The Breakdown with Shaun King

To celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we are re-running one of our most popular episodes that highlights a lesser-known side of the civil rights hero. The words and legacy of Dr. King have been reduced and sanitized in so many ways. Today Shaun King plays 5 very special audio clips of Dr. King that you have likely never heard before and breaks down why they are so very important. Learn more abo...

Hey Friends. I'm taking a long weekend to be with my family. I'll see you all back on MLK Day this Monday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I'm probably a good 20 years late for therapy. Nobody told me NOT to see a therapist, but nobody modeled good brain habits for me either. Today I want to talk to you about my therapy journey and tell you how you can get 8 free therapy sessions from @BlackMenHeal. Share this with your family and friends. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Yesterday Biden gave a very important speech on voting rights - stating emphatically that he is now for ending the filibuster to protect voting rights. While this is a necessary shift for Biden, a speech is not a policy. A speech is not a vote. And it remains to be seen if the Democrats in the Senate will do what they need to do to protect and advance voting rights nationwide. Let me tell you wher...

And here's what's WILD - the LAPD has the NERVE to ask for $200 million more for their budget while their officers are doing this and shooting and killing little girls who are out shopping. We have to stop thinking and believing police are what makes a city safe. It's just not true. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have your heard of the phrase "Identity Politics?" Let me unpack and explain it. For years, I supported it blindly. And 25 years ago, I think it even made sense, but in 2022 and beyond we have to be more sophisticated than simply supporting someone for political office because they are Black, or a woman, or share some other trait that we identify with. Can it be a factor? Of course. It still is a...

It's hard to jump for joy. Ahmaud is still not here. Justice means balance. Balance would be Ahmaud being alive and well - running wherever he damn well pleased. But today is accountability. And we fought damn hard for it. Thank each and every one of you for your support from Day 1. For Ahmaud. For this family. For me. For Lee Merritt. For Grassroots Law. God bless you. Learn more about your ad ch...

It's now been 1 year since the violent insurrection at the American Capitol and it's hard for me to think that this country has truly taken this attack like the threat it truly was and is. Today I want to play for you my thoughts and reflections from 1 year ago, right after the attack happened. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Listen, we need to have a very frank conversation about how bad Merrick Garland has been in his first year as Attorney General. It's even worse that I thought it would be - significantly so - particularly on issues of racial justice, police violence, and mass incarceration. But here's the thing - he's an old man and has NEVER been strong on any of those issues. He never should've gotten this job....

Nearly one year ago today, the American Capitol was overtaken during a conservative riot over the election. Hard decisions needed to be made in that moment, but weren't. It was that failure, in part, that caused the complete collapse of the security before, during, and immediately after the insurrection. Over the past year, countless hard decisions should've been made and hard actions taken in res...

Out of 12,000+ police departments fewer than 10 lost any money in the past few years. Nonetheless, from coast to coast, police blamed the spike in crime on "defunding the police." So city councils across the country poured records amount of money into policing. But guess what? It didn't change a thing. Why? Because police RARELY stop crime. They aren't even great at responding to it. 97% of their...

We are about to enter a horrible new era of extreme mass incarceration that will rival the worst periods in modern American history. In fact, it's already started. Today I'll unpack why it's happening, who is responsible, and tell you why history is repeating itself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the middle of the night this past weekend, Senate Democrats, urged by the White House, with 31 Senators not even present for the vote, approved Rahm Emanuel for a position in the administration. This comes after the widespread knowledge that Emanuel blatantly covered up the police murder of a Black teenager, Laquan McDonald, for his own political gain.  It's disgusting. Shame on Biden, Harris,...

Simply put, you can't be a racist judge. Doubly so when the primary people before your court are black. This woman should be disbarred, lose her law license and be removed from the bench immediately. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Inflation is rising. The pandemic is actually getting worse. And millions of Americans are truly struggling. Now is the worst time imaginable to restart student loan payments, but Joe Biden is about to do it anyway. It's bad for everyday people. That should be enough. But it's also just REALLY bad politically. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today I wanted to take some time out to thank you all for your love, support, prayers, and encouragement as my family fought through a very hard time this month. I'm going to get back to recording The Breakdown today, but didn't want to begin without first thanking you all for all the love you've shown us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I have to be out this week, so the staff is going to play episodes from throughout the podcast network we have developed here at The North Star. Today, here's the preview episode of our newest podcast Word. Life hosted by our Chief Content editor, Donney Rose! [From The North Star] Nina Simone once said that it is “an artist’s duty is to reflect the times,” when interviewed about her seminal class...

I have to be out this week, so the staff is going to replay some of their favorite episodes from throughout the podcast network we have developed here at The North Star. Here's an episode from The Momentum Advisors from the end of summer that breaks down the wealth gap of the middle class. A very important topic of our times.  [From The Momentum Advisors] Keeping liquid savings on hand in case of...

I have to be out this week, so the staff is going to replay some of their favorite episodes from throughout the podcast network we have developed here at The North Star. Today, is a recent episode from The Momentum Advisors that we feel is right on time. Enjoy.  [From The Momentum Advisors] The end of the year always seems to sneak up on us. After Thanksgiving, the buzz of the holiday season keeps...

Last week I never really had a chance to tell you all my thoughts and feelings on the guilty verdict for the 3 men who murdered Ahmaud Arbery. I’ll break it all down here today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today I just wanted to freestyle and share some thoughts from my head and heart on the life and death of Virgil Abloh. What a loss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Let me unpack and explain what’s going on and why I’m a bit nervous today about the outcome of the trial of the men who murdered Ahmaud Arbery Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Closing arguments just wrapped up and the rest of this case is now in the hands of a nearly all-white jury. Today I’ll share my hopes and expectations and also talk about why yesterday was a true low moment for the entire trial. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I'm still on the road. So for today, the team at The North Star will run one of their favorite throwback episodes. Though it references Joe Biden's first few days in office, the message is still relevant today. Please listen as I breakdown how one can literally be a black oppressor.  www. TheNorthStar.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While I'm out on the road this week, the team at The North Star are replaying some of their favorite episodes of The Breakdown. With the news of the 2 men that were convicted of Killing Malcolm scheduled to be exonerated, we want to replay an episode that runs four of the most powerful clips from the speeches and interviews of Malcolm X. They are also painful because they shouldn't even be relevan...