The week on WURD: The rise of “Sinners,” the sound of Black Americana and the crisis of democracy

Olympic swimmer Cullen Jones during competition. Photo by JD Lasica, licensed under CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Michael Steele, former chair of the Republican National Committee and co-host of the new MSNBC show “The Weeknight” with Symone Sanders-Townsend and Alicia Menendez, joined Wake Up With WURD with Solomon Jones to talk about challenging Trumpism, the fight for democracy and how the Republican Party has lost its way.

Karen Hunter, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and SiriusXM host, joined Evening WURDs with James Peterson to unpack America’s obsession with whiteness and spoke about the dangers of political chaos, blind allegiance and voter responsibility. She also discussed “Sinners,” the genre-defying Black film Hunter called a cultural landmark.

Allison Russell, singer-songwriter, musician and activist, joined Tonya Pendleton on Reality Check to discuss reclaiming folk and Americana music’s Black roots, the impact of cultural erasure, and the healing power of musical storytelling. She reflects on her Grammy-winning song “Eve Was Black” and her collaborations with legends like Wendy & Lisa and Annie Lennox.

Journalist Richard Kreitner joined Evening WURDs to discuss his new book “Fear No Pharaoh: American Jews, the Civil War, and the Fight to End Slavery.” The book explores the complex roles American Jews played in the Civil War, from Jewish abolitionists to Confederate supporters, and how this legacy shapes Black-Jewish relations today.

Cullen Jones, an Olympic gold medal-winning swimmer, joined Wake Up With WURD at the start of National Water Safety Month to share how a near-drowning led to his Olympic career. Jones is on a mission to reduce drowning rates in Black communities by encouraging families to teach kids to swim and start conversations about water safety and representation in aquatic sports.

Diona Murray, founder of Barren Fruit, joined Soulful Sunrise with Karen Taylor Bass to discuss her battle with endometriosis. She explored racial bias in infertility care, self-advocacy, and how fruitfulness can mean birthing not just children, but ideas, healing and purpose.