FUNKY POLITICS

It's the alphabet soup show! We are breaking down all these letter clusters with guests Tracy Anderson and Dr. Altha Stewart. Tracy is currently the Executive Director of Integrated Communications at the Ten 35 agency but before that she was working with the DEI arm of Toyota Motors. She talks about her experience, how to avoid reheated affirmative action, symbolism and tokenism. The Funky Bunch then weighs in on Biden's State of the Union speech before welcoming Dr. Stewart back to discuss Karen Attiah's piece on PTSD in the Washington Post. Our community is suffering psychic trauma from watching Black bodies being battered and lives being casually and mercilessly being taken. Whether we know it or not "murder porn" has a deleterious effect on our spiritual health. Dr. Stewart brings a word as usual! Check it out!

On this episode of Funky Politics, the Funky Bunch revisits reparations. In light of yet another "Tulsa" in Nicodemus, Kansas and the reparations proposal in California, the conversation has taken a turn. We're keeping an eye on California to see how this plays out. The conversation turns to integration. Did it do more harm than good? Lots of opinions on this one. Professor Charles McKinney (Neville Frierson Bryan Chair of Africana Studies and Associate Professor of History) is the guest for both. Kwame Olufemi joins us to talk about the Cop City training compound that will be constructed smack in the middle of Atlanta, sprawling across nearly 300 acres of (razed) green space. Very problematic and we're unpacking it.

To kick of #BHM, Community Activist Danielle Brown joins the show to talk about Black Activism past and present. Then the conversation dovetails into Black activism and Blue Wall. What happens when the bad actor or rogue cop is Black? Then our financial expert, Mark Smith, dropped in to talk about the wealth gap between Black and White families. Did you know that the average Black family has a net worth of $8??! He shares with us how net worth is calculated and the simple formula for building and growth. This entire hour was a spicy one. Pull up!

Rhyane, Jasper, Lenny and Terence give Biden his grades on Year 2. What say you? Has he been effective? Has he done enough? Has he held up his campaign promises? What should his next moves be? Then they segway to Governor DeSantis - very unaffectionately dubbed Ron Ron by Rhyane - and his move to block AP African American history in Florida school. Yet another odious, hypocritical and outwardly racist maneuver to subvert Black people's importance and erase our country's sullied and bloodied history of othering and oppression. Then moving from one form of idiocracy to the next -- the Funky Bunch talks about the cheating economy. What is that you say? It's a real thing. Listen up to learn more.

Terence, Rhyane, Jasper and Lenny are joined by Funky Politics Memphis host DC to talk about the melluva hess that President Biden is in with the discovery of classified documents in his personal residence. Is it the politics of distraction? What makes it so different than the 45 situation at Mar-a-Lago? Then there's the government's stilted position on deportation, asylum and Title 42 as it relates to Haitian immigrants. Lastly, our financial expert Mark Smith (SVP and Portfolio Manager, Wells Fargo) joins the show to talk about the debt ceiling. They are raising it AGAIN. What does all of this even mean? Will America eventually go belly up? What are some predictions for preventative measures? He helps the "little people" understand the big bucks of big politics. Another "edutaining" episode. Pull up and tune in!

Terence, Lenny and Rhyane - The Funky Bunch - opens with more honorable (Hakeem Jeffries!) and dishonorable mentions (Trump's taxes). Later they're joined by Mark Smith (Senior Vice President and Portfolio Manager, Wells Fargo Advisors) to talk about recession-proofing and what Wall Street is saying. He also breaks down the Sam Bankman Fried debacle, the privilege of it all, investing in crypto with caution, better investment options and why anyone would put their faith in this dude anyway! DC (host, Funky Politics Memphis) is on deck to fill in for Jasper.

Brittney Griner has finally been released from prison in Russia in exchange for arms dealer Viktor Bout. Naturally, some people are rejoicing while others aren't. Some arguments are valid and some just...aren't. Terence, Jasper and Lenny talk through all the angles!

There has been some wild stuff happening lately. Our guy Kanye is just handing everyone content and fodder for debate. He's most definitely at the top of the Dishonorable Mentions list. But it's not just him! And, there are some honorable mentions as well. Nicole Moore also joins us to talk about her experience working at Planned Parenthood which ultimately led to a fairly high-profile lawsuit. Then there's the most honorable mention - - victory for Raphael Warnock! The Funky Bunch breaks down the 45 Effect, turnout stats and what gave Warnock the final push into the winner's circle.

Another lively conversation is in the books! Terence, Jasper, Dr. Stewart, Rhyane and Lenny talk indigenous heritage month and some of the legislation that is on the table. Will the government's rhetoric and proclamations amount to any actual action? Then the panel talks about the difficult subject of the recent spate of violence across the country. It is a disturbing trend and alarmingly normalized amongst some in the younger generations. Lastly, there is the issue of ex-Thanos CEO Elizabeth Holmes, who has been so very graciously allowed to remain out of jail until she gives birth. Oh, the privilege! Lots to say here. Check it out.

Terence and Jasper are joined by frequent flyer Rhyane Wagner, Darrell "DC" Catron (host, Funky Politics Memphis) and Lenny McAllister (Political Commentator, Former Republican Candidate for US Congress) to break down Trump vs DeSantis, The Blacks vs The Jews and Twitter vs Itself. Make sure you tune in. This was an extra funky one!

There was even more to unpack about the election outcomes and some of the emerging narratives. There is the imaginary Black male voter turnout problem. There is the issue of White southern and suburban women and their willingness to vote against their own best interests. And lastly, there's Kyrie. That has been a whole dumpster fire then Dave Chappelle poured gasoline on it. There are alot of nuanced feelings around this. While the panel can agree that he isn't quite the "perfect victim" but he isn't quite the evil villain either. It's a feisty conversation. Take a listen!

Jasper, Terence and Jeanette are joined by guests DC (host of Funky Politics Memphis) and Lenny McAllister (Republican commentator and former US Congressional candidate) to talk about the outcomes of the midterms, the red trickle and the outlook for 2024.

Jasper, Terence and Jeanette are joined by Representative Dianne Hart (D-FL) to talk about the critical elections across the country. What seats are poised to flip? What are the close races? What do we as a country stand to lose or gain? What are the hot button issues that should be considered? They also discuss the pivotal Black vote, voter apathy and engagement. The moral of the story -- the stakes are high during these midterms so it would behoove us all to watch the intersection.

On this episode, we're joined by Anat Sultan Dadon, the Israeli Consul General for the southwest region. Jeanette and Jasper unpack his trip to Israel with the Consul General and the Black women legislators, Israeli sentiment toward Americans and vice versa, the conflict with Palestine and cultural and media biases. There was so much more to touch upon! Terence then joins Jeanette and Jasper to talk with Doc Griggs about cold and flu season along with COVID concerns and the rising RSV cases among children. What can we do? Will this season be worse than the others? In unrelated healthcare news, our panel pulls apart the recent protests at Vanderbilt around gender-affirming surgeries and healthcare for trans individuals. Points were made on both sides of the argument. And there was a very interesting plot twist! Tune in and check it out.

LA, what's going on? The leaked audio of their racist City Council members was truly wild! And these were Democrats and people of color, no less. Lots to unpack here. That's the major headline but the crew also talks about the dangers of the proliferation of Catholic-run healthcare organizations, which allow them to deny women proper access to reproductive care. And then there's President Biden's marijuana "pardons." Sounds great right? Before everyone sings glory hallelujah, there are some things that you should know first. Great show packed with good-to-know intel. Pull up, listen up.

These two shouldn't even be in the same sentence, much less the same state. But here we are. Stacey caught an "L" but somehow Herschel didn't. Jeanette Lenoir and Rhyane Wagner join the conversation about how dangerous Herschel Walker actually is to the political landscape and to the state of Georgia. And of course, we must debate this latest revelation courtesy of his son and another woman he paid to have an abortion. Meanwhile, Stacey Abrams lost her lawsuit against the state but really pulled the covers back on the larger, more widespread issue of racial gerrymandering. Georgia we see you! Lastly, there's bad news fatigue. Do you ever just get sick of the news? We're talking about it along with ways to cope and be intentional about what you take in. It's another good one! Pull up and have a listen.

In a sense "predator catchers" could've been the title for the whole episode! New York Attorney General Tish James is after Donald Trump. She has moved forward with the case against him for financial fraud. Between that and the Mar-a-Lago raid, can he continue to be Teflon Don? Then there are the protests in Iran. In response to the state-sanctioned death of Mahsa Amini, there have been massive protests by women in Iran. And now the world is showing solidarity. The panel also talks about the vigilante predator catcher phenomenon. Is this a good thing? Does this bring justice to victims in underserved communities? Is this an extension of community policing? Or will this present more problems than solutions? Journalist/Communications Expert Jeanette Lenoir and Attorney Derrick Page join Jasper and Dr. Stewart this week.

There have been some steaming piles of hot mess left on our collective doorstep over the last couple of weeks. And hot mess is a euphemism for what this is. Governors Ron DeSantis and Greg Abbott (Florida and Texas, respectively but also with no respect) sit atop this steaming pile with their cheap political stunt. These wo duped some of the most vulnerable members of our society - undocumented immigrants - by shuttling them to what they consider wealthier "sanctuary cities" ON OUR DIME. And there were a lot of dimes spent on this. Then there's Brett Favre, the Welfare Queen. Scamming welfare money and essentially snatching it from impoverished people in Mississippi, which is one of the poorest states in the country. Then on a different note, Dr. Stewart leads the conversation with Montoiya Collins and Ariane Graves around Mental Illness Awareness Week and National Depression Screening Day. AND it's the ladies in the building this time!

Governor DeSantis is always up to some bull! Our special correspondent and resident Florida expert Rhyane Wagner is here to discuss the several ongoing lawsuits and the bad, bad, ugly and uglier with the poster child for toxicity (toxic masculinity, toxic whiteness, toxic politics, toxic-toxic!). We also invited Williams Brack to join us again this week (host of Grindset on KUDZUKIAN) to talk about the upside of student loan forgiveness. He, Rhyane and Terence debate its merits and the reality of the average borrower's situation. It's a very interesting push-pull! Last but not least, there is a crisis afoot for women (one of many). Rape kits across the US are backlogged. Victims feel as if they don't matter and as if justice will not come for them if they aren't blonde, white and affluent. Which was the case recently here in Memphis. DC, host of Funky Politics Memphis, joins Terence along with State Representative Antonio Parkinson to discuss what needs to be done and where the buck stops. Last but not least - and on that note - Rhyane presents a special Watch The Intersection to break down what she calls "Missing White Woman Syndrome." Check it out!

In the episode Terence and Jasper are joined by Jeanette Lenoir to talk about the passing of Queen Elizabeth II and the not so warm and fuzzies colonized people across the globe are feeling toward her and the tainted history of the monarchy. They are also joined by Williams Brack, the host of Grindset on KUDZUKIAN, to talk about the pros and cons of the Bank of America zero down mortgage program. Does this put us right back where we started before the housing bubble burst? Lastly, they're joined by Attorney Keith Perry (Perry & Griffin PC) and host of Funky Politics Memphis, DC to talk about truth in sentencing and how the events in Memphis further opened up this conversation. What does this mean? Will this compound the uneven, hamfisted sentencing of Black men that is already in play? All of these turns of events have caused mixed emotions among many of us. What do you think? Listen up and let us know!