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First Of All with Victor Blackwell

First Of All with Victor Blackwell

By: CNN Podcasts
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Summary

 Victor Blackwell brings a fresh perspective on the week's news with a focus on stories affecting communities of color.2024-2026 CNN Politics & Government
Episodes
  • "Jim Crow 2.0": Reaction to Supreme Court’s Voting Rights rollback

    "Jim Crow 2.0": Reaction to Supreme Court’s Voting Rights rollback
    May 3 2026
    Republicans in states across the South are moving fast to redraw voting maps after a Supreme Court ruling impacting redistricting and voting rights for millions. Mississippi Congressman Bennie Thompson's district has the largest percentage of Black voters in the country. Is his seat now at risk? He joins Victor to react to what this means for majority-minority districts like his. Victor also covers several major stories, starting with Israel and Max Makoka, two brothers detained by ICE on their way to school who were later released after support from their conservative community in Diamondhead, Mississippi, along with their host mom Gail Baptiste. He also speaks with Kevin McCarthy about the shrinking number of Black Republicans in the House, as none of the current four members are running for re election, raising the possibility that there could be none by 2027. Later, Victor discusses the social media debate sparked by a teaser for “The Devil Wears Prada 2” involving an Asian character, and interviews journalist Lidia Terrazas about her reporting on Wilfredo, a 10 year old forced to represent himself in court to avoid deportation to a country he has never known. In the Art is Life segment, Victor highlights a trio of mariachi brothers who gained national attention after nearly two weeks in ICE custody and are now preparing to perform with Kacey Musgraves, sharing what the opportunity means to them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    44 mins
  • White Mom Files Lawsuit Over Access to California Program for Black Infants

    White Mom Files Lawsuit Over Access to California Program for Black Infants
    Apr 25 2026
    Who all gon’ be there? President Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and envoy Steve Witkoff are expected to head to Pakistan. But it’s still not clear if they’ll actually meet with Iranian negotiators. Victor gets analysis from Tia Mitchell and Charles Carithers on the war with Iran and talks to end it. What does the U.S. government owe Lebanese Americans whose homes are being destroyed by Israeli airstrikes? Victor asks the chairman of the Arab American Civil Rights League in Dearborn, Michigan, Nasser Beydoun, about his own personal loss and his plans to take the issue to court. For the first time as President, Trump says he is going to the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. Victor speaks to a vice president of the National Association of Black Journalists, Eva D. Coleman, after the group signed on to a letter calling on journalists to take a stand … and not just stand by as he attacks the press. Plus, Victor speaks to Andrew Quinio, the attorney of a white mother who says California's Black Infant Health Program denied her and her newborn baby help, because she's not Black. The movie “Michael” just came out and is already dividing social media. Victor shares the strongest reactions online, and perspective from Michael Jackson collaborator and friend, Travis Payne. And later, you'll meet the 2026 National Teacher of the Year, Leon Smith. Why he says teaching high school kids U.S. History and African American Studies matters in this moment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    44 mins
  • Will an Iran Peace Deal Include Release of Detained Iranian Americans?

    Will an Iran Peace Deal Include Release of Detained Iranian Americans?
    Apr 18 2026
    Will the release of Iranian Americans detained in Iran be a part of any peace deal? Victor speaks to attorney Ryan Fayhee, who is trying to help free Iranian American journalist Reza Valizadeh. Nearly two years after the police-involved shooting of a teen in St. Louis, only now are we seeing the bodycam video of what happened to 17-year-old Emeshyon Wilkins, and it contradicts what police said happened at the time. The family attorney who obtained the video joins Victor to react. Victor also speaks to Roopal Patel and Nina Froes, two immigration judges who have just been fired from their roles after issuing rulings that blocked the deportations of Pro-Palestinian students Rümeysa Öztürk and Mohsen Mahdawi. Do they see it as retaliation? Victor and the judges discuss. Ads with references to the KKK and Jim Crow are hitting mailboxes in Virginia, ahead of a big vote on congressional maps next week. Victor looks at what's in the message to Black voters about redistricting - and who is behind it. Plus, Victor gets reaction from Demetre Daskalakis to President Trump’s latest nominee to lead the CDC, Dr. Erica Schwartz. And in “Art is Life” this week, Victor speaks to director Reginald Douglas and actor Michael Bahsil-Cook about their new musical “Young John Lewis: Prodigy of Protest”. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    43 mins
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