Welcome! This is an unapologetic, agenda-free zone. Just commentaries on current events that’ll move you to think, laugh, rage, and even cry.
Trump’s perverse appeal to Blacks and Latinos Black and Latino men are signaling their intent to vote for Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election. Polling to this effect suggests a narrative. It’s as bizarre as it is troubling. But they aren’t interested in Trump’s policies. They probably know nothing about them. Instead, Black and… Read more.
Republicans banning books The Nazis burned books. But the Republicans are more civilized; they’re just banning them. Republicans claim they’re preventing the kind of fascistic indoctrination the Nazis practiced. They insist they’re only helping parents protect their kids. On Morning Edition last month, NPR featured the crusade that one parent, Katie Gates, launched to ban Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, And You. Her daughter’s teacher assigned this book for… Read more.
Last night, for the fifth night, riots spread across France like wildfire. News reports and reels speak volumes. Besides, it might suffice to say they erupted after Tuesday’s George Floyd-like killing of 17-year-old Nahel Merzouk. Because systemic racism, economic inequality, and brutal policing are the root causes of these riots, too. Those root causes have turned France into… Read more.
Note: This episode was originally posted in June 2022. Listen.
Scholastic is the world’s largest publisher of educational materials, including children’s books. It enjoyed a good reputation. Then it betrayed its mission. It asked an author to cut references to racism from her book before publication. The author is Maggie Tokuda-Hall (no relation). Her children’s book is Love in the Library. Here is how NPR reported on Saturday on… Read more.
Tennessee legislature expels Black lawmakers On Thursday, the Tennessee legislature expelled two Black lawmakers. But it spared a White one. Why did Tennessee expel lawmakers? They have earned the moniker the “Tennessee Three.” That’s for protesting a flawed bill to combat gun violence. It said nothing about guns. And, of course, they were protesting in the wake of… Read more.
Rep. Bowman confronts Rep. Massie over gun violence Washington is buzzing over how Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) confronted Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) in Congress over gun control. Here is how The Washington Post is reporting on it today: Standing in the hallway, Bowman accused Republicans of being ‘cowards’ and said voters should force them ‘to… Read more.
Memphis Player Charged As the teams walked toward center court following Bowling Green’s 73-60 win in the Round of 16 game [on Thursday night], Memphis’ Jamirah Shutes stopped to talk with Falcons’ player Elissa Brett. After a short conversation, Shutes appears to throw a punch at Brett’s face. (CBS News, March 24, 2023) No, the… Read more.
Donald Trump had the media all atwitter on Saturday. He “truthed” (on his Truth Social) that Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg will arrest him today. But Trump was trying to intimidate the prosecutor. You know, the way he intimidated special prosecutor Robert Mueller. And that was no different from him blurting out that the FBI was… Read more.
