The Breakdown with Shaun King

You wouldn't know it from watching the news today, but at least 10 Palestinians were slaughtered by Israel today - including women, children, and senior citizens. They were shot, bombed, and run over by armored cars. I've seen the videos and photos for myself. It's atrocious. It's despicable. And we have to push back. The leading human rights organizations in the world call what Israel is doing to...

First off, I'm glad to be back after far too long of a hiatus fighting off a lung infection. Thanks for sticking with me and with the podcast. As you no doubt know, yesterday was President's Day. And I just need to remind us that 99% of the presidents in American history were complete monsters. If they didn't literally buy, sell, and trade human beings - they oversaw war crimes, genocide, and so m...

This is one of those things that we always suspected was happening but never quite had the proof. DC Police Lt. Shane Lamont was feeding the Proud Boys all manner of information for months leading up to January 6th… and somehow still has his job. Why has he not been fired? Or charged? Are his previous cases going to be reopened? How did he get introduced to the Proud Boys? Was he a member himself?...

Hey everybody. I am so glad to be back today after being out sick for the past few weeks. I'm still not fully recovered, but am pretty sure that I'm on the mend. It wasn't COVID, but started off as a common cold I got from the kids, then it became a sinus and ear infection that spread to my lungs and just will not go away. I go back to the doctor tomorrow after having some tests run yesterday. But...

Listen to the replay of episode 476, originally aired on July 7, 2021. In this episode, Shaun King explores the issue of the depiction of Jesus as a white, blonde-haired, blue-eyed figure and how it has been used as a tool of oppression for centuries. Join Shaun as he breaks down the topic and provides insightful analysis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s throwback episode of The Breakdown, the final episode in a 3 part series explaining the leading Supreme Court cases that make police brutality functionally legal in the United States, Shaun gives us action steps and solutions for how we make police brutality illegal. It won’t be easy or quick, but it’s necessary.  If you haven't already, go listen to Tuesday & Wednesday's episodes to he...

Listen to a replay of our 13th episode as Shaun King explores the reasons behind the legality of police brutality in the United States. This is the second episode of a three-part series where Shaun examines the Supreme Court case Graham v. Connor and how it, alongside Tennessee v. Garner, protects police from being held responsible for their brutality. Gain a comprehensive understanding of the leg...

For Today's episode of The Breakdown, we are going way back and replaying our 12th episode. The first in a 3-part series that dives into the issue of why police brutality is effectively legal in the United States, by analyzing the Supreme Court cases that protect even the most abusive officers. In the first and second episodes, King breaks down the cases and their implications. But in the third ep...

Join us for a thought-provoking episode as we delve into the question, "Are You Racist?" In this episode that was released back in April of 2020, Shaun encourages listeners to reflect on their beliefs and actions and challenges them to strive for not just being "not racist," but actively being anti-racist. With insights from Ibram X. Kendi's book, "How to Be an Antiracist", this episode is a power...

For today, we have a replay episode. Released almost a year ago, this necessary lesson from Ep. 576 will forever ring true. We hope you enjoy: Those words from Dr. King, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere" is a life quote for me. I think about it daily. It has guided much of my life for the past 25 years. And for me, today, those words matter more than ever. Can I teach for a mo...

On the evening of October 12th, 2019, a Ft. Worth police officer literally shot and killed Atatiana Jefferson through her bedroom window while she was playing video games with her young nephew, Zion. She was just 28. Soon after Atatiana was murdered, both of her parents died. And just this week, Amber Carr, who was Zion's mother, just died at the age of 33. You've heard me say this so many times,...

Just as the United States Congress has done nothing of substance to move the needle on gun violence and mass shootings and school shootings, even as gun violence literally became the #1 of cause of death for KIDS in America, the same is true of police violence. Congress will do nothing. They did nothing 2 years ago, in the shadows of the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, even when Democr...

You've heard me say this a million times, but it's VERY hard to understand a moment in history when you are in it. But right now, Florida is facing a frightening and deeply concerning moment in history. And it's not just a horrible sign of things to come, it's a horrible sign of where Florida already is. I am now seeing pictures of school libraries and classroom libraries all over the state with n...

In the shadows of the brutal police murder of 29 year father, Tyre Nichols, I see politicians from the President of the United States on down pulling one of the oldest tricks in the book on all of us. I see hundreds of them doing it actually. And once you see it, and understand it, you will have a radar for it for the rest of your life. Let me unpack and explain it. To listen to today’s FULL EPISO...

As you likely saw, the 5 Memphis Police Officers who murdered Tyre Nichols have all been fired and charged with his murder. Obviously, charges aren't convictions, but this is progress. With a brand new police chief and a brand new District Attorney, local voters and organizers in Memphis need a lot of credit for how all of this went down. What hundreds of police departments and DA's offices have s...

In all my life, I don't think I've ever shared or bragged about a statement from the police. They are almost always terrible, inhumane, and full of nothing but what we call copaganda designed to protect police. But last night, Memphis Police Chief CJ Davis, in the shadows of the brutal murder of Tyre Nichols by officers in her department, Chief Davis not only fired the 5 main cops involved, she ha...

Mass shootings are now MORE American than apple pie. 300% more Americans have been shot and killed since the start of the war in Ukraine than Ukrainians have been killed in the war. That's how violent this place is. I know it's our home. But 40 mass shootings in 25 days? How is this sustainable? And what do we do? Because we are the only nation in the world that has more guns than people. And it's...

Yet again, in this brutal place we call the United States of America, another Black man has been beaten to death by police. Yesterday, family and attorneys saw the body camera footage and said that Tyre was beaten worse than Rodney King. They said it was like they were beating a human piñata. And it's all so outrageously exhausting. We've already marched and protested and demonstrated and the best...

The moment Joe Biden was elected, I had very little expectations that he'd do much about the issues of police violence and mass incarceration. He was already damn near 80 years old and hadn't done much of anything good about those issues his entire life. But when he appointed Merrick Garland, a bland, moderate, conservative white man who has always lacked the courage for bold moves on police viole...

Let me give you my answer right off the top - YES! Because of the growing scandal with Joe Biden having classified and even TOP SECRET documents all over this house and offices, a window has opened up for some Democrats to do something that rarely happens - challenge a sitting President from within the party for the nomination. Beyond the fact that Joe Biden would be 82 years old when he would sta...

Yes, I'm serious. The State of Florida, under the leadership and legislation of Ron DeSantis, just banned African American Studies from being taught in public schools. This is actually a DEEPLY disturbing setback. It's not just racist and foolish, it's dangerous. It's a sign of where this country is right now - and a grave sign of where we are heading. Let me unpack and explain it all. To listen t...

Alright. I didn't plan on talking about this, but I have to. Most people who see this monument see two sets of arms and hands embracing each other. And it's based on a beautiful photo of Dr. King and Coretta embracing each other after he won the Nobel Peace Prize. But other people swear they see a hand holding a penis. And it's true, that from one angle, if you are already thinking that, it's hard...

I'm a HUGE Dr. King fan and follower and have been for most of the past 30+ years. But this year, for the first time in a long time, I found myself with the time and space to reflect on how this nation honors (or dishonors) Dr. King on his birthday year after year. Don't get me wrong - I am nothing but glad to see Dr. King honored at this time every year, but part of me has grown to think that we...

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. If you are alr...

Yesterday, like tens of millions of Americans, I saw the brutal police murder of 31-year-old Keenan Anderson, by the LAPD in broad daylight. Keenan, like so many Black men before him, was unarmed and non-violent. At most he needed medical attention. Instead, he was Tasered to death. And we continue to see this, with new names and faces, but the same story of police violence, because this country j...