9 chapters across the catalog
The hosts discuss the potential for "economic violence" as companies place unvaccinated workers on unpaid leave or terminate them. They argue that confining people to a life of poverty through workplace mandates could lead to increased crime or workplace violence. The conversation suggests that the pressure being applied to communities and families is reaching a breaking point.
Legal analysts explain that workers fired for refusing a vaccine mandate may be ineligible for unemployment benefits because they "violated a company rule." The hosts describe this as "evil" and "bad optics," especially around the holidays. They note that even in cases of poor performance, companies typically offer severance, but the current mandate response is designed to leave people with nothing.
Dr. Boyce Watkins critiques Obama's "My Brother's Keeper" initiative as "too little, too late." He notes that while Wall Street thrived, Black male unemployment remained at depression levels in cities like Chicago, and Obama's "rising tide lifts all boats" philosophy was essentially a racialized version of trickle-down economics.
The hosts praise independent voices like Boyce Watkins for challenging the mainstream narrative on YouTube. They discuss the "proof in the potato salad"—the lack of economic progress in urban centers—and how this reality makes it difficult for Democrats to sell the same platform to Black voters after 12 years of stagnation.
The hosts analyze Donald Trump's 2016 pitch to Black voters, where he highlighted failing schools and high youth unemployment. They argue that by speaking directly to these issues, Trump broke a Republican taboo and forced a conversation that the Democratic Party had long avoided.
The hosts discuss personal observations of the job market, noting increased mobility for young workers during the Trump era compared to the Obama years. They emphasize the importance of youth employment in developing discipline and financial literacy, regardless of the quality of the entry-level jobs.
A throwback clip of Tavis Smiley refutes claims that Black America saw significant economic gains during the Obama presidency. Smiley reports that Black Americans lost ground in every major economic category over that decade. The hosts discuss Smiley's subsequent disappearance from public broadcasting, suggesting he was marginalized for failing to "toe the party line."
Adam Curry and Mo Facts open episode 35 of the Mo Facts podcast, recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic on May 4, 2020. The hosts discuss the "Rona time" atmosphere, the lack of professional writers for the show, and personal anecdotes regarding the 1970s song "Loose Caboose" by Joe Tex. They briefly address the economic impact of the pandemic, noting that family members are receiving unemployment benefits as a necessary means of getting by during the lockdown.
The hosts compare the economic outcomes and policy priorities of the Obama and Trump administrations regarding black Americans. While Obama is criticized for prioritizing social issues like transgender bathroom access over economic tangibles like reparations, Trump is noted for campaigning on record-low black unemployment. The segment explores the "pen and telephone" era of executive action and the resulting disillusionment among some black voters.
