Could Stephen A. Smith Win an Election?

Summary

The Chris Cuomo Project: Could Stephen A. Smith Win an Election?

Release Date: March 4, 2025

In the latest episode of The Chris Cuomo Project, host Chris Cuomo engages in a compelling and insightful conversation with esteemed sports and media personality Stephen A. Smith. Titled "Could Stephen A. Smith Win an Election?", the episode delves into the intriguing possibility of Stephen A. transitioning from his renowned role in sports media to the political arena. The discussion navigates through the complexities of media influence in politics, the current state of the Democratic Party, and the unique challenges posed by today's polarized environment.

1. The Prospect of Stephen A. Smith in Politics

Chris Cuomo opens the conversation by contemplating Stephen A. Smith as a potential presidential candidate, highlighting his influential voice and ability to resonate with diverse audiences. He muses, “the man is going to be the hub of conversation in America... driven by resonance and wanting to make an impact” (00:00-02:00).

Stephen A. Smith swiftly addresses the speculation, asserting his lack of intent to enter politics. He emphatically states, “First of all, don't even think about me being a politician” (03:40). Smith underscores his passion lies in media and debating political figures rather than running for office himself.

2. Differences Between Sports and Political Media

A significant portion of the discussion contrasts the dynamics of sports media with political media. Smith points out that sports is inherently merit-based, where performance clearly determines outcomes, whereas politics is often nebulous and influenced by shifting narratives. He remarks, “In sports, the game and the performance will ultimately determine whether I'm right or whether I'm wrong. In the world of politics, it's like an amoeba” (32:05).

Cuomo agrees, adding that sports offer definitive outcomes, whereas political debates often leave issues unresolved, fueling public frustration. This clarity in sports contributes to its appeal, something he suggests is missing in political discourse.

3. Challenges Facing the Democratic Party

The conversation shifts to the internal struggles within the Democratic Party. Smith critiques the party’s inability to connect with the broader electorate, attributing this to appeasing a narrow progressive base at the expense of the majority. He observes, “They have to have somebody as close to the left as possible. If they don't vote for you, what are they going to get done?” (12:35).

Cuomo and Smith discuss the consequences of this strategy, noting a significant disconnect between Democratic leadership and mainstream voters. Smith emphasizes the need for the party to reconnect with core issues that resonate with the general population, beyond the polarized narratives driven by social media influence.

4. The Impact of Race in Media and Politics

Race emerges as a pivotal theme in the discussion, particularly in the context of media representation and political accountability. Smith addresses the challenges faced by Black media personalities, highlighting systemic biases and the double standards they encounter. He states, “We are always held to a different standard in corporate America” (54:32).

Cuomo adds to this by acknowledging the constructed nature of race and its pervasive impact on societal dynamics. The conversation touches upon the firing of Joy Reid from MSNBC, with Smith attributing it to both performance metrics and racial biases, saying, “She was the first domino to fall” (60:53).

5. The Role of Personality and Authenticity in Media Influence

Both Cuomo and Smith agree on the significance of authenticity and personality in influencing public opinion. Smith draws parallels between sports commentary and political media, emphasizing that genuine engagement and respectful discourse can bridge divides. He explains, “I recognize what my lane is and I recognize what other people's lane is” (44:41).

Cuomo echoes this sentiment, advocating for conversations that transcend partisan hostility. He envisions collaborative events where diverse media figures can engage in meaningful dialogue, fostering understanding and mitigating the "mindlessness" prevalent on social platforms.

6. Future Collaborations and the Power of Conversation

The episode concludes with discussions about upcoming collaborative events involving diverse media personalities like Bill O'Reilly. Cuomo expresses enthusiasm for fostering open conversations, stating, “Conversation is the cure. You gotta be able to collaborate with different ideas” (66:34).

Smith shares his excitement about blending his expertise in sports with his burgeoning passion for political discourse, aiming to contribute constructively to national conversations. He emphasizes the importance of focusing on issues over personalities to advance the country’s interests.

Notable Quotes

• Stephen A. Smith (03:40): “First of all, don't even think about me being a politician.”
• Chris Cuomo (32:05): “The game is played, and you either win or lose. In politics, there’s no such clarity.”
• Stephen A. Smith (12:35): “If you really, really felt that way and you were going to lean, then dammit, lean all the way in.”
• Chris Cuomo (44:41): “I believe you have more portfolio coming into this world without the level of acumen that you've already developed than vice versa.”
• Stephen A. Smith (54:32): “We are always held to a different standard in corporate America.”
• Chris Cuomo (66:34): “Conversation is the cure. You gotta be able to collaborate with different ideas.”

Conclusion

This episode of The Chris Cuomo Project offers a thought-provoking exploration of the intersection between media influence, politics, and race. Through candid dialogue, Chris Cuomo and Stephen A. Smith dissect the challenges facing modern political discourse and the Democratic Party, while also highlighting the potential for media figures to influence public opinion beyond traditional boundaries. Their conversation serves as a call for more authentic, issue-focused dialogue in both media and politics, aiming to bridge the widening partisan divide.

For listeners looking to understand the current landscape of political media and the potential roles influential personalities might play, this episode provides valuable insights and engaging perspectives.

Transcript

[Chris Cuomo]

Support for the Chris Cuomo Project comes from Select Quote. Listen, if you're in the family game and you want to take care of your family and you're a provider and you have your kids, right? And your significant other, you need to have a plan that includes insurance, because otherwise you're just not being responsible for yourself. I wanted to avoid it. I didn't know if it was because I had fears of, like, does that mean I'm, like, jinxing myself and wanting myself to die? Or isn't it a waste and don't have a long time to do it or not? There's so many different products. That also was kind of daunting to me. That's why they made Select Quote. It's one of America's leading insurance brokers. Nearly 40 years of experience. They've helped over 2 million people find over $700 billion in coverage since 1985. Now, what's the difference? Look, most life insurance brokers, it's more personal, right? It's like a volume business. And they have products that either works for you or doesn't. One size fits all, okay? Now, may cost you more, may cover you less, may not be tailored to your needs. Select Quote is the opposite of that. Their licensed insurance agents work for you. They tailor a policy for your individual needs. And you know what? It can take, like 15 minutes. Do you know how short that is? Get the right life insurance for you for [e-mail] Chris C. Go to SelectQuote.com Chris C. Today and get started. That's SelectQuote.com Chris C. Is there a man amongst us whose name we all know who could be a surprise entry for president three years from today? Yep, and I got him on the show. Chris Cuomo here. Welcome to the Chris Cuomo Project. We're talking today to Stephen A. Smith. I'm telling you now, the man is going to be the hub of conversation in America. Why? Because of his ideas and what he wants. No, no, no. He's not driven by agenda. He's driven by resonance and wanting to make an impact in sports. He can be for, he can be against. People watch him because of his take. Same things happening in politics. Why? Why him? Why not me? Why him? Why is he the flavor of the moment and it's just getting started. I wanted to talk to him about what's going on with him and the perception of him within politics and something that I' heard him talk about before. He knows what it takes to make it in sports media. What does he think it takes to make it these days in political media. What are the differences between the two that he is observing as someone who is now, if you think about it, who else is as big a deal in both as Stephen A. Smith is? So here he is on the podcast, talking the talk. Stephen A. Smith, thank you so much for the opportunity, as always.

[Stephen A. Smith]

My pleasure. What's up, my brother? How you doing?

[Chris Cuomo]

I am completely unobjective when it comes to you. I am a friend, I am a supporter, I am a believer. And I care about you very deeply. And I want you to know that more than anything else, I'll never see you as just another member of the media. You matter to me.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Feeling is mutual, my brother. It really is.

[Chris Cuomo]

And that's why I am torn about. What do I do? Do I take a leave and help you run your presidential campaign, or do I stay in my position and what my family wants and just support you from afar? What would you prefer?

[Stephen A. Smith]

First of all, don't even think about me being a politician.

[Chris Cuomo]

It ain't gonna happen. I've seen it. I've seen it all over the media.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I love my life. I love the life that I have. I love the life that I'm living. And the reality is that I never in my life wanted to be a politician. I've had aspirations to debate politicians, particularly on the presidential stage, during a debate, something like that, but that's about it. I think it's been comical to me that my name is in it because I'm not qualified. I learn from people like yourself and a litany of others that I've watched talk politics for years. I learn as I go along. Now I'm more interested in it than ever before. So I read more, I watch more, but I'm still in the learning stages of it. And so the way I look at it is that if you're the Democratic Party and my name is coming up as a presidential candidate, it should be an absolute embarrassment to you, a strong indication of how far you have fallen as a party, to have my name in the mix. Now, having said that, let me not lie. Knowing what I don't know, but being confident that I'm surrounded by people who do know. If you came to me three years from now and everything, and I'm a prime candidate for the presidency of the United States, having shown no interest and everybody said, man, you're the hope, you're the guy, et cetera. Do I have confidence that I could win? Yes, I do. Do I have confidence that I would know what I'm doing because of the people surrounding me, guiding me and giving me knowledge. Like you, who'd probably be my chief of staff. I'd recruit you from television, and that's what I'd bring you in the M. And I'd have you as my chief of staff. Yeah, I mean, I'd have to consider it, but it would take something catastrophic and beyond comprehension for me to even consider that.

[Chris Cuomo]

I saw you speaking on TV the other day, and please, you tell me if I have it wrong, because, you know, I could have sworn that I saw you making a hand gesture like this when you were talking. The thumb was over the top and you had this very steady rhythm that was completely in sync with the point you were making as you were making it. Now, I don't remember you ever doing that before you were mentioned as a potential presidential candidate. Am I wrong about the gesture and do you see the correlation?

[Stephen A. Smith]

I see the correlation. You are not wrong about the gesture. I was just having fun. I do it all the time when I'm imitating politicians, so I do it all the time on espn. I say, my name is Stephen A. Smith, and I approve this message. I do stuff like that. Some sentences I say, God bless you and God bless the United States of America. So I go, stuff like that, everybody, like, oh, my God, this is crazy. And I have fun with it again. I really, really do. It's comical to me because, listen, I interviewed Josh Shapiro on my podcast. I've interviewed Wes Moore. I've interviewed Byron Donald. I just interviewed Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. There are Republicans that I'm going to interview down the pike as well. I've interviewed you, I've interviewed Sean Hannity. There's a plethora of pundits and commentators that I've interviewed. I've always been fascinated by the world of politics and talking about it, but it's to learn and it's to decipher who is. Who's closer to right than being wrong. I've always been fascinated about that as it pertains to the world of politics. But that doesn't mean that I have a strong desire to be a politician. I'd prefer to stay what I'm doing, even if it is in the political stratosphere.

[Chris Cuomo]

Well, part of it is about the competitive drive to make a difference. When you look at Byron Donalds, do you say irregardless of how you feel about him? I can take him.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Byron Donald? I don't think so. I think, listen, I've watched him get Interviewed. I've watched him speak, and although I don't like his flagrant support of Trump, where he shoves aside just anything that Trump has done, when you get into the weeds talking politics with this man about what conservatives offer compared to Democrats, I find it very difficult to imagine a Democrat in front of him being. Being able to beat him on the issues, because I think he knows what he's talking about, and I think he speaks in a way that resonates with an audience. So he has the facts, he has inside knowledge about what. What takes place. And on top of it all, he has the personality where he's feisty enough to come back at you and resonate with un audience, I don't see a lot of that on the Democratic side. Josh Shapiro, I think, is a star, has that kind of potential. He's entrenched in Pennsylvania as its governor.

[Chris Cuomo]

You think Josh Shapiro, Byron Donald, who wins.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I think Byron Donald would probably win in a close fight with that. And just in terms of their styles and how they come at one another, I think Wes Moore is a wild card. I find Westmore to be elite and highly impressive, and he knows when to turn it on and win a dollar back.

[Chris Cuomo]

Wes Moore has no weakness.

[Stephen A. Smith]

None.

[Chris Cuomo]

No weakness. Now, you can say being a black man in America will be perceived, certainly among members of the minority community, not all of them, but that is a perceived weakness. Maybe, maybe. But on paper, he has no weakness.

[Stephen A. Smith]

He has no weaknesses. I think the only weakness that I can point to about Wes Moore and the possibility of him being a president of the United States really has nothing to do with him. It's the fact that Barack Obama was once president, because let's call it what it is. If Barack Obama had never been the president of the United States, I don't think Trump would have ever become the president 100%.

[Chris Cuomo]

I'm with you. Reaction formation.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Reaction formation. Reaction formation. White backlash, as they call it, I think played an integral role in Trump ultimately winning the election in 2016. And I think that it could potentially play a role in holding back Wesley more. Because whether people want to pay attention to it or not, the American population is still 57% white. And even though you've got a percentage of blacks and Hispanics in this country that can make a difference, the white power structure is still in place. And somehow, some way, if there's a level of victimhood that's attached to that, where you have people looking at liberal policies that have been taking place over the last few years in terms of just their Just what they've articulated. Some of the positions that they've taken. I don't want to say liberal policies per se, but some of the positions that particularly.

[Chris Cuomo]

That's a good distinction.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I think it has served to hurt the party and it's hard to overcome that if you're West Moore, considering the.

[Chris Cuomo]

Things I mentioned, I think it's a good distinction. Three points. First, Westmore only has one weakness. When I whooped his ass in the Bills, Baltimore Ravens. Bet. Whooped his ass. He ghosted me.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Ghosted me.

[Chris Cuomo]

He didn't ghost me. I know. Well, he took you to school. He took you to school. He took you to the game. That.

[Stephen A. Smith]

He took you to school.

[Chris Cuomo]

And I gotta tell you, you did not come off well in that whole situation. And I respect a man that doesn't lose well. So it only helped my respect for you. But he ghosted me for a while and then the texts were very vanilla after that. Very. Did not have the panache, did not have the flavor they had had before. But other than that, Westmore on paper, I do not like prospects of going up against that man. And other than color, which I don't even think is fair, I don't even think. I don't even think Obama is even close to what he is on paper. I mean, that man checks every alpha male box and every Renaissance mailbox. So Wes Moore is the real deal. You made a great distinction when you said not issues, positions. You just put your finger once again on the problem for the Democrats. If the Democrats were to get back to Ted Kennedy, Jesse Jackson, Bill Clinton, Democratic issues, they're right back in the fight like that. Working man and woman. Live and let live. Make sure the government's protecting the people who need protection, but otherwise not telling us what to do. Very suspicious of government overreach. For the elites, Those are the bedrock issues. Instead of that. To your point, positions, trans 80, 20 issues that they are on the 20 side, illegal immigration. Oh, well, they're here illegally. But these are bad. Look things. Government efficiency. Well, yeah, we wanna find government money. But it's the but that's killing the Democrats right now. Cause they seem to be defenders of what offends the majority and keeps the status quo as it is.

[Stephen A. Smith]

You're absolutely right. I would tell you that the reason why that's so damaging is a couple of reasons. Number one, those folks that we talked about, it could be a Westmore, it could be a Shapiro, it could be others, right? Even though they knew better, their voices were very, very quiet when the Progressives were pulling people far left. I'm talking about on a national scale.

[Chris Cuomo]

Because they cancel them.

[Stephen A. Smith]

So automatically that provokes the response from the right or the center. Where were you? How come you didn't speak up about this before, Et cetera, et cetera. Were you complicit in what transpired during the 2024 election? And why should we have faith in you now? That's number one. You got to look at that. Number two, when I think about the progressives and how they pulled, and you talk about what the Democratic Party was all about, the working class, et cetera, and we see that the Republicans have sort of snatched that narrative from them to some degree. Well, how the hell did that happen? One of the reasons is that they'll tell you, we're looking out for everybody. We're looking out for everybody. Well, there's a problem with that. You were so busy looking out for everybody that you got more focused on less than 1% of the population than you were paying attention to the 13 to 20% or more of blacks and Hispanics and what their issues were in this country. So once again, we have a situation where you're trying to appease everybody and then you end up hurting more than you're helping because you don't adopt the mentality that everybody can't be pleased. What's our issue? When we look at the state of California, if you talk to Gavin Newsom, he doesn't seem like a bad guy. Very polished, very smart, very sharp, certainly looks the part. And then he opens his mouth and he starts getting to the moral high ground of issues and not understanding. You don't care about that. If there's crime in the streets, you don't care about that. If unemployment is ravaging our city, you don't care about that. If businesses are being compromised, if the economy is bad, et cetera. And they don't seem to get that. And that's the problem.

[Chris Cuomo]

Messaging matters amplified minorities from social media. That the media made vox populi killed really mainstream party ideology. So the people on the left had to fear the progressives, the ascendants of aoc. A huge reach on social media, almost no resonance with the majority, almost no impact as a lawmaker. Why? Because she can't operate within the system. So they say, then destroy the system. Okay, but it hasn't happened yet. The majority, this is a center left or right country, depending on the issue.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Totally agree.

[Chris Cuomo]

Social media is fringes. So you see the fringes dominating the Republican Party, and the fringe was dominating the Democratic Party. Why do I say was? Because there is a blessing in utter defeat, in utter defeat when you get beat by someone who had no business beating you, and that is Donald Trump. Donald Trump had no business coming back from where they had him. Never. Even among Republicans, his numbers were always upside down in a way that is unusual for a resurgence. So for him to beat you by, as you perfectly put on Bill Maher's show, real time, he approximated normal to a majority of Americans more than the Democrats did. Now there's an opportunity. You know, what got you here will not get you where you want to be. So they have an opportunity to rediscover themselves. When you talk to Hakeem Jeffries, do you believe he has the secret sauce of reconnecting to the majority?

[Stephen A. Smith]

I won't go that far. I believe he has the mentality, does he have the impact? That's the question. I think what he says is correct. I think he's an individual that's center left. I think he knows what common sense is, what it looks like and what it needs, and where it's lacking in the Democratic Party. But does he have the voice that will resonate nationally to have an impact with the Democratic Party? I'm not sure that is the case. I know that I enjoyed talking to him. I enjoyed my conversation with him. He filibustered a lot because they all do. And we get that. You know that significantly better than me. I'm getting used to that, still trying to learn how to work around that. But I appreciated and respected what he was saying. I just didn't listen to him and found myself thinking he can impact his colleagues on Capitol Hill in such a fashion that would provoke the change that's needed. And one of the things that I've said, and I've said it to numerous Democrats over the last few months, the progressive left, what the hell are y'all doing? Capitulating to them? Where the hell are they gonna go? They're gonna vote for somebody on the right. I mean, they're pulling you far left. They got to have somebody as close to the left as possible. If they don't vote for you, what are they going to get done? Why are y'all surrendering yourself and being at the mercy of them? When the vast majority of y'all are sent to left, know what the word compromise is and its definition, and are willing to exercise it, why are you capitulating to them? It makes absolutely, positively no sense. And it just shows me there's a level of detachment from the Public at large. Because the public in all likelihood would ask the same thing of you that I just asked.

[Chris Cuomo]

Detachment from the mainstream attachment to social media reality. That's the alchemy they got wrong. And look, I get it. I get the jealousy because that made Trump. So you're asking me to avoid what made him. Well, that's how it goes though. If your opponent is working an angle, the idea that you're gonna work the same one and win is very low percentage.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Well, can I say this real quick?

[Chris Cuomo]

Go ahead.

[Stephen A. Smith]

If that's the case, if that's the mentality, then, dammit, why didn't you just move out of Bernie Sanders way and let him be the Democratic nominee? You see what I'm saying? It's like you can't have it both ways. In other words, Bernie Sanders was in the mix. They moved him out of the way, conveniently because it was Hillary's turn. They moved him out of the way again, conveniently because it was Joe Biden's turn and there was little to nothing that the progressives could do about it. If you really, really felt that way and you were going to lean, then, dammit, lean all the way in.

[Chris Cuomo]

I'm with you. I'm with you. In terms of theory. I mean, look, the problem with Bernie versus Trump was, aside from presentation, Bernie was too deep on issues. He was putting too much meat on the bones of things he wanted to do. That is so inherently socialistic.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Right.

[Chris Cuomo]

That even though it may be to the benefit of the same group of Americans who are gonna reject it in favor of capitalistic things, it doesn't sound American. So that was his problem. He was too definite. I agree. Whereas Trump just shits on whatever the status quo is. And that works better in politics.

[Stephen A. Smith]

And by the way, both of us, I don't know. I think I know this about you. Neither of us are socialists. Now, don't get me wrong, we ain't trying to lean as far right with capitalistic tendencies as some on the right may do. But we damn sure believe in capitalism to some degree and not the guys like Bernie Sanders and others who are more socialist. I wouldn't have voted for Bernie Sanders, I could tell you that much. But if you go lean that far, go ahead and lean all the way in was my point.

[Chris Cuomo]

I wouldn't have voted for Bernie Sanders and I'll tell you why. I was one of the first all easy for people at home to go back and look, look at who on TV was. I'll give myself. I'll qualify it among the first wave. Okay, I really believe I was first, but among the first wave of people who was, who were positioning Bernie Sanders as a legit presidential presence. And it was me at cnn. Why? Because I used to have him on all the time making populist arguments. Because I really believe that populism is underserved as just negative reaction formation. Right. Populism now is just what you're angry at, what you're outraged by. And that's only one flavor of populism. Whereas there are a lot of policy considerations and governmental conditions that should serve a populist movement that are positive and that should be seen that way as opposed to just negativity. So I had him on and he used to joke, not unlike how Stephen A. Smith jokes in this particular moment about how nobody wants me to be president. Nobody wants to hear these things. Nobody wants to do these things. And then he started getting momentum on social media and within parts of the left, and he became what he was in that moment. And you're absolutely right about the party pushing him aside, which was fine if they weren't battling a fringe atmosphere, which they misdiagnosed at that time with Trump and then again this time with Trump. And you can't forgive somebody for making the same mistake twice because they didn't learn anything the first time. They did the same thing. They made mistakes with Biden. We all know that support comes from Shopify. So you want to be a success in selling. It is not so much about the product as it is placement and performance of the shopping experience of that product. That's the key. The selling of a business often comes from the business behind the business that makes that sales experience possible. 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That's what Cozy Earth's best selling bamboo sheets are all about. They are so soft. They regulate temperature. And five star comfort every night. And incredible durability and an amazing guarantee. That's why I love them. Luxury should not be out of reach. Visit cozyearth.com Chris, use my exclusive code. You'll get 40% off the sheets, the towels, the pajamas and more. That's cozyearth.com Chris. And if you get a post purchase survey, please tell them you heard about Cozy Earth right here on the podcast. All right. Sanctuary awaits at Cozy Earth. The Chris Cuomo Project is brought to you by the audio marketing gurus at Radioactive Media. Congratulations, you've survived 2024. Now the question is, how are you as a business owner or cmo, how are you going to ensure that your business continues to survive, but even more so that it thrives? How about using something that's reliable, that's stable, especially for your marketing efforts that will allow you to tap into the power of podcast and radio? Clearly, I believe in that reach, which is why I'm in that space. But let me give you a fact. In the United States, audio reaches more than social media and digital combined. So enter radioactive media. They know how to launch, optimize and scale performance by building compelling audio campaigns. And the key is they work. Why? They have a personal approach. They have knowledge, they have experience. They have a track record. Go to RadioactiveMedia.com or text Chris to 511 511, text Chris to 5 11, 511 today. Message and Data rates, of course, they apply. Now, one of the problems is also something we're struggling with very mightily in our society that you now have a wider view on, which is the mindlessness, the pure visceral nature of reactions on social media. Sports is deep on the fields. People love you, they hate you. They love the team, they hate the team. But there is an underlying entertainment value to it for everybody. Yeah, I'm a Knicks fan. And if you're a Celtics fan, I got a problem with you. But not the way Democrats and Republicans. Republicans have problems with each other. Okay. You would never see them trying to hurt one another physically, except if it's at a game and they're drunk. Right. So you're getting open and exposed to that now. And that's something that is a big factor in how people go about their business in politics shouldn't be but it is and it takes me to what happen with you in Carville. And remember my prediction James Carville, when with you face to face will be flattering of you welcome you to the dynamic and say that what he was saying was either taken out of context or not really meant that way. And I'm just saying I see the Democrats different than you. I guarantee I'll bet you whatever you want one of your pretty Fouillards that you're wearing right now, I'll bet you one, if I'm assuming I can afford it, which I probably still can, that he will not be how he is talking about you because that's the podcast game. So James Carville says Stephen A. Smith needs to stick to sports. I don't think he was doing a shut up and dribble like we heard. I don't believe that about Jimmy at all. Jimmy is an equal opportunity offender and policy guy. But how did you take that that he's saying, hey, you're going after the Democrats one, you should be a Democrat. So two, shut up.

[Stephen A. Smith]

First of all, I did not take it as him telling me to shut up a dribble. There were an abundance of people that are close to me who took it that way and I had to calm them down. I said one of the things that I hate is when we go out there and we attach a level of cynicism to something that is unwarranted, let's make it work, let's make it count. If that's what I thought, I want to have a pretty damn good reason for thinking that James Carville was reacting to what he thought. I said that there was no talent on a Democratic side. That's not what I was saying. He had misquoted me. Maybe he misunderstood because I know Wes Moore and obviously I've interviewed Josh Shapiro and I'm very fond of both of them. What I was saying is that there's no national voice to combat the cult like following that Trump has and what he has set, what he has set up alkalites as surrogates ultimately to receive down the pike. Who's that for? The Democratic Party. That's what I was pointing to. So first of all, I thought James was wrong in that regard in terms of misconstruing what I said. Having said all of that, I also thought that he either was engaging in selective amnesia or genuinely forgot that most of the points I was making were points that he had made over the previous year. Plus he was saying the same things about the Democratic Party that I lamented.

[Chris Cuomo]

And he was right back then.

[Stephen A. Smith]

And he was right back then. So I'm saying, what is it, James Carver? Evidently, you're not listening to me because I said some of the same things that you said. So evidently I know a little. And even if I didn't know a little, I echoed what you said. What's your problem? You know, if you want to come to the defense or you want to. Or you want to engage in some vitriolic response towards somebody, shouldn't you be aiming it at Democratic officials who ignored you or some of the strategists and what have you? I mean, it was his anger, his disgust or whatever was misplaced. And, you know, he invited me on his podcast, and I've accepted. I'm going on his podcast in a matter of days. Nobody's running, nobody's hiding, because I know what I don't know. I know that I haven't covered this landscape the way Chris Cuomo has. I know that I haven't been associated with the Democratic Party in my lifetime to the degree that a veteran like James Carville has done so. He has served this country. He's a former US Marine. He obviously was a Democratic strategist and campaign guy for Bill Clinton. It's the economy, stupid. It's still one of the most favorite phrases in the history of politics. I respect him, but I had very little respect for how he elected to come at me. And I just said to myself, I just said on camera when I followed it up on my show, perhaps it's not that. It's not what I said, it's the fact that I'm the one that was being listened to instead of you. You understand? And maybe that's what you need to deal with, okay? Because I believe people should still be listening to James Carville. But that doesn't mean these young pups on the Democratic side who have been assigned to be strategists, who are members of the DNC and what have you have taken that advice and are listening to him. Sometimes a veteran like him has animosity and has, you know, they're a bit upset because the new guard comes in and moves out. The old guard. Yeah, I'm not one of those people that's a part of that, you know, that apparatus. I'm saying, look, this is what it is. You know it, I know it. And I just. I personally think that he looked a bit foolish coming at me like that. But I didn't lose any sleep over it. I wasn't fazed by it. And that's the way it is.

[Chris Cuomo]

I think you're in a sweet spot because you're a disruptor. You're an outsider who is very conventional in their thinking and reasonable, and you have no overt agenda. So I believe that you are in a sweet spot of where America's moving. It's ugly, it's cataclysmic right now. But you don't have to fight your way through the jungle because you're a made man in the media already because of your excellence at what you do. I want to look at sports two different ways. First, now that you are resonating in both arenas as far as I'm concerned, what is the difference to you in terms of what the vibe is in, what works and doesn't work in the sports media and the political media? What do you perceive as the difference in the two worlds?

[Stephen A. Smith]

It's very interesting question. Never been asked it. Never thought about it. Just off the top of my head, I would tell you that with sports, it's more based on merit than with politics in media. See, in the end, you could be mad at me for what I have to say. Your jump shot ain't great. You don't play good enough defense. I think this team is better than you or whatever the case may be. But the games still have to be played, and the game and the performance will ultimately determine whether I'm right or whether I'm wrong. In the world of politics, it's like an amoeba or something. You can't wrap your arms, your fists, your hands rather around getting something finite and definitive. This is what it is. Yes, the election was won by Donald Trump, but everything else is up in the air. Go talk to Democrats right now. There's no Trump mandate. He didn't even get 50% of the vote. He had 49.8%. We had 48.3%. It's only 1.5 percentage points. We want your show, Chris. And Representative Clyburn tried to give us that argument, and both of us was tussling with each other to jump right at him to say, excuse me, you lost every swing state. You lost the popular vote. You lost the Electoral College vote. You lost about 50. You lost a young vote. You lost a Hispanic vote. You lost. I'm talking about compared to what it was in 2020. You've dipped in all of these things. What are you talking about? But that's what they were saying, and that's what they're still saying. And so somehow, some way, when it comes to that which is, I think, contributes to the frustration that American citizens feel. You want to feel, if you sit down, Chris, and you study, you want to feel like, you know, let's go take the test. These are the answers. And come to find out the answer is subject. Is subject to what the professor's definition is on that particular day. So all that damn studying you did ended up for being nothing. That's the American citizen. The American citizen is looking at you and saying, wait a minute, I studied this, I watched, I listened, I read, and I did all of that for nothing because you telling me what I saw, what I read, what I witnessed was. Was it what I thought it was? That is what drives the American people crazy. So Donald Trump comes along, and. Because sometimes he comes across as a bit incoherent, to say the least. Okay. But he speaks in very general and simplistic terms. They're like, I understand him, I get up. It resonates with me, I'm good. And that's the world that we're living in. That would never fly in sport, but it flies in politics, including political media.

[Chris Cuomo]

Something that you do really well. And I'm getting killed doing this right now, but I'm gonna keep doing it anyway, which is. And it's the difference between sports and politics. And you isolate it perfectly. You and I will argue about what's gonna happen in the game, and then the game is played, and you were right and I was wrong, and that's how it is. And there is no but it was rigged. And look, they'll say that shit about the refs and the Chiefs and whatever it is, the game's over, the Chiefs are moving on. You can say it was rigged, but it's over. And you've seen the refs go different ways, different games. And I say, yeah, you got me on that one, Stephen A. And people respect that part. In politics, if you are apologizing or explaining, you are losing. And it's because of this lack of definiteness in what's right and wrong. So if you apologize, you're weak. Whereas in the sports world, well, I mean, he said that Adesanya would never get beat, and he just got beat. So what do you mean he's not admitting it? You know, what does it mean? You know, So I think it's. There's a clarity that we crave in politics that you do get.

[Stephen A. Smith]

In sports, you do crave the clarity. That is true. But it's not that you can't apologize in politics. It's who's apologizing and how do you do it? It's not about the stratosphere that you're living in. It's about who the messenger is. You're not going to convince me. Let's say, for example, that I do decide to run and I'm in three.

[Chris Cuomo]

Years, as you said, are open to doing on this show.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Listen, if I'm sitting up there, don't.

[Chris Cuomo]

Change what you said. I'll run it.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I'll run what you said earlier in 2028. Right. You can't tell me that I'm going to lose because I acknowledge that a Republican is right about something. I'd go, like what if I did it like this, Chris, you know what? Oh, bravo, bravo. A dead clock is right twice a day. I'll give you that one. All of a sudden it's funny. All of a sudden it's a sharp line to counter what they may throw in my direction and then, boom, here we go. But if you're trying to be typical polished politician, conventional politician that we've been watching sift through for decades while our climate in this country has eroded before our very eyes, while our deficit is ballooned, by the way, is over $36 trillion, if those are the things that you're asking the American public to stomach, they're not going to do that. But if your message is unique, if the messenger is unique, and you're just as sharp as attack as your opposition, if not more so, yes, you can say you got me on that one. That's a good point. I'm glad that you listen. I'm either going to be right or I'm going to learn from my mistakes and elevate my edification. And I'll be even more potent tomorrow and next week and next month. When you talk like that, that's something that can resonate.

[Chris Cuomo]

I'm smelling what you're cooking. Three years I'm there. There's only one guy that I'd have to choose over you. There's only one guy, okay? And right now I don't even know where he lives, let alone where he'll be in three years. But if, if it's not. If the guy doesn't have the same last name as me, then I'm on your team. I only have a couple of conditions. One, I'm not wearing a tie every day, okay? I'm not wearing a tie every day when I'm on team.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Just don't hate on me doing it. Just don't hate on. Because I think I look good in them.

[Chris Cuomo]

Sartorial prowess. I'll give it to you. One is that. And two, don't fire me if I hit somebody. If I hit somebody who won't shut up and won't take your name out of their mouth lying about you, I'm gonna hit him.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Well, no, no, no. I would definitely fire you over that.

[Chris Cuomo]

Because I want that in the claws.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Your skin has to be tougher than that. Listen, I get attacked every day. It doesn't faze me at all. If no one is complaining about what I'm doing, then I'm not doing much and I'm not having an impact. I've accepted that a long time ago. It doesn't faze me at all. And I think a lot of people are not business. It's not you. But I think a lot of people in our business have very, very, very thin skin. They're not made for this. They think they are, but they're not.

[Chris Cuomo]

And I love playing with it. Look, I mean, you know, you've been around me enough. As long as my kids, as long as your daughter, my daughter, as long as they're not around, right? This is what we signed up for. And listen, my father had to teach it to me as a young kid when he got into public service. And our lives changed so dramatically. You know, we would always joke that we went from all in the family, like, you know, middle village, Queens, Archie Bunker World is where we grew up. To Benson, which is when he went. When he became governor, it was like Benson. And he signed us up for it. And there was a responsibility that came with it. And I get in trouble. It's different than somebody whose dad isn't in public life gets in trouble. Then with Andrew, and then I went into the media, so I signed up for it. So I love playing about what I would like to do. But of course, you never do that because you signed up for it. You signed up for the criticism and the heat. Support for the Chris Cuomo project comes from Factor. Okay. If you go to my substack and join, you will become part of my Wellness health reclamation program. And I am using Factor meals. And so far, so good. I've gotten rid of that first batch of bloat inflammation. Why better Food? Factor has all the nutritional information on the back. They balance sodium with protein and carbs with everything that you need in a way that will help you sustain my weight loss goals. How does Factor do that? They have chef made gourmet meals that make the eating part easy. They're tasty. They're also dietitian approved and they're easy. Ready to heat neat in 2 minutes. Eat smart with Factor I'll make it simple. You want to eat smart? Use Factor. Get started@Factor Meals.com Factor Podcast and you get 50% off your first box plus free shipping. That's Code Factor Podcast@Factor Meals.com Factor podcast and you will get get 50% off plus free shipping on your first box. Support comes from BambooHR. As a small business owner, we all wear lots of hats. But let's admit it, HR is the one hat nobody wants to wear. There's so many nuances. Not to mention it's really time consuming unless you're using Bamboo hr. Powerful yet flexible. All in one HR solution for growing businesses. It allows you to stop spending so many hours on payroll time tracking Benny's performance management. With BambooHR, those hours are shaved down to minutes. It's why over 34,000 companies trust BambooHR because it's an integrated system that's designed to handle your current and upcoming HR needs. Plus, BambooHR prides itself on being easy, easy to use, easy to learn, easy to implement, and very easy to love. Look, HR is hard. Bamboohr is easy. Reclaim your time. Check out the free [e-mail] freedemo see for yourself all that bamboohr can do and how truly affordable it can be as well. That's bamboohr.com freedemo bamboohr.com free demo now I will say one thing. The idea. And I've heard Bill do this also, and I think it's interesting.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Bill O'Reilly or Bill Maher?

[Chris Cuomo]

O'Reilly. O'Reilly. No, Mar Maher gets it. See, Mar gets it because he's an outside the box thinker. So Maher takes everybody as he finds them, right? Bill Maher is a thinker, a little bit of a philosopher and a comedian, of course, but he takes you as your ideas are found. That's what he is. He doesn't see shape. That's not how he thinks. Bill O'Reilly's more conventional. So first couple of times we were on together, I would hear him say, let me put this in a sports way so that Stephen A. Gets it. And I knew what he was trying to do. He wasn't trying to be as condescending as it came off. But I'll tell you something. I actually think that people have more business stepping from the world of sports or entertainment into politics than vice versa. And I'll tell you why. Sports commentating is all about data and expertise of understanding different dynamics in Sports, like people sometimes will say to me, you know, you should do some MMA stuff. You know, you love it so much, you train in it, and all these years, you should do it. I don't know enough. I don't know enough. But in politics, you're a citizen. You have a vote, you have a household. You experience the plus and minus of politics on your life. I actually believe you have more portfolio coming into this world without the level of acumen that you've already developed than vice versa. I sit on a. On a set talking about the Knicks. I love the Knicks. I played ball. I was a very distinguished, mediocre basketball player. But I don't know the things. You guys know where people went to high school and what their stats were 12 years ago. People in politics don't know where their representatives went to college. Most Americans don't even know who their representatives are, but they know who their starting point guard is. You know, we're dealing with different worlds of information.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Let me tell you this. So when Bill does that, let me give it to you a way that you understand it. Some people find themselves getting offended by that as well. They don't know me very well. I Look at Bill O'Reilly, people like yourself, even a Sean Hannity, and others, Mark Levin, both of whom I know, et cetera, et cetera. I look at them like I look at pro football and basketball players that I debate on television every day. I don't give a damn what I know about sports. I don't know what they know, being in the locker room on that level. And even if I do, I make sure to couch it in a very respectful way, where I'm saying to them, okay, you're the athlete, I'm the pundit. I'm the reporter. I'm walking up to you in your locker room, and I'm telling you, this is what I see. Before I write this or before I go on the air and talk about this, tell me what you think, tell me if you think I'm wrong, et cetera, et cetera, because it changes everything. They don't view me as somebody who believes I'm on their level when I know I'm not. That insults them, because the work that they had to put in to get to where they are is something I was incapable of pulling off. So why disrespect them like that? There's nothing more disrespectful to a professional athlete than you walking up to them, acting like you've done what they do and that you have knowledge intricate knowledge, the locker room coaching, all of this other stuff that they have. But when you come to them and say, actually, I'm an expert because you taught me how to be one, you told me this, you told me that, I listened to you, I asked you, I went and did my research as well, blah, blah, blah, all of a sudden they embrace it differently because you're embracing and acknowledging the fact that they're here. And even if you're here, they pulled you up to that by bestowing that knowledge on you. That's the same way I view you guys in politics. I can give you my opinion based on the news, based on what I've seen reported, based on the intel that's out there, based on my conversations with you, et cetera. But I will never walk up to you or walk up to a Bill O'Reilly who's been doing this for 50 plus years and think that I'm him. So because of that, he understands. That's why, when have you and I will ask this question. I would challenge anybody to tell me, when have they seen Bill O'Reilly smile more than when he's on the air with me? Because I nudge at him, but he knows that I'm coming from a respectful place because I'm not him. I would never come at Chris Cuomo like that. I don't know what you know, period. I can tell you what I think. I can challenge you on something. But at that moment, I stand back and I say, wait a minute now. This is the man. He's blessing me with knowledge. Let me listen to this. And if I got a way to get him, I'm going to get him. But other than that, no, I got to give it to him. He's the one with the knowledge. And I treat everybody like that. I recognize what my lane is and I recognize what other people's lane is, and I know what I'm ascending to. But it will never be to the point where I think I know more than those who've done this for a living. And I think that's what works for me.

[Chris Cuomo]

I think, I think that coming from that position of modesty, look, I could debate you on it in terms of whether that's the way you need to approach it. Doesn't matter. You're making your own choices. I still say the same thing. And I have one more other topic I want to touch on you, and then we'll let it go, but it will be proof of premise. STEPHEN A. Smith, One of the reasons that I agreed to do the Event with Bill and Stephen in Long island is. Nothing like this has ever been done before, where you have three people who see the world differently, have different experiences, and they will engage in the art of conversation and storytelling about things that I'll. It's so absurd that I'm gonna do this, but I'll do it, which is I'm gonna tell you stories when we're together in Long island that I wouldn't say at News Nation. Cause I don't want them to have to own it. And I know people are gonna record it and put it out anyway. And nothing I'm gonna say is untrue, but nobody's ever done it before. And I know that conversation is the cure. And I also wanna be on record as being in league with Stephen A. Smith. Because he's gonna be the hub of conversation in America because everybody wants to talk to him. Nobody is afraid of what he represents in terms of agenda. And that's why he'll always be able to have conversation about what matters. Even the sticky bits like this. Joy Reid. Okay, she gets cut by msnbc. I had said she was gonna get cut months and months ago. Why? Underperformance. I feel the same way about the CNN primetime lineup. It's underperforming. When I was at cnn, I was constantly afraid of not building on Anderson Cooper's lead in. Because I had a boss who would say to me every time I didn't build on the lead in, which was very rarely. I could just take somebody else. I could take somebody else. So that was always my mentality. I see underperformance. I know you're vulnerable. I see somebody who's saying things. In Joy Reid's case, a provocateur. She is a provocateur. Smart as hell, but a provocateur. Had said stuff in the past that was homophobic. She got a pass. Had said stuff about Trump's assassination that would get me fired. If I had said, I think this was a setup, I'm not sure people really shot at him. I would have been fired by News Nation. As important as I am to them, I would have had a problem. She didn't. I saw that as about an accommodation to her. Now she gets fired. Rachel Maddow, the biggest name at NBC News, got a huge deal to do a podcast that isn't exactly killing it. Says MSNBC is racist for getting rid of Joy Reid because they don't have that many blank anchors and they just got rid of one. Stephen A. Smith says.

[Stephen A. Smith]

False.

[Chris Cuomo]

I don't why? You only have. I'll argue the other side. You only have a couple of them, and now you're getting rid of one. Okay. Because of what she says, which is a reflection of how black America views these current events. And you're basically saying you're shutting down that position.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I'm gonna do you a favor, and I'm gonna. I'm always. I try to be honest at all times. I'm gonna be a bit raw, and I'm gonna give it to you straight from my position, which has upset the black community on several occasions. Joy Reid, I think she's an incredible talent. She's very, very smart. There was a 42% drop in the ratings since Trump was elected. There's no escaping that. You brought up the mistakes that she's made in the past. But if you go with a 42% drop, you know you're in trouble. As the saying goes, whether it's true or not. Black folks always feel this way. We gotta be twice as good to get half as much. And even then, it's a struggle. We understand that. So understanding that, you have to understand you can't afford a 42% drop. Most importantly, you can't engage in the kind of rhetoric, as you would say, that would get somebody else fired. She did that anyway. That's where I come in and where it gets a bit dicey for me, because on one hand, I want my sister on the air for as long as she can be on the air, I'm rooting for her. Okay. On the other side of it, I can't tell you how many times I've seen black people, my people in positions of influence or power, who have blown it because they had to speak out in a way that was so incendiary that they're thinking about the 15 minutes in front of them instead of the 15 years they could have. It's a marathon. It's not a sprint. You brought in lead ins. Anderson Cooper was your lead in. I'll brag a little bit. In 15 years. I've lost to my lead in twice in 15 years. I don't lose to lead ins. I always make sure. And that's not to knock the lead in. I appreciate the lead in, but I understand what the mandate is, what my job, what my responsibility is, and I pay attention to that. It's a numbers game. And a lot of times, particularly in today's day and age, where folks are getting laid off, fired, furloughed, whatever, you got to produce numbers. You know what? When you produce Numbers, the level of tolerance is elevated, too. When you plummet, the level of tolerance plummets. And so, you know, to me, I thought Morning Joe was in a world of trouble because of what they were doing prior to the election and how they had to go to Mar a Lago and, figuratively speaking, kiss the ring. I don't think stuff is finished on any of the networks. When you see how Trump is targeting these folks and what he's. And he's coming for a few people, there's no doubt about it. But the point that I'm making is that there are very few of us who get the opportunities that a Joy Reid gets along with a plethora of others. I can bring up Don Lemon when he was at CNN and what have you. I didn't want Don Lemon gone. I appreciated you as the lead in, and then ultimately, it was with Don Lemon, and I appreciate the work that he did, particularly leading up to the 2020 election and stuff like that. But we couldn't forget the fact that despite the fact that his numbers were better at that time than they had ever been, he was still a distant third to Fox News and msnbc.

[Chris Cuomo]

He did not hold his lead in. Excuse me, he did not hold his lead in.

[Stephen A. Smith]

That's right. And so that's the whole point. And so with that going on, it was inescapable. I didn't want him to go. I didn't want him going. And to me, it's about us understanding. And what I try to do is I'm about my business, and I focus on that because I'm trying to let people from my community who are venturing into this business know what the mandate is supposed to be. Live up to that first. And even then, could you go after somebody with just the facts, as opposed to verbiage that engages in name calling and other, you know, other. Other volatile rhetoric where people are able to look at you and say, you know what? We're talking about them not being the adult in the room. What about you being the adult in the room? I think those things are incredibly important, especially when it comes to us, because whether we want to admit it or not, we are always, always, always held to a different standard in corporate America, no matter how much times have changed. And we need to remember that.

[Chris Cuomo]

I accept your position. Let's do a quick point for point on it. You get rid of Joy Reid. You didn't get rid of anybody else. It's about her being a black woman.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I would feel. I would tell you. Yes, but that's because I'm a black man. And I'm inclined to believe that's what the case is, because it always is the case. But I can't ignore the 42% drop, Chris.

[Chris Cuomo]

But everybody's down. Everybody's down, Everybody's down. You had to bring back Matt out. You pushed out Alex Wagner because she stunk. And now you bring back Maddow. She's not doing that. Great. You're not getting rid of her. She just called you a racist. You're not getting rid of her. But you got rid of me cuz I'm the black woman. And by doing that, you empowered people to pretend that race is irrelevant. And I got Megyn Kelly chewing on my ass as Joy Reid saying I'm the racist. I got fired as proof that I'm racist when I was fighting against people like her who believe that diversity is some kind of myth. And now you've empowered it because you got rid of the black lady, Joy Reid.

[Stephen A. Smith]

And I want to be very clear. Joy Reid would be right. All of those people would be wrong. But you know who you are, you know what obstacles you have to face. And you know you dealing with a 42% drop. If you ask any black person in America. All of us are plummeting. All of us are struggling. Who do I think they gonna let go of first? We all say me, all of us. Because we don't expect the system to be fair. So if you don't expect the system to be fair, prioritize what wins as opposed to venting. And that's what we can't lose sight of. In other words, win. Yeah, I want to make this noise. I want to point the finger at the president and his administration and Elon Musk and some of the nonsense is going, going on, et cetera. I want to do all of that. How can I do it and win? We want corporate America to let us get away with doing it without winning. It's not going to happen. So if it's not going to happen, why engage in that fantasy which is as far from reality as it's going to get? When you're losing, you are going to suffer if you are black, especially still racist.

[Chris Cuomo]

Still racist.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Say what?

[Chris Cuomo]

Still racist.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Okay, okay. I'm not saying that's not the case. I'm saying you asked me what am I leaning on. And I'm saying to you I'm leaning on a 42% drop. Because even when we're successful, we experience racism. I'm telling you right now, in this business I've been blessed to be at the top of the heap for quite a while. I experience racism. You think I don't all the time. Look at some of the things they say about me. You've read them, you've seen it. You think I don't know that? That could be some contemporaries in the business, people that's trying to talk behind my back, or some people that's going out there front and center because it's going to get them, generate additional clicks to come at me. They could kiss my ass. I know what they're doing. I understand exactly what they're doing. I'm just not surprised by it. And it's just like I said to many people on many occasions, and I'll say this to black America about white folks all the time. There are some great white folks out there. There's some evil ass white folks out there, just like there's great black and evil, evil black folks out there too. I don't expect white people to have black sensitivity. I don't. I don't expect them to be as sensitive, as heartfelt about our issues and what plagues us as a people and as a community, as we, as we feel. I never expect that. So when somebody sits up there and says to me, well, this white person's this way, that white person is that way. I happen to decipher a difference between a racist and a bigot compared to somebody who's just a bit detached from it all and don't really, really care. They're just living their life, trying to do their thing and trying to live their best life possible. I don't happen to look at everybody the same. If you're somebody that does, then it's going to be problematic for you, especially when you're in our business. You have to be open and minded enough to separate two.

[Chris Cuomo]

I think that race plays a role in things. There's no reason to run away from it. I wish we would remember that we created it as a construct, that when you cut Stephen A. Smith open and Chris Cuomo open, there's the same shit inside of them. Genetically, we would be almost indistinguishable from one another. We created race as a separating dynamic. We made it, but that's where we are. I also think MSNBC isn't done making changes. And I think they're gonna make changes because this Donald Trump is Hitler thing isn't working. And I think Joy Reid is a victim of the 42% more than she is of anything else. The unfair part is she's not the only one who's down, and she's not their biggest problem. She was just powerful enough to the Trump folks for them to celebrate her demise. Megyn Kelly and Joy Reeds are what we call in sports opposite numbers. Right. They're number 12 on the two sides of the ball. So one is happy to see the other one go down.

[Stephen A. Smith]

You can look at it that way, or I tend to look at it this way. He's coming after a whole bunch of them. He just targeted Joy Reid first. Yeah, she might. She. She's the first domino to fall. But there's more coming.

[Chris Cuomo]

Yeah, People keep telling me, now they're calling me. I mean, look, there are many ironies in this business. I am better connected to the Trump White House than I was to the Biden White House. And I was friends with Beau Biden, may he rest in peace. I had a deep personal affection for former President Biden because of how he treated my family when my father passed. But I am more wired with this White House than I was with that White House. And yet at the same time, I'm still seen as this kind of like, marginal enemy of the state. The left says I've been red pilled. And let me tell you, people love to say, well, when they both hate you, Stephen Acemy, you know you're doing something right. Nope. You know, you got no friends is what you know. And. And it's much easier to ride the wave of one side. That's how you make it in this business. Unless you can transcend, which I believe you're going to. And I'm very happy to be along for the ride. Stephen A. I will always be wherever you are whenever you want, and you are always welcome wherever I am.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Appreciate it, my man. Feeling mutual. Well, when we talk about friendship and politics, it starts and stops right here in terms of this industry. Because I'll be damned if I'm gonna be friends with a politician on either side. I can tell you that I have no interest in it whatsoever. There are people that I am fond of that I would look at that way as a person. But when you're talking about the actual politics, oh, there are no friends.

[Chris Cuomo]

I'm not.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I'm not oblivious to that reality.

[Chris Cuomo]

I.

[Stephen A. Smith]

They're not my friends, and I don't want them to be my friends. I want to be able to call it like I see it. I just got to edify myself more so I see more. And God help them all once that happens.

[Chris Cuomo]

The blessing of what I've lived through which, you know, you and I talk about this personally all the time. I do not have any illusions that I have been through anything impressive. You and I have seen so many people battle illness and loss of loved ones and kids. There's so much big shit that can happen that'll just change you forever. And if you can survive it, God bless you. So I get it. That's the benefit of me having lived in disaster areas for the last 25 years, is that I lost my job. It was embarrassing. People came after me and they bothered my family. Yep, yep, yep. Okay. One of the things I learned from it because it was such a mild level of fuckery compared to what other people deal with, is I now help who I want to help and what I want to help, how I want to help it. And I'm not looking to. I'm not on the ladder anymore. I don't know where I am, but I'm not on the ladder. I'm not in one of these positions. I'm not someone they're looking at that way. I'm a known guy, but in hard to put in a box. When I care about somebody, I care about them. If they're my friend, they're my friend. If I can do something for them, I'm going to do something for them. If I'm not supposed to, because, you know, they're on the right and you got to be careful. I don't play by those rules anymore. I don't give a about the rules of the game. I love my brother. I'm always there for him. I consider you a brother from another. If I'm there for you, I don't care who the competition is. I'm there for you. You're my people and I appreciate you. And I love watching the Ascendants.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I appreciate you, my man. And I'm gonna keep on ascending. Hopefully I don't let y'all down. Do what I can to learn as much as I possibly can. But I'm enjoying this. Cause I'm not. My passion for sports hasn't diminished one bit, but my passion for my passion to talk politics has elevated exponentially. And I'm real passionate about it. I'm happy I'm doing it. It makes me wake up with a vibe every day with a level of energy that I didn't need, even know I had before because I feel like I'm back in school and I'm learning so much. And along the way, you're going to make people unhappy. I don't care about that.

[Chris Cuomo]

That's right.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Me as a nation, we are unhappy and we should be unhappy with the state of affairs, the relationships or lack thereof that we're having with one another. And the last point that I want to make is this. When I think about me and politics, I don't think people understand what I'm trying to say when I bring up sports. I love competition. I'm not talking about me competing with another candidate. I'm talking about getting us as a country to a place where you don't get to win by engaging in demagoguery towards the other side. I'm talking about wiping away all that nonsense. You're on the right, you're on the left. Your ideas against this side's ideas, which ideas are best for America? I believe me, you, Bill O'Reilly and various others have a chance, an opportunity to take this country in a direction where we can get everybody back to focusing on the issues and what's best for America as opposed to winning or losing elections based on personalities. That's what I'm out to do, and that's what has me excited about being involved in this genre.

[Chris Cuomo]

Finish it with this.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Absolutely. My name is Stephen A. Smith.

[Chris Cuomo]

God damn. I'm on the team, brother. I'm on the team. Three years from now, we gotta figure out how to make some hay, get our deals done, make a little coin, and then in three years, just like you just said, we'll reconsider at that time.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I'll reconsider at that time. We'll think about it.

[Chris Cuomo]

Steve Danae Smith.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Woo.

[Chris Cuomo]

Bet I see the poster now. Vote for me.

[Stephen A. Smith]

That's right. I'm the president. That's my chief of staff. Y'all gotta get through him to get to me. That's gonna be hilarious. Could you imagine him having to deal with Stephen A. And Chris Cuomo? Good Lord, have mercy.

[Chris Cuomo]

We'll have our own party. The Handsome Party. The Handsome Party. Stephen. Thank you, brother. I'll see you soon. And thank you.

[Stephen A. Smith]

All right, man. Take care.

[Chris Cuomo]

Stephen A. Smith. That's, that's why I can't wait to be on stage with him and Bill O'Reilly. We're trying this out. Why? Conversation's the cure. You gotta be able to collaborate with different ideas. Just because you don't agree doesn't mean you have to hate each other. And more importantly, it's cheap. You shouldn't be able to hate your way out of a debate. That's why I'm excited about the three Americans going out there into the Netherlands of Long island. To be together up on stage. It will be very cool. Sunday, March 30 Westbury, Long Island look up the three Americans tour Ticketmaster and you can get your tickets. Maybe we'll even meet and greet, take some pictures and hopefully not a few swings. If it works, we'll wind up coming to where you are as well. Why we all believe in it. We all believe in the need for conversation as a cure. You gotta have different ideas and let people work their way through what is best for them. Not with tomfoolery, not with demagoguery, not with twisting and not with just saying the other side is worse. So nothing like this has been done. I'm happy to be a part of it. I don't know how it's going to go, but I know I'll be ready to get after it. Thank you very much for joining me here on the Chris Cuomo Project and joining me at News Nation every Weekday night at 8p and 11p Eastern. Being independent. Wear your independence. Get that free agent gear if you want to figure out what I'm doing to get myself in shape for summer here, here and here. Substack. 5 bucks a month and you get the podcast ad free. And you get the long Covid knowledge that I've learned from my doctor and what we're doing for me and what can actually help you with your own longevity practices. I'll see you soon. My friends, the problems are real. Don't duck them. Let's get after it.