Jordan's Matter

This project took a lot of out of me but, it was something that definitely needed to be told. Due to the pandemic many people either lost their job, was furloughed, or displaced. My mom was one of them. Check out this amazing video I put together about how my mom dealt with such an experience. Her journey has made me a stronger individual and I hope you all enjoy it!

Covid-19 has affected millions of people in ways we could have never expected. Meet April Latimore, a 42-year-old native Washingtonian. She previously worked as a staff coordinator for DC’s premier travel and tourism company, Destination DC. In May of 2020, she was furloughed due to massive shutdowns in every major city. Instead of moping, she turned her sorrow into a business. April decided to create a business based on what she loves design. And now that there is a vaccine for Covid-19, she spends her days helping DC residents sign up and register for it.

The anticipation is rising as tonight in Cleveland, President Donald Trump, and former Vice President Joe Biden will face off for the first time in the 2020 presidential campaign. This will be the first of three debates between the two presidential candidates.

Set to take place at Case Western Reserve University, the debate starts at 9 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. EST with "Fox News Sunday" anchor Chris Wallace. The debate will go on without any commercial breaks.

This will not be your typical presidential debate due to coronavirus precautions. There will be no handshake, the audience is limited to 70 and follow all safety protocols.

With Biden leading in the polls, according to The New York Times, it is expected that Trump will try to press reset as he has not been able to peel away swing voters from Biden.

, Both candidates will be discussing topics including "The Trump and Biden Records," "The Supreme Court," "Covid-19," "The Economy", "Race and Violence in our Cities" and "The Integrity of the Election." according to the Commission on Presidential Debate

However, the even more prominent topic of tonight's debate may well be The New York Times blockbuster reporting on the be Trump's $750 tax bill.

On Sunday night, The New York Times reported Trump's tax information extending over two decades. Biden's campaign quickly responded with information on how much the average American pays in taxes versus what Trump paid, which works in his favor. He appeals to working-class Americans.

Biden argues that Trump cannot be trusted with another four years in the White House as he failed to protect the public from the coronavirus pandemic.

Trump is prepared to make Biden "explain his 47 years of failure and job-killing, NBC News reports, as a Washington politician and also defend the radical agenda he is now carrying for the extreme left, including “raising taxes by $4 trillion," said Tim Murtaugh, communications director for the Trump campaign reported to NBC News.

On September 18th, after her long fight with pancreatic cancer, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died at her home in Washington, surrounded by her family. Ginsburg was a wife, mother, and a champion of women’s rights.

As the second woman to be appointed to the nation’s highest court, Ginsburg’s work changed everyone's world, not just women. She fought for gender equality, equal pay, same-sex marriage, and reproductive rights. Toward the end of her life, Ginsburg became a national icon. Due in part to her withering dissents, Ginsburg was dubbed the Notorious RBG by her army of fans online - a nod to the late rapper The Notorious BIG. That comparison introduced Ginsburg to a new generation of young feminists, turning her into a cult figure.

Ginsburg’s death has allowed the Republican to tighten their reign on the court with another appointment from President Donald Trump. With Ginsburg on the Supreme Court, power was spilt between four liberals, four archconservatives, and Chief John Roberts, who is sometimes unpredictable. This appointee will be Trump’s third, and he is determined to replace Ginsburg with a young conservative. By doing so, the ideological balance within the court will shift. This shift would create a conservative majority that creates a new legal landscape for at least the next 30 years. With the liberal wing leader gone in the court, issues like abortions, elections, and healthcare will be entirely dominated by conservatives.

Ginsburg’s death has stirred up much controversy concerning a new nominee for the Supreme Court, and with the election being a little over six weeks away, there is still time for a nominee to be appointed. Sen. Mitch McConnell plans to confirm Trump’s pick before the upcoming election. However, it is a very hypocritic decision based on the fact that he blocked former President Barack Obama’s nominee in March 2016 grounds that “only” eight months remained before that year’s election. However, Democratic presidential challenger Joe Biden said: “There is no doubt - let me be clear - that the voters should pick the president and the president should pick the justice for the Senate to consider.”

What is there to do quarantine during a global pandemic? There is no work nor other activities. Well, TikTok has fun for all ages, whether voluntary or involuntary. TikTok has become a sensation used by all ages to create entertainment for the family during a time full of turmoil.

The social media platform, TikTok, was initially released in China in September of 2016 but was not available in the United States until August of 2018. Since then, it has been a trend for members of Generation Z as it was the second most downloaded app, a total of over 1.5 billion times since 2019, according to The Guardian.

Since the pandemic, TikTok has created a frenzy. As of today, videos made on TikTok with the hashtag #corinavirus have up to 98.2 billion views. Videos include coronavirus updates, memes, funny videos, and sing-alongs.

"I started using TikTok because I was bored” said Caitlyn Wahlberg, a 19-year-old sophomore at Fairleigh Dickinson University. “It has helped improve my mood because the content is tailor-fit toward my humor and kept me from not being entertained. The videos make me feel like I connect with others who are also struggling during the pandemic, especially with depression and other struggles during this crazy time we are living in. I do not feel alone with what I am battling,"

Most Gen Zers make videos of themselves dancing and making funny videos doing challenges such as "Savage," set to the Megan the Stallion song and created by 19-year-old Keara Wilson, and "Renegade," set to rapper K Camp's "Lottery" and created by 14-year-old Jaliah Harmon. The platform has created a fun and interactive way for Gen Zers to express themselves and help deal with the constant depressing news flow.

Dr. Jenny Radesky, a developmental-behavioral pediatrician and American Academy of Pediatrics member who specializes in media use tells CNN, "we turn to culture to cope or find meaning or to laugh and connect.”

This social media trend was not only used by Gen Zers but their parents and other family members as well. Many feeds on TikTok are filled with moms and dads, sisters and brothers, aunties and cousins, and even family dogs, all joining together to make silly, creative, often downright wholesome quarantine content. Like most parents, they usually join to supervise what their underage children are posting and being exposed to on social media. Soon, they are dancing, making recipes, and finding fun content for their age group.

"I started using it in March during quarantine” said Alicia Kea, a 38-year-old mom who uses TikTok to bond with her 11-year-old daughter. “I started it because my daughter, Haylea, had Tik Tok Tuesday for school, and we thought it would be fun. It always gives me a good laugh on a rough day & keeps me entertained. It is a good bonding experience because it gives us something fun to do together & it keeps me up to date on new music".