trump, black pastor
by Jameelah Mullen

February 5, 2026

Trump To Honor Black Legends In ‘National Garden Of American Heroes’

Is he playing in Black people's faces during Black History Month?

As he continues efforts to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, President Donald Trump announced plans to include Black historical figures in his proposed National Garden of American Heroes.

In a Feb

3 proclamation, the president stated that Black history is inseparable from American history and named several notable Black figures to be honored in the park. 

“ I have authorized the construction of the National Garden of American Heroes, a new statuary park honoring our greatest Americans, including black icons like Booker T. Washington, Jackie Robinson, Aretha Franklin, Coretta Scott King, Muhammad Ali, and many others,”  the proclamation reads. 

Trump initially announced plans for the garden in February 2025, praising abolitionists Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass as “black patriots.” He also revealed that the park will feature a statue of Prince Estabrook, who fought in the Revolutionary War while enslaved. The nation’s first convicted felon president noted that Estabrook was the first American to “spill blood” in the war, claiming that by fighting in the war, Estabrook “won his own freedom.” 

During that announcement, Trump slammed  far-left politicians, claiming that they “needlessly divide our citizens based on race, painting a toxic and distorted and disfigured vision of our history, heritage, and heroes.” 

Trump’s Black History Month proclamation seems to conflict with his administration’s efforts to defund organizations and programs that aim to support Black people and other marginalized groups.

“Since the start of Trump’s second term, we have seen a coordinated effort to erase or rewrite parts of American history, especially Black history and the legacy of the Civil Rights Movement,” Martin Luther King III, son of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr., told Axios. 

Last month, the Trump administration ordered the removal of a slavery exhibit at Philadelphia’s Independence National Historical Park as part of its effort to comply with the administration’s goal of “restoring truth and sanity to American history.” This action was part of a broader effort to eliminate narratives about slavery and racism in U.S. history. 

RELATED CONTENT:  ‘Minding Our Own Business—’ A Spotlight On Diaspora Enterprise and Culture: Lu Smith

Steve Bannon, ICE, voting, polls
by Sharelle B. McNair

February 5, 2026

Steve Bannon Says ‘Damn Right’ ICE Will ‘Surround the Polls’ 

The comments come just days after Trump doubled down on how he wants Republicans to take over elections - “in at least 15 places.”

Seems as if President Donald Trump has put a battery in his supporters’ backs to “nationalize” elections, as former White House strategist and podcaster Steve Bannon suggested.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents will be present at the polls during the 2026 midterm elections.

During a segment of his own podcast, War Room, Bannon, who spent four months in federal prison for contempt of Congress, made unspecified claims that ICE officers will “surround the polls” during the hotly anticipated upcoming midterm elections because “we” can’t “allow you to steal the country again.”

“You’re damn right we’re going to have ICE surround the polls come November. We’re not going to sit here and allow you to steal the country again,” he said. 

“And you can whine and cry and throw your toys out of the pram all you want, but we will never again allow an election to be stolen.” 

The comments come just days after Trump doubled down on how he wants Republicans to take over elections — “in at least 15 places” — and continued his years-long claims of “horrible corruption” in Democratic-led cities such as Atlanta. “I want to see elections be honest, and if a state can’t run an election, I think the people behind me should do something about it,” the president said. 

All claims are a trickle-down effect of the president’s 2020 loss to former President Joe Biden. The FBI recently raided Fulton County, Georgia, offices to seize records, which Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) called “nothing more than Jim Crow 2.0,” according to The Hill.

Bannon may seem to know something American voters don’t, as his sole focus has shifted to the midterm elections, which he sees as making room for a Democratic takeover. 

With Black leaders like Rep. Jasmine Crockett working on a campaign for Texas senator and Illinois Congresswoman Robin Kelly looking to take over Dick Durbin’s seat, during a speech, Bannon alleged that if the right-leaning party loses, “some in this room are going to prison, myself included.”

“We have to understand that if we don’t take this to the maximum, the maximumist strategy with a sense of urgency…if we don’t do that now, we’re going to lose this chance forever,” he said. 

“’Cause you’re never going to have another Trump.” 

RELATED CONTENT: Steve Bannon Lectures Black Businesses on ‘Economic Nationalism’

Pastor Jamal Bryant, Black Friday, Black Business Maket
by Kandiss Edwards

February 5, 2026

Don’t Talk About It, Be About It: Pastor Jamal Bryant Dares Pam Bondi To Arrest White Nationalist Disruptor

Pastor Jamal Bryant called out Pam Bondi after a “white evangelical nationalist” interrupted his church service. 

On Feb. 1, the alleged agitator entered the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church to confront Pastor Bryant.

The pastor took to his self-titled podcast to discuss the “propaganda and disturbance.”

He called on Attorney General Pam Bondi to enforce the law to render consequences for what he deems to be “hate speech” spewed by the intruders.

“A white evangelical nationalist pastor had the audacity — he and his wife — to get out of his car… and for propaganda and disturbance, filmed themselves coming into our church using hate speech,” Bryant said. “And since you are against places of worship being disturbed… When is the arrest warrant?”

Bryant did not deny detractors the right to speak in opposition to his mission. He affirmed as much in his message, stating, “This is not about disagreement.”

However, Pastor Bryant believes the rant and intended “correction” by the intruders was “completely out of order” and a safety concern.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has stated that America will not tolerate disturbances and threats against religious institutions, he questions Bondi’s lack of response. 

“Since you are against places of worship being disturbed and this gentleman attempted to do it at a Black church, I want to know when is the arrest warrant.”

Bryant is referring to a Jan. 30 video message by Bondi, in which the attorney general vowed to “come after” those who interrupted religious worship.

“Make no mistake, under President Trump’s leadership and this administration, you have the right to worship freely and safely,” Bondi said. “And if I haven’t been clear already, if you violate that sacred right, we are coming after you.”

The video followed the arrest of former CNN journalist Don Lemon. As a now independent journalist, Lemon followed protestors into a church as they protested the pastor’s alleged involvement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. 

RELATED CONTENT: Pastor Jamal Bryant Jokingly Claps Back At Wife’ Ongoing Dress Controversy

Sonya Massey, father
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

February 5, 2026

Sonya Massey’s Family Condemns Convicted Cop After 20-Year Sentence: ‘I Rebuke You In The Name of Jesus’

Sonya Massey’s family confronted Sean Grayson in court ahead of him receiving a 20-year sentence for her murder.

Sean Grayson, a former Illinois sheriff’s deputy convicted of second-degree murder for the 2024 death of Sonya Massey, heard from her family as a judge handed him a 20-year prison sentence for the murder.

Just before the Jan. 29 verdict, Sonya’s mother, Donna Massey, looked at Grayson and repeated her daughter’s final words, spoken moments before he fatally shot the mother of two who had called 911 about a possible prowler outside her Springfield home.

”Sean Grayson, I rebuke you in the name of Jesus,” Donna said, as cited by The New York Times.

Sonya’s children, 19-year-old Malachi Hill Massey and 16-year-old Summer Massey, spoke in court for the first time. Summer described the lasting trauma of her mother’s murder, saying her life has never been the same, reading from a paper as Grayson watched.

“It does not feel like he truly understands or cares about the damage he has caused,” Summer said.

Malachi called the pain of losing his mother “unimaginable.”

“My soul is ripped, it’s like a part of me is really dead,” Malachi said.

After the sentencing, Summer said she was grateful but acknowledged it could never make up for the family’s devastating loss.

“I’m thankful for all the love and support that everybody has came out and shown, and I’m grateful that we got the maximum sentence that we could,” Summer said. “Twenty years is not enough, but they did what … they could do.”

In court, Grayson spoke after his defense, admitting for the first time that he had done wrong, saying he made “terrible decisions” that night and apologizing for Massey’s death.

”I was very unprofessional that night,” Grayson said. “She didn’t deserve to be yelled at, cussed at, and called names. Nobody deserves that.”

Grayson’s defense sought leniency, citing his worsening stage 4 colon cancer, but Judge Ryan Cadigan of the 7th Judicial Circuit Court of Illinois imposed the maximum sentence, saying, “That bit of unreasonable rage needs to be deterred.”

A defense motion for a new trial, filed in November, was also denied.

RELATED CONTENT: ‘The Blind Side’ Star Quinton Aaron Fighting For Life After Sudden Collapse

Terry rozier
by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

February 5, 2026

Terry Rozier Must Be Paid While He Awaits Government’s Case Against Him, Arbitrator Rules

'We are pleased with the arbitrator's ruling and remain committed to ensuring Terry's due process rights are protected and that he is afforded the presumption of innocence throughout this process,' said the National Basketball Players Association

After an illegal gambling scheme placed Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier on ice for the season while the government presents a case against him, an arbitrator has ruled that the NBA must continue paying him as he awaits his fate for his alleged role in the illegal operation.

According to ESPN, Rozier, who was arrested Oct. 23, was accused of sharing information about players on a team’s roster with bettors before games and charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering. He pleaded not guilty to the charges. Rozier was then suspended by the league and placed on unpaid leave after he was indicted. 

The league agreed to place his salary in escrow after the National Basketball Players Association informed them that it was challenging the NBA for failing to pay him while he was away from the league. 

An arbitrator ruled in favor of Rozier, citing that under the terms of the collective bargaining agreement (CBA), players cannot be placed on unpaid leave except in cases of domestic or child abuse.

“Terry won today under principles of contract law and the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the league and the players, but the bigger principle at issue is the presumption of innocence,” said Rozier’s attorney Jim Trusty in a written statement. “Today’s arbitration ruling reminds the NBA that they can’t ignore that important concept just because it’s a high-profile case.”

The players’ union was also happy with the decision and gave its own statement.

“We are pleased with the arbitrator’s ruling and remain committed to ensuring Terry’s due process rights are protected and that he is afforded the presumption of innocence throughout this process,” a spokesperson said.

Although suspended, Rozier remains on the team’s roster as his attorneys have filed a motion to dismiss the charges. The motion was filed in December, and the judge has yet to rule.

RELATED CONTENT: What’s Going On With NBA’s Gambling Scandal?

The Washington Post
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

February 5, 2026

The Washington Post Lays Off Hundreds Of Workers, Former Staff Calls It ‘The Darkest Days’

The Washington Post is being criticized by current and former staff after laying off a third of its newsroom.

The Washington Post employees are speaking out after layoffs cut about a third of the newsroom, a move former executive editor says “ranks among the darkest days.”

On Feb. 4, the Jeff Bezos–owned legacy outlet laid off hundreds of workers after weeks of uncertainty, with Editor-in-Chief Matt Murray announcing the cuts during a morning meeting and calling them part of a “strategic reset,” The Guardian reports.

“It’s an absolute bloodbath,” one staffer who spoke anonymously said.

In an audio recording of the meeting, Murray acknowledged that the Post, founded in 1877, has struggled to reach audiences and cited the need to compete in a crowded media landscape as a reason for the layoffs.

“Today, The Washington Post is taking a number of actions across the company to secure our future,” he said.

As part of the shakeup, the Post is ending its current sports desk and reassigning some staff to a new team. The outlet is also restructuring local coverage, scaling back international reporting, eliminating its books desk, and suspending its flagship daily podcast, Post Reports.

Murray said about 12 international bureaus will remain, with a focus on national security coverage.

“We all recognize the actions we are taking today will be painful – most of all, of course, for those of you who are directly affected, but for everybody,” Murray told staffers on the call. “I know that the reset is going to feel like a shock to the system and raise some questions for everybody.”

One editor who was laid off on Wednesday blamed the Post’s publisher, Will Lewis, who remained silent during the morning conference call.

”Will Lewis’s legacy (already pretty bleak to begin with) will be having enabled Bezos to tank an American institution,” the staffer, who spoke anonymously, said, “And he wasn’t even brave enough to face his staffers more than once in his tenure at the Post. Embarrassing to say the least.”

The Washington Post is one of several legacy outlets grappling with shifts in readership and revenue, as major city newspapers like the Los Angeles Times struggle amid audiences’ growing reliance on social media for news.

Murray said the changes were meant to make the Post “more essential to people’s lives” in an increasingly crowded and competitive media landscape. Laid-off employees will remain on staff through April 10 without working and will receive six months of continued health insurance.

RELATED CONTENT: Shattering Borders: Global Commerce Mavens Converge At AAWEF To Build U.S.-Africa Economic Bridge

Godfrey Wade, Jamaica, soldier, deportation
by Jameelah Mullen

February 5, 2026

U.S. Trying To Kick Out Army Vet Who Risked Life For A Country That Now Rejects Him

The 65-year-old came to the U.S. legally as a teen.

An Army veteran who has lived in the U.S. for over 50 years is in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody and faces deportation. Jamaican-born soldier, Godfrey Wade, has been in ICE custody for nearly five months. 

Wade came to the U.S. legally in 1975 when he was a teenager. He served in the Army’s 7th Infantry Division in Aschaffenburg, Germany. The veteran received an honorable discharge before joining the civilian workforce.

“That was his foundation, and he took pride in it and made us believe in the U.S. Army,” Emmanuela Wade, the veteran’s daughter, told CBS News.

“He lived as a lawful permanent resident for decades, working as a chef, tennis coach, and fashion designer. “He’s dipped his hands in everything that makes America good,” Emmanuela said.

On Sept 13, 2025, police pulled Wade over in Conyers, Georgia, for failing to use a turn signal. Authorities then arrested the veteran for driving without a license. 

In the days following his arrest, ICE detained him, citing a 2014 removal order stemming from a bounced check in 2007 and a 2006 simple assault charge. 

Wade’s attorney tells CBS News that a domestic argument, during which someone knocked over pots and pans, led to the assault charge, but no one was accused of physical assault. The attorney added that Wade paid for the bounced check and related fines. Authorities issued a removal order, but Wade did not appear in court for a 2014 hearing. However, the veteran said he was never notified about the hearing. Court records show that hearing notices sent to an address used by ICE were returned as undeliverable. Because of the 2014 removal order, Wade has not had a hearing. His attorney has filed an appeal to reopen his case.

After his arrest, authorities took Wade to Atlanta’s ICE field office and then transferred him to Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, Georgia, where he stayed for several months. In a phone interview with 11 Alive News, Atlanta Wade discussed his ordeal. 

“For 52 years I’ve lived in this country and raised my children, worked hard, paid my taxes,” he said. “A lot of the processes of immigration I didn’t know about. I’m learning more while I’m in here,” Wade told the outlet. 

ICE’s online detainee database shows Wade currently listed as “in ICE custody” at Richwood Correctional in Louisiana. According to his attorney, Wade is on a flight manifest to Jamaica this week.

RELATED CONTENT: Elevate Your Excellence: Exalting The Renaissance Of Harlem’s Favored Rose, Teyana Taylor

Nike, LAPD
by Sharelle B. McNair

February 5, 2026

During Black History Month?! Trump Administration Alleges Nike Discriminated Against White Staff

The news of the probe sent shockwaves through social media

One of the biggest supporters of Black athletes, Nike, is being investigated by the Trump Administration for alleged discrimination against white employees. 

On the fourth day of Black History Month, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced the investigation into unspecified claims that the retail conglomerate discriminates against white employees, CNN reported. While the Feb. 4 filing failed to mention individual victims, the investigation claims to be at the benefit of “all White employees, former employees, prospective employees, and current and prospective training program applicants and participants who have been, continue to be, or may be in the future adversely affected by the [alleged] unlawful employment practices.” 

The probe puts the spotlight on “NIKE’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion-related 2025 Targets and other DEI-related objectives” with the agency seeking information from Nike dating back to 2018 for “race-based workforce representation quotas” in addition to information on layoffs and promotions they allege were in part due to race. 

Nike, the world’s largest sportswear and apparel company, the birthplace of the iconic Jordan brand, and home of LeBron James and A’ja Wilson’s sneakers, called the allegations “a surprising and unusual escalation” and seemingly said they have nothing to hide, saying they already “shared thousands of pages of information.” “We are committed to fair and lawful employment practices and follow all applicable laws, including those that prohibit discrimination,” the company said in a statement. 

“We believe our programs and practices are consistent with those obligations and take these matters seriously. We will continue our attempt to cooperate with the EEOC and will respond to the petition.”

Court filings push the allegations as a continuation from May 2024 when EEOC Chair Andrea Lucas, then-commissioner, presented the charge herself in May 2024. Since being appointed chair by President Donald Trump in November 2025, Lucas has spearheaded an uptick in claims of white discrimination, putting a battery in the back of employees who feel discriminated against. “Are you a white male who has experienced discrimination at work based on your race or sex? You may have a claim to recover money under federal civil rights laws,” she wrote in a X post.  

Employment advocates like Sam Mitchell says the probe is evidence that no one is too large or small to be the subject of scrutiny. “Nike is being made an example of,” the Chicago based lawyer said. 

The news of the probe sent shockwaves through social media as some allege Nike has faced discrimination allegations in the past. “White Employees at Nike really saw Black People getting promoted & said “can’t have that” & sued the company during BLACK HISTORY MONTH lmao…I always heard racism was rampant at the Swoosh but yikes,” @sneakerphetish said. 

Another user posted a past campaign with NFL blackballed quarterback Colin Kaepernick, seemingly supporting Nike.

RELATED CONTENT: LeBron James’ ‘Honor The King’ Nike Shoe Inspired By Memphis Hotel Where MLK Was Assassinated

OpenAI, chatgpt
by Sharelle B. McNair

February 5, 2026

OpenAI President Exposed As Mega MAGA Donor. Now There’s A Growing Campaign To Cancel ChatGPT

Brockman’s exposure as a Trump supporter is just another example of some of the world’s most profound tech leaders cozying up to the president as American voters witnessed the likes of Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg of Meta and TikTok’s Zhang Yiming cheering him on.

Reports reveal Greg Brockman, co-founder and president of ChatGPT’s parent company OpenAI, and his wife, Anna, made massive donations to President Donald Trump and “MAGA Inc.” super PAC, equaling $25 million, The Verge reports. 

Now, there is a growing call to cancel the beloved AI system for good. 

Brockman’s exposure is just another example of some of the world’s most prominent tech leaders getting on the president’s good side, as American voters witnessed the likes of Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg, and TikTok’s Zhang Yiming cheering Trump on during the 2025 inauguration. There were similar campaigns to have those platforms crossed off as well, but for ChatGPT, the stakes are a little higher. 

AI has provided positive resources for many, but with popularity comes the risk of harmful exposure. For example, AI has been used by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to attack and harass both legal and illegal immigrants as well as U.S. citizens. A recent report revealed that Amazon’s Ring secretly dialed back its privacy policy, which banned police access to private videos, and that footage was made accessible to federal agencies. 

OpenAI is doing something similar—ICE is using its technology to screen job applicants for its deportation operations. Historian, author, and co-founder of The School of Moral Ambition, Rutger Bergman, sounded the alarm about the initiative and offered ways to stop it.

In a video posted on LinkedIn, Bergman says, “one of the most impactful things you can do to fight ICE and stand up to Trump is to cancel your ChatGPT account.” He also exposed how OpenAI has led efforts, with other Silicon Valley leaders, to oppose stricter AI laws and attacked politicians who favor them. 

In a lengthy post, Bergman offered alternatives to ChatGPT and highlighted the damage already done, given Brockman’s support for Trump.

“They’ve already dropped from 87% market share to 65% in a single year. They spend three dollars for every dollar they bring in. Their entire business model depends on you believing there’s no alternative,” Bergman wrote. 

“But Claude exists, Gemini exists, open-source alternatives like Confer, Alpine, and Lumo exist, and most people who try them say they’re just as good or better.”

Social media influencer Blakely Neiman Thornton also touched on why the world should dial back its reliance on software. In hilarious ways, Thornton pushed the narrative that ChatGPT sponsors illiteracy and Nazis as another reason to cancel the platform.

“They are our dementia-riddled dictator’s biggest donor and currently collaborating with his cadre of murderous, insecure bigots to terrorize hardworking immigrants, detain children and murder U.S. citizens,” he said. 

He also exposed how OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has put the company in $96 billion in debt, with the software not far behind.

“Much like that ragged, chlamydia-riddled Chucky doll, ChatGPT is deep in debt. Extremely vulnerable to boycott,” the influencer said. 

“Even if you’re too goddam lazy to Google, you can still f*** these bastards over by using Gemini or Claude. Delete ChatGPT….if you’re too lazy to stop using a Nazi-sponsored chatbot, well then you, much like our democracy currently, can rot!”

RELATED CONTENT: OpenAI Wants To Be A Data Hub With ChatGPT Health

Daycare, Child
by Jeroslyn JoVonn

February 5, 2026

Inglewood Daycare Worker Axed After Throwing Shoe At 5-Year-Old

Three women were fired from an Inglewood daycare center after video caught one woman throwing a shoe at a 5-year-old girl.

Three daycare workers in Inglewood, California, were fired after a video showed one woman hurling a shoe at a 5-year-old girl.

Michelae Jones said she was outraged after viewing surveillance video that showed a worker at Destiny Development Center throwing a shoe at her five-year-old daughter, who has special needs, KTLA reported. The now-viral video shows the worker throwing the shoe as two other employees looked on, one of them appearing to laugh.

Jones said the school was slow to respond after she demanded to see the footage when her daughter came home and described the incident the same night it occurred.

“I’ve been with these people for three years,” Jones said. “I really thought my baby was safe with them.”

Jones said she contacted the school’s director, Danielle Williams, immediately after learning of the incident, but didn’t hear back for two weeks, prompting the child’s aunt, Kira Townsend, to question the school’s protocols.

“I want to know how often are they reviewing the footage?” Townsend said. “How do you have a business and you don’t review the footage unless a parent says something? Why do we have to wait for my niece to come and tell us, ‘Hey, my teacher hit me in the ear with a shoe.’”

Williams told Jones she was investigating the incident, later claiming the caregiver was tossing shoes into another room and that the child was accidentally struck in the head.

”My school, what we stand for, it’s not child abuse,” Williams said. “We don’t hire child abusers.” 

Following an investigation, the caregiver, only identified as “Ms. Emily,” was fired, while the other two caregivers were put on suspension for not reporting the incident. But after finally reviewing the footage, the other two caregivers were also terminated.

“This is not a representation of my school,” Williams said. “It’s a representation of a bad hire. It’s not what we stand for. We don’t approve of abuse. I’ve been doing this for too long. I have a heart for kids. I love what I do. I love children.”

Jones said an apology and the caregiver’s firing aren’t enough, and is calling for criminal charges against Ms. Emily for assault and child abuse.

”You need to be in jail like any other child abuser,” she said. “That’s what I want. Justice.”

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is reportedly investigating the incident.

“People send their children to daycares and to schools, thinking that our children are safe, that they’ll be protected, you know, they’ll be loved, they’ll be treated with kindness,” Townsend said. “In this video, that did not display that at all.”

RELATED CONTENT: Shattering Borders: Global Commerce Mavens Converge At AAWEF To Build U.S.-Africa Economic Bridge

×