7. Liberal U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) are playing coy about supporting murder for CEOs they do not like, like the UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Warren decried the violence, before stating “but” and undercutting her point saying, “This is a warning that if you push people hard enough, they lose faith in the ability of their government to make change, lose faith in the ability of the people who are providing the health care to make change, and start to take matters into their own hands in ways that will ultimately be a threat to everyone.” Sanders, who motivated the attempted wannabe assassin at the GOP baseball practice in 2017, said, “the outpouring of anger at the health care industry tells us is that millions of people understand that health care is a human right and that you cannot have people in the insurance industry rejecting needed health care for people while they make billions of dollars in profit.”
6. The Alabama Policy Institute’s 2025 BluePrint for Alabama, a 30-point conservative policy plan focused on free markets, limited government, and strong families, will attempt to follow the significant success with its 2024 initiatives like stalling gambling and school choice. Among the carryover priorities are Certificate of Need reform, tax and budget reforms, and expanded health freedom, alongside new proposals addressing unemployment requirements, regulatory transparency, criminal justice reforms, and access to innovative medical treatments. API aims to influence Alabama’s legislative agenda by advancing policies that align with its mission to improve the lives of residents through public policy.
5. U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) expressed strong support for Pete Hegseth’s confirmation as Secretary of Defense, as his support seems to be growing, highlighting Hegseth’s understanding of military priorities like Huntsville’s Redstone Arsenal and the significance of U.S. Space Command. Tuberville noted that while Hegseth may not lead decisions on Space Command’s headquarters, he would participate in related discussions, emphasizing the urgency of advancing U.S. capabilities in space to counter global competitors. If confirmed, Hegseth, a Bronze Star recipient and Fox News host, plans an early visit to Alabama to engage with the state’s vital role in national security, aerospace, and defense.
4. Alabama House Majority Leader Scott Stadthagen (R-Hartselle) is defending his newly-filed House Bill 67 for the 2025 legislative session, aiming to ban public schools and libraries from sponsoring drag performances for minors without parental consent and to restrict minors from sharing facilities with the opposite sex during state-sponsored overnight programs. Stadthagen emphasized that the bill is intended to protect children, citing concerns about the appropriateness of exposing minors to drag shows and the potential for “grooming” them into accepting such performances as normal. The bill also addresses parental concerns over safety at camps, ensuring that minors are not placed in situations where they must share sleeping or bathroom facilities with members of the opposite sex.
3. House Armed Services Committee chairman Mike Rogers (R-Saks) criticized House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) for including a provision in the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) banning so-called but inaccurately named “gender-affirming care” for minors under TRICARE without consultation, calling it an unnecessary cultural issue with President-elect Trump expected to address such matters after inauguration. Rogers argued the inclusion could undermine the traditionally bipartisan nature of the NDAA, making the House vote contentious. Ranking member Adam Smith (D-Wash.) opposed the NDAA due to the provision, signaling challenges as the bill proceeds to the Senate following Wednesday’s House vote.
2. President-elect Donald Trump got another win when FBI Director Christopher Wray announced his resignation effective next month, citing a desire to avoid further politicization of the FBI under the incoming administration, amid prolonged criticism from President-elect Donald Trump and his allies. Trump, who had previously expressed dissatisfaction with Wray’s leadership and accused him of failing to hold the FBI accountable for past controversies, plans to nominate Kash Patel, a former National Security Council official, as Wray’s replacement. While Wray emphasized the FBI’s commitment to independence and the rule of law in his farewell remarks, Patel expressed readiness to assume leadership, though his Senate confirmation remains uncertain.
1. Illegal Immigrants in Alabama are grappling with heightened anxiety as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to implement what he has called the largest deportation effort in U.S. history, sparking “fear” and “uncertainty” among DACA recipients, called “Dreamers” but really just illegals with extra steps. Many, like Birmingham resident Aizlin Romero, feel unsafe in public spaces, while others express concerns about losing the lives and opportunities they have built, such as a young social worker who immigrated as a child and now aids others in her community. Advocacy groups are working to provide resources and encourage immigrants to understand their rights, but fear of deportation has limited organized community efforts, leaving many individuals “isolated” and “worried” about the future, but the media’s main scare tactic for President-elect Donald Trump was mass deportations so no one should really be surprised by this outcome after Americans voted for him.
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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.
