9 chapters across the catalog
In response to a listener question, Mo Facts shares his thoughts on "To Kill a Mockingbird," noting it didn't particularly register with him and is often criticized for the "white savior" trope. They also briefly mention "An American Plague," a book about the 1793 yellow fever epidemic in Philadelphia and the role of black citizens during the crisis.
A vintage comedy clip of Bill Cosby discussing "Spanish Fly" is analyzed for its influence on later comedians like Eddie Murphy. The hosts explain how the media used this 1969 routine to retroactively paint Cosby as a predator. They argue that the joke was about a common childhood myth rather than a confession of criminal intent, illustrating how "morsels" of information are weaponized by the press to build a specific narrative.
The 2014 viral stand-up set by Hannibal Buress in Philadelphia is identified as the catalyst that reignited the Bill Cosby allegations. Buress called Cosby a "rapist" on stage, which led to a massive resurgence in media interest. In a later interview with Joe Rogan, Buress discusses the "opportunistic" appearance of his subsequent Comedy Central deal, though he claims the show was already in development. The hosts question if the joke was "given gas" by the media to initiate the takedown.
The 1973 film *Trick Baby*, based on the novel by Iceberg Slim, provides a character archetype for the "confidence man" that some compare to Joe Biden. The story follows "White Folks," a mixed-race con man who uses his ability to navigate different social circles to exploit the "dishonesty of the victim." This profile is used to analyze Biden's long career of bipartisanship and his ability to project whatever image a specific audience desires to see.
The hosts analyze Barack Obama's recent speech in Philadelphia, criticizing his use of "code" when addressing "young brothers." They argue his rhetoric is a "cop-out" for the Democratic Party's failures to deliver substantive policy changes for the ADOS (American Descendants of Slavery) community during his eight years in office.
The discussion turns to the shooting of Walter Wallace Jr. and the subsequent rioting and looting in Philadelphia. The hosts argue that unchecked violence in Democrat-run cities alienates peaceful residents and business owners, potentially driving them toward a "law and order" candidate or causing them to stay home on election day.
Bob Woodson, founder of the National Center for Enterprise, describes growing up in a segregated but thriving South Philadelphia neighborhood. He recalls a community where everyone worked, schools were integral to the neighborhood, and Black teachers were deeply invested in their students. Woodson argues that this environment provided a positive educational experience that modern integrated systems often lack.
Lawrence Otis Graham reveals that the black upper class in Philadelphia historically shunned Bill Cosby because he was an entertainer rather than a professional like a doctor or lawyer. Despite Cosby's massive wealth and influence in the 1990s, he was not considered "their kind of people." This exclusivity mirrors the social dynamics of white elite circles.
A year-long investigation by Reveal shows that Black and Latino homebuyers still face higher loan denial rates in many American cities. One case study in Philadelphia involved a Black computer programmer who was denied a loan until she added a "white adjacent" (half-white) girlfriend to the application. Despite the girlfriend having a lower income and unstable work history, her presence on the application facilitated the loan's approval.
