Arizona Week explores President Donald Trump's agenda, as spelled out in his address to a joint session of Congress this week, in relation to how aspects of it affect Arizona and Arizonans.
On the program:
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Faten Ghosn, a professor of Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Arizona, discusses Trump's policies on vetting immigrants trying to enter the United States from Muslim-majority countries. "Do we need a new vetting system? It could be that we do," Ghosn said. "But it would be interesting to have the politicians and the government tell us why, right? We’re not hearing that. We’re hearing action and reaction, action and reaction, and no real policy substance.”
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Tim Fagan, a retired physician discusses the president's approach to health care and the Affordable Care Act. Fagan said Arizona insurance rates have risen, but the 116 percent figure Trump quoted in his speech was an anomaly and occurred in just two counties in the state.
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Jose Vazquez, a Tucson immigration lawyer, discusses the administration's immigration crackdown. Vazquez said there is confusion and fear among immigrants and businesses that depend on immigrant workers. He said some of that is in high-tech work, for which the skill level isn't available in Arizona among native-born workers.
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Jim Chilton, a rancher from Arivaca, says a border wall is needed between Nogales and Sasabe, a distance of about 25 miles, because the four-strand barbed wire fence there does nothing to stop drug couriers. He shared video captured on his wildlife cameras of convoys of people carrying big backpacks that he says are filled with drugs.
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Kate Kenski, professor of government and public policy and a communications expert at the University of Arizona, discusses the changed tone Trump displayed in his speech. Kenski said until the speech, Trump was in personal campaign mode. In the speech, he moved to presidential mode, she said.
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