Va. Redistricting Fight. Trump, WHCD Shooting. 'Michael' Smashes Box Offices #TheBreakdown

Virginia's redistricting plan, approved by voters via a constitutional amendment, faces a legal challenge in the state Supreme Court. A circuit court judge previously voided the referendum, citing constitutional and procedural violations, particularly regarding the General Assembly's placement of the amendment before voters for mid-decade redistricting. Republicans contend the process was flawed, potentially rendering the referendum results ineffective.

Oral arguments began at 9:00 AM. Judges questioned whether the state's Democratic legislature complied with constitutional requirements when it sent a congressional redistricting plan to voters. Last Tuesday, voters approved a constitutional amendment that bypasses a bipartisan redistricting commission to allow the use of new districts drawn by Virginia's Democratic lee. A day later, a Taswell County Circuit Court judge voided Virginia's 2026 redistricting referendum, ruling all votes cast ineffective and blocking certification due to multiple constitutional and procedural violations. Republicans have filed multiple legal challenges against the redistricting effort. The GOP contend that the general assembly violated procedural rules by placing a constitutional amendment before voters to authorize mid decade redistricting.

North Carolina Senate Bill 214, specifically Section 5, proposes to strip three Black-majority counties (Halifax, Warren, Vance) of their right to control their property and water resources. This bill would allow predominantly white Franklin County to condemn property in these counties without the consent of local elected officials, primarily to supply water to large data centers during a historic drought. Critics frame this as a civil rights issue, highlighting a historical pattern of white communities taking resources from Black communities.

Senate Bill 214 and particularly section five which basically strips the right of North Carolina majority black uh three of North Carolina majority black counties. Halifax which is the county where Enfield rests 56% black Warren and also Vance County. And this white county, Franklin County, which is 70% white, is now saying through their Senate legislation, uh, representation, that they should have the right to any property, not just water. It says property in that in that section and interest in that property through condem condemnation. So they can condemn any property in these other counties without the consent or approval of elected officials in said counties. This is tragic and it's also as American as apple pie.

The 'Naming the Wound and Breaking the Spell' exhibition in Harlem, hosted by the Children's Art Carnival, centers the lived experiences of Black women. Co-curator Landra Ramos explains that the exhibition, inspired by the 'Be a Ripple' movement, provides a space for addressing sexual violence, ancestral trauma, and finding resiliency through creative expression like mask-making, painting, and quilting. It aims to create economies of social justice and thriving spaces where wellness and power are discussed.

A new exhibition in Harlem is creating space for just that, centering the lived experiences of black women. Joining me now is Michael Unthank, board chair of the Children's Art Carnival, and Landra Ramos, co-curator of the exhibition, Naming the Wound and Breaking the Spell. ... inspired by Woo's fifth cycle of the Be a Ripple movement, which is part of a program that they have that truly creates a space for raising this issue of sexual violence and ancestral trauma up and trying to find ways to create not only resiliency, but true healing and a thriving existence.

Jamal Shabbaz, founder of the Black Summer Youth Program, emphasizes the importance of culturally grounded education for Black youth. He uses modern tools like an app, social media content, and a board game to teach Black history and culture in an engaging, digestible way. The program focuses on fostering internal esteem, communication skills, and communal activity, encouraging youth to use their unique talents to improve their situations and help their community, recognizing that non-Black institutions may not be designed to advance Black people.

So, uh, you have to add modern and contemporary elements and meet the need to speak the language of the youth today. ... I created an app, right? I have my physical knowledge of board game and my app that teaches you black history and black culture. ... I talk about uh self-discovery, history, and instilling and fostering grandistic community in a palatable way or a digestible way. ... We can't depend on non-black uh uh institutions to properly educate our child if these institutions and systems were never created to help us advance us uh uh in in in the first place.