Thin Red (Party) Line: Infighting in the GOP over stolen valor bill

Thin Red (Party) Line: Infighting in the GOP over stolen valor bill

Author: The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com April 16, 2025 Duration: 19:15
Arizona's purple-state status has made residents accustomed to arguing at the state Capitol. But this time, the feud is between Trump-supporting Republicans and themselves. A bill that would criminalize false claims of military service has Rep. Walt Blackman (R-Snowflake) and fellow veteran Wendy Rogers (R-Flagstaff) in a heated personal drama is playing out in the Capitol. A claim of purposeful blocking, the owner of a Trump merchandise story and a near fight on the House floor are all happening over a stolen valor bill. This week on The Gaggle, legislative reporter Ray Stern joins hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl to shine a light on the dramatic environment the bill is moving in and what it tells us about how certain laws get made. Email us! thegaggle@arizonarepublic.com Leave us a voicemail: 602-444-0804 Follow us on X, Instagram and Tik Tok. Guest: Ray Stern Hosts: Ron Hansen, Mary Jo Pitzl  Producer: Amanda Luberto 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
5 stories that defined Arizona's year in politics [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:16
Arizona had yet another noteworthy year in politics. All eyes were on the swing state for the 2024 general election. With a Senate race involving Democrat Ruben Gallego and Republican Kari Lake, as well as how voters wou…
What Trump's tariffs with Mexico could mean for Arizonans [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:42
Trump is targeting Mexico and Canada for his tariffs, as well, and that could directly impact Arizona as a border state as well as those who make their living off the international supply chain. But will they help or hur…
Can Trump's border promises come true? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:21
With former President Donald Trump's re-election win this November, his aggressive plans — positive to some, negative to others — on the border and immigration seemingly won him the nomination. He promised mass deportati…
What's left on Arizona's election to-do list [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:39
Despite the anticipation for another long election season extending into the new year, Arizona's election season went pretty smoothly. In stark contrast of 2022 and 2020, the 2024 election was calm and professional. But…
How Trump won Arizona bigger than ever before [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:44
Arizona and other key swing states all went red in 2024, helping Donald Trump secure the U.S. presidency. This year, he won Arizona by a bigger margin than the 2016 election. Weeks after the election, how Trump gained mo…
GOP and Gallego wins prove Arizona's purple in 2024 election [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:13
Leading up to the November election, pollsters across the nation showed Arizona to be one of the most swingy of the swing states. How Arizonans would vote in the presidential race and down-ballot contests were the equiva…
Arizona: the ultimate purple state [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:41
On Tuesday heading into Wednesday, the presidential race was less than 1 percentage point apart, and once again, Arizona is the closest state in the country, for the time being. Republicans also wiped out the narrow Demo…
How do we get election results? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:20
Unlike states like Florida and Colorado, it takes Arizona anywhere from days to almost weeks to find out the results of the election. In the last midterm election, the results of the governor's race were announced six da…
How do you win Arizona? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:26
It is crunch time for politicians and campaigns right now to try to win your vote for the Nov. 4 election. Early voting ballots have been sent out, and with a few close races in the polls, candidates know that every vote…