DONKEY: Florida Man Says He Was ‘Joking’ After He Threatens To K!ll Trump

Summary

The Breakfast Club: Episode Summary Title: DONKEY: Florida Man Says He Was ‘Joking’ After He Threatens To K!ll Trump
Host/Authors: DJ Envy, Charlamagne Tha God
Release Date: January 27, 2025
Description: The Breakfast Club is renowned as "The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show," featuring candid conversations with prominent figures. In this episode, Charlamagne Tha God delves into a disturbing incident involving a Florida man who threatened President Donald Trump, sparking discussions on social media behavior and legal consequences.

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Introduction to the Episode

The episode opens with promotional segments from various sponsors, including Prime, Nissan, and AJ Stephens of Athletes First. These segments are seamlessly integrated into the show but are not the focus of the episode's main content.

Main Story: Shannon Atkins' Threats and Arrest

Charlamagne Tha God takes center stage discussing a recent incident involving Shannon Atkins, a 46-year-old man from Elkhobee, Florida. Atkins was arrested for making online threats against President Donald Trump on Facebook.

• Context of the Incident:
  Charlamagne outlines that Atkins made several violent posts, including threats to kill Trump, which prompted an FBI investigation.

  "Shannon Atkins got on Facebook and said... he just threatened to kill. Yeah, Shannon Atkins got on Facebook and said, matter of fact, I'm not repeating what he said..." [02:26]

• Quotes from the Podcast:
  Charlamagne emphasizes the severity of Atkins' actions:

  "I was just joking. Doesn't even work in the court of public opinion, so it damn sure is it going to work in a court of law." [05:23]
  He further critiques the performative nature of online threats:
  "But I've been telling you all on this radio for years that things you do online can and will get you jammed up offline." [05:23]

Discussion on Social Media and Legal Implications

Charlamagne discusses the broader implications of social media behavior, particularly threats made online.

• Impact of Online Actions:
  He argues that making threats online, even if intended as a joke, can have serious real-world consequences.

  "I was just joking is not a defense." [05:23]
  Charlamagne warns listeners about the dangers of performative actions on social media:
  "This is a performative stuff that happens on social media." [05:23]

• Legal Perspective:
  Charlamagne highlights that online threats are taken seriously by authorities, regardless of the perpetrator's intent, referencing past administrations:

  "Obama received a lot of Internet threats and people got arrested and sentenced to prison for threatening to kill 44. Two." [05:23]

Shannon Atkins' Additional Charges

Alongside the threats to the president, Atkins faced other legal issues:

• Drug Possession:
  Police discovered cocaine on Atkins during his arrest. Charlamagne connects this to broader societal issues:

  "In my personal life, I have come to the realization that the sooner you understand people be on coke, the less you take things personally." [05:23]

"Donkey of the Day" Segment

Charlamagne introduces the "Donkey of the Day," a recurring segment highlighting individuals who exhibit foolish or harmful behavior.

• Honoring Shannon Atkins:
  Atkins is labeled as the "Donkey of the Day" for his irresponsible actions.

  "Shannon Atkins the donkey of the day." [05:23]
  Charlamagne underscores the consequences of Atkins' behavior:
  "You going to prison and I just want we the people to be smarter over the next four years." [05:23]

Hosts' Interaction and Final Remarks

DJ Envy and Jon Stewart briefly join Charlamagne in discussing the incident, reinforcing the message about the gravity of online threats and the importance of responsible behavior.

• Key Takeaways:

  • Online actions have tangible real-world repercussions.
  • Threats, even if meant in jest, are legally punishable.
  • The importance of strategic and intelligent forms of resistance over emotional or performative actions.

• Notable Quotes:

  • Jon Stewart adds a touch of humor while emphasizing the severity:

    "He sure did. Yeah, clown sure did. How many followers do you have, I wonder?" [07:29]

  • Charlamagne concludes with a reminder about legal consequences:

    "See, man, I was just playing, y'all like." [07:50]

Conclusion

The episode serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of irresponsible behavior on social media. Charlamagne Tha God uses the incident involving Shannon Atkins to highlight the importance of understanding the impact of one's online actions and the legal ramifications that can follow. The discussion reinforces the need for responsible and strategic communication, especially in the digital age where actions are easily scrutinized and can lead to severe consequences.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• "I was just joking. Doesn't even work in the court of public opinion, so it damn sure is it going to work in a court of law."
  – Charlamagne Tha God [05:23]

• "This is a performative stuff that happens on social media."
  – Charlamagne Tha God [05:23]

• "Obama received a lot of Internet threats and people got arrested and sentenced to prison for threatening to kill 44. Two."
  – Charlamagne Tha God [05:23]

• "I was just playing, y'all like."
  – Charlamagne Tha God [07:50]

• "He sure did. Yeah, clown sure did. How many followers do you have, I wonder?"
  – Jon Stewart [07:29]

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Key Themes

• Responsibility on Social Media: The episode underscores the importance of being mindful of what is posted online, as digital actions can lead to real-life consequences.

• Legal Consequences of Online Threats: Highlighting that making threats against public figures is a serious offense, regardless of the intent behind them.

• Performative Actions vs. Genuine Intent: A critique of how some individuals use social media for attention or to express anger without considering the repercussions.

• Mental Health and Substance Use: Briefly touches upon the role of substance use in exacerbating irresponsible behavior.

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Conclusion

In this episode, Charlamagne Tha God effectively uses the case of Shannon Atkins to discuss broader societal issues related to online behavior, legal accountability, and personal responsibility. The conversation serves as a reminder of the powerful impact that social media presence can have and the necessity of thoughtful and deliberate communication in the digital age.

Transcript

[Charlamagne tha God]

Listen to me.

This is Charlamagne tha God talking. If you're not on prime, you're missing out. Prime's not just fast free delivery, although that is definitely a big perk. It's a collection of excellent services that help you get more out of whatever passions you're into or getting into. Like right now I am really getting into past life regression therapy and there's so many books about it on Prime. So you can order books with prime or even listen to content on Amazon Music. Whether you're binge watching the latest on prime video, listening to music on Amazon Music or getting those last minute gifts dropped at your door with prime, same day free delivery with prime, customers get closer to what they care about. Whatever you're into, it's all on Prime. Visit Amazon.comprime now.

[Jon Stewart]

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[Nissan Representative]

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[Jon Stewart]

Jon Stewart is back in the host chair at the Daily show, which means he's also back in our ears on the Daily Show Ears Edition podcast. Join late night legend Jon Stewart and the best news team for today's biggest headlines, exclusive extended interviews and more. Now this is a second term we can all get behind. Listen to the Daily Show Ears edition on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast or wherever you get your podcasts.

[AJ Stephens]

$1.4 billion in NFL quarterback Contracts the untold stories behind the biggest deals in football history I'm AJ Stephens, Vice President of Client Strategy at Athletes First Introducing the Athletes First Family Podcast, the Quarterback Series. My co host Brian Murphy, Athletes First CEO and I are sitting down with the agents who have negotiated contracts for Justin Herbert, Deshaun Watson, Dak Prescott, Tua Tugovailoa and Jordan Love. Listen to athletes first family podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Make sure you tell them to watch out for Florida man. The CRAZIEST people in America come from.

The Bronx and all of Florida. Yes, you are a donkey.

[Paola Pedrosa]

A Florida man attacked an ATM for.

[Charlamagne tha God]

A very strange reason. It gave him too much money. Florida man is arrested after deputies say he rigged the door to his home in an attempt to electrocute his pregnant wife. Police arrested an Orlando man for attacking a flamingo. The Breakfast Club Donkey of the Day with Charlemagne to God, I don't know why y'all keep letting him get y'all like this. Listen, Donkey of the day for Monday, January 27th goes to Shannon Atkins, okay? He is a 46 year old Florida man. What does your Uncle Charlotte always say about the great state of Florida? The craziest people in America come from Bronx and all of Florida, and today is no exception. Look, man, I said this last Thursday when I did the Daily show, and I want to repeat it. Some of y'all not gonna make it through the next four years because y'all already, you know, lost your mind about Trump in the first four days, okay? Today starts the second week of the second Trump administration. Last week, Trump signed over 100 executive orders and actions, and on his first day, he signed 26 of them. Everything from declaring a national emergency at the Mexico border to establishing that it is the policy of the USA to recognize only two sexes. Unofficial documents. And those sexes are male and female. That's it. So when a trans woman gets called sir, don't be mad at the person calling the trans sister, mister. His president's orders. But what I need to tell the American people this morning is please remember your serenity prayer, not just for the next four years, but forever, okay? God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Okay? Stop stressing over things that are simply out of your control. And what Trump is doing in that White House definitely impacts society, but it's out of our control, okay? If you can't come up with intelligent, strategic, productive forms of resistance or protest to this Trump administration, then sit your stupid ass down before you find yourself in a situation like Shannon Atkins. See, Shannon was on social media doing what most people are doing, and that's garnering engagement from people's enragement. See, Shannon decided to say some things about President Donald Trump on social media. Facebook, to be exact. And let me rephrase. He didn't have something to say. He just threatened to kill. Yeah, Shannon Atkins got on Facebook and said, matter of fact, I'm not repeating what he said, okay? Somebody will Clip that and make it seem like I said it and have me jammed up. What's the news report? What is it? Right, let's go to CBS for the report, please.

[News Reporter]

One man arrested for making online threats to the president. West Palm beach police announced the arrest of Shannon deparo Atkins. The El Khobe man now faces several charges, including written or electronic threats to kill. The investigation began after the FBI got a tip about violent Facebook posts directed at the president.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Some of the post were Lincoln, jfk, Reagan, Martin Luther King and Trump. Atkins posted, unfortunately, one is still alive. He wrote something to that effect. He also wrote another saying, bullets, please Jesus, save America.

[News Reporter]

Police say Atkins says he was joking when he made those posts. He is also facing a drug possession charge after detectives found cocaine on him at the time of his arrest.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Joking, joking, Shannon, you thought that was funny? I was just joking. Doesn't even work in the court of public opinion, so it damn sure is it going to work in a court of law. I was just joking is not a defense. And who you just joking like that for? Okay, see this is a performative stuff that happens on social media. But I've been telling you all on this radio for years that things you do online can and will get you jammed up offline, okay? I bet everybody who liked that post or shared that post or left a comment on that post, a little 100. Or the prayer animal emojis or the laughing emojis, not one of those people, Shannon, are going to contribute to your bill. Not one of those people are going to donate to your lawyer fees. Not one of those people gonna pay any of your bills while you are away in prison. What you posting about killing the president for them? And that's why we say it's all performative. Because you make a strong statement about wanting to see the president dead only to say you joking when things get real. Nah, nah, nah, nah, nah. You gonna see this one through, okay? By the way, the government doesn't play about his president, all right? I know you might think they only acting like this because it's Trump, but no. Obama received, you know, a lot of Internet threats and people got arrested and sentenced to prison for threatening to kill 44. Two. Okay? Now Shannon also got caught with three baggies of cocaine. You heard that in the the news report. In my personal life, I have come to the realization that the sooner you understand people be on coke, the less you take things personally. All right, that is very true. But that has nothing to do with the law. You going to prison and I Just want we the people to be smarter over the next four years. Okay? Emotional decision making will get you results like this. But guess what? Performative decision making will get you results like this, too. Please give Shannon Atkins the sweet sounds of the Hamiltones. You are the donkey of the day. You are the donkey. Yes, indeed.

[Jon Stewart]

All right.

[Charlamagne tha God]

He earned that one.

[Jon Stewart]

He sure did. Yeah, clown sure did. How many followers do you have, I wonder?

[Charlamagne tha God]

It don't matter if you got five.

[Jon Stewart]

Jesus.

[Charlamagne tha God]

You know why? Because all it takes is for somebody to see it. And then once somebody sees it, then they report it to the proper authorities, which is the FBI. And then the FBI coming to get you. It's really just that simple. Okay, I'm sorry. I was just playing, y'all like.

[Nissan Representative]

I'm just joking.

[Charlamagne tha God]

I'm just playing.

[Jon Stewart]

I was just joking. Okay, all right, all right. Well, that was your donkey of the day.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Now, judge might do that. Judge might be like 50 years. Damn.

[Jon Stewart]

That ain't playing.

[Charlamagne tha God]

That ain't funny.

[Jon Stewart]

What's funny?

[Charlamagne tha God]

I'm just joking. Give him 20. Damn.

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That's MichaeltheBull dot com and when you mess with the bull, you get horns. Wake that ass up early in the morning.

The Breakfast Club.

[I]

The new year is here and I'm trying to keep things simple this year. One thing to help me keep things simple is Amazon Prime. It's a cheat code to stay in, locked in on whatever you need. It's not just fast delivery. Prime's a whole experience. From Prime Video and Amazon Music to Prime free one day delivery. It's got everything to keep my year stress free. Watching Thursday Night Football. Prime's got you with the same day snack delivery. Want to chill after the game? Find a movie on Prime Video and kick back with some Amazon music. Whatever you're into, it's on Prime. Visit Amazon.com prime now Jon Stewart is.

[Jon Stewart]

Back in the host chair at the Daily show, which means he's also back in our ears on the Daily Show Ears Edition podcast. Join late night legend Jon Stewart and the best news team for today's biggest headlines, exclusive extended interviews and more. Now this is the second term we can all get behind. Listen to the Daily Show Ears edition on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[AJ Stephens]

$1.4 billion in NFL quarterback contracts. The untold stories behind the biggest deals in football history. I'm AJ Stephens, Vice President of Client Strategy at Athletes first, introducing the Athletes First Family Podcast, the Quarterback Series. My co host, Brian Murphy, Athletes first CEO, and I are sitting down with the agents who have negotiated contracts for Justin Herbert, Deshaun Watson, Dak Prescott, Tuathungavailoa, and Jordan Love. Listen to athletes first family podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Paola Pedrosa]

Welcome. My name is Paola Pedrosa, a medium and the host of the Ghost Therapy Podcast where it's not just about connecting with deceased loved ones, it's about learning through them and their new perspective. I think God sent me this gift so I can show it to the world. And most of all, I help people every single day. Listen to the Ghost Therapy podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.