7. The Alabama Crimson Tide moved up to No. 2 in the latest AP Poll, setting up a historic No. 1 vs. No. 2 showdown against top-ranked Auburn this weekend in Tuscaloosa. With both teams tied at 9-1 in the SEC, the winner will take control of the regular season title race in front of a packed Coleman Coliseum. The SEC continues its dominance in the rankings, securing four of the top five spots and placing a total of nine teams in the Top 25.

6. Union membership in the U.S. construction industry has fallen to a record low of 10.3%, down from 10.7% in 2023, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Alabama is no different. Associated Builders and Contractors of Alabama leaders argue that this trend reflects positive employer-employee relationships and a workforce that sees no need for union intervention. They emphasize the importance of workforce development and training programs to attract younger workers as older employees retire at increasing rates.

5. With National Public Radio becoming a mouthpiece for Democrat Party talking points, U.S. Rep. Dale Strong (R-Monrovia) has introduced the No More Funding for NPR Act of 2025, which seeks to eliminate all federal funding for NPR, arguing it has become an extension of the Democratic Party’s messaging. The push aligns with President Donald Trump’s previous calls to defund NPR, which he labeled a “liberal disinformation machine,” and could mark the first successful effort to cut public media funding after years of Republican attempts. If enacted, the bill could severely impact NPR member stations, particularly in rural areas, where federal funding plays a crucial role in providing news and programming access.

4. Hamas has delayed the next planned hostage release under the ongoing six-week ceasefire, accusing Israel of failing to uphold its commitments, including allowing displaced Palestinians to return to northern Gaza. Israel has strongly condemned the move, calling it a violation of the ceasefire agreement, and has put its military on high alert in response. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump, who is likening the appearance of hostages to Holocaust survivors, appears to be over this, saying if the hostages were not released by noon Saturday, he would call for the end of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire and “let hell break out.”

3. Alabama’s congressional redistricting case is back in federal court, where judges will determine the future of the state’s newly drawn, racially gerrymandered district map, which enabled the election of Rep. Shomari Figures (D-Montgomery) as the second black Democrat in Congress from Alabama. The case stems from a Supreme Court ruling that found Alabama’s prior maps violated the Voting Rights Act by diluting Black voting power, forcing the state to create a second black-majority district. While civil rights groups argue the new map ensures fair representation, state officials maintain their original maps were drawn based on traditional, non-racial criteria, setting the stage for a legal battle that could last weeks.

2. Showing that the Democrats’ main weapon is their own confusion and a constant “huh, what, I don’t understand” worldview, U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (D-Birmingham) has introduced the Taxpayer Data Protection Act to counter what she calls Elon Musk’s “shameful invasion of Americans’ privacy” through his leadership of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Musk, appointed by President Trump, was granted read-only access to Treasury Department data but faced a temporary restraining order from a federal judge. While Democrats argue the move threatens Social Security and Medicare, Republicans support Musk’s efforts to cut wasteful spending, deepening the partisan divide over government accountability, where Republicans are in favor of accountability and Democrats argue for a failed status quo.

1. Twenty-two Democrat-led states have sued the Trump administration over a 15% cut to National Institute Health indirect grant costs, arguing the move violates federal law and threatens institutions like UAB and UAH, but Alabama has not joined the lawsuit. A federal judge has temporarily blocked the cuts, with a hearing set for Feb. 21. While U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) has vowed to work with Trump’s health secretary nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to protect medical research, U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) fully supports the cuts as part of Trump’s broader push for government efficiency through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

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