This Week With Gosar

Weekly Newsletter

April 19, 2026

Gosar Refuses to Vote to Reauthorize Spy Legislation

This week I voted against advancing reauthorization of spy legislation known as FISA because it fails the most basic duty of government: protecting Americans' rights first.

Despite months of efforts by other concerned conservative Members of Congress and me to improve the bill, the legislation brought to the floor for a vote in the wee hours of the night still allowed federal agencies to access Americans' communications without a warrant. That is a direct violation of the Fourth Amendment and, if passed, ignored the changes I insisted be included in order to earn my support.

FISA was meant to target foreign threats, yet it continues to sweep up U.S. citizens' data. Without a clear warrant requirement, this is not reform-it's a rubber stamp for abuse. I will not support warrantless surveillance of Americans, hard stop.

The bill also ignored a critical issue: banning a central bank digital currency (CBDC). A CBDC would enable government monitoring and control of digital currency transactions. Combined with existing surveillance powers, it raises serious concerns about federal overreach. Congress had the chance to stop it and chose not to.

The process was just as troubling. This vote was pushed in the dead of night, when scrutiny is lowest. Nothing good happens after midnight in Washington, D.C. -especially when expanding government power. Rushing a complex surveillance bill at 2 AM undermines accountability and transparency.

As many of you know, I have opposed reauthorizing FISA since my first years in Congress. As I said in 2018: "In 2011, I was told to support FISA reauthorization because government agents had learned their lesson and would never abuse their power again. They said the same in 2012-and again in 2013, 2014, and every year after. You get the point. Nothing has changed."

Americans deserve better than backroom deals and late-night votes on laws affecting their fundamental freedoms. Until there is a real warrant requirement, a clear ban on a surveillance-state CBDC, and a transparent process, I will continue to oppose FISA reauthorization. Protecting Americans-and their freedom-is not negotiable.

Gosar Introduces Legislation to End Culture of Corruption

This week, I introduced the "Stopping Wasteful Allowances for Lawmaker Wrongdoing and Ensuring Legal Liability Act," or the SWALWELL Act-a direct strike against Washington's culture of corruption and self-protection.

For too long, politicians have hidden misconduct behind closed doors while taxpayers foot the bill. That ends now. If a Member of Congress or staff breaks the law, they pay-not the public, and not in secret.

The SWALWELL Act bans taxpayer-funded settlements and requires offenders to pay out of pocket-no loopholes, no pass-throughs, no excuses. Lawmakers must certify under oath that no public funds were used.

It also brings transparency by creating a public, searchable database of settlements, including who paid, how much, and why-while protecting victims-and exposes taxpayer-funded payouts dating back to 1995.

Any potential criminal conduct must be referred to the Department of Justice-no NDAs, no internal deals, no delays. Washington will no longer police itself in secret. Violators face steep penalties, including at least double damages and ethics investigations enforced by the Attorney General.

This bill ends Washington's two-tiered system and restores accountability: if you betray the public trust, you will be exposed and you will pay.

Explosive Revelations Confirm that Intel Community Coordinated with Congressional Democrats to Target Trump

New developments were revealed this week surrounding the bogus and politically-motivated 2019 impeachment of Donald Trump are raising serious concerns about the integrity of our intelligence institutions. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has issued criminal referrals to the Department of Justice involving the whistleblower and a former intelligence community watchdog, following the release of information that calls into question how the original complaint was initiated and advanced.

According to reports, the complaint that triggered impeachment proceedings against President Trump was based largely on fake information and was pushed forward outside standard protocols. Even more troubling are indications that the whistleblower had prior contact with congressional Democrats, suggesting the process may have been influenced by political coordination rather than objective fact-finding. This confirms what we all have known.

Taken together, these revelations point to the troubling fact that powerful government tools were abused to manufacture a politically motivated case against President Trump. That should concern every American, regardless of party. If elements within the prior administration and intelligence community were willing to bend the rules to target a political adversary, it represents a profound breach of trust.

The American people deserve full transparency and accountability. Our institutions must be reformed and safeguarded to ensure they serve the public-not partisan interests-and that this kind of abuse never happens again.

Gosar Announces 2026 Congressional Art Competition Winners

This weekend, I had the privilege of announcing the winners of Arizona's Ninth Congressional District Art Competition at the Sigler Western Museum in Wickenburg-truly one of the best parts of being a Member of Congress.

Year after year, I'm blown away by the creativity, discipline, and raw talent these students bring to the table. Their work reflects not just artistic skill, but vision and dedication well beyond their years. Just as impressive are the parents and families who support and encourage these young artists every step of the way-you are an essential part of their success.

The winning student will have their artwork displayed in the U.S. Capitol for a year and be invited to Washington, D.C. for the national awards ceremony, while our second- and third-place winners will have their pieces showcased in my D.C. and district offices. All of our top artists will also receive scholarship support to continue pursuing their education.

Here are the winners:

Honorable Mention

Student Name: Valeria Alvarado Perez

Grade: 12th

School: Highland Prep School

Title of Piece: "Eyes of Vitality"

Medium: Graphite on Paper

3^rd Place Winner

Student Name: Edith Belsterling

Grade: 11th

School: St. John Paul II Catholic High School

Title of Piece: "Self Portrait"

Medium: Oil on Canvas

2^nd Place Winner

Student Name: Carmen Baker

Grade: 11th

School: Dysart High School

Title of Piece: "Lipstick on a Pig"

Medium: Acrylic

1^st Place Winner

Student Name: Kady Klatt

Grade: 11th

School: Lake Havasu High School

Title of Piece: "Portrait of Finn Wolfhard"

Medium: Charcoal

People's Choice Winners (tie)

Two students each received 56 online votes out of 325 cast!

"Unblinking" by Farrah Doss and "Lipstick on a Pig" by Carmen Baker

A heartfelt thank you to the Sigler Western Museum for graciously hosting this special event, and to our dedicated judges for volunteering their time and expertise. And to every student who submitted their work-congratulations and thank you for sharing your incredible talent with us!

Gosar Hosts Passport Fair in Goodyear - You're invited!

Join me for a convenient, one-stop opportunity to apply for your U.S. passport right here in Goodyear. This Passport Acceptance Fair is designed to make the process simple and accessible for individuals and families.

Whether you're applying for the first time or assisting a minor, this event will have the resources and guidance you need. Be sure to bring the required documents, including your completed application, proof of citizenship, valid ID, and passport photo.

Don't miss this opportunity to take the next step in your travel plans-we look forward to seeing you there! More information in the flyer above.

Tweet of the Week:

Photo of the Week:

Dave Kiesling from Goodyear, AZshares this amazing photo he describes as the sun meetingthe summit of the Mule Deer Trail in White Tank Mountain Regional Park, west of Phoenix. Thanks for another great picture, Dave!

Do you want the chance for your photograph to be featured as our "Picture of the Week?" If so, send your best shots along with a brief description to [email protected]. Remember to include your name and where you live.

Gosar in the News and Other Must-Read Stories:

Grand Canyon Times: Paul Gosar introduces SWALWELL Act targeting congressional misconduct settlements

vThe Daily Signal: SWALWELL Act Aims to Deliver a 'Blow' to DC 'Culture of Corruption'

New York Post: Tulsi Gabbard refers ex-intel community watchdog, whistleblower behind 2019 Trump impeachment to DOJ for criminal prosecution

People: Yuma Bighorn Sheep Smashes Through Glass Door After Mistaking Reflection for Rival

12 News: MCSO aviation crew recognized for dangerous flood rescue in Wickenburg

Mesa Tribune: Data centers, including those in Mesa pose big challenges for state

⚠ Warning!! The Gosar Weekly Newsletter is meant for discerning readers with above-average intelligence. We link to interesting stories. We get stories a couple different ways: Google alerts, a third-party aggregator and sometimes readers send stuff. We don't vouch for every publication or every author. If we link to a story, it is because of that story. The views expressed in any of the publications do not represent any promotion, endorsement or reflection of Congressman Gosar's views. While we try our best, we cannot guarantee every news organization spouting hatred, animosity or divisiveness will be filtered from appearing in the Gosar Weekly Newsletter. We will endeavor to prevent that from happening by never linking to Fake News organizations including CNN, MSNBC, CNBC, Rolling Stone, the Arizona Republic, the Arizona Mirror, Media Matters or the New Republic.