Guests - Dave Smith, Michael Lets, Tom Horne
Winn Tucson: Arizona Weather, Wildcats Victory, Local Tax Extension, and Urgent Community Concerns
It’s Monday in Arizona, and if you’re here soaking up the sun while other parts of the country deal with snow—even Florida—you know why we love it. The weather’s a gift, especially when the Arizona Wildcats are rolling. A hard-fought 22-0 start feels even sweeter after taking down the Sun Devils. Beating ASU always hits different. The game stayed close early, but the Wildcats pulled away like they’ve done so many times this season. Now the bracket projections are rolling in—lots of cold-road March Madness venues ahead. Worth every shiver to watch these young men play. They’re extraordinary.
Next week, Pima County residents will start receiving mail-in ballots for Propositions 418 and 419—the proposed 20-year extension of the half-cent sales tax set to expire in June. The pitch is straightforward: keep the revenue flowing to fix our crumbling roads. Supporters say it’s essential infrastructure money. Critics argue there has to be a better, more accountable way. Expect plenty of debate between now and the March vote.
The Disappearance of Nancy Guthrie
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.
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos held a news conference describing the home as an active crime scene with “very concerning” evidence. Authorities believe she did not leave on her own. Nancy has physical ailments and mobility issues but no cognitive impairment—she’s described as sharp and independent. She requires medication that becomes critical if missed for too long.
Search efforts have been massive: search-and-rescue teams, volunteers, dogs, Border Patrol agents, helicopters—all thrown at the case overnight. Homicide detectives are involved. The sheriff stressed time is critical and asked the public to check doorbell cameras and review any suspicious activity in the area.
Savannah Guthrie released a statement thanking the community, law enforcement, and everyone sending prayers and support. The family is focused entirely on her safe return.
Conversation with Dave Smith: Crime, Public Safety, and Political Leadership
Joined by law enforcement veteran Dave Smith to discuss the Guthrie case and broader public safety issues in Tucson and Pima County.
Smith expressed deep sympathy for the Guthrie family while pointing out a painful reality: people go missing and become victims of violent crime in Tucson every day, yet those cases rarely receive this level of attention or resources. High-profile cases shine a spotlight, but average Tucsonans face the same dangers without the same response.
The conversation turned to chronic understaffing in local law enforcement. Smith noted that many of the sheriff’s best deputies have left for agencies like DPS, Oro Valley, and Marana, citing poor leadership. He criticized Sheriff Nanos for jumping on trending social movements rather than prioritizing core crime-fighting duties.
The discussion broadened to recent teacher and student walkouts protesting ICE enforcement—many from Tucson Unified School District schools. Smith called the behavior immature and chaotic, arguing that schools should prepare citizens for a free society, not train activists. He described the current Board of Supervisors (outside of Steve Christy) as a “left-wing psychotic health care camp for the crazies” and predicted evening meetings would only empower more extreme voices.
Both host and guest agreed the modern Democratic Party has been overtaken by socialist priorities, driving out moderates. They lamented the loss of “blue dog” Democrats and reminisced about earlier generations of hardworking union families who would no longer recognize today’s party.
Crime on public transit, buses as rolling burglary tools, open borders, millions of unvetted entrants (including “gotaways”), and the national security risks tied to unsecured borders dominated the back half of the segment. They called for plain talk: people who enter illegally are criminals under immigration law, and coordination between local jails and ICE makes communities safer.
Michael Letts on Supporting Law Enforcement and Strategic National Security
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.
Invest-USA helps equip police departments nationwide with bullet-resistant vests through donations, sponsorships, and fundraising. Letts emphasized that even small contributions matter—not just for the gear, but to show officers that millions stand behind them. He described record-low morale, elevated suicide rates, and officers feeling vilified while still expected to risk their lives.
The conversation shifted to national security. Letts strongly supported President Trump’s interest in Greenland, calling it vital for missile defense positioning (echoing post-WWII Joint Chiefs assessments). He warned that losing European allies to internal immigration and jihadist pressures could jeopardize U.S. access.
He praised moves against Maduro in Venezuela as part of a broader strategy to support self-governance and counter corruption and tyranny worldwide—while arguing America itself now suffers from deep internal corruption that must be rooted out aggressively.
Superintendent Tom Horne on School Safety, Academics, and Friday’s Walkouts
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.
Horne called it unacceptable to use school time for political activism. Students have First Amendment rights, but not to disrupt operations or interfere with law enforcement during school hours. He suggested docking pay for participating teachers and enforcing truancy consequences where appropriate.
On academics, Horne highlighted Project Momentum (schools in the program show double the proficiency gains), tutoring funded by clawed-back ESSER dollars (some students gained six months in six weeks), and direct support for high-poverty schools (one saw math scores rise 27%).
School safety remains his top applause line: he increased school resource officers from 190 to 565 statewide. Districts that refuse officers often cite “gun-free zone” policies—Horne called that an invitation to tragedy.
He continues pushing cell-phone bans (now law after overriding a veto), more reading coaches (Mississippi’s model produced dramatic gains), better university teacher preparation, and direct funding to teachers rather than bloated administration.
Parents, he said, want safe schools focused on academics—not ideology, racial division, or identity discussions that pull time away from core skills like reading and math.
The hour closed with a call to stay engaged—whether supporting law enforcement, demanding school accountability, or voting in upcoming elections. The issues are too important to sit out.