5 chapters across the catalog
A throwback clip from 2020 features Joy Reed and Shireen Mitchell attributing criticism of Kamala Harris to Russian bots. The hosts argue this was a tactic to silence the ADOS (American Descendants of Slavery) movement, which demanded tangible policy results such as reparations in exchange for political support.
Kamala Harris launched her presidential campaign on January 20, 2019, but faced immediate criticism from the ADOS (American Descendants of Slavery) movement. Media figures like Joy-Ann Reed attributed this organic black pushback to Russian bots. The hosts argue that the ADOS movement's demands for specific policies were a significant hurdle for the Harris campaign.
A throwback clip from episode 15 features Joy Reed and Shireen Mitchell discussing how to identify "bots" pretending to be Black women online. They specifically target the ADOS and DOS hashtags as indicators of disinformation. Adam Curry credits this specific broadcast with sparking his initial interest in investigating the ADOS movement and eventually connecting with Mo Fax.
Joy-Ann Reed and Shireen Mitchell discuss "Black Bot" campaigns designed to discourage Black voters by focusing on reparations and criminal justice. The hosts mock the idea that Black voters asking for "tangibles" in exchange for their vote are Russian assets. They also note P. Diddy's quick endorsement of Harris after previously threatening to hold the Black vote "hostage."
The 2020 New Hampshire primary results led media analysts like Joy Reed to suggest African American voters would shift support to Michael Bloomberg following Joe Biden's poor performance. Skepticism remains regarding Bloomberg's appeal to black voters due to his history with stop-and-frisk policies. Biden's immediate departure for South Carolina suggests a strategic retreat to a state where he maintains stronger polling among black constituents.
