In a candid talk, Charlamagne tha God, a media mogul and host of The Breakfast Club, shares insights on politics and journalism. He discusses the importance of meeting people where they are in media and that authenticity outweighs accuracy for politicians. Charlamagne reflects on his unexpected role in anti-trans advertising during the Trump campaign and critiques how Democratic leaders connect with voters. The conversation also tackles the fine line between humor and offense, alongside the challenges of social media on mental health.
01:03:53
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
insights INSIGHT
Trump's Cabinet
Trump's cabinet choices seem wrong, but fit his "outsider" image.
He's trying to drain the swamp and bring major change.
insights INSIGHT
Trump's Potential Impact
Charlamagne Tha God expresses concern about Trump's potential impact on American ideals.
He worries about the potential erosion of democracy and the American dream.
insights INSIGHT
Trump's Appeal
Trump connects with certain demographics by addressing their grievances directly.
He speaks to issues like the economy and immigration in a simple, impactful way.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Lenard McKelvey is a best-selling author, entrepreneur and media mogul, but you probably know him as Charlamagne Tha God: host of The Breakfast Club. It’s an insanely popular and influential radio program that reaches millions of listeners daily. Charlamagne has been behind the microphone for over a decade, and he's not one for playing by the rules of traditional media. In recent years he’s gotten vocal about the state of politics in the US and interviewed a raft of powerful politicians at the helm including former President Obama, President Biden and Vice President Harris. During the 2024 Presidential race, Charlamagne was an unofficial surrogate for the Harris-Walz campaign, but was arguably more effective as an inadvertent messenger for the Trump campaign’s anti-trans advertising.
Much like his approach to hosting, Charlamagne’s world views don’t stay within the lines of our polarized and partisan politics. He’s quick to remark on the faults of both parties and even quicker to call out the liberal media. In this episode, Kara and Charlamagne get into it all:
the importance of meeting people where they are, both in politics and in media; why authenticity matters more than accuracy and how Democrats don’t seem to understand that; what “mainstream media” means in 2024 and the role of “good” journalists; how he felt about getting dragged into a hateful ad for President-elect Trump and how he thinks VP Harris should’ve responded; the line between funny and offensive; and, most importantly, how to seek out joy and happiness through it all.
Questions? Comments? Email us at on@voxmedia.com or find us on Instagram and TikTok @onwithkaraswisher
On with Kara Swisher 