This week, Tommy speaks with U.W. Clemon, an Alabama attorney, civil rights pioneer, and former federal judge. Drawing on decades of experience and a history-spanning career, Clemon shares his perspective on why constitutional principles still matter, civic responsibility, and the lessons history offers in today’s political climate.

About U.W. Clemon:

Born in Fairfield, Alabama, he became one of the first black lawyers admitted to the Alabama bar and one of the first African Americans elected to the Alabama Senate since Reconstruction. In 1980, President Jimmy Carter appointed him as Alabama’s first black federal judge on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama, where he served for nearly 30 years, including as Chief Judge. Throughout his career, Clemon has been a leader in civil rights law and public service, and today continues to practice law in Birmingham.

This week, Tommy is joined by Tony Petelos, who has served as an Alabama state legislator, mayor of Hoover, and county manager for Jefferson County. With his decades of public service, Tony shares his view on the recent changes at Central Alabama Water, including the utility's rebranding, restructuring, and controversial search for a new CEO.

Tony Petelos served as Hoover, Alabama mayor from 2004 until 2011. In 2011, he became the first county manager and CEO of Jefferson County, overseeing the largest municipal bankruptcy in United States history. In 2020, Jefferson County exited the resulting consent decree from the bankruptcy. He retired from the county manager position in 2021.

This week, Tommy speaks with former U.S. Representative Mo Brooks, who represented Alabama's 5th congressional district from 2011 to 2023. Through the lens of his experience in Washington, Brooks reflects on the complicated interplay between money, media, party politics, and the forces driving decision-making in D.C.

This week on The Real Truth with Tommy Spina, Tommy sits down with Barnett Wright, executive editor of The Birmingham Times, for a conversation about truth, community, and the evolving role of the press.

This week, Tommy talks to Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist John Archibald to discuss the state of the press, the rule of law, and what it means to seek truth in an era of noise and division. As the press faces the modern challenges of AI, social media, and misinformation, Tommy and John explore how journalism’s role as a watchdog has evolved and why a free, ethical press remains essential to democracy.

from johnarchibaldink.com:

John Archibald has been a journalist in the South for more than 35 years. He is a two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize and a voice of the deep South and what that place means to America.

This week, Tommy speaks with Joellyn Beckham, founder of Bright Blue Dot and one of the organizers behind the politically-charged billboards popping up around Birmingham. Beckham recalls how Bright Blue Dot began as a response to the 2004 presidential election and evolved from a bumper sticker into eye-catching billboards aimed at sparking conversation and countering disinformation.

Together, they discuss the challenges of communicating across political divides, the influence of media bubbles, and the importance of honest dialogue in protecting and preserving democracy.

For more information about Bright Blue Dot, visit britebluedot.com

In this episode of The Real Truth with Tommy Spina, Tommy sits down with Bennet Wright, Executive Director of the Alabama Sentencing Commission, for an in-depth discussion on Alabama’s prison system, sentencing reform, and the state’s ongoing struggle to balance justice, cost, and rehabilitation.

This week, Tommy speaks with renowned trial attorney David S. Rudolf (featured in Netflix documentary "The Staircase", author of "American Injustice: Inside Stories from the Underbelly of the Criminal Justice System", and co-host of award-winning podcast "Abuse of Power").

David joins us to discuss "The Rule of Law", an open letter published in North Carolina and signed by more than 800 North Carolina lawyers, urging their colleagues and the public to recommit to protecting fundamental democratic principles such as due process and judicial independence.

You can read the letter at nclawyers4theruleoflaw.org