Ahmed Kaballo, editor-in-chief of the ultra-popular African Stream, recently announced that the entity relied on by hundreds of thousands of Black people across the Pan African diaspora is shutting down. He said the following: “This is, sadly, a farewell to you, our loyal followers and supporters. Under relentless attack, we’ve made the painful decision to shut down African Stream—a platform that many of you’ve come to trust and love. This decision was not made lightly. The smear by then–US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sept. 13, 2024, labelling African Stream ‘Kremlin propagandists’—triggered a wave of censorship. Within days, YouTube, Meta, Google, and TikTok removed our accounts, and we were demonetized on X. These actions shattered our ability to survive financially. Personal accounts were restricted. What followed was a daily uphill battle. Now, we’re left with only one path: closure.” Kaballo asked folk not to feel sorry for African Stream, but to celebrate how their work inspired other content creators to birth vehicles that report on Pan African issues from our own perspectives. Still, we must challenge ourselves to better support our own vehicles so they can survive future nonsensical attacks.
Netanyahu’s rap didn’t bomb on Trump
Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu is like a playa with one rap that never works. But he keeps on spittin’ his weak lines anyway, in hopes someone will be stupid enough to fall for his lack of game. For roughly 30 years, Netanyahu has told U.S. presidents the same thing: Iran is just years away, maybe months away, maybe just weeks away from having all the materials needed to create an entire arsenal of atomic and/or nuclear weapons. His rap, given since 1995, has been an attempt to get a U.S. president to join Israel in a war on Iran. For 30 years, presidents chose another path. That is, until the current occupant of the White House authorized the bombing of Iran without the Congressional authorization required by the U.S. Constitution. And who’s going to check Trump? His party controls the U.S. House, Senate and Supreme Court. Yet, his move to fall for Netanyahu’s lines could potentially place us all in danger. Because bombs dropped don’t discriminate. So, can you remind me again why some of y’all said voting doesn’t matter?
Enemy of the State
There’s a good reason why most government jobs and military positions have done everything possible to remain politically neutral. Whether working for the Post Office, Department of Education or the U.S. Marines, choosing a political side (and demonizing the other side) then places roughly 40-60% (or more) of the U.S. population in danger of being declared enemies of the state. According to multiple news reports, during Trump’s recent visit to Fort Bragg to commemorate the Army’s 250th anniversary, and address the troops, an internal 82nd Airborne Division communications reportedly revealed directives that requested 1) all soldiers with opposing political views be excluded from the “opportunity” to stand behind him during his presentation. The memo also stated “No fat soldiers” were to appear in the audience behind him. During that address, when Trump mentioned elected officials who were Democrats, the supposedly non-partisan troops behind Trump booed them as if they were anti-U.S. terrorists. This is a very dangerous precedent being set. And it begs the question, who is the real enemy of the state?
