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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

Van and Rachel react to fractures in the MAGA movement, give a rating for Marjorie Taylor Greene’s apology, and get into the Epstein brothers' correspondence about Trump “blowing Bubba.” Plus, Michelle Obama talks about America’s readiness for a woman president, Pharrell shares his dislike of politics, and Eric Adams goes to Israel.

(0:00) Black women in pop and hip-hop

(19:16) MAGA regrets

(45:23) Marjorie Taylor Greene’s apology

(50:55) Trump and Bubba

(56:15) Michelle Obama on a woman president

(1:10:40) Pharrell and politics

(1:34:04) Eric Adams in Israel

Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay

Producers: Donnie Beacham Jr. and Ashleigh Smith

Video Supervision: Chris Thomas
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MAGA Regrets, Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Apology, and Pharrell’s Philosophy

Rachel and Van start the show by reacting to the Epstein emails released by both Democrats and Republicans. Then, they are joined by former reporter for the Young Turks and current co-host of the Majority Report, Emma Vigeland, to talk about the Epstein files, the state of the GOP, and the characteristics of useful disagreements between progressives. Later, they talk about the response toward Donald Trump’s appearance on the Pat McAfee Show for Veterans Day, and Rachel gives an apology rating to Kayla Nicole. Last, they end the show with a segment of VanLaTEN.

00:00 - Welcome!

05:08 - Updates on the Epstein files

32:04 - Emma Vigeland joins us!

1:31:39 - Trump on the Pat McAfee Show

2:01:15 - Rachel’s apology rating: Kayla Nicole’s old tweets

2:19:15 - The VanLaTEN: “Top five dudes that got their friends killed in movies”

2:29:04 - Thanks for watching!

Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay

Guest: Emma Vigeland

Producers: Ashleigh Smith and Donnie Beacham

Video Supervision: Chris Thomas
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Is the Shutdown Really Over? Plus, More Epstein Files Leak, and the State of the GOP With Emma Vigeland! | Higher Learning | The Ringer

Van and Rachel discuss the agreement to end the government shutdown before welcoming Representative Summer Lee to give her perspective as a congresswoman. Then Van gives his take on the controversy surrounding James Talarico’s social media habits, and a Michael Jackson impersonator responds to the trailer for the biopic ‘Michael.’

00:00 Intro

(6:13) Government shutdown ends

(31:00) Representative Summer Lee joins the show

(1:23:13) James Talarico follows adult film stars

(1:30:58) Reactions to the ‘Michael’ trailer

Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay

Guests: Rep. Summer Lee

Producers: Donnie Beacham Jr. and Ashleigh Smith

Video Supervision: Chris Thomas
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The End of the Shutdown With Representative Summer Lee. Plus, Reactions to the ‘Michael’ Trailer

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

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

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

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

Van and Rachel are still on TRUMP WATCH, this time reacting to the nomination of Robert Kennedy Jr. to head the Dept. of Health and Human Services (14:39), and the Pete Hegseth sexual assault allegation (38:29). Then, 27-year-old Jake Paul fights 58-year-old Mike Tyson (41:58), Diddy’s accused of influencing witnesses from behind bars (59:19), and Snoop speaks on his neutrality during the election (1:10:05). And finally, Van lists his top 10 cartoon dogs in the latest VanLaTEN (1:25:05).

Hosts: Van Lathan and Rachel Lindsay 
Producers: Donnie Beacham Jr. and Ashleigh Smith
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Nomination of RFK Jr., and Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson

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