The Think Tank Blogs

Barry Markson (Twitter photo/BarryMarkson1)...
Mike O'Neil/The Think Tank

Think Tank talks with practicing attorney and KTAR host Barry Markson

Practicing attorney and sometimes KTAR News 92.3 FM host Barry Markson joins this week's Think Tank to discuss his take on Biden’s recent speech and other topics.
2 years ago
Sen. Kate Brophy McGee (Website Photo). Christine Porter Marsh. (Website Photo)...
Kaci Demarest

Arizona state Senate control could hinge on results of LD 28 election

Arizona state Sen. Kate Brophy McGee is running for reelection against Democratic challenger Christine Porter Marsh in Legislative District 28.
4 years ago
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Mike O'Neil/The Think Tank

Think Tank discusses its 2019 Arizona and National Political Awards

Chuck Coughlin, Tom Ryan and Jack Lunsford join Mike O'Neil to discuss the top Arizona and national stories of the year and the decade.
4 years ago
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Mike O'Neil/The Think Tank

Fife Symington, Paul Johnson on life after Arizona politics

Former Arizona Gov. Fife Symington, a Republican, and former Phoenix Mayor Paul Johnson, a Democrat, join consultant Chuck Coughlin and Mike this week.
4 years ago
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Mike O'Neil/The Think Tank

The Think Tank discusses efforts to unionize at The Arizona Republic

The Think Tank talks to a current journalist and a former TV reporter about recent efforts to unionize at the Arizona Republic.
5 years ago
U.S. Sen. Martha McSally of Arizona, former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio (Screenshot, AP Phot...
Mike O'Neil/The Think Tank

Rick DeGraw, Tom Ryan dissect Arizona politics on Think Tank

Longtime political operative Rick DeGraw and attorney Tom Ryan join this week’s Think Tank to discuss all things Arizona politics.
5 years ago
(Sidney Rittenberg Photo)...
Mike O'Neil/The Think Tank

Think Tank talks to Sidney Rittenberg, a confidant of world leaders

Sidney Rittenberg was a confidant of Chinese Communist Party Chairman Mao Zedong and much of the Chinese communist leadership.
5 years ago
(Pixabay Photos, Getty Images Photo/Cindy Ord)...
Mike O'Neil/The Think Tank

Jack Lunsford and Steve Krafft discuss recent Arizona politics

The Think Tank discusses recent Arizona politics with a recently retired local TV reporter and a former Arizona county assessor.
5 years ago
(KTAR News Photo/Amy Phol)...
Mike O'Neil/The Think Tank

Phoenix votes on transit and budget, Props 105 and 106

Early voting in Phoenix is underway until election day, Aug. 27. Residents are voting on two propositions that relate to the light rail and city budget.
5 years ago
(Public Domain Photo, Facebook Photo)...
Mike O'Neil/The Think Tank

What’s it like to be David going up against Goliath?

Meet the woman who singlehandedly challenged Arizona Public Service's price hike by petitioning the Arizona Corporation Commission for a rate review
5 years ago
(AP Photo/Matt York, Creative Commons Photo/Gage Skidmore)...
Mike O'Neil/The Think Tank

Why is the US rated as a ‘flawed democracy’?

While the United States likes to think of itself as a full-fledged democracy, our ranking has been slipping in recent years.
5 years ago
2020 Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., speaks during a "community c...
Mike O'Neil/The Think Tank

Think Tank guide to this week’s Democratic Presidential Debate

Chuck Coughlin and Mike discuss the state of the Presidential race focusing on the Democratic Presidential Debates that will take place later this week.
5 years ago
Chief Sylvia Moir (Tempe Police Photo)...
Mike O'Neil/The Think Tank

Think Tank talks 21st-century policing with Tempe Chief Sylvia Moir

This week, the Think Tank discusses issues involving the police that have dominated our recent headlines with Tempe Police Chief Sylvia Moir.
5 years ago
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Mike O'Neil/The Think Tank

Think Tank talks to Arizona investigative reporter Craig Harris

The Think Tank talks to Arizona Republic reporter Craig Harris, who was awarded the prestigious George Polk Award for reporting on Arizona charter schools.
5 years ago
(Twitter Photos/@AZHouseDems, @investinedaz)...
Mike O'Neil/The Think Tank

Think Tank discusses winners and losers of Arizona legislative session

The Arizona Legislature passed an $11.8 billion budget in a session that extended over the entire Memorial Day weekend. Who were the winners and losers?
5 years ago
Mike O'Neil/The Think Tank

Arizona political experts join Think Tank for pre-election special

This week’s Think Tank explores the upcoming election with two of the smartest political minds around, HighGround’s Chuck Coughlin and Valley attorney Tom Ryan.
6 years ago
Mike O'Neil/The Think Tank

Think Tank analyzes Arizona’s primary election results

Former Tempe Mayor Neil Giuliano and political analyst Chuck Coughlin join the Think Tank to review the recent Arizona primary election.
6 years ago
(AP photos)...
Mike O'Neil/The Think Tank

Legislative issues (and bonus: food boxes)

In this week's "Think Tank," two insider guests -- Mark Bogart and Chuck Coughlin -- will provide perspective on legislative issues and food boxes.
6 years ago
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Mike O'Neil/The Think Tank

Education in Arizona: K-12 Funding and ASU controversy

Education is at the forefront of this week’s Think Tank.
9 years ago
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Mike O'Neil/The Think Tank

The trials of Sheriff Joe Arpaio: Expert legal opinions

This week's Think Tank brings in two of the most informed individuals on the legal issues surround Sheriff Joe Arpaio.
9 years ago
Mike O'Neil/The Think Tank

Post-Democratic presidential debate analysis

The leading Democratic candidates for president finally faced off against one another this week. Here are some questions we’ll discuss: Did Hillary Clinton maintain her front-runner status? Does her nomination seem inevitable again? Did the debate serve to stall her recently falling poll numbers or are they likely to accelerate their recent downward trend? Is Bernie […]
9 years ago
(Photo: Mike O'Neil)...
Mike O'Neil/The Think Tank

The Middle East: Crossroads of civilizations

I’ve just spent a month in Greece and Turkey. This week’s show shares some of my observations. I am certainly not an expert, but did spend the month talking to a wide range of people from the area, most far more informed than I was. There were some surprises: For example, I had never heard […]
9 years ago
Historian Jack August. (Photo: Jack August)...
Mike O'Neil/The Think Tank

We bring in a historian to cap our Arizona history series

Perspectives on Arizona History, Part 4 of 4: Historian Jack August Jack August has written more books than anyone we know about significant historical figures from Arizona’s recent history. That’s why we asked him to bat cleanup in our four-part series on recent Arizona history. We review the last three week’s discussions with Arizona state […]
9 years ago
Think Tank host Mike O'Neil (left) and former Arizona Gov. Fife Symington. (KTAR Photo/Mike O'Neil)...
Mike O'Neil/The Think Tank

Former Arizona Gov. Fife Symington joins the Think Tank

Perspectives on Arizona History, Part 3 of 4: Gov. Fife Symington He is our sole guest in this our third of four shows retracing Arizona history. We promise a fascinating insight into a most interesting man — and at least one blockbuster statement. You’ll have to listen in to know what that one is, but […]
9 years ago