A new study from the Joint Economic Committee (JEC) found that household inflation has been lower this presidential term than the last.
The JEC published a data brief on Thursday that reflected that the average household faced $2,881 less in additional costs from rising prices during the first 20 months of President Donald Trump’s second term — from January 2025 through August 2026 — than the first 20 months of former President Joe Biden’s term — from January 2021 through August 2022.
That cost difference amounts to an average reduction of nearly 41%.
“The comparison does not mean prices declined during President Trump’s second term,” stated the JEC. “Rather, the analysis finds that the cumulative increase in household costs was substantially smaller than during the comparable period under President Biden.”
During the first 20 months of Biden, the average American household experienced $7,081 in additional costs. Arizona was above this average. The average Arizona household experienced $8,427 in additional costs during that same time frame.
During the first 20 months of Trump, the average American household experienced $4,200 in additional costs. Arizona was below this average. The average Arizona household experienced $4,000 in additional costs during that same time frame, a reduction of $4,427 from the prior administration.
In Arizona, that cost difference between administrations amounts to an average reduction of nearly 52%.
In December 2025, the White House released an analysis reflecting that states experienced a difference in year-over-year inflation based on the political affiliations of their leadership. Conservative-leaning states experienced an overall average 2.5% inflation rate, whereas liberal-leaning states experienced an overall average 3% inflation rate.
Conservative states experienced an average 3.4% year-over-year inflation rate for housing, 2.5% for food and beverage, 3.5% for energy, and 0.7% for transportation, compared to liberal states experiences of 3.6% inflation rate for housing, 2.7% for food and beverage, 5.2% for energy, and 2.5% for transportation.
The consistent rates of heightened inflation rates under liberal governance remained true when distinguishing states based on the political affiliations of the governor and legislature, and state control.
States led by conservative governors experienced 2.3% year-over-year inflation rate overall, 3.2% inflation rate for housing, 2.4% inflation rate for food and beverage, 2.9% inflation rate for energy, and 0.6% inflation rate for transportation.
States led by liberal governors experienced a 3% inflation rate overall, 3.7% inflation rate for housing, 2.7% inflation rate for food and beverage, 5.3% inflation rate for energy, and 2.1% inflation rate for transportation.
States with conservative legislatures experienced a 2.4% inflation rate overall, 3.3% inflation rate for housing, 2.4% inflation rate for food and beverage, 2.9% inflation rate for energy, and 0.6% inflation rate for transportation.
States with liberal legislatures experienced a 3% inflation rate overall, 3.6% inflation rate for housing, 2.7% inflation rate for food and beverage, 5.1% inflation rate for energy, and 2.5% inflation rate for transportation.
States in which the legislature had neither a conservative or liberal majority experienced a 3.1% inflation rate overall, 4.5% inflation rate for housing, 2.7% inflation rate for food and beverage, 7.7% inflation rate for energy, and 0.9% inflation rate for transportation.
States defined as under conservative control experienced a 2.3% inflation rate overall, 3.3% inflation rate for housing, 2.4% inflation rate for food and beverage, 2.9% inflation rate for energy, and 0.6% inflation rate for transportation.
States defined as under liberal control experienced a 3% inflation rate overall, 3.6% inflation rate for housing, 2.7% inflation rate for food and beverage, 5.4% inflation rate for energy, and 2.7% inflation rate for transportation.
States defined as under neither conservative nor liberal control experienced a 2.8% inflation rate overall, 3.8% inflation rate for housing, 2.7% inflation rate for food and beverage, 4.7% inflation rate for energy, and 0.7% inflation rate for transportation.
Arizona was defined as having a conservative affiliation. The state experienced a year-over-year inflation rate of 2.6% overall, 1.8% for housing, 2.6% for food and beverage, 2.3% for energy, and 1.4% for transportation.
The city of Phoenix was also included as a major metro area for that analysis, but it was defined based on the state’s assigned affiliation of “conservative.” The city experienced a year-over-year inflation rate of 1.4% overall, -0.1% for housing, 1.1% for food and beverage, 6.7% for energy, and 0.8% for transportation.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) will continue to have a federal court monitor for the time being.
Arizona District Court Judge G. Murray Snow ruled last week that MCSO still needs federal oversight to prevent racial profiling by its officers, namely during traffic stops.
Snow based his denial on the department’s elevated rate of investigations and arrests of Hispanic individuals.
Snow said that MCSO hadn’t provided compelling evidence that it wouldn’t impose higher rates of searches and arrests and longer stops for Hispanic drivers.
“[There is] significant, probative evidence that racial bias may continue to affect MCSO’s traffic stop operations,” stated Snow. “To be clear, evidence of racial disparities does not, by itself, establish intentional racial discrimination. Nor must MCSO eliminate every statistical disparity before it can establish that prospective enforcement of the First Order is no longer warranted. But further explanation is needed.”
MCSO first received a court monitor 13 years ago following a lawsuit alleging unconstitutional racial profiling amid immigration enforcement operations that took place under former Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Local and state leaders have petitioned for an end to the monitor, citing the cost to taxpayers: nearly $350 million to date.
Rep. Andy Biggs (AZ-05), the Republican nominee for governor, issued a statement saying the ruling had “disturbed” him. Biggs claimed the court monitor had exacerbated existing deputy attrition and recruitment challenges.
“The monitor’s continued existence in our county and propensity for moving the goalposts from his original charge exploits taxpayers and undermines the brave work of law enforcement,” said Biggs. “This most-recent ruling underscores the need for the Senate to pass my Monitor Accountability Act, which sets common-sense and clear rules for courts’ use of federal monitors. I stand with the people and law enforcement officers of Maricopa County!”
Congress is considering the Monitor Accountability Act: legislation from Biggs that would reform federal standards governing court-appointed monitors. The House passed the bill in May, and it is currently before the Senate.
The legislation would impose a five-year term limit on court monitors and prohibit reappointments under the same court order, bar successive monitors from the same law firm or employer, cap monitor compensation fees, require public comment on court monitors prior to appointment, limit monitorship extension to cases exhibiting insubstantial and unsustained compliance, and reassign cases after six years.
The legislation would be retroactive, meaning MCSO would have the monitor and judge on its case replaced.
MCSO Sheriff Jerry Sheridan told KTAR that the judge’s order had provided him with enough structure to make him optimistic for a future relief effort.
“The positive thing that I got out of it: he recognized that there are many paragraphs the sheriff’s office is in compliance with,” said Sheridan.
MCSO issued a statement expressing disappointment with the court ruling but, like Sheridan, acknowledging a silver lining.
“We are disappointed by the Court’s decision because we believe MCSO has implemented durable remedies for violations that occurred 19 years and three administrations ago,” said MCSO. “At the same time, we are encouraged that the Court has provided a framework on eliminating portions of the Order that are no longer necessary and focusing compliance efforts on the remaining issues to be addressed. This will allow MCSO to focus its resources on achieving full and effective compliance with the remaining requirements. MCSO looks forward to working with the Parties on this process.”
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
Former U.S. Senator Jon Kyl, a lifelong Republican, passed away on Thursday at the age of 84.
The Kyl family said the former senator died due to complications following his dementia diagnosis in December 2025.
Kyl was born and raised in Nebraska before coming to Arizona to attend the University of Arizona, where he earned his bachelor’s and law degrees.
Kyl served in the Senate from 1995 to 2013, and later by appointment in 2018 following the passing of former Sen. John McCain. Kyl was the Senate Minority Whip from 2007 to 2013.
Prior to the Senate, Kyl represented the 4th District in the House of Representatives from 1987 to 1995.
During Kyl’s 26 years in Congress, 18 of his bills became law.
Prior to joining elected office, Kyl’s efforts as an attorney for the Salt River Project laid the groundwork for the Arizona Groundwater Management Act and the creation of the Arizona Department of Water Resources.
Other bills included legislation that authorized funding for crime victims, authorized land exchanges allowing the cities of Yuma and Sedona to develop property, arranged for prisoner copays for certain healthcare services, and barred nepotism within the federal court appointments.
Kyl is survived by his wife of 62 years, Caryll Collins, their two children, John Kyl and Kristine Kyl Gavin, and four grandchildren.
Kyl’s legacy as an effective leader, lawmaker, and lawyer has inspired widespread bipartisan mourning over his passing.
Rep. Andy Biggs (AZ-05), the Republican nominee for governor, issued a statement describing Kyl as a man of distinction, integrity, and unwavering dedication to Arizona who had deep understanding of the issues plaguing the state.
“He was an exemplary public servant who understood Arizona, fought tirelessly for our interests, and approached his responsibilities with humility and conviction,” said Biggs. “May Senator Kyl always be remembered as a servant leader who loved Arizona and dedicated so much of his life to making our state and country stronger.”
Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen, the Republican nominee for attorney general, called Kyl “a work horse not a show horse.”
“He was always working big projects and solutions for Arizona,” said Petersen. “Arizona could use another Senator like him.”
Former Gov. Doug Ducey commended Kyl for his “principled, thoughtful leadership” and said Kyl was a mentor and friend to him. Both Kyl and Ducey were members of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity.
“I’ll miss him deeply,” said Ducey.
Gov. Katie Hobbs described Kyl as a “dedicated statesman who always cared deeply for our state.”
Rep. Yassamin Ansari, a Democrat, commended Kyl for his work on securing Arizona water rights.
“A true public servant who understood Arizona water better than anyone, Jon Kyl was devoted to the people he served, acted selflessly on their behalf, and went — simply — where he was most needed. His legacy will endure in Arizona,” said Ansari.
Sen. Mark Kelly, a Democrat, also praised Kyl for his water rights work.
“His landmark work securing historic tribal water settlements defined this state in ways that will last long after his passing. He was a true public servant who loved this state,” said Kelly.
Cardinals owner Michael Bidwell also issued a statement.
“His quiet, principled and impactful leadership left a lasting remark on our state and our nation and for that we are forever grateful,” said Bidwell.
In one of his final interviews near the end of his life, Kyl told KTAR that the most important thing Arizonans can do is exercise their civic duty.
“If you really care about your future, if you care about your kids and your grandkids and so on, make a little time for participating in one of the political parties or some other way where you can say at the end of your life ‘Yeah, I did something,’” said Kyl.
Rep. Abe Hamadeh (AZ-08) recalled some wisdom imparted by Kyl.
“Jon once said that ‘real leadership means tackling tough problems ourselves and not leaving them to our children,’” said Hamadeh. “That is a standard worth remembering as we mark his passing and keep his family in our thoughts.”
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
A former Arizona Supreme Court justice will be leading the pay-to-play investigation into Gov. Katie Hobbs.
Arizona Senate Republicans announced on Monday that it had appointed Andrew Gould, a justice on the Arizona Supreme Court from 2016 to 2021, as part of the next phase of their investigation regarding allegations that Hobbs arranged for Sunshine Residential Homes, a group home operator and one of her top donors, to receive a special rate increase from the Arizona Department of Child Safety.
As a result of the transfer to another committee, Senate Republicans postponed the hearing for an indeterminate date in the future. The hearing was scheduled to take place on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, at 11 a.m.
Gould also served on the Arizona Court of Appeals and Yuma County Superior Court, and served as a prosecutor in Maricopa and Yuma counties.
In a press release, Gould pledged to carry out an impartial and dispassionate investigation into the matter.
“My responsibility will be to help the committee establish a complete factual record, evaluate testimony and documents objectively, and ensure its work is thorough, fair, and legally sound,” said Gould. “No factual or policy conclusion should be predetermined. The evidence will determine where this investigation leads, and which reforms if any are ultimately recommended to the Committee.”
🚨FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Former Arizona Supreme Court Justice Andrew Gould Appointed to Lead Senate Investigation into Hobbs Pay-to-Play Scandal
The Senate GOP also transferred the investigation from the Senate Government Committee to the Senate Committee on Appropriations. State Sen. Jake Hoffman (R-LD15), the chair of the Government Committee, said the media was to blame for the transfer.
During a press conference last week announcing a special hearing and subpoenas concerning the pay-to-play allegations, Stacey Barchenger, the Arizona Republic reporter who first reported on the alleged connection between Hobbs and Sunshine Residential Homes, asked Hoffman about the more than $1 million his advertising agency received from Turning Point PAC in support of Republican gubernatorial nominee Andy Biggs’s candidacy.
In this latest press release, Hoffman said the transfer of the investigation to another committee was necessary to keep the focus on the allegations against Hobbs.
“The crooked political media decided what this investigation was before it even began, because running cover for Katie Hobbs and Kris Mayes is more important to them than exposing potential corruption,” said Hoffman. “Transferring the proceedings and placing former Justice Andrew Gould at the center takes away their excuses for non-cooperation, strengthens the investigation, and ensures the evidence, not their predetermined political narrative, drives any resulting legislative reforms.”
Sen. David Farnsworth (R-LD10), chair of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, stated in the same press release that the scope of the investigation enabled it to fit comfortably within his committee.
“This transfer does not narrow the issues under investigation or diminish the Senate’s resolve. It places the investigation where the money can be examined directly and adds an experienced former prosecutor and Supreme Court justice to lead that work,” said Farnsworth. “We will follow the evidence, examine how these decisions were made, and give every witness a fair opportunity to explain the events at issue. Only after that process is complete can we reliably identify gaps in current Arizona law and determine which statutory changes are most appropriate to help prevent future misappropriation of taxpayer dollars.”
Along with Hobbs, the Senate subpoenaed Sunshine Residential Homes CEO Simon Kottoor and his wife, Elizabeth; Attorney General Kris Mayes; Christian Slater, Hobbs’ communications director; Hobbs’ inaugural and defense funds; Dan Barr, Mayes’ chief deputy attorney general; Bill Mundell, Mayes’ chief deputy of police and administration; Nicholas Klingerman, Mayes’ criminal division chief; Michael Faust, former DCS director and current city of Peoria manager; Shalom Jacobs, former DCS deputy director and current CGI director; Alex Ong, DCS deputy director; Robert Navarro, former DCS deputy director; and David Lujan, former DCS director.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
The city of Tempe held the first meeting for its Public Safety and Community Oversight Council Subcommittee on Monday.
Councilmember Bobby Nichols is chairing the subcommittee. Mayor Corey Woods and Councilmember Brooke St. George are also members of the subcommittee.
The subcommittee is focused on reviewing progress on implementation of recommendations made by the city’s 2020-2021 Public Safety Advisory Task Force. Additionally, the subcommittee plans to review and evaluate policies, data, and procedures related to 911 response, police deescalation, and police use of force.
Woods created the task force following the summer of Black Lives Matter-led riots initiated by the death of George Floyd while in police custody.
The task force issued seven pages of recommendations for police reform in Tempe. Recommendations included:
Creating an unarmed unit to respond to nonviolent crimes and situations, with a suggestion for police to base call response on the interpretation of the threat level and consideration of how beliefs around race, gender, or class may influence threat level interpretations.
Restructuring the 911 Emergency Call Center to be modeled after a now-defunct program in Oregon which provided mobile crisis intervention services for mental health issues, conflicts, homelessness, and first aid.
Conducting a diversity audit of the 911 Emergency Call Center.
Establishing a civilian-based investigative body for police use of force violations or complaints.
Providing families with body-worn camera footage and reports within 48 hours of officer-involved shootings.
Establishing a settlement fund for victims of police brutality within the police department’s budget.
Shifting resources from police to social services, including expanding and increasing funds for CARE 7, which houses the city’s crisis response team and victims services advocacy.
Ceasing police hiring and recruitment until task force recommendations and “a culture shift” occur.
The subcommittee plans to explore further the city’s progress with implementing these recommendations at their next meeting on September 28.
The recent arrest over the summer of Arizona State University (ASU) student Eryn Bonner prompted the council to create the subcommittee. Surveillance footage and police body camera video reflect that Bonner was arrested after refusing to comply with law enforcement orders to remain at a distance during the arrest of two men. Bonner approached arresting officers twice while yelling and grabbing at them. She then approached a third time, attacking the officer who had twice pushed her away from the other arresting officers.
According to police records and as indicated by body camera footage, Bonner struck the arresting officer multiple times in the head as he attempted to arrest her. It appears that only after Bonner attacked the officer that he struck Bonner to subdue her.
Police have filed misdemeanor charges against Bonner including assault, disorderly conduct, obstruction, and resisting arrest.
Community stakeholders present at this first meeting included Casey Clowes, an SRP board member; DeAnna Alvarez, advocacy director for AANHPI for Equity; Kema Charles with the Scottsdale chapter of Black Lives Matter; Michelle Ivette Ponce and Raquel Britain, program manager with the Phoenix Metro chapter of Black Lives Matter; and Nicole Gutierrez-Miller, governing board member with Tempe Union High School District.
One item of particular focus at this meeting was the Tempe Citizens’ Review Panel for Police Complaints and Use of Force. The city established the panel in 1999 to provide civilian oversight over police use of force, similar to one of the recommendation items posed by the 2020-2021 Public Safety Advisory Task Force.
The subcommittee plans to discuss whether other municipalities have civilian oversight bodies that have proven effective at securing accountability, restoring public trust, and offering resolutions to incidents.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
