Madam President? VP Kamala Harris Says She’s Prepared To Be President ‘If Necessary’

by Sharelle B. McNair

September 8, 2023

Madam President? VP Kamala Harris Says She’s Prepared To Be President ‘If Necessary’

Vice President of the United States Kamala Harris is confident that she and President Joe Biden will win reelection in 2024.

So confident that she’s prepared to take over the Oval Office, “if necessary,” she says. CBS News reports. While Republicans, critics, and even fellow Democrats have expressed concerns over Biden’s age, Harris says she isn’t worried. “We will win reelection, Harris told CBS’ Face the Nation moderator and chief foreign affairs correspondent Margaret Brennan. “There’s too much at stake and the American people know it.”

Biden will be 82 in 2024, and if he wins election again, he will be the oldest sitting U.S. president in history. Harris said she’s ready to step into the role of commander-in-chief “if necessary” but says her boss “is going to be fine.” “I work with Joe Biden every day,” Harris, 58, said. “The work that under Joe Biden’s leadership our administration has accomplished is transformative. I think the American people, most of all, want a leader who actually gets things done.”

The conversation about Biden’s age has sparked controversy among the 2024 presidential candidates. Brennan took the time to address several comments from candidates on the other side of the aisle. Former Trump cabinet member and South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley said, “A vote for Joe Biden is a vote for Kamala Harris,” and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis claimed, “Harris is Biden’s impeachment insurance.”

Harris responded by taking a poke at critics who don’t have a plan. “We’re delivering for the American people. And the reality of it is that, unfortunately, very few of those who challenge our administration actually have a plan for America,” Harris said, according to The Hill. “Listen, this is not new. There’s nothing new about that … They feel the need to attack because they’re scared that we will win based on the merit of the work that Joe Biden and I, and our administration, has done.”

Rapper Finesse2tymes Vows To Bail One Person Out of Jail On Each Stop of His Tour

by Sharelle B. McNair

September 8, 2023

Rapper Finesse2tymes Vows To Bail One Person Out of Jail On Each Stop of His Tour

Finesse2tymes is utilizing his time on tour in a good way.

The Memphis native announced on an Instagram Story that he hopes to bail one person out of jail in each city of his tour stop, The Breakfast Club reports. Using the video from his hit single, “Can’t Go To Jail,” Finesse told his 1 million followers that he wants to help with posting bail during the remainder of his “Larger Than Life Tour,” which kicked off on Sept. 7 in Birmingham, Alabama.

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A post shared by Finesse2tymes (@1finesse2tymes)

The 31-year-old is no stranger to legal troubles. Recently, a warrant was issued by the Houston Police Department to arrest the rapper for allegedly stealing a rental car, according to ABC 13. Finesse is being charged with theft between $30,000 and $150,000, classified as a felony. Rented on Feb. 28, 2023, from an Enterprise location, the vehicle was due back 10 days later, but after the car wasn’t returned by April 24, it was listed as stolen.

Authorities found the vehicle outside a recording studio on April 25 with a woman getting into it and driving away. When the police pulled the woman over, they asked how she got the car. She admitted she “got the keys from her boss, who she only knows as “Finesse2Tymes.” The unidentified woman told police she was hired by the rapper and was using the car to run his errands.

Finesse has yet to be charged in the case.

Since then, he recently posted pictures of himself in the back of a cop car, claiming he was picked up for a warrant dating back to 2018. “These folks won’t let me be great, just came lock me up for a warrant in 2018. I’ll be back yaw” he wrote in an Instagram Story. “What don’t break n***a make a n***a. I’m outnumbered I gotta against the feds and the opps.”

by Stacy Jackson

September 8, 2023

Black-Owned Apparel Shop In Baton Rouge Carries High-Quality HBCU Merch

As sports fans gear up to rep their favorite HBCU teams during the school year, one new Black-owned retail store offers a variety of options.

Defron Fobb opened the Anthony Lawrence Collection store in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, filled with apparel featuring over 12 HBCUs. According to BRProud, Fobb’s work and design experience led him to open the store two years ago near Southern University.

“I started in Tiger Mania, and then my time running that store, that’s when I figured and I looked and I saw that HBCUs did not have just the different options of clothing, but they didn’t have the high-quality clothing that that the big brands were giving the big schools,” Fobb said. “So I did my research and then I just been working ever since, trying to give people something new, something different, something from everybody else.”

The designer is preparing for a grand opening at his new location on Bluebonnet Boulevard, which he described as a “challenge.”

“It’s different, but I enjoy it,” Fobb said. “With my apparel, it is going to reach a different audience and just help the brand out. Southern University is its own brand, it’s a unique brand.”

We open today @ 11AM pic.twitter.com/M2TcW33rnM

— Anthony Lawrence Col (@ALCollection) September 6, 2023

Fobb hopes his collection offers students and fans, like Southern University student Caleigha Hughes, more options when shopping for high-quality HBCU merch.

“HBCU students are getting more exposure. We should have more resources to easily be able to rep our school without having to spend money in ordering fees and all that,” Hughes said.

The Anthony Lawrence Collection store offers merchandise designed to represent HBCUs, including Southern University, Grambling State University, Jackson State University, Alcorn State University, and Morehouse College. The store even offers options for non-HBCUs, such as the state’s flagship institution, Louisiana State University, and the University of Colorado. According to the website, ALC provides NCAA-licensed collegiate apparel in-store and online in a range of sizes from newborn to XL.

Fobb’s ALC store had an official grand opening on Sept. 8, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Racism So Real: Former British Officers Comes Clean About Racist Messages About The Royal Couple

by Sharelle B. McNair

September 8, 2023

Racism So Real: Former British Officers Comes Clean About Racist Messages About The Royal Couple

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s marriage really had British officials in an uproar.

Five former British police officers admitted to sending racist messages about the royal couple, NBC News reports. Robert Lewis, Peter Booth, Anthony Elsom, Alan Hall, and Trevor Lewton pleaded guilty at London’s Westminster Magistrates’ Court to sending by public communication grossly offensive racist messages.

After a BBC investigation last year exposed them, all of the officers were arrested and charged for sending offensive and racist messages in a closed WhatsApp group about Meghan and Harry and the rest of the royal family, including Prince William, Kate, the late Queen Elizabeth II and her late husband, Prince Philip. U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, former interior minister Priti Patel, and former Health Secretary Sajid Javid were also targeted.

A sixth officer, Michael Chadwell, denied one count of the same charge and is due back in court on Nov. 6. The others are scheduled to be sentenced on the same day.

All of the officers were members of London’s Metropolitan Police Force, spending time with the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection branch, responsible for guarding politicians and diplomats. The messages were sent between 2020 and 2022, when none of the suspects worked as officers. According to Newsweek, other messages included talks of the U.K. government’s plans to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda and the floods in Pakistan.

This isn’t the first time British police have been involved in a scandal regarding Markle. In 2022, two serving officers were fired after WhatsApp messages were made public, revealing racist conversations. One message was even sent during Meghan and Harry’s 2018 wedding.

Racist incidents like this prompted the Prince and his bride to move their family to America in 2020 after leaving the monarchy due to high tension between members of the royal family, the royal institution, and the British tabloid press. In the 2021 documentary series, The Me You Can’t See, the youngest son of Princess Diana and King Charles said the media played a key role in racial hatred toward his wife. “My biggest regret is not making more of a stance earlier on in the relationship with my wife in calling out the racism when I did,” Harry told Oprah Winfrey in an interview.

NYC Man Shot And Killed After Confrontation Near West Indian Day Parade In Brooklyn, Suspect Arrested And Charged

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

September 8, 2023

NYC Man Shot And Killed After Confrontation Near West Indian Day Parade In Brooklyn, Suspect Arrested And Charged

The annual West Indian Day Parade during Labor Day Weekend along Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn is typically a celebration of Caribbean culture that brings together people from different islands. This year’s event also brought along tragedy.

According to The Daily News, there was a killing in the vicinity of the parade route earlier this week on Monday, Sept. 4. One man, Muhammad Malik, was shot and killed that evening as police officers responded to the 911 call that was made around 8:50 p.m. Police found his body with gunshot wounds when they arrived on Sterling Place near Schenectady Ave., about three blocks from the parade route.

A suspect was arrested in the fatal shooting of Muhammad, according to police.

Thirty-nine-year-old Sergio Codrington has been charged with murder, criminal possession of a firearm, and criminal possession of a controlled substance for shooting 51-year-old Muhammad. Police say that the suspect left the scene and returned, and that is when bystanders identified him to police on the spot.

The killing occurred near a construction site, and a witness, who gave his name as Roman, stated that the killing was deliberate and thorough.

“There were lots of shots,” Roman told The Daily News on Monday night. “They gave him everything. They made sure he was dead.”

The witness also said that paramedics made a valiant effort to save the life of Muhammad but were unsuccessful. “They were pumping and pumping, but he wasn’t moving,” said Roman. “He was a dead man.”

Malik’s father, Hamza Malik, told the media outlet that his son had a confrontation with the alleged killer and was shot in the back.

“Shot him in the back,” the 80-year-old Hamza stated. “Three to four bullets hit him in the back. He killed him for no reason at all, just like that.”

Muhammad will have a funeral service on Tuesday, Sept. 12, at the J. Foster Phillips Funeral Home at 179-24 Linden Boulevard in Queens.

by Sharelle B. McNair

September 8, 2023

Georgia DA Fani Willis Responds To Rep. Jim Jordan Inquiry Of Trump Indictment

No one is safe when it comes to Georgia’s Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis.

Willis is accusing U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) of “outrageous partisan misrepresentations” after Jordan inquired about Donald Trump’s election case, The Associated Press reports. The Republican chair of the House Judiciary Committee and close Trump ally sent Willis, a Black woman, a letter expressing concerns over the DA’s motivation in investigating Trump and several others in their attempt to overturn the 2020 election.

Jordan demanded that she provide documentation by Sept. 7, but instead, Willis sent a nine-page retort with details of the “inaccurate information and misleading statements” his letter held. “Its obvious purpose is to obstruct a Georgia criminal proceeding and to advance outrageous partisan misrepresentations,” Willis wrote. “As I make clear below, there is no justification in the Constitution for Congress to interfere with a state criminal matter, as you attempt to do.”

The district attorney accuses Jordan of violating the U.S. Constitution by attempting to interfere with and obstruct her office’s prosecution. She says his inquiry violates state sovereignty over matters of state law. “Your public statements and your letter itself make clear that you lack any legitimate legislative purpose for that inquiry: your job description as a legislator does not include criminal law enforcement, nor does it include supervising a specific criminal trial because you believe that doing so will promote your partisan political objectives,” Willis continued.

Since her investigation began, Trump and his allies have been after Willis, accusing her of persecuting the 2024 Republican presidential candidate frontrunner and demanding she be punished. Legislators in her own state—like Sen. Colton Moore—threatened to host a special session to take money away from Willis’ office and called for her impeachment. However, Georgia’s Gov. Brian Kemp stood up for Willis by criticizing Moore for running a “grifter scam” in an attempt to raise money from Trump supporters.

The threats haven’t stopped Willis and her team from doing their job. In August, Trump faced felony racketeering and conspiracy counts in a 41-count indictment, naming 19 defendants, according to NBC News. In response to Rep. Jordan’s probe, Willis said if people want to avoid felony charges in Fulton County, including violating state racketeering and RICO laws, then they shouldn’t commit those felonies.

by Derek Major

September 8, 2023

New Poll Shows Most Americans Support Mental Competency Tests For Politicians Over 75

A new poll shows Americans overwhelmingly support mandatory mental competency tests for politicians over 75.

A The Economist/YouGov poll released this week shows 76% of Americans strongly or somewhat support some form of a mandated competency test for politicians over 75. Thirteen percent of Americans oppose a mandatory test, and 11% said they are unsure. The poll also showed bipartisan support for a mental competency test, as 80% of Republicans and 70% of Democrats support the move.

According to Quorum, the average age of the current Congress is 58. Meanwhile, the average age of Americans is 38. The top two candidates for the 2024 Presidential Election are both well over 65. President Joe Biden is 80, and former President Donald Trump is 77.

While other, younger Republicans, including former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, 51, and Florida Gov. Ron Desantis, 44, are running for president, they’re both significantly behind Trump in the polls.

Democratic candidates for the 2028 election include Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, 44, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, 52, and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, 50.

Older politicians have also been in the news recently due to health issues. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, 81, appeared to freeze for the second time while answering questions during a live press conference last week. California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, 90, allegedly is dealing with encephalitis and Ramsey Hunt Syndrome, and has given her daughter power of attorney and relies on numerous aides to conduct her duties.

According to the poll, most Democrats and Republicans believe health and age have severely limited their abilities to serve in the Senate.

Many Americans believe that US politicians are too old and are keeping the country from moving forward and embracing new ideas, such as a universal basic income for poorer Americans and alternative energy sources, such as solar and wind power, to combat climate change.

Yahoo reports House Republican Rep. John James of Michigan proposed an amendment to the US Constitution Tuesday that would effectively bar anyone over 75 from serving in Congress or as president of the United States.

Age will likely continue to be a topic in politics and the presidential debates as the 2024 election draws closer.

The poll was conducted Sept. 2–5 by The Economist/YouGov, with 1,329 registered voters.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 8, 2023

Blavity Inc. Acquires RnB House Party To Launch Music Festival

On Tuesday, September 6, Blavity Media Group announced its takeover of RnB House Party and the launch of the Blavity House Party music festival, a new music-focused in-person experience coming in 2024.

“We’re on a mission to revolutionize your social experience with events that entertain, connect, and empower community-building nationwide,” Blavity captioned its announcement post.

“It’s more than just a party–it’s an opportunity to participate in a movement.”

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A post shared by Blavity (@blavity)

The media outlet teased the arrival of its music festival along with a series of in-person activations, including Blavity Grammy’s House Party, All-Star Weekend House Party, and an HBCU Homecoming House Party. As part of the acquisition, RNB House Party founder Charles Kuykendoll will also join the company as general manager of community at Blavity Inc.

“We are entering a new phase of growth and innovation within our Blavity Media Group division,” Morgan DeBaun, Blavity Inc. founder and CEO said.

“The acquisition of RNB House Party marks a pivotal step in our journey to provide impactful experiences and leverage the scale of our reach to bring our audience together in person.”

According to Blavity, acquiring RnB House Party was a no-brainer since the Black-owned company’s mission “seamlessly aligned with Blavity Inc.’s strategy to give its growing audience of young consumers unique in-person experiences,” the brand said in a statement.

“We are thrilled to welcome RNB House Party into the Blavity Media Group family,” Mike Hadgis, chief revenue officer at Blavity Inc. said.

“This acquisition expands our experiential portfolio and aligns with our dedication to fostering authentic connections within the community.”

Fans of the brand have expressed their excitement for the outlet’s expansion into the event and festival space.

“Big moves! Congratulations to all involved with this!” one fan wrote.

“Big Boss Moves,” added another.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

September 8, 2023

Warren G Wishes He Was ‘More Business-Minded’ After Receiving Nothing For ‘The Chronic’

Warren G appeared on Drink Champs last month where he recalled co-producing Dr. Dre’s celebrated album debut, 1992’s The Chronic. For Warren G, it was “organic” and “amazing” to work with his stepbrother on the project that helped introduce him to the rap scene.

There’s just one problem: He didn’t get paid.

Warren G knew nothing about music publishing rights and didn’t sign off on anything for his work on the album that’s now archived in the Library of Congress.

“My only thing is I wish I was more business-minded back then…My thing was, like I said, the show the love back to him as far as teaching me,” he said.

“You taught me as a pup and this is the reward for you teaching me by me and my homeboys coming back, putting this record together for you.”

But 30 years later, Warren G now wishes “I would’ve knew about publishing back then, ‘cause that would be lovely right now.”

When it comes to what the “Regulate” rapper received for his work on The Chronic, apparently not a thing.

“I didn’t get s—t. I didn’t get no credits,” Warren G revealed. “Snoop [Dogg] gave me some credit. Snoop said my name on ‘Stranded on Death Row.’”

Despite the snub, Warren G has no regrets and says his work was all for the love of Dr. Dre. “I wasn’t tripping. I was there for Dre. You know, helping Dre.”

In July, Dr. Dre appeared on Kevin Hart’s Hart to Heart, where he slyly credited Warren G for coming up with the concept of “The Chronic.”

“A close friend of mine, we’ll call him D.O.C., talked me into doing The Chronic album,” Dr. Dre shared. “It wasn’t my decision, I was talked into doing that. I just went in there and went for it because I felt, at that time, it was a life or death situation.”

by Jaimee Ratliff

September 8, 2023

How Kobe Harris’ Environmentally Conscious Skincare Brand Is Helping To Save The Planet

When Kobe Harris began his journey at Loyola Chicago, he didn’t intend to start a company that would help fight the ongoing battle of preserving the environment for future generations. After facing the city’s blistering winter wind and experiencing its ongoing trash problem, Harris launched his sustainable brand of lip balms, cuticle butter, and lip scrubs, Kobee’s, to help others and the planet.

Kobee’s products are all-natural and handmade while also being completely plastic-free. Using four simple ingredients—sunflower seed oil, mango butter, coconut oil, and beeswax-—and completely compostable packaging, Harris is helping to revolutionize the skincare industry ‘one balm at a time.’ With an emphasis on being the change he hopes to see in the world, the young entrepreneur uses proceeds from Kobee’s to support nonprofit organizations that share his commitment to saving the planet. Although his brand’s mission decreases the shelf-life of his product, which in turn cuts into his profits, Harris’s focus is on how every small change any consumer makes to better the environment is ultimately more important than his bottom line. “Getting older, I started to become more conscious of the foods and ingredients I was putting inside of my body,” he said. “With these types of products, it’s very common to come across cheap ingredients that make you keep reapplying. We want to take out the guesswork and make something that actually benefits you and your skin.”

What’s more, zero waste is associated with the brand’s star products. Once the lip balm has been used, consumers can cut it up and compost it in soil for a completely biodegradable experience. At an incredibly affordable price of $5, Kobee’s rivals other “organic” brands in every statistical category with the advantage of being Black-owned.