7. U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) has been exposed for declaring herself an “American Indian” on a Texas State Bar application after denying she attempted to use race to get ahead for decades
— Warren declared her race as an “American Indian” in a registration form filed in 1986 with the Texas State Bar in her own handwriting along with her signature. The revelation came in a report that highlighted her attempts to identify as an ethnic minority in her early days as a lawyer and law professor. Warren has now apologized twice in less than one week for identifying as a Native American for close to two decades.
6. Congressman Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) says no to presidential run, but cracked the door open to a run for U.S. Senate against Sen. Doug Jones (D-AL) in 2020
— Last week, conservative pundit Ann Coulter suggested that Brooks would make a “terrific” challenger to President Donald Trump. Brooks is clearly not interested, but in a radio interview, Brooks did mention that he would entertain a U.S. Senate challenge if the president of the United States asked him to and would endorse him. He also cited a poll showing him leading amongst potential GOP primary candidates with 30 percent of those polled choosing him.
5. The drama in Virginia appears to be far from over as Lt. Governor Justin Fairfax’s accuser has hired the attorneys that represented Dr. Christine Blasey Ford
— As part of the fallout following Gov. Ralph Northam’s (D-VA) racist past coming to light, Democrats are saying they don’t know what is happening in Virginia. They are refusing to answer questions and pretending to answer phantom phone calls as ways to avoid taking a position on the allegation of sexual assault against Fairfax. This is a contrast to how Democrats and the media handled allegations against Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Taking a cue from that evidence-free circus, the accuser, Vanessa Tyson, has hired Katz, Marshall and Banks, a Washington, D.C.-based firm to guide her through this issue.
4. Ahead of the State of the Union, and with another caravan at the border, President Donald Trump calls for more military at the border
— A caravan numbering roughly 1,600 people has arrived at the Mexican border city of Piedras Negras as they attempt to make it to the United States and into Texas. They traveled to the city because it lacks a barrier or border wall, but DHS secretary said the “lawless caravan” will not be granted entry. President Trump noted the caravan, tweeting, “We have sent additional military. We will build a Human Wall if necessary.”
3. Attorney General Steve Marshall finds no wrongdoing by police in Hoover Galleria shooting
— Attorney General Steve Marshall’s office concluded the officers involved in the shooting of E.J. Bradford “did not commit a crime under Alabama law and thus will not be criminally charged for his actions,” and added that “the Federal Bureau of Investigation had reviewed the matter and found no evidence to initiate a case against the officer for civil rights violation(s).” The report found Bradford was killed after he chambered a round and ran towards the shooting victim and one other person helping them in what the officer felt was a threatening manner when he was neutralized by the police officer arriving on the scene.
2. “The State of the Union is strong”
— President Donald Trump, in a powerful and well-delivered speech, hit the high-notes you would expect on the economy. He could not get Democrats to cheer for a strong economy, low unemployment numbers and record low minority unemployment numbers, but they did cheer for women employment numbers and paid family leave. Trump also hammered the divisive issues of immigration where he called for border enforcement including a wall and the Virginia governor’s comments where he said they could “execute” a baby as he called for a late-term abortion ban on babies that can “feel pain in the mother’s womb.”
1. A majority of Alabama’s Congressional delegation and an overwhelming majority of viewers approved of the president’s speech
— Rep. Gary Plamer (R-Hoover) focused on the positive overall message, saying “The President’s theme tonight of choosing greatness was what I think the nation needed to hear.” Rep. Mo Brooks praised the speech in his totality, outlining, “Whether the focus was on economic prosperity, free enterprise versus socialism, international relations, health care, national security, or the promise of America, President Trump hit the game-winning grand slam, shot the game-winning three point shot, and scored the game-winning touchdown.” Lastly, in a CBS poll of those who watched the speech, 76 percent approved the speech, including 80 percent of independents.
