Spotify About Close To Cutting Joe Rogan Loose!

Rogan said racial slurs on his podcast.

As many entertainers are considering pulling their music and podcasts from Spotify, the tech company is close to severing ties to controversial podcaster Karen Rogan.

It was not the coronavirus misinformation that has him in the final straw, it's the racial slurs he uttered on his podcasts.

Rogan has been under fire for a string of controversies.

It was R&B singer India.Aire who put the controversial star on blast about his use of the word NIGGER. On Thursday, Arie took to her Instagram Stories Highlights and posted edited footage of YouTube clips showing Rogan using the racial slur roughly two dozen times. She also posted clips in which Rogan appeared to share an anecdote in which he compared being around Black people to “Planet of the Apes.”

It began with Neil Young telling Spotify that you can choose to have Rogan but you can't have him. 

Neil Young led a boycott against Spotify.

Soon after, Joni Mitchell, India.Aire and numerous others followed by asking Spotify to remove their music from the playlist. Even former allies of Rogan are turning against him. Dewayne "The Rock" Johnson had to walk back his endorsement of the entertainer after he first backed him. When the racial slurs surfaced, Johnson had to back track. 

Of course, the far-right are now after Johnson after he made offensive remarks about Asians, transgender women and women.

After Arie’s post went viral, author Don Winslow tagged Johnson on Twitter and asked him to address the resurfaced clips of Rogan. Johnson had previously posted a supportive comment to Instagram after Rogan shared video on Sunday of himself addressing the furor and promising to “do my best in the future to balance things out.”

Johnson responded to Winslow’s tweet by writing, in part, “I hear you as well as everyone here 100%. I was not aware of his N word use prior to my comments, but now I’ve become educated to his complete narrative. Learning moment for me.”

Rogan later responded with a video on Instagram saying the clips were taken out of context from 12 years of his podcast, but expressed regret and acknowledged it “looks fucking horrible, even to me.”

India.Aire may have put the nail in the coffin for Rogan.

“I haven’t said it in years. But for a long time when I would bring that word up, like if it would come up in conversation, instead of saying ‘the N-word,’ I would just say the word,” Rogan said. “I thought as long as it was in context, people would understand what I was doing.”

He went on to say he realizes now that he shouldn’t use the word. “I never used it to be racist because I’m not racist. But whenever you’re in a situation where you have to say, ‘I’m not racist,’ you’ve fucked up. And I clearly have fucked up.”

Toward the end of the nearly 6-minute video, Rogan apologized for using the word and said his mistakes should be a “teachable moment” for others.

“I can’t go back in time and change what I’ve said. I wish I could. Obviously, that’s not possible,” he said. “But I do hope that this can be a teachable moment for anybody that doesn’t realize how offensive that word can be coming out of a white person’s mouth in context or out of context. My sincere and humble apologies. I wish there was more that I could say, but all of this is just me talking from the bottom of my heart. It makes me sick watching that video.”

In video of herself addressing the camera, Arie, a four-time Grammy winner, said she empathizes with artists such as Young who are leaving the platform due to Rogan’s podcast interviews spreading vaccine misinformation, but that she is more focused on his racist remarks. Imploring others to delete Spotify, Arie stated that the platform underpays artists and that she doesn’t want to support a company that prioritizes giving Rogan a hefty salary.

SCOTUS Keeps Gerrymandered Map Legal In Alabama!

Supreme Court says gerrymandered map is constitutional.

The disenfranchisement of African Americans is alive and well. The Supreme Court allowed a partisan drawn map to stay in tact despite it not be fairly drawn to appeal to constituents.

In a 5 to 4 decision, the conservative wing of the Supreme Court allowed a map drawn by Alabama Republicans to stand.

The Court cleared the way Monday for Alabama to use its new congressional district map even though a lower court said it violated the Voting Rights Act by denying Black voters a new district.

The court granted a request from Alabama Republicans to put a hold on the lower court ruling.

The case — the first to reach the Supreme Court involving the redrawing of political boundaries with 2020 census results — could affect redistricting in other states that experienced gains in minority populations.

The Supreme Court also said it would hear Alabama’s challenge to the lower court ruling that declared the maps void. That appeal will not likely be heard until the court’s new term begins in the fall. As a practical matter, the court’s action allows Alabama Republicans to use their map for this year’s elections.

In explaining the court's decision, Justice Brett Kavanaugh said it was too close to the election to undo the Alabama legislature's district maps.

"Late judicial tinkering with election laws can lead to disruption and to unanticipated and unfair consequences for candidates, political parties, and voters, among others," Kavanaugh wrote.

But Chief Justice John Roberts joined with the three liberal justices in saying the Supreme Court should not have put the lower court ruling on hold. Roberts, in a separate dissent, said the lower court's ruling should control the 2022 election, and after that the Supreme Court should hold a full hearing on the merits of the issue that would control future elections.

Writing separately for herself and Justices Stephen Breyer and Sonia Sotomayor, Justice Elena Kagan said the court went “badly wrong in granting a stay.” Accepting Alabama’s contentions, she said, “would rewrite decades of this court’s precedents” about the protections of the Voting Rights Act.

"It does a disservice to Black Alabamians who under that precedent have had their electoral power diminished — in violation of a law this Court once knew to buttress all of American democracy," she wrote.

In past years, the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 required states with a history of racial discrimination to seek permission from the Justice Department or a federal court before new political maps could take effect. But the Supreme Court did away with that requirement in 2013.

With a six conservatives on the Court, decisions go in their favor.

This year’s round of redistricting is now underway with no obligation for states to seek pre-clearance. In the past, they had to justify their changes in advance, but new boundaries will now take effect unless blocked by the courts in response to lawsuits. 

The 2020 census showed Alabama's Black population rising by about 4 percent while the white population dropped about 2 percent. Blacks account for just over a quarter of the state’s total population but have a voting majority in only one of its seven congressional districts.

In drawing Alabama’s new map, the Republican-controlled legislature maintained a single district in which Black voters are the majority — the seventh, which includes Birmingham and several counties along the state’s western border. In response to lawsuits, a panel of three federal judges said the map should add a second district “in which Black voters comprise a voting-age majority or something quite close to it.”

The panel, which included one judge appointed by Bill Clinton and two appointed by Donald Trump, said Black voters had less opportunity to elect their candidates of their choice to Congress.

An emergency application to the Supreme Court filed by Alabama Republican officials said drawing two minority districts would actually force the state to violate federal law. 

“It will result in a map that can be drawn only by placing race first above race-neutral districting criterial, sorting and splitting voters across the state on the basis of race alone," they said.

They urged the court to act quickly, with absentee voting set to begin in just over two months and in-person voting to follow on May 24. 

“Any eleventh hour change to a state’s existing to a state’s existing districts would require reassignment of hundreds of thousands of voters,” they said.

We Got 40 Republicans Running For Something! We Are The Party Of Blacks!

Washed Up 45 and Karen Donalds (left), a U.S. House member.

Stuck on stupid. The Republican Party is the party of white nationalism. It is wrapped in misinformation and culture wars.

We currently have a record number of Black Republicans running for office and winning at all levels.

Over 40 Black Republicans are running in GOP primaries for both local and federal office. #BlackHistoryMonth

— GOP (@GOP) February 6, 2022

"We currently have a record number of Black Republicans running for office and winning at all levels. Over 40 Black Republicans are running in GOP primaries for both local and federal office. #BlackHistoryMonth."

The very party that opposed the first Black president. Barack Obama is the first African American president. He was nominated twice by the Democratic Party and elected twice by the American people. He won the electoral college and popular vote. He is the only African American to be president.

The same party that opposes the current vice president who is a Black woman. Kamala Harris is the current Vice President of the United States. She is the first woman to become the vice president and first African American to be vice president. She was nominated as a Democrat. Previously, she was the first Black U.S. senator from California.

About 245,000 Blacks vote Republican.

The same party that opposes the current president's Supreme Court nominee who is a Black woman. President Joe Biden is expected to pick an African American woman as his pick. He will pick a federal judge as his Supreme Court nominee. The Republicans will oppose it.

The same party that wants to making voting harder for people of color. 

The same party that wants to ban the teaching of critical race theory and ban books that tell the dark truth of America.

So the Republican National Committee is saying that 40 African Americans are running for local and federal office. Of the thousands of elected offices, only a mere 40 Black Republicans. So 40 out of over 7,500 officials around the country isn't exactly the best number. In fact, it's just .533% of all GOP candidates who are Black, according to those numbers.

That is less than 0.01% of the U.S. voting electorate. I mean that's really bad.

There is just one Black Republican senator and two Black US representatives in Congress.

And their constituency is just as homogeneous. Around the country, the GOP is mostly white, and includes a majority of non-college educated white people and rural Southerners.

The Republican Party is mostly 89% white, 6% Hispanic, 2% Asian, 2% African American and 1% Native American.

The Convoy Of Hate!

Freedumb Convoy.

The national capital of Canada faces its own insurrection. The Canadian government blames Washed Up 45 and Fox for the "Truckers for Freedom" protests.

The so-called "Freedom Convoys" have become a theme in Canada and it will spread into the United States.

The city of Ottawa, Ontario is under siege by a bunch of fringe extremists who oppose the vaccine mandates in Canada. The extremists are supportive of the former American president who spent years promoting misinformation about the coronavirus pandemic.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has dismissed this as political extremism and the provincial government and city have declared a state of emergency.

We are on the road to fascism. 

Ottawa is the national capital of Canada. It is located the eastern part of Southern Ontario. It has a population of 1.02 million residents. It is the fourth largest city in the country. The Ottawa-Gratineau metropolitan area has 2.4 million residents. 

Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario.

It started only three weeks ago when a social media posting encouraged by truckers who refused to get vaccinated. By federal law, any Canadian traveling cross borders must be fully vaccinated before entry. The Canadians also made it mandatory for Americans to be vaccinated before entry into Canada. Refusal will deny entry.

Canadian truckers who embraced the themes of Jan. 6 have now decided to protest Trudeau and federal government. Some fear they may attack Parliament.

The convoys have been loud. They are literally honking their horns and keeping Ottawans awake. They are flying the Confederate flag, Trump flag and Let's Go Brandon propaganda in Canada. It's a shameful event that many of these far-right Canadians are fucking stupid.

Fox has been promoting these convoys and it has put on white nationalists on to literally attack Trudeau and President Joe Biden.

Ottawa declared a state of emergency on Sunday in response to thousands turning out for a second weekend of demonstrations against COVID-19 public health measures, blocking roads and disrupting parts of the capital city. 

The coronavirus pandemic is still here despite the protest.

The Washington Post reported that the protests included road blockades, shooting off fireworks, driving on sidewalks and constant horn-honking by truckers.

"Declaring a state of emergency reflects the serious danger and threat to the safety and security of residents posed by the ongoing demonstrations and highlights the need for support from other jurisdictions and levels of government," the city said in its press release announcing Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson's decision.

Police added that tickets had been issued over the weekend for behavior including using fireworks and driving violations, some of which resulted in vehicles being seized and towed. 

The Ottawa Police Department also issued a statement on Sunday about the disruptive nature of the protests."Overnight, demonstrators exhibited extremely disruptive and unlawful behaviour, which presented risks to public safety and unacceptable distress for Ottawa residents," police said. "We continue to advise demonstrators not to enter Ottawa, and to go home."

But since then, the protests have spread to cites around the country, while also drawing a "significant element" from the U.S. and have prompted “several criminal investigations” into “threatening” and “illegal,” according to Canadian police.

The Canadian Trucking Alliance said last week that many people at the protests, which had turned into a broader demonstration against COVID restrictions, “do not have a connection to the trucking industry."

Ottawa said its emergency declaration would allow for "greater flexibility within the municipal administration to enable the City of Ottawa to manage business continuity for essential services for its residents and enables a more flexible procurement process, which could help purchase equipment required by frontline workers and first responders." 

The coronavirus doesn't care about your age, race, gender, sexuality, nationality, religion, politics, economic or social standings. It doesn't care about your business, your performances, your personal finances and travel. It doesn't care about the funerals, the birthday parties, the weddings, the vacations, the events and your graduations. It doesn't care about anything. It's a living organism that causes mild symptoms that include: fever, sore throats, chills, respiratory issues, loss of taste or smell and other unknown symptoms. If you have a weak immune system or health issues, your risk increases.

Of course, there's folks who are fully vaccinated but end up getting the coronavirus. As with vaccines, nothing is 100%. The vaccines are capable of preventing the coronavirus. At best, it's a 94% prevention rate which means 1 out of 500 could be infected even if they're vaccinated.

President Joe Biden had hopes that Americans would take this shit seriously. Even Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had thought Canadians would take this shit seriously.

Unfortunately, Republicans so fucking eager to return to power will keep Americans fixated on the culture wars. Now vaccinations are part of this culture war. The far-right political parties of Canada will now use American angst and culture wars to win back power as well.

But those fighting the culture war by not vaccinating, not wearing face mask in public, not following protocols, and deliberately ignoring federal and international rules when traveling are going to be the first casualties of the war. 

With this pandemic mostly affecting states where Republican governors are, we may have to return to wearing facial protection and cutting back services to reduce the spread of the coronavirus.

We came so far only to have a bunch of selfish idiots set it back. Just because they hate President Joe Biden.

The Republicans are so devoted to destroying Biden and the country for what....to regain power.

Pathetic.

Republicans Call 1/6 A Legitimate Political Discourse!

So what, [the Capitol riots] was a legitimate political discourse.

The culture wars and misinformation continues to plague the Grand Ole Party (known as the Republican Party). It used to be the party of common sense.

More platitudes and morally bankrupt rhetoric from the political party of the white nationalist.

Karen Romney McDaniel and the Republican chairs of the 50 states, five territories and District of Columbia have called the insurrection on American democracy, legitmate political discourse. 

It completely voids the dangerous mob that threatened to kill House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and former vice president Karen R. Pence. The mob seemed poised to destroy the electoral college. They wanted to violently capture lawmakers who spurned Washed Up 45. They defaced, defecated and tore up historical artifacts. They literally flew a Confederate flag in the halls of the U.S. Capitol. They attacked police officers with bear spray, tasers, batons, bats and chains. They posted their crimes on social media thinking that this was their moment to take back their country and fight for their president.

The Republicans completely tell the world they don't support the election results. They literally are saying that President Joe Biden is not legitimate. They are selling "Let's Go Brandon" nonsense on their official website.

This was not a legitimate political discourse.

McDaniel said the select committee investigating the January 6 attack on the US Capitol is a "Democrat-led persecution of ordinary citizens who engaged in legitimate political discourse."

McDaniel made the remarks about the committee in a joint interview with The Washington Post alongside Karen Bossie, a fellow RNC official and former Washed Up 45 campaign aide, with whom she co-authored a resolution to censure Republican Reps. Karen Cheney of Wyoming and Karen Kinzinger of Illinois over their participation in the congressional committee.

"We've had two members engage in a Democrat-led persecution of ordinary citizens who engaged in legitimate political discourse. This has gone beyond their original intent. They are not sticking up for hard-working Republicans," McDaniel said.

Her comments mirrored language in the censure resolution itself, which accuses Kinzinger and Cheney of "sabotage" and says the duo are "utilizing their past professed political affiliation to mask Democrat abuse of prosecutorial power for partisan purposes."

That measure, which says the RNC will "cease any and all support" for the two Republicans, easily passed the party's resolutions committee on Thursday, and is expected to be approved on Friday at the RNC meeting in Salt Lake City. 

"This isn't a top-down situation. The members have shown tremendous support for this," McDaniel told the Post. She also said it was the first time she was aware of the party censuring a member of Congress.

This was a seditious act.

Given the violent nature of the January 6 attack on the Capitol — several people, including both rioters and officers, died that day and at least 768 people have been charged for their participation — it was unclear what exactly McDaniel was referring to by "legitimate political discourse," and an RNC spokesperson did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

However, the Post reported that McDaniel took particular issue after an "elderly, recently widowed friend of hers" received a subpoena from the committee for serving as an alternate, pro-Trump elector in 2020.

The Post also reported that GOP officials in Wyoming struck a deal with the national party to financially support Karen Hageman, a former RNC committeewoman who's been endorsed by Trump, in her primary against Cheney this year.

That letter officially recognizes Hageman as the presumptive nominee Cheney's seat, even though the primary won't take place until August.

What Happened To Amir Locke?

A no-knock warrant led to the death of Amir Locke.

What happens when someone breaks down your door and you the homeowner have the right to shoot the intruder... but the intruder fires back and they failed to say they are the police. The homeowner is dead and the police are safe. So what happened when the subject is dead and they realize they went into the wrong house?

Amir Locke becomes the latest victim of the Minneapolis Police. Nearly two years since the George Floyd murder, the city has focused on changing the narrative. Only months after convicting the dirty Brooklyn Center cop who killed Daunte Wright. Now another person in the Twin Cities is killed by the police and the nation is talking.

Be warned there is graphic images and video.

As #BreonnaTaylor showed us, no-knock warrants have deadly consequences for innocent law-abiding Black people! @MinneapolisPD executed a no-knock warrant yesterday at 6:48am, killing Amir Locke while he was wrapped in a blanket on the couch. Now we demand #JusticeForAmirLocke!! pic.twitter.com/FLKqR0eszP

— Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) February 4, 2022

Press conference gets shut down at first difficult question. pic.twitter.com/nbRCGhjEuM

— Hamish too. (@AbolishNz) February 4, 2022

Who was Amir Locke? His dad described him as an entrepreneur, a change-maker, and a law-abiding citizen. Amir did everything RIGHT, yet he was still unjustifiably killed by Minneapolis PD! #JusticeForAmirLocke pic.twitter.com/WTAqRZPDic

— Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) February 5, 2022

“When they put the narrative out there that he was a murder…I couldn’t. I couldn’t.” Says Andre Locke, Amir Locke’s father. pic.twitter.com/TNEsZdNaPz

— Sergio Olmos (@MrOlmos) February 5, 2022

The controversial no-knock warrant only leads to death for either party. The person or the police. 

Locke was sleeping when the Minneapolis Police SWAT team entered the home on a no-knock warrant.

Within seconds, the law put him down as soon as he rolled out his firearm.

He was sleeping on the couch.

The 22-year-old Black man, was fatally shot on February 2, 2022, by the Minneapolis Police Department, in the U.S. city of Minneapolis. A police SWAT officer shot Locke inside a resident unit of an apartment building while executing a no-knock warrant during a homicide investigation. The conduct of the police officers, and justification for the shooting, are under review.

At about 7:00 a.m. on February 2, 2022, police officers unlocked and opened the door to an apartment in downtown Minneapolis pursuant to a no-knock warrant. Mark Hanneman had been a police officer in Minneapolis since 2015. He is a member of the Minneapolis Police Department SWAT team. Prior to working with the police department, Hanneman was employed as a police officer in Hutchinson, Minnesota, starting in 2010.

Police body camera footage reviewed by reporters "showed several officers quickly rushing into the apartment at the same time they announced their presence", according to The Washington Post, while interim Minneapolis police chief Amelia Huffman stated officers "loudly and repeatedly announced police search warrant before crossing the threshold into the apartment" and then later encouraged people to "make their own assessment" of the footage. Police body camera footage shows Locke was lying on a couch while wrapped in a blanket.

Locke sat up and turned toward the officers while holding a gun. He was then shot twice in the chest and once in the wrist by Hanneman. The shooting occurred at approximately 6:48 a.m., nine seconds after police entered the apartment.

Lock was treated at the scene and transported to Hennepin Healthcare, where emergency medics determined that Locke did not have a pulse, pronouncing him dead at 7:01 a.m.

Interim Minneapolis police chief Amelia Huffman stated that both a knock and no-knock warrant were obtained as part of a St. Paul Police Department homicide investigation so that the SWAT team could make its best assessment. Several suspects were named in the investigation, though Locke was not named in the original warrant. Huffman said it was "unclear" if Locke was connected to the St. Paul investigation. Body camera footage was released to the public after Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and members of the Minnesota House of Representatives called for the immediate release of the footage. 

Amir Locke's parents demand justice.

Based on the footage, Huffman stated that "the officer had to make a split-second decision to assess the circumstances" and to determine an appropriate course of action to protect himself and other officers.

Huffman also stated, "Ultimately, that decision of whether that threshold was met will be examined by the county attorney’s office that reviews this case."

Attorney general of Minnesota Keith Ellison announced his office will work with the Hennepin County attorney's office in its review, stating, "Amir Locke's life mattered."

A man listed on the search warrant, who court records show was living in the apartment, had threatened officers during a 2018 arrest. Apparently, they're going to play "Well he shouldn't be there in the first place" excuse. They are going to justify the shooting by saying that he was in the suspect's home and he had a gun. Again, it appears that Black people having lawful rights to own firearms to protect themselves is illegal in the minds of cops, Republicans and conservative agitators.

Will protesting change policies?

Yes

No

Every community in the United States will eventually have a legacy. A legacy of tragedy. Gun violence and COVID-19 will affect your town, your family and your life. So I don't want to hear that bullshit about how gun reform is taking away your rights to own firearms. 

I don't want to hear that protesting against police killing people of color is hate on cops in general. I don't want to hear talk about the coronavirus being a myth. When you hear folks say "gun rights," what they really mean is that its white privilege. 

I don't want to hear folks say masks and vaccine mandates impede their freedoms. It prevents a deadly outbreak from spreading. If you want to die from the coronavirus, that's on you.

I don't want to hear the shit about guns saving lives. Cause a bullet does not have eyes and it's always likely gonna hit a target. These folks seem to not get it. These incidents are a tragic part of American history.

The website Officer Down is a memorial to those who were killed in the line of duty. Those who don't get their names mentioned in the junk food media. Also the website the National Gun Violence Memorial also keeps record of the many individuals killed by gun violence. 

Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (Lifeline) at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), or text the Crisis Text Line (text HELLO to 741741). Both services are free and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The deaf and hard of hearing can contact the Lifeline via TTY at 1-800-799-4889. All calls are confidential. Contact social media outlets directly if you are concerned about a friend’s social media updates or dial 911 in an emergency. Learn more on the Lifeline’s website or the Crisis Text Line’s website.

GUN VIOLENCE IS THE NUMBER ONE PROBLEM IN THE UNITED STATES!

TDott Woo Passed Away!

A rising rapper named TDott Woo passed away from a fatal shooting.

A rapper closely affiliated with Pop Smoke has passed away. The young Brooklyn rapper was fatally shot in the neighborhood where he grew up on Tuesday afternoon shortly after signing to a record label.

TDott Woo, 22 was an artist, rapper and dancer. His real name was Tahjah Dobson. He was struck in the head and left knee in a drive-by shooting on Avenue L near East 98th Street in Canarsie around 2pm.

Woo was friends with slain rapper Pop Smoke. 

Pop Smoke was shot and killed by four terrorist in Los Angeles. Shortly after filming for Eddie Haung's movie Boogie, the rapper was inside an ArB home. He shared his location and the terrorist pinpointed his location. While with his bodyguard and a young woman, the terrorist ambushed them. Pop put up a fight and was shot multiple times before collapsing.

The suspects are being charged as adults and they face LIFE in the iron college if convicted.

Woo signed a deal with Million Dollar Music, the label that Pop was signed to.

The young rapper was taken to Brookdale Hospital Medical Center where he succumbed to his injuries.

The label described TDott Woo as a "rising star" and said "he rose to prominence for his 'Woo Walk' from a community whose drill music has and continues to electrify the world."

He "has multiple video credits under his belt, but [TDott Woo's] ability to dance which speaks volumes," said the label.

His record label celebrated the young rapper's life in a social media post on Wednesday.

"It's an honor to remain your friend until your last moments," the label wrote. "Your memory will always stay with us no matter where we go & what we do."

Sources believe that the killer was inside a dark SUV. No arrest were made in this case. If caught, the suspect will face first degree murder, intentional homicide, reckless discharge of a firearm and inducing panic. The charges carry LIFE in the iron college.

Every community in the United States will eventually have a legacy. A legacy of tragedy. Gun violence and COVID-19 will affect your town, your family and your life. So I don't want to hear that bullshit about how gun reform is taking away your rights to own firearms. 

I don't want to hear that protesting against police killing people of color is hate on cops in general. I don't want to hear talk about the coronavirus being a myth. When you hear folks say "gun rights," what they really mean is that its white privilege. 

I don't want to hear folks say masks and vaccine mandates impede their freedoms. It prevents a deadly outbreak from spreading. If you want to die from the coronavirus, that's on you.

I don't want to hear the shit about guns saving lives. Cause a bullet does not have eyes and it's always likely gonna hit a target. These folks seem to not get it. These incidents are a tragic part of American history.

The website Officer Down is a memorial to those who were killed in the line of duty. Those who don't get their names mentioned in the junk food media. Also the website the National Gun Violence Memorial also keeps record of the many individuals killed by gun violence. 

Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (Lifeline) at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), or text the Crisis Text Line (text HELLO to 741741). Both services are free and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The deaf and hard of hearing can contact the Lifeline via TTY at 1-800-799-4889. All calls are confidential. Contact social media outlets directly if you are concerned about a friend’s social media updates or dial 911 in an emergency. Learn more on the Lifeline’s website or the Crisis Text Line’s website.

GUN VIOLENCE IS THE NUMBER ONE PROBLEM IN THE UNITED STATES!

Friday Night Slugs: Mass Shooting In Blacksburg, Virginia!

Mass shooting in Blacksburg, Virginia near Virginia Tech.

Gun violence is always the No. 1 problem in the United States. But the Republican Party will continue to make the issues about crime and racial angst. They want to support the Second Amendment but want chaos and havoc with firearms. They scapegoat Democrats for the problems plaguing New York City, Baltimore, Chicago, Philadelphia and the U.S.-Mexico border. They exploit police officer killings as a part of their mantra of being the part of "law & order."

They claim they "Back the Blue" but support not arresting the folks responsible for the attack on the U.S. Capitol. 

It has never been about police or gun reform. It has been always the culture wars and white nationalist talking points.

Another mass shooting in the United States. It happened in Blacksburg, Virginia.

President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Gov. Karen Youngkin, Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA), Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) and the members of the Virginia U.S. House delegation were notified.

A shooting in a downtown nightspot just before midnight Friday left one person dead and four injured as police continued to search a closed-off, multiple block section near the Virginia Tech campus hours later.

A Blacksburg police statement issued at 2:00am gave few details of the gun violence at Melody Hookah Lounge, located at 109 North Main St., but said "multiple individuals were transported from the scene to local hospitals."

A 5:30am update later said five people were injured in the shooting, four were transported to local hospitals and one died. No identities have been released.

A popular hookah lounge became the latest gun violence scene.

A statement issued by Virginia Tech President Tim Sands said one of the injured people is a Virginia Tech student. 

"Our condolences go out to the family and friends of the deceased, and we extend our support to those who were injured," Sands wrote. "Events like this are difficult and unsettling to all of us."

The website for the business said it had been closed for a private event from 8 to 11:00pm Friday, reopening to the public at 11.

Virginia Tech sent out a message through its alert system immediately after the shooting urging recipients to secure in place and remain inside. That secure in place warning was lifted at 3:18am. 

A section of Main Street near Roanoke Street in the heart of downtown Blacksburg, was closed for more than five hours after the shooting as police conducted a search. A person was placing markers around the front entrance of Melody Hookah Lounge and taking photographs of each some four hours after the gunfire.

Blacksburg Police asked anyone with information to contact them at 540-443-1400 or by calling the anonymous tip line at 540-961-1819 or emailing ciu@blacksburg.gov.

If they catch the shooter, he will face first degree murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The suspect is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Will Congress do something about gun violence?

Yes

No

Every community in the United States will eventually have a legacy. A legacy of tragedy. Gun violence and COVID-19 will affect your town, your family and your life. So I don't want to hear that bullshit about how gun reform is taking away your rights to own firearms. 

I don't want to hear that protesting against police killing people of color is hate on cops in general. I don't want to hear talk about the coronavirus being a myth. When you hear folks say "gun rights," what they really mean is that its white privilege. 

Will they finally end gun violence?

I don't want to hear folks say masks and vaccine mandates impede their freedoms. It prevents a deadly outbreak from spreading. If you want to die from the coronavirus, that's on you.

I don't want to hear the shit about guns saving lives. Cause a bullet does not have eyes and it's always likely gonna hit a target. These folks seem to not get it. These incidents are a tragic part of American history.

The website Officer Down is a memorial to those who were killed in the line of duty. Those who don't get their names mentioned in the junk food media. Also the website the National Gun Violence Memorial also keeps record of the many individuals killed by gun violence. 

Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (Lifeline) at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), or text the Crisis Text Line (text HELLO to 741741). Both services are free and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The deaf and hard of hearing can contact the Lifeline via TTY at 1-800-799-4889. All calls are confidential. Contact social media outlets directly if you are concerned about a friend’s social media updates or dial 911 in an emergency. Learn more on the Lifeline’s website or the Crisis Text Line’s website.

GUN VIOLENCE IS THE NUMBER ONE PROBLEM IN THE UNITED STATES!

Dope Don't Sell Itself!

The seventh album of 2 Chainz.

Tauheed Epps, known as 2 Chainz/Tity Boi releases his latest album. The 44-year old rapper releases Dope Don't Sell Itself on Def Jam. The album released on Feb. 4 is the seventh studio album from the Atlanta based rapper.

2 Chainz said that this will be his last trap album. He said that cover art of his album cover is referring to his "first bank account."

On the album, he has production from WomaticTracks, Corey Swimmer, BeatKing, Buddah Bless, Tha Bizness, Timbaland, LilJuMadeDaBeat, Mannie Fresh, Mr. Collipark, Danja, Mr. Porter, Cool & Dre and Scott Storch.

On his features listing, 2 Chainz have Moneybagg Yo, BeatKing, Lil Baby, Roddy Ricch, 42 Dugg, YoungBoy Never Broke Again, Lil Durk, Sleepy Rose, Swae Lee, Stove God Cooks, Symba, Major Myjah and Jacquees.

Born and raised in College Park, Georgia, 2 Chainz gain recognition as one-half of the rap group Playaz Circle, alongside his friend Dolla Boy. The two signed a deal with Christopher "Ludacris" Bridges and Disturbing Tha Peace Records. 

Then known as Tity Boi, the rapper was featured on the Disturbing Tha Peace compilation, Golden Grain alongside Ludacris, Shawnna and members of the rap collective. As a member of Playaz Circle, the group released the album, Supply & Demand. The album went Gold and it had the single Duffle Bag Boy featuring longtime collaboration Lil Wayne. 

2 Chainz is the "Mayor of College Park."

The group disbanded and 2 Chainz would sign a solo deal with Def Jam and eventually separate from Disturbing Tha Peace after 10 years with the label.

He released his debut album Based on A T.R.U. Story and it had became a household name soon after.

2 Chainz had appeared on albums with Lil Wayne, Kanye West, Drake, Gucci Mane, Future, Jeezy, Nicki Minaj, Big Sean, Juicy J, The Game, Meek Mill, Schoolboy Q, Young Thug, Chris Brown, DaBaby, Megan Thee Stallion, Trey Songz, Ludacris, Chingy, T.I., Jamie Foxx, Jason Derulo and numerous others.

He has hinted in acting. He had made guest appearances on 2 Broke Girls, Celebrity Family Feud and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

2 Chainz also has a share in the NBA G-League's College Park Skyhawks, a minor team of the Atlanta Hawks.

He is the father of three and is married to Kesha Ward-Epps. 

Stormy Clouds Ahead For Michael Avenatti!

Stormy Daniels will get the last laugh. Her former attorney Michael Avenatti will head to federal time out.

Stormy Daniels, the adult film star and activist won a case against her former attorney Michael Avenatti. He was found guilty in federal court for theft. He was convicted of stealing funding from Daniels. He will be sent to federal time out.

He was found guilty on both counts of wire fraud and identity theft for wrongly pocketing about $300,000 of the $800,000 advance that was paid to Daniels for her book, "Full Disclosure," which included details about an affair she says she had with Washed Up 45 before he was president.

The trial and conviction is the latest moment in Avenatti’s descent from his days as one of the former president's best-known critics.

Avenatti was convicted in 2020 of extortion, transmission of interstate communications with intent to extort and wire fraud in connection to threats he made against Nike, the sports equipment and apparel giant.

Last year, a federal judge sentenced him to 2½ years behind bars for those crimes. He is set to report to prison for that conviction later this year.

The jury did not buy Avenatti’s attempts to make Daniels the bad guy.

Daniels had ended her feud with former Washed Up 45 lawyer and now critic Michael Cohen. She appeared on his podcast last year to accept his apology. He also had an opportunity to get avenge himself against Avenatti.

Daniels became the most high profile figure in the former president's orbit. When he was then a reality television star, Washed Up 45 was newly married to his third wife. She was pregnant with their child when the former president had an affair with Daniels.

The National Enquirer and Wall Street Journal had dirt on this story and was going to go public with it. But the former president ordered Cohen to make Daniels sign a non-disclosure agreement and offer her a 6-figure payout to stay silent. He also asked his buddy at the Enquirer to bury the story along with his affair with Karen McDougal.

Daniels went public about the affair and it sparked a longstanding feud between her and the former president.

RNC Tells Cheney And Kinzinger They Ain't Karen Enough!

Republicans give Cheney and Kinzinger the finger.

The Republican National Committee is formally censuring Rep. Karen Cheney (R-WY) and Rep. Karen Kinzinger (R-IL) for participating in the Jan. 6 insurrection hearings. This is the final step before the Republican donors cease funding to a candidate running for a campaign. A formal censure means that they are not welcomed to Republican events and the party will endorse their challengers if they run for office or reelection.

The measure was adopted Friday by voice vote at the RNC’s annual meeting in Salt Lake City, which brought together the party’s 168 members for their general session. The measure, which was combined with a handful of other resolutions such as one condemning the Chinese government, passed overwhelmingly. Only a small handful of objections were voiced.

An RNC panel had advanced the measure on Thursday, which said that the committee will "immediately cease any and all support of them as members of the Republican Party for their behavior, which has been destructive to the institution of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Republican Party and our republic, and is inconsistent with the position of the conference."

The culture wars, the opposition to Build Back Better, the opposition to backing Ukraine in defending it from the Russian military, the refusal to enforce CDC guidelines when it comes to the pandemic, the opposition to his pick for the Supreme Court and their constant hypocrisy when it comes to "law & order."

We are outraising the Democrats.

We are outregistering the Democrats.

And our message of freedom and opportunity is resonating with Americans who are fed up with Democrats’ disastrous policies.

So great to be in Salt Lake City as our party heads to victory in November! pic.twitter.com/J5RjZ2GBdT

— Ronna McDaniel (@GOPChairwoman) February 4, 2022

This shameful political party has no shame in how they operate.

These two Karens are a hot mess as well. The token Democrats and media agitators praise them for standing up against Washed Up 45. But in the same time, they won't help President Joe Biden get things back to normal.

The RNC continued by ripping the two members of Congress for their criticism of Washed Up 45.

"The Conference must not be sabotaged by Representatives Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, who have demonstrated, with actions and words, that they support Democrat efforts to destroy President Trump more than they support winning back a Republican majority in 2022," the resolution said.

The measure described the two members as "participating in a Democrat-led persecution of ordinary citizens engaged in legitimate political discourse" in their roles on the House committee investigating Jan. 6.

In a statement, RNC chairwoman Karen Romney McDaniel said Cheney and Kinzinger "crossed a line."

"They chose to join Nancy Pelosi in a Democrat-led persecution of ordinary citizens who engaged in legitimate political discourse that had nothing to do with violence at the Capitol," she said.

Karen Farrow, chairman of the Wisconsin GOP, told NBC News that RNC members' frustration with Cheney and Kinzinger is over the Jan. 6 investigation "starting to broaden their scope of what they're looking at."

"It almost seems like a fishing expedition where people are just trying to find something to hang on someone," he said. "That's not what we're supposed to be doing. Our intent, as we look at it, is to hold our elected officials accountable, to make sure that they're doing their best to keep the country moving forward. They're not doing that right now."

Shameless leadership.

Karen Proto, chairman of the Connecticut GOP, was one of a handful of members to object to the resolution. He told NBC News that while he doesn't "necessarily disagree that Cheney and Kinzinger have poked their finger at the Republican Party," he feels any such rejection of the two should come from voters, not the party.

Kinzinger is retiring at the end of his term while Cheney is facing a primary challenge. Cheney has outraised her primary opponent by millions.

"The Wyoming voters will decide if they don't want Liz Cheney," he said, adding, "I'm trying very hard to get my folks in Connecticut to stop standing in a circle and going 'ready, aim, fire.'"

"We need to stop doing that around the country," he added. "Sometimes, I think we kind of get in our own way."

In advance of the vote, Cheney said Thursday that the leaders of the GOP have made themselves "willing hostages to a man who admits he tried to overturn a presidential election and suggests he would pardon Jan. 6 defendants, some of whom have been charged with seditious conspiracy."

I’m a constitutional conservative and I do not recognize those in my party who have abandoned the Constitution to embrace Donald Trump. History will be their judge. I will never stop fighting for our constitutional republic. No matter what. (2/2) https://t.co/HtgFzrCipd

— Liz Cheney (@Liz_Cheney) February 4, 2022

In a Thursday statement, Kinzinger said his "efforts will continue to be focused on standing up for truth and working to fight the political matrix that’s led us to this point."

"Rather than focus their efforts on how to help the American people, my fellow Republicans have chosen to censure two lifelong members of their party for simply upholding their oaths of office," he said. "They’ve allowed conspiracies and toxic tribalism [to] hinder their ability to see clear-eyed."

I have no regrets about my decision to uphold my oath of office and defend the Constitution. I will continue to focus my efforts on standing for truth and working to fight the political matrix that’s led us to where we find ourselves today.

— Adam Kinzinger (@RepKinzinger) February 4, 2022

Several lawmakers have denounced the move by the RNC including Sen. Karen "Flipper" Romney (R-UT) the 2012 GOP presidential nominee. Karen Romney McDaniel is Romney's niece.

"Shame falls on a party that would censure persons of conscience, who seek truth in the face of vitriol," he tweeted Friday. "Honor attaches to Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger for seeking truth even when doing so comes at great personal cost."

Shame falls on a party that would censure persons of conscience, who seek truth in the face of vitriol. Honor attaches to Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger for seeking truth even when doing so comes at great personal cost.

— Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) February 4, 2022

Sen. Karen Cassidy (R-LA) also tweeted late Thursday, "The RNC is censuring Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger because they are trying to find out what happened on January 6th — HUH?"

The RNC is censuring Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger because they are trying to find out what happened on January 6th - HUH?

— U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (@SenBillCassidy) February 4, 2022

In his speech just prior to the vote, RNC co-chair Tommy Hicks said Republicans "must remain united."

"Republicans aren't afraid to debate each other," he said. "We have a range of views on the issues, which is a good thing. ... But after we have our debates and the primaries are over, it is incumbent on every single person in this room to bring Republicans of all stripes together so we can win."