Selective Ignorance: Ep. 40 | Public Outrage: Blowing Bubba, Guilt & "The Files" feat. Jason "Jah" Lee

Podcast: Decisions, Decisions Presents: Selective Ignorance
Hosts: Mandii B, Jason Rodriguez, Aaron A. King Howard
Featured Guest: Jason "Jah" Lee
Date: December 2, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of "Selective Ignorance" dives headfirst into the chaos of current public controversies, exploring topics ranging from the newly-released (and heavily redacted) Epstein files, the limits of public outrage (especially among conservatives regarding Trump), Nicki Minaj’s eyebrow-raising advocacy at the UN, celebrity accountability (or lack thereof), and cultural biases around work—particularly in domestic help. The always-candid hosts, joined by regular guest Jason "Jah" Lee, push listeners to question societal norms, recent headlines, and, above all, themselves.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Selective Ignorance: What It Means and Why It Matters

Mandii sets the tone for the episode with the recurring theme:

“Here we mind our business. Except when the tea is scorching and the government is lying.” (04:23, Mandii)

• Selective ignorance defined: The deliberate ignoring of inconvenient truths for self-preservation or comfort.
• The episode tasks itself with confronting these blind spots—personal and societal.

2. The Epstein Files: Truth, Redaction, and Public Trust

[38:13–51:40]

a. What’s the Real Truth?"

• The release of Epstein-related government files – with much hype but heavy redaction.
• Public speculation about partisanship, with rumors of only Democratic names being revealed.
  • Jason Lee: “No one’s going to believe that Bill Clinton was the only person that knew Jeffrey Epstein. Like we've seen–” (38:57)
• Questions raised about why the Biden administration didn't release the files earlier—Jason Rodriguez explains the procedural delays: ongoing investigations, layers of bureaucracy. (39:13)

b. Statute of Limitations & Public Impact

• Mandii: “If what we’re deeming to be unraveled in these Epstein files... what does it matter this much longer, outside of public opinion?” (40:33)
• Legal vs. monetary consequences—the files’ true utility may be reputation-damaging, rather than criminal.
• Republican vs. Democratic transparency: Democrats seem less resistant to disclosure, while Republicans push a narrative of selective release. (46:11, Jason Lee)

c. Victims & the Weaponization of Language

• Jason Rodriguez highlights how language is used to minimize abuse: "Republican media calling underage victims 'young women'... to cloud the severity.” (49:23)
• Mandii laments: “When a woman is in her 30s or 40s coming out about a sexual assault... the census is, ‘well, what took you so long?’” (49:57)

d. Does the Public Really Care?

• Jason Lee: “No one will be surprised... But I still think if– well, most of this is Trump’s fault. He ran his campaign saying... these things were going to come out.” (42:40)
• Mandii: "Do we care? It's a whole bunch of white people doing fucked up shit we already know they were probably doing." (43:55)

3. Outrage, Double Standards & Trump's "Line in the Sand"

[04:33–05:32, 45:37–47:51]

• Republican outrage over rumors of Trump’s possible sexual acts with men—Mandii skewers the hypocrisy:

“That’s the line in the sand for Republicans, apparently. And why are the barbs in the White House? Why is Trump acting like he gives a fuck about Nigeria?” (04:33)

• Discussion on religious values as political props. Jason Lee underscores Trump’s lack of authentic Christianity:

“He was a proxy for white Christian nationalists to feel good about who they were voting for... but that man doesn’t know shit about church.” (45:40)

4. Nicki Minaj, the United Nations, and Performative Allyship

[55:56–67:22]

a. The Barbs’ Discontent

• Nicki Minaj’s drop in fan support after publicly speaking at the UN on behalf of the Trump administration, allegedly for religious freedom in Nigeria.
• Mandii: “She is allowed to have concern over a religious group... but the US that–what does that have to do with the United States? 0!” (56:29/57:16)

b. Amanda Seales’ Analysis (audio played)

• The hosts play a clip where Amanda connects US concern for Nigerian Christians to broader geopolitical interests, not altruism.
• “The US is using this as a ploy... to find their way into Nigeria so they can then meddle in the Pan African movement.” (58:00, Amanda Seales via Mandii)

c. Who Is Being Activated?

• The hosts question the alignment of Minaj’s message with her fanbase, many of whom are LGBTQ+ and people of color.
• Jason Rodriguez: “That’s why like Christians get played, right? ...Trump doesn’t care, but he knows if he says a couple of these words, this group is going to get activated.” (61:06)

d. Comparison to Cardi B

• Crediting Cardi B as authentically political versus Nicki’s sudden activism:
  “Cardi... you can tell she cares about this stuff. Nicki’s up there saying she’s nervous, reading a speech about Nigerians and Christians... it just doesn’t come off as genuine.” (64:17–65:21, Jason Lee)

5. Celebrities, Guilt, and Performative Accountability

[67:23–77:12]

a. The Game’s "Confession": Accountability or Empty Gestures?

• The Game admits regret over past womanizing on "Den of Kings":

“When you get into your 40s, man, you start feeling like you womanizing... you start feeling it.” (68:42, The Game)

• Hosts critique late-in-life realizations and public "apologies" as self-serving and detached from actual behavioral change:

  • “He wants an applause for the awakening... that’s a baseline!” (71:27, Jason Rodriguez)
  • “If you genuinely knew better, you’d do better, and you wouldn’t have just made another baby.” (71:44, Mandii)

• The Game’s past and present relationships (including with Evelyn Lozada’s daughter) are scrutinized as examples of repeated patterns rather than authentic growth.

b. Broader Issue: Selective Ignorance in Relationships

• Mandii: “A lot of these [men] do know that they know. What it is, is selective ignorance. You know better, you genuinely don’t choose to do better.” (74:26)

6. Personal Biases: Who Gets to Clean Your House?

[22:45–33:10]

• Mandii candidly confesses cultural and racial biases in hiring domestic help:

"I get matched with a cleaner... a dreadhead black man. And I immediately was like, this [guy] ain't cleaning my house... a black man cannot clean the house like others can." (24:04/24:29, Mandii)

• She reflects on her own ignorance, the role of trust, privacy, and stereotypes—especially around Latinx cleaners.
• The group discusses whether this is a personal, generational, or simply American form of selective ignorance.
• Running joke: only Spanish-speaking cleaners get the job done "right"; use of Fabuloso as a cultural cleaning signifier.

7. Spiritual, Political, and Social Reset: The Quest for Forgiveness

[84:52–93:25]

• Reaction to celebrities (Young Thug, Kanye, etc.) seeking "spiritual resets" with Jewish rabbis:

  • “Shouldn’t he be going to like Muhammad Allah?” (86:51, Mandii)
  • Jason Lee jokes about the now-unfashionable trend: “If you was a rapper and you got woke, you went to go sit with Minister Farrakhan and you got your life right. How did Farrakhan lose his job?” (87:08)

• The hosts express confusion at public displays of repentance in unfamiliar faith traditions—especially when the intent feels more strategic than sincere.

8. Listener Dilemma: "Am I Ignorant?" Segment on Inheritance

[93:52–98:29]

• Listener asks: “Was it ignorant to refuse to split my inheritance with my cousins?”

• Mandii: “You should feel ignorant for keeping it. We are in a recession. You need every goddamn coin you can get.” (96:06)

• The room unanimously agrees: entitlement to family members’ inheritance is itself ignorant unless you actively participated in caregiving.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “A little extra mayo slathered on that hip sandwich where I’m like, oh, hell no.” – Jason Lee, joking about “extra” factors in racial confrontations. (17:38)
• On public outrage over sex scandals: “You wasn’t mad at him grabbing women by the pussy. But now he might have been around some penises, y'all are in an uproar.” – Mandii (45:17)
• “People who come here from other countries, immigrants, they’re cleaner than us. Not even the cleaner—it’s taking pride in your work, whatever work you do.” – Jason Lee (30:01)
• “A lot of us were taught to survive love instead of experiencing it... A lot of men think being solid means being silent. I’m good. I got it. That’s the script we memorize before we even know ourselves.” – Big Loom, guest segment on healthy relationships (18:02)
• “If the money was significantly more money... then, yes, give them a couple dollars, help everybody out. But $25,000? What I’m gonna do, give you $1,500?” – Jason Lee (97:17)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Epstein Files discussion: 38:13–51:40
• Nicki Minaj and the UN: 55:56–67:22
• The Game’s confessional & celebrity accountability: 67:23–77:12
• Racial bias in domestic work: 22:45–33:10
• Young Thug & celebrity repentance: 84:52–93:25
• Am I Ignorant? (Listener inheritance dilemma): 93:52–98:29

Tone & Style

"Selective Ignorance" remains true to its reputation—irreverent, blunt, and full of playful jabs. The hosts balance vulnerability with humor, openly discussing their own biases and shortcomings while holding society and celebrities to the same harsh light. Moments of rowdiness and jokes often cut deeper than initial laughs suggest.

For listeners new and old, this episode embodies the spirit of “Decisions, Decisions”: unlearning, questioning, and laughing through the discomfort—while demanding better from the world and themselves.