AURN News

According to The New York Times, the Justice Department has halted new civil rights investigations and signaled it may backtrack on Biden-era agreements with police departments accused of discrimination or violence.

In two internal memos, Chad Mizelle, the department’s chief of staff, ordered a freeze on civil rights litigation and consent decrees, requiring senior Trump appointees’ approval for new cases or interventions.

Consent decrees, agreements with local governments to address systemic police misconduct, may be reconsidered, jeopardizing settlements like those with Louisville after Breonna Taylor’s killing and Minneapolis following George Floyd’s murder.

A conservative lawyer and Trump ally has been nominated to lead the Civil Rights Division, raising concerns about the rollback of diversity and equity programs.

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(AURN News) — President Donald Trump revealed this week he has finally read the traditional letter left for him in the Oval Office by his predecessor, former President Joe Biden, describing it as "nice" and "inspirational," offering a rare moment of bipartisan civility in modern American politics.

The letter, continuing a tradition started by President Ronald Reagan, was discovered by Trump in a drawer of the Resolute Desk, addressed to "Number 47." This custom of leaving a personal message for the incoming president has persisted across party lines for decades, serving as a symbol of peaceful transition and shared respect for the office.

"I opened the drawer and there it was," Trump said, characterizing the message as emphasizing the significance of the presidency and encouraging him to "do a good job."

The revelation of the letter comes during Trump's first week back in the White House, where he indicated he might share the contents of the letter with the public. "I think I should let people see it because it was a positive for him in writing it. I appreciated the letter," Trump said.

The practice of presidential letters began when Reagan left a note for his successor, George H.W. Bush, in 1989, and has since become a cherished White House custom.

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In this episode of Hollywood Live with Tanya Hart, Tanya discusses former First Lady Michelle Obama’s notable absence from President-Elect Donald Trump’s inauguration. Despite the presence of former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton—along with Laura Bush and Hillary Clinton—Michelle’s decision to skip the event comes as no surprise, given her longstanding opposition to Trump’s presidency and policies. Tanya reflects on Michelle’s powerful stance and support for the causes she believes in, echoing sentiments from her 2018 memoir and campaign efforts against Trump.

Tune in for more updates on this and other major headlines from Hollywood and beyond.

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In a whirlwind start to his second term, President Donald Trump issued roughly 1,500 pardons and commuted sentences for 14 individuals connected to the January 6th Capitol attack. Among those pardoned are members of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers convicted of seditious conspiracy.

From there, Trump revoked 78 Biden-era executive orders going after things like diversity, equity, and inclusion, calling them "radical" and "wasteful."

Trump also took aim at federal workers, signing a memorandum making it easier to fire civil servants.

On healthcare, he signed executive orders aimed at repealing Biden-era initiatives to expand the Affordable Care Act, cut subsidies for low-income families, and halt federal efforts to lower prescription drug costs.

He also renewed his push for states to oversee Medicare funding and reduce federal oversight. Other actions include redefining birthright citizenship, and the list goes on.

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In this episode of Hollywood Live with Tanya Hart, Tanya covers the breaking news of MSNBC President Rashida Jones stepping down after four impactful years leading the liberal news network. As the first Black executive to helm a cable news network, Jones’ departure comes at a critical time—on the eve of the Trump administration’s return and amid significant changes in corporate ownership at MSNBC. Tanya dives into Jones’ legacy, the network’s shifting ratings, and the transition to interim president Rebecca Cutler, a former CNN executive.

Stay tuned for more entertainment and industry news. Don’t forget to follow Tanya on social media at @TanyaHollywood and @AURNonline.

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(AURN News) — Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th President of the United States on Monday, marking a historic return to the White House after winning both the popular vote and electoral college, with unprecedented support from minority voters. His return to power is one of the biggest political comeback stories in modern American history.

During his inauguration speech, which coincided with Martin Luther King Day, Mr. Trump specifically acknowledged the role of Black and Hispanic voters in his victory.

"To the black and Hispanic communities, I want to thank you for the tremendous outpouring of love and trust that you have shown me with your vote. We set records, and I will not forget it," Trump said.

"I've heard your voices in the campaign, and I look forward to working with you in the years to come," he added.

Trump also pledged to work toward realizing King's dream, telling supporters, "Today is Martin Luther King Day and his honor, this will be a great honor, but in his honor, we will strive together to make his dream a reality. We will make his dream come true."

Back in November, AURN News reported about exit polls from NBC News that showed Trump gained support from 2% of Black voters who previously backed Biden, choosing Trump over former Vice President Kamala Harris. The data also revealed Trump won 54% of the Latino male vote.

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The day before he left office, President Joe Biden posthumously pardoned Marcus Garvey.

Garvey, convicted of mail fraud in the 1920s, was widely believed to be a victim of politically motivated charges. Biden also pardoned advocates for immigrant rights, criminal justice reform, and gun violence prevention, as well as a Virginia lawmaker.

Biden framed the clemency as reflecting America’s “sacred covenant” of unity and redemption, emphasizing that Americans “lean into each other” when mistakes are made.

Notably, he also commuted nearly 2,500 sentences for nonviolent drug offenses, setting a record for presidential clemency.

Garvey’s legacy remains powerful, with Martin Luther King Jr. calling him the first to give millions of Black people “a sense of dignity and destiny.”

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(AURN News) — Where do Americans stand politically as President Donald Trump takes office? A new Gallup poll reveals significant shifts in American political ideology, with conservatives and liberals becoming increasingly dominant within their respective parties while the ranks of moderates continue to shrink.

The poll found that 37% of Americans identify as very conservative or conservative, while 34% consider themselves moderate, and 25% identify as very liberal or liberal.

The percentage of self-identified moderates has fallen significantly, from 43% in 1992 to 34% in 2024, according to the survey.

Within party lines, 77% of Republicans now identify as conservative, including 24% who describe themselves as very conservative. Among Democrats, 55% identify as liberal, with 19% calling themselves very liberal. This marks a stark contrast from 1992, when less than 30% of Democrats described themselves as very liberal, compared to 9% who now say they are conservative.

The survey also found that among independents, 30% identify as conservative while 20% consider themselves liberal.

"Over the past few years, there have been shifts in political ideology within the Republican and Democratic Parties. In 2024, the shares of Republicans identifying as conservative and Democrats identifying as liberal both reached record highs," Gallup reported.

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Today marks a historic occasion in Washington, D.C., as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take the oath of office for his second term while the nation honors the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This rare convergence of Inauguration Day and MLK Day has happened only twice before in modern history.

Trump’s inauguration was moved indoors to the U.S. Capitol Rotunda due to freezing temperatures, with Chief Justice John Roberts scheduled to administer the oath at noon.

Meanwhile, Rev. Al Sharpton and the National Action Network are leading a major rally and march in the nation’s capital, using the overlap of events to highlight critical civil rights issues. Sharpton emphasized the importance of honoring Dr. King's vision, saying this is a moment to honor Dr. King's vision and fight against efforts that threaten to undo decades of progress.

The day’s events underscore the continuing struggle for civil rights and the significance of Dr. King’s enduring legacy.

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Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett speaks on the significance of the U.S. Virgin Islands, the need for diversity, equity and inclusion in the democratic process; and the continued fight against marginalization.

Watch the full interview here.

Check out the complete "On the Record with Ebony McMorris" podcast here.

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