

The Press Room
AZPM
This weekly roundtable news program provides deep discussion on the latest headlines from local, trusted, and experienced journalists from around Arizona. The Press Room is hosted by AZPM News Director David Lee.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 5, 2025 • 27min
Feeling Blue about NDAs | New govt. transparency policy after Project Blue
The Pima County Board of Supervisors voted to tighten up its policies on non-disclosure agreements and environmental reviews after Project Blue raised a red flag around government transparency. Plus, Republicans in the State Senate claim a democratic lawmaker endangered ICE agents by sharing a post about possible raids on social media—but she says that information was already public knowledge. Rafael Carranza of AZ Luminaria, Joe Ferguson of the Tucson Agenda, Danyelle Khmara of AZPM News, and Tim Steller from the Arizona Daily Star join host Steve Goldstein to discuss these topics and more.

Aug 29, 2025 • 27min
Project Blue is not going away | TEP files a request to provide energy
Is Project Blue moving forward despite Tucson City Council's resounding 'no' vote? A request by Tucson Electric Power to provide energy to the potential project is raising questions. Plus, the Congressional District 7 candidates Daniel Butierez (R) and Adelita Grijalva (D) met on the debate stage this week to talk immigration, water, foreign policy and more. And Tucson's Ward 3 recount is a go after a judge's ruling this week. Eric Fink of KVOA, Paul Ingram of the Tucson Sentinel, and John Washington of AZ Luminaria join host Steve Goldstein to discuss these topics and more.

Aug 22, 2025 • 27min
20 More Years of the RTA? | Pima County mulls a sales tax extension
Will Pima County decide to extend a Regional Transportation Authority sales tax? Plus, a Tucson City Council recount is on hold after candidate Sadie Shaw claims that some voters were disenfranchised, alternative sites for Project Blue, and Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes responds to President Trump's social media comments about getting rid of mail-in voting. Alisa Reznick of KJZZ, Caitlin Schmidt of Tucson Spotlight, Jim Nintzel of the Tucson Sentinel, and Steve Jess of AZPM News discuss these stories and more with host Steve Goldstein.

Aug 15, 2025 • 27min
State of Education | What will public education look like in Arizona after funding cuts?
As the school year starts in Southern Arizona, we talk with guests Marisol Garcia, President of the Arizona Education Association, about funding for K-12; Janice Palmer, VP for Government Affairs and Public Policy for the Helios Foundation, about higher education; and Fred DuVal from the Arizona Board of Regents about the economic impact of Arizona's public universities and federal cuts to university research programs.

Aug 8, 2025 • 27min
Bye, Bye, Project Blue | Tucson City Council rejects the controversial data center
The Tucson City Council pulls the plug on Project Blue after a raucous public meeting. What's next for data centers in the desert? Plus, some results from Tucson City Council primaries. Joe Ferguson of Tucson Agenda, John Washington of AZ Luminaria, Andrew Brown of AZPM News, and Tucson Sentinel's Dylan Smith join Host Steve Goldstein to discuss this week's top news stories.

Aug 1, 2025 • 27min
Annexation Plans? | Project Blue and the city of Tucson
Project Blue: Tucson's secret annexation plans and questions remain about jobs, power and water. Plus, the ACLU sues the Pima County Sheriff's office, an undocumented man in federal custody is charged with murder, and Laura Conover vs. the DOJ. Yana Kunichoff of AZ Luminaria, Paul Ingram the Tucson Sentinel, The Daily Star's Tim Steller, and Paola Rodriguez of AZPM join host Steve Goldstein to discuss this week's top news stories.

Jul 25, 2025 • 27min
Data Center Dilemma | Project Blue and its potential impact on water, power, and jobs
The company behind Project Blue appears to be Amazon Web Services. We speak to AZ Luminaria's John Washington who broke the story and unpack a community meeting about the proposed data center's impact on water, power, and jobs. Pima County Supervisor Jennifer Allen, Ian McDowell of Sundt Construction, and Caitlin Schmidt of the Tucson Spotlight join host Steve Goldstein to discuss the heated issue.

Jul 18, 2025 • 27min
Adelita Grijalva beats Deja Foxx in CD7 primary, more on Project Blue
Adelita Grijalva dominates Deja Foxx and Daniel Hernandez in CD7 Democratic primary, and the "Project Blue" data center will require more water, electricity, and locations than previously thought. Dylan Wells of the Washington Post, Joe Ferguson from Tucson Agenda, Dylan Smith of the Tucson Sentinel, and AZPM's Hannah Cree join host Steve Goldstein to discuss a busy week in Southern Arizona.

Jul 11, 2025 • 27min
Massive ICE funding increase, Medicaid cuts, and unexpected drama in the CD7 race
ICE's staggering 75 billion dollar funding increase and cuts to Medicaid with the "Big, Beautiful Bill," the DOJ releasing fliers asking immigrants to self-deport, and the unexpected drama of Arizona's CD7 race. John Washington of Arizona Luminaria, Jim Nintzel of the Tucson Sentinel, Caitlyn Schmidt of Tucson Spotlight, and Danyelle Khmara of AZPM News join host Steve Goldstein to spill all the tea on this week's top news stories in southern Arizona.

Jul 3, 2025 • 27min
What federal funding cuts will mean for local non-profit organizations
We talk with the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation, the Arts Foundation for Tucson and Southern Arizona, and the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona about what dramatic federal funding cuts will mean for their programs. GUESTS: Lee Bucyk, Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation; Adriana Gallego, The Arts Foundation for Tucson and Southern Arizona; Chris Firmage, The Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona.


