Stephen A. Smith finds himself defending his stance not against LeBron James and Lakers fans, but against the progressive Democratic establishment. Following an Op-Ed from MSNBC that labeled him a “megaphone for MAGA propaganda,” Smith took to his podcast, The Stephen A. Smith Show, for 30 minutes to clarify his position and criticize “the left” for its hypocrisy and sensitivity regarding messaging. Smith stated, “I think that’s the exact problem with the left. If I don’t agree with you, I must be MAGA. I’m ‘platforming’ MAGA propaganda, is that so? I don’t see it that way. Even though I lean left in presidential elections, I want to stress that I’ve always identified as a centrist. I don’t trust either side.”
Smith drew the ire of Democratic officials after engaging with far-right figures such as Candace Owens and ICE director Tom Homan. He has notably increased his interactions with conservative commentators like Ben Shapiro and Megyn Kelly, along with his longstanding rapport with Sean Hannity and Bill O’Reilly. However, he stressed that he does not agree with all their views and invites them onto his show to engage in candid discussions. “I don’t agree with everything they say, but they deserve to express their views. We need to be prepared to address their arguments before condemning them,” he explained.
In addition to hosting Trump-aligned figures, Smith has also interviewed numerous Democratic politicians, such as Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, and U.S. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the House minority leader. Striving for balance in his discussions, Smith believes in conversing with anyone who significantly contributes to the national dialogue, regardless of their political extremity. “I’m open to talking to anyone,” he said. “I would even interview the Ku Klux Klan if it meant asking the questions I want, as their responses are for the public to consider. On this platform, I’ll engage with diverse voices on pressing issues—left, right, or center. That’s not giving a megaphone to one side.”
Before concluding his monologue, Smith highlighted a crucial distinction he feels exists between himself and the Democratic elite. He asserts that he has a better understanding of public sentiment and the communication landscape than traditional party members and corporate media representatives. “The right utilizes any means to spread their message,” he noted. “In contrast, the left tries to select preferred messengers, failing to heed the public’s true feelings and needs. This interference from the Democratic party is why they lost, and without learning from it, they will continue to fail.”
