Capsules, Controversies, and Comebacks | Moses “Shyne” Barrow

Summary

The Daily Show: Ears Edition – Episode Summary Title: Capsules, Controversies, and Comebacks | Moses “Shyne” Barrow
Host: George Clifford
Guest: Moses “Shyne” Barrow
Release Date: [Insert Release Date]
Knowledge Cutoff: October 2023

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Introduction

In this episode of The Daily Show: Ears Edition, host George Clifford delves into the tumultuous period surrounding President Donald Trump's transition of power. The episode seamlessly blends sharp political satire with an inspiring interview featuring Grammy Award-winning musician and politician Moses “Shyne” Barrow. The discussion navigates through controversial cabinet nominations, societal reflections, and Shyne's remarkable journey from music to politics.

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Trump's Transition and Controversial Cabinet Nominations

00:24 – 11:24

George Clifford opens the episode with a critical analysis of President Trump's approach to the peaceful transfer of power. He emphasizes the awkward cordiality between Trump and President-elect Joe Biden, suggesting that Trump's amicable interactions only surface when power transitions toward him.

Notable Quotes:

• George Clifford [01:34]: "Now, that's a man who appreciates a smooth transition of power as long as it's transitioning towards him."
• George Clifford [03:31]: "Matt Gaetz as Attorney General. This is a new low."

Clifford scrutinizes Trump's nominations, particularly focusing on former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard for Director of National Intelligence and Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz for Attorney General. He critiques Gaetz's suitability, highlighting concerns about age of consent laws and the Department of Justice's proximity to schools.

The discussion intensifies with the nomination of Fox News personality Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense. Clifford lambasts the choice, mocking Hegseth's qualifications and past controversies, including an incident where Hegseth threw an axe at drummers, which left civilians injured.

Notable Quotes:

• George Clifford [04:16]: "Pete Higseth, the Fox and Friends weekend understudy. ... he's not [a responsible journalist]."
• George Clifford [07:02]: "Look, I'm no history buff, but I have to think. This is America's first defense Secretary who has previously served as a soap influencer."

A satirical advertisement for "Grenade Soap," shaped like grenades and scented with gunpowder, bourbon, and tobacco, is inserted to underscore the absurdity surrounding Hegseth's nomination.

Notable Quote:

• George Clifford [07:59]: "Yep, Pete's tenure isn't just going to be about smelling like bourbon while evading axe murder charges."

The segment concludes with a humorous exchange involving Troy Iwata, who is repeatedly appointed to various cabinet positions, culminating in mock appointments as Secretary of the Interior and Secretary of Education.

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Satirical Reflection on American Society

11:34 – 18:04

Jul Stacelone delivers a sardonic monologue titled "America Before It All Goes Down," painting a bleak yet humorous picture of American society's collapse. He nostalgically recounts public institutions like libraries, theaters, parks, and schools, highlighting their transformation into dysfunctional spaces amidst societal decay.

Notable Quotes:

• Jul Stacelone [14:56]: "Parks are the fields that the Canadian military uses to airdrop supplies. So on your next trip to pick up medicine, bring a frisbee or the ribcage of the person you defeated in the Thunderdome."
• Jul Stacelone [15:40]: "This was a Ponzi scheme run by the Scholastic Book Company."

The segment satirizes the deterioration of community spaces and societal norms, blending humor with a critique of contemporary issues.

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Interview with Moses “Shyne” Barrow

18:04 – 32:19

The episode transitions to an in-depth interview with Moses “Shyne” Barrow, a Grammy Award-winning musician turned politician. Shyne shares his extraordinary life story, marked by resilience, faith, and transformation.

Key Topics Discussed:

1. Early Life and Music Career:

   • Shyne recounts his beginnings in Belize, migration to Brooklyn at age 8, and the challenges of growing up in a violent neighborhood.
   • His foray into hip-hop as a means of survival and expression, leading to significant success, including Grammy nominations and collaborations with prominent artists like Usher, Lil Wayne, and Faith Evans.

2. Incarceration and Personal Struggles:

   • Shyne opens up about being incarcerated for taking the fall for a friend associated with Diddy, which abruptly halted his burgeoning career.
   • Despite the adversity, he maintained resilience, emphasizing personal responsibility and self-improvement during his imprisonment.

Notable Quotes:

• Shyne [22:07]: "I got the Grammy after the incident. I got Grammy nominations and credit for Usher's album. I performed on that album."
• Shyne [30:55]: "Nothing in life is given. So whatever policies you believe in, you have to fight for it."

3. Faith and Spirituality:
   • Shyne discusses his deep-rooted faith in Orthodox Judaism, which provided him with the strength to endure his trials.
   • His spiritual journey, leading to a more balanced and less extremist approach, focusing on unity and humanity over divisive religious ideologies.

Notable Quotes:

• Shyne [25:47]: "I was born in Belize, came to Brooklyn when I was 8 years old... I realized that I couldn't survive without God."
• Shyne [29:23]: "I'm about people. And so the people that need me the most are the people in Belize."

4. Transition to Politics:
   • Shyne elaborates on his decision to enter politics, inspired by his desire to represent and fight for the voiceless.
   • He emphasizes the parallels between his music career and political aspirations, viewing both as platforms to enact meaningful change.

Notable Quotes:

• Shyne [20:24]: "I continue to pray. But actions are worth so much more than prayer because if you're just telling God a bunch of things and you're not doing anything as to that communication, then you're not. It's really not going anywhere."
• Shyne [30:55]: "Whoever's not happy with the outcome. You only got four years to fight."

5. Lessons and Hope for a Divided America:
   • Shyne shares insights from his journey, advocating for resilience, personal accountability, and the importance of fighting for one's beliefs despite setbacks.
   • He calls for unity and action in turbulent times, encouraging listeners to strive for positive change.

Notable Quotes:

• Shyne [30:55]: "You guys only got... you only got four years to fight."

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Conclusion and Takeaways

The episode concludes with a promotional segment for Shyne’s upcoming documentary, "The Honorable Shine," set to premiere exclusively on Hulu on November 18th. Shyne's narrative serves as a powerful testament to overcoming adversity and the transformative power of resilience and faith.

Key Takeaways:

• Resilience in Adversity: Shyne’s story underscores the importance of perseverance and self-reinvention in the face of life’s challenges.
• Faith as a Pillar: His journey highlights how faith and spirituality can provide strength and direction during difficult times.
• Active Participation: The emphasis on taking responsibility and actively engaging in societal change resonates as a call to action for listeners.
• Critique of Political Appointments: The satirical segments offer a critical lens on political maneuvers and the implications of controversial appointments.

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Final Notes:

This episode of The Daily Show: Ears Edition masterfully intertwines biting political satire with a heartfelt and inspiring personal story. Through George Clifford's incisive commentary and Moses “Shyne” Barrow's compelling narrative, listeners are offered both entertainment and profound insights into contemporary societal dynamics.

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Listen to the full episode on Paramount+ or tune in weeknights on Comedy Central at 11/10c. Remember to use discount code "TDS20" for 20% off all Daily Show products at ParamountShop.com.

Transcript

[Macy's Advertiser]

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[Comedy Central Announcer]

You're listening to Comedy Central.

[Jordan Klepper]

From the most trusted journalists at Comedy Central. It's America's only source for news. This is the Daily show with your host, Jordan Klepper.

[George Clifford]

Welcome to the Alien Show. I'm George Clifford. We got so much to talk about. Trump's transition continues. Fox News invades the Pentagon and Joe Biden passes the baton to a same generation of leadership. So let's get into another installment of Trump 2.0. Coming for the White House.

[Comedy Central Announcer]

I'm going to come.

[George Clifford]

The peaceful transfer of power is one of the most cherished features of American democracy, a hollow tradition that extends all the way from 1796 to 2016, yada, yada, yada, and continues to this day. And today, the current president and the future president agreed to set aside differences and make nice for the cameras.

[Comedy Central Announcer]

Mr. President elect and the former President, thank you, Donald. Congratulations.

[George Clifford]

Thank you very much.

[Comedy Central Announcer]

And looking forward to having a, like we said, smooth transition. Do everything we can. Make sure you're accommodating what you need. And we're going to get a chance to talk close on that today.

[Donald Trump]

Good.

[LifeLock Advertiser]

Welcome.

[Donald Trump]

Thank you very much. And thank you very much. And politics is tough and it's in many cases not a very nice world, but it is a nice world today. And I appreciate very much a transition that's so smooth, it'll be as smooth as it can get.

[George Clifford]

Now, that's a man who appreciates a smooth transition of power as long as it's transitioning towards him. If it's transitioning away from him, there's gonna be some January six in. But if it's towards him, smash. I mean, they did both try to hang Mike Pence just out of tradition, but other than that, it was very cordial, perhaps too cordial. Joe Biden, you spent the whole campaign calling him a fascist threat to democracy. It's a little weird to now be like, well, give us a call if you need any help, Mr. Hitler. Toodaloo. Hey, you know, maybe this respectful meeting at the White House is a sign that Donald Trump is maturing. I really think we should give him. No, no, no. I really think we should. We should give him a chance to make some responsible decisions from this point. Forward breaking news. President elect Trump has named former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard as his pick for Director of National Intelligence. Okay, that's terrifying, but we're warming up here. How about from this point forward, responsible Donald Trump has nominated his pick for Attorney General, and that is Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz.

[Macy's Advertiser]

This is definitely a pick that will raise some eyebrows on Capitol Hill.

[George Clifford]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's going to raise some eyebrows. We should have seen it coming. Matt Gaetz as Attorney General. This is a new low. I mean, not as low as our age of consent laws are about to be, but pretty low. The Department of justice isn't within 100ft of a school, is it? It almost feels at this point like Donald Trump is trolling us. I mean, these pics can't get any more ridiculous, right?

[Pete Hegseth]

Fox News personality Pete Hegseth tapped for defense secretary.

[George Clifford]

No. No. Why do I keep doing this? Stop it. Stop it. Pete Higseth, the Fox and Friends weekend understudy. I mean, the Department of Defense is one of the most complex bureaucracies in human history, and the President is choosing its leader the same way I chose breakfast cereals as a kid. Hey, I saw that toucan on tv. He must know how to make cereal. Now, if you're fortunate enough not to spend your life watching Fox News and you're wondering if Pete Hegseth is one of the few responsible journalists on there, he's not.

[Conservative Commentator]

Black Lives Matter. Trying to destroy Christmas as we know it. Can the Black Panther be played by a white guy? Wuhan virus, Chinese virus, maybe even the Kung flu.

[Pete Hegseth]

Look, I got a plate full of burgers, and I got a buddy over here eating a Big Mac for breakfast.

[Conservative Commentator]

I put a flag inside my jacket. Okay, what game are we playing here.

[George Clifford]

While I get this on? I think you're gonna do sudden death soccer.

[Troy Iwata]

Rachel, you want in on this?

[Jul Stacelone]

No, I don.

[Conservative Commentator]

I don't think I've washed my hands for 10 years.

[George Clifford]

That's secretary. I don't wash my hands to you. Now, to be clear, Hegseth isn't just a Fox News anchor. He's a combat veteran with tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. Although the combat he's most famous for did occur on a live Fox broadcast. They're testing their skills with the axe. Who's gonna win this battle than the.

[Jul Stacelone]

Lumberjacks that's coming up next.

[George Clifford]

I'm putting my money on clay. I love how conservatives are like. New York is a violent war zone. Well, time to fling an axe onto Fifth Avenue. Yes, Pete Hexit Threw an axe at a group of drummers, which is pretty unbelievable. I mean, I'd understand it if it was bass players, but drummers? Then again, launching a weapon that accidentally hit a civilian? I mean, why is everyone saying this guy isn't qualified to run the Pentagon? Now you might see this and wonder, what does Hegseth offer the US Military? And I'll tell you what great deals you see.

[Conservative Commentator]

One man army loves the country and makes damn good soap. I've used them all. And I love these new brands. Like gun smoke smells like American firepower or Gurkha refined bourbon and tobacco leaf. Or how about Patriot and the pine tar bar? There's more of them too. You can get them in a variety pack, each of them shaped like a grenade. Soap on a rope. The well groomed militia this 4th of July.

[George Clifford]

Join [e-mail] Look, I'm no history buff, but I have to think. This is America's first defense Secretary who has previously served as a soap influencer. And not. Not just any soap, of course. Grenade shaped soap for the kind of man who's too insecure to wash his body. You know, is it gay to soap up my own butt? I don't know. I mean, what are these scents, by the way? Gunpowder, bourbon, tobacco. I love getting out of the shower smelling like I need a shower. I'm surprised this ad wasn't like, do you want to smell like a man at his lowest? Then try grenade soap and smell like divorce. But look, Pete's tenure isn't just going to be about smelling like bourbon while evading axe murder charges. No, as Secretary of Defense, he has plans to protect us from its greatest enemy.

[Conservative Commentator]

We only have one military. And if the military goes woke, then it is less equipped to fight the wars it needs to fight. Social justice, politically correct, environmental, lgbt, non CRT DEI nonsense that divides the force, makes it weaker. I'm straight up just saying we should not have women in combat roles.

[George Clifford]

That's right. That's right. No women in combat roles. In Trump's America, if women really want to risk their lives, they're gonna have to get pregnant now, tough ass. Talk to the now. You might wonder why Pete is so down on the idea of women working in the military. It's tough to say, but when you consider that reportedly his first marriage ended because he had an affair with a female coworker, and then his second marriage ended because he had another affair with a female coworker, then you begin to understand why he's so worried about working with women of course, Pete Hegseth has written many books espousing his social conservative principles. And if you're wondering how he squared those principles with all his affairs, it was actually easier than you think.

[Pete Hegseth]

In his 2016 book, in the Arena, Pete Hegseth called for policies preventing divorce of parents with kids. A year later, after his affair ended his marriage, he published a revised version, changing his demands to policies preventing wanton divorce.

[George Clifford]

Dam, fellas. You ever have sex so good it changes your opinion on divorce laws? Our next Secretary of Defense. For more on the appointment of Pete Hegseth, we go live to the White House with Troy Iwata. Troy. Troy. Troy. What's the latest?

[Troy Iwata]

Well, Jordan, Pete Hegseth's appointment is leaving many concerned. Back to you. Bye.

[George Clifford]

No, wait. Troy. Troy, wait. No. Troy, come back. Come back. Troy. Troy, come back. Cut. Troy, what are you. What are you doing? Why are you. Why are you dressed like Columbo?

[Troy Iwata]

I don't want to be on air right now, okay? The longer I'm on tv, the more of a chance Trump sees me and appoints me to his cabinet. I just. Then I'll have to work alongside Pete Hegseth and listen to him explain his soaps all day. Oh, dirt and blood scented. That's manly.

[George Clifford]

Okay, come on. Try. Take that disguise off. Take it off. Take it off. Donald Trump is not gonna pick you. And I doubt he even watches Comedy Central.

[Troy Iwata]

Fine. Fine. Is this better?

[George Clifford]

Yes. Yes. Thank you, Troy. As you were saying?

[Troy Iwata]

As I was saying it. Damn it. It's a letter from Donald Trump. Dear Troy, I saw you on tv, so you are now the new Secretary of the Interior. See you around my house, Parentheses, the White House. Thanks a lot, Jordan.

[George Clifford]

Seriously. He just made you Secretary of the Interior. You're not. You're not qualified to run the Interior.

[Troy Iwata]

I'm gay, Jordan. He obviously thinks the head of interior is a decorating job.

[Comedy Central Announcer]

There's.

[Troy Iwata]

There's wallpaper swatches in here.

[George Clifford]

Okay, okay. What are you gonna do?

[Troy Iwata]

Well, I'm not gonna put nautical themed wallpaper in the Lincoln Bedroom. That's stupid.

[George Clifford]

No. I mean. No. What about the job? How. How did. I've been on TV for 10 years.

[Troy Iwata]

Well, you know, it's not just being on TV. You have to have charisma. Have you tried having charisma?

[George Clifford]

I have charisma. I've. I've got the Rizz. Daddy's got the Riz.

[Troy Iwata]

Stop that. You're embarrassing yourself. Another letter? Jesus. Dear Troy, I love how you read my first letter. So good. Okay, he's made me the Secretary of Education now. Plus, you wear a bow tie, which means you are Professor. Please go wild on the DOE for me. Damn it, Jordan.

[Jul Stacelone]

You see what you're doing?

[George Clifford]

Okay. Sorry. What? What are you gonna do?

[Troy Iwata]

I guess I'm gonna run the Department of Education now. Why doesn't he. Why doesn't he get a qualified TV personality like Ms. Frizzle or someone Curse my ribs.

[George Clifford]

Look, why do you keep getting all these appointments? I have charisma, too, Mr. President Elect. Check this out. Right? Look at me.

[Troy Iwata]

Oh, my God. God. Stop.

[George Clifford]

Stop. Oh, hold on a second. What do we have here? Well, well, well, Troy. Looks like someone's noticed my rizz. Dear Jordan, this is President Trump. Please ask Education Secretary Troy, why do I see moon in sky during day? Damn it. Go tell him, Troy.

[Troy Iwata]

What? You think I know that? No, even if I did, I wouldn't tell him. He's just gonna put me in charge of NASA.

[Jul Stacelone]

Troy.

[George Clifford]

Ioanna, everybody. We come back. We remember Americ. America don't go away.

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[George Clifford]

Welcome back to the Daily Show. A lot of people are wondering what Donald Trump's election means for America. And the answer is simple. It means the end. But who will remember us as a country? Don't say Sloan took up the task.

[Jul Stacelone]

Well, looks like Donald Trump gets to be president again. And judging by how it went last.

[George Clifford]

Time, a half million Americans died unnecessarily of COVID 19 demonstrations over the death.

[LifeLock Advertiser]

Of George Floyd spread across six continents.

[Jul Stacelone]

I think we can be sure that America ain't gonna survive another term. So before it all goes down, I want to Document what life was like in America before our dumbasses collapsed society. So join me here in New York City as I record a backup of our society in my new segment. Who will say, back that thing up? This is what we called a public library. A cathedral of knowledge, a catalog of human experience, and a place for creeps to masturbate on weekdays. I always love the library. It was the one place you could tell strangers to shut the up because that's the official policy. This is where we came to read the great works of literature, like A Tale of Two Cities or this Men's Health magazine with Michael B. Jordan.

[George Clifford]

The public.

[Jul Stacelone]

Mm, Library. Girl, you nasty. This was the theater, an ancient venue for dramatic performance constantly interrupted by cell phones and hard candy wraps. Can y'all cool it on the Jolly Ranchers? I'm trying to see who killed the salesman. The theater was also the place to go to see a musical of a movie that wasn't that great in the first place. What's playing here? Ah, Bad Santa the musical. Can't wait. This was a rare place where the public could see artists in person and creepily wait by the stage door to get an autograph. Thanks for signing, John Stamos. You were brilliant as King Lear. Now to sell this on eBay for $12. On top of that, audience members would hand the performers flowers for no reason. Woo hoo. I'll take it. Ah, the public park. A shared space where Jamaican nannies would take white babies while their parents worked. It was a place where joggers could jog, bikers could bike, and drug dealers could challenge you to a game of chess. On these fields, corporate employees would play four innings of softball once a year to distract from the soulless tyranny of their everyday lives. And also, picnics for you in the future. Parks are the fields that the Canadian military uses to airdrop supplies. So on your next trip to pick up medicine, bring a frisbee or the ribcage of the person you defeated in the Thunderdome. I don't know what y'all do to relax. Your life is bad. This was a school, a place of learning, and a Ponzi scheme run by the Scholastic Book Company. It's where we teach our children and essential academic lessons like reading, writing, and dodging a ball. Whoop. Still got it. Schools are also where we help kids grow up by teaching them valuable social skills like how to drive a car and how to put a condom on a banana. And that's important because I'm not trying to get herpes from A banana. I don't know where that Chiquita lady's been. There you have it. The cornerstones of American society. Before we allowed hate and anger to poison our heart. What? Hey, get the out my shot. What I'm saying. Oh, yeah. Hopefully the society that comes next. What we'll learn from our mistakes. And now to take shelter in the only place that will be safe from the nuclear war. My corner bodega. You know, they got like four layers of bulletproof glass. So that'll do it. Until next time, I'm Jul Stacelone. And this was America. Woo. Y'all got these jelly beans.

[George Clifford]

Thank you, Delta. We come back. Rapper and politician Sean will be joining me on this show. Go away. Welcome back to the Daily Show. My guest tonight is a Grammy Award winning musician turned politician whose story is told in the new documentary, the honorable Shine. Please welcome Moses Shine Barrow.

[Comedy Central Announcer]

I gotta come here more often.

[George Clifford]

They love you.

[Comedy Central Announcer]

I gotta come here more often. My goodness.

[George Clifford]

Please come on back.

[Comedy Central Announcer]

This is like Madison Square Garden or Minnesota Coliseum. When I used to be a performer, this is quite.

[George Clifford]

Well, that's how I got to know you as a performer.

[Comedy Central Announcer]

Yeah.

[George Clifford]

I mean, your story is. Can I say bonkers? Is bonkers. Maybe the most appropriate way to frame this.

[Comedy Central Announcer]

Extraordinary.

[George Clifford]

Okay.

[Comedy Central Announcer]

I think resilient. I think it's like the human spirit, which is indefatigable and indomitable.

[George Clifford]

It's incredible. A lot of people, I think all.

[Comedy Central Announcer]

Of us have that.

[George Clifford]

We have that answer.

[Comedy Central Announcer]

Maybe that's why those people are so excited to see me, because I represent them.

[George Clifford]

That is very kind of you. Speak to a resilience that I wish I could say I had, but I've been having foot problems for the last seven years. I have a lot of health issues. I'm ailing in that way. This isn't about me, but if you know any way to make me a stronger person, both physically and emotionally, I'll take it.

[Comedy Central Announcer]

I'm sure you're resilient in other ways because I, you know, I'm. I don't get involved in US Politics. Yeah, but I just, you know, listen to your monologue and you're still going strong.

[George Clifford]

We're still going strong. Still going strong. There you go.

[Comedy Central Announcer]

Right?

[George Clifford]

Yeah. You continue the fight.

[Comedy Central Announcer]

Right? Got to continue. Got to continue your fight. I'm. I'm fighting in Belize. I don't want to get involved in American politics.

[George Clifford]

Are you sure? Anybody can be involved in American politics. What we've learned today, if you show up on tv, you could be in The Cabinet by dog.

[Comedy Central Announcer]

My critics in Belize might say the same thing about me.

[George Clifford]

I was going to say, how do you find what is easier to navigate the rap world or the world of politics?

[Comedy Central Announcer]

Man, politics is vicious. But you know, it's quite similar in music. I was making music to be the voice of the voiceless. My art represented so much more than just a beat and being famous and being an entertainer, it was really, you know, poetry. It was really, you know, dissertations that were life or death. And being in the House of Representatives is the same thing. There are people that are dealing with high crime rates, high poverty rates, people dealing with inflation, people dealing with poverty. And when I go into the House of Representatives, I'm speaking on behalf of those people. So I don't care what my political critics have to say. I don't care what, you know, the paid media or any of my detractors have to say, because I'm fighting for people. So I was doing the same thing as a musician. This is even greater for me because you're creating a society, your policies are going to impact society at large, not just impacting the creative sector, the agro sector, you know, the business sector, the laborers. So similarly as a musician, because everyone listens to your music. So it really is a seamless transition for me.

[George Clifford]

Well, you found connection so early as a musician, and if people are unfamiliar with your story, a Grammy Award winning musician. And then there's a shooting incident in a club with Puff Daddy.

[Comedy Central Announcer]

I got the Grammy after the incident.

[George Clifford]

That's right. The album came out after the incident.

[Comedy Central Announcer]

Well, I got Grammy nominations and credit for Usher's album. I performed on that album. Lil Wayne and Faith Evans and Carl Thomas. So this all happened while I was incarcerated, unfortunately, for taking the fall, being the sacrificial lamb for Diddy.

[George Clifford]

Yeah, well, oof is right. Well, and Diddy is a big part of your early story. Indeed. But also Diddy has reemerged as a part of sort of this new American story. As you see what has happened to him and that story and reflect on that, it feels like your story of taking the fall for Diddy didn't get much attention way back when. Now do people see that in a new light or how do you see what is happening?

[Comedy Central Announcer]

It's interesting because his celebrity, his power was so loud that when myself and my mom and my supporters were screaming, hey, this guy destroyed my life. This guy sent witnesses to testify against me. And I was just trying to defend him and you know, he's ruined my life, taken away My freedom took away my career. Nobody was listening, nobody heard me. And I've been saying it for so long. Then I got to a point where I said, you know what? You know, I'm not going to keep exerting energy on blaming anyone. I'm going to take responsibility for my life. I'm going to curate my present and my future, and I'm going to let go of this baggage. And that's what I did. And thank you. Thank you. And that's how I got involved in politics and really just focused on fixing my life and not waiting for anyone to fix it and not lamenting on who broke it. And, you know, I found the right partner in Disney and scape to do the documentary. And here we are. All of the events that you see happening just happen to be happening. We have nothing to do with that. And so the story is not necessarily focused on the demise of Diddy. It's focused on the celebration of my resilience, which is your resilience. Anyone that's listening right now that is going through a difficult time. Anyone that's listening right now that thinks the world is unfair and they've been screwed over and they've been done wrong, I represent that hope that things work out.

[George Clifford]

Well said. I truly, I truly. I really find it remarkable to hear your story, to watch your story, your ability to let go of perhaps your preconceived notions of who you were and to find something new. I think something that was surprising to me is after you're deported to Belize, where you were born, but then you find Orthodox Judaism and you find real meaning in that and use that sort of also as a path to find meaning in your life, but also as a way to also find what you got out of politics. Is that correct? I guess part of what is remarkable to me about that is I think so much of who we are is about cementing an idea of who we are. And as somebody who finds such great success as a rapper so early in life, to be able to let elements of that go and to discover new parts of yourself, just find really difficult for people to do, to let go of who they think they are.

[Comedy Central Announcer]

Yeah, but I think hip hop, I gotta give credit to hip hop. You know, we celebrated 50 years last year. Hip hop has always been such a multidimensional, diverse, you know, cultural juggernaut, and it has transformed today. Where it emerged in the inner cities, and now it's global, and now it's, you know, every ethnicity, every culture all in one. So I realized a Long time ago. Getting into the music business with different people that, you know, they started off as rappers, they ended up being actors, they ended up being entrepreneurs, they ended up, you know, owning clothing lines. You name it, they diversified their portfolio. Even Kanye, he ran to be president.

[George Clifford]

Didn't quite work out. That's not the first thing that comes to mind when I think of what Kanye has gone on to do. But that's one of the things, it.

[Comedy Central Announcer]

Didn'T quite work out, sure, but so I learned early on in my career to be diverse and to wear different hats. And certainly Judaism has guided me every step of the way. And there was a time where I was extremely religious, but I got into praying and faith as a means of survival. Brooklyn was extremely dangerous. I come from Belize. I was born in Belize, came to Brooklyn when I was 8 years old. And I grew up where bullets were whistling past my ear. I grew up where my friend would get killed, we'd be sitting here talking, heaven forbid, and someone would get their brains blown out. And I realized that I couldn't survive without God. I couldn't survive without divine intervention. There was no way that I was going to beat the statistical odds of being a young African, Caribbean American that was destined to go to jail or an early grave. And that's how I started praying. And that led me to my success in the music business, however short lived it was, until I got incarcerated. So when I got incarcerated, you know, there's a saying during Passover, when you celebrate the exodus, the Israelites, they say, dayno, they say, you know, if I don't get anything more, it's enough. What you did for me, you know, you led me out of Egypt and that's how having faith and having Judaism as the center of my world helped me to survive. And now I'm not religious, I'm spiritual. So I still fast on Yom Kippur, I still wrap my Tefillin, but I'm not a zealot, you know, I don't believe that. I believe in a two state solution. I don't believe. I don't believe in extremely extremism. I don't believe in extremist Israeli hawks, and I don't believe in extreme terrorists. But so living in Israel after I got deported, I was traveling around the world. But living in Israel allowed me to come to my truth, which is that I'm a connector. I bring people together, and I don't want to be an extremist. DJ Khaled is one of my great friends and he's a Palestinian, Muslim, and, you know, we're brothers. And that's what I believe. Humanity is bringing people together. And sometimes when you get into religion, you separate humanity, you push people away, and people kill over religion. So that's what being involved in Judaism meant for me.

[George Clifford]

So you come back to America, and.

[Comedy Central Announcer]

Then that took me back to Belize. So I lived in Israel, I studied, I was ultra orthodox Jewish. And then I realized the truth of my purpose was not to be in garments. It's about substance and content. And my content is about human beings. Not about Jews, not about Muslims, not about, you know, Hamas, not about, you know, the right wing extremists, not about Republicans, not about Democrats. I'm about people. And so the people that need me the most are the people in Belize. So instead of spending my time praying, I need to spend my time doing. I continue to pray. But actions are worth so much more than prayer because. Thank you. If you're just telling God a bunch of things and you're not doing anything as to that communication, then you're not. It's really not going anywhere.

[George Clifford]

I guess you can hear from the response here, we're talking at a pretty fraught time for a lot of people. Our country does feel divided. You're here, you've seen political structures outside of America. But coming back, like, what lessons have you learned through your journey that perhaps we could take forward in this, this fraught time where it does feel like we are pulled apart and politics is not a unifying force, but a divisive one.

[Comedy Central Announcer]

Nothing in life is given. So whatever policies you believe in, you have to fight for it. And sometimes you might have a temporary loss. I had a loss of 10 years incarceration for something that I didn't do. I was defending a friend, and a friend turned around and said, hey, it was him and it wasn't me. It was according to the witnesses. One witness said Diddy shot him. I never said it because, you know, I was busy defending myself and defending him. But the point I'm trying to make is I could have felt sorry for myself for 10 years, but I didn't. I was present every day of those 10 years. Then I got deported. And I was present every day for the 13 years of deportation before I was allowed to come back here as the future prime minister. So I kept fighting for 23 years. You guys only got. I'm not. I'm not taking any sides, but I'm just saying, whoever. Whoever's not happy with the outcome. You only got four years to fight.

[George Clifford]

Theoretically, yeah.

[Comedy Central Announcer]

Right? So get to fighting.

[George Clifford]

Get to fighting. The Honorable Shine will premiere exclusively on Hulu on November 18th. Moses Shine Barrett.

[Jordan Klepper]

Explore more shows from the Daily show podcast universe by searching the Daily Show. Wherever you get your podcasts, watch the Daily show weeknights at 1110 Central on Comedy Central and stream full episodes anytime on Paramount.

[Jul Stacelone]

Paramount Podcasts.