7. Palmer endorsed by Trump

• U.S. Representative Gary Palmer (R-Hoover) has received the endorsement of former President Donald Trump. Palmer was given great compliments in the statement released by Trump, where he especially focused on his policy record.
• Trump said of Palmer, “A strong advocate for our America First agenda, Gary is fighting for Energy Independence, Secure Borders, Lower Taxes, better care of our Military and Vets, and to protect and defend our Second Amendment.” Trump added, “Palmer is doing tremendous work for the Great State of Alabama!”

6. VP Harris working to shame Sinema and Manchin into voting a certain way

• While the U.S. Senate is set to consider changes to the filibuster if the “Freedom to Vote Act” and the “John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act” are not passed, Vice President Kamala Harris has drawn attention to U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-W. Va.) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) over the legislation.
• Harris was asked about Manchin and Sinema possibly not supporting both pieces of legislation, especially since they’ve publicly said they won’t change or remove the filibuster. The vice president said she’s “not going to absolve” anyone over the matter.

5. Biden stands by calling Republicans racist

• President Joe Biden previously made controversial remarks about Republicans where he compared members of the party to Confederate President Jefferson Davis and segregationist Governor George Wallace. White House press secretary Jen Psaki was recently asked about the comments, after Biden already walked them back, and she doubled down.
• Psaki described the speech as “powerful” and focused on “the protection of people’s fundamental rights in this country.” She went on to add, “It was not a partisan speech. It was intended to layout for the public exactly what’s at stake and layout for elected officials what’s at stake. And he stands by everything he said in that speech.”

4. The Omicron variant is resistant to the vaccine

• According to Sheba Hospital in Israel, a fourth shot of the coronavirus vaccine – a second booster shot – gives little additional protection against the Omicron variant. This comes after the hospital had given their employees their second booster shot.
• All of those at the hospital had been vaccinated and boosted with the Pfizer vaccine, but 154 received a fourth Pfizer shot and 120 received a Moderna shot. The director of the hospital’s infection disease unit, Dr. Gili Regev-Yochay, advised, “Despite increased antibody levels, the fourth vaccine only offers a partial defense against the virus. The vaccines, which were more effective against previous variants, offer less protection versus Omicron.”

3. Special session called for coronavirus relief funds

• Alabama has funding from the American Rescue Plan Act that needs to be allocated, and now Governor Kay Ivey has called for a special session to handle $772 million. This was expected due to the level of funds that need to be dealt with.
• Ivey acknowledged that the state has had a great recovery from the pandemic economically but added that the spending from the federal government has continued, and she has “made it clear, that unlike Washington, D.C., Alabama will be wise with these one-time, federal dollars.”

2. This is why people don’t trust America’s institutions

• Every family within the Vestavia Hills City Schools system has been notified of “potential COVID exposure,” despite the fact it is dubious to claim that each kid has been exposed. The notification was a generic email that simply stated someone had tested positive at the child’s school and in their grade, but in another email, students were told to continue going to school unless they were symptomatic.
• Vestavia Superintendent Todd Freeman said this was done “to create heightened awareness.” However, parents in the system are frustrated with the decision, with an elementary school parent saying, “Sending an exposure notification to every parent is nothing more than a cover by a Board of Education and Superintendent that have given up on mitigation measures and at actually identifying close contacts.”

1. American political journalists got the Nick Saban story wrong

• NBA Hall of Famer Jerry West, former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue, former NFL players Darryl Talley and Oliver Luck, and University of Alabama head football coach Nick Saban co-signed a letter addressed to U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-W. Va.) advocating for the “Freedom to Vote Act.” After the story went viral, it was clear that Saban did not support ending the filibuster.
• The letter was addressed to Manchin, but the “Freedom to Vote Act” has been criticized for the leniency it introduces to voting laws and the concern of federalizing elections. The letter states, “[W]e are united now in urging Congress to exercise its Constitutional responsibility to enact laws that set national standards for the conduct of Federal elections and for decisions that determine election outcomes.” They also “commend” Manchin for his support of the legislation.