MS NOW Presents: Clock It
Episode: Kash Patel, Gavin Newsom, and a Very “Raggedy” Black History Month
Hosts: Simone Sanders Townsend & Eugene Daniels
Guest: Dr. Mark Lamont Hill
Date: February 26, 2026
Episode Overview
Simone Sanders Townsend and Eugene Daniels break down the striking convergence of politics, culture, and media following Trump's State of the Union address, the BAFTAs controversy, racism in soccer, and government hypocrisy. They address how Trump’s administration weaponizes culture, dissect performative responses to racism during Black History Month, and invite Dr. Mark Lamont Hill to analyze everything from Gavin Newsom’s Atlanta remarks to the landscape of political performance in 2026.
Episode Mood: Candid, exasperated, insightful, and unfiltered—peppered with humor, side-eye, and a demand for accountability.
Key Themes & Discussion Points
1. Trump's State of the Union: Performance, Propaganda, and Pushback
[01:48 – 03:37]
- Panel Reaction: The hosts and progressive members of Congress (Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib) call out Trump’s falsehoods, especially regarding immigration and election integrity.
- Simone: “He has given us his playbook.” [02:58]
- Eugene: “They’re telling everyone what they’re going to do.” [03:05]
- Foreshadowing and Election Rigging: The hosts highlight how Trump openly lays groundwork to delegitimize any unfavorable midterm results, echoing his first term tactics.
[24:36 – 29:33] with Dr. Mark Lamont Hill
- Performative Patriotism: Handing out medals, using the military and Olympians as props, and pivoting away from real policy discussions.
- Simone: “He was using our Military, our servicemen and women, and even the US Men's hockey team as political props, and I don't think they should have…” [23:06]
- Mark Hill: “It’s a belief that the American people aren’t smart enough to see what’s in front of them.” [24:49]
- Democratic Response: Critique of Democratic “silent defiance” at the State of the Union and call for more vocal, visible opposition.
- Simone: “Silent defiance for somebody like Donald Trump…is just background noise.” [26:46]
- Eugene: “Democrats…their reaction to being on offense is to play it safe.” [27:36]
2. The BAFTAs & Cultural Insensitivity
[05:04 – 09:41]
- Incident: John Davidson, Tourette’s advocate, shouts the N-word during Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo’s presentation. The BAFTAs air it unbleeped.
- Simone (on organizers): “Why did the BAFTAs not address this better?...Understanding is not gonna meet the moment.” [08:08]
- Eugene: “My biggest issue is with the BAFTA because…they made a choice to leave this man yelling the N word…A disservice to Delroy Lindo and Michael B. Jordan.” [07:23]
- Responsibility and Apologies: While understanding Davidson’s condition, both hosts demand real apologies from BAFTAs rather than vague calls for “understanding.”
- Insider Perspective: Sanders Townsend reports a firsthand account from a friend in the room who pressed BAFTA leadership to communicate immediately. They delayed. [09:06]
- Simone: “Understanding is not enough.”
3. Racism in Sports: Vini Jr., Monkey Slurs, and A “Raggedy” Black History Month
[09:42 – 11:58]
- Soccer Incident: Brazilian star Vini Jr. is called “monkey” on the field, his teammate speaking out.
- Eugene: “A monkey five times. I would like a redo of Black History Month…this 28 days has been raggedy as hell.” [10:52]
- Black History Month Woes: The accumulation of racist incidents (BAFTAs, soccer, presidential dog-whistles) makes this February feel especially “raggedy.”
- Simone: “I want a redo, and I want a 31 day redo. Cause these 28 days has been raggedy as hell.” [11:10]
- Lack of Accountability: Both hosts note the absence of organizational apologies or meaningful reactions across institutions.
- Simone: “Vinnie, we're sorry. D. Roy Lane, we are sorry. Michael B. Jordan, we're sorry.” [11:58]
4. Government Hypocrisy & Kash Patel’s Olympic ‘Tour’
[12:12 – 16:44]
- Kash Patel’s Contradiction: Former "defund-the-FBI-plane" hardliner now joyrides to the Winter Olympics on taxpayer-funded jets.
- Simone: “He flew on an FBI Gulfstream jet…about $75,000. That's your money.” [13:41]
- Eugene: “I love Beyoncé. I love to go to Beyoncé concerts. I don’t use Ms. Now’s credit card to do it.” [15:01]
- Official Narrative vs. Reality: FBI claims official meetings justified the trip; media and politicians skeptical about appropriateness.
- Impact: Delays and missed FBI access during emergencies due to Patel’s personal use.
- Eugene: “I have lots of questions. Not a lot of answers.” [16:40]
5. Texas GOP Scandal: Power, Morality & Infidelity
[16:49 – 19:31]
- Tony Gonzalez Affair & Fallout: An affair between a Congressman and a staffer leads to suicide, mounting political and moral pressure, and hypocrisy from House leadership.
- Simone (on Speaker Mike Johnson): “I thought Mike Johnson was a bible toting member of the caucus.” [18:35]
- Eugene: “Decisions that require moral clarity…politics often win out in this country.” [18:46]
- Moral Values vs. Political Expediency: House leadership with razor-thin majority chooses politics over accountability.
6. Gavin Newsom in Atlanta: Relatability or Tone-Deaf?
[29:38 – 34:53]
- Viral Video Reaction: Newsom’s self-deprecating remarks about his “960 SAT” and dyslexia go viral, interpreted by some as tone-deaf and pandering.
- Eugene: “He is trying to be relatable…for a lot of Black people…the way it came off…felt off to them.” [31:06]
- Dr. Hill’s Counterpoint: Offers context—majority-white room, message consistent across demographics, but internet and right-wing spread a misleading narrative.
- Dr. Hill: “If you bring steak on a trash can, people focus on the trash…the internet brought it as ‘listen to Newsom telling a room full of black voters that he's like them.’ But it was 80% white.” [32:23]
- Simone (on disinfo): “A little clip gets out, and it's like somebody didn't listen to the whole conversation…words are hard.” [34:09]
- Lesson: Viral moments rarely contain the full context; both political foes and allies need to be wary of how such soundbites are weaponized.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- Eugene Daniels (on February events):
- “I would like a redo of Black History Month. This 28 days has been raggedy as hell.” [10:52]
- Simone Sanders Townsend (on BAFTAs debacle):
- “I'm tired of people ask me for understanding, not just during Black History Month, but every month of the year.” [08:08]
- Dr. Mark Lamont Hill (on Newsom video):
- “If in a room of 800 white people and 200 black people he said ‘I'm just like you, I can't read’…why are you so sure he’s talking to the black people?”
- Eugene Daniels (on Democrats):
- “Democrats…their reaction to being on offense is to play it safe.” [27:36]
- Simone Sanders Townsend (on Democratic strategy):
- “Silent defiance for somebody like Donald Trump…is just background noise. The American people are looking to know that the Democrats understand the assignment.” [26:46]
Timestamps for Major Segments
- [01:48 – 03:45] State of the Union reaction, Trump’s playbook, “foreshadowing” election denial strategy
- [05:04 – 09:41] BAFTAs N-word controversy, handling public apologies, expectations for institutions
- [09:42 – 11:58] Racism in sports, “raggedy” Black History Month, Vini Jr. soccer incident
- [12:12 – 16:44] Kash Patel’s Olympics trip, government hypocrisy, “do as I say, not as I do”
- [16:49 – 19:31] Texas GOP affair, suicide, political fall out, “family values” debate
- [22:00 – 29:33] Dr. Mark Lamont Hill guest segment, State of the Union, Democrats’ strategic dilemmas
- [29:38 – 34:53] Gavin Newsom in Atlanta, viral video analysis, context & disinformation
Tone & Takeaways
- Tone: Unfiltered, spirited, and critical yet humorous. The hosts strike a balance between sharp political analysis and lived frustration with how culture and politics collide, especially for people of color.
- Takeaway: In a political climate where culture is the battlefield, understanding context, demanding accountability, and maintaining vigilance against disinformation is paramount. Black History Month 2026 is rough, institutions are under fire, and the work of decoding politics in real time isn’t slowing down.
For Listeners:
“Clock It” offers not just recap, but real talk and the context behind the day’s most contentious stories—reminding us that the news, like culture, is always up for analysis, critique, and, when warranted, a demand for something better.