Benjamin O. Davis Sr. and Benjamin O. Davis Jr. – they were a father and son who became America’s first Black generals. They both broke down barriers by addressing segregation in the military and helping to launch the first Black flying squadron. Years later, their great-grandnephew, Doug Melville, noticed that their names were largely left out of the conversation, so he decided to do something about it. In his book, “Invisible Generals,” Melville tells his family’s story and sheds light on their groundbreaking impact. He joins Soledad O’Brien in-studio to discuss.
Four years ago, the murder of George Floyd sparked nationwide protests against police brutality and calls for racial equality. Amid the civil unrest, the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx brought in Tru Pettigrew to help build better ties between the teams, the police and the community. He joins Soledad O’Brien in-studio to talk about the work the teams have done over the years and how they are continuing their efforts.
This week Matter of Fact learns how Minnesota’s NBA and WNBA teams are still working to unite the community in the years following George Floyd’s murder. Plus, how an all-female army battalion delivered millions of pieces of mail to American soldiers during WWII. And, the story of America’s first two Black generals is now being told in full.
Retired Justice Stephen Breyer spent nearly three decades on the Supreme Court. During his tenure, he considered major cases, including Dobbs on abortion rights and Bruen on gun control, but he wasn’t in the majority for either of those decisions. In his new book, “Reading the Constitution: Why I Chose Pragmatism, Not Textualism,” Breyer looks back on those cases and expresses his concerns around using textualism to interpret the law today. He sits down with special correspondent Joie Chen in-studio to discuss.
About a century ago, rural communities in southwestern Arkansas were thriving during an oil boom. Over time, business declined as oil companies and people left the area. Now, there is hope for revival. That’s because lithium – a mineral used in batteries for electric cars, mobile phones and other technology – lies thousands of feet below the ground, and companies have plans to extract it. Correspondent Jessica Gomez speaks to locals about their hopes and concerns about lithium mining.
This week Matter of Fact travels to South Arkansas where residents hope lithium mining could bring a revival. Plus, retired Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer talks about his time in the court, his legacy and his new book. And, New York City’s effort to cut down on traffic congestion could lead to more air pollution in some communities.
Homeownership is becoming increasingly difficult to achieve. In 1972, the median house price was nearly three times more than the median household income. By 2022, that gap doubled, with the median cost of a home rising to six times the median household income. Christopher Mayer is a real estate professor at the Columbia Business School. He joins Soledad O’Brien in-studio to explain how the housing market got so expensive and explore possible solutions.
Millions of people struggle with addiction every day. Jerod Thomas was one of them. In the 1980s, Thomas was a college football player with dreams of making it to the NFL, but addiction led him to homelessness and time behind bars. Now, he runs a long-term recovery center and helps hundreds of people find a way out of addiction. Correspondent Jessica Gomez travels to West Viriginia to learn how Thomas was able to make a comeback and pay it forward.
This week Matter of Fact learns how a former football player who battled an addiction is helping others recover. Plus, a real estate professor explains why homeownership is out of reach for so many. And, a retired coal miner suffering from black lung, shares his experience after getting diagnosed with the condition at a young age.
A majority of Americans believe that Republicans and Democrats are more focused on fighting each other than solving problems. Utah Governor Spencer Cox wants to change that perception of American politics. He introduced the “Disagree Better” initiative to the National Governors Association in 2023. Governor Cox speaks to Soledad O’Brien about how the effort is encouraging healthy debate between state leaders and reducing political divisiveness.