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OP-ED: Unity to Decide Whether United States Will Be More Divided in Roughly 100 Days

NNPA NEWSWIRE — In 2020, Pew Research found “49% of all registered voters either identify as Democrats or lean to the party, while 44% identify as Republicans or lean to the GOP. However, despite the current Republican nominee being twice impeached, an adjudicated rapist, convicted 34 times as a felon, being an insurrectionist, and a serial liar, polls have him in a dead heat for president against Joe Biden.
The post OP-ED: Unity to Decide Whether United States Will Be More Divided in Roughly 100 Days first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

Published

2 years ago

July 18, 2024

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By Regi Taylor

“We must stand together.”
Joe Biden July 14, 2024

Demonstrating the leadership and statesmanship America desperately needs right now to preserve the modicum of citizenship African Americans have experienced for only the last two of sixteen generations since we were absconded from Africa, President Joe Biden’s personal magnanimity prompted him to offer Donald Trump an olive branch when Trump was nearly assassinated last weekend. Trump’s response was to not discourage his surrogates from blaming Biden for encouraging the assassination attempt.

Unfortunately, the botched attempt on Trump’s life has offered a volatile new talking point and powerful fundraising impetus for his campaign. With less than 15 weeks to Election Day, with polls suggesting a dead heat in the presidential race, MAGA continues to gain momentum towards a possible victory in November bolstered by a unified party, unified message, and unified campaign apparatus, including surreptitious judicial rulings by SCOTUS, Federal judges overseeing Trump’s criminal proceedings, and the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025.

America is witnessing in real time what Heritage Foundation President, Kevin Roberts, describes as a “second American Revolution” that will be bloodless “if the left allows it to be;” a not-so-subtle threat consistent with MAGA’s pledge to “take our country back,” which Democratic voters don’t seem to be taking seriously enough.

There seems to be a failure of the most vulnerable in our contemporary political climate to recognize the current liberties enjoyed by the country’s nonwhite population as an outlier within the context of America’s racial history. The decreasing population of people who identify as white in tandem with nonwhite Americans’ increasing population and political clout is seen as an unacceptable peril not only by extremist white elements, but many who publicly identify as progressive but fear losing their privileged cultural status.

When the Civil Rights Act was passed 60 years ago this month, the United States population was essentially Black and white. In 1964, whites were 85% of the population and African Americans were 11%. Less than 4% of the population were Latino and Asian. Foreign-born were less than 6% of the total.

By comparison, the 2020 U.S. Census reveals that among white Americans only 61.6% self-identify as ‘white alone.’ African Americans total 12.8%, the Hispanic population is 19.5%, and Asians number 6.1%. According to the American Immigration Council, “13.8 percent of the nation’s [current] residents are foreign-born, more than half of whom are naturalized citizens.”

These drastic changes in the country’s demographics and the corresponding liberalization in public policy intended to accommodate America’s growing multiculturalism, appearing to many whites to be at their expense, has caused an increasingly violent, extremist backlash, vocalized as the desire to Make America Great Again; when white supremacy was the official – and legal – social construct.

The final straw for fed up, aggrieved whites, was the realization in January 2009 that “n****rs” would be sleeping in the White House. During Barrack Obama’s inauguration celebration on January 20, 2009, fifteen members of the top Republican leadership cried in their beers at the Caucus Room steakhouse in downtown D.C., pledging to defeat Obama and make him a failed one-term president. Their vindictiveness mirrored the mood of the electorate.

In each subsequent presidential election year since 2008, the polarization of the electorate has become clearer. According to a 2011 Gallup Poll “Americans identifying as Democrats or leaning Democratic has fallen from 50% to 43%.” A 2012 Pew Research survey reported that: “Democrats now have a five-point lead in party affiliation… (48% to 43%) …down from a 12-point advantage in 2008 (51% to 39%). A 2021 Yale University report “concludes that people switching their votes from Democrat to Republican better explains the GOP’s success in 2016 than did increased turnout.”

In 2020, Pew Research found “49% of all registered voters either identify as Democrats or lean to the party, while 44% identify as Republicans or lean to the GOP. However, despite the current Republican nominee being twice impeached, an adjudicated rapist, convicted 34 times as a felon, being an insurrectionist, and a serial liar, polls have him in a dead heat for president against Joe Biden.

The momentum to succeed is in Trump’s favor because the grass roots, the Republican establishment, and very wealthy right wing extremist benefactors are solidly unified, while Democrats are in total disarray and ununified, flirting with the idea of abandoning a very successful, highly experienced standard bearer with only weeks left before the election. The ensuing chaos would guarantee a MAGA win.

President Biden has appealed for us to “stand together.” I am making a personal appeal to multicultural “Americans of goodwill,” an ideal I adopted from Barack Obama, to unconditionally unify against the forces who oppose our best interests. Please sign the M.A.G.A. Pledge to encourage an overwhelming outpouring on Unity Day, October 16, 2024 – three weeks before Election Day – to rally the vote for Democracy. The office of my retiring Maryland U.S. Senator, Ben Cardin, has been gracious enough to transmit the M.A.G.A. Pledge on my behalf to President Joe Biden, requesting his support.

The post OP-ED: Unity to Decide Whether United States Will Be More Divided in Roughly 100 Days first appeared on BlackPressUSA.

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2026 Lucid Air Grand Touring Review — Is This $136K EV Sedan Worth It?

AUTONETWORK ON BLACKPRESSUSA — Finished in Stellar White Metallic with the Tahoe Grand Touring interior, this Lucid makes a strong first impression. The shape is sleek and low, but it still feels elegant instead of trying too hard. Features like soft-close doors, powered illuminated door handles, 20-inch Aero Lite wheels, and the Glass Canopy Roof help the car feel expensive before you even start it.

Published

2 weeks ago

May 3, 2026

Oakland Post

The 2026 Lucid Air Grand Touring is the kind of luxury EV that makes people stop and ask a simple question: Is this really better than a Tesla Model S, Mercedes EQS, or BMW i7? At $136,150, it has to do more than look futuristic. It has to feel special every time you get in it.

Finished in Stellar White Metallic with the Tahoe Grand Touring interior, this Lucid makes a strong first impression. The shape is sleek and low, yet it still feels elegant rather than trying too hard. Features like soft-close doors, powered illuminated door handles, 20-inch Aero Lite wheels, and the Glass Canopy Roof help the car feel expensive before you even start it.

Inside is where the Air Grand Touring really makes its case. The 34-inch Glass Cockpit Display and retractable Pilot Panel screen give the cabin a clean, modern look that still feels different from other EVs. The Tahoe Extended Leather and Lucid Black Alcantara headliner lifts the sense of occasion, and the front seats are a highlight. They are 20-way power-adjustable, heated, ventilated, and include massage. That matters because luxury buyers at this price expect comfort first.

Rear passengers are not ignored either. You get 5-zone heated rear seating, a rear center console display, and power rear and rear side window sunshades. Add in the Surreal Sound Pro system with 21 speakers, and the Air feels like a true long-distance luxury sedan.

Lucid also gives this car serious EV hardware. The dual-motor all-wheel-drive system, 900V+ charging architecture, and Wunderbox onboard charger are big talking points. Buyers in this segment care about range, charging speed, and everyday ease, not just raw performance. That is where the Lucid continues to stand out.

On the technology side, the Air Grand Touring includes DreamDrive Premium, with 3D Surround View Monitoring, Blind Spot Warning, Automatic Park In and Out, Automatic Emergency Braking, and a Driver Monitoring System with distracted and drowsy driver alerts. This one also has DreamDrive Pro, which adds future-capable ADAS hardware.

There are still some real-world annoyances. Based on your notes, the windshield wiper control is hard to find and use, and that matters more than people think in a high-tech car. When controls become less intuitive, even a beautiful interior can feel frustrating.

Still, the 2026 Lucid Air Grand Touring succeeds where it matters most. It feels luxurious, advanced, comfortable, and thoughtfully engineered. For buyers who want an EV sedan that feels truly premium and less common than the usual choices, this Lucid makes a very strong case.

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Snoop Dogg Celebrates 10 Til’ Midnight at the Compound

LOS ANGELES SENTINEL — The album is paired with a film that stars Snoop Dogg, Hitta J3, G Perico, and Ray Vaughn, and one of the strongest elements of the whole project is that the production stayed rooted right here in Los Angeles.

Published

2 weeks ago

May 3, 2026

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Snoop Dogg celebrated the premiere of 10 Til’ Midnight at his Inglewood recording studio & multipurpose facility, The Compound, but the night felt like much more than an album release. It felt like Los Angeles. It felt like legacy. And it felt like another major move from one of the city’s greatest cultural architects as he continues to prove that he is not just dropping music — he is building moments, shaping narratives, and pushing the culture forward in real time.

What made the event so powerful was the clarity behind the vision. During a panel conversation with DJ Hed, Snoop opened up about the heart behind 10 Til’ Midnight, explaining that the project was created to help bridge older and younger generations while also speaking to the long-standing divisions between Bloods and Crips in a unique way through film. That alone gave the project a different kind of weight. This was not just about songs. This was about using creativity as a tool for connection. This was about taking a story rooted in Los Angeles and telling it in a way that could bring people together.

Snoop Congratulated By Rapper & Fellow 10 Til Midnight Cast Member G Perico (CreativeLB/KreativeKapturez)

The album is paired with a film that stars Snoop Dogg, Hitta J3, G Perico, and Ray Vaughn, and one of the strongest elements of the whole project is that the production stayed rooted right here in Los Angeles. The film was shot in the city, including at WePlay Studios in Inglewood, which gave the entire project an even deeper hometown feel. It was not just a West Coast story in content — it was a Los Angeles-made production from the ground up.

That matters because, in a city like this, authenticity still carries weight. Snoop understands how to make sure that what he creates does not just represent Los Angeles on the surface, but actually comes from it.

What also makes 10 Til’ Midnight significant is that it represents another major step in Snoop’s evolution as both an artist and executive. Public reporting around the project identifies it as his 22nd studio album, but the bigger story is what it represents in this season of his life. This is one of several consecutive moves he has made in his 50s that show he is still building, still expanding, and still finding new ways to reinvent what the next chapter looks like.

Snoop Dogg at the Premiere of 10 Til Midnight (CreativeLB/KreativeKapturez)

Now, as the head of Death Row Records and the newly aligned leader of Death Row Pictures, he is taking the brand into a new dimension. That is what made this moment feel bigger than music. Snoop is not just protecting the legacy of Death Row — he is stretching it. He is expanding it beyond records and into film, visual storytelling, and larger creative worlds that can continue carrying the label’s impact forward. Public reporting has noted that this project arrives as part of that broader cinematic push.

That is a major Los Angeles move because the city has always been built on the intersection of music, film, neighborhood identity, and cultural storytelling. With 10 Til’ Midnight, Snoop is leaning all the way into that intersection.

The room at The Compound reflected that. It felt like a private premiere, but it also felt like a statement — a reminder that Snoop Dogg’s staying power has never been based only on nostalgia. It comes from his ability to remain connected, remain visionary, and remain in tune with how to move the culture without losing the essence of who he is.

That is why this premiere mattered. It was not just about celebrating another album. It was about witnessing a Los Angeles legend continue to evolve, continue to unify, and continue to use art to tell stories that hit deeper than entertainment alone.

In that sense, 10 Til’ Midnight became more than a project launch. It became another example of how Snoop Dogg is still taking Los Angeles to the next level — using music, film, and legacy together to build something bigger than a moment.

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OP-ED: Small Businesses Need Minnesota to Act on Pass-Through Tax Policy

MINNESOTA SPOKESMAN RECORDER — A Twin Cities immigrant entrepreneur who built several businesses including grocery stores in underserved neighborhoods is calling on Minnesota lawmakers to extend the Pass-Through Entity tax option before it expires, warning that its loss would hit small businesses already recovering from Operation Metro Surge with higher federal tax bills.

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2 weeks ago

May 3, 2026

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A Twin Cities Small Business Owner Is Urging Minnesota to Extend a Tax Policy That Could Save Thousands of Businesses

By Daniel Hernandez | Minnesota Spokesman Recorder

I came to the United States as a teenager with a clear goal: to build something meaningful through hard work. I put in long days in construction, restaurants, and landscaping; doing whatever it took to learn, save, and eventually start my own business.

Over time, I built and ran several successful ventures, including an event photography company, a magazine, a tax and accounting firm, and now grocery stores serving neighborhoods across the Twin Cities where other retailers chose not to invest. I’ve created jobs, supported families, and committed to communities that deserve stability and opportunity.

That’s why I’m speaking out now.

Small business owners in Minneapolis and the communities we serve are recovering from serious disruptions, including the impacts of Operation Metro Surge. That event hit immigrant communities especially hard. In my own case, I lost nearly half of my 60 employees and saw revenue drop by about 85%. While I worked to provide competitive wages, health benefits, and paid time off, the real hardship fell on the people who lost their jobs and income.

Even as we rebuild, small businesses are facing another challenge. The Minnesota Legislature is considering letting an important tax policy expire: the Pass-Through Entity tax option.

Here’s what that means in plain terms.

Many small businesses, including mine, are pass-through businesses. That means the business itself doesn’t pay income tax. Instead, the owners report the income on their personal tax returns. But under current federal rules, there’s a limit on how much state tax we can deduct. That often leads to higher federal tax bills.

The Pass-Through Entity option fixes that. It allows the business to pay the state tax directly, which means the business can fully deduct those taxes on its federal return and lower the total amount of income taxed federally. The result is straightforward: small business owners pay less in federal taxes, without reducing what the state collects.

This policy is not new or controversial. Thirty-six states already offer it. It doesn’t cost Minnesota anything, it’s revenue neutral. And it benefits more than 66,000 businesses across the state.

In a state where the cost of doing business is already high, it’s hard to understand why we wouldn’t offer the same basic tax treatment as states like California and Illinois.

Small businesses have carried a heavy load in recent years, through a pandemic, rising costs and public safety disruptions. We’ve adapted, reinvested and stayed committed to our communities. What we need now are practical policies that support that work, not make it harder.

If the Minnesota House does not act soon, many businesses will face significantly higher federal tax bills. That’s money that could otherwise be used to hire workers, raise wages or reinvest in local neighborhoods.

I urge Gov. Tim Walz and members of the House Tax Committee to pass House File 3127 and extend the Pass-Through Entity election.

Small businesses are the backbone of our communities. We’ve proven our resilience. Now we need our state leaders to show the same commitment to us.

Daniel Hernandez is the owner of Colonial Market located at 2100 E. Lake St.

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