...ain't what you get. Last week was a bunch of things not appearing as they seem: How can Biden & Harris be asking for a ceasefire when they're still sending money to Israel for weapons? How can the USDA give Black farmers money for years of discrimination while not addressing the land that was stolen? And lastly, how the hell can Trump claim his Jan. 6 crowd was larger than MLK's "I Have a Dream" audience?
Looking to 2024
Kamala Harris is officially the Democratic nominee for president. How did she achieve that, if we didn’t vote for her in the primary? It’s because she won a majority of votes from pledged Democratic delegates in a virtual voting ceremony. This doesn’t necessarily mean your primary votes don’t matter. Typically delegates are assigned based on a presidential candidate’s performance in the primary and then they vote to confirm their position. Think of it as the Electoral College’s little brother. Since Kamala had no challengers, she was the only option for delegates to vote for…unless people are still putting Harambe on their ballots.
Harris also picked Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate and, somehow, both Democrats and Republicans are satisfied. Learn why here.
All this hype around Kamala’s rise for the last 3 weeks and she doesn’t have an explicit (written) platform for what her presidency will look like. While we’d really like to know when we’re getting to that part of the story, there are some indicators that she’s not exactly the same Kamala from 2020. (To be completely unbiased, the curious can read Trump’s proposed policies here.)
After being all “we can knuckle up any time, any place” about debating President Biden, Donald Trump has finally agreed to a debate with VP Harris. Catch it September 10 on ABC. Judging by his first press conference (aka rant) since Harris emerged as the Dem front runner, Donnie is in complete meltdown mode. This debate might be one for the books.
Squad member and St. Louis Representative Cori Bush lost a primary election to another Black Democrat. What was the main difference? Her challenger, Wesley Bell, had the $9M backing of Israel’s AIPAC lobby. He also happens to be the prosecutor who declined to charge the cop that killed Mike Brown in Ferguson.
Keeping Up with Biden & Harris
An appeals court dealt the student loan relief program another blow after siding with a GOP-led effort to stop or pause the SAVE program. The program, currently in use by 8M borrowers, will be on hold (and the impacted loans in forbearance) while the issue likely makes it to the SCOTUS again.
The POTUS, VPOTUS, & nem are asking for a ceasefire while still sending $3.5B to Israel for more weapons. What exactly do the words “peace” or “ceasefire” mean to them? We really need someone to tell us—and quickly—because the optics of asking for a ceasefire white giving away our tax dollars for Israel to bomb more schools is beyond.
Three weeks after dropping out of the race, Joe Biden sat down for a TV interview about his decision. He claims that, although he and Trump were neck and neck, he dropped out of the race because Dems in Congress were afraid his presence would affect their own reelections. For the record, the polls at the time showed that Donnie was up by a few points, but who’s gone (fact) check him?
Congress, What’s Good
Despite passing a measly 78 laws this session, Congress is on break until after Labor Day. Considered one of the least productive legislative bodies in decades, factors like the House Speaker drama, the presidential election, & divisions within and between the parties all played a part. Congress typically passes hundreds of laws in a single session. But hey. They totally deserve to take a break in August, return (and likely do nothing) for 3 weeks in September, and then use all of October to ask us to vote for them again, right?
It should go without saying, but committee meetings will also be back after the August recess.
Social Justice Round Up
After years and years of discrimination from the Department of Agriculture, Black farmers (and other POC farmers) are finally getting paid. Last week, a $2B fund was announced to repay roughly 23K farmers who experienced undue loan denials, received smaller loan amounts than white farmers, or whose land was foreclosed on in unusually fast timelines. While it’s a start, it’s not enough and more work needs to be done. They can start by not having the farmers fill out a 40-page application to apply for the restitution and figure out how to return the land they took.
It’s been 10 years since Mike Brown was killed by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, sparking ongoing unrest and, simultaneously, a hope for change. In 2024, that optimism has been replaced with stagnation, however, thanks to no long term investment in achieving racial equity. Many of the local protest organizers also died mysteriously after receiving death threats.
The sheriff leading the deputy and police department responsible for Sonya Massey’s death has resigned.
In response to what they say is an uptick in antisemitic attacks, Nassau County, NY has made it illegal to wear a mask if you don’t have a medical condition or religious reason. County officials say it should be “illegal to conceal your identity” and that the fine could be up to $1K.
What the Health
COVID cases are rising across the country with the biggest increase seen in the west. Thank goodness the rise on the east coast isn’t too huge because Nassau County doesn’t want folks masking up to prevent catching the virus.
Former NYC Mayor Mike Bloomberg has gifted $600M to 4 historically Black medical schools to create more Black doctors and more equitable health outcomes for our community. Now this is the kind of inclusive effort we can get behind, Bloombito.
Schools are facilitating meditation sessions with students to help improve their mental health.
Around the Diaspora
Caribbean-based airline LIAT is back to business. The regional airline has formed a partnership with a private Nigerian airline and will offer a limited flight schedule between Antigua, Barbados and St. Lucia.
Female representatives are now joining peace talks in Sudan to address widespread gender-based violence.
22 people were killed during Nigeria’s recent #EndBadGovernance demonstrations. Activists want those responsible to be held accountable for inflicting violence at otherwise peaceful demonstrations.
Our Black Jobs & Our Black Money
Did y’all see the news about the stock market this week (or check your investment or retirement accounts)? Some believe this is the start of the recession that forecasters have been warning about for a while. Just in case, here are some tips on how to withstand uncertain economic times.
Culture that Pops (The Olympic Edition)
Sha’Carri Richardson is officially a gold medalist after crossing the finish line in the women's 4x100 race last week.
Is it racism or is it the right thing to do? Gymnast Jordan Chiles was asked to return her bronze medal after Romania challenged the judges’ rescoring of her floor routine. While the increased score gave Jordan the bronze, officials sided with Romania and reverted the decision because Jordan’s coach allegedly asked for the reevaluation 64 seconds after the score was posted. According to the rules, that’s 4 seconds too late. Team USA claims to have receipts, so hopefully it can all get resolved in Jordan’s favor. Especially because many feel the reversal is due to the fact that Jordan along with Simone Biles (silver) and Brazil’s Rebeca Andrade (gold) made history after the 3 comprised the first all-Black podium in gymnastics.
Hopefully this is the first and last year that breakdancing is featured at the Olympics. We can’t take much more of white girls trying to score authenticity points with durags.
Shout out to Quincy Wilson, the youngest male Olympian in track history. He's just 16 years old and his back-to-school outfit will include a gold medal.
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