By Corinne Murdock |

Gov. Katie Hobbs’ ex-press secretary, Josselyn Berry, ousted for tweeting a death threat to “transphobes” hours after the Nashville school shooting, has returned to the dark money organization she worked for previously. 

After laying low for several months and privatizing her social accounts, Berry reactivated her LinkedIn and publicly announced her hire by Progress Arizona. She began working with the organization in June. 

“After a much-needed sabbatical I’m thrilled to announce I’ve returned home to my Progress Now family as their Senior Director of Campaigns,” said Berry. “I’ll be working with our battleground states to help them run winning programs for the 2024 election cycle.”

Although Berry has reactivated her LinkedIn account, her X page (formerly known as Twitter) remains private. At some point after inciting controversy and making her X page private, Berry updated her profile header image from a picture of Hobbs to the phrase “Trans Rights Are Human Rights.” 

Those who reacted positively to Berry’s characterization of her departure from the Ninth Floor included Hobbs’ policy advisor, Molly Murphy; Hobbs’ deputy chief of staff, Will Gaona; Arizona House communications director, Robbie Sherwood; Arizona Senate Democratic Caucus communications director Calli Jones; Arizona House Democratic Caucus senior policy advisor Vicente Reyna; and Phoenix Vice Mayor Yassamin Ansari’s communications director, Emily O’Neil.

Berry resigned within days after issuing a general death threat to those opposed to transgender ideology. The morning after the Covenant School shooting, Berry posted a gif of a woman holding guns in each hand with the caption “Us when we see transphobes.”

Less than 24 hours before, a woman who identified as a transgender man shot and killed three elementary school-aged children and three teachers at the Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee. 

Prior to her communications gigs with Hobbs, the Arizona Democratic Party, and the Arizona Senate Democrats, Berry served as the Progress Arizona executive director and chairman.

The dark money nonprofit has received funding from One Arizona, which in turn received funding from the dark money behemoth Arabella Advisors’ five nonprofit arms.

The nonprofit has also received funding from George Soros directly, such as through his Democracy PAC, and indirectly, such as through the Future Now Fund (aka PAC For America’s Future). 

The nonprofit then turns around and issues funding to a number of progressive nonprofits including the Arizona Advocacy Network, CASE, Civic Engagement Beyond, League of Women Voters AZ, LUCHA, Our Voice Our Vote, Poder Latinx, and Rural Arizona Action.

Berry also previously worked as the program manager for Arizona Wins and communications coordinator for the Arizona Advocacy Network, two key organizations within the state’s leftist dark money network.

Corinne Murdock is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to corinne@azfreenews.com.