by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

March 3, 2026

PlayVS, Urban One Introduce HBCU Esports League

The league is slated to launch in 2027

Young Black gamers will have a place at HBCUs with the upcoming launch of an eSports league for historically Black colleges and universities.

PlayVS and Urban One have announced they are collaborating to launch a first-of-its-kind dedicated competitive gaming community for HBCUs nationwide. The partnership is for an initial three years, as the eSports league will have a long-term infrastructure within the PlayVS College League.

“Black gamers are among the most influential audiences in the industry, yet Black professionals represent only about 5% of its workforce,” said Tiffany Nasralla, chief revenue officer, Urban One, in a written statement. “The gap isn’t about talent. It’s about access. Through our partnership with PlayVS, we’re using our platform to build a national stage for HBCU students, expanding visibility, structured competition, and real pathways into the industries they’ve long helped define. This is about turning cultural influence into lasting opportunity.”

PlayVS is a scholastic and collegiate gaming platform that helps students unlock the educational, social, and personal benefits of competitive gaming. The PlayVS College League (PCL) launched in 2025.

The rollout for the eSports league has already started and will proceed through specific phases, culminating in a launch in Spring 2027.

The plan is to develop a National HBCU Esports Community. This will be done during the spring and summer of 2026, as PlayVS begins reaching out to HBCU institutions while introducing collegiate esports opportunities to its K-12 network.

The next phase will introduce an invitational series that begins in Fall 2026, during which participating colleges will have the chance to compete in PlayVS College League offerings. There will be dedicated HBCU-focused invitational events for institutions to join, enhancing competition and gaining national visibility. This will lead to the official league launch in 2027.

“For our students, esports is more than just competition; it is a gateway to technology, media, and leadership,” said Jaden Roberts, the president of Howard’s Esports Association. “It is inspiring to see Urban One, with its deep ties to Howard through the legacy of Cathy Hughes, partnering with PlayVS to elevate that opportunity. We are eager to participate in this new league and to contribute to a dedicated community that gives HBCU talent the national stage it deserves.”

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

March 3, 2026

Golden State’s Steph Curry Out For An Additional 5 Games

He has a bruising on his right knee and will be re-evaluated in 10 days.

An injury has kept Golden State Warriors sharpshooter Stephen Curry out of the last 10 games, and the team has stated that he will be out for at least five more.

The team announced Curry has been missing in action due to patella-femoral pain syndrome/bone bruising in his right knee. The knee was recently evaluated, and although the athlete has made progress, Curry’s condition will be re-evaluated in 10 days.

ESPN caught up with the future NBA Hall of Famer over the weekend to discuss his knee and when he expects to be back.

“This is a weird one,” Curry said when approached during the team’s Feb. 28 contest. “It’s kind of unpredictable how it’ll heal.”

The team has been 4-6 as his knee continues to heal, but the club is taking a steady approach before bringing him back to play.

“It’s going to be a little longer,” Curry said. “Right now, with this one, it’s about each day. Can you stack good days? I’ve done that. Hopefully they can unleash me on the court soon and hopefully get back sooner than later.”

The Warriors are still in playoff contention with an overall record of 31-29. They are currently the eighth seed as the playoffs approach. The team still has time to rise in the standings, but it also wants Curry to have fresh legs for a legitimate playoff push in a couple of months.

“Trying to stay in shape, strengthen everything else around the body, knowing at this stage, once you get back, it’s a full sprint to the playoffs,” Curry said. “Once I get back on the court, it’s a little bit of a pain tolerance thing. But it’s just something you don’t want lingering because it can get worse.”

The Warriors have already lost one of their key men in Jimmy Butler, who is out for the season after he tore his ACL in January. The franchise will also look for help from the recent trade acquisition, Kristaps Porzingis, who has not been playing due to illness.

model, stabbing, nyc, ice cream truck, Detroit,

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

March 3, 2026

Popular Detroit Restaurant Owner, Michael ‘Mike B’ Brown, Shot Dead

Brown, 52, was the owner of Sloppy Chops and Crab Sports Bar.

Detroit restaurant owner, Michael “Mike B” Brown, was fatally shot on Feb. 28, The Detroit Press reports.

Brown, along with two other people, was shot on the city’s west side outside the Suite 100 Cocktail Bar. Brown was the only fatality; the other victims were not identified. Police confirmed that the two victims were found across the street from where Brown’s body was found. Officials have stated that there have been no arrests and there are no suspects so far.

“At approximately 4:30 a.m., Saturday, there was a triple shooting that occurred at 15789 Schaefer,” Detroit Police Department (DPD) media relations manager Jasmin Barmore said in a written statement. “Two of the victims were found in front of the location, and the third across the street from the location. Unfortunately, the victim found across the street from the location, Mikey Brown, succumbed to his injuries.”

Detroit is mourning the loss of Michael “Mike B.” Brown, a beloved member of the city’s restaurant scene and community. https://t.co/TcMpskB1Vl pic.twitter.com/al9cej3qoN

— FOX 2 Detroit (@FOX2News) March 3, 2026

The 52-year-old restauranteur owned Sloppy Chops and Sloppy Crab. A popular figure around town who started as a party promoter and later became an entrepreneur, Brown entered the culinary business in 2020. He opened Sloppy Chops as a steakhouse that featured high-end cuts like ribeyes and tomahawks, but it was also known for its low-cost lamb chop specials. In 2021, he opened Sloppy Crab, a seafood restaurant that was later renamed Crab Sports Bar, which became popular with many celebrities.

“Detroit loves him,” Pastor Maurice “Mo” Hardwick, founder of the Live in Peace Movement, told Click on Detroit. “He was a real Detroiter who was about people, community, and about uplifting life.”

Hardwick added that how Brown did not represent who he was or how people felt about him.

“Community was embedded in him, and you could feel it in his food and his demeanor when you approached him—very approachable. Just loved the city of Detroit,” he said. “Loved his people.”

Anyone on the shooting with information can contact the Detroit Police Department’s homicide unit or submit an anonymous tip through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP or through Detroit Rewards TV.

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

March 3, 2026

FedEx Vows To Pass Tariff Refunds To Customers If Courts Order Trump Tax Rebate: ‘If We Get Paid, You Get Paid’

FedEx has pledged to refund customers after filing a lawsuit against the Trump administration in response to the Supreme Court’s decision overturning the IEEPA tariffs.

Due to the Supreme Court’s decision overturning the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), FedEx has unveiled plans to reimburse customers for tariff-related fees if it wins its lawsuit against the Trump administration, Fox Business reports.

The legal challenge follows a Supreme Court ruling issued a week earlier that found Trump exceeded his presidential authority by invoking the act to impose broad tariffs on nearly all U.S. trading partners.

In a statement, the company said it plans to pass along any recovered funds to shippers and customers who absorbed the tariff costs after filing a lawsuit seeking a full refund from the Trump administration for all IEEPA duties paid to the federal government.

“We remain focused on supporting our customers as they adapt to the latest regulatory changes and have taken a procedural step to preserve our right to refunds for IEEPA tariffs on behalf of our customers and FedEx,” the company said.

“Our intent is straightforward: If refunds are issued to FedEx, we will issue refunds to the shippers and consumers who originally bore those charges. When that will happen and the exact process for requesting and issuing refunds will depend in part on future guidance from the government and the court.

“We are committed to transparency and will communicate clearly as additional direction becomes available from the U.S. government and the court.”

The announcement followed FedEx’s filing a complaint against U.S. Customs and Border Protection in the U.S. Court of International Trade, seeking a full refund. The company argues that while the IEEPA tariffs were in effect, it imported goods from countries subject to the duties and paid those fees to the federal government, stating it “has suffered injury caused by those orders.”

In recent earnings reports, FedEx executives cautioned that tariffs could cut into profits, estimating in September, before the IEEPA tariffs were rescinded, that the impact could reach $1 billion in fiscal year 2026.

“It has been a very stressful period for customers,” said FedEx Chief Customer Officer Brie Carere, noting the strain has been especially tough on small exporters.

FedEx’s lawsuit appears to be the first major corporate refund case following the Supreme Court’s ruling, though other challenges were already underway in the U.S. Court of International Trade. In December, Costco sued for a full refund of tariffs paid under IEEPA, stating that roughly one-third of its U.S. sales come from imported goods.

FedEx’s lawsuit and pledge to reimburse customers came just before the company was named in a separate federal case filed Feb. 27 on behalf of customers seeking refunds. The proposed class action, filed in federal court in Miami, seeks compensation for potentially millions of shippers who paid import duties and related fees on products they argue should have entered the United States duty-free.

Dawn Staley,Gamecocks Players,Israel , Airstrikes

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

March 3, 2026

Dawn Staley Urges Prayers For Former Gamecocks Players Trapped In Israel Amid Airstrikes

Three of Staley's former players are currently stuck in Israel, where many play during WNBA off-season.

Dawn Staley has called upon the sports community to pray for the safe return home of former Black Gamecocks players.

Tiffany Mitchell, Mikiah Herbert Harrigan, and Destiny Littleton, former players with the South Carolina Gamecocks, are currently trapped in Israel. Now, their former coach is using her platform and influence to see about their safe return. The female athletes remain stuck in the Middle East amid air strikes happening between Iranian, Israeli, and American forces.

Tensions appear to be on the rise, with additional air strikes spreading throughout neighboring countries like the United Arab Emirates. Amid the geopolitical conflict, Staley has made a public cry for help in getting these women home.

Please pray for our @GamecockWBB @TiffMitch25 @2121Mikiah @dstnylttltn24 who are in a war zone in Israel!! We are working a plan to get home. Let us pray for our loved ones to return home safely asap! Thank you in advance. 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
— dawnstaley (@dawnstaley) February 28, 2026

“Please pray for our @GamecockWBB @TiffMitch25 @2121Mikiah @dstnylttltn24 who are in a war zone in Israel,” expressed the award-winning coach. “We are working a plan to get home. Let us pray for our loved ones to return home safely asap! Thank you in advance.”

The three women all play for teams within Israel’s top women’s basketball league. Since the missiles between the feuding nations were launched, the airspace throughout the Middle East has shut down. Currently, the women remain unable to escape the area, like many U.S. citizens currently abroad.

Littleton shed more light on social media about her current predicament, as many in Israel follow orders to find sufficient shelter from the air raids. The professional athlete has kept her followers updated by posting videos with sirens overheard in the background.

Update : I’m safe pic.twitter.com/OioW4Auyfu
— Destiny Littleton (@dstnylttltn24) February 28, 2026

“I’m just trying to stay calm,” Littleton said in one video. “I really don’t want to even be out here on the streets. I’ll keep you updated.”

Littleton detailed her journey to a safe room during the warning sirens. She even showed footage of potential bombs flying in the air, while hearing another one go off while recording. The Team USA women’s basketball player also spoke to ESPN about the circumstances she and others face as they try to find a safe departure.

“I am doing all right — shaken up but blessed to be safe. There are current options being looked at and [we’ll] know more information once we have executed those options to safely get out.”

However, a swift return seems unlikely for Littleton and fellow Gamecocks players. Especially with confirmation that the first wave of strikes killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, alongside dozens of schoolchildren and civilians, the U.S. State Department has encouraged Americans to shelter in place as the situation unfolds.

While Staley tries to work with government officials to bring her former players home, she later thanked her supporters for keeping the young women in their prayers.

Thank you everyone for praying for our @GamecockWBB players and family members. Please keep them covered in prayer until they are home! Appreciate it! 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
— dawnstaley (@dawnstaley) March 1, 2026

RELATED CONTENT: U.S. And Israel Launch Major Strikes On Iran

Soccer, Jozy Altidore , Oklahoma City United Soccer League, Owner

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

March 3, 2026

Former Soccer Star Jozy Altidore Joins Oklahoma City United Soccer League As Owner

He joins NBA player Russell Westbrook as an investor for the team, which will relaunch in 2028.

Former soccer player Jozy Altidore has joined the Oklahoma City United Soccer League team as an investor, with the team scheduled to relaunch in 2028.

OKC for Soccer announced on Feb. 19 that the soccer legend, along with his longtime business partner Alex Lee, is now part of the franchise’s ownership group, with the intention of competing for the USL Championship in the 2028 season.

“It’s an honor to join the OKC for Soccer Ownership Group. Christian and the team are building something truly unique in Oklahoma City and the region,” said Altidore in a written statement. “It’s rare to see a club and its pathway so deeply rooted in the community from day one. It aligns perfectly with an ambition to create a world-class environment for soccer in OKC at all levels of the game.

“Alex and I are energized to build a pipeline here that leaves a lasting legacy for the next generation of players.”

They join the likes of NBA player Russell Westbrook (Sacramento Kings), the Chickasaw Nation, cultural entrepreneur Nick Gross, and Christian Kanady, the team’s founding partner and CEO of Echo Investment Capital, as owners.

https://twitter.com/AfroFootyy/status/2027849545653043540

“We are thrilled to welcome Jozy Altidore and Alex Lee to the OKC for Soccer family,” said Kanady. “Jozy brings something you cannot manufacture: world-class credibility, a player’s understanding of what it takes to develop talent, and the ability to inspire the next generation from the locker room to the boardroom. Alex brings a builder mindset that can translate expertise into repeatable results. Together, they represent the next generation of sports ownership: strategic, technical, and deeply operational.”

Altidore has been quite busy since retiring from the sport and has become an investor in several sports properties. He is a limited partner with the NFL’s Buffalo Bills, an equity partner in several leagues and teams, including TGL/TMRW Sports, SailGP, and BayFC, and holds a C-suite role with Sogility.

The former player is a two-time U.S. Soccer Men’s Player of the Year who started playing soccer professionally at 16, when he played for the New York Red Bulls. He had a two-decade career with stints in the English Premier League, Spain’s LaLiga, the Dutch Eredivisie, and Major League Soccer. During international play, Altidore earned 115 caps for the U.S. Men’s National Team, scoring 42 goals and representing the country at two FIFA World Cups.

jobs report, Ask Your Fairygodmentor®, job, job loss, job advise

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

March 3, 2026

Ask Your Fairygodmentor®: How To Reclaim Power As You Source A New Job

Go from layoff to leadership with this advice.

Hi Fairygodmentor®,

I’m a newly unemployed executive. How do I stay optimistic in a job search after being let go?

–Let Go and Low

Dear Let Go and Low,

I’m sorry that you’re one of the over 300,000 Black women who have lost their jobs in the past year. I want you to listen very carefully to what I’m going to say to you right now: “This is NOT your fault!”

Now, I need to insert my bootleg version of the Surgeon General’s warning: I don’t know the exact reason you were let go. I don’t know if this was voluntary (you chose to leave) or involuntary (a layoff due to financial reasons, performance concerns, or a violation of law or policy). I’m offering this advice on the assumption that your departure was part of a reduction in workforce.

A lot of folks (including me) used to say, “Man’s rejection is God’s protection.” But I’d like to amend that for you and for the rest of the world: “Man’s rejection is God’s protection — and time for your reflection.”

You could go round and round in your mind thinking of all the things you could have or should have done differently. As one of my Fairygodmentors tells me, “Stop shoulding all over yourself.” Thinking about what could have been is not going to serve you — or your mind — very well.

Instead, first reflect on what you need right now. Not the next job — but what you need in this very moment. My best guess is that you’re going to need some time to take care of yourself and decompress from this career speed bump. And yes, it’s a speed bump — not a roadblock. A temporary slowing down before you pick your momentum back up.

Slow down and grieve. This is a loss. We know it wasn’t personal, but it sure feels that way right now. This is a massive change that touches every part of your life, and it’s important to pause and give yourself time to heal.

Check in with your body. Reach out to your personal board of directors for support. Who are they? Your friends, family, physicians, mental health professionals — the people who help steady you when life shifts.

Once you’ve given yourself permission to be gentle and have reached out for support, I need you to reflect again.

This time, reflect on the job search. And this does not need to become a 24/7 campaign. In fact, I suggest breaking your week into productive chunks with self-care sprinkled in.

For example:

Monday could be your administrative day — polish your résumé, write that cover letter (yes, they still want cover letters!), and set up virtual coffees to stay visible.

Tuesday could be applications or interview prep day. (I strongly suggest preparing for interviews well before they’re scheduled so you’re not bringing anxious energy into the room when the time comes.)

Wednesday could be networking.

Thursday could be time with your support squad.

Friday? Take a break.

Going back to interview prep for a moment, I want you to think deeply about what you bring to the table and what differentiates you from everyone else who’s looking for a job right now.

If you could rewind the tape and watch a highlight reel of your accomplishments, what would you see? What did it sound like when you were leading your team, launching projects, exceeding sales targets, and winning awards?

Can you picture it?

If someone asked you about those moments, could you provide results-based responses that help them predict your future performance at their organization?

Doing this accomplishes two things.

First, you practice articulating your value with pride and confidence as the accomplished leader you are.

Second, this is where your inner Hype Woman gets to shine.

So, here’s your assignment:

Grieve.

Reflect.

Strategize.

Then walk into your next opportunity remembering exactly who you are.

You are not starting over.

You are starting from experience.

And trust me — experience hits differently.

You got this!

Yours truly,

Your Fairygodmentor®

About Joyel Crawford:

Joyel Crawford, fairygodmentor, contributor — (Photo: Kirten White Photography/BE)

Joyel Crawford is an award-winning career and leadership development professional and founder of Crawford Leadership Strategies, a consultancy that empowers results-driven leaders through coaching, training, and facilitation. She’s the best-selling author of Show Your Ask: Using Your Voice to Advocate for Yourself and Your Career.

Have a question for Your Fairygodmentor®?

Submit your career and leadership questions, whether it’s about navigating a micromanager, setting boundaries, negotiating for a raise, or handling burnout. Ask Your Fairygodmentor® today!

Kimora, Lee, Simmons, Kimora Lee, Aoki lee, Ming Lee, put home on market, sell mansion, lease agreement

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

March 3, 2026

Kimora Lee Simmons Legally Changes Her Name As ‘Commitment To Clarity And Ownership’

Kimora Lee Simmons has officially removed “Simmons” from her name, saying the change is a personal and professional reset.

Kimora Lee Simmons has officially dropped the “Simmons” in a legal name change she says reflects her “commitment to clarity and ownership.”

In a Feb. 27 statement, the fashion designer shared that she had legally changed her name back to Kimora Lee, describing the move as both a personal and professional reset she sees as an intentional step toward reclaiming control of her name, brand, and future, Complex reports.

“Kimora’s decision to change her name legally—back to Kimora Lee—is rooted in a commitment to clarity and ownership,” the statement reads.

The statement also referenced recent media reports alleging that she refused to vacate a $25 million Beverly Hills mansion purchased by her estranged husband, Tim Leissner, who acquired the property with funds tied to the infamous 1MDB scandal.

Lee said she is challenging what she calls “inaccuracies” in the coverage and pushing back against those connected to the “bad deals” who she claims are trying to force her out of a home she believes is “rightfully hers.”

“She is no stranger to controversy,” the statement continued. “Recently, The New York Post published an article based on a flawed premise and full of inaccuracies. That piece has since been quietly revised on multiple occasions in an attempt to evade accountability.

“She has threatened to sue—and is suing others—in order to combat bad deals and dishonest attempts to bully and extort her out of what has always been rightfully hers. Her focus remains on protecting her family, building a legacy, and moving forward with grace and power.”

As part of the name change, aspects of Lee’s “business and brand portfolio will reflect this evolution,” the statement concludes.

Days after issuing the statement, it was confirmed that Lee filed legal paperwork to change her name from Kimora Lee Simmons-Leissner to Kimora Lee. In the filing, she cited “consolidation of records and names used in different documents” as the reason for the change.

Born Kimora Lee Perkins in St. Louis, Lee married Russell Simmons in 1998 and welcomed two daughters, Ming Lee and Aoki, before the couple divorced in 2009. She retained the Simmons surname after their split.

In 2014, she married Tim Leissner and combined his last name with Simmons, becoming Kimora Lee Simmons-Leissner. The couple welcomed a son, Wolf Lee, before separating in 2022. Kimora is also mother to sons Kenzo Lee Honsou, whom she shares with the actor Djimon Honsou, and Gary Lee Foster.

In recent years, both of Lee’s former spouses have faced serious legal controversies.

Russell Simmons has been accused of multiple sexual assaults and misconduct lawsuits. Leissner, the former Southeast Asia chairman of Goldman Sachs, was arrested in 2018 and later pleaded guilty to conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and to participating in a money laundering conspiracy related to the 1MDB scandal, ultimately becoming a U.S. government witness in the case.

by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

March 3, 2026

Viola Davis, Courtney B. Vance, And Common Join New W.E.B. Du Bois Documentary

The actors will lend their voices to help narrate the film on the acclaimed Black scholar-activist.

Some of the greatest talents within Black Hollywood have lent their voices to a new documentary on W.E.B. Du Bois.

Legendary actors such as Viola Davis, Jeffrey Wright, Courtney B. Vance, and Common took part in the new trailer for PBS’s “W.E.B. Du Bois: Rebel With A Cause.” The latest installment in the educational network’s American Masters documentary series focuses on the life of the trailblazing scholar and historian.

According to Blex Media, the film will center its narrative on the personal and professional journey of Du Bois, who dedicated his life and scholarship to Black progress and socio-political equity across the world. Davis narrates the film as her fellow actors dramatize some of Du Bois’ speeches and writings featured in the documentary.

“I very early got the idea that I was going to prove to the world Negroes were just like other people,” recited Common, Wright, and Vance to begin the trailer.

A pioneer of what would become a global movement for racial equality and justice, Du Bois vocalized the plight of Black people in the late 19th century. Challenging the restrictive norms of what society regarded as Blackness, the NAACP founder championed the humanity and character of the Black community.

Historian Chad Williams also proclaimed, “W.E.B. Du Bois is arguably the greatest Black intellectual scholar-activist in American History.”

A formidable scholar, Du Bois became the first Black man to receive a Ph.D from Harvard University. He later used his platform to advocate for equality efforts for Black people in general society and politics. He also used his writings, including his 1903 volume of essays titled “Souls of Black Folk,” to further explain the dual-lived reality of Black people in America, a concept popularized as “double consciousness.”

A writer, scholar, and voice for Black advancement, Du Bois’s speeches and work will gain a modern spotlight with “Rebel With A Cause.” Directed by acclaimed documentarian Rita Coburn, the film will span Du Bois’s 95 years of life, including archival footage and dramatized readings from its star-studded cast.

Du Bois later expanded his advocacy to the Black diaspora, becoming a voice for the Pan-African movement across Ghana and several African nations. Du Bois continued his fight for progress throughout the early 20th century, dying in Accra just one day before the 1963 March on Washington.

Alongside its recognizable voices, the feature will also include modern-day historians and sociologists, lending their expertise to how Du Bois’ groundbreaking work still shapes commentary and scholarly advancements regarding race today. As an American revolutionary in his own right for his work for the global recognition of Blackness, Du Bois’s work now has an American media revival in this new documentary.

“Rebel With A Cause” will premiere Tuesday, May 19th at 9 p.m. ET on PBS.

by Sharelle B. McNair

March 2, 2026

Trump Floats The Idea Of A ‘Friendly’ Cuba Takeover

Trump's vague comment follows reports a Florida-registered speedboat carrying 10 armed Cuban nationals was intercepted by Cuban border guards.

President Donald Trump claims the U.S. is in talks with Havana about a possible “friendly takeover” but failed to give context, leaving questions on what that means, NBC News reports.

The president told reporters that he and Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, have had “very high level” discussions with Cuban leaders after claiming the country “is, to put it mildly, a failed nation” and wants help from the U.S. “The Cuban government is talking with us. They have no money. They have nothing right now. But they’re talking to us, and maybe we’ll have a friendly takeover of Cuba,” Trump said before leaving for Texas for a rally.

“We could very well end up having a friendly takeover of Cuba.”

The vague comment comes just two days after the country’s government reported a Florida-registered speedboat carrying 10 armed Cuban nationals opened fire on Cuban soldiers. Four of the Cuban nationals were killed, leaving six and one other official injured. It also comes weeks after Trump blocked fuel from coming into the island, causing massive flight cancellations and a public health crisis for the city of Havana.

The United Nations’ top official for Cuba confirmed the crisis, warning that everyday life in Cuba is “becoming fragile,” according to The Hill, with heightened strains on health care, water services and food distribution. Cuban government officials have instituted emergency measures in an effort to move past the fuel shortage, revealing they have roughly between six and seven weeks of fuel left before a major blackout occurs.

Tensions with Cuba have seemingly come to a head since U.S. forces captured one of the country’s closest allies, Venezuela’s socialist President Nicolás Maduro, in early January 2026. His new comments are a switch up from him once claiming military action in Cuba might not be necessary due to the island’s weak economy. “We’ve had a lot of years of dealing with Cuba. I’ve been hearing about Cuba since I’m a little boy. But they’re in big trouble,” Trump said.

There seems to be some confusion on Capitol Hill about the dealings with the country as more than 40 civil society organizations urged Congress to “press the Trump administration to reverse its aggressive policy towards Cuba” in a letter highlighting efforts to cut oil shipments to the Caribbean island could possibly cause a humanitarian collapse.

But one lawmaker is already preparing voters for more issues with Cuba. During a Fox News interview, South Carolina Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham claimed that Cuba will be next, referring to recent military activity in Iran. “President Trump finished the job that President Reagan failed to do! I am a big admirer of Ronald Reagan, but I’m here to tell you that Donald Trump is the gold standard for Republicans, maybe any president, when it comes to foreign policy,” he said.

“Maduro? Everybody talked about him; well, Donald Trump’s got him in jail! Cuba’s next. They’re gonna fall. This communist dictatorship in Cuba? Their days are numbered.”