As we’ve come to understand year after year, day after day, death is an inevitable part of life—a universal truth that spares no one. Yet, despite its certainty, the weight of loss never becomes easier to bear, nor does the act of processing its impact. For those within Black culture, where community and shared experiences often serve as pillars of strength, the pain of losing someone resonates deeply, cutting through the collective spirit like a sharp blade.

Reporting on such losses carries its own emotional toll, as it means confronting the fragility of life while also grappling with the systemic inequities that often exacerbate these tragedies. Whether it’s the passing of a beloved figure or the untimely loss of a community member, the grief is compounded by the cultural significance of their contributions and the void they leave behind. Each story of loss becomes a reminder of the resilience required to navigate a world that often feels unrelenting, and yet, it also underscores the importance of honoring those who have left an indelible mark on the lives they touched.

RELATED STORY: Rest In Power: Notable Black Folks Who We’ve Lost In 2025

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UPDATED: 7:30 pm EST, June 13th 2026

For many commuters, mornings just wouldn’t be complete without a daily dose of “GRIFF” as co-host of Get Up! Mornings With Erica Campbell.

Whether it be his signature comedic quips, a prayer for the people or his quotable “Mr. Griffin” segments, it goes without saying that “GRIFF’ has become a pillar of positivity in the lives of many. What you might not know is that he gets it all from his momma, so much so that he decided to dedicate a full book to her titled Cats & Puppies (this is not a book about animals).

RELATED: GRIFF Opens Up About Health Scare on Get Up! Mornings

Originally published around 15 years ago, the 2026 re-release now comes as an audiobook on Audible that “GRIFF” himself stepped in to narrate. The book also comes with a touching foreword from Mrs. Lenoir, the queen in question, and even has musical scoring by GRAMMY-nominated producer TedyP to match the chapters as you listen along.

Read the synopsis for below, via Audible:

“‘Cats & Puppies’ is Arlen “GRIFF” Griffin’s love letter to his mother, Lenoir. Pregnant at fifteen and raising five children, she became the foundation of GRIFF’s candid reflections. In this book, he shares his unique upbringing, praising his mother’s resilience. The title is a metaphor—like a cat raising puppies, it’s about making an unusual situation work. GRIFF’s “no holds barred” comedic voice brings raw, relatable stories that resonate with mothers, sons, and anyone preparing for parenthood.

This book isn’t just for women raising boys; it speaks to men, daughters, and anyone who values honest parenting stories. GRIFF’s debut is a heartfelt, hard-to-put-down journey that leaves you laughing and reflecting long after the last page.”

Being that he part of the REACH Media family, we just had to get an exclusive on everything that went into this publication. He took some time from his busy schedule on-air to chop it up with us about the process, the painand most importantly the healing that he and his family received in being able to verbally tell his story this time around.

Watch our exclusive interview with “GRIFF” from Get Up! Mornings With Erica Campbell below, and tune in by downloading to his book, Cats & Puppies, from your favorite digital bookstore:

“One of the things we wanted to do with [March Forth] is make clear what the stakes were. A lot of times when you think about incarceration, conversations about violence get ignored, and it makes it difficult to get it to the places where you want to get it to…we go there.”

— Reginald Dwayne Betts

If we’re lucky, many of us will never have a firsthand understanding of what it means to be incarcerated. Our culture is sadly all too familiar with the topic though, as an estimated average of 700,000 to 840,000 Black people in the U.S. are currently behind bars. For those who manage to make it through serving their time — that’s a whole other issue in itself — the damage done physically, mentally, socially and economically can oftentimes be irreparable.

Fortunately, that wasn’t the case for Reginald Dwayne Betts. After doing a nine-year bid for a robbery committed as a teen, he used his experience to reverse the odds set against him by adapting his passion for poetry into a degree from Yale Law School, prison reform advocate for the Obama Administration and leading the mission at Freedom Reads to put libraries in every cellblock in America.

It’s the subject of his powerful new documentary, March Forth, which recently debuted at the 2026 Tribeca Festival.

RELATED: Tribeca Festival 2026 Opening Night Review – Earth, Wind & A Fire Documentary

The film is a Spotlight Documentary this year as recipient of a grant from SUBJECT MATTER, which provides funds to projects that specifically highlight topical social issues. March Forth was selected for capturing the dignity and humanity of people in prison and the transformative power of literature, a decision we most definitely agree with.

Betts allows himself to be completely transparent when it comes to the highs and lows of his story. It begins with the latter, as he vividly recollects the fateful night in 1996 when his life forever changed. Through mixed media storytelling, the play-by-play is given dimensional emphasis with animation of the events paired with spoken word by actor Brian Tyree Henry, who serves as an EP and narrates excerpts from Betts’ post-prison memoir, A Question of Freedom. It’s all done expertly as Betts, even in reflecting on the past, still feels the pain of a childish choice that in return took away his youth.

In a conversation we had with the film’s star as he made his way through festival screenings of March Forth, he told us exclusively, “One of the things we wanted to do with the film is make clear what the stakes were. A lot of times when you think about incarceration, conversations about violence get ignored, and it makes it difficult to get it to the places where you want to get it to.” Together with the team who helped him put the film together, including co-directors Valerie Hong and Robe Imbriano, he strived to “go there” in giving a platform to a taboo subject. “People don’t struggle with guilt and the desire to be forgiven,” he says of misconceptions to incarceration, going on to add, “they don’t struggle to become better on a regular basis, even if they go through things while trying to figure it all out.”

It’s hard to ignore the timeliness of a documentary like March Forth given the recent Karmelo Anthony murder conviction, which has resulted in America’s latest race debate. “It’s dangerous when we start expecting justice from the court system,” says Betts, adding to his comment, “When the court makes a decision we agree with, then we say it’s giving us justice; when we disagree, we say we have injustice. I think we need to realize that the court doesn’t do that.” He used the film to instead depict those incarceration stories and the lives they’re both living and struggling in, instead of being reduced to catchphrases.

As more attention is brought to the narrative, even beyond its Tribeca debut, there’s a hope that March Forth will further the efforts in reforming the prison system as rehabilitative as opposed to punitive. It doesn’t hurt having a Marvel star like Brian Tyree Henry willing to lend his voice to the movement, and it doesn’t go unnoticed either. Betts speaks highly of his A-List co-star by stating, “Even though he has a lot of physicality to his work as an actor, when you’re doing a voiceover this way you don’t get to actually have your physicality on the stage. He had to be able to convey a wide range of emotions through his voice, and I think he did a fantastic job.”

“This is one of those films that is supposed to make you do all of the things,” Betts added as one final note. He explains further: “I enjoyed listening to people laugh in [the theater], I enjoyed people saying they cried and just all the sides that you feel. What I hope people expect and experience is the range of emotions that you’re supposed to get from dope art.”

Visit Freedom Reads for more information on how Reginald Dwayne Betts is changing lives with prison libraries, then check out SUBJECT MATTER to donate and even host a funded screening for March Forth.

Throughout American history, Black people have endured systemic injustices that continue to manifest in devastating ways. The criminal justice system, rather than serving as a equalizer, has too often functioned as an instrument of oppression, from racial profiling that subjects Black individuals to unwarranted suspicion simply for existing in certain spaces, to acts of police brutality that have claimed countless innocent lives with little to no legal consequence.

When Black Americans fall victim to racially motivated violence and hatred, the scales of justice frequently tip in favor of the aggressor, with perpetrators walking away with charges reduced, sentences minimized, or in many cases, facing no punishment at all.

RELATED: Karmelo Anthony Trial Sparks National Debate On Race & Justice

This imbalance where Black victims are denied the justice routinely given to others sent a clear message that their lives held lesser value in the eyes of the law. It’s through this long, painful history of neglect and injustice that the Black Lives Matter movement was born, rising as a powerful collective demand that the systemic dehumanization of Black people be acknowledged, confronted, and dismantled once and for all.

RELATED: 10 Black American Flags You May Not Have Known Existed

Take a look at the times where the United States Justice System failed the Black community:

Southern Soul singer Fat Daddy came ready to talk music, family, and his upcoming performance on the One Voyage Cruise. When asked what he’s most excited about for the One Voice Cruise 2026? “I’m looking most forward to them 20 restaurants,” he laughed. “I’m ready to eat. My name Fat Daddy, right?” But once the jokes settled, the real passion came through. This will be his third time on the cruise, and he’s bringing the heat.

“I’m bringing back the soul blues,” he said. “All the way back to your Johnny Taylors, your Bobby Blue Blands. Having a good time, taking y’all all the way.” For Fat Daddy, Southern soul is more than a genre. He calls it “the new age of blues,” a sound that blends a little hip-hop, a little R&B, and a little jazz, all delivered with live music and real feeling.

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The man’s got range, too. He plays guitar, drums, and trombone. Turns out he marched at Grambling, which sparked a friendly band rivalry right there in the studio. Grambling versus Alabama State? Now that’s a show worth seeing.

What Makes This Cruise Special

What makes this cruise special is the heart behind it. They call it a “party with a purpose,” supporting the United Negro College Fund and our HBCUs. That mission hits home for Fat Daddy. “We want all our young kids to go to school and be great in this world,” he shared. “I’m truly happy to be a part of this, to raise some money for these Black kids to keep doing what they doing.” That’s the kind of giving back our community can rally around.

Greatness clearly runs in his blood. Fat Daddy is born and bred in Texas, and his father is none other than the legendary R.L. Griffin, owner of the Blues Palace in downtown Dallas. “It comes from greatness, man,” he said with pride. Forty years in the business? That’s a legacy.

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New Music

He’s also got a brand-new single dropping called “Tito’s in Your Cup.” And when asked who he’s excited to see on the cruise, his answer came quick: Keith Sweat. “That’s so good to me, man,” he smiled.

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Related Article: Who Will Hit The Stage At The ONE Voyage Cruise?

Related Article: Urban One Rebrands Its Iconic Cruise as ONE Voyage Experience, Continues “Party with a Purpose” Legacy with UNCF Partnership

Set Sail on the One Voyage Cruise a True Party with a Purpose

The One Voyage Cruise is bringing fans an unforgettable opportunity to see a laundry list of legendary artists in an once in a lifetime performance. This isn’t just a cruise with a performance, it’s a celebration of music, culture, and community, all while raising money for students attending HBCUs all aboard a luxurious cruise designed to create memories that will last a lifetime.

Set sail with us on the One Voyage Cruise, departing October 26 thru November 1, 2026, on Virgin Voyage’s Resilient Lady from Miami to the breathtaking destinations of Nassau, Bahamas. and Bimini. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this once-in-a-lifetime experience, featuring world-class entertainment including T.I., Rick Ross, Keith Sweat, Pastor Mike J, and more, enriching experiences. Secure your spot today at onevoyage.blackamericaweb.com or call 214-495-1963

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The New York Knicks were able to pull off the greatest comeback in NBA Finals history as they went up 3-1 against the San Antonio Spurs.

But it was a thriller in the Garden, because, like each of the past three games, the Knicks fell behind early with a double-digit deficit.

Karl-Anthony Towns caught two early fouls —one off a Spurs challenge— that took him out of the game as the Spurs put on a shooting clinic. 

It led to them ending the first quarter 41-22, and it didn’t improve much when the score was 76-49. At one point, they were down 29 points as the Spurs went off with 14 threes in the first half.

However, momentum flipped in the third quarter when the Spurs started to get comfortable with their lead, as it hovered around 20 for a while. So the Knicks started chipping away at it and got it to a manageable 15-point deficit going into the fourth. 

Going on a 13-0 run on the back of Jalen Brunson’s 36-point performance, he scored a signature jumper that gave them their first lead with less than two minutes of the game. 

De’Aaron Fox missed what he thought was a breakaway layup and the ball was back in Brunson’s hands with less than seven seconds left. He missed a three-pointer that bounced off the rim, where OG Anunoby pounced to tip it back in as the Knicks won in stunning fashion, 107-106.

An even-keeled Anunoby spoke on the roller coaster of the game afterward.

“We know it’s a game of runs. We’re a resilient group. We’ve been through a lot. We’ve come back plenty of times when we’re behind,” Anunoby said. “Just staying with it, weathering the storm, not being too down or angry or frustrated. Just staying with it.”

Still, he remained very calm when asked about his game-winning tip-in, explaining his actions plainly. 

“I was free. There was no one boxing me out. So I just went in there for a tip-dunk and then ended up just tipping it in,” Anunoby said after the game.

Victor Wembanyama was more solemn after his 24-point game, admitting, “We clearly weren’t the most hungry in the second half.”

“It was painful, of course. It feels like we worked too hard and give up our leads. It’s as simple as that. It just hurts,” Wemby admitted.

Knick fans were relentless in taunting the team after the win, and even pelted the 7-foot Frenchman with an egg while he entered his hotel.

See social media’s reactions to the thriller in MSG below.

The Top 7 Ice Cube Movies Everybody Loves

When people talk about legends who successfully crossed over from music to Hollywood, one name always comes up: Ice Cube. From helping shape West Coast hip-hop with N.W.A to becoming one of the most recognizable faces in film, Cube has built a movie catalog packed with comedy classics, unforgettable characters, and cultural moments.

Whether he’s making us laugh, delivering iconic one-liners, or showing off his dramatic acting chops, these are seven Ice Cube movies that fans continue to love.

RELATED: Mike Epps Confirms Boondocks Creator Aaron McGruder and Ice Cube Are Writing Last Friday

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RELATED: 10 Mike Epps Movies You Must See

Ever since the story of Karmelo Anthony and Austin Metcalf emerged in the news cycle, after the former stabbed the latter resulting in his death in Frisco, Texas, last year, we have endured a predictable yet still despicable level of anti-Black racism, which, incidentally, we also have to deal with when white people use deadly force and claim self-defense against a Black man (Chud the Builder, anyone?).

Now that Anthony has been convicted of murder and sentenced to 35 years in prison, that anti-Blackness has only become more celebratory, which we should also have expected. What we should not expect or accept, however, is a local news reporter getting in on the racism by making absurd “gorilla” references regarding the trial, but that’s exactly what happened when a WFAA reporter discussed the racial tension surrounding the case, and, for no discernible reason, decided to add to it.

“Let’s talk a little bit about the big, uh, gorilla so to speak,” WFAA’s Rebecca Lopez said Tuesday outside of the courthouse. “There were people out here on both sides shouting racial slurs at one another. But it was very clear that the defense and prosecution did not want this to be about race. They said this was not about race.”

Nah, but seriously, WTF was that? Why wouldn’t Lopez address “the elephant in the room” like a normal non-racist instead of going out of her way to address the “big, uh, gorilla so to speak”? Why the gorilla? It was a choice.

According to Atlanta Black Star, Lopez is the senior crime and justice reporter for WFAA, where she has been employed since 1998. She’s a seasoned journalist with nearly three decades on the job. She should have known better. Comments like hers are what happens when people get so comfortable with casual racism and anti-Blackness that they become unafraid to perform it even when they’re on the job.

A look through her social media account shows that she seems to have relationships with many Black people, which makes this all the more baffling, but not at all surprising.

Anyway, WFAA released the following statement regarding the incident, via ABS:

“Yesterday while reporting on the track meet stabbing trial, our reporter used an idiom to describe dynamics in the courtroom that was inappropriate. We apologize for that error and are committed to ensuring this doesn’t happen in the future.

This mistake in no way reflects the culture of our newsroom or tenure of our coverage. Our reporters are held to high standards and abide by the principles of ethical journalism. We hope our long track record of fair, balanced, and sensitive reporting, specifically on this case, speaks for itself.”

So far, there doesn’t appear to be an apology from Lopez herself, nor is there any word on whether she will be held accountable for what she said.

SEE ALSO:

Karmelo Anthony Murder Trial: Teen Found Guilty For 2025 Stabbing

Karmelo Anthony Indicted By Grand Jury For 1st-Degree Murder, What’s Next?

Karmelo Anthony Will Get His Diploma, But His Legal Battle Looms

Karmelo Anthony, Family Move After Repeated Harassment

Op-Ed: I Get Karmelo Anthony, I Carried A Knife To School Too

What Is A Batson Challenge? The Legal Tool That Failed Karmelo Anthony

North West & Lil Novi Are Bringing The Next Generation Of Hip-Hop Together

When your parents are Ye and Lil Wayne, the expectations are automatically high.

But instead of simply riding their famous last names, North West and Lil Novi are starting to carve out their own lane in music.

RELATED: Stepping Into Her Own Lane! North West Celebrates Debut EP ‘N0rth4evr’ With Ye & Kim Kardashian At Pop-Up

RELATED: Behind Drake’s Bars: Was It Lil Wayne All Along? His Son Says So

RELATED: Lil Wayne Complains He’s ‘Uninvited & Uninvolved’ In Major Music Events Like Coachella

The two young artists have teamed up on multiple records this year, giving fans an early look at what the next generation of hip-hop could sound like.

Their latest collaboration, “MULA THA ROOT OF ALL EVIL,” dropped on June 5 and quickly started making noise online.

Released through Young Money Entertainment, the track features Lil Novi handling much of the production and vocals, while North contributed to the creative direction and writing process.

The record follows an earlier collaboration called “Justswagup,” a rage-inspired track that first caught the attention of fans earlier this year.

What makes that release even more interesting is that North West reportedly produced the beat herself while Lil Novi and artist Mag!c handled the vocals.

For many fans, these songs are more than just celebrity kids making music.

They’re a glimpse into a new era where the children of hip-hop legends are beginning to step into the spotlight and create their own identities.

North West has already shown interest in music, fashion, and entertainment, often appearing alongside her father and making headlines with her performances. Meanwhile, Lil Novi has continued building his presence under the Young Money banner, following in the footsteps of one of rap’s most influential artists.

Whether these records become major hits or simply represent the beginning of their musical journeys, one thing is clear: the next generation is already here.

And if “MULA THA ROOT OF ALL EVIL” and “Justswagup” are any indication, North West and Lil Novi aren’t waiting for permission to make their mark.

What do you think? Are North West and Lil Novi the future of hip-hop, or is it too early to tell?

Remember three months ago when President Donald Trump said the conflict in Iran was only going to take two to four weeks? It’s become incredibly apparent that Trump’s optimism was misplaced. 

While Iran and the U.S. have ostensibly been under a ceasefire since April, the two countries have yet to reach a deal to permanently end the conflict. The negotiations don’t seem to be going anywhere, as Trump took to Truth Social on Thursday to threaten more strikes against Iran, as well as declaring the U.S. will assume control of the country’s oil. 

According to AP, Trump wrote that the U.S. military will be hitting Iran “VERY HARD TONIGHT” in his famously eloquent fashion. “At some point in the not-too-distant future, we will be taking Kharg Island, and other oil infrastructure points, and assume total control of their Oil and Gas Markets, much like we have with Venezuela, which is working out brilliantly for both Venezuela and the United States of America,” he added. 

The threats came after the U.S. launched several airstrikes against Iran on Wednesday night. The strikes targeted Iranian radars, air defenses, and several other military targets. The strategic goal of the strikes was to weaken Iran’s ability to identify and attack commercial vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a senior U.S. official told The New York Times. 

The Times adds that Trump doubled down on his threats in a phone call with Fox and Friends, though he seemed somewhat noncommittal about taking Kharg Island. “My preference has always been to take Kharg Island,” Trump said, adding, “I don’t know that America has the stomach for that. I think they’d like to see us come home.” 

This is not the first time Trump has made a bombastic threat against Iran. In April, Trump posted that “a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again” if Iran didn’t reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Shortly after that post, the U.S. announced it had reached a temporary ceasefire with Iran. 

While Trump is famous for announcing his potential moves on Truth Social, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has famously been remiss in providing reporters with any information about potential U.S. military action. Hegseth appears to have changed his tune this week, as The Times notes that on Wednesday, Hegseth told reporters about the airstrikes planned for Wednesday evening before they occurred. 

“So those strikes that will happen tonight will be strong. They will be clear,” Hegseth told reporters traveling with him to the U.S. Central Command’s headquarters in Tampa, Florida. “If they happen to happen tomorrow night, they will be strong, and they will be clear.” 

The Strait of Hormuz has been the primary holdup in peace negotiations between the U.S. and Iran. Nearly a quarter of the world’s oil supply moves through the Strait of Hormuz, which has been under a blockade for the last three months. The closure has caused oil prices to spike globally, as well as the cost of goods. Oil prices, in particular, have been on a roller coaster as Trump continues to say a deal is only a few days away, only for no agreement to be reached. 

The longer the conflict in Iran goes, the larger the impact it will have on the global economy. CNBC reports that the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has said that the war in Iran could trigger a global recession if a permanent ceasefire isn’t reached within the year. 

For his part, Trump doesn’t seem particularly concerned about the economic consequences of the war in Iran. Inflation has reached its highest level in four years, greatly outpacing wage growth. When asked by reporters on Wednesday if he was concerned about the growing inflation, Trump said, “No, I love it, the numbers were great. I love the inflation.” 

We’ll see if he’s still loving it come the midterm elections in November. 

SEE ALSO:

Iran Rejects US Terms To End War, Offers Terms Of Its Own

Peace Negotiations With Iran Stall Out Amid Renewed Strikes

Everything We Know About The Conflict In Iran

US Military Searching For Pilot After Fighter Jet Shot Down Over Iran

Rakim, Wu-Tang Clan’s Masta Killa, and Kurupt connected for a collaborative album that will feature several Hip-Hop heavyweights aside from the aforementioned. The untitled forthcoming project will reunite JAŸ-Z and Eminem, although it’s not known if Rakim, Masta Killa, or Kurupt Young Gotti will also trade bars with the titans.

A&R and producer Matthew “Almighty M80” Markoff shared an image to his Instagram page featuring the tracklist from the album from Rakim, Masta Killa, and Kurupt. On track 6, JAŸ-Z & Eminem’s names appeared for the untitled track. We should add that this looks to be an interlude, perhaps tempering some expectations.

In the caption for the post, M80 wrote, “AOTY 2026 – PUT SOME COT DAMN RESPEK ON MY NAME.”

While details surrounding the album are shrouded in mystery, it appears that the God MC is active once more after releasing last year’s The Re-Up project. Also on the album are Kurupt’s Dogg Pound colleague Daz Dillinger, Ghostface Killah, Raekwon, Killa Sin, Snoop Dogg, and more.

While JAŸ-Z proved he’s still in tip-top lyrical shape with his freestyle at the Roots Picnic, Eminem’s last studio album was 2024’s The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce). Em also appeared on “Animals (Pt. 1” from JID’s God Does Like Ugly (The Preluxe) project.

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Photo: @almightym80 / Instagram

The San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks locked horns for Game 4 of the 2026 NBA Finals, and it will go down in the history books. The Spurs choked away a 29-point lead, allowing the Knicks to roar back in the second half and win the game in the final seconds of regulation.

San Antonio appeared to be unstoppable in the first half, dominating the Knicks on their home court in Madison Square Garden and silencing the crowd for much of it. However, with gutsy plays from Jalen Brunson, Jose Alvarado, and Josh Hart, the late-game heroics of OG Anunoby were on display with a block on De’Aron Fox and a quick cut to the basket to win it all.

Fox, a capable point guard, played solidly for much of the game, and the team’s top star, Victor Wembyama, was assertive despite being manhandled in the paint. With 12.8 seconds to go in the fourth quarter, Fox went up for a contested layup, with Anunoby blocking him and sealing the win on the other end. The Knicks topped the Spurs 107-106.

Inside The NBA’s Charles Barkley referred to San Antonio as the “dumbest basketball team in the history of civilization,” with his co-host Shaquille O’Neal adding that San Antonio went away from the brand of basketball that was winning the game.

True enough, between the Spurs jacking up threes and taking generally bad shots, along with Fox’s mental errors down the stretch, the Knicks remained poised and got within striking distance while never letting up.

The spectacular collapse of the Spurs was the largest comeback in NBA Finals history and will leave a stain on the future hopes of the team as the Finals go on.

On X, we’ve got reactions from the game below.

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Photo: Getty

Haiti’s historic return to the FIFA World Cup has hit an unexpected obstacle, as FIFA has required the nation’s men’s soccer team to alter its official tournament uniforms after determining that parts of the design could violate regulations governing political imagery.

The decision comes just months after Haiti secured its first World Cup appearance in more than five decades, a milestone celebrated across the Caribbean and among its global diaspora. However, the jerseys originally created for the tournament will not appear on the sport’s biggest stage in their intended form, the Miami Herald reports.

According to Saeta, the Colombian sportswear company that manufactures Haiti’s uniforms, FIFA raised concerns during its approval process about visual elements that could be interpreted differently under the organization’s equipment regulations.

“During the review process, FIFA determined that certain visual elements could be interpreted differently under its equipment regulation and ultimately requested modification to the design,” the company said in a statement shared on social media Tuesday night.

While neither FIFA nor Saeta has publicly identified the specific issue, a source familiar with the matter told the Miami Herald that the governing body objected to artwork depicting the Battle of Vertières, the war in 1803 that helped Haiti secure its independence from France. The design reportedly incorporated imagery from the historic battle alongside the Haitian flag.

The controversy marks the second time this year that Haitian athletic uniforms have faced scrutiny from an international sports organization. In February, designer Stella Jean was forced to revise uniforms created for Haiti’s Winter Olympic delegation after the International Olympic Committee determined that artwork featuring revolutionary leader Toussaint Louverture violated rules against political messaging.

For many Haitians, the World Cup jerseys were intended not as a political statement but as a tribute to the nation’s history. Saeta said the uniforms were developed in collaboration with the Haiti Football Federation over several months and were designed to honor the people helping shape Haiti’s future.

“The final design was intended as a tribute to the men and women who contribute every day to Haiti’s future and was not intended as a political statement,” the company said.

The original jerseys, available in blue and white, debuted during Haiti’s recent warmup matches in South Florida. But when Les Grenadiers open World Cup play against Scotland on June 13 in Boston, fans will see a modified version.

The team is currently preparing for its World Cup campaign after relocating to New Jersey for final training sessions. Haiti will face Scotland, Brazil and Morocco in group-stage play as excitement continues to build around the nation’s first World Cup appearance in 52 years.

Despite the uniform controversy, demand for Haiti merchandise remains high. Supporters eager to celebrate the team’s historic achievement have rushed to purchase jerseys, creating supply challenges for Saeta and opening the door for unofficial vendors hoping to capitalize on the moment.

See social media’s reaction to FIFA’s decision below.

History does not always announce itself loudly. Sometimes it arrives through a primary win in the Nevada heat on a Tuesday night in June, with a man standing at a victory party making a promise to the working-class voters who put him there. Aaron Ford just won the Democratic nomination for governor of Nevada and if he wins in November, he will become the state’s first Black governor in its entire history. Read more about Aaron Ford inside.

As PBS News reported, Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo — a Republican — will face Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford in a battle to hold onto his seat in November. This is considered one of the most competitive governor’s races in the country. Ford secured the Democratic nomination with the backing of the congressional delegation — Former Vice President Kamala Harris — and defeating county commissioner Alexis Hill in the primary. He is now squarely in the most consequential race of his career and potentially one of the most consequential races for Black political representation in recent American history. 

So who is Aaron Ford? The answer starts not in a boardroom or a law firm but in a household that relied on food stamps, Medicaid and public schools to get by. As his official campaign site, Ford for Nevada, states directly: “Aaron Ford knows what it means to fight for a better life because he has lived that struggle.“

Raised in a working-class family, Ford relied on public assistance early in life to get ahead. He later became a public school teacher, earned five degrees, and worked his way up to lead Nevada’s Senate before serving as Attorney General. That is not a political biography constructed for optics. That is the actual arc of a man who used every resource available to him and then spent his career making sure those resources stayed available for the people who came after him. 

As Nevada’s Attorney General, Ford built a track record of taking on the powerful on behalf of the powerless. He has taken on opioid profiteers, corporate landlords and anyone who tries to exploit Nevada families. His campaign for governor is built on the same foundation. Housing affordability, public safety, cost of living, education and jobs are the pillars of his platform. It maps directly onto the concerns driving voters in a state where the affordable housing shortage, some of the highest gas prices in the country and cuts to federal healthcare and food assistance programs are the defining kitchen table issues heading into November. 

At his primary victory party, Ford did not pivot to vague language or campaign slogans. He went straight to the point. 

“This is all about strengthening the working class,” he said. “And we will once again be a state where you can afford to live your own version of the American dream.” 

The path to November is real, but it is not easy. Lombardo is considered one of the most vulnerable governors in the country this fall, as both parties expect Democrats to do well nationwide, but he will not simply hand over the office. The race is competitive precisely because Nevada itself is competitive, a swing state where margins are thin, turnout is decisive and every vote matters. 

What makes this race significant beyond the electoral math is the history attached to it. Nevada has never had a Black governor. If Aaron Ford wins in November, he does not just flip a seat. He writes a new chapter for a state that is more diverse and more working-class than many of its national political representations have reflected. Ford wants to build a Nevada where every family in every neighborhood can get ahead, and he is asking voters to trust that the same resilience that carried him from food stamps to the Nevada attorney general’s office is the same resilience he will bring to the governor’s mansion. 

The general election is in November. Pay attention to Nevada. Meet Aaron Ford. 

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Can she kick it? Yes, she can. Megan Thee Stallion continues to show the world that heartbreak won’t stop this show. The Houston rapper can add being part of the FIFA World Cup’s official anthem.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 officially kicks off today, June 11, and to provide an apt anthem for the games, they enlisted the help of  Megan Thee Stallion, David Guetta, Andrea Bocelli, and HUNTR/X’s EJAE for a global toe tapper called “DNA,” which sounds absolutely perfect for the moment.

The song, which features a dance-heavy track produced by Guetta, was released by SALXCO UAM/Def Jam Recordings on Wednesday (June 10).

Like the World Cup unites the world through futbol, or as we call it in the States, soccer, “DNA” pushes for the same, but through music with the highly unlikely, but welcomed pairing between Andrea Bocelli, rapper Megan Thee Stallion, and EJAE, who recorded his lyrics in Korean for the song.

Andrea Bocelli & EJAE Speak On “DNA”

In a statement announcing the song, Bocelli said, “The title of the song, ‘DNA,’ says everything. Football has been in my life for as long as I can remember and will always hold a very special place in my heart. To be invited to sing the anthem of the FIFA World Cup and to participate in the opening ceremony is an honor that moves me deeply.”

EJAE of KPop Demon Hunters fame and currently riding high following the success of their song “Golden,” spoke about repping South Korea on a global stage while reflecting on attending the 2002 World Cup.

 “It’s especially meaningful because I was able to write Korean lyrics in the song—representing South Korea on this stage is such an honor,” EJAE added. “One of my favorite childhood memories is being in Seoul during the 2002 World Cup, and seeing the city unite. I’ll never forget the feeling of seeing strangers on the street hug each other and celebrate.”

Again, the action on the pitch begins today, June 11, with the United States taking on Paraguay in its first match at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday night (June 12).

As far as music, Madonna, Shakira, and BTS will perform at the halftime show during the World Cup in July at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

There is also an official FIFA World Cup 2026 album that features Anitta, Future, Tyla, 21 Savage, Shakira, Burna Boy, Daddy Yankee, Latto, and more.

Every day, we talk about the importance of protecting our families, supporting our communities, and showing up for the people who need us. Now, MAJIC 94.5 is inviting men across the DFW Metroplex to put those words into action by joining a powerful movement called Kings That Care.

Our goal is simple: We want to see 250 strong men walking together at Opal’s Walk for Freedom.

This isn’t just another community event. It’s an opportunity for men to take a visible stand against human trafficking and exploitation while supporting survivors and helping raise awareness about an issue that affects families, neighborhoods, and communities across the country.

Too often, people think human trafficking is something that happens somewhere else. The truth is, it happens in our cities, our states, and sometimes right in our own backyards. That’s why it’s important for men to be part of the solution.

Imagine the impact of 250 fathers, grandfathers, uncles, brothers, mentors, coaches, veterans, pastors, business leaders, and everyday men walking side by side for a cause bigger than themselves.

That’s what Kings That Care is all about.

Leadership isn’t just about what you say. It’s about what you do.

If you’re ready to be counted among the men who care, who lead, and who are willing to stand up for freedom and justice, we need you.

Register today at findingnewtomorrows.com/menwhocare and join us as we walk 250 strong at Opal’s Walk for Freedom.

Kings, it’s time to show up.

The Knicks walked into Game 4 with a lot more than a 2-1 NBA Finals lead on their shoulders. Just two nights earlier, San Antonio handed New York its first loss in 14 games, snapping the Knicks’ wild 13-game winning streak and quieting Madison Square Garden just enough to remind everybody that Victor Wembanyama and the Spurs were not here for a cute Finals cameo. Add in the Trump drama from Game 3 — the boos, the extra attention, the “curse” jokes, all of it — and Game 4 already had the energy of a must-watch New York event before the ball even tipped.

Then the actual game somehow topped the hype. The Spurs had the Knicks looking cooked, building a 29-point lead and threatening to snatch complete control of the series. But New York turned the Garden into a pressure cooker, storming all the way back before OG Anunoby tipped in the go-ahead bucket in the final seconds to seal a ridiculous 107-106 win. Jalen Brunson led the way with 36 points and seven assists, Anunoby added 33, and the Knicks left Game 4 with a 3-1 series lead and one win standing between them and their first championship since 1973.

Of course, this being the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden, the scene was bigger than basketball. Just like Game 3, Game 4 turned into a full-blown celebrity roll call, with everyone from longtime Knicks fixtures to Hollywood A-listers and pop culture heavyweights packing the building. Taylor Swift pulled up with Alana and Este Haim, Spike Lee was right where he always is, and names like Timothée Chalamet, Kylie Jenner, Ben Stiller, Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Mariska Hargitay, Hailey Bieber, Tracy Morgan, Jimmy Fallon, Fat Joe and more helped make Celebrity Row feel like its own red carpet.

By the end of the night, though, everybody in the building had the same face: shocked, stressed, excited and completely flabbergasted by what they had just watched. The stars didn’t just show up for a photo op — they got a front-row seat to one of the wildest comebacks in NBA Finals history, the kind of game where even the celebs forgot to play it cool. From courtside reactions to Knicks-themed fits, Game 4 had more than enough famous faces to fill a gallery, and we’ve rounded up all the celebs spotted at Knicks vs. Spurs below!

Taylor Swift & Mariska Hargitay

After becoming one of the most refreshing, chaotic, and straight-up fun mystery comedies on TV, Diarra From Detroit is officially back for Season 2. Paramount+ announced that the critically acclaimed series from creator, writer, executive producer, and star Diarra Kilpatrick will return globally on Wednesday, July 29, with the first two episodes dropping that day. After that, new episodes will roll out every Wednesday through September 9.

For anybody who missed the first season, Diarra From Detroit follows Diarra Brickland, a divorcing schoolteacher whose attempt to bounce back romantically turns into something way bigger than a bad dating app story. After getting ghosted by her rebound Tinder date, Diarra refuses to accept the obvious answer and starts digging. That search pulls her into a decades-old mystery tied to Detroit’s underworld, with her friends, coworkers, lovers, and everybody else getting dragged into the mess along with her.

That mix of mystery, comedy, romance, and very specific Detroit energy is what made the show hit so hard the first time around. Season 1 was praised by critics, named one of the top shows of the year by several outlets, including Deadline, Rolling Stone, and The Hollywood Reporter, and earned multiple nominations from the NAACP Image Awards and Film Independent Spirit Awards. Kilpatrick also won a Gracie Award for Actress in a Breakthrough Role for her performance.

Season 2 is picking up with the same “Why is this happening to me?” energy, but the stakes look even crazier this time. According to Paramount+, Diarra is trying — and failing — to have a hot girl summer without getting pulled into another dangerous Detroit mystery. What starts as a seemingly harmless furniture recovery mission somehow spirals into a triple homicide investigation, a citywide treasure hunt, and another deep dive into Detroit’s criminal underbelly.

And because this is Diarra we’re talking about, that’s not even all of it. While trying to figure out her messy relationship status, she also ends up going undercover with a secret society, starring in a Tubi movie, chasing urban legends, dodging gang warfare, and uncovering secrets buried beneath the city itself. Basically, she wanted peace, but the city said absolutely not.

The main cast is also back in the mix. Season 2 stars Diarra Kilpatrick, Dominique Perry, Bryan Terrell Clark, and Jon Chaffin, with Shannon Wallace, Phylicia Rashad, and Harry Lennix returning as well. The guest list is stacked too, with appearances from Method Man, Morris Chestnut, Glynn Turman, Bokeem Woodbine, Amber Riley, Lil Rel Howert, Lovie Simone, Shoniqua Shandai, Nicco Annan, Skilla Baby, Icewear Vezzo, Chris “CP” Powell, and Jude Demorest.

Behind the scenes, the show remains in strong hands. Kilpatrick continues as creator, star, writer, and executive producer, while Kenya Barris and Miles Orion Feldsott also serve as executive producers. Feldsott serves as showrunner, and BET Studios and Khalabo Ink Society produce the series.

The move to Paramount+ also gives the show a bigger platform for its second season. Season 1 is currently available to stream on Paramount+, meaning fans can catch up before Diarra gets herself wrapped up in another mystery she definitely should’ve left alone — but absolutely will not.

So, everything we know so far points to Season 2 being bigger, messier, funnier, and even more Detroit than the first. The mystery is new, the guest stars are major, and Diarra Brickland is still doing what she does best: turning one simple problem into a full-blown investigation that somehow involves half the city.

RELATED: ‘Nemesis’ Has Us Thinking About The Best, Boldest & Most Questionable Black TV Cops Ever

In May 1916, in Waco, Texas, 17-year-old Jesse Washington was convicted of murder and rape during a one-hour trial in which his feckless attorney offered no defense. The courtroom had already done its work and named him guilty after deliberating for only four minutes. But Washington’s conviction and death sentence were not enough.

A mob of white men and boys dragged him out of the courthouse, stripped him naked, spat on him, kicked, stabbed, and castrated him, passed his genitals around in a handkerchief, and hauled him before a waiting crowd of 15,000 spectators, where they burned him alive under a tree in front of the mayor’s office. 

The pyre where the teenager was chained and cooked for hours was constructed by small boys who were paid to gather scraps of wood and kindling. Another small child, sitting at the top of the same tree above the barbaric spectacle, had to be rescued when the smoke overwhelmed him. Waco’s mayor later complained about the destruction of “a good tree.”

While Washington’s parents and at least one sibling were being held in a local jail, his charred body was lassoed and dragged behind a truck through the Black section of town to send a message. When his charred head fell off and bounced through the street, a gaggle of white boys reportedly picked it up, plucked his teeth from the smoldering skull, and sold them as souvenirs for $5 apiece. And then they all went home and resumed pretending to be human.

One hundred and ten years later, still in the State of Texas, another Black teenager, Karmelo Anthony, has been made to stand before a racist public hungry to see his body destroyed beyond any ordinary measure of justice. No, there was no tree, chain, fire, or white children perched in trees or on adult shoulders after Anthony’s conviction and sentencing. But I am seeing that same old mob’s bloodlust moving through the comment sections across social media pages, including my own.  

I am not being hyperbolic when I say that racist white folks stalking Black people’s social media pages want to drag Anthony from the courtroom and hang him or put him in the electric chair. They want Anthony offered up to the old lynching ritual. They want the state to finish what the Jim Crow mobs used to do with rope, fire, photographs, picnic baskets, and souvenirs preserved in formaldehyde. 

I have also been seeing memes featuring Anthony in a lace slip and fantasizing about him being raped by a hulking future cellmate named “Bubba” during Gay Pride Month. This is the same old racial bloodlust dressed up in homoerotic, pedophilic spectacle where “law and order” means imagining a Black teenager being sexually violated, feminized, bent over, and broken for public pleasure. The lynching fantasy embedded in these memes is obfuscated by the humor.

But Black folks recognize it. And we are not surprised by the verdict or by the bloodlust and depraved sexualized projections surrounding Karmelo Anthony. We know that whiteness requires Black punishment and periodic ceremonial purification through the abuse of Black bodies. As Ta-Nehisi Coates wrote in Between the World and Me: “In America, it is traditional to destroy the black body — it is heritage.”  Whiteness wants the Black body destroyed, humiliated, or contained so it can feel restored to itself. 

Listen, I am no longer interested in writing think pieces begging this country to recognize Black childhood. I am not interested in performing another careful explanation of how Black youth are expedited into perceived maturity, or innocence denied, or racial bias, or the long history of Black children being lynched by mobs and the state. All of that is true, but we are well past the point where shame can do any work on people who are too depraved and diseased to feel any shame.

We are living among ghouls.

We are living among people who no longer even bother to hide their appetite for Black pain and death. They do not want justice. They want Black youth to be monsters so they can purify themselves and feel clean. They want the ritual and old satisfaction they brought with them from Europe. They want the reassurance that the racial order still works and that Black life can still be made to absorb the terror, guilt, rage, and moral sewage whiteness refuses to locate in itself.

That is what this entire week has revealed.

Alongside Karmelo Anthony’s conviction in Texas, Chikei “Rick” Chow in South Carolina was found not guilty after chasing down and shooting 14-year-old Cyrus Carmack-Belton, whom he wrongly suspected of stealing water. In Colorado, we also saw the homicide convictions of the paramedics who restrained, sedated, and killed Elijah McClain reversed.

Three cases. One week. One message.

I don’t know about y’all, but to me, these cases feel like a get-back or a snapback. It feels like the backlash that has been waiting underneath the Black Lives Matter movement, all the hashtags, murals, removal of statues, the corporate statements, black squares, DEI trainings, all that kneeling and playing dead on yoga mats, tearful speeches, and all those temporary performances of racial reckoning after George Floyd was murdered in 2020. It feels like America has been itching to prove that nothing actually changed. The system has just been holding its breath for a few years, as it waited out the outrage and protests, and then returned to its unapologetic self.

All that performance has been followed by restoration politics and White America reminding Black folks that our protest is permitted only as theater, and mourning is tolerated only when it changes nothing. And, and . . . and . . .  accountability will be treated as an aberration to be overturned, reversed, neutralized, or punished. At the end of the day, these latest cases involving Black youth send a clear message that Black suffering must never be allowed to interrupt the racial machinery for too long.

That is why all these verdicts are so satisfying to racist America. Once the Black body is killed or locked up, whiteness can feel clean again. It can feel restored, vindicated, re-centered, back on top, and call itself innocent, civilized, and human while pretending that snatching Black youth from the future is justice instead of another season of purification. Because whiteness knows it is a crime scene built on stolen breath and masquerading as civilization.

SEE ALSO:

Black People Have Been Boycotting The Same Insult For 40 Years

Cyrus Carmack-Belton’s Killer Found Not Guilty Of Murder

Karmelo Anthony Murder Trial: Teen Found Guilty For 2025 Stabbing

According to reports, the White House staff was so stunned by the revelations in the Justice Department’s release of the files related to the late Jeffrey Epstein concerning President Donald Trump that it held a meeting without him.

The meeting is one of the many details found in the upcoming book by reporters Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan, Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump. It was convened by Vice President JD Vance in the Situation Room which he raised heavy concern that the files not being fully released would split the president’s MAGA base of supporters.

Tyla continues to show the world that she’s exactly who she says she is.

The South African superstar just announced that she is joining the cast of Toy Story 5, lending her voice to a brand-new character in the Disney and Pixar beloved franchise. The singer shared the news alongside Disney Africa on Instagram before giving fans a behind-the-scenes look at the experience in a YouTube video.

The 24-year-old artist will voice the Inflatable Flamingo, a playful new character created for audiences across Sub-Saharan Africa. The addition marks Tyla’s Disney debut. We love that for her.

RELATED CONTENT: Tyla Denies Copying Britney Spears’ Iconic VMA Look For Coachella Fit —‘Love Her, But No Inspo’

One of the most interesting mysteries in early 2000s pop culture has officially been solved, and the answer is less scandalous than you may think.

Michelle Williams pulled up to Keke Palmer’s Baby, This Is Keke Palmer podcast this week and addressed the viral 2001 Destiny’s Child interview that has had fans convinced for a quarter of a century that Beyoncé, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle were faaaar from sober during it.

If you’ve never seen the clip in question, the X post from @Yubbie007 will catch you right up. The three women are giggly, a little loopy, and giving answers that feel just slightly disconnected from the questions being asked. In one of the most iconic moments in the entire clip, Beyoncé announces with complete sincerity that if she could be any animal, she would be a whale.

RELATED CONTENT: Who You Callin’ Aunty?! — Destiny’s Child Reunite, Prove They’re Timeless At Kelly Rowland’s 44th Birthday Bash

After more than three years of custody disputes, basement bashing, and countless headlines, Drew Sidora and Ralph Pittman are putting their marriage and cellar dweller drama behind them. The news comes amid fans debating about the cushily coined housewife’s salary that was revealed in divorce docs.

According to court documents obtained by People, Sidora has been ordered to pay Pittman $2,218 per month in child support for their two children. The documents state that Sidora earns approximately $38,260 monthly, while Pittman’s monthly income is listed at $27,449. Pittman will maintain health insurance coverage for the children, while any uncovered medical expenses will be split equally between the former spouses.

The settlement also awards Pittman exclusive ownership of the former couple’s Atlanta home, meaning he can move from the home’s basement to upstairs. However, he must pay Sidora $145,054.12 for her share of the property’s equity within 45 days of the order’s filing.

TMZ also reported on the filings and shed light on Sidora’s earnings from The Real Housewives of Atlanta. Her salary rose from roughly $352,000 in Season 15 to $380,000 in Season 16 before reaching approximately $465,000 for Season 17. According to the documents, her most recent contract amounted to about $26,000 per episode.

More Details On Drew Sidora & Ralph Pittman’s Divorce

The final judgment comes just days after Sidora scored a temporary victory in court.

As previously reported by BOSSIP, a Georgia judge reversed an earlier ruling that would have required the actress and singer to leave the marital home by May 31. At the time, Sidora argued that the move would place a significant financial burden on her family while the divorce proceedings remained unresolved.

Despite the divorce now being finalized, there is still lingering tension between the former couple. According to TMZ, Sidora recently requested that Pittman cover more than $400,000 in legal fees she claims accumulated during the contentious divorce battle. In court filings, she alleged that Pittman intentionally prolonged the proceedings and described his behavior throughout the case as “continuous and unrelenting.”

Sidora also claimed Pittman repeatedly gave her false hope that reconciliation was possible before changing course. During testimony, she reportedly compared his behavior to “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” alleging that he would alternate between kindness and hostility.

However, Pittman has pushed back on those claims. He reportedly accused Sidora of failing to fully disclose her income and requested that the court award him $320,000 in legal fees of his own.

While the legal paperwork may finally be signed, one of Atlanta’s most publicized reality television breakups will continue to spark conversation. For now, both Sidora and Pittman appear focused on co-parenting and moving forward into their next chapters, even if their divorce story remains one of the messiest in recent RHOA history.

Meanwhile, Drew is always the one, and never the two, apparently:

RELATED: #RHOA Drew Sidora Wonders Why K. Michelle’s ‘So Rattled’ By Her Presence, Quizzically Questions ‘Performative’ Country Crooner

Well, the GOP has notched another victory in the ongoing redistricting battle. Florida’s Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday that the state can conduct its midterm elections using a recently redrawn map. 

AP reports that in a 6-1 ruling, the court found that the First District Court of Appeal (1st DCA) should consider the merits of the case before it weighs in on the matter. The lawsuit was filed by a group of voters who believed that Florida’s recent redistricting effort violates the state constitution’s ban on partisan redistricting. Since the lawsuit is still pending in a lower court, the Florida Supreme Court believed it lacked jurisdiction to grant a temporary injunction against the map. 

“At this time, we do not have jurisdiction over that matter, and we do not simply assume that the First District’s decision will provide an appropriate basis for this Court’s review,” the court ruling states. 

According to CBS News, Justice Jorge Labarga, the lone dissenter, pushed back against the idea that the court didn’t have the jurisdiction to rule on the map. Labarga expressed frustration with the 1st DCA for failing to expedite the process before this Friday’s filing deadline, which will lock the districts and candidates in place. 

“Had the district court invoked pass-through jurisdiction here, doing so would have established an independent basis for this Court’s jurisdiction in this matter,” Labarga wrote. “Unfortunately, for now, and with a filing deadline and an election fast approaching, we will not have the opportunity to review the issues of statewide importance raised in the petitioners’ efforts to enjoin Florida’s 2026 congressional map.” 

Florida’s map is already heavily skewed toward Republicans, with the GOP holding 20 of Florida’s 28 U.S. House seats. The new map would potentially give Republicans another four House seats in the state. Florida’s Republican Attorney General James Uthmeier defended the new districts in court and declared “complete and total victory” in a social media post. 

“The Florida Supreme Court’s failure to stop this brazen partisan power grab is not only an assault on democracy, but an abdication of its duty to the people of Florida,” Genesis Robinson, executive director of Equal Ground, a community organizing group that sued the state, said of the ruling. 

Amy Keith, executive director of Common Cause Florida, told AP that the new map is “a pretty clear partisan gerrymander,” and added that her organization is “going to do everything we can to prevent this map from impacting further, future elections.” 

Should the 2028 election lead to Democrats controlling Congress and the Oval Office, there’s got to be something done on the federal level about redistricting. Congressional maps are typically redrawn every 10 years in response to new Census data. That’s changed over the last year, after President Donald Trump successfully convinced several Republican governors to trigger mid-decade redistricting efforts focused on protecting the GOP’s narrow House majority. 

While California successfully passed through a redistricting effort, giving Democrats five new House seats, state laws have hampered most Blue states from effectively passing counter efforts. 

Trump and the Republican Party are incredibly unpopular on the national level, yet they could very well maintain control of Congress this fall simply through redrawing the maps. They are effectively using the new maps to undermine the will of the people and hold the country hostage to their whims. That’s not exactly a sign of a healthy democracy. 

SEE ALSO:

Florida Redistricting Effort Faces 1st Legal Challenge

Republican Pressure Grows For Florida To Undergo Redistricting Effort

In between dropping skits that has social media dubbing him a cultural anthropologist, Druski has been steadily stacking up his IMDb credits.

Now he’s joining the cast of Universal’s latest romantic comedy, The Catch.

Druski’s got some Hollywood heavy hitters at the top of the call sheet with Chris Pine and Emma Stone leading the cast. Dave McRary, Stone’s husband, is the director, and it’s set to hit theaters on May 21, 2027.

Few details are known about the film, but it will center around baseball and is inspired by the romantic comedies of the 1980s and 1990s.

“While details are being kept under wraps, sources say the film is a baseball rom-com in the vein of Bull Durham and Notting Hill. Sources say Druski will play Stone’s security guard,” writes Deadline.

The original spec script was written by Patrick Kang and Michael Levin, but the most recent draft was written by Jen Statsky and Travis Helwig. 

As a married couple, Stone and McRary have worked together on several projects through their Fruit Tree production company, and it just adds another to the growing list. Producing alongside them is Ali Herting, while Shawn Levy and Dan Levine are producing through 21 Laps. Michael H. Weber is also credited as one of the film’s producers.

Druski’s big-picture role is just another testament to his ability to turn online popularity into a career. After a guest spot on Black-ish, the Atlanta-born comedian’s first major credit came in 2023’s Praise This, which was led by Chloe Bailey and also starred Quavo.

With his Hollywood dreams being realized, he’s also taken on the gig of hosting the 2026 BET Awards. Ahead of the 25th ceremony in June 28, Druski spoke about the honor of hosting a show he watched as a kid.

“I grew up watching the BET Awards,” Druski said in a statement. “To know the comedic legends that hosted before me set the bar so high, I’m just grateful to be a part of the history. But I’m still bringing my brand of comedy to the stage.”

See social media’s reaction to Druski’s new role below.

Father’s Day is right around the corner, which means it’s time to show love to the men who taught us how to change a tire, over-season meat, argue with a referee from the couch, and somehow turn every life lesson into a 45-minute speech.

Black dads come in many forms. Some are loud, some are quiet, some are hilarious without trying, and some have been wearing the same pair of Nikes since Obama’s first term. But no matter the type, they all bring their own brand of love, wisdom, comedy, and chaos to the family.

So in honor of Father’s Day on June 21, we’re breaking down some of the most recognizable Black dad archetypes — from the cookout legends to the dads still convinced they could’ve gone pro.

Laverne Cox is opening up about having some post-cop clarity. After previously revealing that she spent nearly four years seriously swooning over her MAGA-supporting police officer boo, she realized she was “betraying” herself by being in that relationship.

During a recent appearance on The View while promoting her upcoming memoir, Transcendent, the Emmy-nominated star reflected on her former relationship with a New York City police officer whose political beliefs sparked intense public conversation. According to The Independent, Cox addressed the backlash she received after previously revealing that she had dated a younger police officer who supported Donald Trump.

“We didn’t plan to fall in love, but we did,” Cox explained while discussing the relationship.

The Orange Is the New Black star said that when they first met, she was drawn to what she described as a kind and attentive partner who treated her better than anyone she had dated before. Cox eventually learned that he had not been completely honest about his profession and later discovered political differences that became increasingly difficult to ignore.

According to USA Today, Cox explained that while she initially wanted to see him as a human being beyond his job title and political affiliation, deeper issues eventually surfaced.

“People show you who they are eventually,” she shared during a television appearance.

The actress revealed that as time went on, she realized the relationship represented more than a disagreement about politics. Instead, she came to view it as a conflict in values. While Cox said she believes people can sometimes maintain relationships despite differing political opinions, she ultimately concluded that this situation involved fundamental differences in how they viewed the world.

“The political affiliation became obvious, but I’d already had feelings for him, and I wanted to see him as a human being beyond that,” the actress continued. “His politics and his unexamined life became clear after the three-and-a-half-years. I was like, ‘I love him, but I love myself more.’ And staying in this relationship betrayed myself.”

Deets about Laverne Cox’s ex date back to July 2025, when the actress came forward about the relationship while promoting her NYC show Laverne Cox: Gurrl How Did I Get Here?.

Cox shared that she was “madly in love” with the man who was 22 years her junior.

“My ex-boyfriend, when we met five years ago, at the height of the pandemic, he was 26. I was 48,” she said. “He is a blonde-hair, blue-eyed MAGA Republican voter who is a New York City police officer. We were madly in love. I did not develop any of these politics. I still have my own.”

After being blasted with criticism, Cox emphasized in a follow-up IG video that she never adopted her former partner’s political beliefs and continued challenging viewpoints she disagreed with throughout the relationship. She also stressed that her commitment to transgender rights and progressive advocacy never wavered.

“For the folks who say it’s a betrayal to my community because I fell in love with someone with different politics, I mean, I get it,” she said in a follow-up video. I” get it, especially now, and we aren’t dating now, and I think with this current administration, lines certainly have to be drawn, because we’re fighting for our lives in a different way than we were five years ago,” she said.

Laverne went on to note that, unlike her ex, she’d never voted for Trump.

Now, as she prepares to release her memoir, Cox appears focused on sharing the lessons she learned.

RELATED: Look What You’ve Done: Donald Trump’s White House Uses Drake’s ‘ICEMAN’ Album To Promote The MAGA Agenda With New TikTok, ‘The Boy’ Blasted By Critics

Firefighters with the Chicago Fire Department responded to a call about a fire in Grant Park at around 2:30 p.m. Tuesday afternoon, and what they found was a cross burning at the park, which, of course, immediately sparked fears that white supremacists were in the Windy City engaging in Klan-destine activities. Now, Chicago police have released photos of a “person of interest” seen fleeing the scene of the cross burning.

Authorities haven’t identified the suspect by name, and it’s important to note that a “person of interest” isn’t necessarily a person accused of committing the crime, but local activists and community members are sounding the alarm on what is widely perceived as a hate crime, and word is spreading to national activist groups like the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, which recently held its first conference without its founder, Rev. Jesse Jackson, who died at age 84 in February.

From ABC 7 Chicago:

Rev. Michael L. Pfleger said the Faith Community of Saint Sabina will offer $10,000 for information leading to an arrest.

“This was so premeditated. You made this cross somewhere. You carried it, you got it downtown. You put it in one of the most visible spots in Chicago and then you set it afire,” Pfleger said. “This is a decades-old symbol of hate and supremacy and the Ku Klux Klan. This is their symbol.”

Reaction also came from the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, which was holding its first conference without the Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr.

“The image of the burning cross is one that brings terror. And it’s beneath the dignity of our society to continue that,” said Yusef Jackson, president of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition.

It’s worth noting that the burning cross was first discovered and recorded by a Black mother and daughter, who happened to drive past the park when they spotted it.

“We stopped in our tracks because we were like, what?” Alyna Carlton told ABC 7.

Firefighters quickly extinguished the flames on Tuesday, and Chicago police reported that they are investigating the circumstances of the fire and potential motives. Meanwhile, the office of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson released the following statement:

“Like many Chicagoans across our city, we were deeply disturbed upon seeing the images which have emerged following this incident. Hate has no place in our city. Every Chicagoan deserves to feel safe, protected, and respected while going about their day or enjoying our public spaces. We will continue working across City government to uphold that standard and ensure Chicago remains a welcoming, inclusive, and safe place for all.”

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Despite the pain and frustration this family must be feeling, they are resilient and are determined to reach justice.

CBS News reports that the family of Karmelo Anthony is speaking out publicly following the Texas teenager’s murder conviction and the 35-year prison sentence given for the fatal stabbing of fellow student-athlete Austin Metcalf, insisting that the tragedy has left two families devastated and that “nobody wins” from the outcome.

In an interview following the verdict, Anthony’s parents continued to maintain that their son acted in self-defense during the April 2025 confrontation at a Frisco (Texas) high school track meet that ended with 17-year-old Metcalf’s death. An all-white Collin County jury rejected that argument after less than three hours of deliberation, finding Anthony guilty of murder before sentencing him to 35 years in prison.

Anthony’s mother, Kala Hayes, said her son “didn’t mean to hurt anyone” and argued that he was attempting to defend himself during the altercation. His father, Andrew Anthony, expressed sympathy for the Metcalf family while acknowledging the enormous pain caused by the case.

“It’s unfortunate, it’s where nobody wins. We’ve all been hurt by this. Everybody, everyone.”

That said, Anthony still does not feel like his son got a fair trial.

“They did a number on us,” Anthony said. “We didn’t get justice. A lot of things that were missed that should have been handled a certain way.”

The family also pushed back against what they describe as widespread public hostility surrounding the case. In a separate interview with CBS Texas, Anthony’s parents said they have continued to receive death threats even after the conviction and sentencing. Andrew Anthony claimed that members of the public still want harm to come to his family despite the guilty verdict. The family believes public opinion turned against Karmelo long before the trial began and has vowed to continue fighting the conviction through the appeals process.

“People want us dead,” Anthony said. “After they still got what they wanted…they still want us dead. I go look at my phone, people want us dead. They want our family dead.”

Although the trial has concluded, the emotional fallout remains severe for both families. The Metcalfs continue to mourn the loss of Austin, while Karmelo’s family faces the reality of their son beginning a lengthy prison sentence.

“That poor boy is fixing to experience a life that I would not wish upon anyone, but he deserves what he gets because we’re all responsible for our actions,” [Jeff] Metcalf, Austin’s father, said. “What it boils down to for me is this: Austin will never walk through that door again, and never give me a hug.” 

As Anthony’s legal team prepares an appeal, his parents say they remain convinced that the justice system got the case wrong, even as a jury reached the opposite conclusion.

The NY Knicks are one game away from winning the chip after an electrifying 29-point comeback in Game 4 of the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs. Madison Square Garden was on fire when OG Anunoby tipped in Jalen Brunson‘s ball for the game-winning shot. The moment was instantly cemented into Knicks history. It was extra emotional coming off Game 3, which was attended by President Trump. It’s safe to say he brought a black cloud to the franchise that was restored last night, thanks to the Wu-Tang Clan, Jordyn Woods’ bag, and Fat Joe’s wavering arms.

Jordyn Woods’ Orange Bag

When President Trump decided to attend Game 3 at the Garden, he sent off a string of events that fans believe led to the end of the Knicks’ 13-game winning streak. Thanks to his mere presence and other security changes like the no-bag policy that forced Jordyn Woods to leave her lucky orange ostrich bag at home, the Knicks played their worst game of the series. But all is better now, Jordyn’s orange bag made a return to the sidelines, the Knicks won, and the bag will be on sale in a mini version soon.

Jordyn’s younger sister Jodie Woods was also courtside serving looks in a blue dress and white mules to match her white clutch.