Illinois ‘Super Mayor’ Tiffany Henyard’s Drama, Rickey Smiley’s Advice For Undecided Voters, Black America Gets Annoyed With Walz’s ‘Minnesota Nice,’ Nevada GOP Congressman Calls CBC ‘Racist’ And More

A collection of The Root’s most important political stories from the week.

Illinois ‘Super Mayor’ Tiffany Henyard is Facing an Immediate Problem Amid Her Spending Scandals

Screenshot: FOX 32 Chicago

More bad news for Dolton, Ill.’s self-proclaimed “Super Mayor” Tiffany Henyard. Amidst federal probes into her spending habits and outstanding balances, it appears she forgot to pay the bill that probably matters the most. – Kalyn Womack Read More

Video will return here when scrolled back into view
Elon Musk is Leaving the Trump Administration and Black Twitter is Buzzing

After Speaking With Kamala Harris, Rickey Smiley Has a Message for Undecided Voters

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JULY 07: Rickey Smiley attends the 2024 ESSENCE Festival Of Culture™ Presented By Coca-Cola® at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 07, 2024 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Photo: Getty Images Marcus Ingram

With just over 30 days before the 2024 presidential election, Vice President Kamala Harris continues to make the case for her campaign. Although 84 percent of Black registered voters say they would vote for the Vice President if the election were held today, according to a Pew Research study, she’s doing everything she can to bring Trump supporters and undecided voters on board as well. – Angela Johnson Read More

Black America Is Annoyed With Walz’s ‘Minnesota Nice’ Debate Demeanor While Vance Shocked Everyone

Photo: Getty Images Chip Somodevilla

Black group chats were blowing up last night during the only vice presidential debate between J.D. Vance and Tim Walz. Some might say the debate showcased a tale of two different Americas, one progressive and one regressive, but that’s not exactly why Black America took to the social media app X to express their frustrations. – Candace McDuffie Read More

Kamala Harris May Be Leading Trump In The Polls, But Here’s Why Her Supporters Should Be Nervous

Photo: Getty Images Taylor Hill

As November and the presidential election continues to get closer, Vice President Kamala Harris is still leading in the polls. According to the latest average of national polls—collated by FiveThirtyEight—Harris has a 2.8-point lead over Trump. – Candace McDuffie Read More

The Harris-Walz Campaign Has Given Its Own Version of Trump’s “Concept of a Plan” For Healthcare

Photo: Getty Images Jeff Swensen

In a move that calls back to the last presidential debate, the Harris-Walz campaign has gone into attack mode against the Trump-Vance ticket on the topic of healthcare. – William Ketchum Read More

LISTEN: Nevada GOP Candidate Calls Congressional Black Caucus ‘Most Racist People In The World,’ And It’s Not the First Time…

Photo: Las Vegas Review-Journal

In new, disturbing audio obtained by HuffPost, Republican congressional candidate John Lee stated that he’s “not worried about Black people” in his impending Congress bid. – Candace McDuffie Read More

Straight From The Root

Sign up for our free daily newsletter.

Latest from The Root

Why Many Black Folks Fear the Worst Is Already Here

Why Many Black Folks Fear the Worst Is Already Here

From escalating conflicts abroad and AI taking over jobs to attacks on Black history and voting access, these 13 developments show why Americans—especially Black communities—are bracing for the crises they’ve long feared …
Screenshot:  YouTube/Scoz

Biggie’s Legacy, Diddy’s Villain Era: Their Strange Friendship Through the Years, Explained

In honor of the 29th anniversary of Biggie’s death, we thought we’d take a look his musical friendship with Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs …
Tony! Toni! Toné! Drama: Founder's Family Fights Over Disinheritance

Tony! Toni! Toné! Drama: Founder’s Family Fights Over Disinheritance

D’Wayne Wiggins passed away in March 2025 after a year-long battle with bladder cancer …
Alabama Is Set to Execute A Black Man Who Didn't Kill Anyone

Alabama Is Set to Execute A Black Man Who Didn’t Kill Anyone

Three decades after being sentenced for a murder he didn’t even witness, Sonny Burton is now only days away from his scheduled execution …
As a Now-Viral PDA Video Ignites Rumors That Lori Harvey and Damson Idris Are Back On, Let's Look Back at Her Dating Past

As a Now-Viral PDA Video Ignites Rumors That Lori Harvey and Damson Idris Are Back On, Let’s Look Back at Her Dating Past

With Lori Harvey and her ex-boo Damson Idris back in headlines, let’s take a look at the socialite and budding actress’ dating history! …
Pastor Seen Shoving Elderly Woman Down Church Steps on Camera, Speaks out

Pastor Seen Shoving Elderly Woman Down Church Steps on Camera, Speaks out

A California pastor accused of pushing a church elder down a short flight of cement steps and out a metal gate just shared his side of the story …
How Trump Played White Women Like a Violin

How Trump Played White Women Like a Violin

Opinion: White women thought they were winning under Trump. They did not realize they were just being used …
Here’s Everything We Know About Zendaya and Tom Holland's 'Wedding'

Here’s Everything We Know About Zendaya and Tom Holland’s ‘Wedding’

The internet is going crazy over AI-generated pictures of Zendaya and Tom Holland’s potential secret wedding. We’re laying out the facts about the private couple’s engagement …
Why Endometriosis Keeps Getting Missed in Black Women

Why Endometriosis Keeps Getting Missed in Black Women

For years, endometriosis has been known as a disease of upper-class white women, leaving Black women misdiagnosed and misunderstood. Here’s what you need to know about identifying symptoms, overcoming bias and seeking better care …
The Outrageous Reason Why a Cali. Teacher Allegedly Gave Little Children  Edibles

The Outrageous Reason Why a Cali. Teacher Allegedly Gave Little Children Edibles

California students, ages 8 to 11, required medical treatment after ingesting 20mg THC-infused gummies— allegedly given to them by a teacher …
Tamera Mowry-Housely Opens Up About Rough Time Living With Twin Sister Tia

Tamera Mowry-Housely Opens Up About Rough Time Living With Twin Sister Tia

Tia and Tamera Mowry’s fun, twin-sisterhood has recently been a hot topic for fans. And Tamera’s new revelation will no doubt be even more fodder for conversation! …
New Development in Rihanna Home Shooting Incident

New Development in Rihanna Home Shooting Incident

After shots were shockingly fired at Rihanna’s home on Sunday, the singer and the public finally have some good news …
New Report Shows Lynchings in America Never Stopped... They Only Evolved

New Report Shows Lynchings in America Never Stopped… They Only Evolved

Historians have argued the last lynching happened in 1981, but a report by JULIAN suggests Black folks are still being targeted because of their skin …
As Trump Goes to War With Iran, Black Americans Will Pay the Price

As Trump Goes to War With Iran, Black Americans Will Pay the Price

On the front lines and with a strain on their household budgets, Black Americans will bear the burden for President Donald Trump’s War in Iran …
The Internet is Losing Its Mind Over Oprah's Crop Top and  Fly Looks

The Internet is Losing Its Mind Over Oprah’s Crop Top and Fly Looks

Oprah Winfrey has been spotted with bestie Gayle King at Paris Fashion Week. Now, one red carpet look has the internet talking …
Ex-Cal State University Basketball Coach Accused of Pimping and More

Ex-Cal State University Basketball Coach Accused of Pimping and More

Kevin Mays, a former assistant basketball coach at California State University-Bakersfield, was charged with multiple felony counts including human trafficking …
Trayvon Martin and Other Black People Who Were Unjustly Killed in America

Trayvon Martin and Other Black People Who Were Unjustly Killed in America

14 years after Trayvon Martin was killed, these other Black men and women were also murdered in shocking similarity …
Austin Police Release Body Cam Footage of Black Shooter at an Austin Bar

Austin Police Release Body Cam Footage of Black Shooter at an Austin Bar

Austin police are piecing together the motive behind Ndiaga Diagne, the Black man who killed three and injured over a dozen in a March 1 mass shooting …
F1 Champion Lewis Hamilton Calls for a Movement to 'Take Africa Back' as He Tries to Bring Racing to the Continent

F1 Champion Lewis Hamilton Calls for a Movement to ‘Take Africa Back’ as He Tries to Bring Racing to the Continent

The first and only Black driver in F1 history is empowering the people of the continent to “take Africa back” from European powers …
Jill Scott's Break From Music is Part of a Growing Trend of Black Women Pausing With Purpose

Jill Scott’s Break From Music is Part of a Growing Trend of Black Women Pausing With Purpose

Jill Scott, Beyoncé, Teyana Taylor and Simone Biles are part of a growing wave of Black women who have embraced the idea of stepping back …