Alabama Reflector

09/27/2025

Deploying troops to Portland would mark a dramatic escalation, even for Trump, who has tested the legal limits of domestic military use. The Los Angeles deployment responded to a specific circumstance, and the president holds power to deploy the National Guard in the District of Columbia because it is a federal territory. Neither is true for Portland, where there has not been any evidence of violence at protests against the administration.

Trump did not specify what legal justification he had to do so, what military branch would be used or other key details.

09/27/2025

A wave of firings and investigations has swept through academia and government in the wake of far-right activist Charlie Kirk’s death. The purge is driven in part by Republican elected officials who are encouraging Americans to report co-workers, their children’s teachers and others who make comments seen as crossing the line. They have been egged on by the Trump administration, with Vice President JD Vance urging listeners of Kirk’s podcast to call the employer of anyone “celebrating” his killing. https://ow.ly/lNT950X2SBB

09/26/2025

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday reaffirmed its ruling from earlier this month that the Trump administration can withhold $4 billion in foreign aid, though the order notes the decision “should not be read as a final determination on the merits” of the case.

Justice Elena Kagan wrote that "at issue is the allocation of power between the Executive and Congress over the expenditure of public monies.”

09/26/2025

Congress’ failure to pass a short-term government funding bill before midnight Tuesday will lead to the first shutdown in nearly seven years and give President Donald Trump broad authority to determine what federal operations keep running — which will have a huge impact on the government, its employees, states and Americans. Here's a guide for what to expect should Democrats and Republicans not reach an agreement. https://ow.ly/f1Rb50X35Uh

09/26/2025

Breaking: Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey announced Friday afternoon that she will not call a special session of the Alabama Legislature to redraw Alabama’s State Senate map following a federal court ruling that the current map violates the Voting Rights Act.

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey announced Friday afternoon that she will not call a special session to redraw Alabama’s State Senate map following a federal court ruling its districts in Montgomery violate the Voting Rights Act.

09/26/2025

Via Iowa Capital Dispatch: The superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools has been detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, according to a message from the district board, with no information as to why he was arrested or what will happen next.

Des Moines Public Schools Superintendent Ian Roberts has been detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

09/26/2025

Via Stateline: The U.S. Department of Justice announced Thursday it is suing six states — California, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania — that have refused to turn over detailed voter roll data demanded by federal attorneys earlier this year. https://ow.ly/JA4o50X2S1Q

09/26/2025

Former FBI Director James Comey praimed his innocence of federal obstruction charges and characterized the indictment against him as a consequence of “standing up to Donald Trump” in a video posted to social media, while current Director Kash Patel sought to allay concerns the prosecution was politically motivated. Meanwhile, Trump in remarks to reporters on Friday morning continued to slam Comey and call for other enemies to be prosecuted as well.

Comey said in a video that he and his family “have known for years that there are costs to standing up to Donald Trump, but we couldn't imagine ourselves living any other way.”

09/26/2025

Attorneys on behalf of a dozen U.S. House Democrats Thursday pushed for a federal judge to force the Trump administration to comply with an appropriations law that allows for unannounced oversight visits at Department of Homeland Security facilities that detain immigrants. https://ow.ly/mHUV50X2uS8

09/26/2025

TikTok is valued at $14 billion in the deal, Vice President JD Vance said. A new U.S.-backed joint venture will hold 80% of the company, while Byte Dance will retain a 20% stake, according to the order. The U.S. parties will control the app’s coveted algorithm that tailors content for users as well as content moderation, according to the order. https://ow.ly/Vvyc50X2wkN

09/26/2025

Via Florida Phoenix News: Nearly two years into the war in Gaza, a Florida Republican proposes to ban state agencies from mentioning the West Bank, the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territory, and enforce “Judea and Samaria” as the official name for the middle eastern battleground. https://ow.ly/ZFsU50X2jH9

09/26/2025

The state of Alabama executed Geoffrey Todd West Thursday for the 1997 murder of Margaret Parrish Berry. The ex*****on took place over the objections of Berry's son Will, who opposed the ex*****on; said he had forgiven West and unsuccessfully sought to meet with him.

West was convicted in 1999 for his role in the murder of Margaret Parrish Berry while stealing $250 from the convenience store.