Tucson’s Conservative Talk

Arizona took a significant step forward in safeguarding election transparency yesterday when the House of Representatives unanimously passed House Bill 2022, sponsored by State Representative Alex Kolodin (LD3), who is also running for Secretary of State.

Nationally renowned psychiatrist Dr. Carol Lieberman joined Winn to examine the wave of violent anti-ICE protests and the stark contrast with genuine freedom fighters in Iran.

One of the most urgent stories unfolding right now is the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of “Today” show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie. Nancy was last seen Saturday evening, January 31, around 9:30 p.m. near her home in the Catalina Foothills. A family member called 911 around noon Sunday after she failed to appear at church. Joined by law enforcement veteran Dave Smith to discuss the Guthrie case and broader public safety issues in Tucson and Pima County.

Michael Letts, president and CEO of Invest-USA.org, joined to discuss ways everyday citizens can back law enforcement during a time of intense public criticism and morale challenges.

Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne addressed the teacher and student walkouts protesting ICE enforcement that disrupted Tucson Unified schools on Friday. TUSD sent advance notice to parents that absences were possible, and many schools shut down entirely—even when some teachers wanted to work.

On a today’s edition of Winn Tucson, host Kathleen Winn dove into pressing issues facing Arizona — from election security and voter roll maintenance to teacher activism and local political engagement. The conversation featured State Rep. Alexander Kolodin (R-Scottsdale), retired educator Laurie Moore, longtime precinct committeeman Mark Lewis, and community advocate Dave Smith.

On today’s edition of Winn Tucson, host Kathleen Winn dove into pressing national and local issues with two standout guests: former NYPD intelligence sergeant and author Christopher Strom, and Arizona State Mine Inspector Les Presmyk.

In a riveting discussion on Winn Tucson, host Kathleen Winn delved into breaking developments from China with Ava Chen of the New Federal State of China. Chen urged listeners to pray for the Chinese people amid escalating instability under Xi Jinping's rule. She revealed that since January 24, 2026, Xi has arrested General Zhang Youxia, his top military commander and a close ally, in a move that could ignite regime change.

Shifting to local issues, Winn hosted Dave Smith, former law enforcement officer and Pima County GOP chair, to unpack Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes' call for public monitoring of ICE agents via videos and a website for reporting "federal misconduct."

Laurie Moore, a local activist, called in to rally attendance at Pima County Board of Supervisors meetings, urging visuals like packed rooms and flags to go viral and intimidate Democrats.

Gerard Scimeca, Chairman and General Counsel of Consumer Action for a Strong Economy (CASE), joined Winn to explain why immigration enforcement matters economically. Scimeca emphasized that stable commerce and secure jobs require law and order. "In order to have a viable economy, in order to have a stable economy and regular commerce, where people feel secure in their jobs and secure in their purchases, you can't have rampant crime in the streets, you can't have lawlessness," he said.

Retired Sgt. Betsy Brantner Smith, spokesperson for the National Police Association and co-host of "Smith & Winn," joined the program to discuss escalating threats to law enforcement.

Sergio Arellano, newly elected chair of the Pima County Republican Party (and recent candidate for Arizona GOP chair), closed the program. Arellano, a combat veteran, former Army infantryman, and former outreach director for Arizona's mortgage settlement program, emphasized unity after a divisive internal process. "We're done with the division. We're done with the fighting," he said.

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has stirred controversy by interpreting laws in a way that suggests individuals can ignore federal immigration enforcement. Kathleen Winn described this as dangerous, emboldening resistance similar to Minnesota's. Stephen Mundt agreed, calling it egregious and anti-law enforcement, extending risks to local police.

Mundt advocated limiting mail-in ballots to deployed or international voters, counting them pre-election, and questioned prolonged certification periods. Winn criticized Arizona's "voting month" enabling corruption and urged voter action beyond complaints.

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has drawn sharp criticism following recent remarks suggesting that the state's self-defense laws could apply to residents encountering masked federal immigration agents. The comments, made during an interview with 12 News, have ignited a firestorm among legal experts and political candidates who argue the rhetoric is both factually incorrect and dangerously inflammatory.

Matt Neely, sitting in for Kathleen Winn on the first part of Winn Tucson, characterized the remarks as "irresponsible rhetoric" that could lead to violence.

Superintendent Tom Horne provided an update on the state of Arizona’s schools, highlighting a significant milestone: over 100,000 students are now utilizing the Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) system. This growth from 11,000 to 100,000 in three years indicates that parents are increasingly seeking educational options that align with their priorities.

The political landscape in Arizona remains dominated by discussions of election integrity and "lawfare". Candidate Greg Roberg highlighted several ongoing cases pursued by Mayes' office, including the prosecution of Cochise County Supervisor Tom Crosby and the indictment of alternate electors from the 2020 election.

Anti-Islam activist Donine Henshaw was one of only three people to speak in support of the resolutions. In studio with host Kathleen Winn later that morning, Henshaw described the atmosphere as highly charged and recounted her personal testimony.

U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ-06) joined Winn by phone from Washington to discuss the just-completed fiscal year 2026 appropriations process. Ciscomani, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, highlighted several Arizona-relevant wins and broader policy shifts now that Republicans control the White House, House, and Senate.

In the program’s final segment, Kathleen Winn was joined by Betsy Brantner Smith, spokesperson for the National Police Association, for an extended discussion on public safety and immigration enforcement.

Kathleen Winn discusses global affairs with Ava Chen from the New Federal State of China, focusing on recent developments involving President Trump, China, and international relations.

Kathleen Winn speaks with Chad Heinrich, Arizona State Director for the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), about legislative impacts on small businesses.

Kathleen Winn talks with election expert Seth Keshel about President Trump's Davos speech, Greenland's strategic value, and Arizona elections.