"Today" host Savannah Guthrie's mother, Nancy Guthrie, has gone missing under mysterious circumstances. Police suspect she may have been abducted from her home in Arizona.
The Pima County Sheriff's Department said in a statement that the 84-year-old was last seen Saturday night at her home in Catalina Foothills, just north of Tucson.
'She didn't walk from there. She didn't go willingly.'
During a Monday press conference, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said that Guthrie's disappearance was first reported Sunday morning after a church friend noticed she was absent from services and alerted one of her adult children.
"The family went to the house. I'm thinking they spent some time looking for her themselves before they called us," Nanos said, according to ABC News.
However, Guthrie could not be found, and now investigators believe foul play may have been involved.
The Arizona Department of Public Safety said in a statement, "All her personal belongings, to include her wallet, cell phone, and vehicle, were still there, but she was nowhere to be found."
CBS News reported that Nanos added, "We saw some things at the home that were concerning to us."
"We believe now, after we've processed that crime scene, that we do in fact have a crime scene, that we do in fact have a crime, and we're asking the community's help," Nanos added.
Nanos warned, "I hope we find her safe and sound, but we can't ignore what's in front of us."
Sgt. David Stivers of the Pima County Sheriff's Department revealed that investigators found "circumstances on scene that we believe are suspicious in nature."
Sheriff Nanos told People magazine that investigators "have taken what we believe is biological DNA-type evidence, and we are submitting it to our labs."
Law enforcement sources reportedly said investigators found blood inside Guthrie's home.
The Los Angeles Times reported, "The sources, who were not authorized to discuss the case publicly, said there were signs of forced entry. It's unclear whose blood was found inside the house."
Pima County Sheriff's Department spokesperson Kevin Adger told the Los Angeles Times, "At this point, investigators believe she was taken from the home against her will, possibly [in the] middle of the night. Detectives are looking into a possible kidnapping or abduction."
Nanos said, "I believe she was abducted, yes. She didn't walk from there. She didn't go willingly."
The sheriff said no motive has been established, and there is no early indication Guthrie was targeted because she is the mother of Savannah Guthrie. Yet, he cautioned, "We can't dismiss that."
Nanos told CBS News that investigators "will certainly" examine the possibility that Guthrie was targeted.
The sheriff said, "Was she being stalked? Did she have some people out there harassing her or something?"
Nanos added, "We're not going to dismiss any angles, for sure, but right now, immediately, we don't know of anything like that."
Nanos urged Guthrie's neighbors to review home security cameras to see if they notice anything suspicious from last weekend.
"They still might see something," Nanos stated. "Maybe it's somebody walking by. Maybe it's some vehicle driving by at that time of day."
A search-and-rescue team is utilizing drones, helicopters, and heat sensors to try to track down the missing woman.
Two sources told CBS News that the FBI is assisting in the investigation.
Guthrie's family is working with law enforcement to help find her.
Nanos noted that Guthrie was "not of good physical health, and so naturally we are concerned," Newsweek reported. Nanos added that her physical challenges and age limited her ability to move around.
"She did not leave on her own, we know that," Nanos stated.
Guthrie's family told investigators that she did not have cognitive issues, and the sheriff added, "She's very alert, and she's of good, sound mind."
"This is not a dementia-related; she is as sharp as a tack," Nanos said. "The family wants everybody to know this isn't somebody who just wandered off."
Nanos said during the press conference, "This is an 84-year-old lady who suffers from some physical ailments, has some physical challenges, is in need of medication — medication that, if she doesn't have in 24 hours, it could be fatal."
The sheriff's department said Guthrie is 5 feet 5 inches tall, has brown hair and blue eyes, and weighs 150 pounds.
Savannah Guthrie was absent from the "Today" show Monday and Tuesday as authorities attempted to locate her mother, but the anchor issued the following statement Monday:
On behalf of our family, I want to thank everyone for the thoughts, prayers and messages of support. Right now, our focus remains on the safe return of our dear mom. We thank law enforcement for their hard work on this case and encourage anyone with information to contact the Pima County Sheriff's Department at (520) 351-4900.
On Monday night, Savannah Guthrie asked her Instagram followers for prayers:
We believe in prayer. We believe in voices raised in unison, in love, in hope. We believe in goodness. We believe in humanity. Above all, we believe in Him.
Thank you for lifting your prayers with ours for our beloved mom, our dearest Nancy, a woman of deep conviction, a good and faithful servant. Raise your prayers with us and believe with us that she will be lifted by them in this very moment.
We need you.
"He will keep in perfect peace those whose hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord," a verse of Isaiah for all time for all of us.
Bring her home.
Police are asking the public for help in locating Guthrie.
"Every detail matters. Even small tips could make a difference," the Pima County Sheriff's Department said. "Please share this post to help us reach more people. Thank you for your continued assistance and support."
A reward of up to $2,500 is being offered for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for her disappearance.
The Pima County Sheriff's Department established a tip line; anyone with information is urged to contact the department at 520-351-4900.
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Republican lawmakers, the Arizona Police Association, and the Trump administration castigated Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes (D) this week over her suggestion that it may be reasonable to shoot masked U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
Mayes made no secret of her contempt for ICE in her interview with KPNX-TV's Brahm Resnik, suggesting, for instance, that ICE officers are engaged in "thuggish, brutish behavior" and causing chaos, confusion, and anxiety in Minneapolis.
'How do you know they are a peace officer?'
"It's a combustible situation, let's be clear about that," said Mayes. "It's a combustible situation being caused by ICE right now, wearing masks."
After noting that she was "outraged and sickened" to see ICE agents outside her building and claiming that "real cops don't wear masks," the Democrat — who is seeking re-election — made a point of stressing that Arizona is a "stand your ground state."
"We also have a lot of guns in Arizona," she said with a smile.
"You know, it's kind of a recipe for disaster because you have these masked federal officers with very little identification, sometimes no identification, wearing plain clothes and masks, and we have a stand your ground law that says that if you reasonably believe that your life is in danger and you are in your house or your car or on your property, that you can defend yourself with lethal force."
Resnik pumped the brakes and said, "I want to be careful with that and understand what you are saying because you know how that could be interpreted."
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"But it's the fact," said Mayes.
While Mayes clarified that you still cannot gun down peace officers in the Grand Canyon State and that she was not giving anyone license to start doing so, she appeared to give would-be killers an excuse, stating, "How do you know they're a peace officer?"
"If there's a situation where somebody pulls out their gun because they know Arizona is a stand your ground state, then it becomes 'did they reasonably know that they were a peace officer?'" said Arizona's top law enforcement officer.
When Resnik once more pressed her for clarification that she was not "telling folks you have license if you are threatened," Mayes said, "Well," and smirked.
"No," she continued, "but again, if you're being attacked by someone who is not identified as a peace officer, how do you know?"
Republican Arizona Rep. David Schweikert noted, "Let's not pretend this was some careful legal seminar."
"This was the attorney general of Arizona freelancing a scenario where bullets start flying and then shrugging it off as 'just the law.' That is reckless on its face," wrote Schweikert. "If your job is to enforce the law, you do not go on TV and hand out a permission structure for violence, then act surprised when people hear it as a green light. Words matter. Especially when they come from the state’s top lawyer."
Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen (R), who is running for state attorney general, noted, "Mayes should be fully aware of her dangerous rhetoric — and how people will construe, apply, and execute her comments. Mayes' comments were reckless, dangerous, and disqualifying."
The Arizona Police Association also condemned Mayes' remarks, emphasizing that "words from elected officials matter."
APA Executive Director Joe Clure stated that the Democrat's framing was "deeply troubling and dangerous" especially as "law enforcement officers at every level including state, local, and federal agencies do not always wear traditional uniforms" — including members of Mayes' own investigative teams.
"This does not diminish their legal authority or status as law enforcement," said Clure. "Publicly speculating about how someone might legally justify shooting an ICE agent sends a dangerous and irresponsible message, particularly in an already tense and polarized environment."
Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told the New York Post, "This is [a] direct threat calling for violence against our law enforcement officers — this kind of rhetoric is going to get someone killed."
Blaze News has reached out the Justice Department for comment.
Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!Republican Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona is proposing new legislation to crack down on illegal aliens obtaining commercial driver's licenses.
Americans have witnessed many preventable deaths inflicted by illegal alien truck drivers who often obtained CDLs in blue states that seemingly ignore citizenship or work requirements. The tragic death toll was exacerbated by former President Joe Biden's administration, which allowed millions of illegal aliens to flood the country within a span of just four years.
'They gamble with American lives.'
Biggs believes the VERIFY CDL Act will help prevent similar tragedies in the future.
"American citizens should not have to worry that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris’ border failures are showing up on our highways," Biggs told Blaze News. "When millions of unvetted, unknown illegal aliens were allowed into the country — which is exactly what the Biden regime turned a blind eye to — the federal government created serious public safety risks far beyond the border."
"Until every illegal alien is deported by President Trump’s hard work, Congress has a responsibility to close dangerous loopholes. My VERIFY CDL Act ensures commercial driver’s licenses are issued only to individuals legally authorized to work in the United States.”
Biggs' legislation would look to change that. According to the bill text obtained exclusively by Blaze News, the VERIFY CDL Act would require applicants' employment to be authorized through the E-Verify program before they can be issued a CDL, adding additional safeguards and closing a highly abused loophole.
"Operating a commercial vehicle is not a right — it is a serious responsibility," Biggs told Blaze News. "When states issue CDLs without verifying work authorization, they gamble with American lives. My bill puts an end to that recklessness."
"If you are legally authorized to work in the United States, E-Verify confirms it," Biggs said. "If you are not, you do not get behind the wheel of a 40-ton vehicle."
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Biggs noted that mass immigration is not limited to the border, but rather it needs to be addressed at every level, including CDLs.
"It's not complicated," Biggs said. "We have seen what happens when verification fails — preventable deaths, broken families, and a system that has lost its integrity."
"One preventable death is one too many," Biggs added. "Congress has a duty to act, and this bill does exactly that."
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A violent repeat offender brutally beat up elderly whites and Mexicans in a racially motivated attack in Arizona earlier this week, officials said.
In fact, 62-year-old Derek Kirven admitted to police he was targeting white and Mexican victims at the Escalante Multi-Generational Center in Tempe, KPNX-TV reported, citing newly filed court documents.
'At that point, he essentially lost control. ... He started to assault these people by punching them, throwing them to the ground.'
The station said Wednesday's assault left several victims with serious injuries, including broken bones.
Tempe police said Kirven walked into a members-only area around 9 a.m. and was asked to leave because he was not a member, KPNX reported.
"He tried to come in, and he was told to leave because he was not a member, and then around 11:30 a.m., he came back," Officer Jessica Ells told the station.
Police said that's when Kirven snapped and began attacking people, many of whom were seated and waiting for lunch, KPNX said.
"At that point, he essentially lost control and began attacking all the members who were inside the center," Ells added to the station.
"He started to assault these people by punching them, throwing them to the ground."
You can view video of the attack here. A city of Tempe security guard eventually detained Kirven until police arrived, the station said.
One victim suffered a broken wrist, and another was left with a broken nose, KPNX said, citing court documents. A third victim — who has autism and suffers from seizures — was punched and knocked to the ground, the station noted.
What's more, some victims were using walkers and had no way to defend themselves, police added to KPNX.
A fourth victim's hearing aid, valued at $4,000, was damaged, the station said, adding that the victim was concerned the attack may have aggravated a previous open-heart surgery.
More from KPNX:
During an interview with police, Kirven said he felt staff asked him to leave because he is black, according to court documents.
He told detectives he intentionally targeted white and Mexican people and said he hoped more than one of them would die from their injuries, court documents show.
Court documents also state Kirven told police he would assault people again if given the chance.
Court papers indicate Kirven used racial slurs when referring to the victims and toward a Hispanic detective during the interview, KTVK-TV reported, adding that investigators said he called another detective names like “confederate,” “hillbilly” and “white trash.”
According to police reports, staff at the center offered Kirven a membership earlier Wednesday morning, but he did not have identification, the station said.
Kirven has an extensive criminal history in Arizona and New Mexico, KPNX said, citing court documents. The station added that he served time in New Mexico's prison system for aggravated battery several years ago.
KPNX also said records show Kirven is a transient with felony convictions across multiple states, including kidnapping and aggravated battery, and he had two outstanding warrants at the time of his arrest.
Kirven was booked on multiple counts of aggravated assault, disorderly conduct, trespassing, and criminal damage, KTVK reported.
Kirven is now in the custody of the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office and is being held on $500,000 bond, KPNX said.
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Investigators in Arizona said a homeowner and his family member confronted an individual after 1 a.m. Friday after discovering knife damage on two of their vehicles, InMaricopa.com reported.
With that, the person reportedly advanced toward the homeowner while holding a knife, the outlet said.
'I love it! That’s justice!!! He definitely found out!'
Unfortunately for the person reportedly holding the knife, the homeowner was holding a gun — and used it.
When Maricopa Police officers arrived at the scene on West Thornberry Lane in Homestead, they found an individual shot in the leg, the outlet said.
That person was taken to a hospital and was awaiting surgery as of Friday morning, police told InMaricopa.com.
Turns out that officers later found other cars in the area with similar knife damage, police added to the outlet.
The homeowner who pulled trigger is not being charged with a crime, as it appears he was acting in self-defense, the outlet noted.
However, the wounded person is facing charges, InMaricopa.com said, adding that the investigation remains ongoing.
Commenters reacting to the outlet's story on Facebook appeared solidly behind the homeowner's actions.
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For conservatives, January 2025 felt like an auspicious moment to be alive. Donald Trump sat atop the world with a bully pulpit larger than any media outlet and the power to drive virtually any narrative he chose. Yet instead of using that power, we spent the year arguing over the power the GOP supposedly lacked.
Almost no legislation was passed. Many of the most transformational policies Trump enacted through executive action now sit mired in the courts.
Where is our Mamdani?
Fast-forward to January 2026. The economy looks grim. Democrats are crushing Republicans in special elections. It feels like a different universe.
Republicans tend to operate on a familiar two-year cycle. After a victory, the first year involves explaining why campaign promises cannot be fulfilled. The second year, ending in November elections, turns into defensive posturing: As disappointed as voters may be, they must remember that Democrats represent instant political death.
The implication stays constant. Voters must dutifully back the GOP, ignore the fact that Republicans currently hold power, and politely bypass the primary process out of fear of weakening resistance to Democrats.
As we enter the new year, we have reached the “rally around the GOP to stop the Democrats” phase of the cycle once again.
But reality intrudes. No matter how faithfully the base rallies, Republicans will likely lose in November because of the economy. Absent a dramatic national reset, Democrats will retake the House, probably with a substantial majority.
That makes the present moment decisive. With trifecta control still intact for now, Republicans must use what power they have to improve daily life, enact changes harder to undo, and reinforce red-state America so the coming blue wave does not obliterate the remaining red firewall.
Whether Republicans break free from their familiar cycle of election-failure theater comes down to the answers to these six questions.
Republicans will likely lose the House and surrender residual power in battleground states such as Georgia and Arizona. Independents have abandoned the GOP, and that trend will accelerate as economic conditions worsen.
The question is whether Republicans will give their voters something worth turning out for. Base turnout alone will not flip purple territory, but it could stop the bleeding deep into red states and keep races such as the Iowa and Ohio governorships out of reach.
This past year made clear that Republicans are losing races they never should have had to defend. A deeper economic downturn would push that line even farther.
By the end of 2025, opposition to data centers surged across ideological lines. Communities worry about water use, power strain, housing values, and secondary effects.
Democrats have begun embracing that resistance as Trump elevates data centers and tech interests as pillars of his economic agenda. Will this issue fracture Republicans’ coalition or even force a break with Trump?
Democrats engineered a trap that forces Republicans to address health care, the single largest driver of deficits, inflation, and household pain.
Obamacare made unsubsidized insurance unaffordable for most Americans. Democrats then timed the expiration of expanded subsidies to land on Trump’s watch, ensuring that voters blame him rather than the law’s architects.
Anything Trump does — or refuses to do — will be pinned on him. That reality argues for pushing a genuinely free-market repeal-and-replace that lowers costs. History suggests that outcome remains unlikely. I’m not holding my breath, anyway.
Could a powerless judge issue a ruling so egregious that it would prompt Trump to defy it at long last?
I am not holding my breath on that one, either.
RELATED: The courts are running the country — and Trump is letting it happen
Democrats will likely control one or both chambers for the remainder of Trump’s term. Regardless of strategy, they probably win the midterms.
That means Trump has nothing to lose by executing fully on his original agenda now. Immigration moratoria, judicial reform, welfare devolution, bans on the Council on American-Islamic Relations and Antifa — these changes should be forced through every “must-pass” bill available.
An all-out approach carries policy upside and political clarity.
This year’s primaries matter far more than the general election. They will determine whether red states have leaders willing to defend their prerogatives when Democrats reclaim federal power.
If Trump continues endorsing lackluster governors and candidates such as Byron Donalds in Florida, Greg Abbott in Texas, and Brad Little in Idaho, conservatives will have nowhere to retreat when figures like Zohran Mamdani dominate national politics.
RELATED: Trump’s agenda faces a midterm kill switch in 2026
Mamdani’s takeover of New York and his appointment of Ramzi Kassem — a 9/11 al-Qaeda defense lawyer — as chief counsel drew outrage on the right. At his inauguration, Mamdani declared, “We’ll replace the frigidity of rugged individualism with the warmth of collectivism.”
Rather than merely lamenting how Marxists consolidate power in deep-blue America, conservatives should let that example ignite action where they actually govern. If the left can floor the gas pedal in its strongholds, why can’t we?
Where is our Mamdani?
This moment demands urgency. GOP power has become a “use it or lose it” proposition. Trump must finally become the right-wing disruptor his supporters were promised.
If he cannot — or will not — then Republicans deserve to go the way of the Whigs.
Watch out, speed demons — the open road might be getting a little less free.
Arizona, known for its sun-soaked, sprawling highways, may soon become the first state to offer a high-tech alternative for habitual speeders: a “digital ankle bracelet” for your car.
With this new technology, Arizona may be taking the first step toward a future where cars themselves enforce the law.
Lawmakers are considering a bill that would allow drivers at risk of losing their licenses to keep their privileges by installing devices that actively prevent their vehicles from exceeding posted speed limits.
The proposal, spearheaded by Republican state Representative Quang Nguyen, would let drivers voluntarily equip their cars with speed-limiting technology. The system relies on a combination of GPS and cellular signals to determine the legal speed on any given road. Electronics connected to the car’s engine control unit then prevent the vehicle from exceeding that limit, no matter how hard the driver presses the accelerator.
For practical reasons, the technology does include an override mode that permits a temporary 10 mph boost up to three times per month, giving drivers a limited margin to react in emergencies or avoid accidents.
Nguyen estimates the devices would cost around $250 to install, with a daily operating fee of roughly $4. He has been working closely with companies that manufacture the technology, including Smart Start and LifeSafer, to ensure the system is effective and reliable. This makes me wonder if he owns a piece of the company or has stock in the company.
Under the bill, which Nguyen plans to formally introduce when the state legislature reconvenes in January, participation is optional — probably Nguyen’s earlier attempt to make it mandatory was a nonstarter.
Arizona is not alone in exploring this approach. Virginia, Washington State, and Washington, D.C., have already enacted similar laws. In Virginia, courts can require drivers with multiple speeding violations or reckless driving convictions to install electronic speed-limiting devices as an alternative to license suspension. Washington State has adopted a comparable program, giving judges discretion to mandate the technology for repeat offenders while monitoring compliance.
In Washington D.C., the program is more limited but aims to reduce repeat speeding among drivers with multiple moving violations. Meanwhile, Wisconsin is currently considering similar legislation.
These programs highlight a growing trend: Rather than grounding drivers entirely, some states are experimenting with technology as a way to enforce safe driving without taking away mobility. Proponents argue that these devices could prevent serious accidents while still allowing drivers to maintain employment, care for families, and perform other essential daily tasks. The technology also provides courts with a tangible tool to ensure compliance, rather than relying solely on citations and license suspensions.
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However, critics remain cautious. Some transportation and safety experts question whether the technology is advanced enough to accurately detect all posted speed limits. GPS mapping errors, temporary speed changes in construction zones, or malfunctioning sensors could cause a car to slow unexpectedly or fail to limit speed when needed, creating new safety risks. Privacy advocates also worry about how these devices track and store location data, raising concerns about government overreach or potential misuse.
From a practical standpoint, the legislation raises fundamental questions about the balance between personal responsibility and technological enforcement. Supporters argue it offers a lifeline to drivers who repeatedly violate speed laws but are otherwise safe, while critics maintain that it may encourage riskier behavior by transferring accountability from the individual to the machine.
There’s also the question of fairness. Not all drivers have access to new technology or the financial resources to participate in a program that charges daily operating fees. While $4 per day may seem modest, over a month or a year, it could be prohibitive for some families, effectively limiting the program to more affluent drivers. Additionally, the optional nature of the program could create inconsistencies across jurisdictions, leaving some habitual offenders unmonitored while others are under constant technological supervision.
Whether the measure passes will depend not only on lawmakers’ assessment of safety and effectiveness but also on public perception. Speeding remains the most common moving violation in the United States, and habitual offenders are a persistent concern for states nationwide. With this new technology, Arizona may be taking the first step toward a future where cars themselves enforce the law — but whether that future is practical, safe, or desirable remains up for debate.
At the very least, it’s a bold experiment in road safety and personal responsibility, one that could reshape the way states think about controlling speed without grounding drivers entirely. As the legislature prepares to weigh the bill, motorists, safety experts, and privacy advocates alike will be watching closely, asking the same question: Can a car truly keep its driver out of trouble, or is this just another way to shift accountability from human judgment to technology?
The Arizona House of Representatives advanced a constitutional amendment on Monday that seeks to end the state’s post-Election Day chaos and delayed election results. “Arizonans are done with excuses, delays, and chaos in our elections,” amendment sponsor and Republican Rep. Alexander Kolodin said in a statement. Under House Concurrent Resolution 2001 (“The Arizona Secure Elections […]
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