← The Latest with Loren LoRosa
The Latest with Loren LoRosa
Get With The Times (Cam Newton Made a Word Famous, ASAP Made It Personal)
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This is an Iheart podcast. Guaranteed human peace of the planet. Charlamagne Tha God here. And the end of the year is the time to set the foundation for next year. New ideas, new product drops, new goals. And when I'm building anything meaningful, I need the right tools. That's why I always tell folks, especially black entrepreneurs and small black owned businesses, Shopify is the move. We use it at the Black Effect Podcast Network. And I've seen firsthand how it helps creators and business owners grow with confidence. Okay, Shopify is like having a whole team behind you. You, your chief of staff, your personal assistant, your co founder, all in one platform. Wherever your people are, Shopify makes sure your business can meet them where they're at. So if you're ready to take the next step in your life, whether it's merch products or anything in between, get on shopify.com ben and make it happen. It is time to stop putting off your future and start your new role as your own boss today. You know, we always say new year, new me, but real change starts on the inside. It starts with giving your mind and your spirit the same attention you give your goals. Hey everybody, it's Michelle Williams, host of Checking in on the Black Effect Podcast Network. And on my podcast we talk mental health, healing, growth and everything you need to step into your next season whole and empowered. New Year Real you listen to Checking in with Michelle Williams from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Maria Hinojosa, host of Latino usa. Venezuelans around the world are celebrating the takedown of former President Maduro. But inside the country, there is fear and silence. And in the United States, people are concerned about Donald Trump's rogue tactics. Listen to Latino usa, the fall of Maduro and the rise of an unconstrained Trump. That's on your iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This show contains information subject to but not limited to personal takes, rumors, not so accurate stats, and plenty more. What's up, man? It's your boy, Nav Green from the Broken Play Podcast. Look, it's the end of the season. The playoffs are here. Guess what? It ain't the end of your season. You can always tune in with Broken Play Podcast with Nav Green on the Black Effect Podcast Network. Not a team who ain't going to the playoffs. The Chief. It's time to rebuild. Listen to Broken Play with Nav Green from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or what? You get your podcast. I'm the homegirl that knows a little bit about everything and everybody, you know, if she don't lie about that, right? Lauren came in hot. Hey, y', all, what's up? It's Lauren LaRosa. And this is the latest with Lauren LaRosa. This is your daily dig on all things pop culture, entertainment news, and all of the conversations that shake the room, baby. Now today, checking in behind the scenes of the grind. It's a pretty hectic, you know, ending of the week. I've been talking to you guys and giving you updates all week long on, you know, just this caretaker side of life. Back on the grinding. You guys will probably hear in my surroundings, the city of New York, because I'm currently sitting in the car, we are doing my mom's 3 months, 3 month check in scan. So my mom is a stage four lung and brain cancer survivor. So every three months she has to check in on herself. So she checks in with her doctors here in New York. They scan her full body just to make sure that nothing is growing since the last time they've seen her and that nothing new, no new masses of potential cancer pop up anywhere in her body. And we've been doing that successfully for over a year now. And things have been good. But coming here today was a bit drastic because you guys remember I had this planned. Whenever she does her scans, whether it's a family member that brings her up, you know, like my brother or my cousins, any of my cousins or whoever I can get to help me, I always try and plan for it to be on a day where, like, you know, work is not as, like work is not as heavy. So we did that last time. I planned the scans on a day where I actually didn't have to work at all. And then we found out that some of her insurances, like certain things with her insurances had been canceled. And that's been a whole thing. But. And you guys know about this because we've talked about it. We had Mimi Brown from the Black Information Network who handles, you know, world news, politics, community things. Talk to us about what the Trump administration is doing when it comes to Medicaid, Medicare and lack thereof and how people are affected. And, you know, the news got real for me because I was a person that was on the other end of it having to deal with that. Fast forward, we are here. She's able to get her scans. Everything is looking good so far, but they forgot to do a Brain scan and I wouldn't let her leave without them doing it. So we are waiting for that now. But I wanted to make sure we got this additional pieces of the podcast in for today. So here we go. So that's, you know, my check in behind the scenes of the grind. And I'm a little frantic today just because I've been doing so much before pressing record. But y' all know we gonna bring y' all the latest either way. Now getting on into the latest new music. So we got new music from A$AP Rocky. He finally dropped his long awaited project. Don't be dumb. This project has had several release time periods and dates which did not happen. So you know, fans is, fans are going off about it, they're excited to finally get it. And he's had so much to talk about. You know, the last time we got an album from ASAP Rocky, within that amount of time he's had kids. Uh, he is now a devoted, I would say husband. Even if they not married. Cause him and Rihanna at this point, they married. Uh, but that is not me confirming anything. Guys. I am jokingly saying that this man is so devoted to Rihanna that they might as well be married. I gotta clarify that now at this, this era in my life. Um, but yeah, so he's, you know, him and Rihanna are very much in love. They have their three babies. He is, you know, such a devoted father and we see it so much. He's also graced so many different magazine covers. He's become the face of brands. You know, his career, everything has just grown. We just saw him in Highest to Lowest, the Spike Lee movie with Denzel Washington and you know, being a lead man and that. He's had a lot going on the gun case which he was able to walk away from, which we saw him hop over that bitch when they read that not guilty verdict into Rihanna's arms. There's a lot to talk about here. So the album is out now. He sat down with popcast, which is a podcast, it's like a cultural podcast that the New York Times does. And he was talking to the guys over there about the project and he confirmed that like 85% of this project is new music because there were like little leaks and fake leaks. So people were leaking like real things from the project. But then there were like, there was like music created that wasn't even really the music from the project that people would leak and say that it was music from the project according to ASAP Rocky. So this is all new music and they Asked him about some shots that he took at Drake. Let's take a listen. The Internet's going to decide who you're talking about on that song. I think we all know they're going to say it's Drake. I mean, that's a man who was with you in those early days, too, brought you on tour. Where did things go wrong in that relationship? I mean, I don't know. I don't know. I started just seeing people who just started out as friends and just became foes. Seemed like they was unhappy for you and started sending shots. And I think that's what led to any of our misunderstandings or whatever the case is. It really ain't smoke. Does it feel resolvable to you? Or you think it's. Nah, it don't even need to be. Like, for what. But you're like, no secret. Like, that song's. That song's for him. Nah, I don't really. Or it's for anyone who might be. It's whoever feel like it's about them now. Let's just say, like. Or let me just say that Drake and ASAP Rocky have been beefing for some time now. Like, and it's like they throw all these shots at each other. Now. ASA Rocky didn't have an album out, but he had been featured on, you know, a few different projects or songs throughout the year where he did take some shots back at Drake. Drake has been throwing shots his way as well, too. I don't know if this is a beef that will ever actually, like, we can reconcile at this point, because, you know, ASAP Rocky and a lot of people have the conversation about Drake and Drake selling the swag. And, you know, I know him and Travis Scott were also into it at one point because of style comparisons or whatever, But I think deeper than rap, Rihanna is at the core of this. We just heard ASAP Rocky say it in the song. Rihanna is at the core of this. Not that she's, like, pulling the puppet strings, but obviously there's an issue about the fact that Drake was interested in Rihanna dating or whatever they were doing at one point, and that ASAP Rocky is the one who ended up with her. Now, ASAP Rocky, on the podcast with the New York Times, he also talked a lot about, you know, just taking accountability in this new era of his life with that gun trial he went through. Taught him. He's in a whole different space, and I'm so happy to see it. Let's take a listen. Were you thinking, like, how did I get myself Back in another of these situations. Absolutely. Because every time you in a situation like that, like, never again. Never again. And when it happens again, you like, what the fuck is this? Like, God, man. Like, here we are yet again. You know, I know you're going to get me out of it somehow, but there's a lesson to be learned in this. And sometimes some lessons are hard lessons, even if you're not in the wrong necessarily. God's a funny way, in my opinion, of like just, you know, humbling you or just showing you. Let me tell you something, okay? This is. This is what I'm talking about, okay? I love to see the evolution of us, whether it's men, women love to see the evolution. But I really do like to see the evolution of rappers, especially the male rappers, because a lot of times, especially if you come from. And mind you, ASAP Rocky is not. Not like a gangster rapper, but, like, you know, you're not gonna play with him. But a lot of what ASAP Rocky stands on, it stands for, it's about, you know, loyalty, morals, integrity. But it's the. It's the get fly of it all. It's the talk slick of it all. It's the. I'm going to expose you to a life that you ain't never seen before because you down with the ASAP mob of it all. And that's what ASAP Rocky and the A$AP mob used to embody across Tumblr and then, you know, across other social media sites and of course, in their music. But a lot of times I feel like with our rap artists, and honestly, I'm not even just gonna say the male rap artists, but I feel like with our black talent, I don't know, I feel like we don't get the chance to. And now a lot of that has changed, in my opinion, more recently. Because, you see, like I was gonna say, the female rap artists don't get the chance to evolve and be mothers and lean into career. They stay in one box. But that has completely changed. Beyonce, Cardi B, Ciara. On the music side, like, the girls are doing it all. And on the rap side, you know, unfortunately, we see a lot of our male rap artists lose their lives or, you know, drugs are in question. And that happens with the male and female rappers as well. Or we just don't support them and fend them the way that we should, so their careers die out, money dries up. You know, we just. We're just not seeing them. The longevity of their lives, their careers, and our legacies Are not what they should be, in my opinion. And that's why I love to hear and see artists in the space that ASAP Rocky is in, Diversifying the hell out of his portfolio. But he started that way, and it's just getting even better. And I love to hear that he knows that having a good woman by his side only makes that better. The music is back now. Him being a father and showing the world that is such a thing as well. I just love to see it. Let's take a listen to ASAP Rocky. Just talking about what Rihanna has been in his life and just how all of that. I feel like that just glows you up in a way that you just don't understand until you do it. Let's take a listen. Before I had my children, it was like being with my girl, took a blindfold off and things that she couldn't make me, you know, visibly see or optical to God, like I said, had a funny way of showing me. It's like, how the hell did I end up in this situation? This is ironic. This is something. And that's why my temperament about it was always so, like, relax. Because I knew. You know what I'm saying? It's just like, all right, this circus, Y' all gonna let this play out? All right, I'll sit back. You done yet? You know what I mean? Like, it's just. That's what it was for me. I looked at it like, as soon as you get with a girl, she'll tell you, like, that's not your friend, that's your friend. But that one, nah, they can see it more clearly from a different angle. And to be clear, you didn't just get with any girl. Yeah, I know, I know. I got with a very special woman. You know what I mean? I'm thankful that, you know, she was putting my life at that time, because I think anytime prior to that, you know, I don't think I was ready for something like that, you know, I don't think she was either, you know? So, like, if we're on the air here, and I literally have my contract here, and I'm looking at, you know, as soon as I sign this, I'm gonna get a seven figure check. I've told them I won't be working here in two weeks. From the underground clubs that shaped global music to the pastors and creatives who built the cultural influence empire, the Atlanta Is podcast uncovers the stories behind one of the most influential cities in the world. The thing I love about Atlanta is that it's a city of hustlers, man. Each episode explores a different chapter of Atlanta's rise, featuring conversations with ludicrous Will Packer, Pastor Jamal Bryant, DJ drama, and more. The full series is available to listen to now. I really just had never experienced anything like what was going on in the city as far as, like, you know, seeing so many young, black, affluent creatives in all walks of life. The church had dwindled almost to nothing. And God said, this is your assignment. And that's like, how, you know, like, okay. Oh, you from Atlanta for real? I ain't gotta say too much. I'm Grady, baby. Shut up. Listen to Atlanta is on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Maria Nojosa, host of Latino usa. Venezuelans around the world are celebrating the takedown of former President Maduro A. But inside the country, there is fear and silence. And in the United States, people are concerned about Donald Trump's rogue tactics. Listen to Latino usa, the fall of Maduro and the rise of an unconstrained Trump. That's on your iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. You know Roald Dahl, the writer who thought up Willy Wonka, Matilda and the bfg. But did you know he was also a spy? Was this before he wrote his stories? It must have been. Our new podcast series, the Secret World of Roald Dahl is a wild journey through the hidden chapters of his extraordinary, controversial life. His job was literally to seduce the wives of powerful Americans. What? And he was really good at it. You probably won't believe it either. Okay, I don't think that's true. I'm telling you, the guy was a spy. Did you know Dahl got cozy with the Roosevelts, played poker with Harry Truman, and had a long affair with a congresswoman? And then he took his talents to Hollywood, where he worked alongside Walt Disney and Alfred Hitchcock before writing a hit James Bond film. How did the Secret Agent wind up as the most successful children's author ever? And what darkness from his covert past seeped into the stories we read as kids? The true story is stranger than anything he ever wrote. Listen to the Secret World of roald Dahl starting January 19th on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. And the winner of the iHeart Podcast Award is. You can decide who takes home the 2026 iHeart Podcast Awards Podcast of the Year by voting at iHeartPodcastAwards.com now through February 22nd. See all the nominees and place your vote at iHeartPodcastAwards dot com Audible is a proud sponsor of the Audible Audio Pioneer Award. Explore the best selection of audiobooks, podcasts and originals all in one easy app. Audible. There's more to imagine when you listen. Sign up for a free trial@audible.com now. Other new music I know NBA Youngboy also dropped new music as well. Slime crowded. Y' all know the kids don't play about NBA Youngboy, but I also saw a few days ago that NBA Youngboy has a new production deal with a production company that he started which will be showcasing like a docu series of his full tour, which I love to see artists do as well too, because again, that's diversifying that portfolio that is making other streams of income off of one set talent. But I also just love storytelling, if I'm being honest. I just love storytelling and I love to watch people's journeys. Um, but it's also gonna talk a lot about his influence on youth culture, culture and music in general. And I think a lot of people, because NBA Youngboy has had some like, you know, issues with the law and, you know, I feel like the conversation around him is always about the beefs he's in and the, the court cases and the charging and the things that he's going through. But this year or last year, actually in 2025, because he was in 2025 because he was on this tour which sold out crazy. Like sold out insane. I think a lot of people really got to experience the NBA Youngboy effect now. It's a lot of Bruce shines things and, you know, all the things. But at the core essence of it, it's influence. It's being able to get people up out of their homes and into seats and fully dedicated to your music, singing word for word, having energy, making the arena feel like it's shaking because of the energy in the room. A lot of artists aren't doing that whatsoever at all. NBA Youngboy has such a hand on youth culture and a lot of people talk about the fact that he's, you know, numbers wise, he's always been streaming crazy. Like his numbers go crazy. And a lot of it happens without radio play because a lot of his songs are just not the songs that you're gonna hear replayed all the time on the radio. So I'm looking forward to that as well too. And I know speaking of artists dropping new music, Chris Brown just hopped on Gunna's WGFT as well. So there's a Lot of new things lately to listen to. Like if we're on the air here and I literally have my contract here and I'm looking at, you know, as soon as I sign this, I'm going to get a seven figure check. I've told them I won't be working here in two weeks. From the underground clubs that shaped global music to the pastors and crew creatives who built a cultural empire, the Atlanta Is podcast uncovers the stories behind one of the most influential cities in the world. The thing I love about Atlanta is that it's a city of hustlers, man. Each episode explores a different chapter of Atlanta's rise. Featuring conversations with ludicrous Will Packer, pastor Jamal Bryant, DJ drama, and more. The full series is available to listen to now. I really just had never experienced anything like what was going on in the city as far as, like, you know, seeing so many young, black, affluent creatives in all walks of life. The church had dwindled almost to nothing. And God said, this is your assignment. And that's like how, you know, like, okay. Oh, you from Atlanta for real? I ain't got to say too much. I'm Grady, baby. Shut up. Listen to Atlanta is on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Maria Hinojosa, host of Latino usa. Venezuelans around the world are celebrating the takedown of former President Mas Maduro. But inside the country, there is fear and silence. And in the United States, people are concerned about Donald Trump's rogue tactics. Listen to Latino usa, the fall of Maduro and the rise of an unconstrained Trump. That's on your iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. You know Roald Dahl, the writer who thought up Willy Wonka, Matilda and the bfg. But did you know he was also a spy? Was this before he wrote his stories? It must have been. Our new podcast series, the Secret World of Roald Dahl is a wild journey through the hidden chapters of his extraordinary, controversial life. His job was literally to seduce the wives of powerful Americans. What? And he was really good at it. You probably won't believe it either. Okay, I don't think that's true. I'm telling you, the guy was a spy. Did you know Dahl got cozy with the Roosevelts, played poker with Harry Truman, and had a long affair with a congresswoman. And then he took his talents to Hollywood, where he worked alongside Walt Disney and Alfred Hitchcock before writing a hit James Bond film. How did this Secret agent wind up as the most successful children's author ever. And what darkness from his covert past seeped into the stories we read as kids? The true story is stranger than anything he ever wrote. Listen to the Secret World of roald Dahl starting January 19th on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This show contains information subject to too but not limited to personal takes, rumors, not so accurate stats, and plenty more. What's up, man? This your boy, Nav Green from the Broken Play podcast? Look, it's the end of the season. The playoffs are here. But guess what? It ain't the end of your season. You can always tune in with Broken Play podcast with Nav Green on the Black Effect podcast Network. Another team who ain't going to the playoffs. The Chiefs. What's a wrap? It's time to rebuild. Who your MVP right now. Then Drake May up there. Josh Allen up there still. Oh, my boy Matthew Stafford. Where did Nicks at? He ain't too far behind. He did all this talking. What Matthew Stafford is doing, statistically, bro, is crazy. Bro, you know I ain't no Josh Allen fan, but Matthew Stafford got better weapon. Caleb Williams. Hey, he should be in that conversation. In what conversation? He should be in it. Listen to Broken Play with Nav Green from the Black Effect podcast Network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. So let's get the latest on this word. There's a word. Eclectic. Okay, that is not really a word, y', all, but Cam Newton on the Funky Friday podcast told us that it was. So Kim Newton was seated with Lady London Fire, lyricist, female rapper Lady London. She is not the one to play word games with at all, okay? Because Lady London's specialty is wordplay. She started, you know, early on after graduating from Howard University, writing poetry, which turned into music. And they were sitting down in conversation. And his conversations are always very wide ranging, and they get to the point where they're talking about his personal style. And she asked him to describe his personal style, and here's what he had to say. How would you describe your style in one word? That's an adjective. Can I use a word that I've already used? Sure, of course. Eclectic. Say it again. Eclectic. It's eclectic. Well, the heavy on the N because there's no N in it. No, no, no, no. It's my word. Oh. Let's unpack this. Okay, got it. Sure. Word. Nclex. Spell it for me. N, C, L, E, C, T, A. Okay. Eclectic. Eclectic. Do you want to know what the N stand for? Nigga, Am I right? Okay, respectfully, you see where I was going? Yeah. Okay. Now this made me start thinking because everywhere I was looking, people were jokingly using the word eclectic. Because this is another moment where, you know, Cam Newton, just for a moment, doesn't look fully in control of his conversation. And, you know, the gist of a lot of Cam Newton's conversations is that he is fully in control. Whenever it is your interview, you are supposed to be fully in control. So I think, you know, people. People are so crazy. People enjoy seeing the tables flipped where a person doesn't appear as smart as they think they are or doesn't appear as in control as they think they are, or whatever, you know, people want to lean into. But this was a very funny moment. Um, I saw the word being used everywhere, jokingly. And I'm like, I wonder what this moment and what those numbers are doing on Google because it's being used so much. So according to. So I looked it up. Um, so Google has a Google trend like area where you can look up trending everything, topics, words, phrases, searches, all of the above. Now I normally use this when I'm looking up stories to see what the world is talking about, how much they're talking about it, to be able to prioritize stories for Breakfast Club and for the podcast here, the Latest with Lauren LaRosa. But I do know that you can use it for words as well. But I just didn't know how to read the data because the graphs are not like laid out in like a way where you can just like quote a percentage of increase or anything like that easily unless you know what you're looking at. So I reached out to the Google Trends team after looking at the public Trends site because I saw a spike not only in the words, I saw a spike in the word eclectic, which is the real word that Cam Newton meant. And let's look up eclectic's definition. Now I'm adding to the Google searches. So eclectic, the real definition of the real word eclectic is deriving ideas, style or taste from a broad and diverse range of sources. So I'm looking at these charts, I'm looking at these graphs, and I'm like, I'm seeing a spike, but I don't understand, like, numerically. Like, I don't if I'm going to quantify this, I don't know what I'm looking at. So I talked to the team over at Google Trends and they tell me, so search interest in the word eclectic over the past week for Cam Newton. Eclectic and eclectic are breakout searches. So breakout searches across Google trends are basically searches that like, aren't commonly searched, that just break out and stand out and search trends because of something that happened. So the interview happened. Now people are searching Cam Newton, Eclectic and Eclectic. I'm told by the Google public trend site and confirmed by their team, with whom I spoke with, that there was over a 500,000% increase in searches for Cam Newton, Eclectic and Eclectic Insane. I hope y' all not out here trying to use this word. It is not a word y'. All. Like, one thing we gonna do is cackle Kiki and we gonna let something go, but it is not a real word. Leave it alone. And please don't play with Lady London in her words. Now in wrapping up, like, if we're on the air here and I literally have my contract here and I'm looking at, you know, as soon as I sign this, I'm going to get a seven figure check. I've told them I won't be working here in two weeks. From the underground clubs that shaped global music to the pastors and creatives who built the cultural empire, the Atlanta Is podcast uncovers the stories behind one of the most influential cities in the world. The thing I love about Atlanta is that it's a city of hustlers, man. Each episode explores a different chapter of Atlanta's rise, featuring conversations with ludicrous Will Packer, Pastor Jamal Bryant, DJ drama, and more. The full series is available to listen to now. I really just had never experienced anything like what was going on in the city as far as, like, you know, seeing so many young, black, affluent creators in all walks of life. The church had dwindled almost to nothing. And God said, this is your assignment. And that's like, how you know, like, okay, oh, you from Atlanta for real. I ain't got to say too much. I'm Grady, baby. Shut up. Listen to Atlanta is on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast. I'm Maria Hinojosa, host of Latino usa. Venezuelans around the world are celebrating the takedown of former President Maduro. But inside the country, there is fear and silence. And in the United States, people are concerned about Donald Trump's rogue tactics. Listen to Latino usa, the fall of Maduro and the rise of an unconstrained Trump. That's on your iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. You know Roald Dahl, the writer who thought up Willy Wonka, Matilda, and the bfg. But did you know he was also a spy? Was this before he wrote his stories? It must have been. Our new podcast series, the Secret World of Roald Dahl is a wild journey through the hidden chapters of his extraordinary, controversial life. His job was literally to seduce the wives of powerful Americans. What? And he was really good at it. You probably won't believe it either. Okay, I don't think that's true. I'm telling you, the guy was a spy. Did you know Dahl got cozy with the Roosevelts, played poker with Harry Truman, and had a long affair with a congresswoman? And then he took his talents to Hollywood, where he worked alongside Walt Disney and Alfred Hitchcock before writing a hit James Bond film. How did the Secret Agent wind up as the most successful children's author ever? And what darkness from his covert past seeped into the stories we read as kids? The true story is stranger than anything he ever wrote. Listen to the Secret World of roald Dahl starting January 19th on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, everyone, it's Ed Helms. And I'm Kal Penn, and we are the hosts of The Audible and iHeart Audiobook Club. This week on the podcast, I am talking to film and TV critic, radio and podcast host and Harry Potter super fan Rhianna Dillon to discuss Audible's full cast adaptation of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. What moments in this audiobook capture the feeling of the magical world best for you or just stood out the most? I always loved reading about the Quidditch matches and. And I think the audio really gets it because it just plunges you right into the stands. You have the crowd sounds like all around you. It is surround sound, especially if you're listening in headphones. Listen to earsay, the Audible and iHeart Audio Book Club on the iHeartradio app or wherever you get your podcasts. I don't know how many of our lowriders have Verizon Wireless, but, boy, were y' all going through it this week. So Verizon Wireless, the phone carrier, had a blackout of service across, like, the United States. Like, it was insane. You could not. If, if you were trying to call someone with Verizon, you literally could not call through to their phone. They couldn't call out to you. And it was for some time. It was probably for about a good, like, almost up to an hour, I would say. I know my brother has Verizon, and I was trying to get in contact with him about, you know, my grandmother and just couldn't, like, literally, you just. They just couldn't call out. And so Verizon, you know, they apologized. They were keeping us updated via Twitter telling us that they were going to be fixing the issues. And there will be a credit to affected customers to, you know, to apply to their accounts. So people have an issue now because Verizon is only offering $20. Cell phone bills are about a good 150 to 175amonth. Okay, $20. Look, in this economy, I'll take it. But still, it's almost. It's a joke. So Verizon posted late last night to their Verizon news account yesterday we did not meet the standard of excellence you expect and that we expect of ourselves to help provide some relief to those affected. We will give you a $20 account credit that you can easily redeem by logging into myverizing app. You will receive a text message when the credit is available. On average, this covers multiple days of service. Business customers will be contacted directly about their credits. This credit isn't meant to make up for what happened. No credit really can, but it's a way of acknowledging your time and showing you that this matters to us. Now, I appreciate a company acknowledging your time, acknowledging the time they took from you, the time they wasted your money, all of that, but I do think that they could do a little bit more. I also think that it's kind of unfair that you have to log into the app and apply it. I think on average, like, you know, people are busy so taking the time to do that, I think a lot of people are going to miss out on the credit. Also, I'm thinking about, like, older people who have Verizon who are not going to know how to do all of that. Also, I just think that there's going to be a fall off in, you know, once this marketing maneuver pushes out to their audience the amount of people that are actually able to get it across the finish line. I think it should have been something that was applied instantly to the account, in my opinion. But hey, we not Verizon over here, even though it's Verizon. I do have Verizon's WI Fi though. But yeah, not Verizon over here. So personally, I have nothing to complain about. But just looking at it from a viewer's perspective, I think they should have made that a bit easier for their customers, 100% because of the inconvenience that it caused so many people. And you don't realize how much you rely on your cell phone with no landline until you can't rely on your cell phone. I was trying to get in contact with some of my aunts because my, you know, some things that were happening, happening in emergency with my grandmother this week during the time of this outage and couldn't call my aunt. She had to call me from her house phone. And I'm like, it made me think like, wow, should we keep house phones in the crib just for backup? Something to think about here, y'. All. Now, at the end of the day, you guys could be anywhere with anybody, talking about all of the things, all of these things, my low riders. But you guys choose to be right here with me. And for that, I appreciate you guys. I'll catch y' all in the next episode. You know, we always say new Year, new me, but real change starts on the inside. It starts with giving your mind and your spirit the same attention you give your goals. Hey, everybody, it's Michelle Williams, host of Checking in on the Black Effect Podcast Network. And on my podcast, we talk mental health, healing, growth and everything you need to step into your next season whole and empowered New Year. Real you. Listen to Checking in with Michelle Williams from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Maria Hinojosa, host of Latino usa. Venezuelans around the world are celebrating the takedown of former President Maduro, but inside the country, there is fear and sileno. And in the United States, people are concerned about Donald Trump's rogue tactics. Listen to Latino usa, the fall of Maduro and the rise of an unconstrained Trump. That's on your iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This show contains information subject to but not limited to personal takes, rumors, not so accurate stats, and plenty more. What's up, man? It's your boy, Nab Green from the Broken Play Podcast. Look, it's the end of the season. The playoffs are here. Guess what? It ain't the end of your season. You can always tune in with Broken Play Podcast with Nav Green on the Black Effect Podcast Network. Not a team who ain't going to the playoffs. The chief. It's time to rebuild. Listen to Broken Play with Nav Green from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast or wherever you get your podcast. And the winner of the iHeart Podcast Award is. You can decide who takes home the 2026 iHeart Podcast Awards Podcast of the Year by voting at iHeartPodcastAwards.com now through February 22nd. See all the nominees and place your vote at iHeartPodcastAwards dot com Audible is a proud sponsor of the Audible Audio Pioneer Award. Explore the best selection of audiobooks, podcasts and originals all in one easy app. Audible. There's more to imagine when you listen. 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