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by Jeroslyn JoVonn

December 23, 2025

Tesla Threatened With 30-Day Car Sales Ban For Misleading Use Of ‘Autopilot’ Branding

Tesla could face a 30-day sales suspension in California due to its advertising of the “Autopilot” feature.

The California Department of Motor Vehicles has warned Tesla that it must revise its advertising for the Autopilot feature or face a 30-day sales ban.

On Dec. 16, California regulators warned Tesla of a potential 30-day suspension of its state sales over marketing of its self-driving features, NBC Bay Area reports. A judge found that Elon Musk’s electric car company has been misleading consumers, as terms like “Autopilot” and “Full Self-Driving Capability” suggest the vehicles are fully autonomous, which they are not.

“Tesla can take simple steps to pause this decision and permanently resolve this issue — steps autonomous vehicle companies and other automakers have been able to achieve,” said Steve Gordon, the director of the California Department of Motor Vehicles.

Following the warning, Tesla has 90 days to revise its marketing to clearly communicate the limits of its self-driving technology or risk suspension of its California sales license. The notice comes after years of criticism and a court ruling last month finding that Tesla’s promotion of its “Autopilot” feature violates state law.

Since California regulators filed their 2023 action, the Austin-based company has already added language clarifying that its Full Self-Driving package still requires human supervision while in use. But regulators say the company’s advertising of the feature can still confuse consumers.

“100 percent of the time you, as the driver, must be in the driver’s seat and you have to be paying attention and be able to take over at any moment,” said Scott Moura. “It’s literally just a tap when you put in your destination in these vehicles. They might not really understand what it does.”

Tesla has since responded to the ruling on Musk’s X platform, dismissing it as regulatory overreach.

“This was a ‘consumer protection’ order about the use of the term ‘Autopilot’ in a case where not one single customer came forward to say there’s a problem. Sales in California will continue uninterrupted,” the company said.

The warning adds to the mounds of lawsuits Tesla has faced over its alleged misleading representations about its self-driving technology. While the company has settled or won several cases, a Miami jury earlier this year found Tesla partly liable for a deadly crash in Florida that occurred while Autopilot was active, ordering the automaker to pay over $240 million in damages.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

December 23, 2025

Will.i.am Calls Out Work-Life Balance, Pushes After-Hours Grind To Build Your Dream

'Work-life balance means that you’re working for somebody else’s dream,' he said.

Will.i.am is a Grammy-winning recording artist, music producer, and entrepreneur who recently shared in a Fortune interview that his approach to success centers on what he calls a “dream-reality” balance. Rather than subscribing to the traditional idea of work-life balance, he believes in putting in focused effort beyond the 9-to-5 to align daily work with long-term vision and purpose.

The Black Eyed Peas member and hitmaking producer — whose credits include collaborations with Nas, Ariana Grande, John Legend, The Game, Macy Gray, and Chris Brown — is now a tech entrepreneur with a traditional 9-to-5. Still, he remains focused on pursuing his ambitions on his own terms, encouraging others to do the same as they work toward their goals.

“If you’re trying to build something that doesn’t exist, it’s about dream-reality balance,” he said. “Work-life balance means that you’re working for somebody else’s dream. You just have a job supporting somebody else’s dream, and you want to balance your work and your life.

“But if it’s dream-reality balance, then it’s not work. It’s a dream that you’re trying to put into reality, and you’re ignoring your current reality.”

He has switched back to working regular hours during the day, with the goal of focusing on his creative side from the end of the 9-to-5 shift until 9 p.m. This was from someone who did the exact opposite: during the day, when the music was the focus, he would then try to do his work on his tech after his “main” job of producing tracks. He would advise younger people to adopt that mindset to achieve what they set out to do in life.

“I’m not really paying attention to this reality. I’m trying to bring that one [a new business venture or idea] here and focusing on how do I get people who believe in this dream to help me materialize it? So for that, you have to make some type of sacrifice to bring this thing that doesn’t exist here. From that perspective, work-life balance is not for the architects that are pulling visions into reality. Those words don’t compute to the mindset of the materializers.”

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

December 23, 2025

Chicago Mother Blessed With Paid-Off Car In Christmas Giveaway By Millionaire Influencer

The giveaway was sponsored by millionaire influencer Kenny Smith.

A Chicago mother has received a Christmas miracle, getting a note-free car through a giveaway by a millionaire influencer.

Kenneth Smith has gone viral this holiday season for his toy drives and car giveaways across the country. In his latest iteration, a mother in Chicago has a new car to make the season extra bright.

Smith recorded the woman winning the giveaway in a heartwarming clip and shared it on social media. He expressed his immense gratitude for being able to change lives this Christmas in such a monumental way.

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A post shared by Kenneth Smith (@_smittythegoat_)

“Man this has got to be the most fulfilling thing to do in life GIFTING ANOTHER PERSON A PAID OFF CAR… words can’t explain how happy I feel doing this for my city !”

In the emotional clip, Smith announced the Chicago mother as the winner of his car giveaway. The woman entered her brand-new vehicle while wiping away tears as community members cheered her on.

“You don’t have no note, you don’t have nothing. Only thing you got to go do is get insurance,” explained Smith to the elated winner.

At the end of the clip, he added, “We just finished the giveaway, y’all. This is the family who won the car. We got a paid off Chevy. “

Smith has played his own version of Santa during this holiday period. The millionaire-maker influencer has garnered nearly 400,000 followers for his financial savviness and inspiration to future wealth-builders.

Before showing love to the family in Windy City, Smith spread more Christmas joy in Miami. Families in South Beach also received new toys, with one special winner receiving a paid-off car for the New Year.

However, Smith took things up a notch in both cities with a Walmart shutdown, providing families with carts filled with paid gifts and a $20,000 giveaway. Giving back to the Chicago suburb where he grew up, Smith has taken over the city and social media with his displays of generosity this Christmas.

by Sharelle B. McNair

December 23, 2025

Trump Administration Boots 30 Career Ambassadors For ‘State Department Realignment,’ With Africa Leading The Pack

The State Department, under the leadership of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, claims none of the recalled diplomats are facing punishment or being retaliated against personally as recent moves have caused a rumor of the president’s motives.

The shakeup continues with the Trump Administration, as President Donald Trump recalled close to 30 ambassadors from around the world from their posts to advance the America First agenda, Fox News reported.

A senior State Department official said the ambassadors weren’t fired but reassigned, calling it “a standard process in any administration.” “An ambassador is a personal representative of the President, and it is the President’s right to ensure that he has individuals in these countries who advance the America First agenda,” the official said in a statement.

The State Department, under the leadership of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, said none of the recalled diplomats are facing punishment or being personally retaliated against, as recent moves have sparked rumors about the president’s motives. In fact, the senior official said the decision was made to “prioritize continuity,” as Trump continues to keep operations intact and not to derail U.S. interests.

“We encourage returning ambassadors to continue serving their country by finding new opportunities within the Department to advance President Trump’s America First agenda.”

As a result, ambassadors of a country at war or amid high-stakes negotiations with the U.S. wouldn’t be recalled.

According to the Associated Press, recalled ambassadors from 29 countries were informed before the Christmas holiday that their tenures would end in January 2026, most of them having taken their posts under the Biden administration but surviving Trump’s early-stage purge.

Africa was the most affected by the recall, with ambassadors from 13 countries — Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Madagascar, Mauritius, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia, and Uganda — being removed. Asia came in second place with changes from six countries, including Fiji, Laos, the Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, and Vietnam.

Next was Europe, with four affected countries: Armenia, Macedonia, Montenegro, and Slovakia. Middle Eastern ambassadors from Algeria and Egypt were removed, along with those from Nepal and Sri Lanka in South and Central Asia, and Guatemala and Suriname in the Western Hemisphere.

Ambassadors typically serve for up to four years at the president’s pleasure. Recalled ambassadors will return to Washington, D.C., for new assignments if they choose to accept them. Although it’s a standard practice for a sitting president to recall ambassadors, recalls of this volume don’t typically happen at once, leaving room for side-eye criticism from lawmakers and the union representing American diplomats.

Former ambassador and Assistant Secretary of State Herman J. Cohen said the recalls are alarming, in a post on X. “As a career U.S. diplomat and former assistant secretary of state for African affairs, I am alarmed by President Trump’s recall of nearly 30 career ambassadors — with Africa reportedly hit hardest. Presidents have the right to replace ambassadors, but a wholesale change of this magnitude is, as the American Foreign Service Association calls it, ‘highly irregular,” he wrote.

“Those who make serving America their career can do so across multiple presidencies. I hope the administration has plans to deploy qualified people to every post – and that those who are being recalled are at least offered positions where their decades of experience will continue to serve our goals.”

Blavity Media Group, Connected TV, Streaming Viewers

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

December 23, 2025

Jackée Harry Blasts AI-Made ‘Sister, Sister’ Reboot Cover Art, ‘That Doesn’t Even Look Like Me’

Harry is calling out an AI-generated cover image created for a reboot of the hit ’90s sitcom.

Jackée Harry is calling out an AI-generated cover image created for a reboot of the hit ’90s sitcom “Sister, Sister,” which she starred in alongside Tia and Tamera Mowry.

Taking to Instagram on Dec. 22, the actress and comedian reshared an AI-generated photo and video teasing a reboot of the series. The images depicted the iconic twins, Tia and Tamera, alongside their on-screen parents — Lisa Landry, played by Harry, and Raymond Campbell, played by Tim Reid — as well as what appeared to be two teenage sons.

She also included an AI-generated video showing the cast, including Marques Houston as fan-favorite Roger, walking beside younger versions of their “Sister, Sister” characters as the show’s theme song played. Though nostalgic for fans, Harry used the post to publicly criticize the AI-created reboot.

“Okay, hear me out… 😄💅🏾 Y’all know these AI pictures are FAKE, right? RIGHT?!” Harry wrote. “I love that you love our little show. But c’mon. That doesn’t even look like me! WHO IS SHE? And WHO are those boys?? Tia & Tamera’s kids?? Since WHEN?!”

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A post shared by Jackée Harry (@jackeeharry)

Harry, best known for her breakout role as Sandra Clark on NBC’s “227,” made it clear she’s not anti-AI. She acknowledged there are ways the technology can be useful and add value, but said that in Hollywood, some roles and creative work should remain in the hands of real professionals.

“I’m not anti-AI, either. A little here and there can be cute,” Harry explained. “It’s great for thought exercises, mockups, dreaming things up… But when it comes to bringing characters back to life…Baby, that’s a job for the professionals. Real humans with real ideas.”

“And if they ever decide to bring back Sister, Sister maybe they won’t have me out here looking like somebody’s auntie from an entirely different show,” she added.

Many fans responded to her post, praising how closely the AI-generated Lisa Landry resembles the real character. Tamera Mowry-Housley also commented, showing support for the AI reboot and writing, “Would love to do this show right???”

The AI-generated “Sister, Sister” reboot is the latest example sparking debate over AI’s role in Hollywood and its ability to create realistic content using public figures, past and present. While AI offers opportunities for creators who might not have had a chance before, many argue it bypasses the consent of the talent being replicated and takes work away from professionals who make a living performing these roles.

Still, the creator may have simply aimed to deliver a dose of nostalgia for “Sister, Sister” fans, which many fans appear to enjoy.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

December 23, 2025

New Age For Collecting Social Security Begins At 67

Rising life expectancy has shifted the retirement age from 65 to 67 for those born in 1960 and later.

Retirement planning is evolving, with longer life expectancies pushing the typical retirement age from 65 to 67.

For those born in 1960 or later, the Social Security Full Retirement Age (FRA) is 67, the age at which individuals receive 100% of their earned benefits. Benefits can be claimed as early as 62 at a reduced rate or delayed until 70 for higher payments. But the shift from the traditional retirement age of 65 going up to 67 reflects longer life expectancies and represents a gradual transition rather than an abrupt change, according to Develop Galveston County.

As a result, retirement planning timelines are shifting, and federal standards are evolving to keep pace. For generations, 65 has been considered the standard retirement age for Americans. However, those born in 1959 will now reach their Full Retirement Age (FRA) in 2025 at 67 years and 10 months.

The gradual adjustments carry significant financial implications for those who claim benefits early and receive reduced monthly payouts. The shift is making careful retirement planning more important than ever.

Year of birth is the key factor in determining eligibility for full Social Security benefits. Those born in 1954 or earlier can retire at 66, while additional months are added for those born between 1955 and 1959. Individuals born in 1960 or later must wait until age 67 to receive full benefits.

Timing is critical when claiming Social Security benefits, as it directly affects the amount received. Retiring at 62 results in a 29–30% reduction in benefits, while delaying retirement past full retirement age can increase benefits by up to 8% per year, totaling a potential 32% boost.

Those looking for ways to delay retirement and secure full benefits could consider gradually reducing work hours instead of stopping work entirely, taking contract or part-time roles to cover expenses without tapping into retirement savings, securing extra income through renting out unused property, or opting for a part-time role that offers benefits.

The rise in the Full Retirement Age was done to help ensure the long-term financial sustainability of Social Security for future generations. As lifespans increase, the program’s payouts may be spread over a longer period, forcing many to work longer than their elders had to.

self deport, Haiti, Photojournalist Dieu-Nalio Chery

by Kandiss Edwards

December 23, 2025

Shot But Unshaken: Photojournalist Dieu-Nalio Chery Risks His Life Documenting Haiti’s Unrest

Chery shared a first-person account of his career and the risks he faced covering his homeland’s turmoil, including being shot while on assignment.

Haitian photojournalist Dieu-Nalio Chery, whose work has documented decades of political unrest, social struggle, and human rights issues in Haiti, has shared a first-person account of his career and the risks he faced covering his homeland’s turmoil, including being shot while on assignment.

Chery, now based in Michigan and a staff photographer at the University of Michigan, discussed his early years growing up in Haiti and developing his passion for photography in Port-au-Prince, where he began learning the craft at his uncle’s photo studio in the capital. He taught himself the technical and artistic skills that would shape his long career documenting life in Haiti’s most difficult moments. He chronicled his growth for the Global Citizen.

His work across more than two decades has focused on capturing the realities of life marked by poverty, violence, natural disaster, and political upheaval. Chery has photographed protests, illegal arrests, corruption, homelessness, earthquakes, and hurricanes, producing images widely used by international news outlets and human rights organizations.

pic.twitter.com/w6kNauDnKp

— Dieu Nalio Chery (@CDieuNalio) October 9, 2024

Chery described a defining moment in his career in September 2019, when he was shot in the jaw while covering clashes in Port-au-Prince between protesters and officials over the approval of a new prime minister. The shooting occurred as a senator fired a weapon into a chaotic crowd, hitting Chery even as he continued to record the confrontation.

After that incident and subsequent threats from armed gangs targeting journalists, Chery left Haiti in 2021 to pursue safety and continue his work abroad. He credited assistance from the Artistic Freedom Initiative with helping him relocate and continue his professional career in the United States.

Chery’s coverage has earned significant recognition. He won the 2019 Robert Capa Gold Medal from the Overseas Press Club for courageous photography and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in breaking news photography in 2020 for his work capturing protests and unrest in Haiti.

While now based in Michigan, Chery continues to advocate for press freedom and the importance of visual storytelling in contexts where civic space is constrained and journalists face grave risk. His work underscores the vital role photojournalism plays in documenting struggles and resilience in societies confronting profound challenges.

by Sharelle B. McNair

December 23, 2025

Over It: Lawmakers Threaten AG Pam Bondi With Contempt Over Epstein File Disaster

Lawmakers like Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.), who once advocated for transparency, compared the failed release to the assassination of John F. Kennedy, thinking the fight has reached the end of the road.

Two lawmakers are threatening to use a rare congressional sanction against the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and Attorney General Pam Bondi after all the Jeffrey Epstein files weren’t released by the deadline set in the Epstein Files Transparency Act, calling it a failure, NPR reported.

Reps. Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie, who co-sponsored the legislation, admitted they “are talking about and drafting that right now” in reference to bringing an inherent contempt against Bondi. The sanction gives Congress the authority to fine or arrest officers of the law accused of obstructing legislative functions. If successful, the accused can go to trial, last successfully used in the 1930s.

Some of the files were released to the general public on Dec. 19 but were heavily redacted, with some pages showing nothing but black marks blocking out words. Massie feels inherent contempt is the best way to get justice.

“I think the most expeditious way to get justice for these victims is to bring inherent contempt against Pam Bondi,” Massie, a Republican from Kentucky, said during an interview with CBS’s Face the Nation.

Khanna echoed similar sentiments, suggesting that the House does not need Senate approval to proceed.

“I believe we’re going to get bipartisan support in holding her accountable,” the Democrat from California said.

The Congress-passed Epstein Files Transparency Act allows redactions to protect victims and gives the DOJ until Dec. 19 to release them.

However, according to The Hill, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the agency wouldn’t share the full files, claiming the amount of information was too big for attorneys to redact victim identities within the deadline.

The move pushed top Democrats on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and Judiciary Committee, Reps. Robert Garcia (Calif.) and Jamie Raskin (Md.), to announce they would be “examining all legal options” to force the DOJ to comply.

While Blanche claims he isn’t taking the inherent contempt threats seriously, saying, “not even a little bit, bring it on,” lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are calling for Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel to resign over accusations that the heavy redactions were all for the protection of President Donald Trump, who is allegedly named in the files.

“Now the cover-up is out in the open. This is far from over. Everyone involved will have to answer for this. Pam Bondi, Kash Patel, whole admin,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) wrote on X.

“Protecting a bunch of rapists and pedophiles because they have money, power, and connections. Bondi should resign tonight.”

Now the coverup is out in the open. This is far from over.

Everyone involved will have to answer for this. Pam Bondi, Kash Patel, whole admin.

Protecting a bunch of rapists and pedophiles because they have money, power, and connections.

Bondi should resign tonight. https://t.co/7KILMsuPwv
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) December 19, 2025

Other lawmakers like Rep. Tim Burchett (R-Tenn.), who once advocated for transparency, compared the failed release to the assassination of John F. Kennedy, thinking the fight has reached the end of the road.

“I wish people would understand, though, there’s a group of people out there that are in this, involved in this, that don’t want their names released, and there is some protection within the writing of the law, but you’re correct in every one of your assumptions where you said that, you know, who goes after the Justice Department when they screw up,” he said.

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by Kandiss Edwards

December 23, 2025

Judge Tells Overemotional Sexual Predator To ‘Calm Down’ During Sentencing

Madison Bergmann, a former Hudson, Wisconsin, elementary school teacher, was sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to sex crimes involving a child. During her sentencing, Bergmann’s cries elicited rebuke from the presiding judge.

On Dec. 19, Bergmann was sentenced in St. Croix County Court to six years in prison followed by six years of extended supervision for crimes including sexual misconduct with a student at River Crest Elementary School in Hudson. The sentence also requires her to register as a sex offender and bars her from contact with minors without court approval, KTSP reported.

At the hearing, which is circulating online, Bergmann became emotional and addressed the judge, acknowledging her wrongdoing and responsibilities.

According to People, she said, “I want to make it absolutely clear that I take full accountability for every boundary that was crossed.”

Though Bergmann took “full accountability,” she sobbed loudly in the courtroom as the judge read what some believe is a mild sentence. Her interruption caused the judge to detour from sentencing to quiet the pedophile.

“You’re going to have to calm down,” he ordered.

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Bergmann entered her guilty plea in September. She admitted to sexual misconduct by school staff and child enticement in connection with an inappropriate relationship with an 11-year-old fifth-grade student. Court documents reviewed by People show she was initially charged in May 2024 with first-degree child sexual assault, among other counts.

According to reports, investigators discovered nearly 100 handwritten notes and pieces of student-made artwork exchanged between Bergmann and the child. Additionally, police found text messages that referenced inappropriate physical contact and affectionate messages.

Bergmann resigned from the Hudson Public Schools following her arrest and has been held in the St. Croix County Jail since that time, KSTP reported.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

December 23, 2025

Jake Paul’s MVP Promotions Will Sue Critics Accusing Boxer Of Fixing Anthony Joshua Boxing Match

'Our lawyers are actively going after a number of people,' MVP Promotions Nakisa Bidarian said.

After Jake Paul and his MVP Promotions team were accused of hosting a rigged boxing match against Anthony Joshua, which ended with Paul being knocked out, the YouTuber-turned-boxer’s MVP co-founder, Nakisa Bidarian, has stated that they intend to file lawsuits against the critics making the accusations.

This is not the first time Paul has been accused of “fixing” his boxing contests; the most recent accusation was the Mike Tyson fight, in which the former heavyweight champion seemed to hesitate to fight Paul with the same fervor and aggressiveness that boxing fans are used to seeing. Although Paul was knocked out in the sixth round of the match, with Joshua being a superior fighter and outweighing Paul, experts and fans expected Joshua to knock Paul out much sooner.

Bidarian appeared on The Ariel Helwani Show Dec. 22 to discuss the fight and mentioned he has heard the rumors circulating about the Paul/Joshua match and their legal team has promised to go “after a number of people” who have speculated that the fight was rigged.

“Our lawyers are actively going after a number of people,” Bidarian said. “One who claims to be a lawyer himself online. I don’t remember the name or the handle, but it was something that had like 200,000 likes. Basically, this post said there was an agreement for ‘AJ’ not to knock out Jake, but ‘AJ’ disregarded the agreement and decided to mitigate his payday but knock out Jake Paul. So it’s pretty astonishing what people say.”

He reassured everyone that, although there has been talk of them fixing fights, Paul only engages in real fights. He stated that because Joshua did not knock him out earlier than planned, the narrative changed, leading fans to believe the fight was fixed.

“It’s just beyond mind-blowing that people would think that. Anthony Joshua was on record saying that if he didn’t finish him in the first round, that would be disappointing, that would be a failure. The narrative changed as we got closer to fight night and, obviously, post-fight, and I understand why. But they were pretty adamant it would take, max, two rounds to knock out Jake Paul.”

Check out the interview below: