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Snoop Dogg Has Lost Over Half A Million Followers After Trump-Affiliated Crypto Ball Performance

Fans are not happy with Snoop Dogg after the 53-year-old performed at President Donald Trump’s Crypto Ball, an event leading up to and in celebration of the inauguration. According to Vibe, the rapper has lost more than 500,000 followers on social media following the performance.

Though not attended by the presidential guest of honor, the ball, which was held at the Andrew W. Mellon auditorium on Jan. 17, saw many of Trump’s supporters and financial backers celebrate the change of administration in Washington, D.C. Snoop performed in the venue’s main ballroom, CNBC reported.

Fans started to call out the rapper a few days later, when he posted a tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the national holiday, Vibe reported. The California native posted several clips of the Civil Rights leader’s speeches and quotes. The comments were quickly populated by angry viewers condemning his performance at the Crypto Ball.

“Posting MLK after supporting Trump is wild,” one fan wrote.

“Damn bro, you coulda died a legend,” another added.

Beyond the comments, many unhappy with Snoop have referenced the rapper’s viral 2017 comments about Black entertainers who perform for Trump, who he described as “Uncle Toms” and “jiggaboos.”

“The thing that really, I think, was spotlighting Snoop is because of the things that Snoop Dogg said 10 days before the [Trump] inaugural in 2017,” political commentator and The View guest host Ana Navarro said on a recent episode of the talk show, Vibe reported. “And so look, if you opposed and stood up against Trump in 2017, but you were there now, if you spoke up against Trump January 7th, 2021, but you were there now applauding him like a trained seal … Donald Trump has not changed. You’ve changed.”

According to the New York Post, the rapper’s biggest social media loss was on Instagram, where he lost around 571,800 followers in the days following his performance. On X, formerly known as Twitter, he’s reportedly down 17,177 followers.

Snoop wasn’t the only act who took the stage during inauguration weekend, Vibe reported. Nelly, Soulja Boy and Rick Ross were some of the many artists who performed amid celebrations of Trump’s return to the White House.

In response to the backlash, Snoop took to Instagram Live to address his enraged fans in a video.

“It’s Sunday man, I got gospel in my heart right now,” he says in the video while smoking in a car as gospel music plays in the background. “For all that hate, I’m going to answer with love. Y’all can’t hate enough on me. I love too much. Get your life right stop worrying about mine. I’m cool, I’m together. Still a Black man, still 100 percent Black.”

January 29, 2025

News
Tuberculosis Outbreak In Kansas Is One Of the Largest In U.S. History

As of Friday, there have been 67 active TB cases since first reported in 2024, with 60 in Wyandotte County and seven in Johnson County, according to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Additionally, there are 79 confirmed latent […]

January 28, 2025

News  ·  Politics
From Coffee To Crude Oil: What Does the United States Import From Colombia?

If you’ve been keeping up with the news lately, you’re likely already aware of the looming threat that tariffs pose to the American economy. Newly inaugurated President Donald Trump has made his economic policies regarding tariffs abundantly clear in the last several weeks, doubling down on claims that he’ll tax goods from Canada, Mexico and other foreign nations by up to 25 percent. Now, the Trump administration has entered into a public dispute with the government of Colombia, threatening a full-on trade war with the country if their government refuses to play ball with the United States’ latest mass deportation measures. The whole situation is fairly baroque, but it has average American consumers in a panic regarding their daily purchasing habits.

As this story develops, it only makes sense to unpack exactly what items may see massive price hikes or shortages in the coming months. Luckily, we’ve got you covered, with a comprehensive look into what the United States imports from Colombia, as well as the cause of this entire international debacle. It’s only been a week since Trump has retaken the reigns at the Oval Office, meaning incidents such as these have the potential to become the new normal for the foreseeable future. Without any further preamble, let’s unpack the full Colombia situation, and see what we can learn about our financial future, our international relationships and what’s on our grocery shelves.

What Are the Main Commodities From Colombia?

(Philippe Lissac)

Coffee lovers surely know that high quality coffee beans are among Colombia’s greatest export, accounting for nearly $2 billion in annual trade deals with the United States alone. The South American nation is one of the planet’s top coffee exporters, behind only Brazil and Vietnam respectively. Though Colombian coffee is shipped all over the world, totaling over 1.5 billion pounds of product per year, the United States is one of the nation’s top economic partners, meaning a trade war would bring disastrous consequences for both nations. It may shock you to know that coffee isn’t actually Colombia’s number one export to the States either, as it comes in a distant second to crude petroleum.

Per a report from the Observatory of Economic Complexity, Colombia imported $6 billion in crude oil and petroleum related products to the U.S. in 2022 alone, accounting for nearly half of the country’s overall export budget. In total, Colombia is estimated to send more than $15 billion in goods to the U.S. each year, with additional commodities such as cut flowers, raw gold and bananas rounding out the top five. Conversely, the United States ships back some $2.5 billion in unleaded gasoline, $2 billion in planes and aircraft parts and other commodities including corn, smartphones and various medical supplies. Suffice is to say, the two nations share a long and prosperous bond, which aids hundreds of millions of people on a daily basis.

What Caused the Calls for a Trade War?

Tensions between Colombia and the United States reached a fever pitch earlier this week when Colombian President Gustavo Petro refused to accept two military aircrafts packed with South American migrants into his country. Per reports, Petro’s administration took issue with the treatment of the deportees aboard the plane, specifically citing the manner in which the passengers had their hands bound together. Likewise, humanitarian groups have expressed concerns regarding the Trump administration’s voracious pursuit of illegal immigrants, which has seen ICE raids infiltrating hospitals, schools and other public spaces in recent weeks. The planes containing the migrants were already in the air and en route to Colombia when Petro turned them down, causing the pilots to scramble for a backup plan.

Donald Trump responded with a characteristic blend of petulance and fury, asserting that the Petro administration would face massive economic backlash for their refusal to bend to America’s new stringent deportation policy. Trump specifically threatened to place an immediate 25 percent tariff on all imports from Colombia, before adding that he’d bump that figure up to 50 percent if Petro didn’t bend by the end of the week. The U.S. commander in chief also expressed interest in revoking travel visas from fully legal Colombians within the nation, and enacting a full-blown travel ban from the nation until Petro and his team fall in line. While it’s unclear just how many of these threats could result in immediate action, Colombian officials decided not to risk it and ultimately allowed the planes to land in Bogotá.

What’s Next for U.S. Colombia Relations?

(Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Though many Colombian officials were not happy with the way these events shook out, we can likely all agree that the aversion of a full trade war is a net positive for all parties. Still, Colombian Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo and Ambassador Daniel García-Peña have announced plans to head to Washington, D.C. in the coming days in order to hammer out a more amenable solution to Trump’s mass deportation plans. POTUS and his supporters have hailed the entire affair as a sign that their strong-arming tactics are working on an international scale, emboldening Trump to push his tariff plans on other nations in order to exert financial pressure. Opponents of the current administration fear that Petro’s choice to give in has set an unfortunate precedent, especially as ICE raids and other anti-immigrant conduct becomes the norm within the U.S.

January 28, 2025

News
February 2025 Social Security Payments: What To Know As They Are Sent Out This Week

Millions of Americans are set to receive their Social Security benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments this week. According to Newsweek, the payments will go out on Friday to individuals who claim SSI for disabilities and those who qualify based on income. While SSI payments are typically disbursed on the first of every month, the schedule adjusts when dates coincide with federal holidays or weekends.

Why the Schedule May Change

In a 2022 blog post, the Social Security Administration (SSA) explained that these adjustments ensure timely payments.

“We do this to avoid putting you at a financial disadvantage and make sure that you don’t have to wait beyond the first of the month to get your payment,” the SSA stated, per Newsweek. “It does not mean that you are receiving a duplicate payment in the previous month, so you do not need to contact us to report the second payment.”

The SSA advises beneficiaries to wait three working days before reaching out about payment delays.

Cost-of-Living Adjustment Impacts Payment Amounts

Eligible beneficiaries may receive a maximum amount of $967 per individual or $1,450 per couple in 2025. These figures have been adjusted due to the annual Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) implemented this year. In 2024, the maximum was $943 for individuals and $1,415 for couples.

This year’s COLA reflects a smaller increase compared to recent years. In 2024, benefits rose by 3.2%, a notable drop from the 8.7% increase seen in 2023. The 2023 adjustment was heavily influenced by inflation driven by the coronavirus pandemic.

“The 2025 COLA will be the lowest received by Social Security beneficiaries since 2021, at the same time inflated prices persist on key essentials such as housing, meats, auto insurance, any type of service and repairs,” Mary Johnson, an independent Social Security and Medicare policy analyst, told Newsweek. “Despite it being the lowest COLA since 2021, a 2.5% COLA would be considered about average.”

Payment Details and February 2025 Disbursements

Several factors, including income, disability status, and household size, influence the exact payment amount for beneficiaries. The next SSI payments after Friday’s disbursements are scheduled for Feb. 28. Individuals receiving retirement benefits will also receive payments throughout February.

January 28, 2025

News
Woman Surprises Adoptive Grandparents With Trip To Paris For Christmas In Viral Video

“I’ve actually been planning this for a while now,” Cry said in an exclusive interview with People. “After high school, I went through four years of undergrad and immediately following, three years of professional school. So I’ve never had a […]

January 28, 2025

News
Air Force To Resume Teaching Tuskegee Airman Video After DEI Review, Public Backlash

A day after reports that the Air Force was removing an informational video about the famed Tuskegee Airmen because the Trump administration opposes diversity, equity and inclusion policies, the government reversed course. The video has been returned to the Air Force curriculum, preserving information about a significant part of Black and U.S. military history.

January 27, 2025

News
‘I’m Still Here’ Star Fernanda Torres Apologizes After Blackface Sketch Resurfaces: ‘I’m Very Sorry For This’

Brazilian actor and Oscar nominee Fernanda Torres, who won her first Golden Globe for her role in the drama film I’m Still Here, has apologized for wearing blackface in a comedy skit from the Brazilian TV show Fantástico that has now resurfaced on the internet.

January 27, 2025

News
UnitedHealth Data Breach: 190 Million Americans May Be Impacted By Cyberattack, Comapny Says

About 190 million Americans may have been affected by a cyberattack targeting UnitedHealth‘s subsidiary, Change Healthcare. The breach, which disrupted the company’s IT systems, resulted in the compromise of sensitive personal and medical information.

“Change Healthcare has determined the estimated total number of individuals impacted by the Change Healthcare cyberattack is approximately 190 million,” Tyler Mason, a spokesperson for UnitedHealth Group, told TechCrunch. “The vast majority of those people have already been provided individual or substitute notice. The final number will be confirmed and filed with the Office for Civil Rights at a later date.”

Medical Data and Financial Details Compromised

UnitedHealth disclosed that the breach involved the exposure of names, physical addresses, birth dates, Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, passport numbers, and sensitive medical and financial data. At this time, however, it’s not clear whether anyone’s personal information has been misused by hackers, PC Mag reported.

Mason told TechCrunch that he’s “not aware” of “any misuse of individuals’ information.” Additionally, Mason confirmed that “UnitedHealth has not seen electronic medical record databases appear in the data during the analysis.”

AlphV/BlackCat Identified as Hackers

The attack, which officials attributed to the Russian-speaking ransomware group AlphV/BlackCat, may cost UnitedHealth approximately $2 billion. UnitedHealth confirmed that the breach occurred in February 2024, making it the largest medical data breach in U.S. history. The attack caused widespread outages in the healthcare system, lasting for months.

UnitedHealth Paid Ransoms to Protect Stolen Data

Change Healthcare, which processes healthcare claims and manages medical records for millions of patients, confirmed it paid two ransoms to prevent hackers from publishing the stolen records. The payments highlight the critical role Change Healthcare plays as one of the largest health tech companies in the U.S.

Healthcare System Disruptions and Future Implications

The breach exposed vulnerabilities in healthcare IT infrastructure, prompting calls for stronger cybersecurity measures across the industry. While officials continue to analyze the data, the long-term effects of the attack on patients and healthcare providers remain uncertain.

January 27, 2025

News
Retired Teacher Who Lost Everything In LA Fire While Away On Wedding Anniversary Trip Supported By School Community

‘We lost everything’ The couple may have been miles away from home, but they often relied on their two sons as well as their neighbors for updates on their Altadena home. Gayle and Rasheed thought everything was fine, considering the […]

January 26, 2025

Culture  ·  News
Did Kendrick Lamar Save TikTok? Unpacking the Viral Meme

After months of back-and-forth the long-proposed TikTok ban officially went into effect on the evening of Jan. 18. Luckily for the more than 170 million U.S. users of the app, it was restored just 14 hours or so later, allowing users to return to their previously scheduled scrolling. In the days since the app has returned, many prominent TikTok users have taken to thanking none other than Compton rapper Kendrick Lamar for relaunching the service. While some have lauded the “Not Like Us” vocalist for keeping their favorite app afloat, many were extremely confused by this trend, as there doesn’t seem to be any immediate link between Lamar and the app. Luckily, we’ve got you covered, with a comprehensive guide to this bizarre new trend, as well as a breakdown of how Kendrick has become the people’s champion of your TikTok feed.

What Was the Real Cause for TikTok’s Return?

As you may recall, TikTok opened to an error screen during the brief time that the app was unavailable in the United States. The screen read, “A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S. Unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok for now. We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office. Please stay tuned!” Many of the app’s more politically left-leaning users were frustrated by this message and its highlighting of Donald Trump, who hadn’t even been inaugurated at the time of the ban. In fact, some users went to great lengths to point out the fact that Trump was among the loudest voices to initially call for a TikTok ban several years ago.

Others have noted that the platform’s massive population of liberal youths have relied on the platform to organize anti-Trump rallies, protests and other public events. The app has also been used as a key tool for spreading information about controversial political topics including the Jan. 6 insurrection and the ongoing conflict at the Gaza Strip. Despite all of these factors, Trump seems to have done a complete 180 on the app, as he was seen networking directly with TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew in the days leading up to his inauguration. POTUS even apparently worked with the major telecommunications services and assured them that he would overturn the ban once he entered the Oval Office for the second time, allowing the app to come back online just hours after shutting down.

So How Does Kendrick Lamar Factor In?

When TikTok came back online, American users were greeted with a new pop-up, reading “Thanks for your patience and support. As a result of President Trump’s efforts, TikTok is back in the U.S.! You can continue to create, share, and discover all the things you love on TikTok.” Clearly, the top brass of the Chinese-owned app have credited their continued service directly to Trump, in a move which has infuriated many left-leaning users. Almost immediately, Americans began photoshopping the pop-up to strip the credit from Trump and place it elsewhere, with many jokingly replacing the president’s name with Kendrick Lamar instead. The real truth of the matter is, the lyricist had absolutely nothing to do with overturning the TikTok ban – some would just rather give him credit than the politician. Fans also referenced lyrics from Lamar’s song “GNX,” wherein the rapper states, “Tell em’ Kendrick did it.”

It’s not hard to see why the father of two was chosen to replace Trump in this regard either, as the “Humble” rapper is currently on a generational streak of excellent career moves. Hip hop heads will recall Lamar’s recent rap feud with Drake, which spawned a handful of chart-topping diss records last spring. This led to the former taking on a host of new fans with his Grammy nominated single, “Not Like Us.” Shortly after the beef died down, it was announced that Lamar would be performing at the Super Bowl halftime show this February. A chart-topping surprise album drop came in November, further incentivizing K-Dot’s fan base to laud him as the current king of rap. Of course, his street conscious lyrics and progressive politics also make Lamar a humorous foil to Trump, whose administration has been repeatedly likened to a fascist uprising, especially by young TikTok users.

Is K-Dot Even on TikTok?

(Arturo Holmes/MG23/Getty Images)

Many die-hard Kendrick Lamar fans immediately understood that his alleged involvement with overturning the TikTok ban was nothing more than a joke, especially because the rapper is famously averse to social media. Though the West Coast legend has taken to Instagram here and there to preview new tracks, he rarely speaks to the public outside of his music. This is especially evident when looking at his official X account, which boasts no profile photo, and offers only occasional updates about his new music, tours and pgLang announcements. Still, it may come as a shock to learn that Lamar has recently joined TikTok with an official verified account. At the time of this writing, he has no posts, no likes and doesn’t even follow any other creators, so the fans aren’t sure if there’s any real purpose to the account.

If the TikTok ban does stall out indefinitely, we may see the rapper uploading new content to the social media app or interacting directly with his fans. Of course, there’s also a distinct possibility that he only made the account to doomscroll in silence like the rest of us, as Kendrick is wont to do. Trump’s official actions have resulted in the TikTok ban being pushed out at least until April of this year, though the app may still be facing a long-term ban if it doesn’t sell to American financial interests.

January 26, 2025

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