The Press Room

The anticipated “Blue Wave” hit the 2026 midterm elections as some polling predicted. The Press Room’s panel of journalists reflects on Latino representation, and the impact of Latino voters, particularly in the borderlands.

What issues are influencing Gen Z voters at the polls this election season? What challenges are young reporters facing as they enter the ever-evolving world of journalism? The Press Room welcomes four University of Arizona student journalists to the table to share their experience reporting on the 2026 midterm election. STUDENT PANEL: Arilynn Hyatt; Rachel Kietzman; McKenna Manzo; Madeleine Slawny

Campaign advertising is picking up pace ahead of next week's midterm elections, with a high-profile donor pouring money into one of Arizona's most competitive races. Our panel of journalists sits down before the midterm elections one final time before ballots are counted to look at polling, the balance of power in the Arizona Legislature and more.

In this special bonus edition of The Press Room, AZPM News brings you an in-depth look at key Arizona races during this midterm cycle. Our reporters travel across Southern Arizona to talk to voters, and special political contributors John Washington and Samara Klar, Ph. D. join host Tony Perkins in studio for deeper analysis.

On the ballot this November, voters decide on public school funding, education leadership and more. Three education beat reporters join The Press Room to make sense of it all. Plus, TUSD is planning upcoming school closures. In addition, we welcome student journalists to the table to share their reporting on the youth vote. PANEL: Noor Haghighi, AZPM News; Shannon Conner, Arizona Luminaria; Sierra...

As Election Day rapidly approaches, what key issues are driving rural voters to cast their ballots? And our Press Room contributors discuss heated rhetoric and threats of political violence, as well as the latest activism at the border as wall construction continues. Plus, we welcome student journalists to the table to share their reporting on the youth vote. PANEL: L.M. Boyd, AZPM News; John Wash...

The final installment of The Press Room's in-depth sessions with the candidates running to represent Southern Arizona in Congress: Eyes across the country are on the tight race in CD 6 between incumbent Republican Juan Ciscomani and his Democrat challenger JoAnna Mendoza. As she seeks to unseat the two-term congressman, JoAnna Mendoza joins us in studio to share her positions on immigration, healt...

As the November midterm elections approach, The Press Room is featuring in-depth interviews with the candidates running to represent Southern Arizona in Congress. Eyes across the country are on the tight race in CD 6 between incumbent Republican Juan Ciscomani and his Democrat challenger JoAnna Mendoza. As he seeks to retain his seat for a third term, Rep. Ciscomani joins us in studio to share his...

As the November midterm elections approach, The Press Room is featuring in-depth interviews with the candidates running to represent Southern Arizona's two Congressional Districts. This week Daniel Butierez, the Republican challenger in CD7, discusses issues surrounding immigration enforcement, healthcare, affordability and more. GUEST: CD 7 Republican Congressional Candidate Daniel Butierez

As the November midterm elections approach, The Press Room sits down with the four candidates running to represent Southern Arizona's two Congressional Districts. This week, Rep. Adelita Grijalva (D-CD7) discusses her approach to issues surrounding affordability, immigration enforcement, water scarcity, education and more, as she seeks her first full term since winning the seat in a special electi...

Tucson Mayor Regina Romero joins The Press Room this week to discuss public safety in the wake of two high-profile acts of gun violence: July's downtown mass shooting and the targeted killing of members of the LGBTQ community. Plus, we examine how the city is addressing issues surrounding homelessness and affordability. GUESTS: Tucson Mayor Regina Romero; Yana Kunichoff, Arizona Luminaria; Mia Kor...

Pima County Recorder Gabriella Cázares-Kelly joins us on The Press Room to share need-to-know voter information, just as vote-by-mail is once again making national headlines. Plus, issues of tribal sovereignty emerge as Border Patrol and the Tohono O'odham Nation exchange barbs over border wall construction. And Tucson Police are investigating a deadly shooting at a midtown gay bar as a hate crime...

This week, join us for an exclusive interview with Governor Katie Hobbs. She sits down one-on-one with host Tony Perkins to discuss affordability, water security, data centers and more. Join us for the first in a series of candidate interviews leading up to the midterm elections this November, all part of AZPM Vote 2026. Plus, University of Arizona Government and Public Policy Professor Samara Kla...

Arizona is asking the federal government for reimbursement funds of about $900 million that it spent border security. And the race for Congressional District 6 is heating up, starting with plenty of mudslinging attack ads by both incumbent rebublican Rep. Juan Ciscomani and his democrat challenger JoAnna Mendoza. Plus, we sit down one-on-one with frequent Press Room contributor John Washington to...

No Trespassing: That's the message from the Tohono O'odham Nation to border wall contractors, as they await a court decision on wall construction across tribal lands. Plus, the US is deporting detained immigrants, but not all are being sent back to their home countries. Where are they being sent, and under what circumstances? GUESTS: Alisa Reznick, KJZZ; Emily Bregel, Arizona Daily Star; Paul Ingr...

Data centers are back in the headlines as Tucson Mayor and Council approves regulations on the large-scale facilities within city limits. Plus, as potential cuts to Colorado River water allocations loom, the City of Tucson says it's prepared; how will Arizona be affected overall? And in political news: Runnning mates, endorsements and visits from DC officials add to the 2026 midterm momentum. GUES...

Attention returns to immigration enforcement in the city of Tucson after ICE detains a mother following an unrelated court appearance. And as border wall construction continues in Southern Arizona near critical habitat, environmental concerns come to a head. Plus, how has recent flooding along the US southern border affected communities, infrastructure, and cross-border traffic? GUESTS: Angela Ger...

Following this week's primary election, our journalist panel breaks down the results of major state and local races, and looks ahead to the November midterms. Plus, in the wake of last weekend's mass shooting in downtown Tucson, how are city officials, downtown businesses and community members responding? We'll discuss this major news story this week on The Press Room. GUESTS: Steve Jess, AZPM New...

A look at education in Arizona, including technology in the classrooms, affordability and the future of school choice. Plus, our panel of education beat journalists previews the Republican and Democratic primary races for State Superintendent of Public Instruction. GUESTS: Prerana Sannappanavar, Arizona Daily Star; Shannon Conner, Arizona Luminaria; Noor Haghighi, AZPM News

Primary Election Day in Arizona is fewer than two weeks away. With ballots already in the hands of voters, The Press Room is talking primaries this week. We're examining key state and local primary races, and examining national trends and polling data as we begin looking ahead to the November midterms. PANEL: Samara Klar, Ph. D., University of Arizona professor; Joe Ferguson, Tucson Agenda

The US Supreme Court has delivered two major decisions on immigration. Our panel of journalists breaks down how the rulings affect Southern Arizona. Plus, some difficult questions facing the University of Arizona on how it manages its money. PANEL: Angela Gervasi, AZPM News; Caitlin Schmidt, Tucson Spotlight; Erik Fink, News 4 Tucson

A standoff in the San Rafael Valley: How opposing sides are responding to a new challenge at the border. Plus, we take a look at Southern Arizona's economic forecast, and the external factors affecting jobs, affordability and more. And as we close out Pride month 2026, what challenges are organizations within the community facing in the future? PANEL: Hannah Cree, Arizona Daily Star; Susan Barnett...

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs has signed a new state budget into law. The Press Room's panel of journalists breaks down what's in the $18.3B budget and what it means for tax cuts and public program funding. Plus, as summer sets and Southern Arizona braces for extreme weather events, we look at the resources available for our most vulnerable residents, the unhoused population. And on the heels of the de...

Could Sun Tran drivers be on the verge of a strike? Tucson's Mayor and Council begin to put RTA Next public safety funds to use on public transit. Plus, we talk about the latest development surrounding a South Tucson landmark-turned-eyesore. And with election season coming up, we preview a heated Southern Arizona legislative primary race. PANEL: Nick Rommel, AZPM News; Caitlin Schmidt, Tucson Spot...

With primaries now in full swing for this midterm election cycle, we break down what early results in other states could mean for Arizona's upcoming elections. Plus, what's behind the sudden push to modernize the DeConcini Port of Entry in Nogales? Those stories and more, plus a one-on-one interview with Oro Valley Mayor Joe Winfield, as he finishes out his final term in office. GUEST: Oro Valley...