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

Summary

The Breakfast Club – Donkey of the Day: Alabama House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter and the 14th Amendment

Date: May 11, 2026
Hosts: DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, Charlamagne Tha God
Platform: The Black Effect Podcast Network and iHeartPodcasts

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Episode Overview

In this episode, Charlamagne Tha God delivers the “Donkey of the Day” segment, focusing on Alabama House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter. Ledbetter sparked outrage by expressing hope that the Supreme Court would overturn the 14th Amendment, which guarantees citizenship and equal protection, especially for Black Americans. Charlamagne breaks down the implications of such a statement—historically, legally, and socially—and discusses the broader trend of assaults on Black civic power in the South. The segment is sharp, passionate, and serves as both commentary and alarm bell on racial justice.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Background: Erosion of Black Political Power

• Charlamagne sets the scene by recounting recent legislative actions in southern states that undermine Black political power:
  • Black-majority districts being dismantled.
  • Strategic redistricting diluting Black voter impact.
  • Specific case in Louisiana where a Black official’s position was eliminated after his election (03:15).

2. The Importance of the 14th Amendment

• Charlamagne provides a concise history:
  • The amendment grants citizenship and due process to all people born or naturalized in the U.S., including formerly enslaved people (04:40).
  • It explicitly overturned the Dred Scott decision which denied citizenship to Black people.
  • It’s called “the cornerstone of American civil rights law” (04:50).

3. Nathaniel Ledbetter’s Comments

• Key Moment: Ledbetter, in a press conference, openly states his hope that the Supreme Court will overturn the 14th Amendment, twice (05:43).
  • Full quote:

    “...certainly hope that the Supreme Court will overturn Amendment 14... and we can look at a new election.”
    — Nathaniel Ledbetter, 05:47

4. Charlamagne’s Reaction & Breakdown

• Immediate rebuttal: He notes the Speaker’s spokesperson claims Ledbetter “didn’t mean what he said,” but underlines that Ledbetter said it twice (06:20).
• Dangers of overturning the 14th:
  • Legalized racial segregation would return.
  • Discrimination in education, housing, employment would be wide open.
  • Black citizens would lose legal grounds for civil rights lawsuits.
  • “Whatever the Jim Crow era looked like from 1877 to the 1960s, that’s what we would be back in—with WiFi” (07:19).

5. Broader Political Distrust

• Charlamagne highlights frustration that political “mistakes” always seem to target Black rights and protections, not benefits (07:35).
  • Example:

    “Nobody ever accidentally says, you know what? I hope everybody gets free healthcare. I hope everybody gets free reparations.”
    — Charlamagne Tha God, 07:39

• Pointed rhetorical question (paraphrased): Is the problem the maps, or the Black voters on the maps? (08:04)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Stakes of Overturning the 14th:

  “Do you think this current administration, this federal government, is going to stop any of that? Huh? Voting rights, please. You think they weak now? You think they’ve been gutted now? Get rid of the 14th amendment, they wouldn’t even matter.”
  — Charlamagne Tha God, 06:50

• Dark Humor about Reverting to Jim Crow:

  “Whatever the Jim Crow era looked like from 1877 to the 1960s, that’s what we would be back in—with WiFi.”
  — Charlamagne Tha God, 07:19

• Calling Out Political Gaslighting:

  “What I hate about situations like this is people will tell Black folks, don’t overreact... But how come the mistakes always gotta do with something that removes our rights?”
  — Charlamagne Tha God, 07:35

• Signature Sign-off with Humor:

  “Please let Chelsea Handler give Nathaniel Ledbetter the biggest Hee haw. Hee haw. Hee haw. That is way too much, Dan Mayonnaise. I’m just telling you to look alive, people.”
  — Charlamagne Tha God, 08:14

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 03:15 — Introduction to the current erosion of Black political power in the South.
• 04:40 — Explanation of the 14th Amendment: history and impact.
• 05:43 — Nathaniel Ledbetter’s statement (audio clip).
• 06:20 — Charlamagne’s analysis of what overturning the 14th would mean.
• 07:35 — Critique of the pattern of political “mistakes” and their targets.
• 08:14 — Humor-infused sign-off (“Hee haw. Hee haw. Hee haw.”)
• 08:21–08:24 — Segment wrap-up.

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Summary in Context & Tone

Charlamagne Tha God, speaking in his signature blunt, passionate, and humorous style, uses the “Donkey of the Day” segment to draw urgent, critical attention to the direct threats facing Black Americans’ civil rights today. The episode balances historical context, real-time outrage, and moments of levity to deliver a powerful warning: undermining the 14th Amendment isn’t a mere “slip” but a harbinger of potentially catastrophic rollbacks in racial justice and equality.

Listeners walk away with a clear understanding: Ledbetter’s statements are more than political missteps—they are reminders of the ongoing struggle for civil rights and the necessity of vigilance.

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This summary excludes ads, show intro/outro, and non-content chatter to focus on the substance and spirit of the episode.

Transcript

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[Charlamagne tha God]

Made it this is Americool, there is no question that there are problems in this country between police and community. Yes, you are a donkey. The latest on that police killing of a black man.

[News Reporter]

Now to new developments in the deadly spa shooting rampage.

[Nathaniel Ledbetter or News Clip Speaker]

And yesterday was a really bad day

[Charlamagne tha God]

for him, and this is what he did.

[Host of Guaranteed Human]

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

[Charlamagne tha God]

White supremacist violence is and always has been the number one threat to our society. But I'm also very proud that my wife is white. The Breakfast Club, bitches. All right, Charlene, please tell me, why

[News Reporter]

was I your donkey of the day?

[Charlamagne tha God]

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

[Nathaniel Ledbetter or News Clip Speaker]

Well, certainly gives us an opportunity to look at those congressional districts again. Gives us a chance at all of them if we get some reprieve from courts. And so give us a. We'll see how that goes and certainly hope that the Supreme Court will overturn Amendment 14 and gives us a shot to revisit those. You know, there's been a push through the courts to try to overtake some of these red state seats. And with the ruling that happened in Louisiana, we felt like it gave us a chance to maybe gain at seat, but also opened up 7 district 7. So I think that's happened. You know, all we need now is the courts to overturn 14 and. And we can look at a new election.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Come again? Okay, now, spokesman for Nathaniel said the speaker didn't mean what he actually said. Well, Mr. Spokesman, he said it twice. Okay? He said it twice in that statement I just heard. And I don't know if y' all quite understand what it would mean for the 14th Amendment to be overturned. States could legalize forms of racial Segregation without the 14th Amendment. Legal Discriminatory systems in education, housing, public accommodations, employment. Okay? All of that. It would be legal. Okay. To be discriminating against all black asses. Okay. Unless stopped by federal legislation. And do you think this current administration, this federal government, is going to stop any of that? Huh? Voting rights, please. You think they weak now? You think they've been gutted now? Get rid of the 14th amendment, they wouldn't even matter. Okay? Black people, we wouldn't be able to win a civil rights lawsuit if the white man you were suing, his life depended on it. Okay? Basically, whatever the Jim Crow era looked like from 1877 to the 1960s, that's what we would be back in with Wi Fi. Okay? Legal Racial segregation and discrimination. And this is the amendment that Nathaniel Ledbetter is saying should be overturned. The 14th. Okay? What I hate about situations like this is people will tell black folks, don't overreact. That's not what he meant. But how come the mistakes always got to do with something that removes our rights? Okay? Nobody ever accidentally says, you know what? I hope everybody gets free healthcare I hope everybody gets free reparations. This is why people don't trust politicians when they say democracy is safe. Because if your first instinct during a voting rights argument is maybe we should overturn the amendment that gave black people citizenship, well, what exactly do you think the problem is, Nathaniel, huh? Do you think the problem is the maps? Are the black voters on the maps? I'll take the niggers for 1,000, Alex. Please let Chelsea Handler give Nathaniel Ledbetter the biggest Hee haw. Hee haw. Hee haw. That is way too much, Dan Mayonnaise. I'm just telling you to look alive, people.

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All right.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Okay. Well, thank you for that.

[AT&T Advertiser and Podcast Host]

Donkey of the day.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Yes, ma'.

[Nathaniel Ledbetter or News Clip Speaker]

Am.

[AT&T Advertiser and Podcast Host]

Now, when we come back, we have a legend and icon joining us when we come back. He goes by the name of Az. He has a new project out right now. We're gonna talk to him when we come back, so don't go anywhere. It's the Breakfast Club. Good morning.

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[Host of Guaranteed Human]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.