7. State Sen. Garlan Gudger (R-Cullman) has been elected by the Alabama State Senate Republican Caucus to succeed State Sen. Greg Reed as President Pro Tempore, following an internal vote among the 27 Republican senators. Gudger’s victory over Senate Majority Leader Steve Livingston (R-Scottsboro) positions him to take on the leadership role, pending confirmation by the full Senate on Feb. 4, the opening day of the 2025 legislative session. Reed, who stepped down to serve as Senior Advisor to Workforce Transformation under Gov. Kay Ivey, will officially leave his position Jan. 1.
6. A now-deleted post by the House Ways and Means Democrats mocking economic concerns over rising prices, including groceries, drew sharp criticism from conservatives on social media and further showed that Democrats just refuse to understand why they lost. Critics accused the post of being tone-deaf and dismissive of Americans’ struggles with inflation, calling it an example of Democratic detachment from economic realities. A Gallup poll underscores the issue, with 52% of Americans saying they are worse off financially than four years ago, reflecting widespread dissatisfaction despite low unemployment and steady growth.
5. President Joe Biden’s sweeping pardon of his son, Hunter Biden, sparked intense political and legal debates, with U.S. Rep. Dale Strong (R-Monrovia) suggesting it could benefit congressional investigations. Strong argued that the pardon might strip Hunter of his Fifth Amendment protections, potentially compelling him to testify before Congress on matters like Burisma and other alleged misconduct. Legal experts, however, note the pardon only covers federal offenses, leaving unanswered questions about its implications for state investigations and broader congressional probes.
4. U.S. Rep.-elect Shomari Figures expressed no surprise at President Joe Biden’s pardon of his son, Hunter, comparing it to controversial pardons issued by former President Donald Trump. While acknowledging the pardon as a presidential prerogative, Figures emphasized that such political debates do nothing to address critical issues like healthcare access and infrastructure in Alabama’s Second Congressional District. He also predicted that Trump, if reelected, would likely issue pardons for Jan. 6 rioters, reiterating his focus on addressing local priorities rather than national controversies.
3. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall is defending Tennessee’s law banning transgender surgeries and medications for minors, arguing it is constitutional ahead of a U.S. Supreme Court hearing where the ACLU’s lawyer will argue that two-year-olds know when they are trans. Marshall filed a brief supporting Tennessee, emphasizing alleged collusion between the Biden administration and the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) to promote non-evidence-based treatments. He asserts that states like Tennessee and Alabama have the constitutional right to regulate such procedures for minors, prioritizing legislative decisions over judicial intervention.
2. U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) expressed strong support for Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense and Kash Patel as FBI director, emphasizing their work ethics and alignment with conservative priorities. Tuberville praised Hegseth as a “true patriot” capable of addressing issues like DEI and “woke” policies in the military, describing him as someone who can inspire young recruits while reforming the Pentagon, but his nomination may be in trouble. Regarding Patel, Tuberville highlighted his commitment to exposing corruption and tackling FBI misconduct, calling him the ideal leader to restore integrity and accountability in the bureau.
1. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that ICE can continue using a Seattle airport for deportation flights, overturning a local order that sought to block such operations, marking a significant win for President-elect Donald Trump’s immigration agenda. The court found King County’s 2019 executive order unlawful for discriminating against federal immigration operations, forcing ICE to previously use a more distant airport, increasing costs and security concerns. Trump’s incoming administration, led by border czar Tom Homan, plans aggressive deportation measures, sparking fierce opposition from Democratic governors and officials in sanctuary states.
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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 Talk Radio 103.9 FM/730AM WUMP from 3-4 p.m.
