7. The Alabama Republican Party unveiled a “Contract with Alabama,” outlining its priorities to improve residents’ quality of life ahead of the 2024 elections. The contract emphasizes rebuilding the economy, securing the border, supporting parental rights, and defending constitutional freedoms, while opposing “woke policies” affecting children. ALGOP Chairman John Wahl stated the platform reflects conservative values, focusing on empowering families and protecting freedoms from federal interference.
6. A new intelligence report reveals that Iran will persist in efforts to assassinate former President Donald Trump, regardless of the 2024 election outcome, while adversaries like Russia and China seek to exploit U.S. elections. The report indicates Iran prefers Vice President Kamala Harris, and Russia prefers Trump, with both nations using influence operations to sway public opinion. Also, China is likely to focus on down-ballot congressional races, while foreign actors are expected to conduct cyber and physical threats to undermine confidence in the election process.
5. According to a report from Microsoft’s Threat Analysis Center, U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) is among several congressional candidates, including U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), targeted by Chinese bots ahead of the November 5 election — largely due to their support for Israel and critical stance on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Moore, responding to the report, said it’s unsurprising that the CCP would target him and others supporting Israel, calling it an attempt to sow division.
4. A new Gallup poll reveals that 84% of Americans support requiring a photo ID to vote in elections, with a similar percentage favoring proof of citizenship when registering to vote for the first time. These attitudes mirror those in a 2022 poll, highlighting continued public concern over election integrity. Despite widespread support, recent legislative efforts to enforce voter ID laws face strong opposition in the U.S. Senate and from President Biden.
3. State Rep. Juandalynn Givan (D-Birmingham) has refiled HB50, which proposes vasectomy or castration for men convicted of rape resulting in pregnancy, and mandates they pay for abortion-related costs if convicted. The bill would also add rape and incest exceptions to Alabama’s abortion ban and stipulates that abortion can be permitted to “preserve the health” of the mother.
2. The race for Alabama’s 2nd Congressional District is tightening, with Republican Caroleene Dobson trailing Democrat Shomari Figures by 5 points in a recent poll. That’s after a poll nearly two months ago had Figures up to a 12 point lead. Figures appeared at a Montgomery event in front of an inflatable IUD named “Freeda Womb,” pledging to protect reproductive rights and access to contraception. Dobson criticized Figures, accusing him of fearmongering and expressing her support for both IVF and contraception, while dismissing his stance as aligning with “radical gender ideology.”
1. On the same day a new police chief was named for the city, Birmingham was ranked as the worst-run city in Alabama by WalletHub, based on factors such as financial stability, safety, health, and infrastructure. Some experts agree with Birmingham’s low safety ranking but argue that WalletHub’s comparison may be unfair due to its mix of city and metro data, which disadvantages urban areas with concentrated poverty. Despite challenges, Birmingham officials are working to improve health and safety, including Mayor Randall Woodfin’s $15.8 million plan to address police shortages and ongoing efforts to reduce cardiovascular deaths through community health initiatives.
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Dale Jackson is a thought leader for Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN and from 10-11 a.m. on Talk 99.5 and News Radio 1440, with a rebroadcast Talk Radio 103.9 FM/730AM WUMP from 3-4 p.m.
