by Ethan Faverino | Nov 2, 2025 | News
By Ethan Faverino |
A new national poll reveals a broad, cross-partisan consensus among Americans for accountability-driven reforms to address rising crime, homelessness, and judicial leniency.
With violent crime perceived as increasing by 75% of respondents, majorities support stricter sentencing, enhanced monitoring technologies, federal oversight of repeat offender states, and responsibility requirements in public assistance programs. The Cicero Institute National Crime Poll surveyed a representative sample of 2,102 U.S. voters, showing a unified public mandate that compassion must be paired with consequences to restore safety and order in communities nationwide.
“Americans are crying out for accountability,” said Stefani E. Buhajla, Senior Director of Communications at the Cicero Institute. “Across the nation, families are watching their neighborhoods decline under the weight of unchecked crime, drug abuse, and untreated mental illness. Homelessness has exploded into public view, violent criminals cycle endlessly through the courts, and too many judges seem more interested in appeasing activists than protecting the people they serve. The result is predictable: citizens feel less safe, less secure, and less confident in the institutions charged with delivering justice.”
Crime and Public Safety
- 63% support increasing criminal penalties for drug trafficking around homelessness charity facilities, recognizing the exploitation of vulnerable individuals battling addictions.
- 75% support providing law enforcement with better technology to track transient sex offenders.
- 75% support electronic monitoring of transient sex offenders’ whereabouts, with 68% more likely to support if informed that over half of transients are registered sex offenders.
Violent Crime and Mental Health
- 75% believe violent crime is increasing or staying the same.
- 61% support court-ordered treatment and stabilization for repeat criminals with mental illness.
- 64% support making it easier to commit individuals with violent tendencies to mental health facilities.
- In cases of aggravated murder by mentally ill offenders, 82% back life in prison, the death penalty, or both (46% life in prison, 18% death penalty, 18% both).
- 60% favor an automatic federal investigation into states with histories of releasing repeat violent criminals.
- 63% support removing judges with patterns of leniency toward repeat violent criminals.
Homelessness
- 64% say homeless individuals should be required to participate in addiction, mental health treatment, and job training as a condition of taxpayer-funded housing.
- 64% oppose allowing homeless individuals to camp on public property.
- 75% view moving homeless individuals to shelters as more compassionate than unrestricted camping.
- 70% support temporary structured camping areas with water, sanitation, and police services—located away from residential and business zones—when shelters are unavailable.
Juvenile Justice
- 73% support shorter probation terms for low-risk juvenile offenders who complete education or job training.
- 66% support reduced probation for those pursuing mental health counseling or drug treatment programs.
“What we see here is not a thirst for cruelty, but a yearning for justice,” added Buhajla. “Americans want accountability because they know compassion without order collapses into chaos. They understand that responsibility and opportunity must go hand in hand. And they are calling on leaders to have the courage to enforce laws, protect communities, and demand more from the very institutions that too often excuse failure.”
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Nov 1, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego sharply criticized Republican leaders over the Democrat-led federal government shutdown during an appearance on CBS’s The Late Show with Stephen Colbert this week. Gallego claimed that the impasse threatens health care affordability nationwide
The segment spotlighted the Democrat-instigated federal government shutdown and the looming expiration of enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies, which could drive up premiums as open enrollment begins November 1st. The interview played out like an in-kind political ad for Gallego.
The subsidies, extended under the 2021 American Rescue Plan as a form of COVID relief, eliminated income caps for marketplace eligibility, allowing households above 400% of the federal poverty level to receive aid.
Host Stephen Colbert teed up the Democratic position for the softball interview: “Well, this shutdown has gone on for 29 days. If I can characterize the position the Democrats want the Republicans to address [as] the lapsing of the tax credits and ACA, the Obamacare, so people are going to see the rates jump up starting in November, right?”
Gallego detailed the stakes for his state. He noted that premiums could surge nearly 50% for a family of four earning up to $128,600 annually—or a family of five up to $150,600—potentially adding about $7,000 to yearly costs. He said, “And things are hard right now. I mean, everything is fricking expensive, and now the government, these Republicans, are going to willingly raise people’s premiums. That’s what’s happening right now.”
The senator, who has continued to cash his congressional paychecks during the shutdown, directed fire at GOP figures absent from negotiations. He accused House Speaker Mike Johnson of being “off hiding somewhere with the Epstein list” and quipped about former President Donald Trump, saying, “I don’t know where the hell Trump is. But I think he’s probably in Korea putting on a crown or something like that.”
Gallego stressed the fallout for ordinary Americans: “Either way, our people, everyday working-class people in this country are hurting right now.”
Just two weeks ago, Gallego claimed he needed to “restrain” himself in the presence of Speaker Johnson when he and Sen. Mark Kelly confronted the Speaker in a Capitol hallway.
Gallego’s account seems to ignore a point that Senate Majority Leader John Thune exposed explosively from the Senate floor Monday night when he said, “The senator from New Mexico is absolutely right; SNAP recipients shouldn’t go without food. People should be getting paid in this country, and we’ve tried to do that 13 times—and you voted no 13 times! This isn’t a political game; these are real people’s lives we are talking about, and you have all just figured out 29 days in that, oh, there may be some consequences?!?”
Instead, Gallego took the time to leverage his well-worn rags-to-Senate story—from a single-mother home to advocating for economic opportunity —continuing what appears to be a soft start to 2028 White House ambitions.
Arizona State Representative Nick Kupper (R-LD25) took to X to respond to Gallego’s post, sharing the interview. Gallego wrote, “The fact that someone like me ended up where I am is proof that this country can still be great. But that promise doesn’t survive on its own. We have to fight for it.”
Kupper, seemingly unimpressed, reposted him, quipping: “The fact that he’s on this late-night show slinging his crap is more proof that this is all just performance art.”
The full interview is available on YouTube and Paramount+.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Jonathan Eberle | Nov 1, 2025 | News
By Jonathan Eberle |
Senator Carine Werner (R-LD4), Chair of the Arizona Senate Health and Human Services Committee, announced that the committee will convene its third special oversight hearing on the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) on November 12 at 1 p.m.in Senate Hearing Room 1.
The hearing continues the committee’s months-long probe into what lawmakers describe as systemic failures in the state’s Medicaid program. The focus will be on AHCCCS’s ongoing response to widespread Medicaid fraud and the long-term fallout affecting behavioral health providers and Arizona families.
Senator Werner has invited newly appointed AHCCCS Director Ginny Roundtree and members of the agency’s executive leadership to testify. The committee has also requested the attendance of Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) leaders to address allegations that providers who have publicly criticized the agencies faced retaliation.
“Arizonans deserve answers — not excuses,” Werner said. “Governor Hobbs and AHCCCS continue to hide behind lawsuits and misleading data, instead of owning up to the damage caused by its failed oversight. We will not allow bureaucratic stonewalling to stand in the way of accountability.”
The committee’s investigation began earlier this year following revelations of billions in fraudulent billing, tens of thousands of member disenrollments, and severe service disruptions impacting vulnerable populations, including Native American communities. Lawmakers argue that AHCCCS’s sluggish response has deepened the crisis, with incomplete data, opaque enforcement actions, and a lack of transparency on recovery efforts.
Werner’s committee has repeatedly pressed AHCCCS for detailed documentation on how it is addressing fraud, reinstating providers, and safeguarding patient access. So far, legislators say the agency’s evasiveness underscores a larger pattern of bureaucratic failure. The November 12 hearing will publicly review AHCCCS’s compliance with data and document requests, as well as evaluate whether corrective actions are being implemented.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Ethan Faverino | Oct 31, 2025 | Education, News
By Ethan Faverino |
Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne issued a statement opposing the State Board of Education’s decision to postpone the rulemaking to strip Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) language from Arizona’s teaching standards.
The issue will now be taken up at the Board’s December meeting—a delay Horne warns risks $866 million in federal education funding and violates clear federal civil rights directives.
“I respectfully but strongly disagree with the vote to postpone opening the rule-making process,” declared Horne. “The President issued an Executive Order requiring DEI language to be removed from programs funded by federal dollars. It made it abundantly clear that federal education funding is at risk if DEI language remains in education programs. Failure to comply with federal guidance may result in the loss of an estimated $866 million to Arizona schools. That is a major funding cut to our schools, and we need to begin dealing with this as soon as possible.”
Horne pointed to a letter from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR), signed by Acting Assistant Secretary Craig Trainor, which reaffirms that discrimination based on race, color, or national origin is illegal under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Equal Protection Clause, and controlling Supreme Court precedent.
The guidance explicitly condemns race-based preferences in admissions, financial aid, hiring, training, discipline, housing, and graduation ceremonies, and warns that DEI programs often “preference certain racial groups and teach students that certain racial groups bear unique moral burdens that others do not.”
The OCR letter also cites the Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling in Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard (SFFA), which states that the use of racial preferences in school testing and admissions is unlawful. Their message is simple: “If an educational institution treats a person of one race differently than it treats another person because of that person’s race, the educational institution violates the law.”
“Not only is the $866 million at risk, but there is a philosophical issue at stake, too,” continued Horne. “All people should be judged based on their character and ability, not their race or ethnicity. DEI language and programs promote the exact opposite, and they have no place in the classroom. The teaching standards, unfortunately, include DEI references, and they need to be removed.”
The teaching standards at issue direct educators to teach “equitably,” with “responsiveness to the cultural backgrounds and differing perspectives learners bring to the learning environment,” and to address the “social, emotional, and cultural needs of students.”
“These terms do not belong in teaching standards,” Horne concluded. “The standards are meant to direct educators on the most effective ways to teach students’ core academics. Every instructional minute is precious, and DEI efforts distract from that essential mission.”
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Jonathan Eberle | Oct 31, 2025 | News
By Jonathan Eberle |
The Arizona Freedom Caucus announced that Representative Alexander Kolodin will lead a special hearing on “The Implications of Artificial Intelligence for Democratic Governance and How to Preserve Meaningful Elections” on Friday, November 14, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. in House Hearing Room 4 at the Arizona State Capitol.
The hearing, open to the public and livestreamed through the Arizona Legislature’s website, will focus on how the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping democratic institutions and the electoral process. Lawmakers plan to explore both the opportunities AI presents for improving government efficiency and the potential threats it poses to election security, voter confidence, and public trust.
Representative Kolodin, who chairs the House Ad Hoc Committee on Election Integrity and Florida-style Voting Systems, will be joined by four other Arizona House members, including fellow Freedom Caucus member Representative Rachel Keshel.
“The states cannot be complacent when it comes to the rapid development of AI,” Kolodin said in a statement. “The risk of insufficient oversight of AI is literally what dystopian nightmares are made of. Although it is reasonable to be excited about the prospects of AI to improve human life and society, it is equally critical to be vigilant about the ways it can be abused to erode our freedoms, including threatening democratic governance and our elections.”
The Arizona Freedom Caucus said it views the hearing as a proactive step toward crafting policy that anticipates how AI could be weaponized to undermine democratic processes. The group emphasized that while AI offers enormous benefits, its misuse could have far-reaching consequences for liberty, privacy, and electoral integrity.
“There is perhaps no greater concern than how AI will impact our elections,” the caucus said in its release. “We believe the best way to prevent destructive scenarios is to address AI’s prospective impacts and uses on the frontend.”
The November 14 session is expected to feature expert testimony and legislative discussion on strategies to safeguard Arizona’s electoral systems while responsibly integrating emerging technologies.
Members of the public can view the livestream of the hearing here.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Oct 31, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
U.S. Congressman Eli Crane (R-AZ02) announced his election as Chair of the Congressional Justice for Warriors Caucus (CJWC) this week.
Crane is a former U.S. Navy Seal with multiple combat deployments in the Middle East. The CJWC, established in 2019, focuses on addressing injustices faced by service members and veterans, including wrongful convictions, flawed military investigations, and nonjudicial punishments.
The caucus has secured clemency, parole, and pardons for affected individuals, while advocating for improved medical care, correction of records, and accountability from the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs for unmet congressional mandates.
The group also works to reform aspects of military law, such as the Uniform Code of Military Justice and Rules for Courts-Martial, to protect against unlawful command influence, prosecutorial misconduct, and misapplication of rules.
“I’m honored to serve as Chairman of the Congressional Justice for Warriors Caucus, which does vital work on behalf of our military community,” Crane said in a statement. “I encourage any veteran who believes they’ve been wrongfully persecuted to reach out. We’re here to help.”
Posting the announcement to X, Crane wrote, “This Congress, I’m honored to chair the Congressional Justice for Warriors Caucus. Since 2019, the Caucus has delivered positive outcomes for our military community. If you are a veteran who believes you have been wrongfully persecuted, please reach out.”
Crane will be joined by Rep. Daniel Webster (R-FL) as Executive Member, along with Reps. Eric Burlison (R-MO) and Cory Mills (R-FL). Veterans or those with relevant cases can submit information through the caucus website.
The caucus advised that for veterans to streamline their inquiries, they should be prepared to provide:
- VA claim number for a case with the Department of Veterans Affairs;
- Charge sheet from either DOW or civilian court that you are seeking assistance with;
- A timeline of events in chronological order;
- Any pertinent and concise letters of support from witnesses of the event;
- Both the government’s and the defense’s appellant briefs in PDF format, with relevant portions highlighted to support your argument and theirs; and
- Your address and phone number so that we can contact you.”
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
