AZ Political Podcast: Consultant Chuck Coughlin on Musk’s 3rd party hopes, Gallego’s aspirations

PHOENIX — In my first AZ Political Podcast since coming off Injured Reserve (I was sidelined by shoulder surgery and vacation), Arizona political powerhouse Chuck Coughlin joins me. And he delivers a roundhouse kick to Elon Musk’s dreams of a third American political party.

It’s a different story with Sen. Ruben Gallego’s dreams, however, because while Chuck’s not ready to be in Gallego’s corner in the octagon, he also doesn’t do a takedown on the Arizona freshman senator’s possible presidential aspirations. That’s mainly because Chuck sees the Democratic Party as having a clean slate for 2028. (And, yes, Gallego is interested in running for prez — he’s not visiting the Iowa State Fair next month for the funnel cake.)

Those are the two main topics of this week’s AZ Political Podcast — and for some reason, they seem to weave in and out of each other quite nicely. Maybe not quite as nicely as Ronda Rousey weaves her opponents’ limbs through her legs for a fight-ending armbar — but, hey, I’m playing hurt, remember?

Thanks again to Chuck Coughlin, the president and CEO of HighGround, Inc., for bringing his huge breadth of knowledge of Arizona politics, its players, and its movers and shakers (one of which he happens to be) to the show.

And thank you for watching.

The AZ Political Podcast is available at KTAR.com, the KTAR News app and everywhere you get your podcasts.

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