Podcast
Jen & Friends | Jen's Two Cents.
Hosted by Jen & Friends | Jen's Two Cents. · ENGLISH
🎙 Jen’s Two Cents brings clarity with bold, boots-on-the-ground storytelling. Investigative journalist Jen Barber sits down with Arizona’s newsmakers, thought leaders, and everyday changemakers to unpack the stories shaping our communities.
42episodes
Episodes
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The Casey Murph Story: An Arizona Cattle Rancher's Fight to Protect Wildlife & Landscape
Jun 1100:43:49Tap to summarizeArizona cattle rancher Casey Murph joins me for a wide-ranging interview examining a growing battle over land, wildlife habitat, and the future of rural Arizona. Murph argues that policies accelerating renewable energy development could reshape generations of ranching and change how open land is used across the state.“I really hate to make this political because I don’t really think this has to be political. I think most Arizonans are really against evicting ranchers and wildlife over solar.” We discuss New World screwworm, grazing allotments, foreign beef, Arizona land policy, and whether prime ranch and wildlife habitat should be converted for large-scale solar projects. Mr. Murph says this isn’t ranchers vs. solar. It’s about the future of land and wildlife several generations of his family have worked to protect.Watch the VideoPlease send news tips to jen@news2jb.com.
Transcribe →Exclusive Interview with Arizona State Senate LD 27 Candidate Anthony Kern: Part 1
May 3000:17:13Tap to summarizeA Republican primary battle is taking shape in Arizona Legislative District 27. Former State Representative and Senator Anthony Kern is challenging incumbent Senator Kevin Payne for the Republican nomination in a district that includes portions of Peoria, Glendale, and northwest Phoenix. In this exclusive interview, Kern sits down with Jen's Two Cents to discuss his recovery from a devastating 2024 car crash, his faith, his political journey, and his relationship with Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk. While this was my first time meeting Kern, I found him remarkably open about both his personal life and his political beliefs. This is Part 1 of a three-part interview. In Part 2, Kern discusses January 6, his role as one of Arizona's 11 alternate electors, the legal battles that followed, and why he believes the fight was worth it. As always, Jen's Two Cents does not endorse candidates. The goal is to give voters the opportunity to hear directly from those seeking public office. Sen. Kevin Payne is welcome to respond and join the Jen & Friends podcast, as well.Please send news tips to jen@news2jb.com.
Transcribe →Small Towns to Big Cities: Women Challenge America's Surveillance Systems
May 2600:03:25Tap to summarizeSmall Towns to Big Cities: Women Challenge America's Surveillance SystemsFrom suburban moms to retired professionals, women across the political spectrum are questioning how rapidly surveillance cameras and vehicle-tracking systems have expanded into their communities.Read the ReportIn this report, we hear from concerned women across Arizona, including voices from Chandler, Flagstaff, Sedona, and Sierra Vista. We also hear from women and mothers in Paonia, Colorado.In the United States, a range of AI-enabled surveillance technologies are used across industries and agencies, and this report is not intended to single out any one manufacturer or company over another.Please send news tips to jen@news2jb.com.
Transcribe →Women Challenge America's Surveillance Systems
May 2600:11:10Tap to summarizeThe Women Questioning America’s Expanding Surveillance State From the serene farming community of Paonia, Colorado to the rapidly growing city of Chandler, Arizona women are showing up at public meetings with increasingly urgent questions about surveillance technology spreading through American communities. Women, mothers, and longtime residents are taking the mic to question AI-powered license plate reader systems positioned near schools, parks, neighborhoods, and major roadways... asking how these systems were approved with little public awareness. In Chandler, nearly 40 speakers addressed city leaders over concerns tied to license plate readers and long-term storage of vehicle location data. In Paonia, a town of fewer than 1,500 residents on Colorado’s Western Slope, trustees and residents debated what kind of future they want for their community as surveillance technology reaches even rural America. Listen to the growing national debate over privacy, transparency, AI-driven policing technology, and the expanding digital footprint of ordinary Americans.Please send news tips to jen@news2jb.com.
Transcribe →FOIA Restrictions on ALPR Records: Republicans Clash Over Transparency in Arizona
May 2000:05:59Tap to summarizeFOIA Restrictions on ALPR Records: Republicans Clash Over Transparency in Arizona What happens when the government builds a growing surveillance network — and then moves to prevent the public from seeing how it’s being used? That question is now at the center of an escalating political battle inside Arizona’s Republican-controlled Legislature, where lawmakers are divided over public access to Automated License Plate Reader records and what protections should exist before government surveillance becomes normalized. In this episode of Jen & Friends, investigative journalist Jen Barber traces how Arizona became ground zero in the national fight over ALPR transparency, public records, and Fourth Amendment protections. As national media outlets begin reporting on states like Arizona and Connecticut restricting FOIA access to license plate reader records, Barber walks viewers through the origins of the controversy — including the records requests, audit logs, legislative language, and political maneuvering that sparked the debate. The episode examines two competing Arizona bills that have exposed a growing divide among Republicans. One proposal would largely formalize how ALPR systems already operate across much of Arizona today, including broad agency discretion, extensive data sharing, and limited public access to records. The other would impose some of the strongest surveillance guardrails in the country, including warrant requirements, rapid deletion timelines for non-matches, restrictions on tracking tied to First Amendment activity, and greater accountability surrounding government surveillance systems. At the center of the fight is a larger question now emerging nationwide: Should the public have the right to know what surveillance data the government stores about them — or should that information remain hidden from public scrutiny? This report takes viewers inside Arizona’s rapidly expanding ALPR networks, the growing use of Flock Safety technology, and the mounting concerns over transparency, data retention, interstate sharing, and constitutional protections in the digital age.WatchRead the ReportPlease send news tips to jen@news2jb.com.
Transcribe →Miniaturization of Surveillance Cameras | Josh Frankel
May 1800:50:46Tap to summarizeFrom Arizona to New York, the miniaturization of surveillance cameras could transform everyday spaces into increasingly invisible networks of automated monitoring. Scarsdale, New York never installed its proposed Flock Safety license plate reader network. But the village is fighting to keep the camera locations secret anyway. At the center of the dispute is Josh Frankel, a 25-year Scarsdale resident who has spent months pushing for transparency surrounding the Village’s abandoned Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) project. What started as a local debate over surveillance cameras has quietly evolved into something much bigger: a test of how far governments can go in shielding surveillance plans from public view — even when the technology never leaves the drawing board. Read the Report: www.jens2cents.com/p/tiny-cameras-bigger-questionsPlease send news tips to jen@news2jb.com.
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AI Impacts on Children Protections, Privacy, and the Workforce in Arizona
Feb 2500:54:03Tap to summarizeArtificial intelligence is advancing rapidly raising urgent questions about child safety, digital privacy, and the future of the workforce.How are these issues affecting Arizona and the nation?In this exclusive interview, I sit down with AI and digital privacy advocate Julie Barrett to discuss what these changes could mean for families, children, and society.Read the ReportWatch the InterviewPlease send news tips to jen@news2jb.com.
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One-on-One with Goodyear PD PIO Sgt. Mayra Reeson: Inside the New Virtual Block Watch Program
Dec 1800:31:37Tap to summarizeGoodyear Police Department Sgt. Mayra Reeson, the department’s Public Information Officer, sat down for a one-on-one discussion about community engagement, evolving technology, and GYPD’s new Virtual Block Watch Program. Goodyear Virtual Block Watch LinkSgt. Reeson joined Goodyear PD in January 2025 and brings 18 years of law enforcement experience, including time with Phoenix Police Department. She is a graduate of the Arizona Law Enforcement Police Academy (2008).After moving from California to Arizona, Reeson became deeply involved in her community—as a mom running a Girl Scout troop and building local connections. That sense of community ultimately drew her to Goodyear.“It just gave me that opportunity to come back to more of what my community is. This is where I shop. Entertainment. So much is growing here in Goodyear. So this is more like my community again.”Like many in law enforcement, Sgt. Reeson says policing wasn’t a childhood dream—but once she found it, she knew it was where she belonged.“I stumbled upon this career… Once I was here, I was like wow—this is really what I was meant to do. I can’t imagine doing something else.”A self-described social person, Sgt. Reeson transitioned from computers and IT into law enforcement as her children grew older, drawn to the fulfillment of serving the community.“We spend so much time away from our families… and being able to serve the community—it’s just more fulfilling.”Now working in media relations, Sgt. Reeson says her focus is ensuring accurate, timely information reaches residents about safety and community concerns.What Is the Virtual Block Watch Program?GYPD’s Virtual Block Watch expands traditional neighborhood watch concepts using today’s technology. With doorbell cameras, floodlight cameras, and home security systems now common, the program allows residents to voluntarily register their cameras with the police department.Importantly, Sgt. Reeson emphasizes:Police do not have access to residents’ camerasOfficers cannot log in, view live feeds, or browse footageInstead, residents register:That they have a cameraThe general location of their homeThe direction the camera pointsWhen a crime occurs, officers or investigators can check the database and see if registered cameras are nearby.“We’ll reach out to the homeowners and ask them to review their camera, give them a time frame, and see if they believe they captured any footage that would be helpful.”If residents believe their footage is relevant, they receive a secure upload link to voluntarily submit it. The footage remains within Goodyear PD and is not shared externally.Why It MattersSgt. Reeson says the program helps:Solve crimes fasterExtend limited manpowerFree up officers’ timeDeter criminal activityProvide closure and resolution for victims“If we’re not getting ahead of technology, then we’re behind it. Using these tools helps us further investigations and lets our manpower go farther.”At the same time, GYPD is continuing to grow in-person Neighborhood Block Watch programs, which Sgt. Reeson says remain vital.“Nobody knows your neighborhood better than you.”The department is always lookinPlease send news tips to jen@news2jb.com.
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Paradise Valley School Board Member Sandra Christensen Launches Bid for Arizona House of Representatives
Nov 2500:38:40Tap to summarizeIn a move that is already reshaping the political landscape of Legislative District 4, Paradise Valley Unified School District Governing Board Member Sandra Christensen formally announces her candidacy for the Arizona House of Representatives — and she sits down for her first exclusive interview with Jen’s Two Cents.Read the ReportPlease send news tips to jen@news2jb.com.
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Flock Cameras & The Founding Fathers
Nov 2200:04:53Tap to summarize❓ Are license plate readers compatible with the freedoms our Founding Fathers fought for? 🎙️ This week, I sit down with Surprise, Arizona Councilmember Johnny Melton to break down the city’s audit of its Flock Safety ALPR system, what it uncovered, and what it means for privacy rights, public safety, and government accountability in Arizona. ➡️ As an independent journalist, these are the conversations that drive my work — talking directly with the people making decisions about surveillance technology and how it affects our daily lives. 🔍 If you’re following the rise of ALPR cameras, AI policing tools, or the debate over privacy vs. safety, this conversation is a must-watch.🎧 Watch now: My full interview with Councilmember Johnny Melton. 📽️ Check out all my conversations with local changemakers: https://www.youtube.com/@jenandfriendsPlease send news tips to jen@news2jb.com.
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