In a controversial move, President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. Known for his outspoken opposition to vaccines, Kennedy’s selection is expected to ignite intense debate and put pressure on Senate Republicans during the confirmation process. Sources say Kennedy accepted the position after meeting with Trump in Palm Beach. Kennedy, who launched a brief presidential campaign last year focusing on holistic health and...

Ella Jenkins, the celebrated musician who brought children’s songs like “I’ve Been Working on the Railroad” to life, passed away at 100 on Nov. 9. Her death was confirmed by Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, where she was a pioneering artist. Born in St. Louis in 1924 and raised on Chicago’s South Side, Jenkins grew up surrounded by gospel, blues, and the lively music of the Regal Theater. Influenced by Cab Calloway, she developed a call-and-response style to engage children in learning...

President-elect Donald Trump has made waves with his latest pick for attorney general: Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz. Gaetz, one of Trump’s most vocal allies in Congress, is a choice already stirring criticism and debate. Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Dick Durbin didn’t hold back, calling Gaetz “a disaster,” while others questioned his credibility and experience. Gaetz’s past is now back in the spotlight. He resigned from Congress yesterday, just ahead of the release of an internal House...

"Politics is tough and it's, in many cases, not a very nice world, but it is a nice world today, and I appreciate very much a transition that's so smooth. It'll be as smooth as it can get." That was President-elect Donald Trump during an Oval Office meeting with President Joe Biden. It was a two-hour meeting that was supposed to symbolize a peaceful transfer of power, but it remains to be seen what will happen between the two rivals. President-elect Donald Trump came with a list of questions...

In this poignant episode of Hollywood Live, Tanya Hart pays tribute to two legendary icons we’ve lost: Judith Jamison and Roy Haynes Jr. Judith Jamison, a towering figure in the dance world, started her career as a dancer with the Alvin Ailey Company and was later handpicked by Alvin Ailey himself to succeed him as Artistic Director. She held that role for over two decades, elevating the company to global renown. Tanya recalls witnessing Judith’s powerful performances, including her...

On Nov. 13, 1956, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Alabama’s laws permitting segregation on public buses. The landmark decision marked a significant victory for the Civil Rights Movement and came as a direct result of the Montgomery Bus Boycott. For over a year, African Americans in Montgomery, Alabama, united in protest, refusing to ride public buses in response to the arrest of Rosa Parks. Parks, a civil rights icon, was detained in 1955 after famously refusing to give up her seat to a...

President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump met at 11:00 a.m., marking the official start of the presidential transfer of power. The meeting was a pivotal moment, symbolizing the commitment to a smooth transition, something Trump notably withheld from Biden in 2020. But the transition isn't starting off without a hitch. Trump's team missed a crucial Oct. 1 deadline to sign the necessary agreements for a seamless handover. Those agreements would have secured access to federal...

President-elect Donald Trump is rapidly assembling his Cabinet of senior staff for his second term, laying the groundwork for a presidency expected to focus out the gate on tough immigration and major foreign policy shifts. Marco Rubio, the Republican Senator from Florida, is Trump's choice for Secretary of State. House GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik will serve as the United Nations Ambassador. In the White House, Susie Wiles will make history as the first female Chief of Staff. Trump...

In this inspiring episode of Hollywood Live, Tanya Hart spotlights Marissa Bode, who made history this weekend at the LA premiere of Wicked. Marissa, who has been acting since age 8, was left permanently disabled after a car accident at age 11 but never lost her passion for acting. Now, she is the first wheelchair user to portray Nessa Rose, the Wicked Witch of the East’s sister, in the film adaptation of Wicked. At the premiere, Marissa expressed how meaningful it is to bring this...

In a powerful tribute this Veterans Day, Maryland officially recognized Harriet Tubman for her remarkable contributions during the Civil War, commissioning her as a Brigadier General in the Maryland National Guard this past Monday. The momentous occasion highlights Tubman not only as a leader of the Underground Railroad but a courageous operative for the Union. Born Araminta Ross, Tubman's journey from enslavement to freedom fighter is legendary. After escaping to Philadelphia, she returned...

President-elect Donald J. Trump is reportedly set to nominate Senator Marco Rubio of Florida as Secretary of State, according to sources familiar with his decision-making. According to the New York Times, Trump could still change his mind, but insiders say he has largely settled on Rubio, who was also considered as a potential running mate. Rubio, first elected to the Senate in 2010 as a Tea Party leader, has been a vocal foreign policy hawk, especially on China and Iran, and recently echoed...

Donald Trump is set to be sworn in as the next president on Jan. 20, 2025, and he's already making some bold demands aimed at reshaping the Senate's agenda. Trump has declared that any Republican senator vying for a leadership position must agree to allow recess appointments. This would let him fill top government roles swiftly, bypassing the lengthy Senate confirmation process that he claims could take over two years. Trump is also insisting that no judicial nominees from the Biden...

On this day, Nov. 11, 1915, Xavier University of Louisiana opened its doors in New Orleans, beginning its mission to educate Native American and Black students. Founded by St. Katharine Drexel and the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, this coeducational liberal arts college remains the only historically Black Roman Catholic institution in the United States. Recognizing the lack of Catholic higher education opportunities for Black students in the South, Drexel used her inheritance to establish...

The day after Trump's election win, disturbing racist text messages flooded the phones of African Americans nationwide, telling them to return back to the nearest plantation and also threats of violence. The messages targeted everyone from college students to everyday working Black adults. The FBI has stepped in, urging recipients to report the text messages, while working with the Department of Justice to investigate the origin. Spoof numbers from text message services, like TextNow, are...

In this episode of Hollywood Live, Tanya Hart breaks down the latest Grammy nominations, where Beyoncé leads the pack with an impressive 11 nods, including a groundbreaking nomination for Best Country Album. Queen Bey also landed nominations for Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Record of the Year for “Texas Hold’em,” plus Best Pop Solo Performance for “Bodyguard” and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance with Post Malone for “Levi Jeans.” Other top nominees include Charli XCX, Billie Eilish,...

President Joe Biden has 73 days left until his administration concludes. Now a lame-duck president, questions arise about what actions he may take in his final weeks in office. In the past, former President George W. Bush approved bailouts for auto manufacturers during his closing months. Will Biden follow suit with similar measures, such as support for Ukraine or Gaza? Will there be moves toward loan forgiveness or bailouts for Black farmers? Many are also speculating on whether he might...

On Nov. 8, 1966, Edward William Brooke III, a Howard University graduate, made history as the first African American elected to the U.S. Senate by popular vote and the first Black politician from Massachusetts to serve in Congress. Born in Washington, D.C., Brooke majored in sociology before serving as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army and later earning a law degree from Boston University. Brooke chaired the Boston Finance Commission to tackle city corruption and, as Massachusetts’ first...

President Joe Biden addressed the nation from the White House Rose Garden after Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 presidential election. Speaking confidently to a crowd of staffers and Cabinet members, he urged the country to remain united. “I know for some people it’s a time for victory, to state the obvious. For others, it’s a time of loss,” Biden said. “Campaigns are contests of competing visions. I’ve said many times you can’t love your country only when you win. You can’t love your...

"My heart is full today, full of gratitude for the trust you have placed in me. Full of love for our country and full of resolve. The outcome of this election is not what we wanted, not what we fought for, not what we voted for. But hear me when I say, the light of America's promise will always burn bright as we never give up and as long as we keep fighting." That was Vice President Kamala Harris as she began her concession speech on the campus of Howard University, her alma mater. Speaking...

Lawrence Douglas Wilder, born on Jan. 17, 1931, and named after abolitionist Frederick Douglass, made history as America’s first Black governor when he was elected in Virginia on Nov. 7, 1989. Serving from 1990 to 1994, Wilder, the grandson of a formerly enslaved person, was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Korean War, where he earned a Bronze Star for bravery but still confronted segregation. Using the GI Bill, Wilder attended Howard University School of Law, as Virginia’s law schools...

In an election that saw Vice President Kamala Harris become the first Democratic presidential candidate to lose the popular vote in 20 years, Donald Trump secured the majority of white women voters for the third consecutive time. Despite his controversial track record—overturning abortion rights, facing court rulings affirming sexual assault against E. Jean Carroll, and enduring opposition from women’s advocacy groups—52% of white American women supported Trump. The outcome underscores a...

In this powerful episode of Hollywood Live, Tanya Hart delves into the aftermath of the recent election, reflecting on the significant support Hollywood threw behind Kamala Harris and what her loss to Donald Trump signals about the country’s current mindset. Despite Trump’s criminal record and warnings from political, economic, and cultural leaders about the dangers of his policies, many voters opted to support him over an extremely qualified Black and Asian female candidate. Tanya explores...

In this episode of Hollywood Live, Tanya Hart covers the excitement surrounding the worldwide premiere of Wicked, the highly anticipated film telling the untold story of the Witches of Oz. Starring Emmy, Grammy, and Tony winner Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and global superstar Ariana Grande as Glinda, Wicked explores the journey of two young women who discover their true identities and powers. As they meet in a fictional school, their bond off-screen is just as strong, with Cynthia and Ariana...

Donald Trump has clinched victory and become the president-elect in the race to the White House with 277 electoral votes. He won in key states like Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, clinching four battleground states thus far. Exit polls show, however, that he won with white evangelical, non-educated, older men and received a huge advantage from the Latino population. Trump will be the first convicted felon to win the White House. This is also the second time in history that the country will have a...

DALLAS (AURN News) — Grant Cardone, who built a multi-billion real estate empire after battling drug addiction and homelessness, has a controversial message about success: your failures won't make you stronger. The real estate mogul and business consultant is challenging the popular narrative that hardship builds character, offering instead a stark assessment of his own path to wealth. "I wish I could tell you that there was some benefit to those 10 years," Cardone told AURN News about his...