‘Weird Al’ Yankovic keeps dorkiness close to his heart
A note from Wild Card host Rachel Martin: I usually have to finish a conversation with a guest before I can draw some big conclusion, but I’m gonna go out on a limb and say this about “Weird Al” Yankovic: I think that more than the perfect rhyming scheme, more than the most ridiculous pun, more than music itself, what “Weird Al” loves most in the world is making people happy.
Hey, maybe I’m wrong. Maybe he fell hard for the accordion as a kid and realized a few years later that he was really good at making up fake lyrics to real songs. And that this — THIS was his ticket to fame and stardom.
But I don’t think so. His art is too self-effacing to be about ego. When performing, “Weird Al” is the spiritual manifestation of every dorky kid who never fit in, now finally getting their moment — not by trying to fit into someone else’s idea of cool — but by leaning into every single thing that makes them weird. And that is a beautiful and generous thing.
And 46 years after his first big hit, “My Bologna,” came out, “Weird Al” is still at it. His “Bigger & Weirder 2025 Tour” kicks off in June.
Former U.S. Sen. Doug Jones announces run for Alabama governor
Jones announced his campaign Monday afternoon, hours after filing campaign paperwork with the Secretary of State's Office. His gubernatorial bid could set up a rematch with U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, the Republican who defeated Jones in 2020 and is now running for governor.
Scorching Saturdays: The rising heat threat inside football stadiums
Excessive heat and more frequent medical incidents in Southern college football stadiums could be a warning sign for universities across the country.
Judge orders new Alabama Senate map after ruling found racial gerrymandering
U.S. District Judge Anna Manasco, appointed by President Donald Trump during his first term, issued the ruling Monday putting a new court-selected map in place for the 2026 and 2030 elections.
Construction on Meta’s largest data center brings 600% crash spike, chaos to rural Louisiana
An investigation from the Gulf States Newsroom found that trucks contracted to work at the Meta facility are causing delays and dangerous roads in Holly Ridge.
Bessemer City Council approves rezoning for a massive data center, dividing a community
After the Bessemer City Council voted 5-2 to rezone nearly 700 acres of agricultural land for the “hyperscale” server farm, a dissenting council member said city officials who signed non-disclosure agreements weren’t being transparent with citizens.
Alabama Public Television meeting draws protesters in Birmingham over discussion of disaffiliating from PBS
Some members of the Alabama Educational Television Commission, which oversees APT, said disaffiliation is needed because the network has to cut costs after the Trump administration eliminated all funding for public media this summer.
