2 chapters across the catalog
In a segment titled "When Keeping It Real Goes Wrong," Jason Whitlock argues that Nike is the true power behind the NBA and its political leanings. Whitlock connects President Obama's 2015 defense of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) at Nike headquarters to the current animosity toward Donald Trump, who withdrew from the deal. He suggests Nike uses its $40 billion leverage to direct the NBA's political narrative against Trump's trade policies.
Former NFL player LeVar Arrington challenged Jason Whitlock on his own show, noting that all media personalities are "leverageable assets" who are only welcome as long as they serve the corporate business model. This exchange is used to highlight the independence of the podcasting format, which relies on a "Value for Value" model rather than corporate sponsorship. Arrington's bluntness is cited as another example of "keeping it real" despite potential career consequences.
