Hosts Josh Moon and David Person examine the Trump administration's controversial military intervention in Venezuela, questioning the true motives behind the operation and drawing parallels to failed foreign policy decisions in Iraq and Afghanistan.
They discuss the lack of congressional oversight, the timing relative to the unsealed Epstein files, and the hypocrisy of Republicans who oppose foreign wars while supporting military action abroad.
The episode features an interview with Philip Ensler, the only Democratic candidate officially running for Alabama lieutenant governor. Ensler discusses his decision to remain in Alabama after initially planning to return to New York, his background as a Teach for America educator, and his four key campaign priorities: healthcare expansion, public school funding, public safety, and economic opportunity.
The hosts conclude with analysis of the 2026 election season, celebrating renewed Democratic energy and noting encouraging signs among Christian conservatives and moderate Republicans questioning their party's direction.
In this final episode of 2025, Josh and David sit down with former U.S. Senator Doug Jones to discuss his newly announced campaign for governor of Alabama. Jones opens up about the "electricity" of his campaign launch, his plans to break the supermajority in Montgomery, and why he believes Tommy Tuberville’s record as a "divider" makes him vulnerable in 2026.
We also grill the candidate on the tough issues: Can he overcome the straight-ticket voting habits in a deep red state? What is the path to finally passing a lottery? And, perhaps most importantly, has he truly "cleared the air" with Joe Reed, Randy Kelley, and the Alabama Democratic Conference leadership?
Later in the show, the hosts do a deep dive into the racial dynamics of the Alabama Democratic Party, the critical issue of voter turnout in the Black Belt. Finally, we crown our "Bonehead of the Year" — Donald Trump, for his classless comments regarding the passing of Rob Reiner.
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Music courtesy of Mr. Smith via the Free Music Archive.
"It costs more money to run unconstitutional prisons."This week, Josh and David cover the entire political spectrum — from the hypocrisy of American healthcare arguments to the deep-seated corruption within the Alabama Department of Corrections.
The show begins with a breakdown of Josh’s latest column on the "Socialism" label. Why do Americans denounce socialism while relying on Medicare, Medicaid, and farm subsidies?
Later, investigative journalist Beth Shelburne joins the show to discuss the HBO documentary "The Alabama Solution." She exposes the systemic abuse in Alabama prisons, highlighting the case of Lt. Roderick Gadsden and the culture that promotes abusive officers.
Finally, Jerome Dees from the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) stops by to discuss the "Big Beautiful Bill" causing insurance premiums to skyrocket for the middle class and how the SPLC is shifting focus to "kitchen table" poverty issues like food security and waste management fees.
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Josh and David kick off the show by recapping their Thanksgiving holidays, which featured very different experiences. While Josh enjoyed a smooth break, David shares the harrowing tale of losing his home heating system right before the cold snap, forcing him to rely on space heaters for a week.
The CHOOSE Act and Public Education
The hosts dissect the Alabama CHOOSE Act, criticizing the use of public tax dollars to fund private and homeschool curriculums that teach non-scientific concepts, such as dinosaurs living alongside humans.
Interview: Andrew Sneed for Congress
Democrat Andrew Sneed joins the show to discuss his campaign for Alabama’s 5th Congressional District, highlighting his background as a tradesman and small business owner. Sneed explains his goal to reconnect the party with the working class and criticizes incumbent Dale Strong for being inaccessible to constituents.
Bonehead of the Week
The hosts address the recent zoning controversy in Hoover involving a Muslim school, calling out the anti-Muslim rhetoric used by opponents during the hearings.
Senator Katie Britt is named "Bonehead of the Week" for co-sponsoring legislation that would change abortion training for medical students from an opt-out to an opt-in requirement.
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Alabama Politics This Week is sponsored by Wind Creek Hospitality, the gaming and hospitality entity for the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, with properties across the U.S. and Caribbean — including Alabama — offering entertainment, dining, hotels, and amenities.
Music courtesy of Mr. Smith via the Free Music Archive.
This week, Josh and David dive into the sudden GOP pivot on releasing the Epstein files and break down the "white victimhood" narrative driving modern political discourse.
Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed joins the show to discuss the city's recent mass shooting and the data linking permitless carry to a 23 percent spike in gun violence.
Finally, the hosts debate the hypothetical 2026 gubernatorial matchup between Doug Jones, Will Boyd, and Tommy Tuberville — and crown a new "Bonehead of the Week" for attempting to remove PBS programming from Alabama public television.
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Alabama Politics This Week is sponsored by Wind Creek Hospitality, the gaming and hospitality entity for the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, with properties across the U.S. and Caribbean — including Alabama — offering entertainment, dining, hotels, and amenities.
Music courtesy of Mr. Smith via the Free Music Archive.
Josh Moon and David Person dig into a wild week in politics, starting with newly released Jeffrey Epstein emails that appear to further implicate Donald Trump and expose GOP efforts to stall the full release of the “Epstein files.” They break down how eight Senate Democrats caved in the shutdown fight, allowing devastating cuts to Affordable Care Act subsidies that will spike premiums for millions and gut SNAP, and why party leadership misplayed its hand.
Bill Britt of Alabama Political Reporter joins to talk about Republican unrest over Tommy Tuberville’s expected “coronation” as governor, ongoing questions about whether he even meets Alabama’s residency requirements, and who might realistically challenge him.
Then Congresswoman Terri Sewell returns to deliver a fiery, must-hear segment on the shutdown deal, the ACA “cliff,” SNAP funding, DOJ’s retreat on Lowndes County’s water and sewage crisis, and the looming House vote to force release of the Epstein documents.
The show wraps with a look at Sen. Katie Britt’s mixed record, Democratic messaging failures, and why Tuberville still earns “Bonehead of the Week.”
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Music courtesy of Mr. Smith via the Free Music Archive.
Josh Moon and David Person break down the stunning Democratic victories in Tuesday's elections across Virginia, New Jersey, and New York, examining what the massive blue shift means for upcoming races. They discuss how the government shutdown, SNAP benefit cuts, and skyrocketing healthcare costs are reshaping voter sentiment nationwide and in Alabama.
The hosts interview Jeremy Devito, Democratic candidate for Alabama's 5th Congressional District, who discusses his working-class background, military service, and platform focused on healthcare access and economic justice. Devito explains why he believes incumbent Dale Strong is vulnerable and how his grassroots campaign is resonating with voters frustrated by GOP priorities.
The episode also tackles Governor Kay Ivey's response to the SNAP crisis, the stark contrast between Republican rhetoric and reality on social programs, and a controversial statement from Rep. Clay Higgins about benefit recipients. Plus: why churches are failing the vulnerable, what the youngest mayor in New York City history means for progressive politics, and how Trump's opulence is backfiring with working-class voters.
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Alabama Politics This Week is sponsored by Wind Creek Hospitality, the gaming and hospitality entity for the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, with properties across the U.S. and Caribbean — including Alabama — offering entertainment, dining, hotels, and amenities.Music courtesy of Mr. Smith via the Free Music Archive.
This week, Josh and David open with daylight saving time dread and kid sleep schedules, then shift to health care costs on the ACA exchanges amid a protracted government shutdown. They unpack immigrant health care myths, why universal access lowers costs, and how coverage gaps drive ER “socialism” we’re already paying for.
Dr. Jim Vickery joins the show to discuss his new book about growing up in Jim Crow Alabama, “recovering racism,” and what really fuels white supremacy (envy, power, and politics).
The crew closes with Alabama headlines: SNAP politics, farmers vs. tariffs, Tuberville hinting at skirting the Constitution for a third Trump term, and Secretary of State Wes Allen’s nativist push to ban naturalized citizens from state office.
This week, Josh and David explore lessons from Europe on labor, tipping, and public health, then pivot to Alabama's criminal justice system through ProPublica journalist Amy Yurkanin's investigation into the Jorge Ruiz case—a legal immigrant sentenced to 99 years (later reduced to 50) for a fatal car crash, raising hard questions about immigrant bias in courts, media framing, and judicial overreach.
They also dig into Alabama's 2026 gubernatorial race: Charles Barkley flirting with an independent run, and Tommy Tuberville's residency problems.
The show closes with the bail reform fiasco and Right Wing Knucklehead of the Week: Tommy Tuberville and Laura Loomer's Islamophobic theater in the Senate.
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Alabama Politics This Week is sponsored by Wind Creek Hospitality, the gaming and hospitality entity for the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, with properties across the U.S. and Caribbean — including Alabama — offering entertainment, dining, hotels, and amenities.Music courtesy of Mr. Smith via the Free Music Archive.
In this episode of Alabama Politics This Week, hosts David Pearson and Josh Moon sit down with Mark Wheeler, a Democratic candidate for Alabama's U.S. Senate seat left open by Tommy Tuberville. Wheeler, a lifelong Heflin resident, chemist, and former factory worker, discusses his unconventional path to politics — working 60-84 hour weeks in wire mills while earning a degree in chemistry from Jacksonville State University. The conversation centers on his core campaign message: making the American Dream attainable through labor rights, congressional reform, healthcare access, and focusing voter attention on "kitchen table" economic issues rather than divisive cultural hot buttons.RESOURCES & SOCIALS🔵 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/alpoliticsthisweek.com⚫ X/Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/alathisweek🔵 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alathisweek
SUPPORT THE SHOW👍 Like this video and SUBSCRIBE!⭐ Rate us on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.📧 Email questions/voice notes to apwproducer@gmail.com with your name and city/county.ABOUT OUR SPONSORAlabama Politics This Week is sponsored by Wind Creek Hospitality, the gaming and hospitality entity for the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, with properties across the U.S. and Caribbean — including Alabama — offering entertainment, dining, hotels, and amenities.Music courtesy of Mr. Smith via the Free Music Archive.
This week, Josh and David open with Montgomery’s tragic downtown mass shooting and push back on knee-jerk fixes. They argue multiple truths can coexist: guns, culture, policing levels, education inequities, and media erosion all matter. Josh recounts prior eras of violence to counter shallow blame of Mayor Steven Reed, and both hosts press for front-end investments — after-school programs, mentoring, mental health, and fair school funding — over “lock ’em up” theatrics.
Mayor Steven Reed joins to detail the incident response, why permitless carry hinders policing, and what real partnership with the state should look like: repeal bad gun laws, fund two-officer patrols, and expand youth programs. He calls out political posturing that blocks resources and then blames cities, and stresses holistic prevention over performative crackdowns.
In the second half, SPLC interim CEO Bryan Fair and German historian Professor Andreas Etges discuss “critical memory” work across Germany and the U.S. — from Stone Mountain and 16th Street Baptist Church to EJI’s Legacy Museum. They examine why honest history matters, how backlash follows progress, and the risks of whitewashing museums and curricula. The conversation draws clear through-lines from slavery to Jim Crow to mass incarceration, and compares contemporary authoritarian trends without false equivalence.
They close with Right Wing Bonehead of the Week: Mobile County Sheriff Paul Burch, for the racist ICE-versus-sombrero Halloween display — an emblem of cruelty-as-politics amid Alabama’s immigrant scapegoating.
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Alabama Politics This Week is sponsored by Wind Creek Hospitality, the gaming and hospitality entity for the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, with 10 properties across the U.S. and Caribbean — including four in Alabama — offering entertainment, dining, hotels, and amenities.
Music courtesy of Mr. Smith via the Free Music Archive.
This week, Josh and David open with Alabama sports/media/politics crossovers — from Bruce Pearl bowing out to Paul Finebaum’s flirtation with a Senate run — and debate whether “moderate” GOP backers are just trying to block Attorney General Steve Marshall. They also unpack college sports’ power shift: NIL, transfer portal realities, and why contracts (not nostalgia) could fix instability.
Journalist Jennifer Mascia of The Trace joins to explain mass shooter patterns since Columbine and Sandy Hook: isolation, grievance against failed institutions (schools, workplaces, churches), and an ecosystem that celebrates copycats. She addresses race, radicalization, and the internet’s silo effect; and the incel pipeline.
In Alabama politics, the hosts press Democrats to “circle the wagons” after the razor-thin Mobile mayoral loss and the Figures–Drummond rift. They argue party leaders failed to arbitrate, and that Dems must rally around a common foe and a clear message: top vs. bottom, not left vs. right. They close with Right Wing Bonehead of the Week: Rep. Reid Ingram, for pushing a constitutional amendment to mandate Pledge/prayer performatives instead of funding, resources, and real solutions.
Alabama Politics This Week is sponsored by Wind Creek Hospitality, the gaming and hospitality entity for the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, with 10 properties across the U.S. and Caribbean — including four in Alabama — offering entertainment, dining, hotels, and amenities.
Music courtesy of Mr. Smith via the Free Music Archive.
This week, Josh and David examine how normalized hate speech endangers everyday people while elite-focused incidents dominate headlines. They call out Alabama’s “big gambling” hypocrisy, defend the Poarch Band of Creek Indians’ broader economic impact, and contrast it with corporate harm. They debunk Trump’s Tylenol/autism and “Amish don’t have autism” claims, explore outrage fatigue, and discuss the politicized spectacle at Charlie Kirk’s memorial—juxtaposing the widow’s forgiveness with Stephen Miller and Trump’s grievance politics.
Alabama Democratic Party Vice Chair Tabitha Isner unpacks her “Hall Pass for Hate” op-ed, why “divisive concepts” bans are incoherent, and how speech that incites violence should be confronted. She diagnoses the party’s core issues: top-level paranoia, poor communication, and a choked candidate pipeline — despite hundreds expressing interest.
Dr. Candice Duvieilh, a candidate for Alabama's 5th Congressional District, makes a policy-first case for Congress: coordinating federal-local fixes for North Alabama’s infrastructure, water systems, transit, and Arsenal access — work she says Rep. Dale Strong isn’t doing beyond photo ops and Space Command spin.
Finally, this week's Right Wing Bonehead of the Week: Stephen Miller, for historically illiterate, exclusionary rhetoric at Kirk’s memorial. And the costly GSA firings-and-rehirings fiasco.
Alabama Politics This Week is sponsored by Wind Creek Hospitality, the gaming and hospitality entity for the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, with 10 properties across the U.S. and Caribbean — including four in Alabama — offering entertainment, dining, hotels, and amenities.
Music courtesy of Mr. Smith via the Free Music Archive.
This week, Josh and David sound the alarm on the Trump administration's escalating attacks on free speech, from the corporate-pressured ousting of late-night hosts like Jimmy Kimmel to the president's threats to pull the broadcast licenses of critical news outlets. They connect this to a broader pattern of media consolidation and the erosion of journalistic ethics, which makes the press vulnerable to government control.
Then, they address the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, condemning political violence from all sides and urging a return to debate over deadly force. They analyze the cynical political reactions and the mob mentality fueled by social media, calling for a recognition of shared humanity even in the face of deep disagreement.
Later, they welcome Dr. Toni Savage, a government whistleblower who exposed millions of dollars in contracting fraud within the Army Corps of Engineers. Dr. Savage shares her 13-year ordeal of fighting retaliation, which resulted in a landmark legal ruling—the "Savage Standard"—that expanded protections for federal employees. She details the bid-rigging, the cover-ups, and the personal cost of doing the right thing, and she warns how the current administration is dismantling the systems designed to hold government accountable.
Finally, after retiring the "Right Wing Nut" segment in favor of something a little less pejorative, they name FBI Director Kash Patel their first-ever "Right Wing Bonehead of the Week" for his disastrous congressional testimony. They break down his lies and deflections about the Jeffrey Epstein case and discuss how officials are actively covering up the scandal to protect powerful figures, including Donald Trump.
GUEST IN THIS EPISODE
Dr. Toni Savage: A former contracting officer for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and now a full-time minister, Dr. Savage became a government whistleblower when she exposed millions of dollars in contracting fraud. After facing illegal termination and a hostile work environment, her 13-year legal battle resulted in the landmark "Savage Standard" ruling, which expanded protections for whistleblowers under federal law. She now serves on the board of the National Whistleblower Center, advocating for government accountability and transparency.
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Alabama Politics This Week is sponsored by Wind Creek Hospitality. Gaming is the heart of Wind Creek Hospitality, but they offer so much more. Wind Creek's 10 distinct properties in the U.S. and Caribbean — including four in Alabama — provide world-class entertainment, dining, hotel stays, amenities and activities. As the principal gaming and hospitality entity for the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, Wind Creek continues to grow and offer guests luxurious destinations and opportunities for escape.
Music courtesy of Mr. Smith via the Free Music Archive.
This week, Josh and David tackle the dangerous resurgence of anti-vaccine rhetoric, connecting the dots between political polarization and public health crises. They kick off by dissecting a recent Supreme Court ruling on ICE detentions and critique the Trump administration's selective enforcement of the law, contrasting the focus on low-wage immigrants with the blind eye turned to white-collar crimes like those associated with Jeffrey Epstein. They argue that with failing economic promises, the administration is leaning on fear and hate as its primary political tools.
Then, they welcome Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed to discuss the threat of using the National Guard for domestic policing in cities like D.C. and Chicago. Mayor Reed breaks down why this is a dangerous politicization of the military, a distraction from the administration's policy failures, and an ineffective approach to crime. He advocates for investing in community-based violence prevention and calls out the hypocrisy of targeting certain cities while ignoring systemic issues and other forms of crime, like human trafficking.
Later, Dr. Michael Sagg, a renowned infectious disease expert from UAB, joins the show to provide a masterclass on vaccines. He demystifies the rigorous FDA and CDC approval process, explains the science behind mRNA technology, and debunks common misinformation. Dr. Sagg addresses the unfolding public health disaster in Florida, explains why vaccine mandates exist, and shares his frustration with the politically motivated attacks on science and the firing of dedicated public health officials.
Finally, the hosts name RFK Jr. their Right Wing Nut of the Week for his role in spreading deadly disinformation, warning that his rhetoric and the policies it inspires will lead to preventable deaths from diseases once thought to be eradicated.
Alabama Politics This Week is sponsored by Wind Creek Hospitality. Gaming is the heart of Wind Creek Hospitality, but they offer so much more. Wind Creek's 10 distinct properties in the U.S. and Caribbean — including four in Alabama — provide world-class entertainment, dining, hotel stays, amenities and activities. As the principal gaming and hospitality entity for the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, Wind Creek continues to grow and offer guests luxurious destinations and opportunities for escape.
Music courtesy of Mr. Smith via the Free Music Archive.
Thumbnail photo via Gage Skidmore/Flickr
This week on Alabama Politics This Week: Josh and David dig into the fight over Space Command, breaking down why Trump’s decision to move it to Huntsville may be the right call for the wrong reasons. They explore how politics, military readiness, and billions in taxpayer dollars collide — and why both Trump and Biden turned a national security decision into a partisan football.
Then, they welcome Representative Barbara Drummond, who is headed into a runoff in the Mobile mayor’s race. Drummond lays out her vision for the city: tackling youth violence with safe spaces and nonprofits, revitalizing historic neighborhoods, and making sure Mobile’s economic boom benefits all residents. She explains why public safety starts with opportunity, and why she believes her experience makes her the most qualified candidate to lead.
Josh and David also take on the silence of Democrats in the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, asking why Republicans like Marjorie Taylor Greene and Thomas Massie are leading the charge for transparency while Democratic leaders stay quiet. They connect the dots between accountability, law and order, and political cowardice.
Finally, they name Dustin Beattie — a Walker County pharmacist turned statehouse candidate with a checkered past in the opioid crisis — their Right Wing Nut of the Week.
Alabama Politics This Week is sponsored by Wind Creek Hospitality. Gaming is the heart of Wind Creek Hospitality, but they offer so much more. Wind Creek's 10 distinct properties in the U.S. and Caribbean — including four in Alabama — provide world-class entertainment, dining, hotel stays, amenities and activities. As the principal gaming and hospitality entity for the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, Wind Creek continues to grow and offer guests luxurious destinations and opportunities for escape.
Music courtesy of Mr. Smith via the Free Music Archive.
This week, Josh and David dive into the fallout from Alabama’s municipal elections, breaking down why establishment-backed candidates like Kent Lawrence prevailed in Decatur while longtime councilman Billy Jackson fell short. They explore how money, power, and race intersect in local politics — from city contracts to the “safe candidate” playbook — and what it means for progressive Black leaders across the state.
They also look at the wins: new council members in Decatur who emerged from the Steve Perkins protests, and grassroots candidates like Terrence Atkins and Sarah French who are reshaping local politics. From Birmingham to Mobile to Prichard, Josh and David recap the good, the bad, and the surprising outcomes of election week.
Then, they welcome Matt Hughes, a DNC member from North Carolina and newly appointed member of the Credentials Committee, to unpack the ongoing dysfunction inside the Alabama Democratic Party. Hughes explains why the DNC rejected Alabama’s latest delegate elections, what structural problems keep bringing the state party back before the national committee, and how issues of race, power, and process continue to divide Democrats.
Finally, the hosts turn to U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville’s latest comments about using the military to police Birmingham and Montgomery, calling out the dangerous echoes of authoritarianism. They name him their Right Wing Nut of the Week and connect the dots between systemic neglect, crime, and political scapegoating.
Matt Hughes: DNC member from North Carolina and newly appointed member of the Credentials Committee. Hughes explains why Alabama’s delegate elections were rejected, why the state party keeps running afoul of national rules, and how dysfunction in Alabama reflects broader challenges for Democrats. He also addresses accusations of outside influence, racial bias, and what it will take to build a winning coalition.
Please include your name and the city or county where you live. We take time each week to answer listener questions about Alabama politics.
Alabama Politics This Week is sponsored by Wind Creek Hospitality. Gaming is the heart of Wind Creek Hospitality, but they offer so much more. Wind Creek's 10 distinct properties in the U.S. and Caribbean — including four in Alabama — provide world-class entertainment, dining, hotel stays, amenities and activities. As the principal gaming and hospitality entity for the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, Wind Creek continues to grow and offer guests luxurious destinations and opportunities for escape.
Music courtesy of Mr. Smith via the Free Music Archive.
This week, Josh and David dive into the chaos inside the Alabama Democratic Party, where the DNC has once again invalidated officer elections due to irregularities, mail-in ballot disputes, and power struggles involving Joe Reed and Randy Kelley. The hosts break down why Alabama keeps ending up in conflict with the national party, how this dysfunction distracts from real election prep, and why average Democratic voters are fed up.
Later, they welcome Jeanice Warden-Washington, Chief Consultant for the California State Assembly Committee on Higher Education. Jeanice explains her role shaping higher ed policy in the nation’s largest system, gives updates on the Trump administration’s attempt to strip UCLA of $550 million in research funding, and warns about the broader threat to HBCUs and Hispanic-Serving Institutions. She also unpacks California’s redistricting proposal, Gavin Newsom’s national profile, and the growing fear among educators about Project 2025 and the dismantling of the Department of Education.
Finally, Josh and David debate a new Alabama proposal to ban SNAP recipients from buying sodas and sugary snacks, weighing the health arguments against the hypocrisy and punitive targeting of poor families. They close with their Right Wing Nut of the Week: Donald Trump, for claiming museums focus “too much” on the horrors of slavery.
GUEST IN THIS EPISODE
➡️ Jeanice Warden-Washington: Chief Consultant for the California State Assembly Committee on Higher Education. Jeanice explains her role shaping higher ed policy, details the Trump administration’s attempt to strip UCLA of federal research funding, and warns about the broader implications for HBCUs, HSIs, and the future of higher education under Project 2025. She also breaks down California’s redistricting proposal and weighs in on Gavin Newsom’s national ambitions.
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Alabama Politics This Week is sponsored by Wind Creek Hospitality. Gaming is the heart of Wind Creek Hospitality, but they offer so much more. Wind Creek's 10 distinct properties in the U.S. and Caribbean — including four in Alabama — provide world-class entertainment, dining, hotel stays, amenities and activities. As the principal gaming and hospitality entity for the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, Wind Creek continues to grow and offer guests luxurious destinations and opportunities for escape.
Music courtesy of Mr. Smith via the Free Music Archive.
This week, Josh and David open with a discussion of a new poll showing Alabama Republican primary voters shifting away from “culture war” issues and toward core concerns like inflation, taxes, jobs, and infrastructure. They explore why voters may be tiring of bathroom bills and trans athlete bans, and how politicians have long used “boogeyman” issues to distract from economic realities.
Then, they sit down with Emily Barfield, a Fort Payne counselor and close friend of Giovanna “Gio” Hernandez, who was detained by ICE after a traffic stop in Leeds, Alabama. Barfield shares how she learned of Gio’s arrest, explains the legal limbo for immigrants brought to the U.S. as children but excluded from DACA, and describes the outpouring of community support — from packed church services to thousands of petition signatures. She also details Gio’s current situation in a Louisiana detention facility, the upcoming August 18th hearing, and what people can do to help keep her story alive.
Finally, Josh and David react to the Leeds Police Department’s dash cam release, calling out the “reckless driving” claims as bogus and the celebratory fist bump as offensive. They also tackle extremist pastor Doug Wilson’s push to strip women of the right to vote, the University of Alabama’s claim that reopening safe spaces for Black and LGBTQ students would be “unlawful segregation,” and name their Right Wing Nut of the Week.
➡️ Emily Barfield: Counselor from Fort Payne, Alabama, and close friend of Giovanna “Gio” Hernandez. Barfield recounts the events leading to Gio’s ICE detention after a Leeds traffic stop, explains the lack of a clear citizenship path for immigrants brought to the U.S. as children but excluded from DACA, and shares the overwhelming community support for Gio. She offers updates on Gio’s detention in Louisiana, the upcoming August 18th hearing, and concrete ways listeners can help keep pressure on officials and national attention on the case.
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📧 Send us a question or a voice recording to apwproducer@gmail.com. We take a bit of time each week to answer questions from our audience about Alabama politics. Make sure you include your name and the city or county where you live.
Alabama Politics This Week is sponsored by Wind Creek Hospitality. Gaming is the heart of Wind Creek Hospitality, but they offer so much more. Wind Creek's 10 distinct properties in the U.S. and Caribbean — including four in Alabama — provide world-class entertainment, dining, hotel stays, amenities and activities. As the principal gaming and hospitality entity for the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, Wind Creek continues to grow and offer guests luxurious destinations and opportunities for escape.
Music courtesy of Mr. Smith via the Free Music Archive.
This week on Alabama Politics This Week, Josh and David break down the police shooting of Jabari Peoples in Homewood, the DA’s decision to rule it justified, and the family’s demand for the full, unedited body cam footage. They discuss the dangers of edited police videos, the slow investigation timeline, and why transparency matters.
Then, former Miss America and two-time Alabama political candidate Mallory Hagan joins the show. In a candid and powerful conversation, Hagan shares her own experience as a survivor of child sexual abuse, explains why victims — especially adolescents — often don’t come forward, and offers practical advice for parents to protect their children. She also weighs in on Alabama politics, the GOP’s long game, and why Democratic donors must invest even in uphill races.
Finally, the hosts tackle Alabama’s new Focus Act banning student cell phones and smartwatches in classrooms, the public’s surprising lack of awareness about the law, and what it says about civic disengagement. They close with the Right Wing Nut of the Week — RFK Jr. — for pulling $500 million from mRNA vaccine research despite its life-saving potential.
Guest: Mallory Hagan — Former Miss America, political candidate, and co-host of the Pretty Furious podcast. Hagan opens up about her personal story as a survivor, offers concrete safety tips for parents, and discusses the political challenges facing Democrats in Alabama.
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