Sydney Kamlager Dove — photo credit: House Creative Services, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

by Kandiss Edwards

April 17, 2026

Rep. Kamlager-Dove Destroys Donald Trump In New Interview: ‘F*ck His A**’

At the Congressional Progressive Caucus, the congresswoman said that Trump has unfairly prioritized a war that lacks congressional legitimacy and is effectively stealing resources.

Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove, (D-CA) delivered a blunt condemnation of President Donald Trump’s $200 billion request to continue the war in Iran and its impact on the national debt.

“Oh my gosh, yes, Stevie Wonder can even see how much this is costing us. Gas prices are going up. It’s almost $10 in California, fertilizer is going up. You name it, the prices have gone up, and this dude, Dr. Jesus, is wanting to spend $2 billion of your money every single day rather than help you get healthcare,” Kamlager-Dove told Meidas Touch.

Kamlager-Dove is no stranger to speaking about the stark divide between domestic needs and defense spending. She frequently points to the rising costs of basic goods as a primary concern. She characterized the administration’s proposed cuts to food assistance and healthcare as evidence of “unconscionable” priorities during a time of economic strain for many American families.

https://twitter.com/ArtCandee/status/2044836481252905006

At the Congressional Progressive Caucus last month, the congresswoman said Trump unfairly prioritized a war that lacks congressional legitimacy and is effectively stealing resources and opportunities from the working class.

“Trump is asking Congress, which never authorized this war in the first place, this dumpster fire, to fund it with no endgame in sight,” she continued. “…This president is messy. And now he is messing with Americans’ lives, our money, and our safety. You’ve already heard from members of what this money could be used for. I’m going to give you some more. You could cover nearly 3 million people on Medicaid for a full year. You could feed over 3 million families through SNAP for a full year. You could build 91,000 affordable housing units in a year.”

Warning of a severe human cost, Kamlager-Dove asserted that the administration’s current budgetary path could have fatal consequences. She told colleagues that “people will die” if the federal safety nets currently on the chopping block are eliminated.

RELATTED CONTENT: For The First Time, NAACP Urges 25th Amendment To Oust Trump—Could It Work?

by Sharelle B. McNair

April 17, 2026

President Donald Trump, A Queens Native, Doesn’t Know What A ‘Corner Store’ Is

"Who the hell wrote that, please?"

While celebrating tax breaks for small businesses as part of his “Big Beautiful Bill Act,” President Donald Trump admitted not knowing what a “corner store” is.

Speaking at a roundtable in Las Vegas during Tax Week, Trump promoted his no tax on tips policy, which pushes larger tax refunds for tipped workers and small businesses. But while reading some of the talking points given to him, he began questioning some things.

“The Great Big Beautiful Bill also slashed taxes on millions of American small businesses, including restaurants, dry cleaners, corner stores….what is a corner store?” the president asked the crowd. “I’ve never heard that term. I know what a corner store is, but I’ve never heard it described… A corner store. Who the hell wrote that, please?”

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Social media users in the comment section were taken aback by Trump not being familiar with the term, which describes a small grocery store, as he was born and raised in Queens, New York, where a corner store is seen at almost the end or beginning of every street.

“You cannot be from New York and not know that. That was deliberate,” @transvilla420 wrote.

@ch0ngkenny wondered how Trump “has all these black friends and doesn’t know what a corner store is?” The sentiment was echoed by newscaster Don Lemon in an Instagram post.

“Wait til he hears the word bodega,” @suegreene22 wrote.

This isn’t the first time Trump has spoken out about how other Americans refer to groceries. In April 2025, during a “Liberation Day” speech, he claimed the term “groceries” was old-fashioned, according to People, and provided his own definition.

“It’s such an old-fashioned term but a beautiful term: groceries,” he said at the time. “It sort of says a bag with different things in it.”

Not knowing what a corner store is, is not a good look for Trump as Americans are struggling to keep cabinets full due to the the rising costs. According to NBC News, though costs of some goods, like eggs, have gone down by 30% since spring 2025, the average price of items like orange juice and beef have increased by 22% and 15%, respectively, during the same timeframe.

Darrell Spencer, Crowned skin, Shark Tank — SHARK TANK - ÒMillion Dollar Offer: See Which Shark Makes a Million Dollar Offer for a Never-Before-Seen Idea!Ó - Bold entrepreneurs step into the Tank to pitch inventive concepts, including wildfire and tornado-proof homes, cologne-infused body butter, an allergy-free caf and specialized traction pads for athletes. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15 (10:02-11:00 p.m. EDT) on ABC. (Disney/Christopher Willard) DARRELL SPENCER

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 17, 2026

Rashaun Williams Invests $500K Into Crowned Skin On ‘Shark Tank’

The Chicago connection came full circle as Crowned Skin secured a $500,000 investment from Rashuan Williams on "Shark Tank."

The burgeoning men’s grooming company Crowned Skin came up big on the latest episode of Shark Tank, securing a $500,000 investment from Rashaun Williams.

The Chicago connection was real as Crowned Skin founder Darrell Spencer, a Chicago native, appeared on the April 15 episode. Bonding with Williams over their Chicago roots, Spencer secured a $500,000 deal for a 10% stake, plus a $ 1-per-unit royalty until $1 million is repaid, AfroTech reports.

“You did a great job. I’m so excited. Your growth, it speaks for itself. You got me out here smelling good,” Williams told Spencer following the onscreen deal.

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Crowned Skin was already gaining major traction before its Shark Tank debut. Spencer scaled the brand to eight figures in under two years, carving out a niche in men’s grooming with its cologne-infused body butters and oils.

The brand has ranked among the top sellers on TikTok Shop, landed in Amazon’s top 10, and secured a national retail deal through Walmart’s Open Call, with a wider rollout set for 2026. It has also partnered with the National Basketball Players Association and expanded to Macy’s online, while earning a spot in Amazon’s Rising Stars campaign.

Spencer quickly grabbed the Sharks’ attention with his numbers, revealing he hit $2 million in a single month through direct-to-consumer sales and surpassed $10 million overall, with projected revenue of $14–15 million and strong traction on TikTok Shop.

Darrelll Spencer, Crowned skin, Shark Tank — SHARK TANK – ÒMillion Dollar Offer: See Which Shark Makes a Million Dollar Offer for a Never-Before-Seen Idea!Ó – Bold entrepreneurs step into the Tank to pitch inventive concepts, including wildfire and tornado-proof homes, cologne-infused body butter, an allergy-free caf and specialized traction pads for athletes. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15 (10:02-11:00 p.m. EDT) on ABC. (Disney/Christopher Willard)
DARRELL SPENCER

He initially sought $500,000 for 5% equity in Crowned Skin, surprising the panel. Kevin O’Leary and Barbara Corcoran countered with a joint offer of $500,000 for 20% plus a royalty structure. Still, Spencer ultimately struck a deal with a fellow Chicago native in a move that left him energized about the brand’s future and its impact on aspiring Black entrepreneurs.

“I feel like I’m in a dream and I haven’t woken up yet,” Spencer said on the show. “I’m most excited about just really being a beacon of hope and being a light for other Black men to see that things that you probably never thought or envisioned that you can do, you can absolutely do it because I’m a living witness to it.”

Zohran Mamdani — Photo credit: Bingjiefu He

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 17, 2026

Trump Accuses Mamdani Of ‘Destroying New York City’ Following Tax Hike On ‘Rich’ Non-Full-Time Residents

"The president and I both want the city to succeed. This is how you do it."

President Donald Trump appears to be taking back his initial support of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani following the mayor announcing a tax hike on non-full-time residents.

The president responded on Truth Social after Mamdani and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul jointly announced a proposed pied-à-terre tax targeting second homes valued at $5 million or more that are not primary residences. The tax would apply only to properties that are neither owner-occupied nor rented out or used by family members.

Trump, a New York City native, views the proposed tax as a setback for his hometown.

“Sadly, Mayor Mamdani is DESTROYING New York! It has no chance! The United States of America should not contribute to its failure,” Trump wrote. “It will only get WORSE. The TAX, TAX, TAX Policies are SO WRONG,” he continued. “People are fleeing. They must change their ways, AND FAST. History has proven, THIS ‘STUFF’ JUST DOESN’T WORK.”

https://twitter.com/PolitlcsUS/status/2044889499914662061

Mamdani remained diplomatic when responding to Trump’s social media rant.

“The president and I both want the city to succeed. This is how you do it. I’ve made it clear to the president and to the public that I am deeply supportive of taxing the rich,” Mamdani said during an April 17 press conference.

Trump’s sharp social media response comes after he struck a more positive tone about Mamdani following their first Oval Office meeting last November. The two met again at the White House in February, with both describing the conversation as productive.

However, their relationship began on rocky ground with Mamdani calling Trump a “despot” during his campaign, while Trump labeled Mamdani a “communist.”

The proposal comes as New York City faces a significant budget shortfall and tries to build on additional state support, including $1.5 billion in proposed aid for the FY2027 budget.

The measure targets ultrawealthy non-residents and global elites who treat New York City real estate as an investment rather than a home, and is projected to generate $500 million annually, a press release states.

Supporters argue the tax would ensure wealthy property owners contribute to city services, even if they don’t live there full-time or pay local income taxes.

“Thanks to the support of Governor Hochul, we are one step closer to balancing our budget by taxing the ultra-wealthy and global elites with a pied-à-terre tax — the first of its kind in our state,” Mamdani said. “Alongside the governor, our administration is fighting every day to make sure we address this fiscal deficit fairly, where the wealthy contribute what they owe and our budget reflects our commitment to the working New Yorkers being priced out of our city.”

HBCU, webinar, mental health event — (Photo; izusek/Getty Images)

by Sharelle B. McNair

April 17, 2026

What Is A ‘Cloud Bob’?! Vogue Tries To Rename The Afro And Black Women Are Fed Up

As the article hit social media, Black women slammed the fashion publication for trying to reshape a staple of Black culture.

Vogue Magazine is being slammed on social media for trying to reframe the “Afro” as a “cloud bob” in an article highlighting hairstyles for thick hair.

In a now-removed section of the article with an image of actress Tracee Ellis Ross with a stunning Afro cut, Vogue attempted to downplay the hairstyle, describing it as a “cloud bob.”

“Defined by hairstylist Tom Smith as a ‘rounded haircut with a soft, airy silhouette,’ the cloud bob plays well with wavy, curly, and coily thick hair that has natural movement and volume,” the article said. “Unlike the sharp, architectural bobs of seasons past, the version is light, weightless, and characterized by its effortless life and movement.”

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As the article hit social media, Black women slammed the fashion publication for trying to reshape a staple of Black culture. “It’s 2026, and they’re calling an Afro a “cloud bob,” @lynda_ohhh wrote on X.

https://twitter.com/Lynda_Ohhh/status/2044499937275097191?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2044499937275097191%7Ctwgr%5E0d52d6046ab3629b47047846a892b1e3bf38d4b4%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theroot.com%2Fvogue-slammed-online-after-trying-to-rename-the-afro-2000100383

On Instagram, users criticized Vogue for trying to “gentrify” the hairstyle.

“We’re not going to let them Christopher Columbus the Afro,” @msrobinmason said.

“Rebranding a style that is not even yours to begin with is so audacious it has to be white,” @ellisdecor said.

The crown of the Afro hairstyle has donned the heads of Black women for decades. After being referred to as “nappy,” “woolly,” and “unruly,” the style became popular in the 60s after activists such as Angela Davis, Huey P. Newton, proudly rocked Afros to fight oppression, but later the hairstyle became a symbol for beauty and pride.

“Black activists were agitated with white supremacy and Jim Crow laws, and they wanted to show an outward sign of their frustration toward Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s nonviolent philosophy,” Chad Dion Lassiter, president of the Black Men at Penn School of Social Work, Inc. at the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy and Practice, said, according to Ebony.

“The Afro was Black beauty personified without white validation, and it did not care about critics. For many Black men, it was about cool pose and hyper-masculinity in the face of police brutality and constant oppression.”

This isn’t the first time that a publication has attempted to downplay the Afro’s beauty. In 2015, Allure published a tutorial titled, “You (Yes, You) Can Have an Afro, Even If You Have Straight Hair,” featuring white actress Marissa Neitling.

While Vogue has yet to release a statement regarding the backlash, Smith spoke out on Instagram, saying he was never briefed on the topic nor approved the imagery.

“I did not provide or approve the image used,” Smith wrote. “The commentary attributed to me was originally shared in relation to a different haircut and was used here in a different context without my involvement or awareness.”

Robert F. Kennedy Jr, RFK Jr., Trump — (Photos from left: Gage Skidmore/Flickr; Public Domain)

by Jameelah Mullen

April 17, 2026

Rep. Terri Sewell Lambasts RFK Jr. For Comments About ‘Reparenting’ Black Children On ADHD Medications

The congresswoman had some choice words for RFK, Jr.—and she came with receipts.

Alabama congresswoman Terri Sewell confronted Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. about remarks he made suggesting that Black children taking ADHD medication be “reparented.”

“In a 2024 podcast interview, you suggested that Black children on ADHD medication should be ‘reparented.’ You said every Black kid is now just standardly put on Adderall, SSRIs, benzos, which are known to induce violence, and that those children are going to have to go somewhere to get ‘reparented,’” Sewell told Kennedy during the secretary’s April 16 testimony before the House Ways and Means Committee.

Kennedy denied making the remarks during his appearance on the Earn Your Leisure Podcast in 2024.

“I don’t even know what that phrase means,” Kennedy claimed. “I’m not gonna answer something that I didn’t say,” the politician said.

Sewell pushed right back. She insisted he did say it and pointed out that he has neither medical training nor any experience parenting a Black child.

“And yet you are suggesting that the federal government should take Black children away from their families and reparent them? And send them off to some wellness farm instead of providing them with evidence-based medical care,” Sewell, a Democrat from Birmingham, said.

Kennedy accused Sewell of fabricating the story, but the congresswoman and her office later provided footage of Kennedy’s appearance on the High Level Conversations podcast, Kennedy made those statements approximately 1 hour 25 minutes into the show.

“Every Black kid is now just standard put on Adderall, SSRIs, benzos, which are known to induce violence,” Kennedy said. “And those kids are going to have a chance to go somewhere and get re-parented—to live in a community where there’ll be no cellphones, no screens.

In the same episode, Kennedy also discussed his plan to open “wellness farms” in rural areas where Americans could go receive free rehabilitation,” legal or illegal drugs,” in which he suggests Black children could work on a “farm” to wean themselves off medication for common mental health conditions.

Removing Black children from their families and placing them in farm labor programs carries an eerie resemblance to a much darker period in American history.

Jam Master Jay, trial, murder, 2, defendants, guilty, murder, Jordan, Washington — Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

April 17, 2026

Defendant In Jam Master Jay Killing To Change Not Guilty Plea

Jay Bryant originally pleaded not guilty to a murder charge in 2023.

One of three men accused of participating in the killing of Run-DMC’s Jam Master Jay in 2002, is expected to take a plea deal.

According to The Associated Press, Jay Bryant, who pleaded not guilty to a murder charge in 2023, plans to change his plea when he next appears in court. That date has not been announced.

Bryant, along with his co-defendants Karl Jordan Jr. and Ronald Washington, was accused of killing the popular Queens DJ. Jordan and Washington were convicted in February 2024. In December 2025, a judge overturned Jordan’s conviction.

Bryant’s plea change was included in a court docket entry April 16. There were no details publicly available about what that entails. No information has been released about a prison sentence or anything related to the plea.

The 52-year-old Bryant was indicted nearly three years after the other suspects, after officials said that they found his DNA on a hat in Jay’s music studio. Prosecutors said witnesses identified Jordan as the shooter while Washington blocked the door during the shooting.

They said Bryant entered the building and opened a back fire door, allowing Jordan and Washington to enter without ringing a bell to gain access to the studio. Bryant’s uncle said his nephew told him that he shot Jay after the hip-hiop reached for a gun. No witness confirmed that Bryant was in the studio.

Still, prosecutors suggested that Bryant touched the hat, leaving his DNA, and that Jordan or Washington then carried the hat into the studio and dropped it. Yet, neither Washington’s nor Jordan’s DNA was found on the hat.

The men allegedly killed Jay because he was given 10 kilograms of cocaine on consignment in August 2002. Prosecutors said Jay was supposed to sell the product in Maryland. Washington and Jordan were brought in on the deal.

After a disagreement between Washington and another person, Jay cut Washington and Jordan out of the deal, leading to the killing of the popular DJ.

Minneapolis, ICE, Felony Assault — (Image: Getty Images)

by Kandiss Edwards

April 17, 2026

Singer D4vd Arrested In Connection With Death Of 14-Year-Old Girl

While the LAPD had previously searched a property in the Hollywood Hills linked to the singer, they had not publicly named him as a suspect until this week’s arrest.

Singer-songwriter professionally d4vd was arrested April 16 in connection with the death of a 14-year-old girl whose dismembered remains were found in his vehicle last year.

The Los Angeles Police Department confirmed on X that the entertainer, born David Anthony Burke, 21, was taken into custody and is being held without bail.

The arrest follows a months-long investigation and a secret grand jury probe into the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, who had been missing since April 2024, The New York Times reported.

While the LAPD had previously searched a property in the Hollywood Hills linked to the singer, they had not publicly named him as a suspect until this week’s arrest. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office is expected to review the case on April 20 to determine if there is sufficient evidence to file formal charges.

https://twitter.com/TMZ/status/2044969485720006922

The case began in September 2025, when employees at a Hollywood impound lot reported a foul odor emitting from a Tesla registered to Burke. The vehicle was towed after it was found abandoned on a street and was subsequently searched. Authorities discovered the “severely decomposed” and “dismembered” body of Hernandez. Forensic evidence suggested she had been deceased for several weeks.

The attorneys representing D4vd, Blair Berk, Marilyn Bednarski, and Regina Peter, emphasized in a statement that their client had “only been detained under suspicion.”

“Let us be clear—the actual evidence in this case will show that David Burke did not murder Celeste Rivas Hernandez, and he was not the cause of her death,” the attorneys said. “There has been no indictment returned by any grand jury in this case and no criminal complaint filed.”

The investigation has also drawn significant attention to the alleged relationship between Burke and the victim. Allegations have surfaced that the teenager was in an inappropriate sexual relationship with Burke. Family members of Rivas Hernandez told local media that she had met the singer online and had previously been seen in his company.

Justin Fairfax, Cerina Fairfax, suicide, murder, — Justin Fairfax Photo, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

by Sharelle B. McNair

April 17, 2026

Attorney Of Justin Fairfax’s Sexual Assault Accuser Says ‘Decades of Signs’ Existed Before Tragedy

Meredith Watson accused Fairfax of rape in 2000.

The attorney of former Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax’s sexual assault accuser said “signs of his anger” existed for years, The New York Post reports.

Fairfax and his wife, Dr. Cerina Fairfax, were found dead in their Annandale home early April 16 in what is being described as a murder-suicide. Fairfax County Police Chief Kevin Davis described the incident as “an ongoing domestic dispute surrounding what seems to be a complicated or messy divorce.”

Attorney Nancy Erika Smith, who represented Meredith Watson when she accused Fairfax of rape in 2000, released a statement claimed that “there were decades of signs of his anger and mistreatment of women, and he used the court system to intimidate his victims and news outlets,” Smith said.

An acquaintance of Fairfax said the sexual assault scandal took a toll on his marriage when “he couldn’t find a job really.”

“His wife was a dentist, and she had grown up very poor, and it was very important to her to be financially stable and to have a good home for her children,” the acquaintance noted.

In 2019, Watson told Gayle King that she felt Fairfax used their friendship to his advantage when they were students at Duke University.

“He knew that the year prior, I had been raped by someone and that nothing was done about it. And he was a very good friend to me,” Meredith Watson told King at the time. “Which is why I never would’ve expected anything like this from him.”

March for Our Lives executive director Jaclyn Corin labeled Dr. Farifax’s death as a continuous pattern of the disproportionate impact of domestic gun violence on Black women.

“Their experiences are often left out of the broader conversation,” Corin said.“If we’re not naming who is most affected, we’re not building solutions that actually meet the scale or the reality of the problem.”

The Fairfax case comes just weeks after Vice Mayor of Coral Springs Nancy Metayer Bowen was allegedly shot and killed in her home by her husband, Stephen Bowen.

Data from the Violence Policy Center found that nine out of 10 Black females are killed by a man that they know, often with a gun. The 2023 study revealed that 733 Black females were murdered by men in single-victim/single-offender incidents at the rate of 3.1 in every 100,000, compared to the rate for white women being 1.2 for every 100,000.

dr. Erica Schwartz, Trump — U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

April 17, 2026

Trump Nominates Dr. Erica Schwartz To Lead the CDC, Signaling Shift In Vaccine Approach

The move appears to signal a shift in the Trump administration's approach to vaccines.

President Donald Trump’s new nominee to lead the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, who has actually lead vaccination programs, appears to signal a shift in the administration’s approach to vaccines.

On April 16, Trump nominated Dr. Erica Schwartz to lead the CDC, ending a months-long search for a permanent director, CNBC reports. A public health veteran, Schwartz served as deputy surgeon general during Trump’s first term, where she helped lead the U.S. response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Her expected appointment comes as Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of Health and Human Services, oversees a series of controversial policy changes at CDC, including updates to childhood vaccine guidance. Her nomination also signals a possible shift within the administration, arriving just hours after Kennedy made some of his most supportive remarks on vaccines during a congressional hearing.

During a House Ways and Means Committee hearing, Kennedy said the measles vaccine is safe and effective for most people and can be safer than infection. He also agreed, when pressed by Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA), that vaccination could have saved at least one child during last year’s Texas outbreak.

Kennedy and his team recommended Schwartz alongside a slate of CDC leadership picks announced by Trump. Other appointments include Sara Brenner as a public health adviser; Jennifer Shuford as CDC deputy director and chief medical officer; and Sean Slovenski as deputy director and chief operating officer.

“We’re bringing in an extraordinary team. … The team has been leaked, and it’s gotten applause from both Republicans and Democrats,” Kennedy said before the House Appropriations subcommittee on health. “I think this new team is really going to be able to revolutionize CDC and get it back on track and get it doing the job that it does better than any other health agency in the world.”

Schwartz’s nomination comes as the White House faced a deadline to name a permanent CDC director after Kennedy removed the previous leader. Under the Federal Vacancies Act, the role can only remain unfilled for 210 days, a deadline that passed in late March.

If confirmed, Schwartz will take over an agency navigating major changes, staffing shifts, and proposed budget cuts while maintaining its core public health mission. Schwartz will appear before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee for confirmation.

The former rear admiral spent 24 years in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and served as a Coast Guard rear admiral. She holds degrees from Brown University and the University of Maryland, and led disease surveillance, vaccination programs, and pandemic policy efforts, while also supporting federal responses to natural disasters.