First Of All with Victor Blackwell

When a Russian-born American citizen named Ilya Beloozerov is gunned down by the FBI in 2024, the authorities refuse to say why they’d killed him. CNN’s Isabelle Chapman embarks on a sprawling investigation that takes her from the Mississippi parking lot where he died to Washington, D.C. to unravel the mystery: Why did Ilya abruptly leave his family and his job and head for the border with laptops and cash? Why is there still no official explanation of his death? And maybe most importantly: Was Ilya a spy?
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Looking ahead to a high-profile primary election in Wisconsin, and notable results from Michigan in the past week, Victor speaks with columnist Theodore Johnson of the Washington Post about Black voters and their feelings toward the evolving democratic coalition.



Two friends of Nolan Wells have now hired attorneys, and those lawyers say they traveled to Mississippi’s Horn Island to “investigate the layout and dynamic” following lingering questions and speculation about the teen’s death. Victor breaks down the latest developments with CNN’s Ryan Young, who is closely following the case.



The trial of the man accused of organizing the murder of Tupac Shakur starts in just days. Tupac's stepbrother, Mopreme Shakur, joins Victor to share how his family is bracing for this next big step in their fight for justice.



Major cities in Puerto Rico have been ordered to ration water. Victor speaks to Israel Meléndez Ayala in San Juan about why this is happening, and how long it’s expected to last.



U.S. Army Specialist Sayveon Anderson is still missing after disappearing more than a month ago from Fort Bragg. Victor speaks to Specialist Anderson’s mother, Pamela Anderson, along with his wife, Jasmyne Mowry, who is pregnant.



And later, Victor speaks with Brookyln Stroll Club founder Joe Gonzales for the latest shoutout in our “I See You!” series.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The top public safety official in Mississippi joins Victor to share what he knows about the investigation into the death of Nolan Wells. Victor also asks Mississippi Department of Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell for his reaction to the distrust much of the Black community says they have in state law enforcement.

Viles Dorsainvil is a Haitian community leader in Springfield, Ohio and says Haitian TPS recipients there tell him that they’re being targeted by the Trump administration with letters summoning them to report to an ICE office, and some are even being outfitted with an ankle monitor. He joins Victor to share perspective on the fear that’s causing. Plus, Victor speaks with a TPS recipient named Corinne who says she was just nine years old when she moved to the U.S. with her mother after Haiti's earthquake and fears being forced back to a country she doesn't know.



Black voters will play a major role in whether a moderate or progressive candidate prevails in next week's Democratic senate primary in Michigan. Victor speaks with Rep. Haley Stevens supporter Keith Williams, Chairman of the Michigan Democratic Party Black Caucus, and Dr. Pamela Pugh, president of Michigan's State Board of Education, who has endorsed Dr. Abdul El-Sayed.



The internet is in heated debate over a new student dress code at Tuskegee University, which includes a ban on bonnets and durags. Victor shares some of the social media reaction to the new policy and speaks with the HBCU’s president and CEO, Dr. Mark A. Brown, to get his response to the backlash.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Days after protests erupted following the fatal police-involved shooting of Corey Ruiz, City Council President Sabrina Madison tells Victor Blackwell why she thinks the officer involved should be arrested and calls the killing of Ruiz an “execution”.



Plus, Victor speaks to U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission member Kalpana Kotagal, the sole commissioner to vote against a proposal for the civil rights agency to end 60 years of collection data on demographics from employers. Does this now open the door to more workplace discrimination?



A Christian church “Foundations for Nations” is defending their presence on a Native American reservation after a recent sermon that called out quote "idol worship". Victor speaks with Northern Arapaho Tribe and Business Council Chairman Keenan Groesbeck, who says the church has “got to go.”



Later, Victor shares the reactions he saw on his social media algorithm this week to a story about a Black-owned brunch spot, Toast on Lenox, getting boycott threats after its owner was photographed with Republican candidate for governor in Georgia Rick Jackson.



Haitians with temporary protected status are facing the threat of deportation, coupled with uncertainty over when the protection they've had for years will actually run out. What is it like living in that limbo? Victor asks TPS recipient and business owner Farah Larrieux, who is dealing with that and still advocating for her community in South Florida and beyond.



On July 25th, Emmett Till, lynched at age 14 in Mississippi, would have turned 85 years old. For our “Art is Life” series this week, Victor speaks to Raymond Thomas about his exhibit honoring Till’s memory, and the movement Till's murder s
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The parents of Nolan Wells are speaking out to Victor. The mystery around the 18-year-old’s death off the coast of Mississippi is sparking an independent investigation, and an online conversation on the role of race. Christine and Elmore Wonsley join Victor, along with attorney Ben Crump, to discuss their push for answers into what happened, and how they hope their son will be remembered.

Immigrants with TPS from seven countries, including Haiti, are bracing for a loss of their work authorization. Victor shares an important update on when that’s now expected to expire. Plus, Bud Downing joins Victor with perspective from Springfield, Ohio on how this limbo is affecting the Haitian community there, and the people who employ them.

According to new CNN reporting, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth is pushing for a crackdown after sailors appeared to flout his policy on beards during a recent ship visit. Victor speaks with Black Veterans Project Co-founder Richard Brookshire about why he’s concerned the policy will disproportionately harm Black men who serve.

Later, Victor walks us through the latest videos CNN has obtained showing the final moments of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo's life before he was shot and killed by ICE in Houston, and why skepticism in the Trump administration’s story of what happened is only growing.

Plus, Victor asks Ronda Kauk why she’s sounding alarm about the federal government removing wild horses from Native American ancestral land near Mono Lake.

And in our “Art is Life” series this week, a look at an exhibit paying tribute to “the beautiful game” and the World Cup’s influence beyond sports.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices