First Of All with Victor Blackwell

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.
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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
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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.

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Hundreds of thousands of immigrants now face the threat of possible deportation after a Supreme Court ruling on Temporary Protected Status for Haitians and Syrians. Victor speaks with Viles Dorsainvil about how he and his community of Springfield, Ohio is reacting to this ruling. We’re also joined by Ghita Schwarz from the International Refugee Assistance Project.

A Tennessee rule that could impact the care of critically ill undocumented children is facing a legal challenge. Victor speaks to Michele Johnson, the Executive Director of the Tennessee Justice Center.

This year, July 4th marks 250 years since the Declaration of Independence was adopted. Native American journalist Rebecca Nagle joins Victor to explain why she wants to put a spotlight on the role of native people in U.S. history, and the "slur" in our nation's founding document she says has largely been overlooked.

Jay-Z is celebrating the anniversary of one of his classic albums with a collab that some people online say they feel betrayed by. Victor explores the social media reaction.

Should cities ban Ye AKA Kanye West concerts over his past hate speech? The Mayor of San Antonio wants her city to scrap a scheduled performance. But members of the city council say they don't want to censor the artist, and the city needs the money. Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones joins Victor to react.

And in our “Art is Life” series this week, Victor shares the story of a new museum that just opened in San Francisco's Chinatown ahead of Pride weekend that is unlike any other in the world.
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A community in Mississippi is demanding answers after one-year-old Kohen Wiley was shot and killed by an officer responding to a shoplifting call. Baby Kohen's mother is speaking out, and her attorney joins Victor.

How do Iranian Americans feel about the U.S. agreement with Iran on ending the war? Two Iranian Americans with different political views, but supportive of the war, share their reactions. Victor speaks with Sarah Raviani, the founder of a group called "Iranians for Trump,” and Moj Mahdara.

The first city in the U.S. to issue reparations to Black residents is now facing a legal challenge from the Trump Administration. Victor speaks with Robin Rue Simmons about the program she leads, and what happens to the nationwide push for reparations now.

Later, Victor explains why the Justice Department is joining a legal fight with the NAACP over AI data centers and is siding with Elon Musk.

The push to close a controversial ICE facility in New Jersey now has the backing of the family of the person “Delaney Hall” was named after. Victor speaks with Geraldine Delaney’s niece, Marianne Delaney.

And a special “Art is Life” for Father’s Day weekend: Victor speaks with Pierce Freelon about his new album “Black Boy Glow” celebrating boyhood and what it takes to raise thriving Black boys.
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