The Breakdown with Shaun King

Latest Episodes:

Throwback Episode: Tennessee v. Garner - Police Brutality is Legal - Part 1 of 3 Mar 16, 2022

Show notes

For Today's episode of The Breakdown, we are going way back and replaying our 12th episode. In it, Shaun King begins the first of a 3 part series on why police brutality is functionally legal in the United States by unpacking the Supreme Court cases that currently protect even the worst officers in cases of police brutality.

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Ep. 585 - How to be consistent about human rights Mar 15, 2022

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The world can be an ugly place, but when that ugliness comes, I have some measure of peace because I'm consistent in what I speak out. I can speak out on the war crimes of Putin and Russia because I also speak out on the war crimes of the United States.
But that's because I have a worldview - a philosophy - a guiding way I see and interact with the world. And when you don't have one, you ultimately allow other people, particularly the mainstream media, to determine what you should and shouldn't be concerned about.

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Ep. 584 - I so badly wonder who and what Biggie would be if he was still alive Mar 09, 2022

Show notes

Today is the 25th anniversary of the tragic murder of Biggie Smalls. And I just want to reflect on how special he was, how much I loved him growing up, where I rank him as a rapper - and I want to dream out loud on who and what he would've become.

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Ep. 583 - Mitch McConnell just did something evil AND brilliant. Let me explain. Mar 08, 2022

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Yesterday Mitch McConnell announced that he is going to block something that was WIDELY expected to have bi-partisan support. During the pandemic, a policy was enacted to pay for school lunches across the country. It's popular from coast to coast with conservatives and liberals alike. And Democrats wanted to renew it. But Mitch shocked everybody and said he's blocking it.
Let me explain what's evil AND brilliant about this.
It's evil, point blank, because it's going to deny school children equal access to lunch. But what's brilliant, in the most nefarious way about this, is what I think is a central organizing principle of Republicans.
They don't give Democrats ANYTHING. And ultimately stretch Democrats so thin, making them fight in so many battles, for even the most basic scraps of government, that they never really get to fight for deep systemic change.
Ultimately, even though Democrats control the House, Senate, and Presidency, conservatives are still setting so much of the domestic agenda from day to day.
Let me unpack and explain it.

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Ep. 582 - He pointed his gun at police and didn't even get arrested. Mar 07, 2022

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Charles Ryan did something that would be a literal death sentence to every Black person in America. After a 911 call was made of shots fired, police in Tempe, Arizona showed up at Ryan's home, only for him to point his loaded gun straight at them.
Instead of killing him in a hail of bullets like police did to Amadou Diallo for showing police his wallet, police didn't fire a single bullet at Charles Ryan. They didn't put their knee in his neck. They didn't Taser him. In fact, they didn't even arrest him or take him to jail.
Instead, they took him to the hospital for a cut on his hand, and then literally released him back to go home. The very thing that police tell us over and over again that they just couldn't avoid was not only avoided with this white man - he's been given VIP treatment to this very day.
Police CLEARLY know how to be patient and methodical. They just have to want it.

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Ep. 581 - When the US desperately needed moral authority on war crimes - it has none Mar 04, 2022

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Without a doubt, Russia is committing thousands of war crimes against Ukraine. Any common spectator understands this. But right when the United States could desperately use moral authority to call out these war crimes, the world is reminding the US that it, too, has committed war crimes with impunity for generations.
Today I will speak on this painful truth - and discuss the interconnectedness of how horrible decisions made by the US government from its founding until today makes it nearly impossible to then call out other superpowers with any measure of seriousness.

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Ep. 580 - My heart for refugees, widows, and orphans Mar 03, 2022

Show notes

You've recently heard me say many times the words of Dr. King that "injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." And I believe our grave inconsistency with this, where we ignore some injustices like they don't even matter, harms us all. I am against police brutality EVERYWHERE. I am against mass incarceration everywhere. And ultimately, that helps us fight smarter and better here.
But sometimes, when violent men create war, and war crimes, I have to pause or slow some of the core work I do, to try to help refugees, widows, and orphans that are truly in duress. It's a part of my faith. A duty. A sacred obligation that I've carried my entire adult life.
Today I'll break some of this down and say more about our work helping African students and immigrants fleeing Ukraine.

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Ep. 579 - What we are doing to help African immigrants caught at the borders of Ukraine Mar 01, 2022

Show notes

Today is abbreviated episode of The Breakdown as we rush to help African students and immigrants who are either stuck on the Ukrainian side of the border or virtually lost on the other side once they've crossed over.We're hiring several African students who've crossed over to help us build a database of those who need help. And we're partnering with several brilliant NGO's and donors who will help us with housing and transportation from there.

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Ep. 578 - What I think about African immigrants being mistreated at the Ukrainian border Feb 28, 2022

Show notes

Over 500,000 refugees have now fled Ukraine in just the past few days alone. In a country that is 99% white, it came as a surprise to many of us to learn that tens of thousands of African immigrants were living, working, and being educated there - and were among those attempting to flee to safety.It was, then, a deep disappointment to see those African immigrants, many with infant children, in freezing cold temperatures, being mistreated and denied an opportunity to flee.Three days after those first videos emerged, I'll unpack and explain what I know, and tell you why I am hopeful that things will be much better from here on out.

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Ep. 577 - What we can expect from Kentanji Brown Jackson on the Supreme Court Feb 25, 2022

Show notes

Early this morning it was just announced that Judge Kentanji Brown Jackson will be Joe Biden's nominee to the Supreme Court. Of course, Republicans won't make it easy, but she should be fast tracked to the court. She's not a radical. Trust me, I'd like to see that, but she was the best choice among the finalists Biden leaked to the press.
Today I'll unpack her views on policing and mass incarceration, and say some about what we can hope and expect from her once she's seated.

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