Kamala Harris sat down for a CNN interview, her first since she's been a presidential nominee, and she gave us nothing new or insightful. It's looking like regardless of who makes their way into the White House in 2025, it'll be more of the same (Joe 2.0 or Donnie, the Sequel), but let's see how the debate plays out next Tuesday.
Looking to 2024
Kamala Harris conducted her first interview with the media last week after replacing Joe Biden on the Democratic ticket. The highlights? She’s still out here lying about Israel and Palestine, rightfully ignoring Donnie’s claims that she just started identifying as Black, and appears to have no problem following Joe’s playbook. While some say the interview was terrible and others believe she understood the assignment, it’s hard to say definitely how well she convinced those on the fence to vote for her.
The first presidential debate between Harris and Trump is scheduled for a week from today (Tuesday, September 10), but there’s still one unresolved issue: whether the mics will stay on for the candidate that does not have the floor, allowing for real-time back and forth.
Could Dems win the House now that Kamala has replaced Biden? That’s what they’re aiming for.
During a recent campaign stop, VP nominee JD Vance says Kamala Harris “can go to hell” over the Afghanistan withdrawal. Whew…is it just us or is the smoke they have for Kamala is extra hot? Like, that heat they reserve for just Black people. We know good ol’ redneck vitriol when we hear it.
Here’s an excellent question: Why is the traditional media treating Donnie like a regular degualr presidential candidate and completely overlooking the very real threat to democracy that he caused on January 6, 2021?
Keeping Up with Biden & Harris
The Supreme Court denied Joe Biden’s request to lift a block on the SAVE plan for student loans, leaving the final decision up to lower courts. There is no immediate impact for the 8M borrowers currently enrolled in SAVE today.
The DOJ seized a plane belonging to Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro in the Dominican Republic over claims that he violated US sanctions. The sanctions placed on Maduro are due to concerns of human rights abuses and political corruption. The irony.
An immigration program allowing migrants from Haiti, Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua to enter the country was paused last month over fraud and human trafficking concerns. The program is expected to restart soon with increased scrutiny of sponsor applications.
Mark Zuckerberg wrote a letter to the House that the Biden administration pressured him to censor content they deemed misinformation and even jokes about COVID-19 during the pandemic. He says he regrets following the government’s request and says that if Meta was asked to do something similar today, the company would refuse.
Congress, What’s Good
Another government shutdown is on the way and while some actual members of Congress are trying to avoid a crisis, Trump is hating from outside the club again. The Republican presidential nominee is asking his colleagues in Congress to purposely bring the government to a standstill unless far-right legislation prevents non-US citizens from voting (note: there’s a law for this already) and requires proof of citizenship before voting is included. Because we know the GOP be weak in the knees for Donnie, this will almost certainly cause added delay & drama. We personally think it’s wild to play with the electorate’s money so close to an election, but fools will be fools.
Both chambers will be back on the hill next Monday, so we’ll see how that and other critical items pan out.
Social Justice Round Up
A Trump-appointed judge issued a ruling that permanently bans the EPA from considering whether a business’ pollution output in the state would negatively impact one community (Black & brown folks) more than the other (white folks), which is typically the case. The judge ruled that taking into consideration whether Black & brown communities would be disproportionately impacted by environmental pollution and trying to make it fair is partaking in racism itself. If anyone needed confirmation that many of those politicians in Louisiana ain’t shit, there ya go.
Protests erupted in Sacramento over Governor Gavin Newsom’s apparent request to stall the state’s reparations bills over alleged budget constraints.
Public schools nationwide are closing as more parents choose charter schools or homeschool their children. Rather than the closings impacting all schools evenly, majority-Black schools tend to bear this burden the most.
What the Health
Raise your hand if you were woken up by the sounds of Anita Baker, etc. every Saturday morning. If you’re bold enough to tell her she was wrong, let your momma know that sleeping in on the weekends could lower the risk of heart disease.
In a time when more people are seeking out mental health professionals, why is it so difficult to find a therapist who accepts health insurance? It’s because insurers think mental health patients are not worth the ROI.
More federal funding has become available for maternal home visit programs, giving more families necessary resources during pregnancy and beyond.
Flaming Hot Cheetos & Twinkies, count your days. California lawmakers just voted to ban snack foods with harmful chemicals like Red 40, Yellow 5 from school cafeterias.
Around the Diaspora
Even as Nigeria charges some #EndBadGovernance protesters with treason, the cost of fuel is still out of reach for many.
Peace talks between opposing forces in Sudan have resulted in the opening of their border with Chad. Now, food aid is able to enter the country for the roughly 500K people experiencing hunger.
Haitians fleeing Port-au-Prince in search of safety are concerned the violence could follow them, especially as the Kenyan forces brought in to quell the violence experience a shortage of equipment and even payment delays.
Our Black Jobs & Our Black Money
Career coaches say the “September surge,” an increase in legitimate job postings and hiring, is upon us. While the surge may not be as aggressive this September as in years past, there’s still a chance that jobseekers will see increased responses from recruiters this month. Make sure you stay ready.
Culture that Pops
Steph and Ayesha Curry are pouring $25M into a literacy program for students in Oakland.
The Black Music Action Coalition and rapper Gunna will provide 30 families in South Fulton, GA with $1000 in monthly guaranteed income for the next year.
Ever heard of the Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo? It’s the oldest Black traveling rodeo in the nation, amplifying Black cowboy culture while simultaneously supporting the youth and businesses in our community. Meet the group of women who are fueling this rodeo that sells out in cities across the nation every year and sign up for their newsletter to catch the show when it hits your town in 2025.
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