FAMU Funding Fight Explodes. DeSantis Maps Stand. Fisk Data Center Backlash

Florida A&M University (FAMU) is pursuing a lawsuit against the state of Florida for $2 billion in owed funds, part of an estimated $13 billion owed to HBCUs nationwide. This underfunding, rooted in historical dual education systems and de jure segregation, has resulted in dilapidated infrastructure, lack of resources for science labs, and fewer unique high-demand programs at HBCUs compared to their historically white counterparts. The Biden administration's letters to states acknowledging these shortfalls provide crucial evidence for these lawsuits.

Their attorney Josh Duven joins us right now. Josh, glad to have you here. Um this is this is critically important. We have been covering this story. We covered the lawsuits that took place in Maryland... Biden administration sent those letters out... saying these states short change the H.B.CU, some $13 billion. The campus is falling apart. The supplies in their science labs don't work and and more importantly they have robbed FAMU of critical unique programming.

Black Voters Matter launched the "Declaration of a New Nation" initiative to engage Black communities in reimagining America's governing documents and constitutional protections. This initiative, inspired by 19th-century Negro Conventions, aims to create a framework that enshrines Black rights regardless of political power shifts, moving beyond reliance on the benevolence of others. Community town halls, starting in Galveston, Texas, will facilitate these discussions and document collective visions for a more equitable future.

We need to start reimagining what this country and it and its governing documents look like... How do we create an America that will enshrine our protections regardless of who is in power? Our first we're going to have a series of what we call town halls and co community conversations with our first one happening on Junth in Galveston.

CNN is criticized for allegedly sidelining its chief fact-checker, Daniel Dale, who has not appeared on air for three months despite continuing to publish articles and social media content. This move is interpreted as a conscious executive decision to avoid antagonizing Donald Trump, demonstrating a lack of integrity and a capitulation of mainstream media to political interests. The host, Roland Martin, draws parallels to his own experience at CNN, where he was intentionally taken off air to prevent him from becoming a "star."

He hasn't been on the air in 3 months. Now, mind you, still works at CNN... That is a conscious decision by executives. What that says is that executives have said to show producers, do not put him on the air. Donald Trump hates when he's on the air because what he does is he exposes the lies of Donald Trump. I know exactly what they're doing to Daniel Dale. They're still paying him. He's still under contract and you can still do this little small stuff, but they're purposely keeping him off the air.

Fisk University's proposal to build a data center on its campus has sparked significant backlash from students and community members, including State Representative Justin Jones. Concerns include environmental degradation (spoiling land and water, emissions) and the potential exploitation of HBCUs, which might be enticed by financial incentives to host such facilities. This issue is framed as a modern form of "redlining," where undesirable industrial developments are placed in Black communities.

Fisk University says they want to put a data center on campus. A lot of people say they don't want that on their campus... State Representative Justin Jones, said his class on the dangers of AI was cancelled by Fisk as a result of his criticism of this data center. You're going to spoil the land. you're going to spoil the water. U the emissions that come out of this... putting this in right in the heart of of schools, it feels like old red lining.