Guests – Lisa Von Geldern, Chuck Johnson, Dennis Kneale, Jeff Dornik

Rainy Days and Political Insights in Tucson

When it rains in Tucson, the city comes alive in unexpected ways. The recent downpour left trees and cacti visibly happier, a sentiment echoed by many residents. Amid this natural spectacle, I sat down with Lisa Von Geldern to unpack a whirlwind of political activity from the weekend. A key highlight was a recent event attended by Congressman Andy Biggs and a throng of supporters—somewhere between a thousand and fifteen hundred strong. It was a vibrant gathering, with familiar faces like Lauren Boebert, Mark Lamb, and Matt Gaetz making appearances. For someone who moved away four years ago, the warm reception was a reminder of the strong ties still binding me to this community.

The conversation quickly turned to taxes, a hot topic from Saturday's event. Andy Biggs made a bold case for eliminating Arizona's state income tax, arguing it would ignite economic prosperity and set the state on a solid footing. As a constitutionalist, I find merit in revisiting how we fund our government. Historically, the country relied on tariffs—think President Trump’s tariff plan—before the income tax became a fixture. Some argue the income tax isn’t even lawful, a point of contention given the IRS’s aggressive tactics. I’ve personally experienced this, having had $8,000 seized from my accounts over a lawsuit tied to a home purchase—not because I’m a criminal, but because the system can be unrelenting. The definition of income, traditionally profit for corporations, not labor, has been muddied by decades of what some call word salad from the left. Labor, the effort we put in daily, shouldn’t be taxed, a view reinforced by a favorite Catholic priest, Father Chad Ripperger, who quips that even the church only asks for 10%.

Andy Biggs and the Gubernatorial Race

Saturday’s event was a launchpad for Andy Biggs’ gubernatorial campaign, a significant move for Arizona. Despite Senator Mike Lee’s absence, he sent a video message, and others like Charlie Kirk, his wife, Jake Hoffman, Rodney Glassman, and Warren Peterson took the stage. Kimberly Yee, now running against Tom Horn, highlighted her role as a freshman legislator put in charge of education, a detail that surfaced during the event. As the chairman of the Republican Party in Southern Arizona, I can’t endorse candidates, but I observe and report. The primary focus must be on who can not only do the job but also defeat the Democratic opposition. Negative campaigning within the party is a bad look—sabotaging or bad-mouthing fellow Republicans undermines the goal of serving the people.

Andy Biggs began making his case, emphasizing solutions over attacks. I’ve yet to hear Karen Taylor-Robson’s platform in detail, but I’d welcome a side-by-side presentation of ideas. Both candidates bring unique strengths: I’ve known the Biggs family for years, and Karen is a polished speaker and accomplished businesswoman. Familiarity shouldn’t be the sole criterion, though. Arizona faces real challenges—water issues, vetoed bills by Governor Katie Hobbs that could have helped, and a chokehold from the current administration’s dynamic of governor, secretary of state, and attorney general. This trio stifles laws, prosperity, and election integrity, mirroring the one-party rule that’s turned California, a state with every kind of natural beauty, into a mess.

Andy’s stance against convention of state bills and U.S. term limits bills reflects a deep constitutional understanding, a perspective sorely needed in leadership. His opposition to picking up the tab for high property taxes in mismanaged states like California, Illinois, and New York aligns with his push to eliminate Arizona’s income tax. If we can install a conservative governor, prosperity and safety could soar, potentially outshining even Florida. The goal? To make Arizona a beacon of conservative governance, a challenge I’d take on any day.

Lisa Von Geldern on Voter Turnout and Election Integrity

Lisa Von Geldern joined the conversation, emphasizing the critical role of voter turnout and election integrity. With 16 months until the next election, pacing ourselves is key—nobody’s voting for another year and four months. Polls featuring Charlie Kirk and Kimberly Yee are outdated, leaving questions about where their support shifts. Lisa, unburdened by neutrality, openly backs Andy Biggs for governor, a sentiment shared by many who see him as a path to cleaner elections. The reliance on machines and extended voting periods complicates fairness, a problem we must address. Keeping eyes on the process and turning out the vote will be pivotal in shaping Arizona’s future.

Charles Johnson and the Cochise County Jail Tax Victory

Shifting gears, I welcomed Charles Johnson, a former assistant attorney general, to discuss a significant win in Cochise County. A controversial jail tax, initially passed in May 2023, was ruled problematic by the court of appeals. The judge approved a settlement on May 27, 2025, between plaintiffs Dan LaChance, Steve Conroy, Elon Mayer, and Bob McCormick and the Cochise County Board of Supervisors. The issue? Approximately 11,000 inactive voters didn’t receive ballots, a disenfranchisement that could have swayed the tight margin—decided by just 600 to 900 votes. The court agreed this was illegal, though it rejected arguments about a 60% supermajority requirement and the need for petition signatures.

The new board—Frank Antonori, Tom Crosby, and Catherine Gomez—deserves credit for settling and planning a new election, likely a full one with voting centers, not just mail-in. The legislature recently changed the law, excluding inactive voters from mail-in ballots, so residents must update their registration. The collected tax money, roughly $8 million, remains unspent, segregated after state intervention corrected accounting errors. If the new election fails, the fate of these funds raises serious questions—perhaps for another lawyer, as Chuck, at 75, jokingly retires from election cases with a 100% win rate.

Procedurally, the board will vote to place the measure on the ballot, with prior votes counting as nomination signatures per the settlement. Judge Latham of Apache County Superior Court, appointed by the Arizona Supreme Court, oversaw the case fairly, avoiding local conflicts. Chuck credits plaintiffs, legal assistant Nancy Olmsted, and Shelby Bush of We The People Alliance for the legal analysis that proved the disenfranchisement’s impact. Cochise County residents now have a chance for a fair vote, a step toward rectifying past mistakes.

Dennis Kneale on Elon Musk’s Leadership Genius

Next, I spoke with Dennis Kneale, award-winning journalist, media strategist, and author of The Leadership Genius of Elon Musk. His book, available on Amazon, Books-A-Million, and Barnes & Noble, explores Musk’s brilliance across diverse fields. Once a darling of the left, Musk’s alliance with Trump shifted perceptions, yet his contributions—rescuing astronauts stranded by Boeing’s failures, cutting trillions in government waste via DOGE—deserve praise. Dennis sees lawsuits looming against groups orchestrating anti-Musk protests, a move to watch.

Musk’s vision connects his ventures: Tesla’s Optimus robot, XAI’s Grok reading 6,000 posts per second, Neuralink’s brain chips aiding quadriplegics and ALS patients, and SpaceX’s Starlink providing global internet. Each feeds data into the others, a jigsaw of innovation. His hyperloop idea inspired millions in investment, showcasing a mind that sees possibilities others miss. Dennis argues we’ve traded excellence for equity, a misstep evident in New York City’s charter shift to prioritize equal outcomes over equal opportunity. Musk’s approach—outworking everyone, speaking freely, pushing back—offers lessons for us all. Congress must now act on DOGE’s $175 billion in cuts, a start toward fiscal order in a government where 400 agencies can’t pass audits.

Jeff Dornik on Pickaxe and Following the Leader

Finally, Jeff Dornik, founder and CEO of Pickaxe, joined me to discuss his social media platform, built on freedom of speech and freedom of reach. Live at pickaxe.com, with apps for iPhone and Android coming soon, Pickaxe counters censorship and shadowbanning seen on platforms like X. Creators like Children’s Health Defense, Daily Clout, Naomi Wolfe, Shannon Joy, and Vander Steele have embraced it, especially for features like Rumble video integration. Jeff’s mission breaks big tech’s grip, ensuring voices are heard without restriction.

His upcoming book, Following the Leader, available for pre-order at jeffdornick.com, tackles the cult of personality in politics and religion. Aligning with people based on principles, not blind loyalty, guards against being led astray. His co-authored Church and State exposes the left’s infiltration of evangelical churches, co-opting seminaries and funding to push leftist agendas. Jeff advocates decentralizing churches, moving to smaller, local congregations where pastors live out their teachings, like Pastor Ken Peters’ Patriot Church in Tennessee, which protests at Planned Parenthood with love and sermons.

Jeff’s Unsanctions show with Matt Couch, streamed on Rumble’s Maverick Broadcasting, dives into unfiltered topics. He broke a story on California’s printed home ballots during Gavin Newsom’s recall, a system ripe for abuse, especially when COVID deemed everyone “disabled” for voting. Arizona faces similar voter roll issues, and Jeff’s a voice for fair, ethical elections. Grading Trump’s first five months, he gives a C+ to B-, praising headlines but noting unkept promises on Epstein and 9/11 files and mRNA vaccines. A clause in the “big beautiful bill” banning state AI regulation for a decade alarms him, risking centralized power and humanity’s role in an AI-driven future. Pickaxe and his work push back, amplifying truth and reason.