7 Things: Alabama Dems resort to name-calling, drag teacher on leave, Tide rolled, and more ...

7. Warnock and Walker debate in Georgia with Senate control on the line

Across the country, candidates are taking part in contentious debates while the U.S. Senate hangs in the balance with particular focus being paid to the Georgia race between Herschel Walker and U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga).
Walker and Warnock sparred over abortion, inflation and support for the 2020 candidates for president from each party. The most viral moment was Walker slamming Warnock for refusing to say he would support any restrictions on abortion.

6. Poll finds GOP focusing on issues voters care about

A new Harvard-Harris poll finds that the top three issues Americans care about are inflation, economy/jobs and immigration. Interestingly, the public perception of the issues that Republicans care about are inflation, economy/jobs and immigration while Democrats are focused on Jan. 6, women’s rights and climate change.
From the same poll, the police are found to be wildly popular, in spite of the movements to defund and malign them. They are far more liked than the CDC, FBI, DOJ and Antifa.

5. Marshall supports ban on transgender surgeries in other states

Alabama’s Attorney General Steve Marshall is fighting to stop transgender surgeries on minors in Arkansas as he signed on to a brief defending the ban that is similar to Alabama’s.
Marshall noted the social contagion aspect of the current epidemic of children declaring themselves transgender, “Alabama, numerous other states, and many countries around the world have grown concerned about the skyrocketing number of children suffering from gender dysphoria and other forms of gender-related psychological distress.” Marshall also said these early medical interventions can cause long-term issues.

4. Hoover police officer shot

A suspect in a shooting that took place on I-459 was located at an apartment complex in Hoover. When engaged by police officers, he opened fire on police officers, hitting one officer multiple times in both arms.
The shooting in Hoover is part of a recent spate of officers being shot on duty with police officers being killed in Connecticut, North Carolina, Nevada and Mississippi last week.

3. Alabama loses to Tennessee and drops to lowest point in 3 years

A hell of a football game in Knoxville led to goalposts in the Tennessee River and Alabama losing to Tennessee for the first time in 16 years, meaning there are teenagers in Tennessee celebrating their second wedding anniversary this year who have finally seen Tennessee beat Alabama in football.
While some are saying Alabama’s dynasty built by Nick Saban is “slipping,” Alabama is still in an envious position with an opportunity to control its own destiny. But Alabama fans will have to deal with the team falling in the polls all the way to sixth in the nation.

2. Drag show canceled after teacher suspended for making inappropriate comments to kids while dressed in drag

After a drag-performing teacher was brought into the spotlight for making a sexualized joke in front of a child while reading a kids’ book at an animal shelter, he went on TV to declare that he is a teacher who wants to advocate for gay kids and has now been placed on leave.
The claim that threats are rampant are unsubstantiated and will likely lead to zero arrests for threats. However, a drag show in Florence has canceled its event and dramatically exclaimed, “DUE TO CIRCUMSTANCES BEYOND OUR CONTROL AND FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR PERFORMERS, WE HAVE TO CANCEL OUR SUNDAY SHOW. PLEASE SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY IN THESE TIMES.” But, it is worth noting, criticism of a person’s behavior is not a threat, threats are illegal and should be prosecuted.

1. Alabama Democrats fighting everyone

Alabama Democrats met over the weekend looking to prepare for the upcoming elections, they started by rehashing the controversy surrounding U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville. Alabama Democratic Party Chair Randy Kelley said, “Black people and other people of good will” need to work together to change the state. Kelley added, “For too long, Alabama has had a legacy of hate, but we’ve got to transform this state into a more just and loving state.”
But the inability of Alabama Democrats to play nice with each other was on full display, as well. The second day of their convention was upended by a walkout of committee members over very boring bylaw changes that some members believe will remove some special interest groups from recognition by the party, that includes the youth, LGBTQ+, Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islanders, Native American and disabled persons caucuses.