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/

What’s really going on with Donald Trump’s health? 🤔 In this week’s episode, we’re diving into the social media buzz around recent pictures that show the former President looking “lumpy and bumpy” under his jacket. We’re talking about the ongoing conversation about the rectangular shape folks are spotting and what it could mean.

We’ll look at why some are speculating he might have an LVAD (Left Ventricular Assist Device) —and why I’m confident that’s not the case. Instead, I’ll share my speculation on a much more plausible possibility: a Wearable Cardioverter Defibrillator (WCD), also known as a life vest defibrillator. This portable device monitors and protects against sudden cardiac death and, unlike an LVAD, does not require open-heart surgery.

We’re also looking at Donald Trump’s documented Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI) , the resulting swelling of his extremities (his body retaining fluids) , and how that condition can be an “earmark of a serious heart condition”. Why is he reportedly having MRIs and cognitive assessments?. I think Donald Trump has a serious heart issue that requires a life vest, and the White House is not being upfront about it.

I’m making sure to differentiate between what I know (the social media chatter, the visible lump) and what I think (my speculation on the WCD and the seriousness of his heart health). This conversation goes beyond mere gossip; it’s about the health of a public figure who’s constantly in front of the camera , the implications for his administration, and the political actors trying to push legislation while they have him “propped up”.

Join the conversation: Do you see the imprint? What do you think is going on with Donald Trump’s health? Let me know in the comments!

#TashaPierceUnwrapped #TeamNoTea #PopCultureNews #PoliticalHealth #WCD #LifeVestDefibrillator

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A special election win. A highly-anticipated vote on the Epstein files. A looming government shutdown. And a very public threat involving a dating app. Political creator RazzleDazzleMo is demanding that Speaker of the House Mike Johnson immediately swear in Congresswoman-elect Adelita Grijalva. The pressure is on, as Grijalva’s vote is the final signature needed to force a vote on releasing the explosive Jeffrey Epstein files. But the stakes went from political to deeply personal when RazzleDazzleMo issued a deadline and an ultimatum: swear in Grijalva by Wednesday, or face the public release of the Speaker’s alleged Grindr profile.

RazzleDazzleMo’s GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/23e6bc5a7

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

What is happening to sports etiquette? This week, Tasha jumps on to unwrap the aggressive and hostile fan behavior erupting across major sports—from the NFL to the WNBA and even the usually buttoned-up world of golf. Drawing a clear connection between the hyper-partisan volatility of American politics and the rise of "toxic tribalism" in stadiums and on the fairways, she asks: when did showing your patriotic "allegiance" become an excuse for flat-out disrespect?

We dive into the chaos at the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, where Team Europe's Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry faced ugly, personal heckling that forced the deployment of extra police and security. It's more than just "New York energy;" it's a reflection of a larger national mood that's rowdy, divided, and charged with political overtones.

Tasha connects the dots to the WNBA, referencing the hostile environment created for away teams, highlighting the reaction of All-Star guard Allisha Gray to heckling, and recalling past egregious fan actions that endangered players. This boundary-crossing behavior—from personal insults about family and body, to fans feeling entitled to abuse visiting players—is a worrying sign that we are slipping into an uncivilized era.

We talk about how digital tribalism and echo chambers fuel this aggression, spilling into physical confrontation, and why the leagues often struggle to enforce standards of respect when there’s so much money involved. Ultimately, this isn't just about golf or basketball; it's about the state of American culture and the undemocratic behavior of a faction of Americans on full display. The hope, Tasha offers, lies in players like Rory McIlroy, who sealed a clutch shot in the face of chaos, reminding us that the game is bigger than the noise. It's a call for self-regulation and a choice not to participate in the foolishness.

Episode Highlights:

Rowdiness vs. Hostility: When does a raucous crowd cross the line from being "an extra player" to flat-out disrespect and hostility? Tasha breaks down the difference.

The Ryder Cup Chaos: Ugly taunts about family and body, profanity hurled at Rory McIlroy right before his swing, and fans bombarding Shane Lowry with horrible jokes about his weight led to spectator ejections and high security at Bethpage Black.

Connecting the Dots to Politics: Tasha argues that the current hyper-partisan, pro-Trump, hyper-patriotic energy and "rich nationalism" is feeding the aggression and boundary-crossing at sporting events, fostering an "us versus them" mentality and "toxic tribalism".

WNBA's Hostile Environment: A deep dive into the constant complaints from women's basketball players about disparaging and sometimes racist fan comments, including a look at the unprecedented reaction of Allisha Gray in a hostile Indiana gym.

The Entitlement Problem: The feeling that a faction of American spectators is "licensed to act up" and abuse visiting Europeans because of a "my team is right, so anything goes" vibe.

Echo Chambers and Escalation: How online debates and digital tribalism are priming fans for confrontation in person, and the need for us all to be less likely to self-regulate.

Closing Thought (The Hope): Even in the face of this chaos, we must choose to respect the decorum and restore the mutual respect that is supposed to define these games. Like Rory McIlroy's clutch shot, we must remember that some things are bigger than the noise.

We're all taught that to be a patriot is to remember our history—the good, the bad, and the ugly. We're asked to 'never forget' 9/11 and the profound loss it represents. We talk about the importance of remembering D-Day, a pivotal moment in the fight against fascism. So, why is it that when Black Americans insist on remembering the trauma of slavery—the very foundation of so much of our nation's wealth and so many of its inequalities—we're told to just 'move on'?

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

Jesus consistently connects the state of a person's heart with their relationship to wealth. The central theme isn't that being rich is a sin, but that the love of money, the trust in one's possessions, and the failure to use wealth to care for others can create a significant barrier to a relationship with God. What does this mean for Donald Trump?