The Gaggle: An Arizona politics podcast

Arizona has served as a petri dish for groups that create and distribute "model" bills written by corporations and special-interest groups. Arizona's most successful copycat law yet: Empowerment Scholarship Accounts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Think your publicly elected leaders write the bills they sign into law? Not always. In fact, they often don't. That's the conclusion of a two-year-long investigation by The Arizona Republic, USA TODAY and plus the Center for Public Integrity, which found that 10,000 bills across 50 state legislatures were in large part copied from "model" bills written by corporations and special-interest groups.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The secret that everyone suspected is finally out: Utility company Arizona Public Service admitted it donated millions to dark-money political groups in the 2014 Corporation Commission election to help two elect Republican regulators, Tom Forese and Doug Little.It's controversial because the two men would help set the policies that guide APS as well as the prices that the company charges its customers.So APS was trying to influence its own regulation. This week on The Gaggle podcast, national political reporters Yvonne Wingett Sanchez and Ron Hansen chat with utility reporter Ryan Randazzo about the subpoena that led to this disclosure from APS, as well as the FBI investigation into the utility company. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chances are there's a home in your neighborhood that's available for short-term rental through Airbnb or VRBO.  The practice has become more common since a state law passed in 2016 expanded protections for short-term rentals.Now, some are saying short-term rentals are causing an affordable-housing shortage in their area, and others complain rentals have increased noise, trash and disturbance. And there's a bill making its way through the Arizona Legislature that might change that. In this episode The Arizona Republic's national political reporter Yvonne Wingett Sanchez demystifies short-term rentals along with Scottsdale reporter Lorraine Longhi and business and legislative reporter Ryan Randazzo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the 2020 campaign cycle kicks off, Arizonans can expect to hear President Donald Trump attack the late Sen. John McCain. But this puts Sen. Martha McSally in a precarious situation. Find out why in this week's episode as hosts Yvonne Wingett Sanchez and Ronald J. Hansen chat with political editor Dan Nowicki.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It may have taken 18 months, but Kate Gallego won the special election to become Phoenix's mayor. Gallego defeated former council colleague Daniel Valenzuela. Afer her swearing in on March 21, she'll serve out the rest of former Mayor Greg Stanton's term. Why did the election take so long? And what's next for Gallego as she assumes her new role?This week on The Gaggle, a politics podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, hosts Yvonne Wingett Sanchez and Ron Hansen break down the election with reporter Jessica Boehm. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Since becoming Arizona State University’s president in 2002, Michael Crow has influenced the state’s development and policy and has made national headlines along the way.  The Arizona Republic’s higher-education reporter Rachel Leingang recently spent 26 hours with Crow for a profile of him and his impact. Political reporters Yvonne Wingett Sanchez and Ron Hansen talk with her about Crow and his power over the state. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Arizona is in the spotlight after controversial vaccine bills by Republican Rep. Nancy Barto were advanced by the state House Health and Human Services Committee this month, despite warnings from health officials. Arizona Republic and azcentral.com healthcare reporter Stephanie Innes breaks down the headlines.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Arizona gets almost 40 percent of its water from the Colorado River, which draws its water from Lake Mead, the biggest reservoir in the country. Right now, that reservoir is about 40 percent full and approaching its first shortage ever. What happens if there's a water shortage? Who and what will be affected and is there anything to be done? On this week's episode of The Gaggle podcast, hosts Yvonne Wingett Sanchez and Ron Hansen discuss Arizona's water crisis and the Drought Contingency Plan with The Arizona Republic's environmental reporter and expert, Ian James. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the end, Phoenix will either have its first Latino or the first mother with a small child as mayor. This week, host Yvonne Wingett Sanchez talks with reporter Jessica Boehm about key issues in the race and differences between the two Democratic candidates.Reach Yvonne on Twitter at @yvonnewingett and Jessica at @jboehm_NEWS.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices