PEOPLE'S DONKEY: Caller Gives Laila Ali Donkey Of The Day After Her Response To Potential Boxing Match With Claressa

Summary

The Breakfast Club – “PEOPLE'S DONKEY: Caller Gives Laila Ali Donkey Of The Day After Her Response To Potential Boxing Match With Claressa”

Date: October 17, 2025
Hosts: DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, Charlamagne Tha God
Network: iHeartPodcasts

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Episode Overview

This episode of The Breakfast Club features the Friday tradition of “People’s Donkey,” where callers nominate their picks for "Donkey of the Day." The central conversation revolves around a caller nominating boxing legend Laila Ali after her public back-and-forth with Claressa Shields regarding a potential boxing match. The segment features animated debates on sports hype, party loyalty in politics, and callers sharing personal stories and grievances, all wrapped in the show's characteristic humor and raw honesty.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The “People’s Donkey” Segment Kicks Off

[02:18 – 04:25]

• Charlamagne Tha God explains that every Friday listeners choose their own Donkey of the Day, taking over the honor (or dishonor) of the show’s iconic segment.
• Early callers vent about issues ranging from meet-and-greet frustrations at comedy shows to workplace grievances, including complaints about the Ann Arbor Public Schools' lack of communication about asbestos exposure during renovations.
  • Notable Quote:
    • "I even called Comedy Zone. I still couldn't find [the meet-and-greet button]." – Caller [03:21]

2. Personal Courage and Faith Amid Health Struggles

[04:47 – 06:20]

• A caller from Detroit, who had previously revealed health issues, updates the hosts about ongoing challenges, including a diagnosis of cancer. Despite her tribulations, she expresses unwavering faith and positivity.
  • Notable Quotes:
    • "My faith is on swole. I trust God, and I know he's got me." – Kendra [05:31]
    • "Faith and fear can't coexist." – Charlamagne Tha God [05:48]
• The hosts offer support and encouragement, underscoring the importance of holding onto faith while also following medical advice.

3. The Laila Ali Vs. Claressa Shields Controversy

[06:22 – 07:37]

• A pivotal call comes in targeting Laila Ali for “Donkey of the Day” due to her reluctance to commit to a boxing match with Claressa Shields.
• The caller claims Layla is stirring up drama without real intention to fight, accusing her of “just trying to expose” Shields in a YouTube series.
  • Debate Ensues:
    • Charlamagne suggests the drama is normal pre-fight hype, expressing skepticism but also noting that Layla may still take the fight.
    • The caller remains unconvinced, predicting Layla will ultimately use her YouTube series as a stage for retirement instead of facing Shields.
  • Notable Quotes:
    • "All Clarissa want to do is fight, Charlamagne... Layla, Clarissa's adamant. She just want to box." – Caller [06:32]
    • "Personally, I think Layla too grown for that, man. I think she building up hype for a fight. I could be wrong, but we about to see." – Charlamagne Tha God [07:07]
    • "If she do that, I want everybody who subscribed to her YouTube page and unsubscribe. I will go on and unsubscribe from Layla Ali YouTube myself if she do that." – Charlamagne Tha God [07:27]

4. Political Loyalty and Messaging

[07:39 – 10:45]

• Charmaine Peace calls in to challenge Charlamagne and the show for not being staunchly pro-Democrat, referencing his previous statements about political messaging.
• The debate centers on the effectiveness and ethics of sticking with a political party versus advocating for the people.
  • Charmaine argues, "Pick a side and stick with it. No, you have to come at them the way they come at us." [07:51]
  • Charlamagne rebuts, insisting his loyalty lies with the people, not a party:
    • "My side is the truth. And the truth is Democrats ain't all good. Republicans ain't all good. Democrats ain't all bad. Republicans ain't all bad. And we're in this situation because of the cowardice of Democrats. And I'm going to keep saying that over and over." [08:38]
    • "We, the people, have to stick together. Not we the party." [09:12]
  • Charmaine responds that public unity matters more than internal critique during crisis, paralleling party discipline within families.
  • The debate is dynamic and slightly exasperating, culminating in Charlamagne feeling worn out by the circular nature of political debates with listeners:
    • "Humans drive me crazy. I literally just told this lady I'm on the side of the people, not decided to party. And she gonna repeat back to me what I told her..." – Charlamagne Tha God [10:45]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Caller Kendra’s Faith:
  • "My faith is on swole. I trust God, and I know he's got me." [05:31]
• Layla Ali Fight Call-Out:
  • "If she do that, I want everybody who subscribed to her YouTube page and unsubscribe." – Charlamagne Tha God [07:27]
• On Political Independence:
  • "I am on the side of the people. That's it." – Charlamagne Tha God [10:01]
• Exasperation with Listener Logic:
  • "Humans drive me crazy... God damn, boy. Humans drive me crazy." – Charlamagne Tha God [10:45]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:18] – Launch of “People’s Donkey” segment
• [04:47] – Detroit caller Kendra’s story of faith and cancer diagnosis
• [06:22] – Caller nominates Laila Ali for Donkey of the Day and discusses the Claressa Shields fight
• [07:39] – Political messaging debate with Charmaine Peace
• [10:45] – Charlamagne’s closing thoughts on political independence and listener responses

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Episode Tone and Style

True to The Breakfast Club’s form, the episode is candid, lively, and humorous—even in the face of serious topics. Charlamagne Tha God leads with a mix of straight talk and playful banter, welcoming passionate callers and engaging in spirited debates.

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For listeners who missed the episode:
This show is an energizing mix of pop culture critique, political discussion, and everyday people’s voices, all underpinned by the hosts’ trademark blend of comedy and confrontation. Expect debates about boxing, passionate political arguments, and honest moments about health and faith—a classic Friday on The Breakfast Club.

Transcript

[Podcast Announcer]

This is an I Heart Podcast.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

What's the first thing you notice when you sip Smart Water? It's that pure, crisp taste. No matter what you're doing or where you're headed, Smart Water just tastes and feels right. It's a smart way to hydrate and effortlessly fits into your lifestyle. Whether you're in the middle of a busy day or taking five for yourself and with added electrolytes for taste, Smart Water makes every sip refreshing. Smart Water purity you taste, hydration you feel. Visit drinksmartwater.com to learn more.

[Johnny Knoxville]

Johnny Knoxville here. Check out Crimeless Hillbilly Heist, my new true crime podcast from Smartless Media, Campside Media and big money players. It's the true story of the almost perfect crime and the nimrods who almost pulled it off. It was kind of like the perfect storm in a sewer.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

That was dumb. Do not follow my example.

[Johnny Knoxville]

Listen to Crimeless Hillbilly Heist on the iHeartRadio app, Apple PODC podcasts or wherever you get your podcast.

[True Crime Narrator]

The murder of an 18 year old girl in Graves County, Kentucky went unsolved for years until a local housewife, a journalist and a handful of girls came forward with a story.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

America, y' all better wake the hell up. Bad things happens to good people in small towns.

[True Crime Narrator]

Listen to Graves county on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts and to binge the entire season ad free. Subscribe to Lava for Good plus on Apple Podcasts.

[Podcast Announcer]

Short on time but big on true crime. On a recent episode of the podcast Hunting for Answers, I highlighted the story of 19 year old Lashay Dungey. But she never knocked on that door. She never made it inside. And that text message would be the last time anyone would ever hear from her. Listen to Hunting for Answers from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

It's your time to nominate a donkey of your own. Remember now that is how they choose. Call in now. 800-585-1051. The Donkey of the Day Friday, October 3rd is the People's donkey. You know every Friday we allow you the people to call in and give someone the biggest he also Good morning. Who this? Peace what's happening? Who is this.

[Caller Layla Ali Fan]

Man?

[Caller Charmaine Peace]

That's R man. I'm from 843.

[Caller Kendra]

What's up?

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Hey, what's happening? Calling from the Chuck this morning. Who you want to get a biggest.

[Caller Kendra]

Hea to Man, I sorry just love.

[Caller Charmaine Peace]

But I gotta give him the J. Hilarious, man.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

What Just do.

[Caller Kendra]

I don't know.

[Caller Charmaine Peace]

So I get. I get the tickets to her November.

[Caller Kendra]

1St show right in Charlotte, but I.

[Caller Charmaine Peace]

Don'T know how to do the dangle Meet, man. Jack, how you do the dangle? Me and greet. And I invite you on Instagram run, ask you how to do the meet and greet. I gotta meet you, man.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

How you mad at Jess? Cause you don't know how to body meet and greet, right?

But you right?

[Caller Charmaine Peace]

Are you right? Ain't but no button Charlamagne. I couldn't find the button, man.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

So how you mad at. Just because you couldn't find a button?

[Caller Charmaine Peace]

Because she didn't make it easy for me. She didn't make it easy for me. I even called. I even called Comedy Zone. I still couldn't find that.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

All right, look, so that's what you do, right? Damn, you already gave me dump. You wait till after the show. You pay me for the meet and greet. You don't pay them. You know what I'm saying? So, yeah, you stay, and then you got to come to the second show because I don't do meet and greet after the first show because they got to flip the room. So.

[Caller Charmaine Peace]

Oh, yeah, I got the last.

[Caller Layla Ali Fan]

Yep.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Go to the last show, and you gonna get your meet and greet, baby. It's all good.

[Caller Charmaine Peace]

Oh, hell, yeah. I get this. Okay, okay, I saw it.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

It's all good. Till you realize that. Meet and greet, 200.

Shut up. No, it's not.

[Caller Kendra]

Don't.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

No, it's not. No, it's not, babe. It's not.

When is the show in Charlotte? Jess, when is it?

October 31st and November 1st at the Comedy Zone in Charlotte, North Carolina. Get your tickets at JessalarisOfficial.com the meet and greet tickets are not on the website because all of that money goes straight to me. Not the club, not the agent, not nobody.

But I don't. I don't think the IRS need to know that.

No.

Good morning. Who's this?

[Caller Kendra]

Hey, good morning. How y' all doing?

[Caller Charmaine Peace]

What up, though?

[Caller Kendra]

This is Kendra from Detroit.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

What's up, Kendra from Detroit? Who you giving the biggest? Oh, Tedra.

[Caller Kendra]

Like Ezra in the Bible, but with the T on the front.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Tesra, who you giving the biggest he?

[Caller Kendra]

Ann Arbor Public Schools. My employers.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Damn, what they do.

[Caller Kendra]

First of all, I spoke to y' all earlier in the summer. I'm the one whose colon ruptured.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Oh, I remember.

[Caller Kendra]

Yes. So the situation is this. Miosha has taken the lead. However, Ann Arbor Public Schools has yet to inform anyone that asbestos was disturbed during the recent. During the renovations. And also, they did. They found cancer in my body.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Oh, man. Sorry to hear that. Hello?

[Caller Kendra]

Yes, I'm here.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yeah, ma', am, we so sorry to hear that.

For sure.

[Caller Kendra]

But the thing about it is this. My faith is on swole. I trust God, and I know he's got me.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yes, he does.

[Caller Kendra]

Period.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Simple as that.

Yeah.

And I. And I want you to hold on to that belief. I want you to hold on to that. I want you to have faith and know that faith and fear can't coexist. But you still got to do, you know, the things that the doctor tell you to do, but know that everything that is happening to you right now is part of a bigger plan that God has for you.

[True Crime Narrator]

That's right.

[Caller Kendra]

Absolutely. I want to let y' all know I love you to life.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

We love you more.

[Caller Kendra]

One day, I'm gonna meet you in person, and God bless. Have a peaceful day.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Bless you on purpose. That's what I'm talking about. That's right.

[Caller Kendra]

Period.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Good morning. Who's this?

[Caller Charmaine Peace]

Yo, this is great.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Dre. Who you wanna get the biggest he hard to, man.

[Caller Layla Ali Fan]

I want to get that to Layla Ali, man.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Okay, why you wanna give Layla Ali the biggest he, huh?

[Caller Layla Ali Fan]

Man, all Clarissa want to do is fight Charlamagne. That's it. Layla Ali saying all this stuff, whatever they talking about, back and forth, whether they speaking on personal stuff. Layla, Clarissa's adamant. She just want to box. Whether we friends or not. We used to be friends. It don't matter. I want to box. She did all that. I was just box.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yeah, but you got to build up the hype for the fight. You know what I'm saying? That's what I.

[Caller Layla Ali Fan]

She ain't trying to fight, man. I hear what you're saying, but she ain't gonna fight.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I promise you, we gonna see. I mean, you doing three parts on YouTube. I don't think Layla Ali no reason for no reason.

[Caller Layla Ali Fan]

He's just trying to expose her. That's all she trying to do.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Personally, I think Layla too grown for that, man. I think she building up hype for a fight. I could be wrong, but we about to see.

You think they going. You think they gonna fight?

[Caller Layla Ali Fan]

That's what I'm saying.

[Caller Charmaine Peace]

I don't.

[Caller Layla Ali Fan]

I don't think she gonna fight.

[Caller Charmaine Peace]

I think at the end of whatever.

[Caller Layla Ali Fan]

The series she's doing on YouTube, it's gonna end with, nah, I'm. I choose to retire. Blah, blah, blah. I guarantee you she's not gonna fight her.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Well, if she do that, I want everybody who subscribed to her YouTube page and unsubscribe. I will go. I will go on an unsubscribe from Layla Ali Youtub myself if she do that. Okay. Good morning. Who's this?

[Caller Charmaine Peace]

Good morning. My name is Charmaine Peace.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Charmaine, who you want to get the biggest he heart to?

[Caller Charmaine Peace]

I want to give the biggest to the Breakfast Club this morning.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

What we do.

[Caller Charmaine Peace]

You are on a platform and you said something very valuable the other day that the Democrats need to do. Be on repeat with their message. I think that you yourself need to do the same. You don't need to be diplomatic right now. We in a fight for our democracy, so you need to pick a side and stick with it. No, you have to come at them the way they come at us.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I agree.

[Caller Charmaine Peace]

I'm a Democrat.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

No, no, no.

[Caller Charmaine Peace]

My message to be on repeat, repeat, repeat. Because that's what common people that don't have really like analytical skills listen to. Once you do something over and over and over and over, it sticks. So I do agree with you. You made that point the other day. So we need to do that. But, but I. Charlemagne.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

But I just. No, no. My side is the truth. And the truth is Democrats ain't all good. Republicans ain't all good. Democrats ain't all bad. Republicans ain't all bad. And we're in this. We're in this situation because of the cowardice of Democrats. And I'm going to keep saying that over and over.

[Caller Charmaine Peace]

Well, I don't agree with that because we're in a fight. It's just like we are part of a family right now. Charlamagne. And we discuss that behind closed doors. But outside we stick together. That's what the Republicans do no matter what.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Listen, we the people have to stick together. Not we the party. We the people got to stick together. Cuz at the end of the day, the resistance is going to come from the people. There's one branch of government, and I call it a branch of government. Even though we not a branch of government technically are. There's one body that is not controlled by the Republicans right now and that's the people. I'm gonna always be here speaking for the people. I ain't speaking for no party. I am not speaking for no party.

[Caller Charmaine Peace]

Well, okay, I can't change your mind, obviously, but my opinion still remains. I'm giving you the document today because right now we're in a fight. Stick with it and don't divert because The Republicans, that's their armories. That's their gun. They stick to it. Whatever lies, whatever troll, whatever thing, they stick to it.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yes, ma', am.

[Caller Charmaine Peace]

Whatever.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I'm on the side. I'm on the side of the people, not the Democrats.

[Caller Charmaine Peace]

If you're on the side of the people, stick with the people. He's messing us up. So we need to send a message and repeat your message that this man is dishable. He's horrible. Stick with that message and then keep repeating it. I mean, don't stick with a party. Like you said, stick with the people. But you gotta say exactly what he's doing every day that's damaging the people.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Okay?

[Caller Charmaine Peace]

And ask for your message about hate. Ask one of you message about hate. The person y' all trying to tell us to love or the group you tell us to love is a symbol of hate to me.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Yes, ma'. Am. Thank you very much. Humans drive me crazy. I literally just told this lady I'm on the side of the people not decided to party. And she gonna repeat back to me what I told her after her calling up here telling me I need to be caping for Democrats. I'm not doing that. I'm not caping for Democrats. I'm not caping for Republicans. I am on the side of the people. That's it. Like this. She said it like. You know what I'm saying? God damn, boy. Humans drive me crazy. You want to go to one more? No, I don't, actually. I'm exhausted now. I'm exhausted. Thank you. We do that every Friday. It's the people's donkey. Who we got coming up next? Ty$sign. Ty$sign.

[Podcast Announcer]

That's right.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Ty$sign is up next. His new album Tycoon, is out. Now it's the Breakfast Club.

[Johnny Knoxville]

Good morning.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

Donkey of the Day is sponsored by renowned personal injury attorney Michael the Bull. Lame. Soft. Don't be a donkey when you need a fighter on your side. If you're ever injured, go to Michael the Bull dot com. That's Michael the Bull dot com. And when you mess with the bull, you get the horns. Hold up. Every day I wake up. Wake your ass up. The Breakfast Club.

[Johnny Knoxville]

Johnny Knoxville here. Check out Crimeless Hillbilly Heist, my new true crime podcast from smart and big money players. It's the true story of the almost perfect crime and the nimrods who almost pulled it off. It was kind of like the perfect storm in a sewer.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

That was dumb. Do not follow my example.

[Johnny Knoxville]

Listen to Crimeless Hillbilly. Heist on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[True Crime Narrator]

The murder of an 18 year old girl in Graves County, Kentucky went unsolved for years until a local housewife, a journalist and a handful of girls came forward with a story.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

America, y' all better wake the hell up. Bad things happens to good people and small towns.

[True Crime Narrator]

Listen to Graves county on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast and to binge the entire season ad free. Subscribe to Lava for Good plus on Apple Podcasts.

[Podcast Announcer]

Short on time, but big on true crime. On a recent episode of the podcast Hunting for Answers, I highlighted the story of 19 year old Lachey Dungy. But she never knocked on that door. She never made it inside. And that text message would be the last time anyone would ever hear from her. Listen to Hunting for Answers from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[True Crime Narrator]

In early 1988, federal agents raced to track down the gang they suspect of importing millions of dollars worth of heroin into New York from Asia.

[Johnny Knoxville]

Had 30 agents ready to go with.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

It, shotguns and rifles, and you name it.

[Caller Kendra]

Five, six white people pushed me in the car.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

I'm going, what the hell? Basically your stay at home moms were picking up these large amounts of heroin.

[Caller Charmaine Peace]

All you gotta do is receive the package. Don't have to open it, just accept it.

[Charlamagne Tha God]

She was very upset, crying. Once I saw the gun, I tried to take his hand and I saw the flash of light.

[True Crime Narrator]

Listen to the Chinatown sting on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere you get your podcasts.

[Podcast Announcer]

This is an iHeart podcast.