The Political Notebook

Follow The Political Notebook
Share on
Copy link to clipboard

The Political Notebook is an inter-generational audio show discussing politics and current events from an Arizona-centric perspective.

The Political Notebook


    • Mar 8, 2024 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 32m AVG DURATION
    • 128 EPISODES


    Search for episodes from The Political Notebook with a specific topic:

    Latest episodes from The Political Notebook

    Why didn't Sinema run?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2024 32:53


    What's next for Arizona and the country? *** Show notes: *** - Robert Robb column on Sinema and Haley: https://robertrobb.substack.com/p/sinema-haley-and-the-end-of-hope - Tim Steller column on Sinema: https://tucson.com/news/local/tim-stellers-column-sinemas-self-indulgent-senate-term-doomed-her/article_08ccdf9e-dbe5-11ee-8d05-cf89651b7f4e.html - Arizona Republic Editorial on Sinema: https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/editorial/2024/03/06/kyrsten-sinema-reelection-consequential-senate/72857151007/ - The Summit, hosted by Tucker Carlson (Kari Lake appearance starts at 8:24:44, after Nikki Haley's interview with Tucker): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuAGkW4KOEw

    Do House Republicans have any interest in governing?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 3, 2023 28:48


    Will Lake have a pragmatic conservative opponent? What about the MAGA melee in congressional district 8?

    Does free enterprise have political support in either major party?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 21, 2023 39:23


    Is the new right's critique of market capitalism any sounder than that of the left? Is it realistic for populist conservatives to beat liberals in seizing and exercising government power? *** Links: "In Defense of the American Free Market" -- The Optimistic American podcast -- Paul Johnson interviews Robert Robb Audio: https://optamerican.podbean.com/e/in-defense-of-the-american-free-market-robert-robb/ Video: https://youtu.be/BiSIOvTQhwU

    Is Trump inevitable?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 8, 2023 28:17


    Is there anything that can happen between now and the convention to shake his hold on primary voters? Should Trump opponents consolidate behind a single candidate? Should that be DeSantis?

    Can the legislative session be salvaged?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 17, 2023 30:28


    Who gets the blame if there's a state government shutdown? Can there be a bipartisan approach to the housing shortage?

    Where are Arizona politics headed?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2023 28:56


    Is Hobbs going to govern as a moderate? Does Sinema have a chance as an independent? Will the Republican MAGA fever ever break?

    In-state tuition for Dreamers?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 12, 2022 18:43


    Are there any legitimate arguments against Prop 308? How is the immigration issue playing generally in the 2022 election? *** Show Notes: *** Op-Ed by Fred DuVal: "Arizona doesn't have to be the SB 1070 state. Proposition 308 can right many wrongs" https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/2022/10/11/prop-308-gives-dreamers-equal-opportunity-state-tuition/8199900001/

    Where do vouchers go from here?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 5, 2022 29:25


    How will the failed referendum play in the 2022 election? What reforms of the current law might be considered? Are district and charter schools being treated fairly? *** Show notes: *** Robert Robb column: "Referendum failure dramatically changes the politics of universal private school vouchers." https://robertrobb.substack.com/p/the-political-notebook-93022 *** Billy Robb on state testing: "Proficiency and its discontents: Could you pass the AASA?" https://chollaexpress.substack.com/p/proficiency-and-its-discontents

    Water conservation in Arizona

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2022 21:10


    All about water policy. Where does our water supply come from? Who has the rights to use water from the Colorado River? What happens as the drought gets worse? Do we need a new source of water, such as a desalination plant? *** Show notes: *** Robert Robb column (3/6/2022) https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/robertrobb/2022/03/06/gov-doug-ducey-water-authority-isnt-even-half-baked/9365898002/ *** Grady Gammage Jr. response (3/8/2022) https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/2022/03/08/we-have-time-but-we-need-move-now-big-water-projects/9417805002/

    Has the real Joe Biden stood up yet?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 27, 2022 26:59


    Is the Democratic party moving toward the center? Has Sinema helped or hurt Democratic prospects?

    Did the DeSantis rally accomplish anything?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 17, 2022 29:54


    Can Republicans win in Arizona by increasing MAGA turnout? How much can states actually do to secure the border?

    Arizona Primary Election Results: Crying in our beer

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 5, 2022 29:05


    Is there any prospect of a counter-revolution to Trumpism in the Republican Party? How should Democrats approach the general election? What happens if the Trump slate wins the general?

    Can the Republican Party unify after the Arizona primary?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 27, 2022 30:37


    How should the state address Covid-related learning losses? What effect are the January 6th hearings having? Links: - Robert Robb on Substack: (https://robertrobb.substack.com/) - Robert Robb post on Covid-related learning loss: (https://robertrobb.substack.com/p/the-political-notebook-72222) - Billy Robb on Substack (https://chollaexpress.substack.com/) - Arizona Agenda post on the Republican Party divide: (https://arizonaagenda.substack.com/p/the-daily-agenda-when-does-reconstruction) - Download the Substack App on your Apple device: (https://on.substack.com/p/substackapp) - Cheney Closing Statement At Select Committee's Eighth Public Hearing: (https://cheney.house.gov/2022/07/21/cheney-closing-statement-at-select-committees-eighth-public-hearing/)

    What effect will Ducey's endorsement have on the governor's race?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 19, 2022 24:11


    Is there now a political space in GOP politics to challenge the big lie? Is Joe Manchin rescuing Mark Kelly? Subscribe to Robert Robb on Substack: https://robertrobb.substack.com/

    The upcoming fight over school vouchers

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 7, 2022 22:42


    Subscribe to Robert Robb on Substack: https://robertrobb.substack.com/ On this episode of the podcast, we talk about the new school voucher law in Arizona. How will the upcoming political fight play out? Also: Should Ducey endorse Robson?

    Is there a legislative end game?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2022 30:50


    Also: Should independent voters choose a Democratic or Republican ballot? Links: Arizona Agenda: What candidates for Gov, SOS and AG say about 2020 election (https://arizonaagenda.substack.com/p/cheatsheet-what-candidates-for-gov?s=r) Arizona Republic Editorial: Where's the choice? (https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/editorial/2022/06/05/arizona-primary-races-senate-governor-legislature-secretary-state-show-dysfunction/9706589002/) Robert Robb column: Arizona desperately needs a non-Trump GOP candidate (https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/robertrobb/2022/06/05/arizona-desperately-needs-non-trump-gop-candidate-georgia-lesson/7487615001/) Arizona Mirror: Arizona's independents are largely powerless in primary elections (https://www.azmirror.com/2022/06/06/arizonas-independents-are-largely-powerless-in-primary-elections/) Abe Kwok column: Independent voters have a lot of power in Arizona's primary election – if they show up (https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/abekwok/2022/06/05/independent-voters-could-change-primary-election-if-they-show-up/7488913001/)

    The choice for Arizona swing voters in the 2022 U.S. Senate race

    Play Episode Listen Later May 4, 2022 40:33


    Will swing voters be more influenced by their dissatisfaction with the Biden administration or their antipathy toward Trump?

    Why do Republicans want to take the hard path to reduce income tax rates?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 23, 2022 34:21


    Will bad blood keep a grand bargain from being reached? Is Kari Lake unstoppable in the Republican primary?

    The Philosophy of School Choice

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2022 41:17


    A review of school choice in Arizona and a discussion of its future.

    Can Trumpian Republicans win a general election in Arizona?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2022 28:33


    Why isn't any Republican candidate following the Youngkin path? Is there any chance for win-win policies in the Arizona legislature? Also: What Europe owes the Ukrainian people.

    American Federalism with Matt Beienburg

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 14, 2021 31:19


    A conversation with Matt Beienburg about the value of American federalism. Can it be reclaimed? Robert Robb is pessimistic. Matt is more of an optimist. Matt Beienburg is the Director of Education Policy at the Goldwater Institute. He also serves as director of the institute's Van Sittert Center for Constitutional Advocacy. Here's a link to read Matt's article on federalism, discussed on the podcast: https://www.realclearpublicaffairs.com/articles/2021/11/17/its_time_to_reclaim_american_federalism_803955.html

    Have Republicans stolen the education issue from Democrats?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2021 28:24


    How will the education issue play in Arizona's 2022 election? What are the prospects for backpack funding? Where in the heck is Arizona on income taxes?

    Time for a New Politics

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 14, 2021 40:00


    Sinema as an independent? A new conservative party? Primary election reform?

    Ducey's legacy? Want to make a bet on that?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2021 39:22


    From running as a conservative reformer to governing as a pragmatic problem solver to thumping the cultural issues on behalf of Republican governors nationally ... who is the authentic Ducey?

    The Arizona "audit" and the Trump coup: Is there any way out?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2021 30:51


    By funding the Arizona “audit” what do Trump conspiracy advocates expect? Can Ken Bennett make it semi-honest? Can any Republican candidate be trusted? Robert Robb columns for reference: On the difference between Michigan's election review and Arizona's farce https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/robertrobb/2021/07/16/michigan-election-review-responsible-arizona-audit-farce/7983475002/ Trump visit spotlights continuing complicity of Arizona Republican leaders https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/op-ed/robertrobb/2021/07/28/trump-visit-spotlights-continuing-complicity-arizona-republican-leaders/5389925001/

    Republicans are a mess, but what about the Democrats?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 10, 2021 36:28


    An early grade for Biden. Sinema's filibuster pickle. Arizona Democratic prospects in 2022.

    On the teacher shortage

    Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2021 42:48


    A discussion of the factors driving the teacher shortage in Arizona. For reference: https://chollaexpress.substack.com/p/why-is-there-a-teacher-shortage-in

    Will the legislature get away with undermining Prop 208?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 26, 2021 32:56


    Tax cuts or tax reform? Also: Can charter schools attract the support of Democrats?

    The Trump Insurrection: What Now?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 11, 2021 35:33


    Should Trump be impeached? How do Republicans deal with Trumpism from this point forward?

    The Trump Effect: How Damaging to the GOP?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2020 28:38


    How alarmed should we be about Trump's attempts to overturn the election results? What will it mean for the future of the Republican Party -- both in Arizona and nationally?

    Election Results Breakdown 2020

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 11, 2020 39:39


    Does Biden have a mandate other than not being a jerk? What happened to the blue wave -- nationally and in Arizona?

    What's Next After Prop 208?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 28, 2020 34:31


    What are the consequences if Prop 208 passes? What are the consequences if Prop 208 fails? Also, do we need new ways to teach in a Covid environment?

    Will McSally gain ground after the debate?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2020 26:36


    A breakdown of the campaigns of Martha McSally and Mark Kelly. Also, a preview of the possible legal fights surrounding the 2020 election. Are judges helping or hurting the confidence that Americans will have in the results?

    State of the Race

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2020 35:56


    Should we trust the polls? Can Trump ride the law and order issue to an upset victory? Can McSally turn the tide on Kelly?

    Is Arizona ready for legal weed and high taxes?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2020 35:22


    Discussion of propositions 207 and 208 on the November ballot.

    What's wrong with Congress, and what can we do to fix it?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 21, 2020 20:06


    Something a bit different. A collection of previously recorded conversations around the theme of congressional dysfunction and the imbalance of powers. Structural reforms, including the filibuster rule and term limits, as well as immediate calls to action.

    What is the U.S. strategy in Afghanistan?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 7, 2020 30:41


    Trump says he will substantially reduce troops in Afghanistan before the election. Will he? What will be the consequences? Plus key takeaways from the primary election. Is Schweikert in trouble?

    Are Republicans beginning to distance themselves from Trump?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2020 29:52


    -After Trump's tweet about delaying the election, Republicans swiftly rejected the notion. Is this a sign of a larger shift? -Covid-19 in Arizona: Should there be firm metrics for reopening, particularly for schools? -Arizona primaries: What will Daniel McCarthy's primary vote be, and what will it mean for McSally?

    Are schools ready to open?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 24, 2020 26:30


    The teacher says yes, the pundit has his doubts. Also: Will the court strike down some of the state ballot initiatives? How much can be squeezed into a 100-word summary?

    Previewing the Arizona Senate Primaries

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 17, 2020 24:59


    Does McSally have anything to fear from McCarthy? Will lack of competition leave Mark Kelly unprepared?

    What's shaping the 2020 election in Arizona and nationally?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 10, 2020 40:39


    Do Republicans have to stick with Trump through the 2020 election? What effect will coronavirus and the Black Lives Matter movement have?

    What is the Purpose of Public Education?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 25, 2020 39:57


    Forrest Radarian joins the podcast to talk about the possibility of returning to the classroom in the fall, Arizona state standards, testing, and how we should re-orient the goals of public education. Forrest is a high school science teacher with over ten years of experience in Arizona public schools.

    What's Next for the Arizona Legislature?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2020 28:03


    Does the state legislature need to return this year, and if so, what do they need to accomplish under the circumstances? How will the pandemic affect the outcome of legislative races heading into 2020? Also discussed: the Phoenix Suns of the '90s.

    Should America conduct a mail-in election this November?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2020 29:59


    Given the uncertain pandemic conditions ahead of the November election, should states shift to all mail-in voting? Should legislatures be voting electronically? Will Arizona allow ballot initiatives to collect signatures online?

    Economic Dynamics of Covid-19 Recovery

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 30, 2020 28:52


    Will the economic stimulus bill make a significant difference for workers and businesses? What else could we do? Can the economy bounce back after the curve starts to fall?

    How will the coronavirus shutdown end?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 23, 2020 32:17


    What if anything will indicate that it's safe to resume normal interactions and economic activity? What will be the political consequences of Covid-19 and the response? Also: Why Jordan is the GOAT

    Arizona School Finance with Sean McCarthy

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2020 36:10


    Sean McCarthy from the Arizona Tax Research Association joins the podcast to break down some issues related to Arizona school finance. We talk about the funding formula and school choice, as well as emerging trends like declining district enrollment numbers and the rising cost of the state's retirement system.

    Will Arizona Feel the Bern?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2020 38:47


    Are Sanders and Trump two sides of the same populist coin? What would be the down ballot effect in Arizona of a Sanders nomination? Also: The most important bill before the Arizona state legislature.

    Sanctuary City Ban: Real issue or purely a political tactic?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 16, 2020 38:25


    Will having a ban on sanctuary cities on the ballot help Trump and Republicans in Arizona? What are the prospects of larger immigration reform?

    Will 2020 be another big election for Democrats in Arizona?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2020 34:39


    Are the state's demographics moving in a Democratic direction? What about continuing fights over vouchers and education funding?

    Arizona Legislative Session Preview

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 13, 2020 31:52


    Where will they spend all that dough? What should be the priorities of education funding? Will the upcoming election politics affect how the legislature does business?

    Claim The Political Notebook

    In order to claim this podcast we'll send an email to with a verification link. Simply click the link and you will be able to edit tags, request a refresh, and other features to take control of your podcast page!

    Claim Cancel