Podcast Summary: The Brilliant Idiots – "The Hit List" (Ft. Akaash Singh)

Date: September 26, 2025
Hosts: Charlamagne Tha God, Andrew Schulz
Guest: Akaash Singh
Tone: Informal, comedic, and provocative as always

Episode Overview

This episode of The Brilliant Idiots centers on the intersection of politics, media, and free speech, focusing on the controversy surrounding Jimmy Kimmel, Donald Trump’s "hit list", and the broader implications for democracy and press freedom. The hosts also tackle recent electoral politics, criticisms of Kamala Harris’ campaign, the realities of New York City under Eric Adams, hypocrisy on both the left and right, and the ongoing societal impact of social media bots. Woven throughout are the hosts’ authentic (and often hilarious) perspectives on loyalty, cultural norms, and their own personal experiences.

Main Discussion Highlights

1. Political Rhetoric, NY Politics & Gentrification

[01:23–04:02]

• Discussion begins with Eric Adams’ remarks on who constitutes "gentrifiers," and the confusion around whether it's "rich white people" or just a certain privileged class of voters.
• Akaash Singh: "It's the kids who live off their parents income and have all these ideas about socialism... Those guys vote for Mamdani."
• Schulz and Akaash critique Adams' vagueness and call for specificity in political rhetoric.
• Personal anecdotes about the worsening street conditions in NYC compared to the Bloomberg era.
• [04:42] Eric Adams: "We put $30 billion back into the pockets of New Yorkers... free high speed broadband, child care... paying off medical debt."
• The hosts argue that while the Mayor cites metrics, reality for many New Yorkers feels very different.

2. Why Mandani’s Messaging Resonates Over Adams’ Record

[05:36–06:24]

• Adams claims Mandani is "a better liar," able to "sell the lie better."
• Schulz and Akaash dissect the difference between political promises and perceived reality.
• [06:20] Akaash Singh: "Your reality is not matching up to what you're telling me."
• Ongoing debate: Perception vs. reality, media influence, and the crisis of trust in politics.

3. Cultural Norms, Money, and Friendship

[08:41–10:18]

• Lighthearted banter about paying for friends, discounts, and cultural norms (referencing Indian families' competitiveness over the bill).
• [10:07] Akaash Singh: "We will fight over who pays the bill. It's like a fight."
• Explores authenticity, intention, and the etiquette of generosity among friends and across cultures.

4. Free Speech, Jimmy Kimmel, and Trump's 'Hit List'

[11:00–16:17]

• The hosts turn to the Kimmel controversy, where Trump's administration (via FCC threats) exerted pressure on Jimmy Kimmel's late-night show, raising alarms around government overreach and attacks on free speech.
• Schulz distinguishes between private acts of violence (e.g., Charlie Kirk's murder) and government attempts to censor or punish speech.
• Notable Quote [12:08] Andrew Schulz: "It's literally not the same. I don't even know why people are conflating the two."
• Schulz criticizes Kimmel's monologue for being "too safe" and laments a lack of boldness compared to Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert.
• Akaash credits Kimmel for being "classy" and empathetic, but Schulz says now is not the time for caution.

5. Kamala Harris, Loyalty, and Democratic Party Critique

[18:11–34:18]

• Deep-dive into Kamala Harris’ campaign memoir, criticisms of her strategy, and how Democratic leadership mishandled the 2024 election.
• [21:25] Andrew Schulz: "Joe Biden's legacy is shit."
• Hosts agree blind loyalty and political calculation hurt Kamala and the party’s future.
• Debate about whether the U.S. was ready for a woman (particularly a woman of color) as President and how the Democratic establishment failed to let the bench compete.
• On Kamala’s blind loyalty:
  [29:17] Andrew Schulz: "She was too loyal. Literally. That's all."
  [30:17] Akash Singh: "Putting loyalty ahead of the general well-being of a country is not fit to be president."

6. Hypocrisy and Free Speech in Media

[36:34–41:20]

• Sinclair’s refusal to air Kimmel’s show seen as evidence of the chilling effect of political pressure.
• Schulz argues Disney may not back Kimmel, and that "Trump already got his way."
• Schoolboy’s take: Trump’s attacks on Kimmel aren’t about speech, but about settling scores and demonstrating power.
• Chris: "He has to be a warrior right now... Because the pendulum swings both ways."
• Schulz: "Democrats too pussy for that to happen"—doubting the left’s willingness to play hardball.

7. Algorithmic Outrage and Social Media Bots

[55:51–56:35]

• Discussion about how online division is amplified by bots.
• Andrew Schulz: "I don't think the world is as divided as people make it. No, I don't think that's on social media."
• Akaash: "Maybe we'll finally wrap our minds around the idea that so much of this is fake and the real life is out there."
• Real world is less polarized than the internet suggests, much of outrage is synthetic.

8. Interviewing Trump: Would They Do It Again?

[57:34–59:20]

• Akaash says he’d interview Trump again, with a different, less accommodating approach.
• [59:22] Andrew Schulz: "You gotta use the mirror effect on him. ... Play [Trump] his own words to him. Don’t say you said this, because he'll just say, you lying."
• Discussion about effective strategies for holding accountability in media interviews.

9. The Power and Uselessness of Lies

[62:03–63:06]

• The hosts reflect on the era of mass misinformation, shifting realities, and performative truth.
• Charlamagne: "Nobody cares about the truth when the lie is more entertaining... If you can keep that lie up in 2025 under all this scrutiny... that's impressive."
• Commentary on how lying has become central to public discourse, especially in politics.

10. Miscellaneous and Light-hearted Segments

• H1B Visa Hypocrisy [53:42–54:55]:
  Akaash calls out conservative hypocrisy—despising "DEI" until it benefits white Americans threatened by high-skill immigrants.
• On Artists and Social Media [56:35–57:06]:
  Many public figures let bot-driven negativity overshadow real-world fandom.
• Jay Shetty Banter [65:08–75:08]:
  A long-running comedic riff on Jay Shetty, authenticity, and inspirational quotes ("That’s hate. That’s hate. That’s what I’ve been saying!").
• New York City and Parenting [85:49–90:22]:
  Parenting advice—let go, communicate, and accept:
  Andrew Schulz: "Our whole society is built on trust... We tend to look at the worst but we’re a pretty civilized society."
• Asking Idiots [91:37–96:00]:
  Raucous Q&A session, including "How gay would you get to save your family?"
  Akash: "I would absolutely take it in the butt to save my family; who’s the guy that's like, ‘I wouldn't fuck a dude to save my mom?’"

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [01:19] Andrew Schulz: "I am blessed, black, and highly favored."
• [12:23] Akash Singh (on Kimmel): "He was classier than I thought. He tried to be like a human being about it."
• [21:25] Andrew Schulz: "Joe Biden's legacy is shit."
• [29:17] Andrew Schulz: "She was too loyal. Literally. That's all."
• [34:13] Akash Singh: "It's true."
• [41:34] Akash Singh: "Maybe we'll finally wrap our minds around the idea that so much of this is fake and the real life is out there."
• [44:04] Andrew Schulz: "Straight gay would be like using a guy's dick to stir a drink."
• [59:22] Andrew Schulz: "You gotta use the mirror effect on him... Show him his words and let him react to himself, because we're always reacting to him."
• [62:03] Andrew Schulz: "Nobody cares about the truth when the lie is more entertaining."
• [89:49] Andrew Schulz: "We tend to look at the worst of everything... but if you really think about how we interact with each other everyday and don't fuck over each other, we're peaceful as fuck."

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:23–04:02: NYC, gentrification, and perceptions under Mayor Adams
• 11:00–16:17: Free speech, Jimmy Kimmel, and Trump’s “hit list”
• 18:11–34:18: Kamala Harris campaign, Democratic strategy, blind loyalty
• 36:34–41:20: Media hypocrisy, free speech attacks, and Disney vs. Trump
• 55:51–56:35: Bots and the illusion of division on social media
• 57:34–59:53: Interview strategies for Trump, the "mirror effect"
• 62:03–63:13: Lying in public life and the entertainment value of falsehood
• 89:49–90:08: Trust, risk, and the civility of everyday life

Conclusion

In true "Brilliant Idiots" fashion, this episode blends unfiltered opinions, wit, and sincere observations into a freewheeling (sometimes risqué) exploration of politics, media, and culture. The hosts take shots at everyone—from politicians and media moguls to their own guests and each other—while provoking laughter and deeper reflection about the challenges facing free speech, leadership, and truth in today’s divisive landscape. If you missed the show, this summary captures the best of their insights and signature banter.