THEY CLOSELY CONTROL THE COST OF MEDICATION.

SO WE DON'T -- IT'S NOT -- DRUG PRICES ARE NOT LIKE A BOOK IN A SHELF AND WE CAN DECIDE TO PICK THAT OUT OF THE SHELF AND SAY WE WANT TO DO IT JUST LIKE THAT.

IT'S PART OF A LARGER HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, RIGHT?

>> YES.

AND SO THOSE COUNTRIES, CERTAINLY WHATEVER THOSE PRICES ARE, OUR PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES COULD PULL OUT OF THOSE COUNTRIES.

AND WE'RE COMPLETELY DEPENDENT ON WHAT THOSE COUNTRIES SAY THE COST OF THOSE MEDICATIONS ARE.

>> AND WHERE DOES MEDICARE AND AS IT STANDS MEDICAID FIT INTO ALL THIS.

>> THAT'S ANOTHER INTERESTING POINT.

IN THE EXECUTIVE ORDER, IT NEVER SAID WHO DOES THIS APPLY, TO WHICH SYSTEM DOES THIS APPLY TO.

OUR U.S. HEALTHCARE SYSTEM IS A BUNCH OF SYSTEMS COBBLED TOGETHER.

ARE WE TALKING ABOUT MEDICARE, MEDICAID, WE TALKING ABOUT THE PRIVATELY INSURED, THE UNDERINSURED, THE UNINSURED?

WHO ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CAN NEGOTIATE DRUG PRICES WITH MEDICARE, WHICH BY THE WAY WE ONLY STARTED DOING DURING THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, THAT WAS A RECENT ACT.

WE GENERALLY DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THAT WITH PRIVATE HEALTH -- PRIVATE PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES.

THAT REALLY NEEDS TO BE SOMETHING THAT CONGRESS DOES.

>> BUT AGAIN, THESE PRIVATE INSURANCE COMPANIES, WHAT DO WE EXPECT TO SEE FROM THEM?

HOW ARE THEY GOING TO RESPOND?

>> THEY HAVEN'T RESPONDED PARTICULARLY FAVORABLY ABOUT THE EXECUTIVE ORDER.

WE'RE NOT SEEING A WHOLE RUSH TO VOLUNTARILY REDUCE THEIR PRICES.

WE DON'T KNOW, BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF INFORMATION ON WHAT TIME THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO RESPONDING.

WHAT THAT RESPONSE IS SUPPOSED TO LOOK LIKE.

SO TBD ON THAT ONE.

BUT WHAT ALL OF THE EXPERTS ARE LARGELY SAYING IS EXPECT TO SEE LOTS OF LITIGATION AND LOTS OF PUSH-BACK AND FORTH.

>> AND HOW LONG DOES SOMETHING LIKE THAT -- THAT COULD TAKE QUITE A WHILE.

>> YEARS AND YEARS, RIGHT.

EVEN IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS, BEST-CASE SCENARIO, COULD TAKE YEARS AND YEARS.

WHAT I THINK THIS REALLY IS, THOUGH, A REFLECTION OF OUR LARGER FEELING IN THE PUBLIC, PLUS THE FACT THAT FOLKS, 82% ARE GENERALLY UNHAPPY WITH THE HEALTHCARE AND ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE AND MEDICATION, AND WHAT I THINK THIS DOES IS REALLY SPEAK TO THIS LARGER UNHAPPINESS.

ARE THE DETAILS AVAILABLE HERE?

IS THIS GOING TO ACTUALLY ADDRESS IT THE WAY THAT IT'S SAYING IT'S GOING TO ADDRESS IT?

TBD, BUT NOT ENOUGH DETAILS TO SUPPORT THAT.

>> IS THERE ANOTHER WAY -- I UNDERSTAND THAT.

I THINK IT'S A VALID POINT.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD THINK IT'S A VALID POINT.

BUT DO YOU SAY SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS SEE THAT OVER THERE, THEY'RE CHARGING X, I WANT YOU TO CHARGE -- THAT SEEMS VERY SIM SIMPLISTIC.

IS THERE ANOTHER WAY TO DEAL WITH THIS?

>> SO I THINK WHERE THE REAL OPPORTUNITY HERE LIES AND HOPEFULLY WE'LL SEE IS IS A CONVERSATION, A REAL NATIONAL CONVERSATION FROM THE LEGISLATIVE PERSPECTIVE, IN THE PLACE WHERE -- THAT'S INTENDED TO MAKE LAWS, WHICH IS CONGRESS, IN TERMS OF HOW CAN WE LEGISLATIVELY MAKE CHANGES IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO BETTER REGULATE THE COST OF DRUGS?

HOW CAN WE CONTROL OUR DRUG COSTS SIMILAR TO WHAT WE'VE RECENTLY STARTED DOING WITH MEDICARE NEGOTIATIONS?

WE MIGHT SOON BE ABLE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION NOW AROUND PRIVATE PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES.

>> YOU THINK THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN?

>> I'M HOPEFUL THAT THIS WILL SPARK A POSITIVE CONVERSATION IN THAT WAY.

>> WELL, WE'LL SEE IF IT WILL.

SWAPNA READY, MY GOODNESS, SO MUCH GOING ON IN THE HEALTH FIELD, GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE TO EXPLAIN IT.

>> MY PLEASURE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> YOU BET.

>> THE PHOENIX GAY MEN'S CHORUS IS CELEBRATING 34 SEASONS OF SONG ALONG WITH ITS FIRST YEAR WITH ANEW ARTISTIC DIRECTOR.

THE FINAL PERFORMANCE OF THE SEASON CALLED "RHINESTONE RODEO," AND IT'S SET FOR NEXT MONTH, WHICH IS PRIDE MONTH.

JONING US NOW: ANTONIO LOZANO THE CHORUS'S NEW ARTISTIC DIRECTOR.

AND BENJAMIN PLATT, THE SMALL GROUP SECTION LEADER OF THE CHORUS.

LE GUYS, GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE, THANKS FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING US.

>> TONY, I'LL START WITH YOU.

THE RHINESTONE RODEO SHOW.

WHAT'S THAT ALL ABOUT?

>> LONG STORY, BUT, IT'S BASICALLY TAKE EVERYTHING COUNTRY AND BRINGING IT TO LIFE OUR WAY, YOU KNOW, PUTTING A LITTLE PIZAZZ ON IT.

>> YEAH, A LITTLE PIZAZZ, A LITTLE CAMP, A LITTLE FUN?

A LITTLE SONG, A LITTLE DANCE, HUH?

>> IT'S GONNA BE A LOT OF FUN.

THERE'S SOME REALLY COOL SONGS FROM LIKE DOLLY PARTON AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

THEY'RE GONNA JUST BRING IT UP.

>> LOTS OF COUNTRY MUSIC.

>> ALL COUNTRY.

>> HOW DID THIS PARTICULAR IDEA START?

>> WE HAVE AN ARTISTIC COMMITTEE, SO THERE IS A BUNCH OF MEMBERS THAT COME TOGETHER AND THEN WE JUST ALL GET TOGETHER AND THROW IDEAS OUT, AND IN OUR ARTISTIC COMMITTEE, ONE OF THE MEMBERS ARE LIKE, CAN WE JUST DO SOMETHING THAT KIND OF NEVER REALLY HAS BEEN DONE OUT HERE, AND I WAS LIKE, WHAT?

AND THEY'RE LIKE, LET'S DO COUNTRY.

AND I WAS LIKE, OKAY.

I'M EASY.

>> YEAH.

YEAH.

WELL, WAS THIS GUY -- DID EVERYONE THINK THIS WAS A GOOD IDEA?

>> WE DIDN'T REALLY -- NO.

NO PUSH-BACK.

IT WAS A GOOD TURN-OUT FOR LIKE SUPPORT IN THAT PARTICULAR AREA.

>> BUT YOU'VE GOTTA HAVE THAT, DON'T YOU?

YOU DON'T WANT GRUMPY GUS SITTING IN THE BACK.

>> NO, I'D GET RID OF THEM.

>> YEAH.

I GUESS YOU CAN DO THAT.

SO IT STARTS IN 1991.

WHAT WAS THE GOAL BEHIND THE CHORUS?

>> WELL, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT INCLUSION.

IT'S ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT ACCEPTING EVERYONE, WHICH IS JUST WHAT WE'RE ABOUT, ESPECIALLY IN RECENT TIMES, BECAUSE WE CHANGE OUR BYLAWS TO INCLUDE ANYBODY.

SO IF ARE A FEMALE THAT CAN SING IN THE TENOR RANGE, YOU CAN JOIN US.

IF YOU'RE AN ALLY, YOU CAN JOIN US.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE, YOU KNOW, LGBTQIA+, YOU COULD BE THE PLUS OF OUR ALLIES.

AND WITH THAT BEING SAID, WE'VE KIND OF JUST CAME A LONG WAY, AND WE'VE GONE FROM 60 MEMBERS TO 122 IN FLEE THREE YEARS TIME.

>> I WOULD IMAGINE IN THE PROCESS, BRINGING ATTENTION TO THE COMMUNITY, TRUE?

>> 100%, YEAH.

WE GO OUT, WE SING.

WE ARE VOCALLY THERE AND PRESENT.

WE'RE BRINGING PEOPLE TO OUR SIDE OF THE WORLD.

>> HOW DO YOU THINK ART DOES THAT?

HOW DO YOU THINK ART SUCCEEDS IN DOING THAT?

>> MUSIC HAS A WAY OF KIND OF OPENING UP YOUR MIND AND BEING MORE ACCEPTING TO OTHER MORE DIVERSE SPACES.

AND I THINK THAT PHOENIX GAY MEN'S CHORUS AND SPECIFICALLY THE MEMBERS IN THE CHORUS DO AN EXCELLENT JOB OF BEING WELCOMING AND BRINGING THAT TO LIGHT WITH MUSIC.

>> MAYBE SOFTENS THE EDGES ON SOME TOUGH TOPICS.

>> WELL, MUSIC IS UNIVERSAL.

IT'S ALL ENCOMPASSING.

MUSIC SAYS THE SAME THING TO EVERYBODY, AND MUSIC IS USUALLY USED AND CAN BE USED AS A VERY POWERFUL TOOL TO SEND A MESSAGE.

AND OUR MESSAGE IS INCLUSIVITY.

>> HAS THE MESSAGE CHANGED, OR HAS THE APPROACH CHANGED?

AS YOU MENTIONED, THESE ARE DIFFICULT TIMES IN A VARIETY OF WAYS.

>> THEY ARE.

>> WHAT'S CHANGED?

>> I THINK OUR PASSION HAS BEEN PUT ON 10 AS FAR AS OUR FIRE, BECAUSE WE'RE -- OUR SENSE IS WE'RE NOT GOING ANYWHERE ANYTIME SOON, WE'RE HERE AND JUST AS EQUAL AS EVERYBODY ELSE, AND OUR MESSAGE IS FOR THAT YOUTH, THAT IS STRUGGLING TO BE THEMSELVES, THAT IT'S OKAY BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT HERE ALONE.

AND THAT'S THE NEW PASSION THAT ALL THIS RECENT STUFF HAS KIND OF REFUELED IN US, IS NOT GOING AWAY INTO THE SHADOW.

>> DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT?

>> 100%, YEAH.

WE ARE HERE TO BRING, AGAIN, THAT LIGHT TO THE LGBTQIA+ SPACE, AND WE ARE WANTING TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE FEELS WELCOME AND SAFE IN THE WORLD.

>> WELL, WE HAVE A CLIP HERE FROM YOU GUYS IN JUST A SECOND.

BUT BEFORE WE GO, ARE YOU INVOLVED IN ANYTHING ELSE OTHER THAN SING HEARING?

ACTUALLY, I'M A HIGH SCHOOL MUSIC TEACHER.

I TEACH AT TEMPE HIGH SCHOOL.

>> AND IS THE CHORUS INVOLVED IN OTHER THINGS.

>> WE SUPPORT OTHER COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAMS.

WE HELP OUT WITH LIKE 1 AND 10 AND OTHER AWESOME GROUPS.

>> VERY COLLABORATIVE.

>> WELL, WE'RE GOING TO FIND OUT JUST HOW WELL YOU GUYS SING.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE YOU GUYS TAKE US OUT HERE.

AGAIN, THE PHOENIX GAY MEN'S CHORUS, RHINESTONE RODEO NEXT MONTH.

>> JUNE 6th AND 7th.

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