ALGOP agrees to hear Tuberville residency challenge; Tuberville camp begins pushback The Alabama Republican Party has agreed to hold a hearing on Tommy Tuberville’s residency status, a development that has shifted the focus of the state’s gubernatorial race. Ken McFeeters, the Republican primary candidate defeated by Tuberville in May, had long contested the senator’s eligibility to run for governor, arguing that Tuberville failed to meet Alabama’s seven-year residency requirement. On Monday, the party’s candidate committee surprised McFeeters by confirming a hearing would take place on June 13 or 14 at the law firm Balch & Bingham in Birmingham. McFeeters described the decision as “completely shocking,” marking a significant departure from the party’s previous stance of dismissing his challenges. Tuberville’s campaign had largely ignored McFeeters’ claims, including a post-qualification challenge McFeeters filed, which the party labeled “facially defective” without substantial discussion. Tuberville’s team maintained that the senator could prove his residency and dismissed questions about his living arrangements as distractions. However, the party’s sudden decision to address the issue has prompted Tuberville’s legal team to prepare a robust response. Sources indicate that Tuberville’s attorneys began submitting documents, including tax returns, property tax records, and a driver’s license, to various entities in anticipation of the hearing. Tuberville’s campaign has acknowledged that the senator has taken temporary leave from Alabama over the past seven years but asserts he has never been absent long enough to lose his citizenship.#tommy_tuberville #alabama_republican_party #ken_mcfeeters #balch_bingham #santa_rosa_beach
Senate Holds Rare Weekend Session on SAVE Act and Markwayne Mullin Nomination The Senate convened for a rare weekend session on Sunday, with Republican lawmakers pushing to advance the SAVE America Act. The session also saw progress on President Donald Trump’s nomination of Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma for the position of Department of Homeland Security director. The Senate voted 54-37 to limit debate on Mullin’s confirmation, setting the stage for a potential vote on Monday. Mullin would replace Secretary Kristi Noem, whom Trump removed from the role. The SAVE Act, a contentious piece of legislation, dominated Senate floor discussions throughout the weekend. The bill, already passed by the House in February 2026, requires voters to present physical proof of citizenship—such as a passport or birth certificate—when registering to vote and mandates government-issued ID for casting ballots in federal elections. However, Trump has insisted on adding further provisions, including stricter voter ID requirements, the elimination of mail-in voting (with exceptions for military, travel, or illness), bans on men participating in women’s sports, and restrictions on gender transition surgeries for children. The bill’s amendment process has intensified debates, with Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) introducing a provision to prohibit transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports. This amendment has drawn significant criticism, particularly from Democrats, who argue it targets marginalized communities. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York, condemned the bill as a form of voter suppression, stating, “This is not common-sense voter ID. This is suppression.” The Brennan Center for Justice highlights the potential impact of the SAVE Act on vulnerable populations.#kristi_noem #chuck_schumer #tommy_tuberville #save_act #markwayne_mullin
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani Faces Backlash Over Wife’s Past Work Linked to Palestine New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has become embroiled in a political controversy after his wife, Rama Duwaji, drew criticism for her past illustration work connected to Palestinian activist Abulhawa. The situation has sparked mixed reactions, with some of Mamdani’s supporters accusing him of undermining his own stance on anti-Israel rhetoric by distancing himself from Duwaji’s past associations. The controversy began when conservative outlet the Washington Free Beacon reported that Duwaji, a freelance illustrator, had contributed to an essay compiled by Abulhawa as part of a collection titled “Every Moment is a Life.” The piece, later clarified by Abulhawa, was a short story by a Gazan resident displaced during Israel’s war, detailing the hardships of using makeshift public restrooms. Duwaji confirmed she was commissioned by a third party and had no direct contact with Abulhawa. Mamdani, who has previously condemned Abulhawa’s social media posts as “abhorrent,” faced backlash from supporters who argued his response risks reinforcing harmful narratives linking Palestinian advocacy with anti-Jewish sentiment. Critics pointed out that Abulhawa’s statements, which include references to “Jewish supremacist slaughter” and calls for retribution against Israel, have been rejected by her as personal expressions of grief over the war’s toll on Palestinians. She has described the conflict as a “genocide” and emphasized her commitment to speaking for those unable to defend themselves against state violence. Mamdani’s public denunciation of Abulhawa’s rhetoric, while distancing himself from Duwaji’s past work, has drawn sharp criticism from activists and commentators.#new_york_city #zohran_mamdani #rama_duwaji #abulhawa #tommy_tuberville
