The Breakfast Club – PEOPLE'S DONKEY: ‘If The Government Is Shutdown The American People Should Too’

Podcast: The Breakfast Club (iHeartPodcasts)
Hosts: DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, Charlamagne Tha God
Date: October 24, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of The Breakfast Club's recurring "People's Donkey" segment hands the mic to listeners to nominate their "Donkey of the Day"—those deserving the biggest “he haw” for foolish behavior. Callers vent about everything from NBA game shenanigans and family Halloween drama to university homecoming restrictions and, notably, governmental dysfunction amid shutdown threats. The most passionate call centers on the idea that if the government stops working, Americans should too, sparking a larger conversation about people power and civic responsibility.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Listeners’ Donkey of the Day Nominations

• NBA and Sports Betting Frustrations (03:06–04:00)

  • Caller K.P. mansfield nominates the NBA for “blowing everybody parlays” (bets), alleging players are “not trying to score”—frustrating sports bettors.
  • Charlamagne jokes about a future class action lawsuit by bettors against the NBA and players:

    “That’s gonna be funny when people do a class action lawsuit against NBA and NBA players.” (03:25)

• Halloween Costume Procrastination (04:11–05:56)

  • Caller Adrian lightheartedly nominates his 9-year-old son for last-minute Halloween costume demands (“inflatable alien”) and losing his school Chromebook.
  • The hosts share relatable Halloween shopping struggles and banter about sneaking into Target for costumes despite boycotts.
  • Charlamagne jests:

    “Well, maybe he don’t deserve a Halloween present. Maybe that’s your excuse. No, you lost your book. You don’t get a Halloween costume.” (05:51)

• Norfolk State’s Homecoming Restrictions (06:02–08:41)

  • Caller Lolita calls out the Norfolk State administration and athletic department for fencing off campus, limiting tailgating, and generally “making homecoming miserable.”
  • The hosts discuss crowd control concerns, especially with Michael Vick appearing this year. Lolita and others detail how restrictions are making an HBCU tradition less enjoyable.
  • Quote:

    “You don’t make one person change your entire relationship.” (07:28, Lolita commenting on how one star presence shouldn't alter community traditions)

2. Government Shutdown and National Strike Debate

• Call for a People’s Shutdown (08:56–10:26)

  • T from Charleston, SC nominates “all Americans” for complacency:

    “We are literally sitting back and letting the government play with us. If they're going to shut down, I feel like we need to shut down as well. Stop going to work, stop paying bills. It’s getting ridiculous.” (09:03)

  • She argues that "the people have the power," and that if everyday Americans stopped participating in the economy, the government would be forced to respond.
  • Charlamagne agrees, escalating the conversation into collective action:

    “I do feel like we're past the point of political solutions, and it’s going to take some type of national strike in order to really, really… get this government to act right.” (09:31)

  • T continues:

    “If we as Americans literally say, hey, we are not going to work, they will panic. They will go crazy, literally.” (09:43)

• Pop Culture vs. Civic Engagement (09:59–10:32)

  • Charlamagne draws a parallel between consumer activism around pop culture and the lack thereof for more serious issues:

    “I think we got to start caring about the Constitution the way we care about pop culture... The uproar there was when Jimmy Kimmel got removed, and then everybody decided they was going to cancel their Disney subscriptions… we gotta start caring about things like that [the Constitution, health care, government shutdowns] the way we care about pop culture.” (09:59)

  • T agrees, highlighting the need for civic awakening.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On NBA Allegations:

  “We need our money back.”
  (03:12, K.P. on NBA players allegedly influencing game outcomes and ruining bets)

• On Halloween Shopping Drama:

  “Inflatable aliens are easy to get. You could go to Spirits or any of those… I had to order it. Next day, Amazon.”
  (04:46, Caller and hosts sharing family Halloween chaos)

• On Norfolk State Restrictions:

  "Why are they doing this?… You're just making an inconvenience for people."
  (06:19–08:18, Lolita)

• On Government Shutdown Response:

  “If they're going to shut down, I feel like we need to shut down as well. Stop going to work, stop paying bills.”
  (09:03, T from Charleston) "It's going to take some type of national strike in order to really, really… get this government to act right."
  (09:31, Charlamagne) "...we gotta start caring about things like that [the Constitution, health care, government shutdowns] the way we care about pop culture."
  (09:59, Charlamagne)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [03:06] – NBA Donkey of the Day nomination and sports betting complaints
• [04:11] – Halloween costume stress and parenting banter
• [06:02] – Norfolk State Homecoming crackdown discussion
• [08:56] – T from Charleston calls for a ‘people’s shutdown’
• [09:31] – Charlamagne endorses a national strike idea
• [09:59] – Pop culture vs. constitutional engagement conversation

Episode Tone & Style

Consistent with The Breakfast Club's trademark blend of humor, realness, and cultural commentary, this episode swings from lighthearted family talk to fiery civic debate, with callers and hosts alike contributing sharp insights and memorable quips. The show remains rooted in community engagement—amplifying everyday frustrations, serious or silly, and contextualizing them within the bigger picture of American life.

Takeaways

• Listeners use the “People’s Donkey” segment to air out both petty grievances and deep systemic frustrations.
• The episode’s most significant turn is the call for a national work stoppage in response to governmental dysfunction, highlighting a rising appetite for direct civic action.
• The Breakfast Club panel fosters space for nuanced conversations about both pop culture and political power, with Charlamagne notably bridging the two spheres.
• The call for Americans to value their collective power—beyond outrage over TV or sports—strikes as timely, lively, and reflective of undercurrents in national discourse.