Friday on Winn Tucson came loaded. Four guests, four distinct battlegrounds — the collapse of legacy media and what replaces it; the military standoff in the Strait of Hormuz and the redistricting fight tearing through Virginia; the use of AI to win down-ballot elections; and a 56-year federal prohibition that ended, without fanfare, in the middle of the week.

The common thread running through every conversation: the old systems — media, military strategy, political campaigning, federal drug law — are either failing or being dismantled. The question in every case is who steps into the void and with what.

Eighty-eight days to the primary. The Pima County fair was running. Volunteers were collecting recall signatures. The Board of Supervisors had just voted to double their spending cap and put the question to voters in November. And a father in Wisconsin was preparing to spend seven weeks on a radio show in Tucson telling the story of how his daughter with Down syndrome was killed by a hospital that called itself a place of healing.

Thursday on Winn Tucson moved through all of it — from the halls of Congress to the streets of Memphis to a Wisconsin civil courtroom — with the same underlying question threading every conversation: who is fighting for the people they claim to serve, and who is fighting against them?

Wednesday on Winn Tucson moved across three very different worlds — the geopolitical chessboard between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, the fiscal ambush playing out in a Pima County meeting room, and the collapse of personal character among the men who purport to lead the nation. Three guests. One through-line: the cost of not paying attention until it's almost too late.

Ninety days from the primary. A Board of Supervisors meeting underway downtown with a billion-dollar spending maneuver on the agenda. A city burning through money it claims it doesn't have while considering shutting down fire stations. And a growing list of people who've seen enough and decided to do something about it.

That was the backdrop for a Tuesday on Winn Tucson — three guests, three very different battlegrounds, and one common thread: the question of who shows up to serve when institutions start to fail the people they're supposed to protect.

Guest host Dave Smith, who had kept the show running during Winn's trip while his wife Betsy traveled with the Winn Tucson team, joined Kathleen for the opening segment to debrief on the week's news and set the political context. The two opened with what Smith called the "non-personing" of Eric Swalwell — a tactic he had discussed at length on Thursday and Friday's shows.

Brenda Marts, precinct committeeman in LD-18 and a relentless tracker of Pima County's board of supervisors agendas, joined alongside Jay Tolkoff of LD-21 to break down what she had found buried in the Tuesday meeting's 45-item agenda.

ew moments at the weekend's Turning Point USA event in Tucson generated more surprise than when President Trump called out Representative Alex Kolodin of LD-3 by name from the stage. "It was kind of an out-of-body experience," Kolodin told Winn.

Merissa Caldwell — longtime election integrity activist, formerly Merissa Hamilton — called in to detail the weekend's SAVE Act events and the larger battle being waged over the question of who is actually casting ballots in American elections.

Janet Neustedter, president of the Pima County Republican Women's Club, joined for the final segment to discuss an upcoming event featuring election analyst and author Seth Keschel — and to make the broader case for why joining a local political organization matters more than most people realize.

The Strait of Hormuz is open. Oil prices have dropped from over $100 a barrel to around $83. The stock market is surging — the NASDAQ is dramatically up. Iran has signaled a desire for peace, a development the press was certain would never come. "The world's not ending," said guest host Dave Smith, filling in for Kathleen Winn on Winn Tucson.

The second hour brought in the show's guest: Master Sergeant Bob Dohse (U.S. Air Force, retired), who is currently running for the Arizona State Legislature in LD-18.

Dohse's biography is not that of a typical politician. He enlisted in the Air Force in 1976, trained as an aircraft mechanic, and quickly distinguished himself in logistics — helping engineer what he described as the best operational readiness inspection in the history of Tactical Air Command. His method involved an unconventional approach to an IBM 370 mainframe.

Substitute host Dave Smith opened the program by noting Kathleen Winn and co-host Betsy were en route to the National Rifle Association conference in Houston. Smith traced the city’s crime and disorder problems back to deeper philosophical failures. Drawing on his background in criminology, political science, and sociology, he contrasted the classical school of criminology—which holds that crime is an individual choice driven by emotional rewards—with the leftist social-conflict theory that dominates law schools and Democratic thinking.

Longtime activist Laurie Moore called in to share her front-line efforts at Pima County Board of Supervisors meetings. She described herself as a “party of one” who uses sarcasm, truth, and optics to reach people.

Mark Griffith, owner of Griffith Automotive and a longtime Tucson resident, joined the program to announce his candidacy for mayor. Born in Tucson and raised in Nogales, Griffith has operated in the automotive field for nearly 28 years.

Ava Chen joins for China Watch Wednesday, diving into the rapid developments around the Strait of Hormuz. She highlights U.S. naval actions securing the waterway after Iran's blockade attempts, noting the strategic pressure on the regime.

Paul Sheldon, president of the Arizona State Fraternal Order of Police, addresses the case of retired Tucson Police Officer Konto. Years after retirement, Konto was diagnosed with a specific cancer listed under ARS 23-901, the statute presuming such cancers work-related for qualifying officers and firefighters. Despite this clear legal protection, the City of Tucson denied his claim. "The city of Tucson said no." Konto prevailed before the Industrial Commission and again at the Arizona Court of Appeals. "The Arizona Court of Appeals ruled 100 percent in favor of Officer Konto again." Yet the city continues fighting, with two weeks remaining to appeal to the Supreme Court.

Kathleen Winn pays tribute to Chris Sheaf and his wife Jackie, who were killed in a plane crash in Marana while returning from the Final Four. Grant Krueger joins to share memories of Chris Sheaf, highlighting his decades of service to Tucson.

Arizona State Representative Lydia Hernandez discusses House Bill 4109, which requires every school district to adopt a clear, enforceable public safety policy. The bill mandates immediate notification to parents and law enforcement in cases of life-threatening violence or credible threats, along with confiscation of weapons and whistleblower protections.

International bestselling author Jared Knott analyzes President Trump’s handling of Iran. He praises the U.S. Navy’s blockade of Iranian oil exports and the deployment of advanced minesweeping technology in the Strait of Hormuz.

Tara Oster joins to discuss the Pima County GOP booth at the upcoming Pima County Fair, running Thursday, April 16 through Sunday, April 26 in Thurber Hall. The booth will register voters, distribute candidate materials and palm cards with election dates, sell patriotic merchandise, and feature a spin wheel for prizes.

Dave Smith discusses the evolving Iran situation, praising President Trump’s approach to negotiations. “Trump acted first and the experts are furious because it’s working.”

Bill Walton analyzes President Trump’s foreign policy approach, emphasizing his comfort with risk and improvisation honed in New York real estate. “He’s built for negotiation. He’s built for combat.”

Gary Benoit, editor-in-chief of The New American and longtime John Birch Society member, asserts that the Constitution does not grant automatic birthright citizenship.

Mark Lewis reports on the Salt River Project (SRP) board election held the previous day, describing a mixed outcome for Republican conservatives. Chris Dobson was elected president and Barry Paisley vice president, both in strong two-to-one victories, giving Republicans control of the top leadership positions that set the agenda and can break ties.

Ava Chen congratulates the current administration for creating an environment conducive to regime change that benefits the Iranian people themselves. She explains that the United States has applied maximum pressure while leaving the door open for a new, democratic-leaning government open to business and Western engagement.

Neal Cornett joins to discuss the Mass Deportation Coalition’s playbook and the urgent need for systematic, large-scale removal of illegal immigrants. He challenges official estimates, citing Pew’s 14 million figure from 2023 as far too low. He references 2006 discussions of nearly 12 million and Yale’s 2018 research suggesting closer to 22 million—before Biden-era border policies added untold millions more.

Retired Brigadier General Steven Mundt joins to break down the F-15E rescue operation in Iran over the Easter weekend. He details how the pilot and weapons systems officer ejected after the aircraft was hit by a shoulder-fired missile advanced by Russian technology.

Rodney Glassman, candidate for Arizona Attorney General, outlines his commitment to enforcing laws and supporting President Trump's agenda. He criticizes incumbent Kris Mayes for filing 40 lawsuits against the Trump administration, calling them "clickbait" for fundraising.

Laurie Moore reports strong grassroots support for the Sheriff Nanos recall, carrying clipboards everywhere and securing sixty signatures in two hours at one event.

Joel Strabala discusses the Pima County Supervisors meeting, highlighting the illegal attempt to restrict or unmask ICE agents under state and federal law.

Michael Wiegand, precinct committeeman from LD18, announces an event this Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. east of Costco on Grant and Wilmot, next to the former Carl's Jr. The gathering will feature Daniel Butierez collecting signatures for the Sheriff Nanos recall petition.

Daniel Butierez, Republican candidate for CD7 Congress, leads the grassroots recall effort against Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos. He reports strong momentum with Democrats, independents, and Republicans signing petitions at multiple locations.

Betsy Smith addresses the ongoing issues with Sheriff Nanos, praising the Pima County Board of Supervisors' unanimous 5-0 vote to investigate his original application.

Supervisor Steve Christy discusses the Board's unanimous vote to investigate Nanos's original employment application, citing omissions and potential fraud.

Laurie Moore reports enthusiastic grassroots support for the Nanos recall, using her front porch as a hub and carrying clipboards everywhere. She secured sixty signatures in two hours at one event.

Scott Schara, author of the newly released book Is the Government Legally Killing Us?, shares the heartbreaking story of his daughter Grace, who had Down syndrome and died at age 19 on October 13, 2021.

Brett Mecum, chairman of the Arizona Space Commission, describes witnessing the Artemis II launch from Cape Canaveral as "electrifying" and "awe-inspiring." As the most powerful rocket ever built, the Space Launch System carried the Orion capsule with three American astronauts and one Canadian on a mission circling the Moon.

Retired U.S. Navy Captain Bill Sullivan addresses President Trump's speech on Iran, agreeing the conflict appears headed toward resolution within weeks.

Rodney Glassman, candidate for Arizona Attorney General, emphasizes the office's immense power as the state's largest law firm, overseeing 400 attorneys and 1,000 support staff serving every state agency.

Ava Chen, spokesperson for the New Federal State of China, details the Chinese Communist Party's long-term strategy in the Middle East. She explains that the CCP has cultivated Iran as a proxy for decades, beginning with uranium and nuclear technology sharing in the early 1980s and extending to modern military aid.

Dave Smith, former law enforcement officer and trainer, discusses the resignation of Utah's Washington County Sheriff Nate Brooksby after complaints about office operations. Smith notes the sheriff's 30-year career and the national attention drawn to the case.

Dave Smith, former law enforcement officer and trainer, explains Arizona Revised Statutes Title 11-1051, which mandates that no official or agency of the state, county, city, town, or other political subdivision may limit or restrict the enforcement of immigration laws to less than the full extent permitted by federal law.

Scott Mussi, president of the Arizona Free Enterprise Club, celebrates the EPA’s recent ruling under Administrator Lee Zeldin that excludes international emissions from Mexico and China when calculating Arizona’s ozone compliance.

Tracy Byrnes, author of Deduct Everything and certified divorce financial analyst, emphasizes that the goal is a net-zero tax return rather than chasing refunds.

Laurie Moore reports strong progress on the Sheriff Chris Nanos recall petitions. She uses her front porch as a northwest hub and carries clipboards everywhere, securing sixty signatures in two hours at one event.

Sheriff Mark Dannels of Cochise County returns to discuss his reappointment to President Trump's Homeland Security Advisory Council, where he is the only current sheriff serving and the first ever nominated in that role. He notes that under Biden, twenty-eight of thirty-two members were relieved—the first such action since 9/11—and Trump brought him back.

Joel Strabala, LD17 chairman, updates listeners on the April 6 write-in deadline for precinct committeemen. He provides the exact form—State of Arizona Write-In Candidate Nomination Paper, citing ARS 16-311 and 16-312—and directs people to www.pima.gov/678/candidates to download it.

Laurie Moore reports strong grassroots progress on the Sheriff Nanos recall petitions. She uses her front porch as a northwest hub and carries clipboards everywhere—grocery stores, restaurants, Sammy’s, and the Gaslight Theater.

Retired Brigadier General Steven Mundt joins from Virginia to discuss the Supreme Court case on birthright citizenship. He argues the policy, added after the founding era, has been abused through “birthing centers” and chain migration.

Cheryl Caswell, candidate for LD19 state representative, discusses her successful petition filing and the district's conservative stronghold. She emphasizes the need for strong Republican turnout in the primary and general election.

Wynton Hall, author of Code Red: The Left, the Right, China and the Race to Control AI, explains the critical implications of AI development. He details how large language models exhibit left-leaning bias due to training on sources like Reddit, Wikipedia, and left-leaning publications.

Joel Strabala, LD17 chairman, provides a detailed update on the recall effort against Sheriff Chris Nanos. He explains the legal requirements, noting 122,211 signatures are needed.

Alex Kolodin, Republican candidate for Secretary of State, details how Adrian Fontes admitted to making up a law to change the name of the No Labels Party to the Arizona Independent Party. "Adrian Fontes admits he made up the law and acted illegally."

Tom Horne, Superintendent of Public Instruction, defends the Empowerment Scholarship Account program against recent media claims of widespread fraud. He cites the Arizona Department of Education's randomized sample showing a maximum of 2% unallowable spending, with only 0.3% egregious.

Betsy Brantner Smith addresses the ongoing crisis with Sheriff Chris Nanos and the recall effort. She notes the Pima County Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 to investigate Nanos's original application and background.