The Breakfast Club - Dream into Reality

Episode Date: January 19, 2021

Happy Martin Luther King Day ! And for this special day we falshed back to our interview with President Barack Obama, where he spoke about his time being President, his thoughts on Donald Trump and more. In addition, we had to Also, we flashed back the time Joyner Lucas called in and spoke about being underrated, family issues and more. Also, we flashed back to when Charlamagne gave yet another person from Florida "Donkey of the Day". Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hey guys, I'm Kate Max. You might know me from my popular online series, The Running Interview Show, where I run with celebrities, athletes, entrepreneurs, and more. After those runs, the conversations keep going. That's what my podcast, Post Run High, is all about. It's a chance to sit down with my guests and dive even deeper into their stories, their journeys, and the thoughts that arise once we've hit the pavement together. Listen to Post Run High on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. own? I planted the flag. This is mine. I own this. It's surprisingly easy. 55 gallons of water,

500 pounds of concrete. Or maybe not. No country willingly gives up their territory. Oh my God. What is that? Bullets. Listen to Escape from Zaka Stan. That's Escape from Z-A-Q-A-S-T-A-N on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, what's up? This is Ramses Jha. And I go by the name Q Ward. And we'd like you to join us each week for our show Civic Cipher. That's right. We discuss social issues, especially those that affect black and brown people, but in a way that informs and empowers all people.

We discuss everything from prejudice to politics to police violence, and we try to give you the tools to create positive change in your home, workplace, and social circle. We're going to learn how to become better allies to each other. So join us each Saturday for Civic Cipher on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, and Charlamagne Tha God. Wake that ass up. The Breakfast Club is on. Right here. I am Phillip Blass. I'm talking to the Breakfast Club this morning. Okay, okay, okay. I love coming here. I'm never not going to come here.

You guys are good to me. In return, I'm always going to be good to y'all. For a lot of people in the hip-hop generation, the Breakfast Club is where people get their information on the topics, on the artists, and everything like that. In that aspect, radio is still important. The Breakfast Club. When my name come up, respect it.

Good morning, USA! Yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, yo, It took three weeks off for the holidays, but now y'all on vacation again. I'm just doing what the good Lord says we should do and corporate America, using our holiday days. I mean, banks are closed, so we closed. That's right. It is. But today, so if you missed it, Barack Obama. If you didn't see that interview or hear that interview, we're going to get that back on for you this morning. Barack Obama actually is the epitome of what Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream would have been. Correct.

Martin Luther King Jr. wanted us to live in a society where people were judged by the content of their character, not the color of their skin. We're still not there yet. But the fact we have a black president, you know, biracial president who definitely presents as black. We had that. That's the epitome of Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream. Correct. And now we got a black. Oh, my God. We got to play Kamala Harris this morning, too. We had that. That's the epitome of Martin Luther King Jr.'s dream. Correct. And now we got a black... Oh, my God!

We gotta play Kamala Harris this morning, too! Oh, yeah. We've interviewed Kamala Harris three times. Right. Interviewed her way before she even ran for president, and now she is the Madam Vice President. She's the MVP. So, wow, those are two people who are the epitome of what Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was talking about in his dream.

So that's right. So this morning, we going to get on our interview with Kamala Harris. Which one now? We had three. I'm going to tell you which one. Honestly, my favorite one was not the second one was the one that went super viral with, you know, she talked about, you know, Tupac and everybody trying to take it out of context. My favorite one was the first one when she came,

when she wasn't even running for president, when she was just Senator of California. That was my favorite one. Okay, so we'll get that one on. And what's your favorite Barack Obama interview? The one we did in November. Whatever month that was of last year. The one and only one we did.

So we'll get both those on this morning. So stay with us this morning, and happy Martin Luther King Day. It's the Breakfast Club. Good morning. Wake up, wake up. Wake your ass up. This is your time to get it off your chest.

Whether you're mad or blessed, we want to hear from you on The Breakfast Club. Hello, who's this? Jeremy. Hey, Jeremy, get it off your chest. Hey, what's going on, Envy? What's up, Charlamagne? What's up, Yee? Jeremy. Yo, this is crazy because I never get through. I just want to shout out, you know, Biden and Kamala for winning.

I want to shout out my roommate, Eddie. And I just want to tell everyone have a nice day. And I got your book, Charlamagne. I got the audio version of Black Privilege. And then I have the copy of the other one, man. Thank you, man. I hope you guys all have a nice day. You too, Jeremy.

Shout out to your roommate, Eddie, too, man. He's going to love that. Was y'all in college together? Nah, I'm 28. He's 29. I'm an accountant. He's an inside salesman. Okay. Y'all in love?'s an inside salesman. Okay.

Y'all in love? Nah, nah. Just roommates. Oh, two other roommates. Okay. I'm just asking. Share a place and not be in love. Bro, I'm just asking questions. That's all. He was trying to bunk up with you guys.

That's the reason why. He had a whole scenario in his head. I was just asking questions. They definitely spicy. That's the reason why. He had a whole scenario in his head. I was just asking questions. They definitely spicy. I was just asking questions. Very spicy. Shout out to you and Eddie. Sam. Sam.

Tell Sam I said what's happening. All right, bro. He never wants to get through again. I know, right? This guy got fantasies over there. Y'all love. Hello, who's this? My name's Rochelle.

Hey, Rochelle. Get it off your chest. I just wanted to shout out my amazing boyfriend. You gonna say his name? What's his name, Rochelle? His name's Todd. Hey, Todd. Hey, Todd.

Good morning. That was nice of you, Rochelle. What did he do yesterday that made you feel that way? I'm gonna shout him out in the morning on the radio. He had to do something. Well, every day, he always makes sure that I have breakfast and he makes sure

I have lunch and we work together. Aw. Aw, see? Pop tarts and lunchables go a long way. I'm telling you, man. He is the sweetest.

That's right. Shout to Todd. All my brothers, give your woman some pop tarts in the morning, some lunchables for lunch, and it'll go a long way. Salute to you, Todd.

Now, what are you going to do for him to show how thankful you are? I always bring him coffee every morning. Coffee? Yes. Amazing. Every morning, he gets a fresh cup of coffee. Amazing. See?

It's the little things, man. Shut up. What you mean, that's it? Yeah, she appreciates it, he appreciates it. They love each other. All right. Oh, yes, of course. All right. Well, you, of course. All right.

Well, you have a good morning. Hello. Who's this? Yo, what's up? J. Lee and Chicken Hand Railway, South Carolina. South Carolina. What's happening, brother? Get it off your chest.

Hey, man. Hey, man. I just came around to say what's up with y'all. I want to bless y'all. I want to do a quick little freestyle. I really want to do a good freestyle with y'all. Oh, boy. I swear if you wasn't from South Carolina, I would shut this down.

But go ahead. Go ahead, brother. Go ahead. I had it. Check this Oh, boy. I swear if you wasn't from South Carolina, I would shut this down, but go ahead. Go ahead, brother. Go ahead. I'll hide it. Check this out, though. My life stay the same way. Sometimes I feel like I would go up to the same day trying to make a living, man. I'm trying to make it out.

I'm trying to make sure that my family do it so we can spend tonight. So every day I hustle, y'all. I pray to God daily. Watch me in these streets when somebody goes out to play, man. Watch over my head. Oh, boy.

So I keep my great-grandchildren. Yo, yo, yo. You got to slow that down. You got to slow that down, my South my head. So I'm making me snake. So I keep my great- Yo, yo, yo, you gotta slow that down. You gotta slow that down, my South Carolina brethren. You're going too fast. Like, what you going- What's up?

You're rapping like your life depends on it. Who hung up on him? Drom, that's disrespectful, Drom. That was Drom. Drom, that's disrespectful. Don't hang up on my South Carolina brethren.

I'm not gonna do this to me. Envy's back. It's all him now. Now you guys know. You said this is Envy's back and it's all him. Wow. Shut up. to do this to me. Envy's back. It's all him now. Now you guys know. You said Envy's back and it's all him. Wow. Shut up. Damn. You was like, Envy's back and it's all him.

Wow. Goodness. God damn. Jesus Christ. Hello, who's this? Hey, how's it going? It's Fernando. Good morning. What's up, Fernando? Get it off your chest. Yes, sir. How's it going? I got a quick question for Charlamagne, man.

Yes, sir. I didn't ask you a question. I don't know if somebody ever asked you this, but who's your top three donkeys of all time, and will you ever consider giving a donkey a Hall of Fame? Yeah, I mean, at the end of the year, we do a top five donkeys of the year. I'm going to be honest with you, top donkeys of all time,

Donald Trump is definitely in the top three. I mean, I've given it to him more than anybody. And I'm going to always put myself in the top three. Because I always say, you know, when you give people the credit, you got to give everybody the credit they deserve for being stupid, including yourself. I don't know who the third one would be, though. Sounds fair.

Sounds fair. Y'all want to close the brawl for the Breakfast Club. Thank you, King. Thank you, brother. All right. Have a good one. Get it off your chest. 800-585-1051.

If you need to vent, hit us up now. It's the Breakfast Club. Good morning. The Breakfast Club. Is your country falling apart? Feeling tired? Depressed? A little bit revolutionary?

Consider this. Start your own country. I planted the flag. I just kind of looked out of like, this is mine. I own this. It's surprisingly easy. There are 55 gallons of water, 500 pounds of concrete. Everybody's doing it. I am King Ernest Emmanuel. I am the Queen of Ladonia. I'm Jackson I, King of Capraburg. I am the Supreme Leader of the Grand Republic of Mentonia. Be part of a great colonial tradition. Well, why can't I create my own country? My forefathers did that themselves.

What could go wrong? No country willingly gives up their territory. I was making a rocket with a black powder, you know, with explosive warhead. Oh my God. What is that? Bullets. Bullets. We need help! We need help!

We still have the off-road portion to go. Listen to Escape from Zakistan. And we're losing daylight fast. That's Escape from Z-A-Q-istan on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, guys. I'm Kate Max. You might know me from my popular online series, The Running Interview Show, where I run with celebrities, athletes, entrepreneurs, and more. After those runs, the conversations keep going. That's what my podcast, Post Run High,

is all about. It's a chance to sit down with my guests and dive even deeper into their stories, their journeys, and the thoughts that arise once we've hit the pavement together. You know that rush of endorphins you feel after a great workout? Well, that's when the real magic happens. So if you love hearing real, inspiring stories from the people you know, follow, and admire, join me every week for Post Run High. It's where we take the conversation beyond the run and get into the heart of it all. It's lighthearted, pretty crazy, and very fun.

Listen to Post Run High on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. As a kid, I really do remember having these dreams and visions, but you just don't know what is going to come for you. Alicia Keys opens up about conquering doubt, learning to trust herself and leaning into her dreams. I think a lot of times we are built to doubt the possibilities for ourselves. For self-preservation and protection, it was literally that step by step. And so I discovered that that is how we get where we're going. This increment of small, determined moments. Alicia shares her wisdom on growth, gratitude, and the power of love.

I forgive myself. It's okay. Like grace. Have grace with yourself. You're trying your best. And you're going to figure out the rhythm of this thing. Alicia Keys, like you've never heard her before. Listen to On Purpose with Jay Shetty on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

This is your time to get it off your chest, whether you're mad or blessed. You better have the same energy. We want to hear from you on The Breakfast Club. Hello, who's this? This is Halsey. What's up, bro? Get it off your chest. Yeah, what I had to get off my chest, man, I feel like a lot of people, like, sitting back waiting for the government to do things instead of realize what we can do ourselves.

Like, I ain't had nothing a couple years ago. Before the pandemic, during the pandemic, it wasn't really an issue with me, you know. I started driving trucks for a company. They bought a truck off of Facebook. I'm an owner-operator. I make $14,000 a week. It's so much stuff people can do out here, you know, better themselves. Because I'm trying to break a generational curse where families are growing up in apartments instead of owning homes.

Because of the money they're spending. His phone broke up, but I agree with him. You know what I mean? I mean, we definitely should push our government and push our national and local government to do things for us, but we definitely got to do for ourselves, too. Word to the honorable Elijah Muhammad. Do for yourself. And what he said is also right.

I know a lot of people want to be rappers. They want to be DJs. They want to be producers. They want to be athletes. They want to be DJs. They want to be producers. They want to be athletes. They want to get OnlyFans. There's a lot of other businesses that people can do. And driving trucks is a major business. They make a lot of money.

So really, really look into it because you think about it. One thing that didn't stop on that road was those trucks, whether they were delivering food, whether they were delivering toilet paper and paper towels. Those roads stayed full with those trucks, whether they were delivering food, whether they were delivering toilet paper and paper towels. Those roads stayed full with those trucks, so people still had those jobs with them trucks. Yeah, and that's why I always tell brothers, man, you go out there and learn to trade.

You know what I mean? Because there's certain things that just never, ever, ever gonna stop. You're gonna always need an electrician. You're gonna always need a plumber. You know what I mean? And those people, those brothers make good money. Those sisters make good money. Absolutely. Hello, who's this? What's up, Envy? It's Mello. How know what I mean? And those people, those brothers make good money. Those sisters make good money. Absolutely. Hello, who's this? Yo, what's up? MV is Mello. How y'all feeling? Mello, what's

popping? What's going on? Mello, your phone is trash. Your phone is garbage. Your phone has been garbage for at least seven of the ten years that we've been here on The Breakfast Club. Hello, who's this? It's garbage. Hey, good morning, good morning. This is Jay from Brooklyn. Jay from Brooklyn.

What's happening, King? It's good, it's good. I just want to say congratulations to you guys on 10 years. Strong. Thank you, brother. Thank you, brother. One of my favorite moments was the Ray J call. Classic.

That was a classic call. Yeah, before iHeartRadio, you had to get an app on iPhone just to be able to hear you guys. You're a liar. You're a liar. You've always been a liar. You've always been iHeartRadio, sir. I guess he means the app.

From day one, we had the iHeartRadio app. First day on the air. Yes. First day on the air, we had the iHeartRadio app. Well, I guess you're a liar. You're a liar. You'll always be a liar. Well, it wasn't free.

Yes, it was. It's always been free. It's always be a liar. Well, it wasn't free. Yes, it was. It's always been free. It's always been free now. It's free now. I'm telling you. It was an FM app on an iPhone. Boy, only a black person will tell you what's going on in your house. I'm telling you.

My goodness. I know what goes on in your house. From day one, the iHeartRadio app has been free. From day one, when we started December 6, 2010, we had the iHeartRadio app. Hello, from day one when we started December 6, 2010. We had the iHeartRadio app. Hello, who's this? Hello, this is Mike, man. Mike, man.

What up? Get up your chest, Mike. Man, I was mad about yourself, man. You know, really, man. It took me five years to get through on this stuff, man. You waited five years to tell us that? No, I waited five years to talk to y'all, man. I've been calling for five years straight, man. So what do you want to say?

Nothing, man. I just shout out to the boys at Rob Buster's Incorporated, man. We on our way to work, man. Everybody be safe, man. It ain't matter. I'm happy to be alive, man. There you go, King. All right, bro.

Just be happy to be here. I appreciate it, man. Get it off your chest. 800-585-1051. If you need to vent, hit us up now. It's The Breakfast Club. Good morning. The Breakfast Club.

Is your country falling apart? Feeling tired? Depressed? A little bit revolutionary? Consider this. Start your own country. I planted the flag. I just kind of looked out of like, this is mine.

I own this. It's surprisingly easy. There's 55 gallons of water for 500 pounds of concrete. Everybody's doing it. I am King Ernest Emmanuel. I am the Queen of Ladonia. I'm Jackson I, King of Kaperburg. I am the Supreme Leader of the Grand Republic of Mentonia.

Be part of a great colonial tradition. The Waikana tried my country. My forefathers did that themselves. What could go wrong? No country willingly gives up their territory. I was making a rocket with a black powder, you know, with explosive warhead. Oh my God. What is that?

Bullets. Bullets. We need help! We still have the off-road portion to go. Listen to Escape from Zakistan. And we're losing daylight fast. That's Escape from Z-A-Q-istan on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey guys, I'm Kate Max. You might know

me from my popular online series, The Running Interview Show, where I run with celebrities, athletes, entrepreneurs, and more. After those runs, the conversations keep going that's what my podcast post run high is all about it's a chance to sit down with my guests and dive even deeper into their stories their journeys and the thoughts that arise once we've hit the pavement together you know that rush of endorphins you feel after a great workout? Well, that's when the real magic happens. So if you love hearing real inspiring stories from the people, you know, follow and admire join me every week for post run high. It's where we take the conversation beyond the run and get into the heart of it all. It's lighthearted, pretty crazy, and very fun. Listen to Post Run High on the iHeartRadio app,

Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. As a kid, I really do remember having these dreams and visions, but you just don't know what is going to come for you. Alicia Keys opens up about conquering doubt, learning to trust herself, and leaning into her dreams. I think a lot of times we are built to doubt the possibilities for ourselves. For self-preservation and protection, it was literally that step by step. And so I discovered that that is how we get where we're going. This increment of small, determined moments.

Alicia shares her wisdom on growth, gratitude, and the power of love. I forgive myself. It's okay. Like grace. Have grace with yourself. You're trying your best. And you're going to figure out the rhythm of this thing. Alicia Keys, like you've never heard her before. Listen to On Purpose

with Jay Shetty on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. You're checking out the world's most dangerous morning show. Morning, everybody. It's DJ Envy and Jaleesh. I mean, the guy, we are the breakfast club. We got a special guest on the line. He was frozen for a little bit, so he said, let me go by the indoor pool where he has better service. Ladies and gentlemen, Jordan Lucas. My guy. What's up, brother? I feel like you late this year, man.

You done dropped ADHD and evolution, and you just popping up on us? No, man. I'm late. I stopped doing interviews and stuff a long time ago. Oh, wow. I didn't like the way they twist the narrative and twist the words and try to manipulate the situation

and then put clickbait and all that weird stuff. It was just weird. I didn't like it. I felt like the last interviews I had, I was actually with Atlantic. It started feeling like they were more favors than people actually really wanted to interview me

because once I sat down with them it was like they didn't really do their research and you know what I'm saying they were just asking stupid questions and I was just like bro like come on and then actually Hot 97 who had told me in the interview

that Atlantic or whoever reached out to them to do, to get me to interview. And I didn't like that. It was like, you're making me feel like, you know what I mean? You don't want me here. Y'all chasing for an interview. Yeah, I didn't like that.

I didn't like that. I didn't like that. So I was just like, I'm straight. I'm straight with interviews, bro. I don't want to feel like I'm here because you made a call. So like, I didn't like that. You put so much into your music and your videos and the whole concept. So I can see

why you would feel that way. You should actually do something where you interview yourself. Maybe you could be the journalist and then you can show people how it's done. That'd be dope. And a song. That'd be cool. Is that why you left Atlantic? Is that the reason why you decided to lead a major? Nah, I left Atlantic

because I just didn't feel I didn't feel like I was on pause. I didn't feel like they knew what to do with a Joyner Lucas. I don't think your ideas are easily explainable to these culturally clueless people at these record labels, though. You're the type of person that you

just gotta show them. You gotta trust him what he does, absolutely. Does Joyner Lucas feel like he's underrated? You dropped two projects this year, two great projects, Evolution and ADHD. And I don't feel like your name is in the conversation the way it should be. Do I feel like I'm underrated? Hmm. Yes.

No, if I am underrated, then it's my fault. You think? Why? Why do you say that? Yeah, it just means I'm not working hard enough. I need to work. I got to figure out another plan on how to be more visible. That's all it is. I don't blame anybody for that but myself. You know, I don't think somebody decides like this guy is going to be underrated and then now everybody's like he's underrated. I just think that that has to do with the artist. I don't think so because I think the art,

you as an artist is there. The art that you put out, whether it's your videos and the songs and the music and the albums, I think is there. So I don't necessarily believe it's you, though. Nah, but again, like it's all about what's working. See, I have like a certain type of lane, you know, with my storytelling stuff, like whatever, whatever. Like the highest streaming artists right now are young young artists and you know their records aren't really storytelling you know i'm saying it just it's all swagged out it's all you know for whatever the case is so the visibility on them is a little bit different because of it because they they attract like the young young kids you know what

i'm saying the 15 16 17 year olds that's not really my thing you know what i mean like i haven't really even tapped into that market yet. So, you know, I just have to figure out what it is that I have to be doing better. You know what I'm saying? Also at the same time, like everybody's all in cahoots with each other. Like these records, these casts,

they all do records with each other. I don't, I haven't done records with anybody really like that. Except for like the goats. You got Will Smith. You got Chris Brown. I haven't done records with nobody. Eminem. Eminem. except for like the goats. You got Will Smith. You got Chris Brown. You're talking about having done records with nobody. Eminem.

Eminem. You got Rick Ross on the album, on Legend, on Evolution. Let's talk about it. The game, the game, the game did a record with you.

I think you're talking about the younger generation. I'm saying, oh. That's what he's talking about. Man, f*** them kids. Join them.

Nah, nah, nah. That's what I'm saying. The visibility. I don't have records with NBA, young boy. I don't got records with Kodak. Do you need them, though? I would like to see you with Griselda. You know what I mean? Royce.

That's what I'm saying. The spitters. No, but that's what I'm saying. I feel like maybe I keep putting myself in this box where you just expect that, and I don't like that. Griselda I love Griselda but I love Royce those are my family but I'm just just relating a lyrical box like nah bro like that's not where I want to be like I feel like I have the kid I could absolutely make mainstream records I could and still be Joyner I could I could jump on a ride and be a young boy and be Joyner Lucas and kill it and still fit in

with the new. I haven't tapped into that yet. That's something I haven't done yet, right? I've just been kind of doing me, and I've been very successful at doing me. So I'm not really tripping about the overrated thing. I'm rich. I've done everything. I've got out the hood.

You know, I retired my mom. You know what I'm saying? I bought houses. Like, I'm good. That's what we wanted, right? That's what we wanted. All right, we got more with Joyner Lucas when we come back. It's The Breakfast Club.

Good morning. The Breakfast Club. Good morning, everybody. It's DJ Envy, Angela Yee, Charlamagne Tha Guy. We are The Breakfast Club. We're still kicking it with Joyner Lucas. Yee. Yes, Joyner, and I did want to ask you about the song Like a River.

That's the last song on the album. It's about your father. How therapeutic was it for you, and what was your state of mind while you were writing that song? Yeah, it was very therapeutic because I held a lot of this energy in, you know, for such a long time. That situation specifically is just a really, really volatile situation that I can't figure it out.

I can't talk about it in depth of what actually happened, but if I told you what happened, it would be quiet. Everybody would be quiet, and you'd just be like, damn, it's a really situation, but it's something that lives with me, because everybody would be quiet and you'd just be like, damn, that's a really f***ed up situation.

But it's something that, it lives with me. Because to this day, I still see things that make that, it's still, you know, it still just doesn't make any sense. It's like, well, I would, right? But I think that me creating this record, it really helps me heal because now that I know I'm like keeping, you know, everything away, keeping everything away from the world, I like to express myself in my music.

So the fame, amongst a lot of other things, really cost me that relationship. And it's a relationship that would never be repaired ever again, no matter what. It can never be repaired. And not only did I lose that, but I also lost everybody else on that side. Your whole father's side of the family? Everybody that knew about what the situation was and everybody that continued to have to continue to have a relationship with him, they had to go.

Wow. And it's honestly what it feels like. Wow. You put your family, your entire family on one plane, and the whole plane just crashed. Yikes. Everybody. So nobody on that side reached out to you when this happened?

Kind of, but not really. And they have, and I've attempted to try to. And it's just one of those things where it's like, for me, it's like when we're where it's like, for me, it's like once, when, when, when we're talking about certain, right? Like there's some things that are forgivable. There's some things that you can like, okay, this is just another, but then there's like certain things that's just like, nah, like, bro, there's a line.

When it comes to this, it's, you got to pick a side. I can't with you knowing that you with him. That's just what it is. And if you with him, I don't care. Your mom, your brother, your sister, your daughter, if you with him knowing this, that's it, period. And it cost me again, you know, due to that. And I understand it. I get it.

You know, that's your son, that's your brother, that's your whatever. Cool. Have that relationship. It is what it is. That's your brother. It's your whatever. Cool. Have that relationship. It is what it is. Leave me the fuck alone. But that's definitely a part of my life that is a very dark place for me. Because, again, it's that crash. It's that plane crash.

You know, everybody died. And it's just like now. I had to create my own world. You know what I mean, and completely leave that side behind and completely pick up the pieces and just continue to go. But it is difficult. It is a very difficult thing to do because you still don't understand it,

you know what I mean? But it's like you got to do it. And it definitely had my mental health up for a little bit. Have you spoke to your therapist about it? I don't have one. You got to get one, brother. I don't know, a little bit. Have you spoke to your therapist about it? I don't have one. You got to get one, brother. I don't know. A million percent.

I agree with you. A billion percent. I agree with you. And I want to. And I will. And I am. I just haven't yet. And I definitely need one.

I'll tell you that. Add that to your repertoire going into 2021. Wow. And again, everything happened so fast for me, bro. Everything changed completely quick. So I definitely need, like, therapy to deal with a lot of this shit that I've dealt with and, you know, a lot of my new responsibilities

and, like, my new life that I have now. It's definitely a complete reset. Yo, because, you know, therapy helped me to deal with a lot of issues I was having with my pops. You know what I mean? A lot of things that I hadn't had conversations with him about. A lot of things I hadn't dealt with, you know, from when I was younger. And I was holding a lot of resentment and a lot of anger towards him, you know.

But therapy helped me to really process it. Because one thing you realize about your parents, especially your father, is he was a human being just doing the best that he could. You know what I mean? But he had his own demons and his own flaws and his own things that he was dealing with. So it makes you have more empathy for him. At least for me. You know empathy.

Join us at F*** That. Damn, we appreciate you for joining in. You've been up here for an hour man and we appreciate you sharing all your stories. I know we don't like doing interviews, so hopefully you for joining in You've been up here for an hour, man We appreciate you sharing all your stories I know we don't like doing interviews Hopefully you'll come back We can stay here all day I ain't got nothing to do

It's COVID I ain't got no bags to chase We can stay here all day, brother Sorry that this whole COVID thing prohibited us from actually meeting in person again and sitting down and chopping it up I brought you guys. Sorry that this whole COVID thing prohibited us from actually meeting in person again and sitting down and chopping it up. I brought you guys some dishes. You look rich, man.

I ain't even going to lie to you. I'm proud of you, bro. You look rich. I ain't even going to lie. Yo, you see how you moved the camera? It's them glasses in that pool. Yeah, man. I appreciate it.

I really do. I really appreciate you guys, man, for everything, yo. Thank you. Peace, King. All right, it's Joy to Lucas. It's The Breakfast Club. Good morning. Morning, everybody.

It's DJ Envy, Angela Yee, Charlamagne Tha Guy. We are The Breakfast Club. Now, when we come back, we're going to get on our interview with Barack Obama, President Barack Obama. So we're going to get that on in a second. So don't move. Happy Martin Luther King Day. It's The Breakfast Club.

Good morning. The Breakfast Club. Envy. Angela Yee. And Charlemagne Tha God. Morning, everybody. It's DJ Envy, Angela Yee, Charlemagne Tha God. We are The Breakfast Club.

I'm screaming. I know. This is what we do every night. You were talking nice and low. This is how we talk every day. Jesus. And it wasn't coming in hot, and now you are. Well, now we are. We have a special guest. He served eight years as the 44th President of the United States. Ladies and gentlemen, President Barack Obama. Never heard of him. Never heard of him.

You know what? I heard of y'all, and I appreciate you guys having me. It's wonderful to see you again. Thank you for being here. Thank you. Now, don't have much time. So let's get right into it. Let's do it. A promised land. Why is that the title for your book? When I think about America, I think about both where we've been, where we might be going. I'm reminded of Dr. King's speech, the famous speech he gave shortly before he got shot about, I might not get there with you, but I've been to the mountaintop, and I see the promised land. And I think that that idea that we're not where we need to be, but we still act on the faith and the belief that we can get there,

that's how I think about America. That's how I think about America. That's how I think about, you know, my own political journey. It's not one where it's ever going to be finished. It's not one where racism is gone or inequality is gone, but we can continually try to do better. That was the spirit that I wanted to communicate. You say in the preface that America's ideals have always been secondary to conquest and subjugation, a racial caste system, and that to pretend otherwise is to be complicit in a game that was rigged from the start. So my question is, if the game is rigged and we know the fight is fixed, how could black people ever believe in this idea of America being a promised land?

That's one argument, and that's how some people feel. And obviously there's evidence of that. Slavery, Jim Crow, Native Americans being driven from their lands. On the other hand, what we also have stories of is abolition and the civil rights movement and folks fighting for their freedom, and each generation passing on a legacy of struggle that results in something a little bit better. What I try to do, book as a whole, is paint an honest picture about how there's a gap

between the myth of America and the reality of America. We'll never completely close that gap, but if we put in the effort, if we stay focused, reach out, then we can get closer to the ideal. You know, one of the lessons I try to teach in the book about politics is it's never going to be perfect. We live in a big country with a lot of different points of view. We've got hundreds of years of oppression and discrimination that have to be overcome. We've got, you know, the natural human impulses that you see around the world, greed, power, folks trying to get over on others. But you also see kindness, courage, folks looking out for each other,

and a lot of goodness along with the bad. And in politics, the job is not to think that you're ever going to eliminate all the bad. It's can you empower the good to make more kids get a better education, to make sure that some folks have better health care, to make sure that there's less discrimination and that the police are more accountable. And if you do that and you stick with it, you know, the distance that we've traveled, let's say just in my lifetime, we were talking before we got on the air, I'm 59, I don't feel old.

And in human history, 59 years is a blink of the eye. None of us would have been sitting here 59 years ago. We couldn't imagine, you know, you guys having your own show that you control and that you produce. And I couldn't imagine being a former president and having a bestselling book. That just wasn't in the cards. And that was just, you know, in my lifetime. And so we can imagine if we keep working, that maybe our kids, certainly our grandkids, if we do it right, they're going to be that much more ahead of the game now. But one thing that we always have to remember is history doesn't just go forward, it can go backwards too.

And if we're not vigilant, things can get worse. President Obama, I wanted to ask you something about Reverend Jeremiah Wright from in your book, because you've addressed it. Michelle Obama has addressed it. Do you think that in today's climate, the comments and the speeches that Jeremiah Wright gave would still be looked at the same way where you would have had to distance yourself from him today? Yeah, you know, look, it's an interesting thing, as I write about in the book. You know, Reverend Wright is an example of somebody who supremely gifted preacher. Trinity United Church of Christ on the south side of Chicago had amazing ministry, still does. I was very close to a lot of people in that congregation as well as Reverend Wright. In national politics, if you can take out a bunch of soundbites that say,

God damn America, even if the context of it is prophetic and biblical and he's trying to describe how somebody might feel, he wasn't promoting the notion that God was damning America. He was making the point that if you looked at slavery and discrimination, you could see the conclusion of people feeling that there was not an alignment with Christian values and America.

But if you'd see a two-minute sound bite, trying to explain that is too complicated. In my campaign, I had to constantly manage the fact that the truths that black folks experience on a day-to-day basis are not going to be the same as the truths that the country as a whole experience. But if you want to operate at the highest levels of politics, you have to be able to communicate and translate for

the country as a whole. And there were times where I was surprised by the reaction of folks generally, white voters, to certain things that to me didn't seem like it was something they should be surprised or upset about. And I suspect attitudes would probably be a little bit different now. And to give one example that I use in the book, when Professor Skip Gates gets arrested in his own house. I write about the fact that in a press conference I'm asked about it, and I said, well, you know, I think the police probably acted stupidly in arresting a 60-year-old professor who's got a lame leg in his own house

after he's shown them ideas. Even if he cussed out the police all they have to do is just leave right and that was treated with a heat you know all kinds of controversy and my polling with white voters dropped drastically because the notion is somehow i was insulting the police i think today in light of everything that's happened and part of what happened this summer, in terms of raising awareness of potential bias in the criminal justice system,

I suspect that that would not have seemed as much of a controversial statement as it was viewed at the time, even though at the time I didn't think it was particularly controversial. You talk about that in the good fight chapter, the Henry Lewis Gates situation. But you also say that wouldn't have happened to a white person in the same situation. But at the same time, you said you wish you had have said that then, but you didn't. So when we bite our tongue in situations like that, who are we trying to protect?

One of the things that you, that I try to communicate in this book is what's the best way to expand folks' understanding? Where do you see teachable moments. And there have been times where, for example, the tragedy in Charleston when Raymond Pickney and others who were praying and invited a young white man in to pray with them, he then shoots them. He's obviously, his head's been filled up with racist ideology.

That was a teachable moment where I could say some things that I might not have said in another context. You know, and part of what I also try to describe in the book is the fact that the prophetic voice that you have, if you are a civil rights leader, if you're a Malcolm, if you're a Martin, is not going to be the same voice as if you're a politician. Because politicians, the whole thing is, I've got to figure out how do I get this white senator from this conservative state to maybe support this bill. That's different for me teaching as a civil rights leader or a movement leader. And each of us have different roles to play in that process. Now we have more with Barack Obama, President Barack Obama. When we come back, it's the Breakfast Club. Good morning. Good morning, everybody. It's

DJ Envy, Angela Yee, Charlamagne Tha God. We are the Breakfast Club. We're celebrating Martin Luther King Day. We're not here, but we're getting on our interview with Barack Obama. It's the Breakfast Club. Good morning. One thing I love about the book, President Obama, is you talk about your relationship with your wife.

And you talk about how your wife is the boss and you're scared of her. You also talk about how every decision has to be approved by your wife. You know, one thing that I love about the book is everybody talks about relationships and sometimes things seem perfect. But in your book, you show that things aren't perfect. You know, I've been married 19 years. So when you talk about your wife and you talk about how hard it was and how she didn't want you to run, how bad did it get in the household? Did it ever get to the point where it was like, you know what,

maybe this is not going to work for us, or was that never an option when it came to your relationship? No, I think there were times where certainly she thought this wasn't going to work. Michelle is somebody who has a different temperament than me, and I think she'd admit that she has more of a temper than I do. I think she can get more pessimistic sometimes about things than I can. I tend to be pretty even-keeled, yeah, we'll figure this out kind of approach. But as I write about in the book,

sometimes that itself is frustrating to your partner, right? If you're all like, hey, honey, you know, relax. Why are you getting so excited about stuff? You know, then she'll be like, oh, you're just not listening to me at all, right? And no, I listen to you. I'm just saying, you know, it's not so bad. Well, what do you think?

I'm overreacting? Is that what you're saying? Right? And then you're in that pattern. So there's no doubt that there were periods, there were episodes where she was questioning whether the life that I had charted for us was compatible with what she wanted out of life. You know, Michelle once told me something that I think summed it up pretty well. She said, I have organized my life not to have a lot of mess in my life.

And politics by definition brings mess into our household. You've got people that I would never associate with otherwise who now suddenly are talking about us or, you know, have impact on our well-being, and I don't, that's not what I want. And I understood that. And the sacrifice she made is one that, you know, I've had to work off. You know, like I've been, my debt has been. You're still paying that tab off. It's like, you know, it's almost like a payday loan. It just keeps on.

The interest was high. How did y'all get over it? Was it therapy? Was it friends? Was it reverends? Was it church? Was it prayer? Was it when the terms were over?

Well, I think all of the above. Michelle writes about the fact that we went to counseling pre-presidency, and that was when the kids were small. And I think anybody who's had small kids, that's always a strain. As much joy as they bring, there is that tension, especially if both spouses are working. Right.

And during the White House, look, I give a lot of credit to my mother-in-law because, you know, Ms. Marion, you know, she would, Michelle would be hot. You know, she'd go upstairs. My mother-in-law was living in the suite on the third floor, and Michelle would go up there. And I'm pretty sure she talked Michelle down a couple times. Friends. pretty sure she talked Michelle down a couple times. Friends, one thing we, Michelle and I both tell younger couples, you know, who are going through rough patches, I think we were pretty

good about the fact that even when things were tough, we never lost basic respect for the other person. We never thought that that person was a bad person. We never said things that would make it seem as if, oh, you just completely disrespect me. It was more, look, I love you, Barack, but, you know, this is driving me crazy. Or, hon, you know how much I respect you, Barack, but, you know, this is driving me crazy. Or, hon, you know how much I respect you, but. So I think that is part of what kept us able to sort this out

because we never doubted each other's intentions and the basic fact that, you know, my view of Michelle is, you know, she is a remarkable woman. Even, you know, my view of Michelle is she is a remarkable woman. Even, you know, if she'd drive me crazy sometimes, I never thought that there was anybody who I would rather be with. You know, being that you're so even-keeled, right, did you ever take your frustrations from work home? And did you ever do anything like punch a wall?

Or what did you do when you got mad you know i uh i had there were times where i would have a potty mouth in the oval office but we heard some of that in this book we heard it or some of that which i appreciate yeah because well i mean i think it's i think it's important to be honest because part of what i uh try to describe in the book is the White House and the presidency, look, you're the leader of the free world. It's the most powerful office on earth. But it's also a job. And the West Wing is also an office. to have some of the same frustrations and mistakes and doubts and mishaps as in any office, in any job, which also means sometimes you're going to cuss a little bit because

stuff's frustrating. Working out was important. You know, we'd get those workouts in sometimes. A dear friend of ours who was also a trainer, Cornell McClellan, we'd get the boxing gloves out. It didn't seem too fun. There's a lot of older people in the White House. You can't just say, let's play a pickup game. Those guys will pass out.

Now, I had my weekend game, though, with Reggie Love, who on Reggie at that time was probably you know, probably he had just turned 30. He wasn't posting up Joe Biden. And so, no, we couldn't play in the White House. We had a regular game. Reggie had his crew. And so we had regular basketball games. You know, a lot of times, though, you know, you would just try to take the long view in dealing with frustrations.

If Mitch McConnell and the Republicans were blocking something for no reason, if they were playing games that actually had real consequences in terms of people being able to get health care or be able to get some relief from unemployment or what have you. You know, you just had to remind yourself that you were in a long-term contest and there were going to be ups and downs at any given time. But that if you kept your eye on the ball, that sooner or later you could prevail. You know, in the Yes We Can chapter, you discuss how you were frustrated with the constant need to soften for white folks benefit the blunt truths about race in this country. Do you still feel the need to do that after the last four years we witnessed? Well, I think we're all a little bit more open and aware, and one of the things that I was really inspired by in the wake of tragedy was the response after George Floyd's murder. Because what you saw was not only people of all walks of life out there protesting. It wasn't just black folks. But when you looked at the polling,

you actually saw that by a significant number, many more white Americans were willing to acknowledge problems in the criminal justice system based on race. Why do we have to wait on them, though? Well... To speak our truth to power. You know, what this comes down to is how do you build coalitions to actually get

stuff done? Because the truth of the matter is, is that in very few places are African Americans a majority of the vote. You know, it's just simple math, right? So, and right where we're sitting right now in washington dc uh that would be the case but there are not uh a lot of states and there are a handful of cities where just the black vote delivers the power then to actually bring about concrete change now we have more with Barack Obama. President Barack Obama, when we come back, it's The Breakfast Club. Good morning. Good morning, everybody. It's DJ Envy, Angela Yee, Charlamagne Tha God. We are The Breakfast Club.

We're getting on our interview with Barack Obama on his Martin Luther King day. It's The Breakfast Club. Good morning. I think people want to know, like, what did you do specifically for black people? Not the rising tide lifts all boats types of rhetoric. Because we all know black people's boat got a hole in it. So the systemic things that were done to black people to put us in these positions, we need specific systemic things to get us out. So what did you do? What I'm saying, Charlemagne, is black poverty dropped faster than everybody else.

Black incomes went up more than a lot of other folks. So, you know, the issue is sometimes we just didn't go around advertising that because, once again, the goal here is to build coalitions where everybody is getting something so that they all feel like they've got a stake in it. But a lot of my policies were targeted towards people most in need. Those folks are disproportionately African American. Now,

there are some things that, for example, us having a civil rights division in the Justice Department that actually took seriously civil rights and imposed consent decrees on places like Ferguson and changed sentencing guidelines so that we didn't max out on sentencing for all nonviolent drug offenses, but changed the incentives so that prosecutors were judged not by how long of a sentence you got, but did you get a proportional sentence? Was it a fair sentence?

Those kinds of changes that we made, that's why I say there's a reason why the federal prison population dropped. By the way, at the same time, the crime also dropped, right? So we were able to show that you can have a smart strategy in terms of reducing crime without expanding incarceration. But the truth of the matter is, Sheldon, at the end of the day, there is no way in eight years to make up for 200 years. Absolutely. And the question is constantly, how are you going to,

the way I've been describing it, because it's very much how I understand the presidency now, you're like a relay runner. You're getting the baton from somebody else and all you can do is run your stage of the race and then you pass it on the next person. And on either side, both who you got the hit from and who you're passing it to, they may not have the same priorities that you do. You know that you're not going to get everything done that you need to get done. But what you got to do is do your best to get as much done as possible.

And I think that's what we did. Would you say that your intention with this book was to explain to people also how difficult it was for you to get things passed and for people to see what you did do? Because like you said in the book, a lot of times it's not your policies and what you do it's more what you say and the feeling that people have and that's what they pay attention to so absolutely look let's take something like the you know the the recovery act so i i walk in the day i walk in we're losing 800 000 jobs a month the economy is actually contracting faster than it did during the Great Depression. And six months later, the economy was growing again, and we had kind of stopped the freefall.

But if you're somebody who had lost your job at that point or lost your house, you're not feeling good. And we couldn't go around pat, look what a, you know, patting ourselves on the back saying, look at what a great job we did because people are still hurting out there. I hope if somebody reads this, they come to recognize if we want to bring about systemic change,

there are a whole bunch of different pressure points that we have to apply. It's not just the presidency. So I write extensively about the fact that I have a lot of power as president. I'm the most powerful person as president, but I still need a Congress. I still need to make sure that we have a majority in the House of Representatives, because if I don't, I can't get a single law passed. If I want to change something on criminal justice reform, it turns out that the federal government isn't actually in charge of most criminal law. Most criminal law is made at the state level

and determined by state prosecutors. Most police departments, the federal government has nothing to do with. That's determined by the mayor in that city. Whether they're prosecuted when they do something wrong, that's up to the state's attorney or district attorney in that area. So when we think about politics, it is a mistake for us to say, okay, once I voted for president, I'm done. And I hope people don't repeat that mistake with Biden and Kamala Harris. Right now, we've got two seats in Georgia coming up.

If the Republicans win those two seats, then Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will not be able to get any law passed that Mitch McConnell and the Republicans aren't willing to go along with. Well, you got to do a better job of letting people know, hey, I wanted to do a lot more for people, especially black people, but I couldn't because Mitch McConnell was blocking me every chance he got. Well, that's why I wrote the book. I know, but everybody ain't going to read. That's all I'm saying. Hopefully he doesn't see all these interviews. That's why I got you, man.

Come on. I hear some people listen to you. And since you're talking about Georgia with Warnock, I see they're giving him issues about his alliance with Jeremiah Wright. It's the same kind of stuff. Would you tell him he should step back and denounce him at this point? No. Look, first of all, it is a losing game at this stage to just go chasing crazy commentary.

There's some things you have to answer aggressively but you can't obsess over it Robert Warnock is doing a great job if I'm him I'm going to be emphasizing what am I positively going to do on behalf of the people of Georgia that

as opposed to just trying to play defense against a bunch of crazy stuff that's coming out there. But listen, it's hard winning in Georgia, just like it's hard winning in Iowa, just like it's hard winning in a lot of the country. And one thing I think that I hope the book also reminds us of, those of us who live in D.C. or New York or L.A., sometimes we do not have a good enough sense of how big this country is

and how a lot of folks do not accept at all things that we who are living in urban metropolitan areas just take for granted. I'm from South Carolina, I know. Yeah. I mean, you know, there are big chances in the country, even in our own communities, right? I mean, so I deeply believe that people should be treated equally under the law, regardless of sexual orientation. I was shocked you talked about that in the book. But we all you know, I mean, I think there are big chunks of our community where that's still controversial. People were surprised about a lot of Hispanic folks who voted for Trump.

But there's a lot of evangelical Hispanics who, you know, the fact that Trump says racist things about Mexicans or puts detainees, undocumented workers in cages, they think that's less important than the fact that he supports their views on gay marriage or abortion, right? It's hard to believe when you say this, but then you look at the way the government is ran, right? You talk about, for instance, you look at these big businesses and you look at their taxes

and they don't pay taxes at all. And then you look at somebody who is just getting by paying as much tax as possible. And you look at, for instance, the pandemic task force that you created. And then you see Trump come in office and he shuts that down. And then you think to yourself, damn, if that task force was still around with so many people have been dead, been killed, would we be able to save lives? We would have saved some lives. Here's one simple statistic. Canada, right next door, their death rate is 40% of what ours is per capita. So for every 100 Americans that have died, only 40 Canadians have died. And that's just a matter of their government

making better decisions. So the question, though, is that you still had 70 million people voting for a government that I would say objectively has failed miserably in handling just basic looking after the American people and keeping them safe. Why is that? Well, part of it is because, you know, it turns out politics is not just about policy. It's not just about numbers. It's about the stories that are being told. And that story that they're hearing from Fox News and Rush Limbaugh and, you know,

in some cases inside their churches, is that, you know, Democrats don't believe in Christmas and, you know, only care about minorities and black folks and are trying to take your stuff and trying to take your guns away. And, right, there's a whole story that's being told to them and people end up feeling as if you know what we are under attack that you know what's always interesting to me is the degree to which

we've created you've seen created in Republican politics, this sense that white males are victims. They're the ones who are under attack, which obviously doesn't jibe with both history and data and economics. But that's a sincere belief. That's been internalized. That's a story that's being told. And how you unwind that is going to be not something that is done right away.

It's going to take some time. Now we have more with Barack Obama. President Barack Obama, when we come back, it's The Breakfast Club. Good morning. It's DJ Envy, Angela Yee, Charlamagne Tha Guy. We are The Breakfast Club. Let's get into our interview with President Barack Obama. It's The Breakfast Club.

Good morning. We heard some rumors in this book, too. in this book. Wait a minute. How different? Because, you know, when I hear that, I'm like, damn, it feels like we're catering to white racists all the time. So I wonder how different would the Dems strategy be if we lived in a one man, one vote society with no electoral college? Oh, I think that would help. Let's take a simple example like the Senate. So Wyoming, which has about half a million people, has the same number of senators as California with 33 million people. So what that means is that the U.S. Senate is hugely skewed towards some of these lower population,

you know, more rural, much whiter states than the big coastal states. And that's a big difference in terms of getting stuff done. So the bottom line is that our democracy is imperfect. Changing that is going to take a lot of effort because you've got to get over the hump, even just to secure a voting rights bill that stops some of this voter suppression and intimidation that you're still seeing around the country, and that Republicans have been pretty blatant about just saying, look, we're trying to prevent them from voting.

But getting to the electoral college, getting to the way that the U.S. Senate is skewed, that would require us also potentially admitting Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico in as states, which has its own politics. It would mean having states change how they do their electoral counts. I think the Constitution is outdated. Yeah, three-fifths, they got to get rid of that language.

The way that's diverse the country is, those people weren't at the table when they wrote the Constitution is outdated. Yeah, three-fifths, they got to get rid of that language. The way that's diverse the country is, those people weren't at the table when they wrote the Constitution. You're a constitutional lawyer. We got to get a change in that. Well, there is a way to change it. It's called amending the Constitution. The problem is that in order to do that, we have to have such an increase in awareness and activism.

So there's a mechanism to amend the Constitution, but you just have to get everybody involved and focused in it. And this is part of the reason folks have been teasing me about how, man, that's a long book. Michelle's was so much shorter. You know, there were times where I was tempted to, you know, let me just leave out this explanation or that explanation because folks, you know, they're not going to necessarily want to read all that.

But part of what I wanted to do was just say, man, this is the stuff that we've got to know if we really want to change stuff. Like, you have to know about the filibuster in the Senate, right? So this is a rule that wasn't even in the Constitution. This is just a rule that the Senate adopted that says you have to have 60 votes to pass legislation. You have to have a super majority. That even more empowers those little states, right?

Because now they don't even need 50 Senate votes. They just need 41 to basically block anything from getting through the Senate. That's what happened to me in my first two years, was I was having to get to 60 votes on everything, which meant that the number of senators that were basically representing 25% of the country had a veto power over anything we want to try to get done. But most people don't know that. You know, if you try to explain to the average, you know, brother in the barbershop,

man, that filibuster, you know, that's something. I don't know. I just thought it when people talk for a long time. Yeah, well, but... I learned about it in the book. Well, exactly. But that thing is, which, by the way, had its roots. You know, the thing that it was most used for was to block civil rights legislation and anti-lynching legislation. And that thing is still operating.

We have to know how that stuff works in order for us, if we really want the kind of changes you're talking about, we're taking away some of these barriers to everybody having their voice heard in government. President Obama has to go, guys. So we're glad you cleared up some rumors, though. Thank you so much. And listen, congratulations. 890,000 sold on the first day, which is breaking all kinds of records.

So it just shows the power that you still have. You got a little name out here. First of all, I think it's because it was packaged with Michelle's book. So, you know, and but I appreciate you guys, you know, you talked about black folks and how they talked about or thought about my presidency. I will say, even at our lowest point, the amount of loyalty and folks having our back knowing, you know, that we were going through some challenges. The prayer that we got,

the blessings we received from our own, that is, as much as anything, what helped sustain us. It is something we never took for granted, and we were always grateful. So one last question. What do Democrats owe black people specifically, do you think, especially after what we just did in this past election?

Well, look, I think that Democrats and Republicans and America owe black folks the same thing that all people are owed, which is justice and fairness. The difference is that for black folks the same thing that all people are owed, which is justice and fairness. The difference is that for black folks, that justice has been deferred and denied for too long or it's been half-baked and insufficient. We've never done a full reckoning of what was part of the essential history and building of this country. And I think in concrete terms, you know, I don't want to

overstate what Joe and Kamala are going to be able to accomplish in this congressional environment with that much resistance, because they're going to be in a position that was even, that's probably even tougher than the one that I came in. But what I can say is, I think at the very minimum, everything they put forward, from jobs programs to small business loans to education to college debt issues, that they have to be mindful that the African American community put faith in them to hear them and to understand what ordinary folks are going through every day,

working hard, trying to make it, and that they shouldn't be making a decision without knowing, all right, this is going to have an impact on some of those struggles to make people and their families a little more secure, a little bit better. It's not going to make people and their families a little more secure, a little bit better. It's not going to make things perfect,

but if at the end of Joe Biden's presidency and Kamala's presidency, he too can say what I was able to say, which is people's lives are better. At the end of the day, that's what you expect out of politicians. Is there a morally correct way to do what Trump did? Which is?

As far as catering to his base, doing what he felt was best for his folks. Is there a morally correct way to do that? Get more votes. I mean, the truth of the matter is actually Trump hasn't gotten a lot. He's torn some stuff down. There's no law that he's passed

that is transformative in this country. He passed a tax cut to give away some more money to rich folks, which Republicans have been doing that for years. But you can't name a piece of legislation that he's done that has actually changed the country, even for his own constituencies. So it's always easier to tear down than build up. Building up, that requires votes. And that's why I do not, I will come on this show every time

if I hear folks say voting doesn't matter. Yeah, voting will not, it's not like winning the lottery. You don't vote and then suddenly everything's great. Voting is more like washing your car or ironing your clothes. It's part of the thing you do to make stuff work. And it's part of your responsibility and it's part of all of our responsibility just to make sure that we don't see chaos of the sort that we've just seen over the last four years. All right, guys. Well, we appreciate you for joining us, President Barack Obama. Thank you.

I enjoyed it. Yes, sir. Thank you so much. Thank you so much. You look happy and relaxed now. You know, I feel pretty good. All right. Is your country falling apart?

Feeling tired? Depressed? A little bit revolutionary? Consider consider this start your own country i planted the flag i just kind of looked out of like this is mine i own this it's surprisingly easy there's 55 gallons of water 500 pounds of concrete everybody's doing it i am king ernest emmanuel i am the queen of ladonia i'm jackson the first king of caperburg i am the supreme leader of the grand republic Laudonia. I'm Jackson I, King of Capraburg. I am the Supreme Leader of the Grand Republic of Mentonia. Be part of a great colonial tradition. The Waikana tribe own country. My forefathers did that themselves. What could go wrong? No country willingly gives

up their territory. I was making a racket with a black powder, you know, with explosive warhead. Oh my God. What is that? Bullets. Bullets. We need help! We still have the off-road portion to go. Listen to Escape from Zakistan. And we're losing daylight fast. That's Escape from Z-A-Q-istan on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, guys. I'm Kate Max. You might know me from my popular online series,

The Running Interview Show, where I run with celebrities, athletes, entrepreneurs, and more. After those runs, the conversations keep going. That's what my podcast, Post Run High, is all about. It's a chance to sit down with my guests and dive even deeper into their stories, their journeys, and the thoughts that arise once we've hit the pavement together. You know that rush of endorphins you feel after a great workout? Well, that's when the real magic happens. So if you love hearing real, inspiring stories from the people you know, follow, and admire, join me every week for post run high it's where we take the conversation beyond the run and get into the heart of it all it's light-hearted pretty crazy and very fun

listen to post run high on the iheart radio app apple podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts As a kid, I really do remember having these dreams and visions, but you just don't know what is going to come for you. Alicia Keys opens up about conquering doubt, learning to trust herself and leaning into her dreams. I think a lot of times we are built to doubt the possibilities for ourselves. For self-preservation and protection, it was literally that step by step. And so I discovered that that is how we get where we're going. This increment of small, determined moments. Alicia shares her wisdom on growth, gratitude, and the power of love. I forgive myself. It's okay. Like grace,

have grace with yourself. You're trying your best and you're going to figure out the rhythm of this thing. Alicia Keys, like you've never heard her before. Listen to On Purpose with Jay Shetty on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Make sure you tell them to watch out for Florida, man. The craziest people in America come from the Bronx and all of Florida. Yes, you are a donkey. A Florida man attacked an ATM for a very strange reason. It gave him too much money. Florida man is arrested after deputies say he rigged the door to his home in an attempt to electrocute his pregnant wife. Police arrested an Orlando man for attacking a flamingo.

Put the breakfast club, bitch. Don't be at a game. Shalom ain't a guy. I don't know why y'all keep letting him get y'all like this. Well, move on, because your state is crazy. All right, donkey of the day goes to a Florida woman named Vanessa Marie Huckaba. Now, what does your Uncle Shalom always say

about the great state of Florida? The craziest people in America come from the Bronx and all of Florida. There is no disputing that. And I thank God that I came up in an era before dating websites. Not knocking anyone who does it, but I couldn't see myself on Elite Singles, eHarmony, Black People Meet, Match.com. Our guy Dramos is Puerto Rican and runs our boards up here. He's on Latin Fields under the username Coquito Poppy.

That's not true. Look him up. Okay. That's not true. Did you get me in trouble at home? None of that stuff is for me. The way my anxiety is set up, I couldn't just meet a complete stranger online, a person who can tell me anything they want about themselves,

and none of it be true. And then you show up, get robbed, killed, catfished. I'm not judging anybody who does the dating singles thing. I'm just simply saying it's not for me. It's like skydiving. It's like bungee jumping. It's like being uncircumcised. Not knocking any of y'all that do it. I got those things just telling you that's

not my thing. Now, Vanessa Marie Huckaba has a dating profile set up under the name Island Babe 1234. Does that name not look and sound fake? Okay. See what I'm saying? Island Babe 1234. How could you take a profile page on a Dayton website series that says Island Babe 1234? It sounds and looks like a Russian bot when you see it. Now, according to the Miami Herald, she included a name,

photo, cell phone number, and address. But here's the catch. Well, actually, it is no catch. This Dayton profile is exactly what it sounds like, fake, but I tell you what, this one is fake for a great, humorous, but sick cause. Okay, see, Vanessa, she should actually be the new host of Punk'd. I don't condone what I'm about to tell you she did, but man, is it entertaining to watch. See, Vanessa is a classic case of the ex. Oh, a lot of y'all out there got a crazy ex that's stalking your ass right now

that is upset that you have moved on to another relationship. Vanessa is one of those. Okay, see this dating profile she set up that included a name, photo, cell phone number, and address. It wasn't hers. In fact, it was the woman. Her ex-boyfriend is currently dating. But the story gets much, much better because it wasn't her milkshake that brought all the boys to the yard.

No, not in Florida. In Florida, you need something a little stronger than milkshakes to bring boys to the yard. Let's go to the Miami Herald for the report, please. A Florida Keys woman was jailed on a cyber-stalking charge after police said she posted a fake profile on a dating site that sent strangers to another woman's home looking for sex. Fresh meth tonight. All right, stop. Stop right there for a second. Stop right there for a second, because there are conflicting reports. The Miami Herald is saying Vanessa posted the headline,

free meth tonight. But in the news report we just heard, they say, fresh meth tonight. Either way, Island Bay 1234 four got meth that's right speed cookies cotton candy whatever you call it vanessa had cranking cheeks and in florida it doesn't matter if you're advertising fresh cranking free cheeks are free cranking fresh cheeks folks is pulling up even though i don't know you know how fresh you expect the cheeks to be from a meth head in florida i mean it's hot down there and that pookie will have you not watching for days, but forget all that. Continue with the news report. Vanessa Marie Huckaba, 29, was arrested November 21st on misdemeanor charges of cyber-stalking and

harassing. Huckaba in October and November sent threatening messages and made harassing phone calls to a 36-year-old Key West woman who was dating her ex. The victim told police she has never met Huckaba and began getting the threats after she started dating a man Huckaba had dated for six months. Huckaba told the victim she would need to get a restraining order. Huckaba's next move was to put up a profile under the name Island Babe 1234 on Seeking Arrangement, which advertises it helps pair women with sugar daddies, along with the victim's photo, cell phone number and address. The profile invited men to come to the victim's home for sex. Multiple strangers began arriving at the victim's residence thereafter.

I'm giving this woman donkey of the day. Vanessa, you're getting donkey of the day because you absolutely deserve it. Okay, a person's home is their sanctuary, it's their castle, it should be their place of peace. To have a bunch of Floridians pulling up during a devil damn pandemic when folks are supposed to be social distancing. You got all these

meth heads showing up to this young woman's house looking for cranking cheeks you're lucky that woman didn't stand her ground and let her goddamn gun blam okay so you are earning every bit of this hee-haw but round of applause vanessa amazing amazing idea all right this is an amazing idea you got beef with another human. You mad at this lady because she's dating your ex-boyfriend. So you advertise free meth and sex at her house in Florida.

There is nothing that can bring holiday joy to a white Florida man's heart like the thought of tweaking and tricking. Okay? Only a human with a Florida brain could concoct and execute something like this. And Vanessa, even though I am highly entertained, it will not stop me from giving you the sweet sounds of the Hamiltonians. Oh, now you are the donkey of the day.

You are the donkey of the day. Yee-haw. Guess. That's too easy. All right. I mean, would you like to just for pieces and giggles? Yeah, let's do it. Let's do it. Okay. Well, let's play a game of

Guess What Race It Is. All right, guys. Vanessa Marie Huckaba. Huckaba. Okay. She's from Florida. Florida. She set up a fake profile for a woman.

Okay. A woman that was dating her ex-boyfriend and she was advertising free meth and sex. Guess what race she is. You go first, she. I'll have to say Caucasian just because of the crystal meth. Okay. I was thinking Latino

because... No, you weren't. No, I was thinking white. Oh, I gotta say what it is? Yes. White people. I knew it. I? Yes. White people. I knew it. I knew it. White people. All right.

White with yellow teeth. All right. You should see her mugshot. Okay? White with the yellowest teeth you've ever seen in your goddamn life. All right? You'll see her smile and you slow down when you approach sex. Okay?

When you refuse to drive it. All right, Charlamagne, thank you for that donkey of the day approach sex, you know, okay? And you'd keep driving. All right, Charlamagne, thank you for that donkey today. Yes, indeed, goddammit. We're playing some of the best best ofs, and one of them was when Kamala Harris stopped through the first interview that she actually came

before she was running for president. That's right. This was, um, this was 2018. Maybe 2017. I don't remember. 2017 or 2018. And, like, she was just Senator of California. Right. You know what I mean?

And we actually talked about her running for president. And, you know, she ran. Didn't work out, but she ended up being the Madam White president. So, yeah. Okay. So we're going to get that back in a few. So don't move. It's The Breakfast Club. Good morning. The Breakfast Club. Your mornings will never be the same. Hiring is challenging,

but... You're checking out the world's most dangerous morning show. Morning, everybody. It's DJ Envy, Angela Yee, Charlamagne Tha God. We are The Breakfast Club. Now, it's Martin Luther King Day. We're going to get back our interview with Kamala Harris. This was the first time that she actually stopped through,

so we're going to get that on as The Breakfast Club. And by the way, hasn't been back since. I mean, she's been here three times. Kamala came here in 2018. She came here again when she was running for president and another time when she was running for president. She hasn't been here since she's been Madam Vice President.

Right. Starting to get pissed off about that. Okay. But salute to Senator Kamala Harris. Hopefully we'll talk to you soon. Alright, don't move. It's the Breakfast Club. Good morning. We have a special guest in the building. Yes. She went to the other H-U. I know you.

She went to the other H-U. The fake H-U. But we let it slide this morning. Kamala Harris. Yes, U.S. Senator of California. That's right. And I feel the next President of the United States of America if she chooses to run. Kamala Harris. Kamala Harris. Welcome to the show. Good morning. of California and I feel the next president of the United States of America if she chooses to run. Miss Kamala Harris.

Kamala Harris, welcome to the show. Good morning. I am so happy and honored to be here and join you. You going to let them diss Howard like that? Absolutely not. So who beat UNLV? Hampton or Howard? It was Howard.

Thank you. Who has the best homecoming in the world every year? Hampton. Howard. every year? Hampton. Howard. Hampton. Who produced Thurgood Marshall? Howard. Howard.

You got a couple of all right ones. Who produced the Black Panther? We did the costumes. We did the costumes for Black Panther. I'll share the love with you. I'm going to share the love with you. See, I didn't go to college. But if I was you, I would have said, well, who was stealing from the financial aid department?

Oh, yeah, you're right. Well, who was stealing from the financial aid department? So she gave us back, well, y'all got bad food over here. So let's go back and forth. Let's just let things slide. Well, welcome. Thank you. Welcome, Senator Harris. Good to be here.

Now, for those who may not know, let us know a little about yourself. You're from the Bay Area, right? I was born in Oakland. Okay. And I went to Howard. I went out of Howard to law school in California. I started my career in the DA's office in Oakland, California. And then I was elected the first black woman to be elected a district attorney in the state of California, San Francisco.

I was there for two terms, and then I was elected Attorney General of California, making me the first woman and the first African-American ever elected as an Attorney General. And what a boy. She's Jamaican, too. Yeah, man. Did you grow up in the era of the Black Panthers? Yes. Did that have any

influence on you? Oh, absolutely. I mean, my parents, look, my sister and I joke, we grew up surrounded by a bunch of adults who spent full time marching and shouting. Wow. For justice, right? So my parents actually met when they were active in the civil rights movement. My godmother, my Aunt Mary, was one of the founders of the Black Studies Department at San Francisco State, which was the first Black Studies Department in the country.

So they were active and they were vocal. Jamaican and civil rights activists? I'm surprised you got an inside voice. Yeah, well, you know. Howard trains you to do things like that. Boom, stab. Boom, boom, boom. But what got you into politics?

Because you did go to Howard. That's a party school. So we figured you would. Now I'm going to be petty all interview now. I'm not, I'm not. Stop. But really, what got you into politics? What made you want to say, this is the route I want to go? You know, I grew up in a community of folks, like I said,

who are marching and shouting. And I said, you know, we, yes, there is an important role to play on the outside, banging down the door, on bended knee, trying to change the systems. But we also have to be inside the room where the decisions are being made. And I ran for district attorney because I wanted to be the one who was the decisions are being made. And I ran for district attorney because I wanted to be the one who was making decisions about what we were going to do with criminal justice policy. And in fact, I wrote a book back in 2008 based on my belief about what we need to do to reform the criminal justice system. And here's how I think about it. Criminal justice policy, we have been offered a false choice. The choice suggesting that you're either soft on crime or you're tough on crime

instead of asking, are we smart on crime? Right? And by that, I mean recognizing that, you know, the public health model tells us if you want to deal with a health epidemic, smartest, most effective, and cheapest way to deal with it is prevention first. If you're dealing with it in the emergency room

or the prison system, it's too late and it's too expensive. So let's be smart on crime. And that means let's be smart in knowing that if we really want to have public safety, let's prevent crime from happening in the first place. Which means focusing on communities that we know need more economic support, need more pathways to economic health and success. Doing what we need to do to recognize that there's a direct connection between public education and public safety. So let's prioritize public education and instead of just being only concerned about public safety, because there's a real connection

and it's actually cheaper to focus on educating young people than it is on incarcerating whole communities of people. Yeah, that's one of the first things I saw you do that I was extremely impressed with. It was the Back on Track program. Yeah, that's right. What's that all about? So Back on Track is a program that I started years ago. I focused on the 18 through 24-year-old young drug sales offender.

And the reason I focused on that population is because there are just a lot of them. And I also focused on that population because whether we were at Hampton or Howard, when we were in college, we were 18 through 24, and we were called college kids. Right. But when you turn 18 and you're in the system, you're considered an adult. Right. Period. of the fact that we know if that's the very phase of life in which we have invested billions of dollars in this world in these places called colleges and universities knowing that that's

the prime phase of life where you can mold somebody to be a productive and an accomplished adult and so I focused on that population also understanding that when they pick up that first offense they will be designated a felon for life. And so what we did is essentially I created a program, focused on them, and basically getting them job counseling. A lot of the young men are fathers, getting them support for what they naturally want to do, which is parent their children but may not have the skills or the resources.

We focused on what to do around housing and just wraparound. And we ended up, as a result of doing that and then when they would graduate the program dismissed their charges. But what we also ended up doing is reducing their likelihood of reoffending by a huge percentage and that was a model of what ended up later by the Justice Department being designated as a model of innovation in law enforcement in the country. What do we do with so many, with drugs being legalized, I should say marijuana being legalized in so many different states, and a lot of these kids, like you said, are in jail for

that same legalized crime now. We need to decriminalize marijuana. We have a problem with mass incarceration in our country. And let's be clear, the war on drugs was a failed war. It was misdirected in essence. And, you know, we're now now more people are understanding when we talk about the opioid epidemic, that when you're talking about substance abuse, that's a public health matter. That should not be thought of as a criminal justice matter.

And and so what we need to do is recognize that we have to get people into treatment where that is appropriate. But as it relates to incarcerating people for marijuana, I think it is long overdue that we recognize we need to change the system. I want to go back to your Oakland days for a minute, because you said the Black Panthers had an influence on you.

And it's this whole conversation we've been having about how do we improve relations between police and the communities? Black Panthers were an organization that actually policed the police. Do you think that an organization like that could exist now in 2018? I think that one of the greatest advances in the fight for civil rights has been the smartphone. Oh, okay. People would come up to me, Kamala, what all of a sudden is going on

with all these cases of police misconduct what's going on and I'd look at people and say you know you sound like a colonist you know colonist are you calling him a colonizer right right right fair enough

but the point being you know what colonists do they go to a place that's been existing existing that way for thousands of years because they're seeing it for the first time. They think they've discovered it. So the great thing about the smartphone has been that now it is undeniable when it happens. There is evidence sometimes playing for us in real time. As we know, it is audio it is visual and it is highlighting a need to reform the criminal justice system about around recognizing that we need to do a better job of training police officers around bias around use of force around the necessity

to de-escalate a situation instead of using force as the first option, as though it is the only option. And more people are now involved in this discussion than ever before, because it is not just us who is experiencing it. Now everyone is experiencing it, at least in terms of seeing it happen. And I think this is part of what has led to the reforms that are starting to take place, but there's still a lot more to do. On the Panthers, remember, one of the biggest contributions that the Panthers made was their breakfast program. Absolutely. They were feeding the community and protecting the community in that way.

All right, we have more with Senator Kamala Harris when we come back. Don't move. It's The Breakfast Club. Good morning. Morning, everybody. It's DJ Envy, Angela Yee, Charlamagne Tha God. We are The Breakfast Club. We have Kamala Harris in the building. Now, let's talk about these schools and these shootings. I mean, it's scary.

Well, first of all, you know, we have many, many communities where our six- and seven-year-olds are going to sleep at night hearing gunfire. Absolutely. They are experiencing such trauma that is undiagnosed and untreated. Babies of our community who have regularly attended funerals of somebody who was killed as a result of gun violence, having family members, it may have even happened in front of them. So we have enough trauma in our community that we need to deal with without expecting that our second grader is going to now go to school and look up in the front of the class at their teacher and she's strapping a gun. That doesn't make any sense. When we're talking about school safety, there are things that we need to address that include thinking about why is this an issue? And part of it is that we have not passed meaningful, smart gun safety laws in this

country. Let's talk about that. Let's talk about how the NRA has grabbed people by their balls to their body. To testicles. There's a medical way to say it. It's a medical to their body. To testicles. There's a medical way to say it. It's a medical term. Testicles, testicles. Testicles, medical term.

All right. And has caused people to have a lack of courage to address the fact, again, another false choice. I'm in favor of the Second Amendment, and I also want... I want smart gun safety laws.

Assault weapons shouldn't be walking the streets of a civilized country i agree we should have universal background checks it makes sense it's just practical that you might want to know before someone can buy a gun that they've been found by a court to be mentally unstable you just might want to know that that's smart absolutely the missing ingredient to get something done is for Congress to have the courage to act. Bottom line. And that's where I would say, okay, so then what can we as people who want to encourage Congress to act do? What can we do?

Let's focus on the 2018 elections. Let's focus on electing people who will have the courage and getting rid of people who don't. Well, you know, even with that said, you know, when everybody saw the police shootings happening, Barack Obama was in office. Why didn't he have the courage to act to implement something to where police weren't so gung-ho? Well, I think that it's one of his big regrets that he was not able to get smart gun safety laws passed. In terms of the reforms, listen, Eric Holder,

who was appointed by Barack Obama to be the U.S. Attorney General, and the United States Department of Justice under Barack Obama did some really good work. They started opening pattern and practice investigations, investigating various police departments around the country who had a pattern and practice of racial discrimination and excessive force. And you know what's going on now? Under this guy, Jeff Sessions, you've been on his ass, by the way. Yeah. Yeah. And under him, they're closing those pattern and practice investigations. Under the previous administration,

there were consent decrees where there had been a finding of misconduct. The court kicked in and said, you have to act a certain way and we're going to watch that. They're shutting down all of those. They're reviving the war on drugs. They're reviving mandatory minimum sentences. You know, again, that's why we have got to be vigilant at this moment in time, because we are looking at an administration that is rolling back the clock in a profound, profound way. Why is Jeff Sessions doing that, though? Like, is it really just Donald Trump trying to erase everything Barack Obama did? Is that what they really, really want? Like they want to take take us backwards, so to speak. Listen, I think this has been on Jeff Sessions' agenda

for a very long time. Don't forget, Coretta Scott King spoke out against Jeff Sessions when he was up years and years and years ago for an appointment. This is part of who he is. This is his history. This is his mission. He is silently and maybe not so silently carrying it out right before us. Why aren't you afraid to speak out against him?

I do speak out against him. I'm tired. Why aren't you afraid? Because we have to speak truth. Charlemagne, we have to speak truth. You know what? This is a moment in time that's actually requiring all of us to check ourselves about whether we're going to have the courage to speak and to speak truth. No matter how uncomfortable it may make some people feel, no matter how much it may visit upon us criticism or expose us to attacks, we've got to speak truth.

We've got to speak truth about what is happening with this administration. Also, because as leaders, the people know. They know. They know in their hearts. They know intuitively, instinctively that things are wrong. And we need to put the label on it when we see what is actually happening from the inside. And so that's part of why I do it. Because I believe that people have a right to know what their government is doing for them and to them.

And, you know, come what may in terms of any response. How do we get our country back in order, though? It just seems like ever since Trump came in office, it just seems like it's just been an outspurt of racism going on. And it seems like it's hurting our kids more than anything else out there. So I travel around the country and I will tell you that I'm not buying the suggestion that we are divided as a country. And here's why I say that. You know, when you wake up

in the middle of the night with that thought that's been weighing on you, maybe some people call it the witching hour at 3 o'clock in the morning, when you wake up in a cold sweat with that thing that's been worrying you, it is never through the lens of the party with which you're registered to vote or, you know, the demographic upholster put you in. And for the vast majority of us, that thought has to do with one of just a very few things, our personal health, the health of our children or our parents. Can I get a job, keep a job, pay the bills by the end of the month? For so many of our students, can I pay off their student, can they pay off their student loans?

The vast majority of us have so much more in common than what separates us. And we've got to hold on to that in this fight right now. And then look to 2018, frankly, and the elections that are coming up in almost 200 days as an opportunity to act. What I love about this moment with this administration in power is people are acting. Look back to the Women's March. Yes. Look at to the March for Our Lives. Absolutely.

The March for Science. Yes. Because also this administration is putting forward policies that basically say science should not be the basis of public policy, which is ridiculous. But people are taken to the streets in a way they never have. And in that way, our democracy is working. Now we just got to take to the streets and then walk those streets to the polling place and vote. Because they used to say we couldn't vote.

Legally, we weren't allowed to vote. Now they say we won't. We need to get out and vote. Because voting, us voting is connected to every one of the other issues. Us voting is connected to who's going to be in office and how they think about criminal justice policy. Who's going to be in office and pay attention to something like the rate of black

babies and infant mortality? Who's going to pay attention to the fact that young black men are still at the bottom of the economic ladder in terms of opportunity, much less success and economic health? Who's in office is going to make a difference?

Alright, we have more with Senator Kamala Harris when we come back. Don't move. It's The Breakfast Club. Good morning. The Breakfast Club. You're checking out the world's most dangerous morning show. Morning, everybody. It's DJ Envy, Angela Yee, Charlamagne Tha God.

We are The Breakfast Club. Now, it's Martin Luther King Day. We're going to get back our interview with Kamala Harris. This was the first time that she actually stopped through. All right, don't move. It's the Breakfast Club. Good morning. We have Senator Kamala Harris still in the building.

Charlemagne? And I know, of course, you just mentioned Me Too and Time's Up. You're a big supporter today. Yeah. But you're also a Too Short fan. Yes, I am Too Short from Oakland. Yes, I am. How does that work?

Let me tell you. What's my favorite word, Senator Harris? Huh. What's my favorite word, Senator Harris? Huh? What's my favorite word, Senator Harris? I'm not doing that. I'm not doing that. I'm not doing that. Too short, straight from Oakland.

But you can like both, right? Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Of course. I love music. Now, they call you the female Barack Obama. That's what I've seen when I Google your name. I don't like that, by the way.

Now, are you considering or do you see yourself possibly running for president? Is that in your eyes? Right now, I'm just focused on what's in front of me. You know, I've seen too many people focus on that thing out there, and they trip over the thing right in front of them. True. So what's in front of you, 2018? 2018.

Okay. I was just in Detroit last weekend campaigning and talking to folks about the need to get out and vote. I'll be all over many states. I'm going to be in Chicago. I'm going to be in Wisconsin. I'll be in Florida. Probably go to Philly. We really have to turn out.

Look what happened in Alabama. Everybody should really see and remember what happened just in a recent election where Doug Jones, a white Democrat. The math is that a white Democrat won in the South because of black women. So our vote really matters when we get out. It was over 90 percent of black men until we came out. Yeah, and that's right. And that's right. That's true.

That's exactly right. That's exactly right. You was on the debate team in college. I was. How does that help you in your line of work? First of all, it taught you how to come back from an argument. It teaches you how to stand in front of a room of

people and express your point and then when your point is being attacked, to come back and respond. It teaches you how to think quickly, and it gives you confidence in the fact that you can stand in front of a room of people and stay in a position and defend it. Because sometimes, for so many of us,

we're the only one who is like us in a room, and when you're the only one like you in a room, there is a natural tendency to want to just kind of blend in but what you learn during debate or what you learn at an HBCU or if you have the blessing of having a family or a community that teaches you um you learn instead that when you're in that room you got to speak up and you've got to speak up. And you've got to acquire the skills to know how to do that and to have the confidence to do it. You know, I mentor a lot

of people and I always tell them, your entire life you will have many experiences where you're the only one like you in that room. Only one looks like you. Only one who's had the experiences you've had. And when you sit in that room, you have to remember, we are all in that room with you. Yeah, what's the Maya Angelou quote?

I'm not alone because I stand with 10,000 with me. It's funny because I put my kids in debate class because of that, to be able to use their words to fight back and not have to use their hands and still hurt just the same. And you've got to objectively see both sides, right? And also, and to your point also, the great thing about learning debate is that you learn there are rules of debate. Right. You know, because also to your point, when you argue, some people would suggest that's pure emotion.

And that if you're getting in an argument with somebody, you're just emotional and unreasonable. What debate teaches you is, no, it's actually quite civilized to stand up and disagree with someone. And there are rules about how you do it because that is what is done among thinking people. You do debate. I mean, you can go back to history and different forms of debate. The dozens. Yes, absolutely. That was debate.

A hundred percent. That was debate. Yes, until you didn't like what they said and you just fought. Right. And you just keep fighting. Started fighting. Right? But that was debate.

I have a question. You mentioned, of course, we went to HBCUs. How important is the HBCU? Because we got away from it a couple of years ago. And I'm looking at a lot of the colleges, and attendance and enrollment is low. So how important is HBCU to you, and especially black families?

Let me tell you, I am who I am today for two reasons. Because of my mother and the family I was raised in and Howard University and HBCU. What you and I know, when we walked onto that campus for the first time, we were surrounded by people that look like us, all, everywhere, everybody. You walk onto, and I'll just speak about Howard, but I know Hampton is the same. You walk onto that campus, you can look over one area, and you will see a bunch of young African Americans who are students who are in the business school walking around with briefcases.

You look over at another area, and they're walking around in leotards because they're in the School of Fine Arts. The football captain and star and the homecoming queen and the debate team and there are sororities and fraternities and what you learn at an hbcu is you do not have to fit into somebody's limited perspective on what it means to be young gifted and black you can be all those things when i was at howard i pledged a sorority i was on on the debate team. I was the chair of the Economic Society. And I went to my share of parties, too. And you didn't have to choose. You could be fully actualized. And there was such beauty to that because this country still has such a limited view of what it means for a person to be young and smart and black.

And so at those years when you're learning your identity, to be in that environment where basically everybody just says to you, you can be whatever you want to be. And by the way, and if you don't, it's because you need to work harder, right? Because that's the other thing that happens. You can't walk away and say, oh, it's because of my skin color that I didn't get that. Nope, nope, that's not it. So it's a wonderful place to learn who you are

and to be proud of who you are and to leave then with the confidence of walking into the world also knowing one other thing. People from time to time will come up to you and they'll say, oh, you're special. You're unique. And I tell people, don't let anybody tell you that. Because there is

something about being told that that also suggests you're the only one like you. Which means you're alone. And what an HBCU reminds us of, no, we come with people. We got people. There are a lot of us. We're not alone. Right? What made you want to go to HBCU? Was of. No, we come with people. We got people. There are a lot of us. We're not alone.

Right? What made you want to go to HBCU? Was it a different world? No, I had family members that went to Howard. Okay. I wanted to go to Howard. Yeah. Got you.

Well, she has to go, so one last one, bro. I saw you talking about corporate donations. Yeah. And you said it depends whether you would take them or not. I think that money has had such an outside influence on politics and especially with the Supreme

Court determining Citizens United, which basically means that big corporations can spend unlimited amounts of money influencing a campaign, right? We're all supposed to have an equal vote, but money has now really tipped the balance between an individual having equal power in an election to a corporation.

So I've actually made a decision since I had that conversation that I'm not going to accept corporate PAC checks. Wow. I just am not. So how are you going to raise money for campaigns and stuff? Well, you know, I've raised so far this year $3 million for my colleagues for the 2018 election cycle. And most of that money has been like an $18, $20 increments. People are turning out.

Well, what's the website? Give me a website. Go to KamalaHarris.org and you will find it. K-A-M-A-L-A Harris. H-A-R-R-I-S. If you decide to run for president in 2020, we'll do a fundraiser for you right here on the radio.org, and you will find it. K-A-M-A-L-A, Harris, H-A-R-R-I-S. If you decide to run for president in 2020, we'll do a fundraiser for you right here on the radio. No, we definitely will.

We did one last year for Harry Belafonte's organization, Change for Change. Oh, good, good. We raised like 800 grand. Wow. We can get you a million or two. Okay. If you decide to run.

Has that ever been a dream of yours? Have you ever thought about it? I have so many dreams. I have so many dreams. I had so many dreams. Good answer. I do, though. I really do. I do see the beauty of, you know, everything that you raised in terms of the reaction and the other side of the tragedy of what's happening.

And that gives me a great sense of optimism about our future. And in the history of our people, we march, we shout, we sing, we dance. Right? Look at who just got the Pulitzer Prize. Mr. Kendrick Lamar. All right. You had him on your playlist too. You had Humble on there.

Yes, of course. But look at that. Look at Beyonce and what she did at Coachella. Right? It has always been as part of our history that our artists, everybody is part of the movement. Everyone understands that it's about the expression of feeling. And we can do that with joy and with conviction and with purpose.

Great. I think God is setting us up for a woman of color president in 2020. I'm with it. I think that it's Senator Kamala Harris. I think she's our future president. I'm with it. And I hope God puts his hands on her and says, you know what? I want you to do this.

All right. I hope so as well. God's plan. Put that on your playlist too by drink. All right. Well, we thank you for joining us. Thank you, guys. It's an honor to be with you.

Thank you for coming. All right. It's The Breakfast Club. Good morning. The Breakfast Club. Your mornings will never be the same. Peace to the planet. I go by the name of Charlemagne the God. And look, Audible delivers all kinds of audio entertainment all in one app. You get an unbeatable selection of bestsellers and new releases,

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My positive note comes from the great Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., man. The positive note is darkness cannot drive out darkness. Only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate. Only love can do that. And that's on King. Breakfast Club, bitches. Y'all finished or y'all done?

Don't tolerate the same stuff. You don't F with people the same. You're closer to your inner self. You're focused on your goals and you take better care of you. Time to break out of your old shell and become the best version of yourself. Breakfast club, bitches. You all finished or you all done? Had enough of this country? Ever dreamt about starting your own? I planted the flag. This is mine. I own this. It's surprisingly easy. 55 gallons of water, 500 pounds of concrete. Or maybe not.

No country willingly gives up their territory. Oh my God. What is that? Bullets. Listen to Escape from Zakistan. That's Escape from Z-A-Q-istan. On the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey guys, I'm Kate Max. You might know me from my popular online series, The Running Interview Show,

where I run with celebrities, athletes, entrepreneurs, and more. After those runs, the conversations keep going. That's what my podcast, Post Run High, is all about. It's a chance to sit down with my guests and dive even deeper into their stories, their journeys, and the thoughts that arise once we've hit the pavement together. Listen to Post Run High on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, what's up? This is Ramses Jha. And I go by the name Q Ward. And we'd like you to join us each week for our show Civic Cipher That's right we discuss social issues

Especially those that affect black and brown people But in a way that informs and empowers all people We discuss everything from prejudice To politics to police violence And we try to give you the tools to create positive change In your home, workplace and social circle We're going to learn how to become better allies to each other So join us each Saturday for Civic Cipher on the iHeartRadio app,

Apple podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.