

The Gaggle: An Arizona politics podcast
The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com
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 reporter Ron Hansen and produced by Amanda Luberto.
Coming to you every Wednesday morning, The Gaggle is hosted by The Arizona Republic's national political reporter Ron Hansen and produced by Amanda Luberto.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jun 21, 2018 • 31min
Family separation at the border and Gov. Doug Ducey's campaign for re-election
The politics team talks about immigrant children being separated from their families at the U.S.-Mexico border and Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey's campaign announcement.
Follow the team on Twitter:
Interim national/political reporter Yvonne Wingett Sanchez @yvonnewingett, staff reporter Richard Ruelas @ruelaswritings, congressional reporter Ron J. Hansen @ronaldjhansen, and and higher education reporter Rachel Leingang @rachelleingang.
This episode was edited by Sierra Juarez @sierraraejuarez. Find more at politics.azcentral.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 13, 2018 • 24min
Talking Theranos, fraudulent AZ petitions, immigration reform
The Arizona Republic's politics team discusses how potential immigration reform will impact DACA and refugees, how what happened with Theranos may be reflective of a larger Arizona issue, and fraudulent signatures in a Senate race.
Follow the team on Twitter:
National/political reporter Yvonne Wingett Sanchez @yvonnewingett, legislative reporter Dustin Gardiner @dustingardiner, immigration reporter Daniel González @azdangonzalez and higher education reporter Rachel Leingang @rachelleingang.
This episode was edited by Sierra Juarez @sierraraejuarez. Find more at politics.azcentral.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jun 5, 2018 • 18min
Talking corruption trial with special guest, criminal defense attorney
Mike Black, a prominent criminal defense attorney, speaks about an Arizona coruption trial involving the Ex-Corporation Commissioner Gary Pierce, his wife Sherry Pierce, Jim Norton, a lobbyist, and George Johnson, water company owner. The #RedForEd movement impacts who is running for state legislature this year. And how much are university officials in Arizona making?
Follow the team on Twitter:
Business reporter Ryan Randazzo @utilityreporter, higher education reporter Rachel Leingang @rachelleingang and legislative reporter Dustin Gardiner @dustingardiner.
This episode was edited by Hayley Sanchez @heyyhayhayley. Find more at politics.azcentral.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 31, 2018 • 43min
Special guest: David Garcia, Democratic gubernatorial candidate
David Garcia, who seeks the Democratic gubernatorial nomination, joins The Gaggle in a first-ever, guest episode to discuss his campaign and education in Arizona.
Follow the team on Twitter:
Interim national/political reporter Yvonne Wingett Sanchez @yvonnewingett, education reporter Ricardo Cano @Ricardo_Cano1, congressional reporter Ron J. Hansen @ronaldjhansen and guest David Garcia @dg4az.
This episode was edited by Hayley Sanchez @heyyhayhayley. Find more at politics.azcentral.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 22, 2018 • 30min
Renewable energy controversy, special session over gun control, Gosar lives outside his district
Arizona Public Service is backing a ballot initiative from state utility regulators that would significantly boost the requirements for renewable energy. Will Arizona see a special session over gun control after yet another school shooting in Texas? And Rep. Paul Gosar still rents a Prescott apartment in Arizona's 4th Congressional District, but lives primarily in Flagstaff.
Follow the team on Twitter:
Interim national/political reporter Yvonne Wingett Sanchez @yvonnewingett, legislative reporter Dustin Gardiner @dustingardiner, congressional reporter Ron J. Hansen @ronaldjhansen, and business reporter Ryan Randazzo @utilityreporter.
This episode was edited by Hayley Sanchez @heyyhayhayley. Find more at politics.azcentral.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 15, 2018 • 35min
Russian Facebook ads, migrant caravan, fraud allegations in marijuana dispensaries
Russian Facebook ads played up a murder-suicide of two Arizona teens during the 2016 election. Organizers of the migrant caravan that traveled through Mexico to the U.S. border say they are planning another caravan next year despite backlash from Trump and his administration. And zoning battles over medical-marijuana dispensaries in Phoenix have raised fraud allegations.
Follow the team on Twitter:
Interim national/political reporter Yvonne Wingett Sanchez @yvonnewingett, congressional reporter Ron J. Hansen @ronaldjhansen, immigration reporter Daniel González @azdangonzalez, Phoenix City Hall reporter Jessica Boehm @jboehm_NEWS.
This episode was edited by Hayley Sanchez @heyyhayhayley. Find more at politics.azcentral.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 10, 2018 • 26min
#RedForEd takeaways, Sen. John McCain health updates
After Arizona's legislature approved a plan for 20 percent pay raises for teachers by 2020, the leaders of the #RedForEd movement feel like they got cheated on their demands. Now they're working to collect 150,000 signatures by July 5 to get the Invest in Education Act initiative on the November ballot. And Sen. John McCain's funeral arrangements have been made.
Follow the team on Twitter:
Interim national/political reporter Yvonne Wingett Sanchez @yvonnewingett, education reporter Ricardo Cano @Ricardo_Cano1, congressional reporter Ron J. Hansen @ronaldjhansen, legislative reporter Dustin Gardiner @dustingardiner.
This episode was edited by Hayley Sanchez @heyyhayhayley. Find more at politics.azcentral.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
May 2, 2018 • 38min
#RedForEd teacher walkout, budget bills drop, CD8 race takeaways
Arizona's #RedForEd teacher walkout moves into its fifth day as teachers continue to protest low pay. Budget bills have dropped at the state Capitol, but what's buried in them? And how did Democrat Hiral Tipirneni pull off such a close race in deep-red Congressional District 8 and what does her 5-point loss mean for Republicans heading into midterms?
Follow the team on Twitter:
Interim national/political reporter Yvonne Wingett Sanchez @yvonnewingett, education reporter Ricardo Cano @Ricardo_Cano1, congressional reporter Ron J. Hansen @ronaldjhansen, legislative reporter Dustin Gardiner @dustingardiner, and interim governor's office reporter Richard Ruelas @ruelaswritings.
This episode was edited by Hayley Sanchez @heyyhayhayley. Find more at politics.azcentral.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 17, 2018 • 30min
Teachers on walkouts, abortion requirements, CD8 election, sober homes
Teachers are still talking about a walkout even after Gov. Doug Ducey proposed increasing their pay 20 percent by 2020. Arizona has a new abortion reporting requirement. With an election in the 8th Congressional District next week, the race between Democrat Hiral Tipirneni and Republican Debbie Lesko is heating up. And sober homes that provide people a place to live while recovering from substance abuse will have increased oversight from the state of Arizona.
Follow the team on Twitter:
Interim national/political reporter Yvonne Wingett Sanchez @yvonnewingett, education reporter Ricardo Cano @Ricardo_Cano1, congressional reporter Ron J. Hansen @ronaldjhansen, legislative reporter Dustin Gardiner @dustingardiner, and health care reporter Ken Alltucker @kalltucker.
This episode was edited by Hayley Sanchez @heyyhayhayley. Find more at politics.azcentral.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Apr 11, 2018 • 33min
Special edition: Cathi Herrod's unscripted conversation on Arizona's school voucher program
In a recording obtained by The Arizona Republic, Center for Arizona Policy President Cathi Herrod has an unscripted conference call with Christian school leaders about Arizona's school voucher program. Herrod shares her real thoughts on the Empowerment Scholarship Account program, a controversial program that allows certain students to use public money to pay for private and religious schools.
Follow the team on Twitter:
The governor’s office and state politics reporter Yvonne Wingett Sanchez @yvonnewingett and investigative and data reporter Rob O'Dell @robodellaz.
This episode was edited by digital producer Hayley Sanchez @heyyhayhayley. Find more at politics.azcentral.com.
Music: bensound.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices


