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Sunday, November 8, 2020

Fans react to the death of Alex Trebek

People took to Twitter to send their condolences and pay homage to Trebek

Alex Trebek, the long-running host of the beloved game show Jeopardy!, lost his battle with pancreatic cancer on Sunday. He was 80.

In March 2019, the Canadian-born host announced his cancer diagnosis to the public but assured fans that despite the prognosis, “I’m going to fight this.”

“Just like 50,000 other people in the United States each year, this week I was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer,” Trebek said.

Read More: Alex Trebek, long-running ‘Jeopardy!’ host, dies at 80

Trebek passed away at his home surrounded by his family and friends.

Pat Sajak, game show host of Wheel of Fortune, commended Trebek for his “courage, grace and strength” and their friendship.

Since the news of his passing, people took to Twitter to send their condolences and pay homage.

One fan shared his favorite clip of The Simpsons where Trebek made an appearance.

Actress Rosario Dawson thanked the host for sharing his life with viewers.

Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Fallon wished their fellow host well.

Read More: Alex Trebek to Rep. John Lewis: Let’s survive cancer in 2020

Many news outlets including CNN and E! News, shared videos of former Jeopardy! contestant Burt Thakur. Thakur shared an emotional story about the revered host who he said taught him how to speak English.

“My grandfather who raised me – I’m going to get tears right now – I used to sit on his lap and watch your everyday,” Thakur said to Trebek during his appearance on the show. “So, it’s a pretty special moment for me, man. Thank you very much.”

Thakur would go on to win the game with a total of $20,400.

It’s not the first time a contestant has shown appreciation for Trebek. In November 2019, contestant Dhruv Gaur gambled away his $2,000 earnings in Final Jeopardy with a message that made the host choke up: “What is: We love you, Alex!”

The gesture went viral with the hashtag #WeLoveYouAlex resulted in Gaur being invited to The Ellen Show.

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DMX recalls being introduced to crack at age 14

DMX said the person who introduced him to hip-hop is the same person who handed him a crack-laced blunt

Rapper DMX has spoken candidly about his addiction to crack cocaine, which began at the tender age of 14, after he smoked a blunt laced with crack.

The embattled rapper has made tabloid headlines for years as he struggled with substance abuse. In an emotional clip from next week’s episode of People’s Party with Talib Kweli, DMX recounted his ongoing battle with addiction.

DMX performs at Masters Of Ceremony 2019 at Barclays Center on June 28, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images)

“I learned that I had to deal with the things that hurt me,” DMX said. “I didn’t really have anybody to talk to… in the hood, nobody wanted to hear that… Talking about your problems is viewed as a sign of weakness when actually it’s one of the bravest things you can do. One of the bravest things you can do is put it on the table, chop it up, and just let it out.”

Read More: DMX on having multiple personalities: ‘I wouldn’t want anybody to know anything about those people’

DMX, whose government name is Earl Simmons, disclosed that the person who introduced him to hip-hop is the same person who handed him a crack-laced blunt. This unnamed person, whom he considered a mentor, declined to tell him that he was smoking a highly addictive substance. The incident and its aftermath traumatized X and led to the confessional aspect of his raps.

“He passed the blunt around and… I hit the blunt,” an emotional DMX recalled in the interview. “I never felt like this before. It fucked me up. I later found out that he laced the blunt with crack. Why would you do that to a child? He was like 30, and he knew I looked up to him.”

The talented rapper and actor is keenly aware of how that critical moment set him on a path that would provide the framework for his music career, and he said he sees himself as “blessed with a curse.”

Read More: DMX reached 14,000 while reading Bible verses on Instagram Live to get through pandemic

“Drugs were never a problem,” he said. “Drugs were a symptom of a bigger problem. There were things I went through in my childhood where I just blocked it out.” He went on to say that it was time for him to start opening up and dealing with his problems.

The complete UPROXX podcast interview is scheduled to drop on Nov. 9 at 9 a.m. EST.

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Man arrested in Chicago after killing girlfriend and her family

John Matthews was sent to jail without bail on three counts of first-degree murder

A Chicago man was arrested for killing his girlfriend, her mother and her sister because his girlfriend did not agree to cook him breakfast or braid his hair.

On Friday, John Matthews was sent to jail without bail on three counts of first-degree murder for the death of his 24-year-old girlfriend, Shonta Harris, her mother, 56-year-old Frances Neal, and her sister, 27-year-old Jasmine Neal.

via Chicago PD

Read More: Colorado mom of 4 killed by boyfriend in murder-suicide

Harris was dating Matthews for two years when the fight took place. Matthews’s grandmother tried to defuse the situation by leading Harris outside, but Matthews followed her.

Harris made attempts to call her mother for help, but Matthews took her phone and broke it. His grandmother eventually allowed Harris use her phone to get help, summoning Frances and Jasmine to the rescue.

Matthews told Harris’s relatives to leave his property after they were trying to get the four-month old baby he and Harris shared, Daily Mail reported.

Harris’ sister decided to call 911, reporting that Matthews gave Harris a black eye and refused to surrender their son.

In the heat of the moment, Matthews pulled a gun from his waist and shot and killed Frances with seven shots in her chest, back, arm and leg. He then shot Harris once in the chest.

Jasmine ran into the street, scared from the eight shots he fired at her mother and sister. Matthews chased Jasmine down and shot her in the head. 

Read More: Thousands of Denver protesters march for justice for Elijah McClain

Frances and Jasmine were pronounced dead at the scene, according to WBBM-TV, a CBS News affiliated in the Chicago area. Harris was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn and was treated for her wounds.

Prosecutors said she had bullet fragments lodged in her chest, fractures to her ribs and spine, leaving her paralyzed from the waist down.

Eventually, Harris passed away on Sept. 5 due to complications.

Matthews is due back in court on Nov. 30.

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Officials report rampant fraud in Paycheck Protection Program

Some people obtained PPP loans for approximately $4 million by making false claims about their small businesses

The Wall Street Journal reports that the federal government has become swamped with reports of potential fraud in the Paycheck Protection Program, a response to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

According to government officials and public data, there’s evidence that others have taken advantage of the program’s “open door design” that was created to give small businesses easy access to taxpayer funds.

Read More: #BankingWhileBlack: Bank calls police on Black man trying to cash his own paycheck

Between April 3 and Aug. 8, $525 billion in loans was distributed to approximately 5.2 million small businesses.

WSJ also reports that the inspector general of the Small Business Administration, which serves as an arm of the agency that administers the PPP, found “strong indictors of widespread potential abuse and fraud in PPP.”

From July to September, there was a noticeable surge resulting in banks filing suspicious activity notices in the midst of the pandemic.

Government official watchdogs counted tens of thousands of companies that reportedly receiving PPP loans that appeared to be ineligible. These included corporations and small businesses that were created after the start of the pandemic, that exceeded 500 employees or were listed in a “Do Not Pay” system database due to owing money to taxpayers.

At the peak of PPP early in the pandemic, the SBA approved 514,000 loans in one day in May.

The Government Accountability Office in June warned of “significant fraud risk” due to lack of safeguards in place and complex rules.

In a report, GAO said, “Because of the number of loans approved, the speed with which they were processed and the limited safeguards, there is a significant risk that some fraudulent or inflated applications were approved. In addition, the lack of clear guidance has increased the likelihood that borrowers may misuse loan proceeds or be surprised they do not qualify for full loan forgiveness.”

In September, WSJ reported that charges were filed against 57 people for their roles in crimes connected to PPP. The schemes consisted of submitting fraudulent documents to obtain funds for payroll and instead using it to purchase lavish items.

Five people in Georgia, Ohio, and California obtained PPP loans for approximately $4 million by making false claims about their small businesses’ overall expenses and payroll. The individuals failed to make payroll payments as indicated on their loan application which raised red flags.

Read More: Gas station uses PPP loans to pay for Trump billboards

Authorities later seized $120,000 in cash, a $125,000 Range Rover truck, jewelry, and $3 million from 10 bank accounts at the time of arrest, according to The United States Department of Justice website.

Brian Rabbitt, assistant attorney general at the Justice Department said that the government allowing companies to self-certify rather than be vetted are a magnet for opportunities of fraud.

“Experience has taught us that any time the federal government makes a large amount of money available to the public on an expedited basis, the opportunities for fraud are unfortunately clear,” said Rabbitt in September during an online press conference.

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Dave Chappelle in SNL monologue delivers biting commentary on Trump, COVID and race

The legendary comedian’s appearance on Saturday Night Live comes four years after his post-2016 election performance

Four years ago, comedian Dave Chappelle was the first guest on NBC’s Saturday Night Live after the 2016 election.

It was fate that the three-time Grammy winner hosted Saturday’s episode, the first show after the 2020 election.

While the electricity of the evening was high following news of Joe Biden’s win, Chappelle’s opening monologue still contained much biting commentary on race relations and a health crisis that are plaguing the country. He made fun of the irony of how the pandemic has stopped mass shootings in America.

Dave Chappelle performs a monologue on Saturday Night Live after Joe Biden was declared president-elect. (via screenshot)

“You guys remember what life was like before COVID?” Chappelle said. “I do. A mass shooting every week. Anyone remember that? Thank God for COVID. Someone had to lock these murderous whites up, keep them in the house.”

He also comically condemned white people who refuse to wear masks during the pandemic. There are several documented cases of white Americans refusing to wear protective masks inside airplanes and stores.

“I don’t know why poor white people don’t like wearing masks. What is the problem,” Chappelle said. “You wear masks to the Klan rally, wear it to Walmart too!”

READ MORE: Chris Rock on Trump’s coronavirus diagnosis: ‘My heart goes out to COVID’

He continued by commenting on how Black Americans, who have dealt with centuries-long atrocities in the U.S., are well equipped to deal with today’s turmoil. White citizens, by contrast, are reacting to being in unfamiliar territory, he suggested.

“You don’t even want to wear your mask because it’s oppressive? Try wearing the mask I’ve been wearing all these years!” Chappelle said. “I can’t even tell something true unless it has a punchline behind it. You guys aren’t ready.”

Chappelle even turned his attention to Trump, who is the loudest opponent of masks, and his bout with the coronavirus after months of haranguing against the pandemic. Trump was hospitalized for days before returning to the campaign trail and speaking before large audiences.

Chappelle quipped that after Trump received high-priority treatment, the president returned to the White House, took off his mask “and killed four more people.” He joked about the hypocrisy and tone-deafness of Trump telling the public not to worry about COVID while receiving care for it.

READ MORE: Dave Chappelle drops hilarious truth bombs about Trump voters in Netflix special

“It would be like me going to a homeless shelter with a bag full of hamburgers, and saying ‘These is mines!’ And just started eating in front of the homeless.”

While proceeding to mime eating the burgers, he jokingly said: “Don’t let hunger dictate your life.”

Chappelle also took aim at Trump in 2016 after he was declared the winner of the presidential election that year. In his monologue, the legendary comedian took the temperature of a country in shock saying: “we elected an internet troll as our president.”

During his monologue he took the temperature of a country in shock, saying of then President-elect Donald Trump, “we elected an internet troll as our president.” It was fate that the three-time Grammy winner was the host for the first episode after the 2020 election.

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Netflix on YouTube

Is The Haunting of Bly Manor A True Story? | Netflix
Inspired by the works of writer Henry James, The Haunting of Bly Manor, a new supernatural thriller series from Mike Flanagan, is based on true stories and real accounts… in more ways than one. Watch The Haunting of Bly Manor, only on Netflix: https://ift.tt/32o3Fij SUBSCRIBE: http://bit.ly/29qBUt7 About Netflix: Netflix is the world's leading streaming entertainment service with over 195 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, documentaries and feature films across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can watch as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, on any internet-connected screen. Members can play, pause and resume watching, all without commercials or commitments. Is The Haunting of Bly Manor A True Story? | Netflix https://youtube.com/Netflix Dead doesn't mean gone. An au pair plunges into an abyss of chilling secrets in this gothic romance from the creator of "The Haunting of Hill House."


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5 states OK measures eradicating racist language, symbols

The votes are a positive sign in a nation where racial tension always has existed, a University of Alabama at Birmingham teacher says

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Alabama voters reversed themselves from a few years ago and removed racist vestiges of segregation from the state constitution that courts long ago ruled unconstitutional. Rhode Island did a similar a U-turn to eradicate the word “plantations” from the state’s official name.

In a year when discussions of racial justice have dominated U.S. society like few others, five states voted to cleanse the public sphere of words, phrases and symbols that to many were painful reminders of the nation’s history of slavery and the systematic oppression of Black people.

Brendan Skip Mark, who teaches political science at the University of Rhode Island, believes the decisions were linked to the revulsion and widespread protests that followed the police killing of George Floyd in Minnesota in May.

In this Nov. 2, 2020, file photo, Sharon Brown, co-chair of the Mississippi Poor Peoples Campaign, reacts during a news conference at the state Capitol in Jackson, Miss., over voting concerns statewide. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)

“In many ways this has sparked a national conversation on race, and I think we’ve seen a lot of people who are more willing to take concrete steps to address racism than they were in the past,” Mark said.

In addition to the votes in Alabama and Rhode Island, residents of Utah and Nebraska decided to strip their constitutions of unenforceable provisions that allowed slavery as a punishment for criminal convictions. And Mississippi voters approved a state flag without the familiar X-shaped design of the Confederate battle flag.

READ MORE: NBA arena voting centers have impact in Atlanta, Detroit

The votes are a positive sign in a nation where racial tension always has existed, said Stacy Moak, who teaches in the social work department at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

“Affirmative votes for these changes shows a willingness on the part of Americans to provide for a more inclusive community. These changes, by themselves, are not enough — but they are encouraging signs of progress in the right direction,” she said in an interview conducted by email.

In this Nov. 3, 2020, file photo, voters standing in line at Precinct 36 as they wait to vote in the general election in Jackson, Miss. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)

The Alabama measure begins the process of removing Jim Crow language from the 1901 Constitution that was intended to entrench white supremacy. Voters in the mostly white, conservative state had rejected similar proposals twice since 2000.

Courts had previously struck down the legality of the segregationist provisions that were enshrined in the document long ago, but the language banning mixed-race marriage, allowing poll taxes and mandating school segregation remained.

Glenn Crowell, a Black Republican from Montgomery, was among the roughly 67% of voters who supported scrapping those sections.

“It just doesn’t make any sense nowadays,” said Crowell, 63. Yet another statewide vote will be required to approve the revisions after legislators consider a draft in 2022.

In neighboring Mississippi, about 71% of voters approved a new state flag featuring a magnolia and the words “In God We Trust” to replace the Confederate-themed flag that state legislators voted to retire in June after the nation erupted in demonstrations following Floyd’s killing.

This Sept. 2, 2020, file photo shows the magnolia centered banner chosen by the Mississippi State Flag Commission displayed outside the Old State Capitol Museum in downtown Jackson, Miss. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)

Mississippi voters also eliminated an 1890s provision that aimed to ensure white control of the state by requiring majorities of both the popular vote and the 122 state House districts to win statewide office. Now, only a popular vote majority is required.

To the west, Utah and Nebraska approved provisions similar to Alabama’s to delete constitutional language allowing slavery as a possible punishment in criminal cases.

The measures, which passed by 81% in Utah and 68% in Nebraska, got relatively little attention before the vote.

READ MORE: Biden addresses nation amid ballot count: ‘We’re not waiting to get the work done’

But the fact that states even placed the measures on ballots shows that protests and the national discussion on racism are having an impact, said Deirdre Cooper Owens, director of the humanities in medicine program at the University of Nebraska.

“Symbolism matters, and so does language,” she said by email.

The vote was closest in Rhode Island, once a hub of the trans-Atlantic slave trade, where about 53% of voters supported the proposal to strip the words “and Providence Plantations” from the state’s formal name, first adopted in 1790. A similar measure failed in 2010.

In this Monday, June 22, 2020, file photo, the seal of the State of Rhode Island decorates a podium as Gov. Gina Raimondo looks on at right during a news conference where she announced that she has signed an executive order to remove the phrase “Providence Plantations” in the state’s formal name from some official documents and executive agency websites in Providence, R.I. (AP Photo/David Goldman, File)

Like elsewhere in the country, Rhode Island has seen protests over Floyd’s death, and in racially diverse Providence, a truth commission was established to consider the state’s historic ties to slavery, land seizures, systemic racism and possible reparations.

“This ballot initiative is part of a broader shift in Rhode Island to reconcile with the past,” said Mark, the political scientist. “I think this is a unique moment in history.”

All those ballot measures involved changing symbols or wiping away reminders of injustices of long ago. In California, where voters were asked to reconsider a more contemporary race-related issue, they balked.

The liberal-minded state rejected a proposition that would have repealed a 1996 initiative prohibiting affirmative action programs in public employment, education or contracting. Supporters said the measure lost for several reasons, including a lack of time to persuade voters during a busy election year.

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Don Lemon reacts to Biden victory: ‘I didn’t expect to be so overwhelmed’

The CNN host delivered a rebuke on what has been a long almost four years under Trump’s reign

The news of Joe Biden being elected the next president of the United States on Saturday has prompted many to react in emotional ways.

This includes CNN‘s Don Lemon, who commented on the decision during a newscast that evening.

Starting with a deep sigh, Lemon began by saying: “I almost can’t talk right now, because of the emotion.”

CNN host Don Lemon (via screenshot)

Lemon, appearing on-screen with CNN anchor Chris Cuomo, told his colleague that he went to sleep in his hotel in New York City Saturday morning before Pennsylvania had been projected to go for Biden, the Democratic nominee. He explained he was awoken from 40 floors up by a loud throng of people cheering outside.

He spoke of how Donald Trump‘s presidency has affected the country and what a Biden victory means going forward.

READ MORE: A Black woman is going to the White House and we’re about to act a fool

“I turned the television on and there were my colleagues announcing that Joe Biden had become the president-elect of the United States, and not to forget Kamala Harris the first Black woman (vice presidential-elect),” Lemon said. “I didn’t expect to be so overwhelmed by that. I didn’t realize the PTSD that many marginalized people — that African-Americans, women, Latinos, people of color, all kinds of white people — are feeling around this country, because we have had whiplash from someone who only cares about himself and not uniting people.”

Each weeknight, Chris Cuomo Nightly transitions into CNN Tonight with Don Lemon with the titular hosts and close friends speaking with each other before Cuomo hands over the air to Lemon. As Cuomo tossed it to Lemon by asking him how he was feeling, Lemon let forth six straight minutes of candid words and emotions.

READ MORE: Van Jones moved to tears after Biden wins: ‘This is a good day’

Lemon talked about what he has had to endure during Trump’s tenure in the White House. He pulled no punches when discussing Trump on his nightly show, often prompting Trump to frequently refer to Lemon and CNN as “fake news.”

Lemon talked about being subjected to racist and homophobic slurs from Trump supporters over the past four years.

Lemon revealed that he’s had to deal with “people calling me n***er and f**” and “fake news.”

“Never before that I’ve been in this business, since 1991, have I ever had to deal with the crap that I’ve had to deal with over the last four years,” Lemon said.

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The Genome of Your Pet Fish Is Extremely Weird

Unlike most domestic animals, the goldfish is purely decorative.

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Capture Your Daring Feats With Our Favorite Action Cameras

Whether you’re shredding the slopes or diving the seas, these cameras are made for danger.

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Capture Your Daring Feats With Our Favorite Action Cameras

Whether you’re shredding the slopes or diving the seas, these cameras are made for danger.

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Africans leaders congratulate Joe Biden

Many say they look forward to working with a politician with a proven track record.

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The Best Electric Cargo Bikes for Families

We’ve spent several years riding and testing extra large ebikes for hauling little ones and getting around town.

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The Black Hole Information Paradox Comes to an End

In a landmark series of calculations, physicists have proved that black holes can shed information, which seems impossible by definition.

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How to Use Apple, Google, and Microsoft's Parental Controls

Each of the big three offers a wealth of options to limit screen time, find lost devices, and more.

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Elton Chigumbura to leave international stage after 16-year career

Zimbabwe all-rounder Elton Chigumbura is to end his 16-year international career at the end of the current T20 series with Pakistan.

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Saturday, November 7, 2020

Biden, Harris, families on stage for fireworks

Kamala Harris said voters have ‘ushered in a new day for America.’

President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris brought their entire families on-stage with them to close out their victory party on Saturday night.

After delivering speeches outside of the Chase Center in downtown Wilmington, Delaware, the two were joined by their families to watch as red white and blue fireworks exploded in the sky. A collection of drones spelling out “USA” and outlining Biden’s logo flashed in the sky, prompting the Democrat to gaze at the sky with his mouth wide in delight. Biden’s wife Jill, seven grandkids, his son Hunter and daughter Ashley all gathered around him as the family enjoyed the display.

President-elect Joe Biden hugs his grandchild on stage after Biden’s address to the nation from the Chase Center November 07, 2020 in Wilmington, Delaware. After four days of counting the high volume of mail-in ballots in key battleground states due to the coronavirus pandemic, the race was called for Biden after a contentious election battle against incumbent Republican President Donald Trump. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

Harris, meanwhile, was joined by her sister Maya, her niece Meena and her husband, Doug Emhoff, as well as her two stepchildren. Harris wrapped her arms around a younger grand-niece as they watched the celebration, with more than 1,000 supporters dancing and waving American flags and Biden campaign signs. It was a celebratory ending to a day that was otherwise largely spent by the two Democrats waiting and watching as final returns rolled in.

Hundreds of cars filled the parking lot outside the Wilmington convention center in Delaware before the drive-in rally to celebrate Biden’s victory in the presidential race.

With temperatures mild Saturday night, more than 1,000 people sat on the roofs of their cars or milled around in small groups nearby, many cheering and waving American flags or Biden campaign signs. The smell of grilling meat hung in the air not unlike a football tailgate, and some of the attendees danced and sang, sweating through facemasks that appeared to be nearly universally worn.

Read More: Trump returns to White House amid jeers and taunting songs

The campaign set up cranes with towering American flags, an American-flag lined stage and projected a 10-story tall Biden-Harris logo over a digital American flag on the side of a hotel beside the convention center. Blue and red lights illuminated state flags perched on the roof of another nearby building.

Organizers first erected the stage on Tuesday night, expecting to hold a Biden Election Night party. As vote counting continued and no winner was declared, the campaign kept the stage intact and the parking lot remained surrounded by high security fences with police controlling all access in and out.

During her speech, Vice president-elect Harris said voters have “ushered in a new day for America.”

Harris spoke Saturday in her first address to the nation since she and Biden were declared the winners of the presidential election.

Harris said voters chose hope, unity, decency, science and truth in choosing she and Biden over President Donald Trump.

Harris, the first woman to be elected vice president, wore a white pantsuit in tribute to women’s suffrage. She also opened her remarks with a tribute to the late Georgia Congressman John Lewis, a Civil Rights icon, who said democracy is not a state but an act. Harris will also be the first Black woman to serve as vice president.

Harris paid tribute to Black women who “so often prove they are the backbone of our democracy.”

Harris, the daughter of Jamaican and Indian immigrants, is the first woman to be elected to the vice presidency.

Harris noted her ascension to the role comes 100 years after the 19th Amendment was ratified and 55 years after the signing of the Voting Rights Act, which expanded who could participate in American democracy.

She praised Joe Biden for having “the audacity to break one of the most substantial barriers that exist in our country” by selecting a woman as his running mate.

President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris take the stage at the Chase Center to address the nation November 07, 2020 in Wilmington, Delaware. After four days of counting the high volume of mail-in ballots in key battleground states due to the coronavirus pandemic, the race was called for Biden after a contentious election battle against incumbent Republican President Donald Trump. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

“Every little girl watching tonight sees that this is a county of possibilities,” Harris said.

The remarks were some of the most direct she has delivered about her history-making role as Biden’s running mate.

Biden pledged to be a president “who seeks not to divide but to unify.”

Biden delivered his first remarks as president-elect at a victory party in Wilmington, after he was officially declared the winner of the presidential election on Saturday. Biden jogged onto the stage wearing a black suit, black mask and light blue tie. He pointed and waved at the screaming crowd gathered to hear him speak.

Echoing his campaign stump speech, Biden promised to be a president who “doesn’t see red states or blue states, only sees the United States,” and said he would work “with all my heart” to win the confidence of all Americans.

Biden touted the fact that he’s won more votes than any presidential ticket in history, calling his win “a convincing victory, a victory for the people.” He also said he was “surprised” by seeing the celebrations and an “outpouring of joy” in the wake of his win nationwide.

Biden said that “once again, America’s bent the arc of the moral universe more toward justice.”

Biden made an appeal to supporters of President Donald Trump.

Biden said Saturday night in Wilmington, Delaware, that “this is the time to heal in America” and pledged to be a president to represent even those who didn’t support him.

Noting ”I’ve lost a couple times myself,” Biden said, “now, let’s give each other a chance.”

Trump has not conceded the race to Biden, pursuing legal challenges over ballot counts in several states.

Biden said “it’s time to put away the harsh rhetoric, lower the temperature, see each other again, listen to each other again,” saying of his political opponents, “they are not our enemies. They are Americans.”

Joe Biden will unveil a group of scientists and experts to help him craft a plan to tackle the coronavirus pandemic on Monday.

Read More: World leaders congratulate Joe Biden after presidential victory

Biden also announced his plans to launch the COVID-19 task force during remarks. He said those advisers would help him take the proposals he’s released during the campaign for dealing with the pandemic — which include investments in personal protective equipment and loans for small businesses as well as plans to implement more standardized public health guidelines — and turn those proposals into a “blueprint” that he’ll enact when inaugurated president next January.

Biden said the plan would be “built on bedrock science” and “constructed out of compassion, empathy and concern.” Biden made President Donald Trump’s mishandling of the pandemic a central focus of his campaign and pledged that his top priority as president would be managing the virus.

Biden said that “our work begins with getting COVID under control” , adding Americans “cannot repair the economy, restore our economy or relish life’s most precious moments” without doing so.

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World leaders congratulate Joe Biden after presidential victory

French leaders were quick to congratulate Biden

Prominent world leaders are very accepting of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.

President Donald Trump has yet to concede, but world leaders, especially in France, were quick to congratulate Biden for his election victory as the new White House administration has promised to recommit to America’s fight against climate change.

Read More: Twitter flagged Donald Trump’s tweets as misleading

“Welcome back America!”  the mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, tweeted. It should be noted that Trump famously withdrew from the Paris Agreement which was signed by 195 countries. The countries in the agreement promised to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in order to mitigate climate issues.

“The Americans have chosen their President. Congratulations [Joe Biden and Kamala Harris]! We have a lot to do to overcome today’s challenges. Let’s work together!” tweeted French President Emmanuel Macron.

Even Trump’s cordial relationships have flipped, congratulating Biden and Harris for their victory.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, a Trump ally, said Biden and Harris’ win is a “historic achievement.” The Brexit leader said he is looking forward “working closely together on our shared priorities, from climate change to trade and security.” 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a great relationship with Trump, but just like Johnson, he is looking forward to his relationship with the Biden administration.

“I look forward to working closely together once again to take India-US relations to greater heights,” Modi said.

Modi also congratulated Harris, who is part Indian.

Leaders in Iran also commented on Biden’s win. The country’s information and communications technology minister, Mohammad Javad Azari, tweeted a black-and-white portrait of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, a top Iranian general who was assassinated in an American drone strike. He captioned the photo #EndofTrump in Persian.

Read More: Joe Biden elected 46th president of the United States

The Trump administration has placed a number of sanctions on Iran. The Trump administration withdrew from the Iranian nuclear deal after Trump labeled it a “bad deal.”

The withdraw from Iran’s nuclear deal with world powers in 2018, crippled the country’s economy, according to the Associated Press.

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Texting company tied to Trump official urged supporters to protest

Text-messaging platform Opn Sesame warned people that “Radical Liberals & Dems are trying to steal this election from Trump!”

A texting company operated by one of President Donald Trump’s campaign officials told supporters to rally in Philadelphia on Thursday, claiming Democrats were stealing the presidential election.

Gary Coby is the Trump campaign’s digital director. He is also the CEO of text-messaging platform Opn Sesame and has many GOP clients, including the Republican National Committee. The app was used to spread to misinformation, according to the Associated Press.

Read More: Joe Biden elected 46th president of the United States

These text messages, a reaction to former Vice President Joe Biden taking the lead nationwide, were sent out to various users, telling them, “ALERT: Radical Liberals & Dems are trying to steal this election from Trump! We need YOU! Show your support at the corner of 12th St. & Arch St. in Philadelphia.”

On Thursday, many votes in Pennsylvania were still being counted at the Pennsylvania Convention Center and Trump was ahead in the state, according to Philly Voice.

Trump Supporters Hold "Stop The Steal" Protest At Pennsylvania State Capitol
Dozens of people calling for stopping the vote count in Pennsylvania due to alleged fraud against President Donald Trump gather on the steps of the State Capital on November 05, 2020 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The activists, many with flags and signs for Trump, have made allegations that votes are being stolen from the president as the race in Pennsylvania continues to tighten in Joe Biden’s favor. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Protests outside the convention center took place between Thursday and Friday and were largely peaceful.

Things took a turn for the worse as more mail-in ballots, which Trump and his supporters were calling illegitimate, were counted.

The state ultimately turned blue and Biden was declared the winner of Pennsylvania and consequently, the presidency.

Read More: A Black woman is going to the White House and we’re about to act a fool

“This kind of message is playing with fire, and we are very lucky that it does not seem to have driven more conflict,” John Scott-Railton, a senior researcher at the University of Toronto’s online watchdog Citizen Lab, who broke the story, said.

Coby has declined to comment on the app’s viral messages, and a top Trump campaign official has denied any association, saying multiple customers use the app.

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LeBron James, Twitter anticipate Dave Chappelle SNL episode

Chappelle’s episode airs tonight at 11:30/10:30c on NBC

LeBron James and many on Twitter are highly anticipating tonight’s episode of Saturday Night Live. The episode will be hosted by famed comedian Dave Chappelle.

“Chappelle SNL. Tonight. My brother about to flame that studio up tonight,” James tweeted.

Four years earlier in November 2016, after President Donald Trump won the presidential election against Hillary Clinton, Chappelle famously remarked, “I’m wishing Donald Trump luck. I’m gonna give him a chance.”

Dave Chappelle attends Backstage Creations Giving Suite At The 70th Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on September 17, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for Backstage Creations)

“I didn’t know that Donald Trump was gonna win the election,” Chappelle said in his monologue. “I think I speak for all of Black America when I say that we’re all praying for Omarosa.

In the monologue, he commended former president Barack Obama for doing “a good job” during his two terms and for being the first Black man to “hear America’s secrets” and live to tell it.

Chappelle would later recant his statement on SNL in 2017. According to Vanity Fair, he told a crowd during the Robin Hood Gala: “I was the first guy on TV to say ‘Give Trump a chance.’ I f—ed up. Sorry.”

Nearly four years later, Democratic Presidential nominee and former Vice President Joe Biden has been elected as the 46th president of the United States, defeating Trump.

Read More: Joe Biden elected 46th president of the United States

A fan named Sam Roberts tweeted about the magnitude of Chappelle being the first comedian to speak of this moment in time, saying, “Sometimes things are just meant to be.”

Another fan wrote, “Dave Chappelle’s opening monologue on SNL tonight is about to be INSANE.”

Saturday Night Live airs tonight at 11:30/10:30c on NBC.

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Suspect charged with murder of rapper King Von

Atlanta police charged a 22-year-old man on Saturday

A suspect has been charged in the Friday morning shooting that killed Chicago rapper King Von outside of a downtown nightclub in Atlanta.

Rapper King Von attends Compound Saturday Nights at Compound on August 29, 2020 in Atlanta, Georgia.(Photo by Prince Williams/Wireimage)

According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, King Von, 26, whose real name is Dayvon Bennett was among six people who were shot during a confrontation outside the Monaco Hookah Lounge.

According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Atlanta police charged 22-year-old Timothy Leeks on Saturday in connection the Bennett’s murder.

Read More: Chicago rapper King Von dead at 26

Marla Jean Rooker, Atlanta police spokeswoman, told the newspaper that the suspect was in the hospital due to gunshot wounds.

“Mr. Leeks is in police custody at Grady Hospital where he is undergoing treatment for a gunshot wound,” she said. “The homicide of Bennett is closed with this arrest.”

According to USA Today, Leeks was charged by the Savannah Police Department in August “with attempt of conspiracy to violate Georgia Controlled Substance Act, theft by receiving stolen property and obstruction after an investigation led to the seizure of guns, more than 15 pounds of marijuana and nearly $16,000. He was one of five arrested in the investigation.”

Police revealed that Bennett was one of two individuals killed in the shooting while another victim is currently in critical condition. The names of the additional victims are currently unreleased and it remains unclear who shot them, the newspaper states.

The article also reports that two off-duty officers who were working at the longue and an on-duty officer patrolling in the area confronted the group. Shots were then fired, according to police.

The officers on the scene were not injured.

Read More: Five arrested in Brooklyn rapper Pop Smoke’s death

King Von was an upcoming rapper who recently released his debut studio album entitled “Welcome to O’Block” in October. He was signed by famous Chicago rapper Lil Durk’s Only The Family Entertainment record label.

Since the news of his death, Lil Durk has deactivated his Instagram page.

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Trump returns to White House amid jeers and taunting songs

Trump has defiantly refused to concede to President-elect Joe Biden

After losing his reelection bid, President Donald Trump returned to Washington, D.C. where jubilant citizens were celebrating his defeat.

Thousands gather at Black Lives Matter Plaza near the White House to celebrate the announcement that Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden will be the 46th President of the United States on November 7, 2020 in Washington, DC. As votes continue to be counted in the race against incumbent U.S. President Donald Trump, people have begun to congregate in cities across America after news outlets announced Joe Biden had reached the number of electoral votes needed to win the election. (Photo by Samuel Corum/Getty Images)

On Saturday afternoon, the president’s motorcade returned from his golf club in Virginia, traveling along roads that had been cleared of other cars and people. But as he drew closer to the White House, Trump was greeted with boos and raised middle fingers. The crowd chanted, “Loser, loser, loser,” and they sprinkled in a mixture of profanities as the president’s motorcade rolled past.

Read More: Melania Trump was booed and heckled at youth summit in Baltimore

After losing his bid for a second term, Trump has defiantly refused to concede to President-elect Joe Biden, and is threatening court action to challenge his Democratic opponent’s win. Trump is the first president to lose reelection since George H.W. Bush lost to Bill Clinton in 1992.

Twitter users wasted no time in reacting to Trump’s unusual homecoming.

Twitter user Andy J.S. Decepida wrote: “LOL, so many birds were flipped at “The Beast” as it wended its way through Biden celebrators! Trump’s return to White House from golf course was delayed as celebrators were cleared from the packed streets.” In the photo beneath the caption, a celebrant holds a sign that reads: “We Grabbed Him By The Ballot.”

Read More: Trump is booed during charity dinner roasting Hillary Clinton

Morgan J. Freeman (not the actor) wrote on his Twitter account: “PHOTO OF THE YEAR: Donald J. Trump watches the celebration of his election loss as he returns to the White House after playing golf at his country club.” He added the hashtag #YOUREFIRED.

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