7. A story that will surely attract the attention of Alabama legislators, the University of South Alabama operates a “queer animal research lab” focused on studying the effects of queer identities and behaviors in animal models to understand human LGBTQ+ experiences and biology.

6. An Alabama bill would allow the state to mandate minimum police staffing levels and potentially intervene in the operations of police departments in the state’s two largest cities Huntsville and Montgomery, based on the size of the cities, Huntsville already meets these requirements.

5. An Alabama law targeting gang activity led to its first conviction marking a turning point in combating organized crime, according to the district attorney who praised the legislation for providing stronger tools to prosecute and deter gang-related violence.

4. State health officials are warning they fully expect to see a measles outbreak in Alabama soon as part of broader concerns over declining vaccination rates and an increase in cases nationwide.

3. Alabama Senate President Pro Tem Garlan Gudger (R-Cullman) declared the PSC reform bill dead and called for a battle plan to crush Soros-funded environmental extremists after the controversial measure to stop liberal extremists from winning PSC elections failed to advance.

2. Governor-elect National Championship-winning Coach U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) said military action against Iran may be inevitable as the U.S. has no choice if the attempts to negotiate a nuclear deal under Trump fail, urging preparation for potential conflict to protect national interests.

1. Both of Alabama’s U.S. Senators, Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) and Governor-elect National Championship-winning Coach U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) ridiculed Democrats’ response to Trump’s State of the Union address, mocking their protests and guests as too bad and pathetic distractions from Trump’s achievements.

Listen here:

Dale Jackson is a thought leader for Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN.

For some reason, no championship-winning teams are allowed to go to the White House without a bunch of high-calorie females and low-testosterone men whining about it.

People like failed political candidate and podcaster Mallory Hagan are gloating that the gold medal-winning Team USA women’s hockey team won’t get praised at the State of the Union.

Why? She hates Donald Trump.

Way to support women.

Dale Jackson is a thought leader for Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN.

7. Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko called for a singular centralized leader in college football, describing it as a $1-2 billion industry that lacks unified authority amid conference realignment, NIL instability, and governance chaos.

6. An Alabama bill making disorderly conduct inside a church a felony was called an unconstitutional attack by Alabama State Rep. Juandalynn Givan (D-Birmingham) on free speech and specifically aimed at silencing critics like Don Lemon.

5. U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) invited an Epstein “survivor” who described herself as the “Heidi Fleiss of Palm Beach” and reportedly recruited over 20 underage girls for Epstein as his guest for the State of the Union address.

4. A permit was filed for a multibillion-dollar 75-acre data center in Birmingham, while President Donald Trump used part of his State of the Union to tell big tech companies they must build their own power plants to meet massive AI and data center energy demands.

3. An Alabama Senate committee advanced a bill mandating minimum police staffing levels in Montgomery to address the crime crisis by forcing the city to rebuild its chronically understaffed force.

2. President Donald Trump hailed a major turnaround for the economy of the nation in his State of the Union address, which became the record-longest ever with packed wins and strong warnings, highlighting achievements and future plans in a high-energy speech.

1. Alabama Republicans praised President Donald Trump’s record ahead of and in response to his State of the Union address, with leaders like U.S. Senators Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) and Governor-elect National Championship-winning Coach U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) highlighting achievements and looking forward to more progress.

Listen here:

Dale Jackson is a thought leader for Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN.

Jeffrey Epstein was a convicted criminal whose actions were horrific. But over time, the public conversation around the so-called “Epstein files” has taken on a life of its own.

Claims about a sweeping global conspiracy involving world elites have spread widely online, often without verified evidence to support the most extreme versions of those allegations.

Yet, these claims continue and will never stop.

Dale Jackson is a thought leader for Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN.

7. Charles Bediako has appealed the Tuscaloosa circuit court ruling denying his eligibility to the Alabama Supreme Court and requested interim injunctive relief to rejoin the Crimson Tide basketball team while the appeal is pending ahead of the SEC and NCAA tournaments.

6. President Donald Trump signed a proclamation declaring National Angel Family Day to honor victims of crimes committed by illegal immigrants, including several Alabama cases, and recommitted to mass deportations and securing the border.

5. Hoover High School students voted nearly unanimously to exclude a transgender-identifying male from the school’s 61-year-old female-only beauty pageant to preserve its tradition of participation by biological females.

4. The United Auto Workers secured a first contract at a Southern foreign-owned auto plant in Chattanooga with a 96 percent ratification rate, including a 20 percent wage increase, job security, and bonuses, potentially opening the door for renewed organizing at Alabama plants like Mercedes-Benz, and Hyundai after previous failed votes.

3. A New York Times opinion piece argues that the Justice Department’s release of millions of Epstein files was a catastrophic failure of the American justice system that should never have happened, forcing full public disclosure through the Epstein Files Transparency Act and setting a dangerous precedent and argues that harms victims, investigations, and the rule of law.

2. Governor-elect National Championship-winning Coach U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) warned that if cartel thugs harm Americans in Mexico following the killing of leader El Mencho, there will be hell to pay.

1. New polls show President Donald Trump’s approval rating at 39 percent with rising disapproval among independents on immigration the economy, inflation, and tariffs ahead of his State of the Union address as Democrats prepare protests by skipping the speech holding counter events inviting special guests like U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), inviting Epstein survivor who referred to herself as the Heidi Fleiss” of Palm Beach.

Listen here:

Dale Jackson is a thought leader for Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN.

First, Team USA took gold and left Canada with silver in a sport they consider their own.

That alone was enough to light up the rivalry.

Now the debate has spilled over into something bigger.

Now there are Canadians are upset some of their countrymen are arguing Alabama is better than Canada.

They are right.

Dale Jackson is a thought leader for Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN.

7. President Donald Trump congratulated the U.S. men’s hockey team on their gold medal win at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, expressing pride in their 2-1 overtime victory against Canada, while FBI Director Kash Patel celebrated in the locker room with the team, defending his presence as part of official duties despite whining from the media.

6. State Rep. Donna Givens (R-Loxley) touted the success of baby boxes in Baldwin County, noting 15 infants surrendered since 2024 including 10 in 2025 with no prosecutions, praising the program’s role in providing safe alternatives for desperate mothers and encouraging more installations statewide.

5. More small-town Alabama police departments are signing ICE 287(g) partnerships to deputize officers for immigration enforcement, allowing them to identify, process, and detain illegal immigrants encountered during routine duties, with recent sign-ups including departments in Baldwin, Cullman, and other counties, as part of a broader push to enhance public safety and remove criminal aliens from our communities.

4. Austin Tucker Martin, a 21-year-old artist from North Carolina known for “bleak watercolors and black and white sketches” of golf courses, and may have been motivated by the Epstein “cover-up,” was identified as the shotgun-wielding man who breached Mar-a-Lago’s perimeter and was fatally shot by Secret Service agents and a deputy after raising the weapon, with a gas can and shotgun box found nearby.

3. Candidate for Attorney General Katherine Robertson argued that Republicans like State Sen. Will Barfoot (R-Pike Road) and State Rep. Reed Ingram (R-Pike Road) aim to save Montgomery by allowing state intervention in understaffed police departments, citing critical shortages making recruitment difficult, while Democrats like State Sen. Kirk Hatcher (D-Montgomery) and Mayor Steven Reed insist the city does not need state help, preferring local control and arguing more officers do not reduce crime.

2. A new U.S. military-led task force aided Mexico’s raid that killed CJNG leader El Mencho, with forces seizing rocket launchers highlighting the cartel’s superior firepower that outguns police, prompting U.S. State Department warnings for Americans to shelter in place amid violent clashes and blockades in several Mexican states.

1. Governor-elect National Championship-winning Coach U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) and U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) criticized the Supreme Court’s 6-3 ruling against President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs under IEEPA, with Tuberville saying it handcuffs the president from protecting American jobs voted for by 77 million, Britt praising the tariffs’ effectiveness kept by Biden, while Trump announced a new 10% 15% global tariff under different authority for 150 days, calling the ruling a disgrace and asserting his right to impose tariffs.

Listen here:

Dale Jackson is a thought leader for Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN.

After a week where the Alabama House Republican Caucus was shoved into public infighting by a high-profile leak and change in senior leadership at the top of the 76-member body, Alabama Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter brought in the state’s heaviest-weight GOP official on Thursday to remind members in which direction the train is going.

“I appreciate my good friend, Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter, inviting me to speak to the Alabama GOP House Caucus today,” U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville posted on his campaign’s social media after his visit to the State House.

“CPAC ranks Alabama’s state legislature as the #1 most conservative in America…and I can’t wait to work with Speaker Ledbetter and all the men and women in that room,” Tuberville (R-Auburn) wrote.

https://x.com/CoachForGov/status/2024601263493771381?s=20

In an interview with Yellowhammer News, Speaker Ledbetter (R-Rainsville) said the reason for the senator’s visit was to get caucus members face time with the governor-in-waiting who they will watch deliver the 2027 State of the State address in less than a year’s time.

“I think it’s a good opportunity to get to know him. Certainly get to talk to him and talk about his agenda and what he’s looking at coming into the next year being governor,” Ledbetter said. “He’s gonna do a great job. And we’ve been very strong on conservative bills and passing legislation that’s improved the state. I think he is excited to come in and continue to grow that.”

Ledbetter also said the invitation was only a matter of time, given the longstanding partnership between the two.

“It’s actually funny. I was telling him today, I remembered it was this same day seven years ago. It’s one of those things where we spent about an hour or longer and we just hit it off. I’d invited him to an event we were having in DeKalb County, and I didn’t think nothing about it.”

Ledbetter said at that time he offered Tuberville, then a first time political candidate, his pool house as a place to stay during that initial visit — and Coach took him up on it. A one-day stay turned into several on the campaign trail, which Ledbetter described as the beginning of a friendship that abides today.

“And they’d asked me during the campaign to co-chair his campaign — so we did. We worked with him a lot during that. Actually, it brought [Jordan Doufexis] on to help. It’s been good. Coach is a great guy. I’m excited to have him down here. And he’s certainly a good friend. He’s gonna do a great job.”

Tuberville’s visit to the State House this week came as House Republicans were still dealing with fallout from a leaked recording of a closed-door caucus meeting.

The publicly released 57-second clip was excerpted from a meeting that lasted more than an hour, and some lawmakers have argued it was released selectively and intended to put Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter in a negative light as the 2026 primary season intensifies.

As previously reported, that controversy centered on a debate over whether then-Majority Leader Scott Stadthagen (R-Hartselle) could simultaneously serve as caucus leader while running for Chairman of the Alabama Republican Party.  The leaked segment captured Ledbetter saying he “could give a shit about the Republican Party,” which the members present widely view as deprived of context, actually tied to protecting their incumbency and the GOP supermajority, rather than any degree of criticism against the party or its values.

On Wednesday, Stadthagen formally and permanently stepped down from the post, and a veteran of the 2010 red wave, State Rep. Paul Lee (R-Dothan), was elected as the new Majority Leader.

https://x.com/RepLedbetter/status/2024602780103541149

In terms of the message Sen. Tuberville imparted to House lawmakers on Thursday, Speaker Ledbetter described it as: “Get ready.”

“His message was, ‘My plan is to really grow Alabama’s economy and bring jobs. It’s going to improve Alabamians’ lives,’” Ledbetter said.

“‘We’re going to do some hard things. I’ll be probably calling y’all into special session some to make sure we get things done. So I just want to tell you — we’ll work together as a team to be ready to do the hard stuff to make sure that we can move this state forward.’”

After the intense week members of the caucus now have in their rearview mirror, Ledbetter said Tuberville’s visit Thursday was an opportunity for lawmakers to reground their focus in the work that awaits them as they bring the current term to a close — and begin the next one under a new administration.

“Anytime you go through change prior to the end of the quadrennium, it helps to have something like that,” Ledbetter told Yellowhammer News. “I think the message of working together and working as a team, which — who knows that better than him? — was perfect.”

“I look forward to him being there full time,” Ledbetter said.

7. ESPN and SEC Network analyst Marty Smith dismissed perceived attempts to push Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer out as utterly ridiculous and asinine, insisting there is no credible effort or internal movement against DeBoer despite speculation following recent team developments.

6. Alabama schools would be banned from teaching students how to obtain birth control or abortions under a new bill advancing in the legislature, aiming to prevent school staff from providing information or assistance on reproductive services to minors.

5. Both President Donald Trump and former President Barack Obama seem interested in weighing in on the issue of UFOs and aliens, with Trump ordering the government to prepare files for public release on the matter.

4. Former Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill launched his bid to be ALGOP Chairman, vowing to restore trust in party leadership through transparency, integrity, and stronger grassroots engagement.

3. Governor-elect National Championship-winning Coach U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) blasted the growing role transgenderism seems to be playing in societal violence, stating it may take another mass shooting for people to wake up to the issue.

2. Alabama-based liberal groups are joining a national movement pushing for the ouster of President Donald Trump, citing various policy disagreements and concerns over his leadership style and decisions, but their calls for impeachment are not realistic because we don’t impeach people over policy disagreements.

1. President Donald Trump hinted at a 10-day window for deciding on potential military action against Iran, with reports indicating the U.S. is weighing strikes amid escalating tensions and regional conflicts.

Listen here:

Dale Jackson is a thought leader for Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN.

Every election cycle, the same strategy appears.

Local Democrats across the country try to energize their base while reassuring swing voters that they are not like the politicians seen on cable news from Washington.

But that message may be harder to sell this year, especially as policies long championed by progressive leaders, including Zohran Mamdani, move from theory to implementation in major cities.

Can candidates really distance themselves from the national party brand, or does the label follow them anyway?

Dale Jackson is a thought leader for Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN.

7. Alabama Athletics Director Greg Byrne responded to Auburn basketball coach Bruce Pearl’s comments on the Charles Bediako NCAA eligibility situation by sharing biblical wisdom, quoting Proverbs 18:17 about hearing both sides before judging, implying Pearl spoke prematurely or one-sidedly on the ruling.

6. Candidate for State House District 10 candidate Aaron Thomas criticized incumbent Democrat Marilyn Lands (D-Huntsville) for leaving the district without effective representation and a real vote in Montgomery, arguing her positions fail to reflect constituent needs.

5. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr called out the mainstream media for its coverage of the decision by Stephen Colbert to get involved in the U.S. Senate race in Texas by implying his show was under FCC attack, saying, “I think yesterday was a perfect encapsulation of why the American people have more trust in gas station sushi than they do in the national news media.”

4. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall blamed sanctuary city policies and state laws as the primary driver behind violent anti-ICE protests, arguing that such policies embolden opposition to federal enforcement and lead to chaos.

3. The Alabama House Republican Caucus elected Alabama State Rep. Paul Lee (R-Dothan) as their new Majority Leader, while Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter (R-Rainsville) condemned a leaked audio from a House GOP caucus meeting as a ‘complete betrayal of all 76 members,’ and a candidate for ALGOP chairman called for Ledbetter’s expulsion over a ‘profane tirade’ against the party captured in the leak.

2. Epstein saga continues to drag on as the Prince formerly known as Andrew, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, and Victoria’s Secret’s former CEO Leslie Wexner faced renewed scrutiny in Epstein files for close ties to the monster, and AP reported recently that the evidence for the massive sex trafficking scheme doesn’t actually exist.

1. The U.S. military may be preparing to conduct a strike against targets in Iran under President Donald Trump’s war on peace, escalating tensions in the region amid ongoing geopolitical conflicts.

Listen here:

Dale Jackson is a thought leader for Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN.

After Alabama passed its online sales tax law, major cities quickly argued they were not getting their fair share and filed lawsuits to demand a bigger cut.

Counties, meanwhile, are benefiting from the current distribution formula and want to keep the money flowing their way.

Now the pressure is building to “fix” the system. But there is one obvious way to make every stakeholder happy.

Make the pot bigger.

Dale Jackson is a thought leader for Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN.

Alabama Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter (R-Rainsville) and his members are pushing back after a recording from a closed-door House Republican Caucus meeting was strategically leaked and published widely this week.

Numerous lawmakers who were present during the meeting describe the circulated clip as a selectively edited hit job designed to embarrass the speaker and inflame internal tensions ahead of the 2026 election cycle.

The Alabama House Republican Caucus meets behind closed doors, a longstanding practice across state legislative caucuses nationwide. These meetings are not subject to Alabama’s open meetings laws and are traditionally treated as confidential deliberations where members can speak candidly, air disagreements, and work through internal politics.

Secretly recorded audio from the Thursday caucus meeting was published by Alpolitics.com and 1819 News in recent days.

All controversy surrounding the clip stems from a 57-second segment pulled from what lawmakers say was roughly an hour-long discussion over whether State Rep. Scott Stadthagen (R-Hartselle) can continue leading the House Republican Caucus as Majority Leader while running for Alabama Republican Party Chairman.

On Wednesday, Stadthagen announced he is officially stepping down as majority leader in order to pursue a bid for chairman. 

“That recording is so much bigger than just an attack on me—it is a complete and total betrayal of all 76 members of the House Republican Caucus,” Speaker Ledbetter said in a statement to Yellowhammer News. 

“Whether it is passing school choice, securing our elections, fighting for the unborn, or defending conservative values, the men and women of the House have been a driving force behind advancing ALGOP’s agenda. Over the last four sessions, our incumbent House members have shaped the Alabama Legislature into one of the most conservative and successful legislative bodies in the country. Ensuring their reelection is good for the House, good for the State Republican Party, and good for the people of Alabama. Standing up for these members is my responsibility, and I’m proud to do it.”

The leaked audio clip includes Ledbetter saying he “could give a shit about the Republican Party” — but accounts from inside the room say the remark came from a point commonly made by Ledbetter, regarding his responsibility to the House Republican Caucus as an institution, and protecting the members of the caucus headed into 2026.

Under Ledbetter’s leadership, the House Republican Caucus has grown its supermajority from 72 seats in 2022 to 76 today.

These four additional seats have significantly improved the House’s ability to dictate the flow of legislation and enact conservative agenda items including major reforms around school choice, public safety, tax cuts, election security, illegal immigration enforcement, and more.

After the caucus meeting and subsequent leak, Stadthagen took a “leave of absence” as majority leader, which he permanently resigned from this morning. 

State Rep. Chip Brown (R-Hollinger’s Island) was named interim Majority Leader through the March 7 party meeting. A permanent Majority Leader is expected to be elected by the caucus before lawmakers leave Montgomery this week.  

In the wake of the leak, House Republicans who were present in the closed-door meeting provided statements to Yellowhammer News about their perspective. 

The lawmakers, granted anonymity to speak candidly, agreed that the underlying dispute shouldn’t be confused with what they view as the larger breach that followed.

“He was sticking up for the members. Everyone in that room knew what the speaker meant. His comments aren’t the problem….. the person recording our meeting and sending it to the media is.”

Another Republican lawmaker shared the widely-held belief that the two roles are mutually exclusive, running the state party — decidedly not participating in party primaries — and leading the caucus, inherently doing what’s best for House Republicans. 

“I just don’t see how someone can lead both the caucus and the state party without it being detrimental to both entities. Both are important jobs, but they are inherently different and not intended to be done by the same person, and that was the issue many members had. But no matter which side of that issue members are on, we should all agree that whoever recorded our meeting isn’t fit to serve among us. That’s totally unacceptable, and whoever did it is a disgrace.”

A third member, granted anonymity for the same reasons said described an ongoing situation within the caucus that finally reached a fever pitch. 

“His comment was not about the party—it was about the majority leader choosing to pursue his own personal ambition instead of fighting for the members he swore an oath to serve. That is not leadership; it is selfishness, and it shows he isn’t fit to lead the caucus or the Alabama Republican Party.”

Members say the identity of the source of the leaked recording remains a matter of internal caucus business.

Grayson Everett is the editor in chief of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270.

7. The View’s Whoopi Goldberg firmly denied any personal links to Jeffrey Epstein after her name appeared in the Epstein files, as did Hillary Clinton’s, clarifying it was only a mention in passing without implication of wrongdoing (the same argument both dismissed for President Donald Trump), while Forbes detailed​ Leslie Wexner’s extensive documented financial and social ties to Epstein as revealed in the unredacted documents.

6. The Alabama State House passed TJ’s Law, requiring law enforcement to notify parents or guardians when issuing traffic citations to minors under 18, aiming to increase parental awareness and involvement in teen driving behavior and safety.

5. Alabama State Senator Sam Givhan (R-Huntsville) has a bill that would require a special election to fill a vacant Alabama Lieutenant Governor’s office if it becomes empty before the end of the term, rather than the Governor appointing a replacement, to ensure voter choice in the position.

4. Ken McFeeters, a Republican rival challenging Governor-elect National Championship-winning Coach U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) in a potential race cited Tuberville’s frequent flights to Florida as evidence questioning his Alabama residency requirements under state law.

3. Stephen Colbert interviewed U.S. Rep. James Talarico (D-Texas), while Texas Democrats Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) and Talarico vied for a Senate seat in a potential historic upset, and Sen. John Fetterman appeared on Fox News offering GOP advice on retaining U.S. Senate control by hanging onto Texas.

2. Governor-elect National Championship-winning Coach U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) expressed serious concern that Republicans are not doing enough to retain U.S. Senate control in upcoming cycles, warning the party risks losing its majority without aggressive action.

1. Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) dismissed Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and his “Jim Crow 2.0” attack on the voter ID bill as a paranoid fantasy, while Sen. John Fetterman agreed that 84 percent of Americans support voter ID requirements, highlighting bipartisan public backing despite Democratic opposition.

Listen here:

Dale Jackson is a thought leader for Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN.

Some lawmakers say viral confrontations with law enforcement have gone too far.

An Alabama state senator has introduced a bill to increase penalties for physically interfering with officers on duty.

Is this about restoring order or raising new civil liberty concerns?

Dale Jackson is a thought leader for Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN.

7. ESPN analyst Jay Bilas criticized the NCAA’s handling of Charles Bediako’s eligibility ruling as hypocritical, arguing that the organization’s eligibility rules are not grounded in consistent principle but rather in arbitrary enforcement that doesn’t treat European pros and college athletes the same.

6. The Alabama Department of Corrections seized a massive Valentine’s Day contraband haul, including 171 grams of methamphetamine, 802 grams of marijuana and 87 grams of synthetic cannabinoids, as well as 99 Black and Mild cigars, around Staton Correctional Facility near Wetumpka.

5. State Sen. April Weaver (R-Brierfield) filed a bill that would criminalize ignoring lawful orders from first responders during emergencies, making refusal a misdemeanor punishable by jail time to ensure compliance and protect public safety in critical situations.

4. Former Alabama Republican Party Chairman and candidate for Lt. Gov., John Wahl blasted left-wing media for attempting to divide President Donald Trump and U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) through what he called another baseless political attack, defending their strong relationship and accusing outlets of manufacturing drama to weaken conservative unity.

3. Alabama State House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter (R-Rainsville) declared he could not care less about the Alabama Republican Party in a blunt statement among infighting in the Alabama State House, emphasizing independence from party loyalty amid ongoing legislative debates and frustrations with internal dynamics.

2. Minneapolis faces months-long economic recovery as ICE enforcement operations have allegedly created fear that froze spending at immigrant-owned businesses, while ICE Acting Director Tom Homan told Minnesota leaders to say thank you instead of demanding reimbursement for the operation that targeted criminal offenders.

1. President Donald Trump could issue an executive order directing federal agencies to enforce voter ID and proof of citizenship requirements in elections. While legality seems questionable, GOP senators reached the key 50-vote threshold to advance a Trump-backed voter ID bill facing a likely Democratic filibuster in the Senate.

Listen here:

Dale Jackson is a thought leader for Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN.

7. Auburn legend, and very stupid person, Charles Barkley blasted the NCAA leadership as “a bunch of bumbling idiots” for their handling of eligibility rules and recent controversies, criticizing the organization’s inconsistent decisions and failures that he correctly says harm athletes and college sports overall.

6. The Alabama congressional delegation introduced a resolution in Washington honoring Mobile as the birthplace of Mardi Gras in America, something no one outside of Alabama believes or cares about, taking bragging rights over other claims and celebrating the city’s historic traditions during the season.

5. A new bill in Alabama would raise the school grading bar by 10 points, making it harder for schools to achieve higher letter grades and aiming to provide a more accurate reflection of performance amid concerns that current standards are too lenient and contribute to grade inflation.

4. Alabama cities dropped their online sales tax lawsuit against the state without prejudice, meaning they can refile if upcoming legislative reforms on the issue fail to address their concerns over revenue sharing and fairness, meaning if they do not get more money, they will be back in court.

3. U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) announced that over 700 U.S. Space Command personnel will be stationed in Alabama by the end of 2028, boosting the state’s role in space defense and bringing significant economic and job benefits to the region, and hopefully that will make it harder for politics to rip those jobs away.

2. The Epstein Files saga continues to underwhelm with newly unredacted Epstein files revealing four additional men with no apparent ties to U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), who read their names on the floor to expose SOMEONE, but it turns out even his big reveal was a bust.

1. While the media and their Democrats attempt to make a disagreement between President Donald Trump and Alabama U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) appear like nuclear fallout, Britt denied any ill-will between them and called the story fake news while reaffirming her focus on DHS funding negotiations and enforcing the law without walking away from the immigration enforcement strategy of the Trump administration.

Listen here:

Dale Jackson is a thought leader for Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN.

The online sales tax battle is shifting from the courtroom to the Alabama Legislature. Can lawmakers strike a deal without shortchanging counties?

Senator Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) is weighing in on the SAVE Act and the looming government shutdown. Can Republicans turn what looks like a political loss into a win?

And a controversial bill could restrict police pursuits across Alabama. Will law enforcement stop it before it becomes law?

All that and more on Alabama Politics This Week, airing on TV, radio, and streaming platforms across the state.

Mecca Musick is the CEO of 256 Today. Sign up for the 256 Today newsletter here.

Dale Jackson is a thought leader for Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN.

7. Endorsements by of the Affordability Protection Plan utility reform package aiming to protect consumers from rising energy costs driven by data centers, while Senate support for making the Public Service Commission appointments has not solidified.

6. U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) stated that Democrats are walking away from government funding negotiations to appease their leftist base rather than reach a bipartisan deal, warning of a looming shutdown as Republicans push for strong border security measures and full DHS funding without ICE restraints while Democrats demand concessions like body cameras, no masks for agents, and limits on enforcement.

5. Florida and Virginia are the new battlegrounds in the redistricting war between Republicans and Democrats, with ongoing legal fights over maps that could shift congressional seats and influence national control ahead of midterms, Republicans started this this year, but they may be losing this fight.

4. The Madison County School System is going to e-learning district-wide today due to widespread illness among students and staff, likely a combination of flu, strep, and other viruses.

3. The Jeffrey Epstein files release show that the “consequences” of the files are related to everything but the alleged “sex-trafficking cabal” that Americans, the American media, and their Democrats have obsessed about.

2. Governor-elect National Championship-winning Coach U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) continued pressing Senate Republicans to pass the SAVE America Act immediately, declaring, “enough’s enough with tradition in the Senate” and calling to end the filibuster if necessary to secure elections by requiring citizenship proof and voter ID.

1. Border Czar Tom Homan announced the end of a major immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota, while Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall called for more ICE agents in Alabama to aggressively pursue dangerous illegal immigrant criminal offenders.

Listen here:

Dale Jackson is a thought leader for Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN.

Dale Jackson is a thought leader for Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN.

7. Law enforcement leaders, sheriffs, the Alabama League of Municipalities, and the Alabama Association of Chiefs of Police, are publicly opposing a bill by Alabama State Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur), which would limit high-speed chases to cases involving probable cause of violent crimes like murder, kidnapping, rape, arson, first-degree robbery, or immediate threats of death or serious injury, arguing it would hinder apprehending criminals and set up criminals to run knowing they will not be pursued.

6. Governor-elect National Championship-winning Coach U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) called on Alabama state lawmakers to pass the bipartisan Affordability Protection Plan utility reform package, urging focus on Alabama’s people by making the Public Service Commission appointed instead of elected by 2030 and requiring data centers to pay full infrastructure costs without shifting to customers.

5. Violent crimes in Huntsville dropped nearly 20% in 2025 despite a booming 24% population growth over six years, contributing to a 50% reduction in violent crime over that period, with major crime down 33% overall, this mirrors national trends.

4. The U.S. House passed the SAVE America Act, requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration and photo ID to vote in federal elections, with only one Democrat, Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), voting YES in a 218-213 vote, as the media and their Democrats largely opposed it, calling it voter suppression.

3. During a tense House Judiciary Committee hearing Attorney General Pam Bondi defended the Justice Department’s Epstein file releases against Democratic criticism over redactions and delays, sparring sharply with lawmakers like U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) whom she called a “washed-up loser lawyer,” while accusing Democrats of theatrics and deflecting from Trump, amid revelations of Epstein ties to figures like Howard Lutnick and Steve Bannon but no new charges.

2. The January 2026 jobs report showed strong economic performance that “beat expectations” with nonfarm payrolls adding significantly above expectations, unemployment rate holding or dropping, positive revisions, and gains across the private sector, boosting market confidence in continued growth.

1. U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) continues to be a part of the attempt to avert a partial government shutdown, but the leaders of each House of Congress have differing views on where this could be headed, and reports say that votes are “doomed” ahead of a looming deadline.

Listen here:

Dale Jackson is a thought leader for Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN.

Alabama’s reading and math performance is improving, and even outlets like The New York Times are taking notice.

The state made changes that broke from traditional education approaches, and early results are strong enough that other states are now being urged to follow similar models.

This video looks at what Alabama changed, why it worked, and why the national education conversation may be shifting because of it.

Dale Jackson is a thought leader for Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN.

7. NCAA President Charlie Baker says the organization is not in a position to further sanction Alabama for playing Charles Bediako during his temporary eligibility under court order, as losing in court does not allow punishment of the winning party, so Alabama’s three wins will remain intact with no record vacating required, despite teams like Texas A&M claiming it is unfair.

6. Central Alabama Water Works surprised all employees with random and mandatory drug tests the day after Super Bowl, firing numerous workers who failed or refused under a new zero-tolerance policy for public safety in water services, though critics like Jefferson County Commissioner Sheila Tyson called the timing suspicious.

5. The University of Montevallo indefinitely postponed a Turning Point USA “Pick Up the Mic” event featuring 1819 News founder Bryan Dawson due to safety concerns from planned campus walkouts and threats against Dawson, with Dawson accurately saying the school is caving to leftists threats.

4. U.S. Rep. Dale Strong (R-Huntsville) raised $833,080 in 2025 with $1.07 million cash on hand per FEC filings, leading Democratic challenger Andrew Sneed who raised over $347,000 with $204,553 cash on hand, and in turn, outraised Strong in the 4th quarter — but still trails significantly as the media is looking for that congressional race they can pretend is close.

3. An Alabama poll shows President Donald Trump is popular but less influential than U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) for endorsements among GOP primary voters, with Britt having fewer negatives, broader moderate and female appeal.

2. Governor-elect National Championship-winning Coach U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) urged Senate Republicans to pass the SAVE America Act immediately, calling it one of the most critical bills in their lifetime that would require government-issued photo ID for federal voting, proof of citizenship for registration, and removal of non-citizens from voter rolls, but the bill faces an uphill battle.

1. More unredacted Epstein files have been released naming six men, Victoria’s Secret founder, Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, CEO of DP World and an Emirati billionaire businessman; and four others identified as Nicola Caputo, Salvatore Nuara, Zurab Mikeladze and Leonic Leonov, U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) said some of those redacted were discussing sex trafficking and are now claiming victim status, while U.S. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) alleges Trump’s name appears over a million times in the documents.

Listen here:

Dale Jackson is a thought leader for Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN.