Two Alabama Political Firestorms to Start the New Year

Retirement Systems of Alabama (RSA) head David Bronner recently published an article in the RSA's monthly publication The Advisor in which he bashed conservatives and conservative organizations, lamenting that we never offer any positive solutions and then pitching gambling as the panacea for all that ails the state. He named 1819 News specifically as one of those “smart” but troublesome organizations.

Bronner added to his attack with a letter to the editor of Lagniappe Daily in Mobile, criticizing 1819 News' Editor-in-Chief Jeff Poor.

Turning to the other firestorm, there was an obviously coordinated communications strategy in which numerous state agencies showered Governor Kay Ivey with praises almost in eulogistic fashion. In the wake of those adulations, rumors have abounded that she is going to step down. When 1819 News reached out to her office to see if. these rumors were true, we were told "No Comment."

All of that has set the conspiracy wheels ablaze as her stepping down would hand not only the throne to Lt. Gov Will Ainsworth but also incumbency going into what could be a hotly contested gubernatorial primary in 2026.

This week's podcast with 1819 News CEO Bryan Dawson and Editor-in-Chief Jeff Poor is as entertaining and engaging as it is informative and educational.

If you want to be in the know, this podcast is for you!

Relevant articles below:

Debbie Downer: RSA's Bronner Blasts Conservatives

Speculation Ramps Up Over Ivey's Future

In the 2016 Presidential election there was much discussion of a populist uprising. They tried to throw negative connotations towards the term, like they do every other thing that threatens their power.

In this monologue episode of 1819 News: The Podcast, Bryan defines populism as the combined political force of the working class and goes into the history of how the working class ended up in the Republican Party. He also discusses the meteoric rise of populism on the national stage under Donald Trump and why his commitment to actually serve the forgotten American worker was the secret sauce to the 2024 landslide victory, as well as what that means for America, and Alabama.

Before jumping into the meat and potatoes portion of the podcast, Bryan gives an update on state politics, including why he thinks Garlan Gudger could make a real difference as the new Senate Pro Tem. Will there be another huge gambling push in the next legislative session that distracts the legislature from much more important bills that reflect the will of the people? Or will the gambling sycophants lick their wounds from last year's loss and move on to some other money grab?

All that and more on 1819 News: The Podcast

God is always weaving His way through apparently terrible circumstances. This week we get to hear a story that exemplifies this in an unpredictable way.

Kaleb Dillard is a young military veteran who grew up in Birmingham and attended Briarwood Christian School. A relatively normal, upright young man, Dillard found himself questioning the 2020 election results, a fact which landed him at the national Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, a day that will unfortunately go down in history.

Dillard was caught up in the momentum of frustrated and distrustful Americans, and as a result, came under federal indictment for crimes committed at the Capitol that day.

Dillard is not innocent and never claimed to be, but his story will frustrate you as you hear how his home was raided by federal law enforcement in a massive, publicized show of force with armored vehicles and SWAT teams. Even his parents were cuffed and detained in the back of a cop car as their house was ripped apart. Ironically, Dillard was released a few hours later on a $5,000 bond as he posed no threat to society.

This week we take the journey with Dillard from Birmingham, to D.C., to federal prison, and back to Birmingham, detailing just one of the many ways the federal government retaliated against those who showed up to voice their distrust and displeasure on Jan. 6 th . Along the way, you’ll also be treated to thekind of love story that movies are made of, as we hear how God brought an incredible woman into Dillard’s life through the whole difficult journey.

Sit back, buckle up, and enjoy the ride! This story is something else!

To join the fight and become an 1819 News Member and have access to all of our behind the scenes content, click here:https://1819news.com/membership

If we learned anything through the COVID nightmare it is that the medical industrial complex has no limits and no conscience. The things done and the decisions made and enforced from on high had horrific consequences and few positive results, yet no consequences came from the complete failure that was the COVID response.

This week Bryan Dawson hosts Dr. Jordan Vaughn, recent recipient of The Albert Patterson Courage Award. Vaughn, CEO of MedHelp in Birmingham and a Co-Executive Director of Concerned Doctors, discusses President-elect Donald Trump's healthcare-related appointments, offering insight into what these appointees will need to do on day one to right the public health ship and bring transparency to these agencies.

The two also discuss the life-saving work Vaughn is involved in, including helping those dealing with microclotting from the spike proteins, long COVID, and other injuries stemming from the experimental therapeutic we were told was safe and effective.

Perfectly healthy individuals received this therapeutic and became invalids, but after treatment from Vaughn, they were basically "brought back from the dead." Vaughn’s work helping these folks has also opened doors into treating dementia and Alzheimer’s.

Although Vaughn has appeared on the podcast numerous times, this episode sees him really cut loose and bring the heat. You don't want to miss it!

For additional information, check out this clip of Vaughn discussing microclotting and his efforts to remedy those problems with Sharyl Attkisson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVGf-XZ3Y_s&t=2221s

The worst thing for conservatives to do now that Trump has won is to go back to their normal lives and assume everything is going to be hunky dory because our guy won. No, winning the election was the first battle in the war to reclaim our nation and to save Western Civilization.

We are in an existential crisis, meaning that if we don't do what is necessary in these next two years, the America you know and love will not exist in any real or meaningful way.

This week, Bryan does his first monologue tackling this issue and challenges us to ask ourselves, “Do I have the stomach to take the nation back?”

His epiphany was that the same people behind making cigarettes as addictive as possible are now behind making ultra-processed foods as addictive as possible, creating an epidemic of obesity that pharmaceutical companies are making billions to treat.

Due to the realization, Bryan shares how his thoughts on food have dramatically changed and how that has positively affected his life. The deeper understanding is that every single area of our life requires intentionality while swimming against the current if we hope to be healthy and flourishing citizens. 

Tucker Carlson Episode https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUH4Co2wE-I

From the locker room speech in Coach Bryant's last game to "The Fumble" in the 1987 AFC Championship games, Jeremiah Castille had an incredible career filled with some memorable moments. He comes on the podcast this week to share his incredible life story of growing up in Phenix City to coming to know Jesus, playing for Bear Bryant, and even playing in a Super Bowl.

This week's overtime segment is probably the best overtime segment we've done to date, As the University of Alabama's football chaplain, Jeremiah has some incredible stories to tell. We dive into the story of what it was like to be the chaplain during the Tua/Jalen Hurts era, watching those two incredible young men compete to be the quarterback of the top team in the nation, beginning with Tua coming in the second half of the National Championship.

To join the fight and become an 1819 News Member and have access to all of our behind the scenes content, click here: https://1819news.com/membership

The question is often asked on this podcast, ""We have a church on every corner in Alabama, but those churches have done little to nothing to slow the spread of radical progressive ideas into our institutions and culture. Why is that?""

Today, we are bringing you one of the greatest contemporary Christian authors and cultural commentators of our day, Eric Metaxas, to answer this question.

Metaxas was in Birmingham as the keynote speaker at 1819 News’ inaugural Albert Patterson Gala to specifically call attention to the need for Christians to truly engage in the culture war, including politics. It was his answer to the question that made him the perfect speaker for our first major event.

On this podcast, the author of Bonhoeffer and Letter to the American Church sits down with CEO Bryan Dawson to share how he believes it’s absolutely critical to get churches playing leading roles in the culture war and how he thinks it can be done. As Metaxas shared, if we’re going to win this culture war and its political implications, churches must engage.

If you’ve been watching what’s been happening and wondering why Alabama churches are often so quiet on these issues, you’ll want to listen to this podcast and share it widely – especially to your church’s leadership.

Overtime Segment: Eric and Bryan discuss Trump's appointments and what they indicate for the nature of his second term as President of the United States.

To join the fight and become an 1819 News Member and have access to all of our behind the  scenes content, click here: https://1819news.com/membership

In business, quality results are the only thing that matter. Were the customers satisfied? Did you do what you said you were going to do?

On this week’s 1819 News: The Podcast, CEO Bryan Dawson sits down with Alabama businessman Gerrick Wilkins to discuss the absolutely insane, 2024 election cycle through the lens of a businessman who has also jumped into the political arena.

Gerrick Wilkins ran for Congress in Alabama's 6th Congressional District because he felt Congressman Gary Palmer should have honored his term-limit pledge. He shares a little of his story and then he and Bryan jump into the 2024 election cycle from the primary to the assassination attempt and then the coronation of Kamala Harris, all the way through to Trump sweeping every swing state and winning the popular vote. Wilkins believes a successful businessman attaining the highest office in the land is a huge threat to those who profit off the status quo of bureaucratic waste, inefficiencies, and subsidies.

Clearly, Donald Trump has been that threat to the existing bureaucracy. The tactics they've employed to eliminate him are beyond anything Americans have ever seen. Yet, Trump’s also a man who cut his teeth in business developing real estate in New York City – known for being one of the most ruthless business environments in the world. He clearly knew how to fight his way through all the attacks.

What will this mean for our country? What will it mean for the Republican Party? What will Trump do to capitalize on this opportunity? Those questions and more are answered in this episode of 1819 News: The Podcast!

Overtime: The stealing of Alabama’s Congressional District 2 and what the future holds for gerrymandered districts in the future.

To join the fight and become an 1819 News Member, click here: https://1819news.com/membership. You’ll have access to all our exclusive, behind-the-scenes content!

This week Bryan sits down with Emily Jones of Moms for Liberty to discuss the American School Counselor Association’s (ASCA) agenda and the fact that ASCA is in every school in the state of Alabama.

As the Moms for Liberty website states, “school counselors are the most radical department in K-12 today.” ASCA works tirelessly to enact a Leftist agenda of CRT, gender equity, Social Emotional Learning (SEL), and more in schools across the country and our state by setting guidelines and training school counselors. 

It seems there are no limits to the length progressives are willing to go to influence and corrupt the minds and hearts of children – all behind the backs of trusting American parents. If you have a child or grandchild in a public school, you need to listen to this one. 

Overtime Segment: Previewing the 2025 Legislative Session

To join the fight and become an 1819 News Member, click here: https://1819news.com/membership. You’ll have access to all our exclusive, behind-the-scenes content! 

1819 News: The Podcast has a unique episode for you this week!

A few things have been getting under CEO Bryan Dawson’s skin lately. Naturally, he sat down with Joey Clark on his radio show News and Views, which airs on Montgomery's News/Talk 93.1, to air some of those concerns.

We thought the “radio rant” was too good not to share! Bryan and Joey's conversation begins with the discussion of Alabama State Health Officer Scott Harris' new appointment as the president of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials. The public health organization has ties to George Soros and focuses on important topics like “health equity” and “dismantling white supremacy.” This brings out Harris' true colors – we all knew they were there – to the surface and reminds us that he should have been fired years ago.

If you recall, Alabama was told Harris couldn't be fired because he was appointed by a board of health professionals and therefore did not serve at the pleasure of the governor. This situation was such a problem that bills were filed in the last three legislative sessions to give the governor the authority to fire the state health officer. Last session one of those bills finally passed.

That stands in stark contrast to a recent move made by Governor Ivey to use her “supreme executive power of this state” to unilaterally fire a different state agency head who was also appointed by a board, Rear Admiral Kent Davis, the director of the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs.

Either Ivey had the authority to fire Scott Harris and refused, or she doesn't have the authority to fire state agency heads like Rear Admiral Kent Davis who are appointed by a board, but she did it anyway.

Bryan and Joey's discussion turns from Ivey’s actions to the lack of leadership in the Alabama House, Senate, and Governor’s Office, which creates an environment where special interests reign supreme.

The conversation brought into clear focus the reality that since the Alabama Speaker of the House has been under the heavy influence of political consultant Steve Raby, the House priorities have been an increased gas tax, medical marijuana, and several major pushes for full blown gambling. The last push for gambling included Medicaid expansion.

It’s unbelievable that these are the priorities of the Republican supermajority of a state House in the most conservative state in the nation!

Finally, the “radio rant” ends with harsh criticism of local elected leaders such as mayors, county commissioners, and city councilmen who desperately seek reasons for why they can't do what is right and necessary, and that will allow them to pass the buck. Whether its Haitian immigrants being dumped into their cities or pornographic grooming literature in the children's section of their library, local leaders’ mantra is too often the same: "Ain't nuthin' I can do!" Obviously, you’ll want to give this episode a listen!

Special thanks to Bluewater Broadcasting, News/Talk 93.1, and Joey Clark for allowing us to use the interview.

Special Note: Video was pulled from Joey Clark's YouTube page. Additionally, make sure to tune into News/Talk 93.1 when you are in Montgomery or listen online at newstalk931.com/listen-live/!