Current Events
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Source: picture alliance / Getty / Elmo
Elmo might be a puppet, but like everyone else, he feels the sting of Donald Trump’s unstable economy and is now searching for new employment.
The internet has been in stitches since a debunked viral post featuring the lovable puppet monster from Sesame Street popped up on LinkedIn. The post features Elmo updating his profile after the Trump administration’s stupid budget cuts.
“Hi LinkedIn, Unfortunately Elmo was recently laid off because of the federal budget cuts,” the post begins. “Elmo worked at Sesame Street for 45 years. Elmo is sad. Elmo loved his time at Sesame Street.”
Like a normal profile on the job-search site, the puppet provided his credentials while sending a heartfelt farewell to friends and other longtime residents of Sesame Street, Big Bird, and Cookie Monster.
“Elmo is looking for his next opportunity,” the post continued. “Elmo is good at so many things. Like hugs. Elmo LOVES giving hugs. Elmo can also recognize the letter E, spell his name, feel empathy, sing ‘Elmo’s Song’ and ask how you are doing. Elmo is open to full-time or freelance roles.”
Elmo’s Post Reflects What’s Going On In The US Right Now
While the unemployment rate in the United States remains steady, currently sitting at 4.2%, it’s not looking good for those who reside on Sesame Street.
Thanks to an executive order issued on May 1 by the Trump administration calling for the cutting of federal funding to PBS and NPR in an effort to save money.
If you’re wondering exactly how much money in the federal budget goes to both entities, Katherine Maher, NPR President and CEO, said, “The appropriation for public broadcasting, including NPR and PBS, represents less than 0.0001% of the federal budget.”
The LinkedIn post has also garnered reactions, which you can see in the gallery below.
3. Blame Donald Trump and Elon Musk
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Source: Bernard Smalls / @PhotosByBeanz
Tory Lanez, born Daystar Shemuel Shua Peterson, has reportedly been stabbed in prison. The R&B crooner was reportedly rushed to a local hospital.
According to TMZ, the “Shooters” singer was in the yard at the California Correctional Institution at Tehachapi on Monday (May 12) when he was assaulted. According to multiple sources Lanez was stabbed, but so far no motivation for the attacked has been determined or shared.
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Lanez is currently serving for shooting rapper Megan Thee Stallion back in 2020 (he was sentenced in 2023). At trial was found guilty of first-degree assault with a firearm and discharge of a firearm with gross negligence, amongst other charges. The incident caused controversy with Lanez proclaiming his innocence despite evidence and eyewitness testimony to the contrary. It also sparked all sorts of (usually asinine) conspiracy theories regarding the shooting.
Lanez was taken to a local hospital in Bakersfield. Reportedly, his injuries are not life-threatening.
Despite being behind bars, Lanez continues to work on and release music—recently touting plans to drop a new album in the summer of 2025. Also, he and Meg Thee Stallion continue to go back and forth in court. Check out reactions to Lanez’s latest struggle in the gallery.
This story is developing.
5. y’all gotta chill
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President Donald Trump, already deeply aligned with South African native Elon Musk, made a curious move to invite white refugees to the United States. The move by President Donald Trump was criticized on X, with some noting the contradiction of the policy as it relates to other nationalities.
As reported by the BBC, the first of 49 white South Africans was en route to the United States over the weekend, with President Donald Trump addressing the matter on Monday (May 12). These Afrikaners, who are the minority in the African nation, claim that they’re being targeted and harmed by the Black majority and have made appeals to President Trump to obtain refugee status.
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South Africa’s Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola provided a statement to the press on Monday, saying that “there is no persecution of white Afrikaner South Africans” and pointed to police report data to decry the allegations. Further, the African nation was that the allegations of attacks against White South Africans would not meet the requirements under domestic and international refugee law.
During a press conference alongside Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Donald Trump was asked by a reporter why he is allowing the white refugees a clear path but not doing so for other races of people.
“Because they’re being killed. And we don’t want to see people be killed,” Trump answered. “I have South Africa leadership coming to see me, I understand, sometime next week, and I guess we’re supposed to have a G20 meeting.
Trump continued, “I don’t know how we can go unless that situation’s taken care of. It’s a genocide taking place that you people don’t want to write about. Farmers are being killed. They happen to be white.”
The news of white South Africans being invited to the United States to seek refuge has caught fire on X, and we’ve got reactions below.
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Photo: Andrew Harnik / Getty
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Source: Michael Buckner / Getty / Halle Berry / Van Hunt
Halle Berry had herself a wonderful Mother’s Day, and she wanted the entire world to know, in a clever way, to plug her intimacy gel.
In a clip shared on her Instagram account, Berry shared a video featuring herself and her boo, singer Van Hunt, snuggled up together in bed very much letting us know that her Mother’s Day will end with some bedroom gymnastics.
The X-Men star is very giddy in bed as she talks about her upcoming pound session, while Hunt is very eager to get to smashing. Who can blame him? It’s Halle Berry, and we are talking about it here.
The social media-savvy actress’s impromptu video was also a clever way to promote her intimacy gel, Let’s Spin. Now available in a convenient travel size, she brought it with her on her trip to Cannes, France.
Berry reveals they are about to use the product, and Hunt, understandably, is very excited. The clip ends with Berry wishing everyone a happy Mother’s Day while “spinning.”
The actress has been the talk of social media thanks to her very revealing custom LaQuan Smith dress, which she wore to the Met Gala and left little to the imagination, especially in the lower region.
Social Media Hilariously Reacts To Halle Berry’s Video
As expected, social media had plenty to say about Berry’s video, all hilarious takes.
“oh look at me I’m van hunt. I made the classic song “down here in hell with you”. I got a great grey beard. I’m about to rock jordan the call center operator’s wig off. fuck you,” Desus, formerly of the comedic duo Desus & Mero wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
Another post on X read, “Did not expect to end my day with Halle Berry telling the world she’s gonna get put through the mattress on this app.”
How can you not love Halle Berry?
You can see more reactions in the gallery below.
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Source: Chance Yeh / Getty
Chris Gotti is a firm believer that blood is thicker than water. He says Ashanti should be giving his brother Irv Gotti more credit her success.
As spotted on Hop New Hip Hop the music executive paid a visit to the Keep It 100 podcast recently and spoke on different topics relating to the Murder Inc. Records legacy, his late great brother and more. Prior to Irv Gotti’s death his relationship with Ashanti had severely soured – to the point where she avoided talking about him altogether. When asked about it he made it clear that Ashanti shouldn’t be surprised it was such a hot topic. “Everyone keeps talking about it, she should understand that, too” he said. “If you’re in the limelight, they ask the question. It wasn’t little, it was big. For her to act like it ain’t Murder Inc. that made her is f***ing bulls**t. Or that Irv made her, it’s crazy.”
He went to remind everyone that she didn’t find her signature sound until she got to Murder Inc. “She had three deals before him. Like, something with y’all chemistry worked out. Respect it. That’s all. I’m not saying you have to talk about. Respect the magic that was made. That’s all I said” Chris Gotti added. He would go on to reveal that their tension put him in a tough spot. “Irv hate when I take her position. But I never took Irv’s position with her. But I’m doing it ’cause he ain’t here now. I’m not going to let no one talk about my brother. You going to have a problem. Simple and plain. Especially someone who he made that career. I was there. Like, he made you sing records in the way you sang them. ‘Cause you would’ve never sang it that way if it was up to you.”
Prior to his passing Irv Gotti made some very startling revelations on two separate Drink Champs episodes about his personal dealings with the “Foolish” singer. Irving alleged they were romantically involved all the while he was still legally married. He caught severe backlash with many saying Irv was fixated with Ashanti. You can see Chris Gotti discuss the situation below.
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Source: Anna Moneymaker / Getty / Donald Trump
Look up, and you will see the corruption in the air in the form of a $400 million luxury jumbo jet occupied by the orange menace, Donald Trump.
CNN reports that the Trump administration will accept a luxury jet from the Qatari royal family that will be retrofitted to be used as Air Force One during Felon 47’s disastrous second term.
ABC News first reported the gift, which came on the heels of Trump’s first big foreign trip, which included a stop in Doha, Qatar.
How is this possible? According to the news website, the administration, best known for its grifting, will get some help from the Qatari Ministry of Defense because it will be gifted to the Pentagon.
Per CNN:
Given the massive value of a Boeing 747-8, the move is unprecedented and raises substantial ethical and legal questions. A Qatari official said the plane is technically being gifted from the Qatari Ministry of Defense to the Pentagon, describing it more as a government-to-government transaction instead of a personal one. The Defense Department will then retrofit the plane for the president’s use with security features and modifications.
Oh, and get this: The plane will be “donated” to Trump’s presidential library so he can continue to use it after he leaves office—that’s if he leaves, we should say.
A law enforcement source close to the matter told CNN that the Secret Service is viewing the plane’s gifting as a “security nightmare.”
“The (US Air Force) would have to tear it apart looking for surveillance equipment and inspect the integrity of the plane,” the source told CNN.
Trump also has the right people in certain positions who will not blink an eye at the gift and will help ensure it goes through without issues.
Per ABC News:
Sources told ABC News that Attorney General Pam Bondi and Trump’s top White House lawyer David Warrington concluded it would be “legally permissible” for the donation of the aircraft to be conditioned on transferring its ownership to Trump’s presidential library before the end of his term, according to sources familiar with their determination.
The sources said Bondi provided a legal memorandum addressed to the White House counsel’s office last week after Warrington asked her for advice on the legality of the Pentagon accepting such a donation.
Bondi’s legal analysis also says it does not run afoul of the Constitution’s prohibition on foreign gifts because the plane is not being given to an individual, but rather to the United States Air Force and, eventually, to the presidential library foundation, the sources said.
Democrats & One of Trump’s Biggest Fans Slam The $400 Million Gift
As expected, Democrats and ethics experts are sounding the alarm at the apparent violation of the emoluments clause.
“Nothing says ‘America First’ like Air Force One, brought to you by Qatar,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement. “It’s not just bribery, it’s premium foreign influence with extra legroom.”
Kathleen Clark, a government ethics expert at Washington University School of Law in St. Louis, pointed out the obvious, saying the Trump administration is “structuring a transaction to try to avoid the obvious application of the law,” because Congress did not consent to the gift because it’s a clear violation of the clause.
“It is ridiculous. It’s a gift to Trump. The federal government is a pass-through,” said Clark.
Even some of Trump’s biggest fans like Laura Loomer are not feeling the their orange lord and savior taking a gift from the Qatari royal family.
Welp.
You can see more reactions to the $400 million gift in the gallery below.
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Ras Baraka, the longstanding mayor of Newark, N.J., was arrested Friday at an ICE detention facility in the city he governs. On the X platform, many are outraged that Mayor Ras Baraka was arrested and charged with trespassing for simply looking to examine the conditions of the facility alongside members of Congress.
Local outlet The Star-Ledger reports that Mayor Ras Baraka, 55, was at the Delaney Hall ICE detention facility in Newark, flanked by Democratic Party U.S. Reps. Rob Menendez, LaMonica McIver, and Bonnie Watson Coleman, all of whom represent New Jersey districts. Mayor Baraka and the members of Congress were there to inspect the facility, which Baraka says was constructed without proper building permits, and wanted to conduct oversight measures.
Menendez, McIver, and Watson entered a building located at the facility, but Baraka was barred from entering the building despite being the mayor of the city where the facility is housed. As the congressional members were leaving and walking towards a gate where Baraka stood, officers instructed the mayor to stand outside the gate. One of the congress members’ aides reportedly heard ICE agents discussing arresting the mayor.
A chaotic scene ensued with Rep. Watson in the middle of the fracas. Corporation Counsel Kenyatta Stewart, Newark’s top lawyer, was next to Baraka but was not arrested by ICE officers. U.S. Attorney Alina Habba framed Baraka’s actions as trespassing despite not being inside the building that the Congress members were allowed to enter.
“The Mayor of Newark, Ras Baraka, committed trespass and ignored multiple warnings from Homeland Security Investigations to remove himself from the ICE detention center in Newark, New Jersey this afternoon. He has willingly chosen to disregard the law. That will not stand in this state. He has been taken into custody. NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW,” Habba wrote in a statement on X.
Assistant Secretary Dept. of Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin added in a statement, “Members of Congress storming into a detention facility goes beyond a bizarre political stunt and puts the safety of our law enforcement agents and detainees at risk. Members of Congress are not above the law and cannot illegally break into detention facilities. Had these members requested a tour, we would have facilitated a tour of the facility. This is an evolving situation.”
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy has supported Baraka’s efforts to uncover the details of the for-profit detention center, which houses about 1,000 people. The facility was built for detained immigrants as part of President Donald Trump’s crackdown on immigration.
“Mayor Baraka is an exemplary public servant who has always stood up for our most vulnerable neighbors,” Gov. Murphy said in a statement. “I am calling for his immediate release by federal law enforcement.”
Congresswoman Watson Coleman shared on MSNBC that Mayor Baraka will be released by the authorities. Baraka’s rep told Hip-Hop Wired via an email statement that their side is monitoring the situation and will provide details as they develop.
On X, reactions to the arrest of Mayor Ras Baraka have cropped up. We have some of them listed below.
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Photo: Getty
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Source: Getty Images / Donald Trump / Jeanine Pirro
One drunkard from Fox News isn’t enough to fill Donald Trump’s heada** cabinet. The Orange Menace tapped one of his biggest fans, Jeanine Pirro, as the interim top DC prosecutor.
Clearly, with Trump, the only qualifications you need to land a job in his administration are a talent for kissing his oversized orange a**, being a douche and have some run-in with law enforcement.
Jeanine Pirro Is The Perfect Candidate For A Role In The Trump Administration
Pirro easily checks all of those boxes. She staunchly defends her president on Fox News and was ticketed for excessive speeding in Upstate New York after she was clocked at 119mph on the radar.
Oh, and she also had an episode on her show Justice With Judge Jeanine in 2020, when she appeared visibly drunk, leading to her stumbling to form sentences and delaying the show.
The incident earned her the nickname “Judge Box O’ Wine” and has since resurfaced following Trump’s announcement that he was stupidly giving her the job she has no business having.
“I am pleased to announce that Judge Jeanine Pirro will be appointed interim United States Attorney for the District of Columbia,” Felon 47 wrote on crappy platform, Truth Social. “Jeanine was Assistant District Attorney for Westchester County, New York, and then went on to serve as County Judge, and District Attorney, where she was the first woman ever to be elected to those positions. During her time in office, Jeanine was a powerful crusader for victims of crime.”
He continued, “Her establishment of the Domestic Violence Bureau in her Prosecutor’s Office was the first in the Nation. She excelled in all ways. In addition to her Legal career, Jeanine previously hosted her own Fox News Show, Justice with Judge Jeanine, for ten years, and is currently Co-Host of The Five, one of the Highest Rated Shows on Television,” he added. “Jeanine is incredibly well qualified for this position, and is considered one of the Top District Attorneys in the History of the State of New York. She is in a class by herself. Congratulations Jeanine!”
Jeanine Pirro’s Husband Is Also A Crook
Of course, Pirro’s husband is a despicable person in his own right. He was indicted on 66 counts of federal tax fraud.
Per Crooks & Liars:
Albert J. Pirro was indicted on 66 counts of federal tax fraud. The Feds say Pirro hid $1 million in income between 1988 and 1997, claiming dozens of personal luxuries as business expenses, from his $123,000 Ferrari to his wife’s Mercedes-Benz, New York Magazine reported in 1999. And she hasn’t practiced law in 20 years. Just normal stuff!
X Is Dragging Both Trump and Jeanine Pirro
Like with Trump’s head-scratching choice for Surgeon General, X, formerly Twitter, is absolutely dragging Trump’s decision to give Pirro the job for now.
“Jeanine Pirro, Sean “Real World” Duffy, Pete “Whisky Leaks” Hegseth, Linda “A1” McMahon, and the entire trash trump cabinet are proof that they don’t give a FUCK about “merit hires.” They’re unfit clowns. ALL OF THEM,” one post read.
Another post read, “After hiring unqualified and incompetent drunk Pete Hegseth to be Defense Secretary, Trump’s doubling down by giving serious consideration to unqualified and incompetent drunk Jeanine Pirro as US Attorney for DC. There has never been a more incompetent president than Trump, EVER.”
Lord help us, it hasn’t been a year, and this crazy ride is far from over.
You can see more reactions in the gallery below.
1. Lol, don’t show Trump this
2. Judge Box O’ Wine LMAO
3. This will land you any job in the Trump administration
4. Trump uses Fox News like it’s LinkedIn
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CRT FRSH, Hip-Hop Wired’s playlist where we showcase music that we believe is “Certified Fresh,” is back with the newness! With our latest update this week, we’ve added some songs you should know and other joints you need to know, so let’s get into it.
I want to explain how I approach curating the CRT FRSH playlist. Most importantly, I don’t segregate my Hip-Hop. Every form of music from the main cultural tree deserves a listen and a look. When I construct the playlist, I want to include all regions across the States and, when applicable, across the globe. I also want to entertain every fan of Hip-Hop, not just those who enjoy one segment of it. Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s get to it. — D.L. Chandler, lead curator for CRT FRSH
The CRT FRSH playlist is a labor of love. We don’t take payments, nor do we do favors. We only add joints to our playlist that fit the theme and vision we’re going for and don’t seek to waste the listener’s time. Further, we don’t stick to one lane of Hip-Hop. We believe that all aspects of the music should get some light, whether it’s young lions in the trenches or those hoping for that one shot to blow up to grizzled veterans puffing out their chests with lots more to say.
We open up this weekend’s playlist with Megan Thee Stallion’s bouncy single “Whenever,” released under the Houston Hottie’s full creative control. We follow that up with Westside Gunn’s “EGYPT” remix featuring a face-melting verse from Doechii.
Switching it up, we feature BigXThaPlug’s high-charting single “All The Way” featuring Bailey Zimmmerman, and the ultra-talented JID’s “WRK” single foll ows that track. Taking things down to Baton Rouge, we have “Shot Callin” from NBA YoungBoy, and then we hop over to New Orleans to check out La Reezy’s “Have Mercy” joint.
Salute to all of the acts that make up this CRT FRSH update: Flo Milli, T-Pain, Russ, Bas, The Hics, Ab-Soul, Saba No ID, MFnMelo, REASON, Cozz, Ray Vaughn, Defcee, Pararell Thought, Lil Tjay, 42 Dugg, Niontay, Swizz Beatz, Larry June, Conway The Machine, Sauce Walka, Benny The Butcher, Daringer, Skylarr Blatt, MIKE, Tony Seltzer, Sideshow, Valee, Harry Fraud, Curren$y, and Deante’ Hitchcock.
We’ll be back in two weeks with 20 new Certified Fresh songs. Stay tuned. Check out this week’s drop below.
To be considered for inclusion in the CRT FRSH playlist, please email playlist curator D.L. Chandler at: dchandler@bhmdigital.com
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Photo: AnnaStills / Getty
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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