Democratic Congressional Candidate Claims President Trump’s ‘Bloodbath’ Metaphor A Call To Violence

Democratic Congressional Candidate Claims President Trump’s ‘Bloodbath’ Metaphor A Call To Violence

By Corinne Murdock |

Arizona Democratic congressional candidate Kirsten Engel implied that Trump’s recent use of the common “bloodbath” metaphor was a call to violence.

The congressional candidate didn’t come to the conclusion on her own. Engel played off viral claims made in the media by the Biden-Harris campaign and top Democrats. She used the media storm on the former president as an opportunity to condemn her opponent, incumbent Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ-06), for not rebuking Trump’s rhetoric. Ciscomani endorsed Trump earlier this month. 

“Just one week after my opponent endorsed him, President Trump warns of a ‘bloodbath’ if he’s not elected in Nov,” said Engel. “Predictably my opponent remains silent. Time and again he’s demonstrated an unwillingness to stand up to extremism. #AZ06 deserves better.”

Democrats and legacy media claimed that Trump mentioned a “bloodbath” in a political rally Saturday night as a promise of violence should he lose the election, many comparing the rhetoric to the 2021 Capitol breach. However, the former president was warning that his loss in the upcoming presidential race would result in a “bloodbath” for the country’s auto industry, as well as the entire economy.

“Those big monster car manufacturing plants that you’re building in Mexico right now, and you think you’re gonna get that, you’re gonna not hire Americans and you’re gonna sell the cars to us. No, we’re going to put a 100 percent tariff on every single car that comes across the line. And you’re not gonna be able to sell those cars; if I get elected. Now, if I don’t get elected, it’s gonna be a bloodbath for the whole – that’s gonna be the least of it, it’s gonna be a bloodbath for the country. That’ll be the least of it. But they’re not going to sell those cars; they’re building massive factories.”

The “bloodbath” metaphor is a popular one employed often by politicians, and even the same outlets that have now criticized Trump for its usage. 

The Biden-Harris campaign also accused Trump of eliciting violence. James Singer, the campaign’s spokesman, passed on a statement to numerous outlets from a press release claiming that Trump was trying to start another January 6 incident.

“This is who Donald Trump is: a loser who gets beat by over 7 million votes and then instead of appealing to a wider mainstream audience doubles down on his threats of political violence,” said Singer. “He wants another January 6, but the American people are going to give him another electoral defeat this November because they continue to reject his extremism, his affection for violence, and his thirst for revenge.”

Biden’s team also issued a response directly from him with a similar accusation.

“It’s clear this guy wants another January 6,” stated Biden. 

The campaign’s communications director, Michael Tyler, also put out the accusation in an interview with former White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki.

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

Three Democratic Presidential Candidates Endorse Dark Horse Opponent Challenging Biden

Three Democratic Presidential Candidates Endorse Dark Horse Opponent Challenging Biden

By Corinne Murdock |

Democratic presidential candidate Jason Palmer, surprise winner of the American Samoa Democratic caucus, received the endorsement of three of his opponents ahead of Arizona’s primary election on Tuesday.

Democratic presidential candidates Gabriel Cornejo of Nevada, Frankie Lozada of New York, and Stephen Lyons of Maryland endorsed Palmer. The four men debated last month with Free & Equal Elections. 

President Joe Biden’s loss of the territory marked the first time an incumbent president lost a nominating contest since 1980. Biden also lost the territory his first time around in 2020 against former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. 

In a response to his win, Palmer assessed that Americans desire younger leadership, and that Biden’s 50 years in government weighed too heavily on voters.

The Marylander credited his use of AI for his victory with the American Samoa caucus in an interview with The Wall Street Journal. Palmer used an interactive AI that answered voters with Palmer’s policy and experience through text and email. Palmer also launched an AI chat avatar, “PalmerAI,” that responds in his voice and mimics his movements when answering questions on his policy stances in real time. The presidential candidate says the AI avatar cost about $25,000 to implement. 

Palmer also rolled out a plan to solve the border crisis on Monday. His plan calls for a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers and extension of DACA; a modernization of the border using digital technologies such as rocket dockets to expedite processing; reforming asylum processing and eliminating parole; implementing merit-based pathways to green cards and citizenship, implementing a points system; ending catch and release of illegal immigrants; adding over 1,000 more immigration judges to address the backlog of asylum cases; creating a guest worker program for migrants not eligible for asylum but have willing American sponsors; prioritizing global talent acquisition to improve the workforce; and eliminating caps placed on immigration from certain countries.

“Less than 10 percent of illegal border crossers are legitimate asylees,” read Palmer’s plan. “The other 90 percent should be efficiently processed to determine if they are eligible for guest worker visas, but the majority should immediately be returned to their home country or third countries where the United States establishes special asylum partnerships.”

Palmer has previously held executive roles with Microsoft, Kaplan Education, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and New Markets Venture Partners. 

Palmer’s announcement ahead of the Tuesday primary occurred alongside another development: the White House announced that President Joe Biden would arrive in Phoenix late Tuesday, where he’s scheduled to make remarks on his Investing in America agenda.

Though Palmer is vying to unseat Biden, it doesn’t appear that Palmer entirely dislikes Biden’s leadership.

Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ-05) said that Biden’s visit should focus on the border crisis. 

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

GOP Lawmaker Tells Pima County Its Firearms Ordinance Is Illegal

GOP Lawmaker Tells Pima County Its Firearms Ordinance Is Illegal

By Corinne Murdock |

State Rep. Quang Nguyen (R-LD01) advised Pima County that its latest firearms ordinance violates state law. 

In a Tuesday letter to the county’s board of supervisors, Nguyen said the ordinance, which imposes reporting requirements and fines on gun owners related to loss or theft of a firearm, was “extremely troubling” since it amounted to regulatory authority only available to the state legislature per state law, supported by a 2017 Arizona Supreme Court ruling. Nguyen pointed out that a similar ordinance by the city of Tucson was determined unlawful by then-Attorney General Tom Horne in 2013.

“Another attempt to regulate firearms via an illegal ordinance by Pima County,” said Nguyen. 

Nguyen also pointed out that the city of Phoenix’s ordinance regulating unclaimed firearms violated multiple state laws, per Attorney General Kris Mayes last September. Mayes affirmed the Arizona Supreme Court’s determination that firearms regulation remains a statewide concern. 

Under Pima County’s new ordinance passed last week, gun owners face up to $1,000 in fines every time they fail to report lost or stolen firearms to police within two days. The board of supervisors passed the ordinance 4-1; only Supervisor Steve Christy voted against it. 

In the ordinance, the board of supervisors justified its regulation by relaying that those prohibited from owning firearms have committed a significant number of the county’s firearm-related crimes with the help of straw purchasers. The board reasoned that the ordinance’s reporting requirements would help find and prosecute those straw purchasers.

“Reporting requirements assist with the apprehension and prosecution of straw purchasers, preventing or deterring them from claiming that a firearm they bought and transferred to a prohibited possessor was lost or taken in an unreported theft as well as preventing or deterring prohibited possessors from falsely claiming that their firearms were lost or stolen when law enforcement moves to remove them,” read the ordinance. 

The ordinance originally proposed a $300 fine for each failure to report a lost or stolen firearm.

It was Pima County Attorney Laura Conover who suggested an increase in the fine amount to $1,000, in her letter of support to the board. Conover said that her office had handled over 100 cases involving firearms used by prohibited possessors last year, six of which were murder charges. Conover’s letter made no mention of the potential conflict between the ordinance and state law. 

“Do we want law enforcement in Pima County to track down the origins of a firearm only after a crime has been committed, only to be told that the firearm was lost or stolen?” said Conover. “Or do we want to provide law enforcement with an opportunity to track down lost or stolen firearms before they land into the hands of prohibited possessors or, worse, the hands of young people or people with mental disabilities?”

The county further justified its ordinance by citing a 1998 Arizona Court of Appeals ruling in City of Tucson v. Rineer and a federal district court ruling on a California law in National Association for Gun Rights v. City of San Jose. Nguyen criticized the county’s justifications as irrelevant to their ordinance.

Rineer analyzed the validity of a Tucson City Code provision that prohibited using or possessing firearms within Tucson city parks. Rineer also predates the Arizona Supreme Court’s 2017 opinion in City of Tucson,” said Nguyen. “It should go without saying that Arizonans expect county officials to enact laws that comply with Arizona laws, not California laws. Moreover, the ordinance that the federal court considered in the San Jose case did not impose any mandatory reporting requirements, fines, or penalties and bears no resemblance to the Ordinance here.”

Nguyen warned the county that “knowing and willful” violations of state firearm law incur a $50,000 penalty. 

Pima County’s firearms ordinance takes effect in April.

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

Congresswoman Lesko Endorses Arizona House Speaker Toma On U.S. House Floor

Congresswoman Lesko Endorses Arizona House Speaker Toma On U.S. House Floor

By Corinne Murdock |

Congresswoman Debbie Lesko (R-AZ-08) brought her endorsement of Arizona House Speaker and congressional candidate Ben Toma (R-LD27) to the U.S. House floor.

During Tuesday’s House floor session, Lesko praised the state representative as “an accomplished and dedicated leader.” The congresswoman specifically applauded Toma’s work on passing universal school choice, voter ID, border security through e-Verify, and the state’s largest tax cut. 

Lesko closed with what sounded like confidence in Toma’s fitness to represent the state at the congressional level.

“Speaker Toma’s career is a testament to his dedication to Arizona, his legacy of leadership will last for years to come,” said Lesko. 

Lesko formally endorsed Toma in December, emphasizing Toma’s longtime residence and understanding of the eighth congressional district. 

“Ben Toma lives in our district. He knows our district. He cares about the people who live in our district. As a legislator and Speaker of the Arizona House, Ben has a proven, conservative track record for getting things done and for standing up for the principles that have made our nation great. Now, more than ever, we need principled, experienced leaders, like Ben Toma, who will stand up for our values and advance our conservative priorities in Congress.  I’m proud to endorse Ben Toma for Congress and will be working hard to get him elected because I know he will do a great job!”

Toma also has endorsements from former Sen. Jon Kyl; former Gov. Jan Brewer; State Sens. Frank Carroll (R-LD28) and John Kavanaugh (R-LD03); State Reps. Beverly Pingerelli (R-LD28), David Livingston (R-LD28), Quang Nguyen (R-LD01), and Justin Wilmeth (R-LD02); Surprise Mayor Skip Hall; former State Rep. Jean McGrath; Maricopa County Treasurer John Allen; Glendale Councilmember Lauren Tolmachoff; and former Republican Senate candidate Jim Lamon. 

Ten other Republicans who have filed a statement of interest for the eighth congressional district are 2022 attorney general candidate Abe Hamadeh, State Sen. Anthony Kern, 2022 Senate candidate Blake Masters, former congressman Trent Franks, Isiah Gallegos, Rollie Stevens, Patrick Briody, Seth Coates, Jon Forsythe, and Jimmy Rodriguez.

An internal poll in December by National Public Affairs, a firm run by former Trump administration staffers, found Hamadeh had between 37 percent (uninformed of endorsements) and 45 percent (informed) voter support: a 23-point lead over the next leading candidate, Masters (14 percent uninformed, 10 percent informed). Franks followed behind (six percent uninformed, seven percent informed), then Toma (seven percent, both informed and uninformed), and then Kern (three percent uninformed, two percent informed). About 30 to 34 percent of polled voters remained undecided. 

Another internal poll from last month by Fabrizio, Lee & Associates found that Hamadeh and Masters had equal voter support, both polling at 24 percent, with Franks following behind (nine percent), then Toma and Gallegos (three percent), and then Kern (one percent). 35 percent remained undecided.

Hamadeh has endorsements from a whole host of Trump administration officials, endorsees, and former President Donald Trump himself. Among Hamadeh’s endorsers are Senate candidate Kari Lake, Trump administration national security advisor Robert O’Brian, Trump administration national intelligence director Ric Grennell, Trump administration senior national intelligence advisor Kash Patel, Florida Congressman Cory Mills, and former Arizona GOP chair Kelli Ward.

Seven Democrats to have filed a statement of interest for the eighth congressional district are Sheila Bilyeu; Donald Case; Bernadette Greene Placentia; Marc Lewis; Steven Sawdy; Mark Thompson; and Whitten Gregory. 

Two Libertarians also filed their statements of interest: January 6 participant Jacob Angeli-Chansley, the “Shaman,” and Alex Kolb.

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

552K Arizonans May Lose Internet After Federal Subsidy Program Ends In April

552K Arizonans May Lose Internet After Federal Subsidy Program Ends In April

By Corinne Murdock |

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) says that the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) will end come April due to a lack of funding, impacting about 552,000 Arizonans who rely on the program for discounted or free internet. 

FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks offered that data and insight in his appearance with the director of the Treasury Department Capital Projects Fund, Joseph Wender, before the INCOMPAS Policy Summit last week. As of January, ACP has a total of about $2.5 billion left in remaining funds out of $17 billion in total appropriations. INCOMPAS is an internet and competitive networks association advocating for competition policy; member companies include Amazon, Dish, Google, Microsoft, Netflix and Verizon.

“High-speed internet is not a luxury anymore, it’s an absolute necessity,” said Starks. “If ACP ends, [I] predict that the end result will be that many of these households will be unable to stay online, will be unable to stay connected.”

ACP is part of the $14.2 billion from the Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act (IIJA) modifying and extending the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, now near exhausted. ACP gave certain low-income households funds to cover their monthly internet bill, as well as a one-time discount on the purchase of a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet. Monthly discounts amounted to $30 for regular Americans, and $75 for Americans living on tribal lands. Discounted electronic purchases amounted up to $100. Most of the participating companies offered internet plans for which ACP covered the total bill.

ACP-eligible families were households with an income at or below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, or participants  in welfare programs like SNAP, Medicaid, Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8), public housing, SSI, WIC, or Lifeline; participants in the Free and Reduced-Price School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program; recipients of a Federal Pell Grant; and participants in tribal-specific programs such as Bureau of Indian Affairs General Assistance, Tribal TANF, Affordable Housing Programs for American Indians, Alaska Natives, or Native Hawaiians.

Participating companies in Arizona included Spectrum (Charter Communications Operating), Mediacom, Nexus Telecom, Comcast Xfinity, Metro by T-Mobile, and Cox Communications.

Arizonans have claimed over $313.6 million as of January, according to FCC data. Maricopa County led in claims, using up over $149.7 million in ACP funds for over 266,000 households, followed by Pima County, $52.3 million for 86,200 households; Yuma County, $19.7 million for 31,900 households; Navajo County, $18.8 million for 13,200 households; Apache County, $17.6 million for 11,500 households; Pinal County, $12.7 million for 22,400 households; Mohave County, $7.5 million for 10,100 households; Coconino County, $7.4 million for 6,000 households; Cochise County, $5.8 million for 11,000 households; Yavapai County, $3.8 million for 6,300 households; Santa Cruz County, $2.4 million for 3,800 households; Gila County, $1.4 million for 2,100 households; Graham County, $821,000 for 1,200 households; La Paz County, $510,000 for 800 households; and Greenlee County, $129,000 for 180 households. 

The FCC reported that no specific county or household data could be given for $12.6 million funds spanning over 7,400 households.

After ACP provides a partial reimbursement for May, the program will conclude. The FCC reported that over 23 million households were impacted by the ACP wind-down; the agency froze enrollment into the program last month. 

Arizonans enrolled with ACP should have received a written notice in January notifying them of ACP’s end. A second notice should be issued by March 19, and a final notice should be issued as part of the last bill or billing cycle including the ACP discount. 

An FCC survey of a sample size deemed representative of the entire ACP population reported that over two-thirds of ACP’s 23 million households, about 15.6 million, had inconsistent or zero internet access prior to ACP. 80 percent of those respondents cited affordability as the reason. 

The FCC based their analysis on just over 5,300 respondents, or about .02 percent of the total ACP population. 

According to the FCC, 50 percent of ACP households were Black or Latino; nearly 50 percent were military households; over 329,000 were tribal households; over 4 million were elderly households; and over 10 million were households with family members over the age of 50. 

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