Guests - Former General Stephen Mundt, David Smith, Lea Peterson

Trump's State of the Union: A Defiant Return to America First Policies

Donald Trump made his first major speech of his second administration at a joint session of Congress, just six weeks after his inauguration. The speech, one of the longest ever delivered to Congress, demonstrated Trump's unwavering commitment to his agenda despite significant partisan opposition.

The president set a clear tone early in his address, acknowledging the deep partisan divide by directly addressing Democratic lawmakers: "There's nothing I can do, nothing I can say that's ever going to make you like or support what I'm doing. It's just impossible. I could find a cure for the worst disease, I could do whatever and you're still not going to like me. But what I ask tonight is let's see if we can't come together in some sense and fashion to work for the best interest of the United States."

This blunt assessment of the political landscape was immediately validated by the Democratic response. Throughout the speech, as Trump recognized various Americans for their sacrifices and achievements, Democratic lawmakers repeatedly refused to stand or applaud, even for non-partisan moments like honoring a Democrat journalist who had been held captive and was returned to his elderly mother, or a 13-year-old boy who underwent multiple brain surgeries and was inducted into the Secret Service.

The stark display of partisanship reached a boiling point when Texas Representative Al Green was removed from the chamber for disruptive behavior. Green was later censured by Congress in a 224-198 vote, with the aftermath devolving into a shouting match between House Democrats and Republicans, complete with civil rights anthems and accusations being hurled across the aisle.

Border Security: A Promise Fulfilled

One of the most significant achievements Trump highlighted was the dramatic reduction in illegal border crossings. In stark contrast to the previous administration's claims that congressional action was required to secure the border, Trump declared, "My predecessor felt you had to have all these rules and regulations from Congress to be empowered to do what you need to do. And what you really needed was a new president."

The results speak for themselves, with reports indicating an approximately 96% reduction in illegal crossings since Trump took office. This rapid improvement came through immediate executive action: supporting Customs and Border Patrol agents, deploying military resources to fill gaps in the border wall, and implementing policies that didn't require new legislation.

The success has been so pronounced that both Mexico and Canada have each positioned 10,000 troops along their respective borders with the United States—an unprecedented level of cooperation.

Economic Policy: Tax Cuts and Tariffs

Trump outlined an ambitious economic agenda centered on tax relief for American workers and families. He promised tax cuts totaling over $4.5 trillion over the next decade, with provisions to end taxes on tips, overtime pay, and Social Security benefits. These cuts would be retroactive to January 20, 2025, the date of his inauguration.

On Social Security specifically, Trump positioned himself as the defender of the program, directly challenging Democratic rhetoric: "You keep telling the American people that the Republicans want to steal your Social Security. It is exactly the opposite."

The president also emphasized his commitment to reciprocal tariffs. "If you want to charge me 25% on my stuff, I'm charging you 25% on your stuff," he explained, framing the issue as leveling the playing field for American consumers and manufacturers. This approach has already yielded results, with multiple companies announcing plans to establish automotive manufacturing facilities in the United States, bringing jobs with wages around $17 per hour.

Foreign Policy: Ending Wars, Building Strength

Trump's foreign policy vision centered on three key objectives: ending the war in Gaza, ending the war in Ukraine, and ensuring America's military strength is sufficient to deter conflict with China.

A notable development was the aftermath of a contentious meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House. After what observers described as disrespectful behavior toward Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance, followed by the United States cutting off military aid to Ukraine, Zelensky has now indicated a willingness to sign a minerals deal and participate in peace talks.

In the Middle East, Trump delivered a pointed message to Hamas, saying "Shalom, Hamas"—a greeting that means both hello and goodbye. He referenced efforts by Arab nations to develop their own peace plan for the region, noting that such proposals have been "flat out rejected by every Arab nation and Hamas and Hezbollah because it wasn't going to do anything."

National Security Achievements

One surprising announcement during the address was the capture of the terrorist responsible for the Abbey Gate attack, which killed 13 U.S. service members during the withdrawal from Afghanistan. This apprehension represents a significant counter-terrorism victory for the administration.

The Divided Response

The Democratic response to the State of the Union offered a rare moment of moderation. Senator Elissa Slotkin from Michigan delivered what was described as "one of the best responses I've heard in a long time," focusing on traditional Democratic values like supporting the middle class rather than embracing far-left positions.

However, this measured approach appears to be the exception rather than the rule, with reports that the Democratic National Committee has "decided that they're going to accept the far left woke agenda of extremist ideology."

Protecting Business in Arizona: Corporation Commission Targets Fraud

The Arizona Corporation Commission, now comprised of five Republican commissioners, has implemented new security measures to prevent business fraud. The commission is requiring two forms of identification for those submitting business records, addressing concerns about false LLCs and unauthorized administrative changes.

"I think it's really good to add this extra layer of security, especially at a time when people can produce documents, we have title fraud, we have things that you know, you want to be able as the corporation commission to protect the businesses," explains Kathleen Winn.

Corporation Commissioner Leah Marquez Peterson notes that while the commission is primarily known for regulating utilities, it also incorporates every business in the state and tackles securities fraud. "We've been really tightening up and streamlining processes within the incorporation area," she says.

The commission's enforcement division focuses on civil prosecution of security cases, going after those who run scams or take advantage of others. This effort complements criminal prosecutions handled in partnership with the Attorney General's office.

Arizona's Energy Future: Balancing Growth and Reliability

With Arizona among the fastest-growing states in the nation, the Corporation Commission is focused on ensuring the energy infrastructure can support continued expansion while maintaining reliability and affordability.

Commissioner Marquez Peterson explains that natural gas currently provides approximately 47% of Arizona's energy, with nuclear accounting for 27% and solar between 12-15%. As coal plants close due to federal regulations, utilities are replacing them with natural gas peaker plants, utility-scale solar with battery storage, and potentially small modular nuclear reactors in the future.

The commission has taken a market-based approach to renewable energy, removing subsidies while still supporting its growth. "The difference you see with a five-member Republican commission is we don't want to see it subsidized," Marquez Peterson says. "If you don't have solar on your roof, you shouldn't be paying for your neighbor's solar."

This philosophy extends to emerging technologies like small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs), which the commissioner describes as "absolutely the future." Arizona's three largest utilities—APS, SRP, and Tucson Electric Power—recently announced they are exploring advanced nuclear technologies, though affordability remains a challenge.

Regional Challenges: California's Energy Crisis and Arizona's Response

California's energy policies have created ripple effects throughout the western power grid, impacting Arizona and other neighboring states. Marquez Peterson explains that California's political decision to rapidly close nuclear and coal plants while mandating renewable energy led to rolling blackouts and energy shortages.

"When all that started to occur, more demand came to Arizona to sell them excess energy that we were producing," she says. As chair of the commission at the time, she convened emergency sessions to establish a clear priority: "Arizona first, and then any money that is generated from the sale of excess power to California will go right back to ratepayers."

The situation has evolved to the point where California is now periodically over-generating solar energy and providing it for free to Arizona ratepayers. "It's just been real chaos with California," Marquez Peterson observes, noting that regional coordination meetings are ongoing to address these challenges.

Planning for Arizona's Growth

The Corporation Commission works with utilities to create 15-year integrated resource plans that account for residential population growth, commercial and industrial expansion, and emerging demands from data centers and other large energy users.

For water resources, the commissioner notes that "we are in good shape in terms of water here in southern Arizona in the Tucson area," though conditions vary throughout the state. Companies must demonstrate assured water supply and adequate infrastructure before development can proceed.

Marquez Peterson encourages public participation in these planning processes: "I would encourage people to weigh in. Most folks may have not heard of the Corporation Commission, but we are making decisions that impact their wallet every day."

She notes that individual testimony carries significant weight: "I don't often hear from regular folks representing their family. We hear a lot from lobbyists and certainly the utilities. So it means a lot when an individual writes an email to us or testifies."