Syracuse University Hoops Legend Lawrence Moten Found Dead In D.C. Home
Moten's daughter, Lawrencia, confirmed that he was discovered dead in his home on Tuesday, Sept. 30.
Former NBA player and Syracuse University basketball legend Lawrence Moten was found dead in his Washington, D.C. home on Tuesday, Sept. 30. He was 53.
Syracuse.com reported that Moten’s daughter Lawrencia confirmed her father’s death. A cause of death was not revealed.
In June, Moten returned to his hometown of Washington, D.C., taking a job as general manager for the boys and girls basketball teams at Digital Pioneers Academy, the outlet reported.
Aside from having a spectacular nickname (“Poetry in Moten”), Moten was one of the best players in Syracuse University history. He still holds the school record for career points with 2,334. He also set the Big East Conference career scoring record, 1,405 points, which was broken in 2020. Moten averaged 19.6 points during his collegiate career, which ran from 1991 to 1995.
Moten made an immediate impact at Syracuse, averaging 18.2 points and 6.0 rebounds per game in 1991-92, becoming the first freshman to score 500 points in a season. He was named Big East Rookie of the Year and to Third Team All-Big East.
Syracuse University released a statement through men’s head basketball coach Adrian Autry.
“It’s a sad day for the Orange community,” said Autry. “For me, Lawrence was not only a teammate, but a friend. I can’t think of anybody that was more positive or who loved Syracuse more than he did. Obviously, his basketball—he was one of the greatest to put on the uniform. It’s a big loss. I was able to play alongside him for three years and watch him do some amazing things. I was fortunate to spend time with him on and off the court. I feel for his family, including his beautiful daughters. Lawrence was a positive light in this world. He was one of a kind. I’m going to miss him.”
Moten was selected by the Vancouver Grizzlies in the second round of the 1995 NBA Draft. He also had stints in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) and the American Basketball Association (ABA) and played overseas in Spain and Venezuela.
These Women Are Serious About Breast Cancer Advocacy
Breast cancer advocacy is a civic and often personal mission
Breast cancer advocacy is a civic and often personal mission. Black women are dying from breast cancer at an alarming rate, despite a 43% decline in death rates between 1989 and 2020, according to a 2022 report released by the American Cancer Society. It is refreshing to witness breast cancer advocates using their platforms, sharing personal stories, and collaborating with nonprofits to push for earlier detection, better representation in research, and improved outcomes for Black women and families. BLACK ENTERPRISE is spotlighting a few Black voices who are actively advancing this critical work.
Lyndsay Levingston
Lyndsay Levingston turned her personal health battle into a powerful advocacy mission. After being diagnosed at 37 with aggressive Stage 2B triple-negative breast cancer in July 2019—and later discovering she carried a BRCA1 gene mutation—she was motivated to establish the nonprofit SurviveHER. As its founder and executive director, she works to inform, inspire, and empower breast cancer survivors and women, with a vital focus on improving breast health outcomes, especially within communities of color.
Nina Parker
Nina Parker, an Emmy-nominated TV host, fashion entrepreneur, and media personality, champions Merck’s Uncovering TNBC initiative. She offers resources and personal insights to inform Black women about TNBC risks and screening. Parker’s mother is a breast cancer survivor, and she stresses the significance of awareness and early screening, particularly for Black women, who TNBC disproportionately impacts.
Gabrielle Union
Gabrielle Union is a dedicated breast health advocate who serves as a public ambassador and participates in awareness campaigns, including Susan G. Komen events and screening programs. Union highlights the significance of early detection and access for Black women and has been deeply engaged in advocacy and event participation since the 2010s.
Tina Knowles
Tina Knowles revealed her stage-1 breast cancer diagnosis in 2024 to highlight the critical need for routine mammograms and timely screenings. Her journey, which included a postponed mammogram, serves as a cautionary tale for women, particularly women of color, to make regular screening a priority.
Ricki Fairley
Ricki Fairley, a survivor of triple-negative breast cancer and the founder and CEO of TOUCH (The Black Breast Cancer Alliance), established an advocacy group dedicated to educating about Black breast cancer, encouraging clinical trial participation, assisting survivors, and implementing culturally relevant outreach initiatives. TOUCH, a U.S.-based organization with a nationwide digital presence, was launched in 2020 during Fairley’s post-treatment advocacy. Fairley has actively engaged in programs and partnerships since. Fairley’s personal experience with aggressive TNBC and the lack of representation of Black women in trials inspired her to create an organization that focuses on Black patients and promotes research inclusivity.
Paulette Leaphart
Paulette Leaphart, a breast cancer survivor and activist, captured national attention in 2016 for her 1,000-mile coast-to-capitol walk from Biloxi, Mississippi, to Washington, D.C. Throughout the journey, she openly showcased her double-mastectomy scars to reduce the stigma surrounding survivorship and advocate for improved healthcare access. Leaphart’s story resonated with the public and became a notable example of survivor activism, motivating both policymakers and the public to emphasize the importance of affordable care and increase visibility for survivors.
Betty Irabor
Betty Irabor, a Nigerian publisher and founder of Genevieve Magazine, organizes and funds the annual Pink Ball events, which aim to promote screenings, raise funds for treatment, and donate diagnostic equipment across Nigeria. The foundation, which has been active since the mid-2000s, utilizes media platforms to tackle issues related to late diagnosis and the scarcity of diagnostic resources in the country.
Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu
Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, a breast cancer survivor and founder of the Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria (BRECAN), established the organization to provide public education, support for survivors, and advocacy programs. BRECAN hosts awareness walks and pushes for national discussions on breast health. Established in the late 1990s, BRECAN has remained continually active, striving to reduce stigma, promote early detection, and support patients in Nigeria.
Miriamm Wright
Miriamm Wright, a talented singer-songwriter, arts activist, and the founder and chair of the Edith P. Wright Breast Cancer Foundation (EPW), utilizes benefit concerts and arts programs to generate funds, host free mammogram events, and offer comprehensive support for families impacted by breast cancer. Established in 1998, Wright’s annual concert and EPW awards have become essential events during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Driven by the loss of her mother to breast cancer, Wright focuses her performance and nonprofit efforts on providing screenings and community support to families in need.
JaQuitta Williams
JaQuitta Williams, a television journalist, singer, and dedicated advocate for survivors, has leveraged her public presence to enhance awareness about breast cancer through interviews, fundraising events, and local media storytelling. She promotes early detection and advocates for survivors. Williams’s journey, which highlights the financial and emotional challenges of treatment, positions her as a passionate supporter of screening, survivor visibility, and community assistance.
Arrest Warrant Issued For Tyrese; Dogs Accused Of Killing Neighbor’s Spaniel
'I had no idea I would ever wake up to this nightmare, and I know the family must feel the same way. To them, please know that my heart is broken for you.'
Singer and actor Tyrese has been issued an arrest warrant in Georgia.
Police say the Fast & Furious star has yet to turn himself in to police after his four Cane Corso dogs were accused of mauling and killing a neighbor’s dog on Sept. 18.
According to The Associated Press, the recording artist will face animal cruelty charges once he is in custody. The warrant is part of an “ongoing issue” following multiple calls about Tyrese’s dogs in the past few months, Fulton County Police Captain Nicole Dwyer said.
Tyrese’s neighbor told police officers that she let her small spaniel out into their yard just after 10 p.m. on Sept. 18. When she returned several minutes later, her dog had been attacked.
She took the dog to a veterinary hospital, but it did not survive.
Although Tyrese’s house is half a mile away, she saw his dogs at the house next door. After animal control officers arrived at the scene, they were able to keep the dogs away from the neighbor while she retrieved her vehicle.
On Sept. 22, police issued a search warrant for Tyrese’s property, but he wasn’t home. The dogs were no longer on the property.
“Our priority is the safety of the community, and when there’s so many incidents of dogs, huge dogs like this, getting out and then killing an animal, you know, what’s next? A child?” Dwyer said. “Our main priority is safety, and that’s why we want the dogs in custody.”
Dwyer said she told Tyrese’s attorney that their client had to turn himself in by Friday, Sept. 26.
“I had no idea I would ever wake up to this nightmare, and I know the family must feel the same way. To them, please know that my heart is broken for you. I am praying for your healing and for your beloved pet, who never deserved this. I remain committed to facing this matter with honesty, responsibility, and compassion.”
Banks also explained that Tyrese was not at home when the incident occurred and that he had taken the steps to “re-home his two adult dogs and their three puppies in safe and loving homes,” so something like this would not happen again.
Publix Allegedly Reneges On Black Book Bash Sponsorship, Denies Email Proof
Organizers stressed that their paramount focus remains on the success of the Black Book Bash, which is designed to amplify the voices and works of Black authors across various genres.
Conflicting accounts have emerged ahead of the annual Black Book Bash, a high-profile event celebrating Black authors, after organizers alleged that grocery giant Publix abruptly withdrew its committed title sponsorship.
However, the Polk County, Florida-based corporation unequivocally rejected the claim. The resulting controversy has sparked calls for a consumer boycott and cast a shadow over the cultural event scheduled to commence this weekend.
The organizers sparked a public dispute through a social media video, claiming that Publix, which they stated was slated to be the event’s primary sponsor, had rescinded its support just days before the opening. They asserted that this sudden reversal necessitated drawing upon personal funds to mitigate the financial rupture and ensure that the celebration of literacy and Black voices could proceed.
Publix, however, has maintained a firm denial. The communications director for the Southern grocery chain stated in a phone interview that, following an internal review, the company concluded there was no foundational agreement in place.
“We’re disheartened,” the director said. “After conducting a thorough investigation, we concluded that Publix never agreed to sponsor or serve as the title sponsor of this event.”
Casey Kelley, an organizer for the Black Book Bash, offered a materially different narrative, detailing months of communication with a corporate entity.
“Over the past few months, one of our sponsorship coordinators was in communication with someone from a Publix.com email address,” Kelley said.
Kelley subsequently provided an email—reviewed by News4JAX—that ostensibly showed the sponsorship offer being formally rescinded.
The critical text of the electronic communication read, “I regret to inform you that Publix [is] no longer able to offer sponsorships for the foreseeable future. In this volatile [climate], we have pulled all sponsorships for the foreseeable future. As a result, we are rescinding the existing offer to sponsor Black Book Bash…”
On Sept. 30, Kelley took to Instagram to further explain the situation and provide even more context to the puzzling situation.
“What up, Book People? We are excited about Black Book Bash happening this weekend. Unfortunately, the focus has shifted from the event to Publix– with a whole lot of misinformation and inaccuracies.”
She continued, “Over the past two months, one of our sponsorship coordinators had been in communication with someone from a Publix.com email address. Through multiple calls, virtual meetings, and even emails, we reached an agreement for exclusivity on the title sponsorship, and that’s not the only sponsor. It’s the title sponsor. On Sept. 22, we received an email from the same email address that stated that Publix would no longer be sponsoring. Despite that, our team pulled together our personal funds and resources to cover all outstanding balances… two days later on Sept. 24.”
Kelley also commented that a viral video posted on Sept. 26 was the catalyst for bringing the smoke to Publix. She also explained that her organization declined all media requests from the chain. According to the Black Book Bash organizer, Publix claimed that the sponsorship wasn’t approved because it hadn’t come from the company’s foundation.
However, Publix’s website doesn’t list the foundation, but does have a “Requests” tab under its Community tab. The verbiage directly from the site is below.
There is also a section to specifically request a Publix Marketing Sponsorship Request. Upon clicking the “Submit Request” button, the user is sent to an application that still doesn’t mention a foundation.
“We believe in giving back. Request support here.
If you represent a nonprofit organization that is doing great things for your community in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, or Kentucky, Publix is glad to review your request.
Areas of focus.
We support organizations that focus on youth, education, reducing hunger, and alleviating homelessness. Donations for school clubs and teams will be made payable to your qualified school, not to booster clubs. Please be sure that your school is registered, and that you apply on behalf of the school when making these requests.
What we contribute.
“We review requests for donations, gift cards, sponsorships, giveaways, and program ads.“
How to make a request.
All requests are submitted online.”
The email’s purported sender utilized the company’s correct domain name, the very same domain used by the grocer’s corporate communications team for official press correspondence.
Yet, despite this evidence, a company spokesperson issued a categorical denial of its provenance, “We can confirm definitively that this communication was never sent by Publix.”
It’s important to note that Publix’s official policy on diversity and inclusion is published on its corporate website.
“Publix values inclusion. A diverse, inclusive, and merit-based workforce makes our company—and our community—better. We value the fresh ideas and unique perspectives that each associate provides. We make it a priority to employ and work with qualified and talented people from many backgrounds, cultures, abilities, and ethnicities. We are proud of our long-standing commitment to creating and maintaining an inclusive work environment for our associates, in which they feel a sense of ownership, pride, and belonging. Publix provides our associates with a voice, an open-door policy, training, development, and career opportunities.”
Ironically, Publix’s commitment doesn’t appear to extend to its C-suite. Heading the company are four white men. And in 2021, Publix was a contributor to the rally that subsequently turned into the Jan. 6 Insurrection. There were calls to boycott the grocer at the time.
Organizers stressed that their paramount focus remains on the success of the Black Book Bash, which is designed to amplify the voices and works of Black authors across various genres.
The event is set for the weekend, Oct. 3-5, at the Hyatt Regency in Jacksonville.
NBA Announces Pioneers Scholarship, Highlighting The 75th Anniversary Of League’s 1st Black Players
The scholarship acknowledges the league's first Black players, Chuck Cooper, Earl Lloyd, and Nathaniel “Sweetwater” Clifton
The National Basketball Association (NBA) and the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) have announced the NBA Pioneers Scholarship, which acknowledges the league’s first Black players, Chuck Cooper, Earl Lloyd, and Nathaniel “Sweetwater” Clifton.
According to BET News, this scholarship is being introduced to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the players entering the league. The NBA Foundation and NBPA Foundation will donate $750,000 toward the scholarship “to support HBCU academic and athletic programs throughout the country.”
“This year marks the 75th anniversary of the first Black players playing in the NBA, Chuck Cooper, Earl Lloyd, and Nat Sweetwater Clifton, to commemorate their enduring impact,” Los Angeles Clippers point guard Chris Paul said in a written statement. “Together, the NBA Foundation and the NBPA Foundation will award an NBA pioneer scholarship of $150,000 annually, for a total of $750,000 over five years to support HBCU athletics, academic enrichment, and professional development.”
“The inaugural recipients of this award are West Virginia State University and Xavier University of Louisiana. To the NBA pioneers, thank you. Your courage gave us an opportunity, your game gave us hope, and your legacy will be a part of every pass, every shot, every moment in the NBA.”
The first recipients of the NBA Pioneers Scholarship will come from the alma mater of the three NBA pioneers. Cooper and Lloyd played their collegiate careers at West Virginia State University, while Clifton played basketball at Xavier University of Louisiana.
The NBA plans to continue celebrating the pioneers during Black History Month and at next year’s NBA All-Star 2026, taking place in Los Angeles. The celebration will also continue off the court through community events and other activations, recognizing the 75th anniversary of the players entering the NBA.
The league also announced that during All-Star weekend, the 5th annual NBA HBCU Classic will feature Hampton University and North Carolina A&T State University.
Gen Z, Finding Purpose In ‘Boring’ Careers, Sets Sights On Accounting
As baby boomers retire, Gen Z is stepping into accounting, discovering career stability and strong pay.
Accounting, long stereotyped as dull and repetitive, is finding fresh appeal among members of Generation Z, who are discovering meaning and money in the field.
For years, accounting has carried an image problem, but new programs are helping to give the field a rebrand. A 2022 study cited by Fortune ranked it as the second-most boring profession, just behind data analysis. But as the magazined noted in a recent article, “Gen Z is realizing the six-figure career opportunity.”
The timing couldn’t be better for this sect, whose members were born between 1997 and 2012. Millions of baby boomer accountants are nearing or entering retirement, leaving a widening gap in the workforce. More than 340,000 accountants have left the profession over the past five years, according to Fortune. That shortage creates opportunities for younger workers—many of whom are getting their start before they even leave college.
One example is the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, which helps low-to-moderate income taxpayers navigate the filing season. The program launched over 50 years ago at California State University, Northridge, and remains a training ground for students.
In 2024, hundreds of CSU Northridge students participating in VITA assisted more than 9,000 taxpayers, helping them secure nearly $11 million in refunds and $3.6 million in tax credits, Fortune reported.
“While accounting may have a certain image in the background among young people of being not as intriguing and exciting, once they actually engage in the practice and see how it plays out in the real world, it changes people’s minds and views,” Rafael Efrat, director of CSU Northridge’s VITA program, told the magazine.
Beyond the satisfaction of helping others, the paycheck is a major draw. According to Glassdoor data, the average accountant earns about $93,000 annually, with experienced professionals making up to $122,000 depending on the industry. Those who achieve certified public accountant (CPA) status can command salaries approaching $200,000.
For a generation often characterized as searching for both stability and social impact, accounting offers an unexpected path forward— blending community service with financial reward.
The 2025 BE Smart HBCU Hackathon: More Students, More Impact
Themed “Built Brilliant. Built Different: 10 Years of Elevating Excellence,” the Hackathon sets the stage for a unique coding competition that fosters innovation, collaboration, empowerment, and engagement with the latest cutting-edge technology.
The 2025 BE Smart HBCU Hackathon Celebrates a Decade of Tech Excellence
More than 300 students from 43 historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) will showcase their tech talent and compete for jobs at Black Enterprise’s 10th Annual BE Smart Hackathon. Hosted by American Airlines, the Nov. 5-8 coding competition in Charlotte gathers the largest pool of students in the event’s history. This year, there are 310 students from 43 schools forming 62 teams.
Themed “Built Brilliant. Built Different: 10 Years of Elevating Excellence,” the Hackathon sets the stage for a unique coding competition that fosters innovation, collaboration, empowerment, and engagement with the latest cutting-edge technology. The four-day event provides a platform for computer engineering, computer science, and cybersecurity majors from dozens of HBCUs to showcase their skills in front of the competition’s largest sponsor pool to date, aiming to recruit them for tech internships and jobs.
“As the technology industry continues to evolve, the demand for skilled professionals is higher than ever, and BLACK ENTERPRISE recognizes the importance of nurturing the talent that already exists within HBCUs,” said BLACK ENTERPRISE CEO Earl “Butch” Graves Jr. “Our event, in partnership with American Airlines and other leading corporations, is a testament to our steadfast commitment to promoting diversity within the tech industry. As Artificial Intelligence (AI) is now a part of everyday life, we are proving that HBCU students are the original AI: Authentically Intelligent.”
The 2025 participating Hackathon schools are:
Alabama A&M University
Alabama State University
Benedict College
Bethune-Cookman University
Claflin University
Delaware State University
Dillard University
Elizabeth City State University
Fisk University
Florida A&M University
Florida Memorial University
Grambling State University
Hampton University
Howard University
Jackson State University
Johnson C. Smith University
Kentucky State University
Lane College
LeMoyne-Owen College
Livingston College
Lincoln University of Pennsylvania
Morgan State University
Morehouse College
Norfolk State University
North Carolina A&T State University
North Carolina Central University
Philander Smith University
Prairie View A&M University
Rust College
Shaw University
Simmons College of Kentucky
Southern University and A&M College
Spelman College
Talladega College
Tennessee State University
Texas Southern University
Tuskegee University
University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff
University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Virginia State University
West Virginia State University
Winston-Salem State University
Xavier University of Louisiana
The 2024 winning team was Protégé, comprised of Spelman College seniors, and the all-women’s college will return this year to defend its title. Protégé received 100,000 AAdvantage miles from American Airlines, a MacBook Air, and a DJI Mini 4 Pro drone. Other top winners from last year included teams from Philander Smith University in Little Rock, Arkansas, and Talladega College in Talladega, Alabama, who won second and third places, respectively. Receiving the judges’ highest technical score was Morgan State University in Baltimore, which is also the only HBCU to participate in all nine years of the Hackathon.
In addition to its longtime partnership with American Airlines, BLACK ENTERPRISE will be joined by The City of Charlotte, Fidelity Investments, McDonald’s, Manulife John Hancock, NASCAR, Nationwide, PepsiCo, Toyota, and Verizon. This marks the largest Hackathon sponsor pool to date. Sponsors will present on relevant and trending topics in the emerging technology field, while Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles will join the Hackathon to welcome students to the Queen City.
During the 24-hour Hack, sponsors will provide technical staff to mentor each team, which is tasked with developing technical solutions to solve real-world challenges. A panel of judges evaluates each team’s application impact, technical complexity, and user-friendliness, while also assessing teams on their pitch and presentation skills.
What truly sets this Hackathon apart is the tangible path it offers to career opportunities. BE Smart Hackathon participants are recruited annually for internships and full-time job opportunities at American Airlinesand its technology partners, as well as for roles with BLACK ENTERPRISE’s Hackathon corporate partners.
Two critical pieces of legislation were left unresolved. A bill including government funding through October 2025 and an extension of healthcare subsidies on the federal level, scheduled to expire at the end of the year, was blocked in a vote by GOP members. Democratic leaders refused to sign a different bill supported by Republicans, approving a measure that would keep the government funded at current levels through Nov. 21.
Both bills needed 60 votes from Congress to pass.
Democratic leaders have stood their ground on not voting for spending measures unless Republicans agree to extend subsidies for health insurance plans purchased through the Affordable Care Act. That never happened, as Democrats say they are prepared to fight together.
“It’s a rare point of unification,” said Jim Kessler, of the moderate Democratic group Third Way, to the Associated Press. “Absolutely, there are risks. But you’re hearing it from all wings of the Democratic Party: The fight is the victory. They want a fight. And they’re going to get one.”
While it isn’t clear just how impactful the shutdown will be for Americans, federal services deemed critical, such as Social Security and Medicare and Medicaid payments, won’t be affected. Neither will VA benefits. Those in need, however, may face some delays.
For new voters, the shutdown may be alarming, but it’s nothing new. Simply put, a shutdown occurs when Congress fails to appropriate sufficient funds for the federal government to sustain operations beyond the fiscal year, which ends at the end of September.
The first shutdown in Sept. 1976 lasted for only 10 days. The longest one on record was 34 days, which started in Dec. 2018. There will be an impact on federal workers in addition to the lack of economic data collection, affecting the data market, spending and inflation.
“We have no idea this shutdown is going to last, but the last few shutdowns have been a bit longer than average,” New York Times chief economics correspondent Ben Casselman said in a thorough explanatory video posted on TikTok. “And the longer it goes on, the more significant the impact will be, both for the workers and the economy as a whole.”
What are the effects of a government shutdown? Ben Casselman, the chief economics correspondent for The New York Times, describes the economic effects. #GovernmentShutdown#Congress#Politics
It doesn’t help that President Donald Trump and members of his administration are ultimately blaming the “radical left.” The website for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) posted a bold message that “the Radical Left are going to shut down the government and inflict massive pain on the American people unless they get their $1.5 trillion wish list of demands,” the message read.
“The Trump administration wants to keep the government open for the American people.”
Trump himself posted an odd—and seemingly racist—A.I. video of Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer (NY) alongside House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY) claiming the party is only fighting in an effort to provide free healthcare to illegal immigrants. The video shows Jeffries wearing a sombrero and a fake mustache as faint mariachi music plays.
Trump’s Military Gathering Draws Side-Eye For Bizarre “N-Word” Remark And Political Messaging
The military meeting was punctuated by Trump's controversial 'N-word' remark and other ramblings.
President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth addressed hundreds of U.S. generals and admirals Sept. 30, in an unusual, last-minute meeting at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia. While the gathering was presented as a strategic assembly of top military brass, it largely appeared aimed at reinforcing the administration’s conservative platform.
Following Hegseth’s remarks, Trump delivered a lengthy and meandering speech that touched on nuclear submarines, immigration, and his frustrations over not receiving a Nobel Peace Prize.
One of his comments quickly drew attention. “We can’t let people throw around that word. I call it the N-word. There are two N-words and you can’t use either of them,” Trump said, in a riff on the term “nuclear.”
Trump to generals: "We can't let people throw around that word. I call it the N word. There are two N words and you can't use either of them." pic.twitter.com/7OpRhJqU0z
During his address, Trump also mocked former President Joe Biden’s reliance on autopen, lamented that he has not been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize—contrasting himself with Barack Obama, who received it in 2009—and claimed that “we’re under invasion from within” in regards to immigration.
“We’ve had no people enter in the last four months,” Trump falsely claimed.
The president also boasted of federal interventions in cities such as Washington, D.C., and touted his move to rename the Department of Defense as the Department of War, though the change lacks congressional approval. He compared the rebranding effort to his past attempt to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America.
Hegseth, who now refers to himself as Secretary of War, used his speech to push back against diversity and equity programs in the military. He announced new policy shifts aimed at “normalizing standards regardless of race or gender” while condemning measures he views as detrimental to readiness.
Under his leadership, multiple women and minority officers have been removed from leadership roles, and training materials tied to diversity, equity, and inclusion have been scrapped.
Hegseth also derided “fat troops” and revealed looser guidelines that would permit drill sergeants to “put their hands on recruits.”
The high-profile meeting, which pulled military leaders from across the globe, has been criticized as an expensive political exercise meant to highlight the administration’s culture war and anti-DEI priorities.
Trump’s out here lecturing generals about “N words” like he’s cracking some secret code, and it’s just… what? Total word salad. These folks are there for serious strategy, not to play guess-what’s-in-his-head.
Narcissist, neurotic, nuts, nasty, narrow-minded, needy, neglectful, negligent, nefarious, noxious, notorious, nuisance. All N words that describe this asshole!!
Cassie Believes Diddy Will Retaliate Due To Her ‘Bravery’
Cassie urges the judge to think deeply before sentencing Combs.
Casandra “Cassie” Ventura Fine, the key witness in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal case, told the judge she fears for her life and her family’s safety if Combs goes free.
Ventura Fine’s victim impact statement was filed Sept. 30 in U.S. District Court ahead of Combs’ Oct. 3 sentencing. In the statement, Ventura Fine detailed her mounting fear. She fears “swift retribution” from Combs due to her “bravery,” USA Today reported.
“I am so scared that if he walks free, his first actions will be swift retribution toward me and others who spoke up about his abuse at trial,” Ventura continued.
“As much progress as I have made in recovering from his abuse, I remain very much afraid of what he is capable of and the malice he undoubtedly harbors toward me for having the bravery to tell the truth.”
Ventura Fine said she continues to suffer nightmares, flashbacks, and trauma stemming from her decade-long relationship with Combs. Additionally she claims, Combs poses a large enough threat she elected to relocate from the New York area.
“I still have nightmares and flashbacks on a regular, everyday basis, and continue to require psychological care to cope with my past,” Ventura Fine wrote.
“My worries that Sean Combs or his associates will come after me and my family is my reality.”
Prosecutors are asking for a sentence of at least 11 years and three months for Combs after his conviction on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. In the sentencing memorandum, prosecutors argue Combs has remained unrepentant. Due to his unapologetic attitude, prosecutors believe a substantial prison term is necessary. A shorter sentence would not properly reflect the severity of the abuse detailed by Ventura and other witnesses.
Meanwhile, Combs’s legal team is requesting a sentence of 14 months. Combs has already spent over a year in detention at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. His defense argues he has undergone personal growth behind bars and no further incarceration would be constructive.
