Journalists’ Roundtable: Bisbee plastic bags and Rep. Gosar’s Facebook page

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Bisbee takes on the state over a ban on plastic bags. Rep. Paul Gosar reopens his Facebook page after facing a constituent lawsuit.

Dianna Náñez and Laurie Roberts of The Arizona Republic and Mike Sunnucks of the Phoenix Business Journal discuss these issues. They are not convinced the state of Arizona needs to get involved in the city of Bisbee’s plastic bag ban.

TED SIMONS: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON'S JOURNALISTS' ROUNDTABLE," PHOENIX MAYOR GREG STANTON IS STEPPING DOWN TO RUN FOR CONGRESS AND A FORMER AGENCY CHIEF FIRED BY THE GOVERNOR IS NOW CONSIDERING A "RUN" FOR GOVERNOR. THOSE STORIES AND MORE, NEXT, ON THE JOURNALISTS' ROUNDTABLE.

CONTRIBUTIONS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FRIENDS OF ARIZONA PBS. THANK YOU.

TED SIMONS: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON'S JOURNALISTS' ROUNDTABLE. I'M TED SIMONS. JOINING US TONIGHT, RACHEL LEINGANG OF THE ARIZONA CAPITOL TIMES. BOB CHRISTIE OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS, AND FROM THE ARIZONA CAPITOL TIMES, LUIGE DEL PUERTO. PHOENIX MAYOR GREG STANTON IS LEAVING CITY HALL TO RUN FOR CONGRESS, BIG NEWS BUT NOT REALLY A SHOCK.

RACHEL LEINGANG: ABOUT AS SHOCKING AS KRISTIN CINEMA RUNNING FOR SENATE, SO NOT AT ALL. IT'S ONE OF MANY MORE DOMINOES EXPECTED TO FALL NOW THAT CINEMA RUNNING FOR SENATE.

TED SIMONS: STANTON RUNNING FOR THIS DISTRICT. A LOT OF THINGS.

RACHEL LEINGANG: IT'S ONE OF THE FEW IN THE STATE THAT COULD SWING. CINEMA HAS HELD IT SINCE SHE'S BEEN THERE. IT'S -- COVERS A LOT OF AREA. AREA STANTON HAS NAME RECOGNITION IN IT. THE MODERATE ZONE, I WORK BI-PARTISANLY. D.C. THEY DON'T. I WANT TO CHANGE THINGS. IT WAS MIDDLE OF THE ROAD.

TED SIMONS: ANY DEMOCRAT LIKELY TO RUN AGAINST HIM?

BOB CHRISTIE: ANOTHER HAS FILED FOR THE RACE. SHE HAS A CAMPAIGN UNDER HER BELT. SHE RAN AGAINST BIGGS AND LOST 25 POINTS BECAUSE SHE'S OUT IN THE CONSERVATIVE AREA. THIS WAS DESIGNED AS A COMPETITIVE DISTRICT WHEN THEY ADOPTED MAPS IN 2011 OR 2012. IT WENT TO FIVE POINTS TO CINEMA IN THE FIRST RUN 2012. LAST YEAR, 22 POINTS. SHE SOLIDIFIED THE DISTRICT AS A DEMOCRATIC-LEANING DISTRICT. NOW THAT SHE'S GONE, WE'LL SEE A LOT OF DEMOCRATS GET INTO THAT. THERE ARE FOUR REPUBLICANS THAT FILED WITH THE FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION. WE'LL SEE IF IT WAS CINEMA HERSELF OR IF IT'S A DEMOCRATIC DISTRICT.

TED SIMONS: IT'S INTERESTING. IT WAS CINEMA'S DISTRICT, BUT NO MORE WE GET TO SEE WHAT KIND OF COMPETITION GOES ON.

LUIGE DEL PUERTO: IT WAS DESIGNED TO BE A COMPETITIVE DISTRICT. THEY PERFORMED WELL FOR DEMOCRATS. I THINK A HUGE PART OF THAT IS CINEMA. SHE HAS A HUGE WAR CHEST OVER THE YEARS. SHE'S A GOOD FIT FOR THE DISTRICT. SHE'S SCARED PRETTY MUCH EVERYBODY. WE HEARD ALL SORTS OF NAMES NOT RUNNING BECAUSE WHY WOULD YOU RUN AGAINST THE POPULAR CONGRESSWOMAN WHO CAN RAISE A TON OF MONEY, HAS THE ABILITY TO SWAMP YOU WITH MESSAGING. THE DISTRICT HAS PERFORMED DEMOCRATIC IN THE LAST TWO CYCLES.

TED SIMONS: WHAT ABOUT REPUBLICAN CHALLENGERS. ARE WE GOING TO SEE A TITLE WAVE OF FOLKS, OR DOES STANTON NOW PUT A PAUSE ON THAT BUTTON?

RACHEL LEINGANG: I THINK HE SCARED OFF OTHER DEMOCRATIC CHALLENGERS. THEY HAVE A THIN BENCH IN AS ASSIST. HE HAS A STRONG NAME BRANCH. PAUSE OF THE THEORETICAL MAKE UP, I THINK YOU WILL SEE A LOT OF REPUBLICANS JUMP IN, ONE TO TWO PEOPLE.

TED SIMONS: ANY NAMES?

BOB CHRISTIE: FOUR FILED WITH THE FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION SETH LEAPSON, A RADIO HOST. HE RAN THE ANTIMARIJUANA LEGALIZATION CAMPAIGN LAST YEAR. DAVID GILES WHO RAN AGAINST CINEMA LAST YEAR AND LOST BY 22 POINTS. A DOCTOR, STEVE FER RARA WHO IS IN. THOSE THREE MIGHT HAVE A DECENT PRIMARY.

LUIGE DEL PUERTO: AND THE CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER, STEVE FERARRE. A LOT OF PEOPLE TELL ME WATCH THIS GUY. HE HAS A GOOD RESUME AND CAN PROBABLY RAISE MONEY. IF HE DOES THAT, HE CAN RUN A COMPETITIVE EXAM PAIN. THESE ARE GUYS THAT FILED CAMPAIGNS. WE ARE GOING TO SEE A WHOLE LOT MORE REPUBLICANS, TRADITIONAL ONES, PROBABLY BIGGER NAMES JUMP INTO THE RACE.

TED SIMONS: LET'S THROW THE NAMES OUT HERE. WHAT ABOUT CHRISTINE JONES, HUE HALLMAN. WHAT ABOUT DI CICIO.

LUIGE DEL PUERTO: I THINK CHRISTINE JONES RUNS FOR EVERY OFFICE. DOESN'T MEAN IT'S NOT POSSIBLE. HUGH, CERTAINLY HAS TIES TO THE DISTRICT. DI CICIO, HE SEEMS COMFORTABLE ON THE COUNCIL BEING MORE THE RIGHT VOICE.

TED SIMONS: ANYONE ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE MISSING HERE?

BOB CHRISTIE: REMEMBER, IT'S GOING TO BE AN OPEN SEAT. WE HAVE NAMED THE OBVIOUS NAMES. WHO KNOWS?

LUIGE DEL PUERTO: THERE COULD BE ANOTHER BUSINESSMAN. COULD BE ANOTHER BUS MILLS. SOME TYPE OF BUSINESSMAN WE DON'T KNOW OF JUMPING INTO THE RACE. IT'S AN OPEN SEAT.

TED SIMONS: YOU CAN'T BE TOO FAR RIGHT. EVEN DEMOCRATS, YOU CAN'T BE TOO FAR LEFT. IT'S A MODERATE DISTRICT.

LUIGE DEL PUERTO: IT IS A MODERATE DISTRICT, BUT IT'S AN OPEN SEAT. YOU WANT A STRONG CANDIDATE. YOU HAVE GREG STANTON DEMOCRATIC SIDE. I HEARD CHAD CAMPBELL MIGHT BE ANOTHER NAME IN THERE.

TED SIMONS: DEMOCRAT.

LUIGE DEL PUERTO: IT'S AN OPEN SEAT. YOU ALWAYS INVITE PEOPLE ANYONE WHO HAS THE MONEY, BACK THE GUMPTION AND CAMPAIGN COULD GET IN.

BOB CHRISTIE: AND IN FEDERAL ELECTIONS, YOU DON’T HAVE TO LIVE IN THE DISTRICT. SO, IT WIDENED IT. YOU KNOW, WE GOT SCOTT SMITH. ANYONE WHO HAS THE MONEY HAS THE BACKING, HAS THE GUMPTIION TO GO OUT AND REALLY WORK A CAMPAIGN, CAN GET IN.

TED SIMONS: BACK TO PHOENIX, GREG STANTON WILL NO LONGER BE MAYOR OF PHOENIX. WHAT ARE THE MACHINATIONS HERE? WHO IS GOING TO WIND UP GOING FOR THIS? IT SEEMS LIKE EVERYONE IN COUNCIL WILL BE RUNNING FOR THIS THING.

RACHEL LEINGANG: IT DOES SEEM THAT THIS WILL FUNDAMENTALY REMAKE THE COUNCIL. DANNY VALENZUELA ALREADY ANNOUNCED THAT HE IS RUNNING. THERE ARE RUMORS THAT KATE GALLEGO AND MICHAEL MALKOWSKI WILL ALSO RUN. THAT WOULD BE THREE SEATS OPEN ON THE COUNCIL. SO YOU WILL HAVE A HUGELY DIFFERENT COUNCIL. THIS WILL BE A LOT OF DOMINOS HERE THAT WILL FALL. IT WILL BE A WILD TIME TO COVER THE COUNCIL.

TED SIMONS: AND STATIN HAS TO RESIGN OFFICIALLY WELL BEFORE HE OFFICIALY RUNS, I GUESS. THAT MEANS AN INTRAMAJOR. THESE OTHER FOLKS, IF THEY’RE GOING TO RESIGN, THAT MEANS INTERMFOLKS IN THE COUNCIL. THIS IS A FLUID SITUATION AT CITY HALL.

RACHEL LEINGANG: DEFINITELY, MUSICAL CHAIRS FOR A COUPLE MONTHS IF NOT YEARS.

TED SIMONS: GREG STANTON RUNS FOR CONGRESS BECAUSE KIRSTIN CINEMA IS GOING FOR THE SENATE SEAT.

BOB CHRISTIE: THERE ARE -- THERE HAVE BEEN FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS EFFORTS TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHO CAN RUN AGAINST -- JEFF FLAKE, MANY PEOPLE BELIEVE HE HAS DAMAGED HIS CHANCES AT REELECTION ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE. THEY THINK HE IS VULNERABLE TO KELLY WARD IN THE PRIMARY, BUT THEY DON'T THINK KELLY WARD CAN WIN THE GENERAL ELECTION. THERE HAS BEEN AN EFFORT AT THE WHITE HOUSE TO RECRUIT SOMEONE TO BE A LEGITIMATE PRIMARY CANDIDATE AGAINST JEFF FLAKE ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE.

TED SIMONS: WHY IS HEILER A LEGITIMATE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE?

LUIGE DEL PUERTO: MONEY, THE ABILITY TO ORGANIZE, ESTABLISHMENT BACKING OF THE PARTY OR A GOOD PORTION OF THE TEA PARTY WING OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. HE WILL BECOME A LEGITIMATE CANDIDATE IF HE CAN ORGANIZE AND DO ALL THAT. HE IS AN ESTABLISHMENT NAME IF YOU WILL IN THE FACT THAT HIS NAME IS ESTABLISHED, PEOPLE KNOW WHO HE IS. OUTSIDE OF CAPITAL COMMUNITY, HOWEVER, HE IS NOT THAT WELL KNOWN. HE IS FROM THE BORDER REGION, FOUNDER OF THE CHARTER SCHOOL, FORMER JOURNALIST, AENED A LOT OF PEOPLE RESPECT HIM BECAUSE HE'S GOOD AT WHAT HE DOES. THE QUESTION HE'S RUNNING BOB ELUDED TO, THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS LOOKING FOR SOMEONE TO HOLD ON TO THE SEAT. THEY DON'T THINK IT'S KELLY WARD. YOU HAVE TO GIVE HER CREDIT. SHE'S OUT THERE AND CAMPAIGNING. THE POLLING SHOWS HER OVER JEFF FLAKE.

TED SIMONS: YOU HAVE TO GIVE HER REGRET HOWEVER IF A JAY HEILER OR ANOTHER NAME RECRUITED BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION OR CLOSE TO THE ADMINISTRATION, YOU HAVE TO FIGURE KELLY WARD WILL BE IN THE WAY. WHAT HAPPENS TO HER?

RACHEL LEINGANG: SHE RAN FOR SENATE AGAINST MCCAIN. SHE'S BEEN IN THE RACE SINCE AFTER ELECTION DAY LAST YEAR. IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE SHE'S GOING TO BACK DOWN. SHE HAS A LOT OF RIGHT-WING GRASS ROOT SUPPORT AND PEOPLE THAT SUPPORT HER. I WOULD BE SURPRISED IF SHE GOT A SEAT IN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. DOESN'T SEEM LIKE SHE'S INVOLVED IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

TED SIMONS: BUT IF SHE'S IN THE WAY OF A FAVORED CANDIDATE, WHAT GIVES?

BOB CHRISTIE: THERE ARE A LOT OF MACHINATIONS GOING ON, RUMORS IN WASHINGTON AND HERE. I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE WASHINGTON BUREAU IN THE FLAKE RACE. THERE IS A RUMOR GO SAAR NIGHT GET IN. KELLY WARD WILL RUN FOR HIS DISTRICT. THAT'S ALL RUMOR MILL STUFF. NO ONE KNOWS IF THAT WILL HAPPEN. I THINK KELLY WARD IS INTO THE RACE. SHE RAISED MONEY. WE'LL SEE THIS WEEK IF SHE HAS MONEY FROM ARIZONA. THAT'S A TEST. SHE'S BEEN GETTING TEA PARTY MONEY AND GOT MONEY FROM TRUMP SUPPORTER, A BIG CHUNK OF IT FOR HER SUPER PACK. THE PERIOD WHICH ENDED SEVERAL DAYS AGO, THE FIRST OF THE MONTH, WE'LL SEE IF SHE'S RAISING MONEY IN ARIZONA TO KEEP A LEGITIMATE CAMPAIGN GOING.

LUIGE DEL PUERTO: THE PRIMARY IS ROUGHLY A YEAR AWAY. IT'S A LONG TIME IN POLITICS. A LOT OF THINGS HAPPEN, MANY THINGS ARE DEPENDENT. HOW TRUMP IS DOING A YEAR FROM NOW. HOW THE ECONOMY IS FAIRING AT THAT POINT. THERE IS TIME FOR JEFF FLAKE TO GET HIS MESSAGE OUT, CONSOLIDATE HIS SUPPORT AND RUN A GOOD CAMPAIGN. THE EXPECTATION IS HE WILL. THERE IS A TEA PARTY WING WITHIN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. IT'S VOCAL AND IN ALABAMA, WE HAVE SEEN THE WING OF THE PARTY DECIDE ELECTIONS. THAT'S SOMETHING THAT ANYBODY SHOULD BE CONSIDERING.

RACHEL LEINGANG: I TALKED TO FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL JAN BREWER. SH'S BEEN SAYING JAY HEILER SHOULD RUN. HE SAYS HE HASN'T TALKED TO THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION DIRECTLY. HE'S A HARD WORKER, WELL KNOWN FOR GETTING THINGS DONE, FORMIDABLE OPPONENT AND CALLED INTO QUESTION THE POLLING NUMBERS THAT SHOW FLAKE VULNERABLE. THEY DON'T WANT CINEMA TO WIN. THEY DON'T WANT TO LOSE THE SEAT TO A DEMOCRAT WHICH IS WHERE MOST OF THIS IS COMING FROM, AND HEILER WOULD KEEP THIS SAFELY IN HELP HANDS IS WHAT MANY HOPE.

BOB CHRISTIE: JEFF FLAKE IS NOT GOING DOWN WITHOUT A FIGHT. HE INTRODUCED LEGISLATION THURSDAY, YESTERDAY, THAT WOULD GIVE DREAMERS, DACA STUDENTS A PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP AND PUT A COUPLE OF BILLION DOLLARS INTO BORDER SECURITY. WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT CONGRESS, YOU HAVE TO GET REPUBLICANS ONBOARD. IF THAT GETS THROUGH, THAT COULD GIVE HIM TRACTION IF HE GET STUFF DONE, THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR ARIZONA.

TED SIMONS: BUT WE ARE A YEAR AWAY. IN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, EVERY WEEK CHANGES -- IT'S A GROUND SWELL OF CHANGE.

BOB CHRISTIE: AUGUST 29TH IS THE MOST IMPORTANT DATE. 11 MONTHS OUT FROM AUGUST 29TH, THE PRIMARY ELECTION. JEFF FLAKE DOESN'T WANT TO BE A U.S. SENATOR. HE WANTS TO BE THE SENATOR. HE BELIEVES HE'S THE BEST MAN FOR THE JOB OR HE WOULDN'T BE THERE.

LUIGE DEL PUERTO: TRUMP TRULY IS UNIQUE. I THINK EVERY OTHER CANDIDATE FOLLOWS WHAT IS REFERRED TO AS THE TRADITIONAL STRENGTH OF A CAMPAIGN, ORGANIZING, RAISING MONEY AND GET YOUR MESSAGE OUT. FLAKE IS EXPECTED TO DO ALL THREE, RAISE MONEY, CAMPAIGN AND GET HIS MONEY OUT BECAUSE HE HAS THE MONEY TO DO IT. WHAT'S TRULY REMARKABLE, BEATING JEFF FLAKE WOULD BE FARFETCHED.

TED SIMONS: WHAT ABOUT DEWITT? HE'S GOING TO CHALLENGE FLAKE, GET A JOB IN THE ADMINISTRATION, HE'S DONE NONE OF THESE.

RACHEL LEINGANG: HE SAID HE DOESN'T INTEND TO RUN FOR SENATE. HIS MOST RECENT COMMENT IS THAT HE DIDN'T INTEND TO RUN. THEY LIVE IN ARIZONA. THEY HAVE KIDS HERE. PEOPLE HAVE REAL LIFE CONSIDERATIONS TOO.

TED SIMONS: LUIGI, YOUR COME PATRIOT WROTE A STORY AT THE CAPITOL TIMES, ABOUT THE DCS DIRECTOR REMOVED FROM OFFICE AFTER QUESTIONABLE ACTIVITY AND FIRING AND SUCH. FRIEND OF THE GOVERNOR AT ONE TIME. HE'S THINKING OF RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR?

LUIGE DEL PUERTO: HE WANTS TO BE GOVERNOR JAY. HE'S FAMOUS OR INFAMOUS FOR THE TEN DAY EXIT FIRED 500 PEOPLE WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC SECURITY AND A LOT OF PEOPLE CALLED THAT INTO QUESTION AND MANY OF THEM HAD A SAME DAY EXIT WHICH IS WHAT HAPPENED WHEN THE GOVERNOR DID A SAME DAY EXIT WITH J. GILES CALLED HIM UP AND CONFIRMED HE'S LOOKING AT THE SPACE. HE'S SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING CHALLENGING HIS OLD BOSS.

TED SIMONS: HE SAYS COLLEAGUES ARE TELLING HIM WE NEED YOU TO FIX THE AGENCY. HOW SERIOUSLY DO WE TAKE THIS?

BOB CHRISTIE: WE'LL TAKE HIM SERIOUSLY AS SOMEONE WHO MIGHT RUN. HE HAS NO POLITICAL EXPERIENCE. HE HAS NO STATE RUN FINANCES. IF HE HAS $10 MILLION AND WANTS TO SPEND $5 MILLION TO RUN AGAINST THE GOVERNOR, OKAY, MAYBE HE WILL BE ABLE TO. HE HAS NO POLITICAL EXPERIENCE AND SAYS I MAY WANT TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR.

RACHEL LEINGANG: THE WHOLE THING SEEMED EXAGGERATED. THE EMPLOYEES AT DES AREN'T THE ONLY ONES THAT VOTE FOR GOVERNOR.

TED SIMONS: SAFE TO ASSUME HE AND THE GOVERNOR ARE NOT BEST FRIENDS ANYMORE?

RACHEL LEINGANG: HE USED TO TALK ABOUT RUNNING A BUSINESS.

TED SIMONS: HE CALLED THE GOVERNOR A POLITICIAN NOW AND NOT A PUBLIC SERVANT.

LUIGE DEL PUERTO: TIM JEFFREY WAS THE MODEL FOR GOVERNOR DOOZIE FOR A LONG TIME. IT WAS A GUY THEY SAID THEY WANTED TO CLONE BECAUSE HE WAS DOING SUCH A GREAT JOB RUNNING THE DEPARTMENT OF SECURITY. HIS FALL FROM GRACE WAS SWIFT. I DON'T THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE TAKE HIM SERIOUSLY BECAUSE QUITE FRANKLY, WHY WOULD YOU CHALLENGE THE GOVERNOR IF YOU ARE A REPUBLICAN AT THIS POINT? THE PREVAILING SENTIMENT IS THE GOVERNOR IS GOING TO RUN A PRIMARY RACE PRETTY EASILY. THE BAGGAGE AGAINST HIM IS OBVIOUS. HOW MANY HEADLINES TALK ABOUT HIM STOCKPILING AMMUNITIONS AND SAME DAY EXITS. THE RESEARCH IS DONE FOR DUCEY AT THIS POINT. IT CUTS BOTH WAYS.

TED SIMONS: WE'LL SEE HOW FAR THAT GOES. I WAS FLABBERGASTED WHEN I SAW THAT.

TED SIMONS: PAUL GOSSAR SENATE POSSIBLE, OUTSIDE LANE, WHO KNOWS, BUT HE'S BACKING FAR OUT CONSPIRACY THEORIES?

BOB CHRISTIE: HE WAS INTERVIEWED ON HBO SHOW VICE, AN INDEPENDENT NEWS ORGANIZATION HBO BACKS. HE EMBRACED THE FAR RIGHT CONSPIRACY THEORIES ABOUT THE CHARLOTTESVILLE DEMONSTRATIONS, RIOTS, ETC. ONE OF WHICH SAYS THEY WERE CAUSED BY OCCUPY WALL STREET PEOPLE THAT WERE BIG OBAMA BACKERS WHO WENT THERE AND STIRRED STUFF UP, AND TALKED ABOUT HOW GEORGE SOROS, A WELL KNOWN DEMOCRATIC FINANCIER IN HIS 80S, I BELIEVE, A BILLIONAIRE. THERE IS A CONSPIRACY THEORY THAT SAYS GEORGE SOROS, A YOUNG MAN 13 YEARS OLD AT THE END OF WORLD WAR II AND A JEW, WAS AS A HUNGARIAN A MEMBER OF THE NATZI S.S. WHICH IS DEBUNKED. ANYONE WHO WANTS TO LOOK AT THE FACTS, KNOWS HE WAS 14 AT THE END OF THE WAR, OBVIOUSLY WASN'T A COMMANDER.

TED SIMONS: TURNED OVER FELLOW JEWS TO THE NATZIS.

BOB CHRISTIE: THIS IS THE FAR RIGHT INTERNET, THE DARK WEB.

RACHEL LEINGANG: ALEX JONES IS A POPULAR -- HE HAS A WEBSITE CALLED INFO WARS FAMOUS FOR SPREADING CONSPIRACY THEORIES.

TED SIMONS: CHILDREN SHOT AT THE SANDY HOOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DIDN'T REALLY HAPPEN?

RACHEL LEINGANG: THE SOROS STUFF HAS BEEN A JONES THING FOR A WHILE. IT'S COMMON IN RIGHT-WING CIRCLES THAT SOROS IS FUNDING ANY AND ALL PROTESTS.

TED SIMONS: LUIGI, AGAIN, PAUL GOSAR IS A POLITICIAN REPRESENTING ARIZONA AND HAS FOR A WHILE. WHAT IS HE DOING AROUND THIS TALK?

LUIGE DEL PUERTO: WHEN YOU HEAR YOUR CONGRESSMAN TALKING ABOUT SOROS FUNDING RALLIES ABOUT WHITE SUPREMACISTSES, YOU WONDER WHY HE'S DOING IT. THE ANSWER IS, I DON'T KNOW. HE'S NOT SAYING THIS HAPPENED. HE'S FLOATING THE IDEA AND BY DOING SO EMBRACED IT.

BOB CHRISTIE: SAYING IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO FIND OUT IF IT'S TRUE.

RACHEL LEINGANG: YOU ARE THROWING SOMETHING OUT THERE -- THERE IS A QUESTION OF RESPONSIBILITY. HE WAS USING IT AS A DEFENSE AS TO WHY HE HAS BLOCKED PEOPLE ON SOCIAL MEDIA. HE WAS TALKING ABOUT HIS SAFETY, ANTIFA.

TED SIMONS: IMPACT ON HIS POLITICAL CAREER. WHAT DO YOU THINK?

RACHEL LEINGANG: LITTLE TO NONE. HE'S IN A SAFE DISTRICT. THESE SORTS OF THEORIES GET A LOT OF TRACTION WITH THE RIGHT WING.

LUIGE DEL PUERTO: HE IS AN INCUMBENT. WE HAD ONE GROUP TRY TO KNOCK HIM OUT A COUPLE OF ELECTION CYCLES AGO. THE TEA PARTY BEFORE THERE WAS A TEA PARTY AND COULDN'T DO IT. I DON'T THINK THIS AFFECTS HIM IN ANYWAY.

TED SIMONS: DOES IT HELP HIM TO BE CLOSE TO THIS TALK?

BOB CHRISTIE: IT SURELY DOESN'T. PAUL GOSAR IS A WHITE RING, FAR RIGHT, MEMBER OF THE FREEDOM CAUCUS IN THE CONGRESS, BUT TO EMBRACE THIS TYPE OF ELEMENT WITH NO EVIDENCE THAT IT'S TRUE, WHICH HE DOESN'T HAVE ANY ISN'T GOOD FOR YOUR POLITICAL FUTURE ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING A STATEWIDE RACE.

TED SIMONS: WE'LL STOP IT THERE. GOOD TO HAVE YOU. THANKS FOR JOINING US. MONDAY ON ARIZONA HORIZON, NEW RULES REGARDING CHILD WELFARE WORKERS TAKING CHILDREN AWAY FROM THEIR PARENTS. AND WHY THE VALLEY'S PHOENIX DATA CENTER IS GETTING NATIONAL ATTENTION. THOSE STORIES MONDAY, ON ARIZONA HORIZON. TUESDAY: IS PUBLIC TRUST IN THE MEDIA INCREASING AS CONFIDENCE IN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WANES? WEDNESDAY: A LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF ASTRONOMY IN SOUTHERN ARIZONA. THURSDAY: A NEW AGREEMENT WITH MEXICO AIMS TO BOOST WATER LEVELS IN LAKE MEAD. AND FRIDAY, IT'S ANOTHER EDITION OF THE JOURNALISTS ROUND TABLE. THAT IS IT FOR NOW. I'M TED SIMONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US. YOU HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

Dianna Náñez, The Arizona Republic
Laurie Roberts, The Arizona Republic
Mike Sunnucks, Phoenix Business Journal

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