Ghana’s Prez Confronts Slave Trade Legacy. Reparations Push Grows. Trump Tariffs Hit Small Biz

Ghana's President John Dramani Mahama successfully introduced a UN resolution recognizing the transatlantic slave trade as the 'gravest crime against humanity' and calling for reparations. The resolution passed with overwhelming support (123 votes in favor), but the United States, Argentina, and Israel voted against it, while 52 countries, primarily European (including the UK, Portugal, and Spain), abstained. This move elevates the diplomatic and political conversation around reparatory justice, though it is not legally binding without UN Security Council action, where the US holds veto power.

The resolution received 123 votes in favor, three votes against (Argentina, Israel, and the United States), while 52 countries, mostly European, including the UK, Portugal, and Spain, all abstained.

A report by the Small Business Majorities Network indicates that Donald Trump's tariffs are severely harming small businesses. Nearly two-thirds of small business owners report increased expenses, and almost half have seen their revenue decline. These tariffs, combined with rising healthcare and utility costs, reduced consumer spending, and corporate monopolies, force businesses to raise prices, delay investments, and make difficult decisions regarding staffing, including layoffs. The host and guest Nikki Bravo emphasize that labor is often the largest expense, making it the first area cut during economic downturns.

More than 70% of small businesses are reporting negative impacts while health care and utility costs continue to rise. As a result, many businesses say they've been forced to raise prices, delay investments, freeze hiring, or even lay off workers.

Kin Kofa is a new web app designed to preserve Black legacy by focusing on stories, memories, oral histories, and personal family archives, rather than just traditional family trees or DNA. Created by cousins Jordon Brunson and Tamisha Ridge, the platform allows users to upload photos, videos, documents, and record oral histories with loved ones. It also supports community history work, such as preserving the stories of historic Black towns. The app offers a free tier with 1GB of storage and paid subscriptions for more space and features, aiming to make family history accessible and prevent historical erasure.

Kinkopa is a web app to preserve black legacy. And so we think about that not just as things like family tree and DNA um but really the stories, the memories, um the things that really make black folks black folks u from recipes to family gathering memories, family reunions, um black history as you see on the screen.

Top Republicans in Congress, including chairs of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees, expressed frustration over the Trump administration's lack of transparency regarding potential ground troops in Iran. This comes as the Army raised its maximum enlistment age to 42, fueling concerns about a military draft. Public opinion shows significant disapproval of Trump's handling of the Iran conflict, with 6 in 10 Americans believing it makes the country and the world less safe. Panelists frame the conflict as a 'distraction war' and criticize Republicans for supporting it despite public sentiment against prolonged military action in the Middle East.

Mike Rogers told Politico, quote, 'We want to know more about what's going on, what the options are, and why they're being considered. We're just not getting enough answers.'... People up to 42 years old, regardless of prior military experience, can now join the regular army, the Army National Guard, and the Army Reserve.