DONKEY: Leaked Messages Expose Young Republicans’ Racist Chat

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Breakfast Club – "DONKEY: Leaked Messages Expose Young Republicans’ Racist Chat"

Host: Charlamagne tha God, with DJ Envy and Jess Hilarious
Date: October 16, 2025

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Episode Overview

In this "Donkey of the Day" segment, Charlamagne tha God addresses a disturbing controversy: private messages leaked from several Young Republican leaders containing graphic racist, antisemitic, and violent rhetoric. The episode scrutinizes these messages, the tepid public response, and the insufficient accountability for those involved. Charlamagne questions the lack of widespread outrage and challenges public figures, notably J.D. Vance, for downplaying the severity of the issue.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Context of the Leak

• Leaked Messages: Leaders from various Young Republican groups across the U.S. were exposed for exchanging thousands of private messages joking about gas chambers, glorifying Hitler, discussing rape and suicide, supporting slavery, and using racial epithets.
• Individuals Named: Charlamagne lists several names: William Hendricks (Kansas Young Republicans Vice Chair), Bobby Walker (Vice Chair, NY State Young Republicans), Peter Guenta/Gunter (Chair, NY), Samuel Douglas, Michael Bartels, Alex Dwyer, Ann Katie, Joe Malino, Luke Moisman, and Rachel Hope.
  (02:52-03:44)

2. J.D. Vance’s Response (03:47)

• J.D. Vance's Quote:

  “I really don’t want us to grow up in a country where a kid telling a stupid joke, telling a very offensive, stupid joke is cause to ruin their lives. We’re not canceling kids because they do something stupid in a group chat.”
  (03:47, J.D. Vance, cited)

• Charlamagne’s Reaction:
  • Pushes back, arguing these are not "kids" but adults, aged 24–35.
  • Agrees in theory that one-off offensive jokes shouldn't ruin lives, but these messages go far beyond "stupid jokes."
  • Questions if Vance would say the same after reading the actual content.

3. Severity and Content of Messages

• Hate Speech and Calls for Violence:
  • Jokes and explicit wishes about gas chambers, rape, slavery, suicide.
  • Referred to Black people as "monkeys" and "watermelon people."

  “...they joked about putting their political opponents in gas chambers. To which one of them responded, great, I love Hitler.” (04:21, Charlamagne)

  • Group members allegedly planned ways to torture minorities and opponents.

4. Lack of Consequences and Public Outrage

• Charlamagne’s Critique:
  • Points out public only widely denounces celebrities, not obscure or lower-profile political operatives.

  “Nothing is really gonna happen because none of them are celebrities. Folks only get outraged when it’s a celebrity involved.” (06:13, Charlamagne)

  • Urges listeners to hold these individuals publicly accountable.
• Consequences:
  • Only three of the named individuals reportedly faced job loss or had resigned.
  • The Kansas Young Republicans chapter was deactivated, statements from Republican leaders (e.g., Vermont Gov. Phil Scott calling for resignations).

5. Calls for Accountability Within the GOP

• Challenging Party Leaders:
  • Argues donors should withhold support until leadership denounces this behavior.
  • Commends some GOP leaders (Darie Herbert, Phil Scott) for calling out or deactivating groups but says more action is needed.

6. Historical Context and Racist Tropes

• Explanation of "Watermelon People":
  • Charlamagne researched the origin of the term, explaining it's a racist anti-Black trope from Reconstruction-era South.

  “Watermelon people is a racist trope... as a way for white Southerners to demean and control the newly freed black population.” (09:38, Charlamagne)

  • Emphasizes the twisted history of the stereotype.

7. Approaching the Problem with Humor and Frustration

• Exchanges among the hosts include jokes about “mayonnaise mammals” (white people) and a candid discussion about using food-based stereotypes humorously versus hatefully.

  “By the way, I have no problem being a watermelon person because I love watermelon.” (11:33, Charlamagne)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Public Outrage and Accountability:

  “But these folks are organized and strategically planning your demise… You know their names, so now go strategize. Complain to their places of employment.”
  (08:05, Charlamagne tha God)

• Calling Out J.D. Vance:

  “J.D. Vance, I don’t know how you read these texts and just don’t simply denounce this.”
  (06:19, Charlamagne tha God)

• Critique of Excuses:

  “You can’t just dismiss that as just edgy, offensive jokes, okay? I wouldn’t give you another dollar until you denounce these folks.”
  (07:01, Charlamagne tha God)

• On Lack of Consequences:

  “Only three received some consequences. One vacated. The Peter guy vacated, I think.”
  (11:13, Charlamagne tha God)

• Unfiltered Humor:

  “I call some white people mayonnaise mammals, human jar helmets, so I get it.”
  (11:44, Charlamagne tha God)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Naming Offending Individuals & Chat Summary: 02:52–04:21
• J.D. Vance’s Response and Charlamagne’s Pushback: 03:47–05:05
• NBC News Report Excerpt: 05:05–06:13
• Discussion on Lack of Celebrity and Outrage: 06:13–07:40
• Calls for Accountability in GOP & Donor Pressure: 07:41–09:38
• History Lesson on Racist Stereotype: 09:38–10:33
• Co-hosts React - Humor, Critique, Accountability: 10:33–12:11

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Tone and Style

Charlamagne balances outrage and seriousness with sharp wit and humor, mixing unfiltered commentary with informative context. The episode is direct, passionate, and uses informal language reflective of The Breakfast Club’s signature style.

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Conclusion

Charlamagne delivers a scathing critique of the Young Republican leaders involved in the racist chat, denouncing both the content and the lack of sufficient consequences. He calls out J.D. Vance for downplaying the issue and challenges the public to hold these individuals accountable, arguing that outrage shouldn’t be reserved solely for celebrities. The segment ends by underscoring the institutional nature of the problem and the need for real action, not just rhetoric, from political parties and their supporters.

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Transcript

[Charlamagne tha God]

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[Johnny Knoxville]

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[Charlamagne tha God]

That was dumb. Do not follow my example.

[Johnny Knoxville]

Listen to Crimeless Hillbilly Heist on the iHeartRadio app, Apple PODC, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Ed Helms]

Hey, it's Ed Helms, host of Snafu, my podcast about history's greatest screw ups. On our new season, we're bringing you a new snafu Every single episode.

[Podcast Narrator (Graves County)]

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[Charlamagne tha God]

What?

[Ed Helms]

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[Podcast Narrator (Graves County)]

The murder of an 18 year old girl in Graves County, Kentucky went unsolved for years until a local housewife, a journalist and a handful of girls came forward with a story.

[Charlamagne tha God]

America, y' all better wake the hell up. Bad things happens to good people in small towns.

[Podcast Narrator (Graves County)]

Listen to Graves county on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts and to binge the entire season ad free. Subscribe to Lava for Good plus on Apple Podcasts.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Made it. This is America. 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 the new developments in the deadly spa shooting rampage.

[Johnny Knoxville]

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

[Charlamagne tha God]

And so we are in a state of emergency.

Okay? 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.

Was I your donkey of the day? Well, Tomi Lahren, Donkey of the day for Thursday, October 16, goes to various members of the leaders of young Republican groups. That's actually the name of the organization. Okay? They come from various young Republican groups from around the country. For example, William Hendricks is the Kansas Young Republicans Vice Chair. Bobby Walker is the Vice chair of the New York State Young Republicans. Peter Guenta, I think I'm pronouncing his name incorrectly, is the chair of New York State Republicans. There's others. Samuel Douglas, Michael Bartels, Alex Dwyer, Ann Katie, Joe Malino, Luke Moisman, and Rachel Hope. Now, these individuals had thousands of private messages leaked, and these young GOP leaders joked about gas chambers, slavery and rape. Now, I saw this story, but didn't pay much attention to it earlier this week. I didn't pay much attention past the headline until I heard Vice President J.D. vance say this.

[Johnny Knoxville]

I really don't want us to grow up in a country where a kid telling a stupid joke, telling a very offensive, stupid joke is caused to ruin their lives. We're not canceling kids because they do something stupid in a group chat.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Now, that's a reasonable, logical take, except for these aren't kids. These are 24 to 35 year olds. J.D. vance himself is 41, so I don't know how he identifies these people as kids. But in theory, what J.D. vance is saying, I agree with the reality is kids do do stupid things. They tell edgy, offensive jokes. Hey, we all do. I love an edgy, offensive joke. And I don't want to live in a country where a kid or anyone else telling a stupid, offensive, edgy joke is. Is caused to ruin their lives. I agree with all that in theory, but I also hadn't looked at what was said in this chat before I heard J.D. vance. Now, whether or not this has caused the ruin of life, I don't know. I don't even know what that means. I don't know if their life will be ruined by this. But I do know this is donkey of the day worthy because in this chat, they joked about putting their political opponents in gas chambers. To which one of them responded, great, I love Hitler. They talked about raping their enemies and driving them to suicide. They praised Republicans who they believe supported slavery, and they referred to black people as monkeys and the watermelon people. Let's go to NBC News for the report, please.

[News Reporter]

New fallout tonight from a racist and violent group chat Involving leaders of some Young Republican groups. As reported by Politico. The outlet obtaining more than seven months worth of telegram messages in which they say members muse about using gas chambers against political opponents. I'm ready to watch people burn now, one person responds, another describing rape as epic. The chat includes anti Semitic comments and racial slurs against black, Latino, Asian people and other epithets used more than 250 times. According to Politico. The outlet says one person, after being told backers would support the most right wing candidate for a leadership role, responded, great, I love Hitler. At another point, someone writes, if we ever had a leak of this chat, we would be cooked. NBC News has not independently obtained or verified the messages, which reportedly involved political advisers and strategists in New York, Arizona, Kansas and Vermont, including a state senator there. Now, at least three people involved in the chat are reportedly out of a job. The Kansas Young Republicans deactivated.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Listen, what's so interesting about this is one of them in the chat, as you just heard, worried about what would happen if their telegram chat ever got leaked. But they kept typing those kinds of messages anyway. And the reality is nothing is really gonna happen because none of them are celebrities. Do you realize folks only get outraged when it's a celebrity involved? They not celebrities or connected to any celebrity. They're just young Republicans. So those young Republicans will be used to reinforce the narrative that this current administration is racist and white supremacist. By the way, they've earned every single one of those accusations because J.D. vance, I don't know how you read these texts and just don't simply denounce this, okay? There is no way you read these texts and there is no way members of your donor class are not offended by these texts, okay? Back In July of 2024, Track APAC said that JD Vance received almost $170,000 from Pro Israel lobbyists. I don't know what the number is now, but how would they feel about you just dismissing a bunch of young people saying I love Hitler and they want their political opponents in gas chambers, okay? You can't just dismiss that as just edgy, offensive jokes, okay? I wouldn't give you another dollar until you denounce these folks, all right? This guy Peter Gunter said he was going to create some of the greatest psychological torture methods known to man. Or is it physiological? I think it's physiological torture methods known to man. We only want true believers. Hey, Peter, I'm waiting for the punchline. Okay? Joe Molino replied. Replied to that. Can we fix the showers? Gas Chambers don't fit the Hitler aesthetic. And K. Katie said, I'm ready to watch them burn now. Then Joe Molino said, we gotta pretend that like them, hey, come on in. Take a nice shower and relax. Boom. They're dead. These folks are actively thinking and typing ways to torture Jewish and black people in the future. And I don't see enough online outrage about this. Okay, social media, y' all supposed to have been made them famous, all right? I know they not celebrities. I know they don't host shows on espn. I know they don't have a podcast that gets millions of listeners, but they deserve that outrage. Okay? Y' all only seen. Y' all seem to only reserve for celebrities that type of outrage, okay? But these folks are organized and strategically planning your demise. Let me say it slow for you so you know their names. Peter Gunter. I know I'm mispronouncing that. Bobby Walker, Samuel Douglas, William Hendrix, Michael Bartels, Alex Dwyer, Ann, Katie, Joe Molino, Luke Moisman, and Rachel Hope you know their names. So now go strategize. Complain to their places of employment. I was reading on ABC News where some GOP leaders were calling for the resignation of these young Republicans who used these slurs and was sending these racist messages. Republican Gov. Phil Scott of Vermont called out the state senator and head of Vermont's Young Republican chapter, Sam Douglas, and said he should resign immediately and leave the party because of these messages. Good for you, Phil. Phil Scott. Okay. The chair of the Kansas GOP party, the Nadri Herbert, announced Tuesday that the state's Young Republicans chapter has been deactivated. Okay. They said the comments do not reflect the beliefs of Republicans and certainly not Kansas Republicans at large. Good for you, Dan. Darie Herbert, Peter Gunter, who sent the message, I love Hitler. He has since vacated his post. Good. But what about the rest of y'? All? Okay? I'm just saying a precedent is being set. All right? Clearly some Republicans aren't standing for this, and I'm glad, but we need to bring that water to a boil, okay? So please give the leaders of the young Republican groups the biggest hee haw. And I want you to know I had to Google watermelon people, okay? I didn't even try to lead my AI Either. I just simply Googled the watermelon people. What came up? It is a racist trope, okay? Used towards black people. The stereotype emerged after the Civil War as a way for white Southerners to demean and control the newly freed black population. So this classic, because as I've told y', all before, on this radio, black people were using watermelon as a symbol of freedom after emancipation. But sovereign whites weaponized it by depicting it as a sign of laziness and ignorance and. And childishness. As if they don't like watermelon too. As if watermelon is not delicious. And over 90 water, which makes it an excellent source of hydration.

A watermelon and monkeys. Okay, that's whatever.

Yeah. I mean, yes, watermelon people is offensive.

But I mean, no, I get kind of hilarious, I'm saying, you know. Right. But I'm like, nah, whatever. The raping and the, you know, killing in the gas chamber and all, that absolutely is what they need to be.

That's cause for consequences.

[News Reporter]

Yeah.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Like, yeah, but what should make you even more upset is the fact that J.D. van said, you know what? It's not that bad. We can't canceling for that.

He read this.

I don't think he read it, but I'm not gonna shoot him at all. You gotta read it. You gotta read it. You know, watermelon people.

That's 10 people that you named? Yeah, that's 10.

That's why I gave the names.

Only three of them were.

I think only three received some consequences.

Okay.

From what I read, I mean, one. One vacated. The Peter guy vacated, I think.

Is it just their names or are their faces up there, too?

Yeah. Okay.

[News Reporter]

All right.

[Charlamagne tha God]

All right, well, the Internet work will be done today. You know, we got some of the. The high quality investigators online.

Yeah, that's if their job cares, hopefully. By the way, I have no problem being a watermelon person because I love watermelon. I just want y' all to know that. And I mean, Lauren LaRosa referred to somebody. She referred to a Mexican as a taco yesterday.

Oh, my God.

And I call some white people mayonnaise mammals, human jar helmets, so I get it.

[News Reporter]

Yeah.

[Charlamagne tha God]

Okay.

Dude, they still got to come outside. They. They have to come outside. Y' all names and your pictures have been revealed. Y' all still got to come outside.

All right.

So hopefully you all don't run into no watermelon people or no monkeys.

Okay, that.

Then read y' all messages.

All right, well, thank you for that, Donkey.

Hopefully, y' all did.

I did donkey today. I gave the Hee Haw.

Yeah, you did.

Are you sure I gave a Hee Haw? Yes. Let Chelsea Handler give him the biggest Hee Haw. I don't know if I get Hee Haw.

[Podcast Narrator (Graves County)]

Hee Haw.

[Charlamagne tha God]

No, you didn't. That is way too much Den mayonnaise. Did I let Kathy Griffin give him the biggest Hee Haw? No, he didn't.

[News Reporter]

Please give this giant jar of mayo the biggest Hee Haw.

[Charlamagne tha God]

I'm losing it. Did I let Chris Rock chime in? Nope. Cracker. Ass cracker. Whoa, whoa. Did I let my girl have work at the restaurant? Time in. I ain't. Did she fire? She. They got rid of my girl. Oh, my girl still working. I know she's still working. I'm still working.

All right, well, hopefully somebody cook them, cuz now we know they said they they're going to be cooked. All right, hopefully somebody cooked they ass.

Up next, just fix my mess.

Damn.

That just came out of nowhere, dog. Here today is sponsored by renowned personal injury attorney Michael the Bull. Lamb and soft. Don't be a donkey when you need a fighter on your side. If you're ever injured, go to michaelthebull.com that's michaelthebull.com and when you mess with the bull, you get the horns. Hold up. Every day I wake up. Wake your ass up. The Breakfast Club. Y' all finished or y' all done?

[Johnny Knoxville]

Johnny Knoxville here. Check out Crimeless Hillbilly Heist, my new true crime podcast from Smartless Media, Campside Media, and big money players. It's the true story of the almost perfect crime and the nimrods who almost pulled it off. It was kind of like the perfect storm in a sewer.

[Charlamagne tha God]

That was dumb. Do not follow my example.

[Johnny Knoxville]

Listen to Crimeless Hillbilly Heist on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Ed Helms]

Hey, it's Ed Helms, host of Snafu, my podcast about history's greatest screw ups. On our new season, we're bringing you a new snafu. Every single episode.

[Podcast Narrator (Graves County)]

32 lost nuclear weapons. You're like, wait, stop What?

[Ed Helms]

It's going to be a whole lot of history, a whole lot of funny, and a whole lot of fabulous guests. Paul Scheer, Angela and Jenna, Nick Kroll, Jordan Klepper. Listen to season four of SNAFU with Ed Helms on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Podcast Narrator (Graves County)]

The murder of an 18 year old girl in Graves County, Kentucky, went unsolved for years until a local housewife, a journalist, and a handful of girls came forward with a story.

[Charlamagne tha God]

America, y' all better wake the hell up. Bad things happens to good people in small towns.

[Podcast Narrator (Graves County)]

Listen to Graves county on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcasts. And to Binge the entire season ad free. Subscribe to Lava for Good plus on Apple Podcasts.

[Podcast Narrator (Hunting for Answers)]

Short on time, but big on true crime. On a recent episode of the podcast Hunting for Answers, I highlighted the story of 19 year old Lachey Dungy. But she never knocked on that door. She never made it inside, and that text message would be the last time anyone would ever hear from her. Listen to Hunting for Answers from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Charlamagne tha God]

This is an iHeart podcast.