theroot--2020-10-15--The 'Law and Order' Party Is Just Not Going to Follow the Law, Continue to Use Unofficial Ballot Box

The 'Law and Order' Party Is Just Not Going to Follow the Law, Continue to Use Unofficial Ballot Boxes in California

Despite state election officials sending a cease and desist order , the California Republican Party said it will not remove its unofficial ballot boxes .
According to CNN , unofficial ballot boxes have been found in the counties of Fresno , Los Angeles , Orange , and Ventura .
California Republican Party spokesman Hector Barajas sent a statement to CNN indicating its “ ballot harvesting program will continue.
” In a letter to Alex Padilla , California ’ s s ecretary of s tate , attorneys for the GOP argued the boxes aren ’ t illegal because they ’ re @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at a Castaic church was outside ) , aren ’ t labeled official ( even though the one found at the Castaic church was labeled official ) , and they have people monitoring them ( the one found at the Castaic church was looking pretty lonely to me in the picture , just saying . )
“ The California Republican Party did not promote , or authorize the promotion of , the secure boxes as ‘ official mail drop boxes , ’ ” the letter states .
“ When we learned that a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was used in some locations on Saturday , October , 10 , 2020 , we corrected that error immediately and within hours.
” A spokesperson for Padilla said that the secretary ’ s office is reviewing the GOP letter and is in the process of deciding next steps .
Padilla and California ’ s Attorney General Xavier Becerra , both Democrats , have called the unofficial ballot boxes illegal , according to PBS News .
They both fear that the unofficial boxes are a form of voter suppression because they will sow confusion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ballot harvesting , itself , isn ’ t illegal in California .
The difference here is that most ballot harvesting operations typically involve going door-to-door to pick up individual ballots , not advertising you have an “ official ballot box.
” Republicans have long gone after mail-in voting and ballot harvesting , saying the practices innately lead to fraud without , you know , providing any evidence that they do .
President Trump has been one of the most vocal critics of mail-in voting and ballot drop boxes .
He has frequently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be fraudulent because the pandemic has resulted in an election that will be conducted largely by mail .
Despite saying the practice leads to voter fraud , Trump has encouraged the California GOP to continue its ballot harvesting operation .
“ You mean only Democrats are allowed to do this ?
But haven ’ t the Dems been doing this for years ?
See you in court .
Fight hard Republicans !
” Trump tweeted Tuesday night .
Quick note , it ’ s legal for any party to ballot harvest in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s done in person .
The question of legality mainly arises from the usage of unofficial ballot boxes that aren ’ t subject to the same rules and regulations as official ones .
“ We have been opposed to ballot harvesting and Republicans are still opposed to ballot harvesting , but we have a choice .
We can either whine and complain about the election results later or we can get smart and figure out the rules and figure out the chess board they laid out before us and play the game that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told KABC .
He added that they may even expand their practice because it ’ s been going so well .
The California GOP neglected to tell officials if there are more unofficial ballot boxes than the four that have been found , and where they may be located within the state .
California took the step of sending mail-in ballots to every active registered voter to encourage remote voting , and Padilla ’ s office has said that 1.5 million vote-by-mail ballots have already been returned .
At this point in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early ballots had been returned in the state .
So , to my California peeps , should you have any concerns about where to find an official ballot box , you can contact your local registrar ’ s office for a list of locations .
Also , the Secretary of State ’ s website provides a comprehensive tool that allows you to find official polling locations in your area .

Despite state election officials sending a cease and desist order, the California Republican Party said it will not remove its unofficial ballot boxes.
According to CNN, unofficial ballot boxes have been found in the counties of Fresno, Los Angeles, Orange, and Ventura. California Republican Party spokesman Hector Barajas sent a statement to CNN indicating its “ballot harvesting program will continue.”
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In a letter to Alex Padilla, California’s s ecretary of s tate, attorneys for the GOP argued the boxes aren’t illegal because they’re indoors (even though the one found at a Castaic church was outside), aren’t labeled official (even though the one found at the Castaic church was labeled official), and they have people monitoring them (the one found at the Castaic church was looking pretty lonely to me in the picture, just saying.)
“The California Republican Party did not promote, or authorize the promotion of, the secure boxes as ‘official mail drop boxes,’” the letter states. “When we learned that a sign using the word ‘official’ was used in some locations on Saturday, October, 10, 2020, we corrected that error immediately and within hours.”
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Lol OK , b.
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A spokesperson for Padilla said that the secretary’s office is reviewing the GOP letter and is in the process of deciding next steps. Padilla and California’s Attorney General Xavier Becerra, both Democrats, have called the unofficial ballot boxes illegal, according to PBS News. They both fear that the unofficial boxes are a form of voter suppression because they will sow confusion with voters.
It should be noted that ballot harvesting, itself, isn’t illegal in California. The difference here is that most ballot harvesting operations typically involve going door-to-door to pick up individual ballots, not advertising you have an “official ballot box.”
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My bad, “unofficial.”
Republicans have long gone after mail-in voting and ballot harvesting, saying the practices innately lead to fraud without, you know, providing any evidence that they do. President Trump has been one of the most vocal critics of mail-in voting and ballot drop boxes. He has frequently implied that this year’s election will be fraudulent because the pandemic has resulted in an election that will be conducted largely by mail.
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Despite saying the practice leads to voter fraud, Trump has encouraged the California GOP to continue its ballot harvesting operation. “You mean only Democrats are allowed to do this? But haven’t the Dems been doing this for years? See you in court. Fight hard Republicans!” Trump tweeted Tuesday night.
Quick note, it’s legal for any party to ballot harvest in California, as long as it’s done in person. The question of legality mainly arises from the usage of unofficial ballot boxes that aren’t subject to the same rules and regulations as official ones.
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“We have been opposed to ballot harvesting and Republicans are still opposed to ballot harvesting, but we have a choice. We can either whine and complain about the election results later or we can get smart and figure out the rules and figure out the chess board they laid out before us and play the game that they’re doing,” Barajas told KABC. He added that they may even expand their practice because it’s been going so well.
The California GOP neglected to tell officials if there are more unofficial ballot boxes than the four that have been found, and where they may be located within the state.
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California took the step of sending mail-in ballots to every active registered voter to encourage remote voting, and Padilla’s office has said that 1.5 million vote-by-mail ballots have already been returned. At this point in the election cycle in 2016, only 150,000 early ballots had been returned in the state.
So, to my California peeps, should you have any concerns about where to find an official ballot box, you can contact your local registrar’s office for a list of locations. Also, the Secretary of State’s website provides a comprehensive tool that allows you to find official polling locations in your area.


theroot--2020-10-15--On 3rd Anniversary of Viral Hashtag, Me Too Announces New Tools, Programs to End Sexual Violence as

On 3rd Anniversary of Viral Hashtag, Me Too Announces New Tools, Programs to End Sexual Violence as We Know It

Almost as soon as “ Me Too ” became part of the mainstream lexicon when discussing sexual assault , harassment and gender violence , pundits debated whether the viral hashtag was a moment or a movement .
On Thursday , the third anniversary of the hashtag receiving international attention , Me Too founder Tarana Burke has a clear answer : ending sexual violence is both achievable and within reach , and she wants to give people the tools they need to dismantle it .
A phrase first coined by Burke in 2006 , “ Me Too ” went viral as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of reporting on sexual abuse in high-profile industries .
Me Too is now a nonprofit organization with a new CEO , Dani Ayers , announced today ( Burke remains its executive director ) .
The organization also unveiled a new platform , Act Too , alongside a slew of initiatives to help survivors of sexual violence and their allies find support and channel their political and social power .
“ When I started ‘ Me Too ’ in 2006 , I knew how powerful the collective voices and stories of survivors would be—what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expansive and accessible this technology would allow our movement to be , ” said Burke in a statement .
“ It was never just about being a hashtag , but about finding ways to turn our experiences into long-term , sustainable change .
Taking action towards ending sexual violence is possible to anyone who wants to be heard , to get involved , and to join us in this work.
” “ Over the past three years , we ’ ve seen more survivors , advocates and allies speak up and step up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ means to actually end sexual violence through public acknowledgment , accountability , and action , ” said Ayers .
“ I ’ m excited to join Tarana as we continue elevating and activating the 19 million who made it so that sexual violence will never again be taboo.
” Among the programs Me Too unveiled Thursday are Survivor ’ s Vote , a policy-oriented multiracial , multi-issue coalition that is organizing to create a “ Survivor ’ s Agenda ” to share with law and policymakers ; a Survivor Healing Series , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trauma survivors to help them build skills , knowledge and resources to empower them and support their healing ; and an HBCU fellowship program that will help interested students develop their leadership skills and advocate for survivors ’ issues on their campuses .
The nonprofit also launched a new platform , Act Too , which helps survivors and their supporters remain active and engaged in combating gender violence .
“ Today , we all have a chance to write another chapter powered by everyday activism , as simple as joining a march or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a trailer for the Act Too campaign .
The platform aims to do this by allowing users to see over 1,000 curated suggestions for actions to stay civically engaged , including volunteering at shelters , signing petitions or training in bystander interventions .
Act Too users can create personalized plans with these suggestions , creating “ to-do ” lists for their activism that they can check off as they go .
Once they take an action—say , joining a local march—the platform will permanently archive it into a blockchain record , digitally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Each action will also contribute to a digital mural honoring the “ foremothers of the movement ” Me Too says—this is aimed to incentivize users while also celebrating the movement ’ s history and contributions .
Altogether , the announcements signal what the next chapter of the Me Too movement will look like .
And as Burke and Ayers recently told the Associated Press , they aim to keep Black women and other marginalized groups central to their mission .
“ It ’ s an opportunity to shine a light .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , people of color , queer , trans , disabled folks in our work because we know that solving and interrupting the issue of sexual violence in those communities means ending sexual violence everywhere , ” Ayers , in her first joint interview with Burke , told the AP .
Intersectionality , a core feature of the Me Too movement ’ s past and present , is just as central to its future , say Ayers and Burke .
The organization wants to illuminate the lived experiences of survivors and the issues they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how Black women survivors have been faring during the pandemic .
To do this , they ’ ve also branched out into data analysis and surveys .
“ We ’ re hearing Black survivors say , ‘ I don ’ t have money to eat , ’ ” said Ayers .
“ The disparity is just growing as a result of the pandemic and we need to be able to talk about that , not only in a qualitative way but we need the data to be able to help those who have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pushing resources and why.
” Within the vast community of survivors , Me Too sees a politically powerful group of people ready to dismantle various forms of systemic oppression .
“ I think we are in a critical moment and survivors ’ voices in this moment should be the loudest , ” Burke told the AP .
“ This fight that we have will continue , not just for the next four years , it will continue for the next four decades .
”

Anne Branigin on The Glow Up, shared by Anne Branigin to The Root

Almost as soon as “Me Too” became part of the mainstream lexicon when discussing sexual assault, harassment and gender violence, pundits debated whether the viral hashtag was a moment or a movement. On Thursday, the third anniversary of the hashtag receiving international attention, Me Too founder Tarana Burke has a clear answer: ending sexual violence is both achievable and within reach, and she wants to give people the tools they need to dismantle it.
A phrase first coined by Burke in 2006, “Me Too” went viral as a hashtag in 2017 alongside a deluge of reporting on sexual abuse in high-profile industries. Me Too is now a nonprofit organization with a new CEO, Dani Ayers, announced today (Burke remains its executive director). The organization also unveiled a new platform, Act Too, alongside a slew of initiatives to help survivors of sexual violence and their allies find support and channel their political and social power.
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“When I started ‘Me Too’ in 2006, I knew how powerful the collective voices and stories of survivors would be—what I did not anticipate was how incredibly expansive and accessible this technology would allow our movement to be,” said Burke in a statement. “It was never just about being a hashtag, but about finding ways to turn our experiences into long-term, sustainable change. Taking action towards ending sexual violence is possible to anyone who wants to be heard, to get involved, and to join us in this work.”
“Over the past three years, we’ve seen more survivors, advocates and allies speak up and step up, shifting the conversation around what it means to actually end sexual violence through public acknowledgment, accountability, and action,” said Ayers. “I’m excited to join Tarana as we continue elevating and activating the 19 million who made it so that sexual violence will never again be taboo.”
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Among the programs Me Too unveiled Thursday are Survivor’s Vote, a policy-oriented multiracial, multi-issue coalition that is organizing to create a “Survivor’s Agenda” to share with law and policymakers; a Survivor Healing Series, which provides 7 weeks of virtual training for trauma survivors to help them build skills, knowledge and resources to empower them and support their healing; and an HBCU fellowship program that will help interested students develop their leadership skills and advocate for survivors’ issues on their campuses.
The nonprofit also launched a new platform, Act Too, which helps survivors and their supporters remain active and engaged in combating gender violence.
Advertisement
“Today, we all have a chance to write another chapter powered by everyday activism, as simple as joining a march or reading a book,” Burke said in a trailer for the Act Too campaign.
The platform aims to do this by allowing users to see over 1,000 curated suggestions for actions to stay civically engaged, including volunteering at shelters, signing petitions or training in bystander interventions. Act Too users can create personalized plans with these suggestions, creating “to-do” lists for their activism that they can check off as they go. Once they take an action—say, joining a local march—the platform will permanently archive it into a blockchain record, digitally tracking the Me Too movement in real-time. Each action will also contribute to a digital mural honoring the “foremothers of the movement” Me Too says—this is aimed to incentivize users while also celebrating the movement’s history and contributions.
Advertisement
Altogether, the announcements signal what the next chapter of the Me Too movement will look like. And as Burke and Ayers recently told the Associated Press, they aim to keep Black women and other marginalized groups central to their mission.
“It’s an opportunity to shine a light. We are absolutely centering Black women and girls, people of color, queer, trans, disabled folks in our work because we know that solving and interrupting the issue of sexual violence in those communities means ending sexual violence everywhere,” Ayers, in her first joint interview with Burke, told the AP.
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Intersectionality, a core feature of the Me Too movement’s past and present, is just as central to its future, say Ayers and Burke. The organization wants to illuminate the lived experiences of survivors and the issues they face outside of gender and sexual violence—like how Black women survivors have been faring during the pandemic. To do this, they’ve also branched out into data analysis and surveys.
“We’re hearing Black survivors say, ‘I don’t have money to eat,’” said Ayers. “The disparity is just growing as a result of the pandemic and we need to be able to talk about that, not only in a qualitative way but we need the data to be able to help those who have money understand where we need to be pushing resources and why.”
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Within the vast community of survivors, Me Too sees a politically powerful group of people ready to dismantle various forms of systemic oppression.
“I think we are in a critical moment and survivors’ voices in this moment should be the loudest,” Burke told the AP. “This fight that we have will continue, not just for the next four years, it will continue for the next four decades.”


theroot--2020-10-15--CDC Says 'Small Household Gatherings' Are Causing a Spike in COVID-19 Cases

We all know by now that large gatherings hurt efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 infections , but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) now warns that small household gatherings are causing a spike in new cases .
CNN reports that CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield said during a Tuesday call with the nation ’ s governors that “ In the public square , we ’ re seeing a higher degree of vigilance and mitigation steps in many jurisdictions.
” “ But what we ’ re seeing as the increasing threat right now is actually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ small household gatherings , ” Redfield continued .
“ Particularly with Thanksgiving coming up , we think it ’ s really important to stress the vigilance of these continued mitigation steps in the household setting.
” According to USA Today , infection cases decreased significantly in September but this month they ’ re increasing dramatically .
According to the New York Times , the U.S. saw 54,512 new infections on Oct. 13 , marking one of the highest tallies of daily cases since August .
USA Today reports that , during the virtual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their citizens to exercise caution during the upcoming holiday season .
Dr. Jonathan Reiner , professor of medicine at George Washington University , said the same thing to CNN Wednesday and even suggested holding Thanksgiving festivities outside if at all possible .
“ If you ’ re lucky enough to live in a part of the country where the weather will be moderate in November , do an outdoor Thanksgiving , ” Reiner said .
“ I think in the ... places in the country where the winter comes early , I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The good news is that the CDC appears to be optimistic about the availability of coronavirus vaccines in the near future , according to a Wednesday post on its website .
“ The goal is for everyone to be able to easily get a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as large quantities are available , ” the CDC wrote .
“ The plan is to have several thousand vaccination providers available so no one will have to travel far to be vaccinated , whether it ’ s at your doctor ’ s office , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ qualified health center .
”

We all know by now that large gatherings hurt efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 infections , but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now warns that small household gatherings are causing a spike in new cases.
CNN reports that CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield said during a Tuesday call with the nation’s governors that “In the public square, we’re seeing a higher degree of vigilance and mitigation steps in many jurisdictions.”
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“But what we’re seeing as the increasing threat right now is actually [the] acquisition of infection through small household gatherings,” Redfield continued. “Particularly with Thanksgiving coming up, we think it’s really important to stress the vigilance of these continued mitigation steps in the household setting.”
According to USA Today, infection cases decreased significantly in September but this month they’re increasing dramatically.
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From USA Today:
More than half of the country is seeing rising rates of infection, with 27 states trending upwards. And 20 states — Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Utah and Virginia — all recorded their highest number of new daily cases in the last week.
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According to the New York Times, the U.S. saw 54,512 new infections on Oct. 13, marking one of the highest tallies of daily cases since August.
USA Today reports that, during the virtual conference, Redfield urged governors to urge their citizens to exercise caution during the upcoming holiday season.
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Dr. Jonathan Reiner, professor of medicine at George Washington University, said the same thing to CNN Wednesday and even suggested holding Thanksgiving festivities outside if at all possible.
“If you’re lucky enough to live in a part of the country where the weather will be moderate in November, do an outdoor Thanksgiving,” Reiner said. “I think in the...places in the country where the winter comes early, I think you have to really be careful.”
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The good news is that the CDC appears to be optimistic about the availability of coronavirus vaccines in the near future, according to a Wednesday post on its website.
“The goal is for everyone to be able to easily get a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as large quantities are available,” the CDC wrote. “The plan is to have several thousand vaccination providers available so no one will have to travel far to be vaccinated, whether it’s at your doctor’s office, retail pharmacy, hospital, or federally qualified health center.”


theroot--2020-10-15--Olympia Ohanian's Favorite Doll Makes Her Debut—Serena Williams Is Bringing Qai Qai to You!

It ’ s been two years since we first caught wind of Qai Qai—the “ granddaughter ” of Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian that has accompanied actual daughter Olympia Ohanian since she began toddling around .
She may not be human , but back in 2018 , she was popular enough to merit her own Instagram , TikTok , and Twitter accounts—and has since been featured in the New York Times , Oprah Magazine , and Today .
We still have no idea where she came from , but with such a high profile , we knew it was only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( pronounced “ Quay-Quay ” ) gave Barbie a run for her money and made her way to mass market .
On Thursday , the baby doll did exactly that , making her big debut on Amazon , thanks to her Grand Slam-winning “ glam-ma ” Serena Williams—just in time for our pre-holiday shopping !
Per Qai Qai ’ s reps : The bond between Olympia and Qai Qai has sparked mass interest from media and fans alike , and now , Serena Williams wants to bring that same delight to the hearts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Qai truly is more than just a doll , as she lends her voice to social-minded messages around mental health , race , representation , female empowerment , anti-bullying , the climate crisis and so much more .
With a mission to tell positive , uplifting stories , Qai Qai is an animation that embodies the spirit of a young girl , drawing on the power of friendship and the beauty of imagination in play .
“ There ’ s something really special about the relationship between a child and their favorite toy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Qai Qai has been around for more than half of Olympia ’ s life and she still takes her everywhere we go .
Today , I am so excited to be able to share Qai Qai with children everywhere .
Qai Qai is no ordinary doll , and it is amazing to see her use social media to educate , inspire and bring a smile to audiences from all backgrounds.
” Like both Olympia and Serena before her , Qai Qai loves a tutu , and sports a pink and purple one , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ illustrating her passion to be the very best version of herself and always strive for greatness.
” What else would the granddaughter of the GOAT wear ?
( But seriously , there ’ s adorably also a baby goat on it . )
And as her reps tell it , it ’ s all part of the influencer ’ s personal brand .
Brimming with personality , it is no surprise that Qai Qai has amassed such a large and engaged audience online given the nature of the heart-warming , funny @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Qai Qai takes every opportunity to encourage her followers to dream big , “ boss up ” and be a champion both for yourself and those around you , even igniting conversations around important social issues facing society .
We stan a socially aware doll—and standing 14.5 ” tall , Qai Qai is now available for $ 29.99 exclusively on Amazon .
Want to see what she ’ s about ?
You can join Qai Qai on her adventures around the world by following @ RealQaiQai on Instagram , TikTok , and Twitter @

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

It’s been two years since we first caught wind of Qai Qai—the “granddaughter” of Serena Williams and Alexis Ohanian that has accompanied actual daughter Olympia Ohanian since she began toddling around. She may not be human, but back in 2018, she was popular enough to merit her own Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter accounts—and has since been featured in the New York Times, Oprah Magazine, and Today. We still have no idea where she came from, but with such a high profile, we knew it was only a matter of time before Qai Qai ( pronounced “Quay-Quay”) gave Barbie a run for her money and made her way to mass market.
Advertisement
On Thursday, the baby doll did exactly that, making her big debut on Amazon, thanks to her Grand Slam-winning “glam-ma” Serena Williams—just in time for our pre-holiday shopping! Per Qai Qai’s reps:
The bond between Olympia and Qai Qai has sparked mass interest from media and fans alike, and now, Serena Williams wants to bring that same delight to the hearts and homes of children everywhere. Qai Qai truly is more than just a doll, as she lends her voice to social-minded messages around mental health, race, representation, female empowerment, anti-bullying, the climate crisis and so much more. With a mission to tell positive, uplifting stories, Qai Qai is an animation that embodies the spirit of a young girl, drawing on the power of friendship and the beauty of imagination in play.
Advertisement Advertisement
“There’s something really special about the relationship between a child and their favorite toy,” said Serena Williams. “Qai Qai has been around for more than half of Olympia’s life and she still takes her everywhere we go. Today, I am so excited to be able to share Qai Qai with children everywhere. Qai Qai is no ordinary doll, and it is amazing to see her use social media to educate, inspire and bring a smile to audiences from all backgrounds.”
Advertisement
Like both Olympia and Serena before her, Qai Qai loves a tutu, and sports a pink and purple one, along with a “GOAT” onesie, “ illustrating her passion to be the very best version of herself and always strive for greatness.” What else would the granddaughter of the GOAT wear? (But seriously, there’s adorably also a baby goat on it.) And as her reps tell it, it’s all part of the influencer’s personal brand.
Brimming with personality, it is no surprise that Qai Qai has amassed such a large and engaged audience online given the nature of the heart-warming, funny and often inspiring content she posts...Qai Qai takes every opportunity to encourage her followers to dream big, “boss up” and be a champion both for yourself and those around you, even igniting conversations around important social issues facing society.
Advertisement
We stan a socially aware doll—and standing 14.5” tall, Qai Qai is now available for $29.99 exclusively on Amazon. Want to see what she’s about? You can join Qai Qai on her adventures around the world by following @RealQaiQai on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter.


theroot--2020-10-15--The 10 Best Deals of October 15, 2020

The 10 Best Deals of October 15, 2020

It ’ s October 15 , and we at Kinja Deals have the top 10 deals of the day .
Create a photo collage with Zink ’ s Kodak Smile i nstant d igital p rinter .
Combat the quarantine-15 by opting for the Bella Pro Series air fryer .
And complete your apartment makeover with the Perlesmith TV w all m ount .
If you ’ re still looking to score more savings , take a look at Thursday ’ s best deals overall .
Everybody loves a good shower karaoke session .
Unfortunately , without the right Bluetooth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a big ol ’ brick putting out static sound at best .
You ’ ll need a waterproof speaker to get the job done .
This one from Bose is $ 10 off at World Wide Stereo right now , and it comes in a few nifty colors if you ’ re looking for a little pizzaz .
This deal was originally published by Jordan McMahon .
As I recently learned reviewing the Colgate Hum for the first time , everyon should brush their teeth twice a day .
It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that , once you get into it , you can ’ t live without .
Colgate ’ s Cavity Protection fluoride toothpaste is a good place to start if you ’ re running out of toothpaste is a concern .
Grab a six-pack for $ 8 on Amazon and never run out again—err , uh , at least not for a long time .
This paste in particular is accepted by the American Dental Association ( ADA ) and contains no gluten !
The mint is also sourced from American farmers , so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supporting domestic agriculture .
Grace your mouth with a good clean feeling while this six-pack bundle is 47 % off .
It ’ s bound to spike back up to the $ 15 list price before long .
This deal was originally published by Gabe Carey .
Have a Prime credit card or willing to enroll with Visa ?
You might just be in luck .
Avid gamers who check out with their Amazon Prime Rewards Visa card can get 25 % back through October 18 from a wide range of titles and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ membership and take home $ 15 to fuel up again later .
Nintendo Switch owners can net anywhere from $ 1 to $ 25 depending on the amount you spend on eShop credits .
Xbox faithfuls can score up to 3 months of Game Pass Ultimate which includes access to over 100 games and online multiplayer through Xbox Live Gold .
That said , if you ’ re not into credit cards or not entirely sold on the concept of getting one from Amazon , I can ’ t say I blame you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ PlayStation Plus and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscriptions at steep discounts today , courtesy of our own Quentyn Kennemer .
So either way , you ’ re set .
This article was originally published by Gabe Carey .
Letting someone else worry about cleaning is a really great feeling and mopping and vacuuming are such tedious chores .
If you have a lot of traffic in your home or even have a few pets a robot vac can be a real game-changer .
Right now at Samsung take $ 150 off the Powerbot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of scrubbing surfaces on to it .
This smart vac can figure out what type of floors you and automatically adjust to the needs for that area .
This means it can handle wood , carpet , rugs , tile , and everything in between .
Where this device really shines is in its suction power which is 20 times stronger than previous models .
The R7040 can run up to an hour on a single charge and is compatible with Alexa .
With FullView 2.0 Sensors this vacuum knows the best path @ @ @ @ @ @ @ toys or sneakers .
Through the app you can see where your new robo maid has cleaned too .
As it connects with Wi-Fi you can control this little sucker remotely right from your phone .
Take one thing off your list and let the R7040 Robot Vacuum worry about the dust and the dirt .
Free shipping on all orders at Samsung .
This deal was originally published by Sheilah Villari .
Let me tell you , the Dyson V7 is a game-changer , and I ’ m not just saying that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 180 and we get a commission from each purchase .
I bought one myself back in June for $ 200 and haven ’ t regretted it .
Mounted to our wall , it ’ s much easier to store than a larger upright floor vac you might tuck away in a closet and rarely touch .
I use mine almost every day to pick up kitty litter as my cat explodes from his spaceship .
For smaller spaces , the canister yields a sufficient enough capacity that you can go about a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to mention the actual process of dumping out the dirt and dust only requires the simple pull of a lever .
A 49 % discount is not nothing , especially considering I paid $ 20 more for mine back in June .
While it may not have the longest battery life in the world , clocking in at just 30 minutes , those living in quaint apartments or rancher-style homes shouldn ’ t take more than that to give their place a nice sweep .
Don ’ t miss out , as this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FantasTech Round 2 sale , which runs through the end of the day today and comes to a hault later this evening .
This deal was originally published by Gabe Careyi .
Air Fryers are such a wild trend and just when I think it ’ s time has passed a deal like this pops up and everyone goes crazy .
In all seriousness , my pals who have one love it .
If you ’ re in the hunt this Bella Pro Series model is $ 50 less today only at Best @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is powerful and efficient to turn all your goods crispy and evenly cooked .
The heat tech also makes sure you aren ’ t wasting energy as it preheats much fast than other fryers and convection ovens on the market .
Although it might seem small it can handle up to five pounds of food at a time , so if you ’ re thinking of making a large friend chicken the Bella Pro can take it .
There ’ s auto-shutoff after an hour so no fear about accidentally leaving it on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because the pan and tray can go in the dishwasher .
It ’ s simple to program for frying , broiling , roasting , reheating , and even dehydrating with very little oil .
Literally savings all around .
Plenty of new things to try once get this appliance in your kitchen .
This will ship free from Best Buy .
This deal was originally published by Sheilah Villari .
We ’ re in a pandemic , sure , but kids want their candy , dammit , and some places will allow the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rushes .
If you ’ re planning on doing some door hopping this Halloween , consider grabbing this six pack of adjustable face masks for $ 16 , each with its own design to garner all the praise and fake jump scares from Mrs. Mildred next door .
There are sizes for both adults and kids available , and there are three unique mask designs per size .
These dual-layer masks are considered non-medical , so buy them at your own risk .
This deal was originally published by Quentyn Kennemer .
If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 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 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now is a no-brainer if you were already in the market for them .
This deal was originally published by Quentyn Kennemer .
If you want a bit cleaner of an entertainment setup , a wall mount is one of the best ways to achieve it .
Perlesmith ’ s articulating bracket holds TVs between 37 '' and 75 '' up to 132 pounds .
It has VESA holes up to 600 x 400 , and it ’ s down to $ 30 ( 50 % off ) with discount code PSLF250OFF .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ up to 2.2 '' close to the wall and extends 18 '' at full stretch , and you can tilt and swivel the thing to achieve the perfect angle .
This deal was originally published by Quentyn Kennemer .
It ’ s very cool to live in an era where we can capture and see pictures moments immediately .
The only downside is if you grew up in the before times with actual cameras there ’ s something a bit lacking without a tangible representation .
Zink ’ s Kodak Smile Instant Digital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ today it ’ s $ 30 off .
Putting photos on the fridge , the walls , or around the house is a great way to remind yourself of good times which is certainly something we all need right now .
The Smile Digital Printer allows you to connect to your phone to print pics on 2x3 sticky-backed paper .
This compact and portable printer is built for convenience and not take up space .
It ’ s durable in its polyresin protective case so it can handle life on the go .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the device of your choice and you can access everything through the free Smile app .
Through the app you can even edit , correct color , adjust lighting , and crop before printing .
It will even let you post instantly to your social media platforms .
The Smile fully charges in 2 hours and you can print around 40 pics off of one charge .
You ’ ll get 5 sticker frames in this deal and all 5 colors are on sale .
You will however need to purchase photo paper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was originally published by Sheilah Villari .

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

Thursday’s Best Deals | Kinja Deals
It’s October 15, and we at Kinja Deals have the top 10 deals of the day. Create a photo collage with Zink’s Kodak Smile i nstant d igital p rinter. Combat the quarantine-15 by opting for the Bella Pro Series air fryer. And complete your apartment makeover with the Perlesmith TV w all m ount. If you’re still looking to score more savings, take a look at Thursday’s best deals overall.
#1: Bose soundlink micro
Everybody loves a good shower karaoke session. Unfortunately, without the right Bluetooth speaker, you’ll be left with a big ol’ brick putting out static sound at best. You’ll need a waterproof speaker to get the job done. This one from Bose is $10 off at World Wide Stereo right now, and it comes in a few nifty colors if you’re looking for a little pizzaz.
This deal was originally published by Jordan McMahon.
#2: Colgate toothpaste (6-pack)
As I recently learned reviewing the Colgate Hum for the first time, everyon should brush their teeth twice a day. It’s like making your bed, a routine that, once you get into it, you can’t live without. Colgate’s Cavity Protection fluoride toothpaste is a good place to start if you’re running out of toothpaste is a concern. Grab a six-pack for $8 on Amazon and never run out again—err, uh, at least not for a long time. This paste in particular is accepted by the American Dental Association (ADA) and contains no gluten! The mint is also sourced from American farmers, so you can rest assured you’re supporting domestic agriculture. Grace your mouth with a good clean feeling while this six-pack bundle is 47% off. It’s bound to spike back up to the $15 list price before long.
This deal was originally published by Gabe Carey.
#3: Digital games and subscriptions
Have a Prime credit card or willing to enroll with Visa? You might just be in luck. Avid gamers who check out with their Amazon Prime Rewards Visa card can get 25% back through October 18 from a wide range of titles and subscription memberships. Refill your PlayStation Plus membership and take home $15 to fuel up again later. Nintendo Switch owners can net anywhere from $1 to $25 depending on the amount you spend on eShop credits. Xbox faithfuls can score up to 3 months of Game Pass Ultimate which includes access to over 100 games and online multiplayer through Xbox Live Gold.
That said, if you’re not into credit cards or not entirely sold on the concept of getting one from Amazon, I can’t say I blame you. Luckily, Eneba is also selling PlayStation Plus and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscriptions at steep discounts today, courtesy of our own Quentyn Kennemer. So either way, you’re set.
This article was originally published by Gabe Carey.
#4: Powerbot robot vac
Letting someone else worry about cleaning is a really great feeling and mopping and vacuuming are such tedious chores. If you have a lot of traffic in your home or even have a few pets a robot vac can be a real game-changer. Right now at Samsung take $150 off the Powerbot R7040 Robot Vacuum and pass the buck of scrubbing surfaces on to it.
This smart vac can figure out what type of floors you and automatically adjust to the needs for that area. This means it can handle wood, carpet, rugs, tile, and everything in between. Where this device really shines is in its suction power which is 20 times stronger than previous models. The R7040 can run up to an hour on a single charge and is compatible with Alexa. With FullView 2.0 Sensors this vacuum knows the best path and how to avoid obctacles like dog toys or sneakers. Through the app you can see where your new robo maid has cleaned too. As it connects with Wi-Fi you can control this little sucker remotely right from your phone. Take one thing off your list and let the R7040 Robot Vacuum worry about the dust and the dirt.
Free shipping on all orders at Samsung.
This deal was originally published by Sheilah Villari.
#5: Dyson v7 cordless vac
Let me tell you, the Dyson V7 is a game-changer, and I’m not just saying that because it’s on sale for $180 and we get a commission from each purchase. I bought one myself back in June for $200 and haven’t regretted it. Mounted to our wall, it’s much easier to store than a larger upright floor vac you might tuck away in a closet and rarely touch. I use mine almost every day to pick up kitty litter as my cat explodes from his spaceship. For smaller spaces, the canister yields a sufficient enough capacity that you can go about a month without emptying it out. Not to mention the actual process of dumping out the dirt and dust only requires the simple pull of a lever.
A 49% discount is not nothing, especially considering I paid $20 more for mine back in June. While it may not have the longest battery life in the world, clocking in at just 30 minutes, those living in quaint apartments or rancher-style homes shouldn’t take more than that to give their place a nice sweep. Don’t miss out, as this deal is part of Newegg’s FantasTech Round 2 sale, which runs through the end of the day today and comes to a hault later this evening.
This deal was originally published by Gabe Careyi.
#6: BELLA PRO SERIES AIR FRYER
Air Fryers are such a wild trend and just when I think it’s time has passed a deal like this pops up and everyone goes crazy. In all seriousness, my pals who have one love it. If you’re in the hunt this Bella Pro Series model is $50 less today only at Best Buy.
This 6-quart touchscreen air fryer is powerful and efficient to turn all your goods crispy and evenly cooked. The heat tech also makes sure you aren’t wasting energy as it preheats much fast than other fryers and convection ovens on the market. Although it might seem small it can handle up to five pounds of food at a time, so if you’re thinking of making a large friend chicken the Bella Pro can take it. There’s auto-shutoff after an hour so no fear about accidentally leaving it on. This fryer is easy to clean because the pan and tray can go in the dishwasher. It’s simple to program for frying, broiling, roasting, reheating, and even dehydrating with very little oil. Literally savings all around. Plenty of new things to try once get this appliance in your kitchen.
This will ship free from Best Buy.
This deal was originally published by Sheilah Villari.
#7: HALLOWEEN FACE MASKS
We’re in a pandemic, sure, but kids want their candy, dammit, and some places will allow the annual walkabout for cavities and unending sugar rushes. If you’re planning on doing some door hopping this Halloween, consider grabbing this six pack of adjustable face masks for $16, each with its own design to garner all the praise and fake jump scares from Mrs. Mildred next door. There are sizes for both adults and kids available, and there are three unique mask designs per size. These dual-layer masks are considered non-medical, so buy them at your own risk.
This deal was originally published by Quentyn Kennemer.
#8: 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.
This deal was originally published by Quentyn Kennemer.
#9: Tv wall mount
If you want a bit cleaner of an entertainment setup, a wall mount is one of the best ways to achieve it. Perlesmith’s articulating bracket holds TVs between 37" and 75" up to 132 pounds. It has VESA holes up to 600 x 400, and it’s down to $30 (50% off) with discount code PSLF250OFF.
With one, your TV can snuggle up to 2.2" close to the wall and extends 18" at full stretch,and you can tilt and swivel the thing to achieve the perfect angle.
This deal was originally published by Quentyn Kennemer.
#10: Kodak instant printer
It’s very cool to live in an era where we can capture and see pictures moments immediately. The only downside is if you grew up in the before times with actual cameras there’s something a bit lacking without a tangible representation. Zink’s Kodak Smile Instant Digital Printer can do this for you and today it’s $30 off.
Putting photos on the fridge, the walls, or around the house is a great way to remind yourself of good times which is certainly something we all need right now. The Smile Digital Printer allows you to connect to your phone to print pics on 2x3 sticky-backed paper. This compact and portable printer is built for convenience and not take up space. It’s durable in its polyresin protective case so it can handle life on the go. It syncs seamlessly with Bluetooth right to the device of your choice and you can access everything through the free Smile app. Through the app you can even edit, correct color, adjust lighting, and crop before printing. It will even let you post instantly to your social media platforms. The Smile fully charges in 2 hours and you can print around 40 pics off of one charge. You’ll get 5 sticker frames in this deal and all 5 colors are on sale. You will however need to purchase photo paper to really get going.
Free one-day shipping for Prime members.
This deal was originally published by Sheilah Villari.


theroot--2020-10-15--Powerbot's R7040 Robot Vacuum Is Over 40% off at Samsung so Leave the Cleaning to It

Letting someone else worry about cleaning is a really great feeling and mopping and vacuuming are such tedious chores .
If you have a lot of traffic in your home or even have a few pets a robot vac can be a real game-changer .
Right now at Samsung take $ 150 off the Power bot R7040 Robot Vacuum and pass the buck of scrubbing surfaces on to it .
This smart vac can figure out what type of floors you and automatically adjust to the needs for that area .
This means it can handle wood , carpet , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between .
Where this device really shines is in its suction power which is 20 times stronger than previous models .
The R7040 can run up to an hour on a single charge and is compatible with Alexa .
With FullView 2.0 Sensors this vacuum knows the best path and how to avoid obctacles like dog toys or sneakers .
Through the app you can see where your new robo maid has cleaned too .
As it connects with Wi-Fi you can control this little sucker remotely right from your phone .
Take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the R7040 Robot Vacuum worry about the dust and the dirt .
Free shipping on all orders at Samsung .

Sheilah Villari on Kinja Deals, shared by Gabe Carey to The Root

Powerbot R7040 Robot Vacuum | $249 | Samsung
Letting someone else worry about cleaning is a really great feeling, mopping and vacuuming are such tedious chores. If you have a lot of traffic in your home or even have a few pets, a robot vac can be a real game-changer. Right now at Samsung, take $250 off the Powerbot R7040 Robot Vacuum and pass the buck of scrubbing surfaces onto it.
This smart vac can figure out what type of floors you have and automatically adjust to that area’s needs . This means it can handle wood, carpet, rugs, tile, and everything in between. Where this device really shines is in its suction power which is twenty times stronger than previous models. The R7040 can run-up to an hour on a single charge and is compatible with Alexa. With FullView 2.0 Sensors, this vacuum knows the best path and avoids obstacles like dog toys or sneakers. Through the app, you can see where your new robo maid has cleaned too. As it connects with Wi-Fi, you can control this little sucker remotely right from your phone. Take one thing off your list and let the R7040 Robot Vacuum worry about the dust and the dirt.
Free shipping on all orders at Samsung.


theroot--2020-10-15--Twitter Suspends Dozens of Fake Black Trump Supporter Accounts as 2020 Continues to Be Weird AF

I ’ m not sure when it became so important to conservatives that they appear to be aligned with Black people , but booooy have they gotten desperate .
I knew it was bad when Candace Owens , the grandmaster of tap-dancery , was out here paying Black people to attend a Trump rally and fake-represent “ Blexit , ” but it turns out people are also creating fake Twitter accounts posing as Black Trump supporters , and those accounts are getting popular with the quickness—that is until they get shut down .
An account featuring the image of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the words “ VOTE REPUBLICAN ” had a brief but spectacular run on Twitter .
In six days after it became active last week , it tweeted just eight times but garnered 24,000 followers , with its most popular tweet being liked 75,000 times .
Then , on Sunday , the account was gone—suspended by Twitter for breaking its rules against platform manipulation .
The remarkable reach of @ CopJrCliff and other fake accounts from supposed Black Trump supporters highlights how an account can be effective at pushing misleading narratives in just a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down .
A network of more than two dozen similar accounts , many of them using identical language in their tweets , recently has generated more than 265,000 retweets or other amplifying “ mentions ” on Twitter , according to Clemson University social media researcher Darren Linvill , who has been tracking them since last weekend .
Several had tens of thousands of followers , and all but one have now been suspended .
Researchers call fake accounts featuring supposed Black users “ digital blackface , ” a reference to the now-disgraced tactic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for film or musical performances intended to mimic African Americans .
Many of the accounts used profile pictures of Black men taken from news reports or other sources .
Several of the accounts claimed to be from members of groups with pro-Trump leanings , including veterans , police officers , steelworkers , businessmen and avid Christians .
One of the fake accounts had , in the place of a profile photo , the words “ B lack man photo ” —a hint of sloppiness by the network ’ s creators .
Black .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ have to admit that ’ s pretty damn hilarious .
Imagine being so lazy in your pandering for respectable negro clout that you don ’ t even bother finding an actual photo to steal and instead , you just slap a virtual “ Black-owned ” sign on your profile .
Researchers aren ’ t sure who is creating these accounts .
Linvill said he found evidence that suggests the network of accounts might be of foreign origin—he said he noticed “ a few traces of the Russian Cyrillic alphabet appearing in online records @ @ @ @ @ @ @ account “ previously tweeted to promote an escort service in Turkey , ” the Post reports—but ultimately , he said the origins of this seemingly coordinated effort are difficult to determine .
Linvill does , however , believe these fake accounts are dangerous .
“ It ’ s asymmetrical warfare , ” he said , the Post reports .
“ They don ’ t have to last long .
And they are so cheap to produce that you can get a lot of traction without a whole lot of work .
Thank you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this : What ’ s the point ?
It ’ s not like Black people who don ’ t actually exist can vote .
Maybe the people behind these accounts think that if real-life Black people see real-fake Black people supporting the commander-in-COVID-response-disaster we ’ ll just all get on board .
That is definitely some weird white-people-who-don ’ t-know-shit-about-Black-people logic , but since we don ’ t even know who is creating these accounts , even that is just speculation .
What we do know is that , while the accounts are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of real Black people .
CNN published a screenshot of one of the suspended accounts featuring a make-believe Black conservative named Gary Ray .
A post from the account read , “ YES IM BLACK AND IM VOTING FOR TRUMP .
Twitter has suspended 2 of my other accounts for supporting Trump .
Can you please give me some retweets and a follow ?
I follow all back , Love ya.
” “ Gary Ray ” does kind of sound like a Black name made by a white guy who isn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ figured “ Malik Jaquese Shabazz ” was a little too on the nose .
And conservatives stay thinking they ’ re special negroes so the “ YES IM BLACK AND IM VOTING FOR TRUMP ” language—which , according to the Post , was found in posts from at least 15 different accounts—does also seem pretty authentic .
But the photo used by “ Gary Ray ” actually belonged to real flesh-and-bone Black person Robert Williams who told CNN he didn ’ t know his image was being used this way until the network @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by it , ” Williams said .
“ I thought it was a weird attempt to mislead people.
” Terrel Wallace , a Detroit musician who performs under the name “ Tall Black Guy , ” felt the same way when he found out his image was being used in a fake # BlacksForTrump account .
“ I ’ m not even into politics like that , ” Wallace told CNN .
“ I just want to continue doing my music and look after my family .
I don ’ t have time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Post , Twitter officials are on the case .
“ Our teams are working diligently to investigate this activity and will take action in line with the Twitter Rules if Tweets are found to be in violation , ” Twitter spokesman Trenton Kennedy said .
A Twitter spokesperson told CNN that the accounts violated rules against platform manipulation and spam and that the platform will ban users who tweet in order to “ artificially amplify or suppress information .
”

I’m not sure when it became so important to conservatives that they appear to be aligned with Black people, but booooy have they gotten desperate. I knew it was bad when Candace Owens, the grandmaster of tap-dancery, was out here paying Black people to attend a Trump rally and fake-represent “Blexit,” but it turns out people are also creating fake Twitter accounts posing as Black Trump supporters, and those accounts are getting popular with the quickness—that is until they get shut down.
From the Washington Post:
An account featuring the image of a Black police officer, President Trump and the words “VOTE REPUBLICAN” had a brief but spectacular run on Twitter. In six days after it became active last week, it tweeted just eight times but garnered 24,000 followers, with its most popular tweet being liked 75,000 times. Then, on Sunday, the account was gone—suspended by Twitter for breaking its rules against platform manipulation. The remarkable reach of @CopJrCliff and other fake accounts from supposed Black Trump supporters highlights how an account can be effective at pushing misleading narratives in just a few days—faster than Twitter can take it down. A network of more than two dozen similar accounts, many of them using identical language in their tweets, recently has generated more than 265,000 retweets or other amplifying “mentions” on Twitter, according to Clemson University social media researcher Darren Linvill, who has been tracking them since last weekend. Several had tens of thousands of followers, and all but one have now been suspended. Researchers call fake accounts featuring supposed Black users “digital blackface,” a reference to the now-disgraced tactic of w hite people darkening their faces for film or musical performances intended to mimic African Americans. Many of the accounts used profile pictures of Black men taken from news reports or other sources. Several of the accounts claimed to be from members of groups with pro-Trump leanings, including veterans, police officers, steelworkers, businessmen and avid Christians. One of the fake accounts had, in the place of a profile photo, the words “B lack man photo”—a hint of sloppiness by the network’s creators.
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Black. Man. Photo. Y’all have to admit that’s pretty damn hilarious. Imagine being so lazy in your pandering for respectable negro clout that you don’t even bother finding an actual photo to steal and instead, you just slap a virtual “Black-owned” sign on your profile.
Researchers aren’t sure who is creating these accounts. Linvill said he found evidence that suggests the network of accounts might be of foreign origin—he said he noticed “a few traces of the Russian Cyrillic alphabet appearing in online records of the accounts” and that one account “previously tweeted to promote an escort service in Turkey,” the Post reports—but ultimately, he said the origins of this seemingly coordinated effort are difficult to determine.
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Linvill does, however, believe these fake accounts are dangerous.
“It’s asymmetrical warfare,” he said, the Post reports. “They don’t have to last long. And they are so cheap to produce that you can get a lot of traction without a whole lot of work. Thank you, Twitter.”
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The real question is this: What’s the point?
It’s not like Black people who don’t actually exist can vote. Maybe the people behind these accounts think that if real-life Black people see real-fake Black people supporting the commander-in-COVID-response-disaster we’ll just all get on board. That is definitely some weird white-people-who-don’t-know-shit-about-Black-people logic, but since we don’t even know who is creating these accounts, even that is just speculation.
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What we do know is that, while the accounts are fake, the images being used are of real Black people.
CNN published a screenshot of one of the suspended accounts featuring a make-believe Black conservative named Gary Ray.
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A post from the account read, “YES IM BLACK AND IM VOTING FOR TRUMP. Twitter has suspended 2 of my other accounts for supporting Trump. Can you please give me some retweets and a follow? I follow all back, Love ya.”
“Gary Ray” does kind of sound like a Black name made by a white guy who isn’t all that familiar with Black names but figured “Malik Jaquese Shabazz” was a little too on the nose. And conservatives stay thinking they’re special negroes so the “YES IM BLACK AND IM VOTING FOR TRUMP” language—which, according to the Post, was found in posts from at least 15 different accounts—does also seem pretty authentic.
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But the photo used by “Gary Ray” actually belonged to real flesh-and-bone Black person Robert Williams who told CNN he didn’t know his image was being used this way until the network contacted him.
From CNN:
The image of Williams the “Gary Ray” account used first appeared in The New York Times in August. Williams was profiled in the paper for his wrongful arrest after facial recognition software led Detroit police to accuse him of shoplifting. The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office in Michigan dismissed the case in January, the same month Williams was arrested, due to insufficient evidence.
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“I was shocked by it,” Williams said. “I thought it was a weird attempt to mislead people.”
Terrel Wallace, a Detroit musician who performs under the name “Tall Black Guy,” felt the same way when he found out his image was being used in a fake #BlacksForTrump account.
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“I’m not even into politics like that,” Wallace told CNN. “I just want to continue doing my music and look after my family. I don’t have time for this foolishness.”
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According to the Post, Twitter officials are on the case.
“Our teams are working diligently to investigate this activity and will take action in line with the Twitter Rules if Tweets are found to be in violation,” Twitter spokesman Trenton Kennedy said.
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A Twitter spokesperson told CNN that the accounts violated rules against platform manipulation and spam and that the platform will ban users who tweet in order to “artificially amplify or suppress information.”


theroot--2020-10-15--Trump’s Personal Lawyer Rudy Giuliani Continues to Be Racist AF as New Video Shows Him Mocking Asian

Trump’s Personal Lawyer Rudy Giuliani Continues to Be Racist AF as New Video Shows Him Mocking Asians

President Trump is taking down everyone on his way ( hopefully ) out of the White House .
Those aligned with him or noticeably silent ( looking at you , Republican Party ) have proven themselves complicit in all of the fuckery coming out of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Truthfully , Trump didn ’ t have to do much to knock Rudy Giuliani down a peg as he ’ s already been swimming in the Russia urine-soaked basement of the American mind , but recently , old Rudy didn ’ t do himself any favors ; either he or someone on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York City mayor mocking Asians and acting out a bow because Giuliani is nothing if not racist AF .
According to the Daily Beast , the footage , ( which was quickly taken down but not before the Daily Beast captured it ) was accidentally posted to his YouTube page and appears to have been a continued recording after an interview with former White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer for his podcast , Common Sense .
The taping happened Tuesday and it seems that someone in Rudy ’ s camp forgot to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to record a conversation between Giuliani and his camp .
It seems that whoever posted the video to Giuliani ’ s YouTube page didn ’ t realize that the end of the interview held several minutes of Giuliani being a racist shitbag .
For several minutes on the extended YouTube version , the screen was black and silent .
Then Spicer appeared briefly only to quickly sign out , leaving Giuliani at his desk speaking with individuals off-screen , apparently unaware the camera was still recording .
After a few moments of small @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be Jayne Zirkle , an animated Giuliani started affecting a stereotypical Chinese accent while telling Zirkle that she ’ s “ going to be the most famous model in China.
” “ Ah , get me Jayne Zirkle , ” he said while using the accent .
After asking others in the room what they wanted for dinner , Giuliani continued to say Zirkle ’ s name in the mocking accent .
He then started pantomiming a bow while repeating her name , laughing as his team tried to steer him back to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seconds later , the video finally cut out .
Giuliani did not immediately respond to a request for comment .
The video has been taken down but you can watch it here .

President Trump is taking down everyone on his way (hopefully) out of the White House. Those aligned with him or noticeably silent (looking at you, Republican Party) have proven themselves complicit in all of the fuckery coming out of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
Truthfully, Trump didn’t have to do much to knock Rudy Giuliani down a peg as he’s already been swimming in the Russia urine-soaked basement of the American mind, but recently, old Rudy didn’t do himself any favors; either he or someone on his team released video of the former New York City mayor mocking Asians and acting out a bow because Giuliani is nothing if not racist AF.
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According to the Daily Beast, the footage, (which was quickly taken down but not before the Daily Beast captured it) was accidentally posted to his YouTube page and appears to have been a continued recording after an interview with former White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer for his podcast, Common Sense.
The taping happened Tuesday and it seems that someone in Rudy’s camp forgot to shut off his video, which continued to record a conversation between Giuliani and his camp. It seems that whoever posted the video to Giuliani’s YouTube page didn’t realize that the end of the interview held several minutes of Giuliani being a racist shitbag.
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For several minutes on the extended YouTube version, the screen was black and silent. Then Spicer appeared briefly only to quickly sign out, leaving Giuliani at his desk speaking with individuals off-screen, apparently unaware the camera was still recording.
From the Daily Beast:
After a few moments of small talk with an assistant who appears to be Jayne Zirkle, an animated Giuliani started affecting a stereotypical Chinese accent while telling Zirkle that she’s “going to be the most famous model in China.” “Ah, get me Jayne Zirkle,” he said while using the accent. After asking others in the room what they wanted for dinner, Giuliani continued to say Zirkle’s name in the mocking accent. He then started pantomiming a bow while repeating her name, laughing as his team tried to steer him back to talking about the interview. A few seconds later, the video finally cut out. Giuliani did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The video has been taken down but you can watch it here.


theroot--2020-10-15--Perfect Pairings: Ava DuVernay to Direct Adaptation of Isabel Wilkerson’s Caste for Netflix

Ava DuVernay is back in the director ’ s chair once again , this time for a feature film adaptation based on Isabel Wilkerson ’ s New York Times bestseller , Caste : The Origins of Our Discontents .
The film will use a multiple-story structure to depict how racial hierarchies have shaped life for generations of Americans .
It also marks her first feature film with Netflix , reuniting her with Tendo Nagenda , an executive at the studio and streaming platform who worked with DuVernay on the 2018 fantasy film , A Wrinkle in Time .
DuVernay is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wilkerson ’ s second NYT bestseller .
A recent Oprah Book Club selection , Caste aims to provide a new framework and vocabulary for understanding America ’ s history of racial segregation and how it connects to global examples of societal oppression .
With Caste , DuVernay builds upon a cinematic oeuvre that has been concerned with amplifying and illuminating racial justice issues .
Her previous work with Netflix includes the documentary The 13th , which centers on how America ’ s history of slavery led to modern-day mass incarceration , and When @ @ @ @ @ @ @ telling the story of the “ Exonerated Five , ” five Black and Latino teenage boys falsely accused and convicted of raping a white woman in Central Park in the 1980s .
Both The 13th and When They See Us were met with critical acclaim , with the former netting the director Emmy and Peabody awards , as well as an Oscar nomination .
When They See Us also garnered 16 Emmy nominations , with a historic win for star Jharrel Jerome for his portrayal of Korey Wise .
In conversation with The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sees film as a natural and integral part of social justice and activism .
“ Art is the foundation of any movement , ” the filmmaker told The Root ’ s Editor-in-Chief Danielle Belton .
The Caste project isn ’ t the only one DuVernay has queued up with Netflix .
She ’ s also producing a limited series , Colin In Black & White , based on the adolescent life of athlete and activist Colin Kaepernick .

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

Ava DuVernay is back in the director’s chair once again, this time for a feature film adaptation based on Isabel Wilkerson’s New York Times bestseller, Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents.
The film will use a multiple-story structure to depict how racial hierarchies have shaped life for generations of Americans. It also marks her first feature film with Netflix, reuniting her with Tendo Nagenda, an executive at the studio and streaming platform who worked with DuVernay on the 2018 fantasy film, A Wrinkle in Time.
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DuVernay is a natural choice for adapting Caste, Wilkerson’s second NYT bestseller. A recent Oprah Book Club selection, Caste aims to provide a new framework and vocabulary for understanding America’s history of racial segregation and how it connects to global examples of societal oppression. With Caste, DuVernay builds upon a cinematic oeuvre that has been concerned with amplifying and illuminating racial justice issues. Her previous work with Netflix includes the documentary The 13th, which centers on how America’s history of slavery led to modern-day mass incarceration, and When They See Us, a limited series telling the story of the “Exonerated Five,” five Black and Latino teenage boys falsely accused and convicted of raping a white woman in Central Park in the 1980s.
Both The 13th and When They See Us were met with critical acclaim, with the former netting the director Emmy and Peabody awards, as well as an Oscar nomination. When They See Us also garnered 16 Emmy nominations, with a historic win for star Jharrel Jerome for his portrayal of Korey Wise.
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In conversation with The Root in August, DuVernay said she sees film as a natural and integral part of social justice and activism.
“Art is the foundation of any movement,” the filmmaker told The Root’s Editor-in-Chief Danielle Belton.
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The Caste project isn’t the only one DuVernay has queued up with Netflix. She’s also producing a limited series, Colin In Black & White, based on the adolescent life of athlete and activist Colin Kaepernick.


theroot--2020-10-15--I'd Rather Wait in Line for Hours for a Popeyes Chicken Sandwich Than to Vote

I ’ ve always believed that the single Drakiest Drake song is “ Shot For Me.
” It ’ s petty , it ’ s passive-aggressive , and it ’ s actually pretty damn mean and nasty , but its meanness and nastiness are obscured by Drake ’ s falsetto-ey intonation .
Bitch , I ’ m the man , don ’ t you forget it The way you walk , that ’ s me The way you talk , that ’ s me The way you ’ ve got your hair up , did you forget that ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speaker right now that ’ s me That ’ s me , and the voice in your ear That ’ s me , can ’ t you see I think about those lyrics whenever I see a Popeyes chicken sandwich now .
Not because Drake makes me hungry or favors fast-food poultry .
But because of the Popeyes chicken sandwich craze last year , and the fact that I believe I ’ m responsible for it .
I realize this is a lonely ( and dumb ) hill to die on .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until I wrote a moderately popular blog about how surprisingly delicious the sandwich was .
This led to other blogs and status messages and tweets and testimonies , and boom !
A craze was born .
And if you look at the timeline and squint a bit , my claim kinda , sorta checks out .
THAT ’ S ME , CAN ’ T YOU SEE ?
Anyway , when that shit happened last year , there was quite a bit of shaming from respectable niggas who chided ( Black ) people for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for *checks notes* voting or something .
Which is what happens whenever there ’ s a food craze or a new sneaker release that we have the audacity to be excited about .
Someone who thinks they ’ re real smart says something real dumb like “ if Black people cared about building wealth instead of building , um , chicken sandwiches , we ’ d finally be white people.
” Of course now , as we ’ re in the midst of the worst election season of our lifetimes , there actually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in lines , for hours , to vote .
People braving brazen voter suppression and a motherfucking pandemic to fulfill their civic duty .
This phenomenon has been spun as another example of our indomitable spirit and willingness to fight for a nation that actively fights against us .
When all else fails , we can be counted on to do the right thing .
And it ’ s fucking disgusting .
There ’ s nothing good about waiting in line for 10 hours to vote for a president .
No silver linings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proof of a system so fundamentally rotten that this is somehow legal .
And while I do plan to vote , if I had to choose between waiting in line a whole entire day to vote or to procure and devour a Popeyes chicken sandwich , I ’ m choosing the fucking chicken .
At least that is an example of something good happening .
It ’ s a good thing when a company produces a cheap good that is also a quality-ish good !
It ’ s a good thing when people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in line for it !
It ’ s a good thing when people enjoy things !
And while I didn ’ t wait on any chicken lines last year , I saw some on TV , and they looked fun !
Much more fun than spending an entire shift in line to vote for some guy you can ’ t even eat !

Damon Young on Very Smart Brothas, shared by Damon Young to The Root

I’ve always believed that the single Drakiest Drake song is “Shot For Me.” It’s petty, it’s passive-aggressive, and it’s actually pretty damn mean and nasty, but its meanness and nastiness are obscured by Drake’s falsetto-ey intonation.
Bitch, I’m the man, don’t you forget it
The way you walk, that’s me
The way you talk, that’s me
The way you’ve got your hair up, did you forget that’s me?
And the voice in your speaker right now that’s me
That’s me, and the voice in your ear
That’s me, can’t you see
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I think about those lyrics whenever I see a Popeyes chicken sandwich now. Not because Drake makes me hungry or favors fast-food poultry. But because of the Popeyes chicken sandwich craze last year, and the fact that I believe I’m responsible for it. I realize this is a lonely (and dumb) hill to die on. But the craze did not become a craze until I wrote a moderately popular blog about how surprisingly delicious the sandwich was. This led to other blogs and status messages and tweets and testimonies, and boom! A craze was born. And if you look at the timeline and squint a bit, my claim kinda, sorta checks out. THAT’S ME, CAN’T YOU SEE?
Anyway, when that shit happened last year, there was quite a bit of shaming from respectable niggas who chided (Black) people for standing in line for chicken instead of for *checks notes* voting or something. Which is what happens whenever there’s a food craze or a new sneaker release that we have the audacity to be excited about. Someone who thinks they’re real smart says something real dumb like “if Black people cared about building wealth instead of building, um, chicken sandwiches, we’d finally be white people.”
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Of course now, as we’re in the midst of the worst election season of our lifetimes, there actually have been thousands of Black people waiting in lines, for hours, to vote. People braving brazen voter suppression and a motherfucking pandemic to fulfill their civic duty. This phenomenon has been spun as another example of our indomitable spirit and willingness to fight for a nation that actively fights against us. When all else fails, we can be counted on to do the right thing. And it’s fucking disgusting.
There’s nothing good about waiting in line for 10 hours to vote for a president. No silver linings. No country for optimism. Just proof of a system so fundamentally rotten that this is somehow legal. And while I do plan to vote, if I had to choose between waiting in line a whole entire day to vote or to procure and devour a Popeyes chicken sandwich, I’m choosing the fucking chicken. At least that is an example of something good happening. It’s a good thing when a company produces a cheap good that is also a quality-ish good! It’s a good thing when people enjoy how things taste enough to wait in line for it! It’s a good thing when people enjoy things! And while I didn’t wait on any chicken lines last year, I saw some on TV, and they looked fun! Much more fun than spending an entire shift in line to vote for some guy you can’t even eat!


theroot--2020-10-15--Turn up Your Shower Tunes With $10 off This Waterproof Bose Bluetooth Speaker

Everybody loves a good shower karaoke session .
Unfortunately , without the right Bluetooth speaker , you ’ ll be @ @ @ @ @ ’ brick putting out static sound at best .
You ’ ll need a waterproof @ @ @ @ @ done .
This one from Bose is $ 10 off at World Wide Stereo right @ @ @ @ @ in a few nifty colors if you ’ re looking for a little pizzaz .

Jordan McMahon on Kinja Deals, shared by Quentyn Kennemer to The Root

Bose SoundLink Micro | $99 | World Wide Stereo
Everybody loves a good shower karaoke session. Unfortunately, without the right Bluetooth speaker, you’ll be left with a big ol’ brick putting out static sound at best. You’ll need a waterproof speaker to get the job done. This one from Bose is $10 off at World Wide Stereo right now, and it comes in a few nifty colors if you’re looking for a little pizzaz.


theroot--2020-10-15--Los Angeles City Council Votes to Create Crisis Response Team for Non-Violent 911 Calls

On Wednesday , the Los Angeles City Council took a notable step towards police reform by advancing a proposal that would create a crisis response team for non-violent 911 calls .
According to CNN , the proposal , passed by a unanimous vote , will allow the city to court non-profits to execute the pilot program .
The program will allow 911 operators to transfer nonviolent calls to organizations and service providers that specialize in responding to mental health crises , substance abuse incidents , suicide threats and behavioral distress .
City employees who respond to nonviolent 911 calls will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Nury Martinez called the vote a “ seminal moment in LA history ” with another council member saying the proposal will save lives .
“ Calling the police on George Floyd about an alleged counterfeit $ 20 bill ended his life , ” Councilmember Herb Wesson Jr said .
“ If he had been met with unarmed , trained specialists for the nonviolent crime he was accused of , George Floyd would be turning 47 years old today.
” According to KCAL , the proposal has the full support of the LAPD @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long the men and women of the Department have been asked to respond to calls from our community that would be more effectively addressed by others , ” the department said in a statement to KCAL .
The proposal would create teams of mental health workers , homeless outreach workers , and medical professionals who would respond to incidents that are within their expertise and wouldn ’ t require the use of a lethal or non-lethal weapon by an officer .
Martinez believes the proposal is a major step towards providing proper mental @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across Los Angeles .
“ We have failed people who really need our assistance .
The majority of them happen to be black and brown who are struggling with mental health issues and homelessness .
And to give the police department more to handle , I don ’ t think it ’ s fair , ” Martinez said .
Councilmember Bob Blumfield says the proposal will allow the Los Angeles Police Department to focus its resources on potentially more dangerous matters .
“ For too long , sworn LAPD officers have been asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t require an armed presence and frankly eat up valuable time and resources the LAPD could spend on stopping and preventing actual crimes , ” Blumenfield said .
“ By creating a robust non-armed crisis response model , we are investing in the future of our public safety.
” The proposal will now go to Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti for final approval .

On Wednesday, the Los Angeles City Council took a notable step towards police reform by advancing a proposal that would create a crisis response team for non-violent 911 calls.
According to CNN, the proposal, passed by a unanimous vote, will allow the city to court non-profits to execute the pilot program. The program will allow 911 operators to transfer nonviolent calls to organizations and service providers that specialize in responding to mental health crises, substance abuse incidents, suicide threats and behavioral distress. City employees who respond to nonviolent 911 calls will be given a new classification.
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Council President Nury Martinez called the vote a “seminal moment in LA history” with another council member saying the proposal will save lives.
“Calling the police on George Floyd about an alleged counterfeit $20 bill ended his life,” Councilmember Herb Wesson Jr said. “If he had been met with unarmed, trained specialists for the nonviolent crime he was accused of, George Floyd would be turning 47 years old today.”
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According to KCAL, the proposal has the full support of the LAPD as well. “For far too long the men and women of the Department have been asked to respond to calls from our community that would be more effectively addressed by others,” the department said in a statement to KCAL.
The proposal would create teams of mental health workers, homeless outreach workers, and medical professionals who would respond to incidents that are within their expertise and wouldn’t require the use of a lethal or non-lethal weapon by an officer.
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Martinez believes the proposal is a major step towards providing proper mental health services to Black and brown communities across Los Angeles. “We have failed people who really need our assistance. The majority of them happen to be black and brown who are struggling with mental health issues and homelessness. And to give the police department more to handle, I don’t think it’s fair,” Martinez said.
Councilmember Bob Blumfield says the proposal will allow the Los Angeles Police Department to focus its resources on potentially more dangerous matters.
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“For too long, sworn LAPD officers have been asked to handle nonviolent calls that shouldn’t require an armed presence and frankly eat up valuable time and resources the LAPD could spend on stopping and preventing actual crimes,” Blumenfield said. “By creating a robust non-armed crisis response model, we are investing in the future of our public safety.”
The proposal will now go to Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti for final approval.


theroot--2020-10-15--Ice Cube Working With the Trump Administration Was Dumb and Naive. Here’s Why

All of these Black celebrities would do well to understand how unlikely it is that a sitting president is going to meet with entertainers on major policy decisions .
Now , our current president and his administration will meet with you .
He ’ s so desperate for Black friends that he won ’ t pass on the opportunity to use you and your naivete for “ look at my African-American over here ” optics , but that ’ s about it .
I remember when Steve Harvey met with Trump and Ben Carson to consult on urban development in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nor Carson had any real experience in urban development in the Black community—which obviously made the secretary of housing and urban development the perfect job for Trump ’ s favorite negro whisperer .
Did anything come out of that meeting ?
Nope .
Did Harvey end up regretting it ?
Yep .
Was it the equivalent of a commander-in-chief asking George Lopez and Ray Romano to address the concerns of lower-income Latino and Italian Americans ?
Of course , it was .
Anyway , Tuesday wasn ’ t a good day for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rapper Ice Cube .
There were no jacker-less red lights or triple-doubles on the basketball court , and if the Goodyear blimp read anything , it was , “ Ice Cube got pimped.
” By now , many of you have heard that Cube was recently in contact with the Trump administration weeks ahead of the 2020 election , aka the old-crusty-white-men-pander-for-the-Black-vote-o-thon , according to tweets by both Cube and Trump 2020 senior adviser Katrina Pierson .
Apparently , he had input on Trump ’ s Platinum Plan for negroes who love platinum—which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month before the election .
Pierson announced Cube ’ s involvement in working with the administration on the plan via Twitter on Tuesday .
First of all , I really wish everyone would stop pretending this Platinum Plan is an actual plan and not just a list of campaign promises with YUGE numbers attached to make it seem legit .
Once you realize that , you ’ ll understand that O ’ Shea Jackson “ worked with ” the administration to discuss “ plans ” for the betterment of Black people that Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the beginning of his presidency when he inherited an economy on the rise instead of a current U.S. economy grappling with the effects of the ongoing global pandemic .
The good folks on Twitter were ... well ... unkind in their response to Pierson ’ s announcement .
Cube—who literally made a song called “ Arrest the President ” two years ago—responded to the criticism by tweeting , “ Facts : I put out the CWBA ( Contract With Black Americans ) .
Both parties contacted me .
Dems said we ’ ll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump campaign made some adjustments to their plan after talking to us about the CWBA.
” He also responded to some of his critics .
After people remained unimpressed that the Trump administration tweaked its pandering plan a little as Cube claims , the “ No Vaseline ” rapper , who has probably done one too many Are We There Yet movies , put out a video explaining that “ the system is fucked up ” and he ’ s just trying to figure out why Black people “ keep floundering at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ m wrong .
Maybe Cube is just doing the “ chess not checkers ” thing niggas kept saying Kanye was all about when he and Kim Kardashian were meeting with Trump even though I ’ m pretty sure that nigga can ’ t even play Connect Four .
But all I can remember coming out of those meetings was an opportunity for Trump and Kim to take credit for prison reform neither of them was actually responsible for .
The Root ’ s Michael Harriot did a brilliant job of breaking down that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the CWBA is a project he ’ s been working on for some time , and he has said he ’ s been meeting with all kinds of experts to strengthen it .
But Trump—the guy who wanted the Central Park 5 executed even after they were exonerated , thinks critical race theory and diversity training are the Devil ’ s work , wants to replace the 1619 Project with an even whiter version of American history than what ’ s currently being taught and hates all things Black Lives Matter—isn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , income tax avoidance and lying his pasty orange ass off .
Trump doesn ’ t care about helping Black people .
H e cares about looking like he does for clout .

All of these Black celebrities would do well to understand how unlikely it is that a sitting president is going to meet with entertainers on major policy decisions. Now, our current president and his administration will meet with you. He’s so desperate for Black friends that he won’t pass on the opportunity to use you and your naivete for “look at my African-American over here” optics, but that’s about it.
I remember when Steve Harvey met with Trump and Ben Carson to consult on urban development in the Black community even though neither he nor Carson had any real experience in urban development in the Black community—which obviously made the secretary of housing and urban development the perfect job for Trump’s favorite negro whisperer. Did anything come out of that meeting? Nope. Did Harvey end up regretting it? Yep. Was it the equivalent of a commander-in-chief asking George Lopez and Ray Romano to address the concerns of lower-income Latino and Italian Americans? Of course, it was.
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Anyway, Tuesday wasn’t a good day for the “It Was a Good Day” rapper Ice Cube. There were no jacker-less red lights or triple-doubles on the basketball court, and if the Goodyear blimp read anything, it was, “Ice Cube got pimped.”
By now, many of you have heard that Cube was recently in contact with the Trump administration weeks ahead of the 2020 election, aka the old-crusty-white-men-pander-for-the-Black-vote-o-thon, according to tweets by both Cube and Trump 2020 senior adviser Katrina Pierson.
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Apparently, he had input on Trump’s Platinum Plan for negroes who love platinum—which was conveniently announced a little over a month before the election.
Pierson announced Cube’s involvement in working with the administration on the plan via Twitter on Tuesday.
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First of all, I really wish everyone would stop pretending this Platinum Plan is an actual plan and not just a list of campaign promises with YUGE numbers attached to make it seem legit. Once you realize that, you’ll understand that O’Shea Jackson “worked with” the administration to discuss “plans” for the betterment of Black people that Trump could’ve been working on since the beginning of his presidency when he inherited an economy on the rise instead of a current U.S. economy grappling with the effects of the ongoing global pandemic.
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The good folks on Twitter were...well...unkind in their response to Pierson’s announcement.
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Cube—who literally made a song called “Arrest the President” two years ago—responded to the criticism by tweeting, “Facts: I put out the CWBA (Contract With Black Americans). Both parties contacted me. Dems said we’ll address the CWBA after the election. Trump campaign made some adjustments to their plan after talking to us about the CWBA.”
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He also responded to some of his critics.
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After people remained unimpressed that the Trump administration tweaked its pandering plan a little as Cube claims, the “No Vaseline” rapper, who has probably done one too many Are We There Yet movies, put out a video explaining that “the system is fucked up” and he’s just trying to figure out why Black people “keep floundering at the bottom.”
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Shit, maybe I’m wrong. Maybe Cube is just doing the “chess not checkers” thing niggas kept saying Kanye was all about when he and Kim Kardashian were meeting with Trump even though I’m pretty sure that nigga can’t even play Connect Four. But all I can remember coming out of those meetings was an opportunity for Trump and Kim to take credit for prison reform neither of them was actually responsible for. The Root’s Michael Harriot did a brilliant job of breaking down that bullshit.
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To be fair to Cube, the CWBA is a project he’s been working on for some time, and he has said he’s been meeting with all kinds of experts to strengthen it.
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But Trump—the guy who wanted the Central Park 5 executed even after they were exonerated, thinks critical race theory and diversity training are the Devil’s work, wants to replace the 1619 Project with an even whiter version of American history than what’s currently being taught and hates all things Black Lives Matter—isn’t an expert on anything except racism, income tax avoidance and lying his pasty orange ass off.
Trump doesn’t care about helping Black people. H e cares about looking like he does for clout.