

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 reporters Ron Hansen and Stephanie Murray, and is produced by Amanda Luberto.
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books
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
Apr 3, 2018 • 26min
2020 census citizenship question, inside a 'D' school in Arizona, DACA tuition rates
A citizenship question on the 2020 census was reinstated by the Trump administration and could hurt Arizona more than other states. Morale is down inside a 'D'-ranked school in Arizona, correlating with teacher's frustrations over funding and pay. Will DACA students, undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. illegally as children, continue to receive in-state tuition?
Follow the team on Twitter:
The governor’s office and state politics reporter Yvonne Wingett Sanchez @yvonnewingett, legislative reporter Dustin Gardiner @dustingardiner, Mesa and Gilbert watchdog reporter Lily Altavena @lilyalta, higher education reporter Rachel Leingang @rachelleingang, diversity and inequality reporter Maria Polletta @mpolletta.
This episode was edited by digital producer Hayley Sanchez @heyyhayhayley. Find more at politics.azcentral.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 29, 2018 • 25min
Ducey and self-driving cars, Prop. 123, new sex harassment investigation
Gov. Doug Ducey's office releases records about self-driving cars in Arizona weeks after an autonomous Uber SUV hit and killed a pedestrian. Ducey pushed Proposition 123 in 2016 to fund schools, tapping into the state's land trust fund, but a judge rules that his ballot initiative was illegal. And a new sexual harassment investigation of 'sexually explicit communications' is underway at the state Capitol.
Follow the team on Twitter:
The governor’s office and state politics reporter Yvonne Wingett Sanchez @yvonnewingett, congressional reporter Ron J. Hansen @ronaldjhansen, business and legislative reporter Ryan Randazzo @utilityreporter, 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
Mar 15, 2018 • 18min
Gun control and education funding for Arizona teachers and schools
Arizona could see stricter gun laws with support from Gov. Doug Ducey after he said he would ask lawmakers to adopt a law that would take guns away from people who are violent or mentally ill. Students nationwide protested gun-violence in the March for Our Lives and teachers wore red for the #RedForEd campaign to protest low pay.
Follow the team on Twitter:
Child welfare and state government reporter Mary Jo Pitzl @maryjpitzl, legislative reporter Dustin Gardiner and investigative reporter Craig Harris @charrisazrep.
This episode was edited by Hayley Sanchez @heyyhayhayley. Find more at politics.azcentral.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Mar 6, 2018 • 23min
Arizona registration increase, Scottsdale schools investigation, charter schools broke
The Attorney General's Office wants answers on construction contracts with Scottsdale Unified School District. Arizona motorists could soon pay more for vehicle registration as state lawmakers search for money to repair crumbling roads and bridges. And dozens of Arizona charters schools are at risk of closing due to financial struggles.
Follow the team on Twitter:
Host and politics editor Michael Squires @mgsquires, Scottsdale watchdog reporeter Yihyun Jeong @yihyun_jeong, legislative reporter Dustin Gardiner @dustingardiner, data reporter Agnel Philip @agnel88_philip.
This episode was edited by Hayley Sanchez @heyyhayhayley. Find more at politics.azcentral.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 28, 2018 • 29min
CD8 primary election, U of A basketball scandal, secret sex harassment records
Voters advance Republican Debbie Lesko and Democrat Hiral Tipirneni in the race to replace Trent Franks in Congressional District 8. The University of Arizona's basketball program is under fire after the FBI intercepted phone conversations where coach Sean Miller talked about paying a star player $100,000 to join the Wildcats. And the House of Representatives won't release additional records from its sexual harassment investigations.
Follow the team on Twitter:
The governor’s office and state politics reporter Yvonne Wingett Sanchez @yvonnewingett, congressional reporter Ron J. Hansen @ronaldjhansen, higher-education reporter Anne Ryman @anneryman, 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
Feb 22, 2018 • 28min
Montenegro's flirty texts, Arizona's sports stadium funding, Ducey's 676 cuts
Days before launching his congressional campaign, former state Senator Steve Montenegro and a state Senate staffer exchanged flirty messages, including a topless photo. Arizona could soon join a national compact to ban taxpayer-funded professional sports facilities. And Gov. Doug Ducey said he's axed 676 regulations since taking office.
Follow the team on Twitter:
The governor’s office and state politics reporter Yvonne Wingett Sanchez @yvonnewingett, congressional reporter Ron J. Hansen @ronaldjhansen, business and legislative reporter Ryan Randazzo @utilityreporter, 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


