Morgan Fischer

Threats may challenge Arizona's November elections in ways officials have never seen before. I explored how county election employees are preparing. "We're ready for just about everything outside of Godzilla attacking," @azsecretary.bsky.social told me. www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/phoenix...

NEW: An Arizona police union endorsed Democrat Amish Shah instead of former Cardinals kicker Jay Feely, whom Donald Trump has endorsed, in the competitive House race. It's the first police endorsement in the contest. For @phoenixnewtimes.com www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/arizona...

In an interview with @morgfisch.bsky.social, GOP state Rep. Quang Nguyen called Turning Point COO Tyler Bowyer a "shitter" for tweeting a racist comment at him yesterday. Bowyer questioned whether Nguyen, who fled Vietnam when he was 12, can speak English.

Alejandro Romero, the Tolleson student who was punched in the face by a school resource officer in 2024, is suing over it. An internal school district investigation already found the now-former cop, Eric Hendrix, used excessive force. By @morgfisch.bsky.social:

Dilan Paredes, the Tempe eighth-grader detained by ICE outside his school alongside his mother in May, has returned home. Rep. Greg Stanton told us that the pair landed at Sky Harbor today after weeks in ICE lockup in Texas. By @morgfisch.bsky.social:

The Krysten Sinema homewrecker lawsuit in North Carolina is about to get more personal. Sinema's attorney sought -- and is set to receive -- therapy records for the woman whose husband Sinema had an affair with. By @morgfisch.bsky.social:

Maricopa County supervisors put County Recorder Justin Heap on blast Wednesday for suggesting election workers could face felony charges for handling early-voting drop boxes: "incompetent," "egregious" @morgfisch.bsky.social in @phoenixnewtimes.com — www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/supervi...

"This morning we attended the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office 'They Served Well' Memorial," county supervisor Mark Stewart wrote Friday. One problem: Two sources told us he wasn't there. So who, @morgfisch.bsky.social asks, is "we"?

A new study says that if the rate of permitting doesn't pick up in Maricopa County, it'll take 262 years to close the Valley's housing deficit. From @morgfisch.bsky.social:

As expected -- or dreaded -- the Phoenix City Council passed restrictions on feeding and treating unhoused people in city parks. Some say it'll make parks safer. Aid groups say it'll make homelessness worse for those experiencing it. By @morgfisch.bsky.social:

at @phoenixnewtimes.com we have a membership program. throw us a few bucks, we turn your money into ball-busting local reporting. and we're nearing our spring goal! if the spirit moves ya, you can still get bespoke merch by a Phoenix artist ... phoenix-new-times.fundjournalism.org/support/?cam...

Senate Republicans rammed a slate of three anti-Muslim bills through the legislature on Monday. A local civil rights group is weighing legal action in response. For @phoenixnewtimes.com www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/democra...

We’re aiming to raise $10,000 by April 26 — and we’re only $2,500 away! Show your support today: phoenix-new-times.fundjournalism.org/support/?cam...

Maricopa County tracks how many kids get vaccinated against the contagious disease. As outbreaks rise, these Zip codes are least-protected: https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/kids-in-these-valley-areas-are-at-highest-risk-of-catching-measles-40661287/

There are plenty of things to wonder about Ruben Gallego and Eric Swalwell. But whether Gallego spent campaign cash on his wedding hotel -- as suggested by the Daily Mail today -- isn't one of them. The Gallego campaign shared literal receipts.

Want to be governor of Arizona? Are you willing to eat a taco on camera and, if so, can you do it while looking like a normal human being? Explaining today's very stupid gubernatorial, uh, beef. By @morgfisch.bsky.social:

The new Surprise ICE detention center is within a mile of Dysart High School, writes student Cali Overs. Students must pass by it every morning. "Our elected representatives have responded with silence, deflection or worse: telling us to get used to it."

A student from Surprise, Arizona calmly + methodically drags the town's leaders. They don't seem to care how a gargantuan ICE detention center will affect kids who have to walk past it to and from school new in @phoenixnewtimes.com www.phoenixnewtimes.com/opinion/surp...

Court-ordered sheriff’s meetings in Maricopa County are unraveling. After being moved to the federal courthouse, attendees gave the federal monitor the bird at the last one. Now, the judge says the next meeting will be held on Zoom. For @phoenixnewtimes.com www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/maricop...

GOP congressional candidate Jay Feely says he wants to bring back American manufacturing. Until recently, he was selling campaign merch made in foreign factories. When we asked about it, Feely took down his online campaign store. By @morgfisch.bsky.social:

ICE agents were all over Sky Harbor on Monday. They...just kind of stood around. More from @morgfisch.bsky.social, who talked to travelers -- nervous, supportive, indifferent -- and TSA union leaders, who said no one told TSA employees about the ICE deployment.

NEW: Two years ago, over brunch, Trumpists working under Project 2025 began plotting ways for Trump to deploy the military on U.S. soil. Election-denier Jeffrey Clark suggested invoking the Insurrection Act. We have their files. Welcome to the Insurrectionist Brunch:

Phoenix police arrested Little Joe Lageman in 2024 for a hit-and-run. They dropped the charges a year later. He's now suing, claiming they arrested the wrong guy, chipped his teeth during the arrest and never considered other suspects. By @morgfisch.bsky.social:

Former mobster Salvatore "Sammy the Bull" Gravano allegedly sexually assaulted an ex-employee of his production company. She says he forcibly kissed her, bragged about his erection and once had her collect his feces for a stool sample. By @morgfisch.bsky.social:

Yesterday, state Sen. John Kavanagh left a committee hearing in which his bill against ICE alerts was to be heard. The chair, Wendy Rogers, didn't know where he was. Then state Sen. Analise Ortiz showed her a livestream of Kavanagh on talk radio. By @morgfisch.bsky.social:

If a 41-year-old Tempe resident detained by ICE is sent back to his home country of Iran, he will be executed, his attorney says. But the agency appears deadset on deporting him there anyway. Latest for @phoenixnewtimes.com www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/detaine...

Once again: Reporting, whistling, broadcasting, yelling and posting about the public activities of law enforcement is protected speech. If ICE isn't a secret police force, as MAGA types insist, then its broad-daylight doings sure ain't secret, either. By @morgfisch.bsky.social:

An Arizona lawmaker wants to criminalize people who alert others about the presence of ICE in their communities. It's a broad, far-reaching proposal that likely violates the First Amendment. Read the full story @phoenixnewtimes.com www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/arizona...

Measles has found its way into ICE's detention facilities in Arizona. Four Democratic members of the state's congressional delegation are demanding answers. An exclusive for @phoenixnewtimes.com www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/arizona...

“Do you know what it’s like to be in the operating room with a 23-year-old woman who’s been tied to a tree and raped so much you can’t tell the difference between her vagina and her anus?" A graphic Janae Shamp question derailed a state senate hearing. By @morgfisch.bsky.social:

Public health officials in Maricopa County identified a confirmed measles case today. The county resident traveled internationally. This is amid Arizona's measles outbreak based in Mohave County, which has seen 217 cases since it began in August.

The wife of Kyrsten Sinema's bodyguard is suing the former Senator for breaking up her marriage. Last year, Sinema spoke with @phoenixnewtimes.com about the man as her inspiration behind her advocacy for a bill to fund psychedelic drug research in Arizona. www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/arizona...

Just amazing to realize we already had the perfect picture for this story on Kyrsten Sinema allegedly seducing her bodyguard and ruining his marriage. From @morgfisch.bsky.social:

An explosive lawsuit claims Kyrsten Sinema put the moves on a member of her security detail and pushed him to try MDMA.

EXCLUSIVE: Ahead of her reelection launch today, I spoke with @repyassansari.bsky.social to reflect on her first year. Ending private, for-profit ICE detention centers is a top priority for Ansari, who has witnessed their "horrific" conditions firsthand. www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/arizona...

NEW: Last year, after signing up for ICE's 287(g) program, the Cochise County Sheriff's Office got a $1M grant. It included $250K seemingly set aside for Sheriff Mark Dannels -- a Trump supporter -- to travel to conferences held at resorts and casinos:

After reports of ICE ramping up immigration enforcement efforts in Phoenix, four day laborers were detained outside a central Phoenix Home Depot over the weekend. The area has deep ties with Arizona's immigration history. www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/ice-rai...

This morning, @adriancarrasquillo.bsky.social reported that ICE is planning on descending upon Phoenix next. A definitive timeline is unknown, but @senanaliseortiz.bsky.social said the “potential for even more enforcement is horrifying.” The latest: www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/phoenix...

SCOOP: Records show Recorder Justin Heap wasn't in the office the day his agency learned it erroneously told 83,000 voters their registration would be canceled. It's unclear where Heap was. His calendar for the day was mostly blank. By @morgfisch.bsky.social:

Recorder Justin Heap wasn't at work the day his office learned it had incorrectly informed 83,000 voters that their registration would be canceled, records obtained by @phoenixnewtimes.com show. The mailers sparked confusion, panic and anger among voters. www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/maricop...

Last week, ICE agents locked up a Mexican man, who was visiting his brother's family in Mesa for the holidays, for nearly three days. Now, ICE admits he was lawfully present in the U.S. Shaken, the man has already returned to Mexico. By @morgfisch.bsky.social:

NEW: A Mesa family says ICE detained their relative for nearly three days in Phoenix, despite a valid visa and paperwork showing he's in the country legally. Now, he wants to return to Mexico, but faces roadblocks ahead. www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/mesa-fa...

@adelitaforcongress.bsky.social said ICE pepper-sprayed her outside a Tucson taco shop after agents raided it. The raid was among 16 warrants executed by ICE in southern Arizona today. If you have any information on this, message me on Signal at 623-295-9472. www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/arizona...

BREAKING: A top Kris Mayes division chief was arrested yesterday by postal inspectors. Mayes' office says that Vanessa Hickman resigned as state government division chief on Monday. From @morgfisch.bsky.social: