7. Democrats, including U.S. Reps. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) and Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.), and Sens. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.), are urgently organizing trips to El Salvador to address deportation of “Maryland father” Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was sent to a high-security prison and has not been returned despite a Supreme Court order to “facilitate” that return. The lawmakers claim they plan to check on deportees’ welfare and challenge President Trump’s defiance of the Supreme Court, viewing it as an attempt to consolidate power beyond immigration policy. However, centrist Democrats and sane people question the political strategy of advocating for gangbangers.

6. At a town hall held by U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), police arrested three protesters and removed at least six others for disrupting the event, including two individuals tased for resisting removal. Greene, addressing the crowd, emphasized that the town hall was not a protest or rally and accused the media of defending Kilmar Abrego Garcia. Despite the disruptions, Greene maintained support from much of the approximately 80-person audience, while protesters outside continued to demonstrate, with Greene noting a designated area for their First Amendment rights.

5. Alabama’s new anti-DEI legislation, which obviously prohibits certain diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in public education, is causing librarians to suggest that they are fearful that it could restrict library materials and programming. They claim the legislation’s goal will lead to potential book bans, which is made-up nonsense and why people don’t care what these people say.. Librarians, such as Emily Campbell from Montgomery, report declining morale and anxiety over the law’s ambiguous terms. They believe it threatens intellectual freedom and their ability to serve diverse communities. But it ignores the years of inaction as the public and lawmakers called for changes to how some libraries operate.

4. The Trump administration is calling on Congress to cut $1.1 billion in federal funding for NPR and PBS, claiming the outlets promote partisan narratives and are unnecessary in a competitive media landscape with ample private options, which is clearly true. Critics of the proposal, including public broadcasting advocates, argue that NPR and PBS serve critical roles in delivering unbiased journalism and educational programming, especially in underserved areas.

3. A new auto supplier facility in Macon County is projected to generate hundreds of jobs and strengthen the state’s role as a hub for automotive manufacturing and places it strategically for KIA and Hyundai manufacturing facilities. Additionally, Honda is reportedly contemplating moving portions of its production from Mexico and Canada to U.S. plants, such as its Lincoln, Ala., factory, to mitigate the impact of President Donald Trump’s proposed 25% tariffs on foreign goods. Although, Honda is playing down this move, it is clear Alabama and the American South is seeing its appeal for automotive investment growing with its low labor costs, economic incentives, potential tariff changes that will outlast the Trump administration.

2. Georgia is the latest southern state to enact tax relief, with Gov. Brian Kemp signing legislation to cut the income tax rate to 4.99% and offer individual households up to $500 in rebates. In contrast by citing budget concerns, Alabama’s Legislature, led by House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter (R-Rainsville), allowed the state’s overtime tax exemption to expire despite suggestions that it boosted overtime work by 5%. Critics, including Alabama House Democrats who introduced a bill to preserve the exemption, argue that extending the tax cut would support workers facing inflation but Ledbetter touted cuts made to the state’s grocery tax.

1. “Mission ready” is the message that Gov. Kay Ivey, Alabama state lawmakers and U.S. Reps. Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville) and Dale Strong (R-Huntsville) are sending to Washington D.C. to increase pressure to designate Huntsville as the permanent U.S. Space Command headquarters. They are asserting a DoD Inspector General report exposes President Joe Biden’s politically influenced decision to maintain the base in Colorado Springs. House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-Saks) emphasized Huntsville’s strategic advantages and he also predicted an imminent announcement favoring the relocation, intensifying the state’s campaign to secure the headquarters. That IG review, though heavily redacted, says the political interference by Biden, reversing a Trump-era plan to relocate it to Huntsville, compromised readiness and cost taxpayers millions, as the command’s infrastructure in Colorado faced delays and inefficiencies. But the complaints continue from Colorado’s lawmakers including claims that Colorado’s workforce won’t move to Huntsville.

Listen here:

Dale Jackson is a thought leader for Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN.