The Blackout Overnight Brief: Angie Nixon on why she wanted that Senate seat

Callers want Angie Nixon to run again. Three Black governors-elect will take office soon. Here’s who backed their campaigns.

Nov 11, 2026

The Blackout Overnight Brief

Good morning, friends. It’s The Blackout Overnight Brief, where I’m rounding up the news from overnight and this morning, covering the stories that matter most to XVOA, and providing context for news you might have missed. If there’s a video worth your attention, I’ll break it down for you so you don’t have to click play.

Also this morning: D.C. voters appear to have elected at least 29 LGBTQ neighborhood commissioners. Russia and Ukraine agreed in principle to conduct a prisoner swap. In Maywood, Illinois, veterans had first dibs on Thanksgiving turkeys. The House referred impeachment articles against Pete Hegseth to committee.

A word from the editor

When Sonya Wimberly and I sat down to talk election results the other day, we thought we’d be celebrating. We even loaded up a sketch from Saturday Night Live called “Post-Election Ad,” ready to hit play.

Instead, we sat in silence and listened to Angie Nixon. At one point there’s a long pause before she starts talking about the struggle of finding access to mental health care.

I get it when people say they want Angie to run again. But I’m curious to hear from those who DID win seats. What will you do for the next person who calls for help?

Wednesday, November 11, 2026 · Veterans Day

Angie Nixon on getting help for struggling teens

A week after losing Florida’s U.S. Senate race to Ashley Moody by less than three points, Angie Nixon sat down with Don Lemon on Tuesday. She spoke through tears about a family member’s suicide attempt during the race.

“Sorry,” she said. “I’m glad that we’re talking about this,” Lemon responded. Nixon said she wanted to check in with her family member before sharing more. She also spoke about losing her half sister to suicide and why she supports Medicare for All.

“I’m kind of hurt that I didn’t make it,” Nixon told Lemon as they talked about struggling teens. Sonya and I wondered if she felt she’d let those families down. She told Lemon she’ll continue to “fight like hell” from outside the Senate.

I know, I know. Subscription fatigue is real. Honestly asking for subscriptions isn’t my strong suit, aight?

But if I don’t stick up for my own stuff, who the hell is gonna?

I’m not about to sit twiddling my thumbs hoping some Substack Digest editor decides to feature my writing alongside a bunch of cookie-cutter, pretty faced Substackers who would never in a million years write the word “ain’t” in one of their essays.

Nah.

So if you are lovin’ these deep dives and articles the mainstream press will never cover, consider subscribing to my free newsletter. It’s one less way the MSM can manipulate you. And hey, one less time you’ll have to read some Substack Digest featuring Karen’s lackluster, forgettable essay.

Ok, is my jealousy coming out just a lil bit?

I digress.

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If for whatever reason you’re not down to subscribe…

RESTACK this biatch and keep reading.

Bye.

Will Angie Nixon run again?

Being a mom of five and balancing a Senate campaign meant that things at home got “a little touch and go,” Nixon told Lemon. While Nixon was out campaigning, her husband stepped up with childcare and household responsibilities. His lawn care business took a hit as customers decided to mow their own lawns. Nixon said the family was in debt and she had payment plans for her taxes and student loans.

Lemon told Nixon that he thinks she should run again, and a few of Lemon’s callers agreed. “I felt her spirit,” said Cecilia, a 30-year military veteran calling from D.C. Jason, who lives in L.A. and called from his hometown of New Orleans, would love to see her run again.

Nixon told Lemon that she plans to continue organizing in Florida and across the Deep South.

Why September mattered to Nixon

Nixon said some party money trickled in a day or two before Election Day. She needed cash in mid-September to combat negative ads. Chuck Schumer’s leadership PAC donated $5,000 to her Senate campaign. Schumer also threw a fundraiser for Nixon in October.

As of Wednesday morning, Lemon’s interview had racked up over 160,000 views on YouTube.

Original Note
Reporting: Full interview · The exchange at 42:48 · Why Nixon ran · Family finances · Callers · October fundraiser · Mediaite

Thomas Massie’s impeachment articles against Pete Hegseth

Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie’s eight articles of impeachment accuse Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth of waging war against Iran without authorization from Congress. They also cite strikes in Yemen and the capture of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro. Hegseth called them “partisan policy disagreements.”

Massie wanted the House to vote on impeachment. He alone among Republicans voted against referring his articles to the House Judiciary Committee. He called referral “a motion to kill this impeachment.” The referral passed 211–204 on Tuesday.

Original Note
Reporting: House roll call · Hegseth’s response · Massie’s remarks

Don Leonard asked Hakeem Jeffries for six minutes

After flipping Ohio’s 15th District for Democrats, Rep.-elect Don Leonard is calling for a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United, an end to U.S. aid to Israel, and an end to the war in Iran.

Leonard said in a video that senior House Democrats warned him on Monday that opposing Hakeem Jeffries for speaker could make his time in Congress “a living hell” and cost him reelection in 2028. He told Axios he believed those members had his best interests at heart. Caucus chair Pete Aguilar said he didn’t know which Democrats Leonard meant.

“I shook his hand and I asked him for six minutes,” Leonard told Axios about his conversation with Jeffries on Tuesday.

Reporting: Leonard’s video · Axios

Prisoner exchange talks in Abu Dhabi

Ukraine and Russia agreed in principle Wednesday to conduct a prisoner of war exchange following two days of U.S.-facilitated peace negotiations in Abu Dhabi, according to the Associated Press. The countries have not yet announced a date for the exchange. U.S. envoy Jared Kushner said the two sides could agree on numbers as soon as Thursday.

Reporting: AP from Abu Dhabi

More than $70 million helped elect three Black governors

The Democratic Governors Association and its allies spent more than $70 million supporting Keisha Lance Bottoms in Georgia, David Crowley in Wisconsin and Aaron Ford in Nevada, according to theGrio. Bottoms became the first Black woman elected governor in U.S. history.

The DGA began supporting Bottoms’ campaign at the start of the general election and spent nearly $20 million in Georgia. DGA chair and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear wants the next Democratic presidential nominee to enlist all three in getting voters to the polls.

Original Note
Reporting: theGrio · DGA spending · Nixon on timing

The data center on Getwell Road

The Memphis City Council tabled action on two ordinances related to data centers until Dec. 22.

5C is planning a $575 million expansion at a former Fred’s distribution center on Getwell Road between two predominantly Black Memphis neighborhoods, Capleville and Oakhaven. 5C executives said the data center was designed for about 20 megawatts of power and could use 84 within six months. The company also plans to install fuel cells. Word In Black was unable to determine what fuel 5C will use or what emissions neighbors can expect.

Original Note
Reporting: Word In Black · Memphis Report

Mamdani’s new budget rule

Under a new budget rule from Mayor Zohran Mamdani, New York City agencies must explain how new or expanded programs would advance racial equity and climate goals to receive funding, Capital B reported.

Say you live in Brooklyn’s Bedford-Stuyvesant, which is particularly vulnerable to extreme heat and has few cooling centers. Come next summer, how far will you have to walk from a hot apartment to get somewhere cool?

Original Note
Reporting: Capital B

Two D.C. neighborhood commission races could mean historic firsts

At least 29 apparent winners in the Nov. 3 Advisory Neighborhood Commission elections identify as LGBTQ, according to the Washington Blade.

If their wins are certified, Vida Rangel of Columbia Heights (1A10) would become the first known transgender woman of color elected to public office in D.C. Dana White of Capitol Hill–Eastern Market (6B04) would become the first known Black trans and nonbinary person to do so. Both ran unopposed.

ANC commissioners serve without pay. D.C. law says the city must give “great weight” to concerns commissioners raise in their recommendations, whether about crosswalks or liquor licenses.

Original Note
Reporting: Washington Blade · D.C. law

Trinidad and Tobago’s highest court rules against same-sex intimacy ban

Criminalizing consensual, private sex between adults of the same sex offends their right to privacy, Trinidad and Tobago’s highest court of appeals ruled Tuesday.

All five judges on the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council agreed. LGBTQ rights activist Jason Jones had appealed a lower court’s decision last year to reinstate the colonial-era ban. The court invited written submissions on the terms of its final order.

Reporting: Privy Council judgment · TTT News

Free turkeys for all but veterans first, please

In Maywood, Illinois, veterans with proof of service had priority at Wednesday’s 8 a.m. Central turkey giveaway at 11 N. 1st Ave. Families could speak with a CEDA representative about help paying their heating bills. Staff at all five locations also have information on weatherization, housing and WIC.

The Black McDonald’s Operators Association is giving away 3,000 turkeys and grocery gift cards across Chicagoland for its 26th annual giveaway. The next giveaway is Thursday at 740 E. 47th St. in Chicago, with two more events Friday and Saturday.

Reporting: Chicago Defender’s five locations