A New York Times/Siena poll last month showed that 23 percent of registered Black voters polled said if the election was held that day, they’d vote for Donald Trump.
Considering Trump only won 8 percent of Black voters in 2020, that would be a big deal. Black voters historically overwhelmingly vote for Democrats, and in a potentially close presidential race, Democrats can’t afford slippage among their most reliable voting bloc.
That discontent among Black voters with the party does not surprise Charlamagne tha God, the celebrity radio host of “The Breakfast Club,” who is known for his provocative interviews of politicians, and, more recently, his critiques of President Joe Biden and Democrats.
“I think as a Black person, you shouldn’t be beholden to any political party in this country,” Charlamagne told Vox’s Noel King in a live Today, Explained podcast taping at South by Southwest in Austin on Sunday. “I mean, Democrats have done more, but we haven’t really seen anybody systemically help us get out of this situation that we’re in, because I think that’s something that people never truly address.”
And it’s especially unfair, given those unaddressed issues, to put the weight of the election on Black voters, said political commentator and Native Land Pod podcast host Angela Rye at the live taping.
“I think that it is one of those things where we end up talking about this and then Black voters are to blame in November if that’s what ends up happening,” Rye said.
So what should Democrats — and Republicans — be prepared to show Black voters who are more up for grabs this year than they have previously been?
You can listen to the full Today, Explained episode to hear our discussion with Charlamagne and Rye on that and more. A transcript of their portion of the episode is below, edited for length and clarity.
Noel King
It’s 2020. Charlamagne tha God is interviewing candidate Joe Biden, and you’re trying to get a…
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