Democratic Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs is hoping to secure another four years in the governor’s mansion by adding a former “Republican” mayor to her ticket who backed Kamala Harris for president and was censured by a local conservative group.
In a <a href="https://x.com/katiehobbs/status/2087162216672027007?s=20">joint video statement</a> on Tuesday, Hobbs touted her running mate, former Mesa Mayor John Giles, as a card-carrying conservative without mentioning his more recent Democratic voting record.
“The first thing I looked for in a running mate was someone who shares that value of putting Arizonans ahead of partisan politics. That&#8217;s why I&#8217;m proud to introduce my running mate, former Mesa Mayor John Giles.” 
For the first time, voters in the Grand Canyon State will elect a lieutenant governor as part of the gubernatorial ticket after approving a ballot measure that created the position in 2022 — setting up a major test for Hobbs as she battles Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) in a closely watched reelection fight.
“I was a lifelong Republican before becoming an independent because extremists shouldn&#8217;t stand in the way of getting things done,” Giles said. “I&#8217;m proud to join Katie Hobbs as her candidate for lieutenant governor, because Katie will continue to put Arizona first.”
During the 2024 election, Giles, who served as Mesa’s mayor from 2014 to 2025, made national headlines after endorsing Harris for president in an op-ed that accused the Trump-led GOP of becoming consumed by extremism. Before that, Giles endorsed Democratic Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly over Republican Blake Masters and Hobbs over MAGA firebrand Kari Lake — moves that infuriated Republicans and prompted at least one Republican group to censure him formally.
“Since Donald Trump refused to accept the outcome of the 2020 election, Republicans have yet to course correct,” he <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4797963-republican-arizona-harris-trump-mccain/">said</a> at the time. “The Republican Party with Trump at its helm continues down the path of political extremism, away from focusing on our fundamental freedoms.”
Hobbs is the latest swing-state Democrat to tout crossover Republican support for political clout as the national party struggles to stop a surging socialist takeover that threatens to alienate key swing voters.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/republicans-for-talarico-exposed-as-complete-scam?author=Jacob+Wheeler&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=2&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=%E2%80%98Republicans+For+Talarico%E2%80%99+Exposed+As+Complete+Scam">The Daily Wire</a> previously uncovered how leftist outlet MS NOW aired a segment featuring three Texas women who identified themselves as Republicans and vowed to cross over for James Talarico – but records show at least some of them have voted in Democratic primaries and donated to liberal candidates and causes.
During the segment, former school board candidate Mindy McClure described herself as a “moderate Republican.” <a href="https://www.fec.gov/data/committee/C00931741/?cycle=2026&amp;tab=about-committee">Federal Election Commission filings, however,</a> show McClure repeatedly gave money through ActBlue to Democratic candidates and anti-Trump groups dating back to 2018, including the Lincoln Project and Kamala Harris’ 2024 presidential campaign.
“Republicans for Talarico is as real as the six genders that Talarico claims exist, but has yet to explain what they are. This lame rebrand of White Dudes for Kamala is full of lifelong Democrat donors, activists, and other losers,” RNC spokesman Zach Kraft said in a statement to The Daily Wire.

Running For Re-Election AZ Governor Katie Hobbs Campaigns With Rep-Elect Adelita Grijalva And Gabby Giffords In Tucson

Swing-State Democrat Taps ‘Republican’ Running Mate

2026 elections

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John Giles

Katie Hobbs

News

Politics

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Socialism

The Trump administration reported the single largest month for arrests by ICE in July, but now, its efforts are moving beyond the border and into community banks. 
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent traveled to Arizona on Thursday to tell lenders to view credit applications under an increasingly scrutinized lens. 
&#8220;This administration will not tolerate blatant abuse of our financial system, nor will it permit risks posed by the extension of financial services to illegal aliens,&#8221; Bessent <a href="https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sb0595">told</a> the bankers. 
He was careful to frame the ask as part of the bankers’ ordinary duties rather than an expansion into border enforcement. 
&#8220;We do not ask bankers to assume the burdens of border enforcement,&#8221; Bessent said. &#8220;But we depend on banks to do what you do best: know your customers, identify risks as they arise, and report suspicious patterns before they metastasize into criminal schemes.&#8221;
The administration is pushing the banks to view lending money to undocumented immigrants as an added risk. The administration outlined concerns, such as the possibility of deportation and termination after an employer discovers the employee doesn&#8217;t have a valid work authorization. The guidance does not carry the force of law, however, as banks are not prohibited from offering accounts or loans to illegal immigrants.
Bessent argued that Arizona carries particular weight in the effort, telling the bankers the state &#8220;remains uniquely exposed to the aftershocks of Biden&#8217;s border crisis, including cartels and criminal organizations that seek to conceal illicit proceeds within legitimate channels.&#8221; He made similar remarks in Texas, given its proximity to the southern border. 
Critics of the Trump administration&#8217;s new guidance argue that community banks will suffer if they have to bear the burden of increased compliance as they face pressure to more closely scrutinize their customers. 
The National Association of Latino Credit Unions and Professionals <a href="https://inclusiv.org/news/inclusiv-nlcup-joint-statement-executive-order-restoring-integrity-americas-financial-system">said</a> the guidance will create a “nearly insurmountable operations and compliance burden for financial institutions in tracking the immigration and work authorization status of their members. This burden will be felt most acutely by small credit unions and will likely lead to closures and fewer affordable financial services in the communities that need credit unions the most.”
Bessent responded to that criticism by framing the federal government&#8217;s relationship with community banks as a two-way street. The secretary told the audience that even as Washington leans on community banks for vigilance, Treasury owes them relief from what he called years of &#8220;overregulation&#8221; that has cut the number of community and small banks in half since the 2008 financial crisis. 
&#8220;Dodd-Frank was supposed to end &#8216;too big to fail,'&#8221; Bessent said. &#8220;Instead, it created &#8216;too small to succeed.&#8217;” 
He reminded the banks of the administration’s commitment to reducing regulation and reminded them that increased regulation did not stop three bank failures in 2023.

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Treasury Secretary Bessent testifies before a House Ways and Means Committee hearing on Capitol Hill

Trump Admin Taps Surprising New Partner To Combat Illegal Immigration

Border

Community Banks

Dodd-Frank

Illegal Immigration

Regulations

Scott Bessent

Treasury Department

Trump Administration

Authorities investigating the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie on Friday released the full text of two previously undisclosed <a href="https://x.com/PimaSheriff/status/2083266827707363582?s=20">ransom notes</a>, hoping the public can identify the author by analyzing the writing style nearly six months after the 84-year-old grandmother vanished.
The Pima County Sheriff&#8217;s Office said the newly released notes contain &#8220;distinctive patterns of word choice, syntax, and phraseology&#8221; that could help identify the person responsible for Guthrie&#8217;s kidnapping.
The first note, sent to KOLD on February 2 and addressed to NBC &#8220;Today&#8221; host Savannah Guthrie, described details inside Nancy Guthrie&#8217;s home, including a damaged flood light and a white Apple Watch near her bed. It demanded $4 million, then $6 million, for the 84-year-old&#8217;s safe return by a February 9 deadline.
&#8220;She will be held for ransom and once payment is received she will be released unharmed,&#8221; the note addressed to the Today Show host read. &#8220;If payment is not received by the last deadline on Monday the 9th at 5 p.m., she will be killed.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Nancy Guthrie Investigation Update: Video &amp; Ransom Note Details 1/3 <a href="https://t.co/O0HDb8asMX">pic.twitter.com/O0HDb8asMX</a>
— Pima County Sheriff&#8217;s Department (@PimaSheriff) <a href="https://x.com/PimaSheriff/status/2083266827707363582?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 31, 2026</a></blockquote>
The full note also included additional threats that investigators had not previously made public.
&#8220;Your mother is aware of this and her life is in your hands. It is in the best interest of everyone to have this completed as soon as possible. You will not be able to contact me from here on out, there will be no negotiation. Do not play games, law enforcement will not be able to help you.&#8221;
A second note, sent on February 6 and addressed to the &#8220;Guthrie Family,&#8221; claimed Nancy Guthrie had died shortly after being abducted.
&#8220;We did not fully grasp the seriousness of her physical condition. We never intended to hurt her, that was not our intention. She perished shortly after she was taken. We believe it was heart related,&#8221; the note said.
&#8220;She is buried in nature now. Nothing you could have done could have changed the outcome. We want your family to know this and hope you all can find peace. We are truly sorry.&#8221;
Savannah Guthrie said during a March <a href="https://www.today.com/news/watch-full-savannah-guthrie-interview-rcna265446" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interview</a> with Hoda Kotb that she believed the two ransom notes were authentic. While several other letters have surfaced during the investigation, the family has publicly acknowledged only the two released Friday by the sheriff&#8217;s office.
Investigators said they are releasing the full notes because they believe someone who has interacted with the author may recognize the writing style.
&#8220;These communications reveal distinctive patterns of word choice, syntax, and phraseology that reflect the writer&#8217;s unique linguistic style,&#8221; the sheriff&#8217;s office said in a press release.
As the six-month anniversary of Nancy Guthrie&#8217;s disappearance approaches, investigators are also asking the public to revisit the FBI images showing a masked man outside her home before she vanished. Authorities believe the individual may have surveilled the property on more than one day before abducting Guthrie during the early morning hours of February 1.
Investigators urged anyone who noticed unusual changes in someone&#8217;s behavior around that time, including sudden travel, unexplained injuries, vehicle cleaning or repairs, or an unusual interest in the investigation, to contact law enforcement.
Earlier this week, Savannah Guthrie shared an emotional Instagram video describing the family&#8217;s ordeal as &#8220;a nightmare that will not end&#8221; and begged for her mom’s abductor to &#8220;do the right thing now.&#8221;
&#8220;Help us bring this situation to an end. For all of us, no matter where we’ve been or what we’ve done, I believe there is always a way home,&#8221; Savannah said. &#8220;Please make the right choice.&#8221;
The FBI continues to offer a reward of more than $1 million for information leading to Nancy Guthrie&#8217;s recovery. Anyone with information is asked to call 1-800-CALL-FBI.

Credit: Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty Images

A Chilling Piece Of The Nancy Guthrie Mystery Has Just Been Made Public

kidnapping

Nancy Guthrie

Savannah Guthrie

That's So Criminal

Arizona State University, long known as one of America&#8217;s biggest party schools, is now offering a bachelor&#8217;s degree for aspiring influencers. 
The university&#8217;s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication recently unveiled a Bachelor of Arts in Content Creation, a program designed to prepare students to &#8220;become an influencer and strategic storyteller who thrives in the rapidly evolving creator economy.&#8221;
According to the university, the program is aimed at students who &#8220;dream of monetizing&#8221; their social media presence. Courses include How To Become An Influencer, On-Camera Presence, Podcasting, Social Media Foundations, The Digital Audience, and Interpersonal Influence.
ASU says the degree goes beyond creating social media posts.
Students will study multimedia production, audience analytics, personal branding, social media strategy, and integrated communications while participating in internships, brand partnerships, and content creation trips in Phoenix, Los Angeles, and abroad.
Jessica Pucci, senior associate dean at the Cronkite School, <a href="https://www.azfamily.com/2026/07/21/learn-how-be-an-influencer-with-asus-content-creation-major/">said</a> students will analyze performance metrics across multiple platforms, test different content strategies, and use data to grow their audiences.
Their senior capstone project requires students to spend an entire semester creating content on a platform such as TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube while demonstrating measurable audience growth. 
&#8220;They will have a platform of their choice with real content and real followers and a real audience behind them,&#8221; Pucci said. 
University officials say the program reflects the rapid growth of the creator economy, which Goldman Sachs <a href="https://www.goldmansachs.com/insights/articles/the-creator-economy-could-approach-half-a-trillion-dollars-by-2027">projects</a> could reach nearly $480 billion by 2027. 
Supporters say the coursework teaches practical skills that many successful creators eventually have to learn through trial and error.
But the announcement has also drawn plenty of skepticism <a href="https://nypost.com/2026/07/24/lifestyle/arizona-state-university-now-offers-a-content-creation-major/?utm_campaign=nypost&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=twitter">online</a>, with critics questioning whether students need a four-year degree to learn skills many internet personalities developed on their own.
Arizona influencer Anna Elizabeth, who also works as a medical assistant, said she wishes the program had existed when she began building her online audience. 
&#8220;How do I get brands to notice me?&#8221; she said. &#8220;It&#8217;s a little bit difficult to understand that portion if you haven&#8217;t done it for a long time.&#8221;
Even some faculty members questioned whether the degree justifies its cost. ASU philosophy professor Owen Anderson asked on <a href="https://x.com/dr_owenanderson/status/2080107269468066231">X</a> whether the major would satisfy new federal accountability standards requiring degree programs to improve graduates&#8217; earning potential compared to workers without a college education.
Arizona State is not the first university to embrace the influencer economy. Syracuse University recently established a Center for the Creator Economy, while Graceland University and Arizona&#8217;s Grand Canyon University offer degree programs focused on digital content and social media.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: OCT 14 Washington at Arizona State

Infamous Party School Launches Hilarious New Major

Arizona State University

College

Education

higher education

Influencers

Instagram

Podcast

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Oakland Athletics rookie Joshua Kuroda-Grauer underwent emergency surgery after rupturing a testicle by fouling a pitch into his groin during Monday night&#8217;s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. 
Kuroda-Grauer, 23, suffered the injury in the fifth inning but remained in the game long enough to finish the plate appearance, lining a nearly 100 mph fastball into right-center field for his second hit of the night. Earlier in the game, he had hit his first major league home run.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
&#8220;No balls and one strike&#8221;
Joshua Kuroda-Grauer fouled a ball directly off his nuts, then recovered and got a base knock <a href="https://t.co/wtFcxBXjKd">pic.twitter.com/wtFcxBXjKd</a>
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) <a href="https://x.com/JomboyMedia/status/2079423377463267769?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 21, 2026</a></blockquote>
Kuroda-Grauer stayed in the game as a baserunner and even returned to the field for the bottom of the fifth inning before being replaced in the sixth with what the A&#8217;s initially described as a “testicular contusion.”
The A&#8217;s later announced that Kuroda-Grauer underwent emergency surgery Monday night at St. Joseph&#8217;s Hospital in Phoenix after doctors determined he had suffered a ruptured testicle.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
From the A’s : 
Kuroda-Grauer was injured last night after fouling off a pitch in the fifth inning. He underwent emergency surgery to repair a ruptured testicle last night at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Phoenix and is resting comfortably.
— Jody Jackson (@Jody_Jackson) <a href="https://x.com/Jody_Jackson/status/2079686675790488051?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 21, 2026</a></blockquote>
“I think he might be the only player in Major League history to [rupture] a testicle, get a hit, then play a half of [an] inning of defense,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay told reporters. “It shows you the fight that this kid has. His desire to be on the field and just the will and want is pretty remarkable.”
Following an ultrasound, doctors determined immediate surgery was necessary. Kuroda-Grauer was placed on the 10-day injured list, and the team has not announced a timetable for his return.
Kotsay said the rookie remained in good spirits after the procedure. 
“He was joking about it. His personality is amazing,” he stated. “But we’re thankful the surgery went well and he’s recovering well. We’re thankful that he’s going to be fine and that it doesn’t impact his life.”
One of the A&#8217;s top prospects, Kuroda-Grauer has made an immediate impact since making his major league debut on June 29. Through his first 60 at-bats, he is hitting .417 with seven doubles, one home run, and four RBIs.

Athletics v Arizona Diamondbacks

The Hardest-Hit Ball Of The Night Wasn’t Put In Play

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hospital

Injury

Oakland Athletics

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Sports

A former NFL kicker endorsed by President Donald Trump won the GOP nomination for a highly competitive House seat in Arizona on Tuesday night. 
Jay Feely, who played 14 seasons in the NFL, will attempt to keep Arizona’s 1st Congressional District Republican in November. The district&#8217;s current representative, Republican David Schweikert, did not run for re-election, choosing instead to mount a run for governor. 
“Thank you, Arizona! I am truly humbled by this massive outpouring of support. It is time for Republicans to unite, we have a lot of work to do between now and November to ensure we keep this crucial seat RED!” Feely said Tuesday night. 
Feely defeated former state Rep. Joseph Chaplik, a founding member of the Arizona Freedom Caucus endorsed by the NRA, and John Trobough, a business executive. He won 49.7% of the vote to Chaplik’s 35.6% and Trobough’s 14.6%. 
His opponent in the general election will either be former state Rep. Amish Shah or former TV journalist Marlene Galán-Woods. While Shah currently leads by seven points, the race has not yet been called. 
Trump <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115850261028223020">endorsed</a> Feely in January 2026, calling him a “fierce” MAGA advocate who “would work tirelessly to Grow our Economy, Cut Taxes and Regulations, Promote MADE IN THE U.S.A., Champion American Energy DOMINANCE, Keep our now very Secure Border, SECURE, Stop Migrant Crime, Strengthen our Military/Veterans, and Defend our always under siege Second Amendment.”
Feely emphasized his Trump endorsement throughout the primary and said he would be able to call him once in Congress. 
“Who can call [Trump] and who can get him to answer? That’s me,” he said during a debate. “He will take my call and he will listen. I have the ability to have the ear of the president.”
Feely’s campaign <a href="https://www.jayfeelyforcongress.com/issues">website</a> lists his priorities as border security, cutting regulations, keeping men out of women’s sports, increasing energy production, and standing with Israel. 
The district, which covers large swaths of Maricopa county, went for Schweikert in 2024 by roughly four points and Democrats are focusing on it as one of their key targets.
Feely played with six different teams through his NFL career which stretched from 2001 to 2014, including four years for the Atlanta Falcons, two years for the New York Giants, two years for the New York Jets, and four seasons for the Arizona Cardinals. He scored 1,445 points throughout his career and made 82.6% of his field goal attempts. 
Trump-endorsed Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ), a member of the House Freedom Caucus, easily defeated Schweikert in the race to take on Democrat Governor Katie Hobbs in November.

Cincinnati Bengals v Arizona Cardinals

Former NFL Kicker Backed By Trump Wins GOP Primary

2026 Midterms

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Donald Trump

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New York Jets

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After months of silence, the FBI said Wednesday that some ransom notes sent during the Nancy Guthrie kidnapping investigation may &#8220;potentially&#8221; be legitimate, while others appear to be bogus.
&#8220;Some have been deemed to be extortion attempts without legitimacy. Other ransom demands may potentially be legitimate and are still being investigated as such,&#8221; the FBI posted on X. &#8220;This case continues to be investigated as a kidnapping for ransom case.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Statement on Guthrie Investigation <a href="https://t.co/zTUKcjPfsv">pic.twitter.com/zTUKcjPfsv</a>
— FBI Phoenix (@FBIPhoenix) <a href="https://x.com/FBIPhoenix/status/2072451468766941575?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 1, 2026</a></blockquote>
The statement appears to contradict a <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/fbi-determines-nancy-guthrie-kidnapping-notes-be-fakes-source-says-2026-07-01/">Reuters</a> report citing an FBI official who said none of the ransom notes were believed to be genuine.
The FBI added that it continues to provide resources to assist in the investigation to find the mother of &#8220;Today&#8221; host Savannah Guthrie, but made it clear the probe is being led by local authorities in Pima County, Arizona.
This is the latest back-and-forth in the case of the missing 84-year-old who was abducted from her home on February 1.
During the first week of the search, multiple ransom notes were sent to several outlets demanding money in the form of bitcoin, while describing disturbing details about Guthrie&#8217;s condition.
Last month, NewsNation&#8217;s Brian Entin reported that sources told him the second ransom note alluded to Guthrie being dead.
The note indicated her death was unintentional and said that Guthrie was &#8220;buried with nature now,&#8221; per Entin.
Savannah Guthrie addressed the report last month on the &#8220;Today&#8221; show alongside co-anchor Craig Melvin and Carson Daly.
&#8220;Somebody knows something, and this is a new story today that is on your radar, but this is the life that my sister lives, that I live, that my brother lives, that our extended families live, that our children live, every day,&#8221; Savannah said. &#8220;And we are in agony. We cannot be at peace.&#8221;
Shortly after Savannah&#8217;s plea, <a href="https://www.tmz.com/2026/06/26/new-nancy-guthrie-demand-letter-claims-video-evidence/">TMZ</a> reported that it had received another email containing a bombshell claim about the investigation.
The note contained a password to a phone in a &#8220;secure location&#8221; that had information on Guthrie&#8217;s disappearance. The sender of the note said they would provide the password in exchange for bitcoin, per TMZ.
TMZ has received numerous emails over the past several months, but the latest had the same bitcoin address as the sender who emailed the outlet in February.
The more than $1 million reward for information leading to the recovery of Guthrie is still available.
The number for tips is 1-800-CALL-FBI.

Credit: Nathan Congleton/NBC/Justin Sullivan via Getty Images

The FBI Isn’t Ready To Dismiss The Nancy Guthrie Ransom Notes

Crime

U.S.

Arizona Democratic Sen. Ruben Gallego partied late into the night at a Bogotá nightclub during an official trip to Colombia last year despite warnings that his life was in danger, according to a new report. 
Citing sources familiar with the August 2025 <a href="https://www.gallego.senate.gov/news/press-releases/icymi-senator-gallego-travels-to-colombia-on-congressional-delegation-trip/">trip</a>, Gallego, a close friend of disgraced ex-Congressman Eric Swalwell (D-CA), was informed of a credible threat to his life while attending a dinner with U.S. Embassy officials, NOTUS <a href="https://www.notus.org/senate/ruben-gallego-colombia-trip-embassy-threat">reported</a>. The outlet said the embassy employees advised him not to leave the embassy compound, but Gallego later went out to a club in Bogotá, where he remained until approximately 3:00 am.
The report also states that Gallego invited multiple U.S. Embassy personnel to join him at the nightclub. At least one female staffer was among those invited, according to NOTUS.
In a statement, a spokesman for Gallego disputed the report&#8217;s description of the evening, saying the senator “coordinated closely with embassy security throughout the trip, including on the evening in question, and followed all security guidance.” 
“While at dinner at the conclusion of a successful congressional delegation trip, the Senator and his Chief of Staff invited Embassy staff to join them, a common way to recognize the work of those who support these visits,” the spokesman said. “As one of the first Colombian-American Senators elected to Congress, Senator Gallego was proud of the work done in Colombia and looks forward to continuing efforts to strengthen U.S. ties in the Southern Hemisphere.”
Gallego’s trip focused on discussions with Colombian officials about “organized crime, the business climate, and China’s growing influence,” according to his office. 
The Arizona Democrat has come under increasing scrutiny due to his ties to Swalwell, who resigned from Congress after being accused of sexual assault and misconduct. Gallego, who once <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/democrat-lawmakers-pose-shirtless-while-riding-camels-on-qatar-trip-bought-by-special-interest-group-report">rode camels</a> shirtless in Qatar with Swalwell, initially defended his friendship before accusing him of living a double life. 
“I’ve read the San Francisco Chronicle’s reporting and I take it seriously,” he <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/swalwells-dem-buddies-flee-like-rats-after-sexual-assault-allegation">said</a>. “What is described is indefensible. Women who come forward with accounts like this deserve to be heard with respect, not questioned or dismissed.”

Extending Government Funding and Delivering Emergency Assistance Act

Swalwell’s Best Buddy In Congress Partied Hard In Colombia On Work Trip

Colombia

Eric Swalwell

Senate

Editor&#8217;s Note: This story was updated Friday, April 3, after investigators revealed new information on Thursday about the case. 
***
An Arizona missing persons cold case turned into an investigative triumph when Christina Marie Plante was found alive after she disappeared more than three decades ago, the Gila County Sheriff&#8217;s Office <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1479304087566987&amp;set=pcb.1479304147566981">announced</a> Wednesday.
But not only is Plante alive and well, an investigator shared Thursday that the teenage girl actually ran away and has been secretly living another life since.
On May 15, 1994, the then-13-year-old left her home on foot in the small town of Star Valley, Arizona, to visit her horse at a nearby stable, authorities said. At some point after leaving her house, Plante vanished &#8220;without a trace&#8221; and was reported missing.
&#8220;At the time of her disappearance, extensive search efforts were conducted involving local law enforcement, volunteers, and regional resources,&#8221; authorities wrote in the statement. &#8220;Despite exhaustive ground searches, interviews, and investigative follow-up, no viable leads were developed.&#8221;
Her name was entered into national missing children databases and missing persons flyers were distributed throughout the country.
Until this week, the case remained active and ongoing, with investigators &#8220;periodically re-examining evidence and pursuing new information as it became available.&#8221;
<div style="width: 493px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="x15mokao x1ga7v0g x16uus16 xbiv7yw x85a59c x193iq5w x4fas0m x19kjcj4" src="https://scontent-lga3-3.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/659027770_1479348987562497_6086883609209914846_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&amp;ccb=1-7&amp;_nc_sid=127cfc&amp;_nc_ohc=jcaUoGpj-isQ7kNvwG-zG7g&amp;_nc_oc=AdpbJLazfVSn4II6MVN4bqkOY3WIhd3nSI7YDYbaO_DwF129HyN2uSI_2HQEqlm8an4&amp;_nc_zt=23&amp;_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-3.xx&amp;_nc_gid=JGBz8FdCuEUSJ1362NiKyQ&amp;_nc_ss=7a3a8&amp;oh=00_Af2ReAsEkuDnEy3Bxm7094k0WBSHxxf_BGQJSKV-lHADQg&amp;oe=69D462D6" alt="May be an image of text" width="483" height="621" data-visualcompletion="media-vc-image" />Credit: Gila County Sheriff&#8217;s Office</div>
It wasn&#8217;t until the sheriff&#8217;s office developed the Cold Case Unit with a &#8220;renewed commitment to unresolved investigations&#8221; that they reached a &#8220;breakthrough.&#8221;
Captain Jamie Garrett of the unit credits advanced technology and modern investigative techniques for the ability to have tracked down the now 44-year-old.
Garrett told <a href="https://www.newsnationnow.com/missing/girl-missing-1994-left-on-purpose/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NewsNation’s “Jesse Weber Live”</a> on Thursday that she spoke to Plante on the phone, who confirmed she was the missing girl from Star Valley.
Garrett said she was &#8220;dumbfounded&#8221; after learning there was no kidnapping involved. Instead, Garrett shared that Plante made the decision to run away, with the help of other family members.
&#8220;I guess she wasn&#8217;t happy with where she was living and who she was living with, and she ran away,&#8221; Garrett said of the phone call.
Garrett told Weber that she shared with Plante the authorities thought something sinister had happened, &#8220;You know, we were under the impression that somebody kidnapped you. It was deemed a criminal offense.”
Plante, according to Garrett, didn&#8217;t give much information about how she ran away or where she has been, but confirmed she is living under a different name.
“She’s in her adult life. She has her family now. That’s not something she even thinks about,” Garrett said.
The sheriff&#8217;s office initially wrote in the statement it wasn&#8217;t going to release any more information “out of respect for Christina’s privacy and well-being.”
“The Gila County Sheriff&#8217;s Office remains committed to pursuing all unresolved cases and encourages anyone with information regarding other cold cases to come forward.”

Detective workplace and evidence board in modern office

A Little Girl Who Went Missing 32 Years Ago Was Just Found Alive, But The Mystery Only Deepens

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The FBI seized election data from Maricopa County, Arizona, as the bureau expands its investigation into suspected election tampering, Just The News <a href="https://justthenews.com/politics-policy/elections/monfbi-secretly-seizes-election-records-arizonas-largest-county-voting">reported</a> on Sunday night.
The FBI has kept the Maricopa County record seizure under wraps, but Just The News cited &#8220;multiple people familiar&#8221; with the probe who said that FBI agents are receiving gigabytes worth of data through a grand jury subpoena. The investigation into Maricopa County election records comes just a month after the FBI <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fbi-raids-fulton-county-office-as-part-of-2020-election-interference-probe">raided</a> an election office in Fulton County, Georgia, as part of a 2020 election interference probe.
President Donald Trump celebrated the report of the FBI election data seizure, <a href="https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116199384958218035">writing</a> on Truth Social Monday morning, &#8220;Great!!!&#8221;
The Daily Wire reached out to the FBI for comment.
Trump continues to push for stronger election laws, including voter ID requirements and more restrictions on mail-in ballots, across the country as the 2026 midterms near. Maricopa County was scrutinized following Trump&#8217;s 2020 election loss to former President Joe Biden over allegations that hundreds of thousands of ballots were illegally counted.
After the 2020 election, the Republican-controlled Arizona Senate investigated Maricopa County&#8217;s ballot-counting process and found that more than 200,000 ballots were counted without being reviewed, despite containing mismatched signatures. Then, in 2024, election observers filed a report after noticing blank and filled-out absentee ballots in the same warehouse on election night, Just The News reported.
A Republican and a Democrat observer also included photos in their report, which showed heavily guarded absentee ballots. While that report has not been released to the public, Just The News&#8217; sources said it was one of the reasons for the subpoena, which authorized the FBI to obtain Maricopa County election data.
Maricopa County, which surrounds Phoenix, has played a pivotal role in determining the state&#8217;s outcome and its 11 electoral votes in recent elections. Trump won the county in his first presidential race in 2016 and then again in 2024, but Trump lost Maricopa County and Arizona to Biden in the contentious 2020 election.
Trump maintains that the 2020 election was &#8220;stolen&#8221; from him as states counted an unprecedented number of mail-in ballots, and Biden won the election with a record number of votes. A Republican-led <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/arizona-republicans-release-findings-widely-panned-election-audit-2021-09-24/">audit</a> of the 2020 election results from Maricopa County found that the initial results were &#8220;within a few hundred&#8221; votes of the recount and did not change the overall result.
As Trump continues to claim that he was cheated out of the White House in 2020, he is pushing for the Senate to pass the SAVE America Act before the vital 2026 midterm elections. The legislation would require states to check voter IDs to ensure that only U.S. citizens cast ballots.
The SAVE America Act passed the House last month, but it has stalled in the Republican-led Senate. Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/front-of-the-line-trump-says-he-wont-sign-a-thing-until-save-act-hits-his-desk">said</a> on Sunday that he would not sign any other legislation until it is sent to his desk.

Maricopa County Begins Counting Ballots On Election Day In Arizona

FBI Makes New Move In Arizona County At Center Of 2020 Election Controversy

2020 Election

Election

The reward for information in the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of &#8220;Today&#8221; show host Savannah Guthrie, has been significantly increased thanks to a Wisconsin attorney.
Michael Hupy, president of Milwaukee Crime Stoppers, sent a $100,000 check through Crime Stoppers to 88-Crime in Tucson in hopes of generating new leads in the case.
88-Crime is Tucson&#8217;s Crime Stoppers chapter. Crime Stoppers is a nonprofit organization that offers rewards for anonymous tips that lead to arrests. The 88-Crime reward now stands at $102,500 thanks to the boost from Hupy and Milwaukee Crime Stoppers. The FBI is also offering a $100,000 reward for information leading to Nancy Guthrie&#8217;s whereabouts or an arrest in the case.
Though Tucson is nearly 2,000 miles from Milwaukee, where Hupy is based, he felt compelled to help.
&#8220;This case stuck out to me because of the age of the person and the need for medical treatment,&#8221; Hupy told The Daily Wire. &#8220;We have an 84-year-old woman who was left without taking her pills. That&#8217;s not a good situation. I said I better do something.&#8221;
Hupy said time is critical, and with the search entering its third week, more tips are needed.
&#8220;I think if we had motivated someone at the beginning, we might have a solution,&#8221; Hupy said.
Unlike many reward programs, Crime Stoppers guarantees tipsters complete anonymity, even through the payout process.
<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/fng-ep-13"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-1039207 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Guthriebannerfinal-1024x243.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="243" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Guthriebannerfinal-1024x243.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Guthriebannerfinal-300x71.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Guthriebannerfinal-768x182.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Guthriebannerfinal-1536x365.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2026/02/Guthriebannerfinal-2048x487.jpg 2048w" sizes=" (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a>
&#8220;When you call, we don&#8217;t take your phone number,&#8221; Hupy said. &#8220;We don&#8217;t take your name. We don&#8217;t take any information about you. We just take the information you give us. If that results in an arrest, you get a reward. We still don&#8217;t take your name.&#8221;
&#8220;You go to an undisclosed location, give them your number and your code number, and you get the reward,&#8221; Hupy added. &#8220;I don&#8217;t know of an instance where this has not worked, or anyone&#8217;s been betrayed by the system.&#8221;
Guthrie has been missing since February 1, when the grandmother was taken from her home. The FBI and the Pima County Sheriff&#8217;s Office are working to locate her and identify a person who was seen on her front stoop.
Hupy said tips submitted through Milwaukee Crime Stoppers have helped solve murder cases. As an organization, Crime Stoppers has helped solve more than 300,000 cases over its 50 years of operation.
Anyone with information about the Nancy Guthrie case can contact 88-Crime at 520-882-7463.
For live updates about the case, read the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/live-updates-search-continues-for-nancy-guthrie-as-deadline-for-ransom-note-passes?author=Daily+Wire&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=LIVE+UPDATES%3A+Has+The+Nancy+Guthrie+Kidnapping+Gone+Cold%3F+Sheriff+Responds">blog</a> or listen to the latest episode of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/episode/ep-10x?elementPosition=0&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+Show+Episodes+Carousel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Finding Nancy Guthrie</a>, a special Daily Wire true crime podcast.

Credit: Brandon Bell via Getty Images

High-Stakes Money Move Enters Nancy Guthrie Kidnapping Mystery

Controversial live-streamer Clavicular could be facing years in prison following an arrest on drug and forgery charges.
The streamer, whose real name is Braden Peters, was <a href="https://ktar.com/arizona-news/clavicular-arrested-scottsdale/5819599/">taken</a> into custody on February 7 in Scottsdale, Arizona. Peters, 20, was later charged with multiple offenses, including two felony counts, according to court records reviewed online.
During an initial court appearance, which was <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVWl-gK9y4Y">streamed</a> on Peters’ Kick channel by a friend who was present at the time, a judge determined there was probable cause to proceed on all charges. The hearing quickly circulated on social media as viewers watched the legal proceedings unfold in real time.
Court documents show Peters was booked on two Class 4 felony counts: possession of a forged instrument and possession or use of a dangerous drug. He also faces a Class 1 misdemeanor charge for a minor using false identification to gain entry into a liquor establishment.
At the hearing, Peters’ attorney challenged the forgery charge, arguing it failed to meet the legal threshold required under Arizona law. Defense counsel asserted that the statute requires intent to defraud, and claimed the alleged fake identification was merely discovered during questioning, not actively used to deceive anyone.
The defense also questioned the legitimacy of the search that allegedly led to the drug charge, arguing there was insufficient justification and that employees at the venue never claimed Peters presented false identification. Counsel further suggested Peters was acting as a promoter at the location, a claim they argued undermined the state’s case.
Despite those objections, the judge ruled that the circumstances surrounding the arrest were sufficient to establish probable cause on all counts. A status conference has been scheduled for February 23 at 8:30 a.m., with a preliminary hearing set for February 26 at the same time.
If convicted, Peters could face substantial prison time. Under Arizona law, a Class 4 felony carries a maximum sentence of 3.75 years for a first-time, non-dangerous offender. The misdemeanor charge carries a potential sentence of up to six months in jail, along with fines that can reach $2,500.
Should the court impose the felony sentences consecutively, Peters’ total prison time could reach 7.5 years, placing his maximum possible sentence near eight years, with the addition of any time imposed for the misdemeanor. If the sentences are instead ordered to run concurrently, the maximum prison term would be significantly lower.
Peters has built an online following around extreme physical discipline and self-improvement content — not all of it traditional. He has previously acknowledged a history of drug use, including admitting to methamphetamine use.
During an <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8qj9RNA938">interview</a> with Daily Wire host Michael Knowles, Peters said, &#8220;I do meth, yeah. Meth is very similar to &#8230; Adderall, but it&#8217;s got a little bit better psychoactive benefits &#8230; stimulants cause appetite suppression.&#8221; When pressed on why he was doing meth despite its negative effects, he replied, &#8220;I have enough willpower to be able to taper off of meth.&#8221;
Clavicular also drew public backlash last month for viral clips in which he and a circle of controversial online figures — including Nick Fuentes, Andrew and Tristan Tate, Justin Waller, and streamer Sneako — participated in live-streamed partying, which included the playing of a Ye song that has been widely condemned for its antisemitic lyrics.
He previously drew national attention in December after appearing to run over a supposed “stalker” with his Tesla Cybertruck during a livestream. Authorities later declined to file charges in that incident, though the platform temporarily banned his account.
This most recent bump against the law only adds to the deeply online saga surrounding the controversial streamer, whose career, if he&#8217;s convicted, may come to an abrupt, and lengthy, pause.

Clavicular

Cortisol Spike: Controversial Streamer Clavicular Arrested, Faces Two Felony Charges

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