U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.) is scheduled to appear before a federal appeals court on June 23, 2026, to challenge criminal charges stemming from a 2025 immigration detention center oversight visit. The high-stakes legal battle, which could cost the congresswoman over $1 million in legal fees and up to 17 years in prison, coincides with the announcement that she is 17 weeks pregnant with her second child.
Category: Politics
FACT FOCUS: No. 47 falsely accuses Maryland of sending ‘illegal’ mail-in ballots to voters
An Associated Press fact check debunked the 47th president’s claim that Maryland officials illegally mailed 500,000 ballots to voters to help Democrats win elections. State election officials said a vendor error caused some voters to receive incorrect primary ballots, prompting replacement mailings with safeguards in place to prevent duplicate voting or fraud.
Justice Department accuses Yale medical school of illegally using race in admissions
The Justice Department has accused Yale University of illegally considering race in admissions to its medical school, alleging Black and Hispanic applicants were admitted at higher rates than White and Asian applicants with stronger academic metrics. The federal agency said Yale’s admissions practices violate Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and warned it could pursue legal action if the university does not agree to reforms.
How Iran turned trap and hip-hop into viral war propaganda
Viral AI-generated Lego rap videos tied to Iranian propaganda networks are flooding social media, using hip-hop, memes, and anti-White House humor to reach Americans already exhausted by war fears, inflation, and political chaos.
FBI searches Virginia Senate leader’s office as part of corruption probe
FBI searches Virginia state Senate leader’s office and cannabis shop in corruption investigation. Sen. Lucas calls it politically motivated.
The 60-year project to kill it
Attorney Portia Wood traces a six-decade legal campaign to dismantle the Voting Rights Act, arguing that Supreme Court decisions from Shelby County v. Holder to Louisiana v. Callais systematically weakened protections against racial discrimination in voting and redistricting. She contends that the erosion of the law was deliberate, not accidental, and highlights the AFRO’s long-standing role in documenting the ongoing struggle for Black voting rights.
Legal professionals gather on steps of the U.S. Supreme Court to defend rule of law and judicial independence
Legal professionals and concerned Americans gathered on May 1 to reaffirm the importance of the rule of law, judicial independence, and the independence of the legal profession, and to protect democracy and justice for all.
Tennessee enacts new US House map carving up majority-Black district in Memphis
Tennessee Republicans approved and enacted a new congressional map that dismantles the state’s lone majority-Black district in Memphis, sparking protests, legal challenges and accusations of racial gerrymandering. The move follows a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling weakening Voting Rights Act protections and is part of a broader Republican-led effort across Southern states to redraw congressional districts ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Southern states push for redistricting after US Supreme Court ruling on minority districts
Redistricting efforts in South Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee, and Louisiana aim to redraw majority-Black congressional districts, impacting minority voters and Republican lawmakers.
Mfume secures $500k grant to expand job training for returning citizens
A $500,000 federal grant appropriated by U.S. Rep. Kweisi Mfume (D-Md.-07) will support vocational training opportunities for 50 Baltimore residents at the National Center on Institutions and Alternatives. The 17-week program offers hands-on instruction in skilled trades designed to help returning citizens secure employment and reduce recidivism.
Major D.C. mayoral and congressional delegate debates set for May 2 at George Washington University
Voters in Washington, D.C. will have a chance to hear directly from candidates for mayor and congressional delegate during the DCision 2026 debates on May 2 at George Washington University. Hosted by a coalition of civic and media organizations, the event will spotlight key issues including public safety, housing, economic recovery, education, and D.C.’s push for full congressional representation.
‘Slavery was a good thing,’ Black leader says right-wing Republicans told him
U.S. Rep. James Clyburn says some right-wing Republicans have told him directly that slavery was “a good thing,” warning that elements within the movement could push the U.S. toward modern versions of Jim Crow–style segregation.

