Current Events
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Pope Leo XIV was announced as the head of the Catholic Church on Thursday, becoming the first American pope in history. According to a genealogist, Pope Leo XIV has African-Creole roots, inspiring many on social media to claim the church leader as Black.
As reported by Black Catholic Messenger, Pope Leo XIV, formerly Robert Prevost of Chicago, has a connection to New Orleans via his maternal grandparents, who lived in the famed city before moving north to Chicago. Genealogist and expert on Creole history Jari Honora traced the pope’s roots to New Orleans. According to Census data, the pope’s mother, Mildred Martinez, was the mixed-race daughter of Joseph Martinez, who was born in Haiti, and Louise Baquié, a Creole who hailed from New Orleans.
The pope, raised in Chicago’s South Side neighborhood, joined the Augustinian order after being ordained in 1982. He earned a canon law doctorate degree at the Angelicum in Rome, ahead of working for more than a decade in Peru and overseeing an Augustinian seminary there.
The pope already owns the distinction of being the first American named as the pope, and would be considered the first Black pope in history, although it isn’t known if he claims his Creole roots or if he identifies as Black.
“It’s more complicated than that,” Honora said to Black Catholic Messenger. “I think that a person can be of Black ancestry or have Black roots, but to identify as Black, I think, is all about the lived experience.”
Honora was one of several genealogists and researchers who made the connection to Pope Leo XIV’s Creole ancestry, prompting notable chatter online. Many were already celebrating the pope’s ascension, and for being from Chicago, leading to hilarious and excitable reactions across social media.
The pope is part of a religious order named after the African saint, Augustine of Hippo. Leo XIV’s predecessor, Pope Francis, passed away on April 21 at the age of 88.
On X, reactions to the news that Pope Leo XIV has Creole roots have spread far and wide. We’ve got those reactions below.
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Photo: SOPA Images / Getty
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Source: Getty Images / Donald Trump / Casey Means / Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Donald Trump continues to put on a masterclass in nominating people to positions in the United States government that they have no business being in.
On his mission to “Make America Healthy Again,” Donald Trump is enlisting the best quacks the country has to offer to solicit bad health advice to American people coming off a once-in-a-generation pandemic, and as diseases that were once considered 100% neutralized, like the measles, are on the comeback.
We already have vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in charge of HHS and TV doctor and Oprah’s biggest blunder, Dr. Mehmet OZ, as Administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. To make matters worse, Trump has nominated “Dr” Casey Means to take on the role of Surgeon General.
What could go wrong?
Well, a lot.
According to MSNBC, Trump nominated Means after yanking Dr. Janette Nesheiwat, a Fox News contributor, ‘s nomination for the position without explaining the move.
The website points to right-wing activist, radical conspiracy theorist, and one of Trump’s closest confidants, Laura Loomer, criticizing Nesheiwat, specifically being BIG MAD about her support for life-saving Covid vaccines.
Trump claims the Nesheiwat will work at HHS in “another capacity,” giving Means the lane to become the nation’s top doctor.
Casey Means Lack of Experience For The Job
The AP went ham in their description of Means and perfectly explained why she is not qualified for the position, calling her just a “wellness influencer. ” They noted that she dropped out of her surgical residency program and has no experience in public health administration, something very much needed for the Surgeon General job.
The same report also describes her as a snake oil salesman who makes a living selling “dietary supplements, creams, teas, and other products sponsored on her social media accounts.”
Bruh.
When asked why he chose someone with no experience to be the top doctor in the country, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that he said, “I don’t know her,” but only picked her because Kennedy “thought she was fantastic.”
What a glowing recommendation. We are being sarcastic, of course.
Social Media Is Freaking Out About Casey Means & Pointing Out How Fringe She Is
Social media has been responding to the latest nomination, and as expected, folks are apprehensive about another fringe doctor pushing bullsh*t health alternatives while disregarding proven medical science.
“Trumps’s new surgeon general nominee is Casey Means withdrew from her medical residency at age 30. She thinks you can stay healthy by focusing on metabolic health?! And Laura Loomer got rid of the original nominee for being too pro-vaccine? We’re living in an SNL skit,” one user on X, formerly Twitter, wrote.
We are in deep trouble. All folks had to do was vote for the Black lady, but, of course, they couldn’t do that.
You can see more reactions in the gallery below.
2. Face palm
3. The American Dream has become nothing but just scamming your way to top.
4. Not Dr. Nick, LOL
6. A thread
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Three Black Memphis police officers were acquitted on charges of beating and killing Tyre Nichols after a 2023 traffic stop went awry. The news of the acquittal has spread widely, sparking anger online and abroad as the family of Tyre Nichols continues to seek justice for their loved one.
As reported by the Associated Press, former Memphis Police Department officers Tadarrius Bean, Demetrius Haley, and Justin Smith were all acquitted on state charges, including second-degree murder, in the death of Tyre Nichols. Nichols was 29 at the time of his passing.
According to the report, jurors from a majority-white county viewed evidence over two days and found the officers not guilty on all charges. The nine-day trial took place in Memphis’ state court. The aforementioned officers are still facing federal charges, with the most serious charges there dropped as well. Emmitt Martin, another former officer, pleaded guilty in both state and federal court and was pegged by defense attorneys as the ringleader of the aggression that ended Nichols’ life.
Nichols was stopped by officers on Jan. 7, 2023, and fled on foot after officers reportedly pulled him out of the car and used a Taser and pepper spray. The five Memphis police officers chased him down and savagely beat Nichols, who was just steps away from his house and calling for his mother to help. Officers were seen on video laughing and carrying on normal conversations as Nichols suffered from his injuries. He eventually died on Jan. 10.
On X, many are voicing their disappointment in the acquittal at the state level for the former officers. We’ve got those reactions listed below.
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Photo: The Washington Post / Getty
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Source: Jeff Kravitz / Getty
One of the culture’s biggest voices is looking to help the new generation of storytellers. Kai Cenat has launched the Streamer University.
As spotted on Hypebeast, the Brooklyn, New York, native is embarking on a new initiative. On Tuesday (May 7), he announced Streamer University. The project will invite content creators from all walks of life to take courses on how they can advance their skills and better give their respective brands a point of difference. As expected the announcement was presented via a skit. The video, which is inspired by the popular movie Harry Potter series, finds Cenat traveling to recruit an upcoming personality to the school. He expressed his enthusiasm in an accompanying Instagram post.
“I’m excited to extend to you a most heartfelt welcome to the very first class of Streamer University,” he said. “Here, you will find a school where chaos is encouraged and content is king. I look forward to seeing you all on campus for our first-ever semester.”
Kai Cenat originally teased the initiative back in February during a Twitch livestream. “I’m going to rent out a university over a course of a weekend. It will be streaming university. Okay? I’m going to rent it out.” He went on to add that he hoped to have Mr. Beast and Mark Rober teach courses. The Streamer University website further details the spirit of the educational institution. “Streamers of all backgrounds will have the opportunity to showcase their personalities as students, alongside both unrealized, upcoming and well-established creators,” the statement read.
Enrollment for Streamer University is open now. You can read more about the opportunity here.
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President Donald Trump and Canada’s newest Prime Minister, Mark Carney, met for the first time this past Tuesday (May 6), setting in motion a larger discussion around Trump’s aims for our northern neighbors and tariffs. In the meeting, many online observers kept an eye on Prime Minister Mark Carney’s demeanor and President Donald Trump’s comments, sparking reactions online.
CNN reports that despite the tensions between America and Canada, largely sparked by President Donald Trump’s tariff policies, the conversation between the leaders was not full of pyrotechnical bombast. Notably, Carney and Trump were civil with the Canadian leader telling Trump point blank that his country “won’t be for sale, ever” after Trump hammered home his desire for Canada to become America’s 51st state.
Carney also fact-checked Trump, who claimed that the United States doesn’t do much trade business with Canada despite the high number of imports that cross the border, a border Trump referred to in the meeting as an “imaginary” line. Canada is currently the largest importer of goods from the United States, with Mexico trailing just behind.
While there were moments in the chat that came across as tense in the meeting, Trump believes that the chat went swimmingly.
“No, I don’t see any tension either, we get along very well with both. They just got to pay a little more money, you know, they just, they’re getting away with things that they shouldn’t be. And they understand. We had a great meeting today, actually, with the new prime minister, who’s a terrific guy,” Trump told CNN.
Online, a different picture has been painted of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s visit with President Donald Trump. We’ve got reactions from X below.
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Photo: Getty
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Dia Dipasupil / Megan Thee Stallion
Megan Thee Stallion wanted to ensure the hotties got a sneak peek of what happens inside the Met Gala, but did she risk being banned to deliver some great content?
Outside the red carpet where the celebs and other guests show off their Met Gala fits, no one knows what happens inside the museum, where all the action and hobnobbing takes place, thanks to Anna Wintour’s strict “no-cellphone” policy.
Megan Thee Stallion didn’t seem to care about the rule, admitting that every chance she got in her Instagram posts, she snuck her phone in and posted and deleted several videos.
In the one video still up on her account, Thee Stallion, Angel Reese, and Doechii rating the Met Gala’s fine cuisine, which, unlike previous years with past attendees, was delicious based on their reactions.
The “Whenever” crafter also took unauthorized videos with Serena Williams, Cynthia Erivo, Rihanna, and Lupita Nyong’o.
In another clip, Megan Thee Stallion hypes up Ciara, who looked stunning in a LaQuan Smith gown. She tells the “Goodies” singer to show off her dress in the video while zooming in to give fans a good look at the piece’s details.
Megan Thee Stallion Wasn’t The Only One To Break The Rule
Megan Thee Stallion wasn’t the only person to seemingly break Wintour’s strict policy. Questlove also broke the rule while filming the annual bathroom selfie moment, captioning the video “Black sh*t.”
Other notable rule breakers include Halle Bailey, Sydney Sweeney, and Angela Bassett.
Now, what will be the consequences for breaking the rule? According to the rules, you risk being banned from the next Met Gala, but chances are high that everyone will just get off with a warning.
But who could blame all these folks for being hyped to be at the BLACKEST MET GALA we have ever witnessed?
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Source: Gilbert Flores / Getty
On Monday (May 5), City Parks SummerStage announced that its planned benefit concert featuring R&B star Kehlani was being canceled under advisement from the Mayor’s Office. “We have been notified by the Mayor’s Office that they have concerns for security and safety issues,” their statement on Instagram began. “Those concerns are due to the controversy surrounding Cornell University’s decision to cancel Kehlani’s concert at the University, as well as security demands in Central Park and throughout the City for other Pride events during that same period.”
The post continued, “We strongly and emphatically believe in artistic expression of all kinds. However, the safety and security of our guests and artists is of the utmost importance … While artists may choose to express their opinions, their views may not necessarily be representative of the festival.” To date, the event is still listed on SummerStage’s main website. Kehlani reposted the statement in their Instagram Stories with the caption “lol.” In another story, they shared a selfie, writing: “I just found that one out on instagram by the way.”The SummerStage cancellation comes a week after a show with Kehlani as the headliner was canceled at Cornell University, where their chancellor wrote in a statement that the “Nights Like This” artist “espoused antisemitic, anti-Israel sentiments in performances, videos and on social media.” Kehlani has been staunchly supportive of the Palestinian people since the beginning of Israel’s war with the Hamas terror organization on Oct. 7, 2023 after the group kidnapped over 250 people and killed 1,200 at the Nova Music Festival near Gaza. Since then, an estimated 52,000 Palestinian people have been killed in Gaza, according to CNN, which cites reports from the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
“It is deeply unsettling to see elected officials using their offices to dictate the bounds of acceptable expression and muscling private entities to fall into line,” PEN America said in a statement. “No one wins when politicians meddle to suppress artistic expression.” PEN America is a group that supports and advocates for artist freedom and expression, and has lent its voice to fighting back against the misuse of antisemitism charges as the Trump administration has used antisemitism claims against college campuses.
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Anadolu / Newark Liberty International Airport
If you’re thinking about flying out of Newark Liberty International Airport, you should definitely reconsider and fly out of LaGuardia or JFK.
Air traffic controllers in Philadelphia had to guide planes to Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey after communications crashed.
CNN reports that controllers couldn’t see planes on radar scopes and couldn’t communicate with pilots for at least 90 seconds, a source close to the matter told the news outlet. According to the website, faulty copper wiring is blamed for the outage.
The outage forced many air traffic controllers to take leave for trauma as a direct result of the incident, and on top of that shortage of air traffic controllers only made matters worse.
Current Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy claims it was only 30 seconds and blamed New York Senator Chuck Schumer for what happened at Newark Liberty.
Yeah, that makes sense.
Per CNN:
The April 28 outage impacted information coming from radars located at a Federal Aviation Administration facility in Westbury, New York, where the air traffic controllers used to manage flights heading to Newark. Control over the airspace was transferred to Philadelphia in July. The radars are now operated using a remote line the source described as “a long extension cord.”
The outage was the result of a failure of that copper wiring that transmits information to Newark approach control, a separate source tells CNN. “There was some infrastructure breakdown related to how the information is relayed right now.”
Similar outages happened twice before, the first source notes.
Those earlier incidents were reported to the FAA safety reporting system and “adjustments were made,” which kept the systems stable until the most recent loss, they say.
Newark Liberty Is Not Safe
Travelers have endured a weeklong meltdown at the airport, resulting in hundreds of delays and cancellations.
According to one air traffic controller speaking with MSNBC correspondent Tom Costello, “it is not safe” to fly out of Newark Liberty International.
“He said, ‘It is not safe. It is not a safe situation right now for the flying public,” Costello said, referring to his conversation with the air traffic controller, which he described as “Really an incredible statement, unsolicited. He just said that to me, and separately: ‘Don’t fly into Newark. Avoid Newark at all costs.’”
As of right now, United Airlines is offering customers free ticket changes to “passengers with travel plans to or from Newark between May 6 to 17, 2025.”
But if you’re in the New York/New Jersey area, your best bet is to fly out of JFK or LaGuardia.
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Getty Images /Charlamagne Tha God / Jonathan Majors
Charlamagne Tha God continues to make significant moves outside of radio. The Breakfast Club host is teaming up with John Wick producer Basil Iwanyk to launch a new production company.
Variety exclusively reports that Charlamagne Tha God and Iwanyk are teaming up to launch Southland Stories, a production company that amplifies southern voices.
The first project on Southland Stories‘ slate is a revenge thriller called True Threat starring Jonathan Majors. It is the actor’s first role since his 2023 conviction.
Per Variety:
“True Threat” is scheduled to begin production this summer. It’s one of several films in the pipeline as Southland Stories starts to ramp up its output. Directed and written by Gerard McMurray and produced by Alexis Garcia of Cat5, “True Threat” follows a special forces operative out for vengeance after his teenage son is killed by gang members. The movie is among Majors’ first roles since he was convicted in 2023 of third degree assault and harassment.
The radio host also spoke about the film, adding, “Films like ‘True Threat’ are exactly why we created Southland Stories. It’s vital to show that Black creatives can thrive across all genres. Gerard McMurray and Jonathan Majors are extremely talented individuals.”
Southland Stories will deliver films that focus on “real-life tales” and scripted narratives like True Threat. In a press release, Charlamagne, Iwanyk, and producer Karen Kinney said the production company was founded to “spotlight bold, authentic stories often overlooked in mainstream cinema.”
We shall see if picking a Jonathan Majors film to kick things off with will work out for Southland Stories.
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Source: Leon Bennett / Getty
It seems Big U has been on the federal government’s radar for some time. Prosecutors have revealed they have intercepted over 20,000 of his calls and more.
As per Complex, the entertainment manager might have the fight of his life on his hands when it comes to his upcoming RICO trial. In a recent court filing, the federal government has disclosed that they have whopping amount of material on Big U. In their possession are “20,000 intercepted audio calls, as well as numerous surreptitious audio and video recordings.” One of the calls allegedly captures Big U telling someone that he is still very much an active gang member, which contradicts his public persona as a community organizer. “I’m retired, ni**a? Activist? I’ll pull up on your block right now, ni**a, and show up and show out, ni**a what happened to the last ni**as that thought I was retired,” Big U said. Other pieces of evidence are tied to other reporting, investigative work, search warrants, photographs and other items that add up to about to 60 gigabytes of material.
In order to properly prepare for the looming trial his six co-defendants have requested that it be postponed until May 4, 2026. Big U on the other hand wants to proceed with the original scheduled date. On March 19, Eugene Henley Jr. was charged with conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. More specifically the feds say he and the Rollin’ 60s Neighborhood Crips engaged in robbery, extortion, fraud and the alleged murder of a upcoming rapper.
“The RICO charges against Mr. Henley and his associates reflect a pattern of crimes that runs the gambit from extortion to tax evasion, all under the umbrella of a well-organized criminal organization led by Mr. Henley,” said Special Agent in Charge Tyler Hatcher, IRS Criminal Investigation, Los Angeles Field Office. “Additionally, Mr. Henley allegedly duped the County of Los Angeles by running a charitable organization that promoted anti-gang solutions while continuing criminal activity that was directly contrary to his charity. IRS-CI is proud to partner with fellow law enforcement organizations to investigate these criminal organizations to protect our communities from further harm.”
Big U has pleaded not guilty to the charges.