President Trump wants to ban mail-in ballots, and Arizona's secretary of state said he'll "tell [Trump] to pound sand" and probably challenge it in court if the president attempts to do so with an executive order.

Reality check: Trump does not have the constitutional authority to ban mail-in voting.

Why it matters: The overwhelming majority of Arizonans vote by early ballot, most of which are cast by people who receive them in the mail.

• Nearly 75% of Arizona voters cast their ballots by mail in the 2024 general election, per a report by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission.
• Arizonans can also deliver their early ballots to voting centers or drop boxes, or vote early in person.
• Nearly 88% of Maricopa County voters cast an early ballot in the 2024 general election.

Driving the news: Trump wrote on Truth Social yesterday that he'll "lead a movement to get rid of" mail-in ballots, along with "inaccurate" and "Seriously Controversial" voting machines.

• He told reporters that an executive order is being drafted to end mail-in ballots.
• And the president falsely claimed that states are merely "agents" of the federal government in counting and tabulating votes, and must do what he tells them.

State of play: Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes pushed back against Trump's claims on X, pointing out that states aren't simply agents of the federal government.

• If Trump attempts to ban mail-in voting, Fontes told Axios, "After I tell him to pound sand, I will probably ask the attorney general to file suit."
• In a statement to Axios, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes said Trump "has zero authority to interfere in Arizona's elections" and she'll "vigorously fight any unlawful attempt by the federal government to tell Arizona how we can administer" them.

Yes, but: As Fontes noted, the U.S. Constitution says the times, places and manners of holding elections for Congress "shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof," subject to changes by Congress.

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U.S. Rep. David Schweikert is considering a run for Arizona governor, a move that would dramatically shake up the race for the Republican nomination next year.

State of play: Schweikert hasn't made a final decision, his longtime campaign consultant Chris Baker told Axios yesterday, adding Schweikert, in his eighth U.S. House term, has been asked to run "by several prominent Arizona Republicans who are concerned with the current field of candidates."

• Schweikert is expected to make a decision by the end of the month, Baker said.
• Baker's comments came in response to a post on X by Punchbowl News reporter John Bresnahan writing that Schweikert was considering a run.

The big picture: U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs and businessperson Karrin Taylor Robson are already battling for the nomination in the 2026 race, in which Republicans hope to unseat Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs.

• President Trump has endorsed both GOP candidates.

The intrigue: If Schweikert runs for governor, Republicans will be in search of a candidate in Arizona's highly competitive 1st Congressional District — a top target for Democrats in next year's election.

• Numerous Democrats are already running in that race including 2024 contenders Marlene Galán-Woods and Amish Shah, as well as Mark Robert Gordon, Rick McCartney and Jonathan Treble.
• The district covers much of Scottsdale, north Phoenix, Paradise Valley and Fountain Hills.

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⚖️ The Federal Trade Commission dropped its lawsuit against Grand Canyon Education, the primary service provider for Grand Canyon University, claiming the school misled people about the costs of its doctoral programs. (Arizona's Family)

🎓 International student enrollment at ASU fell this year for the first time since 2020 amid changes by the Trump administration to federal visa guidance. (KJZZ)

🚭 Marijuana sales in Arizona continued to drop last month, marking their biggest year-over-year decrease since voters approved recreational cannabis in 2020. (Arizona Mirror)

🏀 New Phoenix Suns head coach Jordan Ott bought a $4.6 million home in Paradise Valley. (AZcentral)

Indian fusion cuisine seems to be all the rage here in the Valley.

State of play: King and Cardinal opened in June at Mill and Southern avenues in Tempe.

• The restaurant offers the flavors of Hyderabad, a major city in southern India, and "a bold blend of global comfort food, desi flair, and street-side soul."

Zoom in: The menu covers a lot of ground. They offer a variety of burgers, including mutton, chicken, paneer and veggie varieties.

• You can also try Indian-inspired sandwiches, wings in flavors like tikka masala or butter chicken, and appetizers such as samosas. Then, wash it down with an Irani chai.

Yes, but: Not everything on the menu is inspired by Hyderabad's cuisine. They've got popcorn chicken, salads and old-fashioned French fries.

If you've got room for dessert, they've got ice cream, with traditional flavors like vanilla and cookies and cream along with pan masala and sitafal, a creamy, custard-like tropical fruit popular in India.

Best bites: I went with the KC dirty burger, a seasoned beef patty topped with an egg and a creamy sauce, and a side of peri peri fries.

• The seasoning added a little zing to the burger, with the sauce to cool things down.
• Looking back, I'm disappointed I didn't try something more exotic, considering how varied the menu is. But I certainly wasn't displeased with my delicious order.

Have a taste of Hyderabad