russia Archives

U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer (R-Hoover) agrees with President Donald Trump that what happens in the territory of Greenland also impacts American national security.

Trump has been pushing for the U.S. to acquire Greenland and has even announced tariffs on European allies who oppose his position on Greenland, which is currently an autonomous part of the Kingdom of Denmark.

Palmer, who is a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, doesn’t believe the U.S. would take over Greenland by force — but admitted he’s worried about China’s influence in the region.

“Well, I really don’t think we want to take over Greenland, but at same time, we can’t let China come in and take it, and they will,” Palmer said Tuesday on FM Talk 106.5. “They’ll buy their way into it. That’s what they’ve done in South America.”

The congressman said he’s concerned about Russia and China’s efforts to control part of the Arctic.

“There’s no way Denmark can hold off China,” Palmer argued. “China’s not going to invade that to just resist their will. So that’s what we’re trying to do is, is protect our own region from further encouragement by the Chinese and the Russians. For that matter, Russia does have a legitimate claim, because they are in the Arctic nation.”

Denmark has up until this point rebuffed any efforts by the Trump administration to purchase or acquire the island.

Palmer believes Trump’s stance on Greenland is not just about having more of a military presence in the area, but also about being able to have access to rare earth minerals and other natural resources.

“They’re up there exploring and probing, and we don’t know what all is in Greenland, but we do know that we’re at a national security emergency in regard to supply chain of refined rare earth elements,” he explained. “I’ve been working on this for five years…and when Trump came in, it was a sea change and attitude about this. Biden did nothing to secure our supply chain, and our economy would absolutely collapse if China cut us off, and they were threatening to do that starting December 1 of last year.”

“There’s just so there’s just so much going on that the Trump administration is doing that that has a tremendous impact on your future, my future, everybody listening to you that most people don’t even know about,” 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

7. President Donald Trump nominated Thomas Govan as U.S. Attorney for Alabama’s Middle District and Rightside Radio host Phil Williams for the Northern District.

6. The Southeastern Conference permanently suspended referee Ken Williamson following a review of controversial officiating during the Auburn-Georgia game, prompting calls for improved oversight.

5. CBS’s Stephen Colbert covered the arrest of a Fairhope protester in an indecent penis costume on “The Late Show,” turning the “No Kings” protest embarrassment into an unfunny national late-night comedy bit.

4. The Trump administration has imposed new sanctions on Russian oil exports. targeting the country’s energy sector to pressure Moscow to end the Russia-Ukraine war; the move increased the average cost of oil 5%.

3. A grassroots effort supporting the Alabama Public Library Service’s amendment garnered a majority of public letters to remove inappropriate books from the children’s sections of libraries.

2. Democrats are rolling out their own ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) tracker app; Attorney General Pam Bondi is calling out the obvious targeting of agents, which is leading to an increasing amount of violent rhetoric and actual attacks against those federal agents.

1. The Alabama Education Association failed to read the room, citing reports of a record number of children not returning to public schools in order to push for new homeschool reporting requirements; the move sparked debate over parental rights and state oversight, which the public does not want.

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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. Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville) is still very concerned that Russian President Vladimir Putin is not going to agree to a fair peace deal with Ukraine.

President Donald Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other European leaders on Monday, just days after holding a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin last Friday.

Peace talks between the two warring countries have seemingly stalled this week as Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says plans for a bilateral summit between Putin and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky are “not ready at all.”

Aderholt discussed the issue Thursday on FM Talk 106.5’s “The Jeff Poor Show.”

“I just think Putin is unpredictable,” Aderholt argued. “I mean, you know, I am one of those Republicans that have been supportive of trying to, as as a majority of the Republicans have in Congress have, making sure that Putin does not continue his mission of trying to take over Europe. And we’re seeing what’s happening to Ukraine, and to push back on him, he is one of those people that will not listen to anything but force.”

The congressman said that it’s in America’s national security interests to make sure that Russia doesn’t ultimately win in Ukraine.

“I know a lot of people have a lot of mixed concerns about our involvement there, but if he goes into a NATO country, we have no option but then to get involved and send our men and women over there,” he said. “So it’s better that we push back now and help Ukraine and try to find a resolution of this, then wake up one morning and we find out he’s going into one of the NATO countries, and we’re going to be involved in sending our men and women overseas to fight a war. So I think that it’s vitally important that he get the message, Putin that is, that we are serious, that Trump, he wants to end this war.”

Aderholt said that he appreciates Trump’s attempts in trying to negotiate a peace to end the fighting.

“I do think that if there’s anybody that kind of can find a resolution, this will be Donald Trump — and I think Putin respects him,” he said. “But also, more than that, Putin knows that Trump could do anything, and he knows that he will do anything to make sure that he is going to end this war. I think it’s in Putin’s best interest to try to find a solution, to find a way out, to try to find a way to pull out of the Ukraine, and that’s, I think, ultimately, what’s going to happen.”

“But I think it may take a few weeks, he added. “I think Putin is trying to drag his feet as much as possible, but I think there will come some point that Trump will say that’s it. We’re going to bring all kinds of sanctions on Russia, and we’re going to have all countries that do business with you, we’re going to sanction them, and their economy will absolutely be destroyed.”

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 Republicans believe President Donald Trump is on the right side of history when it comes to dealing with the war between Russia and Ukraine.

Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other European leaders on Monday, just days after holding a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin last Friday.

“During the meeting we discussed Security Guarantees for Ukraine, which Guarantees would be provided by the various European Countries, with a coordination with the United States of America,” Trump said Monday on Truth Social, “Everyone is very happy about the possibility of PEACE for Russia/Ukraine.”

Members of Alabama’s Republican Congressional delegation praised Trump’s efforts at achieving peace between the two world powers.

U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) said Trump is a “President of Peace.”

https://x.com/SenTuberville/status/1957790930011922714?

The senator discussed the topic during an appearance on the Fox Business network.

“Thank goodness we got President Trump that’s speaking for us,” Tuberville said. “He’s a peacemaker. I mean, he’s already stopped, what, five, six, seven wars that have been fighting all over the world the last 10, 15 years.”

U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) agreed with Tuberville, also calling Trump a “President of Peace.”

https://x.com/SenKatieBritt/status/1957540924923474173

U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Saks), who chairs the House Armed Services Committee, said, “President Trump knows that peace through strength works. That’s why I fully support his push for robust security guarantees for Ukraine. These guarantees are essential to deter a third Russian invasion and ensure any peace agreement is enduring.”

https://x.com/HASCRepublicans/status/1957493968096104511

U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise), who is also a candidate for U.S. Senate, said “President Trump is doing more for peace across the globe in his first few months than prior administrations did throughout their whole term!”

https://x.com/RepBarryMoore/status/1957541615158874390

U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville) said “I commend President Trump for the work he continues to do to try and resolve conflicts in the world.”

https://x.com/Robert_Aderholt/status/1956780922352681047

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) continues to sound the alarm when it comes to the vulnerability of the nation’s essential infrastructure to potential cyberattacks.

During a recent House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing, Palmer discussed the urgency when it comes to protecting critical infrastructure. Palmer was recently named as Chairman of the the Subcommittee on Environment.

“But back in 2021 we had a ransomware attack on on the Colonial Pipeline, which was in my district, and there have been multiple attacks at various health care facilities around the country and and it’s more pipeline network center become part of that equation,” Palmer said. “The threat of another attack is very much a real possibility, whether it’s fuel line like the Colonial Pipeline or other pipelines.”

Palmer also brought up the looming threat of cyberattacks from foreign adversaries, China in particular.

“We know if these are just in the ransomware attack situation with Colonial Pipeline, that was just people trying to extort money,” he said. “Do we have nation state involved in this or, or, or people who are being given Safe Harbor, as we know they are, and China and Russia and other places to launch these attacks?”

Palmer emphasized the need to make this issue a “top priority.”

“My concern about this transcends the pipelines,” he said. “I mean, it’s the critical infrastructure across the country that could be subject to a cyberattack, whether it’s a ransomware attack or, you know, from a state sponsored terrorist group. I mean, it could be, could be anything. And I think that our our grid in its totality, not just the power grid, but the entire totality of the grid, whether it’s pipelines or power, we’ve got to make this a very serious issue, a top priority.”

.@USRepGaryPalmer points out the need to ensure our pipelines are safe from cyberattacks.

It’s critical that our nation’s energy infrastructure is secure against hostile attacks. pic.twitter.com/ZPAZfTENjS

— Energy and Commerce Committee (@HouseCommerce) July 22, 2025

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. Mike Rogers (R-Saks) praised President Donald Trump this week after the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) countries committed to spending more on their national defense.

During the recent summit attended by Trump, the majority of NATO countries agreed to raise defense spending to 5% of each country’s total gross domestic product (GDP) by 2035.

Rogers, who chairs the House Armed Services Committee, said that the agreement will help deter threats from countries like China and Russia.

“NATO’s decision to raise its defense spending commitment to 5% of GDP is a vital response to the growing threat posed by Vladimir Putin and the deepening cooperation among Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea,” Rogers said. “Front-line allies like Poland and the Baltic states were already pulling their weight, the long-overdue investments now pledged by other European and Canadian allies will strengthen the Alliance significantly.”

Latest from Chairman @RepMikeRogersAL — pic.twitter.com/173e1DRrs6

— Armed Services GOP (@HASCRepublicans) June 25, 2025

The congressman gave credit to Trump for getting member countries on the same page with their defense spending.

“President Trump was right to insist that our Allies shoulder a greater share of our collective defense—and his leadership was critical to making it happen,” he said. “Ultimately, a more lethal NATO, backed by continued U.S. leadership and real burden sharing, will deter our adversaries, preserve peace, and advance America’s national interest.”

Spain was the only country in NATO to argue against the decision, saying they would have to cut essential services in the country to afford the defense increase.

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. Gov. Kay Ivey invited Alabama students to join her third annual summer reading challenge to boost literacy skills while winning tablets and gift cards.

6. Birmingham reported a significant decline in homicides in 2025 compared to 2024, but old habits die hard: There was a nightclub shooting that wounded two this weekend.

5. Alabama lawmakers, State Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur), Rep. Parker Moore (R-Hartselle) and State Rep. Ernie Yarbrough (R-Trinity) signed a Moms for Liberty parental rights pledge. This week, Moms for Liberty is bringing U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) to the state for an event online mobs are trying to disrupt.

4. A federal judge has ordered the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an accused gangbanging, human-trafficking, wife-beater, inside the United States after another judge released anti-Israel activist Mahmoud Khalil who was embraced by U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.).

3. President Donald Trump launched military action against Iran this weekend in what appears to be a successful attempt to knock out Iranian nuclear enrichment capabilities to “Make Iran Great Again;” some in the GOP are not happy and are joining Democrat calls for a vote on the matter.

2. Iran has not yet retaliated after American air strikes but it has threatened to activate sleeper cells in the U.S. and many are warning that open borders under Biden may have enabled Iran to retaliate against the U.S. Meanwhile, a Russian leader claims that Russia and China could provide nuclear warheads for the country.

1. Alabama’s Republicans in Washington D.C., praised President Donald Trump’s “strong and surgical” strikes on Iran, with U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville) warning Iran would not hesitate to use nuclear weapons against America and U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Saks) saying it would be a “grave mistake” for Iran to retaliate.

Listen here:

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. Mike Rogers (R-Saks) is putting forward legislation that he believes will cut red tape and allow the military to procure weapons more quickly.

Rogers, who chairs the House Armed Services Committee, is joining Ranking Member Adam Smith (D-Wash.) in introducing the Streamlining Procurement for Effective Execution and Delivery (SPEED) Act.

The bill fundamentally reforms the Defense Acquisition System (DAS) to cut red tape and deliver capabilities to servicemembers as quickly and effectively as possible.

“America faces the most serious security threats since WWII,” Rogers said in a video post. “Our national security depends on equipping our warfighters as quickly as possible, but our acquisition system is too slow and bureaucratic to arm our service members with what they need, when they need it.”

America’s security threats are growing, presenting a serious challenge for our defense acquisition system as it works to keep up. That changes today.@HASCRepublicans and @HASCDemocrats just introduced the bipartisan SPEED Act to streamline how the DoD buys weapons so we can… pic.twitter.com/EfFtY3mOTw

— Armed Services GOP (@HASCRepublicans) June 9, 2025

Rogers said the SPEED Act is vital to the future of America’s national security.

“This bold bipartisan legislation fundamentally reforms how the DoD buys weapons,” he explained. It created a culture of urgency and responsible risk taking.”

“It’s time to restore America’s military edge. It’s time for the SPEED Act.”

Rogers also spoke on the issue at the House Armed Services Committee hearing Wednesday.

“We want the SPEED Act to be meaningful reform that’s going to make a difference so we can get after these rapid technological advancements,” he said. “We cannot keep doing things the way we’re doing them and expect to be successful in the future…”

Chairman @RepMikeRogersAL underscores the urgency of acquisition reform – “We want the SPEED Act to be meaningful reform that’s going to make a difference so we can get after these rapid technological advancements…We cannot keep doing things the way we’re doing them and expect… pic.twitter.com/iHogQvLXJg

— Armed Services GOP (@HASCRepublicans) June 11, 2025

The legislation, if passed, will be foundational to the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

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. Years of “Russia, Russia, Russia” from the media and their Democrats could be coming to an end as President Donald Trump moves to declassify all FBI files pertaining to Operation Crossfire Hurricane. The declassification is expected to reveal the politically driven probe into Trump’s first campaign. Launched in July 2016 and later morphing into a seemingly never-ending Robert Mueller special counsel probe, the investigation found no conspiracy with Russia, but claims of obstruction continued without merit.

6. After talks between Russia and Ukraine in Saudi Arabia, the two countries committed to a Black Sea ceasefire aimed at ensuring safe navigation and barring military use of commercial vessels. However, the implementation of a ceasefire is not that easy. The Kremlin has said the ceasefire hinges on the lifting of sanctions on Rosselkhozbank, restoring SWIFT access (finance system), and assisting with their agricultural markets. Ukraine and its European allies may decline one, if not all, of the conditions.

5. Parents of students at Hoover’s Greystone Elementary are rightly upset after what should have been a routine field trip to Vulcan Park and Museum turned controversial when a male tour guide in a skirt was designated as the leader of one of the tour groups. The controversy led to parents calling the situation a distraction from the educational focus on Vulcan and Birmingham history. Additionally, parents, some anonymously, also expressed frustration that the guide’s presentation sparked more questions about his appearance than the intended subject. The group is urging Vulcan going forward to ensure age-appropriate experiences and accountability. This occurrence makes people question the judgment of everyone involved in scheduling and providing these field trips.

4. Rasmussen Reports polling shows that 64% of those polled back President Donald Trump’s deportation policy for Venezuelan gang members from Tren de Aragua. This comes after a media-driven controversy and several fake town halls where individuals referred to the group of criminals as a “loving people.” The poll also reveals that about half of the respondents support impeaching the federal judge who issued a temporary halt to these deportations. The possible move by Republicans and Trump caused the media, their Democrats, and even the Supreme Court Chief Justice to recoil in fear. In other legal matters, the Trump administration picked up immigration and DOGE victories.

3. The movement against Alabama’s income tax seems to be gaining steam as State Rep. Susan DuBose (R-Hoover) endorsed the idea of lowering/removing Alabama’s income tax. DuBose’s support for altering the income tax is inspired by State Sen. Arthur Orr’s (R-Decatur) recent comments regarding states like Mississippi, who have moved toward zero percent rates. DuBose suggested a phased reduction, possibly halving the rate to 2.5% over time, creating a neutral, fair tax system that mirrors the no-income-tax models of neighbors Tennessee and Florida.

2. President Donald Trump disclosed that a mistake from one of National Security Advisor Mike Waltz’s staffers led to Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg joining a Signal app group chat with top officials, including Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Vice President JD Vance. In the group, possible Houthi strike plans were discussed. Trump has since insisted that the messages didn’t affect the Yemen operation. Now, however, Democrats are calling for resignations and probes over the leak. The president has defended Waltz, calling it a minor error with “nothing important” shared. The app was approved for government use by the Biden administration (something the media is failing to spin).

1. Alabama lawmakers are trying to get to the bottom of the Signal app story with U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Saks) “still trying to find out what happened” before holding a hearing at the Armed Services Committee. U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) also addressed the accidental inclusion of a journalist in a Trump administration group chat revealing Yemen Houthi strike plans. Tuberville labeled it a “mistake” and “a pretty scary situation” but argued against a Senate probe, suggesting it’s a known issue being handled by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and President Trump

Dale Jackson is a thought leader for Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN and from 10-11 a.m. on Talk 99.5 and News Radio 1440, with a rebroadcast on WVNN at 10 p.m.

Earlier this year, U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) warned that foreign adversaries would benefit from the Biden Administration blocking new approvals of pending applications for liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports.

Now it appears Britt’s predication is coming true as France is importing more LNG from Russia. According to reports, shipments of Russian LNG to France more than doubled the first half of this year, while imports to EU countries overall have increased by 7%.

“Foreign customers will simply turn to other LNG suppliers across the globe, including to our primary adversaries,” Britt said in February. “This irresponsible, job-killing move will effectively weaken America’s role as the world’s leading exporter of LNG and further diminish the American energy dominance that President Biden inherited.”

Because of Biden’s policies and tensions in the Middle East, France was importing less from other suppliers, including the United States, Angola, Cameroon, Egypt and Nigeria.

Britt attempted to reverse Biden’s LNG policy by pushing the Unlocking Domestic LNG Potential Act, which would take away the requirement for the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) leadership to approve of it.

Britt said the bill was necessary because Biden “handed a major victory to both Vladimir Putin and far-left climate activists by pausing approvals of pending applications for U.S. LNG exports.”

The import data comes from the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA), a U.S. nonprofit with a goal of speeding the world’s transition to more sustainable energy, which showed that companies imported almost 4.4 billion cubic meters of Russian LNG to France in the first half of this year, compared to more than 2 billion cubic meters in the same period a year ago.

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. Mike Rogers (R-Saks), chairman on the House Armed Services Committee, reacted to the recent prisoner swap between U.S. and Russia, saying he’s “concerned” that it could set a bad precedent with Vladimir Putin.

https://x.com/HASCRepublicans/status/1819087917098127573

President Joe Biden announced Thursday that Russia released journalist Evan Gershkovich, Marine Paul Whelan, and dissidents including Vladimir Kara-Murza, in a multinational deal that set two dozen people free.

Gershkovich is a reporter for The Wall Street Journal who was arrested in 2023 and convicted in July of espionage charges, sparking international condemnation.

“I am relieved that this ordeal for Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan, and the other prisoners wrongfully detained by the Putin regime has finally come to an end,” Rogers said. “However, I am concerned that in return for these innocent people, the Biden-Harris administration has allowed dangerous Russian criminals to go free, including an assassin and an operator of illicit procurement networks for the Russian military.”

This is not the first high profile prisoner swap with Russia during the Biden administration’s tenure. WNBA star Brittney Griner was eventually released in a similar swap after being arrested in 2022 for carrying a small amount of hash oil.

“Following the trade of Viktor Bout,” Rogers continued, “a dangerous arms dealer, for Brittney Griner, the Biden-Harris administration must explain how they will deter Putin and other American adversaries from exploiting hostage-taking to exact leverage over the United States. Otherwise, there will be many more innocent Americans behind enemy bars.”

According to the Wall Street Journal, Gershkovich and others released left a Russian aircraft in Turkey on Thursday afternoon.

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. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) is blasting the Biden administration for inserting “woke politics” into the military. In an op-ed for The Daily Caller, Tuberville said President Joe Biden is putting America’s national security at risk with his radical policies.

“Biden has weaponized the DOD to serve as a tool for his radical political agenda,” Tuberville wrote. “He has mandated divisive Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) training, mandated that taxpayer dollars fund costs associated with elective abortions and gender transition surgeries for servicemembers and fired more than 8,000 able-bodied troops for refusing to get the COVID-19 vaccine.”

The senator thinks Biden’s woke agenda are making America more vulnerable on the world stage at a time when our adversaries are gaining strength.

“Thanks to Biden’s complete lack of leadership on the world stage, the United States is in one of the most vulnerable positions it has been in since the Cold War,” he said. “When Biden made the disastrous decision to prematurely withdraw from Afghanistan, abandoning our allies and costing the lives of 13 American servicemembers, a clear message was sent to our adversaries: Now is your opportunity.”

“Since then, his foreign policy of appeasement has led to wars all over the world, endangered global trade and put our troops in harm’s way,” he added. “This completely preventable situation, in addition to our wide-open borders, has imperiled our nation to a degree not seen in my lifetime.”

Tuberville also decried the lack of bipartisanship when it comes to national security.

“For decades, support for the U.S. military was one of the few topics that brought Republicans and Democrats together. Each year, the House and Senate Armed Services Committees drafted a bill called the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which authorized funding for the military and established policy priorities for the Department of Defense (DOD),” he said. Historically, these bills have been largely bipartisan as both parties were united in the belief that the United States military should be the most lethal fighting force in the world.

“Unfortunately, that is no longer the case. Under President Joe Biden and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, our military has been infiltrated by woke politics that have become a massive distraction from their mission. And this has resulted in detrimental impacts to military readiness and lethality.”

Tuberville concluded that the country needs to get it’s priorities in order.

“Now, more than ever, we need a military that is 100% focused on protecting our country and enhancing national security,” he said, “not on implementing Biden’s woke agenda.”

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

As the war in Ukraine continues to drag on, it shouldn’t be surprising that it’s become more of a divisive issue in today’s politics. This divide isn’t just between left and right though, like most issues, but there’s also a divide within the Republican Party itself over continuing to support Ukraine’s defense against Russia.

U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) has shown where he stands on the issue, having recently voted against more aid to the country. Unfortunately, the senator went beyond just wishing for an end to the war. He also argued that Vladmir Putin’s invasion isn’t really a threat to NATO.

“He doesn’t want Ukraine. He doesn’t want Europe. He’s got enough land of his own,” Tuberville said. “He just wants to make sure that he does not have United States weapons in Ukraine pointing at Moscow.”

https://x.com/RonFilipkowski/status/1798424125058519109

I agree with Tuberville on many issues and have vehemently defended him at times. However, I can’t disagree with him more here. While I don’t believe Tuberville is pro-Putin by any means — I do think he’s giving the Russian dictator too much benefit of the doubt.

Republicans make a mistake when they argue that Putin has similar interests to the United States. It might be true that Putin didn’t want another NATO country on its border, but I think it’s naïve to suggest that he wasn’t also motivated by other selfish, evil and megalomaniacal intentions.

Not only has Putin made a career and killing and jailing his political opponents, but he has made it clear over and over again that he desires the expansion of the Russian empire. His original goal in this war was to completely take over the government of Ukraine and put in a puppet regime so Russia would then have complete access and control of the plentiful natural resources in the country. He also sought to take complete control of the Black Sea Ports, which will help Russia economically and militarily.

Tuberville is also arguing that even if Russia completely takes over Ukraine, there’s no way they would threaten an actual NATO country afterward. It’s probably correct to assume Putin wouldn’t just roll into the rest of Europe right away — but what about in five years or ten? Do we just let him keep gaining more power? Isn’t it more in our national interest to stop him now before we are forced to use American troops to stop him in the future after he’s increased his capabilities?

To be clear, I do not support endlessly funding this war. I think most people at this point realize neither side is going to completely get what they want. True leadership would be putting pressure on both countries to come to a negotiated settlement.

Tuberville is right about a core principle: President Joe Biden has completely failed diplomatically in ending this war. I do think there’s an argument to be made in trying to end the bloodshed, but that doesn’t mean anyone has to defend Putin’s intentions when making those arguments.

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

(more…)

U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) believes President Joe Biden’s energy policies are hurting America’s national security.

In an op-ed for Fox News, the senator argued for pursuing a policy that will unleash more energy production in the United States and cut the world’s dependence on energy from our adversaries.

The Biden administration has waged war on American energy.

This undermines America’s energy workers and makes us dependent on foreign adversaries for fuel.

More in my latest @FoxNews op-ed:https://t.co/z3P5NNGTdW

— Coach Tommy Tuberville (@SenTuberville) April 25, 2024

“The Biden administration has waged war on American energy,” Tuberville said. “Costs have skyrocketed. Both consumers and producers are being crushed by burdensome regulations. It is critical that Congress prioritize the passage of bipartisan legislation to unleash our nation’s offshore energy resources. Offshore energy development in the Gulf of Mexico is essential to our nation’s all-of-the-above energy strategy, offering immense economic, national security and environmental advantages.”

Tuberville detailed specific policies by the Biden administration that only inhibit domestic energy production.

“According to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management,” Tuberville explained, “the U.S. Department of the Interior only plans to hold three lease sales over the over the next five years in the Gulf of Mexico. This represents the lowest number of auctions in the history of the program, as there have been at least 11 lease sales in every five-year plan since 1992.”

In January, the Biden administration put in place temporary pause on pending Approvals of liquefied natural gas exports.

“The lack of offshore lease sales puts critical opportunities for investment and production at considerable risk,” Tuberville added. “Not to mention the competitive advantage it gives to other countries that do not have these same restrictions. These are just a few examples of Biden’s domestic energy follies, but it doesn’t stop there.”

Tuberville believes it is now up to Congress to step up and pass legislation that will expand America’s energy sector.

“Instead of prioritizing climate activists and implementing burdensome government regulations, Biden should collaborate with Congress to make smart environmental choices while encouraging domestic energy production,” he argued. “Now is the time to advance legislation that safeguards our environment, enhances our energy security and promotes economic growth. Together, we can build a stronger, more resilient energy sector and unleash America’s offshore energy potential, now and for generations to come.”

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

7. After being praised by the statewide media for throwing his career away, gaining national TV time on Kaitlan Collins’ CNN show, and having Read Freely Alabama raise very little money for him, fired and embarrassed former Autauga/Prattville Library Board Library Director Andrew Foster wants his job back. Foster also wants an apology but that seems unlikely after he recorded the library board, fought their decisions on book “weeding,” and took the side of degenerates pushing for filth in Alabama’s libraries ultimately cost him his job, and the job of multiple ridiculous co-workers.

6. Fatties may be protected, this bill seems like a heavy lift for State Rep. Juandalynn Givan (D-Birmingham) who has decided to take on this gargantuan task of protecting plus-size people from what she calls discrimination. This expanding issue could fatten up lawyers’ wallets and place a hefty meal on the plate of business owners who will have to plump up their locations and to take on this meaty issues.

5. More in-vitro fertilization legislation is possible, according to some lawmakers, but the willingness to take on a debate that broadens the gulf between strictly pro-life Republicans, Republicans who are less married to that cause, and pro-abortion advocates. Regardless, bills will be introduced and, if they get voted on, people will have to go on the record on this contentious issue some want to go away.

4. Alabama could have some new healthcare options and lawmakers appear to have some issues with it, State Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur) wants the Alabama Farmers Federation (ALFA) to be able to offer plans that allow people to share healthcare costs. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama does not like this because it creates some competition, while others note that is not actually health insurance..

3. A terror attack in Russia, that was believed to be committed by ISIS-K, has been blamed on the CIA, Israel, and Ukraine. The media also is very upset that people that killed almost 200 people and then were tortured, including shocking one’s genitals and making one allegedly eat their own ear.

2. Alabama’s No. 2 Democrat has stumbled upon a completely insane, stupid, and evil discussion on abortion. Vice Chair of the Alabama Democratic Party Tabitha Isner claims that pro-lifers hate children because they are sinful … seriously. Oddly enough, no other Alabama Democrats will be asked about whether they believe this idiotic nonsense, not the people running for Congress nor Marilyn Lands who is campaigning for a special election and running predominantly on abortion.

1. The latest vote to avoid a government shutdown by Congress took place Saturday morning as the U.S. Senate voted 74-24 to accept a funding bill through the end of the fiscal year that spends $1.2 trillion. Alabama’s U.S. senators were split on the vote with Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) voting “yes” and Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) voting “no” after the Alabama House delegation voted along party lines 6-1 against the measure.

Listen here:



Dale Jackson is a thought leader for Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN, Talk 99.5 and News Radio 1440 from 10-11 a.m., and on Talk Radio 103.9 FM/730AM WUMP from 3-4 p.m.

(more…)

U.S. Rep. Mike Turner, chairman on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, called the Biden administration to declassify information about a “serious national security threat.”

Statement from Chairman @RepMikeTurner: pic.twitter.com/OA9yJuEPlf

— House Intelligence Committee (@HouseIntel) February 14, 2024

It is being reported that the threat has to do with Russia wanting to put nuclear weapons in space in order to threaten U.S. satellites.

Many are skeptical of the timing of all of this because congressional leadership is trying to pass an aid package to help Ukraine in its war against Russia. While the motivations behind Tuner’s comments are definitely suspect, there is no doubt that Russia really wants to threaten America’s infrastructure in earth’s orbit.

This issue isn’t just another example that Space Force was a necessary addition to the U.S. military, one that former President Trump deserves a great deal of credit for, it’s also an example of why leaders shouldn’t be playing politics when it comes to the location of the Space Command Headquarters.

Last year Biden decided to reverse the decision to bring the new Space Command HQ to Huntsville, instead announcing that it would remain in Colorado. The president proved he cared more about hurting a Republican controlled state than he did about national security.

Huntsville is the best place in the country to handle the future space defense. It has Redstone Arsenal AND the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center. There is no better city where space research can work hand in hand with the military and defense contractors to help keep Americans safe.

Don’t just take my word for it. A non-public, 87-page report issued from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) confirmed Huntsville’s Redstone Arsenal was ranked first in the Air Force’s Evaluation and Selection phases.

“Air Force analysis identified Redstone Arsenal as the highest scoring location in the Evaluation Phase, the highest ranked location in the Selection Phase, and the location with the most advantages in the decision matrix,” the GAO report stated. “Air Force officials, including the then Secretary of the Air Force, stated that the decision to identify Redstone Arsenal as the preferred location stemmed from Air Force analysis showing it was the strongest candidate location.”

The fact is America needs to be prepared for the future of warfare, much of which will be in space. Much of the U.S. military and civilian infrastructure is currently in space. An attack on that infrastructure will not only devastate the economy, but would severely undermine our military capabilities.

The Trump campaign should use the Russian nuclear threat in space as an opportunity to show how Biden is playing politics with national security, and then announce that the Trump administration will work to bring the Space Command HQ to Huntsville.

U.S. Rep. Dale Strong (R-Huntsville) and others should be talking to the media today about why this threat is another reason Space Command should come to northern Alabama.

Whatever you think of Turner’s comments, the threat from Russia and China to our assets in space is real. It’s time to take this threat seriously, and moving Space Command HQ to Huntsville is a step in doing 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 Twitter @Yaffee

7. Special counsel Jack Smith REALLY wants former President Donald Trump on trial before the election for alleged election interference and Donald Trump REALLY doesn’t want that to happen. The presidential immunity question is sitting at the Supreme Court and will most likely not go in Trump’s favor. The special counsel clearly has the election on his mind when noting the “unique national importance” of the case and oddly stating that the “delay in the resolution of these charges threatens to frustrate the public interest in a speedy and fair verdict.”

6. A very smart protestor screaming obscenities at Decatur Mayor Tab Bowling’s house was arrested and is now facing a long term in jail after their bond was revoked. Alainah Dailey was arrested for disorderly conduct and held after her probation was revoked for a previous conviction over skip-scanning at a local Walmart. And, unfortunately for her, she is already facing legal issues in Madison County for felony third-degree escape after a DUI arrest.

5. Unelected bureaucrats could potentially be getting put in their place this legislative session if the Legislature moves forward with plans to overhaul some government agencies and laws governing their actions. Activists who use these agencies as cudgels against citizens and as their own private soapboxes are not happy and are claiming librarians will be jailed if they can’t show smut to kids and that the Alabama Department of Archives and History can’t function unless they have lectures on Bull Connors’ sex partners.

4. A celebration for the Kansas City Chiefs was marred by gunfire with 1 person killed and 22 injured, including 8 children. Three black males were detained in the shooting, leading many to speculate that this was not a targeted attack but street violence that is very common in Kansas City.

3. The amount cap on school choice spending is under debate and the people who are overseeing a failing public school system are concerned that kids who leave that system may not be learning elsewhere. The two issues getting the most attention are a cap on suggested costs of $100 million (1% of the education budget) and how to increase it, while others want private schools to take the same tests public schools do but that is widely viewed as a poison pill to scare away private schools.

2. There is apparently a massive destabilizing national security threat, reported to be Russia’s desire to put nukes in space, and U.S. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner (R-Ohio) wants President Joe Biden to declassify the matter to let America know what is going on. Other members of Congress say this is a long-standing issue, and there is no reason to be alarmed.

1. An Alabama House committee passes comprehensive gambling on a voice vote, but Rep. Allen Treadaway (R-Morris) was the only one reported to have voted “no” with an objection to an amnesty to previous lawbreakers in the bill. Treadaway has issues with repealing local gambling amendments that would still allow quasi-legal casinos to continue to operate into 2027 and a protectionist bid process that grants priority status to current gambling entities that the legislation would otherwise shut down. Treadaway says, “I can’t get past the fact that people will be rewarded who have continued to operate for years illegally and made millions. Open bid, open it up. And the state will gain from that.”

Listen here:

Dale Jackson is a thought leader for Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN, on Talk 99.5 from 10-11 a.m., and on Talk Radio 103.9 FM/730AM WUMP from noon to 1 p.m.

Sen. Tommy Tuberville called for negotiation and diplomacy to end the war in Ukraine during an interview with Fox Business’ Larry Kudlow.

“We need to get this over with for the American people, and for the Ukrainians and the Russians,” said Tuberville (R-Auburn). “This needs to be over, but nobody wants to talk about it.”

The senator told Kudlow that the endless flow of money to Ukraine is a huge mistake and that the people authorizing it have no real solutions on how to end the conflict.

“People in Washington D.C. after we’ve already given them (Ukrainians) $120 billion they don’t know how to get out of this. So what are we going to do? We are going to double down,” Tuberville said. “We are going to send them 60 billion more dollars of taxpayers’ money, by the way that we don’t have.”

Tuberville referenced a recent interview between former Fox News host Tucker Carlson and Russian President Vladimir Putin that he says shows the Russian leader is open to peace.

Last night’s @TuckerCarlson's interview with Putin shows that Russia is open to a peace agreement, while it is DC warmongers who want to prolong the war.

That is why I’m voting to stop 60 BILLION MORE of our tax dollars to this conflict.

— Coach Tommy Tuberville (@SenTuberville) February 9, 2024

Tuberville also spoke on the Senate floor this week regarding the lack of negotiations.

“We have yet to see any diplomatic efforts from this administration,” he said. “Joe Biden’s idea of diplomacy is sending Antony Blinken to Israel to tell Israel to slow down the war in Gaza. That’s not diplomacy.

“We need some real diplomacy in Ukraine.”

Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News.

Defense is a major industry in Alabama. 168,439 Alabamians work for defense contractors.

Boeing builds Patriot missile components in Huntsville, the Lancer missile is made in a plant near Troy, parts for the Hydra-70 rocket are made at plants in Anniston and Huntsville. Parts for the Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicle are made in Anniston.

Alabamians build missiles, rockets, planes, helicopters, drones and more to supply the U.S. military and allies. All told, Alabama is on the front lines of security here at home and across the globe.

Since the war began, the United States has directed more than $100 billion in assistance to Ukraine, which includes humanitarian, financial, and military support.

According to one analysis, of the $68 billion in military and related assistance Congress has approved since Russia invaded Ukraine, almost 90 percent is going to Americans.

Marc A. Thiessen pointed this out in a recent Washington Post editorial. He and his American Enterprise Institute colleagues Clara Keuss and Noah Burke catalogued the weapons systems being produced in the United States for Ukraine. They identified 117 production lines in at least 31 states where American workers are producing major weapons systems for Ukraine.

Their analysis found that Alabama is among the top states on the receiving end of aid money.

“Our aid to Ukraine is not only forcing the Pentagon to rapidly increase the United States’ ability to produce weapons; it’s also modernizing the U.S. military,” they wrote.

“As retired Army Maj. Gen. John G. Ferrari, now a colleague at the American Enterprise Institute, recently pointed out, we are giving Ukraine weapons systems that are often decades old and then replacing our stockpiles with more advanced versions.”

Congress is expected to continue debating further aid for Ukraine in the coming days. According to Reuters, “By mid-November, the U.S. Defense Department had used 97% of $62.3 billion in supplemental funding it had received and the State Department had used all of the $4.7 billion in military assistance funding it had been allocated.”

To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com

President Biden’s request for $24 billion in additional funding to Ukraine and $12 billion in FEMA disaster relief funding would traffic weaker immigration policies into existence, U.S. Sen. Katie Britt said.

Biden’s $40 billion request to Congress includes $4 billion in funding for “humanitarian” and migration management needs – with more than $600 million of that to fund shelter and other services for migrants released from DHS custody.

The proposal also includes authorizing language that would allow the administration to take existing funds meant for ICE to enforce immigration laws and instead spend that money on additional aid for migrants.

Britt (R-Montgomery) isn’t having any of it.

“When you look at this money, when you drill down into what he is proposing, he is proposing more money for NGOs, more money to make it enticing for migrants to come here illegally,” she said.

Britt called the ruse a “red line” for her and said she would vote against the supplemental spending measure in an interview Tuesday with Phil Williams on “Rightside Radio.”

“I’m disgusted by the $4 billion for border ‘security.’ That is a farce.” Britt said. “I do not believe that we need to give President Biden more money to ‘manage the border;’ we need to give him money to secure it.”

The Department of Homeland Security is “scrambling to fill billions of dollars in shortfalls across its various agencies,” Axios recently reported – with “the vast majority driven by its efforts to maintain order at the U.S.-Mexico border.”

“We have a crisis on our hands,” Britt said. “I know you’ve seen the numbers. We’ve hit all-time highs. The numbers for August on average — now we’re 7,300 (encounters) a day.”

As of yesterday, the average daily encounters this month was the highest of 2023 — with numbers still rising.

President Biden’s attempts to manage this crisis have failed. It’s past time to enforce existing laws and secure the border.https://t.co/gDh19DUIxq

— Senator Katie Boyd Britt (@SenKatieBritt) August 22, 2023

Britt pointed out Biden’s hesitance to bolster physical border security is ironic, given his support for the 2006 Secure Fence Act.

“Joe Biden knows walls work,” Britt said. “He knows we need them, and it is disgusting to see him play to the liberal left.”

Britt reminded the radio audience that she had voted against the Senate Appropriations Committee’s Homeland Security funding bill for Fiscal Year 2024 because it does not do enough to secure the border and end the border crisis.

“The border, this is a red line,” she said. “And we have to stand up, as I stood up earlier and will continue to be a voice, to say this is the direction that we need to go in, this is the direction the American people want us to go in — and it’s also the direction that they deserve (for us) to go in.”

Britt also blasted Biden for tying in the supplemental border proposal with needed disaster relief funding, as well as the Ukraine piece of the package.

“Biden is trying to intertwine these things together. And we have to say enough is enough,” she said.

Britt continued her longstanding position that it’s in the United States’ own interest to defeat Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, while reaffirming that every dime that American spends on the effort must be strategic and accounted for.

“I believe that we have to support Ukraine,” Britt stressed. “However, it has to be done in a meaningful and a judicious way. We have to make sure there is a proper oversight over any money that is spent in Ukraine.”

Britt previously voted to create a new inspector general who would oversee American funding of Ukraine’s war efforts. She also voted in favor of an amendment that would have mandated NATO countryies pay their fair share toward winning the conflict.

In Tuesday’s interview, she also underscored that continued American support of Ukraine ensures that the U.S. does not break its word on the global stage again – something that the Biden Administration failed to accomplish in its disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan.

“I am a big believer that you have to keep your word,” Britt said.

She pointed to the Budapest Memorandum of 1994, in which the U.S., the United Kingdom, and Russia guaranteed Ukrainian territorial sovereignty and protection in exchange for Ukraine giving up its stockpile of nuclear weapons.

She proceeded by outlining that any U.S. aid to Ukraine’s efforts must be done in the correct manner.

“Now, I think you have to do it though in a way that protects our nation and protects our men and women in uniform,” Britt said. “We do not want any boots on the ground there.

“We have to remember that an emboldened Russia is an emboldened China is an emboldened Iran. And in this environment, we’re trying to make it very clear that they are out for blood when it comes to the United States of America. We have to make sure that we are being vigilant and we do not allow Russia to win.”

Grayson Everett is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @Grayson270

U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers is sending a strong message to China and Russia after the two countries participated in a naval patrol near Alaska.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, warships from the two countries held naval exercises involving aircraft and helicopters and repelled a mock enemy air raid.

Rogers (R-Saks), who chairs the House Armed Services Committee, see this as a blatant attempt to “intimidate” the U.S.

“Continued cooperation between China and Russia is a stark reminder of the challenge we face: for the first time in history, the United States must deter two near-peer nuclear adversaries simultaneously." Chairman @RepMikeRogersAL https://t.co/QEIXQ6eM3v pic.twitter.com/oAMCWXMNP8

— Armed Services GOP (@HASCRepublicans) August 9, 2023

“Continued cooperation between China and Russia is a stark reminder of the challenge we face,” Rogers said. “For the first time in history, the United States must deter two near-peer nuclear adversaries simultaneously. It’s clear that China and Russia’s recent naval patrol was meant to intimidate the United States.”

The congressman also highlighted the need to pass this year’s National Defense Authorization Act.

By investing in the modernization of our nuclear deterrent, the bedrock of U.S. national security, the FY24 National Defense Authorization Act sends a strong message to both China and Russia: The United States cannot be intimidated.”

The 2024 NDAA spends 110% more than last year on nuclear weapons, raising it to $32 billion.

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

7. In a development that surprises no one, some at the White House now believe the drugs came from “within the Biden family orbit, and it wasn’t Hunter.” The claim comes from Soldier of Fortune publisher Susan Katz Keating who cites three security sources in the report, and says President Joe Biden knows who it is.

6. Russia is beating Ukraine as their counter-offensive has stalled in a war the rest of the world has egged on and paid for. Some 55% of Americans oppose more aid for the Ukranian war effort but the Germans are now sending Ukraine cruise missiles.

5. Looks like the now-newly-permanently-Colorado-based Space Command was conspicuously absent from the Space & Missile Defense Symposium in Huntsville after Space Command Commander Gen. James Dickinson allegedly lied to Alabama’s congressional leaders about his wishes for the placement of the command.

4. To further highlight the economic woes of real human beings and the impact of the current economy on average Americans, new reports show that credit card balances are now over $1 trillion for the first time ever with inflation playing a huge role. When Americans aren’t putting it on their credit card, they are taking money out of their 401(k)s to pay day-to-day expenses, which will totally not cause problems in the future.

3. Gas prices have spiked almost 30 cents in the last month as the media and their Democrats are oddly bragging about how great things are going while blaming climate change. U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) responds with some common sense, “Bidenomics = hardworking Americans paying more at the pump. It’s time we drill domestically & utilize our nation’s energy resources to reduce gas prices.”

2. Three dockhand-attacking white men have been arrested, 1 chair-swinging black man is sought in connection with the Riverfront Rumble over the weekend in Montgomery, but the racial focus of the case is disputed directly by the captain of the boat trying to dock that sparked the rumble.

1. While some evidence shows people are numb to former President Donald Trump’s scandals, Trump is acknowledging that all of the legal issues surrounding him MIGHT hurt his campaign while speaking in New Hampshire: “Sorry, I won’t be able to go to Iowa today, I won’t be able to go to New Hampshire today because I’m sitting in a courtroom on bullshit because his attorney general charged me with something.” On those legal matters, Trump’s legal team wanted a delay on his hearing about a potential gag order, but that was ignored and will be heard Friday.

Listen here:

Dale Jackson is a thought leader for Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN and on Talk 99.5 from 10 a.m. to noon.