7. After President Donald Trump threatened to cut federal funding over a transgender athlete’s participation, California’s high school athletics association revised girls’ track and field championship rules to include more biologically female athletes the trans athlete has already defeated.

6. “Some say” Auburn basketball coach Bruce Pearl is considering running for U.S. Senate even though the idea is completely absurd.

5. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall is pretty much a shoo-in to win the now-open U.S. Senate seat in 2026; other names suggested like former U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville), former U.S. Sen. Doug Jones (D-Mountain Brook), and even Gov. Kay Ivey seem unlikely.

4. Yet another Democrat has traveled to see his constituent and “Maryland Man” Kilmar Abrego Garcia in El Salvador’s prison for terrorists; U.S. Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-Md.)was not allowed to see him.

3. Huntsville dropped from its ranking as the best place to live and, less than one week later, aldotcom is priming its audience to trash the city and act as if this is an issue of traffic or overpopulation, when it is obviously a change in ranking metrics.

2. President Donald Trump is now openly fighting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying he’s “playing with fire” and called him “absolutely crazy” for escalating actions in Ukraine; talk of WW III is back.

1. Gov.-elect Coach U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) officially launched his 2026 campaign for Alabama governor.

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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.