♪.

TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

THE LATEST ON MARICOPA COUNTY'S PROPOSED NEW BUDGET.

ALSO TONIGHT.

CONCERNS OVER THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TARGETS mRNA VACCINES, AND WE'LL HEAR ABOUT A FRONTLINE DOCUMENTARY ON THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN ALASKA.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

.

TED: GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON," I'M TED SIMONS.

PRESIDENT TRUMP WENT TO CAPITOL HILL TO PUSH FOR MAJOR DOMESTIC POLICY BILL, FINDING RESISTANCE IN THE HOUSE FROM REPUBLICANS WHO CLAIM IT WILL INCREASE THE DEFICIT WHILE OTHERS IN THE GOP WANT TO SEE MEDICAID PROTECTED FROM PROPOSED CUTS.

ARIZONA CONGRESSMAN ANDY BIGGS IS FIRMLY ON THE PRESIDENT'S SIDE.

>> I THINK THAT THE GROUPS NEED TO GET TOGETHER AND TALK IT OUT BECAUSE I THINK PRESIDENT TRUMP MADE VALID POINTS.

WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT IS A LOT OF WASTE, FRAUD AND ABUSE IN MEDICAID THAT NEEDS TO BE REMOVED AND THAT'S WHERE WE'RE GOING TO AIM.

TED: THE NEW YORK REPORTS THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP SEES THE BILL AS A TEST OF LOYALTY AND HOLDOUTS, QUOTE, WOULDN'T BE A REPUBLICAN MUCH LONGER.

>>> A CURIOUS EXCHANGE INVOLVING A CONGRESSIONAL DEMOCRAT FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE WHO ASKED THE HEAD OF HOMELAND SECURITY TO DEFINE HABEAS CORPUS WHICH ALLOWS PEOPLE TO CHALLENGE THEIR DETENTION BY THE GOVERNMENT.

>> SECRETARY NOEM, WHAT IS HABEAS CORPUS.

>> A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO REMOVE PEOPLE FROM THE COUNTRY.

>> LET ME STOP YOU, MA'AM.

HABEAS CORPUS -- THAT'S INCORRECT.

EXCUSE ME.

HABEAS CORPUS IS THE LEGAL PRINCIPLE THAT REQUIRES THAT THE GOVERNMENT PROVIDE A PUBLIC REASON FOR DETAINING AND IMPRISONING PEOPLE.

IF NOT FOR THE PROTECTION, THE GOVERNMENT COULD ARREST PEOPLE INCLUDING AMERICAN CITIZENS AND HOLD THEM INDEFINITELY FOR NO REASON.

HABEAS CORPUS SEPARATES FREE SOCIETIES LIKE AMERICA FROM POLICE STATES LIKE NORTH KOREA.

AS A SENATOR FROM THE LIVE FREE OR DIE STATE, THIS MATTERS A LOT TO ME AND MY CONSTITUENTS AND ALL AMERICANS.

SECRETARY NOEM, DO YOU SUPPORT THE CORE PROTECTION THAT HABEAS CORPUS PROVIDES THAT THE GOVERNMENT MUST PROVIDE A PUBLIC REASON IN ORDER TO DETAIN AND IMPRISON SOMEONE.

>> I SUPPORT HABEAS CORPUS, I ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES HAS THE AUTHORITY UNDER THE CONSTITUTION TO DECIDE IF IT SHOULD BE SUSPENDED OR NOT.

>> IT HAS NEVER BEEN DONE WITHOUT APPROVAL OF CONGRESS, EVEN ABRAHAM LINCOLN GOT RETROACTIVE APPROVAL FROM CONGRESS.

TED: SOME IN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAVE SUSPENDED THE IDEA OF HABEAS CORPUS TO SUSPEND IMMIGRANTS FROM THE COUNTRY.

>>> RICK McCARTNEY HAS JOINED THE RACE LOOKING TO UNSEAT SCHWEIKERT IN THE DISTRICT WHICH INCLUDES SCOTTSDALE AND PARADISE VALLEY.

ACTOR AND COMEDIAN GEORGE WENDT HAS DIED, IN THE HIT TV SHOW "CHEERS," WON SIX CONSECUTIVE EMMY NOMINATIONS AND APPEARED DURING EVERY SHOW IN THE 11-YEAR RUN.

GEORGE WENDT DEAD AT THE AGE OF 76.

TED: MARICOPA COUNTY SUPERVISORS ARE WORKING ON A NEW BUDGET THAT COULD INCLUDE A TAX CUT.

THOMAS GALVIN, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> GOOD TO BE BACK.

TED: THE FY26 BUDGET, WHERE ARE WE AT HERE?

>> CONTINUING OUR FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY OF MARICOPA COUNTY, WE HAVE A RECORD WHERE WE CUT OVERALL TAX RATES FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS IN A ROW AND PROUD OF THE FACT.

WHAT WE'RE DOING.

INCREASING OVERALL SAFETY, WE ARE GOOD STEWARDS OF TAXPAYER DOLLARS.

TED: INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS FUNDING, IS IT THERE IN THE BUDGET.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE HAVE DIFFERENT LINES OF BUSINESS THAT WE'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR AT MARICOPA COUNTY, THAT INCLUDES ROADS, WE HAVE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT KNOWN AS McDOT BUT HAVE TO HANDOUTH BIRTH AND DEATH CERTIFICATES.

ALL OF THE THINGS WE HAVE TO DO WE'RE MAKING SURE WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR.

TED: CAPITAL FUNDING INVESTMENTS.

WHERE DOES THE FY26 BUDGET STAND.

>> WE ARE PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE.

WE ARE BEING AGGRESSIVE AND BEING PROACTIVE.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST CAPITAL PROJECTS THAT I'M PROUD OF IS A BRAND-NEW ELECTION FACILITY.

A STATE OF THE ART FACILITY, GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY IS TOMORROW, AND WE'RE GOING TO OPEN UP IN 2027.

THE GOAL IS TO OPEN BY THE 2028 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

THE EYES OF THE WORLD HAVE BEEN ON MARICOPA COUNTY THE LAST FEW CYCLES, ESPECIALLY WITH PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS.

THIS WILL ALLOW US TO COUNT VOTES FASTER AND DO IT THE RIGHT WAY AND SAFE AND TRANSPARENTLY.

TED: GOT TO STOP YOU RIGHT THERE.

HAS IT BEEN DONE THE WRONG WAY?

>> NO.

HASN'T BEEN DONE THE WRONG WAY.

WE HAVE A SMALL OUTDATED FACILITY.

THIS BUILDING HAS BEEN THERE FOR DECADES AND THAT BUILDING WE'VE BEEN USING WHEN THE POPULATION WAS A LOT SMALLER.

AS THE COUNTY GROWS, WE NEED TO GROW WITH IT, WE DEFINITELY NEED TO GROW WITH THE ELECTION FACILITY.

TED: TO END THAT, HOW DOES IT CHANGE HOW BALLOTS ARE PROCESSED AND TABULATEED?

>> JUST MORE ROOM.

WE HAVE TO USE DIFFERENT TECHNOLOGIES.

WE HAVE THE TABULATORS THAT WE USE DOWNTOWN.

THE MACHINERY HAS CHANGED OVER THE USE AND WE'RE GOING TO HAVE VIDEO FEEDS SO PEOPLE CAN OBSERVE WHAT'S GOING ON.

THE BUILDING IS TOO CRAMPED.

AND IF WE WERE DESIGNING ELECTIONS SYSTEMS TODAY, WE WOULD NOT BE USING THE BUILDING WE'RE USING NOW.

TED: DO YOU THINK THE NEW CENTER WILL APPEASE ELECTION DENYERS?

>> YOU ARE NEVER GOING TO APPEASE THE PEOPLE GRISTING FOR MONEY.

THERE'S ANOTHER SEGMENT OF PEOPLE IN MARICOPA COUNTY, THE VAST BULK OF FOLKS THAT I TALK TO EVERY SINGLE DAY.

REPUBLICAN, DEMOCRAT, INDEPENDENT, THEY WANT GOOD ELECTIONS DONE IN A GREAT WAY, AND FRANKLY WE NEED A FACILITY THAT EXCEEDS THE VALUE OF WHAT MARICOPA COUNTY IS.

WHEN WE'RE THE FOURTH LARGEST COUNTY, THIRD LARGEST VOTING JURISDICTION, WE WANT TO BE THE BEST.

TED: THE DIAMONDBACKS STADIUM, THE CITY OF PHOENIX, THE COUNTY, IS EVERYONE IN THE SAME BOOK IF NOT THE SAME PAGE?

>> WE'RE NOT THERE YET.

MARICOPA COUNTY DOES NOT OWN CHASE FIELD.

IT'S OWNED BY A SPECIAL TAXING DISTRICT CALLED THE MARICOPA COUNTY STADIUM TAXING DISTRICT WHICH IS CREATED BY THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

WE'RE NOT ABLE TO CHARGE RENT TO THE D-BACKS.

NOT ABLE TO TAKE REVENUE FROM THE STADIUM AND PUT IT INTO THE COUNTY.

WE'RE A SHELL AND WORKING WITH THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, THE MAYOR OF PHOENIX AND THE CITY OF PHOENIX WHO HAVE THE MOST OBJECTIONS TO THE CURRENT LEGISLATION, BUT WE WANT THE DAEKS TO STAY AND WE THINK THERE'S A PATH.

TED: THE CURRENT LEGISLATION IS TAX RECAPTURED.

THE CITY OF PHOENIX ARE CONCERNED IT'S NOT NECESSARILY CONFINED TO THE AREA OF THE BALLPARK AND INCLUDES OTHER AREAS WHICH WOULD TAKE TAX REVENUE OUT OF GENERAL FUND.

HOW DOES IT DIFFER FROM WHAT THE COUNTY IS LOOKING AT?

>> IF YOU BUY A TICKET AND A HOT DOG AND T-SHIRT AT THE STADIUM, IT WOULD BE RECURRED INTO THE BUILDING.

IF YOU DON'T WATCH BASEBALL, DON'T GO TO CHASE FIELD, DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT.

THERE WAS AN AMENDMENT THAT WAS GOING TO SCOOP OUT MONEY EVEN FROM THE COUNTY, WE'VE GOTTEN ASSURANCES FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE THAT WOULD BE TAKEN OUT WHICH WILL AMELIORATE THE CONCERNS WE HAVE, BUT LARGER QUESTIONS THAT THE CITY OF PHOENIX HAS THAT THE D-BACKS AND LEGISLATURE HAS TO WORK TOGETHER TO ANSWER.

TED: IS THERE A BETTER WAY TO DO THIS?

YOU LIKE WHAT THE CARDINALS HAVE DONE WITH THE SPORTS AUTHORITY.

IS THERE A WAY TO GET A SPORTS AUTHORITY INVOLVED, TO TELL EVERYONE ELSE, THAT'S THE BOSS?

>> THERE'S A BETTER WAY AND I WROTE ABOUT IT IN MY OP-ED IN "THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC," I ASKED PEOPLE TO LOOK IT UP.

WE CANNOT KEEP DOING THE ONE-OFFS WITH STADIUMS, THE COYOTES WENT FROM TEMPE TO STATE LAND, WE HAVE THE ISSUE WITH CHASE FIELD IN DOWNTOWN PHOENIX, I BELIEVE THE SUNS WILL NEED A NEW ARENA IN A FEW YEARS, IT IS TOO SMALL.

THIS IS THE MODEL FOR A PLUG AND PLAY.

IT'S NOT JUST SPORTS, IT'S ENTERTAINMENT.

THE D-BACKS ONLY PLAY 80 NIGHTS OUT OF THE YEAR.

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO FOR THE OTHER 270 NIGHTS?

GOT TO FIGURE IT ALL OUT.

TED: OVERRIDING AUTHORITY, WHAT KIND OF REACTION ARE YOU HEARING FROM SPORTS TEAMS?

>> VERY GOOD REACTION, EVERYONE IS PLEASED.

I'M TRYING TO MOST BALL, NOT TO USE A SPORTS METAPHOR, WE HAVE TO BE INNOVATIVE, CREATIVE, DON'T JUST DO WHAT WE DID IN THE 90s.

PLAN FOR THE FUTURE.

TED: BEFORE YOU GO, MOVING THE PUCK?

IS NHL A DISTANT MEMORY HERE?

>> I'M LOOKING TO MOVE HOCKEY BACK TO THE VALLEY.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO GET BACK TO THE MARICOPA COUNTY BUDGET.

WE HAVE SUCH A GREAT ENVIRONMENT FOR DOING BUSINESS, I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE ANOTHER TEAM HERE.

TED: THOMAS GALVIN, CHAIR OF THE MARICOPA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

>> APPRECIATE IT.

.

TED: mRNA VACCINES ARE CREDITED WITH SAVING LIVES DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC.

THE VACCINES HAVE BEEN CRITICIZED BY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SECRETARY ROBERT F. KENNEDY JR. WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF mRNA?

WE ASK DR. DAVID ENGELTHALER, GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU, TED.

TED: BEFORE WE GET TOO FAR DOWN THE ROAD ON mRNA, WHY IS IT DIFFERENT THAN VACCINES IN THE PAST?

>> mRNA OUR BODY CREATES ANYWAYS.

ALL LIVING THINGS CREATE mRNA.

TRANSCRIBING A CHUNK OF YOUR GENOMIC MATERIAL TO SAY THESE ARE THE PROTEINS WE NEED TO MAKE FOR OURSELVES OR ANYTHING THAT'S LIVING.

WE MAKE mRNA.

LITTLE TRANSCRIPTS OF GENOMIC MATERIAL ALL THE TIME.

WE CAN USE THAT TO MAKE VACCINES AGAINST FOREIGN INVADERS FOR OR AGAINST BAD THINGS IN OUR BODIES, FOR EXAMPLE, CANCER.

TED: HAVE WE GOTTEN TO THE POINT OF mRNA INVOLVED WITH CANCER CELLS?

>> IT'S EXCITING.

WE CAN TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW THE VACCINE WAS USED DURING THE PANDEMIC.

IT WAS BROAD SCALE.

BUT WITH THE IDEA WE WANT PRECISION MEDICINE, PRECISION HEALTH, THAT'S WHAT mRNA VACCINES DO, WE CAN BE VERY PRECISE ABOUT PEOPLE'S CANCER, WE CAN SEQUENCE THE CANCER AND MAKE THE VACCINE TARGETED FOR THEIR CANCER SPECIFICALLY.

TED: BASICALLY LIVE VIRUSES, KIND OF A MESSY PROCESS, ISN'T IT?

>> WHEN WE THINK OF VACCINES THEY'RE 20th CENTURY AND EARLIER TECHNOLOGY.

HAVE YOU ATTENUATED LIVE VIRUS OR KILLED VIRUS OR JUST PROTEINS FROM A VIRUS OR BACTERIA, DEPENDS WHAT THE VACCINE IS, AND YOU INJECT THAT IN THE BODIES OF IMMUNE SYSTEM IN RESPONSE TO THAT.

IF YOU GET INFECTED WITH THE BAD ORGANISM, IMMUNE SYSTEM CAN RESPOND.

NOW WITH mRNA VACCINE, WE CAN GIVE THAT LITTLE CODE THAT YOUR BODY CAN TAKE THAT AND MAKE PROTEINS FROM.

THE PROTEINS WHAT ANTIBODIES RESPOND TO, WHAT T-CELLS AND IMMUNE SYSTEM RESPONDS TO.

TED: IS THE LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT YOU JUST SAID AMONG THE REASONS WHY THERE ARE FOLKS UP TO AND INCLUDING RFK JR. WHO THINK THIS IS A FOREIGN THING THAT DOESN'T BELONG IN THE BODY?

>> IT IS HARD TO UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE AT HIGHER LEVELS AREN'T FULLY UNDERSTANDING THIS.

THIS HAS BEEN WELL DESCRIBED FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, ESPECIALLY DURING THE PANDEMIC.

IT'S A NATURAL BIOLOGICAL PROCESS, IT'S NOT INVADING DNA OR THE GENOME, IT'S CUTTING THE STEPS WHAT THE OVERALL RESPONSE IS TO A FOREIGN INVADER SO YOU ARE READY TO DEAL WITH IT WHEN YOU SEE IT OR GET THE CANCER.

TED: IT WAS EFFECTIVE.

THIS WAS A VERY EFFECTIVE WAY TO FIGHT THE PANDEMIC.

>> PRETTY AMAZING.

IT ALLOWED JUST THIS ABILITY, IT ALLOWED US TO COME OUT QUICKLY, WE WOULDN'T THINK HOLLYWOOD COULD COME UP WITH A CRAZY TIMELINE IS WHAT HAPPENED, AND IT WAS VERY EFFECTIVE DURING THE EARLY STAGES, WHEN THE VIRUS HADN'T SPREAD EVERYWHERE ALREADY, AND EVERYBODY HAD LEVEL OF IMMUNITY.

SAVED A LOT OF LIVES ESPECIALLY THOSE HIGHEST AT RISK, ESPECIALLY THE ELDERLY, IT MAKE AN IMPACT.

TED: AS FAR AS THE mRNA IS CONCERNED, AND YOU MENTIONED HOW QUICKLY IT WAS DEVELOPED.

IS THAT AMONG THE POSITIVES, THE BENEFITS?

YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE TESTING AND THE THING WITH THE LIVE VIRUS.

THIS SOUNDS LIKE IT CAN BE ACTIVATED QUICKLY?

>> DEFINITELY ACTIVATED QUICKLY.

WHAT'S EXCITING ABOUT -- THINK ABOUT CANCER VACCINES AND CANCER TREATMENTS WITH mRNA, IT'S TARGETED BECAUSE IT'S PROGRAMMABLE AGAINST YOUR EXACT CANCER OR YOUR EXACT TUMOR, AS OPPOSED TO WHAT WE DID DURING THE PANDEMIC, WE GAVE IT TO EVERYBODY.

WHEN YOU DO THAT, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THINGS YOU WEREN'T EXPECTING.

WE DID HAVE BAD OUTCOMES AND WASN'T PERFECT ACROSS THE BOARD.

ALL THE INITIAL CANCER TRIALS ARE LOOKING VERY INTERESTING.

TED: YOU MENTIONED THE BROAD WAY IT WAS APPLIED DURING THE PANDEMIC, THAT COULD BE USED IF ANOTHER PANDEMIC IS ANNOUNCED.

>> WE LEARNED SO MUCH FROM THE ROLL-OUT, MAYBE MORE TARGETED FOR THE PEOPLE MOST AFFECTED BY WHATEVER THE NEXT THING IS, AS WELL AS WE CAN QUICKLY UNDERSTAND WHAT MIGHT BE THE BAD EFFECT.

TED: RFK JR. SAID THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH LONG-TERM TESTING AND THE COVID SHOTS WERE HASTILY APPROVED WITHOUT PROPER VETTING.

IS HE CORRECT?

DOES HE HAVE A POINT?

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I THINK IT DIDN'T FOLLOW THE NORMAL VETTING AND THE NORMAL NUMBER OF TRIALS, BUT WE WERE IN AN EMERGENCY, A PANDEMIC.

WE DIDN'T KNOW HOW BAD IT WOULD BE.

REMEMBER THE EARLIEST VERSIONS OF THIS VIRUS, WE WERE SEEING A LOT OF DEATHS.

SO THE FASTER WE COULD PUT SOMETHING OUT WITH APPROPRIATE TESTING, CERTAINLY WAS A GOOD THING, BUT WE NEEDED TO WATCH CLOSELY AND THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS AROUND POLICY AND MANDATES, THAT'S DIFFERENT THAN THE ACTUAL TECHNOLOGY ITSELF.

LET'S MAKE BEST USE OF THE SCIENTIFIC ADVANCEMENT.

TED: HE SAID THEY DEALT WITH THE DEADLIEST VACCINE EVER MADE.

HOW DO YOU GET PAST THAT ESPECIALLY ON STUFF LIKE CANCER AND OTHER VIRUSES GOING ON?

>> UNFORTUNATELY, IF WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT REALLY HOW THIS WAS DURING THE PANDEMIC, WE HAD TO SAY EVERYTHING WAS TAINTED WITH POLITICS, AND WEREN'T GETTING GOOD SCIENTIFIC UNDERSTANDING.

THIS IS WHY YOU HAVE STATEMENTS LIKE THAT.

I THINK WE GOT TO STEP BACK AND LOOK AT WHAT DID WE LEARN FROM THIS AND HOW WAS IT USED?

MAYBE IT WASN'T THE BEST, BUT THE OLD VACCINES, IF WE WOULD HAVE USED THE OLD VACCINES OR THE NON-mRNA VACCINES, WE WOULD HAVE WORSE OUTCOMES, THERE ARE THINGS WE CAN LEARN AND SCOMBREEF LAST POINT, DIDN'T MEAN TO INTERRUPT YOU.

CANCER, HIV, ZINCA VIRUS, IS IT POSSIBLE?

AND SECONDLY, HOW SOON?

>> DOES SEEM, USING THIS TECHNOLOGY, WE CAN RESPOND TO ANY INVADER AND ANY CANCER.

THERE ARE DOZENS OF TRIALS FOR CANCER AND OTHER PATHOGENS AS WELL.

ALL OF THIS IS HAPPENING DURING A NON-EMERGENCY AND THE PROPER TESTING AND VETTING IS HAPPENING.

TED: SOUNDS LIKE YOU ARE OPTIMISTIC.

>> I'M VERY OPTIMISTIC.

TED: DR. ENGELTHALER, GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE, ENCOURAGING INFORMATION.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

>> THANKS, TED.

.

TED: A NEW PBS FRONTLINE DOCUMENTARY LOOKS AT THE ISSUES ALASKAN NATIVES ARE FACING BECAUSE OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

TITLED ALASKA'S VANISHING VILLAGES.

WE WELCOME PATTY TALAHONGVA AND LAURA MUCCIOLO.

THE FOLKS LIVING UP THERE AND WHAT THE CLIMATE IS DOING TO THEM.

WHAT IS THE CLIMATE DOING TO THEM?

>> HAPPENING FOR A LONG TIME, AND BETWEEN THE RISING SEA LEVELS AND THE WARMING OF THE EARTH, SO THE THAWING OF THE PERMAFROST IS CREATING A PERFECT STORM, IF YOU WILL.

TED: YEAH.

>> BECAUSE THAT LITERALLY, WITH THE ALSO WARMING TEMPERATURES, THE ICE THAT FORMS ALONG THE COAST IS NOT COMING, IT'S NOT FORMING EVERY YEAR, AND THAT IS THE BREAKER FOR THE WAVES THAT COME IN, SO WHEN THE WAVES COME, IN IT'S EATING AWAY THE COASTLINE, AND THEN AS THE PERMAFROST THAWS, IT DESTABILIZES THE GROUND FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE, HOUSES, BUILDINGS ANY, KIND OF ROADS THEY HAVE.

SO IT'S WREAKING HAVOC ON THE VILLAGES.

TED: HOW DO YOU TELL THIS STORY IN ORDER FOR US, WHO WERE -- I WANT TO ASK ABOUT WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO BE UP THERE.

FOR THOSE OF US, HOW MUCH OF AN IMPACT THIS IS MAKING?

>> THAT WASN'T VERY DIFFICULT.

THE TRUTH IS THAT THERE WERE QUITE A NUMBER OF STORMS THAT WE COULD HAVE REFERENCED TO HELP TELL THE STORY.

A LOT OF ARCHIVAL MATERIAL THAT DOCUMENTS ALL THE DAMAGE THE STORMS HAVE DONE, AND ALSO THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WERE FRUSTRATED THERE ISN'T ENOUGH PROGRESS BEING MADE, AREN'T ENOUGH OPPORTUNITIES TO GET FUNDING AND SUPPORT AND TECHNICAL EXPERTISE TO HELP THE VILLAGES COMBAT THE VILLAGES OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

TED: WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BUREAUCRATIC CHALLENGES?

>> THEY ARE MANY.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES IS SO MUCH OF THE FUNDING THAT IS AVAILABLE, SO MUCH OF THE SUPPORT THAT IS AVAILABLE IS SILOED ACROSS SO MANY FEDERAL PROGRAMS, ACROSS THE GOVERNMENT.

YOU HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO NAVIGATE THE SYSTEM, AND A LOT OF IT IS GRANT DRIVEN, COMPETITIVE GRANTS, THERE IS A SMALL ELEMENT THAT WASN'T INCLUDED IN THE GRANT APPLICATION AND YOU WERE DISQUALIFIED AND YOU CAN'T APPLY FOR ANOTHER YEAR OR TWO.

TED: PATTY, HOW DID YOU NAVIGATE AREA UP THERE, IT IS SO REMOTE.

THEY LOOKED REALLY REMOTE, WHAT DID YOU GO THROUGH?

WHAT WAS IT LIKE?

>> I LIKE TO GIVE THIS EXAMPLE.

IF WE COULD HAVE TAKEN A DIRECT FLIGHT FROM ANCHORAGE TO CHIBAK, IT TOOK TWO DAYS, IMAGINE GETTING STUCK IN BETHEL, NOT IN A BAD WAY, BUT THE WEATHER PREVENTED US FROM FLYING INTO CHIBAK, AND BECAUSE WE TRAVELED IN THE WINTER TO BE PREPARED TO BE STRANDED THERE BECAUSE OF A BLIZZARD OR SOMETHING, IF THERE'S NO VISIBILITY, THE PLANES WON'T FLY, PILOTS WON'T GO UP.

WE HAD TO TAKE OUR OWN FOOD, WATER, SLEEPING BAGS, ALL OF OUR WINTER GEAR THAT WE WORE AND BE PRETTY MUCH SELF-CONTAINED, AND WE'RE WATCHING SOME OF THE FOOTAGE.

THERE ARE NO CARS.

SO GETTING AROUND ON SNOW MACHINES IN THE WINTER TIME, THAT WAS A CHALLENGE, AND JUST EVEN THOUGH WE HAD HEAT IN OUR UNIT, WAKING UP IN THE MORNING AND SEEING YOUR BREATH AS YOU CLIMB OUT OF YOUR SLEEPING BAG, IT WAS CHALLENGING BUT BEAUTIFUL, AND THE PEOPLE WERE WONDERFUL, AND YOU CAN'T GO TO THE VILLAGES BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO RESTAURANTS, MANY OF THEM.

THEY DON'T HAVE HOTELS.

YOU HAVE TO TALK WITH THE TRIBAL GOVERNMENT OR CITY GOVERNMENT TO SEE IF THEY HAVE ROOM IN THE APARTMENT TO RENT, AND THEN YOU'RE AT THEIR MERCY BECAUSE THEY'RE PROVIDING TRANSPORTATION AS WELL.

TED: YEAH, YEAH.

WHEN YOU TALK TO THE FOLKS UP THERE, GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, RESIDENTS, VILLAGERS, WHATEVER, WHAT ARE THANGING?

ARE THEY THINKING RELOCATION?

ARE THEY THINKING OUR HOME IS GONE?

>> THEY'RE STARTING TO HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS NOW, AND WHAT I FOUND SO AMAZING IS TALKING TO THE TEENAGERS, TALKING TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE, THEY WERE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THEY HAVE SEASON IN THEIR YOUNG LIFETIMES, THE CHANGES THEY HAVE SEEN.

RELOCATION IS TOP OF MIND BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF RECOGNITION THAT SOME OF THE PLACES, I THINK, LONG AGO, A LOT OF THE VILLAGES WERE BUILT ON THE OCEAN BECAUSE -- OR ON RIVERS, WHICH WOULD ALLOW YOU TO ACCESS FISH AND THE SUBSISTENCE FOODS THAT CULTURALLY THE COMMUNITIES DEPEND UPON.

THAT PUTS THEM IN A VULNERABLE POSITION NOW.

TED: YEAH.

AND I IMAGINE THIS RINGS TRUE FOR YOU WITH YOUR HOPI BACKGROUND AND EVERYTHING?

>> YES, AND THE PEOPLE IN HOOPA BAY, THE PEOPLE FROM THE VILLAGE OF BIMUT, THEY WERE FORCED TO MOVE TO HUPA BAY BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT HAD A SCHOOL.

TED: WE'VE HAD YOU ON ABOUT THAT.

>> THEY'RE FORCED TO LEAVE HUPA BAY BECAUSE OF CLIMATE CHANGE.

WHAT IS IT GOING TO LOOK LIKE IN 10 OR 20 YEARS?

THE STUDENTS WERE AMAZING.

THEY PREFER TO SUBSISTENCE, HARVEST FROM THE OCEAN AS OPPOSED TO THE GROCERY STORE BECAUSE THE FOODS ARE FOREIGN TO THEM, AND THEY TOLD ME IN THE FILM, WE TALKED ABOUT, THE KIDS TELL US THAT FOOD IS JUNK, AND THEY DON'T LIKE JUNK, THEY HAVE A SUBSISTENCE WAY OF LIFE.

A DIET TIED TO THEIR CULTURE AND THAT'S WHAT THEY WANT TO HOLD ON AND KEEP.

TED: ALASKA'S VANISHING VILLAGES, THIS IS A DOCUMENTARY FOR FRONTLINE.

CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU BOTH.

SOUNDS LIKE IT WAS QUITE THE EFFORT AND YOU GOT QUITE THE RESULT.

FASCINATING STUFF, GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE SHARING YOUR STORIES, APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU, TED.

>> THANK YOU.

TED: THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.