Tough Guy Talk

Maria and Julio are joined by Aisha Mills, political strategist and former host of “Amplified with Aisha” on the Black News Channel, and Dr. Jason Johnson, professor at the School of Global Journalism & Communication at Morgan State University and political contributor at MSNBC. They react to the 94th annual Academy Awards, including the controversy over Will Smith slapping Chris Rock. They also discuss the latest on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the state of independent journalism made by and for people of color.

ITT Staff Picks:

• “There’s definitely nuance here, and something to be said about the use of physical force to defend Pinkett Smith and the inherent toxic masculinity in the act, but Smith’s actions do feel like solidarity,” writes Ineye Komonibo for Refinery29.

• For Mother Jones, reporter Fernanda Echavarri dives into President Biden’s off-script remarks during his trip to Poland, and the reactions since.

• Non-white students who have fled the war in Ukraine are being detained in closed facilities by EU border authorities, May Bulman and Nadine White report for The Independent.

Photo credit: AP Photo/Chris Pizzello