As an attorney with occasional experience with the Equal Time rule, I can explain what's going on here and how the FCC's Brandon Carr is leveraging his position to force late night and daytime talk show hosts to exclude Democratic candidates. First I need to explain the Equal Time rule itself. 1/

Every four years i have to relearn the rules of curling. I'll definitely bookmark this for next time

🙄 x.com/i/status/202...

In preparation for bringing back the @arizonaslaw podcast - and cuz I had so much fun with that attorney-in-olympics article😉 - I uploaded today's @SunSoundsofAZ broadcast. (Check out our vintage episodes while you're there, and send me some feedback.) podbean.com/eas/pb-vfk5a...

This is a crazy, great scoop by @jeremyduda (with great background digging for each detail)! (I'm guessing there'll be new shoes to drop in this, given changes in leadership since Kelli Ward apparently approved the scheme, given the ongoing nature of the case, etc.) www.axios.com/local/phoeni...

NEW: Opening up the Trump admin's attack on Minnesota refugees to greater public scrutiny. On Tuesday, Law Dork, with Public Justice, filed a motion to improve access to a key court case challenging ICE's new effort to detain thousands of law-abiding refugees.

BREAKING, AZ @SenMarkKelly v. Secy of Defense Pete Hegseth: Judge delivers BLISTERING Opinion granting Kelly's preliminary injunction to prevent DOD from reducing Kelly's rank/retirement pay. Military doesn't have right to limit RETIRED servicemembers' speech. MORE, Opinion: tinyurl.com/AZlaw2048

About to read the very funny feature... and it features AN ATTORNEY! (Relevance)

REMINDER: AZ's U.S. Atty, Timothy Courchaine, IS lawfully in the position. However, he has NOT been vetted and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Details: ArizonasLaw.substack.com

NOW: Join me on @SunSoundsofAZ for today's @WSJ. Some very good reporting, some bad opinion pieces and 1 very funny feature about the U.S. curling team! Sunsounds.org/listen Sunsounds.org/donate

BREAKING: New reporting Trump DOJ today *FAILED* to get a grand jury to criminally indict AZ @SenMarkKelly and 5 other veteran/Members of Congress who made the video re not following illegal orders. MSNow saying they went for "seditious conspiracy". www.nytimes.com/2026/02/10/u...

BREAKING: Judge Strikes Down Several Arizona Abortion-Restricting Laws and Regulations MORE, READ Decision: tinyurl.com/AZlaw2050

Tooooo weird!

Hey, Arizona, remember when we thought it was a massive conflict of interest when Anthony Kern was handling ballots on which his name appeared (as a presidential elector)?during the Cyber Ninjas debacle?

AZ UPDATE: Only 3 of AZ's 9 Representatives voted for today's measure ending partial govt shutdown. It passed 217-215. All 3 of AZ's Dems voted "nay" (as did all but 21 Dems). @repciscomani.bsky.social, @RepAbeHamadeh and @RepGosar were 3 of 21 GOPers voting "aye". t.co/ZubZQEdJVj

UPDATE, @SenMarkKelly v @PeteHegseth: Judge Leon held hearing on Kelly's Prelim Injunction this afternoon, has taken it under advisement. MORE, case filings: t.co/mgRVQFn0fa

AI LAWSUIT FILED IN AZ SUPERIOR COURT by 3 Az women naming over 50 men! youtube.com/shorts/c_8Fy... @laurenmeidasa.bsky.social

This is one example of the utter bumbling side of the current admin. Going after Mark Kelly has netted him 4 million in extra campaign contributions. Arnold and Porter is pricy, but not that pricy.

This is a truly extraordinary order.

BREAKING: Initial takeaways from AZ @SenMarkKelly 's new campaign finance filings: - $13M* raised in Q4, averaged $9M/ rest of '25 -$15M* cash on hand -made initial $10k contributions to legal defense funds for himself, Schiff, Slotkin *combined, principal comm + leadership PAC

At some point, even if you think you’re one of the good ones…you’re going to have to decide which side to take. As an ex marine jag Tim probably thinks of himself as always doing the right thing. This isn’t it.

Does this statement indicate: A) Arizona's U.S. Attorney has been instructed to join in right wing's overblown pile-on on @AZAGMayes B) Arizona's U.S. Atty is busy redacting Epstein files and has not been following the news C) All of above D) None of above E) _________

MINOR UPDATE, Mark Kelly v Pete Hegseth: The severe winter storm and scheduling conflicts have prompted Judge Leon to POSTPONE the hearing on the preliminary injunction from the Wednesday to next Tuesday. MORE on case: tinyurl.com/AZlaw2048

UPDATE, U.S. v Arizona: The DOJ filed its case for Arizona voters' records on Jan 6, weeks later than vs the other states. No motions fully briefed yet, no hearings set. Case is in front of Judge Susan Brnovich.

UPDATE, @SenMarkKelly v. @SecWar @PeteHegseth: SWORDPLAY: Hegseth accuses Sen. Mark Kelly of using his military service as sword and hiding behind his office and the Constitution as shields. Hearing next week. READ More, Hegseth Response: tinyurl.com/AZlaw2048

UPDATE, The Sinema Affair: "Sinema Switches Attorneys, Gets Extension" Sinema fired her attorney and hired a new one the day after news of the Sinema Affair broke. This is also the basis for getting a 4 week extension to answer the Complaint. MORE: tinyurl.com/AZlaw2049

Well, yesterday I patted myself on the back for focusing on taxpayers' contributions to the Sinema Affair instead of sordid details. Today's pushing the story forward award goes to the fine folks at @arizonaagenda.bsky.social. Looks like our fmr Sen. *also* got her boytoy a hazy job at ASU.

🤣😂🤣

UPDATE 1/15: J.G.G. v Trump (Venezuelans deported to El Salvador prison against judge's orders, etc.): DOJ agrees to give ACLU attys for the deported more time to respond to Marco Rubio filing that trying to convince "Rodriguez regime" to allow for due process hrgs would impede.

UPDATE, 1/15, @CaptMarkKelly v. @SecWar Hegseth: Judge Leon has set a hearing on Senator Kelly's request for a TRO/Prelminary Injunction for January 28.

UPDATE (Part 1), U.S. v. FONTES case (voter reg info): This week, the DOJ told AZ judge (Susan Brnovich) that a colleague in Connecticut was proceeding to a hearing in a similar demand for the state's voter registration records. I don't think the DOJ will file today's CA dismissal in AZ.

BEHIND THE SCENES: It's not surprising this newly-unearthed lawsuit is getting LOTS of news attn from AZ media. When a friend asked me this am if I was going to cover it, I read the Complaint, searched for docket updates. I am *very glad* mine is ONLY one to uncover the taxpayers' contributions.

NEW: Former Senator @KyrstenSinema Accused of Breaking Up Security Guard's Marriage With Affair... and Using Taxpayers' Dollars To Do It Gave him raise after leaving office, with contributors' dollars MORE details, READ Complaint: tinyurl.com/AZlaw2049

OVERLOOKED: We may have a NEW "The Thing"! Neighboring AZ's roadside attraction is an old copper mine that has been reactivated, and they are using bacteria with the acid to leach copper. Amazon is buying the copper for its data center expansions. 1/2

Join me at 10am on @SunSoundsofAZ as I read some of the top articles from today's @WSJ. Sun Sounds provides access to print materials to folks who have trouble reading them due to a disability. Listen: sunsounds.org/listen-live Donate: sunsounds.org/support-sun-...

EVENING UPDATE: Judge Leon still wants the attorneys to show up tomorrow, converts the 4pm hearing to a status conference. This likely signals he wants to say/discuss something, and I'd guess he has a message for Hegseth's attorneys (DOJ).

UPDATE, @CaptMarkKelly v. @SecWar Hegseth: Pete Hegseth blinks, agrees to temporarily pause actions against Senator Kelly to buy some time in court. The parties today asked Judge Richard Leon to delay tomorrow’s hearing until next week. Motion, MORE: tinyurl.com/AZlaw2048

Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes (D) isn’t new to the fight for democracy. As Maricopa County Recorder, he faced death threats and violent protests during the turbulent election audit in 2021. Now, as his state’s chief elections official, he’s willing to go to jail to protect democracy.

Today, the Justice Department released a redacted memo laying out the purported legal justifications for the Trump administration’s military operation in Venezuela and removal of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Read the memo, from @katherinepomps.bsky.social.

BREAKING: Our condolences to (federal) Judge Susan Brnovich and the entire Brnovich family. It has now been confirmed that the former AZ Atty General passed away shortly after posting this appropriate tribute to Bob Weir (Grateful Dead).

LYING THEN OR LYING NOW? Quick summary of movements in "J.G.G. v Trump": -March: U.S. sends Venezuelans to CECOT after judge orders them to wait -Tells judge can't get them back from El Salvador, even tho paying Bukele -July: TWO CONTRADICTORY EXPLANATIONS FROM U.S.: a) 1st...

UPDATE: Marco Rubio & DOJ to Judge: Sorry, the Venezuelans we wrongly sent to CECOT in El Salvador are now free in Venezuela, and we can't ask the new "Rodriguez regime" to help us give them due process hearings b/c "would risk material damage to U.S. foreign policy interests."

HEARING SET: Judge Leon is giving Hegseth 'til Thursday morning to respond to the emergency TRO Motion, and will hold the hearing Thursday afternoon (4pm). Kelly has asked that Hegseth (& the Navy) not be allowed to proceed with the rank demotion, censure, etc.

UPDATE, Melendres case: Judge orders Maricopa County and MCSO to tell him "necessary steps (they will) take ethically and practically" to work together in the long-running racial profiling case (because they are "same party" in the case). Oral argument on allocating costs Jan. 30.

UPDATE: Sen. Kelly's case against Pete Hegseth and the DOD/Navy has been assigned to Judge Richard Leon. Leon was placed on the bench by President George W. Bush (in 2002).

BREAKING: @SenMarkKelly also filed for a TRO (Temporary Restraining Order) against Hegseth. He asks the judge (to be named) to enter the Order by this Friday because the DOD told Kelly he has 'til (next) Tuesday to participate in the "Navy’s unlawful retirement grade proceedings."

UPDATE: Having it both ways, GOP @RepDavid Schweikert votes no on 1st vote to avoid shutdown, yes on final vote. The minibus package passed the House 397-28. AZ GOPers Biggs/Gosar/Crane were among the 28. Measure goes to the Senate. clerk.house.gov/Votes/20267

MONDAY AM UPDATE: Judge Boasberg notes DOJ didn't comply with rules in last minute extension request, Orders them to confer with prisoners' attys (ACLU) before 5pm.

UPDATE: "Bondi's DOJ to Judge: We have to chew gum, too?" In a Sun. filing, DOJ asks Judge Boasberg for extension of Mon. deadline to either return Venezuelans to US from El Salvador's CECOT or plan for due process hrgs in El S. Blames "fluid nature of the unfolding situation."

A reminder: Last time we did something equivalent, with Panama's Manuel Noriega (George HW Bush), Noriega had to be treated under Geneva Convention as a "prisoner of war". (Even after conviction, Noriega entitled to "presidential suite" prison cell.)