The Gaggle: An Arizona politics podcast

This week on The Gaggle, a politics podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl speak with Republic reporters Stacey Barchenger and Ray Stern to explore the politics of this unusual Arizona Legislature budget cycle. Email us! thegaggle@arizonarepublic.com Leave us a voicemail: 602-444-0804 Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tik Tok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Guests: ⁠⁠⁠ Ray Stern, Stacey Barchenger Host: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Mary Jo Pitzl⁠⁠⁠⁠, Ronald J. Hansen Producers: Abby Bessinger, Maritza Dominguez Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Early voting begins June 18 in the only federal race this year in Arizona. An election to fill the seat of the late U.S. Rep. Raúl Grijalva is underway in Arizona's Congressional District 7. The race in southern Arizona has produced competitive primaries on both the Republican and Democratic sides, but most of the attention has been focused on three of the five Democrats seeking their party's nod. This week on The Gaggle, a weekly politics podcast, we break down the pros and cons of all the candidates on the ballot and explore how the race is shaping up so far. Email us! thegaggle@arizonarepublic.com Leave us a voicemail: 602-444-0804 Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tik Tok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Guests: ⁠⁠Laura Gersony Host: ⁠⁠⁠Mary Jo Pitzl⁠⁠⁠ Producer: ⁠⁠⁠Amanda Luberto⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

June 2025 marks a decade since the U.S. Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage. The landmark 5-4 ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges resolved a long-standing national debate and brought together a conflicting patchwork of state laws. Eight months before the SCOTUS decision, the Republican-dominated state of Arizona legalized same sex marriages, though the road to get there was rocky. This week on The Gaggle, a politics podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, host Mary Jo Pitzl is joined by Republic editor Shaun McKinnon and LGBTQ+ rights advocate Sheila Kloefkorn to look back at the events that led to Arizona in 2014 joining the states that legally recognize gay marriage, and cast forward on what challenges remain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gov. Katie Hobbs announced in May that she would not submit any more agency director nominations to the state Senate for confirmation, blaming what she called the "circus" environment for vetting her nominees. Hobbs has been battling the state Senate since she took office for her director nominees, who have gone through a rigorous and unprecedented vetting process. State Sen. Jake Hoffman heads the Committee on Direction Nominations, which recommends whether a nominee should get a vote of the full Senate. He self-identified on The Gaggle as "one of the most conservative members of the Legislature." This week on The Gaggle, we are joined by Sen. Hoffman to discuss why he thinks the stiff scrutiny on the governor's picks is justified. Later in the episode, Doug Cole, a Republican veteran of state government, joins to explore this unheard-of situation between the sitting governor and the leader of the Senate committee. Email us! thegaggle@arizonarepublic.com Leave us a voicemail: 602-444-0804 Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tik Tok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Guests: ⁠⁠Sen. Jake Hoffman, Doug Cole Hosts: ⁠⁠Ron Hansen⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Mary Jo Pitzl⁠⁠ Producer: ⁠⁠Amanda Luberto, Abby Bessinger Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The state's Democratic Attorney General Kris Mayes is focused on the Republicans who tried to help sidestep Arizona's certified election results. A Maricopa County Superior Court judge recently ordered Mayes to take her evidence back to the grand jury to inform them of a key legal argument made by the electors. This ruling may — or may not — undercut Mayes' case enough to reconsider a matter she has framed as protecting democracy itself. This week on The Gaggle, a politics podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl are joined by former Democratic Attorney General Terry Goddard, and later, Republic reporter Stacey Barchenger. Goddard breaks down how rare it is for a case to go back to the grand jury for matters of defense, rather than elements of the alleged crimes, and other insights into the law. Stacey then joins The Gaggle to discuss this specific case and what it means for Mayes' political future. Email us! thegaggle@arizonarepublic.com Leave us a voicemail: 602-444-0804 Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠X,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tik Tok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Guests: ⁠⁠Terry Goddard, Stacey Barchenger⁠. Hosts: ⁠Ron Hansen⁠, ⁠Mary Jo Pitzl⁠ Producer: ⁠Amanda Luberto Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Trump administration has only been in office for a few months, but the early days seem to make good on a promise of stricter immigration reform and border security. But an intimidating defense along the border is not the only reason detention numbers have decreased. And deportations in other parts of Arizona — like Phoenix — are actually increasing. This week on The Gaggle, a politics podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com,  we discuss what the border has looked like since Trump regained office, what it means for the communities along the border, and how a crack down on immigration is playing out in Phoenix. Email us! thegaggle@arizonarepublic.com Leave us a voicemail: 602-444-0804 Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠X,⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠Tik Tok⁠⁠⁠⁠. Guests: ⁠Richard Ruelas⁠, ⁠Raphael Romero Ruiz⁠. Hosts: Ron Hansen, Mary Jo Pitzl Producer: Amanda Luberto Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As lawmakers are on break, work is going on behind the scenes on an education-related bill that would raise teacher pay and maybe provide constitutional protections for Arizona's private-school voucher program. Despite widespread agreement that the funding stream from the trust fund should continue, how to get the plan over the finish line is being hotly debated behind closed doors. This will leave a new version of what is commonly called Proposition 123 up to the voters, presumably in November 2026. But will that be the most strategic way to handle the situation? This week on The Gaggle, a politics podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, we analyze different ways Prop 123 2.0 could show up. Email us! ⁠⁠⁠thegaggle@arizonarepublic.com⁠⁠⁠ Leave us a voicemail: 602-444-0804 Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠X,⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠Tik Tok⁠⁠⁠. Guest: Lorna Romero Ferguson, owner of Elevate Strategies Host: ⁠⁠⁠Mary Jo Pitzl⁠⁠⁠  Producers: Amanda Luberto, Abby Bessinger Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Currently, Republicans have only a seven-seat advantage over Democrats, and that is likely to shrink by two seats after this year's special elections to fill vacancies. Republicans are standing strong behind Trump, but Democrats are eagerly using this to their advantage. But will that work in Arizona and its two swing districts, Congressional District 1 and Congressional District 6? This week on The Gaggle, a politics podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl are joined by Nathan Gonzales of Inside Elections. He is the editor of the non-partisan elections analysis website Email us! ⁠⁠thegaggle@arizonarepublic.com⁠⁠ Leave us a voicemail: 602-444-0804 Follow us on ⁠⁠X,⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Tik Tok⁠⁠. Guest: Nathan Gonzales, editor of Inside Elections Hosts: ⁠⁠Ron Hansen⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Mary Jo Pitzl⁠⁠  Producer: ⁠⁠Amanda Luberto Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At the 100-day mark of Trump's second term, his approval ratings are the lowest for any newly elected president in over 50 years and economic warning signs are pointing toward a recession. This should be a clear sign that Democrats will be successful in the 2026 election as they try to flip the House, but infighting might be getting in their way. This week on The Gaggle, a politics podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl are joined by Dave Wasserman. He's the senior editor and elections analyst for the non-partisan Cook Political Report. Email us! ⁠thegaggle@arizonarepublic.com⁠ Leave us a voicemail: 602-444-0804 Follow us on ⁠X,⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠ and ⁠Tik Tok⁠. Guest: Dave Wasserman, senior editor & election analyst at Cook Political Report Hosts: ⁠Ron Hansen⁠, ⁠Mary Jo Pitzl⁠  Producer: ⁠Amanda Luberto Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

National economic uncertainty is impacting Arizona lawmakers and their budget deadline. But this year, there may be good reason to push to the last minute. Fluctuating tariff policies and Congress' want for billions in savings has made it unclear how much money Arizona can spend quite yet. This week on The Gaggle, a politics podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl take a look at Arizona's economic forecast and what it might mean for state spending in the year ahead. Email us! thegaggle@arizonarepublic.com Leave us a voicemail: 602-444-0804 Follow us on X, Instagram and Tik Tok. Hosts: Ron Hansen, Mary Jo Pitzl  Producer: Amanda Luberto Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Arizona's purple-state status has made residents accustomed to arguing at the state Capitol. But this time, the feud is between Trump-supporting Republicans and themselves. A bill that would criminalize false claims of military service has Rep. Walt Blackman (R-Snowflake) and fellow veteran Wendy Rogers (R-Flagstaff) in a heated personal drama is playing out in the Capitol. A claim of purposeful blocking, the owner of a Trump merchandise story and a near fight on the House floor are all happening over a stolen valor bill. This week on The Gaggle, legislative reporter Ray Stern joins hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl to shine a light on the dramatic environment the bill is moving in and what it tells us about how certain laws get made. Email us! thegaggle@arizonarepublic.com Leave us a voicemail: 602-444-0804 Follow us on X, Instagram and Tik Tok. Guest: Ray Stern Hosts: Ron Hansen, Mary Jo Pitzl  Producer: Amanda Luberto Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Probably more notably than any other Arizona politician, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes is opposed to President Donald Trump. Currently, she involved in 11 lawsuits challenging the administration and she is still pursuing the fake electors case from the 2020 election overturn efforts. Mayes has her work cut out for her, but the 2026 election looms large already, and she will have to face voters with her record as a counterbalance to the current administration. This week on The Gaggle, a politics podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl join Attorney General Kris Mayes in her office to discuss some of the high-profile battles she's fighting and what other items are on her to-do list. In the second half of the episode, Ron and Mary Jo explore the platform Mayes has embraced, if that's connecting with Arizonans and how it's impacting her approach to reelection in 2026. Email us! thegaggle@arizonarepublic.com Leave us a voicemail: 602-444-0804 Follow us on X, Instagram and Tik Tok. Guest: Attorney General Kris Mayes Hosts: Ron Hansen, Mary Jo Pitzl  Producer: Amanda Luberto Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For some politicians, like Arizona Superintendent Tom Horne, Trump's attacks on DEI, transgender students and dismantling the Department of Education come as good news. It follows rhetoric that he's been pushing for years. But for others, like Attorney General Kris Mayes, a lawsuit is in order. This week on The Gaggle, a politics podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl are joined by two of the paper's education reporters. (1:13) - They break down how Arizona's education system is being impacted by the Trump administration, how divided Arizona politicians are on national decisions and what is being done at the local level regarding DEI reduction. (19:15) Mary Jo and Ron use their expertise to explore where repercussions to following — or not following — the president's ideas stand. Email us! thegaggle@arizonarepublic.com Leave us a voicemail: 602-444-0804 Follow us on X, Instagram and Tik Tok. Guest: Helen Rummel, the Arizona Republic's higher education reporter, and Madeleine Parrish, the Arizona Republic's K-12 education reporter. Hosts: Ron Hansen, Mary Jo Pitzl  Producer: Amanda Luberto Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Arizona Diamondbacks have been trying to revamp Chase Field for years now. So far, that journey has left them without the proper funds to renovate the 27-year-old stadium. A new amendment to House Bill 2704 proposes a 50-50 split between Phoenix and Maricopa County to provide as much as $500 million a year from the sales taxes collected at the stadium – a change that prompted the county to oppose the bill.  This week on The Gaggle, a politics podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl are joined by Bret McCormick. He's a beat writer for the Sports Business Journal covering fan experiences, ticketing and sports facilities. (1:53) Bret talks with Ron and Mary Jo about the reality of the Diamondbacks ballpark situation and how Arizona compares to other states in similar positions. (19:20) Then, Ron and Mary Jo break down the bipartisan support — and bipartisan opposition — the bill is finding in the Legislature. Email us! thegaggle@arizonarepublic.com Leave us a voicemail: 602-444-0804 Follow us on X, Instagram and Tik Tok. Guest: Bret McCormick, beat writer for the Sports Business Journal covering fan experiences, ticketing and sports facilities. Hosts: Ron Hansen, Mary Jo Pitzl  Producer: Amanda Luberto Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Raúl Grijalva, the dean of Arizona's congressional delegation who spent more than 40 years in public service, succumbed to lung cancer last week. He was 77. His loss is felt by his family, friends, colleagues and constituents. But the search for his replacement has already began. Gov. Katie Hobbs has set a date for the special election to fill his empty spot in Congress and notable names like Secretary of State Adrian Fontes and Adelita Grijalva, his daughter, and politician in her own right, have expressed interest in representing District 7. This week on The Gaggle, a politics podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl are joined by national politics reporter Laura Gersony. Together they retrace Grijalva's career and discuss what comes next in Congressional District 7. Later in the episode, Ron and Mary Jo break down the reality of what could transpire when his seat is filled and more about Ron's experiences interviewing Grijalva over the years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scottsdale residents voted in a new mayor and new City Council in the 2024 election. Almost immediately, the new faces at City Hall started kicking up dust in a city that calls itself “The West's Most Western town.” Eliminating DEI measures against residents' wishes, a controversy over a parking garage, an ethics complaint about the new mayor and more have Scottsdale City Council feeling more like reality television than C-SPAN. This week on The Gaggle, a politics podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl are joined by city watchdog reporter Taylor Seely. She covers Phoenix in addition to Scottsdale and has been reporting on the antics of Scottsdale's City Council. Taylor joins The Gaggle to give an update on what is going on in Scottsdale and how the drama is resonating with those in charge. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Congress is looking to make room for trillions in tax cuts that are titled to corporations and the wealthy. Now, America's health-care program for the disabled, pregnant women and low-income earners is up for possible large federal funding cuts. More than 70 million Americans rely on Medicaid, with 2 million of them living in Arizona. The magnitude of the potential cuts, and the consequences for the people who rely on Medicaid, are on the minds of state lawmakers. They say the state needs to build its upcoming budget around the likelihood of cuts and tighten its belt.  This week on The Gaggle, a politics podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl are examining what cuts in Medicaid funding would mean for Arizona. First, a health care reporter at The Republic, Stephanie Innes, discusses how many people will be impacted by this decision. Later, Kohler shines a light on the politics of the situation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trump and his self-created Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, after the internet meme, is attempting to rein in the amount of national spending and the size of the federal government. About 32,000 of the 3 million federal employees are Arizonans, and the number of layoffs and buyouts offered by the Trump administration remains unclear. Most agencies that The Arizona Republic has reached out to for information about layoffs or buyouts have not responded. Slashing federal jobs will impact not only people who have been fired or offered a buyout, but also tourists to the Grand Canyon, Arizonans reliant on Social Security and Hotshots preparing for wildfire season. This week on The Gaggle, a politics podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl are joined by The Republic's national politics reporter Stephanie Murray. Murray covers the White House and has been closely following how Arizonans will be impacted by Trump's federal job cuts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The new year also brought a slightly larger Republican majority in both the House and Senate, furthering the political divide at the Capitol. Gov. Katie Hobbs has already delivered her first veto of the year, denying a Republican-backed proposal to fast-track election results. The political partition complicates Hobbs' goal of scoring wins on her agenda ahead of her 2026 reelection bid. It also coincided with the start of President Donald Trump's second term, and some of the bills have echoes of his pledges.  This week on The Gaggle, a politics podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, host Mary Jo Pitzl sits down with Stan Barnes, who's out at the Capitol often. He's a former state lawmaker and the founder of Copper State Consulting Group, a political lobbying firm in Arizona. Together, they discuss if the Republican dominated Legislature can get their bills passed into law while Hobbs sits in the head office; key topics lawmakers are hoping to cover; and how the 2026 election looms over the session. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Steve Montenegro is not new to the Capitol — he served eight years in the Legislature before an unsuccessful run for Congress in 2018. In 2022, he returned to state politics when he was elected to represent Legislative District 29 along with fellow Republican Austin Smith. At the end of last year, Republicans elected Montenegro as the new speaker of the House of Representatives for the next session. A native of El Salvador, Montenegro is the first Latino to lead the 60-member House. He won the seat after serving just two years, which sets him up for a chance to serve as speaker for three consecutive terms — a rarity in the fast-moving world of legislative term limits and politics. This week on The Gaggle, a politics podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl sit down with Montenegro at the beginning of his term as speaker. Together they discuss how his immigration background influences him, unifying the Republican party in Arizona, and his approach for working with Hobbs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Being a swing state, Arizona's politics are watched with a magnifying glass across the country. It's not just who wins – though that is definitely what matters most – but it is smaller things. Among the details that seem to move to the forefront is who leads the major parties. This serves a temperature check for how the parties are running and where they're trending. 2024 was a pretty good year for Republicans in Arizona, as elsewhere. President Donald Trump won the state and Republicans won in all other races that were thought to be a toss-up. Unsurprisingly, that left Democrats looking for changes in their state party leadership, despite holding office in all of the major roles in the state. The GOP stuck with a leader they didn't initially select two years ago, though she faced a challenge to keep her post. This week on The Gaggle, a politics podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl are joined by Kirk Adams and Sam Richard of Consilium Consulting, a Phoenix-based firm that handles lobbying and consulting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Maricopa County is the economic driver of Arizona and at least politically, largely shapes the state's identity. During the 2024 election, the county went through a political overhaul. There are a lot of new faces dealing with a lot of familiar issues. Illegal immigration, sports venues and a jail tax are all on the county's list to tackle in the months to come. But how will new blood approach old business? This week on The Gaggle, a politics podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl are joined by county politics reporter Sasha Hupka. Together, they break down the big changes at the state's biggest county. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Donald Trump's "Day 1" has come and gone and so far, he has kept most of his promises. The president signed an abundance of executive orders in the hours following his inauguration, some directly impacting Arizonans, with more to come in the first few days of his new administration. But is this the beginning of a MAGA marathon or an early sprint before the chance of a changing tide in the 2026 midterm elections? This week on The Gaggle, a politics podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl are joined by national politics reporters Stephanie Murray and Laura Gersony. Together they go through what Trump's second time in office may mean for Arizonans and the future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President-elect Donald Trump is gearing up for his inauguration on Jan. 20 and the start of the new administration holds significance for Arizona. Trump has promised to start mass deportations on "day one" and to quickly tighten border protections. As for now, the border seems calm. But "day one" is coming soon. This week on The Gaggle, a politics podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl are joined by southern Arizona reporter Sarah Lapidus. She has been at the border with The Republic's immigration reporter Rafael Romero Ruiz, talking with people who call the borderlands home. This week, The Republic is launching a newsletter to keep you up to date on changing immigration developments and border policies. Subscribe to the American Border newsletter here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

t's been four years since the riot at the U.S. Capitol shook the country. It was the first time in history there wasn't a peaceful transfer of power as the electoral votes were finalized. This week's presidential certification was notably without the violence and chaos that defined January 6, 2021. This week on The Gaggle, a politics podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl take a look back at 2021 and how the aftermath of the Capitol attack is still playing out today. In this episode, you'll hear interviews from 2021 with Senator Ruben Gallego and Maricopa County Supervisor Debbie Lesko, who were representatives at the time and in the Capitol building that day. They share their firsthand account with The Gaggle. Then, an interview with reporter Richard Ruelas from 2022 as the investigation into the attack was beginning and Arizona names were coming to light. Listen to the full interviews from 2021 here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2025 isn't an election year, but that doesn't mean that Arizona politics will be boring. Newly elected Democratic Senator Ruben Gallego is preparing his move to Washington DC. Heading to the National's capitol as well, are seemingly diametrically opposed members of Congress that Arizonans voted in for the first time this year. Democrat Yassamin Ansari and Republican Abe Hamadeh are among a new batch of freshman in Congress. Meanwhile, Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs didn't flip the Legislature like she wanted and is actually facing an even more conservative group of state lawmakers. In the background, she is also preparing her run for re-election in 2026. This week on The Gaggle, a politics podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl are joined by Republic politics reporters to give a sense of what they're looking at for the year ahead. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We hope you have a safe and enjoyable holiday, listeners. We're taking the week off to be with our families. See you in 2025! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Arizona had yet another noteworthy year in politics. All eyes were on the swing state for the 2024 general election. With a Senate race involving Democrat Ruben Gallego and Republican Kari Lake, as well as how voters would respond to constitutionalizing reproductive rights following the repeal of a 19th-century abortion law, Arizona stayed in the national spotlight. But that wasn't everything that happened. From using taxpayer's money on Norwegian pop stars to indicting President Trump's formal personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl go through five moments that defined 2024 for Arizona politics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trump is targeting Mexico and Canada for his tariffs, as well, and that could directly impact Arizona as a border state as well as those who make their living off the international supply chain. But will they help or hurt Arizonans?  This week on The Gaggle, a politics podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl are joined by two guests to discuss what impact Trump's proposed tariffs on Mexico will have on Arizonans. Economist at the University of Arizona George Hammond and Arizona Republic reporter Laura Gersony join the show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With former President Donald Trump's re-election win this November, his aggressive plans — positive to some, negative to others — on the border and immigration seemingly won him the nomination. He promised mass deportations on day one of his White House return, saying he would declare a national emergency to make it happen. Trump's proposal would impact a quarter-million people in Arizona, according to the Pew Research Center. But how possible are Trump's plans? Logistical and legal questions have already been raised about how he'll succeed in enacting mass deportations, from both adversaries and members of his own party. This week on The Gaggle, a politics podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl are joined by Jennie Murray, the CEO and president of the National Immigration Forum. It's an immigration advocacy non-profit based in Washington D.C.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Despite the anticipation for another long election season extending into the new year, Arizona's election season went pretty smoothly. In stark contrast of 2022 and 2020, the 2024 election was calm and professional. But that doesn't mean that it's over. There are still a few recounts to complete before the season can really come to an end — both on the county and statewide level. And certain hiccups have politicos questioning if the next election will be as smooth, or if Arizona will find its way back into election chaos. This week on Election Dissection, an elections series of The Gaggle podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, hosts Mary Jo Pitzl and Sasha Hupka break down what the final steps are to wrap up election season, how denialism seems to be on hiatus and how it will impact Arizonans in the new year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Arizona and other key swing states all went red in 2024, helping Donald Trump secure the U.S. presidency. This year, he won Arizona by a bigger margin than the 2016 election. Weeks after the election, how Trump gained more votes is now being analyzed. With Trump heading back to Washington in January, this data might shed light on what might happen to the governor's seat in 2026, when Gov. Katie Hobbs' seat is open again. This week on The Gaggle, a politics podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl are joined by Stephanie Murray to break down the data of the 2024 election. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Leading up to the November election, pollsters across the nation showed Arizona to be one of the most swingy of the swing states. How Arizonans would vote in the presidential race and down-ballot contests were the equivalent of a coin flip. But as results were tallied over the past few days, it is clear now which party won convincingly. It's not necessarily the red wave effect, though. All of these races had the potential to go to Republicans or Democrats, proving that Arizona is just right of center. One Arizona race that moved against that tide was for the U.S. Senate. Late Monday night, Democrat Ruben Gallego clinched a win over Republican Kari Lake. This week on The Gaggle, a politics podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl discuss how Gallego prevailed over the red wall and what's next for both the legislature and Kari Lake. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode expresses the views of Arizona Republic opinion columnists, not the views of The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com news department or the Gaggle hosts. Columnists Greg Moore and Phil Boas spoke virtually after election night 2024 to discuss the results and how Trump won back America. The conversation is moderated by editorial page editor, Elvia Diaz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Tuesday heading into Wednesday, the presidential race was less than 1 percentage point apart, and once again, Arizona is the closest state in the country, for the time being. Republicans also wiped out the narrow Democratic majority in the U.S. Senate, but in Arizona, Democrat Ruben Gallego appeared to be headed to victory. Fox News has already called the presidential race for Donald Trump. In Arizona, Democrats fared quite well, at least in the unofficial results released Tuesday night. They could win key races in the Legislature and pick up two congressional seats.  With more ballots to be counted and a mandatory hand count audit on Saturday still to come, most of Arizona's political future is still up in the air. This week on The Gaggle, a politics podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl are joined by political reporters at The Republic to break down what went down on election night 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Unlike states like Florida and Colorado, it takes Arizona anywhere from days to almost weeks to find out the results of the election. In the last midterm election, the results of the governor's race were announced six days after Election Day. Cable news famously called Arizona for Joe Biden on election night in 2020, but that contest would stay in headlines for months to come after a ballot recount. So far, 1 million early ballots have been received in Maricopa County alone. But early voting won't speed the process up. This week on Election Dissection, an elections series of The Gaggle podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com hosts Mary Jo Pitzl and Sasha Hupka are joined by data reporter at the Republic Sahana Jayaraman. Together they discuss a new tool to gather result data and explain why it takes so long to find out who won in Arizona. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It is crunch time for politicians and campaigns right now to try to win your vote for the Nov. 4 election. Early voting ballots have been sent out, and with a few close races in the polls, candidates know that every vote matters. Candidates down ballot have held rallies and aimed conversations at all different demographics in the last weeks leading up to the election. Both presidential candidates have visited border towns in Arizona, speaking to the importance of border security.  But is that what it takes to win one of the key battleground states in the nation? This week on The Gaggle, a politics podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl are joined by two political strategists from both sides of the aisle to give insight on what it takes for a campaign to win in Arizona. Constantin Querard, president of one of the state's most popular political consulting firms Grassroots Partners, has worked on Republican campaigns for almost two decades. Andy Barr is the managing director at Uplift, an agency focused on Democratic campaigns and fundraising. Barr has worked on more than 100 campaigns across the country.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From now until your ballot arrives, The Gaggle, a politics podcast by the Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, collaborated with our politics team to connect with candidates so you can hear them make their case in their own words. This is part of a series of bonus episodes featuring Q&As on the state's most important races. In this episode, reporter Sasha Hupka ask both candidates to represent District 3 on the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors why voters should choose them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some of this election cycle's biggest issues are what stirs the electorates here in Arizona. No debate or interview is complete without asking a candidate about abortion and immigration. Political angst regarding the border could be a defining factor on who wins the White House, the state's U.S. Senate race and other contests further down ballot. And unlike most of the country who choose candidates' based on their views of immigration and the border, Arizonans have a ballot measure that will help shape policy, as well. This week on The Gaggle, a politics podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl are joined by The Republic's immigration issues reporter Rafael Carranza to explore the border security ballot proposition 314 and why the U.S.-Mexico border is still a pressing political issue.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode expresses the views of Arizona Republic opinion columnists, not the views of The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com news department or the Gaggle hosts. Columnists Greg Moore and Phil Boas spoke virtually after the Senate debate between Republican Kari Lake and Democrat Ruben Gallego about who won and what stood out. The conversation is moderated by editorial page editor, Elvia Diaz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Gaggle, a politics podcast by the Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, collaborated with our politics team to connect with candidates so you can hear them make their case in their own words. This is part of a series of bonus episodes featuring Q&As on the state's most important races. In this episode, reporter Laura Gersony talked with Democratic nominee for Congressional District 1 Dr. Amish Shah about key topics. Republican nominee David Schweikert did not respond to our request to participate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Taking up a lot of the ballot's real estate are 13 propositions. From abortion rights to worker tips, arguments for and against the propositions fill up more than 300 pages in the state's official Publicity Pamphlet. And the language can get confusing. Plan to spend more time than usual in the voting booth, or around the kitchen table, as you work through this ballot. This week on The Gaggle, a politics podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl try to simplify the most high profile ballot propositions to make them easier to understand. Republic reporter Stacey Barchenger joins The Gaggle to talk through Proposition 139, the Arizona Abortion Access initiative and Proposition 137, which would end term limits for judges − two topics she's been closely covering. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From now until your ballot arrives, The Gaggle, a politics podcast by the Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, collaborated with our politics team to connect with candidates so you can hear them make their case in their own words. This is part of a series of bonus episodes featuring Q&As on the state's most important races. In this episode, reporter Sasha Hupka ask both candidates to represent District 1 on the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors why voters should choose them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From now until your ballot arrives, The Gaggle, a politics podcast by the Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, collaborated with our politics team to connect with candidates so you can hear them make their case in their own words. This is part of a series of bonus episodes featuring Q&As on the state's most important races. In this episode, reporter Sasha Hupka ask Democratic nominee for Maricopa County Recorder Tim Stringham about key topics. Republican nominee Justin Heap did not respond to our request to participate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The future of control of the state house depends on eight competitive districts on your ballot this November. Driven by redistricting, lots of donation money, and Gov. Katie Hobbs' long-stated intention to flip the Legislature blue, Arizona's political future is again toeing the line. This week on The Gaggle, a politics podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl are joined by Republic reporter Ray Stern to discuss observations about the complexion of the contests and how they are playing out in select districts across the state. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Early ballots are being packaged up to be sent out to Arizona voters by October 9th. This year is the big one. From contentious mayoral races to electing a new Maricopa County recorder, the local elections will come to define how the state runs. On the national scale, Arizona has one of the most watched Senate races in the country and both Presidential candidates know how crucial winning Arizona will be to putting them in the White House.  From now until your ballot arrives, The Gaggle, a politics podcast by the Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, collaborated with our politics team to connect with candidates so you can hear them make their case in their own words. This is part of a series of bonus episodes featuring Q&As on the state's most important races. In this episode, reporter Laura Gersony asks Incumbent Juan Ciscomani and Kirsten Engel about key topics and why they deserve your vote this November. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Early ballots are being packaged up to be sent out to Arizona voters by October 9th. This year is the big one. From contentious mayoral races to electing a new Maricopa County recorder, the local elections will come to define how the state runs. On the national scale, Arizona has one of the most watched Senate races in the country and both Presidential candidates know how crucial winning Arizona will be to putting them in the White House.  From now until your ballot arrives, The Gaggle, a politics podcast by the Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, collaborated with our politics team to connect with candidates so you can hear them make their case in their own words. This is part of a series of bonus episodes featuring Q&As on the state's most important races. In this episode, reporter Stephanie Murray sat with VP Kamala Harris' senior advisor, Jen Cox, to discuss their plan for Arizona. Former President Donald Trump's team declined to participate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Early ballots are being packaged up to be sent out to Arizona voters by October 9th. This year is the big one. From contentious mayoral races to electing a new Maricopa County recorder, the local elections will come to define how the state runs. On the national scale, Arizona has one of the most watched Senate races in the country and both Presidential candidates know how crucial winning Arizona will be to putting them in the White House.  From now until your ballot arrives, The Gaggle, a politics podcast by the Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, collaborated with our politics team to connect with candidates so you can hear them make their case in their own words. This is part of a series of bonus episodes on the state's most important races. In this episode, all 6 candidates running for Arizona Corporation Commission debate on why they deserve your vote. Audio is brought to you by the Arizona Media Association. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 2024 ballot will be one of the longest in recent history with 13 propositions to vote on. Among things like police power at the border and abortion access, nearly one third of the measures deal with how elections function in the state. There are four measures on the November ballot that are directly related to elections procedures, further enforcing that how democracy is run is a hot-button topic this election season. Two propositions come at primaries from the opposite side, one introduced by the Arizona Legislature and one introduced by the people. The other two directly impact how citizen initiatives make it onto our ballots. This week on Election Dissection, an elections series of The Gaggle podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com hosts Mary Jo Pitzl and Sasha Hupka go through the nuances of these measures, explain the pros and cons and help you understand a typically confusing section of your ballot. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Early ballots are being packaged up to be sent out to Arizona voters by October 9th. This year is the big one. From contentious mayoral races to electing a new Maricopa County recorder, the local elections will come to define how the state runs. On the national scale, Arizona has one of the most watched Senate races in the country and both Presidential candidates know how crucial winning Arizona will be to putting them in the White House.  From now until your ballot arrives, The Gaggle, a politics podcast by the Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, collaborated with our politics team to connect with candidates so you can hear them make their case in their own words. This is part of a series of bonus episodes featuring Q&As on the state's most important races. In this episode, reporter Maritza Dominguez asks Mark Freeman and Scott Smith about key topics and why they deserve your vote this November. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Along with everything else that's on the ballot this election year, so is the U.S. House of Representatives. All nine seats of Arizona's congressional delegation are before voters, but in reality, only two are expected to have any suspense. Congressional district 1 features a showdown between Republican Congressman David Schweikert and Democratic Dr. Amish Shah. Congressional District 6 is a rematch between Republican Juan Ciscomani and former state Sen. Kirsten Engel. This week on The Gaggle, a politics podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, host Ron Hansen is joined by one of the Republic's national politics reporters Laura Gersony to talk through who the competitors are for these districts and how they define themselves. Later, Kyle Kondik joins The Gaggle. He is the managing editor of Sabato's Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia's Center for Politics. He clues us in on how the results of Arizona's election will have a seismic impact on who holds power in Congress for the next two years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices