The Gaggle: An Arizona politics podcast

U.S. Rep. Martha McSally officially enters Arizona's senate race. Gov. Doug Ducey releases his budget with spending increases for school funding. Sen. Sean Bowie introduces a bill to ban conversion therapy and another bill would ban bump stocks in Arizona. Follow the team on Twitter: Host and politics editor Michael Squires @mgsquires, legislative reporter Dustin Gardiner @dustingardiner, national political reporter Dan Nowicki @dannowicki, diversity, demographics and inequality reporter Maria Polletta @mpolletta, and business and legislative 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

Former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio announces his campaign to run for U.S. Senate. Gov. Doug Ducey makes six promises in the final State of the State speech during his first term. Rep. Don Shooter apologizes for making inappropriate comments on the House floor, breaking his silence that he sexually harassed multiple women. Follow the team on Twitter: Host and politics editor Michael Squires @mgsquires, the governor’s office and state politics reporter Yvonne Wingett Sanchez @yvonnewingett, legislative reporter Dustin Gardiner @dustingardiner and national political reporter Dan Nowicki @dannowicki. This episode was edited by Hayley Sanchez @heyyhayhayley. Find more at politics.azcentral.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Republic's politics team looks back on the year's most impacting stories that they worked on this year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Republic's politics team talks Jeff Flake's controversial endorsement check, the state's child welfare agency and how the Republican tax plan will impact Arizonans. This episode was edited by Johanna Huckeba @jojo_huck. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Arizona Rep. Raúl Grijalva approved a $48,000 settlement to a woman who accused him of being drunk and creating a hostile work environment. Sens. John McCain and Jeff Flake could be key votes for or against the Republican tax plan. State Sen. Kimberly Yee, R-Phoenix, announces her bid to run for Arizona treasurer next year, replacing Treasurer Jeff DeWitt. And Mesa Mayor John Giles faces backlash from his conservative constituents after calling President Donald Trump an idiot and encouraging Sen. Jeff Flake to run for president. Follow the team on Twitter: Host and politics editor Michael Squires @mgsquires, congressional reporter Ron J. Hansen @ronaldjhansen, legislative reporter Dustin Gardiner @dustingardiner, and Mesa and Gilbert reporter Lily Altavena @lilyalta. This episode was edited by Hayley Sanchez @heyyhayhayley. Find more at politics.azcentral.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s been a memorable and historic year for Arizona’s delegation and Washington, D.C., correspondent for USA Today Eliza Collins provides some perspective from Capitol Hill. Democrats say the election of Donald Trump has increased their base, but Arizona’s voter registration numbers show otherwise. And the State Court of Appeals has reversed a decision to sever a mother’s rights to her children saying the case was not sufficiently rooted in evidence. Follow the team on Twitter: Host and politics editor Michael Squires @mgsquires, congressional reporter for USA Today @elizacollins1, congressional reporter Ron J. Hansen @ronaldjhansen, and government and child welfare reporter Mary Jo Pitzl @maryjpitzl. This episode was edited by Hayley Sanchez @heyyhayhayley. Find more at politics.azcentral.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A flood of sexual harassment allegations continues to run out of Arizona’s State Capitol. At least seven women have publicly accused Rep. Don Shooter of sex harassment, including Mi-Ai Parrish, publisher and president of The Arizona Republic. Arizona’s Foster Care Review Boards, volunteer groups that decide the fate of children in the foster care system, are overwhelmingly white and do not represent the communities they serve in race, ethnicity or socioeconomic status. Congressman Tom O’Halleran’s office is located outside of his district and his opponents are not happy. Follow the team on Twitter: Host and politics editor Michael Squires @mgsquires, legislative reporter Dustin Gardiner @dustingardiner, congressional reporter Ron J. Hansen @ronaldjhansen and diversity and demographics reporter Maria Polletta @@mpolletta. This episode was edited by Hayley Sanchez @heyyhayhayley. Find more at politics.azcentral.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rep. Michelle Ugenti-Rita, R-Scottsdale, said in a tweet on Monday that Rep. Don Shooter, R-Yuma, is one of Arizona’s male lawmakers that she was sexually harassed by. Congresswoman Martha McSally enters Arizona’s 2018 Senate race. Greg Stanton has still not resigned from his post as mayor, impacting the fate of big voting decisions in Phoenix. Gov. Doug Ducey asked state agencies to remove whether a candidate has been convicted of a crime or not from their job applications in the hopes of eliminating employer prejudice and recidivism. Follow the team on Twitter: Host and politics editor Michael Squires @mgsquires, the governor’s office and state politics reporter Yvonne Wingett Sanchez @yvonnewingett, legislative reporter Dustin Gardiner @dustingardiner, congressional reporter Ron J. Hansen @ronaldjhansen and 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

Bisbee backs off its plastic bag ban. KidsCare, a program that ensures children and low-income families, has run out of funding without a renewal from Congress. And potential candidates like U.S. Reps. Martha McSally and Paul Gosar continue to eye Sen. Jeff Flake's open Senate seat. Follow the team on Twitter: Host and politics editor Michael Squires @mgsquires, state and government reporter Mary Jo Pitzl @maryjpitzl, legislative reporter Dustin Gardiner @dustingardiner and congressional reporter Ron J. Hansen @ronaldjhansen. This episode was edited by Hayley Sanchez @heyyhayhayley. Find more at politics.azcentral.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Arizona's 2018 Senate race takes a dramatic turn after Sen. Jeff Flake announced Tuesday that he will not seek re-election in 2018. Former state lawmaker Kelli Ward and President Trump react to Flake's announcement. State Rep. Michelle Ugenti-Rita says she was sexually harassed by male colleagues in Arizona's Legislature and faces retaliation after reporting her experience. Follow the team on Twitter: Host and politics editor Michael Squires @mgsquires, the governor’s office and state politics reporter Yvonne Wingett Sanchez @yvonnewingett, legislative reporter Dustin Gardiner @dustingardiner, congressional reporter Ron J. Hansen @ronaldjhansen and national political reporter Dan Nowicki @dannowicki. This episode was edited by Hayley Sanchez @heyyhayhayley. Find more at politics.azcentral.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices