DONKEY: Senator Helps Capitol Police Forcefully Eject Anti-War Protester

Summary

Podcast Summary: Donkey of the Day – Senator Helps Capitol Police Forcefully Eject Anti-War Protester

Podcast: Donkey of the Day – The Breakfast Club, Power 105.1 FM
Host: Charlamagne Tha God
Date: March 5, 2026
Episode Description: Charlamagne awards “Donkey of the Day” to Senator Tim Sheehy and the U.S. Capitol Police after the forceful removal and injury of anti-war protester and Marine veteran Brian McGinnie at a Senate hearing.

---

Episode Overview

In this episode, Charlamagne Tha God delivers a blistering critique of Senator Tim Sheehy and the U.S. Capitol Police for their actions during a recent Senate hearing. The focal point is the aggressive removal—and resultant injury—of Brian McGinnie, a Marine Corps veteran and Green Party Senate candidate, who protested against American and Israeli military action in Iran. Charlamagne contextualizes the incident as both an indictment of government attitudes towards veterans and as a concerning escalation of political suppression.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Incident at the Senate Hearing

• Who was involved:

  • Senator Tim Sheehy – Republican Senator, named Donkey of the Day
  • Brian McGinnie – Marine Corps vet, Green Party Senate candidate in NC
  • U.S. Capitol Police

• What happened:

  • McGinnie, in uniform, peacefully protested American and Israeli action against Iran during a Senate hearing.
  • He was forcefully removed by Capitol Police, with Senator Sheehy intervening; during the altercation, McGinnie’s hand was reportedly broken.

Charlamagne’s Critique on Treatment of Veterans

• Emphasizes the poor treatment of U.S. military veterans post-service, using McGinnie as a case in point.
• Argues that veterans, especially those who risk their lives for the country, should be treated "like royalty," receiving housing, healthcare, and support, not violence and disregard.

The Irony of "Thank You for Your Service"

• Points to the hypocrisy of thanking veterans while physically harming them for expressing constitutionally protected dissent.

Notable Quote

“Salute to all our veterans out there, man. Absolutely. You deserve so much more from this country, okay? … Our veterans shouldn’t have to want for anything, okay? Watching homeless veterans with signs telling us what war they fought in with a Dunkin Donuts cup asking for change should infuriate American citizens.”
— Charlamagne, [05:00]

The Mental Health Crisis for Veterans

• Rebuts Senator Sheehy’s public claim that McGinnie was “unhinged” and needed help.
• Calls out the real crisis: less than 50% of returning veterans get necessary mental health treatment due to convoluted VA eligibility.

Notable Quote

“Funny he would say that when lack of access to mental health services are usually what contribute to the high suicide rates among veterans… But this man Bryant doesn’t need help, Senator. You do.”
— Charlamagne, [06:25]

The Escalation of Political Suppression

• Charlamagne argues that forcibly silencing protest, especially from veterans, signals a failure of democracy and an alarming turn toward spectacle over substantive debate.

Memorable Moment

“When a senator and Capitol Police are helping to break a Marine’s hand in a congressional hearing, we’re not having a debate. We’re having a spectacle. And spectacles are great for viral videos but terrible for democracy, okay?”
— Charlamagne, [08:50]

The Broader Implications

• Critiques the U.S. government for prioritizing control and optics (viral moments, suppressing protest) over making real improvements or engaging in open debate.
• Questions the priorities of politicians, referencing the “America First” slogan ironically in light of this treatment of a protesting Marine.

Highlighted Segment

“For all the soldiers who may have to go to Iran to fight for Bibi’s war, just know: the administration sending you over there, it doesn’t give a damn about you, okay? They will treat you exactly like they treated Brian. We are pawns in whatever sick game these people are playing. It’s wrestling to them—real life for us.”
— Charlamagne, [08:15]

---

Significant Timestamps

• [03:34] – Charlamagne introduces Senator Tim Sheehy and Capitol Police as Donkey of the Day.
• [04:24] – Plays audio from the Senate hearing: McGinnie’s protest and the beginning of the altercation.
• [05:00] – Charlamagne’s passionate address on mistreatment of veterans in America.
• [06:25] – Breaks down the Senator’s “unhinged” comment and rebuts with statistics on veteran mental health support.
• [07:29] – Audio replay: the scuffle where McGinnie’s hand is apparently broken.
• [08:50] – Critique on the state of democratic debate and the rise of spectacle.
• [09:46] – Delivers the symbolic “hee haw” as the award for Donkey of the Day.

---

Tone & Language

Charlamagne’s tone is direct, impassioned, and unapologetically critical. He uses vivid metaphors (“We are pawns in whatever sick game these people are playing. It’s wrestling to them—real life for us.”) and a conversational, sometimes humorous style when discussing the pronunciation of Tim Sheehy’s name. His rhetoric is rooted in social justice, concern for veterans' welfare, and defense of the right to protest.

---

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• “A Marine, a man who fought for this country and doesn’t want his government answering to anyone but the American people, gets tackled and gets his hand broke for standing up for America. What happened to America first?”
  — Charlamagne, [08:03]

• On Capitol Police and political priorities:
  “If this government put as much energy into fixing the country as they do in the tackling protesters, all right, who happen to be Marines, America might actually get somewhere.”
  — Charlamagne, [09:10]

---

Conclusion

Charlamagne’s “Donkey of the Day” zeroes in on the disconnect between political rhetoric and the treatment of actual citizens—especially those, like veterans, who have sacrificed the most. The episode stands as a forceful call for accountability, democratic integrity, and a reexamination of American priorities.

---

For more details or to hear the saga firsthand, listen to this powerfully charged segment from The Breakfast Club’s “Donkey of the Day.”

Transcript

[Podcast Host]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Commercial Narrator 1]

Guaranteed Human pressure has a way of revealing what remains steady. In the latest Nissan campaign, the Nissan Rogue was tested to the extreme to demonstrate that it's built to last through durability and reliability challenges inspired by real tests conducted by Nissan engineers. Brutal potholes, a steady force of water, even a jet powered sandstorm. Each challenge inviting a deeper look at how quality, durability and reliability hold hold their ground in real world conditions. Every test was 100% real. No CG, no AI. To see how the Rogue held up, visit nissan-duordability.com you've been working in the

[Commercial Narrator 2]

garage with your dad every week, Monday to Sunday, trying to get the old school up and running. Today, after all the hard work, y' all finally finished it. Even better. Your dad says all your son?

[Podcast Host]

Yep.

[Commercial Narrator 2]

Same car that belongs to your grandpa that your dad helped him fix is yours. To really keep the tradition going, you need to get State Farm insurance just like them generation to generation. Remember to choose the agents that your family counted on. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.

[Podcast Host]

There's a difference between liking a house and actually getting it. Redfin is built to make up that difference and close the gap between finding and owning the home for you. Redfin agents close twice as many deals as other agen, so when you find a home you love, you're not a step behind when it comes to making an offer. That means less watching great homes disappear and more focus on the one you'll call home. Redfin helps turn saved listings into real addresses. Get [e-mail] own the dream do you

[Commercial Narrator 3]

want to find a stress free way to buy your next car? Start at CarMax and shop your way. If you want to browse with confidence, get pre qualified online with no impact on your credit score and and shop cars within your budget. From luxury cars to family rides, CarMax has options for almost every price range, including more than 25,000 cars priced under $25,000. So hey, want to get started? Just head to CarMax.com for details and get pre qualified today. Want to drive CarMax?

[Podcast Host]

This is Danielle Robaix from Bookmarked by Reese's Book Club. The Autograph Journey credit card from Wells Fargo is built for travel. You can earn rewards wherever you book your favorite hotel site your go to airline and more. You get five times points with hotels, four times with airlines, three times on restaurants and other travel and one point on other purchases. Whether it's a big vacation or a quick getaway from booking your stay to that first Meal. When you arrive, you're turning your trips into rewards with the autographed journey card from Wells Fargo. Learn more at Wells Fargo.com autographjourney Terms apply.

[Donkey of the Day Host]

This is a miracle. There is no question that there are problems in this country between police and community. Yes, you are a donkey.

[Commercial Narrator 3]

The latest on that police killing of a black man.

[Podcast Host]

Now to new developments in the deadly spa shooting rampage.

[Commercial Narrator 4]

And yesterday was a really bad day

[Commercial Narrator 3]

for him, and this is what he did.

[Donkey of the Day Host]

And so we are in a state of emergency. Okay? White supremacist violence is and always has been the number one threat to our society. But I'm also very proud that my wife is white. All right, Charlene, please tell me, why

[Podcast Host]

was I your donkey of the day?

[Donkey of the Day Host]

Well, donkey today for Thursday, March 5, goes to Senator Tim Sheehy. Am I saying. Am I saying his name wrong? Is it Sheehy? Whatever I like she do, send it to Tim Shea, okay? And U.S. capitol Police. All right, that's who's getting donkey today. Today for forcibly removing Brian McGinnie from a Senate hearing on Wednesday for protesting against the military action that America and Israel took on Iran. Now, I know you're probably saying, well, who is Brian McGinnie? He's a green Party candidate running for Senate in North Carolina, and he's a US Marine Corps veteran. You have to go watch this video, man. Brian McGinnie literally has his Marine uniform on, and he was exercising his First Amendment right. The peacefully protest. Do you want to hear the audio from the hearing? Let's listen.

[Commercial Narrator 3]

And nobody wants to fight for Israel.

[Donkey of the Day Host]

Capitol police will escort any protesters out of the hearing room.

[Podcast Host]

Ow.

[Donkey of the Day Host]

No one for hearings for Israel.

[Commercial Narrator 3]

His hand. His hand.

[Podcast Host]

Oh,

[Donkey of the Day Host]

you. That's. We didn't play the part where the guy started screaming. He. His hand was broke. Put that back in there, man. Salute to all our veterans out there, man. Absolutely. You deserve so much more from this country, okay? I have gotten on this radio a million times over the years and told you how I hate this country treats his veterans, okay? If you have ever served this country, if you have fought a war for this country, when you come home, you should be treated like royalty, okay? They should get free housing, free health care, a livable stipend every month. Our veterans shouldn't have to want for anything, okay? Watching homeless veterans with signs telling us what war they fought in with a Dunkin Donuts cup asking for change should infuriate American citizens, okay? It should break your heart every time you see it. We shouldn't be jacking that at all. And now a Marine veteran, okay. In uniform, comes to protest against the war that Israel and America just waged on Iran. And he gets forcibly removed, tackled, and called unhinged by Senator Tim Sheehy. Or Sheehy. Okay. Tim wrote on Twitter, Capitol police were attempting to remove an unhinged protester. Unhinged protester. From the armed services hearing. Okay. He was fighting back. I decided to help out and. And de. Escalate the situation. Now he actually escalated the situation. Okay. The gentleman came to the Capitol looking for a confrontation, and he got one. I hope he gets the help he needs without causing further violence. End quote. Funny he would say that when lack of access to mental health services are usually what contribute to the high suicide rates among veterans. Fewer than 50% of returning veterans in need receive mental health treatment from the Department of Veteran Affairs. Why? Because the eligibility requirements are difficult to navigate. Because they are so complex. They should be simple. If you're served, you get all the mental health treatment you need. But this man Bryant doesn't need help, Senator. You do. Okay. And the Capitol Police do. Y' all the ones that look unhinged. You tackled a Marine who was protesting a war saying, no one wants to fight for Israel, speaking to the accusations that Donald Trump only engaged in war with Iran because Bibi Netanyahu wanted him to. That gets you tackled and dragged out. And then when he holds on to a door to keep himself from being pulled away, and you hear, you know, a woman yelling for all of them to be aware of the Marine's hand. And then you hear a crack, you know, because you hear a crack because his hand is in the crack of the doorway. And then you hear a. A loud crack because apparently he broke his hand. That. No, nobody thinks that's crazy. Can we listen to it again?

[Podcast Host]

Ouch.

[Donkey of the Day Host]

No one wants to fight for Israel.

[Commercial Narrator 1]

His hand.

[Donkey of the Day Host]

His hand. We still ain't had the. Nope. The part where they say he broke his hand. There you go, Eddie. Come on, let's play. Let's play the extended version, okay? How no one wants to fight for Israel. Oh, my God. Sir, thank you for your service. How you say thanks for your service after you break my hand? After you broke my hand. A Marine, a man who fought for this country and doesn't want his government answering to anyone but the American people, gets tackled and gets his hand broke for standing up for America. What happened to America first? Okay? For all the soldiers who may have to go to Iran to fight for Bibi's war, just know the administration sending you over there, it doesn't give a damn about you, okay? They will treat you exactly like they treated Brian. We are pawns in whatever sick game these people are playing. It's wrestling to them. Real life for us, okay? Real life for y', all, especially. All right? And when politics turns to wwe, everybody loses. Okay? What happened to debates? We can't have a healthy debate? You can't have a healthy debate with somebody who fought for this country. When a senator and Capitol Police are helping to break a Marine's hand in a congressional hearing, we're not having a debate. We're having a spectacle. And spectacles are great for viral videos but terrible for democracy, okay? If this government put as much energy into fixing the country as they do in the tackling protesters, all right, who happen to be Marines, America might actually get somewhere. Please give Senator Tim Sheehy and the US Capitol Police the biggest Hee Hawk. Now, Mimi Brown sent me a text, and she put S h e e dash h e e. So that looks like she to me. Okay. I don't know who that that looks like to me. That. So I must be pronouncing it right. Okay, send it to Tim.

[Commercial Narrator 1]

She.

[Donkey of the Day Host]

I. I don't think that text was for that, but. All right. Hey, yo, that wasn't. She wasn't trying to get me to pronounce it anyway. All right, well, thank you for that donkey today. Now, when we come back, Jess Fix my mess. 800-585-1051. If you need relationship advice or any type of advice, you could call Jess right now. It's the Breakfast Club. Good morning. Donkey of the Day 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 bull, you get the horns.

[Chelsea Handler]

This is Chelsea Handler from Dear Chelsea. After the big Game. Like most people, I kept thinking about the commercials, and there was one that stayed with me. It was from the Blue Square Alliance Against Hate. And it wasn't loud or flashy. It showed a Jewish kid being targeted at school and another student who chose not to ignore it. As someone who was Jewish, that moment felt very real to me. Not dramatic, just familiar. And what struck me was how clearly it showed that hate doesn't always announce itself, but the impact is still huge. If you saw the Blue Square spot during the big game, it's worth thinking about. And if you want to show support. Sharing the blue square is one small way to do that.

[Commercial Narrator 3]

There's no championship league for small business owners, but if there was, you'd be at the top of the standings. Because going pro with Lenovo Pro means you've got the winning formation. One on one Advice IT solutions and customized hardware powered by Intel Core Ultra processors help you stay ahead of the company competition. Business goes pro with Lenovo Pro Sign up for [e-mail] Pro.

[Podcast Host]

Picture this Me, Reese Witherspoon in London, ordering fish and chips so often they might start wrapping me in paper. I'm traveling with my Wells Fargo Autograph Journey card, so I earn rewards wherever I book travel five times points with hotels four times with airlines, three times on restaurants and other travel, and one point on other purchases. Imagine getting rewarded for eating a toad in the hole. Wait, what is a toad in a hole?

[Commercial Narrator 3]

Visit Wells Fargo.com autographjourney Terms apply. This is Jacob Goldstein from what's yous Problem? Business software is expensive, and when you buy software from lots of different companies, it's not only expensive, it gets confusing. Slow to use, hard to integrate. Odoo solves that, because all Odoo software is connected on a single, affordable platform. Save money without missing out on the features you need. Odoo has no hidden costs and no limit on features or data. Odoo has over 60 apps available for any needs your business might have, all at no additional charge. Everything from websites to sales to inventory to accounting. All linked and talking to each other. Check out [e-mail] that's o-o.com when people

[Commercial Narrator 4]

turn to telehealth for weight loss, they're looking for real support. That's why more people are choosing OrderlyMeds.com OrderlyMeds connects you with real doctors and access to proven GLP1 medications like semaglutide and Tirzeptatide. No guessing, just a more supportive experience and all shipped directly to your door in discreet packaging. Do your research, ask questions, then visit orderlymeds.com podcast for an exclusive offer. That's orderlymed. Individual results may vary. Not medical advice. Eligibility required. See site for details.

[Podcast Host]

This is an I Heart podcast. Guaranteed human.