Habari Live

Damon Ellison
  • 5.0 (2)
  • News
  • Updated Weekly

Habari Live is where news, culture, politics, and community come together—our way. Hosted by Damon Ellison and Iesha Rowan, the Phoenix-based podcast delivers honest conversations, bold perspectives, and in-depth analysis of the stories affecting Black communities and people across America. From breaking news and social justice to entertainment and everyday life, Habari Live brings you truth that stays undefeated. News Our Way. News That Hits Different.

  1. 6d ago

    Power, Pressure & Accountability: Trump–Xi, ICE, Nolan Wells & Africa’s UN Fight | Habari Live

    ,,Here’s the updated YouTube description reflecting the Nolan Wells update instead of the basketball story: President Donald Trump hosts Chinese President Xi Jinping for a high-profile state visit as the United States and China confront major questions involving trade, Taiwan, artificial intelligence and global power. With some of America's most powerful technology leaders at the table, what does the growing U.S.-China AI race mean for the future? Meanwhile, another battle is unfolding at the White House. CNN, MS NOW and Politico went to court over restrictions on their access, raising major questions about press freedom, presidential authority and constitutional protections for journalists. We also examine growing scrutiny of ICE operations and deaths in custody, along with the larger question of accountability when federal agents exercise enormous power. American farmers say they're fighting for survival as fuel, fertilizer, equipment and transportation costs put increasing pressure on agricultural businesses. We'll break down those costs and explain how tariffs actually work. Then, the AI boom is bringing massive data centers to communities across America. They promise investment and technological growth—but they also require enormous amounts of electricity, water, and infrastructure. Who benefits, and who pays? Finally, we have a major update in the death of 18-year-old Nolan Wells. A Mississippi grand jury declined to bring criminal charges, but the cause and manner of his death remain undetermined. We'll examine what investigators say they found, the questions surrounding injuries documented on his body, and why his family continues seeking answers. Join Damon Ellison and Iesha Rowan for two hours of news, context, evidence and conversation on Habari Live. News Our Way! #HabariLive #Trump #XiJinping #China #PressFreedom #WhiteHouse #ICE #NolanWells #ArtificialIntelligence #DataCenters #Farmers #NewsOurWay

  2. Sep 20

    AMERICA’S BILL IS DUE: Gas, Tariffs, ICE & the Economy Hit Home

    🇺🇸 AMERICA’S BILL IS DUE: Gas, Tariffs, ICE & the Economy Hit HomeAmericans are feeling the pressure — at the gas pump, grocery store, in housing costs, and across the economy. On this two-hour episode of **Habari Live**, Damon Ellison and Iesha Rowan break down what’s driving the cost of living and what these policies actually mean for everyday Americans.🔥 **ON THIS EPISODE:**⛽ **Gas Prices & the Economy** — Why are Americans paying more at the pump, and how are oil prices and the conflict with Iran affecting household costs?💰 **Tariffs: Who Really Pays?** — We break down how tariffs work, who initially pays them, and how those costs can eventually reach American consumers.🏦 **The Federal Reserve** — Interest rates, inflation, and the growing debate over what the Fed should do next.🚨 **ICE in Phoenix** — A West Phoenix family says immigration agents posed as electricians before detaining a man. We examine the family's account, the government's response and the larger questions surrounding federal enforcement tactics.⚖️ **Tasia Fortune Case** — The death of a Black woman found hanging from a tree in Mississippi has reopened painful conversations about America's history of lynching. We separate what investigators have established from speculation while examining why these cases create such immediate concern in Black communities.🏛️ **The Kennedy Center Battle** — The continuing fight involving President Trump, the Kennedy Center, and the limits of presidential influence over major American institutions.🗳️ **Arizona & the 2026 Midterms** — Arizona voters face major races and eight statewide ballot measures. We'll explain what voters need to know as Election Day approaches.**THE HABARI QUESTION:**Are you financially better off today than you were one year ago? What is hitting your household hardest — groceries, gas, rent, insurance, utilities, healthcare, or debt?Drop your answer in the comments.👍 LIKE this episode💬 JOIN the conversation🔔 SUBSCRIBE and turn on notifications📲 SHARE the show with someone who needs to see it**Habari Live — News Our Way!**#HabariLive #Economy #GasPrices #ICE #Tariffs #CostOfLiving #BreakingNews #Arizona #Immigration #Trump

  3. Sep 13

    TRUMP PUTS HIMSELF ON THE BALLOT: $5K CHECKS, IRAN WAR & ICE AT THE POLLS

    Donald Trump is making the 2026 midterms about himself.At the Republican midterm convention in Dallas, Trump told supporters to “pretend” he is on the ballot — while promising a $5,000 “Trump Dividend” to American adults if Republicans maintain control of Congress.Tonight on Habari Live, Damon and Iesha break down what that promise actually means, whether Congress would have to approve it, and why Trump is putting himself at the center of November’s election.PLUS:🇮🇷 The Iran war continues as oil prices surge and Americans feel the impact at the pump.🗳️ The legal battle over mail-in voting intensifies ahead of the midterms.🚨 Denver and civil-rights organizations sue over the possibility of armed ICE agents conducting enforcement at polling locations.🏘️ We revisit the immigration operation that left residents of a Maryland neighborhood dealing with a federal presence for roughly 40 hours.🤖 And Congress is confronting increasingly serious warnings about artificial intelligence.Tonight’s conversation is about more than Republicans vs. Democrats.It’s about PEOPLE. POWER. POLICY.Who has power? What limits should the government have? And what will Americans decide when they vote in November?Join Damon and Iesha for two hours of news, analysis, and conversation.Subscribe to Habari Live and turn on notifications.HABARI LIVE — NEWS OUR WAY#HabariLive #DonaldTrump #Trump #Midterms2026 #Election2026 #ICE #Iran #IranWar #VotingRights #MailInVoting #Politics #BreakingNews #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #USPolitics

  4. Sep 6

    11-1 AND STILL NO VERDICT: Lindsay Clancy Mistrial Explained

    🚨 **11-1 AND STILL NO VERDICT: Lindsay Clancy Mistrial Explained**After six weeks of testimony and more than **38 hours of deliberations across seven days**, the Lindsay Clancy triple-murder trial has ended in a **mistrial**.On this episode of **Habari Live**, Damon and Iesha break down the reported **11-1 jury split**, the controversy surrounding the lone holdout juror, the defense’s postpartum psychosis argument, the prosecution’s case that Clancy understood what she was doing, and the major question now facing prosecutors: **Will Lindsay Clancy be tried again?**We also cover:🔥 The latest developments in the **Iran conflict** and questions about America’s endgame.🗳️ An important **mail-in voting update** as legal battles continue ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.⚖️ The courtroom battle that led to the **Lindsay Clancy mistrial** and what happens next.At the center of the Clancy case are three children: **Cora, Dawson and Callan.** Their lives should never be lost in the courtroom drama surrounding this case.💬 **JOIN THE DISCUSSION:** Should prosecutors retry Lindsay Clancy? And how should the criminal justice system handle cases involving severe mental illness?👍 Like the video💬 Join the conversation in the comments🔔 Subscribe to **Habari Live** for independent news, politics, culture and commentary.**Habari Live — News Our Way.**#LindsayClancy #LindsayClancyTrial #HabariLive #Mistrial #BreakingNews #Iran #MailInVoting #TrueCrime #News

  5. Aug 30

    Trump’s Mail-In Voting Crackdown BLOCKED + Did He Really Rename Lake Ontario “Lake America”?

    President Trump’s push to change mail-in voting rules is facing a major legal battle—and Arizona could be directly affected. Damon and Iesha break down what’s actually happening, why states are suing, what the courts have ruled, and what Arizona voters need to know before the 2026 midterms. Then it’s time for “Did He Really Do That?” Trump has signed an executive order directing the U.S. federal government to rename Lake Ontario “Lake America.” We look at Canada’s reaction, the Indigenous history behind the Ontario name, and how the controversy connects to the growing U.S.-Canada trade dispute. 🎙️ Habari Live — News Our Way #HabariLive #Trump #MailInVoting #Arizona #Election2026 #LakeAmerica #LakeOntario #Canada #USPolitics #Midterms

  6. Aug 23

    THE BLACK FATHER MYTH EXPOSED: The Data Tells a Different Story + Stephen A. Smith vs. NABJ

    On this episode of **Habari Live**, Damon and Iesha challenge one of the most persistent stereotypes in America: the myth of the “absent Black father.”We break down federal CDC/NCHS research on father involvement and examine what the data actually found about Black fathers—from feeding, bathing, and dressing young children to helping with homework, sharing meals, and staying involved even when living outside the child’s home. We also discuss how marriage statistics, household structure, media portrayals, economic inequality and mass incarceration have helped shape the public perception of Black fatherhood.Then we turn to **Stephen A. Smith vs. the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ)**. After NABJ gave Smith its 2026 “Thumbs Down” award over what it described as a pattern of disparaging commentary toward prominent Black women, Stephen A. fired back, calling the decision a “personal hit job.” We examine the controversy involving Jasmine Crockett, Joy Reid, Serena Williams and others—and ask where legitimate criticism ends and harmful stereotyping begins.**THE BLACK FATHER MYTH EXPOSED: The Data Tells a Different Story + Stephen A. Smith vs. NABJ**Join Damon and Iesha for the conversation and tell us what you think in the comments.**Habari Live — News Our Way.**#BlackFathers #StephenASmith #NABJ #BlackMedia #JasmineCrockett #BlackMen #BlackWomen #HabariLive #HabariNews

  7. Aug 16

    ERASED: Trump’s DEI Crackdown, Black Book Bans & the Fight Over American History

    President Trump’s nationwide crackdown on diversity, equity, and inclusion is reaching far beyond federal offices. In this episode of Habari Live, Damon and Iesha examine how anti-DEI policies have affected federal employment, military libraries, museums, historical websites, and classrooms—including the Peoria Unified School District’s decision to prohibit works by Frederick Douglass and Lorraine Hansberry. We break down the removal of 381 books from the Naval Academy library, including Maya Angelou’s I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, while Mein Kampf remained available. We also examine the removal or alteration of federal material honoring Jackie Robinson, Harriet Tubman, the Tuskegee Airmen, Navajo Code Talkers, Black veterans, and women in military history. This conversation traces the suppression of Black literacy from slavery-era anti-literacy laws through Jim Crow textbooks, McCarthy-era censorship, and today’s unprecedented wave of school book bans. We also discuss the impact on Black students, teachers and workers as Black unemployment remains substantially higher than white unemployment.Is this a return to merit and political neutrality—or a coordinated effort to erase Black history?Watch, share your thoughts, and subscribe to Habari Entertainment.News Our Way. Truth That Stays Undefeated.#HabariLive #BlackHistory #BookBans #DEI #Trump #FrederickDouglass #MayaAngelou #BlackNews #Education #PeoriaArizona,

  8. Aug 9

    OFFICER TATUM EXPOSED: How He Spun the Sonya Massey & Nolan Wells Cases

    **OFFICER TATUM EXPOSED: How He Spun the Sonya Massey & Nolan Wells Cases**In this powerful episode of Habari Live, Damon Ellison and Iesha Rowan examine how conservative commentator Brandon “Officer Tatum” Tatum framed two deeply troubling cases involving Sonya Massey and Nolan Wells—and what his commentary reveals about the political business of turning Black pain into profitable content.Sonya Massey called 911 for protection after reporting a possible prowler outside her Illinois home. Instead of receiving help, she was fatally shot by Deputy Sean Grayson during an encounter involving a pot of boiling water. Tatum argued that an officer would be justified in using force if someone attempted to throw boiling water, while acknowledging problems with the deputies’ language and tactics.But did that framing fairly represent what the body-camera footage showed? Did it adequately examine the officer’s decisions, escalation and responsibility—or did it place the focus back on the woman who called police for help?The episode also explores Tatum’s commentary surrounding the death of 18-year-old Nolan Wells in Mississippi. Members of Wells’ family publicly challenged important details presented through an interview promoted by Tatum. Because the circumstances surrounding Wells’ death remain disputed, Habari Live separates confirmed information from competing accounts and examines the danger of presenting an unresolved story through a predetermined political narrative.This discussion is bigger than one commentator. Damon and Iesha investigate how political media rewards outrage, certainty and controversy. Views can generate advertising revenue, subscriptions, merchandise sales, speaking opportunities and political influence—but what happens when Black tragedy becomes another opportunity to build a brand?Habari Live also addresses an important distinction: Black Americans have every right to hold conservative beliefs. Black people are not politically identical, and disagreement does not make anyone less Black. The concern begins when Black identity is used as political protection for rhetoric that minimizes racial disparities, dismisses structural discrimination or consistently lectures Black communities while refusing to hold powerful institutions accountable.The conversation connects this media environment to the wider attacks on diversity, equity and inclusion programs, Black history, educational opportunities and race-conscious efforts to address longstanding inequality. Damon and Iesha ask whether the language of “merit” and “personal responsibility” is being used to create genuine fairness—or to ignore unequal starting points created by generations of public policy.When Black Americans experience injustice, should commentators investigate the institutions holding power—or immediately search for a reason to blame the people who were harmed?Join Habari Live for an unfiltered conversation about Officer Tatum, Sonya Massey, Nolan Wells, conservative media, police accountability, systemic inequality and the monetization of Black pain.Subscribe, share the episode and tell us what you think in the comments.**News Our Way. Truth That Stays Undefeated.**#HabariLive #HabariNews #OfficerTatum #BrandonTatum #SonyaMassey #NolanWells #BlackConservatives #BlackMedia #PoliceAccountability #BlackHistory #DEI #SystemicRacism #PoliticalCommentary #NewsOurWay

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Habari Live is where news, culture, politics, and community come together—our way. Hosted by Damon Ellison and Iesha Rowan, the Phoenix-based podcast delivers honest conversations, bold perspectives, and in-depth analysis of the stories affecting Black communities and people across America. From breaking news and social justice to entertainment and everyday life, Habari Live brings you truth that stays undefeated. News Our Way. News That Hits Different.

Information

  • Creator
    Damon Ellison
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    213
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Damon Ellison
  • Show Website
    Habari Live