U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver, D-N.J., is undeterred after pleading not guilty in a federal prosecution brought by the Trump administration.

“The facts are on my side…I have no doubt that I will be victorious,” McIver told theGrio shortly after leaving a New Jersey courthouse where she was arraigned for her three-count indictment, for which she is accused of “forcibly impeding and interfering with federal officers.”

McIver faces up to 17 years in prison for a May altercation outside of a Newark ICE detention facility, where she and two other members of Congress were joined by Mayor Ras Baraka for an oversight visit to review the conditions of undocumented individuals being detained.

The encounter with federal agents was chaotic, as McIver attempted to shield Baraka from being arrested for trespassing. Baraka’s charges were ultimately dropped, and the judge overseeing the case scolded the U.S. Attorney of New Jersey, Alina Habba, for bringing the “hasty” and “embarrassing” prosecution.

However, McIver, a 39-year-old freshman congresswoman, was ultimately still charged in a historically rare criminal case for a sitting member of Congress. While she is confident that she will walk away free, McIver is equally sure that the prosecution against her is political and racial.

“Me being the one person picked out to be charged, definitely speaks to me being a young Black woman, and basically speaking up and speaking out about what they were doing and how they treated us,” McIver told theGrio.

She continued, “I think they want to prove a point. They want to use someone as the target. And right now, I’m their target.”

The congresswoman dismissed her prosecution as an “intimidation tactic” to “humiliate” her. She argued the same fate has hit other elected officials, like U.S. Senator Alex Padilla of California, who was forcibly pushed to the ground and handcuffed by federal agents after he interrupted a press conference held by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in protest of the Trump administration’s immigration raids and subsequent military deployment in Los Angeles.

McIver says the racial undertones of her case are clear, recalling President Donald Trump’s remarks on May 20 when a reporter asked Trump about her prosecution.

“Did you see her? She was out of control. The days of woke are over,” said Trump, who also repeated his vow to restore “law and order” in the country.

The congresswoman read between the lines of what the president really meant.

“Woke basically means being Black and being aware, in his terminology,” she said. “That’s why I’m being charged.”

McIver explained, “When my colleagues use that language, and when Donald Trump uses that language, I always say the opposite of being woke is sleep–you prefer us to be sleep and not speak out against what’s happening and the things that are not right on behalf of our constituents?”

Ultimately, McIver said her “trumped up charges” mark a “sad time for America.” And while she is not concerned about being found guilty in her case, she told theGrio she “feels” for her 9-year-old daughter and husband, who are “very worried.”

“I did not ever think I would be coming into Congress to face charges and up to 17 years in prison,” said McIver as she was rushing back to Washington, D.C., to continue her legislative work on Capitol Hill. “But in this moment of time that we’re in, we have to find our political courage.”

She added, “We should continue to hold this administration accountable. We should continue to advocate for the people who have elected us to do, and that’s what I’m doing, and nothing’s going to stop me from doing that.”

McIver called Trump and his administration “cruel people,” pointing to several actions that have been proposed or taken place since Trump was sworn into office earlier this year.

“From taking away people’s Medicaid to taking away SNAP benefits, to deporting people, to picking people up off the street who speak out against them, who are exercising their First Amendment right, to arresting judges,” she asserted. “Everything that they do is centered on cruelty.”

The lawmaker added, “This is what Trump’s America looks like, and this is constantly what we’re going to continue to get each and every day under this president and his administration.”

As for her case, the New Jersey congresswoman said she has “faith in the judicial system.” She added, “I have faith in the judge, faith in the jury. I know that things will be treated equally and fairly here in New Jersey.

Whew! President Donald Trump is once again speaking loud, raw, and completely unfiltered—this time sending a global warning aimed squarely at Israel and Iran following what he claims is a breach of their ceasefire agreement.

In a fiery and now-viral post that’s got social media buzzing and diplomatic circles on edge, Trump made it clear: he’s watching—and he’s not holding back.

According to reports from CNBC News, Trump expressed his disappointment in Iran after declaring that a ceasefore agreement was in effect and that it had been violated.

“THE CEASEFIRE IS NOW IN EFFECT. PLEASE DO NOT VIOLATE IT!” Trump said in a post on Truth Social after Iran released missle strikes at U.S Al Udeied Air Base In Qatar.

In response Trump took to his platform Truth Social with a direct and explosive command, allegedly writing:

“ISRAEL. DO NOT DROP THOSE BOMBS. IF YOU DO IT IS A MAJOR VIOLATION. BRING YOUR PILOTS HOME, NOW!”

The ex-president also added his now-signature bluntness, writing:

“They don’t know what the f*ck they’re doing.”

While neither Israeli nor Iranian officials have publicly confirmed or denied the alleged breach or Trump’s claims, the timing couldn’t be more tense. The Middle East has remained a powder keg, with years of conflict, recent escalations, and now heightened ceasefire sensitivity.

Trump’s statement, though unofficial, is being dissected worldwide—with questions swirling about:

• His current influence on foreign policy
• The accuracy of his statements
• And whether this rhetoric could fan the flames in an already volatile region

This isn’t the first time Trump has jumped into international conflict commentary with little filter—but critics argue his latest move could further destabilize diplomacy efforts.

Others, especially supporters, believe he’s simply doing what many politicians won’t—calling it how he sees it.

Noir Nation, what do y’all think?
Is Trump putting pressure where it’s needed—or is this another example of reckless messaging with real-world consequences?

On Tuesday (June 24), the long-awaited, Ryan Coogler-produced Marvel series “Ironheart” finally made it’s way to Disney+. But what should’ve been a momentous occasion for the MCU turned into an ugly online spat thanks to some racists. We’ll explain.

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Why Black-Owned Businesses Face Bigger Risks in a Global Trade War

Why Black-Owned Businesses Face Bigger Risks in a Global Trade War

For context, the new show is centered around Riri Williams, the hella smart MIT, techie student, who was first introduced to us all in “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” back in 2022. To sum it all up, Williams is an insanely talented Black girl who is determined to make her mark on the world, whether it be through new Ironman-like technology or something more magical altogether.

However, while the addition of Williams into the MCU was something Black Marvel fans were looking forward to, for the racist parts of the fandom–it tried to make the show an instant flop before it even debuted. Specifically, hours before the show even hit the app, trolls bombarded popular TV/film review site Rotten Tomatoes with negative audience reviews of the show, without even watching a single episode.

At the time, only select members of the media were given early previews of the show but were under strict guidelines not to post anything until after the episodes officially dropped. Yet and still, that didn’t keep early “reviewers” from spewing their opinions.

“The worst of Marvel. I hope it gets better one day,” wrote one user on RT.

“Iron Heart could’ve been a good show if it wasn’t a WOKE Segregated mess,” said another on X/Twitter.

“8 minutes into @MarvelStudiosironheart and its already woke poofy crap, pushing black agenda, why am i not surprised,” one other user wrote.

Added another: “Hot Take… #IronHeart is a more offensive & racist depiction of “People of Color” than Song of the South … Uncle Reemus>ReRe Williams.”

However, seeing the way things were going, Black Marvel fans sprung into action to call out the behavior and give the show it’s kudos.

“IronHeart has its audience. It’s a group of Black women who refuses to accept the opinions of racist and trolls who are actively projecting their anger and hatred onto us. Black girls can lead and we do it well,” wrote one user on X/Twitter.

“‘Seemingly’ the show isn’t even out yet, this is blatant review bombing fueled entirely by racism and misogyny Everyone doing this is so pathetic and I wish them nothing but the worst. I hope Ironheart succeeds in spite of them all,” said another.

“You look at ANY positive reactions of #Ironheart and it’s just full of racists having meltdowns. Way more crying than any typical film or show. These losers really can’t handle a show starring a Black woman superhero,” one other user noted.

Added another: “As they try to erase all Black representation & ignorantly cry their weaponized ‘woke’, review bomb & boycott all things Black & woman led. Please everyone, make sure you support this series & give it the ratings it deserved.”

Tia Mowry and her twin sister Tamera Mowry-Housley ascended to stardom after their hit television show “Sister, Sister” premiered in the mid-90s, making them household names among tweens and teens. However, the iconic Black girlhood sitcom almost never happened.

In a recent Instagram post, the 46-year-old actress opened up about the unlikely origins of the hit series, which debuted its first episode on April 1, 1993. 

“A lot of people think our journey to ‘Sister, Sister’ was easy… but trust me, it was far from it,” she wrote in the caption of the post containing 13 slides breaking down the show’s beginnings. 

According to her, it all began on the set of another iconic classic sitcom, “Full House.” Their younger brother, Taj Mowry, who caught the acting bug in the family first, had been cast on “Full House” as Teddy. Their mother, having to balance being on set with Taj and still watching her twin daughters, would bring Mowry and her sister to set. She and her sister would sit in the audience while they filmed, or sometimes lend a hand by babysitting the series’ stars and fellow famous twins, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen.

“The crew would have us play with Mary-Kate and Ashley between takes,” she added. “Everyone thought it was the cutest thing. Twin girls watching over twin girls.”

At the time, Mowry and her sister were pursuing music in a girl group called Voices that danced for MC Hammer when she said a woman named Suzanne de Passe, who discovered the Jackson 5, “changed everything.”

Eventually, de Passe introduced them to Karen Bass, who went on to develop the series based on the twin sisters’ actual life with a “The Parent Trap”-inspired twist involving them being separated at birth. Despite the strong premise, the series failed to be picked up for the fall lineup.

“We were devastated. We sat in a dark closet, crying, and praying, asking, ‘Why would God bring us to LA just to Fail? We gave up Voices for this. Was it all a mistake?’” Tia wrote.

The very next day, they received slightly better news: ABC was picking up the show as a potential midseason replacement if another show didn’t perform as well. However, when the show aired as “a filler,” “Sister, Sister” became an instant hit, landing in the top 10 with families nationwide. Even still, ABC dropped the show anyway. When they asked why, they were told the network was moving away from family shows at the time. Proving to be the little show that could, Warner Bros. scooped it up and gave it a home with a 100-episode guarantee.

“Sister, Sister” ran for 119 episodes across six seasons and saw the girls’ characters come of age from young teens grappling with the pressures of high school to college students navigating life and love. 

In the caption, the actress added, “As kids, we faced a lot of heartache and uncertainty. But every challenge taught me something. It shaped my faith, my resilience, and prepared me for everything that came after. I wouldn’t change a thing.“

9

Ivanna Sakhno is stepping into the M3GAN universe with a kind of joyful curiosity and a healthy dose of philosophical depth. In an exclusive interview with Where Is The Buzz, the Ukrainian actress opened up about joining the viral horror-meets-satire franchise for its buzzy sequel M3GAN 2.0, and trust us, her take on tech, humanity, and playing Amelia will leave you inspired and ready to rewatch the first film.

From the very first “hello,” it was clear Ivanna brings not only immense talent to the role but also the kind of grounded, radiant energy that’s impossible not to fall in love with. And yes, she loves M3GAN but don’t tell the doll.

Welcome to the M3GAN Universe, Baby!

“I just really thought that the team behind it is really awesome,” Ivanna beamed when asked what drew her to the project. “I got the chance to read the script before meeting with Gerard [Johnstone, the director], and I just was really taken by it.”

She described the script as “funny and philosophical in moments where it needed to be, without spoon-feeding the audience,” and fell instantly for her character, Amelia. “I really kind of fell in love with her and I wanted to tell her story.”

Ivanna admitted she hadn’t seen the first M3GAN when the viral doll took over pop culture in early 2023, but she felt the phenomenon. “I do remember the phenomenon of her,” she said with a smile. “Once I read the script, I just thought, I want to be part of this world.”

And who wouldn’t? Killer robot dolls, slick satire, and surprisingly poignant metaphors. This is a universe with bite andheart.

Amelia Meets M3GAN: Enemies? Soulmates? Maybe Both

Without spoiling the wild ride that is M3GAN 2.0, Ivanna gave us a fascinating peek into her character’s dynamic with the titular terror.

“I think Amelia’s relationship to M3GAN is based on rivalry and mistrust,” she said, “but there’s also lots of kinship between them… even if unconscious.” In a shockingly thoughtful observation, she compared the AI doll to a child version of Amelia.

“When we were filming the tunnel scene with M3GAN, although she’s older than Amelia in AI terms, she’s younger than her emotionally. So to me, it almost felt like Amelia meeting her child self and trying to understand it.”

Yes, you read that right. In a movie about a homicidal robot doll, Ivanna found a poetic metaphor for self-healing and inner child work. We love a cerebral scream queen.

Ivanna’s Take on Tech: “Let AI Help but Let It Rest Too”

As the conversation shifted to real-world technology, Ivanna didn’t hold back her thoughts about AI and where we’re headed.

“It’s something you can’t not think about,” she said seriously. “It’s integrated itself into society so potently. I fear there’s no way out of it.”

Still, Ivanna isn’t doom-scrolling over AI futures. She’s hopeful. “We just have to navigate it mindfully. Integrate it where it can be genuinely helpful, like in healthcare, where it can potentially cure diseases. But let it rest when it comes to storytelling and people’s jobs.”

Her voice softened. “I really don’t want people to be losing their jobs because of the efficiency of AI. That feels… disheartening.”

Spoken like a true artist with a soul and one who understands the power of human creativity. While the world spins faster into synthetic solutions, Ivanna is waving a flag for empathy, imagination, and protecting our collective inner child.

M3GAN 2.0 Is Coming and So Is Amelia

There’s no doubt that M3GAN 2.0 will bring more slayage (literally and figuratively), viral dance moves, and eerily relevant commentary on our tech-obsessed culture. But with Ivanna Sakhno’s Amelia in the mix, audiences can also expect something deeper: a story about trauma, identity, and maybe just maybe healing.

And as for whether Ivanna’s on Team M3GAN?

“I have to be on Amelia’s side,” she laughed. “I have to protect her. But don’t tell M3GAN—I do love her too. We just can’t let her know… she might get a little bigheaded.”

Spoken like a true scene-stealer.

M3GAN 2.0 hits theaters this fall. You’ve been warned and blessed.

Related

The legal drama between Halle Bailey and DDG just took a serious turn, and baby Halo is now at the center of it all.

According to newly released court documents obtained by Billboard, Halle has officially been granted temporary sole custody of their infant son as her custody case with DDG continues to unfold in the courts.

While DDG is allowed to visit Halo in Italy—where Halle is currently filming—a judge ruled that all visits must be supervised by a professional monitor.

This ruling comes after Halle’s legal team argued that DDG’s mother has a pattern of “enabling” behavior and has posted personal information about the baby online. As a result, DDG’s mom is no longer permitted to supervise visits with her grandson.

The judge agreed that visits were reasonable, but emphasized the need for a neutral third party to ensure Halo’s safety and privacy.

In another major move, the court placed a temporary gag order on DDG, barring him from posting about Halo on social media during this ongoing legal process.

The decision follows concerns raised by Halle’s attorney, Jeremy Lane, who cited DDG’s past online behavior, alleging that his actions and his mother’s interference create a toxic environment not suitable for their child.

In response, DDG has denied all allegations of abuse and filed his own court motion for custody. In the documents, he accuses Halle of emotional manipulation and making threats of self-harm—a claim her legal team says is “exaggerated and unfounded.”

Bailey clapped back, asserting that she’s in a healthy, stable mental space, and made it clear that her focus is solely on protecting her child’s well-being during a vulnerable and public moment.

All eyes were on Paris this week as Pharrell Williams showed off the latest Louis Vuitton menswear at the SS26 fashion show. The Men’s Creative Director is getting lots of online love for the collection, which featured spring and summer clothing (and bags, of course) made with men in mind. The combination of summer in Paris and Louis Vuitton was enough to get A-listers like Beyoncé, Jay-Z and Anok Yai in the building to see the show in person.

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Why Black-Owned Businesses Face Bigger Risks in a Global Trade War

Why Black-Owned Businesses Face Bigger Risks in a Global Trade War

In case you weren’t able to make it across the pond for the show, here are a few of the highlights from the star-studded show.

The Color Combos Were a Hit

Although the collection was meant to show off spring and summer pieces, the color palette gave fall vibes, heavy on burgundy, navy and tan. Fans, like TikToker @kemisims wasn’t shy about showing her love for all of the Eastern influences.

“I definitely see lots of references from East Asian and Indian culture in terms of the color, the prints,” she said in a post. “I even love the styling. The sandals with the suits, I feel like that’s really dope.”

“Guys, get your pedicures and get your flip-flops ready,” she added.

The Clothes Were Wearable

While runway looks don’t always look like something you could wear to work or even a night out on the town, most fans of this collection loved that everything looked like something you could actually see people wearing in real life. In a post, TikToker @jaychoicetibbits said that he loved that the clothes were contemporary and commercial in the most positive way.

“Every look that came down the runway was super wearable. You could literally pluck it right off the catwalk and see it in the street with no problem,” he said.

The Trunks Were Trunking

While new LV totes were on full display on the runway, those who got a glimpse of the collection couldn’t help but get excited about the colorful trunks models pushed down the runway on luggage carts.

“There is nothing I need more in this life than that first purple trunk. Oh my god,” wrote someone on TikTok.

The Stars Showed Up

Guests may have showed up to the show for the fashion. But the excitement wasn’t just on the runway. There was plenty to see in the audience as well. Steve and Marjorie Harvey, Pusha T, Anok Yai and Spike Lee were just a few of the fashion-forward stars who made their way to Paris to check out the show.

But who are we kidding, the best star sighting of all came from power couple Jay-Z and Beyoncé who popped out to check out Pharrell’s latest collection after Bey finished up the Paris leg of her “Cowboy Carter” tour.  

Is Bey Trading in Her Telfar?

Beyoncé told us in “Summer Rennaissance” that she put her Birkin bag in storage in favor of a Telfar. But it looks like she just added another designer bag to her collection. Pharrell knew the Queen was in the house and made a point of making his way over to gift her with the cutest Louis Vuitton bag, fresh off the runway.

We don’t know if Bey plans to keep the bag for herself, but anyone who grew up with siblings or has raised more than one kid knows that there is no way you can’t send a mom with two daughters home with just one bag.

“She looking like now Lord I got to deal with the girls fussing over it. He needed to pass her at least 2,” wrote one commenter hilariously pointed out on TikTok.

2

While NBA Draft Night is generally all about the draftees and tears as they walk across the stage, this year, there was another steal of the show, and she made it seem so effortless, in stilettos, in perfectly coiffed hair, with an attitude that commanded the room. Meet Maria Harper, mother of second pick Dylan Harper, and the Internet’s newest latest thing.

Dylan Harper is a pro baller. The San Antonio Spurs drafted him, so his future is secure, his handles are nice, and his jersey is already off the shelves. But when cameras stopped by to get a pickup with the stunning woman standing proudly beside him, with a smile that can melt granite, social media yawned.

His what? asked one of the X (formerly Twitter) users, and in all seriousness, we all wondered the same for a moment. How Maria Harper glowed on stage, she could have been a Hollywood starlet making press tour stops and not a mom who helped her son navigate high school hoops.

Yes, you heard that right. Maria is no sideline observer; she actually coached Dylan in high school. A college hoopster herself, Maria taught her son the game from the ground up. “We’re playing the game we love,” she told Jersey Sports Zone in April of 2023. “They’re playing it, I’m coaching it. It’s a family thing, and that’s how clean it is in our family.”

And that innocence? It radiated on the screen last Thursday night. In his post-draft news conference, Dylan smiled with his mother, who stood tall and lovely with the air of a woman who’s proud but unyielding.

It wasn’t long before social media caught up. A video of Maria talking about her son getting drafted during draft night has also gotten everyone’s attention. “It’s surreal. The NBA is a very, very exclusive club, and he’s worked so hard to get here. I’m just so proud of him,” Maria said in the 7-second TikTok clip. Maria’s NBA draft glow quickly went viral. Comments? Absolutely unhinged (in the best way):

• “Is he gonna battle on the court for sure ’cause them players gonna have words with her.”
• “Y’all ain’t taking no time.”
• “Pinay baddieeee.”
• “I know that locker room is already closing itself up.”
• “SHEESH.”

I mean, the Internet basically named her a “Draft Night MILF” and no one complained.

But behind the click video and glossy pics is a true tale of love, discipline, and unbreakable family values for the sport. Maria made into not only a good son, but a humble, down-to-earth young man who knows his roots. And let’s be real, any mom who can guide her boy all the way to the top of an NBA draft and still look like she just walked out of a Fenty campaign? She’s not just a regular mom, she’s the mom.

We wouldn’t be surprised if Maria Harper hits six figures on Instagram by next week. NBA moms, take notes. The era of being seen and slaying is here. And Maria Harper? She’s the queen of the court and the timeline.

Stay tuned for her skincare routine and coaching masterclass. We’ll be first in line.

Related

D.L. Hughley is NOT a fan of President Donald Trump, and he’s not afraid to voice that. During an appearance on TMZ Live, Hughley got into a heated exchange with one of the outlet’s reporters about the current administration. 

The conversation started when the outlet asked the comedian about his thoughts on Trump’s ceasefire deal and if he deserves a Nobel Peace Prize. 

“He’s an arsonist who starts a fire and then puts it out…We’re where we are right now because he dismantled what was working, took it away, said he was gonna replace it, and didn’t,” Hughley said. “He took a deal off the [table] without having [something to replace it] just like he would do to healthcare.” 

“Be the president and stop trying to win Nobel Peace Prizes and stop trying to sell telephones and do the bidding of the country. It’s not that hard. It’s a job you said you wanted,” he continued. 

He continued to rant his disdain for the Trump administration and their political decisions in international affairs, dismantling systems, erasing Black history, and more. However, tensions boiled over when a Trump supporter jumped into the conversation. 

When asked if there was anything that Donald Trump could do that he would give him credit for, Hughley responded:

“Yes, he could have went to jail for starting a riot,” he said, referencing the January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol attack. 

“We have a mediocre coward, who is a bullsh** president, and all you people enable him,” he added. “It is not a fun thing for me to watch a man who is snatching people off the streets, letting federal officers walk around with masks on, and then doing all this other stuff.”

“I question his motives at every turn. I’ve never seen him do anything that he didn’t get the benefit for [and] in this case maybe a Nobel Peace Prize,” the comedian concluded. 

Former Love & Hip Hop: New York star Amina Buddafly is stepping into a season of transparency—revealing that she and her two daughters are currently without a home of their own.

In an emotional TikTok update that’s quickly gaining traction across social media, Amina shared the raw truth about her family’s current circumstances. After years of living and working in Los Angeles, she made the tough call to pack up her life and relocate overseas—landing back in her native Germany with her daughters and no permanent housing.

Amina explained that the decision wasn’t made lightly. “We’re technically homeless,” she said. “But we’re together… that’s all that matters.”

She revealed that all of their belongings were thrown in the trash before leaving Los Angeles, and they’re relying on the support of her family abroad while figuring out their next move. The singer and reality TV alum didn’t go into detail about what led to the decision, but fans are applauding her honesty and strength.

The 41-year-old artist and mother of two has long been open about her life as a single mom, sharing everything from her music career highs to the complexities of co-parenting with former husband Peter Gunz.

Now, Amina says she’s focusing on the essentials: safety, family, and peace of mind. “It’s not ideal, but I’m trusting the process,” she noted in follow-up clips, expressing hope for better days ahead.

Amina’s update has sparked waves of support online—with many viewers calling her story a powerful reminder that homelessness can look different for everyone, and that transparency is a form of strength.

Noir Nation, have you ever had to restart from scratch? Sound off in the comments. 💬👇🏾