INTERVIEW: Angela Rye On Pressing Federal Govt, Trump's Shrinking Fan Base, Uncovering The Epstein Files + More

Summary

The Breakfast Club Episode Summary: Interview with Angela Rye

Podcast Information:

• Title: The Breakfast Club
• Host/Author: iHeartPodcasts
• Description: The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!
• Episode: INTERVIEW: Angela Rye On Pressing Federal Govt, Trump's Shrinking Fan Base, Uncovering The Epstein Files + More
• Release Date: July 17, 2025

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Introduction and Welcoming Angela Rye

The episode kicks off with the vibrant hosts DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, and Charlamagne Tha God welcoming special guest Angela Rye. The initial banter sets a relaxed and engaging tone for the conversation.

• DJ Envy: "Ladies and gentlemen, Ms. Angela Rye." [01:16]
• Angela Rye: "Hi, friend." [01:19]

State of the People Tour: Insights and Challenges

Angela Rye delves into her recently concluded State of the People tour, highlighting the profound socioeconomic struggles faced by the community. She emphasizes the urgency of addressing immediate needs while pushing for long-term structural changes.

• Angela Rye: "The tour was so eye-opening. We are really hurting, like, as the people were really, really hurting." [02:44]
• Jess Hilarious: "What was the State of the People tour like for people who don't know?" [05:28]

Rye explains that the tour focused on providing relief, listening to community concerns, and formulating comprehensive policy initiatives known as the "Black Papers." These papers encompass over 700 pages addressing issues from healthcare to education and mass incarceration.

• Angela Rye: "Black Papers was more than 700 pages of policy. Now 34 papers. Everything from healthcare to reparations to education, early childhood education." [05:31]

Empowering Change: Community and Policy

Rye stresses the importance of both immediate relief efforts and systemic policy changes to effect meaningful transformation. She advocates for a mentality shift within the community, urging individuals to utilize available resources and embody compassion.

• Angela Rye: "I think the change comes from within. We have more than enough." [07:07]
• Rye: "Policy only works when you prioritize the needs of the people, when you're compassionate towards people regardless of their immigration status, regardless of where they live." [07:07]

Federal Government and Representation: A Critical Analogy

Discussing the role of the federal government, Rye uses an apartment analogy to illustrate the necessity of holding government officials accountable. She compares elected officials to property managers responsible for addressing tenants' needs promptly.

• Angela Rye: "Let's treat the property manager like it's an elected official... That's the same way we should treat the feds." [11:03]

Critique of the Democratic Party and Comparison with Trump

A significant portion of the conversation centers on Rye's critique of the Democratic Party. She argues that many Democrats have failed to adequately support the community, contrasting this with Trump's unwavering support for his base despite controversies.

• Angela Rye: "There are many in the Democratic Party who deserve to be trash talked. Not as bad as these Republicans since they trying to take us back to 1863." [02:07]
• DJ Envy: "How did that make you feel about Democrats?" [22:12]
• Rye: "He is very crooked. I have issues with trying to be more like somebody who's very crooked." [22:21]

The Epstein Files: Potential Impact on Trump

Rye discusses the Epstein files and their potential implications for Trump. She critiques Trump's reluctance to release these files or appoint a special prosecutor, suggesting that such actions could harm his reputation if the contents become public.

• Angela Rye: "He is very crooked... Why you don't wanna share it." [24:21]
• Rye: "If he doesn't have anything to show for it, well, what does your vote really do?" [25:48]

Media Responsibility: Traditional vs. New Media

Rye offers a critical view of traditional media, accusing it of failing to adequately report on pressing crises. She highlights the rise of new media platforms as essential for disseminating truthful narratives and engaging with the community.

• Angela Rye: "Traditional media is epically failing... new media has opportunities to tell the truth and to make sure that people know that they exist." [40:04]
• Jess Hilarious: "Is that why you focus more on podcasts and YouTube?" [40:04]
• Rye: "Traditional media has a huge obligation... and yet I feel like they're failing it." [40:04]

Essence Festival Sponsorship Controversy: Target Boycott

The hosts and Rye discuss the controversy surrounding Target's sponsorship of the Essence Festival. They express frustration over Target's perceived lack of genuine support for black communities, leading to calls for a boycott until the company meets specific demands.

• Angela Rye: "I still say boycott Target number one." [32:21]
• Jess Hilarious: "I was irritated that they were a sponsor, but it's a multi-year deal." [32:21]
• Rye: "We have to meet the demands that Jamal and Tamika and Nina have been very clear about." [34:35]

Rye outlines specific demands, including increased opportunities for HBCU students, appointment of black board members, and leadership positions within Target. She underscores that financial support should align with genuine accountability.

• Angela Rye: "appoint another black board member. You can have a black CEO... put black people in position to succeed as contractors, as vendors and as employees at Target." [34:35]

Support for Medical Cannabis: Personal Insights

Rye shares a personal story about her mother's use of medical cannabis to aid her during chemotherapy. She emphasizes the benefits, such as improved appetite and overall well-being, while addressing the challenges of selecting the appropriate products.

• Angela Rye: "She is doing much better. So her appetite is good and she's... through chemo." [37:53]
• Jess Hilarious: "Tell Eddie Rodney I can read that brand. That's exactly how I like to feel." [37:53]

Election Integrity and 2024 Concerns

The conversation touches on concerns about the 2024 elections, with Rye expressing doubts about the integrity of the electoral process. She references reports from the Elections Truth Alliance and irregularities in states like Nevada as evidence of potential issues.

• Angela Rye: "I have questions. And then why did Donald Trump say in January that Elon Musk knew how to work the Pennsylvania machines better than anybody, and that's why he won by a landslide." [43:35]
• Rye: "If something about my spidey senses are tingling... I don't feel good about it." [44:35]

Final Thoughts: Government Engagement and Coalition Building

Rye concludes by urging listeners to engage with the government to advocate for systemic change. She emphasizes the importance of community cohesion and coalition-building to amplify their collective voice and effect meaningful transformation.

• Angela Rye: "It's most important to engage... advocate for our collective best interests... make sure that our voices are heard." [38:53]
• Rye: "I believe that we have to get our house in order first and then we can coalition build." [48:06]

Closing Remarks and Call to Action

The episode wraps up with personal anecdotes and light-hearted interactions among the hosts. Angela Rye provides her social media handles and promotes her Native Land podcast, encouraging listeners to stay connected for more in-depth discussions.

• Angela Rye: "Angela Rylee on Instagram... Native Land podcast every Thursday." [49:04]

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• Angela Rye on Community Struggles:

  • "We are really hurting, like, as the people were really, really hurting." [02:44]

• On Structural Change:

  • "We have to have structural, systemic change in order for folks to really see a difference." [03:34]

• Federal Government Accountability:

  • "Let's treat the property manager like it's an elected official... That's the same way we should treat the feds." [11:03]

• Critique of Political Parties:

  • "There are many in the Democratic Party who deserve to be trash talked. Not as bad as these Republicans since they trying to take us back to 1863." [02:07]
  • "He is very crooked. I have issues with trying to be more like somebody who's very crooked." [22:21]

• Epstein Files Discussion:

  • "He is very crooked... Why you don't wanna share it." [24:21]
  • "If he doesn't have anything to show for it, well, what does your vote really do?" [25:48]

• Media Responsibility:

  • "Traditional media is epically failing... new media has opportunities to tell the truth and to make sure that people know that they exist." [40:04]

• Essence Festival and Target Boycott:

  • "I still say boycott Target number one." [32:21]
  • "appoint another black board member. You can have a black CEO... put black people in position to succeed as contractors, as vendors and as employees at Target." [34:35]

• Medical Cannabis Support:

  • "She is doing much better. So her appetite is good and she's... through chemo." [37:53]

• Election Integrity Concerns:

  • "If something about my spidey senses are tingling... I don't feel good about it." [44:35]

• Government Engagement:

  • "It's most important to engage... advocate for our collective best interests... make sure that our voices are heard." [38:53]
  • "I believe that we have to get our house in order first and then we can coalition build." [48:06]

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Conclusions and Takeaways:

Angela Rye's interview on The Breakfast Club sheds light on critical issues facing the African American community and the broader socio-political landscape. Her insights into the State of the People tour underscore the urgent need for both immediate relief and long-term systemic reforms. Rye's critique of political parties, particularly the Democratic Party's shortcomings, coupled with her discussion on the Epstein files, highlights ongoing concerns about political integrity and accountability.

Furthermore, her advocacy for leveraging new media platforms over traditional media emphasizes the evolving landscape of information dissemination and the importance of truthful, community-focused narratives. The conversation around the Essence Festival sponsorship with Target underscores the necessity for businesses to align their actions with the communities they serve, prompting calls for accountability and meaningful support.

Rye's personal anecdotes, including her support for medical cannabis for her mother, add a relatable and humanizing dimension to the discussion. Her final remarks on government engagement and coalition-building serve as a call to action for listeners to actively participate in advocating for change and supporting one another within the community.

Overall, the episode offers a comprehensive and candid exploration of pressing issues, encouraging listeners to reflect, engage, and contribute to positive transformation.

Transcript

[Angela Rye]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[DJ Envy]

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[Charlamagne Tha God]

Taking control of your career is empowering. Just don't tell my boss I said that. Building a career isn't just about a job. It's about creating a path that impacts our community and future generations. Whether you're starting out or making big moves, State Farm is here to support you with resources to help protect what you're working hard to achieve. They've got your back every step of the way. Because like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. Find out [e-mail] wake that ass up.

[Jess Hilarious]

Early in the morning.

[DJ Envy]

The Breakfast Club. Morning, everybody. It's DJ Envy Jess. Hilarious Charlamagne. The guy. We are the Breakfast Club. We got a special guest in the building. And friend to the room.

[Jess Hilarious]

Yes, indeed.

[DJ Envy]

Ladies and gentlemen, Ms. Angela Rye.

[Angela Rye]

Hi, friend.

[Jess Hilarious]

Good morning, Angel Rye, daughter.

[Angela Rye]

Hi, brother.

[Jess Hilarious]

How are you?

[Angela Rye]

I am good. I am, you know, making it. We living in the apocalypse, but yes.

[Jess Hilarious]

No, we not.

[Angela Rye]

Oh, okay.

[Jess Hilarious]

These are the best of times.

[Angela Rye]

Oh. Or the worst of times.

[Jess Hilarious]

Optimism. Optimism.

[Angela Rye]

Okay. Praise the Lord.

[DJ Envy]

Everybody, I'm glad you are here. Your brother has been doing some disrespectful stuff.

[Jess Hilarious]

What have I been doing?

[Lenard]

Crazy.

[DJ Envy]

He has called ice on me three times to try to get me shipped out of this country.

[Jess Hilarious]

What's the problem?

[Angela Rye]

You did not do that.

[Jess Hilarious]

What's the problem?

[Angela Rye]

You didn't do that.

[Jess Hilarious]

I don't see the problem here.

[Angela Rye]

That's not funny. You didn't do that.

[Jess Hilarious]

I don't see the problem.

[Angela Rye]

See, and then Angela, he be rioting.

[Lenard]

And just talking crap against the Democratic Party every day.

[Angela Rye]

Yeah, that's true.

[DJ Envy]

That's factual.

[Angela Rye]

That is. I know that. That's true. And there are many.

[Jess Hilarious]

Angela Ryan does it too. Y' all don't listen to Native Land podcast. He does.

[Angela Rye]

There are many in the Democratic Party who deserve to be trash talked. Not as bad as these Republicans since they trying to take us back to 1863.

[Jess Hilarious]

I can argue that the Dems are the reason we're here, but that's a whole.

[Angela Rye]

You could argue that, but that would be silly of you since 75 million people voted for this man.

[Jess Hilarious]

Yes, but why did they do that?

[Angela Rye]

Well, allegedly.

[Jess Hilarious]

But why did they do that?

[Angela Rye]

What do you mean, why they did that? Because some of them are bigots, because some of them are fascists, because some of them are sexist, because some of them are homophobic, because some of them got issues. And some of the others that were disenchanted.

[Jess Hilarious]

Before we get to that. Okay, congratulations on your State of the People tour.

[Angela Rye]

You know what? I would love to take the congratulations, but I gotta tell you, the tour was so eye openening. We are really hurting, like, as the people were really, really hurting. It's something. And I'll say it publicly to you because we talked about it privately. I used to get so mad at Lennard, but for all the reasons, but at Leonard, for the times where he was saying to me I was out of touch, I would get so upset. And I was. I'm like, what are you. Ty Spent my whole career, like, helping to craft legislation for our people, doing jobs, like, all of these things. But the truth is, even if you're, you know, out of touch for a week, for two weeks, for a month, you can get really out of touch. And you're thinking, I'm helping people because I'm working on behalf of their best interests. But how do you work on behalf of somebody's best interest if you're not in community and talking with them?

[Jess Hilarious]

I don't know how I feel about you bringing private conversations to the radio.

[DJ Envy]

You do it all the time. What are you talking about?

[Angela Rye]

First of all, can you. Can you not. Can you not for two seconds do what you do? So my point is saying stop.

[Jess Hilarious]

Be yourself.

[Angela Rye]

Yes. Just be quiet. Be quiet for two seconds. But I was gonna say that it was humbling, you know, like, to go to a church and meet this woman with two young kids, like, under three, who made a determination to come sit with us and get her light bill paid and didn't know if the car would make it to work. She had to get a jump at the church. You know, another woman who was a teacher in Atlanta who said that she goes to teach our students every day and then go to sleep in her car at night. Yeah. I mean, there's so many stories like that. We had a woman who volunteered with us in Newark who lives in a red roof Inn. And every day she is bringing groceries back home to the seniors who live in that facility. But she's struggling too. So we met these people, we were able to meet their needs. But you all know, like, you go see something like that, you ready to empty your bank account? You emptying your bank account, Maybe Yalls will last a little longer than mine. We talking maybe about two or three weeks worth of relief, you know, for these people. We have to have structural, systemic change in order for folks to really see a difference. And instead of people working to meet the most basic needs and relieve our folks, they're creating cuts that are going to hurt them even worse. That's going to be on all of us. Because what I refuse to do is say, well, we're going to wait until people who are like minded and more compassionate get in charge. No, that doesn't put food on their table tomorrow. So I've been like, what do we do to solve immediate needs to make sure that our folks know that they can always turn to community and be okay? That is the black way. You know, we. We always look out for each other. And I don't want to lose sight of that with all of this crazy infighting that's happening.

[Jess Hilarious]

So that's what the state of the people tour was like. What was it for people who don't.

[Angela Rye]

Yeah. So it was a tour where we focused first on relief and then we also ensured that we had opportunities to listen to the community. What are you saying? What are you feeling? How are you? How is your life? What can we do to make it better? And then we also emphasize policy by creating a platform for our black papers policy initiative. Y' all know normally when it's a policy paper, it's called a white paper. We have black papers. So black papers was more than 700 pages of policy. Now 34 papers. Everything from healthcare to reparations to education, early childhood education, everything you could think of. We tried to cover mass incarceration, really ensuring that our folks know that they don't just have a Project 2025 and we're sitting idly by. We have black experts from all over the country on all of these varying subject matters that can contribute to making your life better. And then finally, we did it in coalition with more than 200 local and national organizations. Black folks like this have not come together since the Bloods and the Crips came together to do that little mixtape back in the 90s. So it was very good. Very, very good.

[Jess Hilarious]

Oh, go ahead.

[DJ Envy]

I was going to say, so you Know, what can people do, right? So usually, you know, fast food restaurants back in the day was the way to get cheap food and to feed a family, right? But if you go to any of these fast food restaurants, a meal now is $15, $17. So it's expensive. Groceries are expensive. So you're talking about the lady that was helping to feed, you know, other people in the red roof, and she probably couldn't feed herself. So what do you tell people to do at this specific time? What could they do? What can they do? What's the change at? Where's the change come from?

[Angela Rye]

I think the change comes from within. And by that, I'm not talking about find your food inside yourself. I'm talking about us, right? Like we have to change our mentality. We have more than enough. I was waking up my prayer every morning during the tour was, God, I thank you. We have everything we need and that is the truth. So if we embody that and we say, okay, I have all of these extra clothes that I don't need. Can I give these away to somebody in need? We have school supplies. I had $20 to give towards a child. School supplies. Like there are all of the things that we have that we can make use of. And I think that is what's most important. Policy only works when you prioritize the needs of the people, when you're compassionate towards people regardless of their immigration status, regardless of where they live, regardless of if you agree with them or not. Doing the right thing is there's always the right time to do the right thing. To paraphrase Dr. King. And so I think some of that is about what can we do differently? So I would ask people who wanted to join the tour, what do you feel called to do and asking people to do exactly that? I think that's how we meet our most basic needs. I don't, I shouldn't do everything. I'm better at rapid response than long term planning. I think some of that is undiagnosed. Add some of that is just what interests me. So I should be on the rapid response squad, but somebody else should be on the now. What do we do to build out the long term solution? So David Johnson, who I know you all know, has been on Breakfast Club. He ran our black papers policy initiative. I was like, I know we need to do this. I'm too unfocused to do it. But he had 34 papers done in a month.

[Jess Hilarious]

Wow.

[Angela Rye]

With working with some of the best black experts around.

[Jess Hilarious]

So what was the biggest thing you Learned from the State of the People marathon. Like. Like. Like. Like one. If you had to take one takeaway.

[Angela Rye]

This the marathon or the tour?

[Jess Hilarious]

Or the tour? I'm sorry, the tour.

[Angela Rye]

So the tour was 12 cities, and then we did a National assembly in Baltimore. I think the most important thing that I learned is that we can do anything when we put our minds to it. When we decide that our unity means more than anything else. We're just unstoppable. We are really unmatched. So I learned that. I learned the importance of listening. I listened a lot more than I talked on that tour, and I think that that was abundantly important, because I don't know how you change people's circumstances when you don't know what they are. Yeah, yeah.

[Jess Hilarious]

What would you say to people who say, I hear you, Angela Rye, but we've always felt like that, like, where you are now? We've been there.

[Angela Rye]

Oh, they said that, you know, like. So there are two things that came out of the tour, too. Some folks were like, well, we've been here. Now y' all care, because we're all about to be in the same situation. I was like, you're right. It's sad, but that's true in so many ways. That's true because now more people's healthcare is gonna be cut. So now everybody feels like the folks who are worried about what may happen with Medicaid or Medicare or anything in between. So that is absolutely the truth. Is it right? Absolutely not. But that is the truth. I think some of us, and I'll speak for myself. When you see somebody in need and you know you can't help right away, it's easier for me to try to turn a blind eye. That's not the right thing to do. But I'm like, if I don't know how to fix it, I'm a natural fixer. I'm like, shoot, I can't do anything about it. So I'm gonna try to pretend like I'm not here. That's not the right solution. I think the other thing that came up a lot, especially from folks in the south, was, well, y' all worried about Trump, but we've been having people just like him as our governors, local elected officials, and that kind of thing I would offer to them, and I did on the tour, this key distinction. There was a time where you could go to petition the federal government to protect you in the face of your mini Trump, Ron DeSantis or, you know, Greg Abbott or whoever it is. Now the federal government look Just like them. Look just like the January Sixers. The insurrection is. So who do you go petition? Who you gonna. Who you. Who you gonna call?

[Jess Hilarious]

Ghostbusters?

[Angela Rye]

No, you. Crazy part is I do have on a Ghostbuster. Yeah, this is just. Remember the jumpsuit.

[Lenard]

I do.

[Jess Hilarious]

I agree with that. But some people have felt like that about the federal government forever. They've always felt like the federal government has not shown up for them, and I think for so long.

[Angela Rye]

But I think the feeling like it and the factual reality is different.

[Jess Hilarious]

But if your factual reality has been poverty and your factual reality is being poor and disenfranchised, regardless of who's in office, that's true. Why should you ever have any faith in government?

[Angela Rye]

I think that it is a challenging thing to have faith in. And I think that the only way that we can change it, and we've seen this recently, is by applying pressure. Historically, we've seen it by applying pressure, things change. I think it is foolish for us to believe that anybody is always on our side. Like, what you should expect from the federal government is that they need to hear about your issue. Like, let's look at it like this way. Let's say that you live in an apartment building. Your apartment building has a property manager and it has a landlord. So let's treat the property manager like it's an elected official, like a member of Congress, and your landlord is the president. If you have a leak in your apartment, you ain't about to be like, well, I hope they figure it out. Because it's their obligation to figure out. I pay rent. You not doing that. You gonna send in the complaint. You gonna knock on the door, you gonna go find them? That's the same way we should treat the feds. Like they are paid to do a job. We pay them, but they not they. We're not gonna let them rest until they meet our need. That's the same way we would do if we would do that about a leaky faucet. How much more if our kids can't eat? How much more if they can't be educated? How much. How much more if they're taking our history out of classrooms. That's a good analogy. I'm gonna use that again.

[DJ Envy]

I think people feel like they do complain so much and nothing happens.

[Jess Hilarious]

Nothing happens.

[Lenard]

Like, what if that.

[Angela Rye]

So who are they complaining to?

[DJ Envy]

I'm sure they're complaining to their property managers, their councilmen, their local people, and a lot of times their local people. I'm sure they feel like don't do anything well.

[Angela Rye]

And I think that's what's hard for me. And I'm gonna say I exist in this privileged bubble so y' all burst it. If I'm wrong to me most often when I tell people to call their member of Congress if something is going wrong or show up to a council meeting, they're like how? When is it? Where is it? So if there are those who are complaining often, I think it's a select few. And what happens is I don't know if y' all have this. You guys all do public appearances. You know that one person that come to every show. Uh huh. So that when what happens is for the elected official, they're like, oh, here goes Susie again. And she just gonna be right. And so they, they get tuned out. But if Susie and all the fifth grade class comes and all of the seniors come now, it's a different type of experience. We are a people powered democracy. At least we should be. And that means more people have to show up. If it's the same two or three, I don't know that it's moving the needle.

[Jess Hilarious]

You said something and I think it tends to be a problem when somebody asks questions. Right. When somebody says I don't know how you have these elitist ass Democrats who call people stupid and you don't know.

[Angela Rye]

Why are you saying that to me? I don't do that.

[Jess Hilarious]

I ain't saying you did.

[Angela Rye]

I don't want to defend them.

[Jess Hilarious]

No, no. But I'm just saying that is part of the problem when people ask questions. You'll have these people that get on these high horses and tell them how stupid they are. You should not knowing these things.

[DJ Envy]

You should know your electric.

[Angela Rye]

Yeah.

[DJ Envy]

You should know what that meeting is.

[Jess Hilarious]

Why don't you just teach them and that.

[Angela Rye]

Yeah, I do feel like I think people should know because I think it's part of our responsibility. I don't think that they should be scolded. Yeah, I don't think they should be scolded or we should be scolded when we don't know things because there's, it's hard already to say I don't know. Yeah, you know, so I don't think we should make people feel bad. But I do think some of these people are fat.

[Jess Hilarious]

And I don't say to them, you don't know.

[Lenard]

My God, what is how they fat and they're starving.

[Jess Hilarious]

No, I'm talking about the people that be scolding the elite Democrats. Golden folks. Yes. What do you think about President Obama Critiquing them, critiquing Democrats and saying they need to toughen up and take action. Don't it feel like too little too late? Don't feel like he should have been saying that.

[Angela Rye]

What's the. Okay, I heard that he said this, but what was the context for him saying this? Just period, Just right now?

[Jess Hilarious]

No, it was at a fundraiser in Jersey, and I guess he was just talking about, you know, what they should be doing in the future.

[Angela Rye]

I guess my issue right now.

[Jess Hilarious]

Let me get the exact quote.

[Angela Rye]

Nope, it's okay. My issue right now with President Obama and Michelle Obama is they, like, out here doing Tiger woods documentaries, and they have this show, which I'm not mad at. He actually was on her podcast talking about how young men don't feel seen in this. In this new. This new space. And I think that that's true. However, if you can go on the podcast to talk about how young men don't feel seen, can you also talk about these SNAP cuts? Can you also talk about the Medicare and Medicaid cuts? And I think, for me, if you all were saying that we were about to. Or this country was about to elect a fascist, why are you not treating fascism as. As. As. It's just that critical. So I'm confused about why there is an expectation of Democrats or any elected official to do something different when they're doing exactly what you're doing. Right. So if you're treating all of this as normal, as normal times and go to Martha's Vineyard to hang out, and we, like, nothing is different.

[Jess Hilarious]

Kiki at the funeral.

[Angela Rye]

Yeah, like, they don't know what to do either. So we have these high expectations. And this is also why we started to say to the people of our elected officials, like, okay, you got to meet the moment. You got to meet the moment. You got to meet the moment. Everybody, even if they don't say it out loud, is saying, how. How do you meet this particular moment? And this moment is changing massively every single day. So how I meet it is going to continue to change. We're not giving them the grace to figure it out on the fly, but we're giving ourselves that grace. And for me, I say, you know what? I'm demanding something of them that I'm not demanding of myself. If it is the last and evil days, as the mothers used to say in the church for years and years and years, I really do think it might be the last and evil days. Now, what am I gonna do different? And if I'm not doing anything different then I'm part of the problem.

[Jess Hilarious]

That actually gives me hope, that's why. Yeah, like my grandmother was saying the same thing in the 80s. It's the last time. It's the worst I ever seen it. That damn Reagan blah. Like, so it's just like, I don't know if we just, you know, going through what they went through and we made it through before, I don't know.

[Angela Rye]

Let me just tell you the only caution I would offer us. And you're right, we have always said that and folks have always explained why it has been. We have gotten progressively worse over the last decade, at least. And what I would say is, if we think that this isn't the worst it's been, can you tell me why our civil and human rights have been rolled back 60 plus years in a matter of six months? Right. Like that is. I know. And some people are like, well, I don't need civil rights. Just give me my paper, ME, whatever. I don't know how you think you gonna keep your paper Maine. And you can't. You don't have any protections. The ways in which we're watching human rights abuses come forth in this country vis a vis these deportation processes, ICE detention, holding facilities where people don't even have deportation orders, and watching folks who look like us saying, I don't care. That's not my problem. Until you didn't realize that your little cousin daddy was Haitian. Until you didn't realize that your favorite Jamaican spot is about to close down. I keep trying not to do this in the terms of what people are giving us, but just through our humanity. Like you are going to be in a position really soon where somebody you did not know was that close to you is hit. And I don't understand why even needs that. Like what? Just. What's just. Just about our humanity. Forget what should be given to someone who is a citizen here. What about humanity? And that is the thing that is really troubling me.

[Jess Hilarious]

How do you feel about Democrats who all of a sudden have the courage, and I put courage in parentheses to tell the truth. Like when you see books like the Original Sin or you know, Corinne Jean Pierre saying she's a independent now. Like, why all of a sudden do they have the courage to speak truth to pie? But they didn't do that.

[Angela Rye]

I'm trying to figure out why you think it's all of a sudden like, I think everybody. No, I think. Okay, so do I have my own opinion?

[Jess Hilarious]

Yes.

[Angela Rye]

Thanks. So I just feel like if, if somebody.

[Jess Hilarious]

Okay, let me ask you this question. What was the original. But what was the original sin about by Jake Tapper? It literally was about the COVID up that Democrats.

[Angela Rye]

But I don't know if Jake Tapper identifies as a Democrat.

[Jess Hilarious]

He's on CNN every day talking to.

[Angela Rye]

Talking to the left and talking to the right.

[Jess Hilarious]

Okay.

[Angela Rye]

I don't know if Jake Tapper's a Democrat brother. I really don't.

[Jess Hilarious]

So, okay, so what do you think about them just all of a sudden having the courage?

[Angela Rye]

I don't know that it's all of a sudden. I think they've been doing these, you know, expose books for years. Jake's is the latest of those, I think that Kareem had.

[Jess Hilarious]

Why tell us after, after it's too late? Why didn't they say these things two years ago when they could have alerted the American people and the American people could have been like, you know what? Something is wrong with him. Maybe y' all should run a different candidate. Then probably we wouldn't be in this situation.

[Angela Rye]

I don't know if I believe that. I think that the lie was sexier to people than the truth. And they went with the lie and they knew Donald Trump. Donald Trump. Donald Trump on Epstein. Donald Trump on.

[Jess Hilarious]

Hold on. So the lie wasn't. Joe Biden is. Okay, remember, remember when he was up here saying that Joe Biden had dementia and you and Tiffany got mad at him and was like, don't say.

[Angela Rye]

Well. And I told you guys why. I told you. I don't think it's funny. I told y' all why. My grandmother literally was suffering from dementia. And he still doesn't have dementia. He does not have dementia.

[DJ Envy]

I didn't say he had dementia. I said he's showing early signs of.

[Jess Hilarious]

Dementia according to the original sin that we don't know.

[DJ Envy]

I said, just like Gia's.

[Angela Rye]

According to my own eyes, we do know he does not have dementia.

[DJ Envy]

Early signs in the middle. I said, just like gia's mom. Cause GI's mom had dementia. I said, he is showing early signs of dementia. Something ain't wrong.

[Jess Hilarious]

You just knew something was wrong. And we knew he couldn't win in November.

[Angela Rye]

All I'm telling you is I was personally offended cause my grandmother had dementia. So y' all got on my nerves that day because of that. Now, as for what Karene is doing and Jake, invite them on the show and ask them. I don't know. But what I can tell you is Karene had her own experience of being regularly challenged, her brilliance being challenged by white men who she was Supposed to be sharing space.

[Jess Hilarious]

She had to lie for that white man every time, all the time.

[Angela Rye]

I'm not talking about that, Lenard. I'm talking about staff people as well. And so when you are being challenged by your peers rather than covered because they don't want you in a role that may, you know, Jade, you just a little bit, you might be a little frustrated by that. So, I mean, I get it. You know, I feel like I've always been independent minded and voting down a Democratic ticket because that's where my values are more aligned. Are they perfectly aligned? No, no, that's never been the case. You ain't never seen me come up here talking about the Democratic Party is the only way. That's not it. But I'm saying I know what for sure is not the way. I know what for sure is. A dead end quite literally is on the other side of the aisle.

[Jess Hilarious]

So if we knew that, how come we didn't?

[Angela Rye]

Who is we, the people?

[Jess Hilarious]

Because clearly, like it was like 70% of people felt like they didn't want a BIDEN TRUMP REMATCH. 56% of Democrats said that Joe Biden should not be.

[Angela Rye]

I think we all agree. I think we all agree with that. He told us initially he was going to do one term. And that was the expectation that I think many of us had. So I never was like, oh, please run Joe Biden again. I think we run the tape back. Yes. I'm on here saying that.

[DJ Envy]

Let me ask you. I'm sorry, I just want to say one thing. Let me ask you a question. Right? You fought for Marilyn Mosby to get pardoned. Joe Biden didn't pardon him.

[Jess Hilarious]

He pardoned his whole family.

[DJ Envy]

Pardoned his whole family.

[Angela Rye]

Right.

[DJ Envy]

Donald Trump pardons anybody that's cool with him all the time.

[Angela Rye]

Yeah.

[DJ Envy]

How did that make you feel? Did that make you feel like what Obama said? Democrats are cowards. Here's a lady that did nothing wrong who does the right thing. You guys fought to get her pardon. You fought for the Democrats. You rolled for Joe Biden. You rolled for Kamala Harris is very.

[Angela Rye]

Loosely fought for the Democrats and rolled for Joe Biden.

[DJ Envy]

You wanted to get back in office.

[Angela Rye]

I wanted Kamala Harris to be our.

[DJ Envy]

President before she was announced.

[Angela Rye]

I was going to go with the nominee. I think there's a difference in I am going to the fact that he did not pardon her and accept this man.

[DJ Envy]

And then you see him pardon his whole family who we said he wasn't going to pardon.

[Angela Rye]

Yeah.

[DJ Envy]

You see Trump pardon everybody first day Out. He just came with a stage and pardoned everybody. How does that make you feel about Democrats? Because it makes me feel like Democrats don't ride for their own. But then you look at Trump, he rides for his core, he rides for his base.

[Angela Rye]

So it's like, damn well. And I think. I think that the challenge that I will offer us to consider, and I'll respond to the question, but I just want us to contextualize this. He is very crooked. He is violating the emoluments clause every single day. He is taking gifts from foreign governments and to be persuaded to be conflicted out of basic decisions. So I take issue with striving to be more like somebody who's very crooked, who had 88 indictments but was 91. They dropped a few. Right. I have issues with trying to be more like corruption. I don't want an elected official to be corrupt. I will say it pissed me off that Joe Biden and the team that was advising him would not stand for this black woman. I know of black people who worked in the White House counsel's office who were fighting for Maryland, and they were not heard. So it was devastating. What I will say is very vindicating, though, for her at least, is in her appeals case that was just recently heard, her mortgage fraud conviction was overturned.

[DJ Envy]

Yeah, I've seen that they held the.

[Jess Hilarious]

Perjury up, though, which is.

[Angela Rye]

Which. Which I think is bizarre too, because I felt like the perjury was the weakest link. But I will say it is. It is so vindicating. She gets to keep the property that the black judge who was appointed by Joe Biden told her she could not have and needed to be forfeit. She doesn't have to give up her property, which I think is really important for her and her girls. So.

[Lenard]

I heard you mention the Epstein files earlier. Does this. Do you think that this can really, really hurt Trump? Because they don't really seem to care about it.

[Angela Rye]

Yeah, I don't. He doesn't seem to care about much. Doesn't he? Nothing. I would say that it could hurt him, especially if the. You, the fringe of his base, the folks who ascribe to all of the conspiracy theories, continue to ride it out. And he doesn't respond in kind with actually unsealing the files or appointing a special prosecutor. I think it's bizarre that this man, who he was friends with, at least for two decades, was on the private jet now he's not gonna release the files. Well, what's in there? Donald Trump? Why you don't wanna share it.

[Jess Hilarious]

I feel like Democrats should never stop talking about the Epstein files.

[Angela Rye]

Yeah, I agree with that.

[Jess Hilarious]

Because I feel like this is their transgender and women's sports issue.

[Angela Rye]

Yeah, I agree with that. I think that they should talk about it because it also creates that same type of ambiguity, the cloud of corruption. He does what he wants to do whenever it's beneficial to him, and he doesn't really care about you. I think that that is the most important thing they could say because there are a lot of people who were Trump supporters who are poor, broke, busted, and disgusted, still down on their luck, still don't have anything to show for his election. So if you still don't have anything to show for it. But you see, this man now has a multimillion dollar jet, his family is doing really well, his cryptocurrency soared on the other, other side of the inauguration. What do you have to show for it? How did you benefit? Because if you don't have anything to show for it, well, what is your. What does your vote really do?

[Jess Hilarious]

And it builds a bridge between Democrats and maga. Ever since Trump won, they've been trying to do that. Right. Whether it's Gavin Newsom with his corny ass podcast. Right. But I'm just saying, like, they're always trying to, you know, build support, build a bridge with madness.

[Angela Rye]

Gavin tapped right into his whiteness, didn't he? He tapped right into his whiteness in.

[Jess Hilarious]

A very inauthentic way. But, you know, this is an actual authentic way.

[Angela Rye]

Yeah.

[Jess Hilarious]

Because this is something that.

[Angela Rye]

Well, it's the truth.

[Jess Hilarious]

Yes. Right.

[Angela Rye]

I think that there's nothing better than the truth. You always talk about how important it is to tell the truth. I think that too. So we shouldn't be pontificating on conspiracy theories. We should be asking real questions. We don't know what's in the COVID conspiracy theory anymore.

[Jess Hilarious]

It's a cover up.

[Angela Rye]

No, no. Yeah, that's what I was gonna say. We don't know what's in the files, but you do. So release them. Make sure we all know.

[Jess Hilarious]

Do you think the files haven't been released? Because if they do, it'll be mutually assured destruction, meaning that, you know, high profile individuals from both parties are definitely, probably in the files. Allies.

[Angela Rye]

Definitely. Probably.

[Jess Hilarious]

Absolutely. Allies. Donors.

[Angela Rye]

Yeah, I really don't know what's in the files.

[Jess Hilarious]

High ranking diplomats.

[Angela Rye]

I. I don't know what's in the files. And just based on what I just was saying, I don't want to deepen more into the conspiracy parts. Of it. What I would rather say is if they your people ask for it, this is what you promise your people. Make good on your promise. Be true to what you said on paper, man.

[Jess Hilarious]

And if I'm a Democrat and I'm, you know, peace to the planet. Charlamagne, the God here. Look, we all make mistakes, but owning up to them is the right thing to do, you know degree Cool Rush deodorant. Well, last year they changed the formula and it did not go over well with their fans. Degree's whole thing is it turns up the sweat and odor protection when you turn up the effort. And good thing it does, because Cool Rush fans really turned up the effort to bring back the original formula. One guy even started an online petition. And degree listen, they admitted they effed up and are bringing the original Cool Rush scent back. And it's exactly how you remember it. Cool, crisp and fresh. It's back in Walmart, Target and other stores now for under $4. There's a reason why it's been the number one men's antiperspirant for the decade, is the same reason why people were not happy when it changed. So if you never tried it, it might be a good time to see what the fuss is about. Head to your local Walmart or Target to try the OG degree Cool Rush for yourself.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

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[Jess Hilarious]

Even if I know that there are people from my party in there. Yeah, they're probably people you need to throw under the bus anyway, because I feel like whoever is the future of the Democratic Party has to throw the old regime under the bus, especially if.

[Angela Rye]

The old regime was engaging in child abuse. I mean, you know, like there's, there's no. We should. That should be a bipartisan or really a nonpartisan thing. There are some things that we should not allow or hold to be acceptable. We shouldn't be covering up anything for anybody.

[Jess Hilarious]

I want, I wanted to ask you, how do you feel about folks who may have supported Trump having buyer's remorse now and speaking out against it? Like, is it the time to say I told you so or is it the time the coalition Bill.

[Angela Rye]

Oh, you want my higher self answer?

[Jess Hilarious]

I want you just to answer.

[Angela Rye]

Well, I have two answers. My first answer is something I should say on radio. Forget y'. All. I say it that way. Forget y'. All. Like you, we tried to tell you over and over again, like, you are so foul. My higher self answer is I think that people make mistakes and some mistakes they make are extraordinarily costly. And so I would really want to understand how they got there and what do we do as a people to ensure that folks don't get there ever again.

[Jess Hilarious]

You know how they got there, though.

[Angela Rye]

No, I don't. Leonard, me and you disagree on this. I think there are multiple pathway to get to pathways to get to this dummy.

[Jess Hilarious]

Well, I think, I think for so long we've tried to tell people why they should care about politics or why they should vote a certain way, but we don't talk to them to see why they voted that way. For me, when Donald Trump won, it wasn't a surprise he was together. When he won, it wasn't a surprise because I've been having these conversations. I can see where Democrats were missing the mark and where he was speaking to dinner table issues. Now, whether he wanted to do those.

[Angela Rye]

Things or not, dinner table issues and knowing someone from their past four years in office is a liar and is not gonna look out for the lease tonight.

[Jess Hilarious]

Not when that last year and we've had this conversation a million times, not when that last year them PPP checks was flying and them stimulus was flying.

[Angela Rye]

And now these PPP people is in jail.

[Jess Hilarious]

But sure, but people will, sure, people will forget what you did. They'll forget what you said. They'll never forget how you made them feel.

[Angela Rye]

Well, I wonder how they feel behind bars. Like, I think, I mean behind bars.

[Jess Hilarious]

Sitting in them trailers in South Carolina living the life. They still got that Chrysler 300?

[Angela Rye]

Yes.

[Jess Hilarious]

Okay. Some of them living the they best life right now.

[Angela Rye]

Still. That's sad.

[Jess Hilarious]

Waiting for another stimmy.

[Angela Rye]

They are.

[Jess Hilarious]

And you know what they do every now and then when the Doge cuts was happening and everybody was getting mad, but we're going to give everybody $5,000, y' all just relax. Everybody's like, yeah, that's what we voted for.

[Angela Rye]

And then where is that $5,000 now? I guess all I'm saying is, you know, at some point, people have to understand how the government works. Donald Trump didn't write a blank check. He did sign the check.

[Jess Hilarious]

Smart.

[Angela Rye]

I agree, it was smart. But in all of that, what I hope his supporters and even people who are, like, indifferent, I hope what they see over time is this. This man will do anything to promote himself. And that is all that he's good at. He's not good at keeping his promises. He's not good at telling the truth. He's not good at People first policy. He's good at promoting himself. That's it.

[Jess Hilarious]

That's why the Epstein list is good and why Democrats should stay on it. Because this is the one time I've seen people who voted for Trump in the MAGA base be like, yo, they lying to us.

[Angela Rye]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Jess Hilarious]

So, yeah. So not only is he lying about this, look.

[DJ Envy]

What else?

[Angela Rye]

He's lying about other things. I think that's right. Go be a consultant. You good at this. That's good.

[DJ Envy]

I wanted to ask about what was your thoughts on everything that happened with the Essence Festival right there?

[Angela Rye]

Yeah, I was there.

[DJ Envy]

Okay. So a lot of people upset that, you know, that Target was still a sponsor and people were boycotting. What was your thoughts on all that?

[Angela Rye]

I still say boycott Target number one. We Target fast. If I see black people with a Target bag, Jess, I'm mugging y'. All. All right. Yeah.

[Lenard]

Lauren got one. She got her makeup in one right now.

[Angela Rye]

She did.

[Jess Hilarious]

She told me you got that suit you got on from Target.

[Angela Rye]

You know, I didn't get this. You know, I didn't get this from Target. I would tell you if I did. I did support when my girl Kahlana was in there, but I'm telling you right now, they better get it together. I think that this is a really dope opportunity for black people to show we don't just support black business in a boycott. We do that because it's the right thing and our stuff is better anyway. So I just. Yes, I'm irritated that they were a sponsor, but it's a multi year deal, so I understand that. I thought it was hilarious that they tried to make their activation Pink. So people didn't know that it was like a red and white target. It was like, if we really in red and white, it's pink, let's make it pink. People couldn't see the logo till they walked all the way in. I want to shout out, alfonso, David has become a brother to me from Global Black Economic Forum. He did a tremendous job on his stage. There were a lot of really good things about Essence Fest and the videos that I was saying. I was telling Lenara, I was like, I didn't see any of this stuff the way that they're portraying it. So I'm just not sure I will say I did not go to any of the concerts. So I don't know what that experience was like. I wanted to go and my day that I could go. I just was not feeling well.

[Jess Hilarious]

Is it worth it, taking the money to create black Joy? Because that's where we are right now. Right? Like, we're at a. We're in a space right now where we need to empower each other in various ways. And creating spaces of black joy is one of those things.

[Angela Rye]

Yeah.

[Jess Hilarious]

So taking that money to create black Joy, what you think?

[Angela Rye]

I think. I. I'm not. I just wanted. I want us to divorce ourselves from Target until they meet the demands that Jamal and Tamika and Nina have been very clear about. The demands are great, including standing up opportunities for HBCU students at business schools. At hbcu, there's no. You have retail shops at twi, the traditionally white institutions. You can do that same thing at HBCUs. You can appoint another black board member. You can have a black CEO, your CEO about to step down. You can put black people in position to succeed as contractors, as vendors and as employees at Target. So I don't understand what. What the issue is if they can't meet those most basic needs. They don't need our money.

[Jess Hilarious]

But we need their money, though, is what I'm saying.

[Angela Rye]

I understand what you're saying. I think that there still have to be parameters. If you look historically at some of the nation civil rights orgs, some of our other folks who have. There are influencers who, y' all know, who take money from some of these large corporations to distract us from our demands of these corporations regularly. I would name drop, but I'm gonna be nice.

[Jess Hilarious]

I think you should.

[Angela Rye]

No, I won't. But I think that what's important is that we are all aligned. So if we're gonna take the money, we know that this. These are the accountability metrics. You don't get a blanket endorsement from us. We're saying, yeah, there's. Here's this partnership, but we're not doing anymore. Right now, some of our black denominations in the churches have taken money, but they know that. They see one, a pastor leading this charge. Don't do that. It undermines us. That is literally how black people got in slavery. Oh, I'm gonna take this $5 for my family, but I'm gonna send y' all over there. Don't do that. That is so harmful.

[Jess Hilarious]

One thing people say, and, you know, we've had this conversation with Jamal and Tamika as well. What about all the other companies who rolled back DEI initiatives, the Metas, we on Facebook and we on Instagram every day. You know, the Walmarts, the. The Amazons. You getting the Amazon. Amazon packages.

[Angela Rye]

A lot of churches are boycotting Amazon, too. A lot of entities. A lot of entities are boycotting Amazon.

[Jess Hilarious]

I don't believe them. I gotta go to their house and see if they got packages.

[DJ Envy]

I'm sure they got.

[Angela Rye]

I want to say I have cut way back. All I have is my just water on automatic subscription, but I have cut way back. I did have an Amazon problem. I have since been delivered, like, every.

[Lenard]

Day ordering, like, that's how I was too.

[Jess Hilarious]

What do you say to those people who feel like, well, y' all ain't boycotting none?

[Angela Rye]

You know what? I feel like it's hard to boycott everything at once, especially if you live in communities where there are not that many options to shop and all that. It's hard. So I think to make an example out of one so that other organizations, other corporations fall in line is also a smart tactic. I think Target was personal for us. Like, I don't know about you, Jess, but I would just be up and down the aisles. Like, I would go in. I almost said Starbucks in Target, for one thing, and leave with a cart full of $500 worth of the stuff I did not need. So I think that it was personal. It's like you mess with our sanctuary. Like, why.

[Jess Hilarious]

That's how I felt about Walmart. I used to go to Target for T shirts, but Walmart was where I. Because, you know, growing up in Moss Corner, that was the place that was open 24 hours when we were kids. We would go wander around Walmart.

[Lenard]

That's both of them for me. Walmart and Target got. They had better selections and stuff. He was a little. He felt a little bougie when he was in there. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. That was the thing and also sometimes.

[Jess Hilarious]

You go around there, you just wander because you hide. Were you high?

[Lenard]

Is he trying to say me a clown?

[Angela Rye]

What advice? You know what I will say I am grateful for what cannabis is doing for my mother. Right now. She's going through chemo and she. My dad has been very eager to make sure that she had an edible. Now, the first edible that my mom had was not for her. Cause she was sitting on the floor facing a wall and the TV was behind her. I said, what you doing?

[Jess Hilarious]

Damn. Tell Eddie Rodney I can read that brand. That's exactly how I like to feel.

[Angela Rye]

She has one that has been recommended by the nutritionist now, and she's doing much better. So her appetite is good and she's. I'm so proud of my mama.

[Jess Hilarious]

Expound on that. Because your mom is dealing with cancer.

[Angela Rye]

Yes.

[Jess Hilarious]

And so the nutritionist recommended her edible for what exactly?

[Angela Rye]

So it's. I think it's a. I don't remember if it's one to one or something. CBD and thc.

[Lenard]

Yes. CBN and thc. Yes, I help with.

[Angela Rye]

Yeah, yeah, okay. So she's on that. And it has. It's helping her to eat a lot better. The other one just had my mom, like, zooted. She was gone. I was like, mom, what you do? She's like sitting here. I said, I see that. Did you like to get up?

[DJ Envy]

Did you ask your mom which one she liked better? She might like that.

[Angela Rye]

No, no, but if she's not eating because, like, she's literally like, I can't even move. Yeah, no, I got you.

[Jess Hilarious]

What if she was enjoying what she was seeing on the wall?

[DJ Envy]

I'm saying.

[Angela Rye]

She'S enjoying what she's seen on the wall, but she's still 20 pounds lighter and she's already tiny. I need her to get her to eat, not to get her stuck looking at the wall.

[DJ Envy]

Gotcha.

[Lenard]

I want advice. This is my last question. What advice do you have for people listening who just like, don't even care about, you know, they've given up all hope for, like, the government. They don't have any faith, like, anymore in it. What would you say to them?

[Angela Rye]

You know, what I would say is I know this is a government that was built on our backs and never for us. And I think that it's important to decide whether you will reform it and shift what it was designed to do or whether you will overhaul it and do something different. Regardless of what decision you make, it's just most important to engage, you know, that we advocate for our collective best interests that we show up to ensure that our voices are heard, that we're seen, that our people can't be ignored. And I think some of the best ways we can do that right now is especially just showing up together collectively and making a difference for ourselves. I think we could still build structures outside of the government that serve our most basic needs. But I absolutely suggest that if you are paying a taxpaying citizen, you have every right to demand something better of this government, and it owes us for sure.

[Jess Hilarious]

I got a couple more questions. Do you think traditional media, because you know you're having great success with the Native Land podcast yourself, Andrew Gillum and Tiffany Cross. Do you think traditional media still plays a role in shaping not just black political opinion, but political opinion overall, or have we fully moved into an era where non traditional media is controlling all the narratives?

[Angela Rye]

I think that they have a role and they have an obligation. And for the most part, traditional media is epically failing. There's an epic fail. The fines that they're paying are still to settle cases with. With Donald Trump. The ways in which they're talking about some of the greatest crises right now is insane to me. I'm like, are we living in the same universe? Are you seeing what I'm seeing? Are you hearing what these members of Congress are reporting back from visits or state elected officials? We are living in really rough times. And for them to not be talking about it or for me, I was upset when they were spending just as much time on Puff's trial as they were on the budget cuts. It was irresponsible. So, you know, I think it's. It is. There is a huge obligation on behalf of media, and yet I feel like they're failing it. So because they're failing, new media has opportunities to tell the truth and to make sure that people know that they exist and they're not and folks aren't crazy sitting at home.

[Jess Hilarious]

Is that why you focus more on. I don't even like to call it non traditional media no more because I feel like that is media nowadays. But is that why you focus on, like, I'm going to do the State of the people Marathon on YouTube or I'm going to do Native Land, you know, podcasts on YouTube and, you know, wherever podcasts are distributed. Is that why? Because it's not like you can't go on television when you want to?

[Angela Rye]

Yeah, I think for me, I'll say the last TV interview I did reminded me of what I did not miss.

[Jess Hilarious]

About when Kevin o' Leary touched You?

[Angela Rye]

Yeah, but I think it's more. It's just I'm a germaphobe and I think especially white men, no disrespect, Nick, don't wash their hands.

[Jess Hilarious]

Italian.

[Angela Rye]

He said he washed his hands, too. He was like, first of all, first of all, you not going to defame me while I'm holding this camera. I didn't say you, Nick. I did not say you, Nick.

[Jess Hilarious]

I know you see that camera dirty as hell because of your hand.

[Angela Rye]

Nick's hands look clean. But I'm just saying it's a lot of people, you can tell even how they move about the world, they don't wash their hands. Yeah. So I'm like, why did he touch me? So I have. I'm a germaphobe. And it was like, not even thought of. But I think that what.

[Jess Hilarious]

It kind of was a shushing too. Like, it was. Yeah, I think sometimes they do that on tv. It's like, to minimize you in a way.

[Angela Rye]

Yeah, no, he wasn't about to do that. But I just think that.

[DJ Envy]

Did you have a conversation after that? Oh, no, no.

[Angela Rye]

About what? Nah.

[DJ Envy]

Cause you were just like, yo, don't touch me. Don't touch me.

[Jess Hilarious]

Don't put your name. You don't know this hood chick.

[DJ Envy]

That's what I'm asking. If he came back and said, I.

[Jess Hilarious]

Apologize.

[Angela Rye]

But I think that he's so cocky that he, you know, that he wouldn't. But my point in bringing that up is I think it reminded me of how unproductive those conversations are. I'm going on to argue with you. You got the people who are backing you in your corner. I got the people backing me in my corner. And there's a very small convincible middle. And I just think, you know, if we're not having conversations to really get to. Yes. And be like, well, I can understand your perspective. What is it that you're saying? Like, people should have to be held to facts. Right. People go on there and just lie. They'll make up numbers. It's like, what's the point of this? This is reality tv. This isn't the news.

[Jess Hilarious]

But that's why people like you need to be there, though. And I think it takes a very special person to occupy that space. And you've always been a very special person in that space. That's why you stand up.

[Angela Rye]

Thanks, brother. Well, I like. I like doing the podcast and Stay the People wasn't just about content development. It also was really about touching lives. So. Yeah.

[Jess Hilarious]

Do you really Feel like Republicans cheated in 2024. He was all over Fox News this week.

[Angela Rye]

Yeah. What? Fox News really like our podcast. That is so nice. They should put the link in there so people could watch that, turn. Tune into them.

[Lenard]

I know that's right.

[Angela Rye]

I would just say I am very. You know, I feel like black women in the Holy Ghost are very close. And I feel like if something about my spidey senses are tingling, and they have been since the day after the election when we were all together. I don't know. Something is not right. There are. There's the Elections Truth Alliance. I believe ETA has a whole report on some of the inconsistencies in election results. There is another entity that I can't think of right now that also has a report on this. Clark county had some irregularities in Nevada. So, I mean, I have questions. And then why did Donald Trump say in January that Elon Musk knew how to work the Pennsylvania. The local machines in Pennsylvania better than anybody, and that's why he won by a landslide. Who says that if, you know, it's just. And maybe you guys could say he has dementia, too. I hope you don't. Without any, you know, proof. But I think that, you know, he says some things that are jarring, especially about how he won the election. We got some surprises for you. I think they said, too. So, yeah, I'm not sure, but I definitely don't feel good about it. It would make me feel better knowing that he stole it rather than this many people would vote for this man.

[Jess Hilarious]

No, not really. I mean, because, you know, like, we knew Biden had a record low approval rating, and, you know, you know, the vp, her approval rating was just as unpopular. And they gave her 100 days. And she did a great job in. That was 107 days. She did a great job in 106 days just putting some energy into the campaign.

[Angela Rye]

But I don't just think she put energy into the campaign. She also did some things structurally that were very, very helpful. I think people got to see another side of Kamala Harris, and I still think that it was hard to break through. They wasted a lot of money on things that weren't gonna help her candidacy, but made the consultants who worked for her campaign rich.

[Jess Hilarious]

And she dropped. She did drop the ball in very chemo. Like on the View when she said she wouldn't do anything different from President Biden. I think I had a record low approval rating. People wanted something different, and you just didn't offer anything.

[Angela Rye]

I think. Let me just say this. I Hear your point. And I also think that there are moments where your loyalty to somebody supersedes what you think will help you stand out. And I can say firsthand, I know I'm a person like that, where I will be blindly loyal to the people I love and it will cause me harm. It has, you know, so I get why she did that. I do think it was a moment that she probably regrets, but I understand why she did it. She wouldn't be there if it weren't for him. Right. Like, he picked her as his vp. We all believe she deserved it, but he did pick her. There were other options. And then when she. When he stepped down, it was Joe Biden that made sure that Kamala Harris, because she was a part of the ticket, was the nominee. And I think that that's major. It's hard to turn your back on somebody that does something like that. I get that.

[Jess Hilarious]

Well, I think what I hope everybody learns moving forward is America wants something different. When you look at the low approval ratings of Trump, when you look at the low approval rating of Republicans, you look at the low approval ratings of Democrats, America is ready for something.

[Angela Rye]

America getting something different right now. I wonder how much they like this difference. Yeah, but we back in 18. What year you think we in right now?

[Jess Hilarious]

We in 2025.

[Angela Rye]

Nah, but.

[Jess Hilarious]

I'm just saying it's good.

[Angela Rye]

Went back.

[Jess Hilarious]

All of this needs to be destroyed. So what. What can. What can really be can be built.

[Angela Rye]

What do you think is going to be on the receiving end of the destruction, though? I think that's the part.

[Jess Hilarious]

People.

[Angela Rye]

No, but it's. And it's going to be mostly people who look like us. Like, that's the part that I think that we have to grapple with. It is so easy to say and very privileged to say we need to destroy this whole thing, tear it all down. So now they're defunding the Department of Education, or at least have the clearance to do that. That's going to hurt our kids first and hardest.

[Jess Hilarious]

I know we like to say that it's true. And I don't disagree. I think it's just going to hurt poor people.

[Angela Rye]

But, Lenard, if we're disproportionately poor, we're disproportionately not paid what we deserve, what we should earn. Our businesses disproportionately suffer. Our accesses to contract. Well, access to contracts at the local, state and federal level is disproportionately low. It is going to be us on the receiving end of these things.

[Jess Hilarious]

But I think this is the time where we need to look at what Martin Luther King Jr. Was attempting to do before he was taken out. Probably what he was taken out for. Operation Breadbag, bringing together pouring disenfranchised people of all colors. Because we need that whole coalition right now to topple what's currently in our. In our federal government. Yeah, I think black people cannot do it alone.

[Angela Rye]

I agree with that. We don't have the numbers. But I would say this. I am focused on black folks right now because I believe that we have to get our house in order first and then we can coalition build. I think normally what we've done historically is we go out to the larger coalition before we're tight. I want to make sure that we're tight. Are we all aligned? Are we all good? Are we moving forward, meeting our basic needs, advocating for what's in our best interest, and then we grow out. That doesn't mean that you shouldn't be humane in your approach. Like, you can still fight for other people's issues, but make sure your coalition is tight.

[Jess Hilarious]

This is what we always argue because it ain't going to happen. Everybody ain't gonna get on the same page. Everybody.

[Angela Rye]

I don't think that everybody has to, but I need a larger group of us, too.

[Jess Hilarious]

That's why Noah just took animals on the ark, because he knew that them niggas wasn't coming.

[DJ Envy]

Angela Rye, we thank you for joining us so much.

[Lenard]

Let me just get the giraffes.

[Jess Hilarious]

Then.

[Angela Rye]

All giraffes will.

[DJ Envy]

All right, well, it's Angela Rye.

[Jess Hilarious]

Hold on. Tell them where to follow you.

[Angela Rye]

Angela Rylee on Instagram that Lenard said we are now boycotting. Oh, I'm not. And yeah, at Native Lampod Native Land podcast every Thursday.

[DJ Envy]

All right, well, it's Angela Rye. It's the Breakfast Club.

[Carlos Miller]

Good morning, Breakfast Club.

[DJ Envy]

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[Carlos Miller]

Taking control of your career is empowering. Just don't tell my boss I said that. Just kidding. I am the boss. This is Carlos Miller from the 85 South Show. And building a career isn't just about a job. Farm is about creating a path that impacts our community and future generations. Whether you're starting out or even making big moves, State Farm is here to support you with resources to help protect what you're working hard to achieve. They've got your back every step of the way. Because, like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. Find out more@state farm.com this is an iHeart podcast.