“WHITE SOUTH AFRICANS, SUPPORT BAFANA TOO!” – GAYTON MCKENZIE CALLS OUT DOUBLE STANDARDS IN SPORTS SUPPORT
Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie has sparked national debate after calling on white South Africans to show the same passion for Bafana Bafana as they do for the Springboks.
Speaking during a sports engagement event, McKenzie said it’s disappointing that rugby stadiums are packed with fans — mostly white — who pay up to R3,000 per ticket, while Bafana Bafana, the national soccer team, often struggles to attract more than 100 fans for matches where tickets cost as little as R50.
He emphasized that true nation-building means celebrating and supporting all national teams, regardless of the sport.
> “We can’t talk about unity if we only show up for one sport. When the Springboks play, the stadiums are full. When Bafana plays, it’s empty. That’s not unity — that’s selective patriotism,” said McKenzie.
The Minister added that the Department of Sport is working to make football stadiums safer, more family-friendly, and inclusive to all races. He also called on the private sector and media to give soccer the same level of coverage and respect that rugby enjoys.
McKenzie’s remarks have divided opinions — some praised him for speaking uncomfortable truths, while others accused him of politicizing sport.
Celebrated scientist James Watson, who shared a Nobel Prize for his groundbreaking DNA discovery, has di£d at the age of 97.
The de@th of Watson was confirmed by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, where he worked and researched for decades.
The American pioneer’s co-unearthing of the double helix structure of DNA in 1953 helped spark a revolution in medicine, crimefighting, genealogy and ethics.
The DNA breakthrough – made Watson was just 24 – turned him into a respected figure in the world of science for decades.
However, near the end of his life, he faced condemnation and professional censure for offensive remarks, including saying Black people are less intelligent than white people.
Watson shared a 1962 Nobel Prize with Francis Crick and Maurice Wilkins for discovering that deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA, is a double helix, consisting of two strands that coil around each other to create what resembles a long, gently twisting ladder.
That realisation was a breakthrough. It instantly suggested how hereditary information is stored and how cells duplicate their DNA when they divide. The duplication begins with the two strands of DNA pulling apart like a zipper.
Even among non-scientists, the double helix would become an instantly recognised symbol of science, showing up in such places as the work of Salvador Dali and a British postage stamp.
The discovery helped open the door to more recent developments such as tinkering with the genetic makeup of living things, treating disease by inserting genes into patients, identifying human remains and criminal suspects from DNA samples, and tracing family trees.
But it has also raised a host of ethical questions, such as whether we should be altering the body’s blueprint for cosmetic reasons or in a way that is transmitted to a person’s offspring.
“Francis Crick and I made the discovery of the century, that was pretty clear,” Watson once said. He later wrote: “There was no way we could have foreseen the explosive impact of the double helix on science and society.”
Watson never made another lab finding that big. But in the decades that followed, he wrote influential textbooks and a best-selling memoir, and helped guide the project to map the human genome. He picked out bright young scientists and helped them. And he used his prestige and contacts to influence science policy.
His initial motivation for supporting the gene project was personal: His son Rufus had been hospitalised with a possible diagnosis of schizophrenia, and Watson figured that knowing the complete makeup of DNA would be crucial for understanding that disease – maybe in time to help his son.
He gained unwelcome attention in 2007, when the Sunday Times quoted him as saying he was “inherently gloomy about the prospect of Africa” because “all our social policies are based on the fact that their intelligence is the same as ours – where all the testing says not really.”
He said that while he hopes everyone is equal, “people who have to deal with black employees find this is not true.”
HARARE – Former Finance Minister Tendai Biti has condemned what he describes as a desperate and fraudulent attempt to use proxy court applications to legitimize President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s bid to extend his rule to 2030.
Biti accused ZANU-PF operatives of riding on the credibility of genuine applicants to file phantom litigation designed to be dismissed on technical grounds – thereby creating a legal precedent to justify the term extension without public consent.
“This is the latest chapter in the copybook of Agenda 2030 shenanigans,” Biti said. “They have used violence, fear, capture, and coercion to drive this process. Millions have been spent compromising individuals and institutions.”
He alleged that vehicles and other resources were being used to entrap political opponents, while ghost social media accounts were deployed to push the narrative. “Zimbabwe is not buying into this. The attempt to mutilate the Constitution represents the biggest existential threat to the Republic,” he warned.
Biti emphasized that defending the Constitution is synonymous with defending national dignity and sovereignty. “Everything else starts and ends with constitutionalism and the rule of law. Any contrary position is a betrayal of the values of the liberation struggle,” he said.
He further condemned what he termed “fraudulent attempts to manipulate processes by creating ghost litigation,” vowing that the opposition would remain vigilant and alert.
His remarks come amid growing concern over alleged judicial complicity and political engineering aimed at extending Mnangagwa’s tenure beyond the constitutionally mandated two terms.
South Africa has taken over the chairmanship of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) after Madagascar’s junta leader, Colonel Michael Randrianirina, stepped down amid escalating political instability in the island nation.
The announcement was made following an Extraordinary SADC Heads of State and Government Summit held virtually on Friday night.
Madagascar relinquished its role as chair after violent protests and a recent military coup rendered it incapable of carrying out the bloc’s leadership responsibilities.
Under the new arrangement, South Africa, which had been due to assume the chairmanship in 2026, will now serve as interim chair until August 2026.
According to a communique issued after the meeting, the SADC Secretariat will consult member states and announce a new incoming chair by the end of November.
The summit, chaired by President Cyril Ramaphosa, extended condolences to families affected by the recent unrest in Madagascar and Tanzania, and condemned the destruction of public infrastructure in both countries.
Leaders also congratulated newly elected presidents Arthur Peter Mutharika of Malawi, Patrick Herminie of Seychelles, and Samia Suluhu Hassan of Tanzania following elections held between September and October 2025.
However, SADC and African Union election observer missions criticized Tanzania’s election, describing it as failing to meet regional and international democratic standards.
The regional bloc will continue implementing the theme adopted at its 45th Summit in Antananarivo – “Advancing Industrialisation, Agricultural Transformation, and Energy Transition for a Resilient SADC” – until August next year.
Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who chaired SADC until August 2025, offered to host selected meetings in Harare during the transitional period.
In his closing remarks, President Ramaphosa thanked fellow leaders for their confidence in his leadership and pledged to maintain regional unity, stability, and policy continuity during the transition.
President Donald Trump said on Friday that no U.S. government official would attend the Group of 20 summit in South Africa later this month, because of what he said were “human rights abuses” taking place in the country.
“It is a total disgrace that the G20 will be held in South Africa. Afrikaners (People who are descended from Dutch settlers, and also French and German immigrants) are being killed and slaughtered, and their land and farms are being illegally confiscated.” Trump said in a Truth Social post.
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Trump has claimed Afrikaners face persecution based on their race in the Black-majority country, allegations the South African government has denied.
“No U.S. Government Official will attend as long as these Human Rights abuses continue. I look forward to hosting the 2026 G20 in Miami, Florida!.” Trump said.
The president last month set the lowest cap on record for U.S. refugee admissions and said those people admitted would be focused largely on white Afrikaners.
Vice President JD Vance, who was expected to attend the Group of 20 world leaders in Johannesburg in Nov 22-23, was no longer going, a source familiar with the matter said.
South Africa’s foreign ministry spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Trump has taken issue with South African domestic and foreign policies – ranging from its land policy to its case accusing Israel of genocide in the U.S. ally’s war in Gaza.
Earlier this year, Secretary of State Marco Rubio also boycotted a G20 foreign ministers’ meeting in South Africa, which has the G20 presidency from December 2024 to November 2025.
The United States is set to take over the G20 presidency from South Africa.
Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, is easing the holiday travel crunch by cutting petrol prices at his refinery by 5.6%.
From Friday, Dangote Refinery began selling Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) at N828 ($0.57) per liter, down from N877 ($0.61). This marks the second major price adjustment in three months, reflecting global oil trends and local supply costs.
The refinery, which releases over 45 million liters of petrol and 25 million liters of diesel daily, has also launched a CNG truck fleet to expand nationwide delivery, expected to save Nigeria about N1.7 trillion ($1.13 billion) annually in transport costs and create 15,000 jobs.
Commissioned in 2024 with a capacity of 350,000 barrels per day, Dangote Refinery aims to reach 1.4 million barrels daily within three years. The latest price cut highlights Dangote’s growing role in stabilizing Nigeria’s fuel supply, offering motorists relief just in time for the festive season.
A woman who claimed to be Madeleine McCann has been found guilty of harassing Kate and Gerry McCann by turning up at their home and sending sinister letters and messages repeatedly begging for a DNA test.
Julia Wandelt appeared at Leicester Crown Court today (7 November), having claimed to have been in custody since February following accusations of both harassment and stalking.
She was found not guilty of stalking the British parents, both 57, but was convicted of the less serious harassment charge, which carries a maximum sentence of six months.
Earlier in the trial, prosecutors made it clear that the 24-year-old from Poland wasn’t Madeleine, who went missing in Portugal back in 2007, sparking arguably the biggest missing persons case in history.
Prosecutor Michael Duck KC said: “Can we at this very early stage in the trial make this position clear – that Julia Wandelt is not Madeleine McCann.”
The prosecutor went on to add more details about the case, which saw Wandelt accused of making the outlandish claims for two-and-a-half years, despite fresh search parties for Madeleine beginning again earlier this year.
He said: “Her contention over the two and a half years that followed was therefore that she must have been abducted and taken to Poland where she lived with people who she was erroneously told were her parents.”
The prosecutor went on: “You will see and hear occasions upon which she claims to have evolving memories of what actually happened in May 2007.
“She pursued claims that she was Madeleine McCann and she pursued Madeleine McCann’s parents over a period of time and pursued that myth.”
After seven-and-a-half hours of discussion between the jurors, they found Wandelt not guilty of stalking, but she will be sentenced for her harassment conviction later this afternoon.
Legal discussions are also currently taking place to see if a restraining order needs to be put in place.
A woman in the US was fatally shot in front of her husband after arriving at the wrong house for a cleaning job.
On Wednesday (5 November), Maria Florinda Ríos Pérez and her husband, Mauricio Velázquez, arrived outside a home in Whitestown, a suburb near Indianapolis, Indiana, ready to perform a cleaning job they’d been hired for.
The couple double-checked the address and neighbourhood to ensure they were in the right place, arriving at the house shortly before 7 am.
Pérez and her husband then approached the home they believed they’d been hired to clean and attempted to open the door. When Velázquez struggled to open the door, Pérez took the keys from him and went to let them inside.
It was at this moment that a single shot was fired, and the 32-year-old fell to the ground bleeding.
Emergency services would pronounce Pérez, a mother of four who’d moved to the US from Guatemala, dead at the scene.
“She didn’t even put the key in when I heard the shot happen,” Velázquez explained in an interview with local outlet IndyStar.
“I saw my wife had stepped back twice, and then the keys dropped. Then she dropped, and I went to catch her. I was trying to console her and tell her everything was going to OK, but I was seeing the blood coming out.”
Indiana is one of many states in the US which implements the controversial ‘Stand Your Ground’ law, allowing people to use force, including deadly force, in self-defence against a violent attack.
The case is still under investigation; however, the Whitestown Metropolitan Police Department has stated that they do not believe the couple were attempting to break into the house and had simply gotten the address wrong.
A report in The New York Times backs this up, stating that the house the couple had been hired to clean was actually behind the property they’d approached.
Velázquez had previously insisted to IndyStar that they were in the right place.
Velázquez is now looking to have his wife’s body repatriated home to Guatemala; he is also hoping that the shooter will face justice over the incident.
It is understood that no arrests have been made currently, with the police expected to share a further update on the case within the next week.
“The loss of life is always a profound tragedy, and our hearts and prayers go out to all those affected,” a statement from the police force reads.
“WMPD is committed to conducting a thorough and impartial investigation. Our detectives are interviewing all individuals involved, and our crime scene investigators are meticulously collecting and analyzing all relevant evidence to understand the full scope of what occurred.”
It looks like more royal drama could be brewing across the pond — and this time, Prince Harry might be the next casualty.
An inside source from the Palace told Page Six that they “would not be surprised” if King Charles’ youngest son, Harry, ends up stripped of his title just like his scandal-afflicted uncle, the former Prince Andrew.
This comes after British politician Rachael Maskell decided to dust off her Removal of Titles Bill — a proposal that would give King Charles, and later Prince William, the power to officially take away royal titles.
One palace insider said, “If they pass these bills, I wouldn’t be surprised if Harry is the next one to go. William’s not vindictive, but he feels really let down — and it hurts even more when the betrayal comes from someone you love.”
The brothers, Harry and William, reportedly haven’t spoken for over two years.
Sources say William is still fuming over Harry’s explosive 2023 memoir Spare, where Harry accused him of a physical altercation and claimed Kate Middleton made “racist” remarks about his and Meghan Markle’s kids.
https://youtu.be/vwcNTCZQpw8?si=FndKFZl3gHan6aGw
Royal commentator Hugo Vickers even suggested the feud is so deep that William might snub Harry entirely when the time for his coronation comes.
“Harry must be quite scared,” another palace insider admitted, as Maskell’s bill makes its way back into Parliament.
It’s not the first time the MP has tried this — her first attempt in 2022 didn’t go anywhere, but with Prince Andrew’s recent title removal making headlines, the timing couldn’t be worse for Harry.
Just last week, King Charles officially stripped Andrew of his prince title after weeks of behind-the-scenes discussions with lawyers and government officials. The process was formal — the king issued royal warrants to the Lord Chancellor, David Lammy, to erase Andrew’s name from the official Peerage Roll.
As for Harry, he and Meghan famously gave up their HRH (His and Her Royal Highness) status when they stepped back from royal duties in 2020 — but being formally stripped of his Duke of Sussex title would be a whole new level of royal exile.
MAKEBI ZULU SALUTES GIVEN LUBINDA FOR STEADFAST LEADERSHIP AFTER EARLIER VISIT TO INONGE WINA
Prominent lawyer and PF presidential contender Makebi Zulu, upon his return from South Africa, paid a courtesy call on PF Acting President Given Lubinda yesterday evening.
He saluted Mr. Lubinda for his steadfast leadership, wisdom, and courage in holding the party together under difficult conditions.
Mr. Zulu said Mr. Lubinda had shown exceptional resilience and commitment to the Patriotic Front during a period of intense political pressure.
Earlier, Mr. Zulu met with Zambia’s immediate past Republican Vice President Inonge Mutukwa Wina.
The two conferred on matters of national importance and party unity.
Mr. Zulu expressed gratitude for the opportunity to tap into her wisdom.
He also visited incarcerated Patriotic Front (PF) leaders at Chimbokaila Prison.
Those he visited included Hon. Raphael Nakacinda, Hon. Joseph Malanji, Hon. Munir Zulu, Mr. Fredson Yamba, Mr. Kingsley Chanda, and others.
Family Let us Discuss my Prospects, Opportunities and Threats.
..the soil nourishes the plant, but the flowers makes the headlines and take the glory, that is the story of my life, I’ve been one that knows what I carry and what I grow and like the soil, I’m happy when others take the glory later…
When I returned from the tour of duty in December 2021 after being in diplomatic service for eight years, I decided to join politics.
I had the opportunity to join any other Party or form my own.
But I chose to join efforts with progressive forces trying to rebrand, renew and cause a rebirth of the Patriotic Front, a party that had just faced a humiliating electoral defeat in the August 2021 elections.
I decided to run for the Party President and hoped to eventually challenge President Hakainde Hichilema in 2026.
I was but an ordinary member in the Patriotic Front. But before long, the leadership recognised my work to help rebrand the Party.
I was appointed Member of the Central Committee and made official Spokesperson as Chairperson of Information and Publicity.
But before long, I faced arrests, torture, malicious and humiliating campaigns against my person and character, and suffered perpetual harrasments and intimidations against my life and that of my family.
OPPORTUNITIES
I looked back at my journey as a; Banker, Administrator, Diplomat and Leader.
I have had a flourishing career.
●I was official Spokesperson of the Second President, Dr. Frederick Chiluba for ten (10) years and dueing this period, held a position equivalent to Deputy Permanent Secretary during the period.
● I was privildged to serve as Permanent Secretary in; Northern, Eastern, Western Provinces and Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services.
● I served as Zambia’s High Commissioner and Head of Mission to South Africa with extra accreditation to the Kingdom of Lesotho and Madagascar.
● I served as Zambia’s Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Ethiopia, with extra accreditation to Somalia, Sudan and Djibouti.
● Permanent Representative to the African Union (AU). ● Permanent Representative to the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).
THREATS
In December 2024, the threats against my life were so high that if I stayed a day later, I would probably be a dead hero!
This was besides the confirmed leaked plans that there was great malicious effort that I should not receive Justice in the 3 cases I was facing in the courts of law; (Alleged case of Sedition, case of alleged assaulting a Police Officer and a misdemeanor of allegedly causing misconduct at a police station).
I didn’t fear going to prison over these false and trumped up charges against me, but it were the serious threats against my life that worried me.
I was privilidged to travel to the United Kingdom and the United States for international work, between December 2024 and February 2025.
In my reflection during this period away from home, I used the opportunity to assess the threats against me and my life.
These remain present and remain as high as they were in when I left.
TRAVELLING BACK
So now with the 2026 general election approaching and a primary election in my Party which I enlisted in 2023 due, I’m thinking of returning home.
But upon arrival, it is clear that, I face arrests, being jailed without hope for police bond or bail and I must mention, the the threats against my life have never gone away.
CHISEBE URGES SPEAKER MUTTI TO RETHINK TASILA LUNGU ORDER, SAYS SHE CAN NOW BALANCE FUNERAL AND PARLIAMENTARY DUTIES
By: Thomas Afroman Mwale
Governance activist Noel Chisebe has appealed to Speaker of the National Assembly Nelly Mutti to reconsider her directive for Chawama Member of Parliament Tasila Lungu to return to Parliament following the burial of her late father, former President Edgar Lungu, saying the delay has deprived her constituents of leadership.
Speaking in an interview with Sun Fm Tv News Mr. Chisebe said the MP had been absent from Parliament for several months even before the death of the country’s sixth republican president, adding that the unresolved funeral impasse has now lasted five months, negatively affecting Chawama constituency.
https://youtu.be/0nYCzK-wJ4Q?si=liYw44GppiZ-hVCF
He argued that with the Lungu family spokesperson, Makebi Zulu, publicly announcing his intention to contest the presidency in 2026, it demonstrates the family is moving on, suggesting that the Chawama lawmaker could similarly balance funeral matters and her parliamentary duties.
Mr Chisebe urged Speaker Mutti to evaluate her decision based on legislation rather than emotions, emphasizing that the law should guide the process in matters of this nature.
On July 25, 2025, Speaker Mutti directed MP Tasila Lungu to report to Parliament within 14 days after her father’s burial, or within 14 days after the opening of the 13th Session of the National Assembly, whichever occurs later.
Former President Edgar Lungu, who died on June 5, 2025, has not been buried due to a legal dispute between the government and his family over his final resting place.
The family, through Makebi Zulu, recently stated that Mr. Lungu’s remains will only be repatriated to Zambia if President Hakainde Hichilema publicly commits to staying away from the funeral and delegates Vice President Mutale Nalumango to attend. #SunFmTvNews
VICE PRESIDENT SAYS MOST BORROWED FUNDS UNDER CURRENT REGIME GOING TOWARD CLEARING PF PROJECT DEBTS
VICE President Mutale Nalumango says a large portion of the money borrowed by the current government is being used to pay for some projects that were started but left unpaid for by the Patriotic Front administration.
Speaking in parliament this morning during the Vice President’s question time, Mrs. Nalumango said government inherited a huge debt burden from incomplete and costly projects, many of which had poor workmanship and were not fully settled by the time the former regime left office.
The vice president explained that the new dawn government, under President Hakainde Hichilema has remained committed to honoring Zambia’s financial obligations while pursuing sustainable and transparent development.
She says critics who compare the four years of the current administration to the 10 years of the previous government are being unfair because each regime started from very different economic circumstances.
https://youtu.be/0nYCzK-wJ4Q?si=hNDSevpxJqD5038Y
Mrs. Nalumango has further noted that while the former government undertook a number of infrastructure projects, questions remained about their quality and cost.
She was responding to questions from Mpika Member of Parliament Francis Kapyanga and his Fiera counterpart Emmanuel Tembo who wanted to know what tangible infrastructure developments government can point to as evidence of how the money borrowed so far has been utilised.
⬆️ NEWS NIGHT| Mundubile Secures Mass MP Endorsement as PF Enters Convention Countdown
The Patriotic Front has entered a decisive phase of its succession battle after twenty-nine PF members of parliament publicly endorsed Mporokoso MP Brian Mundubile as their preferred presidential candidate. The declaration, made at a press briefing in Lusaka this morning, signals the most organised show of internal strength the former ruling party has displayed since Edgar Lungu’s death left it without a leader five months ago.
The MPs presented Mundubile as the figure capable of stabilising the party, healing factional wounds and leading PF back to power in 2026. Their statement arrives at a moment when PF’s internal cohesion has been in question, with rival aspirants trading accusations and senior officials clashing over campaign legitimacy.
Leading the group, MP Emmanuel Tembo framed the endorsement as a return to discipline. He said Mundubile offers “vision, discipline and heart,” adding that the MPs believe he can restore public trust and reconnect the party with ordinary Zambians. Tembo argued that leadership in this moment requires a record of loyalty and calm rather than ambition and noise.
“Mundubile has proven that leadership is about service, not self-interest,” Tembo said. He described him as a stabilising force in a party that has endured months of uncertainty and internal jostling.
The group includes prominent figures such as Francis Kapyanga, Mulenga Fube, Jean Chisenga, Sydney Mushanga, Pavyuma Kalobo, Golden Mwila, Kalalwe Mukosa and Christopher Shakafuswa. Their alignment gives Mundubile a bloc of parliamentary backing unmatched by any other candidate so far.
The timing is strategic. PF’s elective conference is set for later this month. After years of legal battles, leadership disputes and public messaging drift, the convention is expected to decide not only a party president but the identity and direction of the party heading into the 2026 campaign cycle.
Tembo rejected suggestions that the MPs’ stance would worsen divisions. He insisted the endorsement is an effort to consolidate around a viable path to renewal. He urged other aspirants to run issue-based campaigns and to recognise that PF’s future depends on cooperation, not internal rivalry.
The move adds pressure on other contenders including Makebi Zulu, Given Lubinda, Miles Sampa, Willah Mudolo among others, who have been building their own regional networks and messaging lanes. Zulu, who returned from South Africa today after engagements with the Lungu family, must now recalibrate his strategy as parliamentary influence gathers around Mundubile.
PF enters the final stretch with energy, tension and calculation building across its structures. The green base is gearing up for a defining convention. The party’s factions will either consolidate around a single message or expose deeper fractures that could shape its viability in 2026.
Up next on BUILD-UP: A detailed preview of the PF convention, the internal power blocs at play, the influence of the Lungu orbit as Makebi Zulu lands from South Africa, and how factional alignments may determine the outcome before delegates even take their seats.
THE CONTEXT | Makebi’s Return, The Chimbokaila Script, & The Mundubile Factor
Makebi Zulu has re-entered the party battlefield with a message crafted to shift attention from the five-month Lungu burial standoff to a justice narrative anchored in the detention of senior PF figures. His immediate stop at Chimbokaila, where he visited Raphael Nakacinda, Joseph Malanji, Munir Zulu, Fredson Yamba and Kingsley Chanda, was framed as a mission statement. “Freedom is coming soon,” he wrote, signalling a campaign built around the claim that PF leaders are political prisoners and that 2026 is an election about release and restoration.
His tone has unsettled a section of supporters who view the burial standoff as unfinished business. These voices accuse him of “abandoning the corpse after gaining visibility,” a phrase repeated across multiple PF pages and WhatsApp clusters. They argue that his pivot to the detainee narrative erases months of emotional mobilisation around the Lungu issue.
Others welcome the shift, arguing the party cannot enter 2026 defined by grief and that Makebi is injecting urgency into a movement that has appeared disoriented.
This debate sits inside a larger reality that party intelligence has tracked for weeks. Brian Mundubile is viewed by most PF structures as the preferred candidate heading into the convention. He has been visible on the ground, disciplined in tone, and consistent in provincial outreach.
His message has avoided factional fights, giving him acceptability across blocs that remain suspicious of sudden entrants. Makebi’s return introduces a competitive voice, but does not alter the internal ranking that places Mundubile at the top.
The Chimbokaila visit is therefore not only a solidarity gesture. It is also an attempt to stake moral ground against a front-runner who has spent months shaping himself as the steady option. Makebi is framing the PF struggle as a liberation fight for persecuted figures. Mundubile has framed it as an organisational rebuild rooted in discipline and structure.
These competing visions highlight the strategic divide inside the party and will shape the narrative heading into the convention.
Online reactions mirror this split. Loyalists applaud Makebi for “facing the real fight,” saying he has returned with a bold voice that speaks to the humiliation PF supporters feel over arrests and prolonged trials. Others caution that the justice narrative is narrow and risks reducing the election to elite grievances when ordinary voters are focused on electricity shortages, food prices and business closures. They note that PF cannot afford to personalise the campaign at a moment when public frustration is economic, not symbolic.
https://youtu.be/0nYCzK-wJ4Q?si=0UN2sd2f8sjrHt-x
The rapid shift in PF messaging from resisting the state burial of Lungu to urging government to bury him has also weakened the party’s moral posture. It opened a vacuum that Makebi has tried to fill with a narrative of political rescue.
However, the reversal has raised questions about internal consistency, giving Mundubile an advantage as a candidate who has kept distance from emotional pivots and public contradictions.
The People’s Brief provides these Context features to help you understand the moving parts under public statements. Zambian politics often unfolds through fragments, and our role is to consolidate intelligence, verify claims, track shifts, and map the motives behind the noise. The Context is not opinion. It is clarity for citizens who want to see the full picture before they believe the headline.
Makebi’s return has injected new energy into PF politics, but it has also surfaced old questions about strategy, unity and credibility. Whether his justice narrative can compete with Mundubile’s organisational advantage will shape the party’s posture as it enters its most consequential convention since 2014.
MANY YOUTHS HAVEN’T REGISTERED TO VOTE BECAUSE THEY DON’T HAVE NRC’S – ARCHBISHOP CHAMA
ARCHBISHOP Ignatius Chama of the Archdiocese of Kasama says many Christian youths have not registered to vote because they do not have National Registration Cards.
Archbishop Chama says even if the voter registration was to be extended, people in Kasama have now shifted their attention to collecting caterpillars, digging for gold and fighting to get agricultural inputs.
In a statement, Thursday, the Archbishop said he took time during his visits to many parishes and church centres to find out how Christians had responded to his call for them to register as voters.
“Archbishop Ignatius Chama of the Archdiocese of Kasama has said that in many parishes and church centres he has visited, he took it as an opportunity to find out how Christians have responded to his call on them to register as voters during the ongoing voter registration exercise. Archbishop Chama says his findings were that only a small number raised their hands every time he asked them whether they have registered, adding that this is despite the fact that those who were eligible to register were a big number. The Archbishop of Kasama says when he proceeded to ask them, especially the youth, as to why they have not registered, their response was the same, namely they do not have National Registration Cards (NRCs),” the statement read in part.
“He says their expectation was that obtaining NRCs and registering as voters would be done concurrently, explaining that the majority of those wanting to register were those who lost their voters’ cards and therefore needed replacements. The Local Ordinary of the Archdiocese of Kasama says time for obtaining NRCs and subsequently registering as voters has also run out since next week Tuesday, November 11th, is the last day of the voter registration exercise, saying even if the voter registration period is extended, people have now shifted their attention to collecting caterpillars, digging for gold, and fighting to get agricultural inputs”.
Archbishop Chama predicted that only a small number of Zambian citizens would vote in next year’s elections, adding that candidates who would win should therefore not boast of being popular among the electorate.
“Archbishop Chama says it means a very small number of Zambian citizens will vote in next year’s general elections, further stating that candidates who will win the elections will not have to boast that they are popular among the electorate because citizens have been stripped of their right to participate in the governance of the country through voting. The Archbishop has since appealed to the government to ensure that eligible citizens participate in next year’s general elections, further appealing to civil servants who are Catholics to stand on the side of truth by performing their duties with integrity. Archbishop Ignatius Chama said this yesterday, Wednesday, November 5, 2025, during his weekly Wednesday radio program of ‘Ishiwi lyakwa Kacema’ broadcast on Radio Lutanda,” read the statement.
PATRIOTIC Front Presidential hopeful Hon. Makebi Zulu and former Minister of Mines and Minerals Development Hon. Richard Musukwa arrived back into the country.
Upon arrival, the two expressed gratitude to God for journey mercies and immediately embarked on a series of activities including visits that underscored their deep commitment to party unity and the pursuit of justice for their colleagues currently behind bars.
Hon. Zulu announced that their first stop upon arrival was Lusaka Central Correctional Facility (Chimbokaila Prison), where they paid a visit to several incarcerated Patriotic Front members and associates.
Those visited included PF Secretary General Hon. Raphael Nakacinda, former Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon. Joseph Malanji, former Lumezi Member of Parliament Hon. Munir Zulu, former Secretary to the Treasury Mr. Fredson Yamba, former Zambia Revenue Authority Commissioner General Mr. Kingsley Chanda, and several other party loyalists currently in detention.
The seasoned Constitutional Lawyer, said the visit was not only an act of compassion but also a reaffirmation of the PF’s solidarity with its members who, he said, were being subjected to political persecution under the current administration.
“We stand with all our brothers and sisters who have been incarcerated. Freedom is coming soon,”
Hon. Zulu, a lawyer by profession and a former Eastern Province Minister, said that those behind bars remain part of the PF family and that their sacrifices will not be forgotten.
https://youtu.be/0nYCzK-wJ4Q?si=hVc43t-zx6wY2mr1
He noted that many of those detained played critical roles in building the nation and deserve fair treatment under the law.
His message of “freedom is coming soon” has been widely interpreted as both a political statement of resilience and a rallying call to party supporters ahead of the PF’s anticipated leadership transition.
Later in the evening, Hon. Zulu and Hon. Musukwa paid a courtesy call on the former Republican Vice President, Her Honour Mrs. Inonge Mutukwa Wina, at her residence in Lusaka.
He described the meeting as a moment of inspiration and reflection, noting that Mrs. Wina remains a towering figure in Zambia’s political history and a source of guidance for the next generation of leaders.
“We thank God for her wisdom,” he said.
Mrs. Wina, who served as Zambia’s first female Vice President from 2015 to 2021, is widely respected for her integrity, humility, and motherly leadership. Her residence has in recent months become a place of quiet consultation for several senior PF figures seeking counsel as the party works to rebuild itself following its loss in the 2021 general elections.
The return of Makebi Zulu and his immediate outreach to both incarcerated and retired leaders comes amid heightened internal activity within the PF as it prepares for a new chapter of leadership renewal.
Hon. Zulu has emerged as one of the most visible and articulate figures in the race to redefine the party’s direction, balancing calls for justice for detained members with efforts to restore the party’s moral and organisational strength.
EDITOR’S NOTE| MMD is Gone, New Nation Party Has Arrived; But What Exactly Has Been Reborn?
Nevers Sekwila Mumba has pulled the final thread from one of Zambia’s most important political brands. With a single declaration, the Movement for Multiparty Democracy has been retired and replaced by the New Nation Party. The clock that once signalled Zambia’s democratic awakening in 1991 has been lowered. In its place rises an eagle, a symbol Mumba says reflects renewal and a fresh mandate. The change has triggered confusion, sharp reactions, and quiet disbelief across the political space.
The rebrand is not simply a name change. It is an admission that MMD had reached a dead end. For a decade the party was trapped in courtrooms, split across rival NECs, and unable to rebuild structures after losing power in 2011. Fragmentation emptied its identity. By the time the 2021 and 2026 cycles arrived, the party existed more as a memory than an organised institution. Mumba has now chosen to bury the old vehicle rather than attempt a restoration.
National reaction shows how deep the disconnect had grown. Older members who lived through the Chiluba and Mwanawasa years have expressed shock. Many woke up asking if a political party can discard its heritage without returning the matter to its grassroots. They argue that MMD still carries historical responsibility as the party that ended one party rule. Analysts have added that the rebrand may be legal under Mumba’s recognised NEC, but it still risks severing the emotional bond that sustained the movement through the 1990s and 2000s.
Younger voters have reacted differently. Their view is cold and detached. They know MMD from textbooks, not from lived politics. To them, the New Nation Party is simply another entrant in a crowded field. The eagle logo has caught their eye more than the death of the clock. This reaction shows the scale of the challenge ahead. Institutional memory cannot be rebuilt through symbols alone. It requires networks, foot soldiers, and real influence in constituencies where the old MMD has long collapsed.
Strategically, the timing is clear. Elections are approaching in 2026. Mumba wants a clean slate before entering an alliance season where identity control matters. The old MMD label carried unresolved baggage from the privatisation debates, corruption scandals, and the collapse of national structures. By creating the New Nation Party, Mumba removes rivals from the legal frame and secures a fresh constitution that centralises authority under his leadership. It is a reset that shields him from old factional ghosts.
The rebrand also aligns with Mumba’s personal political theology. The eagle fits his messaging of spiritual renewal and national conscience. It signals moral authority and rebirth, themes he has used for years in sermons and political speeches. The question is whether symbolism can substitute for institutional power. No rebrand can erase the reality that the movement has little presence in the wards and constituencies that decide elections.
Viewed across Africa, the move is unusual. Major parties rarely change their names after decline. UNIP, ZANU PF, CCM, and the ANC kept their names despite heavy criticism because identity anchors loyalty. MMD has taken the opposite path. Instead of confronting its ghost, it has chosen to run from it. This sets a risky precedent. A party cannot build mass loyalty if it keeps changing its skin each time history becomes uncomfortable.
The New Nation Party enters the 2026 race with one advantage and one major burden. The advantage is freedom from past factional wars. The burden is the absence of a living political machine. Nevers Mumba now leads a party without structures, without recent electoral gains, and without the national presence that once carried MMD through three presidencies. The rebrand is bold, but boldness is not a strategy. Rebuilding a national party requires more than a new name. It requires a movement.
CANDIDATES | Sunday Chanda: Opposition MP Turning CDF into a Governance Blueprint
Sunday Chilufya Chanda has crafted a political identity that stands apart in Zambia’s fragmented opposition landscape. He does not build visibility through confrontation. He builds it through projects, documentation, and a cooperative tone that treats Parliament as a channel for local development. His method positions him as a policy-driven MP whose credibility rests on what voters can see, touch, and walk into.
His latest update deepens that profile. “The newly constructed Kanchibiya Civic Centre in Chalabesa is now complete and awaiting official handover,” Hon Sunday Chanda – Kanchibiya MP announced today, Thursday, November 6. He called the project “our commitment to bringing public services closer to the people of Kanchibiya,” and noted that the work continued despite delays caused by a contractor change. The project was funded entirely through the Constituency Development Fund. It gives Kanchibiya Town Council a permanent and functional headquarters for the first time.
This civic centre is a symbolic extension of his long-standing message: CDF is not an abstract allocation. It is a delivery instrument. It can produce civic offices, police posts, clinics, bridges, and radio stations when managed with discipline. Chanda used the announcement to express gratitude. “Allow me to say thank you to the President of the Republic of Zambia Hakainde Hichilema for allowing us to do this and much more using the CDF facility.” It fits his identity as an opposition MP who credits government when it unlocks progress.
His brand rests on a clear promise: “By 2031, safe, clean water will flow in every village.” Water, sanitation, and health form the foundation of his politics. The record supports the message. Council records and public commissioning ceremonies confirm 23 CDF-funded projects completed by mid-2025, including the first police post in the constituency, the first community radio station, a mothers’ shelter at Chalabesa Mini Hospital, bridges, and a consistent pipeline of boreholes
https://youtu.be/0nYCzK-wJ4Q?si=v22SxwHWjZoS7juM
This method has created an unusual dynamic. State media regularly features his work because it fits into a national development narrative driven by CDF expansion. ZNBC segments emphasise that increased local funding is transforming Kanchibiya. Chanda amplifies those segments to strengthen his argument that collaboration produces results faster than conflict.
His transparency posture also shapes his brand. “We start to publish all projects from September 2021 to date,” he said earlier this year. He maintains a digital record of everything built. His page posts drone clips, ground videos, procurement updates, and letters from the council. This track record is not polished in hindsight. It is documented in real time.
Chanda’s politics still draw criticism. Some residents argue that certain projects do not match local priorities. Others question whether his gratitude to government softens the scrutiny expected of an opposition MP. These criticisms form part of his ecosystem and help maintain balance around his image. They also reinforce why his project documentation is central to his credibility.
Despite the volume of work in Kanchibiya, national media has not given him the spotlight proportional to his output. Yet his constituency results offer a distinct governance model inside the opposition. He shows that an MP can convert CDF, council structures, and local partnerships into a functioning delivery machine, even without political alignment with the executive.
Honourable Chanda is not an explosive politician. He is not an online combatant. He is not a headline chaser. He has built a different argument: performance is a political language. For Kanchibiya, the new civic centre is the latest sentence in that story. For the national conversation, his record is becoming a reference point for what an opposition MP can achieve when delivery becomes the central message.
Next in The Candidates: Populists, pragmatists, and the dark horses redefining Zambia’s 2026 battle.
GOLD RUSH MADNESS HITS NDOLA: CEMETERY TURNS INTO CHAOS AS LOCALS DIG FOR “BURIED TREASURE
What was once a place of peace has now become a theatre of frenzy. The Kantolomba Cemetery in Ndola has turned into an unexpected gold rush zone after grave diggers reportedly stumbled upon what appears to be traces of gold beneath the burial grounds.
The shocking discovery has drawn over a thousand people men, women, and youths from Ndola, Kitwe, Mufumbwe, and beyond who are now swarming the area with picks, shovels, and dreams of fortune.
Videos circulating online show chaotic scenes as residents carve out makeshift mining pits just metres away from the graves. The eerie mix of grief and greed paints a haunting picture tombstones on one side, hopeful prospectors on the other.
“We are not disturbing graves. We are just digging where the soil looks different,” one self-proclaimed prospector told Kumwesu News. “There’s no employment; at least here we might find something to survive on.”
While some insist the glittering fragments could be actual gold, others suspect they may simply be gold-plated coffin handles or mineral traces unrelated to the precious metal. Still, the lure of instant riches has overridden reason and reverence.
Copperbelt Province Minister Elisha Matambo confirmed receiving reports of the “gold rush” and announced that a government verification team has been deployed to assess the situation.
“We have heard the reports, and we are verifying them,” Matambo said. “However, let it be known illegal mining will not be tolerated, whether it’s gold or not.”
Local authorities have expressed deep concern over the desecration of burial grounds and the environmental risks of unregulated digging. But their warnings seem to be falling on deaf ears as more people flock to Kantolomba, hoping to strike gold or at least a glimpse of it.
As the dust rises and chaos deepens, one question remains: Has curiosity and desperation finally dug too deep into the resting place of the dead?
Kumwesu Insight: The Kantolomba gold rush exposes more than greed, it reveals the growing despair of Zambia’s unemployed youth. When a cemetery becomes a minefield of hope, something far more valuable than gold is missing: opportunity.
SESHEKE RESIDENTS TURN OUT IN NUMBERS AND PLEDGE TO VOTE FOR PRESIDENT HICHILEMA.
Sesheke residents came in big numbers this afternoon to listen to Western Province Presidential Campaign Team Coordinator General Max Kasabi and his team when they stormed Lyamango Poling Station in Mulimambango Ward to audit Poling Station Structures in Sesheke.
” Our President has indeed worked very hard in the last four years to improve all our lives, let’s register as voters in thousands so that HH gets maximum votes in all poling stations in Sesheke, remember that winning in politics is always about numbers” Kasabi said.
https://youtu.be/0nYCzK-wJ4Q?si=vPemYInsK7Yrl4F6
Also in attendance were Ward and Poling Station Coordinators as well as Senior Party officials from the Main Party structure in Mulimambango Ward who all pledged to mobilize, recruit and urge their members to register en masse as voters for President Hakainde Hichilema to Win Big in 2026.
HH JOINS SADC SUMMIT FOCUSED ON MADAGASCAR STABILITY
PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema is currently participating in a virtual SADC Heads of State and Government Summit, convened to address the current situation in Madagascar.
In his opening remarks, SADC Deputy Chairperson and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa emphasised the need for regional solidarity and cooperation, urging leaders to take decisive action in confronting challenges facing member states.
He noted that the future of Southern Africa depends on the ability of countries to work together to find collective solutions that uphold peace and stability.
President Ramaphosa also extended well wishes to those injured in recent incidents in Madagascar.
SADC Executive Secretary Elias Magosi echoed the call for unity, stressing the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the region.
The US government congratulates Cameroon’s President Paul Biya on his inauguration stating that President Donald Trump’s administration looks forward to “continuing our strong partnership with Cameroon to advance shared goals such as regional peace and security and prosperity for both our peoples.”
Deadly protests followed the 92-year-old president’s re-election, which opponents have called heavily ‘fraudulent’.
Biya’s government restricted access to social media and messaging platforms TikTok, YouTube, Facebook and Telegram barely a day after UN data showed security forces opened fire and killed 48 civilians as they responded to protests against his re-election.
The majority of the victims were killed by live rounds although several died from wounds sustained when they were beaten with batons and sticks.
Africa’s second-longest serving leader, took the oath of office during a session of Parliament in what residents describe as the heavily militarised and partially deserted capital, Yaounde:
Tanzanian authorities have charged a considerable number of of citizens with treason following violent unrest tied to the country’s disputed 2025 general election.
According to court documents, seventy-six people appeared before prosecutors in Dar es Salaam on Friday, accused of plotting to disrupt the October 29 polls “for the purpose of intimidating” state authorities. The group is also facing charges of criminal conspiracy.
The treason cases come as Tanzania battles with the aftermath of one of its most chaotic elections in recent history. Rights groups and international observers say the election was neither free nor fair, citing widespread intimidation, media restrictions, and voter suppression.
Deadly clashes occurred in several regions after the election, with opposition supporters clashing with security forces. The main opposition party, Chadema, claims that over 1,000 people were killed and accused authorities of attempting to cover up the true death toll by secretly disposing of bodies. Officials have yet to release an official casualty count.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who assumed office in 2021 following the death of John Magufuli, was declared the winner with more than 97 percent of the vote, according to the electoral commission. Her main opponents, Tundu Lissu of Chadema and Luhaga Mpina of ACT-Wazalendo, were both barred from contesting, prompting condemnation from human rights organizations.
Amnesty International disclosed a series of arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial killings in the run-up to the polls, allegations the Tanzanian government has denied.
The African Union, which deployed a team of observers during the election, issued a damning report this week, stating that the vote “did not comply with AU principles, normative frameworks, and other international obligations and standards for democratic elections.”
Observers made a report about ballot stuffing, instances of voters receiving multiple ballots, and widespread irregularities. They concluded that the political climate was “not conducive to peaceful conduct and acceptance of electoral outcomes.”
While the opposition continues to challenge both the election results and alleged erosion of democracy under President Hassan’s leadership, the news about some citizens being charged with treason comes as another chapter in Tanzania’s deepening political crisis.
Vatican asks Catholics to stop calling Mary ‘co-redeemer’, says only Jesus saved the world
A new Vatican decree approved by Pope Leo has tweaked various titles used by Catholics to describe Mary, the mother of Jesus.
Among the popular Mary titles used by the denomination are “co-redemptrix” and “mediatrix”.
For centuries, Catholics have prayed to Mary to intercede on their behalf with the use of Rosary beads, believing that birthing Christ takes her up several rungs on the divination hierarchy.
In the decree issued Tuesday, the Vatican noted that Mary only played a subordinate role in salvation.
Kanye West has apologized for his antisemitic remarks during a meeting with a Rabbi in New York.
The rapper held a private meeting with a prominent Rabbi Yoshiayao Yosef Pinto in which he said he was “taking accountability” for his antisemitic tirades, which he blamed on his bipolar disorder.
Kanye, who has legally changed his name to Ye, expressed “profound remorse” for his past comments about the Jewish people and sought forgiveness for them, according to Rabbi Yoshiyahu Yosef Pinto.
Video of the meeting, which took place on Tuesday, was circulated on the rabbi’s social media on Thursday.
“I feel really blessed to sit here and take accountability,” West began while holding Pinto’s hands. “I was dealing with various issues. I was dealing with bipolar also, so I would take the ideas I had and forget about the protection of the people around me and myself. So I wanted to take accountability.”
The Chicago native continued: “So it’s like if you left the house and you left your kid at the house and your kid went and messed up the kitchen and messed up the garage and messed up the living room. Then, when you get back, it’s your responsibility because that’s your job. That’s the way I look at it. It’s like I gotta go clean up the kitchen, I gotta clean up the living room, I gotta clean up the garage.”
Ye said he “wanted to come and take accountability,” as he believes these are the “first steps” in building “brick-by-brick” for the “strong walls” in repairing his relationship with the Jewish community.
“A person is not defined by his mistakes, but by the way he chooses to correct them,” Rabbi Pinto, who serves as the leader of the Shuva Israel institutions, said in a translated statement. “This is the true strength of man: The ability to return, to learn, and to build bridges of love and peace.”
West has been under fire for his repeated antisemitic commentary, which included him tweeting he was going to go “death con 3” [sic] on Jewish people in 2022.
Ye’s inflammatory remarks resulted in corporations such as Universal Music Group, Balenciaga, Gap, and Adidas cutting ties with him.
Diddy wanted to be transferred to FCI Fort Dix, which had a rehab program that could shorten his prison sentence.
Diddy has taken a step back on his journey to complete sobriety in prison. The mogul, who’s currently at FCI Fort Dix, was reportedly caught drinking on the prison’s grounds per TMZ. It got in some brief trouble with officials at the facility and the outlet says he was drinking some homemade alcohol.
It’s concocted using Fanta, sugar and apples The inmates then allow the mixture to ferment for at least two weeks before consuming. After getting caught, Diddy was supposed to be transferred to a new unit within Fort Dix. However, prison officials ultimately decided to keep him where he’s at.
It seems they are giving him at least one more chance. It’s worth noting that his prison digs are classified as lower security. That could be the reason for the leniency. However, while he might have gotten off the hook, this isn’t a good look for the entrepreneur on a personal level.
If you remember, Diddy has been fighting an alcohol addiction for years. Additionally, he claimed it played a huge role in landing him behind bars. However, prior to his sentencing in October he told Judge Arun Subramanian that he was sober for the first time in 25 years.
https://youtu.be/VvCXedHKFm4?si=nvNSeJEU_IRBYz1a
Moreover, he went out of his way to write in a letter to the judge about the path he wants to take. “The old me died in jail and a new version of me was reborn. Prison will change you or kill you — I choose to live.”
Of course, relapses are not totally out of the question, especially for how long Diddy was battling his vices. But it definitely doesn’t look good at the end of the day. It may even affect his chances of getting out earlier.
Remember, the Bad Boy CEO even requested Fort Dix so he could take advantage of their rehab program. The RDAP allows for inmates to shave a year off of their sentences, as long as they don’t commit any forms of violence.
Diddy has been in prison for just over a week, checking in on the eve of Halloween. His projected release is May 8, 2028.
This week, Kanye West met with prominent rabbi, Yoshiyahu Yosef Pinto, to express how sorry he feels for his past acts towards the Jews.
Kanye West may have made some poor choices over the last few years, especially with his hateful words. But this week he made a conscious effort to start mending his relationship with the Jewish community. On Tuesday, November 4, the Chicago rapper had a visit with New York rabbi, Yoshiyahu Yosef Pinto.
While there, Ye expressed how sorry he feels for spewing his anti-Semitic remarks and how he wants to “take accountability.” “I feel really blessed to be able to sit here with you today and just take accountability,” West tells the rabbi in the video.
“I was dealing with some various issues of bipolar, so it would take the ideas I had and have me take them to an extreme where I would forget about the protection of the people around me or and myself.”
Ye continues, “So, I wanted to come and take accountability… Sometimes people aren’t that knowledgeable about bipolar and the cause, or what causes it, and the way you act when you have this disease.”
Of course, it’s now a matter of Kanye following through on his promise to Rabbi Pinto, but also to himself. But the act has received the respect amongst the public, as well as from his rap peers.
So happy to see Kanye publicly take accountability for the pain his words may have caused to so many.
Nicki Minaj took to her Twitter account to commend her former collaborator for seeking help and/or forgiveness from those he hurt deeply. “So happy to see Kanye publicly take accountability for the pain his words may have caused to so many. Standing with our Jewish brothers & sisters,” she wrote alongside the aforementioned video.
Rabbi Pinto released a statement to his social media following their meeting as well. “A person is not defined by his mistakes, but by the way he chooses to correct them. This is the true strength of man: The ability to return, to learn, and to build bridges of love and peace.'”
He concludes, “Ye came with humility to seek forgiveness and a new chapter of repentance and love among human beings. The meeting concluded with shared hope for a future of respect and unity among nations and faiths, grounded in a commitment to truth and peace.”
In other news, Kanye is still working on his upcoming solo album, BULLY. At the top of the week, it was slated to drop today, November 7. However, he delayed it again to December 12. But weirdly, the timeline kept going back and forth between the two in the following days. Eventually though, he settled for the December date.
Death is inevitable, and Michelle Obama said that her mother, Marian Robinson, started psyching her mind to be able to move on in life without her when she was as young as 10 years old.
The former first lady also said she’s doing the same thing with the two daughters (Malia, 27, and Sasha, 24) she shares with her husband and former U.S. President, Barack Obama.
Michelle, 61, touched on what her mother told her before she died during a November 5 discussion with La La Anthony about her new book, The Look, at People Inc.’s exclusive in-person event, PEOPLE reported.
The sexagenarian, on a lighter note, recalled that when she was as young as 10 years old, her mother was already making her and her brother Craig Robinson understand that she wasn’t going to be around forever.
“What she was doing was letting us know that she loved us, but that we could live life with and without her, and I understand that now as a parent,” Michelle said about her mother, who passed away in 2024 at the age of 86.
She added: “I want my daughters to know, ‘I love you, you love me, but you don’t need me. You know everything you need to know to be successful.’”
Michelle took care of her mother and was usually with her when she fell sick and was close to kicking the bucket. She recalled a day when she was watching TV with her mother, Marian, and Marian told her, “Wow, that was quick.”
Michelle stated that when she asked her mother to expatiate on what she meant, Marian’s response was, “Life.”
“That’s all she said, but what I got from that was even in her practical-minded way, that you’re never ready. And I don’t think that she was done living. It just comes, and then life is over,” Michelle said. “I was like, ‘Let me hear that. Let me understand that, that even with a wonderful life, I want to be present.’”
Michelle also touched on being a sexagenarian, telling Anthony: “I think that feeling of 60 is about trying to be present in the feeling. Trying to be present in this moment in my life so that this last chapter is exactly the way I want it to be.”
Michelle also touched on a photo that her husband Obama took of her to celebrate her 60th birthday. She was wearing a yellow dress and was on a trip to Greece at the time, PEOPLE reported.
Following an over 7-year hiatus, Meghan Markle has returned to acting after she initially said she was “done” with that aspect of her career in the wake of her marriage to Prince Harry.
Per PEOPLE, the Duchess of Sussex was seen on set in Pasadena, California, for the upcoming movie, Close Personal Friends.
“Meghan was on the set today,” an insider told the news outlet. “She has a small part. She seemed very relaxed and happy. She introduced herself to everyone and was very sweet and down-to-earth.”
Close Personal Friends, a comedy film, will reportedly see the 44-year-old royal playing herself. The movie centers around a couple who travel to Santa Barbara and become friends with a famous couple. The likes of Brie Larson, Lily Collins, Jack Quaid and Henry Golding also star in the movie.
Meghan and Prince Harry tied the knot in 2018, and they share a 6-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter. The royal couple ultimately relocated to the United States after they stepped back as “senior” members of the British Royal Family. Meghan hasn’t featured in a movie project since they got married.
“This is a massive moment for Meghan and signifies a return to doing what she truly loves. She has been swamped with offers, but this one felt right,” a studio source told The Sun.
Meghan made a name for herself in the popular legal drama series, Suits. The 44-year-old, who played Rachel Zane, opted not to return for the eighth season. That was before their royal wedding.
“I don’t see it as giving anything up, I just see it as a change,” she told BBC‘s Mishal Husain in their engagement interview.
“It’s a new chapter. Right. And also, keep in mind, I’ve been working on my show for seven years. So we’re very, very fortunate to be able to have that sort of longevity on a series,” she added. “For me, once we hit the 100-episode marker, I thought, you know what? I have ticked this box, and I feel really proud of the work I’ve done there, and now it’s time to, as you said, work as a team with [Harry].”
“I think what’s been really exciting as we talk about the transition out of my career and into my role is the causes that are really important to me that I can focus even more energy on,” she continued. “Very early out of the gate, I think you realize you have access or a voice that people are willing to listen and with that comes a lot of responsibility, which I take seriously.”
During a 2022 interview with Variety, Meghan also said she was “done” with acting when she was asked if she would look into returning to the profession.
“I’m done. I guess never say never, but my intention is to absolutely not,” she said at the time.
GUARDIOLA IN DISBELIEF AT NUMBERS BEFORE 1,000TH GAME
PEP Guardiola will take charge of his 1,000th game when Manchester City host Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday and the Spanish manager is in awe of the numbers he has achieved in his career.
Guardiola has collected 715 victories in all competitions since first taking charge of Barcelona B in 2007, going on to lift 12 top-flight titles at Barcelona, Bayern Munich and City, as well as three Champions League crowns.
The 54-year-old has lost only 128 matches, claiming another 14 cup victories during his illustrious career.
Asked by BBC Sport if he knows how many wins he has achieved over the course of his time in management, Guardiola replied: “Of course I know, a lot. The numbers are insane, I’m sorry to tell you.
“I’m not thinking how many but when you have the milestones and you read what you have done, the victories, the average, not just in Premier League but in the Champions League too, we have won incredible things in Barcelona, Bayern Munich and here.
“It is difficult to reach and if I start again I would not reach it, it is too much games. A few defeats, comparing 1,000 games and hopefully on Sunday I hope we can continue.”
He has also achieved incredible numbers at City, leading the team to become the first to reach 100 points in the league, the first team to achieve the domestic treble and becoming the first side to win four league titles in a row.
Guardiola said: “It looks like I have false humility but this amount of percentage, beyond 70% of victories [it means] every 10 games we win seven and will draw one or two.
“It can happen because you are at Barcelona, Munich and City with the players I have. After that, it is a lot of hard work. Dedication, passion, love in that nobody [can] beat me.
“I love to scrutinise the secrets of what you can do to opponents, convince the players and go in together. All the times the players follow me. All the time.”
Asked for his response on being called the greatest manager of all time by some, Guardiola said with a smile: “They are completely right!
“The influence of every manager has been through history. Of course, I can say I’ve been part of that because the numbers explain, I’ve had success and it’s been nice to watch my teams.
“So I’m there. But I never started thinking ‘I want to be the best’.”
The Spaniard was inducted into the League Managers Association (LMA) hall of fame for reaching the milestone, with ex-Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson saying the longevity in achieving the landmark “can never be underestimated”.
On Sunday, Guardiola and City come up against a Liverpool side that they have forged a classic rivalry with, as one of the two teams have won the Premier League in each of the past eight seasons.
“I think we pushed Liverpool to be better and they pushed us to be better, for sure,” said Guardiola.
“If I had to choose one rival for this personal milestone I want to share it with many, many people that would be the best.
“Because I have been in this country longer than ever, Barcelona the impact in my life as a ballboy, football player and manager was obvious and Bayern were an incredible step as well.”
With 10 losses, the Reds along with Tottenham are the side Guardiola has suffered the most defeats against and he has heaped praise on the opponents for pushing him to be the best and also credited former boss Jurgen Klopp.
The German is the manager he has faced the most number of times during his career (31) and also beating Guardiola on the most occasions (11).
“Liverpool, especially with Jurgen, have been the biggest rival in this country,” he added. “It could not be better, to be honest. The universe decide that. It’s nice to live it at our best.
“What happened with the Jurgen period means this has been the biggest because maybe after the first season the Premier League was between us and them.
“Always I enjoyed this healthy rivalry. I always had the feeling of how much we respected each other. Jurgen gave me a lot and I miss him. He gave me a lot in terms of how much I had to do to try and beat him.”
FIFA U17 WORLD CUP: ZAMBIA THROUGH TO ROUND OF 32 AFTER BIG WIN OVER HONDURAS
THE Zambia U17 National team has qualified for the knock out stage of the ongoing 2025 FIFA U17 World Cup following a 5-2 win over Honduras.
The debutantes started the match like a house on fire and were 1-0 up five minutes into the match, Kelvin Chipelu with the opener heading in a Jonathan Kalimina cross from close range.
Felix Phiri doubled the lead from a team goal with a fine close range finish after being perfectly set up by Mapalo Simute.
It was all Zambia with very little from Honduras. The COSAFA giants made their dominance count as Sporting Lusaka captain James Sibeene made it 3-0 with a powerful header off a Kalimina corner.
Four minutes later however Yeison Arriola pulled one back after a mix up at the back as the match went to the break with Zambia in the driving seat, 3-1.
Honduras came back from the second half rejuvenated and reduced the deficit to just a goal nine minutes in, David Ramirez with a free header inside the area to make it 3-2.
Makinka made changes and one of them paid off shortly as Billy Daka headed in from close range to make it 4-2 after the goalkeeper and the defense failed to deal with the initial shot in the 72nd minute.
The Honduras technical bench called on the Video Assistance Review but the goal stood.
Abel Salim Nyirongo sealed the win with his 3rd goal of the tournament two minutes to time with a brilliant strike inside the area.
With the 5-2 win, Dennis Makinka’s boys are through to the last 32 ahead of their final group game against Brazil set for Monday afternoon.
Full Time
Zambia 5-2 Honduras
(Kelvin Chipelu 5′, Felix Phiri, James Sibeene 40′, Bill Daka 72’, Abel Salim Nyirongo 88’| Yeison Arriola 44′, Davis Ramirez 54’)
An FBI informant tied to a fake bribery scheme against the Biden family has been released from prison, raising concerns that President Donald Trump could pardon him.
Alexander Smirnov pleaded guilty to making up a story that former President Joe Biden and his son Hunter had gotten millions of dollars in bribes from a Ukrainian energy company, but journalist Jacqueline Sweet reported on her Disaster Girl Substack page that he’s apparently no longer serving a six-year prison term imposed days before Trump returned to office.
“Despite Smirnov being judged a flight risk, with ties to Russian intelligence and foreign assets, the U.S.-Israeli citizen has been mysteriously missing from prison for at least the past four months,” Sweet reported. “Following reports in April that the Trump administration was reviewing the case, concerns have now arisen that the president is considering an imminent pardon.”
“Smirnov had been serving his sentence at FCI Terminal Island, a low-security prison in Los Angeles,” the report added. “He is still listed at FCI Terminal Island on the Bureau of Prisons website, with a release date of February 2029. But while no filings on the docket for his appeal indicate how or why his release was ordered, he has not been there since at least July.”
A process server found Smirnov was no longer at the prison when he attempted to serve papers for a civil lawsuit related to his time working as a confidential FBI informant on a securities fraud case involving a California man named Andrew Hackett, and the prison confirmed he was on “furlough, according to emails and court filings Sweet reviewed.”
“I was advised to call back in approximately 15 days, as [Smirnov] may or may not return to the facility by that time,” the process server told Hackett in an email. “The representative was notably guarded and provided minimal information beyond that.”
A local sheriff eventually told Hackett that Smirnov had been furloughed, but no additional information about his new location was provided, and a spokesperson at the Department of Justice replied “no comment” to a list of questions about the furlough or a possible pardon.
Smirnov, who reportedly has ties to multiple Trump associates, pleaded guilty to making a false statement and tax evasion, and the Biden Justice Department deemed him too great a flight risk to be granted bail because of his extensive ties to Russian intelligence operatives.
His claims to the FBI about the Bidens and Burisma formed the basis for the House Republican impeachment hearings against the then-president in 2023, but the Department of Justice determined last year his testimony contained fabrications and impossible claims.
Cardi B previously claimed that Offset is holding her “hostage” by demanding millions of dollars in their divorce process.
It seems like Offset and Cardi B are being just as scathing to each other in the courtroom as they are on wax. Their contentious and nasty divorce process continues to play out in ugly ways, whether publicly or in court updates. According to a report from AllHipHop’s Houston Williams, he turned down a $10 million settlement offer from her, but take this with a grain of salt.
Alleged sources reportedly close to the case told the publication that “Offset feels used. He built that brand with her, now he wants his cut.” This comes a bit over a month after Cardi B accused him of holding her “hostage” by demanding millions of dollars, tax payment coverage, and one of her properties.
Per this new report, the former Migo is demanding half of the couple’s combined assets in the divorce proceedings. The outlet also presumes that the Bronx femcee’s next step will be to respond to this alleged rejection and ‘Set’s claims by providing evidence of her independently earned income, earnings, and financial status. Whether it’s through financial records, business deals, or other forms of documentation, we will see what the court concludes.
To be clear, neither artists has publicly commented on this rumor, nor on the specific details of their court drama. Beyond some vague statements, attacks, and frustrations, fans are pretty in the dark.
Elsewhere, Offset recently addressed his Cardi B marriage regrets during an episode of Baby, This Is Keke Palmer. “I should’ve respected her way more, you know what I mean?” he reportedly remarked. “I made bad decisions as a man, like stepping out. That’s why when she left, I had to take that on the chin. I was being selfish, you know what I mean? And I can say that as a man. I’m a grown man. I was definitely not perfect in the situation. I made a lot of mistakes. [There’s] a lot of things that I did wrong. She did things that was wrong.”
Offset’s also shutting haters down amid this whole process, as fans can be just as combative in this situation as the artists themselves. Hopefully court resolutions will lead to a more amicable dynamic in the public eye.
Donald Trump on Friday sent a warning to GOP lawmakers that they are walking into a “disaster waiting to happen.”
The president earlier in the day took to Truth Social to issue a fierce demand to Republican lawmakers, asking that they eliminate a Senate procedure to clear the way for his administration’s legislative priorities, and even included an ominous threat to those Republicans who may defy him.
“Republicans, Terminate the Filibuster and bring back the American Dream,” Trump wrote. “If you don’t do it, the Dems will, and you’ll never see office again!”
Two hours later, Trump returned to warn of the purported “disaster.”
“If Republicans kill the Filibuster, they sail to Victory for many years to come,” the president wrote Friday. “If they don’t, DISASTER waiting to happen!”
Trump has increased his calls on GOP lawmakers in recent weeks to eliminate the filibuster, a procedural rule in the Senate that allows members to block a measure that receives less than 60 votes. His calls come amid the ongoing government shutdown, which as of Friday is on its 38th day, making it the longest shutdown in U.S. history.
The Associated Press investigated the identities of those killed in President Donald Trump’s military strikes on boats in the Caribbean and found that many were not the hardened criminals Trump claimed.
“One was a fisherman struggling to eke out a living on $100 a month. Another was a career criminal. A third was a former military cadet. And a fourth was a down-on-his-luck bus driver,” the report said.
Senators were given a classified briefing on Thursday, where Senate Intelligence Vice Chairman Mark Warner (D-VA) expressed confidence that the intelligence being used to justify the bombings was legitimate. Nonetheless, the Pentagon’s secrecy has fueled concern and skepticism among the public, CNN reported.
AP conducted dozens of interviews in Venezuelan coastal towns, finding families who dispute Trump’s portrayal of their loved ones as “narco-terrorists.” Most were “low-level” laborers taking dangerous jobs for $500 per trip. “They were laborers, a fisherman, a motorcycle taxi driver. Two were small-time criminals,” the report said. Only one was linked to a crime boss providing smuggling services.
The boats weren’t carrying fentanyl or heading to Florida; they shipped cocaine to nearby Trinidad and other islands, and then to Europe. The bulk of Colombian cocaine for the U.S. typically leaves Colombia via the Pacific. The boats appeared to be carrying cocaine instead of the deadlier opioids, which kill tens of thousands in America each year.
The families complain that their relatives should have been given “due process” rather than what Venezuela’s ambassador to the U.N. called “extrajudicial executions.”
As the AP explained, “In the past, their boats would have been interdicted by the U.S. authorities and the crewmen charged with federal crimes, affording them a day in court.”
Since September, at least 69 people have been killed by the strikes.
House Speaker Mike Johnson’s deep-red district in Louisiana has one of the highest usage rates for food stamps in the nation, with nearly one in five households relying on the benefits, and his constituents are feeling the pain as the government shutdown threatens that lifeline.
The Washington Post spoke with several people in Johnson’s district who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Aid Program (SNAP), and they aren’t blaming President Donald Trump or Republican congressional leadership for a lapse in funding for the aid, which a judge ordered the administration to restore.
“Mike Johnson and Trump — I like them, I like some of the things they’re doing now,” said Liz Hill, 58, who oversees 911 operations for Evangeline parish. “I think they have good ideas. But I just think the fighting that’s going on with the government shutdown is ridiculous.”
Trump so far is escaping blame among his core supporters for the shutdown or loss of SNAP benefits, even though his administration is challenging the court order to pay for them through November, but his voters say they’re hurting.
“Stressful is not a strong enough word,” said Mary Little, an 80-year-old retired nurse and the widow of a Vietnam veteran.
Little was loading cornbread mix, coffee and cereal into her car outside First United Methodist Church in Bossier City when the Post spoke with her, and she expressed pride in Johnson and Trump but expressed outrage toward Washington politics in general.
“There are people up there that have never been hungry, that have never had food stamps, that have never gone to a food bank,” Little said. “Your people are hungry. There’s nothing worse than that. … I personally feel vulnerable — and I have a college education, my husband was a Vietnam vet, and God knows I paid my taxes before I was retired.”
Congressional districts represented by Democrats are home to 53 percent of SNAP recipients, while 47 percent live in districts represented by Republicans, and nearly half the SNAP households in Johnson’s district have a least one child, and 46 percent have at least person living with a disability.
“As elected representatives, we are duty bound to ensure that our constituents are not hurt by unnecessary, pointless Democrat infighting,” Johnson told the Post in a statement. “That’s why Republicans in Congress have supported a funding bill 15 separate times to ensure nutritional assistance is fully funded, and it’s why Republicans in the Louisiana Legislature stepped up to allocate emergency funds to ensure SNAP benefits continue uninterrupted to Louisiana families.”
The speaker pointed out that Republicans have brought the issue to a vote 15 times but said Democrats have refused to step up, while Democrats have insisted that Republicans negotiate with them to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies to prevent premiums from skyrocketing if they’re allowed to expire at the end of this year.
“I have never seen an American President so desperate to force children and seniors to go hungry,” Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) said on X. “This is as ugly and cruel as it gets.”
The restoration of funding for SNAP remains on hold while the Trump administration appeals the judge’s ruling, and churches and other organizations hoping to bridge the gap lack the resources to meet everyone’s needs.
“The people that Jesus told to feed the 5,000, all he asked them to do was see what they do have,” said Donnie Wilkinson, a pastor at First United Methodist Church near Shreveport. “We’re trusting that God is still in the multiplication.”
Little compared the SNAP disruption to a natural disaster like a hurricane, so she’s stocking up on staples but making do with what she could get.
“I know she put me some meat in here,” Little said, looking into her bag and finding a seasoned pork roast.
“That’s a serious piece of meat for someone who lives alone,” she said. “I looked at the price of turkeys, and if you don’t have $25, well you just can’t do it. [The food bank] even gave me cake mix. So between this pork and that cake, that’s what I’m going to make for Thanksgiving.”
Zimbabwe Economy Stronger Than Expected Says IMF The International Monetary Fund has declared that Zimbabwe’s economic rebound in 2025 is progressing with more strength than anyone predicted. This optimistic assessment was delivered by a visiting IMF team, pointing to key sectors as the drivers of this encouraging turnaround.
The announcement came at the conclusion of an IMF staff mission, led by Wojciech Maliszewski, which was in the country from October 29 to November 5, 2025. The team engaged in detailed discussions with senior government officials regarding the nation’s economic progress and future budgetary plans.
Sectors Driving The Surge The IMF identified several areas where Zimbabwe’s economy is showing remarkable vigour. A powerful recovery in agriculture, combined with consistently solid performances from the mining industry, has provided a substantial boost. At the same time, the economic landscape has been stabilised by a significant easing of inflation, supported by a more predictable foreign exchange rate.
Wojciech Maliszewski stated:
“Zimbabwe’s economic recovery in 2025 is stronger than previously anticipated, given the rebound in agriculture and solid performances in mining, while inflation has continued to significantly ease, supported by a stable foreign exchange rate. The economy is expected to maintain strong momentum in 2026.”
Focus On Fiscal Discipline The discussions in Harare placed a strong emphasis on the need for continued fiscal discipline. The IMF mission focused on the upcoming 2026 budget, urging authorities to ensure that government spending is carefully aligned with revenues. A key point of discussion was the importance of using sustainable financing sources that do not fuel inflation.
The IMF team advised the government to avoid the accumulation of new expenditure arrears. They also stressed the need for the 2026 budget to be built upon credible revenue projections, which should be backed by concrete policy measures and improved tax administration. Maliszewski commented on the ongoing dialogue, saying:
“In the context of the requested Staff Monitored Programme, IMF staff stand ready to resume discussions upon progress toward addressing key policy issues highlighted in the Article IV consultations, including aligning the 2026 budget with the objective of sustaining macroeconomic stability.”
A Foundation For Future Growth The positive review from the international financial institution suggests a foundation is being laid for continued economic stability. The mission met with high-level officials including Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube and Reserve Bank Governor John Mushayavanhu. The cooperative spirit of the talks was highlighted in the IMF’s concluding statement, which expressed gratitude for the open dialogue.
This report provides a hopeful outlook for a nation that has faced prolonged economic challenges. With strong momentum expected to continue into 2026, the IMF’s analysis indicates that Zimbabwe’s economic policies are yielding tangible, positive results.
“Daily Blast” podcast host Greg Sargent said President Donald Trump is “unraveling” over Tuesday’s election losses and blaming his own party for losing seats.
“President Trump’s excuses for his party’s losses are getting stranger,” said Sargent, citing Trump’s quote that “I tell Republicans, you want to win elections, you got to talk about these facts,” which includes Trump’s own accomplishments since returning to office.
Trump even claimed “it’s really easy to win elections when you talk about the facts.”
“That strikes me as pretty deep denial,” Sargent told guest Jessica Post, a Democratic strategist. “It seems to me that, in just about every conceivable way, these elections were a repudiation of his record — particularly on the economy.”
Now, desperate and flailing, Sargent and Post said Trump is “openly” responding “to his losses by rigging the 2026 midterms” with “pernicious gerrymandering schemes”
“He actually came out and said it in another quote right after Election Day this week,” said Sargent. “He said this of Democrats: ‘Now, if we do what I’m saying, they’ll most likely never obtain power.’”
“So there you have it — end the filibuster, pass all these voting restrictions, and we will lock in Republican power forever,” said Sargent. “You’re not supposed to admit openly that you want to do these voting restrictions in order to rig the elections in your favor and create one-party rule — you’re supposed to say you want to do it in order to eliminate fraud, which is all b——, but that’s what they say. And at least most Republicans know that they’re supposed to say that. But Trump says straight out, let’s do all this stuff in order to lock in power for ourselves. It’s just amazing.”
“He’s definitely not hiding the ball there,” agreed Post. “Republicans received printed talking points saying, ‘We’re going to make it easier to vote and harder to cheat,’ after they decided they wanted to change all the voting laws leading up to the last 2024 election. And obviously, Trump — if he got that handout — he just decided to ignore it.”
Post said Trump’s gerrymandering scheme could result in “nine to twelve [Republican] House seats — and maybe even more … if Trump’s able to convince more states to act. But she added that people aren’t including Virginia in the calculation, which could add “a number of Dem seats.”
“So there’s really a range of possibilities here, going all the way from Republicans having five extra seats at the end of the day and being able to hold onto the House … or all this backfiring and Republicans actually losing a couple more seats and losing the House as a result.”
But Post added that the positive results for Democrats on Tuesday left her feeling optimistic about the outcome for midterms.
Far-right podcaster and former top presidential advisor Steve Bannon told a crowd of aspiring conservative staffers on Capitol Hill this week that the job of Republicans between now and the midterm election next year is to seize complete control of government institutions and turn as many of President Donald Trump’s executive orders as possible into law as a way to avoid politic defeat in the coming years and, ultimately, keep MAGA loyalists from being tried and sent to jail.
“I’ll tell you right, as God as my witness, if we lose the midterms and we lose 2028, some in this room are going to prison,” Bannon told the crowd Wednesday at an awards event hosted by the Conservative Partnership Academy. This group offers training and certifications to aspiring right-wing ideologues working in politics and government.
Bannon, who has already served time in prison for refusing to submit to a congressional subpoena related to his role as a top aide to Trump during his first term, included himself among those who might be targeted if Republicans lost power.
In his remarks, Bannon said Tuesday’s election results in New York City, Virginia, New Jersey, and elsewhere—where Democrats swept the GOP—should be seen as a warning to Trump’s MAGA base, but called for an intensification of the agenda, not a retreat.
“They’re not gonna stop,” Bannon said of Democrats and progressives aligned against Trump’s authoritarian push and Republican economic policies that have focused on lavishing ever-larger tax cuts for corporations and the rich while gutting government programs, including cuts to Medicaid, food assistance for the poor, devastating environmental policies, and dismantling of healthcare subsidies leading to a surge in monthly premiums for millions of families.
Trump’s opponents, warned Bannon, are “getting more and more and more radical, and we have to counter that.”
His advice to Republicans in power and the right-wing movement that supports them is to counter “with more intense action” and more “urgency” before it’s too late. “We’re burning daylight,” Bannon said. “We have to codify what Trump has done by executive order.”
In what seemed like a reference to Trump’s recent talk of going “nuclear” on the filibuster in the US Senate and other efforts, Bannon said, “We have to get beyond these structural barriers” in Washington, DC, that he believes are hindering the president from consolidating his power even further.
Speaking about discussions behind the scenes, Bannon said he has been in touch with Republicans in the Senate who he says are asking him to go through for them what he means and that in the coming days people may be surprised by who “in the conservative movement” are coming around to his thinking, mentioning “institutionalists” like Sens. Josh Hawley of Missouri and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, as those he’s been speaking with.
“These are what I would call heavy-hitters on the limited-government constitutionalists, in our movement,” Bannon said of other unnamed individuals, “and they’re about to come out in the next couple of days and make this argument because I said, ‘Look, we have to understand that if we don’t this to the maximum—the maximalist strategy—now, with a sense of urgency, and in doing this, seize the institutions… if we don’t do this now, we’re going to lose this chance forever, because you’re never going to have another Trump.”
In an interview with Politico following Tuesday’s elections, Bannon said the win by democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani to become New York City’s next mayor “should be a wakeup call” to Trump’s right-wing nationalist movement. “These are very serious people,” Bannon said of Mamdani and others who support his affordability agenda that focuses on the needs of working people, “and they need to be addressed seriously.”
As such, Bannon called for the Justice Department, the State Department, and the Department of Homeland Security to target Mamdani specifically by going after his US citizenship and calling for him to be deported. Mamdani is a naturalized US citizen who came to the United States with his parents when he was seven years old.
As the video clip of Bannon’s remarks about jail time if the Republicans lose in the upcoming elections made the rounds online Thursday, reactions were predictable along partisan lines.
“Steve Bannon motivating Democratic voters,” said Aviel Roshwald, a Georgetown University professor of history with a focus on nationalist movements.
Bannon’s call for “seizing the institutions” has been a mainstay on his popular War Room podcast for months, but critics warn that his open embrace of the demand should not make it any less shocking or worrisome.
“He’s preparing his audience to see violence and institutional takeover as ‘necessary.’ And he’s counting on Democrats and independents being too divided or too polite to call it what it is,” warned Christopher Webb, a left-leaning political writer on his Substack page last month.
Bannon and his allies, continued Webb, “do not give a damn about the law, the Constitution, or democracy. They only care about control. And if we keep treating their words as ‘just talk,’ it will be too late when it stops being talk.”
