The Breakfast Club - DONKEY: Benny Johnson Faces Backlash After Challenging Black Women’s Contributions To America

Episode Date: July 7, 2026

Charlamagne Tha God Gives Donkey of The Day to Benny Johnson Who Faces Backlash After Challenging Black Women’s Contributions To America. Listen for more!YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BreakfastClubPower1051FMSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Joy is essential and it's also elusive. But now, there's a new and exciting way to start your journey toward a more joyful existence. Joy 101. It's a new podcast hosted by me, Hoda Kotby. If you're craving inspiration to maximize your joy, tune into these candid, uplifting, and moving on-air chats. Open your free IHeart Radio app.

Search Joy 101 and listen now. Joy 101 with Hoda Kotfi is presented by CVS. Hey, everybody, it's the Jonas Brothers. This week, we're so excited to be hanging out with Mika Abdallah from the hit show off-campus. We talk about what it's been like watching the show become such a massive hit, what's next for season two, and just how close the off-campus cast really is. What's the group chat called? One of them is Off-Campus Brazil.

Okay. The boys have their own group chat called Dean's B-B-E. Our conversation with Mika Abdallah is out now. Go check it out. Listen to Hey Jonas in the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. I'm Jake Brennan, and on the Disgraceland podcast, I explore the wild lives of rock stars and unbelievable true crime stories from music history. These are the stories you haven't heard, the kind you'll end up telling someone else. Like the time Paul McCartney spent in a notorious prison or the bizarre crime Lady Gaga is accused of,

where that time Blondie's Debbie Harry escaped Ted Bundy. Listen to Disgraceland on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. My first guest is Terence Hilton, Shakira, Luke and Yerrin. Have surprises? Many surprises. Welcome to the Sweet 305 podcast where the group check comes to life. What on? You're the only person I know that loves a yellow starburst.

It's lemonade. This is Sweet 305. Here, oversharing. is encouraged. Listen to Sweet 305 with Lillip Hans on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Tell us, it's time for donkey of the day. There's a bunch of donkeys out in this street. I'll make donkey today. Called donkey of the day. It really caught me off guard. We live a life where we bite our tongue based off who we made a thing.

We never would say anything. Calamain, give it to him. Give it to him. You are a donkey. That is why Shalamay. Some donkey today's just saw themselves. On the breakfast clock. Okay, Salome, who can give a donkey of the day to today?

What? Donkey today for Tuesday, July 7th, goes the MAGA influencer Benny Johnson. Benny Johnson is the host of the Benny show, which is described as an independent conservative news commentary and podcast. It focuses on right-leaning political commentary. And yesterday, I saw a headline that said, Maga influencer Benny Johnson says, black women's only contribution to America's founding was getting raped by Thomas Jefferson. Jesus. Let's listen.

Name. I want a name. Okay. I need a name of a single black woman that had something to do with America's founding. Go. I can think of like, didn't Thomas Jefferson have like half his family? Like with out of wedlock with the slaves, I think. Isn't that historic?

Anyway, anyway. That's like as close as I can get. Right wing watch y'all put some more sauce on that headline. I mean, Jesus Christ, what Benny actually said was didn't Thomas Jefferson have, like, half his family out of wedlock? And he said that no black woman was a founding father. Okay, that was in reply to Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett's statement that America owes black women. Everything. Can we hear what Sister Jasmine had to say?

So when it comes to answering the question of what America owes black women, the answer is everything. When we think about the sacrifices that black women have made from the moment that we were stolen from our, our homelands and transported into this country to the fact that black women continue to stand as the backbone specifically of the Democratic Party. We know that black women are always the ones that are doing the labor, but we are also the ones that are always the first targets. This Fourth of July, I say celebrate a black woman that you know, because whether it's an invention that she made or whether it's the very democracy that still hangs by a thread right now, there is a black woman to thank for her contributions.

Drop on the clues bonds of Jasmine Crockett. This is why I hate the internet. Jasmine's statement in his full context makes perfect sense. And that headline compressed what she actually said into just a provocative soundbite. Okay, something to get the people going. Jasmine is correct. Black women have made extraordinary sacrifices in slavery. Black women have historically contributed significantly to American society and democracy.

Black women have been the key voting block. okay, in organizing force within the Democratic Party. Therefore, America owes a black woman a great debt. Okay, and you can say everything because of those contributions. Whether somebody agrees, you know, depends largely on how

they interpret the word, everything, but America definitely owes black women a great debt. Now, Benny Johnson, why did that statement prompt that headline? Okay, that type of headline that, you know, black women's only contribution to America's founding was getting raped by Thomas Jefferson. Well, that's because

the internet, you know, likes provocative headlines. Okay, it's what gets the people going. All right. Benny said, didn't Thomas Jefferson have like half his family out of wedlock? The answer is yes. Okay, and it was a 16-year-old enslaved girl who was his property. And I'm sure didn't give consent. So that's how that headline could be crafted, Benny, in case you're wondering.

But I want to talk about what you said in regard to the black women having no meaningful role in the founding of the United States of America. or that it's inaccurate to say they were foundational to the country being built. Well, I think it's the difference between formal political power like being a founding father and historical contribution.

Okay, you don't have to agree with somebody saying America owes black women everything. That's a rhetorical statement. We can debate whether it's an exaggeration. But when you respond by acting like black women had no role in America's founding our development, that's when you earn your he-haws. Okay, see, too many people.

people confuse having political power with creating value. Yes, the founding fathers wrote the documents. That's true. But the country was built by more than just the people who signed the founding documents. Okay, enslaved black people, including black women, performed labor that helped build the economy. Okay. Gamecocks suckers. All right?

And federal infrastructure. All right? They had no political rights, but they absolutely contributed to the nation's development. As my sister Angela Ryas said for years, we built this joint for free. Okay. Who was growing the tobacco? Who was picking the cotton? Who was raising generations of children?

Both their own and often white peoples. Okay, yes, you were sucking off the titty of black women. Black women were keeping communities together while being denied basic human rights. Nobody is saying black women signed the Declaration of Independence or drafted the Constitution. What people are saying is that you cannot tell the story of America honestly while pretending the labor, resilience, and sacrifices of black women weren't essential to what this country. became okay and let's be clear if your version of patriotism requires the leading people's contributions because acknowledging them makes you uncomfortable that's not patriotism that's

insecurity and a good therapist is going to always tell you to address your insecurities bennie okay explore their root causes so you can replace a harsh self-critical thoughts with healthier emotional patterns okay listen benny and you know everybody out there that feels like him America is a complicated story. The founders, I guess, deserve recognition, but so do the soldiers and the immigrants and the farmers and the factory workers, the Native Americans, the enslaved Africans. And yes, black women, okay, because countries are not built by politicians alone.

All right? They're built by millions of people whose names never make the history books. Even though there are black women's names in these history books who help to build this country. Salute to a right wing watch on Instagram. They, you know, pointed out figures. like Phyllis Wheatley, the first African-American woman and one of the first women in the colonies to publish a book of poetry. Okay, George Washington personally corresponded with her and invited her to visit him after she wrote a poem honoring him. Her work was used by abolitionists as evidence of black intellectual equality.

Also Elizabeth Freeman who sued for her freedom in 1781, arguing that the state's new constitutional language, all men are born free and equal, applied to her to. she won. And the case helped to end slavery in Massachusetts. So Benny, a nation's foundation isn't just the people who signed the papers. It's also the people whose labor made the nation possible. Please give Benny Johnson the sweet sounds of the hamletones. Oh, now you are the donkey of the day. It was another part too where he said, what was the part about, I couldn't understand what he was saying, but he I said name an invention from a black woman.

Yeah, he just- Jackman Crockett. Right now. Name of invention from black women, go. Yeah, he said name and a invention. He'd want to watch a head explode. On it. Name an invention. Go!

What's wrong with his Google? No idea, because, like, I'm looking at so many inventions from black women. Dr. Gladys West invented the GPS. Dr. Shirley Jackson. She invented Colorado, D. Valley, Valerie Thomas, a NASA scientist who invented the illusion transmitter in 1980. Like, there was a black woman who invented the home security system. Yes, that is...

I think it was Marie Brown. Yep, Dr. I think she was a nurse. Nurse Marie Brown. Yep, yep. Yep, she did. But it's something, Madam C.J. Walker, hair care. We got black women who am video.

I don't understand. Home and everyday life, medicine and science. Like, I don't understand. You just had to Google. Do your Googles. That's it. All right. Well, thank you for that donkey today.

Now, let's open up the phone lines, 800-585-105-1. Where's Lauren at? We were talking behind the scenes about something that allegedly happened during Essence conference or essence talk. What the hell is Lauren?

Be coming. But look, real quick, the first black woman to invent something was Judy W. Reed in 1884. She invented the do-needer and roller designed to mix and roll dope more evenly. All right. Handled it.

You said, don't needer. Don't need her. Yeah, what I say? I don't know sign you were saying Donator No, do needer Enroller Do needer

So the question is 800 585510 This is exactly This is why Benny don't think Black woman That is

Oh my God You know you were supposed to be here You know you were supposed to be here Sorry What have you all done so far? Nothing What happened to you?

Oh What happened with Allegedly with Tamar and So on Sunday To close out the essence Festival. They did like, they honored like black women in music. And there was a line of people taking a photo at the event.

You had Monica, Anthony Anderson, Brandy, Candy Birds, and you see Tamar walk up to like get in that line of the photo. But as she does that, she stops and she speaks to Candy briefly and Candy doesn't really give her much at all. And then, um... You saw all this? Yeah, send a video. She gave a video. She said, hi. It was very like...

I like this. Yeah, it was very... I like close and personal Kenny, no, I wasn't there. I already left. I saw the video, but I have spoken to people that were there, though. So, yeah, so she says something to Candy, candy keeps it very brief,

and then she tries to get in the line of the photos, like, they're holding hands. So she tries to, like, either open Monica's hand and get in the line or, like, just taps to just also acknowledge her as well, too. Monica keeps it very brief and cute as well, too. So people are, you know, just talking about the fact that they basically paid her dust

as she was trying to just be nice. Of course, you know, Taymar has been on that, like, I don't want any issues in my life right now. I'm restarting. I don't, you know what I mean? And they've had past things. So this came out of this question we were talking behind the scenes.

800585105.151, right? If you don't like a person, right? Or there's a feeling of I don't F with you. Why speak to them, right? And the reason this came up. Do you speak to them? I don't speak to them. If I don't F with you, you know.

You can feel it. I don't talk to you. Don't look at me. Don't even come past my way. Don't reach your hand out because you did some F-ish to me. I don't want you. I don't want your energy around me. It's middle finger till you die.

Now, Charlemagne. But Essence was so much love and it's black women of music. You got Missy being honored. If I don't like you in Queens. If I don't like you in Queens, I ain't going to like you in New Orleans. It don't matter where we are. But the reason the question came up is because Charlemagne, if somebody doesn't like Charlemagne and he's in the room, Charlemagne still speaks.

Hey, how you doing? God bless you. That's not me. But to be fair, Candy spoke. It was just brief. Like, Candy spoke. She kept me cute. Go ahead.

First of all, there's only a few people I really, really, really truly don't like and if I'm in the room with them, then I probably don't really have an issue. You nod your head. You say hello. Yeah, because it's just like most of the time people don't be having that same energy. No, nobody ever has that same energy. But there's nobody, there's only a couple of people on this planet I really truly don't like. Yeah, but I don't even want that energy. And if I'm in the same room with them, my life has gotten very terrible, guys.

I don't want you all right. I mean, man, there's no reason for any of my life to be in a room with me. Too shay. Why would you ever be in a room with me? Listen, that's crazy. We saw your Ocee name in the room, too. We saw you in the ocean, baby. 805-105-1.

If you're in a room with somebody, you don't like it, everybody's being called you. Do you speak? I don't. Simple. Let's discuss. It's the breakfast club.

Good morning. Donkey today is sponsored by renowned personal injury attorney Michael de Bull Lamensoff. Don't be a donkey when you need a fighter on your side. If you're ever injured, go to Michaelabool.com.

That's Michaelto-Boole.com. And when you mess with the bull, you get the horns. Joy is essential and it's also elusive, but now there's a new and exciting way to start your journey toward a more joyful existence. Joy 101. It's a new podcast hosted by me, Hoda Kotby. If you're craving inspiration to maximize your joy, tune into these candid, uplifting, and moving on-air chats. Open your free IHeart radio app.

Search Joy 101 and listen now. Joy 101 with Hoda Kotby is presented by C. Hey, everybody, it's the Jonas Brothers. This week, we're so excited to be hanging out with Mika Abdallah from the hit show Off Campus. We talk about what it's been like watching the show become such a massive hit, what's next for season two, and just how close the off-campus cast really is. What's the group chat called? One of them is Off Campus Brazil.

The boys have their own group chat called Dean's Frikes. Our conversation with Mika Abdallah is out now. Go check it out. Listen to Hey Jonas in the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. I'm Jake Brennan, and on my podcast, Disgraceland, I tell the stories behind music's biggest names, like how the story of the foo fighters isn't just about music, it's about grief, shock, and the moment everything changed. Imagine that. You're in the biggest band on the planet, as Dave Grohl was in 1994 in Nirvana. And the phone rings, and you learn that your singer,

your friend, the reluctant voice of a generation, Kurt Cobain, is dead. Listen to Disgraceland on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. My first guest is Terrence Hilton, Shakira, Luke, and Yerrin. Have surprises? Many surprises. Welcome to the Sweet 305 podcast where the group check comes to life. What? You're the only person I know that loves a yellow starburst.

It's lemonade. This is Sweet 305. Here, oversharing is encouraged. Listen to Sweet 305 with Lele Pons on the IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.