4 chapters across the catalog
The 2015 Baltimore riots following the death of Freddie Gray are contrasted with the 2020 protests. The hosts highlight how President Barack Obama and the media used the terms thugs and criminals to describe the Baltimore rioters, a stark difference from the mostly peaceful label applied to later unrest. They argue that when a riot is unsanctioned by the political establishment, the rhetoric becomes significantly more punitive.
The hosts examine Hawk Newsome’s shift from preaching non-violence in a 2018 TEDx talk to his more radical rhetoric following the death of George Floyd. They discuss how media coverage can radicalize individuals, giving them a false sense of security to speak their minds before being "canceled" or silenced when they deviate from the approved narrative. Nick Cannon is also mentioned as a victim of this cycle.
The discussion revisits President Barack Obama's use of the word "thug" to describe rioters in Baltimore following the death of Freddie Gray in 2015. Unlike Donald Trump, Obama doubled down on the term, which the hosts identify as a turning point in his relationship with the black community.
Following the 2015 riots, Baltimore experienced a massive surge in murders as police officers engaged in a "coordinated slowdown" or "blue flu." The hosts suggest this cycle of bad actors, rioting, and police withdrawal is a structured process used to justify future crackdowns.
