Brian Lyman
@brianlyman.bsky.social
Editor, Alabama Reflector. Podcaster, Becoming Lincoln. 2024 Pulitzer finalist. Past: MGM Advertiser; Press-Register; The Anniston Star; Norwich Bulletin; Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Politics, history, science, horrific puns.
Pinned
Brian Lyman
@brianlyman.bsky.social
· Nov 12
Alabama Reflector: Covering the pain and promise of our home • Alabama Reflector
Laws are made in the State House. Alabama is made outside it. Alabama Reflector will cover these dynamics that shape our home.
alabamareflector.com
Here’s our mission statement at @alreflector.bsky.social. From my first column on launch day in February 2023.
Reposted by Brian Lyman
Via Ashley Murray: A three-judge federal appeals panel grilled lawyers for a former White House official and The Associated Press Monday in a case that could significantly overhaul press access to the Oval Office and Air Force One. https://ow.ly/x6Lj50Xx9Ah
November 25, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Via Ashley Murray: A three-judge federal appeals panel grilled lawyers for a former White House official and The Associated Press Monday in a case that could significantly overhaul press access to the Oval Office and Air Force One. https://ow.ly/x6Lj50Xx9Ah
Reposted by Brian Lyman
Via Ralph Chapoco: An Indiana judge last week threw out a lawsuit filed by an Indiana company against Limestone County residents that alleged their attempts to stop quarry construction in Belle Mina amounted to interference. https://ow.ly/YT4f50Xx7TU
November 25, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Via Ralph Chapoco: An Indiana judge last week threw out a lawsuit filed by an Indiana company against Limestone County residents that alleged their attempts to stop quarry construction in Belle Mina amounted to interference. https://ow.ly/YT4f50Xx7TU
I’ve never thought Lincoln was ugly. There used to be an argument that he would never have been president if television was around, but that’s not true. Lincoln was an incredibly magnetic personality and a close student of media. He would have been as meticulous with TV as he was with newspapers.
“The people—the people—are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts—not to overthrow the Constitution, but to overthrow the men who pervert it.”
~Abraham Lincoln, speech in Kansas, Dec. 1859.
Image: Library of Congress.
~Abraham Lincoln, speech in Kansas, Dec. 1859.
Image: Library of Congress.
November 25, 2025 at 12:57 PM
I’ve never thought Lincoln was ugly. There used to be an argument that he would never have been president if television was around, but that’s not true. Lincoln was an incredibly magnetic personality and a close student of media. He would have been as meticulous with TV as he was with newspapers.
Remember how the government taking a stake in an auto manufacturer to save jobs had to be done with groveling apologies and endless hectoring about the inefficiency of the public sector?
$10 Billion and Counting: Trump Administration Snaps Up Stakes in Private Firms
www.nytimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Remember how the government taking a stake in an auto manufacturer to save jobs had to be done with groveling apologies and endless hectoring about the inefficiency of the public sector?
Reposted by Brian Lyman
Via Anna Barrett: A group of Alabama clergy gathered in front of the federal courthouse in Montgomery Monday to protest the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) and to call on Alabama U.S. Sens. Katie Britt and Tommy Tuberville to restore funding cuts to Medicaid and SNAP. https://ow.ly/3Z2350XxcW7
November 25, 2025 at 12:05 PM
Via Anna Barrett: A group of Alabama clergy gathered in front of the federal courthouse in Montgomery Monday to protest the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) and to call on Alabama U.S. Sens. Katie Britt and Tommy Tuberville to restore funding cuts to Medicaid and SNAP. https://ow.ly/3Z2350XxcW7
I choose to not understand any element of this
November 25, 2025 at 1:52 AM
I choose to not understand any element of this
Whig! A Film By Ken Burns
I figure Ken Burns has one, maybe two big documentary series in him before he fully retires. What do you think they should be? My votes include Football, Hip-Hop, World War 1, Reconstruction (though Skip Gates did this one well), Iraq/Afghanistan, 19th Century Expansionism.
November 25, 2025 at 1:07 AM
Whig! A Film By Ken Burns
Reposted by Brian Lyman
Via @timhenderson.bsky.social and Stateline: In a tacit admission that U.S. food production requires foreign labor, the Trump administration is making it easier for farmers to employ guest workers from other countries. https://ow.ly/vQMu50XwVs6
November 25, 2025 at 12:05 AM
Via @timhenderson.bsky.social and Stateline: In a tacit admission that U.S. food production requires foreign labor, the Trump administration is making it easier for farmers to employ guest workers from other countries. https://ow.ly/vQMu50XwVs6
Not sure this lives up to its billing
Adding "duck master" to my list of aspirational careers.
These ducks are local celebrities and walk the red carpet daily
“We’ve got to march with purpose,” duck master Kenon Walker tells the ducks each morning in a pep talk.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 24, 2025 at 10:41 PM
Not sure this lives up to its billing
Reposted by Brian Lyman
Via Amanda Watford and Stateline: Crime clearance rate figures can be confusing — and in some cases misleading. State lawmakers are pushing to better understand and improve clearance rates, as crime remains top of mind for many Americans and a defining issue nationwide. https://ow.ly/MlTt50XwWTG
November 24, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Via Amanda Watford and Stateline: Crime clearance rate figures can be confusing — and in some cases misleading. State lawmakers are pushing to better understand and improve clearance rates, as crime remains top of mind for many Americans and a defining issue nationwide. https://ow.ly/MlTt50XwWTG
Reposted by Brian Lyman
Via Jacob Fischler: A senior federal judge dismissed charges Monday against two public officials with long-running public disputes with President Donald Trump, saying the controversial appointment of the president’s former personal attorney as a prosecutor doomed the cases.
Judge drops James Comey and Letitia James charges, saying prosecutor served 'unlawfully' | Alabama Reflector
Judge Cameron McGowan Currie wrote in a Monday order that the deadline for an interim appointee to that position had lapsed.
alabamareflector.com
November 24, 2025 at 10:23 PM
Via Jacob Fischler: A senior federal judge dismissed charges Monday against two public officials with long-running public disputes with President Donald Trump, saying the controversial appointment of the president’s former personal attorney as a prosecutor doomed the cases.
Jones' announcement likely sets up a rematch with Tommy Tuberville, who defeated Jones for U.S. Senate in 2020. Jones said Alabamians "want their next governor to be someone who treats this state with grace and dignity, and not just like a rest stop on the way to the Florida beach."
Via @annabjournalist.bsky.social: Former Democratic U.S. Sen. Doug Jones officially entered Alabama's 2026 gubernatorial race Monday, saying Alabamians "deserve a governor who is going to fight for them."
Doug Jones enters 2026 Alabama governor's race | Alabama Reflector
Jones posted a video to Twitter Monday where he confirmed the “worst kept secret” in Alabama. He also teased an official kickoff next month.
alabamareflector.com
November 24, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Jones' announcement likely sets up a rematch with Tommy Tuberville, who defeated Jones for U.S. Senate in 2020. Jones said Alabamians "want their next governor to be someone who treats this state with grace and dignity, and not just like a rest stop on the way to the Florida beach."
And Doug Jones' campaign for Alabama governor appears officially official.
November 24, 2025 at 8:26 PM
And Doug Jones' campaign for Alabama governor appears officially official.
The best Star Wars story of the last 26 years is Knights of the Old Republic II, because it questions the basic assumptions of the franchise.
haven’t seen ROS or Solo but this seems like a pretty ball-knowing list from Pritzker, particularly if he volunteered the name “Star Wars” rather than “A New Hope”
November 24, 2025 at 8:03 PM
The best Star Wars story of the last 26 years is Knights of the Old Republic II, because it questions the basic assumptions of the franchise.
Reposted by Brian Lyman
Via Jennifer Shutt: The Pentagon announced on social media Monday it’s looking into “serious allegations of misconduct” against Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., one of several lawmakers who posted a video last week telling military members they are not required to follow orders that violate the law.
November 24, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Via Jennifer Shutt: The Pentagon announced on social media Monday it’s looking into “serious allegations of misconduct” against Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., one of several lawmakers who posted a video last week telling military members they are not required to follow orders that violate the law.
Reposted by Brian Lyman
Via Elisha Brown: A law set to take effect in early December gives Texans the power to sue anyone involved in mailing abortion pills to the state, from drug companies to doctors. Whether Texas’ statute can puncture other states’ shield laws remains to be seen. https://ow.ly/qVCz50XwU8m
November 24, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Via Elisha Brown: A law set to take effect in early December gives Texans the power to sue anyone involved in mailing abortion pills to the state, from drug companies to doctors. Whether Texas’ statute can puncture other states’ shield laws remains to be seen. https://ow.ly/qVCz50XwU8m
I worked Gilgamesh, Beowulf and the 19th century Irish poet Antaine Raiftearai into this week’s column. P.S. I am not a crackpot
Editor Brian Lyman writes that the past year has shown Alabama's leaders and institutions to be wholly incapable of protecting the state economy or the rule of law. But it's also given us thousands of Alabamians willing to fight for those things. https://ow.ly/CxGL50XvTgW
November 24, 2025 at 6:07 PM
I worked Gilgamesh, Beowulf and the 19th century Irish poet Antaine Raiftearai into this week’s column. P.S. I am not a crackpot
Reposted by Brian Lyman
November 24, 2025 at 4:19 PM
My column this week. This year has given us numerous examples of elites and institutions cowering before those who would destroy the best things in American life. And it's been a time when many, many more Alabamians have stood up for democracy, tolerance and the rule of law.
The small fights for democracy are the epics of our time | Alabama Reflector
In a time of elite impunity and institutional failure, the battles for American ideals are raging in a thousand different places.
alabamareflector.com
November 24, 2025 at 3:02 PM
My column this week. This year has given us numerous examples of elites and institutions cowering before those who would destroy the best things in American life. And it's been a time when many, many more Alabamians have stood up for democracy, tolerance and the rule of law.
Reposted by Brian Lyman
Via Anna Barrett: An Alabama lawmaker has pre-filed a bill for the 2026 legislative sessionthat would require defendants of rape and incest to get a vasectomy or be castrated if the crime resulted in pregnancy. https://ow.ly/V2ER50XvSUs
November 24, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Via Anna Barrett: An Alabama lawmaker has pre-filed a bill for the 2026 legislative sessionthat would require defendants of rape and incest to get a vasectomy or be castrated if the crime resulted in pregnancy. https://ow.ly/V2ER50XvSUs
Reposted by Brian Lyman
A new U.S. Department of Education regulation to narrow eligibility for a key student debt relief program has drawn strong opposition from advocates who argue the regulation attempts to target organizations whose missions do not align with President Donald Trump’s agenda. https://ow.ly/zzjC50Xw1YK
November 24, 2025 at 12:05 PM
A new U.S. Department of Education regulation to narrow eligibility for a key student debt relief program has drawn strong opposition from advocates who argue the regulation attempts to target organizations whose missions do not align with President Donald Trump’s agenda. https://ow.ly/zzjC50Xw1YK
Cats and dogs, living together, etc.
November 24, 2025 at 4:42 AM
Cats and dogs, living together, etc.
Waiting to see the paperwork, but a few things:
-- Trump's numbers are not great in Alabama;
-- Straight-ticket voting is a D killer, even when they have a cash advantage (as Jones did in 2020);
-- But this will be a relief to legislative Democrats to have a top-of-the-ticket name to draw voters.
-- Trump's numbers are not great in Alabama;
-- Straight-ticket voting is a D killer, even when they have a cash advantage (as Jones did in 2020);
-- But this will be a relief to legislative Democrats to have a top-of-the-ticket name to draw voters.
It’s official. @dougjones.bsky.social will run against Tommy Tuberville for Alabama governor. www.al.com/life/2025/11...
Doug Jones will enter 2026 Alabama governor’s race
Campaign paperwork is to be filed this week.
www.al.com
November 23, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Waiting to see the paperwork, but a few things:
-- Trump's numbers are not great in Alabama;
-- Straight-ticket voting is a D killer, even when they have a cash advantage (as Jones did in 2020);
-- But this will be a relief to legislative Democrats to have a top-of-the-ticket name to draw voters.
-- Trump's numbers are not great in Alabama;
-- Straight-ticket voting is a D killer, even when they have a cash advantage (as Jones did in 2020);
-- But this will be a relief to legislative Democrats to have a top-of-the-ticket name to draw voters.
At some point, I wonder when this becomes a fatal quality-of-use issue for the platform.
Maybe never. But a lot of us are here because we disliked the earlier version of this on X. And a lot of us have cut back on Facebook use because it’s swamped real-life connections with ads and rage bait.
Maybe never. But a lot of us are here because we disliked the earlier version of this on X. And a lot of us have cut back on Facebook use because it’s swamped real-life connections with ads and rage bait.
13k comments on one tweet is a massive payout. All of the tweets follow a certain formula, so the content is likely automated using AI technology (e.g., AI generated images and text). Basically running it as a money printing machine. But for those in the US, it translates to low simmering rage.
November 23, 2025 at 1:42 PM
At some point, I wonder when this becomes a fatal quality-of-use issue for the platform.
Maybe never. But a lot of us are here because we disliked the earlier version of this on X. And a lot of us have cut back on Facebook use because it’s swamped real-life connections with ads and rage bait.
Maybe never. But a lot of us are here because we disliked the earlier version of this on X. And a lot of us have cut back on Facebook use because it’s swamped real-life connections with ads and rage bait.
Reposted by Brian Lyman
Via Anna Claire Vollers and Stateline: As states strive to curb health insurers’ use of artificial intelligence, patients and doctors are arming themselves with AI tools to fight claims denials, prior authorizations and soaring medical bills. https://ow.ly/CmUs50XvSES
November 23, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Via Anna Claire Vollers and Stateline: As states strive to curb health insurers’ use of artificial intelligence, patients and doctors are arming themselves with AI tools to fight claims denials, prior authorizations and soaring medical bills. https://ow.ly/CmUs50XvSES