"Since the emergence of COVID-19, the mainstream media has provided extensive, although at times lacking in-depth, coverage. As a direct response to the mainstream media’s coverage, and keeping line with our core mission and principals - giving a voice to our often-overlooked communities – we are launching Yung Lords T.V.. A new and novel departure from our regular documentary format.
Yung Lords T.V. is a limited-time television series, consisting of one-on-one “mini episodes” focused on issues that, we strongly feel, have been allowed to slip under the radar in the mainstream media’s current COVID-19 coverage, which, while oversaturated, is often lacking nuance and depth.
Be it political bills that the mainstream media have let slip through the cracks, or COVID-19 related social issues and human rights violations that the public might not be aware of; Yung Lords T.V. stands vigilant in ensuring that the news cycle is not allowed to sweep any issue impacting our minority communities under the rug.”
-Talia Smith, CEO, Yung Lords
Episode 1
Episode 1 Synopsis:
Trump’s inhumane anti-immigration policies and ICE detention centers continue to cause devastation for Asylum Seekers during our national COVID-19 pandemic. Talia “Binx” Smith sat down with Jorge L. Barón, Executive Director of the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, to discuss the urgent and ongoing issues many face (hunger strikes, Trump’s 60-day ban on green cards, the trauma and assault many face in ICE detention centers, rights for asylum seekers with disabilities, and much more) across ICE detention centers. The Northwest Immigrant Rights Project promotes justice by defending and advancing the rights of immigrants through direct legal services, systemic advocacy, and community education.
Episode 2
Episode 2 Synposis:
The Mashpee Wampanoag tribe currently faces iIllegal annexation and occupation with Trump’s new threat to their tribal trust. Talia sat down with co-founder of ‘Last Real Indians’, activist, attorney, politician and member of the Lakota People's Law Project, Chase Iron Eyes to stand in solidarity with the Mashpee people and discuss failures of Governor Noem during COVID-19 Pandemic, dangers of mancamps on tribal land, Trump withholding humanitarian aid from native tribes during Coronavirus and more. About Yung Lords T.V: Since COVID-19 first struck, mainstream media has been rightfully flooded with coverage of its impacts. Here at Yung Lords we never stray away from our core mission and principals-giving a voice to the communities that the media overlooks. With that being said, as a response to COVID-19 Yung Lords is launching Yung Lords T.V. A departure from our documentary format, Yung Lords T.V is a limited 10 episode T.V series, with each one-on-one episode focusing on issues that have been able to slip under the radar due to oversaturated COVID-19 coverage. Whether it be political bills that Trump has slipped through the cracks, social issues, or human rights violations Yung Lords T.V stands tall on making sure no issues affecting minority groups get swept under the rug in news cycles
Episode 3
Episode 3 Synopsis
Joining Talia and Yung Lords, is Congressman Grijalva of Arizona’s 3rd district, a representative who has spent his entire career trying to fight against environmental and structural racism.
Topics Covered:
Mashpee tribe, which welcomed Pilgrims, losing its land in Massachusetts. The tribe’s 321 acres of land has been ordered taken out of federal trust. On its reservation land, Mashpee Wampanoag was developing a casino that was opposed by allies of Trump who were lobbying for nearby casinos in Rhode Island. Native American tribal governments, forced to lay off employees and increase expenses during the coronavirus pandemic, were promised $8 billion in funds by April 26 under a coronavirus relief law President Donald Trump signed. The roughly 400 tribes splitting the money still haven’t received the aid. They sued the U.S. Treasury Department last week and officials on Tuesday said they’d begin doling out the aid.”
The federal government's relief funding process places the burden on tribes to navigate the bureaucracy of multiple federal agencies like the CDC, FEMA, and the Department of the Interior. Tribal governments with scarce resources risk missing out on critical information and assistance. According to the Government Accountability office, “Federal agencies are required, at times, to consult with tribes on infrastructure projects like pipelines that may harm tribal natural and cultural resources. According to tribal and agency officials, there are several factors making these consultations less effective. Some tribal representatives held the view that agencies did not consider their input and that consultations started too late. Agencies reported difficulty obtaining the contact information needed to start consulting and other challenges.”
Rep.Grijalva and Rep. McEachin Score Landmark Victory with Environmental Justice for All Act. The act was developed through years-long process led by communities on the front lines of environmental degradation.