The Real Truth with Tommy Spina

Revisiting Alabama's Medical Cannabis Program with Vince Schilleci & Whitt Steineker

Technical note: We experienced some recording challenges while capturing this multi-location phone interview, resulting in occasional clipping and uneven audio. Thanks for bearing with us because we felt the discussion was worth airing. Vince Schilleci and Whitt Steineker join Tommy to revisit The Real Truth's deep dive into Alabama's new and developing medical cannabis program. They discuss where the program currently stands, the latest legal developments, and when our guests believe patients may see medical cannabis products reach dispensary shelves. Vince Schilleci is one of the owners of CCS Alabama, a company that was awarded one of the licenses to operate a dispensary by the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission. Whitt Steineker is partner at national law firm Bradley and founder/co-chair of the law firm’s cannabis industry team.

Bright Blue Dot Returns - Joellyn Beckham

Joellyn Beckham returns to The Real Truth for an update on the Bright Blue Dot billboards you may have seen while traveling the Red Mountain Expressway in Birmingham, their recent appearance on Al Jazeera, and the controversy and conversation the billboards have generated across the political spectrum. For more information, go to https://www.britebluedot.com/ [https://www.britebluedot.com/] or follow @brbldot [https://www.instagram.com/brbldot/#] Season 3: "We The People" It's the constitution's first three words, affirming that the government of the United States exists to serve its citizens. These next episodes will feature constitutional law experts discussing the rule of law, separation of powers, and all the other features of our democracy that make our country unique.

EXTRA EDITION: U.W. Clemon and Kyle Whitemire on Alabama's Redistricting Chaos

Breaking from Season 3’s ongoing “We the People” focus on the First Amendment and the Constitution, The Real Truth presents an extra edition emergency double-episode edition featuring former federal judge U. W. Clemon and Alabama Media Group columnist Kyle Whitmire. On May 6, Clemon filed a motion in federal court accusing Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen of violating the terms of a 2025 agreement in which state leaders pledged not to challenge a court-ordered congressional map before the 2030 census. A three-judge federal panel set a May 7 deadline for Allen to respond. Clemon joins Tommy to explain the motion, the decades-long legal battles over Alabama redistricting, and why he believes the state is disregarding federal court orders (1:43). Then, Whitmire breaks down the Supreme Court decisions, political maneuvering, and legal uncertainty that have thrown Alabama’s election maps into turmoil just days before the state’s May 19 primary, as absentee ballots are already being cast (16:43).

Lucy Dalglish: The Press Under Pressure

The Real Truth continues its deep dive into the First Amendment and the Fourth Estate, as Tommy speaks with Lucy Dalglish, former dean of the University of Maryland’s Philip Merrill College of Journalism and a longtime advocate for freedom of the press. They discuss growing tensions between government power and First Amendment protections, including recent efforts to obtain journalists’ confidential sources and newsroom materials. Other topics: shield laws, the Privacy Protection Act, anonymous sourcing, government transparency, and why a free press remains essential to holding power accountable in America. Season 3: "We The People" It's the constitution's first three words, affirming that the government of the United States exists to serve its citizens. These next episodes will feature constitutional law experts discussing the rule of law, separation of powers, and all the other features of our democracy that make our country unique.

John Archibald Returns

In this episode of The Real Truth, Tommy sits down with John Archibald, Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist and longtime voice in Alabama journalism to continue this season's exploration of the First Amendment and the Constitution in 2026. They explore the role of a free press in holding power accountable, the growing challenges facing journalists, and why protecting sources remains essential to uncovering the truth. From shifting media landscapes to concerns about government transparency and public trust, the conversation examines what’s at stake when credibility, access, and accountability are all under pressure. The Real Truth Season 3: "We The People" It's the constitution's first three words, affirming that the government of the United States exists to serve its citizens. These next episodes will feature constitutional law experts discussing the rule of law, separation of powers, and all the other features of our democracy that make our country unique.