7 Things: Joe Biden is becoming less popular, the nation will avoid default for now, AG Marshall continues speaking out about sentencing reform and more …

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October 7, 2021

7. 10 charges in the murder of a Sheffield police officer

Brian Lansing Martin now faces 10 charges in the murder of Sgt. Nick Risner. The charges against Martin are three counts of capital murder, two counts of attempted murder, two counts of shooting into an occupied vehicle and one count of felon in possession of a firearm.
The incident that led to Risner’s death has become more apparent. Brian Mealback, 58, was shot during a robbery by Martin, an acquiescence, and left for dead in an incident authorities thought was a hit-and-run. A chase ensued, and Risner used a pit maneuver on Martin’s vehicle. The two cars were side-by-side when Risner was shot.

6. Mobile sheriff defending the use of ‘thugs’

During a traffic stop, Mobile County sheriff’s deputies confiscated over $120,000, and the two individuals admitted they were traveling to Miami to traffic drugs back to Houston. In a Facebook post about the stop, the word “thugs” was used to describe the individuals involved in the stop.
Some commented on the post criticizing the use of “thug,” However, the Mobile sheriff’s office defended the action by saying in an edit on the original post, “We sincerely hope that you understand now WHY they are THUGS and WHY they were deported and WHY they did not get their money back. We are in NO WAY bashing an ethnic group.”

5. Idaho lt. governor issues executive order without authorization by governor

While Idaho Governor Brad Little (R) was out of the state, Lt. Governor Janice McGeachin (R) passed a ban on vaccine mandates through an executive order. The order prevents employers from requiring the vaccine for employees.
McGeachin also indicated that she’s looking into activating the National Guard due to the crisis at the southern border. Governor Little has already said he’ll rescind the order when he returns to Idaho from Texas, where he was meeting to address the border issues. Little also made it clear that he has “not authorized the Lt. Governor to act on my behalf.”

4. Alabama Education Association wants more diversity data on teachers

The Alabama Education Association has started to advocate for getting more data on the diversity of teachers throughout Alabama as the state tries to continue hiring more for the education workforce. Amy Marlowe of the Alabama Education Association has said that if they want the data on teachers in Alabama, “we’re going to have to go and collect it ourselves.”
Alabama State Superintendent Dr. Eric Mackey has admitted that diversity has not been the focus of the current hiring process, since the state has been desperate for teachers. Mackey said, “[W]ith teacher shortages reaching unprecedented numbers, we are eagerly seeking teachers of every stripe who can deliver the quality of education our students so richly deserve.”

3. AG Marshall: Alabama doesn’t need sentencing reform

Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall criticized the decision to pass sentencing reform in the state and the idea that it’s even necessary. Marshall said that those in the legislature are “completely and utterly detached from what law enforcement and prosecutors see day in and day out” related to reform.
Marshall did say that there’s a lack of understanding around “who is in prison, why they’re there, and in fact, how long they’re serving.” He went on to clarify that “in Alabama’s prisons today, 81%+ of those who are serving time are there for violent offenses.”

2. Debt ceiling could be extended until December

It’s expected that Senate Democrats will accept extending the debt ceiling only until December, which was a plan proposed by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY). This was disclosed after a meeting was held with Democrats. U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) claimed that McConnell “caved.”
While this is a temporary fix so that negotiations on spending bills can continue, Democrats have declared a victory on the issue. U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) said that McConnell “folded and we have until December to do Build Back Better. And we will.” If there isn’t an agreement reached, the country only has until October 18 before there could be a default on debt obligations.

1. Biden approval rating is cratering

New polling data from a Quinnipiac University survey taken from October 1-4 shows that President Joe Biden has fallen to just a 38% approval rating in recent weeks. His disapproval rating is now at 53%. These numbers are bad on every issue from the border, economy and COVID-19 to competency, honesty and leadership.
Biden now has only 48% approving of his handling of the pandemic, 39% on the economy, 34% on foreign policy and only 23% on the southern border. Only 44% believe Biden is honest, and 55% view his administration as competent. Only 42% view him as competent. More concerning for Biden and his agenda is the fact that Democrat candidates like Terry McCauliff, who is running for governor in Virginia, has conceded Biden is unpopular and a drag on his race.