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7 Things: Counting continues in key House, Senate races; Tuberville/Britt on record on Trump nominees; AL Senate leadership fight; and more …

7. After a decisive election loss, where America’s focus on Ukraine was drawn into question, President Joe Biden has reportedly approved Ukraine’s use of U.S.-supplied long-range ATACMS missiles for strikes inside Russia, marking a significant shift/escalation in policy. These missiles, capable of targeting critical infrastructure and command centers far from the front lines, have been instrumental in Ukraine’s counteroffensive efforts. While the decision underscores heightened U.S. commitment to Ukraine’s defense, it risks escalating tensions with Russia, which has previously warned against such measures and may view them as direct involvement in the conflict.

6. President-elect Donald Trump received a hero’s welcome during a UFC event, where the crowd erupted with cheers as he joined Joe Rogan, Dana White, and others in a high-energy victory lap. UFC champion Jon Jones was mimicking Trump’s signature dance before presenting his championship belt to the president-elect after his TKO win. In other combat sports news, the Netflix fight with Mike Tyson and Jake Paul was a nightmare for many fans as they could not handle the live-event demand, making their future NFL and WWE plans seem shaky.

5. Even U.S. Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) and NBA legend Charles Barkley have figured out why Democrats faced losses in key elections. Barkley bluntly criticized the party, saying they lost because they were “stupid” and out of touch with voters. At the same time, Sen. Fetterman urged Democrats to avoid panicking over every move by President-elect Donald Trump, cautioning against overreactions as the next election cycle approaches. Together, their remarks emphasize the need for Democrats to shift toward effective messaging and strategy rather than emotional responses to setbacks.

4. Alabama libraries are getting positive press for the continued push of adult material for children. AL.com’s slobbering on libraries creating all-access cards for children, empowering them to explore adult reading materials because some parents are excited about them doing that, which is pretty weird. The political tensions surrounding book content nationwide continues, and the issue will continue until the people running the libraries learn that they are representatives of the community, not in charge of it.

3. Alabama legislative leadership battle starts with State Sen. Chris Elliott (R-Josephine) confirming Sen. Greg Reed (R-Jasper) will step down as Senate President Pro Tem, sparking discussions about his successor. Senator Majority Leader Steve Livingston (R-Scottsboro) and Sen. Garlan Gudger (R-Cullman) are emerging as frontrunners. The transition is expected to shape the leadership dynamic in the state legislature ahead of the upcoming session.

2. Some Trump Cabinet members face uphill battles, specifically his choices for attorney general (former Florida U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz) and secretary of Health and Human Services (climate change advocate, vaccine skeptic, and nutritional activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr.) drawing tons of fire. U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) says each choice should make their case in front of the Senate and Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) suggested all the nominees should be discussed, “We need to all come together. Our job in the Senate is to advise and consent, and we need to talk about each one of these conferees.” The coming battle of their nominations and recess appointments will be comically stupid.

1. In Bucks County, Pa., Democrats have openly admitted to counting ballots that were ruled illegal due to missing or incorrect dates, sparking accusations of election law violations in the contentious McCormick-Casey Senate race. Meanwhile, in California, ballot counting continues at a slow pace due to the state’s extended deadline for mail-in votes postmarked by Election Day and its labor-intensive verification process. These issues have intensified scrutiny over election procedures, raising concerns about transparency and the potential impact of delayed or disputed results.

Listen here:

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.

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