This week, Rich and Kevin fire off on everything from the historic government shutdown and intra-party tension among Democrats to Nancy Pelosi’s legacy and Gavin Newsom’s “Petty Pendergrass” campaign style. They dig into how the donor class still doesn’t get it, the generational shift in Democratic leadership, and why discipline policies in schools—like a 90-day suspension over a vape pen—are broken relics of a failed system.

A sharp and reflective episode that connects policy, politics, parenting, and power—and why we need to meet people where they are, not where we wish they were.

📍 (03:16) — Shutdown Standoff: Sugar High or Sea Change?
Kevin warns that the recent Democratic victories aren’t a permanent shift—just frustration with Republicans. The guys break down the real risks of dragging out the shutdown, including healthcare, military pay, and public patience.

📍 (13:28) — Progressives vs. Moderates: What’s the Endgame?
Bernie and Warren want to hold the line. Centrist Dems want to cut a deal. Rich and Kevin ask: To what end? They stress that Democrats need to win elections, not just make points.

📍 (29:47) — Nancy Pelosi’s Legacy & the Leadership Void
They celebrate Pelosi as the most effective Speaker in a generation—fundraiser, strategist, closer—and question who’s stepping up to carry the mantle now.

📍 (34:19) — Gavin “Petty Pendergrass” Newsom for 2028?
Rich makes the case for Newsom as the bold, social-first Democrat matching energy with Trump. Kevin’s skeptical. Both agree: the guy is playing chess while others fumble checkers.

📍 (42:37) — Vapes, Youth, & the Discipline Debate
A family bombshell kicks off a deeper convo about outdated discipline policies, the failure of school systems to adapt, and how public education must meet students where they are—not punish them into submission.

🏆 Mamba Mentality Award
This week’s Mamba Mentality Award goes to Daisy, Kevin’s 11-year-old dog and low-key co-host of the pod. But on a serious note, the guys also shout out authentic, people-first candidates and the youth they fight for, reminding us all that leadership isn't just about winning—it's about raising the future right.

In this rapid-fire post-election recap, Rich and Kevin break down key wins and strategic takeaways from the 2025 off-year elections. From school boards to statehouses, they track how Democrats made gains across Georgia, Virginia, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Mississippi, and Detroit—and why the victories matter more than most folks realize.

This episode is a reminder that power isn’t just built in presidential cycles. It’s forged in low-turnout races, county maps, and coalitions that don’t quit. If you want to win 2026 and beyond, don’t wait for permission—organize now.

📍 (03:44) — Georgia Did That
From flipping mayoral seats to holding the line in red counties, Rich and Kevin explain how Black voters and local coalitions delivered unexpected wins across the state.

📍 (11:19) — Virginia Is for Fighters
Despite media fatigue, Virginia’s elections showed the value of year-round organizing and what happens when Democrats stop playing scared.

📍 (17:02) — New Jersey & NY: Suburbs Strike Back
The guys unpack what suburban turnout in New Jersey and Long Island tells us about education politics, backlash fatigue, and the limits of GOP culture wars.

📍 (23:50) — Mississippi & Detroit: Black Votes Matter
They celebrate key wins in places the national press ignored—like Detroit's school board and local races in Mississippi—where Black and working-class voters showed up big.

📍 (30:11) — The 2026 Map Starts Now
Closing with a strategy session, Rich and Kevin talk infrastructure, coalition-building, and why anyone sleeping on Southern organizers is about to get outworked again.

🏆 Mamba Mentality Award
This week’s Mamba Mentality Award goes to the unsung heroes of the 2025 elections—the school board candidates, county commission challengers, and local organizers who knocked doors, registered voters, and ran toward the work when no one was watching. Power starts down ballot, and they proved it.

In this episode, Rich and Kevin react to the shocking FBI investigation into NBA betting and poker games involving Terry Rozier and Chauncey Billups. But that’s just the entry point. From scandal in sports to voter suppression in politics, the hosts draw bold parallels between unchecked power and broken systems.

They also unpack the meaning behind the recent “No Kings March”, Republican-led redistricting efforts that threaten fair elections, and the continued failure of Democratic strategy. With 2026 around the corner, this is more than a hot take—it’s a wake-up call to organizers, voters, and anyone still sleeping on the stakes.

📍 (01:49) — NBA Bets, Poker Scandals & FBI Smoke
The guys dive into the FBI’s probe into NBA players allegedly involved in illegal betting and poker, asking what it says about league culture and who really gets held accountable.

📍 (08:11) — No Kings, Just Accountability
Rich breaks down the recent “No Kings” March, its symbolism, and why celebrity culture is distorting the fight for justice—reminding us movements don’t need monarchs.

📍 (17:33) — Redistricting Ain’t Random
Kevin and Rich dissect how Republican lawmakers continue to rig the maps, and why the latest round of redistricting is a direct attack on Black and Brown political power.

📍 (23:47) — Y’all Still Campaigning Like It’s 2008
They call out Democratic consultants and political strategists still using outdated, passive playbooks—and demand smarter, more aggressive infrastructure ahead of 2026.

📍 (32:05) — If You Ain’t on the Ground, You Already Lost
The episode closes with a rallying cry for grassroots organizers, especially in the South, and a blunt reminder: no digital ad will ever replace real relationships and year-round work.

🏆 Mamba Mentality Award
This week’s Mamba Mentality Award goes to the local organizers fighting voter suppression and doing the unglamorous work of democracy—especially in redistricted states across the South. Y’all are the reason the needle moves, not the celebrities or political consultants.

In this urgent and unfiltered episode, Rich and Kevin lay out the real story behind the government shutdown—and why it’s just the tip of the iceberg. From TSA agents working without pay to the Supreme Court quietly gutting voting rights behind the scenes, the guys expose the coordinated strategy unfolding in plain sight.

They break down the Louisiana redistricting case that could eliminate nearly a third of Black congressional seats, the long game Republicans have been playing for decades, and the Democratic Party’s repeated failure to wield power when it matters most. It’s not just a political episode—it’s a call to arms.

📍 (07:00) — Shutdown Theater & Real-Life Chaos
They break down how government workers, service members, and TSA agents are navigating unpaid labor—and why this shutdown is less about budgets and more about distraction.

📍 (13:17) — Supreme Court’s Sneak Attack on Voting Rights
The crew unpacks the terrifying potential of Louisiana v. Callais, a case that could gut Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act and erase decades of Black and Latino political representation.

📍 (24:52) — Checkers vs. Chess: Democrats Keep Losing the Long Game
Kevin and Rich reflect on how the right has coordinated for decades—through courts, legislatures, and billionaires—while the left has played defense and vibes.

📍 (44:04) — If We Win, We Can’t Waste It
They outline a bold and unapologetic roadmap for what Democrats should do with power, including passing federal voting protections, banning gerrymandering, and reforming the Supreme Court.

📍 (58:03) — D’Angelo, Joe Biden, and Matching Energy
From the brilliance of D’Angelo’s Voodoo to Biden’s underappreciated judicial appointments, the episode closes with some unexpected flowers—and one clear reminder to stay focused on the long game.

🏆 Mamba Mentality Award
This week’s Mamba Mentality Award goes to the everyday workers still showing up without pay—TSA agents, military service members, federal employees—who keep the country running despite Washington’s chaos.

Special recognition also goes to President Joe Biden, who matched energy in the judicial arena and reshaped the courts while no one was paying attention.

In this week’s episode, Rich and Kevin tackle the big headlines and deeper implications behind the looming federal government shutdown and what it means for Georgians. They break down how health care subsidies hang in the balance, why Senator Jon Ossoff is more vulnerable than people realize, and how Republicans are quietly playing the long game. Beyond the Beltway drama, the duo zooms out to talk about the bigger picture for Democrats in the South—the organizing challenges, the messaging missteps, and the urgent need for smarter strategy if real power is ever going to be built below the Mason-Dixon.

📍 (01:36) — Federal Shutdown & the Southern Ripple Effect
Rich and Kevin break down what’s at stake if Congress doesn’t fund the government—including the real-world consequences for working-class Southerners and why it’s not just a DC problem.

📍 (08:22) — Ossoff's Seat Ain’t Safe
They sound the alarm on Senator Jon Ossoff’s upcoming re-election, explaining why Democrats shouldn’t assume he’s safe—and how underestimating the GOP’s strategy could backfire.

📍 (14:57) — Health Care Subsidies on the Chopping Block
The crew discusses how federal subsidies keep health insurance affordable for thousands in Georgia—and how the shutdown could jeopardize access just as enrollment ramps up.

📍 (21:44) — Georgia’s Not Blue, It’s Just Loud
Rich and Kevin dissect the myth of Georgia’s “purple” status and why national Democrats need to stop campaigning like they’ve already won the state. Hint: They haven’t.

📍 (30:12) — Playing Chess, Not Checkers: Organize or Fade
The episode wraps with a hard truth: Republicans are playing the long game with local and judicial power, while Dems still treat the South like a one-night stand. That has to change.

🏆 Mamba Mentality Award
This week’s Mamba Mentality Award goes to the frontline organizers in the South who keep showing up, even when the cameras are off and the budgets are tight. And to the voters who stay informed, engaged, and involved—because y’all are the ones holding this democracy together while Congress plays games.

In a long-overdue full-circle moment, the boys of Maroon Bison welcome their third musketeer—producer Stewart Cornelius—from behind the scenes to behind the mic. What follows is an honest, hilarious, and deeply personal conversation about brotherhood, HBCUs, resilience, and showing up for each other as Black men.

The crew takes listeners through their Morehouse journeys, their academic and financial hurdles, the identity-building power of HBCU culture, and what it means to be “the only one” in corporate spaces. If you’ve ever had to fight for your education, take the long way to success, or been kept afloat by mentors who saw something in you—you’ll feel this one.

📍 (04:07) — Suit & Socks: How Rich Became a Freshman Legend at Morehouse
Stew recalls his first encounter with Big Rich during orientation—chewing out freshmen for wearing white socks with suits—and how those intense traditions built a lifelong brotherhood.

📍 (10:56) — Morehouse, Mentors & Magical Negroes: How We Got Here
From Maryland and New York to the AUC, the trio recounts how they ended up at Morehouse, and the unexpected people (including a school counselor) who pushed them toward purpose.

📍 (18:59) — Training to Be the Only One
Kevin and Stew share stories of being the lone Black man—or the lone straight Black man—in grad school, media, and corporate jobs, and how HBCUs trained them to walk into rooms with purpose, even when they were alone.

📍 (26:41) — Sears, Schedules & Struggle: How We Made It Work
From working at Sears and cleaning hotels to juggling internships and long commutes, they break down the unglamorous grind behind their college years—and why Gen Z needs to toughen up.

📍 (34:36) — Give Back, Then Pass It On
Whether it’s paying tuition gaps, mentoring younger students, or just showing up on campus, the guys reflect on the cycle of care within the HBCU community and why they’re committed to keeping it going for the next generation.

🏆 Mamba Mentality Award
This week’s Mamba Mentality Award goes to the teachers who saw our potential before we saw it ourselves—those who gave hard advice, opened hidden doors, and helped plant the seeds that made this episode possible.

And shoutout to Black men everywhere who carry the weight, show up for each other, and keep pushing—even when no one sees the grind. This one’s for you.

Rich and Kevin dive into a culture-meets-politics episode that celebrates Southern legends while exposing political cowardice from Capitol Hill to Georgia’s gold dome. They kick things off with Outkast’s long-overdue Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction, then shift into a blistering breakdown of recent political headlines—calling out silence on Gaza, speculating on control of Congress, and analyzing what’s shaping up to be a wild 2026 Georgia Governor’s race.

From Jeff Duncan’s party switch to Keisha Lance Bottoms’ quiet moves, to Michael Thurman’s latent power base, the boys map the chessboard and ask who’s got the brand, the coalition, and the guts to actually win.

📍 (02:05) — “The South Got Something to Say”: Outkast Heads to the Hall
Rich and Kevin celebrate Outkast’s Rock Hall induction and unpack how the duo redefined what it means to be Black, Southern, and genreless in music—and why their influence reaches far beyond hip-hop.

📍 (08:45) — Congressional Cowardice & Gaza Silence
They call out the lack of moral leadership in Congress, especially from Black elected leaders, on the genocide in Gaza—and why history will remember who stayed quiet.

📍 (16:29) — Who Flips What? House & Senate 2026 Forecast
From razor-thin margins in Congress to the races that could reshape everything, the hosts game out which chambers are in play, where Dems could win big—or fumble—and why party control may come down to candidate quality.

📍 (24:17) — Jeff Duncan’s Party Breakup: Can a Moderate Republican Win in Georgia?
Former Lt. Gov. Jeff Duncan renounces the GOP. Is he really independent? Is Georgia ready for a third option? The crew debates his viability and the branding challenges of running outside the red-blue binary.

📍 (34:01) — GA Governor’s Race 2026: Keisha, Thurman, or Somebody New?
The boys break down the early power players in the open governor’s race: Keisha Lance Bottoms (with her White House polish), Michael Thurman (the most underrated Black political leader in the state), and what it would take for a wild-card contender to break through.

🏆 Mamba Mentality Award
Michael Thurman earns this episode’s Mamba Mentality Award. Though not flashy, his long-standing credibility, leadership in DeKalb, and deep community ties make him one of Georgia’s most serious, strategic, and slept-on political forces. Whether he runs or not, his influence is undeniable.

From dodging a Deloitte firing to navigating grief, genocide, and the Georgia General Assembly, Rep. Ruwa Romman returns to finish the story she started. In this follow-up episode, Ruwa opens up about her time at Deloitte, her work defending the census, and the chaos that followed when her campaign was leaked to the press. The trio delves deeply into Georgia politics, organizational philosophy, coalition-building, messaging strategy, and the personal toll of being a Palestinian-American woman in elected office. A masterclass in resilience, message discipline, and finding power in spite.

📍 (02:12) — From Deloitte to the Census Bureau: Government Work and the Fight Against Misinformation

Ruwa shares her journey through Deloitte’s public sector arm and how she ended up combating misinformation for the U.S. Census—connecting data collection to hospital planning, political power, and Jamal Bowman's seat.

📍 (11:41) — From “No Way” to Election Day: How a Leaked Article Sparked Her Campaign

A surprise AJC article about Ruwa “entertaining a run” becomes the unofficial launch of her campaign—setting off panic, purpose, and overwhelming grassroots support that forced her to say yes.

📍 (20:14) — Beating the Odds: Governor Opposition, Donor Doubt, and Winning Anyway

Ruwa unpacks the skepticism she faced, including donors who doubted her chances, and how she won her general election by a larger margin even after the governor endorsed against her.

📍 (30:40) — Carrying Grief and Fighting Back: Palestine, Policy, and Political Pressure

Ruwa discusses the emotional weight of being the only Palestinian-American legislator in the South during the war in Gaza, navigating trauma while fulfilling her duties, and resisting resignation.

📍 (36:03) — Common Sense or “Progressive”? Ruwa’s Politics and the Southern Strategy for Change

She pushes back on political labels, calls for a broader southern strategy that centers overlooked voters, and breaks down why Georgia isn’t backwards—it’s the future.

🏆 Mamba Mentality Award:
This episode’s Mamba Mentality Award goes to Representative Ruwa Romman for embodying passion, fearlessness, and relentlessness. From community cookouts to statehouse floor votes, Ruwa consistently shows up with discipline, dignity, and deep commitment to her people. As Kevin puts it, “you make us ask ourselves if we’re doing enough.”