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First Of All with Victor Blackwell

First Of All with Victor Blackwell

By: CNN Audio
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About this listen

 Victor Blackwell brings a fresh perspective on the week's news with a focus on stories affecting communities of color.2024 CNN Politics & Government
Episodes
  • One-on-One With Director Spike Lee; Trump and Putin Meet to Discuss Ukraine

    One-on-One With Director Spike Lee; Trump and Putin Meet to Discuss Ukraine
    Aug 16 2025
    Could President Trump's meeting with Russia's Vladimir Putin have “just been an email,” or is something substantive starting to emerge after their summit in Alaska? Victor speaks with Retired Brigadier General and Democratic candidate for Congress Shawn Harris, political commentator Janelle King and author Charles Blow. They also discuss President Trump’s escalating effort to reshape the presentation of history and culture at Smithsonian museums. Plus, Victor goes one-on-one with Spike Lee. Why the acclaimed director says the U.S. under President Trump is no longer a “beacon of democracy”. Spike Lee also explains why he plans to vote for Zohran Mamdani for mayor of New York City, and we also discuss his new joint “Highest 2 Lowest” and working with “greatest living actor” Denzel Washington for a 5th time, along with A$AP Rocky for the 1st time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    41 mins
  • What Happened When the Story of a Missing Black Trucker Went Viral

    What Happened When the Story of a Missing Black Trucker Went Viral
    Aug 3 2025
    Black unemployment rose again in the latest jobs report. Victor breaks down the concern this raises for every racial group with writers Ernie Suggs, Michael Harriot and Jason “Jah” Lee. The guys also weigh in on the decision by former Vice President Kamala Harris to skip a run for governor of California. Plus, the controversy over American Eagle’s “Great Jeans” ad featuring Sydney Sweeney. While schools like Columbia and Brown are cutting deals with the Trump administration, one university president targeted over "DEI" policies is not only pushing back but getting a raise. Victor discusses the probe of George Mason University’s Gregory Washington with the school’s faculty senate president, Solon Simmons. Did this post hit your algorithm this week? The story of an allegedly missing Black trucker started spreading on social media. Victor went down a rabbit hole looking into the story and what he discovered kept surprising him the more he kept looking. He shares what he found out about “Eric Darnell”. Victor also speaks with a woman who says she was kicked off a flight because of her race. Dr. Briana Hicks and her attorney Lauren Bateman make their case. And in “Art is Life” this week, artist Nick Weber takes us inside his Hamptons studio where he’s painting portraits of immigrant neighbors to honor them and share their stories of perseverance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    42 mins
  • World Watches as Gaza Starvation Crisis Worsens

    World Watches as Gaza Starvation Crisis Worsens
    Jul 26 2025
    People in Gaza are starving. A ceasefire would help to restart the flow of aid, but the U.S. just withdrew from talks. Now President Trump is saying Israel should "finish the job" against Hamas. Victor discusses the crisis with Dr. Bashara Bahbah. the leader of “Arab Americans for Peace,” formerly called "Arab Americans for Trump". What is life like for the migrants being held in a detention facility deep in the Florida Everglades? We're starting to hear from some of the men held there. Victor shares the findings from a CNN investigation by Priscilla Alvarez. Is dance an appropriate way to call for change after the elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas? Ahead of an upcoming performance, Victor speaks with Madi Frampton-Herrera, the creator of "Echoes of Justice: Unanswered For 77 The Time Between” and Javier Cazares, the father of 9-year-old Uvalde victim Jacklyn Cazares, about reaction to the project. Later, Victor compares reaction to a “Manifest Destiny” artwork posted by the Trump Administration, and the alleged censorship of a portrait by Amy Sherald depicting a Black, transgender Statue of Liberty. Plus, Asian American farmer Mai Nguyen joins Victor to push back on the USDA saying support for minority farmers is no longer needed, because past disparities have been "sufficiently" handled. And we remember Malcolm-Jamal Warner. Most of us knew him as the actor who played Theo Huxtable on “The Cosby Show”. But the “Biological Misfits” knew him as a great musician. They came together to share a side of him you likely have not heard much about. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    42 mins
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