December 13, 2025

BLACK PEOPLE, BLACKLIVES, COMMUNITY, ECONOMICS, JUSTICE, NEWS, POLITICS

Financial Insight

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Navigating the Economy: Paycheck to Paycheck and Retirement Accounts IntroductionAs we close out 2025, the economy continues to send mixed signals. For many Americans living paycheck to paycheck, rising costs and uncertain job markets make financial stability feel out of reach. At the same time, those with retirement accounts are watching U.S. stocks, fixed income, and international markets closely, trying to understand how global and domestic trends will shape their future security. Living Paycheck to Paycheck: The Everyday Economy U.S. Stocks and the Economy Fixed Income and the Economy International Stocks and the Economy Practical Tips For Those Living Paycheck to Paycheck For Retirement Investors Takeaway The economy is a tale of two realities: Whether you’re focused on today’s bills or tomorrow’s nest egg, the message is clear: adaptability is essential. Staying informed, diversifying investments, and advocating for policies that support working families will be critical as we move into 2026. Closing Note At the end of the day, numbers tell us part of the story, but people tell us the rest. Whether you are stretching every paycheck to cover essentials or watching the markets to protect your retirement, the common thread is resilience. The economy may shift, interest rates may rise, and global markets may wobble, but our ability to adapt, to plan, and to advocate for fairness remains constant. Financial insight is not just about dollars and cents, it’s about dignity, security, and legacy. My commitment is to keep you informed, to connect the dots between policy and people, and to remind you that even in uncertain times, knowledge is power. Let’s carry that power into 2026, not only to survive the economy, but to shape it for ourselves and for the generations that follow.

BLACK PEOPLE, BLACKLIVES, COMMUNITY, ECONOMICS, HEALTH, JUSTICE, JUSTICE SYSTEM, NEWS, RACE

Healthcare on the Brink: Subsidies, Equity, and the Cost of Inaction

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IntroductionThe Affordable Care Act (ACA) was designed to expand access to health coverage for millions of Americans. Enhanced subsidies, first enacted during the pandemic, have kept premiums affordable for over 22 million people. But now, as Congress fails to extend these subsidies, the future of affordable healthcare hangs in the balance. What’s at Stake  If Congress does not extend the ACA subsidies, premiums will more than double in 2026 (average +114%), with the steepest impacts in Southern states (like Georgia, Florida, Texas, Alabama, Mississippi) and in states that did not expand Medicaid. States with their own reinsurance or supplemental subsidies (like Vermont, California, New York) will see smaller increases factually.co NBC News factually.co Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker. Timeline of ACA Subsidies and Expiration Year Policy Change Impact 2010 ACA enacted Subsidies tied to income, capped at 400% FPL. 2021 American Rescue Plan Enhanced subsidies, removed “subsidy cliff.” 2022 Inflation Reduction Act Extended subsidies through 2025. Dec 2025 Senate rejects extension Subsidies set to expire Jan 1, 2026. 2026 Expiration Premiums rise ~114%; 2–4 million lose coverage. States Most Affected Analyses show uneven impacts across the country: How to Read This Chart Advocacy Angle Key Takeaways Advocacy Angle This is not just about numbers, it’s about equity and justice. The expiration disproportionately harms Southern states and marginalized communities, widening racial and economic health gaps. The subsidies made healthcare affordable for millions; their loss reveals how political gridlock can dismantle progress. Sources: factually.co NBC News Lawyer Monthly factually.co Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker Moneywise The Politics of Healthcare Equity and Accountability Healthcare is not just policy,it’s justice. Subsidies have allowed working families, small business owners, and gig workers to access care. Ending them disproportionately harms marginalized communities, widening racial and economic health gaps. This is not simply about budgets. It’s about whether America values the health of its people or the politics of obstruction. Call to Action The fight over ACA subsidies is a test of our national priorities. Will we protect affordable healthcare, or will we allow millions to be priced out? Advocacy must demand accountability: healthcare equity is non‑negotiable.

BLACK PEOPLE, BLACKLIVES, COMMUNITY, ECONOMICS, ENTERTAINMENT, NEWS, POLITICS, RACE, SPORTS

Alabama Football: Championships, Black Excellence, and the Head Coach They’ve Never Had

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The University of Alabama’s football program, known as the Crimson Tide, is one of the most storied and successful in college football history, with 18 claimed national championships and 29 SEC titles spanning from its founding in 1892 to the modern era IntroductionThe University of Alabama football program is celebrated as one of the greatest dynasties in sports history. From Wallace Wade’s Rose Bowl triumph in 1925 to Nick Saban’s six national championships in the modern era, the Crimson Tide has defined college football dominance. But beneath the trophies and tradition lies a deeper story: the contributions of Black athletes who carried Alabama to glory, and the glaring absence of a Black head coach in its 133-year history. Timeline of Success and Integration Timeline: Championships + Racial Integration Era / Coach Championships Racial Makeup 1892–1969 (Pre‑Integration) 1925, 1926, 1930 (Wade); 1945 (Thomas); 1961, 1964, 1965, 1973, 1978, 1979 (Bryant) 100% white players 1970–1971 (Integration Begins) — 1970: Wilbur Jackson signed (first Black scholarship player). 1971: Jackson & John Mitchell play (first Black varsity players). 1970s–1980s (Gradual Growth) — By late 1970s, ~10–20% Black players. By 1980s, ~40–50%. 1992 (Gene Stallings) National Championship ~40–50% Black players 2000s–Present (Nick Saban Era) 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2020 ~60–75% Black players; majority of roster, including Heisman winners Ingram, Henry, Smith, Young The Contribution of Black Players From Jackson and Mitchell breaking barriers in 1971 to Derrick Henry bulldozing his way to a Heisman in 2015, Black athletes have not only participated — they have defined Alabama football. They are the stars, the playmakers, the faces of the program. Without them, Alabama’s dynasty would not exist. Yet, despite their central role, Alabama has never entrusted its program to a Black head coach. The message is clear: Black athletes are good enough to win games, sell tickets, and generate millions, but not to lead. This visualization makes the contrast undeniable: Alabama’s dynasty was built on Black athletes after integration, yet leadership has remained exclusively white. Why No Black Head Coach? This is the uncomfortable truth. Alabama football thrives on the labor, talent, and brilliance of Black athletes, but leadership remains guarded by tradition. The program reflects a broader pattern in college football: Black players dominate the field, but white coaches dominate the sidelines. Is this simply “tradition”? Or is it exploitation, using Black faces to win and profit, while denying them the authority to lead? As the saying goes: if you can get the milk for free, why buy the cow? Alabama has built its empire on Black excellence, but refuses to acknowledge that excellence in leadership. Call to Action Football is supposed to be about unity, teamwork, and trust. But Alabama’s refusal to hire a Black head coach reveals a deeper fracture. If the Crimson Tide truly believes in “team,” then it must extend that belief beyond the field. Until then, the program’s legacy will remain incomplete, a dynasty built on Black talent but limited by old traditions.

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