The Spencer Hamilton Blog

Episode 6: PA-18, Deregulation, Assassination Welcome to Real Newsblast Episode 6 Special Election, Deregulation and Assassination When PA-18’s Republican Rep Tim Murray resigned after it surfaced that he got a woman pregnant then encouraged her to have an abortion. Gov. Wolf then called a Special Election was called for March 13 th to fill the seat, Conor Lamb and Rick Saccone emerged as the candidates who would face off for a seat held by a Republican since 2003. Now the districts will be changed because of the court ordered map (I made a video about that one and I’ll link it below as well, that was my first episode of Real Newsblast) so they may not run in the same PA-18 as was drawn when the election’s results are finished and certified. The setup: Conor Lamb vs Rick Saccone, surrogates from both sides Biden for Democrats and even Trump for Republicans had a huge prize on the line here: If they keep it, it bodes well for the midterm elections. More time pas...

 I watched the 2012 version of Steel Magnolias and I liked it more than I thought I would’ve. I saw the personalities of women I grew up with who were tough, with gentle hearts, razor sharp wit and went through the loss of one of their own. They were a family that loved one another. They were as the title suggested tender yet strong.   I saw my sisters, cousins, Aunts, and even my nieces. These black women in my circle mean the world to me. They are a part of the man I grew up to be, they are irreplaceable. I walked away from the movie appreciative of the women I knew and grew up with, would call my friends and argue with like we were siblings. Then there is another movie playing in my head and I for the life of me want it to end. I want it to end because unlike Steel Magnolias it seems to be repeating constantly on a loop with different names and situations with the same result and the same refrain.   “If they didn’t” If Sandra Bland didn’t mouth off” “ If Rekia ...

Ferguson, MO and Sanford FL are a narrative that we’re used to seeing, covering up evidence, and taking too long to state what actually happened. Two unarmed young black men killed by someone with a gun is two of many stories like the one chronicled in Fruitvale Station , and the recent chokehold death right out of Do The Right Thing —gives black men reason to be mad at a system that categorizes us as dangerous, mad, craven and deserving of a bullet. Next to that, I also see mentally ill people facing similar tragedy which tells us more about the police than their victims. When innocent people are killed by police it taints the narrative we saw as little kids: the cops are the good guys who get the bad guys. When we grow up however, we realize that the cops more often ARE the bad guys—they’re just immune to the law they are supposed to serve and protect So, after all the protests and the clashes with police are happening in Ferguson and solidarity actions in many cities take plac...