VP Harris becomes the first woman to give a West Point commencement speech
By Emma Bowman and Juliana Kim Vice President Harris delivered the keynote speech at West Point’s graduation ceremony on Saturday, making her the first woman to give a commencement address in the military academy’s 221-year history. The watershed moment comes amid the 75th anniversary of two major turning points in the U.S. military â the beginning of women having a permanent place in the armed forces and the end of racial segregation in the military. “These milestones are a reminder of a fundamental truth,” Harris told graduates on Saturday morning. “Our military is strongest when it reflects people of America.”
What the Memorial Day weekend debt ceiling deal teaches us about politics
By E.J. Dionne Jr. This Memorial Day weekend, there is a strange disconnect in our countryâs public life. In Washington, negotiators scrambling to avoid a market calamity reached a debt ceiling deal that was more narrow than Republicans hoped and Democrats feared it would be. You might expect from this that our politics is primarily about taxes, spending and economics. But on the 2024 Republican campaign trail, former president Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis are skirmishing over who will be the dominant voice in opposition to âwokenessâ and trans rights and who can keep the most books out of schools
ASU Biomedical Professor Elected to American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering
By Hazel Scott Dr. Derrick Dean, director of the Biomedical Engineering program in the College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics at Alabama State University, has been inducted into the class of 2023 of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE). Dean was inducted alongside 142 colleagues who make up the 2023 College of Fellows. âI am humbled by this recognition by my peers. I would like to give a special thanks to my mentors, students and collaborators who helped make this possible,â Dean said. Election to the AIMBE College of Fellows is among the highest professional distinctions accorded to
Why Republicans Want Voters to Fear Kamala Harris As President
By Jessica Washington Republicans taking jabs at President Joe Bidenâs age isnât a new phenomenon. But, GOP Presidential candidate Nikki Haley took things way further when she predicted Biden would likely die within the next five years. Her poorly executed Miss Cleo impersonation aside, what Haleyâs trying to do here seems pretty straightforward. Just read what she said on Fox News last week; âHe announced that heâs running again in 2024, and I think that we can all be very clear and say with a matter of fact that if you vote for Joe Biden, you really are counting on a President Harris because the idea that he
Harris starts her 2024 race with a fired-up speech on the fight for abortion rights
By Deepa Shivaram Vice President Harris made it clear in her first speech of the 2o24 campaign that the fight for reproductive rights will be a key part of her message on the trail, casting it as one of several freedoms under attack by Republicans. In fiery remarks at Howard University â the historically Black college in Washington which is her alma mater â Harris echoed the reason that President Biden gave for running for a second term in office, a race where she will again be his running mate. “We are living, I do believe, in a moment in time where
Morgan State University Tears Down Long Symbol Of Racism
By Ariel B. After more than 80 years since its construction, the symbol of the racial division known as the âspite wallâ in Northeast Baltimore has been torn down. The wall, which has long been a symbol of racism, was built in the 1930s to separate the predominantly white neighborhood from the historically Black college. âThis wall occupies a central part of the history of Morgan State University in Morgan, moved to this site in 1917 and this whole community was all white,â said David Wilson, President of Morgan State University. âIt became known as the hate wall, the spite
Black journalism students get to be White House correspondents for a day
By Deon J. Hampton A group of Black journalism students who got a taste of being a White House correspondent for a day said the dream opportunity gave them the knowledge and motivation to become successful reporters and tackle news across America. Students representing 47 historically Black colleges and universities were invited to an exclusive White House news briefing last week with Vice President Kamala Harris. The students, who attended both in person and virtually, questioned Harris and other White House officials about HBCU funding, policies to ensure international students at Black colleges arenât left behind, and issues concerning their
Conservative and liberals split at Supreme Court over Biden student loan plan
By Nina Totenburg A handful of Republican-dominated states seemed on the verge of invalidating President Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan at the Supreme Court on Tuesday, with a majority of the court’s conservatives indicating great skepticism. In 2003, after the 9/11 attacks, Congress passed a law to ensure that federal student loan borrowers would not be economically hammered in a national emergency. Specifically, the law says that when the president declares such an emergency, the secretary of education has the power to “waive or modify any statutory or regulatory provision” governing student loan programs. Both the Trump and Biden administrations
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot will lose reelection bid
By Eric Bradner  Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot lost her bid for a second term Tuesday, failing to make a top-two runoff in the latest demonstration of growing concerns about crime in one of the nationâs largest cities. Paul Vallas, a long-time public schools chief who ran on a tough-on-crime message, and Brandon Johnson, a Cook County commissioner backed by progressives and the Chicago Teachers Union, will advance to the April runoff. Tuesdayâs municipal election marked the first time in more than 30 years that Chicago has ditched its mayor. Lightfoot could not overcome years of fights with the police and teachersâ
Jennifer McClellan will win special election and become Virginiaâs first Black congresswoman
By Chandelis Duster Virginia state Sen. Jennifer McClellan will win the special election for Virginiaâs 4th Congressional District and will become the first Black woman to represent the commonwealth in Congress, CNN projected Tuesday. McClellan will defeat Republican Leon Benjamin, a pastor and Navy veteran, to succeed the late Democratic Rep. Donald McEachin, who died in November. McClellan, who was introduced at her Tuesday night victory party by Virginia Rep. Bobby Scott and walked out to Alicia Keysâ âGirl on Fire,â hailed the pathbreaking figures, including McEachin, who paved the way for her historic ascent and promised to bring their spirit to Capitol