Roland Martin Reports Daily Podcast

Valerie Jarrett: "The Nay Sayers In D.C. Have Been Proven Wrong"  Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor to President Barack Obama and G.K. Butterfield, Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus joined Roland Martin on "NewsOne Now" to share their views as wel...

Roland Martin talks to the Tom Joyner Morning Show about his thoughts on President Obama’s sixth State of the Union address. Nigeria? #BlackLivesMatter? Both were noticeably missing from POTUS’ speech. Listen to the Tom Joyner Morning Show 24/7! WEEKDAYS: listen continuously every 4 hours starting live Monday – Friday at 6am ET. Catch Tom Joyner's Right Back at Cha every WEEKEND: starting at 6am ET Saturday – 5:59am ET Monday.

Roland S. Martin is back with the ALL NEW "Roland S. Martin Show" on the Empowerment Radio Network. In this inaugural edition of "The Roland S. Martin Show," Martin talks with Lauren Victoria Burke and Dr. Jason Johnson about what America should expect from President Barack Obama's State of the Union Address. Be sure to tune in weekdays to "The Roland S. Martin Show" on the Empowerment Radio Network from 10 AM EST - 1 PM EST. Subscribe to  "The Roland Martin Show" on iTunes.

Will Pres. Obama Mention #Ferguson, #BlackLivesMatter Movement During His State Of The Union Address? Roland Martin and the "NewsOne Now" Straight Talk panel, featuring Lauren Victoria Burke, Dr. Jason Johnson, Sophia A. Nelson and Cleo Manago to di...

The movement #BlackLivesMatter was created in 2012 after Trayvon Martin’s murderer George Zimmerman was acquitted for his crime, and the slain 17-year old was posthumously placed on trial for his own murder. Today the battlefield in the fight for justice has expanded across the nation. We've seen protesters marching through the streets changing "Black lives matter," disrupting commerce, traffic and shutting down streets all across America in the past week in response to two separate grand juries deciding not to indict police officers Darren Wilson and Daniel Pantaleo for killing unarmed Black men. On Friday, Nyle Fort, minister, writer and organizer with Black Lives Matter, joined Roland Martin on "NewsOne Now" to talk about the movement for social justice that is gaining steam and sweeping the nation. Fort told Martin, "We are seeing an awakening of sorts. We saw it rising out of the context of Ferguson, Mo. with the tragic shooting death of  Michael Brown. “Many of us are recognizing on our twitter feed, on our Facebook posts, as we can see via social media and out on the streets, folks have had enough--not just in Ferguson, but all across the country." "We see folks shutting it down, we see folks have had enough and Ferguson is sort of a ground zero for a larger national movement," Fort said. Fort said that the youth in America are realizing that "although we have a Black president it doesn’t necessarily mean we have Black progress." While talking about the massive acts of spontaneous marches that are taking place across the country Fort explained, "Its very important not to be satisfied with symbolic protests." "Justice is manifested in various different ways. Folks are outside in the streets because we have not gotten it in the courts. So, policy level decisions are extremely important. I think that there are several groups on the ground that have been pushing towards policy level changes, but we also need folks out in the streets. So it’s not a either/or, it’s definitely a both/and," Fort said. "We need to bring all our energies to the various different sectors of this movement so that we can bring about justice." TV One kicks off the holiday season with their made for TV movie "Second Chance Christmas." Singer/actor Tank and McKinley Freeman joined Roland Martin Friday on "NewsOne Now"to talk about TV One's new X-Mas classic and shared a few of their favorite holiday memories. From TV One: McKinley Freeman, Robinne Lee, Michael Rainey, and @TheRealTank. star in “Second Chance Christmas," a TV One original movie premiering December 6 at 8/7c, just in time to warm your heart for the holidays. All Lawrence (Rainey) wants for Christmas is his mother and the latest gaming console. Instead he gets a new dad when Maisie (Lee) decides to marry her boyfriend of six months, Malcolm (Freeman). With Malcolm comes a new home and a whole new set of rules. Of course Lawrence is NOT happy. When a tragic accident turns Lawrence’s world upside down, he and Malcolm must adjust to their new family dynamic to survive. With a bit of love, patience, and a second chance, they just might. While speaking about what the made for TV movie represents, McKinley said, " We all go through things year-round and I think to me what Christmas reminds people of is the humanity that we’re all capable of throughout the year no matter what day it is. I think that to go through the ups and  downs that we go through in life and to then be reminded of the things that are most important is what the holiday season is all about.” Listen to Martin, Tank and Freeman discuss "Second Chance Christmas" in this edition of the "NewsOne Now" Audio Podcast and don't miss the premiere of the film Saturday, December 6 at 8/7c on TV One. All that and more in this edition of the NewsOne Now Audio Podcast.

Roland Martin talks to Paul Butler, former federal prosecutor and professor at Georgetown University Law School about Attorney Eric Holder’s announcement to bring the case of Eric Garner to a federal level. “It’s a federal crime for a police officer to deny someone of their civil rights. We’re looking at substantial time for these officers,” Butler said. Listen to the Tom Joyner Morning Show 24/7! WEEKDAYS: listen continuously every 4 hours starting live Monday – Friday at 6am ET. Catch Tom Joyner's Right Back at Cha every WEEKEND: starting at 6am ET Saturday – 5:59am ET Monday.

Roland Martin talks about black people’s concern about police procedures and the critics that dismiss the nationwide protests as temporary on the TJMS. “The Mike Brown/Ferguson issue is not just about Mike Brown, it’s a culmination of things. It’s John White…it’s Eric Garner. Black folks have gotten tired of story after story after of black folks being gunned down by police,” he says.

In this special edition of the “NewsOne Now” Audio Podcast we hear from KEM, Ledisi, Marlon Wayans, Kirk Franklin, Avery Sunshine, Eric Bennett, Johnny Gill, Donnie McClurkin, Fred Hammond, Smokey Norful, Jeffery Osborne, Fantasia, Chante Moore and many more of your favorite entertainers in our Thanksgiving Day Entertainment Special. All that and more in this special edition of the NewsOne Now Audio Podcast.

Roland Martin talks to Legal Analyst Midwin Charles about the lack of indictment of Officer Darren Wilson in the shooting death of Michael Brown in Ferguson. “This was a classic “how not to get an indictment”. I’ve been saying all along that I would be very surprised if this grand jury came back with an indictment. People get indicted all day everyday with absolutely no evidence,” Charles said. ROLAND MARTIN:  Our folks out there still continue to have lots of dialogue as it relates to what took place in Ferguson last night, more than 40 folks were arrested.  We also had these spontaneous protests taking place all across the country shutting down highways, bridges, you name it, New York City, Boston, Los Angeles, Dallas, I mean 13, 15 different cities where you had these spontaneous protests and it was great to see folks step out there and show their activism, but still lots of questions being raised with regards to the grand jury as well as how prosecuting attorney Bob McCulloch, how he worked this case.  Joining me right now is legal analyst Midwin Charles.  And Midwin, going through this testimony of Dan Wilson, it is stunning, it is stunning to see the ineptness of this prosecuting attorney, in fact yesterday being prompted over at a news conference that a first year law student could’ve done better.  And I’m going to ask you this, this is very interesting; so in volume 1 of the grand jury testimony, on page 9, lines 15 through 25, McCulloch says that he gave the grand jury everything including quote statements that are floating around on the internet and nobody knows who’s making that statement.  Why in the hell would a DA give a grand jury testimony that cannot be collaborated that literally he pulled off of the Internet? MIDWIN CHARLES:  Because that DA does not want an indictment.  I mean you just can’t get around that, but good morning Roland, and good morning everybody.  This is what a District Attorney does when they don’t want an indictment.  I mean this is a classic how not to get an indictment approved.  The entire process from day one has been this way and I’ve been saying all along on CNN and MSNBC that I would be very surprised if this grand jury came back with an indictment.  And I was right.  I was right.  Not only did he present everything to the grand jury, including the kitchen sink, which you never do, as a prosecutor you focus the information that you give the grand jury, you don’t inundate them with information.  You focus it, it’s narrowly tailored, and it only focuses on the information that shows that this person probably committed a crime.  I got to let your viewers, not your views, but your listeners, understand that probable cause is such a low standard.  I mean people get indicted all day every day onabsolutely no evidence.  The fact that this lasted this long, 25 days over the course of three months, 60 witness, three different autopsies, you never, ever see that in a grand jury proceeding, even in cases that are (inaudible) that’s something I’ve been saying all along.  This is not a complex case, Roland.  It involves one man who pulled the trigger seven times, and it involves another young man who dies, and perhaps some forensic evidence and some physical evidence, and a few witnesses, that’s it.  You know, when you’re looking at other cases, for example, you know, I’ve had experience with federal crime cases.  When you’re looking at cases that are complex, I’m talking multiple defendants, I’m talking conspiracy charges, you don’t even see 60 witnesses in those kind of grand jury proceedings, I mean they get in, they get out. Listen to the Tom Joyner Morning Show 24/7! WEEKDAYS: listen continuously every 4 hours starting live Monday – Friday at 6am ET. Catch Tom Joyner's Right Back at Cha every WEEKEND: starting at 6am ET Saturday – 5:59am ET Monday. ROLAND MARTIN:  Well, also what was interesting is that in terms of how he conducted this grand jury,

Attorneys Midwin Charles and Lisa Bloom joined Roland Martin on "NewsOne Now" to review the Ferguson grand jury decision and access St. Louis County Prosecutor, Bob McCulloch's actions in the proceedings. Charles told Martin, "I have never ever seen a prosecutor work so hard to exonerate somebody who essentially has been accused of committing a crime." It's almost as though he strolled out there and made that statement as though he was Darren Wilson's attorney and that is precisely what a prosecutor is not supposed to do," said Charles. SEE ALSO: NewsOne’s Continuing Coverage in #Ferguson Lisa Bloom also weighed in on McCulloch's actions in the Wilson grand jury proceedings saying, "the second most outrageous thing is the blatant special treatment Darren Wilson  received from a prosecutor that didn't want to charge him directly and now having read the transcripts can say, for prosecutors who just didn't cross-examine him at all. Asked him a series of softball questions, apologized for stressing him out." "NewsOne Now" caller Calvin, from Capitol Heights, MD believes protesters are justified to burn and loot businesses Ferguson. He said,"We need to stop complaining about us rioting when somebody has been killed. We have more complaints about the riots than when the big complaint is about somebody being killed." Calvin also believes we would not be talking about Ferguson if they had not rioted and looted. Roland Martin was having none of that. Martin sharply snapped back saying, "... that is nonsense!" "There is somebody African American in Ferguson this morning who is going to a place and they don't have a job as a result. I will never justify that kind of nonsense, NEVER!" Missouri State Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal joined Roland Martin Tuesday on “NewsOne Now” to discuss the fallout after the Ferguson grand jury decision was read. As a result of last night’s rioting and unrest, Chappelle-Nadal said her offices were burned down. Sen. Chappelle-Nadal has been teaching civic engagement classes twice a week since a month after the Michael Brown shooting so that her constituents “can be empowered and know what it takes to make change in their communities.” “What happened last night was completely opposite from what we expected. There are so many different organizations that are on the ground that are doing very good things and we’ve worked very hard to move the temperament from anger to positive action,” said Chappelle-Nadal. “… last night there were a few people who decided not to use that positive energy that we had been trying to display for the last 108 days and while others were protesting the majority of people were protesting in peace.” She added, “There were some characters who were still in the crowd who completely denigrated our community and that is unacceptable and we’re not going to tolerate it.” All that and more in this edition of the NewsOne Now Audio Podcast.

On Thursday, President Barack Obama unveiled his plan on immigration during a nationally televised address. During President Obama's address on immigration he said: ... for a year and a half now, Republican leaders in the House have refused to al...

Roland Martin talks to Ohio Congresswoman and Chair of Congressional Black Caucus, Marcia Fudge and  about how immigration impact black people. “It’s certainly a positive. People forget we have a lot of immigrants that are African descent. They come from Haiti. This is going to provide more training in stem cell training. We can then be major payers in the job market,” Congresswoman Fudge said. Listen to the Tom Joyner Morning Show 24/7! WEEKDAYS: listen continuously every 4 hours starting live Monday – Friday at 6am ET. Catch Tom Joyner's Right Back at Cha every WEEKEND: starting at 6am ET Saturday – 5:59am ET Monday.

Are African Americans wrong to try and shut down any critique or criticism by Black folks of President Barack Obama? Do you think some Black people are too sensitive when other Blacks critique the President? Roland Martin takes your calls during the ra...

Roland Martin and the "NewsOne Now" Straight Talk panel (featuring Kim Brown, Cleo Manago and Lauren Victoria Burke) discuss the decades old sexual assault allegations against Bill Cosby that have reemerged in recent months. During their discussion, Burke said the claims being made against Cosby are "pretty indicting," especially given the number of women coming forward with allegations. She also spoke about Cosby's silence on the matter saying, "Innocent people typically say, 'hey I didn't do it.' He's not doing that. That, for me, is kind of a deal breaker." When asked if it is a smart strategy for Cosby not to give interviews and address the rape allegations, Manago said, "No, not when it comes to rape. That's not going to go away." Manago believes Cosby has to say something to confront the issue and "not saying anything at all looks more suspicious than [Cosby] following an attorney's advice." On Tuesday, Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon swore in 16 members of the "Ferguson Commission." The panel was created to address the "social and economic conditions" that have been highlighted by protesters after the police shooting death of 18-year-old Michael Brown. According to reports, members of the commission were selected out of a pool of more than 300 people who applied. On Wednesday, Roland Martin and the "NewsOne Now" Straight talk panel (featuring Lauren Victoria Burke, Cleo Manago and Kim Brown) discussed how the "Ferguson Commission" may be able to impact conditions in the St. Louis suburb. Lauren Victoria Burke had the following to say about the institution of the Commission: "I'm not sure you need another conversation about all of the problems in Ferguson because we've already heard these things for years." She added, "I think the commission is effectively a PR attempt." Manago, who recently spent a week in Ferguson said, "I think they're doing what they can to appease people and keep them calm, because we might not like what we are getting ready to hear." "If this commission is supposed to have some relevance," Manago continued, "they should have somebody who has mental health skills, because there are some serious mental health issues happening on both end of the spectrum in Ferguson." Brown agreed with Manago's comments and added, "I think this is a way to sort of placate the community, this is a band-aid, this is not a permanent solution to the issues that are happening in Ferguson." Chicago Alderman Walter Burnett Jr. joined Roland Martin on "NewsOne Now" to discuss corporate diversity and minority hiring. Burnett is part of a group of alderman who are demanding a more diverse workforce from the financial sector. Burnett told Martin and the "NewsOne Now" panel that every time firms come to the Chicago City Council he asks them,  "How many Black folks? How many Hispanics? How many women do you have working for you? Because I think it is insulting if you don't have any working for you." Alderman Burnett added, "We have corporations out here in society that won't do business with people unless they have some diversity, why can't the city do the same thing?'   All that and more in this edition of the NewsOne Now Audio Podcast.

Civil rights icon, Rep. John Lewis, joined Roland Martin on "NewsOne Now" to discuss what is currently happening in Ferguson, Gov. Jay Nixon declaring a state of emergency in Missouri and the looming grand jury ruling that could come at any time. Lewis explained that Ferguson could be a "turning point" for the modern civil rights movement. He told Martin if justice is not served in the Michael Brown case, there could be nationwide protests. When asked if Ferguson could be "the modern day Selma," Lewis said the following: Selma was the turning point. And I think what happened in Ferguson will be the turning point. I think people are waiting, they’re watching, and we’re going to see within the next few days what’s going to happen and that would be massive, nonviolent protests all over America. When we were beaten on that bridge in Selma, people couldn’t take it, for they saw it, they heard about it, they read about it, and it lit a sense of righteous indignation. When we see a miscarriage of justice in Ferguson, they’re going to have the same reaction they had towards Selma. Rep. Lewis also offered some advice to the protesters in Ferguson saying, “Be like a pilot light and not like a firecracker. A firecracker just pops off and it’s gone. A pilot light will continue to burn.” Missouri State Rep. Maria Chappelle-Nadal spoke with Roland Martin and the "NewsOne Now" Straight Talk panel on Tuesday to discuss Gov. Jay Nixon declaring a state of emergency and activating the National Guard in anticipation of the Darren Wilson grand jury decision. Chappelle-Nadal told Martin, “... the governor has made so many different fumbles in this whole ordeal every time he opens his mouth, he is inciting people of my community and we're frankly sick and tired of it." Gov. Nixon's state of emergency declaration concerns Chappelle-Nadal because of "the call for the militia" and "instead of treating the community the way they should be treated ...  [Gov. Jay Nixon]  is treating us as if we are insurgents in Afghanistan or Iraq and frankly we're tired of it." She went on to ask if they "are living in the state of Missouri or in the state of misery?" Chappelle-Nadal added, "Because of the governor's mouth, it seems as though many of the constituents, that I represent are living in a state of misery." Financial guru Deborah Owens, joined Roland Martin on "NewsOne Now" to show you how not to go broke this holiday season. Owens told Martin, "Retailers make 50% of their profits in literally six weeks and they know how to incent you" into buying more than what you intended. Ovens expressed her desire to inform the listening audience of what the traps are. Owens suggested that you read the literature associated with gift cards so that you understand the terms of use.  She also explained you should beware of discounted purchases at the time of checkout when you open up a retailer credit card. Owens said, "What people don't realize is  that retailer credit cards carry some of the highest interest rates, and if you're going to open that card you would eliminate the savings" you initially get. She also highlighted the "12 months interest free financing" as another holiday hoax  to get you to spend lots of money. Owens told Martin, "If you don't pay all of that amount up when that 12 month term is over ... they're going to smack you with all the interest that you would have paid had you not paid that 0% down." Owens added that these interest rates can be "onerous" and can range between 21%  and 23%. All that and more in this edition of the NewsOne Now Audio Podcast.