The Jeff Oravits Show Podcast

Flagstaff’s minimum wage is officially headed to $18.95 an hour, and I take a deep dive into how we got here—and where we go from here.
 
I break down the latest CPI numbers, the possibility of an interest-rate cut, Arizona’s new statewide minimum wage and Flagstaff’s much higher wage. What are the real-world impacts on small businesses, workers, prices and jobs? And what needs to happen to stop these automatic increases before they create an even bigger economic problem?
Plus, the debut of our new song, “The Minimum Wage Blues” by Click and Clack and the AI Machine.
 
Then we switch gears—or maybe airplanes! My son and aspiring aviator Owen joins me to talk about our next father-son flying adventure. We’re taking our little plane to Roswell, New Mexico for the 2026 National Championship Air Races, home of the world’s fastest motorsport. Seven racing classes, airplanes topping 500 mph, the USAF Thunderbirds—and Owen and I are flying ourselves there!
 
Economics, airplanes and a little Minimum Wage Blues.

Glenn Leest with WT Wealth Managment does a deep dive into AI from an investment angle but also from a moral angle and discusses the upside and downside to this rapidly moving technology. 

Isabel Oravits has visited all 50 states, traveled throughout Europe and explored destinations around the world. Now, she is turning those experiences—and her lifelong passion for travel—into IO Adventures, a travel advisory company dedicated to helping others plan unforgettable journeys of their own.
In this special father-daughter conversation, Isabel shares some of her favorite travel stories, the lessons she has learned along the way and what inspired her to launch IO Adventures. We discuss family road trips, international adventures, cultural experiences, solo travel and why seeing the world can change the way you understand other people—and yourself.
Whether you dream of exploring international destinations, visiting America’s national parks, immersing yourself in another culture or simply taking the stress out of planning your next vacation, Isabel can help turn that dream into a personalized adventure.
Learn more and start planning your next journey at IO-Adventures.com.

Angela joins me as we take on President Trump’s surprise promise of a $5,000 “dividend” for every adult American if Republicans retain the House and Senate — a proposal that could cost roughly $1.2 trillion at a time when the national debt has already topped $40 trillion. We’re not exactly cheering this one on.
Then we turn local and look at what’s happened to NAU’s once-generous Lumberjack Scholars Award. It covered 100% of Flagstaff-campus tuition as recently as 2024–25; NAU now lists the award at $11,000 per year for qualifying Arizona freshmen.
And the expenses don’t stop at tuition. For freshmen living on campus, NAU requires a meal plan, with 2026–27 plans starting at $2,874 per semester. Angela and I run the numbers and ask: How much of a “scholarship” is left once a family actually writes the checks?
 
https://nau.edu/financial-aid/scholarships/freshman/#AZ-residents

Republican nominee for Arizona Attorney General Warren Petersen joins Jeff for an exclusive interview covering Gov. Katie Hobbs’ controversial legal defense fund, the surprising loophole that allows its donors to remain undisclosed, and Attorney General Kris Mayes’ decision not to pursue criminal charges in the Sunshine Residential Homes investigation.
Petersen explains what he believes the Attorney General should have done differently, what donor activity should be off-limits for public officials, and how his years as Arizona Senate President have put him at the center of major legal fights—including cases reaching the U.S. Supreme Court.
Plus, Petersen weighs in on Arizona’s water battle, election lawsuits and the major initiatives voters will decide in November.

Glenn Leest of WT Wealth Management joins Jeff for a wide-ranging look at the economy and financial markets.
With the Dow around 53,000, they discuss what’s driving markets despite stubborn inflation and high interest rates—and whether investors have already priced in the continuing war with Iran and its impact on energy prices.
Plus, is the massive investment in artificial intelligence the beginning of a lasting technological transformation or a bubble waiting to burst? Glenn and Jeff look at AI, blockchain, the enormous data-center buildout and where the next generation of technology may be headed.

Arizona Rep. Walt Blackman of Legislative District 7 joins Jeff to talk about the latest battle over Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Account program and what the future may hold for school choice in the state.
They also look ahead to the November election, the statewide political landscape and several of the ballot initiatives Arizona voters will decide. Plus, what does the future look like for LD7 and Northern Arizona as the district prepares for eventual changes in its representation?

Northern Arizona sits in the largest contiguous ponderosa pine forest in the world—but how much do we really know about the timber growing all around us?
Joe Call of Pine Line Timber and Joe Dirt Excavation joins Jeff to talk about the past, present and future of Northern Arizona’s timber industry. Why is active forest management so important to forest health and reducing the threat of catastrophic wildfire? What can ponderosa pine actually be used for? And if we have so much of it, why don't you typically walk into a Home Depot and see Arizona ponderosa pine 2x4s?
Joe also discusses Pine Line Timber's operation in Williams, the challenges of turning forest restoration into usable products, and the important role timber played in building some of Northern Arizona's historic communities.
It's a conversation about forests, fire, history, jobs—and whether putting more of our local timber to work can help create healthier Northern Arizona forests.

Jeff talks with Nishan Campbell, co-founder and CEO of Gunfighter Canyon, about his military and civilian career and the story behind building Gunfighter Canyon in Northern Arizona.
Then they dive into a major 2nd Amendment update: the history of the National Firearms Act, changes under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the Silencer Shop v. ATF challenge, and what eliminating the NFA tax could mean for federal regulation going forward.
They also break down the uncertainty facing FFLs, what could change for suppressors, short-barreled rifles and short-barreled shotguns, why machine guns remain a different issue, and where the legal battle over the NFA may head next.
 
www.gunfighter.com

Arizona cities are backing away from Flock license plate cameras as privacy and misuse concerns grow — and state lawmakers may step in with new rules. Plus, a bizarre tied election in Gila Bend comes down to a game of chance,  and we look at the major changes Arizona voters could face if Prop 144 passes.
Also on the show: another disturbing secret-filming case in Tempe, Meta agrees to a massive $17 billion settlement over teen social media addiction, and Arizona schools debate a new $1,700 federal school-choice tax credit.