The House is moving toward a bipartisan vote to expel Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-Fla.-20) after a committee investigation proved 25 ethics violations. While a federal judge has delayed the Florida Democrat’s criminal trial for the alleged theft of $5 million in FEMA funds until 2027, congressional leaders indicated that the chamber is prepared to act as early as next week.
Category: U.S. Government
Posted inTV and Film
Back from the brink: ‘Afropop’ season 18 to premiere in June
The season features Listen to Me, Kanika Harris and Stephanie Etienne’s urgent documentary on the Black maternal and infant mortality crisis, and This World Is Not My Own, Opendox’s visually striking film using animation about celebrated folk artist Nellie Mae Rowe, who turned her home and yard in Vinings, Georgia, into the fantastical creative world she called the Playhouse. Emmy Award-winning actress Uzo Aduba and Broadway veteran Amy Warren bring Rowe and her friend, gallery owner and arts patron Judith Alexander, to life through voice and movement. A third title, to be announced later this year, will premiere in November.
Posted inPOLITICS
Supreme Court weighs future of 14th Amendment in historic citizenship case
The Supreme Court is preparing to rule on an executive challenge to the 14th Amendment that could replace the long-standing principle of birthright citizenship with a system requiring proof of parental status. Legal experts and advocates warn that this shift could create profound administrative hurdles for marginalized communities and potentially leave millions of American-born children without access to essential services.
Posted inReligion
Many US Catholics are dismayed by No. 47’s unprecedented broadside at the first American pope
Many U.S. Catholics and some evangelical leaders are expressing dismay after the 47th U.S. president launched an unprecedented verbal attack on Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, highlighting growing tensions between the White House and key religious constituencies ahead of the midterm elections.
Posted inPOLITICS
Executive order targets inclusion, equity and diversity in federal contracting
The recently signed executive order mandates the immediate removal of diversity, equity, and inclusion requirements from all federal contracts, prioritizing a strict merit-based standard for government procurement. This policy shift is expected to significantly alter the economic landscape for Black and Brown business owners who have historically utilized these programs to gain access to the federal marketplace.
Posted inNational News
Calls for investigation after Haitian asylum seeker dies days after ICE release
A 31-year-old Haitian asylum seeker was found dead at a Pittsburgh bus stop just days after being released from federal immigration custody. Attorneys and advocacy groups are calling for answers about the circumstances surrounding her release and death.
Posted inNational News
U.S. president pulls back on threats against Iran with 2-week ceasefire agreement
The U.S. president has announced that he’s pulling back on his threats to launch devastating strikes on Iran. A two-week ceasefire is now in effect in the war against Iran, which was launched on Feb. 28 by the United States and Israel.
Posted inNational News
47th president’s administration opens investigations into race in admissions at 3 medical schools
The 47th president’s administration has launched federal investigations into admissions practices at three major medical schools—Stanford, Ohio State, and UC San Diego—over concerns about potential racial discrimination. The move is part of a broader effort to enforce the Supreme Court’s ban on affirmative action and increase scrutiny on how universities handle race in admissions.
Posted inPOLITICS
Minnesota staging flagship ‘No Kings’ protest against US president, with rallies in Europe, DC
Nationwide “No Kings” protests against the 47th U.S. president drew millions of expected participants across more than 3,100 events in all 50 states, with Minnesota hosting the flagship rally. Demonstrators in the U.S. and abroad voiced opposition to immigration policies, foreign wars and civil rights rollbacks, while critics in the White House and GOP dismissed the movement as fringe and politically motivated.
Posted inINTERNATIONAL
UN calls for reparations to remedy the ‘historical wrongs’ of trafficking enslaved Africans
The U.N. General Assembly passed a resolution declaring the transatlantic slave trade the gravest crime against humanity and calling for reparations and the return of cultural artifacts. While widely supported, the measure faced opposition from the United States and a few others over legal and historical concerns.
Posted inWashington D.C. News
Sen. Angela Alsobrooks joins leaders from the Black Women’s Roundtable to champion voting rights
U.S. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks (D-Md.) and leaders from the Black Women’s Roundtable convened at the U.S. Capitol to denounce the SAVE America Act, arguing that its strict citizenship documentation requirements would disenfranchise millions of eligible voters. The group is pivoting toward a national mobilization effort to counter these restrictive measures while demanding that Congress instead prioritize the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to safeguard ballot access ahead of the 2026 midterms.
Posted inNational News
Rep. Hank Johnson re-introduces bill to de-militarize local law enforcement
Representative Hank Johnson’s proposed legislation seeks to permanently dismantle the Pentagon’s 1033 Program, addressing long-standing data that correlates the concentration of military-grade weaponry in Black and brown neighborhoods with an escalation in lethal force. By codifying restrictions on battlefield hardware, the bill aims to end a cycle of executive policy reversals and confront the disproportionate tactical burden shifted onto marginalized communities under the guise of public safety.