7. Costco is bucking the trend of companies dumping Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs and Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall and 18 other attorneys general have sent a letter to Costco demanding the company abandon its DEI policies, calling them unlawful and detrimental to the American ideal of individualism. The letter argues that DEI initiatives promote discrimination rather than equality, citing Supreme Court precedent and aligning with President Trump’s executive order against such policies. Costco, which has remained committed to DEI despite other corporations scaling back, has been given 30 days to repeal its policies or explain its stance.
6. President Donald Trump has signed his first piece of legislation, the Laken Riley Act sponsored by Alabama U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) which requires ICE to detain undocumented immigrants guilty of theft, burglary, or violent crimes, while also granting states the ability to take legal action against federal officials who neglect immigration enforcement. The law, named after a Georgia woman murdered by an undocumented immigrant, was praised as a bipartisan effort to enhance public safety and prevent future tragedies. Additionally, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth revealed that the Biden administration’s previous migrant policies are being reversed, with Guantanamo Bay set to house up to 30,000 criminal migrants temporarily as they await repatriation
5. The wokeness of the U.S. military is undoubtedly under attack and U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Saks) hailed President Trump’s executive actions eliminating DEI programs and restricting service for individuals with gender dysphoria, stating that these changes will refocus the military on national defense. Trump’s orders emphasize merit-based advancement, troop cohesion, and eliminating policies seen as politically motivated distractions. Rogers and other Alabama Republican lawmakers, including Rep. Barry Moore (R-Enterprise), argue that these moves restore the military’s “true mission” of readiness, lethality, and national security.
4. While gambling is expected to be an issues this legislative session, the Alabama Policy Institute is pushing back with their bettinghurtsbama.com website, where they argue against gambling expansion in Alabama, citing risks to free markets, government overreach, and family well-being. API argues that legalizing gambling would lead to increased government control, addiction-related social issues, and economic favoritism through selective licensing of operators. The website provides research, data, and testimonials to illustrate gambling’s negative impacts, with ongoing updates to inform the public and policymakers.
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3. The Left’s domination of public schools and radical gender/sex/race curriculum is the target of multiple of President Donald Trump’s executive orders targeting curricula which indoctrinates students with “anti-American” ideology. His orders direct the Department of Education to provide guidance on how states can use federal funds for alternatives like private and religious schools, as well as allow military and Native American families more flexibility in school selection. Missing the point, as always, the critics argue that these moves threaten public education, limit historical discourse on race, and could redirect up to $40 billion in federal grants toward conservative education priorities, the last point is the only accurate point they are making.
2. Immigration enforcement is real and it is happening in Alabama with Gov. Kay Ivey’s full support. ICE agents reportedly made arrests across the state, and the media is scaremongering by saying they are doing this “without warrants,” which are not required. Because disinformation has made schools something people believe are off-limits, State Superintendent Eric Mackey reassured schools that no enforcement actions have occurred on campuses and urged educators to maintain normal operations while verifying law enforcement identities. Although some Alabama teachers have encouraged undocumented families to keep children home, for which they should be fired for spreading fear, Mackey stressed the importance of attendance, warning that fear-driven absences could negatively impact students’ education.
1. The Trump administration has sent an email to 3 million federal employees, encouraging them to take a “deferred resignation” or risk layoffs, a move critics say echoes Elon Musk’s past corporate strategies and is legally dubious, but these same entities defended President Joe Biden’s vaccine mandates under the premise that he is the chief executive, a fight they won and then lost after it was relevant and executed. The offer excludes postal workers, military personnel, and immigration/national security positions, but unions and advocates warn that it threatens government stability and essential services. While some fear losing pensions and job security, others say the email has strengthened their resolve to stay, with lawmakers like Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) cautioning workers not to trust Trump’s severance promises.
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Dale Jackson is a thought leader for Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN and from 10-11 a.m. on Talk 99.5 and News Radio 1440, with a rebroadcast on WVNN at 10 p.m.
The Philadelphia 76ers selected Alabama guard Labaron Philon Jr. with the 22nd overall pick of the 2026 NBA draft Tuesday night.
Philon is the first pick of the Mike Gansey era after he replaced Daryl Morey as the team’s president of basketball operations.
Who is Labaron Philon Jr.?
Philon, 20, led the Crimson Tide in scoring last season, averaging 22.0 points on nearly 40% shooting on 3-pointers. He was the focal point of one of the nation’s most potent offenses, as Alabama led the country in points per game in the 2025-26 season. The Crimson Tide (No. 16) finished the season with a 25-10 record and went 13-5 against conference opponents.
Philon, who helped lead Alabama to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA tournament, earned Third-Team All-American and First-Team All-SEC honors in his sophomore season.
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In 33 games last season for Alabama, Philon scored 725 total points, which is ranked third-most by a player in a single season in program history.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver shakes hands with Labaron Philon Jr. after he is drafted twenty-second overall by the Philadelphia 76ers during Round One of the 2026 NBA Draft at Barclays Center on June 23, 2026 in New York City.
Arturo Holmes / Getty Images
Philon was the 34th-ranked basketball recruit in the country entering his freshman season at Alabama, according to 247sports. The four-star guard initially committed to playing at Auburn, but decommitted. He then signed a letter of intent to play at Kansas, but didn’t play there, either. He then committed to the Crimson Tide in April 2024.
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Philon impressed as a freshman at Alabama and averaged 10.6 points in 37 games. He declared for the 2025 NBA draft but then withdrew and returned for his sophomore season, where he saw his scoring average jump more than 10 points.
Philon is a Mobile, Alabama, native and played at Baker High School in Mobile County, where he scored 2,334 points in three seasons. He was named the Class 7A Player of the Year twice.
As a junior, he averaged 35 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists and was named Alabama Mr. Basketball, which is given to the best high school boys’ basketball player in the state. Philon transferred to Link Academy, a boarding school in Missouri, for his senior year of high school.
Philon now joins a backcourt headlined by Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe heading into the 2026-27 season. Quentin Grimes could return to Philadelphia next season and add even more depth, but he’s an unrestricted free agent.
The pick the Sixers used to pick Philon was acquired in the deal that sent Jared McCain to the Oklahoma City Thunder at the trade deadline.
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Labaron Philon Jr. scouting report
CBS Sports had Philon ranked as the 14th-best prospect in the 2026 NBA draft.
Here are his strengths and weaknesses, according to CBS Sports:
Strengths
On-ball creator who made an extreme leap as a sophomore, ranking in the 99th percentile in isolations (was 24th percentile as a freshman) and 94th as a pick-and-roll handler (was 32nd percentile as a freshman). Combines smooth attack with sudden change of speed and direction, dexterity, and finishing craft in the lane.
Shot-maker who can make tough shots off both the catch (36% on contested catch-and-shoot 3-pointers), dribble (38% from deep), and has extreme gravity when he’s spacing the floor (46% on unguarded catch-and-shoot 3-pointers).
Shown pliability to thrive in different roles over the years and is a similarly versatile creator, because he’s a scoring threat at multiple levels and also an accurate, and somewhat creative, passer with both hands off the dribble.
Weaknesses
Inconsistent defensive approach. Showed more engagement and potential as a freshman, but couldn’t maintain that as a sophomore when taking on a bigger offensive role.
Lacks overwhelming physicality or highest level explosiveness, and didn’t add any notable muscle mass between his freshman and sophomore seasons (175 pounds at 2025 combine and 176 at 2026 combine).
Unclear how well his creation scales to the NBA level when he will have less usage and volume coupled by more physicality in opposing defenders.
Alabama football hosted a hometown kid for an official visit last weekend when it got Jeremiah Beverley on campus for an official visit.
Beverley attends Hillcrest High School in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and ESPN currently has him rated as a four-star recruit. He is considering Alabama, Cincinnati, Wake Forest and others.
The Crimson Tide offered Beverley earlier this month and got him on campus for an official visit last weekend. The Alabama target told Touchdown Alabama he used the visit to learn what the Tide has planned for him if he commits.
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“I’m truly happy that I went on that official visit,” Beverley said. “Blessed for that. All I was talking about was the next step, what I got to do? So, just knowing what they have planned for me, knowing what they have set for me.”
At 6-foot-2 and 235 pounds, Beverley makes plays for Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa as a defensive end. Alabama has plans to use him similarly at the next level.
“They’re going to have me at wolf mostly,” Beverley said. “I know coach (Kane) Wommack and coach (Christian) Robinson, I think they see me at other positions, but I know it is guaranteed they’re going to see me at Wolf and me working my way up on special teams, and they expect that out of me.”
Beverley is expected to announce a commitment decision on Friday.
Watch Jeremiah Beverley’s Highlights Below:
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Justin Smith is the Managing Editor and Lead Writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine with over 10 years of writing experience & expertise. Smith has consistently delivered high quality, extensively researched information on the University of Alabama’s Crimson Tide football team that fans can trust. Smith is official credentialed media with the University of Alabama under Touchdown Alabama Magazine. He is also the Director of Recruiting for Touchdown Enterprises, specializing in scouting and analyzing high school recruits around the nation, specifically focusing on recruits within the state of Alabama.
Alabama football is hiring Noah Fisher to be its assistant tight ends coach, according to CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz.
Fisher spent two seasons as a graduate assistant working with the offensive line and tight ends at Louisville before joining the Tide’s staff. He played three years on the offensive line at South Alabama and spent one season with Tulane. The Jaguars started Fisher along its offensive line when he was a player for multiple games.
The Crimson Tide appear to want to use their tight ends in multiple ways in the future including as extra blockers along the line of scrimmage. Fisher looks as if he can assist the Tide with this mission.
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Justin Smith is the Managing Editor and Lead Writer for Touchdown Alabama Magazine with over 10 years of writing experience & expertise. Smith has consistently delivered high quality, extensively researched information on the University of Alabama’s Crimson Tide football team that fans can trust. Smith is official credentialed media with the University of Alabama under Touchdown Alabama Magazine. He is also the Director of Recruiting for Touchdown Enterprises, specializing in scouting and analyzing high school recruits around the nation, specifically focusing on recruits within the state of Alabama.
