4 chapters across the catalog
A throwback clip from 2019 features Joy Reid and Shereen Mitchell discussing an alleged uptick in bot activity following Kamala Harris's campaign announcement. They claim that accounts questioning Harris's Black identity or demanding reparations are likely foreign-influenced bots. Mo Fax argues that this is a tactic to shame Black voters into supporting the Democratic establishment without receiving "tangibles" in return.
The hosts revisit a clip of Shereen Mitchell on MSNBC discussing the "Black Identity Framework" and labeling the #ADOS hashtag as a bot-driven operation. This specific media segment is credited as the catalyst for the current podcast, as one host heard the "bot" claim and reached out to the other to investigate the suppression of the ADOS movement.
Joy Ann Reid and Shereen Mitchell discuss "divisive" campaigns targeting Black voters on issues like reparations and immigration. They suggest that accounts asking for "tangibles" in exchange for votes are likely Russian-backed or designed to suppress the Democratic vote. The hosts counter that demanding something for a vote is basic political participation, not a foreign intelligence operation.
Shereen Mitchell, founder of Stop Online Violence Against Women, appeared on MSNBC with Joy Reid to claim that the ADOS movement is driven by "black bots" or Russian-style disinformation. Mitchell argues that the movement is a weapon used to make Donald Trump more palatable. The hosts dismiss these claims, asserting that the activists are real people and that the "bot" narrative was created to protect candidates like Kamala Harris and Cory Booker from legitimate criticism.
