Inside Arizona's standoff: Hobbs vs. Hoffman over director nominees

Inside Arizona's standoff: Hobbs vs. Hoffman over director nominees

Author: The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com June 4, 2025 Duration: 43:31
Gov. Katie Hobbs announced in May that she would not submit any more agency director nominations to the state Senate for confirmation, blaming what she called the "circus" environment for vetting her nominees. Hobbs has been battling the state Senate since she took office for her director nominees, who have gone through a rigorous and unprecedented vetting process. State Sen. Jake Hoffman heads the Committee on Direction Nominations, which recommends whether a nominee should get a vote of the full Senate. He self-identified on The Gaggle as "one of the most conservative members of the Legislature." This week on The Gaggle, we are joined by Sen. Hoffman to discuss why he thinks the stiff scrutiny on the governor's picks is justified. Later in the episode, Doug Cole, a Republican veteran of state government, joins to explore this unheard-of situation between the sitting governor and the leader of the Senate committee. Email us! thegaggle@arizonarepublic.com Leave us a voicemail: 602-444-0804 Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tik Tok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Guests: ⁠⁠Sen. Jake Hoffman, Doug Cole Hosts: ⁠⁠Ron Hansen⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Mary Jo Pitzl⁠⁠ Producer: ⁠⁠Amanda Luberto, Abby Bessinger Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every Wednesday morning, The Gaggle: An Arizona politics podcast cuts through the noise to focus on a single issue shaping life in the state. Hosted by The Arizona Republic’s national political reporters Ron Hansen and Stephanie Murray, and produced by Amanda Luberto, this isn't just a recap of headlines. Instead, the conversation goes deeper with a guest-a politician, a journalist, or another key public figure-to unpack the real-world implications of a policy, a vote, or a debate. You’ll hear how decisions made at the capitol or in city halls ripple out to affect communities, schools, and wallets. The discussion is grounded in the expertise of the Republic’s newsroom, offering clarity and context that’s often missing from the daily churn. For anyone trying to understand the forces directing Arizona’s future, this weekly podcast provides an essential, focused look at the mechanics of state politics and government, making the complex both accessible and relevant. It’s a straightforward guide to what’s happening, who’s involved, and why it all matters for your day-to-day.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Gaggle: An Arizona politics podcast
Podcast Episodes
How Trump's federal job cuts are affecting Arizonans [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:50
Trump and his self-created Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, after the internet meme, is attempting to rein in the amount of national spending and the size of the federal government. About 32,000 of the 3 mil…
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Duration: 26:26
The new year also brought a slightly larger Republican majority in both the House and Senate, furthering the political divide at the Capitol. Gov. Katie Hobbs has already delivered her first veto of the year, denying a R…
Speaker Steve Montenegro shares Republicans' goals for 2025 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:51
Steve Montenegro is not new to the Capitol — he served eight years in the Legislature before an unsuccessful run for Congress in 2018. In 2022, he returned to state politics when he was elected to represent Legislative D…
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Duration: 35:55
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Duration: 32:19
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Duration: 26:10
President Donald Trump's "Day 1" has come and gone and so far, he has kept most of his promises. The president signed an abundance of executive orders in the hours following his inauguration, some directly impacting Ariz…
What is the mood at the Arizona-Mexico border right now? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:35
President-elect Donald Trump is gearing up for his inauguration on Jan. 20 and the start of the new administration holds significance for Arizona. Trump has promised to start mass deportations on "day one" and to quickly…
Why the Jan. 6th Capitol attack still reverberates in Arizona [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:39
t's been four years since the riot at the U.S. Capitol shook the country. It was the first time in history there wasn't a peaceful transfer of power as the electoral votes were finalized. This week's presidential certifi…
What's in store for Arizona politics in 2025 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:46
2025 isn't an election year, but that doesn't mean that Arizona politics will be boring. Newly elected Democratic Senator Ruben Gallego is preparing his move to Washington DC. Heading to the National's capitol as well, a…
Have a great holiday from The Gaggle! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:45
We hope you have a safe and enjoyable holiday, listeners. We're taking the week off to be with our families. See you in 2025! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices