A popular Zambian-American social media personality has been sentenced to 18 months in prison after pleading guilty to hate speech charges stemming from online rants aimed at Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema.

Ethel Chisono Edwards, 42, widely known as “One Boss Lady,” was arrested three months ago upon arrival at Zambia’s main airport, where she had traveled from New York to attend her grandmother’s funeral.

Edwards, who holds dual citizenship and works as a real estate agent in the U.S., gained a sizable following for her outspoken political commentaries, many of which targeted the Zambian president.

Court Seeks to Rein in Rising Online Abuse

Appearing in a Lusaka magistrate’s court, Edwards pleaded guilty, apologized to the president and the nation, and admitted her posts were motivated by hatred and had no lawful basis. Despite her remorse, Magistrate Webster Milumbe insisted the court needed to send a clear message as online hate speech becomes increasingly prevalent.

The conviction was handed down under Zambia’s newly implemented Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Act, which has granted authorities wider latitude in prosecuting digital offenses.

Throughout the proceedings, Edwards appeared subdued — a stark contrast to the fiery, confrontational tone that defined her online presence.

A Plea for Leniency

Her lawyer, Joseph Katati, argued for a non-custodial sentence, describing Edwards as the breadwinner of her family, a first-time offender, and a philanthropist who sponsors a girls’ football team in Zambia. In a detailed apology delivered on her behalf, Edwards expressed deep regret for her comments.

“I want to unreservedly apologize to President Hakainde Hichilema, his family, and the nation of Zambia,” the statement read.

However, the court ruled that Edwards’ sentence would take effect from the date of her arrest, meaning she has already served a significant portion of the 18-month term.

Katati said no decision has been made regarding an appeal.

Public Reaction Split

Her jailing has sparked heated debate in Zambia and among diaspora communities. Some argue the sentence is necessary to curb increasingly aggressive online rhetoric. Others say it undermines freedom of expression and raises concerns about how broadly cyber laws can be applied.

Zambia’s government has long faced criticism over its handling of speech-related offenses. Although President Hichilema abolished criminal defamation of the presidency in 2022, citizens continue to face prosecution under other statutes, including the cyber laws used to jail Edwards.

Just months ago, two men were sentenced to two years in prison for attempting to use witchcraft to harm the president — another case that drew global attention.

A Story Resonating Beyond Zambia

For audiences following developments across Africa, the Edwards case reflects broader tensions between digital activism and state regulation. As online platforms increasingly shape political discourse, governments continue to grapple with how to police harmful speech without suppressing dissent.

Edwards’ sentencing is likely to fuel that debate, both at home and abroad.

The White House has unveiled a new online tool that publicly names and shames journalists and news organizations it accuses of misleading the American public.

The move intensifies Washington’s deepening war with the American press since Trump returned to office.

The page, titled “media offenders,” went live Friday, November 28, 2025, on the official White House website. It lists reporters, outlets, and specific stories that the administration labels as inaccurate, biased, or intentionally deceptive.

At the top of the inaugural “offenders of the week” list are the Boston Globe, CBS News, and The Independent, along with the journalists who authored stories on a widely discussed video released by six Democratic lawmakers.

The Video That Triggered a Political Firestorm

The lawmakers — all military veterans or former intelligence officials — warned service members in the video that they are not obligated to follow illegal orders. They framed their message starkly:

“The threats to our Constitution aren’t just coming from abroad, but from right here at home.”

They added:

“You can refuse illegal orders. You must refuse illegal orders.”

President Donald Trump responded by calling the video “seditious” and “treason,” adding fuel to existing tensions between the White House and political opponents who have raised questions about military politicization.

Inside the White House’s “Offender Hall of Shame”

The new webpage is laid out like a digital museum of grievances. Each referenced report is tagged with labels including “lie,” “omission of context,” and “left-wing lunacy.”

A running leaderboard ranks media outlets the administration says have repeatedly misreported stories. At the top:

1. The Washington Post
2. MSNBC (recently rebranded MS NOW)
3. CBS News
4. CNN
5. The New York Times
6. Politico
7. The Wall Street Journal

A section titled “repeat offenders” highlights publishers the White House claims have committed multiple violations.

According to the administration, the page will serve as “a record of the media’s false and misleading stories flagged by The White House.”

A Growing Rift Over Press Access

The clash comes as the administration is already locked in confrontation with several major outlets that surrendered their Pentagon press badges last month. Those outlets had rejected new Defense Department rules that critics say would give Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth authority to expel reporters who publish unapproved information — even if not classified.

The administration is also pursuing ongoing court battles against The New York Times, CBS News, ABC News, The Wall Street Journal, and The Associated Press, reflecting what press freedom groups describe as one of the most aggressive legal campaigns against journalists in modern U.S. history.

Hostility Toward Female Reporters Intensifies

Trump’s personal attacks on female journalists have added another volatile dimension.

This week, he called a female New York Times reporter “ugly” after she co-authored a data-driven report analyzing signs of aging in the 79-year-old president.

Just two weeks earlier, he told a Bloomberg reporter “quiet, piggy” when she attempted to follow up with a question about emails connected to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.

A High-Stakes Fight Over Public Trust

The launch of the “media offenders” tracker signals an unprecedented moment: a sitting administration building a public, official archive to target the press.

Critics warn it’s a dangerous step toward delegitimizing independent journalism — especially as the 2026 election cycle intensifies.

What is clear is that Washington’s information battles are no longer confined to press briefings or social media. They have now been codified on a government website.

A manhunt is intensifying in Stockton, California, where authorities have yet to arrest anyone two days after a mass shooting ripped through a child’s birthday party, killing four people — three of them children — and injuring 11 others.

The San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office says investigators are pursuing multiple leads but have made “no arrests as of December 1,” deepening public frustration as families mourn and a shaken community demands answers.

The shooting unfolded around 6 p.m. on November 29 inside a banquet hall in a Stockton strip mall, turning a Saturday celebration into carnage. Officials say at least 14 people were struck by gunfire, with victims ranging from young children to adults. A 9-year-old remains in fair condition, and another child is in critical condition.

Authorities believe the attack was targeted, potentially tied to an earlier dispute, but have not identified a motive. The sheriff’s office is urging witnesses to come forward, calling the hotline “critical” to breaking open the investigation. The case now involves local police, the California Highway Patrol and the FBI.

“This is supposed to be a place where families gather — where children blow out candles, not run for their lives,” Stockton Vice Mayor Jason Lee said.

Local officials have echoed that outrage, noting that gun violence in California’s Central Valley has escalated sharply in recent years.

The Governor’s Office said it is monitoring the situation, with a press conference expected later today. San Joaquin County District Attorney Ron Freitas described the attack as “devastating beyond measure,” especially given the ages of the victims.

Outside the crime scene, residents have placed balloons, stuffed animals and handwritten notes. Many say they are fearful not only for their own safety but for a future where even a child’s birthday party feels unsafe.

The search for the shooter — or shooters — continues, but investigators are asking anyone with cellphone videos, eyewitness information or surveillance footage to contact the sheriff’s tip line.