In this episode of The Common Knowledge Podcast with Marcus L-Spade Johnson, we break down three stories colliding at the crossroads of culture, politics, and race.

First, we unpack the racist social media post Donald Trump shared depicting Barack and Michelle Obama, why the White House tried to distance itself after backlash, and why deniability has become the modern shield for racism in American politics — especially during Black History Month.

Next, we zoom out to the Super Bowl halftime culture war, where Bad Bunny’s performance sparked outrage from conservative groups and led to counter-programming efforts like the Turning Point USA “All-American” halftime show. We talk about why representation, language, and culture still trigger panic — and what that says about who gets to define “American.”

Finally, we switch gears with a review of J. Cole’s new album — digging into the themes, the growth, the introspection, and how Cole continues to navigate authenticity, success, and social awareness in a noisy industry.

From politics to pop culture to hip-hop, this episode connects the dots between power, backlash, and who gets to tell the story.