♪ COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

IT'S THE JOURNALISTS' ROUNDTABLE.

A LOOK AT THE WEEK'S TOP STORIES, INCLUDING A LOOK AT ADELITA GRIJALVA'S WIN IN THE 7th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

THE 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 TIME FOR THE JOURNALISTS' ROUNDTABLE.

JOINING US TONIGHT, CAMRYN SANCHEZ FROM KJZZ RADIO.

DENNIS WELCH FROM ARIZONA'S FAMILY.

WAYNE SCHUTSKY FROM KJZZ RADIO.

BEFORE WE GET TO THE ROUNDTABLE.

A QUICK UPDATE ON A STORY OF SPECIAL INTEREST TO THE VIEWERS.

CONGRESS VOTED TO ZERO OUT FEDERAL FUNDING APPROPRIATED FOR THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

PBS AND NPR GET A SMALL SHARE OF FUNDING FROM FEDERAL SOURCES BUT THE IMPACT WILL BE FELT, ESPECIALLY IN SMALLER MARKET TV AND RADIO STATIONS.

OF NOTE, OVERALL FEDERAL BUDGET APPROPRIATIONS NEED TO BE CONSIDERED AND APPROVED BY END OF SEPTEMBER AND THERE'S WORD IT'S POSSIBLE NEW SPENDING PLANS COULD INCLUDE PBS RECEIVING FUNDING THE NEXT YEAR AND EVERY YEAR AFTER THAT.

PBS AND NPR HAVE LAWSUITS IN THE COURTS CITING PROTECTIONS UNDER THE PUBLIC BROADCASTING ACT AND THE FIRST AMENDMENT.

A COUPLE OF FOLKS HERE FROM KJZZ RADIO.

WITHOUT GETTING TOO DEEPLY INTO THIS BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT SPOKESPEOPLE FOR THE STATION, AS I'M NOT FOR ARIZONA PBS.

WE DID WATCH WHAT WAS GOING ON.

CAMRYN, START WITH YOU.

ARIZONA'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION ALONG PARTY LINES ON THIS, CORRECT?

>> YES, THAT'S BEEN THE CASE FOR A WHILE.

WE SPOKE WITH REPRESENTATIVES EARLY THIS WEEK, SENATORS AND CONGRESSMEN.

IN MY CAPACITY AS A JOURNALIST, I WAS ON A WEBINAR CALL WITH MARK KELLY AND DEMOCRATS WERE PUSHING FOR REPUBLICAN TO RECONSIDER AND MAKING ARGUMENTS FOR HOW IT WILL AFFECT SMALL RURAL STATIONS AND HOW THE IMPACT INVOLVES EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION SYSTEMS AND NOT JUST DAILY NEWS, BUT THAT WAS NOT AN EFFECTIVE ARGUMENT.

TED: WAYNE, WE SHOULD MENTION THAT SENATOR GALLEGO HAD AN AMENDMENT HE PRESENTED ON THE FLOOR WITH FOCUS ON GETTING BROADCASTING TO SOME OF THESE STATIONS ON THE RESERVATIONS.

THAT ONE WENT NOWHERE AS WELL.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

NOT ONLY SENATOR GALLEGO, SENATOR KELLY TRIED TO ENACT A REPUBLICAN AMENDMENT AGAINST THE REPUBLICANS THAT VOTED AGAINST THIS.

SENATOR COLLINS, STILL WILL HAVE TAKEN THE CUTS TO NPR NATIONAL, PBS NATIONAL.

HE SAID WE DON'T LIKE THE PACKAGE WITH THE AMENDMENT, BUT IT WILL BLUNT THE EFFECTS ON THE LOCAL STATION.

RELY ON THE COMMUNITIES.

SOMETIMES THEY'RE THE ONLY SOURCE OF NEWS.

TED: THEY ARE GOING TO GET HIT HARD.

>> WHEN YOU TAKE A STEP BACK, FINALLY REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS QUITE AWHILE, I'M OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN 2012 WHEN MITT ROMNEY WAS TALKING ABOUT THIS AND GOING AFTER HIM FOR WANTING TO DEFUND BIG BIRD, IF YOU REMEMBER ALL OF THAT.

YOU ARE NOT SPOKESPEOPLE FOR RESPECTIVE STATIONS, BUT IT IS VERY DISAPPOINTING FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WORK AT THESE STATIONS.

I'VE KNOWN AND WORKED ALONGSIDE WITH THEM, AND I KNOW THEIR VIEWERS AND LISTENERS DEPEND ON THE ESSENTIAL INFORMATION COMING OUT OF THERE, AND IT'S TOO BAD FOR THOSE COMMUNITIES AND GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH THAT, AND TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS IF THERE'S BLOWBACK AS THIS BUDGET PROCESS MOVES ON.

TED: YEAH, AND QUICKLY, AGAIN, YOU GOT GENERALLY OVERALL BUDGET THAT HAS TO BE DONE BY THE END OF SEPTEMBER OR ELSE YOU HAVE A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.

WE'RE WAITING THAT BIG BROUHAHA IN THE FALL, AND THERE IS WORD THERE MIGHT BE A WAY TO GET SOMETHING IN THERE.

I WOULD FIND IT UNLIKELY, A BUNCH OF FOLKS WHO SAID NO WOULD ALL OF A SUDDEN SAY A SMALL WHY YES.

>> YEAH, THIS MONEY WAS APPROVED IN A BIPARTISAN MANNER.

CONGRESSMAN GREG STANTON, TEMPE AREA TOLD ME RECENTLY, THAT IS THE BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT HERE, THIS ISN'T A MATTER OF REPUBLICANS NOT BEING ON BOARD WITH THE FUNDING.

THEY JUST VOTED A FEW MONTHS AGO.

IT WAS A MATTER OF THE PRESIDENT BASICALLY DICTATING TO REPUBLICAN CONGRESS PEOPLE THIS IS WHAT I WANT AND YOU BETTER DO IT.

TED: LAST POINT ON, THIS DENNIS, THIS IS -- REPUBLICANS IN GENERAL HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS FOR A LONG TIME.

PRESIDENT TRUMP MENTIONED IT, I'M THE ONE WHO DID IT.

THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS PRESIDENT TRUMP IS DOING THAT REPUBLICANS WANTED TO DO FOR A WHILE.

HE'S GETTING IT DONE.

>> HE'S GETTING IT DONE ON THAT FRONT.

NO SECRET HE'S HAD A COMBATIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH LEGACY MEDIA, PUBLICLY FUNDED MEDIA OUT THERE.

HE'S GOING TO TAKE CREDIT BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT HIS BASE SUPPORTED HIM ON THIS.

WE'VE ALL BEEN OUT THERE ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP, YOU KNOW, WE'VE SEEN HOW THEY REACT TO US THERE, SO I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A POPULAR MOVE WITH HIM.

I'M NOT SURPRISED HE'S TAKING CREDIT FOR WHAT THEY CALL A BIG VICTORY IN THE SITUATION.

TED: AND HE'S GOT THE "WALL STREET JOURNAL" IN HIS SIGHTS FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS.

NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT.

CAMRYN, WE HAD A PRIMARY THIS WEEK.

REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC, HEAVILY DEMOCRATIC DISTRICT, AND LOTS OF FOLKS WERE WATCHING AND THAT WASN'T MUCH TO WATCH, WAS IT?

>> ADELITA GRIJALVA RAN AWAY WITH IT BASICALLY.

THAT WASN'T A SURPRISE TO EVERYONE, BUT HAS BEEN A LOT OF MEDIA ATTENTION ON DEJA FOXX, THE GEN-X CANDIDATE, THE DARK HORSE, I'VE HEARD HER CALLED.

SHE GOT A LOT OF ATTENTION, AND DANIEL HERNANDEZ, WHO HAS A BUNCH OF NAME RECOGNITION IN POLITICAL CIRCLES.

HIS FAMILY IS ESTABLISHED IN TUCSON, HIS SISTERS ARE LAWMAKERS, HE HAD A POOR SHOWING COMING IN THIRD PLACE.

THAT WAS THE MOST INTERESTING PART.

GRIJALVA HAD THE NAME RECOGNITION, HAS THE EXPERIENCE, AND LOOKS LIKE SHE'S GOING TO BE PRETTY MUCH THE DE FACTO PERSON.

>> I FELT LIKE THE NATIONAL MEDIA COMING IN HERE, IT FELT LIKE THEY WERE ROOTING FOR A HORSE RACE COMING IN AT THE END HERE BECAUSE IT'S OFF-YEAR ELECTION, NOT A LOT GOING ON, AND PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO DRAW COMPARISONS FROM DEJA FOXX, POLITICO HAD A STORY THE DAY BEFORE THE ELECTION SAYING DEJA FOXX IS THE SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCER WHO COULD BE ON HER WAY TO CONGRESS.

DIDN'T QUITE WORK OUT THAT WAY.

IT WAS A LANDSLIDE VICTORY FOR ADELITA GRIJALVA, BUT AGAIN, FELT LIKE THE NATIONAL MEDIA ROOTING FOR A NARRATIVE IN A SLOW POLITICAL SEASON.

>> WE DID A PODCAST, I SPOKE WITH DEJA FOXX.

SHE WAS AN INTERESTING CANDIDATE.

I SEE THE COMPELLING NATURE OF HER STORY.

SHE'S FROM SOUTHERN ARIZONA.

CALLED OUT JEFF FLAKE AS A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT FOR CUTTING PLANNED PARENTHOOD, AND WOULD HAVE BEEN THE YOUNGEST MEMBER OF CONGRESS.

THAT BEING SAID, GRIJALVA WAS THE FAVORITE IN THIS GIVEN THE NAME RECOGNITION, GIVEN HER TIME, AND THE NARRATIVE HER BEING COMPARED TO THE NEW YORK CITY MAYORAL ELECTION, DOESN'T TRACK FOR SO MANY REASONS.

CHIEF AMONG THEM IS AN ARGUMENT COULD BE MADE THAT GRIJALVA WAS THE MORE PROGRESSIVE CANDIDATE.

DEJA FOXX WORKED ON KAMALA HARRIS' CAMPAIGN, A MORE MAINSTREAM DEMOCRAT.

LIKE DENNIS SAID, THE NARRATIVES FORCED ON THE RACE DIDN'T REALLY APPLY.

TED: CAMRYN, WHAT DOES IT IS A ABOUT THE IDEA, DEMOCRATS ARE SAYING, WE NEED SOMEONE YOUNG, NEED SOMEONE WITH SOCIAL MEDIA, NEED SOMEONE PROGRESSIVE.

THEY GOT ALL THAT IN TUCSON AND GOT THEIR HAD HANDED TO THEM.

>> THEY HAVE A LOT OF ATTENTION NATIONALLY, IT DOESN'T TRANSLATE TO CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT THAT DOESN'T SHOW UP TO THE POLLS.

FOR AN OFF-YEAR, OBSCURE PRIMARY, THAT'S WHAT YOU NEED, THAT'S THE VOTING BASE.

IT'S DIFFICULT TO GET AND SHE COULDN'T DRUM IT UP.

NOT THAT SURPRISING.

I WONDER IF THERE IS A FUTURE POLITICAL FUTURE FOR HER, AND WE HAVEN'T HEARD HER NEXT STEPS YET.

>> POLITICS, EVEN BEFORE SOCIAL MEDIA, IS GETTING THE ATTENTION ON YOURSELF.

IF YOU GET THE ATTENTION ON YOURSELF, DEJA FOXX HAS A FUTURE IN POLITICS SOMEWHERE.

PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO CONVINCE HER, YOU MOVE ON UP INTO DAVID SCHWEIKERT'S DISTRICT OR OVER TO JUAN CISCOMANI'S DISTRICT AND CHALLENGE THEM NEXT YEAR.

TED: AS FAR AS DANIEL HERNANDEZ, AS CAMRYN MENTIONED, THAT'S A POOR SHOWING.

THIRD IN A REALISTIC FIELD OF OTHER CANDIDATES.

HE DIDN'T DO WELL AT ALL?

>> IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME.

HE RAN FOR CONGRESS IN THE NEIGHBORING DISTRICT THE LAST CYCLE, AND ALSO LOST IN THE PRIMARY BY A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT TO KIRSTEN ENGEL, ANOTHER FORMER LAWMAKER.

THEY WERE ON SIMILAR PAR TO NAME RECOGNITION, HE FELL 20 POINTS BEHIND HER.

DIFFICULT TO ENVISION A POLITICAL FUTURE FOR HIM AT THIS LEVEL.

NEVER COUNT ANYONE OUT FROM COMING BACK TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

IN TERMS OF CONGRESS, NOT IN THE CARDS FOR HIM.

>> DANIEL HERNANDEZ TOOK ME BY SURPRISE IN THE PRIMARY DEBATE WHEN HE SAID HE WAS IN SUPPORT OF MINING AND EVERYONE ELSE SAID THEY WERE NOT.

AND ALMOST PITCHED HIMSELF AS A CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATE IN A SUPERPROGRESSIVE DISTRICT.

THAT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT LANDED WITH THE VOTERS.

>> IT'S THE KIND OF FINISH FOR SOMEONE LIKE HERNANDEZ THAT WOULD PUTTING THE BRAKES ON IMMEDIATE FUTURE TO HIS POLITICAL CAREER.

I'D SAY RETURNING TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE, I THINK HIS BEST SHOT IS SEE HIM IN THE NEXT YEAR OR TWO GOING BACK.

TED: WHAT DOES IT IS A ABOUT DEJA FOXX, YOUNG PROGRESSIVE SOCIAL MEDIA.

WHAT DOES IT IS A ABOUT DEMOCRATS WANTING THE DEMOCRATIC PRIORITIES WHO WANT TO BE LESS PROGRESSIVE PERHAPS?

OR IS THIS JUST BASICALLY THE DISTRICT OF GRIJALVA?

>> I THINK IT'S MORE OF THE LATTER.

THAT NAME, THEY VOTED FOR THAT NAME FOR 20+ YEARS AND VOTED FOR THAT NAME AGAIN.

IT'S NOT JUST THE NAME, IT'S WHAT HE STOOD FOR.

THEY LIKE THE POLICIES AND HIS DAUGHTER PROMISED TO BE A CONTINUATION OF THE POLICIES LIKE CAMRYN SAID.

DANIEL HERNANDEZ'S COMMENTS ABOUT MINING DIDN'T LAND.

GUESS WHO'S A PROPONENT OF TRIBAL RIGHTS AND REINING IN THE MINING, IT WAS RAUL GRIJALVA.

THEY LIKE THAT.

THEY VOTED FOR CONTINUATION OF THE PERSON THEY VOTED FOR, FOR 20 YEARS.

DEJA FOXX WHOSE NAME RECOGNITION IN THE DISTRICT ITSELF IS FAIRLY LOW.

THAT IS AN ACCOMPLISHMENT WHICH LENDS ITSELF TO FELLOW FOLKS HERE SAID, SHE HAS A FUTURE IN POLITICS.

>> IT'S A CHALLENGE TO EXPLOIT THAT, TO GET THAT ATTENTION ON HER LATE IN THE RACE.

I WAS LEAST IMPRESSED BY THAT.

WASN'T LIKE POLITICO AND "NEW YORK TIMES," OTHER PUBLICATIONS TALKING TO HER.

SHE PRESENTS WELL, SHE'S GOOD ON THE STUMP, GOOD ON SOCIAL MEDIAMENT CAN'T SAY ENOUGH.

I SEE THERE'S A FUTURE WHERE IT'S GOING TO BE.

TED: ALL RIGHT, CAMRYN, WE HAVE YET ANOTHER -- I THINK WE'RE UP TO 23 LAWSUITS FROM THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AGAINST THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

COUPLE THIS WEEK, ONE WAS OBAMACARE, THE OTHER IS EDUCATION FUND SUIT, WHICH WE HAD NEWS ON THAT TODAY.

WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THAT?

>> EDUCATION FUNDING FREEZE, FROZEN 120ISH MILLION DOLLARS FOR ARIZONA, AND A SMALL CHUNK WAS RELEASED FOR AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS.

TED: THAT'S ONE OF THEM, AND CAMRYN, WE HAVE THE OBAMACARE SUIT WHICH MAKES IT MORE DIFFICULT TO SIGN UP.

>> AND TRIES TO REMOVE DREAMERS.

TED: YES, IT DOES.

>> A LOT OF LAWSUITS TO KEEP TRACK OF WITH MAYES, THESE ARE TWO, AND NOT THE LAST WE'LL SEE.

SHE'S HAD SUCCESS WITH THE EDUCATION ONE.

IT'S NO SURPRISE TO ANYONE.

IT'S NOT CLEAR YET ON THE MEDICAL ONE HOW SUCCESSFUL SHE CAN BE.

TED: I THINK THE ARGUMENT WAS IT WAS -- ALL OF THEM ARE SAYING IT'S UNCONSTITUTIONAL THE WAY THE PRESIDENT DID THIS BUT ALSO IT WOULD CAUSE 1.8 MILLION FOLKS TO LOSE INSURANCE BECAUSE OF THE DIFFICULTIES IN SIGNING UP.

TED: HERE IN ARIZONA, THEY ESTIMATE IT COSTS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE HEALTH CARE COVERAGE, AND SO YOU LOOK AT IT FROM MAYES' PERSPECTIVE, NOT ONLY IS THIS A GOOD LAWSUIT TO BE FILED BECAUSE SHE BELIEVED IN THIS, IT MAKES FOR GOOD POLITICS WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT GOING AFTER PEOPLE WITH MEDICAID AND HEALTH COVERAGE.

IT'S GOOD POLITICAL COVERAGE FOR AN A.G. UP FOR RE-ELECTION.

TED: IT WOULD FORCE THE STATE TO PICK UP COSTS, IS THE STATE READY TO PICK IT UP?

>> GOVERNOR HOBBS WAS ASKED REPEATEDLY WHETHER IT'S THE CUTS IN THE BUDGET BILL, THAT THE STATE DOES NOT HAVE MONEY TO PICK UP ADDITIONAL MEDICAID COSTS, S.N.A.P., WE SAW THAT AS NEGOTIATIONS PLAYED OUT AND A THIN MARGIN OF EXTRA DOLLARS THERE.

THERE'S RAINY DAY FUNDS BUT NOT ONGOING REVENUES NEEDED TO SOLIDIFY FUNDING FOR MEDICAID.

TED: ANYONE WANT TO TALK ABOUT TOM HORNE LOSING DUAL LANGUAGE PROGRAM APPEALS TO THE APPEALS COURT?

>> TOM HORNE'S CONTINUED WAR?

TED: YEAH.

>> IT GOES BACK 20 YEARS OR WHENEVER HE WAS FIRST SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.

SO IT'S MORE OF THE SAME, I GUESS, COMING FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION.

TED: AND THE APPEALS COURT SAID IT'S NOT YOUR DEPARTMENT DOING THIS, SUPPOSED TO BE THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND HE IS THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

>> TRIED A FEW WAYS TO FILE THE LAWSUIT.

YOU DO NOT HAVE STANDING.

TED: APPARENTLY HE'S GOING TO PLEDGE TO THE ARIZONA STATE ASSESSMENT BOARD.

I'LL ASK YOU AGAIN IN A FEW WEEKS.

HERE'S WHAT YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT, CAMRYN.

WHO IS ROBERT BRANSCOMB?

>> GREAT QUESTION.

THE FORMER CHAIR OF THE ARIZONA DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

ONLY CHAIR FOR SIX MONTHS AND A TUMULTUOUS REIGN.

PEOPLE WHO WERE SUPPOSED TO RE-ELECT HIM DON'T LIKE HIM, THEY MOVED HIS OPERATIONS ELSEWHERE, IT WAS A DISASTER.

THERE WAS A MUTINY FROM HOW MUCH HE'S GETTING PAID TO THE GENERAL PARTY FINANCES AND ALL OF THAT ACCUMULATED IN A BIG VOTE TO OUST HIM WHICH GOT DELAYED, AND THERE WAS AN AWFUL MARATHON MEETING THAT I SAT THROUGH THAT WAS MISERABLE.

THEY HAD A LOT OF TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES BUT VOTED TO OUST HIM WITH A BIG PORTION OF PEOPLE THAT WERE THERE AND SHOWED UP AND VOTED.

TED: THIS SOUNDS LIKE -- GOODNESS GRACIOUS, WHAT'S GOING ON?

>> IT'S BRANFORD DEMOCRATS, THE DEMOCRATS LOST IN THE WILDERNESS.

THIS ISN'T HELPING.

HE WAS ELECTED SIX MONTHS AGO BY A WIDE MARGIN, AND YOU NEEDED A LOT OF VOTERS, A LOT OF RANK AND FILE DEMOCRATS TO GET RID OF HIM.

AND I WOULD SAY IT'S A SPECIAL TALENT IF YOU CAN UPSET EVERY STATEWIDE ELECTED OFFICIAL THAT YOU NEED TO GET RE-ELECTED, AND YOU KNOW WHAT?

HE DID THAT.

SO IF YOU DO THAT, YOU'RE GOING TO BE PAYING CONSEQUENCES AND THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED AT THE END OF JUST SIX MONTHS.

TED: IS IT BECAUSE HE COULDN'T BALANCE A BUDGET?

IS IT BECAUSE MONEY GOING OUT WASN'T REACHING THE SAME LEVEL AS MONEY COMING IN?

OR OTHER THINGS INVOLVED AND SOMETHING HE MENTIONED WAS RACISM?

>> HE DID MENTION RACISM, HE HAD A VOCAL CONTINGENT OF SUPPORTERS WHO POINTED HE IS THE FIRST BLACK CHAIR OF THE ARIZONA DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

THE LITANY OF THINGS HE WAS ABLE TO COMPILE, THE UNION REPRESENTING PARTY STAFF ACCUSED HIM OF NEGOTIATING IN BAD FAITH.

THEY'RE GOING TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE FEDS ON THAT.

UNIONS AND DEMOCRATS GO TOGETHER LIKE PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY, YET THEY'RE FIGHTING.

THE CLASH WITH THE STATEWIDE ELECTIVES, THEY LOST FAITH IN HIM AFTER HE ACCUSED MARK KELLY AND OTHERS OF BACK STABBING.

THERE WAS ONGOING FIGHTS WITH THAT, AND THEN THERE WAS THIS ULTIMATE MOVE TO OUST HIM LED BY A LOCAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY LEADER WHO VOTED FOR HIM MONTHS AGO BUT HE'S NOT DOING THE JOB.

TED: A LOT OF THEM VOTED FOR HIM, APPARENTLY.

>> HE WON DECISIVELY AND IT DOES COME DOWN.

YOU LOOK AT THE FUND-RAISING NUMBERS FOR THE STATE REPUBLICAN PARTY, THEY'RE NOT DOING WELL.

I CAN'T SAY THIS ENOUGH TO PEOPLE, THE CHAIRMEN, THE CHAIRWOMEN OF THE PARTIES, NUMBER ONE JOB IS TO RAISE MONEY, AND WE'RE SEEING IT MORE AND MORE.

CHAIRMEN ARE TRYING TO GET ATTENTION FOR THEMSELVES.

ALMOST ACTING LIKE THEY'RE THE ELECTED.

AND WE SEE THAT WITH KELLI WARD, WHEN SHE WAS RUNNING THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OUT THERE, AND YOU KNOW, I THINK WITH BRANSCOMB, I THINK RAISING MONEY FINDING CANDIDATES GOING OUT THERE AND RECRUITING THEM, INSTEAD OF PICKING FIGHTS WITH PEOPLE LIKE MARK KELLY OR RUBEN GALLEGO AND THE GOVERNOR.

TED: MY GOSH, KELLY, FONTES, HOBBS.

>> ALL THE CHAIRS.

THAT IS A NIGHTMARE JOB, HAVING PEOPLE WHO HATE ME AND NOT DO MY JOB BECAUSE THEY'VE TAKEN THE FUND-RAISING PORTION ELSEWHERE.

THE ROLE OF THE STATE PARTY IS ABOUT MAKING MONEY, GETTING OUT THE VOTE, REGISTERING VOTERS AND GETTING RE-ELECTED.

NONE OF THAT WAS HAPPENING.

TED: THIS IS INSIDE BASEBALL.

MOST FOLKS DON'T KNOW THE PARTY CHAIRS AND NEVER REALLY CARE, BUT IT'S NOT A GOOD LOOK FOR A PARTY THAT'S ALREADY ON THE ROPES.

>> NO, 2 1/2 HOURS INTO THE MEETING AND I WAS READY TO PULL MY HAIR OUT.

PEOPLE INSIDE THE MEETING WERE CONFUSED, WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE?

WHY ARE WE ACTING LIKE THIS?

IT DEFINITELY GIVES A BAD NARRATIVE TO DEMOCRATS, AND THE ONE RUMOR I'LL BRING UP IS THERE'S A POSSIBILITY OF RAQUEL TERAN COMING IN AS CHAIR OF THE PARTY.

SHE IS CONSIDERING IT.

I THINK THAT'S THE NEXT QUESTION FOR THEM BECAUSE THEY HAVE AN INTERIM CHAIR SERVING AS THE HEAD, BUT WHO COMES IN NEXT TO TAKE THE REINS AND GET THEM ON TRACK IF NOT FOR 2026, BUT AT LEAST 2028.

>> ULTIMATELY WHO THE CHAIR IS, FROM A MACROLOOK DOESN'T MATTER.

THEY ARE BEHIND THE SCENES MAKING SURE THE MACHINERY IS WORKING GETTING PEOPLE ELECTED.

WHO THE CHAIR DOESN'T MATTER WHEN IT'S TO THIS DEGREE, THE TREASURER SAYS THEY COULD BE OUT OF MONEY BY THE END OF THE YEAR.

THEY HAVEN'T PASSED A BUDGET, THEY CAN'T HIRE STAFF.

THAT PART IS QUICKLY RUNNING OUT BEHIND THE SCENES.

TED: ONE LAST QUESTION, DEMOCRATS EVERYWHERE SEEM LIKE THEY'RE ON THE ROPES RIGHT NOW.

BUT IN ARIZONA, YOU'VE GOT SO MANY STATE AND FEDERAL OFFICEHOLDERS WHO ARE DEMOCRAT.

THAT SHOULD BE A SHINING LIGHT FROM WHAT YOU ATTRACT BUCKS, AND APPARENTLY THE BUCKS AREN'T FLOWING IN.

>> WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT PICKING FIGHTS AND LOSING THE FAITH OF MARK KELLY.

WHO COULD RAISE MORE MONEY THAN MARK KELLY?

NOT A WHOLE LOT OF PEOPLE.

I WANT TO MAKE THIS POINT TOO.

THIS IS HAPPENING AT A TIME WHEN I WOULD SAY -- CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG -- STATE PARTIES ARE LOSING INFLUENCE.

I THINK THEY'RE THERE AS A CONDUIT TO LESSEN THE COST OF THE CAMPAIGN WHEN IT COMES TO MAIL.

CANDIDATES CAN GO TO OTHER PLACES AND FIND MONEY AND DONORS AND GO OTHER PLACES AND FIND ORGANIZATIONS THAT HELP THEM GET OUT THE VOTE.

I THINK THOSE ARE TRADITIONALLY IN THE PAST BIG STRENGTHS OF THE PARTY.

INCREASINGLY BECOMING LESS AND LESS REVEL AS WE MOVE ON.

TED: ESPECIALLY TO A CANDIDATE LIKE DEJA FOXX WHO CAN GO ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND DO A LOT OF FUND-RAISING ON HER OWN THAT DOESN'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH PARTY.

>> THAT WAS THE CENTRAL TENSION HERE.

BRANSCOMB THOUGHT THIS WAS OLD SCHOOL POLITICAL PARTY, HIM AT THE TOP.

IF YOU READ AT THE LETTERS, HE WAS MAD MARK KELLY WAS BIGTIMING HIM.

FROM MARK KELLY'S POINT OF VIEW, HE WAS LIKE I'M THE BIGGEST FUND-RAISER IN THE STATE FOR DEMOCRATS.

IF YOU WANT THE PARTY TO BE SUCCESSFUL, GET IN LINE WITH ME.

THIS IS ME READING BETWEEN THE LINES.

THIS ISN'T INTRODUCE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

>> MARK KELLY IS BIGTIMING BECAUSE MARK KELLY IS BIGTIME WHEN IT COMES TO FUND-RAISING.

>> JUST TO BACK UP THE POINT THERE.

MARK KELLY, KATIE HOBBS, ADRIAN FONTES, ARE IN A STATE THAT FAVORS REPUBLICANS.

THEY EARN THE RIGHT TO DIRECT THE PARTY WHETHER THEY'RE THE CHAIRMAN OR NOT.

TED: CAMRYN, THE NO LABELED PARTY.

>> I ALMOST FORGOT ABOUT THAT.

TED: YOU COULD POSSIBLY RUN IN THE NO LABELS PARTY.

>> PLEASE, I DON'T WANT TO.

THERE WAS A LAWSUIT IN THE TOPIC.

2023 WHEN THEY OFFICIALLY STARTED, AND THE LEADERS OF THE NO LABELS PARTY WANTED TO RUN CANDIDATES FOR PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT, BUT REALLY DIDN'T DO THAT, AND THEY ALSO GOT MAD THAT PEOPLE WANTED TO RUN ON OTHER RACES LIKE LOCAL RACES UNDER THE NO LABELS LABEL, AND SO THEY WENT TO COURT OVER IT AND THE COURT SAID NO.

PEOPLE CAN RUN IF THEY WANT TO.

IT'S WEIRD YOU SAID YOU WOULD RUN SOMEONE FOR PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT AND DIDN'T, SO STOP.

TED: IN OTHER WORDS, THE NO LABELS PARTY WANTS LABELS?

[LAUGHTER] >> I GUESS THEY DON'T WANT LABELS OR THEY WANT LABELS AND WANT CERTAIN CANDIDATES AND WANT TO PICK THE CANDIDATES.

TED: RIGHT.

>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A PARTY OF 36,000 PEOPLE IS THE REGISTRATION RIGHT THERE, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

IT'S WHAT STRIKES ME IS THE PROBLEM WE START TALKING ABOUT THIRD PARTY POLITICS, AND HEARD A LOT OF TALK ABOUT THAT RECENTLY WITH ELON MUSK TALKING, HE'S GOING TO START A THIRD PARTY.

EVERYBODY LOVES THE IDEA OF A THIRD PARTY UNTIL THE GIVE THE THIRD PARTY AN IDEA AND FACE INTO IT, AND YOU RUN INTO THE PROBLEMS YOU'RE SEEING WITH THE NO LABELS PARTY.

>> PEOPLE TALK ABOUT HOW REPUBLICANS, DEMOCRATS ARE CONTROLLED BY POLITICAL INSIDERS.

THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU HAVE A PARTY CREATED BY POLITICAL INSIDERS WHO THINK THEY'RE SEPARATING THEMSELVES FROM BUT CREATING MORE OF THE NONSENSE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WITH THE OTHER PARTIES, BECAUSE TO THE NORMAL PERSON WHEN THEY HEAR THE STORY, THEY THINK I'M A REGISTERED AS A NO LABEL, REGISTERED AS A REPUBLICAN, I CAN REPUBLICAN AS A REPUBLICAN OR NO LABELS OR WHATEVER I AM.

WHO CAN TELL ME I CAN'T?

THAT'S WHAT THE JUDGE SAID, THE VOTERS' RIGHT TO PARTICIPATE IN DEMOCRACY OUTWEIGHS YOUR RIGHT TO CHOOSE LABEL OR NO LABEL.

TED: PARTY MEMBERS DECIDE, NOT PARTY LEADERS.

>> I FEEL BAD FOR THE PEOPLE WHO WANTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS AND KIND OF GOT JERKED AROUND BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO WHAT THIS PARTY PROMISED THEY WERE GOING TO GET TO DO.

I FEEL BAD FOR THE PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY'RE THE VICTIMS HERE.

TED: WILL WE HEAR MORE ABOUT THE NO LABELS PARTY?

>> OH, GOOD, I HOPE NOT.

LORD, I HOPE NOT.

TO WAYNE'S POINT, THIS WAS CREATED BY INSIDERS.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF QUESTIONS CIRCULATING AROUND THEM SINCE THEY STARTED.

SO AGAIN WITH THE NUMBER OF REGISTERED PARTY MEMBERS, I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH OF AN INFLUENCE OR IMPACT THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO MAKE IF THEY GET SOME CANDIDATES HERE IN THE UPCOMING MIDTERM ELECTION.

I GOTTA THINK IT'S NOT MUCH MORE THAN THE LIBERTARIAN CANDIDATE.

TED: BEFORE WE GO, WE HAVE A COUPLE MINUTES LEFT BEFORE WE GO, WE TALKED ABOUT THIS WITH A DIFFERENT PANEL.

I WANT QUICK IDEAS.

SENATOR GALLEGO, SENATOR KELLY MENTIONED AS POSSIBLE PRESIDENT TIMBER DOWN THE ROAD, BOTH MADE SPEECHES ON RESPECTIVE -- ON THE SENATE FLOOR WITH THE AMENDMENT BY GALLEGO REGARDING WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT TO START THE PROGRAM, A PUBLIC FUNDING RESCISSION.

OVERALL, WE'LL START WITH YOU, DENNIS, IS ARIZONA GOING TO HAVE TWO MORE PEOPLE TO LOSE THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE?

[LAUGHTER] >> WHAT'S THE OLD SAYING IN ARIZONA, YOU CAN TELL YOUR KIDS TO GROW UP ANYTHING THEY WANT TO BE EXCEPT PRESIDENT.

TED: YES.

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

I DON'T THINK ARIZONA IS GOING TO FIELD A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

>> YOU DON'T THINK SO?

>> NO.

TED: HOW COME?

>> AGAIN, MAYBE I'M TOO CLOSE TO THE SITUATION.

I THINK THE TRUE LEADER, WHOEVER LEADS THIS PARTY IN 2028 HASN'T BEEN IDENTIFIED YET.

TED: INTERESTING.

WHAT DO YOU THINK, CAMRYN?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

I'M HESITANT TO SAY WE WOULD HAVE A PRESIDENT FROM ARIZONA IN THE NEAR FUTURE FROM THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

I THINK GALLEGO IS THE MOST COY ABOUT HINTING HE WANTS TO AND GOING TO EVENTS IN IOWA AND PENNSYLVANIA, WHICH IS THE PLAYBOOK OF SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO DO SOMETHING FEDERALLY.

I DON'T KNOW IF I SEE IT.

>> I WAS TALKING ABOUT THIS IN THE NEWSROOM WITH OTHER REPORTERS AND SAID SOME PEOPLE RUN FOR PRESIDENT, AND SOME RUN FOR VICE PRESIDENT.

GALLEGO STRIKES ME AS THE LATTER.

HE'S POSITIONING HIMSELF, I MIGHT BE A CANDIDATE, MAYBE ANOTHER CANDIDATE COMES ALONG WHO WANTS TO WIN ARIZONA, WHICH IS CONSIDERED A SWING STATE, AND HE MIGHT FIT THAT BILL AND GIVE HIM A GOOD LEG UP TO THE NEXT JOB IN THE FUTURE.

TED: YOU ARE SAYING KELLY-GALLEGO TICKET?

>> NOT SURE.

TED: GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

GOOD SHOW.

THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.