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The Ringer

Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay dissect the biggest topics in Black culture, politics, and sports. Two times per week, they will wade into the most important and timely conversations, frequently inviting guests on the podcast and occasionally debating each other.

Higher Learning with Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay

Rachel and Van start the show with a recap of the recent elections, including what the “blue wave” of elected officials means for the future of politics, the passage of Prop 50, and the reactions to Zohran Mamdani winning the NYC mayoral election. Then, they are joined by Jesse Blake, co-owner of the podcast network SDPN, to talk about the World Series and what it’s like being a Toronto Blue Jays fan. Finally, they talk about the developing GOP “civil war” over Nick Fuentes before getting into Summer Walker’s newest cover art and the viral discussion about whether it is embarrassing to have a boyfriend.

00:00 - Welcome!

04:34 - Election night recaps

32:02 - Van Jones comments on Zohran Mamdani 

1:04:06 - Jesse Blake joins the show

1:18:13 - Has a GOP civil war begun?

1:40:32 - Summer Walker’s new album artwork

1:52:17 - Embarrassing boyfriends

2:10:35 - Thanks for watching!

Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay

Guest: Jesse Blake

Producer: Ashleigh Smith and Donnie Beacham 

Video Supervision: Chris Thomas
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The New Blue Wave, a Great Value Economy, and the Act of Centering Men. Plus, Talking the World Series With Jesse Blake! | Higher Learning | The Ringer

Jomi Adeniran joins Rachel and Van to react to the Dodgers winning a classic World Series before discussing the Trump administration’s efforts to cut the funding for SNAP. Then, Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House press secretary for the Biden administration, joins to talk about her new book, ‘Independent: A Look Inside a Broken White House, Outside the Party Lines’; the response to her book tour; and the reasons behind her exit from the Democratic Party.

00:00 Dodgers' World Series win

(18:20) Efforts to end SNAP

(1:01:06) Ignoring the blackface costumes

(1:08:39) Karine Jean-Pierre joins the show

(1:12:46) A look into the book

(1:22:11) A broken White House

(1:38:17) Where should the party go?

(2:13:38) Graham Platner’s campaign

Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay

Guests: Oluwajomiloju Adeniran and Karine Jean-Pierre

Producers: Donnie Beacham Jr. and Ashleigh Smith

Video Supervision: Chris Thomas
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A Broken White House, With Karine Jean-Pierre. Plus, the End of SNAP?

Rachel and Van start the show with a conversation on the Virginia election and intercommunity politics concerning Black Republicans. Then they are joined by Abby Phillip, anchor of 'NewsNight' on CNN, to talk about her latest book, 'A Dream Deferred: Jesse Jackson and the Fight for Black Political Power.' They end the show by giving their thoughts on the Billboard Hot 100's top 40 not having any rap songs for the first time since 1990.

00:00 - Welcome!

01:27 - Virginia Election Day approaches

16:12 - NYC mayoral race

38:50 - California’s Prop 50

51:58 - Abby Phillip joins us!

1:53:31 - The attack on SNAP benefits and resources

1:56:09 - Billboard Hot 100’s top 40: no rap songs

2:13:31 - Thanks for watching!

Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay

Guest: Abby Phillip

Producers: Donnie Beacham and Ashleigh Smith

Video Supervision: Chris Thomas

RESOURCES :

Detroit Farmers Giving Away Food

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQa5L7jDRa3/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

LA County Mobilizes Food Assistance as Federal Government Shutdown Continues

https://lacounty.gov/2025/10/28/la-county-mobilizes-food-assistance-as-federal-government-shutdown-continues/

SNAP benefits ending: Here's where you can get emergency assistance in Southern California

https://www.foxla.com/news/snap-benefits-ending-november-government-shutdown

SNAP runs out of money Nov. 1. Here's what that means in your state

https://www.npr.org/2025/10/28/g-s1-95189/snap-food-stamps-government-shutdown-november
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Black Political Power and Jesse Jackson, With Abby Phillip! Plus, Elections Galore and a Red Alert for Hip-Hop. | Higher Learning | The Ringer

Van and Rachel talk Kamala Harris’s political future, New York Representative Hakeem Jeffries endorsing Zohran Mamdani, and the Cash Money vs. No Limit ‘Verzuz’ battle before Roy Wood Jr. joins to discuss his new memoir, 'The Man of Many Fathers.' Then technology writer Ed Zitron joins to break down the economic impact of AI.

(0:00) Intro

(1:00) Kamala Harris running again?

(9:53) Hakeem Jeffries endorses Mamdani

(18:57) Roy Wood Jr. joins the show

(1:12:51) Ed Zitron on AI

(1:45:29) ‘Verzuz’: Cash Money vs. No Limit

(1:50:30) Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear on "inclusion and exclusion"

Hosts: Van Lathan Jr. and Rachel Lindsay

Guests: Roy Wood Jr. and Ed Zitron

Producers: Donnie Beacham Jr. and Ashleigh Smith

Video Supervision: Chris Thomas
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Fatherhood and Forgiveness With Roy Wood Jr., Plus Ed Zitron Breaks Down the “AI Bubble”

Rachel and Van start the show by rating Stephen A. Smith’s apology to Jasmine Crockett before getting into Emmanuel Acho’s latest comments and perspective on our past intense interview with him. Then, Logan Murdock from The Ringer’s Real Ones joins to talk about the NBA gambling scandal, celeb culture, and masculinity. Last, they talk about the backlash against Keke Palmer’s new fish-out-of-water show, ‘Southern Fried Rice.’

00:00 - Welcome!

00:53 - Sneak peek of next week’s show: The AI problem

07:29 - Stephen A.’s apology

29:34 - Revisiting Emmanuel Acho

53:11 - Logan Murdock joins us!

1:40:51 - Keke Palmer’s new show

1:59:14 - Thanks for watching!

Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay

Guest: Logan Murdock

Producer: Ashleigh Smith

Video Supervision: Chris Thomas
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Sifting Through Emmanuel Acho’s Perspective. Plus, Logan Explains the NBA Gambling Scandal! | Higher Learning | The Ringer

Rachel and Van start the show by talking about the “No Kings” protest, the goals of the protest, and the “blatant hypocrisy” from the reaction of the far right. Then, they talk about two controversies concerning offensive past social media posts, one from Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner and the other from Grammy winner Tyler, the Creator. Last, they go over the Gaza ceasefire deal with Huffington Post senior diplomatic correspondent Akbar Ahmed and the violations that followed it.

00:00 - Welcome!

09:12 - The “No Kings” protest

44:16 - Joe Rogan declines to debate Gov. Gavin Newsom

49:36 - Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner apologizes for past social media posts

1:03:49 - Tyler, the Creator’s social media past brings current backlash

1:23:21 - Akbar joins the show!

1:41:23 - What do we do about the Stephen A. thing?

1:52:39 - Thanks for watching!

Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay

Guest: Akbar Ahmed

Producers: Ashleigh Smith

Video Supervision: Chris Thomas
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The State of the Gaza Ceasefire With Akbar Ahmed. Plus, the Demands of the “No Kings” Protest and the Ghost of Social Media’s Past. | Higher Learning | The Ringer

Rachel and Van start the show by remembering the late legend D’Angelo and the issue concerning the health of black men in America. Then, they are joined by Isaac Bryan, member of the California State Assembly, to talk about assaults on reparations and restorative justice and his relationship with Governor Gavin Newsom. Later, they take a peek into the latest Stephen A. Smith drama and the reactions to his comments on Representative Jasmine Crockett.

00:00 - Welcome!

03:23 - Thoughts about the Gavin Newsom interview

14:42 - Remembering D’Angelo

36:51 - The Supreme Court and the Voting Rights Act

50:46 - Young Republicans' secret Telegram chat leaked

57:56 - Isaac Bryan joins us!

1:28:24 - Stephen A. and his comments on Rep. Jasmine Crockett

1:46:27 - Thanks for watching!

Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay

Guest: Isaac Bryan

Producers: Donnie Beacham and Ashleigh Smith

Video Supervision: Chris Thomas
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Breaking Down Reparations and Restorative Justice With Isaac Bryan! Plus, Threatening the Voting Act and Stephen A.’s Crockett Comments. | Higher Learning | The Ringer

Rachel and Van start the show by giving their reactions to the return of ‘Verzuz’ and their opinion of Cash Money versus No Limit Records. Then, they are joined by California Governor Gavin Newsom to talk about the current Democratic Party, Trump, and who could be in the running to lead the Democratic Party. Later, Ryan Grim stops by to talk about the Gaza ceasefire and what it actually means.

00:00 - Welcome!

02:19 - Governor Gavin Newsom joins us!

1:10:34 - Ryan Grim joins us!

1:34:25 - ‘Verzuz’ returns

1:46:01 - Ubisoft cancels Civil War–era 'Assassin's Creed' game

1:48:13 - Thanks for watching!

Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay

Guests: Governor Gavin Newsom and Ryan Grim

Producers: Donnie Beacham and Ashleigh Smith

Video Supervision: Chris Thomas
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Exploring the Democratic Narrative With Governor Gavin Newsom! Plus, Ryan Grim Explains the Ceasefire. | Higher Learning | The Ringer

Van and Rachel react to a strange weekend of football before discussing Van Jones’s “dead Gaza baby” joke, Diddy’s sentencing, and Ayesha Curry’s comments on motherhood and marriage.

(0:00) Intro

(8:21) Mark Sanchez’s stabbing & arrest

(16:30) Kyren Lacy update

(31:09) Van Jones apologizes for joke

(48:19) Diddy sentenced

(1:03:32) Ayesha Curry’s admission

(1:45:58) Theo Von & Adin Ross on Trump

(2:08:31) Taylor Swift’s new album

(2:21:13) “Love is Blind” 

Hosts: Van Lathan Jr. and Rachel Lindsay

Producer: Donnie Beacham Jr. and Ashleigh Smith 

Video Supervision: Chris Thomas
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Van Jones’s Very Bad Joke, Ayesha Curry’s Admission, and Diddy’s Sentencing

Rachel and Van start the show by taking a moment to acknowledge the life of the late Assata Shakur before Rep. Maxwell Frost joins to talk about the government shutdown and the volatile housing market. After, they get into the drama surrounding the WNBA leadership comments, and Ray J getting sued by the Kardashians. Then, they end the show with a “VanLaTEN” for Bad Bunny.

00:00 - Welcome!

05:56 - Assata Shakur’s passing

08:15 - Rep. Maxwell Frost joins us!

1:04:04 - The WNBA’s leadership

1:31:33 - Ray J is getting sued

1:41:49 - The reaction to Bad Bunny and the Super Bowl

1:43:59 - Van’s 5 ideas for Bad Bunny’s performance

1:53:15 - Thanks for watching!

Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay

Guest: Rep. Maxwell Frost

Producers: Donnie Beacham and Ashleigh Smith

Video Supervision: Chris Thomas
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Navigating the Shutdown With Rep. Maxwell Frost! Plus, the WNBA's Bad Leadership, and Ray J Vs. the Kardashians. | Higher Learning | The Ringer

Van and Rachel took to New York’s Gramercy Theater in front of a lively audience to discuss the old guard of the Democratic Party, after David Hogg’s “get over yourself” comment (12:57). Then Van debuts a new spinoff, “Glaze of the Decade” (29:37), before thought warriors join the show for Animal Games (54:38) and a Rachel Apology Contest (1:12:07).

Hosts: Van Lathan Jr. and Rachel Lindsay

Producers: Donnie Beacham Jr. and Ashleigh Smith 

Additional Production Support: Chelsea Stark-Jones

Live Events Coordination: Elizabeth Fierman, Helen Eichner, Tessa Herrick
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Live from New York, It’s Higher Learning!

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