Épisodes

  • Government Shutdown Avoided; Father Fights to Reunite With Deported Wife and Newborn Twins

    Government Shutdown Avoided; Father Fights to Reunite With Deported Wife and Newborn Twins
    Dec 21 2024
    Congressman James Clyburn joins Victor to react to the deal to avoid a government shutdown. As a former leader of Democrats in the House, we get his thoughts on what made it into the agreement, what got left out, the path forward for Democrats next year. Plus, Victor shares the story of a family separated right before the holidays. A man in Texas says his wife missed an immigration hearing as she recovered from giving birth to twins. She and her children were all deported to Mexico. The father, who is a U.S. citizen, is now fighting to reunite with them and spoke to CNN. The President of Harvard’s Black Law Students Association joins Victor to explain why the number of Black and Hispanic students in the university’s Class of 2027 concerns him. And Victor speaks with the founder of an Asian American group that’s leading calls for the suspension of a morning radio host accused of repeatedly making anti-Asian comments on air. Later, Victor plays some holly jolly music and talks with Naima Cochrane about the divide he’s noticed between Black Christmas classics and the songs considered top Holiday hits. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    43 min
  • Chicago Mayor Responds to Threats by Trump’s “Border Czar”

    Chicago Mayor Responds to Threats by Trump’s “Border Czar”
    Dec 14 2024
    President-elect Trump’s “Border Czar” Tom Homan says the incoming administration’s “mass deportations” will begin in Chicago, and he’s threatening any state and local officials who stand in his way. The Mayor of Chicago, Brandon Johnson, joins Victor to respond in his first national interview since Homan’s comments. Plus, crack cocaine, made by cops, is a real thing that happened decades ago in Broward County. Victor speaks to the state attorney fighting to undo the convictions of people who got caught up in the sting by the Broward County Sheriff's Office. Also this week, the Biden-Harris administration released the first national strategy to combat Islamophobia and anti-Arab American hate. But one influential advocacy group, The Council on American-Islamic Relations, says it’s “too little too late." The organization’s National Deputy Director joins Victor to explain. Later, Victor speaks to an education expert about her concerns over a new study showing that diversity among teachers isn’t keeping up with diversity among students. And visual artist Shinique Smith joins Victor to share her memories of collaborating with the acclaimed poet, activist and academic Nikki Giovanni who passed away this week at 81. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    43 min
  • How Black Federal Workers Could Be Disproportionately Impacted by Cuts to Government Jobs

    How Black Federal Workers Could Be Disproportionately Impacted by Cuts to Government Jobs
    Dec 7 2024
    Federal work has historically been a ladder to the middle class for millions of Americans of all races, but especially Black people. Many of those government employees were watching closely this week as the co-leaders of the so-called “Department of Government Efficiency" or "DOGE" visited Capitol Hill to pitch their plans. Everett Kelley, the National President of the American Federation of Government Employees, joins Victor to react. Plus, Victor speaks with Ryan Wetzel. His grandfather Walter "Blackie" Wetzel helped design a logo for the NFL’s Washington Commanders. That logo was dropped in 2020, along with the team’s original name. Ryan shares why his family now wants the team to bring the logo back. Later, the Justice Department says Memphis police need federal oversight. But the city of Memphis is pushing back. Victor speaks with Connie Rice, a civil rights attorney who worked with the Obama White House on police reform. A descendant of Pearl Harbor hero Doris “Dorie” Miller joins Victor to discuss his family’s push for Miller to posthumously be awarded the Medal of Honor. And Victor checks-in with Rhiannah Gordon, a single mom whose video with her kids emotionally reacting to her passing California’s bar exam is going viral on social media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    43 min
  • Corporate Commitment to Dei Under Scrutiny; Drake-kendrick Lamar Feud Turns Into Legal Fight

    Corporate Commitment to Dei Under Scrutiny; Drake-kendrick Lamar Feud Turns Into Legal Fight
    Dec 1 2024
    Walmart is the largest corporation yet to roll back commitments to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Programs. Victor speaks to DEI expert Shaun Harper about the impact, and whether we can expect more companies to follow. Plus, Melvin Coleman of the Atlanta Black Chambers weighs in on what anti-DEI measures and a second Trump term may mean for entrepreneurs of color on this small business Saturday. Later, music journalist and author Sowmya Krishnamurthy explains to Victor why the internet is going crazy over a legal petition filed by attorneys for Drake over Kendrick Lamar’s Grammy-nominated diss track “Not Like Us”. And as more people pull back from “X” or social media entirely, can the influential community known as “Black Twitter” survive somewhere else? Victor discusses with researcher and author André Brock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    43 min
  • Daymond John’s Mission to Boost Black Businesses

    Daymond John’s Mission to Boost Black Businesses
    Nov 23 2024
    Daymond John of “Shark Tank” joins Victor in studio after hosting his annual “Black Entrepreneurs Day”. He shares his thoughts on the state of the economy, tips for small businesses and dishes on the refresh of his iconic clothing brand “FUBU”. First, Congresswoman Yvette Clarke joins Victor to discuss a bill being pushed by Republicans called the “Dismantle DEI Act,” and how she plans to lead the Congressional Black Caucus as a 2nd Trump term approaches. Plus, Victor shares an update in the story of a father in Las Vegas who was shot and killed by police after calling 911 for help. Brandon Durham’s sister, Diane Wright, reacts to the shooting and lays out what the family wants to see happen next. Also, Victor asks: does an optional curriculum that was just approved for public schools in Texas gloss over the reality of racism and slavery in American history? Texas Tribune reporter Jaden Edison reveals what he found when he dug into the lesson plan for kids K-5. And later, this week’s “I See You!” shoutout is for Sophia Park, who just became the youngest person to pass California’s bar exam…at age 17! And that’s not the only surprising part of this up-and-coming legal star’s story. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    44 min
  • Veterans React to Trump’s Pentagon Pick and Pete Hegseth’s War on "Woke”

    Veterans React to Trump’s Pentagon Pick and Pete Hegseth’s War on "Woke”
    Nov 16 2024
    President-elect Trump's pick to lead the Pentagon claims the military and its leaders are "too woke". What does that really mean? And is diversity and equity in the armed forces really the threat Pete Hegseth claims it is? Victor speaks with two combat veterans – Retired Army Captain Mary Tobin and Retired Army Major General Dana Pittard - whose personal stories suggest otherwise. Plus, a family in Missouri is pleading for both the outgoing governor and incoming governor of the state to reverse their pledge to release a former officer convicted of killing their son. Both leaders say they're considering clemency for Eric Devalkenaere. Victor has an emotional conversation with Cameron Lamb's parents, Aqil and Laurie Bey. For the first time, Chicago has elected members of its school board. Oscar and Grammy award-winning artist "Rhymefest" is one of them, and he speaks with Victor about the new role and his latest project. And the creator of the "North American Indigenous Songbook” joins Victor to explain the project’s vision and how the death of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter movement inspired it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    43 min
  • Why Many Black Women Say They Feel Frustrated Right Now

    Why Many Black Women Say They Feel Frustrated Right Now
    Nov 9 2024
    According to CNN exit polls, 91 percent of Black women voted for Vice President Kamala Harris to become the first Black woman elected president of the United States. No other demographic voted for either Harris or Trump so abundantly. Now many Black women, who have long been the backbone of the democratic party, are speaking out in frustration with the election result. Victor shares a personal story and explores why – and what comes next – with Holli Holiday of “#WinWithBlackWomen” and Liz Minnella of “White Women Answer the Call.” Plus, Daniel Garza joins Victor to explain why Trump made large gains with Latino voters, particularly men, and how to reconcile that support with the President-Elect’s vow to carry out mass deportations of undocumented immigrants. Later, author Michael Eric Dyson reacts to racist text messages sent to Black people in more than two dozen states across the United States following the election. And the FBI has been asked to help investigate the death of a Black man found hanging in an abandoned house. His widow refuses to believe the police explanation that Dennoriss Richardson’s death was a suicide. Leigh Richardson joins Victor alongside her attorney to explain why. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    43 min
  • The Early Voting Data That May Reveal Clues About Election Day

    The Early Voting Data That May Reveal Clues About Election Day
    Nov 2 2024
    “First of All” turns 1 this weekend! Victor has some reflections on all the stories we’ve covered so far over the past year. But first, three days out from the election, millions of people have already voted. The chair of the Democratic party in Georgia, Representative Nikema Williams, shares what she thinks the turnout means for the presidential election. Plus, can the man who pitched a "Muslim ban" for his first term rely on Muslim voters to help him win a second term? Former President Trump is trying, including with a visit to a city where their votes could help clinch a critical battleground. Victor speaks to a journalist who has been covering this community and the Trump campaign’s outreach to them. Later, California voters are being asked if they want to ban forced labor in prisons and address a "slavery loophole" in the state's constitution. Sam Brown, who helped write the measure after his own experience working in prison, joins us. Also, Washington Post columnist Theodore Johnson explains to Victor why he thinks Black voters may be about to usher-in a realignment in our politics. And for the latest installment of our “Art is Life” series, Victor speaks to Winsome Bingham and E.B. Lewis, the author and illustrator of the children’s book “The Walk,” which teaches “voting is how grown folks speak up”. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    44 min