The Gaggle: An Arizona politics podcast

Senator John McCain will end medical treatment for the brain cancer he was diagnosed with over a year ago, according to statements released by his family. The six-term senator has continued Senate duties as much as he could from his family home in northern Arizona. Reporters talk about the impact McCain's had on Arizona and what will happen if the Senate seat becomes vacant. Follow the team on Twitter: National political reporter Yvonne Wingett Sanchez @yvonnewingett, congressional reporter Ron J. Hansen @ronaldjhansen and investigative reporter Mary Jo Pitzl @maryjpitzl. This episode was produced and edited by Carly Henry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this special episode, the team sat down with Tom Steyer, a California billionaire who is spending part of his fortune in Arizona's elections. Steyer's political organization has contributed a large amount of funds to support Arizona's clean energy ballot initiative. The Gaggle comes to you every Monday. But next week, check your feed for the new episode on Wednesday instead. You'll hear the team's analysis of the primary election results. Learn more with The Republic's coverage: APS goes all out against clean energy initiative - https://azc.cc/2LeR6KS | Trial begins over renewable energy proposal - https://azc.cc/2wbivaS | From Des Moines Register: Tom Steyer on impeaching Trump - https://azc.cc/2OUowk0 | Find more at politics.azcentral.com You can follow Tom Steyer on Twitter @TomSteyer. Follow the team: National political reporter Yvonne Wingett Sanchez @yvonnewingett, business and legislative reporter Ryan Randazzo @utilityreporter, reporter Richard Ruelas @ruelaswritings, and higher education reporter Rachel Leingang @rachelleingang. This episode was recorded by Carly Henry @carlyhenry_. It was edited and produced by Lauren Aguirre @laurencaguirre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Arizona's primary is Aug. 28. Federal and state officials are working to ensure the security of voter information in light of Russian hacking in 2016. How secure are these systems? What should you do when mailing in your ballot? And what should you bring to the polls on election day? Keep an eye out for a special episode of The Gaggle posting later this week. The team sat down with a California billionaire who is spending part of his fortune in Arizona's elections. The Gaggle comes to you every Monday. But next week, check your feed for the new episode on Wednesday instead. You'll hear the team's analysis of the primary election results. Learn more with The Republic's coverage: Feds say Russian attempts to disrupt midterms ongoing - https://azc.cc/2OKIFZJ | Arizona servers used by Russian hackers in 2016 - https://azc.cc/2zF2tLq | Secretary of state candidates spar over voter-registration rules - https://azc.cc/2OP1P0p | Voter’s guide: Learn more about Arizona candidates - https://azc.cc/2vZJuXy | Find more at politics.azcentral.com Follow the team on Twitter: National political reporter Yvonne Wingett Sanchez @yvonnewingett, congressional reporter Ron J. Hansen @ronaldjhansen, state politics reporter Dustin Gardiner @dustingardiner and consumer investigations reporter Rebekah L. Sanders @rebekahlsanders. This episode was edited and produced by Lauren Aguirre @laurencaguirre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Federal authorities face the daunting job of trying to ensure the 2018 midterms are not influenced by foreign entities. Social media platforms are cracking down on bot and spam accounts. How can you tell if an account isn't genuine? The Gaggle will now come to you every Monday. Look out for new episodes each week in your podcast feed. Learn more with The Republic's coverage: Fake Twitter accounts supporting Gov. Ducey - https://azc.cc/2MBCwyi | Russians played up Glendale murder-suicide in 2016 - https://azc.cc/2rD6Lwj | What is the QAnon conspiracy theory movement? - https://azc.cc/2Mww2AW | Find more at politics.azcentral.com Follow the team on Twitter: National political reporter Yvonne Wingett Sanchez @yvonnewingett, congressional reporter Ron J. Hansen @ronaldjhansen, reporter Richard Ruelas @ruelaswritings and reporter Kaila White @kailawhite. This episode was edited and produced by Lauren Aguirre @laurencaguirre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Arizona is seeing economic growth, but financial prosperity is not being equally felt across the state. How can economic sentiments among voters affect the 2018 elections? Also, the team takes you into the rooms where Republican Senate and governor candidates each faced off in front of The Arizona Republic editorial board. The Gaggle will now come to you every Monday. Look out for new episodes each week in your podcast feed. Learn more with The Republic's coverage: Arizona ranks No. 5 in economic momentum - https://azc.cc/2nf0Laq | 1 in 4 Arizona children in poverty - https://azc.cc/2N7p3ik | Senate candidates Martha McSally and Kelli Ward clash - https://azc.cc/2LGlRxi | Gov. Doug Ducey and challenger Ken Bennett debate - https://azc.cc/2OoVUQu | Find more at http://politics.azcentral.com Follow the team on Twitter: National political reporter Yvonne Wingett Sanchez @yvonnewingett, congressional reporter Ron J. Hansen @ronaldjhansen, state government and politics reporter Maria Polletta @mpolletta, reporter Richard Ruelas @ruelaswritings, and business and personal finance reporter Russ Wiles @azmoneynews. This episode was edited and produced by Lauren Aguirre @laurencaguirre. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Independent voters are on the verge of making up the largest electoral block in Arizona. Here's what that means for the upcoming elections. Follow the team on Twitter: National/political reporter Yvonne Wingett Sanchez @yvonnewingett, congressional reporter Ron J. Hansen @ronaldjhansen, political reporter Richard Ruelas @ruelaswritings, and diversity and inequality reporter Maria Polletta @mpolletta. This episode was edited by Sierra Juarez @sierraraejuarez. Find more at politics.azcentral.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chair of the Democratic Party Felecia Rotellini and former chair of the Republican Party Robert Graham share their thoughts on the midterms. They talk about everything from the “Trump affect” to how their parties are campaigning. And they spill some interesting tea. Follow the team on Twitter: National political reporter Yvonne Wingett Sanchez @yvonnewingett, reporter Richard Ruelas @ruelaswritings, congressional reporter Ron J. Hansen @ronaldjhansen, and state government reporter Mary Jo Pitzl @maryjpitzl. This episode was edited by Sierra Juarez @sierraraejuarez. Find more at politics.azcentral.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How will the new Supreme Court pick affect monumental rulings like Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion throughout the nation? What did Arizona politicians have to say about President Donald Trump's choice? And what's that about the Arizona Cardinal's president weighing in on the Supreme Court pick? The politics team answers these questions and more in this episode of The Gaggle. Follow the team on Twitter: National/political reporter Yvonne Wingett Sanchez @yvonnewingett, congressional reporter Ron J. Hansen @ronaldjhansen, and courts reporter Michael Kiefer @MichaelBKiefer. This episode was edited by Sierra Juarez @sierraraejuarez. Find more at politics.azcentral.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

First lady Melania Trump visited Arizona last week. Reporters break down why Trump came and what we saw inside a detention center for immigrants. And an inside look into the bribery case involving well-known Arizona lobbyist Jim Norton. Lastly reporters discuss how Arizona communities, along with other cities throughout the nation, are suing opioid manufacturers. How could the suit affect people who need the pain medications? All this and more in this week’s episode of The Gaggle. Follow the team on Twitter: National/political reporter Yvonne Wingett Sanchez @yvonnewingett, business and legislative reporter Ryan Randazzo @utilityreporter, reporter Dennis Wagner @azrover and reporter Richard Ruelas @ruelaswritings. This episode was edited by Sierra Juarez @sierraraejuarez. Find more at politics.azcentral.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Education is a hot-button topic in Arizona. What does RedForEd's Noah Karvelis have to say leading up to the November education ballot initiative? And what are the changes he's seen in the teacher strike movement over the past several months? He answers all that and more in this episode of The Gaggle. Follow the team on Twitter: National/political reporter Yvonne Wingett Sanchez @yvonnewingett, staff reporter Richard Ruelas @ruelaswritings, staff reporter Ricardo Cano @RicardoCano1, and local politics and issues reporter Alia Rau @AliaRau. This episode was edited by Sierra Juarez @sierraraejuarez. Find more at politics.azcentral.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices