7 Things: Hegseth gets Tuberville, Britt support; Cullman defends Cullman; Mexico concerned about unwanted immigrants; and more … [Video]

7. President-elect Donald Trump nominated tech billionaire Jared Isaacman, CEO of Shift4, to lead NASA, following his spaceflights with SpaceX, including the first private spacewalk. Isaacman, who has strong ties to Alabama, including a $10 million donation to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, expressed excitement about the opportunity to lead NASA into a new era of space exploration. If confirmed, Isaacman will replace Bill Nelson, focusing on NASA’s plans for lunar missions and further space exploration.

6. The Retirement Systems of Alabama has reportedits most successful investment performance in its 85-year history, with the fiscal year ending Sept. 30 delivering exceptional returns. The Teachers’ Retirement System saw a 21.1% return on investments, while the Employees’ Retirement System and Judicial Retirement Fund achieved 22.21% returns. These results are expected to significantly boost RSA’s funding levels over the next five years, highlighting a banner year for the pension fund serving Alabama’s public employees. A reminder, …