Stay ConnectedHelping 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.
While 45 other states already have it, the lieutenant governor is a brand-new job in Arizona, and both candidates have chosen their running mates.
Democratic incumbent Katie Hobbs chose former Mesa Mayor and former Republican, John Giles, while Republican Andy Biggs went with former state lawmaker Sine Kerr.
Both candidates' running mates shed a light on what they think they need to add to their campaign to win.
This week on The Gaggle, we are joined by two political consultants to unpack what their picks say about their chances of winning the governorship.
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Guest: Justin Plumb, Tyler Montague
Hosts: Ron Hansen, Stephanie Murray
Producer: Amanda Luberto
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One of the most politically volatile topics to bring up at the dinner table isn't the war in Iran, the price of gas or the immigration crackdown across the country. It's the culture war.
This week on The Gaggle, we are joined by Isaac Butler, the left-leaning author of the new book "The Perfect Moment: God, Sex, Art, and the Birth of America's Culture Wars."
As an expert on the origins of the culture war, he'll help us make sense of how we got here.
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Guest: Isaac Butler
Hosts: Ron Hansen, Stephanie Murray
Producer: Amanda Luberto
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Arizona's politics are now reliably purple.
The top offices are held by Democrats but a wider look will show that Arizona's lawmakers are predominately red.
A few major races in the midterm election this November are close, which leads people to wonder if this is the year Democrats catch their white whale: the legislature.
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Guest: Helen Rummel Ray Stern
Hosts: Ron Hansen, Stephanie Murray
Producer: Amanda Luberto
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The days of television ads and fliers in the mail are going by the wayside when it comes to campaigns getting their message out.
Technology is changing fast and politicians — sitting or hopeful — are using influencers, artificial intelligence and more to try to get your attention and your vote.
This week on The Gaggle, we are joined by three experts in various fields to discuss the new frontier of technology and politics.
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Guest: Patrick Bench, Ian Schafer, Deja Foxx
Hosts: Ron Hansen, Stephanie Murray
Producer: Amanda Luberto
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Early tallies for the midterm primaries show that Arizona Republicans have put their trust in MAGA-style candidates for the top three spots on the November ballot.
For the most part, the primary races were decided soon after an unexpectedly smooth election day. Voting in Maricopa County, a hotbed for election denialism and backbiting over election responsibilities, went off without any major glitches.
This week on The Gaggle, we are joined by fellow Arizona Republic politics reporters for initial thoughts on midterm primary night 2026.
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Leave us a voicemail: 602-444-0804
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Guest: Stacey Barchenger, Laura Gersony
Hosts: Ron Hansen, Stephanie Murray
Producer: Amanda Luberto
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The primary election is on July 21 and with only a few days left, there are still major questions and contentious races that political professionals are keeping an eye on.
The impact of Turning Point USA's backing, candidates aligning with artificial intelligence and major ad spending are all key factors that are leaving even the most in-tune politicos wondering.
This week on The Gaggle, we are joined by two political strategists to talk about the big storylines, the big spenders and the big unknowns heading into primary night.
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Leave us a voicemail: 602-444-0804
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Guest: Jon Seaton, Stacy Pearson
Hosts: Stephanie Murray
Producer: Amanda Luberto
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Debates over Flock cameras, license plate readers that use artificial intelligence, are riling up citizens in Chandler and South Tucson who argue that the tech is invading their privacy.
But proponents say that Flock is helping local police, the U.S. Border Patrol and agencies like U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
This week on The Gaggle, we are joined by two reporters who have been keeping tabs on how some communities in Arizona are handling the fight over Flock.
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Guest: Sarah Lapidus, Lauren De Young
Hosts: Ron Hansen, Stephanie Murray
Producer: Amanda Luberto
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Two longtime Congressmen want to leave Washington, D.C., to instead lead Arizona as its next governor.
Congressman Andy Biggs and Congressman David Schweikert both have decades worth of experience in politics and both want to the chance to take on incumbent Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs in November.
First they'll need to win the Republican nomination in the July 21 primary election.
In this bonus episode of The Gaggle, state politics reporter Stacey Barchenger walks you through the similarities and differences between the Republican candidates running for Arizona governor.
Email us! thegaggle@arizonarepublic.com
Leave us a voicemail: 602-444-0804
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Hosts: Stacey Barchenger
Producer: Amanda Luberto
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This week, Americans across the country will be celebrating the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States.
While it should be a time for reflection and patriotism, research shows that Americans have complicated feelings about the country ahead of this milestone.
This week on The Gaggle, we turn the microphone over to Arizonans to find out how they're feeling about the country as the country's 250th birthday approaches.
We asked them how the anniversary is making them feel, what they would change about America if they could and what makes them proud to live here.
Email us! thegaggle@arizonarepublic.com
Leave us a voicemail: 602-444-0804
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Hosts: Ron Hansen, Stephanie Murray
Producer: Amanda Luberto
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Walk into the Museum of African American History on Boston’s Beacon Hill right now and the Revolution looks different from the one most of us learned in school.
The museum’s new exhibition, "Black Voices of the Revolution: Liberty, Emancipation, and the Struggle for Independence," asks what independence meant to people who were themselves enslaved or only tenuously free.
In this Outspoken conversation, I spoke with the museum’s president and CEO, Noelle Trent, about how that lens reshapes our understanding of 1776 and what we should be teaching the next generation as the Declaration of Independence turns 250.
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