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 extended interview, they sit down with the CEO and Tribal Chair of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, Stephanie Bryan. She shares the incredible story of the tribe's journey from poverty to a multi-billion-dollar enterprise, her philosophy on leadership and giving back, and what's really holding up a gaming deal in Alabama.

Finally, the show closes with a tragic and infuriating "Right Wing Nut of the Week": a Florida lawmaker who championed a restrictive abortion ban, only to find her own life at risk because of it when she suffered a medical emergency.

👇 JUMP TO A TOPIC (YOUTUBE CHAPTERS) 👇
00:00 Intro: Trump's Broken Promises & MAGA Hypocrisy
09:46 The Iran Bombing & The Politics of Fear
14:54 Freedom of Religion vs. Religious War
23:05 GUEST: Stephanie Bryan, CEO of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians
56:38 The Tribe's $4 Billion Impact & Giving Back
1:07:58 The Future of Gaming in Alabama
1:19:18 Post-Interview Breakdown & The Power of Exposure
1:24:33 Right Wing Nut: The GOP Lawmaker Who Needed an Abortion

GUEST IN THIS EPISODE

➡️ Stephanie Bryan: CEO and Tribal Chair of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, the only federally recognized tribe in Alabama. In a wide-ranging conversation, Stephanie details the tribe's history, their business diversification beyond gaming into federal contracting and hospitality, and their guiding principles of community investment and partnership. She offers a behind-the-scenes look at the political fight over gaming in the state and shares her vision for a better Alabama.

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.

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 presidency has normalized cruelty and why so many voters have been duped by a con man who preys on their worst instincts.

To get a ground-level view of what it takes to fight back, they bring on a fantastic guest. Minister and community activist Ryan Cagle joins the show to discuss his race for the State House and his courageous fight for justice in Walker County, where a corrupt sheriff's department has been plagued by scandal, abuse, and the death of Tony Mitchell.

Finally, the show closes with a look at the emerging GOP primary for the U.S. Senate, asking if Bruce Pearl is a better choice than Steve Marshall, and crowns a new "Right-Wing Nut of the Week": a Supreme Court Justice who praises a convicted felon while lying about crime statistics.

• 00:00 Intro: The President Without Shame
• 13:30 The Right-Wing Lie Machine & The Minnesota Assassination
• 31:00 GUEST: Ryan Cagle on the Fight for Walker County's Soul
• 1:16:30 DEBATE: Is Bruce Pearl the GOP's Best Hope for Senate?
• 1:24:40 Right-Wing Nut: The Supreme Court Justice Who Can't Google

➡️ Ryan Cagle: Minister, community advocate, and Democratic candidate for Alabama House District 5. Ryan details his grassroots campaign and his frontline efforts to demand accountability for the death of Tony Mitchell and expose the corruption within the Walker County Sheriff's Office. He discusses the need for new approaches to mental health crises and what it means to fight for change in a deep-red 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 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.

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.

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 legislature focused on banning books when 82 percent of 8th graders can't do math and thousands of kids are going hungry?

To get answers, they bring on two fantastic guests. First, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Dr. Will Boyd shares his strategy for reviving Alabama and why he believes this election will be different. Then, Apreill Hartsfield of Voices for Alabama's Children walks them through the shocking data and discusses what it will take to create real change.

Finally, the show closes with a heated debate over ABC's firing of reporter Terry Moran, forcing the question: In an era of misinformation, what are the true ethics of journalism?

Key Topics & Timestamps:

00:41 - Rant: ICE Raids & Immigration Hypocrisy
29:45 - GUEST: Dr. Will Boyd on His Plan to Revive Alabama
50:05 - GUEST: Apreill Hartsfield on the Shocking Kids Count Data
1:22:15 - DEBATE: Media Ethics & The Terry Moran Firing

Guests in This Episode:

➡️ Dr. Will Boyd: Democratic candidate for governor of Alabama. Dr. Boyd discusses his platform, the challenges of running as a Democrat in a deep-red state, and his message-driven strategy to connect with voters on kitchen-table issues.

➡️ Apreill Hartsfield: Alabama Kids Count director at VOICES for Alabama's Children. Apreill breaks down the sobering statistics from the 2025 Kids Count Data Book, highlighting the urgent crises in education, health, and economic security facing Alabama's children.

Resources & Socials:

➡️ Kids Count Data Book: http://www.alavoices.org
🔵 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/alpoliticsthisweek.com
⚫ X/Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/alathisweek
🔵 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alathisweek

Support the Show:

👍 Like, Rate, and Subscribe on your favorite podcast platform.
⭐ Leave us a 5-star rating and review 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.

In this fiery episode of Alabama Politics This Week, Josh Moon and David Person pull no punches! They tackle the enduring controversy of Alabama's Jefferson Davis holiday, contrast it with the incredible legacy of Rosa Parks, and scrutinize President Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill" and its alarming AI provisions.

Later, they welcome Linda Fisher, President of Indivisible Alabama, who sheds light on the "No Kings Day" nationwide protest and the critical fight against authoritarian leanings. Plus, hear their concerns about the state of public education and why they're speaking out against Marjorie Taylor Greene's upcoming Alabama visit.

Tune in for a candid, no-holds-barred discussion on truth, power, and the future of Alabama politics.

Connect with Us

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• Facebook

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.

We take a bit of time each week to answer questions from our audience about Alabama politics — or Alabama in general. If you have a question about a politician, a policy, or a trend — really anything — you can shoot us an email at apwproducer@gmail.com.

You can also send it to us on Facebook and Twitter. Or by emailing us a voice recording to our email with your question, and we may play it on air. Either way, make sure you include your name (first name is fine) and the city or county where you live.

Music courtesy of Mr. Smith via the Free Music Archive: https://freemusicarchive.org/music/mr-smith/discography

Josh and David discuss Tommy Tuberville's announcement to run for governor of Alabama, immediately focusing on the significant legal questions surrounding his residency and the Alabama Democratic Party's intent to challenge it. They also touch on the political landscape, including Katie Britt's role and speculation about Doug Jones.

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.

David and Josh critique Donald Trump's Memorial Day message for its failure to honor fallen troops, instead using the occasion for a negative, rambling attack on political opponents and judges.

• X/Twitter
• Facebook

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.

We take a bit of time each week to answer questions from our audience about Alabama politics — or Alabama in general. If you have a question about a politician, a policy, or a trend — really anything — you can shoot us an email at apwproducer@gmail.com.

You can also send it to us on Facebook and Twitter. Or by emailing us a voice recording to our email with your question, and we may play it on air. Either way, make sure you include your name (first name is fine) and the city or county where you live.

Music courtesy of Mr. Smith via the Free Music Archive: https://freemusicarchive.org/music/mr-smith/discography

Josh and David kick off with a chaotic start.

Then, Lauren Blanding, Kalonji Gilchrist, and Dasan Ahanu discuss the upcoming Civil Rights Memorial Center block party on Saturday, May 24, highlighting how art, especially hip-hop, serves as a vital tool for social justice and community engagement.

AL.com's Kyle Whitmire exposes the layers of mystery surrounding Alabama GOP Chairman John (Nehemiah?) Wahl's true identity, discussing his Tennessee driver's license and voter registration, and raising questions about political integrity and residency requirements.

Finally, Josh and David delve into the "Right Wing Nut of the Week" segment, criticizing the Trump administration's dismantling of the National Weather Service and expressing frustration over the public's unwitting embrace of counterproductive government cuts.

• X/Twitter
• Facebook

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.

We take a bit of time each week to answer questions from our audience about Alabama politics — or Alabama in general. If you have a question about a politician, a policy, or a trend — really anything — you can shoot us an email at apwproducer@gmail.com.

You can also send it to us on Facebook and Twitter. Or by emailing us a voice recording to our email with your question, and we may play it on air. Either way, make sure you include your name (first name is fine) and the city or county where you live.

Music courtesy of Mr. Smith via the Free Music Archive: https://freemusicarchive.org/music/mr-smith/discography

The conversation begins with the peculiar situation surrounding Alabama Republican Party Chairman John Wahl (or Nehemiah?), including questions about his residency, use of different names, and a past incident involving a fake ID to vote.

Next, they delve into the recent legislative session's failure to pass a comprehensive gambling bill, examining the potential reasons behind the stalled legislation and the impact on economic opportunities for the state.

Finally, the show tackles the controversial actions of Decatur Mayor Tab Bowling, his public disputes with a city councilman, and the ongoing scrutiny of the Decatur Police Department's conduct following recent incidents.

• X/Twitter
• Facebook

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.

We take a bit of time each week to answer questions from our audience about Alabama politics — or Alabama in general. If you have a question about a politician, a policy, or a trend — really anything — you can shoot us an email at apwproducer@gmail.com.

You can also send it to us on Facebook and Twitter. Or by emailing us a voice recording to our email with your question, and we may play it on air. Either way, make sure you include your name (first name is fine) and the city or county where you live.

Music courtesy of Mr. Smith via the Free Music Archive: https://freemusicarchive.org/music/mr-smith/discography

Josh and David discuss the potential economic ramifications of a significant reduction in shipping from China and Asia to U.S. ports, noting the substantial drop in incoming cargo and the potential for resulting shortages. They highlight the concerns being raised by industry experts regarding the impact on supply chains and the economy.

Then, Nina Martin from Reveal details her long-term coverage of abortion rights in Alabama, explaining how the state has often been a harbinger for national trends. She discusses the historical prosecution of pregnant women and the recent legal battle challenging the state's efforts to block assistance for individuals seeking abortions out of state.

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.

Wrapping up the episode, Josh and David briefly touch on the ongoing speculation surrounding Tommy Tuberville's potential run for governor and the legal questions that could arise from his residency. They then present this week's Rightwing Nut of the Week.

• X/Twitter
• Facebook

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.

We take a bit of time each week to answer questions from our audience about Alabama politics — or Alabama in general. If you have a question about a politician, a policy, or a trend — really anything — you can shoot us an email at apwproducer@gmail.com.

You can also send it to us on Facebook and Twitter. Or by emailing us a voice recording to our email with your question, and we may play it on air. Either way, make sure you include your name (first name is fine) and the city or county where you live.

Music courtesy of Mr. Smith via the Free Music Archive: https://freemusicarchive.org/music/mr-smith/discography