Donald Trump, anti-white racism, DEI
by Daniel Johnson

January 11, 2024

Trump Says He Hopes Economy Crashes ‘During This Next 12 Months’

The American economy ended 2023 ahead of economists' predictions, posting good numbers across a number of economic metrics, including inflation, job growth, and unemployment.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said that he hopes that whatever downturn the economy takes, he would prefer that it happens before he takes office. While being interviewed by Lou Dobbs on Lindell TV, Trump drew parallels to the presidency of Herbert Hoover, suggesting that the current economic stability is tenuous and sustained merely by the previous administration’s efforts, The Hill reported. “We have an economy that’s so fragile, and the only reason it’s running now is it’s running off the fumes of what we did,” Trump said. “It’s just running off the fumes.”

Trump also briefly mentioned that he expects the markets to crash, saying, “And when there’s a crash — I hope it’s going to be during this next 12 months because I don’t want to be Herbert Hoover. The one president I just don’t want to be, Herbert Hoover.”

In December, President Joe Biden referred to Trump at a campaign reception in Boston, comparing him to Hoover while correcting Trump’s revised version of events. Biden told the crowd gathered at the Westin Boston Seaport District Hotel, “Now, for the reason that I’m here today, specifically, is to thank you all. You know, when I came to office, the pandemic was raging, and the economy was reeling. In the four years Donald Trump was president — and he’s the only president other than Herbert Hoover who actually lost jobs in a four-year period. And that’s why I often re- — think of him as Donald ‘Herbert Hoover’ Trump.”

The American economy ended 2023 ahead of economists’ predictions, posting good numbers across several economic metrics, including inflation, job growth, and unemployment. During a Jan. 5 interview with CNN, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen described the economic conditions, explaining, “What we’re seeing now I think we can describe as a soft landing, and my hope is that it will continue.”

Yellen gave credit for the strong economic performance to the work ethic of the American people but also praised the incentives created by President Biden. “The American people did it,” Yellen said. “The American people go to work every day, participate in the labor market, form new businesses. But President Biden has tried to create incentives that give Americans the tools they need to help this economy grow.”

Biden’s three key pieces of policy, the Build Back Better Regional Challenge, the CHIPS and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act, form the bedrock of his economic philosophy or “Bidenomics,” essentially working counter to the trickle-down economic theory espoused by former President Ronald Reagan. Instead of placing resources at the top, Biden says his economic vision is focused on building from the bottom and middle of the economic pyramid. 

RELATED CONTENT: President Biden Takes Credit For Prompting Financial Boom For Black-Owned Small Businesses This Year

Charlamagne Tha God, NBA YoungBoy, fatherhood, the breakfast club, jay-z
by Rafael Pena

January 11, 2024

Charlamagne Tha God Critiques NBA YoungBoy’s Take On Fatherhood

Despite having 11 children by age 24, NBA YoungBoy confessed to not prioritizing fatherhood, sparking criticism from Charlamagne tha God.

Despite having 11 children by age 24, NBA YoungBoy confessed to not prioritizing fatherhood, sparking criticism from Charlamagne Tha God. The radio host, on Jan. 10’s “Donkey of the Day” segment, expressed his dismay over YoungBoy’s comments, viewing them as perpetuating stereotypes about Black fathers.

In a conversation with Bootleg Kev, YoungBoy admitted to projecting a false image of being a family man solely for the interview. Charlamagne, disapproving of the rapper’s nonchalant attitude toward fatherhood, likened it to NBA star Nikola Jokic’s approach to being an international sensation, emphasizing the incompatibility of lukewarm involvement in parenting.

Charlamagne emphasized the need for YoungBoy to embrace Jay-Z’s perspective on family, referencing lyrics from the song “Family Feud,” which highlight the correlation between wealth and responsible fatherhood: “A man that don’t take care of his family can’t be rich.”

Charlamagne urged the rapper to seize this teachable moment. He sees it as an opportunity for YoungBoy to reconsider his stance on fatherhood and make a positive change in his children’s lives.

Besides his children, YounBoy has been dealing with legal matters.

In December 2023, Judge Shelly Dick granted YoungBoy some flexibility from his restricted house arrest, according to The Advocate. The rapper, whose real name is Kentrell Gaulden, was arrested on federal gun charges in September 2020 and has been confined to his Salt Lake City, Utah, estate since while he awaits trial.

He is now allowed to engage in pre-approved mental health and social services programs under the supervision of his bond officials at the U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services Office. However, the judge rejected the request for a similar provision concerning “employee-related activities.”

The judge highlighted NBA YoungBoy’s expressed desire not to burden the court with frequent requests related to his employment. Still, Dick, in her ruling on Jan. 8, expressed concerns about the vague nature of the request. Considering YoungBoy’s history, marked by violent incidents involving him and those around him, she emphasized the potential threat to his safety posed by the proposed modification.

While the judge granted limited leeway for mental health programs and social services, she made it clear that YoungBoy can continue seeking court approval for employment-related activities until the commencement of the trial.

RELATED CONTENT: Yaya Mayweather Sentenced For Stabbing Woman At NBA YoungBoy’s Home

Michelle Obama, former first lady, election, presidential, 2024
by Sharelle Burt

January 11, 2024

What Keeps Michelle Obama Up At Night? The Results Of The 2024 Presidential Election

We're worried too, Michelle....we're worried too....

Former first lady Michelle Obama isn’t prepared for the 2024 presidential election.

On Jay Shetty’s On Purpose, Obama opened up about what keeps her up at night. Besides everyday horrors, she says the upcoming election results have her “terrified,” USA Today reports. “Our leaders matter. Who we select, who speaks for us, who holds that bully pulpit – it affects us in ways that sometimes I think people take for granted,” she told Shetty.

“I am terrified about what could possibly happen.”

Her fear stems from the lack of voters’ trust, those who feel their vote doesn’t matter.

“The fact that people think that government—’eh, does it really even do anything?’—and I’m like, ‘Oh my God, does the government do everything for us, and we cannot take this democracy for granted,'” she said. “And I worry sometimes that we do. Those are the things that keep me up.”

Before touching on other sensitive topics like life after the White House and her marriage to Barack Obama, the mom of two took a jab at her husband’s predecessor, Donald Trump.

Without naming names, she took a dive into some of the pending investigations and charges “politicians” are facing, alluding that given the person, the process isn’t the same.

“The bars are different for people in life. That I’ve learned,” Obama said, according to Business Insider.

“Other people can be indicted a bunch of times and still run for office. Black men can’t. You just learn to be good. And in the end, you benefit from that extra resilience.”

The “tone and tenor” of leadership is something else she is concerned with.

“We can’t just say what the first thing that comes to our minds,” she told Sherry. “That is not authentic to me. That’s childish, and we see childish leadership right before us. What that looks like and how that feels, where somebody is just base, and vulgar and cynical in a leadership position.”

Obama also advised people to stop looking at her and her husband as the ideal couple, saying they have made a lot of mistakes. “I don’t want people looking at me and Barack like hashtag couple goals and not know that no, no, there are some broken things that happen even in the best of marriages,” she said.

Watch the full episode on YouTube.

students evacuated, Brooklyn, James Madison High School, Vernikov, New York City
by Rafael Pena

January 11, 2024

NYC Students Removed From High School To Accommodate 2,000 Migrants

New York City officials evacuated students from a Brooklyn high school to accommodate the relocation of nearly 2,000 migrants.

Daily Mail reports that New York City officials evacuated students from a Brooklyn high school to accommodate the relocation of nearly 2,000 migrants from Floyd Bennett Field in anticipation of a storm. Republican Councilwoman Inna Vernikov criticized the situation, sharing a video that showed migrants entering James Madison High School without undergoing the usual facial recognition scan the students receive.

City Hall referred to the migrants as “guests” and called it a temporary stay. The evacuation commenced before 5 p.m. on Jan. 10, and prompted NYC school officials to announce remote classes for the evacuated students.

Local residents expressed frustration and skepticism, with one resident, identified as Rob, calling it a “litmus test” and predicting an extended stay through the summer. Another woman confronted the buses, unhappy over the decision to displace students and the impact it could have on their education.

The decision to relocate migrants was justified by City Hall, citing an updated forecast predicting severe weather conditions with winds exceeding 70 mph.

A statement from City Hall read, “The health and safety of migrants in our care is always a top priority, which is why we are currently overseeing the relocation of 1,900 guests from the humanitarian emergency response and relief center at Floyd Bennett Field due to an updated forecast with increased wind speeds estimated to be at over 70 MPH tonight.”

Elon Musk weighed in on the situation, posting a video and warning about the consequences of running out of accommodations, which could cause a strain on schools and even people’s homes.

Republican Councilwoman Joann Ariola criticized Mayor Adams’ handling of the migrant crisis, emphasizing her previous warnings about potential issues at the Floyd Bennett shelter.

The evacuation coincides with Adams’ plan to alleviate pressure on the city’s shelter system by imposing a 60-day limit on shelter stays for migrant families. The first batch of families left a midtown Manhattan hotel as part of this strategy, according to Daily Mail.

Mayor Adams, a Democrat, has repeatedly sought federal funding to address the strain on city resources caused by the influx of migrants. He estimates the city will spend $12 billion over the next three years to manage the crisis, which could lead to proposed budget cuts in departments including the NYPD and education.

Adams’ plea for additional resources from the federal government continues to face challenges, leaving the city to grapple with the ongoing complexities of the migrant crisis.

RELATED CONTENT: Suburbs Of New York And Chicago Pump The Brakes On Migrant Buses

Pro-Palestinian protesters, NYC, traffic, bridges
by Daniel Johnson

January 11, 2024

Hundreds Arrested, Tempers Flare After NYC Pro-Palestine Protests Block Bridges

Traffic was disrupted for nearly two hours. One Black driver confronted the protestors about blocking the bridges.

On Jan 8., protests against the Israeli bombing of Palestinians in Gaza led to an altercation between a Black man and several protestors blocking the Williamsburg Bridge in New York City.

Gothamist reports that the protest was a collaborative effort between several advocacy groups, including the Palestinian Youth Movement, Jewish Voice for Peace, and the Palestine Right to Return Coalition. In addition to blocking the Williamsburg Bridge, the Brooklyn Bridge, Manhattan Bridge, and Holland Tunnel were all shut down by protestors for over an hour.

Traffic had been halted by around 9:30 a.m. and would not resume until approximately 11:15 a.m., when officers arrested protestors at the protest sites and traffic began to flow freely. According to the NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Public Information, Tarik Sheppard, the NYPD arrested 216 people and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey arrested 109 people. 

Like Black Lives Matter protests, which used the same tactic of disruption of traffic, the protestors called for an end to airstrikes in Gaza and raids by the Israeli military. Israel’s offensive in Palestine has killed almost 23,000 Palestinians. Many of those people are civilians.

Mon Mohapatra, a protestor at the Brooklyn Bridge, told Gothamist, “The point is disruption. We were trying to cause gridlock and traffic back-ups throughout downtown Manhattan at the same time. We were trying to scale up and we were trying to show that we’re a united front for Palestine…until there’s a permanent ceasefire.”

Other New Yorkers expressed frustration with the tactic of the protests, getting out of their vehicles to complain both to police and protestors as well as Gothamist.

Angel Morel, a 50-year-old sanitation worker, told the outlet, complained that his job had been placed in jeopardy after he had waited nearly an hour. “The citizens always pay at the end,” he said.

According to Reuters, New York Mayor Eric Adams agreed with the motorists who were upset with the protestors.

“The goal is to peacefully protest without doing major disruption to the city, some people are not just driving to and from, across our bridges to go to their place of employment, some of them are dealing with some real emergency-type issues,” he said.

Some demonstrators drew parallels between the Israel Defense Forces, the New York Police Department, and the Ku Klux Klan, chanting “NYPD, KKK, IDF they’re all the same,” while others carried banners reading “Lift the Siege on Gaza,” “Ceasefire Now,” and “End the occupation.”

“The siege on Gaza needs to end and I’m ready to put my body on the line to end it,” one protestor was heard saying on video as she was led away from the scene by a police officer, her hands behind her back. 

RELATED CONTENT: Young Black Voters Hesitant On Biden Reelection Due To Lack Of Palestine Support

Idris Elba Takes A Stand Against Knife Violence In The UK With Chilling New Campaign
by Sharelle Burt

January 11, 2024

Idris Elba Takes A Stand Against Knife Violence In The UK With Chilling New Campaign

This is how you use your platform for change!

Award-winning British actor Idris Elba is fighting against violent knife crimes, specifically among the youth, in a new eye-opening campaign.

Created by the organization Don’t Stop Your Future (DSYF), the campaign is designed to amplify the “voices of marginalized communities and those most affected by knife crime.” DSYF’s website features a touching video of victims before a music video for Elba’s song, “Knives Down,” is played.

To launch the campaign, Elba formed a protest in London’s Parliament Square on Dec. 7. As as government leaders made their way into work, protesters stood in front of rows of neatly folded clothes representing the children who lost their lives to knife violence in 2023. 

Posting images on Twitter, Elba, a father of two, called on the British government to take action so that no more families suffer from the results of zombie knife and machete violence.

“Today, I’m calling on the government for change. Serious youth violence is rising across the country, meaning that hundreds of promising lives are being cut short,” Elba wrote. “Every day, the feeling of helplessness in us parents grows bigger and bigger. The government promised to ban zombie knives and machetes. We need this promise delivered.”

Unlike the United States, the United Kingdom has strict gun control laws in place. However, UK stats show that four in 10 homicides involve a knife or sharp object, according to ABC News. According to statistics, 21 teenagers were killed in 2023, 18 stabbed to death. A ban on machetes and knives that look threatening was proposed in August 2023 but has yet to be approved by Parliament. 

Several lives have been claimed since then. 

In September 2023, 15-year-old Elianne Andam was stabbed to death by her friend’s ex-boyfriend on their way to school in South London. The victim reportedly stepped in between the former couple to break up a scuffle when the scorned lover allegedly pulled out a black, thin knife and put it through Andam’s neck. Alfie Lewis, 16, was killed in November 2023, and 16-year-old Harry Pitman died from fatal stab wounds while celebrating New Year’s Eve at Primrose Hill in London.

As concern over knife crime increases, and especially with school back in session, Elba thinks this is the right time to speak up.

“I can’t stay silent as more young lives are lost to these brutal and heartless crimes,” Elba said. “As school returns, too many young people will not be joining their classmates, and too many grieving families have lost a young person they love in recent years.”

schools on wheels, The Weeknd, Abel Tesfaye
by Rafael Pena

January 11, 2024

The Weeknd Partners With School On Wheels To Aid 1,000 Homeless Students In Los Angeles

The Weeknd has partnered with School on Wheels to support over 1,000 homeless students in Los Angeles as they conclude the school year.

Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye is extending his philanthropic efforts to support over 1,000 homeless students in Los Angeles as they conclude the school year. Partnering with the L.A.-based nonprofit organization School on Wheels, the four-time Grammy winner aims to address the educational challenges exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tesfaye’s generous donation to School on Wheels will facilitate tutoring services, literacy tools, and connections to post-high school mentorship opportunities through the BUS (Believe-Understand-Succeed) program. Additionally, the initiative will provide technology assistance, including Chromebooks and other laptops, internet access, and specialized software programs such as Renaissance Star Assessments, MyOn, and Freckle. These tools aim to enhance learning skills and tailor the curriculum to meet the individual educational needs of the students of Los Angeles.

This philanthropic endeavor aligns with Tesfaye’s commitment to positively impact communities. In recent years, he has made significant donations to charitable organizations in Ethiopia and Lebanon. Furthermore, he contributed $1 million to support MusiCares and COVID relief for hospital workers in his native province of Ontario. Also, through his XO Humanitarian Fund, he directed $2.5 million to Gaza, a contribution set to furnish over four million meals for those impacted by the conflict. Collaborating with the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) and holding the title of Goodwill Ambassador since October 2021, The Weeknd’s initiative is making a substantial impact. The recent donation ensures that more than 173,000 Palestinians receive food assistance for two weeks. With a total raised amount of $5 million, The Weeknd’s fund is actively working to provide aid and relief to individuals facing challenges in accessing regular meals.

Unhoused students faced disproportionate setbacks during the pandemic, resulting in a significant decline in academic progress. The release states, “The pandemic erased two decades of progress in math and reading, and researchers have documented that the poverty rate is the best predictor of the extent of that learning loss.”

By partnering with School on Wheels, Tesfaye seeks to empower homeless students, recognizing the importance of providing them with resources and support to overcome the challenges exacerbated by the pandemic. The initiative reflects his ongoing dedication to leveraging his platform for meaningful contributions and making a tangible difference in the lives of those facing adversity.

Sacramento, NAACP, slave, father, Decker, Jennifer,Kentucky, state representative
by Daniel Johnson

January 11, 2024

Sacramento NAACP Leaders Face Financial Impropriety Allegations In County Food Delivery Program

Greater Sacramento NAACP President Betty Williams and Sacramento NAACP branch education chair Salena Pryor have been suspended.

NAACP leaders in Sacramento are suspected of using personal businesses to manage a county-sponsored food delivery program that operated from March 2022 to June 2023.

The Sacramento Bee obtained financial filings that appear to indicate that the currently suspended Greater Sacramento NAACP President Betty Williams and the Sacramento NAACP branch education chair Salena Pryor listed their organizations as independent contractors.

As part of Sacramento County’s food insecurity pilot program, 1Solution LLC, an outreach and staffing firm run by Williams, and Pryor Consulting, run by Pryor, each were paid as part of the $2.5 million contract. 

Dine-In 2, as the program was known, was a joint project between the Sacramento NAACP and Family Meals Sacramento, which delivered meals to residents during the pandemic. According to county documents, $225,000 in salary was paid out to the two companies. Pryor and Williams also allegedly personally benefited from the arrangement. Pryor was paid $8,000 a month or $120,000 for a year’s worth of work as a business compliance officer. Williams, listed as both an executive director and an administrative assistant, received $21,600 and $48,000, respectively, for each role she was listed in. 

The national NAACP’s auditors informed Williams that they suspected her of financial impropriety a month after the Greater Sacramento NAACP submitted their annual financial report in April 2023.

By October, the NAACP suspended her membership, and in a letter, the national NAACP President/CEO Derrick Johnson wrote, “I am satisfied that your continued membership in the Association presents a danger of harm to the NAACP and the Sacramento Branch NAACP. Action is necessary to prevent or mitigate that harm.”

Some Sacramento County NAACP members have alleged that Johnson’s suspension of Williams is political in nature because she was gearing up to challenge for the California NAACP presidency in October. Some of Williams’ supporters even protested outside of a Burlingame hotel where the NAACP California/Hawaii state convention took place a few days after Williams and other members were asked to step down. 

The national NAACP is still investigating allegations of financial mismanagement while Sacramento County officials have requested records pertaining to the Dine-In 2 program while Williams was over the Sacramento County NAACP.

Additionally, some local restaurant owners have said they were frustrated with how the program was being run. One restaurant owner, who spoke to the Sacramento Bee on condition of anonymity due to an NDA signed with Williams, said that some compensation payments were late and as a result, they had questions about where the money was going. According to the restaurant owner, some owners waited months to receive checks for meals and deliveries prepared under the program. 

Bobby Bivens, a former national NAACP board member and longtime Stockton NAACP branch president, is now an administrator with Sacramento County NAACP. Bivens is one of several leadership shuffles that the Sacramento County NAACP has instituted after the departure of Williams and other leaders in the Sacramento County NAACP branch. 

Bivens told the news outlet that he is hoping for a quick resolution.

“It takes time,” he said. “The board wants to be fair to everybody. I’m looking forward to (national officials) quickly reaching a conclusion to this. What we do, no one else does. We’re not stopping the services that are being provided. We want to make sure they keep going as they’ve been going.”

RELATED CONTENT: Illinois NAACP President Asked To Resign After Calling Migrants ‘Savages’ And Accusing Them Of Rape

Steve Harvey, Katt Williams, Gary Owen, comedian,
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

January 11, 2024

Gary Owen Reveals Pay Issues While Working On Steve Harvey Talk Show

The Katt Williams effect continues with Gary Owen tossing his hat into the ring to talk about the low pay he received while working on Steve Harvey’s former talk show. 

Owen’s name was brought up during Williams’ now-viral interview with Shannon Sharpe. As a result, Owen took to his Getsome with Gary Owen podcast to open up about his time working with Harvey, whom Williams accused of stealing jokes from fellow comedian Mark Curry.

According to Owen, he made more from three episodes of Hip Hop Squares than he did, working three days a week for two weeks on Harvey’s former talk show.

“I just did Hip Hop Squares, the show DeRay [Davis] used to host, and I filmed three episodes in one day on Hip Hop Squares and made four times the money I made doing two weeks of The Steve Harvey Show,” Owen revealed in a clip shared online.

The House of Payne star went on to explain how he landed the gig on Harvey’s talk show after initially appearing as a guest to promote his reality show. Two episodes were filmed a day for the two weeks Owen served as an announcer. 

“It was only two people on the show every week. It was me and Steve,” Owen continued. “I just pretty much said, ‘Give it up for Steve Harvey,’ and I announced the guests and go back to my dressing room.”

Owen impressed Harvey enough to receive an offer to join the show as his “sidekick,” which could lead to his own “spinoff.” But Owen got a “bad feeling” once he met with one show producer who shot down all of his creative ideas.

“He’s shooting everything down. He goes, ‘No, no, we’ll handle that. We’ll handle the sketches,’” Owen recalled.

“You ain’t gon’ tell me that whatever you’re coming up with is funnier than what I’m coming up with,” he quipped.

The comedian also shared that he was only paid the SAG minimum wage and could not make a living from the income. He admitted to having to turn down comedy gigs during the week because of the demands of the low-paying gig with Harvey.

After just two weeks, Owen decided to quit. He later clarified that his confession wasn’t to bash Harvey because he knows “this is not on Steve Harvey. This is the powers that be behind the scenes.”

Stephen A. Smith, Kamala Harris,Tyreek Hill
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

January 11, 2024

Stephen A. Smith Rips Into Jason Whitlock Saying He Is ‘Worse Than A White Supremacist’

Smith dedicated approximately 45 minutes to tearing into Whitlock.

The feud between Stephen A. Smith and Jason Whitlock has reached a point where Smith’s response made Katt Williams’ recent criticism of fellow comedians pale in comparison.

Whitlock accused Smith of being the “Kevin Hart of the sports media” when he started his criticism of the Fast Take host and stated that his fellow sportscaster is an industry “plant” placed at the top by ESPN and Disney. He disses Smith’s journalistic skills and says because he lacks them, it’s easier to control him. He lambasted Smith by critiquing his book and saying, “It just doesn’t add up!”

In the episode, Whitlock accused Smith of embellishing his life story in his tome, Straight Shooter: A Memoir of Second Chances and First Takes.

The post sent Smith into such a tizzy that he dedicated approximately 45 minutes to tearing into the “fat bastard.” He started his show off by acknowledging that he spoke to his pastor to warn him of what he was about to do in preparation to rip Whitlock a new one. He also stated that he told his bosses at ESPN what he was about to embark on. And then he proceeds to do so.

“I mean it from my soul when I say this is the worst human being I’ve ever known,” Smith said. “I don’t know of another human being worse than Jason Whitlock. He is a piece of s**t. He’s the dude that’s going to have a funeral and ain’t going to be no pallbearers; he is the absolute worst.”

He said that Whitlock was worse than a white supremacist.

“I could not imagine, as a Black man, knowing our history, anything worse than a white supremacist. That is until Jason Whitlock came along. He’s worse than them. He is the worst, most despicable, lying, no-good, fat-ass human being I have ever known in my life.”

In between his rant, he discusses instances of Whitlock’s shortcomings and even states he has a clause in his contract that says he will NEVER work with Whitlock. But he ends his monologue by saying, “I hate this bastard. Not even far more than a little bit. He is the worst human being any of you will ever meet. You get within a mile of his presence, wrap your arms around yourself to protect your soul. He is Cain! He is a devil! The worst.

“That’s all I have to say. Y’all have a nice day. I’m going to go about my business. I will not speak about this piece of s**t again. Peace and love.”

Smith has promised that he will never speak on Whitlock again. His adversary has responded, but Smith has kept his word so far.

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