The AZ Political Podcast

The AZ Political Podcast

The AZ Political Podcast takes a look at the latest news and state of politics in Arizona. KTAR News' Jim Sharpe, also host of Arizona's Morning News, speaks with newsmakers each week plus gives his insight. 

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The AZ Political Podcast
Brad Miller, Pinal County Attorney

This week on the AZ Political Podcast, Pinal County Attorney Brad Miller sits down with Jim Sharpe to talk about the proactive way Miller's office is working with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at a time when many are working against ICE. They also take time to discuss Brad Miller's path to political office and what many people might not know about him.

00:22:56
Dec 12, 2025 11:33 AM
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More Episodes

The AZ Political Podcast
Tim Stringham, former military lawyer

This week's episode of the AZ Political Podcast features Tim Stringham, a former military lawyer and recovering politician. In this episode, Stringham breaks down the idea that U.S. Senator Mark Kelly could be recalled to active duty in the Navy in order to be court martialed. Stringham, who served in the Navy's Judge Advocate General Corps, ultimately thinks Sen. Kelly won't end up in front of a military judge.

00:27:52
Dec 5, 2025 11:8 AM
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The AZ Political Podcast
Jan Brewer, former Arizona Governor

Former Arizona Governor, Jan Brewer, sits down with Jim Sharpe for this weeks episode of the AZ Political Podcast. The two discuss the 2026 election year, who Jan expects to win (and who she wants to win) and why she decided to start a poltical career.

00:29:20
Nov 21, 2025 11:55 AM
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The AZ Political Podcast
Gina Swoboda, chair of the Arizona Republican Party

For this week's AZ Political Podcast, Jim Sharpe sits down with the chair of the Arizona Republican Party and 2026 First Congressional District candidate, Gina Swoboda. The episode dives into Swoboda's thoughts on bringing fiscal conservatism back to Congress, what she plans to do to any primary opponents who may present themsevles, and where she does and does not see eye to eye with President Trump.

00:31:11
Nov 14, 2025 11:21 AM
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The AZ Political Podcast
Adrian Fontes, Arizona Secretary of State

This week puts us exactly one year away from the 2026 General Election — when you’ll pick the people you think should serve in the top five governmental offices in Arizona, as well as a midterm election that’ll determine if President Trump gets more — or less — help in the House of Representatives. Adrian Fontes joins the podcast to discuss how secure our elections will be. 

00:30:50
Nov 7, 2025 4:0 AM
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The AZ Political Podcast
Mark Lamb, candidate for Congressional District 5

Congressional District 5 is looking for a new representative as Andy Biggs runs for governor. Mark Lamb, former Pinal County sheriff, sits down with Jim Sharpe breaking down his decision to run for the open seat. 

00:30:02
Oct 31, 2025 4:0 AM
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The AZ Political Podcast
Former Congressman, Matt Salmon

Former Congressman, Matt Salmon, joins the AZ Political Podcast with Jim Sharpe to talk all things governement shutdown. The two discuss how Salmon was in Congress the last time a complete federal budget was passed, what they think will pull us out of this shutdown and when it might end. 

00:19:27
Oct 24, 2025 11:39 AM
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The AZ Political Podcast
Jim Rounds, valley economist

Jim Rounds breaks down the difference between the money that’ll be lost to Arizona’s economy permanently — and the spending that will simply be postponed — compliments of the government shutdown shutdown.

00:24:34
Oct 16, 2025 4:0 AM
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The AZ Political Podcast
David Schweikert, candidate for Arizona governor

Arizona U.S. Congressman David Schweikert sits down with Jim Sharpe to explain his decision to leave Washington D.C. and run for governor in Arizona

00:28:38
Oct 6, 2025 9:2 PM
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The AZ Political Podcast
Charlene Fernandez, newly elected Arizona Democratic Party Chair

On this weeks episode of the AZ Political Podcast, Jim Sharpe welcomes Charlene Fernandez, the newly elected Arizona Democratic Party Chair. The two talk about the chairwoman's experience that has led to her being elected, what has kept her busy so far, and much more.

00:22:08
Oct 3, 2025 11:46 AM
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The AZ Political Podcast
Terry Goddard, Central Arizona Project president

Former Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard joined the AZ Political Podcast with Jim Sharpe to discuss the indictment of former FBI director James Comey and Arizona’s water future.

00:20:27
Sep 26, 2025 8:48 PM
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The AZ Political Podcast
Mike Noble, Noble Predictive Insights

On this week episodes of the AZ Political Podcast, Jim Sharpe sits down with Mike Noble, the man in charge of the polling firm, Noble Predictive Insights. The two talk about the Republican Primary, how the party a voter is in does more to determine that they think should be taught in school, Republican attitudes toward election integrity, and much more.

00:19:03
Sep 19, 2025 11:10 AM
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The AZ Political Podcast
Jeff Flake, former Arizona U.S. Senator

The assassination of Arizona resident and conservative activist Charlie Kirk is the topic of this AZ Political Podcast episode. Former Arizona U.S. Senator and founding director the the ASU Insititute of Politics, Jeff Flake, sat down with Jim Sharpe to discuss political violence in America.  

00:33:06
Sep 12, 2025 7:44 PM
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The AZ Political Podcast
Emily Ryan, Political Consultant

On this episode of the AZ Political Podcast, Jim sits down with political consultant Emily Ryan where they talk all things lobbyist. Emily explains that there is a good chance YOU are represented by a lobbyist and why lobbying is not nearly as bad as it sounds

00:27:26
Sep 5, 2025 11:41 AM
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The AZ Political Podcast
Karrin Taylor Robson, Republican gubernatorial candidate

Two weeks ago on the AZ Political Podcast, we had Andy Biggs talk about what he would do if he were elected Governor. Now, Republican primary rival, Karrin Taylor Robson gets her chance to do the same. Robson talks about her endorsement from President Trump, wanting to create a "voting holiday", and much more.

00:31:43
Aug 22, 2025 11:19 AM
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The AZ Political Podcast
Tom Horne, Superintendent of Public Instruction

On this weeks episode of the AZ Political Podcast, Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne gets the chance to respond to his Republican primary opponent, Kimberly Yee. Yee had made comments about Horne's ability to do his job on a previous episode of the AZ Political Podcast.

00:23:49
Aug 15, 2025 11:54 AM
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The AZ Political Podcast
Andy Biggs, Arizona U.S. representative and candidate for Governor

Rep. Andy Biggs joins the AZ Political Podcast with Jim Sharpe to discuss his run for Governor of Arizona.

00:30:43
Aug 8, 2025 8:22 PM
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The AZ Political Podcast
Jon Gabriel, Political Journalist

Both U.S. Senators for Arizona are hosting town halls and other speaking events in states across the country, sparking rumors of potential of Presidential campaigns in the 2028 election. Political journalist, Jon Gabriel sits down with Jim Sharpe to talk about the probability Ruben Gallego or Mark Kelly heading to the White House.

00:25:29
Aug 1, 2025 10:42 AM
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The AZ Political Podcast
Jerry Sheridan, Maricopa County Sheriff

If you've never heard a breakdown of the numbers behind the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office federal oversight case, you have to hear them on this week's AZ Political Podcast. Jim Sharpe sits down with Maricopa County Sheriff Jerry Sheridan to talk about these numbers, as well as MCSO's compliance score, and even a little bit of the Sherrif's personal life.

00:36:58
Jul 25, 2025 10:32 AM
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The AZ Political Podcast
Stacy Pearson, democratic political consultant

On today's episode of the AZ Political Podcast, Democratic political consultant with Lumen Strategies, Stacy Pearson sits down with Jim Sharpe to discuss Adelita Grijalva winning the Congressional District 7 special primary election. They also discuss problems within the Arizona Democratic party, and if Gallego has a real shot at Presidency.

00:25:22
Jul 18, 2025 11:46 AM
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The AZ Political Podcast
Chuck Coughlin, president and CEO of HighGround Inc

On today's episode of Arizona's Political Podcast, Chuck Coughlin, president and CEO of HighGround Inc, joins Jim Sharpe to talk about Elon Musk's dreams of a third American political party. Coughlin explains how it is seemingly impossible to create a successful third political party. The two also discuss recent rumors about Sen. Gallego running for President.

00:28:39
Jul 11, 2025 10:56 AM
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The AZ Political Podcast
Mike Noble, Noble Predictive Insights

How do we feel about President Trump? How different are our answers when we’re asked to rate him based on his immigration policies versus his economic policies? What do we think of Democratic Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs? And how does she stack up against her likely Republican opponents (Andy Biggs and Karrin Taylor Robson) in next year’s race to be governor? Jim Sharpe sits down with Mike Noble of Noble Predictive Insights who shares the results of his most recent polling. 

 

00:20:44
Jun 6, 2025 4:0 AM
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The AZ Political Podcast
Matt Salmon, former Arizona congressman

Matt Salmon joined Jim Sharpe on this week's political podcast to discuss the President's "Big Beautiful Bill," as well as the president's recent policies and the dysfunction in Congress and among the parties. 

00:19:53
May 23, 2025 4:0 AM
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The AZ Political Podcast
Tony Cani, Democratic political consultant

The Arizona Democratic Party could end up with a change at the top — prompted by top elected Democrats in Arizona — because they aren’t very fond of the way state chair Robert Branscomb has been running things. Democratic political consultant Tony Cani joined Jim Sharpe on this week's AZ Political Podcast to discuss the party's infighting. 

00:26:01
May 9, 2025 4:0 AM
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