In a political and cultural moment defined by noise and division, clarity matters. The Bakari Sellers Show delivers clear, engaging, and entertaining conversations that cut through the chaos and get to what actually matters.
Hosted by CNN commentator and New York Times bestselling author Bakari Sellers, the show brings a sharp perspective on politics, culture, and everything in between. Featuring the leaders and change-
makers shaping today’s biggest debates - each episode helps listeners make sense of the headlines and move from conversation to collective action.
Rahm Emanuel on 2028, Political Corruption & the Future of Democrats
Winning an election doesn't mean you've won over the voters.
Former Chicago Mayor, U.S. Congressman, White House Chief of Staff and U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel joins Bakari Sellers to talk about the future of the Democratic Party, political corruption and whether a 2028 presidential run is in his future.
Emanuel explains why he believes Democrats can't mistake Republican losses for a mandate and why delivering real change matters more than winning the next election. He and Bakari get into competing in the South, building coalitions beyond the Democratic base and the growing frustration among Americans who feel the political system is working against them.
Bakari also presses Emanuel on his record as mayor of Chicago, including the handling of Laquan McDonald's killing, his contentious relationship with the teachers union and what he learned from those experiences.
And when the conversation turns to 2028, Emanuel shares when he expects to make a decision and what will determine whether he enters the race.
Listen to the full episode of The Bakari Sellers Show on iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts, and watch on YouTube.
For more conversations, commentary and stories from Bakari Sellers and The Moment, visit themomentmedia.co.
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14 Oct 2026
Former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu on 2028, Trump & the Future of the Democratic Party
“There is a broad middle in this country that is open to finding a new way.”
Former New Orleans Mayor and Biden White House senior adviser Mitch Landrieu joins Bakari Sellers for a conversation about the future of the Democratic Party, winning in the South and whether a 2028 presidential run could be in his future.
Landrieu talks about why Democrats need to invest in Southern communities, what he learned from growing up in one of Louisiana’s most recognizable political families and why he believes Americans are ready for something beyond the traditional left-versus-right divide.
Bakari and Landrieu get into Donald Trump, the challenge of balancing accountability with healing a divided country and what Democrats got right and wrong during the Biden administration. Landrieu also reflects on his years as mayor of New Orleans and why delivering results matters more than political philosophy.
They also discuss the future of artificial intelligence, the importance of regulation and making sure new technology creates opportunity for people who have historically been left behind.
And when Bakari presses him on a potential 2028 presidential run, Landrieu opens up about the decision he's weighing and what it would take to make that leap.
Listen to the full episode of The Bakari Sellers Show on iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts, and watch on YouTube.
For more conversations, commentary and stories from Bakari Sellers and The Moment, visit themomentmedia.co.
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
7 Oct 2026
Alabama Democratic Gubernatorial Nominee Doug Jones: “All Politics Is Personal”
Former U.S. Senator and Alabama Democratic Gubernatorial Nominee Doug Jones joins Bakari Sellers as he makes another run at history, this time against Tommy Tuberville.
Jones talks about what he learned representing Alabama in the Senate, the role Black voters will play in the race and why he believes Democrats have spent too much time chasing the next election instead of making long-term investments in the South.
Bakari and Jones get into what Democrats need to do differently to compete in the South and why the party can’t afford to focus only on presidential elections.
Jones shares his longstanding support for HBCUs and Black farmers, his commitment to reaching rural communities and what it takes to build a coalition of Black voters, independents and some Trump voters.
They also talk about Tuberville’s rhetoric toward Black Alabamians - and when Bakari asks whether Tuberville will actually debate him, Jones doesn’t hesitate: “Oh, hell no.”
Listen to the full episode of The Bakari Sellers Show on iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts, and watch on YouTube.
For more conversations, commentary and stories from Bakari Sellers and The Moment, visit themomentmedia.co.
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
30 Sept 2026
Benjamin Watson on Black Fatherhood, Faith & Football
“The cavalry is not coming.”
Benjamin Watson joins Bakari Sellers for a conversation about faith, Black fatherhood, football and the responsibility men have to their families, their communities and each other.
Watson talks about what it means to lead a family while acknowledging that nobody has it all figured out. He explains why he believes Black men have to lean into their responsibilities as husbands and fathers, how faith shapes his understanding of manhood, and why falling short doesn’t mean lowering the standard.
He and Bakari get into what Watson calls “compassion and conviction,” including his pro-life beliefs and why caring about life extends beyond birth to advocating for vulnerable people.
Then they talk football. Watson reflects on seeing Chris Johnson face ALS, the physical toll of the game and why he’s approaching tackle football differently with his own sons before he and Bakari get into where the game is headed - NIL, the transfer portal, Indiana’s rise, the pressure on Shane Beamer, Georgia football and the impact Deion Sanders has had at Colorado.
Listen to the full episode of The Bakari Sellers Show on iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts, and watch on YouTube. For more conversations, commentary and stories from Bakari Sellers and The Moment, visit themomentmedia.co.
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
23 Sept 2026
Jamal Bryant on Faith, Power & the Fight for the Black Church
Rev. Dr. Jamal Bryant joins Bakari Sellers for a wide-ranging conversation about faith, politics, family and what the Black church is being called to do in this moment.
Bryant takes Bakari inside his leadership at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church and explains why he believes the church has to be about more than what happens on Sunday morning. From feeding families and building housing to preparing communities for economic uncertainty, Bryant makes the case that faith has to show up in people's everyday lives.
They also revisit the Target boycott, the criticism Bryant faced when he stepped away from it, and his concerns about white Christian nationalism and what he calls the “colonization of Christianity.”
But the conversation gets personal too. Bryant opens up about divorce, therapy, raising daughters, navigating a blended family and the lesson he tries to remember as a husband and father: “Don't win the world for God and lose your home to Satan.”
Plus, Bakari and Bryant talk about the political landscape in Georgia, the role of the Black church in civic life and why reaching Black voters outside of major cities remains part of the conversation.
Listen to the full episode of The Bakari Sellers Show on iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts, and watch on YouTube.
For more conversations, commentary and stories from Bakari Sellers and The Moment, visit themomentmedia.co (http://themomentmedia.co).
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
16 Sept 2026
Cari Champion on Caitlin Clark, ESPN & the Politics of Sports
Cari Champion joins Bakari Sellers for a conversation that goes just about everywhere, from sports and journalism to race, politics, relationships and a little trash talk that apparently needed to be settled on the record.
Cari opens up about her decision to leave ESPN, why covering Colin Kaepernick changed the way she thought about sports journalism, and what happens when the business of sports collides with the responsibility to tell the full story.
She and Bakari also get into Brian Flores, Deion and Shedeur Sanders, and the complicated reality of being Black and outspoken inside some of the biggest institutions in sports.
Then they turn to the WNBA and Caitlin Clark. Cari breaks down Clark’s impact on the growth of the league, the intensity surrounding her fan base, and why she believes the WNBA has to figure out how to embrace its biggest star without being afraid to critique her or protect the other women in the league.
Plus, Cari talks about whether she would ever run for office, the pressures facing Black women in public life, dating, finding “big love” and why Bakari apparently has very strong opinions about short kings.
Listen to the full episode of The Bakari Sellers Show on iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts, and watch on YouTube.
For more conversations, commentary and stories from Bakari Sellers and The Moment, visit themomentmedia.co.
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
9 Sept 2026
Governor Wes Moore: “I Will Work With Anyone, But I Will Bow to No One”
Maryland Governor Wes Moore joins Bakari Sellers for a conversation about leadership, governing and what it actually means to fight for people.
Moore opens up about why he skipped the traditional political ladder and ran straight for Governor, the lessons he carried from the military into public office, and how his administration has approached everything from child poverty and violent crime to HBCUs, Black-owned businesses and the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.
Bakari and Governor Moore also get into one of the biggest questions facing Democrats right now: Is fighting Donald Trump enough? Moore explains why he believes voters aren’t simply looking for somebody willing to fight with the other side. They want somebody willing to fight for them.
They also discuss supporting Black men and boys, the debate over reparations in Maryland, data centers, his relationship with his wife and family, and what he believes leadership should look like after the Trump era.
And, of course, Bakari asks the question everybody is going to keep asking: What does 2028 look like for Wes Moore?
Listen to the full episode of The Bakari Sellers Show on iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts, and watch on YouTube.
For more conversations, commentary and stories from Bakari Sellers and The Moment, visit themomentmedia.co (http://themomentmedia.co)
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
2 Sept 2026
Governor Andy Beshear: Being Anti-Trump Isn’t Enough
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear joins Bakari Sellers to talk about something Democrats desperately need to figure out: how to win people back.
Beshear has won three statewide elections in Kentucky, a state Donald Trump carried by more than 30 points. He breaks down why Democrats need to spend less time lecturing voters, start talking like normal people, and focus on the issues families actually deal with every day: jobs, healthcare, housing, schools and simply being able to afford their lives.
Bakari and Governor Beshear also get into what Democrats would actually do if they regain power in Washington, why younger voters are walking away from the party, the opportunity for Democrats in the South, and how a big-tent party can disagree without tearing itself apart.
And before he goes, Bakari asks the question already hanging over 2028: Is Andy Beshear running for president?
Listen to the full episode of The Bakari Sellers Show on iHeartRadio or wherever you get your podcasts, and watch on YouTube.
For more conversations, commentary and stories from Bakari Sellers and The Moment, visit themomentmedia.co (http://themomentmedia.co).
See omnystudio.com/listener (https://omnystudio.com/listener) for privacy information.
27 Aug 2026
Don Lemon on Finding His Freedom, Fighting Back & the Future of Media
Don Lemon joins Bakari Sellers for a wide-ranging conversation about what happens when you stop asking permission.
Don opens up about life after CNN, why getting pushed out ultimately gave him more freedom, and how he built The Don Lemon Show and Lemon Media Network from the ground up. He also reflects on his short-lived partnership with Elon Musk, what that experience taught him about journalism, and why independent media has become so important in this political moment.
Bakari and Don also get into Donald Trump’s impact on journalism and the First Amendment, why Democrats have struggled to understand independent media, redistricting and Black political power, the culture wars that helped shape the 2024 election, concerns about same-sex marriage, and what Democrats need to learn before 2028.
And underneath all of it is a conversation about freedom. The freedom to speak plainly. The freedom to fight back. And the responsibility that comes with finally having your own platform.
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20 Aug 2026
Dawn Staley on Pressure, Purpose, and What It Really Takes to Win
Dawn Staley has built one of the most dominant programs in college basketball, but the championships only tell part of the story.
On this episode of The Bakari Sellers Show, Bakari sits down with Dawn for a wide-ranging conversation about growing up in the projects in Philadelphia, the lessons she inherited from her mother, leaving Temple for South Carolina, and how she built a program that went from nearly empty arenas to becoming one of the biggest forces in women’s basketball.
Dawn gets candid about the losses that still stay with her, why there is no substitute for doing the work, how social media and NIL have changed coaching, and what she looks for beyond talent when recruiting players.
She also talks about managing pressure, telling players the truth while still making sure they feel loved, and why the relationships with parents have become one of the secrets behind South Carolina’s success.
Plus, Bakari gets Dawn to settle a few basketball debates, including the best player she ever played with and the best player she has ever coached.
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13 Aug 2026
Introducing: The Bakari Sellers Show
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