Cardi B’s Lawsuit Victory Against Tasha K. And What It Means For The Sussexes

Good Afternoon. This week, various news outlets have been talking about rapper Cardi B’s $4 million lawsuit win against YouTube blogger Tasha K after the YouTuber created at least 38 videos about Cardi stating various false claims including that Cardi “worked as a prostitute, used cocaine and would give birth to a child with developmental disabilities. Cardi testified that these claims made her feel anxious, depressed and suicidal and in a statement released on Tuesday after her win, she said the following: “During this trial, all of you have learned about the darkest time in my life. That moment in time was fueled by the vile, disgusting, and completely false narratives that were repeatedly and relentlessly being shared online. I thought I would never be heard or vindicated and I felt completely helpless and vulnerable” . The following day, she referenced Meghan in a tweet where she said “"I need a chat with Megan [sic] Markle." This tweet sparked a conversation after various outlets (including The My Take Show) have discussed how many lies about Meghan have been spread on social media platforms and how YouTubers like Tasha K have benefited financially at the expense of others. This is not only unfair but the consequences as a result of misinformation can lead to bigger issues in the future. So should Meghan pursue legal action against these people or just ignore the trolls that profit at her expense?

I need a chat with Megan Markle.

— Cardi B (@iamcardib) January 26, 2022

Many people including the #SussexSquad are divided on this dilemma. Some are against Meghan pursuing legal action saying that the reward is not worth it because of the amount of personal information that may have to be shared in order to disprove the lies while others are for it because her lawsuit would be an example to other YouTubers and bloggers that lies and slander will not be tolerated and will come at a financial cost if they decide to go in that direction. Meghan and Harry supporter and BotSentinel creator Christopher Bouzy (aka the man responsible for releasing the truth about how accounts are created to target Meghan and how much they have benefitted financially from their lies) is in support of Meghan and Harry going after these accounts and was quoted in Newsweek saying, "I do believe that individuals need to start suing. I do believe that Meghan Markle and Harry, they need to start suing. The reason I believe that is they have to start making an example of these accounts. If you sue a handful of people then other people may start to say, 'I can actually be financially ruined if I continue doing this'."

After the recent @iamcardib win, Meghan Markle should sue the people who spent the past three years manufacturing and spreading lies for profit.

More here: https://t.co/fNJ9ydqLcc pic.twitter.com/syjE5EbMKa

— Christopher Bouzy (@cbouzy) January 26, 2022

I can see both sides of the argument because battling it out in court can be an invasion of privacy in itself and while Meghan and Harry are public figures, their private life should remain private and they should be able to choose what they want to disclose to the public and what they want to keep to themselves. On the other hand, by filing lawsuits against the YouTubers and bloggers who have made millions off of The Duke and Duchess, they will be truly held accountable for their actions and it will be on record that they did lie because all of their lies will be challenged and disproven. They will likely lose credibility and hopefully that will lead to loss of advertising and other means of financial gain. Regardless of what direction they choose to go in, I trust that the Sussexes will do what makes sense and what is best for them. At the end of the day, their happiness and well-being is what is most important and regardless of if you are for or against lawsuits, the #SussexSquad will always support them and however they intend to move forward.

#CardiB had to share personal & medical information in order to prove #TashaK defamed her.That’s what they want. They want personal info about Meghan Markle,so they can use it as commodity.Though we want Meghan to sue these demonic criminals, she will always put her family first pic.twitter.com/2U3Mw9cHbG

— ɱɛƖąŋıŋ ɱơŋཞơɛ 😘😘 (@Blu_Alexia_) January 26, 2022

Meghan Markle please do the right thingggggggg!!!!! Sue them [there's a whole bunch of them on Twitter and on YouTube]. They've monetized defaming your name for "fun"

— Lydia Madito (@LydiaMadito) January 25, 2022

New post will be up next week. Until then, have a great weekend and stay safe.

New Covid Variant Reported In The U.S.

Good Afternoon. Even though the United States and other parts of the world are concerned with the Omicron variant and the ease of its transmission (and rightfully so), there has been another variant that may be cause of concern in the coming weeks. Although there have been a limited number of cases currently reported, this has also been the case in the initial stages of Delta and Omicron so it is important for government officials to notify the public so we can do our best to combat any variant that comes our way.

According to AL.com, “the variant, BA.2 has been found in 40 countries, including the U.S., U.K. India, Germany and Australia and is linked to more than 8,000 cases worldwide”. Not much is known about the variant regarding its transmissibility, severity or if the vaccine is effective against it. What has been reported is that the BA.2 variant is a sub-variant of the BA.1 variant better known as the Omicron variant and has been increasing in countries like Denmark and Sweden where it is believed that it has taken over the Omicron variant. So what does this mean for the potential of this new variant to become dominant in the United States? And most importantly, what can we do to protect ourselves?

The pattern that I am seeing is that once a certain variant is contained, that variant mutates and becomes more complex than its predecessor. While it hasn’t been reported that the BA.2 variant is easily transmissible compared to Omicron which has a high transmissibility rate itself, I wouldn’t be surprised if BA.2 takes over the United States as the dominant variant within the next month. I think that the government and all of the health officials that were hired to help combat this virus need to take more proactive and preventive measures so that we aren’t constantly bombarded with variant after variant. Since the virus keeps mutating, coming up with ways to combat what could possibly happen makes more sense to me than to try to fix the issue once it has reached our shores. I know that it will be difficult to predict each mutation but coming up with probable outcomes and solutions to those outcomes is the best way to contain Coronavirus regardless of what form it comes in. I will continue to keep you all updated as information comes in. Please protect yourself and follow all current Covid protocols to ensure the safety of you as well as the safety of others.

New post will be up on Friday. Until then, have a great week.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle News Roundup: Issues With Compromised Security In The UK and Hate Accounts Earning Millions On YouTube

Good Afternoon. This week has been an interesting one as it relates to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. Information has been released regarding Prince Harry’s safety being compromised while attending a statue unveiling of Princess Diana last year in the UK. This has made him and Meghan rightfully concerned regarding future events in the UK with Archie and Lilibet present. Another concern that was released was the fact that the hate accounts on YouTube that were purposely created to spread negativity and lies about Meghan and Harry have reportedly made millions off of their hateful content. The fact that the health and safety of Prince Harry and Meghan and their children is at risk and accounts can continue to spread lies and benefit from it at the cost of someone else just doesn’t sit right with me at all.

According to an article published on the Vanity Fair website, Prince Harry has been petitioning to the UK government for years for extra security for his family during visits to the UK and has even offered to pay for it himself. A legal representative for Prince Harry stated, that he is “unable to return to his home” because it is too dangerous, despite wanting to introduce his family to his infant daughter and letting them spend time with his 2-year-old son, Archie”. Although Harry and Meghan are expected to attend the memorial service for Prince Phillip this spring, because of their security concerns, nothing has been confirmed. While Prince Harry and Meghan have their own security in the United States, because of a decision made by the British Home Office last year, their U.S. security team has no jurisdiction or access to U.K. intelligence information that is necessary to keep them safe so they would have to hire local protection while in the U.K. In a statement released by Prince Harry’s legal representative, it states he “first offered to pay personally for UK police protection for himself and his family in January of 2020 at Sandringham but the offer was dismissed”. The statement goes on to say,  “He remains willing to cover the cost of security, as not to impose on the British taxpayer. As is widely known, others who have left public office and have an inherent threat risk receive police protection at no cost to them”. The statement also mentions how security was compromised during the unveiling of the Princess Diana statue because of the absence of police protection and how he those necessary precautions would have to be taken to ensure the safety of himself and his family and so his children can know his home country. The fact that this is an issue even though he’s offered to pay for local security baffles me. His concerns are valid not only because of him and his family being in the public eye but because of the constant negativity from sources known such as UK tabloids and relatively unknown like the trolls who set up hate accounts on YouTube so the Royal Family should take all of this into consideration and honor his reasonable request.

Speaking of the hate accounts, it makes more sense now that these accounts are benefiting not just from the attention but have received monetary compensation in the form of millions of dollars. According to an article published on Newsweek, Meghan was the “target of a monetized hate campaign by 25 YouTube channels that earned an estimated $3.5 million from ad revenue, according to a data analysis agency”. The article goes on to state that BotSentinel reported that the “three most successful YouTube accounts trolling the Duchess of Sussex have earned around $494,729 over the duration of their existence”. Christopher Bouzy, the creator of BotSentinel highlighted one of the accounts on his Twitter page (@cbouzy).  He states that According 2taz, a popular Meghan Markle hate account on YouTube has made “over $175,000 disseminating falsehoods about Meghan Markle”. When asked why YouTube refuses to shut down her channel, his response was that it is because YouTube earns about 60 percent of earnings from accounts which is generating millions of dollars for the company. You can click here to read the full report which will give further insight to the coordinated efforts to profit over spreading racism, misogyny and pure hate. Thank you to Christopher for all of the work that he has done to uncover the truth and a big thanks to everyone who is part of the #SussexSquad because we will continue to do our part to make sure that the Prince Harry and Meghan are seen for who they really are so that they are able to continue to bring light and positivity to the world.

Because these YouTube channels are generating millions for YouTube. Our estimations are based on what hate accounts receive after YouTube takes its cut, which is approximately 60%. https://t.co/nhxs6KiUUt

— Christopher Bouzy (@cbouzy) January 20, 2022

Imagine being only known for hating on another human being; think about that for a second. Not for solving problems or trying to make the world better, nope. You are known for hating someone you have never met. Nearly four years of your life dedicated to just being mean.

— Christopher Bouzy (@cbouzy) January 20, 2022

These hate accounts are so effective at attacking and silencing people because they concentrate on one or two individuals at a time. If more people with a large platform start calling these people out, they would not be able to attack everyone.

— Christopher Bouzy (@cbouzy) January 20, 2022

New post will be up next week. Until then, have a great weekend and be safe!

Free At-Home Covid-19 Tests Available Via Federal Website

Good Afternoon. With the rapid spread of the Omicron variant which has shown to be more contagious than its predecessors, people across the U.S. have been frustrated because there are limited testing facilities available. To add to their frustration, it has been nearly impossible to purchase a Covid-19 test at a pharmacy because of high demand. As a result of the testing shortages, many people have called on the government to make it easier for everyone to get tested and their answer was to make free at-home testing available to the people who need it most.

To ensure that the tests are sent to as many people as possible, the federal government will start to give away a half-billion free rapid COVID-19 tests via a new federal website (http://covidtests.gov). The site was supposed to launch today but many people were able to log on and sign up for the tests yesterday afternoon. According to an article on al.com, each household will receive 4 free tests by providing a name and address of one person living in the household (only one person can sign up per address). You can also include your email address if you would like to receive shipping updates. All tests will be sent via first class mail and people can expect to receive the tests within 7-12 days after ordering. If an individual does not have internet access, a phone number will be provided. Assistance will also be provided from national and local community organizations for providing tests to vulnerable populations who are in need.

I want to highlight the importance of getting tested. There are so many people walking around as if Covid has disappeared and are putting the lives of others at risk. Even if you only have a cough or runny nose and attribute it to a cold or allergy, get tested. If you have no symptoms at all, get tested. If this pandemic has taught me anything, I have learned how short and fleeting life can be especially when I’ve seen people behave carelessly because they wanted to have fun and live life how they did prior to the pandemic. Even though I continue to live my best life, I do so with the intention of protecting myself and those around me and one of the best ways to do that is to get tested regularly. It has been difficult to find available testing facilities because of the rapid spread of Omicron so the free tests that the government is providing will be very helpful. Be sure to take advantage of this opportunity and spread the world so more people can be tested and take the necessary precautions to heal and protect themselves and their loved ones. This is the only way to minimize the spread and hopefully we can get to a place where Covid-19 is no longer a major hindrance in our lives and we can creat a new normal that will keep us all safe. 

New post will be up on Friday. Until then, be safe and have a great week. 

Prince Andrew In Hot Water Over Sexual Assault Case

Good Afternoon. While I usually use Fridays to post about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle and all of the positive things they are doing, I decided to switch things up a bit.  I want to discuss what the Royal Family has tried to keep hidden for so long but what is done in darkness always comes to light and there is always a price to pay when you engage in wrongdoing. This is evident in the case of Prince Andrew and all of his dirty deeds are finally being exposed for the world to see. 

According to AP News, a judge has refused to dismiss a lawsuit where Virginia Giuffre, stated that she was raped by Prince Andrew when she was 17. Giuffre alleges that she was coerced into sexual encounters with him in 2001 by Jeffrey Epstein and his companion Ghislaine Maxwell. Prince Andrew’s lawyers tried to argue that her lawsuit should be dismissed because of an old legal settlement she had with Jeffrey Epstein, who she says was the one who set up the sexual encounters with the prince and that this was just another payday at his expense and to hurt those closest to him. The judge rejected the argument because the settlement had nothing to do with her and Andrew’s dealings and stated that her complaint is neither “unintelligible” nor “vague” nor “ambiguous. The judge went on to state that, “it alleges discrete incidents of sexual abuse in particular circumstances at three identifiable locations as well as identifies to whom it attributes that sexual abuse”. In other words, her claims have validity to them because she mentions specific details regarding time and location that need to be taken seriously. While Epstein killed himself in 2019 in jail while awaiting trial and Maxwell was convicted of sex trafficking charges in December of last year, Prince Andrew has managed to escape major public scrutiny regarding his involvement in Epstein and Maxwell’s sex trafficking escapades until now. His power and influence are no longer shielding him from facing his reality and the choices he’s made in the past are having a negative impact in the present.

Yesterday, Buckingham Palace announced that Prince Andrew’s military titles and royal patronages have been returned to the Queen after uproar from various groups including a group of 150 UK veterans. The veterans signed an open letter calling for Queen Elizabeth to strip Prince Andrew of his military titles and called for her to  immediate action because Andrew had been "uncooperative and less than truthful” regarding his dealings with Epstein and how his involvement places the armed services he represents in a negative light. I am happy that she took swift action and removed his titles and patronages but this is something that should have been done long ago. In order for him to take real accountability, the Queen and other members of the Royal Family need to publicly condemn his behavior and speak out against sexual assault but I highly doubt that this will happen in the future if at all. Even still, I am glad that he is finally starting to suffer the consequences of his actions and I look forward to seeing how this all plays out. I hope that justice is served for Ms. Giuffre and that sexual assault victims everywhere can feel safer knowing that a sexual predator like Prince Andrew is no longer a threat. 

New post will be up next week. Until then, have a great weekend and be safe!

President Biden Delivers Speech On Voting Rights In Atlanta

Good Afternoon. Yesterday, President Biden and Vice President Harris arrived in Atlanta to stress the need for a voting rights bill to pass in the Senate. For years, advocates and activists such as Stacey Abrams have been fighting to get rid of voting restrictions in Georgia and other states around the nation that have made it difficult for millions of people to vote and some activists have said that they haven’t seen such restrictions since the Jim Crow era. 

Harris and Biden spoke at the Atlanta University Center and emphasized the importance of where they were mentioning Congressman John Lewis and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s efforts for change and how they place themselves in harm’s way for the right to vote and how those rights were being challenged again by voting laws passed that make it harder for people to mail in votes and making it illegal to give food and water to anyone standing in line to vote. These laws have been put in place to make it harder for certain groups (black and brown voters as well as older voters) to vote by limiting the options on how to submit their ballots and creating challenges that would deter people from voting in person. These laws were created to ensure that the voters who made sure that Biden won in 2020 would not have that same opportunity in 2024. Biden and Harris both placed the pressure on the Republicans in the Senate to make the right choice with Biden being quoted as saying, “The vice president and I have supported voting rights bills since day one of this administration, but each and every time Senate Republicans have blocked the way. Republicans oppose even debating the issue. You hear me? I have been around the Senate a long time. I was vice president for eight years. I've never seen a circumstance where not one single Republican has a voice that's ready to speak for justice now." While it is unlikely that any Republicans will do the right thing, the Democrats in the Senate need to be on one accord to make sure that voting rights are protected not just for people in Georgia but for everyone residing in the United States. 

Senate Democrats are ready to weaken filibuster rules to pass two bills (the Freedom to Vote Act and The John Lewis Voting Rights Act) but there are a few holdouts on the  Democratic side (Joe Manchu and Kirsten Sinema specifically) and the majority of the Republicans are opposed to the provisions outlined. From the Freedom to Vote Act, these provisions include establishing redistricting criteria for fair maps (which has been an issue because many of the maps currently aren’t an accurate representation of the populations within those areas) as well as increasing the penalties for tampering with voting records (which is needed after many conservatives caused the mess that was the 2020 election). The John Lewis Voting Rights Act “aims to restore certain protections of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that the U.S. Supreme Court has gutted over the past decade.” according to FiveThirtyEight.com”. This bill would also codify new criteria that will make it easier to prove that racial discrimination has occurred. After seeing state and national election issues where areas with a majority Black/Latino population had fewer polling places in their areas to vote but more restrictions as it relates to identification and time constraints, these bills need to be passed to ensure that the election process provided equality and fairness so that the rightly elected officials that represent us can do so without issue. While Biden has had much resistance from some members of his own party as well as from the opposing side, I hope this speech can inspire those in Congress as well as others who are influential in the political process to make real change happen so this country can continue to move forward.

New post will be up on Friday. Until then, be safe and have a great week!

Meghan Markle’s Settlement Downplayed By UK Tabloids

Good Afternoon.  Even though the UK tabloids continue to show their true colors as it relates to spreading negativity and lies about Meghan, 2022 has started on a positive note with the announcement of Meghan’s lawsuit win and settlement details. As you saw in my previous post about the #SussexSquad, we will never just sit around and allow the UK tabloids spread falsehoods and fallacies that they attempt to present as truth at Meghan’s expense. Instead of just admitting that what was done to Meghan was wrong, they attempt to belittle her and her victory and the #SussexSquad will not stand for it!

According to legitimate news source The Hill, Meghan, “will receive an undisclosed amount of money from The Mail on Sunday, the British tabloid that recently lost a court battle over its publication of a private letter from Meghan to her father”. The article goes on to state that she will “collect 1 pound from Associated Newspapers for invasion of privacy, in an admission of guilt from the paper, and also receive an undisclosed amount of money on the copyright infringement charge”. A spokesperson for the Duchess also told Harper’s Bazaar that, “the payout for copyright infringement is substantial and will be donated to an anti-bullying charity in due course”. The Harper’s Bazaar article also states that the British High Court ordered Associated Newspapers to cover a large portion of Meghan’s legal costs, which are believed to be more than $2 million. Because The Daily Fail and similar UK tabloids can’t admit defeat, they decide to only mention the 1 pound that she is receiving in headlines to make it appear as if she wasted her time going after the corporations that invaded her privacy. The 1 pound amount was agreed upon by both parties to avoid a lengthy trial and is separate from the copyright infringement charges. The UK tabloids aren’t going to explain these details because it would show them in a negative light but for those who decide to read legitimate sources from journalists with integrity, they would find out the truth. If the UK tabloids want to discuss legitimate drama within the Royal Family, they need to be looking into Prince Andrew’s sexual assault case but since many of them are part of the Royal Rota, they do not want to mess up their royal connections. Instead they choose who they consider an outsider to constantly target but end up looking foolish in the end!

UPDATE: Court docs reveal Duchess Meghan will receive a "confidential" (and substantial) sum from Mail on Sunday for copyright infringement and "nominal damages" of £1 for invasion of privacy after they accepted defeat last month. This is in addition to approx $2m of legal costs.

— Omid Scobie (@scobie) January 5, 2022

“The headline-grabbing paltry sum, however, is not the whole story, and Meghan will be receiving much more from the tabloid — but for violation of her copyright rather than privacy.” #MeghanMarkleWon https://t.co/yQynzbbe9G

— Royal Suitor / R.S. Locke (@royal_suitor) January 6, 2022

And the royal family. https://t.co/4jMaoUG9Hc

— Vee 🎙 Sussex Set Podcast (@MeghanMood) January 3, 2022

If you want honest reporting regarding Meghan and Harry and the REAL tea regarding the royal family, be sure to check out Facts & 2 Cents by clicking here. Until next week, I hope you all have a great weekend and stay safe!

TV Legend Betty White Dies At The Age of 99

Good Afternoon. After I made my last post for 2021 last Friday, it was announced that legendary actress  Betty White had died just weeks before her 100th birthday. While it is sad that she died right before a milestone birthday, she lived a long and fulfilling life with passion and purpose. In the days following her death, the world was able to see just how much she meant not only to the entertainment industry but how she has changed the world as we know it.

Prior to starring in hit television shows such as The Mary Tyler Moore Show and The Golden Girls, Betty had her own daytime talk show. She was one of the first women to do so in a time where television was a male dominated industry. She was also one of the first to have black entertainers on her show. One of the performers was Arthur Duncan, a black tap dancer who appeared on her show regularly. When she was criticized for having him on the show she was quoted as saying, “I’m sorry. Live with it” and proceeded to give Duncan even more air time. While her show was cancelled soon after, Betty was always known to stick to her principles and do what is right instead of doing what is popular.

Betty While was also a known animal rights activist. She was a frequent volunteer at the Los Angeles Zoo and was a trustee and chair for the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association for more than 40 years. She was quoted as saying, “Zoos have changed dramatically in our lifetimes. Our zoo animals serve as ambassadors to the public -- to make people aware of the diminishing wild populations before it is too late. A message that will only register by seeing these wondrous creatures live and up close." She was also a major donor to organizations such as Guide Dogs for the Blind and BraveHearts Therapeutic Riding and Educational Center. Her commitment to protecting and advocating for animals is only matched by her commitment to her craft. She holds the Guinness World Record for the longest television career for a female entertainer with an impressive eight decades in the spotlight. Although she is no longer with us, I can’t imagine anyone breaking her record anytime soon and that is perfectly fine with me!

In honor of what would have been Betty White’s 100th birthday on January 17th, many of her fans on social media are picking a local rescue or animal shelter in their area to donate $5 in Betty’s name. I think that this is a great way to celebrate her life and honor her legacy and I encourage all of you to do the same.

New post will be up on Friday. Until then, have a great week and be safe!

The SussexSquad Appreciation Post

Good Afternoon. As many of you know, every post on Friday focuses on my favorite royal couple, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex but today, I wanted to switch it up a bit. While there is always so much criticism and scrutiny surrounding Meghan and Harry, I wanted to highlight the individuals and groups behind the scenes that make sure that lies and misinformation about the couple are debunked and that the world is able to see them for who they really are, two amazing individuals whose goal is to make the world a better place for those who need it the most. Even though the media and others continue to throw dirt on their name, the members of the #sussexsquad are always there to bring the truth to light and most importantly, shut down any entity that stand in the way of Meghan and Harry’s mission.

We are well aware of the many ways that the British media has attempted to paint Meghan in a negative light with their insults, racist and misogynistic statements and multiple lies and reimagined stories in order to paint other members of the Royal family in a positive light. The SussexSquad could not allow these things to continue without consequence and so we made an effort to hunt down trolls and expose the degenerate members of the royal family and their royal rotas that should not be considered legitimate publications but trashy tabloids whose “reporting” should be considered just that, trash! Online trolls were not off limits and we also put accounts that perpetuated lies and misinformation on blast so that followers were not misled. Others took notice at the amount of lies being spread online and BotSentinel released a report in October that showed that 83 fake Twitter accounts that focused on the couple “were responsible for approximately 70% of the original and derivative hate content.” In a time where people with ulterior motives can lie and spread their lies in a matter of seconds, the SussexSquad is right there ready and waiting to ensure that the truth is heard and that the focus stays on the philanthropic efforts of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to bring everyone closer together instead of the media’s efforts to try to tear them apart.

As members of the #sussexsquad, we have come together to raise awareness to charities and organizations that Meghan and Harry support such as World Central Kitchen and Genesis Women’s Shelter and Support. Most notably, as a way to honor Harry and Meghan’s birthdays last year, the SussexSquad helped raise funds for CAMFED, a non profit organization whose goal is to eliminate African poverty through girls’ education and empowerment by raising over $129,000 which the couple matched with their own $130,000 donation. Recently, Afgan refugees settled in NJ. Harry and Meghan visited the refugees at the military base where they were residing in temporary housing and the Squad immediately went into action. With the daily reminder from SussexSquad member Royal Suitor, we donated to their wishlists on Amazon. We have been mentioned in various publications and outlets such as Newsweek, Good Morning America and News 24 as well as trashy tabloids that don’t deserve a mention but we know you see us! Although our goal was not to attain notoriety, I am happy that people know who we are and that we stand behind Meghan and Harry and that we will speak for them so that their true intentions are clear and their message is heard.

I want to end this post by shouting out all of the individuals/groups that have made the #sussexsquad what it is today, Much love to the SussexSquad podcast, Vee, Royal Suitor/R.S. Locke, Meghanpedia, Factsand2cents (created by myself and Petol in case you didn’t know!) and all the individual contributors such as ma_hlove, jared_secret and sussexsquadp to name a few. I believe the tweet below from ma_hlove sums up the reason for our existence and in 2022, the #sussexsquad will continue to combat racism, misogyny and outright jealousy with no hesitation! 

#sussexsquad is actually a product of the British media and it is poetic justice to me. If y’all had just left Meghan alone, we could have just watched their beautiful wedding and moved on with our merry lives but y’all couldn’t get past the racism and jealousy 🥂so, thanks?😂

— #endSARS #endSARS 🇳🇬🇺🇸 (@ma_hlove) December 29, 2021

I want to wish all of my supporters Happy New Year and I hope that 2022 brings you all happiness, health and prosperity. Until next year, be safe!

Prince Harry And Meghan Markle’s Christmas Over The Years

Good Afternoon! Have you seen the Sussexes 2021 Christmas pic? I can’t wait to get into all of that but before we do, let’s take a trip down memory lane!

The start of Harry and Meghan’s Christmas memories began in 2016. In December 2016, 5 months after they started dating Harry and Meghan were spotted buying their first Christmas tree together in south London and admired Christmas lights around town. Even though they spent Christmas separately with their families, they spent New Year's together in London. While the press was itching for more information regarding the new couple, outside of a few statements made by Harry regarding the media publishing hateful content and misinformation about Meghan, they were able to enjoy much of their time together out of the limelight.

In December 2017, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle finally announced their engagement a month before Christmas on November 27, 2017. On Christmas, the newly engaged couple went to Christmas service with Harry’s family (which is royal tradition) and was seemingly happy with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge as well as Prince Charles. All appeared well with everyone and although the UK media still seemed to have it out for Meghan, she was thought to have the support of the Royal Family as it related to her and Harry’s relationship.

In December 2018, Harry and Meghan have their first official Christmas card picture released with Meghan and Harry holding each other while looking at fireworks. Although it was released during Christmastime, the picture was taken at their wedding reception at Frogmore House in May of 2018. Although it had been announced that they were expecting their first child in October of 2018, their plans to move to Frogmore Cottage were also released soon after and the Queen and other members of the royal family were seemingly happy with the soon to be new addition to the family. 

December 2019 was the beginning of the end for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex as it related to royal family Christmas traditions. After years of public scrutiny, Harry and Meghan were being excluded as members of the royal family and this was made evident when Queen Elizabeth excluded Harry and Meghan from her Christmas photo display during her annual broadcast. Harry and Meghan are also notably absent from attending Christmas service with the royal family. When they announced their exit as senior members of the royal family the following month in January 2020, the speculations were confirmed.  Even in the midst of all of this, they continued their tradition of releasing their Christmas card where baby Archie was featured front and center. Instead of being involved in stuffy public royal traditions, they were content with spending private time by themselves for the holidays with Meghan’s mother. 

In December 2020 after almost a year after leaving public royal life, Harry and Meghan were thriving in the United States. In addition to starting their own nonprofit organization Archewell and signing deals with Spotify and Netflix, due to the pandemic, they had even more time to watch Archie grow and thrive. They continued their Christmas tradition by releasing their annual Christmas card which showed Prince Harry, Meghan and a nearly eighteen-month-old Archie joined by their two rescue pups, Guy and Pula, in their backyard at their home in Montecito. Even though the British media made disparaging and false remarks throughout the year about the couple, specifically Meghan, they focused on the future and what they wanted their legacy to be away from royal life and speculation.

Now we are in December 2021 and Harry and Meghan have showed no signs of slowing down. After having a jam packed year from the birth of Lilibet Diana in June, the release of Meghan’s best selling Children’s book The Bench, the couple’s highly discussed interview with Oprah as well their commitments to combating climate change, vaccine inequity and digital misinformation, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been hard at work. While there are still tensions from the royal family regarding their exit from public royal life last year, they have still been committed to serving the public and amplifying their voices to help others in need. Yesterday, they released their official card for 2021 which showed Archie (who inherited his father’s bright red hair) and a laughing Lilibet in her public debut. The card reads, "This year, 2021, we welcomed our daughter, Lilibet, to the world. Archie made us a 'Mama' and a 'Papa,' and Lili made us a family. As we look forward to 2022, we have made donations on your behalf to several organizations that honor and protect families — from those being relocated from Afghanistan, to American families in need of paid parental leave. In the card, it states that the couple has made donations to, the couple made contributions to: Team Rubicon, Welcome.US, Human First Coalition, Humanity Crew, Paid Leave For All, PL+US and Marshall Plan for Moms. They ended the card saying, “Wishing you a happy holiday season and a prosperous New Year, from our family to yours! As ever, Harry, Meghan, Archie, and Lili”. I am so happy that we have finally gotten a glimpse of Lilibet and that Harry and Meghan chose to use this special moment to donate to organizations in need. While there is so much negativity in the world, especially with the Omnicron variant showing no signs of slowing down, Harry and Meghan are bright lights during this time of darkness and are the epitome of what Christmas is all about. 

My last post before the new year will be up next week. Until then, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Tornado Hits Midwestern States Leaving Devastation In Its Wake

Good Afternoon. In the past year, we have seen natural disasters like the wildfires in California and the hurricanes that hit the Gulf Coast this past summer. This past Saturday, Kentucky and 5 other Midwestern states were hit by a destructive tornado which by its end left at least 70 people dead and countless other injured. Many people sought shelter in their homes but some people such as the employees at a candle factory in Kentucky were told that they could not leave work early to prepare and for many of those who followed their employer’s orders and stayed, it cost them their lives. 

According to an article published in the New York Times, about 110 people had huddled inside a candle-making factory in Mayfield, Kentucky when a tornado ripped through it. About 40 people were rescued but Kentucky governor Andy Beshear stated that he believed dozens had been killed there. They are still trying to comb through the debris but it has been difficult because of blocked roads, lost water, and electrical service. Other states such as Tennessee, Arkansas, and Illinois have also suffered, the latter reported 6 deaths that occurred at an Amazon warehouse. For those who survived, many are without power and are having difficulty navigating areas as a result of the tornado’s destruction.

While it is difficult to predict how much damage will be caused by a tornado or any other natural disaster, I am struggling to comprehend why employers such as those from that Kentucky candle factory put the lives of their employees at risk for profit. Because of their insensitivity and ignorance, 6 people are confirmed dead and others remain missing. It is such a shame that it has gotten to this point where money is the main motivation and common decency and compassion are rare as it relates to those who hold positions of power. Instances such as these are why people must think about their health and well-being and if employers are not making that a priority, it is better to quit and focus on your mental health like Prince Harry and many others have stated. My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected by the tornado and I wish you all comfort and peace during this difficult time.

If you would like to donate to the tornado victims, you can visit one of the sites below to find out more information:

United Way of Kentucky Tornado Relief

Red Cross Organization

Feeding America Kentucky’s Heartland

Global Giving Midwest US Tornado Relief Fund

New post will be up on Friday. Until then, have a great week and be safe.

Prince Harry Headlines: Misinformation Spread From Fast Company Interview and Lawsuit against Sun and Daily Mirror

Good Afternoon. This week, Prince Harry is the subject of discussion because of his comments regarding quitting your job amid a pandemic as well as his lawsuit against The Sun and Daily Mirror tabloids after his phone was hacked. While there was much misinformation regarding his comments about leaving one’s place of employment, the lawsuit has been in effect in 2019 and although the publishers of the Sun and Daily Mirror are trying to push it under the rug, there is little chance that it will be dismissed especially in light of recent news from other celebrities going through similar experiences. 

In an interview with Fast Company, Harry discussed his role as Chief Impact Officer at tech startup BetterUp. BetterUp provides coaching and mental health services to businesses and individuals and as Chief Impact Officer, his role spans product strategy, philanthropy, and public advocacy related to mental health. When he was asked about COVID accelerating trends in the workplace such as increased burnout and job resignations, he stated the importance of mental fitness in the workplace and even though COVID brought these issues to the forefront, these struggles and issues have been brewing for quite some time. The part of the interview that has everyone talking, however, was when he mentioned the benefits of people quitting their jobs. He stated, “I’ve actually discovered recently, courtesy of a chat with [BetterUp science board member] Adam Grant, that a lot of the job resignations you mention aren’t all bad. In fact, it is a sign that with self-awareness comes the need for change. Many people around the world have been stuck in jobs that didn’t bring them joy, and now they’re putting their mental health and happiness first. This is something to be celebrated.” While reading his quote as part of the full interview, it makes sense and few would argue against it but publications such as The Independent and The Daily Mail are taking the quote out of context and made it seem like Harry wants everyone to quit their jobs when he is stating that he feels that a person’s mental health should be a priority. If that means quitting your job to live a happier healthier life, then so be it and I couldn’t agree with him more.

In addition to the drama that stemmed from misinformation, Harry’s lawsuit against The Sun and Daily Mirror that was filed in 2019 has been brought back into the headlines. According to The Guardian, the aforementioned publications illegally intercepted his voice messages and as a result, it was stated in court documents that it “affected his relationships with friends and family and that he ultimately experienced a breakdown in trust”. Another notable individual actress Sienna Miller recently settled with Murdoch’s company News Group Newspapers. She stated that the Sun forced her to make decisions about her own body she had to live with after the newspaper found out she was in the early stages of pregnancy and phoned her agent to discuss the pregnancy before her family and close friends were privy to the information. It is believed that a Sun reporter illegally obtained her private medical information and it is the lengths that these tabloids will go to find out confidential and private information that is being addressed. While they settled with Sienna for a large sum of money, there is no evidence that News Group Newspapers will settle with Harry but he and Meghan are determined to continue to challenge these publications for their right to privacy to be honored. If they do not accept the settlement of 200,000 pounds, ($264,340 USD) Harry and Meghan are prepared to fight until the end and their eventual win will be a win for all of us who believe that everyone should be treated equally and that those who choose to intentionally harm others should be punished to the highest extent.

New post will be up next week. Until then, have a great weekend and stay safe!

The U.S. Announces Diplomatic Boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics

Good Afternoon. On Monday, it was announced that the United States would not send an official delegation to the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China. Concerns regarding China’s human rights record are the reason for the boycott but the White House stated that they would support any US athletes who choose to participate in the games. So what is this boycott exactly then? 

In an article posted on BBC.com, White House press secretary Jen Psaki stated that the administration would not contribute to the "fanfare" of the Olympics. She stated, "US diplomatic or official representation would treat these games as business as usual in the face of the PRC's [People's Republic of China] egregious human rights abuses and atrocities in Xinjiang. We simply can't do that." Both Republican and Democrat congressmen and senators applauded the decision with Speaker Nancy Pelosi stating, “While we must support and celebrate our athletes, America - and the world - cannot give our official imprimatur to these games or proceed as if there is nothing wrong with holding the Olympics in a country perpetrating genocide and mass human rights violations.” 

While I am happy that human rights is a bipartisan issue, I feel that a boycott of the games doesn’t solve the real issue at hand which is addressing the numerous amounts of human rights violations that have occurred without the support of the United States. China has been accused of repressing the Uighurs and other Muslim minorities living mostly in the region of Xinjiang as well as suppressing political freedom especially after tennis star Peng Shuai accused a top Chinese government official of sexual assault and went missing for weeks before making a public appearance 2 weeks ago. With all of the accusations surrounding the country, more needs to be done to hold China accountable for all of its wrongdoings to ensure the health and safety of all its citizens. While boycotting the Winter Olympics is a nice gesture, it is simply not enough and we should do what we always do and get more involved to show that we really are about liberty and justice for all. 

New post will be up on Friday. Until then, have a great week and stay safe! 

Meghan’s Daily Mail Victory

Good Afternoon! In a legal battle that has been going on for over 2 years, Meghan has come out on top (and rightfully so) and has been victorious over ANL (Associated Newspapers Limited), the publishers of UK publications The Daily Mail, the Mail on Sunday, and Mail Online today. While they saw no harm in publishing Meghan’s personal letter to her father and tried to appeal the court’s original ruling, Meghan and the courts agreed that it was an invasion of privacy as well as a violation of her copyright to publish the letter without her permission. I am glad that the courts made it clear that everyone has a right to privacy and that this should be honored and respected regardless of a person’s fame or status.

In a statement released yesterday that was posted on Twitter by her lawyer Jenny Afia, Meghan was quoted as saying, “This is a victory not just for me but for anyone who has ever felt scared to stand up for what’s right. While this win is precedent-setting, what matters most is that we are now collectively brave enough to reshape a tabloid industry that conditions people to be cruel, and profits from the lies and pain they create.”  In the statement, she also mentions how this was a measure of right versus wrong and how they dragged it out and tried to twist facts and manipulate the public for the courts to rule in their favor. She ended by saying” Because as far removed as it may seem from your personal life, it’s not. Tomorrow it could be you. These harmful practices don’t happen once in a blue moon—they are a daily fail that divide us, and we all deserve better.

I love the fact that she ended it with the words “daily fail” because the Daily Mail and other publications like it fail the public every time they spread lies and ignorance that hurt others. Just because Meghan is a successful woman in a position of power and influence, she is still a human being with feelings and rights and if the media will disrespect and disregard her, we all know that they care even less about the everyday person who lives outside the public eye. While major publications such as CNN and Newsweek have remained objective in their reporting, the Daily Mail once again has resorted to negativity by posting multiple articles about Meghan and Harry to take the focus away from their SECOND loss in court. In contrast, when the ruling was announced, Meghan’s supporters shared their happiness and elation on social media (tweets can be seen below) and emphasized how this win is the best way to show tabloids that we will no longer allow them to tear Meghan down. She is a positive force that has done so much good in the world. Tabloid fodder only exists to distract and cause drama which is something that neither Meghan nor the #sussexsquad want. I know that this is only the beginning as far as combating lies and misinformation but I feel that this win shows that Meghan (and Harry’s) efforts have not been in vain. We will continue to speak out and support them because what is right will always prevail in the end.

Make sure to follow my IG page dedicated to countering the false narratives of the Sussexes  (@factsand2cents) and share your thoughts with me! New post will be up next week. Until then, have a great weekend and stay safe.

New Covid-19 Variant Discovered Last Week

Good Afternoon. Although many people want to celebrate this holiday season without thinking about Covid-19, we are now seeing that this virus is not going anywhere anytime soon and in fact, is increasing in its severity. A new variant was announced last week and the concerns around it are growing because of ease of transmission and mutation compared to previously discovered variants.

This new variant called the omicron variant is rapidly spreading and is one of five variants of concern (the others being Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta) It initially became noticed because of a surge of cases in South Africa according to an article posted on CNN.com. Genetic sequencing showed that there were “a large number of troubling mutations on the spike protein which is the knoblike structure on the surface of the virus that it uses to grapple onto the cells it infects”. Mutations such as E484K were found that can make the virus less recognizable to some antibodies. This means that the current vaccines on the market may be ineffective against this new variant. In addition to being detected in South Africa, it has also been seen in patients in Botswana and among travelers to Belgium, the Netherlands, Australia, the UK, Italy, Israel, Austria, and Canada. Although there have been no reported cases as of yet in the United States, it is only a matter of time before it arrives at our shores.

In regards to the omicron variant, President Biden was quoted as saying that it’s “a cause for concern not a cause for panic”. While we should remain calm while we learn more about the variant, it is important that we take the necessary precautions to protect ourselves from every COVID-19 variant. This means that we continue to socially distance, wash hands regularly, stay masked up, and get vaccinated if there are no health/religious restrictions that prevent individuals from doing so. While the long-term effects of the omicron variant are unknown, making sure that we are prepared for the worst while hoping for the best is ideal to protect ourselves and others against COVID-19 and the various forms it takes on. 

What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments below. New post will be up on Friday. Until then, have a great week!

Harry and Meghan 2021 Highlights

Good Afternoon! As we are approaching the end of 2021, I wanted this post to highlight all of the amazing things that the Duke and Duchess have done this year and share my favorite Harry and Meghan moments. Even amidst a pandemic, they have been able to spread the importance of serving the greater good and have brought awareness to many issues such as internet misinformation, paid family leave, and women’s rights. While many publications choose to focus on mistruths and drama, here at “Pamela’s Perspective” I choose to focus on positivity because that is the way Harry and Meghan live their lives and they have inspired others like myself to do the same. With all that being said, here are a few of my fave Harry and Meghan Moments of 2021.

The Birth of Princess Lilibet Diana

Princess Lilibet Diana was born on June 4, 2021, in Santa Barbara, CA. While her brother Archie was born a year prior, Meghan suffered a miscarriage in the summer of 2020 which she discussed in the New York Times last fall. After finding out that she was pregnant again, many of Meghan and Harry’s supporters rejoiced and once the baby arrived, were intrigued by the origins of the name Lilibet (the name Diana comes from Harry’s mom, the late Princess Diana). It was then shared that “Lilibet” was a nickname for Queen Elizabeth that was used by the family. I think that it was a creative way to incorporate 2 women who made an impact on Harry’s life and reports have stated that Queen Elizabeth was touched by the gesture as well.

Meghan’s Children’s book “The Bench” Being Released

In addition to Meghan giving birth to Lilibet Diana, she also brought another creation to the world this past summer: her children’s book “The Bench”. What started as a poem to Harry for Father’s Day became a story that resonated with fathers and families from all walks of life with watercolor images that showed fathers and their children of various races and backgrounds which was done intentionally. Meghan said that she remembers how it feels to not see yourself represented growing up and wanted to make sure that no child or family felt that way while reading “The Bench”. I feel that it's small details like this have a major impact on others and the fact that Meghan was mindful of making sure everyone felt included speaks volumes to her character.

Prince Harry Wired Magazine Discussion

At Wired Magazine’s online discussion that occurred a few weeks back, Harry was on a panel that focused on misinformation being spread online. He discussed the impact that trolls and disinformation have had on society as well as in his personal life. He used the example of the term “Megxit” as a way that tabloids decided to negatively discuss the couple’s exit from public royal life and move to the United States and how the term originated from a troll. Meghan and Harry are not strangers to intentional attempts that have spread racist, misogynistic, and deceitful content about the couple. It was shown on an analysis conducted by Bot Sentinel that there were (and still are) coordinated attempts on Twitter and other social media platforms to spread hate about the couple. The fact that Prince Harry isn’t afraid to speak up against misinformation in hopes to help others that have had similar experiences online is commendable and I hope that more influential individuals follow his lead.

Meghan Advocating For Paid Family Leave

Meghan has always advocated for the rights of everyday individuals and this was evident in her passionate pleas regarding paid family leave. Not only did she call 2 senators personally to encourage them to vote for paid family leave but she also wrote a letter addressed to Senator Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in October where she stated that she was writing on “behalf of millions of American families who are using their voices to say that comprehensive paid leave should not be a place to compromise or negotiate”. By using her influence and voice to challenge leaders who are responsible for governmental decisions that impact our daily lives, she is showing that not only does she understand our struggles but that she cares about our well-being collectively which cannot be said for many of our elected officials.

Harry and Meghan Attend Intrepid Museum’s Salute to Freedom Gala

Harry and Meghan do not make red carpet appearances often but when they do, it is always related to a subject that is close to their heart. This was the case when then attended the Salute to Freedom Gala a couple of weeks ago. The gala honored military veterans ahead of Veterans Day and raised money for the museum’s educational programs.  Prince Harry served 10 years in the British army and did two tours in Afghanistan so he understands the sacrifice and dedication that is required to take on such a task and having Meghan by his side at such a monumental event made the moment even more special.

Meghan’s Dealbook Interview With Melody Hobson

When two powerhouse women like Meghan and Ariel Investments CEO Melody Hobson came together at the Dealbook Summit earlier this month, words of wisdom are inevitable. In addition to discussing the importance of paid family leave, she also discussed how “ambition” is a trigger word as it relates to women and that “there is nothing wrong with talking about a woman's success or her ambition or her financial prowess”. Melody shared similar experiences and stated, “Whenever women, especially Black women have ambition and are assertive in their positions, others feel threatened and try to label them as “confrontational” or “aggressive” and attempt to hold them back” I love the fact that 2 Black women in positions of power can amplify their voices and speak for women of all backgrounds which is crucial because it allows us to be seen and heard for who we are.

Harry and Meghan’s NYC Trip

While Harry and Meghan visited NYC in September, they visited the 9/11 memorial to pay their respects to those who lost their lives. They also attended the Global Citizen Concert to promote vaccine equity and stress the importance of equal access to vaccines regardless of location/socioeconomic status. They even went uptown to Harlem to visit Melba’s Restaurant where Harry had chicken and waffles for the first time and also donated $25,000 to the restaurant’s employee fund. I appreciate the fact that they always find a way to help others because it shows that being a humanitarian isn’t an act but shows that this is who they are.

Meghan’s Daytime Talk Show Appearance on Ellen

Even though this was mentioned in my last post, this moment is definitely a highlight because Meghan showed a side of herself that people don’t always get to see. She played along during one of Ellen’s pranks, shared personal stories about her humble beginning auditioning at Warner Bros. Studios, her challenges having ethnic hair as a child, and what that entailed, and how sleep is nonexistent since Lilibet is currently teething. She also donated $20,000 on behalf of Archewell Foundation to a woman who has a nonprofit dedicated to braiding children’s hair for free. This appearance showed how funny, charming, and refreshing Meghan is and even though she is the Duchess of Sussex, she is still humble and appreciative and does not take anything for granted.

Which Harry and Meghan moment was your fave? Let us know in the comments! New post will be up next week. Until then, have a great weekend and be safe!

Meghan Markle Has First Daytime Talk Show Appearance on “Ellen” Since Becoming A Royal

Good Afternoon. I was super excited to hear the news that Meghan would be sitting down with Ellen earlier this week. After watching her on the show yesterday, I am further convinced that Meghan is one of a kind. She is so down to earth, funny and relatable and is the type of person that lights up every room she is in. I love that she chose “Ellen” to be her first talk show appearance since becoming a royal because Ellen was able to show a side of Meghan that not many people see which is not only refreshing but shows that she is completely opposite from the superficial, angry woman that the tabloids attempt to make her out to be.

On the show, she discussed a variety of topics including how she used to drive on the Warner Bros. Lot that the Ellen show is on to audition for various roles during her acting days. She had a Ford Explorer Sport that had malfunctioning doors so she had to climb in the back of the trunk to get into her car and participated in a prank where she repeated and acted out all of the silly things Ellen told her via earpiece to unsuspecting vendors (absolutely hilarious!) She also talked about motherhood and how Lilibet is currently teething so Meghan and Harry are not able to get much sleep nowadays (awww!) She also discussed her book and its origins as a poem for Harry turned into something more because of her friends letting her know how relatable their father and son relationship really is. One of the touching moments of the show was when a single mother was brought on stage with Meghan and Ellen to discuss how she has been helping out her community.  Brittany Starks started a nonprofit called “A Twist Of Greatness” where she offers free braiding services for kids in need and how even when she was struggling, she wanted to give back and make a difference. Meghan also mentioned her own hair struggles with wanting a short curly cut like Andie MacDowell when she was young but how her ethnic hair didn’t allow the style to last and she was teased at school after her hair poofed up. While it was expected that Ellen would give her money to help keep her non-profit going (20k to be exact), Meghan also donated $20,000 to Brittany on behalf of the Archewell Foundation. I love that Meghan used her appearance to uplift and support another Black woman which is something that other people in positions of power can learn from.

I hope that in making this rare appearance on daytime television, viewers were able to see the woman behind the headlines and while she is currently seen as someone who has it all, as we were able to hear from her audition story, that was not always the case. She came from humble beginnings which has made her into the empathetic, compassionate woman she is today. If you missed the episode, you can check out clips from the episode below.

New post will be up next week. Until then, have a great week and be safe!

2022 New York Governor’s Race Offers Diversity And Change From Its Candidates

Good Afternoon. Although the 2020 elections feel like they just happened yesterday, we must prepare ourselves for the midterm elections in 2022 which have had a major effect on how policy is shaped in every aspect of government. The power of the vote has been known to shift the direction of our government as we saw in the 2018 midterms that flipped the House of Representatives from a majority Republican house to a majority Democratic house. While there have been publicized elections for governor in the past few weeks (NJ and VA to be exact), all eyes will be on New York in 2022 especially after former governor Andrew Cuomo was forced to resign earlier this year after sexual harassment allegations surfaced. His exit has ushered in a new wave of change and has given us our first female governor, Gov. Kathy Hochul and has also opened the door to a new group of candidates who hope to make a difference if elected in the 2022 elections. The candidates throwing their name in the hat include current NY Attorney General Letitia James and New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams.

NY Attorney General Letitia James has made a name for herself by standing up for what she believes in and not being afraid to challenge the status quo. As attorney general, she made headlines for suing the NRA and has investigated Donald Trump and the Trump Organization.  She also presided over the Cuomo inquiry which led to his resignation. In her candidacy announcement, she was quoted as saying, ““I’ve spent my career guided by a simple principle: Stand up to the powerful on behalf of the vulnerable. To be a force for change.”. Will she be the change that New York and the rest of the nation needs in these trying times? I hope so but she has some stiff competition and needs to prove herself if she intends on winning.

NYC Public Advocate Jumaane Williams announced his candidacy yesterday stating that, ““Without progressive leadership, the way things have always been will stand in the way of what they can be”. He has shown that he is a progressive candidate and as an New York City council member, spoke out against the city’s former “Stop and Frisk” policy, helped launch New York’s Crisis Management System,  that works to “reduce shootings through a multi-pronged, community-centered approach” and has been an advocate for affordable housing to prevent communities from being priced out of communities throughout the five boroughs. He has proven himself on a local level but can he bring similar transformational change to the state? Only time will tell!

Both candidates will be up against Gov. Hochul in the Democratic Primary as well as others including Mayor Bill de Blasio who is rumored to announce his candidacy in the coming weeks. I hope that whoever is chosen is a true reflection of where the country is headed. As we have seen in recent years, reverting to the old way of thinking has hindered more than helped so we need someone who will not only unite us but move us forward and be a positive representation of what New York has to offer. I will continue to keep you updated on the 2022 NY Governors Race in the coming months so stay tuned!

New post will be up on Friday. Until then, have a great week and be safe!

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Headlines: Dealbook Discussion, Re: Wired Discussion and Intrepid Gala

Good Afternoon! This week has been a very busy one for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. In the past few days, Meghan was featured along with Mellody Hobson, co-chief executive and president of Ariel Investments in a discussion for Dealbook Online Summit, Prince Harry was part of a discussion on misinformation in the digital age and the couple was in attendance at the 2021 Salute To Freedom Gala at the Intrepid Museum which was held to honor veterans ahead of Veterans Day in the U.S. and Remembrance Day in the U.K. These discussions and events allowed them to discuss issues that are important to them: paid family leave, women empowerment, how misinformation has deadly consequences and how important the military has been to our democracy. As graceful and poised as they always are, they made sure to emphasize the reasons why they chose to appear at these events because it was not about them but the greater good of mankind.

In the Dealbook discussion on Tuesday, Meghan discussed what her motivations were behind calling senators to discuss the importance of paid family leave. She was quoted as saying, “This is one of those issues that is not red or blue. It sets us up for economic growth and success, but it also just allows people to have that very sacred time as a family.” She also discussed how the word “ambition” is seen as a trigger word as it relates to women and said, “There is nothing wrong with women talking about “success, ambition, or financial prowess.” Mellody Hobson, another Black woman in a position of power echoed her sentiments when she stated, “I have found myself having, at times, to modulate myself in order to win. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that. Sometimes I can also be big.” Whenever women, especially Black women have ambition and are assertive in their positions, others feel threatened and try to label them as “confrontational” or “aggressive” and attempt to hold them back. I appreciate that Meghan and Mellody are using their positions of power to speak the truth and bring awareness to the struggles that women like them face every day in their personal and professional lives.

While Meghan used her voice to emphasize the importance of paid family leave and how women should not be fearful of going after what they want in life, Prince Harry was involved in a discussion hosted by Wired Magazine on Wednesday about online misinformation and the numerous consequences that have followed. In the discussion, Prince Harry discussed how he contacted Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey that his platform was “allowing a coup to be staged”— just one day before the deadly Capitol riots unfolded in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6 and went on to say that he hasn’t heard from him since even though they communicated regularly via email prior to January 6th. He also discussed his feelings about the word “Megxit” (which was created when he and Meghan decided to step back from their roles as senior members of the royal family) and how he perceives it as misogynistic. He also criticized journalists spreading the term that began with a “troll” and allowed it to make it to mainstream media. The fact that Prince Harry, like many of us, knew that a storm was brewing as a result of misinformation spread by Trump and his supporters and tried to warn the CEO of a major social media network speaks volumes. Dorsey, Zuckerberg, and other top officials chose to ignore the warning signs and continue to allow misinformation to spread on their social media platforms. I am glad that he is being transparent about the real intentions of people like Dorsey with power and influence and I am happy that he called out the journalists who used terms like “Megxit” to spread hate and lies to sell their papers/magazines. Not only is he continuing to support his wife but he is also showing the power that journalists have and how they should use their platform for truth and positivity. I hope that Prince Harry will be involved in more discussions like this because people need to hear how it really is from the other side and not just what is pushed on them by people who have an agenda.

Finally, Prince Harry and Meghan walked the red carpet on Wednesday evening at the 2021 Salute to Freedom gala. Prince Harry, who served in the British army for 10 years, presented the inaugural Intrepid Valor Awards to five service members, veterans, and military families living with the invisible wounds of war. When Meghan was asked if she was proud of Prince Harry, she stated, “I’m always proud of him” and I think that answer sums up their relationship in a nutshell. They are always supportive of each other in their separate and joint endeavors and the fact that there is pure intent and purpose behind everything they do is a reflection of who they are as individuals. By being together and working together towards common goals, they have and will continue to inspire real change that will overshadow, misogyny, racism, and any negativity directed their way. The #sussexsquad will continue to support and I will continue to highlight all of the good that they are doing so be sure to check “Pamela’s Perspective” out every Friday so you stay in the loop!

New post will be up next week. Until then, have a great week and be safe!

U.S Lifts International Travel Ban Restrictions

Good Afternoon. It was announced on Monday that the U.S. government ended a pandemic travel ban that barred travel from 33 countries, including the U.K., South Africa, Brazil, and much of Europe. This news was music to the ears of millions of people who have loved ones that reside in different areas around the globe. This news meant that they could connect with people who they haven’t seen since the pandemic began if not longer. Although this news is promising as it relates to things going back to normal (somewhat), some criteria need to be met for international travelers to be able to gain access to the United States.

According to an article published on CNBC.com, visitors can fly into the U.S. with proof of full Covid-19 vaccination. There are exemptions for travelers under age 18 and passengers from countries with low vaccination availability but passengers need to have recent negative COVID-19 test results regardless of age or vaccination status. Tests need to be taken 3 days before departure for vaccinated people and 1 day before departure for unvaccinated people. This news is also great for airlines such as American Airlines who offers joint U.K service with British Airways and saw bookings increase about 70% over the past week. Other rules include contact tracing which requires U.S.-bound travelers will be required to provide contact information (email, phone number, address) to airlines in the case of an outbreak following arrival. I think that having these protocols in place is helpful to ensure that international travelers don’t contribute to increasing cases, but what about the growing number of cases that are occurring as a result of U.S. citizens’ refusing to follow protocols right here in the states?

While lifting the ban has shown to be helpful early on for the economy and will bring everyone closer together, I feel that we should continue to emphasize the precautions that need to be taken to make sure that COVID-19 cases continue to decrease. Regardless of whether a person is vaccinated or not, following the guidelines set by the CDC (wearing masks, social distancing, etc.), is the best way to slow the spread and ensure that EVERYONE is safe regardless of their age, vaccination status, or their country of origin. This isn’t about restricting anyone’s rights but making sure that they stay alive so they can continue to have a voice and an opinion. I believe that any reasonably sound person would feel the same!

New post will be up on Friday. Until then, be sure to have a great week!