Israel Archives

On the eve of New Year 2026, a meeting took place in Palm Beach, Florida.

Leadership of America’s evangelical Christian community and Jewish leaders journeyed to Palm Beach to plan about defending America, Israel, and the world against radical Islamists.

They were joined by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

They were also joined by Travis Johnson, Pastor of Pathway Church in Mobile. Here is Johnson’s summary of the meeting:

This isn’t from a pundit—it’s what I personally saw and heard. Read to the end for the Prime Minister’s direct quote.

Yesterday in Palm Beach, as pastors and Christian leaders sat with Prime Minister [Benjamin Netanyahu], we made it unmistakably clear:

We stand with the Prime Minister and Israel. Period. No equivocation.

And he responded powerfully: He stands with us—with America and with persecuted Christians around the world.

What a profound moment. What a vital alliance.

This is what a true alliance looks like.

The fog is lifting from formerly trusted influencers who downplay the Islamist threat to Christians, Jews, and Western civilization.

Make no mistake: Radical Islam and anti-Jewish voices vastly outnumber Israel in demographics and funding. But the mask is slipping on American influencers who’ve betrayed the grassroots movement that elected President Trump. Their shift against evangelical Christians is an assault on freedom, on the President’s base, and on our shared future—and it’s being called out with growing boldness.

Even amid rising anti-Jewish hostility and attacks on conservatism, Christians, and freedom here in America and globally, Israel and evangelical Christians stand united—defending one another wherever terror or persecution strikes.

But don’t take my word for it. Here’s Prime Minister Netanyahu in his own words:

“Israel is joining an emerging alliance of countries that support Christian communities around the world, beleaguered communities who deserve our help… In Africa, with intel, in the Middle East, with a lot of means that I won’t itemize each one.

But this is what our agenda is, it’s a main part of our agenda, and it’s going to continue with greater force and greater might in this coming year.”

Will you join me in praying for persecuted Christians and Jews worldwide?

And will you pray against the schemes that kill, torture, displace, and scatter Christians and Jews in Africa, the Middle East, the US, and Israel?

Johnson joined over a thousand Christian leaders in a mission to Israel in December.

It also included U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee. It was the largest group of American Christian leaders ever to visit “the Holy Land” on a mission with a purpose. It was a “Friends of Zion” project.

The trip, organized in partnership with the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was designed to prepare participants to be unofficial ambassadors for Israel in their communities.

“We are ambassadors for Christ.” 2 Corinthians 5:20.

The purpose of the December 31 meeting was to seek to unify — and demonstrate that unity — between evangelical Christian leaders in America, Israel and the Jewish people, and to counter any perception that this community is divided on the issue, “because it is not.”

The group put up a united stand against the antisemitism that has long been simmering beneath the surface on certain university campuses and in the Democrat party. It is an open stand against the lies, and a declaration of commitment to truth.

Jim Zig Zeigler is a contributing writer for Yellowhammer News. His beat includes the positive and colorful about Alabama – her people, events, groups and prominent deaths. He is a former State Auditor and Public Service Commissioner. You can reach him at ZeiglerElderCare@yahoo.com.

7. Gov. Kay Ivey is promoting another Alabama family that is benefitting from school choice through the CHOOSE Act, which has helped provide access to a private Christian education aligned with their values and an alternative to public schools they felt lacked moral grounding; showing yet another success story for Alabama parents.

6. CAIR-Alabama, the state chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, criticized Governor-elect National Championship-winning Coach U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn), for his proposed ban on Sharia law as unconstitutional, arguing it infringes on religious freedom; Tuberville fired back, defending the measure as a safeguard against extremism.

5. Alabama Republican Party Chairman John Wahl urged Democrats to join President Donald Trump’s fight against crime, arguing that genuine concern for safety should transcend party lines amid rising violent crime rates.

4. A new outlier poll revealed an unlikely and surprising frontrunner in Alabama’s U.S. Senate race, with former Navy SEAL and small business owner Jared Hudson leading over Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall and U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise).

3. Two IDF soldiers were killed in a severe ceasefire violation near Gaza, raising concerns of renewed conflict; Israel responded with its own attacks, but says it wants to push forward with President Donald Trump’s plan.

2. U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) accused Democrats of playing politics by pandering to the far left, suggesting their fear of losing support from radical groups is driving the ongoing government shutdown strategy.

1. Thousands joined “No Kings” protests against the Trump administration in Huntsville, Birmingham, and beyond in Alabama with demonstrators speaking against capitalism and bigotry; but the crowds were overwhelmingly white, old, and lame, even in places with high numbers of minorities.

Listen:

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

What will Alabama leaders do about the crime in Montgomery?

How much longer will the shutdown go on?

Will President Donald Trump get the Nobel Peace Prize if the war between Israel and Hamas ends?

All this and more on Alabama Politics This Week, on TV, radio, and online all over Alabama…

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. The mainstream media is facing upheaval as NBC News started to cut approximately 7% of its workforce, amid declining ad revenue and staff concerns over future layoffs at 30 Rock. Meanwhile CBS News staffers received a memo from Bari Weiss seeking input from staffers but their union told them not to respond.

6. Auburn Turning Point USA chapter is hosting a high-profile event featuring Eric Trump, Lara Trump, and Governor-elect National Championship-winning Coach Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn), as part of their “America Comeback Tour” as they continue to try to energize conservative students.

5. Marshall County Democrats’ first “No Kings” protest on June 14, reportedly violated several local regulations and had too many (mostly elderly white) people for the property; some are now questioning if they should be permitted to hold another event as part of the latest national day of lame protesting scheduled this weekend.

4. Despite threats from lawmakers and after the school’s mere existence was called into question, the Magic City Acceptance Academy charter school retained its contract after removing rainbow murals and LGBTQ references from its facilities following a state review, despite the LGBTQ focus being the entire purpose of the school.

3. Toyota announced plans to add 350 jobs in North Alabama with new production lines at its Huntsville facility, boosting the state’s automotive sector and reinforcing its economic growth; Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle praised the move, “Innovation, collaboration and community are the hallmarks of Huntsville’s growth, and Toyota has embodied those values for nearly a quarter-century.”

2. President Donald Trump is expressing anger and frustration about the status of the recently enacted ceasefire, and is saying he may let Israel resume the war to “knock the crap out of [Hamas]” if Hamas does not meet its commitments.

1. The U.S. Supreme Court began hearing a case challenging Louisiana’s congressional redistricting that could impact Alabama’s ongoing redistricting fights, with potential rulings affecting voting rights and gerrymandering nationwide, especially if conservative judges rule the way they seem to be leaning.

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

7. There was a good portion of Charlie Kirk news on the founder of Turning Point USA’s birthday as President Donald Trump posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, a memorial mural honoring the late conservative activist went up in Hanceville, and the State Department announced visa revocations for foreigners celebrating Kirk’s assassination.

6. A leaked private chat among Young Republicans revealed a treasure trove of racist, anti-semitic, and generally stupid comments that the media will insist represent the private feelings of every conservative-leaning in the country. Meanwhile network silence from ABC, CBS, and NBC on Virginia Democratic AG candidate Jay Jones’ violent text scandal has drawn criticism for media bias.

5. U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) endorsed U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) for Alabama’s open U.S. Senate seat, praising his conservative record and leadership on issues like border security and election integrity.

4. Alabama leaders celebrated the completion of a six-year, $350 million project by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to enlarge the Mobile Ship Channel, making it deeper and wider, and making the Port of Mobile the deepest container port on the Gulf of Mexico, which will have statewide economic benefits.

3. The Israel-Hamas ceasefire, brokered by President Donald Trump, entered its fifth day with all 20 living hostages released and four hostages’ remains returned; but issues with the return of the remains of hostages, Israel dialing back more aid, and Hamas killing Palestinians remain.

2. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors have separately declared emergencies over anticipated ICE raids under President Trump’s mass deportation policy, with Johnson ordering city departments to limit cooperation with federal agents and LA County approving $2.5 million for legal aid and shelter to illegal immigrants.

1. Republicans are blaming the ongoing government shutdown, now in its 14th day, on the nationwide “No Kings” protests scheduled for Saturday, with events in 12 Alabama cities, including Huntsville, Montgomery, Birmingham, and Mobile, organized by groups like Indivisible to oppose President Donald Trump’s policies.

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

Israel Legislative Caucus House Co-Chairs Phillip Ensler and David Faulkner are praising President Donald Trump’s Gaza Peace plan and the release of remaining hostages that were taken by Hamas on October 7, 2023.

“Baruch Hashem — thank God — that the remaining living hostages taken over two years ago by the terrorist group Hamas are safely back home in Israel,” the lawmakers said in a statement. “We pray for a refuah shlema — a healing of body and spirit — as they return to life outside of the horrors of captivity and recover from physical and psychological torture.”

All twenty of the remaining living hostages of the terrorists in Gaza were released and reunited with their families and friends in Israel on Monday.

“Our hearts are heavy, though as the remains of other hostages who were murdered are to be returned in coffins or claimed by Hamas to be missing,” the lawmakers continued. “They, too, should all be brought home. May their memories be for a blessing and may their families be comforted as they continue to endure the anguish of losing a loved one under such horrific circumstances.”

Trump visited Israel and spoke in front of the country’s Parliament, as well on Monday, before flying to Egypt to sign the official Gaza peace plan that includes a cease-fire deal between Hamas and Israel.

“Is it now incumbent on Hamas terrorists — just like the Nazis did — to disarm and allow a new governing body committed to peaceful coexistence to take place for the terms of the ceasefire to hold and long-term peace to sustain,” the lawmakers argued. “While there is still much work left to ensure a lasting peace, at least for this moment, we can exhale and rejoice that the living hostages are reunited with their loved ones.”

The peace plan calls for an immediate cease-fire, an exchange of all the hostages still in Gaza, a staged withdrawal of the Israeli army from Gaza, the disarmament of Hamas, and the creation of a transitional government led by an international body.

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on X @Yaffee

7. Madison County Chief Deputy District Attorney Tim Gann defended the decision not to file charges in the August Borden Deshler High School injury case. The decision was based on provable evidence from witnesses, coaches, staff, and texts showing an accidental bear hug and fall with no criminal intent, dismissing online theories of assault and cover-up as unprovable speculation.

6. Auburn’s College of Architecture, Design, and Construction has declared that it can ignore Alabama’s Divisive Concepts law and continue to teach DEI topics like social equity and racial justice, citing NAAB (National Architectural Accrediting Board) standards; now lawmakers are considering closing the loophole.

5. Priceville Police Officer Garry Chapman, son of reality TV star “Dog the Bounty Hunter,” was reinstated by the city council after being fired following his high-speed chase that ended in Hartselle with a crash killing 17-year-old Tristan Hollis; he will be suspended for 10 days instead.

4. Former Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden and former Secretary of State Antony Blinken claimed partial credit for the groundwork of President Donald Trump’s Israel-Hamas Gaza ceasefire deal, after Trump’s 20-point plan created an environment for peace in the region while the Biden administration allowed Iran to create chaos in the region.

3. Another arrest has been made in the Montgomery mass shooting that killed 2 while injuring 12 others. Dantavious McGhee, 19, was charged with capital murder, nine counts of first-degree assault, and three counts of second-degree assault; authorities anticipate further arrests.

2. Republicans are using the government shutdown, entering its third week, to announce layoffs, block spending bills, and keep the House in recess to extract concessions on Obamacare subsidies. Meanwhile heated Capitol confrontations continue, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries telling Rep. Mike Lawler to “keep your mouth shut” over subsidy disputes and Speaker Mike Johnson clashing with Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego on swearing in Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva.

1. The President Donald Trump-brokered Middle East peace deal culminated in the release of all 20 living hostages held by Hamas after over two years in Gaza. Alabama’s congressional Republicans are thrilled with U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) calling it a global victory, U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Saks) seeing it as years of prayers answered, U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville) calling this a dawn of a golden age in the region, U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) saying the impossible was made possible by a true peacemaker, and U.S. Rep. Dale Strong (R-Huntsville) calling Trump the President of Peace.

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 downplayed concerns over a potential trade war escalation, escalated by his statements about 100% tariffs on China after that country put restrictions on exporting rare earth minerals; he assured that “it will all be fine.”

6. Alabama’s population increased by 49,231 to 5.16 million in 2024, with significant growth in Madison and Baldwin counties, primarily due to 26,000 out-of-state domestic individuals and 16,000 international migrants; and despite more deaths than births.

5. U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) criticized Senate Democrats under Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) for potentially extending the government shutdown into its third week to coincide with these nationwide “No Kings” protests; events are planned in Alabama cities Florence, Fairhope, Guntersville, Huntsville, Auburn, and elsewhere.

4. President Donald Trump ordered Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to figure out a way to pay military service members; Hegseth announced that they will redirect research and development funds to guarantee military paychecks Wednesday amid the ongoing government shutdown, failed Senate votes, the laying off of federal workers, and worries over disrupted services.

3. Alabama law enforcement agencies have expanded participation in the 287(g) program to act as “mini-immigration officers,” according to aldotcom. Police are assisting ICE in detaining undocumented immigrants, resulting in doubled immigration detentions statewide.

2. A male juvenile was charged with capital murder, nine counts of first-degree assault, and three counts of second-degree assault in the Montgomery mass shooting that killed 2 and injured 12 others; authorities are expecting more arrests.

1. President Donald Trump addressed the Knesset this morning to celebrate the U.S.-brokered Israel-Hamas ceasefire, where 20 hostage survivors were released after more than two years in Gaza and reunited with families in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian detainees, including convicted terrorists. Trump called it a “new beginning” and “historic dawn of a new Middle East.”

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

What will Alabama leaders do about the crime in Montgomery?

How much longer will the shutdown go on?

Will President Donald Trump get the Nobel Peace Prize if the war between Israel and Hamas ends?

All this and more on Alabama Politics This Week, on TV, radio, and online all over Alabama…

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.

Alabama’s Republican congressional delegation is lauding the agreement between Israel and Hamas to end the war in Gaza.

Israel began it’s war against the terrorists in Gaza after over 1,200 people brutally killed by Hamas in Israel on October 7th, 2023.

“I am very proud to announce that Israel and Hamas have both signed off on the first Phase of our Peace Plan,” Trump said on Truth Social Wednesday.

“This means that ALL of the Hostages will be released very soon, and Israel will withdraw their Troops to an agreed upon line as the first steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace. All Parties will be treated fairly! This is a GREAT Day for the Arab and Muslim World, Israel, all surrounding Nations, and the United States of America, and we thank the mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey, who worked with us to make this Historic and Unprecedented Event happen. BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS!”

U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Saks) who chairs the House Armed Services Committee, celebrated the deal during an appearance on Newsmax Thursday.

“I do want to remind everybody, this is the first phase that everybody’s agreed to, which is a bigger step than anybody else besides President Trump has been able to achieve,” Rogers said. “But we still have to close the rest of these items. You know, he had a 20 point plan, and I’m very optimistic about us getting the full package complete, but this has really been a very encouraging turn of events.”

https://x.com/RepMikeRogersAL/status/1976374477429821551

U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) called this an “incredible first step.”

https://x.com/SenKatieBritt/status/1976065348387410240

U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) said Trump should get the Nobel Peace Prize for this accomplishment.

https://x.com/SenTuberville/status/1976060993785496011

U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville) said, “This is great news.”

https://x.com/Robert_Aderholt/status/1976062303641665985

U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) said this deal is “historic.”

https://x.com/RepBarryMoore/status/1976061525162144204

U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer (R-Hoover) said this proves that Trump is again a “peace maker.”

https://x.com/USRepGaryPalmer/status/1976068353119703384

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on X @Yaffee

7. U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) blamed Democrats for the government shutdown’s length, stating Americans, including military members and federal workers, are paying the price because Democrats “don’t know how to work and have a conversation at the same time” and are playing political games for reelection.

6. Governor-elect National Championship-winning Coach U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn), standing next to a sign reading “BAN SHARIA LAW,” declared on the Senate floor that Islamic extremism threatens America and anyone practicing Sharia law over U.S. law should be deported, while criticizing the left’s silence on issues like women’s abuse and Christian genocide in Nigeria.

5. The Movement Church in Madison County was vandalized with spray-painted messages targeting 1819 News‘ Bryan Dawson, calling him the “Anti Christ” hours before his event there; Pastor Seth Adgate condemned the act as not “Jesus’ way” and emphasized forgiveness, while the Sheriff’s Office investigates it as intimidation and political violence.

4. Following the Montgomery mass shooting that killed 2 and injured 12, U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) pressed Attorney General Pam Bondi on combating inner-city crime, with Bondi affirming the Justice Department’s nonstop efforts under Trump’s sole directive to “make America safe again.”

3. Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed finally spoke with Gov. Kay Ivey on Wednesday after previously claiming no call from her post-mass shooting. He described the discussion as positive on crime-fighting and state aid, with Ivey reaffirming support, expanded ALEA patrols, and more joint law enforcement partnerships, which are already in place.

2. Madison County District Attorney Rob Broussard announced no criminal charges against those involved in injuring Deshler High School teen August Borden, deeming the incident a “freak, unfortunate accident” stemming from high school banter and a fall on uneven steps despite severe injuries like a fractured skull and orbital. Meanwhile, Borden’s father expressed shock at the decision, accused the probe of lies and corruption, and vowed the case is “far from over.”

1. Hamas accepted President Donald Trump’s 20-point peace plan to end the two-year Gaza war, including release of all hostages within 72 hours, Israel’s troop withdrawal, increased aid, a prisoner exchange for 250 people life-sentenced in Israeli custody and 1,700 Gazans taken during the recent war, partial amnesty for disarmed Hamas members, and a technocratic governance committee for reconstruction to be signed today. It even prompted praise from Democrat Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) for the historic achievement.

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

U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) isn’t confident that President Donald Trump’s latest attempt to end the war in Gaza will be successful – because Hamas isn’t trustworthy.

Trump announced a potential 20-point peace deal Tuesday alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The plan calls for an immediate cease-fire, an exchange of all the hostages still in Gaza, a staged withdrawal of the Israeli army from Gaza, the disarmament of Hamas, and the creation of a transitional government lead by an international body.

“It’s now or never for Hamas,” Tuberville said Wednesday on Fox Business. “He’s given them all the rope they can possibly take and he’s about had it. So the one thing I worry about is the short time limit that they have to get the hostages back. What is it? 72 hours? That’s gonna be hard to do, but again, we need to get them out, but if they don’t do it, there’s gonna be hell to pay. But they don’t care about dying. That’s what worries me. Hamas, they think they’re on on planet earth to die, and that really concerns me, when it comes down to making this deal.”

Hamas signaled it might reject the plan Thursday, telling the BBC that it only “serves Israel’s interests” and ignores the Palestinian people.

“There’s a lot of moving parts,” Tuberville added. “They’re down to about their third tier, and Hamas leadership, the rest of them have been wiped out. I don’t know how smart they’re going to be. I don’t know how together they’re gonna be. I don’t know who’s gonna make the decision. Again, when you got 22 parts of this plan, it’s gonna be hard for them to get through it, to make all of them work. President Trump will work with them. We need peace in the Middle East. We need Israel to be protected. We all know that.”

The senator said he’s not sure if there’s anyone within the Palestinian leadership that can be trusted.

“But at the end of the day, I’m not very confident that they have a group of people over there smart enough to make this deal for the people of Palestine,” he said. I don’t know where they have that.”

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on X @Yaffee

7. ALFA (the Alabama Farmers Federation) has endorsed Katherine Robertson for attorney general; she is the chief counsel to Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, who is running for the U.S. Senate. The ALFA endorsement is a pretty big deal in this race.

6. Alabama improved its ranking as part of the Area Development’s 2025 “Top States for Business,” and the state also has a top-five ranking for incentive programs

5. Hamas doesn’t seem to be keen on President Donald Trump’s peace plan for Gaza and is rejecting key terms, despite support from multiple Arab countries and even some Hamas allies.

4. U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) took aim at and denounced Democrats’ soft-on-crime policies in liberal cities, while Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry asked for the National Guard to be deployed to New Orleans to deal with that city’s crime problem, signaling a growing support for the initiative.

3. Attorney General Steve Marshall welcomed sports radio legend Paul Finebaum to the U.S. Senate race by noting that Alabama voters will get a chance to see all of Finebaum’s previous remarks about President Donald Trump, including when Finebaum said Trump was “acting like a child” during the NFL kneeling protests.

2. The Trump administration continues to try to navigate the ongoing government shutdown after the Senate failed to pass the exact two short-term funding bills that already failed; now the Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought has said the government will start layoffs in “one to two” days.

1. Alabama U.S. Reps. Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville) and Barry Moore (R-Enterprise), and Sen. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) continued to blame Democrats for a government shutdown, citing the more than $1.5 trillion Democrats want to spend (including spending on illegals’ healthcare), while the impact on Alabama’s military installations starts to take hold.

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

7. Young Palestinians of Huntsville have chosen to announce they are organizing a week of action in the downtown Huntsville area to raise awareness about their cause during the week marking the 2nd anniversary of the Oct. 7 terror attack in Israel. They declare they are honoring the “martyrs” who committed the attack which targeted military targets but focused their barbarism on civilian families and children.

6. Florida A&M University’s announcer Joe Bullard has apologized for a pretty funny joke about the Alabama State University plus-sized Honey Beez dance team being sponsored by Ozempic; obviously, this will likely be seen as “not enough.”

5. University of Alabama professor Rahim Thawer, a “racialized,” anti-Zionist, queer” Muslim from Canada, with a focus on social work and an apparent dash of anti-semitism, continues to face calls for his firing after absurd posts attacking Charlie Kirk after his death and praising Hamas terror attack mastermind Yahya Sinwar after his death.

4. Now that sports radio legend Paul Finebaum has expressed interest in a United States Senate seat, as a Republican, the knives are out from the media, suggesting the guy blocked from interviewing President Donald Trump by ESPN is a hypocrite for seeking his advice; but Governor-elect National Championship-winning Coach U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) is stating many will support Finebaum’s run.

3. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth summoned military leaders, telling them that the military needs to up its standards, end wokeness, and prepare for war, and telling those who are not on board to resign, so he is now facing pushback and silly calls for his resignation that will go unheeded.

2. Governor-elect National Championship-winning Coach U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) and Rep. Gary Palmer, R-Hoover, both believe that Democrats are pushing a government shutdown over some of their more “radical” policies and to “appease their left-wing fanatic base.”

1. The White House announced an imminent government shutdown late last night, and it is now in effect, kinda, after the Senate failed to pass a funding bill, with polls showing 65% of voters oppose Democrats shutting down government over ObamaCare tax credits; but a majority of Independents blame Republicans and President Donald Trump for the shutdown with the numbers being pretty split.

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

7. Auburn senior Maddie Jackson has created a hay sculpture in DeKalb County to honor Charlie Kirk, encouraging others to share Jesus’ message.

6. Failed BLM activist and wannabe influencer Carlos Chaverst Jr. sent a threatening email to a member of the media for reporting on the social media nastiness of Birmingham’s Carver High School teacher Jasmine Faith Clisby, expressing her impotent anger about a local church offering a prayer for Charlie Kirk.

5. After spending weeks in ICE detention, Alabama immigration advocate Giovanna Hernandez-Martinez has self-deported to Mexico following a lengthy media and activist campaign to have her released failed. Now she is working to legally re-enter the country.

4. Donald Trump Jr. is once again commenting on Alabama’s sports betting law, calling it crazy and responding to social media users complaining about Alabama’s law that he “totally” agrees on changing.

3. President Donald Trump is trying to force peace in the ongoing war between Hamas and Israel; his progress seems to be picking up steam with Israel, Muslim countries, and European nations supporting Trump’s 20-point Gaza plan, aiming to oust Hamas and restore Palestinian Authority rule.

2. Alabama radio legend, ESPN host, and voice of college football in the South, Paul Finebaum, is contemplating a run for Alabama’s open U.S. Senate seat after the assassination of Turning Point USA’s Charlie Kirk made his show seem less important, saying, “I spent four hours numb talking about things that didn’t matter to me.”

1. After Democrats and Republicans met at the White House, Vice President JD Vance predicted a government shutdown is coming, and Alabama’s state lawmakers are accusing Democrats of holding critical state funding hostage for political points.

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

On Friday evening, a group of protesters gathered in Birmingham near the corporate campus of Drummond Company Inc., an Alabama-based coal producer.

Usually when you hear about a leftist protest at a coal-mining company, you’d think it has to do with corporate profits or climate change hysterics.

But not this time.

According to Chris Izor, one of the protesters, they were there to call attention to coal shipments to Israel. They even went as far holding up signs that say “Drummond Fuels Genocide” that were painted green, red and black of the Palestinian flag.

Yes, this group is upset that an Alabama-based coal company is selling coal to America’s best ally in the Middle East, a beacon of Western Civilization in the region, and a country that’s at war with an evil terrorist group that massacred over 1,000 innocent Israeli civilians.

Beyond the obvious, let’s go over the facts of why it’s completely irresponsible to call Israel’s war against Hamas a genocide.

Since May, the Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) has distributed more than 100 million meals to Gazans.

Overall, Israel has helped bring into Gaza approximately 96,000 trucks containing nearly 1.5 million tons of food, 46,000 tons of medical supplies, 60,000 tons of water, and around 170,000 tons of shelter equipment.

If Israel is trying to cause a famine or commit a genocide, they’re apparently very bad at it.

But these facts don’t stop protesters from spouting utter garbage.

“As members of the community, we feel some responsibility to make sure that companies based in our state aren’t endorsing, supporting, funding or fueling human rights abuses abroad,” Izor told Inside Climate News.

“We have a responsibility, particularly in a place that is the heart of the civil rights movement, to call it out and to be part of the movement in opposition to that.”

So not only are the protestors falsely claiming there’s a genocide – but they now say this is like the American civil rights movement.

You know who doesn’t care about civil rights of innocent civilians? Hamas.

Not only did they not care about the innocent men, women, children, and elderly they butchered on October 7th, 2023, but they also don’t allow any civil rights for the people of Gaza.

Minority rights, free speech rights, religious rights, and women’s rights don’t exist in the slightest in Hamas-controlled Gaza regions. And if you’re gay or even Jewish, you have absolutely no rights, according to them.

It really is a shame that leftist protesters are blinded by their Marxist view of the world that they can’t see the obvious.

I hope Alabama leaders continue to support Israel’s self-defense, which will ultimately be better not only for Israelis, but everyone who lives in the region, including the innocent Gazan civilians.

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on X @Yaffee

7. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has outlined a military plan for Gaza City targeting Hamas, while the world is pretending to be outraged that Israel claims it killed an al-Jazeera journalist “alleged” to be a Hamas leader (which he was).

6. Even after a court ruling telling Alabama to use the recently redrawn and racially gerrymandered congressional maps until 2030, the maps remain uncertain amid ongoing redistricting battles.

5. State Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur) has noted that there is a real possibility of U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (D-Birmingham) being drawn out of her congressional district if the nationwide redistricting drama continues.

4. U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) backs President Donald Trump’s proposal to federalize Washington, D.C.; Trump now ordered 450 federal agents into the city.

3. Few attended an anti-ICE protest near Church of the Highlands despite free publicity on local TV and social media, as most Alabamians support getting illegals off the streets and no one believes the church is responsible for the arrest of an illegal immigrant.

2. The police chief in Leeds criticized AL.com for a false narrative on an ICE bust because they need more anti-ICE narratives; the chief said the driver was weaving dangerously at 80 mph and released the video showing the incident.

1. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are set to meet in Alaska to discuss a Ukraine peace deal, with the White House considering inviting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, even though Ukraine has rejected a land-for-peace deal.

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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.

The Stardome Comedy Club in Hoover is responding to criticism after cancelling comedian Michael Rapaport’s show Tuesday night.

The venue said it chose to cancel the show over concerns of a “potentially volatile situation” and “planned protests” over Rapaport’s strong support of Israel.

“In the days leading up to the performance, The Stardome received over 100 messages on social media urging cancellation, along with notice of planned protests at the venue,” Stardome owner Bruce Ayers said in a statement.

“We agreed to the show simply as a comedy booking – not to make any kind of political statement. We have a long history of hosting a wide variety of entertainers, and our intention was only to give fans a chance to enjoy a night of live comedy.”

The comedian and actor responded to the situation on social media earlier this week, saying it was not his choice to cancel.

https://x.com/MichaelRapaport/status/1952822483159326872

“My show tonight at the Stardome in Alabama was CANCELLED. I did not cancel. I would never cancel—especially since I’m already here in Birmingham, ready to perform,” Rapaport posted on his social media channels.

“It was shut down because of protests and threats over my support for Israel and for speaking up about the 50 hostages still being held in Gaza. 670 days in captivity—and people are protesting me for demanding their release?”

Ayers contends that the cancellation had nothing to do with Rapaport’s positions.

“This wasn’t about silencing anyone,” he added. “It was about avoiding a potentially volatile situation and keeping things safe and peaceful for everyone involved.”

Rapaport said he will not be intimidated into silence about those remaining hostages in Gaza.

“It’s embarrassing. It’s sad. But I’m not ashamed. I stand by what I say and who I stand with,” he said. “Fortunately, I got to meet some incredible people from Chabad of Alabama today and had the blessing of rapping tefillin—a ginormous mitzvah and a reminder of what really matters. Am Yisrael Chai.”

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on X @Yaffee

7. Comedian Michael Rapaport claims his comedy show was canceled in Birmingham due to threats over his public support for Israel.

6. Anti-Israel activist Mahmoud Khalil claimed the Oct. 7 terror attack by Hamas was a desperate attempt to make Gaza’s plight heard globally, defending the terrorists, justifying terrorism, and showing why the Trump organization wanted him out of the country.

5. Alabama landed at No. 8 in the 2025 preseason college football coaches poll, with Texas taking the top spot. Other SEC teams throughout the top 25 are Georgia at 4, LSU at 9, South Carolina at 13, Ole Miss at 15, Florida at 16, Tennessee at 18, and Texas A&M at 21.

4. Governor-elect Coach U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) criticized Texas Democrats for fleeing the state to avoid a redistricting vote, calling them “cowards.” The issue of congressional redistricting remains in the news as illegal immigrants in the census reveal that there are millions of illegals in California and Texas, and hundreds of thousands in Florida, New Jersey, Illinois, New York, North Carolina, Georgia, Washington, and Arizona.

3. U.S. Transportation Secretary/interim NASA Director Sean Duffy announced wild plans to deploy a nuclear reactor on the moon as part of its strategy to win the “second space race” against international competitors.

2. Former Attorney General and U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Mobile) was subpoenaed by a U.S. House committee investigating the Jeffrey Epstein case, along with President Bill Clinton and many others, as the case continues crawling toward further explanation as federal inmate Ghislaine Maxwell is now opposing transcript unsealing.

1. U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures (D-Montgomery) criticized Democrats and Republicans for failing to secure the border, while Trump called undocumented immigrants “very special people” and opened the door for illegals to do farm work.

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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.

7. A federal judge ordered the release of Opelika El Patron kitchen manager Isaac Fernandez-Lopez, who was detained during ICE raids, because he doesn’t appear to be the hiring manager.

6. Israeli media reporting suggests the government and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are about to approve a plan to re-occupy Gaza amid ongoing conflict with Hamas, the only thing that makes sense at this point.

5. The White House highlighted Alabama lawmakers celebrating President Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” a tax and spending package signed on July 4 with State Rep. Rex Reynolds (R-Huntsville) saying, the “Big Beautiful Bill will certainly secure tax cuts for Alabamians, and we certainly support that.”

4. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ordered the arrest of Texas House Democrats who fled the state to block a redistricting vote, which is why no one believes that Democrats are the party of democracy despite all of their proclamations.

3. Alabama Republicans are hopeful the U.S. Supreme Court will revisit a redistricting case, potentially altering congressional district boundaries as part of the broader redistricting effort.

2. Governor-elect Coach U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) suggested that former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, President Barack Obama, and his administration’s worst actors should face treason trials, citing their alleged involvement in the Trump-Russia/Russian collusion hoax scandal that they concocted in 2016 and used to derail the first Trump administration..

1. The Department of Justice has convened a grand jury to investigate the origins of the efforts to tie the Trump presidential campaign to Russia in 2016, looking to target various players in the Obama administration, based on declassified documents.

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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.

7. The 2025 college football head coaches’ hot seat list features several SEC coaches facing pressure mostly due to lofty expectations; the Florida Gators and Oklahoma Sooners coaches’ seats are the hottest, but Auburn’s Hugh Freeze is holding the 3rd hottest seat.

6. The Alabama Republican Party passed a bylaw prohibiting Republican elected officials from appointing Democrats to positions in the state, with appointments by Gov. Kay Ivey that have gone to Democrats being mentioned as a reason.

5. Steven Witkoff, President Donald Trump’s envoy dealing with the Israeli-Hamas conflict, discussed efforts to free hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. Meanwhile, Auburn coach Bruce Pearl criticized President Barack Obama for his role in all of this, “You gave billions to Iran and Hamas creating this mess and not one word from you calling for THEM to release the hostages.”

4. Huntsville City Schools outlined strict consequences for students caught with cell phones, aiming to curb distractions. But they will let the students keep their phones, as opposed to spending $500,000 on pouches.

3. Texas Democrats fled the state to prevent a quorum, again, blocking a Trump-backed redistricting vote in a dramatic legislative maneuver that has failed in the past.

2. Homeland Security tied a Bibb County trafficking suspect to the violent Sureños gang, raising concerns about immigration and sex crimes.

1. Economist Kevin Hassett defended President Trump’s decision to fire the Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner after a poor jobs report and has missed on her projections pretty broadly. This came after NBC News’ Kristen Welker spoke for her mainstream media colleagues as they declared this firing to be the worst thing ever, and some suggested it was what Hitler would do.

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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.

7. Longtime Alabama State Sen. Tom Butler (R-Madison) announced he will not seek re-election in 2026, marking the end of a decades-long, multi-party political career.

6. The death of Jabari Peoples in a police shooting in Homewood has led to a political clash, with State Rep. Juandalynn Givan (D-Birmingham), who wrote Alabama’s body cam law, attacking the family’s lawyer over the issue of transparency and threats.

5. The United Auto Workers union is pushing for a unionization vote at a Huntsville, powertrain plant, aiming to expand its influence in the South, something they failed at in Alabama recently.

4. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu surprised President Trump with a formal Nobel Peace Prize nomination at a White House meeting where Trump questioned if a two-state solution is even possible.

3. Alabama leaders mourned the death of an eight-year-old Mountain Brook girl in Texas floods that killed at least 104; meanwhile three members of a Mobile family remain missing, with one rescued.

2. State Sen. Chris Elliott (R-Josephine) is advocating for stricter state and federal laws to make it harder for undocumented immigrants to work in Alabama.

1. Governor-elect Coach Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) called out Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass for opposing an amazing federal immigration raid, accusing her of prioritizing criminals over citizens.

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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.

U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) has introduced a bill that he says will fight back against the rise of antisemitism across the country.

The congressman’s “Define to Defeat Act of 2025” would apply the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism to the enforcement of civil rights laws.

“From the halls of our college campuses to the halls of our government, hatred toward the Jewish people has no place in America,” Moore said.

“My bill ensures that federal agencies adopt a clear and consistent definition of antisemitism so we can identify it, confront it, and prosecute criminal behavior when necessary. Our judicial system needs this clarity now more than ever to properly confront the record-breaking levels of disturbing antisemitic attacks in our nation.”

Antisemitism is evil – plain and simple. If we can’t even define it, how can we fight it?

My Define to Defeat Act would define antisemitism so we can identify it, confront it, and prosecute criminal behavior when necessary. https://t.co/kTAAnytTr1

— Rep. Barry Moore (@RepBarryMoore) July 3, 2025

Mark Goldfeder, CEO of the National Jewish Advocacy Center and a law professor at Touro University, praised the bill in a recent op-ed.

“The bill is grounded in a simple idea: when trying to determine whether an unlawful act was motivated by antisemitism, investigators should consider the world’s most well-accepted definition of antisemitism as contextual, rebuttable evidence,” Goldfeder wrote.

“Valid monitoring, informed analysis and investigation, and effective policy-making all require uniform definitions; and while there can be no exhaustive definition of antisemitism, there must be some objective standard for what is and is not acceptable.”

Goldfeder also defended the bill against criticism that it goes against the First Amendment.

“This new bill does not police speech or criminalize criticism of Israel,” he argued. “It does not punish opinions. What it does is help authorities evaluate whether clearly unlawful behavior — things like arson, battery, threats, stalking, vandalism, and harassment — may have been motivated by antisemitic bias, including when that bias comes cloaked in the language of “anti-Zionism.”

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on X @Yaffee

According to his latest TV interview, Auburn basketball coach Bruce Pearl is leaving the door open to possibly run for the U.S. Senate in Alabama.

Since U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville officially announced his intention to be Alabama’s next governor, there’s been speculation that the Tigers’ head coach would campaign for the open seat.

Sunday on Fox News, Pearl admitted that he’s currently committed to Auburn basketball, but didn’t outright deny that he might end up running for the political office.

“I love my country, but I love being the basketball coach at Auburn,” Pearl said. “And as we’re speaking right now, I’m in Atlanta recruiting players. So, look, these issues matter to me, and it’s really not as much about politics as much as it is about the survival of our country and what direction that we’re looking to move forward.”

While Pearl is a very successful coach for the Tigers, he also has not shied away from speaking out on political issues, especially when it comes to national security and Israel.

“It bothers me to see the Democratic Party moving so far over to the left on so many issues,” Pearl continued. “I wake up in the morning, and these are the things I think about as far as the future of my children and my grandchildren. And then, Brian, I am truly grateful for President Trump and the leadership that he’s taking in the Middle East. I mean, right now, it is safer than it’s ever been before. And what he has done to join Israel to make sure that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. So many presidents before said it, but never did anything about it. And Israel would have to, on their own, take out what they had in Iraq or on their own had to take out Syria.”

Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on X @Yaffee