theroot--2020-10-29--The 10 Best Deals of October 29, 2020

The 10 Best Deals of October 29, 2020

It ’ s October 29 , and we at Kinja Deals are here to bring you the top 10 deals of the day .
Protect your data by purchasing a plan from NordVPN .
Snag that 55 '' Smart TV you ’ ve been saving up for from TCL .
Get started on those DIY home repairs with the RYOBI One+ 3-Tool Combo Kit .
And if you ’ re still looking for more savings , take a look at Thursday ’ s best deals overall .
In his roundup of the best VPNs at Gizmodo , Andrew Couts called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” citing accessibility and affordability as reasons to subscribe .
Though it ’ s almost always marked down from its $ 287 list price , the 2-year plan is nonetheless the cheapest option to get started with the service and continue using it long-term .
For a limited time only , though , it ’ s not only 68 % off , bringing your total to just $ 89 for 730 days , but it also comes with an extra plan on top of that—chosen at random by the Nordic gods .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ But NordVPN isn ’ t without its downsized .
“ ... some researchers have found that it sends your email address and Google Ad ID to a marketing company when you register through the Android app and contains some trackers , ” Couts explains .
“ Another downside is that some of NordVPN ’ s servers are rented , which means another company you need to trust is in the mix .
And yes , one of those servers got hacked in 2018.
” Still , if you want the one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ budget to support its robust infrastructure , you can ’ t go wrong with NordVPN .
Plus , with availability on virtually every platform you can think of—from macOS to Android TV—it ’ s equal parts ubiquitous and acclaimed .
Endorsed by PCMag , Wired , CNET , Business Insider , and more , it may be time to board the Nord hype train if you ’ re somehow unwedded to a VPN already .
This deal was originally published by Gabe Carey .
Best Buy has an insane deal going for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ TV .
It ’ s the S434 , which is pretty baseline for TCL ’ s lineup , but at just $ 200 , there ’ s little to complain about .
TCL ’ s panels are plenty sharp and accurate , and with this set , you ’ ll get HDR10 compliance for enhanced color and brightness in supported games and video content .
This model has Android TV onboard for all your app needs , and with an included voice remote , all your favorite content is just a shout away @ @ @ @ @ @ @ This deal was originally published by Quentyn Kennemer .
For a short time , you can grab an Eight Sleep Pod Pro Cover for $ 1359+ .
Here ’ s the deets from one of our wonderful writers , Chaya : Ranging from $ 1,445 to $ 1,745 depending on the size of your bed ( or $ 175 off using our exclusive promo code KINJA175 ) , the Pod Pro Cover from popular mattress brand Eight Sleep turns ANY mattress into a five-star sleeping experience .
In short , Eight Sleep took @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and turned it into what is essentially a cover that transforms any bed into a smart bed .
The encasement is placed on top of your current mattress and appends bed cooling and heating technology , a virtually silent vibration alarm system , sleep tracking , and a whole lot more .
The cover is a two-part system : the encasement , which retrofits your mattress for a “ PerfectFit TM ” and the Active Grid cover , which adheres securely to the encasement to make your new smart bed manageable by app @ @ @ @ @ @ @ connected to the Active Grid make the whole thing possible so that you can keep the rest of the bedding you ’ ve already got—no unnecessary spending or excess waste required .
Grab it before it ’ s gone !
This deal was originally published by Ignacia Fulcher .
If you ’ re planning on getting your hands dirty with a DIY project at home , now is arguably the best time to do it since , well , you ’ re stuck there most of the time anyway .
But , of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off successfully , you ’ ll need the right tools for the job .
Fortunately , the RYOBI One+ three-tool combo kit includes everything you ’ ll need to start cutting and drilling your way through the pain .
For $ 99—a whopping 64 % off—you can fetch a cordless drill , circular saw , and reciprocating saw with a single 1.5Ah battery to share between the three .
An 18W charger keeps your power tools revved up and ready to go whenever you need ‘ em most .
To sweeten the deal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found in the box .
Save $ 177 on this versatile , multi-purpose kit today and get three essential utilities for the price of one .
At The Home Depot , discounts like these don ’ t last long , so jump on it before stock runs out !
This deal was originally published by Gabe Carey .
Sony ’ s new WH-1000XM4 headphones are leading the way in their noise-cancellation technology , alongside the gestures that come with these new models .
They were down to $ 298 during Prime Day and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of weeks ago , but BuyDig is piledriving the competition with a $ 278 sticker price today .
They will pause the track once it detects you ’ re speaking , and will also switch off the noise-cancellation when a hand is put on the right-cup .
They feature fantastic sound and are able to be paired for up to two devices , so you can switch between your phone and your tablet with ease .
This deal was originally posted by Daryl Baxter .
Though they ’ re mostly for keeping things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Sure , it might ’ ve started as a way to rinse off after a shower karaoke sesh , but eventually that white will start to fade and might not look as nice hanging up .
Or maybe after a few too many pup accidents in the house , it ’ s just time for a new set of linens .
Huckberry ’ s Turkish towels usually sell for a bit over $ 40 , but right now they ’ re down to just below $ 30 , and you ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your money .
The striped towels come in plenty of variants to match your decor , and their unique design will certainly earn a few compliments if we ’ re ever safe to have people over .
This deal was originally published by Jordan McMahon .
If you want all your Alexa tunes playing in your car then you ’ re in luck !
For $ 20 , which is a good 60 % off the original list price , you can connect to the Alexa app on your phone and play music @ @ @ @ @ @ @ auxiliary or Bluetooth .
The Echo Auto has eight microphones so it can hear your voice through loud noises throughout the duration of your trip .
You ’ ll also be able to stream Amazon music , Apple Music , Spotify , and other services with just the sound of your voice .
I would grab this deal before it is gone !
This deal was originally published by Ignacia Fulcher .
I don ’ t know about you , but as a tangental Star Wars fan , I only made it through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Baby Yoda .
Luckily , the masses have done us all a favor and gave us what we all need—a plush of our favorite character for a decent $ 18 .
You can cuddle with him when the new season drops in a few days .
Thank me later .
This deal was originally published by Ignacia Fulcher .
Animal Crossing : New Horizons is all about vibing out and literally minding your business , so why not hop on a themed Nintendo Switch for $ 270 ?
It ’ s refurbished @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there ’ s a 90-day warranty if things go wrong .
You ’ ll get the Joy-Cons in those calming colors which just set up a mood of relaxation .
And while you ’ re at it , if you still haven ’ t bought it , Animal Crossing : New Horizons is only $ 50 , $ 10 off its original list price .
What are you waiting for ?
That weird owl thing is waiting for you .
This deal was originally published by Ignacia Fulcher .
If you ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blow , skip the pretenders and even the lesser AirPods to go for something better .
The AirPods Pro stepped the game up with rubber tips , noise cancellation , and better overall audio quality .
They ’ re a bit expensive and the price has dropped bit by bit over time , leading up to today ’ s opportunity to save $ 50 on a pair of your own , complete with a wireless charging case .
With active noise canceling , automatic pairing on iPhones and iPads , and water/sweat resistance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no-brainer if you were already in the market for them .
We saw these drop just before Amazon Prime Day , and the price has held steady since .
However , B & H Photo has a similar offer that ’ s set to expire October 30 , which may be a signal that the opportunity is about to pass .
Be sure to get your order in while there ’ s still time !
This deal was originally published by Quentyn Kennemer .

Juliana Clark on Kinja Deals, shared by Gabe Carey to The Root

Thursday’s Best Deals | Kinja Deals
It’s October 29, and we at Kinja Deals are here to bring you the top 10 deals of the day. Protect your data by purchasing a plan from NordVPN. Snag that 55" Smart TV you’ve been saving up for from TCL. Get started on those DIY home repairs with the RYOBI One+ 3-Tool Combo Kit.
And if you’re still looking for more savings, take a look at Thursday’s best deals overall.
#1: Nordvpn
In his roundup of the best VPNs at Gizmodo, Andrew Couts called NordVPN “fast and easy to use,” citing accessibility and affordability as reasons to subscribe. Though it’s almost always marked down from its $287 list price, the 2-year plan is nonetheless the cheapest option to get started with the service and continue using it long-term. For a limited time only, though, it’s not only 68% off, bringing your total to just $89 for 730 days, but it also comes with an extra plan on top of that—chosen at random by the Nordic gods. Couts says in his abbreviated review:
No matter what you pay, you’ll get access to more than 5,400 servers in more than 60 countries, a bunch of features you may or may not want, and, because the company is based in Panama, assurances that your data—or lack of data, as the case may be—is outside of U.S. and European jurisdictions. Like every other VPN on this list, NordVPN claims to have a “strict no-logs policy,” so most of your data isn’t collected, the company says. It does still collect your email address, payment information, and the timestamp of the last time you launched the VPN.
But NordVPN isn’t without its downsized. “...some researchers have found that it sends your email address and Google Ad ID to a marketing company when you register through the Android app and contains some trackers,” Couts explains. “Another downside is that some of NordVPN’s servers are rented, which means another company you need to trust is in the mix. And yes, one of those servers got hacked in 2018.”
Still, if you want the one of the most reliable VPN clients, with the budget to support its robust infrastructure, you can’t go wrong with NordVPN. Plus, with availability on virtually every platform you can think of—from macOS to Android TV—it’s equal parts ubiquitous and acclaimed. Endorsed by PCMag, Wired, CNET, Business Insider, and more, it may be time to board the Nord hype train if you’re somehow unwedded to a VPN already.
This deal was originally published by Gabe Carey.
#2: TCL 55" 4k Smart TV
Best Buy has an insane deal going for a brand new 55" 4K TCL smart TV. It’s the S434, which is pretty baseline for TCL’s lineup, but at just $200, there’s little to complain about. TCL’s panels are plenty sharp and accurate, and with this set, you’ll get HDR10 compliance for enhanced color and brightness in supported games and video content. This model has Android TV onboard for all your app needs, and with an included voice remote, all your favorite content is just a shout away with the help of Google Assistant.
This deal was originally published by Quentyn Kennemer.
#3: eight sleep pro pod cover
For a short time, you can grab an Eight Sleep Pod Pro Cover for $1359+. Here’s the deets from one of our wonderful writers, Chaya:
Ranging from $1,445 to $1,745 depending on the size of your bed (or $175 off using our exclusive promo code KINJA175), the Pod Pro Cover from popular mattress brand Eight Sleep turns ANY mattress into a five-star sleeping experience. In short, Eight Sleep took the very best technology from their mattress and turned it into what is essentially a cover that transforms any bed into a smart bed. The encasement is placed on top of your current mattress and appends bed cooling and heating technology, a virtually silent vibration alarm system, sleep tracking, and a whole lot more. The cover is a two-part system: the encasement, which retrofits your mattress for a “PerfectFit TM” and the Active Grid cover, which adheres securely to the encasement to make your new smart bed manageable by app. A water hose and small hub connected to the Active Grid make the whole thing possible so that you can keep the rest of the bedding you’ve already got—no unnecessary spending or excess waste required.
Grab it before it’s gone!
This deal was originally published by Ignacia Fulcher.
#4: ryobi power tool set
If you’re planning on getting your hands dirty with a DIY project at home, now is arguably the best time to do it since, well, you’re stuck there most of the time anyway. But, of course, in order to pull it off successfully, you’ll need the right tools for the job. Fortunately, the RYOBI One+ three-tool combo kit includes everything you’ll need to start cutting and drilling your way through the pain. For $99—a whopping 64% off—you can fetch a cordless drill, circular saw, and reciprocating saw with a single 1.5Ah battery to share between the three. An 18W charger keeps your power tools revved up and ready to go whenever you need ‘em most. To sweeten the deal, a carry bag can also be found in the box.
Save $177 on this versatile, multi-purpose kit today and get three essential utilities for the price of one. At The Home Depot, discounts like these don’t last long, so jump on it before stock runs out!
This deal was originally published by Gabe Carey.
#5: Sony WH-1000XM4 Headphones
Sony’s new WH-1000XM4 headphones are leading the way in their noise-cancellation technology, alongside the gestures that come with these new models. They were down to $298 during Prime Day and $284 at Newegg just a couple of weeks ago, but BuyDig is piledriving the competition with a $278 sticker price today.
They will pause the track once it detects you’re speaking, and will also switch off the noise-cancellation when a hand is put on the right-cup. They feature fantastic sound and are able to be paired for up to two devices, so you can switch between your phone and your tablet with ease.
This deal was originally posted by Daryl Baxter.
#6: huckberry towel sale
Though they’re mostly for keeping things clean, even towels get dirty eventually. Sure, it might’ve started as a way to rinse off after a shower karaoke sesh, but eventually that white will start to fade and might not look as nice hanging up. Or maybe after a few too many pup accidents in the house, it’s just time for a new set of linens.
Huckberry’s Turkish towels usually sell for a bit over $40, but right now they’re down to just below $30, and you’re getting some pretty fancy looking towels for your money. The striped towels come in plenty of variants to match your decor, and their unique design will certainly earn a few compliments if we’re ever safe to have people over.
This deal was originally published by Jordan McMahon.
#7: amazon echo auto
If you want all your Alexa tunes playing in your car then you’re in luck! For $20, which is a good 60% off the original list price, you can connect to the Alexa app on your phone and play music through your vehicle’s speakers via auxiliary or Bluetooth. The Echo Auto has eight microphones so it can hear your voice through loud noises throughout the duration of your trip. You’ll also be able to stream Amazon music, Apple Music, Spotify, and other services with just the sound of your voice. I would grab this deal before it is gone!
This deal was originally published by Ignacia Fulcher.
#8: baby yoda plush
I don’t know about you, but as a tangental Star Wars fan, I only made it through the first season of The Mandalorian because of Baby Yoda. Luckily, the masses have done us all a favor and gave us what we all need—a plush of our favorite character for a decent $18. You can cuddle with him when the new season drops in a few days. Thank me later.
This deal was originally published by Ignacia Fulcher.
#9: animal cross switch
Animal Crossing: New Horizons is all about vibing out and literally minding your business, so why not hop on a themed Nintendo Switch for $270? It’s refurbished via Best Buy Geek Squad, so there’s a 90-day warranty if things go wrong. You’ll get the Joy-Cons in those calming colors which just set up a mood of relaxation. And while you’re at it, if you still haven’t bought it, Animal Crossing: New Horizons is only $50, $10 off its original list price. What are you waiting for? That weird owl thing is waiting for you.
This deal was originally published by Ignacia Fulcher.
#10: airpods pro
If you’re an iPhone user with some cash to blow, skip the pretenders and even the lesser AirPods to go for something better. The AirPods Pro stepped the game up with rubber tips, noise cancellation, and better overall audio quality. They’re a bit expensive and the price has dropped bit by bit over time, leading up to today’s opportunity to save $50 on a pair of your own, complete with a wireless charging case. With active noise canceling, automatic pairing on iPhones and iPads, and water/sweat resistance, picking ‘em now is a no-brainer if you were already in the market for them.
We saw these drop just before Amazon Prime Day, and the price has held steady since. However, B&H Photo has a similar offer that’s set to expire October 30, which may be a signal that the opportunity is about to pass. Be sure to get your order in while there’s still time!
This deal was originally published by Quentyn Kennemer.


theroot--2020-10-29--Yes, the Dallas Cowboys Just Cut the Only Player on Their Team to Protest the National Anthem. I Won

Yes, the Dallas Cowboys Just Cut the Only Player on Their Team to Protest the National Anthem. I Wonder Why?

In case you haven ’ t noticed , the Dallas Cowboys ( 2-5 ) are pretty fucking bad this season .
And while the offense has had more than its fair share of troubles , it ’ s the defense that should be charged with treason .
To that end , it should come as no surprise that Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones is looking to tweak the roster , yet it ’ s how he ’ s going about doing so that ’ s raising eyebrows .
Defensive tackle Dontari Poe signed a two-year , $ 8.5 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but after collecting only seven tackles and no sacks , Jones has apparently decided to cut his losses and release the former Pro Bowler .
On the surface , this isn ’ t much to take note of—until you remember that Poe was the only player on the entire team to protest during the national anthem .
Then a light bulb appears overhead and you realize that doing so is something that Jones has been vehemently against since the dawn of time .
In recent months , he ’ s sworn to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” to any player who decides to take a knee , but never forget this is also the same dude who spewed this bullshit in 2017 : So was Poe cut for kneeling ?
ESPN ’ s Chris Mortensen asked Jones directly if Poe ’ s peaceful protests factored into his decision and Jones refused to address the matter .
Instead , he offered a sassy non-answer .
“ When you ’ re 30 pounds overweight and you ’ re not doing anything about what ’ s keeping you from performing well on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get into the other stuff , ” Jones said .
The “ other stuff , ” of course , being Poe exercising his right to peacefully protest .
“ I understand your question , and I ’ m deliberately not going to answer it , ” Jones continued .
“ We have a platform here , but the platform on the football field has a high standard , and [ Poe ] was not up to the standard .
He needed to correct that , and he did not .
I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Clearly , Poe did himself no favors with his play on the field .
But does anyone really believe that Poe taking a knee didn ’ t factor into him getting cut ?
Jones didn ’ t sound particularly thrilled with Poe ’ s peaceful protests when he was asked about them in September either .
“ I thought our players , I thought they gave it sensitivity , ” Jones said in September .
“ They showed respect to Poe ’ s decision .
I think they certainly did [ ... @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a team .
[ ... ] All in all , I thought our team was very real and very genuine in the way it approached it.
” He also had the following response at the time when he realized what Poe was doing : Refusing to address a situation head-on is textbook Jerry Jones , as is removing it from the equation while pretending it was never a source of contention in the first place ( See : Jason Garrett ) .
All I know is deliberately not addressing these issues is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this country .
And if Cowboys players don ’ t feel like they can be their complete selves without fear of retribution , how are they supposed to feel comfortable performing to the best of their abilities on the field ?
Do you bust your ass for a boss/job you hate ?
This team has been a perennial failure for forever now , and it ’ s safe to assume that Jerry running his organization like a plantation has a lot to do with it .

In case you haven’t noticed, the Dallas Cowboys (2-5) are pretty fucking bad this season. And while the offense has had more than its fair share of troubles, it’s the defense that should be charged with treason.
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To that end, it should come as no surprise that Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones is looking to tweak the roster, yet it’s how he’s going about doing so that’s raising eyebrows.
Defensive tackle Dontari Poe signed a two-year, $8.5 million pact with the Cowboys this offseason, but after collecting only seven tackles and no sacks, Jones has apparently decided to cut his losses and release the former Pro Bowler.
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On the surface, this isn’t much to take note of—until you remember that Poe was the only player on the entire team to protest during the national anthem. Then a light bulb appears overhead and you realize that doing so is something that Jones has been vehemently against since the dawn of time.
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In recent months, he’s sworn to extend “grace” and “understanding” to any player who decides to take a knee, but never forget this is also the same dude who spewed this bullshit in 2017:
“We cannot in any way give the implication that we tolerate disrespecting the flag. We know that there is a serious debate in this country about those issues, but there is no question in my mind, that the [NFL] and the Dallas Cowboys are going to stand up for the flag.”
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So was Poe cut for kneeling?
ESPN’s Chris Mortensen asked Jones directly if Poe’s peaceful protests factored into his decision and Jones refused to address the matter. Instead, he offered a sassy non-answer.
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“When you’re 30 pounds overweight and you’re not doing anything about what’s keeping you from performing well on the field, there is no reason to get into the other stuff,” Jones said.
The “other stuff,” of course, being Poe exercising his right to peacefully protest.
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“I understand your question, and I’m deliberately not going to answer it,” Jones continued. “We have a platform here, but the platform on the football field has a high standard, and [Poe] was not up to the standard. He needed to correct that, and he did not. I’m going to leave it at that.”
Clearly, Poe did himself no favors with his play on the field. But does anyone really believe that Poe taking a knee didn’t factor into him getting cut? Jones didn’t sound particularly thrilled with Poe’s peaceful protests when he was asked about them in September either.
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“I thought our players, I thought they gave it sensitivity,” Jones said in September. “They showed respect to Poe’s decision. I think they certainly did [...] show a sensitivity to our fans as a team. [...] All in all, I thought our team was very real and very genuine in the way it approached it.”
He also had the following response at the time when he realized what Poe was doing:
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Refusing to address a situation head-on is textbook Jerry Jones, as is removing it from the equation while pretending it was never a source of contention in the first place (See: Jason Garrett).
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All I know is deliberately not addressing these issues is exactly why we have so many within this country. And if Cowboys players don’t feel like they can be their complete selves without fear of retribution, how are they supposed to feel comfortable performing to the best of their abilities on the field? Do you bust your ass for a boss/job you hate?
This team has been a perennial failure for forever now, and it’s safe to assume that Jerry running his organization like a plantation has a lot to do with it.


theroot--2020-10-28--Shoot Your Shot With the Best Digital Cameras, According to Photographers

Never has the world of photography been so diverse , but figuring out where you belong in it can be confusing .
Almost everything has a camera now , so contemplating the best digital cameras is like trying on a new pair of jeans .
Those you love won ’ t fit right , and some will have you saying , “ Meh , I can make it work.
” And make it work you will .
Likewise , the best camera is usually the one you have with you .
For most people , this is a smartphone , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ graduate to something that affords more creative freedom , you ’ ll want a separate digital camera , and many are available for the cause .
There ’ s just one problem : with so many cameras to choose from , most of which are fantastic , even after you ’ ve settled on a particular brand or form factor , it ’ s hard enough to decide .
For the first rendition of this list , we ’ ve highlighted seven great digital cameras that fit a variety of budgets and needs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it over time to introduce more options from each of the top brands .
Sony spearheaded the mirrorless market with a meaty lineup including both APS-C and full frame options .
After several years of maturation , the company has created what I feel is one of the most impressive cameras in its range .
Especially if you can find it on sale around $ 1,800 ( body only ) , the Sony A7 III—while not the newest of the camp—is a great value for full-frame mirrorless .
The 24.2MP sensor has an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and while it won ’ t produce what I ’ d call a “ pleasant ” photo that high , you ’ ll get very little noise up to ISO 51,200 .
Put simply , this thing is a beast in low light conditions .
It bests most cameras on the market by at least one or two stops , which could be the difference between a usable photo a snapshot bound for the trash bin .
The Sony A7-III fits a variety of needs .
With a 10fps silent shutter , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sports , children playing , and other fast-motion scenes in a powerful buffer-filling burst .
Its impressive autofocus system has up to 693 focus points in its phase-detection system covering about 93 % of your screen , and with features like Eye-AF , Sony makes it easy to produce sharp photos .
It also has some of the best battery life you ’ ll find in a mirrorless camera thanks to Sony ’ s upgraded NP-FZ100 battery .
For video users , the Sony A7 III offers full-frame 4K at 24fps with in-body @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t need it ! )
, and you can sacrifice some of those pixels to reach 30fps .
If you stick to 1080p , you ’ ll be able to reach up to 120fps for slow-motion editing .
Although considered “ entry-level ” gear by seasoned photographers , the A7-III packs plenty of pro features like a dual microSD slot , a dedicated exposure dial , and tons of customizable buttons .
You ’ ll need to contend with a messy and confusing menu system , but once set up and mastered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to use .
Fujifilm ’ s excellent mirrorless cameras just keep getting better and better , and this year ’ s Fujifilm X-T4 is the best yet .
With a new shutter system , an extended battery , in-body image stabilization , and other handy upgrades , it ’ s one of the most capable mirrorless options on the market today .
Gizmodo ’ s Sam Rutherford went hands-on earlier this year and shared his impressions : Releasing in mid-November , the Fujifilm X-S10 takes the heart of the X-X4 and crams it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which might bother Fujifilm purists but is meant to appeal to a much wider and less-hardcore section of the snapshot-snagging public .
Gizmodo ’ s Sam Rutherford came away impressed after his time with it and explains : If you ’ re looking for something akin to traditional point-and-shoots of old , look no further than the viewfinder of the Panasonic ZS200 .
Unlike the options we presented above , the ZS200 doesn ’ t have an interchangeable lens system , but that doesn ’ t doom you from an image quality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t match a solid cylinder of removable glass , the 15x zoom Leica DC lens ( equivalent to 24-360mm on a 35mm body ) can produce decent bokeh ( background blur ) effects thanks to its f/3.3-6.4 max aperture .
Combined with a 12,800 maximum ISO , the one-inch MOS sensor has surprisingly potent low light performance .
The Lumix ZS200 supports 4K video recording at up to 30 frames per second , all of it kept steady with built-in stabilization .
Don ’ t let looks fool you , either : this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of options and features .
You can set and forget with its wide variety of preset modes ; however , you ’ ll also get manual shooting modes to dial in the perfect settings for exposure or artistic effect .
The Panasonic ZS200 is a fantastic bridge to give you more control over your photography if you ’ re not ready to leave this convenient form factor behind .
We ’ ve got a handful of smartphones shooting 8K video now , and most of the top ones shoot 4K with ease .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 3,500 on a dedicated 4K video camera ?
How about incredible autofocus and low-light shooting capabilities , stellar slow-mo skills , and excellent design and battery life ?
Those are among the perks of Sony ’ s A7Siii , which is one serious beast of a video camera .
It ’ s not the best for stills and it won ’ t record audio on its own , but if you ’ re looking for something that ’ ll shoot pro-grade 4K video — more than your smartphone will deliver — there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Brent Rose convince you in his full review , which concludes : When you ’ re roaming the unbeaten path , there ’ s no substitution for a GoPro .
Although it ’ s praised mostly for its 4K video recording capabilities , the GoPro Hero8 Black also snaps decent photos .
It ’ s not as flexible as other action cam options given its single focal length and noted lack of manual controls , but you ’ re still afforded a respectable suite of customizable settings to match your scene @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that includes underwater shots .
Alongside dust and shock resistance , you can submerge the GoPro Hero 8 in waters up to 33 meters deep , ideal for capturing modest aquatic adventures .
The GoPro Hero 8 includes the company ’ s HyperSmooth 2.0 image stabilization , and while it can ’ t deliver gimbal-level stability , you ’ ll be surprised how much camera shake it eliminates .
That means you can simply strap one to your helmet or chest strap , hit the road , and then share your exciting life @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The idea of handing off your digital camera or smartphone to a young child for some on-the-move snapping is frankly terrifying , so why not get your kid something more his or her speed ?
VTech ’ s KidiZoom Duo DX is an affordable , durable digital camera that lets kids take real photos and transfer them to a computer , if desired .
With a 5-megapixel main camera onboard alongside a 2MP selfie cam , the KidiZoom Duo DX is more suited for entertainment than snagging any truly noteworthy shots , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get young photographers familiar with camera functionality without fretting about the hardware itself .
It ’ s available in multiple styles too , and it ’ ll give your kid a true sense of ownership over his or her camera rather than having you helicopter overhead while handling your device .

Quentyn Kennemer and Andrew Hayward on Roundups, shared by Gabe Carey to The Root

Top Product: Sony ZV-1 Camera | $698 | Amazon
Photography is more accessible than ever before, because nearly all of us have a camera tucked away in our pocket. It means that taking a picture of something beautiful or entertaining is a breeze, and it can also mean that more people discover just how much they love taking photographs. If that sounds like you, or someone you know, then there’s a good chance that you’ll want to stoke that passion and move on to more advanced cameras.
There’s a lot to be said about the benefits of upgrading from your smartphone to a proper dedicated camera too. You gain more control over things like white balance, focus, and exposure. You can then play around with the way your images look, and maybe even try and come up with a signature style.
It’s a lot of fun, but to do all of that, you’re going to need a camera. While you can still pick up a more traditional camera if you want to, you’re generally going to be better off grabbing a nice digital one. That’s especially true if you’re already a fan of photo editing anyway. We’ve gone ahead and picked some of the best digital cameras around, so get stuck in.
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Sony has done a truly incredible job of making cameras, and the Sony a7 III is a monstrous device. It features a truly absurd ISO range, reaching all the way up to 204,800, which means you can take pictures in darkness that other cameras can’t even see in. It has a 24.2MP sensor, too, which only helps to augment the proper of this thing even more.
It’s also full to the brim with features to allow photographers to fine-tune what they’re doing with it to fit the situation they’re in. That means things like a 10fps silent shutter can be used to allow you to get excellent stills of things that would normally come out a little blurry. That means you can be confident when taking snaps of anything from a bird in flight, to your kids yeeting frisbees to each other. It also has an amazon autofocus system, with up to 693 focus points in its phase-detection system. Plus, it’s got an incredible battery life too, thanks to the upgraded NP-FZ100 battery.
Finally, if you’re more interested in video more than photos, then you’ll be happy to know that the Sony a7 III can manage full-frame 4k at 24fps, and even includes in-body image stabilization. You can, if you want to, go with 1080p resolution to reach up to 120fps, which should be more than enough for almost any product. It also includes a dual microSD slot, a dedicated exposure dial, and a bunch of customizable buttons to truly make this camera your own. It’s a lot to deal with at once, but if you pick up a Sony a7 III, then you’ll have plenty of time to learn the ropes.
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It’s no great surprise that Fujifilm are one of the best out there for digital cameras, and on the mirrorless front, the Fujifilm X-T4 is absolutely amazing. It features a new shutter system, one of the longest-lasting batteries they’ve made, and even things like in-body image stabilisation too. It’s got a bunch of other features as well, but rather than listening to us talk about them, you can just look at this little except from Gizmodo’s Sam Rutherford who checked it out and said this:
“When I got a chance to test the X-T4 briefly in and around Grand Central Station, I simply had a blast. [...] And despite the lousy weather outside and the dim lighting inside the train station, the X-T4 impressed with some good looking photos that captured a lot of the fine details like the brickwork and intricate celestial mural painted on Grand Central’s ceiling.”
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Best Mirrorless Camera for Beginners: Fujifilm X-S10
If you’re not quite hardcore enough to spend well over a grand on a camera body but still want something that can smash out brilliant shots, consider the Fujifilm X-S10 instead. It essentially takes the heart of the aforementioned X-T4 and somehow crams it into a more compact shell. The revised controls might rub Fujifilm aficionados the wrong way, but it’s not meant for the die-hards: it’s arguably better suited for the less-hardcore snappers out there.
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Gizmodo’s Sam Rutherford came away impressed after his time with it and explains:
“For me, while the X-S10 might not make a great choice as my main workhorse camera, the combination of its size and features make a great choice for travel or a beginner who doesn’t want to lug around a big and heavy full-frame cam. And with the X-S10 starting at just $1,000 (body-only), or as a kit for $1,400 or $1,500 with either a 18-55mm or a 16-80mm lens, it’s not too expensive to be someone’s first big upgrade from a smartphone.”
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If you’re looking for something akin to traditional point-and-shoots of old, look no further than the viewfinder of the Panasonic ZS200. Unlike the options we presented above, the ZS200 doesn’t have an interchangeable lens system, but that doesn’t doom you from an image quality standpoint either. While it won’t match a solid cylinder of removable glass, the 15x zoom Leica DC lens (equivalent to 24-360mm on a 35mm body) can produce decent bokeh (background blur) effects thanks to its f/3.3-6.4 max aperture. Combined with a 12,800 maximum ISO, the one-inch MOS sensor has surprisingly potent low light performance. The Lumix ZS200 supports 4K video recording at up to 30 frames per second, all of it kept steady with built-in stabilization.
Don’t let looks fool you, either: this is an exceptionally versatile camera in terms of options and features. You can set and forget with its wide variety of preset modes; however, you’ll also get manual shooting modes to dial in the perfect settings for exposure or artistic effect. The Panasonic ZS200 is a fantastic bridge to give you more control over your photography if you’re not ready to leave this convenient form factor behind.
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With YouTube, Twitch, TikTok, and other platforms offering the potential for a wide audience and internet fame, there are oodles of content creators doing their thing these days. And Sony saw the opportunity for creators who want something more capable than a smartphone for mobile creation, yet is specifically attuned to their needs.
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The Sony ZV-1 is just that, with creator-centric aspects such as an auto-exposure algorithm that highlights your face above all, plus speedy autofocus and a forward-focused directional mic with a detachable windscreen. It all seems pretty foolproof! As one Amazon customer wrote:
“The highlight of this camera is the ease of use. You really don’t need to know technical things like which aperture to choose, which ISO or shutter speed, it does everything for you. It has auto focus (which is much better than on DSLRs) and the flip screen makes it easy to monitor yourself while you’re recording.”
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Best Digital Video Camera: Sony A7Siii
We’ve got a handful of smartphones shooting 8K video now, and most of the top ones shoot 4K with ease. Why, then, would you spend $3,500 on a dedicated 4K video camera? How about incredible autofocus and low-light shooting capabilities, stellar slow-mo skills, and excellent design and battery life?
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Those are among the perks of Sony’s A7Siii, which is one serious beast of a video camera. It’s not the best for stills and it won’t record audio on its own, but if you’re looking for something that’ll shoot pro-grade 4K video — more than your smartphone will deliver — there’s nothing better. Let Gizmodo’s Brent Rose convince you in his full review, which concludes:
“It’s the best camera for video that I’ve ever used by a huge margin. The only thing that’s keeping me from running out and selling my organs to buy this $3,500 camera is that I have dreams of one day blowing up my nature photos and seeing them on a gallery wall, and I just don’t think that’s possible with a 12MP sensor. [...] Basically if I were primarily a video shooter, and/or my photos would only live online or on Instagram, then yes, this camera is a no brainer.”
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When you’re roaming the unbeaten path, there’s no substitution for a GoPro. Although it’s praised mostly for its 4K video recording capabilities, the GoPro Hero8 Black also snaps decent photos. It’s not as flexible as other action cam options given its single focal length and noted lack of manual controls, but you’re still afforded a respectable suite of customizable settings to match your scene. And don’t forget, that includes underwater shots. Alongside dust and shock resistance, you can submerge the GoPro Hero 8 in waters up to 33 meters deep, ideal for capturing modest aquatic adventures.
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The GoPro Hero 8 includes the company’s HyperSmooth 2.0 image stabilization, and while it can’t deliver gimbal-level stability, you’ll be surprised how much camera shake it eliminates. That means you can simply strap one to your helmet or chest strap, hit the road, and then share your exciting life with built-in live streaming and cloud uploads.
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While 360-degree cameras remain a decidedly niche device, the Vecnos IQUI solves one of the biggest problems with past gadgets: it’s incredibly compact. Barely larger than a Sharpie market, it’s easy to tuck into your pocket so that you’re not weighed down by carrying an additional gadget.
Given the emphasis on size, it’s no shock that the Vecnos IQUI can’t produce image quality on par with larger, pricier models, but it does a fair job with its three primary lenses along with one pointed upwards. It’s still very niche, but if you’re looking for a 360-degree camera, this one has big perks. As Gizmodo’s Andrew Liszewski writes:
“The IQUI is a compelling redesign of camera technology that most consumers have probably forgotten about, and it genuinely solves some of the problems that made them forgettable in the first place. But $300 is a lot to spend for what is probably most consumers’ second or third camera, particularly when the technology is still kind of a novelty.”
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As of this writing, it’s 20% off the list price with a coupon clip at Amazon.
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Tired of risking a miserable fate for your digital camera or smartphone every time you hand it off to your kid? The VTech Kidizoom Duo DX might be more their speed, giving them a durable, kid-centric camera that you don’t have to worry about smashing into a billion pieces.
It’s a real digital camera that lets you transfer photos to a computer, packing a 5-megapixel main camera and 2MP selfie cam. It’s more for fun and amusement than snapping high-quality shots, but it’s a great way for young shooters to get familiar with basics like framing and focus. There are multiple colors too.
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This article was originally published by Quentyn Kennemer in October 2020 and updated with new information by Andrew Hayward on 07/14/2021.


theroot--2020-10-29--White on White Violence: Jon Ossoff Calls Sen. David Perdue a ‘Crook’ to His Face

News Editor Monique Judge : I never interrupt your stories this early , but David Perdue is not affiliated with Perdue chicken .
We ’ ve talked about this before , whenever you try to claim that Magic Johnson and his son EJ own Johnson & Johnson .
Me : So you are saying that a white man named Perdue is not related to the other white men that own Perdue chicken ?
MJ : That is exactly what I ’ m saying .
Don ’ t forget that it was Perdue who acted as if he couldn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president of the United States during a Trump rally .
And it was Perdue who was under mad scrutiny earlier this year after he made some 112 transactions in March in which he either sold off or purchased stock—including investing in a company that makes medical gear—before the rest of America was warned about the impending COVID-19 pandemic heading our way .
He claims it was all legit , either way , fuck this guy .
So it goes without saying that I ’ m rooting for Jon Ossoff , the Democratic challenger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seat , and Ossoff came out swinging in the pair ’ s final debate just days before the November election .
Ossoff called Perdue a crook right to his face , and he said it as a matter of fact because fuck this guy Perdew or P-dew or however he spells his name .
The pair met in Savannah on Wednesday night for their second and final debate , lobbing charged attacks at each other as Democrats spend heavily in the state in an attempt to flip the Senate .
Polls are neck-and-neck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a runoff if neither candidate secures 50 % of the vote .
“ It ’ s not just that you ’ re a crook , Senator , ” Ossoff said at one heated moment in the debate , referencing a series of stock trades Perdue made in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic after receiving a closed-door briefing .
“ It ’ s that you ’ re attacking the health of the people that you represent .
You did say COVID-19 was no deadlier than the flu .
You did say there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
All the while you were looking after your own assets and your own portfolio.
” Taking a page out of his master ’ s book , Perdue began lying on Ossoff , claiming he backed out of the Green New Deal ( not true ) and claiming he supported “ socialized medicine ” ( also not true ) .
Perdue has even gone as far as claiming that Ossoff is backed by the Communist Party USA ( another lie ) .
Prayerfully , Perdue will get his political ass beat and no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where the only thing he brings is his family ’ s fuck-ass chickens .

Fuck Georgia Sen. David Perdue and his family’s chickens.
News Editor Monique Judge: I never interrupt your stories this early, but David Perdue is not affiliated with Perdue chicken. We’ve talked about this before, whenever you try to claim that Magic Johnson and his son EJ own Johnson & Johnson.
Me: So you are saying that a white man named Perdue is not related to the other white men that own Perdue chicken?
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MJ: That is exactly what I’m saying.
Me: *cough* fake news *cough*
Don’t forget that it was Perdue who acted as if he couldn’t pronounce the name of the next vice president of the United States during a Trump rally. And it was Perdue who was under mad scrutiny earlier this year after he made some 112 transactions in March in which he either sold off or purchased stock—including investing in a company that makes medical gear—before the rest of America was warned about the impending COVID-19 pandemic heading our way. He claims it was all legit, either way, fuck this guy.
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So it goes without saying that I’m rooting for Jon Ossoff, the Democratic challenger to take Perdue’s Georgia Senate seat, and Ossoff came out swinging in the pair’s final debate just days before the November election.
Ossoff called Perdue a crook right to his face, and he said it as a matter of fact because fuck this guy Perdew or P-dew or however he spells his name.
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From HuffPost:
The pair met in Savannah on Wednesday night for their second and final debate, lobbing charged attacks at each other as Democrats spend heavily in the state in an attempt to flip the Senate. Polls are neck-and-neck, although the race could lead to a runoff if neither candidate secures 50% of the vote. “It’s not just that you’re a crook, Senator,” Ossoff said at one heated moment in the debate, referencing a series of stock trades Perdue made in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic after receiving a closed-door briefing. “It’s that you’re attacking the health of the people that you represent. You did say COVID-19 was no deadlier than the flu. You did say there would be no significant uptick in cases. All the while you were looking after your own assets and your own portfolio.”
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Taking a page out of his master’s book, Perdue began lying on Ossoff, claiming he backed out of the Green New Deal (not true) and claiming he supported “socialized medicine” (also not true). Perdue has even gone as far as claiming that Ossoff is backed by the Communist Party USA (another lie).
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Prayerfully, Perdue will get his political ass beat and no longer have a seat at the table where the only thing he brings is his family’s fuck-ass chickens.


theroot--2020-10-29--Body and Dash Camera Footage of Marcellis Stinnette Shooting by Illinois Police Released

Last week , The Root reported that 19-year old Marcellis Stinnette was fatally shot by a police officer in Waukegan , Ill.—a suburb of Chicago—while sitting in the passenger seat of a car his girlfriend , Tafara Williams , was driving on Oct. 20 .
Williams was also shot but survived her wounds , and as she recovered in the hospital over the weekend , she spoke out from her bed calling for justice and lamenting that “ my son don ’ t have a father no more , but I ’ m fighting for him , and I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ m trying to be strong.
” On Wednesday , Waukegan police released body camera and dashcam footage of the altercation that began when an officer “ was investigating an occupied vehicle , ” according to a press release , NBC News reports .
The released footage doesn ’ t show everything , but it does shed some light on what occurred that night .
The body camera footage released Wednesday did not show the officer approaching the vehicle but began when he asked for the couple ’ s names .
It was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recording .
The two-minute video starts as the officer asks whether Stinnette is “ that dude that got in an accident ” and then asks their name .
It sounds as if Stinnette tells the officer that his name is King , and the officer responds , “ I thought you were one of the Stinnette kids ” and approaches the car .
The officer asks if his name is Marcellis , and then informs him he is under arrest .
“ Why ?
” Williams is heard asking in the video .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ were free to leave or under arrest .
She said she began to drive away as the officer stepped away from her car to make a cellphone call .
In the body camera footage , the officer can be heard telling Stinnette three times that he is under arrest .
The second time , the officer says Stinnette “ got a warrant.
” The footage shows the officer telling Stinnette to exit the vehicle , with his hand on the car , when Williams speeds off .
“ Hey , they just ran @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the car drives away .
It ’ s unclear from the video whether the car made any contact with the officer .
In dashcam footage taken from the car of the officer who fired the shots—who still hasn ’ t been named but was fired last Friday for “ multiple police and procedure violations , ” according to the Associated Press—the officer is seen in pursuit of Williams ’ car .
The car eventually pulls over and the officer pulls up behind her .
Williams ’ car is only partially visible in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether the officer exited his car , but he can be heard shouting at her to “ get out of the fucking car ” just before Williams appears to reverse and shots are heard .
Security video caught Williams crashing her car presumably after the shooting began .
“ There was a crash , and I lost control .
The officer was shooting at us .
The car ended up slamming into a building .
I kept screaming , ‘ I don ’ t have a gun !
’ but he kept shooting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the video does not make clear whether Williams made the statements as the officer fired .
Body camera footage from the second officer picks up after the shooting , with the officer standing across the street from Williams and Stinnette , who remain in the car near a building .
That video begins with Williams yelling that the couple “ didn ’ t do anything wrong ” at the officer who fired the shots .
“ I was right behind you and you almost tried to run me over , ” the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ begin asking what happened and who was shot .
At one point , Williams yells , “ why did you shoot us ” and “ all I did was reverse.
” Her attention then turns to Stinnette .
“ He got shot , he got shot , ” Williams yelled .
“ Please help.
” CNN reports that attorneys representing Williams ’ family say the officer had no reason to fire so many shots and they questioned why his body camera wasn ’ t turned on .
“ It ’ s very sad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see the truth by video , but instead it ’ s going to be left up to the legal team to reconstruct and re-animate this event in order to get us as close to transparency as we can , ” attorney Antonio Romanucci said Wednesday , CNN reports .
Civil attorney Ben Crump is also representing Williams and he told reporters that the officer who shot the couple either wasn ’ t well trained or he “ intentionally and consciously made an effort not to turn on the bodycam video so we would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the death of Marcellis Stinnette and the horrific injuries to Tafara Williams.
” “ There was no need to use this excessive deadly force , ” Crump continued .
“ It was a traffic stop .
You have the tags .
You know who they are .
Why do you have to shoot them ?
Why do you have to kill Black people by shooting first and asking questions later when we see over and over again in other communities , in other neighborhoods you show great restraint ?
What is it about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to pull triggers ?
” According to CNN , the Illinois State Police is leading the investigation into the shooting and the Lake County State ’ s Attorney ’ s Office will decide if anyone involved in the altercation will be charged with crimes .
Lake County attorney Michael Nerheim said that if no criminal charges are filed , he will make the investigative file public .

Last week, The Root reported that 19-year old Marcellis Stinnette was fatally shot by a police officer in Waukegan, Ill.—a suburb of Chicago—while sitting in the passenger seat of a car his girlfriend, Tafara Williams, was driving on Oct. 20.
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Williams was also shot but survived her wounds, and as she recovered in the hospital over the weekend, she spoke out from her bed calling for justice and lamenting that “my son don’t have a father no more, but I’m fighting for him, and I’m in this hospital, and I’m trying to be strong.”
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On Wednesday, Waukegan police released body camera and dashcam footage of the altercation that began when an officer “was investigating an occupied vehicle,” according to a press release, NBC News reports. The released footage doesn’t show everything, but it does shed some light on what occurred that night.
From NBC:
The body camera footage released Wednesday did not show the officer approaching the vehicle but began when he asked for the couple’s names. It was unclear what happened before the video started recording. The two-minute video starts as the officer asks whether Stinnette is “that dude that got in an accident” and then asks their name. It sounds as if Stinnette tells the officer that his name is King, and the officer responds, “I thought you were one of the Stinnette kids” and approaches the car. The officer asks if his name is Marcellis, and then informs him he is under arrest. “Why?” Williams is heard asking in the video. “Because I said,” the officer said. Williams said Tuesday she asked if they were free to leave or under arrest. She said she began to drive away as the officer stepped away from her car to make a cellphone call. In the body camera footage, the officer can be heard telling Stinnette three times that he is under arrest. The second time, the officer says Stinnette “got a warrant.” The footage shows the officer telling Stinnette to exit the vehicle, with his hand on the car, when Williams speeds off. “Hey, they just ran me over,” the officer shouts as the car drives away. It’s unclear from the video whether the car made any contact with the officer.
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In dashcam footage taken from the car of the officer who fired the shots—who still hasn’t been named but was fired last Friday for “multiple police and procedure violations,” according to the Associated Press—the officer is seen in pursuit of Williams’ car. The car eventually pulls over and the officer pulls up behind her. Williams’ car is only partially visible in the footage and it’s unclear whether the officer exited his car, but he can be heard shouting at her to “get out of the fucking car” just before Williams appears to reverse and shots are heard. Security video caught Williams crashing her car presumably after the shooting began.
More from NBC:
“There was a crash, and I lost control. The officer was shooting at us. The car ended up slamming into a building. I kept screaming, ‘I don’t have a gun!’ but he kept shooting,” Williams said. The audio from the video does not make clear whether Williams made the statements as the officer fired. Body camera footage from the second officer picks up after the shooting, with the officer standing across the street from Williams and Stinnette, who remain in the car near a building. That video begins with Williams yelling that the couple “didn’t do anything wrong” at the officer who fired the shots. “I was right behind you and you almost tried to run me over,” the officer yells. Backup officers arrive and begin asking what happened and who was shot. At one point, Williams yells, “why did you shoot us” and “all I did was reverse.” Her attention then turns to Stinnette. “He got shot, he got shot,” Williams yelled. “Please help.”
CNN reports that attorneys representing Williams’ family say the officer had no reason to fire so many shots and they questioned why his body camera wasn’t turned on.
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“It’s very sad that we will not be able to see the truth by video, but instead it’s going to be left up to the legal team to reconstruct and re-animate this event in order to get us as close to transparency as we can,” attorney Antonio Romanucci said Wednesday, CNN reports.
Civil attorney Ben Crump is also representing Williams and he told reporters that the officer who shot the couple either wasn’t well trained or he “intentionally and consciously made an effort not to turn on the bodycam video so we would not see what they did to cause the death of Marcellis Stinnette and the horrific injuries to Tafara Williams.”
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“There was no need to use this excessive deadly force,” Crump continued. “It was a traffic stop. You have the tags. You know who they are. Why do you have to shoot them? Why do you have to kill Black people by shooting first and asking questions later when we see over and over again in other communities, in other neighborhoods you show great restraint? What is it about young Black people that makes police officers want to pull triggers?”
According to CNN, the Illinois State Police is leading the investigation into the shooting and the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office will decide if anyone involved in the altercation will be charged with crimes. Lake County attorney Michael Nerheim said that if no criminal charges are filed, he will make the investigative file public.


theroot--2020-10-29--After Grand Jurors Speak Out, Breonna Taylor’s Mother Wants Case Reviewed by an Independent Prosecut

After Grand Jurors Speak Out, Breonna Taylor’s Mother Wants Case Reviewed by an Independent Prosecutor and New Grand Jury

Breonna Taylor ’ s mother has expressed her disapproval of how the Kentucky attorney general handled her daughter ’ s case and has formally requested for the case to be presented to a new grand jury by an independent prosecutor .
CNN reports that Tamika Palmer submitted a request for relief to the Kentucky Prosecutors Advisory Council , saying that state Attorney General Daniel Cameron ’ s handling of the case “ undermines the trust and integrity of the entire process.
” Breonna Taylor was killed in her home earlier this year when three Louisville Metro Police officers opened fire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ September , Cameron announced that former LMPD officer Brett Hankinson would be charged with wanton endangerment due to bullets that went into the apartment next door .
None of the officers involved in the shooting were charged with Taylor ’ s death .
“ At minimum , my daughter deserves , as do all aggrieved victims , a competent and capable prosecution team which is committed to properly investigating the case , evaluating the law from an unbiased lens , presenting the evidence and allowing the grand jurors to perform the functions guaranteed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Palmer wrote .
Cameron has been under scrutiny since the charges were announced , with the attorney general admitting in a September interview with WDRB that he didn ’ t pursue murder charges for Officers Myles Cosgrove and Jonathan Mattingly .
“ Ultimately , our judgment is that the charge that we could prove at trial beyond a reasonable doubt was for wanton endangerment against Mr. Hankison , ” Cameron told the news outlet .
Two anonymous members of the grand jury have since spoken up over the indictment , saying they disagreed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ present wanton endangerment charges .
They expressed frustration with the entire process during an interview with CBS News .
“ They didn ’ t give us the charges upfront…when they gave us all of that testimony , over 20-something hours , and then to say that these are the only charges that they ’ re coming up with , it ’ s like , ‘ Well , what did we just sit through ?
’ ” Juror No .
2 told CBS .
The juror went on to say there was an “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was revealed that only the wanton endangerment charges would be filed .
“ They never gave us the opportunity to deliberate on anything but the charges for Hankison .
That was it , ” Juror No .
2 said .
“ There were several more charges that could have gone forward on all of those officers or at least the 3 shooters.
” Juror No .
1 believed there was enough evidence presented to justify homicide charges against the officers .
“ I mean , just all of the evidence there—as we were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this was leading up to something like that , ” Juror No .
1 told CBS .
Palmer is thankful that the jurors put “ themselves and their freedom in jeopardy ” by speaking out on the process .
She added that her family “ would have remained in the dark as to these lies expressed by AG Cameron , ” had they not come forward .
She felt Cameron was untruthful in telling her that his office had taken every course of action to indict the officers .
Palmer described the day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drove an hour to Cameron ’ s office to meet with him .
He told her his office was only able to obtain an indictment for Hankison , she said .
“ The Attorney General advised me that the grand jury declined to indict other officers and that his team had done the best they could , ” Palmer said .
“ AG Cameron and one of his prosecutors then advised me that I should consider finding peace through the Lord and watched as I sobbed uncontrollably.
” Palmer said she stopped and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ highway on her drive back to Louisville after the meeting .
Palmer went on to say that she felt Cameron “ deprived ” the grand jurors of the right to charge the officers for crimes related to the gunshots fired “ into [ Taylor ’ s ] body and into the homes of black neighbors living above and behind her.
” Lonita Baker , Palmer ’ s attorney , told CNN the information provided by the jurors revealed Cameron ’ s process was fundamentally “ flawed ” and not in line with Kentucky @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we seek to have an independent prosecutor appointed to present a full and unbiased case to a new grand jury , ” Baker said in a statement to CNN .
Cameron himself is a member of the Kentucky Prosecutors Advisory Council , and Palmer has asked for Cameron to recuse himself from this decision .

Breonna Taylor’s mother has expressed her disapproval of how the Kentucky attorney general handled her daughter’s case and has formally requested for the case to be presented to a new grand jury by an independent prosecutor.
CNN reports that Tamika Palmer submitted a request for relief to the Kentucky Prosecutors Advisory Council, saying that state Attorney General Daniel Cameron’s handling of the case “undermines the trust and integrity of the entire process.” Breonna Taylor was killed in her home earlier this year when three Louisville Metro Police officers opened fire during a botched no-knock raid.
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In September, Cameron announced that former LMPD officer Brett Hankinson would be charged with wanton endangerment due to bullets that went into the apartment next door. None of the officers involved in the shooting were charged with Taylor’s death.
“At minimum, my daughter deserves, as do all aggrieved victims, a competent and capable prosecution team which is committed to properly investigating the case, evaluating the law from an unbiased lens, presenting the evidence and allowing the grand jurors to perform the functions guaranteed to them under the law,” Palmer wrote.
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Cameron has been under scrutiny since the charges were announced, with the attorney general admitting in a September interview with WDRB that he didn’t pursue murder charges for Officers Myles Cosgrove and Jonathan Mattingly. “Ultimately, our judgment is that the charge that we could prove at trial beyond a reasonable doubt was for wanton endangerment against Mr. Hankison,” Cameron told the news outlet.
Two anonymous members of the grand jury have since spoken up over the indictment, saying they disagreed with Cameron’s decision to only present wanton endangerment charges. They expressed frustration with the entire process during an interview with CBS News.
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“They didn’t give us the charges upfront…when they gave us all of that testimony, over 20-something hours, and then to say that these are the only charges that they’re coming up with, it’s like, ‘Well, what did we just sit through?’” Juror No. 2 told CBS. The juror went on to say there was an “uproar” among the jurors when it was revealed that only the wanton endangerment charges would be filed.
“They never gave us the opportunity to deliberate on anything but the charges for Hankison. That was it,” Juror No. 2 said. “There were several more charges that could have gone forward on all of those officers or at least the 3 shooters.”
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Juror No. 1 believed there was enough evidence presented to justify homicide charges against the officers. “I mean, just all of the evidence there—as we were listening to it, we were sure this was leading up to something like that,” Juror No. 1 told CBS.
Palmer is thankful that the jurors put “themselves and their freedom in jeopardy” by speaking out on the process. She added that her family “would have remained in the dark as to these lies expressed by AG Cameron,” had they not come forward. She felt Cameron was untruthful in telling her that his office had taken every course of action to indict the officers.
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From CNN:
Palmer described the day the indictment came down, saying she drove an hour to Cameron’s office to meet with him. He told her his office was only able to obtain an indictment for Hankison, she said. “The Attorney General advised me that the grand jury declined to indict other officers and that his team had done the best they could,” Palmer said. “AG Cameron and one of his prosecutors then advised me that I should consider finding peace through the Lord and watched as I sobbed uncontrollably.” Palmer said she stopped and got sick on the side of the highway on her drive back to Louisville after the meeting.
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Palmer went on to say that she felt Cameron “deprived” the grand jurors of the right to charge the officers for crimes related to the gunshots fired “into [Taylor’s] body and into the homes of black neighbors living above and behind her.”
Lonita Baker, Palmer’s attorney, told CNN the information provided by the jurors revealed Cameron’s process was fundamentally “flawed” and not in line with Kentucky law. “Through this process, we seek to have an independent prosecutor appointed to present a full and unbiased case to a new grand jury,” Baker said in a statement to CNN.
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Cameron himself is a member of the Kentucky Prosecutors Advisory Council, and Palmer has asked for Cameron to recuse himself from this decision.


theroot--2020-10-29--Feeling Blue About the Holidays This Year? Oprah's Network Is Gifting Us Our OWN Christmas

We know , we know—Halloween hasn ’ t even arrived yet , but we all know it ’ s a swift slide from there into Christmas , Kwanzaa and the new year , even in an already decade-long year like 2020 .
With COVID-19 spikes occurring around the country as we speak , we already know our holidays are going to look dramatically—and for those who ’ ve lost loved ones , devastatingly—different this year .
So , the timing couldn ’ t be better for OWN to announce it will kick off this most uncommon December by airing its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ titled , Our OWN Christmas .
From a press release provided to The Root : The special is set to air on Tuesday , December 1 at 9:00–10:00 p.m. ET/PT hosted by Meagan Good and DeVon Franklin .
It will feature uplifting holiday moments , surprise acts of giving as well as festive performances by iconic Grammy Award-winning gospel singers Kierra Sheard , Erica Campbell , Tasha Cobbs-Leonard and Le ’ Andria Johnson as well as legendary award-winning gospel group The Clark Sisters , R & B singer Ne-Yo , renowned R & @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more .
The Christmas special is the first of two OWN music specials produced by Holly Carter ’ s Relevé Entertainment , which produced the acclaimed biopic The Clark Sisters : The First Ladies of Gospel for Lifetime this spring .
Our OWN Christmas is part of a first-look deal Carter and Relevé now have with the network , also announced on Thursday .
OWN has provided The Root a sneak peek at the special , below .

Maiysha Kai on The Grapevine, shared by Maiysha Kai to The Root

We know, we know—Halloween hasn’t even arrived yet, but we all know it’s a swift slide from there into Christmas, Kwanzaa and the new year, even in an already decade-long year like 2020. With COVID-19 spikes occurring around the country as we speak, we already know our holidays are going to look dramatically—and for those who’ve lost loved ones, devastatingly—different this year. So, the timing couldn’t be better for OWN to announce it will kick off this most uncommon December by airing its first-ever one-hour gospel music special, aptly titled, Our OWN Christmas.
From a press release provided to The Root:
The special is set to air on Tuesday, December 1 at 9:00–10:00 p.m. ET/PT hosted by Meagan Good and DeVon Franklin. It will feature uplifting holiday moments, surprise acts of giving as well as festive performances by iconic Grammy Award-winning gospel singers Kierra Sheard, Erica Campbell, Tasha Cobbs-Leonard and Le’Andria Johnson as well as legendary award-winning gospel group The Clark Sisters, R&B singer Ne-Yo, renowned R&B group Boyz II Men and many more.
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The Christmas special is the first of two OWN music specials produced by Holly Carter’s Relevé Entertainment, which produced the acclaimed biopic The Clark Sisters: The First Ladies of Gospel for Lifetime this spring. Our OWN Christmas is part of a first-look deal Carter and Relevé now have with the network, also announced on Thursday. OWN has provided The Root a sneak peek at the special, below.


theroot--2020-10-29--For Trans Voters, 2020 Election Has Enormous Implications–And Roadblocks

She has been voting since the age of 18 and hasn ’ t missed an election , yet .
All elections have consequences , but this one is especially critical for her and many other transgender people whose rights have been decimated under the first term of the Trump Administration .
In less than four years , he has taken away healthcare rights of transgender people in the military , as well as banning them from service .
His Department of Housing and Urban Development is pushing to make it harder for trans people to seek shelter and federally-funded housing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for transgender patients by hospitals , doctors and insurance companies .
That ’ s why Moore and several other trans rights organizations and activists jumped on a conference call recently to discuss how they could support the 965,000 trans people who are eligible to vote at the polls .
“ Our lives are literally at stake during this election and [ we ] really want to send that message to the trans community , ” Moore , a trans rights activist , told The Root .
“ And also just wanting the entire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some really serious things at stake here specifically [ for ] trans people of color.
” Moore and other trans rights activists The Root spoke to said the discrimination they have faced under the Trump Administration very much mirrors the transphobia they experience when many of them try to cast a ballot .
The main issues transgender people face at the polls are with photo identification .
Some states make it difficult for trans people to get the gender marker and names they were assigned at birth switched to their chosen ones , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ poll workers because they do not visually present according to their identification .
“ That could be something that stops them from voting , ” said Diamond Stylz , executive director of Black Trans Women Inc , a national non-profit that is led by Black trans women focused on social advocacy .
“ There are trans folks that are really confident , like me , and that wouldn ’ t stop me from voting .
But then there are some trans folks , who , if you get to misgendering them , you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ll give them dysphoria at that time or an anxiety attack and they won ’ t come back to their polling location .
And in Texas , we have specific polling locations because one of the tactics of suppression is to put as few polling locations in big areas as possible , so the lines are super long .
And so these are all factors that would make somebody say , ‘ fuck it .
I ain ’ t even talking about it.
’ ” Trans people in the thirty-five states that have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they do not have identification that matches their gender identity ; 18 of those states require a photo ID .
A recent study conducted by the Williams Institute at UCLA found that more than 378,000 transgender people , or 42 percent of trans folks eligible to vote , do not have an ID that matches their true gender or name .
Trans people of color , those with disabilities and are low-income are also likely to face challenges trying to vote .
The genesis of voter ID laws , many of which are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the voting power of Black people and other non-white groups .
But they also have a discriminatory impact on trans people .
“ A poll worker might bring their own stereotypes or perceptions of what a person with a certain kind of name ought to look like , ” said David Brown , legal director at Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund.
“ Or , they think that the photo on the ID may not look like the person that ’ s standing there in front of them .
We certainly got reports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country.
” Ashley Mayfaire , who co-founded Trans Social , Inc. with her husband , Morgan Mayfaire , told The Root that voter ID laws don ’ t require that somebody ’ s gender presentation matches the name , photo or gender marker on the ID .
“ That ’ s not a legal reason for them not to be able to vote , but they face discrimination from poll workers , ” she said .
“ And there hasn ’ t been widespread communication about what to do when that happens @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affirmation form or provisional ballot processes are.
” Activists urge transgender people , like anyone else who believes they are facing discrimination at the polls , to speak with a poll station manager and not to leave without casting a provisional ballot .
You can also call 866-OUR-VOTE or 1-888-VE-Y-VOTA ( en Español ) .
Trans Social , Inc. has a guide for trans people in Florida who want to know their rights at the polls .
Stylz also brought up an important point : T here are some people who do not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ themselves or may break down if they are overwhelmed by the transphobia that they experience while voting .
So , in Texas , she has been working with other like-minded people to carpool to the polls so they can vote together .
Trans people often face abuse and discomfort on public transportation , so even getting to the polls on buses or trains would discourage people from voting .
All of these fears are in line with the fact that 2020 has been the most deadly year on record for transgender people with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Black trans women .
Mayfaire ’ s group , based in Miami-Dade , Florida , is offering free Lyft codes for trans people to get to the polls so they won ’ t have to use public transport .
Rajee Narinesing , a transgender woman of Indian and Black descent , said she dropped off her ballot in Hollywood , Fla. , where she lives , but even a simple task like that requires her to focus in ways that many people take for granted .
“ Wherever I go , I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Narinesing .
“ For instance , when I pull up to the market .
I don ’ t jump right out like a lot of people do .
A lot of times , I actually will sit in my car and assess the situation and get myself together because it ’ s like , ‘ Take a deep breath .
You ’ re going out into public and anything could come your way.
’ I don ’ t know if it ’ s really understood when you ’ re gay or trans and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it ’ s a double whammy .
It ’ s two things that you ’ re dealing with.
” Transgender rights have not been a major political conversation until this year ’ s election when presidential candidates like Elizabeth Warren and Julián Castro mainstreamed their issues into their platforms .
Barack Obama is widely credited for being the most progressive president on trans issues in U.S. history , but Trump has undone much of that work during his first term .
Moore , who is based in New Orleans , drives home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ harm what protections they have left .
And she also devotes a lot of time to educating people about the impacts of local elections and the implications for the trans community .
“ When we talk about the quality of life for people specifically in Louisiana , that means making sure we have a district department specifically in New Orleans that is affirming to trans people when it comes to making sure that they are properly housed and identified , ” she said .
“ Making sure that folks can ’ t be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gender identity .
That ’ s even happening on a national level with the HUD rule .
So these are some of the things in the attacks that have been coming down on the trans community since the president took office .
We just need a new administration .
We need a more affirming administration .
And we also need elected officials locally who are accepting and affirming and share the same vision that we have for our future.
” The work to liberate transgender people will be ongoing , regardless of who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden ahead of Trump and many traditionally blue states , while usually red states such as Georgia and Texas are in play .
Many of this year ’ s high-profile U.S. senate and house candidates are very progressive when it comes to LGBTQ+ rights and have gone on record supporting the Equality Act , which has been held up by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell .
If Democrats win the Senate , the act is almost certain to pass and be signed into law by a Biden Administration .
Moore also made clear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her politics and she educates everyone on how to best cast their ballots—regardless of their political outlooks .
As for the organizing part , Moore and her fellow activists are ready for any outcome—including if Trump wins , whose administration has been openly transphobic .
If it is Joe Biden , Moore said they won ’ t relent on his administration either .
“ We ’ ll take him to task with the promises that he made that he would reverse every single harmful executive order that Donald Trump instituted or carried out @ @

For Mariah Moore, voting is a ritual.
She has been voting since the age of 18 and hasn’t missed an election, yet. All elections have consequences, but this one is especially critical for her and many other transgender people whose rights have been decimated under the first term of the Trump Administration. In less than four years, he has taken away healthcare rights of transgender people in the military, as well as banning them from service. His Department of Housing and Urban Development is pushing to make it harder for trans people to seek shelter and federally-funded housing, and in August, erased protections for transgender patients by hospitals, doctors and insurance companies.
That’s why Moore and several other trans rights organizations and activists jumped on a conference call recently to discuss how they could support the 965,000 trans people who are eligible to vote at the polls.
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“Our lives are literally at stake during this election and [we] really want to send that message to the trans community,” Moore, a trans rights activist, told The Root. “And also just wanting the entire LGBTQ community to know that there are some really serious things at stake here specifically [for] trans people of color.”
Moore and other trans rights activists The Root spoke to said the discrimination they have faced under the Trump Administration very much mirrors the transphobia they experience when many of them try to cast a ballot. The main issues transgender people face at the polls are with photo identification. Some states make it difficult for trans people to get the gender marker and names they were assigned at birth switched to their chosen ones, so they end up facing discrimination from poll workers because they do not visually present according to their identification.
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“That could be something that stops them from voting,” said Diamond Stylz, executive director of Black Trans Women Inc, a national non-profit that is led by Black trans women focused on social advocacy. “There are trans folks that are really confident, like me, and that wouldn’t stop me from voting. But then there are some trans folks, who, if you get to misgendering them, you get to clocking them, that’ll give them dysphoria at that time or an anxiety attack and they won’t come back to their polling location. And in Texas, we have specific polling locations because one of the tactics of suppression is to put as few polling locations in big areas as possible, so the lines are super long. And so these are all factors that would make somebody say, ‘fuck it. I ain’t even talking about it.’”
Trans people in the thirty-five states that have voter ID laws often face challenges if they do not have identification that matches their gender identity; 18 of those states require a photo ID. A recent study conducted by the Williams Institute at UCLA found that more than 378,000 transgender people, or 42 percent of trans folks eligible to vote, do not have an ID that matches their true gender or name. Trans people of color, those with disabilities and are low-income are also likely to face challenges trying to vote.
Advertisement
The genesis of voter ID laws, many of which are in GOP-lead states, is to suppress the voting power of Black people and other non-white groups. But they also have a discriminatory impact on trans people.
“A poll worker might bring their own stereotypes or perceptions of what a person with a certain kind of name ought to look like,” said David Brown, legal director at Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund.“Or, they think that the photo on the ID may not look like the person that’s standing there in front of them. We certainly got reports of that from a few places around the country.”
Advertisement
Ashley Mayfaire, who co-founded Trans Social, Inc. with her husband, Morgan Mayfaire, told The Root that voter ID laws don’t require that somebody’s gender presentation matches the name, photo or gender marker on the ID.
“That’s not a legal reason for them not to be able to vote, but they face discrimination from poll workers,” she said. “And there hasn’t been widespread communication about what to do when that happens, who to call, what the affirmation form or provisional ballot processes are.”
Advertisement
Activists urge transgender people, like anyone else who believes they are facing discrimination at the polls, to speak with a poll station manager and not to leave without casting a provisional ballot. You can also call 866-OUR-VOTE or 1-888-VE-Y-VOTA (en Español). Trans Social, Inc. has a guide for trans people in Florida who want to know their rights at the polls.
Stylz also brought up an important point: T here are some people who do not have the courage to speak up for themselves or may break down if they are overwhelmed by the transphobia that they experience while voting. So, in Texas, she has been working with other like-minded people to carpool to the polls so they can vote together. Trans people often face abuse and discomfort on public transportation, so even getting to the polls on buses or trains would discourage people from voting.
Advertisement
All of these fears are in line with the fact that 2020 has been the most deadly year on record for transgender people with 32 deaths, most of whom were Black trans women.
Mayfaire’s group, based in Miami-Dade, Florida, is offering free Lyft codes for trans people to get to the polls so they won’t have to use public transport.
Advertisement
Rajee Narinesing, a transgender woman of Indian and Black descent, said she dropped off her ballot in Hollywood, Fla., where she lives, but even a simple task like that requires her to focus in ways that many people take for granted.
“Wherever I go, I’m always on alert,” said Narinesing. “For instance, when I pull up to the market. I don’t jump right out like a lot of people do. A lot of times, I actually will sit in my car and assess the situation and get myself together because it’s like, ‘Take a deep breath. You’re going out into public and anything could come your way.’ I don’t know if it’s really understood when you’re gay or trans and you’re Black or of color, it’s a double whammy. It’s two things that you’re dealing with.”
Advertisement
Transgender rights have not been a major political conversation until this year’s election when presidential candidates like Elizabeth Warren and Julián Castro mainstreamed their issues into their platforms. Barack Obama is widely credited for being the most progressive president on trans issues in U.S. history, but Trump has undone much of that work during his first term. Moore, who is based in New Orleans, drives home the message that another Trump term could harm what protections they have left. And she also devotes a lot of time to educating people about the impacts of local elections and the implications for the trans community.
“When we talk about the quality of life for people specifically in Louisiana, that means making sure we have a district department specifically in New Orleans that is affirming to trans people when it comes to making sure that they are properly housed and identified,” she said. “Making sure that folks can’t be turned away from shelters because of their gender identity. That’s even happening on a national level with the HUD rule. So these are some of the things in the attacks that have been coming down on the trans community since the president took office. We just need a new administration. We need a more affirming administration. And we also need elected officials locally who are accepting and affirming and share the same vision that we have for our future.”
Advertisement
The work to liberate transgender people will be ongoing, regardless of who wins the White House. Polling shows Biden ahead of Trump and many traditionally blue states, while usually red states such as Georgia and Texas are in play. Many of this year’s high-profile U.S. senate and house candidates are very progressive when it comes to LGBTQ+ rights and have gone on record supporting the Equality Act, which has been held up by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. If Democrats win the Senate, the act is almost certain to pass and be signed into law by a Biden Administration.
Moore also made clear that not everyone in the community shares her politics and she educates everyone on how to best cast their ballots—regardless of their political outlooks. As for the organizing part, Moore and her fellow activists are ready for any outcome—including if Trump wins, whose administration has been openly transphobic.
Advertisement
If it is Joe Biden, Moore said they won’t relent on his administration either.
“We’ll take him to task with the promises that he made that he would reverse every single harmful executive order that Donald Trump instituted or carried out.”


theroot--2020-10-29--Ciara and Russell Wilson Launch Why Not You Academy, ‘First of Many’ Public Charter Schools

Ciara and Russell Wilson are the latest celebrities to fund a charter school , a move they say extends the couple ’ s philanthropic commitment to education .
Through their Why Not You Foundation , a nonprofit aimed at improving education access , bolstering children ’ s health and fighting poverty , Wilson and Ciara will provide $ 1.75 million to help revamp the Cascade Midway Academy in Des Moines , Wash. , just south of Seattle .
The charter high school will open in fall 2021 under a new name , the Why Not You Academy , and welcome @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Seattle News Tribune , it will operate as a tuition-free public high school , and Wilson and Ciara will not be involved in the school ’ s day-to-day operations .
In an interview with the Associated Press , the couple said the school would focus on underserved Black and Latinx students , foregrounding academics , personalized student plans , internships and mentorships .
They also hope to expand the Why Not You Academy , eventually setting up campuses throughout the country .
“ I ’ m really confident ... about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we ’ re building things out , ” Ciara told the AP .
“ We ’ re passionate about everything .
We ’ re all in on this.
” Charter schools have become increasingly polarizing over the years .
Their independence from the rules that govern traditional public schools allow them to embrace innovation in curricula , scheduling and administration , such as focusing on restorative justice .
But this same independence means they also lack accountability and transparency .
Critics point out that charter schools also siphon taxpayer funds away from public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ facing dwindling budgets for decades .
Because of this , charter schools actually perpetuate education inequality in indirect ways .
Despite these concerns , a growing list of celebrities , many of them Black , have launched charter schools .
Among them are LeBron James , NFL Hall-of-Famer Deion Sanders , Magic Johnson , Will Smith , and Sean “ Diddy ” Combs .
Not all of the ventures have been successful : Sanders ’ K-12 school , Prime Prep was named the worst academic institution in North Texas before being forced to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2014 .
Wilson and Ciara told the AP that they aren ’ t making a political statement with the opening of the charter school , which builds upon the couple ’ s education-centered philanthropy .
Together , the Wilsons have supported the Rainier Scholars program in Seattle , which helps prep low-income students of color for college , and have funded a science and technology-centered girls ’ boarding school in Rwanda , the Rwanda Girls Initiative .
“ This school is a longtime dream of ours and it was important for us to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ learning with community and mentorship-based activities , in order to prepare kids for the real world , ” Wilson said in a statement .
“ Why Not You is based on the idea that it can start with one and our hope is that this school will be the first of many .
”

Anne Branigin on The Grapevine, shared by Anne Branigin to The Root

Ciara and Russell Wilson are the latest celebrities to fund a charter school, a move they say extends the couple’s philanthropic commitment to education.
Through their Why Not You Foundation, a nonprofit aimed at improving education access, bolstering children’s health and fighting poverty, Wilson and Ciara will provide $1.75 million to help revamp the Cascade Midway Academy in Des Moines, Wash., just south of Seattle.
Advertisement
The charter high school will open in fall 2021 under a new name, the Why Not You Academy, and welcome a freshman class of 100. According to the Seattle News Tribune, it will operate as a tuition-free public high school, and Wilson and Ciara will not be involved in the school’s day-to-day operations.
In an interview with the Associated Press, the couple said the school would focus on underserved Black and Latinx students, foregrounding academics, personalized student plans, internships and mentorships. They also hope to expand the Why Not You Academy, eventually setting up campuses throughout the country.
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“I’m really confident...about the team that we have here and how we’re building things out,” Ciara told the AP. “We’re passionate about everything. We’re all in on this.”
Charter schools have become increasingly polarizing over the years. Their independence from the rules that govern traditional public schools allow them to embrace innovation in curricula, scheduling and administration, such as focusing on restorative justice. But this same independence means they also lack accountability and transparency. Critics point out that charter schools also siphon taxpayer funds away from public schools, many of which have been facing dwindling budgets for decades. Because of this, charter schools actually perpetuate education inequality in indirect ways.
Advertisement
Despite these concerns, a growing list of celebrities, many of them Black, have launched charter schools. Among them are LeBron James, NFL Hall-of-Famer Deion Sanders, Magic Johnson, Will Smith, and Sean “Diddy” Combs. Not all of the ventures have been successful: Sanders’ K-12 school, Prime Prep was named the worst academic institution in North Texas before being forced to shutter by the Texas Education Agency in 2014.
Wilson and Ciara told the AP that they aren’t making a political statement with the opening of the charter school, which builds upon the couple’s education-centered philanthropy. Together, the Wilsons have supported the Rainier Scholars program in Seattle, which helps prep low-income students of color for college, and have funded a science and technology-centered girls’ boarding school in Rwanda, the Rwanda Girls Initiative.
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“This school is a longtime dream of ours and it was important for us to find a way to combine traditional classroom learning with community and mentorship-based activities, in order to prepare kids for the real world,” Wilson said in a statement. “Why Not You is based on the idea that it can start with one and our hope is that this school will be the first of many.”


theroot--2020-10-29--Check on It: Ivy Park 'Drip 2' Is More Accessible All Around

One of the best qualities a creator can have is to listen to ( constructive ) feedback and adjust accordingly—and it appears Beyoncé and Adidas have done exactly that with their second collaborative drop of Ivy Park .
Following criticisms that the relaunch of the brand was both cost-prohibitive to most and lacking inclusivity , “ Drip 2 '' not only debuted Thursday with a fresh new palette but a new price point and size range .
As reported by Fashionista : “ This Ivy Park collection also represents the brand ’ s foray into extended sizes , with pieces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the brand confirms to Fashionista .
Plus , ‘ Drip 2 ' is reasonably priced , all under $ 200.
” While $ 200 is still a lot of money to many ( especially amid an ongoing pandemic and resulting economic crisis ) , the simultaneous price- and body-consciousness of the brand is no doubt welcome to those looking to indulge in a little athleisure during this era of heightened at-home luxury , work , workouts , and pretty much everything else we can manage .
After all , as Beyoncé notes in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ When you have nowhere to go , what do you do ?
”

Maiysha Kai on The Glow Up, shared by Maiysha Kai to The Root

One of the best qualities a creator can have is to listen to (constructive) feedback and adjust accordingly—and it appears Beyoncé and Adidas have done exactly that with their second collaborative drop of Ivy Park. Following criticisms that the relaunch of the brand was both cost-prohibitive to most and lacking inclusivity, “Drip 2" not only debuted Thursday with a fresh new palette but a new price point and size range.
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As reported by Fashionista: “This Ivy Park collection also represents the brand’s foray into extended sizes, with pieces available in sizes XXXS through 4X, the brand confirms to Fashionista. Plus, ‘Drip 2' is reasonably priced, all under $200.”
While $200 is still a lot of money to many (especially amid an ongoing pandemic and resulting economic crisis), the simultaneous price- and body-consciousness of the brand is no doubt welcome to those looking to indulge in a little athleisure during this era of heightened at-home luxury, work, workouts, and pretty much everything else we can manage. After all, as Beyoncé notes in her teaser of the line, “When you have nowhere to go, what do you do?”