Guests - Stephen Mundt, Jared Knott
Spring in Tucson: Weather, Sports, and Global Headlines
Kathleen Winn opens with reflections on Tucson's sudden shift to summer-like heat, hitting 102 degrees the previous day. She mentions enjoying her pool in March, contrasting it with past years when snow fell that month. The conversation turns to the Arizona Wildcats basketball team, with their first-round NCAA tournament game against Long Island underway at 10:30 a.m. in San Diego. Winn expresses excitement for the matchup, noting the team's strong season and history-making run.
Iran Conflict, Military Action, and Congressional Dysfunction with Stephen Mundt
Stephen Mundt joins to discuss the ongoing Iran conflict. He highlights the effectiveness of U.S. and allied military assets, including Apache helicopters and A-10 Warthogs used for close air support and drone interdiction. "Between the Apache and the warthog, they're doing exceptionally well." Mundt notes the strategic importance of pushing back Iranian boundaries from the Strait of Hormuz, with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit potentially heading toward Qeshm Island and surrounding areas.
He addresses the killing of three young men in Iran, allegedly for protesting, describing it as the regime setting an example. "The three young men... executed yesterday by public hanging." Mundt also mentions Iranian women coerced into returning from Australia under threat to their families. On European allies, he observes a shift: "The Europeans kind of balked at the beginning... now they go, oh yeah, we're sending ships." He emphasizes the need for regime change in Iran, citing 47 years of threats: "Iran has been at war with us for 47 years. It's time to end that war."
Mundt criticizes congressional Democrats for blocking funding amid heightened threats. "The Democrats are seeing that it's not working... they're letting people like TSA, other people in Homeland security... that are the day-to-day life of how we protect American citizens. They put them all at risk." He calls it "shabby political" maneuvering: "They are blatantly not following the oath that they took of office."
On the SAVE Act, Mundt notes its 85-15 public support but Senate hurdles: "If it's going to require 60 votes, there's no way in hell that that's going to pass." He urges focus on election integrity for midterms.
Cuba's Crisis and Regime Change Prospects with Jared Knott
Jared Knott, historian and author of Tiny Blunders, Big Disasters, analyzes Cuba's economic meltdown and potential for regime change. "Cuba is just hanging by a thread. People... blackouts... desperate economy... hardly have enough to eat. The medical care is extremely, extremely inferior." He compares it to historical precedents: "The Russian revolution... badly decimated. The czar was badly weakened... French revolution... bankrupted their own country."
Knott discusses U.S. policy options, referencing past interventions like the Panama Canal: "Roosevelt... managed to engineer a coup. It was a bloodless coup... we're lucky that no one was killed." He suggests similar strategies for Cuba: "A bloodless coup would be the thing that we'd want to see happen... there may be some American dollars involved there. There may be some security being offered."
On Iran's proxy role and broader geopolitics, Knott notes: "They've had their hands in everything... Venezuela... Cuba's failing." He warns of oil dependencies: "Russia has nowhere to go... Trump is actually being... it's because of the oil... allowing Venezuelan and Russian oil to get through." Knott advocates strategic pressure: "If they keep giving intelligence... they can shut them off from the oil supply."
Election Integrity and Voter Engagement
Winn stresses the importance of the upcoming July 21 primary and November general election. "This election has to be a priority... it determines the next presidential election." She notes CD6 as the most targeted seat, with attacks on Congressman Juan Ciscomani: "They're already spending money now to damage Congressman Ciscomani's reputation. They're lying about what he has done."
On LD17 Senate race, Chris King discusses his campaign priorities: education, public safety, and economic growth to retain graduates. "Top priorities are going to be education, public safety, and making sure that we can keep our kids here after they graduate." He supports constitutional carry and opposes lenient sentencing: "If you murder someone, there should be a minimum penalty."
Winn encourages precinct committeeman recruitment: "We are recruiting precinct committeeman... We have a goal of 1776... so that we can represent you where you live in Pima County." She highlights the need for more polling sites after the RTA election's limited access: "30% of the voters didn't have a place they could go drop off their ballot."
Nancy Guthrie Case and Sheriff Accountability
Winn references the ongoing Nancy Guthrie disappearance, criticizing Sheriff Chris Nanos: "The most recent one was that this person is still out there and it could happen again, like, what the hell is wrong with you?" She notes the recall effort: "There is a recall motion... underway. It has been filed and they've gotten several thousand signatures."
Winn calls for accountability: "The supervisors... could have done something then and they did not. So I hope that at least three of them will correct their actions on Tuesday and hold the sheriff to account."
Upcoming Wildcats Game and Community Spirit
Winn closes with encouragement for the Arizona Wildcats: "The Wildcats are writing. They've already made history this year and we have to, as a community, come out and support them." She notes their No. 1 seeding in the bracket and aims for the Final Four and national championship: "We want to go all the way to be in the final four and then to be the national champs. That's what we're going for. Nothing less."