7. President Donald Trump ordered a temporary pause on immigration arrests at farms, hotels, and restaurants to avoid disrupting businesses — while ramping up raids in “crime ridden and deadly Inner Cities.”

6. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) expressed openness to supporting a federal spending bill if it includes significant cuts to wasteful spending and aligns with fiscal responsibility.

5. A 2026 Alabama election poll shows Governor-elect Coach Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) leading significantly with 77.9% of support; Attorney General Steve Marshall picked up 54.2% of the support in the U.S. Senate race, and Secretary of State Wes Allen is way up in the lieutenant governor’s race at 59.7%.

4. Alabama’s third-grade reading scores have “improved” under higher educational standards, according to state education officials, but scores are down slightly as standards increased.

3. Israel launched more missile strikes on Iran, escalating tensions further as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shares that Iran reportedly targeted former President Trump as “enemy number one” in an assassination plot. Meanwhile, Trump is commenting on his lack of credit for supporting Israel and suggesting that America may get involved.

2. Thousands participated in “No Kings” protests across Alabama in Huntsville, Montgomery, and Birmingham against a Trump-hosted military parade, with a violent incident in Mobile involving a counter-protester.

1. Vance Boelter, a Gov. Tim Walz appointee suspected of shooting two Minnesota lawmakers, was captured, and has allegedly written a manifesto targeting additional would-be victims, raising concerns about political violence; this all set off a bunch of ignorant blame from commentators.

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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.