Jay-Z Returns to Beef With Drake, Plus Trump’s Failed Concert Series

Summary

Higher Learning with Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay Episode Summary: "Jay-Z Returns to Beef With Drake, Plus Trump’s Failed Concert Series" Date: June 2, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this episode, Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay cover a dynamic range of topics at the intersection of Black culture, politics, music, and sports. The central discussions revolve around Jay-Z’s explosive return to the stage and into rap beef, particularly with Drake, before segueing into Donald Trump’s failed concert series and the ongoing spectacle of his attempts to maintain cultural and political relevance. The hosts also touch on local LA politics, the quirks of elite nightlife, and viral cultural moments, sparking spirited, irreverent commentary throughout.

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Key Discussion Points

1. Jay-Z’s Return & Freestyle at Roots Picnic

(Timestamp: 19:13 – 42:57)

• Jay-Z’s Comeback: Jay-Z performed at the Roots Picnic in Philadelphia after a six-year solo hiatus, delivering a pointed four-minute freestyle that took shots at Kanye West, Drake, Nicki Minaj, Dame Dash, and Jaguar Wright.
• Freestyle Content: The hosts dissect his jabs, noting both the artistry and the targets. Van reads out key lines and discusses Jay’s continued cultural dominance and his ability to stir conversation in hip hop.
• Event Significance: Rachel highlights the excitement, noting the build-up to Jay’s upcoming Yankee Stadium shows and how this reestablishes his presence amid changing narratives in hip hop.
• Reunion: Van notes the nostalgic effect of seeing Jay-Z on stage with Freeway and Beanie Sigel, calling out the importance of legacy and reconciliation in hip hop:

  “My vision for black men is always the way...I would see my daddy and my uncle...they always had ups and downs, but they always fixed these relationships older in life. I think that’s dope.” (23:11)

• Potential Jay-Z vs. Drake Beef: A significant portion is spent speculating on a possible lyrical battle between Jay-Z and Drake, comparing it to the Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James debate in basketball:

  “If Jay-Z is Michael Jordan and Drake is LeBron, then hip hop actually has a mechanism...to establish a winner.” (32:00)

• Hip Hop Hypocrisy & Strategy: Rachel asks about hypocrisy in Jay-Z’s switch from playing peacemaker to engaging in beef. Van responds that charisma makes us accept contradictions in mainstream rappers.

2. Trump’s Failed 250th Birthday Concert and Ongoing Antics

(Timestamp: 42:57 – 63:04)

• Concert Fiasco: Trump’s planned concert on the National Mall loses key acts (Morris Day, Young MC, Martina McBride, Commodores, Bret Michaels) after artists learn of the political angle. Only Vanilla Ice, Milli Vanilli, and Flo Rida stay on the bill.
• Trump’s Reaction: Trump proposes a massive MAGA rally instead, boasting he’s a bigger draw than Elvis and disparaging acts as “boring.”
• Host Commentary: Rachel delights in Trump’s ego being bruised by the cancellations:

  “Whenever it is a blow to Trump's ego, that makes me laugh.” (44:06)

• Mockery Suggestion: Van jokes that Trump should perform the dropped artists’ hits himself:

  “If you really think you Elvis, like, Trump, come out as Morris Day. I want to see Trump do Jungle Love.” (46:47)

• Further Trump News:
  • Trump’s failed bid to name the Kennedy Center after himself is discussed. The hosts celebrate the court decision that prevents it, noting the erosion of Trump’s influence over cultural institutions.
  • Discussion on Trump’s attempts at selling Bibles, (“God Bless the USA Trump Bible”), his self-idolatry, and the unwavering loyalty of his political base—even as he attempts to insert himself into foundational American symbols.

3. Local LA Politics: Spencer Pratt’s Candidacy

(Timestamp: 63:04 – 77:51)

• Election Choices: Rachel and Van discuss who they’re voting for in the LA mayoral and lieutenant governor races, with both leaning towards progressive candidates.
• The "Spencer Pratt Phenomenon":
  • Pratt’s rise is attributed to the "revenge of the ruling class," with powerful LA insiders funding him as a means to keep the city hospitable for the elite.
  • Van points out the disconnect between what these candidates promise and deliver, critiquing performative progressivism among LA’s wealthy donors.
  • Rachel questions why average LA residents believe a candidate with no substantive policies will benefit them, summarizing the dynamic as a repeat of 2016’s "change for the sake of change" energy.

4. Culture and Viral Moments

(Timestamp: 0:41 – 19:13, 87:49 – 111:56)

• WNBA/Pop Culture Catch-Up: The hosts briefly discuss Caitlin Clark’s rookie WNBA stats and viral moments, LA nightlife nostalgia, and Rachel’s attendance at a Filipino cultural event (the "Filipino Forces Fiesta").
• Elite LA Nightlife: Van waxes nostalgic about LA club culture of the 2010s, highlighting Kid Ink’s music as emblematic of that fun, carefree era.
• Viral Video: VIP Table Refusal:
  • A YouTuber at LIV Miami refuses to give up his $2000 section for Lil Baby, sparking joy in Van as a victory against celebrity worship:

    “Why in the fuck would you come over to me after I have paid for the section...so the next man could be the man?...I paid to be the man!” (108:22)

5. Quick Hits

• Judicial Sex Scandal in Atlanta:
  • Allegations of a U.S. District Judge and a police chief having sexual encounters in federal chambers. Rachel asserts it’s a workplace kink, but unless it affects professional conduct (like ruling on cases related to the other party), it’s not grounds for removal.
• Mountain Lion Sighting: Van relishes in discussing the return of LA’s infamous mountain lion, a long-running inside joke on the show.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Jay-Z & Drake:

• “I think the idea of a back and forth between Jay-Z and Drake is absolutely scintillating...I haven’t been more interested in what would happen if two guys tussle than I am, lyrically of course.” —Van (24:59)
• “Lyrically, I think Jay-Z wins...but beef is about more than that now.” —Rachel (41:17)

On Trump’s Concert:

• “Whenever it is a blow to Trump's ego, that makes me laugh. When he starts throwing a tantrum...he shits on [the artists]...this puts a pep in my step. Like, inject this into my veins. This is my morning coffee.” —Rachel (44:06)
• “If you really think you Elvis, like, Trump, come out as Morris Day...I want to see Trump do Jungle Love.” —Van (46:47)

On LA Politics:

• “Emotion is information. We wish it wasn’t, but it is. Emotion is information. It actually to me, [is] some of the most compelling information that human beings share.” —Van (78:32)
• “His purpose is [to serve] the people who are funding him...Nothing that he’s done shows that he cares about you or understands what it is you’re going through.” —Rachel (76:55)

On VIP Section at LIV:

• “How about I’m the man? How about that? I bought the section, so I’m the man. These women will drinketh of my patron...I was happy that this man did not dick ride and give up his section that he paid for.” —Van (108:22)

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Important Timestamps

• Opening & WNBA Pop Culture Catch-Up: 00:41 – 19:13
• Jay-Z Returns — Roots Picnic & Freestyle: 19:13 – 42:57
• Trump’s Flopped Concert & Kennedy Center Name Spat: 42:57 – 63:04
• LA Politics: Elections, Spencer Pratt, Donor Influence: 63:04 – 77:51
• Twitter, Blocking Haters, Personal Routines: 83:08 – 87:49
• Judicial Sex Scandal & Atlanta Gossip: 87:49 – 97:53
• Mountain Lion Sighting in LA: 97:53 – 101:52
• VIP Table/LIV Miami Viral Video: 102:34 – 111:56

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Overall Tone

• Lively, irreverent, and deeply engaged.
• Frequent lighthearted ribbing and candid admissions about cultural nostalgia, politics, and personal vulnerabilities.
• No-nonsense critiques of hypocrisy, whether in hip hop or politics.

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This episode is a rich mix of analysis, cultural commentary, and humor, making it essential listening for anyone interested in the current pulse of Black pop culture and politics.

Transcript

[A]

Foreign. Yo, yo, yo. Thought Warriors. What is up? High learning is on. It is Ivan Lathen coming in from

[B]

Los Angeles, California, and it is me, Rachel and Lindsey.

[A]

You gotta tell the people where you are.

[B]

I know you.

[A]

Washington, D.C. in Washington, D.C. you're in our nation's capital. Do you feel patriotic?

[B]

No.

[A]

You don't.

[B]

I'm tired.

[A]

Did you. Did you go. Did you go to the mall?

[B]

I came in on the red eye,

[A]

so you came in on the red eye, so you came into D.C. but yet you thought that it was okay not to go say hello to Dr. King or Abraham Lincoln. Two people. So you didn't go say hello to them?

[B]

That's correct.

[A]

You don't care about them.

[B]

No, I've said hello. I've said hello before.

[A]

But you didn't feel the need to say hello this time.

[B]

No, I think Dr. King will want me to get my rest.

[A]

Nah, that's not what he would want.

[B]

That's. That's. That's Van. Van. Now who's. Who's being disrespectful now?

[A]

What?

[B]

What's disrespectful now?

[A]

That's not disrespectful.

[B]

Come on, keep it going. Come on, come on, come on, Come on.

[A]

Donnie. That was a good one, Donnie. Donnie.

[C]

I laughed. It was good.

[A]

Thank you.

[B]

Johnny laughed. One point for Van. One. One point. Because you. You think Donnie doesn't support you. That's one for Van.

[A]

Thank you, Donnie. That was a good one.

[C]

You got it.

[A]

Okay. Keep it coming, Donnie. Be careful now. Okay,

[B]

so what Donnie said is, it's your fault. You aren't always funny. You don't always land.

[A]

That's very true. I think we all know that. So let's check in on the WNBA real quick. The Minnesota Links are. Because we haven't talked about the WNBA yet. The Minnesota Links are leading the WNBA at 6 and 2. The Indiana Fever are 4 and 4.

[B]

Yeah. You see the viral clip that's going around?

[A]

Yeah, I saw it.

[B]

Four and four. How's Caitlin doing? What are her stats?

[A]

Um. So, you know, Caitlin is. Okay, so we can look at the stats here. She had a bad game last game, but there's no way to argue that Caitlin Clark is not having a successful season. She's averaging. I'm looking at it right now. She's averaging 20 points, eight assists, four rebounds, and 1.3 steals a game. Now she's shooting 39% from the field. She's shooting 33% from the three. So her shooting statistics are terrible. No one really Seems to know, like, why she can't put the ball in the basket anymore. But also they're picking on her on defense is the thing. Now, listen, here's the deal. You said some time ago that you feel like you could beat her in a game of one on one.

[B]

I did not say I could beat her. Let's get it right. I said I could hold her to

[A]

15 in a whole game.

[B]

Yeah, Van, that's what I said. I didn't say I could beat her.

[A]

Now the question.

[B]

I might not score any points.

[A]

Hold on for a second.

[B]

I didn't say I could beat her.

[A]

The question is now not whether or not you could hold her. The question now is, how many are you going to score? Because at this point, she A cone turnstile. She's, like, giving up the fucking buckets. Left and right teams are targeting Caitlin Clark, and then they're using the fact that she can't defend to get her out of her game and her rhythm offensively. And that's been very successful for opponents of the fever.

[B]

So what you're saying is you think I have a chance now?

[A]

I do, yes.

[B]

Oh, okay.

[A]

Well, I think you have a chance to get a muddle stomped in your ass. Are you nuts? She going for 100. Are you crazy? I think you have a chance.

[B]

100.

[A]

She going for 100.

[B]

Come on, man.

[A]

If you are the primary defender on Caitlin Clark, it's food, not the primary.

[B]

You know what? I'm not even gonna push back on this because I be getting on you when you talk about your basketball skills without ever seeing anything that you've ever done. Vice. Same thing with you, with me. So I'm not gonna say anything. I'm not gonna say anything. I can't.

[A]

So you came in on the red eye. You're there to do. Why don't you tell people what you're there in D.C. for?

[B]

You know, man, the red eye is awful. Like, the red eye is awful when I tell you. And I'm a person who can function on very little sleep, but there is something about the red eye. And then you try to go to sleep with the sun up. It just doesn't work. It doesn't work. But I'm here to do an interview on behalf of higher learning. Well, we're gonna do it together. And I'm here for the trending Up Conference, which I'm very excited about, to meet some of my favorite influencers. Creators. Content creators in the political social awareness space.

[A]

Interesting.

[B]

Cultural awareness space.

[A]

Okay, so you're in dc. You're having a great time.

[B]

I mean, I'm here to work. I'll be gone tomorrow.

[A]

You're out. You don't fuck around in D.C. when you go there? I like to fuck around a little bit.

[B]

I might do some, like, happy hours and stuff, hang out with Molly.

[A]

There was this years ago, I went to D.C. and there's a strip club in D.C. cause stadium is gone.

[B]

So there's a. Yeah, I've been to Stadium before.

[A]

Yeah, Stadium's gone. Stadium's gone. Stadium's gone.

[D]

That's my hometown.

[A]

But there's a strip club in D.C. called the House.

[B]

Okay. Bernard.

[A]

Is that Bernard? Well, see, Bernard. Yeah. Don't forget to get that mumbo sauce and chicken. Get you out there. Yeah. Just say the most generic, regular shit about D.C. it's like, come down to Louisiana, get yourself some gumbo. Mumbo sauce is not original. That thing. I know, I know. Mumbo sauce is great. Right? So there's a strip Club in D.C. i think it's called the House or My House or something like that. I think it's the House. It's called the House or something. So, years ago, I was thinking about going there, and I was like, wait, before I go here, is this the type of place that you can go and have a good time? Or is this the type of place where I'm gonna need to bring, like, the Hawk in the Civic, you know what I'm saying? Like, you're gonna need to. Ah.

[B]

Ah.

[A]

If you go to this bitch and I put that on Twitter, and people was like, nah, man. You gonna hit the Hawk in the Civic at that bitch Now. I never. I don't know that for sure. It's on Georgia Avenue. It's on Georgia Avenue. I don't know that for sure. Cause, like, you. You go on there and it. It looks like people having a great time in that motherfucker. Plus, that's the kind of places that I like to go. You know, we talk about Playhouse, Miami Gardens in Miami. So that's kind of places I like to go. But I. I still have not. Never ventured into there. Do you think that you might be going to the House while you're there, Rachel?

[B]

We'll see where I end up. You never know with me.

[A]

Okay? You never know. All right. I have one more thing to say before.

[B]

Interesting. I'll. I'll report back if I. If I go.

[A]

I have one more thing to say before I get into the show. I just want to say something, and maybe you're not going to agree with this. Do you know whose music is aging really well to me?

[B]

Who?

[A]

Kid Ink.

[B]

Oh, I'm not. I'm not as. I'm not tapped into Kid Inc.

[A]

So now do you know why you might not be tapped into Kid Inc?

[B]

Why?

[A]

Because you weren't in LA in the 2010s.

[B]

Okay, makes sense.

[A]

So Kid Inc. Was everywhere. It was huge. But for some reason, when you heard that music. Cause Mustard was on a lot of that shit. And that's just a very distinct sound, right? And that sound just reminds you of fun and having fun and being in 2015, 2016. Fuck. Whoever you came with is my main chick. I told her fuck that nigga. That was the ad lib from Kid Ink. He comes in, he goes, I told her fuck that nigga. And then you used to be in supper club or like Greystone or something. And then he would say that. And then you would say that. He would say, I told her fuck that nigga. And then you would say that as Kid Inc. Said that with Chris Brown on the track. You would say, I told her fuck that nigga. And you were having fun. You were having fun in Emerson, in opera. You were having fun at all of these different places. And now that era is totally gone. It's like that era is gone now I'm old as shit and I shouldn't be in that bitch anyway. And that's very true. But that. That era is gone. That era of LA, that was in the 2010s. I can't tell you how like Beauty and Essex Day Party was like the last shred of it. I can't tell you how much fun it was. 12, 13, 14, 15. I didn't do it all the time because TMZ had me hemmed up whenever I did do it. We was just having a fucking ball. I tell her fuck that N and main chick came on and I thought about that era. Cause that's what that made me think about. That's what that music makes me think about. And it was just very fun, very fun time.

[B]

So it's aging well. Because you're missing it. You're missing this.

[A]

You could say that. But it's also aging well. Just cause the song came on and I had. I was having fun. I was walking around the neighborhood like early in the morning. Cause I take like an early morning walk and people are like getting out of the way when I'm walking down the sidewalk. Cause I'm saying I told the fuck that nigga. And they're like, what is this guy? Cause people Are really afraid. The white people are super duper afraid when they're on their runs and stuff in the early morning. Because it's only like the people that are on the streets in the early morning. Like, I'm Talking about like 6:30. It's only me and the people that are running. And then, you know, some of our neighbors that need a little help. So they never know what you are.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[A]

So they're not sure. Even though you got your haircut and you got a phone and you got this, they're still scared.

[B]

Like, you have Boseman with you?

[A]

No, no, no, no. Bozeman. Bozeman is still asleep at this time. Bozeman doesn't get up early. Bozeman doesn't fuck around like that. You try to get Boseman up too early. He turns around, he goes like. Bozeman's not getting up before 8 o' clock anyway. Do you. What? Before we move.

[B]

I told you, we're gonna bring it back. We gonna bring it back. You are craving. I never experienced this la, which I would have loved to, but you're craving this kind of good time. And I told you, everyday People. Two weeks. I need you to go ahead and buy this table.

[A]

I hope that everyday people will help me. No, I'm just joking. I'll buy the table. What is it, about 2,000? It can't be more than 2,000.

[B]

It was less than that last time.

[A]

How much was the table at Everyday people?

[B]

It's like 1,400. I think that's good.

[A]

So I will buy the table. We will have fun at everyday people. Do you think that Kid Inc. Will be played?

[B]

I do. Cause it's very la. I think he will.

[A]

I don't know if they gonna play that nigga at that bitch. I want a whole.

[B]

I don't remember. I had such a good time last time. I don't even remember who. I don't remember who was playing. It was just vibes.

[A]

You loved it?

[B]

I loved it.

[A]

Okay, well, I loved it.

[B]

What'd you do this weekend?

[A]

So I wasn't feeling well, so I mostly stayed in the house and played Major League Baseball. 26 the Show. The Dodgers in this game, they're 92 10. I have three pitchers that are battling out for the Cy Young. Max Muncie is leading the league in home runs. He's got 47 home runs and 100 RBIs at the Midway point. So I'm the man at that motherfucker. What about you?

[B]

Nice. I went to a party to you Know, be an ally to my Filipino brothers and sisters. It's called Filipino Forces Fiesta. It's the fourth time they've done it. Did it at Will House. It was great. What did you say?

[A]

What the fuck are you doing?

[B]

What do you mean? Why are you laughing? They're not kind of like that.

[A]

Wait. Wait a second. It's like. That's not funny. I went to the Filipino Forces.

[B]

Why are you laughing? That's what it was called Filipino Horses Fiesta. And it was just celebrating Filipinos in la, the culture. They had a dinner before. It was at Wheelhouse. They had a party. It was great. It was great. Saw a lot of people I hadn't seen in a long time.

[A]

A lot of Filipino people.

[B]

A lot of Filipino people I hadn't seen in a long time.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So you're deep into the Filipino community.

[B]

I mean, I support. Yeah. I mean, I wouldn't say I'm deep, but I, like, support. One of my friends was one of the hosts and was throwing it and asked if I would come. And I was like, yeah. And then I walked in. I was like, oh, wow, this is really fun. So I made a whole night of it, ended it into game night, and then I went to see. I love boosters this weekend, too.

[A]

Mm.

[B]

It was good. I enjoyed it.

[A]

Boost doesn't miss.

[B]

Yeah, it was really good. Then, of course, watched Game seven and made homemade Wingstop and fries. Did a pretty good job of that. And then. Yeah, I was just chilling.

[A]

So let's go back to the Filipinos real quick. So I'm wondering something. So back in the day, Ryan, you know Ryan, of course. So we're gonna put a picture of my friend Ryan up right now so you guys can see him. But there used to be a Filipino basketball tournament that happened in Baton Rouge.

[B]

Oh, big population out there.

[A]

Well, I'm not sure, but they had a tournament, so it was enough motherfuckers for them to have a tournament. That's why I first learned the hidden secret about Filipino people, which is that they are really good athletes. They're just small, but they are really good athletes. Like, when you think about. And then I was talking to a Filipino brother back then. Cause I just went there to watch. I was talking to a Filipino brother, and he was like, yeah, yeah, we get busy. I was like, look at all of this on the court. Cause my man Al and Lee Dale, they were both half Filipino. And so you could be on the team if you were half Filipino. But then you could have, I think, two people on the Team be non Filipinos. And it would be funny because you would have a whole team of Filipino guys and then two, like, six, five niggas that they would have to run the polls for him. And those. You could have two non Filipinos. Now, the thing about Ryan.

[B]

Oh, okay, okay.

[A]

Is that Ryan was on the team as a fake Filipino.

[B]

No, he was. Put the picture back up of Ryan. Put the picture back up of Ryan.

[A]

Put the picture up of Ryan. Ryan was on the team as a fake Filipino.

[B]

Ryan does not look. Who thought he was Filipino.

[A]

He was. He was. Cause Alan Liddell could play. Cause they're half Filipino. So they said that Ryan was half Filipino. They're half Filipinos that exist in Baton Rouge. We have them. And so they put Ryan on the team. They said that Ryan was half Filipino and that people went for it because of Ryan's look. Now, we could look at Ryan right now and we could ask people if they think that he could pass for half Filipino. I personally think that he could. So that gave Ryan's team an incredible advantage because they were able to have him. He's about six three, Crazy athletic.

[B]

Is he that tall?

[A]

Six, three, six, two, whatever. That was way above the rim, though. Hate on my nigga. That nigga way above the rim. So he was able to be on their team as a half Filipino. And then they also could bring in two other, like, regular non Filipinos to add to their tournament team. And they went deep and they won. That bitch.

[B]

You always have a story, A random ass story. That is not what I thought you were gonna talk about. You got the most random stories. Please write a book of stories. I mean, it's endless, man. It's endless.

[A]

There was one Filipino nigga I never forget. Cause he had. Cause there's a Filipino word that's like a slur. But they.

[B]

For who?

[A]

Well, there's a Filipino word. I don't wanna say the word, but it's a slur. But they call it. They say it to each other. Like, almost like they got, like a little N word of their own. This is what they say.

[B]

Okay?

[A]

And he had that tattooed on him. And I asked him. I'm like, what is that? And he was like, well, that's a bad word for Filipinos. But I tatted on myself. Cause, you know, it's kind of like the same thing. It's like, yo. I'm like, don't say it, dawg. But just, we can be on the same thing. Boy, this little motherfucker was getting buckets, boy. Cold as shit. Fucking over everyone. Boom, boom, boom. And he had the Texas. I wanted a state on his ankle. And in the middle was this word that's like a bad word for Filipinos. Cause he was, like, claiming it, and I was fucking with him, Giving Ryan hell out there. Ryan was having trouble standing in front of this guy. Okay. Like, you see this guy was out here getting busy, okay?

[B]

They gonna get mad at us. They gonna be like, y' all talk for 30 minutes about nothing. Let's go, let's go.

[A]

I'm sorry, guys.

[B]

No, no, no, no. I got you. I got you. Activated. Talking about. I feel like this is. You would say something. You would say something that you went to, like, a party like this because you. I feel like you just do something random. I guess I do random stuff, too, but it was. It was so great. It was actually really wonderful.

[A]

So just before we get off this. What do they do there? Like what? Like, it was just a party, okay?

[B]

It was just celebrating the culture. Like, we got parties to celebrate the culture. And, you know, I mean, most everybody there was Filipino. I think there might have been. I think I saw four black people, myself included.

[A]

I bet they was all men, too. Four black. It was all guys.

[B]

All what?

[A]

I bet there was all guys up there trying to.

[B]

With the Filipino. No, no, no. Two other girls.

[A]

Cause we can really go. But I don't know. People don't know this on the low, but black people and Filipinos have, like, a.

[B]

Yeah, we were talking about that.

[A]

Yes, Both men, actually. We were talking about that both ways. Like, men to the LA and then ladies to the men. There's a niggas be on the. That's probably. That's un. And they don't want people to talk about it, I don't think. Cause you've never seen, like, a movie that's like a black Filipino love story or like, My Filipino Home. Like, you don't see it, but, like, when you see a lot, it's like black people and Filipino people coming together and. Okay, I want to get invited to a party of an ethnic group. So somebody invite me to.

[B]

Let's get to the root of this jealousy. I'll invite you to the next one. They would love to have you.

[A]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I want to be. I want to, like, just tell them to put the hoop up. Telling you, everywhere I've seen it, man. Football, basketball, boxing, pool. Filipinos, get busy. All right, Donnie, let's go.

[C]

All right, let's talk about Jay Z. He headlined the Roots picnic in Philadelphia, ending a six year Hiatus from appearing on stage in a solo capacity. The set featured a four minute freestyle aimed at Kanye West, Drake, Nicki Minaj, Dame Dash and Jaguar Wright.

[D]

Y' all thoughts with your thumbs again Everybody think they're the ones insane, you're no maniac, watch out Samiac in my presence shrink I need a new therapist. This is not working. I'm truly on the brain. Y' all better not encourage them. Y' all don't want me to think these thoughts that I think that nut ass stick stuttering that chatty Patty down on his luck again. Quest introduced me to Jack boy. I don't know why I still with him. He was wondering why I do the freestyle rehearsal. That lady back on the stuff. She sound like she in love with him. Her kid can't even take their kids enough of them. A rapper can't be my eye I got maga Republicans them shots came from the very top of the government Good luck with them. I'm governed by God you trying to break the government I brain for 40 days my neck get flooded again Risk get flooded again My net worth went up again My next update, the jig is up think I'm up 10 wrong chart, champ. You got to look up again. Look up the ho but never looked up to them. Crackers Got your publishing, gangster Go talk tough to them. Don't talk success to me. You is workers in perpetuity is how your contract is worded. Don't make me go, man.

[A]

Bruce Picnic, Jay Z the fro out the ruler has returned. It seems as if Jay is going to reassert himself on the entire culture. He can kind of slip in and out of his throne whenever he wants just because he takes up that much cultural space. What do you think?

[B]

I enjoyed it. I mean, obviously we know he's got the Yankee Stadium tour coming up. Not tour, but the Yankee Stadium shows with the blueprint and Reasonable Doubt. And then I think the third night is kind of a free for all. But I like it because it gets people excited. It's got people talking. We were just having a conversation on this podcast about hip hop not being fun. This is fun. I mean, you aren't having fun with it anymore. You say, but I watched this and I thought this was fun. Everybody's dissecting it. He came out with a new look. He reunited with people on stage. He takes shots at people even though he said he wasn't, which is what. Or he kind of talked about rap beef and being kind of past it in 2026 in that GQ interview. And then it kind of makes people curious and wonder, well, what is he gonna do with the Yankee Stadium shows that we know is a three day show coming up? I like this kind of stuff. Yeah, I think it's exciting. I think it's good for hip hop. What do you think?

[A]

So, you know, seeing Jay on stage with Freeway and Beans is just crazy, man. Cause like the whole history of that and knowing that there was some space between, I don't know necessarily with him and Freeway, but certainly between him and Beanie for a while. And

[B]

just.

[A]

How can I put this? Like, I know that people go their separate ways and that's the way that it is. But my vision for black men is always the way. I would see my daddy and my uncle Co Craig, you know, I'll see my daddy and my uncle Craig fight. But I don't remember no time when they was in their 50s or they early 60s where daddy was like, fuck Craig. So they always ups and downs. There was business stuff because they had a business together or it wasn't necessarily a business together. We had a family business pouring concrete. I always like to see these brothers maintain these relationships or fitness fix these relationships. Older in life, I think that's dope. So that to me was the most meaningful part of it. Seeing them all on stage together, doing these classic records and knowing that that type of is what establishes hip hop. Legacy groups, legacy brands, you know, you don't get no Rolling stone tour at 65 or 70. If the Rolling Stones break up in their 40s, and if they do break up in their 40s, then the Rolling Stones gotta get back together and that makes it more meaningful and all of that stuff. So when people talk about the aging of hip hop, sometimes I hope that hip hop ages out of some of the pettiness that ends up happening between the brothers. And it might be petty or not be petty. I'm not in the middle of fucking shit. How do I know? Now I'm going to contradict myself and what I say next. Because I think the idea of a back and forth between Jay Z and Drake is absolutely scintillating. And I wonder what happens next from the other side. I haven't been more interested in this.

[B]

You think there's going to be a back and forth?

[A]

I think the idea of it is scintillating. I haven't been more interested in what would happen if two guys tussle than I am. Lyrically, of course, lyrically, between Jay Z and Drake, I haven't been this interested in something In a long time, if, in fact it was to go down.

[B]

This is more interesting to you than Kendrick and Drake.

[A]

So now, if you'd have asked me then, everybody wanted to see Kendrick and Drake tussle, right? Everybody wanted to see what would happen when that happened. I think now, though, thinking about it, this one, to me, would be

[B]

more

[A]

meaningful in a way, and it would also be more definitive for each guy.

[B]

For Drake, depending on how it goes, Drake can't suffer another 20, 24.

[A]

Yes, he can.

[B]

He can't.

[A]

Yes, he can.

[B]

I mean, I'm sure people will still buy his music, but just for his sake, I don't. It's not great. I'm interested in the back and the fourth. I agree with you. But I think what I also like is when Jay announced that he was doing the shows at Yankee Stadium, I immediately was like, oh, wow, this is really interesting. Not just because I'm a fan of the albums, just because it feels like he's establishing his presence again after a period of time when it feels like the narrative has shifted around him. And not that he's lost his place in hip hop, just the way we talked about Jay Z was different, right? You had the Diddy accusations. You have Jaguar rights. You know, making the exact accusations you have. Even if I take it back 10 years, you've got lemonade and the infidelity implications as well. And I feel like Jay Z pretty much has stayed silent and hasn't really talked about anything. I mean, obviously he did through his attorney and some remarks about the Diddy allegations. And then we saw the GQ interview, which was more than we had gotten from him. But now to see him on stage and addressing these things artistically, creatively, lyrically feels nostalgic in a bit. Not that he was talking about the same things before, but just the way that he is asserting himself again is exciting to me as somebody who, you know, he's a Jay Z fan, so I like him coming back. I do. It's fun. And even though I knew he was performing at the Picnic, I guess I don't know what I thought we were gonna get, but I didn't think he was gonna be all of this.

[A]

Yeah, he went crazy. I think that the infidelity lemonade stuff was pretty much. They pretty much tied a bull on that with the Carter's album right there together. They're talking about it.

[B]

They're a family.

[A]

They're doing the. I'm not trying to hear that nigga talk about that.

[B]

But it's still no, no, no, no, I don't think he's gonna talk about it. I'm just saying the way we looked at Jay Z, like, it's. Yeah, they did the Carters, but it's still like a thing of, you know, the elevator scene and, you know, it happened. It's still a thing.

[A]

For real?

[B]

Yeah, There's. I'm not saying it's an overriding thing when I see him, but it's like a thought. Like, I think about it. I think about it.

[A]

Yeah, I love it.

[B]

It's not the overriding narrative. I'm just saying all these things that happened. Yeah, of course they've done stuff together. But to me, I don't know, it just feel like he's establishing his precedence and the narrative is shifting.

[A]

I can see that. I mean.

[B]

Or he's going to.

[A]

To me, I don't think about that at all. But I could see, you know, from the super bad, you know, people don't forget type of deal. I just remember what it was like in the office when that video came in. People did not believe people. What? Like, if it's like. I just remember. I remember. I remember specific times in the office where people were. Where even the people in the office were shocked about stuff.

[B]

I remember Donaldson, did y' all release the video?

[A]

Huh?

[B]

First.

[A]

It came through y' all first. So I just remember people in office being like, yo, what? Like, what? Like, huh? And it wasn't. You gotta move so fucking fast that you don't really have time to, like, get into that too much. But I just remember the rest of the people that I was. That weren't involved directly in the story going, I'm watching the video. I'm like, yo, what the fuck? And that's the point. You can't do this. That's the point to. Where if you had less discipline, you would want to text everybody, you know, like, I'm watching a video of Solange slap the shit out of Jay Z right now. And like, for real. But you can't. You know, you can't do that. I did it a couple times, but you can't. But. But you. But you can't do that. I think for me, the thing about the other one, by the way, was the Donald Sterling thing. Just somebody had told me that we have a video of Donald Sterling telling his girlfriend not to invite Magic Johnson to basketball games because Magic Johnson is black. And I was like, bullshit. When I get into the office, I gotta hear that for myself. And I was like, no, seriously, I'm calling you because you need to get to the office faster. Cause we need angles and we gotta do it. I just couldn't believe it. And then I listened to the audio and it's like someone saying don't bring Magic Johnson to the games cause he's black. I'm like, it's fucking Magic Johnson. It's crazy to me.

[B]

What were your years at TMZ again?

[A]

2011-2019.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

So like there was some.

[B]

I'm just thinking of all the stuff that just came through.

[A]

Jay Z, Donald Sterling, Prince is passing away.

[B]

Like Whitney Houston.

[A]

Whitney Houston. Like it was legitimately, legitimately the heyday. Now TMZ had done, they had done Kramer, they had done Michael Jackson, which is, I mean, come on, that's the biggest story in the history of celebrity news. They had done a lot of stuff and you know, they were a well oiled machine. Cause I was a tour guy when I got to tmz, right? But those stories breaking, some of them like in successive years, you look around, there's a cluster of stories that all were happening at the same time. Jay Z, it's Ray Rice, it's Donald Sterling. I mean, TMZ is actually like at that point a really important investigative entity. You could argue that at that point Harvey Levin was the best investigative reporter in the country in terms of especially. And Evan as well, Evan Rosenblum as well, like Mike Walters, all of those guys. I don't have to get into a whole fucking goddamn dick suck about that. But they was, they was on the thing. This is the reason why I feel like the Jay Z and Drake situation is like really interesting. So in basketball, what's the legacy argument that is had right now

[B]

in basketball? Like who's the greatest?

[A]

Yeah, who are the two guys in that argument?

[B]

Jordan and LeBron.

[D]

Exactly.

[A]

Okay, now here's the thing about Jordan and LeBron. There is no way actually to have Jordan and LeBron settle that from a basketball perspective. When Jordan and LeBron are put up against each other, it's a narrative argument and an agenda argument. Because it's difficult for somebody who came along later to look at LeBron James and his statistical dominance of basketball and not see LeBron James as the best of all time. He's going to finish with all of these records, he's going to finish with championships, he's going to finish playing the game, going out completely on his terms at 41 and all of this stuff, doing stuff that Michael never did. But at the same time, Jordan's peak, he was something otherworldly, not Just his ability on the basketball court, but his cultural dominance of not just basketball, but of sport, period. It really pales in comparison to anyone else. Like Michael Jordan was something special, something that was so special that you wonder if anyone can get to that point in that pinnacle ever again. But on a basketball level, there's no way for those guys to actually fight that out in this particular situation. There actually is. If Jay Z is Michael Jordan and Drake is LeBron, then hip hop actually has a mechanism to where those guys can go bar for bar, wit for wit, sale for sale, influence for influence in the present day and establish a winner. So you have two different legacies. Drake has lasted long enough to still be at the top of his game right now. Jay Z has endured long enough for everyone to still believe right now that he could outrap Drake. There are people right now that believe that Jay Z could outrap Drake in perpetuity, that he will always be able to outrap him. Don't matter if he's 75, 80, give him a beat, he gonna start fucking people up. Right? The question is, is that true with Drake and everything that he feels? If Drake believes, and I'm led by some people to believe, that Drake kind of believes that there's an underlying Roc Nation agenda against him. And if he's going back and forth with hov, the first person to go super nuclear with that and actually say I'm fucking with you, invites this thing. And now hip hop has a Jordan and LeBron argument that actually can be settled in present day with two people who we both view as powerful and equal adversaries.

[B]

Hmm. Does Drake see that about himself?

[A]

What you mean?

[B]

Like, does he think that he's the greatest and then therefore wants to establish his presence or his legacy against. Against Jay Z?

[A]

So let me call Drake real quick. I don't have no fucking idea. But I don't know.

[B]

I don't know why I don't see it. I love the comparison of Jordan and LeBron. I love it. And I was like leaned in listening to you. I follow it. And you're so right. It's something that can be done. En rap is something that. That can't be done in basketball. I agree with everything except for the sales thing because I just don't know, like at the same time, it's generational, you know, Drake is right now. It's not like Jay Z. I'm saying he's of the past, but just. It's more of like a respect, a legacy thing. I don't know if Jay Z's even coming out with the album or anything. I actually don't think this is going to be a back and forth. So I'm interesting, I'm interested to see where this goes. I think Drake did his thing on Iceman. Jay did his thing on the stage here. I think that there'll probably be something at the July show, but I think that that's where it ends. I actually don't see this being a whole thing. But, you know, I'd like to be proven wrong. Cause I'd like to feel the same excitement we felt a couple of years ago when it came to the back and forth with the rap beef. But I don't know, I don't see it. Question really quickly before we get out of this. And we probably spent too long on it. But what do you think about people who say that they feel like maybe there's a little hypocrisy in what Drake did based on his GQ interview? What Jay Z did, where he's like, yes, sorry, sorry. What Jay Z did in his Jay Z interview. Do you think that now the GQ interview was strategic? Because he talks about not being on defense anymore and playing offense. Do you think that? But he also said, we can't make it personal. We can't talk about kids. He did that when he was on stage. Like, what do you, what do you. What's your takeaway of it?

[A]

I feel like great mainstream rappers, their trick is being so compelling that we understand and endorse their hypocrisy like great mainstream rappers. I'm not talking about guys like that. We realize that are cold and aren't hypocrites at all. Or their hypocrisy isn't as evident because they lead lifestyles that don't call their raps into question that much. You know what I'm saying? If you saw, I don't know, some of these guys that are the pro black, more conscious rappers, if you saw them at a Trump rally, maybe, but they sometimes lead lives that are, I guess, small enough, culturally small enough. They're not big enough for them to, like, have to answer some of these questions. So if it's a huge mainstream rapper, the question always is, how do they make us, through their talent, buy their hypocrisy? Because that's what it is that they do, right? They get on the record and they make one record about how much we gotta love and respect women. And the next record is, yo, bitch, take it out your mouth, squirt it on your girl Squirt it all over the motherfucking world I'm squirting on you bitches Squirting on you bitches Squirting on you Squirting on you Squirting on you and then the next song, the next song is Damn, I Love My Mama. So this has always been what these guys were. There's nothing special about Jay Z in terms of that, right? But I also think, to a degree, there was always an acceptance, at least from me, about how that was, because that's, to me, how people are. Like, some of the raps represent the best of yourself. Some of the raps represent the worst of yourself. Jay Z coming out saying, I think we passed battling was hypocritical then, because he battled his whole career. As an older guy, I tell younger guys, like, what not to do. And they go, van, we know you. And I go, hey, man, I'm just telling you I've been there. I'm not telling you that I was better than you. I'm just telling you I've been there so you don't have to listen or whatever. So I'm not really tripping on that as much. What I do think, though, is that Drake does view himself like LeBron James, meaning when Drake leaves rap, it would be silly for Drake not to think he's the greatest rapper of all time. It would be. It would be silly for him not to think he's the greatest rapper of all time. His career, he is the rap LeBron more than anyone. Because LeBron's career is essentially all of these records and accolades and this sustained dominance over all of this time, but these huge and unavoidable failures in key moments. And with Drake, you have Pusha T, you have Kendrick, you even have the Ghost Rider shit. You have all of that stuff that really is going to not be remembered as much as the fact that he just sold and maintained this type of statistical dominance over this entire period that, like, very few people are going to be able to get to. It's just. That's just the way it is. So for him not to think he was the man after all of this time, he'd have to be crazy not to think he's the greatest rapper of all time. The numbers to him are telling him every single day that nobody has liked any rapper ever as much as they have liked Drake. So that up against Jay Z, who is essentially this Michael Jordan character, to where Jay Z had all of this stuff, it's weird because Jay Z actually might be the Lebron if you compare him to Tupac and Biggie. But like Jay Z, who represents this monocultural rap God, who everybody wanted to be like, everybody emulated, who could sell you anything, who could go anyplace, wasn't perfect, but was always devastating. I think that would be interesting, but they might not. It might be too high leverage for both of those guys. It might be like, what the fuck is the point? But I guess, last thing I'll ask you is, if they do do it, who do you think will win? I want everybody if they do you think Jay Z wins?

[B]

Mm. I think Jay Z wins.

[A]

You think Jay Z wins? You think Jay Z wins? You think Jay Z beats Drake hands down.

[B]

Lyrically?

[A]

Yeah, lyrically. But I'm just talking about a beef is about more than that now. AB is now about like the narrative and all of that stuff. If Jay Z and Drake go.

[B]

Who else? I just think we've seen Drake. I mean, obviously we've seen Jay Z Beef too, but I think it's Jay. I do, I do.

[A]

Bernard. I for sure gonna say Jay Z. Jay. Yeah, he's lyrical. Lyrical genius. Donnie.

[C]

I don't know. I think with. I agree I'm more of a Jay Z fan, but I think with. With your saying that beefs are more than just lyrics now. It's the whole narrative situation. I don't know. I feel like I wouldn't discount Drake so easily.

[A]

I wouldn't either. But think back to his.

[B]

I'm not discounting him. I just think. I didn't say he's not. He's just going to blow him away. I just think it's Jay at the end of the day.

[A]

I mean, Jay. Jay has the one big loss to Nas, but I mean, that's like rhyming against Moses. I mean, like, you know what I'm saying? Like, you. If you go beat Nas, if you gonna beat Nas at lyrics, you gotta. I mean, that was. And that was a pretty tit for tat battle. That's two gods. That's some Mount Olympus shit. But we'll see what happens. But that got that kind of. I was like, wow. All of the rest of the stuff. I mean, he's talking about a lot of people who at this point are just like, not at the same level. I mean, that's just him kind of just like taking a ruler and smacking people with it, you know? All right, that was a lot. Jay Z, man. Jay Z's back. It's a big fucking deal. It's a big fucking deal. Donnie, what's next.

[C]

Let's stick to music. Kind of. Trump on Saturday called for the cancellation of the concert celebrating America's 250th birthday after multiple artists withdrew from performing the upcoming Great American State there on the National Mall. Shortly after the lineup was announced, Morris Day and the time young MC Martina McBride, the Commodores and Brett Michaels each announced that they were declining to participate, saying that they were not let known that it was a political event. But Vanilla Ice and Milli Vanilli are still on for the June 26 event, as is Florida for the event on July 2. Now, Trump's response to this was that there should be a giant Make America Great again rally for 250 instead of having overpriced singers who nobody wants to hear, whose music is boring and yet who do nothing but complain. He also called himself the number one attraction anywhere in the world and says that he gets more or he gets much larger audiences than Elvis did in his prime.

[A]

So, Rachel, I want to ask you a question about this. You laughed. You think this is funny? You think it's funny? It's funny.

[B]

This brings me joy. Now, I had a very angry last podcast, so when it came to topics, I thought, gosh, what's something that's gonna make me smile now? Not everything we're gonna talk about is gonna make me smile today, but, like, Jay Z is back. That makes me smile. The fact that there's this again. Here we are, 250th, you know, supposed to be celebrating America, but we know it's really about celebrating, celebrating Trump, and people are saying, nah, I'd rather not. That brings me joy. Whenever it is a blow to Trump's ego, that makes me laugh. When he starts throwing a temper tantrum because people don't like him and resorts to saying things like, they're boring. I'm the greatest talent anyway. I'm better than Elvis, which. I did not hear that part. This makes me. This, this puts a pep in my step. Like, inject this into my veins. Like, I like this. This is my morning coffee. I. The fact that all these. I remember when it was announced, I was like, wow, I'm shocked some of these people are willing to be a part of this. Because even though it was. What is it? What was it billed at? It was billed as. I don't know, basically that they were celebrating in America a concert on the National Mall and that it was bipartisan. All these people are coming out saying, we were told it was bipartisan. The fact that the administration had to lie to perform reformers, to get them to even be a part of this says a lot. Nobody wants to publicly, Right? Obviously, privately they do, because he's in office. Nobody publicly wants to align themselves with Trump. I think that's funny. Trump thought he was doing something big. 250th birthday. It's on the National Mall, 16 day celebration. Even though you're not even bringing acts that are, you know, current, it still was like he really thought he was doing something. And then one by one, they all were like, nah, we were kind of lied to about this. And then you still have a Milli Vanilla part of it. Vanilla Ice and Flo Rider. And he calls them boring musical acts and says, like, he still shits on them. I think this is funny. I'm sorry. This is funny to me.

[A]

Fluoride is fluoride. I got too much money. I would assume that fluoride. I got too much money for this man. Fluoride. I got too many hits. I'm looking at him right now. He's playing Vienna, Austria, Tuesday, Sydney, Canada, on the 24th in Niagara Falls, Canada. So to me, I don't know why Florida would do this, but everybody does their own shit.

[B]

Maybe he's a fan.

[A]

He could be. You never know.

[B]

He likes Trump. Yeah.

[A]

What the fuck am I talking about? What a wide floor. Look, man, whatever. Play whatever fucking concerts you want. What I think would be really awesome here is that if Trump didn't just step in and do a speech, because we've seen that before. That's something we've already seen before. I want to see Trump do some of the songs from the people that dropped out. So I want to see Trump do Jungle Love. I want to see. I want to see Trump. Who would be Trump's Jerome? Like, if. Who would be Trump's Jerome? I want to see Trump. If you really think that you, Elvis, like Trump, come out as Moore's Day. You know what I'm saying? Who would be Trump?

[B]

This is hilarious.

[A]

That's what I want to see. Who would be Trump's.

[B]

So from the Commodores, let's go with Brick House.

[A]

Brick House. Trump can do Brick House.

[B]

That's a Delta song. Maybe Easy, like Sunday morning.

[A]

Well, yeah, but you gotta do Brick House, though. I'm sorry. Easy like something. But they got a lot of records. The Commodore's got a lot of records. But you gotta do Brick House. Right? Trump. Trump doing Brick House. But is Trump. It's Hexeth. It's gonna be so much competition to hold that fucking mirror. During Jungle Love, though, it's gonna be a lot of, like, J.D. vance gonna want to hold that mirror. O E. O E. I want to see Trump do the whole fucking thing. I want to see JD Vance gonna break his ass to hold that mirror. Headset's gonna want to hold the mirror. Rubio gonna want to hold the mirror. Stephen Miller gonna want to hold the mirror. Mark Levin might actually have a fucking heart attack trying to run over there. Him and Ben Shapiro will be fighting to fucking hold that mirror for Trump. And that's no diss to Jerome, because Jerome is my nigga. But that to hold the mirror for Trump. I want to see Trump do some of these records. So don't just come out here. We've already seen you do the fucking rally and lie. Come out here and do, I don't know any Martina McBride records.

[B]

What's she saying she could do? He could do Independence Day. He could do A Broken Wing, Baby, I love you from the Runaway Bride movie.

[A]

Okay. Okay. There you go. Okay. So I want to see him do some of these records. Like, Bret Michaels was with Poison. Was it Poison?

[B]

No.

[A]

Was Bret Michaels Poison? Yeah, he's Poisoned. Come out and do some of the Poison records and stuff like that. Do Poison? What did Poison.

[B]

He could be the Vanilla, he could be the Vanilli. They could do it together.

[A]

Well, they still performing, right?

[B]

Well, one of them's not with us anymore.

[A]

Oh, he passed away. That's warrant. That was Cherry Pie, by the way. I love that song. She's my cherry pie Cool drink of water Such a sweet surprise Tastes so good, make a grown man cry Sweet cherry pie Sweet cherry pie I love that record. I don't know why. So I was warned. Poison. What did Poison have? I know Poison. I don't know them as much.

[C]

That's that Every Rose song.

[A]

Every rose has his rose. Donnie.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[A]

Donnie Fuck with. Okay. So every rose has his thorn. That's a. That's a fucking. That's like a staple number one hit singer. So he. So Trump could do Every rose has his thorn. He could do all of the records, and he could switch up the look throughout the rest. And that's what I would. Now that would be worth it. That would be worth it.

[B]

Honestly, it would. Yeah, honestly.

[A]

So don't fuck around. Cause people realize.

[B]

No, I like it. Milli Vanilli. He's Vanilli. Vanilla Ice. He could be one of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

[A]

Aw, fuck.

[B]

Who else would Flow Rider.

[A]

Hold on, man. We gotta let the turtles live. Dawg like, we can't have Trump. What turtle would he be? Nah, think about it.

[C]

He would be Bebop or Rocksteady.

[A]

He would be Bebop or Rocksteady. He'll be Beatbopa. Rocksteady. Trump, come out there. Looks like, look. Cause all of this shit is fucking ridiculous anyway, right? Like, how stupid is this? Like, Donald Trump has been elected, who is supposed to be this grand patriot and all of that stuff. He is making a mockery out of the nation's 250th birthday. If you care about that type of thing, right? And a lot of people will get mad at me. I don't give a fuck about that shit. I do not care. Right? But for the people who do care about that type of thing, then Donald Trump is celebrating that. Not with some actual deep historic and cultural analysis of America and what America has meant on the world stage and all of this different stuff. American innovation, all of that. He's celebrating it with a Milli Vanilli concert and a UFC fight at the White House. And you guys who are patriots, we can't even take y' all seriously. Because if patriotism is the UFC at the White House, what am I supposed to make of that? That sounds fucking dumb to me, but whatever.

[B]

Well, it's like the parade he had last year that nobody really was there, right? It's like he's making it about. He wants to enjoy everybody there to praise him. Yeah, it's not working. He's got enough. Enough for 251. Don't do anything, man.

[A]

I'm sorry.

[B]

Just let it come and go.

[A]

Trump, come out there and do Jungle Love. I'm telling you, man. I'm telling you, Trump, come out to that and do Jungle Love. Do the whole. They say he's 63238, so he kind of. He still should be nimble.

[B]

Who's 238?

[A]

That's what they say. They say that man. 238. Yeah, they say he 238.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

That's what they say.

[B]

All right, all right.

[A]

238. That man is the same as, I guess, A.J. brown. So it is what it is.

[E]

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[A]

Lilly.

[C]

All right, let's stick with Trump for a little bit longer. On Friday, he said that a federal judge should be ashamed. Specifically, he's talking about the Kennedy Center. A judge should be ashamed of himself for blocking his administration's move to add Trump's name to the Kennedy center, ruling that board members improperly voted to close the performing arts center for renovations this summer. It was scheduled to close July 5 for two years. The U.S. district Judge Christopher Cooper's decision. In that decision, the judge cited Congress's authority over any name changes to the Kennedy Center.

[B]

Again, these are the kind of updates that I want. This is like, first, I think my first thought was, what took so long for this to even happen? But it only happened as a result of, you know, a former congresswoman who was on the board ended up suing and then got the ruling. But I'm like, what took so long? If this was something that was in, if this is like, only Congress has the power to do it, and then so Congress is the only one who can make the change. I just didn't know what took so long for this to happen. But it was thrilling news to me. This could be a quick hitter. I just loved seeing the fact that a man who continues to force himself on us in ways that are not presidential, these things are slowly being taken away from him. You know, in the same week that we get announced that he is putting his face on a $250 bill again to honor himself, we see that he is removing the name. His name is being removed from the Kennedy center, which he has just ruined that entire thing with. Who comes to perform there, who sits on the board there? And he was closing this down for two years, and now he's like, well, if my name can't be on it, I'm not doing the renovations, and it can just go to hell.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

What is happening? What is happening?

[A]

What do you think it would take? So Trump wants his face on the $250bill. Trump wants his name on the Kennedy Center. He wants all of this stuff. What do you think it would take for some of his underlings to be like, he's gone too far. Like, if Donald Trump came out right now and said, I would like to propose a law that mandates that every male in the country, every firstborn male, be named Trump, do you think that Republicans would stand up against him and say, I don't wanna have to name my son Trump?

[B]

No. No, I think it would have to be him saying, I want my own version of the Bible.

[A]

He already did that.

[B]

We don't know.

[A]

Wait a minute.

[B]

There's no. Is there a Trump Bible?

[A]

No. Yes, there's a Trump Bible. Remember the Trump Bible? He's. He already. He legitimately already did that. He's. He's done. He has assaulted everything they hold dear and they just opened up the next hole.

[B]

Like, wait, there's, like, in the way that they have the King James Version. They have the Donald Trump version of the Bible.

[A]

I'm so. I don't know that he changed the text. You know? He did. It's called God Bless the USA Trump Bible. Trump has a Bible. He already.

[B]

He legitimately.

[A]

God Bless the USA Bible is an edition of the King James Bible, Christian Bible, endorsed and marketed by Donald Trump. It is in partnership with country music singer Lee Atwood and features American founding documents alongside strippers. He legitimately already did that. He already did the Bible. He already did him as Jesus. He's done it all. And they just don't. It's so funny to me, man.

[B]

I mean, I was about to say, if he redid the crucifix, if he put himself hanging on the cross, I

[A]

think they'd be cool.

[B]

A version of him. That might be. Go too far, but, wow. I thought I had it with the Bible.

[A]

Nah, man, he already did that. He's like, he.

[B]

I guess nobody bought it.

[A]

I don't know. Remember, we covered this, I think. I mean, there were certain people, oh,

[B]

I can't keep up. We have shoes. We have a Bible, shoes, Bible himself as God.

[A]

We have coins, demons, coins, all of this stuff. There has not been a more ironclad case for the Antichrist in a long time. If you're putting up Antichrist people, it's like, there's not been. I remember when Obama first came along and some of my homies back in Baton Rouge, where everything is about the end of the world and the Antichrist and all that stuff was like, bro, I don't know, man. I see somebody with this type of fucking sway and he's that. I feel like this could be an Antichrist situation. And I'm like, if a nigga is the antichrist that is the funniest. God has the biggest sense of humor

[B]

in the history of the world.

[A]

After everything that black people have been through, if. If the Antichrist was actually a black guy, like, that would be. God is hilarious, right? If that were to happen. But obviously it didn't. Okay, it didn't happen. But Trump seems like he's trying to be the Antichrist. He's trying to make people believe that he is wholly consumed with direct idolatry to him. Nobody cares. They don't care.

[B]

Yeah, I would think religion would be the thing that crossed the line, but there's nothing at this point.

[A]

It's so funny to me.

[B]

There's nothing. Van. But you know what? Today we have a victory. Those letters are coming down now. You asked me earlier if I had gone to see Dr. King, if I had been to the Lincoln Memorial, I might swing by the Kennedy center and see if I can see it live. Now. That would be something to watch. That would be something to see.

[A]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, look, I'm looking at it. I know a lot of people that were involved because the President has to appoint you to, like, the Kennedy thing. So I know some people that were involved in that. And actually it was very difficult for them with the way Donald Trump gutted everything. They had to then leave. Some of them had to leave their posts. And that appointment, once you're appointed to that, like, that's an appointment for life. You're a part of that forever. It's a big deal. And it's something that you can, like, you know, really be a part of that is supposed to celebrate America and celebrate some of the greatest artists in the history of America and all of that stuff. I just know a lot of people who were really gutted by the fact that I remember someone went, is nothing sacred? Somebody that I know that was appointed, is nothing sacred? Is there no part of America that he won't defile with this just grotesque sense of self importance that the President seems to have this unbelievable ego? Can we have nothing? And maybe you can still have the Kennedy Center. I don't know what happens if you are appointed and then you leave. Can you go back? I don't know what happens, but we'll see.

[B]

Well, I think the board is still in place and like now they're concerned. They're gonna fight it. Obviously they're gonna challenge this in court, but they're concerned now that what donations they lost before with what Trump did and taking over and putting his name on it and appointing certain people like gushavants. They're worried that now that his name is removed that they won't have any donations and the whole thing is just gonna go. And remember, they were shutting it down for two years, so they've lost the entire calendar for this next year as far as performing arts go. So I don't know what will happen there. But today, Trump's name's coming down.

[A]

There you go. All right, let's take a look.

[B]

And that thrills me.

[A]

All right, before we move on to something, I want to ask you. So it's Monday. You're not here. You voted already, right?

[B]

I voted yes. I voted.

[A]

It's a surprise topic. Who did you vote for? Tell everyone. Do it now.

[B]

Are we doing that?

[A]

You don't wanna do it. You don't want people to know?

[B]

Okay, well, I'm just gonna do the big three for me. I voted for Karen Bass.

[A]

There you go.

[B]

I voted for Tom Steyer. And I voted for Michael Tubbs for Lieutenant Governor.

[A]

Okay, sweet. I'll tell you why I asked you that.

[B]

You gonna say who you voted for?

[A]

I haven't voted yet, so I can't. But I've already told everyone who I'm voting for. You know, I mean, voting. I'm writing in butchwear. I am voting to the left of Bass. I'm voting for Ramen, which is. Yeah, not just a delicious treatment. It's. Somebody to the left is mirror. And I am obviously voting for Michael Tubbs. So love Michael Tubbs. Would love to see Michael Tubbs achieve as much. So I'm voting to the left of. Of. Of the center of the party for a lot of different reasons. The. The. The. The vote for the mayor. The mayor is a strategic vote to try to influence the top two. Now, what to you, Rachel, quickly, what do you think Spencer Pratt's rise means? Because he is a viable, viable candidate leading up to the second here.

[B]

I know from what I gather for people who are interested in him is what it means is it's very similar to 2016. People keep saying, I want to change. I want something different. Most people don't understand, you know, what it is. What, like how hard it is to accomplish everything, especially in a city like Los Angeles in four years. They don't understand what has been done prior to this mayor that has been building on building on building to create the current situation that we are in right now. It is impossible, I think, for somebody to be able to get it done in four years. And I think people are so frustrated and. And wanting something different right now that they're willing to listen to the voice, even though that it's plans over policies, it's ideas over any type of actual execution or the ability to execute, they don't care. They just want to say that they voted for something different. And I even think that. Let's just say he moves on into the primary. That's still the overriding thought with people. I'm voting for something different. Well, even if it doesn't work out, I was trying to have something different, which to me doesn't make any sense when. Okay, what is the difference that you're voting for if this is a person that doesn't have any policies in place? I don't know if you've seen the viral video going around. If you're black, shout out to Slauson girl on social media who asked Spencer Pratt, what are you. What are your.

[A]

She's great.

[B]

What are you doing? What are your plans for the black community? For black people in la? He had none. He was like, yeah, I'm listening to them. It tells me they haven't been heard. Yeah, I don't really know. Like, that is Spencer Pratt. So I just. I think the main reason. Long way of saying is that people feel like they're voting for something different. Your thoughts?

[A]

No, I agree. I'm trying to think because this just popped up and I kind of sprung it into the podcast. I'm. I'm sorry about doing that. I'm sorry to Rachel. I'm sorry to Donnie. I'm sorry Bernard, who looks.

[B]

No, no, no, no, no looking at white ladies. I welcome any chance to shit on Spencer Pratt.

[A]

Do you know what, though? Do you know, if I had to really think about what Spencer Pratt actually meant. Hold on, let me think. You know what? It. To me, it's actually more than that. Not actually more than. It's more and different at the same time. I think that Spencer Pratt is probably the revenge of the ruling class.

[B]

Keep going.

[A]

You know you gave Rach face.

[B]

Yeah, I'm listening, I'm listening. I'm seeing where you're going with it.

[A]

Okay. I think Spencer Pratt is the revenge of the ruling class. So Mamdani came along in New York. Mamdani represents the revenge of the proletariat. Mamdani represents people going, hey, this is our city. New York is so culturally strong that if you can make an argument to New Yorkers that their city is actually being hijacked by people who are trying to leverage their cultural control over the city to make it into a play playhouse, Sandbox for billionaires. New Yorkers will listen to that because there are very few cities in America that have as strong a cultural ownership over their city as New York does. A New Yorker is a New Yorker. They believe that if you put a New Yorker in the middle of the fucking moon with no other resources, that New York is so tough they will figure out how to live there. They really believe in what it means to be a New Yorker. And so Mamdani came along, and Mamdani went, hey. People are trying to dilute that. They're trying to. Trying to change your city into something that no longer reflects the identity of the city that you've always held true. They're trying to make it unaffordable, they're trying to make it unlivable. They're trying to make all of the stuff that you think is New York into the version that they think is New York. And people responded to that. They elected. Mom, don't. Right now, Mamdani is governing. And, you know, we'll. We'll see how he continues to govern. I think in la, it's a little bit different. I think in la, LA already kind of is a playhouse, playpen, amusement park for the super rich and beautiful. It kind of is that not the parts of LA that are the most cultural parts, but the parts of LA that people consider to be LA, particularly in the last five to 10 years. You're talking about member club LA. You're talking about invited to this activation LA. You're talking about invited to this screen in LA. You're talking about the type of LA that people want to be a part of. And that part of LA is controlled by a lot of people. And it is, excuse me, by a small group of people. And it is no secret that those people are the ones that are funding Spencer Pratt. The ones that are funding Spencer Pratt are like the governor of the Lakers, the head of Netflix. Now, I didn't see Tess Arandos, but I did see Nicole Avon is. I read some stuff. Don't know how true it is that she's backing Spencer Pratt, like Lucian Grange, like all of these people, David Foster, all of these people. I'm looking at the list right now. These types of people who want LA to sort of remain a place that's not necessarily for the people. There's a fake progressivism that exists in this city that no one ever really talks about, like a progressivism that are people who rebuke Trump in public, but in private, they are super happy for their tax breaks. They want the elitism and the structure of this particular city to. They want that to endure. They care about this. But they have to play nice in these elections because they want to seem progressive. They want to seem progressive because a lot of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles I'm talking about, this is essentially Hollywood. It's about projecting this air of inclusion without there actually being any real inclusion. So, you know, Caruso was a lot of these people's guy the last time because they kind of want somebody to come in and crack the whip and make their city what they consider to be livable, what they consider to be awesome for their type of people. They don't want to have to see people struggling. They don't want to have to see people starving. They don't want that. Not because it affects those people. They don't want it because it's a bummer to them. Because if we actually were to address those problems, it would make their ilk a little bit less powerful in this city. So whoever the person is, whether it's Caruso in the last election or whether it's Pratt now, Pratt is a much more direct conduit to being who they need him to be, because there are no ideas in his head. He's a blank slate. He is them. He is someone who is able to put on a good performance, but behind them, there's really no ideas that undergird what it is that he believes. They love that. They think that that's the deal. They want somebody who's more conservative to come in here and get LA going again. And more than that, they want someone who they can control and say what you want about Mayor Bass and about Rahman, they're not going to be able to do that as much as they would with Spencer Pratt. So what you really see with a lot of these people who, if you went in there in their houses, they'd have pictures with them and Obama up there, they'd have pictures with them and Hillary Clinton up there, they have pictures with them and Bernie Sanders, if they really were on one, one year or whomever else. You see all of the money that they've donated to all of these causes. But when it comes down to actual sharing and community building, they're not going to really be interested in that. And particularly at a high leverage moment for the city, a moment where the city actually needs people who can come in and make LA a place that isn't just beautiful for rich people, but is livable for the average person. If you go around even with the people that y' all fuck with that. We fuck with and start asking the question about whether or not they actually care about that. The answers that you get are going to be so strong, striking for even the people that you think that you can trust, the good people, the ones that might march with you during Pride Month, the ones that might march with you.

[B]

Give an example.

[A]

I mean, I don't want to name names because I haven't.

[B]

No, no, not name, not name. Just like the ideas that you. You said it would be shocking.

[A]

What do you mean?

[B]

To hear what. You said it would be shocking to hear what they think. I'm not asking you to name people. I'm just like, what's the idea, like that they have?

[A]

Oh, I think the idea. The ideas that I'm talking about is like, okay, cool. So if we're talking about homelessness in Los Angeles, right? If we're talking about affordability in Los Angeles, yeah. And we're talking about even the fire. So I'm sure some of these people lost homes in the fires and stuff like that. And that's a huge tragedy. What you're willing to do is very important in those situations to change outcomes. The question I always ask people is, what are you willing to share? Like, what are you willing to share? Are you willing to share of your wealth? Are you willing to share? Do you give a fuck? Do you think that LA or any place in this country is a better place if we capitalize on the talent and the ingenuity of the average American? Do you think that LA is better if you live better? Or do you think that LA is better if the people that make LA run live better? And that's a fun. That's like a fundamental question. And like, to me, because of candidates that are left leaning, like Mandani all over the place, that seem to be telling people, I think this city is better if you're doing better and not if they're doing better? I think a lot of people in a lot of places are, are going to coalesce around candidates like Pratt that they can put a hand up their back a little easily, a little easier to protect what it is that they have. So when I look at all of these people, every single day there's a new producer of this, or fucking director of that, or CEO of this that's supporting him. That's because they believe that he is an elixir to a populist progressive agenda in Los Angeles. And I'm not saying that Karen Bass is going to bring that, but I am going to say if it works in other cities, what you will see is people going, we want a little bit of that for ourselves.

[B]

But it's, I guess, my thing that I find interesting too, and I agree with what you said, is all of that benefits a certain group of people. All of those people are doing this to protect their interest and keep it themselves on a certain level. That is not going to trickle down to the average person who lives in this city. And I think I'm more shocked at the people seeing where we are nationally. Right. When you wanted to vote for something different, when you wanted change, look at where that has us now. So I understand why the elite are doing what they're doing. That's not as shocking to me. But what's shocking to me is the person who says, you know, buys into the. I'm exhausted from this. I'm exhausted from this. I want change. I want change. When it comes to this and thinking that implementing a Spencer Pratt, that is going to trickle down and make your LA better, it's not. And that's also within the current state of the economy nationally. Why do you think implementing a Spencer Pratt with no plans, and when he does, if he gets into office, the plans and policies that he have are going to benefit the very people that you just named, or why would you think that that's going to trickle down and make your life better? Change the la, that whatever change it is that you're looking for is going to happen? Because Spencer Pratt is going to be in office. Nothing that he has done shows that, one, that he cares about you, but two, that he even understands what it is you're going through. And that is very evident from what Slauson Girl was able to ask him in regards to the black community in la. He hasn't even fucking thought of it. Because that's not what his purpose is. His purpose is the people who are funding him. What is it that you need for me to do? Let me get it done. And I think I'm more baffled by the people who aren't that you named thinking that Spencer Pratt is the solution for a better LA for them. He is not going to solve those problems that are crucial for you as an average person who lives in the city.

[A]

Well said.

[B]

And here we are again. And here we are again. You've seen it before. That's what I think. I said this to somebody on Twitter. I was kind of going a little bit. This guy who gets on my nerves on Twitter. And I was kind of saying stuff, and they're like, you're talking about a national issue, we're talking about local. And I'm like, you're not getting it, you're just not seeing it. It's the same thing.

[A]

You're right. And this is something that frustrates me and it doesn't just frustrate me with low information voters. Right. Because we often call people low information voters and I think sometimes that actually bites us in the ass. It bites people in the ass when you call somebody.

[B]

I agree.

[A]

And the reason why I say that is because, like, emotion is information. We wish that it wasn't, but it is. Emotion is information. It is. It's actually, to me, some of the most compelling information that human beings share between each other. Think about it. When you see somebody crying, you go, oh my God, I have to do something. Like, you go over, you don't know why they're crying. They could be crying because of rage, they could be crying because of frustration, they could be crying tears of joy. But immediately you look at them and you say, what's wrong? How are you? That is, you see somebody's energy low, they're brooding a little bit. You use the emotional information that you know about them, whether or not they normally a person that's turned up and fun and happy and you go, what's wrong? Emotion is some of the deepest information that we have on each other and some of the most fundamental information. So when we call people low information voters, we're not holding space for the fact that their emotions are being manipulated. And they're asking a lot of times, these politicians, they're asking for people to mirror them. So like, if the reason why I try to be policy and consistency centered is because that is the way you to me really get to the point of what the central question we're asking politicians is, which is, do you give a fuck about me? Because if I ask you, do you give a fuck about me? And you say, yeah, I'm mad and you're mad, I'm like, okay, here's the deal though. I know that we're both mad. I know that everyone's angry and upset. But if you care about me and you are seeking power, you have a plan, you have a way to get me out of my situation, you have a way to get me to a place where I'm doing better. That is how a politician actually shows concern. They don't show concern by going, I'm right here. From where you from? I look exactly like you. I sound exactly like you. I am you. We oftentimes fall for that because we're getting emotional information from a politician that says, hey, because you are from where I'm from, because you are me, you must care about what's going on with me. That's not true. What would show that that person cares about you is whether or not they have detailed thoughts, plans, and actionable policy on the condition of your life that would show that they care. And so with Spencer Pratt, he's mirroring people. He realizes, like, I'm not too much different than what the mayor said when she was. He realizes people are mad, people are upset, people don't know who's to blame for some of the dysfunction they see in la. And rather than do anything that would solve the problem or put forth any policy that would solve the problem, he says, I'm mad just like you are. I'm gonna take all these people and send them to Seattle. I'm just telling people, Spencer Pratt, that's true. But also a lot of the centrist Democrats that you support that aren't offering you anything, that aren't, like, seriously interrogating your needs, that like a lot of the people from inside your own cohort that don't seem to have the wherewithal to challenge some of the traditional power in America to make your life better, you should be asking this about all of them. Everyone. There are no sacred cows or sacred lambs or sacred little doggies. Even though I love little doggies, there's nobody right now that you should not be asking, okay, cool. You want to be in Congress for the next 50 years? What's in it for me? And so sometimes it's easy to call out Spencer Pratt when he's on that, but it's harder to call out the candidates that look like us, that come from the places that we come from, that have been sitting there for a long time and can tell you every reason why they never got anything done, but nothing that they actually did fucking do. And there are plenty of good ones out there. And that's definitely true. But at the same time, cynicism to all of these people, including Spencer Pratt, and including a lot of the people. Some surprising names on this list that are going for this. Some surprising names on this list that are. That are. That are going for this and supporting him. Some surprising ones. I'm not even gonna bullshit you. I still can be surprised.

[B]

I haven't seen, like, an exhausted.

[A]

You don't care less.

[B]

No, I care. I care.

[A]

The nigga who did the politics.

[B]

I care so much. I'm exhausted. The way people are Coming after me. Oh, Rachel, you're so privileged. How can you speak?

[A]

That's what they say.

[B]

That doesn't even make any sense. If you're right, you're right. I do come. I have grown up privileged, so. And I'm not voting in a privileged way. Whatever. I'm over people.

[A]

They're getting at you. Race. What are they saying about you? I'll get them.

[B]

Oh. You know, I'm so used to people getting at me, but I think I'm. Just get at me, but, like, make it make sense. Make it make sense.

[A]

You need to, like, turn me on somebody. I'll get them.

[B]

No, no, no, no, no, no, no. Okay, we're not there.

[A]

You know, I've been blocking one person a day, so if I. If I jump on Twitter and you just come with a straight.

[B]

Cause sometimes I can't believe you're still over there.

[A]

Sometimes I do. Like, sometimes I'll say, hey, guys, who's the greatest intercontinental champion of all time? And they'll be like, you fucking stupid, fat black bastard. It's definitely Mr. Perfect Block right away. Just one. The rest of them. Just one.

[B]

It's so good for that over there. Yeah, that's a lot. I don't. You know, I don't know how you still over there handling all that, but, you know, your block. Two a day.

[A]

Two a day. I don't want to block too many people, though, because that's kind of pussy.

[B]

It's just. It's insane over there now. Come on.

[A]

Can I say something? You know, if people are wondering why I'm a little turned up today? Do you feel. Do you feel it, Donnie? Do you feel me being a little turnt up today?

[B]

It feels the same.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

This is you, like, every day. Thank y', all, man. I'm on the espresso. I got an ice espresso today.

[B]

I see it. I see it.

[A]

I'm not gonna lie.

[B]

But you seem. You seem fine. Like, you don't seem over the. To me, honestly, for you to be drinking an espresso, you do not seem over the top today at all.

[A]

Jesus.

[B]

These are compliments, Van. You seem fine.

[A]

Thank you. Thank you very much. I'm losing weight.

[C]

Hell, yeah.

[B]

Congratulations.

[A]

Yeah, I'm losing weight, man. It's happening. You see it in your face. You see it in my face. Thank you. Thank you. Donnie has said nothing. Like, I compliment Donnie all the time. Donnie, to me, I want to get Donnie's whole family in Essence magazine. They still have Essence magazine.

[B]

Donnie is a beautiful family.

[A]

He has A amazing family. Multi generations too. Like, he has a amazing family, but Donnie doesn't. I never get any love from Donnie. Don't get any love from.

[C]

I was asking about your 10,000 steps this morning. You didn't get to finish talking about it.

[B]

Are you doing that? I really want to get on that. How long does it take you to walk 10,000 steps? Okay, Van, come on. Just move on. Move the conversation on. I take it back. You are on one. That's fine. Russo has you on one. You're such a kid. You're such a kid.

[A]

Come on, Rachel. That's a tough one. That's a tough one. That's one of them.

[B]

I would like to participate in 10,000 steps. How long does it take you to do that?

[A]

Okay. So all throughout my 30s, I did it. It was very easy. I took three walks a day at TMZ and then I would do that and work out. So most of the time, most of the days, throughout my 30s, I was averaging maybe 16, 17,000 steps a day. Because I take one walk and then I would come back, I'd take a longer walk at lunch and then I would come back and I would take a shorter walk around the parking lot at the end. Had to get out because there are no windows in there. There are no windows at TMZ office. No windows, no windows. Can't see anything. So I'd have to get some sun, you know what I mean? But now I wake up and in the morning, in the morning, around the neighborhood, I do 1:10,000 step walk. So I just get every single day. And that takes about like an hour 15, maybe a little bit more.

[B]

Okay, I could do that.

[A]

Not bad.

[B]

You're taller than me. It probably.

[A]

I bet you walk faster. I bet your pace would be faster, big guy. So 1 hour 15 and then I do that and you finish the day with a good amount of steps. And then whatever workout that you do on top of that is gravy. And also I feel better, my joints feel better, I feel better, I'm sleeping better. All of that stuff. I was off the 10,000 steps. And it's been good for the Achilles too. It's helped the Achilles. Okay. Freaky Atlanta shit, Donnie.

[C]

Yeah. According to a newly released judicial misconduct order, a federal judge and a high ranking police official are at the center of allegations involving sexual noisy sexual encounters inside the judge's chambers during work hours. The allegations stem from a 20 page investigative report compiled after complaint was filed against the judge. According to the report, employees working in the Office told investigators that they could hear sounds through the walls, they believed were those sexual encounters taking place? Investigators said the incidents allegedly occurred over a two year period and involved at least five encounters. Now, the report doesn't publicly identify the judge or officer involved, but multiple sources confirmed that the individuals referenced are U.S. district Judge Eleanor Ross and Atlanta Police Deputy Chief Kelly Collier.

[A]

Okay, these people are black, So we're not gonna avoid that. It seems as if from what everyone is saying, they were fucking in the chambers. They could hear the sounds through the walls, so they were going crazy. These incidents, it's like two years of them fucking in the chambers. What is the reason that they are having sex in the chambers? Is this a kink or was everybody married?

[B]

In this situation, everyone is married. That does not stop you from going to a hotel, another city. There were options. There were options.

[A]

Well, well, there are, but in this situation there's probably reasons that they're doing it at that time because they're probably doing it during the day. So I don't have to stay out late. You don't have to leave, right? So you don't have to like make an excuse to go to some hotel somewhere. People don't know where you at. You, you're having sex inside of the chambers. That's probably easier to conceal than anything else that you would be out there doing.

[B]

Well, clearly not, because I saw one video, I don't know if that was real or not, where you could hear noises. I also wanted to say that I saw this story and I said I'm just going to screw scroll past it because I don't want to breathe life into it. But I knew it would find, breathe life into it. I knew it would find its way to you. And I knew that you would put this up to talk about. I just knew it. This is right. This is a story that's right up your alley. You like this kind of stuff. I, I don't understand why it had to be done in the office. I don't care what you say. There are in a federal judge's chambers. In a federal judge's chambers, they're huge, right? But around you, you have your secretary, assistant, Right outside your office you have law clerks that are clerking straight out of law school or in law school. Within it you have like your court reporter has an office there. You have other researchers that are full time employed there. There are multiple people within your entire chambers that make this operation work. So for you to be in your office, it's definitely a kink. Like you Wanted to be heard. You wanted the thrill of being caught. This was intentional.

[A]

So have you ever seen a Wire?

[B]

Yes.

[A]

So remember when the mayor, who was played by. Was that who's it was? It was that Glenn Turman, who played the mayor? Might have been.

[C]

Yeah, I think so.

[A]

That was Glen Turman. Don, you remember the scene in the Wire?

[C]

Yeah, I know what you're talking about.

[A]

So I don't know if Glenn was. If Glenn was wearing a prosthetic or what, but, you know, the mayor was in his office getting hit up, you know what I'm saying? And we see in the Wire a couple of different times of them getting busy in these types of situations, which leads me to believe, since Simon created the Wire based upon stuff that he heard, he knew his time at the Baltimore sun, that this is probably more common than you think.

[B]

I believe that.

[A]

Which leads me to my next question. Rachel

[B]

Van. What? This should not lead you to where I think you trying to go with this. This should not lead you anywhere near this area. What?

[A]

You know, just as a change of pace to put some spark back.

[B]

No, no, no. Don't you bring that over here anywhere near the Lindsey's to keep the. This does not. This does not mean. This is a pattern on how federal district judges behave. Okay? This is. This is an Eleanor Ross situation. And leave it over there.

[A]

Just, just like as a, you know, to keep. To keep the sizzle in the relationship.

[B]

There are so many other ways that you can do it. Don't bring that Eleanor Ross sh. Don't bring that over here. This one.

[A]

Listen. Oh my God.

[B]

You know what? I also think that she didn't have a problem doing it. Cause like, this position is appointed. You gotta be impeached. She knew she would still be able to keep her position.

[A]

There's some freaky ass shit going on in Atlanta, man. Fani Willis. They getting busy. They getting busy, man. Now the Fed is trying to get her out of her position. Do you think she should be able to keep her position if she was fucking in the chambers? True or false? Yes or no?

[B]

Yeah. I mean, it's not like she was doing it to a subordinate. Now the only way I would say is if some way this. This deputy police chief was involved in some of her, like for some reason was involved in something in a federal way and it came in front of her and you. And then you would have to question her judgment, then that's a reason that she should be removed. Because now it's a professional thing. This is highly unprofessional. But the fact that she wasn't with the subordinate, she wasn't doing it in the hallway where people can see. I think that she should be reprimanded, but I'm not sure if I think that she should be removed from her position. As long as it doesn't affect her ability to be a judge.

[A]

So you're saying, okay, I think she's

[B]

already being publicly reprimanded.

[A]

I should say they're not asking for a removal. They're asking for her to be recused from this one specific. So you think, oh, yeah, she should

[B]

be recused from a case.

[A]

Is there anything this. Wikipedia is so messy. Okay. Wikipedia is so messy. The investigation found that she had engaged in a sexual relationship with Atlanta Deputy Police Chief Kelly Collier in parentheses. Not her husband,

[B]

Just to be clear,

[A]

in chambers during business hours, at times within earshot of law clerks. And that that relationship posed a potential conflict of interest because he is the deputy of the police situation here. So there's nothing. Cause I don't know as much about this. So fucking in the chambers to you in and of itself is not enough for you to get kicked out of your shit?

[B]

I don't think so.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

As you said, it's probably more common than we think.

[A]

Yeah, probably way more common.

[B]

I think that if we could ask about this. If. I think that if in any way that you. It hinders your ability to do your job professionally or it affects the way that you see cases, then that's when it becomes a problem. But the fact that it's the police chief, I mean, listen, she probably deals with more civil cases than. Than criminal at all that don't even touch anything that have to do with this. Kelly Collier, who I will also add, is married. Okay. They put in parentheses. Not her husband. Well, he got a wife too. Okay. So is he.

[A]

I'm not trying to play them type of games. I'm just saying I'm looking at it. I wanted to know your opinion on this. Cause this is right, you know, up your alleyway. This is your expertise. You know, I personally.

[B]

Her husband's a judge too.

[A]

I think we should do a whole series called under the Ropes where we go throughout and we ask judges about the freak shit that they doing in their chambers. Cause you know what? The chambers aren't out.

[B]

Most would not say that they were doing anything.

[A]

I bet you like, why would somebody

[B]

want to go on record and talk

[A]

about 27% is my number. That's so 27% of the judges that have chambers, especially if they nice chambers. 27% of the judges that have chambers. A private place where the judge is the overlord. 27% of them, I believe, have fucked in the chambers. Got a handy J.

[B]

Something that is based off of nothing.

[A]

I mean, it's based off. I mean, look, in Atlanta, with what Fonnie Willis was going through, and this right here, I could actually say in Atlanta, it's probably like fucking 67%. It's Magic City in the fucking chamber right now.

[B]

I bet you don't know anything about Fonny in her office. You just know that she was having a relationship with somebody.

[A]

Man, where did it all start? All right, so, like, what I'm saying is, I'm not even trying to come down on this because I have no problem with this. This is. You know, people do. I'm not making any moral judgments of people. I just wonder how widespread it is. That's all I'm saying. Donnie, I sent you something.

[B]

Oh, I saw this. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Mountain Lion.

[A]

Don't try to act like beautiful. Don't try. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. You don't get to do that, Van. Don't try to act like. Don't try to act like. Donnie. Play my sound when you get a chance. Don't try to act like that. You like. All right? Don't try to act like you. You have forgotten about him. You thought he was gone. You. I think a lot of people thought.

[B]

I have not that.

[A]

Look at him. Beautiful, beautiful P22 level eyes right there. I told you years ago, years ago. Watch where you step, watch where you breathe, watch where you go. Because there is a visitor and a neighbor that you share LA With. His name is Mountain Lion. And you told me a long time ago that I was making it up, that I was a heretic. All right? And I'm telling you right now.

[B]

Ruined hiking for me. I believed you.

[A]

Look at him. Look at this beautiful creature of mountain lion lying in wait. You never know. You go past a bush in LA Mountain lion. You go past a tree in L. A Mountain lion. You go past an overpass under the pass. Mountain lion. You have no clue where he is, where she is. What's going on with them. Mount look at him. Look at him. I told you years ago.

[B]

And look majestic. Donnie, remember when Van thought that mountain lion was real? On the roof. Put up a picture for. See, Bernard hasn't been here.

[A]

Come on, dog.

[B]

Bernard hasn't been here for mountain lion saga.

[A]

He got so excited to win on this podcast. Like Rachel has a Rachel. Rachel missed out on something. Rachel would have been the greatest litigator of her time. Rachel missed out on something. I've never seen somebody that's able to deflect, that's able to re. Pivot. Either that or politician Rachel. That's not the. By the way, what she's doing right now is fucked up because that is not the version of the picture that I saw. The version of the picture that I saw. That's not what I saw. The version of the picture that I saw is from much further up.

[B]

You were so excited. Excited when he. Further back. That's not real.

[A]

Just to let you guys know, I have an ironclad example of mountain lion. And Rachel pulls up some old shit that's actually not even fair because. Donnie, could you take it off, please? Could you take it down? Like, people got the picture. All right, that I didn't. That's not even what I saw. It was from way further back than that. So

[B]

I thought about you when I saw this. I'm happy that this, like, is reminding you of your love of mountain lion. And, you know, in remembrance of P22.

[A]

P22.

[B]

I'm glad they were able to safely get him and I hope that, you know, remove him and put. Put him back, you know, in a safe place. Cause, you know, it's sad because, you know, he was probably just, like, looking for some food.

[A]

Looked like he was chilling to me, really. It's not mountain lion that we have to be worried about in LA right now. Even though mountain lion is back. It's coyote. Coyote everywhere. The fires have just unleashed the coyote on la. You see coyotes everywhere, like, sitting down to eat meals and Starbucks, all kinds of shit. Like, coyotes is, like, everywhere across the city right now. More coyotes than anything.

[B]

Yeah, they think somebody's poisoning them in my neighborhood because they found, like, which is awful. They found two dead ones, like, early in the morning. And then my neighbor, a couple of, like, last week found one dead in her yard. And so, like, they think somebody's putting some stuff out, which is, like, dangerous just to animals in general. Like. Like, I'm nervous about coyotes, too. I have two dogs. I have a little one, but that's not. That's. That's in. That's ridiculous. That's not the way to do it.

[A]

Donnie says the last report. That's not Donnie, that's me. What are you putting in there? What is that? The only time there was another judge was. It was Scott Stinner in 2014. He had two law students that he had sex in his chamber with and appointed him.

[B]

I know that ain't Bernard.

[A]

That's Bernard over there. It's Bernard coming through.

[B]

Bernard.

[A]

Orange county super. Orange County Superior Court, under the row. All right, before we get out of here, we got. We have a interview we're about to get to. It's not for this episode, so to hell with you guys. But before we get out of here, Rachel, who's your favorite celebrity? Like your favorite famous.

[B]

I don't have one.

[A]

You don't have a favorite famous person, do you? No, but I thought that you would. Okay, who is somebody that you like right now? And don't pick Duran, Bernard, because we don't like him. We fucking love him. Okay? Like, if I could give a bunch. If I could give a 10 year run selling 200 million records to anyone, Got a lot of people, it would be. I mean, I would have to always say Wale. Cause I fuck with Wale.

[B]

And that's like, my guy Wale's upset right now that people are like, he's kind of. He stepped into the Jay Z thing. You know, people were breaking down lyrically. What Jay Z was saying. He's like, y' all only want to do that when it comes to rap beefs, not when we just out here putting out music. I'm paraphrasing, but that was the thing.

[A]

I fuck with Wale. I got a lot of musician friends, but Duran Bernard is way up, way up on that list. I guess what I'm saying is, is there anybody right now that if you bought a $2,000 VIP section at a club, you bought this, you paid two grand. Let's say we're at Everyday People. We're going to Everyday People. I bought a section, we're gonna get the section, right? And we're there hanging out and I don't know, fucking who's somebody that we love?

[B]

Juvenile for me, Juvenile.

[A]

Let's say Juvenile shows up and they say, hey, we wanna move you from the $2,000 section because juvenile is here. We want Juvenile to have the same section. Would you move and get out of your section and move off of the stage so that Juvenile could have it?

[B]

If he let me stay, I would. I tell all y', all, y' all gotta go.

[A]

Rachel.

[B]

What?

[A]

That's maybe the most putrid answer you can give. So you would leave. You would stay with Juvenile. We gotta go. And you gonna be at the.

[B]

Did I pay for it? I'd be like, y'. All. Y' all know how much of a fan I am. I get to party with one of my favorite artists. I feel like, as a friend, you would be like, you know what? Friend. Go ahead.

[A]

Yeah, I. I bought the section of the line. I love juvie, by the way. Juvie gonna DM you. I love juvie, but I'm not giving up the section for no one. And this actually happened to a YouTuber named Mike Adolabo. It looks like Adelabo, he refused to give up his. Huh? Boo. Mike Adelabo shout out to all my West Africans. He bought a $2,000 VIP section, and Lil Baby came in, they asked him to move, and this happen. No, no. We're not going nowhere. We're not going nowhere. We're not going nowhere. Hey, we're not going nowhere. We're not going nowhere. We're not going nowhere. We're not going nowhere. Call whoever you want to call. We're not going nowhere. So. I know, I know. Yeah, I know. You paid already for this side, so what's up? All we're doing. So that's how it's going to be with Baby and the rest J people. We know that y' all pay. We're not telling y' all that y' all not going to have a section. We're just about to move y' all to make room for little babies, other people. That's all to wear. We got three boots for y' all right there on the other side. Well, no. Cause you gotta understand, if niggas pay for to be on stage, that's where

[B]

we supposed to be at.

[A]

I understand. You know what I'm saying? If you pay 2000 for something, what you gonna do? You gonna be on stage. You're not gonna be out there. So it's there. Bro, I gotta tell you, I never heard of this guy before this. I think this gave me hope. I'm serious. This gave me hope. This gave me. This gave me hope that we can win the war against dick riding. And I'll tell you why. This guy Mike was streaming, it seems. Right he's a YouTuber. It seems like he was streaming to me. A lot of people in that situation would have given up the section that they paid for. He paid to be on the stage. He paid to be with his people. He's doing well enough to where he can spend the $2,000 to where he can be on the stage flossing, doing his thing. That's his right. He's streaming. A lot of people would have given up their table or their section so that they could get some FaceTime. With baby on stream a lot of and I didn't see the whole thing. Maybe he did later. A lot. A lot of people would have been like, hey, you know what? Or just use the stream to like dick ride Lil Baby. The reality is why in the fuck would you come over to me after I have paid for the section I have paid to be on the stage. I didn't pay for Lil Baby to be the man. That means nothing to me. It means nothing to me that Lil Baby is the man. I paid so I could be the man. How dare you walk over here and ask me to give up my shit that I paid to be the man at so the next man could be the man. What kind of shit are we living in if Lil Baby didn't get there in time or if Lil Baby didn't buy a section on the stage, then Lil Baby got to go with Lil Baby's go word love to him. Why would I move after? Even if you come back to me, you got to come back to me. Give me ten grand, I'll go. Give me ten grand, I'll go. Give me enough money so I could buy tables for the next month, if you believe in tables and all of that kind of shit. If you give me enough money so that I could come here for a whole month. If you want me to move, I'm not moving for Little Baby. And this guy, no part of him wanted to dick ride. Want to hang on little Babies. This is nothing. But not about Little Baby. Hang on Lil Baby's dick. Be around Lil Baby. Be cool with Lil Baby. Be all super eyed with Lil Baby. Do all of that. How about I'm the man? How about that? I bought the section, so I'm the man. These women will drinketh of my patron. These women will drinketh of my pineapple juice. These women will drinketh of my Hennessy. I am the man. And I was happy that this man did not dick ride and give up his section that he paid for so somebody else could come over and be the man in his shit. It's his shit.

[B]

Where was this?

[A]

I have no goddamn clue.

[B]

Because it happens all the time in Vegas.

[A]

What happens?

[B]

Like you'll have a table, you'll have bought a table and you'll come in and they'll be like, nah, so and so's coming in. We gave your table away. Gave your table away.

[A]

You know, cool. If they make you do it, then you ain't got no motherfucking choice. What you going to do? Like go to war inside the club? But if they come over and they ask you if they.

[B]

Yeah, that. This is wild. I've never seen something like this before. Normally they'll just be like, we gave your table away, or, you know, so and so is going to sit in the section or we moved you from the table you had and then you, you know, you don't spend your money.

[A]

Also, this was live. The club is called Live in Miami. Thank you, Bernard. The club is called Live in. In Miami. We never heard of that.

[B]

Bernard, you do not know about Liv.

[A]

Bernard. Like we don't know. We don't know about Miami like that. I just never heard of Club Live. You're fired. Damn. How's that? Okay.

[B]

I think that. I think it's a generation.

[A]

You're off the podcast. We need people that understand what club living. I can't say. Yeah, I've been there. I'm not saying that you've been there, but you've never heard of it before. Oh, heard of it. Yeah, but. And I don't know. You lying now. Heard of it and don't trust me.

[B]

It's a generational thing. I don't think the 26 year olds are talking about Club Live like that.

[A]

Is that true? Donna, you know Club Liv, do you not?

[B]

We just say Liv, by the way, can we stop saying Club Liv? It's Liv.

[A]

It's Liv.

[C]

Yeah, I do. But it was more about. I first heard about it because of the heat, like, celebrating there. So this is like 2012 heat.

[A]

Went there. Liv is where I guess Puff and Drake got into it. Liv is like a story club of mine.

[B]

Yeah, I said it was in all the rap songs. Liv on Sunday, King of Diamonds Monday.

[A]

Okay, well, shout out to Mike and shout out to all the people over there that still are having their goddamn dignity. God damn, man. It's not Dick riding the next man for any type of clout. Shout out to this guy, bro. I just gotta say, man. Shout out to this nigga. I looked at this and I was like. And he was confident too. He asked security. He was like. He's like, no. He's like, what would you do? He's like, we gonna move you over here. He's like, where? We got some boots for you. He's like, no. Like, no. By the way, I didn't know you could get a table at live for a section that. Live for 2000.

[B]

2000. Right? You think it's more.

[A]

All right, take then caps off. But do not stop learning. I am Van Lathan junior I am Rachel and Lindsay.

[B]

Bye. Guys.