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. 5d ago

    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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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,

  6. 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

  7. Aug 2

    🚨 THE $700 BILLION AI TAKEOVER: Is America Sleepwalking Into Disaster?

    Artificial intelligence is changing America faster than most people realize—and the price tag is staggering.Corporate America is projected to invest **$700 billion** into AI data centers, with companies like Amazon, Microsoft, Google, and Meta racing to build the infrastructure that could define the next generation of technology. But who benefits, who pays the price, and what does it mean for your community?In this special two-hour edition of **Habari Live**, Damon and Iesha take a deep dive into the AI revolution, examining the environmental, economic, and social impacts of America's data center boom.Tonight we discuss:🔹 Harvard's research on the potential health impacts linked to increased electricity demand from AI data centers.🔹 President Trump's push to accelerate AI infrastructure across the United States.🔹 The race between the U.S. and China for AI dominance.🔹 The true cost of building and operating modern AI data centers.🔹 AI, automation, and the future of American jobs.🔹 Growing concerns over surveillance technology, including Flock license plate reader cameras.🔹 Communities fighting back against data center projects across the country.🔹 Free speech, public protests, and the debate over who should decide America's AI future.We'll also break down several viral videos involving data center protests, surveillance technology, and public resistance to AI infrastructure, providing context and discussion you won't find anywhere else.**Should America move full speed ahead in the AI race, or should communities have more control over projects that could affect their health, environment, privacy, and quality of life?**Join the conversation in the comments.**Subscribe to Habari Live** for in-depth discussions on politics, technology, social issues, and the stories shaping our future.**Habari Live – News Our Way. Truth That Stays Undefeated.**

  8. Jul 6

    IS THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY BECOMING SOCIALIST?! The Truth About AOC, Bernie & the DSA | Habari Live

    Welcome to Habari Live!Is the Democratic Party undergoing a major ideological shift? This week, Damon Ellison and Iesha Rowan take a deep dive into the history of socialism, democratic socialism, and the rise of progressive candidates across the United States.We break down the recent primary victories of Democratic Socialists of America (DSA)-backed candidates, discuss what Zohran Mamdani's rise means for the future of progressive politics, and examine how leaders like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have helped reshape the national conversation. We also explore the differences between socialism, democratic socialism, social democracy, capitalism, and communism, separating historical facts from modern political rhetoric.In our first segment, we examine the latest crime data showing that violent crime continues to decline across much of the United States. We compare national trends with Phoenix, Arizona, discuss why many Americans still feel less safe despite improving statistics, and explore the relationship between poverty, economic opportunity, and public safety. We also look at changes in federal law enforcement spending, including Department of Justice budget reductions and expanded funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).Finally, in our "Clips of the Week" segment, we discuss:* Wisconsin dairy farmers and rising production costs* Justice Clarence Thomas at the U.S. Capitol* Zohran Mamdani's comments on Israel* Dr. Elisabeth Potter's fight with UnitedHealthcare* Anti-foreigner protests in South Africa* Vice President JD Vance on birthright citizenship* Donald Trump's comments on the USMCA, immigration enforcement, and insider knowledge* Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker's criticism of President Trump* Pete Hegseth's remarks about protestersJoin the conversation in the comments:Is the Democratic Party becoming more progressive? What role should the government play in healthcare, housing, and the economy? And what do you think is driving the decline in violent crime across America?If you enjoy thoughtful, fact-based discussions that go beyond the headlines, like this video, subscribe and share it with your friends.Habari Entertainment — We Do the News Our Way.

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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
    211
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Damon Ellison
  • Show Website
    Habari Live