The Breakfast Club - DONKEY: Charlamagne Responds To Roland Martin’s Claim That He’s Spreading Misinformation About Gov. Shutdown

Episode Date: November 10, 2025

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BreakfastClubPower1051FMSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Today for Monday, November 10th, goes to Roland S. Martin. Y'all know Roland Martin. Left-wing political commentator, founder of the Black Star Network. He hosts his show Roland Martin unfiltered on YouTube. Oh, and let's not forget, he is a Democrat dancing machine. Oh, Roland will cut a rug for the Democrats.

You hear me? Okay, he loves dancing for Democrats so much that he won't even go to the right when the Tootsie roll is playing. Okay, it's all to the left to the left for Roland and that's fine. Okay, respect to him and his political allegiance with Democrats. So it wasn't a surprise to me that Roland had an opinion on

my opinion of this current government shutdown because I feel like Democrats, even though they put up a great fight, it was a valiant effort in regards to health care. It was a fight they couldn't win right now. Okay, key word right now. So open the government back up because people are out here suffering. Rolling

didn't like that. Okay, he posted this video with the headline beyond idiotic. Rolling tears down Charlemagne's shutdown misinformation. That's the word that got my attention. Misinformation. What did I say that was misinformation? Well, let's listen to Roland Martin. Do me a favor. Do not listen to people like Charlemagne the God. Okay. So Charlemagne was talking about this government shutdown and he made a comment as relate to what Democrats should be doing. Y'all have that? I don't understand, Mimi, and I don't know, maybe you can explain it to me. The health care is going to go up anyway because of the big, beautiful bill, because that didn't include the extension of the tax credits to keep the cost down.

So if it's going up anyway, what's the point of Democrats taking the stand to keep the government still close? At this point, you're right, because the premiums, which the open enrollment started, what, this week in November 1st, and so people are getting those letters in the mail. In fact, one person in Utah, a woman in Utah, she told ABC News, that she opened her bill and saw that her monthly premium had already jumped from about $400 a month, Charlemagne, to over $2,000 a month. And so at this point, it's like what's going to happen? Is it retroactive?

Like, how is this going to work as we continue to go forward? So you're absolutely right. And the premiums are set for a year. So at this point, if the premiums have already gone up, if they set for a year, at least give the people some relief and get the government back open. Do not listen to what the hell he just said. That to me is beyond idiotic because this, this battle that we're seeing is not solely about health care.

Rebecca, I don't know what the hell that was. That was just, that was just bullshit. Roland, what makes what I said BS? I said the health care is going to go up anyway because of the big, beautiful bill, because that didn't include the extension of the tax credits to keep the cost down. That's fact-based. Okay, Mimi pointed out that some people were already receiving higher premium since the beginning, of the open enrollment period people have been receiving notices of higher premium so where was the

misinformation roland you may not agree that dim should concede and vote for the government to be reopened but don't say it's misinformation okay maybe i gave too short an explanation maybe i oversimplified it maybe i should be clearer for the audience and i will right now when the big beautiful bill or as reverend barb called it the big deadly bill or as jasmine crocky calls it the big ugly bill when that bipartisan spending package republicans forced through when that was passed, Democrats failed to extend the ACA premium subsidies that were originally expanded under the American Rescue Plan and inflation reduction. Without those tax credits, ACA, our Obamacare premiums increase automatically and they're

already locked in for 2025 since insurers file and finalized their rates much ahead. So if health care premiums have already gone up and are fixed for the year, then keeping the government closed to fight for lower premiums makes no sense to me, especially when on top of high health care prices, so many people. are suffering right now because of the government shut down and that's what I care about the people okay that's why I said what I said because of the people who are being hurt by this federal workers who haven't been paid in 40 days they pass due on rent right now can't pay for child care right now hell they can't pay for the health insurance they do have because they don't have any

money coming in not to mention people not getting a snap benefit so how was what I said some BS how was that misinformation once again Roland if you would have said I disagree with Charlemagne, Democrats should fight and not vote to reopen the government until some concessions are made on health care. Cool. I would understand that. It's fair. What to say is some BS and label it is misinformation. That's just a lie. And you did that on purpose. That was intentional to discredit me in the breakfast club, but we'll get back to that. He even had a sister by the name of Rebecca Caruthers come in and double down on the lie that we spread misinformation and accused me of all types of treachery. Let's listen. Look, what I heard was a exchange of two people who

don't understand how this works. So what they're talking about are the health insurance premiums that are in the marketplace. The marketplaces are the state exchanges. The state exchanges is because of Obamacare, aka the Affordable Care Act. Here's the thing. Those premiums are effective January 1, 26. You get about 60 days notice in most states. Some states put out their new expected premiums back in October, some kind of at the end of September. But this is giving notice of if you continue at the level of health insurance plan that you have, this is what you're going to start to pay effective January 1. And so the erroneous, I mean, this isn't just misinformation here.

This starts to look like this is intentional disinformation. And for the audience, disinformation is where you have bad misleading information that's intentionally targeted to a certain demographic. The demographic here is black voters. The reason why is the black voters are the base of the Democratic Party. Right now, the Democrats are in lockstep saying that, no, we're not going to give you the votes that you need in order to end this government shut down. You Republicans need to come to us and work out a deal. And so by trying to talk to black folks, so then black folks can then talk to Democratic members of the House and Democratic members of the Senate to get Democrats to back down, that's what Charlemagne is trying to do here.

So this is disinformation that we're seeing that Charlemagne is doing. This is not just mistaken information. This is intentional going after black voters. Rebecca, I don't even know what you are trying to imply. Okay, you repeated what myself and Mimi just said. You just didn't oversimplify it like I did, but I still don't understand how that leads into you saying, I'm intentionally giving out misinformation to black voters.

What is the misinformation? I'm also not trying to discourage anyone from voting in midterms, even though I know we are going to have to fight to have free and fair elections in the midterms, but that's a whole other conversation. But you, Rebecca, sound like you are trying to make me out to be controlled opposition. Let the record show. I don't get paid by any political party.

I've never taken money from a political candidate for anything. Can Roland Martin say the same? Again, what did I say that was misinformation? Okay, everything I said is actual and factual in regards to what's in the big beautiful bill. If you disagree with me saying Democrats should vote to reopen the government. Once again, that is fair. If you believe me saying I think Democrats have lost is wrong. I understand that too.

But that's my opinion, not misinformation. You want to know why I think Democrats have already lost? I'll tell you my position. One, because the Trump administration practices authoritarian strategy. And they don't give a damn about working class people, and they damn show don't care about the poor. Number two, Republicans are scared the death of that administration, and they have zero reason to make any concessions. They already have everything they want in the big deadly bill. Okay, massive tax cuts stay.

ACA subsidy extensions didn't make it in. Deep cuts to Medicaid and social programs already in there. They have zero reason to play ball. Roland knows this, but he would rather sell y'all false hope. instead of telling you the truth. Roland knows most of these Republicans have made careers running against Obamacare. They can't go back now, even if it kills them in the midterms. And a lot of people I've spoken to in government, Democrats, by the way,

feel like that's why pinning a shutdown strategy around this issue was foolish to begin with. Okay? And a lot of them told me they knew they weren't going to get anything out of this except maybe the promise of a vote on the Senate floor that will ultimately fail. That's why I said last week, Democrats lost, okay? As you can see, that seems to be the case because they reached a tentative agreement yesterday that does not include an extension of the ACA subsidies. And you know who will be one of the first people out here, fake dragon Democrats for YouTube views because of that, Roland Martin. Even though he knew that was going to be the obvious political outcome from the beginning.

Now, listen, if Dems were able to get these authoritarian strategy-ass practicing Republicans to make some concessions on health care, I would be the first person on this radio saying I was wrong and applauding them. but I never saw it happening. That's why I said I think they lost. I'm sorry that y'all believe in MAGA more than I do. Okay, but I applaud Democrats, okay? Drop on a close button for Democrats. We're doing something they don't normally do, and that's fighting. They threw a hell merry on behalf of the American people

because they know the American people are about to get their asses kicked when it comes to these high-ass health insurance premiums, courtesy of the Republicans. I would have loved for Democrats to get Republicans to fold and make some real concessions in regards to health care. But I just don't believe in Maga's ability to do the right thing, especially when they have zero reason to because they already got everything they want. Now, remember when Medi Hassan was here last week and he said, why do Democrats always have to be the adults in the room?

Let's listen. But you cannot have a political system that always relies on only the Democratic Party being the responsible party. America cannot survive. We've created, it's like having toddlers, right? The Republican Party are a bunch of toddlers. And everyone else has to be the adults in the room. and that cannot continue indefinitely. Medi is right.

But the reason Dems have to be the adults in the room is because they are, okay? In regards to these current MAGA Republicans, Democrats absolutely are the adults, and we have to count on Democrats to do the right thing because Republicans won't. Republicans will let this whole society collapse right under the working class and poor people's feet because they don't care. Medi is right when he talks about how things are supposed to be, but that's not how things are. So yes, Democrats have to be the adults in the room

because Republicans will have you choose. between starving or being sick and some folks in this country have no choice but to do both now back to rolling when people talk about the shutdown now the first thing they bring up is the airlines by the way I told y'all on Thursday this shutdown wouldn't last much longer because of the airlines

it's always going to be corporate interests over the interests of the people in this country but they talk about the airlines they talk about the staff benefits but those federal workers sadly to me get lost in this conversation slew to all the federal workers out there okay they're getting mentioned last now and I don't like that federal workers aren't getting paid

Do we know what this means in a country where majority of people are living paycheck to paycheck? Roland said something when him and his panel were accusing us of misinformation. It was before he threw to Dr. Niambi Carter, I think her name is. Let's listen. Neambi, the reason I think is bad advice is because when you are in political battles, you maximize your leverage. And when we're fighting on behalf of people, they understand that there are people who are not getting benefits. They know they're federal workers who are not getting their paychecks as well, but they're also dealing with an administration that's been slashing and burning and firing people indiscriminately as well. So all this is wrapped up.

So what you do not do is you do not capitulate. You do not back down. You don't go on, well, you know what, hey, we'll just go ahead and pack it in. No, you try to get as much as you can. Well, absolutely. And this is why Wendy Williams' sidekick should not be trained. trusted with political information. I've long had a beef with Charlemagne,

so let's just stop there. I don't know why people think calling me Wendy Williams sidekick is a disc. Thank God I got that opportunity 20 years ago. That's one of the reasons I'm here now, but please tell the good Dr. Carter that I don't shine shoes anymore. And how she got beef from me? I never met you?

Don't know you, but God bless you, sincerely. But in that exchange, Roland said they understand that there are people not getting their benefits. They understand there are federal workers, not getting their paychecks. You know why Roland Martin can say that so nonchalantly? because he's not potentially facing eviction because he hasn't paid his rent for the month. He doesn't need any money this month to pay for his child care.

And SNAP benefits? Food? Does Roland Martin Labu-Buil-built ass look like he's missing any meals? Bam. I'm with Senator Catherine Cortez Mastor of Nevada. Okay, she's a Democrat. She said before the shutdown happened, we need a bipartisan solution to address this impending health care crisis, but we should not be swapping the pain of one group of Americans for another.

That's my mindset. And maybe your mindset would be different if you actually see. spoke to some of these federal workers facing eviction or if you spoke to some of these people who rely on food benefits also dims if you was going to do a shutdown why not have something in place for the federal workers who are going to need money or the folks who are losing snap benefits hell what's that guy's name uh timothy melon he donated 130 million to help pay the u.s military personnel where the democratic donors who are willing to do that for federal workers are people with no snap benefits all you lobbyers who be given to these democratic campaigns

now is your time to shine for the people baby all the farmers political lobbyists, pro-Israel lobbyists, the lobbyists that represent real estate interests. If you want Democrats to keep making this stand in regards to health care, dig deep into your pockets and find some relief for the constituents of these people being impacted by the government shutdown. Once again, we can have ideological discussion about the government shutdown. We can agree to disagree on that. But to say that I put out misinformation, that's just a fat Rotun Martin lie. Now, I like that.

I just got a little bit more. Just a little bit more. I'm with you. There is a reason. Rotun Martin wants to paint the breakfast club, me in particular, as a person spreading misinformation. See, I'm going to pull the curtain back a little bit, not too much because it really don't matter.

I just want some of you to know people's motivation. Roland Martin is a hater. Okay, he'd be hating on me behind the scenes to anybody who will listen. He will say something negative about me. And it's always in regards to how I'm moving in this media space. In particular, anything in the political realm, it's always a, why does he get this? Why does he get that type of thing?

Why is he on cable dudes? Why do politicians go sit with the breakfast club? Roland, I don't know. Okay, favor ain't fair, but he will do all that hating, but loves texting my phone asking to come on to breakfast club. Correct? Does it? Okay.

Just be super correct. Okay, one day, a few years ago, I'm sitting at home. Roland texts me and says, hey, tonight on my show, we are going to talk about Tyler Perry and BET. At the time, it was rumors of Tyler buying BET. and the headline of the video he posted was Roland's blistering deconstruction of Paramount's idiotic failed attempt

to sell BET. So I'm watching this video because he asked me to. In about 40 minutes in one of the brothers on the panel starts binging up Roland's Black Star Network, as he should. And then you just do a random shot at me. Which Rollin tended to let people do. Let's listen. The Black Star Network is doing something

that is, you know, in the teaching profession, we call it God's work. It's thankless work. People may not necessarily understand it. But as you said, when there's something that folk need some reliable information on, you see the numbers explode. They come here. And Lauren, when you said you watch YouTube a lot, I mean, I try to stay out of digital world because I try to continue to be analog, as you can see. But I can't fight the future.

So I look at YouTube a lot, too, for that very same reason. And I'm saying this to say that, you know, we saw what having to Bimani Jones at HBO or ESP. high quality analysis he couldn't stand and then you see them throw something out comedy central with brother thenard or charlemagne whatever he called itself that ain't high quality analysis my brother i don't know your name but you can big up the black star network without throwing shots at what i was doing on comedy central at the time you can love on rolling and big up what he does without slandering me but whatever if that's what you got to do the remaining rotation on roland's youtube page god bless you too now in that same episode rolling had this to say about me mind

you, he text my phone and told me to tune in, listen. You know what? I have not said this publicly, but I'm going to go ahead and say this. Uh-oh. And I would love for the current leadership of BET to prove me wrong. When we were in Atlanta covering Melanie Campbell's grassroots organizing event in Atlanta, this was, what, May? I ran into a sister, and she said, I'm so glad to meet you.

She said, I know so much about. you and I was like really she says yes she says after the death of George Floyd she said the leaders of BET came to me and said it's time for us to do a news show and she said I ran the research and she said we did exhaustive research we studied day parts we studied shows we studied other networks we looked at radio we looked at newspaper we looked at podcasting She said, we studied demographics, 1824, 24, 35, 35, 44, 44, 55 plus. And she said, after we ran all the metrics, she said, the research came back, and the number one person they said, Black America said they wanted to host a new show on BET was you. She said it was you.

She said, Charlemagne was on the list. And she said, and then when Comedy Central launched his show, she said, they're using my research. Well, Roland, who else was on the list? Okay, why do you have to let people know that out of all the other people who I'm sure was on the list? Shalame Nagu was on the list. Roland, I am not your competition. And I refuse to be responsible for how you feel about yourself. You accused Breakfast Club with spreading misinformation because you are trying to discredit me in the platform I have helped build

as if that's going to amplify what you're doing. You don't have to do that, brother. You already up. You are a 56-year-old seasoned political pundit. You have a lot of respect in the space of political commentary. You are a trusted source for a lot of people rolling. Be securing that and stop projecting your insecurities on to me. There's a lot of things I disagree with rolling on.

And even with knowing he'd be sneakd dissing, not once until today, have I ever spoken on him in a public manner? And it's never been disparaging. Not even a fat joke. And I always thought Tariq Nishid calling him Gerald Dessert was hilarious. But rolling out here lying, accusing us and spreading misinformation, that's an intent. intentional attack to discredit us. What if I did an intentional attack to discredit you? What if I said, could someone out there make me an AI video?

Okay, I want an AI video of the Stephanie Mills challenge. And I want Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffrey singing, I never knew love like this before. And I want Roland Martin in the background of that video dancing for Democrats like he do. I'm talking boogeying for biscuits. And I want the caption to say, We told Roland Martin,

he can cut in line at the all you can eat Bussy Buffet if he agreed to be our backup dancer what if I ask people to do that for me that would be an intentional attack but I'm not going to do that all I'm going to ask you to do sir is don't tell no lie on me

and I won't speak truth about you please give Roland Martin the biggest he-ha Let me tell you something here Shola I need to take a class honey because when you professionally respond to somebody I sit back and I cackle okay my flabber was just guest this sweetie like I need so because every time I clap back I get in trouble but this was a long time coming though God bless

everybody involved this was a long time coming God bless everybody involved and be relaxed it's cool I said enough but everybody I said enough in me God bless notes take classes that is how you respond to somebody and I didn't even know ruling on and look like this let's move on said they flashed the picture up on the screen. I was like, oh, my God. See, I didn't know he looked like that. You see when Bay knows you, Bay.

Let's move on. Let me chill out. Let's move on. We set it up. Because there's more, but if we need to do more, we'll do more. But probably not. It's okay. Oh, my God.

See, when Bay shut you shut up, you shut up. Let's move on. All right. We'll move on. All right. Well, thank you for that donkey of the day. Yes, indeed. Let's open up the phone lines.

800-585-105-1. Everybody else wants to give them don't anymore? No, no, no, no, no. The government shutdown is over. They're saying it's tentatively. It's officially or is tentatively over, right? So we're asking, do you think the Democrats should have stood in and fought some more? Are you happy that you are possibly getting your snap benefits back that, you know, TSA workers and people are starting to get their governmental workers are getting their money now?

Let's discuss. 800-585105.1. It's the Breakfast Club. Good morning. The Breakfast Club. Dog here today is sponsored by renowned personal injuries. attorney Michael the Bull Lamensoff. Don't be a donkey when you need a fighter on your

side. If you're ever injured, go to Michael the Bull.com. That's Michaeltobleau.com. And when you mess with the bull, you get the horns. And she said, Johnny, the kids didn't come home last night. Along the Central Texas Plains, teens are dying. Suicides that don't make sense. Strange accidents and brutal murders. In what seems to be, a plot ripped straight out of breaking back.

drugs, alcohol, trafficking of people. There are people out there that absolutely know what happened. Listen to paper ghosts, the Texas teen murders, on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. On an all-new episode of I-HeartRadio's Las Culturistas, Jennifer Lawrence is dishing. From her hilariously awkward run-ins with A-Lister's. I don't know what I was expecting, but he was just like, nice to me. to her unfiltered take on beauty treatments. I'm so upset I think the Botox before that.

And a jaw-dropping reveal you won't see coming. I don't know if I can announce this, but I'm just going to. Open your free IHeart radio app. Search Las Culturista and listen to the full podcast now. I'm Robert Smith, and this is Jacob Goldstein, and we used to host a show called Planet Money. And now we're back making this new podcast called Business History about the best ideas and people and businesses in history.

And some of the... worst people, horrible ideas, and destructive companies in the history of business. First episode, how Southwest Airlines use cheap seats and free whiskey to fight its way into the airline is. The most Texas story ever. Listen to business history on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What do you get when you mix 1950s Hollywood, a Cuban musician with a dream, and one of the most iconic set comes of all time?

You get Desi Arness. On the podcast star in Desi Arnaz and Wilmer Valderrama. take you in a journey to Desi's life, how he redefined American television and what that meant for all of us watching from the sidelines waiting for a face like hours on screen. Listen to starring Desi Arnaz and Wilmer Valderrama on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Two rich young Americans move to the Costa Rican jungle to start over, but one of them will end up dead and the other tried for murder three times. It starts with a dream, a nature reserve.

and a spectacular new home. But little by little, they lose it. They actually lose it. They sort of like nuts. Until one night, everything spins out of control. Listen to Hell in Heaven on the IHeart Radio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast.