Unions Archives

7. California Gov. Gavin Newsom has released the state’s new congressional maps, claiming they will “END THE TRUMP PRESIDENCY” and right the wrongs of Texas’ redistricting efforts.

6. Auburn will end its test-optional admissions policy by fall 2027, requiring standardized tests for all applicants, ending a policy that was enacted because of accusations that the tests made it harder for minority applicants.

5. Birmingham City Council greenlights the final phase of the “Home for All” plan to tackle housing and homelessness issues, which it will not do.

4. President Donald Trump warns Russia of severe consequences if it refuses to negotiate an end to the Ukraine conflict, possibly including a West Bank-style occupation with Trump adding that he is not interested in pointless conversations: “I’ve had a lot of good conversations with him then I go home and I see that a rocket hit a nursing home or a rocket hit an apartment building, and people are laying dead in the streets.”

3. A Cygnal-BCA poll indicates Attorney General Steve Marshall (24%) has an early lead in Alabama’s U.S. Senate race over Auburn head basketball coach Bruce Pearl (12.9%) and U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) (8.8%); but Pearl is probably not entering the race.

2. Trump’s D.C. crime crackdown has led to over 100 arrests on Tuesday alone, with arrests for suspected homicide, narcotics charges, firearm offenses, warrants, and the arrests of 23 illegal immigrants.

1. Alabama’s GOP delegation supports Trump’s initiative to improve safety in Washington, D.C., with Governor-elect Coach U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) noting, “Mayor Bowser has failed D.C. Thank you, @POTUS, for deploying the National Guard and for working to restore our capital to the shining jewel of America.”

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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. Senators Tommy Tuberville and Katie Britt, along with U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) have reintroduced legislation that repeals six controversial statutory provisions in two existing labor-related laws.

The laws that the National Right to Work Act will alter if ratified include the National Labor Relations Act and the Railway Labor Act. Both allow private-sector workers, airline, and railroad employees, to be terminated if they don’t surrender a portion of their paycheck to a union.

“No one should be peer pressured or forced to join a union,” said Tuberville (R-Auburn) “That may work in some states, but not in Alabama. Alabama workers should have the freedom to do what is best for them and their families. I’m proud to partner with Sen. Paul to stand up for Alabama’s Right-to-Work laws.”

According to Britt (R-Montgomery), the National Right to Work Act “puts bargaining power back where it belongs.”

“After four years of wages failing to keep up with inflation under the Biden-Harris Administration, Republicans are putting American workers first,” said Britt. “The National Right to Work Act would protect Americans from being forced to hand over part of their hard-earned paycheck to a union they didn’t choose to join. I’m proud to support this legislation that rightly ensures hardworking Americans are truly empowered to negotiate the terms of their own employment.”

The National Right to Work Act has also been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Alabama is one of 28 right-to-work states that have enacted laws to protect employees from forced union membership.

Austen Shipley is the News Director for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @ShipleyAusten

Alabama House Majority Leader Scott Stadthagen says his recent legislation will effectively keep the United Auto Workers (UAW) and large union interests away from Alabama, because when employees cast secret ballots, they do so without coercion or fear of retaliation.

Earlier this month, an vote among workers at the Alabama Mercedes-Benz manufacturing facility resulted in a decisive defeat for the UAW. Thursday, Stadthagen (R-Hartselle) discussed his bill on FM Talk 106.5’s “The Jeff Poor Show”

“We give incentives for good-paying jobs to come into state of Alabama — every state does,” said Stadthagen. “I actually think that piece of legislation keeps UAW out of the state of Alabama.”

“If you’re getting incentives with the state, and say UAW comes in, and you do not allow those employees to have the opportunity for private ballots, well, then you will lose your incentives that the state has provided for you,” Stadthagen explained. “The employers will not have a problem providing that opportunity for them. They just needed some guidelines to go by to be able to do that.”

The workers at Mercedes recently voted down the UAW’s request to unionize the labor force there. UAW’s defeat surprised many pundits — but not Stadthagen.

“I actually thought they received a lot more votes than what they should,” said Stadthagen. “I think that if you look at either UAW past record in what they’ve done or to different states and, and communities. I mean, they have destroyed communities. The only person that benefits when they get involved is themselves. And that’s it.”

“They make all these empty promises to these employees, and they never ever fulfill their end of the bargain,” he continued. “And I think once the employees realize what the end result of this will be, they will keep putting them down. And that’s when they will say, you know, what, Alabama is not profitable for us, because that’s what, that’s all they’re worried about. And they’ll go somewhere else.”

Stadthagen also mentioned a smaller flashpoint in the UAW’s campaign that drew significant frustration from the state’s biggest institutions, including the University of Alabama, Auburn University — and even Nick Saban himself.

“When the results came in, UAW immediately went back with a Alabama logo shirt, which, Coach Nick Saban was calling him out, ‘Do not use our logo for your benefit.’ And of course, that’s exactly what they didn’t listen, they didn’t care. They kept doing what they wanted to do,” Stadthagen said.

“We keep pushing the message to the employees and let them know, ‘This is who this is, this is what they want to do. This is their track record.’ When we run for political office, we are held accountable on our votes and what we do in our communities in our districts. And this is the same thing. Anytime you take a vote on something, especially something that impacts the families providing a roof and food on the table for their families, we’ve got to let them see the writing on the wall of what this actually organization is and what they do.”

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

7. It was destined to fail because Hamas demands Gazans suffer to maintain control and blame the Jews and Americans for their plight. But, the U.S.-built temporary pier delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza will be removed and repaired after being damaged by rough seas. Regardless, it has been $320 million utter failure that operated for 1 week brought in 569 metric tons of aid and still delivered zero to Palestinians.

6. When the Alabama Public Library Service approved new administrative rule changes, lunatics in the media and their Democrats declared an end to society because libraries are now required to safeguard minors from inappropriate material and outline policies for locating or relocating such material. ALGOP Chairman John Wahl drove the point home that this is about child safety and parental rights, rejecting criticism of censorship and emphasizing the duty to protect children and said it is better handled by the board APLS rather than the Legislature, but this is hardly over.

5. After a devastating tornado displaced 1,800 families in Selma, a new initiative led by the Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America is building affordable, climate-resilient homes to address the city’s housing shortage and support economic recovery. Tamicka Newberry, one of the tornado victims, won a home through a raffle, symbolizing some faint hope and the potential for community revitalization. However, the community is already the fastest-shrinking in the state because being known and promoted as the ground zero of racial strife is not a good selling point for the community to attract industry and keep the population in the city.

4. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon denied Special Counsel Jack Smith’s request for a gag order on former President Donald Trump in his classified documents case, citing procedural failures. But Trump’s attorneys argued that the request was “unconstitutional censorship” and sought sanctions against the prosecutors for not properly consulting with them before filing the motion, which claimed Trump’s statements posed risks to law enforcement. This was a tactic used by Trump opponents for years to suggest that he should not be able to criticize those he disagrees with.

3. The meltdown over President Joe Biden’s faltering 2024 presidential campaign has moved from the media-class to the professional-class where a number of Democratic strategists are predicting defeat in the race against former President Donald Trump, citing President Biden’s low polling numbers and campaign weaknesses. Concerned operatives and advisers, speaking anonymously, highlight Biden’s poor performance in key swing states and dissatisfaction among donors, with some openly critical voices like strategist James Carville, CNN’s Paul Begala, and former Obama advisor David Axelrod stressing the need for a change in strategy and messaging to avoid losing the 2024 election.

2. Bragging about liberal special interest groups’ endorsements is quite the choice in a contested race for Congress in the newly drawn, racially gerrymandered Second Congressional District that is expected to send a black Democrats to Congress, but is hardly a slam dunk. Attorney Caroleene Dobson, the GOP nominee for the race, should be thrilled to see Shomari Figures, the Democratic nominee, touting endorsements from Planned Parenthood, the Congressional Black Caucus PAC, and the New Democrat Coalition Action Fund.

1. In closing arguments for former President Donald Trump’s “hush money” trial in New York, prosecutor Joshua Steinglass argued Trump conspired to deceive voters in 2016 through hush money payments, while Trump’s lawyer, Todd Blanche attacked the credibility of key witness Michael Cohen and insisted Trump committed no crimes. Steinglass focused on the motive and context of the hush money payments, particularly their potential impact during the election, while Blanche dismissed the prosecution’s narrative as politically motivated and unreliable, urging the jury to acquit Trump on all counts. In order to show that current President Joe Biden is not behind the prosecution of his opponent in the 2024 presidential election, the Biden-Harris campaign called an official press conference outside the courthouse where the trial is being held where actor Robert De Niro criticized former President Donald Trump as a “danger” to American democracy.

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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 and from 10-11 a.m. on Talk 99.5 and News Radio 1440, with a rebroadcast Talk Radio 103.9 FM/730AM WUMP from 3-4 p.m.

Radio talk show host Yaffee and 256 Today CEO Mecca Musick take you through Alabama’s biggest political stories.

Mecca Musick is the CEO of 256 Today. Sign up for the 256 Today newsletter here.

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

7. U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) executed her cunning plan to attempt to remove Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La.) from his position, citing various “transgressions” that include working with Democrats on aid for Ukraine and on budgetary matters. Despite her efforts, Democrats and Republicans (and former President Donald Trump) rejected Greene’s motion, with an overwhelming majority voting to keep Johnson in his role.

6. The anti-religion “Freedom From Religion Foundation” has called on the Birmingham Police Department to stop having officers pray for a safe shift because it deems that vicious act as a an unconstitutional religious ceremony funded by the department. The sad group also claims the department regularly hosts religious activities during mandatory staff roll calls, including prayers, bible readings, and devotionals led by a local Baptist pastor and demands they stop all of this right now.

5. Alabama lawmakers have passed a bill that is seen by Democrats as “anti-union” and they are clearly right. This is a bill that is being pushed amidst unionization efforts, notably at a Mercedes Benz plant in Vance, to protect the state’s reputation as a place for foreign auto manufactures to locate. The bill reaffirms Alabama’s “right-to-work” status by ending economic incentives for companies that choose to recognize unions or fail to conduct secret ballot union elections.

4. Pro-Hamas protesters could get a one-way ticket to Gaza to serve a minimum six-month community service sentence if they keep up the violent campus chaos, if lawmakers get their way. Like the protestors demanding ceasefire and an end to the war in Gaza, the lawmakers offering up this penalty have not checked with Hamas about whether they want a bunch of obese, blue-haired, septum-pierced, non-binary theys/thems with giant nose rings and hideous tattoos in their ever-shrinking territory; so this seems like a less-than-serious measure.

3. Citing some property tax increases of 40%, Alabama lawmakers have now passed a bill capping property tax increases in the state at 7%. Lt. Gov. Will Ainsworth reacted to the laws passage by saying, “Unexpected double-digit property tax increases are no longer a threat to home and business owners thanks to passage of our tax cap legislation.”

2. Infighting over gambling is dumb but as the 2024 legislative session in Alabama limps to the finish line, the gambling bill is still very dead and some Alabama State House members wanted to make the Alabama Farmers Federation pay for not supporting it by holding up a bill they had interest in. The Alabama Farm Center bill, which would provide tax and regulatory incentives (think Disney in Florida) for a project in Jefferson County to create a venue for rodeos, livestock shows, and agricultural events was held up over this fight by State Reps. Sam Jones (D-Mobile) and Andy Whitt (R-Harvest) but eventually it moved out of committee.

1. Hamas has to love seeing American President Joe Biden declaring publicly that if Israel continues trying to kill them by chasing them to where they are hiding, America will stop giving/selling them weaponry, with our money, to fight the war in Gaza. Even some Democrats, like U.S. Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) says that this move “makes a mockery of our credibility as an ally,” adding “I suspect it’s pandering to the far left,” and Democrats impeached then-President Donald Trump for allegedly mixing politics with national security.

U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Saks) blasted the United Auto Workers (UAW) leadership Thursday for siding with the agitators currently causing problems on college campuses.

UAW President Shawn Fain released a statement criticizing police and the leadership of some of the universities for the “mass arrest” of the anti-Israel demonstrators.

The UAW will never support the mass arrest or intimidation of those exercising their right to protest, strike, or speak out against injustice.

— Shawn Fain (@ShawnFainUAW) May 1, 2024

“The UAW will never support the mass arrest or intimidation of those exercising their right to protest, strike, or speak out against injustice. Our union has been calling for a ceasefire for six months,” Fain said. “This war is wrong, and this response against students and academic workers, many of them UAW members, is wrong. We call on the powers that be to release the students and employees who have been arrested, and if you can’t take the outcry, stop supporting this war.”

Fain’s statement is a response to police dismantling the illegal encampments at Columbia University and UCLA.

Rogers, who has been very critical of the UAW’s attempt to unionize Mercedes plants in the Yellowhammer State, fired back at Fain’s comments.

“The UAW is standing with the crazed, pro-Hamas rioters that have been wreaking havoc on college campuses,” Rogers said. “Make no mistake, both of these groups are mouthpieces of the radical left, and neither of them is welcome in Alabama.”

The UAW is standing with the crazed, pro-Hamas rioters that have been wreaking havoc on college campuses. Make no mistake, both of these groups are mouthpieces of the radical left, and neither of them is welcome in Alabama. https://t.co/CTy62mLhU9

— Mike Rogers (@RepMikeRogersAL) May 1, 2024

The vote to unionize at the Mercedes-Benz plants in Vance and Woodstock, Alabama will take place May 13 through 17.

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. There could be new life for Birmingham-Southern College’s campus as Alabama A&M hopes to acquire it and suggest we could see a Alabama A&M at Birmingham, if Alabama A&M, the state’s largest historically black college or university (HBCU), could acquire the campus. This potential acquisition could expand Alabama A&M’s footprint in Birmingham, release some pressure on their Normal, Ala., campus, and continue providing the economic impact BSC’s campus has on the Birmingham-metro area.

6. Mayor Tab Bowling and the city of Decatur’s terrible leadership is leading it toward chaos because their handling of the aftermath of the death of Steve Perkins and now citizens are literally threatening violence with no consequences. At the latest city council meeting, angry and irrational citizens, like Sierra Taylor, threatened the city, “We’re done being peaceful if we can’t be met with the same peace we’ve been giving. Have y’all heard of the black militia group? Have y’all heard of Black Panthers? Did y’all see what happened with George Floyd? I don’t want that to happen to this community, but if we are continued to be met with this kind of force they will be here!”

5. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey demanded automakers in the state address concerns ahead of a union vote, emphasizing the need for resolution without workers formalizing their support for the union. Commerce Secretary Ellen McNair is promoting some fictional opportunity for cooperation between companies and workers before the mid-May vote at the Vance, Ala., Mercedes plant.

4. It is clear that Americans hate the protestors on college campus but love Israel which makes President Joe Biden’s weakness on both Israel defending itself and the chaos on college campuses even odder. Americans overwhelmingly support Israel’s actions against Hamas, with 80% backing Israel in its war against the group, and 72% supporting a military operation in Rafah to end the conflict.

3. Not a single Middle Eastern country will take so-called Palestinian refugees, partially because they cause chaos wherever they go and partially because their suffering causes headaches for Israel. So, of course, President Joe Biden wants to bring them to the United States. U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) represents all Americans when he responded to this with a very pointed tweet saying, “The Biden Administration hates the American people. They want to import terrorists in exchange for votes”

2. Former President Donald Trump has been fined $9,000 and held in contempt of court for repeatedly violating a gag order in his New York hush money case, with the judge warning of potential jail time for further infractions or if Trump did not delete his Truth Social posts. Surprisingly, Trump did take down those posts and this may symbolize a new era of cooperation from Trump – but that is highly-unlikely.

1. A compromise has FAILED on a the gambling bill but it will appear again … again. The bill outlined plans for an education lottery (Alabama lottery, multi-state lottery games, and scratch-off games), electronic gambling at seven sites (4 existing poor areas and 3 new poor areas), no table games unless they are electronic, no sports betting, the establishment of a state gambling commission, and negotiations for a compact with the Poarch Band of Creek Indians.

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7. Looks like we have a new reason to cancel class now, crime. Following a weekend shooting that left a teen student seriously injured in Selma, Selma High School and Saints Virtual Academy/Alternative School transitioned to virtual learning. Selma Police Chief Kenta Fulford indicated the shooting was retaliation and Selma City Schools Superintendent Zickeyous Byrd stated that virtual learning will continue until suspects are apprehended or until the increased police presence ensures safety.

6. Former President Donald Trump’s poll numbers have only increased since he was put on trial, with a new CNN poll showing Trump up 6 points on President Joe Biden and there is a pretty good reason these numbers are growing. 57% of Americans thinks Trump’s prosecution is a political persecution.

5. UAB football players, with head coach Trent Dilfer’s support, have joined Athletes.org union/players’ association, becoming the first Division I team to do so publicly. Dilfer convened a voluntary meeting in April to prepare the team for potential negotiations aimed at securing a larger share of their sport’s revenue, emphasizing the importance of ensuring the players have a voice in shaping the future of college athletics.

4. A group of Republican senators, led by Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), expressed concerns over ideological bias at NPR and criticized CEO Katherine Maher after former senior editor Uri Berliner’s resignation citing her “divisive views,” highlighting their worry about NPR’s editorial direction. These Republican chumps think they can remake public broadcasting by funding them and then asking nicely. But they can not reform a taxpayer-funded organization that blasts anti-Republican/pro-Democrat propaganda and then ask them to stop being so biased.

3. A cease fire with Isreal/Hamas is not possible because Hamas wants all Jews dead. They have made that very clear but the Biden administration is being bullied by its left-wing base and they feel they must do something and the Israelis have again offered a cease fire. Hamas is considering a new proposal from Egypt that entails releasing up to 33 hostages taken from Israel in exchange for a temporary cessation of hostilities in Gaza and a “sustainable calm.”

2. Sane Democrats finally have seen enough, unfortunately there are not many of them, as only 21 House Democrats have now urged Columbia University’s Board of Trustees to end an “anti-Israel encampment.” But the deadline passed and the encampment remained with college students smashing windows and hanging “Intifada” banners. Citing safety concerns and potential violations of the Civil Rights Act and disruption of campus life, these Democrats are arguing that segregating students rather than addressing the root cause of the discrimination creates an unsafe environment for all, it doesn’t help them electorally either.

1. There are only 5 legislative days left on the calendar for the Alabama Legislature and that means that there are a lot of things they want to get done AFTER they pass record General Fund and Education Trust Fund budgets. Gambling, of course, is still on the table, there is a workforce development package, a ban on LGBTQ classroom instruction, laws to jail smut-peddling librarians, a bill allow illegals to go to college, an insulting legalization of slot machines with horse racing, desired money for summer feeding programs, a law that would require porn filters on phones, a bill to let the governor appoint the State Health Officer, and more.

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State Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur) is worried about the future of automobile manufacturing in Alabama because of the effort to unionize a Mercedes Benz factory.

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) announced that workers at the Mercedes Benz factory in Vance, Alabama will vote between May 13 and May 17 to unionize.

The concern comes after the United Auto Workers (UAW) was able to organize a successful unionization effort at Volkswagen factory in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Orr told WVNN’s “The Dale Jackson Show,” Friday that he’s heard discussion from other automakers about the issue that’s very “concerning” for the future of Alabama’s economy.

“I’ve heard that same topic and same discussion that yes, they are not happy, and that future growth in Alabama would come to a screeching halt as far as some of our other automakers because of this,” Orr said. “And that’s certainly concerning, because there are other states that would certainly love to have what we have in Alabama and what we’ve been working to have since Mercedes first came in the early 90s.”

The Legislature recently passed Orr’s bill that would withhold economic incentives to a company that voluntarily recognizes a union “solely and exclusively on the basis of signed labor organization authorization cards if the selection of a bargaining representative may be conducted through a secret ballot election.”

The senator admitted though that there’s only so much they can do at the state level to prevent unions from gaining more influence in Alabama.

“Well, you’ve got federal law out there and the National Labor Relations Act that controls all this and it’s pretty, pretty tight,” he explained. “And then you’ve got a board that governs that entity that under the Biden administration and Obama administration, crank out rules and [regulations] that tighten it even further. So it makes it very difficult for the state to do much of anything when it comes to organization efforts or post organization efforts with unions.”

Orr said he’s not certain that the workers at the Mercedes plant in Vance will vote to join the union.

“I don’t know if I’d say it was a foregone conclusion just yet,” he said, “but certainly there’ll be a vote in it’ll be in the coming days, I think in the middle of next month, is something that they’ve scheduled and we’ll see how it rolls but based on the Volkswagen experience that the UAW had been working much longer. You know, it was our overwhelming vote to to unionize.”

He also warned the automakers that they better take good care of their employees if they want to prevent more unionization efforts in the future.

“These things take time, but the UAW doesn’t stop at the state lines,” he said. “And so they will follow wherever they think they can get sufficient votes to organize. And I would think they’ll find where there’s a disenchanted employee base to work with and that first domino starts tipping over as the organization efforts proceed and the promises are made by the UAW. And if an employer has not been mindful of their employees, they can be vulnerable certainly to an organizational effort.”

Governor Kay Ivey has continually spoken out against the UAW’s potential expansion in Alabama. She took her biggest swing yet at the union on Thursday in a social media post:

https://twitter.com/GovernorKayIvey/status/1783546603795628221

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. According to a recent report from Redfin, buying a home in the U.S. has become increasingly costly, with the median home price reaching a record high of $383,725, marking a 5.2 percent increase from a year ago. Even with super-high interest rates, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate has surged to 7.1 percent, the highest since November 2023, leading to a record median monthly housing payment of $2,843, up 13 percent from the same period last year.

6. Believe it or not, two things are happening with the 2024 presidential election: polls tightening, with former President Donald Trump still leading, and interest in the election is at an ALL TIME LOW. With registered voters, President Joe Biden is now leads Trump by 0.5 percentage points across eight polls while in a likely voter poll average, Trump leads by 47.3 percent to 44.7 percent in a two-way race, and in a five-way race, his lead extends to 43.7 percent to 40 percent across four polls

5. The fight against unions continues in Alabama as the Mercedes plant in Vance will soon see a vote to joining the union take place and now leaders are fighting back, even though Labor Secretary Julie Siu is telling tell Alabama to back off. Alabama Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter (R-Rainsville) said, “The UAW business model is simple: Weaponize the workforce, drive up costs, destroy quality and send the state’s auto industry up in smoke” and Governor Kay Ivey referred to them as a “corrupt, shifty and a dangerous leech.”

4. U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Montgomery), and others, are demanding President Joe Biden, Attorney General Merrick Garland, and Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona to take action against riots on college campuses and protect Jewish students. The group of dozens of U.S. Senators emphasized the need for immediate federal intervention to address anti-Semitic incidents, stating that such actions violate federal laws and could lead to consequences such as schools losing access to federal funds or individuals facing deportation for supporting terrorist groups like Hamas.

3. Not content to only rot the brains of college kids, they are targeting little kids now. A “Queer Storytime for Palestine” event at the Northampton Center for the Arts in Massachusetts has a lot of people up after a drag queen, Lil Miss Hot Mess, led children in chanting “Free Palestine.” The insane event, organized by Valley Families for Palestine but not officially sanctioned by Hamas, included activities celebrating Palestinian culture and donated profits to alQaws, a Palestinian organization advocating for queer liberation.

2. Alabama schools have avoided the stupid nonsense taking place on other campuses, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) wants in on the anti-Semitism and brain-dead takes, including demanding a Palestinian flag on a wall showing where students come from when it is already there. The Student Senate, a worthless organization full of nerds, issued a pathetic resolution that “condemns the ongoing occupation, settler colonialism, apartheid, ethnic cleansing of Palestinians since 1948” (not true) and “plausible genocide of Gaza since 2023.” (also, not true).

1. Former President Donald Trump’s claim of presidential immunity seems unlikely to be successful, with delay being the endgame, but conservative justices on the court posed pointed inquiries to the special counsel’s attorney that lined up with Trump’s assertion that lacking any form of immunity could lead to politically driven prosecutions against future presidents. On other legal issues, an appeal was rejected in the E. Jean Carroll case and Trump now has to pay a ridiculous $83.3 million to a woman that could not tell a jury the date or location of her alleged sexual assault.

7. Some people had an interesting reaction to the solar eclipse, this could include “eclipse sickness,” changed periods and other wackiness. A woman in Florida claiming that God instructed her to shoot at vehicles on Interstate 10 during the eclipse was arrested and charged with multiple felonies related to the incident.

6. The fight in the Second Congressional District is heating up on the Republican side. At an ALGOP congressional forum, attorney Caroleene Dobson attacked former Sen. Dick Brewbaker’s legislative record, and said, “We don’t need to send a retired career politician to Washington.” Brewbaker said Dobson is lying about his record, and noted Dobson’s desire to close the border was impossible and his opposition to tariffs has been the pro-business position of the GOP for decades, highlighting a serious divide in the party.

5. Alabama Reps. Dale Strong (R-Monrovia) and Jerry Carl (R-Mobile) took turns roasting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas with Strong continuing his calls for Mayorkas impeachment for his failures at the Southern border. For his part, Carl calls also wants accountability from Secretary Mayorkas, emphasizing how he and President Joe Biden “inherited the lowest rate of illegal immigration in 45 years, and 3 years into his presidency, we are seeing the highest rate ever of illegal immigrants pouring into our country.”

4. To President Joe Biden, to keep trying to buy votes, the more irresponsible you are the better; so, at least he knows his voters. Details emerged about Biden’s proposed student loan forgiveness plan, which aims to provide up to $20,000 in forgiveness for eligible individuals with money going to people who have owed the money for decades, those who owe more than they did at the start of repayment, those who went to fake schools, and of course there is a racial component to this vote-buying scheme.

3. A big day for automakers in Alabama with the state becoming the No. 1 exporter of automobiles in the nation, as unions request workers’ vote and lawmakers continue to combat them. House Majority Leader Scott Stadthagen (R-Hartselle) criticizes the UAW, saying that the “UAW is a multi-level marketing scheme selling empty promises to Alabama auto workers.”

2. People like in vitro fertilization, according to new polling that reveals support for IVF among GOP voters in Alabama, indicating a shift in conservative attitudes towards reproductive technologies. This data underscores evolving perspectives on family planning and medical advancements within traditionally conservative demographics with 61% of GOP voters against the Alabama Supreme Court’s decision and 31% supporting it.

1. Former President Trump’s abortion decision riles friends and foes by refusing to endorse a nationwide abortion ban because he is right, it should be left up to the states. The Biden administration already has an ad out blaming Trump for a woman who claims she almost died because of the end of Roe v. Wade, while Trump super-fan U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) complained about the decision “respectfully” saying, “we should draw a line,” and earned a Truth Social rebuke where Trump said he was sorry for getting Graham elected (which he did not do) saying Graham’s position is “handing Democrats their dream.”

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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, 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.

7. Alabama men’s basketball’s dream for a national championship died in Phoenix but head coach Nate Oats says this is not the end: “We have to use this game as motivation going into the next year.” The UConn Huskies were too much as they secured their chance at back-to-back men’s basketball national championships with an 86-72 victory over the Crimson Tide.

6. The University of Alabama College of Education has initiated “Teach in Bama,” a program aimed at cultivating and retaining exceptional teachers within Alabama’s schools by offering scholarships and career resources. The first two school districts have now signed on, Tuscaloosa City Schools and Greene County Schools and more are expected.

5. A back-and-forth between a member of the Alabama Ethics Commission and the guy trying to remake the rules has taken to the airwaves and is getting ugly with State Rep. Matt Simpson (R-Daphne) suggesting ethics board member Stan McDonald violated ethics rules by contributing to campaigns, a felony McDonald admits. McDonald’s case now awaits a decision from Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall regarding prosecution and the Alabama State Senate still needs to pass Simpson’s reforms for them to become law.

4. State Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur) expressed support for Alabama workers’ right to organize but emphasized the necessity of a secret ballot for unionization and said his proposal conditions employer eligibility for economic incentives on conducting unionization votes via secret ballot, rather than solely relying on signed labor organization authorization cards. Orr highlighted the importance of preventing coercion from both employers and unions, stating that secret ballots allow employees to make decisions free from pressure. He also expressed concerns about potential economic repercussions if Alabama becomes known as a high-union state, citing possible impacts on job creation and corporate investment in the state.

3. The Alabama State House wants to make it clear squatters don’t have a claim to anyone’s home in Alabama so the Alabama House of Representatives unanimously passed HB182, bipartisan legislation sponsored by State Rep. Craig Lipscomb (R-Gadsden), that increases penalties for those entering residences unlawfully and for individuals presenting falsified ownership documents to enshrine property rights. Currently, Alabama law requires someone occupy a property continuously for 20 years to claim squatters’ rights through adverse possession but Lipscomb emphasized the importance of protecting property rights, citing problems in other states.

2. Much to the chagrin of the media and their Democrats who lauded President Joe Biden’s previous record fundraising haul, former President Donald Trump’s campaign raised $50.5 million at a Florida fundraiser, surpassing Biden’s recent $26 million collection at a New York event. Trump emphasized key issues like tax cuts and border security, signaling strong support from GOP donors, and the media is on the attack because Trump said he will keep taxes low.

1. A new bill tackles obscenity in children’s’ books available at a public library and the usual degenerates are squealing even though their usual cries of censorship have been ignored as absurd. So now the tactic is to suggest the bill stopping this garbage from being funded by taxpayers, they are suggesting the bill describing the filth is filth. Now even aldotcom’s John Archibald out-of-touch thought leader finds himself without any solid ground to stand on. He laments that there would be no more drag shows in libraries, argues that the Bible “violates a lot of the standards laid out in this bill” but ignores its historical exemption in the bill, and farcically calls the bill a “serious attack on thought, and expression, if it did not seek to criminalize an important, service-oriented profession,” as if librarians should be expected to provide smut to kids with legal protections to do so.

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.

State Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur) said he’s not against Alabama workers organizing — he just wants to make sure it’s done through a secret ballot.

Orr’s proposal would condition an employer’s eligibility for economic development incentives if the employer voluntarily grants recognition rights for the employees solely and exclusively on the basis of signed labor organization authorization cards. Instead, the vote to unionize would have to be done by a secret ballot.

Members of the Senate Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Development Committee approved the bill on Wednesday.

Orr discussed the legislation Friday on WVNN’s “The Dale Jackson Show.”

“[P]art of the requirement that if you take a lot of taxpayer dollars, you just need to have a union vote and that vote needs to be about a secret ballot,” Orr explained. “That’s all it says. It doesn’t say you can’t unionize. And you can’t go down that road. It just says you got to have a vote and it’s got to be by secret ballot. And I don’t really see the big problem with that.”

State Sen. Orr believes this will prevent companies and union leaders from being able to pressure employees.

“It would prevent any coercion on behalf of the employer who’s trying to coerce employees not to support a union,” he argued. “And it would prevent coercion by the union of trying to get the employees to vote for the Union. So let people make their decisions. And let them make it by secret ballot as opposed to a much more public vote through the card check system where they know who’s with them and who ain’t, and it becomes a real tug of war in the workplace environment.”

Orr also said he’s worried of the economic consequence on Alabama if the unionization efforts are successful.

“If Alabama becomes known as a high union state,” he said. “I think it will impact future job locations here or corporately a location so expansions, etcetera, companies choosing Alabama to put down their manufacturing sites if we become the Michigan of the South as far as unionization is concerned.”

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. Third-party candidate for President, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has selected life-long liberal donor and activist attorney Nicole Shanahan as his vice presidential nominee for the 2024 election. Team Biden and the DNC are gearing up to minimize Kennedy and other 3rd party challengers they feel will peel off his support and help former President Donald Trump win.

6. President Joe Biden has vowed a massive federal response and members of Congress will seek federal funding for a replacement after a major bridge collapse in Baltimore. President Joe Biden also used the moment to promote more infrastructure expenditures and lie about taking a train over this very bridge numerous times even though trains have never made the trip he described prompting scrutiny and criticism where normal people will wonder if he is lying again or if he is showing more signs of obvious cognitive decline.

5. Birmingham-Southern to officially close after 168 years, recent financial mismanagement, and a failure to secure loans through the legislature or local governmental support as all signs point to an inability to carry on in a fiscally sound way. The consequences of this mismanagement will be felt by the staffers, students, and alumni, as well as the surrounding community.

4. Former President Donald Trump was handed a gag order in the hush-money case involving stripper and porn star Stormy Daniels that is being brought by New York District Attorney Alvin Bragg, in another clearly politically-motivated case that shows the peril Trump faces moving forward. The New York judge’s order restricts Trump’s public statements about the legal proceedings and the people involved, despite how it limits Trump’s ability to campaign how he wishes.

2. A candidate for Alabama State House District 27 special election, Billy Ray Todd, was reportedly attacked after a self-described “super liberal” charged at Todd which sent both to the ground and Todd with a larges scratch. Todd says he was explaining his desire to get wokeness out of schools and the woman insisted there are more than two when the argument got heated and they ended up on the ground before being separated.

1. The fight over unionization in Alabama is about to get really heated and ugly with workers who are organizing at Mercedes-Benz in Alabama allege retaliation from the company, according to reports, including retaliatory discipline/termination for union activity and mandatory meetings to watch anti-union videos. The United Auto Workers leader Shawn Fain went hard at Alabama’s leadership with direct criticism of the company, Governor Kay Ivey and the Business Council of Alabama (BCA) saying, The company, the Governor, and the Business Council are trying to make you afraid to stand up, because you are so close to realizing a life many thought wasn’t possible. Mercedes is using fear, uncertainty, and division because they are afraid. Mercedes is afraid of you having a voice in your work life. Mercedes is afraid of sharing any control over your work lives.”

1. Democrat Marilyn Lands has successfully defeated Republican Madison City Councilman Teddy Powell by a pretty substantial margin in a race where the winning candidate motivated her base with abortion talk and the endorsement of former Republican State House Representative in the District Mike Ball (R-Madison). The national media is very, very, very, very, very, exited about this.

Listen:

United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain showed up in Coaling, Alabama on Sunday to rally supporters and pitch union membership in an ongoing effort by his group to unionize Mercedes-Benz U.S. International employees in Alabama.

As the first major automotive manufacturing facility to break ground in the state, the 1993 Mercedes-Benz development began a catalyst for the automotive manufacturing powerhouse Alabama has become today.

Fain delivered a speech to several dozen attendees on Sunday, some of which were presumably Mercedes employees, amid reports that half of the total workers at the plant have signed union cards.

“You are in spitting distance of a life-changing victory. That’s because all of you are coming together with your coworkers to do the work of organizing your workplace,” Fain said.

“And the company knows it too. That’s why Mercedes is pulling out every trick in the book to instill fear, uncertainty, and division. To scare people off of standing up for a better life.”

https://twitter.com/UAW/status/1772035835908514200

“The company, the Governor, and the Business Council are trying to make you afraid to stand up, because you are so close to realizing a life many thought wasn’t possible. Mercedes is using fear, uncertainty, and division because they are afraid. Mercedes is afraid of you having a voice in your work life. Mercedes is afraid of sharing any control over your work lives,” Fain said.

The UAW boss told workers to stand up and fight back against their employer. He added that the situation unfolding at Mercedes is part of a broader effort to exert union “muscle” into Alabama.

“And it’s not just about the vote. True victory is not just winning a vote. We want to win big on the day of the election, but we also need to build that organizing muscle, that unity, and that determination to win big in a union contract,” he told the crowd.

State leaders, including Governor Kay Ivey, have expressed urgent opposition to UAW’s efforts. Fain’s explicit hostility toward Mercedes-Benz, Ivey and the Business Council of Alabama (BCA) are in response to a widespread effort to communicate to workers the negative consequences unions can wreak in both the economy of the states they are involved, and even the homes of the members they organize.

In January, BCA launched the campaign “Alabama Strong” in addition to a call to action message from their President and CEO Helena Duncan.

“Newspaper headlines are often filled with stories about the “decline of Detroit” as portions of the city famous for automotive manufacturing now look like Wall Street on Black Tuesday in 1929. Jobs are scarce, opportunities are few, and valid hopes for a return to its glory days as an economic center are rare,” Duncan wrote.

“Much of the decay that exists in the “Motor City” today results from untenable demands that the UAW placed on its automobile manufacturers, an unwise move that sent untold numbers of jobs to right-to-work states like ours and crippled a once great metropolis.”

Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News.

Former President Donald Trump and head of the United Auto Workers union, Shawn Fain, have exchanged words in a long conflict that is dusting up once again after Fain announced his endorsement of President Joe Biden in the 2024 presidential election.

According to The Hill, “Biden campaign officials believe the president can strongly contrast his support for the autoworkers and investments during his administration with the closure and relocation of factories during Trump’s presidency. Biden also endeared himself to UAW members by becoming the first president to march on a picket line during the union’s strike against General Motors, Ford and Stellantis.”

Trump took to Truth Social to post about his dislike for Fain, accusing him of selling the national automotive manufacturing industry to China.

“Shawn Fain doesn’t understand this or have a clue,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. “Get rid of this dope & vote for DJT.”

“I will bring the Automobile Industry back to our Country.”

Meanwhile, as Trump and Fain clash on a national level, Alabama industry and political leaders are concerned about the negative effects that UAW’s unionization efforts could have on the state’s auto industry.

Among that group, is Gov. Kay Ivey who has called automotive manufacturing one of the state’s “crown jewel industries.”

“Alabama has become a national leader in automotive manufacturing, and all this was achieved without a unionized workforce,” said Ivey. “In other words, our success has been home grown — done the Alabama way.

“Unfortunately, the Alabama model for economic success is under attack. A national labor union, the United Automotive Workers (UAW), is ramping up efforts to target non-union automakers throughout the United States, including ours here in Alabama.”

“Make no mistake about it: These are out-of-state special interest groups, and their special interests do not include Alabama or the men and women earning a career in Alabama’s automotive industry,” she said.

Alabama is the No. 3 state for vehicle exports and fifth for total auto production.

“We know who’s been there for labor, and we sure as hell know who hasn’t,” Fain told UAW members last week.“We’re going to fight like hell, and we’re going to ensure Joe Biden is the next president.”

Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News.

U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville joined a group of fellow Republican senators in a letter to the acting Secretary of Labor, Julie Su, vocalizing their opposition to a proposed Department of Labor rule that would give unions the ability to pressure temporary foreign agriculture workers into becoming members.

“The proposed rule advances unionization on U.S. farms by making H-2A workers vulnerable to pressure,” the senators said in the letter. “It opens these workers up to coerced unionization and deprives workers of an informed choice about whether to unionize.”

The rule, senators say, would enhance benefits for foreign guestworkers by unionizing what is known as the H-2A visa program, while at the same time making it more difficult for farmers to manage their workforce.

“The new DOL proposal circumvents Congress’ authority to legislate on the unionization of agricultural workers and adds unnecessary obstacles to a complicated visa process,” the legislators continued. “DOL already dictates wage rates and regulates working conditions for H-2A workers.”

“The new DOL proposal circumvents Congress’ authority to legislate on the unionization of agricultural workers and adds unnecessary obstacles to a complicated visa process,” stated the senators. “DOL already dictates wage rates and regulates working conditions for H-2A workers. This proposed rule is unnecessary and will harm American consumers, American agriculture, and H-2A workers themselves.”

“This proposed rule is unnecessary and will harm American consumers, American agriculture, and H-2A workers themselves.”

Tuberville first submitted a comment letter on the issue in November, stating his clear opposition to the possible H-2A regulation change.

Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News.

A lack of consensus among labor unions on an agreement with the largest U.S. freight railroads could spell trouble for an already-strained American supply chain.

Members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) District 19 rejected an agreement negotiated by the union’s leadership with the railroads, the Associated Press reported Wednesday.

IAM has reached a deal with the railroads to not begin a strike until Sept. 29, allowing for a broader timeframe for the parties to come to an agreement, according to the publication.

There 12 unions unions that must agree to tentative deals before Friday’s deadline, which begins at 12:01 a.m. Should no deal be reached by the deadline, the labor unions can legally begin to strike.

In the event that no deal is made, industries are preparing for the supply chain fallout that will ensue due to the nation’s rail system coming to a standstill.

In a Wednesday interview with WBRC Fox 6 News, Alabama Trucking Association president and CEO Mark Colson said that the strike would place immense strain on the state’s trucking industry.

Alabama is short thousands of truckers, while the current drivers are having to work additional overtime hours to make up for the workforce shortfall, according to Colson.

“We hope that this gains resolution and we keep a really efficient supply chain moving and meeting the demand by extensively collaborating with the rail industry,” said Colson. “Our hope is that that gets resolved and we don’t have that kind of break down in the supply chain.”

The national monetary loss in supplies will amount to $2 billion if no agreement is met, according to U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn).

“[H]ere’s what you have: You have 12 different unions that run the railroad across our country,” said Tuberville. “President Biden put a group together to overcome the differences over the past two months — I’ll give him credit for that.”

“Out of these 12 unions, I think they’re close to having 10 of these unions agree with the terms that have been laid forth. But all of them have to agree. If they do go on strike… it starts [Friday] night at midnight. And here’s what’ll happen: We’ll lose, in this country, $2 billion worth of supplies a day,” he said. “Our supply chain is already in trouble because of the pandemic. But with this group going down with the train system completely shutting down, it would cost our farmers in Alabama tremendous amounts of money.”

Echoing Colson’s concerns over the pressure that the trucking industry would face, Tuberville said the effects on truckers nationwide would be “unfathomable.”

“You can’t move gravel, you can’t move grain. Basically, the stat that I saw was — if they’re able to shut down the trains — we’d have to have 467,000 more trucks on the road every day, which you can’t have,” said the senator. “We can’t find the drivers now with what we have… That’s unfathomable. The unions need to work this out. President Biden, if they do go on strike, we’re going to find out what he’s made of. Because he knows, and the country knows, we can’t run this country without trains.”

“And so he might have to come in and make some kind of executive order, but the ball’s in his court.”

Dylan Smith is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @DylanSmithAL

7. Alabama man arrested at U.S. Capitol riot told officers they’d lose, they did not

Bobby Wayne Russell of Falkville, Alabama was present at the U.S. Capitol riot on January 6, 2021, and was arrested this week on two felony and four misdemeanor charges, all of which were related to the riot.
The felony charges are assaulting, resisting, or impeding law enforcement and interfering with law enforcement. According to authorities, during the riot, Russell refused to leave and told officers, “I’m not scared of you and I’m not weak,” and went on to say, “There’s more of us than you guys, you’re gonna lose.”

6. Department of Justice advised against prosecuting Trump

A March 24, 2019, memo from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has been released that shows the DOJ at the time recommended against prosecuting former President Donald Trump on charges related to the Russia investigation and obstruction of justice.
The former assistant attorney general for the DOJ Office of Legal Counsel Steven Engel wrote in the memo, “[W]e believe that certain of the conduct examined by the Special Counsel could not, as a matter of law, support an obstruction charge under the circumstances. Accordingly, were there no constitutional barrier, we would recommend, under the Principles of Federal Prosecution, that you decline to commence such a prosecution.”

5. Union vote in Scottsboro ends in tie, it is a Starbucks store

In Scottsboro, Alabama a Starbucks location had been considering joining the Starbucks Workers United union that’s based in New York, but the National Labor Relations Board has reported that the recent vote on unionizing ended in a tie.
There were four ballots that were challenged in the vote, eight votes were for unionizing, and eight votes were for against unionizing. Before unionizing can be determined, a hearing has to be held concerning the challenged ballots, and then either side could move to contest the results.

4. Alabama won’t be sued over unemployment backlog

Montgomery County Judge James Anderson has ruled that the State of Alabama and other officials in the state won’t be sued for the backlog of unemployment claims. The complaint by Legal Services Alabama previously stated in their complaint, “Plaintiffs have experienced extreme delays at every step of the unemployment process.”
The lawsuit was previously dismissed, but a request had been brought up for Anderson to reconsider the matter and he declined. Alabama Department of Labor spokesperson Tara Hutchinson said, “We are hopeful that this issue will finally be put to rest, and that ADOL can spend more of its time working to serve the people of Alabama.”

3. Alabama’s best employers list is out

The Forbes’ 2022 America’s Best-in-State Employers list has been released. The list was created by surveying 70,000 employees in the United States across 25 industries. There were 45 companies ranked overall, with the first 15 standing out the most.
The best employers in Alabama started with NASA, followed by Southern Company, 3M, Hoover City School District, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Northrop Grumman, Auburn University, Raytheon Technologies, Lockheed Martin, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Starbucks, Verizon Communications, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama, The Home Depot, and AIRBUS in 15th. If you are counting at home, that is five government entities, four government contractors, a chemical company, a power company, an insurance company, Verizon, Starbucks and Home Depot.

2. Moore wants the military COVID-19 vaccine requirement ended

U.S. Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) has sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) requesting that the requirement for U.S. military members to have the coronavirus vaccine be rescinded.
The letter states, “With updated CDC guidance for the unvaccinated, the Department of Defense’s final fig leaf justifying its purge of patriots for refusing vaccination has been stripped away. During a time of global turmoil and missed recruitment targets reaching the level of a national security crisis, the military has absolutely no justification for sacrificing readiness in favor of virtue signaling and the appeasement of this administration’s political base. The military vaccine mandate must end, and all our servicemembers so cruelly separated due to this disastrous policy must be rehired with full backpay.”

1. Student loan forgiveness is here, and it’ll cost $300 billion

President Joe Biden has announced that for everyone with student loan debt, payments will remain paused until at least the end of the year. But for some individuals, they will have their debts forgiven for undergraduate student loans. For individuals who receive Pell Grant, they can have up to $20,000 forgiven, and individuals with a salary below $125,000 can have up to $10,000 of debt forgiven. For all other individuals, Biden said they will be able to “cap repayment at 5% of your monthly income.” Currently, the student loan debt nationally is about $1.6 trillion.
U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) criticized the decision, saying, “I’m totally against it because I had to pay mine back. Everybody that I’ve known that took a loan had to pay theirs back. That’s part of the process.” U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer (R-Hoover) lamented, “It’s going to be inflationary on a number of levels, but particularly in terms of college tuition and that hurts everybody. When the federal government got involved with student loans tuition skyrocketed, and that impacts everybody whether you’ve got a loan or don’t have a loan, and I just don’t think that’s the way we’ve got to go.”