7. Property taxes are under assault across the country. In Pennsylvania, State Rep. Russ Diamond offered a plan to dump property taxes, arguing it’s wrong to owe the government rent for your own place, and State Sen. Doug Mastriano thinks taxing money sent overseas could fill the gap. In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis is backing efforts to ease the tax burden of people with paid-off houses. In both states, lawmakers noted that they want people to actually own their homes without paying taxes to the state forever; it is expected that other states will follow suit if these plans pass.
6. Anti-Israel protestors led by Jewish Voice for Peace took 200 Jews to Trump Tower to protest for the release of pro-Hamas Columbia student Mahmoud Khalil’s who has been in ICE custody since Saturday. Khalil is accused of being in support of Hamas’ October 7 attacks on Israel and President Donald Trump wants him out of the country. The mob fought with cops and occupied Trump Tower until 98 people were arrested.
5. Russian President Vladimir Putin backs a ceasefire with Ukraine, kinda, but says more talks are needed, suggesting a chat with President Donald Trump. He questions a 30-day plan from the U.S. and Ukraine, wary of Ukraine’s forces regrouping. Overall, Putin is being non-committal but this is a net-positive move. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt noted that Steve Witkoff, Trump’s envoy for Russia and Ukraine, is traveling to Moscow to meet Russian officials, which could include Putin.
4. State Sen. Sam Givhan (R-Huntsville) says U.S. Sen.Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) would dominate a 2026 U.S. Senate re-election race with no serious challengers, but a run for Alabama governor could hit a snag due to a seven-year residency requirement. Givhan suggests Tuberville’s entry might scare off strong candidates, leaving only weak ones if residency issues disqualify him. When asked about the possibility of an open U.S. Senate seat, Givhan says Attorney General Steve Marshall and Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter (R-Rainsville) might jump in.
3. The FBI’s office in Mobile has worked with federal, state, and local groups to arrest 137 illegal immigrants in south Alabama over the last month, with operations hitting places like southern Baldwin County. Their month-long sweep targets individuals with violent criminal pasts, encountering at least one per day on average. The focus on immigration enforcement by the Trump administration is clearly being seen at the local level and from federal agencies..
2. A potentially overzealous California federal Judge William Alsup ordered six agencies, including the Departments of Defense and Treasury to rehire probationary workers let go in what he called “a sham in order to try to avoid statutory requirements.” Alsup slammed the Office of Personnel Management for claiming poor performance in firings, despite workers being able to prove they had positive performance reviews. The ruling is opposed by the White House, with press secretary Karoline Leavitt saying, “A single judge is attempting to unconstitutionally seize the power of hiring and firing from the Executive Branch.”
1. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) said Democrats blocking government funding by Friday would be “political suicide,” citing their infliction with the “woke mind virus,” and accurately predicted they’d cave and come into agreement with the House passed bill. As Tuberville foretold, hours later Senator Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) announced he’ll back the House GOP bill, said it’s better than a shutdown giving President Donald Trump and Elon Musk more power. Now Schumer, the media and their Democrats will have to suggest that Schumer either did the right thing, caved, betrayed the party, and became a MAGA darling while continuing their wandering in the wilderness.
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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 on WVNN at 10 p.m.
