Pablo Torre Finds Out

Episode: We Fact-Checked Stephen A.'s LeBron and Kobe Story — and Polled 1,000+ Voters on His Presidential Campaign
Date: April 4, 2025
Host: Pablo Torre
Guests: Tim Miller, Wyatt Cenac

Overview

This episode features Pablo Torre, Tim Miller, and Wyatt Cenac as they dive deep into two interconnected spectacles in sports and politics. First, they perform a thorough fact check on Stephen A. Smith’s viral claim about LeBron James’s attendance at Kobe Bryant’s memorial. Second, they analyze the plausibility of Stephen A. Smith’s oft-teased presidential campaign with the results of an original, exclusive national poll — and wrestle with what it reveals about the state of American politics. The episode is a signature Pablo Torre “talkumentary”: energetic, investigative, funny yet incisive, with guest dialogue that is both playful and revealing.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Fact-Checking the LeBron/Kobe Memorial Story

Background:

• Stephen A. Smith recently claimed (on-air) that LeBron James did not attend Kobe Bryant’s public memorial service, a claim quickly challenged by community notes and major outlets.
• The question: Was LeBron actually at the Kobe memorial? If not, does it matter, and why?

Key Segments:

• Stephen A. Smith’s escalation: Smith referenced LeBron’s supposed absence at the memorial to “suggest he should be happy with things I haven’t brought up.” ([02:20])
• The actual facts:
  • Multiple major outlets listed LeBron among attendees, but he was not filmed.
  • Pablo speaks with eight sources directly familiar with the event, VIPs, Lakers executives, and production team members.
  • Quote from Lakers exec source: “LeBron’s attendance…a topic people…have been grousing about for years” regarding undercurrents within the organization. ([04:13])
• Memorial event details:
  • Produced by Lakers, Vanessa Bryant, Grammy team; highly orchestrated, highly exclusive.
  • Not seen in any official broadcast angles, multiple sources (including the event’s lead producer and Jeanie Buss) did not see LeBron in the building.
  • Quote from event VIP: “There’s no way he was there. If he was there, he was Casper the Ghost.” ([10:00])
  • LeBron was not on the speaking list, nor (according to an early planning email chain) even considered.
• LeBron’s non-answer:
  • When asked by media if he attended:

    “It was just...a very emotional day, very tough day for myself and my family, for everyone involved… I appreciate it.” – LeBron James ([11:03])

  • Panel reads this as a non-answer; general consensus, he was not there.
• Motives and interpretation:
  • Pablo is careful to note: "I don't care how anyone chooses to grieve." ([10:51])
  • Vanessa Bryant would be the “key source” for a definitive answer; her position and emotions central to event guest curation.
  • The real question is why this matters or is weaponized in public narrative: Is it “state funeral” political drama, or a genuine controversy?

Memorable Exchange:

• Wyatt Cenac: “If he didn’t go, what’s the big deal? Why does he have to attend every basketball funeral?” ([03:25])
• Tim Miller: “It’s genuine Kremlinology… What are people not saying, but clearly feeling? What are the power dynamics?” ([13:48 – 13:51])

2. The Stephen A. Smith Presidential Speculation — and Reality Check Poll

Set-Up:

• Stephen A. Smith has been publicly claiming he could “win the Democratic nomination for president, if I tried.”
• Pablo’s team commissions a legitimate poll (Rasmussen), asking 1,021 likely voters about a host of 2028 matchups involving Stephen A.
• The panel forms a mock “exploratory committee” to analyze the results.

Key Segments:

The General Absurdity (and Tempting Allure) of a Stephen A. Presidential Bid

• Wyatt: “All he’s doing is just talking. He is the most unserious human being who just likes the attention.” ([15:52])
• Pablo: “I find it hard to disagree with wise fundamental points, but I also deeply value him as an important part of the exploratory committee.” ([16:59])

Poll Construction and Skepticism

• The panel notes the classic polling chicken-or-egg problem: Are results meaningful, or created by the inclusion of a name like Stephen A. Smith in the poll?

  “If that name had been Pikachu, do you think it would have also gotten 2%?” – Wyatt ([18:58])

• Rasmussen poll features: 1,021 voters, mixed contact modes, balanced party IDs.

Poll Results Breakdown

• Hillary Clinton (2016) vs. Stephen A. Smith (2028):
  • Clinton 36%, Stephen A. 34%, Not Sure 30% ([20:15])
• Joe Biden (2024) vs. Stephen A. Smith:
  • Biden 27%, Stephen A. 36% ([21:19])
  • Tim: "I'm kind of surprised that Joe Biden got 27% there. That's maybe not a great sign for Stephen A...only coming in at nine points ahead of the guy who went to the pool before the debate." ([22:24])
• Kamala Harris vs. Stephen A. (Democratic primary voters):
  • Harris 45%, Stephen A. 24%, Big “other/not sure” block ([22:18])
  • Wyatt: “Other could be anybody. It could be Pikachu.” ([23:00])
• AOC vs. Stephen A.:
  • AOC 32%, Stephen A. 28%, Not sure/other 33% ([23:55])
• Gavin Newsom vs. Stephen A.:
  • Newsom 31%, Stephen A. 28% ([25:40])
  • Tim: “This is bad news for Gavin Newsom. He and Stephen are competitors across multiple vectors now. You would think Gavin would have a little bit more space between him and Stephen A... Governor of California, has some experience... So I don't know if that's good for Stephen A. or bad for Gavin.” ([25:40])
• J.D. Vance (GOP) vs. Stephen A. (head-to-head):
  • Vance 38%, Stephen A. 34% ([26:20])
  • Tim: “...about a third of the country would literally respond in favor of anybody over J.D. Vance.” ([26:57])
  • Wyatt: “People aren't that excited by a potato face with a beard. Like, if you just put a beard on a potato, that's J.D. Vance.” ([27:49])
• Three-way: J.D. Vance, Kamala Harris, Stephen A. (Stephen A. running as independent):
  • Vance 40%, Harris 37%, Stephen A. 11% ([35:19])
  • Pollster conclusion: “He’s not a spoiler.”

Broader Reflections: What Do These Results Say About Politics?

• Pablo: “...it is insane how plausible all of this conversation is. It is very disturbing to me...” ([34:15])

• Tim contends that “talking is a pretty key part of the [presidential] job” — charisma and debate performance may be the crucial skills to win a modern campaign. ([33:11])

• The panel considers the actual ideological emptiness of such hypothetical “celebrity” campaigns:

  “He’s not actually a Democrat in really any discernible political way.” – Pablo ([38:49])

  • Discussion of whether people want genuine change, or the illusion/presentation of change via a fresh, charismatic face.

• Panel sums up Democratic Party’s problem as “vibes.”

  • Tim: “What people don’t like about the Democratic Party right now is it feels leaderless and listless and it doesn’t feel like there’s a fight.” ([37:12])

• Jay Caspian Kang’s New Yorker thesis is paraphrased:

  “Democrats need a hostile takeover and new candidates who stand far outside the establishment's tepid choices... The policy positions...do not matter as long as they're within reason... what [voters] want is someone that can actually compete against them [Trump et al] and out meme them and own them.” ([42:44])

America’s Next Top Spokesmodel?

• Wyatt: “As president, you are America’s spokesmodel. You are Vanna White, just turning the letters on democracy.” ([33:25])
• Discussion if performativity and debate skill are truly what we want — or simply what we’re left with.

Alternate Solutions: The Celebrity VP Slate

• Pablo polled respondents for “Democratic Vice President” picks:
  • Mark Cuban (14%), Stephen A. Smith (12%), Dwayne Johnson (12%), Matthew McConaughey (10%), Jon Stewart (9%), Oprah (7%), Pablo Torre (1%), Not Sure (35%) ([47:00])
  • Mark Cuban’s dry response: “I need to reconsider my life if I only beat Stephen A. by 2%.” ([47:32])

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• “If LeBron was there [at the memorial], he was Casper the Ghost.” – VIP attendee ([10:00])
• “He is the most unserious human being who just likes the attention...He might as well say...if I put six months in, I could totally fight Mike Tyson.” – Wyatt, on Stephen A. Smith’s presidential delusions ([15:52])
• “This is bad news for Gavin Newsom. You would think Gavin would have a little bit more space between him and Stephen A.” – Tim ([25:40])
• “People aren’t that excited by a potato face with a beard...that’s J.D. Vance.” – Wyatt ([27:49])
• “Is it our two different questions or what we need and do a hero. We Commissioner Gordon might need...” – Pablo, on the political hunger for a “champion” ([31:16])
• “Maybe we just need to accept that talking is a pretty key part of the job and that the Democrats should probably orient themselves to finding somebody who’s really, really good at talking. And then all the other skills are kind of secondary.” – Tim ([33:11])
• “As president, you are America’s spokesmodel...you are Vanna White, just turning the letters on democracy.” – Wyatt ([33:21])
• “It’s genuine Kremlinology…What are people not saying, but clearly feeling? What are the power dynamics?” – Tim ([13:51])
• “I will end this segment by pointing out that according to the pollster...he looked at the top line numbers and said, ‘Based on what I see in these numbers, he should run.’” – Pablo ([41:40])
• “Thank you both for doing this. Pablo Torre Finds Out is produced by…” – End of content section ([49:21])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• LeBron memorial claims — Set-up: [02:20]
• LeBron’s public actions post-Kobe’s death: [05:02]
• No on-camera LeBron, fact-finding from sources: [07:19] – [10:00]
• LeBron’s dodgy answer to media: [11:03]
• Panel summary of LeBron vs. Stephen A. feud: [12:47]
• Stephen A. presidential campaign mockery: [15:52]
• First polling result breakdown: [20:15]
• Charisma and talking as presidential skills: [33:11]
• Jay Caspian Kang’s hot take on Democratic horse race: [42:44]
• Celebrity VP slate polling: [47:00]
• Panel “what did we learn?” recap: [48:18]

Conclusion – Episode Takeaways

• LeBron and the Kobe Memorial: Through exhaustive and careful reporting, Pablo finds nearly all credible evidence suggests LeBron did not attend Kobe Bryant’s public memorial, despite initial media reports. The real story is how and why these small but symbolic details become flashpoints for media culture wars.
• Celebrity Politics Absurdity: Polling for Stephen A. Smith’s presidential prospects reveals both the emptiness and the entrenched performativity of contemporary American politics, with “talking” and “presence” at least as important as policy or experience.
• The State of the Democratic Party: Major takeaways are the leadership and charisma vacuum — and fears that “vibes” matter more than vision.
• Memorable banter: Tim and Wyatt roast both the premise and their own complicity, finding the humor and absurdity endemic to the conversation.

For listeners and non-listeners alike, this is a revealing, funny “state of the culture” episode, as Pablo Torre and friends use sports and pop spectacle to lay bare deeper truths about the American moment.