Topic: Chicago

The conversation shifts to the fluidity of modern language rules, such as gender pronouns and the shifting terminology used by Kamala Harris during the election cycle. The hosts question why certain events, like a recent police shooting of a black woman in Chicago, received minimal media coverage compared to similar events four years ago. They attribute this to "political calculus" and the DNC's desire to protect Harris's image as a law enforcement figure.

The shooting of Sonya Massey in Illinois is discussed as a potential flashpoint that political actors may "keep on ice" until the Democratic National Convention in Chicago to maximize impact. Meanwhile, Black Lives Matter has criticized the "anointing" of Kamala Harris as undemocratic. Speculation arises regarding Maryland Governor Wes Moore as a potential vice-presidential pick to secure the black male vote.

The term "atonement" is proposed as a less triggering alternative to "reparations" for discussing economic justice for Black Americans. The hosts argue that both political parties avoid making Black Americans economically whole because it would disrupt the existing power structure. They also point to Chicago as "ground zero" for potential civil unrest due to tensions between residents and new arrivals.

Mo Facts introduces Sam Cooke as the "OG of OGs" who pioneered the transition from gospel to pop. Cooke traveled the "Gospel Highway" in the 1950s, a circuit of churches and tents carefully mapped out to follow agricultural harvests when audiences had money. Even as a child in Chicago, Cooke practiced singing to sticks in the ground to prepare for his future as a star.

The hosts discuss the influx of migrants into Chicago's South Shore and the local community's pushback. They speculate that the crisis is being used to devalue land near the site of the future Obama Presidential Center. Reports of scarlet fever and lice among migrants in Chicago are mentioned, along with the return of mask mandates for city workers.

Audio from a vintage documentary features a family moving from Alabama to Chicago in search of a better life, representing the "Black Rednecks" previously discussed. The hosts transition into a discussion on colorism, citing the "paper bag test" and how media standards of beauty have historically favored lighter skin. They highlight the importance of Black publications like *Jet* in establishing independent beauty standards.

A clip from Jared Taylor, a prominent proponent of the "Bell Curve" study, lists violent headlines from Chicago and DC to argue that racial behavior is linked to IQ. Taylor claims that only 16% of Black people have an IQ over 100. The hosts note Taylor's background in the tech world (PC Magazine) and suggest that Silicon Valley elites often view humans through a "computer analogy" of hardware and specs.

Quincy Jones discusses his childhood in Chicago, claiming he wanted to be a gangster and was associated with the "Jones Boys" gang. He describes a world of dead bodies, Tommy guns, and piles of money. The hosts argue that Jones' "gangster" values have persisted throughout his career in the "gangster business" of music and media.

Barack Obama returned to Chicago to deliver a warning about systematic disinformation, defining it as a deliberate effort to suppress truth for political or financial gain. He argued that while a debate of ideas is healthy, the current information environment is destructive to democracy and requires new solutions.

A 2013 clip of Melissa Harris-Perry arguing that children belong to the "whole community" rather than just their parents is analyzed. The hosts link this philosophy to former Education Secretary Arne Duncan's support for "social justice" schools in Chicago. They argue that modern "hate speech" laws evolved from early anti-bullying legislation designed to regulate speech.

Drill rap is characterized as a dangerous online game where rappers use violence to trigger social media algorithms and secure record deals. The discussion explores how this cultural phenomenon provides a pretext for increased policing and the implementation of "justice by AI." Predictions are made regarding the rise of private security firms for the wealthy and robotic surveillance for lower-income neighborhoods.

Mo Facts empathizes with people in desperate situations, stating that if his current ventures failed, he would do whatever is necessary to feed his family. He critiques how frustration is weaponized for political purposes, such as during the looting in Chicago. Adam Curry shares his own concern about the power of platforms like PayPal to "pull the plug" on a person's livelihood.

The segment reviews the Jussie Smollett trial, focusing on the testimony of the lone Black juror who found Smollett's claim of a noose attack nonsensical. The hosts argue the event was utilized or orchestrated to provide political momentum for the Emmett Till Anti-Lynching Act. Senator Kamala Harris and Senator Cory Booker are cited as key figures using historical trauma to push the legislation.

A report from Dan Abrams Live details the felony disorderly conduct charges against Jussie Smollett for staging a hate crime in January 2019. Prosecutors presented evidence of Instagram messages between Smollett and the Osundaro brothers sent shortly before the alleged attack. Smollett's testimony regarding a planned workout was contradicted by the lack of messages about canceling the session after the incident.

The discussion covers Smollett's claims of sexual encounters with Abel Osundaro at Chicago bathhouses, which the brothers denied. Evidence showed Smollett drove the brothers to the scene of the attack for a "dry run" days prior. The segment also mentions a claim by Smollett's legal team that the brothers requested a $2 million bribe to refuse to testify.

The hosts examine the role of modern surveillance technology in debunking the Smollett hoax. Chicago's "POD" cameras, combined with private Ring doorbells and GPS data from ride-sharing apps, allowed investigators to track the Osundaro brothers' movements from the scene to the airport. This level of tracking makes it increasingly difficult to stage crimes without detection.

Mo explains why he immediately doubted Jussie Smollett's story, citing the extreme "polar vortex" weather in Chicago that night. He notes that no one in Chicago would go out for a Subway sandwich in temperatures cold enough to require setting train tracks on fire. The segment also includes a cultural aside about the importance of ironing clothes in the black community.

Andre Hope, the only black juror in the Jussie Smollett trial, explains why he voted to convict. He stated that Smollett's story lacked common sense, particularly the claim that he kept a noose around his neck for police to see. Hope expressed shock at being the only African American on the jury but remained confident in the guilty verdict.

The episode concludes with clips from Dave Chappelle's stand-up routine about "Juicy Sommelier." Chappelle's humor is credited with disarming the Smollett narrative by highlighting the absurdity of the "MAGA country" claim in Chicago. Adam and Mo sign off, encouraging listeners to pay attention to everything as the truth reveals itself.

Mo Facts argues that Black Americans are "conspiracy survivalists" by necessity, citing hip-hop groups like Wu-Tang Clan who have long discussed "deadly vaccines." He recounts a story of a Jamaican beach worker aware of the Trilateral Commission and the Bilderberg Group. They also mock the Jussie Smollett incident as an example of a narrative that failed the "common sense" test immediately.