Free Republic

HBO host Bill Maher on Friday said Chicago Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson was "excusing horrific behavior" in a speech he delivered following several shootings in Chicagoland last week and questioned why black celebrities with large fanbases do not have opinions on these issues. "Most of the shootings [in Chicago] are young black men killing other young black men. Is that not correct?" Maher asked. "Yeah that's correct," guest Glenn Loury responded.

Meek Mill bailed on a visit to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue Friday after a late-night call from Jay-Z ... TMZ has learned. TMZ broke the story ... Meek agreed to travel to the White House to discuss prison reform. President Trump is hosting a Prison Reform Summit. Participants include members of Congress, various activists and, clearly, people who have become victims of the system. We're told Jay called Meek Thursday night and made it clear ... meeting with Trump would be problematic for his image and for the cause. We're told other high-profile African-Americans also called Meek and voiced serious concern....

Kids say the darndest things. But sometimes they say shocking things. On Thursday, 9-year-old Brandon did the latter when he was asked why he wanted President Barack Obama to win a second term outside a campaign rally featuring First Lady Michelle Obama in Daytona, Fla.

There's mounting evidence that at least some of Obama's faithful intend to see a black American president sworn in next year -- no matter what it takes. Earlier this month, popular black author and talk-show host Tavis Smiley disclosed death threats he'd received from those accusing him of blasphemy against their black prophet. Then, at Saturday's Smiley-hosted State of the Black Union forum, Congressional Black Caucus member Stephanie Tubbs Jones lent credence to Smiley's claim by suggesting that many black elected officials not swearing allegiance to Obama have also been the target of violent threats. While widely ignored by the...

<p>Any day now, the Supreme Court will announce its decision on the constitutionality of the University of Michigan's affirmative-action policies. Advocates for minorities hope the court will uphold the program. It should not. Such a decision will almost certainly damage the long-term interests of the very groups the proponents of diversity seek to protect.</p>