#RolandMartinUnfiltered - College Sports Act Passes Senate. Jack Smith Hearing Erupts. Roger Fortson Trial Begins

Episode Date: September 30, 2026

9.29.2026 #RolandMartinUnfiltered: College Sports Act Passes Senate. Jack Smith Hearing Erupts. Roger Fortson Trial Begins The Senate passed the Protect College Sports Act, and it will now go to the House of Representatives. We'll talk with a profound sports journalists about what it means if this moves forward and the dangers the bill continues to pose. Things got extremely heated at a Senate hearing today as Jack Smith defended his prosecution of Trump. We're going to listen to all of the commotion that occurred. In Florida, jury selection took place for Eddie Duran's trial. The former white sheriff is charged with killing Roger Fortson, a Black senior airman. Evictions in Metro Atlanta are rising at an alarming pace and disproportionately impacting Black people who live there. Two people from the Legal Defense Fund and the Housing Justice League Board in Atlanta will join us later to talk about these findings. Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina, Anita Earls, will join us to talk about her campaign to retain her seat as she goes up against Republican challenger Sarah Stevens. And for tonight's Black Star Network Marketplace, this one is for all of you who love to knit, sew, or weave. The creator of the brand Yarn and Whiskey will join us to show how her love for fiber arts and textiles developed into a business.   Black Star Network Partner: ChapterChapter and its affiliates are not connected with or endorsed by any government entity or the federal Medicare program. Chapter Advisory, LLC represents Medicare Advantage HMO, PPO, and PFFS organizations and stand alone prescription drug plans that have a Medicare contract. Enrollment depends on the plan’s contract renewal. While we have a database of every Medicare plan nationwide and can help you to search among all plans, we have contracts with many but not all plans. As a result, we do not offer every plan available in your area. Currently we represent 50 organizations which offer 18,160 products nationwide. We search and recommend all plans, even those we don’t directly offer. You can contact a licensed Chapter agent to find out the number of products available in your specific area. Please contact Medicare.gov, 1-800-Medicare, or your local State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) to get information on all of your options. ____ Download the Black Star Network app at http://www.blackstarnetwork.com! We're on iOS, AppleTV, Android, AndroidTV, Roku, FireTV, and SamsungTV. The #BlackStarNetwork is a news reporting platform covered under Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Listen to Who's With Me with me with Debbie Kumabelle on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Mark, on the filter streaming live on the Black Star Network. United States Senate Pass the Protect College Sports Act and is now hit it to to the House. But there are many that say that it is not going to get taken up or even past the House. We'll talk with sports journalists Bonnie Jones about the dangers. This bill poses to athletes, especially African Americans. We'll also show you how things got heated during today's Senate hearing as a special prosecutor

Jack Smith defended his prosecution of the twice impeached, criminally convicted con man in chief Donald Trump. Evictions in Metro Atlanta are rising at an alarming pace. So talk to some folks, but how this is disproportionately impacting black folks who live there. Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of North Carolina, Anita Earls, will join us to talk about her campaign and how critical it is for her to retain her seat as she goes up against Republican challenger, Sarah Stevens. In tonight's shop, blackstartnetwork.com marketplace segment, it's for all of you who love

to knit, sew and weave, the creator of yarn and whiskey, will join us to show how her love for fiber arts and textiles have grown into a business. It is time to bring the funk. I'm rolling on unfiltered on the Black Stud Network. Let's go. As 77 to 22 last night in the United States Senate, the bill regulates college athletics, including transfer eligibility and name,

image, and likeness rights. The bill now moves to the House. Lawmakers are not scheduled to vote on any bills until after November's midterm elections. The bill has not passed the House during the lame duck. session before a new Congress takes over in January, the full process must start over. Bermani Jones, the host of The Right Time with Bumani Jones podcast, has had a lot to say about this bill.

He joins us right now. Bumani, glad to have you here. Here's what I found to be so interesting last night. I am, you have Senator John Kennedy from Louisiana who stands up and says, hey, let's speak up for the fans and cap ticket prices. Oh, no, no, no, no, no, that's, that's the marketplace. It's the marketplace. And all of a sudden,

a senator Cory Booker introduces a bill saying, hey, let's cap coaches paid. No, no, no, no, no. We can't do that. We can't do that. In fact, Nick Saban, of course, who has been a huge support of this bill, was on ESPN first take today.

And Nick Saban was saying, well, there's a big difference between coaches and players. What about those who would look at this and say, okay, it makes sense as it pertains to the players? but is there a cap on coaches and administrators and how much money they can earn? How about that not being addressed in a cup protect college sports? Well, but these things are totally different markets.

That's like asking me, does a student scholarship equal the professors pay? I mean, how much value does a coach create for a university? Well, there's Nick Saban. It's an easy answer. But there's a lot of coaches. That's a very challenging question, say the least. I think a better way to control that is contract. You know, rather than worry about amount of money people make,

I think the thing that has been difficult is when coaches get fired and they have these huge buyouts. And everybody says, well, how can the university afford to pay them that? I think you can figure out, okay, you can't have any more than a five-year contract or whatever it is. And maybe the buyout can only be so much. But I think that's maybe a better way to approach it than try to make these two. things are different markets, you know, players markets different than coaches market. That's interesting, Bavani. Players markets are different from coaches markets.

Well, I think the most interesting part of that is that the greatest value that a college coach has had through the history of this sport is the ability to procure the services of the players. The thing that's always struck me about this now is that now that you're paying players, there's no need for athletic departments, for example, to put a whole lot of money into their facilities to make them fancy so that the kids then ultimately. really want to go there. No, you just give them the money directly now. That is the thing that makes the decision. Guys are deciding where to go to school now without even setting foot at the

place because the decision is about making money. So why do the coaches deserve that much money if the number one value that they provided is now something that they pay directly to the players rather than putting into their pocket? Also, if I start looking at pro sports, Can you name me any other sport where the coaches are actually earning more than the players? I don't know of an NFL coach that is making more than Patrick Mayhomes. I don't know of an NBA coach that's making more than Steph Curry or LeBron James. No, not more than the top end. I think the part of this that gives the game away is that when people talk about what the runaway cost are in college athletics,

What Saban talked about, it's the buyouts that code they have to pay. Like, for example, Lincoln Riley is a bit imperiled right now as the coach at Southern California. The issue is that for them to fire him, they'd have to pay probably a $70 million buyout. Same as Davos winning. Dabo's like $62, $67 million. Right. And so I don't really have that big of a problem with the existence of the buyout because what the buyout does is put a guarantee on the contract. And most coaches' contracts are guaranteed at every level.

The difference is it's supposed to encourage you to give some level of patience with these coaches. But this game is crazy. So rather than look at that and be like, ooh, $70 million, we're just going to have to figure out how to make it work. They're like, hey, how do we go find this $70 million in order to do this? And if they want Link and Riley out of their bad enough, they'll find the $70 million. Now, the way you wouldn't have that buyout is if you had some sort of cap on coaches' salaries. Right. Which is not something that I think is appropriate.

It's not something that I think is fair. but if you were really trying to just slow down the money, you would look at it on that end. But no, this is about maintaining control of players as much as anything else, and to eliminate the leverage that the courts in this country had given players because they keep kicking the NCAAs, but in court about so many of these things.

Yeah, and when I start looking at this whole deal, when we talk about, again, capping players and not capping coaches, so what Nick Sabin just described, okay Nick why wasn't you arguing for that to be in the bill? Right. No, this, the bill itself, I don't, what worries me primarily about it is the fact that I don't think the average person who's been watching, you know, college game day or any of these shows, they named it very well, protect college sports act. People really get charged up about the idea that things are out of control.

And I do firmly believe that there needs to be more structure around this. It is going a little willy-nilly and somebody need to figure it out, whether it's, Congress is a different discussion. But the issue is not this is going crazy because the players are making too much money. And that I feel is the way that it has been positioned in this bill. I think this bill also has a very interesting thing where I would be curious to know how many of these politicians who are so caught up in the notion of protecting women's sports if they've answered for the idea that women's sporting, the female athletes in college sports

are really going to be heard by this bill. We only have one program so far where we have information about where the money has been paid out that they've gotten through the revenue settlement this year. And it is Penn State, and they paid out 0.6% of that money to female athletes. If this is the structure for paying athletes, I'd love to know how many of those protect girls sports people understand that they're taking all the money out of their pocket. Well, it's interesting. I saw your clip on that. You said, well, I initially read it. I read it at 6%. then you're like, no, it's 0.6. Point.

And I apologize. I thought six was ridiculous enough. So, see, this is, what really also gets at me is, and I need people watching and listening to understand what is happening. I was talking about this with Demar Smith. That the problem that so many people have is it's like the NFL. Fans are, no, that's our team. No, it's not your team. he or she owns it.

The billionaire owns it. And the fans feel as if they are so invested that, oh, no. So how dare you guys decide that you should get paid $3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, $12 million? So it's just like in professional sports. Fans will get pissed at the player for holding out for a higher salary, but will reward an owner to build a multi-billion dollar state. use tax bonds and all sorts of stuff along those lines because by and then because I love the owner of the Kansas City Chiefs who said yeah we need a new stadium because it's really for the fans it's the fan experience now player it's for you to make more money and that's just what this is all about this bill is about the NCAA the schools the conferences and the networks to be able to control the product on the field so they can guarantee ratings and guarantee guys are not moving all around and how that's just somehow

destroyed, created all of this chaos. And so they only want to control one aspect, and that's the players. And they're given the NCAA, there's limited antitrust exhibit to your point, because they've been getting their butts kicked in court because they've frankly been violating the law. Right. And that's the issue is that the players have been winning in court and these antitrust violations take away a lot of the leverage in.

will make it far more difficult for the athletes to ever reach a place of collective bargaining because the leverage of going to the courts is what creates the greatest possibility that they can get to a place in a space where a collective bargaining is what needs to be done. I am fascinated by college sports because a big difference between them and the pros is we understand that the teams and the pros are trying to make a profit. teams in college are trying to make money, but they're also trying to spend it all. That's always been the game, is that it is a nonprofit,

so nobody gets paid out any dividends for that money, so they take in the money and they send it all out. And these programs are taking crazy losses across the country. And they say it. And they're trying to keep up with the spending, right? I worked at that LAID Department of Texas A&M. Jackie Sherrill, when he was the head coach, I remember one year we bought,

we were, A&M was one of the first universities to go digital video. And, man, we had like these, we had like 30 or 40 of the, of the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, sophisticated thing. Jackie Sherrill said, hey, we make it, we spend it, because you might not get it back next year.

He literally made that clear. No, no, we're going to spend the money we make. Right. And so that's where this gets to be interesting, though, because it's never been about making a profit. That's why this game is so weird. That's why they have so many things to try to dial back when it comes to the long term debt they have to deal with for these stadium additions and all these facilities that they've built over the years because the game was always just to spend all the money. Now they have to pay to players and they're like, whoa, wait a minute.

Now this is this is a little bit unsustainable. We didn't realize we were going to have to spend that much money. And that's when you hear about private equity coming in because the money is so in bad. The money is so throwing off. Private equity messes everything up. Private equity's never made anything better at any point in time. They have all these problems. The budget for paying players is not really one of them in large part because when it's time to pay players, they can do it like they always have. You just got to pass the hat.

There are people who would love nothing more than to put this money in. My buddy Stephen Godfrey, who covers college football, makes the point that part of why they want to go back to the old days is it was cheaper to pay them under the table than it was when everybody knew the prices. Yeah. And let's be real clear. Why is the SEC doing so much of this whining? Because, listen, they were doing very well playing paying players under the table.

Now all of a sudden, you got school. All you need is one dude with a big check. Look at Cody Campbell at Texas Tech. And then also we saw how the two Alabama senators, well, they were trying to also cap the movement. oh, a conference can't have more than 20 teams. And it was 19, then they added 20. I mean, because the ACC,

you get Miami and Florida state were concerned because, hey, will the ACC implode? They want to have the ability to be able to move. And so one of the reasons why that thing went from 19 to 20 was to get the votes of the Florida senators because that way Miami and Florida's thinking like, yeah, down the road, we can go ahead and bounce out this joint and join the Big Ten or the SEC.

I mean, that's what there's, so, It is so crazy to then listen to how they also try to frame this, Bimani, as, well, no, no, no, this is about the student athlete. And then they hold up this student organization as if they're the ones who are speaking for the athletes when they ain't talk to no football players or basketball players. They don't really, no, no, no, let's hear from the crew. Let's hear from the track athlete, the volleyball player, the soccer player. they ain't talking to the revenue generating players.

No, they're completely removed from the process. That's kind of the worst thing about this. I say this even with the previous Act, the Score Act, when the NAACP and the CBC were trying to begin a boycott of those southern schools. They didn't have any athletes on the stage either. Like all the grown people involved in this are speaking for them. And that is kind of the worst part. The student advisory group of the NCAA is the ones that they put forward.

to say that they support the bill. Like they are a figurehead of the NCAA. They are kind of the student arm of the NCAA. They are not an unbiased group. And they are not necessarily reflective of what the larger student body in college athletics is going to have to say. And I think that's one of the parts that really gets lost in this is that the players and truthfully there obviously is an emphasis on black

athletes because of their role in football and basketball. But also everybody's really kind of getting done wrong in this as an athlete because they don't have a much say-so about this. And not only do they not have a say-so, the point of the legislation, in part, is to prevent them from having a say-so. What has been very peculiar to me, and I've heard so many different stories.

So I'm pulling it right here. It says, this was a story from ESPN on June 16, 2006. And it said the NFL, Major League Baseball, the NFLPA National Basketball Players Association tell Congress they backed the college sports bill. But I've had others. I was talking to Liz Schuller, who has the AFL-CIO, who said, no, the NFLPA is not in support of the bill.

I hit some basketball players, some current players, and waiting to hear back from them, did the players even vote, or was this the executive director of the Players Association who said he's behind it? So when I talked to Sam Mitchell last week, former NBA player and coach, he said, why in the hell would a player's union be behind this bill? He said, when our job is about making sure that athletes can get as much as they make. And then it's like, well, the NFL play PA, they're not really in support of it.

But I haven't seen a press release from the NFLPA saying they're against it. I reached out to them the day. I'm waiting to hear back. what do you make of these players association on the pro level weighing in, these unions, weighing in on a bill that strips the ability of players to form a union? Well, I spoke with someone from the NFL, PM.

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Hey, everybody, it's me, W. Compte Bell. This season of my podcast who's with me, I speak with two-time Emmy winner and weirdly one of my best friends, Kevin Avery. Everything up to that point, build you as a comic, us going on the road, doing Battle Mountain and Ely. Yeah, you took me,

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I'm all about lying if it's something that really happened. The next time a bear is running it, you. You just calmly stop what you're doing. You look the bear in the eye and you say this isn't you. Do not preserve relationships. You don't need them. You only need one thing and that's the Get Worse podcast. Listen to Get Worse with Kyle Pru on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, over the summer about that and he explained to me that there were things in that bill that they liked or you know that that they felt like we're making progress to where they thought things should have ended up and that they were asked about that and we're like yeah you know we think

it's kind of sort of headed in the right direction and then they look up and it says that they endorsed it that was the way it was explained to me from someone who works at the union but at the same time i haven't seen like a full-froated rejection of what this is which is what one would expect under these circumstances i think that though in a weird way is a big part of why i don't think this is going to get through the house because so many people had to throw some little extra thing on it in order to get through the Senate. And it went through the Senate overwhelmingly. But once this goes to the House

where I don't think there had been that much of an appetite for this in the first place, I think it's just going to turn into such chaos as people try to get more and more and get their little bit and get their little bit and by the end, it's going to be so incomprehensible that it just winds up getting voted down. Also jumps out of me,

millions of dollars are being spent to lobby this bill. The networks are putting money in. And I made perfectly clear that ESPN had to should have been transparent by saying Disney has been putting money and support this whole deal. They were never, they were not saying that on the air. And so you were hearing so-called just perspectives. No, no, no, no. That was the position of the parent company Disney. But the thing that really jumps out at me when I look at the response here is you had a well-funded, a group that was supporting this.

and he had this sort of hodgepodge, fledgling, you know, groups that were against it. And I think Speaker Mike Johnson really did the opposition a great favor because when he recessed the House, because he did not want them voting on the discharge petition from Congressman Thomas Massey, the Republican out of Kentucky, to impeach Secretary of Defense Pete Hexsath. So Bill passes the Senate. got anywhere to go, House not coming back to after the election. This is a period, and I think it's been picking up. Your show, pro football talk. I've seen Chris Sims and Florio and Dan Levitart and others. I've seen the opposition grow. Last week, I talked to Hall of Famers, Nancy Lieberman,

Ralph Samson, George Rogers, and I think really what should be happening is that the opposition really should be getting as many retired players, Hall of Famers and others weighing in on this. current players will speak out on this, and then you'll have these college basketball and football players weighing in on this as well. How do you, just your thoughts on how the opposition, how you see it as they're working to try to build support to oppose this from coming up in the house? Yeah, I think that media is probably going to be the strongest arm. I think that we have seen enough to indicate that current athletes are only willing to go but

so far. on anything that matters. I say that with no judgment. I think it's just kind of a matter of fact sort of thing at this point. I think the question becomes interesting is how and when do we hear the message from actual athletes that are in school. And I think that perhaps winds up being the most compelling thing that could work. But in the meantime, I think the biggest thing that those in opposition to this can do is get the word to people what exactly this bill is. because those who are in favor of it are like, hey, most people agree that we've got this thing

that stuff feels a little out of control, whether it is or not is not the point. It feels that way to people. Okay, cool. And they're like, well, here are a couple things that we could do. And they start talking about a salary cap. Well, then those people are like, well, the salary caps in all the gains. Yeah, that makes sense. That stuff, you know, that stuff works for people.

Way to go. Salary cap. And then people are like, okay, cool. Do you tell them about a little bit of the bill and you can go along with it? They're parts of it that you could tell me that I would go along with it. For example, the rules that prohibit athletes from charging usury rates, or excuse me, the agents from charging usury rates to these college athletes. Yeah, you can give you behind that.

That's a great idea. It's just when you keep reading more and more and you're like, hey, hey, hey, wait a minute. This is too much. And so people need to know what the more is that's in the bill. And I think that gives them a different impression than just simply being told that this is something that will protect college sports. Absolutely. My panel has questioned that the Mustafa Sontagal-Li, former senior advisor for environmental justice to the EPA, your question for poor Bobani Jones.

Yeah, it was good to see you, brother, and thank you for everything that you do. You just mentioned just a second ago, one of the possibilities that could make the bill better. I'm a former college athlete. I'm not necessarily in favor of it, but for the, what are two or three other things that you think could have made it stronger? I mean, honestly, I think I can't think of this bill in the context of how to make it stronger. I can only think in the context of like how to get it out of here. For me, I think that the antitrust provisions are somewhat necessary for things like negotiating television deals, just the ease of getting those things done.

However, anything that prevents athletes from collective bargaining or disincentivizes the larger institutions from creating a world where the athletes can collectively bargain, that part I am vehemently opposed to. I would definitely, if I'm looking at how to improve things in college sports, a big thing I'm looking to make sure to do is something to make sure that these contracts are real contracts. Because one thing that we found in the early years of the NIL stuff is it was all over the place exactly how enforceable these contracts are. These guys are signing deals that sometimes come with provisions that say that if you try to transfer, you've got to pay up millions of dollars in order to go somewhere.

Right? So they wind up being all. These contracts have great potential to be imbalanced. And a big part of why they have potential to be imbalance is that the surrounding support industry around this for athletes is not built up as quickly, obviously, as the schools are. So there is no fully functioning economy of agents and people who are there to give advice and various sorts of advisors.

And so they run it all kinds of game on people in many times, in terms of what's in the deals. And then these guys are also often running game, on the players in terms of what it is that they charge because it's the Wild West is brand new. People don't exactly know what's going on here. To me, if you want to protect college sports, you want to protect college athletes. That's the number one thing to me that needs to be done is to look out everything about this. And this is something that the courts have said about the NCAA is that there's a lawyer named Tom Mars out of Arkansas,

who came up with this defense that the NCAA's mission statement is that they are there to per basic, long as short, is that they are there to provide and improve the accessibility. experience of college athletes. And they have won cases, including the Trinidad Chambers case with Ole Miss, is everything the NCAA does should be to protect the interests of the college athlete first and foremost because you say that is your purpose. Congress has no such thing. Everything that is done, the first question should be asking, how does this help the athletes? Dr. Avers Donald-Dweaver, a host of the Fearless Politics Podcasts, your question.

You know, as you mentioned, I agree that at this point, the best remedy is to scuttle this altogether. But as it's heading to the house, it looks like there might be a slim chance of that. Is there anything that you would suggest that the viewers could do to help to really stop this before we go too far or have this come back in some sense, perhaps in future years, with after sort of pushing how important this may be to our community to the different party, a Democratic Party, and maybe it can come up again if we were to have a new president and Congress. Because right now, obviously, we have limited options.

Yeah, I think about the difficult part for me in a lot of ways in answering that outside of the, you know, somewhat cliche, call your congressman. And I think that actually can have some measure of effect because this is something that affects a lot of people because college sports are the home team for people who don't have home teams, right? Like if you're not a place that has major league teams or they got them later, whatever, college sports is something that affects everybody. They are the idea that the fans or the boss, they kind of are, especially if you're talking about a state school, for example.

Like, you know, that's kind of how that works. So at one level, you can engage in a level in that, have that engagement with whoever it is that makes the decision where you live. But I think I wrote, I guess it's about 50, years ago, wrote something like around the King holiday. And it was about college sports. And the truth is this has always been a bit of a civil rights issue, especially when the guys were not being paid.

There was a wealth transfer issue. There were all of these things. But in the end, this is a very vulnerable group. It always has been a vulnerable group and did not really become that much less vulnerable just because they have money. I have always felt that we needed to speak more as a public, not just as black people, but everybody else, to understand that we're in this world where actual factual parents show up at colleges and try to have parent-teacher conferences with professors.

Like, you care that much about your kids and then, like, turn a blind's eye to what happens to everybody else's in this place. Often people who need more help and more support under these circumstances. I've always felt that we need to have a much broader discussion and an understanding that this is a vulnerable group and they have been right for exploitation for as long as these games have gone on. And if you ever had to be diligent about something, this will be learned with this Voting Rights Act thing. If you ever had to be diligent, you always have to be diligent. And they will always need some level of protection and support from the larger group because otherwise, the, these schools were on rush out over them as they have for decades.

Dr. Larry J. Walker, University professor and former senior congressional staffer. Sure. My question, when I look at this bill, essentially the intersection of capitalism, race, and college sports. And when you look at the numbers of Democrats, who voted for this bill. I'm curious your take on this. You know, we talk a lot about some of these individuals who voted for this bill who are Democrats would say

that they're pro-worker or even pro-union. And I'm curious about, you talked about vulnerable populations and what this says about, particularly the race aspect, what it says about, less about party affiliation

and what it really says about ideology. Yeah, so I think it's an interesting question because I think that a lot of elected officials are put in an awkward position in this because everybody loves the University of Blank and Blank State. And if you start getting pressure from the athletic departments there, people tend to like fall on the side of that.

That's the only reasonable explanation that I've ever had for how the left puts itself in a position of being so supportive of this, except for the fact that, let's be honest here, while you say that all those people would say that they are pro worker, we are not really talking about a party that has been pro worker for a while now, right? And I think what we have here probably exposes the, ideology a bit more as you say it than it is a contradiction of what the ideology is that is presently in place. But what is interesting when this gets to the House is the wide range of opposition to this bill. I want to make sure I get this one organization's name right that I've

talked to somebody about that's opposed to this. But like the AFL-CIO, yes, they are opposed to this bill or we're opposed to the score. You know who else is? The American Economic Liberty Project, which is every bit as right wing as it sounds like it is. Before they started tinkering with this, the opposition to it was bipartisan. I think once it goes to the House that's going to wind up happening again because A, it offends so many people in so many ways,

but B, the thing to always remember about college sports is that the people who don't know very much about it, when you try to explain to them, it sounds bat boo-boo-boo crazy. Right? Like if you go talk to somebody from another country about these games and try to explain it to them and how it all works. It doesn't make any sense in the world.

Out of that group of 435, there are a lot of people that are like, wait a minute, wait a minute, you say this works how? And you say they want to do this. And that's the best chance it has to fall because fundamentally college sports is crazy town. It is. And yes, there are things in this particular bill that I do think are necessary. I just simply cannot and will not support them putting a cap of what players can make. I also have a significant problem that this strips the players ability from being able to unionize and do collective bargaining.

You cannot, when you look at pro, we look at pro sports, that is a union negotiating with a league when it comes to collective bargaining and revenues. What this is, you made this point in the podcast, I made this point last week, this so-called settlement, this, I mean, I'm sorry, this cap, that initial 20.5, They took a lawsuit settlement that a judge that still was another particular case, but the judge placed that $20.5 million, and they said, oh, we're just going to take that to put this in the bill. There's no rhyme or reason. No one can explain how they arrived at that number. It wasn't based upon any, I mean, what, you got like two, three economic degrees. What, no math model. Not a what.

What, just all of a sudden, yeah, we're just going to make it. And, of course, then they had to add that retention in there because they got exposed by it. And now it's like, well, no, no, we can spend up to $50 million. But the bottom line here is they can't explain that. As DeMarc Smith said, NFL players, they get X percentage damn near a half of what the league brings in. That's collective bargaining. This ain't it. No, they just came up with a number.

They literally, and then it just went more and more and more because the SEC. in Big Ten, I feel like they were like, hey, guys, let's be honest about this. We're going to pay more than $20 million. Like, that's another important part of this. Those of us who grew up in the Wild West of College Sports where nobody got paid, but you could do a little something here, do a little something there. You would get caught by the mall cops of the NCAA. This new bill, you got to deal with the federal government if you go over the number, right?

And so nobody really wants to play that game. And so the big schools are like, we got big money and we want to be able to spend big money. And they were able to get that number up. networks, their concern is they broadcast the games. They want some stability with the conferences and they want the conferences to be what they want them to be. So their provisions there to make it more difficult for a team to leave a conference, for example. I think you have to wait at least three years or something like that in order to leave conferences. Everybody's doing what they can to protect the money and caught in the middle of the people that actually play the games.

Well, folks out there, and I've said this here, what NIL has done, it is created, a significant number of young black millionaires. It is, as opposed to that player, busted his butt for four or five years playing college ball, hoping he goes to the NFL to buy mom and daddy a house. Hell, he can buy mom and daddy a house right now as a college freshman. And my whole deal is this year. Ain't no guarantee.

This is what I said to George Rogers, Monty Jones. That kid, Lattermore, who played in South Carolina. Unbelievable running back, broke a lot of George Rogers record, blew both of his knees out, Never played in the NFL. Never played the NFL. But had he been able to maximize his value, he probably could have made 20, 30 million bucks at South Carolina.

So that's all his idea of Nick Save it, oh, would it create none of that damn that? That's the 1%. It's a lot of cats in college who can make some paper who will never, ever see the NBA or see the NFL. I believe they should be maximized as much money as that they can because that's called capitalism. That's the game they say they're playing.

Indeed. B'Bahana, I absolutely appreciate it. Tell folks where they can check out the podcast. All right, check us out at the right time with Bobani Jones. Available anywhere you get your audio podcast. You can also find us on YouTube. You catch me on social media and most of the platforms. I'm at Bobani underscore Jones.

Brother, I appreciate it. Thanks a lot. All right, man. Take it easy. All right, have a good one. Folks, again, this is real. and I really hope that, and by the way, I didn't ask Bavani about this here. Bavani is still there?

Is he still there? Damn. I meant to ask him about the HBCU part of it. Because that still, you know, just rubs me raw, the reality that how they include the HBCU is a part of this bill, knowing damn well, the bill don't contain them getting a billion dollars. and that's just that's just the deal but so we'll see what happens when it comes to the house i've only talked about being able to catch this show on youtube let me give all y'all a shout out of course we launched this show eight years ago the network four years ago and uh recently folks we actually crossed one billion views on youtube that's right one billion views on

our youtube channel and so i want to thank all of y'all for making that possible for watching this show for checking out our content and sharing it. And so onward to $2 billion. It's time for a break. I'll be right back. Roll it on the Black Star Network. All right, folks. Let me get personal for a second. My mom had questions about her Medicare. So she called Chapter, a Medicare advisory company. And she texts me right after saying it's a great benefit. It was easy. A real person walked her through the whole thing. And now she understands better what's going on. But it's also. was not just her. Woman in Yonkers rode in saying the process was so simple, the enrollment was easy,

and she was so glad she called. Then there's Maryland, 90 years old, in Florida, living on Social Security. Her premium climbed every single year north of $400 a month for coverage she could barely afford any more. So what does she do? She called Chapter. They found her the same top tier coverage for hundreds of dollars less, 90 years old, and finally somebody in her corner. I hear stories like that. Again, and again from our community. The Medicare system was not built to work for you. Too much fine print, too many plans. Yet Chapters' advisors are independent and honest, the only Medicare advisors that compare every plan nationwide. They're focused on one thing, what actually works for you. If you're already in the right plan, they'll tell you. No games. And people who switched to a chapter

saved an average of $1,100 a year. All takes is 20 minutes. You talk to a real person and is completely free. Help. So call chapter at 724-264-8-281. 724-264-8-281. That's chapter. This week on the other side of change. We're talking about privacy or safety. It's a false choice and it's one that's rarely applied evenly.

This episode is going to examine the rapid, largely unregulated spread of mass surveillance technology, especially flop. Does the United States have no actual meaningful privacy protection, has not outlawed any of this? So all of us are for sale. All of us just have a little price tag next to it. And the government or a private company or a criminal organization can just buy all this stuff. And that's good for business. You're watching the other set of change only on the Black Star Network. It'd be a weird video to make because I'm wearing an NAACP t-shirt.

But I'm in Mississippi in Biloxi at the coast of the bottom of America to bear foot just to make this video to say, happy anniversary, to roll. Roland Unfiltered. Uncle Roland, I love you. You have done so much for the culture, for our people, for our community, and for young people like me. You have supported unapologetically our careers. You have made ways. And this is how I know that Roland Unfiltered is successful. It's because the people that you invite and people that you bring on to your show go on and do really incredible things to change the world. And I am one of those beneficiaries. I love you. I hope that many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many more years to come. This show continues to expand and grow and reach not only a larger audience,

but now I've seen, you know, your show is actually organizing people more now. And I'm a huge fan of your leadership, of your vision for the network, of your vision for the show, how unapologetically unfiltered you are, encourages all of our viewers and all of our panelists and everybody in the network to be also unapologetically unfiltered. And you know, I got your back. I love you. Happy anniversary from Balexy, Mississippi, with an NACP T-shirt on. Can't wait to catch up. Love you.

All right, folks. Welcome back to Rolla Martin Unfiltered. Hey, if you're watching on YouTube, do me a favor. Hit that like button, y'all. We should be crossing a thousand likes every single show. So if you're watching on YouTube right now, hit that like button.

Y'all are commenting. You got lots to say. So hit that like button. All right, y'all. It was lots and lots. of drama today on Capitol Hill. When special prosecutor Jack Smith testified before the United States Senate, of course he was investigating the criminal activity of the twice impeached, criminally convicted felon-in-chief Donald Khan Trump. Smith was questioned about his

investigative tactics and he pushed back against repeated Republican efforts to paint him and his team as partisan political hacks during this hearing. And boy, did he get funky. Here's what Smith said in his opening statements. Chairman Grassley, Ranking Member Durbin, members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to discuss my work as special counsel. I've been fortunate to serve a country that I love for nearly 30 years in local, national, and international settings. My service has spanned both Republican and Democratic administrations. I am not a politician, and I have no partisan loyalty. My career has been dedicated to serving our country by upholding the rule of law and the core principles upon which our country was founded.

I believe there is no role for politics in the proper administration of justice. A prosecutor's decisions must be based on the facts and the law. The status, power, prominence, or political affiliation of the subject of an investigation must play no way. role in the decision to investigate, prosecute, or decline to prosecute. I approached my role as special counsel following these principles. The special counsel's office followed Justice Department policy, observed legal requirements, and took actions based on the facts and the law. I stand by my decisions as special counsel, including my decision to bring charges against President

Trump. I made those decisions without regard to President Trump's political association, activities, beliefs, or candidacy in the 2024 presidential election. Our investigation developed proof beyond a reasonable doubt that President Trump engaged in serious crimes against our nation. If asked whether to prosecute a... You've heard the chaos. Now you can see it. Hello. My gosh. Watch all your favorite podcasts from start to finish.

Right inside the free IHRRA radio app. Gets the blood going up. Catch every laugh and eye roll on shows like the Tom Green Farmcast and park the bus. Now with full video. We're building a ramp for Tony Hawk. It's the same hosts and the same chemistry with all the hilarious moments you've been missing. Right on your screen. Cheers.

Open the free IHRRA radio app. Search video podcasts and tap watch. Whether you're stepping up to the starting line of a marathon, are just trying to take the first step toward a big, scary goal. The conversation in your head is usually the same. Do I have what it takes? I'm Emily Abadi, and on hurdle with Emily Abadi, we dive into the grit, vulnerability, and mindset that fuels our greatest comebacks.

I talk to elite athletes, Olympic champions, industry change makers, and everyday runners about how they face self-doubt, redefine success, and keep moving forward when life gets heavy. I'd just love to say, I never know who's watching. So you want to make sure you, you, you, three, through and through and you just stay true to who you are. Yeah, your path might change because different things come on your path to disrupt it, but it's just putting you on a new path and the skills you have to have faith at the skills that you've learned and developed over time are going to continue to bring you success.

When the world is burning and crashing around you, will you still say fight for your dream? Will you still say it's possible? Will you still believe you're a good person? Can you still see the brighter side of tomorrow? It's motivation, real talk, and practical wisdom for life on and off the run. Listen to Hurtle with Emily Abadi on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The WNBA playoffs are about to begin.

The talent is insane and the personalities are giving main character energy. And of course, the fans love it. But 30 years ago, when the league first started, it was a different story. I remember sitting with a couple of male writers all whining about, oh, what are they going to do if they break a nail? No one's going to show up. But from the very beginning, there were two teams that captured everyone's attention. The Comets were the real deal.

I mean, come on. The Liberty never gave up. They never stopped fighting. I knew that rivalry was going to be amazing from the beginning. I'm Kerry Champion, and this is biggest rivalries of all time, season two. The New York Liberty versus the Houston Comments, the very first rivalry of the WNBA. They picked us to finish last, and they picked them to finish first. That's all you need to know.

I remember looking around thinking this is going to change things. Basketball was going to have this fundamental impact on the way people viewed women athletes. Listen to biggest rivalries of all time on the I-Hard radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. Is there bad blood between you in the comments as you guys meet again in the championship? Oh, we're coming back to win. Hey, everybody, it's me, W. Come out Bell. this season of my podcast who's with me, I speak with two-time Emmy winner

and weirdly one of my best friends, Kevin Avery. Everything up to that point build you as a comic. Us going on the road, doing Battle Mountain and Ely and all this shit. You were one of the first people

took me on the road, which is funny because at the time I was like, I don't know if I like this guy. With rapper, actor, David Diggs. The jump off for me was Hamilton and it was the most popular thing in a very long time. But it was still.

for me, it was me and my friends making something dumb. Bruce Lee's daughter and Brandon Lee's sister, Shannon Lee. Back to your initial point of stewarding my father's legacy and giving my energy to that. You're lending your life to stewarding somebody else's life. Listen to Who's With Me with Debbie Coma Bell on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, everybody. I'm Chuck Bryan at The Stuff You Should Know Podcast.

And I'm Adam Pran. of the greatest generation and greatest trek. We decided to start a golf comedy podcast because we're both big golf lovers and we wanted to spread that joy and it's called three putt bogey. It's coming from the perspective of golfers who are sometimes good enough

to hit two great shots in a row but almost never good enough to hit three and a three-put bogey is kind of the purest expression of that. Every golfer knows what that's like. Obviously we're going to talk a lot about the game of golf how absurd it is and how fun it is and how vexing and frustrating.

But more than anything, just how much we love the greatest game in the world. We love it anyway. We're putting these out every Friday morning for your weekend golf routine. This is a show about sharing our experiences on the golf course and how absurd and funny they can be. And that's what Three Put Bogey is. Is Three Put Boogie, everybody, out every Friday? You can listen to it now on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Former president today, based on the same facts, I would do so.

regardless of whether that president was a Republican or a Democrat. The charges against President Trump were the result of the evidence. Grand juries and two separate districts reached this conclusion based on his actions, as alleged in the indictments they returned. Rather than accept his defeat in the 2020 presidential election, President Trump engaged in a criminal scheme to overturn the results and prevent the lawful transfer of power. After leaving office in January of 2021,

President Trump illegally kept classified documents at his Mara Lago Social Club and repeatedly tried to obstruct justice to conceal his continued retention of those documents. Highly sensitive national security information was held in a bathroom and a ballroom where events and gatherings took place. As with my appearance before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on the Judiciary, I am prepared to answer your questions truthfully.

I stand by my testimony before the House of Representatives, and I will not be silenced by continued threats of prosecution from the President or others. As I appear before you today, it is my belief that the rule of law faces challenges, unlike any we have experienced. experienced in our lifetime. Individuals are threatened with criminal prosecution because they are perceived to have opposed the president. Predetermined outcomes increasingly seem to take precedence over the Justice Department's longstanding core values and traditions. History teaches that the rule of law is rarely destroyed all at once. It's often weakened by attacks on the institutions and the public servants sworn to uphold it. Since January of 2025, we have witnessed precisely such an effort, including the vilification of the agents, prosecutors, and staff who worked on my team simply because of their unwavering dedication to the rule of law.

I myself have been threatened with jail by the President of the United States. However, I remain confident that the rule of law will endure because so many continue to uphold it faithfully each day. Throughout our legal system, public servants have remained faithful to their oaths despite extraordinary pressure to do otherwise. Their example demonstrates that while fear may be contagious, courage is as well. Thank you for the opportunity to testify today. I look forward to your questions. Yeah, I might look forward to the questions, but you do. did have a whole bunch of idiots, especially folks like Ted Cruz, who was just saying some of the most outrageous, insane stuff. Here's some of what that fool had to say.

Mr. Smith, you and I have never met, but your team wanted to know to whom I spoke. When I spoke to them, and for how long? You subpoenaed records associated with my phones, both personal and office, and you saw. obtained a court order to prevent me from knowing about it. For years, you were able to ask your questions in secret without me in the room. Today, the Senate gets to ask questions. And unlike you, we will do so in public. You have insisted that politics played no role in your investigation. The American people can judge for themselves. Let's start with your subpoenas. Did your team subpoena records concerning the Republican National Committee?

We subpoenaed a number of records. That's a yes or no question. I do not have, I just want to be clear with you, Senator. I do not have a recollection of every subpoena. We did subpoena numerous records. Did your team subpoena the R&C? I would have to look at those records, but we did. You're testifying you don't remember?

Yes, no, or I don't remember. There's your three options. It is very possible. I do not have a recollection. Okay. Did your team subpoena? turning point USA. Again, I would have to look at the... You have any idea who you subpoenaed? Can you name? All right, let me help you.

Did your team subpoena the Conservative Partnership Institute? That I do remember. Yes. Okay, good. We found one. And I can explain why. Did your team subpoenas demand communications with Fox News? The subpoenas that we issued did ask for communication regarding ad buys because it was relevant to the false statements we were investigating. So purchasing advertising on a news agency, you somehow believe is criminal. Did your team seek and obtained donor and fundraising data? I would have to look at the subpoenas, but again, I'm happy to...

You don't know if you had donor and fundraising data? I'm happy to explain why we issued these... Do you know if you had donor and fundraising data? I would have to look at the subpoenas. You don't know? Are you testifying right now you don't know if you obtained donor and fundraising data. You can sigh all you like. It's a very simple question. You know damn well you did. You've been questioned about the checks that you guys got. You know the answer. So why don't you answer the question.

Did your team obtain donor and fundraising information? It's a yes. You can say yes. I do not recall the attachments to specific subpoenas. I'm happy to explain why. You're testifying. You don't remember if you got donor and fundraising material. Really? I do not recall because I've not seen those subpoenas in a very long time, but I'm happy to explain why we issued. Look, look, I get you want to dance and avoid the questions. I understand it because you can't answer a simple, straightforward question. All in all, you issued 197 subpoenas to 34 individuals at least in 163 businesses, and you sought records on at least 430 Republican individuals and entities.

Is that right? And you're going to say you don't remember. Is that correct? I do not recall those numbers. I understand. You know, if you look at the list, there is one thing that is consistent. Every name on it is a Republican. Is it your view? Is it a crime to be a Republican? Absolutely not, sir. Is it a crime to write a check to Republicans? It is not. And I'm happy to explain why we issued these subpoenas, if you'd like. Sure, briefly. We had to conduct an investigation about whether any person or entity violated the law with respect to the attempt to block the peaceful transfer of power. To make that decision. Yes, I understand. And you use that as an excuse to engage in a

massive fishing expedition targeting over 400 Republicans. And it was disgraceful. Let's just talk about the United States Senate. You issued subpoenas for more than 20 percent of the Republicans in the Senate, seeking their phone records. You did so, and then you obtained orders, non-disclosure orders from Judge Bozberg. I believe Judge Bosberg should be impeached for his complicity and your abuse of power. Now, Judge Bozberg signed orders, and I want to read from the order Judge Bozberg signed that I didn't know about, that the Republican senators targeted here didn't know about, I want to read from the order, quote, the court finds reasonable grounds to believe such disclosure. In other words,

disclosing to me that you were subpoenaing my phone records will result in destruction of or tampering with evidence, intimidation of potential witnesses, and serious jeopardy to the investigation. Mr. Smith, do you have any evidence whatsoever to believe that I and 20% of the members of the Republicans in the Senate will engage in destruction or tampering of evidence and intimidation of potential witnesses? No, we had powerful evidence that Donald Trump and his associates. Am I Donald Trump? You are not, sir. Are the members of the Senate, Donald Trump? No. Was this order directed at Donald Trump? No, I believe that your office draft this order that Judge Bosberg signed and he signed them like he was signing Denny's menus, one at a time over and over and over again. Facts be damned. Did your office

draft this? I'd have to look, but I'm assuming that's the correct order. And if so, we did. And I'm happy to explain why we did if you'd look. Good. I want you to tell us right now, are you an officer of the court? Yes. I want to tell us, did you have a shred of evidence that 20% of the Republicans in the Senate will destroy evidence and intimidate witnesses. We had a strong reason to believe that Donald Trump would destroy evidence. That was not directed at Donald Trump. It was stated disclosing it to members of the Senate.

No, it was stated at disclosing it to anyone. And we do not have to wait for someone to be injured, for an investigation to be obstructed. We had strong reason to believe that Donald Trump would obstruct our investigation, given the obstruction alleged in the Florida indictment, given the attempts to intimidate witnesses in the election case, given the threats that were later made to witnesses in the election case. I, as a prosecutor, have a duty...

Mr. Smith, are you aware of the statute to USC Section 6628? Yes, I am. that specifically protects Senate communication records and makes this non-disclosure agreement that you gave Judge Bosberg and that he signed that makes it illegal. Were you aware of it at the time? I do not recall discussing this statute at the time. Did you bring it to the judge's attention? I do not recall this being part of our application. So instead, you gave the judge an order that was contrary to federal law.

and you got the judge to sign order after order after order that was contrary to federal law. Is that right? No. We sought to follow Department Policy and the law at all time. Does Department Policy contravene federal statute? It does not, and we intended to follow them both. We submitted these nondisclosure orders consistent with the law and department policy. By the way, when you sought my phone records from AT&T,

the number of senators had their phone records with Verizon. Verizon, unfortunately, was more than happy to comply. AT&T declined to hand over my phone records because they concluded doing so would be unconstitutional, it would violate the speech and debate clause. Now, ordinarily, when a prosecution seeks and issues a subpoena and the individual receiving the subpoena refuses to turn it over, ordinarily the prosecution goes to court to enforce that, that right? I do not believe that's what happened in this case, sir. In this case, you didn't do a damn thing because AT&T didn't hand it over because they concluded it violated the speech and debate clause. And you know what your team said? Never mind. Nothing to see here. We're not going to fight because you knew if you went to court you would lose. Our work and our securing these subpoenas

and nondisclosure orders was consistent with the law. The toll records were- It was explicitly contrary to federal statute. It was explicitly contrary to the federal constitution. Let me ask you this. You have any regrets? Regrets regarding my work as special counsel? Yes. Yes. I regret that the people I worked with have been unfairly fired and vilified for doing their jobs.

Of course. Of course. You can't bring yourself. Well, let me say congratulations. Because you have succeeded where Richard Nixon failed, which is weaponizing the Department of Justice and the federal government to go after your political opponents. congratulations. You are stepping into the shoes of John Mitchell, and yet your abuse is far greater than John Mitchell. And I understand for the rest of your life, you're going to be hailed as a hero in the resistance movement. I assume you have a pink hat somewhere at home,

and people will be proud of you for resisting, but I'll tell you what you have done. You have brought the Department of Justice into disrepute because of the government. instead of being apolitical, instead of enforcing the law, you willingly were conscripted as a foot soldier for the DNC. And you know what you also did? You reelected President Donald Trump because the American people were disgusted at your willingness to abuse power in partisan ends. Javert from Les Mis would look at you with astonishment. I believe you have no regrets. I believe you have convinced yourself that this witch hunt

targeting half the country for partisan ends was justified. Well, let me say, you have brought the Department of Justice into disrepute and you have done enormous damage. And I believe your conduct represents the most egregious abuse of power in the history of the Department of Justice. Okay, Avers, it's a bunch of the clips. to go and talk. Here's what I find to be most hilarious about this. These idiots, Ted Cruz,

John Kinney, you were only talking to Republicans. Because y'all were the ones who were trying to steal the election. The reason they didn't invest in any Democrats or trying to get their records because the Democrats were not meeting with insurrectionists. The Democrats were not planning to stop the count. The Democrats were not

trying to steal the election. it was Ted Cruz and Jim Jordan and Andy Ogles and Ron Johnson. I mean, we can go, it was Republicans. So if y'all were not trying to steal the election, you probably would not have been investigated. Absolutely. And first of all, Ted Cruz, Ted Cruz, Ted Cruz, where do I begin? I have zero respect for a man who is going to kowtow to another man who accuses his father of being a murderer and tells the world that his wife is ugly. I mean, any man that does not have the balls to stand up to another man after saying that about his family is worthy of zero respect.

Now, as it relates to this specific issue, you're exactly right. there's only one party that literally aided and abetted an insurrection. That was a coup. And I clearly remember as if it was yesterday, a lot of those people who are sitting up in there rather smugged today running for their lives. I'll say that. Okay.

Running for their lives in the midst of this. All of these people that have so much to say today, like Ted Cruz, somewhere in a corner, cowery, as this was going on. I also remember that when two of the insurrectionists were literally in the chamber looking at people's desks, I remember one of them saying, oh, this is Ted Cruz, he's on our side.

If you want to sit here and play revisionist history, you can sit here and try to replay revisionist history. But the reality is we all saw what we saw. We know what we know. And we also know on the very first day of this demon's administration, and this second set of inflictions of pain that he's hurling against this country, Trump on day one sat there and released all of these criminals, all of these insurrectionists. And one other thing that they did that I think you left out of your country. your overview of everything that happened.

They also tried to seek fake electors. They tried to do everything possible to steal that election. So to sit here and make up this fantastical tale about somehow it's crazy that they would be investigated. And somehow it's actually the current, the people who are actually investigating that crime are somehow abusing the Department of Justice. When it's this administration that has packed the Department of Justice in every other agency with loyalists who are all about wreaking revenge on his perceived enemies instead of actually representing the American people? It's just disgusting. And while they're waiting with all of this, I will say it's not going to save them in November.

because all the histrionics that they're trying to do right now, all the Kabuki theater that they are playing in Congress as a result to that hearing today, it's not going to make the cost of gas go down. It's not going to make food costs less. It's not going to put those crazy, dumbass, MAGA people who voted for them that are now getting their farms ripped away from them because of these tariffs and everything else that's happening. It's not going to change that.

So you can continue to try to be desperate and put on all of these shows to try to get clips for Fox News. But the reality is you're going to lose and you're going to lose badly in November and there's nothing you can do about it. It's just laughful to see them being so worked up when it was without a doubt, Larry, that these Republicans were trying to aid in a bit in stealing the election. They must think that we're all insane. It reminds me a bit of the upside down from, you know, Netflix and Stranger Things when you, you kind of some kind of parallel universe that we didn't experience what we experienced not really just a couple of years ago. And so Rolandi, one is to pretend like none of this happened. And you're right. I think the point that you made earlier is the reason why these records were subpoena is because you, you know, Senator Cruz and other individuals prior to, you know, the insurrection among some of the other issues he was responsible.

responsible for investigating, we're intimately involved. This is not some kind of mass conspiracy, you know, some movie on television where we don't know who's responsible. You know, some of the people who are in that room, like he said, their records were subpoenaed for a reason, but also they conspired with many of these insurrections. The other thing, Roland, is that when we look at this, U.S. history is really important, and a lot of Americans don't need the connection. what would happen in terms of those individuals who were responsible for causing the civil war, those Confederates,

it mirrors in terms of what happened with the insurrection and that both groups were never truly punished. And because from years ago, those individuals who pulled away from this nation and caused a civil war were never punished, there's a direct correlation to where we are right here today. This idea that somehow these events never happened and you reshape it and, you know, history in terms of whatever you want to do it. And listen, you know, he was, Smith was given a job to do. And he's highlighting his opening speech, he had plenty of evidence. And once again, when you hold, don't hold individuals responsible. This is where we are today because if he had been charged and then found guilty or, you know, impeached, we wouldn't be in this situation.

But this once again highlights the power of a whiteness in America and also politics and power. So highlights, unfortunately, Mustafa, when Merrick Garland dragged his ass and took so long, had he appointed Jack Smith the moment he was sworn in, this prosecution would have actually gone to trial, but he waited. Yeah, I mean, when we talk about, you know,

the most egregious things in relationship to what has played out, and has often been the silence and the inaction of end up There is also the action, but folks not moving forward when they need to, not making, you know, the intentional effort to hold people to justice in a form or fashion that normally would have happened. I work with the Department of Justice on a number of things over the years. And they follow, you usually follow the letter of the law, as you heard, also going to a judge, of course, to be able to get the sign off, to be able to move forward. So, you know, their anger is misplaced, that anger should have been focused on Trump because he is the one who brought all these different types of things into play and gave people reasons to believe that they can do these egregious sets of actions. So we should just be very clear about that.

We should also be very clear, you know, that the folks that were there on January the 6th and participated deserved to be investigated. and then it found guilty to be prosecuted. So when Senator Cruz says these types of things, his sets of energies are directed in the wrong direction. He should be upset about what's currently going on inside of our country in relationship to the impacts that are happening to everyday people. Bob Marley once said that you will never find justice in a world. You've heard the chaos. Now you can see it.

Hello. My gosh. Watch all your feelings. favorite podcasts from start to finish, right inside the free IHare Radio app. Gets the blood going up. Catch every laugh and eye roll on shows like the Tom Green Farmcast and park the bus. Now with full video. We're building a ramp for Tony Hawk.

It's the same hosts and the same chemistry with all the hilarious moments you've been missing. Right on your screen. Cheers. Open the free IHR radio app. Search video podcasts and tap watch. Whether you're stepping up to the starting line of a marathon or just trying to take the first step toward a big, scary goal. The conversation in your head is usually the same. Do I have what it takes? I'm Emily Abadi, and on hurdle with Emily Abadi, we dive into the grit, vulnerability, and mindset that fuels our

greatest comebacks. I talk to elite athletes, Olympic champions, industry change makers, and everyday runners about how they face self-doubt, redefine success, and keep moving forward when life gets heavy. I just love to say, I never know who's watching. So you want to make sure you, you through and through and you just stay true to who you are. Yeah, your path might change because different things come on your path to disrupt it, but it's just putting you on a new path and the skills you have to have faith at the skills that you've learned and developed over time are going to continue to bring you success. When the world is burning and crashing around you, will you still say fight for your dream? Will you still say it's possible? Will you still believe you're a good person? Can you still see the

brighter side of tomorrow? It's motivation, real talk, and practical wisdom for life on and off the run. hurdle with Emily Abadi on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The WNBA playoffs are about to begin. The talent is insane and the personalities are giving main character energy. And of course, the fans love it. But 30 years ago, when the league first started, it was a different story. I remember sitting with a couple of male writers all whining about, oh, what are they going to do if they break a nail?

No one's going to show up. But from the very beginning, there were two. teams that captured everyone's attention. The comments were to real deal. I mean, come on. The Liberty never gave up. They never stopped fighting. I knew that rivalry was going to be amazing from the beginning. I'm Kerry Champion and this is biggest rivalries of all time season two. The New York Liberty versus the Houston Comments, the very first rivalry of the WNBA. They picked us to finish last and they picked them to finish first. That's all you need to know. I remember looking around thinking this is going to change things. Basketball was going to have this fundamental impact on the way people viewed

women athletes. Listen to biggest rivalries of all time on the I-Hard radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. Is there bad blood between you in the comments as you guys meet again in the championship? Oh, we're coming back to win. Hey everybody, it's me, W. Kamau Bell. This season of my podcast who's with me, I speak with two-time Emmy winner and weirdly one of my best friends, Kevin Avery. Everything up to that point, Bill Gew as a comic. Us going on the road doing Battle Mountain and Ely. Yeah, you took me.

You were one of the first people who took me on the road, which is funny because at the time I was like, I don't know if I like this guy. With rapper, actor, David Diggs. The jump off for me was Hamilton and it was the most popular thing in a very long time. But it was still, for me, it was me and my friends making something dumb. Bruce Lee's daughter and Brandon Lee's sister, Shannon Lee. Back to your initial point of stewarding my father's legacy and giving my energy to that. You're lending your life to stewarding somebody else's life. Listen to Who's With Me with me with Debbie Kumabelle on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Hey, everybody. I'm Chuck Bryan of The Stuff You Should Know podcast. And I'm Adam Pranica of the Greatest Generation and Greatest Trek. We decided to start a golf comedy podcast because we're both big golf lovers, and we wanted to spread that joy, and it's called three-putt bogey. It's coming from the perspective of golfers who are sometimes good enough to hit two great shots in a row, but almost never good enough to hit three. And a three-putt bogey is kind of the purest expression of that. Every golfer knows what that's like. Obviously, we're going to talk a lot about the game of golf, how absurd it is and how fun it is, and how vexing and frustrating. but more than anything, just how much we love the greatest game in the world.

We love it anyway. We're putting these out every Friday morning for your weekend golf routine. This is a show about sharing our experiences on the golf course and how absurd and funny they can be. And that's what Three Put Bogey is. It's Three Put Boogie, everybody, out every Friday. You can listen to it now on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

Well, where criminals make the laws. And that's the situation that we currently have going on. on and we have got to get out. We've got to vote and we've got to change this dynamic. But don't just change the dynamic. Remember how we got to this moment so that we never have to repeat it again. It's more embarrassing was Missouri Senator Eric Smith who literally blasted Jack Smith for attending a basketball game between the Atlanta Hawks and meeting with a Fulte County prosecutor Fonnie Willis when he was actually attending an Iowa Hawkeyes game against a year.

University of Maryland. He looked like an absolute fool. He got embarrassed and then right winged tried to cover this whole thing up like oh no that was a brilliant line of questioning. No, the dumb ass got confused by the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Atlanta Hawks. What an absolute idiot and that's why when they showed this placard they flashed they would not let Smith actually look at it but then again that's the same Eric Schmidt who gave a white nationalist white supremacist speech. last year, which we covered as well. All right, y'all, going to a break.

We come back. We're going to talk about evictions in Atlanta, major, major issue. You're watching Rolla Martin-Unfilted on the Black Star Network, support the work that we do, join our Brain to Funk fan club. Guys, it's real simple. We don't have millionaires and billionaires who are funding this show.

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Medicare advisory company and she texts me right after saying it's a great benefit. It was easy. A real person walked her through the whole thing and now she understands better what's going on. It was also not just her. Woman and Yonkers rode in saying the process was so simple. The enrollment was easy and she was so glad she called. Then there's Maryland, 90 years old in Florida, living on Social Security.

Her premium climbed every single year north of $400 a month for coverage she could barely afford anymore. So what does she do? She called Chapter. They found her the same top-tier coverage for hundreds of dollars less, 90 years old, and finally, somebody in her corner. I hear stories like that again and again from our community. The Medicare system was not built to work for you. Too much fine print, too many plans. Yet Chapter's advisors are independent and honest, the only Medicare advisors that compare every plan nationwide. They're focused on one thing, what actually works for you. If you're already. in the right plan, they'll tell you. No games. And people who switched to a chapter saved

an average of $11,100 a year. All takes us 20 minutes. You talk to a real person and is completely free help. So, call chapter at 724-264-864-8-281. 724-264-8-1. That's chapter. This week on the other side of change. We're talking about privacy or safety. It's a false choice and it's one that's rarely applied evenly. This episode is going to examine the rapid, largely unregulated spread of mass surveillance technology, especially flop. As the United States has no actual meaningful privacy protection, has not outlawed idiotists. So all of us are for sale. All of us just have a little price tag next to it. And the government or a private company or a criminal organization can just buy all this stuff. And that's good for

business. You're watching the other set of change only on the Black Star Network. I was already a lawyer when my brother was murdered. His killer was never brought to trial. That loss didn't put me on this path, but it has shaped how I walk it. As a justice, I hold criminals accountable, keep communities safe, and ensure every victim gets their day in court. I'm Anita Earls. As a justice, I won't stop working until the law works for everyone. Hey, this is Jeffrey Osborne.

And I want to shout out to my brother Roland Martin. Hey, Roland, happy eighth anniversary. Roland Martin unfiltered. Man, you have the greatest show there is out there, mom. You bring it to us straightforward. You handle every topic. You handle every platform from politics to criminal justice, to entertainment, to sports. You bring it to us.

You take the facts on, head on. My brother, I love you. I love you for what. what you do and I'm hoping that I'll be standing here, you know, on your 10th anniversary, and your 15th and your 20th because we need you, brother. We need you to be around. So happy 8th anniversary, my brother. You've always been there for me.

You've always been there for all of us. Hey, love you. All right, folks, the eviction finals in Metro Atlanta quickly increased disproportionately impacting black folks. According to research from Princeton University's Eviction Lab, Metro Atlanta left the nation in eviction filings in 2025, and that pace has continued this year. The research focuses on Metro Atlanta's five largest counties, Fulton, Gwett, Cobb, DeKalb, and Clayton. As of August 1st, more than 142,000 eviction cases have been filed across the five county metro Atlanta region this year. And, of course, black people make up about 52% of renters in the region, but they represent nearly 70% of eviction cases. Allison Johnson, the executive of the Housing Justice League Board, and David Wheaton, Assistant Policy Council for the Legal Defense Fund joins us.

So, okay, first and foremost, what's going on, you know, are these folks, Allison, are they homeowners or are they renters? And are they being a big? And is it from homes or apartments or is a combination? It's a combination of both. But increasingly, it's renters. Yeah, you'll be able to be able to be able to be able to be able to be able to be able to be able to to talk more about that in the next question, I think. But right now, it's a very imbalance

between homeowners foreclosures and evictions. Right now, but sorry, renters are leading the way with evictions right now. And what is it? Is it economically driven or are you have homeowners trying to frankly get people out so they can sell those homes? I think it's in both. It's politically driven and it's economically driven. People are not wages

haven't risen. People are having a very hard time with the amount of rents they have just exacerbated in our cities. We have no way of controlling those rents. There is no way to control the corporate landlords that have just taken over in the state of Georgia. So it's a combination of both. So David, how can folks be a sister? Yeah, so, I mean, there's many things that people can do. I think at the legal defense fund, I mean, we're working with the housing justice leader to try to bring legislation to try to help renters who are facing evictions. One, you know, trying to increase eviction funds so that there are funds available for people who are going through a financial crisis, who are low income.

We're also trying to end junk fees in the state of Georgia. The state of junk fees have been proven to disproportionately impact people of color. We were happy to stay alongside with the Housing Justice League and Senator Kim Jackson to support Senate Bill 414 in the state of Georgia. That would eliminate junk fees. That's something that we're looking forward to doing again. So people can get involved with the Housing Justice League with LDF as we try to fight to push for eviction prevention and other mechanisms that would help black renters. And obviously, when you look at how this stacks up across the country, what other areas are experiencing,

much of what's happening there in Atlanta. Yeah, so there are just so many other areas. I just want to also point out that this is not just an Atlanta issue. This is a national issue. This is a national crisis. We are experiencing an affordable housing crisis in this country, but particularly in the Atlanta metro area, there's just a severe lack of affordable housing for people who are low income.

Just to give you a few facts right now, for somebody who is working a minimum wage job right now, they have to work 163 hours per week or have four full-time. minimum wage jobs just to afford a two-bedroom apartment in the city of Atlanta right now. So we know, again, this is not just happening, but we know that prices in Atlanta's particularly are going up. And like Allison said, there are no mechanisms for us to try to bring prices down, unfortunately, for our renters right now without state lawmakers ending the preemption of rent stabilization legislation that's currently being debated right now. Allison, you've got a U.S. Senate race, a governance race going on.

is this part of the conversation? This is definitely a part of the conversation because the most important thing is that you can't fully participate in democracy if you are being displaced. We know the intricacies of what happens when families are even, they even sent, they even are meeting the needs

or are not meeting the needs of having stable housing. One thing it does is it really disabilizes families. It increases homelessness. It reduces the economic earning and mobility. It damages credit. It disproportionately harms black families, and it disrupts the children's education. And when you're couch surfing, when you're going from place to place, you have no address, you have no way to confirm that you have been registered to vote. So this plays a major role in what's going to happen in our statewide elections, not just our Senate race, but we have a governor's race that's coming.

up. And we need for that person to make sure that they are supporting our low-income families, our homeowners, and those who are at risk of being homeless and those homeless folks in our communities as well. Questions from my panel, first off. Larry. Yeah, thank you for all your advocacy work. Is there any conversation regarding a momentarium to address some of these short-term challenges? Yeah, so that's, I was going to talk about that. Yes. So we are trying to put forth a statewide moratorium because we know that when a statewide moratorium pauses, particularly doing an election cycle, it really does give people an opportunity to fully participate in democracy because this is a crisis. It causes for a critical response. And we have been

trying to press and push our legislators to have a session where housing is a priority. And, you know, Atlanta and Georgia, our legislators, more than half of them are property owners. So it's been very challenging and very difficult, but we're continuing to push them to have, not just this conversation, but to move to action that we have got to be able to respond to everyday Georgians about this issue and this crisis that we have to get ourselves out of. Mustafa? Oh, yes. So I've done some work in this space.

So I'm curious what you all think about affordable housing construction and the role that it can play if we can help folks to transition from rental housing to that. I know it's not often difficult, but it can be a stabilizing force. And I think the second question is also, many of us will remember when we went through the COVID pandemic, the rental assistance, the emergency rental assistance program, there was about $21 billion that went into that. would something like that be helpful not only in Atlanta but across the country? Yeah, that's a great question. Yes, I mean, that's one of the things that us LDF and the Housing Justice League are really fighting for is to get eviction, emergency rental assistance funds for low-income families. As you said, that was really critical during the COVID-19 pandemic,

and we believe it can be really critical to provide support for families who are struggling to afford their rent. And then to the first part of your question, yes, I mean, affordable housing construction is something that we really, really need. Unfortunately, we don't have guardrails right now, particularly in the city of Atlanta on the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, trying to get more funds from that trust fund to actually use for affordable housing and developing affordable housing.

And we're trying to think about solutions of how we get more affordable housing in the city of Atlanta because like you said, when we're able to transition people from homelessness to be able to get somewhere to be able to find a place for affordable housing, that's really, really beneficial. But right now there's just such a lack of affordable housing in the city of Atlanta. So we definitely need more housing is both, you know, supply side and demand side issue. Avis. Yeah. So, you know, I was really struck by the data that you shared that in order for a family to afford a two bedroom house at minimum wage or two-bedroom apartment, at minimum wage, they'd have to work for

full-time jobs. And we're looking at that stat that we're sharing right here, a 24% filing rate. There is a surge, it sounds like, of people who are now being pushed out of their homes in Atlanta. And that ideas that have been discussed here are very important and would definitely work in the long term. But I am concerned about the people in the short term. Is the city prepared to handle this surge of families that are now being pushed out into the streets and really don't have any place affordable to go. No, we don't think that our city is ready to, what we've already seen and what we are seeing and witnessing and experiencing is a huge increase in homelessness.

And not just with individuals, most people visualize this homelessness as a black male living on the street. But what we are seeing is that we have part. parking lots where people are living with their families in cars at night. What we are also seeing is that our motels, our extended states, have become places of stability for families. Right now in the state of Georgia, not just in Atlanta, but in DeKalb County, there are 10,000 families living in extended states. What we also see, understand, is that we have got to be able to use the public land that we have to construct these housing units so that people will be able to go

into these units and be able to stabilize their families. The other thing I want to say is that we've got to be able to make sure that we have stronger tenant protections. We have very minimal tenant protections here in the state of Georgia. We need tenant protections that will help secure stability like just cause, like rent stabilization, like source of income, like eviction ceilings. All of those little things matter in order for us to be able to sustain people, but there is not only a surge. This is something that's happening every day. You can come to Atlanta on a Tuesday and a Thursday and enter the courtrooms, and what you will see is a mass hurting of evictions ending in default, meaning that people only have seven days to leave their

communities and leave their homes. Our public. school system right now, we have 22,000 empty seats. And that is mainly due to people being displaced out of their communities, which then is putting pressure for those schools in our communities of being closed. So we're not ready to handle that, even more surges of evictions. If folks are facing potentially eviction, where should they call? They should call Housing Justice League. We do have a hotline and we have some minimum resources that can help stabilize them. We work in partnership not only with LDF, but AVLF and also Atlanta Legal Aid. We can provide some resources to help them through this eviction, navigate this convoluted

process of an eviction, but also to help get them stabilized. But what they really need to be doing is they need to be joining organizations like Housing Justice League to organize and to really fight for the political change that needs to happen. We need to be electing officials that have the political will to think about poor, black, low-income people and working class folks. All right, then, Allison and David, we certainly appreciate it. Thanks a lot. Thank you. Thank you, Roe. Folks in Florida, opening statements began for the trial of a former white sheriff who killed a black airman. Former Ocaluza County Sheriff's Stephanie Eddie Duran killed 23-year-old senior airman Roger Forston

inside his apartment in May 24. Duran, who was responding to a domestic disturbance call, says he acted in self-defense when Forston, who was alone, opened the door with the gun pointed at the ground. But the video shows Forston had his left hand up, palm showing, gesturing towards the deputy when he opened the door. Duran shot Forston within seconds of the door opening. Prosecutors questioned why Duran did not identify himself as law enforcement. Duran is charged with first-degree manslaughter.

He's facing a maximum 30-year sentence. guess what folks in our latest hashtag we tried to tell you segment a black trump voter in florida is now rethinking his voting choice after a reporter asked him well does he regret voting for the twice impeached criminally convicted con man don't trump if you go back to 2024 talk to your younger self what would you tell him before he went to go vote should have voted different Fear hoodwinked. Been hoodwinked. Why?

Broken promises. What were you expecting? Good economy. No wars. Simple. No, you're an idiot. See, it's really cracking me up. All of these people who say,

I forgot I was hookwink. I didn't realize. I had no idea. So the first four years didn't tell. you how this thing was going to go. And now all of a sudden things are going badly. Now y'all want to say, oh, please, welcome me with open arms. I just didn't know what I was doing. No, you knew exactly what you were doing. That was one of the black men right there who was stupid enough to vote for Donald Trump. I guess grabbing women by their vagina? Yeah, that wasn't any big deal.

I guess destroying farmers wasn't any big deal. The constant attacks on black women and others, No. But now all of a sudden, me, he's saying, well, I'm going to be in awards. No. What y'all mad about, and I've seen many of these clips, y'all mad that y'all not got to pay for gas, too. See, let's just cut to the chase. All these folk who voted for Trump, they really said it was everybody else. It was everybody else. Or they're going to take everybody else. We're good. We good. Now you got Trump calling off the TPS for Salvadorians a couple hundred thousand. Now they're telling ICE, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, stop arresting people. You know why?

Could the Latino numbers have dropped through the floor? Oh, so y'all thought it was Muslims in the first time, but he came after y'all. Everything that we're seeing, every single thing that we're seeing, they told us they were going to do, Mustafa. They literally put together a document. Now, all these FAAFO people now understand that the common sense black people, we were trying to tell it is like him what was going to happen. but now they want to pay attention. Too late.

The time that they had a bite at the apple, they did absolutely nothing to improve the lives of black folks. Nothing around housing, nothing around education, nothing around transportation, nothing around job creation. Our numbers went down

in each and every one of those categories. If that wasn't enough for you, then they gave you Project 2025, they gave you Agenda 47, and if you looked at it, once again, it had absolutely nothing in it that was going to benefit your community, but they expected your vote,

and you gave it to them for free, and now you're just standing there looking silly. And I'm just reminded of the quote that says that all skin folk ain't kinfolk, and we have to be very aware of that fact, and we've got to make sure that we're dealing with it in an accountable fashion. You know, Avers is people also saying,

well, no, you should be criticizing them, you should be welcome to do with open arms. No, I can cuss you out while saying, you know, vote on this side here, but I can still cuss you out. Absolutely, and they deserve every last curse word. I mean, here's my thing. When I hear these people with the wong, won, wong, wong, wong, wong, wong, I had no idea. I mean, first of all, stop lying.

Let's just be real. You didn't want to vote for the black woman. Let's just be real. That was your problem. Because it's no way that you could have survived the first era of Trump and think this man was not a liar and think this man was actually competent. I mean, let's remind ourselves, a million people died on his watch during COVID as he's standing behind a podium telling people to drink bleach. That actually happened. That level of incompetence is in that man.

the same person that was running around the country saying people are eating cats and dogs. Somalis are eating cats and dogs. You didn't see that? You didn't find that racist? Haitians. Haitians, I'm sorry, eating cats and dogs. And so it is... You've heard the chaos. Now you can see it.

Hello! My gosh. Watch all your favorite podcasts from start to finish right inside the free I-Hare Radio app. Catch every laugh and eye roll. On shows like the Tom Green Farmcast and park the bus. Now with full video. We're building a ramp for Tony Hawk.

It's the same hosts and the same chemistry with all the hilarious moments you've been missing right on your screen. Cheers. Open the free IHare radio app. Search video podcasts and tap watch. Whether you're stepping up to the starting line of a marathon or just trying to take the first step

toward a big, scary goal, the conversation in your head is usually the same. Do I have what it takes? I'm Emily Abadi, and on Hurtle with Emily Abadi, we dive into the green. vulnerability, and mindset that fuels our greatest comebacks. I talk to elite athletes, Olympic champions, industry change makers, and everyday runners

about how they face self-doubt, redefined success, and keep moving forward when life gets heavy. I'd just love to say I never know who's watching. So you want to make sure you, you through and through, and you just stay true to who you are. Yeah, your path might change because different things come on your path to disrupt it, but it's just putting you on a new path and the skills, you have to have faith at the skills that you've learned and developed over time.

are going to continue to bring you success. When the world is burning and crashing around you, will you still say fight for your dream? Will you still say it's possible? Will you still believe you're a good person? Can you still see the brighter side of tomorrow? It's motivation, real talk, and practical wisdom for life on and off the run.

Listen to Hurtle with Emily Abadi on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The WNBA playoffs are about to begin. The talent is insane. and the personalities of giving main character energy. And of course, the fans love it. But 30 years ago, when the league first started,

it was a different story. I remember sitting with a couple of male writers all whining about, oh, what are they going to do if they break a nail? No one's going to show up. But from the very beginning, there were two teams that captured everyone's attention. The comments were to real deal. I mean, come on.

The Liberty never gave up. They never stopped fighting. I knew that rivalry was going to be amazing from the beginning. I'm Kerry Champion, and this is biggest rivalries of all time, season two. The New York Liberty

versus the Houston Commons, the very first rivalry of the WNBA. They picked us to finish last and they picked them to finish first. That's all you need to know. I remember looking around thinking this is going to change things.

Basketball was going to have this fundamental impact on the way people viewed women athletes. Listen to biggest rivalries of all time on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. Is there bad blood between you in the comments as you guys meet again in the championship?

Oh, we're coming back to win. Hey, everybody, it's me, W. Compte Bell. This season of my podcast who's with me, I speak with two-time Emmy winner and weirdly one of my best friends, Kevin Avery. Everything up to that point build you as a comic. Us going on the road, doing Battle Mountain and Ely

and all this shit. of the first people took me on the road, which is funny because at the time I was like, I don't know if I like this guy. With rapper, actor, David Diggs. The jump off for me was Hamilton and it was the most popular thing in a very long time. But it was still, for me, it was me and my friends making something dumb. Bruce Lee's daughter and Brandon Lee's sister, Shannon Lee. Back to your initial point of stewarding my father's legacy and giving my energy to that.

you're lending your life to stewarding somebody else's life. Listen to Who's With Me with W. Come out Bell on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. There are thousands of podcasts that can tell you how to better yourself. Get Worse with Kyle Brew is not one of those podcasts. So if you're interested in getting thinner, going to therapy, starting peptides, setting boundaries, taking supplements, making your better, getting closure, then I would humbly recommend other podcasts. But if you're interested in blackmail love bombing, cloning yourself or getting revenge, then we've got a little something something for a dastardly individual like you.

Take a listen to some of the incredible advice we've given so far. Fake a back injury. Get the spray tan, up your alcohol consumption. Only women should be allowed to have guns. Kill them. Kill them. Kill them for the gun. Listen, it's already over. I'm all about lying if it's something that really happened. The next time a bear is running at you, you just calmly stop what you're doing, you look the bear in the eye, and you say, this isn't you. Do not preserve relationships. You don't need them. You only need one thing, and that's the Get Worse podcast.

Listen to Get Worse with Kyle Pruh on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Really crazy to me that anyone can sit here and act like they actually are surprised with what we're seeing now, because he is who he's always been. He's a con man. He's a, he's a businessman who found a way to go bankrupt six times, including with casinos. What kind of idiot can't run a casino with the profit? And so it's just, it's a lie. It's a way for them to cover up their own misogy noir, because it is hard for me to believe anyone would be so stupid as to believe anything that comes out of this man's mouth that would in any way relate to anything having to do with his competence and his ability to keep his word.

Larry. Never done it, and he's deep on it now. Larry. Davis hit it right on the nose, which you talked about intersection of sexism and racism as it released to V.P. Harris. I don't know who that brother is. I don't know whose family members claim him after he was on, he went on television to talk about how he voted a couple of years ago. Whether it's him or these farmers, the problem in society now is that a lot of people, he's one. A lot of people, he's one

people are self-centered. And they think that when there's a particular issue, a policymaker, local state here at the federal level, that, you know, if it doesn't impact me, I'm okay. And then, unfortunately, there's a small percentage of black folks that have fell for that belief, that idea also. But we know how society works. We're always at the bottom of the race-based caste system. So these policies, which will clearly outline, know are going to impact us disproportionately, particularly black women, and we've seen that play out by the hundreds of thousands of black women who've lost jobs. In this idea that we didn't know any of this is coming,

they telegraphed it. They put out multiple, as we talked about, they put out multiple publications, clearly saying how they want to dismantle the government as if it was a state. And they had successfully gotten rid of, you know, civil rights, you know, a variety of civil acts statutes and initiatives

that help some black folks move up the ladder. So now that ladder has been pulled, and a number of black folks are falling, and now white Americans find out that our economy, the way our economy works is, if one group is disproportionately impacted, guess who's next? Again, y'all might want to pay attention. All right, folks, speaking of that,

so many people have been fixated, obviously, on these U.S. Senate races and these congressional races, these governors' races. But you've heard me say continually on this show that we cannot ignore down-ballot races and really critical statewide races like Supreme Court races. Now, I've broken down numerous times in North Carolina, how there was a point when Democrats could have had a 6-to-1 majority of the Supreme Court. Supreme Court when Sherry Beasley ran for Chief Justice. She lost by 401 votes. Republicans now have a five to two majority. Last year, they had a Democrat one. She won by 700 some odd votes in Republicans. They fought tooth and nail to try to beat her. Well, there's

another crucial race this year involving Supreme Court Justice Anita Earle. Earlier, late last week, she dropped this new ad. His killer was never brought to trial. That loss didn't put me on this path, but it has shaped how I walk it. As a justice, I hold criminals accountable, keep communities safe, and ensure every victim gets their day in court.

I'm Anita Earls. As a justice, I won't stop working until the law works for everyone. Justice Anita Earls is gonna be faced Republican Childress Sarah Stevens. She joins us right now. now this of course the election will determine who holds the associate justice seat for the next eight-year term Justice Earls thanks a bunch I have

spent a lot of time trying to walk people through and connect the dots when it comes to the Supreme Court races and I and I I think the easiest way to say folks if you're upset and mad by what's happening with the United States Supreme Court understand that state Supreme Courts are the final arbiters of the law in the these states and they are just as important to your state to North Carolina and others as the United States Supreme Court is? Well, in fact, I would make the argument that because of rulings from the U.S. Supreme

Court, our state Supreme Court have become even more important. So when the U.S. Supreme Court ended women's rights of access to abortion, they said, we're leaving it to the states. And more recently, when the U.S. Supreme Court essentially ended. effective enforcement of the Voting Rights Act, that means it falls to the states to protect our right to vote. And there are some rights that are not in the U.S. Constitution, but are in state constitutions. And in North Carolina, perhaps most significantly, that's the right to a sound basic education in a uniform system of public education. And so whether you care about schools,

whether you care about your vote counting equally, whether you care about bodily autonomy as a woman and the right to make choices about what happens to your reproductive health. All of those things are now essentially at the state level for all our states. And North Carolina, being the purple state that it is, has quite a multi-cycle history of very close state Supreme Court elections. Well, and what you just laid out there, first of all, the U.S. Supreme Court said when they overturned Robie Wade is, we'll leave it up to the states. when it came to

Gerromanor. They said, leave it up to the states. And so, even so you talk about voting rights as well. And so, you know,

and we've seen when the North Carolina Supreme Court was majority of Democrat in terms of how they ruled. And I mean, look, when that court flipped,

it was, it was crazy. The Republicans, when they came in, they literally overturned decisions y'all had just made, what, two or three months previously?

Yes. Now, that is quite, extraordinary. It is something that has not happened in the over 200-year history of our court and because what they did was take the very same case and say, we're going to rehear that. And the implications for the entire country just from North Carolina's Supreme Court flip, let me just make it clear for folks. In 2022, our court said extreme partisan gerrymandering violates the rights of North Carolinian voters under the state constitution.

We're not the first state to do that. Pennsylvania had issued an earlier opinion to the same effect. And it was a very nonpartisan decision. So at that point, the court was four Democrats, three Republicans. And I was on the court happy to join the majority that said, here are four measures that the legislature can do, use, to decide whether the maps are fair. And as long as they meet those measures, and it wouldn't matter if Democrats are drawing, Republicans are drawing, it's just got to be fair. And that fairness requirement is based on actual voting patterns, not necessarily how people are registered.

But then the new court came to power, and they didn't say districts are fair. They said, actually, we as a court have no power to do anything about it. So when our districts were drawn under the prior ruling, requiring them to be fair, North Carolina sent seven Democrats and seven Republicans to Congress. The court flipped as of January, 2023. They reversed themselves, and I, of course, dissented at that point. But the legislature then was free to draw however they wanted. And in 2024, North Carolina sent 10 Republicans and four Democrats. to Congress. So it's just math. If we had kept that 7-7 delegation from the beginning of the

Trump administration, the U.S. House of Representatives would have been in control of Democrats. I think what difference that would have made for the checks and balances at the national level. And in fact, they gerrymandered Don Davis, Congress of Don Davis's district. And so now what they want is an 113 Republican majority after November. You talked about that particular case as well. when Democrats control the North Carolina Supreme Court, the issue of racial, racial gerrymandering also was up, where federal court had also ruled there was this laser-like precision targeting of black voters. And, you know, these are the issues that, again, come to the state's highest court. We just saw what happened in Missouri. But the Missouri Supreme Court ruled unanimously.

Unasually, Republicans could not use a map that would wipe up a district of Congressman Emmanuel Cleaver. And so, you know, a state Supreme Court is really, really vital to so many issues that people face every day in North Carolina. Absolutely. And so that's why my campaign today released a second ad, which folks can see my website is Earlsforjustice. My second ad explains how the court impacts how much people pay for electricity in this state, which is a huge issue because the evidence before the court was that hundreds of thousands of residents in North Carolina can't afford their electric bill every month. And under state law, it is the court's responsibility to review what the Utilities Commission does. When Duke Energy asked to raise electricity rates for the western part of the state, our court looked at that and said, sure, that's fine.

I dissented because state law says we are to set electricity rates at the lowest reasonable rate. And the reason for this particular rate increase was so that Duke Energy shareholders could receive a 10.1% rate of return on their investment instead of the 9.8% rate of return they were already receiving. And I believe that state law requires our court to put people over profits. So whether you're worried about your electric bill, what quality of education your children are getting, whether your vote will count and count equally, all of those things are decided by our court. And you say that new ad is where? On Earlsforjustice.com, earls number for justice.com is my website. And you can find that new ad there and also volunteer or contribute to my campaign. All right, so we're going to pull that up in just a moment.

Questions from my panel, first off, Avis. Thanks for being here tonight. I think it's just important just to reiterate. I know you've said it, but I think it's so important that we reiterate how important this is. For me, in this moment, the courts beyond this crazy Supreme Court is the last line of defense. in this specific administration. There have been so many things that have gone to other court systems. So can you let us know about when people are voting for you

and they're voting to make sure that there is a justice on the court that's going to protect their rights? What are they getting? Well, my background is as a civil rights attorney. So for 30 years, that means I stood up with people whose rights were being violated in one way or another and sought to use the legal system to ensure that their constitutional rights would be respected, whether that's voting rights, employment

discrimination cases, housing discrimination, First Amendment cases, school desegregation cases, just the full range of civil rights litigation was what I engaged in prior to running for the court the first time in 2018. And what I tell people is that my goal has always been throughout my career to guarantee equal justice under the law. I followed in the footsteps, of the noted civil rights attorney Julius Chambers and had various points in my career, the opportunity to work with him. So I really see the impact on our communities. As you saw in that ad, the things that our communities experience are things that my family has also experienced. We know what it's like to be the victims of crime when the system is not

working for us, but we also know what it's like to be in a system that's not treating us fairly. And that's all I'm trying to guarantee, that no matter who you are, whether you have money or not money, whether you're a business or an individual, the government or an individual, big business, every litigant that comes before us should be treated equally. This is the commercial that you were just referencing. That's why I ruled against an unfair utility rate hike that will cost our families more. You deserve honest math, fair prices, and a court that follows the law to put people before profits. I'm Justice Anita Earls.

On the court, I hold everyone accountable no matter how rich for power. And I won't stop until the law works for everyone. All right, question Larry. So my question relates to, you know, North Carolina has a significant population of black voters. I think it's over 20% of population thatifies as black. And you talked about your civil rights background, which is critically important during these challenging times. What else are some of the other issues when you're, you know, someone who may be reluctant to go out and vote? And they're a black voter.

What are some of these things you're talking about and encouraging them, why does you go out and vote for you? Yes. Well, I do think it's important for people to understand that my commitment to civil rights does come from my personal experience growing up in a mixed-faced family at a time when my parents' marriage, my father was black, my mother was white. Their marriage was illegal in most of the country and certainly in the state where they met. So I appreciate what it means when our civil rights laws are not being enforced fairly. I think the other thing that people should understand is that experience matters on our court. My opponent, Sarah Stevens, is a career politician, 70 and a half years in a general assembly, and has never argued a case

in our court. Not only that, but more than 15 laws that she voted for have been found to be unconstitutional by other courts, including, as I mentioned earlier, some of those racial gerrymandering laws that the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously threw out as unfair to black voters. So real difference in our records, voters will have a really important choice. And as you mentioned, this state is 22% African American. When I joined the court, I was the third person of color on the court. Because of two election cycles and retirements, I am now the only one. And if I lose, our state Supreme Court will no longer be reflective of the diversity of the population of the state. And as someone who did voting rights work for 30 years and worked hard around the state to make sure that

all voters had an opportunity to elect their candidates of choice, I think that would be a real step backwards. I think about one of my heroes, Justice Pat Timmons Goodson, the first African-American woman to serve on our court, she said very movingly, I'm really proud to be the first African-American woman on this court, but what is more important to me is that I not be the last. And now that mantle has fallen on my shoulders. Before I go to Mustafa, let me also remind folk that these Republicans were so evil in North Carolina. You gave an interview talking about diversity and the justice system, and these idiots tried to

they really want to impeach you. Well, there were threats to impeach me, and we have a judicial standards commission that has the power to recommend to our court, our court votes at the end, whether to remove a judge or justice from office. And there were two different complaints filed against me, both of them based on things I said publicly,

that potentially could have removed me from office. And one of those was a complaint about the fact that I talked about racial equity in the justice system, and I commented on a study that a Solicitor General had done, not me, but a study of who argues in our court. That study found that at the time period that they were looking at, African Americans and women were underrepresented in the attorneys who appear in our court. I also talked publicly about the fact that our Supreme Court at the time hired 72 people and only 2. two were African American, the woman who I have on my staff as an assistant and the man who manages our buildings. And that is not reflective of the workforce of this court or this state. So I had to file a First Amendment lawsuit in federal court to defend my right to say

these things. Groups across the country came out and supported me, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, the ACLU within North Carolina, the North Carolina Black Alliance, the black trans, black churches, people, and I think that's what made the difference at that point. And this was before the Trump administration. So I just, North Carolina has been in the forefront in the past few years of boat suppression and in the forefront of trying to silence the voices of the advocates for equality in the state. And so fortunately, ultimately, the complaint against me was dismissed. and so then I did not need to go forward with my lawsuit. But I think it's important for people to know that my record is one of not backing down

in the face of opposition because I know how important it is that people who historically have been underrepresented and not had a voice in our government deserve to have fair representation. Mustafa. Justice Errol is good to see you. I have worked all over North Carolina, and some folks have been texting me when you came onto the show just now. And they asked me to ask you about environmental issues,

public health issues. We know in North Carolina, we've got the certified animal feeding operations, we've got PFOS in the water, a number of different things. But they just ask if you could talk a little bit about how important the courts are in making sure that,

that we have cleaner air and cleaner water and a couple of the other things that are in that space. Well, I would make two responses to that. And the first goes back to that fundamental democracy deficit that we have, because when you have extreme partisan gerrymandering, it means that the legislature is not being, is not representative of all the people of the state, is not representative of how people actually vote.

And so whether it's the environment, all of the environmental, as you mentioned, but also things like access to affordable house, affordable health care, whether people have affordable housing. All those issues are impacted by if the legislature is not addressing people's needs. So I feel like to get to those issues, we first have to have a fair democracy. But the second thing I would say is yes, our court does make decisions that impacts the ability of the state government to enforce our environmental laws. And the two trends that I've seen happen are cases that make it harder for state agencies to protect the environment,

to put conditions in permits that they give to businesses that might be polluting. As well as with the PFA's question, we were scheduled to have an oral argument in a case where the state attorney general was seeking damages for individuals injured. And the issue before our court was going to be whether or not the attorney general even had the power to bring that case. I did write one opinion in that case earlier about whether or not DuPont, the defendants, could be sued in North Carolina. Fortunately, I think for the individuals involved, the case settled on the eve of our oral

argument. And I say fortunate because for all the parties, it's always best to come to a resolution in the litigation and get. relief rather than waiting for our court to act or any court to act. So those issues will continue to come before our court, and it is important to have someone whose orientation is the importance of enforcing rights. I also want to remind people about a couple of things, because when we talk about control, we talk about power, when Democrat, so you take right now, you have a Democratic governor,

your Democrat lieutenant governor, secretary of state attorney general. And the Republican legislature, they have consistently stripped power from the Democratic governor, unlike what they deal with the Republican governor. So right now, when it comes to who controls the appointments to the state board of elections, they stripped the power from the governor and gave it to the state auditor, I guess he's the highest record Republican in the state. When Sherry Beasley was Chief Justice, the legislature was actually considering stripping the power

of the state Supreme Court, which is the highest court, and giving it to the appeals court, which is below a Supreme Court, because Republicans control that, not the Supreme Court. I say that so people understand how Republicans in North Carolina have abused political, power in order to strip Democrats of power when

Republicans lose. So yes, that issue is actually pending in our court. You've heard the chaos. Now you can see it. Hello. My gosh. Watch all your favorite podcasts from start to finish right inside

the free IHard Radio app. Get the blood going up. Catch every laugh and eye roll on shows like the Tom Green Farmcast and park the bus. Now with full video. We're building a ramp for Tony Hawk. It's the same. and the same chemistry with all the hilarious moments you've been missing right on your screen.

Cheers. Open the free IHRRadio app. Search video podcasts and tap watch. Whether you're stepping up to the starting line of a marathon or just trying to take the first step toward a big, scary goal, the conversation in your head is usually the same. Do I have what it takes? I'm Emily Abadi, and on Hurtle with Emily Abadi, we dive into the grit, vulnerability, and mindset that fuels our greatest comebacks.

I talk to elite athletes, Olympic champions, industry change makers, and everyday runners about how they face self-doubt, redefine success, and keep moving forward when life gets heavy. I'd just love to say, I never know who's watching. So you want to make sure you, you through and through, and you just stay true to who you are. Yeah, your path might change because different things come on your path to disrupt it, but it's just putting you on a new path, and the skills you have to have faith at the skills that you've learned and developed over time are going to continue to bring you success. when the world is burning and crashing around you, will you still say fight for your dream? Will you still say it's possible? Will you still believe you're a good person? Can you still see the brighter side of tomorrow?

It's motivation, real talk, and practical wisdom for life on and off the run. Listen to Hurtle with Emily Abadi on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. The WNBA playoffs are about to begin. The talent is insane and the personalities are giving me

character energy. And of course, the fans love it. But 30 years ago, when the league first started, it was a different story. I remember sitting with a couple of male writers all whining about, oh, what are they going to do if they break a nail? No one's going to show up. But from the very beginning, there were two teams that captured everyone's attention. The comments were to real deal. I mean, come on. The Liberty never gave up. They never stopped fighting. I knew that rivalry was going to be amazing from the beginning. I'm Kerry Champion. and this is biggest rivalries of all time season two. The New York Liberty versus the Houston Commons,

the very first rivalry of the WNBA. They picked us to finish last, and they picked them to finish first. That's all you need to know. I remember looking around thinking, this is going to change things. Basketball was going to have this fundamental impact on the way people viewed women athletes.

Listen to biggest rivalries of all time on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your... podcast. Is there bad blood between you in the comments as you guys meet again in the championship? Oh, we're coming back to win. Hey, everybody, it's me, W. Kamau Bell. This season of my podcast who's with me, I speak with two-time Emmy winner and weirdly one of my best friends, Kevin Avery. Everything up to that point build you as a comic, us going on the road doing Battle Mountain and Ely. Yeah, you took me,

you were one of the first people who took me on the road, which is funny because at the time I was I don't know if I like this guy. With rapper, actor, David Diggs. The jump off for me was Hamilton, and it was the most popular thing in a very long time. But it was still, for me, it was me and my friends making something dumb. Bruce Lee's daughter and Brandon Lee's sister, Shannon Lee. Back to your initial point of stewarding my father's legacy and giving my energy to that. You're lending your life to stewarding somebody.

else's life. Listen to Who's With Me with with W.comabelle on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. There are thousands of podcasts that can tell you how to better yourself. Get Worse with Kyle Pruh is not one of those podcasts. So if you're interested in getting thinner,

going to therapy, starting peptide, setting boundaries, taking supplements, making your better, getting closure, then I would humbly recommend other podcasts. But if you're interested in blackmail, love bombing, cloning yourself, or getting revenge, then we've got a little something, something for a dastardly individual like you. Take a listen to some of the incredible advice we've given so far. Fake a back injury.

Get the spray tan, up your alcohol consumption. Only women should be allowed to have guns. Kill them. Kill them. Listen, it's already over. I'm all about lying if it's something that really happened. The next time a bear is running at you, you just calmly stop what you're doing, you look the bear in the eye, and you say this isn't you. Do not preserve relationships.

You don't need them. You only need one thing, and that's the Get Worse podcast. Listen to Get Worse with Kyle Pruh on the IHartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. You're about to hear oral arguments. It's going to be the week after the election. But what I want you to understand is prior, when there was actually a Republican governor, Pat McCory, the Republican legislature did seek to take power away from Governor McCory and that case came to our court. And our court ruled six to one, this is before I was on the

court, the court ruled six to one that that was unconstitutional and that the legislature had exceeded its powers. There was one dissent, and that was Chief Justice Newby. At the time, he was just Justice Newby. But he dissented. And if you look at the rulings that have been handed down so far in the cases addressing this issue of what power does the legislation, legislature have to take powers away from the governor and give it either to themselves or to other executive officials, the Chief Justice's view is now the majority view. And the concern is that this has, so I don't, I'm not going to comment on the case because it's pending in front of us. But what I can say is that without a doubt, those issues are on our docket and issues that

implicate all sorts of matters about who has power in the state. And what I can tell you about, because it's public, and I did write a dissent in the Board of Elections case. The governor, so understand in that case, the trial court said, this is unconstitutional. This was a three-judge trial court appointed by Chief Justice Newby. The legislative defendants appealed to the Court of Appeals. The Court of Appeals in a two-to-one decision ruled that it was constitutional. But in the meantime, the governor asked the court of appeals and then asked our court to stop that what had been ruled as unconstitutional law,

stop it from going into effect while the appeal is pending. But we essentially have a shadow docket, just like the U.S. Supreme Court. And on that shadow docket, the majority declined to give a stay, and I wrote a dissent, explaining why I thought we should stay that law until there's an opportunity to complete the appellate process. And in that dissent, I explain some of the reasons why I think that there was merit to the trial court's ruling. but obviously a full opinion awaits after we hear the oral arguments in those cases. Last question I have for you, and that is typically what happens, who's at the top of the ticket, impacts a down ballot.

And for months now, everyone has been saying, oh, Roy Cooper has this in the back. Last poll shows he's up anywhere from 8 to 10 points. And so I've been hearing from people in North Carolina that there's a, a perception that, you know, the gas, the foot is being let up off the gas, gas pedal. What are you saying to African Americans and to others in North Carolina that, listen, election ain't over until all the votes are counted? And what I'm concerned about is that if there is a belief that, oh, Cooper has this in the bag, we don't have to worry about it, that's going to impact your race and other races that are on the ballot. Is that of a concern of

you and what are you telling your supporters that they have to be doing in this less than 40 days before we have Election Day? And also, you've got early voting that's going to be coming up as well. Right. Absolutely, I have been pointing to the fact that, as you mentioned earlier, Sherry Beasley lost by just 401 votes. My colleague Justice Riggs won by only 734 in an election where top of the ticket, Governor Stein won by a huge margin. So there were some close to 200,000 voters who voted in the governor's race in 2024 and did not vote in the Supreme Court race. And so what we, right now the polling is showing me essentially in a statistical tie with my opponent. There's more undecided voters.

But what I, you know, Governor Cooper has, I think, convincingly been telling folks that the margin is going to get. closer in his race as we get closer to election day. And I do, believe me, I understand why people are frustrated feeling that their votes don't count. That is one of the impacts of extreme partisan gerrymandering. It is not only devaluing the voting strength of one party in a particular election, it has multiplier effects as people get more and more discouraged and feel like their vote doesn't matter because the outcome in all the districts is already determined. So I get it why people are discouraged. But what they have to absolutely know is that North Carolina is a very purple

state. Every vote counts. We know that there are some of the tactics that were, some of the arguments that were used to try to throw out ballots in 2024 are now laws that people have to follow. So, so the, and the board of elections and the general assembly have been changing our voting procedures, making it easier to challenge voters. And so what I hope people will appreciate is that the reason they're trying to keep you from voting is because your vote is powerful, right? So, so every vote matters. You have to vote all the way down the ticket. Your voice has to be heard and it will have an impact. Even in North Carolina this year, my seat's the only one on the ballot. So we're in a bit of a holding pattern. But in two years, three Republican seats are up for

election. And if we're able to take those three seats, we will be back to a court that will enforce people's rights. So you have to have a little bit of a long-range vision. But I understand, you know, coming from a civil rights background, I know that I stand on the shoulders that people who toiled long and hard for the long-range vision of their communities finally having the representation that they deserve. And we need everyone to join us in that effort and to believe in our, have faith and believe in the power of our vote and that we still have a democracy where it makes a difference. Well, yeah, I mean, I have been telling folks that by electing you, holding your seat this year puts Democrats in position, winning those three seats in 2028 in the presidential year, then that then takes that court back and what can

happen in North Carolina is what we've seen in Wisconsin when that state a Supreme Court flipped you begin to see different rulings when it came to ballot drop boxes when it came to partisan gerrymandering racial gerrymandering and things along those lines and so certainly good luck Justice Earls and we really hope folk show up up and show out and return you to the Supreme Court. Well, thank you so much. I appreciate you covering these issues.

They are so important to our community and they impact the entire country. So thank you. All right. Thanks a lot. Again, folks, let me go over the early, go to go with the voting registration deadlines. But this is critically important. Alabama, they do not have in person early voting. So that's, that's early voting.

But remember, you have voter registrations. Before we get to early voting, we got to early voting. did with voter registration and please I need folk to check your status do not assume that you're good especially in Texas there have been some issues there I really need folk to check their status nope do not switch the calendar yet the voter registration deadlines folks October 4th October 4th if you live in Alaska Rhode Island and South Carolina you your last day to register is this is 4th, okay, which is next Monday, okay?

October 5th, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas. October 6th, Illinois, Nevada, New Mexico, October 7th, Missouri, October 9th, North Carolina, Oklahoma. Folks, listen to me in North Carolina. Y'all have got to do what's right. I'm telling y'all. You heard me say it. You heard Justice Earl say it. Sherry Beasley, she was the chief justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court. She lost by 401 votes. And you had more than 200,000 black folks who were eligible, but did not vote. So October 9th. 9th is North Carolina, Oklahoma. October 10th is Delaware. October 13th is Kansas, Maine, Maryland,

Minnesota, New Jersey, Oregon, West Virginia, District of Columbia. October 14th, Wisconsin. The 16th, Connecticut. The 19th, Alabama, California, Iowa, Michigan, Pennsylvania, South Dakota. The 20th is Wyoming. 23rd, Idaho, Nebraska, Utah, Virginia. Okay, the October 24th, Massachusetts, New York State, October 26, Hawaii, Colorado, Washington, New Hampshire. They voter registration varies from six to 13 days before Election Day. Contact your local supervisor's office for the deadline. North Dakota has no voter registration. All you need is a valid ID showing a North Dakota residential address to vote.

Vermont, you can register through Election Day. And so I just want people to understand that. And so, again, y'all, this is a huge, huge. election. Do not just focus on top of the ticket. You must go all the way down. Also, when I say go all the way down, in some states, there are constitutional amendments that are on the ballot. Virginia has three constitutional amendments on the ballot, one dealing with reproductive rights, one dealing with same-sex marriage and one, I believe that same-sex marriage is one of them. But the other one is restoring the voting rights of forming incarcerated. Y'all, that's three. That's three constitutional amendments. And so we have to understand that's all. And matter of fact, in Virginia, they're voting early right now. Yeah, they're voting early right now in Virginia.

So just letting folks know we've got to maximize what's happening at the ballot. Let me go to a quick break. We come back. We're going to have our shop, blackslide, network.com. All right, folks, let me get personal for a second. My mom had questions about her Medicare, so she called Chapter, a Medicare advisory company, and she texts me right after saying it's a great benefit. It was easy. A real person walked her through the whole thing and now she understands better what's going on.

But also is not just her. Woman and Yonkers rode in saying the process was so simple, the enrollment was easy and she was so glad she called. Then there's Maryland, 90 years old in Florida, living on Social Security. Her premium climbed every single year north of $400 a month for coverage she could barely afford anymore. So what does she do? She called chapter. They found her the same top-tier coverage for $100. hundreds of dollars less, 90 years old, and finally, somebody in her corner. I hear stories like that again and again from our community.

The Medicare system was not built to work for you. Too much fine print, too many plans. Yet Chapter's advisors are independent and honest, the only Medicare advisors that compare every plan nationwide. They're focused on one thing, what actually works for you. If you're already in the right plan, they'll tell you. No games, and people who switched to a chapter saved an average of, $11,100 a year. All takes us 20 minutes. You talk to a real person and it's completely free.

Help. So call chapter at 724-264-864-8-281. 724-264-8-21. That's chapter. Hello, Big Brother. Congratulations on making eight years at the Black Star Network. You know the number eight represents new beginnings. So my prayer for you is that you would have a fresh vision. As you hear the voice from God, you will continue to go out and be the voice for the people. Best wishes. All right, folks, a single-hand knitted scarf in the early 2000s sparked my next guest's passion for fiber arts and textiles. Tammy Williams created yarn and whiskey to show how her fiber practice incorporates a variety of fiber-making products. From weaving and knitting to sewing, usually beautifully patterned, colorful fabrics and materials inspired by after.

African patterns, prints and textiles. Tammy joins us right now from Brooklyn. All right, Tammy. So what kind of products are we talking about when you say these fiber-making products? Okay, so I'm a avid knitter. I knit and I do a little bit of crochet and I weave and do some embroidery as well. So I took my hobby and a market. that I know really well because I've been knitting for about 25, almost 30 years now. So I took my passion for knitting and I created a business related to knitting. And then, so I make bags. What I do is I make bags for knitters, but I quit my job in IT and I ended up going back to school for textile design.

So now I make my bags with my own textile designs and I also make scarves. So like this right here, this is, this is called the lovely one scarf? Yes, that's the lovely one, silk scarves, silk scarf. I was inspired on a trip to Italy. I went to the Afezi Gallery and we, you know, we're not. not on the walls in these galleries. Nope. So I decided to make my own gallery.

You know, I could do that as a textile designer. I can do whatever I want fabric. All right. Whatever motion I want. Okay. So this one is lovely ones. This one right here.

It looks good on you. Okay. So the next one is this, is this big Dahlia energy? Dalia. Sorry, I'm looking at the top. Looking at the writing here, I don't see that ale, but it's all good.

So this is pretty colorful here. Yeah, you know, that one was inspired by one of my customers. She has a beautiful Dahlia Garden. So I drew a flower, and it's filled with a bunch of collages that I made. That's why it's so colorful. Okay. All right, gotcha. And let's see here.

This next one I have is called amnesia. So are we made to forget this one? Like why is why is this one called amnesia? I made this scarf. I made this design. It's a collage that I made when I was studying abroad. I had quit my job at the age of like 40-something to go back to school to learn textile design.

And I got to do a semester away in, in the Scottish borders. And I don't know. I guess I called it amnesia because I kind of went into a kind of flow state when I was making the collage. Okay. All right, cool. Let's see here.

Question from the panel. Aves, you first. Well, first of all, those are absolutely gorgeous. I love the bright colors and the beautiful designs, especially Dahlia and even amnesia. I'm just loving them all. Okay, I'm loving them all.

And I'm thinking about the beautiful ways in which people can wear them. You also mention, though, that you have bags. So are these scarves that you would suggest people use as a tie onto the handle of the bags, and then they can wear them like inserts in their blazers? In what ways do you suggest that people style them in order to make the most out of these punches of color that you're given? Yeah, I see them as a separate product from the bags that I make. The bags that I make are for crafters primarily. And this is a different product.

I'm trying to reach a different market of people who want a pop of color around their neck or a scarf around their head or just something to give their outfit a little bit more distinction and a little bit more personality and uniqueness. That's how I see people wearing them. I wear them on my hair and I wear them around my neck. Awesome. All right, cool. Let's see here.

Mustafa. That's how you should wear Mustafa. You know what? I wear a lot of silk scarves to protect my hair, so I feel you on that. Ms. Williams, it's just, your stuff is just fire. I'm really loving, looking at all the different designs and colors that you use. I'm curious, the name, yarn, and whiskey. You've got to drop some knowledge on us on the whiskey part of this.

How has that inspired your work? Right. Were you drinking when you were doing this? I enjoy whiskey. I do like some whiskey. So when I first started knitting, there used to be these cafes in New York where I live that would sell yarn and they would sell wine. And I always thought it would be, I used to want a whiskey bar, a cocktail bar and a yarn

shop that people can just come in and have a drink and maybe have a little piece of cake or something and knit with their friends. But those places closed and I see, you know, people wanting to gather more. I feel like there might be a pop-up happening with some yarn and whiskey soon. I think I have to make that happen. All right then, getting some whiskey in the scars. Whiskey in the scars. All right y'all. So if y'all want to check out and get you one of these scarves, you see this one here. And I got this one right here. Let me go back to showing you all this one. I really like the color on that one. I'm sure Avis and her fellow A.K.A.s will be grabbing this one. Absolutely. Yeah, yeah, yeah. We already know. We already know. Of course. And we don't forget amnesia, y'all. Don't forget amnesia. So to shop blackstar network.com, shop blackstar network.com. Check out the scars of yarn and whiskey.

And you can get them there. Don't forget when you support these products. You're also supporting roller martin on the filter and the other shows on the Blackstar Network. Shop blacksteadnetwork.com. And of course, we're going to place these here on our display table. Tammy, you are the 89th black-owned business. that is you're the 89th black-owned business.

So we've got to find a place for them. So we'll figure something out. But you're the 89th black-owned business that's on shop blackstar network.com. And so folks, y'all can check it out. So Tammy, we're still appreciate it. Thanks a lot. Rock on.

Thank you so much for having me. And congratulations on eight years. All right. Thank you so very much. Let me thank Tamas. I appreciate this. So again, y'all, for Yarned Whiskey's scarves, Go to the shop blackslotnetwork.com, our marketplace segment on shop blackslipnetwork.com.

Let me thank Mustafa and Avis for being on today's show. Larry as well, he had to go. I certainly appreciate it. Folks, don't forget support the work that we do. Join our Bring the Funk fan club. Your contributions are critically important to allow us to be able to do all the work that we do to cover. To cover the stores that we cover. So it's all vitally important.

So you want to contribute via cash out. Use a Stripe QR code. You see it right here. as for credit cards as well. If you're listening, go to blacksteadnetwork.com for all the wage to give. Check and money order,

make it payable to Roland Martin unfiltered. P-O-box 571-96, Washington, D.C. 2.0-0-396. PayPal's R. Martin unfiltered. VenmoR.M.R.M. Unfiltered. Zail at Roland Smartin.com.

Rolling at Rolandmartin unfiltered.com. Download the Blastart Network app, Apple phone, Android TV, Android TV, Roku, Amazon Fire, TV Samsung Smart TV. Also get our Roland Martin unfiltered swag. Get our Roland Martin unfiltered swag by going to shop blackstar network.com. Shop blackstar network.com for our swag. And of course, if you want to support all of our black-owned products, again, all the products that you see right here, folks, all the products you see right here, these are all of our shop, blacksend network.com. 89 different

on companies. I mean, we've got, I wasn't here for these shoes. Yo, these are wild. I wasn't here that day. So, um, so those are the, uh, the rad black kids, those loafers. We got handbags and we got animal treats, y'all. We got books and we got anime and we got eye mask, black on toilet paper, tissue, crossword puzzles, dolls, you name it. And so I want you to peruse our marketplace. Listen, we got Christmas coming up. And so I want y'all to sell, I want, I want our folks to sell out all these products. You got Black Friday, Black Monday, you name it. Well, we black every day. So we black, we got Black Sunday, Black Monday, Black Tuesday, Wednesday, Black Thursday, Black Friday, Black Saturday. And so we will try to support these

companies. So go to shop, Blackstarnetwork.com, shop Blackstarnetwork.com. And let me be also shout out the Negro League Museum in Birmingham. When I was there, I got this Birmingham Black Baron shirt, and so glad to rock it here on the show. All right, y'all. That's it. I'm going to see y'all tomorrow right here. Rolla Martin unfiltered on the Black Star Network. Howl! Do you love golf? If so, you should listen to Three Put Bogie. I'm Chuck Bryant from The Stuff You Should Know podcast. And I'm Adam Pranica from a couple of embarrassing hit Star Trek podcast. And each week on three putt bogey, we're going to get into the

bunker and get to the bottom of what is just so alluring and frustrating about the most beautiful game in the world. So whether you're someone who pipes it on the driving range, but freezes up on the T-box, or misses that three-foot putt when everything's on the line, whether to laugh about it with you on three-putt bogey, a podcast about two mid-handicppers, one great shot, and the three-put that spoils it all. You can listen to it now on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. There are thousands of podcasts that can tell you how to better yourself. Get Worse with Kyle Pruh is not one of those podcasts.

So if you're interested in getting thinner, going to therapy, starting peptide, setting boundaries, taking supplements, making you're better getting closure, then I would humbly recommend other podcasts. If you're interested in blackmail, lovebomb, and cloning yourself or getting revenge, then we've got a little something, something for a dastardly individual like you. Listen to Get Worse with Kyle Pruh on the IHartRadio app,

Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. In February of 2024, celebrated illustrator and children's book author, Patra Mathers, and her husband Michael, mailed letters to dozens of friends and family members to let them know they had died by suicide. Dear honies, this is goodbye. By the time you get this letter, both Petra and I will be dead. Next stop, Wonderland. Why did they do it?

And what did it do to the people they left behind? Listen to Death of an Artist on the IHeart Radio, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. On Big Lives, we take a single cultural icon. People like Jane Fonda, George Michael, Little Richard. And we pull apart the story behind the image. Discovering forgotten interviews that change exactly how we see these giants of our culture. We're here for the messy, the brilliant, the human version of our heroes.

I'm Emmanuel Jochi. I'm Kai Right. And this is Big Lives. Listen to Big Lives on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or where you get your podcasts. Hey everybody, it's me, Debbie Kumabelle. This season on my podcast, who's with me, I speak with Bruce Lee's daughter,

Brandon Lee's sister, and my friend, Shannon Lee. Back to your initial point of stewarding my father's legacy and giving my energy to that. You're lending your life to stewarding somebody else's life. Listen to Who's With Me with Debbie Kumal Bell on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an I-Heart podcast, guaranteed human.