Here in Alabama, the buzz has been all about a U.S. Senator’s understanding (or misunderstanding) of a political label … and a kidnapping that didn’t turn out to be a kidnapping after all.

Maybe it’s all a reminder to sometimes challenge our own perceived reality.

White nationalism, however you define it

White Nationalism has dominated Alabama political talk for the past couple news cycles, and to be honest it’s not been very clear whether anybody is arguing the same point.

Depending on whose take, tweet or thread you read, this may be about the definition of white nationalism. Or whether actual white nationalists are racist. Or whether some people are labeled white nationalists who aren’t racist. Or whether “white nationalist,” “nationalist” and “patriot” have been conflated.

There’s a general rule in politics about splitting hairs on such subjects, and that rule is: “Don’t.”

U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville finally embraced the Don’t Rule on Tuesday when he told Capitol Hill reporters “White nationalists are racists.” That’s in a report on AL.com by Howard Koplowitz.

That came a day after Tuberville went on CNN’s “The Source with Kaitlan Collins” and said that the idea that a white nationalist is racist is a matter of opinion, setting off a firestorm.

Terror and relief

One of the most terrifying stories you can imagine turned bizarre but ultimately had a great ending.

You probably saw the alert on your phone Monday evening when a 9-month-old girl was reported missing after the SUV she was in disappeared from a Walker County driveway. An SUV was reported speeding away from the area. A reward was posted. A search was launched. The story was shared everywhere and prayers went up by the thousands.

AL.com’s Carol Robinson reports that, after what was probably the longest 13 hours or so of a momma and daddy’s life passed, the SUV was across the road from where it had been parked. Police say they believe it had rolled down the driveway, across the road, down an embankment and into a heavy cover of kudzu.

Reckless gambling

Sports Illustrated’s Pat Forde has reported more details in the scandal that broke three days before the University of Alabama fired baseball coach Brad Bohannon.

He reported that Bohannon knew of a $100,000 wager placed by Indiana travel-ball coach Bert Eugene Neff Jr. In fact, reportedly, Neff was texting with Bohannon on his way into the BetMGM Sportsbook at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati — and security cameras there reportedly were able to pick up Bohannon’s name on Neff’s phone.

Neff went in and placed that huge bet on college baseball — and, folks, people aren’t lining up to put down a hundred large on many college baseball games — and reportedly explained to the employees there that he had inside information.

(You know, it’s hard to miss the irony of the betting facility being located at the stadium of the team that Pete Rose played and managed for.)

Town halls of their own

As we approach the special legislative session (beginning July 17) on Congressional redistricting, Alabama Democrats have announced town-hall meetings on the upcoming redrawing, reports AL.com’s Paul Gattis.

Democrats, of course, are hoping a SCOTUS-mandated second district that is majority (or near majority) Black will mean a second Alabama Democrat elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.

Here’s the schedule:

• 6 p.m. today, Evergreen Missionary Baptist Church, Birmingham.
• 6 p.m. Thursday, Anniston City Meeting Center, Anniston.
• 6 p.m. Friday, Gilliard Elementary School, Mobile.
• 4:30 p.m. July 17, Mae Jemison High School, Huntsville.

By the numbers

260: More than 260 military promotions are currently held up by Sen. Tommy Tuberville, who is blocking confirmations of senior military officers to protest a Defense Department policy to pay for service members who travel out of state for abortions.

650: By year’s end, if no resolution is reached in the standoff, that number of blocked promotions could reach 650.

One of the latest confirmations being held up is for USAF Gen. CQ Brown Jr., President Biden’s nominee for chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

More Alabama news

Born on this date

In 1932, Otis Davis of Tuscaloosa, gold medalist in the 400-meter dash and 4X400 relay at the 1960 Olympics.

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