Don't Hate The Player

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Don't Hate The Player"

Podcast Information:

• Title: The Read
• Host/Author: Loud Speakers Network (Featuring Sam Sanders, Saeed Jones, and Zach Stafford)
• Release Date: February 13, 2025
• Description: Join Sam Sanders, poet Saeed Jones, and producer Zach Stafford on their dynamic podcast where they delve into everything from news and culture to entertainment. With a blend of humor and critical insight, no topic is off-limits as they navigate life in the big city and unpack the latest in pop culture.

---

1. Black Excellence: Celebrating Taj Williams [01:01 - 03:24]

The episode kicks off with the Black Excellence segment, spotlighting 26-year-old Taj Williams. Taj made history as the first artist to collaborate with the NFL to design a Super Bowl logo that reflects her cultural heritage. Her intricate, hand-beaded creation for the Golden Eagles' Mardi Gras Indians theme was featured on digital game tickets, the official program cover, and at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans hotel.

Sam Sanders shares his admiration:

"This is definitely a moment that is going to live with me forever. And that explains why the logo was so pretty and jazzy this year." [02:30]

Saeed Jones adds:

"The entire pre-show with all those artists from New Orleans was excellent too. I had a ball actually from start to finish. It was a great show." [03:04]

---

2. Evolution of the Segment: From "Hot Tops" to "Toy Box" [03:24 - 06:26]

In a heartfelt announcement, Sam Sanders reveals the retirement of their long-standing segment "Hot Tops," explaining his desire for a more relaxed and authentic conversational style. The new segment, dubbed "Toy Box," symbolizes a nostalgic return to childhood memories and aims to foster more genuine discussions without the constraints of headline-driven topics.

Sam Sanders reflects:

"I want to talk about whatever the fuck I want to and a more casual thing with my friend rather than like... being old." [04:50]

Saeed Jones responds enthusiastically:

"I too have fond memories of my toy box when I was a kid. So I get that and I'm excited to see what's in your box." [06:26]

---

3. Deep Dive: Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl Performance [06:26 - 32:12]

The heart of the episode centers on Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl halftime show. Sam Sanders and Saeed Jones engage in an in-depth analysis of Kendrick's performance, discussing its artistic depth, cultural significance, and the mixed reactions it garnered.

Key Points Discussed:

• Cultural Representation: Kendrick's portrayal of Uncle Sam, symbolizing America, and the historical context behind it.

  Sam Sanders praises the choice:

  "Uncle Sam, Sam Jackson playing the representation of America... his history makes that portrayal so big." [08:29]

• Musical Choices: The deliberate sequencing of songs like "HUMBLE.," "DNA.," and "Euphoria," and their impact on the narrative arc of the performance.

  Saeed Jones comments:

  "The song choices and the order in which he performed them all felt very deliberate." [12:39]

• Choreography and Visuals: The integration of choreography with storytelling, enhancing the overall message of the performance.

  Saeed Jones highlights:

  "Kendrick does just enough of the choreography to... enhance the storytelling for me." [15:36]

• Audience Reactions: The polarized responses, including harsh critiques from certain demographics and heartfelt appreciation from others.

  Sam Sanders observes:

  "There’s something delightful about seeing responses like that to a performance..." [14:31]

Notable Quote:

"This is bigger than the music. They tried to rig the game, but you can't fake influence." [22:21] – Sam Sanders

---

4. Listener Letters: Personal Struggles and Friendship Dynamics [32:12 - 73:06]

The hosts address listener-submitted letters, offering advice and support on personal issues.

a. Bresha's Custody and Relationship Troubles [53:34 - 63:36]

Bresha shares her tumultuous relationship with her ex-partner, who continues to interfere in her life and negatively impact her daughter's well-being. She seeks guidance on whether to confront her ex by revealing a past affair with his brother to force him out of their lives.

Sam Sanders advises:

"It's better for her to grow up without the dad than to have a dad who bounces in and out of her life." [57:09]

Saeed Jones adds:

"Try enforcing stronger boundaries with him and the people around you... It's better she grows up without him." [60:31]

b. Keisha's Strained Friendship [73:34 - 73:06]

Keisha recounts a fallout with a work friend following a drunken phone call where insults were exchanged. She questions whether to apologize and mend the friendship or let it go.

Sam Sanders responds:

"I don't think this girl is a friend... I would just not reach out. Focus on healthier relationships." [67:50]

Saeed Jones concurs:

"If you can't be empathetic when someone is vulnerable, you can't be called a true friend." [70:13]

---

5. Reacting to Criticism: Defending Kendrick Lamar [73:49 - 86:46]

In the "Read" segment, the hosts respond vehemently to a negative critique of Kendrick Lamar's halftime performance by a commenter named Braxton P. Hartneberg. They dismantle his arguments, defending Kendrick's artistry and cultural impact.

Key Points Addressed:

• Mainstream Status: Disputing the claim that Kendrick is not mainstream and challenging the critic's understanding of his music.

  Sam Sanders counters:

  "How did they know the lyric? That's not possible." [74:36]

• Cultural Misunderstanding: Highlighting the critic's lack of awareness and dismissiveness towards black cultural expressions.

  Saeed Jones asserts:

  "We're valid. We're bigoted in music. We've always been the influence." [77:22]

Notable Quote:

"You brought your friends. The cultural cheat code. You got to explain. No, nobody's saying that you are to accept this bullshit." [78:43] – Sam Sanders

---

6. Political Commentary: Mayor Franklin and Eric Adams [86:46 - 89:37]

The discussion shifts to local politics, focusing on Franklin the Turtle’s stance as NYC’s mayor regarding Trump's policies and the recent dropping of corruption charges against Eric Adams.

Key Points Discussed:

• Mayor Franklin's Directive: Franklin instructs city officials not to criticize President Trump publicly or privately, aligning with Trump's administration to retain federal funding.

  Saeed Jones criticizes:

  "We're not gonna roll over and accept this. This is how corrupt this administration already is." [89:33]

• Eric Adams' Case: The abrupt termination of corruption charges against Mayor Adams without reviewing evidence raises concerns about political interference and corruption.

  Sam Sanders highlights:

  "Nobody is even saying that Eric Adams is innocent. They simply want the charges gone." [86:46]

---

7. Closing Remarks and Promotions [89:37 - End]

The hosts wrap up the episode by promoting upcoming live shows, encouraging listener engagement through social media, and thanking sponsors like Target for supporting Black History Month initiatives.

Saeed Jones concludes:

"And that's it for this week's episode of The Read. Check us out on social media and join our live show next Saturday." [90:23]

---

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Sam Sanders on Taj Williams:

  "This is definitely a moment that is going to live with me forever." [02:30]

• Saeed Jones on Kendrick's Song Choices:

  "The song choices and the order in which he performed them all felt very deliberate." [12:39]

• Sam Sanders on the Depth of Kendrick's Performance:

  "This is bigger than the music. They tried to rig the game, but you can't fake influence." [22:21]

• Saeed Jones on Bresha's Situation:

  "It's better she grows up without him." [60:31]

• Sam Sanders Defending Kendrick:

  "You brought your friends. The cultural cheat code. You got to explain." [78:43]

• Saeed Jones on Politics:

  "We're not gonna roll over and accept this. This is how corrupt this administration already is." [89:33]

---

Conclusion

In "Don't Hate The Player," Sam Sanders and Saeed Jones offer a compelling mix of cultural critique, personal advice, and sharp political commentary. Through their analysis of Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl performance and responses to listener letters, they provide a nuanced perspective on contemporary issues, all while maintaining their signature humor and candidness. This episode serves as both an insightful commentary on pop culture and a testament to the hosts' commitment to addressing real-life challenges with empathy and wit.

Transcript

[Sam Sanders]

Hey, I'm journalist Sam Sanders. I'm poet Saeed Jones. And I'm producer Zach Stafford. And we are the host of a podcast called Vibecheck. On Vibe Check, we talk about everything. News, culture and entertainment and how it all feels. That's right, we talk about any and everything on our show, from real life.

[Saeed Jones]

Issues like grief to music and movie critiques.

[Sam Sanders]

And that barely scratches the surface. Yes, indeed. And it doesn't stop there. We have got a lot to say. So join our group, chat, come to life, follow and listen to Vibe Check wherever you get your podcasts.

[Saeed Jones]

Hey, y'all. This episode is brought to you by Target. Discover the Black History Month collection now at www.target.com blackbeyond. Measure. Discover the Black History Month collection now at www.target.com BlackBeyondMeasure.

[Sam Sanders]

Happy welcome. Welcome back to the program. Say y'all, I hear you like the read, so let's get it started. Let's start our podcast this week. It's Valentine's week. Start with some Black excellence as we usually do.

[Saeed Jones]

This segment of Black Excellence is brought to you by Target.

[Sam Sanders]

Discover the Black History Month collection [e-mail] black beyond measure. Because the more we come together, the more we create together. First, we're gonna give Black excellence to 26 year old Taj Williams, the first artist to partner with the NFL to create a logo specially and thematically made for the Super Bowl. Taj is a queen of the Golden Eagles, Mardi Gras Indians. She showcased her black masking Indian culture and New Orleans culture with an intricate hand beaded creation for the logo and the theme art. Art was showcased on the digital game tickets, this year's official program cover and at the Hyatt Regency New Orleans hotel. She said, this is the definitely a moment that is going to live with me forever. And that explains why the logo was so pretty and jazzy this year. I thought somebody was just like, oh, New Orleans, you know, get an intern. No, yeah, they did one better and it was nice. Congratulations.

[Saeed Jones]

It was. That was quite lovely. And the entire pre show with all those artists from New Orleans was excellent too. I was a very big fan of the production this year. I had a ball actually from start to finish. It was a great show. This segment of Black Excellence is brought to you by Target.

[Sam Sanders]

Discover the Black History Month collection [e-mail] black beyond measure. Because the more we come together, the more we create together. So let's segue into our next segment really quickly. Before we do, I just wanted to Say something I know is going to be very difficult for a lot of you to hear. You know, the show's been going on for a long time and every now and then things come to an end. And so there's a little heavy heart that I have to go ahead and announce that today will be the last time that I say Hot tops. Changing the name of it because I want to. I'm tired of it. No. So no more hot tops.

[Saeed Jones]

Okay.

[Sam Sanders]

From now on, this segment will be called the Toy Box. And the Toy Box grow up. The Toy Box.

[Saeed Jones]

I'm listening furtively.

[Sam Sanders]

The toy box is essentially just Hot tops. But yeah, I just, I. I wanna just approach these conversations in a more casual way. I don't know, I feel like, I mean, I, I don't want to keep doing the like headliney and then this and, and all just pop culture.

[Saeed Jones]

Okay.

[Sam Sanders]

Celebrity topics. Now I just want to talk about whatever the fuck I want to talk. And some of it will be the expected. Oh, this person fell on stage at this. Like we'll still do that. But I also just want to talk about whatever the fuck I want to and a more casual thing with my friend rather than like. And on the third of. I don't care about that anymore. I'm old.

[Saeed Jones]

Okay. Okay. Well, I mean.

[Sam Sanders]

And I called it a toy box because it reminds me of one of my favorite memories of my youth is this gigantic toy box. Toy chest by. I thought it was Fisher Price, but I believe little tykes made it. And I still see it in my memory and I am rummaging through it for whatever story my imagination was gonna build. Today is one of my favorite parts of being a kid. So that's the inspiration here. Not things that you put inside of your hole. And vagine.

[Saeed Jones]

I wasn't even you were going there necessarily. But I too have fond memories of my toy box when I was a kid. So I get that and I'm excited to see what's in your box. This. You. You made it weird.

[Sam Sanders]

I didn't see, didn't say anything. I said the name of it and then you started being ridiculous.

[Saeed Jones]

Okay, well, what's in the. What's in the box?

[Sam Sanders]

Let's talk about Kendrick's concert.

[Saeed Jones]

Okay. Okay. Okay. Amen. Let's do that.

[Sam Sanders]

Just get that on out of the way if you like. A moment to moment reaction. My Patreon. I have the video over there of me watching it. I mean I got what I needed.

[Saeed Jones]

Absolutely.

[Sam Sanders]

Kendrick. Okay. So I have seen him live before, like I said, and Been a fan of the things that he kind of creates for the stage and for live performance. So I was interested in seeing what that was going to be and mostly anticipating that it would surround GNX and possibly sos since I knew SZA was coming out too. I wasn't. I don't know why, but I wasn't prepared for him to absolutely drag America.

[Saeed Jones]

I don't know why. Uncle Sam. As soon as I saw Samuel L. Jackson and that Uncle Sam get up, I said, uh, oh.

[Sam Sanders]

I said, oh, they fucked up. They fucked up.

[Saeed Jones]

And he said that too. He said, oh, oh, you guys don't know that. You guys really know what you were doing here. Right time, wrong guy.

[Sam Sanders]

Uncle Sam, Sam Jackson playing the representation of America and American government and respectability, politics was so brilliant. Not just because he. Not just because his face, his voice, his attitude perfectly suits what they're trying to say there, but because his history, right, makes that portrayal so big. And also, it was fucking hilarious, saying it was too ghetto, all kinds of stuff. Oh, you brought your friends. The cultural cheat code.

[Saeed Jones]

You came out here with Squabble up. That was not what you were supposed to do. Little nigga. Do you really know how to play the game? Because that's how he introed this. He got out there and said, welcome.

[Sam Sanders]

He said, welcome to the great American game.

[Saeed Jones]

While the field is lighting up in these PlayStation buttons slash, stages or whatever. And so Kendrick came out there doing a new song. I was like, excuse me, the fuck is this?

[Sam Sanders]

Oh, when he's on the. The hood of the car.

[Saeed Jones]

Yes. Apparently it's called Bodies.

[Sam Sanders]

I think that's a. I think that came out before the album did. I think it's like a teaser for the album.

[Saeed Jones]

I've been. Sir. Well, yes, that's what I'm saying. It was the GNX teaser, but as far as I know, we still haven't heard the full thing. So, like, oh, right, right. Why do you continuously play with us, sir?

[Sam Sanders]

What does this mean?

[Saeed Jones]

One of the lines that stood out to me was, you would not get the picture if I had to sit you for hours in front of the Louvre. Because the sheer number of you who watched that performance and was like, I don't get it. What happened? This wasn't some. You gotta dive deep to see the meaning. It was.

[Sam Sanders]

It really was it.

[Saeed Jones]

You did not have to go deep and really put on your thinking cap to see what Kendrick was trying to say here. It's like, so that's why.

[Sam Sanders]

Another thing, like, a lot of the niggas who on the opposite side are like, yes, because this dancer's eyelashes show the history of Jesse Jackson's second cousin. It's like. There's that too.

[Saeed Jones]

You gotta have them. You gotta have them.

[Sam Sanders]

Like, it's not even that. No, nobody's even. It's kind of right there.

[Saeed Jones]

You gotta have both sides.

[Sam Sanders]

Yeah.

[Saeed Jones]

You get the weirdos on either ends, and then you get the rest of us who are rationally somewhere in the middle.

[Sam Sanders]

But don't say I ra. Rather, you dive deep and try to have fun interpreting art, even if you're off base than looking at something and choosing to be like, oh, yes, absolutely.

[Saeed Jones]

Please engage with it critically, even if you are so dead wrong. Because why not? You know, at least thinking. At least you're thinking.

[Sam Sanders]

That is art. That is consuming. Art is sometimes not being.

[Saeed Jones]

You know, especially if. When you go back, even if, you know, like during the moment, perhaps, like if you watched it live during the super bowl, you're like, I missed some stuff. Maybe then you should just. You know, it'll be online in three seconds. Just go back and watch it. If you feel like perhaps you missed things are being loud. See, walking across your living room hollering and screaming. You probably did not see and hear everything you were intended to see, but that don't mean it wasn't laid out for you right there. The man told the story begin in middle. And it was. It was. It was kind of laid out, you know, clearly. If you.

[Sam Sanders]

Yeah, me.

[Saeed Jones]

But the song choices and the order in which he performed them all felt very deliberate. After. After the whole. Like, you came out here and did too much ghetto. Like, please act like you know what we asking for. And then he did humble and DNA.

[Sam Sanders]

Yeah.

[Saeed Jones]

And euphoria. And then man at the Garden with, like, that barbershop quartet. I. When I tell you I was living.

[Sam Sanders]

Nigga, nigga, Shop quartet. That was my favorite part.

[Saeed Jones]

Same, same. I thought it was so good.

[Sam Sanders]

The old boy laying down on the top of the light post and then just, you know, brother's just there dancing, doo wopping as he. Like, that shit was gorgeous. And I also believe that specifically was the portion that pissed Maga off.

[Saeed Jones]

Oh, yeah.

[Sam Sanders]

Probably because I saw the. I saw Jungle Bunny being used. Like, they're. They're back to the base. They're using the classic ones.

[Saeed Jones]

Okay. They reaching in the vault. Well, I'm not surprised that Kendrick really, you know, dusted y'all up in yalls feelings. White people act like they could not even understand the words he was using, which I Just so in that case, I just don't. You can just refuse to engage with the show altogether, and that's fine with me, you know?

[Sam Sanders]

Like, do you know how many times your fucking musty, unshowered faves have performed with that goddamn thing? And I just sat.

[Saeed Jones]

No idea what they were saying or never heard these lyrics or this song in my life.

[Sam Sanders]

Got a snack and waited for it to be over. Not this sucks. Anti American. Don't understand it. Worst Super Bowl.

[Saeed Jones]

Sure.

[Sam Sanders]

And there's just something delightful about seeing responses like that to a performance, to a collection, to a piece of art that predicted and read that rhetoric in and of itself. Almost like the way that Cowboy Carter was like, all these bitches gonna say blank? And then they did, and it was just like, okay, well, she dragged you already. So they got out.

[Saeed Jones]

So the music did it for us. We didn't really have to. We didn't have to try too hard here.

[Sam Sanders]

But again, Charm ladonna, choreography.

[Saeed Jones]

I was just about to say we need to talk about this choreography. I'm trying to ignore that, dog.

[Sam Sanders]

That's all you can do.

[Saeed Jones]

Can y'all hear her? No. We're working on her being alone, and so just pretend y'all don't hear her. Okay. Thank you. So, yes. Charm ladonna, I was so impressed. The choreography, especially the part. There's. There was so many. There's just so many things I wanted to talk about about this performance. But when first Kendrick teasing, not like us, the way he did was great. But then when he actually did do it and he did the. Say Drake with the giant smile, and I hear you like him young. The way all the dancers immediately shrugged down.

[Sam Sanders]

Oh, yeah. When he says Sage Drake, they shrug. And when he says, you like him young, they go, don't like pet pettiness.

[Saeed Jones]

It works so. But it works so well. Kendrick does just enough of the choreography to, like, be in line with the dancers, but distinguished, like, enough on his own. And the way that it matched up with the lyrics and just enhanced the storytelling for me. I had a great time every time I rewatched this performance. I've seen it, like, 15 times at this point, but that shit right there, that specific moment, it takes me down every time.

[Sam Sanders]

The movement and the movement and the setup where they're all. They were all basically standing to make the flag.

[Saeed Jones]

Oh, yeah, yeah.

[Sam Sanders]

The whole movement in that side is gorgeous. The movement when I believe when they're performing all the stars and, like, everyone is kind of, like, moving from one side of the field. To the next. And it's sort of just. It just has this really specific, almost like militaristic style.

[Saeed Jones]

Okay.

[Sam Sanders]

Of movement in a lot of it.

[Saeed Jones]

Yeah.

[Sam Sanders]

Grand National. I don't know. Whatever. But there's just something very like, yeah, we out here type of shit. I don't know if that also could kind of go along with the, like, Americanism.

[Saeed Jones]

Yeah.

[Sam Sanders]

Cause, you know, a lot of the times when you have any kind of ceremony and they have, like, I don't know, Navy or whatever, super decorated people, there's a specific way they come out, move, walk, and stand.

[Saeed Jones]

Military and police stuff is all over American sports. You can't go to a football game without it being like a full military salute and bomber jets flying overhead. And so.

[Sam Sanders]

So I don't know. There was something that admit. But also. Yes. When they shout out to the girls when he first came out and he said Lisa was teasing, not like us. And he said he don't want to perform their favorite song.

[Saeed Jones]

Yeah. Oh, yeah. When he was like, ladies, you know, I want to do y'all favorite song. I do.

[Sam Sanders]

But, you know, they love to sue. That's what Chris said when you said to end the last episode.

[Saeed Jones]

That's what Chris. Chris said. You have been silenced. Actually.

[Sam Sanders]

That moment had my mouth specifically, because before it, I was kind of like, I wonder if he'll even do it. I feel like he's kind of, like, moving past it. That man won he over it. Like, I wouldn't even be surprised if he doesn't do it, you know, because especially it's not like I'm not even on his album. Maybe he won't. So when he came out and he did a little tease and then walked off, I said to myself, you know what, Kendrick? I have to thank you for this because you reminded me that I'm not being petty enough. This has inspired me to be far more destructive towards my opposition and people who feel as though they can try me. And so I'm grateful for that boost of encouragement, which was also bolstered by the fact that he then comes out and actually does the goddamn song. Like, what?

[Saeed Jones]

Yeah. Yeah, I did. It was. It was a great setup. Teasing it like that the way that he did and then deciding to slow it down and go into Luther with SZA and all the stars. It was like, that was nice. That was a great time to, you know, turn down the energy a little bit.

[Sam Sanders]

And that's what America wants it. Right? Because Sam comes out, and he's like, sam came out. Thank you.

[Saeed Jones]

Well, Right after that. But before that he was like, see, I brought you, boy, you brought your boys with you. That's the cheat code. Deduct one life. And it's like, exactly. So. So. Yes, but when he slows it down, right? So then he did.

[Sam Sanders]

Performing like pop music with scissors.

[Saeed Jones]

Yes. After he did Peekaboo, he did the. The little thing like he was finna do not like us. But it was just a joke. And young Susiana came out, which I. You know, what I really do appreciate is a good pre recorded vocal. I really do. Especially if it's not your show. Why not? Because it's too many different things that can ruin a live vocal. I said that nerves and wind, weather, right? Climate conditions, it could be literally anything. You could just be talking out of.

[Sam Sanders]

Finding out that you're performing at the super bowl the same time as usual.

[Saeed Jones]

You could just be talking or singing. All of a sudden your throat go dry. You know, anything could go wrong. And on a stage as big as the super bowl, why fucking risk it? So I saw. I don't know, I don't know how. Maybe I think a bit delusional. You had to be if you thought you would. She was truly singing live. Like, no, that wasn't true.

[Sam Sanders]

But I don't think anybody thought that.

[Saeed Jones]

You know, she came out and did what needed to be done. I love Luther. It's one of my favorite songs on gnx. All the Stars was obviously a giant hit. I'm probably never ever not gonna think about Black Panther when I hear that song. But I always think of that like immediately. Immediately I see the. The end credits for Black Panther as soon as that beat comes up. Yeah, it was great. It was so great that Uncle Sam had to come back and say, exactly, that's what America wants to see. Nice and calm. It's almost over. Don't do no, don't mess this.

[Sam Sanders]

Cue the beginning.

[Saeed Jones]

And he said, actually it's a culture divide. I'm gonna get it on the floor. 40 acres and a mule. This is bigger than the music. They tried to rig the game, but you can't fake influence with that shit eating grin the whole time.

[Sam Sanders]

He's not talking about Drake. He's not talking even about just like this moment to me.

[Saeed Jones]

I mean, he flat out said, this is bigger than the music.

[Sam Sanders]

So absolutely, you can't rig the. You tried to rig the game, but you can't fake influence. It's like, that's not about Kendrick. He's talking about blackness, black art, creativity, expression. And then to get, you know, the hit song. I'm bopping around, I'm shaking or whatever. I don't even give a. And then this thing is gonna look directly into camera and say, say Drake with a smile on his face. Destructive, inconsiderate.

[Saeed Jones]

He very. I don't know.

[Sam Sanders]

With my jeans on it.

[Saeed Jones]

I was about to say, he went back to 2003 and got my jeans with the flares and everything thick. Kendrick, you better be adorable. He. But he varies, you know, smartly, either legally or, you know, just vibe wise. He didn't say certified pedophile. He said the certified. Let the audience say pedophile. But that a minor came in loud and clear. And I mean.

[Sam Sanders]

Everybody.

[Saeed Jones]

Everybody knows, like, yeah, yeah. I feel like that might have been like a FCC thing. Like, yeah, you know, don't do that. But, yeah, but the. The A minor. It was the way the entire goddamn stadium knew it. You just can't deny. I mean, it was loud on TV. But then you go back and watch the YouTube video, and it's even louder.

[Sam Sanders]

Like, I saw a video of Tyga watching the show from somewhere up in the. And, you know, he was like, you know, just very calmly enjoying, not like us or whatever. And when a minor came out and the whole stadium, he looked around and then he looked at his friend, and he was like, wow. Like, with a smile, he was, like, gagging.

[Saeed Jones]

Yikes. Yes. Because that's. That's quite crazy. And then Serena Williams is out there. See, again, it's layered. Layered. It's layered.

[Sam Sanders]

Hey, guys. This episode is brought to you by Target.

[Saeed Jones]

That's right. This Black History Month. Target is celebrating with a collection that speaks to the power of self expression and how it creates more moments of joy across black communities every day. And, baby, moments of joy are needed right now. Whether it's hair care apparel or home decor, this Black History Month collection offers a little something for everyone to celebrate black creativity and show up as your full selves. Explore the statement Driven Apparel from Legendary Roots by Raven Gibson. The designs of Kenesha Snead, whose apparel and home decor inspires and empowers black women. Or the work of Hadiya Williams, whose home pieces honor the rich legacies of our past. These items and more were made for and by our community to bring more of the joy that makes us us.

[Sam Sanders]

That's right. And I always love it, seeing our things in the Target. Cause, you know, I like shopping at the Target.

[Saeed Jones]

And we deserve.

[Sam Sanders]

And we deserve Target's Black History Month collection because the more we come together, the more we create together. Discover the Black History Month collection now at www.target.com black beyond measure.

[Saeed Jones]

Welcome to.

[Sam Sanders]

Nadia Yada Island Next on Nadia Yada Island.

[Saeed Jones]

I knew I deserved so much more so I left. I finally switched to Metro and got what I was looking for.

[Sam Sanders]

Get one line for only $25 a month with autopay. Just bring your phone to Metro and experience all the data you want on the largest 5G network. That's nada. Yada yada. Only at Metro by T Mobile.

[Saeed Jones]

First month is $30.

[Sam Sanders]

Bring your number and ID offer.

[Saeed Jones]

Not available if with T Mobile or with Metro in the past 180 days hey y'all. If you find yourself in a rush and trying to get dinner on the table in a hurry, try HelloFresh's prep and bake meals. They come together with 5 minutes of prep while HelloFresh's 15 minute meals are done in just 3 simple steps. Plus with HelloFresh Market there are over 100 add on items you can add to your weekly box like quick breakfast and beverages. Seems like more and more of us are on the go and super busy from as soon as the day starts till it ends and trying to squeeze in healthy, nutritious meals for our family in between. Baby, be serious. That's what's great about hellofresh though honey. Prep and bake. Five minutes of prep. The 15 minute meals where you got three steps and food is ready for you and your family. It does not get any easier than that. Plus, when you cook from scratch and you're making things out of your own ingredients, you kind of learn not just the science behind cooking, but how to zhuzh things up and add your own favorite seasonings and accoutrements to elevate your meals or maybe just have some more fun in the kitchen. So if you're ready to make things a little easier for yourself, get up to 10 free meals and a free high protein item for [e-mail] theread10fm one item per box with active subscription free meals applied as discount on first box. New subscribers only. Varies by plan. That's up to 10 free HelloFresh meals. Just go to hellofresh.com/the read10fm.

[Sam Sanders]

Serena Williams showed up on screen. A scream came out of my body that I wasn't prepared for and didn't.

[Saeed Jones]

Oh.

[Sam Sanders]

Didn'T realize was on its way. I screamed so loud that I literally scared myself and Link hopped up stared at me and then she left the room cause Link was like okay, you can't control yourself. Yeah, I'm trying to take a nap, so I'm just gonna find somewhere else.

[Saeed Jones]

So I'm gonna just. I'm gonna remove myself. Cause you being weird.

[Sam Sanders]

Valid walking on his sternum. Well, sternum back and balls.

[Saeed Jones]

Yes.

[Sam Sanders]

She said, say another thing about me or my husband. I dare you.

[Saeed Jones]

And also, Serena was so heavily criticized and penalized for crip walking herself at the height of her career by these. Like, if anybody can speak to what it means to be black and thriving in white American institutions, Serena fucking Williams can do it. Like, she knows a lot about that. And this is what. This is what Kendrick is telling y'all. Like, he's straight up saying, like, this is a cultural divide. 40 acres in a mule. The broken American promise to us niggas. This is bigger than the music. They tried to rig the game, but you can't fake influence. Yes, you could be talking about Drake and, you know, the. The many stunts and shows that he tries to pull off in order to. To be more, you know, more popular, more relevant, more. Anything just to be talked about more. And at the same time, America does that same thing. Like, you try to rig it and make it seem like it's one way, but we know who the real influencers are. We know who really runs this shit. You try to make it seem like it's one way and it's not that way. It's bigger than the music. And he said at the top, the revolution will not be televised. This performance is not the revolution. This is for your entertainment. But hopefully it does make you think. Because it is for your entertainment doesn't mean it has to be void of meaning. So please take whatever inspiration you can from it and go be revolutionary in your own way. Turn that TV off.

[Sam Sanders]

Or maybe I was reminded. Yeah, can we talk about that?

[Saeed Jones]

Oh, yes.

[Sam Sanders]

Literally being like, TV off. Because again, you mentioned, like, the sequencing of everything, and I knew he would do TV off. It's a fantastic record. It has the mustard that everybody loves and all that other shit, but ending it with TV off, turning to the camera at the end of your performance, going, click.

[Saeed Jones]

Another big smile.

[Sam Sanders]

Essentially saying, man, I'm done. Cut this bullshit off. These dumb ass.

[Saeed Jones]

Ye. Donald Trump sitting right here.

[Sam Sanders]

Cut this fuck shit off. Game over.

[Saeed Jones]

Game over.

[Sam Sanders]

We're done. Not only just like, what's not to love today? But like, also your game. That great American game. Yeah, it's over. We're not playing it.

[Saeed Jones]

Again. It was right there.

[Sam Sanders]

It was right there.

[Saeed Jones]

I got my life. I really. I had a Great time. I. I cannot applaud everybody involved. Enough. Shout out to the one dancer slash protester who had the suit on in Gaza flag and was promptly removed. Listen, you made your point, Mr. Zul Kernain. You said what you needed to say and yeah, message received. I. I loved all of it. Shout out to Kendrick. It renewed my excitement for the show coming in May. Like, I'm just three months away and I just am bouncing.

[Sam Sanders]

Is this gonna be your first Kendrick concert?

[Saeed Jones]

I think so. Okay, maybe. Yes. Yes. I think so. Yes. So. But I'm excited.

[Sam Sanders]

Like, when I saw him when I went to my first Kendrick concert, I was like, oh my God. Rap concerts can like, be good. Be good.

[Saeed Jones]

Like, but like, it is possible.

[Sam Sanders]

Cause, you know, we're so used to that lady and the way that she tells full stories. The way that she has so many different things that stimulate you visually and tell a story outside of just being like, yeah, I'm talented and I can dance. And we're going to perform the song live. Yeah, like, he does that. So I wasn't like, well, you know, I kind of expected.

[Saeed Jones]

He has been.

[Sam Sanders]

Oh, that makes sense. That makes sense.

[Saeed Jones]

Speaking of that lady, why don't we. Cowboy Carter. Tickets are now on sale.

[Sam Sanders]

The B. I heard that they have. They are ruining lives. I've heard. I just. Rumor divorce.

[Saeed Jones]

Have you preferred a ticket to this program?

[Sam Sanders]

Oh, I'm going like, so. God bless. I hear the streets are quite ravenous and filled with blood.

[Saeed Jones]

Yes, it is not looking good. I knew when she had only nine cities. I said, it's going to be a battle. We got a. I feel like this dynamic pricing thing where demand drives up the price of the ticket. We.

[Sam Sanders]

What is that?

[Saeed Jones]

And I don't know if Ticketmaster invented that or what, but like, can we please. The prices that I'm seeing for regular degular seats. Yeah, I heard $750 for like section 200, nigga.

[Sam Sanders]

Yeah.

[Saeed Jones]

So I mean. But I'm also telling myself, you know, this is just the pre sales. There will be a general on sale on Friday. And you know, things will the difference be. Well, more seats will open up right now, I feel like, because all the seats aren't open and there's so many people. Like some cities were sending me screenshots. People are like, it's 88,000 people in line ahead of me. Okay. And they have released 200 tickets for this pre sale. So like you not getting it. But also other shit will open up. I knew that not to trip basically that first day When I was waiting online on Ticketmaster for an hour just to be kicked out, and me and Kia trying to coordinate, and it was just like, big stress. I said, you know, actually, let me just take a deep breath, remind myself, this is a process. I will get my tickets. I believe that if the universe wants me to be there, I will be there. So let me just chill out, and it will work itself out. And it has. Amen.

[Sam Sanders]

I kind of just zoned out and my imagination went into a fictional story. I can write about this.

[Saeed Jones]

Oh, wow. Okay.

[Sam Sanders]

Like a high end story. Maybe it's not even. Maybe there's, like, some sort of fantasy element to it, but just, like, what if preparing for an event like this caused an actual purge? Like, battle across a city or states? I don't know. I'll work on it.

[Saeed Jones]

Okay.

[Sam Sanders]

Not to her specifically. Maybe not even a concert. But I'm just. In my head, I'm just, like, preparation for something fun. Like, this shouldn't be all out war with spears, knives, yes, and fire. But you got to do what you got to do.

[Saeed Jones]

And we have even more white fans to contend with now. Like, I feel.

[Sam Sanders]

And that I won't matter, as I.

[Saeed Jones]

Feel like Cowboy Carter has added significantly more white fans because these prices, even compared to Renaissance, are insane. Like, I just cannot believe what I am seeing. But I do have faith that they will even out or chill out over the next few weeks. And then there's always people who buy just to resell. And so as it gets closer to show dates, they will get more desperate to sell those tickets, and prices will drop. So always keep that in mind. But, yeah, some of the I'm seeing right now is outrageous. Like, girl, this can't be real. This can't be real. Can we cut this off? Can we turn off that dynamic? Because when I logged into Ticketmaster yesterday, it said tickets range in price from $76 to $4,000 to see the same show. Like, explain. Ah. Oh, I don't. I don't understand. But anyway, I. I'm going. And so I'ma just, you know, keep my mind focused on the Cinnamon girls. I've been playing Cowboy Carter so much lately. It's been like. It's just something. There's. There's a song on there to match whatever I'm going through. And so I've been back on it.

[Sam Sanders]

Yeah, there's all kinds of stuff going on in.

[Saeed Jones]

Yes.

[Sam Sanders]

I mean, I'm Cowboy Carter in terms of subject.

[Saeed Jones]

It's an hour of music. It is just excellent. So, yeah, I feel like my spirit is prepping me. I've been listening to Beyond. I've actually been listening to the Gift and Cowboy Carter with a little Renaissance. I've been listening to gnx, of course, the Wicked soundtrack. Dolce.

[Sam Sanders]

Yeah.

[Saeed Jones]

So I'm ready.

[Sam Sanders]

I've been listening to pretty much all of that, too. And.

[Saeed Jones]

Oh, yes, what that video was.

[Sam Sanders]

But I saw it was a tick tock.

[Saeed Jones]

Oh, a tick tock. Okay. I wasn't sure. Okay. I saw it in your Instagram stories, so I didn't know what it was. See.

[Sam Sanders]

I'm playing hello Kitty Island Adventure.

[Saeed Jones]

Me too. You texted me about it, and I downloaded it, and it's so fun. It's like hello Kitty, but with Animal Crossing, but without an exploitative overseer.

[Sam Sanders]

Right.

[Saeed Jones]

To drive you into debt.

[Sam Sanders]

Right.

[Saeed Jones]

You don't have money. You just trade things that you find.

[Sam Sanders]

You just give people presents and they give you stuff back.

[Saeed Jones]

And you guys eat, you know, pink lattes and cinnamon rolls and it's just fun.

[Sam Sanders]

You can make pizza. You can make ice cream.

[Saeed Jones]

You can go swimming.

[Sam Sanders]

You can go swimming. There's. Did you get the snorkel?

[Saeed Jones]

I did. Finally. It took me way too long to figure that out.

[Sam Sanders]

It took me forever to get the goddamn snorkel. But now I can go down there and I can visit my fish friend Hangyon. I don't remember his name. And he has a comedy club. I love this game because I already loved Animal Crossing, but with San Rio characters, right? Sign me the fuck off. I love all these motherfuckers. And you're right. There isn't a goddamn thieving, like, yes.

[Saeed Jones]

Ain't no slave master raccoon out there forcing you into capitalism and poverty in order to see it on the island. It's just.

[Sam Sanders]

It's just my melody. Like, hey, you want some furniture?

[Saeed Jones]

See? And I thought, I don't know hello Kitty. Beyond hello Kitty. So when. When they said my melody, I was like, oh, so this is hello Kitty's melody. Do everybody else get their own melody? I'm like, okay. And I got a melody. I didn't know that was her name. Her name. Is that so? But it's very. It's a very cute game. I'm having a lot of fun with it. I love. I just love games like this. You knew this would be right up my alley.

[Sam Sanders]

Oh, yeah, I did. The only ones I knew, like, I grew up on hello Kitty Kuroppi, who is a little green frog.

[Saeed Jones]

Oh, yes, he's adorable.

[Sam Sanders]

Bats Maru. Little bat.

[Saeed Jones]

Comic book guy.

[Sam Sanders]

Yeah. And Then the only other one I really remember as a kid was Pachaco who's the dog was always the.

[Saeed Jones]

Oh, Choco cat.

[Sam Sanders]

No, not Choco cat. Pachaco the white. The dog.

[Saeed Jones]

Oh yeah, he is working. I was about to say Choco cat is the one who helps you build.

[Sam Sanders]

Yeah, the little black cat. He's after my time. I don't know where that came from, but all the other ones came out I think after hello Kitty was a thing for me as a kid if you like. But they are still all cute.

[Saeed Jones]

Highly recommend and beware they do. They send you a message when you download the game. Do not try to do fast forward time travel. You will break the game.

[Sam Sanders]

We're not doing.

[Saeed Jones]

They said other games. We know you can do it. You cannot. Don't play like that over here. Don't do that. Be patient.

[Sam Sanders]

They also have a lot of items you can get that kind of. You don't have to really need to.

[Saeed Jones]

Right?

[Sam Sanders]

Yeah.

[Saeed Jones]

I bought a bundle and I got so many of them. I was like, oh, y'all should y'all up telling me about these roses you can give people because why did I.

[Sam Sanders]

Give my melody start the whole day over?

[Saeed Jones]

Basically I gave my melody 13 pink lattes to get her to level 11 so I could start the quest.

[Sam Sanders]

That's literally me with Kuromi. Cause that bitch are like pumpkins and shit. I'm like, bitch, you only got six pumpkins here. How the am I supposed to make you more jack o lanterns, bitch? Take this fucking flower.

[Saeed Jones]

Bitch.

[Sam Sanders]

Like 18 Jack O lanterns in a day. I'm like, I need the quest so I can get the snorkel here. Take a flower.

[Saeed Jones]

Okay. It's a fun game. Highly recommend if you like cozy chill games. Something to de stress and. And just have fun.

[Sam Sanders]

I heard La Roach is coming. He's going to be an official rotating judge on Drag Race.

[Saeed Jones]

Oh yes, I saw that too. Congratulations.

[Sam Sanders]

What an excellent decision.

[Saeed Jones]

What a great decision.

[Sam Sanders]

Such a great choice. Because first of all, myself, no shade to the rest of the judges and rotating judges and stuff like that. Because I would love for Maddie, another rotating judge. I'd love for T.S. madison to judge me, give me some advice, so on and so forth.

[Saeed Jones]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Sam Sanders]

But also Law Roach.

[Saeed Jones]

Yeah, I think I would be a little stylist of the stars. Of course I would be afraid. Oh God. Imagine getting a compliment from Law Roach though, especially about your outfit.

[Sam Sanders]

You wouldn't be able to tell me.

[Saeed Jones]

A not for the rest of my days thing.

[Sam Sanders]

But also like criticism. I Would. I would really take notes or whatever criticism I give too, because it's like, yeah, either way, good or bad, that person's opinion, to me, as someone who gets dressed, fashion is a part of my, you know, my job and so on and so forth. I would want. That person's opinion would mean a shit ton to me. On top of the fact that you have the lead. The leading face of drag there and every now and then you have some fun people.

[Saeed Jones]

Yes. Yeah. I mean, the celebrity guest judges are great, but it's very different when it's like somebody who is an expert in their field and the field is related to what you're doing.

[Sam Sanders]

Yeah.

[Saeed Jones]

So I enjoy La Roach's critiques and I. Yeah, I think this is great. Congrats.

[Sam Sanders]

I can't wait to hear.

[Saeed Jones]

I can't wait to see what Zendaya wears at this wedding. That's what I want to see.

[Sam Sanders]

I don't even. I can't even think about it.

[Saeed Jones]

I want to see the bridal looks. How many looks?

[Sam Sanders]

I can't even. I don't even want to think about it.

[Saeed Jones]

She is going to be so beautiful. Oh, my God.

[Sam Sanders]

I can't even imagine.

[Saeed Jones]

Right.

[Sam Sanders]

Maybe this will just be like. I don't even. I just want to. Just give me a little. Maybe she'll just wear something that's very simple. Just because, like, of course you guys think I'm going to wear like a gorgeous. No, I don't want to.

[Saeed Jones]

But simple. I don't know. Extremely elegant. She looks hidden and like it is.

[Sam Sanders]

There's no way.

[Saeed Jones]

She's not so easy to make her look good. Right. So that means you can really play. So I just. I don't know. I'm looking forward to whatever they decide to give us. As far as, like, bridal photo shoot looks for her.

[Sam Sanders]

Are you looking forward to Medea's return to Netflix?

[Saeed Jones]

I did not hear about this.

[Sam Sanders]

Coming back.

[Saeed Jones]

Medea is. Or Tyler Perry is.

[Sam Sanders]

What's the difference?

[Saeed Jones]

No, is it really? It's more Medea programming.

[Sam Sanders]

Medea's Destination Wedding. I don't know what the it's called. No, it's these. Going on a cruise. I promise you to God.

[Saeed Jones]

Oh, Madea goes on a cruise. Okay. Destination Wedding. I knew that wasn't it a cruise sound like.

[Sam Sanders]

No.

[Saeed Jones]

Oh, God.

[Sam Sanders]

It's called Diaz Destination Wedding.

[Saeed Jones]

Oh, I thought you were.

[Sam Sanders]

It will premiere on Netflix this year. I was serious.

[Saeed Jones]

Who is she marrying?

[Sam Sanders]

She's not marrying anybody. She's one of. Somebody else is getting married.

[Saeed Jones]

But. So then it's not her destination wedding. Why is it called.

[Sam Sanders]

No, she's going on. I think Brian or someone of the other characters. In fact, I think the straight nigga that Tyler Perry plays is the one getting married.

[Saeed Jones]

I think it really is called this. Okay.

[Sam Sanders]

And then everybody else is going like on a boat or some shit for the wedding. I listen.

[Saeed Jones]

Oh, no, it's Tiffany's rush destination wedding in the Bahamas. Isn't Tiffany Tyler's daughter?

[Sam Sanders]

Oh, my deez.

[Saeed Jones]

The straight one? The straight Tyler's daughter.

[Sam Sanders]

I don't.

[Saeed Jones]

Tiffany in the Medea verse.

[Sam Sanders]

I don't know.

[Saeed Jones]

Okay. I'm looking at the cast and they don't even. I don't think Tiffany is like, I.

[Sam Sanders]

Know who Diamond White is. I just don't know. I don't. I don't know who Tiffany is in the. The world of Medea, but I think you're kind of on the money. I think Tiffany is. Is Brian's character's daughter. Yeah.

[Saeed Jones]

Yeah, that's what I think. So if she's rushing to get married, maybe she's pregnant.

[Sam Sanders]

That might be a part of the storyline. I don't really.

[Saeed Jones]

Okay.

[Sam Sanders]

I just think it's hilarious that Tyler Perry said like 10, 15 years ago he didn't want to be made.

[Saeed Jones]

Yeah, well, Madea paid too much.

[Sam Sanders]

There's. There's that. Don't email or jump in my comments asking me to watch this. I'm not going to.

[Saeed Jones]

I am. I will. You can.

[Sam Sanders]

All right, well, great. So you can let us.

[Saeed Jones]

I'm very excited. Yes, I'm. I'm extremely excited to see this. First of all, I already know it's going to be bad because, well, I mean, we've given so many reasons, but it's called Madea's destination wedding, and it's not even Madea's destination wedding. This is poorly named. So this is going to be really terrible. I'm saying I'm on IMDb. Oh, my God. Wait, no. They have the synopsis. It is Brian's daughter, Medea's great grand niece Tiffany introduces her new boyfriend Xavier to her family, drops the news they're getting married in two weeks. Everybody's invited to the wedding in the Bahamas. Her mother appears to have everything under control. But Medea isn't ready to leave the country. Brian doesn't approve of his daughter's wedding or fiance. Tiffany's doubting the fiance. Okay, so the whole wedding smells suspicious. And all Brian wants to know is whether or not this marriage is really all that it seems. This is gonna be so bad.

[Sam Sanders]

I mean. Yeah.

[Saeed Jones]

Oh, I was reading that. I was reading the storyline, hoping that something that I didn't expect was gonna jump out at me. This is. Oh, I can't wait. Mr. Brown and Cora are in it. Aunt Bam. Oh, yeah. Yeah. This is gonna be classic Tyler Perry Madea Mess. I. I can't wait to watch it. I can't wait to share with y'all.

[Sam Sanders]

I can. 305 live will be back this year.

[Saeed Jones]

Oh, okay. 305 live.

[Sam Sanders]

I'm very excited.

[Saeed Jones]

Where are you going first?

[Sam Sanders]

I can't tell you. Oh, well, I can, but I'm not going to tell you all of it. But.

[Saeed Jones]

You'Ll be there, so I'll find out with everybody. Oh, okay. It just clicked for me. Okay. Wonderful. Congratulations. I love to hear it.

[Sam Sanders]

More info on that very, very soon. That's it for the toy box today, which I'll call something else. Because you can't grow up.

[Saeed Jones]

No, I. I love it. Let's close up the box until next Fisher Price.

[Sam Sanders]

I'm gonna call it Little Tykes.

[Saeed Jones]

So innocent.

[Sam Sanders]

I'm gonna call it.

[Saeed Jones]

Yeah. Big giant plastic toilet fun chest. Yeah. Mine was shaped like a little spaceman.

[Sam Sanders]

A little space man.

[Saeed Jones]

A little helm. Well, like a helmet. Like a space helmet, whatever that thing is called.

[Sam Sanders]

Yeah, ours was just the box.

[Saeed Jones]

Well, it was my brother. It was my brother's really. So we just had to share every thing.

[Sam Sanders]

I think my parents still have it in the tool shed. Next time I go down there, I should see if it's on there.

[Saeed Jones]

Yeah, yeah.

[Sam Sanders]

Probably open it up and cry.

[Saeed Jones]

I know. Ours is long gone. Been gone.

[Sam Sanders]

Moldy McDonald's, Burger King, road to El Dorado Toy or some shit.

[Saeed Jones]

Some Miami rodents and bugs.

[Sam Sanders]

Literally. Silverfish. A family of lizards.

[Saeed Jones]

All right. Yes. Let's take a break.

[Sam Sanders]

This podcast is sponsored and brought to you by Squarespace. Squarespace is the all in one website platform for entrepreneurs to stand out and to succeed online. And boy, y'all are hitting all kinds of licks these days. So for your brand new Courtesy of TikTok Co. Puppy socks and kitten hats, you're gonna need a place to house that information and product. And you can get 10% off your first purchase of a website or [e-mail] theread Introducing Design Intelligence from Squarespace. Combining two decades of industry leading design expertise with cutting edge AI technology to unlock your strongest creative potential. You don't even have to do the work. Squarespace is ready to do the work for you. Okay. So all you have to do is just crochet them puppy socks and let Squarespace do the rest. Check out squarespace.com for a free trial and when you're ready to launch squarespace.com3 to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or a domain, let them know we sent you. Hey y'all, we know everything is more expensive now than ever and the last thing you want is credit card debt. Enter the Chime Credit Builder Card. This is a secured credit card with no annual fees. You can build credit with money you set aside and avoid interest or expensive debt. Plus, you can get access to MyPay and get up to $500 of your pay before payday with no mandatory fees. Use Chime to pay anyone, Chime members or not, and cash out your money free. The best part? You can use it everywhere. Visa credit cards accepted. Turn your everyday purchases into steps toward your financial goals with Chime's secure credit card. Get started today at Chime.com threed that's Chime.com threed Chime feels like progress. The Chime Credit Builder Visa credit card is issued by the Bancorp bank or Stride Bank Spot Me Eligibility requirements and overdraft limits apply. Out of network ATM withdrawal and OTC advance fees may apply. May negatively impact your credit score. Results may vary. My pay eligibility requirements apply. Credit limits range $20 to $500. Go to chime.comdisclosures for details. Okay folks, we're back. It's time for your listener letters.

[Saeed Jones]

Yes, it ends. Send your questions to asktheread gmail.com we may read them aloud on the show. Our first letter this week comes from Bresha who says hey Chris Linky Fury. First of all, I want to say thank you so much for the podcast. I don't think y'all really understand the Reed's impact on so many people. Y'all are really out here saving lives just by being yourselves and allowing us to see. That said, I might need y'all to talk me off the ledge one more time. I am a single mom to a six year old daughter. My baby daddy and I broke up the first time before my daughter was one and continued to have an on and off relationship for a few a few years. At this point we have not been together in almost three years but this man continues to be in love with me which has caused nothing but problems. When we first broke up, my baby daddy dated this crazy and allowed her to literally stalk me through his phone, even going so far as to let her threaten to release old nudes in mind at that point I let him know that I wasn't comfortable with my daughter being around her, to which he said, them kids I'm gonna be with my he has mostly been a deadbeat with my daughter and despite having dated a few other people since we broke up, this is still in love with me. And now since his girlfriends aren't doing it for him anymore, he finds any and every way to fuck with my life. It can be something as simple as taking down a hairstyle that I just put in my daughter's hair, threatening people I'm dating or close with, or once again disappearing for weeks to months at a time, causing me to lose jobs because I lose childcare. I've done everything in my power to try to separate our lives as much as possible and prepare for when he inevitably fucks up and to help me personally move on. I slept with his brother. Yes, I slept with the nigga's brother multiple times over a two year period and I had a ball doing it. I realized that it was wrong and a very unhealthy way for me to cope with the trauma of our relationship, but that sex was some of the best either of us ever had and it did the job of making sure I would never go back to my baby daddy. Me. It's been months since the last time his brother and I hooked up. We went on a trip together in September and even though we had fun, I knew I needed to end it and actually move on with my life. When I got back home, I immediately blocked him and I haven't thought much about him except when my baby daddy does something to piss me off. Now I know this may seem petty and bitter, but I just really want to tell this man that I fucked his brother so he'll disappear for good. I'm tired of constantly having my life thrown into disarray because he never puts the well being of our child above his own. I've tried blocking him and going no contact, but then he'll pop up at me or my family's house and call my mom, best friend and whoever else to try to get them to give my daughter to him or make himself the victim. I know if I tell him about his brother he will cut me and therefore my daughter out of his life. Is it better for her to grow up with a father who pops in and out and clearly prioritizes alcohol, drugs and women over her or to grow up without a father at all? Thanks Bresha.

[Sam Sanders]

Bresha this letter was cruising and then you drove off the road and I didn't know what to do. Okay, to answer the question that you ended with, in my opinion, it's better for her to grow up without the dad than to have a dad who bounces in and out of her life sometimes not sober and, you know, just being overall ridiculous and manipulative. She will be fine without that.

[Saeed Jones]

Sounds like it. Especially this nigga. Like, this nigga sounds like she's better off without him.

[Sam Sanders]

Much better than. So, yeah, I would say, if you're. If that's the question, whether or not this nigga should be in her life or how much, I would say, judging by what you're describing, he shouldn't be. Now, if you say telling this nigga that you fucked his brother is going to put it into it, sis, then, I mean, go for it.

[Saeed Jones]

Like, that's risky. That's a big one.

[Sam Sanders]

That is a. Because I'm like, when she said that, I was like, how do you know that that is going to do what you want and not make things such worse? Like, she's like, I know if I tell him, he'll cut me and my daughter. Are you.

[Saeed Jones]

Are you sure that's all he won't do?

[Sam Sanders]

Yeah. Are you sure that's all he'll cut?

[Saeed Jones]

Because, like, I don't want to go there, but, girl, men get violent for much less. I mean.

[Sam Sanders]

I mean, I was hoping he'd cut the brother, but you just never know.

[Saeed Jones]

I mean, this is what I'm saying. Like, it could be anybody. I don't know if. Is this the type of nigga who would hurt your child in order to hurt you? Like, this is complicated because on the one hand, I don't want to tell women, well, adjust, you know, your righteous anger to avoid what men might say or do. I just think there's other ways of getting this man out of your daughter's life without necessarily throwing this nuclear bomb at him. You know, I agree, because I feel like that what you're also trying to do by telling him this is to hurt his feelings, right? And hurt niggas behind. They. Baby mamas do terrible things every day. So I would probably try to avoid that because he does already sound like he has substance problems. And so likely I would not be shocked if he had anger control issues as well. Instead of that and throwing, you know, like a lit match on top of gasoline, maybe try enforcing stronger boundaries with him and the people around you because you're like, you know, when I try to cut him off, when I try to limit his contact or whatever, he goes to my mom. He goes to my best friend. Why do any of those people think they can talk to your baby daddy about a decision you made?

[Sam Sanders]

Right.

[Saeed Jones]

I would start there. I would start by trying to tighten up the relationships with the people closest to me. If that man wants a relationship with his child, he can go file for joint custody or whatever paperwork he needs in order to do that. It sounds like you have all the reasons in the world to not trust this man with your baby. So if he really wants to be a dad, then he can either cooperate on your terms or he can go to the courts and get it set up like one way that those are his options, literally.

[Sam Sanders]

I agree.

[Saeed Jones]

Calling your mama to about it is not an option. If I. If I let my daughter go with my best friend and I find out that my best friend went and took her to her daddy's or let her daddy come pick her up, the way I'm going to cuss you out. Especially if you know that I don't trust this man with my child. Like, I think conversations need to be had with the people around you who are keeping you from really being able to separate from this man.

[Sam Sanders]

Big agree. Big agree.

[Saeed Jones]

And even. And even that could set him off. And that's why it's like, it's only true. That's why you can't just do nothing because it might piss a man off. I'm just saying let's not immediately go to the thing that is going to blow it up.

[Sam Sanders]

Yeah.

[Saeed Jones]

Let's try to diffuse this as opposed to. Because it could just be that he tries to hit you up. You don't respond, your people don't respond. He don't really want to see his daughter that bad. He just want to have some kind of control over you. But then he gets bored because the easy way to do it is gone. It could be that. It could be you moving out of state. I don't know if how, you know, rational or reasonable that is for you, but it could just be anything that has this man kind of ease his way on out of your child's life. Because it does sound like she's better off without this.

[Sam Sanders]

It does. Like, way better.

[Saeed Jones]

So, yeah. Anything else? I'm trying to think.

[Sam Sanders]

I think you hit the nail on the head. Those are the points I were gonna make.

[Saeed Jones]

Popping up at our house is unacceptable. What do you mean you're not getting inside? You're gonna stand outside and holler and scream until somebody calls the police. Should nobody be letting him inside or near you if you've made it clear to them that that is what you want for you and your baby. Yes. Try to make himself the victim. Go tell the judge. Sorry, sorry, I'm done.

[Sam Sanders]

No, literally, literally, literally. That, like, you are as a mom, prioritizing your kids, safety, well being, you know, their growth. You have more than the right to step to pretty much anybody and say, uh, no, we ain't doing that. That is the child's father. That is your mama. That's your best friend. That's your cousin. That's your ex. That's your baby father's brother. Whoever it is, if they are standing in the way of the safety of that child, and not just their physical safety, but their emotional, mental growth, you have more than the right to look to even your goddamn mama who made you and say, we're not doing that. The end.

[Saeed Jones]

Right? And if you have evidence to back up, you know, whatever it is you are feeling about this man or the things you're telling us about him, you could even get sole custody. You have so many options.

[Sam Sanders]

Literally true.

[Saeed Jones]

And I'm not. Listen, in my heart of hearts, like, if I knew you would be safe, I would tell you to tell him that. Because I love to see niggas, terrible niggas, get their feelings hurt. Like, I love. I love that I live for that. I just doubt that this man would respond in a rational way to having his feelings be hurt. And I don't think that risk is worth it. But good luck. Good luck regardless, because I would be trying to keep my baby from this nigga for all time. For all time. Blessed. All right, our next letter comes from Keisha, who says, hey, y'all, I'm 25 and I've been listening for years. I'm trying to figure out if I should mend a friendship due to a drunken phone call that went wrong. I had a lot of drinks one night due to a long week of shit going wrong in my life, and I called my work friend to vent. But keep in mind that this friend is not very patient with anyone and can be very rude with her delivery when it comes to giving advice. There have been many times that we have gotten into debates due to her delivery on how she feels about me. And it basically gives. This bitch is stupid and I'm smart, so let me dig at her any chance I get to let her know how stupid she is. So anyway, I called her to vent, and she didn't really want to hear it, and I got irritated and started getting defensive during this call. She then says, well, don't get mad at me because you being stupid like you always are. So then I got really upset and says, stupid. I'm not the one who popped out a baby to keep a man. That's stupid. The fuck?

[Sam Sanders]

Okay.

[Saeed Jones]

She naturally got upset and started yelling, and now we're going back and forth, and then she hung up. My question is, do y'all think I should go back and apologize to her and try to mend this friendship or let it go? I do feel bad, but I haven't felt motivated to reach out. I always listen to her when she needs to vent, and I was kind to her about her troubles, even when I didn't agree with her decisions, but she has never given me that energy back. Please let me know if I'm being delusional or acting like BoJack Horseman about this, because. Because I could be selfish with a lot of things, but I feel like I'm not wrong with this one.

[Sam Sanders]

That show is rough.

[Saeed Jones]

Thanks in advance. It is. Thanks in advance, Keisha. Oh, let me know if I'm acting like BoJack about this is so real.

[Sam Sanders]

That was such a specific niche.

[Saeed Jones]

But you never. You never want to be acting like BoJack about this.

[Sam Sanders]

I don't think so, man. Cause it's like, if you. I get it. If you feel like, you know, you make yourself available. Oh, I hate this term. It's the first thing that comes to mind. You hold space.

[Saeed Jones]

Hold space. I knew you was gonna say it. I knew it.

[Sam Sanders]

I hit.

[Saeed Jones]

That's a term that went mainstream and shouldn't have.

[Sam Sanders]

It is. That's exactly what it is, Krystal. Thank you.

[Saeed Jones]

Therapy supposed to hold space.

[Sam Sanders]

Thank you. Thank you. Hearing people just at Sweet Green, like, I just really held. What are you talking about, bitch? Shut up. I. I hate it. Being mainstream now. It's almost, like, triggered. It's like, I hate it.

[Saeed Jones]

It's out there now.

[Sam Sanders]

Anyways, I'm so sorry. If you feel like you are someone who is, like, consistently making yourself available, like, listening, trying to, like, really, you know, be emotionally intelligent and receptive as a friend, and this same friend does not reciprocate that and, in fact, makes you feel small. Yeah, I totally understand you feeling like, where would I find the motivation to go and fix this? This called me stupid. Like, where do you get off, right? A baby. You popped out a baby. You popped a baby out to try and keep a nigga, and you calling me stupid, Right?

[Saeed Jones]

I had just about enough of yo. Your mouth, actually.

[Sam Sanders]

Right.

[Saeed Jones]

We need to talk about the audacity.

[Sam Sanders]

Because, listen, who might go out in Georgia.

[Saeed Jones]

Yeah, I. So, no, I definitely don't think you need to be worried about acting like BoJack. You. It makes sense that you were offended and said you don't have no space to call somebody else stupid. I also think this girl is not a friend. And it's quite interesting that you detailed how she's not patient and she's rude with her delivery, and many times you've had to tell her that she talks to people crazy, and she's just like, oh, well, you too stupid to get it. So the fact that you was feeling really down and called her puzzles me. Like, you knew this was not, when you need empathy, that this was not the bitch to call, and yet you called her. I don't understand why you did that. That might be something you. You ask yourself and. And just sort of question, you know, before you do things like that in the future.

[Sam Sanders]

She didn't really, like, list. She really, like, list the positive.

[Saeed Jones]

Right.

[Sam Sanders]

So I'd imagine that there is some aspect of. Of the friendship, whether it's history or other things that you find really admirable, where it's like, you want this person to be what you're looking for.

[Saeed Jones]

Sure.

[Sam Sanders]

And you might go against evidence, history even since. And it's like, maybe this will be the time that this person will just so that feel like that probably makes disappointment even more disappointing. And next thing you know, it's like, well, bitch, who told you to have that baby with your dumb ass?

[Saeed Jones]

And you had been drinking, so.

[Sam Sanders]

Right.

[Saeed Jones]

The filter and any desire to keep the filter up were gone.

[Sam Sanders]

Yeah, but I agree.

[Saeed Jones]

So. Yeah, I. I just think if you. You said she's a work friend, so maybe you're just cordial because, well, clearly y'all are. Y'all talk outside of work. I. If you're interested in maintaining some sort of relationship just for the sake of yalls work environment, then I still wouldn't reach out. I would just not be shitty at work. But I wouldn't try to keep this person in my life. Because if you can't be empathetic when a person is going through it, I don't think you can really be called a true friend.

[Sam Sanders]

I don't think so either.

[Saeed Jones]

If your first inclination every time somebody is going through it is to point out the things that they could have done differently or how they got themselves into this situation or how stupid they are. Naive or whatever the name calling like, I get. I could. I would ask who hurt you, but I'm almost positive it Was your mammy pappy or grandparents a formative teacher or coach? Right. I'm almost positive it was somebody in your own youth who talked crazy to you and made you feel small and diminished for having problems.

[Sam Sanders]

Yeah.

[Saeed Jones]

And so that's how you react to other people when they're vulnerable about their. But you need to fix that about yourself because it's keeping you from being a real friend. I would not be campaigning to have this in my life because that means I can't talk to you about nothing unless everything about the scenario is perfect and going great. And that's not life. So I would not even want this bitch around me. Really take you and this whole snake ass attitude you got somewhere else.

[Sam Sanders]

But I agree with you. Like, if you want to maintain like a decent work energy or something like that, like maybe you just drop a coffee off at her desk or something like that and just be like. And then go sit back there and that could just be like your little peace offering and then y'all just do your thing so there's not like roll dies or tension or whatever like that. But I agree, like, I wouldn't. I don't think I would be investing any more personal time with this person because I don't feel like you can. Like, I don't even know if I think you give a fuck about me.

[Saeed Jones]

Right. I don't think you really do because why would you even feel like that's how you wanted to talk to me? That's not how I want to talk to my friends. Like, you're just being weird. And even the work thing, as far as keeping the peace at work, that's only if we had to work together.

[Sam Sanders]

Yeah.

[Saeed Jones]

If I was like. Cause at 25, I was working in call centers. If I was back in the call center and you just some bitch on the call center floor with me. Goodbye. I literally never have to speak to you or be cool or cordial to you ever again in my life.

[Sam Sanders]

Yes.

[Saeed Jones]

That's just more. If y'all have like that relationship at work where y'all need to get along for the sake of the job.

[Sam Sanders]

Yes. If you work on different floors, different departments.

[Saeed Jones]

Right. Barely see each other.

[Sam Sanders]

Who gives a fuck? Like, I don't know about if you have like an office or cubicle that is just a few feet away. Like if you have to see this bitch every day.

[Saeed Jones]

Right. Y'all on the same team or some shit. That's.

[Sam Sanders]

Yeah.

[Saeed Jones]

But yeah. Otherwise, baby, you can make another friend a better one, one who can actually be called that. So Best of luck to you. Let us know how it goes. If you have a question for us, send it on over to asktheritgmail.com. we're going to take another quick break and be right back.

[Sam Sanders]

Hey, I'm journalist Sam Sanders. I'm poet Saeed Jones.

[Saeed Jones]

And I'm producer Zach Stafford. And we are the hosts of a.

[Sam Sanders]

Podcast called Vibe Check. On Vibe Check, we talk about everything. News, culture and entertainment and how it all feels. That's right. We talk about any and everything on our show, from real life issues like.

[Saeed Jones]

Grief to music and movie critiques.

[Sam Sanders]

And that barely scratches the surface. Yes, indeed. And it doesn't stop there. We have got a lot to say, so join our group, chat, come to life, follow and listen to Vibe Check wherever you get your podcasts. We're back. It's time for the read.

[Saeed Jones]

Yes, it is.

[Sam Sanders]

I'll start because I really don't have like a long one. I actually started it on Twitter anyway and I didn't think of anything else, so I'll just continue.

[Saeed Jones]

Okay.

[Sam Sanders]

Where there's some coon ass nigga by the name of Rod Smith who posted a video saying that Kendrick Lamar's halftime performance was the worst in recent memory. Obviously, he's a Trump supporter and his description of why Kendrick's performance was the worst in recent memory was a couple of things, but mostly. First, he said that Kendrick Lamar is not mainstreams. I don't know what mainstreams is, but he said Kendrick Lamar is not mainstreams.

[Saeed Jones]

Are you sure? Okay.

[Sam Sanders]

People in attendance did not know those songs. He said that the white people at the party he was with Kendrick might have. For the white people he was at the super bowl party with, Kendrick might as well have been performing Mandarin. He continued, but I stopped it there.

[Saeed Jones]

Okay, okay. Cause what, What? Who the. Nevermind.

[Sam Sanders]

So again, to Braxton P. Hartneberg, I say this. First of all, stop lying. Who are you trying to convince? This. Like, did you watch the Super Bowl? Actually, is this for people who didn't watch the Super Bowl? Because if you're saying that he isn't mainstream and nobody knows the songs, then why is it that he removed the microphone from his face when a minor came on and allowed every single person in the Caesar Superdome to say it, but nobody knows the song, so how did they know the lyric? And that's not possible and also choose to to perform the lyric in his place? Yeah, that's confusing. Also, I know it a lie to to say that none of the pink toed ofe bitches that Were at your white claw drinking beer possum beer punk smacking ass party. Don't understand or don't know none of them goddamn song. Do you mean to tell me none of them crackers her not like us, none of them. That can't be no humble. You're a liar. You're a liar. That's why your hairline look like that. That's why your beard ain't never gonna grow in. And it's confusing to me that you still up on here. First of all, for you to open your black ass mouth and talk about what people understand and what we know and what we don't and what's mainstream and what isn't. By using your white friends as an example or as like some sort of a measurement or meter. Do you know how fucking stupid you sound, bitch? First of all, the average white American don't know nothing about a goddamn thing. Culturally, we always introduce them to it. That's A. B is going to have to be that white people don't have to understand a goddamn thing for it to be valuable, valid, lucrative, important, entertaining and so on. In fact, white people, Selim, do understand sickening things.

[Saeed Jones]

I'm so confused.

[Sam Sanders]

So you ain't doing shit but embarrassing yourself talking about the white people at your goddamn super bowl party like we supposed to give a living goddamn wide open fuck what any of them bitches or your stupid ass thinks. Was that B? I don't remember. C. The performance itself was a statement of Everybody ain't gonna get this, even some of you niggas. And that's okay because we're valid. We're bigoted in music. We've always been the influence and we can play this game how we want to. I, me and all of my blackness, all of my butterfly pimping, all of my nigginess got me here. And all the goddamn awards that I have, bitch pullet surprise and all. I don't have to come on this goddamn stage and do what you want me to do, bitch. That was. That was the set.

[Saeed Jones]

Yeah. Literally. Literally your game is over. Playing the game the way you furthermore is over.

[Sam Sanders]

Furthermore. Didn't your black ass get jumped by MAGA like last year or some shit? Didn't you go to a rally and get your ass beat?

[Saeed Jones]

Who that is? You said this nigga's name.

[Sam Sanders]

I don't. It should be.

[Saeed Jones]

I thought it really was. I was about to say that's a.

[Sam Sanders]

Little too on the nose, Tom Dubois.

[Saeed Jones]

Right. That's what I was thinking. That's literally who I was Thinking when you said, Braxton P. Hard number, I said, oh, this is Tom Dubois. Okay?

[Sam Sanders]

I know you wake up and eat applesauce on toast in the morning. Wacky ass. I'm down.

[Saeed Jones]

Weirdos. Weirdos. Well, speaking of weird shit, as we all know, Franklin the Turtle is still mayor of New York City. On Monday, he gathered all of these city officials and commissioners to straight up tell the girls, don't say nothing bad about Trump. He's president now. If you don't like it or the things he says or does, get the fuck over it. Don't criticize him publicly or privately. Don't do it at the office or any fucking where else. If immigration enforcement. This dog is trying my life, right?

[Sam Sanders]

You just have to live with it.

[Saeed Jones]

If immigration enforcement think they gonna come into the city and snatch people up, guess what? Yes, the fuck they are. Eric Adams said, don't interfere and don't worry about it. Trust me, I'm the mayor. I'm gonna make sure that we don't lose no federal funding. Because of course, Trump has been talking about pulling federal funding from sanctuary cities where, you know, they don't allow fucking federal agents to come through. And, or, or really even local government cooperation with immigration enforcement. Like, they just. We simply don't do that. And so in New York City currently, right now, or the way it used to be, I guess, before he said this on Monday, they only cooperate with ICE in limited instances when people have certain felonies or with a warrant. So he's basically saying, you know, we're going to cut all that. This is Monday. We're cutting all that out. Let immigration do whatever they want to and shut the fuck up when it comes to Donald Trump. On Tuesday. On Tuesday, the Department of justice magically and mysteriously and randomly dropped the corruption charges against Eric Adams, effectively canceling the trial that was supposed to start in April.

[Sam Sanders]

Wow.

[Saeed Jones]

I wonder why Donald Trump's Department of Justice decided to no longer pursue these charges, especially since the original attorneys who were working the case quit the Department of Justice when Trump won in November. I wonder what happens here, you guys. So this case was dropped without prejudice, which means it can be re examined, reopened, reprosecuted, or whatever later on if necessary. And they even admit that this decision was made without reviewing the evidence. And so nobody is even saying that Eric Adams is innocent. They're basically just saying, well, Joe Biden was probably just mad at Eric Adams because he's critical of the Biden administration and their immigration policy. So Biden probably just did this to get back at him. So we just gonna go ahead and, you know, cancel that out right now. Hmm. Okay. Well, that actually sounds like absolute, pure bullshit to the rest of us, but Eric Adams took this and decided to absolutely, absolutely run off with it. He did a video talking about how this has been the most difficult 15 months of his life, and he never broke the law, and he never traded any power for any personal benefit, and I never asked anybody to do anything wrong, and I'm a good girl, and I would never, ever, ever. And I did. And I am just so grateful now that we have all agreed that I am. I am innocent, and. And we can put this all behind us now. Again, just to reiterate, the Justice Department did again, say that they have reached this conclusion without assessing the strength of the evidence or the legal theories on which the case is based. Meaning absolutely nobody is saying that you're innocent. You simply wanted those charges to go away, so you decided to sell out the city and its people in order to get on Trump's good side and have this shit go away for you. The same Donald Trump who kicked the Associated Press out of the White House press conference because they refused to call it the Gulf of America. That's the nigga you're bending the knee to. Somebody who is literally limiting journalists access to news because they won't go along with his pretend president play. Bullshit. That's the city I'm in right now. That's the leader of the city I'm in right now. When I tell you I can't wait to get this bitch out of office. I cannot wait to get this whole ass nigga out of office. I have to believe that New York City is fed the fuck up with this shit. I honestly don't know how y'all elected him in the first place. Again, cuz. It wasn't me. It was up to me. It would have been Maya fucking Wiley. I don't know how we got here with that bitch nigga, but he has got to go. And there's, you know, of course, different local, like, city council people, the comptroller, state senators, assembly members who are like, of course. We not finna, like, just roll around and go right on with this bullshit. You know, you are. This shit where you trying to just keep us and our citizens away from the things that we need and keep us away from each other, all in. The ultimate goal of you avoiding prison is not going to work out. We're not going to roll over and accept this. This. Just accept anything that Trump says or does because he's the president now so that you can stay out of jail. You said what you had to to cover your ass. That don't apply to the rest of us, you greedy, thieving, conniving, ugly ass, stanking, trifling bitch. How do we keep. Eric Adams has to go. Eric Adams has to go, Nigga. This was 24 hours apart on Monday. He got. Last Friday. He called the meeting Monday, he got these niggas together and said, don't say shit else about Trump Tuesday, magically, the case is gone and this is not even really newsworthy outside of New York City. That's how corrupt this administration already is.

[Sam Sanders]

Fucked up, right? That's so true. That's so true.

[Saeed Jones]

Trump is so corrupt already that he is keeping journalists away from White House press conferences, press briefings, et cetera, because he's mad that this global news institution is not going to acknowledge his temper tantrum of a name change.

[Sam Sanders]

Yeah, hi. President Trump here. Actual educated journalists from the. Whatever, baby.

[Saeed Jones]

I'm disgusting.

[Sam Sanders]

You see, that's been called the Gulf.

[Saeed Jones]

Of Mexico for pretty much 400 goddamn years.

[Sam Sanders]

And you just got here saying anything. So it.

[Saeed Jones]

We're actually going to.

[Sam Sanders]

It is ridiculous for us to say that. Hope you can understand. Know that you can't. But nobody's doing that. Like, what?

[Saeed Jones]

It's bad enough that Apple and Google have already updated it so that when you're in America, you see Gulf of America. When you open the maps outside of America, you don't, but in America you do. That's bad enough. That actually legitimizes this bullshit. But to act as though that's to kick journalists out, to literally limit journalists access to the news. The President is doing this and it's not even. This is not even like. It's like nobody gives a shit, baby. The fascism is here. The dictatorship is beginning. Do we. Do we literally see what's happening? Do we see what's happening of America? I told you they up. Yes, they did. They actually updated the maps here in this trifling ass country. So disgusted. I have some other things I want to talk about, but I decided to save them for the live show because they're a bit more jovial and niggerish and ghetto. So. But I had to. Oh, he burns my biscuits. Also, I would like to say yes. Last week on the show, I was not silent. I was silenced. A lot of you have accurately guessed what I was talking about, and I will just take.

[Sam Sanders]

I figured they would.

[Saeed Jones]

Well, some of you have had some other very excellent theories, but a lot of you. I would say about a third of you have guessed accurately and when I can tell you, I will tell you. But yes, just know we see each other.

[Sam Sanders]

Yeah.

[Saeed Jones]

And that's it for me. That is it for me. That will wrap up this week's episode of the Read. Check us out on social media at this is the Read. You can find our merch [e-mail] we are going to be live in New York City City this Saturday, February 15th at the Beacon Theater for our 12 year anniversary show tickets at the readlive.com Any other news or updates from you friend before we head out.

[Sam Sanders]

Yes, I agree. Please come see us at 3 Live show this weekend. Please. If you are Interested come be one of the Patrons Patrons on patreon.com kfieri where you can get more me. I just posted my Kendrick halftime react. We've got the substance reaction on there. Gaming, music, all kinds of stuff. So check me out there. Follow us on Instagram and and the like and take care of yourself. Don't get nothing on you unless you want to.

[Saeed Jones]

And your toy bop.

[Sam Sanders]

You're the worst. Like I can't just like whatever.

[Saeed Jones]

Bye y'all. We'll see y'all next week. Thank you again to Target for sponsoring this episode. Discover the Black History Month collection [e-mail] black beyond measure.

[Sam Sanders]

Hey, I'm journalist Sam Sanders. I'm poet Saeed Jones.

[Saeed Jones]

And I'm producer Zack Stafford. And we are the hosts of a.

[Sam Sanders]

Podcast called Vibe Check on Vibecheck. We talk about everything. News, culture and entertainment and how it all feels. That's right, we talk about any and everything on our show, from real life.

[Saeed Jones]

Issues like grief to music and movie critiques.

[Sam Sanders]

And that barely scratches the surface. Yes, indeed. And it doesn't stop there. We have got a lot to say, so join our group, chat, come to life, follow and listen to Vibe Check wherever you get your podcasts.