An Interview with Arizona's MeeMaw, The Real Thelma Johnson (@TheRealThelmaJ1)

We caught up with our favorite Twitterer!

What? You don’t follow Arizona’s MeeMaw on Twitter? You’re missing so much fun, so much pointed commentary, and—soon—a great zucchini bread recipe! We caught up with Thelma and are excited to publish the following Q&A:

Hi Thelma! We're delighted you've agreed to answer our written questions. And we have lots!

1. You clearly love our state very much, and there is a lot to love! What are your favorite places to visit in Arizona?

You really can't go wrong in Arizona, I love the entire state, it's so diverse and beautiful.  I used to go up North but I'm too damn old to spend 6 hours in traffic after the inevitable accident at Sunset Point, so I like to go out to Globe and down to Patagonia, sometimes up to Alpine.  Coming home to North Phoenix is very comforting though, I get restless when I don't have a smoke shop or McDonald's nearby.

2.  You've also found a lot of highway signs around Arizona. Where have you seen "Kari Lake Lost" signs in unexpected places? We can't wait to try the new Ben & Jerry's flavor, Kari Lake Lost! Is it good?

I see Kari Lake Lost everywhere I look and as you know I love hearing people say those words.  There are a lot of right wing nutjobs in Arizona but as we showed in 2022 and with the current fake elector trial, Election Denial doesn't fly here, and Kari Lake is the face of election denial in our state.  On my Twitter I started emphasizing the fact Kari lost a year and a half ago now.  I feel like the community and the press have picked up on this, and when people in Arizona hear the word 'loser' they see a picture of Kari Lake in their mind.  She is the worst Governor we never had.

3. What are Kari Lake's chances of losing the Senate race also? Why didn't she have to resign as Governor before running for Senate?

Ruben Gallego is a good man and has served Arizona well for 10 years as a Congressman.  Kari Lake's attempts to paint him as some kind of open border radical Marxist have fallen flat in my opinion.  Ruben has done what I would do, run a straight ahead campaign and let Kari talk herself into another loss.  Things Kari has done like giving a speech up there in Show Low in front of the Confederate Flag are just a recent example. 

4.  We love your Twitter threads, which often tell inconvenient truths. What are your thoughts about Twitter these days, under the Elon Musk monarchy? Do you think you'll ever move to another social media platform?

Elon is a total douchelord.  It's difficult on Twitter some days because Elon's Twitter feed is a continuous stream of MAGA propaganda.  You don't see any other platform owners doing this.  Imagine if Mark Zuckerberg hopped on Instagram every day to push conspiracies like the Great Replacement theory.  It's crazy, but it's clearly the reason he bought the platform in the first place.  Still, there are so many good people on Twitter who keep me going that it would be hard to lose them, including you all!

5.  Where do you like to get your national and local news? Do you have any relatives who are suffering from Fox News Derangement Syndrome?

I get a lot of my news from Arizona sites like NBC12, Arizona's Family, Phoenix New Times, The Arizona Republic and The Tucson Daily Star which I subscribe to digitally.  I also read Politico and the Arizona Agenda.  We all have family members under the influence of Fox News, luckily all my immediate family members take cues from Mee Maw and my grandchildren are proud to be woke.  I do have some in-laws obsessed with whatever Fox is talking about that day.

6.  OK, into some specifics about Arizona politics. You seem to follow our legislature pretty closely and we really appreciate that! Who is your favorite legislator to track?

Priya Sundareshan is an incredible voice in our legislature and we are lucky to have her, I read everything she writes on Social Media and I feel like she would make a wonderful Governor someday.  I also have very high regard for Analise Ortiz who genuinely cares about her constituents and represents a generation that has come of age facing so many societal challenges.  Oscar de los Santos has style, and he is a Rhodes Scholar!  We have so many good Dems in the legislature.

In terms of who is the worst, think about it, it's an impossible decision: Sonny Borrelli, Anthony Kern, Wendy Rogers, Justine Wadsack, Rachel Jones, Warren Petersen, Joe Chaplik, Shawnna Bolick...  It's like trying to choose your favorite natural disaster. 

7. Did you watch the proceedings around repealing the 1864 abortion ban? Follow-up about the 15-week abortion ban now in effect: How close to death does a pregnant person have to be to deserve emergency care? 

I did watch everything related to the 1864 Abortion Ban.  Too many in the Arizona legislature are under the sway of Cathi Herrod who wants a modern day Handmaid's Tale.  A complete and total ban is what they want.  Arizona was in the National spotlight when it comes to abortion rights, but there are so many states where women are struggling since Roe was ended two years ago.  I have not forgotten about Clint Bolick and Kathryn King, two of the judges on our Supreme Court who are up for retention, and support Progress Arizona's campaign against them.

8.  Did you sign the Arizona for Abortion Access petition? Do you think it will make the ballot, survive legal challenges, and will the voters pass it?

I did sign it and that group is amazing.  Chris Love is a personal hero.  When the 1864 ban was imposed they were already there with over 500,000 signatures to get abortion on the ballot.  Yes I think it will pass.  As far as legal challenges we need to make sure Bolick and King are not retained.

9.  What's the worst legislative referral to the 2024 ballot? Please say Prop 137, which would eliminate our right to retain/not retain judges--especially now that we know what an unaccountable court looks like. But I'll understand if you pick Prop 134, which would require initiatives & referenda to get 10-15% of signatures from each and every legislative district instead of statewide.

They are loading the ballot with horrible ideas and it's critical that we educate the electorate as to what those initiatives are, what the names are and how to vote them down.  [Prop 137] is trying to strip us of more rights and these people are trying to save their friends from the wrath of women after the 1864 decision.  We're lucky we get to vote to retain judges and it should be a non-partisan issue to vote [Prop 137] down.  Shawnna Bolick voting on this and trying to save her husband's job is just slimy.

10. Will the legislature flip to Democrats in 2024? What does your Magic 8-Ball say? 

There have been some upheaval with people leaving, etc. but I think we have a very good chance.

11. What should be the first bill introduced in 2025? What should a new Democratic majority prioritize?

Drive the budget hard and early.  If they get the Senate ratify Katie Hobbs' appointments.

12. What's going on with these ESA vouchers? Is that a good use of taxpayer money, instead of upgrading roads, improving infrastructure, providing health care, or funding public schools?

We're going broke and cutting water programs for Apple Watches, Ninja Lessons and $1000 Lego Sets.  It's completely insane.  The money is going to people who don't need it and the program is being horribly administered by Tom Horne.  It seems like it is all part of a plan to destroy public education and I fear for our children's future.

13: Do you have any LGBTQ+ family members? Do you find they need extra support these days? How are they coping with this nasty political climate?

I have a trans grandson and he is the bravest and kindest person I know.  He came of age in High School with Obama but I warned him then that he had to vote to protect his rights.  Gen Z just accept each other while every other generation fights over bathrooms.  He has a teaching degree but is choosing to work at a coffee shop right now and I support his choices.  He hopes to teach High School in the next few years.

14. CEBV has a Fellowship for young people who want to take meaningful action on issues they care about. What are your words of wisdom for these inspiring young people?

I would say "thank you" to them and also recommend that they be true to their principles and always have a concept of honor and character.  History writes the stories of people who do the right thing.  I think this is wonderful and I am grateful for CEBV.

15. For young people who feel their voices don't matter, what is your advice about why they should register and vote?

I would tell them their voices matter more now than ever before in U.S. history.  So many elections are decided by the slimmest of margins now.  In terms of who to vote for, look at substance.  Read the candidates' websites and look at their records and also F Donald Trump.

16. What are your hopes for your grandchildren and great grandchildren?

To live in the same Democracy I have, which after events like the Presidential Immunity decision today put us on a precarious edge at the mercy of men with dictatorial ambitions.  I hope the cult of MAGA disappears and they don't have to deal with Trumphumpers.

We could go on and on...but just one last question:

18: Can you share your zucchini bread recipe?

I promised I would when I hit 70,000 Twitter followers and I'm not far away!