The Jeff Oravits Show Podcast

Senate President Warren Petersen returns to the show fresh off his rally with President Trump in his bid to be Arizona's next Attorney General. Petersen discusses the lawsuits he's pursued as Senate President perhaps giving a preview of what he'll tackle as AG. Petersen also gives an update on the stalled budget process of Governor Hobbs continued resistance to the Republicans push for a streamlined budget. 

Congressman Eli Crane joins me to discuss a wave of deaths involving scientists connected to aerospace, defense, and even UAP-related programs that has raised serious red flags—and Washington is starting to take notice. Congressman Eli Crane joins me to break down what’s known, what’s not, and whether the public is about to get answers.
We also dive into rising tensions with Iran and the strategic choke point of the Strait of Hormuz. Crane shares stories from his time in the region and gives a blunt assessment.
On the home front, we cover immigration policy, Crane’s push for visa reform and the bipartisan support his push to fast track rebuilding at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.

Northern Arizona went dark—on purpose.
In a move that left roughly 6,000 customers without power across areas north and east of Flagstaff, Arizona Public Service implemented its first-ever Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) under a wildfire mitigation strategy rolled out in 2024. But here’s the question: why now?
Spring winds in Flagstaff aren’t new. So what changed?
I sit down with APS spokesperson Yessica Del-Rincon to break down:
What a PSPS actually is (and why utilities don’t just call it a “blackout”)
The metrics and decision-making behind shutting off power
Why specific communities—from Doney Park to Valle—were targeted
How long outages can last and what it means for schools, businesses, and families
We also connect the dots to Arizona House Bill 2201—a new law requiring utilities to create wildfire prevention plans that may also shield them from massive liability if followed correctly.
Is this about safety… or lawsuits?
With billions in wildfire liability cases tied to utilities like Pacific Gas and Electric Company in California, has Arizona entered a new era where power gets cut before the wind even blows?
And if this becomes the “new normal,” what does it mean for life and business in Northern Arizona?
Plus, Olivia jumps in with a wild story exploring new evidence tied to Noah’s Ark and Biblical 
+ An AZ gubernatorial and city council candidate survive petition challenges and will be on the ballot. 

We start right here in Arizona with what looks like a major political blunder—Rep. David Marshall’s appointment as Navajo County Recorder.  There’s deep ramifications on the Arizona Corporation Commission race and Jeff rehashes the history and concerns with the current incumbents running for re-election. Oh and of course Jeff’s problems with the “stupid windmills” destroying NAZ’s views.
 
Then things take a strange turn. Reports of scientists disappearing or turning up dead are raising serious questions. Is it coincidence… or something more? There are no clear answers, but the pattern is enough to get attention with an investigation beginning in Congress (we’ll talk with Rep. Eli Crane this week on this and other issues)
 
We wrap with the future—where Elon Musk says AI and robotics will replace jobs, and the solution is government-issued income checks. It sounds simple… but raises big questions about who pays, what happens to the economy, and whether work itself is about to fundamentally change. 

Arizona is at the center of it all—and Senator Wendy Rogers joins the show for a wide-ranging, hard-hitting conversation on the issues shaping the state and the nation.
 
We start with the controversy surrounding Congressman Ruben Gallego and connections to former Congressman Eric Swalwell, and what it means for Arizona’s role in the national political spotlight.
 
From there, we dive into one of the most urgent long-term challenges facing the West: water. Is the Colorado River crisis solvable, and could building moratoriums become the new reality for Arizona communities?
 
On the national security front, Senator Rogers—drawing from her experience as a retired Air Force officer—weighs in on Mexico, the evolving threats at the border, and whether massive assets like aircraft carriers are becoming obsolete in modern warfare.
 
Back home, we break down the political battlefield in Arizona:
The most competitive legislative races to watch
What’s at stake if Republicans lose control of the legislature
Budget tensions and veto threats from Governor Katie Hobbs
And where key bills stand as the session heats up
 
This is a no-holds-barred look at Arizona’s role in America’s biggest debates—from water and war to power and policy.

What does a 69-year-old gorilla in Germany have in common with your family dog?
A lot more than you think—especially when it comes to the rising cost of care.
In this episode, Olivia Oravits joins me to talk about the world’s oldest gorilla, Fatou, living her best life at the Berlin Zoo—complete with her own enclosure, dedicated staff, and a level of care most humans would envy.
But while Fatou enjoys her golden years, back home Americans are facing a very different reality: a growing pet cost crisis.
We break down:
The shocking reality that owning a pet can now exceed $50,000 over its lifetime
Why annual costs are averaging over $4,000—and climbing fast
How vet bills have surged 43% in just five years
The rise of “pet debt” as owners turn to credit to cover unexpected care
How modern veterinary medicine is mirroring human healthcare—with similar price tags
And the emotional (and financial) question: how far would you go for your pet?
From zoo longevity to household budgets, this episode explores the evolving relationship between humans and animals—and the real price of that bond.

Diesel prices are surging—and if you think it only impacts truckers, think again.
In this episode, I sit down with Mike Kucharski, Co-Owner and Vice President of JKC Trucking, to break down what’s really happening on the ground just weeks into this latest spike—and why it matters to every American.
We dig into:
What trucking companies are seeing 6 weeks into rising diesel costs
How the industry actually works—owner-operators vs. company drivers
Whether shipping prices are locked in… or quickly passed on to you
The reality that most goods in America move by semi-truck
Why electric big rigs are still barely a factor
How fuel costs ripple through the supply chain and show up on your receipt
And an update on concerns about unqualified or illegal drivers on U.S. highways
Bottom line: when diesel spikes, everything gets more expensive—from groceries to construction materials.
If you want to understand where prices are heading next and what’s really driving inflation behind the scenes, don’t miss this conversation.

Tax Day is here—and we’re cutting through the noise with a hard look at the numbers that actually matter.
How many Americans really pay federal income taxes? Where does your money go once Washington gets it? And how did we go from a time when there was no income tax at all to a system pulling in that takes nearly $7 trillion to run?
In this episode, we break down the full picture:
The surprising number of years America had zero federal income tax
Why roughly 40–45% of Americans pay no federal income tax
Who actually funds the system—and how much they pay
The reality of federal spending: nearly $7 trillion in 2025
Why the government is spending about 30% more than it brings in
The true size of government when you include state and local spending—about one-third of the entire economy
How today compares to history, including when tax rates hit a staggering 94%
We connect the dots between taxes, spending, and the national debt, giving you a clear, data-driven snapshot of where the country stands right now.
If you’ve ever wondered whether the system makes sense—or where it’s headed—this is your Tax Day reality check.

Mark Haughwout joins me for a wide-ranging conversation as the cost of the Iran war surges and Americans brace for higher prices—with no relief in sight from interest rates. We break down the economic ripple effects, from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to what it means for your wallet.
Plus, political drama heats up in DC with resignations, impacts to California’s governor race and a stunning moment as a single-engine plane is forced to land on a Phoenix street.

Olivia Oravits joins me for a real—and at times ridiculous—look at where society is heading.
We start with the rise of “hover parenting” taken to a whole new level… parents now hiring job coaches and stepping into their adult kids’ careers. At what point does helping become hurting? And are we creating a generation that can’t function on their own?
Then we pivot to the future of work, including Mark Zuckerberg experimenting with AI avatars—raising the question: is your next boss even going to be human?
We also hit the latest example of social media insanity, as another viral TikTok trend pushes common sense to the limit. Why do these trends keep happening—and why do people keep following them?