The Breakfast Club – FULL SHOW: Tamar Braxton’s Near-Death Scare, Dawn Staley on Knicks Interview, Coco Gauff on Taylor Townsend Incident + Jaime Harrison & Miles Minnick Interview

Date: August 29, 2025
Hosts: DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, Charlamagne Tha God
Guests: Jaime Harrison, Miles Minnick, with features from Lauren LaRosa and Mimi Brown

Episode Overview

This lively episode of The Breakfast Club blends music, politics, sports, and culture with signature banter. Major highlights include in-depth interviews with former DNC Chair Jaime Harrison and up-and-coming Christian hip-hop artist Miles Minnick; a detailed breakdown of Tamar Braxton’s traumatic medical incident; reflections on race and representation at the US Open; and candid discussions on political and social change.

Key Discussion Points & Segments

Show Opening and Banter (05:00–13:00)

• Hosts catch up on their night and preview guests:
  • Miles Minnick, Christian hip-hop artist with a new album, Via Dolorosa.
  • Jaime Harrison, ex-DNC Chair, joining to discuss the current state of the Democratic Party and politics.
• Birthday Shoutout: Remembering Michael Jackson on what would be his 67th birthday.

Sports & Front Page News with Mimi Brown (13:00–32:00)

• Dallas Cowboys Drama:
  • Hosts joke about the Cowboys trading star Micah Parsons, expressing disappointment with team owner Jerry Jones.
• Minneapolis School Shooting Update:
  • Tragic details: Two children killed, 18 injured.
    • [16:10] Police Chief Brian O'Hara: "Those who remain hospitalized need all support as we continue to pray for a speedy recovery..."
    • [17:20] Jesse Merkel (father of 8-year-old Fletcher Merkel): “Please remember Fletcher for the person he was and not the act that ended his life. Give your kids an extra hug and kiss today."
  • Discussion about warning signs, gun violence, and community healing.
• Political News:
  • Controversial Trump appointment of Heather Honey (“election integrity” but history of 2020 election conspiracy claims).
    • [22:15] Charlamagne: “If you think these folks are conceding power in 26 and 28, you are bugging. They are leaving nothing to chance…they are attempting to fix this fight.”
• Listener Calls & ‘Get It Off Your Chest’ (32:00–46:00):
  • Listeners vent about sports, birthdays, and religion; Charlamagne and the hosts riff on “the big three” in rap and evolving as an artist.

The Latest with Lauren LaRosa (46:00–58:30)

1. Tamar Braxton’s Medical Scare (47:00–58:30)

• Braxton’s dentist, Dr. Amira Ogunlea, explains Tamar’s injury: multiple fractured teeth, a lost tooth, and a fractured septum, with sleepwalking (somnambulism) suspected.
  • [48:15] Dr. Amira: “She woke up in a pool full of blood, saw many fractured teeth on her floor...As far as the cause, the only thing left that it could possibly be is somnambulism, which is sleepwalking.”
• Host reactions: Skepticism over celebrity transparency vs. “publicity stunts;” debate about how much celebrities should share and the internet's role in speculation.
  • [50:32] Charlamagne: “One thing we have to start telling our doctors about is those edibles we taking...you doing anything more than 10 milligrams, you’re gonna wake up out the bed, sleep, moonwalking...”
• Reality TV & Music Saga: Speculation about Braxton’s “friendship” with Mendeecees (from Love & Hip Hop)—was it real or a promo ploy?
  • [54:07] Jess: “You never know what’s real, you never know what’s fake...I don’t like none of it.”
• Wrap-up: Wishing Tamar well but admitting confusion about timing, marketing, and context.

Sports & Social Commentary (58:30–1:09:00)

1. Gavin Newsom vs. Trump Crime Policy (58:40–1:04:20)

• Newsom slams Trump for sending National Guard to blue cities while red states actually have higher murder rates.
  • [1:00:00] Newsom: “Speaker Johnson’s state...the murder rate that’s nearly four times higher than California in Louisiana...Mississippi leads the nation as the number one murder state in America.”
  • [1:03:00] Charlamagne: “None of y’all have truly made any real investments into these towns...if they gave people job training and opportunity...crime would go down everywhere.”

2. Online Shopping Changes:

• New Trump administration rule ends “de minimis” tax exemption for imports under $800; expect delays and higher prices from overseas sellers (Etsy, eBay, Shein, Temu, etc.).
  • [1:06:00] Jess: “All the messy visions just selling and people ain’t gonna get them till Christmas...You should have said Lauren wigs...now what?”
• Powerball jackpot climbs to $950 million; hosts share lottery anecdotes.

Feature Interview: Jaime Harrison, Former DNC Chair (1:09:00–1:45:30)

Transition to Civilian Life:

• [1:10:30] Jamie: “Now I can just be a dad. And then I got my podcast stuff. It’s different, but it’s good...at home with my kids and my wife.”
  • Discusses the difficult transition from political life to “regular life”—the temptation to stay in the mix through digital engagement.

The Role and Power of the DNC:

• Harrison explains the DNC’s role in elections: making resources available, building party infrastructure, supporting state parties.
  • [1:13:00] “When you have the White House, the president is the head of the party…when you don’t have the White House…it’s broken down.”

Democratic Party’s 2024 Troubles:

• Candid discussion of Joe Biden’s candidacy and age:
  • [1:15:00] Charlamagne: “He was damn old, but...I'd rather take an old Joe Biden on a respirator right now than a goddamn Donald Trump...”
  • [1:17:20] “That type of rhetoric is exactly why y’all lost. America shouldn’t have to choose between a Donald Trump and an old man on a respirator.”
  • [1:20:00] Harrison argues for experience, values, and record of accomplishment over age alone, shares Jim Clyburn’s memorable Thurgood Marshall/Clarence Thomas analogy.
  • [1:27:30] “We have to break through these gatekeepers. You got these gatekeepers who want all of the power...the president or the vice president never actually really heard [what local communities needed] because the gatekeepers kept that information from them.”

Party Funding, Special Interests, and Structural Reform:

• Detailed answer to the “corporate donor” critique.
  • [1:31:30] “Maybe 30% of the DNC’s money comes from major donors…those people aren’t asking for policy in return.”
• Calls for campaign finance reform and campaign spending caps.
• [1:37:00] Charlamagne presses for DNC accountability if Dems continue to lose; Jaime Harrison calls for separating the DNC’s role from being an appendage of the presidential campaign.

Memorable Moments & Humor:

• Charlamagne joking about rumors: [1:22:15] “Is that when he pooped his pants? Allegedly, man. I heard that…”
• Multiple playful debates about what the DNC Chair can and cannot do regarding candidates and party strategy.

The Latest with Lauren – Sports Focus (1:45:30–1:59:30)

Coco Gauff & Taylor Townsend US Open Drama

• Jelena Ostapenko calls Taylor Townsend “classless” after a heated match.
  • [1:48:45] Coco Gauff: “[Taylor] is the opposite of that. She’s one of the nicest people I ever met...I really hate to see that, maybe this is the first some are hearing of Taylor and I don’t want that to be the main focus.”
• Lauren highlights the strong presence of “Black girl magic” at the US Open and the cultural shift in tennis.
• Hosts joke about HBCU Day at US Open: Jess: “She said belt to ass...Never gonna have an HBCU day again at the US Open.”
  Charlamagne: “Serena Williams laid the foundation for all of this.”
• Shoutout to Venus Williams’ women’s doubles win (first without Serena since 2014).

Dawn Staley on Nearly Becoming Knicks Coach

• [1:54:15] Staley: “If the Knicks would’ve offered me the job, I would’ve had to do it. Not just for me, it’s for women…to break open that.”
• [1:55:08] Reflects on the energy shift in the room after she asked critical questions about what hiring a female coach would mean for the organization.

Donkey of the Day: People's Donkey (1:59:30–2:13:00)

• Listeners call in to air out their own “donkeys,” including unreliable dispatchers, men who talk about their glory days, and more.
  • [2:09:25] Caller: “You can’t be an OG and let the youngings peer pressure you into doing stupid stuff, man.”

Artist Interview: Miles Minnick (2:13:00–2:38:00)

Journey to Christian Hip-Hop

• Grew up with little church exposure; transformative experience at 16 after unexpectedly attending a church service.
  • [2:16:15] “I felt something I never felt before...I literally felt like God took away one high, gave me a new one.”
• [2:19:00] “Spiritual slaps”—mixing West Coast hip-hop with Christian themes while staying true to his roots.
• Focus on reaching both believers and non-believers, with language and branding that’s relatable and rejects “holier-than-thou” imagery.
  • “I want to reach people that don't necessarily believe what I believe.”
• Discusses family background, keeping himself accountable, his pioneering Rolling Loud set, and the goal to “take the church to the block, with the intention of bringing the block to the church.”

Memorable Moments:

• [2:25:00] “Are you Mexican?” Miles: “I am ethnically ambiguous. I'm half Black, half White. Shout out to my Mexicans, but I’m not Mexican.”
• [2:29:15] “You want to do something with Kendrick...It's a matter of time.”

Nyla Simone: New Music Picks (2:38:00–2:44:30)

• Highlights from Nali (“All Day”), YG & Leon Thomas (“Lovers and Friends”), Oswald Benjamin, and Joey Bada$$’s new project.
• Playful banter about relationship labels in R&B, and music as a cultural bridge.

Show Close & Positive Note (2:44:30–end)

• Weekend plans, shoutouts for all guests, and reminders for community activities (including free admission to Charleston’s International African American Museum).
• Charlamagne’s Positive Note:
  • “We often forget that growth requires sacrifice. Always remember, you can't achieve anything in life without a small amount of sacrifice. There is absolutely no change without sacrifice. So what's the word for the weekend? Sacrifice.”

Notable Quotes

• Dr. Amira Ogunlea (re: Tamar Braxton):
  “She woke up in a pool full of blood, saw many fractured teeth on her floor...the only thing left that it could possibly be is somnambulism, which is sleepwalking.” (48:15)
• Charlamagne (on political power):
  “If you think these folks are conceding power in 26 and 28, you are bugging. They are leaving nothing to chance…they are attempting to fix this fight.” (22:15)
• Jamie Harrison (on post-politics life):
  “Now, I can just be a dad. And then I got my podcast stuff, so, you know, it’s different, but it’s good to be able to be at home with my kids and my wife…” (1:10:30)
• Coco Gauff (US Open, defending Taylor Townsend):
  “Knowing Taylor personally, she’s the opposite of that. She’s one of the nicest people that I ever met. So, yeah, I really hate to see that.” (1:48:45)
• Miles Minnick (his mission):
  “I want to take the church to the block, with the intention of bringing the block to the church…reaching the world.” (2:32:20)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | | ----------------------------------- | -------------- | | Show Open & Banter | 05:00–13:00 | | Front Page News | 13:00–32:00 | | Listener Calls/Get It Off Chest | 32:00–46:00 | | Latest with Lauren (Tamar Story) | 46:00–58:30 | | Political/Online Shopping News | 58:30–1:09:00 | | Interview: Jaime Harrison | 1:09:00–1:45:30| | Latest with Lauren (US Open) | 1:45:30–1:59:30| | Donkey of the Day | 1:59:30–2:13:00| | Interview: Miles Minnick | 2:13:00–2:38:00| | Nyla Simone/New Music | 2:38:00–2:44:30| | Closing Remarks/Positive Note | 2:44:30–End |

Episode Takeaways

• Cultural Pulse: The Breakfast Club continues to set the tone for sharp, relevant dialogue—mixing the latest news (political, music, and sports) with humor and meaningful community reflection.
• Guest Depth: Both Jaime Harrison and Miles Minnick offer honest, nuanced insights into their fields; topics range from campaign finance, racial justice, faith journeys, and the power (and pitfalls) of authenticity in public life.
• Community Heart: Throughout the show, the hosts spotlight not just celebrity stories, but real issues—gun violence, voter rights, representation—and challenge listeners to make informed choices and support positive change.