DONKEY: Sen. Eric Schmitt Draws Criticism For Seemingly Racist, Controversial Speech At NatCon

Summary

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The Breakfast Club – Donkey of the Day: Sen. Eric Schmitt Draws Criticism For Seemingly Racist, Controversial Speech At NatCon

Date: September 9, 2025
Hosts: DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, Charlamagne Tha God
Main Theme: This episode’s “Donkey of the Day” segment highlights Missouri Junior Senator Eric Schmitt’s recent speech at the National Conservatism Conference, where his exclusionary rhetoric stirs controversy and prompts an examination of coded language in American political discourse.

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Overview

The focus of the episode is Charlamagne Tha God’s critique of Senator Eric Schmitt’s speech at the National Conservatism Conference. The speech draws backlash for its repeated use of “us” and “our” when referring to America, leaving many to interpret his language as racially exclusive and echoing white replacement theory. Charlamagne unpacks Schmitt’s words, exposing the underlying coded racism and discussing why such rhetoric is dangerous to an inclusive definition of what it means to be American.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Senator Schmitt’s Speech Excerpt

• Schmitt’s speech references the Continental Army, pilgrims, pioneers, and Kentucky settlers, painting a picture of a homogenous American heritage passed “from our ancestors” to “us.”
• He warns against “new people” and “new myths,” asserting “America doesn’t belong to them. It belongs to us.”
• He closes with, “If we disappear, then America too will cease to exist.”

Notable Quote:

“America in all its glory is their gift to us, handed down across the generations. It belongs to us. It’s our birthright. It’s our heritage, our destiny.”
— Eric Schmitt [03:32]

2. Charlamagne Tha God’s Unpacking & Critique

• Charlamagne sharply critiques Schmitt’s language, arguing it relies on deliberate vagueness—never defining who “us” is—to signal to like-minded individuals while maintaining plausible deniability.
• He connects this tactic to “white replacement theory,” citing demographic projections and political trends that fuel fears among some white Americans.
• Charlamagne points out that the lack of inclusivity is intentional, targeting certain “others.”

Key Insights:

• The phrase “America doesn’t belong to them; it belongs to us” is racially coded and exclusionary.
• Such language passes as patriotism but is rooted in a desire for cultural and racial homogeneity.

Notable Quotes:

“When a politician leaves us undefined, it’s because they know exactly who they’re talking to. And the people he’s talking to, they know that message is for them as well.”
— Charlamagne Tha God [06:07]

“Spoiler alert, if you’re Black, brown, legal immigrant, LGBT, Jewish, Muslim, chances are you not in that either… you not in that.”
— Charlamagne Tha God [06:53]

“What happened to America being conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal? What happened to America being inclusive? I mean, it never really was, but damn it, at least we was fake trying.”
— Charlamagne Tha God [07:21]

• Charlamagne reiterates that using “us” versus “them” is antithetical to America’s supposed ideals. He calls the rhetoric “coded racism wrapped up in patriotism.”
• He points out that America’s strength is its diversity, lamenting attempts to rewrite or exclude uncomfortable parts of its history.

Memorable Moment:
Charlamagne requests a replay of Schmitt’s exclusionary line to emphasize how overtly it frames America as the property of a select in-group, not for everyone.

“If America is not everything and everyone, then it’s nothing at all, okay?”
— Charlamagne Tha God [08:36]

3. The Dangers of Racially Coded Patriotism

• Charlamagne links this kind of rhetoric to early signs of segregationist thinking, warning it sets a precedent for divisive politics.
• He insists that America is a “melting pot” and attempts to erase that with “us” language are both dishonest and dangerous.

Key Insight:

“America ain’t supposed to be about us versus them. It’s supposed to be about we, the people. But some folks like Eric don’t want we. They just want us.”
— Charlamagne Tha God [09:50]

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Eric Schmitt [03:32]:
  “America in all its glory is their gift to us, handed down across the generations. It belongs to us. It’s our birthright. It’s our heritage, our destiny.”

• Charlamagne Tha God [06:07]:
  “When a politician leaves us undefined, it’s because they know exactly who they’re talking to.”

• Charlamagne Tha God [06:53]:
  “Spoiler alert, if you’re Black, brown, legal immigrant, LGBT, Jewish, Muslim, chances are you not in that either.”

• Charlamagne Tha God [07:21]:
  “What happened to America being inclusive? I mean, it never really was, but damn it, at least we was fake trying.”

• Charlamagne Tha God [08:36]:
  “If America is not everything and everyone, then it’s nothing at all, okay?”

• Charlamagne Tha God [09:50]:
  “America ain’t supposed to be about us versus them. It’s supposed to be about we, the people. But some folks like Eric don’t want we. They just want us.”

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 02:43: “Donkey of the Day” introduction
• 03:32: Eric Schmitt’s speech excerpt
• 05:02: Charlamagne’s breakdown begins
• 07:02–09:50: Detailed critique of coded language and exclusion; focus on the impact for America’s notion of ‘we the people’
• 10:22: Close of “Donkey of the Day” segment

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Tone & Style

The discussion is sharp, reflective, and pointedly humorous in Charlamagne’s signature style. He infuses his critique with sarcasm and cultural references, ensuring the audience understands both the gravity and absurdity of the exclusionary logic in Schmitt’s speech.

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Conclusion

Charlamagne Tha God names Senator Eric Schmitt “Donkey of the Day” for using thinly-veiled exclusionary language in a public political speech—rhetoric that, while not explicitly racist, draws on white nationalist talking points. The hosts emphasize that American identity should be inclusive and call out dog-whistle politics that threaten the diversity foundational to the nation’s strength. The segment is a clear call to recognize and reject coded racism in public life.

Transcript

[Podcast Host]

This is an iHeart podcast.

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[Charlamagne Tha God]

With the donkey.

[DJ Envy]

It's time for Donkey of the Day.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

A bunch of dopies around here with the hehaw. Yes, you are a donkey.

[Alabama A&M University Advertiser]

What the hell? What the hell?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Some donkey today's just saw themselves. Oh, man. Charlamagne. Who you giving donkey to do tonight? Well, Rob 49 Donkey today for Tuesday, September 9th, goes to Missouri Senator Junior. No. Missouri Junior Senator, Eric Schmidt. Okay. Now, Eric was Speaking at the 5th annual National Conservatism Conference in Washington. And he posed a question. The question is, what is an American? Would you like to hear some of his answer? Let's listen.

[Eric Schmidt]

The Continental army soldiers dying of frostbite at Valley Forge. The pilgrims struggling to survive in the hard winter soil of Plymouth. The pioneers striking out from Missouri for the wild and dangerous frontier. The outnumbered Kentucky settlers repelling wave after wave of Indian war band attacks from beyond the stockade walls. All of them will be astonished to hear that they were only fighting for a proposition. They believed they were fighting for a nation, a homeland for themselves and their descendants. They fought, they bled, they struggled, they died for us. They built this country for us. America in all its glory is their gift to us, handed down across the generations. It belongs to us. It's our birthright. It's our heritage, our destiny. If America is everything and everyone, then it is nothing and no one at all. When they tear down our statues and monuments, mock our history and insult our traditions, they're attacking our future as well as our past. By changing the stories we tell about ourselves, they believe they can build a new America with the new myths, a new people. But America doesn't belong to them. It belongs to us. It's our home. It's a heritage entrusted to us by our ancestors. It's a way of life that is ours and only ours. If we disappear, then America too will cease to exist.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

There's a lot there. Let's unpack. Let's discuss. If America is everything and everyone, then it is nothing at all. If you listen to what I just played, Senator Schmidt kept saying, america doesn't belong to them. It belongs to us. He said America is a nation and a people with its own distinct history and heritage and interest. Listen, man, there are some white people. I said some white people in this country who believe in white replacement theory. Okay, I don't have time to tell you what white replacement theory is, but it's the claim that white populations are deliberately being replaced by non white people. Not to mention, the census project back in 2018 projected that white people will become the minority by 2045. Ever since that came out, okay, the plan has been in motion by some white people to ensure that don't happen. You know, I love putting on my tin foil Pooh Shiesty mask, okay? I love a good conspiracy theory. But when that census project came out and prior to that getting eight years of a black president, then they turned around and almost elected a woman, some white males said, no way, Jose. Literally no Jose, No Julio, no Juan, no Jamal. Okay? No Tyrone, No. Come on, now. Now I see the headline. I see the headline going around on Instagram. It says, eric Schmidt says America is for white people only. Now, everybody is going to run with that headline, and then Eric is going to go on Fox News and say, the radical left is los their woke minds. I never said that. And he's right, he didn't. But here's the thing. He never said who us is. And that's the game, okay? When a politician leaves us undefined, it's because they know exactly who they're talking to. And the people he's talking to, they know that. Messages for them as well. And spoiler alert, if you're black, brown, legal, immigrant, LGBT envy, Jewish, Muslim, chances are you not in that either, okay? You not in that.

[Alabama A&M University Advertiser]

Us.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

All right? That's all Eric Schmidt just gave, okay? He gave us a they not like us with absolutely zero seasoning. Okay? What happened to America being conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal? Okay? What happened to America being inclusive? I mean, it never really was, but damn it, at least we was fake trying. Okay? Now you got people like Eric Schmidt saying straight up, this country is for us, and he's saying it over and over, over and over again. That's not inclusive. That's exclusive. And when you're speaking at a national conservatism conference, forgive us if we think us starts sounding like shorthand for white males only, okay? By the way, no matter how much you attempt to clarify this, it's gonna sound like racially coded rhetoric straight out that we want segregation again starter pack, okay? The us you talking about aren't the ones who make the best tacos on Tuesday and jerk chicken on Saturday, okay? He's talking about the us that seasons with a pinch of salt and a pinch of prayer, okay? If America is everything and everyone is Nothing at all. That's what he said. Didn't he say that? Can I hear that part again?

[Eric Schmidt]

They believe they can build a new America with the new myths, new people. But America doesn't belong to them. It belongs to us. It's our home. It's a heritage entrusted to us by our ancestors. It's a way of life that is ours and only ours. If we disappear, then America, too will cease to exist.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

That's not. Is that. We got the other part. Oh, well, he had the line. He said the line. If America is everything and everyone, it's nothing at all. Eric, if America is not everything and everyone, then it's nothing at all, okay? When will we realize that we are the good, the bad and the ugly, okay? All wrapped in the one. That's what make this cut. That's what makes this country great. Okay? The hope for America is actually in. In our history, which is why. I don't know, why we keep trying to hide it. Okay? Let's look at it, deal with it, and move forward. Okay? You can't heal what you don't reveal. The melting pot that is America is what make. This is what makes this country incredible, okay? The great American melting pot, filled with a little bit of everything, is what makes this country amazing. And, Eric, please don't gaslight, folks, and backtrack on what you said and tell us that, you know, we saw you say something that you didn't say. Because when somebody keeps saying America is for us, but never tells you who us is, trust me, you already know who they talking about. Okay, if it don't sound like it includes you, then it probably doesn't. And that's why we gotta call this language what it is. Coded racism wrapped up in patriotism. Okay, America ain't supposed to be about us versus them. It's supposed to be about we, the people. But some folks like Eric don't want we. They just want us. And anyone who doesn't want us together, well, they don't believe in America anyway. At all. Please give junior senator from Eric Schmidt. No. What do I keep saying that for? Please give the junior senator Eric Schmidt. The biggest Hee Hawaii hit is for us.

[DJ Envy]

Well, thank you for that donkey today.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

But never tell us who the us is.

[DJ Envy]

Now.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

But you know who they talking about. Of course. Yeah. If it don't sound like it includes you, then it probably don't. That's all I'm saying. No, that's all I'm saying.

[DJ Envy]

All right, well, thank you for that donkey today. Now, let's Open up the phone lines. 800-585-1051. We were having this convo yesterday during the latest with Lauren. We were talking about Carmelo. His hall of Fame speech.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

It was an incredible speech. Drop on the clues. Bombs for Carmelo Anthony. Amazing speech.

[DJ Envy]

One of my favorite Knicks ever, Right?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Why would you call him that?

[DJ Envy]

What?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Oh, you said Nick. My bad. He was like, why would you just say that after what I just said? After what I just did? Gave donkey today. Why would you just say my favorite ever? That's the Nick I know. I heard you wrong. I'm sorry.

[DJ Envy]

New York Knicks.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yes, I am. I understand.

[DJ Envy]

What's wrong with you?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

What's wrong with you? What's wrong with you?

[DJ Envy]

So what is the question? We were talking about it and a question that everybody asked and we seen online and Charlemagne even asked yesterday was he did not shout out la.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Oh, yeah, yeah. That's why he didn't shout out lala. Yeah, I thought he did.

[Podcast Host]

I just, I just, I swear, I'm like, there's no way. He mentioned single mothers and the women in his life. Like, there's no way. But he didn't.

[DJ Envy]

So what is the question? 800-585-1051. I seen it trending yesterday. Yes. Lauren being messy. And the question is what? Lauren?

[Podcast Host]

I'm just, I, I, for me, I just felt like at least a thank you or like a, you know, because I think, you know, she played a big role in holding it down so he could have the right mindset to go and do a lot of the things he did. I think that's, that conversation happens a lot with women being overlooked in those instances. So even if it wasn't lala, I would be saying this. I'm not being messy, I'm being a woman and being honest.

[DJ Envy]

So you're saying he shouted out his coaches, he shouted out his peoples, he shouted out his moms, he shouted out his pops, he shouted at everybody around him. But you're asking how come he didn't shout out his wife? His ex wife.

[Podcast Host]

His ex wife. I'm asking, you know, am I tripping? Did Lala deserve a thank you or, or something, an acknowledgment of some sort in that hall of Fame speech because of the role she played in his life and career.

[DJ Envy]

Okay, 800-585-1051. Let's discuss. It's the Breakfast Club. Good morning. The Breakfast Club.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Donkey today 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 Michael the Bull dot com. That's Michael the Bull dot com and when you mess with the bull, you get the horns.

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[DJ Envy]

The best kind of help is the kind you don't even have to ask for. Like your friend pulling up on you on moving day with a truck, a speaker and snacks ready to go. Well, that's the energy you get with AT&T's new guarantee, if there's ever a network interruption, they make it right by giving you a credit for a full day of service proactively credit for fiber downtime lasting 20 minutes or more, or wireless downtime lasting 60 minutes or more caused by a single incident impacting 10 or more towers. Restrictions and exclusions apply. See att.com guarantee for full details. AT&T connecting changes everything.

[Podcast Host]

This is an iHeart podcast.