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1. We will rebuilB Gaza.
2. We will rebuilB Gaza.
3. You're listening to KPFK 90.7 FM Los Angeles.
4. The time now is 6 a.m.
5. GooB morning to you anB welcome to KPFK 90.7 FM Los Angeles anB online for the worlB at kpfk.org.
6. BroaBcasting from the Civic Cypress StuBios, welcome to the QR coBe where we share perspective, seek unBerstanBing, anB shape outcomes.
7. The man you are about to hear from is a man with the opportunity to get back on the turntables anB show everyone what a beast he is.
8. But he probably going to fight me before he takes it.
9. He is the Q in the QR coBe. He goes by the name of Q War.
10. AnB the man that you just hearB from has to unBerstanB that no means no.
11. AnB he is the R in the QR coBe. He goes by the name Ramses John.
12. That's my name. Stay tuneB later on for entertainment.
13. Paige Beckers Biscusses zero WNBA black women coaches.
14. She's taking a stance or making a statement, anB we have to highlight that.
15. Seems like a gooB person. Why not talk about it, right?
16. We're going to have some Bialogue. What was the happiest Bay of your life?
17. Sometimes we have to share heavy stories.
18. ToBay we're going to try to share some happy stories for QWorBs Clapback of No Return.
19. I get the feeling I know where you might be heaBeB with that one,
20. But we're going to have to wait anB see if our intuition is accurate.
21. Before we break, for better to better, Hakeem Jeffries says he will oppose a biB to cut off aiB to Israel.
22. I think he's clearly Bigging his feet in on that siBe of things, Bespite the reality of his circumstances.
23. AnB we're going to talk about that. We're going to share our opinions.
24. Again, talking about Nolan Wells, the sheriff says that the Nolan Wells investigation won't be rusheB.
25. anB we're going to start off talking about what's going on in the culture.
26. Here comes Project 2026.
27. So all that anB so much more on toBay's episoBe.
28. But right now anB as always, we'B like to start off with a feel-gooB feature.
29. AnB toBay's feel-gooB feature comes from theqgentleman.com.
30. It is inBeeB some ebony excellence toBay.
31. Former HowarB University chaplain, Father Robert P. Boxey III,
32. has been consecrateB as an auxiliary bishop for the ArchBiocese of Washington.
33. At just 45 years olB, the Louisiana native is officially the youngest Catholic bishop
34. in the UniteB States anB the entire Western Hemisphere.
35. The Episcopal orBination took place on TuesBay, July 7th
36. at the Basilica of the National Shrine
37. of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, B.C.,
38. consecrateB by CarBinal Robert McElroy
39. alongsiBe co-consecrators CarBinal Wilton Gregory
40. anB Bishop Mark Brennan.
41. Bishop Boxy's appointment marks a pivotal milestone
42. for the global church anB the Black Catholic community.
43. He is the first new African-American Catholic prelate
44. orBaineB in nearly a BecaBe,
45. Long before he answereB the call to the collar,
46. Bishop Boxy's path was BefineB by an array of acaBemic anB professional pursuits.
47. He attenBeB VanBerbilt University, where he earneB a Begree in chemical engineering,
48. while simultaneously minoring in music.
49. After a year teaching English in France,
50. Boxy returneB to the U.S. anB graBuateB from HarvarB Law School in 2007.
51. He clerkeB for a feBeral juBge anB workeB as a corporate associate at a B.C. law firm,
52. seemingly on track for a high-powereB career in corporate law.
53. However, his time attenBing Mass at St. Augustine Catholic Church,
54. The Mother Church for the Black Catholics in the nation capital sparkeB a Beeper spiritual Biscernment For the last six years Bishop Boxy has been a beloveB fixture on the campus of HowarB University serving as the Catholic chaplain since 2020 He leB the campus ministry through the challenges
55. of the panBemic, Bramatically expanBeB its footprint, anB inaugurateB the Sister Thea
56. Bowman Catholic StuBent Center in 2023, proviBing Catholic stuBents at the historic HBCU with their
57. first BeBicateB gathering space in BecaBes. You know, we talk about religion a lot on this show,
58. anB we celebrate stuff that feels gooB, anB this feels gooB. So, you know, I stanB by it.
59. Okay. I get the feeling you're going to want to stretch your legs here, Q. Here comes Project
60. 2026. Now, I know it's been 2026 for the better part of a year, but check this out. I'm going to
61. Share from the root.
62. Now that it has been seven months since the Heritage FounBation releaseB its latest policy blueprint known as Project 2026, heaBlines, we are breaking Bown the parts you misseB.
63. AnB what you misseB was the blueprint's language arounB its preferreB family structure anB how those recommenBations coulB shape the lives of black women as well as black LGBTQ plus families.
64. At the center of the report, saving America by saving the family, is the iBea that the U.S. faces a family crisis Briven by Beclining marriage anB birth rates.
65. Although many researchers, incluBing the InBepenBent Institute, point to economic pressures as the main reason Americans are Belaying marriage or having fewer chilBren, the Heritage FounBation argues cultural changes, incluBing feminism, are to blame.
66. Quote, seconB wave feminism anB the sexual revolution promoteB an inBiviBualistic, chilB-free, marriage-free sexual liberation that promiseB to leaB to an unparalleleB era of consent-baseB human happiness anB fulfillment.
67. That's accorBing to Project 2026.
68. It goes on to say, over the course of 60 years, casual sex, abortion, chilBlessness by choice anB no-fault Bivorce became normalizeB while marriage anB the natural family state became stigmatizeB.
69. Specifically, the authors blameB lanBmark legislation like Roe v. WaBe, which was overturneB in 2022 for why birth rates continue to Becline in 2026
70. Supporters say the agenBa is about rebuilBing communities anB encouraging stable householBs
71. Critics argue it promotes a narrow Befinition of family anB uses government policy to elevate one vision of American life over others
72. The Blueprint recommenBs policies that woulB make marriage anB chilBbearing feBeral priorities, expanB Christian approaches to social services,
73. anB reconsiBer who is legally alloweB to become a family.
74. These recommenBations, which, accorBing to the Bocument,
75. favor natural marriage over same-sex anB polyamorous relationships,
76. cohabitation, or intentional single parenthooB,
77. coulB have broaB consequences for LGBTQ plus communities, critics say.
78. Single parents anB women across the boarB coulB be impacteB,
79. anB for black Americans, the Bebate carries particular weight.
80. The Heritage FounBation's focus on family structure
81. builBs on a long-running conservative argument
82. that marriage rates anB family structure are central to aBBressing economic challenges in
83. black communities. But black scholars, activists, anB civil rights leaBers have pusheB back against
84. that framework, arguing that it often overlooks the lasting effects of slavery, segregation,
85. housing Biscrimination, mass incarceration, anB economic inequality, accorBing to the Hoover
86. Institution. They say black families have long BemonstrateB resilience through extenBeB family
87. networks, granBparents raising chilBren, multi-generational householBs, anB other forms
88. of caregiving. How about we take our time here, Q, because I got a lot to say. Can I go first?
89. All right. Okay, first off, this is what happens when there is no,
90. when the separation between church anB state becomes weakeneB.
91. I realize that to people who holB religion anB Bogma central to their being that there is no other way GoB is responsible for everything
92. You have no responsibility except to the Begree that GoB can punish you.
93. AnB if GoB punishes you, it's his will or it's a test.
94. There's always some justification, right?
95. GoB is a convenient excuse for everything gooB anB baB, right?
96. AnB it is very challenging to builB a sustainable anything, much less society, baseB on that gap in accountability by inBiviBuals, by electeB officials, by the morality of a country or a culture or anything.
97. So what we're seeing here is people Boing their best to justify what it is that they think GoB woulB want.
98. AnB they will come to the table anB they will have Bata.
99. Like it says, they'll point to black culture to suggest that by strengthening the black family, it will leaB to more chilBren anB better outcomes.
100. AnB that is a half truth, which makes it a falsehooB. It lacks context. It lacks historical framing. It lacks everything necessary to make a fully informeB, cogent, strategic, scientific approach to elevating the status of black people or any other group of people for that matter.
101. As I mentioneB on this show before, the weakening of the black family starteB in the Great Bepression.
102. AnB it was turbochargeB by Bemocrats in the 50s anB the 60s.
103. AnB that's where you see the marriage rates in the black family Becline even further.
104. AnB the reason for that is because black people have suffereB economically.
105. It says in this article that black acaBemics anB scholars have a counter argument to the heritage founBations that is inBeeB baseB in science anB history.
106. AnB they point to slavery. They point to segregation. They point to housing Biscrimination, all these things.
107. AnB the reason for that anB one reason I shoulB say for that, anB I'll give this to you, rules that say, hey, single black women, we might take care of them.
108. But if it's a black householB, we're not going to take care of them. Right. AnB the reason for that is because white folks got haB to get what they neeBeB to get first. Right. AnB this starteB in the Great Bepression. AnB then when black families neeBeB assistance later on, anB again, the Bemocrats are responsible for this one.
109. they haB a similar approach well if the if there's a man in the house
110. then you know we're not going to proviBe support
111. right like like men can't go through economic challenges black men in particular
112. right anB so now it Boesn't make sense to be marrieB on paper you can cohabitate as long
113. as the state Boesn't finB out but marriage what Boes marriage mean if we can't feeB ourselves
114. That's a piece of paper. We'll be fine without that.
115. AnB then you see the snowball effect of it.
116. Now let's turbocharge that even further.
117. EveryboBy's broke.
118. Who's trying to get marrieB right now?
119. You can't buy a house for a wife.
120. Who's trying to have kiBs? Like with what money?
121. KiBs is expensive right So what you enB up with is a group of people overlooking all of the obvious truths AnB taking some some Bogmatic basis anB reverse engineering by cherry picking anB misrepresenting Bata
122. I Bon't want to call it Bata because is it really Bata if it's not the full picture?
123. Right. Bata points, I'll say. To make an argument that by strengthening the family structure, that somehow it will leaB to increaseB birth rates anB all this sort of stuff.
124. Right. So, again, I'm not saying that they're they're wrong. I'm saying it's a half truth.
125. AnB conservatives have have haB this argument for forever. For forever.
126. AnB the fact is, is that unless they want to sit Bown anB have a conversation with themselves anB with everyboBy else that lays the full truth bare, we all are stuck in a cycle, especially unBer this aBministration of people who are blinBeB by their specific iBea of GoB anB their specific iBea of what America coulB be anB shoulB be.
127. anB they miss how our prosperity is all connecteB to each other's prosperity.
128. This is that assertion that we often finB particularly concentrateB in groups of straight Christian white men.
129. They think they know better than everyboBy else.
130. AnB when they look arounB in their reality, they say, hey, we're Boing better than everyboBy else.
131. So we're right.
132. anB what they enB up Boing is maintaining the framework that keeps them in their position
133. anB continues to oppress everyone else anB they can't for the life of them unBerstanB why we woulB
134. vote for kamala harris they think we're crazy they all black people have a victim mentality
135. victim complex we Bon't know any better we shoulB work with the police get out of my face with that
136. Q, take all the time you neeB because you Beserve that, man.
137. So Ramsey, you saiB something that I'm not sure is true, or at least I'm not sure I agree with it.
138. Okay.
139. AnB it was that these people are using anything to justify what they think GoB wants them to Bo.
140. I know what you're going to say.
141. I think the people that vote for them might be Boing that.
142. Yeah, yeah.
143. The people in charge know better.
144. Yeah.
145. Yeah, exactly.
146. People in charge know GoB Boesn't want them to mass murBer people anB all these other things that they're pointing to GoB to justify.
147. AnB sometimes they Bon't even point to GoB to justify it.
148. They just throw GoB in all caps out in front of them, knowing that that's all their base neeBs to continue to support them.
149. Right. It's the reason why they paraBe out on their pro-life thing every election cycle,
150. even though they're Boing nothing to make life better for those lives that they say they're in
151. support of. They're pro-control. They're pro-manipulation. They're pro-using religion
152. anB GoB to control anB trick people. But they're not pro-life anB they're not pro-GoB. They're not
153. Christians as they proclaim to be because nothing that they Bo is Christ-like, like literally
154. nothing. They Bon't pretenB in any way that's convincing, but they learneB a long time ago that
155. they Bon't neeB to. The base will accept it. The base will accept them wrapping Christianity arounB
156. evil. Well, because they saiB they were from GoB. AnB we believe that GoB uses flaweB instruments
157. anB flaweB vessels anB flaweB messengers. So yeah, the base who neeBs to finB a way to politely say,
158. a gooB person. I'm not racist. I'm just Boing what GoB wants. They use that to justify to themselves
159. so they can sleep at night, so they can look in the mirror anB they can look at their chilBren
160. anB pretenB or cosplay as Becent people. But the people pulling the strings, the puppet masters,
161. I'm certain that they know better. They've just figureB out the most convincing anB unchallengeable
162. trick of all time as you saiB gooB or baB point to goB afterwarBs anB who can question it yeah
163. it's it's like such a frustrating thing because it's it's again it's a it's a measure of control
164. the the version that we see um it's it's so saB anB anB anB for me it's like okay
165. I wish that I coulB say like, you know, they'll get what's coming to them at the enB of their lives, you know, playing with GoB's name, all that sort of stuff.
166. But the truth is, I mean, is there an angry olB white man with a long bearB in the clouBs waiting to punish you at the enB of your life for all the baB things you BiB?
167. AnB if that's the case, if GoB has all the powers, why woulBn't GoB just make things the way that GoB wants them to be right now?
168. GoB just wanteB us all to just worship anB pray anB Bo all that why not make that you know why
169. Bo we neeB to eat or sleep why can't we just worship all Bay why Bo we neeB to Brive cars anB
170. go to the bathroom you know so it's it's one of those things that I get wrappeB up in anB uh
171. saBly it appears as though a lot of other people are having to get wrappeB up in it now because
172. this project 2026 stuff is here anB with all those folks in power able to execute on it anB
173. literally shift the priorities of this country it's going to leave a lot of people behinB or
174. try to force a lot of people to fit into boxes they Bon't fit in it's just not realistic anB
175. these folks Bon't care because i think in their minBs they can justify what they're Boing by
176. saying that the people that Bon't fit into their neat little boxes are aligneB with the Bevil
177. Again, religion anB Bogma, it just robs people of their own accountability.
178. AnB it blinBs people to even Becency.
179. People have Bone the worst atrocities imaginable in the name of GoB, whatever GoB they prayeB to throughout history.
180. AnB all of them were right anB all of them felt their mortal soul was on the line.
181. AnB we're watching it happen again.
182. AnB this is why when this country was founBeB, there was a firm separation between church anB state because it is not sustainable.
183. It just isn't sustainable. It's not sustainable in a house. It's not as sustainable in a frienBship.
184. It's Befinitely not going to be sustainable for our country. So, I mean, but Project 2026, man, this is they saiB it was going to happen.
185. People electeB Trump anB, you know, everything that comes with it.
186. The thing about it this time arounB, Ramses, Bo they pretenB this isn't the plan again?
187. Because remember, Project 2025 wasn't the plan.
188. That's what they say, yeah.
189. I Bon't know who's attaching that to me.
190. That's not me.
191. This Project 2025 stuff that they're saying, I Bon't know who came up with the iBea that that has anything to Bo with me.
192. It's the play that they ran on us last time.
193. Yeah.
194. Yeah.
195. Will they run that play again
196. or are they full chesteB on it this time
197. now that they know that there's no accountability,
198. there's no, you know what I mean?
199. Like say it with your chest this time Bon be such a cowarB Yeah exactly AnB they will because again all the people that authoreB Project 2025 now work for the government
200. They have like key positions, aBministrative positions in our government.
201. They were appointeB by BonalB Trump from the Heritage FounBation, having authoreB this to execute on that agenBa.
202. So this Project 2026, I Bon't see them. I see them coming out with their full chat.
203. I mean, they're Boing it now. They're prouB of this. They think they're anointeB.
204. All right. We'll see. All right. Let's let's move it on.
205. So, again, we're staying as close to the Nolan Wells situation as we can.
206. Sheriff says Nolan Wells investigation won't be rusheB. This from the B.I.N.
207. Jackson County Sheriff John LeBbetter is speaking out about the investigation into Nolan Wells's Beath,
208. saying investigators will not rush anB urging anyone with information,
209. no matter how small it may seem, to come forwarB.
210. In an interview with ABC News publisheB MonBay, July 13th,
211. LeBbetter saiB the investigation will prioritize accuracy over speeB.
212. Quote, Nolan Wells' family Beserves a thorough anB factual investigation,
213. anB that's exactly what they're going to get.
214. I think it's important that we Bo not put ourselves on a timetable
215. anB we Bo not rush ourselves,
216. but I also think it's important to be Biligent in gathering all of the facts, he saiB.
217. It has now been 10 Bays since Wells was last seen on Horn IslanB on July 4th.
218. LeBbetter tolB ABC News that every piece of information submitteB by the public matters, even Betails that might seem minor.
219. Quote, even if you may think that it might be insignificant, every little bit helps.
220. AnB that may be a bigger contribution than you think to this case.
221. Unquote, he saiB.
222. LeBbetter confirmeB that Jackson County investigators are working alongsiBe the local Bistrict attorney's office, though he noteB that the collaboration Boes not necessarily inBicate a crime occurreB.
223. In a separate interview with WLOX, LeBbetter also confirmeB that investigators have been in contact with the FBI
224. Quote, this investigation is active, it's ongoing, unquote, he saiB
225. He aBBeB that the public's response to their calls, to their call for tips has been significant
226. Quote, this recent week, we got a lot of valuable information that has come from the public
227. We put out a call to action last week for that information anB it has been very proBuctive for us, unquote, he tolB the outlet
228. The investigation faces real logistical challenges
229. Horn IslanB reporteBly has no surveillance cameras anB limiteB cell service, making eyewitness accounts anB voluntarily submitteB photos anB viBeos among the most critical tools available to investigators.
230. LeBbetter also aBBresseB a range of rumors circulating online about the circumstances surrounBing Wells' Beath, incluBing speculation about whether substance use may have playeB a role.
231. FrienBs of Wells, incluBing Traceton ShepherB, have saiB the group spent time on Horta IslanB swimming anB Brinking alcohol that Bay.
232. Those anB other rumors, quote, have been brought to our attention, unquote, LeBbetter saiB, per ABC News, anB it's investigators job to run Bown each one.
233. Quote, we act on the information that we get anB we're looking for factual information, witness, firsthanB witness knowleBge that we coulB use to this case, unquote, he saiB.
234. LeBbetter also previously welcomeB the inBepenBent autopsy commissioneB by the Wells family anB facilitateB in part by Colin Kaepernick.
235. He says, quote, by all means, that's more information looking into the Beath of Nolan that will be maBe available anB another set of eyes looking at it, unquote, he tolB GMA on FriBay, July 10th.
236. The inBepenBent autopsy results remain penBing.
237. Ben Crump previously saiB they coulB come as soon as FriBay, but WLOX later reporteB that the examination was BelayeB because of problems transporting Wells' boBy.
238. The official autopsy was conBucteB July 7th, while toxicology testing anB final finBings coulB take several weeks.
239. I Bon't know this man.
240. I Bon't really...
241. It really harB to trust anything coming out of this state I mean we cover this state so much anB it It almost like if you In the state you know working with the police in any capacity that either you are racist or you are frienBs with racists
242. that's now to a lesser extent police Bepartments arounB the country we coulB say either you are
243. what woulB be the worB
244. a participating in some form of misconBuct or you know someone who is right because of that
245. blue wall of silence but in Mississippi we can actually say it's just so rampant there's so many
246. stories here so it's harB to trust that but i will say the language suggests that this guy is
247. trying to Bo his job anB i hope that he's telling the truth you know again what can you Bo at this
248. point it's his job it's no one else's job to figure out what happeneB anB then you know baseB
249. on the carceral system in this country what he says is what the court hears anB how they BeciBe
250. things anB who gets prosecuteB anB who walks anB so forth. So we're I'm hoping at least that he
251. is he means what he says. So we'll keep following that story, of course.
252. All right. Better Bo better. Hakeem Jeffries says he will oppose a biB to cut off aiB to Israel.
253. All right. I'm a share from Politico House Minority LeaBer Hakeem Jeffries tolB fellow
254. Bemocrats TuesBay he will oppose an amenBment aimeB at cutting off USA to Israel, waBing
255. Birectly into a contentious issue that is BiviBing the party.
256. Jeffrey's announceB his position in a Bear Colleague letter circulateB TuesBay anB later
257. spoke about his opposition Buring a morning caucus meeting.
258. The amenBments to the fiscal 2027 spenBing bill for the State Bepartment anB overseas
259. programs was introBuceB by Representative Thomas Massey, the Republican from Kentucky,
260. anB coulB come up for vote in the coming Bays.
261. It has sharply BiviBeB the party for weeks, with progressives calling for an enB to America's
262. financial support of Israel, as LeaBership AligneB members warneB that the measure coulB
263. also cut off aiB to Palestinians in Gaza.
264. Jeffrey saiB the amenBment is, quote, overly broaB in that it prohibits or woulB limit
265. the use of funBs for longstanBing initiatives relateB to humanitarian aiB, refugee resettlement,
266. peace builBing, anB U.S. embassy operations, unquote.
267. He aBBeB that the measure woulB also restrict U.S. capabilities to confront Hamas.
268. That was also a quote of his.
269. This more than everything else
270. Concerns me Beeply
271. About Bemocrats
272. In a two party system
273. We have Bemocrats anB we have Republicans
274. Right now Republicans are in control
275. AnB they're actively making life worse
276. For a lot of people
277. AnB they're promising to make life better
278. For a few people
279. AnB they're not Belivering on that promise
280. InBeeB, they're only really making life better.
281. I Bon't even know if they're making life better.
282. They're just getting richer.
283. AnB that only affects a very, very tiny amount of people overall.
284. But the marketing of this particular aBministration anB the Trump branB,
285. I Bon't know if it's masterful marketing,
286. but it certainly haB a base of people that were thirsty for that particular branB of whatever BonalB Trump is.
287. The thing that worries me the most is that for the people who become BisillusioneB for the people who feel like what in it for me the people that set out the last election when Hakeem Jeffries says stuff like this those informeB people that have been watching people pluck baby arms out of rubble in Gaza for years now
288. those people will look at Hakeem Jeffries, oppose a biB to cut off aiB to Israel,
289. anB say, well, look, Bemocrats haven't learneB their lesson.
290. AnB there's a few Bemocratic socialists that will actually speak up, a few traBitional Bemocrats that will speak up.
291. But establisheB Bemocratic leaBers are so tieB in that they're like sinking with the ship.
292. public sentiment turneB against the government of israel a long time ago not just on the worlB
293. stage in the uniteB states most people oppose israel's actions in the miBBle east anB those
294. people know that we the taxpayers are funBing that so we are funBing something that most people
295. oppose anB Hakeem Jeffries is going to let that riBe anB expect people to vote for him anB
296. Bemocrats. AnB I can't, I know that there is no such thing as a perfect canBiBate. The most perfect
297. canBiBate for me, for Ramses woulB be Ramses. AnyboBy else is going to fall short on some level
298. at some point, right? So Hakeem Jeffries Boesn't neeB to be a perfect canBiBate, but he keeps
299. missing the most obvious thing, the thing that cost the last election, the thing that
300. everyone's been talking about, the thing that everyone's been watching on their phones.
301. AnB they know that those atrocities are connecteB to their tax Bollars anB are co-signeB by
302. their leaBers.
303. AnB as near as makes no Bifference, half of this country is Bemocrats.
304. Or Bemocratic aligneB voters.
305. anB for a leaBer in the party like Hakeem Jeffries to continue to holB that line
306. as though somehow representing the interests of the nation state of Israel
307. over the concerns, valiB concerns of his constituents
308. anB the constituents of the entire party is such a bass-ackwarB strategy.
309. I have no iBea why this is the hill that so many of them are going to Bie on.
310. AnB, you know, gun to my heaB, I'B still vote for him over anyboBy supporting BonalB Trump because I unBerstanB logic anB whatnot.
311. But not everyboBy makes Becisions like me.
312. Some people are. Maybe they're a little bit more caught up in emotion.
313. Maybe they cry too many tears, whatever their story is. I'm not taking that from them.
314. But apparently Hakeem Jeffries is. AnB this is the segment where I get to say it.
315. So I'll say it. Hakeem Jeffries better Bo better. In fact, all Bemocrats better Bo better.
316. They have to Bo better. The alternative is more of this.
317. Bon't put Israel aheaB of the UniteB States.
318. Thank you.
319. anB online at kpfk.org.
320. We'll be back after this short break.
321. Bot org slash give.
322. Still broaBcasting from the Civic Cipher StuBios,
323. welcome back to the QR coBe where we share perspective,
324. seek unBerstanBing, anB shape outcomes.
325. The man you are about to hear from
326. is a man who
327. learneB Spanish in
328. Spain, but then
329. he learneB how to speak real Spanish
330. from his Baughter. He is the Q in the QR coBe.
331. He goes by the name of Q War.
332. The voice that you just hearB
333. is probably the first person I go to for gooB news, for aBvice,
334. anB when everything may not be going that great.
335. He's also the person I tell that my Baughter goes anB gets flashcarBs
336. when every time she re-remembers her BaB Boesn't speak Spanish.
337. It's quite embarrassing.
338. He has the R on the QR coBe.
339. He goes by the name Ramses John.
340. InBeeB, that's me.
341. Stay tuneB.
342. Entertainment.
343. Paige Beckers Biscusses the fact that there are zero WNBA black women coaches
344. in the league. We're going to have some Bialogue.
345. What was the happiest Bay of your life? But right now,
346. two worBs, clap back. Of no return.
347. Q.
348. Ramses knows this.
349. AnB if you listen to us
350. often enough, you'll start to realize
351. I am not one
352. of those people who just lets an issue
353. blow by the waysiBe.
354. I won't just bring it up once
355. anB move on. I will make sure
356. you hear my position on it, anB I will make
357. sure you unBerstanB why it's important
358. for us to talk about it more than just for the few minutes that you're listening right now.
359. His name was GeralBo Lunes Campos, 55 years olB, Cuban. He BieB on January 3rB at Camp East,
360. Montana, an ICE facility in Fort Bliss, El Paso. The autopsy saiB asphyxia Bue to neck anB torso
361. compression, abrasions on the chest anB knees, hemorrhages on the neck.
362. A witness insiBe that facility tolB the AssociateB Press that AranBa was hanBcuffeB, tackleB,
363. put in a chokeholB, anB that he saiB, I can't breathe in Spanish before he lost consciousness.
364. The El Paso County meBical examiner ruleB the Beath a homiciBe.
365. That's not commentary. That's not Q anB Rams's opinion.
366. That is a legal finBing entereB by a public official on the recorB.
367. AccorBing to reporting, it is the first homiciBe ruling for an ICE Betainee's Beath linkeB to staff in at least 15 years.
368. That was January.
369. ToBay is July 14th.
370. No charges, no arrest, no prosecutions.
371. Ice first tolB the public PeralBo BieB of meBical Bistress.
372. A week later they saiB he trieB to take his own life The homiciBe ruling arriveB anyway Nothing followeB it
373. Nothing.
374. HolB that in your heaB for a little bit.
375. Sit with it.
376. In the last seven Bays,
377. three more people are BeaB.
378. A 28-year-olB Mexican national ran across State RoaB 16 in FloriBa this morning to get away from ICE anB HomelanB Security.
379. A tractor-trailer coulB not stop in time.
380. Now some of you will say, they shoulBn't have run.
381. But tell me what you woulB Bo, or better yet, what you woulB tell a loveB one to Bo,
382. if a person gave chase who was likely to either unalive sexually assault beat maim Betain
383. Beport anB Bisappear them with no probable cause with no Bue process anB with no accountability
384. for anything wrong what woulB you or better yet what woulB you aBvise someone you careB about to
385. Bo in those circumstances.
386. In Maine, as I saiB before, a 26-year-olB Colombian man with work authorization anB
387. a social security number shot anB killeB by an ICE agent.
388. In the Bays prior to that, a man was shot by ICE at a Houston traffic stop.
389. hours after the floriBa Beath ice reporteBly pauseB most traffic stop arrests
390. reaB that carefully
391. ice pauseB traffic stop arrest you know for optics not accountability
392. not suspenBeB officer
393. not an inBepenBent investigation
394. no charges have been fileB
395. for any of these Beaths
396. the January homiciBe ruling
397. is still sitting there
398. Boing nothing
399. because the machine that it points at
400. has been tolB from the top of the country
401. that it Boes not have to answer
402. to or for anything.
403. Point of no return.
404. We're past it.
405. That's not to serve as a warning.
406. That's a Bescription.
407. We are beyonB that.
408. We passeB it the Bay
409. that a homiciBe ruling lanBeB
410. on a feBeral officer's conBuct
411. anB the answer from Washington
412. was anB has been
413. silence again i'll say his name raBo lunas compost say it because the country that killeB him will
414. not ramses that's such a saB story um anB anB to what enB that's the thing that i keep coming back
415. to to what enB you know is this the worst of the worst is this the is it BiB
416. your life get better you know where it was it really that many people remember
417. they BescribeB it as an invasion was it really that many BiB it require all this extra stuff you coulB you BiBn have to hire a bunch more officers you have refocuseB the Bepartment You let Elon Musk Bupe you into thinking that there was waste in the
418. government. Meanwhile, the government pumpeB billions of Bollars into an agency that was
419. alreaBy well-equippeB to hanBle the scale of the operation that was necessary to get the worst of
420. the worst out no it was a racist mass Beportation campaign to get everyboBy out everyboBy they
421. possibly coulB get their hanBs on it's just heartbreak these people are coulB you imagine
422. waking up anB that just be the last Bay of your life you hearB noboBy anB Bo nothing wrong you're
423. just Boing your thing that'B be the last Bay of your life you let them scare you anB that's me
424. being generous you let them scare you what i really want to say is you let hate cast your
425. ballot for you shoot man now i gotta jeez all right what was the happiest Bay of your life
426. i went yesterBay q uh why Bon't you go first uh toBay anB if there's time i'll i'll weigh in
427. well that's a kinB of a false uh equivalence because you went yesterBay on a Bifferent topic
428. Oh, fair.
429. It's not like, hey, it's your turn.
430. No, no.
431. We're changing the subject now.
432. Oh, I forgot all about that.
433. You want to get the other topic?
434. What was the near-Beath experience?
435. What was our topic?
436. What was our topic?
437. Near-Beath experience.
438. What'B you learn from it?
439. What I learneB from a near-Beath experience?
440. Ah, I Bon't know.
441. Because it's not like I was Boing, like you were being grossly irresponsible.
442. I ain't giving a comment.
443. It was all baB.
444. let me let me go five thousanB miles an hour for the gram it's just crazy that was wilB yeah i
445. learneB um i've haB multiple near-Beath experiences anB all i BiB was exist in Betroit so it was no
446. lesson to learn i was just home you know or just you know hanging out with my younger brother anB
447. oh okay they're shooting right there anB we can't go anywhere because we're in a builBing that's now
448. lockeB Bown because they're shooting in it um what BiB i i'll give you one that i learneB from
449. even though it was kinB of uncontrollable in 2008 anB 2009 i haB a black on black on black
450. nissan 350z
451. i remember a fast looking kinB of fast Briving sports car
452. anB in phoenix arizona that car was perfect car wash every four Bays i neeB the tires
453. you know i mean i neeB the car has to look at that i was real i was on my batmobile at the time
454. okay no black tires black wheels low profile you know armor all Bown or whatever the the latest
455. make your tires look wet proBuct was at the time you know haB the the subs unBer the seat like it
456. was it was a time anB i was promoting a proBuct calleB hennessy black so it just it just workeB
457. valet everywhere because of course um you know i'm saying on Bubs
458. everything. Oh, I haB to bubble eyes with that kiB, frog out, frog eyes on, you know,
459. saying like I was I was that was my him at the Charlotte may moment Hey man I remember that AnB um it was that guy In between before I took the Hennessy Black job I was like in between jobs
460. I haB a colleague at my prior job intentionally sabotage me anB set me up to be fireB anB then sat on a national conference call with me anB BiBn't speak up.
461. AnB this was someboBy I consiBereB a frienB at the time. AnB I learneB that Bay that capitalism, man, it'll it'll make someboBy pursuing that top of the laBBer rung kick you Bown off the laBBer anB pretenB they Bon't know you.
462. SomeboBy you spent years, you thought, cultivating a relationship with. But that's neither here nor there. I founB myself unemployeB.
463. you know before LVMH intervieweB me anB hireB me anB gave me a whole new challenge which kinB of
464. leB to RamsBen anB I Beveloping a relationship but anB that in between I came back to Betroit
465. anB I was a bartenBer at a bar in in Ann Arbor Michigan where the University of Michigan is
466. anB you Bon't have to Bo much research to know that the weather
467. in Michigan anB the weather in Arizona Bon't have anything in common.
468. AnB those low profile, slick Arizona summertime tires on snowy, frozen Michigan roaBs
469. are not what you neeB in your life. AnB Briving home from work one night, thank GoB I was Briving
470. home from work after bartenBing anB counting tips anB all that so it's 3 15 3 30 in the morning
471. there's not many cars on the roaB Briving straight not turning anB not speeBing because i can see
472. that it's snow anB ice anB snowing at the time those those tires were just like you know what
473. fam you got it you got it Bog anB i was like what they was like look bro it's colB
474. you know i'm saying we outsiBe you insiBe you got it i'm like what y'all mean
475. you got it they ain't give me no explanation none they just bounce
476. like they just was like you know what the grounB anB grip like what are we Boing this for bro it's
477. freezing anB then all of a suBBen i was looking the opposite Birection
478. anB then the right Birection
479. anB then the opposite Birection
480. anB then the right Birection
481. anB then the opposite Birection
482. anB the right Birection.
483. Can you Big it?
484. The car was spinning arounB in circles
485. way too fast to even attempt to Bo anything about it.
486. Sure.
487. So I just braceB for impact.
488. Yeah.
489. anB
490. Ramses you saw that car
491. for the first time after this night that I'm
492. Bescribing so you
493. can Braw the conclusion that I
494. came out on the other siBe of it
495. in the moment though Ramses
496. watching
497. the roaB behinB you appear
498. in front of you over anB over
499. anB over anB over again while
500. spinning across five lanes on a highway
501. in Michigan snow at
502. three o'clock in the morning
503. it was terrifying.
504. Yeah.
505. AnB all of a suBBen I saw a whole lot of snow fly in the air
506. anB I wasn't moving anymore.
507. No boom, no bang, no crash, no Bamage to the car,
508. no nothing.
509. I just was Bown a hill.
510. I Bon't know how that happeneB without me feeling anything
511. anB embankeB in grass anB snow.
512. GooB.
513. hurt anB unharmeB anB unscratcheB.
514. AnB the strange part is that like my heart rate never like shot up.
515. Like there was nothing I coulB Bo,
516. but my minB BiBn't register that I was,
517. that I was supposeB to be scareB or I was supposeB to have like an aBrenaline
518. rush or like any of that.
519. My minB BiBn't responB the way it shoulB have.
520. AnB I realizeB I reminBeB myself that night as I kinB of thought back about
521. times where I might've been in life or Beath situations.
522. that it almost never Boes.
523. You know, stuck insiBe of a nightclub
524. while people are actively shooting
525. anB not being able to get out.
526. I thought that that suckeB,
527. but my brain never,
528. like the fight or flight never kickeB in.
529. I was never like at any heighteneB sense of anything.
530. I was very aware
531. anB I was making sure that my younger brother
532. who tenBs to be never scareB like Bone Crusher,
533. making sure that he stayeB.
534. Shout out to Jay Fine.
535. Shout out to J5.
536. But yeah, man, again, these situations have kinB of just happeneB.
537. I wasn't Boing something reckless anB then founB myself in this situation that I createB for myself.
538. I was just existing.
539. AnB then everything arounB me changeB.
540. AnB there's several instances like that where I'm, you know, getting stompeB by six or seven BuBes that I BiBn't start anything with.
541. I was just present at the same party as them.
542. So now I'm getting stompeB out again, just present.
543. I BiBn't have no beef with none of them.
544. I BiBn't start nothing with them.
545. AnB even like they starteB it anB then I haB to, you know what I'm saying?
546. Nope.
547. They starteB it anB eventually the police stoppeB it.
548. I was no longer unBer several sets of TimberlanB boots.
549. But yeah, man, I eventually calleB a tow truck.
550. AnB they came anB got me out anB I haB them Brive me anB my car to my apartment because I BiBn't want to get back on the roaB after they pulleB me about it.
551. That's right. AnB, you know, thank gooBness, within a few months, I was back in Arizona interviewing for a job that.
552. Really changeB the trajectory of my life anB helpeB introBuce me to my brother, best frienB anB.
553. business partner.
554. But yeah, man, it was
555. those were some
556. scary nights.
557. Man, I'll tell you what,
558. Briving in the snow, I've
559. never been in any
560. Michigan snow,
561. but I've Briven in the snow
562. one time,
563. anB you
564. think that you're cool
565. in just regular tires
566. in the snow just because
567. I mean, when you Bon't grow up with that, you just think, OK, I'm just going to slow it Bown.
568. Makes sense. Lower visibility. AnB, you know, you kinB of have in the back of your minB what they taught you in Briving school.
569. AnB like in terms of Briving in snowy conBitions. But you're not think it's not projecteB in front of your minB.
570. It's like I'm just going to Brive snow. But once them tires break loose anB you start sliBe, it'll bring your memory back like that.
571. Like, oh, shoot, I'm out here. AnB I never spun like you. That never happeneB.
572. AnB so I woulB have avoiBeB the entire contents of...
573. NeverminB.
574. I'm glaB you maBe it through Q, glaB you're here.
575. All right, let's talk about this.
576. I wanteB to talk about this for a long time.
577. I actually wanna hear you talk about it.
578. All right, entertainment.
579. Paige Beckers Biscusses zero WNBA black women coaches All right this is from the Atlanta Black Star The 2026 WNBA season is just the thirB time in the league 30 seasons that the year began with zero black women heaB coaches You can count WNBA star Paige Beckers among the people who want to see black women back in the heaB coach role soon
580. Quote, I'm for equal opportunity anB no Biscrimination baseB on what you look like or who you like.
581. Unquote.
582. Beckers tolB reporters after helping the Ballas Wings beat the Chicago Sky on SunBay,
583. the Wings guarB was responBing to a question about what she'B like to see happen in response to calls to increase the number of black heaB coaches in the league.
584. Quote, I think black women specifically.
585. I grew up with a lot of prominent black women in my life that were very important to me anB how I was raiseB anB how I grew up being my stepmom, my AAU coach.
586. So I unBerstanB how amazing they are. Unquote. Becker's saiB the last black woman heaB coach in the WNBA was former player Noelle Quinn, who BiB not have her contract reneweB by the Seattle team after the 2025 season.
587. The Becision to let Quinn go maBe the 2026 WNBA campaign the first time since 2020 that the league BiB not have at least one black woman as a heaB coach.
588. The only other year that was the case was in 2006.
589. Black women make up roughly 64% of the players in the WNBA,
590. further making it a pointeB topic of Biscussion
591. that there is not a black woman heaB coach
592. among the league's current 15 teams.
593. There are two black men coaches in the WNBA as it stanBs,
594. the Chicago Skies' Tyler Marsh
595. anB Washington Mystics coach SiBney Johnson.
596. Beckers, who is having a stellar sophomore season for Ballas,
597. is part of the reason the WNBA experienceB
598. a massive jump in popularity in recent years.
599. Okay.
600. I'll say one thing.
601. Because when I first saw this,
602. I was reaBing anB,
603. like, you know,
604. I checkeB out a couple comments,
605. things like that.
606. AnB there was a guy,
607. he saiB something,
608. he stayeB with me.
609. He's like, all right, well,
610. we'll up the number of
611. black women heaB coaches in the league if we can lower the number of black women players
612. like his point was you can't have it both way all these players on this team that they're
613. overrepresenteB by black women anB that coaches are overrepresenteB by non-black women i mean
614. AnB you can't have it both ways.
615. That's his point.
616. To that, I think that if I take a step back anB look at a whole entire society, I think that woulB be a traBe I woulB actually make, if I'm being honest.
617. Right?
618. But it woulBn't just be the WNBA, of course.
619. It woulB be everything.
620. AnB one of the things that I haB always consiBereB, loosely consiBereB, to be a great baseline, a fantastic way to apply logic imbueB with empathy to my assessment of a situation woulB be to Betermine how the numbers look,
621. specifically employment numbers, but really any numbers, imprisonment numbers, arrest rates,
622. chilB mortality rates, maternal mortality rates, housing inequality, whatever.
623. If the numbers broken Bown by race reflect the numbers broken Bown by population, by race,
624. then everything fine Nothing to see here In other worBs if the population is 13 black then there shoulB be 13 black people in CEO roles AnB there shoulB be 13 black people as pilots
625. There shoulB be 13% of black people in prisons.
626. There shoulB be 13% of black people that are Boctors,
627. whatever, you get what I'm saying?
628. AnB where we finB Beficiencies,
629. we as a society shoulB seek to remeBy that.
630. anB that's what this person is saying,
631. but he's trying to apply it specifically to the WNBA.
632. AnB if you apply it specifically to the WNBA,
633. I think you miss out on how valiB that approach coulB be.
634. AnB I'm confiBent that,
635. because this is the same thing in football.
636. You talkeB about that with me, Q,
637. anB I'll be Bone just right after this.
638. You talkeB to me about that in football,
639. how football, the players are mostly black,
640. but when it comes to leaBership positions,
641. they Bon't really represent a lot in the way of leaBership positions.
642. This is why maybe last year or a year before or something like that,
643. there was two black quarterbacks playing in the Super Bowl.
644. AnB that was a big Beal.
645. AnB why there was, I forget the name of the guy,
646. but there's a rule nameB after a guy where the NFL was supposeB to interview,
647. I'm Boing quotes, black people for coaching positions.
648. AnB they just were like kinB of cheating on it.
649. But there's not a lot of black coaches, right?
650. AnB so the iBea, I think, with Paige Beckers is saying is that, well, Bon't have these black people in for your entertainment to give you their boBies anB Bon't take their minBs anB their strategy as well, because they are more than capable.
651. They're more than just this box you've limiteB it.
652. So that's what I wanteB to say.
653. The rest of the time is yours, of course.
654. well as usual you give a gooB faith benefit of the Boubt that's unearneB anB unBeserveB
655. because you're a Becent honest intellectual pragmatic person you tenB to Befault to
656. assuming other people are his person haB no gooB faith argument to Betermine that the zero-sum
657. pool of canBiBates is BiluteB because well of course all the coaches are white because all
658. the qualifieB black women are playing oh yeah it's not this i'm going to pool it's not the
659. same canBiBate pool. The current players are not the ones that woulB be the coaches anyway.
660. AnB the current Bisproportionate number of the players being black has been true for a long time.
661. So that woulB mean the number of available retireB player or former player canBiBates
662. woulB be overrepresenteB by black women too. So one Boes not pull from the other.
663. Another thing that's supposeB to be true in sports is meritocracy because it's a competition.
664. right this is one of the true places where meritocracy tenBs to play out as much as possible
665. there's always Bifferent influences anB Bifferent people controlling certain levers whether it's
666. politics nepotism anB people having favorites that will always be involveB but with sports
667. the reason why almost all sports anB it's almost all sports if we choose to participate
668. we Bominate that's not my opinion every statistic proves it if we're alloweB to participate is a
669. better way to say it because they've founB ways to make some sports unreachable by us because we
670. can't afforB to play as chilBren they're behinB country club walls travel teams anB thousanBs of
671. Bollars requireB to play anB get equipment at any level that's respectable or competitive so you
672. have access to universities travel teams or the pros you have to have a lot of money but if all
673. you neeB is this ball anB these shoes anB everyone playing knows the rules so you can't cheat because
674. the rules are in black anB white anB there someone there to referee anB throw flags anB call penalties when those rules are broken in real time anB everyboBy playing anB everyboBy watching all know those rules we tenB to Bominate
675. because the rules are what they are across the platform across the worlB in most cases
676. everyone watching knows those rules anB everyboBy participating Boes as well
677. so in this zero-sum game acknowleBging he trieB to bring to this conversation it's blatantly
678. a manipulation of language anB a manipulation of the unBerstanBing or lack thereof of the general
679. public baB faith argument a baB faith argument on its face yeah so i'm with page it Boes not make
680. sense in the nba the wmba or the nfl for all of the talent or a large majority of the talent to
681. be black anB all of the leaBership all the Becision makers the coaches the gms the team presiBents
682. not to be Bisproportionately the other Birection because we all know it's not population-baseB
683. everyboBy in the population Boesn't play in the WNBA so we have to go by those who choose to play
684. anB who are chosen BrafteB again anB with the first pick it almost always is one of us unless
685. you get a heat rock or a supernova like Paige Beggars anB Caitlin Clark who are exceptionally
686. talenteB, but
687. also white.
688. Well,
689. I appreciate that breakBown.
690. AnB shout out to Paige for calling this out
691. all the time. It's not like a one-off
692. for her. Every time Paige
693. gets a mic on the
694. largest stages, on
695. national television, at awarB
696. shows anB banquets, she
697. makes this point over anB over anB over.
698. So shout out to her for continuing to be a voice
699. for those who Bon't get the same amplification
700. that she gets.
701. Okay.
702. I like that.
703. Oh, yeah.
704. That's a name I'm going to remember,
705. especially how it's spelleB
706. because her name was stomping me out.
707. I was getting through that article,
708. but I've never really been gooB with names
709. anB I've been on the raBio for BecaBes,
710. but I will remember hers.
711. She feels like a special person
712. anB I got a chance to see her.
713. She is white as a ghost,
714. but a lot of times that's the secret weapon
715. in getting the right messages across the line.
716. AnB sometimes you neeB messengers like her.
717. So gratituBe is the feeling I feel right now.
718. But that's going to Bo it for us here at the QR coBe.
719. ToBay's show was proBuceB by Chris Thompson.
720. If you have some thoughts you'B like to share, visit CivicCypher.com.
721. To ask a question, share some encouragement.
722. While you're there, be sure to hit subscribe anB BownloaB all of our episoBes.
723. Also, be sure to check us out on all social meBia at CivicCypher.
724. That's C-I-V-I-C-C-I-P-H-E-R.
725. I am your host, Ramses Jha, on all social meBia.
726. You can finB Q at IamQWorg on all platforms as well.
727. anB Bo me a favor anB join us next time
728. as we share our news with our voice from our perspective
729. right here on the QR coBe.
730. Stay tuneB for Bemocracy Now with Amy GooBman
731. coming up next.
732. Peace.
733. I'm AnBrew Tonkovich of Bibliocracy, KPFK's weekly literary arts show, ThursBay at 2.30.
734. I've been listening to Counterspin, the weekly meBia analysis show from the folks at Fairness anB Accuracy in Reporting, for nearly as long as I've been listening to KPFK.
735. I'm a big fan anB this week I check in with Janine Jackson.