Exploring Tucson's Conservative Voices: Insights from Chris DeSimone's 'Wake Up' with Lugo, Schweikert, and Setyon

A closer look at the controversial talking points dominating Tucson's airwaves and their implications for public discourse.

Three Sonorans

Feb 20, 2025

🙊 Notable quotes from the show

On Government Debt

David Schweikert: "We're going to extend these expiring tax cuts... but we're going to just borrow most of the money," suggesting the next decade could see an additional $25 trillion in national debt.

On Homelessness and Public Safety

Jesse Lugo: "Their number one issue is public safety, especially the individuals like the homeless roaming around the neighborhood, especially when it gets dark."

On Local Governance

Joe Setyon: "Under Arizona law, local governments are not allowed to implement firearm regulations of any kind."

On Political Commitment

Jesse Lugo: "I listen to the conversation and I start making notes of each and every one of those items that is a concern to them."

On Healthcare

David Schweikert (discussing diabetes): Highlighted how it represents 33% of US healthcare spending and is a massive economic issue.

😽 Keepin’ It Simple Summary for Younger Readers
👧🏾✊🏾👦🏾

A Tucson radio show 🎙️ discussed local politics, featuring Jesse Lugo 🚲, an inspiring candidate campaigning for the city council by engaging with the community; David Schweikert 💰, who warned of massive national debt while exploring healthcare improvements; and Joe Setyon 🏛️, who argues against local firearm regulations. They also touched on COVID-19 vaccine skepticism 💉 and criticisms of government inefficiency ⚖️, showcasing the complex and often polarized local political landscape.

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🗝️ Takeaways

🚲 Listening is Key: Jesse Lugo emphasizes genuine community engagement as he campaigns for city council.
💸 Debt Dilemma: David Schweikert foresees $25 trillion in national debt while advocating for innovative healthcare solutions.
🏛️ Legal Restrictions: Joe Setyon defends state preemption laws that limit local firearm regulations.
🌪️ Misinformation Concerns: Show hosts perpetuate skepticism surrounding COVID-19 vaccines, raising red flags about public health discourse.
🏛️ Undermining Institutions: Discussions regarding IRS layoffs highlight a persistent narrative of government inefficiency.

Tuning into Tucson's Conservative Airwaves: A Progressive Perspective on Wake Up with Chris DeSimone

On a crisp February morning in 2025, the airwaves of Tucson crackled with the characteristic blend of local politics, personal narratives, and conservative commentary that defines Chris DeSimone's "Wake Up" show. Another day, another dive into the echo chamber of local right-wing rhetoric, I thought to myself, adjusting my metaphorical journalistic hazmat suit.

The morning's lineup was a who's who of Tucson's conservative political landscape: Jesse Lugo, a city council candidate with a bootstraps-and-bicycle approach; David Schweikert, a congressman whose fiscal philosophy could make a penny pinch itself; and Joe Setyon from the Goldwater Institute, champion of libertarian legal gymnastics. Buckle up, fellow truth-seekers – it's going to be a bumpy ride through the terrain of local political discourse.

🚲 Jesse Lugo: Pedaling Through Political Possibilities

Jesse Lugo isn't your typical political candidate. At 71, he's navigating the city council race with the same determination he once used to run his Chevron station, quite literally cycling from door to door to gather signatures and community insights. A politician who actually talks to people? Hold onto your voter registration cards, folks – this might be something new.

Lugo's backstory is a quintessential Tucson narrative of resilience. Raised in Barrio Hollywood, he became the family's sole provider after high school, working at a local Chevron station and eventually buying the business. His campaign platform is a mixtape of practical concerns: public safety, street maintenance, and responsive local government.

"Their number one issue is public safety, especially the individuals like the homeless roaming around the neighborhood, especially when it gets dark," Lugo explained.

And here we go, I mentally sighed. The language of "roaming" homeless individuals betrays a perspective that sees unhoused people as a problem to be managed, not humans to be supported. When will we start seeing community members instead of community threats?

Yet, there's something refreshingly authentic about Lugo's approach. He's not just making promises; he's making commitments. "I listen to the conversation and I start making notes of each and every one of those items that is a concern to them," he stated. It's a radical concept in an era of performative politics – actually listening.

His work with the Tucson Business Coalition reveals a nuanced understanding of local economic ecosystems. A small business owner who remembers the power of collective action? Now that's a political plot twist.

💸 David Schweikert: The Fiscal Philosopher-King of Debt Dynamics

Congressman David Schweikert arrived with a PowerPoint presentation's worth of budget concerns compressed into radio-friendly soundbites. His primary sermon? The gospel of governmental fiscal responsibility.

"We're going to extend these expiring tax cuts... but we're going to just borrow most of the money," Schweikert explained, suggesting the next decade could see an additional $25 trillion in national debt.

Twenty-five trillion dollars, I thought. That's not a budget – that's a financial science fiction novel.

Schweikert's healthcare analysis was surprisingly nuanced. He discussed diabetes as a massive economic drain, suggesting preventative approaches could save billions. A conservative talking about systemic healthcare intervention? Un-freaking-precedented.

His discussion of technological solutions in healthcare – like preventing duplicate medical scans – demonstrated a refreshing focus on efficiency. Maybe there's hope for government innovation after all, I mused, even if it comes from an unexpected political quarter.

🏛️ Joe Setyon: Goldwater Institute's Legal Laser Show

Joe Setyon represented the Goldwater Institute, an organization that treats legal challenges like a libertarian video game – always looking for the next level of government restriction.

Their recent lawsuit against Pima County's firearm regulations was framed as a defense of state preemption laws. Because nothing says "freedom" like preventing local communities from addressing their specific safety concerns, I thought with a sardonic mental eye-roll.

"Under Arizona law, local governments are not allowed to implement firearm regulations of any kind," Setyon proclaimed.

The progressive ear hears something different: a systematic dismantling of local governance, a legal sleight of hand that removes community autonomy under the guise of state-level protection.

🌪️ Additional Show Highlights: A Buffet of Local Controversies

The show wasn't just about the featured guests. It was a smorgasbord of local and national talking points that would make a media criticism professor weep.

COVID-19 Vaccine Skepticism

The hosts' commentary on COVID-19 vaccines bordered on medical misinformation. Dangerous whispers disguised as "just asking questions", I thought. Their casual dismissal of medical research betrays a deep mistrust of expertise that could literally cost lives.

IRS Layoffs and Government Bureaucracy

Discussion of IRS employee layoffs revealed a classic conservative narrative: government is inherently inefficient. Because nothing says "functional society" like systematically undermining public institutions, my internal monologue dripped with sarcasm.

🤔 Tucson, We Need to Talk

This morning's radio show was more than entertainment – it was a window into the complex, often frustrating dialogue that defines our local political landscape.

Burning Questions for Our Readers:

How do we transform "listening" from a campaign performance to genuine community engagement?
In a world of increasing polarization, can we find common ground between bootstrap conservatives and systemic change progressives?

Drop your thoughts, your hopes, your revolutionary ideas in the comments. Remember: democracy isn't a spectator sport – it's a conversation, messy and beautiful and absolutely necessary.