Alabama Reflector
@alabamareflector.com
The Alabama Reflector is an independent, nonprofit news outlet dedicated to covering state government and politics in the state of Alabama.
At least 23 independent clinics have closed this year, according to a report released Tuesday by Abortion Care Network, compared with 12 last year. https://ow.ly/ns1Y50XGshO
December 10, 2025 at 12:05 AM
At least 23 independent clinics have closed this year, according to a report released Tuesday by Abortion Care Network, compared with 12 last year. https://ow.ly/ns1Y50XGshO
Via Ariana Figueroa: The Trump administration Tuesday defended a fast-track deportation policy before a panel of federal appeals court judges, saying immigrants who have been in the country for less than two years without legal authorization are not guaranteed due process. https://ow.ly/e80J50XGwx5
December 9, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Via Ariana Figueroa: The Trump administration Tuesday defended a fast-track deportation policy before a panel of federal appeals court judges, saying immigrants who have been in the country for less than two years without legal authorization are not guaranteed due process. https://ow.ly/e80J50XGwx5
Via Ashley Murray: A Manhattan federal judge granted an order Tuesday to unseal grand jury records in the case of Jeffrey Epstein co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted of sex trafficking minors among other offenses in 2021.
Epstein co-conspirator grand jury records to be unsealed in New York under court order | Alabama Reflector
Federal Judge Paul Engelmayer wrote in a 24-page order that unsealing the documents fell within the scope of a new law passed by Congress and signed by President Donald Trump.
alabamareflector.com
December 9, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Via Ashley Murray: A Manhattan federal judge granted an order Tuesday to unseal grand jury records in the case of Jeffrey Epstein co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted of sex trafficking minors among other offenses in 2021.
Via Jonathan Shorman and Stateline: Some states are reevaluating their mail-in voting laws, including shortening or ending grace periods that now require election officials to count mailed ballots that arrive after Election Day. https://ow.ly/Aemw50XGrwL
December 9, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Via Jonathan Shorman and Stateline: Some states are reevaluating their mail-in voting laws, including shortening or ending grace periods that now require election officials to count mailed ballots that arrive after Election Day. https://ow.ly/Aemw50XGrwL
Via Jennifer Shutt: The head of one of the country’s largest anti-abortion organizations wants President Donald Trump to fire U.S. Food and Drug Administrator Marty Makary over access to medication abortion.
Leader of major anti-abortion group calls for Trump's FDA chief to be fired | Alabama Reflector
Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, expressed frustration on social media Tuesday that the FDA hasn’t completed a review of the prescription drug mifepristone.
alabamareflector.com
December 9, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Via Jennifer Shutt: The head of one of the country’s largest anti-abortion organizations wants President Donald Trump to fire U.S. Food and Drug Administrator Marty Makary over access to medication abortion.
Via Anna Barrett: A group of Alabama nonprofits and women’s health advocates are planning to launch a program Tuesday to improve maternal and infant mortality rates. https://ow.ly/h0CX50XFZll
December 9, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Via Anna Barrett: A group of Alabama nonprofits and women’s health advocates are planning to launch a program Tuesday to improve maternal and infant mortality rates. https://ow.ly/h0CX50XFZll
Via Andrea Tinker: A group of University of Alabama alumni are raising money to help independently publish two student publications suspended by UA last week over alleged violations of the Trump administration's anti-DEI policies. https://ow.ly/Fm7p50XFWX8
December 9, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Via Andrea Tinker: A group of University of Alabama alumni are raising money to help independently publish two student publications suspended by UA last week over alleged violations of the Trump administration's anti-DEI policies. https://ow.ly/Fm7p50XFWX8
Via @timhenderson.bsky.social and Stateline: A popular program allowing Medicare patients to get hospital care at home would be extended until 2030 under a bill passed in the U.S. House of Representatives and awaiting consideration by the Senate. https://ow.ly/mAob50XG1yr
December 9, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Via @timhenderson.bsky.social and Stateline: A popular program allowing Medicare patients to get hospital care at home would be extended until 2030 under a bill passed in the U.S. House of Representatives and awaiting consideration by the Senate. https://ow.ly/mAob50XG1yr
The U.S. Education Department is bringing back hundreds of employees in its Office for Civil Rights who were placed on paid administrative leave earlier this year, according to a Dec. 5 email to those employees obtained by States Newsroom. https://ow.ly/Rg3T50XFZvQ
December 9, 2025 at 12:05 AM
The U.S. Education Department is bringing back hundreds of employees in its Office for Civil Rights who were placed on paid administrative leave earlier this year, according to a Dec. 5 email to those employees obtained by States Newsroom. https://ow.ly/Rg3T50XFZvQ
Via Ashley Murray: The U.S. Supreme Court appeared ready to expand presidential power after hearing a case Monday on whether President Donald Trump can hire and fire members of independent federal agencies without cause.
US Supreme Court seems ready to back Trump in case of fired FTC commissioner | Alabama Reflector
The high court’s decision could heighten presidential influence over agencies created by Congress that oversee monetary policy, nuclear safety, consumer advocacy and trade, among other major policy areas.
alabamareflector.com
December 8, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Via Ashley Murray: The U.S. Supreme Court appeared ready to expand presidential power after hearing a case Monday on whether President Donald Trump can hire and fire members of independent federal agencies without cause.
Via Nada Hassanein: Advanced practice nurses, hospital associations and other health groups say a federal borrowing rule will make it unaffordable for many nurses to advance their careers — disproportionately affecting communities, especially rural ones, that rely on them. https://ow.ly/12GW50XFLSX
December 8, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Via Nada Hassanein: Advanced practice nurses, hospital associations and other health groups say a federal borrowing rule will make it unaffordable for many nurses to advance their careers — disproportionately affecting communities, especially rural ones, that rely on them. https://ow.ly/12GW50XFLSX
Reposted by Alabama Reflector
My column this week. The University of Alabama's decision to shut down two student publications aimed at Black and female students reflects an institution that has gone beyond cowardice to openly embracing the White House's message that minorities do not count in public life.
From cowardice to connivance at the University of Alabama | Alabama Reflector
The university's growing embrace of anti-DEI policies seems less like a surrender to the White House than an embrace of it.
alabamareflector.com
December 8, 2025 at 3:04 PM
My column this week. The University of Alabama's decision to shut down two student publications aimed at Black and female students reflects an institution that has gone beyond cowardice to openly embracing the White House's message that minorities do not count in public life.
Editor Brian Lyman writes that the University of Alabama's cancellation of two student magazines aimed at Black and female students isn't capitulation to federal policies harming minorities on campus. It's an open embrace of them. https://ow.ly/Y7cr50XCQfY
December 8, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Editor Brian Lyman writes that the University of Alabama's cancellation of two student magazines aimed at Black and female students isn't capitulation to federal policies harming minorities on campus. It's an open embrace of them. https://ow.ly/Y7cr50XCQfY
Via Andrea Tinker: An Alabama lawmaker is planning to introduce a bill that in next year’s legislative session would recognize licensed workforce jobs the Trump administration recently excluded as professional degrees. https://ow.ly/pYE150XE6rP
December 8, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Via Andrea Tinker: An Alabama lawmaker is planning to introduce a bill that in next year’s legislative session would recognize licensed workforce jobs the Trump administration recently excluded as professional degrees. https://ow.ly/pYE150XE6rP
Via @annabjournalist.bsky.social: Amid ongoing federal and state attempts to limit access to vaccines or loosen vaccination requirements, data shows that Alabama has fallen below national averages for children being up to date on some vaccines.
Alabama trails some national vaccination rates amid misinformation, access struggles | Alabama Reflector
Amid ongoing federal and state attempts to limit access to vaccines or loosen vaccination requirements, data shows that Alabama falls below the national average in children up to date in vaccines.
alabamareflector.com
December 8, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Via @annabjournalist.bsky.social: Amid ongoing federal and state attempts to limit access to vaccines or loosen vaccination requirements, data shows that Alabama has fallen below national averages for children being up to date on some vaccines.
Via Kelcie Moseley-Morris: The four lawsuits at the center of a GOP-led effort to ensure law enforcement can access reproductive health records are mostly resolved, after attorneys for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton agreed last week to dismiss the last remaining suit. https://ow.ly/oIi550XC95K
December 7, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Via Kelcie Moseley-Morris: The four lawsuits at the center of a GOP-led effort to ensure law enforcement can access reproductive health records are mostly resolved, after attorneys for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton agreed last week to dismiss the last remaining suit. https://ow.ly/oIi550XC95K
Reposted by Alabama Reflector
My column from Monday. Win or lose, Doug Jones’ gubernatorial campaign should give Alabama Democrats some desperately needed pull at the top of the ticket that could give the party a few chances to add seats in the Legislature.
What Doug Jones can do for Alabama Democrats, win or lose | Alabama Reflector
The former U.S. senator is a longshot for victory. But a statewide campaign could boost Democrats in other ways.
alabamareflector.com
December 6, 2025 at 2:06 PM
My column from Monday. Win or lose, Doug Jones’ gubernatorial campaign should give Alabama Democrats some desperately needed pull at the top of the ticket that could give the party a few chances to add seats in the Legislature.
Via Stateline: The minimum wage for workers will increase in 19 states and 49 cities and counties next month, with the wage floor reaching $15 per hour in dozens of localities, a new report found. https://ow.ly/XztI50XC8IQ
December 6, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Via Stateline: The minimum wage for workers will increase in 19 states and 49 cities and counties next month, with the wage floor reaching $15 per hour in dozens of localities, a new report found. https://ow.ly/XztI50XC8IQ
Via Stateline: As the housing shortage pushes more Americans into homelessness, the Trump administration wants to focus federal housing aid on mental health treatment and law enforcement, rather than on finding people permanent homes as quickly as possible. https://ow.ly/1LjG50XCRgL
December 5, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Via Stateline: As the housing shortage pushes more Americans into homelessness, the Trump administration wants to focus federal housing aid on mental health treatment and law enforcement, rather than on finding people permanent homes as quickly as possible. https://ow.ly/1LjG50XCRgL
Via Jacob Fischler: While a schedule for arguments has not yet been released by the court, it’s likely the case would be heard sometime in early 2026.
Trump order ending birthright citizenship to be argued at US Supreme Court | Alabama Reflector
The court agreed to hear a case, before it is decided in a lower court, that deals with the Constitution’s 14th Amendment, which grants citizenship to almost everyone born in the United States.
alabamareflector.com
December 5, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Via Jacob Fischler: While a schedule for arguments has not yet been released by the court, it’s likely the case would be heard sometime in early 2026.
Via Stateline: Texas recently became the first state to make a major investment in cryptocurrency with the purchase of about $5 million worth of bitcoin, following passage of bipartisan legislation this year creating a state cryptocurrency investment fund. https://ow.ly/ArjA50XCPYM
December 5, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Via Stateline: Texas recently became the first state to make a major investment in cryptocurrency with the purchase of about $5 million worth of bitcoin, following passage of bipartisan legislation this year creating a state cryptocurrency investment fund. https://ow.ly/ArjA50XCPYM
Via Ralph Chapoco: A joint legislative committee Thursday temporarily blocked four legal contracts after a senator on the committee raised objections to a lawsuit over the distribution of proceeds to cities from the state’s internet sales tax. https://ow.ly/99yF50XCcCX
December 5, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Via Ralph Chapoco: A joint legislative committee Thursday temporarily blocked four legal contracts after a senator on the committee raised objections to a lawsuit over the distribution of proceeds to cities from the state’s internet sales tax. https://ow.ly/99yF50XCcCX
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth violated official policy when he used the publicly available Signal app to message about military plans from his personal cell phone, including imminent bombings in Yemen, according to a watchdog report released Thursday by the Pentagon. https://ow.ly/oI2F50XC8nA
December 5, 2025 at 12:05 AM
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth violated official policy when he used the publicly available Signal app to message about military plans from his personal cell phone, including imminent bombings in Yemen, according to a watchdog report released Thursday by the Pentagon. https://ow.ly/oI2F50XC8nA
Via Ashley Murray: FBI agents took Brian J. Cole Jr., 30, into custody “safely and successfully,” in Woodbridge, Virginia, Attorney General Pam Bondi said at an afternoon press conference at DOJ headquarters in Washington, D.C. https://ow.ly/bx9V50XC0n4
December 4, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Via Ashley Murray: FBI agents took Brian J. Cole Jr., 30, into custody “safely and successfully,” in Woodbridge, Virginia, Attorney General Pam Bondi said at an afternoon press conference at DOJ headquarters in Washington, D.C. https://ow.ly/bx9V50XC0n4
Via Jennifer Shutt: The U.S. Senate will vote next week on a Democratic bill to extend enhanced tax credits for three years for people who purchase their health insurance from the Affordable Care Act marketplace, though the plan seems unlikely to get the bipartisan support needed to advance.
Health subsidies would continue for 3 years under Dem bill to be voted on in US Senate | Alabama Reflector
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., agreed that Democrats could bring up a health care bill of their choosing in exchange for voting to end the government shutdown.
ow.ly
December 4, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Via Jennifer Shutt: The U.S. Senate will vote next week on a Democratic bill to extend enhanced tax credits for three years for people who purchase their health insurance from the Affordable Care Act marketplace, though the plan seems unlikely to get the bipartisan support needed to advance.