Yesterday,
, joined me for a conversation on Substack live.UPDATE:
I’ve started sharing these conversations on our YouTube Channel as well, just in case it’s easier for you to watch the full video over on that platform. Soon, I will also be sharing these on Spotify as well.
In this conversation we covered:
2:14 - Trump Considering "Reality TV Show" For Immigrants To "Win" Citizenship
The Department of Homeland Security is reviewing a reality TV pitch where immigrants would compete for American citizenship, according to a spokesperson who said in a statement to CNN that “the show in question is in the very beginning stages of that vetting process and has not received approval or denial by staff.” Source - CNN
Natalie and I go over the details of this story, as well as, what larger implications this could have on the country.
11:05 - Trump Charges Democratic Congresswoman With Assault of ICE Agent
Democratic Rep. LaMonica McIver is being charged with assault after a skirmish with federal officers outside an immigration detention center, said New Jersey’s top federal prosecutor, who also announced Monday that she was dropping a trespassing case against the Newark mayor whose arrest led to the disturbance. Source - AP News
We go into the details of this incident & why this story is so important to highlight.
19:55 - The Senate Passes "No Tax On Tips" Act
In a surprise move, the Republican-led Senate quickly passed the No Tax on Tips Act on Tuesday, giving its official stamp of approval to an idea that has gained traction since President Donald Trump campaigned on it last year. Source - NBC News
Natalie and I went a bit back and forth on this story, & I shared some personal experiences working for tips. The details are the most important piece of this particular story.
33:10 - Brain-Dead Woman Forced To Carry Child To Term Due To Abortion Ban
A pregnant woman in Georgia who was declared brain dead after a medical emergency has been on life support for three months to let the fetus grow enough to be delivered, a move her family says a hospital told them was required under the state’s strict anti-abortion law. Source - AP News
We spent the most time talking about this story because there’s so many layers to this one.
On a side note — since Natalie and I have been doing these livestreams every week for the last month or so, usually we each pick 2 topics & that’s how we decide what will be discussed in the livestream.
For yesterday’s discussion, Natalie let me pick 3 of the topics, but said we had to discuss this particular story & I’m so glad she did. Discussions about abortion and bodily autonomy have fallen by the wayside over the last few months, but their importance in our discourse is as critical as ever.
Reading about the story surrounding Adriana Smith (the woman in question in this story), was devastating & unfortunately, another stark reminder of how cruel these polices are.
In Closing
Natalie and I will be back on Substack Live, this Friday around 5:00 PM EST. I will also be live at least 3 times next week. Also, just to address a couple other things:
Yes, I will be returning to traditional written pieces as well
Yes, I will be posting more in the not too distant future.
May has been a bit of a chaotic month, but we will be producing more content on Substack next month. Thank you all for your patience & I look forward to breaking down the news cycle with you all.
You can download this episode, or watch from the Substack app! I definitely recommend downloading the app, if you haven’t already. Please let me know if you have any questions about downloading the episode.
Thank you
, , , , and many others for tuning into my live video with ! Join me for my next live video in the app.
Until next time,
Desmond
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