Topic: Riots

Malcolm X distinguishes between financial poverty and "poverty of spirit" or human dignity. The hosts discuss how modern riots, such as those during the Black Lives Matter movement, are often "sanctioned" or granted the "privilege" to occur because they serve a larger political initiative. They contrast this with organic protests that are met with immediate state suppression.

The 25th anniversary of the death of Tyron Lewis, an unarmed Black teenager killed by police in 1996, serves as a backdrop for the Uhuru movement's long-standing presence in St. Petersburg. The original shooting sparked days of rioting and fires in the city. The hosts reflect on how these historical cycles of unrest are amplified by modern social media compared to the early internet era of the 1990s.

The segment reviews the breakdown of Black-Jewish relations during the 1970s and 80s, culminating in the 1991 Crown Heights riots in New York. It examines the roles of leaders like Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, and how modern figures like Tamika Mallory are managed by the media through their associations with controversial figures.

The discussion introduces the central theme of the episode: the dangers of binary thinking and its role in modern political discourse. Using QAnon as a primary lens, the conversation explores how simplified "us versus them" logic is used to manipulate the public. The hosts suggest that certain extremist movements may serve as government-inspired honeypots designed to trap citizens and justify expanded surveillance.

The discussion covers the Department of Homeland Security's efforts to "off-ramp" disillusioned QAnon followers after the prophesied "storm" failed to occur on Inauguration Day. The hosts point out the linguistic connection between the QAnon "storm" and the media's insistence on using the word "stormed" to describe the January 6th events. They argue that the media uses the threat of white supremacy to scare people away from alternative media sources.

Joseph Bolanos, a political independent who typically votes for Democrats, describes being raided at 6:00 AM by the Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF). Despite never entering the Capitol on January 6th, Bolanos had ten tactically dressed agents point automatic rifles at him while he was cleaning his mother's apartment. The hosts use this to show that the government's "domestic terror" apparatus does not discriminate based on actual guilt or political affiliation.

The hosts frame the death of Ashley Babbitt as the "180-degree opposite" of George Floyd in the media landscape. They analyze how public reactions were split along binary lines, with those who typically oppose police violence justifying Babbitt's shooting because of her political affiliations. The discussion highlights the "mind screw" of modern narratives where property rights and human lives are valued differently depending on the "team" involved.

Psychiatrist Dr. Todd Grande provides a background profile of Ashley Babbitt, a 35-year-old Air Force veteran with multiple deployments to Iraq. He details the final moments of her life in the Speaker's Lobby of the Capitol, where she was shot while attempting to climb through a broken window. The hosts use this profile to contrast her military service with the "militant" label later applied to her by the media.

Congresswoman Madeline Dean's reaction to the Michael Byrd interview is analyzed, with the hosts suggesting the timing was used to distract from the deaths of 13 U.S. service members in Afghanistan. They mock the "lay down on the floor" security protocol described by lawmakers during the riot, questioning why there were no better evacuation plans for the Capitol. The segment suggests the interview was a coordinated effort to "reclaim the narrative."

The hosts examine the role of Jade Sacker, a photojournalist who was with John Sullivan inside the Capitol. Despite being presented as an independent filmmaker, she has ties to CNN. The hosts suggest she may have acted as a "honeypot" to gain access and footage, leaving Sullivan to face legal consequences while she remained uncharged. They announce that more detailed footage of their interaction will be shown on "The Lost Tapes."

Mo defines premeditation in the context of the nine-minute restraint, arguing that Chauvin had ample time to change his course of action. He describes the global reaction—including riots in Holland—as evidence of a "major spell" cast on the world. He asserts that the event was never truly about George Floyd but about a broader push for a specific type of "justice" that remains undefined.

The hosts critique the lack of condemnation for Maxine Waters' rhetoric from Democratic leaders like Nancy Pelosi. Mo describes a "business model" for civil rights cases involving attorney Ben Crump, where large settlements (like the $27 million paid to the Floyd family) act as a "pressure release valve" to stop riots. He argues the lack of violence after the Chauvin verdict proves the unrest was not organic but controlled.

The roll call of associate executive producers continues, featuring a discussion on the media's disparate treatment of deaths at the Capitol versus daily violence in cities like Chicago. A listener's note suggests that "white people don't care about marginally impactful white people getting killed," citing the lack of outrage over Ashli Babbitt. The hosts conclude that media algorithms only respond to events that trigger specific interracial or political tensions.

A comparison is drawn between the Capitol breach and a typical sports riot, where fans engage in property destruction without a coordinated plan for execution or overthrow. The hosts point out that serious white supremacist groups with heavy artillery were notably absent, suggesting the crowd consisted mostly of unarmed Trump fans. They argue that if the intent had been a true violent insurrection, the outcome would have looked significantly different.

The hosts play a clip of Malcolm X describing a Harlem street rally where he realized the power of his words to spark or stop violence. They draw a direct parallel between the vilification of Malcolm X in the 1960s and the current treatment of Donald Trump. The discussion suggests that history is rhyming, as both figures were labeled as hate-mongers by the establishment to prevent their message from reaching a wider audience.

The hosts reflect on Malcolm X's realization that he possessed the power to either start or stop a race riot through his connection to the "human combustion" of the ghetto. This segment explores the danger of uncontrolled social forces and the desire of the power structure to channel that energy for its own ends. They conclude that true independence comes from breaking the "mind trap" and refusing to be a pawn for either side of the political spectrum.

Leonard Patterson describes his training in Moscow on how to use honest grievances and popular slogans to arouse the emotions of the masses. He explains the necessity of creating martyrs and organizing marches designed to irritate white citizens into violence. These tactics were intended to trigger riots and spread social instability, mirroring the "trained Marxist" admissions of modern activists.

A supercut of Donald Trump's rhetoric during the 2020 riots highlights his frequent use of the word "thug." The hosts argue that using this term was a significant misstep, as it carries heavy racial undertones and is often perceived as a synonym for the N-word in black communities.

The discussion outlines the strategic waves of a riot, beginning with an "initiation" followed by non-violent protesters. A clip of Representative Ilhan Omar is analyzed, where she mentions "safety plans" for protests that were disrupted by a "void" in leadership. The hosts interpret this as an admission of coordinated efforts that eventually spiraled into planned chaos.

Protests erupt outside CNN's world headquarters in Atlanta, leading to smashed windows and property damage. The hosts discuss the "feedback loop" created by live media coverage, where rioters can watch their own actions on television in real-time. They also note that many participants are focused on creating social media content for their own channels.