11 Comments
Nov 1, 2023Liked by Hank Stephenson

Hank - good work again.

This is so important. Disclosure. Transparency. Is easy but seldom done. Not doing so creates doubt and suspicion. It is also unfair to Sybil Francis who is exceptionally talented and doing important work advancing the common good.

Seems legit: Arizona PBS, which is now under ASU president Michael Crow’s office, hosted an interview with Sybil Francis, who is Crow’s wife and a client of a consulting firm owned by Arizona PBS’ general manager, former Republic publisher Mi-Ai Parrish. Parrish previously told us that none that of those relationships will affect editorial coverage. The interview celebrated 20 years of Francis’ organization, Center for the Future of Arizona, and didn’t include a single mention of any of those relationships.

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Right? Nobody would have batted an eye if they DID disclose it

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Nov 1, 2023Liked by Hank Stephenson

So, what you are saying is that election officials have actually fined violators? Way to bury the lead.

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Wellllllll ”election officials” never actually got their paws on that one it was all city folks

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Nov 1, 2023Liked by Hank Stephenson

Kudos for reporting the failure of AZ PBS to disclose glaring conflicts of interest (I greatly admire ASU and the Crows, but what you describe is a classic example of elites, all of whom know better, employing their own echo chamber to promote themselves and their agenda). I would note this reporting comes on the heels of your prior statement that public trust in the press has been eroded by the claims of a former president - which I think is manifestly untrue. Public trust in the press has been eroded by the bias and distortion that characterizes many (if not most) major media outlets (print and otherwise), exacerbated by the armies of trolls who push particular points of view on the rare occasion when those outlets allow any expression that does not fit the “party line” (for example, check out the comments section following opinion columns published by Boas, Allhands, Roberts, etc., in the Arizona Republic). This acts as a window of opportunity for grifters and opportunists of all stripes (left and right), reinforcing the deep divisions in our current politics. As I see it, our only hope of return to anything approximating “normalcy” lies in endeavors like the Arizona Agenda, the Gaggle and Politics Unplugged (and, nationally, Tangle, the Free Press, public news, etc.) - and, like any “medicine”, it is best served with a spoonful of “sugar” (humor). So, please keep up the good work - our future may, quite literally, depend on it.

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Both can be true!

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Maybe, to some extent - but I respectfully suggest that what we need are more journalists recognizing the horrific lapses in integrity exhibited by much of the press in recent years. I refer you to this excellent speech on behalf of the team of investigative journalists who reported the Twitter files: https://open.substack.com/pub/taibbi/p/dao-prize-acceptance-speech?r=1pv2jp&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=post

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Rep. Sun sounds like she has significant mental health issues. How in the world did someone with such reprehensible behavior get elected? Perhaps poor reporting?

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Hey hey blame the candidates not the press ;)

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How did an unhinged, combative person manage to get elected? In Arizona? Heck, in some districts, it’s a requirement to make it out of the primary. Crazy elected officials is super on brand for Arizona, in my opinion.

Sun’s behavior is only noteworthy because she’s a Democrat. While we have many, many other faults, Dems are less likely to challenge foes to some deranged staring duel and threaten physical violence. And, before anyone takes umbrage with that massive generalisation, ask yourselves this, if all of these statements and instances of Sun’s behavior were attributed to Gosar or Kolodin or Rogers or Wadsack or Lamb, etc. etc. etc., none of us would blink an eye and Hank would not have bothered to report it.

If watching Allistair Adel crash and burn didn’t teach all and sundry a lesson, I don’t even know what. Colleagues, constituents, family and friends should intervene and get Sun some help. Just because the GOP won’t ask their pedophiles, felons, infirm and insane or just flat out uncooperative to step down from office doesn’t mean inaction is the acceptable course of action.

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Give P. Judd a microphone...You see the full flower of her "victimhood". Contrition just isn't her strong suit. She and fellow whack-job extraordinaire Tom Crosby need to be gone.

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