Full Show Interview: Stephen A breaks down controversial book by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson. - The Stephen A. Smith Show

Transcript

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Stephen A. Smith (1:21)

What's up everybody? Welcome to this latest edition of the Stephen A. Smith Show.

Co-Host or Guest on Stephen A. Smith Show (1:24)

Coming at you as I love to.

Stephen A. Smith (1:25)

Do at the very least three times a week over the digital airways of YouTube and of course iHeartRadio. As always, I'd like to pause for a moment to thank my subscribers, my listeners, my followers for supporting the show. When you consider the fact that we've had millions of downloads over iheartradio over the last few months, not to mention having eclipsed 1.22 million subscribers on YouTube, it's impossible for that to happen without your love and support for the show. I can't thank you enough. I appreciate it and I'm sincerely grateful on behalf of myself and my staff. Keep the love coming and I'm going to keep on coming. Today's edition of the Stephen A. Smith show will not include sports. It's somewhat of a special edition of the Stephen A. Smith show because we're going to have on co authors of a book entitled Original Sin about President Joe Biden, his cognitive decline, along with other things that occurred in the book. It's necessary to talk about this because obviously it's not just the New York Times, it's not just a best seller, but it's also one of those situations that's the scuttlebutt going on around the country, outside the world of sports. Of course, according to the book Original Sin, we had a president that didn't want to step away. Whether it was due to pride, ego, the combination of both, along with other things he didn't want to step away. He had people in his inner circle who did not want to step away. And according to this book, there was a genuine cover up that was taking place within the corridors of the most powerful house in the nation that our country, its democracy, one could easily argue was being, was on the verge of being compromised. And so when you take that into consideration and you hear that, particularly when you hear President Trump being accused at every turn of being an existential threat to our democracy. And it turns out there were folks on the left who were willing to jeopardize our democracy, justifying it through their concerns about him, an imminent administration or an impending administration, and they use that as an excuse to justify their actions. This book obviously is must read. It would explain why it's popular. It's already a bestseller. Why? The co authors, Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson have been around the circuit promoting the book. It seems to be necessary intel for all of us to find out. Is it? Does the book really tell us something we don't know? Or does the book just highlight what we all knew? But the Democratic Party worked diligently to make sure we didn't verbalize, lest we wanted to pay a price for it. These are all the things that I can't wait to talk to Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson about. And I'm about to do just that next right here on the Stephen A. Smith Show. Back with more in a minute.

Summary

Summary of "The Stephen A. Smith Show" Episode: Full Show Interview on "Original Sin" by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson

Podcast Information:

Title: The Stephen A. Smith Show
Host: Stephen A. Smith and iHeartPodcasts
Episode: Full Show Interview: Stephen A breaks down controversial book by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson
Release Date: May 28, 2025

Introduction

In this special edition of The Stephen A. Smith Show, host Stephen A. Smith ventures beyond his usual sports-centric discussions to delve into the politically charged revelations presented in Original Sin, a controversial book authored by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson. The book scrutinizes President Joe Biden's cognitive health and alleges a deliberate cover-up within the Democratic Party to conceal these issues. This episode aims to unpack the book's key findings, the authors' investigative journey, and the broader implications for American politics and media.

Discussion of the Book "Original Sin"

Stephen A. Smith introduces the episode by highlighting the significance of Original Sin, emphasizing its best-selling status and the widespread discourse it has generated beyond traditional media circles. He states:

"It seems to be necessary intel for all of us to find out. Is it? Does the book really tell us something we don't know? Or does the book just highlight what we all knew?" (01:24)

The book alleges that President Biden exhibited signs of cognitive decline years before his reelection campaign, with a concerted effort by his inner circle to mask these lapses from the public and media.

Authors' Investigative Journey

Stephen A. Smith welcomes the co-authors, Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson, to discuss their motivations and experiences while researching the book.

Jake Tapper explains the impetus behind the book:

"We started writing the book on November 6th, the day after the presidential election, because in some ways, this book is answering the question of how Trump was able to come back and what the Democratic Party did to allow it to." (16:34)

He elaborates on the depth of their investigation, mentioning interviews with over 200 Democratic insiders and revealing that Biden's cognitive issues were more severe behind the scenes than publicly acknowledged.

Alex Thompson adds:

"The vast majority over at least over 150, I felt, were much more candid than they were before or they were finally felt free to talk without fear of retribution." (52:11)

The authors share that their research uncovered a systematic effort to limit Biden's public engagements and control his narrative, raising concerns about the integrity of democratic processes within the party.

Media's Role and Responsibility

A significant portion of the discussion centers around the media's failure to adequately report on Biden's cognitive health issues in real-time, leading to a delayed public awareness that only surfaced through Original Sin.

Jake Tapper addresses criticisms of the media:

"The only agenda was to find out what happened. Our only agenda was to write this book." (36:22)

He acknowledges the shortcomings but emphasizes their commitment to uncovering the truth despite facing backlash from both political spectrums.

Alex Thompson reflects on media accountability:

"Reporters too often are defensive to criticism and blame the lack of trust on attacks from conservatives and liberals. That's part of it, from disinformation. But I often felt that there was not enough self-reflection." (59:27)

This introspection highlights a broader issue within the media landscape regarding bias, accountability, and the pursuit of unbiased reporting.

Implications for the Democratic Party

The authors discuss how Biden's alleged cognitive decline and the party's attempts to conceal it have adversely affected the Democratic Party's credibility and electoral prospects.

Jake Tapper states:

"We see this as a developing story. This is the first draft and an ongoing story... the Democratic Party just went through this tumultuous four years and ended up, you know, more unpopular than they have been in decades." (52:04)

He argues that the party's failure to address internal issues transparently has led to diminished trust among voters, hindering their ability to win future elections.

Alex Thompson concurs, adding:

"Democrat after Democrat saying, he's as sharp as ever. He's in command... that's not just about Joe Biden and his aides. It's a systemic issue." (44:25)

The conversation underscores the necessity for the Democratic Party to engage in self-examination and reform to regain public trust.

Impact on Media Credibility and Future Prospects

The episode delves into the repercussions of the book's revelations on the perception of mainstream media and the potential long-term effects on journalistic integrity.

Jake Tapper acknowledges the erosion of trust:

"All I can do is that, and I understand that there are people who are just never going to believe it." (62:09)

He discusses the challenges faced by legacy media in adapting to changing consumption habits and addressing inherent biases to rebuild credibility.

Alex Thompson reflects on personal accountability:

"We didn't get somebody that said we should never have done this. You don't even want to take them seriously because they're acting juvenile." (18:35)

This highlights the personal and professional toll on journalists striving to uncover and report critical truths.

Stephen A. Smith's Final Thoughts

In the concluding segments, Stephen A. Smith offers his analysis of the interview and the broader implications of Original Sin. He emphasizes the importance of journalistic integrity and the need for both media and political parties to operate transparently.

"Do your damn job. That applies to me, that applies to Jake Tapper, that applies to Alex Thompson, that applies to everybody in the media." (73:12)

He advocates for an informed and skeptical electorate, suggesting that accountability on all fronts can steer the nation towards a more robust democratic framework.

Conclusion

This episode of The Stephen A. Smith Show provides a comprehensive exploration of Original Sin, dissecting its revelations about President Biden and the Democratic Party. Through incisive dialogue with the authors, the show tackles pressing issues of media responsibility, political accountability, and the future of American democracy. The conversation underscores the necessity for transparency and integrity within both media institutions and political entities to restore public trust and ensure the health of democratic processes.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

Stephen A. Smith (01:24):

"Is it? Does the book really tell us something we don't know? Or does the book just highlight what we all knew?"
Jake Tapper (16:34):

"We started writing the book on November 6th, the day after the presidential election... to find out what happened behind the scenes."
Alex Thompson (52:11):

"The vast majority over at least over 150, I felt, were much more candid... without fear of retribution."
Jake Tapper (36:22):

"The only agenda was to find out what happened. Our only agenda was to write this book."
Jake Tapper (62:09):

"All I can do is that, and I understand that there are people who are just never going to believe it."
Stephen A. Smith (73:12):

"Do your damn job. That applies to me, that applies to Jake Tapper, that applies to Alex Thompson, that applies to everybody in the media."

This detailed summary encapsulates the pivotal moments and key discussions from the episode, providing listeners and non-listeners alike with a comprehensive understanding of the topics covered and the insights shared by Stephen A. Smith, Jake Tapper, and Alex Thompson.