TonyTidbit: A Black Executive Perspective

2025 Was Not Progress, It Was a Rollback


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Episode Audio Link: https://podcast.ablackexec.com/episode/2025-was-not-progress-it-was-a-rollback

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In this episode of BEP Live, hosts Tony Tidbit and Chris P. Reed take a hard look at 2025, a year defined not by forward movement, but by coordinated rollback. Across corporate America, media, and government, diversity initiatives were dismantled, protections were stripped away, and policies once thought settled quietly returned under new language.

Tony and Chris unpack the erosion of DEI, the implications of legislation like the Heartbeat Law for women’s autonomy, and the growing reality of AI systems that reinforce bias rather than eliminate it. They also examine the protests, pushbacks, and organized resistance that emerged in response, as well as why silence was never a neutral option.

This conversation is not about nostalgia. It is about clarity. Understanding what happened in 2025 is essential to recognizing what comes next, who benefits, and what must be confronted. If progress is going to move forward again, it starts with telling the truth about the rollback.

▶︎ In This Episode

00:00: Introduction and Podcast Overview

00:47: The Rollback of Black Progress in 2025

03:01: Case Study: Trey Sherman's Experience

05:34: Systematic Dismantling of DEI Programs

06:04: Economic Impact and Data Analysis

08:26: The Role of Media and Public Perception

13:29: Boycotts and Protests: Fighting Back

26:04: The Year of Chaos and AI Surveillance

31:42: Tragic Case of Adriana Smith

33:08: Ethical Dilemma: Pregnancy and Brain Death

34:17: Legal and Moral Implications of Roe v. Wade Overturn

35:13: Heartbeat Law and Its Consequences

36:09: Public Reaction and Personal Rights

45:10: AI Bias and Civil Rights

57:36: Call to Action: LESS Movement

59:21: Upcoming Shows and Final Thoughts

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This episode was produced by TonyTidbit ™ . Copyright © 2024 A BLACK EXECUTIVE PERSPECTIVE LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this podcast may be reproduced without prior written permission. For permissions, email [email protected] .

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