Happy 2026! I’m back.

I know I’ve been MIA, but I’m dropping in today because, if you are anything like me, you are trying to shut out the outside noise. I thought I was built to handle the “stench” coming from our government, but turns out, I need a break.

So, today we are focusing on the distractions. We’re talking about what to watch for the next few months to keep our spirits high and our minds occupied.

In this episode:

🏀 For My Sports Fans: We’re talking Unrivaled basketball (Season 2 is already underway!) and the major volleyball leagues playing right now. You can catch the games on TNT, TruTV, HBO Max, and YouTube. (And yes, that was Ashton making his executive producer debut in the background ).

📺 The 2026 Watchlist: Get your calendars ready. I’m running down the release dates for the shows getting me through the Spring:

* Star Trek: Starfleet Academy (Jan 15)

* Wonder Man starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (Jan 27)

* Cross Season 2 with Aldis Hodge (Feb 11)

* Paradise Season 2 (Feb 23)

* Scrubs Season 1 (Feb 26)

* Monarch: Legacy of Monsters (Feb 27)

* Daredevil Season 2 (March 4)

* The Boys Season 5 (April 8)

* Plus, a hopeful update on Euphoria Season 3

🧠 Vocabulary Lesson: Because we can’t completely ignore reality, I’m leaving you with three words to add to your lexicon that perfectly describe the current state of affairs:

* Kakistocracy: Government by the worst, least suitable, or least competent citizens.

* Idiocracy: A society dominated by people considered ignorant or of low intelligence.

* Ineptocracy: A system where the least capable to lead are elected by the least capable of producing.

Let’s watch some TV, learn some words, and keep our heads up.

Mentioned in this video: Check out my sports coverage at Miss Main Event on YouTube or search “Ms. Main Event Pod” on your podcast app.

#CultureFirst #DemocracyAlways #2026TVGuide #WonderMan #CrossSeason2 #Kakistocracy #TeamNoTea

*If you’d like to see the charts and visuals from the video version of this episode, along with a book and film recommendation, check out the article version on Substack.

Today, we analyze the harrowing stories of Mercedes Wells, who was denied care while in labor, and Tierra Walker, whose life was jeopardized by restrictive state laws. These are not isolated incidents. They are devastating examples of a deep-seated problem in American healthcare that treats Black women’s pain and requests for care with chronic dismissal.I break down the undeniable statistics. Black women die in childbirth at rates three times higher than White women. I also discuss why superficial “cultural competency” training is insufficient. Genuine change demands accountability, transparency, and the centering of Black women’s experiences in medical reform.Join the Conversation:What has been your experience, or the experience of someone you know, navigating the healthcare system as a Black woman? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Tasha Pierce: Unwrapped is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Hey UnWrapped Fam! We're digging into a very serious issue today: The FBI has finally issued a bulletin warning the public about criminals posing as ICE agents. This isn't just about a few bad apples; it's a serious national law enforcement concern.

Drawing from reporting by Wired , I break down the FBI advisory citing incidents of fake immigration officers committing robberies, kidnappings, and sexual assaults across the country. The bulletin cites five 2025 incidents , including a robbery in a New York restaurant and a sexual assault attempt in Brooklyn. I discuss the bureau's new call for officers to clearly identify themselves and why this is the bare minimum of police procedure. The advisory even suggests the identification should include allowing calls to a local police precinct.

But is the focus only on impersonators distracting from the original problem? I share my perspective on how the behavior of armed, masked federal officers themselves erodes public trust and the stark contradictions in the administration's stance. The Trump administration frames the mask use as an "officer safety measure" , but to me, that sounds like plausible deniability to put distance between the leadership and the reckless acts in the field.

Y'all, the contradictions are stark. When you give carte blanche to racially profile people , and then your own official behavior, like shooting people with pepper balls at point blank range, doesn't "erode the trust in law enforcement," but the impersonators do, something is fundamentally broken. The actions of these federal agents, even without the sexual assault and burglaries, are still endangering public safety and eroding trust.

I'm leaving it there. It's an essential article , and if those five cited cases are the only ones, we'd be lucky; but we know they're not.

Here’s the link to the article from WIRED:https://www.wired.com/story/fbi-warns-of-criminals-posing-as-ice-urges-agents-to-id-themselves/