(uplifting music) - Coming up next on this special edition of "Arizona Horizon", it's our annual Journalists' Year in Review, as we take a look at the big stories of 2022, and predict what might happen in the coming year.

The Journalists' Year in Review next, on "Arizona Horizon".

- [Announcer] This hour of local news is made possible by contributions from the friends of PBS, members of your PBS station.

Thank you.

- Good evening and welcome to this special edition of "Arizona Horizon".

I'm Ted Simons.

It's that time of year, time for our annual Journalists' Round Table Prediction Show.

And our journalists tonight include Laurie Roberts of the Arizona Republic and www.azcentral.com, and Howard Fischer of Capitol Media Services.

Now before we look ahead to 2023, let's see how everyone did from last year's show with their predictions for this year.

Producer Steve Clasen has the recap.

Of note, last year's show included Steve Goldstein of KJZZ radio.

- [Steve C.] Heading into 2022, the midterm election was the main focus of the prediction show.

- The governor's race, who wins the Republican nomination?

- I think Karrin Taylor Robson.

- And I think it will be Karrin Taylor Robson.

She should portray herself as the adult in the room, as Matt Salmon and Kari Lake fight it out for that far-right vote.

- I think that's a great call, and I totally agree with it, and I'm kind of stunned we all went with that, yeah.

- [Steve C.] In the August primary, Kari Lake defeated Karrin Taylor Robson by about 40,000 votes to win the Republican nomination.

Next, our panel was asked to predict the Democratic nominee.

- I think the Democrats are a little bit worried that they have a problem in Katie Hobbs, because the Talonya Adams story is not going away, and her handling of it calls into question just how she would handle being governor.

If she is wise enough to put the party first and step away, I'm gonna throw out a whole new name here, Paul Penzone.

- Put a fork in Katie Hobbs.

The problem is that the other two candidates, neither of them have high name ID.

If it's only the other two, I'd say Marco López.

- I'm going very conventional wisdom, though not on this panel, and I'm gonna say that Katie Hobbs, in part because of the fraudit, is going to still pull out the nomination.

- [Steve C.] Katie Hobbs easily won the Democratic primary by nearly 50 points over Marco López.

- All right, Laurie, which candidate wins in November?

- [Laurie] Karrin Taylor Robson.

- Governor Robson.

Howie, Governor Robson for you as well?

- Ten-four.

- Wow.

- Let's make it unanimous, yeah.

- [Steve C.] In the November general election, Katie Hobbs defeated Kari Lake by about 17,000 votes.

Next, our panel was asked, who would win the Republican US Senate race?

- I'm gonna throw out the guy with the Silicon Valley money from Peter Thiel, who no one in Arizona knows, Blake Masters.

- I'm gonna go with Jim Lamon, as being somebody who everyone else may coalesce around.

- I'm going to go with Brnovich, simply because I think Lamon, Lamon, however he pronounces his name, and Masters will split that far-right vote.

- [Steve C.] After receiving an endorsement from former President Donald Trump, Blake Masters won the Republican primary with about 40% of the vote.

- As far as winning, Mark Kelly or your candidate, who wins?

- I think whoever the Republican is.

It's gonna be a lousy year for Democrats next year.

- I think Mark Kelly, though, he is tied to Joe Biden, but not as much as many other people, because enough people still see him as an astronaut who can raise presidential levels of money.

I think he ekes it out.

- [Ted] What do you think, Laurie?

- [Laurie] Mark Kelly.

- [Ted] Mark Kelly returns to the Senate.

- [Steve C.] Mark Kelly won re-election to the US Senate, beating Blake Masters by about 125,000 votes.

From there, attention turned to the Republican race for Attorney General.

- I think the person who folks may end up coalescing around is Rodney Glassman.

- I'm gonna go with Andrew Gould, simply because he's the only one I really know anything about.

- Rodney Glassman is the new Evan Mecham if he wins, which would be incredible to watch.

I'm gonna go with Tiffany Shedd.

- [Steve C.] Abe Hamadeh won the Republican Attorney General nomination by about 10 points over Rodney Glassman.

With Kris Mayes running unopposed for the Democratic nomination, who would emerge victorious in November?

- Kris Mayes.

- Kris Mayes.

Steve, who wins the general election?

- Democrats occasionally have good luck in AG for Arizona, I'll say Kris Mayes.

- Attorney General's race, Howie, are you gonna go again with the Republican here?

- I think it's gonna be a banner year for Republicans.

- [Ted] Rodney Glassman is the next attorney general.

- [Steve C.] The official canvass of the election shows Kris Mayes winning by 511 votes over Abe Hamadeh.

However, because the race was so close, an automatic recount was ordered.

- Secretary of State, Laurie, a Republican nomination.

What do you see?

- Well, this probably goes against the grain a little bit, because everybody's expecting it to be Mark Finchem, but I'm going to say Senator Michelle Ugenti-Rita.

- I unfortunately believe that Mark Finchem is gonna be the nominee.

- I'm gonna go with Shawnna Bolick, just because I feel like she is in that very right wing of the party, but doesn't come across as, quite as wild as Mark Finchem.

- [Steve C.] Mark Finchem easily won the Republican nomination, finishing with nearly 43% of the vote.

- Sticking with you, Steve, Democrat nominee.

For the Democrats, who do you see?

- I'm gonna go with Adrian Fontes.

- I think it's going to be Fontes as well, for the fact that he's got some name ID.

- People start listening to Mark Finchem you know, foam at the mouth, they're gonna go back to Fontes and they're gonna say, "You haven't proved anything against him."

So I would say Fontes wins.

- [Steve C.] Adrian Fontes won, defeating Reginald Bolding by about 29,000 votes.

After the primary election, who did our panel think would win in November?

- I think that maybe Finchem is just so, so far over the edge.

All the Republicans are so far over the edge, that I think the Democrat could win.

- I think that if it's Ugenti-Rita, it will be Ugenti-Rita.

If it is Mark Finchem, it will be Adrian Fontes.

- [Ted] Interesting.

What do you think?

- I like that logic a lot.

- You like that one?

- Yeah, because Fontes is an interesting guy who's gonna come across badly to a lot of people, but better than Finchem.

- [Steve C.] Adrian Fontes was elected Secretary of State, defeating Mark Finchem by about 120,000 votes.

With the slate of new statewide officeholders being elected, what would be the political breakdown of the Arizona legislature?

- I think the House could end up as 34 Republicans versus the 31 now.

I think the Senate could end up with 17 Republicans versus the 16 there now.

So I think the Democrats lose ground.

- I'm gonna go a little higher on the House side.

I'm gonna go 35/25, and I agree with Howie on the Senate, for 17/13 for Republicans.

- All right, Laurie?

- I got 17/13 for the Senate and I got 34/20... what would that be, 20... - [Ted] Six.

- Six.

- [Steve C.] Despite new legislative districts being drawn, the political breakdown will be the same as it is this year.

While the partisan breakdown in the Arizona legislature didn't change, what would happen with Arizona's congressional delegation?

- Sure seems like it's gonna end up in Republican favor.

I think we're gonna go from 5-4 Democrat, to 6-3 Republican.

- I think for sure 5-4, possibly 6-3, depending on how those redistricting maps- - [Ted] Yes.

- line up.

It's gonna be a Republican year and again, redistricting.

- [Howie] I think the 6-3 also.

- [Steve C.] After the November election, the Arizona congressional delegation stands at six Republican representatives and three Democrats.

The question was asked if any incumbent member of Congress would lose.

- I think O'Halleran's the only one who loses a seat, of those who actually decide to run again.

- [Ted] What do you think, Steve?

- Actually losing?

Yes, I'm still curious to watch Greg Stanton, but as far as actually losing, O'Halleran, yes.

- I think O'Halleran loses.

I still think Schweikert could be in some danger.

- [Steve C.] Tom O'Halleran was the only incumbent to lose a re-election campaign.

- Will Donald Trump announce that he is running for president in 2024?

Will he announce next year?

- No, but I think he will tease the heck out of it.

- I agree with Laurie, that I think he likes being the kingmaker.

Look at the number of endorsements that he's done of races, gubernatorial races, Senate races, House races.

I think he wants to be, you know, the Godfather, if you will, of the party.

- [Ted] What do you think, Steve?

- He has nothing to gain by declaring this early, and his name recognition is off-the-charts anyway, so no.

- [Steve C.] Shortly after the midterm election, former President Donald Trump announced he would run again in 2024.

From politics, predictions turned to sports and whether the Phoenix Suns would make the NBA playoffs again in 2022.

- [Howie] Oh God.

- Yes.

- [Ted] Just say yes.

- Yeah, sure.

- [Ted] Okay, thank you.

- Why not?

- [Ted] What do you think, Laurie?

- [Laurie] Absolutely, they're gonna make it.

- Finals?

- Yeah, I think they will make the finals.

- Will they win the championship?

- I hope so, yes.

I think yes.

- Steve?

Playoffs, finals, championship?

- Yes, yes, no.

- [Steve C.] The Phoenix Suns made the playoffs, but lost in a seven-game series to the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference Semifinals.

- Howie, will we still be dealing with COVID at this time next year?

- Oh, I think COVID is permanent.

It's endemic, as the doctors like to say.

- It will be affecting us, absolutely.

- The vaccination rate is such, that this is with us.

- [Steve C.] COVID is still having an impact, and in recent weeks, case numbers have been rising.

Finally, our panel is always asked for a long shot and a sure thing prediction.

- Okay, a sure shot is there will be a lawsuit over redistricting.

I think there have been enough decisions made, enough public statements made about how they've crafted districts that the Democrats are gonna be in there, and that they're gonna find, take this to federal court.

My long shot is that Doug Ducey, sometime before the end of the year, will either, through an exploratory committee, or through hiring certain consultants, will be in the hunt for presidency.

- Sure thing: At least a couple of Arizonans who lose in 2022, it can be legislative, it can be Congressional, will end up in the Biden administration at some point, as undersecretary of something.

My long shot is that of the four owners of major sports teams in Arizona, two of them will either have different owners by the end of 2022, or at least in process where a sale is on the way.

- My sure thing is that Kyrsten Sinema will expand her jewelry line to jackets, (groups laughs) in case the progressives didn't get the message this year.

She will continue to support the filibuster and progressive Republicans will continue to think that they can do a darn thing about it, which they can't.

- Yeah.

- My long shot is that in a particular congressional district, Democrats will stay home, a conservative, Latter-Day Saint type of person will run as an independent, and Andy Biggs will be knocked off.

- [Steve C.] And now it's time to find out who did the best job predicting what would happen in 2022.

Howie Fischer scored 10 points, Laurie Roberts ends up with 12 points, and Steve Goldstein finishes in first place with 13 points.

- And congratulations, Steve, and talk about going out in style.

Steve won on his final prediction show.

That's because earlier this year, Steve retired from KJZZ.

- Yeah, thanks again for all the years of being able to join the prediction show.

It is my last one.

I'm gonna miss it.

It's been really fun.

But it's so nice to go out a winner and beat Howie and Laurie, I was gonna say one last time, but this might be one first time.

And I'm sorry I can't share my long shot with you this year.

It would be a total doozy.

But anyway, thanks for all the years, and good luck.

- And with that, we welcome our new journalist/prediction show contestant, veteran journalist Jeremy Duda of Axios Phoenix.

Welcome, Jeremy.

- [Jeremy] Thanks for having me.

- All right, and with that, what do you say we get going for predictions for next year?

- We're gonna do this again?

- Yes, we are, Howie, whether you like it or not.

And let's, Jeremy, we'll start with you, since you're new here.

What Democrats will announce for Senator Kyrsten Sinema's seat in 2024?

- I think we will see Congressman Ruben Gallego announce, and I don't know if we're gonna see much after that.

I think that'll, in terms of major candidates, that'll kind of suck all the air out of the room.

We could maybe see one or two other more minor candidates, but I think we will see Ruben Gallego run.

- [Ted] Well, what do you think Howie?

Democrats?

- I think a lot of that is true.

In fact is, truthfully, by the time this show airs right around New Year's, Ruben may have already jumped in.

I think he does want to control the field, because otherwise if he, you know, dallies long enough, we end up with, you know, perhaps Mr. Stanton or someone else.

- Ruben alone, Laurie, or do you think someone joins him?

- I think it will be Ruben alone in terms terms of major candidates.

There may be some minor ones, but the Democrats are pretty good at winnowing the field so that there's not a lot of competition there.

I think if Gallego didn't run, Greg Stanton would jump in.

But I think it will be Gallego.

- Okay, will Sinema decide to run for another term, Laurie?

- Well, you know, I initially thought no, because you look at the public opinion polls, nobody much seems to like her.

On the other hand, I've changed my mind.

I think that she will run, because otherwise why change to independent?

The Republicans seem destined to repeat the sins of the past and put up someone who's not electable in a general election, in which case, that plays into her hands.

I think that there is a great hunger in this country and in this state for people who are centrist, people who will cross the aisle, and people who will try to get things done.

And love her or hate her, she has done that.

- [Ted] What do you think, Howie?

- Well, but the problem becomes, I think she will make noise in 2023.

But I think when it comes down to it, now I'm predicting two years out, heaven help us, I think she's going to look at the numbers and say, as much as people say they want independents, the fact that there are more independents than Republicans and Democrats in this state, that there's no path to victory there for her.

- [Ted] So that's a no?

- That's a no.

- [Ted] That's a no.

Jeremy?

- Ultimately.

- Yeah.

Jeremy for next year, is she gonna make the announcement, "I'm running again."

- Yeah, I'm in the opposite position of Laurie.

Initially I thought, yes; now I'm thinking, no.

I think she wants to, I think that's the reason why she switched to independent.

But I think she's going to do some polling, check out the lay of the land, and sometime, probably midway through next year, she's gonna see no path to victory and decide to bow out.

- All right.

Sticking with you, Jeremy, which prominent Republicans will announce a candidacy for that seat?

- I think we're gonna see Sheriff Mark Lamb down in Pinal County.

There's been a lot of buzz about him.

I believe he's already confirmed that he is considering it.

I think, I don't know if he'll do it.

I think there's gonna be a lot of pressure on Juan Ciscomani to run, for more of the business establishment/Ducey wing.

But that's a little more, that's a little iffier.

- [Ted] What do you think, Howie?

- Well, I like the idea of Mark Lamb.

I'm not sure Ciscomani is ready after two years to try to make that leap.

I think you need to look at the rest of the Republican delegation, who all think that they belong in the upper chamber.

You know, the Andy Biggs and even the Paul Gosars of the world.

Maybe even Schweikert has decided, you know, "Maybe this is my year."

But I think that's where you start looking.

- [Ted] Well, you start looking, give me a name here, this is where- - I think it's, there's gonna be, you know, Biggs will be in the race.

I think Lamb will be in the race.

I think those are the two main ones that we'll see.

- [Ted] Okay, all right.

Laurie?

- I don't think Biggs will go for it.

I don't think you leave a comfortable, safe, House seat for the risk of, in that case.

I think that Lamb has already made it very clear that he's gonna go for it.

He's the more farther right candidate.

So I definitely think you're going to need a more establishment candidate.

I think it will be Juan Ciscomani.

- Interesting.

All right, Laurie, sticking with you.

Well, let's go, how many vetoes will Governor Hobbs issue next year?

- 2,143.

(Ted laughs) No, the record, I believe, is Janet Napolitano, Democratic governor who had a Republican legislature, and I think her record was 58.

So I'm gonna go with 59, just because Hobbs is gonna wanna do things just a little better.

- Yeah, Jeremy, it seems like there are a lot of mirrors here with Napolitano, back in the early part of this century, and what's going on with governor-elect Hobbes right now.

How many vetoes do you think?

- I'm gonna say 30, which is going to be more than any governor except for Napolitano.

She had three years, I believe, that exceeded that.

But I think because the Republicans majorities are so narrow, they might have some trouble getting some of these bills to her desk in the first place.

- [Ted] Give me a number, Howie.

- I'm more in line with Jeremy, in the sense that I think they're gonna try to figure out how do we work with her, rather than just sending things to her for the sake of her vetoing it, even if they're gonna be some election bills.

I think it's gonna be more in the neighborhood of two dozen.

- [Ted] Two dozen, all right.

Sticking with you, Howie, when will the legislature adjourn?

- Oh, that's gonna be a tricky one.

I think the problem becomes that with the 16, you know, 14, the 31, 6 and 29, plus the Democratic governor.

I think we're here June 28th, June 29th, maybe the morning of July 1st.

- [Ted] Interesting.

Laurie, what do you think?

- Well, I got maybe this time next year.

(Ted laughs) But no, I think probably June 25th.

- [Ted] June 20, okay, all right.

What do you think, Jeremy?

Give me a date.

- I'd say June 15th.

Pretty late, but not quite up to the wire.

- Okay.

Sticking with you, Jeremy, this is a bonus question.

Every once in a while, I throw out a bonus question.

So, will there be a special session at any time in the calendar year 2023?

- I think so, yes.

- [Ted] Do you, any idea on what it would be?

- Oh, God.

Could be budget, it could be water.

- [Ted] But yes is the answer.

- I think so, yes.

- [Ted] Howie?

- I think we, assuming that we haven't resolved the expenditure limit, you know, before the new session comes in, I think there'll have to be a concurrent special session on that.

Beyond that, I'm not sure.

You know, if they're already there, what's the purpose of having a special session?

Because you need enough people.

I'm thinking that's the only one.

- [Ted] Yeah, you got after July 1st.

You got all that time for a special session, too.

- Well, that's true.

I had, you know, in terms of something that needs to be fixed, you know, talk to me on July 1st.

(laughs) - Well, it would be reflective of the legislature not working all that well, internally and with the new governor.

- I think that if, at the point that they go home on July 1st, using my prediction, I think they're not gonna want to come back.

There's nothing really for them to do.

Unless, you know, the only thing would be making some fix to the $1 billion desalination project, because I think they're gonna need some changes to that to make that effective.

- Laurie?

- Yeah, they may need something on water later in the year, once we find out where we stand with the federal government.

But I think that there will be a concurrent special session on the spending limit, because I think that Katie Hobbs would probably like to separate it out from certain other issues that the Republicans would badly like to marry.

- Interesting.

Sticking with you, Laurie, Kari Lake.

Will she be involved in politics, Arizona politics, in any way, shape, or form next year?

- Other than maybe as a surrogate for Donald Trump in his 2024 election?

She's still very popular among the far right.

But no, I don't believe that she will.

I believe that she's losing a lot of good will by what she's doing now.

- Interesting.

Not a lot of political future for Kari Lake?

- Well, no, I think that, you know, the comparison to Trump is appropriate.

Trump is still quote-unquote, "involved in politics".

I think the same thing we'll see from Kari Lake, because of the fact that she has this following, she has her little home studio set up with the soft lighting and all the rest of it.

I think we haven't seen the last of her as far as trying to influence politics.

As far as trying to run for office, I think she'd rather be a queenmaker, if you will.

- Interesting.

Queenmaker, or actually making noises about a particular candidacy?

- I think more of a queenmaker.

I think she'll stay involved.

I think she'll still be claiming to be the rightfully elected governor.

I think she still commands the loyalty of a very large faction of the Republican base out here.

But I think her greater involvement will be on the national level.

I think she'll be very involved in Trump's campaign, traveling around with him, and as he runs for the presidency again.

- And then there's also the possibility that she's basically auditioning for some talk show position, whether it's on Fox or somewhere else.

- [Ted] Yeah, but that means you're not involved in the Arizona politics.

That's a no.

- Well, I think she's auditioning.

I don't know if anybody sees her as the next, you know, person to be on Fox.

- Jeremy, sticking with you, speaking of national and Donald Trump.

Will Donald Trump be indicted?

- I'm leaning towards yes, just 'cause there's so many different investigations going on, there's so many different possibilities for this to happen.

It's hard to say with certainty, 'cause I don't know what these prosecutors are looking at in Georgia or at the federal level or in New York.

I'm leaning towards yes, but that's a soft yes.

- All right, Laurie, will Donald Trump be indicted in the year 2023?

- I think that he will be.

I think that it is bad form to keep nuclear secrets of the nation in your sock drawer.

(group laughs) - Bad form, Howie, but is that an indictment?

- Well, I think he's gonna be indicted, but not for the stuff related to the January 6th or even this stuff.

I think there's gonna be something else with his business that they're suddenly gonna realize that as much as he says, "Eric did it," I think it's gonna come back and bite him in the you-know-what.

But in terms of the January 6th stuff, I think they're gonna go up to the edge and say, "Do we really wanna split the nation that bad?"

- Will Joe Biden, Howie, sticking with you.

Joe Biden, will he announce a run for re-election?

- (sighs) He will announce one, but I think before the end of the year, I think he will pull out.

I think he will look at things, and start looking at the polling and saying, you know, by that point, you know, he'll be 82, you know, by the next election.

And I think he'll say, you know, "We need to turn this over to younger generation."

- Laurie, will Joe Biden run for re-election?

- I believe that he will run for re-election if Donald Trump runs.

- Oh, interesting.

Okay, if Donald Trump doesn't run... Well, he says, Donald Trump's already saying he's gonna run.

Do you think Donald Trump's gonna pull out, and then Joe Biden's gonna say, "All right, that's it.

I'm outta here."

- Oh, gosh.

I don't know.

I think that if Donald Trump does not run, is not seen as a legitimate contender, I think that Joe Biden will bow out and make way for the, well, I don't know if it's the next generation, but someone else, the Democrats must have someone else who's electable, somewhere.

- [Ted] Yeah, yeah.

What do you think, Jeremy?

- I think he's not gonna run.

I think, you know, his role for the Democrats was to defeat Donald Trump in 2020.

He did that, and I think he's gonna step aside for a younger generation, for some new leadership, for some new blood in the party.

- All right.

Before we get to sports questions, and I know that's your biggie, Howie.

- Yes, it is.

- And we'll start with you on this one.

Twitter.

Will Twitter exist, as we know it, at this time next year?

- Twitter will continue to exist.

I think it, what it's gonna be, is the harder question.

As we know it?

No.

I think that it's gonna continue to evolve.

I think it's gonna be much more of a platform of paid people (coughs), excuse me, going and... (coughs) - He's taking it pretty hard.

We'll let you catch your breath, there.

Laurie, at Twitter, as we know it, will it exist?

- Well, as we know it, as we are coming to know it, as a sort of a echo chamber now for the right and for conspiracy theories and for candidates who decide the number of retweets that they get and their number of followers somehow is indicative of how many votes that they will get and things.

I think you're gonna see that kind of Twitter much more of a rightward slant, and a lot of people leaving it.

- [Ted] What do you think, Jeremy?

- I think it more or less will still exist as we know it.

I mean, probably some changes.

But you know, there's a lot of liberals who hate Elon Musk, don't like what he's doing.

They want to create an alternative.

But I think they're gonna have the same problem that conservatives had over the last several years on the other end, which is that it's really hard to get people away from something they've invested so much time into, and kind of start an entirely new platform.

- Okay, we're running out of time, so I need little bit more than a yay or nay, but not much more.

The Coyotes' arena, will Tempe voters approve it?

- I think so.

I think that's a big, that whole project is a big deal for Tempe.

- [Ted] What do you think, Howie?

- I don't think so.

I think people are tired of taxpayer-funded things, even if it's a good deal.

- [Ted] What do you think?

- [Laurie] Yep.

- [Ted] You think they're gonna vote for it?

- [Laurie] Yes, I do.

- All right, Sticking with you, Laurie.

Will the Diamondbacks, the Arizona Diamondbacks, your Arizona Diamondbacks make the playoffs?

- No.

- [Ted] Not at all?

- No.

- [Ted] All right.

What do you think, Howie?

- Not this year, not their year.

- Not a bit.

Jeremy?

- No, but they'll show some improvement, I think.

- Yeah, 'cause they have a little bit.

They got the young crowd there.

All right.

How far will the Suns go on the playoffs?

- Whoo, I was at game seven against the Mavs, so this is tough for me.

All right, I'm just gonna say they'll go to the finals.

- Go to the finals?

- I'm gonna regret this, but I'm gonna say it.

- Oh, that's bold.

That's bold.

What do you think?

- Quarterfinals is about as far as it gets.

- Quarterfinals, I don't even know what that means.

What do you think?

- Semifinals.

- Semifinals.

- Chris Paul is not getting any younger.

- Yeah, the team's not playing, as we're recording, the team is not playing very well at all.

All right.

Oh, real quickly, real quick.

Name a team that's gonna play in the Super Bowl.

- I think that the Philadelphia Eagles.

- Eagles.

- Cowboys.

- Dallas Cowboys?

Okay.

- My wife's family's from Buffalo, so I'm gonna give a shout-out to the Bills.

I think that's their year to make it back.

- Those are all good answers.

I think they have a really good shot.

All right, time for the sure shot, long shot predictions.

Howie, we're turning to you.

- Okay, 'cause I did so well last year.

- Yeah, give it to us.

- Okay.

In terms of, sure shot, I think, well, let me give you the long shot first.

The long shot is, I think that maybe following up from last year, I think we will see some sort of political action committee or some other activity on behalf of Doug Ducey as he tips his toe into the Potomac River and says, "You know, I think I belong in Washington."

The two sure shots are, number one, I think that Wendy Rogers will introduce a record number of election bills; and number two, given my accident earlier this year, I will not be getting on ladders this year.

- Okay, that's a good one to hear, Howie.

(Laurie laughs) We appreciate that.

Laurie?

- I'll give you two sure shots.

We'll have an initiative for ranked-choice voting.

And I believe there will be another initiative started, the petition drive start, to ban the 1864 abortion law.

I don't think that Katie Hobbes is gonna get the legislature to budge on that, so.

My long shot, and this is pretty long, but I think we have not heard the last of Kelli Ward.

I think she'll be gunning for Paul Gosar's seat.

I think she's probably finally figured out that she is not electable statewide.

And Gosar, who knows?

Maybe this is his last term.

- [Ted] Okay.

- Maybe for other reasons, I think she'll be putting, set her sights on Gosar's seat.

- Yeah, I was thinking of scorpions in a bottle there, but you're saying Gosar will step away then.

- Yeah.

- Yeah, yeah.

Okay.

Long shot, sure shot.

- Sure shot.

I think the Colorado River Basin states are gonna be unable to reach an agreement on who takes what cutbacks.

So I think the Feds are going to impose one, and everyone's going to be unhappy with it.

Long shot, I think the aggregate expenditure limit fight is, everyone's gonna play chicken, no one's gonna back down, and we will see schools shut down around the end of the school year, because they won't be able to resolve this.

- Well, that's a nice way to end the program.

Thanks a lot, new guy, Jeremy.

Great job, everyone, and we will see how you do next year.

That is it for now.

I'm Ted Simons.

Thank you so much for joining us.

You have a great evening.

(lighthearted music)