DONKEY: Charlamagne Gives JD Vance Donkey Of The Day For Politicizing ICE Shooting

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Breakfast Club

Episode: DONKEY: Charlamagne Gives JD Vance Donkey Of The Day For Politicizing ICE Shooting
Date: September 25, 2025
Host: Charlamagne Tha God (with DJ Envy & Jess Hilarious)

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Overview

In this episode of "Donkey of the Day," Charlamagne Tha God calls out Vice President JD Vance for his reaction to a recent shooting at an ICE facility in Dallas, Texas. Charlamagne critiques Vance's swift politicization of the incident, accusing him of irresponsibly framing it as an attack on law enforcement and using the tragedy to score political points. The discussion explores the dangers and hypocrisy of such rhetoric, while urging a more honest, fact-based approach to politically charged violence.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Incident Recap and Vance’s Response

• Charlamagne opens by setting the stage: a shooter fired at an ICE building and a van with detainees, resulting in fatalities and injuries (03:11).

• The Vice President, JD Vance, issued a public statement blaming "left wing extremists" and Democratic rhetoric for the violence (04:20).

  "When Democrats like Gavin Newsom…say that these people are part of an authoritarian government…when the left wing media lies about what they’re doing…they’re encouraging crazy people to go and commit violence. If your political rhetoric encourages violence…you can go straight to hell and you have no place in the political conversation…”
  — JD Vance at 04:20

2. Charlamagne’s Critique of Politicization

• Irresponsible framing: Charlamagne argues that Vance is distorting the facts, since the victims were detainees, not law enforcement (05:21).
  • Emphasizes the danger in hastily blaming an entire political side without evidence.
  • Notes that anti-ICE sentiment can exist across the political spectrum, not just on the left.
• Quote:

  “Framing this as an attack on law enforcement when it’s not…. is extremely irresponsible. …The detainees who were shot and killed … who were shot and injured. How do we know that the dehumanizing rhetoric of immigrants didn’t lead someone to say, you know what? F dead due process. I just want to take them out.”
  — Charlamagne Tha God at 05:21

3. The Broader Political Pattern

• Charlamagne calls out both sides: While criticizing left-wing rhetoric is common, Charlamagne points out the double standard when Republicans demonize opponents while demanding restraint from the other side (06:40).

  • Stresses that jumping to conclusions before facts are clear risks inflaming tensions.

• Quote:

  “I keep telling y’all, these politicians don’t care about we the people—they care about their politics. JD Vance is thinking about 2026 and 2028. That’s why he was quick to come out and criticize Gavin Newsom and left media…”
  — Charlamagne Tha God at 05:43

4. Issues with ICE and Public Perception

• ICE’s controversial role: Discussion of how ICE policies (such as deportations of US citizens and those with pending legal claims) foster public outrage and—regardless of political rhetoric—may drive some people to extreme responses (06:15).
  • Acknowledges multiple shootings at ICE agencies in 2025, condemning them unequivocally.

5. The Need for Responsible Rhetoric

• Hypocrisy in political blame: Charlamagne addresses the hypocrisy of blaming only one side ("Stop demonizing ICE") while simultaneously demonizing political opponents (07:20).

  • Calls for fact-based, cautious public statements from leaders—especially during ongoing investigations.

• Quote:

  “Stop being ready to politicize tragedy. You are the Vice President. You need a cautious, fact-based approach.”
  — Charlamagne Tha God at 08:17

6. Underlying Issues Overlooked

• Shift in conversation: By framing the incident as an attack on law enforcement, important discussions are ignored—such as immigrant rights, detainee safety, and gun reform (08:45).

• Quote:

  “When you frame this as an attack on law enforcement, you shift attention away from things we should be discussing, like immigrant rights, detainee safety, conditions in ICE custody, or how detainees are treated.”
  — Charlamagne Tha God at 08:50

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Charlamagne, on political hypocrisy:

  “If you’re so worried about the rhetoric from Democrats, then make sure your rhetoric matches the facts.”
  (09:20)

• Charlamagne, on right-wing violence statistics:

  “…all the data in this country nowadays points to right wing extremists being more responsible for acts of political violence in America than the left. The left is pretty pussycat.”
  (07:45)

• Summary callout:

  “Please give Vice President JD Vance the biggest hee haw.”
  (09:35)

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Key Timestamps

• 03:11 — Charlamagne introduces Donkey of the Day: Vice President JD Vance
• 04:20 — Clip: JD Vance blames left-wing rhetoric for ICE shooting
• 05:21 — Charlamagne critiques Vance’s politicization and framing
• 06:40 — On politicians caring more about politics than people
• 07:45 — Data on political violence in the US
• 08:50 — Calls for attention to detainee rights and real issues
• 09:35 — “Hee haw” moment and summary verdict

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Tone & Style

Charlamagne maintains his trademark candid, provocative tone—mixing humor with sharp critique. He uses vivid analogies (e.g., "thumb thugs," "broadband bloods") to illustrate his points, and isn’t afraid to call out hypocrisy or demand accountability from politicians on both sides.

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Bottom Line

Charlamagne’s Donkey of the Day calls out Vice President JD Vance for jumping to politicize a tragic shooting at an ICE facility—reminding listeners that facts (not partisan talking points) should drive public conversation, especially when lives are lost. The focus, he argues, should be on detainee treatment, immigrant rights, and responsible rhetoric from those in the highest offices.

Transcript

[Hunter]

This is an I Heart Podcast.

[Danielle Fishel]

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[Hunter]

Learn [e-mail] I'm Hunter, host of Hunting for Answers on the Black Effect Podcast Network. Join me every weekday as I share bite sized stories of missing and murdered black women and girls in Americ. Stories like Erica Hunt, a young mother vanished without a trace after a family gathering on 4th of July weekend 2016. No goodbyes, no clues, just gone. Listen to Hunting for Answers every weekday on the Black Effect Podcast Network. IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Marcus Grant]

I'm Marcus Grant.

[Michael F. Florio]

And I'm Michael F. Florio and together we host the NF Fantasy Football Podcast.

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Toyota the official automotive partner of the NFL. Visit toyota.com NFL now to learn more.

[Gia Giudice]

Hey, it's your favorite Jersey girl, Gia Giudice. Welcome to Casual Chaos, where I share my story. This week I'm sitting down with Vanderpump Rules star Sheena Shay.

[Sheena Shay]

I don't really talk to either of them, if I'm being honest. There will be an occasional text one way or the other from me to Ariana. Maybe a happy birthday from Ariana to me. I think the last time I talked to Tom it was like, congrats on America's Got Talent.

[Gia Giudice]

This is a convo you don't want to miss. Listen to Casual chaos on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

This is America.

[Danielle Fishel]

There Is no question that there are.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Problems in this country between police and community. Yes, you are a donkey.

[Marcus Grant]

The latest on that police killing of a black man.

[Danielle Fishel]

Now to new developments in the deadly spa shooting rampage.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

And yesterday was a really bad day for him, and this is what he did.

[Danielle Fishel]

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

[Charlamagne Tha God]

White supremacist violence is, it always has been, the number one threat to our society. But I'm also very proud that my wife is white man. The Breakfast Club, bitches.

[Sheena Shay]

All right, Charlene, please tell me, why.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Was I your donkey of the day? Yes. Donkey of the day for Thursday, September 25th goes to Vice President J.D. vance. J.D. advance, at some point, you and other elected officials in the Trump administration have to stop acting like regular smegula, everyday thumb thugs. Okay? What do I mean when I say thumb thugs? I'm talking to people who get online and just bang a set, okay? Broadband bloods and cyber crips. They got a side, they got a team, they got a flag they carrying and they represent it no matter what. And you can't do that when you are the Vice President of the United States of America. Because even though this administration has made it perfectly clear they are not an administration for all Americans. They should be, okay? We should demand that of our elected officials. All right? See, yesterday morning, a sniper opened fire on an ICE agency in Dallas. The shooter fired randomly at the ICE building and a van with three detainees were shot. I believe one, maybe two detainees passed away. The other is in critical condition. I'm not sure the gunman is dead. I do know that he committed suicide. And J.D. vance, the vice President of the United States of America, rushed to politicize the situation. Let's listen to what Vice President J.D. vance had to say.

[Toyota Announcer]

But what we know is that in Dallas, Texas, an ICE facility, an Immigrations and Customs Enforcement facility, was opened fire upon by a violent left wing extremist, a person who wrote anti ICE messaging on their bullets. And they were politically motivated to go after law enforcement. They were politically motivated to go after people who are enforcing our border. When Democrats like Gavin Newsom did say that these people are part of an authoritarian government. When the left wing media lies about what they're doing, when they lie about who they're arresting, when they lie about the actual job of law enforcement, what they're doing is encouraging crazy people to go and commit violence. You don't have to agree with my immigration policies. You don't have to agree with Donald Trump's immigration policies. But if your political rhetoric encourages violence against our law enforcement. You can go straight to hell and you have no place in the political conversation of the United States of America.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

That's everything, right? Right. Okay. So much to unpack here. First of all, framing this as an attack on law enforcement when it's not. And you, the Vice President of the United States of America, is extremely irresponsible. Okay? Yes, shell casings found near the shooter had anti ICE written on them. But, JD you do realize there are people who voted for Trump, who support Trump, who could potentially be anti ICE as well. You do know that ICE isn' supporting people who voted Democrat or who support the Democratic Party. Okay. There are plenty of videos online of Trump supporters highly disappointed because their family members and friends have been deported too. So I don't know why you would rush to frame this as an attack on law enforcement and blame the left wing and radical left rhetoric. Okay, first of all, it was the detainees who were shot and killed. The detainees who were shot and injured. How do we know that the dehumanizing rhetoric of. Of immigrants didn't lead someone to say, you know what? F dead due process. I just want to take them out. How do we know that wasn't the case? We don't. But I keep telling y', all, these politicians don't care about we the people, they care about their politics. Okay? J.D. vance is thinking about 2026 and 2028. That's why he was quick to come out and criticize Gavin Newsom and Left Media for their rhetoric about ice, saying it encourages violent behavior. Let me tell you something, J.D. it is very true that there have been multiple shooting at ICE agencies in 2025. And I don't condone any of them. Okay? There's no justification for them. But if ice, who is just doing their jobs, has a mandate from the Trump administration to deport 1 million people annually. Okay? Not just the criminals and illegals. We see US Citizens included in that and folks with pending legal claims, people being wrongly deported because of administrative errors and policy changes. That watching that is going to drive some people mad. Okay? Again, not justifying any of these shootings that have happened at ICE agencies, but to act like Democratic politicians and left wing media are the sole reason some people don't like ICE agents. Well, that's just intellectually dishonest. Okay? And ignoring some very obvious issues that are happening in this country. That's why I don't understand why some Republicans and the Vice President of the United States of America are so quick to demand that political opponents Stop demonizing ICE. Hey, J.D. vance. And Republicans, how about you stop demonizing your political opponents until we get all the facts of the situation, okay? Because the political framing of this being an attack on law enforcement just isn't true, okay? The victims weren't ICE agents. It was the people being detained. And you're jumping the blame without evidence. We don't know if any political speech led to this violence. We don't know the motivation, we don't know the background, we don't know the mental state of the shooter. It's all still under investigation. Not to mention, not to mention, not to mention, not to mention, all the data in this country nowadays points to right wing extremists being more responsible for acts of political violence in America than the left. The left is pretty pussycat. Whoa, whoa. Don't scare me now. Don't scare me now. I'm just saying the left is pretty, you know, pretty pussycat, okay? But when the right is quick to blame the left, we overlook the pattern of right wing political violence. J.D. you are the Vice President of the United States of America. I don't understand how y' all ask one side to tone down but simultaneously blame Democrats for political violence and energize more people on the right to potentially commit political violence against Democrats in the left for zero reason. Stop being ready to politicize tragedy. You are the Vice President. You need a cautious, fact based approach, okay? When you frame this as an attack on law enforcement, you shift attention away from things we should be discussing like immigrant rights, detainee safety conditions in ICE custody, or how detainees are treated. Those are the relevant issues to this story, okay? Not to mention always common sense gun reform. But, J.D. you can't call for restraint while using inflammatory language. You can't prematurely attribute motive and intent. If you're so worried about the rhetoric from Democrats, then make sure your rhetoric matches the facts. Okay. Of the situation. And framing this as an attack on law enforcement despite no law enforcement being harmed is not the facts of the situation. Please give Vice President J.D. vance the biggest he haw. All right, well, thank you for that donkey today. Yes, ma'. Am. Great choice of words. You scared the hell out of me. All right, everybody else, just fix my mess. 800-585-1051. If you need some fixing in your life and call us up right now. 800-585-1051. Just to fix your right. All right? It's the breakfast Slow. Good morning.

[Toyota Announcer]

The Breakfast Club.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Donkey of the day is sponsored by renowned personal injury attorney Michael the bull Laminsoft. Don't be a donkey when you need a fighter on your side. If you're ever injured, go to michaeldebull.com that's michaelthebull.com and when you mess with the bull, you get the horns.

[Hunter]

I'm Hunter, host of Hunting for Answers on the Black Effect Podcast Network. Join me every weekday as I share bite sized stories of missing and murdered black women and girls in America. Stories like Erica Hunt, a young mother vanished without a trace after a family gathering on 4th of July weekend 2016. No goodbyes, no clues, just gone. Listen to Hunting for Answers every weekday on the Black Effect Podcast Network. IHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Marcus Grant]

I'm Marcus Grant.

[Michael F. Florio]

And I'm Michael F. Florio and together we host the NFL Fantasy Football Podcast.

[Marcus Grant]

Ready to dominate your fantasy league this season?

[Michael F. Florio]

Then you need the NFL Fantasy Football Podcast. Your ultimate source for player news, draft tips and winning strategies.

[Marcus Grant]

Whether you're a rookie manager or a.

[Michael F. Florio]

Fantasy vet, we've got the insight to help you crush your opponents.

[Marcus Grant]

Listen to the NFL Fantasy Football podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Toyota Announcer]

Toyota, the official automotive partner of the NFL. Visit toyota.com NFL now to learn more.

[Gia Giudice]

Hey, it's your favorite Jersey girl, Gia Giudice. Welcome to Casual Chaos where I share my story. This week I'm sitting down with Vanderpump Rules star Sheena Shay.

[Sheena Shay]

I don't really talk to either of them if I'm being honest. There will be an occasional text one way or the other from me to Ariana. Maybe a happy birthday from Ariana to me. I think the last time I talked to Tom it was like congrats on America's Got Talent.

[Gia Giudice]

This is a convo you don't want to miss. Listen to Casual chaos on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Nicole Garcia]

It may look different, but native culture is alive. My name is Nicole Garcia and on Burn Sage, Burn Bridges we aim to explore that culture.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Somewhere along the way it turned into this full fledged award winning comic shop.

[Nicole Garcia]

That's Dr. Lee Francis IV who opened the first native comic book shop. Explore his story along with many other native stories on the show. Burn Sage, Burn Bridges. Listen to Burn Sage, Burn bridges on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Hunter]

This is an I Heart podcast.