Nationwide — Journalist Roland Martin and radio host Charlamagne Tha God are in a heated public feud over comments about the recent government shutdown, accusing each other of spreading misinformation and misrepresenting the facts affecting the Black community.
According to The Grio, the dispute began when Martin criticized Charlamagne’s remarks on The Breakfast Club, calling them “beyond idiotic.” On his Roland Martin Unfiltered show, Martin and a panel of experts discussed Charlamagne’s suggestion that Democrats should “give it up” and vote to reopen the government. The panel accused Charlamagne of spreading misinformation to his predominantly Black audience.
Charlamagne responded on November 10, saying Martin’s claims were unfair and that his comments reflected an opinion, not falsehoods. “Roland, you may not agree that Democrats should concede and vote for the government to be reopened. But don’t say it’s misinformation,” he said. He added that his remarks came from concern for federal workers, SNAP recipients, and families affected by the shutdown.
The tension grew when Charlamagne named Martin his “Donkey of the Day,” a recurring Breakfast Club segment calling out public figures. Martin quickly fired back in a video response, accusing Charlamagne of making personal attacks instead of addressing the larger issue. “I’m hard on facts,” Martin said. “And what I don’t like is when people spew things that are not factual and then others take it to believe it is true.”
Martin stood by his criticism, emphasizing the need for truth in Black-owned media and urging viewers to rely on credible sources. He said his goal was to focus on issues that impact the community, not engage in personal feuds.
The exchange has drawn mixed reactions online. Some supported Martin’s call for accountability, while others felt Charlamagne was simply expressing his opinion. Many urged the two to have a live, fact-based discussion on The Breakfast Club instead of continuing their back-and-forth online.