*Stephen A. Smith is expanding his media presence with a new political talk show, “Straight Shooter with Stephen A.,” which debuted on SiriusXM’s POTUS channel on September 17.
According to The Athletic, Smith is venturing into politics despite having “no known real expertise” in the field. The move follows speculation about a possible presidential run, marking a significant shift from his sports media roots.
The outlet notes that Smith “has the ability to deliver words in a way that resonates” and highlights his knack for taking firm, attention-grabbing stances.
The launch of “Straight Shooter with Stephen A.” reflects Smith’s growing interest in political commentary. He has previously appeared on outlets such as Fox News and NewsNation and shared political insights on his own podcast. The Athletic suggests the show is a pivotal step, noting that Smith is “formally launching his bid as a political pundit, if not a Presidential candidate.”
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Known for his long tenure on ESPN’s First Take and The Stephen A. Smith Show, Smith has built a massive following over more than 20 years. His move into politics is likely to fuel ongoing speculation about a potential run, even though he emphasizes that his main goal is to encourage stronger leadership within the Democratic Party. In interviews with Fox News and other outlets, Smith expressed frustration with the party’s lack of direction, saying he hopes to inspire more qualified candidates to step up.
“I hope somebody from the Democratic Party steps up. I hope I light a fire under them and get a more qualified individual in this mix, so people can stop asking me this stuff and I can enjoy my life,” Smith told Sean Hannity earlier this year. He added, “But if it continues to get worse, all hands on deck, all of us should consider running, for crying out loud, rather than dealing with this nonsense.”
While he has joked about the idea of running — even posting on social media that he is “leaving all doors open” — Smith has also downplayed the speculation, framing his comments as a call to action rather than a formal campaign announcement.
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