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2019 Essence Festival - Day 1

Source: Erika Goldring / Getty

Missy Elliott Is Finally BACK.

The wait is finally over. After shaking up the internet with the announcement of a new “collection” of songs on Thursday, Missy Elliott delivered a five-track EP titled Iconology at midnight, and nothing was the same.

Along with the EP, Missy also dropped visuals for her latest single, “Throw It Back.” “Let’s #ThrowItBack to a time when music just felt good and made us want to dance,” she stated on social media. Iconology features production from herself Timbaland, and Wili Hendrix.

Stream the EP on Apple Music and Spotify now. Watch “Throw It Back” below:

The Obamas’ First Film, American Factory,  Debuted on Netflix.

“A good story gives you the chance to better understand someone else’s life. It can help you find common ground,” Barack tweeted on Wednesday. “And it’s why Michelle and I were drawn to Higher Ground’s first film, American Factory.”

American Factory is a documentary that tells the story of an Ohio auto glass factory run by a Chinese investor. It made its debut via Netflix on Wednesday, and it is the streaming giant’s first project supported by Michelle and Barack Obama’s production company.

Read more.

Dave Chappelle Is Hosting A Free Block Party In Dayton, Ohio After the City’s Mass Shooting.

On Sunday, Dave Chappelle will host a free block party at the Oregon district from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. The event, called Gem City Shine, will honor the lives lost during the mass shooting that occurred on August 4 in the district.

“This event will honor the lives lost and to reclaim the community’s favorite places to shop, dine and enjoy time with family and friends,” the Facebook event page reads.

Learn more about the event here.

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This week in politics, the vibes are messy, alarming, and straight-up confusing. From late night TV being snatched off the air to vaccine policies getting hijacked, it’s giving “WTF is going on?” Let’s break down the headlines everyone’s talking about inside. First Amendment on the Chopping Block Jimmy Kimmel’s late night show has been pulled from ABC, and Stephen Colbert’s show? Cancelled completely. The official line is murky, but the bigger picture is loud. Free speech is being tested under the Trump administration. While Trump once said he’d “honor” the First Amendment, recent moves suggest he’s working off a remix version that only benefits him. Case in point? The Guardian reports his $15 billion lawsuit against The New York Times. A judge already tossed it out, saying Trump’s claims about “false content” violated federal rules. Still, the fact that these lawsuits and cancellations keep happening has people questioning the future of free expression in America. CDC Shake-Up Sparks Health Concerns Meanwhile, over at the CDC, things are getting political fast. Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. has basically turned the agency upside down, firing all 17 members of the vaccine advisory committee and replacing them with appointees that include vaccine skeptics. On top of that, the CDC director is out, high-level staffers are resigning, and decisions about vaccine safety are suddenly more about politics than science. Public health leaders are calling this move dangerous, saying it dismantles independent oversight just when Americans need clarity most. According to California’s government website, they are one of the few states pushing back on the federal government’s stance. California, Washington, and Hawaii aren’t taking it lying down. The states have formed an alliance pushing back on the feds, promising to keep vaccine guidance rooted in science, safety, and transparency. Their health officers are reviewing guidelines from trusted medical groups like the AAP and ACOG to ensure communities still have access to clinically recommended vaccines. Trump & Xi Meet About US TikTok’s Next Chapter And then there’s TikTok. After years of “will they, won’t they?” drama, Trump announced that he and Chinese Premier Xi Jinping approved a deal for TikTok’s U.S. operations. According to BBC, the plan reportedly hands control to a group of U.S. investors, sidestepping a shutdown. Trump called the call with Xi “productive” on Truth Social, and even, teased a face-to-face meetup at the APEC summit in South Korea this fall. From free speech battles to vaccine wars and TikTok drama, this week in politics has us all asking the same thing: WTFGO?

Global Grind