Tucson’s Conservative Talk

On a today’s edition of Winn Tucson, host Kathleen Winn dove into pressing issues facing Arizona — from election security and voter roll maintenance to teacher activism and local political engagement. The conversation featured State Rep. Alexander Kolodin (R-Scottsdale), retired educator Laurie Moore, longtime precinct committeeman Mark Lewis, and community advocate Dave Smith.

On today’s edition of Winn Tucson, host Kathleen Winn dove into pressing national and local issues with two standout guests: former NYPD intelligence sergeant and author Christopher Strom, and Arizona State Mine Inspector Les Presmyk.

In a riveting discussion on Winn Tucson, host Kathleen Winn delved into breaking developments from China with Ava Chen of the New Federal State of China. Chen urged listeners to pray for the Chinese people amid escalating instability under Xi Jinping's rule. She revealed that since January 24, 2026, Xi has arrested General Zhang Youxia, his top military commander and a close ally, in a move that could ignite regime change.

Shifting to local issues, Winn hosted Dave Smith, former law enforcement officer and Pima County GOP chair, to unpack Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes' call for public monitoring of ICE agents via videos and a website for reporting "federal misconduct."

Laurie Moore, a local activist, called in to rally attendance at Pima County Board of Supervisors meetings, urging visuals like packed rooms and flags to go viral and intimidate Democrats.

Gerard Scimeca, Chairman and General Counsel of Consumer Action for a Strong Economy (CASE), joined Winn to explain why immigration enforcement matters economically. Scimeca emphasized that stable commerce and secure jobs require law and order. "In order to have a viable economy, in order to have a stable economy and regular commerce, where people feel secure in their jobs and secure in their purchases, you can't have rampant crime in the streets, you can't have lawlessness," he said.

Retired Sgt. Betsy Brantner Smith, spokesperson for the National Police Association and co-host of "Smith & Winn," joined the program to discuss escalating threats to law enforcement.

Sergio Arellano, newly elected chair of the Pima County Republican Party (and recent candidate for Arizona GOP chair), closed the program. Arellano, a combat veteran, former Army infantryman, and former outreach director for Arizona's mortgage settlement program, emphasized unity after a divisive internal process. "We're done with the division. We're done with the fighting," he said.

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has stirred controversy by interpreting laws in a way that suggests individuals can ignore federal immigration enforcement. Kathleen Winn described this as dangerous, emboldening resistance similar to Minnesota's. Stephen Mundt agreed, calling it egregious and anti-law enforcement, extending risks to local police.

Mundt advocated limiting mail-in ballots to deployed or international voters, counting them pre-election, and questioned prolonged certification periods. Winn criticized Arizona's "voting month" enabling corruption and urged voter action beyond complaints.

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has drawn sharp criticism following recent remarks suggesting that the state's self-defense laws could apply to residents encountering masked federal immigration agents. The comments, made during an interview with 12 News, have ignited a firestorm among legal experts and political candidates who argue the rhetoric is both factually incorrect and dangerously inflammatory.

Matt Neely, sitting in for Kathleen Winn on the first part of Winn Tucson, characterized the remarks as "irresponsible rhetoric" that could lead to violence.

Superintendent Tom Horne provided an update on the state of Arizona’s schools, highlighting a significant milestone: over 100,000 students are now utilizing the Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) system. This growth from 11,000 to 100,000 in three years indicates that parents are increasingly seeking educational options that align with their priorities.

The political landscape in Arizona remains dominated by discussions of election integrity and "lawfare". Candidate Greg Roberg highlighted several ongoing cases pursued by Mayes' office, including the prosecution of Cochise County Supervisor Tom Crosby and the indictment of alternate electors from the 2020 election.

Anti-Islam activist Donine Henshaw was one of only three people to speak in support of the resolutions. In studio with host Kathleen Winn later that morning, Henshaw described the atmosphere as highly charged and recounted her personal testimony.

U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ-06) joined Winn by phone from Washington to discuss the just-completed fiscal year 2026 appropriations process. Ciscomani, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, highlighted several Arizona-relevant wins and broader policy shifts now that Republicans control the White House, House, and Senate.

In the program’s final segment, Kathleen Winn was joined by Betsy Brantner Smith, spokesperson for the National Police Association, for an extended discussion on public safety and immigration enforcement.

Kathleen Winn discusses global affairs with Ava Chen from the New Federal State of China, focusing on recent developments involving President Trump, China, and international relations.

Kathleen Winn speaks with Chad Heinrich, Arizona State Director for the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), about legislative impacts on small businesses.

Kathleen Winn talks with election expert Seth Keshel about President Trump's Davos speech, Greenland's strategic value, and Arizona elections.

Crime expert, U.S. Army veteran, and private investigator Nils Grevillius joined Winn Tucson for an extended conversation on crime, activism, and political hypocrisy in blue cities.

Julian Hagmann, Chief Operating Officer of Caring Professionals Incorporated in New York, joined to discuss systemic healthcare failures, focusing on the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP).

On today’s edition of Winn Tucson, host Kathleen Winn welcomed two prominent Republican figures to discuss pressing issues facing the nation and their home states: immigration, election integrity, government overreach, and the urgent need to preserve American freedoms.

The conversation opened with Peter Lumaj, an immigration attorney, Republican strategist, and first-generation immigrant from Albania. Lumaj is currently running for Connecticut Secretary of the State in the 2026 election

The program continued with Warren Petersen, Arizona Senate President and candidate for Arizona Attorney General in 2026 (website: petersonforag.com).

Petersen outlined strategies for turnout and election integrity, crediting the 2024 Republican ground game—led by organizations like Turning Point USA, American Majority, and the state GOP—for overwhelming margins that made cheating impossible.