7. McDonald’s has announced a “hiring surge” to fill thousands of jobs with the Trump administration’s U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer and Ohio Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel on hand.

6. President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced an eye-popping $175 billion Golden Dome missile defense plan, which will involve 400–1,000 satellites to track and destroy missiles.

5. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall plans to appeal a federal court’s rejection of Alabama’s redistricting map, arguing it complies with legal standards.

4. Gov. Kay Ivey appointed Judge Bill Lewis to the Alabama Supreme Court, filling a vacancy left by Justice Jay Mitchell; conservative outlets did not focus on Lewis’ race, BUT aldotcom predictably did.

3. U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (D-Birmingham) defended U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.) against what she declared are baseless ICE assault charges, contrasting Democratic rhetoric on President Donald Trump, Jan. 6 defendants, and declarations that “no one is above the law.”

2. Alabama Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth is out of the race for governor, so start speculating on his potential run for United States Senate.

1. President Donald Trump is back on the offense after former President Joe Biden’s aggressive prostate cancer diagnosis and is now credibly suggesting documents signed via auto-pen may have been strategically timed, fueling speculation about transparency and legality.

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