by Staff Reporter | May 14, 2026 | News
By Staff Reporter |
Kari Lake has been nominated to serve as the next ambassador to Jamaica.
A Senate confirmation of Lake’s appointment would close the chapter on the Trump administration’s push to dismantle the Voice of America (VOA), an effort spearheaded by Lake. The administration has indicated that it no longer desires to eliminate the agency but instead repurpose it.
Trump initially named Lake to the VOA directorship shortly after his election in December 2024. The administration quickly pivoted and moved Lake into a special advisory role within VOA’s parent organization, U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM). It was from that role that the Trump administration encouraged Lake to take on greater authority within USAGM to exemplify the greater initiative of cuts to that which the administration characterized as bureaucratic, anti-American bloat.
In accordance with the Trump edict, Lake ordered the termination of over 1,000 of USAGM contractors and employees and proceeded with the sale of the agency facility in D.C. last March. Full-time employees were placed on paid administrative leave, and promptly sued.
Amid the court challenge to her authority by sidelined VOA employees, Lake attempted to wrest more control over USAGM by taking over as its acting CEO last summer. That declaration of power, along with her reforms, wouldn’t stand in the courts.
In March — a little over a year into her fight to bring the VOA to heel — a federal judge rejected Lake’s claim of authority and ordered her to reinstate VOA operations and staff.
Around the same time, Trump nominated a replacement for Lake as USAGM CEO: the State Department’s Under Secretary Sarah Rogers. That confirmation has yet to take place.
The Trump administration filed a partial appeal of the ruling related to the reinstatement of the VOA employees on paid leave. A federal appeals court paused the order to reinstate those employees.
Lake’s initial statement on X accepting the ambassadorship made no mention of her VOA exit.
“Jamaica is a country I know very well, full of incredible people, and if confirmed by the Senate, I look forward to strengthening the partnership between our nations, advancing America’s interests abroad, and building on the deep friendship shared by the American and Jamaican people,” posted Lake. “Honored to continue serving in this HISTORIC Administration!”
Later that day, Lake posted another update on her new appointment mentioning a call with Trump and her USAGM tenure.
Lake offered a sunny portrayal of her time as USAGM head: one of accountability, reform, and advances into an America First revamping of the agency. Lake said she would remain at USAGM pending her Senate confirmation.
Following those failed efforts to dismantle the VOA, the Trump administration has reportedly looked to reform the VOA by claiming greater influence over the content it publishes.
Reporters Without Borders, the U.S. affiliate of the international nonprofit organization that sued on behalf of the VOA employees, filed another lawsuit in late March on behalf of VOA journalists challenging this renewed strategy to exert administration control over the VOA.
The lawsuit alleged that Lake and other Trump administration officials had suppressed certain news coverage, especially in Iran, and instead promoted “political propaganda.”
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by Staff Reporter | May 13, 2026 | Education, News
By Staff Reporter |
Arizona Superintendent of Schools Tom Horne expressed concern publicly that Peoria Unified School District (PUSD) leadership is failing in its response to student sexual abuse.
The head of Arizona schools said he was concerned with a lack of transparency within PUSD.
Horne also indicated worry over the recent leadership changes at PUSD amid investigations that follow sexual abuse charges against two Centennial High School teachers, Haley Beck and Angela Burlaka.
Three of the five governing board members voted to remove Heather Rooks from the presidency in a special meeting last week for asking the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office (MCAO) to join an internal investigation of alleged mandatory reporting failures concerning Beck.
The board had voted against bringing the MCAO on in an earlier meeting. Rooks and board member Janelle Bowles voted against replacing Rooks with board member Jeff Tobey.
Arizona law mandates school personnel report to law enforcement, the Department of Child Safety, and the State Board of Education when they have reason to believe that a minor has experienced intentional abuse, neglect, or physical injury.
Unlike the PUSD governing board, the state’s schools chief issued open support for Rooks.
“Horne agrees with Rooks that full reporting is legally required,” stated an Arizona Department of Education press release. “Also, reports are to be made immediately, and reporting to a supervisor or administrator is not sufficient. Failure to comply is a Class I misdemeanor for child abuse or neglect and a Class 6 felony for not reporting a reportable offense.”
Following her ouster from the presidency, Rooks offered details on the alleged mandated reporting failures in an interview with “The Conservative Circus.” Rooks shared an allegation that Centennial High School’s principal sat on reports which accused Beck of grooming and other inappropriate behaviors with a male student.
Rooks voiced feelings of shame for the board’s behavior in a statement issued after last week’s special meeting. Rooks said she had a responsibility to secure an investigation into alleged mandated reporting failures.
Horne stressed in a press release that Arizona has “zero tolerance” for failing on mandated reporting.
“I am deeply concerned about the events occurring on the Peoria district board. It is absolutely crucial that every school be transparent with the public about what happens in schools,” said Horne. “There should be zero tolerance for people who don’t live up to their duty to report misconduct. In recent months, the State Board of Education, where I am a voting member, has disciplined educators for that kind of failure.”
Beyond the problems at PUSD, Horne said he’s observed a rising trend of school employees maltreating children.
“There seems to be a terrible trend of school employees being accused of egregious breaches of conduct, including sexual activities with children. This is completely unacceptable and schools must do everything possible to ensure the safety of children,” said Horne. “The exploitation of a child by anyone, but especially an educator or other school employee, is an unfathomable breach of trust and cannot be tolerated.”
Horne included a reminder in his press release that the State Board of Education retains jurisdiction over disciplinary matters concerning educators and school personnel, while hiring decisions remain under the purview of local districts or charters.
Anyone with information about grooming or sexual abuse of students within PUSD are encouraged to contact Peoria Police Department investigators at their tip line: 623-773-8132.
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by Staff Reporter | May 13, 2026 | News
By Staff Reporter |
A court rejected Republican State Rep. Rachel Keshel’s (R-LD17) attempt to stop an anonymous X user behind a months-long online campaign challenging her Legislative District 17 residency.
Keshel and her husband, Seth Keshel, claimed in a complaint that the anonymous online researcher operating under the name “William Coffin” (@CoffinItUp), is a Scottsdale horse trainer named Geoff Coffin. Coffin has denied being behind the account.
On Monday, the Pima County Superior Court dismissed last month’s injunction against harassment targeting the anonymous user. The court determined that the Keshels failed to prove that Coffin and Coffin were one and the same.
The anonymous “Coffin” profile dates back to 2020; the profile picture features William Sloane Coffin Sr., a New York businessman whom the anonymous user identified as an ancestor in an Arizona Agenda interview last month.
The Keshels alleged the connection between the two Coffins by comparing photos and an online map posted by the influencer to the location of Geoff’s home.
The anonymous user behind the X account told the Tucson Agenda that he lives in the Phoenix metro area.
The pseudonymous X account gained a following online through his commentary and analysis of public records on right-wing figures. Much of the anonymous account’s posts in its early years of existence focused on criticizing President Donald Trump.
One of the account’s earliest posts to gain some traction contained a tip claiming top right-wing influencer Dominick McGee — known as “Dom Lucre” online — was under investigation by the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance for operating an unlicensed credit repair business called Credit Cadabra.
Over the last year, the account gained traction for his posts on perennial Texas candidate Valentina Gomez.
In recent months, the account has focused on Rep. Keshel’s residency—specifically, alleging that Keshel does not reside within LD17 but instead in the Vail residence in LD19 where her husband owns property.
The individual behind William Coffin also briefly maintained a Substack called “Corruption Duck.”
In the interview last month with the Arizona Agenda, the X user said that prior to focusing his research on Republicans and influential right-wingers, he focused on mortgage fraud.
“[I] started looking at mortgage fraud, and found that I could basically throw a dart in my neighborhood and hit (someone committing) mortgage fraud,” said the user. “It’s basically people buying houses with principal residence mortgages and renting them out the next day as investment properties.”
The Corruption Duck Substack, active from January to December 2023, was created initially with an intent for the author, “Will,” to focus on corruption and fraud in the nonprofit realm.
For the first few months of its existence, however, the Substack focused on investigating and reporting mortgage fraud in the Valley to authorities.
In mid-May 2023, the Substack pivoted to publishing exposes about Republicans and right-wingers, first posting about Dom Lucre and then another Arizona native and holistic medicine influencer Razi Berry (@BerryRazi on X).
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by Staff Reporter | May 12, 2026 | Education, News
By Staff Reporter |
Arizona State University is encouraging freshmen to take courses on LGBTQ+ identity and witchcraft, which some are criticizing as “woke” content that undermines rather than contributes to academia.
ASU offers these courses through Discovery Seminars offered exclusively to freshmen students. Each seminar comes with one course credit.
The LGBTQ+ identity course, “LGBTQ+ Cinema and TV in Pop Culture,” is taught by Gabriel Acevedo, assistant professor of English and Puerto Rican native. While teaching at a Catholic school in Puerto Rico, Acevedo introduced LGBTQ+ poetry to his students.
The ASU course focuses on mobilizing progressive ideas of gender, sexuality, and LGBTQ+ identities through pop culture, namely visual media like TV and movies.
Concepts of gender and sexuality are presented as fluid and subject to change with time. The course also explores how intersectionality impacts LGBTQ+ ideology by discussing identities, race, abilities, and class.
“[This course will] determine the extent to which LGBTQ+ experiences and conversations can unlock unprecedented, crucial, and essential cultural movements for young adults and teens,” stated the course description.
Acevedo’s most recent publication featured on the National Council of Teachers of English for the English Journal, “Mediating Empathy: Teaching LGBTQIA+ Young Adult Literature with Literary and Critical Care,” stressed the importance of not just including LGBTQ+ content in courses but teaching affirmation of LGBTQ+ identities to students.
Acevedo’s approach proposed treating LGBTQ+ content with the same reverence as works more traditionally classified as classic literature.
“Without intentional pedagogical focus, teachers risk unintentionally reinforcing the very marginalization they aim to challenge. Therefore, LGBTQIA+ texts should be regarded as cultural artifacts that require careful interpretation, balancing celebration of queer humanity with strategies for harm reduction,” said Acevedo. “These experiences strengthen my belief that every young person — whether queer, questioning, or cisgender heterosexual — benefits from literature that affirms gender and sexuality diversity and fosters critical empathy. Similarly, teachers, whether queer-identifying or allies, need practical, research-based strategies to responsibly include such texts in their classrooms.”
The witchcraft course, “Witches in the Age of #WitchTok,” is taught by Susan Nguyen, a poet and the Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing editor-in-chief of ASU’s international literary journal, Hayden’s Ferry Review.
“#WitchTok” refers to the viral online subculture with millions of posts and billions of views dedicated to witchcraft. Creators who engage in this online subculture practice witchcraft and many use their platforms to educate others practicing, to include spells, potions, and divination.
Users attest to communicating with deities such as Hekate, or creatures like fairies and forest nymphs.
Some users attest that witchcraft and Christianity, which commands against the practice of witchcraft, may be practiced simultaneously.
Top creators include Frankie Ann (@chaoticwitchaunt, over 1.6 million followers across multiple social media channels).
In her course, Nguyen reframes witches as more than fictional side characters and as real and “powerful” figures of controversy and esteem that are making a “comeback.”
Nguyen also promotes and encourages gossip “as a tool of power and protection, especially for women and marginalized communities.”
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by Staff Reporter | May 11, 2026 | News
By Staff Reporter |
A viral story across the media accused the Trump administration of keeping parents from their adult son dying of terminal cancer.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) responded that was the furthest thing from the truth.
Although their son had been living and already returned to Mexico, his parents decided to reenter the country illegally.
DHS says the parents, Isidor Gonzales Aviles and Normal Anabel (also identified as Norma Anabel Ramirez Amaya), were not in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody and that their family misrepresented critical facts in their case to the media.
Per DHS, Aviles and Anabel had been deported years prior to this event and were illegal aliens. Neither individual had standing to enter the country regardless of the reason.
Aviles entered the country illegally in 2000; from that point to his removal in 2011, Aviles was arrested and charged multiple times with sexual abuse, retail theft, battery, trespassing, and disorderly conduct.
Anabel entered the country illegally in 2005. She was also deported back to Mexico in 2011. However, Anabel entered the country illegally again in 2024, where she was apprehended by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and redeported within several days.
Their son Kevin Gonzalez — who is 18 and is identified as a U.S. citizen — was born during that time period while his parents were hiding out in the country illegally in Chicago, Illinois. That would mean Gonzalez was born to illegal immigrant parents, what some call an “anchor baby” in the heated debate over birthplace citizenship that has made its way to the Supreme Court.
Although Gonzalez was born in Chicago, he lived in Mexico with his parents leading up to December 2025. That’s around when Gonzalez received his cancer diagnosis and left his parents to seek out medical treatment in the U.S.
Gonzalez was diagnosed with metastatic Stage 4 colon cancer in January and was initially under the care of his brother, Jovany Ramirez, in Chicago. Aviles and Anabel reported petitioning for humanitarian parole into the country to be with Gonzalez, but their petitions were denied.
During this time, Gonzalez traveled back to Mexico to be with his family. He entered the care of his grandmother, Virginia Amaya.
DHS later responded to media reports on the claim of humanitarian parole; according to DHS, Aviles and Anabel applied for B1/B2 visas, which were denied, not humanitarian parole.
Although Gonzalez returned to Mexico, Aviles and Anabel then reentered the country illegally in April and were detained by CBP in Douglas, not ICE. The parents were taken to the Florence Correctional Center for processing.
On Thursday, a federal immigration judge authorized the expedited release of Aviles and Anabel.
Congressional Democrats who qualify illegal aliens as constitutents and have prioritized fighting against immigration enforcement efforts came to the family’s defense.
Rep. Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ-07) called the story “heartbreaking.”
“I’m asking ICE to accommodate this request so Kevin can see his parents one last time,” said Grijalva. “This isn’t about politics — it’s about human decency.”
On Friday it was reported that Aviles and Anabel were traveling back to Mexico.
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