July 21, 2025 • 30 mins
On part 1 of today's podcast, Hosts Ramses Ja and Q Ward recap the 2025 National Urban League Conference.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Broadcasting from the Civic Cipher studios. Welcome to the QR code,
where we share perspective, is seek understanding and shape outcomes.
He is the q N QR code. He is a
man who is kind, a man who is generous, a
man who is brilliant.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
He goes by the name of q Ward.
Speaker 3 (00:17):
He is a man who likes to talk about himself
and then say my name at the end of it,
the R in the QR code.
Speaker 4 (00:24):
His name is Ramsay's Jaw.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
And we need you to stick around because we had
an exciting weekend. We were able to get on the
ground at the National Urban League National Convention twenty twenty
five and listen to some of the most brilliant minds
and brilliant thinkers, who are activists, who are leaders, who
are people that feel like there is a more just
(00:48):
America always on the horizon. And we are going to
have a bit of a recap and share some of
the things that we learned, some of the hands that
we were able to shake. And then later in the show,
of course, we're going to talk about for our entertainment segment,
are the taste makers behind country music. Racists come up
(01:08):
that people behind the scenes are indeed racist. Doesn't really
surprise me, but you know, we got to deal with data,
and we got to deal with facts, and so we're
going to cite some journalistic sources and ask that question.
We're also going to talk about a disturbing video of
a Chilean woman who was arrested in New York City,
leaving a twelve year old child abandoned. Q is going
to clap back at Republicans who have only been wearing
(01:32):
the Constitution as a costume. And we're also going to
talk about ABC ending its relationship with Stephen Colbert after
he criticized Trump in our Better Do Better segment, and
coming up after we discuss some culture, we're going to
be talking about whether or not government mandated IQ tests
for all politicians is a good idea.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
So a whole lot to stick.
Speaker 1 (01:55):
Around for this episode, But as always, we like to
start off with a feel good feature, so I'm going
to share a bit from Newsweek. A government attorney resigned
over what he called a shift in immigration and Customs
enforcement mission from safeguarding the nation to chasing deportation numbers.
Adam Boyd, a thirty three year old attorney, quit the
ICE legal department. Last month, The Atlantic reported, quote, we
(02:18):
still need good attorneys at ICE. There are drug traffickers
and national security threats and human rights violators in our
country who need to be dealt with, but we are
now focusing on numbers over all else, Boyd told the
outlet Newsweek has contacted the Department of Homeland Security for
common Stephen Miller, who is the White House Deputy chief
of Staff for Policy, and Homeland Security Secretary Christy Noam,
(02:42):
set a daily arrest quota of three thousand, piling up
pressure on ICE agents to deliver historically high figures. Boyd
said he ultimately felt he quote had to make a
moral decision unquote to leave after watching the agency's priorities
change under mounting political pressure.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
Quote.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
It became a contest how many deportations could be reported
to White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller by December,
Boyd said. According to Boyd, ice lawyers were increasingly frustrated
as legitimate cases were dismissed so that officer teams could
arrest immigrants in courthouse hallways and push them through fast
tracked deportations tactics, He says, padded statistics at.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
The expense of due process.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
I mean that feels good somebody standing up for what's
right when so many people are just kind of letting
things go.
Speaker 3 (03:31):
Any thoughts here, cue standing up for what's right is
one way to put it right.
Speaker 4 (03:36):
Just not accepting the new norm, but.
Speaker 3 (03:39):
Also not really fighting back, just kind of getting out
of the way, Like what's the I'm curious to see
what his next move is, because just leaving that agency
to keep doing the wrong that they're doing and nothing
can be done about it, that part is kind of discouraging,
like the people who actually have a moral code have
to just quit and leave.
Speaker 4 (03:57):
Like, so, then what's next? That's a fair question.
Speaker 1 (04:02):
All right, Well, I'm not going to pretend like these
aren't trying times or folks who have been pushing or
hoping or voting for a more just and equitable go
at the American dream. And you know, I think that
(04:26):
that spirit was present on the ground in Cleveland this
past weekend at the National Urban League National Convention.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
Q and I were fortunate.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
Enough to be able to go out there and you know,
do some some live broadcasting and some taping and some interviewing,
and you know, it's always good to get in a
room full of people who feel that the world could
be and should be a better place. It's always good
(04:58):
to get in a room full of people who are
there to remind you that you aren't crazy and that
the things that you're questioning about what is normal should
be questioned.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
And it's always good.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
To get in a room full of people that will
just love on you and support what you're doing. Because
Q and I famously we work in studios. We have
studios in Phoenix, we have studios in Los Angeles, we
have you know, studios in Atlanta. But we're in studios.
We're seldom in crowds in front of people. That's that's
a rarity, you know, relative to our production schedule, you know,
we have to produce every day, and uh so it
(05:35):
gets a little lonely, it gets a little claustrophobic. And
indeed we end up hearing each other's voices a lot,
and so to hear to hear outsiders, to hear people
out beyond the four walls of our studios, reminding us that, hey,
the work that you're doing is necessary, the stories that
(05:56):
you're covering are necessary. You don't get lost in the
sauce that that is a very much refreshing feeling. And
you know, the the weekend was kicked off by Tony Coles,
who's a good friend of ours and the president of
the Black Information Network. You know, obviously we cite stories
from b I N. And you know, we love the
(06:19):
b I in Chris Thompson and you know, the whole
team there, and we proudly represent the Black Information Network
ourselves whenever we are able to be ambassadors of that network.
So Tony Coles was sharing the stage with Mark Morel,
who's the president of the National Urban League. And you know,
he's another person who's been on you know, programs with
(06:40):
us before. We've done panels with him in the past,
you know, and just again a brilliant mind and a
brilliant thinker. And you know their initial conversation, you know,
I pulled no punches. It definitely let everyone know, Hey,
these are troubling times. We're going to experience some trauma,
but we need to remind ourselves that, you know.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
We are a people who with resolve, We are people
who have been through worse.
Speaker 1 (07:07):
We are people that can endure this and we can
come out on the other side stronger and understanding what
tactics are being used to shift the balance of power
and economics and mobility back into the lap of let's
be honest, straight Christian, healthy white males. You know, there
(07:34):
was definitely a conversation about how diversity, equity and inclusion
initiatives are being dismantled, using the language of civil rights
to suggest that, you know, somehow this was unfair and
that it was disenfranchising, that indeed that group of people,
(07:55):
this straight Christian, healthy white males, that they were at
a disadvantage because of diversity equity and inclusion initiatives, which
of course isn't born out in the data. But this
is the this is what was used to dismantle, you know,
(08:18):
or weaken affirmative action and then ultimately dismantle DEI initiatives.
And that's the narrative because I think people in principle
understand what diversity, equity and inclusion was for. But this
what this I guess take on it that it somehow
(08:38):
disadvantages white men is the legal shield that folks have
been able to hide behind in order to justify weakening
and rolling back diversity equity and inclusion initiatives. And so
understanding all of this was was a lot, But knowing
that that is the reality situation gives us time and
(09:01):
motivation to fortify ourselves against it. You know, my last
little bit, we did get a chance to meet and
talk to a lot of people, introduce ourselves to a
lot of folks. A lot of folks got a chance
to introduce ourselves themselves to us.
Speaker 2 (09:14):
And.
Speaker 1 (09:17):
You know, just being at a conference like that again,
it just serves us, at least for me, a reminder
that we're not alone. That you know, there are other
people that believe in better days, in a better future.
And you know, these people aren't delusional, these people aren't uninformed.
They recognize the gravity of our immediate reality. But you know,
(09:40):
getting a chance to have guests in and talk to us,
and you know, us doing our thing and being highlighted
and platformed by the Urban League certainly feels good. And
it certainly feels like the work that we're doing is
being recognized. And so that's that's my take from it. Obviously,
I know you have your thoughts as well. Q.
Speaker 3 (10:00):
It cuts both ways, right to get in that space,
to be surrounded by a community, to have people around
us to remind us that we're not crazy, and that
we're not alone, and how we feel in the experience
that we're going through its great.
Speaker 4 (10:12):
And then we leave there and we come back to
the real world.
Speaker 3 (10:15):
We come back to our silo, we come back to
our studio, and we get right back into what sometimes
you feel like an echo chamber, only because outside that
alignment and that sense of community kind of doesn't exist
when not in such an incredible setting like the National
Urban League National Conference, kind of like is like seeing
each other when we haven't seen each other for a
(10:36):
long time.
Speaker 4 (10:36):
We're really really happy to be in.
Speaker 3 (10:37):
Each other's space, but then that day after you leave,
you missed the person more than you did before you
reconnect it. So it's kind of that same effect you
touched on some great points. The conversation between Tony and
Mark was a very powerful one, and they spoke about
(10:59):
DII and the way that they's somehow flipped on its
head to present straight Christian, rich white men as the
victims of everything, and now the entire government and all
of our legislation and all of our policy needs to
be reshaped so they can have a fair shot because
of all the things that are working against them in
this society. That's a really interesting thing to watch play out,
(11:23):
and even people who over the years were perceived as allies,
I'm watching them like flip to the other side. And
just hearing conversations about that happen in real time at
the conference was good as well. The other thing that
mister Murie brought up was the hypernormalization that we talk about,
where people are kind of getting used to this new
(11:45):
normal and the kitchen's on fire and they're sitting at
the table eating dinner like everything's okay. Something that we've
discussed multiple times now, but every day I'm reminded of it,
right Like, I'm looking at videos that we share in
our group, stories that we you know, consider for all
of our different platforms, and we're seeing just really despicable,
(12:06):
despicable things, and you know, the audience will get to
hear us talk about it, you know, multiple times this
week and on Civic Cipher.
Speaker 4 (12:15):
There's just a lot to deal with. Man. This new
norm is really difficult, really scary, really.
Speaker 3 (12:19):
Mean, really anti Christian, anti American, like all the things
that they claim to stand for, everything that they're doing
is anti that, and just no one on their side
seems to care or to give it a fair shot
in any way, and we have to just kind of
accept that. So the National Urba League National Convention provided
(12:44):
some insulation, some embrace, some support, some reinvigoration. It was like,
you know, us pulling over at a rest stop, getting out,
walking around, filling the car up with gas, cleaning the
windshield off, getting a gatorade, getting some cheat ghost for Ramses,
and then you know, now we got to get back
(13:04):
in the car and get back on the road and
keep doing this work. So I just want to extend
a thank you from us to the National Urban League.
Not only do they treat us like family, Ramses, but
it's like VIP family, like we're their favorite cousins.
Speaker 4 (13:19):
Yeah. There's just a lot of love in that room
and a lot of support, and it meant the world
for us to be there.
Speaker 2 (13:25):
Yeah, I mean, with.
Speaker 1 (13:28):
Thousands of people to be platformed the way that we are.
I remember when Mark Morial first saw you and he
gave you the huge hug, and the whole room lit up.
You know, Tony, obviously Tony Cole's being able to see him.
Angela Riith was there, your basketball player friend. I forget
his name, but was.
Speaker 4 (13:47):
His name Jalen Rose.
Speaker 1 (13:49):
Jalen Rose was there too, and he just lit up
when he saw you. That was so cool man. So
it's good to be there, and I'm obviously looking forward
to next year's But uh, that's a little bit about
whats going on with the culture. Now, I got some opinions.
So it's no secret that Donald Trump is how would
(14:13):
I say this accurately? Uh, I don't want to call him, Well,
how about this? Donald Trump is known for insults. That's
that's fair. And uh, you know, recently Jasmine Crockett ended
(14:34):
up on his radar and Donald Trump for some reason,
he's like obsessed with people's IQs.
Speaker 2 (14:41):
So I'll share the story.
Speaker 1 (14:44):
But the short of it is that he suggested that
Jasmine Crockett was a low IQ individual and that he
was a high IQ individual, and that I thought was hilarious.
(15:04):
And the reason that we're talking about this and i'll
share my opinion you'll share here is But first off,
I happen to know that IQ measures one type of
intelligence that is not really consistent with what we know
(15:25):
to be human intelligence. There are different forms of intelligence
that ultimately predict success in different environments, in different societies,
and so forth, right, And so I want to say
on its face that, I mean, there's articles that suggest that,
you know, traditional legacy IQ tests are race biased and
(15:45):
so forth and so on. Right, then there's other things
that factor into that. You know, nutrition, you know, how
much sleep you get, you know, all that sort of things.
You know, how you grew up, where you grew up,
how you're educated, of course, all that sort of stuff. Right,
So i Q test is not the be all and
end all. It's not like certain people are born and
that's it. You know, you're just smart or you're stupid
(16:08):
or whatever. Right, it doesn't quite work that way. There
are environmental factors that affect that as well. Add to
that that what indeed it is measuring is not necessarily
the ultimate measure of intelligence in our species. But I've
(16:29):
been in the room with Jasmine Crockett. I've seen her
interact with other people. I've interacted with her myself, both
Q and myself, and we've done it in front of
cameras with microphones, and we've hung out just laughing multiple times.
Jasmine Crockett is awesome, right, But as a person who
(16:53):
you know, I was, I'm not beating my chest, but
I was one of those people that was in honors classes.
I was one of those people that I did well.
I could take test well, that's all I'll say. And
I went through school. I have a master's degree.
Speaker 4 (17:06):
You know.
Speaker 1 (17:06):
It's again not beating my chest. But I've been around
some smart people, So I know smart people from less
intelligent people.
Speaker 4 (17:13):
Right.
Speaker 1 (17:14):
I know Jasmine Crockett to be one of the most
brilliant people that I know. Donald Trump, I would not
say the same.
Speaker 4 (17:24):
Now.
Speaker 1 (17:24):
I haven't been in the room with Donald Trump, thankfully,
but I've consumed enough of his speeches and so forth
to know who I put my money on. So there's
that add to that that it is absolutely insulting my
opinion for him to try to suggest that Jasmine Crockett
(17:46):
is low IQ. Given everything that she has done to
get where she is, there's so much that goes into
that that proves by the journey alone that she is
a brilliant mind that for him to just offer his
opinion on her it feels insultant. Now, I'll read those
(18:13):
are my thoughts. I'll read, and then Q will get
your thoughts here. This from the Black Information Network. President
Donald Trump challenged Representative Jasmine Crockett, who he deemed low IQ,
to an intelligence test to see who comes out best.
Trump again took aim at Crockett, along with fellow Democrat
Representative Alexandria Acasio. Quotes while speaking to reporters en route
(18:34):
to Pittsburgh ahead of a summit on energy and artificial intelligence.
Quote AOC look, I think she's very nice, but she's
very low IQ, and we really don't need low iquote,
Trump began his rant. Per The Independent, goes on to say,
between her and Crockett, we're going to give them both
an IQ test to see who comes out best. He
(18:55):
added of the Texas congresswoman, He goes on to say,
now I took my I took a real test at
Walter Reed Medical Center, and I aced it. I got
every one of all those questions. Right now, it's time
for them to take a test. This isn't the first
time Trump has aimed at Crockett's intelligence. During an interview
with NBC News is Meet the Press earlier this year,
(19:16):
Trump targeted Crockett while speaking about the Democratic Party, which
he said was in total disarray. Quote they have a
new person named Crockett. I watched her speak the other day,
she's definitely a low IQ person, and they say she's
the future of the party, unquote, Trump said at the time.
Crockett addressed Trump's latest insult during an interview on CNN's
Laura Coats Live. Quote, It's absolutely ridiculous that I live
(19:38):
rent free in his mind in a time in which
the American people are suffering, he absolutely consistently buys into
this idea or continues to put it out there that
women of color somehow are low IQ. Let me be clear,
I have a lot more education than he does. This
is just what a degree. This is just what it is.
Degree wise. I have earned my degrees. My daddy didn't
(19:58):
have to make a phone call again me into anything
because that wasn't a possibility. Okay, So let's stop playing
games as if I'm somehow lesser than this according to
Jasmine Crockett, So yeah, I think that government mandated IQ
tests for all politicians might be a good idea.
Speaker 2 (20:17):
Let's see where everyone flushes out.
Speaker 3 (20:18):
Que I mean it'd be a good idea if he
wasn't the referee, right, any form of competition where he
gets determined the rules and the outcomes is.
Speaker 4 (20:28):
Going to be an awful idea.
Speaker 3 (20:29):
He's gonna you know that, he's not going to set
up some system where meritocracy actually exists. The idea that
these women of color are low IQ is a racist,
sexist dog whistle that he knows he can get off
because he won't be challenged on it, talking about women
who are highly educated, and just the way that he
(20:50):
speaks about that test like.
Speaker 4 (20:51):
A fourth rader.
Speaker 3 (20:52):
I got all the answers right, as if that's the
even the way you speak about something that's measuring IQ.
Speaker 1 (20:59):
I've taken an IQ test. I know what my IQ
test is. It doesn't work that way, but anyway, go ahead.
My point exactly.
Speaker 4 (21:05):
I guess.
Speaker 3 (21:07):
Multiple choice questions and I got them right, Like what
are we talking about here? So we understand that he's
not even actually challenging their IQs. He just knows that
he can make racist, sexist remarks like that, and his base,
those that vote for him, those that support him, and
those that sit silent while he treats everybody like crap,
we'll just we'll eat that right up. So we're not
(21:31):
actually wondering who's the most intelligent of those three, because
we know who's the least intelligent without even having to
take any tests.
Speaker 1 (21:37):
Thank you.
Speaker 3 (21:40):
It's disgusting, right, I was like, and again this, I
think the idea of there being a minimum you know,
education level, a minimum requirement for you know, qualifications an
IQ test, I'm not certain because I think there's a
way that standardized tests can can just always go in
(22:00):
the favor of some people and against others. I think
we've read about cultural biased testing, but there's measurable things
like you know, college degrees and work experience that have
been the standard for almost every career. And now we
have you know, careers in government where people with no education,
(22:20):
as we've seen, you know, the new job listings go
out for ICE agents can make six figures with no
experience and huge bonuses. And we don't have enough money
to feed teachers, we don't have enough money to feed homeless.
But let's hire one hundred thousand ICE agents and pay
them one hundred and fifty thousand dollars and give them
a forty thousand dollars signing bonus.
Speaker 2 (22:38):
I think it's fifty thousand bonus.
Speaker 3 (22:40):
Yeah, just correct me, please, because that's the point we
always wonder where's the money going to come from? When
it comes to helping underprivileged and marginalize people. But when
it comes to harming people, we have unlimited money. And
the leader of that movement is now the president and
(23:00):
insults people, disrespects people, tries to rob people of their humanity,
all while touting how great of a person he is
and how brilliant he is and a stable genius he
once called himself. I don't know what that's based on,
but it's quite laughable.
Speaker 4 (23:17):
Man.
Speaker 3 (23:19):
Talking about him is tough for me, especially in this
new of America where that might be illegal sion. Yeah, well,
I know the feeling. It's uh, it's tough.
Speaker 1 (23:33):
But as often as it makes sense, I mean, I
would go as far as to say Jasmine Crockett is
a friend of ours. I mean, as often as we
can defend her, I feel like it's appropriate to do that.
She doesn't need us, you know, and you know she
does all right on her own.
Speaker 4 (23:50):
But I'll sign up to show up for Jasmine Crockett
any day.
Speaker 1 (23:54):
There it is. That's what I'm trying to say. So,
you know, just letting everyone know she is brilliant by
a long way, all right. So I'm sure you heard
about this, you know, our production schedule is a little
wonky this week, of course, but ABC News is ending
(24:15):
their relationship with Stephen Colbert, and it just happened to
come after he criticized Donald Trump.
Speaker 4 (24:23):
And.
Speaker 1 (24:25):
You know, if somebody better do better ABC. Now, I
will say a couple of things. I know that this
is kind of already done, you know, but you certainly
expect more from these institutions that have built credibility with
(24:47):
the American people for such a long time, and to
be at this point it feels like obviously there are
billionaires involved in people trying to make a sale and
all that sort of stuff, you know, behind the scenes.
For those that may not have gotten into the weeds here,
my understanding is that there's a person who's trying to
(25:12):
sell the company, and in order to actually sell the
parent company, you need FCC approval. FCC, of course, is
a Federal Communications Commission which falls under Trump's jurisdiction, and
so if the FCC doesn't give approval, then the sale
won't go through. And so they are able to basically
like blackmail and manipulate like the programming lineup as they
(25:36):
feel it is appropriate, and deny the American people. Stephen
Colbert someone who was doing very well in his time,
so I think he was number one, so that you know,
the deal could go through. So the FCC is just
kind of and so this is the rumor. Of course,
i ABC has their thoughts. I'm sure we'll get into that,
(26:01):
but I'll share a bit from the Hill in just
a second. But before I do that, I want to
make sure that I remind people that Republicans have been
the ones who historically have pushed back against cancel culture.
And there is a stunning silence right now. You know,
(26:29):
how about this? You know the astronaut CEO guy that
was on the Coldplay kissed cam with his the woman
he was having an affair with. He ended up having
to resign right from his position. And you know that's
(26:49):
something that he did to himself. That's you know, nobody
did anything to him. He did that, and you know
his board members were like, hey, there's a standard that
we have at this company, blah blah blah. So he
loses his job, right, Stephen Colbert did exactly what he's
always done. So I just I feel like this is crazy.
(27:11):
Let me hurry up and read this and get you
to jump in here. Cue this from the Hill. President
Trump said Friday morning that he was thrilled by the
news that CBS is canceling the decade running Late Show
with Stephen Colbert. I'm sorry, I said ABC earlier, I
meant CBS. I absolutely love that Colbert got fired, the
president wrote in a post on True Social His talent
(27:31):
was even less than his ratings. The comedian was helmed.
Speaker 2 (27:36):
Sorry.
Speaker 1 (27:36):
The comedian has helmed the Late show since twenty fifteen,
when he took over for a long time host, David Letterman.
The program is the most watched talk show during the
eleven thirty five pm time slot, averaging nearly two and
a half million viewers during the second quarter of this year.
Speaker 2 (27:48):
All Right, cute your.
Speaker 4 (27:49):
Thoughts, ramses. I again, I.
Speaker 3 (27:58):
Was no noticeably sick to my stomach, mentally and emotionally
exhausted after the election, and I said a lot of
things out loud that I think a lot.
Speaker 4 (28:11):
Of people assumed it was me being extreme, dramatic or hyperbolic.
Speaker 2 (28:15):
No, you were right.
Speaker 3 (28:17):
One of those things was Man, we might not be
able to do our jobs anymore because he's the type
of person that will make criticizing him illegal. And I
think because even in the worst of times in the
history of this country. Freedom of the press and freedom
(28:38):
of speech have always made it where you could speak
truth to power. It didn't always mean that things were
going to change because you did, but you could and
you could feel protected. And the fourth of State played
a role in that protection. And when you take a
piece of that that has traditionally always had a nonpartisan
(29:00):
dance and you make it not just partisan but loyalist,
it takes away our ability, not just journalists, but all creators, comedians.
Speaker 4 (29:11):
Talk show hosts, artist, singers, rappers.
Speaker 3 (29:16):
The precedent that's being set here, man, this is this
is becoming a country, don't We don't recognize faster than
even we thought was possible, even though we knew what
would happen. Even though we predicted what would happen, No
one thought six months after the election that half of
Project twenty twenty five would already be done.
Speaker 4 (29:36):
But here we are.
Speaker 1 (29:40):
Yeah. My only hope for this is that Stephen Colbert
will continue to make content, and his producers and all
that sort of stuff. And maybe they moved to a
different platform, maybe they moved to a different you know,
show or whatever, but they keep making the content because
Obviously the audience is there,
Broadcasting from the Civic Cipher studios. Welcome to the QR code,
where we share perspective, is seek understanding and shape outcomes.
He is the q N QR code. He is a
man who is kind, a man who is generous, a
man who is brilliant.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
He goes by the name of q Ward.
Speaker 3 (00:17):
He is a man who likes to talk about himself
and then say my name at the end of it,
the R in the QR code.
Speaker 4 (00:24):
His name is Ramsay's Jaw.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
And we need you to stick around because we had
an exciting weekend. We were able to get on the
ground at the National Urban League National Convention twenty twenty
five and listen to some of the most brilliant minds
and brilliant thinkers, who are activists, who are leaders, who
are people that feel like there is a more just
(00:48):
America always on the horizon. And we are going to
have a bit of a recap and share some of
the things that we learned, some of the hands that
we were able to shake. And then later in the show,
of course, we're going to talk about for our entertainment segment,
are the taste makers behind country music. Racists come up
(01:08):
that people behind the scenes are indeed racist. Doesn't really
surprise me, but you know, we got to deal with data,
and we got to deal with facts, and so we're
going to cite some journalistic sources and ask that question.
We're also going to talk about a disturbing video of
a Chilean woman who was arrested in New York City,
leaving a twelve year old child abandoned. Q is going
to clap back at Republicans who have only been wearing
(01:32):
the Constitution as a costume. And we're also going to
talk about ABC ending its relationship with Stephen Colbert after
he criticized Trump in our Better Do Better segment, and
coming up after we discuss some culture, we're going to
be talking about whether or not government mandated IQ tests
for all politicians is a good idea.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
So a whole lot to stick.
Speaker 1 (01:55):
Around for this episode, But as always, we like to
start off with a feel good feature, so I'm going
to share a bit from Newsweek. A government attorney resigned
over what he called a shift in immigration and Customs
enforcement mission from safeguarding the nation to chasing deportation numbers.
Adam Boyd, a thirty three year old attorney, quit the
ICE legal department. Last month, The Atlantic reported, quote, we
(02:18):
still need good attorneys at ICE. There are drug traffickers
and national security threats and human rights violators in our
country who need to be dealt with, but we are
now focusing on numbers over all else, Boyd told the
outlet Newsweek has contacted the Department of Homeland Security for
common Stephen Miller, who is the White House Deputy chief
of Staff for Policy, and Homeland Security Secretary Christy Noam,
(02:42):
set a daily arrest quota of three thousand, piling up
pressure on ICE agents to deliver historically high figures. Boyd
said he ultimately felt he quote had to make a
moral decision unquote to leave after watching the agency's priorities
change under mounting political pressure.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
Quote.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
It became a contest how many deportations could be reported
to White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller by December,
Boyd said. According to Boyd, ice lawyers were increasingly frustrated
as legitimate cases were dismissed so that officer teams could
arrest immigrants in courthouse hallways and push them through fast
tracked deportations tactics, He says, padded statistics at.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
The expense of due process.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
I mean that feels good somebody standing up for what's
right when so many people are just kind of letting
things go.
Speaker 3 (03:31):
Any thoughts here, cue standing up for what's right is
one way to put it right.
Speaker 4 (03:36):
Just not accepting the new norm, but.
Speaker 3 (03:39):
Also not really fighting back, just kind of getting out
of the way, Like what's the I'm curious to see
what his next move is, because just leaving that agency
to keep doing the wrong that they're doing and nothing
can be done about it, that part is kind of discouraging,
like the people who actually have a moral code have
to just quit and leave.
Speaker 4 (03:57):
Like, so, then what's next? That's a fair question.
Speaker 1 (04:02):
All right, Well, I'm not going to pretend like these
aren't trying times or folks who have been pushing or
hoping or voting for a more just and equitable go
at the American dream. And you know, I think that
(04:26):
that spirit was present on the ground in Cleveland this
past weekend at the National Urban League National Convention.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
Q and I were fortunate.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
Enough to be able to go out there and you know,
do some some live broadcasting and some taping and some interviewing,
and you know, it's always good to get in a
room full of people who feel that the world could
be and should be a better place. It's always good
(04:58):
to get in a room full of people who are
there to remind you that you aren't crazy and that
the things that you're questioning about what is normal should
be questioned.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
And it's always good.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
To get in a room full of people that will
just love on you and support what you're doing. Because
Q and I famously we work in studios. We have
studios in Phoenix, we have studios in Los Angeles, we
have you know, studios in Atlanta. But we're in studios.
We're seldom in crowds in front of people. That's that's
a rarity, you know, relative to our production schedule, you know,
we have to produce every day, and uh so it
(05:35):
gets a little lonely, it gets a little claustrophobic. And
indeed we end up hearing each other's voices a lot,
and so to hear to hear outsiders, to hear people
out beyond the four walls of our studios, reminding us that, hey,
the work that you're doing is necessary, the stories that
(05:56):
you're covering are necessary. You don't get lost in the
sauce that that is a very much refreshing feeling. And
you know, the the weekend was kicked off by Tony Coles,
who's a good friend of ours and the president of
the Black Information Network. You know, obviously we cite stories
from b I N. And you know, we love the
(06:19):
b I in Chris Thompson and you know, the whole
team there, and we proudly represent the Black Information Network
ourselves whenever we are able to be ambassadors of that network.
So Tony Coles was sharing the stage with Mark Morel,
who's the president of the National Urban League. And you know,
he's another person who's been on you know, programs with
(06:40):
us before. We've done panels with him in the past,
you know, and just again a brilliant mind and a
brilliant thinker. And you know their initial conversation, you know,
I pulled no punches. It definitely let everyone know, Hey,
these are troubling times. We're going to experience some trauma,
but we need to remind ourselves that, you know.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
We are a people who with resolve, We are people
who have been through worse.
Speaker 1 (07:07):
We are people that can endure this and we can
come out on the other side stronger and understanding what
tactics are being used to shift the balance of power
and economics and mobility back into the lap of let's
be honest, straight Christian, healthy white males. You know, there
(07:34):
was definitely a conversation about how diversity, equity and inclusion
initiatives are being dismantled, using the language of civil rights
to suggest that, you know, somehow this was unfair and
that it was disenfranchising, that indeed that group of people,
(07:55):
this straight Christian, healthy white males, that they were at
a disadvantage because of diversity equity and inclusion initiatives, which
of course isn't born out in the data. But this
is the this is what was used to dismantle, you know,
(08:18):
or weaken affirmative action and then ultimately dismantle DEI initiatives.
And that's the narrative because I think people in principle
understand what diversity, equity and inclusion was for. But this
what this I guess take on it that it somehow
(08:38):
disadvantages white men is the legal shield that folks have
been able to hide behind in order to justify weakening
and rolling back diversity equity and inclusion initiatives. And so
understanding all of this was was a lot, But knowing
that that is the reality situation gives us time and
(09:01):
motivation to fortify ourselves against it. You know, my last
little bit, we did get a chance to meet and
talk to a lot of people, introduce ourselves to a
lot of folks. A lot of folks got a chance
to introduce ourselves themselves to us.
Speaker 2 (09:14):
And.
Speaker 1 (09:17):
You know, just being at a conference like that again,
it just serves us, at least for me, a reminder
that we're not alone. That you know, there are other
people that believe in better days, in a better future.
And you know, these people aren't delusional, these people aren't uninformed.
They recognize the gravity of our immediate reality. But you know,
(09:40):
getting a chance to have guests in and talk to us,
and you know, us doing our thing and being highlighted
and platformed by the Urban League certainly feels good. And
it certainly feels like the work that we're doing is
being recognized. And so that's that's my take from it. Obviously,
I know you have your thoughts as well. Q.
Speaker 3 (10:00):
It cuts both ways, right to get in that space,
to be surrounded by a community, to have people around
us to remind us that we're not crazy, and that
we're not alone, and how we feel in the experience
that we're going through its great.
Speaker 4 (10:12):
And then we leave there and we come back to
the real world.
Speaker 3 (10:15):
We come back to our silo, we come back to
our studio, and we get right back into what sometimes
you feel like an echo chamber, only because outside that
alignment and that sense of community kind of doesn't exist
when not in such an incredible setting like the National
Urban League National Conference, kind of like is like seeing
each other when we haven't seen each other for a
(10:36):
long time.
Speaker 4 (10:36):
We're really really happy to be in.
Speaker 3 (10:37):
Each other's space, but then that day after you leave,
you missed the person more than you did before you
reconnect it. So it's kind of that same effect you
touched on some great points. The conversation between Tony and
Mark was a very powerful one, and they spoke about
(10:59):
DII and the way that they's somehow flipped on its
head to present straight Christian, rich white men as the
victims of everything, and now the entire government and all
of our legislation and all of our policy needs to
be reshaped so they can have a fair shot because
of all the things that are working against them in
this society. That's a really interesting thing to watch play out,
(11:23):
and even people who over the years were perceived as allies,
I'm watching them like flip to the other side. And
just hearing conversations about that happen in real time at
the conference was good as well. The other thing that
mister Murie brought up was the hypernormalization that we talk about,
where people are kind of getting used to this new
(11:45):
normal and the kitchen's on fire and they're sitting at
the table eating dinner like everything's okay. Something that we've
discussed multiple times now, but every day I'm reminded of it,
right Like, I'm looking at videos that we share in
our group, stories that we you know, consider for all
of our different platforms, and we're seeing just really despicable,
(12:06):
despicable things, and you know, the audience will get to
hear us talk about it, you know, multiple times this
week and on Civic Cipher.
Speaker 4 (12:15):
There's just a lot to deal with. Man. This new
norm is really difficult, really scary, really.
Speaker 3 (12:19):
Mean, really anti Christian, anti American, like all the things
that they claim to stand for, everything that they're doing
is anti that, and just no one on their side
seems to care or to give it a fair shot
in any way, and we have to just kind of
accept that. So the National Urba League National Convention provided
(12:44):
some insulation, some embrace, some support, some reinvigoration. It was like,
you know, us pulling over at a rest stop, getting out,
walking around, filling the car up with gas, cleaning the
windshield off, getting a gatorade, getting some cheat ghost for Ramses,
and then you know, now we got to get back
(13:04):
in the car and get back on the road and
keep doing this work. So I just want to extend
a thank you from us to the National Urban League.
Not only do they treat us like family, Ramses, but
it's like VIP family, like we're their favorite cousins.
Speaker 4 (13:19):
Yeah. There's just a lot of love in that room
and a lot of support, and it meant the world
for us to be there.
Speaker 2 (13:25):
Yeah, I mean, with.
Speaker 1 (13:28):
Thousands of people to be platformed the way that we are.
I remember when Mark Morial first saw you and he
gave you the huge hug, and the whole room lit up.
You know, Tony, obviously Tony Cole's being able to see him.
Angela Riith was there, your basketball player friend. I forget
his name, but was.
Speaker 4 (13:47):
His name Jalen Rose.
Speaker 1 (13:49):
Jalen Rose was there too, and he just lit up
when he saw you. That was so cool man. So
it's good to be there, and I'm obviously looking forward
to next year's But uh, that's a little bit about
whats going on with the culture. Now, I got some opinions.
So it's no secret that Donald Trump is how would
(14:13):
I say this accurately? Uh, I don't want to call him, Well,
how about this? Donald Trump is known for insults. That's
that's fair. And uh, you know, recently Jasmine Crockett ended
(14:34):
up on his radar and Donald Trump for some reason,
he's like obsessed with people's IQs.
Speaker 2 (14:41):
So I'll share the story.
Speaker 1 (14:44):
But the short of it is that he suggested that
Jasmine Crockett was a low IQ individual and that he
was a high IQ individual, and that I thought was hilarious.
(15:04):
And the reason that we're talking about this and i'll
share my opinion you'll share here is But first off,
I happen to know that IQ measures one type of
intelligence that is not really consistent with what we know
(15:25):
to be human intelligence. There are different forms of intelligence
that ultimately predict success in different environments, in different societies,
and so forth, right, And so I want to say
on its face that, I mean, there's articles that suggest that,
you know, traditional legacy IQ tests are race biased and
(15:45):
so forth and so on. Right, then there's other things
that factor into that. You know, nutrition, you know, how
much sleep you get, you know, all that sort of things.
You know, how you grew up, where you grew up,
how you're educated, of course, all that sort of stuff. Right,
So i Q test is not the be all and
end all. It's not like certain people are born and
that's it. You know, you're just smart or you're stupid
(16:08):
or whatever. Right, it doesn't quite work that way. There
are environmental factors that affect that as well. Add to
that that what indeed it is measuring is not necessarily
the ultimate measure of intelligence in our species. But I've
(16:29):
been in the room with Jasmine Crockett. I've seen her
interact with other people. I've interacted with her myself, both
Q and myself, and we've done it in front of
cameras with microphones, and we've hung out just laughing multiple times.
Jasmine Crockett is awesome, right, But as a person who
(16:53):
you know, I was, I'm not beating my chest, but
I was one of those people that was in honors classes.
I was one of those people that I did well.
I could take test well, that's all I'll say. And
I went through school. I have a master's degree.
Speaker 4 (17:06):
You know.
Speaker 1 (17:06):
It's again not beating my chest. But I've been around
some smart people, So I know smart people from less
intelligent people.
Speaker 4 (17:13):
Right.
Speaker 1 (17:14):
I know Jasmine Crockett to be one of the most
brilliant people that I know. Donald Trump, I would not
say the same.
Speaker 4 (17:24):
Now.
Speaker 1 (17:24):
I haven't been in the room with Donald Trump, thankfully,
but I've consumed enough of his speeches and so forth
to know who I put my money on. So there's
that add to that that it is absolutely insulting my
opinion for him to try to suggest that Jasmine Crockett
(17:46):
is low IQ. Given everything that she has done to
get where she is, there's so much that goes into
that that proves by the journey alone that she is
a brilliant mind that for him to just offer his
opinion on her it feels insultant. Now, I'll read those
(18:13):
are my thoughts. I'll read, and then Q will get
your thoughts here. This from the Black Information Network. President
Donald Trump challenged Representative Jasmine Crockett, who he deemed low IQ,
to an intelligence test to see who comes out best.
Trump again took aim at Crockett, along with fellow Democrat
Representative Alexandria Acasio. Quotes while speaking to reporters en route
(18:34):
to Pittsburgh ahead of a summit on energy and artificial intelligence.
Quote AOC look, I think she's very nice, but she's
very low IQ, and we really don't need low iquote,
Trump began his rant. Per The Independent, goes on to say,
between her and Crockett, we're going to give them both
an IQ test to see who comes out best. He
(18:55):
added of the Texas congresswoman, He goes on to say,
now I took my I took a real test at
Walter Reed Medical Center, and I aced it. I got
every one of all those questions. Right now, it's time
for them to take a test. This isn't the first
time Trump has aimed at Crockett's intelligence. During an interview
with NBC News is Meet the Press earlier this year,
(19:16):
Trump targeted Crockett while speaking about the Democratic Party, which
he said was in total disarray. Quote they have a
new person named Crockett. I watched her speak the other day,
she's definitely a low IQ person, and they say she's
the future of the party, unquote, Trump said at the time.
Crockett addressed Trump's latest insult during an interview on CNN's
Laura Coats Live. Quote, It's absolutely ridiculous that I live
(19:38):
rent free in his mind in a time in which
the American people are suffering, he absolutely consistently buys into
this idea or continues to put it out there that
women of color somehow are low IQ. Let me be clear,
I have a lot more education than he does. This
is just what a degree. This is just what it is.
Degree wise. I have earned my degrees. My daddy didn't
(19:58):
have to make a phone call again me into anything
because that wasn't a possibility. Okay, So let's stop playing
games as if I'm somehow lesser than this according to
Jasmine Crockett, So yeah, I think that government mandated IQ
tests for all politicians might be a good idea.
Speaker 2 (20:17):
Let's see where everyone flushes out.
Speaker 3 (20:18):
Que I mean it'd be a good idea if he
wasn't the referee, right, any form of competition where he
gets determined the rules and the outcomes is.
Speaker 4 (20:28):
Going to be an awful idea.
Speaker 3 (20:29):
He's gonna you know that, he's not going to set
up some system where meritocracy actually exists. The idea that
these women of color are low IQ is a racist,
sexist dog whistle that he knows he can get off
because he won't be challenged on it, talking about women
who are highly educated, and just the way that he
(20:50):
speaks about that test like.
Speaker 4 (20:51):
A fourth rader.
Speaker 3 (20:52):
I got all the answers right, as if that's the
even the way you speak about something that's measuring IQ.
Speaker 1 (20:59):
I've taken an IQ test. I know what my IQ
test is. It doesn't work that way, but anyway, go ahead.
My point exactly.
Speaker 4 (21:05):
I guess.
Speaker 3 (21:07):
Multiple choice questions and I got them right, Like what
are we talking about here? So we understand that he's
not even actually challenging their IQs. He just knows that
he can make racist, sexist remarks like that, and his base,
those that vote for him, those that support him, and
those that sit silent while he treats everybody like crap,
we'll just we'll eat that right up. So we're not
(21:31):
actually wondering who's the most intelligent of those three, because
we know who's the least intelligent without even having to
take any tests.
Speaker 1 (21:37):
Thank you.
Speaker 3 (21:40):
It's disgusting, right, I was like, and again this, I
think the idea of there being a minimum you know,
education level, a minimum requirement for you know, qualifications an
IQ test, I'm not certain because I think there's a
way that standardized tests can can just always go in
(22:00):
the favor of some people and against others. I think
we've read about cultural biased testing, but there's measurable things
like you know, college degrees and work experience that have
been the standard for almost every career. And now we
have you know, careers in government where people with no education,
(22:20):
as we've seen, you know, the new job listings go
out for ICE agents can make six figures with no
experience and huge bonuses. And we don't have enough money
to feed teachers, we don't have enough money to feed homeless.
But let's hire one hundred thousand ICE agents and pay
them one hundred and fifty thousand dollars and give them
a forty thousand dollars signing bonus.
Speaker 2 (22:38):
I think it's fifty thousand bonus.
Speaker 3 (22:40):
Yeah, just correct me, please, because that's the point we
always wonder where's the money going to come from? When
it comes to helping underprivileged and marginalize people. But when
it comes to harming people, we have unlimited money. And
the leader of that movement is now the president and
(23:00):
insults people, disrespects people, tries to rob people of their humanity,
all while touting how great of a person he is
and how brilliant he is and a stable genius he
once called himself. I don't know what that's based on,
but it's quite laughable.
Speaker 4 (23:17):
Man.
Speaker 3 (23:19):
Talking about him is tough for me, especially in this
new of America where that might be illegal sion. Yeah, well,
I know the feeling. It's uh, it's tough.
Speaker 1 (23:33):
But as often as it makes sense, I mean, I
would go as far as to say Jasmine Crockett is
a friend of ours. I mean, as often as we
can defend her, I feel like it's appropriate to do that.
She doesn't need us, you know, and you know she
does all right on her own.
Speaker 4 (23:50):
But I'll sign up to show up for Jasmine Crockett
any day.
Speaker 1 (23:54):
There it is. That's what I'm trying to say. So,
you know, just letting everyone know she is brilliant by
a long way, all right. So I'm sure you heard
about this, you know, our production schedule is a little
wonky this week, of course, but ABC News is ending
(24:15):
their relationship with Stephen Colbert, and it just happened to
come after he criticized Donald Trump.
Speaker 4 (24:23):
And.
Speaker 1 (24:25):
You know, if somebody better do better ABC. Now, I
will say a couple of things. I know that this
is kind of already done, you know, but you certainly
expect more from these institutions that have built credibility with
(24:47):
the American people for such a long time, and to
be at this point it feels like obviously there are
billionaires involved in people trying to make a sale and
all that sort of stuff, you know, behind the scenes.
For those that may not have gotten into the weeds here,
my understanding is that there's a person who's trying to
(25:12):
sell the company, and in order to actually sell the
parent company, you need FCC approval. FCC, of course, is
a Federal Communications Commission which falls under Trump's jurisdiction, and
so if the FCC doesn't give approval, then the sale
won't go through. And so they are able to basically
like blackmail and manipulate like the programming lineup as they
(25:36):
feel it is appropriate, and deny the American people. Stephen
Colbert someone who was doing very well in his time,
so I think he was number one, so that you know,
the deal could go through. So the FCC is just
kind of and so this is the rumor. Of course,
i ABC has their thoughts. I'm sure we'll get into that,
(26:01):
but I'll share a bit from the Hill in just
a second. But before I do that, I want to
make sure that I remind people that Republicans have been
the ones who historically have pushed back against cancel culture.
And there is a stunning silence right now. You know,
(26:29):
how about this? You know the astronaut CEO guy that
was on the Coldplay kissed cam with his the woman
he was having an affair with. He ended up having
to resign right from his position. And you know that's
(26:49):
something that he did to himself. That's you know, nobody
did anything to him. He did that, and you know
his board members were like, hey, there's a standard that
we have at this company, blah blah blah. So he
loses his job, right, Stephen Colbert did exactly what he's
always done. So I just I feel like this is crazy.
(27:11):
Let me hurry up and read this and get you
to jump in here. Cue this from the Hill. President
Trump said Friday morning that he was thrilled by the
news that CBS is canceling the decade running Late Show
with Stephen Colbert. I'm sorry, I said ABC earlier, I
meant CBS. I absolutely love that Colbert got fired, the
president wrote in a post on True Social His talent
(27:31):
was even less than his ratings. The comedian was helmed.
Speaker 2 (27:36):
Sorry.
Speaker 1 (27:36):
The comedian has helmed the Late show since twenty fifteen,
when he took over for a long time host, David Letterman.
The program is the most watched talk show during the
eleven thirty five pm time slot, averaging nearly two and
a half million viewers during the second quarter of this year.
Speaker 2 (27:48):
All Right, cute your.
Speaker 4 (27:49):
Thoughts, ramses. I again, I.
Speaker 3 (27:58):
Was no noticeably sick to my stomach, mentally and emotionally
exhausted after the election, and I said a lot of
things out loud that I think a lot.
Speaker 4 (28:11):
Of people assumed it was me being extreme, dramatic or hyperbolic.
Speaker 2 (28:15):
No, you were right.
Speaker 3 (28:17):
One of those things was Man, we might not be
able to do our jobs anymore because he's the type
of person that will make criticizing him illegal. And I
think because even in the worst of times in the
history of this country. Freedom of the press and freedom
(28:38):
of speech have always made it where you could speak
truth to power. It didn't always mean that things were
going to change because you did, but you could and
you could feel protected. And the fourth of State played
a role in that protection. And when you take a
piece of that that has traditionally always had a nonpartisan
(29:00):
dance and you make it not just partisan but loyalist,
it takes away our ability, not just journalists, but all creators, comedians.
Speaker 4 (29:11):
Talk show hosts, artist, singers, rappers.
Speaker 3 (29:16):
The precedent that's being set here, man, this is this
is becoming a country, don't We don't recognize faster than
even we thought was possible, even though we knew what
would happen. Even though we predicted what would happen, No
one thought six months after the election that half of
Project twenty twenty five would already be done.
Speaker 4 (29:36):
But here we are.
Speaker 1 (29:40):
Yeah. My only hope for this is that Stephen Colbert
will continue to make content, and his producers and all
that sort of stuff. And maybe they moved to a
different platform, maybe they moved to a different you know,
show or whatever, but they keep making the content because
Obviously the audience is there,
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