Latest news with #TheGaggle
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Capitol drama: Sen. Hoffman justifies still playing hardball with Gov. Hobbs' nominees
After years of back-and-forth drama, Gov. Katie Hobbs announced in May that she would not submit any more agency director nominations to the state Senate for confirmation. She blamed what she called the "circus" environment for vetting her nominees. "I'm quite frankly done with Jake Hoffman and his agenda," the governor said in early May. "We're going to move forward in the best way possible in the current environment." This came after two directors of the state's health care agencies stepped down, saying it was clear they would not be confirmed. Hobbs has been battling the state Senate since she took office for her director nominees, who have gone through a rigorous and unprecedented vetting process. Because of this, for the majority of her time in office, the agency heads tasked with implementing her agenda have operated on an interim basis. State Sen. Jake Hoffman heads the Committee on Direction Nominations, which recommends whether a nominee should get a vote of the full Senate. He self-identified on The Gaggle as "one of the most conservative members of the Legislature." The Queen Creek Republican is also one of the people indicted in the fake electors case, which charges the electors who broke the law by attempting to falsely certify Donald Trump as Arizona's choice for president in 2020. This week on The Gaggle, a politics podcast by The Arizona Republic and hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl are joined by Sen. Hoffman to discuss why he thinks the stiff scrutiny on the governor's picks is justified. Later in the episode, Doug Cole, a Republican veteran of state government who knows the process of nominating and selling Cabinet seats to lawmakers, joins to explore this unheard-of situation between the sitting governor and the leader of the Senate committee. The best way to listen is to subscribe to The Gaggle on your favorite podcast app, but you can also stream the full episode below. Note: The Gaggle is intended to be heard. But we also offer an AI transcript of the episode script. There may be slight deviations from the podcast audio. Follow The Gaggle and all azcentral podcasts on X, formerly Twitter and Instagram. Listen to The Gaggle : Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher You can share your thoughts with us at 602-444-0804 or via email here. Reach the producer Amanda Luberto at aluberto@ Follow her on X, formerly Twitter @amandaluberto and on Bluesky @amandaluberto. Abby Bessinger assisted with production. You can reach Abby at This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Inside Arizona's standoff: Hobbs vs. Hoffman over director nominees
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Kris Mayes wanted to save democracy from Arizona's fake electors. Now what?
The public has broadly moved on from then-President Joe Biden's win over Donald Trump in 2020, but there is a major exception to that in Arizona. Kari Lake, a member of Trump's current administration, still spends time denouncing the results, but the state's Democratic Attorney General Kris Mayes is more focused on the Republicans who tried to help sidestep Arizona's certified election results. These "fake electors," including people like former Arizona GOP Chair Kelli Ward and former Arizona state Sen. Anthony Kern, are at the center of a felony case pending by Mayes, and going through with the lawsuit was a vital point in her election campaign. But now, those Republicans have been handed a victory. A Maricopa County Superior Court judge recently ordered Mayes to take her evidence back to the grand jury to inform them of a key legal argument made by the electors. This ruling may — or may not — undercut Mayes' case enough to reconsider a matter she has framed as protecting democracy itself. This week on The Gaggle, a politics podcast by The Arizona Republic and hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl are joined by former Democratic Attorney General Terry Goddard, and later, Republic reporter Stacey Barchenger. Goddard breaks down how rare it is for a case to go back to the grand jury for matters of defense, rather than elements of the alleged crimes, and other insights into the law. Stacey then joins The Gaggle to discuss this specific case and what it means for Mayes' political future. The best way to listen is to subscribe to The Gaggle on your favorite podcast app, but you can also stream the full episode below. Note: The Gaggle is intended to be heard. But we also offer an AI transcript of the episode script. There may be slight deviations from the podcast audio. Follow The Gaggle and all azcentral podcasts on X, formerly Twitter, and Instagram. Listen to The Gaggle : Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher You can share your thoughts with us at 602-444-0804 or via email here. Reach the producer Amanda Luberto at aluberto@ Follow her on X, formerly Twitter, @amandaluberto and on Bluesky @amandaluberto. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Kris Mayes' future after fake electors case update
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
A quiet border doesn't mean deportations in AZ are down. It's just not where you'd expect
Since President Donald Trump returned to the White House, there is a new reality taking place along America's southern border with Mexico. What was once a busy environment of crossings from Central and South America is now more subtle and almost quiet. The Trump administration has only been in office for a few months, but the early days seem to make good on a promise of stricter immigration reform and border security. A new front facing posture has taken over Border Patrol and it's one reason why there are fewer people trying to get into America by way of Mexico. But an intimidating defense along the border is not the only reason detention numbers have decreased. And deportations in other parts of Arizona — like Phoenix — are actually increasing. This week on The Gaggle, a politics podcast by The Arizona Republic and hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl are joined by Republic reporters Richard Ruelas and Raphael Romero Ruiz. They have been following the latest dynamics in Arizona's border with Mexico. Together, they discuss what the border has looked like since Trump regained office, what it means for the communities along the border, and how a crack down on immigration is playing out in Phoenix. The best way to listen is to subscribe to The Gaggle on your favorite podcast app, but you can also stream the full episode below. Note: The Gaggle is intended to be heard. But we also offer an AI transcript of the episode script. There may be slight deviations from the podcast audio. Follow The Gaggle and all azcentral podcasts on X, formerly Twitter and Instagram. Listen to The Gaggle : Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher You can share your thoughts with us at 602-444-0804 or via email here. Reach the producer Amanda Luberto at aluberto@ Follow her on X, formerly Twitter @amandaluberto and on Bluesky @amandaluberto. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Why Arizona deportations are up — even with a quiet US-Mexico border
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Arizona's budget is in total limbo right now. But actually, that might be a good thing
National economic uncertainty is impacting Arizona lawmakers and their budget deadline. But this year, there may be good reason to push to the last minute. President Donald Trump's fluctuating tariff policies and Congress' wanting $800 billion in savings − most likely out of Medicaid over a 10-year period − has made it hard to keep up with the economic picture. Despite some informal conversations on a plan for the state budget, talks have yet to be held between "the big three": Gov. Katie Hobbs, House Speaker Steve Montenegro and Senate President Warren Petersen. The budget year starts July 1 and the June 30 deadline is quickly approaching. In January, budget officials expected around $600 million in surplus for lawmakers to use, but the number is looking closer to about half that. It's hard to predict at the moment how recession fears in Washington, D.C., are going to affect the state. And yet, lawmakers are creating a wish list of projects they'd like funding in the next year. From proposals to spend $39 million for a road project in the southeast Valley to $15 million for the Prescott rodeo grounds, lawmakers have new demands on the state budget. That is if the state has the money to pay for them. This week on The Gaggle, a politics podcast by The Arizona Republic and hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl take a look at Arizona's economic forecast and what it might mean for state spending in the year ahead. The best way to listen is to subscribe to The Gaggle on your favorite podcast app, but you also can stream the full episode below. Note: The Gaggle is intended to be heard. But we also offer an AI transcript of the episode script. There may be slight deviations from the podcast audio. Follow The Gaggle and all azcentral podcasts on X, formerly Twitter and Instagram. Listen to The Gaggle : Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher You can share your thoughts with us at 602-444-0804 or via email here. Reach the producer Amanda Luberto at aluberto@ Follow her on X, formerly Twitter @amandaluberto and on Bluesky @amandaluberto. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Trump's tariffs, cuts in Congress impacting AZ budget process
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'In the midst of a coup': Arizona AG Kris Mayes defends her many lawsuits against Trump
Probably more notably than any other Arizona politician, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes is opposed to President Donald Trump. Currently, she involved in 11 lawsuits challenging the administration on topics from birthright citizenship to public health grants, and she is still pursuing the fake electors case from the 2020 election overturn efforts. As the state's top law enforcement officer, she won her job by the narrowest margin of any statewide race in the state's history. But she hasn't taken that as a cause for caution, leaning into what Trump has done so far in his first few months in office. "I would say that I'm right where Arizonans are right now after seeing President Trump's illegal unconstitutional behavior as President," she said this week on The Gaggle, citing his declining popularity, especially among independent voters. She has enthusiastically participated in some of the most significant legal confrontations to the president's authority, as well as anyone around him who she says has broken the law. Despite Trump winning Arizona by a larger margin in 2024 than she did in 2022, she holds town halls to allow people to air their grievances on his actions and has collaborated with other swing states to amplify their message. Mayes has her work cut out for her, but the 2026 election looms large already, and she will have to face voters with her record as a counterbalance to the current administration. This week on The Gaggle, a politics podcast by The Arizona Republic and hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl join Attorney General Kris Mayes in her office to discuss some of the high-profile battles she's fighting and what other items are on her to-do list. In the second half of the episode, Ron and Mary Jo explore the platform Mayes has embraced, if that's connecting with Arizonans and how it's impacting her approach to reelection in 2026. The best way to listen is to subscribe to The Gaggle on your favorite podcast app, but you also can stream the full episode below. Note: The Gaggle is intended to be heard. But we also offer an AI transcript of the episode script. There may be slight deviations from the podcast audio. Follow The Gaggle and all azcentral podcasts on X, formerly Twitter and Instagram. Listen to The Gaggle : Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher You can share your thoughts with us at 602-444-0804 or via email here. Reach the producer Amanda Luberto at aluberto@ Follow her on X, formerly Twitter @amandaluberto and on Bluesky @amandaluberto. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Kris Mayes' lawsuits: Why Arizona AG won't back down from Trump
