The Gaggle: An Arizona politics podcast

Looking for ways to fatten up your bank account? Or eyeing some home improvements? This episode of The Gaggle shares tips on where and how to cash in. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Maricopa County has been one of the fastest-growing counties in America for almost a decade. It has about 4.6 million residents. While downtown Phoenix is rapidly building apartment buildings and Phoenix and its suburbs are adding new subdivisions, the unhoused population also has grown.At the beginning of the year, 9,642 people were experiencing homelessness in the county, according to a yearly attempt to quantify the county's homeless population.A tent city known as "The Zone" sits just southeast of the Capitol building in Phoenix. It garnered national attention as the United States' homeless population grew after pandemic aid dried up. In "The Zone," more than 1,000 people had set up tents.A judge has ordered it to be cleared out by the end of this week, giving those who live there limited time to plan.This week on The Gaggle, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl are joined by Republic reporter Helen Rummel.Rummel covers housing insecurity and homelessness, and joins the show to discuss how the encampment became so large, how other cities may look to Phoenix for how to handle their crises, and if the city can achieve its goal on time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's that time of year again. They're standing outside the state fair or tracking you down in parking lots. People with clipboards and quick pitches on why you should sign the petition they're circulating.As it ramps up to an election year, it is citizen initiative season, and interest groups are taking it into their hands to put some big decisions before voters in November 2024.The details of Arizona's reproductive rights laws and changes in how the state conducts elections are hoping to make it to the ballot for voters. Maricopa County voters will get a chance to weigh in on a roads and transit plan and lawmakers might refer even more to the ballot when they meet next year.This week on The Gaggle, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl are joined by Arizona Republic state politics reporter Stacey Barchenger to dive into what propositions could make it onto the 2024 ballot. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tucson is gearing up for a city-wide election on November 7. Incumbent Mayor Regina Romero and many city council members are running again. Do Republicans have a shot in this Democratic stronghold?In this episode, hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl tease out the possibilities with longtime Tucson resident and reporter Curt Prendergast of the Tucson Agenda.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kari Lake is tossing her hat into the ring for Senate. Does she have enough appeal to Arizonans to win? The Gaggle hosts Mary Jo Pitzl and Ron Hansen discuss the possibilities. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Most basic acts of government are supposed to be pretty straightforward. But in Arizona, nothing can be that simple, of course.In this state, the act of counting ballots, electing a governor without pushback on the process, and even following City Council regulations have been shrouded in controversy and drama. The newest seemingly rudimentary task to join the ranks of contentious practices is appointing precinct committeemen when there are openings. These members play key roles in organizing grassroots political efforts. They are elected officials who help their communities register to vote, canvass for candidates and lead movements to get out the vote. And generally, they are appointed by a county’s Board of Supervisors based on a list of names given to them by the county party’s chairperson.Some legislative district chairs say the Maricopa County Republican Committee is pitching precinct committeemen to county supervisors without their signoff. And it turns out this isn’t the first time, and it's not the only issue.This week on The Gaggle, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, host Ron Hansen is joined by Arizona Republic county reporter Sasha Hupka to discuss the drama behind these appointments and a new policy to help discern what supervisors legally can do. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Arizona is a key swing state for 2024. And the playing field for president, at present, is wide. With 13 GOP candidates and three Democrats, Arizonans and voters across the U.S. are spoiled for choice. But which presidential candidate is Arizona leaning towards? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

August is usually when things cool down: the temperature drops just a little, members of Congress leave Washington D.C. and the Legislature is still soaking up their summer vacation.But this year, August is when things heated up, specifically for the Peoria City Council.August is when they tried and failed to keep the public out of an outlandish, secretive battle over a sex offender, their vice mayor and figuring out which rules they really needed to follow.This week on The Gaggle, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, host Ron Hansen, is joined by Arizona Republic reporter Taylor Seely to break down what exactly happened with vice mayor Denette Dunn and why the City of Peoria tried to keep it under wraps. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kris Mayes has jumped into her role as state attorney general.Mayes has not been shy about taking on major issues, from abortion rights and critiquing the state's water policy to casting a skeptical eye on Arizona's new universal school voucher program.As the first Democrat to hold the seat in more than a decade, Mayes confirmed her office is investigating potential fraud related to efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. Arizona played a key role in tipping the election to President Joe Biden.This week on The Gaggle, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, host Mary Jo Pitzl is joined by Republic state politics reporter Stacey Barchenger. She covers the governor and attorney general's offices.Their exclusive interview with Mayes covers election integrity, how she is prioritizing numerous pressing issues, and her office's fight against the fentanyl epidemic in Arizona.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you're thinking Arizona is stuck in a "Groundhog Day"-type situation with the 2020 presidential election and all its fallout, think of Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Chairman Clint Hickman.The Republican chairman has had a front-row seat to Arizona's election drama over the past three years and has been personally impacted by it. As a member of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, Hickman tried to reach an agreement with the Arizona House and Senate over a review of the county's 2020 election results.When the Senate moved ahead on its own, Hickman was part of the county's battles with that chamber over the resulting ballot recount. Recently, he watched a man who had personally threatened him with lynching because of this decision get sentenced to 2 ½ years in prison.Hickman was a key stakeholder in the county’s elections administration both in 2020, when the process went well, and in 2022, when it wasn't as smooth.This week on The Gaggle, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl are joined by Hickman to talk about elections, the growing legal tab for former Sheriff Joe Arpaio and the Arizona Diamondbacks' stadium wishes.As the recently elected chairman of the five-member board, Hickman discussed issues past and present. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices