by Ethan Faverino | Dec 8, 2025 | News
By Ethan Faverino |
U.S. Representative Eli Crane (R-AZ-02) has signed onto Rep. Anna Paulina Luna’s (R-FL) discharge petition to force a floor vote on H.R. 1908, the Restore Trust in Congress Act, legislation that would prohibit Members of Congress, their spouses, and dependent children from trading or owning individual stocks and other covered investments while in office.
The move comes amid growing bipartisan frustration over potential insider trading and conflicts of interest in Congress, with public polls showing overwhelming support for ending the practice. Rep. Crane, who has never traded stocks during his time in office, has long championed the reform as essential to restoring public trust.
“The American people overwhelmingly agree that Members of Congress should not be allowed to trade stocks while in office. Lawmakers who are privy to sensitive and non-public information should not have the ability to profit from their access,” said Rep. Crane. “I applaud Rep. Luna for taking initiative and leading the charge to end this corrupt practice in our nation’s capital. Republicans and Democrats alike should join forces and get this reform across the finish line.”
Introduced by Rep. Luna, H.R. 1908, would amend federal ethics law to bar covered individuals from purchasing, owning, or trading stocks, commodities, and similar investments, with limited exceptions for diversified mutual funds, U.S. Treasury securities, and certain occupational or inherited assets.
The bill imposes a 180-day divestment period for current lawmakers and 90 days for new ones, with penalties including a 10% fee on prohibited holdings and forfeiture of profits from violations.
“A discharge petition is the strongest tool we have to guarantee a vote on behalf of the American people, and it exists for moments exactly like this,” said Rep. Luna.
“This is one of the most popular, most supported issues in the entire country. Americans deserve a Congress that works for them, not for special interests or personal portfolios,” she added. “I look forward to working with every faction, every caucus, and every Member, Republican and Democrat, to finally get this over the finish line.”
The discharge petition, if successful, would bypass committee delays and bring the bill directly to the House floor under H. Res. 725, which waives procedural hurdles and limits debates to one hour.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Ethan Faverino | Dec 6, 2025 | News
By Ethan Faverino |
Congressman Andy Biggs (AZ-05) led a letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, joined by seven Republican colleagues, demanding the immediate denial of federal security clearance to New York City Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani.
The lawmakers cite a documented, years-long pattern of extremist affiliations, anti-American rhetoric, and hostility toward law enforcement that they argue renders Mamdani unfit to access classified national security information.
“Mamdani has a well-established pattern of siding with extremists, undermining U.S. counterterrorism efforts, demonizing law enforcement, and legitimizing violent movements,” said Congressman Biggs. “He has spent years defending extremists, attacking American law enforcement, and aligning himself with individuals who praise terrorists. Putting classified material in his hands would be a direct threat to NYPD officers, federal agents, and the security of this country.”
The letter highlights a series of alarming actions and statements by Mamdani, including:
- Co-founding Students for Justice in Palestine, an organization that celebrated the October 7 Hamas massacre as a “historic win” and called for “armed confrontation.”
- Endorsing violent unrest, attending rallies promoting “resistance by any means necessary,” and defending the slogan “Globalize the Intifada,” widely interpreted as a call for global violent uprisings.
- Undermining counterterrorism efforts by blaming the FBI for radicalizing al Qaeda terrorist Anwar al-Awlaki—a narrative often used by anti-American propagandists.
- Appearing alongside clerics who prayed for the annihilation of Israel’s supporters and praised Hamas fighters.
- Demonizing the NYPD, repeatedly labeling the department “racist, anti-queer, and a major threat to public safety,” while being arrested for disorderly conduct during a 2021 protest.
- Advocating to defund the NYPD, despite the mayoral role requiring close coordination with the department and federal law enforcement partners.
The lawmakers warn that granting clearance to Mamdani would jeopardize sensitive operations, expose classified information, and endanger frontline personnel. They noted an 8,000 percent surge in violence against ICE agents, arguing that Mamdani’s hostility toward immigration enforcement would further empower agitators and escalate risks to federal personnel.
“Security clearances are reserved for individuals who can be trusted with the nation’s most sensitive materials—a standard Mamdani doesn’t come close to meeting,” added Biggs. “His record is a bold red warning flag. DHS must reject his request without hesitation.”
The cosigners of the letter include Representatives Josh Brecheen (R-OK), Andy Ogles (R-TN), Eli Crane (R-AZ), Ralph Norman (R-SC), Mary Miller (R-IL), Keith Self (R-TX), and Marlin Stutzman (R-IN).
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Staff Reporter | Dec 5, 2025 | Education, News
By Staff Reporter |
An art exhibit at Northern Arizona University (NAU) allegedly displayed a poster mocking Charlie Kirk’s assassination.
The poster depicts the Turning Point founder and former CEO in a black and white screenprint, surrounded by blood red. A Nazi symbol follows the directory of the fatal bullet that went through Kirk’s neck. Beneath, the artist included the phrase, “Cowabummer,” a slang term used to express sarcastic empathy.
The artist signed only their initials: “A.S.”
The original poster of the print, Libs of TikTok, didn’t indicate where the print was displayed on campus, or when, but that a follower had sent it.
There were several recent art exhibits at NAU.
From mid-September until Thanksgiving Day, the Clara M. Lovett Art Museum featured the exhibit “Prints. People. Power.” The exhibit featured prints from three artist collectives, only one of which remains active: Arizona Print Group.
Additionally, NAU’s Beasley Gallery is featuring Resonance: BFA Capstone Exhibition to showcase graduating BFA candidates from NAU’s School of Art + Design. The exhibition launched Nov. 21 and will last until Dec. 12.
Kirk was assassinated on Sept. 10 while speaking at Utah Valley University, nearly a month to the day before his 32nd birthday. The man charged with Kirk’s assassination, Tyler James Robinson, was politically aligned with progressives, especially on issues pertaining to LGBTQ+ culture and ideologies.
Robinson was in a homosexual relationship with another man, Lance Twiggs, who identified as a woman and was in the process of transitioning genders.
Robinson is scheduled for in-person oral arguments on Jan. 16 and 30. His legal team asked the judge to limit media coverage in the courtroom due to concerns for a right to fair trial; the judge did impose restrictions on filming and photography to prevent further public exposure to the image of Robinson wearing shackles.
Rep. Eli Crane said if the print were indeed featured in an NAU art gallery, then NAU was “another shameful example of what’s wrong with higher education in America.”
As with many other college campuses across the country, NAU students have been captured on film targeting TPUSA tables with vandalization, theft, and threats on violence.
One student vandalized a table and stole a sign. Another handed the table workers a note with a death threat depicting Kirk’s assassination.
“A good Nazi is a dead one,” said the note. “Free speech!”
As far as public reporting goes, NAU has yet to address these incidents.
As of last month, TPUSA reported receiving around 350,000 new student registrations and over 135,000 new chapter requests.
Efforts to establish chapters on campuses have been met with resistance at high schools and postsecondary institutions, in large part due to TPUSA’s Professor Watchlist. The list documents professors accused of discriminating against conservative students.
Only one NAU professor is on the TPUSA Professor Watchlist: Heather Martel, an associate professor of history and associate faculty in the women’s and gender studies program.
Martel made the watchlist after telling a student in her history class that he wasn’t allowed to read the Bible before class in 2017.
Kirk was last on NAU’s campus in October 2024 as part of his “You’re Being Brainwashed Tour.” This latest tour, which was his last, was titled “The Great American Comeback Tour.”
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Dec 3, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Arizona Congressman Eli Crane (R-AZ-02) blasted Democrat Senator Ruben Gallego for posting what he called a “profanity-laced” video on X defending the controversial “Don’t give up the ship” message to U.S. service members. The message, released November 19th, also featured Sen. Mark Kelly (D-AZ).
In the ad first posted by Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Sen. Kelly is seen with Slotkin and Reps. Jason Crow (D-CO), Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), Maggie Goodlander (D-NH), and Chris Deluzio (D-PA). Kelly is addressing “members of the military” directly and stating, “This Administration is pitting our uniformed military,” against the American people and advising that “from right here at home: our laws are clear. You can refuse illegal orders.”
Many Republican critics, including President Donald Trump, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, and Rep. Eli Crane and have argued that Kelly’s comments violated the law governing conduct of former service members still subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
Kelly is now under investigation by the Department of War (DOW), which stated in part, “In accordance with the Uniform Code of Military Justice, 10 U.S.C. § 688, and other applicable regulations, a thorough review of these allegations has been initiated to determine further actions, which may include recall to active duty for court-martial proceedings or administrative measures.”
Gallego released a 55-second video in a post to X on November 24th in which he stated:
“This is f***ing insane. We should all point out how f***ing insane this is. Hey, this is Ruben Gallego. I’m traveling through Arizona right now and I just received the news that the Department of Defense is starting an investigation against my seatmate Mark Kelly. This is f***ing insane. We should all just point out how f***ing insane this is. And you know: these guys are trying to say that they’re not acting like fascists. They’re not trying to give as much power to this president as a King. And they should start …stop acting like it. Mark Kelly is a patriot. There’s no reason why they’re going after him. He was doing his duty and just reminding people about their rights as service members.
And you know: Secretary Hegseth, all these guys: f*** you guys.
You’re not going to scare us. We have a right to defend the Constitution of the United States. We have a right to tell other service members that they have a right to ignore illegal orders. And you’re not going to intimidate us.”
In a statement posted to X on Friday, Rep. Crane blasted Kelly for his comments and Gallego’s attempts to defend them.
“Ruben, in your profanity laced video you state that there is no reason that this administration is going after Senator Kelly. You are either lying or unaware of 18 U.S.C. § 2387 in the Uniform Code of Military Justice. This section prohibits inciting or abetting mutiny or sedition in the U.S. armed forces. Sedition is speech or conduct that incites rebellion or insurrection against a government or authority. I have noticed how the group who made this video have all agreed publicly that no unlawful orders have been given. They have then all stated that it’s just a reminder to our armed forces of their rights and responsibilities.
As servicemen ourselves we are both aware that all servicemen and women are already trained and educated of these rights and responsibilities in basic training. If the intention of your colleagues was solely to remind our service members of their rights and responsibilities then why didn’t they make this video when Joe Biden was CIC? You remember him right? The guy who didn’t know where he was half the time and who could barely string together a coherent sentence. The fact of the matter is that we all know why the video was made. If/when Senator Kelly is recalled to active duty for a court martial the American people will get educated themselves regarding the UCMJ and the provisions within it to deter this very conduct.”
In a post to Truth Social on November 20th, President Trump responded to the video, writing: “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!” In a follow-up on November22nd, President Trump wrote, “THE TRAITORS THAT TOLD THE MILITARY TO DISOBEY MY ORDERS SHOULD BE IN JAIL RIGHT NOW, NOT ROAMING THE FAKE NEWS NETWORKS TRYING TO EXPLAIN THAT WHAT THEY SAID WAS OK. IT WASN’T, AND NEVER WILL BE! IT WAS SEDITION AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL, AND SEDITION IS A MAJOR CRIME. THERE CAN BE NO OTHER INTERPRETATION OF WHAT THEY SAID!”
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 Matthew Holloway | Dec 1, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
The Ak-Chin Indian Community has been selected as the only Arizona tribe chosen for the Indian Health Service’s Joint Venture Construction Program (JVCP) for Fiscal Year 2025, a federal partnership that will fund and staff a new comprehensive health center for the community.
The JVCP, launched in 1991 under the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, allows tribes to finance and construct healthcare facilities that meet IHS standards. In return, the Indian Health Service requests funding from Congress to staff, equip, and operate the facilities for 20 years under a no-cost lease agreement.
According to an announcement from Congressman Eli Crane (R-AZ-02), the Ak-Chin Indian Community, located in northwestern Pinal County within Crane’s district, was selected through a competitive national application process. The Congressman celebrated the decision, calling it “a historic investment in rural healthcare” and noting that the partnership would “expand access to quality care and help close longstanding gaps in Arizona’s Second District.”
A letter from the IHS to Tribal leaders states that participants in the JVCP “acquire, construct, or renovate a health care facility” and that IHS will operate the completed facility for the duration of the lease period. The letter confirms Ak-Chin’s selection among the FY 2025 participants.
Over thirty facilities have been constructed under this program, including both health centers and hospitals, serving more than 25 tribes nationwide, according to the IHS.
Ak-Chin Indian Community Chairman Gabriel Lopez praised the federal decision, saying the partnership “will enable us to replace our current aged and inadequate health clinic to meet the needs of our growing population,” by enabling community members, including elders and those with chronic conditions, to access care closer to home.
Specific service offerings for the new facility will be defined as the project moves forward. Lopez added, “Going forward, this new health center with comprehensive services will ensure high-quality care is available right here and will make a real difference in the quality of life for the Ak-Chin people,” according to Native News Online.
Lopez also thanked Crane and Arizona’s congressional delegation for supporting the tribe’s successful application.
“This healthcare facility would not be possible without our Arizona delegation members, including Congressman Crane. We thank Congressman Crane for his support, which was essential in the success of our application and reflects his steadfast advocacy for the Ak-Chin Indian Community and each of the Tribes within his district,” Lopez said.
The Chairman met with U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in Scottsdale this week to announce the award for the Joint Venture Construction Program. Kennedy described the existing urgent care facility on Ak Chin tribal land as “essentially a double-wide trailer” in the video message.
In a post to X, HHS stated the funding will “build an approximately 60,000-square-foot health facility to expand access to primary, dental, and radiology care for the Ak-Chin community and neighboring tribes, improving access to care in rural Arizona.”
Thanking the Trump administration and Secretary Kennedy, Lopez said, “This is a tremendous honor, and it’s a tremendous surprise and a blessing for our community. Again, thank you to the Administration, thank you, Secretary.”
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.
