November 15, 2024 • 24 mins
BIN News Anchors Vanessa Tyler and Mike Stevens join Host Ramses Ja to discuss the major news stories of the week.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
It's been another busy news week and we like to
review the major stories of the week here on the
Black Information Network. Today, we are joined by Black Information
Network news anchors Vanessa Tyler and Mike Stevens to discuss
this week's major stories.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
This is the.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
Black Information Network Daily Podcast, and I'm your host, ramses Jah.
All Right, you two, welcome back to the show. Vanessa,
what's the latest and greatest with you? It's been a while.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
Oh yeah, I'm doing well, a lot of work. As
you know. We've just come through the election and so
you know, dealing with all of that and now looking
at all these appointments. So it's going to be it's
going to be a ride.
Speaker 4 (00:37):
Mike Stevens, talk to me, man, what's the latest. Yeah,
Like Vanessa said, we've come through this election. We've had
a couple of weeks to kind of breathe and kind
of do some retrospect on this and kind of look
at what happened, and a lot has happened.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
All right, Well, let's not keep the people waiting. Let's
get to it all right. First up, controversy erupted this week,
and a recently fired black FEMA employee revealed the truth
about an internal practice many workers followed at the agency
when dealing with Trump supporters. Vanessa, you covered this story
for the Black Information Networks, So let's start with you
sure a bit more about this story with our audience,
and then Mike will come to you to get your
(01:14):
thoughts next.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
Well, you know when you have a story that you
think you know what it is, but then you get
the facts. Originally we thought this was a radical FEMA
worker who just hated Trump supporter so much she refused
to provide hurricane help. But there's more to this story.
That Black Team leader deployed, as they put it, in
the zone of disaster, says she faced extreme MAGA hostility.
(01:37):
It appeared when they went to certain homes they were
met with curses, anger, and guns. These residents were really angry.
Many got their bad information at those Trump rallies and
they were told residents that the seven hundred and fifty
dollars you know, that initial money would not go to them,
how their home would be taken by the government. So
(01:59):
when these FEMA were works had enough of these encounters,
they avoided those homes that happened to have Trump signs,
which the fired FEMA worker her name, Marnie Washington, says
that was the rules. They were told they didn't have
to put their lives in danger, and that one woman, Marnie,
(02:19):
she not only lost the FEMA job, she lost her
real job. You know, these disaster workers that kind of
like National guards people. They get deployed, but they also
have other jobs that they do and during disaster they
get deployed. So it's just a it's just a very
interesting thing of what's going on with her.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
Yeah, yeah, Mike, let's get your thoughts here.
Speaker 4 (02:42):
Yeah. I used to have a nextdoor neighbor who did
that for a living. When there was a natural disaster,
she would deploy. And these are people going out to help. Now,
obviously people have their own political feelings and so forth,
but the idea of what they're doing is to help
people to get them the assistance that they need. So
(03:03):
to me, it's amazing that this person and other FEMA workers,
according to her, would be attacked like this. I just
think that we are because of all the disinformation, the
misinformation and so forth. We're in for Iraqi four years
at least under this new administration.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
Sure, sure, yeah, there's this is what happens when things
that don't need to be politicized become politicized because FEMA,
as you mentioned, is there to help, but because of
the fact that FEMA has been politicized, and people on
either side of the political aisle can feel a way
(03:46):
about them. And what we're seeing here is Trump supporters,
deeply conservative individuals feeling like FEMA is somehow an extension
of the Democratic Party and the demoocratic Democrats' efforts to
do whatever. And these FEMA relief workers are becoming threatened people,
(04:08):
you know, as you mentioned, manis and people pulling guns
on them. I'll share a bit from the New York Post.
FEMA employees did receive threats in the wake of Hurricanes
Helene and Milton as a result of misinformation and to
sheriff and Tennessee reported that an armed group threatened aid workers. Okay,
so that's not me talking's that's what happened. And so,
you know, for a woman to lose her job by
you know, effectively protecting you know, the aid workers by
(04:31):
telling them, hey, steer clear of these places. These folks
are are being aggressive and hostile. You know, mind mind
yourself there. That context certainly reframes that story a little
bit better. Up next, Disturbing news has surfaced involving claims
of racist behavior toward a black cheerleader at a Pennsylvania
(04:52):
high school. Mike this time, let's start with you give
us the latest details on this story, and then Vanessa
will come to you next.
Speaker 4 (04:58):
So this is the kind of thing that probably has
been going on for ages, but we didn't really hear
that much about it. But now because of social media
and really since the George Floyd killing, these things are
getting more attention. And Vanessa I have both covered stories
where you know, there's lessons about slavery and picking cotton
(05:20):
and even imitating the George Floyd killing a class the
kind of stuff that just like why why do they
do it? So anyway, in this particular case, it wasn't
a classroom lesson, but a cheerleader accused. A black cheerleader
accused her coaches and teammates of forcing her to get
on all fours and call like a pet for a
(05:42):
white senior, and she was supposed to wear an imaginary leash.
Her family has put this information in a lawsuit that's
been filed. There's videos and pictures of this. The lawsuit
says that this violates the Civil Rights Act of nineteen
sixty four and equal protection under the Fourteenth Amendment. And
(06:03):
aside from all that, it's just playing wrong. It's just
plaining racist if it has happened in the way it
has been described. She also was told like she had
to get on the team bus last, waiting till the
white teammates were boarded and seated. And to many, this
(06:23):
sounds like something from the Jim Crow South. So no
wonder the family is speaking out. Yeah, Vanessa, let's get
you away in well.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
Well, well, this is why education is important, learning about discrimination,
learning about the ugly history in our country. From any
of these white rural Pennsylvania girls, they probably didn't really
have a deep understanding, and they can forget their parents,
you know, passing it on to them and the schools.
(06:54):
Now with things revamped and education and history taken out,
they'll never learn. So expect to see much more of it.
Speaker 4 (07:03):
You know.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
The thing about this story is that when I first
looked into it, it didn't really strike me as textbook
racism because of the leash, and you know, it could
have been hazing, it could have been just kids being kids,
(07:26):
you know, people without context not knowing that to position
a black girl in the same way you would position
an animal, how insulting that would be because without context,
with that frame of reference, without enough time living, without
proper education about this country's history, you could easily make
(07:47):
a mistake like that. So initially I was like, Okay,
let's see if this is a wolf cry or not.
But it wasn't until because I read about you know,
her boarding the bus last Okay, maybe that's a coincident.
Speaker 4 (07:59):
You know.
Speaker 1 (07:59):
I try to give the benefit of the doubt. You know,
I have to have to, you know, because of the
place that we hold in the news space.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
Right.
Speaker 1 (08:08):
But when I got to the point where I found
out that she was designated the team photographer and that
she was often cropped out of the pictures that she
was in, and I was like, there it is, right,
and I'll share a bit this from the Black Information Network.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
The cheerleader was also allegedly.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
Assigned to film all of the competition tournaments, leaving her
out of many team photos. When the girl was in
the photos, the lawsuit states she would be cropped out
or obscured in online posts, and I'm like, okay, there
it is because there's a little bit more intentionality. There's
less in the way of oversight. That feels a lot
more deliberate, and there's some precision there, right, and especially
(08:52):
if she's the only black girl. Of course there's lots
of contexts that I don't yet have, But if she's
the only black girl on that team, then I'm like, Okay,
there's the lawsuit, so here's hoping that they'll get there
just due her and the family.
Speaker 3 (09:05):
And may I add something, it seems as if she
maybe won some tumbling awards.
Speaker 2 (09:11):
Yeah, yeah, that too.
Speaker 3 (09:11):
Yeah, she was quite qualified, but was told by I
don't know, coaches or other adults that she's not cheerleading material.
Speaker 1 (09:22):
Black Information Network News anchors Vanessa Tyler and Mike Stevens
are here with us discussing this week's major stories. All right, next,
what started out as a hoax has turned into a
nationwide investigation as black people around the country have received
targeted text messages laced with racist language designed to demean
and intimidate them. Essa, let's go back to you for
(09:43):
more details on this story. And then Mike, we want
you to get We want to get you towagh next.
Speaker 3 (09:48):
What a great segue from the story before this, right
right after the election, these wild texts, many coming from
these hard to trace numbers like you get numbers online.
So basically telling students that US with a leader slave
will be there at a specific time, a specific date
(10:08):
to take them to a specific plantation to pick cotton.
It sounds insane and you know, like you're you're joking,
except it really affected a lot of these people who
got it. We ran a lot of sound bites and
interviews on the Black Information Network from people who receive
these texts, and you know, parents of young people who
(10:31):
received the texts, and they were really upset. They were
frightened because a lot of these texts called the young
person by name, and it really shook them. In this climate,
you never know, you never know because maybe they have
your dress, maybe they're they're they're tracking you. So yeah,
(10:51):
it's a it's a very frightening thing and it's horrible.
But again, expect more of it because I have a
feeling and this is going to be really part of
our existence for at least the next four years.
Speaker 2 (11:06):
Mike, let's geart your thoughts.
Speaker 4 (11:08):
Yeah, the FBI is reportedly looking into where these texts originated,
and I really am am curious. These are emails are
showing up coast to coast. Last thing I saw was
like at least twenty states. It's often high school students
who are not even old enough to vote, so their
name wouldn't necessarily be on a voter registration anywhere. Two
(11:32):
things stand out to me on this. One is the
millennials who think all the world is peaceful and well
and everybody's walking arm in arm and singing Kumbaya are
seeing for themselves that racism is alive and well firsthand.
And it's not to say things haven't progressed. And I
think it's great for people with different backgrounds to be
friends and you know, get to know each other and
(11:54):
work together or live together nicely. But there are still
those out there who you know, want to destroy, who
want to start to say a scripture the enemy wants
to kill and destroy, you know, And I think there
are some people out there who really still have that
kind of mindset. The other thing is who sent this?
(12:17):
But how did they even know the race of the victims?
To me, this sounds like this could be some sort
of coordinated effort by people who have access to personal
information like full workers or election officials. I mean, there
is so much to consider with this story. So in short,
what we have is.
Speaker 1 (12:40):
Someone sending racist text messages to black people across the country,
advising them to report to their local plantation to get
back to picking cotton. And in addition to that, you know,
I did a report on an increase in hate speech
toward women, where I think it was like forty six
(13:03):
hundred percent increase in the usage of the phrase you know,
your body, my choice, and get back in the kitchen
and all this like awful language. And for the folks
that voted for Donald Trump, it's important for them to
remember that we didn't just dislike Donald Trump because of
(13:25):
him himself. There is indeed a Trump effect that affects
the population and affects our everyday lives, and that's.
Speaker 2 (13:35):
Tough to live with.
Speaker 1 (13:37):
So this, again is the Trump effect, and you know,
people need to bear that in mind. You know, when
they cast their vote. It's more than just the economy.
It's more than just the price of eggs. There are
real people that have to live real world consequences that
guy emboldens because he speaks to them. And even if
he's just saying stuff to get people excited, and he's
(13:58):
not really that way. The people that he influences, they
can go to great lengths to further subject gate, further marginalized,
further intimidate people who have historically been marginalized and at
the fringes of society asking marching peacefully for equitable access.
(14:22):
And you know, if his administration ends up doing what
they've committed to doing, or continues on that trajectory in
terms of civil rights protections, in terms of all the
things that you know, black.
Speaker 2 (14:33):
People have fought for, we could see those things repealed.
Speaker 1 (14:36):
I'm very confident that I'll die, my son will die
with less rights than I had when I was born,
and with the Supreme Court and indeed the entirety of
the rest of the government in a figure four leglocked
by Republicans who are dead set on doing what he wants.
Speaker 2 (14:57):
You know, there's really not much else we can do
about it.
Speaker 1 (15:00):
And you know, it's it doesn't feel that I mean know,
it sounds very bleak, but you know, the people that
stayed home, the people that didn't vote, the people that
that thought that both candidates were the same, you know,
not We're going to see finally, the impact of the
twenty twenty four election is much more than Trump returning
(15:21):
to the White House. Mike, as we close out today,
give us some more context on indeed that very thing.
There have been some seismic changes in the House and
the Senate, and then Vanessa obviously will come to you
to close us out.
Speaker 4 (15:36):
Yeah, so as we speak, we know that Donald Trump
and the Republicans hold the Oval Office, the Executive Branch,
they hold the Supreme Court, they hold the Senate and
the House. There was hope that there would be a
black House leader Kim Jeffries this year, but there's a
slim majority running things in the House. And to me,
(16:01):
this is not so much just about Democrats and Republicans,
but Donald Trump Republicans who really have a different take
on democracy. And you know, there are extremes in both parties,
Democrats and Republicans, but this is the extreme the maga
Republicans are poised to have things their own way with
(16:24):
no checks and balances. And I think even if it
was a Democrat, I think there's value in having a
healthy conversation, having checks on extremism. But in this case,
it is all whatever Donald Trump wants to do again,
no unchecked power. And you know, so for those who
(16:45):
criticized him, including Republicans, they are now finding themselves part
of his administration.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
Oh, Vanessa, help me out.
Speaker 3 (17:00):
Wow, I wish I could. I'm really reeling over the
choices he's making for a lot of these positions in
his administration, Defense Secretary of Weekend Fox News host, Attorney
General Matt Gates. Even Republicans are concerned about that. And
and now the big story is Tulsey Gabbard, a director
(17:25):
for National Intelligence. They're saying about her that she in
herself herself is a national security risk, a pro plutent
type of person. I really don't know what to expect.
We are we are, as I said, very much in
(17:46):
for uh shock and awe and a ride, because we
really don't know whether these people really will have the
best interest of the country. Well, well, see, like you said,
America has made its decision. Elections have consequences, and we
(18:09):
will really feel what those consequences are.
Speaker 2 (18:13):
Sure. I have one more thing to that.
Speaker 4 (18:15):
Yeah, even as we talk about it, and of course
all the picks are not confirmed and known yet, I
don't see any black faces among them.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (18:25):
One, Well, there's there's something to bear in mind, and
it's that you know, you mentioned earlier, Mike that there's
extremism on both sides, and I'd agree with you, provided
that we that the the bar.
Speaker 2 (18:45):
For extremism is well defined.
Speaker 1 (18:48):
But indeed, the extremism that has consequences in individual people's lives,
the extremism that harbors the mass shooters, the extremism that
harbors the racist text messages that we just discussed, the
extremism that harbors the anti women sentiments that have increased online,
(19:09):
that type of extremism that affects people's lives and affects
their sense of comfort and security, that exclusively, well I
should say almost exclusively, is harbored on the right. So
the idea of extremism being on both sides can be
true provided that you know that extremism is well defined.
(19:30):
But in terms of the extremism as I understand it
that has day to day implications in this country, that's
only on one side of the political EyeT. And the
truth is, you know, I never really considered Donald Trump
to be an intellectual. I'm not the sort of person
(19:51):
to beat my own chest, but historically I've tested well,
and I've been to a lot of school. I have
a master's degree, so I I like to think that
I can identify it an intellectual from time to time,
you know, but you know, credit where it's due, you know,
sometimes someone being clever.
Speaker 2 (20:13):
That goes a little further.
Speaker 1 (20:14):
And the master stroke of his first administration was rushing
to confirm the Supreme Court justices and then having the
people around him Jasmine Crockett refer to them as.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
Evil people as they do evil things.
Speaker 1 (20:32):
Who can put together, they can amass their brilliance and
put together a play to lock this country into a
posture that will remain so for the rest of my lifetime.
I'm forty two, and that is the Supreme Court. Because
no matter what happens in the next election, no matter
(20:52):
what happens, you know, as long as there's a Supreme
Court that is deeply conservative, that is a maga elected
appointed Supreme Court, all Republicans have to do when it
comes to any meaningful legislature legislation, I'm sorry is a
(21:13):
is sue and appeal up to the Supreme Court. And
so when I say that the country has been placed
in a figure for leglock, that very much will be
true in the next couple of years. When Alito and
Clarence Thomas resigned and two new, younger Supreme Court of
Justices are appointed. And so I myself have been hoping
(21:38):
for some more strategy coming out of you know, the
democratic wing of this country, but I haven't found too
much of that which leads me to believe that they
understand the severity and the gravity and indeed the consequences
to your point of Vanessa, of this last election, there
were a lot of people saying, this is the most
important election of our lifetimes, and it was and we
(22:02):
lost it. So hopefully someone will come up with something
that will allow us, you know, besides you know, stacking
the Supreme Court, because that's something that has been floated
and no one's.
Speaker 2 (22:15):
Willing to do.
Speaker 1 (22:17):
But h yeah, I think that, you know, at present,
the only thing that we can suggest to everyone is
just kind of batten down the hatches.
Speaker 2 (22:25):
Get used to it.
Speaker 1 (22:26):
These people are embolden, and our civil rights have been
stripped away slowly, and you know that very well could
be turbo charged over the next four years, so buckle up.
Speaker 3 (22:40):
I agree. Only one bright spot though, is that in
two years we can vote again and perhaps gained some
sort of control.
Speaker 1 (22:49):
Oh, yeah, Yeah, in two years we might be able
to get back some control. That's a fair point. But
in terms of getting any we can get rights taken
from us, but getting them back might be tough again
because of that Supreme Court.
Speaker 2 (23:03):
That's just that's again the master stroke there.
Speaker 1 (23:06):
And I'm not going to profess to be the person
who knows the most about the government, but I know
enough to be disappointed in myself not seeing that coming.
So anyway, we'll leave that one right there. Maybe we'll
have better news next time we talk. I hope that
we do. But in the meantime, I'd like to thank
(23:27):
you both very much for your time and your insight.
As always, once again, today's guests, our Black Information Network
News anchor is Vanessa Tyler and Mike Stevens. This has
been a production of the Black Information Network. Today's show
is produced by Chris Thompson. Have some thoughts you'd like
to share, use the red microphone talkback feature on the
iHeartRadio app. While you're there, be sure to hit subscribe
and download all of our episodes. I'm your host Ramsey's
(23:49):
Jaw on all social media, and I'll be hosting another
episode of Civic Cipher this weekend on a station near you.
For stations, show times, and podcast info Jack civiccipher dot
com and join us Monday as we share our news
with our voice from our perspective right here on the
Black Information Network Daily podcast
It's been another busy news week and we like to
review the major stories of the week here on the
Black Information Network. Today, we are joined by Black Information
Network news anchors Vanessa Tyler and Mike Stevens to discuss
this week's major stories.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
This is the.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
Black Information Network Daily Podcast, and I'm your host, ramses Jah.
All Right, you two, welcome back to the show. Vanessa,
what's the latest and greatest with you? It's been a while.
Speaker 3 (00:24):
Oh yeah, I'm doing well, a lot of work. As
you know. We've just come through the election and so
you know, dealing with all of that and now looking
at all these appointments. So it's going to be it's
going to be a ride.
Speaker 4 (00:37):
Mike Stevens, talk to me, man, what's the latest. Yeah,
Like Vanessa said, we've come through this election. We've had
a couple of weeks to kind of breathe and kind
of do some retrospect on this and kind of look
at what happened, and a lot has happened.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
All right, Well, let's not keep the people waiting. Let's
get to it all right. First up, controversy erupted this week,
and a recently fired black FEMA employee revealed the truth
about an internal practice many workers followed at the agency
when dealing with Trump supporters. Vanessa, you covered this story
for the Black Information Networks, So let's start with you
sure a bit more about this story with our audience,
and then Mike will come to you to get your
(01:14):
thoughts next.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
Well, you know when you have a story that you
think you know what it is, but then you get
the facts. Originally we thought this was a radical FEMA
worker who just hated Trump supporter so much she refused
to provide hurricane help. But there's more to this story.
That Black Team leader deployed, as they put it, in
the zone of disaster, says she faced extreme MAGA hostility.
(01:37):
It appeared when they went to certain homes they were
met with curses, anger, and guns. These residents were really angry.
Many got their bad information at those Trump rallies and
they were told residents that the seven hundred and fifty
dollars you know, that initial money would not go to them,
how their home would be taken by the government. So
(01:59):
when these FEMA were works had enough of these encounters,
they avoided those homes that happened to have Trump signs,
which the fired FEMA worker her name, Marnie Washington, says
that was the rules. They were told they didn't have
to put their lives in danger, and that one woman, Marnie,
(02:19):
she not only lost the FEMA job, she lost her
real job. You know, these disaster workers that kind of
like National guards people. They get deployed, but they also
have other jobs that they do and during disaster they
get deployed. So it's just a it's just a very
interesting thing of what's going on with her.
Speaker 2 (02:40):
Yeah, yeah, Mike, let's get your thoughts here.
Speaker 4 (02:42):
Yeah. I used to have a nextdoor neighbor who did
that for a living. When there was a natural disaster,
she would deploy. And these are people going out to help. Now,
obviously people have their own political feelings and so forth,
but the idea of what they're doing is to help
people to get them the assistance that they need. So
(03:03):
to me, it's amazing that this person and other FEMA workers,
according to her, would be attacked like this. I just
think that we are because of all the disinformation, the
misinformation and so forth. We're in for Iraqi four years
at least under this new administration.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
Sure, sure, yeah, there's this is what happens when things
that don't need to be politicized become politicized because FEMA,
as you mentioned, is there to help, but because of
the fact that FEMA has been politicized, and people on
either side of the political aisle can feel a way
(03:46):
about them. And what we're seeing here is Trump supporters,
deeply conservative individuals feeling like FEMA is somehow an extension
of the Democratic Party and the demoocratic Democrats' efforts to
do whatever. And these FEMA relief workers are becoming threatened people,
(04:08):
you know, as you mentioned, manis and people pulling guns
on them. I'll share a bit from the New York Post.
FEMA employees did receive threats in the wake of Hurricanes
Helene and Milton as a result of misinformation and to
sheriff and Tennessee reported that an armed group threatened aid workers. Okay,
so that's not me talking's that's what happened. And so,
you know, for a woman to lose her job by
you know, effectively protecting you know, the aid workers by
(04:31):
telling them, hey, steer clear of these places. These folks
are are being aggressive and hostile. You know, mind mind
yourself there. That context certainly reframes that story a little
bit better. Up next, Disturbing news has surfaced involving claims
of racist behavior toward a black cheerleader at a Pennsylvania
(04:52):
high school. Mike this time, let's start with you give
us the latest details on this story, and then Vanessa
will come to you next.
Speaker 4 (04:58):
So this is the kind of thing that probably has
been going on for ages, but we didn't really hear
that much about it. But now because of social media
and really since the George Floyd killing, these things are
getting more attention. And Vanessa I have both covered stories
where you know, there's lessons about slavery and picking cotton
(05:20):
and even imitating the George Floyd killing a class the
kind of stuff that just like why why do they
do it? So anyway, in this particular case, it wasn't
a classroom lesson, but a cheerleader accused. A black cheerleader
accused her coaches and teammates of forcing her to get
on all fours and call like a pet for a
(05:42):
white senior, and she was supposed to wear an imaginary leash.
Her family has put this information in a lawsuit that's
been filed. There's videos and pictures of this. The lawsuit
says that this violates the Civil Rights Act of nineteen
sixty four and equal protection under the Fourteenth Amendment. And
(06:03):
aside from all that, it's just playing wrong. It's just
plaining racist if it has happened in the way it
has been described. She also was told like she had
to get on the team bus last, waiting till the
white teammates were boarded and seated. And to many, this
(06:23):
sounds like something from the Jim Crow South. So no
wonder the family is speaking out. Yeah, Vanessa, let's get
you away in well.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
Well, well, this is why education is important, learning about discrimination,
learning about the ugly history in our country. From any
of these white rural Pennsylvania girls, they probably didn't really
have a deep understanding, and they can forget their parents,
you know, passing it on to them and the schools.
(06:54):
Now with things revamped and education and history taken out,
they'll never learn. So expect to see much more of it.
Speaker 4 (07:03):
You know.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
The thing about this story is that when I first
looked into it, it didn't really strike me as textbook
racism because of the leash, and you know, it could
have been hazing, it could have been just kids being kids,
(07:26):
you know, people without context not knowing that to position
a black girl in the same way you would position
an animal, how insulting that would be because without context,
with that frame of reference, without enough time living, without
proper education about this country's history, you could easily make
(07:47):
a mistake like that. So initially I was like, Okay,
let's see if this is a wolf cry or not.
But it wasn't until because I read about you know,
her boarding the bus last Okay, maybe that's a coincident.
Speaker 4 (07:59):
You know.
Speaker 1 (07:59):
I try to give the benefit of the doubt. You know,
I have to have to, you know, because of the
place that we hold in the news space.
Speaker 2 (08:07):
Right.
Speaker 1 (08:08):
But when I got to the point where I found
out that she was designated the team photographer and that
she was often cropped out of the pictures that she
was in, and I was like, there it is, right,
and I'll share a bit this from the Black Information Network.
Speaker 2 (08:25):
The cheerleader was also allegedly.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
Assigned to film all of the competition tournaments, leaving her
out of many team photos. When the girl was in
the photos, the lawsuit states she would be cropped out
or obscured in online posts, and I'm like, okay, there
it is because there's a little bit more intentionality. There's
less in the way of oversight. That feels a lot
more deliberate, and there's some precision there, right, and especially
(08:52):
if she's the only black girl. Of course there's lots
of contexts that I don't yet have, But if she's
the only black girl on that team, then I'm like, Okay,
there's the lawsuit, so here's hoping that they'll get there
just due her and the family.
Speaker 3 (09:05):
And may I add something, it seems as if she
maybe won some tumbling awards.
Speaker 2 (09:11):
Yeah, yeah, that too.
Speaker 3 (09:11):
Yeah, she was quite qualified, but was told by I
don't know, coaches or other adults that she's not cheerleading material.
Speaker 1 (09:22):
Black Information Network News anchors Vanessa Tyler and Mike Stevens
are here with us discussing this week's major stories. All right, next,
what started out as a hoax has turned into a
nationwide investigation as black people around the country have received
targeted text messages laced with racist language designed to demean
and intimidate them. Essa, let's go back to you for
(09:43):
more details on this story. And then Mike, we want
you to get We want to get you towagh next.
Speaker 3 (09:48):
What a great segue from the story before this, right
right after the election, these wild texts, many coming from
these hard to trace numbers like you get numbers online.
So basically telling students that US with a leader slave
will be there at a specific time, a specific date
(10:08):
to take them to a specific plantation to pick cotton.
It sounds insane and you know, like you're you're joking,
except it really affected a lot of these people who
got it. We ran a lot of sound bites and
interviews on the Black Information Network from people who receive
these texts, and you know, parents of young people who
(10:31):
received the texts, and they were really upset. They were
frightened because a lot of these texts called the young
person by name, and it really shook them. In this climate,
you never know, you never know because maybe they have
your dress, maybe they're they're they're tracking you. So yeah,
(10:51):
it's a it's a very frightening thing and it's horrible.
But again, expect more of it because I have a
feeling and this is going to be really part of
our existence for at least the next four years.
Speaker 2 (11:06):
Mike, let's geart your thoughts.
Speaker 4 (11:08):
Yeah, the FBI is reportedly looking into where these texts originated,
and I really am am curious. These are emails are
showing up coast to coast. Last thing I saw was
like at least twenty states. It's often high school students
who are not even old enough to vote, so their
name wouldn't necessarily be on a voter registration anywhere. Two
(11:32):
things stand out to me on this. One is the
millennials who think all the world is peaceful and well
and everybody's walking arm in arm and singing Kumbaya are
seeing for themselves that racism is alive and well firsthand.
And it's not to say things haven't progressed. And I
think it's great for people with different backgrounds to be
friends and you know, get to know each other and
(11:54):
work together or live together nicely. But there are still
those out there who you know, want to destroy, who
want to start to say a scripture the enemy wants
to kill and destroy, you know, And I think there
are some people out there who really still have that
kind of mindset. The other thing is who sent this?
(12:17):
But how did they even know the race of the victims?
To me, this sounds like this could be some sort
of coordinated effort by people who have access to personal
information like full workers or election officials. I mean, there
is so much to consider with this story. So in short,
what we have is.
Speaker 1 (12:40):
Someone sending racist text messages to black people across the country,
advising them to report to their local plantation to get
back to picking cotton. And in addition to that, you know,
I did a report on an increase in hate speech
toward women, where I think it was like forty six
(13:03):
hundred percent increase in the usage of the phrase you know,
your body, my choice, and get back in the kitchen
and all this like awful language. And for the folks
that voted for Donald Trump, it's important for them to
remember that we didn't just dislike Donald Trump because of
(13:25):
him himself. There is indeed a Trump effect that affects
the population and affects our everyday lives, and that's.
Speaker 2 (13:35):
Tough to live with.
Speaker 1 (13:37):
So this, again is the Trump effect, and you know,
people need to bear that in mind. You know, when
they cast their vote. It's more than just the economy.
It's more than just the price of eggs. There are
real people that have to live real world consequences that
guy emboldens because he speaks to them. And even if
he's just saying stuff to get people excited, and he's
(13:58):
not really that way. The people that he influences, they
can go to great lengths to further subject gate, further marginalized,
further intimidate people who have historically been marginalized and at
the fringes of society asking marching peacefully for equitable access.
(14:22):
And you know, if his administration ends up doing what
they've committed to doing, or continues on that trajectory in
terms of civil rights protections, in terms of all the
things that you know, black.
Speaker 2 (14:33):
People have fought for, we could see those things repealed.
Speaker 1 (14:36):
I'm very confident that I'll die, my son will die
with less rights than I had when I was born,
and with the Supreme Court and indeed the entirety of
the rest of the government in a figure four leglocked
by Republicans who are dead set on doing what he wants.
Speaker 2 (14:57):
You know, there's really not much else we can do
about it.
Speaker 1 (15:00):
And you know, it's it doesn't feel that I mean know,
it sounds very bleak, but you know, the people that
stayed home, the people that didn't vote, the people that
that thought that both candidates were the same, you know,
not We're going to see finally, the impact of the
twenty twenty four election is much more than Trump returning
(15:21):
to the White House. Mike, as we close out today,
give us some more context on indeed that very thing.
There have been some seismic changes in the House and
the Senate, and then Vanessa obviously will come to you
to close us out.
Speaker 4 (15:36):
Yeah, so as we speak, we know that Donald Trump
and the Republicans hold the Oval Office, the Executive Branch,
they hold the Supreme Court, they hold the Senate and
the House. There was hope that there would be a
black House leader Kim Jeffries this year, but there's a
slim majority running things in the House. And to me,
(16:01):
this is not so much just about Democrats and Republicans,
but Donald Trump Republicans who really have a different take
on democracy. And you know, there are extremes in both parties,
Democrats and Republicans, but this is the extreme the maga
Republicans are poised to have things their own way with
(16:24):
no checks and balances. And I think even if it
was a Democrat, I think there's value in having a
healthy conversation, having checks on extremism. But in this case,
it is all whatever Donald Trump wants to do again,
no unchecked power. And you know, so for those who
(16:45):
criticized him, including Republicans, they are now finding themselves part
of his administration.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
Oh, Vanessa, help me out.
Speaker 3 (17:00):
Wow, I wish I could. I'm really reeling over the
choices he's making for a lot of these positions in
his administration, Defense Secretary of Weekend Fox News host, Attorney
General Matt Gates. Even Republicans are concerned about that. And
and now the big story is Tulsey Gabbard, a director
(17:25):
for National Intelligence. They're saying about her that she in
herself herself is a national security risk, a pro plutent
type of person. I really don't know what to expect.
We are we are, as I said, very much in
(17:46):
for uh shock and awe and a ride, because we
really don't know whether these people really will have the
best interest of the country. Well, well, see, like you said,
America has made its decision. Elections have consequences, and we
(18:09):
will really feel what those consequences are.
Speaker 2 (18:13):
Sure. I have one more thing to that.
Speaker 4 (18:15):
Yeah, even as we talk about it, and of course
all the picks are not confirmed and known yet, I
don't see any black faces among them.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (18:25):
One, Well, there's there's something to bear in mind, and
it's that you know, you mentioned earlier, Mike that there's
extremism on both sides, and I'd agree with you, provided
that we that the the bar.
Speaker 2 (18:45):
For extremism is well defined.
Speaker 1 (18:48):
But indeed, the extremism that has consequences in individual people's lives,
the extremism that harbors the mass shooters, the extremism that
harbors the racist text messages that we just discussed, the
extremism that harbors the anti women sentiments that have increased online,
(19:09):
that type of extremism that affects people's lives and affects
their sense of comfort and security, that exclusively, well I
should say almost exclusively, is harbored on the right. So
the idea of extremism being on both sides can be
true provided that you know that extremism is well defined.
(19:30):
But in terms of the extremism as I understand it
that has day to day implications in this country, that's
only on one side of the political EyeT. And the
truth is, you know, I never really considered Donald Trump
to be an intellectual. I'm not the sort of person
(19:51):
to beat my own chest, but historically I've tested well,
and I've been to a lot of school. I have
a master's degree, so I I like to think that
I can identify it an intellectual from time to time,
you know, but you know, credit where it's due, you know,
sometimes someone being clever.
Speaker 2 (20:13):
That goes a little further.
Speaker 1 (20:14):
And the master stroke of his first administration was rushing
to confirm the Supreme Court justices and then having the
people around him Jasmine Crockett refer to them as.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
Evil people as they do evil things.
Speaker 1 (20:32):
Who can put together, they can amass their brilliance and
put together a play to lock this country into a
posture that will remain so for the rest of my lifetime.
I'm forty two, and that is the Supreme Court. Because
no matter what happens in the next election, no matter
(20:52):
what happens, you know, as long as there's a Supreme
Court that is deeply conservative, that is a maga elected
appointed Supreme Court, all Republicans have to do when it
comes to any meaningful legislature legislation, I'm sorry is a
(21:13):
is sue and appeal up to the Supreme Court. And
so when I say that the country has been placed
in a figure for leglock, that very much will be
true in the next couple of years. When Alito and
Clarence Thomas resigned and two new, younger Supreme Court of
Justices are appointed. And so I myself have been hoping
(21:38):
for some more strategy coming out of you know, the
democratic wing of this country, but I haven't found too
much of that which leads me to believe that they
understand the severity and the gravity and indeed the consequences
to your point of Vanessa, of this last election, there
were a lot of people saying, this is the most
important election of our lifetimes, and it was and we
(22:02):
lost it. So hopefully someone will come up with something
that will allow us, you know, besides you know, stacking
the Supreme Court, because that's something that has been floated
and no one's.
Speaker 2 (22:15):
Willing to do.
Speaker 1 (22:17):
But h yeah, I think that, you know, at present,
the only thing that we can suggest to everyone is
just kind of batten down the hatches.
Speaker 2 (22:25):
Get used to it.
Speaker 1 (22:26):
These people are embolden, and our civil rights have been
stripped away slowly, and you know that very well could
be turbo charged over the next four years, so buckle up.
Speaker 3 (22:40):
I agree. Only one bright spot though, is that in
two years we can vote again and perhaps gained some
sort of control.
Speaker 1 (22:49):
Oh, yeah, Yeah, in two years we might be able
to get back some control. That's a fair point. But
in terms of getting any we can get rights taken
from us, but getting them back might be tough again
because of that Supreme Court.
Speaker 2 (23:03):
That's just that's again the master stroke there.
Speaker 1 (23:06):
And I'm not going to profess to be the person
who knows the most about the government, but I know
enough to be disappointed in myself not seeing that coming.
So anyway, we'll leave that one right there. Maybe we'll
have better news next time we talk. I hope that
we do. But in the meantime, I'd like to thank
(23:27):
you both very much for your time and your insight.
As always, once again, today's guests, our Black Information Network
News anchor is Vanessa Tyler and Mike Stevens. This has
been a production of the Black Information Network. Today's show
is produced by Chris Thompson. Have some thoughts you'd like
to share, use the red microphone talkback feature on the
iHeartRadio app. While you're there, be sure to hit subscribe
and download all of our episodes. I'm your host Ramsey's
(23:49):
Jaw on all social media, and I'll be hosting another
episode of Civic Cipher this weekend on a station near you.
For stations, show times, and podcast info Jack civiccipher dot
com and join us Monday as we share our news
with our voice from our perspective right here on the
Black Information Network Daily podcast
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