The political campaign to pressure the Trump administration to release the full findings of the federal investigation of convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein continues as Democrats uniformly call for President Donald Trump and U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to be transparent with the American public due to widespread interest, particularly Trump’s MAGA base of supporters.

Amid the Trump administration’s inconsistent statements and insistence that there is nothing of value to release publicly, U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, is calling for Bondi to appear before the U.S. House Committee on Judiciary to testify about what she knows about the federal investigations.

“We should be calling in Pam Bondi. We should put her under oath to testify…about Epstein,” Crockett told CNN’s Laura Coates.

The Texas congresswoman is a Democratic member of the House Judiciary Committee, which has legislative oversight powers over federal courts and administrative agencies. Republicans currently have majority control in the House, which means they set the agenda for committee business. Thus far, there doesn’t appear to be enough appetite among Republicans to call for such a hearing.

Bondi has been catching heat from the political right and left after releasing a DOJ memo that concluded that there was no client list connected to Epstein’s documented sex trafficking ring. The memo comes after Bondi told Fox News in February that the client list was sitting on her desk. During a White House Cabinet meeting on July 8, Bondi clarified that she was referring to the Epstein files broadly, not a specific client list.

“She said, ‘Oh, you know, I’ve got the files on my desk.’ Then the next thing you know, she said, ‘Well wait a minute, there are no files.’ Which one is it? When were you lying?” said Crockett. “We know that your boss indicated that he was going to release the files. What is the holdup on releasing the files, and how are you going to go about determining what is relevant?”

Despite attempts to put the issue to bed, MAGA faithful and Democrats have joined in a chorus of pleas for more transparency—albeit for different reasons. Trump supporters, who have long believed Epstein’s sex crimes implicated high-profile politicians and members of the so-called government “Deep State,” have been told by Trump, Bondi, and others that the files would be released.

Theories about the Trump administration have also emerged as a result of former White House advisor Elon Musk’s assertion that Trump is mentioned in the Epstein files and that that is a reason why the full files won’t be released.

Democrats have seized on the Epstein files as a political issue. On Monday, U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., introduced legislation that would’ve forced the full release of the Epstein files; however, Republicans quickly blocked it.

Khanna told theGrio he believes the Epstein controversy is Trump’s “Achilles heel.”

“He ran speaking out against the corruption in Washington. He said he was going to expose the elite who had a thumb on the scale and were breaking the rules for themselves. With his unwillingness to release the Epstein files, he’s become part of the very status quo that he campaigned against,” said Khanna.

Speaking to the public’s frustration, the progressive Democrat and potential 2028 presidential candidate told theGrio, “It’s about people being fed up of a system that they think is rigged against them.”

He added, “Whether he’s involved, or whether he has friends are involved, or whether he has family members involved, no one knows. But the point is, that’s why we need to have a clear release of these files.”

While the notion of “starting from the bottom” is popular in rap music and pop culture in general, it may come as a surprise to most that a lot of our faves didn’t start there at all. In fact, a handful of famous faces like SZA, Michael Jordan, Will Smith and more had pretty decent childhoods.

Even some rappers who’ve garnered serious street cred like Offset and Travis Scott don’t have the stereotypical “rags to riches” upbringing. So that got us thinking and our wheels spinning to see exactly who grew up very middle-class and not of poor. While some of these people’s stories may not come as a surprise, others just might be enlightening.

Keep reading to get all the insight!

Michael Jordan

NBA legend Michael Jordan also grew up in a middle-class home in North Carolina. His father James joined the Air Force and later worked as a mechanic with the goal of eventually becoming a supervisor at the General Electric. His mother Deloris went to trade school and later climbed up the corporate ladder at United Carolina Bank.

Vanessa Williams

Former Miss America winner and “Ugly Betty” star Vanessa Williams also had a middle class upbringing in New York. A classically trained singer, she reportedly attended Syracuse University’s College of Visual and Performing Arts. Williams’ mother was an accomplished pianist and served as a professor at Manhattanville College. Williams’ father was a music teacher who earned a bachelor’s degree in music education from Fredonia College and later a master’s from Columbia University.

Tupac Shakur

Despite experiencing homelessness and growing up in poverty, legendary rapper Tupac Shakur still experienced somewhat of a privileged lifestyle by attending a performing arts school in Baltimore before he moved to California in 1988. While there, he was encouraged for his poetic and acting skills.

Kanye West

Ye is also a rapper who didn’t grow up in abject poverty. In fact, he grew up in a middle-class family in Chicago. His father was reportedly a former Black Panther and a photojournalist for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. His mother Donda was a college professor who served as the chair of the English department at Chicago State University. Ye also went on to attend the American Academy of Art and later Chicago State University before eventually dropping out to pursue his music career. There’s definitely nothing rags-to-riches about this.

Jadakiss

Though Jadakiss grew up in Yonkers, New York, he was raised in a fairly stable two parent household with his father reportedly working as a businessman. He also went to private school and attended college for one semester.

Clipse: Pusha T and Malice

While lyrical examination of Clipse rappers Pusha T and Malice might make you think the two of them grew up in poverty, they actually grew up in a middle class home in Virginia Beach. Pusha himself confirmed that he didn’t grow up “in the trenches” in an interview in 2022.

Martin Luther King Jr.

Though he championed for the rights of poor people and the disenfranchised, civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. didn’t have any firsthand experience himself. He reportedly lived in a relatively middle-class home and his father served as the pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church and activist. His mother served an educator, musician, activist and graduated from Spelman College and Morris Brown College.

Travis Scott

In an interview with Complex in 2012, rapper Travis Scott revealed that he had a middle-class upbringing. He also shared that his parents had pretty good careers but the time spent with his grandmother is what gave him an “edge.”

“I was born in Houston, Texas. I grew up in Houston, by Missouri City. It’s like a suburb in the area, it’s middle-class. But I used to stay with my grandma in the hood from ages one to six.,” he said at the time. “My mom worked for Apple and my dad owned his own business. I lived in [Houston] most of my life until I was like 19, I’m 20 now and I stay in L.A.”

He later added: “Growing up, my grandmother stayed in the hood so I seen random crazy shit. [I saw] mad bums and crazy spazzed out motherfuckers, I saw people looking weird, hungry, and grimey. I was always like, ‘I gotta get the fuck out this shit.’ It gave me my edge—[it made me] who I am right now.”

Beyonce

Beyonce’s upbringing, while not super wealthy, never looked like poverty. In fact, her mother Tina Knowles worked as a popular hairdresser while her father Mathew Knowles worked as Xerox salesman before becoming a music executive and managed his daughter’s singing career.

Offset

A Georgia native, rapper Offset also grew up in a middle class family on the outskirts of Atlanta. At age 11, he was already working as a backup dancer, appearing in a popular Whitney Houston video in 2002 before eventually finding fame as a part of the Migos nearly 11 years later. According to Page Six, he only curated a “street” persona to aid in his career narrative.

SZA

SZA’s upbringing never gave poor. In fact, the “Snooze” singer had a very middle-class, suburban lifestyle in New Jersey. Per an interview with Flaunt Magazine, her dad was an executive producer at CNN while her mom worked as an executive at AT&T.

Will Smith

Though Oscar-winning actor Will Smith didn’t grow up super wealthy, according to his own account, he grew up in a pretty decent, middle-class neighborhood in West Philadelphia. Smith’s father worked at a steel mill before eventually starting his own refrigeration firm and did electrical technician work. His mother worked as school board administrator for the state and was a Carnegie Mellon University graduate.

Dave Chappelle

Dave Chappelle never experienced the poor life, famously joking that his parents “did just well enough so I could grow up poor around white people,” according to the Daily Mail.

“When Nas and them used to talk about the projects, I used to get jealous. It sounded fun,” he said.

He reportedly lived in a house in the North Woodside Neighborhood of Silver Spring, Maryland–a middle-class area. He also had parents who were reportedly both activists and educators.

6

Tracee Ellis Ross, the Emmy-nominated style icon, self-care evangelist, and star of Black-ish and Girlfriends, just revealed a travel habit so shockingly minimalist, even her famously fastidious Girlfriends character Joan Clayton would be left clutching her Louis Vuitton luggage tags in horror.

During Travel + Leisure’s prestigious World’s Best Summit on Tuesday, Ross took the stage in conversation with Editor-in-Chief Jacqui Gifford, where the pair explored everything from self-love to global citizenship. But it was Ross’ no-nonsense approach to packing that set the internet ablaze.

“There’s always one bathing suit, a flip-flop and one little dress I can roll up,” Ross said casually. “And there’s always two undies.”

Yes. Two pairs of underwear. That’s it. That’s the list.

The stunned Gifford, and reportedly half the room, blinked in disbelief. “Two?” she asked.

Ross doubled down and even revealed that when she’s on extended trips, she relies on the good old hotel sink.

“If I’m gone for a month on this trip, you can’t pack a month’s worth of underwear,” Ross said, according to People. “How do you do that? They take up a lot of space.”

So instead, Ross uses soap or shower gel to hand wash her undies in the sink, proving that glamour and practicality are not mutually exclusive. In fact, this tidbit might be the most Tracee Ellis Ross thing ever: low-key luxury, deeply personal, and rooted in self-sufficiency.

The Art of Solo Travel and Self-Discovery

Ross isn’t just a frequent flyer. She’s a devotee of travel as a spiritual and emotional reset, especially when done solo.

“Solo travel, in particular, is how I’ve come to know and honor myself,” she told Travel + Leisure in a 2023 profile. “It’s very important to me.”

She went on to describe travel as an act of radical self-care, adding that it gives her clarity, perspective, and a profound sense of peace.

“Growing up this way allowed me to understand that, even though people may not speak the same language, we are all the same,” Ross said. “And that allowed me to feel safe anywhere.”

“The things that make us different are what make life so robust and textured.”

Born into a globe-trotting life as the daughter of music icon Diana Ross, Tracee refers to herself as “a child of the world.” That background has given her a global mindset that’s both philosophical and deeply personal. One that transcends borders and inspires countless fans to seek connection across cultures.

Related

The U.S. Department of Justice is catching some much deserved heat after recommending that ex-Louisville officer Brett Hankison — who was convicted of violating Breonna Taylor’s civil rights — serve just one day behind bars!

As we previously reported, Brett has been charged with firing recklessly during the 2020 raid that ended with 26-year-old Breonna’s death. Though Brett didn’t fire the bullet that killed her, the DOJ claims he deserves credit for time already served. But here’s the kicker — that charge carries a max of life in prison.

The sentencing memo wasn’t even signed by the trial prosecutors, but instead by Harmeet Dhillon, a Trump appointee who now heads the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division — and who’s also been criticized for rolling back police accountability measures in both Louisville and Minneapolis.

Civil rights attorneys Ben Crump, Lonita Baker, and Sam Aguiar are calling the recommendation a slap in the face:

“This recommendation is an insult to the life of Breonna Taylor and a blatant betrayal of the jury’s decision. Every American who believes in equal justice under the law should be outraged. It is unfathomable that, after finally securing a conviction, the Department of Justice would seek a sentence so drastically below the federal guidelines.”

“This sets a dangerous precedent. When a police officer is found guilty of violating someone’s constitutional rights, there must be real accountability and justice. Recommending just one day in prison sends the unmistakable message that white officers can violate the civil rights of Black Americans with near-total impunity.”

Crump continues, “The family asked for one thing: that Brett Hankison be sentenced in accordance with the law and federal guidelines. Instead, Tamika Palmer is left, once again, heartbroken and angry. Still, she is holding out hope and praying that the judge will do what the DOJ has refused to do –– uphold the law, respect the jury’s verdict, and deliver true justice for Breonna Taylor.”

The Department of Justice has recommended that former Louisville police officer Brett Hankison serve only one day in prison after being convicted of violating Taylor’s civil rights during the 2020 raid that ended in her death.

This recommendation is an insult to the life of… pic.twitter.com/QrDxMqxcX6

— Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) July 17, 2025

And Rep. Morgan McGarvey, who represents Louisville, echoed that outrage:

“A one-day sentence for blindly firing 10 shots into Breonna Taylor’s home is morally reprehensible. This is a dark day for our city.”

Breonna was killed in her own home during a botched raid. She wasn’t even the target of the investigation. Her boyfriend legally fired a warning shot at what he thought were intruders — and officers opened fire.

The backlash is LOUD — and growing. Activists, attorneys, and Taylor’s loved ones say the DOJ just sent a clear message: Black lives still aren’t being protected under the law.

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The world has seen former President Barack Obama lead a country, be a husband, and be a girl dad, but recently, the former president admitted that he doesn’t think he would have been able to raise a son with the same ease. 

“I think we did a pretty good job of raising our girls, but I’ve said often that I think I would have had more difficulty raising a son,” he said, appearing on Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson’s “IMO” podcast. 

A sentiment his wife of 30+ years and podcast co-host agreed with. 

“I think I might’ve been more judgmental, harder, and I would’ve tried to — I’d like to think I would have been more self-aware enough to combat that,” he continued. “But I just think father-son relationships, for me, particularly if I don’t have a dad around to show it to me, might’ve been more difficult.”

Over the years, the former president has been very candid about his relationship with his father, or lack thereof. In a 2021 Instagram post, Obama reflected on his childhood and the impact his father still had despite his absence. 

“I didn’t really know my father—he left my mother and me when I was two years old, and only traveled from Kenya to visit us once, when I was ten. That trip was the first and last I saw of him; after that, I heard from him only through the occasional letter, written on thin blue airmail paper that was preprinted to fold and address without an envelope,” he captioned the picture of him and his father. “His short visit had a profound impact on my life. My father gave me my first basketball and introduced me to jazz. But for the most part, the visit left me with more questions than it answered, and I knew I would have to figure out how to be a man on my own.” 

In his conversation with his wife and his brother-in-law, Obama did stress the importance of raising boys with care and intention. 

“If you’re not thinking about what’s happening to boys and how are they being raised, then that can actually hurt women,” Barack said, noting how unhealthy and dangerous this can be. “[Men and boys can become] more interested in appeals by folks who say, ‘You know what, the reason you don’t feel respected is because women have been doing this, or this group has been doing this,’ and that’s not a healthy place to be.”

It’s a phenomenon he thinks has trickled into the current political landscape.  “Some of the broad political trends we’ve seen not just in this country, but around the world, have to do with this sense of boys, men, not feeling as if they are seen, feeling as if they count.”

“We rightly have tried to invest in girls to make sure that there’s a level playing field and they’re not barred from opportunities,” he concluded. “We haven’t been as willing, I think, to be intentional about investing in the boys, and that’s been a mistake.”

From 1964 to 1968, the sound of the legendary R&B group The Temptations was defined by the gritty voice of lead singer David Ruffin. He provided smooth and soulful vocals on some of the group’s biggest hits, including “My Girl” and “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg.” But like many successful musical artists, Ruffin dealt with personal demons, including a struggle with addiction that ultimately led to his tragic passing in 1991.

From his rise to fame, to his dramatic downfall, this is the story of David Ruffin.

Mississippi Roots

David Eli Ruffin was born in Whynot, Mississippi on January 18, 1941. His mother passed away shortly after his birth, leaving Ruffin to be raised by his father Eli, who was a truck driver and a Baptist minister.

On a Mission to Be a Minister

Ruffin left home at age 14, intending to become a minister. But along the way, he got his first taste of the music business, performing in talent shows around Memphis. Eventually, he started writing songs of his own and touring with gospel groups, including The Womack Brothers and The Staple Singers.

Building Motown

By age 16, Ruffin made his way to Detroit and decided to sing secular music. In 1957, he met Motown Records founder Berry Gordy. The 16-year-old lived with Gordy’s father, who was a contractor and helped him with the construction work on the Motown Records headquarters. In an interview, Ruffin joked about building Motown…literally.

Joining The Temptations

In 1964, Ruffin was tapped to replace Elbridge Bryant in the R&B group The Temptations. Ruffin started singing backup, but he eventually took his place in the spotlight, singing lead on some of the group’s biggest hits, including the group’s first number one single, 1965’s “My Girl,” “I Wish It Would Rain” and “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg.”

Meeting Tammi Terrell on Tour

In 1965, Tammi Terrell, a talented young singer, joined the Motown family and started touring with The Temptations. Within a year, Terrell and Ruffin started a romantic relationship, and it wasn’t long before Ruffin proposed. However, the two never made it down the aisle. Terrell found out that not only was Ruffin married to his wife, Sandra, with whom he had three children, but he also had another girlfriend on the side.

Issues With Abuse

But by 1967, Terrell and Ruffin’s relationship was over, after a violent argument that led to Ruffin hitting Terrell in the head with a motorcycle helmet. Terrell sadly passed away in 1970 due to complications related to brain cancer.

Stealing the Show

Even after Ruffin split from the group, he was known to show up and steal the show from the remaining members. And while it drove fans of The Temptations crazy, his bandmates didn’t appreciate it so much. This famous scene from The Temptations biopic is perfect example.

“Otis so mad he didn’t even spin😂,” wrote someone on TikTok.

Problems Within The Group

As The Temptations’ popularity grew, Ruffin’s growing ego began to cause problems among the members. One of the biggest issues was his wanting to change the name of the group to David Ruffin and the Temptations, highlighting himself as the leader. Ruffin left the group in 1968 and was replaced by Dennis Edwards.

In an interview, Temptations member Otis Williams said Ruffin’s desire to prioritize himself over the other group members went against their promise that they would not change, no matter how much fame came their way.

“Success can act as a very strong aphrodisiac, and when you are a group, you have to move and think as one unit. You can’t have five guys going in five different directions,” he said.

But while the story goes that Ruffin was fired, he had a different view of what went down.

“I don’t see how you could fire someone out of a group of that magnitude. I just think that that was time for a change and life lands a crushing blow sometimes,” he said in an interview. “At that time, things just could not be smoothed out.”

Problems With the Law

In the 1980s, Ruffin faced lots of legal issues. In 1982, he was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of income tax evasion, which totalled more than $300,000. In 1988, he was arrested in Detroit for crack cocaine possession. After his arrest, Ruffin was sentenced to two years of probation and community service, but he eventually violated the probation and was forced to enter a treatment program.

The Temptations Reunion Tour

Although he had been gone from the group for decades, David Ruffin joined The Temptations on a 1983 reunion tour. However, his struggle with addiction led to problems on the road and cut the group’s reunion short as he missed the first three shows.

Tragic Passing

David Ruffin died on June 1, 1991, after collapsing in a Philadelphia crack house. He was taken to a local hospital by a limousine, where he passed away. Doctors determined his cause of death was due to a drug overdose.

He Walked in the Line of Fire

Although fans were saddened by his untimely passing, many who were close to him say they weren’t surprised that his issues with addiction would be the thing that ultimately led to his death.

“He walked in the line of fire,” Ruffin’s then-girlfriend Dianne Showers said at the time of his death. “I asked his ex-wife and daughters a lot of times to have him committed somewhere for approximately two years. He usually denied that he was doing anything.”

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Noir Nation, what was supposed to be a routine night in the villa just turned into an emotional rollercoaster, and the timelines are not okay. 🫣💔

On the latest episode of Love Island USA, tensions ran high as Islanders and viewers were hit with a shocking twist—and let’s just say, the decision has sparked a social media storm.

👀 Fans were locked in as the bottom couples stood vulnerable, waiting to see who would be sent packing. Emotions were running high, connections were questioned, and alliances were tested.

And then… it happened.

SPOILER ALERT BELOW 🚨

If you’re not caught up yet, now’s your chance to dip! 📺

Chelly and Ace have officially been dumped from the villa. 😩🏝️

The fan-favorite duo, known for their effortless chemistry and real energy, were voted out in a move that sent shockwaves across Twitter, Threads, and TikTok.

🗣️ Social Media Reactions:

📲 “Nah, Chelly was carrying this season. The villa’s energy just dropped by 50%.”

🔥 “They really sent home the only couple with vibes and growth?? I’m screaming.”

💬 “Ace was unproblematic and fine—why are we even watching now?”

Many fans praised Chelly for her authenticity, boldness, and looks, while others highlighted Ace’s subtle charm and genuine loyalty as reasons the two deserved to stay longer.

😤 A Cultural Loss?

Some viewers are calling it a “robbery”, while others believe producers let the wrong couple go to keep the drama alive. Either way, the Love Island streets are loud and divided.

🩷Noir Nation:

did the villa just lose its last real connection? Or was this the shake-up the game needed?

We’ll let y’all decide. Drop your takes below. 🫣📲💔

Related

Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials will be given access to the personal data of the nation’s 79 million Medicaid enrollees, including home addresses and ethnicities, to track down immigrants who may not be living legally in the United States, according to an agreement obtained by The Associated Press.

The information will give ICE officials the ability to find “the location of aliens” across the country, says the agreement signed Monday between the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Department of Homeland Security. The agreement has not been announced publicly.

The extraordinary disclosure of millions of such personal health data to deportation officials is the latest escalation in the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown, which has repeatedly tested legal boundaries in its effort to arrest 3,000 people daily.

Lawmakers and some CMS officials have challenged the legality of deportation officials’ access to some states’ Medicaid enrollee data. It’s a move, first reported by the AP last month, that Health and Human Services officials said was aimed at rooting out people enrolled in the program improperly.

But the latest data-sharing agreement makes clear what ICE officials intend to do with the health data.

“ICE will use the CMS data to allow ICE to receive identity and location information on aliens identified by ICE,” the agreement says.

Such an action could ripple widely

Such disclosures, even if not acted upon, could cause widespread alarm among people seeking emergency medical help for themselves or their children. Other efforts to crack down on illegal immigration have made schools, churches, courthouses and other everyday places feel perilous to immigrants and even U.S. citizens who fear getting caught up in a raid.

HHS spokesman Andrew Nixon would not respond to the latest agreement. It is unclear, though, whether Homeland Security has yet accessed the information. The department’s assistant secretary, Tricia McLaughlin, said in an emailed statement that the two agencies “are exploring an initiative to ensure that illegal aliens are not receiving Medicaid benefits that are meant for law-abiding Americans.”

The database will reveal to ICE officials the names, addresses, birth dates, ethnic and racial information, as well as Social Security numbers for all people enrolled in Medicaid. The state and federally funded program provides health care coverage program for the poorest of people, including millions of children.

The agreement does not allow ICE officials to download the data. Instead, they will be allowed to access it for a limited period from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, until Sept. 9.

“They are trying to turn us into immigration agents,” said a CMS official did not have permission to speak to the media and insisted on anonymity.

Immigrants who are not living in the U.S. legally, as well as some lawfully present immigrants, are not allowed to enroll in the Medicaid program that provides nearly-free coverage for health services. Medicaid is a jointly funded program between states and the federal government.

But federal law requires all states to offer emergency Medicaid, a temporary coverage that pays only for lifesaving services in emergency rooms to anyone, including non-U.S. citizens. Emergency Medicaid is often used by immigrants, including those who are lawfully present and those who are not.

Many people sign up for emergency Medicaid in their most desperate moments, said Hannah Katch, a previous adviser at CMS during the Biden administration.

“It’s unthinkable that CMS would violate the trust of Medicaid enrollees in this way,” Katch said. She said the personally identifiable information of enrollees has not been historically shared outside of the agency unless for law enforcement purposes to investigate waste, fraud or abuse of the program.

Trump team has pursued information aggressively

Trump officials last month demanded that the federal health agency’s staffers release personally identifiable information on millions of Medicaid enrollees from seven states that permit non-U.S. citizens to enroll in their full Medicaid programs.

The states launched these programs during the Biden administration and said they would not bill the federal government to cover the health care costs of those immigrants. All the states — California, New York, Washington, Oregon, Illinois, Minnesota and Colorado — have Democratic governors.

That data sharing with DHS officials prompted widespread backlash from lawmakers and governors. Twenty states have since sued over the move, alleging it violated federal health privacy laws.

CMS officials previously fought and failed to stop the data sharing that is now at the center of the lawsuits. On Monday, CMS officials were once again debating whether they should provide DHS access, citing concerns about the ongoing litigation.

In an email chain obtained by the AP called “Hold DHS Access — URGENT,” CMS chief legal officer Rujul H. Desai said they should first ask the Department of Justice to appeal to the White House directly for a “pause” on the information sharing. In a response the next day, HHS lawyer Lena Amanti Yueh said that the Justice Department was “comfortable with CMS proceeding with providing DHS access.”

Dozens of members of Congress, including Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff of California, sent letters last month to DHS and HHS officials demanding that the information-sharing stop.

“The massive transfer of the personal data of millions of Medicaid recipients should alarm every American. This massive violation of our privacy laws must be halted immediately,” Schiff said in response to AP’s description of the new, expanded agreement. “It will harm families across the nation and only cause more citizens to forego lifesaving access to health care.”

The new agreement makes clear that DHS will use the data to identify, for deportation purposes, people who in the country illegally. But HHS officials have repeatedly maintained that it would be used primarily as a cost-saving measure, to investigate whether non-U.S. citizens were improperly accessing Medicaid benefits.

“HHS acted entirely within its legal authority – and in full compliance with all applicable laws – to ensure that Medicaid benefits are reserved for individuals who are lawfully entitled to receive them,” Nixon said in a statement responding to the lawsuits last month.

From endless meetings to random mandates about everything from the kinds of plants you can have in your yard to the color of your mailbox, dealing with homeowner’s associations can be a pain. However, one Florida woman claimed that her HOA escalated an unnecessary dispute with her, which ultimately landed her in jail.

Irena Green told ABC Action News that she received a notification from her HOA’s management company, The Trowbridge Company, about dead grass in front of her home. Although she’s tried her best to maintain her lawn, she says she’s faced challenges that were outside of her control, including a large tree in front of her property and watering restrictions imposed by the county because of a drought. She added that she’s not the only homeowner in her Creek View subdivision who doesn’t have a picture-perfect lawn.

“If you drive around my neighborhood, you’ll see there’s plenty of yards not up to par,” she said.

But the patches of brown grass were just the start. Soon, Green says, she received notices about violations of “community appearance rules,” including a dent in her garage, a dirty mailbox and a commercial cargo van in front of her property.

According to ABC Action News, the HOA asked for a mediation with Green, but when she didn’t respond, they filed a lawsuit in Hillsborough County Civil Court. A judge gave Green 30 days to fix all of the violations. Although she says she cleaned her mailbox, seeded her grass and sold her van, she missed her next court appearance and was arrested by a Hillsborough County Sheriff’s deputy and held without bond for seven days before a judge ordered her immediate release. Green maintains she never received a notice about the follow-up court date.

Green says the incident was embarrassing, and she doesn’t understand why she was treated like a criminal over the condition of her lawn.

“I think they have way too much power. I’ve never heard of anything like this in my life,” Green told ABC Action News.

Noir Nation, the villa has officially closed its doors, and America has crowned their favorite couple—but not without chaos, controversy, and one historic moment that will be talked about for seasons to come.

On Sunday night, Amaya Espinal and Bryan Arenales walked away as the Season 7 winners of Love Island USA—making history as the show’s first Latino winning couple. After a rollercoaster of Casa Amor curveballs, late-night tears, and unexpected bond-building, the pair split the $100K prize and shared a champagne-soaked kiss as fireworks lit up the villa.

But don’t get it twisted—not everyone is celebrating.

💥 FINALE SHOCKERS: TEARS, BREAKUPS & PILLOW THROWS?!

The finale gave drama and then some. In a moment that had social media on fire, Huda Mustafa and Chris Seeley—who finished in third place—Broke. Up. LIVE. After weeks of friction, things exploded on camera when Huda accidentally popped Chris in the face with a pillow during a heated moment. And yes, it aired. 👀

Runner-ups Nic Vansteenberghe & Olandria Carthen (aka #Nicolandria) held it down gracefully, but fans say they were robbed of the crown.

Meanwhile, Iris and Pepe placed fourth after weeks of fan suspicion that their chemistry wasn’t quite clicking.

🗣️ SOCIAL MEDIA IS DIVIDED: “AMAYA ATE, BUT BRYAN WAS JUST THERE”

Let’s talk Twitter fingers and TikTok tears, because the fans had something to say:

“Amaya carried that relationship on her back like a CHAMP. Bryan cute, but… okay. #LoveIslandUSA”

“Nicolandria had the full arc, the romance, the growth—this was a popularity vote, not a love vote.”

“Huda needs a solo spinoff. The girl is chaos and I love it.”

Even bigger shade? Rumors are swirling that Huda was dropped from a scheduled appearance on the Call Her Daddy podcast—allegedly replaced by Amaya and Bryan as the “official narrative” darlings.

📺 BEYOND THE VILLA: POST-SHOW DRAMA ALREADY HEATING UP

Just hours after the finale aired, past Islander Jeremiah Brown spilled behind-the-scenes tea, saying the cast slept as little as 2–4 hours a night, calling the filming experience “close to torture.”

Meanwhile, Season 6’s Kaylor Martin & Aaron Evans reunited on Love Island: Beyond the Villa with some tense but healing energy. But Season 7’s reunion might be even messier—with Ariana Madix and Andy Cohen hosting the Love Island USA Reunion Special on August 25th.

🔥 NOIR TAKE:

Amaya’s win was iconic, but the season’s energy? Hella toxic.

The show served diversity, drama, and digital impact—but fans are calling for more protection of cast mental health and less emotionally manipulative editing.

Whether you were rooting for Amaya & Bryan, riding for Nicolandria, or waiting for Huda’s spin-off, one thing is clear:

Season 7 changed the Love Island game—forever.

🖤 Noir Nation, what did YOU think?

Did the right couple win? Or was this just a PR setup for a post-villa rollout?

Drop your reactions below! 👇🏾

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