tOne of the most popular daytime television shows in the United States, his view was a key campaign stop for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris last year. This week it played the character host of a cable sports channel that may be fostering his own political ambitions.
Stephen a Smith was asked by co-host Alyssa Farrr Griffin what he is making in the hypothetical polls that show him among the leading candidates for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination.
“I think the citizens are particularly desperate on the left,” Smith said in a distinctively honest style. “And when I say that, I mean that. I think I can beat them all.”
Despite his lack of political experience, or his lack of political experience, Smith has emerged as an impossible force in the Democrats who need critical friends, fresh ideas and dull truths. The idea that he runs for the White House remains highly speculative, but speaks to the volume of changes in the US media ecosystem and the blurring of the boundaries between culture, entertainment and politics.
Born in the Bronx, New York, 57-year-old Stephen Anthony Smith wrote for newspapers such as the Philadelphia Inquirer, and specifically made his name as a broadcaster on ESPN. Smith is currently the co-host of his first take and shares provocative opinions on basketball and other topics.
His fans include Kurt Valdera, a Media Relations consultant and a Democratic strategist who first watches take it “religiously.” Bardella said: He has become the most influential figure in all sports.
He is there with passion and charisma, and he induces emotions, conversations and discussions
Democrat strategist Kurt Bardera
“We live in an age where our politics are shaped and known by cultures at any given time in our history. There is an old saying that politics is just a culture, and Stephen A is a good embodiment of it.”
Smith’s star continues to rise. This week it was revealed that he has agreed to a new ESPN deal worth at least $100 million over five years. He continues his first take, but reduces other sports-related obligations and increases opportunities for political commentary. Over the past few months he has appeared in Bill Maher in real time on Fox News, NewsNation and HBO.
The Stephen a Smith show, streaming on YouTube and Iheart, featured an interview with House Democrat minority leader Hakeem Jeffries. Right-wing personality Candice Owens. Andrew Cuomo, in his first interview since he announced his candidacy for New York City Mayor
Political chatter around Smith is also a symptom of a leaderless democrat’s morale decline following last November’s defeat in White House, House and Senate elections. For example, this week Democrats struggled to find a consistent response to Trump’s speech to a joint session of Congress.
Those who hunger the party for Trump-type fighters after nominating Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in past elections are outsiders not seen in traditional political establishment. And seeing the rise of podcasters like Joe Rogan and the entire “Maga” media ecosystem, they are craving liberal alternatives.
In Smith, they see brave energy. He voted for Harris, but in his view he’s frankly criticising Democrats by prioritizing niche issues, including the transgender community, and prioritizing niche issues that don’t address broader voter concerns.
He appeared in January with Bill Maher and real-time Democrat leader Locanna, offering a fierce diagnosis of why the Democrats lost to Trump.
Smith added: “Voters can see the Democrats and say, ‘The one who has a voice for us, and the person who speaks for us, it goes up to Capitol Hill and fights the battle that we want to fight on our behalf.” ”
His gift for storytelling and communication impresses Bardella, a former Republican spokesman and senior adviser to the House Oversight Committee. Bardella said:
His boldness is exactly what Democrats lack. Democrats would be wise to study what would make him very successful.
Kurt Bardera
“As opposed to simply dismiss it, mocking it or ignoring it, it would be wise to study what makes him so successful, since there is no one in the Democrats who are as relevant to everyday voices as Stephen A. Smith.”
It was impressive to see him in a January poll by 2028 Democratic nomination McLaughlin & Associates that saw him join the polls that won 33% for Kamala Harris, 9% for Pete Batieg, 7% for Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, 6% for Josh Shapiro, 3% for Tim Wals, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Still, many Democrats thought a lot before baking outsiders like Smith, billionaire businessman and Mark Cuba. Lack of experience can be liable in the eyes of some voters. Smith’s controversial statements and “scream” style can alienate certain segments of voters. Smith’s perception of as a celebrity candidate could undermine his credibility.
Bill Warren, a former media consultant for politicians, including former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, said Smith’s eloquent and style of your face could be appealing to voters at this political moment. He is extremely vocal about the Democrats. What position does he hold? What does he believe?
“In fact, there’s about half a dozen problems that you need to be on the right if you’re going to run for a party nomination in America. Otherwise, you’re not going that far. Where is Stephen Smith in abortion? Where is he on Day? Where is he about quotas and positive behavior? Where is he a crime? Where is he spending?
“The list goes on. You just don’t know, so here’s my advice to Democrats looking at this. Before Stephen becomes a supporter for Smith, give him a survey and fill it out and have him see what the answer is.”
It’s not certain whether Smith, who has been a repeat guest role at ABC Soap Opera General Hospital, would like to take part in a tough campaign.
He expressed ambivalence on the topic, but last month in the Daily Mail, “If the Americans came to me and said, ‘Yes, man, we want you to be in office,’ I had a legal shot to win the US presidency. I think about it. ”
However, on Friday, Smith’s agent Mark Shapiro tried to quell the rumors by claiming at a meeting in Boston. “He won’t run for president. He will continue to entertain those conversations, but he won’t run for the president.”
Still, Buzz reveals a bigger picture of searching for democratic souls in the aftermath of election defeat. Trump portrayed the new media ecology of podcasts, Tiktok and other platforms as elitists, effectively proving his enthusiasm of “awakening” issues. Some Democrats are currently reconciliating by removing gender pronouns from their social media accounts.
Who has a way of thinking and communication that doesn’t sound like every politician?
David Litt, former speechwriter for Barack Obama
David Litt, author of Barack Obama and former speechwriter, said: One thing we learned from this latest election is that it may not be, and that it has given us a culture advantage to either something has happened more than we thought, or at least even claiming that it was right during election season.
“It’s important that Democrats say that our ‘political voice’ may not come from the political world, especially at the moment when people are deeply skeptical of politicians. Who has a way of thinking and communication that doesn’t sound like every politician out there? Its search and its openness can be very useful and very important in either way. ”
