Podcast Summary

Podcast: Higher Learning with Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay
Episode: ‘Sinners,’ Jasmine Crockett, and the Black Panthers
Date: January 13, 2026
Hosts: Van Lathan Jr. and Rachel Lindsay

Episode Overview

In this episode, Van and Rachel cover a spectrum of pressing topics in Black culture, politics, and sports. They kick off with industry recognition at the NAACP Image Awards, dive deep into the meaning of accolades such as the Golden Globes and Oscars, and unpack the critical response to films like "Sinners," "Hamnet," and "One Battle After Another." Further, the duo addresses recent controversies in political discourse—especially surrounding Jasmine Crockett's Senate run and the backlash to recent podcast commentary—as well as social justice issues like the recent ICE shooting in Minnesota and community-policing dynamics, including a viral Black Panthers video.

Key Discussion Points

1. Podcast Awards & Industry Recognition

• NAACP Image Awards: The show is nominated for Best Podcast for the fourth consecutive time. Van and Rachel joke about their track record and encourage listeners to vote.
• Golden Globes & Podcasting: Discussion about award shows starting to recognize podcasts, the shifting landscape of media, and industry's tendency to lag behind audience sensibilities.
• Van on Industry Recognition:
  "It's very important to be nominated and respected by Black people… But, you know, we’re up against people who are pretty famous." [01:16]
• Comparisons to Grammys/Hip Hop: Award institutions often lag behind trends in culture.

2. Golden Globes Breakdown & 'Sinners'

Recap of Major Winners

• Lists out categories and winners such as "Hamnet" (Best Motion Picture Drama), "K Pop: Demon Hunters" (Animated), "Sinners" (Cinematic Achievement), etc.

Reflections on 'Sinners' and Industry Bias

• Rachel: Surprised "Sinners" didn't win more, especially for Ryan Coogler as Best Director, but recognizes its box office impact.
• Van:
  "The best cinematic achievement I've seen all year… are 'Sinners' and 'F1'… but in terms of sitting in a theatre and being just emotionally enthralled and engrossed, 'Hamnet' is the best movie I saw all year." [12:44]
• Rachel:
  "You're really selling the movie… I don’t know if I want to cry that hard." [14:50]

Variety's Relationship with 'Sinners'

• Controversy around Variety’s coverage, with accusations of over-cynicism and subsequent “overcorrection” with recent coverage.

• Van:
  "The original tweet and framing of 'Sinners' success from Variety was so cynical… And to do that with a movie that was so ambitious… tested the presence of the industry…" [18:07] "Why it seems like once we're given a bad meal, the only thing that whiteness knows how to do is give us like a really sweet dessert." [20:28]

• Debate on the value and meaning of awards vs. actual impact and artistic achievement.

• Van:
  "Winning Academy Awards matters. It matters… those trophies are currency in this industry." [22:19]

On Representation and Storytelling

• Van argues that films centering Black struggle against systemic oppression (digestible to white audiences) tend to win acclaim, while movies centering Black complexity, joy, or existential struggle get less attention: "If the white vampires in 'Sinners' were slave masters… Sinners would win 10 Oscars." [26:49]

3. Social Media Influencers & the Mirage of Perfection

• Discussion of Christie and Desmond Scott's viral couple brand and their divorce.

• Van and Rachel critique the hazards of monetizing relationships and the parasocial attachment audiences form with online personalities.

• Rachel:
  "When the line starts to blend—social media versus what's real—like, which one are you?" [44:57]

• Rachel shares her personal experience of not monetizing her relationship, the pressure for curated perfection, and the toll on authenticity.

• Van:
  "If you set yourself apart from people and you don't say, 'Hey, I'm just like one of you guys,' the opportunity to disappoint them is fourfold." [45:47]

4. Minnesota ICE Shooting & Police Accountability

Incident Recap

• After an ICE agent (Jonathan Ross) fatally shot Renee Goode in Minneapolis, protests erupted and more federal agents were deployed.
• Discussion over the edited release of video footage and whether it was deployed to support the officer.

Media & Institutional Response

• Rachel:
  "How can you understand his intention but you can't understand the intention of her?" [57:44]
  • Highlights bias where law enforcement is given more “grace” in media and public discourse.

Accountability Hurdles

• Van outlines how federal intervention, Trump-appointed prosecutors, and bureaucratic barriers likely spell impunity for ICE: "ICE realizes that they are operating with absolutely, like, no oversight… That is a part of the plan. ICE is a strong man's militia." [66:31]

On Community Resistance

• Rachel spotlights examples of collective action in Minnesota—neighbors and bystanders intervening and recording ICE agents to protect community members.
• Van:
  "There's no way to respectably resist… If someone feels like they don't have to respect your rights, then you can't respect their authority, and that's it." [70:24]

5. Black Panthers, Community Policing, and the Limits of Respectability

Viral Philly Panthers Video

• Black Panther members assert their legal rights when confronted by police, using sharp language and legal citations.
• Debate: Is it too harsh toward Black officers, or a necessary stance?

Reactions & Analysis

• Rachel: Supports the utility of knowing and asserting one's rights, but wonders if there’s value in trying to eventually build mutual understanding between Black officers and community. "Let's just say that they're good...Take that back to your law enforcement, call a town hall meeting… If the goal is to get on the same page, that's what should happen." [75:14]

• Van:
  "From a group like the police, respect invites victimization… There should be a stern and direct interrogation of 'what are you doing here?'" [77:00]

6. Democratic Party Politics — Jasmine Crockett, Criticism, Identity, and Backlash

• Viral clip from the Las Culturistas podcast critiquing Jasmine Crockett's Senate chances (and favoring the less known James Talarico) prompts accusations of racism and misogyny.
• Van and Rachel debate the limits of what is “fair criticism,” the role of race/gender in analysis, and the internet’s tendency to leap to conclusions without nuance.

Notable Quotes

• Rachel:
  "You cannot jump to name-calling. It's not a smart argument… There are problems in what he said, but if you listen to it in the entire context… the meaning behind it is, hey, you can’t be so passionate—you have to vote for what’s gonna win." [94:27]

• Van:
  "We can protect Jasmine Crockett as a Black woman, and we should. We cannot protect her as a politician." [100:32]

  • Argues politicians should not be insulated from critique due to identity.

• Rachel:
  "We should be able to critique our politicians...You want them to be better, to know what they stand for, and that they're going to represent you..." [104:22]

Israel/Palestine as a Dividing Line

• They contrast Talarico’s and Crockett’s candidacies using their stances on Israel as a filter, with both critical that Talarico’s recent statements position him as a normative, centrist Democrat.

7. Steve Nash, Capitalism, and Youth Basketball

Segment Overview ([132:55])

• Steve Nash critiques the pay-to-play structure of U.S. youth basketball and how commercialization undermines player development compared to subsidized community club models in Europe.

Broader Implications

• Van:
  "At its core, that is such an easily digestible criticism of gangster capitalism run amok… what Steve Nash is essentially saying is…the overall quality of basketball here is deteriorating because not everybody has access to the capital…" [134:11]

• Expansion on the “money religion” in America and how the capitalist mentality warps not only sports, but all social structures.

• Rachel:
  "He wanted to say that and get that out there and he did." [138:33]

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• "Maybe I'm a socio empath." – Van Lathan, reflecting on his therapist calling him a sociopath [07:14]
• "If the white vampires in Sinners were slave masters…Sinners would win 10 Oscars." – Van Lathan [26:49]
• "When the line starts to blend: social media versus what's real—like, which one are you?" – Rachel Lindsay [44:57]
• "Respect invites victimization." – Van Lathan, on not showing too much deference to police [77:00]
• "We can protect Jasmine Crockett as a Black woman…We cannot protect her as a politician." – Van Lathan [100:32]

Key Timestamps

• NAACP Image Awards/Podcasting Awards: [00:07–05:29]
• Golden Globes Recap/'Sinners' and Oscars Debate: [07:31–22:46]
• Industry Bias Against Black Films/Value of Awards: [21:20–30:28]
• Personal Movie Rankings & Criticism of Black Media Portrayals: [30:35–38:34]
• Influencers, Parasocial Relationships & Personal Experience: [39:04–51:27]
• ICE Shooting in Minnesota & Policing: [54:14–71:09]
• Philadelphia Black Panthers/Community Policing Debate: [71:09–85:01]
• Jasmine Crockett, Podcast Backlash & Democratic Politics: [85:15–129:15]
• Steve Nash & Critique of Capitalism via Basketball: [130:23–139:08]

Tone & Style

Throughout, Van and Rachel maintain a candid, humorous, and occasionally sharp tone. They blend personal anecdotes, cultural critique, and political analysis, often pushing each other for deeper reflection and welcoming disagreement. Their banter mixes seriousness with levity, inviting listeners into a nuanced but accessible conversation.

Summary Prepared For:
Listeners wanting an incisive, witty, and thoughtful breakdown of current Black culture, politics, and sports—plus an inside track on the movies, controversies, and debates shaping 2026.