DONKEY: Charlamagne Gives Mike Johnson Donkey Of The Day After He Ignored Concerns Over GOP Voting Maps

Summary

Donkey of the Day: Charlamagne tha God Awards Mike Johnson for Ignoring Concerns Over GOP Voting Maps

Podcast: Donkey of the Day (Power 105.1 FM, WWPR-FM)
Host: Charlamagne tha God
Episode Date: May 18, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this episode of “Donkey of the Day,” Charlamagne tha God calls out Speaker of the House Mike Johnson for his dismissive stance regarding the impact of recent Supreme Court decisions on Black voting rights and GOP redistricting efforts. Charlamagne critiques the lack of urgency and advocacy from both major political parties, underscoring the erosion of protections afforded by the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the perpetuation of racially-motivated tactics designed to disenfranchise Black voters. The segment exposes political hypocrisy and the historic continual moving of the goalposts for Black Americans seeking fair representation.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Supreme Court's Erosion of Voting Rights (02:31–05:27)

• Charlamagne contextualizes the Donkey of the Day within the recent Supreme Court decision further weakening the Voting Rights Act of 1965. He laments the impending loss of Black political power and how this regression is largely ignored outside of the Black community.
• He highlights how Black voters are the "cornerstone of electoral success" for Democrats, and yet, their voting power is being systematically gutted without sufficient protest from party leadership.
• Notably, he references California Governor Gavin Newsom’s public urging for Democrats to address the gutting of the Voting Rights Act, calling out the party’s failure to champion this foundational issue.

“The fact that Gavin Newsom, the governor of California, big Democrat, had to post that is exactly why people don’t like Democrats, okay? The voting power of your most loyal constituents... has been weakened, gutted... and one of your most prominent faces... has to tell y’all not to be silent about it. Unbelievable.”
— Charlamagne tha God [04:05]

2. Mike Johnson’s Response to Racial Gerrymandering (05:27–05:52)

• A clip is played of Speaker Mike Johnson on Fox News, positioning the Supreme Court’s opinion as “long overdue,” claiming it's about fairness and non-racial gerrymandering.
• Mike Johnson frames the changes as correcting "unconstitutional" practices in Louisiana, avoiding direct engagement with concerns about Black disenfranchisement.

“You cannot draw lines on the basis of race. And that’s what was done in Louisiana. So they declared it to be an unconstitutional gerrymander. And it was. This... brings back fairness and certainty to the system.”
— Mike Johnson [05:27]

3. Charlamagne’s Critique of Political Hypocrisy (05:52–08:24)

• Charlamagne sharply addresses Johnson directly, pointing out the hypocrisy of only discovering “colorblindness” once Black voters gain some leverage.
• He reminds listeners that racially-conscious districts originated because of a long history of disenfranchisement.
• He highlights how both parties gerrymander, but only Black-centric districts are labeled problematic.
• He gives a historical overview: from literacy tests and poll taxes to modern redistricting, underscoring a recurring pattern of undermining Black voting strength.

“You can’t spend decades suppressing black voters, weakening the Voting Rights act every chance you get, slicing up districts like sweet potato pie. Well, for you, it’s probably pumpkin, maybe apple... Then all of a sudden, just randomly, you discover colorblindness when Black people start getting political representation.”
— Charlamagne tha God [05:52]

• He likens trust in American politics for Black people to a toxic relationship, underscoring the impossibility of disengagement despite continual betrayal.

“America has a long history of moving the goalposts. Anytime black folks figure out how to play the game they invented... Now it’s, ‘Well, actually protecting black voting power is racist too.’”
— Charlamagne tha God [07:00]

• Charlamagne closes the Donkey of the Day by giving Mike Johnson “the biggest he haw,” the show’s signature shame anthem. [08:24]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “White supremacist violence is and always have been the number one threat to our society.”
  — Charlamagne tha God [02:55]

• “I don’t trust y’all to go raw even though we’ve been together a long time. Okay? I know you are no good, dirty ho.”
  — Charlamagne tha God [07:17]
  (A metaphor for lack of trust in politicians regarding Black rights and representation)

• "Race made the districts in the first place. Okay? Race conscious districts were created because black voters were historically diluted or shut out of representation. That's why they calling it Jim Crow 2.0."
  — Charlamagne tha God [07:55]

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Important Segment Timestamps

• 02:31 – Discussion transitions from ads to the main issue: Voting Rights Act gutting and Black disenfranchisement.
• 05:09 – Charlamagne introduces Mike Johnson as Donkey of the Day and sets up audio from Fox News.
• 05:27–05:52 – Mike Johnson’s Fox News comment on redistricting.
• 05:52–08:24 – Charlamagne’s in-depth critique of GOP map manipulation, the failings of both parties, and the enduring struggle for Black voting power.
• 08:24 – Official Donkey of the Day call-out and Charlamagne’s wrap-up.

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Summary & Takeaway

This episode is a direct call-out of both GOP dishonesty and Democratic passivity in protecting Black political power. Charlamagne unapologetically lays bare the insidiousness of so-called “fairness” rhetoric around race and voting districts, exposing how systems adapt new measures to preserve the status quo whenever Black Americans gain ground. The Donkey of the Day serves both as an exposé and a rallying cry: silence from allies and resistance from opponents both serve to undermine equality. Charlamagne’s blend of wit, historical insight, and biting metaphor makes the outrage clear and the stakes urgent for all listeners.

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For a full, uninterrupted critique on Black voting rights, gerrymandering, and political accountability, this Donkey of the Day is a must-listen.

Transcript

[Podcast Announcer]

This is an iHeart podcast, guaranteed human

[Charlamagne tha God]

streaming May 22nd on Paramount. The acclaimed series from executive producer Lena Waithe reaches its final chapter. The Chi. For seven seasons, these stories, these streets, this community have stayed with us. Now it all leads to this. As friendships are tested, families evolve, and secrets refuse to stay buried, one thing is certain. The Chi is more than just a series. It's a legacy. Don't miss the final season. May 22 on a paramount Premium plan.

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[Charlamagne tha God]

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[News Reporter]

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[Charlamagne tha God]

it this is America,

[Co-host/Guest Commentator]

there is no question that there are problems in this country between police and community.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Yes, you are a donkey.

[News Reporter]

The latest on that police killing of a black man.

[Co-host/Guest Commentator]

Now to new developments in the deadly spa shooting rampage.

[News Reporter]

And yesterday was a really bad day for him, and this is what he did.

[Co-host/Guest Commentator]

And so we are in a state of emergency, okay?

[Charlamagne tha God]

White supremacist violence is and always have been the number one threat to our society.

[State Farm Advertiser]

But I'm also very proud that my wife is white.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Such a Breakfast Club bitch.

[Co-host/Guest Commentator]

All right, Charlene, please tell me, why was I your donkey of the day?

[Charlamagne tha God]

Happy Monday, y'. All. Donkey of the day for Monday, May 18, goes to the speaker of the House of the United States of America, Mike Johnson. Now, I know it's a lot going on, and you've probably seen the headline on how the Supreme Court has made it harder to protect black voting power by weakening parts of the Voting Rights act of 1965. They've been doing this since 2013. Okay? President Barack Obama scared the establishment so much that they said, we are going to make sure this never happens again, okay? We cannot let these Negroes have any political power. So that rally you saw this weekend in Montgomery, Alabama, the All Roads Lead to the south rally, that was because the Supreme Court essentially gutted the Voting Rights act and severely limited protections against voting discrimination. And I don't think anybody cares except for black people. Okay? I'm serious. I saw the governor of California, Gavin Newsom, say, Democrats need to be talking more about the gutting of the Voting Rights Act. This is the governor of California, Gavin Newsom. He posted Democrats need to be talking more about the gutting. And he put gutting in capital letters of the Voting Rights Act. MAGA is silencing voters and carving up black districts all across the south to hold on to power. This is Jim Crow 2.0. Silence is not an option. End quote. The fact that Gavin Newsom, the governor of California, big Democrat, had to post that is exactly why people don't like Democrats, okay? The voting power of your most loyal constituents, the cornerstone of your electoral success, has been weakened, gutted. And one of your most prominent faces, Gavin Newsom, has to tell y' all not to be silent about it. Unbelievable. But like I said, nobody seems to care about this issue except for black people. And that leads me to speaker of the House Mike Johnson. He was on Fox News Sunday with Shannon Beam yesterday, and he was asked what his message was to black Americans after the Supreme Court delivered such a severe blow to the Voting Rights Act. Let's Listen to what he said. This is a great turnaround and a turn back to Jim Crow era politics in the 50s.

[Co-host/Guest Commentator]

We're looking at at losing possibly 19 members of the Congressional Black Caucus because of this frankly, racist redistricting efforts targeted towards disenfranchising black voters across the country. So what is your message to black Americans, black voters, about this redistricting?

[Mike Johnson]

The Supreme Court issued a long awaited opinion and I think it was long overdue. And they stated the obvious, that drawing congressional lines must be fair. You cannot draw lines on the basis of race. And that's what was done in Louisiana. So they declared it to be an unconstitutional gerrymander. And it was. This is brings back fairness and certainty to the system. And I think a lot of states are looking to make sure that their maps are not unconstitutional like Louisiana's was.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Mike, Michael, Mikey, what are we talking about? Okay, Majority black districts are the real racial gerrymandering. Imagine somebody stealing your car and then getting mad at you because you have a GPS tracker on. Okay, mother effort. Who told you to steal my car in the first place? Okay, you the reason I gotta have a GPS tracker. You can't spend decades suppressing black voters, weakening the Voting Rights act every chance you get, slicing up districts like sweet potato pie. Well, for you it's probably pumpkin, maybe apple, but you can't be slicing up the districts. Then all of a sudden, just randomly, you discover colorblindness when black people start getting political representation. And this is why black people don't trust politicians, okay? America has a long history of moving the goalposts. Anytime black folks figure out how to play the game, they invent it. Okay? First it was literacy tests, then poll taxes. Now it's. Well, actually protecting black voting power is racist too. We need protection. Mike Johnson. Okay, I don't trust y' all to go raw even though we've been together a long time. Okay? I know you are no good, dirty ho. Okay? I would love to be celibate and abstain all together from being in any type of relationship with you, but that's not the way American politics work, okay? I have to engage. And let's be clear. Every district is drawn strategically. Republicans do it, Democrats do it. The difference is when black voters ask for districts where they can actually elect somebody who represents them, people think that's a problem. Okay? I've seen a lot of Republicans say, well, how come Republicans can't represent black people? Easy answer. Because historically they have shown us they don't. And they aren't willing to okay. Democrats at least have shown us they're willing to work with us. I guess one party acts like they like us, the other party don't give a damn. Okay, Mike Johnson and other Republicans are basically saying we should stop making districts about race. Sir, race made the districts in the first place. Okay? Race conscious districts were created because black voters were historically diluted or shut out of representation. That's why they calling it Jim Crow 2.0. Okay? This is just another example of how America loves to celebrate black voting power. Right up until black voters start actually influencing power. And now all of a sudden, they want to start using words like fairness when the reality is we needed the Voting Rights act of 1965 because things weren't fair for us to begin with. Please give speaker of the House Mike Johnson the biggest he haw.

All right?

Yes, ma'.

[News Reporter]

Am.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Well, thank you for that donkey today, sir. Now when we come back, let's open up the phone lines. 800-585-1051. It's prom season, ladies and gentlemen. I know a lot of your kids are about to head to prom and it's getting a lot, it's getting a little ridiculous. I'm gonna say a lot ridiculous, but it's getting ridiculous. Right. Jess was just showing me some of the prom ideas and outfits and commitment that these parents are really putting effort into doing. Like these girls dresses are like $4,000.

[Jess]

Yep, $4,000. A parent paid 4, 500. I've seen another parent, she paid not 9,000. So like just under.

[Charlamagne tha God]

But they're not a lift. They're creating sets. They're creating Airbnb and mansions.

[Jess]

Yes.

[Charlamagne tha God]

They're renting flowers and balloons like weddings

[Jess]

just for send offs. Yes. This is like, these are bigger. Like bigger than some weddings.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Renting three $400,000 cars to drive there

[Jess]

and back, paying sick from 600 to $1,000 per hour for these, these kids proms.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Let's, let's, let's open up the phone lines. 800-585-1051. Is, is social media the reason why this is getting ridiculous?

[Jess]

Yeah, because the thing is, I went through the comments and I saw a lot of other parents like, wow, this is why my daughter didn't even want to go to prom. Or my son didn't want to go to prom because they didn't want to be made fun of because I ain't got it like that for them to be stepping out in Rolls Royces and Bentleys and all of that. So I was like, zim, when you

[Charlamagne tha God]

went to the prom. It was just a limo.

[Jess]

Yeah, like I. Yep, because it was a limo.

[Charlamagne tha God]

It was eight of us in the limo.

[Jess]

Me and my friends had to put up. We had to all put up, put

[Charlamagne tha God]

in $200 each to get the limo.

[Jess]

And then we would find a diner or like a nice restaurant that stayed open later than, you know, the. After the prom, we would go and we had to be in our house.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Did you go to prom amongst women? They had prom.

I'll come punch you in your business.

[Jess]

Oh, my God. Y' all didn't have prom down there. I could punch you.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Everybody. Oh, you just caught that. Everybody should act your wage. That's all I'm getting from this. You know what I mean?

[Jess]

Yeah, but these are kids.

[Charlamagne tha God]

What you showed me on Instagram. I know everybody not doing that.

[Jess]

No.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Yeah, but a lot of people are doing that. They're saving for that. Like they are putting money to the side for their baby's prom, which is ridiculous.

Prom is a once in a lifetime experience, right? Especially for girls.

[Jess]

You got senior.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Yeah, yeah. My daughter. My daughter went to junior. She's about to go to her senior. Girls, are you going over and beyond

for her prom like that?

That's what she want. You think I don't be involved in none of that type of stuff. Okay. You just swipe the card. They just use your card. My wife got going on.

Let's open up the phone lines. 800-585-1051. Is prom getting too ridiculous? Is social media making it where people are spending too much money on a

[Jess]

damn prom and they're discouraging other kids?

[Charlamagne tha God]

Let's discuss the Breakfast Club.

Good morning, dog. Here today is sponsored by renowned personal injury attorney Michael the Bull. Lamentsoft. Don't be a donkey when you need a fighter on your side. If you're ever injured, go to Michael the Bull dot com. That's Michael the Bull dot com. And when you mess with the bu Bull, you get the horns.

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[Charlamagne tha God]

this

[Podcast Announcer]

is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.