8 chapters across the catalog
The discussion shifts to Donald Trump's refusal to admit fault regarding the COVID-19 vaccines, framed as a calculated political tactic to avoid alienating different segments of his base. The hosts also recall Tina Fey’s portrayal of Sarah Palin on Saturday Night Live, noting how the "I can see Russia from my house" line became a false historical fact. They compare past foreign policy stances on Russia involving Mitt Romney and Barack Obama to current geopolitical tensions.
The death of Diamond, from the duo Diamond and Silk, serves as an example of how the system rescinds "privilege" from those who do not adhere to the approved narrative. The hosts highlight vulgar comments on Twitter celebrating her death as evidence that her "blackness" and humanity were revoked by the system because of her political and medical stances.
The hosts "game out" a theory that the mass rollout of COVID-19 vaccines is a live trial to perfect mRNA technology for more profitable long-term products like AIDS and cancer vaccines. They suggest that the scale of the pandemic allows for the suppression of adverse events that would be more visible in smaller groups.
LeBron James addresses his decision to keep his COVID-19 vaccination status private, framing it as a personal family matter. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver indicates the league will not mandate vaccines, though local government mandates in cities like New York and San Francisco may prevent unvaccinated players from participating in home games. Sports commentators Stephen A. Smith and Max Kellerman debate the ethics of athlete prioritization for vaccines and the historical context of medical mistrust in the Black community.
Stephen A. Smith Challenges LeBron James on Social Responsibility
Stephen A. Smith appears on CNN with Don Lemon to criticize LeBron James for his silence on his vaccination status. Smith argues that because James has positioned himself as a leader on racial injustice and community health, he has a moral obligation to speak out on the pandemic. The segment highlights the "pressure tactics" used by media figures to force public figures into endorsing the vaccine rollout.
The hosts read notes from various executive producers, including a critique of a Pfizer commercial that uses the emotional hook of a pregnancy announcement to encourage COVID-19 vaccination. Another donor mentions canceling their Amazon Prime account to support independent media like *Mo Facts* and *No Agenda*. The segment includes lighthearted banter about the hosts eventually meeting in person, likened to the end of the movie *Die Hard*.
Racial Narratives in Vaccine Promotion and Hydroxychloroquine Use in Africa
A discussion emerges regarding the use of "brown doctors" and non-ADOS (American Descendants of Slavery) Africans to promote vaccines to Black communities. The low COVID-19 infection rates in Africa are attributed to the widespread use of hydroxychloroquine as a malaria prophylactic. The narrative that Black people are more susceptible to the virus is questioned as a potential social construct.
Shaving Vaccine Development Timelines and Testing in Vulnerable Communities
The typical 3-to-12-year timeline for vaccine development was significantly shortened for COVID-19 through government pre-financing. Concerns are raised about testing these new technologies on vulnerable populations in Africa and urban American centers. Historical precedents like the Tuskegee experiment are cited as reasons for deep-seated apprehension regarding rapid medical rollouts.
