Tommy Tuberville says Farm Bill should be for farmers, not welfare
On Tuesday, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) spoke on the Senate floor about the Democrats’ version of the Farm Bill, which he said will cost $1.5 trillion because it prioritizes welfare and climate change over American farmers and producers. “This is the first trillion-dollar Farm Bill in our nation’s history,” Sen. Tuberville said. “The enormous price tag of the bill is driven by an 84% increase in SNAP, or federal nutrition assistance, and a 58% increase in conservation programs. In other words, a huge increase in welfare and climate spending.” “Most of this new spending does not offer support of our farmers,” Tuberville continued. “The $559 billion increase in SNAP funding was done directly by the Department of Agriculture through updates to the Thrifty Food Plan. In other words, nobody in Congress voted for this. The $35 billion in conservation funding was done through the Inflation Reduction Act of last year. Democrats are pushing through priorities that cater to climate activists and lead Americans to become dependent on welfare benefits. Approximately 82% of the upcoming Farm Bill goes to SNAP, commonly known as food stamps. 4% goes to conservation.” Tuberville expressed concern about the rapidly rising national debt. “Just yesterday, we hit $33 trillion in debt for this country,” said Tuberville. “Yeah, I said that — $33 trillion. That will be picked up, this tab, by our grandkids and their kids. The whole purpose of the Farm Bill is supposed to be to help farmers. What an idea. Yet, seven out of every eight dollars— again, seven out of eight dollars—in the Farm Bill is for something else. Our farmers depend on crop insurance, commodity programs, such as the Agriculture Risk Program (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) program, and disaster programs to help them deal with difficult crop yields, markets, and rising input costs. Farmers can’t control the weather or the price, and that’s the reason they need help. We have to remember farmers put food on the table, but there’s a lot of people that don’t understand that. These are some of the hardest-working people in America. And they have too little to show for it.” Tuberville is Alabama’s voice on the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Coach Tuberville is committed to supporting Alabama’s farmers and producers. Sen. Tuberville spoke with farmers during Farm Bill listening sessions across the state. He heard the concerns of peanut, cotton, and soybean farmers who are struggling in Joe Biden’s economy due to high input costs – particularly fertilizer, fuel, seed, and ag chemicals. Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans Affairs, and HELP Committees. He was elected in 2020 and comes up for re-election in 2026. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Robert Aderholt opposes rescheduling of marijuana
Congressman Robert Aderholt (R-AL04) was one of 14 Republican members of Congress to join in a letter to U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration chief Anne Milgram expressing their opposition to federal rescheduling of marijuana. While the State of Alabama is in the process of issuing licenses to farmers to grow marijuana and for doctors to recommend it to their patients, it remains a Schedule 1 narcotic with no medicinal value, according to the federal government. There is momentum to change that. The Biden Administration’s Department of Health and Human Services has released a letter urging that marijuana be federally rescheduled, a move that Aderholt opposes. Aderholt said that he opposes the move even if it is politically popular. “I am proud to join @PeteSessions and @SenatorLankford in a letter to Administrator Milgram. As Chairman of the Approps Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, I share the concern that our nation’s drug policies should not be set based on popular opinion.” Eight Republican U.S. Senators and six Republican members of the House of Representatives declared the Department of Health and Human Services’ August 29 recommendation to move marijuana from Schedule 1 to Schedule 3 of the Controlled Substances Act part of an “irresponsible” “pro-pot agenda.” They urged that marijuana remain listed among the most dangerous drugs. The letter was sent to Milgram because the decision is now up to her and federal attorneys to consider relevant questions of law and policy in a review of the recommendation by Health and Human Services (HSS). Chey Garrigan is the founder and CEO of the Alabama Cannabis Industry Association. Garrigan said that marijuana does have documented health benefits and maintains that there are Alabamians who would benefit from medical marijuana. “Congressman Robert Aderholt can have an opinion,” Garrigan said. “Where is the data that backs up why he is against it?” “Any effort to reschedule marijuana should be based on proven facts and science – not popular opinion, changes in state laws, or the preferred policy of an administration,” the Republicans, led by Republican Sen. James Lankford (R-Oklahoma) and Representative Pete Sessions (R-Texas) wrote in the September 11 letter to the DEA. “Current research, science, and trends support the case that marijuana should remain a Schedule 1 drug.” Lankford, Aderholt, and Sessions were joined by Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), Sen. Ted Budd (R-North Carolina), Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma), Sen. James Risch (R-Idaho), Sen. M. Michael Rounds (R-South Dakota), Rep. Earl “Buddy” Carter (R-Georgia), Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Arizona), Rep. Chuck Edwards (North Carolina), and Rep. Hal Rogers (R-Kentucky). Even though Oklahoma has over 7,000 marijuana farms and businesses, Lankford argued in a recent column that marijuana has not befitted Oklahomans. “Drug cartels—from not just south of the border, but also Asia—are now deeply ingrained across Oklahoma, operating grow facilities that ship marijuana across the country,” Lankford wrote. “Oklahomans often now wake up to read the news about the latest execution-style murder, human trafficking, or prostitution at a grow facility in rural Oklahoma. In January 2023, the Tulsa World reported that about 2,000 licenses for medical marijuana were being investigated because they were suspected of having been either obtained unlawfully or were covering up an operation to sell on the black market. Oklahoma is now the top source for black market marijuana in the nation. So much for the argument that widening legal access to a drug gets rid of the illicit market.” President Joe Biden launched the first federal administrative review of marijuana’s legal status last October, calling current federal policy a “failed approach.” To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Elliot Wang: Unite for peace in the world and Taiwan’s Inclusion in the U.N.
Recent events, notably Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, highlight the disregard autocratic regimes have for global peace. The United Nations (U.N.), a cornerstone of international harmony, must respond resolutely. At the same time, Taiwan’s exclusion from the U.N. demands attention. China’s threats to Taiwan’s democracy and regional stability necessitate collective vigilance. In this interconnected world, crises transcend borders. Taiwan’s strategic importance in trade and technology underscores the need for stability in the Taiwan Strait. However, China’s actions challenge this stability, necessitating a united response. Taiwan’s absence in the U.N., a result of China’s manipulation of Resolution 2758, contradicts U.N. principles. As the upcoming U.N. General Assembly convenes to discuss global solidarity, Taiwan’s inclusion is a timely topic. By embracing inclusivity, the U.N. can tackle shared challenges like the Sustainable Development Goals effectively. Global crises showcase our united strength. Welcoming Taiwan affirms the U.N.’s commitment to peace and resisting authoritarianism. It’s not just inclusion; it’s proof unity conquers adversity. Elliot Wang, Director-General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Atlanta
Treating long COVID
On Sunday, Focus on America hosted an event in Huntsville at the Jackson Center where several doctors and other professionals spoke on treating the long COVID phenomenon that many doctors are finding in their patients. “It is the spike protein that causes long covid,” said Dr. David Calderwood. “It can last in the body for at least 15 months.” “We all know that the spike protein can cause myocarditis, which is the inflammation of the heart muscle,” said Dr. Calderwood. Blood clots are a problem in many long COVID patients, “Much of long COVID is the result of this clotting – these little tiny clots that get in our blood vessels,” Calderwood continued. “Nattokinase has the ability to dissolve the blood clots as well as the spike proteins.” Calderwood said that some research shows that the enzyme nattokinase may have other health benefits. “One study shows that it is more effective at breaking down cholesterol than the statin drugs,” Calderwood added. “Be sure to take that on an empty stomach either an hour before eating or several hours after eating.” Calderwood said that the spike protein can cause liver inflammation, lung inflammation, immune system inflammation, or harm through suppression of our immune system, leading to the reactivation of shingles and even hepatitis. It also impairs semen concentration in men and causes irregular menstrual cycles in women. CDC data shows that cancer has increased since 2021, and Defense Department data shows an increase in cancer diagnosis among servicemembers. Dr. Calderwood is not a proponent of the COVID-19 vaccines. “I, for one, do not want to have spike protein in my body,” Calderwood said. Dr. David Williams said he has treated over 4,000 COVID patients. “Ivermectin is one of my favorite substances on earth,” Dr. Williams said. “It is a gift of God, in my opinion. It has been used for over 50 years. Four billion doses have been administered.” “William C. Campbell and Satoshi Omura were awarded the Nobel Prize for medicine in 2015 for their work on the development of ivermectin,” Williams said. Another treatment Dr. Williams recommends is low-dose naltrexone (LDN). “I use it for a whole number of inflammatory diseases beyond COVID,” Williams said. “Most of my patients do real well with just ivermectin and LDN.” Dr. Williams cautioned that, much like antibiotics, there is a danger of coming off the medication too quickly once you start to feel better and then having the illness come back and get more serious. “You can’t go off it when you start feeling well,” Dr. Williams cautioned. Other treatments that Dr. Williams uses include glutathione, nattokinase, and serrapeptase. “These are proteolytic enzymes,” Williams said. Williams explained that he uses the enzymes in an effort to deal with COVID-related blood clotting, “Those clots are very difficult to break down.” Dr. Diane Counce is a neurologist. “People with high blood pressure, diabetes, and dementia have a very hard time with COVID,” Dr. Counce explained. Dr. Counce said patients suffering from long COVID complain of an “average of 56 symptoms.” “Over 91% took 35 weeks or more to recover fully,” Counce said. Counce said that for many people who have an adverse reaction from the vaccine can linger much like long COVID. Counce compared the effects of COVID to a cup running over. Every time you get a dose of the spike protein from a vaccine booster or another exposure to COVID-19, the spike proteins build up in the system, and eventually, it will run over and cause problems. Counce said that symptoms she commonly sees in her practice include fatigue, brain fog, poor sleep, decreased well-being, mast cell activation, increased inflammation, poor digestion, and microclotting. Treatments that Dr. Counce has been using include NAC – (N-acetyl cysteine), ivermectin, nattokinase, and naprinol. Counce listed Bell’s palsy as a condition she sees more frequently as a neurologist. Senator Katie Britt (R-Alabama) suffered from Bell’s palsy for about four weeks in August. “A UK Biobank neuromacry study showed that even mild COVID can result in a shrinking of the brain equivalent to ten years of aging,” Counce said. “COVID-19 can induce multiple sclerosis.” “I think it is up to health care providers to get on board and learn about this stuff,” Counce said.
Alabama reopening red snapper season September 29
The Marine Resources Division (MRD) of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) announced that the 2023 private angler red snapper fishing season will reopen at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, September 29, for a four-day weekend. These four-day weekends will continue until the remaining federal quota is met. The 2023 red snapper season initially closed on September 4. MRD reviewed the landing data and found that the state still has 15,671 pounds of fish to catch until the state will max out its 2023 federal allocation of 591,185 pounds of red snapper. Scott Bannon is the Director of the MRD. “At the end of each season, we make a thorough review of the landing reports and our surveys and calculations to ensure we have an accurate accounting of how much red snapper has been landed in Alabama,” said Director Bannon. “These quality control measures have identified the remaining available amount of our red snapper quota. We are reopening the season to provide full access to this important fishery and to make sure we are managing it responsibly.” ADCNR Commissioner Chris Blankenship claims that reef fish management at the state level is the most efficient and effective way to ensure the sustainability of the fishery and provide access to quality outdoor recreation for anglers. “Under state management, we are able to respond very quickly to the data and provide maximum access to red snapper for our anglers,” Commissioner Blankenship said. “Under the federal system, a closure date would be estimated, and then it would take several months, at a minimum, to determine how many fish were caught. We are able to make that determination in days. ADCNR will continue working to ensure our citizens and visitors have access to the incredible red snapper fishery off the coast of Alabama.” Red snapper management and the number of fish that live in the Gulf of Mexico has been a point of contention between the state and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries Division. Anglers are reminded that the daily bag limit is two red snappers per person per day, with a minimum size limit of 16 inches in total length. To take any fish beyond the two-fish limit or any red snapper smaller than 16 inches is strictly illegal. NOAA reminds fishermen to put fish back in the water correctly to minimize any injuries they might receive during catch and release. To lawfully fish for red snapper – or any other saltwater fish – you must have a valid Alabama Saltwater Fishing License. License requirements, harvest requirements, reporting, and daily bag limits still apply during jubilees. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Steve Flowers: Democrats indictment plan has made Donald Trump GOP nominee and maybe next President
In early April, I wrote that “Democrats give Trump a lifeline.” It was at that time that a Democratic district attorney in an overwhelmingly Democratic New York venue had indicted Donald Trump in a political ploy to disarm in some way, politically. There is an old saying that you can indict a potato or a ham sandwich. The legal threshold for getting a grand jury to offer a writ of indictment only requires that there is a scintilla of evidence that there may be a crime or misdemeanor. Therefore, a prosecutor can orchestrate an indictment. It looks like the Democrat’s plan is to replay the 2020 election in the courts, which is destroying Americans’ trust in their judicial system. They are making the courts a theatrical comedy political show. It used to be off-limits to use the courts to indict a person for political reasons. Make no mistake about it, all of these trumped-up indictments are just that, orchestrated political ploys. The Democrats have politically used the judicial system to indict Donald Trump – unbelievably, four times in four different Democratic venues with Democratic judges and Democratic juries. The last two plays are in slam-dunk Democratic clubhouses. The third indictment is in Washington D.C., which is 96% Democratic. The fourth is in Fulton County, Atlanta, Georgia, which is 80% Democratic. There will never be a conviction upheld by a superior unbiased appeals court. It would also take six years of appeals to get resolved, and by that time, Trump and Joe Biden might not be here, and if they are here, may not know they are here. The 2024 race will long be over and forgotten. These political indictments are designed and orchestrated to derail Trump in 2024. Make no mistake about it, these charades are politically motivated but not for the reason you think. Most would assume that the Democrats wanted to bloody Trump in order to beat him in the General Election next November against Biden. Not so. They want him to be the Republican nominee because he will be easy to beat, and they know that. This courtroom ploy is playing out with the Republican base with such anger and outrage that it is making Trump a martyr. Indeed, as late as March, polls showed that Trump could not be elected president under any circumstances. He was probably not going to be the Republican nominee. He had dropped to 25% among Republicans with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis at 40% without DeSantis even being in the race. After every indictment, the sensationalism was met with glee by the liberal media. However, it was met with more glee by one, Donald Trump. It not only gave him a political lifeline, it essentially assured him the Republican nomination. The latest polls reveal Trump has a demanding lead in the GOP horserace. He is sitting on 54% vote to DeSantis’s 15%, and the rest of the dwarfs are at 5% or less. Trump will more than likely carry Alabama, overwhelmingly in our March 5 GOP Primary. All six of our current Republican Congressmen have endorsed him, as well as our Senior Senator, Tommy Tuberville, who, by the way, is probably Trump’s closest and most loyal ally in the U.S. Senate. Trump was met by enthusiastic, energetic enthusiasm when he spoke to a record-breaking crowd of Alabama Republicans at their summer dinner in Montgomery on August 4. Folks, the Democratic plan to make Donald Trump the Republican nominee has been successful. They have used Democratic courts to orchestrate his nomination. However, they may have overplayed their hand. There is such a thing as “piling on,” to use a football analogy. Every time one of these indictments comes down, it makes it look more and more frivolous and political. It has become viewed by Republicans as over the top and hitting below-the-waist politics. They may be making some Independent voters reconsider their distaste for Donald Trump. In addition, every time one of these ploys comes down, Trump raises tons of money. The Democrats may have succeeded in making Trump the nominee they wanted. However, they may have gone too far. They may elect him President. During Trump’s visit to Montgomery, when he spoke to the GOP faithful following the third indictment out of Washington D.C., you could tell he was delighted with the latest pile-on. He gleefully told the audience, “One more indictment, and they will make me President.” He may be right. Then the fourth indictment came down, and his polls and fundraising took off again. He would like nothing better than to hold a rally outside each courtroom next year. If political prosecution is the Democrat’s gameplan, they may have overplayed their hand. We will see. See you next week. Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His weekly column is seen in over 60 Alabama newspapers. Steve served 16 years in the state legislature. He may be reached at www.steveflowers.us.
Dan Sutter: Of wind and whales
Whales have been dying off the East Coast of the United States near where offshore wind turbines are being or about to be built. The North Atlantic Right Whale faces extinction, with only perhaps 340 left in the wild. Should endangered species take precedence over energy production? NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service denies a link between whale deaths and wind turbines. However, a recent investigation by the independent news organization Public identifies correlation between whale deaths and boat traffic and sonar activity associated with construction. Whale deaths have increased sharply since 2017, when turbine construction began. This constitutes correlation, but correlation does not prove causality. Sonar and construction may be pushing whales into high-traffic boat lanes, producing more collisions with boats. NOAA acknowledges trauma from boats in many whale deaths. Marine biology is not economics, so I will not take a definitive position on the causation question. For full disclosure, I have previously received funding from NOAA for my research, so I may have a bias here. I believe that additional research is warranted. I instead wish to consider whether whales should trump energy development. We might think that 1973’s Endangered Species Act (ESA) settled this question and should protect the Right Whales. The ESA seemingly unambiguously prohibits the taking of endangered and threatened species. But this protection is not ironclad. The Federal government must declare critical habitat for a species and decide whether actions disturb habitat. Consequently, species protection depends on bureaucrats. Construction projects sometimes proceed with modifications. The NMFS has set sound limits for sonar, which the Public’s reporting contends are being violated. Damage to the environment or harm to species is almost always a by-product of productive activity (including hunting as food production). We live in a world of scarcity, meaning that we want more goods and services than can be produced. Market prices for scarce resources make it costly to burn a rainforest or kill whales just for fun. Habitat loss is a major threat for many endangered species. People use land for agriculture, logging, or to build beach resorts, depriving species of breeding or hunting grounds. These impacts are unintended and sometimes initially unrecognized. Let’s focus now on offshore wind and Right Whales. I hold human flourishing as my standard of value. Consequently, I believe the ESA is misguided. Humans may impact nature to survive and thrive; if this happens to drive species to extinction, that is acceptable. We can and do choose to impose on ourselves to improve the lives of animals, but these choices should entirely reflect our preferences. There may be little consistency in our choices of plants and animals to protect. The bald eagle somehow became a national symbol, and Americans chose to protect this species. What we label animal rights are ultimately human sensibilities. I would not put whales ahead of energy. But human survival and thriving does not require offshore wind; climate change does not pose an existential threat. If you doubt this, read the IPCC reports summarizing the academic literature. Humanity could adapt to an additional two degrees Celsius warming. Humans at the subsistence level survived much greater climate changes during and after the last glacial period. Given that fossil fuels do not threaten extinction, I agree with Alex Epstein that we should ensure human flourishing in the manner least disruptive to the environment. Wind and solar have enormous environmental footprints. Both require enormous land areas, kill thousands of birds and bats annually, use gigantic quantities of rare earth metals, and result in huge quantities of toxic waste. The key to meeting the energy needs for human flourishing with minimal environmental disruption is energy density, as Mr. Epstein argues. Wind and solar are very low density compared to fossil fuels, with nuclear power even better. The energy transition is largely a plan to enrich opportunistic profiteers driven by fear of a climate apocalypse. We should not kill whales merely to enrich politically connected “clean” energy companies when lower-cost and lower-impact energy sources can support human flourishing. Daniel Sutter is the Charles G. Koch Professor of Economics with the Manuel H. Johnson Center for Political Economy at Troy University and host of Econversations on TrojanVision. The opinions expressed in this column are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the views of Troy University.
Chairman John Wahl votes in favor of RNC amicus brief supporting ballot access for Donald Trump
Alabama Republican Party Chairman John Wahl voted for the Republican National Committee to weigh in on recent legal challenges to keep former President Donald Trump off the 2024 ballot with an amicus brief supporting ballot access for the former President. During a specially called meeting, the RNC Executive Committee approved the motion to file an amicus brief in support of the former President in cases including Colorado and other states. Liberal groups are trying to disqualify Trump, citing the 14th Amendment grounds. The anti-Trumpers argue that his actions on Capitol Hill on January 6, 2021, amounted to staging an insurrection – which would preclude him from being a candidate for federal office. “Donald Trump has not been indicted, tried, or convicted on a charge of insurrection or rebellion,” said Wahl. “This is just another outlandish attempt by leftist groups to use our justice system for their own political agenda. I think it’s important that the Republican Party take a stand, and I am proud that the RNC is pushing back against this liberal nonsense. Democrats should be more concerned about the issues facing the people of America and how struggling families will be able to make ends meet instead of trying to misuse the 14th Amendment to disqualify their political rivals. This case is far bigger than Donald Trump; it’s about political fairness and the constitutional principles that this nation was founded on. If these organizations are allowed to succeed, the precedent would have the potential to impact all candidates and Americans for generations to come. Under the 5th Amendment, we all have the presumption of innocence, and the misuse of the 14th Amendment could completely undo that basic fundamental right. The original intent of our founding fathers is worth fighting for, and the Republican Party is committed to standing strong on this important issue.” In addition to Colorado, disqualification efforts are being mounted in numerous other states, including Minnesota, Virginia, Michigan, and Connecticut. Section 3 of the 14th Amendment says a candidate is disqualified if the person “engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the United States” or had “given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof,” unless granted amnesty by a two-thirds vote of Congress. This was passed immediately after the Civil War to prevent former Confederates from regaining their voting rights and ability to serve in the government. Former Vice President Mike Pence (R) spoke out against removing Trump from the race. “I always think these questions should be left to voters,” Pence said Tuesday during a Fox News Digital interview as the former vice president greeted customers at a bakery in a working-class city in New Hampshire, the state that votes second in the Republican presidential nominating calendar. Trump was recently the keynote speaker at ALGOP’s Summer Dinner fundraiser – the most successful fundraiser in ALGOP history. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Tommy Tuberville asks Admiral Lisa M. Franchetti to keep politics out of the military
On Thursday, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) challenged Admiral Lisa Franchetti to keep politics out of the military “as much as you can,” and to instead focus on winning wars. “As we discussed, I’m continuously talking to our Joint Chiefs and our leadership about politics,” Sen. Tuberville said. “We talk about politics. And I would hope that when you take over your new role, and I’m excited for you, that you keep politics out as much as you can. I know you’ll have to deal with it some, but [keep it] out of the military as much as we possibly can – leave it to us politicians.” Tuberville said the “military is a team, and we’ve got to win.” “I coached football for a long time,” Tuberville said. “I coached teams, put them together. And I had football players. I did have different races or wealth or religions, and I would never try to divide that group and put them in certain categories to where other groups say, “What are we doing? Why are we separating this?” Because our military is a team. We’ve got to win. There’s no second place in war. There’s a first place.” Tuberville expressed misgivings about a Vice Admiral who held a party just for the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender sailors on a ship. “We got one [Vice] Admiral that recently had a party on a ship for the lesbian, gay, and transgender group,” said Tuberville. “Now, listen, I’ve got gay friends – I have no problem. But we are building a team here, a team of people that’s got to fight together, do things together. They had a party, cut a cake, all these things. And to me, again, we’re going to need everybody. Men, women, everybody of every association because we’re a volunteer force. We want people who love this country, that’ll fight together when things get tough. And I would just hope that you would spread that around in the Navy. Once you get in, go, “Hey, let’s build a team – don’t build individual groups.” What’s your thoughts on that?” “Senator, I enjoyed our meeting the other day, so thank you again for your time,” Admiral Franchetti answered. “Sir, I’ll say for the last thirty-eight years, I’ve been focused on building teams that can fight and win our nation’s wars. I’m focused on warfighting, warfighters, and winning. And that’s what our military needs to be focused on. And if confirmed, that is the focus I will bring to our Navy every day.” “Yep. What I’m saying is, you’re the head coach now,” Tuberville said. “There ain’t nobody to look to after you now. You’re the person who’s going to get the credit and blame. And I know you can do the job. I’m looking forward to it. But I would just… the experiences I’ve had over the years if we ever start trying to divide into groups within a team atmosphere, which our military is a team, we’re going to have huge problems down the way. And we have problems in our country right now. And I would hope that we don’t continue to divide.” Admiral Franchetti is currently the Vice Chief of Naval Operations. She is awaiting confirmation to serve as Chief of Naval Operations. Adm. Franchetti is one of the nominees affected by Sen. Tuberville’s hold on promotions in response to President Joe Biden’s controversial taxpayer-funded abortion policy. Sen. Tuberville has repeatedly urged Sen. Chuck Schumer to either bring promotions, like Adm. Franchetti’s, to the floor or to get DoD to drop the policy. Tuberville’s critics claim that the military holds are creating chaos in the military and hurting readiness. A charge that Tuberville denies. Tommy Tuberville is a career teacher, football coach, and sports broadcaster who, in 2020, unseated incumbent U.S. Sen. Doug Jones (D-Alabama) in a landslide election. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
