The Breakdown with Shaun King

Yesterday was both bitter and sweet. Men and women that are deeply dedicated to justice and equality won elections all over the country in super important races. And then voters also recalled our friend Chesa Boudin as DA of San Francisco. Let's unpack and explain it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

All across the country today we have primaries - including in California. But the one thing I am following the most today is Prop H in San Francisco, where billionaires, conservatives, and corrupt tech leaders have banded together, and donated millions of dollars, to stop San Francisco DA Chesa Boudin. It's a waste and an abomination that it has even gotten this far. Not only is Chesa a brilliant...

Gun violence is its own American pandemic. It's a public health AND a public safety crisis. It's now the leading cause of death for young people. And while we press politicians for meaningful reform, we must accept the burden and responsibility of fighting for our own safety and security. Today I will begin this discussion that I hope we can continue and make real in the days and weeks ahead. Lear...

If you are listening to this podcast right now, there is a 75% chance you are on Instagram! For the past 2 years, against the advice of every podcast expert I know, we have uploaded EVERY single full length episode of The Breakdown directly on Instagram for the world to hear and share. And I've loved it. We've made an ENORMOUS impact on the news and on so many civil and human rights causes, but we...

Regular school shootings are an exclusively American problem. Mass shootings that happen daily are as well. In fact, the United States has more gun violence than almost any nation in the world. Today I want to give you my most honest answer on what I think the United States will do about it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode of The Breakdown, I want to share a simple, but profound lesson my wife taught me several months ago. I haven't been able to shake it and it guides a lot of what I am thinking today about how I should use my life and how I hope you will use yours Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New details are emerging that make it clear that the white supremacist terrorist in Buffalo who shot and killed 10 African Americans had a small support group that included a retired federal agent from Texas. Here's what I know - the ONLY reason that man, and the others, aren't in some underground prison being tortured right now is because they are white men and because the victims were Black. It...

The more we learn, the uglier it gets. Let me unpack and explain it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last night over 3,000 of you attended our town hall on what it means to confront white supremacy in 2022. Now, we're moving on to our first 6 action steps. You can also see them now @ TheGreatestThreat.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're going to be talking about 2 main ideas: What we can do for OURSELVES to protect our communities and businesses. And... What we can fight for on the policy level, in your city, in your county, in your state, and on the federal level - to better protect our communities. It's not going to be like a townhall you've ever been a part of before. The link is IN MY BIO to register now. Learn more abo...

Politicians love Black votes but don't really love Black people. Because here's the thing... I've been in a devoted relationship with one woman for 25+ years and let me tell you what I've learned. LOVE IS A VERB. Love requires corresponding actions to match it. And what I am seeing right now is that politicians keep telling Black people that they care, and that they see and feel our pain, but don'...

Yesterday Shaun traveled to Buffalo to meet with families and leaders after the horrible terrorist attack in Buffalo. Last night Shaun was asked to speak at their vigil. Here is Shaun’s entire speech, uninterrupted, on what must happen next. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I have something very, very painful to say. As it stands right now, NOTHING is going to change about white supremacy in America. Zero. Zilch. NOTHING. The bigotry, racism, and attacks are going to continue because the security apparatus of this nation does not actually take the threats seriously - with staffing and budgets and effective intervention plans. Today I am going to begin to discuss what...

Today, in the funeral procession of assassinated Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, the police of Apartheid Israel literally attacked the men carrying her casket, beating them with sticks, causing them to momentarily drop the casket. In all of my years as a historian and as an activist and as a journalist, I've never seen this before. It truly was an abomination that really goes be...

This morning the Apartheid Government of Israel targeted and assassinated revered Palestinian American Journalist Shireen Abu Akleh. This is a war crime. Let me unpack and explain what we know so far. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Yesterday the US Senate UNANIMOUSLY passed a bill to have the government provide security for the families of the Supreme Court.  And now they are about to pass a bill for $38 BILLION in aid for Ukraine. Biden only asked for $33 billion. So, they don't mind working together. They just don't like working together for ANY serious priorities for African Americans. And what burns me up, is in 2022, we...

Last week, in one of the biggest leaks in American history, we learned that the Supreme Court is VERY close to overturning Roe v Wade. And even though Democrats control the House, Senate, and Presidency, I just don't believe the party will do what needs to be done to protect a woman's right to choose. Why? Because it would require 4 things that Democrats actually need right now. A plan. A strategy...

It's Mother's Day weekend. And today I wanted to unpack and explain 4 things that this country could and should do if it actually loved mothers. Cards and flowers are great. A good meal is great. But let's talk about all of the policies of this nation that make life so damn hard for mothers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

32 years. When Thomas James was wrongly arrested, charged, and convicted for a crime he had NOTHING TO DO WITH he was just 23 years old. 32 hard years later, Miami prosecutors admit that he was actually innocent and that they stole the best years of his life. Let me unpack and explain this story, then let's chip in together and provide this man with the support he needs right now, ok? Click the li...

If you don't learn from political defeats, you'll be doomed to repeat them over and over again. Today I want to unpack and explain one masterful thing that we should ALL learn from Republicans. It's what has them on the verge of overturning Roe v. Wade. And this one thing that Republicans REALLY get right, I just don't see from Democrats. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoi...

Last night, a Supreme Court opinion was leaked to Politico in which Roe v Wade was overturned by the conservative majority. The thing is, the opinion, while it appears to be authentic, is not yet official or binding, because it was not supposed to be public for at least a month or two. Today I'll try to unpack and explain what it means and what it doesn't mean. And I'll try my best to explain how...

While Shaun is recovering from his surgery, we want to use this time to replay one of his most important episodes. It's a simple fact that is the foundation for the majority of the work he does. The United States is the single most incarcerated nation in the entire history of the world.  The size and scope of the problem needs to be understood by all! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaph...

No, I didn't quit Twitter. I'm there. And here. To stay. And as I've done my entire life, I'm going to continue to speak truth to power and call out racists and bigots and oppressive people and corporations whoever and wherever they are. Including Elon Musk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A lot of people are incorrectly framing Elon Musk purchasing Twitter as being left versus right. I strongly disagree. This is about the richest man in the world, who was born into Apartheid and raised by a white nationalist, wanting to be sure that powerful white men can say whatever they want - about whoever they want - without consequence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adc...

Hey everybody. I am taking the next week off of work and social media to be with my wife and kids. It's RARE that all 7 of us get to be together like this, so I just want to unplug and be physically AND emotionally present for everybody. See you in a week. Love and appreciate each of you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices