The Brilliant Idiots

Episode: Dimples and Plain Cheese

Release Date: November 14, 2025
Hosts: Charlamagne Tha God & Andrew Schulz

Episode Overview

This week, Charlamagne and Schultz return with another energetic, unfiltered deep-dive into the complex, messy, and hilarious realities of contemporary politics, media influence, social issues, and personal reflections. The episode, true to Brilliant Idiots’ style, swings from biting social commentary to unfiltered personal admissions, all while maintaining a comedic undertone.

Major topics include the strain of political differences on personal relationships, the recent government shutdown and its fallout, the tangled web of health care subsidies and lobbying, new Epstein developments and media manipulation, U.S. military actions abroad, and the nature of transparency and hypocrisy in American political discourse. True to form, the pair also riff on college visits, the power of cookies, billionaire ethics, relationships, and an absurd but oddly thoughtful analysis of celebrity influence.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Creative Process & Stand-up Comedy

[01:17-02:03]

• Andrew shares the difficulty of getting back on stage after a break and the struggle for creative renewal post-major projects.
• Quote: “The mistake creatives make is thinking you have to do something like what you did before. You just start talking, and you’ll gravitate towards what matters to you.” – Andrew [01:39]

2. Friendship & Political Differences

[02:03-06:26]

• Charlamagne fields questions about maintaining friendships (namely with Andrew) despite political disagreements, particularly Trump support.
• Both hosts emphasize loyalty and the nuance overlooked in public discourse.
• Charlamagne: “At what point do people realize I’m loyal to the soil with my dogs?” [02:28]
• Schulz: “There’s no purity test in politics... Everybody votes for something they care about and disagrees with the rest.” [05:30]

3. Nuance in Politics & Voting Choices

[04:41-05:59]

• The hosts dissect the problematic tendency to ascribe the worst motives to others’ votes, using examples from both parties.
• Andrew: “If you don’t vote, you’re in no position to judge those who do. Voting is picking the lesser evil.” [04:03]

4. Government Shutdown & Real-World Impact

[09:42-18:06]

• Charlamagne shares his experience interacting with federal workers affected by the shutdown, describing food bank lines and missed paychecks.
• Scorn for “hold the line” rhetoric from privileged pundits.
• Alex (Producer): Describes volunteering at food banks and how it changed his perspective.
• Quote: “I really think some people speak from such a position of privilege. They don’t know that 67% of the country lives paycheck to paycheck.” – Charlamagne [14:09]
• Andrew: “There are all these privileged rich pricks on TikTok who’ve never known somebody that relies on a paycheck.” [25:16]

5. Political Gamesmanship & Health Care

[20:01-26:32]

• Explain how SNAP benefits were weaponized during the shutdown, including the decision not to tap emergency funds.
• Deep dive into ACA subsidies, government spending, and how both insurance and universities are incentivized by government guarantees.
• Schulz: “If the government props up the cost, greedy people find a way to charge more.” [23:13]

6. Corruption, Lobbying, & Corporate Influence

[26:55-27:41]

• Both parties indicted for complicity with insurance and pharmaceutical lobbies.
• The need for a “war plan” to protect citizens during shutdowns, not just political strategy.

7. The Billionaire Debate

[29:11-39:09]

• Conversation about tax code loopholes, billionaire ethics, and the gap between perception and reality of ultra-wealthy Americans.
• Schulz: “You end up taxing doctors, lawyers, and entertainers but the billionaires still don’t get taxed.” [30:01]
• Charla and Andrew agree that successful companies must pay living wages and engage in philanthropy, but challenge the notion that all billionaires are inherently unethical.

8. CNN Walk-Off & Media Critique

[12:13-13:41]

• Charlamagne addresses reports of walking off a CNN election special, highlighting sensationalist narratives (“star liberal walks off”).
• Both condemn the lack of nuance in political and media discussions.

9. Media Influence, Outrage & Mainstream vs. Social Media

[47:38-62:15]

• Extensive breakdown of recent Jeffrey Epstein email releases, their political timing, and why media/public interest in Epstein wanes.
• Dissection of how social media outrage cycles drive mainstream media coverage, and how both can be manipulated by bots and interest groups.
• Andrew: “Mainstream networks are all reaction channels now. Everything starts on social media.” [60:31]

10. Immigration, ICE, & US Military Actions Abroad

[62:15-72:45]

• Hot-button conversation about ICE raids, administration deterrence methods, and the morality of recent US military strikes on “suspected” drug boats in the Pacific.
• Schulz and Charlamagne spar over due process, America’s deterrence strategies, and lack of evidence for attacks abroad.

11. Comedy, Stereotypes, & Gender (Comic Relief Segment)

[101:16-107:29]

• “Sassy” as a low-key slur: They deconstruct how women weaponize the word in relationships and why it stings.
• Run of jokes and off-the-cuff theorizing about masculinity, sexuality, and comedic boundaries.
• Charlamagne: “You make an ass out of yourself when you assume somebody is gay. When you assume somebody’s gay, it means you want ass.” [106:49]

12. Faith, Repentance & Public Scrutiny

[109:09-118:09]

• Charlamagne and Andrew debate Christian tenets—son of God, prophets, and the limits of forgiveness.
• Discussion of public religious criticism aimed at Charlamagne.

13. Loyalty and Managing Relationships in Showbiz

[120:14-125:34]

• Keeping long-term friendships in a cutthroat industry: Both hosts emphasize directness, loyalty, and handling beefs face-to-face.
• Charlamagne: “If you see a person not around me no more, it’s because of some fuck shit.” [121:59]

14. ‘Ask an Idiot’ (Listener Q&A)

[126:08-end]

• Reviving dead celebrities: Biggie, Tupac, Joan Rivers, George Carlin, Patrice O’Neal, Kobe, and Michael Jackson were discussed, with Charlamagne reflecting on “what could have been.”
• Honest reflections on which public figures deserve greater appreciation or investigation (e.g. Michael Jackson’s legacy and conspiracy theories).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Charlamagne (On SNAP Benefits): “On top of everything else, to be like ‘nah, withhold the SNAP payments’—God damn, like, what the fuck?” [20:02]
• Andrew (On outrage cycles): “When you cry wolf about every single thing, it removes the value and authenticity of your legitimate criticisms.” [82:22]
• Charlamagne (On billionaire ethics): “If you have a super-multibillion dollar company, pay your motherfucking workers a livable wage.” [33:00]
• Andrew (On media): “These networks are reaction channels now—literally. I don’t know any news that starts on the news anymore.” [60:31]
• Alex (Producer): “Vote for politicians who don’t take lobby money.” [42:42]
• Charlamagne (On loyalty): "Treat people the way you want to be treated... if you see someone not around me no more, it's because of some fuck shit." [121:59]

Important Segments & Timestamps

• Creative renewal & standup: [01:17-02:03]
• Friendship despite politics: [02:03-06:26]
• Government shutdown – lived realities: [09:42-18:06]
• Healthcare subsidies & college costs parallels: [21:01-24:44]
• How billionaires and lobbying shape economics: [29:11-39:09]
• Charlamagne explains walking off CNN: [12:13-13:41]
• Jeffrey Epstein emails & media distraction: [47:38-54:50]
• ICE, immigration, and Trump’s border policy: [62:15-65:10]
• Comic banter: masculinity, sexuality [101:16-107:29]
• Faith, forgiveness, and public scrutiny: [109:09-118:09]
• Loyalty in showbiz: [120:14-125:34]
• Q&A: Reviving celebrities: [126:08-end]

Tone and Style

The hosts blend sharp, irreverent wit with genuine reflection, allowing for vulnerable admissions and scathing critiques in equal measure. The conversation is quick, unfiltered, and full of playful one-upmanship, marked by recurring inside jokes and a willingness to debate any and every topic—often spinning into philosophical territory right after a run of wild punchlines. Their chemistry makes even heavy topics feel accessible.

Final Thoughts

This episode is a classic, offering listeners a raw, wide-ranging exploration of pressing cultural and political topics, leavened with absurd humor and deeply personal moments. Whether you come for the laughs or the real talk, “Dimples and Plain Cheese” delivers both—exposing the contradictions and humanity at the heart of public discourse.

(Note: This summary excludes ads, intros, outros, and focuses solely on the substance of the hosts' conversation.)