ARIZONA 360

Episode 144

AZ POLLSTERS: Polls remain a crucial component to elections that candidates, the media and the public rely on to know which races are close. They faced added scrutiny during the midterm, after so many falsely predicted a loss for presidential candidate Donald Trump. Pollsters from two companies based in Phoenix, OH Predictive Insights and Data Orbital, describe how the industry adapted from the experience and gave insight into their polling methods. OWN WORDS, WHY I VOTED & CIVILITY: In their own words, voters in Tucson describe their reasons for casting a ballot and why they believe it makes a difference. They also share their thoughts about political divisiveness and civility. It’s part of an occasional series that allows speakers to offer commentary on issues important to them. BORDER DEPLOYMENTS: President Trump’s decision to deploy thousands of active military troops to the border follows an earlier deployment in the spring with National Guard troops. This new wave of military personnel will assume similar functions and support federal agents tasked with enforcing the law. Ed Balaban, a former public affairs officer for the Arizona National Guard, describes the roles guard members undertook during Operation Jump Start, which deployed 6,000 troops to the border between 2006 and 2008. LAW PROFESSOR ON DEPLOYMENTS: Kristine Huskey specializes in law of armed conflict and national security at the UA James E. Rogers College of Law. She joins Lorraine Rivera in studio to discuss what the law dictates active military can and cannot do when deployed to the border. CIVILITY AND HEALING: In the wake of the mass shooting at a synagogue in Pittsburgh, Carolyn Lukensmeyer, executive director of the National Institute for Civil Discourse, on civility and healing at a time when heated rhetoric has contributed to a more polarized political climate.