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Thousands expected at Phoenix No Kings protests Saturday

More than two dozen Valley protests are planned as part of a nationwide day of action.

News

More than two dozen Valley demonstrations are planned for Saturday&#x27;s nationwide <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="No Kings protest against President Trump" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/24/bruce-springsteen-joan-baez-no-kings-twin-cities" data-vars-content-id="ba1f8b4f-3488-4916-80cb-8607186592f5" data-vars-headline="Thousands expected at Phoenix No Kings protests Saturday" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/24/bruce-springsteen-joan-baez-no-kings-twin-cities" target="_self">No Kings protest against President Trump</a>.Why it matters: Thousands are expected to take to the streets to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="denounce ICE&#x27;s expected enforcement ramp-up in Phoenix" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/03/25/phoenix-council-city-property-ice-immigration-prohibition" data-vars-content-id="ba1f8b4f-3488-4916-80cb-8607186592f5" data-vars-headline="Thousands expected at Phoenix No Kings protests Saturday" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/03/25/phoenix-council-city-property-ice-immigration-prohibition" target="_self">denounce ICE&#x27;s expected enforcement ramp-up in Phoenix</a>, the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Iran war" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/25/iran-war-polls-americans-skeptical" data-vars-content-id="ba1f8b4f-3488-4916-80cb-8607186592f5" data-vars-headline="Thousands expected at Phoenix No Kings protests Saturday" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/25/iran-war-polls-americans-skeptical" target="_self">Iran war</a> and other Trump priorities.

Shipping container housing opens for homeless seniors

The complex has 40 transitional housing units, and residents will have access to case managers and social services.

A newly opened project in Phoenix offers transitional housing made from shipping containers for older adults who are experiencing homelessness.State of play: City officials and others gathered Wednesday morning for the opening of Senior Bridge, which provides 40 individual transitional housing units for homeless seniors at 28th and Van Buren streets.

Charles Barkley blimp returns to Phoenix skies

The Charles Barkley blimp is back as Final Four week begins.

Keep an eye on the sky for a rare migratory sighting: The 128-foot Charles Barkley blimp is back in Phoenix for the first time in two years.Why it matters: We&#x27;ve missed Soar Charles (also called: Charles Flightly, The Up Chuck, Air Chuck One and The Ugly Chuckling).

Krav Mama: A self-defense class designed for new moms

A Tempe instructor created a postpartum workout where moms train with their babies.

<figure><img alt="A gif of a woman holding a baby and kicking a heavy bag in a gym." height="600" id="671d5f45-200d-469c-8060-0a3462c8e142" src="https://images.axios.com/ZstKyMUT41Amr56A_Usmnb3bB_w=/2026/03/26/1774548998563.gif" width="800"/><figcaption>Jessica and her daughter test out Krav Mama. Photo: Courtesy of EVKM Self Defense &amp; Fitness</figcaption></figure>Tempe Krav Maga instructor and new mom Sara Ullenbruch-Zarezadeh has developed a postpartum version of the popular Israeli self-defense training. <ul><li>She&#x27;s calling it Krav Mama.</li></ul>Why it matters: Protecting yourself looks different when you have a baby in your arms or a tot by your side.

How Trump's mail voting order could affect Arizona voters

Arizona officials will challenge a Trump order affecting how mail ballots are sent.

Arizona is again in the crosshairs of President Trump&#x27;s mission to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="nationalize elections" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/08/save-america-act-trump-nationalize-elections" data-vars-content-id="107a3dd6-dff7-455f-895f-cff4673c604c" data-vars-headline="How Trump&#x27;s mail voting order could affect Arizona voters" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/08/save-america-act-trump-nationalize-elections" target="_self">nationalize elections</a> and limit voting by mail.Why it matters: The vast majority of Arizonans cast mail ballots, and critics say Trump&#x27;s latest move would disenfranchise some of those voters ahead of a crucial November election in the battleground state.

Capitol roundup: Lawmakers take 1st steps to repeal Chávez holiday

Arizona lawmakers tackled photo radar, bullying and the César Chávez holiday repeal this week.

Politics

This was the final week for the House and Senate to hear each other&#x27;s bills in committee, and new legislation was still popping up. Here&#x27;s what happened:🗓️ Legislation repealing the state&#x27;s César Chávez holiday took its first step when it got <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="unanimous approval in a Senate committee" data-vars-click-url="https://www.kjzz.org/politics/2026-03-25/arizona-lawmakers-advance-bill-to-repeal-cesar-chavez-holiday" data-vars-content-id="9d2cc83c-2c5d-4e40-a97d-9719b3671c39" data-vars-headline="Capitol roundup: Lawmakers take 1st steps to repeal Chávez holiday" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.kjzz.org/politics/2026-03-25/arizona-lawmakers-advance-bill-to-repeal-cesar-chavez-holiday" target="_blank">unanimous approval in a Senate committee</a>.

Judge voids Arizona Independent Party name change

The judge called it a "political bait and switch."

A Maricopa County Superior Court judge on Wednesday voided the Arizona No Labels Party&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="name change" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2025/10/17/no-labels-arizona-independent-party" data-vars-content-id="6a9c2c77-b517-4a3e-bae8-f19df76a0d94" data-vars-headline="Judge voids Arizona Independent Party name change" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2025/10/17/no-labels-arizona-independent-party" target="_self">name change</a> to the Arizona Independent Party.Why it matters: Arizona&#x27;s unaffiliated voters (which number nearly 1.5 million) are also called independents, leading to concerns of voter confusion.

Hobbs halts budget talks and calls for Republicans to negotiation on Prop. 123

The governor walked away from budget talks, citing legislative leaders' refusal to discuss Prop. 123.

State budget talks are at an impasse after Gov. Katie Hobbs <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="halted negotiations" data-vars-click-url="https://azmirror.com/2026/03/20/budget-blow-up-hobbs-blames-unserious-republicans-who-say-she-is-throwing-a-tantrum/" data-vars-content-id="af0aaa6f-0193-4207-a719-f296e41a3c65" data-vars-headline="Hobbs halts budget talks and calls for Republicans to negotiation on Prop. 123" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://azmirror.com/2026/03/20/budget-blow-up-hobbs-blames-unserious-republicans-who-say-she-is-throwing-a-tantrum/" target="_blank">halted negotiations</a> with Republican legislative leaders over disagreements on education funding and taxes.Why it matters: Hobbs and Republican lawmakers have until June 30 to decide how to spend around $17 billion next fiscal year, and their budget blow-up suggests it could take them until then to reach an agreement.

Sky Harbor part of nationwide ICE deployment for airport security

Sky Harbor was one of the airports where the Trump administration sent ICE to assist with security.

The Trump administration <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="deployed ICE agents" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/22/trump-ice-agents-airports-tsa-dhs-shutdown" data-vars-content-id="ab84a7ed-6a15-49a3-b7a7-2366cfbbd68c" data-vars-headline="Sky Harbor part of nationwide ICE deployment for airport security" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/22/trump-ice-agents-airports-tsa-dhs-shutdown" target="_self">deployed ICE agents</a> to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport to assist short-staffed TSA officers amid the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="partial federal shutdown" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/17/dhs-shutdown-tsa-fema-ice-democrats-discharge" data-vars-content-id="ab84a7ed-6a15-49a3-b7a7-2366cfbbd68c" data-vars-headline="Sky Harbor part of nationwide ICE deployment for airport security" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/17/dhs-shutdown-tsa-fema-ice-democrats-discharge" target="_self">partial federal shutdown</a>.Why it matters: The administration&#x27;s move thrusts the agency that sparked the shutdown <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="with its conduct in Minnesota" data-vars-click-url="http://link/" data-vars-content-id="ab84a7ed-6a15-49a3-b7a7-2366cfbbd68c" data-vars-headline="Sky Harbor part of nationwide ICE deployment for airport security" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="http://link/" target="_blank">with its conduct in Minnesota</a> into the nation&#x27;s airports to deal with the consequences.

Arizona women's deepfake lawsuit targets AI porn industry

Bad actors are exploiting PG social media photos in an AI porn industry, the lawsuit says.

Three Arizona women say in a lawsuit that pornographic videos depicting their likenesses began circulating online after AI platforms were used to create sexual content based on their Instagram posts.The big picture: A new exploitative industry is harnessing AI technology to generate explicit &quot;deepfakes&quot; from PG social media photos, the lawsuit says.

Arizona enacts rounding law after feds halt penny production

Arizona businesses can now use the "Swedish" rounding method as pennies start to disappear.

Arizona is among the first states to allow businesses to round prices up or down in response to the federal government&#x27;s phase-out of the penny.Why it matters: Businesses are running short on pennies, and the change is making it difficult to make change.

Voters could get chance to reshape Arizona's redistricting process

Democrats say a plan to reshape Arizona redistricting would harm Native American representation.

Arizonans may get a chance to overhaul the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="commission" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2022/12/08/arizona-first-election-new-redistricting-maps" data-vars-content-id="5e28f45a-98cb-420f-91cb-c0c5b0a64fd0" data-vars-headline="Voters could get chance to reshape Arizona&#x27;s redistricting process" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2022/12/08/arizona-first-election-new-redistricting-maps" target="_self">commission</a> that redraws the state&#x27;s congressional and legislative districts every decade.Why it matters: A proposal under consideration in the Legislature would ensure that a single tiebreaking vote can&#x27;t give one party control of what&#x27;s intended to be an independent process that determines who represents Arizonans in Congress and the Legislature.

Feds subpoena Arizona Senate for debunked 2020 audit records

It comes amid fears that the Trump administration will exert federal control in the midterms.

Politics & Policy

A federal grand jury subpoenaed records from the Arizona Senate&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="debunked &quot;audit&quot; of the 2020 election" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/02/22/arizona-attorney-general-audit-findings-withheld" data-vars-content-id="909e69ef-872e-4c50-bce5-8533f10212cd" data-vars-headline="Feds subpoena Arizona Senate for debunked 2020 audit records" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/02/22/arizona-attorney-general-audit-findings-withheld" target="_self">debunked &quot;audit&quot; of the 2020 election</a> in Maricopa County amid fears that the Trump administration will <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="attempt to assert control" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/02/13/kristi-noem-election-security-maricopa-county" data-vars-content-id="909e69ef-872e-4c50-bce5-8533f10212cd" data-vars-headline="Feds subpoena Arizona Senate for debunked 2020 audit records" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/02/13/kristi-noem-election-security-maricopa-county" target="_self">attempt to assert control</a> over this year&#x27;s midterms.Why it matters: The audit, largely <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="funded" data-vars-click-url="https://azmirror.com/2021/07/28/election-conspiracy-theorist-groups-paid-5-7-million-for-the-arizona-audit/" data-vars-content-id="909e69ef-872e-4c50-bce5-8533f10212cd" data-vars-headline="Feds subpoena Arizona Senate for debunked 2020 audit records" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://azmirror.com/2021/07/28/election-conspiracy-theorist-groups-paid-5-7-million-for-the-arizona-audit/" target="_blank">funded</a> by groups loyal to President Trump and supportive of his false claims that he won Arizona in 2020, reached <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="erroneous and inaccurate conclusions" data-vars-click-url="https://azmirror.com/2021/09/24/arizona-audit-a-multitude-of-unsubstantiated-claims-and-no-proof-of-fraud/" data-vars-content-id="909e69ef-872e-4c50-bce5-8533f10212cd" data-vars-headline="Feds subpoena Arizona Senate for debunked 2020 audit records" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://azmirror.com/2021/09/24/arizona-audit-a-multitude-of-unsubstantiated-claims-and-no-proof-of-fraud/" target="_blank">erroneous and inaccurate conclusions</a>.

A map of the U.S. showing the locations of "No Kings" protest events planned for March 28, 2026. There were nearly 4,000 events planned in about 2,200 cities as of March 26.

Politics 🇺🇸

How Trump's mail voting order could affect Arizona voters

Capitol roundup: Lawmakers take 1st steps to repeal Chávez holiday

Thousands expected at Phoenix No Kings protests Saturday

Judge voids Arizona Independent Party name change

Hobbs halts budget talks and calls for Republicans to negotiation on Prop. 123