Latest news with #TheGaggle
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Who will replace Rep. Grijalva? Meet the heir apparent, centrist and next gen influence
Early voting begins June 18 in the only federal race this year in Arizona. An election to fill the seat of the late U.S. Rep. Raúl Grijalva is underway in Arizona's Congressional District 7. The race in southern Arizona has produced competitive primaries on both the Republican and Democratic sides, but most of the attention has been focused on three of the five Democrats seeking their party's nod. Running to continue the representative's legacy is his daughter, Adelita Grijalva. She's gotten big endorsements from national progressive organizations and Arizona political heavyweights, but her victory is far from guaranteed. Positioning himself as more of a centrist is Daniel Hernandez, who is laser-focused on cost of living and is establishing himself as a pro-business Democrat. Using TikTok to her advantage is Gen-Z candidate Deja Foxx. She believes the Democrats need new leaders and, at 25 years old, feels strongly that Democrats should be commanding attention in a political era that is dominated by social media. They are not the only candidates for CD 7 voters, but they are the frontrunners in the reliably blue district. This week on The Gaggle, a weekly politics podcast, host Mary Jo Pitzl is joined by Congressional reporter Laura Gersony. Together, they break down the pros and cons of all the candidates on the ballot and explore how the race is shaping up so far. 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: Who's running to replace Raúl Grijalva in Arizona's 7th District?
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Arizona legalized gay marriage before SCOTUS. A decade later, its future is uncertain
June 2025 marks a decade since the U.S. Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage. The landmark 5-4 ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges resolved a long-standing national debate and brought together a conflicting patchwork of state laws. Eight months before the SCOTUS decision, the Republican-dominated state of Arizona legalized same sex marriages, though the road to get there was rocky. In 2006, Arizona voters turned down a measure that would prohibit same-sex marriage and civil unions. However, just two years later, a revised version of the proposal was brought before voters. The new bill defined that marriage in Arizona is only between a man and a woman. Voters approved this measure with 56% in support, and it was enshrined in the state's constitution. But this was not the end of the road for this issue. In 2013, a church in Tempe, a couple who had moved from California, and a pro bono lawyer helped spark the legal fight that led Arizona to legalize same-sex marriage, months before the U.S. Supreme Court ruled week on The Gaggle, a politics podcast by The Arizona Republic and host Mary Jo Pitzl is joined by Republic editor Shaun McKinnon and LGBTQ+ rights advocate Sheila Kloefkorn to look back at the events that led to Arizona in 2014 joining the states that legally recognize gay marriage, and cast forward on what challenges remain. As a reporter, Shaun covered the stories surrounding the fight for marriage equality before it was legal. He gives historical context to the case and reminds listeners what Arizona's political climate was like regarding same-sex marriage in 2013. Sheila talks about advocacy work she did in the community, how it felt to be one of the first gay couples legally married in the state and how she's feeling about the safety of marriage equality in the U.S. The best way to listen is to subscribe to The Gaggle on your favorite podcast app. 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. Reach producer Amanda Luberto at aluberto@ Follow her on X, formerly Twitter, @amandaluberto and on Bluesky @amandaluberto. Abby Bessinger assisted on production and you can reach her at This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Same-sex marriage in Arizona: The road to legalization and what's next
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- 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
