Van and Rachel discuss the documentary ‘Melania’ before reacting to Nicki Minaj’s appearance at a Trump event and the congressional fight over DHS. Plus, Ashley Allison, owner of The Root, joins to discuss the importance of Black media.

(0:00) Black Panther Party

(14:53) The ‘Melania’ movie

(27:47) Nicki Minaj and Trump

(52:26) Congress's fight over DHS

(1:18:27) Ashley Allison joins the show

(2:10:16) Ray J’s health

Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay

Guest: Ashley Allison

Producers: Donnie Beacham Jr. and Jade Whaley

Social Producer: Bernard Moore

Video Supervision: Chris Thomas

Vote here for the NAACP Image Awards: vote.naacpimageawards.net

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Van and Rachel react to Kanye’s apology in The Wall Street Journal, before discussing the violence in Minnesota. Plus, actor Aldis Hodge and showrunner Ben Watkins join to get us set for Season 2 of Amazon Prime Video’s ‘Cross.’

(0:00) Intro

(0:24) Kanye’s apology

(29:16) Another shooting in Minneapolis

(59:09) Texas Senate debate

(1:02:51) Chris Broussard’s bad tweet

(1:05:23) Aldis Hodge and Ben Watkins on Season 2 of ‘Cross’

Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay

Guest: Aldis Hodge and Ben Watkins

Producers: Donnie Beacham Jr. and Jade Whaley

Social Producer: Bernard Moore

Video Supervision: Chris Thomas

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Van and Rachel react to the Oscar nominations before discussing Rachel’s newfound freedom and Michelle Obama’s appearance on Call Her Daddy. Then, there’s drama between LeBron and the Lakers, and media personality Keith Edwards joins to break down his coverage of the Texas Senate race.

(0:00) Intro

(2:18) Oscar nominations

(14:14) Rachel’s IG post

(20:41) Michelle Obama on Call Her Daddy

(39:05) Lakers drama

(49:34) Taylor Swift calls Justin Baldoni a “bitch”

(59:35) Keith Edwards on Jasmine Crockett vs. James Talarico

Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay

Guest: Keith Edwards

Producers: Donnie Beacham Jr. and Jade Whaley

Social Producer: Bernard Moore

Video Supervision: Chris Thomas

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Van and Rachel react to a weekend of sports before discussing Stephen A. Smith and frat life, the Black Panther Party in 2026, and military aid in Israel. Plus, Gavin Newsom caves to Ben Shapiro, and Candace Owens has a theory … a conspiracy theory.

(0:00) Intro

(0:58) Sisqo or Ne-Yo

(9:01) Feeling for Josh Allen

(24:21) Stephen A. Smith misspeaks

(44:20) A Divine 9 discussion

(57:50) The Black Panther Party in 2026

(1:11:20) AIPAC and congressional funding

(1:36:07) Gavin Newsom sits with Ben Shapiro

(1:53:33) The Charlie Kirk conspiracy

Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay

Producers: Donnie Beacham Jr. and Jade Whaley

Social Producer: Bernard Moore

Video Supervision: Chris Thomas

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Van and Rachel discuss Teyana Taylor’s comments on Ye, Kai Cenat’s career shift, and Druski’s megachurch skit. Then an update on the conflicts with ICE agents before associate professor Hussein Banai joins to help shed light on the conflict in Iran.

(0:00) Intro

(15:44) Teyana Taylor and Kanye West

(31:17) Kai Cenat’s new path

(42:39) Druski’s megachurch skit

(1:00:14) J. Cole’s upcoming album

(1:02:17) The war with ICE

(1:19:00) Hussein “Huss” Banai on the Iranian conflict

Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay

Guest: Hussein “Huss” Banai

Producers: Donnie Beacham Jr. and Jade Whaley

Social Producer: Bernard Moore

Video Supervision: Chris Thomas

Vote here for the NAACP Image Awards: www.naacpimageawards.net

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Van and Rachel kick the show off with some awards season reactions, check in on the situation in Minnesota, and react to some criticism of Representative Jasmine Crockett.

(0:00) NAACP Image Awards nominations

(5:47) Awards season reactions

(38:28) Kristy and Desmond Scott’s divorce

(53:13) Minneapolis update

(1:10:08) The Black Panthers and knowing your rights

(1:24:04) Bowen Yang, Matt Rogers, and criticisms of Representative Crockett

(2:08:23) Steve Nash and capitalism

Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay

Producers: Donnie Beacham Jr. and Jade Whaley

Social Producer: Bernard Moore

Video Supervision: Chris Thomas

Vote here for the NAACP Image Awards: www.naacpimageawards.net

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Van and Rachel discuss how House Democrats commemorated the five-year anniversary of the J6 riots before reacting to the ICE shooting in Minneapolis. Then, Spencer Pratt is running for mayor of L.A., former NFL player Matt Kalil is suing for talk about his penis size, and comedian Chris Redd gets candid on Instagram.

(0:00) Intro

(2:59) Van addresses the response to the last episode

(15:37) Democrats mark five years since the J6 attack

(28:53) ICE shooting in Minneapolis

(55:43) Spencer Pratt’s mayoral race

(1:04:34) Matt Kalil suing for penis talk

(1:19:53) Chris Redd’s emotional post

(1:48:01) Zion Williamson’s latest drama

Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay

Producers: Donnie Beacham Jr. and Jade Whaley

Social Producer: Bernard Moore

Video Supervision: Chris Thomas

Van’s ‘Fuck You If You Disagree’ Substack: https://open.substack.com/pub/vanlathan?r=5cs2w&utm_medium=ios

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Van and Rachel kick off the New Year with a look at the drop in U.S. crime and Pastor Jamal Bryant’s defense of his wife’s dress before they welcome back 'Breaking Points’ host Ryan Grim to help break down Trump’s actions against Venezuela. Plus, a look at a pair of prominent lawsuits before a discussion of Adin Ross, Doechii, and Glasses Malone, the latter of whom came to the defense of the star rapper.

(0:00) Intro

(3:50) Van’s dreams

(14:44) U.S. crime rates are falling

(34:21) Pastor Jamal Bryant defends his wife’s dress

(1:00:36 Ryan Grim on Venezuela

(1:38:19) Will Smith and Tyler Perry lawsuits

(2:03:44) Adin Ross, Doechii, and Glasses Malone

Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay

Guest: Ryan Grim

Producer: Donnie Beacham Jr.

Social Producer: Bernard Moore

Video Supervision: Chris Thomas

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Van and Rachel close out 2025 with a bang! Thanks for listening and watching this year and keep doing so in the next. See ya’ll in 2026.

(0:00) Intro

(12:01) Van Lathan: King of Threads

(15:59) Auntie or nah?

(20:03) ‘Stranger Things’

(32:49) Chappelle backlash

(1:00:26) Nigeria strikes

(1:08:02) Epstein update

(1:21:57) Dr. Umar on Venus and Serena

(1:55:13) New Diddy documentary

(2:08:00) Russian ‘Bad Girls Club’

(2:14:40) Top moments of 2025

Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay

Producers: Donnie Beacham Jr. and Jade Whaley

Social Producer: Bernard Moore

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Van and Rachel welcome author, activist, and daughter of Malcolm X, Dr. Ilyasah Shabazz, to discuss her father’s autobiography, 60 years after its first publication.

Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay

Producers: Donnie Beacham Jr. and Ashleigh Smith

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices