Guests - Stephen Mundt, Tom Horne
Pima County Under Scrutiny: The Nancy Guthrie Case and Broader Concerns
In Pima County, Arizona, the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie has dominated headlines for nearly two weeks, exposing deep frustrations with Sheriff Chris Nanos’s leadership and sparking intense public debate. As of February 12, 2026—11 days into the investigation—the case remains unsolved, with FBI agents working alongside sheriff’s investigators to chase thousands of tips and pieces of evidence.
Sheriff Nanos Faces Mounting Criticism
Public discontent has been vivid and pointed. Motorists passing Ina and Oracle Roads have spotted a clown in a bright yellow-and-red striped outfit, complete with a big red nose, holding a sign that reads: “Sheriff Nanos, from one clown to another, resign.”
Host Kathleen Winn highlighted several missteps that have fueled the backlash:
A pizza delivery driver reached the Guthrie front door unchallenged, despite the home being an active crime scene.
The front porch—where Guthrie was allegedly forcibly removed—remained uncontaminated for days until a tent was finally erected.
An experienced pilot was transferred weeks before the disappearance due to internal disputes, delaying deployment of a fixed-wing aircraft equipped with high-definition FLIR cameras. A less-capable helicopter flew for only about an hour.
The crime scene was released to family members prematurely, risking contamination—a point Sheriff Nanos himself later acknowledged to media.
Sergeant Aaron Cross, president of the Pima County Deputies Organization, has been outspoken. Cross, who has sued Nanos twice over alleged First Amendment violations, told multiple outlets that personality conflicts and grudges hampered the early response. He called the pilot transfer a misuse of resources and the early release of the scene a serious error.
Nanos has pushed back, labeling Cross “manipulative” and a “liar” while defending his team’s efforts. He told the Arizona Republic that investigators completed their work before FBI agents examined the scene the next day, insisting no evidence was compromised.
Winn acknowledged the intense effort being poured into the case but noted the unprecedented public scrutiny, amplified by the victim’s daughter’s prominence. “Each case is important,” she said, “but this one has captured attention because of the mystery and the family’s visibility.”
A Caller’s Call for Change
During the broadcast, caller Chris expressed widespread frustration: “The word on the street is enough of Nanos.” He floated the idea of former law enforcement figure Art Del Cueto running for sheriff, saying he would “hit the pavement” to support him. Winn responded cautiously, noting Del Cueto’s Republican affiliation and the partisan dynamics, but added that discussions about a recall—requiring 125,000 signatures—are already circulating.
General Steven Munt: National Perspective on a Local Crisis
Retired Brigadier General Steven Munt, joining from Virginia, offered a blunt assessment of how Pima County appears on national television.
“I have to be honest,” Munt said. “This abduction and the way it’s been handled—either there’s a lot we don’t know, or this is really poor handling.”
He pointed to ongoing issues at the Guthrie residence: a tent erected weeks after the incident, a pizza delivery reaching the front door, and questions about fingerprint dusting in a home where family members’ prints would naturally be present.
Munt highlighted sophisticated elements of the crime—someone disabled Guthrie’s pacemaker tracking—suggesting it was not a random act. He questioned delays in neighborhood canvassing and the lack of useful camera footage despite multiple potential sources.
The conversation broadened to national concerns:
Cartel activity in Pima and neighboring counties.
Cooperation between federal immigration authorities and local law enforcement.
Recent ICE operations and the narrative shift around law enforcement searches.
Political divides over voter ID requirements, with the SAVE Act passing the House 218-213 almost entirely along party lines.
Border security, including reports of cartels acquiring drone technology from Ukrainian sources and possible directed-energy weapon tests near El Paso.
Munt expressed sympathy for the Guthrie family but argued the case has “sucked the media completely dry,” overshadowing child abductions, sex trafficking, and other pressing issues.
Superintendent Tom Horne on Restoring Academic Focus
Later, Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne discussed efforts to refocus education on academics and eliminate divisive initiatives.
Horne highlighted federal guidance framing certain DEI practices as potential violations of students’ religious freedoms. “Nothing should be imposed on students that violates their religious beliefs,” he said, citing gender-related instruction as an example.
Key initiatives under his leadership include:
Project Momentum: Department personnel coach teachers and administrators, yielding double the reading progress and triple the math progress compared to non-participating schools.
Adopting a low-income Phoenix school, where weekly staff assistance boosted math scores 27 percent, demonstrating that “poor kids can learn just as well as rich kids if properly taught.”
Emphasis on “bell-to-bell” instruction and reducing administrative bloat to redirect funds toward better teacher pay.
Dramatic growth of the Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program from 11,000 to 100,000 students, though staffing has not kept pace.
Horne continues pushing for more school resource officers—increasing the number from 190 to 465—and criticized districts like Tucson Unified for having none. He noted financial penalties will apply to schools that closed for recent protests during instructional hours.
On inappropriate materials and external influences, Horne pledged to investigate reports of CCP-linked indoctrination through Future Farmers of America programs and reaffirmed commitment to keeping education free of political and sexual agendas.
As Pima County awaits answers in the Guthrie case and Arizona pursues educational reform, these discussions underscore a community—and a state—grappling with leadership, safety, and priorities in an increasingly complex landscape.