The Breakfast Club – Donkey of the Day: Politicians Should Stop Using Extreme Rhetoric To Each Other If They Turn Around And 'Work Together'

Date: November 24, 2025
Hosts: DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, Charlamagne Tha God
Podcast Network: iHeartPodcasts

Episode Overview

This episode’s "Donkey of the Day" segment, led by Charlamagne Tha God, calls out the hypocrisy of politicians using extreme rhetoric—labeling each other as "fascist" or "communist"—only to subsequently cooperate on policy issues. Using a recent high-profile meeting between New York Mayor-elect Zoran Mandani and President Donald Trump, Charlamagne makes the case that such language is damaging, undermines democracy, and confuses the public, as it is rarely matched by politicians’ actual conduct.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

The Mandani-Trump Meeting (03:21–04:45)

• Background: Zoran Mandani (Mayor-elect of New York) met with President Donald Trump to discuss pressing issues—affordability, cost of living, public safety, and economic security.
• Despite "deep ideological differences," both sides expressed willingness to cooperate for pragmatic governance.
• Mandani on the meeting: "We agree on a lot more than I would have thought." (04:16)
• Trump on working together: "I am really looking forward to delivering for New Yorkers in partnership with the president on the affordability agenda." (04:21)
• Charlamagne notes that politicians must cooperate by virtue of their positions but finds it jarring when that happens right after using highly charged accusations against each other.

Extreme Rhetoric: Fascist vs. Communist Name-Calling (05:58–06:45)

• Charlamagne plays direct quotes where Mandani calls Trump a "fascist" and Trump, in turn, accuses Mandani of being a "communist."
  • Mandani: "It's going to be hard for me as the president to give a lot of money to New York and because if you have a communist running New York, all you're doing is wasting the money you're sending there." (05:58)
  • Trump: "We have won because New Yorkers have stood up for a city they can afford where the mayor will use their power to reject Donald Trump's fascism." (06:10)
• Charlamagne describes this as "political theater" that riles up supporters and divides families and communities, while the politicians themselves are willing to work together when it suits them.
• Insight: The rhetoric is more about emotional leverage and electioneering than genuine belief or concern.

Hypocrisy and Public Confusion (07:19–08:05)

• Mandani, questioned at a press conference, reiterates his belief that Trump is a fascist but still stresses the need to find common ground on issues like affordability.
  • Mandani: "I said, yes [Trump is a fascist]. And that's something that I've said in the past. I say it today... we also wanted to focus on what it could look like to deliver on a shared analysis of an affordability crisis for New Yorkers." (07:47)
• Charlamagne's take: If someone truly believes another is a "fascist" in the historical sense, “the idea of working with them is contradictory.” (08:05)
• He draws a line between normal political disagreement (e.g., tax rates) and existential threats to democracy.

Media’s Role and Politicians’ Responsibility (08:05–11:23)

• Charlamagne argues that it’s the job of media and commentators to call out extreme behavior or rhetoric, while politicians should behave diplomatically and constructively.
  • Charlamagne: "I feel like that's the media's job to call it out... Politicians clearly can't do that because the words don't match the actions." (08:57)
• He highlights the consequences for the public: fractured relationships, confusion about language, and desensitization to real threats.
  • "If you call somebody a fascist or communist, but then sit down and work with them like everything is normal, you make those words meaningless. All right? It’s dangerous to do that. It's dangerous to weaken those terms, and it confuses the public." (10:36)
• Ends with a call for honesty in political discourse and for politicians to avoid using terms like "fascist" or "communist" unless they intend to act accordingly.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Charlamagne’s Core Message (08:05, 10:36):
  • "If someone truly believes a political figure is a fascist, then the idea of working with them is... contradictory."
  • "[Politicians] are using these terms for emotional leverage, not accuracy. And the danger in that, people—the public becomes numb to real authoritarian threats."
• On Political "Theater" (06:45):
  "It’s all political theater, okay? And it’s irresponsible because they got us out here choosing sides, gang, gang on each other. Meanwhile, they working together." – Charlamagne
• On Rhetoric Undermining Democracy (10:36):
  • "When you call someone a fascist or communist, it’s supposed to mean something serious. You talking Hitler, Mussolini… The public becomes numb to real authoritarian threats."

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [03:21] – Charlamagne introduces "Donkey of the Day" and the context for Mandani-Trump's meeting.
• [04:16] – Mandani and Trump express unexpected agreement and readiness to collaborate.
• [05:58] – Compilation of past extreme rhetoric exchanged between Mandani and Trump.
• [07:19] – Mandani reiterates calling Trump a fascist at a press conference, but still commits to cooperation.
• [08:05] – Charlamagne explains why using extreme rhetoric undermines democratic values.
• [10:36] – Final plea for politicians to stop using serious labels for political posturing.

Tone and Style

Charlamagne Tha God adopts a direct, passionate, and sometimes humorous tone. He critiques political hypocrisy with plain language, often punctuating his points with references to everyday family and community dynamics (“You done told your aunt and three of your cousins f you—you not invited to Thanksgiving this year because of who they supported politically. Meanwhile, the people we supported politically are willing to support each other.” (10:08))

Summary Takeaways

• Politicians often use extreme, emotionally charged accusations against one another for political gain, but these labels are rarely matched by their subsequent behavior—especially when they cooperate on governance.
• Such rhetoric confuses the public, weakens serious terminology, and contributes to unnecessary division within communities.
• Charlamagne calls for greater honesty and restraint from politicians, urging them to govern with integrity and leave hyperbole to the pundits.

In essence: If politicians are going to work together, they should stop using extreme rhetoric that inflames the public and undermines the significance of serious political labels. Otherwise, voters are the ones left confused and divided.