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.

• Jennifer Mascia: Senior news writer and founding staffer at The Trace — thetrace.org

• 🔵 Bluesky
• ⚫ X/Twitter
• 🔵 Facebook

• 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.

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.

• Tabitha Isner: Vice Chair, Alabama Democratic Party
• Dr. Candice Duvieilh: Candidate for Congress in Alabama's 5th District

• Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/alpoliticsthisweek.com
• X/Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/alathisweek
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alathisweek

• 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.

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.

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 to our channel!
• Leave us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
• 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.

ABOUT OUR SPONSOR

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.