The Gaggle: An Arizona politics podcast

The Gaggle: An Arizona politics podcast

Helping you keep up with what matters in Arizona's political news. Each week we interview politicians, public figures or journalists to break down one local issue and how it affects your life in Arizona. Coming to you every Wednesday morning, The Gaggle is hosted by The Arizona Republic's national political reporters Ron Hansen and Stephanie Murray, and is produced by Amanda Luberto.

Episodes

Where the fake electors case stands in Arizona

January 7, 2026 • 17 mins
In January 2021, President Donald Trump leaned on Arizona officials to disregard the state's certified 2020 election results to present an alternative selection of electors. These Republican "fake electors" tried to deem Trump the winner in Arizona, although the state went to Joe Biden. Years later, Democrat Kris Mayes' office got indictments of the 11 Republican electors and 7 others, but has yet to go to trial for most of the de...
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What we're watching for in 2026 politics

December 31, 2025 • 36 mins
Goodbye 2025 and hello 2026! Another packed election year is among us and races for Governor, Attorney General and more are expected to be noteworthy. The legislature will be working across the aisle (maybe) with an even tighter budget, Turning Point USA figures out who they are without Charlie Kirk and the weight of a Trump endorsement will be debated. This week on The Gaggle, we are joined by members of the Arizona Republic po...
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Happy Holidays from The Gaggle!

December 24, 2025 • 1 min
We are taking some time off for the holiday this week and we hope you are too! We'll be back next week, but for now, enjoy a break. Thanks for listening to us all year! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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How fewer Canadian tourists are affecting Arizona economy

December 17, 2025 • 22 mins
This is normally a time when Canadians take a break from the cold and spend their time — and money — here in the desert for some sunshine. But this year, we have plenty of sunshine but a lack of Canadians. The friendly neighbors to the north are feeling insulted and economically punished by President Donald Trump. He implemented and raised tariffs on Canadian goods and has stated that he would like to see it become the 51st state ...
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What's brewing at the Arizona Capitol for 2026

December 10, 2025 • 17 mins
In just a few short weeks, Arizona lawmakers will return to the Capitol to work through another year's budget, consider any legislative needs and take up oversight of Gov. Katie Hobbs' administration as they see appropriate. But lawmakers are working with a tighter purse than usual, and the looming midterm election will have a lot of influence over the decisions made and the laws that get passed. This week on The Gaggle, we're jo...
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Artificial intelligence in Arizona's universities

December 3, 2025 • 16 mins
Artificial intelligence is making its way into everything in American life: the stock market, journalism, medicine and more. Now major universities like Arizona State are buying into the future of AI by combining it with their offered education. This week on The Gaggle, we explore the role AI has at ASU, the future of AI in universities and how the concerns are being met. Email us! thegaggle@arizonarepublic.com Leave us a voice...
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Happy Thanksgiving from The Gaggle!

November 26, 2025 • 1 min
We are off this week to enjoy the holiday and we hope you are too. Have a safe and lovely holiday, Gaggle listeners. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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The future of Turning Point USA

November 19, 2025 • 17 mins
Since Charlie Kirk's death, Turning Point USA and its supporters have completed the tour he began, recently making the final stop at the University of California, Berkeley, which resulted in protests and arrests. In some ways, the chaotic setting underscored the early turbulence for Turning Point after Kirk's death. The organization, so strongly connected to his persona, faces not only grief but pressure to reboot itself. But the...
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A conversation with Adelita Grijalva

November 12, 2025 • 30 mins
Adelita Grijalva is best known for not getting to start her job in an unprecedented act by Republican Speaker of the House Mike Johnson. After a seven-week delay, the Speaker has set a time to formally swear in Rep.-elect Grijalva for Nov 12. She holds the key to potentially forcing a vote in the House of Representatives to release files on an investigation into Donald Trump and disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. But she is als...
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Democrats struggle to register disgruntled voters

November 5, 2025 • 28 mins
As of Nov. 3, President Donald Trump has the lowest approval rating of his second term at 37%. This is usually a good sign for the party out of power, but disapproval in Trump isn't the whole picture. The Democratic Party is having a hard time translating criticism into support. Through July, Republicans have gained 9 times as many new registered voters than Democrats since the November 2024 election. This week on The Gaggle, we...
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Why migrants are heading away from the US border

October 29, 2025 • 37 mins
In August 2023, authorities reported 82,000 migrants crossed through the Darién Gap, the jungles that separate Panama and Columbia, on their way to the United States. In August 2025, there were seven. In that corridor these days, more migrants are heading southward, away from the U.S. border. This unprecedented event of reverse migration is in direct response to the Trump administration's push for border and immigration crackdo...
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A conversation with Senator Ruben Gallego

October 22, 2025 • 26 mins
It's been about a year since Sen. Ruben Gallego made history becoming the first Latino elected to the U.S. Senate from Arizona. He is mostly known for lighting into President Donald Trump, Republican leadership and even his former opponent Kari Lake. This week, we sit down with the senator to discuss some of what has transpired since he was elected to the Senate, what he thinks Democrats need to do next and what comes after the T...
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Next big political fight is already shaping up in Arizona

October 15, 2025 • 28 mins
In less than a year, Arizonans will have a chance to decide who to send to Washington for the final two years of President Donald Trump's second administration. David Schweikert stepping away from CD1 makes his open seat a hot competition for Republicans to keep and Democrats to flip. In CD6, candidates are already lined up to take the district for the Dems away from Rep. Juan Ciscomani. This week, we talk with a House races ex...
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Broken AC can be deadly. How Arizona leaders can fix it

October 8, 2025 • 21 mins
Most Arizonans see the end of summer as a reprieve. But for some, it's a sign of survival. Since 2020, at least 270 people in Maricopa County have died at home when their cooling systems failed or were shut off completely. The Arizona Republic dug into the records of these quiet casualties of extreme heat. Read that report here. This week on The Gaggle, an Arizona politics podcast, we ask an expert what can be done to fix this a...
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Health insurance tax cut could end unless Congress acts

October 1, 2025 • 19 mins
A key hang up causing the government shutdown involves a pandemic-era provision for Americans impacting health insurance and medical bills. Currently, about 300,000 Arizonans earn too much to receive Medicaid help, but don't have affordable insurance options through work. This group has qualified for subsidies that cut their insurance costs from the Affordable Care Act insurers since 2021. This relief stops at the end of the year...
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A new Grijalva and the future of the Epstein files

September 24, 2025 • 31 mins
On September 23, Congressional District 7 elected Democrat Adelita Grijalva to Congress and the narrow Republican majority in the United States House of Representatives is about to be slightly thinner. Adelita's win serves as no surprise in Arizona, but it still matters on the national scale. With her win, the GOP edge over Democrats will effectively shrink to two votes separating any measure from passing the House. Her role coul...
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Charlie Kirk's legacy and where Gen Z gets their news

September 17, 2025 • 34 mins
A vigil was held at Arizona State University for Charlie Kirk, conservative influencer and founder of Turning Point USA, after his assassination on September 10th. His career was kickstarted and his identity as a fierce debater was solidified on the ASU campus, and his message resonated with many young people. Charlie Kirk is not the only news personality connecting with a younger generation. According to research by the nonpart...
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Politics roundup + a farewell to Mary Jo Pitzl

September 10, 2025 • 36 mins
It's nine months into 2025 and there may have been some Arizona politics stories you bookmarked for later but haven't just yet read them. There's a lot to keep up with, and The Gaggle gets that. This week on The Gaggle, we run through the top stories in Arizona politics so far this year and discuss their long-term impact on Arizona. Plus, a farewell to Mary Jo Pitzl, an icon of Arizona news! Email us! thegaggle@arizonarepublic....
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Arizona's job growth boom hits snooze button

September 3, 2025 • 20 mins
Arizona has been a reliable and long-standing national leader in job growth. But so far this year, the state has taken a big step backwards. Through the first seven months, Arizona has ranked 46th in bringing in new jobs. Despite the steep drop, it doesn't indicate yet that the state is spiraling toward a recession. But it does surprise economic experts and signal a bit of a slowdown. This week on The Gaggle, we're joined by The ...
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Partisan passion in local government

August 27, 2025 • 24 mins
There’s a conservative wave washing over some local governments in the Valley’s suburbs. Some point to Donald Trump’s aggressive efforts to erase DEI policies in city businesses. Others contend it’s a natural swing of the pendulum to correct governing bodies that they say have leaned too far left. This week on The Gaggle, we are joined by an associate professor of public policy at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government...
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