While the party scrambles to pick up the pieces behind President-elect Donald Trump’s victory, Harris’ allies are now expressing frustration over Biden’s last-minute decision to step away from a second term. Prior to July 2024, when he stepped down, supporters and voters expressed concerns about his age, issues with post-pandemic inflation, and his handling of the U.S.-Mexico border. Democratic allies like former presidential hopeful Andrew Yang said Harris would have won if Biden had stepped aside a long time ago. “The biggest onus of this loss is on President Biden,” Yang said.
“If he had stepped down in January instead of July, we may be in a very different place.”
Thom Reilly, co-director of the Center for an Independent and Sustainable Democracy at Arizona State University, feels that Biden’s achievements and legacy may be tarnished following Trump’s reelection. The 46th president of the United States will leave the White House in January 2025, having led the country out of a pandemic and inciting international support for Ukraine following Russia’s invasion.
The seasoned lawmaker also passed a $1 trillion infrastructure bill that will affect communities for many years. However, Reilly thinks people will look at Biden as the president who promised to “restore the soul of the country,” only to hand the White House keys back over to his predecessor, who beat two impeachments, a felony conviction and an insurrection organized by his supporters. “Maybe in 20 or 30 years, history will remember Biden for some of these achievements,” Reilly expressed.
“But in the shorter term, I don’t know if he escapes the legacy of being the president who beat Donald Trump only to usher in another Donald Trump administration four years later.”
Following his 2024 victory, Trump pledged to make radical changes to the federal government and roll back several policies instituted by the Biden-Harris administration.
“Why did Joe Biden hold on for as long as he did? He should have not concealed his (health) and dropped out a lot sooner,” one Democratic donor said, according to Reuters.
Prior to dropping out, the 81-year-old boldly professed – in private – that he was the “only Democrat who could beat Trump” and then promised publicly that he was fit to be president for another four years. A Democratic official even placed blame on Biden’s inner circle for “malpractice,” claiming “no one would tell him ‘no.’”
“So it’s Joe, but also Joe’s core apparatus. Stunning and well-documented chickens coming home to roost,” the official said.
Black Women Trading In ‘Hope ‘For’ Hurt’ After Election, Van Jones Says
Jones described the upcoming Trump presidency as a 'nightmare.'
CNN political analyst Van Jones says that Black women are “hurting” over the presidential election.
On Wednesday morning, as the growing reality of a Donald Trump presidency emerged, Jones discussed the election’s potential impact on African American women.
“There are African American women who know a little bit about being talked down to and know a little bit about having their economic dreams crushed, who tried to dream a big dream over the past couple of months,” said he political analyst, who appeared to be on the verge of tears. “And tonight, they’re trading in a lot of hope for a lot of hurt.”
He continued, “They were hoping that maybe this time. one of their own could be seen as worthy and once again, they are facing rejection. And that hurts. They thought that tomorrow morning they were going to walk out with their shoulders back a little bit, they’d be able to breathe for the first time and feel like they belong someplace. They did everything that they knew how to do, and it’s going to be harder than it should be tomorrow for them to hold their heads up.”
The ex-advisor to former president Barack Obama said that other marginalized Americans, including immigrants, will feel the negative effects of an impending Trump presidency.
“If you’re a parent of a trans kid, your child’s face was used as a springboard to power for somebody. That doesn’t feel good,” Jones said. “It’s people who woke up this morning with a dream and are going to bed with a nightmare. Those people deserve to be respected and held, and talked to. Those are the people who are gonna pay the price for whatever Donald Trump is going to do.”
Ninety-two percent of Black women voted for Kamala Harris, according to CNN exit polls.
VP Kamala Harris’ Ascension And Derailment To The White House Is The Tale Of Many Black Women, Including Myself
Dr. Dionne Mahaffey reflects on VP Kamala Harris’ derailed journey to the White House.
Written by Dr. Dionne Mahaffey
My heart feels heavy. My mind races, and I can’t help but think about what this new era under Donald Trump means for me—and for women who look like me, and who wanted Vice President Kamala Harris to win, not just for her policies, her competence, or her historic significance. We wanted her to win because, as a Black woman, her presence at the helm would have been a powerful statement to a country that so often seems unwilling to recognize our strength, talent, and humanity.
Madame Harris’s candidacy was deeply personal. Black women identified with her story, her rise, her spirit. She was raised in a single-mother household, just as I was. She is my sorority sister. I felt hope in the idea that for the first time a Black woman was on the brink of true power, no longer just adjacent to it. She represented all the things we’re so often told we can’t be: brilliant, unapologetically ambitious, compassionate, yet fiercely independent. Her presence defied the “angry Black woman” trope, and her resilience reminded us of the countless ways Black women have long been pillars of American progress.
But that dream feels deferred now. Trump’s victory brings back a familiar fear. His administration has always signaled disregard for racial equity and women’s rights. We’ve seen what happens when hard-won protections are dismantled: voting rights compromised, policing becomes more aggressive, healthcare access limited, and social justice sidelined. As a Black woman, these shifts are not abstract political moves; they are matters of survival and dignity. The rhetoric that surrounds us is a direct reflection of how safe, valued, or vulnerable we feel in our own country.
With Trump’s win comes the specter of Project 2025—a conservative roadmap that could severely restrict civil rights, healthcare access, and economic resources, particularly for Black Americans. The proposed cuts and restructuring of healthcare, housing, and education are poised to roll back years of progress and disproportionately harm marginalized communities. In my work, I see the potential impact on Black-owned businesses, which already face huge hurdles in accessing capital. My clients—small business owners who have poured everything into their ventures—now worry about survival in an economy that could sideline them even further. Their fears echo my own, highlighting the reality we know all too well: for us, progress is never linear, and it is certainly not guaranteed.
Twice As Good
But she didn’t win. Black women, we know, often have to be twice as good to get half as far. Instead, America chose a felon over an experienced Black woman, and that stings. His win triggered memories from my own career, when I started my first job in tech over 30 years ago. I earned an impressive six-figure salary, only to learn that my white male counterpart made $30,000 more than I did. I had a degree; he didn’t. When I got promoted to manager, he was promoted to director, and eventually, the company paid for his education, while I funded my MBA on my own. That was when I first understood how much white men are coddled and given opportunities to excel that Black women are simply expected to earn.
Kamala was more than qualified—13 years as a prosecutor, first Black and South Asian woman elected district attorney in California, first Black and South Asian woman in the U.S. Senate, and first woman of color to serve as Vice President. In contrast, Trump is a convicted felon, born with every privilege, who paid someone to take his SATs, declared bankruptcy six times, was adjudicated guilty of sexual assault, incited a deadly insurrection, and denied the 2020 presidential election results. Yet, somehow, he won.
For Black Americans, Trump’s return to office is more than symbolic. The reality of a new Trump presidency feels like a looming threat. Project 2025 plans to dismantle the very civil rights protections, healthcare access, and economic opportunities our communities fought to secure. For those of us who have historically been forced to work twice as hard to achieve half as much, the stakes couldn’t feel higher.
Prioritizing Peace
The implications of this election aren’t just political—they’re deeply personal. As a therapist, I’ve seen firsthand how election anxiety has impacted my clients. Post-election, this strain will only deepen. Many are grappling with fears about their future safety, rights, and dignity in a climate where they feel increasingly unheard and unseen. Counseling clients through these times is challenging, especially knowing they’ll face renewed threats to their mental health and well-being. They carry the weight of this country’s instability, and sometimes, that weight is more than anyone should have to bear.
In helping others, I also have to be mindful of my own mental health. It’s hard to support others when your own spirit is weary, when their fears reflect your own. Self-care isn’t just a buzzword for me right now—it’s a necessity. I remind myself daily that I can’t pour from an empty cup; to serve my clients and my community, I have to make room to rest, recharge, and find peace within myself.
Protecting our peace in times like these requires intention and care. It begins with tuning out the noise—setting boundaries around news to stay informed without letting anxiety creep in. Community is a balm, a reminder that we’re in this together. Leaning into friends, family, and networks keeps us grounded and resilient. Mindfulness practices, like a few minutes of quiet reflection or deep breathing, help reclaim calm amid the stress. Taking small actions, volunteering, supporting causes that matter, brings back a sense of control and purpose.
And Still We Rise
As I reflect on this moment, I remember that Black women have faced adversity for generations and continue to rise. Kamala Harris’s candidacy, no matter the outcome, ignited something within us—a determination to claim our spaces, build our communities, and champion justice. The fight for equity and progress doesn’t end with one election; it’s a lifelong journey, and we are uniquely equipped to navigate it.
So today, I hold space for my disappointment. But tomorrow, like all the Black women who know that our worth, power, and stories are greater than any one person or election, I’ll get back to work. We will keep pushing forward, not just for ourselves but for the generations who will look back on this moment and know that we never gave up. Together, we embody resilience, and together, we will rise.
Dionne Mahaffey, Psy.D, is an Atlanta-based business-psychologist, psychotherapist, tech entrepreneur, and professor.
Young Thug Encourages Law Students To Become Defense Attorneys
The rapper spoke to students at Emory Law School.
Fresh out of prison from the YSL RICO case, Atlanta recording artist Young Thug passed on some advice to law students, thanks to his attorney Brian Steel.
Steel, who was speaking to students at Emory Law School in Atlanta, brought Young Thug into the conversation via FaceTime. Thug advised the future lawyers to become part of the defense to help people like himself instead of working for district attorney’s offices.
A video clip shows Steel holding up his phone while the rapper spoke directly to the students. The footage started to circulate on Nov. 6.
“We had a situation that was daunting towards my life and I think that the justice system could be very bad,” Young Thug said, according to AllHipHop. “Sometimes it could be bad. And you got to always look at it like they’re there to put us in prison and you guys are here to keep us from prison. And Brian still is the best person possible. He’s very pedagogical and he should be a professor.”
The “Lifestyle” rapper then made his pitch to the aspiring legal eagles.
“I think you guys should become lawyers. I think it’s very important to help people out of the situations that they’re in the best you can. I mean, what side you want to be on. You want to put people in prison for mistakes because everybody makes mistakes, we’re human and everybody on this phone, everybody in this classroom, you always need to know that you want one mistake away.” Young Thug said.
The rapper gave his defense attorney props for helping him get out of prison and then acknowledged that attorneys and doctors are the “greatest things” because they help do “God’s work” for the people.
Russell Simmons Accused Of Using Indonesian Retirement To Dodge Sexual Assault Lawsuit In U.S.
Simmons sold his last U.S. property in 2021 and now resides permanently in Bali, according to Jane Doe.
Russell Simmons is being called out by one of his accusers who thinks he only relocated to Bali, Indonesia, to avoid accountability for his sexual assault lawsuit in the U.S.
A former Def Jam employee who sued the label’s founder on claims that he raped her inside his New York City apartment in the mid-’90s recently filed legal documents obtained by Rolling Stone.
In the Nov. 1 filing, she requests that a judge dismiss Simmons’ claim that he cannot be sued in New York due to his status as a “stateless” U.S. citizen, now “retired” in Indonesia on a retirement visa granted by Indonesian authorities.
“Defendant is running from the court’s jurisdiction to avoid taking accountability for his actions,” the new filing states.
Jane Doe argues that the court should have “serious doubt” about the truthfulness of Simmons’ Oct. 18 declaration, which claims that he sold his last U.S. property in 2021 and now resides permanently in Bali.
She references a deposition Simmons gave in September 2023, where he admitted to actively working and maintaining ties to New York through a Manhattan apartment he leases for his children, as well as office space he keeps for his company, Russell Simmons TV (RSTV, Inc.), in Midtown Manhattan. The plaintiff asserts that an investigation showed that Simmons has an ownership stake in the property.
“He testified that he is building a business empire and needs a partner for his current projects but is thwarted in his active efforts in Dubai and Singapore because of the morality clauses those countries require,” her new filing states.
She also highlights Simmons’ other U.S. business connections, including his ownership of the Gdas Bali Health and Wellness Resort in Indonesia, which he co-owns with American investors, as well as his role as a figurehead for the global media company Gushcloud. Jane Doe points to Simmons’ ongoing business activities as evidence suggesting he may be lying about his retirement claims.
“Actively building an empire means that defendant is ineligible for a retirement visa in Indonesia,” the filing states. “Any purported retirement visa requires recertification every few years that one is, in fact, retired. Building an empire and being retired are mutually exclusive.”
While Simmons claims to have lived solely in Indonesia since 2018, Jane Doe cites an interview he did with AllHipHop earlier this year where he denounced claims of fleeing the country to avoid the multiple women accusing him of sexual assault.
“People saying that I somehow can’t come home when I’m there all the time wears on you,” Simmons said in May. “It wears on me after a while to keep hearing the same narrative, which is false. I’m always in LA, I’m always in New York and Miami.”
The lawsuit names Jane Doe as one of more than 20 women who have accused Simmons of sexual assault or harassment, allegations he continues to deny by citing nine lie detector tests he claims to have passed, though their existence remains unverified outside of the entrepreneur’s own assertion.
Boosie Badazz Asks Donald Trump To Pardon Gun Charges
The controversial recording artist jumps immediately to ask the future president to help him out
Not even 48 hours after Donald Trump was elected as the next President of the United States, rapper Boosie Badazz pleaded to the convicted felon to give him a pardon on the his gun charges.
The recording artist, who hails from Louisiana, took to social media to make a plea to the future 47th President to pardon him for a gun conviction he received earlier this year. He stated that, as a non-violent felon, he should not have been charged with a 922G. According to ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives), “The Gun Control Act (GCA), codified at 18 U.S.C. § 922(g), makes it unlawful for certain categories of persons to ship, transport, receive, or possess firearms or ammunition, to include any person convicted in any court of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year.”
In his request to Trump, Boosie also told him he wanted to sit with him to discuss giving police immunity. He expressed that doing so would “motivate” police officers to commit deadly crimes.
@realDonaldTrump CAN U PARDON ME ON MY FED CASE ? i’m a NON VIOLENT FELON. THE COURTS RULED THAT a NON VIOLENT CANNOT BE CHARGED WITH A 922g .THE JUDGE DISMISSED MY CASE BUT THE RULING HAS BEEN APPEALED‼️ SO ONCE AGAIN I WAS INDICTED IM FIGHTING THIS CASE ‼️THIS IS THE EXACT CASE…
The rapper was recently sued in Texas when a limo company accused him of using their service and skipping out on paying the bill. According to KXAN, Boosie was facing a charge of theft of service greater than or equal to $2,500 and less than $30,000 in Travis County, Texas. The charge was filed on Aug. 29, stating that he used the limo service between June 5 and June 7. On Sept. 20, a summons was issued for Boosie to appear in court for a pre-trial hearing.
In an filed affidavit, the Austin-based company stated that the service was provided to Boosie and company. The rapper employed the limo service and they claimed the “Wipe Me Down” rapper told them he would pay the bill in advance, but he never did. The affidavit also said that the driver inquired about the payment to Boosie and his manager several times but received nothing. An invoice of $8,800 was eventually sent to the rapper.
Chauncy Glover, Award-Winning Journalist, Unexpectedly Dies At 39
Chauncy Glover, an Emmy-award winning journalist and news anchor for CBS affiliate KCAL, died unexpectedly.
Chauncy Glover, an Emmy-Award winning journalist and news anchor for CBS affiliate KCAL, died unexpectedly on Nov. 5, according to a statement released by his family.
According to CBS News, Glover joined the KCAL newsroom in October 2023 after spending eight years as an anchor at Houston’s KTRC-13 station, an ABC affiliate.
There, Glover became the first Black male main evening host in the station’s history. Glover’s family told the outlet that broadcast journalism was a lifelong passion of his, going back to when he was just five years old.
According to the family’s prepared statement, “We, Sherry and Robert Glover, along with Chauncy’s beloved family, are devastated by the unimaginable loss of our beloved Chauncy,” the Glover family wrote. “He was more than a son and brother—he was a beacon of light in our lives and a true hero to his community.”
Their statement continued, “Chauncy’s compassion and dedication to helping others, especially through the Chauncy Glover Project, changed countless lives and inspired so many young men to pursue their dreams. His talent, warmth, and vision left an imprint on everyone who knew him, and the world is dimmer without him.”
According to CBS News, Glover started the Chauncy Glover Project after he saw a teenager die on the street when he was working for Detroit’s WDIV station.
Glover’s passion project was aimed at helping teenage boys to develop into upstanding men, with emphasis on dressing for success, manhood, etiquette, college readiness, public speaking, and community service.
Glover moved the program to Houston once he was hired by ABC-13, and to date, Glover’s program has helped send over 350 Black and other boys of color to college and has mentored over 1,000 young men.
The family asked for privacy in the close of their statement, and expressed they found comfort in the sympathy they received from those who knew and loved their son.
“While we grieve this profound loss, we are comforted by the outpouring of love and memories shared by those who knew Chauncy as the passionate, gifted soul he was,” the family wrote. “We kindly ask for privacy as we mourn and honor his incredible legacy. He was taken from us far too soon, but his impact will be felt forever.”
The groups can be heard on a video circulating on social media chanting “Donald Trump, you fascist clown” as they walked past the Trump International Hotel and Tower in downtown Chicago.
In their hands were banners, including ones that read “End the Trump Era” and “Trump Out!”
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators protest Donald Trump across downtown Chicago’s main artery. pic.twitter.com/dFaQmNVPCD
Other demonstrators continued protests of the country’s continued support of Israel’s war in Gaza, which has been labeled the “racist reactionary agenda” of Trump’s new administration. On the campaign trail, Trump repeatedly put pressure on Israel to “finish the job” in Gaza and claimed promises to bring peace to the region.
Signs reading “Fascism—Not Welcome in Philly” were seen, continuing with, “The outcome to the vote is extremely concerning.” Other protestors voiced their issues of the outcome of the election out loud.
“I will let people know that racism is not acceptable. Sexism, homophobia, fascism, are not acceptable in this country,” a demonstrator named Isabel said. “I am upset and sad, I am terrified. I think a lot of people are.”
In San Jose, California, protestors issued concerns over immigration. Alongside a busy intersection, signs were being held up reading “legalization for all! no border militarization.” The crowds, organized by a coalition of groups including Silicon Valley Immigration Committee, Legalization for All, and San Jose Against War, were heard chanting “no more deportations.”
“The people didn’t show up for Kamala and what President Biden had done the last four years,” Nickolas Saba said in a speech to the protesters. “We better get organized.”
During his campaign, Trump was candid about his feelings toward immigration, vowing to launch the largest deportation program in U.S. history, reinstitute his first-term policies like “Remain in Mexico,” and place severe limitations on banning entry of people from certain majority-Muslim nations.
The U.S. dollar took a dip on Nov. 5 as swarms of American voters took to the polls to cast their ballots.
The dollar declined even as betting markets like PredictIt and Polymarket indicated rising odds of Trump winning the presidency, Reuters reports. With Donald Trump returning to the White House with a Republican-led House and Senate, extreme currency moves are expected.
Trump’s policies on immigration and tariffs are expected to drive inflation, while tax cuts for the wealthy and deregulation could spur growth, pushing longer-dated Treasury yields and the dollar higher.
In contrast, a Democratic victory was anticipated to weaken the dollar as traders unwind bets on Trump, with investors concerned about the economic impact of higher taxes on the wealthy and stricter business regulations.
“It’s possible we’re seeing a bit of position-squaring…my sense is that people are cautious,” said Steve Englander, head of global G10 FX research and North America macro strategy at Standard Chartered Bank’s New York branch.
“Right now the mood seems to be going in favor of Trump,” Englander said. “On the other hand, for most of October and into the beginning of November, the Trump trades were stronger dollar and higher yields.”
Globally, Trump’s win could lead to weakness in the euro, Mexican peso, and Chinese yuan, as these regions may face new tariffs under his administration. Bitcoin rose 2.76% to $68,928, with Trump’s views seen as more favorable toward cryptocurrencies. Traders are closely watching the Federal Reserve’s two-day meeting, which concludes Thursday, with expectations that the U.S. central bank will lower rates by 25 basis points.
Elsewhere, data released on Tuesday revealed that the U.S. services sector reached its highest level in over two years in October, with a strong rebound in employment. This suggests that the near halt in job growth last month was an aberration.
Lucy McBath Reclaims North Atlanta’s 6th District Seat
McBath opposed Republican plans to defund Planned Parenthood for the Georgia community.
U.S. Democratic Rep. Lucy McBath is back in the seat for North Atlanta’s 6th congressional district after she defeated Republican Jeff Criswell in the 2024 election.
According to the Georgia House District 6 election results for 2024, NBC News polls showed McBath reigned victorious with nearly 75% of the state’s votes. The politician’s reelection to the seat she represented from 2019 to 2022 follows her forced redistricting to the 7th district in 2022. In her current seat, the congresswoman covers areas of metro Atlanta’s northern suburbs, which includes Forsyth, Dawson, and portions of Cobb, Fulton, Gwinnett, and Cherokee counties.
In 2023, McBath was targeted by Republicans with a proposal for a court-ordered new Black majority district, which BLACK ENTERPRISE previously noted, threatened a complete elimination of her district. Georgia Republicans went after McBath’s position in a 2021 district separation. The two newly created areas were majority Democratic and Republican. McBath, however, won a primary in the majority Democratic area against Democratic incumbent Carolyn Bordeaux the next year in 2022.
The Congresswoman has placed her focus on issues including LGBTQ+ and women’s rights, infrastructure, and money in politics. A campaign website for the Democrat details her commitment to protect LGBTQ+ communities by passing non-discriminatory legislation. Her fight for equality and justice expands to the community of women in her district where she continues to fight for affordable and quality healthcare. As a mother and a breast cancer survivor, McBath opposed Republican plans to defund Planned Parenthood for the Georgia community. Additionally, McBath was urged to tackle issues like gun violence after her son was shot and killed at a gas station in Jacksonville, Florida, in 2012. Seeing no help from elected leaders at the time prompted her to dedicate her life to making American communities safe. She ran for Congress following the shooting in Parkland, Florida, and sponsored gun safety legislation and other measures, which passed the House, including universal background checks for all gun sales and Red Flag Laws.
