DONKEY: Alabama House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter Says He Hopes The Supreme Court ‘Will Overturn Amendment 14’

Summary

Donkey of the Day Podcast Summary

Episode: DONKEY: Alabama House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter Says He Hopes The Supreme Court ‘Will Overturn Amendment 14’
Date: May 11, 2026
Host: Charlamagne Tha God (on Power 105.1 FM’s The Breakfast Club)

Episode Overview

This episode of Donkey of the Day features Charlamagne Tha God addressing controversial comments made by Alabama House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter, who publicly expressed hope that the Supreme Court would overturn the 14th Amendment of the United States Constitution. Charlamagne contextualizes these remarks within ongoing concerns about the disenfranchisement of Black voters and parallels to the Jim Crow era, ultimately awarding Ledbetter the “Donkey of the Day” for his views.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Background: Systematic Disenfranchisement in the South

• Charlamagne sets the stage by detailing current threats to Black political power in the South:
  • Cites the systematic dismantling of majority Black congressional districts.
  • References recent events in Louisiana, where Calvin Duncan, a Black man, won an election but then had his position eliminated by the state legislature at the urging of the governor.
    • “A black man wins an election and has it just taken away at the state’s request.” [03:20]
  • Draws a parallel to Reconstruction and Jim Crow, warning of increasing legislative actions to reduce Black political influence.

2. Importance of the 14th Amendment

• Charlamagne offers a brief civics lesson on the 14th Amendment:
  • Grants citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the U.S., including formerly enslaved people.
  • Guarantees equal protection under the law and due process.
  • Overturns the Dred Scott decision, which previously ruled Black people were not U.S. citizens.
  • “The 14th Amendment is what formally recognizes Black people as citizens, okay? It explicitly, explicitly overturns the 1857 Dred Scott vs Sanford decision...” [04:30]

3. Nathaniel Ledbetter’s Controversial Statement

• Plays a clip where Ledbetter hopes for the Supreme Court to overturn the 14th Amendment, framing it as a path to reclaiming congressional seats and undermining efforts against racial redistricting.
  • Quote:
    • “Certainly hope that the Supreme Court will overturn Amendment 14 and gives us a shot to revisit those [districts] ... All we need now is the courts to overturn 14 and we can look at a new election.” [05:40]
• Charlamagne and the team highlight that Ledbetter’s spokesperson claimed he “didn’t mean” what he clearly said—twice.

4. The Dangers of Overturning the 14th Amendment

• Charlamagne breaks down the catastrophic consequences:
  • States could legalize racial segregation and discrimination in education, housing, public spaces, and employment.
  • Civil rights lawsuits would become impossible to win.
  • Warns this would create a modern “Jim Crow” era, but with internet access:
    • “Whatever the Jim Crow era looked like from 1877 to the 1960s, that's what we’d be back in—with Wi-Fi.” [06:51]
• Points out the recurring theme of legislative “mistakes” always threatening to restrict, never expand, Black rights.

5. Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• Charlamagne Tha God:
  • “But I’m telling you, hell can always get hotter, okay? And Nathaniel Ledbetter is proving that...” [04:15]
  • “This is the amendment Nathaniel Ledbetter is saying should be overturned—the 14th, okay?” [07:03]
  • Calls out political gaslighting:
    • “People will tell Black folks don’t overreact... but how come the mistakes always got to do with something that removes our rights?” [07:18]
• Panelist, sarcastically:
  • “I hope everybody gets free health care. I hope everybody gets free reparations.” [07:39]
• Charlamagne concludes with signature mockery:
  • “Please let Chelsea Handler give Nathaniel Ledbetter the biggest Hee haw.” [07:55]

6. Cultural and Political Context

• Emphasizes that dismissing these comments as mere “errors” or exaggerations is dangerous.
• Frames current legislative efforts as a deliberate regression, enabled by weakened federal oversight and emboldened local officials.

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Timestamps for Major Segments

• [03:14] – Introduction of Nathaniel Ledbetter as “Donkey of the Day” and the broader context.
• [04:10–04:50] – Civics break: Explanation of the 14th Amendment’s significance.
• [05:40–06:17] – Nathaniel Ledbetter’s audio clip expressing hope that the Supreme Court will overturn Amendment 14.
• [06:28–07:18] – Analysis of the consequences and disbelief at the spokesperson’s response.
• [07:39–08:14] – Charlamagne’s satirical commentary and call-out of double standards in political rhetoric.
• [07:55] – Chelsea Handler “Hee haw” soundbite segment.

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Conclusion

This episode zeroes in on the gravity of threats to civil rights posed by influential politicians openly advocating to undo foundational constitutional protections. Charlamagne uses historical context, current events, and sardonic humor to spotlight why Ledbetter’s remarks are more than a “slip”—they are a signal of broader, alarming trends in American politics. The segment concludes by urging listeners to remain vigilant and critical of those in power, especially when their “mistakes” always endanger marginalized communities.

Transcript

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[Political Commentator]

Made it. This is Americool.

[Co-host or Panelist]

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

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yes, you are a donkey.

[Political Commentator]

The latest on that police killing of a black man.

[Podcast Host]

Now to new developments in the deadly spa shooting rampage.

[Nathaniel Ledbetter (quoted)]

And yesterday was a really bad day

[Political Commentator]

for him, and this is what he did.

[Co-host or Panelist]

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

[Political Commentator]

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

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[Political Commentator]

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[Charlamagne Tha God]

Well, donkey of the day for Monday,

[Political Commentator]

May 11, the Alabama House Speaker, Nathaniel Ledbetter. Now, I know it's a lot going on in the world. Epstein files, UFO files, war with Iran, gas prices through the roof. Cost of everyday goods through the roof. It's just a lot. So you may or may not realize that black political power in the south is facing what many are calling a reconstruction of the Jim Crow south, okay? The systematic dismantling of majority black congressional districts, redistricting of voting rights, the dilution of black voter impact through strategic redistricting. Hell, in Louisiana, a brother named Calvin Duncan won 68% of the vote to serve as Orleans Parish Criminal Court Clerk. And at the urging of Governor Jeff Landry, the GOP controlled state legislator, you know, raced to pass legislation that eliminated his position, okay, just days before his term was about to start. And they transferred his duties to another official. So a black man wins an election and has it just taken away at the state's request. So, yeah, when people say, this is a reconstruction of the Jim Crow south when it comes to black political power, I can see why they say that, but I'm telling you, hell can always get hotter, okay? And Nathaniel Ledbetter is proving that because in the Constitution, there is something called the 14th amendment, okay? Google it later if you want to, but I'll tell you a little bit about it now. The 14th Amendment to the US Constitution grants citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in these here United States of America, okay? Including formerly enslaved people, okay? And guaranteed all citizens equal protections of the laws in due process. It forbids states from denying these rights, and it's a cornerstone of American civil rights law. So, yes, the 14th Amendment is what formally recognizes black people as citizens, okay? It Explicitly, explicitly overturns the 1857 Dred Scott vs Sanford decision that had declared niggas were not citizens. Okay, this is important, y'. All, all right? The 14th amendment established birthright citizenship for anyone born or naturalized in America, guaranteeing equal protection under the law for formerly enslaved people. Well, what if one day they decided to overturn the 14th Amendment and said, you blacks don't deserve guaranteed citizenship, our equal protection of the laws? Well, that's exactly what Nathaniel Ledbetter wants to happen. Oh, he said it in the press conference. Okay. At the close of a special session. Let's listen.

[Nathaniel Ledbetter (quoted)]

Well, certainly gives us an opportunity to look at those congressional districts again. Gives us a chance at all of them if we get some reprieve from courts. And so give us a. We'll see how that goes and certainly hope that the Supreme Court will overturn Amendment 14 and gives us a shot to revisit those. You know, there's been a push through the courts to try to overtake some of these red state seats. And with the ruling that happened in Louisiana, we felt like it gave us a chance to maybe regain that seat, but also opened up seven, District seven. So I think that's happened. You know, all we need now is the courts to overturn 14 and we can look at a new election.

[Political Commentator]

Come again? Okay, now, spokesman for Nathaniel said the speaker didn't mean what he actually said. Well, Mr. Spokesman, he said it twice, okay? He said it twice in that statement I just heard.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

And I don't know if y' all

[Political Commentator]

quite understand what it would mean for the 14th amendment to be overturned. States could legalize forms of racial Segregation without the 14th Amendment. Legal Discriminatory systems in education, housing, public accommodations, employment, okay? All of that. It would be legal, okay? To be discriminating against all black asses, okay? Unless stopped by federal legislation. And do you think this current administration, this federal government, is going to stop any of that? Huh? Voting rights, please. You think they weak now? You think they've been gutted now? Get rid of the 14th amendment, they wouldn't even matter. Okay? Black people, we wouldn't be able to win a civil rights lawsuit if the white man you were suing, his life depended on it, okay? Basically, whatever the Jim Crow era looked like from 1877 to the 1960s, that's what we would be back in with. Wi fi. Okay? Legal Racial segregation and discrimination. And this is the amendment that Nathaniel Ledbetter is saying should be overturned. The 14th. Okay? What I hate about situations like this is people will tell black folks don't overreact. They. That's not what he meant. But how come the mistakes always got to do with something that removes our rights? Okay, nobody ever accidentally says, you know what?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I hope everybody gets free health care.

[Political Commentator]

I hope everybody gets free reparations. This is why people don't trust politicians when they say democracy is safe. Because if your first instinct during a voting rights argument is maybe we should overturn the amendment that gave black people citizenship, well, what exactly do you think the problem is, Nathaniel, huh? Do you think the problem is the maps? Are the black voters on the maps? I'll take the niggers for 1,000, Alex. Please let Chelsea Handler give Nathaniel Ledbetter the biggest Hee haw. Hee haw. Hee haw.

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[Political Commentator]

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All right?

[Political Commentator]

Okay. Well, thank you for that.

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Donkey of the Day.

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Yes, ma'.

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