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Big Win! Maricopa Superior Court Judge Orders Board of Supervisors to Restore Key Election Functions to Recorder’s Office

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Voting machine with a checkmark on the screen, set against the Arizona state flag background, symbolizing democratic participation in elections.Professional portrait of a man in a blue suit with a red tie, smiling confidently against a blurred outdoor background.Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap defeated Stephen Richer in the Republican Primary in July 2024

In October of 2024, former Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer entered into an agreement with the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors (Board) to shift certain election duties away from the Recorder’s office and to the Board.  This was done months after Justin Heap defeated Richer in the July 30th, 2024, Republican Primary for Maricopa County Recorder, and one month before Heap won the November 5th election to succeed Richer.

The agreement was unanimous and gave the Board control over early ballot processing, including the appointment of a bipartisan board responsible for overseeing the early voting process.  The agreement also centralized election-related information technology (IT) functions, as well as the $5 million budget associated with the IT service.

Following the agreement’s approval on October 10th, KJZZ Phoenix reported:

The agreement, unanimously approved by the board on Oct. 10, gives the Board of Supervisors the authority to appoint the board that processes early ballots, which includes an inspector and two judges from different political parties. According to the Election Procedures Manual, those boards examine, count and verify early ballots before they are tabulated. That includes opening envelopes, ensuring the ballot envelopes show the correct election code and identifying damaged ballots.

…

Under the previous shared services agreement adopted in 2023, the recorder managed early ballot processing.

Under the new agreement, the Recorder’s Office will retain other election-related responsibilities, including voter registration, planning and administering early voting and signature verification of early ballots.

However, the Board of Supervisors also voted to move the recorder’s information technology staff and its associated $5 million budget under its supervision, including “any IT-related service necessary for the Recorder to effectively perform its elections or business-related responsibilities as designated.

Upon assuming office, Heap cancelled the contract and called on the newly seated Board of Supervisors to renegotiate.  In a statement posted to the Maricopa County Recorder’s website, Heap suggested he would take legal action over “the Supervisors’ unwillingness to address these concerns.”

Heap did take legal action, and yesterday a Maricopa County Superior Court judge sided with the Recorder’s position.

According to the Court’s decision, the authority was delegated to a county’s recorder or an “other officer in charge of elections.”  But the order also stated that, “The recorder may subsequently withdraw his or her consent and reclaim his or her statutory authority or responsibility.”

The judge ordered that the Board of Supervisors “return to the Recorder’s direct custody and/or control the IT staff, servers, databases, software, websites, and equipment that were in the Recorder’s custody…prior to October of 2024…” and enjoined the Board of Supervisors “from further exercising any election functions delegated by the Legislature to the Recorder.”

The Board of Supervisors had argued that it had the authority to control funding and structure operations of the Recorder’s office, however, the judge rejected that claim, finding that the Board of Supervisors has a “non-discretionary duty to fund all reasonable and necessary expenses of the Recorder as set forth in Title 16 of Arizona Revised Statutes.”

Court order detailing responsibilities and authority delegation under Arizona Revised Statutes Title 16 for county recorders and boards of supervisors.

The post Big Win! Maricopa Superior Court Judge Orders Board of Supervisors to Restore Key Election Functions to Recorder’s Office appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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Severely Injured Iranian Supreme Leader Is Waiting for Prosthetic Leg, Will Need Face Surgery: NYT

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April 24, 2026

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Black and white portrait of a man with glasses and a beard, displaying a thoughtful expression against a dark background.Black and white portrait of a man with glasses and a beard, displaying a thoughtful expression against a dark background.Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei – Wiki Commons

Mojtaba is reportedly in bad shape, but alive and mentally alert.

Iran’s new Supreme Ruler, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, hasn’t been seen or heard since his appointment in March.

Power is being exerted by Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) commanders on matters of security, war, and diplomacy.

The New York Times has published a new report on Mojtaba’s health woes:

“Mr. Khamenei, who was selected by a council of senior clerics as the new supreme leader, has been in hiding since American and Israeli forces bombed his father’s compound on Feb. 28, where he also lived with his family. His father, wife and son were all killed.”

The NYT sources say access to the Ayatollah is extremely limited, now.

No senior officials visit him, lest Israel trace them to his location and kill him.

“Though Mr. Khamenei was gravely wounded, he is mentally sharp and engaged, according to four senior Iranian officials familiar with his health. One leg was operated on three times, and he is awaiting a prosthetic.

He had surgery on one hand and is slowly regaining function. His face and lips have been burned severely, making it difficult for him to speak, the officials said, adding that, eventually, he will need plastic surgery.”

Messages to Mojtaba ‘are handwritten, sealed in envelopes and relayed via a human chain from one trusted courier to the next’.

The New York Post reported:

“Although the report describes Khamenei as difficult to reach, it also cites the Iranian officials as saying the country’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, and health minister, Mohammad-Reza Zafarghandi, ‘have both been involved in his care’.

The report supports Trump administration officials’ contention that peace talks are inhibited by slow communication and uncertainty about whether foreign minister Abbas Araghchi and parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf are able to speak for their nation.”

Read more:

Iran’s New Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei Reportedly Left Crippled and Disfigured by Airstrike That Killed His Father

The post Severely Injured Iranian Supreme Leader Is Waiting for Prosthetic Leg, Will Need Face Surgery: NYT appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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President Trump Releases Statement on Ousted Secretary of the Navy John Phelan (VIDEO)

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April 24, 2026

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Portrait of a serious-looking man in a suit against a background of military flags, emphasizing authority and professionalism.

President Trump on Thursday released a statement on ousted Secretary of the Navy, John Phelan.

John Phelan on was reportedly fired by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on Wednesday.

Undersecretary Hung Cao will become Acting Secretary of the Navy, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell announced.

Full statement from Sean Parnell:

Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan is departing the administration, effective immediately.

On behalf of the Secretary of War and Deputy Secretary of War, we are grateful to Secretary Phelan for his service to the Department and the United States Navy.

We wish him well in his future endeavors.

Undersecretary Hung Cao will become Acting Secretary of the Navy.

At first it was unclear if John Phelan was fired or resigned but Fox News later reported that he was indeed fired.

On Thursday, President Trump’s statement suggested Phelan departed on his own accord.

Full statement from President Trump:

John Phelan is a long time friend, and very successful businessman, who did an outstanding job serving as my Secretary Of The Navy for the last year.

John helped my Administration rebuild Sleepy Joe Biden’s rapidly depleted, and almost abandoned, Navy. Now, because of John, and all of the Great Men and Women lovingly and tirelessly involved, we have the strongest Navy in the World — BY FAR!

John Phelan is smart, tough, and respected by all, and although he has decided to move on from his position as Secretary Of The Navy, I very much appreciate the job that he has done, and would certainly like to have him back within the Trump Administration sometime in the future.

A very special thank you to John for his service to the United States of America! President DONALD J. TRUMP

Later Thursday, President Trump said Phelan had conflicts with some people.

WATCH:

Wednesday’s firing is part of the latest shakeup at the Pentagon.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, earlier this month, ordered Army Chief of Staff General Randy George to step down.

Last summer, Hegseth fired the general in charge of the agency that released the dubious ‘top secret’ intelligence assessment about the US’s strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.

Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse was fired as head of the Defense Intelligence Agency.

Last year, Hegseth formally terminated the service of every member sitting on the Department of Defense’s advisory committees.

The post President Trump Releases Statement on Ousted Secretary of the Navy John Phelan (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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Jenna Bush Hager Interviews Four Living Former Presidents, TODAY Show Heavily Edits Clips of Joe Biden (VIDEO)

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April 24, 2026

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President Joe Biden discusses reflections on America’s 250th anniversary during an exclusive interview, with an American flag in the background.

President Joe Biden discusses reflections on America’s 250th anniversary during an exclusive interview, with an American flag in the background.

Former First Daughter Jenna Bush Hager interviewed four former US Presidents as the nation prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary.

Jenna Bush Hager interviewed Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Joe Biden, and her father, George W. Bush.

The TODAY Show only showed short, edited clips of Joe Biden.

Per the TODAY Show:

Former Presidents Joe Biden, Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton are sharing a message of optimism with Americans as the nation approaches its 250th anniversary.

The four presidents each spoke individually with Jenna Bush Hager in a TODAY exclusive on April 21 in which they expressed their hope for the future and affirmed the principles they believe are a bedrock of American government and civic life.

Jenna spoke with Biden, 83; Obama, 64; Clinton, 79; and her father, 79, at a private event in Philadelphia over the weekend called “History Talks,” which was hosted by The History Channel.

The event traditionally features former presidents and was done in partnership with Comcast, the parent company of NBCUniversal. President Donald Trump is also working with The History Channel on an America 250 project that they plan to announce later this spring.

Joe Biden, 83, regurgitated old talking points.

“We’re the most unique country in the world,” Biden said.

“Most unique country in the world in the sense that we really do think democracy is dictated by the rule of the Constitution. And we do believe and we act, we do well, that all men are created equal,” Biden added before they cut his clip.

“I’m not sure we’re as divided as we portray,” Biden said.

“I’m sure there’s anywhere from 15% to 30% of the people who are on the one end here. But I think the vast majority of people are coming around to conclude that those things that they don’t even think about it directly, but are the safeguards in the Constitution,” Biden said.

WATCH:

The post Jenna Bush Hager Interviews Four Living Former Presidents, TODAY Show Heavily Edits Clips of Joe Biden (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

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