7 Things: Tuberville obviously won’t debate Doug Jones, Canada politicians panicking, $14 billion data center could cost Alabama mayor job, and more …

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August 27, 2026

7. The Southeastern Conference adopted a rule barring NFL, NBA, and WNBA players from returning to college rosters after a Louisiana court opened the door for professionals to seek extra eligibility, with related reports saying the league could suspend coaches who add a pro athlete.

6. Meta settled a multi-state teen-addiction trial for up to $18 billion and agreed to daily time limits, nighttime blocks and school-hour notification bans on Facebook and Instagram, while Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall announced the state will receive $117 million and declared, “This settlement sends a clear message that Alabama will hold big tech accountable when it fails to protect our children online.”

5. Hyundai said it will begin building an extended-range electric Santa Fe vehicle with 600 miles of total range at its Montgomery plant in 2027, as Alabama also competes with Texas and Virginia for a $433 million Carrier manufacturing plant that could bring about 495 jobs at a minimum average salary of $75,000.

4. The U.S. Department of Education issued guidance telling schools not to change discipline policies to reduce racial disparities, stating that doing so “constitutes race discrimination,” after the Trump administration removed disparate-impact regulations last month.

3. Bessemer Mayor Kenneth Gulley was forced into a Sept. 22 runoff with former State Rep. Louise Alexander after data-center backlash over the $14 billion Project Marvel campus reshaped the city council, with Alexander pledging “we’re going to do everything in the public” and challenger Valerie Williams calling the project the “number one” issue.

2. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith warned that if Canada imposed a 50% export tariff on Alberta oil, the United States would answer with 50% to 100% tariffs on oil and gas to Ontario and Quebec, saying “This would bring the economies of Ontario and Quebec to a grinding halt” and risk hundreds of thousands of jobs, showing again that the U.S. holds all the cards here.

1. The campaign of Governor-elect National Championship-winning Coach U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) rejected a debate challenge from Doug Jones, the cowardly caretaker former junior senator in an ill-fitting suit, who looks like he just woke up and stole his shoes from a homeless person and who will never be governor, attorney general, or U.S. Senator again, campaign chairman Jordan Doufexis saying, “DC Doug spent his time in the Senate voting for Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi” and “There’s nothing new to learn in a debate.”

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