Alabama Politics This Week

"It costs more money to run unconstitutional prisons."This week, Josh and David cover the entire political spectrum — from the hypocrisy of American healthcare arguments to the deep-seated corruption within the Alabama Department of Corrections. The show begins with a breakdown of Josh’s latest column on the "Socialism" label. Why do Americans denounce socialism while relying o...

Josh and David kick off the show by recapping their Thanksgiving holidays, which featured very different experiences. While Josh enjoyed a smooth break, David shares the harrowing tale of losing his home heating system right before the cold snap, forcing him to rely on space heaters for a week. The CHOOSE Act and Public Education The hosts dissect the Alabama CHOOSE Act, criticizing the use of pub...

This week, Josh and David dive into the sudden GOP pivot on releasing the Epstein files and break down the "white victimhood" narrative driving modern political discourse. Montgomery Mayor Steven Reed joins the show to discuss the city's recent mass shooting and the data linking permitless carry to a 23 percent spike in gun violence. Finally, the hosts debate the hypothetical 2026 gu...

Josh Moon and David Person dig into a wild week in politics, starting with newly released Jeffrey Epstein emails that appear to further implicate Donald Trump and expose GOP efforts to stall the full release of the “Epstein files.” They break down how eight Senate Democrats caved in the shutdown fight, allowing devastating cuts to Affordable Care Act subsidies that will spike premiums for millions...

Josh Moon and David Person break down the stunning Democratic victories in Tuesday's elections across Virginia, New Jersey, and New York, examining what the massive blue shift means for upcoming races. They discuss how the government shutdown, SNAP benefit cuts, and skyrocketing healthcare costs are reshaping voter sentiment nationwide and in Alabama. The hosts interview Jeremy Devito, Democra...

This week, Josh and David open with daylight saving time dread and kid sleep schedules, then shift to health care costs on the ACA exchanges amid a protracted government shutdown. They unpack immigrant health care myths, why universal access lowers costs, and how coverage gaps drive ER “socialism” we’re already paying for. Dr. Jim Vickery joins the show to discuss his new book about growing up in...

This week, Josh and David explore lessons from Europe on labor, tipping, and public health, then pivot to Alabama's criminal justice system through ProPublica journalist Amy Yurkanin's investigation into the Jorge Ruiz case—a legal immigrant sentenced to 99 years (later reduced to 50) for a fatal car crash, raising hard questions about immigrant bias in courts, media framing, and judicial...

In this episode of Alabama Politics This Week, hosts David Pearson and Josh Moon sit down with Mark Wheeler, a Democratic candidate for Alabama's U.S. Senate seat left open by Tommy Tuberville. Wheeler, a lifelong Heflin resident, chemist, and former factory worker, discusses his unconventional path to politics — working 60-84 hour weeks in wire mills while earning a degree in chemistry from J...

This week, Josh and David open with Montgomery’s tragic downtown mass shooting and push back on knee-jerk fixes. They argue multiple truths can coexist: guns, culture, policing levels, education inequities, and media erosion all matter. Josh recounts prior eras of violence to counter shallow blame of Mayor Steven Reed, and both hosts press for front-end investments — after-school programs, mentori...

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. Journali...

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...

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 vu...

This week, Josh and David tackle the dangerous resurgence of anti-vaccine rhetoric, connecting the dots between political polarization and public health crises. They kick off by dissecting a recent Supreme Court ruling on ICE detentions and critique the Trump administration's selective enforcement of the law, contrasting the focus on low-wage immigrants with the blind eye turned to white-collar cr...

This week on Alabama Politics This Week: Josh and David dig into the fight over Space Command, breaking down why Trump’s decision to move it to Huntsville may be the right call for the wrong reasons. They explore how politics, military readiness, and billions in taxpayer dollars collide — and why both Trump and Biden turned a national security decision into a partisan football. Then, they welcome...

This week, Josh and David dive into the fallout from Alabama’s municipal elections, breaking down why establishment-backed candidates like Kent Lawrence prevailed in Decatur while longtime councilman Billy Jackson fell short. They explore how money, power, and race intersect in local politics — from city contracts to the “safe candidate” playbook — and what it means for progressive Black leaders a...

This week, Josh and David dive into the chaos inside the Alabama Democratic Party , where the DNC has once again invalidated officer elections due to irregularities, mail-in ballot disputes, and power struggles involving Joe Reed and Randy Kelley. The hosts break down why Alabama keeps ending up in conflict with the national party, how this dysfunction distracts from real election prep, and why av...

This week, Josh and David open with a discussion of a new poll showing Alabama Republican primary voters shifting away from “culture war” issues and toward core concerns like inflation, taxes, jobs, and infrastructure. They explore why voters may be tiring of bathroom bills and trans athlete bans, and how politicians have long used “boogeyman” issues to distract from economic realities. Then, they...

This week on Alabama Politics This Week , Josh and David break down the police shooting of Jabari Peoples in Homewood, the DA’s decision to rule it justified, and the family’s demand for the full, unedited body cam footage. They discuss the dangers of edited police videos, the slow investigation timeline, and why transparency matters. Then, former Miss America and two-time Alabama political candid...

This week, Josh and David dive into the horrific and inhumane conditions within the Alabama prison system. They discuss why there isn't more public outrage, comparing the situation to how society would react if animals were treated this way, and call on the state's Christian community to demand change and a focus on rehabilitation over retribution. Then, they sit down with House Minority Leader An...

This week, Josh and David tackle the massive cover-up surrounding the Jeffrey Epstein files and why the GOP seems desperate to keep them hidden, even shutting down Congress to avoid a vote. They dissect the blatant hypocrisy of the MAGA world, which ignores overwhelming evidence of Trump's ties to Epstein while launching absurd distraction campaigns against Barack Obama. Then, they sit down with M...

Former Sen. Doug Jones provides insights into the palpable energy at recent Democratic gatherings in Alabama and the possibilities for the party to gain traction. He shares his views on the current state of the Alabama Democratic Party leadership and emphasizes the critical need for Democrats to concentrate on specific local legislative races to break the supermajority in the state legislature.

Investigative reporter Beth Shelburne joins to discuss her "Blood Money" series, exposing ADOC's astronomical spending on legal fees and settlements for lawsuits, many detailing horrific excessive force by guards, all while state leadership remains largely unresponsive and unaccountable.

This week, Josh and David dive into the blatant hypocrisy surrounding Donald Trump's presidency, from breaking his promise to "end wars" by bombing Iran to the cult-like devotion of his followers who ignore every lie. They explore the dangerous intersection of religion and politics in the Middle East and how it reflects the erosion of religious freedom debates here at home. Then, in a rare and ext...

This week, Josh and David tackle the rampant hypocrisy and political rot festering in Alabama and beyond. They kick things off with a fiery breakdown of the right-wing media's reaction to the political assassination of a Minnesota lawmaker, exposing the cynical machinery that fuels lies and deflects blame. Then, they dive into the shamelessness of modern politics, exploring how Donald Trump's pres...

This week, Josh and David are fired up about the disconnect between Alabama's real problems and its political theater. They kick things off with a blistering critique of the recent ICE raids in LA and the hypocrisy surrounding immigration. Then, they dive into the devastating numbers from the new Kids Count data book, which ranks Alabama 43rd in the nation for child well-being. Why is the legislat...