6 chapters across the catalog
President Joe Biden nominated Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the U.S. Supreme Court, fulfilling a campaign promise to appoint the first Black woman to the high court. The advocacy group "She Will Rise," led by Kim Tigner and other Black women lawyers, is credited with organizing the political pressure necessary to secure this commitment on paper. The discussion examines the perception of the nomination as a "diversity hire" versus a strategic political victory for Black female voters.
Krystal Ball's analysis of the Biden meeting highlights the President's "thin-skinned" response to criticism and his warning to Black leaders that they must work with the growing Hispanic population. The hosts discuss the concept of ADOS (American Descendants of Slavery) and the necessity of consolidating the Black vote into a flexible block to maintain political power as other demographics grow.
Boyce Watkins argues that Obama's "rising tide lifts all boats" philosophy was a racialized version of trickle-down economics that left Black men in the basement while Wall Street thrived. The hosts note that cities like Philadelphia and Detroit have faced high unemployment for over a decade under Democratic leadership.
Krystal Ball and Saagar Enjeti analyze the viral clip of Joe Biden telling Charlamagne Tha God that voters undecided between him and Trump "ain't black." The commentary highlights Biden's perceived entitlement toward the black vote and his defensive posture when questioned about his legislative record.
A clip from the show "Rising" features Nina Turner reacting to a question about whether she would serve as Joe Biden's Vice President. The hosts characterize her reaction as "orchestrated acting" designed to elevate her name into the national VP conversation. They conclude that while she is a skilled commentator, she is effectively leveraging the vacuum left by the end of the Sanders campaign.
The hosts compare the American Empire to the Roman Empire, noting that both utilized systems of inclusion and suppression to maintain power. They argue that empires do not leave conquered people to their own devices but instead set up mechanisms of control, such as using the image of Martin Luther King Jr. as a "calming mechanism." This historical perspective is used to explain modern social engineering.
