Arizona Talks hosted a special Constitution Day event on September 17, 2025, at Empire in Scottsdale, Arizona. People from across the political spectrum came together to reflect on the Constitution’s meaning today, the importance of the First Amendment, and practical ways we can all help build a more perfect union.

Highlights:

• Opening remarks from Carlos Alfaro on the mission of Arizona Talks: fostering fact-based, civil debate on tough issues like elections, immigration, education, gun rights, and more.

• Scottsdale Mayor Lisa Borowsky read the Preamble and called for civil dialogue in the wake of recent tragic events.
• Chris Kline (Arizona Media Association) previewed a statewide, nonpartisan education town hall airing across 400+ Arizona media outlets.
• Rep. Matt Gress discussed Article V, the evolution of free speech protections, and why listening is as vital as speaking in a democracy.
• ASU Law Vice Dean Angela Banks explored our shared responsibility to “know, care, and act,” and how due process applies to “all persons.”
• Arizona Supreme Court Justice Clint Bolick reflected on separation of powers, the courts’ role in protecting liberty, and how civil discourse can counter polarization.
• Audience Q&A covered free speech, hate speech, judicial independence, elections, gerrymandering, and fostering curiosity and humanity across differences.
• Laura Terech (Arizona America 250 Commission) shared statewide programming and a traveling museum ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary.

Key themes:

• Free speech and the duty to listen
• Civic education and participation at every level
• Courts as guardians of constitutional rights
• Building bridges through curiosity, humility, and shared purpose

Chapters:

00:00 Welcome & Mission — Carlos Alfaro

03:30 Preamble & Remarks — Mayor Lisa Borowsky

08:15 Media/Statewide Education Town Hall — Chris Kline

12:00 Constitution Reflections & First Amendment — Rep. Matt Gress

26:30 Know, Care, Act — Vice Dean Angela Banks (ASU Law)

31:00 Courts, Liberty, and Civil Discourse — Justice Clint Bolick

43:00 America 250 — Laura Terech

47:00 Panel Q&A: Free Speech, Institutions, Elections, Gerrymandering

1:23:00 Closing & Ways to Get Involved

Be part of the solution. Visit ArizonaTalks.org to learn more, become a member, donate, and find upcoming events. Invite a friend, bring your questions, and help grow a culture of respectful, informed debate in Arizona.

At our intimate event at Cider Corps in Downtown Mesa, we were joined by guest speakers who shared their stories, expertise, and a myriad of views from across the political spectrum. We discussed the current state of our public education system and how we can improve from consistently being ranked at or near the bottom of state education systems.

In this episode, you'll hear from:

Welcome to the second installment of the Arizona Talks Interview Series, our new video series in which we bring professional interviewers and top political minds together.

In this episode, which takes place at El Charro Hipster Bar and Cafe on Historic Grand Avenue in Downtown Phoenix, Arizona, you’ll get to hear Chris Kline, President of the Arizona Broadcasters Association, sit down with Paul Boyer, the Arizona State Senator and Chair of the Arizona House Education Committee who represents Arizona’s 20th Legislative District.

During the interview, Senator Boyer and Chris Kline talk about education, choosing between party and principle, experiencing death threats, and some of the big issues facing the legislature and the state of Arizona.

About Arizona Talks:

The Arizona Talks Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to facilitating robust debate, open dialogue, and expert analysis on public policy issues.

Civil and substantive discussions about public policy are essential to preserving a free society. As a nonprofit organization, we create programs of distinction that engage minds and promote a culture of open inquiry, fact based analysis, and vigorous, civil debate.

Find out more about what we do at https://ArizonaTalks.org

We’re proud to introduce the Arizona Talks Interview Series!  

This is the first interview from our new series in which we bring professional interviewers and top political minds together.  

In this episode, which takes place at Kahvi Coffee + Cafe in Downtown Phoenix, Arizona, you’ll get to hear Chris Kline, President of the Arizona Broadcasters Association, sit down with Rebecca Rios, the Arizona State Senate Minority Leader who represents Arizona’s 27th Legislative District.  

During the interview, Senator Rios and Chris Kline talk about growing up in Arizona, the current state of the political climate, elections, and some of issues that legislators have been working on.  

About Arizona Talks:  

Arizona Talks is a platform for learning, dialogue, and connection for individuals impacting public policy. We host public policy talks in Arizona to facilitate robust debate, open dialogue, and expert analysis on public policy, challenging policy leaders to engage.  

As a nonprofit organization, we seek to create programs of distinction that influence involved individuals to promote a culture of open inquiry, fact based analysis, and vigorous, civil debate.  

Find out more about what we do at https://ArizonaTalks.org

At this outdoor conversation and reception on November 10, 2021 at Greenwood Brewing in Downtown Phoenix, our panel experts weighed in on the topic of immigration in the United States.  

We were joined by: 

- Angela M. Banks, Charles J. Merriam Distinguished Professor of Law at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University 

- Adam Estle, Vice President of Field and Constituencies for the National Immigration Forum 

- Valeria Aponte, Political Reporter for Telemundo Arizona - José Patiño, Education & External Affairs Director at Aliento  

Find out more about our events and what we do at https://ArizonaTalks.org!

At this outdoor conversation and reception on Tuesday, October 19, 2021 at Greenwood Brewing in Downtown Phoenix, our panel experts weighed in on the topic of election integrity and voting rights.  

We were joined by: 

- Christopher Kline, President and CEO of the Arizona Broadcasters Association (our moderator) 

- Luis Acosta-Herrera , Arizona State Director for Unite America - Mike Noble, Chief of Research & Managing Partner at OH Predictive Insights 

- Alexander Kolodin, Co-Counsel to the Arizona Republican Party

Learn more about what we're doing at ArizonaTalks.org!

Introductory speech for Arizona Talks: Election Integrity & Voting Rights on Tuesday, October 19, 2021 at Greenwood Brewing in Downtown Phoenix. Reginald Bolding, House Democratic Leader and AZ State Representative (D-27) and Candidate for Arizona Secretary of State shares his views on voting rights in Arizona.

Founder of Arizona Talks, Carlos Alfaro, speaks with Walter Cronkite News Director, Vanessa Ruiz. The conversation revolves around the work that journalists and media outlets play in our discussions of policy and different perspectives on the importance of freedom of the press in our democracy. Go to ArizonaTalks.org for more!

Jeff Taylor, Advocate and Chair of the Salvation Army of Phoenix speaking about his personal story of transformation and experience with the criminal justice system. His talk was featured at a public policy event featuring Arizona's top experts, activists, and reporter on criminal Justice Reform. Recorded February 2020. Arizona Talks: Criminal Justice was a special event that addressed  the state of Arizona’s criminal justice system and the people working to reform it.  Watch the full event here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...

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November 2019