Brian Lyman
@brianlyman.bsky.social
Editor, Alabama Reflector. Podcaster, Becoming Lincoln. 2024 Pulitzer finalist. Past: MGM Advertiser; Press-Register; The Anniston Star; Norwich Bulletin; Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Politics, history, science, horrific puns.
Pinned
Brian Lyman
@brianlyman.bsky.social
· Nov 12
Alabama Reflector: Covering the pain and promise of our home • Alabama Reflector
Laws are made in the State House. Alabama is made outside it. Alabama Reflector will cover these dynamics that shape our home.
alabamareflector.com
Here’s our mission statement at @alreflector.bsky.social. From my first column on launch day in February 2023.
Bill Watterson said in the 10th Anniversary book that he struggled after the sabbaticals, but the last year of Calvin and Hobbes is among the best he did, I think in part because the weeks-long stories came back (e.g. Calvin selling the Earth for 50 leaves).
Not only a perfect denouement, it was the end of an era. Thirty years ago today, this strip was published.
December 31, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Bill Watterson said in the 10th Anniversary book that he struggled after the sabbaticals, but the last year of Calvin and Hobbes is among the best he did, I think in part because the weeks-long stories came back (e.g. Calvin selling the Earth for 50 leaves).
Fiorello LaGuardia spoke five languages.
Most of America has absolutely 0 idea about any of this
December 31, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Fiorello LaGuardia spoke five languages.
Reposted by Brian Lyman
Via Ralph Chapoco: Civil rights groups have filed public information requests on agreements between local Alabama law enforcement and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on enforcing immigration laws. https://ow.ly/L1jK50XNphq
December 31, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Via Ralph Chapoco: Civil rights groups have filed public information requests on agreements between local Alabama law enforcement and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on enforcing immigration laws. https://ow.ly/L1jK50XNphq
Just a reminder that if you’re making your end-of-year donations today, contributions to all the nonprofit outlets of @statesnewsroom.com (including @alabamareflector.com) are tax-deductible.
As the year comes to an end, we want to share a few of the stories that your support for Alabama Reflector made possible in 2025. (And if you care to make a tax-deductible donation, follow the link.) (1)
Donate | Alabama Reflector
alabamareflector.com
December 31, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Just a reminder that if you’re making your end-of-year donations today, contributions to all the nonprofit outlets of @statesnewsroom.com (including @alabamareflector.com) are tax-deductible.
We’re all doing end of the year lists now, but if nothing else, I hope this one conveys the gratitude our readers deserve and the pride I have in this staff.
As the year comes to an end, we want to share a few of the stories that your support for Alabama Reflector made possible in 2025. (And if you care to make a tax-deductible donation, follow the link.) (1)
Donate | Alabama Reflector
alabamareflector.com
December 30, 2025 at 6:02 PM
We’re all doing end of the year lists now, but if nothing else, I hope this one conveys the gratitude our readers deserve and the pride I have in this staff.
Reposted by Brian Lyman
Via Ralph Chapoco: A new report finds that almost 1,200 Alabamians paroled out of life sentences are on supervision for the rest of their lives; must pay a $40 monthly fee and can lose their freedom for slightest infraction, even if they remained trouble-free for decades. https://ow.ly/l1Kb50XMSvg
December 30, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Via Ralph Chapoco: A new report finds that almost 1,200 Alabamians paroled out of life sentences are on supervision for the rest of their lives; must pay a $40 monthly fee and can lose their freedom for slightest infraction, even if they remained trouble-free for decades. https://ow.ly/l1Kb50XMSvg
Reposted by Brian Lyman
Alabama will get about $203 million under the rural health grant program, equal to about 2% of the total spending on the state's Medicaid program, most of which is paid for by the federal government. The grants are meant to partially offset cuts in Medicaid signed by Donald Trump earlier this year.
Alaska, Montana, Oklahoma crack top five in first rural hospital funding allocation | Alabama Reflector
Alabama will get a little over $203 million from the program, aimed at partially offsetting Medicaid cuts approved by Congress earlier this year.
alabamareflector.com
December 30, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Alabama will get about $203 million under the rural health grant program, equal to about 2% of the total spending on the state's Medicaid program, most of which is paid for by the federal government. The grants are meant to partially offset cuts in Medicaid signed by Donald Trump earlier this year.
Microblogging: The elevator pitch
December 29, 2025 at 10:56 PM
Microblogging: The elevator pitch
Met friends in Atlanta and got a reminder the Georgia Aquarium
Is damn cool.
Is damn cool.
December 29, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Met friends in Atlanta and got a reminder the Georgia Aquarium
Is damn cool.
Is damn cool.
If you have any interest in ancient Christianity or just ancient Roman culture, “Antioch and Rome” by Raymond Brown and John Meier is a book you’ll want to read. It carefully uses New Testament sources to build a very plausible profile of two early Christian communities and the tensions within them.
December 29, 2025 at 4:38 PM
If you have any interest in ancient Christianity or just ancient Roman culture, “Antioch and Rome” by Raymond Brown and John Meier is a book you’ll want to read. It carefully uses New Testament sources to build a very plausible profile of two early Christian communities and the tensions within them.
My column this week. Here are the major Alabama political stories I’ll be watching in 2026. The election is the big one. But the Legislature will have to address rising health care costs. And it might try increasing money for a school voucher-like program.
The big Alabama political issues awaiting in the new year | Alabama Reflector
2026 will see lawmakers facing some major decisions on funding health care, and maybe a handful of competitive state races. (Maybe.)
alabamareflector.com
December 29, 2025 at 2:32 PM
My column this week. Here are the major Alabama political stories I’ll be watching in 2026. The election is the big one. But the Legislature will have to address rising health care costs. And it might try increasing money for a school voucher-like program.
Reposted by Brian Lyman
Via Anna Barrett: An Alabama lawmaker has pre-filed a bill for the 2026 legislative session that would allow a voter with a disability to have assistance with filling out an absentee ballot. https://ow.ly/Ayxv50XMEp1
December 29, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Via Anna Barrett: An Alabama lawmaker has pre-filed a bill for the 2026 legislative session that would allow a voter with a disability to have assistance with filling out an absentee ballot. https://ow.ly/Ayxv50XMEp1
Yacht Rock victorious
December 29, 2025 at 2:23 AM
Yacht Rock victorious
Post a perfect album from the 90s that isn’t Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden or Alice In Chains.
Flansburgh and Linnell are two of America’s finest songwriters.
Flansburgh and Linnell are two of America’s finest songwriters.
December 28, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Post a perfect album from the 90s that isn’t Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden or Alice In Chains.
Flansburgh and Linnell are two of America’s finest songwriters.
Flansburgh and Linnell are two of America’s finest songwriters.
Reposted by Brian Lyman
Having done a decent amount of reporting on governors who faced impeachment, the striking thing is that most resigned to avoid the spectacle, embarrassment and eventual defeat. They are afraid of becoming Rod Blagojevich.
But Blago is the exception. Lawmakers hated him and he was caught on tape.
But Blago is the exception. Lawmakers hated him and he was caught on tape.
One of the common issues with impeachment is that the people who draw up constitutions — at the federal or state level — don’t give it a lot of thought. It’s supposed to be a weapon of last resort, not a regularly-used power. There are political disincentives, but the process itself can be hazy.
Problem is with impeachment power in a partisan Congress. It's a gun with no bullets; the idea that the electorate empowered a sovereign for four years, and it is anti-democratic to remove him, is so powerful (and so dumb) that you can never really crack his party and get the votes for conviction.
December 28, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Having done a decent amount of reporting on governors who faced impeachment, the striking thing is that most resigned to avoid the spectacle, embarrassment and eventual defeat. They are afraid of becoming Rod Blagojevich.
But Blago is the exception. Lawmakers hated him and he was caught on tape.
But Blago is the exception. Lawmakers hated him and he was caught on tape.
One of the common issues with impeachment is that the people who draw up constitutions — at the federal or state level — don’t give it a lot of thought. It’s supposed to be a weapon of last resort, not a regularly-used power. There are political disincentives, but the process itself can be hazy.
Problem is with impeachment power in a partisan Congress. It's a gun with no bullets; the idea that the electorate empowered a sovereign for four years, and it is anti-democratic to remove him, is so powerful (and so dumb) that you can never really crack his party and get the votes for conviction.
All time most incompetent political party
December 28, 2025 at 4:18 PM
One of the common issues with impeachment is that the people who draw up constitutions — at the federal or state level — don’t give it a lot of thought. It’s supposed to be a weapon of last resort, not a regularly-used power. There are political disincentives, but the process itself can be hazy.
Good piece. Zero immigration will mean a colder, crueler, and stagnated society. Whatever comes next, I hope it focuses on making legal immigration easier for people of good faith. Right now, it’s an ordeal completely ignorant of the limited resources of most immigrants.
What America Might Look Like With Zero Immigration
www.nytimes.com
December 28, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Good piece. Zero immigration will mean a colder, crueler, and stagnated society. Whatever comes next, I hope it focuses on making legal immigration easier for people of good faith. Right now, it’s an ordeal completely ignorant of the limited resources of most immigrants.
Reposted by Brian Lyman
Via Lisa Sorg and Inside Climate News: Deep cuts to state budgets and at the Environmental Protection Agency are preventing regulators from fully protecting the public from pollution, according to a report released earlier this month by the Environmental Integrity Project. https://ow.ly/Nq2e50XMy7m
December 28, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Via Lisa Sorg and Inside Climate News: Deep cuts to state budgets and at the Environmental Protection Agency are preventing regulators from fully protecting the public from pollution, according to a report released earlier this month by the Environmental Integrity Project. https://ow.ly/Nq2e50XMy7m
Reposted by Brian Lyman
My parents grew up rural. They didn't do all of this. This feels like they're equating rural with "poor white people making bad decisions."
December 27, 2025 at 8:04 PM
My parents grew up rural. They didn't do all of this. This feels like they're equating rural with "poor white people making bad decisions."
Reposted by Brian Lyman
Grew up in rural Florida in the 80s/90s. We had lots of HS parties that involved alcohol weed etc. You know what we didn’t do? As a rule no one would get behind a wheel if they were partaking. Sober kids gave rides but mostly ppl crashed where they were. Even the outdoors. 🤷♀️
You do not, in fact, have to put other people’s lives in danger to enjoy yourself in a rural area, and no amount of “you city folk just don’t understand” will change that.
December 27, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Grew up in rural Florida in the 80s/90s. We had lots of HS parties that involved alcohol weed etc. You know what we didn’t do? As a rule no one would get behind a wheel if they were partaking. Sober kids gave rides but mostly ppl crashed where they were. Even the outdoors. 🤷♀️
Making public policy through “let’s get drunk in the woods” country songs
I have a bunch of intersecting thoughts here but basically 1) excessive alcohol consumption is an urban activity, 2) we shouldn’t legalize drunk driving and 3) we should more heavily penalize parents whose kids abuse alcohol in such a drastic fashion.
December 27, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Making public policy through “let’s get drunk in the woods” country songs
Awful as Alabama government can be, the state keeps producing brave Alabamians who demand better. Who sometimes end up transforming their state and the nation.
Sometimes I wonder about what purpose (beyond a cautionary tale) Alabama serves.
December 27, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Awful as Alabama government can be, the state keeps producing brave Alabamians who demand better. Who sometimes end up transforming their state and the nation.
My column this week. Tommy Tuberville has repeatedly shown contempt for vast swathes of the state he wants to govern. And Alabama voters can’t dismiss his recent threats against Muslims as performative. Making him governor will allow him to harass innocent people over the way they worship God.
Don't ignore the threat that is Tommy Tuberville | Alabama Reflector
Don't dismiss the senator's escalating attacks on Muslims as performative. Tuberville has already shown contempt for vast swathes of Alabama.
alabamareflector.com
December 27, 2025 at 2:18 PM
My column this week. Tommy Tuberville has repeatedly shown contempt for vast swathes of the state he wants to govern. And Alabama voters can’t dismiss his recent threats against Muslims as performative. Making him governor will allow him to harass innocent people over the way they worship God.
Reposted by Brian Lyman
I missed the AP story when it ran earlier this month. It included this photo of Jo Ann taken by Bethany Mollenkof on the day she and I sat at her table in her LA home in 2019.
I was working on a project interviewing those who desegregated America’s schools. Not the laws, the people.
I was working on a project interviewing those who desegregated America’s schools. Not the laws, the people.
December 27, 2025 at 1:03 PM
I missed the AP story when it ran earlier this month. It included this photo of Jo Ann taken by Bethany Mollenkof on the day she and I sat at her table in her LA home in 2019.
I was working on a project interviewing those who desegregated America’s schools. Not the laws, the people.
I was working on a project interviewing those who desegregated America’s schools. Not the laws, the people.
Reposted by Brian Lyman
Via 19thnews: A crowd-sourced effort, as well as trackers from advocacy organizations and labor unions, show that the Trump administration has implemented roughly half of the goals laid out in the 920 pages of Project 2025, a right-wing plan to remake the government. https://ow.ly/r7Au50XMzlJ
December 27, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Via 19thnews: A crowd-sourced effort, as well as trackers from advocacy organizations and labor unions, show that the Trump administration has implemented roughly half of the goals laid out in the 920 pages of Project 2025, a right-wing plan to remake the government. https://ow.ly/r7Au50XMzlJ