deficit, budget deficit, government spending

by Mitti Hicks

October 10, 2025

Trump Considers Tariff-Funded Stimulus Checks For Americans

The stimulus would be funded from the revenues generated from the Trump Administration’s tariffs. In September alone, the U.S. government collected over $31 billion in tariff revenue.

A new report from Goldman Sachs reveals a sobering picture: more people are living paycheck to paycheck. As more Americans struggle to pay for housing, food, and transportation, President Donald Trump is considering giving Americans a $2,000 stimulus check funded by tariffs.

“We’re going to do something, we’re looking at something. No. 1, we’re paying down debt. Because people have allowed the debt to go crazy,” the President said during an interview on One America News.

He added, “We also might make a distribution to the people, almost like a dividend to the people of America. “We’re thinking maybe $1,000 to $2,000 — it’d be great.”

The stimulus would be funded from the revenues generated from the Trump Administration’s tariffs. In September alone, according to Fox News, the U.S. government collected over $31 billion in tariff revenue, which is $73 million below the August record. So far in 2025, the Treasury Department says the U.S. has collected nearly $215 billion in tariff revenue.

Debts Rising In The United States As Trump Touts Tariff-Funded Stimulus

Goldman Sachs’s latest study found that Americans are stretched thin. An estimated two-thirds of those surveyed say they are struggling to make ends meet between paydays. Economists say the reason for the financial insecurity is due to “sticky inflation,” elevated interest rates, and slower wage growth.

Inflation has reportedly cooled somewhat, down from the highs recorded in 2022, but prices are above pre-pandemic levels.

“Many households aren’t in crisis, but they’re stretched thin,” the report states. “The lack of savings and reliance on credit cards to cover monthly bills creates long-term vulnerability.”

Even more alarming in the report is the finding that low-income families are not the only ones feeling the financial strain. High earners are also reported to have very little savings buffer, which reflects mounting costs.

Report authors also note that 55% of workers may be living paycheck to paycheck by 2033, and 65% by 2043, raising the question of whether retirement is becoming unaffordable for many.

“The cost of major life events is taking up a larger percentage of household income, a trend that affects workers at the lowest level of income as well as the highest,” said Greg Wilson, the head of retirement with Goldman Sachs Asset Management.

He warns that if more Americans don’t seek out retirement income strategies to close their savings gap, then “retirement may increasingly become unaffordable for too many workers.”

Diddy, delay, trial, judge Prison, Sean combs

by Kandiss Edwards

October 10, 2025

Diddy’s Fort Dix Prison Placement Request Has Been Denied

Judge Arun Subramanian rejected Combs's motion instead offering other recommendations.

Sean “Diddy” Combs’ request to serve his 50-month sentence in New Jersey’s FCI Fort Dix has been denied.

Judge Arun Subramanian rejected the motion, instead instructing that Combs serve his time “as close as practicable to the New York metropolitan area.”

Diddy’s attorneys requested his Fort Dix placement to access the Bureau of Prisons Residential Drug Abuse Program (RDAP). Prisoners in the RDAP program that are housed at Fort Dix are allowed separate living quarters outside of the general population. They are also allowed to enroll in half-day work, school, or vocational activities. As a result of the facility’s flexibility, Combs’s legal team asserts that the New Jersey facility will allow him greater access to his family.

“In order to address drug abuse issues and to maximize family visitation and rehabilitative efforts, we request that the Court strongly recommend to the Bureau of Prisons that Mr. Combs be placed at FCI Fort Dix for RDAP purposes and any other available educational and occupational programs,” the filing stated.

In his rejection, Subramanian cited concerns over security, logistical constraints and administrative authority. Subramanian clarified that his judicial authority allows him to recommend a geographic zone, but actual placement is under the Bureau of Prisons’ jurisdiction. Combs’s team has until Oct. 10 to request another facility closer to the Metropolitan area.

Combs’ attorneys have signaled plans to appeal both the sentencing and the placement ruling. Meanwhile, correctional officials will now determine his ultimate assignment, which may lie outside the New York area but still within the judge’s recommended zone.

Combs was convicted in July on two counts of transporting individuals to engage in prostitution, under the Mann Act. He was acquitted of more serious racketeering charges. He was sentenced Oct. 3 to 50 months in prison, a $500,000 fine, and five years of supervised release. Credit for time already served may shorten his remaining term to roughly three years.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 10, 2025

Boost Your Career In A Tough Job Market With Soft Skills, Resume Upgrades, And Smart Pivots

Industry experts say switching industries and showcasing your soft skills can boost your chances of landing your next job.

As layoffs rise, hiring slows, and economic conditions continue to shift, the U.S. job market is becoming increasingly unstable and leaving job seekers uncertain about their futures. Despite the challenges of navigating a stressful and unpredictable job market, job seekers can still use effective strategies to improve their chances of landing a position in these unsettling times.

At the heart of every job search lies the goal of securing a position in one’s desired field, ideally with a salary that can handle today’s high cost of living. However, with the U.S. job-finding rate at its lowest point since 2019, job seekers may need to adjust their expectations. In a market with limited opportunities, maintaining flexibility and openness to temporary pivots could be crucial to securing your next role, particularly in sectors that continue to perform well despite broader industry shifts and economic challenges, according to industry experts.

“We’ve seen a lot of industries under a squeeze right now because the population that normally were working in those industries, like agriculture, production, sometimes manufacturing and automotive, because they’ve had a reduced talent pool because of some of the things that’s happening now, it’s created an open door of opportunity for people from untraditional pipelines to find opportunity,” Khalilah Olokunola, Senior Director at Jobs for the Future told BLACK ENTERPRISE during the Clover x Shark Tank Summit.

In the agriculture sector, the market is currently divided, with different subsectors experiencing vastly different outcomes. Growers of row crops like corn, soybeans, and wheat have been struck by falling prices, rising input costs, and geopolitical tensions such as the U.S.–China trade war. In contrast, the livestock industry has shown greater resilience, with higher prices boosting profits for cattle, eggs, and dairy producers.

The automotive industry tells a similar story of contrasts. While the broader sector faces challenges from slowing sales, reduced production, and rising costs, the aftermarket segment, which supplies parts and services for vehicle maintenance and repair, continues to demonstrate its recession-resistant nature. Consumers tend to keep their cars longer during economic downturns.

Meanwhile, the manufacturing industry, though currently strained, shows promise for long-term recovery. Trends like reshoring and increased federal investments in technology and infrastructure make way for industry-shifting innovation. These are the evolving industry shifts Olokunola is seeing through her work in helping populations overcome barriers to economic advancement.

“I would tell them to get hopeful because industries are under a squeeze and they’re going to be looking to fill roles that are necessary for the production of those businesses,” Olokunola told job seekers.

Alongside exploring industry pivots, job seekers should also recognize and leverage the soft skills they use in everyday life, as these skills can play a vital role in driving a business’s success, Olokunola added. Once you’ve identified these soft skills, highlight them on your resume to ensure they stand out to hiring managers.

“You have to begin to look at different ways of working when it comes to positioning yourself for a job and not be afraid to translate skills that we often keep secret,” she explained. “A lot of times, like moms returning to the workplace, can operationalize the household. And so when you think about some of the skills you have that you don’t put on your resume, there’s a data stat that says 93% of organizations know that their company will succeed based on the soft skills that their team members have. And so we have to be able to share those things because while you may not have as much experience or a degree as someone, that lived experience that you have can work in the workplace in a really intentional and thoughtful way to make the impact that that employee is looking for.”

Speaking at the summit alongside Sole Play CEO TJ Bennett, Olokunola and Lands shared insights on how small business owners can build a strong A-Team. While hiring during an economic downturn may seem daunting or even futile, Lands emphasized that the current climate shouldn’t shake an employer’s confidence in the kind of workplace environment they have the power to create.

“At this moment, when you have kind of uncertainty, economic, socio-political turmoil, I think employers often make a false trade-off or a false dichotomy about their ability to create quality jobs, and they sort of equate this with needing to make some kind of large financial investment,” Lands said. But during the three-day Clover x Shark Tank Summit, “We actually surfaced a lot of different low-cost or no-cost ways, no-regret moves that employers can make to really invest in their workforce and both attract and retain really strong candidates.”

by Sharelle B. McNair

October 10, 2025

Judge Gives Rev. William Barber The Green Light To Continue Lawsuit Against AMC Theatres

AMC Theaters released a statement saying they are reviewing policies to ensure nothing like what happened to Barber happens to anyone else.

In a victory for disabled civil rights advocate Rev. William Barber II, a judge rejected a request from AMC Theatres for a lawsuit to be tossed out after being accused of not allowing Barber to use his own chair to watch a movie, WRAL News reports.

In an Oct. 7 ruling, U.S. District Court Judge Terrence Boyle permitted the lawsuit, filed in 2024 in the Eastern District of North Carolina, to carry on. The suit is seeking $100,000 as Barber’s attorney, Harry Daniels, alleges a theater in Greenville, North Carolina, violated the Americans with Disability Act by requiring Barber to provide proof of his disability. In a statement, the civil rights advocate’s legal team said the theater should have recognized his condition. “Barber is afflicted with ankylosing spondylitis, a form of arthritis which causes inflammation in the joints and ligaments of the spine,” the statement read, according to CBS 17.

“Rather than recognize his condition, however, theater staff called the local police and had him escorted from the theater.”

The incident in question took place on Dec. 26, 2023. Barber was escorted out of the theater for not being allowed to use his own chair to watch a showing of the then-box office hit, The Color Purple. Escorting his 90-year-old mother, the former North Carolina NAACP president said he attempted to use the special chair in the theater’s handicapped section but was approached by an AMC staff member who told him he couldn’t.

The former leader at Greenleaf Christian Church in Goldsboro has difficulty sitting in regular chairs due to persistent hip pain. He also uses two canes.

Officers from the Greenville Police Department were called, and Barber was escorted out of the building. Barber can be heard in a video of the incident saying “I am not resisting” and “I am non-violent” before he was seen walking out. The case drew national attention, with Barber’s attorney saying the religious leader was embarrassed. “I said to them, I can’t leave. My gut, my heart, my character, my commitment to justice will not allow me to leave this space when I know legally and morally I have a right to it,” Barber said at the time.

In response to the lawsuit, AMC Theaters released a statement saying it is reviewing policies to ensure nothing like what happened to Barber happens to anyone else. “AMC welcomes guests with disabilities. We have a number of accommodations in place at our theaters at all times, and our theater teams work hard to accommodate guests who have needs that fall outside the normal course of business,” the company said.

“We encourage guests who require special seating to speak with a manager in advance to see what can best be accommodated at the theater to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for the guest and those around them. We are also reviewing our policies with our theater teams to help ensure situations like this do not occur again.”

howard basketball, investment, Kaleena Smith, Wilberforce University, Unrivaled,

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

October 10, 2025

International Basketball League Plans Fall 2026 Debut, Advisor Maverick Carter No Longer Involved

'He is no longer working with them or any other basketball league in Europe.'

An international basketball league reportedly being advised by Maverick Carter is planning a launch for Fall 2026, but the SpringHill Company CEO is no longer involved.

According to Front Office Sports, the league, which is being spearheaded by investors like Skype Co-Founder Geoff Prentice and former Facebook executive Grady Burnett, tennis stars Novak Djokovic and Sloane Stephens, former WNBA stars Candace Parker, Alana Beard, and Lauren Jackson, and ex-NFL quarterback Steve Young, will move forward but without Carter included in the group.

A spokesperson for Carter confirmed that he has no role in the organization.

“This group came to Maverick for consultation, which he gave, and he subsequently stepped away months ago. He is no longer working with them or any other basketball league in Europe.”

Earlier this summer, an Instagram post featuring Carter, LeBron James, and the European agent of superstar center Nikola Jokić, Miško Ražnatović, relaxing on a boat, sparked rumors of a new basketball league being developed.

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A post shared by Miško Ražnatović (@misko4raznatovic)

The league, which has been dubbed “Project B” does not have an official name, or at least it has not been disclosed publicly. It is anticipated that it will begin play next fall, with an expectation that it will run through April.

Project B will host tournaments across Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Players who participate in the league, along with salaries, will be offered equity. The league reportedly has raised capital from investment firms Quiet Capital, Sequence Equity, and Mangrove Capital.

Beard, who won a WNBA championship with the Los Angeles Sparks in 2016, is a co-founder and the league’s chief basketball officer. She has stressed the importance of the players having equity in the league.

“The players are our partners, they’re one of our largest stakeholders,” Beard said. “They are creating value, and getting paid for that value.”

by Sharelle B. McNair

October 10, 2025

Upcoming Supreme Court Ruling May Let Republicans Gain 19 Additional House Seats

Both groups found a total of 27 Democratic seats would be up for grabs if the ruling comes before the midterms.

All eyes are on the Supreme Court as a critical ruling against the Voting Rights Act could put the Republican Party in power for years to come, in addition to giving them a leg up in their redistricting plans, Politico reports.

The case in question is Louisiana v. Callais, where two voting rights groups — Fair Fight Action and Black Voters Matter Fund — are sounding the alarm on major violations of the Voting Rights Act (VRA). The high court is scheduled to hear arguments on eliminating Section 2 of the legislation, a provision prohibiting racial gerrymandering when it downplays minority voting power. If the provision is terminated, Republicans would have the power to redraw up to 19 House seats to favor their party, a nightmare scenario for the Democratic Party and its voters.

Without the provision, roughly 30% of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) and 11% of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus could be redistricted out of their seats, according to data from the voting rights groups. While the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the case, it is unlikely that a ruling will come before the 2026 midterm elections. Black Voters Matter Fund co-founder LaTosha Brown highlights how it’s not out of the question. The move could “clear the path for a one-party system where power serves the powerful and silences the people,” Brown said in a statement.

Both groups found that a total of 27 Democratic seats would be up for grabs if the ruling comes before the midterms.

Louisiana v. Callais came after the state redrew its lines following the 2020 census, so only one of its six districts gave Black voters an opportunity to elect candidates of their choice. Since the Black demographic made up roughly 35% of Louisiana’s population, Black voters sued, arguing that under Section 2 of VRA, the state was required to create a second majority-Black district.

The courts agreed, but the state seemingly found a way to draw a new map creating the required district while continuing to protect several of its Republican leaders, including Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson.

Ahead of arguments, attorneys general from 22 states have issued letters urging the Supreme Court to stand its ground on the Voting Rights Act, as the battle of redistricting is taking place across the country with the Trump administration in office.

According to River Bender, one AG, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul put pressure on the justices to review a lower court decision that prevents civilians from suing to enforce the legislation. The group of law enforcers filed an amicus brief, which is defined as a legal document filed by a person who is not involved in a lawsuit but has a strong interest in the outcome of the case, in the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians v. Howe case.

The case defends individuals’ right to sue to enforce Section 2 of the VRA, giving American voters the right to cast their vote without facing racial discrimination. “For decades, the Voting Rights Act has ensured that access to the ballot box has not been restricted or obstructed based on discrimination,” Raoul said.

“I am proud to join my fellow attorneys general to protect voters’ rights, as nothing is more fundamental to the preservation of our democracy than the right to vote.”

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

October 10, 2025

LeBron James Sued By Fan Alleging ‘Second Decision’ Announcement Caused Emotional Damage

Lakers fan Andrew Garcia is suing James due to "fraud, deception, misrepresentation, and any and all basis of legal recovery," because he thought he was retiring

The uproar over LeBron James’ The Second Decision led to speculation that the Los Angeles Lakers superstar was retiring, only to reveal it was an announcement of his partnership with Hennessy. A fan decided to file a lawsuit because of it.

According to TMZ, Andrew Garcia, who claims to be a Lakers fan, is suing the future NBA Hall of Famer because he felt he was duped into believing he was buying a ticket to LeBron’s last regular-season game against the Cleveland Cavaliers (James’ hometown team and the first team he played for as an NBA rookie) when he purchased a ticket at an elevated price.

He wants to be reimbursed for the $865 (Garcia purchased two tickets at $432.83 each) he paid for the game taking place on March 31, 2026.

In the lawsuit filed, Garcia wrote that he is suing James due to “fraud, deception, misrepresentation, and any and all basis of legal recovery.”

He told the media outlet in an interview, “I wouldn’t have purchased it if he wasn’t going to retire. Plain and simple.”

Basketball fans who saw the initial video clip announcing “The Second Decision” immediately speculated that he was leaving the game for good, as the video showed a similar scene to when he announced that he was signing with the Miami Heat in 2010 to join fellow basketball stars Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh.

Instead, when the reveal took place, he stated that he was taking his talents to Hennessy with the release of the Hennessy V.S.O.P Limited Edition by LeBron James.

LeBron will be entering his 23rd NBA season, which will break former Toronto Raptors’ Vince Carter’s record of 22 seasons, which he currently shares with him. The Lakers will start their regular season on Oct. 21 against their Western Conference rival, the Golden State Warriors, at Crypto.com Arena.

Dr. Bernice King, Martin Luther King, charlie kirk

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 10, 2025

Martin Luther King Jr.’s Daughter Requests Stop To AI Videos Featuring Her Late Father

Bernice King is asking fans to "please stop" sending her AI videos of her late father.

Bernice King, daughter of Martin Luther King Jr., is joining Robin Williams’ daughter in calling for a stop to AI videos of their deceased loved ones.

On Oct. 7, Bernice King responded to a tweet about Zelda Williams asking fans to “please stop sending AI videos” of her late father.

“If you’ve got any decency, just stop doing this to him and to me, to everyone, even, full stop. It’s dumb, it’s a waste of time and energy, and believe me, it’s NOT what he’d want,” Zelda wrote in an Instagram Story post captured by Variety.

Seeing the story, Bernice shared it with her own message, saying, “I concur concerning my father,” and asked fans to “please stop” sending AI videos of the late civil rights icon.

I concur concerning my father.
Please stop. #RobinWilliams #MLK #AI https://t.co/SImVIP30iN
— Be A King (@BerniceKing) October 7, 2025

Fans rallied behind Bernice, expressing solidarity with those affected by the surge of AI-generated content of deceased celebrities and public figures, calling it a concerning downside of AI’s rise.

“People don’t think about the family of these AI-generated things. Blessings to you,” one X user wrote.

“AI has its benefits, but it too often is the human ego trying to play God,” added someone else. “Much like any other benefit, in the wrong hands it can be perverted and disfigured.”

The rise of AI-generated content platforms has led to a surge of videos and images featuring deceased celebrities. While some marvel at the hyperrealism, many see it as disrespectful, using the likeness of the deceased without consent in content that can easily be mistaken for real. The growing concern is what Zelda Williams highlighted when she asked fans to stop sending AI videos of her late father, comedian Robin Williams, who passed away in 2014.

“To watch the legacies of real people be condensed down to ‘this vaguely looks and sounds like them so that’s enough’, just so other people can churn out horrible TikTok slop puppeteering them is maddening,” Zelda wrote. “You’re not making art, you’re making disgusting, over-processed hotdogs out of the lives of human beings, out of the history of art and music, and then shoving them down someone else’s throat hoping they’ll give you a little thumbs up and like it. Gross.”

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

October 9, 2025

REVOLT Issues Open Call For Black Digital Artists For 2025 Art Fair At Art Basel Miami

Black digital artists are invited to submit their work for the 2025 REVOLT Art Fair at Art Basel Miami.

REVOLT is calling on all Black digital artists to enter submissions for the 2025 REVOLT Art Fair at Art Basel Miami.

Taking place Dec. 2–6 at Miami’s Ice Palace Studios, the five-day immersive exhibit will feature over 60 contemporary digital artworks, including AI-driven installations and soundscapes, Revolt announced. The open call, closing Oct. 28, invites original digital works, with selected pieces showcased on screens throughout the venue.

The exhibit will highlight the evolving digital landscape and tech innovations, with The Mirror of Possibility serving as a centerpiece of the showcase through its AI-driven interactive experience, and The Listening Experience using QR-coded audio notes to connect artists and visitors. Additional programming includes curated galleries, guided tours, and content capture activations.

The event kicks off with a VIP opening night for guests, partners, and press, followed by a public artist showcase and walkthrough on day two. Days three through five feature immersive public programming, culminating in the REVOLT House closing celebration on the final evening. Opening night also offers private walkthroughs and early access to installations.

Curated by REVOLT’s extensive DJ network, REVOLT House will feature LED visuals and a real-time digital art wall, streaming pre-selected social media submissions live throughout the party experience.

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A post shared by REVOLT (@revolt)

REVOLT Art Fair 2025 expands on its 2024 collaboration with PRIZM, which drew over 5,000 attendees and generated millions of impressions for featured artists. The previous showcase, themed “Architecture of Liberation,” highlighted works from both established and emerging creators across more than 60 galleries during Art Basel week.

The exhibit helped to bring “an audience that is young and looking for interesting things to do and get involved in,” PRIZM Founder Mikhaile Solomon said at the time. “We can also continue and sustainably provide that level of care to our artists.”

Those interested in submitting their work to REVOLT Art Fair 2025 can do so HERE.

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

October 9, 2025

Bethune-Cookman Withdraws From ESPN ‘Band Of The Year’ Competition

'I cannot, in good conscience and as an educator, accept this rule of thought for the young women and men I represent in this band program,' said Dr. Donovan V. Wells

Dr. Donovan V. Wells, who is the director of Bands for Bethune-Cookman University’s Marching Wildcats, has recently voiced his displeasure with the structure of the ESPN Red Lobster “Band of the Year” competition and has withdrawn from competing.

The band director posted a statement on the Marching Wildcats Facebook account about the ranking system and how the placement of the marching bands is determined, citing better ways to rank the HBCU bands.

“As Director of Bands, I have never been a supporter of this competition concept,” Wells stated in the post. “There are better, more meaningful ways to showcase and celebrate the HBCU marching band art form without placing us in direct competition against one another. Marching band is not a sport — it is an academic entity.”

Wells feels that other organizations, in their rankings and standings of bands, typically reach out to band directors and include them when making their determinations regarding marching bands. Their inclusion is very important to the process by which HBCUs receive proper ratings.

He also stated that he has tried several times to have the Marching Wildcats excluded from the competition, but has been mostly ignored. He feels that the school is “being forced into participation.”

“Despite my repeated requests to exclude the Marching Wildcats, since the event’s inception, my requests have been ignored. Instead, it feels as though we are being forced into participation. I cannot, in good conscience and as an educator, accept this rule of thought for the young women and men I represent in this band program.”

This is not the first time that an HBCU band director has taken to social media to voice concern about the “Band of the Year” competition.

HBCU Sports reported that Jackson State University’s band director made a similar complaint after it withdrew its band from the competition. They have also stated that they tried to be excluded from the competition but were ignored as well.

“We fully respect the decision of other programs to participate, as well as the enthusiasm of fans who follow the competition,” Dr. Roderick Little wrote. “At Jackson State, our students work tirelessly and are evaluated by a different set of standards—those that focus on personal growth, musical excellence, and cultural impact. We take immense pride in the integrity, resilience, and life achievements of our members, both on and off the field.”

Please. pic.twitter.com/QPmNvFfbSd
— Sonic Boom of the South (@SonicBoomOTS) September 22, 2025