Well, Curt, you certainly got my attention. This is a horror story of unbelievable consequence. I am grateful for your clarity in highlighting the examples of civic depravity we are now paying good money to endure. If, in fact enduring is even an option.
Well, of course, we have to. Arizona Agenda is demonstrating what it means to justify the public trust.
I will be reviewing my account later this morning to see what I can do about amping up my contribution to what is beginning to sound like a voice in the wilderness. Thank you for braving the wilderness; the Fourth Estate has never had to deal with blatant sabotage of the American enterprise on anything close to this scale. Trying men's--and women's--souls, indeed.
As Joyce Vance, the voice of Civil Discourse, reminds her readers regularly, "we are in this together." "WE" had better be; the stakes are unprecedented.
With all due respect, he wouldn’t waste his time - there is nothing original about this post, reads like an audition for the NYT (unfortunately for this author, their roster is over-subscribed).
I apologize for the confusion. You have a good sense of humor and maybe that is what I missed. My response was about, how much would it cost to buy the Agenda, which is a billionaire buying free speech. My response was about campaign contributions paying for your speech with which you yield a vote.
That comment wasn’t beneath Kavanagh. This is par for the course. Believe people when they tell you who they are. Kavanagh has never defended our rights. This is the man who thinks we have do not have the right to hit the record button on our phone while standing on a public street lest we catch a police officer in an unsavory act.
What an f-ing baby. World leaders see this chicken-bleep and immediately understand the strain our Democracy is under. If Chump is Cromwell...Stephen Miller is the Witchfinder General. We have lots of problems demanding our immediate attention and Chump is worried about who is on TV. We are like that old lady on those long past commercials "We've fallen...and we can't get up".
Some friendly advice: stick to State and local politics and leave the national commentary to the many (many) pundits steeped in this stuff day in and day out. I am particularly offended by your baseless slam of Bari Weiss and The Free Press, who are doing a better job than any media outlet in the country at presenting all sides - including conservative perspectives, something new and different. Beyond that, would just note that you were nowhere to be found when the Biden administration was trampling on the first amendment left and right - https://x.com/bubblebathgirl/status/1967941664963694636?s=46 - we should all be united in opposing ANY action by the government in contravention of the first amendment (I am a charter member of FIRE) - but it never ceases to amaze me that you progressives only notice when transgressions come from the right. As long as that continues, you will continue to divide us instead of making any advances towards building consensus. Maybe stop and think about why this is happening and what opened the door for it. Since you apparently ignore all that, here is some background you might find helpful: https://x.com/bubblebathgirl/status/1967941664963694636?s=46. https://x.com/burnhamdc/status/1957460972517335050?s=46. https://x.com/burnhamdc/status/1951282174914691215?s=46. https://x.com/burnhamdc/status/1962138138094010584?s=46. https://x.com/dougmackeycase/status/1960414685351608486?s=46 (this last one is particularly egregious - this guy’s life was literally destroyed for posting a meme about Hillary Clinton).
I cannot say this better than Andy McCarthy (and while the AZ Agenda folks have the absolute right to choose their audience, I am personally sad to see them embrace the NYT/BlueSky space, which is already fully occupied - what Arizona could really use, especially in light of the recent departures of Boas, Robert’s, Pitzl, etc, from the AZ Republic, is a state/local version of Isaac Saul’s Tangle, which presents his POV but in the context of what diverse voices are saying): https://www.nationalreview.com/2025/09/so-now-the-left-is-against-government-extortion-to-suppress-speech/
Also, for anyone seeking a semblance of balance in dialogue, two podcasts featuring “Never Trumper” commentators:
Excellent article, Mr. Prendergast. Thank you. A good way for all Americans who wish to see our democracy continue, we can take a serious look at where we spend our money, and withdraw it where we see dishonesty and collusion with corrupt people and organizations. The Trump Administration is corrupt from top to bottom, and the vultures (venture capitalists who are buying up homes willy-nilly and overcharging renters, exploiting crypto currency, and the health insurance companies who have become the judge and jurors of our healthcare; are all swooping in to take advantage. They can't help it: it's who they are. We can make a difference by stopping our support of broadcasting stations that give us porn, gambling, old re-runs and religious channels as they demand high dollars for same. We must insist, demand quality broadcasters like PBS & NPR who provide us with unbiased culture, environmental and biographical shows we can understand, and reinstate their public funding. Demand that from your Congressional Representatives! We can quit buying insurance from solicitors that cater only to Conservative ideals (State Farm Stadium in AZ has chosen sides, I see) and carefully look at the grocery stores that happily gouge customers for their last penny, testing our patience with absurd digital coupons. We have a collection of tech billionaires that are trying to sell us AI as our solutions to saving the Universe, as they destroy any attempt at customer service and understanding problems from the customers' perspective. We have greedy school system entrepreneurs who have decided to fleece our public education system as they profit at our children's expense and pay legislators who willingly cut funding for the less fortunate among us. Our nation is already in stagflation because of Trump's antics and we will keep going downhill if we don't stand up as a collective. What is happening with ICE is a travesty and those that approve of their methods and cruelties are a bane to society. Please, people, if you love your freedoms, take note of who is trying to take them away, and boycott their means of wealth as they try to take away our means to live.
Geez do want some cheese with that "whine"? The old media is dying and this publication and Substack platform prove it. Look in the mirror! Originally, the Progressive Left lamented "corporate" ownership of the major media but was subdued because most of the content fit their agenda: Easy abortion, easy divorce, higher welfare payments, open borders, gay marriage, existential climate crisis...the list is endless. Truth is, we are returning to the era where media outlets openly identified the audience they serve. The Daily Worker was for the communists, the Wall Street Journal for capitalists, the NY Times for the Left intelligentsia. Get over it and out of the bubble.
Many decades ago I watched an episode of, what I think was the Aaron Sorkin, West Wing. The two men sitting in the comedy club type bar, one was German who was really impressed with the comedian making fun of the President. The American said, “don’t you have comedians like this in Germany” and the German said, “no, they killed them all.” Free speech dies in many ways and it takes time for that speech to recover. We were warned.
However, because I am not a billionaire, I have to take donations, but they do not influence my votes. Don't be so cynical. It's a $24 K job. I am more of a volunteer or journalist at that pay grade.
I appreciate that but your vote can change the lives of all Arizonans. Your work on the budget is highly regarded (not how I would allocate some of the funds) but you’ve got to get it through the legislature and signed by the Governor. You have an important job that should have a higher pay scale. Per diem helps, I’ve heard, and there are some perks. Have a great weekend.
Would love to see a deep dive into how Disney (or any other capitulating megacorp) has connections to the valley media market. I think KPNX is owned by Tegna/Nexstar, the bauble that Disney is trying to woo approval from the FCC?
This is toward using good ol' American capitalism to hit their advertisers.
Well, Curt, you certainly got my attention. This is a horror story of unbelievable consequence. I am grateful for your clarity in highlighting the examples of civic depravity we are now paying good money to endure. If, in fact enduring is even an option.
Well, of course, we have to. Arizona Agenda is demonstrating what it means to justify the public trust.
I will be reviewing my account later this morning to see what I can do about amping up my contribution to what is beginning to sound like a voice in the wilderness. Thank you for braving the wilderness; the Fourth Estate has never had to deal with blatant sabotage of the American enterprise on anything close to this scale. Trying men's--and women's--souls, indeed.
As Joyce Vance, the voice of Civil Discourse, reminds her readers regularly, "we are in this together." "WE" had better be; the stakes are unprecedented.
If Larry Ellison wanted to buy the Arizona Agenda, how much would it set him back?
With all due respect, he wouldn’t waste his time - there is nothing original about this post, reads like an audition for the NYT (unfortunately for this author, their roster is over-subscribed).
This is about free speech and how this administration has tyrannically taken it over and given it to the highest bidder.
https://media4.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTZjMDliOTUyM2g3amQzOXh2OHJycHYzYWJrc3p4MmN2NjNlam0wd3pkN3lidDZ4bCZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/sEULHciNa7tUQ/giphy.gif
Groupon discount???
How much do they pay you for your vote, Turning Point I mean? That comment was beneath you.
I do not know what you are talking about. How is your comment related to what I posted?
I apologize for the confusion. You have a good sense of humor and maybe that is what I missed. My response was about, how much would it cost to buy the Agenda, which is a billionaire buying free speech. My response was about campaign contributions paying for your speech with which you yield a vote.
That comment wasn’t beneath Kavanagh. This is par for the course. Believe people when they tell you who they are. Kavanagh has never defended our rights. This is the man who thinks we have do not have the right to hit the record button on our phone while standing on a public street lest we catch a police officer in an unsavory act.
What an f-ing baby. World leaders see this chicken-bleep and immediately understand the strain our Democracy is under. If Chump is Cromwell...Stephen Miller is the Witchfinder General. We have lots of problems demanding our immediate attention and Chump is worried about who is on TV. We are like that old lady on those long past commercials "We've fallen...and we can't get up".
Some friendly advice: stick to State and local politics and leave the national commentary to the many (many) pundits steeped in this stuff day in and day out. I am particularly offended by your baseless slam of Bari Weiss and The Free Press, who are doing a better job than any media outlet in the country at presenting all sides - including conservative perspectives, something new and different. Beyond that, would just note that you were nowhere to be found when the Biden administration was trampling on the first amendment left and right - https://x.com/bubblebathgirl/status/1967941664963694636?s=46 - we should all be united in opposing ANY action by the government in contravention of the first amendment (I am a charter member of FIRE) - but it never ceases to amaze me that you progressives only notice when transgressions come from the right. As long as that continues, you will continue to divide us instead of making any advances towards building consensus. Maybe stop and think about why this is happening and what opened the door for it. Since you apparently ignore all that, here is some background you might find helpful: https://x.com/bubblebathgirl/status/1967941664963694636?s=46. https://x.com/burnhamdc/status/1957460972517335050?s=46. https://x.com/burnhamdc/status/1951282174914691215?s=46. https://x.com/burnhamdc/status/1962138138094010584?s=46. https://x.com/dougmackeycase/status/1960414685351608486?s=46 (this last one is particularly egregious - this guy’s life was literally destroyed for posting a meme about Hillary Clinton).
100% correct.
You read “bubble bath girl”? 😂😂😂
I cannot say this better than Andy McCarthy (and while the AZ Agenda folks have the absolute right to choose their audience, I am personally sad to see them embrace the NYT/BlueSky space, which is already fully occupied - what Arizona could really use, especially in light of the recent departures of Boas, Robert’s, Pitzl, etc, from the AZ Republic, is a state/local version of Isaac Saul’s Tangle, which presents his POV but in the context of what diverse voices are saying): https://www.nationalreview.com/2025/09/so-now-the-left-is-against-government-extortion-to-suppress-speech/
Also, for anyone seeking a semblance of balance in dialogue, two podcasts featuring “Never Trumper” commentators:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-dispatch-podcast/id1493229344?i=1000727467597
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/interesting-times-with-ross-douthat/id1438024613?i=1000727318749
Another tactic is to boycott the local TV stations that no longer have Cobert and Kimmel.
Call or write and let them know you won't be watching any of their programing until they bring Cobert or Kimmel back. And then do it.
Boycotts work.
Excellent article, Mr. Prendergast. Thank you. A good way for all Americans who wish to see our democracy continue, we can take a serious look at where we spend our money, and withdraw it where we see dishonesty and collusion with corrupt people and organizations. The Trump Administration is corrupt from top to bottom, and the vultures (venture capitalists who are buying up homes willy-nilly and overcharging renters, exploiting crypto currency, and the health insurance companies who have become the judge and jurors of our healthcare; are all swooping in to take advantage. They can't help it: it's who they are. We can make a difference by stopping our support of broadcasting stations that give us porn, gambling, old re-runs and religious channels as they demand high dollars for same. We must insist, demand quality broadcasters like PBS & NPR who provide us with unbiased culture, environmental and biographical shows we can understand, and reinstate their public funding. Demand that from your Congressional Representatives! We can quit buying insurance from solicitors that cater only to Conservative ideals (State Farm Stadium in AZ has chosen sides, I see) and carefully look at the grocery stores that happily gouge customers for their last penny, testing our patience with absurd digital coupons. We have a collection of tech billionaires that are trying to sell us AI as our solutions to saving the Universe, as they destroy any attempt at customer service and understanding problems from the customers' perspective. We have greedy school system entrepreneurs who have decided to fleece our public education system as they profit at our children's expense and pay legislators who willingly cut funding for the less fortunate among us. Our nation is already in stagflation because of Trump's antics and we will keep going downhill if we don't stand up as a collective. What is happening with ICE is a travesty and those that approve of their methods and cruelties are a bane to society. Please, people, if you love your freedoms, take note of who is trying to take them away, and boycott their means of wealth as they try to take away our means to live.
Geez do want some cheese with that "whine"? The old media is dying and this publication and Substack platform prove it. Look in the mirror! Originally, the Progressive Left lamented "corporate" ownership of the major media but was subdued because most of the content fit their agenda: Easy abortion, easy divorce, higher welfare payments, open borders, gay marriage, existential climate crisis...the list is endless. Truth is, we are returning to the era where media outlets openly identified the audience they serve. The Daily Worker was for the communists, the Wall Street Journal for capitalists, the NY Times for the Left intelligentsia. Get over it and out of the bubble.
Many decades ago I watched an episode of, what I think was the Aaron Sorkin, West Wing. The two men sitting in the comedy club type bar, one was German who was really impressed with the comedian making fun of the President. The American said, “don’t you have comedians like this in Germany” and the German said, “no, they killed them all.” Free speech dies in many ways and it takes time for that speech to recover. We were warned.
OK. It was a joke.
However, because I am not a billionaire, I have to take donations, but they do not influence my votes. Don't be so cynical. It's a $24 K job. I am more of a volunteer or journalist at that pay grade.
I appreciate that but your vote can change the lives of all Arizonans. Your work on the budget is highly regarded (not how I would allocate some of the funds) but you’ve got to get it through the legislature and signed by the Governor. You have an important job that should have a higher pay scale. Per diem helps, I’ve heard, and there are some perks. Have a great weekend.
Ok you too
Kavanagh’s sense of humor is exactly like Trump’s!
Kudos for a strong statement.
Would love to see a deep dive into how Disney (or any other capitulating megacorp) has connections to the valley media market. I think KPNX is owned by Tegna/Nexstar, the bauble that Disney is trying to woo approval from the FCC?
This is toward using good ol' American capitalism to hit their advertisers.