Black Americans Hit Hard as Medical Debt Rule Tossed – BlackPressUSA

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — A Trump-appointed federal judge has blocked a key rule that would have removed medical debt from the credit reports of roughly 15 million Americans, dealing a harsh blow to struggling families already burdened by the high cost of health care, particularly Black Americans who carry a disproportionate share of that debt.
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By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent
A Trump-appointed federal judge has blocked a key rule that would have removed medical debt from the credit reports of roughly 15 million Americans, dealing a harsh blow to struggling families already burdened by the high cost of health care, particularly Black Americans who carry a disproportionate share of that debt. The ruling by Judge Sean Jordan of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas vacated the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) rule issued in January under the Biden administration. The judge sided with credit reporting industry groups, who argued that the CFPB had exceeded its authority under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. The decision halts a rule that had not yet taken effect and was designed to prevent medical debt, which is often the result of billing errors, insurance disputes, or unavoidable emergencies—from dragging down a person’s credit score. Julie Margetta Morgan, former CFPB official and now president of The Century Foundation, told CBS MoneyWatch that medical debt “doesn’t show whether [someone is] likely to pay their mortgage or other debts.” The court decision effectively slams the door to that reform.
According to the Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker, nearly 20 million adults in the U.S. owe medical debt, with a total estimated at $220 billion. Among them, 3 million people owe more than $10,000. That burden is not shared equally: 13% of Black Americans report having medical debt, compared to 8% of white Americans and 3% of Asian Americans. Medical debt also disproportionately affects women, people with disabilities, and those living in the South and rural areas. In addition, more than half of all collection items on credit reports are for medical bills, according to the CFPB. While private credit bureaus like Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion have taken limited steps—such as removing medical collections under $500—consumer advocates note these changes fall short of true relief, especially for low-income households and communities of color.
Medical debt has lasting effects: KFF polling shows people with such debt often cut back on food, clothing, and other essentials, drain savings, borrow from friends and family, or skip needed care entirely. For many, even those with health insurance, a serious illness or emergency can trigger financial ruin. The Biden administration’s now-blocked rule aimed to address this by recognizing that medical debt is not a reliable indicator of financial behavior and should not influence credit scores. But that rule was effectively frozen after Trump reinstalled Russ Vought—a fierce critic of the CFPB—as acting director in February. Vought promptly issued a directive halting new rules and investigations, leaving the agency in a state of paralysis. With 20% of Americans having at least one medical debt collection on their credit report, and with Black communities most likely to carry that debt, the ruling stands as a glaring example of policy decisions with racial and economic consequences. States like Colorado and New York have taken steps to protect consumers, but without federal backing, millions remain exposed. “There are a lot of flaws in our medical billing and reporting system, and it lands in the consumer’s lap,” Margetta Morgan stated.
Obesity Tied to Diet More Than Declining Activity
A Little About Me: I’m the co-author of Blind Faith: The Miraculous Journey of Lula Hardaway and her son, Stevie Wonder (Simon & Schuster) and Michael Jackson: The Man Behind The Mask, An Insider’s Account of the King of Pop (Select Books Publishing, Inc.) My work can often be found in the Washington Informer, Baltimore Times, Philadelphia Tribune, Pocono Record, the New York Post, and Black Press USA.
Obesity Tied to Diet More Than Declining Activity
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After Partial Court Victory, Marilyn Mosby Still Fighting to Clear Her Name
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BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Among African American adults, nearly 48 percent are clinically obese, including 37.1 percent of men and 56.6 percent of women, according to the American Psychological Association. The association has noted that disparities in stable housing, income, education, and access to healthy food and safe places for physical activity all contribute to these disproportionate rates of obesity and related health risks.
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By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent
An extensive study spanning 34 populations worldwide has found that increased calorie intake—not decreased energy expenditure—is the primary factor fueling rising obesity rates in economically developed societies. Researchers analyzed data from 4,213 adults in communities ranging from hunter-gatherers and pastoralists to industrialized nations. The study reported that while body mass, body fat percentage, and BMI were higher in more developed populations, total daily energy expenditures were also higher, reflecting larger body size. Among African American adults, nearly 48 percent are clinically obese, including 37.1 percent of men and 56.6 percent of women, according to the American Psychological Association. The association has noted that disparities in stable housing, income, education, and access to healthy food and safe places for physical activity all contribute to these disproportionate rates of obesity and related health risks. “Obesity is a leading cause of global mortality and morbidity, accounting for more than 4 million deaths and 140 million disability-adjusted life years worldwide each year,” the authors wrote. “Fundamentally, weight gain results from consuming and absorbing more calories than are expended,” the paper stated.
The research, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, measured total energy expenditure using the doubly labeled water method and examined the relationship between expenditure and measures of body composition. After adjusting for body size, total and basal energy expenditures were approximately 6% to 11% lower in more developed economies; however, the differences were highly variable and did not consistently correspond with lifestyle. “Comparisons of energy expenditure across populations strongly suggest that increased energy intake (i.e., caloric consumption and absorption) is the primary factor promoting overweight and obesity with economic development,” the authors wrote. Among the 25 populations for which dietary data were available, the proportion of ultra-processed foods in the diet was positively associated with body fat percentage. “We found some support for an obesogenic role of ultra-processed foods in the current dataset,” the study stated.
Researchers reported that the estimated effect of decreased energy expenditure accounted for only about one-tenth of the increase in BMI and body fat percentage associated with economic development. “Increased energy intake has been roughly 10 times more important than declining total energy expenditure in driving the modern obesity crisis,” the authors concluded. The study also emphasized that while diet plays a central role, physical activity should not be overlooked. “Daily physical activity has a broad range of well-documented health benefits, from reducing all-cause and cardiovascular mortality to improving mental health, and is an essential component of a healthy lifestyle,” the paper noted. The authors observed that rising economic development has introduced widespread access to ultra-processed foods, which may disrupt satiety signals and encourage higher calorie absorption. “Regulating food environments to maximize the benefits of increased calorie availability without promoting a nutrient-poor, obesogenic diet remains a crucial challenge in public health that will only become more acute as economic development continues globally,” the researchers wrote.
BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Mosby, who served two terms as Baltimore’s top prosecutor, has repeatedly insisted the case was politically motivated. She had also argued that seizing nearly all her Florida condo was excessive given the nature of her offenses.
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By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent
A federal appeals court delivered a split decision in the high-profile case against Marilyn Mosby, the former Baltimore State’s Attorney who rose to national prominence before facing criminal charges tied to her finances. In a 2-1 ruling, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit vacated Mosby’s mortgage fraud conviction, finding that the venue for prosecuting that charge in Maryland was improper. The reversal also lifts the government’s forfeiture of her Longboat Key, Florida, condominium, which had been valued at over $900,000.
However, the court upheld Mosby’s perjury convictions stemming from her withdrawal of funds from her city retirement account during the COVID-19 pandemic. A federal jury previously determined Mosby falsely claimed to have suffered financial hardship to access the money under the CARES Act. Prosecutors said she later used those funds to help purchase two vacation properties in Florida. Judge Stephanie Thacker, writing for the majority, concluded that evidence about how Mosby spent the withdrawn funds was admitted correctly because it helped establish whether she faced economic harm.
In a partial dissent, Judge Paul Niemeyer argued that the mortgage fraud charge should have remained intact, contending Mosby’s actions—generating and transmitting false documents while living in Maryland—meant the trial venue was appropriate. Mosby, who served two terms as Baltimore’s top prosecutor, has repeatedly insisted the case was politically motivated. She had also argued that seizing nearly all her Florida condo was excessive given the nature of her offenses.
She was sentenced in May to one year of home detention, three years of supervised release, and the forfeiture of 90 percent of her condominium. Her home confinement concluded last month, and a judge has since ordered the return of her passport and waived additional monitoring fees. Mosby, who once sought presidential pardon, has been allowed to keep her law license during her appeal. Representatives for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Maryland declined to comment on the appeals ruling, and Mosby’s attorneys did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — It’s so bad in America that a foreign news organization dug into the pricey details. The Times of London reported that inflation, which began accelerating in 2021, has left American consumers grappling with the most persistent cost increases in decades.
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By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent
Prices across the United States are about 26% higher than before the COVID-19 pandemic, pushing everything from a weekend hotel stay to a simple cup of coffee out of reach for many families. A budget hotel room in Nashville can now cost $500 for the weekend—without breakfast—and a single cup of coffee can cost $7. Rental cars are also commanding premium rates, with four days in a midsize Toyota Camry easily topping $670.
It’s so bad in America that a foreign news organization dug into the pricey details. The Times of London reported that inflation, which began accelerating in 2021, has left American consumers grappling with the most persistent cost increases in decades. According to NerdWallet data cited in the report, the impact has been felt across every income bracket, fueling a growing sense that even basic experiences are becoming unaffordable.
Travel and Lodging: Soaring Costs
Hotel rates have climbed 24% over the past decade, The Times reported. In Manhattan, the average nightly rate hit a record $417 in September 2024, according to real estate analytics firm CoStar. Miami Beach hotels averaged $283 a night last year, up from $230 in 2019, while Las Vegas rooms rose to $198, up nearly 41% over the same period. Rental car prices surged early in the pandemic and remain high. While rates stabilized over the past year, costs have increased 29% since 2015.
Airfares are technically down 18.5% compared to 2015, but The Times noted that this decline reflects airlines’ “unbundling” services to show lower headline fares while tacking on fees. Southwest Airlines, for example, ended its “bags fly free” policy and now charges $35 for the first checked bag and $45 for the second.
Dining and Groceries: Everyday Pain Points
Eating out has become markedly more expensive, with restaurant prices up 49.3% in the last ten years. Fast food chains have been forced to raise prices due to wage increases, higher energy costs, and supply chain problems. A dozen large Grade A eggs averaged $6.23 in March before dipping to $4.55 by May, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Waffle House restaurant chain temporarily imposed a 50-cent surcharge per egg. Grocery essentials have spiked in price, The Times reported. Baby wipes that cost $4.99 four years ago now average $6.63, while a unit of dog food jumped from $5.78 to $8.42, according to NielsenIQ.
Lindsay Owens, executive director of the Groundwork Collaborative, said some companies have exploited the situation for profit. “They decided to see if they could pass along all of their rising costs so that their margins wouldn’t be eaten into,” Owens told The Times. “And when they realized that they could, they decided to go for more.”
Entertainment and Theme Parks: A Luxury for the Wealthy
The price of live entertainment has soared. NerdWallet figures show concert and theater tickets are up 39% since 2015. The most recent Broadway season was the priciest on record, averaging $129 per ticket, and top shows often exceed $1,000 a seat. Dolly Parton’s December Las Vegas shows sold out in minutes, with resale prices climbing to $1,600. At Disney parks, costs have risen steeply. A four-day Walt Disney World trip for a family of four, including a Disney hotel, cost $4,266 last year, more than $1,000 from five years earlier, The Wall Street Journal reported.
What Comes Next
While inflation has retreated from its 9% peak in 2022, The Times cautioned that Americans shouldn’t expect relief anytime soon. New tariffs introduced by the Trump administration are expected to drive prices even higher in the months ahead. With costs still climbing, many households are left with tough decisions about which necessities—and experiences—they can continue to afford. “We’re often seeing the highest demand in the luxury space,” Sally French, a NerdWallet finance expert, said. “People want the hotel that’s going to make for an amazing photo… People are spending more on higher-end things they wouldn’t have done in the past.”
BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Proposed cuts to health care, tariff policy changes, inflation, a record number of farms going bankrupt and cuts to federal jobs are all likely to be factors in whether or not voters will turn Republicans out of power in Congress.
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By Lauren Burke
President Trump told Texas Republicans on a conference call on the morning of July 15 that the GOP will attempt to create five new Republican seats in a “mid-decade redistricting” in Texas. Next week, the Texas legislature will consider the move. Republicans control the state legislature in Texas by a 20-11 margin in the Texas Senate and an 88-62 margin in the Texas House. But Texas is a majority minority state. The congressional maps in Texas were last drawn in 2021. To redraw the maps now would be highly unusual. Republicans are expecting to have a great deal of difficulty keeping control of the U.S. House as the 2026 midterms loom in the future.
Proposed cuts to health care, tariff policy changes, inflation, a record number of farms going bankrupt, and cuts to federal jobs are all likely to be factors in whether or not voters will turn Republicans out of power in Congress. During a press conference on the morning of July 15 at Democratic National Committee headquarters, members of the Texas delegation spoke about the threat of changes in congressional districts and the recent July 5 flood in Texas that has killed at least 134 people. Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) spoke pointedly on the issue of Texas redistricting and the political state of play. “I want you all to understand the makeup of my state. The state is a majority minority state, and what this legislature historically has done is what they plan to do again — is to dilute the voices of people of color in order to make sure that they can get to where they’re trying to go,” Rep. Crockett said. She stood alongside a large group of members that included Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene, and a number of members of the Texas delegation.
“We only have four seats that are represented by Black folk, where the vast majority of the people that get to decide who they have represent them are Black. They decided to attack three of the four seats that we have in the state. They decided to go after a Latina. They are specifically deciding to splinter the communities of common interest, as well as just blatantly say we are going to dilute minority voices. So we know that the courts, ever since we’ve had a Voting Rights Act, have always found this state to be intentionally discriminatory. That is what they are going to do. I need people of color to understand that the scheme of the Republicans has consistently been to make sure that they mute our voices so that they can go ahead and have an oversized say in this. I fully anticipate that’s exactly where they’re going with this map. It’s the only way to do it. We didn’t understand how we got to the map that they gave us last time because that state was grown by 95% people of color. They went out of their way to make sure that we got zero new seats for people of color. That’s exactly what they’re going to do this time,” Rep. Crockett added.
BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Under the terms of Michael Jackson’s trust arrangements, his children do not gain full control of their trust funds until they reach age 40. According to Carolina Family Estate Planning, they receive allowances starting at age 21, with access to the first third of their share at age 30, a second third at age 35, and full access at age 40.
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By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent
The long-running administration of Michael Jackson’s estate has entered another contentious phase, as co-executors John Branca and John McClain filed a new supplement defending their decision to pay significant legal fees, including $250,000 bonuses to outside attorneys—while accusing Paris Jackson’s lawyers of lodging untimely and misguided objections.
In the Fifth Supplement to the Fee Petition, filed July 14, 2025, in Los Angeles County Superior Court, the executors state that Paris Jackson’s objections—submitted more than a year after the original petition—should be overruled outright. The filing contends that no other heirs or the California Attorney General have opposed the payments. Paris Jackson, 27, is the second child and only daughter of the late pop legend Michael Jackson. Her biological mother is Debbie Rowe, an ex-wife of Jackson who signed over custody of Paris and her brother, Prince Jackson, following the couple’s divorce in 1999. Paris and Prince’s youngest sibling is Blanket “Bigi” Jackson.
Central to the dispute is the compensation awarded to two law firms, Kinsella Holley Iser Kump Steinsapir LLP and Greenberg Traurig LLP. The executors argue these firms were pivotal in negotiating the 2018 sale of the estate’s minority stake in EMI Music Publishing to Sony for $287.5 million—an asset they say the estate acquired in 2012 for just $47,500. At the time of that acquisition, EMI’s publishing division controlled 1.3 million copyrights, with a catalog that included music by Arcade Fire, Beyoncé, Alicia Keys, Brad Paisley, Drake, Jay-Z, Norah Jones, Pink, Rihanna, and Usher. The sale reportedly generated a return of more than 6,000 times the initial investment.
“This was not an asset that Michael or the Estate owned at the time of Michael’s death,” the filing asserts, adding that it was the executors’ “ingenuity and strategic negotiations” that created this value. They maintain that the attorneys’ expertise in entertainment transactions justified fees beyond hourly rates, describing such arrangements as “common” in the music business. The firms were paid $250,000 bonuses in December 2018, in addition to regular billing. Paris Jackson’s legal team argued that the executors exceeded their authority by paying more than 70% of legal fees “on account” without court approval. Branca and McClain disputed that interpretation and cited a February 3, 2010, court order authorizing them to retain and pay legal counsel—such as litigation, trademark, and corporate attorneys—on an ongoing basis in connection with the operation of the MJJ Business. The executors emphasized that this order did not impose a 70% limit on those payments. According to the filing, “to the contrary,” the court specifically recognized the need to allow the executors discretion to assemble a highly experienced legal team to manage the business.
The executors also stated that, despite the lack of any restriction, they generally withheld 30% of billed fees as a matter of practice, with exceptions when they believed payment in full served the estate’s best interests. They noted the estate has received investment earnings on those withheld amounts. The filing argues that since Michael Jackson’s death, the executors and their legal teams have transformed the MJJ Business—which had been saddled with more than $500 million in debt—into an enterprise with assets now worth several billion dollars. The estate’s attorneys have represented the estate in more than fifteen lawsuits in the United States and have coordinated with counsel in Europe and Japan. Almost all litigation against the estate and nearly all of the 65 creditor claims have been resolved favorably. In addition to defending the $250,000 payments, the executors pushed back on objections to a smaller $4,675 payment to Blank Rome LLP. They characterized this as “de minimis” and pointed out that courts have previously excused declarations for such modest amounts. However, they offered to provide additional documentation if the court requests it.
Under the terms of Michael Jackson’s trust arrangements, his children do not gain full control of their trust funds until they reach age 40. According to Carolina Family Estate Planning, they receive allowances starting at age 21, with access to the first third of their share at age 30, a second third at age 35, and full access at age 40. The supplement also asks the court to strike certain “affirmative relief” requests in Paris Jackson’s objections as improperly presented under California procedural rules. The executors warned that pursuing the objections would further drain estate resources and create additional delays, calling the effort “not in the interest of…the other beneficiaries.” If the court declines to summarily reject the objections, Branca and McClain request a formal evidentiary hearing and propose that retired Judge Mitchell L. Beckloff serve as referee under a stipulation signed by the executors and other Jackson heirs, including Katherine Jackson and Michael’s sons, Prince and Bigi. The filing states that the Attorney General has not objected to referring such matters to the retired judge. A hearing on the matter is scheduled for July 16, 2025, before Judge Brenda Penny in Los Angeles.
BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — The re-creation includes a 14-foot-wide model of the Capitol and a costumed Uncle Sam gamemaster, who prowls the floor as a ringmaster of civic mayhem.
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By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent
Flavor Flav once declared, “9-1-1 is a joke.” He was calling out the deadly indifference to Black lives embedded in institutions sworn to protect. But as grotesque as systemic neglect is, perhaps nothing in recent memory has so vividly illustrated American democracy’s fragility—and its capacity for collective delusion—as the deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. Now, nearly five years later, that real-life nightmare has metastasized into a sprawling cultural industry of documentaries, books, board games, performance art, and even a participatory stage show where you can choose to “hang” the vice president.
From Four Hours at the Capitol on HBO to American Insurrection on PBS Frontline, media have exhaustively dissected every angle of that day: the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, the false prophets of “Stop the Steal,” the elected officials who turned complicity into a career strategy. Cassidy Hutchinson’s memoir, enough, peeled back the layers of cowardice and calculation within Trump’s White House. A speculative graphic novel, 1/6, imagines what might have happened if the attackers had succeeded in overturning the government. But perhaps the most provocative—and unsettling—manifestation of this new genre is playing out in London’s West End. Inside the Stone Nest theater, Fight for America! Dare audiences to reenact the insurrection themselves.
In this genre-defying hybrid of tabletop wargame and interactive performance, attendees are sorted into “Team Blue,” defending the Capitol, or “Team Red,” storming it. Each side is handed a script of grievances and given dice, action cards, and thousands of meticulously painted miniatures—some waving “Overturn Biden” banners, others decked in riot shields. The re-creation includes a 14-foot-wide model of the Capitol and a costumed Uncle Sam gamemaster, who prowls the floor as a ringmaster of civic mayhem. The show was conceived by American theater producers Christopher McElroen and Neal Wilkinson, who initially planned to debut it in the United States. But after Trump’s re-election in 2024, they relocated the premiere to London, hoping that some 3,000 miles of ocean would create enough distance for reflection.
The show culminates in a decision point: the audience must vote whether to execute Vice President Mike Pence. According to organizers, out of 24 London performances, 18 audiences voted to “hang” him. One participant, unnerved by the crowd’s enthusiasm, managed to talk them out of it in the final minutes, an uncomfortable reminder that even in play, the mob can hunger for violence. While the creators insist the experience is designed to “spark self-reflection” on polarization and mob mentality, it is hard to ignore the absurdity of paying for the privilege of pretending to kill elected officials. In her review, London critic Mary Beer compared the experience to Marina Abramović’s Rhythm 0, in which audiences were allowed to inflict real harm on the artist. Except here, the harm—rhetorical and symbolic—echoes an actual event that killed police officers and traumatized an entire nation.
Elsewhere, the commodification of January 6 has taken other shapes. A parody board game, Storm the Capitol, lets players choose to be “patriots” or law enforcement. An interactive wargame and art installation called Fight for America! Invites participants to maneuver figurines around a to-scale model of the Capitol as they reenact the breach. In London, the theater production includes real video footage of the attack—an eerie coda that pulls players back from their simulated conquest into the reality that this was no abstraction. In a sign of just how thoroughly this day has been transformed into content, an 18-year-old’s decision to report his father to the FBI became the basis for a stage play called Fatherland. And the flood of works shows no sign of slowing. A Washington, D.C., run of Fight for America! is slated for January 2026 to mark the fifth anniversary of the attack, landing at a moment when Trump has returned to power and granted clemency to all but 14 convicted January 6 defendants.
This explosion of entertainment products, from tabletop spectacles to streaming exposés, raises an unsettling question: How should a society process an attempted coup that almost ended the American experiment? Are we memorializing a civic tragedy—or trivializing it?
For many, the answer lies in whether these projects foster genuine reflection or simply feed the cultural appetite for spectacle. As McElroen told The Washington Post, “If you don’t participate in democracy, it doesn’t work.” But if democracy can be reduced to a game—complete with dice rolls, scoring systems, and Instagrammable photo ops—then the lesson may be more sinister: when the violence is over, the market will find a way to package it. “The insurrection wasn’t a joke,” Carrie Frazier, a D.C. resident who said she recently returned from London but didn’t see the show. “But in 2025, it is entertainment.”

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