One of the most important issues facing our country right now is the rise in violent crime. The tragic shooting in Montgomery earlier this month is a heartbreaking reminder of this issue’s urgency. Families should never have to live in fear, yet across our nation—from small towns to big cities—crime is on the rise, and […]

This past week, Alabama was shaken by a tragic shooting in downtown Montgomery. What should have been a normal weekend full of college football and gathering with friends turned into a nightmare for families who lost loved ones to senseless violence. As a father and someone who calls this state home, I grieve with those […]

On May 3, 2018, I stood in a warehouse at Tombigbee Electric Cooperative in Hamilton, Alabama, alongside Governor Kay Ivey and then–Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, to announce to Alabama and the rest of America the creation of the USDA’s ReConnect Program. That day marked the start of a new chapter in connecting rural America […]

In all of my life, I have never witnessed so much public excitement, enthusiasm, and anticipation about a governor’s race, especially one that is still eight months away. Even more interesting is the fact that there is only one major candidate running, and if we are lucky and truly blessed, he may march straight into […]

I was first elected to the Alabama Legislature in 1982. George Wallace had been elected to his last term as governor that year. Therefore, my first term as a legislator was Wallace’s final and fifth term as governor. I had met Wallace during his first term as Governor in 1963. I was a 12-year-old Legislative […]

Alabama’s trucking industry is one of the most critical engines of our economy. Every day, professional drivers deliver the goods that keep store shelves stocked, factories running, and communities thriving. In Alabama alone, more than 130,000 people work in trucking, and the industry supports families in every corner of our state. Trucking is not just […]

Some will say that the government shutdown will hinder the Surface Transportation Board’s (STB) ability to analyze the competitive impact of the proposed UP/NS merger. The fact of the matter is it does not matter because the STB was effectively neutered the moment President Trump fired the STB member he thought would oppose the merger.  […]

Members of the Alabama House Military & Veterans Affairs Committee were joined by representatives from the Alabama Departments of Veterans Affairs and Mental Health last Tuesday as they visited the historic Tuskegee Campus of the Central Alabama VA Health Care System. More than just a formal informational tour, the was prompted by a recent conversation […]

For most of American history, the United States Senate has been seen as a place for seasoned leaders, a chamber of wisdom and experience. But in recent years, that experience has come with a downside. The Senate has grown older and slower, filled with politicians who have been in Washington for decades and often seem […]

The country recently watched in horror as a mentally ill career criminal slit the throat of Iryna Zarutska—an innocent and defenseless Ukrainian refugee—on a train in Charlotte, North Carolina. Alabama then mourned the senseless loss of Dr. Julie Gard Schnuelle, who was stabbed to death by a Montgomery man while walking her dogs in Auburn, […]

When I think about fall in Alabama, I do not just think about the cooler mornings or the changing leaves. I think about the way the season feels. One of my favorite memories is sitting by a campfire with my kids, the sparks lifting into the night sky while we roasted marshmallows. The laughter when […]

Over the past six decades, Alabama’s Adult Education Programs have been transformed by a quiet revolution that has been extraordinarily successful. It was my honor to be able to speak to the Annual Adult Education Conference at the downtown Montgomery Renaissance Center in late June. When I accepted their invitation to speak, I thought there […]

A recent op-ed by State Rep. Ed Oliver (R-Dadeville) warned that so-called “crypto loopholes” could drain deposits from Alabama community banks and harm our rural communities. There is simply no evidence to support this argument. In reality, President Trump’s landmark GENIUS Act law will further unlock our economy and have an insignificant impact on community […]

President Donald Trump’s redistricting push is already underway in Texas, Florida, Ohio, Indiana, and Missouri, which could net Republicans a dozen new House seats. Whether Alabama and its fellow Deep South states — Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and South Carolina — will be able to join in on this effort remains an open question. If the […]

Last week’s municipal elections in Alabama underscored an important truth about our state’s political culture: when given a choice between liberal and conservative values — even without political party labels — voters overwhelmingly choose conservatism. This trend was evident not only in traditionally Republican areas but also in blue and purple communities across the state. […]

Alabama’s farmers are at the heart of our economy and our way of life. From the peanut fields of the Wiregrass to the cattle ranches of the Black Belt, agriculture is more than an industry in our state, it’s a calling. I grew up on a family farm in Coffee County, went to Auburn where […]

Of the myriads of happy human emotions, from contentment to gratitude, there is one that is consistently underrated: hope. Considering some recent events, we could all use a little more hope in our lives. A new study from the University of Missouri is shaking up our understanding of hope. Far from being just wishful thinking, […]

The 2026 election year began on May 19 when campaign fundraising could begin. Our elections will be May 19, 2026. Our Republican primary that day, and subsequent runoffs four weeks later, will be our election day for all statewide offices. Winning the Republican Primary for state office is tantamount to election in Alabama. Qualifying for […]

Like millions of Americans, my family and I witnessed the horrifying assassination of Charlie Kirk. At just 31 years old, Charlie was a rising conservative leader who was best known for speaking out against progressive liberal ideology.  But more than that—far more than that—he was a devout Christian, a wonderful husband, and a doting father. […]

I’ve spent my adult life in service, first as a U.S. Navy SEAL, then as a law enforcement officer, a small business owner, and as the founder and CEO of Covenant Rescue Group, an organization that combats human trafficking. Each of those roles taught me what it means to fight for others, to take responsibility […]

Next year, Alabama will elect a new Attorney General for the first time in nearly a decade. For law enforcement, this will be an extremely important decision. The partnership between law enforcement and the Attorney General’s Office has historically ebbed and flowed—while some AGs have stood up and really fought for the men and women in […]

Last week, the House passed two important bills to get tough on crime right here in Washington, D.C. For too long, the nation’s capital has been run by soft-on-crime politicians who seem more concerned with protecting criminals than protecting American families.  These new bills take a step toward bringing the same brand of common sense, […]

The recent announcement by the Trump administration of a surprise injection of $495 million into the nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and tribal universities should be viewed as exactly what it is: an investment into institutions. HBCUs and tribal universities serve some of the most economically depressed and underserved communities in our nation. […]

I have been an upfront observer, participant, columnist, and commentator of Alabama politics for over six decades, and I can confidently say one of the most gifted political leaders in the history of our state is also one of its newest and youngest. Katie Britt’s skills as a public servant and stateswoman were demonstrated beyond […]