DONKEY: Manhattan Attorney Steals $4.4 Million Intended For Covid Protective Gear

Summary

Donkey of the Day: Manhattan Attorney Steals $4.4 Million Intended For Covid Protective Gear

Podcast: Donkey of the Day (Breakfast Club)
Host: Charlamagne Tha God
Date: June 29, 2026

---

Episode Overview

In this episode, Charlamagne Tha God spotlights Manhattan real estate attorney Brian McKenna, who was sentenced to prison for stealing $4.4 million intended for COVID-19 protective gear. The episode delves into McKenna’s motivations—primarily his attempt to impress a romantic partner—and the broader implications of his crime. Through signature humor and candor, Charlamagne critiques the choices and justifications woven into this story of greed, self-destruction, and “funding a romance.”

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction to the Crime

• [02:24] Charlamagne introduces Brian McKenna as the “Donkey of the Day,” noting his status as a disgraced attorney going to prison for his financial crimes.
• McKenna, aged 62, is set to serve up to six years after diverting funds meant for pandemic protective equipment.

2. The Motivations: Money, Love & Vanity

• [03:09] Charlamagne humorously speculates on why “men risk it all,” with references to romantic and lustful motivations:

  “What do men usually risk it all for? That poom.”

• McKenna allegedly misused the funds to “fund a romance” with his then-girlfriend, CEO Dooney Zanae, highlighting the absurdity of trying to purchase love:

  “You don’t fund a romance. Romance happens because of physical attraction, emotional connection, situational factors.” [04:25]
  “Romance can’t be funded...you can’t buy love, fool.” [05:01]

3. Ethical Disgust & Social Context

• Charlamagne expresses outrage at the breach of social responsibility, especially during a global crisis:

  “You stole all this money from people who needed it… Folks needed that COVID protective gear during COVID, and you just stole it.” [03:50]

• Points out McKenna’s privileged position as a lawyer:

  “You have worked hard to become an attorney in this country…It’s not easy. And nothing in life worth having ever is.” [04:16]

4. McKenna’s Courtroom Moment

• Features a courtroom clip with McKenna admitting guilt:

  Brian McKenna (clip, 03:28): “I did these crimes and I deserve to go to jail. I don't know what else to say for myself.”

• Charlamagne remarks on the value of personal accountability:

  “I respect that he's holding himself accountable, okay? He said he did these crimes. He said he deserves to go to jail.” [06:04]

5. Defense vs. Prosecution: The Excuses

• McKenna’s lawyer claims the theft was to help family during financial struggles, while prosecutors say he spent lavishly for himself and his girlfriend.
• Charlamagne dismisses both rationales:

  “So many people are having financial struggles, and sadly, they don’t have the luxury of resorting to crime to get it.” [06:17]

• Mocks McKenna’s priorities and consequences:

  “A Manhattan real estate attorney. Should be able to get his hands on some happy clamor. But nope, instead, you gotta guard your balloon. Not for the next six years in somebody’s prison, okay?” [06:34]

6. The Moral Takeaway

• Charlamagne wraps with a life lesson:

  “Life is a matter of choices. And every choice you make makes you.” [06:48]

• Closes with the traditional “hammer tones” for the Donkey of the Day.

  “Please give Brian McKenna the sweetest, the big, the sweet, the sweet sound of the hammer tones. That’s what I want. You are the donkey of the day.” [07:00]

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [03:10] “That kitty, that undercarriage, that cookie, that penis fly trap. Yes. Brian McKenna is being accused of stealing $4.4 million intended for Covid protective gear, allegedly to fund a romance with his then girlfriend. Oh, the power of the pus. I can't spell the rest.”
• [05:01] “You can go buy some pink taco with some money...But funding a romance? I don't even want no romance that's funded because there's no such thing.”
• [06:34] “But nope, instead, you gotta guard your balloon. Not for the next six years in somebody’s prison, okay? Probably get ass warts. And for what?”
• [06:48] "Life is a matter of choices. And every choice you make makes you.”

---

Important Timestamps

• [02:24] – Donkey of the Day introduction / case setup
• [03:09] – Charlamagne analyses men's motivations (“That poom”)
• [03:28] – Brian McKenna courtroom admission (clip)
• [04:16] – Discussion of McKenna’s professional background and choices
• [05:01] – Charlamagne’s philosophy on romance and money
• [06:04] – Respect for McKenna’s admission/guilt
• [06:34] – Critique of the defense and prison consequences
• [06:48] – Moral of the story and Donkey of the Day “hammer tones” segment

---

Conclusion

Charlamagne’s scathing yet comedic breakdown of Brian McKenna’s fraud provides both entertainment and ethical commentary. The episode serves as a warning about shortcuts, misplaced ambition, and the folly of trying to buy love—reminding listeners that our choices, especially made in moments of weakness and vanity, define us.

---

Transcript

[Host of Guaranteed Human]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Okay, Laundry stinks. Literally. I mean, you could just keep buying new underwear. Not that I've ever done that. Or maybe sort your clothes into piles based on how re wearable or filthy they are. Or just use arm and hammer Deep Clean. It's made for real life stinks and stains. So even if you don't do laundry, the quote right way deep clean will knock it out. I mean it is from the number one liquid detergent brand that that tackles more loads than any other. Come clean with arm and hammer Deep clean number one claim based on total wash loads sold.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Bro. From the show last night to this drive. Why is it never chill?

[DJ Envy]

Because this is our life backstage on the road. It's loud, messy, real.

[Angela Yee]

And that's the best part. Whole crew, no plan, just moving.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Good thing Nissan builds for that kind of chaos.

[DJ Envy]

Not just test tracks, real life scenes, late nights, road trips, all of it.

[Angela Yee]

That's why it holds up. Nissan was ranked number one in initial quality among mainstream brands by J.D. power.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yeah, you can tell.

[Angela Yee]

2026 Nissan Rogue. Built for what really happens for J.D.

[DJ Envy]

power 2025 U.S. initial Quality Study Award information. Visit jdpower.com awards awards based on 2025 model year. Newer models may be shown.

[Simon Malls Advertiser]

It's America's 250th, but you deserve some presents too. Simon malls, mills and premium outlets have can't miss sales. July 3 to 5, join Simon, our new rewards program for free and get 2.5 times the points. In addition to extra savings, cash back and offers that also [e-mail] grab the fam, head to a Simon center and make it a day for the books. It's a sale, a bration thing. Sign up [e-mail] rewards program terms apply. See SimonPlus.com for details.

[America 250 Block Party Announcer]

This July 4th, come celebrate at America's Block Party hosted by America 250. America's Block Party is a can't miss 4th of July concert happening at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Experience music, performances by major artists, patriotic tributes and the kickoff to giving 4th, helping to make July 4th the largest day of giving in American history.

It's more than just fireworks.

Join this landmark celebration and get your America's Block Party Tickets now for $17.76 at america250.org LA your execution on the

[Charlamagne Tha God]

donkey of the Day is something to behold for me to read. He gave me donkey of the day and I deserve it. People need to know. Well, you need to tell them I am because you have the voice. Tell them it's time for Donkey of the Day. It's a read, but you're so good at it, you're trying to be a fake ass. Charlamagne. There's only one Charlemagne involved. Damn Charlemagne. Who you give a dusty of the day to now? Well, sexy red Donkey of the day for Wednesday, March 25, goes to a Manhattan real estate attorney named Brian McKenna. Now, Brian is going to prison, ladies and gentlemen, okay? That's why the New York Post referred to him as disgraced real estate attorney Brian McKenna. He's 62 years old and he's going to prison for up to six years. Why? What do men usually risk it all for? That poom.

[America 250 Block Party Announcer]

Poom.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Okay? That kitty, that undercarriage, that cookie, that penis. Fly trap. Yes. Brian McKenna is being accused of stealing $4.4 million intended for Covid protective gear, allegedly to fund a romance with his then girlfriend. Oh, the power of the pus. I can't spell the rest. Would you like to hear his reaction in the court? Let's listen. I did these crimes and I deserve

[Kel Penn]

to go to jail.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I don't know what else to say for myself.

[Host of Guaranteed Human]

All right, I understand, and I really

[Charlamagne Tha God]

appreciate you taking full responsibility, but ultimately, sir.

[DJ Envy]

All right,

[Charlamagne Tha God]

now, there's so many things that disgust me about this story. Number one, you stole all this money from people who needed it. Okay? Folks needed that covet protective gear during COVID and you just stole it, okay? You just stole the money for it. All right? A man who didn't need it, okay?

[America 250 Block Party Announcer]

You're a lawyer.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

You 62 years old, Brian. So you were in your 50s when you came up with this scam. Because what Kobe was Covid was six years ago. Okay? I don't understand people who literally have the world in their hand. You have worked hard to become an attorney in this country, okay? You, more than a lot of people, understand the process of life. You understand life is a process, okay? Becoming a lawyer takes at least seven years of full time higher education in this country, all right? Four years for a bachelor's degree. Three years of law school. You have to pass the bar exam. They got a baby bar and the big bar. My point is, it's not easy. And nothing in life worth having ever is. But for some reason, you thought you could cut the line. You thought you could take a $4.4 million shortcut, all to impress a woman who already has her own money. He was dating the then CEO of Aston's group. Her name was Dooney Zanae. Okay? That's According to the New York Post. I don't know how much she was making, but if she was the CEO of a company, she was touching some paper. So I don't know why you went out of your way, Brian. To impress her. And I don't even like that phrase, fund a romance. You don't fund a romance. Romance happens because of physical attraction, emotional connection, situational factors. Okay? Y' all might just match energies, all right? You like the same things, share the same beliefs. And let's not forget the most important part. Reciprocal liking. Okay? You like me, I like you. Romance can't be funded. Now, you can go buy some pink taco with some money, all right? Go to Nevada, pull up in certain counties at a brothel, and you can purchase as much as that Harry Potter as you want. But funding a romance? I don't even want no romance. That's funded because there's no such thing. You can't buy love, fool. Now, Brian was in the courtroom crying his ass off. I want y' all to hear this again, man. Just listen. I did these crimes. I deserve to go to jail. I don't know what else to say for myself.

[Host of Guaranteed Human]

All right, Mr. McKenna, I understand, and

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I really appreciate you taking full responsibility. But ultimately, sir. All right, ultimately what? Ultimately what? He is going to jail for six years. I respect that he's holding himself accountable, okay? He said he did these crimes. He said he deserves to go to jail. Now, his defense lawyer, Eric Franz, claimed to the court that Brian had run into financial struggles and that he was just trying to help his family with the stolen funds. But Assistant DA Jonathan Borrowed alleged that Brian stole the money to spend on himself and his gal pal. Dooney's a. Nate, listen. Neither one of those valid reasons. So many people are having financial struggles, and sadly, they don't have the luxury of resorting to crime to get it. Okay? And you, Brian, were in a privileged position already. Not just a privileged position to get money because you were a lawyer, you know what I'm saying? But also a Manhattan real estate attorney. Should be able to get his hands on some happy clamor. But nope, instead, you gotta guard your balloon. Not for the next six years in somebody's prison, okay? Probably get ass warts. And for what? The moral of the story is, life is a matter of choices. And every choice you make makes you. Please give Brian McKenna the sweetest, the big, the sweet, the sweet sound of the hammer tones. That's what I want. You are the donkey of the day. You are the donkey of the day. I started to say give Brian McKenna a Swedish hee Haw, but that sounds like something you can purchase. All right, don't move is the Breakfast Club. Good morning the Breakfast Club,

[DJ Envy]

bro.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

From the show last night to this drive. Why is it never chill?

[DJ Envy]

Because this is our live backstage on the road. It's loud, messy, real.

[Angela Yee]

And that's the best part. Whole crew, no plan, just moving.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Good thing Nissan builds for that kind of chaos.

[DJ Envy]

Not just test tracks, real life scenes, late nights, road trips, all of it.

[Angela Yee]

That's why it holds up. Nissan was ranked number one in initial quality among mainstream brands by J.D. power.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yeah, you can tell.

[Angela Yee]

2026 Nissan Rogue built for what really happens for J.D.

[DJ Envy]

power. 2025 U.S. initial Quality Study Award information, visit jdpower.com awards awards based on 2025 model year. Newer models may be shown it's America's

[Simon Malls Advertiser]

250th, but you deserve some presents too. Simon Malls Mills and premium outlets have can't miss sales July 3rd to 5th join Simon plus our new rewards program for free and get 2.5 times the points. In addition to extra savings, cash back and offers that also [e-mail] grab the fam, head to assignment center and make it a day for the books. It's a sale, a bration thing. Sign up [e-mail] rewards program terms apply. See SimonPlus.com for details.

[America 250 Block Party Announcer]

This July 4th, come celebrate at America's Block Party hosted by America 250. America's Block Party is a can't miss 4th of July concert happening at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Experience music, performances by major artists, patriotic tributes and the kickoff to giving 4th, helping to make July 4th the largest day of giving in American history.

It's more than just fireworks.

Join this landmark celebration and get your America's Block Party Tickets now for $17.76 at america250.org LA

[Kel Penn]

hey everyone, it's Kel Penn. I'm inviting you to join the best sounding book club you've ever heard with my podcast, Hearsay, The Audible and iHeart Audiobook Club. Every episode I nerd out with amazing guests and dive into the best new audiobooks available on Audible. It's the book club for your ears. Listen to Earsay, the Audible and iHeart audiobook club on the iHeartradio app or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Host of Guaranteed Human]

This is an iHeart podcast, Guaranteed Human.