South Africa Mining Group Says Advice on Draft Law Ignored
The Mineral Resources Development Bill, opened to public feedback last week, 'does not reflect the inputs' of the Minerals Council South Africa, the industry group said in a statement on Tuesday. The government says the proposed law will improve regulatory certainty and streamline administrative processes.
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The Hill
2 hours ago
- The Hill
‘I voted for none of this!' Were Trump's voters duped?
Donald Trump talks like a man of the people but leads like a brand ambassador for dysfunction. Sure, the president dominates headlines, social media feeds and MAGA merch stands. But for the everyday Americans who handed him power out of desperation for change and an alternative to the Biden administration, Trump is starting to look like fool's gold: shiny on the outside, hollow at the core. In late April, a PBS -Marist poll gave Trump an 'F' grade for his first 100 days back in office — and let's be honest, that grade feels generous. While immigration remains the one consistent drum he bangs, even that is more performance than policy. Yes, border crossings are down. But the cruelty, confusion, and lack of transparency surrounding his policy has many Americans saying, 'Not like this.' Even conservative voices are turning up the volume. Patrick Bet-David, a three-time Trump voter and popular right-wing podcaster, called the administration's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case 'the biggest fumble' so far. 'I'm a supporter,' said Bet-David. 'Three times I voted for this man. This is by far the biggest fumble this administration has had thus far. … Why are you fumbling this? Why are you not having an emergency meeting to get on the same page and say hey, we're gonna be on the same page on messaging on this?' He's not wrong. Trump's Justice Department abruptly declared the case closed — despite years of teasing a bombshell client list. Then there's the tariff tirade. In true Trump fashion, he slapped a 30 percent tariff on imports from the EU and Mexico, blindsiding allies who had been negotiating in good faith. This is economic whiplash: One day you're at the table, the next you're dodging a trade war. Even Mexico — a country that has learned to hold its diplomatic breath during Trump tantrums — called the move 'unjust.' This is the same Mexico that helped us in a time of need — sending water rescue teams and firefighters to Texas just recently after the horrific floods that killed at least 129 people. According to a brand new YouGov-Economist poll, support for Trump is plummeting among Black voters, who were once considered a potential swing bloc in 2024. In May, 22 percent of them approved of Trump. By July? Just 15 percent. What's driving the dip? The economy. Black voters, like most Americans, are tired of instability, rising prices, and Trump's carnival-style economic policy. The same voters who gave Trump a shot because they wanted real change — lower costs, better jobs, stronger communities — are starting to see through the illusion. Not to mention, we entered a 12-day war with Iran that no one wanted. Don't take my word for it. Let comedian and podcaster Andrew Schultz — a proud 2024 Trump voter — tell it. 'I voted for none of this,' said Schultz. 'He's doing the exact opposite of everything I voted for. I want him to stop the wars — he's funding them. I want him to shrink spending, reduce the budget — he's increasing it. It's like everything that he said he's going to do — except sending immigrants back. And now he's even flip-flopped on that, which I kind of like. But he's like, oh, we need the people working in restaurants and we need our farmers.' It's convenient for Schultz to play confused now — he probably didn't bother to review the Project 2025 initiative that everyone anti-Trump was warning about for the entire last election season. But I digress. The truth is, Trump governs like a man who believes buzz is better than results, and that soundbites count more than substance. But voters are getting wise. The slogans are stale, the gimmicks are wearing thin and the average American can't pay the rent with fake gold. Lindsey Granger is a News Nation contributor and co-host of The Hill's commentary show 'Rising.' This column is an edited transcription of her on-air commentary.
Black America Web
3 hours ago
- Black America Web
Boys & Girls Club Programs At Risk As Trump Freezes Federal Funding
Source: SDI Productions / Getty Boys & Girls Clubs all over the country are bracing for the worst after Trump recently froze funding that could destroy summer and fall programs for low-income families. According to AP, the Trump administration froze more than $6 billion in federal education grants intended for after-school and summer programs, English language instruction, adult literacy, and other purposes, claiming the funding needed to be reviewed to ensure it aligned with Trump's priorities. The Trump administration has accused states of using the funding to help fund what they called 'a radical leftwing agenda,' pointing to services for immigrants or LGBTQ+ inclusion efforts, according to AP. The 21st Century Community Learning Centers program—which provides federally funded before-and after-school and summer programs for low-income communities—is among those impacted by Trump's funding freeze. Sara Leutzinger, vice president for communications for the Boys & Girls Club of America, told AP that if the Trump administration doesn't release the money in the next few weeks, many summer and after-school programs will have to close. That sentiment was also shared by the YMCA and Save the Children. From AP: 'Time is of the essence,' said Christy Gleason, executive director of Save the Children Action Network, which provides after-school programming for 41 schools in rural areas in Washington state and across the South, where school will begin as soon as August. 'It's not too late to make a decision so the kids who really need this still have it.' According to AP, over 1.4 million children and teenagers around the country attend after-school and summer programs at a Boys & Girls Club, the YMCA or a public school for free, thanks to federal taxpayers. In a typical year, Boys & Girls Clubs serve 3.3 million young people – 1.6 million through membership and 1.7 million through community outreach – in more than 5,200 Club facilities. 62% of Club members live in households that qualify for free or reduced-price school lunches. The Boys & Girls Clubs also serve a wide range of children from all demographics. In 2022, approximately 55% of members were male, 44% were female, and 2% identified as transgender or non-binary. Race and ethnicity demographics include 30% White, 25% Black, and 23% Hispanic or Latino. SEE ALSO: Trump's 'Good English' Gaffe Is Proof He Still Doesn't Get Africa Or Grammar Op-Ed: Can Trump Strip Citizenship From Naturalized Americans? SEE ALSO Boys & Girls Club Programs At Risk As Trump Freezes Federal Funding was originally published on
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
University of Louisville shuts down employee groups in response to Kentucky anti-diversity law
Students walk across the University of Louisville campus. (Kentucky Lantern photo by McKenna Horsley) The University of Louisville has disbanded the UofL Women's Network and four other employee groups in response to a new state law. A former president of one of the disbanded groups criticized the action, telling the Kentucky Lantern it goes further than required by the Republican legislature's new ban on diversity initiatives in public higher education. Ricky Jones, former president of the UofL Black Faculty/Staff Association and professor of Pan-African Studies, said the employee resource groups provided safe spaces for underrepresented people and allowed them to have 'a unified voice to speak to the administration about issues.' Jones criticized administrators at UofL and other universities for bowing to political pressure on decisions about diversity, equity and inclusion on campus. He predicted the assault on diversity in Kentucky higher education will 'get worse before it gets better.' 'Higher education in Kentucky, for Black folk in particular, and for other groups that are being targeted, I think it's a lost cause at this point, unless something drastic changes. And we don't have leadership at these schools that are committed to making those types of changes, so we're in trouble.' In addition to the groups for Black and women faculty and staff, UofL has eliminated the Asian, Asian American and Pacific Islander Faculty and Staff Association; Hispanic Latino Faculty and Staff Association; and the LGBTQ+ Faculty and Staff Association. After a review, some university resource groups 'were deemed not to be' in compliance with the new law, said UofL spokesperson John Karman. 'Our Employee Success Center will continue to explore ways to support meaningful engagement and to ensure all UofL faculty and staff are valued and supported,' Karman added. Employee resource groups, or ERGs, were created to 'promote a climate of inclusion and provide a place where employees can come together to network, create a strong sense of community, and share their concerns,' according to a now-removed UofL web page description. Earlier this year, Kentucky's Republican-controlled General Assembly passed House Bill 4, which eliminates diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs and resources at all public universities and colleges within the commonwealth. The universities were directed to enact changes to meet the law's requirements by June 30, 2025. UofL and Kentucky's other public universities began reviewing policies in the spring shortly after the law was passed. Eastern Kentucky University adopted a viewpoint neutrality policy and a resolution saying EKU plans to comply with the law in May. Before the 2025 legislative session, the University of Kentucky and Northern Kentucky University disbanded their diversity offices amid scrutiny of DEI programs nationally. UofL President Gerry Bradley outlined how university administration reviewed programs and resources for compliance with the law in a June 27 email to campus. That included work groups reviewing areas of 'position analysis; policy analysis; admissions, financial aid and scholarships; and athletics.' The work group submitted recommendations to UofL's legal counsel and a Board of Trustees committee. The board considered policy changes during a June 26 meeting. Bradley wrote in his email that decisions to implement changes 'were difficult to make in the face of our work to build a culture of belonging — a culture that supports all, that is welcoming of all and reflects our community of care.' He acknowledged that people 'have felt hurt and abandoned during this process,' adding that he has 'heard your voices and understand the feelings expressed.' 'Let me assure you that I stand by my commitment to support and celebrate all of our community and meet their needs,' Bradley said. 'This matter will continue to spark important and necessary conversations about ideas of belonging, success, access to higher education and more. 'With this challenge comes an opportunity for all of us to remain committed to making the University of Louisville a place where we embrace differences and celebrate uniqueness. We will continue to do so with compassionate and steadfast resolve.' Jones, the UofL professor, said the university's actions speak louder than the president's words. He said the state's new anti-DEI law makes no mention of the kinds of employee groups that UofL ordered dismantled and said administrators chose to be 'more aggressive about anti-diversity moves' than the bill required. 'Either they agree with the uber-conservative legislators coming out of Frankfort who are doing real and meaningful harm to Black people, LGBTQ people and others' or 'they just don't care,' Jones said. 'I think it's just a feeling of hopelessness there right now,' he said. 'It's to the point now even those of us who have spoken out over the years, it's like, 'Speak out for what?' This is over.'
