For years on end, after every mass shooting in this country, Republicans would offer nothing but thoughts and prayers. It's infuriating. But now I am worried that Democrats who are quick to say "Black Lives Matter," but don't actually fight for policies that prove it are doing the same damn thing. Let me unpack and explain it. ---- If you listen to The Breakdown and want to help support the work we do, consider becoming a member of our Patreon at www.patreon.com/thebreakdown for exclusive members perks and early access to content. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every day I see people rightly ask why more "good cops" don't speak out on police violence. Well - today I'll show you why. This brave officer posted his professional opinion about the murder of George Floyd - and just got fired over it. ----- If you listen to The Breakdown and want to help support the work we do, consider becoming a member of our Patreon at www.patreon.com/thebreakdown for exclusive members perks and early access to content. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

All across the country, cities are being forced to drastically reform the way police operate within their communities. The outcomes have been incredible, but there is one major change that must be implemented to ensure law enforcement officers can no longer abuse their power: police oversight. ----- If you listen to The Breakdown and want to help support the work we do, consider becoming a member of our Patreon at www.patreon.com/thebreakdown for exclusive members perks and early access to content. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I want to play four of the most powerful clips from the speeches and interviews of Malcolm X. They are also painful because they shouldn't even be relevant anymore, but he literally could've said these things yesterday. Listen and learn.While The North Star takes a sabbatical week, we've decided to rerun the top 5 most listened to episodes of The Breakdown. Here is one of them.  ----- If you listen to The Breakdown and want to help support the work we do, consider becoming a member of our Patreon at www.patreon.com/thebreakdown for exclusive members perks and early access to content. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The ratification of the 15th Amendment was seen as a huge milestone for the liberation of African Americans, but does it really do all we so often say it does? Shaun doesn't think so, actually. Listen and learn. While The North Star takes a sabbatical week, we've decided to rerun the top 5 most listened to episodes of The Breakdown. Here is one of them.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mortality is something every person deals with, but few talk about. On today's episode, Shaun shares a personal message about the emotions that come with loss, and how he deals with them.  While The North Star takes a sabbatical week, we've decided to rerun the top 5 most listened to episodes of The Breakdown. Here is one of them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Did you know that the majority of Americans don't vote? Today I ask you to not only commit to voting, but commit to being an informed voter that brings others with you.  While The North Star takes a sabbatical week, we've decided to rerun the top 5 most listened to episodes of The Breakdown. Here is one of them.  ----- If you listen to The Breakdown and want to help support the work we do, consider becoming a member of our Patreon at www.patreon.com/thebreakdown for exclusive members perks and early access to content. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While The North Star takes a sabbatical week, we've decided to rerun the top 5 most listened to episodes of The Breakdown. Here is the first. 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 listen to The Breakdown and want to help support the work we do, consider becoming a member of our Patreon at www.patreon.com/thebreakdown for exclusive members perks and early access to content. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I learned a long time ago that victories come so rarely, that you have to celebrate them when you have them. Last night two brilliant candidates won essential elections, but another brilliant candidate lost as well. Let me unpack and explain all three races. ----- If you listen to The Breakdown and want to help support the work we do, consider becoming a member of our Patreon at www.patreon.com/thebreakdown for exclusive members perks and early access to content. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's here! My brand new book, Make Change, is now available in bookstores worldwide. Today, I want to share a short story of failure and the major pivot that we made as a result. ----- If you listen to The Breakdown and want to help support the work we do, consider becoming a member of our Patreon at www.patreon.com/thebreakdown for exclusive members perks and early access to content. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tomorrow is a huge day for me as I await the release of my new book, Make Change. Today I want to read an excerpt from it for you. If you have not yet ordered it, please do so now at MakeChangeBook.com ok? ----- If you listen to The Breakdown and want to help support the work we do, consider becoming a member of our Patreon at www.patreon.com/thebreakdown for exclusive members perks and early access to content. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Most people think of Hawaii as a perfect paradise, but it faces the same systemic issues as the rest of the country, including mass incarceration. That’s why Jacquie Esser is running for lead prosecutor, to bring about desperately needed change. Let’s help get her elected! ----- If you listen to The Breakdown and want to help support the work we do, consider becoming a member of our Patreon at www.patreon.com/thebreakdown for exclusive members perks and early access to content. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Yesterday we shared our first 5 ways to defund the police and make America safer at the same time. Today, we conclude with the final 5 ideas. ----- If you listen to The Breakdown and want to help support the work we do, consider becoming a member of our Patreon at www.patreon.com/thebreakdown for exclusive members perks and early access to content. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alex Vitale is one of my favorite scholars in the country on how and why we must defund the police. He recently listed 10 ways we can do that safely. Today I'll break down the first five. ----- If you listen to The Breakdown and want to help support the work we do, consider becoming a member of our Patreon at www.patreon.com/thebreakdown for exclusive members perks and early access to content. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The United States is experiencing a failure of both systems and personnel. It's not one, but both. And as a consequence, the single most famous stat for mass incarceration is now the exact same as this horrible new stat for the coronavirus. It's because the stats are produced by the same source. ----- If you listen to The Breakdown and want to help support the work we do, consider becoming a member of our Patreon at www.patreon.com/thebreakdown for exclusive members perks and early access to content. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kim Gardner is my hero. She's the lead prosecutor for St. Louis and has more courage in a day than most of us will have in our lifetime. Because of that, she has now become one of the single most hated Black women in America to the conservative white establishment. Today let's hear from Kim directly and plan on supporting her in every way we can. ----- If you listen to The Breakdown and want to help support the work we do, consider becoming a member of our Patreon at www.patreon.com/thebreakdown for exclusive members perks and early access to content. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Meet Victoria Burton-Harris - a badass woman who is running to be the new District Attorney of Detroit. It's one of the single most important races in the country and she needs our support. ----- If you listen to The Breakdown and want to help support the work we do, consider becoming a member of our Patreon at www.patreon.com/thebreakdown for exclusive members perks and early access to content. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I see a battle unfolding of some people saying we need to stop focusing on art and symbols and put all of our focus on systems and substance. I understand the critique. But let me try to unpack and explain how symbols support systems. It all matters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Today I want to take a moment to really share my heart and soul about anti-Semitism in 2020. I also want to tackle the questions I have received about why more Black people are not fighting against it right now. I think I understand at least part of the answer. It's capacity. Let me unpack and explain it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Over 25% of all people killed by American police were having a mental health emergency. In some states, it's over 50%. Every study out shows that a super-majority of Americans want somebody other than police showing up to mental health emergencies. Let's talk about how we get it done. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today is Rai's 39th birthday! We're out celebrating but I wanted to tell you about a big organizing victory we had this week! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The hypocrisy is on full display. It has now been nearly 4 months since Breonna Taylor was murdered and not a single soul in the whole state of Kentucky can find it in them to arrest and charge a single police officer. But last night, 100 peaceful protestors were charged with felonies for sitting down with their legs crossed. This system can clearly charge who it wants, when it wants. If you listen to The Breakdown and want to help support the work we do, consider becoming a member of our Patreon at www.patreon.com/thebreakdown for exclusive members perks and early access to content. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joe Biden just released the 2.0 version of his policy plan for criminal justice reform. He refuses to end qualified immunity and refuses to stand for the legalization of marijuana. It's literally worse than the 1.0 version of every leading presidential candidate. He needs to go ahead and work on plan 3.0. This isn't good enough. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A healthy debate is underway between the purists in the abolitionist community who are arguing that the men who murdered Ahmaud Arbery, George Floyd, and Breonna Taylor should not be arrested or sent to prison and others of us who believe that we can completely dismantle the unjust systems of our country while simultaneously using the current laws to the best of our ability. Let's talk about it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today I want us to talk about the hanging death of Robert Fuller. It was just officially ruled a suicide. I've looked at the results. I need us to understand that it can be simultaneously true that we live in a constant state of racial terror AND we have real mental health challenges that we need to discuss. Today, I want to tear down some walls and have an open conversation with you about all of it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The world knows her as Trayvon Martin's mother. And she embraces that. But Sybrina Fulton is more than her greatest moment of pain. Now, after 7 years of fearless advocacy for victims of gun violence and racial injustice, she's running for office in Miami! Let's help make that happen! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Over 130,000 Americans have already died from the coronavirus. Now, it is surging across the country. Today, more than anything else, I am begging you to take it seriously. I've seen the costs up close and personal. Trust me - you don't want this thing in your life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Did you see the video of the white man LOSING it on an elderly woman working at Costco because he was asked to wear a mask? That rage and that fragility were familiar. We've seen it all before. Today, let's talk about the true costs of white rage, white fragility, and toxic masculinity. It's deadly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

30 years ago, a group of people in one American city decided that they could do a better job than police at handling mental health and homelessness. So they built the solution and hundreds of thousands of 911 calls are now routed to their team. Listen and learn more. We can do this nationwide. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Wednesday we launched Truth, Justice, and Reconciliation Commissions in 3 of America's largest cities. Today you can hear from the DA's who will be helping to lead the process. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today I want to teach you one simple fact. It is the foundation for most of the work that I do. And I need you to understand the size and scope of the problem we're facing. The United States is the single most incarcerated nation in the entire history of the world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The thing we call the justice system in this country is not broken. It's firing on all cylinders. So we must build new systems and new pathways to justice. Today, we are beginning just that. Learn more and join us at TJRC.org Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 It costs hundreds of millions of dollars. They have not stopped a single school shooting. And the police are brutalizing Black, Brown, and Native American children from coast to coast. They are handcuffing and arresting them. We must interrupt the school to prison pipeline. Here's how. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Studies show that support for the Black Lives Matter Movement has doubled since 2016. Even a majority of white people now say that they support the movement and its goals - which is groundbreaking. But what are we going to do with this momentum? Let's talk about it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Shaun wants to introduce us all to one of his favorite people currently running for office: Cori Bush. On today's episode, he interviews Cori so that we can hear for ourselves what makes her so special. And even though she is running for office in Missouri, you can volunteer for her campaign WHEREVER YOU ARE. Let's go! CoriBush.Org Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For my own safety, and the safety of my family, I had to expose this today. Here I include their names, their death threats and plans, and more. Who are you supposed to turn to in a moment like this? Police? The NYPD? The FBI? We felt like exposing them publicly was our best tool today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last night breakthrough leaders won elections across the country in the Democratic primaries. That's great news! But why is the Democratic Party fighting against them tooth and nail? Let's talk about it! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Yesterday I started a firestorm by saying that statues of the blonde-haired, blue-eyed Jesus-figure should be taken down just like the monuments of slaveholders. The problem is that for tens of millions of white people, it's necessary for that Jesus, that Savior, to be white. And it has been used as a tool of oppression for hundreds of years. It's a problem. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last night, I read a brand new study on American policing and it has one stat that I think is the single most important stat of the year in American policing. I need you to learn it. I think it's so big that it will become a household stat that all of us who want serious change will memorize and quote from this point forward. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Something is happening in San Francisco that is truly revolutionary. I honestly didn't think it was possible. It's never been done before. But now we must do it all over the country. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today I want to share a life lesson. I use it the best I can. Sometimes I fail, but this lesson has helped to keep me and my family whole for at least 10 years. I hope it helps you as much as it has helped me. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In many states where we've fought for justice, every single person in power was a Republican. We had to work with them. And sometimes we got results. Other times, everybody in power was a Democrat, and we got nothing. We have to be willing to work with whoever is in power to fight for change. Period. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We need you to know Sean Monterrosa's name. You might be tired, but we still have to fight when we're faced with such blatant injustice. Sean was unarmed, non-violent, and on his knees with his hands up when Vallejo Police Officer Jarrett Tonn shot him five times through the windshield of his car. Join us as we fight for justice for Sean. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For today, we are revisiting a throwback episode from June of 2019 where Shaun breaks down a Buzzfeed and Injustice Watch study called "Good Day for a Chokehold". The report gives us quantifiable proof that many American police are closet bigots by diving into the social media posts of thousands of officers. Shaun draws historical lines between past, present and future to break down exactly what we're up against. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thousands of you asked Shaun to break down what it means to defund the police, so today, in simple terms, Shaun wants to unpack and explain it for you. Shaun supports it and thinks you should too. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sick Empire is a brand new podcast that showcases the experiences of New Yorkers who operate daily within the epicenter of the COVID-19 health crisis. On today's episode of The Breakdown, Shaun formally introduces you to Sick Empire, and invites you to listen to the first episode. This is the most timely, important podcast out today -- join the conversation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In our current uprising around the world, people are tearing down monuments to racism, bigotry, white supremacy, and slavery. They should all be torn down - including those of Washington and Jefferson in the United States. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices