“Governor Katie Hobbs Defends Arizona from Trump’s Extremist Plans”
Podcast: The MeidasTouch Podcast
Host: MeidasTouch Network (Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas)
Date: October 13, 2025
Featured Guest: Governor Katie Hobbs
Episode Overview
This episode features Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs in a wide-ranging discussion about her governance record, the current threats posed by Trump-aligned extremism, and how Arizona’s bipartisan approach contrasts with Washington’s partisanship. The Meiselas brothers provide context on the right-wing push to cut healthcare, undermine courts, and erode democracy, while Hobbs details her strategies for defending Arizona’s values, ensuring practical governance, and expanding opportunity. Deep dives include health care, budget battles, housing, economic shifts, and the crucial politics of election administration.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
Setting the Stage: The Battle Over Health Care and Courts
[01:48 – 05:24]
- The hosts criticize the GOP’s efforts to cut healthcare and pass unpopular measures. Andy Biggs, Republican candidate for AZ governor, labeled Democrats as “political terrorists” for defending healthcare programs:
- Quote (Andy Biggs): “I don't think you should be negotiating with these people because they're political terrorists just like they are domestic terrorists.” [03:50]
- Ben highlights how GOP plans would increase ACA premiums, making coverage unaffordable for middle-income families.
- Biggs also pushes to “eliminate courts” that rule against his agenda:
- Quote (Andy Biggs): “These are the things that we have to do. We can actually eliminate courts. We can limit jurisdiction.” [04:23]
Analysis: The hosts juxtapose GOP extremism and chaos against a desire for functional, affordable governance.
Governor Hobbs on Bipartisanship and Responsible Governance
[06:05 – 07:59]
- Governor Hobbs shares how she’s governed a divided state by rejecting partisan, harmful budgets and forcing meaningful compromise:
- Vetoed a partisan budget that slashed state services.
- Negotiated a bipartisan balanced budget that:
- Preserves healthcare for 60,000 Arizonans with disabilities.
- Funds school meals for 68,000 children.
- Increases pay for police and fire.
- Expands access to community college scholarships.
- Quote (Gov. Hobbs): “I've taken on the tough challenges…we got stuff done because I'm willing to work with anyone to deliver for Arizonans on the tough issues we're facing.” [06:05]
- Contrasts Arizona’s politics-first D.C. with her emphasis on “Arizonans first, politics last.”
- The hosts applaud her focus on solutions and respectful negotiation, contrasting it with D.C.’s dysfunction.
The Stakes: Health Care, Courts, and Extremist Rhetoric
[07:59 – 09:49]
- Discussion on how reckless, uncompromising politics fail American families.
- Hobbs stresses that courts are a necessary check on abuse and bemoans radical efforts to undermine them.
- Quote (Gov. Hobbs): “The courts are an important check and balance. And obviously they don't want to be checked on their abuses of power right now.” [09:18]
- The hosts question how basic issues like affording healthcare became partisan battles.
Cost of Living and Federal Policy Failures
[09:49 – 11:31]
- The impact of GOP plans:
- ACA premium increases could reach $2,141/month for some Arizona families if subsidies expire.
- Hobbs details bipartisan frustration with skyrocketing costs and the Trump administration’s failure to deliver on promises to lower them.
- Quote (Gov. Hobbs): "He ran on lowering costs...he's doing exactly the opposite." [10:32]
- Tariffs described as a massive hidden tax raising costs for businesses and consumers.
Economic Headwinds & Housing Crisis Solutions
[11:31 – 14:32]
- Arizona’s unique challenge: housing, recessionary trends in construction and tourism drops, all exacerbated by national policy.
- Hobbs outlines her approach:
- Over 100,000 jobs created since her tenure.
- Infusions into Arizona’s Housing Trust Fund: building affordable units, down payment assistance, streamlining housing approvals.
- Water legislation tied to supporting new housing developments.
- Quote (Gov. Hobbs): “There’s not one single issue or solution…it’s not going to happen overnight, but we’re chipping away at it.” [13:44]
Mail-In Voting and Election Integrity
[14:32 – 16:22]
- Arizona’s mail-in voting—long embraced by both parties—is now under attack by Trump-aligned Republicans.
- Hobbs notes Arizona’s longstanding, secure early voting system.
- Points out that current GOP critics, including Andy Biggs and David Schweikart, once championed the system.
- Quote (Gov. Hobbs): “About 75% of Arizonans or more, depending on the election, utilize our system of early voting...it’s a secure way to vote and a huge number of Arizonans participate in it.” [15:30]
The Impact of Chaos and the Need for Practical Leadership
[16:22 – 18:37]
- Host and Hobbs agree: the “chaos” from the Trump White House is not just policy—it's performative distraction.
- Hobbs describes how both Democrats and Republicans privately admit the current trajectory is harmful, but few call out the hypocrisy.
- Emphasizes need for leaders to “focus on the issues and not the politics.”
- Quote (Gov. Hobbs): “It’s hypocrisy. It’s bad policy. It’s harming Americans for some political ideology rather than policies that actually work.” [17:23]
Campaign Call to Action
[18:37 – 19:04]
- Hobbs urges listeners to get involved, emphasizing the importance of gubernatorial races as the “last line of defense.”
- Quote (Gov. Hobbs): “This is going to be a very tough race. I need help from all over the place to win... Folks can go to KatieHobbs.org to get more information.” [18:44]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote/Paraphrase | |--------------|--------------|-------------------------------------------------| | 03:50 | Andy Biggs | “I don't think you should be negotiating with these people because they're political terrorists just like they are domestic terrorists.” | | 04:23 | Andy Biggs | “We can actually eliminate courts. We can limit jurisdiction.” | | 06:05 | Gov. Hobbs | “I've taken on the tough challenges…we got stuff done because I'm willing to work with anyone to deliver for Arizonans on the tough issues we're facing.” | | 09:18 | Gov. Hobbs | “The courts are an important check and balance. And obviously they don't want to be checked on their abuses of power right now.” | | 10:32 | Gov. Hobbs | “He ran on lowering costs...he's doing exactly the opposite.” | | 13:44 | Gov. Hobbs | “There’s not one single issue or solution…it’s not going to happen overnight, but we’re chipping away at it.” | | 15:30 | Gov. Hobbs | “About 75% of Arizonans or more, depending on the election, utilize our system of early voting... it’s a secure way to vote.” | | 17:23 | Gov. Hobbs | “It’s hypocrisy. It’s bad policy. It’s harming Americans for some political ideology rather than policies that actually work.” | | 18:44 | Gov. Hobbs | “This is going to be a very tough race. I need help from all over… Folks can go to KatieHobbs.org to get more information.” |
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 01:48 – 05:24: Critique of Trump-aligned GOP policies (health care, courts, authoritarian rhetoric)
- 06:05 – 07:59: Gov. Hobbs on budget governance and bipartisan solutions
- 09:49 – 11:31: The real-life impact of health care cost hikes and policy betrayals
- 12:18 – 14:32: Arizona economy, job creation, and housing problem-solving
- 15:30 – 16:22: Mail-in voting as a nonpartisan Arizona tradition
- 17:23 – 18:37: Confronting chaos, calling out hypocrisy, emphasizing practical leadership
Conclusion
Governor Katie Hobbs provides an antidote to political chaos with her focus on bipartisan problem-solving, protecting Arizona families, and defending democratic processes from MAGA extremism. The MeidasTouch hosts frame the 2025 stakes as nothing less than democracy versus dysfunction, and Hobbs offers both a strong case for pragmatic leadership and a call for renewed civic engagement.
Learn more or get involved: KatieHobbs.org