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Washington Post
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Marjorie Taylor Greene for Senate? Why the GOP should be scared.
Republicans confronted a familiar story on Monday: A highly popular governor whom the party badly wanted to run for Senate — but who has clashed with President Donald Trump — decided not to run. Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) joins former New Hampshire governor Chris Sununu on the sidelines in 2026. Prior to this cycle, the GOP missed out on recruits such as Vermont Gov. Phil Scott and former Arizona governor Doug Ducey. All of them weren't really MAGA material but had demonstrated broad appeal. None seemed to want to step onto the national stage.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Opinion - Arizona — not China — is the best place for Tesla's self-driving future
Tesla's testing and deployment of its Full Self-Driving technology in China has become a regulatory quagmire for the company. While China's vast market and apparent government cooperation may appear tempting, Tesla's entanglement with the bureaucratic machinery of state capitalism has only reinforced what should be obvious: the more transparent, stable and innovation-friendly regulatory environment at home in the United States continues to set America apart from its authoritarian competition. No state does it better than Arizona. As a new report from the Goldwater Institute — where I serve as president — makes clear, Phoenix has become the national proving ground for autonomous vehicle deployment, thanks to its clarity of rules and forward-leaning infrastructure. Tesla's initial greenlight to test full self-driving in China appeared to be a breakthrough — an entry into a massive, data-rich EV market. But the illusion of regulatory alignment with Beijing quickly ran into the wall of authoritarian oversight. In March, Chinese authorities halted Tesla's trials under a sweeping new mandate requiring automakers to submit detailed technical information before issuing over-the-air software updates. The effect was swift. Tesla and domestic rival Xpeng were both forced to delay rollouts. It was a stark reminder that in China, the pace of innovation is ultimately subject to the whims of government bureaucrats or strategic priorities of the Chinese Communist Party. Worse still, Tesla's reliance on Chinese infrastructure threatened its proprietary edge. Data collected on Chinese roads — assuming it can leave the country at all — would be subject to government scrutiny or appropriation. In contrast, Phoenix offers a framework anchored in stability and transparency, enabling autonomous vehicle companies to test and tinker without the looming risk of regulatory sabotage. Arizona has emerged as a leader by embracing a freedom-oriented approach to regulation. Since 2015, the state has provided a regulatory framework that promotes experimentation while ensuring safety for the public. Former Gov. Doug Ducey's executive orders and subsequent legislation created a regulatory environment where technology continues to flourish. Companies such as Waymo and Aurora have already made Phoenix a hub for driverless innovation, logging millions of miles in real-world conditions. Unlike other areas burdened by excessive bureaucratic drag, Arizona champions permissionless innovation — allowing companies to develop, test and refine their technologies without unnecessary bureaucratic interference. This regulatory certainty should be essential for companies like Tesla, which typically needs flexibility and minimal red tape to iterate rapidly and improve its neural network. Beyond regulation, Arizona provides ideal physical and logistical conditions for autonomous vehicle testing. Phoenix's dry, predictable climate minimizes environmental variables, allowing for consistent data collection. Its sprawling suburban layout and infrastructure mirror the conditions where full self-driving is likely most effective in early iterations. The region's extensive highways, diverse road types, and mixture of urban and suburban environments offer Tesla a comprehensive testing ground that better reflects the driving conditions of its core U.S. market. Autonomous driving is not merely a convenience — it is a transformative, life-saving technology. By removing unpredictable human error, driverless vehicles could prevent tens of thousands of deaths each year. Data from Waymo's operations in Phoenix reinforces this promise, demonstrating that driverless vehicles experience markedly fewer accidents than human drivers. Engineering prowess alone won't carry the industry forward, however. Long-term success depends on building public confidence through transparent, accountable testing. That trust is best cultivated in the United States, where states like Arizona enable companies to innovate without the looming threat of regulatory whiplash or local obstruction. Tesla's bet on China went bust, but the lessons run deeper: Innovation will not flourish when government prescribes methods and outcomes. In the geopolitical race for autonomous dominance, America's advantage will never grow by mimicking state-run models. If the United States hopes to maintain its global leadership in autonomous vehicle technology, it must safeguard a freedom-first model of innovation — one rooted in private property, constitutional order and consistent safety standards. The Arizona model, which pairs clarity with space for experimentation, offers a smart place to start. Victor Riches is the president and CEO of the Goldwater Institute. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
14-04-2025
- Automotive
- The Hill
Arizona — not China — is the best place for Tesla's self-driving future
Tesla's testing and deployment of its Full Self-Driving technology in China has become a regulatory quagmire for the company. While China's vast market and apparent government cooperation may appear tempting, Tesla's entanglement with the bureaucratic machinery of state capitalism has only reinforced what should be obvious: the more transparent, stable and innovation-friendly regulatory environment at home in the United States continues to set America apart from its authoritarian competition. No state does it better than Arizona. As a new report from the Goldwater Institute — where I serve as president — makes clear, Phoenix has become the national proving ground for autonomous vehicle deployment, thanks to its clarity of rules and forward-leaning infrastructure. Tesla's initial greenlight to test full self-driving in China appeared to be a breakthrough — an entry into a massive, data-rich EV market. But the illusion of regulatory alignment with Beijing quickly ran into the wall of authoritarian oversight. In March, Chinese authorities halted Tesla's trials under a sweeping new mandate requiring automakers to submit detailed technical information before issuing over-the-air software updates. The effect was swift. Tesla and domestic rival Xpeng were both forced to delay rollouts. It was a stark reminder that in China, the pace of innovation is ultimately subject to the whims of government bureaucrats or strategic priorities of the Chinese Communist Party. Worse still, Tesla's reliance on Chinese infrastructure threatened its proprietary edge. Data collected on Chinese roads — assuming it can leave the country at all — would be subject to government scrutiny or appropriation. In contrast, Phoenix offers a framework anchored in stability and transparency, enabling autonomous vehicle companies to test and tinker without the looming risk of regulatory sabotage. Arizona has emerged as a leader by embracing a freedom-oriented approach to regulation. Since 2015, the state has provided a regulatory framework that promotes experimentation while ensuring safety for the public. Former Gov. Doug Ducey's executive orders and subsequent legislation created a regulatory environment where technology continues to flourish. Companies such as Waymo and Aurora have already made Phoenix a hub for driverless innovation, logging millions of miles in real-world conditions. Unlike other areas burdened by excessive bureaucratic drag, Arizona champions permissionless innovation — allowing companies to develop, test and refine their technologies without unnecessary bureaucratic interference. This regulatory certainty should be essential for companies like Tesla, which typically needs flexibility and minimal red tape to iterate rapidly and improve its neural network. Beyond regulation, Arizona provides ideal physical and logistical conditions for autonomous vehicle testing. Phoenix's dry, predictable climate minimizes environmental variables, allowing for consistent data collection. Its sprawling suburban layout and infrastructure mirror the conditions where full self-driving is likely most effective in early iterations. The region's extensive highways, diverse road types, and mixture of urban and suburban environments offer Tesla a comprehensive testing ground that better reflects the driving conditions of its core U.S. market. Autonomous driving is not merely a convenience — it is a transformative, life-saving technology. By removing unpredictable human error, driverless vehicles could prevent tens of thousands of deaths each year. Data from Waymo's operations in Phoenix reinforces this promise, demonstrating that driverless vehicles experience markedly fewer accidents than human drivers. Engineering prowess alone won't carry the industry forward, however. Long-term success depends on building public confidence through transparent, accountable testing. That trust is best cultivated in the United States, where states like Arizona enable companies to innovate without the looming threat of regulatory whiplash or local obstruction. Tesla's bet on China went bust, but the lessons run deeper: Innovation will not flourish when government prescribes methods and outcomes. In the geopolitical race for autonomous dominance, America's advantage will never grow by mimicking state-run models. If the United States hopes to maintain its global leadership in autonomous vehicle technology, it must safeguard a freedom-first model of innovation — one rooted in private property, constitutional order and consistent safety standards. The Arizona model, which pairs clarity with space for experimentation, offers a smart place to start.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Autonomous vehicles make Arizona roads safer. That's no accident
Arizonans are living in the future, and many in our community may not even know it. It's become such a part of our everyday lives that you need to look closely to realize there's no one behind the wheel of some cars gliding down streets like Camelback Road and navigating the intricacies of Phoenix traffic at rush hour. While many other states remain paralyzed by the thought of reconciling technology with older infrastructure, Arizona has done something remarkable: It has embraced rather than shunned self-driving car technology, creating a model rooted in innovation, regulatory humility and the principles of freedom. This was no accident. It came from deliberate leadership, according to a new report from the Goldwater Institute, where I work. In 2015, then-Gov. Doug Ducey issued an executive order launching Arizona's experiment in what's been labeled permissionless innovation — the idea that regulatory frameworks should default to openness, transparency and stability. Rather than allowing bureaucrats to imagine dangers for them to act against, the order required regulators to demonstrate tangible harm before intervening. The Arizona model — now codified into law — has positioned our state as a leader in innovation while keeping our communities safe by mandating that autonomous vehicle companies meet federal safety standards, respond intelligently to system failures, and maintain full compliance with traffic laws and insurance requirements. Yet it avoids the reflexive overreach that has plagued other states, where layers of local and state mandates often unintentionally work together to render innovation nearly impossible. In Arizona, regulatory authority is streamlined at the state level, ensuring safety while avoiding the policy fragmentation that too often creates complicated webs of regulation that stops companies from deploying new technologies before they can even start. The results speak for themselves. As of 2024, 13 companies are actively testing and deploying autonomous vehicles across Arizona's roads. Waymo alone has logged more than 20 million autonomous miles in the Phoenix metro area, with peer-reviewed data revealing a dramatic reduction in crashes. That includes 81% fewer airbag deployments and 78% fewer injury-causing collisions compared to human drivers over the same distance, Waymo reports. But autonomous vehicles do more than reduce risk on the roads. Opinion: AI fights fires and drives cars. Soon, it'll do our jobs For older adults, people who are blind and those with other disabilities, these vehicles can offer long-overdue freedom and independence. When designed with accessibility in mind — and through strategic partnerships with organizations such as the National Federation of the Blind — companies like Waymo are engineering vehicles that do more than drive: they communicate, accommodate and adapt to meet riders where they are. A freedom once dependent on others can now be self-directed. Arizona has earned this success by doing the opposite of our neighbors to the west in California, where multiple government agencies impose broad but fragmented permitting regimes and operational limits. While caution has its place, the way autonomous vehicles will reshape infrastructure, labor markets and public safety cannot be overstated. According to economist Jim Rounds, Arizona is likely to attract $6.1 billion in research and development related to autonomous vehicles, creating 39,000 direct jobs and potentially $4.3 billion in economic output. Rounds also estimates, conservatively, that the industry could generate up to $500 million in tax revenue by 2030 if Arizona's supportive regulatory environment remains intact. If we want to stay ahead of the pack, the impulse to regulate must be disciplined by humility and trust. Regulation must remain retrospective — based on demonstrable harm — and must continue to be standardized at the state level. Embracing a freedom-based model for technology will continue to make our lives better. As other states scramble to rewrite regulations for autonomous vehicles at the municipal level, Arizonans can look toward the future, trusting that our framework embraces both innovation and safety on our roads. And in doing so, it invites the nation to follow our lead by putting on display the success to back it up. Brian Norman is director of state affairs at the Goldwater Institute, where he leads the institute's nationwide government affairs strategy. Reach him at bnorman@ This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Waymo put Phoenix innovation on the map. That was the point | Opinion
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
The COVID-19 pandemic is 5 years old. Here's how Arizona fared
Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, on March 11, 2020, declared a state of emergency over a new respiratory virus. At the time there had been nine cases reported in Arizona. The same day that Ducey issued his declaration, the World Health Organization said that novel coronavirus was a worldwide pandemic. Since that time, the illness caused by the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, became known as COVID-19. The federal tally of COVID-19 deaths in Arizona since 2020, as reported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is 31,333. Nationally, the tally is 1.2 million, the CDC says. Worldwide, the death count is 7.1 million and the U.S. has had more COVID-19 deaths than any other country, followed by Brazil and India. Here are five facts about COVID-19 in Arizona: The first Arizona case — the fifth in the U.S. — was confirmed in a 26-year-old Maricopa County man on Jan. 26, 2020. Back then, the virus did not have a name and was often being referred to as the new coronavirus or novel coronavirus. The advice from public health officials at the time was to take precautions similar to preventing the flu. Not long after a March 7 religious rally in the Navajo community of Chilchinbeto in Northern Arizona, patients with low oxygen saturation rates, fever and trouble breathing began seeking care at tribal health facilities. State health officials called the surge in tribal cases a "significant outbreak" and the case numbers made headlines across the country as a hotspot for infections. By April 16, the Navajo Nation, which has reservation land in Arizona, Utah and New Mexico and about 180,000 residents, had reported 838 positive cases and 33 known deaths. Most of the positive cases — 543 — were in Arizona, the tribe reported. Also, by mid-April, the Arizona Department of Heath Services reported Native Americans comprised 21% of COVID-19 deaths where race and ethnicity was known, even though about 4.6% of Arizonans are American Indian or Alaska Native. In a joint statement, Maricopa County and the Arizona Department of Health Services on March 20, 2020, announced that a man in his 50s who had underlying health conditions had died of COVID-19. The Arizona Republic confirmed through an autopsy report that the man who died was Trevor Bui, a 50-year-old deputy Phoenix aviation director. Bui died at his Chandler home March 17, 2020, Maricopa County Medical Examiner records say, and never knew he was positive for COVID-19. Viruses: It's been a severe flu season in Arizona. How much longer will it linger? When the COVID-19 vaccine first became widely available in 2021, there was a huge rush to get appointments. Demand constantly exceeded supply. But by June of that year, interest in getting vaccinated had waned and deaths continued. "It's very clear that the serious cases, the ones that become hospitalized, or worse, death — those are the ones that are unvaccinated," David Engelthaler, director of the infectious disease branch of the Arizona-based Translational Genomics Research Institute said in July 2021. There are well-documented cases of deaths connected with the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, as well as cases of serious side effects from all of the COVID-19 vaccines. But taken as a whole, the COVID-19 vaccine is extremely effective at preventing infection, hospitalization and death. Misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine proliferated in Arizona and across the U.S. and Arizona's COVID-19 vaccination rate lagged the rest of the country throughout the pandemic. Many Republicans argued that mitigation measures impinged on individual freedoms. "I was really surprised at how political all this got," said Will Humble, executive director of the Arizona Public Health Association. "When the COVID-19 vaccine first came out and people were rushing to get it, I thought the anti-vax movement would be gone for sure. My jaw dropped when I saw it made it worse." During the past three months, 206 Arizonans have died from COVID-19, the CDC says. Those at highest risk are people with weakened immune systems, including elderly people. Reach health care reporter Stephanie Innes at or follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @stephanieinnes. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Overview of Arizona's handling of COVID-19 pandemic 5 years later
