The people's voice of reason
The people's voice of reason
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Given ‘woke’ education from soviet educators who truly believe in ‘Hammer & Sickle’ command economies as our nation embraced the path of transferring wealth to specific interests over the general welfare, most have heard the acronym MFN (Most Favoured Nation) trading status, yet have little education with this unconstitutional power. Fellow Gazette writer Johnny Taylor’s book https://www.google.com/books/edition/Union_at_All_Costs/DopXMQAACAAJ?hl=en is the best I’ve read documenting...
I was going through one of my Dad’s old notebooks the other day and saw where he had saved old articles and poems from the past. There were also some poems and articles that he wrote. Like me, my Dad was a Methodist Pastor in Alabama and the panhandle of Florida as was my grandfather and my great-grandfather too. My Dad died in 1988 at the age of 57, but while he was alive he taught me to regularly reflect on my life and my witness for Christ. I miss him everyday and wish I could hear his v...
I love college football. Or should I say, “I used to love college football.” There was a time not so many years ago that my wife and I would get up on Saturday morning, read our Bibles and then at 0900, we would turn on College Gameday on ESPN and watch college football until we went to bed that night. We would watch it sometimes all day long. I know that I am not alone. I have a friend who is a big “gamer” and loves to play video games. He once asked me about it because he thought it was stu...
C-Span recently featured John Grinspan speaking about the Wide Awakes, a topic covered on the Abbeville Blog and in Chapter Seven of my book, Union At All Costs: From Confederation to Consolidation. As early as 1856, numerous paramilitary clubs were organized in support of the Republican Party. Examples included the Rocky Mountain Clubs, Freedom Clubs, and the notorious Wide Awakes. This organization differed from the previous group of New Yorkers who wore the Wide Awake moniker. The originals...
It has been 3 months since President Trump has entered the White House. In less than 100 days, President Trump and his administration have already identified more than $155 billion in government waste, fraud, and abuse that has gone unchecked for decades. One of the most shocking discoveries to-date has been the corruption within the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) under the Biden administration. Thanks to the great work of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), the...
The River Region Veterans Coalition (RRVC) is a new, diverse organization in Montgomery forming a regional non-profit/apolitical coalition of public and private sector organizations. Other such AL groups are the South AL Veterans Council (SAVC) in Mobile, the Central AL Veterans Collaborative (CAVC) in Birmingham and the North AL Veterans & Fraternal Organizations Coalition (NAVOC)) in Huntsville. The River Region Veterans Coalition has already held meetings in February and March of this year wi...
May 2, 2025 - HUNTSVILLE, AL – A new research study from The University of Alabama in Huntsville, a part of The University of Alabama System, addresses the question, how much have urban areas warmed from the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect? UAH Earth System Science Center Research Scientist Dr. Roy Spencer and UAH Earth System Science Center Director and Alabama State Climatologist Dr. John R. Christy have spent several years developing a novel method that quantifies, for the first time, a...
April 30, 2025 - MONTGOMERY, AL – Governor Kay Ivey on Tuesday signed a proclamation to set special election dates for Alabama House District 12. This seat was previously held by Rep. Corey Harbison, who resigned April 15, 2025. Governor Ivey set the special primary election for Tuesday, July 15, 2025; the special primary runoff, if necessary, for Tuesday, August 12, 2025; and the special general election for Tuesday, October 28, 2025. "Representative Corey Harbison has been a pleasure to w...
When the Marshall Fire swept through the grassy plains and foothills outside Boulder, Colorado, in late December 2021, it burned down more than 1,000 homes—and left many young people shaken. "It can just be pure anxiety—you're literally watching a fire march its way across, and it's really, really close," said David Thesenga, an 8th grade science teacher. Some of his students at Alexander Dawson School in the small town of Lafayette lost their homes to the fire. As more students come to sch...
In the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, a quiet revolution in end-of-life practices is underway. At Ramsey Creek Preserve near Westminster, South Carolina, the deceased do not rest under rows of cold marble, but beneath meadows and oaks, their presence woven into the natural world, Reasons to be Cheerful says. The first body Billy Campbell buried on his land was the stillborn child of friends. Then a colleague who died suddenly in a car accident "solidified the rightness of it," Campbell...
In American politics, reflecting on the first 100 days of a presidency are more than just a tradition-they are a test of purpose, power, and political will. Franklin Roosevelt was the first to make history by seizing that window with decisive action. President Donald J. Trump, in his second term in his first 100 days delivered political "shock and awe" as Saun Hannity so aptly described his first three months. And standing shoulder to shoulder with him have been Alabama's two U.S....
April 29, 2025 - WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representatives Shomari C. Figures (D-AL02) and Brian Jack (R-GA) introduced the bipartisan Rural Hospital Stabilization Act of 2025. This bill would provide financial support to rural hospitals in Alabama, Georgia and across the country. This bill authorizes a grant program to provide critical financial support to help struggling rural hospitals keep their doors open. "In my district, we are on pace to lose nearly every other hospital over the next couple of...
(Montgomery, Ala) – Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall announced today a landmark legal victory in Boe v. Marshall following the plaintiffs' decision to drop their challenge to Alabama's Vulnerable Child Compassion and Protection Act, which prohibits experimental sex-change procedures for minors. The dismissal marks a total and historic win for the State of Alabama. "Three years ago, multiple sets of plaintiffs, represented by the ACLU, SPLC, and some of the nation's largest law firms, f...
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) today issued the following statement expressing her unwavering support for Israel as the nation celebrates its 77th Independence Day: "Today marks 77 years since Israel declared independence, and I am humbled to take this opportunity to wish Israel and her people a very happy birthday. The United States and Israel are connected by common values and shared interests, and the relationship our two nations have has never been more important. I cou...
On this day in 1551, the Council of Trent resumed under the oversight of Pope Julius III, marking a pivotal moment in the history of the Catholic Church and the Counter-Reformation. Pope Julius III, known as the Counter-Reformation Pope, played a crucial role in guiding the council towards addressing the challenges posed by the Protestant Reformation and reinforcing the doctrines of the Church. Historical Context The Council of Trent, convened in response to the Protestant Reformation, had...
May 1, 2025 – WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) joined his Republican colleagues on the Senate Armed Services Committee in urging President Donald J. Trump (R) to fully implement the Shipbuilder Accountability and Workforce Support (SAWS) proposal. Tuberville urges that the President accelerate domestic nuclear shipbuilding, including at Austal USA in Mobile. The Biden administration previously rejected this proposal, which would be the largest shipbuilding deal in Ame...
Pet ownership in the U.S. has exploded over the last few decades. As of 2025, about 74% of U.S. households own a pet, according to the American Pet Products Association; a significant increase from 56% in 1988. The biggest sector of pet owners is millennials, followed by Gen Xers and baby boomers. Dogs are by far the most popular pets for Americans, with 68 million households owning one. It's long been said that dogs are a human's best friend. And for good reason: They provide company,...
May 1, 2025 – MONTGOMERY, AL – The Alabama Senate passed legislation that would allow the Alabama Farmers' Federation to sell health insurance to their members. House Bill 477 (HB477) is sponsored by State Representative David Faulkner (R-Mountain Brook). HB477 was carried in the Senate by Senator Arthur Orr (R-Decatur). "Florida (the Legislature) just passed this," said Sen. Orr. "Tennessee has had this for twenty years." Sen. Jack Williams (R-Wilmer) – a Mobile County farmer - spoke in favor...
State Representative Neal Rafferty (D-Birmingham recently joined the Brandon and Christopher show to discuss the 2025 Alabama Legislative Session. Rafferty is a member of the Alabama House of Representatives. "As a proud veteran of the United States Marine Corps and a native to Birmingham, Alabama, I fervently believe in serving our country, our state, and our local community. I feel it is my duty and my responsibility to give back when so much has been given to me," Rep. Rafferty said on his we...
April 25, 2025 – The Alabama House of Representatives voted to pass reform legislation of the troubled Birmingham Waterworks Board. The new Board will be a more representative regional utility than what the current Board is. Senate Bill 330 (SB330) is sponsored by Senator Dan Roberts (R-Mountain Brook). It is carried in the House of Representatives by Representative Jim Carns (R-Vestavia Hills). "This is an attempt to correct some of the problems," said Rep. Carns. "This bill sets up a r...
Kidney disease is a serious yet often overlooked condition that affects millions worldwide. Despite its impact, it is frequently underestimated compared to illnesses like cancer and heart disease. The science journal Nature called it a "hidden epidemic," as it now occupies the third spot on the list of the most quickly growing causes of death worldwide. Compare Dialysis Centers examined Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data and other sources to explore the risk factors for chronic...
Private sports coaching has long been a behind-the-scenes part of youth athletics, but in recent years, it's become a booming micro-economy—fueled not by schools or clubs, but by everyday families looking for something different. The demand for high-quality private coaching is only growing stronger, Athletes Untapped says. A combination of youth sports specialization, college recruiting, and a cultural push for individualized development has created the perfect opportunity for private c...
The overwhelming majority of those who make it onto "richest people" lists—in all 50 states or the world—are men. This fact is unsurprising, considering the history of discriminatory workplace practices and various barriers to women's wealth, including barring women from having credit cards until the 1970s. Even in 2025, an income gap leaves women earning $0.83 on average for every $1 a man makes. Madam C.J. Walker, an early 20th-century purveyor of hair care and cosmetics for Black women, is...
May 1, 2025 – The Alabama Senate is poised to consider legislation that will either tax and regulate or outright ban hemp derived psychoactive cannabinoids. A coalition of conservative groups are urging the Senate to ban these products outright or severely limit where they can be sold. The coalition supporting a ban of hemp derived psychoactive cannabinoids include: Eagle Forum of Alabama, the Alabama Citizens Action Program (ALCAP), the Alabama Policy Institute (API), and the Southeast Law I...
Tax laws change frequently, with updates impacting the best tax planning practices for businesses across industries. Over the next year, there will be significant changes to tax laws with the potential sunset of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) and economic changes in the White House led by the Trump administration. Polston Tax has put together a guide to the major tax law changes you can expect to be enacted in 2025 and occur prospectively in 2026. It will also review potential changes that hav...
