An Arizona State University (ASU) professor is making the case that Americans are wrong to view Islamic terrorists abroad as terrorists.
Associate history professor Alexander “Alex” Avina also qualified violence as a moral and natural right to resisting tyranny and oppression in the “Psychic Militancy” podcast.
“The Iranian propaganda is helping us, too,” said Avina. “You can critique Zionism, you can critique the genocide in Gaza, but can you make that next leap forward and say, these people do have an actual right to resist tyranny via armed struggle, because that’s the only way to get rid of colonialism[.]”
🚨 “Iranian propaganda is really helping us,” Sinwar’s “political theory,” and no condemnation of terrorist groups — Inside an "anti-imperialist" discussion featuring an @ASU professor
On Lara Sheehi’s Psychic Militancy podcast, Sheehi, a former GWU professor, spoke with former… pic.twitter.com/Nqw7pxIQVW
“Psychic militancy” refers to an unyielding form of resistance against political systems perceived as violent. Most adherents of this school of thought focus on resisting that which they perceive to be imperialism, settler colonialism, and capitalism.
Avina described America as a “genocidal, Epstein empire,” accusing the Trump administration of “waging mass death, and using mass amounts of violence against civilian populations” as remedies to contradictions of policy.
Avina said the present day is defined as a “socialism vs. barbarism struggle” to avoid genocide, ecological collapse, and environmental degradation.
“It feels like we’re forced into a murder-suicide pact,” said Avina.
Avina argued those in the Middle East acting on Islamic beliefs weren’t terrorists, but defenders against an existential threat against humanity.
“What we’re witnessing right now is a lot of revolutionary cunning from people who we’ve been socialized in this country to continuously misidentify as dangerous terrorists, as barbarians, as somehow antithetical to our ‘civilizational values’,” said Avina.
Avina also joined in the praise of the late Hamas terrorist leader Yahya Sinwar.
On the topic of those allegedly mislabeled as terrorists, Avina challenged the American narrative on South American drug cartels, calling it “bullshit.” Avina said the proper perspective was to understand U.S. drug demand as to blame for cartel violence in Mexico.
“If there wasn’t the world’s largest market for licit and illicit drugs north of the Mexican border, if that didn’t exist, then we wouldn’t see the type of violence we would see today,” said Avina. “[Media reporters] don’t get at the structural and historical reasons of this type of violence, and it’s because we are the world’s largest narco-state.”
Avina argued Americans need to understand “basic and historical education” that America is based on violence, torture, suffering, disappearances, and systematic murder of migrants. Avina also said the lack of support for Palestinians was rooted in racism.
“This is a history of [American] sovereignty,” said Avina. “Can you provide the historical and political coordinates for a nation that has been so thoroughly indoctrinated in racism and Islamophobia and other types of ideological edifices that prevent them from seeing that the struggle of Palestinians for self-determination is a very human one?”
Avina has previously extolled the virtues of violence within political discourse.
Last fall Avina advocated for physical attacks on the right in the “Millennials Are Killing Capitalism” podcast responding to Charlie Kirk’s assassination.
“Today I read a quote by the writer Roberto Bolano where he says there’s a time for reciting poetry and there’s a time for fists, and this is definitely a time for fists,” said Avina.
Avina is the brother-in-law of Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ-06).
Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) revoked the gubernatorial endorsement of his longtime friend, Democratic California Rep. Eric Swalwell, over sexual assault claims.
Gallego dropped support for his “best friend” Swalwell following a Friday report in the San Francisco Chronicle detailing sexual assault claims by one of Swalwell’s former female staffers.
That report came out in the days following social media posts by political activists alleging other incidents of sexual misconduct.
Possible sexual harassment allegations against Eric Swalwell. This isn't the first time these rumors have come up. https://t.co/2HDlQXHnnb
I have been working with a number of women who are in the process of coming forward and sharing their stories of sexual harassment and even alleged abuse at the hands of Eric Swalwell. Here’s why we’re talking about it before mainstream media: 🧵
“What is described is indefensible. Women who come forward with accounts like this deserve to be heard with respect, not questioned or dismissed,” said Gallego. “I regret having come to his defense on social media prior to knowing all the information. I am equally as shocked and upset about what has transpired.”
I’ve read the San Francisco Chronicle’s reporting and I take it seriously.
What is described is indefensible. Women who come forward with accounts like this deserve to be heard with respect, not questioned or dismissed.
I regret having come to his defense on social media prior…
According to the report, an anonymous staffer alleged that Swalwell sexually assaulted her twice when she was too intoxicated to consent. Swalwell issued a statement denying the allegations and indicating he would initiate legal action.
The staffer alleged that Swalwell’s unwanted advances began almost immediately after she was hired to work in one of his district offices in 2019; she alleged Swalwell sent and solicited nude pictures from her via Snapchat. At the time, the staffer was 21 years old.
Common among the various rumors and allegations of Swalwell’s misconduct was the use of Snapchat.
She also alleged that Swalwell attempted to kiss her following a donor meeting, and in a separate car ride exposed his genitalia and requested oral sex. In the latter instance, she recounted that she complied.
That same year of her hiring, the staffer alleged that she blacked out while out drinking with Swalwell and later woke up naked in his hotel bed.
In 2024, some time after ceasing employment with Swalwell’s office, the woman alleged that she again blacked out while out drinking with him and was again sexually assaulted.
Ahead of Friday’s report, Swalwell’s attorney submitted a cease-and-desist letter to the former staffer. The letter threatened a lawsuit unless she walked back her allegations.
Following the report, three more women told CNN that Swalwell had committed sexual misconduct against them. Swalwell has denied these allegations as well.
Beyond those claims of wrongdoing, Swalwell denied to the California Post that he ever had any sexual relationships with any staff or interns.
Earlier this week, I directly asked Rep. Eric Swalwell — a Democratic frontrunner in the California governor's race — if he had ever had sexual relationships with any staff or interns as allegations have been rumored for months
Gallego and Swalwell were close for over a decade leading up to this development. The Arizona senator served as Swalwell’s campaign chair when the latter made a brief run for president in 2019.
The Arizona senator recently invested in Swalwell’s AI startup.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
The Arizona superintendent of schools is urging Gov. Katie Hobbs to lift a financial burden for schools.
Hobbs has yet to decide on a bill, SB 1142, allowing Arizona schools to participate in a new federal school tax credit opportunity. Superintendent Tom Horne says the governor needs to sign the bill, or else Arizona schools will lose out on critical funding.
The pending legislation wouldn’t come at a cost to the state, and it could potentially provide up to $6 billion more to public, charter, and private schools.
“Any school could establish such a scholarship organization to accept contributions and bring more money to the classroom,” said Horne. “It does not cost the state any money and would increase funding for education.”
Horne mentioned that another prominent Democratic governor has backed this federal program.
“This bill benefits students in public district schools, charters, and every other school setting,” said Horne. “[Gov. Hobbs] should join fellow Democrat Governor Jared Polis of Colorado in supporting this program.”
Unlike Hobbs, the Colorado governor has expressed support for school choice. One other Democratic governor, Josh Stein of North Carolina, has opted into the program.
The Democratic governors of Kansas, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Wisconsin all vetoed opting into the program.
State Sen. Shawnna Bolick (R-LD2) sponsored the bill. It passed both chambers without support from any Democratic lawmakers, and was sent to Gov. Hobbs on Wednesday.
Arizona House Democratic lawmakers said they opposed SB 1142 because it doesn’t establish enough oversight of the distribution of funds. Some characterized it as a wrongful diversion of public funds from public schools, insisting it would ultimately impact the state general fund. However, this program derives its funds from a federal tax credit.
Last year, Congress included the federal school tax credit program within the FY2025 reconciliation act (the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”). The program launches January 1, 2027.
The federal legislation allows taxpayers to donate up to $1,700 annually to state-recognized Scholarship Granting Organizations (SGOs) that issue grants to cover eligible school expenses for certain students like books, supplies, tutoring, special needs services, computers, internet access, tuition, fees, room and board, uniforms, and transportation.
With that donation potential, Arizona schools could see up to $6 billion in extra funding. (The Arizona Department of Revenue reported over 3.5 million individual income tax returns in 2023).
Only students whose family income falls below 300 percent of their area median income would qualify for SGO grants.
The federal legislation requires SGOs to be 501(c)(3) nonprofits, provide scholarships to 10 or more students who don’t attend the same school, spend at least 90 percent of revenue on qualifying scholarships, and prioritize scholarships first for students who have received scholarships in previous years and then for siblings of such students.
Should Gov. Hobbs approve Arizona’s participation in the program, the Arizona Department of Revenue would administer the federal SGO credit and approve SGOs.
ADOR would submit a list of certified SGOs to the Secretary of the Treasury annually and post the list on the ADOR website.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
The leader of the Arizona Senate is one of the top contenders to unseat Attorney General Kris Mayes this November, according to a recent poll.
Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen (R-LD14) led among prospective voters polled about the upcoming primary election in the attorney general’s race.
The poll from Gray House surveyed 400 likely Republican voters and 450 likely general election voters across the state.
Petersen leads fellow Republican candidate Rodney Glassman, both before voters were advised of the candidates’ backgrounds and after. (The polling did include a third Republican candidate, Greg Roeberg; however, Roeberg withdrew from the race in February).
A majority of voters — 75 percent — said they were undecided prior to being informed about the candidates’ backgrounds.
After, 42 percent of the 75 percent of undecided voters put their support behind Petersen.
65 percent of likely voters polled said they were more likely to support Petersen after hearing his biography.
Petersen’s platform proposes a more conservative federalist approach to the attorney general’s office: defending the rule of law as opposed to acting on personal political preferences, curbing federal overreach, increasing criminal prosecutions, defending women’s sports, and protecting constitutional rights.
Petersen has served in the Arizona legislature since 2012—first in the state house, then the state senate. He also assumed a leadership role in the house; he served as the majority leader prior to his election to the state senate.
Glassman, by contrast, lost the support of 74 percent of the voters polled after hearing his biography.
Glassman’s platform focused on certain specific areas of interest, a continuance of the major flip he made from his years as a Democrat: prosecuting border crime and election fraud, advocating for law enforcement, defending the Second Amendment, and scrutinizing government expenditures.
Prior to this race, Glassman ran for attorney general in 2022 as a Republican (lost in the primary), Maricopa County assessor in 2020 as a Republican (lost in the primary), Arizona Corporation Commission in 2018 as a Republican (lost in the general election), and U.S. Senate in 2010 as a Democrat (lost in the general election).
Voters expressed indifference to Roeberg after hearing his biography, only inspiring an additional 17 percent more likely voters.
Among prospective general election voters, Petersen trailed behind Attorney General Mayes by two points, around 42 to 44 percent.
Glassman trailed Mayes by 7 points and Roeberg trailed Mayes by 9 points.
As state senate president, Petersen has been uniquely positioned among the candidates to challenge Mayes on her execution of the office directly. A significant portion of Mayes’ focus in office since last January has concerned fighting policies and executive orders put forth by the Trump administration.
Earlier this week Petersen referred Mayes and Secretary of State Adrian Fontes to the Department of Justice for an investigation, alleging the pair were guilty of obstruction of justice and witness tampering for meddling with a federal probe into Arizona election records.
“The threats of the Attorney General and Secretary of State are incompatible with United States Constitution, which enshrines the grand jury in our constitutional order, and only serve to hinder voters’ confidence in our elections,” stated Petersen.
Today I referred Kris Mayes and Adrian Fontes to the Department of Justice for obstruction of justice and tampering with a witness. It is disturbing to see their resistance to an election integrity investigation.https://t.co/pRJ3mJgsuEpic.twitter.com/MwOS1wQBwB
The Arizona Senate’s leader referred two state officials to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to be investigated for obstruction.
Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen (R-LD14) announced the referral on Tuesday. Petersen, who is also running for attorney general, accused Attorney General Kris Mayes and Secretary of State Adrian Fontes of obstruction of justice and tampering with a witness concerning the federal probe into Arizona election records.
“The threats of the Attorney General and Secretary of State are incompatible with United States Constitution, which enshrines the grand jury in our constitutional order, and only serve to hinder voters’ confidence in our elections,” stated Petersen in his letter to the DOJ.
Today I referred Kris Mayes and Adrian Fontes to the Department of Justice for obstruction of justice and tampering with a witness. It is disturbing to see their resistance to an election integrity investigation.https://t.co/pRJ3mJgsuEpic.twitter.com/MwOS1wQBwB
The referral emerged in response to Mayes and Fontes requesting information from the state senate concerning its compliance with a recent federal grand jury subpoena of 2020 election records.
In response to Petersen’s referral, Fontes accused the senate president of jeopardizing voters’ safety and security.
“My main concern for ensuring privacy of personal information in voter registration data, as required by law, remains,” said Fontes.
PRESS RELEASE: Secretary Fontes Responds to DOJ Referral and Ongoing Political Theater pic.twitter.com/HN2hP5UKcd
— Arizona Secretary of State (@AZSecretary) April 7, 2026
Last month, the two Democratic officials issued a joint letter ordering county recorders not to comply with the federal subpoena. Contrary to what Petersen claimed in Tuesday’s letter, Mayes and Fontes argued compliance with the federal subpoena would violate both federal and state law.
“It is the states’ authority and responsibility to hold elections — not the federal government,” stated the pair’s letter. “Without direct congressional action, the United States Constitution does not authorize or allow the federal government to insert itself into a state’s election procedures, much less authorize the DOJ to unilaterally build a national voter database.”
Mayes called the subpoena “a weaponization of federal law enforcement in service of crackpots and lies,” and Petersen “an unrepentant election denier” spreading conspiracy theories and false stories of election fraud.
Petersen said the pair’s request from the state senate suggested their intention to interfere with the federal investigation.
Petersen based his referral on a legal analysis from the law firm Snell & Wilmer, which he said defended the state senate’s compliance with the federal subpoena and posited that the request by Mayes and Fontes constituted obstruction of justice and witness tampering.
In Petersen’s letter to Arizona District Attorney Timothy Courchaine, the state senate president accused Mayes and Fontes of ulterior motives linked to election meddling.
“Instead of fighting over these issues, we should all be working together to ensure the election integrity necessary to realize our country’s democratic promise,” said Petersen. “The Attorney General and Secretary’s phobia of fair and secure elections is impossible to explain absent nefarious motives.”
Mayes’ reelection campaign manager, Delaney Corcoran, said in a response that Petersen’s referral was a means to “seek retribution against his political enemies.”
Mayes made a similar claim when news of the federal subpoena emerged last month.
“One of the Republicans hoping to challenge me this fall is reigniting his SHAM ‘Cyber Ninja’ 2020 election audit conspiracies to the disservice of Arizonans,” said Mayes. “It’s a disgusting politicization of government and a waste of time and [money].”
One of the Republicans hoping to challenge me this fall is reigniting his SHAM ‘Cyber Ninja’ 2020 election audit conspiracies to the disservice of Arizonans. It’s a disgusting politicization of government and a waste of time and $. Just know, I’ll never stop protecting your vote.
