The AZ Political Podcast

Rep. Stanton joined the AZ Political Podcast to discuss what worries him most about Trump’s cuts to government — in regards to both the federal workers here in, and the federal funds intended for, Arizona. They also discuss the water situation in Arizona and what the FAA needs to do going forward afte the recent air tragedies. 

Sean Nobel joined Jim Sharpe on the AZ Political Podcast to talk about his latest poll on the race for governor in Arizona, which has already begun. He believes that Republican who jumped into the gubernatorial ring first, East Valley Congressman Andy Biggs, stands a better chance of beating Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs than Karin Taylor Robson, who announced her official entry into the race this week. 

Maricopa Board of Supervisors Chairman Thomas Galvin joined The AZ Political Podcast with Jim Sharpe to discuss his background helping negotiating stadiums in the Valley, the board's role in the proposed bill that would help with Chase Field renovations, plus other issues Galvin helps to hope address in the coming months.

Matt Kenney joins Jim Sharpe and weighs in on how a lot of Republicans are, like him, pro-immigration. And how Arizonans have to walk a fine line between acknowledging that undocumented workers contribute to our economy — while also being a drain on our resources. And how unchecked immigration can be a national security threat.

As we approach the completion of the first week of the second Trump presidency, former Republican U.S. Congressman Matt Salmon joins Jim Sharpe on the AZ Political Podcast to assess how the 45th/47th president — and the 119th Congress — is doing so far.

Former Maricopa County Supervisor Bill Gates joined Jim Sharpe on this week's AZ Political Podcast to discuss his career in public service, election integrity and how he's giving back by preparing the next generation of politicians as a professor.

On this week’s AZ Political Podcast, Jim Sharpe asks Republican former Mesa Mayor John Giles if he regrets endorsing Kamala Harris, the Democrat, in the 2024 Presidential election over Republican Donald Trump (especially since Trump won by a large margin).

On this episode of the AZ Political Podcast, Congressman David Schweikert joins Jim Sharpe to recap the recent elections. Schweikert also talks about Social Security, Medicare and how to tackle the country's debt.

 Arizona has a rich history when it comes to presidential politics — both in terms of presidential candidates from Arizona and the choices our state makes in each election — so who better to talk with on the AZ Political Podcast than presidential historian Dr. Brooks D. Simpson, a professor of history at Arizona State University.

On this episode of the AZ Political Podcast, Jim Sharpe is joined by Howie Fischer, lead correspondent for Arizona's Capitol Media Services. Among the topics discussed are the craziness of the recent presidential election, how politics have gotten nasty and personal, the toughest and most enjoyable politicians Fischer has covered and what Fischer thinks about the future of Arizona.

This week’s AZ Political Podcast is not your typical episode. Just a couple days after the Nov. 5 general election, Arizona continues to tally votes and several races are yet to be called.

I hosted a special election results show to discuss the results of the election.

Who will be the next President of the United States? Will Arizonans vote with their party for both President and U.S. Senate? Political strategist Chuck Coughlin of HighGround Inc. joins Jim Sharpe in this week's episode of the AZ Political Podcast and offers his predictions of winners and losers of Tuesday's general election. 

This week on the AZ Political Podcast, Jim Sharpe talks to HighGround's Paul Bentz, who was named “best pollster” by the Arizona Capitol Times on three different occasions. He helps Jim make sense of the last-minute political polls we are seeing everywhere. Read watch and listen. 

This week on the AZ Political Podcast, I get to grill a man known for being a tough interview … actually, that’s just me trying to hype things up — because my guest this week is a guy I’m very comfortable conversing with because he’s been my friend and colleague for more than two decades: KTAR Senior News Reporter Jim Cross.

Jim and I spend a few minutes talking about how much things have changed in his almost three decades of covering Arizona politics — and surprisingly, how they’ve also stayed the same in some ways.

On this week’s AZ Political Podcast, Mike Noble, the head of polling firm Noble Predictive Insights, helps me figure out if either Lake, the Republican candidate, or Gallego, the Democrat, won Arizona's U.S. Senate debate.

On this week’s AZ Political Podcast, Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer talks with me about the registered voters affected by a Motor Vehicle Division coding error — an error that has created questions about whether those residents are U.S. citizens and thereby eligible to vote in state and local elections in Arizona.

On this week’s AZ Political Podcast, Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes tells the tale of how nearly 100,000 Arizona voters almost eneded up being disenfranchised — unable to vote on state and local races — and why, in searching for a solution, Republicans were willing to look the other way if some noncitizens ended up voting in November.

On this week’s AZ Political Podcast, Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne joins to discuss several topics involving Arizona schools.

On this week’s AZ Political Podcast, former Assistant Phoenix Police Chief and current Phoenix City Councilman Kevin Robinson discusses the “politics of policing” with Jim Sharpe — an especially pertinent topic after two Phoenix police officers were shot by a suspect this week — leaving one critically wounded.

Jim Sharpe has been in Chicago all week for the Democratic National Convention. This week on the AZ Political Podcast, Sharpe and digital editor Danny Shapiro break down their top takeaways from the DNC.

KTAR News Senior Political Analyst Dr. Mike O’Neil joined the podcast to break down — to the vote — the different Electoral College paths that newly-minted Democratic nominee Kamala Harris can take to the White House.

Political strategist Stan Barnes joined the AZ Political Podcast with Jim Sharpe to break down the winners and losers from the Arizona primary elections and what our state should look forward to as a result of these elections.