by Kandiss Edwards

December 19, 2025

Charlamagne Tha God Signs $200M iHeart Extension

The radio host will also continue to lead the Black Effect Podcast Network.

Radio host Charlamagne Tha God has renewed his deal with iHeartMedia. The new terms: $200 million over five years, according to Forbes..

Charlamagne, real name Lenard McKelvey, has extended a longtime partnership that includes his role as co-host of the nationally syndicated morning show, The Breakfast Club. Additionally, the radio host will lead the Black Effect Podcast Network, according to Forbes.

The renewed agreement keeps Charlamagne aligned with iHeartMedia across radio, podcasting, and digital media. The deal builds on a relationship that began more than a decade ago and formalizes Charlamagne’s ongoing involvement in developing audio content and talent under the iHeartMedia umbrella.

Charlamagne co-founded the Black Effect Podcast Network, in partnership with iHeartMedia in 2020, to amplify Black voices and stories across genres, including news, politics, entertainment, and wellness.

According to Deadline, the renewed deal ensures Charlamagne will continue to oversee the network’s growth while remaining a central on-air presence on The Breakfast Club.

“When I was looking at doing my new deal with iHeartMedia,” Charlamagne said, “I was, like, ‘I don’t want to just be talent. I want to create this podcast network. I want to create the BET for podcasting.”

Bob Pittman, chairman and CEO of iHeartMedia, said in a statement, “Charlamagne is a creative force who continues to push boundaries in audio and beyond, and we are thrilled to extend our partnership with him as he builds on the success of The Breakfast Club and the Black Effect Podcast Network.”

Charlamagne also addressed the lucrative contract, saying he is “grateful” to continue working with iHeart.

The Breakfast Club, which Charlamagne co-hosts with DJ Envy and Jess Hilarious, airs on more than 90 radio stations nationwide and has remained one of iHeartMedia’s highest-profile radio properties.

The show is known for interviews with entertainers, athletes, and political figures and has become a central platform in hip-hop and popular culture.

The Black Effect Podcast Network has grown into a significant part of iHeartMedia’s podcast portfolio. The network hosts many culturally relevant shows, including All The Smoke, 85 South, and Drink Champs.

Charlamagne’s is also the author of multiple books and hosts the Comedy Central program Hell of a Week.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

December 19, 2025

Tory Lanez Says ‘I Was Wrongfully Convicted’ In First Televised Interview From Prison

Tory Lanez spoke from prison in his first televised interview, detailing his latest appeal in the Megan Thee Stallion shooting case.

Tory Lanez has broken his silence from behind bars in his first televised interview from prison to further claim his innocence in the 2020 Megan Thee Stallion shooting.

The Canadian rapper, born Daystar Peterson, spoke with NBC News on Dec. 18, where he shared his continued push for freedom after being convicted of shooting Megan Thee Stallion and sentenced to 10 years in prison. Lanez’s latest appeal effort is linked to Megan’s recent defamation victory against a blogger, in which he claims there may be evidence that was withheld during his 2022 trial.

“I believe not only that I was wrongfully convicted, but the amount of new evidence that has emerged since that trial, I think, has been overwhelming,” Lanez said from the California Men’s Colony, a prison in San Luis Obispo.

After a nearly two-week trial in December 2022, Lanez was found guilty. He chose not to testify, a decision he now acknowledges may have affected the outcome.

“I think if I would have taken the stand, the verdict would have definitely been very different,” he said.

Lanez’s interview comes ahead of new appeals his legal team plans to file, one month after California’s Second District Court of Appeal rejected his previous appeal, finding “no ineffective assistance of counsel or prejudicial trial court error.” In the upcoming appeal to the California Supreme Court, his team argues a Brady violation, which requires prosecutors to disclose material or potentially favorable evidence to the defense.

Lanez is also seeking a pardon or clemency from California Gov. Gavin Newsom as he detailed the trauma he has experienced while serving his time and trying to “keep [his] head above water.”

“I never imagined myself dealing with things that I would have to deal with,” he said. “I’ve been stabbed 17 times, almost lost my life.”

Regarding Megan Thee Stallion, he said he is focused on healing and does not want his remarks to be seen as an attack on the “Savage” rapper, as he believes they should talk “directly.”

“I would like that moment to happen in person,” Lanez said. “We’ve both gone through a lot. There’s this connotation that, like, I share this hatred for her, but I don’t. I’m genuinely past that. I’m at a place of healing in my life. I’m at a place of taking accountability for the things that I did wrong. And when I talk about my case, I don’t want it to be taken as me coming at her. Because it’s not that. I’m just asking for somebody in the system to look at my case and look at the evidence and ask if this was fair.”

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

December 19, 2025

Wiz Khalifa Gets 9 Months In Jail For Smoking Marijuana Onstage At Romanian Music Festival in 2024

Marijuana is illegal in Romania.

“Black and Yellow” rapper Wiz Khalifa, who was indicted for smoking marijuana at a Romanian music festival in October, was sentenced to nine months in jail on Thursday, Dec. 18.

According to The Associated Press, the Constanta Court of Appeal stated Khalifa, 38. was convicted of “possession of dangerous drugs, without right, for personal consumption,” per Romania’s national news agency, Agerpres.

The rapper was arrested and charged after he was caught smoking marijuana while performing at July’s Beach, Please! Festival in Costinesti in July 2024. The Directorate for the Investigation of Organized Crime and Terrorism stated that the rapper was in possession of 18.53 grams of cannabis in addition to “a cigarette that contained cannabis” that night.

Marijuana is illegal in Romania.

In April, a lower court in Constanta County issued Khalifa a criminal fine of 3,600 lei ($830) for “illegal possession of dangerous drugs.” Prosecutors appealed the court’s decision and sought a higher sentence.

Under Romanian law, he could have been imprisoned from anywhere between three months and two years or a fine for having drugs (marijuana) that were classified as risky. According to the AP, it isn’t clear whether Romanian authorities will seek to file an extradition request, since Khalifa is a U.S. citizen and doesn’t reside in Romania.

Khalifa admitted that the rumors of him smoking 30 joints a day were true on a June 13 episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live! The rapper said he started smoking as a teenager, and that it helps with everyday activities. “I have things to do: I work out—I got kids, so I do a lot of different things,” he told the late-night talk show host.

“Somebody put it a really good way the other day,” he added. “They said it’s like a mental exercise, like, you smoke, and then you just challenge yourself to do normal things throughout the day.”

The initial purpose was to develop his musical creativity, but “it kind of became something that, you know, later on in life, helped me to get through a lot of things,” he explained.

by Sharelle B. McNair

December 19, 2025

U.S. Government Admits Army, Air Traffic Controller Failures—Not DEI—Caused January’s D.C. Midair Crash

Remember when Trump blamed the crash on DEI and former Presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama just days after being inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States?

Eleven months later, the U.S. government admits massive failures between the U.S. Army and air traffic controllers in the deadly Jan. 29 midair collision over Washington D.C.’s Potomac River that took the lives of 67 people, CNN reports.

“The United States admits that it owed a duty of care to Plaintiffs, which it breached,” the new filing by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) in a civil lawsuit filed in early 2025 by the family of a passenger killed on the American Eagle flight 5342 said. “The United States admits pilots flying PAT25 failed to maintain proper and safe visual separation from AE5342.”

In the unexpected admission from the military, the US government also admitted an air traffic controller in the tower “did not comply” with a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) order governing air traffic control procedure. As a result, 67 people were killed in the midair collision following the Army crew telling controllers in the airport control tower that they would maintain “visual separation” on the aircraft that was preparing to land at Reagan National Airport from Charlotte, NC.

It’s a profound change from what — and who — President Donald Trump blamed shortly after being inaugurated as the 47th president.

During the first press conference of his new tenure, Trump blamed the crash on DEI and former Presidents Joe Biden and Barack Obama after starting with a moment of silence and a prayer for the victims. “They put a big push to put diversity in the FAA’s program. Then, in an article, the Federal Aviation Administration, this was before I got to office, recently, second term, the FAA is actively recruiting workers who suffer severe intellectual disabilities, psychiatric problems, and other mental and physical conditions under a diversity and inclusion hiring initiative spelled out on the agency’s website,” Trump said.

While the admission is a step forward, federal government attorney Robert Clifford said it’s not entirely the FAA’s or the military’s fault. “The United States is admitting the Army and FAA’s responsibility for the needless loss in the crash of an Army helicopter and American Airlines Flight 5342 at Reagan National Airport,” he said in a statement.

“However, the government rightfully acknowledges that it is not the only entity responsible for this deadly crash.”

Attorneys admit the Black Hawk crew’s choices were a “cause-in-fact and a proximate cause of the accident and the death,” but also argue DC-area airport-based federal air traffic controllers can’t be held liable since they weren’t the cause of the crash. Lawyers representing victims’ families say the crash was a result of “collective failures” by the US government and personnel, including controllers, who should have known that the airport approaches, and the airspace in the vicinity of Washington D.C.’s Reagan National Airport (‘DCA’), presented certain safety risks, specifically including the possibility of a mid-air collision.”

As the blame game continues, the U.S. Senate is doing what it can to make sure a tragedy like this doesn’t happen again. According to the Seattle Times, the Senate passed a bipartisan defense bill that will require all aircraft, including military planes, to use Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast technology (ADS-B) to broadcast their locations.

Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz says the bill will save lives and the “tragedy could have been avoided” if the Army Black Hawk had used its ADS-B system to broadcast its location prior to the crash. In addition, the bill requires a review of airport safety measures across the country to mitigate the same risks that contributed to the Reagan Airport crash.

South Carolina State University, HBCU, basketball games, shooting

by Kandiss Edwards

December 19, 2025

South Carolina State University To Offer New Master’s Program In 2026

The master's program will be one of four new STEM degrees offered by the HBCU.

South Carolina State University has launched an online master of science in cybersecurity program that will begin accepting students in the spring 2026 semester, the university said in a press release.

The new graduate degree is one of four STEM programs added by the historically Black college and university (HBCU). The others are bachelor of science degrees in computer engineering, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering.

The online cybersecurity master’s program offers options to focus on network defense, digital forensics, or cyber-physical systems security. It is supported by a $405,000 grant from the Battelle Savannah River Alliance.

“These new programs represent a major leap forward in SC State’s mission to educate and empower the next generation of innovators, engineers, and technology leaders,” South Carolina State University President Alexander Conyers said in a statement. “From cybersecurity to mechanical and electrical engineering, these degrees directly respond to the workforce needs of South Carolina and the nation.”

South Carolina State University officials said the cybersecurity master’s degree will be 100 percent online and open to students nationwide.

The program builds on South Carolina State’s existing reputation in cybersecurity education. The university’s Center of Excellence in Cybersecurity, housed within the Department of Computer Science and Mathematics, has been designated a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the National Security Agency, a status renewed through 2029.

University leaders describe the expanded cybersecurity offerings as part of a strategy to address the critical shortage of cyber professionals in both the public and private sectors, particularly as digital infrastructure becomes increasingly central to economic and national security.

The university’s STEM expansion reflects growing interest in advanced technical training at HBCUs that aim to increase opportunities for students from underrepresented backgrounds in high-demand technology fields.

by Mitti Hicks

December 19, 2025

Trump Signs Executive Order To Expedite The Reclassifying Of Marijuana

The order does not fully legalize marijuana, but instead pushes Attorney General Pam Bondi to quickly loosen federal restrictions so research can begin.

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order that would expedite the reclassification of marijuana. It’s a move that Trump says will allow more research on its medical use.

“This reclassification order will make it far easier to conduct marijuana-related medical research, allowing us to study benefits, potential dangers and future treatments,” Trump said in the Oval Office Thursday, CNN reported. “It’s going to have a tremendously positive impact.”

The order does not fully legalize marijuana, but instead pushes Attorney General Pam Bondi to quickly loosen federal restrictions so research can begin. Currently, the Drug Enforcement Agency lists cannabis as a Schedule 1 drug, putting it on the same list as heroin, LSD, and ecstasy. With Trump’s executive order, he is reclassifying it to a Schedule 3 drug.

“Schedule III drugs, substances, or chemicals are defined as drugs with a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence,” the DEA says on its website.

Some Schedule 3 drugs include Tylenol with codeine, ketamine, testosterone, and anabolic steroids.

Trump Says Executive Order Could Help With Opioid Crisis

While the president’s executive order does not federally legalize marijuana, it will not affect recreational use in two dozen states where it is legal. The order also does not include any criminal justice changes.

The president has been adamant about addressing the opioid crisis during both terms in office. In 2017, he declared the opioid crisis a nationwide public health emergency, which expanded access to telemedicine services. Then, in 2018, he signed the bipartisan SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act into law, which expanded Medicare coverage for opioid use disorder treatments.

Through his latest executive action, Trump said it’s “common sense” to reclassify marijuana in the fight against the opioid crisis and addiction.

“The facts compel the federal government to recognize that marijuana can be legitimate in terms of medical applications when carefully administered. In some cases, this may include the use as a substitute for addictive and potentially lethal opioid painkillers,” said Trump.

by Ahsan Washington

December 19, 2025

Last Minute Gift Grabs From Your Favorite Diaspora Brands

These brands contribute to the global and regional economy.

Diaspora-owned brands offer design-forward, culturally rooted gift options that meet consumer demand. These brands contribute to the global and regional economy, bringing worldwide entrepreneurship and cultural diversity.

These last-minute gift selections across fashion, beauty, food, and home goods are favorites among the many diasporan brands. There is no need to resort to generic last-minute gift-giving. Supporting diaspora brands helps preserve cultural legacies, whether it’s during the holiday or beyond.

KUA Designs

The Ghanaian fashion and lifestyle brand KUA Designs operates under Founder Ruby Buah, who creates handmade accessories and apparel. The brand creates statement bags, beaded jewelry, and fashion pieces that draw inspiration from African design traditions. KUA is headquartered in Accra, Ghana, and reaches customers worldwide through its online store and pop-up markets. The holiday gift collection features items that combine traditional craftsmanship with cultural narratives and support social responsibility programs through their sales.

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Diva By Cindy

Cindy Tawiah founded Diva By Cindy to create a natural haircare brand that offers stimulant-free shampoos, conditioners, and lotions for textured hair. Diva By Cindy has built a strong reputation over the years through its carefully developed products and deep-rooted community connections while selling its products through online platforms and retail locations.

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Bolé Road Textiles

Hana Getachew established Bolé Road Textiles to display Ethiopian weaving traditions through pillows, throws, and woven textiles. These heirloom-quality pieces are available online and allow diasporic heritage to be incorporated into daily living spaces.

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Reflektion Design

Anitra Terrell established Reflektion Design to honor African craft traditions through colorful baskets, mugs, spoons, and textiles created by Ghanaian, Kenyan, and Ugandan artisans. The online store provides decorative home goods that celebrate global craft and artisan communities.

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Studio One Eighty Nine

The luxury artisanal brand Studio One Eighty Nine, co-founded by Abrima Erwiah and Rosario Dawson, produces garments and accessories inspired by African cultural traditions. Their collections, which are based in Ghana and the US, can be purchased online for holiday gifts. Studio One Eighty Nine stands out as a gift choice because it unites fairtrade principles with cultural storytelling through its fashion creations.

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by Kandiss Edwards

December 19, 2025

Shamed British Commentator Quietly Walks Back Labeled Lies About Meghan Markle’s Mama

A spokesperson for the duchess’s office spoke out against the sloppy journalism.

A British news commentator issued a rare on-air apology after falsely claiming that Meghan, Duchess of Sussex’s mother, had been in prison.

On Dec. 4, along with Carole Malone’s inaccurate information about Doria Ragland, she also falsely claimed the Duchess was raised by her father, Thomas Markle.

Malone, a commentator on GB News, acknowledged her error during a follow-up broadcast on Dec. 15.

In a video of the broadcast circulating online, the uninformed woman said she believed the claim based on “misinformation I had seen online.”

She continued by stating that the error was innocent and made without malice, and that she now believed the truth.

“This was a genuine error. I accept what I have been told on behalf of Ms. Ragland — that she raised her daughter and that she has never been in prison or jail,” Malone said.

During the apology segment on Britain’s Newsroom, anchor Andrew Pierce also issued an apology on behalf of the program.”

“We all wish to apologize to Ms. Ragland for the error, and we are happy to correct the record,” Pierce said

The clarification came after Malone was questioned on air about the veracity of the original claim. During the pushback, she stood behind her misguided information.

A spokesperson for the duchess’s office spoke out against the sloppy journalism in a statement to US Weekly.

“Broadcasters have a responsibility to inform, not inflame,” the statement read.

The Duchess’s team also noted that the false claim had been debunked more than two years earlier but continued to circulate, causing recurring harm before the on-air retraction.

“This lie was conclusively debunked more than two years ago, yet it continues to be recycled by irresponsible commentators, causing recurring harm. Ms Ragland proudly raised her daughter and has never been in prison. GB News did not apologize voluntarily, but only to escape a defamation lawsuit — and it speaks volumes that GB News removed any trace of that apology within 24 hours of making it.”

The original broadcast occurred amid media attention on Markle’s estranged father’s health condition in the Philippines. He underwent a leg amputation following a serious infection. Since Markle’s entrance into the British royal family, questions about her estrangement from her father have garnered attention across the pond. Even years after the Duchess of Sussex and her husband, Prince Harry, exited active royal life and moved to America, the rumors and speculation continue.

by Mitti Hicks

December 19, 2025

At 8.3%, Black Unemployment Is Worsening At A Fast and Concerning Rate

This is the highest reading since August 2021, when the unemployment rate was 7.5% in September, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

The latest job report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows an alarming and steady trend. The unemployment rate for Black Americans has soared to 8.3% under President Donald Trump’s administration. This is the highest reading since August 2021, when the unemployment rate was 7.5% in September, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

In May, the Black unemployment rate for Black workers fell to a low for the year at 6.0%. That was a rate just 1.8 percentage points above the overall unemployment rate for the month. By November, the unemployment rate among Black workers was 3.7 points higher than the broader U.S. workforce, NBC News reports.

While the economy continues to show steady signs of slowing down for hiring, Black workers have been disproportionately impacted. Job loss for Black workers is outpacing the population overall. While the unemployment rate rose by just 0.4%, Black unemployment rose by 2.3%.

Black Women Taking Hardest Hit As Unemployment Climbs To 7%

According to the Center for American Progress (CAP), the latest job report shows warning signs that the economy is weakening. The total number of jobs increased by 64,000 in November and decreased by 105,000 in October.

However, what’s even more concerning is that Black women continue to take the hardest hit for job loss, despite being the most educated nationwide. Black women’s unemployment stood at 7.1% in November, compared with 5.4% in January, CAP points out. For perspective, the unemployment rate for white workers has barely moved from its average of 3.7% in the first half of the year.

“The adage ‘last hired, first fired,’ which describes the uneven labor market experiences of different races and ethnicities at the start of a recession, may hold again,” CAP analysts write.

Last month, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley called on the Federal Reserve to take action to address the unemployment rate for Black women following the release of the September jobs report.

“As the primary breadwinners for many households, Black women are the backbones of our families and our economy,” Pressley said. “Their systematic pushout not only has dangerous consequences for Black women, Black families, Black futures. It is also a glaring red flag for the entire U.S. economy.”

Sherrone Moore, Michigan football, Arrest

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

December 19, 2025

‘Very Dangerous’: Explosive Courtroom Testimony Puts Sherrone Moore In The Hot Seat

A Detroit detective also testified during a probable cause hearing that he "had a long history of domestic violence"

A Detroit detective who testified during a probable cause hearing for former Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore revealed that he “had a long history of domestic violence” and labeled him “very dangerous.”

According to The Athletic, Moore, who was charged with home invasion and stalking after his coaching position was terminated, headed over to his alleged lover’s home and allegedly threatened to harm himself as he “was inside her home, attacking her.” The University of Michigan fired him for allegedly being “engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member.

Pittsfield Township Police Detective Jessica Welker testified on Dec. 12 and revealed a timeline leading up to Moore being arrested Dec. 10 at the apartment of the woman he allegedly had an affair with. Moore is married with three children.

Police officers were summoned to the woman’s residence after receiving a phone call from the victim’s attorney, Heidi Sharp, according to court records. She informed authorities that Moore grabbed some knives and pointed them toward her, but turned them on himself after the woman put Sharp on speakerphone. Moore denied “threatening her with any weapons” when speaking to police officers after the arrest.

In a written statement to the media outlet, the Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office said, “the evidence that was available to us at the time of the charging decision indicated that Mr. Moore had an intent to terrorize and harass the victim, which is the basis for the stalking charge. Given that his statements were those of self-harm, however, there was not sufficient evidence to prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, an intent to assault or batter the victim.”

The prosecutor’s office confirmed that the case “remains under active investigation” and that there could be additional charges based on new evidence.

Moore did admit to police officers that he and the woman “were in an intimate relationship for approximately two years,” according to Welker’s testimony. However, the woman told police she ended it two days before his termination and told the former coach that she had “nothing more to say to him.” Yet, he still tried to contact her “approximately a dozen times and sent her text messages over the next two days.”

The coach was with Michigan for less than two years after taking over from Jim Harbaugh in January 2024, as Harbaugh moved to the NFL to coach. Moore had a 9-3 record this season, after leading the team to a 7-5 record last year.