The Breakfast Club – September 11, 2025

Episode: Charlie Kirk Fatally Shot, G. Herbo Reacts to Trump Sending National Guard to Chicago, and More
Hosts: DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, Charlamagne Tha God
Special Guest: Mehdi Hasan

Episode Overview

This episode covers a seismic day in current affairs: the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk during a live event, a fresh high school shooting in Colorado, heated reactions from lawmakers and the media, and a thoughtful, challenging interview with journalist Mehdi Hasan. The morning’s conversation pivots from grief and outrage, through listeners processing national trauma, to a deep dive into international politics and the state of American media. A lighter side returns as the team discusses music, pop culture, and listener advice calls.

Key Discussions & Insights

Breaking News: Charlie Kirk Fatally Shot

[05:29–10:42]

• Incident Recap:

  • Charlie Kirk, a high-profile conservative and founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot while fielding questions on gun violence at Utah Valley University.
  • Suspect(s) remain at large; police have released prior detainees.

• Social & Political Reaction:

  • The hosts play reactions from Fox News’ Jesse Watters and Republican Rep. Nancy Mace, who immediately politicized the homicide, blaming “the radical left.”
  • President Trump orders flags at half-staff, denounces the act, and blames political extremism from opponents.

• Hosts’ Emotional Responses:

  • DJ Envy ([09:25]):

    “He had an opinion. Whether you liked it or not, part of being in this country is the right of free speech. The fact that he was shot and killed… is absolutely, positively sad. … To be killed for your opinion is disgraceful.”

  • Jess Hilarious:

    “All I know is that he had a family and was taken away… my heart goes out to his children and his wife, but he’s gone now, so everything that he was judged for saying… that’s all over.”

• Reflection on Rhetoric & Violence:

  • The hosts stress the tragedy regardless of Kirk’s divisive stances, advocating for empathy and the sanctity of public speech.

Colorado High School Shooting

[10:42–11:38]

• Another Tragedy:
  • Student-perpetrated shooting leaves two wounded at Evergreen HS (near Denver) before turning the gun on himself.
  • Reflection by DJ Envy and Charlamagne on gun violence’s normalization in America.

Listener Calls: Processing Crisis & Culture

[13:19–16:40]

• Callers debate:

  • Links between heated political rhetoric and public safety.
  • A second caller laments the “crisis of young men without guidance” and the destructive influence of hate content online.

• Charlamagne Tha God:

  “We like to say that there’s freedom of speech, but we have to understand that there are consequences to the words that come out of our mouth … you do not get to determine the consequences of the impact of your words.” ([15:59])

Gun Violence, Extremism, and “Donkey of the Day”

[71:17–80:39]

• Charlamagne’s Rant:
  • Blames the gun lobby, gun industry, and politicians refusing common-sense reform for a society “in a state of emergency” from within.
  • Recites grim mass shooting stats: “356 mass shootings in America this year; zero days since our last mass shooting.”
  • Plays a viral Charlie Kirk clip where Kirk insisted, “some deaths are worth it to protect the Second Amendment.”
  • Charlamagne:

    “Even if Charlie Kirk had a gun yesterday, it wouldn’t have protected him. When somebody got the drop on you, they got you … Only thing that could have saved Charlie Kirk yesterday was keeping guns out of the hands of violent extremists.”

Special Guest: Mehdi Hasan

[26:14–55:18]

Mehdi Hasan Interview Highlights

• Middle East Escalation:

  • Charlamagne: “In the past 24 hours, Israel has bombed Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Qatar… What is that about?” ([26:42])
  • Mehdi Hasan:

    “…It’s one country in the Middle East that doesn’t have to abide by the rules that everyone else follows. There is no red line… If they were any other country, we’d be calling them a rogue nation.”

  • Criticizes US administrations (Biden, Trump) for bipartisan allowance: “On Israel, it's a bipartisan consensus. … Both parties let them do whatever they want.” ([27:29])

• Debate on Genocide in Gaza:

  • Dissects and debunks Ben Shapiro’s denial of genocide:

    “The 1948 Genocide Convention says genocide is … intent to destroy, in whole OR IN PART, a national, religious, racial, or ethnic group… Israel’s met at least four of those five conditions… Based on those conditions, it is a genocide.” ([33:09])

• On Argument, Debate, and Media:

  • Mehdi Hasan:

    “Whether you want to avoid an argument, you can't, therefore you should be equipped for it… I do think arguing gets a bad rap. Argument is fundamentally about disagreeing in good faith to come to a conclusion... Democracy requires healthy debate.” ([38:32])

  • Emphasizes the difference between good-faith debate and performative, “bad faith” cable news performances.
  • Advice: When facing extremists or misinformation:

    “When I debate those people, I’m not trying to change their minds; I’m trying to change the audience… It’s about the watching audience, not about you and the other person.” ([41:33])

  • Critique of Fox News:

    “It’s not a news outlet. It is a force for evil in this world in terms of spreading racism and misogyny and election denial and climate denial. I don’t want to go on and legitimize them.” ([43:09])

• US Political Parties and Leadership:

  • On Kamala Harris and Biden’s Gaza policy:

    “The genocide would not have happened had Biden not hugged Netanyahu close… Harris would have been better on Gaza than Biden… still, she didn’t take that opportunity.” ([49:21])

  • On Democrats:

    “The opposition party has to fight for us. These people don’t fight. Nobody believes that Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries are fighters.” ([54:16])

  • Predicts the need for new, outsider Democratic leadership, possibly someone like Jon Stewart.

Other Notable Segments

Chicago National Guard Debate

[95:00–97:04]

• G Herbo’s Reaction:
  • Rapper G Herbo tells TMZ he would welcome the National Guard if it “keeps kids safe.”

    “Just want to keep the babies safe, that's all I care about.”

  • Hosts and Lauren LaRosa debate whether Herbo (and most asked on the spot) truly understand the implications of military presence.

Pop Culture & Celebrity News

[60:38–70:43, 97:04–99:28]

• Whoopi Goldberg on Retirement:
  • Viral conversation about whether Whoopi can afford to retire, sparking discussion on pay disparities for Black women in entertainment and old clips with Monique.
  • Charlamagne:

    “Retirement’s not an age, it’s an income.” ([62:20])

• Paul Wall on Jill Scott Collaboration:
  • Funny recounting of being too shy to write explicit lyrics for Jill Scott, surprised by the sexual boldness in her music.
• Portia Williams Divorce:
  • Update: Portia’s legal victory in her highly publicized divorce.

Listener Advice

[85:00–89:50, 90:19–93:21]

• Weight, Family, and Self-Esteem:
  • Call from a young woman distressed by family (especially her mother) repeatedly mocking her weight, despite her efforts with therapy and exercise.
  • Mix of empathy, tough love, and humor from Jess and Charlamagne.
• Long-Term Relationship, No Ring:
  • Caller wonders if 13 years with her man (two kids, two houses) but no marriage means she should leave. Jess’ blunt advice:

    “If that’s what you really want, you obviously can’t be with him. That’s not your man.” ([92:47])

Notable Quotes

• Charlamagne Tha God on Gun Control ([71:17]):

  “Gun control in America is an oxymoron … America doesn’t control guns. Guns control America.”

• Mehdi Hasan ([33:44]):

  “The US and UK spent 70 years building up the international order. It’s all been burned down over the last two years for one guy, Netanyahu.”

• Jess Hilarious ([92:47]):

  “If that’s what you really want, you obviously can’t be with him. That’s not your man.”

• Mehdi Hasan on Debate ([41:33]):

  “I’m not trying to change their minds; I’m trying to change the audience…”

Important Timestamps

| Segment | Time | |---|---| | Breaking news: Charlie Kirk shooting | 05:29–10:42 | | Colorado school shooting | 10:42–11:38 | | Listener calls on violence/speech | 13:19–16:40 | | Charlamagne’s “Donkey of the Day” gun rant | 71:17–80:39 | | Mehdi Hasan interview: Israel, debate, media | 26:14–55:18 | | G Herbo/National Guard in Chicago | 95:00–97:04 | | Whoopi Goldberg discussion | 60:38–65:49 | | Listener advice (weight/family) | 85:00–89:50 | | Listener advice (no marriage proposal) | 90:19–93:21 |

Tone & Style

• Emotional range: From raw outrage and sadness, to incisive political critique, to signature Breakfast Club humor and pop culture banter.
• Quotes preserve original voices: “Retirement’s not an age, it’s an income.” (Charlamagne) “I just want to keep Chicago safe.” (G Herbo) “I’m not trying to change their minds; I’m trying to change the audience...” (Mehdi Hasan)
• Candid & unfiltered: Hosts speak their minds and challenge each other, especially around issues of race, gun violence, and media truth.

Summary

A dramatic, news-heavy episode, this show plunges listeners into America’s anxiety over gun violence—with the killing of Charlie Kirk and fresh high school tragedy—while refusing to flinch from the complexity and emotion behind the headlines. Guest Mehdi Hasan delivers a powerful, multidisciplinary interview unraveling U.S.-Israel relations, genocide accusations, and the decay of meaningful debate in modern America. Listeners' calls reflect the country’s deep divides and everyday struggles. The program mixes raw realism, urgent advocacy, and moments of levity, making for a truly consequential installment.

[End of Summary]