I have been writing weekly blogs since 2014. As I look back, I realize I have written a number of them in response to mass shootings in our country. I have had to edit this blog to include a shooting that took place this past Thursday at St. Stephen’s Episcopal church right here in Birmingham, Alabama. Three members were killed.
Running a campaign is essentially crafting a story, with protagonists and villains, problems, quests, and goals for the future. What kind of story sways voters the most these days? Are we seeking the good, or more fascinated by the bad?
On his 74th birthday, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas gave the Country a great gift: a Supreme Court opinion recognizing that the right to “bear arms shall not be infringed” means exactly what it says.
Listen to 1819 News Editor-in-Chief Ray Melick on News & Views with Joey Clark as they discuss Jabari Smith, Auburn basketball, Tuberville's calling out of the NCAA over Title IX, crossover voting and Alabamians captured by the Russians who were fighting for Ukraine.
Last week, I wrote that well-known intellectual and author, Dr. Naomi Wolf, made headlines recently by exposing much of what has been done and is still being done to divide and manipulate Americans through the COVID-19 Pandemic Panic. The formerly reliable supporter of Leftist-Liberal Democrat causes and candidates has changed her perspective after witnessing the truth about the Pandemic Panic. There’s more truth to be told about it than I could fit into one column.
When Alabama lawmakers came into session in January, one of their first priorities was allocating the first half of Alabama’s $2.1 billion in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. With the second half set to hit the state’s coffers soon, lawmakers should hit the pause button before spending any additional funds. If they don’t, it will cost all Alabamians.
Let’s be honest: how do you know that someone hasn’t simply changed their minds, the way so many of our Democrat-turned-Republican political leaders have done in this state over the last two decades?
The irony of fact-checkers blocking a quote that multiple sites credit to a variety of speakers – including, perhaps Voltaire - would be funny, if it weren't pathetic. But it’s not.
Listen to 1819 News Editor-in-Chief Ray Melick on The Jeff Poor Show as they discuss the Primary Runoff, the possibility that the competitive Fifth Congressional District runoff may affect the outcome of other races and the apparent requirement in Alabama that candidates have style and substance.
“As democracy is perfected, the office represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. We move toward a lofty ideal. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.”
While politics are clearly and incontrovertibly relational, political campaigns have developed into something entirely different. In fact, the political campaign version of, “you can catch more flies with honey” must be, “you can catch more flies with money.”
Recently a guy named Justin, who said he was 19, called in and asked me on the air, “if hard times create strong men, where are the strong men to lead us out of these hard times?” What a great question!
Short for June 19th, Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States, when 250,000 enslaved Black Americans in Galveston, Texas were informed of their freedom by Union soldiers, after the Civil War ended.
“Thank you for your commentary on voting. I have researched the candidates this year as never before. I am appalled at how many don’t seem to understand, ignore or are possibly covering up involvement in the illegal and subversive activities taking place in our country and world.
Over the last two years, tourists and vacationers have flocked to Alabama to escape unnecessary restrictions and mandates. They also traveled here in record numbers because Alabama has something for everyone.
For decades, and across multiple wars, the U.S. military disposed of various types of waste by burning it in large pits near their military bases. These burn pits emitted airborne toxins, and, as a result, many soldiers in close contact with burn pits have been diagnosed with rare illnesses and diseases, often manifesting years after they completed their tours of duty. Approximately 3.5 million Post-9/11 veterans are assumed to have been exposed to burn pit toxins. And for years, these veterans have called on Congress and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide some form of health care and compensation relief.
Modern people seem to struggle with the issue of pain and suffering more than anyone else in history. Here in the Western world, we live in such prosperity yet struggle so much more with affliction than people in other parts of the world.
“Will you sign my yearbook?” It’s a humbling question for a sixth grader to ask. In fact, it’s a humbling question at any age. Because what if the person turns you down? What if they reject you? Frankly I’d rather try to sell someone Amway.
Many observers believe that President Biden will forgive student loans via executive order. Loan forgiveness would be poor policy and likely harm higher education.
Would it surprise you to hear that younger generations have educated themselves well on big issues like climate change, inflation, healthcare, and abortion, but often don’t know the name of their own local representative?
As we approach the end of June, all eyes are on the U.S. Supreme Court as it releases its most consequential decisions of this term. The biggest among them is Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Org., in which the Supreme Court has been asked to overrule Roe v. Wade. I have written extensively about that case for 1819 News recently. But today, I want to highlight the courage and relentlessness of Alabama’s Chief Justice Tom Parker, who played a role in getting the U.S. Supreme Court to take Dobbs.
Listen to 1819 News Editor-in-Chief Ray Melick on Midday Mobile with Sean Sullivan as they discuss the capture of two former U.S. military Alabamians in Ukraine, the Trump endorsement of Katie Britt and the upcoming runoff elections.
Listen to 1819 News Editor-in-Chief Ray Melick on News & Views with Joey Clark as they discuss the closed primary proposals, Trump's endorsement of Katie Britt and the Secretary of State race.
In this last speech, Frederick Douglass exposed how the same class of elites who had been slave plantation owners falsely accused Black men of being predators and rapists of White women, and then manipulated mobs who lynched them without trial, to build racial hatred against Black men. Douglass explained that these evil actions, like slavery, hurt all Americans. The same class of elites still divides us by race today but has now found new ways to separate us.
Over the past year, unionization has been a hot topic in Alabama. An Amazon facility in Bessemer has twice voted on the issue of unionization, with workers choosing not to form a union both times. Recently, workers at a Starbucks in Birmingham voted to organize, becoming the first Starbucks in Alabama with unionized labor. But what does being part of a workers union really mean, and how might continuing efforts to expand unionization impact Alabama?
Even as I share this story, that same feeling of dread swamps me. My gut is knotted. And yet, I need to feel that. I think we all do before the runoff election and before another November passes.
Listen to 1819 News Editor-in-Chief Ray Melick on The Jeff Poor Show as they discuss the Trump endorsement of Katie Britt, the county-by-county ground game that Britt has run, and the apparent difference between Alabama and Florida in that Florida has competitive political races and Republicans there contrast themselves from Democrats.