The Greene County Democrat

Category: Politics

  • Sewell blasts SCOTUS ruling clearing path for mail-in voting reforms

    Sewell blasts SCOTUS ruling clearing path for mail-in voting reforms

    By Staff, Alabama Political Reporter

    U.S. Representative Terri Sewell, D-Alabama, spoke out  last Tuesday against a U.S. Supreme Court decision that opened a path for mail-in voting restrictions sought by the Trump administration to take effect ahead of the November midterm elections.

    The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 on Monday that 23 states and the District of Columbia lacked standing to challenge President Donald Trump’s executive order. The court did not rule on the legality of the order itself. 

    The order directs the Department of Homeland Security to create state-by-state lists of U.S. citizens and directs federal authorities to prioritize investigations and prosecutions involving election officials who provide federal ballots to people who are not eligible to vote. It also directs the U.S. Postal Service to implement new requirements for mail-in ballots, including limiting delivery to voters included on state-submitted lists. 

    States challenging the order argued that the Constitution gives states and Congress authority over federal elections and that the president’s directives could disrupt election administration. Litigation over the order remains ongoing, and lower-court rulings could still affect whether its provisions take effect before the November election

    Sewell, in a Tuesday written statement, argued that the executive order is an attempt by the Trump administration to restrict legal avenues for voting.

    “President Trump is terrified of losing at the ballot box in November. He knows his policies are raising costs and hurting families, so instead of changing course, he is trying to change the rules to make it harder for Americans to vote,” Sewell said.

    “It is shameful that the Supreme Court would allow these restrictions to proceed—especially when we know that voting by mail is safe, secure, and used by millions of Americans, including President Trump himself,” Sewell said. “With just weeks left until the midterm elections, this decision will cause chaos and confusion for voters across the nation.”

    Sewell vowed to continue opposing Trump administration efforts to restrict mail-in voting. “As a daughter of Selma and the top Democrat on the Elections Subcommittee, I will not stand for these attacks on the ballot,” Sewell said. “I will keep fighting to protect the right to vote and ensure every eligible American can make their voice heard.”

    The Supreme Court’s decision does not immediately change voting procedures nationwide. The administration and states remain engaged in litigation over implementation of the executive order, including Postal Service rules governing mail ballots.

    Another lawsuit was filed by state Attorney Generals and others, immediately after the Supreme Court’s decision, since the U. S. Postal Service has now released its notice of changes in handling mail-in ballots, including their review against lists provided by the Federal government.

    The executive order has also drawn opposition from American Postal Workers Union President Jonathan Smith, who has described the administration’s approach as an effort to politicize the Postal Service.

    In July, a group of Republican attorneys general led by Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall issued a letter supporting the administration’s proposed Postal Service rules, arguing they would “help states provide Americans with confidence in our system.”

  • Doug Jones, Shomari Figures push voting rights at Troy town hall

    Doug Jones, Shomari Figures push voting rights at Troy town hall

    By Alabama Political Reporter, Staff

    Democratic gubernatorial nominee Doug Jones joined U.S. Representative Shomari Figures, D-Alabama, last week for a town hall at Troy University, where the two candidates took questions from students, community members and voters ahead of the November election.

    The event, hosted by the Troy University College Democrats and Pike County Democrats, focused heavily on congressional redistricting and the continuing fight over Black voting power in Alabama.

    Alabama’s 2026 congressional elections are proceeding under the Legislature’s 2023 map after the U.S. Supreme Court stayed a lower-court injunction in June. The order followed the court’s April decision in Louisiana v. Callais, which changed the legal standard governing discriminatory-effect vote-dilution claims under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.

    The decision restored the Republican-drawn 2023 plan and displaced the court-ordered map used during the 2024 election. That remedial map established a second Black-opportunity district following the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision in Allen v. Milligan.

    Figures won the reconfigured 2nd Congressional District in 2024, joining U.S. Representative Terri Sewell, D-Alabama, as Alabama’s two Black members of Congress. He is now seeking reelection against Republican state Representative Rhett Marques under dramatically different district lines.

    Both Figures and Jones argued Tuesday that the new district remains competitive. A DCCC-sponsored poll released this week showed Figures and Marques tied at 46 percent, with 8 percent of voters undecided.

    Jones said reaching voters in parts of Alabama where Democrats have not competed consistently represents an opportunity for candidates heading into November.

    “We are moving into areas that Democrats haven’t gone in a while. That’s why we’re doing these town halls,” Jones said. “We are not just going out trying to preach to the choir. We’re talking to people, and we’re listening to people. That’s the critical piece.”

    Holding the town hall in Pike County carried additional significance. Civil rights leader and longtime Georgia congressman John Lewis was born and raised near Troy, earning him the enduring nickname “the Boy from Troy.” His nephew, Ron Lewis, was among those attending Tuesday’s event.

    Figures also pointed to what he described as growing enthusiasm surrounding Jones’ campaign and argued that energy at the top of the Democratic ticket could help candidates across the state.

    “Doug Jones is running one of the most exciting and inspiring campaigns that we have seen for governor in recent memory,” Figures said. “And that energy is what’s going to lead the top of the ticket in November. And I am thrilled to stand in the winner’s circle with you in November.”

    The joint appearance highlighted the candidates’ strategy of expanding Democratic outreach beyond the party’s traditional base and increasing turnout in communities that have often received little attention during statewide campaigns.

    Featured Image: U.S. Representative Shomari Figures and gubernatorial candidate Doug Jones host a town hall in Pike County. (Alabama Political Reporter)

  • Rep. Sewell releases new report detailing the affordability crisis facing Alabama’s 7th District

    Rep. Sewell releases new report detailing the affordability crisis facing Alabama’s 7th District

    By Alabama Political Reporter

    U.S. Representative Terri Sewell, D-Alabama, released a new report Sunday examining the affordability challenges facing families in Alabama’s 7th Congressional District. The report argues that President Donald Trump’s economic policies and congressional Republicans’ legislative agenda have increased the cost of everyday essentials and threatened thousands of Alabamians’ access to health care and food assistance.

    The report came as House Democrats unveiled their “Fighting for an Affordable America Agenda.” According to Sewell’s news release, the agenda focuses on lowering the cost of groceries, gasoline and housing; providing affordable health care; and fighting corruption.

    The report says Alabama families are paying an average of $2,700 more for basic living expenses and families in the 7th District now spend an average of $1,110 a month on groceries. It projects that about 70,000 district residents will face higher health insurance costs because enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits expired.

    The report also says the average Alabama household has paid $686 more for gasoline since Trump began the war in Iran and that more than 81,800 Alabamians have lost Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits under Republicans’ budget law.

    “One hundred days before Election Day, Alabama families deserve to know the truth about who is driving up their costs,” Sewell said. “President Trump promised to lower prices on Day One. Instead, families across Alabama’s 7th District are paying more for groceries, housing, electricity, gas, and healthcare while Republicans in Congress have chosen to cut Medicaid and food assistance to help pay for tax breaks for billionaires.”

    “It doesn’t have to be this way,” Sewell said. “House Democrats are fighting for an Affordable America by lowering the cost of groceries, gas, and housing, making healthcare more affordable, and holding corporations accountable when they exploit consumers and drive up prices. Alabama families deserve an economy that works for them—not just the wealthy and well-connected.”

     

    The report highlights several economic challenges facing Alabama families:

    • Alabama families are paying an average of $2,700 more for basic living expenses under Trump and congressional Republicans.
    • Families in the 7th District paid an average of $233 more for electricity in 2025.
    • The average monthly grocery bill in the district has reached $1,110.
    • The average Alabama household has paid $686 more for gasoline since the war in Iran began.
    • The average annual cost of child care for two children in Alabama has climbed to $16,640.
    • About 24,353 people in the 7th District are projected to lose health coverage because of Republican cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act.
    • More than 81,800 Alabamians have lost Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits.
    • More than 20,000 individuals and families in Alabama filed for bankruptcy in 2025, a 6.7 percent increase from the previous year.

    The full report, “The Affordability Crisis in Alabama’s 7th Congressional District: How President Trump and Congressional Republicans Are Driving Up Costs for Alabama Families,” is available online.

    Read the original article here.

    Featured Image: Terri Sewell (Alabama Political Reporter)

  • OP-ED: Why LeBron James and Jaylen Brown will make the Philadelphia 76ers Bigger than Basketball

    OP-ED: Why LeBron James and Jaylen Brown will make the Philadelphia 76ers Bigger than Basketball

    By A.R. Shaw, BlackPressUSA

    LeBron James’ decision to join the Philadelphia 76ers instantly made his new team title contenders on the court. But with Jaylen Brown as his teammate, it will be a win for Black initiatives off the court.​

    After several weeks of contemplating his new destination, James bypassed the Golden State Warriors, Miami Heat, and Cleveland Cavs to finish his illustrious career in Philly, a city with a significant Black community and culture.​

    James, 41, will join a 76ers team that features former MVP Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecomb, and Brown, who made his way to Philly one month ago via a trade from the Boston Celtics.​

    If Embiid can minimize his days missed due to injuries, the 76ers will be in prime position to challenge for an NBA championship.

    Beyond the basketball court, James and Brown have both embraced leadership roles. In an era when many athletes are encouraged to “shut up and dribble” rather than speak out against injustice or invest in their communities, James and Brown have taken the opposite path, dedicating themselves to empowering the communities they represent. ​

    To this generation, James and Brown are what Muhammad Ali and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar were to theirs.

    Since 2004, James and the LeBron James Foundation have created tangible initiatives that continue to serve the community. The I Promise school, located in his hometown of Akron, Ohio, provides education and mentorship for over 1,200 students. James also opened a Starbucks Community Store blocks away from the I Promise school, where workers earned a salary and job-training certificates for the hospitality industry. And in 2017, the NAACP awarded James with the Jackie Robinson Sports Award for his “contributions in the pursuit of social justice, civil rights and community involvement.”​

    Through his 7uice Foundation, Brown launched The Bridge Program, an initiative that equips young people with skills in science, technology, and innovation. Hosted at MIT’s Media Lab, the week-long program immerses students in hands-on learning focused on robotics, artificial intelligence, climate change, food insecurity, and data visualization.

    “There’s fascinating research in early childhood development showing that exposing children to new sounds and experiences helps strengthen brain development,” Brown shared during a recent keynote speech at The Gathering Spot in Atlanta. “Those new experiences stimulate neuroplasticity, strengthen neural pathways, and support cognitive development during the years when the brain is growing most rapidly…For me, that’s community. It’s investing in the next generation.”

    During his keynote address, Brown also discussed the importance of integrity and revealed why so many prominent figures are incapable of speaking out against injustices.

    “I’ve turned down opportunities worth millions of dollars—not because I don’t like money or don’t need it, but because I understood what came attached to those deals,” Brown shared. “A lot of people only look at the number; I look at the fine print. Many contracts with major corporations don’t just pay you. They also dictate what you can say, how you use your platform, and what opinions you’re allowed to express. Sometimes there’s language that says if you say something considered controversial—or something that could affect the company’s image—they can terminate the agreement. That’s why so many public figures stay silent. It’s not always because they don’t care. Sometimes it’s because speaking honestly could cost them their career, their endorsements, or their income.”

    Brown and James have remained vocal on social issues, disregarding any pushback that may follow. In an effort to mobilize Black voters and fight voter suppression, James helped to establish “More Than Vote” and was a staunch supporter of President Barack Obama. He also took a stand following the deaths of Eric Garner and Trayvon Martin, leading teammates to wear “I can’t breathe” shirts in honor of Garner and hoodies for Martin.

    During the 2020 protests following the murder of George Floyd, Brown drove 15 hours from Boston to his hometown Atlanta to participate in a march.

    “I drove 15 hours to get to Georgia, my community,” Brown shared during a live stream at the march. “This is a peaceful protest. Being a celebrity, being an NBA player don’t exclude me from no conversations at all. First and foremost I’m a black man and I’m a member of this community… We’re raising awareness for some of the injustices that we’ve been seeing. It’s not OK.”

    Brown has also spoken out against environmental justice. While speaking at MIT, Brown said, “We’re here to talk about something that affects us all, climate change. Today marks a very pivotal moment in time. The decisions that we make now will have an impact on future generations. Climate change isn’t just an environmental issue. It’s a social justice issue. It’s an economic issue, and it’s also a moral imperative. As someone who prides himself on influence and responsibility, what an honor it is to talk about this topic.”

    James and Brown will put in hours of work on the court in an effort to lead the 76ers to an NBA championship. But once they get an opportunity to sit down together, share resources, and implement plans to improve Black communities, their impact will be immense.

    “No matter where my career goes, my integrity has to walk through the door before I do,” Brown shared during his recent keynote in Atlanta. “So when opportunities come along, I ask one question: ‘Will this allow me to remain authentic?’ If the answer is no, then I respectfully walk away. Because I’d rather keep my voice than sell it.”

     

    Read the original article here.

  • The FBI Will Reportedly Stop Investigating ICE Confrontations. Why?

    The FBI Will Reportedly Stop Investigating ICE Confrontations. Why?

    By Zack Linly, NewsOne

    Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents have shot and killed two immigrants within a week of each other, prompting national outrage and protests, as favorability toward the agency continues to plummet on the heels of the fatal shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Nicole Good. So, how does the Trump administration respond to concerns that ICE is out of control and has become a danger to the general public? Well, apparently, it has decided that the FBI will no longer investigate confrontations with immigration agents, specifically cases that involve assault allegations against agents, and cases that could be used to prosecute federal agents implicated in violent encounters. Instead, those cases will reportedly be handled by an internal investigation arm of ICE, which essentially means the agency would be investigating itself.

    Now, according to the New York Times, the administration is denying the rule change, and we’ll circle back to that in a second, but FBI agents have reportedly already been informed of it.

    From the Times:

    F.B.I. managers around the country received a written notice informing them of the change on Thursday, according to the people familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe internal communications. The same day, some ICE agents around the country were notified by their F.B.I. counterparts.

    The guidance shared with them said that the bureau would stop investigating claims of assaults against Department of Homeland Security agents, the people said. Even though such investigations are intended to determine whether the officers were in fact attacked, they can provide a crucial means of gathering evidence implicating the agents themselves.

    Under the change, responsibility for investigating cases involving federal immigration officers would likely fall to Homeland Security Investigations, an arm of ICE, effectively leaving the agency to investigate itself, according to guidance circulated

    Cases involving an assault on a federal officer have been a source of tension inside federal law enforcement agencies for more than a year. White House and Justice Department officials have pushed prosecutors to bring charges in as many of them as possible, particularly as Americans protest the administration’s immigration crackdown.

    Under the federal statute, felony charges can be brought against anyone who “forcibly assaults, resists, opposes, impedes, intimidates or interferes” with a federal law enforcement officer.among F.B.I. and ICE agents.

    Cases involving an assault on a federal officer have been a source of tension inside federal law enforcement agencies for more than a year. White House and Justice Department officials have pushed prosecutors to bring charges in as many of them as possible, particularly as Americans protest the administration’s immigration crackdown.

    Under the federal statute, felony charges can be brought against anyone who “forcibly assaults, resists, opposes, impedes, intimidates or interferes” with a federal law enforcement officer.

    Just to put this all in perspective, last year, a federal judge in Chicago ordered the release of numerous videos that show, among other things, that immigration agents and DHS officials have made a habit of lying about anti-ICE protesters assaulting or posing threats to agents before those agents began using tear gas, pepper-balls, and other non-lethal yet brutal tactics to get them under control. The order came on the heels of the case of Chicago activist Marimar Martinez, who was shot several times by federal agents and accused of following and ramming ICE vehicles while agents were conducting their operations. The charges related to those allegations were dismissed with prejudice because witness accounts and surveillance footage of the incident contradicted what agents said happened, among other discrepancies in the government’s narrative.

    And we all saw the lengths the government went to to smear Good and Pretti as “domestic terrorists” who attacked agents before they were fatally shot, which video footage showed was not true in both cases.

    The point is, this is an administration that lies and spreads anti-immigrant and pro-ICE propaganda routinely, and any changes made in how these incidents are investigated would only be made so the administration could further insulate itself from outside accountability. (Not that the FBI should rightfully be considered an agency that is separate from the administration with Kash Patel at the helm, but still.)

    At any rate, the administration denied that the rule change had happened.

    “The relationship between D.H.S. and D.O.J. in investigating assault on federal officer cases has not changed, and F.B.I. will continue to investigate in accordance with agency policy,” a joint statement by the Justice Department and DHS said. “This administration has been clear, anyone who assaults law enforcement will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

    Notice the sleight of hand there. The concern is not that people who allegedly assault federal officers won’t be held accountable. This administration has been caught lying about agents being attacked numerous times, only for it to come out that the agents were actually the aggressors. The federal government’s statement even indicates that its only concern is for the agents accusing others of violence, not the other way around. And if it is true that officials have directed the FBI to no longer investigate these cases, leaving it to internal ICE departments to investigate themselves, it would only mean the administration is limiting scrutiny of immigration agents by law enforcement.

    The administration that claims everything is rigged is continuing its attempts to rig everything in its own favor. We can’t let it.

    Read the original article here.

    Featured Image: ICE Death Memorial (Houston Chronicle/Hearst Newspapers/Getty)

  • Black Voters Should Question Trump’s Voter Fraud Claims

    Black Voters Should Question Trump’s Voter Fraud Claims

    By Antjuan Seawright, The Root

    Have you ever noticed that every time voters of color stand up and start leading the charge for change against this MAGA failure, President Trump finds a new and novel way to start ranting and raving about so-called stolen elections, phantom illegal voters and his vision for “ballot security.”

    Does that feel like a coincidence to anyone? It shouldn’t.

    ​It’s the same old anti-democracy song and dance that we’ve seen time and time again, and it was on full display during his July 16 speech. It was the old soft shoe routine he’s so fond of, where every election he wins was legitimate, and every one he loses is rigged.

    It’s the old “heads I win, tails you lose” situation, and he’s trying to use it to position himself for the November midterms, because he’s going to lose.

    ​Look, we already know that Trump is a liar. He lied about his relationships, he lied about Project 2025, he lied about his plans to “fix healthcare,” “end inflation,” and all the rest. He lies about ICE, Iran, his corrupt White House and gas prices. He even lies about crowd size.

    ​But while so many in the MAGA party bend over backwards to excuse and normalize those lies, I keep remembering how my grandmother used to warn me that anyone who’s willing to lie to you will also happily steal from you.

    ​Scratch a liar and find a thief.

    ​Donald Trump is a liar, make no mistake. He’s been lying to you, and he’s doing his level best to steal the upcoming midterms from you because he can’t stand the fact that Black folks are willing to stand up to him.

    He’s lying to you and trying to steal this election from you by racial gerrymandering and dismantling Black districts, mobilizing ICE agents or our own military to “oversee” in-person voting and ballot counting, illegally declaring a ban on mail-in voting and more.

    ​But fear and suppression are known strategies. That’s why we’ve already seen Voter ID, voter roll purges and the endless restrictions passed by GOP legislatures all across this country. That’s why we had poll taxes, literacy tests, Jim Crow and the KKK showing up at your house if you had the audacity to cast a ballot.

    ​We know that song pretty well by now because, as much as Republicans like to talk about loving America, it’s only when they’re winning. Heaven help them if you manage to beat them. Then all that love goes out the window.

    ​Scratch a liar and find a thief.

    ​But there is good news because, for all their bluster, we have defeated this strategy before and we will beat it again this November because, for Black folks in America, this isn’t a game. We’re casting a survival vote.

    However, if we want to win, we must be of one accord.

    ​Look, don’t get me wrong. Lots of people have issues with the Democratic Party and its leadership. I get that, and I hear you. But the reality is that the disagreements we may have within our party simply don’t compare to what we’re facing on the outside.

    As much as I believe that most decisions fall somewhere on the spectrum, this one is a binary vote because either you’re voting for working folks or you’re not. Either you want ICE to be held accountable for grabbing people off the street, locking away defenseless children and gunning down American citizens, or you think that’s okay. Either you’re voting to end this affordability crisis, or you’re endorsing the Big Ugly Bill with the largest cuts to Medicaid and SNAP in American history. Either you want quality healthcare to be affordable and accessible to all, agree that a woman should have control over her own body and what the MAGA mob says shouldn’t matter more than her doctor, believe that no one is above the law and that democracy isn’t just a stepping stone to dictatorship, or you don’t.

    ​Either you believe every American has the right to vote or you don’t because, let’s be honest, Donald Trump is afraid of what happens if you take that to heart. That’s what his speech was all about. Donald Trump is afraid because he knows that if you can vote…if you do vote…and if you speak with one united voice, then his day is done.

    ​He’s afraid because he knows that, when you scratch a liar, you find a thief.

    Read the original article here.

    Featured image: A millennial black man and woman voting at a voting booth in an election (iStock)

  • Newswire: OP-ED: 250 Years of America – Progress on the Promise?

    Newswire: OP-ED: 250 Years of America – Progress on the Promise?

    By Delegate N. Scott Phillips, BlackPressUSA

    Let’s be clear, African Americans have done our part, we have fought in every war, built businesses, advanced science, created culture, and strengthened our democracy, often while being denied its full benefits. There has been undeniable progress, but significant challenges still remain.

    As Chairman of the Maryland Legislative Black Caucus, I believe this moment calls for our collective vigilance and less complacency. The distance between our founding ideals and our lived reality has narrowed since the civil rights movement, but it has not disappeared. Equity in economic and educational opportunity, access to affordable housing, fair protection under the law, and competent political representation remain unfinished business.

    Maryland has a lot to be proud of when it comes to the political ascension of African Americans in our state. None but the Old Line State can boast that Blacks serve as Governor, Attorney General, State Treasurer, US Senator, Mayors, and County Executives of over 62% of Maryland’s population and a legislative Black Caucus that comprises 29% of the legislature, the largest percentage in the nation. We have made meaningful investments in education, entrepreneurship, criminal justice reform, and community development. 

    The timing of this year’s Independence Day reflection is especially significant as Maryland prepares for Governor Moore to convene a special legislative session on congressional redistricting. Redistricting is far more than drawing lines on a map. It determines whose communities remain whole, and whose interests are represented in the halls of power.

    The Maryland Legislative Black Caucus believes that we have an obligation to ensure that African American voting strength is not diluted and that the hard-fought gains secured through generations of sacrifice are preserved. Fair representation is not about guaranteeing outcomes; it is about guaranteeing opportunity. Every Marylander deserves an equal voice in choosing those who represent them.

    The Maryland Legislative Black Caucus will continue to advocate for policies that expand opportunity, protect civil rights, and strengthen our democracy. We recognize that representation is only the beginning. True progress will be evident in positive measurable outcomes in economic mobility, educational achievement, better public safety, and fair access to justice for every Marylander.

    As we gather with family and friends this Fourth of July, let us celebrate how far America has come but never denying how far we still must go. Patriotism is not measured solely by our willingness to celebrate our nation’s achievements, but also by our commitment to perfecting our imperfect union.

    That is the work of the Maryland Legislative Black Caucus and all people of good conscience who lead while serving as educators, mavens of business and industry, faith leaders and community activists; and this task before us cannot be lost amid celebratory parades, commemorative speeches and patriotic celebrations from the city to the shore. It requires us to redouble our persistence, and principled leadership in the pursuit of America’s promise.

    Delegate N. Scott Phillips is the Chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland.

    Read the original article here

    Featured Image: Delegate N. Scott Phillips is the Chairman of the Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland.

  • Newswire: Federal Judge Blasts Trump For IRS Immunity Corruption, Refers Lawyers For Possible Disciplinary Action

    Newswire: Federal Judge Blasts Trump For IRS Immunity Corruption, Refers Lawyers For Possible Disciplinary Action

    By Zack Linly, NewsOne

    Welp, President Donald Trump’s little reparations fund for MAGA minions pretending to be persecuted may have been permanently shut down, but there are issues regarding the settlement that brought the fund about that need to be addressed, particularly the part where Trump and his family members were granted immunity from IRS investigations. Fortunately, a federal judge is on the case and on Trump’s neck, accusing the president of suing an agency he currently controls for an “improper purpose.”

    As we previously reported, in May Trump withdrew a $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS, which he had filed over the leak of his tax returns while he was being investigated by the FBI. The Justice Department announced the settlement included the launch of a now-defunct “anti-weaponization of lawfare” fund, but was less forthcoming about the fact that the agreement also barred all IRS investigations of Trump and his family members for past tax-related complaints.

    On Monday, in a scathing decision, a judge not only rebuked Trump and the DOJ for filing the suit, but also referred two of the president’s lawyers for potential disciplinary action.

    From the Associated Press:

    “U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams accused Trump and his lawyers of having manipulated the court system when he sued a federal agency under his control, bypassing a requirement that parties in a lawsuit must have adverse interests and laying the groundwork for a settlement that granted him immunity from tax audits and created a fund to compensate allies of the president who say they were unjustly persecuted.

    The judge stopped short of explicitly voiding the deal shielding Trump from tax scrutiny but said the government cannot claim that the agreement was the result of a legitimate legal process.

    “Whether Executive Branch actors can privately agree to give themselves and their former clients blanket immunities and billions of dollars in tax monies for legally undefined grievances was never an issue advanced to this Court,” said Williams, an appointee of President Barack Obama. “The question is whether the Parties could do so by claiming to be adverse and engaging the legitimacy of a court proceeding. The answer is a resounding ‘no.’

    It’s like I wrote in our previous report about the settlement: “The leader of the federal government’s executive branch sued a federal executive branch agency. Then, Trump settled the suit with the agency he’s ultimately in charge of, included a fund to pay reparations to his criminally inclined supporters and allies, and secured an immunity agreement for himself and his family members.”

    Sometimes the corruption and conflicts of interest that happen at the highest levels of government are subtle. That’s never the case with this administration. After all, this is the same president who became some $2 billion richer last year from his investments in cryptocurrency — which he called “a scam against the dollar” just a few short years ago — after he signed multiple executive orders that were clearly aimed at boosting the cryptocurrency industry.

    Anyway, back to Judge Williams’ 56-page ruling.

    “The nature of the suit itself and the conduct of the Parties and counsel from its filing make plain that this was an attempt to use the Court to provide some legitimacy to an agreement to confer immunity to people and entities affiliated with the President and to earmark billions of dollars from American taxpayers to redress grievances not defined in the law,” Williams wrote. “The President may be the functional ‘dominus litus’ of the Executive Branch, but as a party to a civil suit, he, as well as all the parties and lawyers before a court, are bound by the rules. Ensuring that our courts are used only for the express purpose created by the Constitution is the obligation of every judge and an obligation that this Court must discharge in light of the matter before it.”

    According to the Washington Post, Williams referred two of Trump’s attorneys for potential disciplinary proceedings in the state of Florida, where the IRS lawsuit was launched, and ordered that her ruling be sent to attorney oversight bodies in New York and Washington that are already investigating disciplinary claims against Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and Stanley Woodward, the Justice Department’s No. 3 official, both of whom were key figures involved in the settlement agreement.

    Look, I’m just going to point out that attorneys flushing their careers down the drain just to do Trump’s dirty work is what brought about the downfall of one Rudy Giuliani, who is still unconscionably loyal to the most brazenly corrupt president in recent history. We can likely expect the same from Blanche and any other legal official caught in the MAGA web, because a cult is going to be a cult.

    Sad.

     

    Read the original article here.

    Featured Image: Trump with officers behind him (Source: Andrew Harnik / Getty)

  • Op-Ed: Choices matter for the Alabama PSC – More of the same or a fresh new voice

    Op-Ed: Choices matter for the Alabama PSC – More of the same or a fresh new voice

    Submitted By Sheila McNeil, Candidate for Alabama PSC Place 2

    Alabama stands at a crossroads. Like much of America, we are living through a moment defined by rising costs, political dysfunction, and a growing sense that the systems meant to protect us are no longer working.  The Alabama Public Service Commission is one of the clearest examples of how our state has drifted toward crisis and how urgently we need a course correction. 

    This is a state with extraordinary potential. We rank 14th in national energy production, yet too many families struggle to keep the lights on. We build the rockets that carry America into space, yet our schools rank 44th.  We attract billion-dollar industries, yet our economy ranks 36th, and our healthcare system ranks 40th. These contradictions are not the result of a lack of talent, resources, or hard work. They reflect leadership that has not consistently put the people of Alabama first. 

    Even Alabama’s own elected officials have acknowledged the seriousness of the problem. Senator Katie Britt  recently stated, “Our electrical rates are the highest in the Southeast.” Independent national data shows that  Alabama’s electricity rates are the third-highest in the entire country. For a state that produces so much energy,  this reality is difficult to justify. 

    Meanwhile, our neighbors in Georgia have shown what happens when voters demand accountability. In 2025,  Georgia’s Public Service Commission underwent a historic transformation. After years of public frustration over rising utility bills, opaque rate cases, and the ballooning costs of major projects like Plant Vogtle,  Georgians pushed for change. The result was a Commission more responsive to public concerns about transparency, affordability, and oversight. Georgia did not get there overnight. It happened because residents refused to accept a system that was not working for them. 

    Alabama, however, is moving in the opposite direction. 

    In 2026, our legislature passed HB 475, a sweeping restructuring of the Public Service Commission. Instead of expanding public access or strengthening oversight, HB 475 consolidated authority, reduced transparency requirements, and altered internal PSC processes in ways that critics argue make it harder for the public to understand or influence decisions. The bill moved quickly, with limited public debate, despite its enormous implications for how utility regulation will function for years to come. At a time when Alabamians are already paying some of the highest electricity bills in the country, HB 475 makes it even harder for the public to see how decisions are made or to hold regulators accountable. 

    That is why I filed a federal lawsuit challenging HB 475. When a law restructures an entire regulatory body in the middle of an active election, after candidates have qualified, paid their fees, and begun campaigning, it raises serious constitutional concerns. My lawsuit argues that HB 475 disrupts the electoral process,  undermines equal protection, and threatens the voting rights of Alabamians who deserve a stable, transparent,  and fair system of utility oversight. This is not just a legal fight. It is a fight for every family struggling with high bills, every community demanding accountability, and every voter who expects the rules of an election to 

    remain consistent from start to finish. HB 475 is more than a policy disagreement. It is a fundamental question of whether Alabama’s government will operate in the sunlight or behind closed doors. 

    These are serious times, and serious times demand serious leadership. Not excuses. Not distractions. Not more of the same. We must ask ourselves: 

    Is your life better? Are your utility bills lower? Are your children receiving the education they deserve? Are you more hopeful about Alabama’s future? 

    If the answer is no, then it is time to stop settling. 

    Many Alabamians have already seen cuts to SNAP and Medicaid. Families are struggling under rising utility costs. Seniors are worried about threats to Social Security and Medicare. Veterans, farmers, and small businesses are navigating economic pressures without the support they need.  

    When is enough enough? 

    Alabama cannot afford the status quo. Our state has waited long enough for leadership that reflects the full strength, diversity, and potential of its people. Real change is not about protecting entrenched interests or maintaining old power structures. Real change is about making life better for every Alabamian, including working families, seniors, veterans, farmers, small business owners, and young people who deserve a future right here at home. 

    Our diversity of experience, geography, background, and perspective is one of our greatest strengths. When  Alabama embraces that diversity, we win. History proves it. Alabama football did not become a national powerhouse until it opened its doors to every athlete capable of contributing to excellence. When we include more voices, we build stronger teams, stronger institutions, and a stronger state. 

    Alabama has everything it needs to lead. What we’ve lacked is leadership willing to put the people first. It is time to stop accepting less than we deserve. It is time to move forward with policies rooted in transparency,  accountability, and fairness. It is time for a fresh new voice committed to building a better Alabama that works for all of us. 

    Sheila McNeil 

    Candidate for Alabama PSC Place 2 

    256-384 4914 

    info@mcneilforpsc2.com 

    mcneilforpsc2.com

  • Newswire: Katie Britt disputes Tuberville’s claim that major housing bill supports ‘illegals’

    Newswire: Katie Britt disputes Tuberville’s claim that major housing bill supports ‘illegals’

    By Ruth Serven Smith | rserven@al.com, AL.COM

    U.S. Sen. Katie Britt is defending a landmark bipartisan housing bill, after her fellow senator from Alabama, Sen. Tommy Tuberville, called it a “blank check” for “illegals.”

    Britt worked on and voted for the legislation, which is still awaiting the president’s signature. 

    Tuberville voted against it. 

    The bill aims to make housing more affordable and available for Americans.

    The package “appropriates zero dollars and maintains that illegal aliens are not eligible for HUD housing assistance,” Britt said Thursday.

    The comment came after Tuberville claimed the bill will support “illegals.” 

    His staff did not respond to a request for comment from AL.com asking him to explain what part of the package might benefit immigrants who are in the country illegally.

    By law, immigrants here illegally cannot receive direct federal housing benefits, such as rental assistance.

    Britt said the bill, known as the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, will help disabled veterans, rural families and other people who need access to housing.

    “There is still more work to be done to ensure young families have the opportunity to own a home, but this bill makes meaningful changes to address our nation’s affordable housing crisis,” she said.

    Read the original article here

    Featured image: Katie Britt and Tommy Tuberville (United States Congress and United States Senate Photographic Studio/Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)