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
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) under President Donald Trump wants to make sure that loans are prioritized for American citizens.
The SBA issued a new policy notice Monday to ban foreign nationals and non-citizens from accessing SBA-guaranteed small business loans, which means small business owners applying for any SBA loan program must be U.S. citizens or U.S. nationals with their principal residence in the United States.
“The Trump SBA is committed to driving economic growth and job creation for American citizens,” said SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler. “Last month, we made it clear that SBA would not allow foreign nationals to access our core small business loan programs – and today, we are expanding that policy to include all SBA-guaranteed loans.
The latest notice, which applies to the agency’s Surety Bond and Microloan Programs, builds on the policy change implemented earlier this month – which made any small business owned in whole or in part by a foreign national ineligible for the agency’s flagship 504 and 7(a) loan programs.
https://x.com/SBAgov/status/2031067576751600032
“With our lending authority capped annually by Congress and amid record demand for access to capital,” Loeffler continued,” our responsibility is clear: the limited resource of SBA financing must prioritize American citizens who are building businesses and creating jobs here at home.”
In Fiscal Year 2025, SBA approved 3,358 loans for small businesses owned in part by a lawful permanent resident (LPR), largely during the Biden Administration – representing 4% of the agency’s total 85,000 loans approvals.
With a finite lending authority and record demand for capital thanks to President Trump’s economic agenda, SBA is prioritizing the agency’s guaranteed loan programs for American citizens. The new policy will take effect 30 days after publication.
The latest policy builds on numerous reforms by Administrator Loeffler to put American small business owners first. Last year, the agency implemented citizenship verification across its loan programs to cut off access to loans for illegal aliens.
The agency also announced efforts to relocate SBA field offices out of sanctuary cities that do not comply with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), jeopardizing both the safety of SBA employees and small business owners.
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
U.S. Senate candidate Jared Hudson is hopeful that the current military operation against Iran will be quick and successful.
Hudson, a former Navy Seal and CEO of Covenant Rescue Group is supporting President Donald Trump’s decision to strike against the Radical Islamic Regime in Iran.
The candidate discussed the issue Tuesday on WVNN ‘s “The Yaffee Program.”
“Yeah, if there was ever a time to strike, looking at everything that’s going on, I would say right now is the time to strike,” Hudson said. “I mean, heck, Obama sent over pallets of cash for him, right? So this is definitely a lot better, better than sending pallets of cash to dudes that have killed even my friends, right? So that being said, yes, if there was a time to strike, it’s now they were on their heels. Their country was standing up against them, and we have the initiative.”
Hudson believes the terrorist regime has basically been at war with the U.S. for decades.
“My whole life, this regime has been in place. It’s about to shift. It’s about to change,” he explained. “And I think Pete Hegseth has said it the other day, those people were screaming and chatting, Death to America. They just got death from America. Welcome to the show, brothers.”
The former Navy Seal says he trusts Trump to prevent this from turning into another Iraq or Afghanistan type of war.
“I’m confident in our ability, as long as these daggum Poindexters and bootlickers from Congress don’t get involved in a way that drags us into a forever war,” he argued. “That is one of the biggest issues. That’s part of the reason I’m running for Senate is because you got a bunch of jokers who have never been in a fist fight, much less a gunfight, all barking to send somebody overseas to die, or barking we don’t need to send them overseas to die.”
Hudson believes the Iranian people should be the ones in charge of any kind of nation building or regime change.
“Crush Iran completely,” he said. “Let a new Persian regime stand up to bring back the greatness of what was Persia, and we can get away. We’re not into nation building. We can’t afford it, and we don’t want to spend our blood. So it’s unbelievably important that we elect officials that understand that, and that’s one of the biggest issues. As long as Congress doesn’t get involved and drag us into another [Global War on Terror], our young men and young women will be safe. It won’t cost us blood and it won’t cost us an unbelievable amount of money, like we saw going on during the global war on terror that I fought in.”
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
U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) is getting some support from members of Congress who also served in our nation’s uniform for a combined 57 years.
Monday, three military veterans and current Republican members of the House in Congress endorsed Moore for U.S. Senate.
“Barry Moore is a true American patriot,” said Ohio U.S. Rep. and Army Ranger Warren Davidson.
“As a principled conservative, he fights every day for freedom, secure borders, and an economy that works for hardworking families. As an Army Ranger, I know my fellow veteran will continue to stand firm for our values, for limited government, and for the Constitution. We need Barry in the United States Senate!”
Davidson is a graduate of West Point, an Army Ranger, and a 12-year veteran of the United States Army. He has served in the United States Congress since 2016.
“Our law enforcement across the country is under attack by the radical Left,” said Texas Congressman, Iraq War veteran, and former Sheriff Troy Nehls.
Nehls is a veteran of the Iraq War and served in the United States Army Reserve from 1988 to 2009. While in Iraq, he was elected constable of Fort Bend County, Texas, before being elected sheriff in 2013. He has served in the House since 2021.
“We need leaders in the Senate with a spine of steel who never fail to back the blue. As a veteran and former Sheriff,” Nehls continued, “Barry Moore is the man I trust to stand with police and demand law and order. I’m proud to endorse my friend, Barry Moore, for the U.S. Senate!”
“Alabama deserves warriors who will fight for conservative values,” said Texas Congressman and Green Beret Keith Self.
Congressman Keith Self is a graduate of West Point, an Army Ranger, and a 24-year veteran of the United States Army. He was first elected to Congress in 2023.
“After serving for 25 years in the U.S. Army, with multiple tours as a Green Beret, I have a pretty good idea of what a real fighter is,” Self added. “I’m proud to join President Trump in giving Barry Moore my complete and total endorsement. He’ll fight every day to end illegal immigration, shut down the indoctrination of our children, and keep America strong.”
Moore responded to the endorsements saying, “I am grateful to receive the endorsement of these colleagues and warriors.”
“I have never wavered in supporting our military and law enforcement in the House, and I won’t in the Senate,” Moore said. “With our troops once again under fire from an evil regime, let us all take a moment to pray for their continued safety and that God may guide their hand to battle.”
Moore is running in the Republican Primary against Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, former Navy Seal Jared Hudson, former Trump official Morgan Murphy and others.
U.S. Rep. Dale Strong (R-Huntsville) is pushing back against Democrats who are claiming that President Donald Trump’s ordered military action against Iran is illegal.
Over the weekend, the United States launched “Epic Fury” against Iran, hitting nuclear sites, toppling military bases, and killing its senior-most leadership.
Congress is set to vote on war powers resolutions this week meant to limit President Trump’s military operations in Iran, but it isn’t expected to get enough support from Republicans to pass.
Strong told WVNN’s “The Dale Jackson Show,” that he believes even some Democrats don’t really want to limit Trump’s powers during an ongoing military conflict.
“And, you know, there’s been questions about the War Powers Act,” Strong said, “I’ll be honest with you, I think the votes are there, because I think [there] isn’t many of the Democrats that even understand what’s going on and the threat to America, with what was going on with the Ayatollah.”
Strong accused Democrats of not understanding the law when it comes to war powers.
“I don’t think they got a clue,” he explained. “He immediately briefed the Gang of Eight check that box has been checked, and then a lot of people don’t understand that the War Powers Act if it fails, that just means within 60 to 90 days, he’s got a withdrawal I don’t think nobody on the other side of that aisle understands. That’s what it means.”
Strong said he believes Trump made the right decision to conduct this military operation against the terrorist regime.
“Iran had their chance,” he said. “That was the thing is, we sought diplomatic efforts. They failed. And here’s what you got. They say that enriching uranium. I think every American understands they’re not enriching this for power. They’re enriching it so that they can create a nuclear weapon to use on whoever they decide to use it on. So here’s the thing, our president has absolutely made a decision.”
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
U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer (R-Hoover) is showing his support for President Donald Trump ordering strikes against the Iranian regime while also blasting Democrats for not supporting the mission.
Over the weekend, the United States launched “Epic Fury” against Iran, hitting nuclear sites, toppling military bases, and killing its senior-most leadership.
The thing that that’s interesting about this is that I don’t know why this wasn’t done sooner. I mean, you got all the way back to [1979],” Palmer said on WVNN, “and they took over embassy, took 66 people hostage, and then in April of 83 they bombed the our Embassy in Beirut Lebanon and killed 63 people, including 17 Americans… they keep attacking us. And I just wonder, when were we going to decide these were acts of war?”
The congressman also lamented the fact that Democrats, and even some Republicans, aren’t supporting the President on this issue.
“I think the authorization for the use of military force is a legitimate discussion to have, but we’re at a point in a Congress right now, and this is really frightening to me, should be frightening all Americans that we can’t go in and have a classified briefing without people in, members of Congress going out and immediately talking to the media. There are people in Congress that, I think, if the entire Congress had been briefed, I think there are people in Congress that would have warned the Iranians. That’s how concerned I am.”
Palmer believes that history will prove Trump right when it comes to taking out the Iranian regime.
“I’m not for war,” he said. “I don’t think any of us are. History should be the great instructor. You cannot allow a malign adversary of power like Iran to equip themselves with weapons that could do enormous harm to us and think that it won’t happen. History has taught us differently, and I think President Trump’s done the right thing here.”
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
U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) believes President Donald Trump has every right to order a military strike against the Iranian regime if a deal cannot be reached.
Friday, Trump admitted frustration with the Middle Eastern country’s unwillingness to make a deal to end its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile program.
“I’m not happy with the fact that they’re not willing to give us what we have to have,” Trump said. “So I’m not thrilled with that. We’ll see what happens, we’re talking later. We’ll have some additional talks today. But, no, I’m not happy with the way they’re going.”
Moore, who is also running for the U.S. Senate, was asked on WVNN’s “The Yaffee Program” recently if he would support the President if he decides to bomb Iran.
“Absolutely,” Moore said. “I think that the President, again, he’s led and Iran has killed, I think, 32,000 of their own citizens, if the President sees the need, and I think it’ll be very strategic if he does it. Obviously he said last night during negotiations, and I think he would prefer a peaceful solution.”
The congressman believes the radical Islamic regime has caused nothing but problems for the region.
“But that regime certainly needs to be removed,” he argued. “We need to go back to what was the Iran of 79 where people, women had rights, people had liberty, and they didn’t just kill the sectors and lock up their they don’t have elections anymore over there, so the President sees the need.”
The President has been sending increased military assets into the Middle East in recent weeks, including the sophisticated USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier.
“I think I trust his judgment on these things. He was right on Madero,” he said. “He was right on taking out the nukes and Iran. He’s been right on every single issue, on foreign policy, and I certainly would trust his judgment on this.”
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
U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer (R-Hoover) is frustrated that Democrats in the U.S. Senate have refused to make a deal to fund the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
DHS is the lone major department that was not funded by Congress when they enacted the full-year FY2026 spending for most of the rest of government.
The U.S. House already passed a measure to get that part of the government open, but it has been stalled in the upper chamber. Democrat leaders are demanding radical reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) before they vote to fully open up the government.
Palmer discussed the issue Thursday on WVNN’s “The Yaffee Program.”
“Well, we’ve already funded it in house, and it’s, yeah, it’s up to the Senate to do this,” he explained. “And I mean, here we are with this issue that happened in the waters off Cuba yesterday, and our Coast Guard are having to defend our shores, and they’re not getting paid.”
Cuba is claiming its soldiers killed four people and wounded six others aboard a Florida-registered speed boat. They accused the vessel of entering Cuban waters and opening fire on the soldiers first, injuring one Cuban officer.
The congressman criticized the Democrats strategy on the shutdown because ICE is already funded.
“And I mean, when they first started this, they said they wanted to defund ice,” he argued. “Well, we funded ice, the one big, beautiful bill through 2029 I mean, they don’t even know what’s in the bill, so it just makes no sense that they would shut down the Department of Homeland Security.”
Palmer also thinks this is just another example of the opposing part doing whatever they can to undermine law enforcement in this country.
“And it’s another example, really, of their anti-law enforcement position,” he said. “They want to defund the police. Well, that didn’t work out so well for them. Now they want to defund ICE. Well, ICE is already funded. Now they’re going to defund the Coast Guard and even defunded FEMA at a time when states are still struggling with the winter storm issues.”
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
One Alabama Sheriff is thanking President Donald Trump for making his job easier by securing the southern border and cracking down on drug trafficking.
Coffee County Sheriff Scott Byrd spoke at the Republican Study Committee roundtable Tuesday, which was meant to highlight the accomplishment of the Trump administration before the State of the Union address.
Byrd was invited by U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) to speak at the hearing and to be his guest for the President’s speech.
“Since the Trump Administration, it has been a lot easier to be in law enforcement, I’ll be honest with you,” Byrd said. “Our crime is all dealing with methamphetamine, and it all comes from the border, and you got to tighten up that border. We’ve seen a decrease, my narcotics guys, they’re not getting as easy busts as they used to. So that means it’s working, and I’m proud…this is my first term sheriff.”
https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/2026305103695585417
Byrd also joked with the congressman a little bit before praising his leadership as well.
“And I can’t say anything good about Barry,” he quipped. “He knows I love him, and he knows it. We all grew up down there on the same street, so we fight for our families and our people.”
“I’ve got 43 deputies under the the 1033 program,” he added. “I’ve got a couple helicopters, some military equipment to keep my guys safe, which keeps, you know, keeps them so they come home and see their family. Like I said, the administration we got now was working, and I’m proud to work with Barry, and he’s doing a good job. And what we got going on in a little old, sleepy county in southern Alabama.”
Moore has been a major supporter of the Trump administration’s effort to secure the border.
“Thousands of individuals were taken too soon due to the open border policies of the Biden Administration,” Moore said Monday on X. “Thankful for [the President] and his administration for ending the open border madness and keeping the American people safe!”
https://x.com/RepBarryMoore/status/2026091512694444164
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 Twitter @Yaffee
Members of Alabama’s Republican Congressional delegation are praising the accomplishments of President Donald Trump ahead of his first State of the Union address in his second term.
According to the White House, Trump will tout his administration’s accomplishments while also celebrating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
“In one year, President Trump has turned our country around from the brink of disaster, and he will rightly declare the State of Our Union is strong, prosperous and respected,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said. “The president will proudly tout his administration’s many record-breaking accomplishments, and also layout an ambitious agenda to continue bringing the American Dream back for working people.”
U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) said Trump has “already delivered huge wins for hardworking American families.”
https://x.com/katiebrittforal/status/2026355262102048838?s=42
U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) believes under Trump’s leadership “America is STRONG, and we can’t stop winning.”
U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville) highlighted how the President helped secure some key victories for the Yellowhammer State.
https://x.com/Robert_Aderholt/status/2026352448240058537
U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer (R-Hoover) touted his guest for the speech, Cynthia Fisher, who is “dedicated to advancing healthcare price transparency and highlighting patient-centered reforms.”
https://x.com/USRepGaryPalmer/status/2026395809529377066
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 Twitter @Yaffee
U.S. Sens. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) and Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) think the U.S. Supreme Court got it wrong in their recent decision on President Donald Trump’s tariffs.
The court ruled 6-3 against Trump’s sweeping tariffs on most countries, finding that he lacked authority to do so under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
“Based on two words separated by 16 others in . . . IEEPA,” Chief Justice John Roberts said in the majority opinion, “‘regulate’ and ‘importation’ — the President asserts the independent power to impose tariffs on imports from any country, of any product, at any rate, for any amount of time. Those words cannot bear such weight.”
Trump called the ruling a “disgrace.”
“I’m ashamed of certain members of the court, absolutely ashamed, for not having the courage to do what’s right for our country,” he said. “In actuality, I was very modest in my ask of other countries and businesses because… I wanted to be very well-behaved.”
Tuberville, who is also a candidate to be Alabama’s next Governor, said the decision goes against the will of the American people.
“I’m disappointed by the Supreme Court’s decision to handcuff the President’s ability to impose tariffs on countries who have been ripping us off for years,” Tuberville said. “77 million Americans voted for President Trump because they knew he would negotiate fair trade deals and put American jobs and businesses first. The President has a phenomenal economic team, and I know they won’t go down without a fight.”
Britt not only didn’t like the ruling, but argued in favor of the President’s overall trade policy.
“What the media won’t tell you is that President Trump’s tariffs work, and that’s why even the Biden Administration left them in place,” Britt said. “Today’s ruling was disappointing, but as [the President] made clear, we are not going to return to the status quo of allowing American jobs and manufacturing to be sidelined in exchange for cheap junk from foreign adversaries. I will continue working with President Trump and his team to bring manufacturing back home.”
https://x.com/SenKatieBritt/status/2024986375855247732
The President made it clear Friday that many of the tariffs will be reinstituted under a different authority.
“Other alternatives will now be used to replace the ones that the court incorrectly rejected,” he said. “We have alternatives. Great alternatives. Could be more money. We’ll take in more money, and we’ll be a lot stronger for it. We’re taking in hundreds of billions of dollars. We’ll continue to do so.”
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
U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) believes that the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) is making the right decision when it comes to extending the life of two coal plants.
Last week, the TVA Board of Directors approved keeping the Kingston and Cumberland Fossil Plants running longer than originally planned. This is a part of the Administration’s energy dominance strategy to prioritize domestic energy production they believe strengthens America’s economy and security.
Britt lauded the decision, saying it is a much needed reversal of the energy policies enacted by former President Joe Biden.
“Glad to see the TVA take this decisive action to bolster Alabama’s grid security,” Britt said. “The Biden Administration’s anti-energy policies would have resulted in 3,800MW of reliable power being removed from the grid — enough to power 3 million homes!”
https://x.com/SenKatieBritt/status/2024493976242339910
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, coal generation increased 31% during Winter Storm Fern – accounting for 21% of U.S. power output – while solar, wind and hydropower dropped significantly. TVA’s coal fleet reliably delivered 14% of the region’s power during peak demand on January 27, ensuring reliability when it mattered most.
“TVA is building America’s energy future while keeping the lights on today,” said Don Moul, TVA President and CEO. “Our mission is clear: provide reliable, affordable power for the 10 million people we serve. Taking steps to continue operations at Cumberland and Kingston and completing new generation under construction are essential to meet surging demand and power our region’s growing economy.”
Britt also believes it’s needed to keep up with the increasing demand.
“Now more than ever, we need electrons on the grid,” she said. “Coal plays a critical role in fueling American energy dominance, and I remain committed to fighting for those who power America.”
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
U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) isn’t buying the arguments against voter ID laws from his colleagues on the other side of the aisle.
Moore, who is also a candidate for the U.S. Senate, helped pass the SAVE America Act in the House, but the bill has so far been stalled in the upper chamber.
The legislation would secure elections by requiring a government-issued photo ID to vote and require proof of U.S. citizenship in order to register to vote.
The congressman discussed the issue Wednesday on WVNN ‘s “The Yaffee Program.”
“Hey, they didn’t mind you having to get a vaccine ID to go out and eat,” Moore said. “They didn’t mind everybody having to have a vaccine ID to live free in America. So how come that wasn’t discriminatory or restricting people? I mean, were they targeting women then, who were married? You know? Because, you know, they won’t be able to go out and eat because they don’t have a vaccine ID. These people are hypocrites, man, and it’s all about power, and they know if they let US citizens vote in US elections, they will lose the grip they have on a lot of these blue cities and these blue states, and that’s what it’s about.”
Moore has been among several lawmakers calling on Republicans in the Senate to nuke the filibuster to get the bill passed. U.S. Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) has recently suggested they force a “talking filibuster” to get it through.
“Mike knows the rules in the Senate. He’s a brilliant guy, good friend, if he can figure out a way to work through it, I think we need to encourage him to press on, because it’s something we passed out of the House,” he said. “We did it with one Democrat vote. But if you look at the country, I mean, it’s an issue that even the Democrats agree with us on. I mean, 82% of Hispanics, I think 76% of Black Americans, and 85 or 86% of white Americans want US citizens voting in US elections.”
The congressman repeated what one of his colleagues said about how they have to vote in Congress.
“Oh, yeah. I mean, we talked,” he explained. “I think it was Tim Burchett, but he said the other night, he said, ‘It’s amazing that Democrats actually use voter ID or IDs to vote to make sure you didn’t need an ID to vote in U.S. elections.’ It’s like, that’s again, the hypocrisy of it is insane. Man, you can’t get a fishing license without an ID.”
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
U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) isn’t mincing words when it comes to his criticism of U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and some of her recent comments at the Munich Security Conference.
It has been widely speculated that Ocasio-Cortez is attempting to burnish her foreign policy credentials before potentially running for President in 2028.
During one of the panel discussions, the congresswoman claimed that the Trump administration is a “grave threat” to the “rules based order.”
“I think this is a moment where we are seeing our presidential administration tear apart the transatlantic partnership, rip up every Democratic norm, and, you know, really calling into question, as was mentioned by by Dick Carney at the World Economic Forum, the rules based order that we have,” Ocasio-Cortez said.
Tuberville made it clear that lawmakers shouldn’t being going overseas to slam on the President in such a manner.
“It’s embarrassing to see representatives of the US government going overseas and bashing this country,” Tuberville wrote on X. “If you hate it so much here, you can leave.”
https://x.com/CoachForGov/status/2023467897503576511
President Donald Trump also criticized her comments at the conference.
“I watched AOC answering questions in Munich – this was not a good look for the United States,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One.
https://x.com/bennyjohnson/status/2023580284424192338
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
Former Navy Seal and current candidate for U.S. Senate in 2026, Jared Hudson is calling on the upper chamber to force those who want to filibuster a bill to actually have to “stand on the floor and do it.”
U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) and U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) have openly advocated for abolishing the Senate filibuster altogether in order to pass President Donald Trump’s agenda.
Hudson, who is running to replace Tuberville for Alabama’s Senate seat in 2026, told WVNN’s “The Yaffee Program,” that he would prefer just doing away with the “silent filibuster.”
“What I’ve been saying is, hey, we need to abolish the silent filibuster, the zombie filibuster,” Hudson explained. “No more of this Democrat being able to call in and saying, Hey, we’re going to, we’re going to filibuster for this, but not actually having to stand on the floor and do it. They need to earn what it is their filibuster.”
Trump has recently suggested that Republicans need to get rid of the filibuster to pass the SAVE America Act, which would require proof of citizenship in order to register to vote in federal elections.
“Abolish the silent filibuster,” Hudson continued, “so you require them to stand on the floor and tell the American people that they’re elected to represent their state, right? They need to tell their state. They need to let the American people hear why they’re standing with the criminals, as opposed to standing with the American citizen. And right now, federal law enforcement who’s deporting criminal illegal aliens who are criminalizing and running criminal enterprise over the citizens of this nation.”
Hudson said getting rid of the “silent filibuster” would force Democrat to explain why they are supporting law enforcement.
“This guy killed an Alabama citizen, a 73 year old Alabama citizen, and he’s running around right now armed and at large,” he said. “And it’s important that we support law enforcement, because there are men and women who do violence on our behalf, so that we can sleep in peace at night. And if they’re going to be out doing that, then, by golly, you ought to have the dang Democrats, if they’re going to filibuster, they don’t need to make a phone call and say, we’re going to filibuster.”
“They ought to be on the floor telling everybody why they’re standing against it,” he added. “They ought to have to earn it, because there’s somebody out there right now earning their right to be an idiot.”
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
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall is asking for more Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to come down to the Yellowhammer State.
Marshall is asking for the Trump administration’s help to enforce the law after an illegal immigrant was arrested in connection with the disappearance of a mother and two of her children.
https://x.com/AGSteveMarshall/status/2021599855022358659
Juan Carlos Argueta Guerra was charged with three counts of kidnapping for allegedly taking 40-year-old Aurelia Choc Cac, 17-year-old Niurka Zuleta Choc, and 2-year-old Anthony Choc from their home.
“While radical leftist politicians in Washington spent yesterday attacking the brave men and women of ICE, an illegal criminal alien was arrested for kidnapping a mother and her two children,” Marshall said. “This heinous act was committed by someone who shouldn’t have even been in this country in the first place. Unfortunately, we continue to see this problem plague our state. Recently, an illegal immigrant deported six times attempted to kidnap a teenage girl in Elmore County.”
Marshall, who is also a candidate for the U.S. Senate, blamed former President Joe Biden’s open border policies for illegal immigrant criminals being in his state.
“The left, under Joe Biden, caused this mess,” he argued. “It’s why we shouldn’t be surprised that Democrats in Washington have made it clear that they support dangerous illegal criminal aliens over law-abiding American citizens.”
Marshall said Alabama leaders will not make the mistakes seen by the politicians recently in Minneapolis.
“Unlike state officials in Minnesota, as Alabama’s top law enforcement official, I am proud to partner with ICE and will advocate for continued and expanded operations in our state to vigorously pursue dangerous criminal offenders who flagrantly violate our nation’s immigration laws and put Alabama families at risk,” he said. “Our state stands for law and order because we understand what’s at stake: the safety of our communities. We will stop at nothing to protect Alabama families, deliver justice and get criminal illegal immigrants out of our country.”
“As Alabama’s next U.S. Senator, I will always fight for our communities by ensuring ICE and the Department of Homeland Security have the funding, manpower and tools to do their job,” he added. “The security of our state and our nation depend on it.”
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
U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) wants his colleagues in Congress to help him pass a bill he believes will ensure the integrity of federal elections.
Tuberville, who is also a candidate to be Alabama’s next Governor, spoke on the Senate floor Monday to urge his fellow Republicans to pass the SAVE America Act, which would secure elections by requiring a government-issued photo ID to vote.
“It’s far past time for my Republican colleagues in the Senate to stop worrying about getting reelected and pass one of the most critical pieces of legislation that we will see in our lifetime: the SAVE America Act,” Tuberville said. “The SAVE America Act is most important—it requires voters to show a government ID to vote in federal elections. What a thought.”
The senator also highlighted a recent Pew Research poll showing that 83% of Americans support requiring a photo ID to vote.
“This is common sense—[…] 83% percent of all Americans—they support it. According to a 2025 poll [from Pew Research], there is bipartisan support for it [with] 95% of Republicans and 71% percent of Democrats across this country agreeing that a voter ID should be used in all of our elections,” he explained. “Interestingly, the support also transcends demographics among American citizens—82% of Latino voters, 76% of black voters, [and] 85% of white voters favor photo ID.”
“This really isn’t complicated,” he added. “The SAVE America Act also requires proof of citizenship for an individual to register in your state. If you are here illegally, you should not be voting in our elections—period. Lastly, the bill requires states to remove non-US citizens from existing voter rolls. It makes sense.”
Tuberville also criticized the Democrats for coming out so strongly against the measure.
“These policies, they’re not controversial, yet the Democratic Party is throwing a tantrum,” he argued. “You should be asking yourself, why is that? Why are they against voter ID, no mail-in ballots, no ballot harvesting, and one-day voting? Why is that? Is it because their illegal voting base will no longer be able to keep them in power once the legislation becomes law? Sure, it is.”
Tuberville said passing this bill is something that his constituents in Alabama are demanding.
“In my state of Alabama, I get two questions. Are you gonna close the border? And are you gonna have fair elections? I want my vote to count,” he said. “And that’s the reason I’m here today. If we don’t secure our federal elections, we will become a banana republic. It is right around the corner. The American people want it. The only question is, do my colleagues in the Senate want to keep their tradition of the Senate? Or do they want to work for the American people? That’s the reason we’re here. Or are we just interested in protecting our own power? I hope not because it won’t be here long if we don’t.
“Let’s do the right thing for the American taxpayers and pass the SAVE America Act,” he continued. “Our nation and future and the future of our kids and grandkids depend on it. Think about it.”
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
There is one Alabamian who is working hard as a part of the Trump administration to Make America Healthy Again.
Admiral Brian Christine serves as the 18th Assistant Secretary for Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). In this role, he provides leadership on the nation’s public health priorities, including chronic disease prevention and efforts to strengthen the nation’s overall health.
Christine discussed his work with HHS Secretary RFK Jr. during a sit-down interview with “Rightside Radio” hosts Allison Sinclair and Amie Beth Shaver.
“So my agenda is, of course, Secretary Kennedy’s agenda and the President’s agenda,” Christine said.
“We all work for the president. He is Commander in Chief. I work with Secretary Kennedy as we both serve the president and serve the people. And so the things that are really important to us at the Department of Health and Human Services, we know that, affordability of health care, affordability of drugs, making sure we have good health care delivered to everybody, whether it be in a city or in these rural environments. That is something incredibly important to the President and the Secretary and myself also.”
https://x.com/Rightside_Media/status/2020954042298474717?s=20
Christine said the difference in this administration versus the previous one is they are guided the fact, no partisan politics.
“So affordability, these values, issues, and doing everything so different from the last administration and the last Department of Health and Human Services, we absolutely are guided by science,” he explained. “That’s something that Secretary Kennedy has said again and again. We are guided by gold standard science, and we use that science to form policy and to do things that are going to make America healthier, healthier than she’s ever been.”
Christine also discussed his impressions of RFK Jr. as a leader from the administration.
“He is, this is gonna sound like I’m slinging a line, but he’s amazing…He’s a very kind man,” Christine said. “He’s an incredibly thoughtful man. I’m going to say he’s a humble man in that he’s not afraid to say, in my life, I’ve made mistakes, I’ve had substance abuse issues. He’s not afraid to admit mistakes. He’s not afraid to admit wrongs, but he’s not afraid to stand for what he believes. He’s a very he’s a really kind man. He’s a really thoughtful man. So that, again, I believe he’s like to me, and when I when I’ve seen him with his wife, when I’ve seen him interacting with us, it’s amazing.”
Full episode also available on YouTube:
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
John Wahl, former ALGOP Chairman and current candidate for lieutenant governor, has released his first campaign video with the message that he is President Donald Trump’s preferred candidate in the election contest.
“John has been with us from the very beginning, and has been key to our many Republican Victories in the Great State of Alabama,” President Trump said in the video.
Trump endorsed Wahl in a Truth Social post, one day before Wahl says he made a final decision on entering the contest late last month.
In the latest Alabama poll, Secretary of State Wes Allen is still ahead of Wahl in the race by 17 points, 23 percent to 6 percent, with 59 percent of voters undecided.
Titled “Fighting for Alabama’s Future,” the campaign video outlines Wahl’s conservative vision for the state and underscores his commitment to faith, family, freedom, and commonsense leadership rooted in Alabama values.
“As chairman of the Alabama Republican Party, I’ve been on the front lines as we defend our values and fight for our freedoms,” Wahl says in the video. “Alabama deserves bold, principled leadership that puts families first, defends our God-given rights, and restores limited government.”
Wahl also argues that his campaign is about doing what’s best for Alabama families and helping to preserve American values for the next generation.
“This campaign is about protecting our values, strengthening our state, and leading the nation with commonsense policies that restore the American Dream.” he said. “Now more than ever, we must stand strong for our shared values, defend the freedoms that make Alabama exceptional, and ensure government works for the people—not the other way around.”
“I’m running to serve the people of Alabama and to fight for a future our children and grandchildren can be proud of,” he added.
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
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, who is also running to be the state’s next U.S. Senator, is hoping that Republicans in Congress don’t cave to Democrats’ demands on immigration enforcement.
President Donald Trump signed legislation Tuesday that will fund the Department of Homeland Security for the next two weeks. Democrats had been threatening to shut the government down and defund Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) over the issue of their recent activity in Minnesota.
Marshall discussed the impasse Wednesday on WVNN’s “The Yaffee Program.”
“We see Republicans govern with common sense and rationality, and Democrats continue to do what they think they do best, [which] is to be the obstructionists. I mean, look, it’s what protesters are doing in Minneapolis. It’s what congressmen on the Democratic side are doing in Washington. And Republicans have to be able to act consistent with what’s expected, and that is to govern and to be able to keep communities safe.”
“Look, whatever objections are going on with ice, the Republicans in Congress need to stand strong,” he added. “They don’t need to bend to the wills of Democrats, because they simply don’t like that ice is doing their job, and we need to make sure that we are supporting with funding the mission that ice has in this country.”
Democrat leaders in Washington D.C. are demanding reforms including forcing ICE agents to remove their masks and only use judicial warrants instead of administrative warrants to arrest illegal immigrants.
Marshall explained why Republicans should say no to their requests on ICE changes.
“Look the detainers that we’ve used carrying out almost 30 years in law enforcement have worked,” he said. “Well, it’s only when Democrats want to put additional layers, because they understand that if there has to be a court ordered process to take place for these detainers, that we’re going to bog down the system. And in fact, many people will get out of jails that otherwise shouldn’t be released on our streets. And so the system has worked for an awful long time.”
“And like let’s be clear, why they want to take masks off of ICE agents. They want to dox them,” Marshall continued. “They want to be able to target them. And that’s not at all what law enforcement on a face for simply doing their jobs and like this is just a ruse for the left to try to implement ways to cause ice problems.”
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
Wednesday, President Donald Trump took some time during a recent speech to compliment U.S. Senator Katie Britt.
The president was speaking at an all-day summit with administration officials, CEOs and philanthropists, where Sen. Britt was also in attendance.
During his speech, he promoted his new Trump Accounts program. Trump explained that under the new initiative, the federal government would deposit $1,000 for every child born between 2025 and 2028. He also took a moment to recognize several leaders in attendance, including Sen. Britt and her husband, Wesley.
“A friend of mine, a Senator who has been unbelievable,” Trump said. “She’s a tremendous woman.”
https://x.com/NRSC/status/2016562531842568201?s=20
“Married to a great football player. She’s married. Her husband is a massive man,” Trump quipped. “This guy, he played in the NFL, I guess for 11 years. He was top of the line player. I met him, I said, that’s not a normal situation. Look at this guy, this guy was seriously powerful, big, and he’s as nice as he is big, and she is one of our best senators — Senator Katie Britt.”
In relation to her work on the U.S. Senate Banking Committee, Britt attended the summit, and spoke on a panel to promote the benefits of the new program that passed as a part of the One Big Beautiful Bill.
“Trump Accounts are all about moms and dads across Alabama and our nation being able to help build a strong future for their kids,” Britt said. “From education to homeownership to starting a small business, this is a real launchpad for the next generation.”
https://x.com/SenKatieBritt/status/2016596831652712774
Trump seemed to really appreciate Britt’s support on the issue.
“Senator Katie Britt, thank you, darling from Alabama,” he said. “I love Alabama. We have We love Alabama.”
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
In recognition of National School Choice Week, U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon said she believes that Alabama has set the standard when it comes to educational freedom for students and families.
Alabama’s latest landmark school choice initiative, the CHOOSE Act, was signed into law in 2024.
The program created state-funded education savings accounts that eligible families can use for qualified education expenses, including private school tuition and other services.
Governor Kay Ivey touted those efforts in her State of the State address earlier this month, pointing to the scoreboard of policies her administration is implementing in support of Alabama families.
“We are supporting Alabama families: From our record 6,000 plus foster care adoptions…to our CHOOSE Act education savings accounts…to paid parental leave for teachers,” Ivey said in her address.
“Our education savings account program, the CHOOSE Act, is already supporting more than 23,000 students. That number will only grow as more folks learn about the program, as student athletes feel more confident in the rules and when it becomes fully universal in year three,” she added. “For the 27-28 Academic Year, I am proposing we increase funding for the CHOOSE Act to $250 million dollars. This will help even more families receive the education that best suits their child.”
On Tuesday, Secretary McMahon said Alabama has the right idea.
“In her State of the State Address, [Governor Kay Ivey] called for more funding for the CHOOSE Act, Alabama’s education savings account program,” McMahon posted.
“Alabama is answering the Trump Admin’s call to expand school choice and empower families to choose education that best fits their needs.”
https://x.com/edsecmcmahon/status/2016254433898664090?s=42
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
Former Alabama Republican Party Chairman John Wahl has made it official that he’s jumping into the race for Lt. Governor in 2026.
Wahl formally announced his campaign at a press conference at the Alabama Republican Party Headquarters on Tuesday.
“President Trump understands that Alabama needs a Lieutenant Governor who will fight unapologetically for the America First agenda — and that’s why he endorsed me,” Wahl told supporters.
“Alabama can lead the nation in a conservative resurgence to protect our rights, our freedoms, and our values. Now more than ever, we need bold conservative leaders who will stand firmly on our platform, reject weak and lukewarm policies, and push back against the radical left.”
Trump endorsed Wahl in a Truth Social post last week, one day before Wahl says he made a final decision on entering the contest.
“I actually learned about the the endorsement from someone texting me the screenshot, saying ‘congratulations.’ Classic Donald Trump,” Wahl told WVNN’s “The Yaffee Program” Tuesday.
“You know, it’s been incredible talking with him and as well as as well as the staff surrounding him through this process.”
Wahl had been the ALGOP Chairman since 2021. He now wants to help push forward conservative policies from the Lieutenant Governor’s office.
“Anyone who’s watched my work as chairman of the state Republican Party knows my passion is constitutional limited government that defends the rights and the freedoms of every single individual,” He explained.
“You know, I think, I think the vision of our founding fathers is the blueprint to make America great again, and it’s one of the reasons why I’m such a strong advocate for president, Donald Trump, for the American first agenda, for returning control to the people. And, you know, out of the hands of the bureaucrats, the Montgomery swamp or the D.C. swap. And so this is my heart. This is where I’ve been for years, and this, this is the next step in continuing to fight in the battle for good government and to put the people first.”
He now faces off against Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen, who already blasted Wahl’s personal and political history.
“By entering this race, Nehemiah Wahl has, once again, betrayed his obligation to the Alabama Republican Party,” Allen said in a statement, referencing controversy in years past over Wahl’s usage of non-state identification to vote in the 2022 election.
According to documentation filed this week with the Alabama Secretary of State’s office, Wahl registered as a candidate as “Nehemiah Wahl.”
He responded to Allen’s criticism Tuesday.
“So I get it,” he said. “This has been a hard a hard week for Wes Allen. I’m getting in the race with the endorsement of the President, but I want to run my own race. I don’t want to talk about candidates. I want to talk about what I want to do for the people of Alabama. And so I think this is a desperate attempt to undermine my credibility. There’s obvious outright lies or misinformation in what he said, number one, we should be talking about the people of the state and what we can do to help their lives be better. That’s my priority. That’s what I want to talk about.”
Wahl said he looks forward to showcasing his record as the Chairman of ALGOP for the past five years, in addition to his continued service as Chairman of the Alabama Public Library Service (APLS) board.
“As far as, ‘shirking my duties as state party chairman’ — absolutely not,” he argued.
“I was in office the final day of qualifying, helping this process get through before I announced myself, putting putting the party first, putting our candidates first. That’s about my passion. That’s been my goal. And I think that just shows the extent of the desperateness that he has in accused me every every political candidate has a platform they start from, and I’m proud that my platform is state party chairman. I think that’s where I’ve been as I’ve been fighting for people’s rights and freedoms.”
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
The race to decide who is going to be Alabama’s next Lieutenant Governor is heating up after an unlikely endorsement from President Donald Trump — one night before candidate qualifying closed for the 2026 election cycle.
Trump endorsed Alabama Republican Party Chairman John Wahl in a post of Truth Social on Thursday.
Wahl resigned as ALGOP Chair and officially qualified to run for Lt. Governor immediately after on Friday.
https://x.com/Grayson270/status/2014832624167006612
This means he will face off against Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen, who has already blasted the former head of the Republican Party in the state.
“By entering this race, Nehemiah Wahl has, once again, betrayed his obligation to the Alabama Republican Party,” Allen said in a statement.
“Instead of living up to his duty to promote Republican values and the success of Republican candidates, he has chosen self-promotion that will undercut the campaigns of Republicans up and down the ballot. Democrats are fielding the strongest slate of candidates in recent history and the Chairman of the Alabama Republican Party is giving them ammunition to attack every Republican candidate in the state.”
https://x.com/WesAllenAlabama/status/2014844785756930288
Allen also posted a campaign video Sunday in which is criticized Wahl for using a “homemade fake ID” to vote.
“My opponent, Nehemiah ‘John’ Wahl, admitted he tried to vote using a homemade fake ID,” Allen said in the video. “We could not be more different. I, like President Trump, support voter ID laws while opponent breaks them. Just when you think you’ve seen it all, you see this. This is why elections matter.”
Wahl responded to the slight Monday, calling Allen’s criticism “false attacks.”
“It’s no surprise that some potential opponents—who did not support President Trump—are now resorting to false attacks in a desperate attempt to hold onto power,” Wahl said in a statement to Yellowhammer News.
“But the facts are clear and well documented. My record on voter ID and election integrity speaks for itself. I have consistently supported voter ID laws, worked to strengthen election integrity measures, and personally helped organize and deploy more than 200 trained poll watchers to Georgia to help defend President Trump’s vote in the last election.”
Wahl will announce his plans for the future at the Alabama Republican Party headquarters on Tuesday afternoon.
“This race should be about ideas, leadership, and earning the trust of the people—not political games or rewriting history,” Wahl added.
“I am committed to running a positive, honest campaign, telling the truth about my record, and sharing a clear vision for how we can make life better for the people of Alabama.”
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
In her final State of the State address, Governor Kay Ivey came out swinging on public safety.
Ivey formally announced her support for offering the death penalty to convicted child rapists and a new crackdown on criminals who run from police during her Tuesday night address on the first day of the 2026 legislative session.
“Ladies and gentlemen, the state of our state is strong, and our future is even stronger,” Ivey said.
“Last year, public safety was my number one priority. Together, we accomplished a great deal through my Safe Alabama package, but our work is never done when it comes to protecting our citizens.”
This year, Ivey endorsed a proposal that would exact justice for young, victimized Alabamians.
“Representative Matt Simpson and Senator April Weaver will carry a bill to impose the death penalty for those who rape or sodomize a child,” she explained. “I was proud to quickly offer my full and total support. Ladies and gentlemen, I am urging you to pass this legislation so I can sign it into law.”
“Government at all levels should always prioritize public safety. And we can thank the men and women in blue for enforcing our laws.”
In August, State Rep. Matt Simpson (R-Daphne) and State Sen. April Weaver (R-Brierfield) pre-filed HB41, the ‘Child Predator Death Penalty Act’, for the 2026 legislative session.
The bill came on the heels of revelations that a child sex-trafficking ring, operated out of an underground bunker in Bibb County beginning as early as 2022, may have victimized at least 15 children ranging in age from 3 to 15 years old.
Ivey also promoted a bill that is intended to crack down on repeat offenders.
“Unfortunately, some criminals attempt to elude their authority. There are repeat offenders and in the worst cases, there has even been loss of life,” she said.
“It is time we crack down on that reckless, criminal behavior and pass a bill led by Representative Reed Ingram and Senator Lance Bell. In Alabama, we enforce the law, and I look forward to this bill reaching my desk.”
Ivey pointed to legislation filed by State Rep. Reed Ingram (R-Pike Road) that would significantly stiffen penalties for suspects who flee from police.
HB37 proposes to require judges, upon the perpetrator’s conviction, to impose a minimum of 60 days confinement, in addition to the existing driver’s license suspension requirement.
The governor also spoke on cracking down on crime in Montgomery and pay raises for some law enforcement officers.
“We supported President Trump’s mission to Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful Again by deploying more than 400 Alabama National Guardsmen,” she said.
“And here at home in Montgomery, I directed the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency to increase trooper presence. Between our specialized Metro Area Crime Suppression Unit and this larger law enforcement footprint, we are adding to our efforts in Montgomery.”
“Our state troopers deserve our thanks,” she added. “That is why I am proud to propose a two percent pay raise for all our state employees like our troopers, mental health workers and those who protect our cybersecurity.”
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