Start your day with The Mornin Experience! From the latest news and trending stories to smart conversations and a splash of humor, we’ve got everything you need to wake up informed and inspired. Whether it’s headlines, culture, or just good vibes, The Mornin Experience is your daily guide to taking on the day.

Good morning and welcome to The Morning Experience. Today, we’re digging into headlines shaping our communities: Black unemployment has climbed for the second month in a row, hitting 7.5% — the highest since the pandemic. Chicago is bracing for an influx of National Guard troops and ICE agents, while Trump is floating the idea of sending forces into New Orleans next. And for our main story: Roland Martin says Black-owned media is under attack in today’s anti-DEI era. After decades of fighting for newsroom equity, he’s now pushing the importance of ownership, urging Black journalists to learn “the business of the business” and build platforms that can’t be silenced.

From hologram cops in Seoul to AI unmasking ICE officers — the future is looking real high-tech and real complicated. But today on Topic Tuesday, we bring it closer to home: College vs. Certifications — which one’s the smarter move?

🏛️ Trump extends control over Washington by taking management of Union Station away from Amtrak. The move is framed as part of a “beautification” plan, but critics say it signals deeper federal control over the landmark.

🎓 At the University of Cincinnati, Black students are pushing to uphold cultural traditions after the school shut down its African American Cultural Center in compliance with new anti-DEI legislation.

 🌮 Taco Bell is rethinking AI-powered drive-thrus after trolls went viral for breaking the system — including one customer who ordered 18,000 water cups just to crash it. Main Story: The Classroom of the Future?

An AI-powered private school is opening in Northern Virginia this fall. The Alpha School, which has campuses in Texas and Florida, will expand to serve 25 K-3 students near Dulles Airport. But here’s the twist: instead of licensed teachers, children will be guided by AI “tutors” — adaptive software and non-licensed “guides.” The school says this allows personalized instruction, tailoring the pace and level for each student, with tuition ranging from $15,000 to $65,000.

With 11 more campuses set to open nationwide, the question is: Is this the next leap in education, or a risky experiment with kids as the beta testers?

This September, Pennsylvania is recognizing International Underground Railroad Month, honoring the courage of freedom seekers and the allies who helped them. To mark the occasion, the powerful reenactment Living the Experience returns on September 6th with new stories that connect past struggles for freedom to today’s ongoing fight for justice.

ShizzyGetBizzy brings us another hilarious Top 10 list — the laughs keep coming, and you don’t want to miss this one.

Microwave News – Today we’re talking about the next “League of Their Own.” Hundreds of women ballplayers are chasing their shot at history as the Women’s Pro Baseball League gears up for its 2026 debut. Six teams, a draft in October, and real hardball rules — this could be the biggest leap for women’s baseball since the 1940s. Also on the burner: a wave of active shooter hoaxes rattles universities across the country, the National Guard starts carrying sidearms in D.C. as Trump’s “crime emergency” intensifies, and Kingsford’s new Pass the Tongs campaign is serving up barbecue culture with HBCUs at the center of the grill.

A disturbing viral video out of Mississippi shows a white 16-year-old teen forcing a 13-year-old Black boy to do jumping jacks at gunpoint while hurling racial slurs, pistol-whipping him, and threatening to kill him. Deputies only charged the teen with misdemeanor simple assault and minor in possession of a weapon — sparking outrage and protests from a community demanding accountability.

Meanwhile in entertainment, Bryton James — aka Richie from Family Matters and now star of The Young & The Restless — wants to reboot the Winslow family as an animated series, giving the classic sitcom a modern spin for a new generation.

Topic Tuesday: Are Black folks too loyal to brands? From sneakers to sodas, haircare to hot sauce — do we ride too hard for companies that don’t ride for us?

“Sneakflation” is on the menu. Trump insists tariffs are being paid by foreign countries, but economists say American consumers are quietly footing the bill at checkout. Higher prices are slipping into everything from electronics to groceries—without the honesty of a price hike sticker. Just like shrinkflation, but sneakier.

Also Cooking:
Waymo is hitting the streets of New York—testing driverless cars in Manhattan and Brooklyn. Don’t worry, state law says a human still has to sit behind the wheel. Translation: autonomous-ish.

Governor Wes Moore invited Trump to take a stroll through Baltimore. No word yet if the Secret Service is packing extra Old Bay for the trip.

Netflix is rolling out an “Astrology Hub” that recommends shows based on your zodiac sign. Pisces, get ready to cry. Scorpios… you already know your queue is toxic.

ShizzGetBizzy is back with another hilarious top 10 countdown—this time taking aim at the everyday struggles, annoyances, and wild truths of life after hitting 40. From aches in places he didn’t know existed to a newfound beef with loud TikTok dances, he breaks down aging with comedy and honesty.