• KARI LAKE LOSES ANOTHER ROUND IN COURT–A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit unanimously ruled Tuesday that former Arizona gubernatorial and Senate candidate Kari Lake unlawfully fired Voice of America director Michael Abramowitz in August 2025. Lake, then a senior adviser at the U.S. Agency for Global Media, attempted to remove Abramowitz after he refused reassignment to a lower-level position in North Carolina. The court upheld a permanent injunction, ruling that federal law requires approval from the independent International Broadcasting Advisory Board before the VOA director can be removed. The judges also rejected the administration’s argument that the requirement violated presidential authority. “I am gratified by this result and look forward to getting back to the important work Voice of America does worldwide on behalf of the American people,” Abramowitz said, and by “the American people,” he meant “some American people.”

• SWOBODA OPENS NEW FRONT IN GOP CIVIL WAR–Former GOP chair Gina Swoboda has expanded her criticism beyond Turning Point. She told the Arizona Agenda that current party chair Sergio Arellano mismanaged party financial resources and failed to communicate effectively with voters during the election. Swoboda specifically complained that Arellano wouldn’t appear on KTAR and confined himself to friendly media outlets. “There was no attempt to moderate the tone,” she said. Hard to argue with that, though we’ll let Swoboda’s description of Turning Point as a “fucking parasite” stay with her.

•MAHA MINUS MAHA–Arizona Make America Healthy Again organizer Paula Obeid is rebranding the Arizona MAHA Coalition as the Arizona Healthy Always Council following the Democrats’ election victory. Obeid hopes to work with the incoming Democratic Legislature. Her explanation? “MAHA is very political now. It’s polarizing.” Also hard to argue.

•APPARENTLY WE’RE STILL TALKING ABOUT RALPH HEAP’S CAMPAIGN SIGNS–Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes referred a campaign-finance complaint against Republican Ralph Heap to Attorney General Kris Mayes on Tuesday, November 10, for further investigation and possible enforcement. The complaint concerns Heap’s unsuccessful Corporation Commission campaign. West Valley Republican Lisa Everett alleges that Heap reported just $644.47 in expenses despite displaying at least 184 campaign signs. The owner of Mesa Sign Shop subsequently acknowledged extending Heap credit, which his campaign-finance reports didn’t reflect. At this point we’re ready to pay $644 to whoever needs it so we don’t have to hear about this story again.

•TELL IT TO THE JUDGE–Maricopa County Sheriff Jerry Sheridan appeared in federal court Tuesday at Judge G. Murray Snow’s request in the longstanding racial-profiling case against the Sheriff’s Office. Snow expressed concern about growing distance between the Sheriff’s Office and the ACLU, suggesting more frequent joint court appearances could accelerate compliance with reforms. Sheridan agreed to attend additional hearings and said he was pleasantly surprised by the discussion. Judge Snow previously held Sheridan in contempt during the Arpaio years for violating a court order. What is happening?