Stephen A. Smith (2:48)

This quote from Steve Kerr.

Malika Andrews (2:49)

He said, I don't blame Kevin one bit for not wanting to rerun things here. He took so much for like, oh, you're jumping on the bandwagon. And then he's the Finals MVP two years in a row, and he still gets criticized. Why would he want to face all that BS again? What do you think of that?

Kevin Durant (3:03)

People talk crazy about me all the time. You know, like, that's not the reason why I didn't want to come back. I just didn't want to get traded. Midway through the season. It was nothing against my time with the warriors or I heard because I don't like Draymond. At the end of the day, I just didn't want to move. And I think I want. And I wanted to see it through with my team in Phoenix and see what we could do the rest of the season. So I'm glad I'm still there.

Malika Andrews (3:25)

How does the second half of the season shape your outlook for even beyond this year? Moving mid season is one thing. Moving in the summer is maybe something else.

Kevin Durant (3:34)

You gotta ask front officer about that. I mean, I never planned on leaving, moving Phoenix, you know, getting traded. I didn't ask for a trade from Phoenix, but obviously when you pay so much for a team and we're not playing up to our expectation and somebody has to go, you know, so. So, you know, probably should check in with those guys in the front office throughout the rest of the season and see how they feel about the team. I know that I'm going to keep bringing, trying to bring my best every single day, and I let the higher ups focus on what's next.

Stephen A. Smith (4:05)

Interesting conversation Kevin Durant had there with Malika Andrews, but I think it's important to address just for clarification purposes. I totally believe him when he says he didn't want to leave. He's happy in Phoenix, wants to stay, stay there, didn't really want to move. He's that kind of dude. Obviously, he's scheduled to give about 54 million next year. So the reality is, is that it's not his choice. It's going to be the team's choice. As to whether they want to move him or not. And in all likelihood, from everything we've been hearing, the Phoenix Suns may indeed elect to move him out this, this off season. So I love the fact that he gets to finish this season in Phoenix. They get to try and turn things around. You do have Devin Booker, you do have Bradley Beal. These are not scrubs. These brothers can play. How they haven't figured out how to play together and effectively beats me. It makes no sense whatsoever. I don't understand it. But nevertheless, when it comes to Kevin Durant, we all know my wishes. I wish he was in New York with the Knicks because I think if the Knicks had him with Carl Anthony Towns, if they had the crew, but you can't get him because you got to trade for him and they gave up too much assets. As much as I love Mikel Bridges, five first round picks, if the Knicks could have given up three, they could have had a couple of first round picks to give to the Phoenix Suns and got KD before the trade deadline. And then if the New York Knicks had KD and call Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson on the squad together, your brother Stephen A. Smith would have been sitting up here talking about we go win the chip, we go in the chip. That's what I would have said. But that didn't happen. That didn't happen. Getting back to KD and his conversation with Malika Andrews, there's a couple of things that he said that I wanted to address. He said that he was hearing some noise about how he didn't like Draymond and him and Draymond Green didn't get along. That can't be true. We saw y'all do an interview together years ago and revisited that whole ordeal and how things have been fine ever since that time and there's been no friction ever since. So why would anybody be saying that about Draymond? What do I think about Draymond? What we were thinking about was the fact that Kevin Durant went to Golden State, won back to back titles, would have easily 3 peated if he had not torn his Achilles. Because there's no way in hell the Toronto Raptors would have beaten Kawhi Leonard. Everybody admits that. Now there's no way that Toronto was beating Golden State if KD hadn't gotten hurt, okay? But he did. And so he was out that finals and out the entirety of the following season. So they didn't really come back until a year and a half later. That's why when I look at his Age. And everybody wants to bring up, he's 35, 36 years old. I'm like, chop off a year and a half of that because he wasn't playing basketball. So he still got time. And he's averaging 27 a game. So this brother right here, that is Kevin Durant. I could see him doing that for at least the next three years because he just has that kind of skill set. He's 611 with a 76 wingspan. He's got a handle, he could shoot. He's got a high basketball iq. He knows what he's doing. Please. Ain't nobody gonna stop kd. But the real story here is, why wouldn't he want to go back to Golden State? Because obviously, him reuniting with Steph Curry and Draymond Green, you gotta look at Golden State differently. I know we're looking at them differently already with Jimmy Butler. Could you imagine how we would have been looking at them if they had KD back? But, yeah, as I said on my day job, first take on ESPN this morning, when Draymond and KD got into it, they didn't get into it. And that's why KD wanted to leave. They got into it because before that, Katie wanted to leave. Because when Draymond was cussing him out, it was like, Go. You don't want to be here anyway. Leave. We want whatever we want before you got here. We'll win after you leave. And actually, it's kind of true, because they did win before KD got there, and then they won after he left because they won in Boston. So factually, Draymond Green was prophetic and saying what he said because it's true, it actually happened. But with that being said, that tiff with Draymond and Katie on the court at the Crypto.com arena, formerly Staples center, where DeMarcus Cousins had to basically restrain Draymond Green and keep him cool. That was a product of KD already having one foot out the door. So let's get that out the way. Here's the other thing that gets out the way. We saw a quote from Steve Kerr, Steve Kerr talking about. He doesn't blame KD for not wanting to come back with all the. That he had to absorb when he got here. Whatever. Steve Kerr left something out. His relationship with Katie wasn't the greatest when they were there. Everybody that covers the NBA heard that. You don't want to believe Stephen A. Believe everybody else to cover the NBA, Steve Kerr was obliged to try and have a better relationship with kd. And that's not what it materialized into, for whatever reason. Of course, I've heard the reasons, but I'm not gonna tell y'all that, because we don't know. But we do know that Steve Kerr did not have the greatest relationship with kd. It was Bob Myers, the GM at the time, that had the relationship with kd. It was Bob Myers who escorted KD out of the arena in Toronto when he tore his Achilles into the hospital. It was Bob Myers that was seen crying on the dais when they were talking about KD in terms of all that he endures or whatever it was. It was a sad moment. I was right there. Y'all had to be there. It was sad to see KD go live like that. And the Toronto fans should have been ashamed of themselves. Like, if you remember, Clay Thompson was waving them off, like, with disgust because they were cheering that he got injured, which is not something you do not like that. And that's what they did. So all of that was going on. It was a whole bunch of things and a whole bunch of personal stuff going on with Katie. That's none of my business, none of anybody else's business that contributed to him wanting to leave the Bay Area. But the bottom line is he wanted out. So my attitude is, if you were to go to State warriors, why should you want somebody back that left of their own volition, clearly stating they didn't want to stay? That showed you somewhat how desperate Golden State was to make any kind of move. With Joe Lake up, the owner, Peter Goober, the minority owner, Obviously, Mike Dunleavy Jr. Is your GM now, replacing Bob Myers. They were desperate to do something. Jimmy Butler's a damn good pickup. Six time All Star, rough and rugged. Jimmy Buckets, playoff. Jimmy, that brother shows up. He's special, he's special. But we know KD's another dimension. But I just wanted to bring up the fact that there was a lot that went to that. And now the question that we have to ask ourselves is two things. Number one, what do we think Phoenix is going to do the rest of this year? I say not a damn thing. More than they've done. Gonna be an average team. They're gonna make it to the postseason. They're gonna take their ass home. That's what I believe about the Phoenix Suns. I hope I'm wrong because KD is great and Bill is good people. And Devin Booker, I just got love for that brother. He's special. And I think Buddha Hose is a hell of a coach. He's a Championship coach, we know this. He beat Phoenix for the championship. Crying out loud. It would be nice to see them make a run. I just don't see it. And as a result, they're gonna have to make a move. And the likelihood is that they gonna move Kevin Durant. So where would be the ideal place for KD to be in the last year of this deal? Paying the 54 million. And by the way, somebody should give him an extension because he's great and you know that for the next, all he wants to do is hoop. He don't want to be bothered with anything else. But he loves to hoop and that's what he gets paid to do. So guess what? You get your money's worth. Who should get him? I would love it if my Knicks could. I think I might cry. I think I'd cry on national television if, if, if KD landed in the New York Knicks. I don't give a damn what names he's called me. I don't give a damn how much he might dislike me or whatever the case may be. I'd love him for life if he was a New York Knick fan. You never hear me utter another negative syllable about that, brother. I don't give a damn. He passed gas. I'd call it perfume if he was in a New York Knicks uniform. And I ain't apologizing for it to anybody. I'm telling you that right now. That's how desperate I am for the Knicks to win a championship. That's how desperate I am. And if KD came there and called Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson didn't have to leave in order for KD to get there.

Chris Cuomo (12:54)

Knicks.

Stephen A. Smith (12:55)

Yeah, yeah. Cleveland, Boston, what? Bring them on. That's how excited I would be. But I'm just fantasizing. Gotta think about the other teams. KD and Miami. Wouldn't be bad. Wouldn't be bad. I'm just saying. Wouldn't be bad at all. I think about that. You know what else I've thought about? As crazy as this sound, ladies and gentlemen, since Sam Presti seems to know how to do everything as an executive but win the championship. Everything but win a championship. Wins division crowns, win playoff series, accumulates an all star caliber roster. Always got a superstar two on his squad. He seems to know how to do everything but win a championship. Know what I would do if you. Oklahoma City. I know. He left Oklahoma City just like he left Golden State. Actually, it was a little bit worse than that because he was up 3:1 in the Western Conference finals, lost the 3:1 lead, lost to the Golden State warriors, and then joined him a month later. I get all of that, but that was a long time ago. Bygones are bygones. Who has more assets to offer than Oklahoma City Thunder? If I'm Phoenix, I reach out to Oklahoma City to try to get some of those assets this summer. Cause if I pull that off and I got Shea Gilgames Alexander with KD and Jalen Williams and I still keep Chet Holmgren as well and possibly Hartenstein, she you definitely talking that championship in Oklahoma City then. And they got the assets to do it thanks to Kawhi Leonard forcing the Clippers to get blackmailed and give up. And okay, see gives up Paul George for all of them assets, which included Shea Gilgis, Alexander by the way, along with a bevy of other things, the Russell Westbrook deal and so on and so forth. I'm just saying if I'm Oklahoma City, if I'm Phoenix, definitely if I'm Oklahoma City, I strongly think about that. I really, really do. Coming up asap, Rocky is found not guilty in his felony assault trial, much to the delight of him and his partner Rihanna. Plus Nike announces a partnership with maybe the most famous woman on planet Earth. But first, my buddy Chris Cuomo had some strong words on Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency this week. He'll join me next to discuss what's fantasy and what's reality when it comes to Musk claims. Got another item to get into involving NBA All Star Weekend, but before I do that, a word from my sponsor Prospects. Okay folks, I need you all to stop what you're doing and listen up. You know I love this time of year, right? The NBA season is in full swing and with all this action going on, the Stephen A. Smith show wants to make sure you take advantage of it all. That's why we've partnered with Prize Picks the best place to win cash while watching sports. The app is easy to use. Just pick more or less on a few player stats and you could win up to 1000 times your cash on a single lineup. Best of all, Prize Picks will give you $50 when you play your first five dollar lineup. Want to lose? You'll get 50 bucks for playing. Use promo code SAS and and download the app now. Again, download the app and use code SAS to get $50 instantly after your first $5 lineup. Prize picks run your game Today. I'll give you my picks for some NBA stars who are back in action following the NBA allstar break. First Up. New York Knicks take on the Chicago Bulls on Thursday night. Will Jaylen Brunson score more or less than 28 and a half points? I'm going with more. I don't think the Bulls are that that good. I certainly don't think they're that good defensively. Jalen Brunson is on a roll. This is the latter part of the season. Stuff is getting thick. They're fighting to maintain the third seat, possibly climb to the number two seed. You never know. I think it's one of those situations where looking at Jalen Brunson and the New York Knicks going up against the Bulls, I think he'll score more than 28 and a half points. The brother puts up 30 in his sleep these days. Next up, Chicago's Nicole Vucevic scores more or less than 17 and a half points. I'm going to go with more on this one. The brother could shoot. He's not a scrub. He can play. I don't think he's the most rugged big man in the game. He's not going to score a whole bunch of points in the post, but he can put in some buckets. He can hit from the free throw line as well. I'll give him that. I'll go with more on that particular answer. Next, the Atlanta Hawks take on the Orlando Magic also on Thursday night. Will Trey Young score more or less than 28 points? Normally, I would say yes to him, say more, but in this particular instance, I'm going to go with yes. They're fresh off the All Star break. He could be a little rusty. Orlando plays defense. They're a team to be reckoned with. They've got sizable defenders, which I think could be problematic for him. And I think in the first game back, this is one of those games where I could see him scoring less than 28 points, so I'm gonna go with that. And finally, Orlando's Paulo Benchiro scores more or less than 24 points. I just think the brothers a stud. I'm a huge fan of Ben Caro. The brother can borrow. I think that they would have had a chance to knock off Cleveland in the first round last year in that Game seven if he wasn't so completely exhausted and devoid of help. For crying out loud. This brother is a star. He's a future star in the league. I love Paolo Ben Caro. I think that he's definitely going to score more in this particular situation. So let's go back and revisit the four once and for all before I move on. Okay, we got Jalen Brunson with more. Okay, we got Nicola Vucevic with with more. We got Trey Young with less and Paolo Benchiro with more. More. More so than less. That's the way it works with prospects. That's why you always get paid. You feel me?

Malika Andrews (18:42)

Are you still quoting 30 year old movies? Have you said cool beans in the past 90 days? Do you think Discover isn't widely accepted? If this sounds like you, you're stuck in the past. Discover is accepted at 99% of places that take credit cards nationwide. And every time you make a purchase with your card, you automatically earn cash back. Welcome to the now it pays to Discover. Learn more@discover.com credit card based on the February 2024 Nielsen report there's a type.

Larison Campbell (19:11)

Of soil in Mississippi called Yazoo Clay. It's thick, burnt orange and it's got a reputation.

Stephen A. Smith (19:18)

It's terrible, terrible dirt.

Larison Campbell (19:20)

Yazoo clay eats everything, so things that get buried there tend to stay buried until they're not in 2012, construction crews at Mississippi's biggest hospital made a shocking discovery.

Stephen A. Smith (19:34)

7,000 bodies are out there or more.

Larison Campbell (19:37)

All former patients of the old state asylum, and nobody knew they were there.

Stephen A. Smith (19:42)

It was my family's mystery.

Larison Campbell (19:45)

But in this corner of the south, it's not just the soil that keeps secrets.

Stephen A. Smith (19:49)

Nobody talks about it.

Larison Campbell (19:51)

Nobody has any information. When you peel back the layers of Mississippi's Yazoo Clay, nothing's ever as simple as you think.

Chris Cuomo (19:58)

The story is much more complicated and nuanced than that.

Larison Campbell (20:03)

I'm Larison Campbell. Listen to under yazukle on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.

Stephen A. Smith (20:17)

Another item I needed to get to before I went to break was the news that just came down while I'm sitting here doing this show, taping it earlier this afternoon. Headline from Front Office Sports reports NBA All Star Game ratings second least watched ever, down 13% Miss Season Showcase average 4.7 million viewers across TNT platforms, down 13% compared to last year, according to Front Office sports media and entertainment reporter Ryan Glass. Beagle is the second least watched NBA All Star Game, ahead only of the 2023 All Star Game, which drew 4.6 million viewers. The last three NBA All Star weekends have all averaged under 6 million viewers, the only three in NBA history that have not breached that threshold. This is bad, ladies and gentlemen. This is not good. It says the league also competed against SNL's 50, SNL 50, the special 50th anniversary episode of Saturday Night Live on NBC, which by the way owns the rights to the NBA All Star Week. And starting next season, that drew 14.8 million viewers for SNL50, 202% more than its usual viewership this season. And obviously 14.8 million on NBC, yet only four points. You know, was it 4.7 million on TNT? Also, keep in mind, not only does SNL50 beat NBA all Star weekend ratings, you know what else beat them? Do you know what else beat them? NHL's Four nations face off match between the United States and Canada. All right, they said was Drew 4.4 million viewers on ABC. So it almost beat them, didn't beat them, but it overshadowed them. Why is this so bad? It's so bad because we're talking about players who have been accused of being entitled and getting their bag and don't give a shit about the product. We're talking about stars that don't care. We're talking about effort. See, if it was anything other than effort, then a product is a product and it is what it is. But when it's because of effort, there is no greater indictment than that. There's no greater indictment than that. And that's how we have to look at this. Anthony Edwards. Sick. Couldn't play. Got it. He came there feeling good, didn't feel good for the game. Understood LeBron James. A lot of people have been getting on them because they don't believe. He just knew at the last minute. He knew he wasn't going to play, but he told the NBA league late because he wanted to inconvenience them. That's what people are saying. I don't know whether that's true or not. I'm going to. I'm not going to accuse LeBron James of that. I will say, however, I find it very hard to believe he didn't know until it was too late for them to bring somebody else to All Star Weekend. And when you consider some of the things that have transpired and some of the ways he's handled things over the years, it's going to be very interesting to see LeBron James whether or not he's going to get to own an NBA team. It's going to be very interesting to see if the NBA is going to allow that to happen, because you got a lot of people that are salty about him. I'm just letting you know what I know. Either way you slice it. You know what I believe? I believe one or two things should happen. I believe there should be a nationwide slam dunk contest. Me and a few sponsors and others who Want to get in on the mix to make sure something like this happens? Go throughout the country and find the best, the 10 best slam dunkers in the country and then bring them all to All Star Weekend. And when you bring them all to All Star Weekend, then what you do is you turn around and you say, you know what? A million dollars for the first prize, half a million dollars for the second prize, 100,000 for third place. We got people dying in the streets or less. You know what cats would do to put themselves in a position to win a million dollars? Half a million dollars. $100,000. You have any idea? And get the players to sponsor them. Yeah. You are All Star. I got this guy. I got this guy. This is who I'm supporting. I think he's going to win. I think he's going to win. I think he's going to win. That's how you do that. That way the players don't have to dunk themselves. They just sponsor dudes who do. It would be a good, good feel. You have a lot of people out there that have the potential. A lot of people who need the money, who could use the money. It would be beautiful to watch. And I promise you, as impressed as I was with Mac McClung, Mr. G League himself a three time champion, you'd have dudes that do an even better job than that. Outside of that, the All Star game itself, it wouldn't bother me at all if it was done away with. Yeah, they showed a little more effort this time, but the fact that all of that had to be done just to get you to show effort, bump it. Just name an all Star, let him go on vacation. Because clearly we can find better things to watch on television if guys are going to lollygag around and not give effort. That's all I'm saying. Coming up asap. Rocky is found not guilty in his felony assault trial, much to the delight of him and his partner Rihanna. Plus Nike announces a partnership with maybe the most famous woman on the planet Earth. But first, my friend, the one and only Chris Cuomo has some strong words on Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency this week. He'll join me next to discuss what's fantasy, what's reality when it comes to Mr. Elon Musk himself and his claims. All of that and more next right here on the Stephen A. Smith Show. Don't go away. All right, everybody, listen up. With all the big time sports action that's happening each and every day, the Stephen A. Smith show wants to make sure you are taking advantage of it all. That's why we've partnered with Prize Picks, the best Place to win Cash while watching sports the app is really easy to use to make a lineup. All you have to do is pick more or less on a few player stats. Choose from any of your favorite players, Luka Doncic, Jimmy Butler, and Zach Lavine, all in the same entry. Then sit back and watch. The list is absolutely endless. You can play Prize picks in over 40 states, including California and Texas. Best of all, Prize Picks will give you $50 when you play your first $5 lineup. Win or lose, you'll get 50 bucks. Just use promo code SAS and download Prize Picks right now. Again, download the app and use code SAs to get $50 instantly. After your first $5 lineup, prize picks run your game.

Malika Andrews (27:16)

Are you still quoting 30 year old movies? Have you said cool beans in the past 90 days? Do you think Discover isn't widely accepted? If this sounds like you, you're stuck in the past. Discover is accepted at 99% of places that take credit cards nationwide, and every time you make a purchase with your card, you automatically earn cash back. Welcome to the now it pays to Discover. Learn more@discover.com credit card based on the February 2024 Nielsen report there's a type.

Larison Campbell (27:45)

Of soil in Mississippi called Yazoo Clay. It's thick, burnt orange, and it's got a reputation.

Stephen A. Smith (27:53)

It's terrible, terrible dirt.

Larison Campbell (27:54)

Yazoo Clay E so things that get buried there tend to stay buried until they're not. In 2012, construction crews at Mississippi's biggest hospital made a shocking discovery.

Stephen A. Smith (28:08)

7,000 bodies out there or more, all.

Larison Campbell (28:12)

Former patients of the old state asylum, and nobody knew they were there.

Stephen A. Smith (28:17)

It was my family's mystery.

Larison Campbell (28:19)

But in this corner of the south, it's not just the soil that keeps secrets.

Stephen A. Smith (28:24)

Nobody talks about it.

Larison Campbell (28:25)

Nobody has any information. When you peel back the layers of Mississippi's Yazoo Clay, nothing's ever as simple as you think.

Chris Cuomo (28:32)

The story is much more complicated and nuanced than that.

Larison Campbell (28:38)

I'm Larison Campbell. Listen to under yazukle on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.

Stephen A. Smith (28:51)

Welcome back to Stephen A. Smith Show. You know my buddy Chris Cuomo has been on News Nation all week long discussing Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency, a subject that has spurred a lot of debate nationwide. He started by breaking down some falsehoods regarding claims about USAID. Take a listen to this please.

Chris Cuomo (29:11)

Did USAID send 2 million to Guatemala for sex change surgeries? No. First, they only got 350 grand and the money went for a lot more than surgery. We help poor countries. Is that now bad? And if you say, yeah, America first, why do you think we do it? If we stop, do you really believe that what goes bad there doesn't affect us here? Here's a hint. Most migrants are leaving. What, distressed places? Less distressed there, Less need to come here. Okay, so you look at the next1.55 million to strengthen Libya's. Whatever financial. Did we do that? Yeah. But why didn't Mass tell you the project started during the Trump administration. Why would he leave that out? He wants you to get angry about something, but not blame the guy who did it. Same thing with complaining about money for tourism in Egypt. Trump did it. So if it's so stupid, isn't Trump the stupid one? Or does he really believe you are? Because he doesn't think you're gonna check.

Stephen A. Smith (30:18)

How about that? How about that? The latest flashpoint in the slashing of government entities surrounds Social Security. Who's getting paid and whether or not some recipients may be long gone from this earth. Cuomo had something to say about that as well. Take a listen.

Chris Cuomo (30:33)

And now he's claiming massive fraud at Social Security Administration. Now, this program matters, but not to him, because he's already botching it in favor of heat over light. He shared this screenshot. All the MAGA and the Pod bros.

Stephen A. Smith (30:50)

With their ski caps and their big.

Chris Cuomo (30:52)

Cans on their head went crazy. Look at this. Millions of people above the age of 100 are receiving Social Security. This is the biggest fraud ever. This was to back up the claim in the Oval Office that many people receiving Social Security are falsely aged 150 years old. What a scam. So stupid. How did we miss it? Because it's B.S. we did some basic research, and once again, the situation with Social Security is not what Mr. Musk suggests. Social Security uses this antiquated computer language called cobol, C, O, B O, L. Now, on that system, if a birth date is missing, it automatically codes for May 20, 1875.

Stephen A. Smith (31:42)

Why?

Chris Cuomo (31:43)

There's a whole story that goes with it, but that's the answer. 1875 is 150 years ago. I thought he had these genius coders. They didn't know that. Or is he just guessing that you wouldn't know that and you wouldn't find out?

Stephen A. Smith (31:58)

Again, it's the latter. It's the latter. It's an accusation on my part because I'm not inside the head of Elon Musk, but certainly that clear? That clearly appears to be the case. The reality is, is that when you look at the Department of Government Agency, I don't have a problem with it in theory. I have a problem with who's been put in place to oversee it. First of all, Elon Musk isn't a government employee. He's basically a consultant to the President. He isn't somebody that needed to be confirmed by the Senate or anything like that. He's not receiving a check. So essentially he gets to operate with relative impunity. Now, of course, the President, Donald Trump, has said on the record, I will be watching him. I will be supervising him. Trust me, trust me, trust me. And the cult like following that he has. Clearly people are gonna do that because their mentality is, is that he's the President of the United states. He's the 47th president of the United States of America. He won a fair and square election rather convincingly, regardless of what the Democrats want to say about him. Was only 49.8% with the 48.3% damnity won convincingly. And he has a mandate, even though they want to try to say he doesn't have a mandate. When you win all the swing states, when you improve in demographic graphics, like the blacks, the Latinos, the young voters, when you've upgraded in 50 counties, for crying out loud, no, you've won convincingly. That's what it is. And because he has that trust, he's able to get away with saying that for now. But when you see the kind of latitude that Elon Musk has at his disposal, when you see the access to private information that ultimately he is going to get, at least purportedly. So it does make you a bit nervous. It really, really does. Not to mention the fact that some of the stuff that he has said is not true. As Chris Cuomo pointed out. Social Security, not true. Guatemala, that, surgeries in Guatemala, not true. Tunisia, not true. What else is not true? I don't know how much money was legitimately wasted. I want to know the answer to that question. Not only do I want to know how much money has been wasted, I want to know who wasted it, who appropriated those funds to certain places? Was it legit? Was it excessive? What money is missing? How much is missing? Where did it go? I want to know all of that. That's just me. That's how I feel about it. And all I'm going to tell you is, is that again, I'm going to remind you, I'm a registered independent. I'm going to Remind you, you've seen Josh Shapiro on this show. Governor of Philadelphia, of Pennsylvania. You've seen West Moore on this show. Governor of Maryland. You've seen Eric Adams on this show. Mayor of New York. I use. But you've also seen Byron Donald on the show. You've seen Sean Hannity on this show. Megyn Kelly is invited on this show. Marco Rubio is invited on this show. I'm gonna give you the names of the people I personally want. Megyn Kelly, Marco Rubio, Pete Hagseth, J.D. vance. Vice President J.D. vance, Senator Ted Cruz. Cause I've always wanted to talk to him. Senator Lindsey Graham as well. I like Lindsey Graham sometimes. And of course, the President himself, Donald Trump. I'm not really that interested in talking to Elon Musk. Let him do what he does. I'm talking about the elected officials, the people that the American people chose or elected officials confirmed. Talk about those dudes. That's what I want to see. That's what I want to talk to. I don't want anybody to think for one second that you're watching this show. And all you want to see is liberals, Democrats, et cetera. Bill O'Reilly's been on this show. He's coming back on. I want Andrew Cuomo on this show, too. In light of the charges being dropped by the doj, forcing the Southern District of New York to drop those charges against Eric Adams, I want him back on. Nobody's running, nobody's hiding, but nobody's going to be unfair either. But this stuff, the Department of Government Efficiency, that's not very efficient. When you look at what Chris Cuomo pointed out, it's not very efficient at all. And since this man is so brilliant and being utilized by our President because of his brilliance, I don't expect mistakes. Which means if they are one, are you as efficient as the President claimed? And if you're not, if that's not it, will you purposefully. Purposefully or purposely disingenuous. Just a legitimate question. Joining me now to discuss all of this and to try to provide some clarity is none other than the man, the myth, the legend himself, my brother, the one and only Chris Cuomo. What's going on? Big time.

Chris Cuomo (37:02)

How are you, Stephen? A one of one.

Stephen A. Smith (37:06)

Hey, it's good to see you, man. It's good to see you. I can't say enough about how much I appreciate and I played the sound of you footage of you talking on your show, Cuomo on News Nation every weeknight at 8:00pm Eastern Standard Time. I played the clip of you talking about Doge and talking about Social Security, talking about supposed gender surgeries in Guatemala and all of this other stuff. As you sit back and reflect to zero in on Doge itself, why did you feel the need to do so? And what have you gathered from your research about the Department of Government Efficiency?

Chris Cuomo (37:43)

So let's start with what should be obvious. Everybody should be in favor of finding waste, fraud and abuse. And the idea that I'm inclined, or anyone should be inclined to be against the effort reeks of partisan politics. So of course, this is great. And nobody has ever failed to find waste, fraud and abuse. Different name, different ways. Every administration, Reagan, Clinton, Obama, everybody has let's find waste, fraud and abuse. And they have found it every time. Government is huge. Mistakes are going to be made, intentional errors are going to be made. Doge does not bother me as an effort, doesn't bother me. That they're using an outsider. Bothers me a little bit that they keep being wrong about things and it starts to smell like they are intentionally trying to get people to think that everything government does sucks. And that is irresponsible and it feels like more heat than light. And if the reason we're bringing on in Elon instead of having Congress do it is because he's better at it, why does he keep getting it wrong? And now they say they're going to give out a $5,000 dividend by giving us 20% of $2 trillion or whatever the number is. They don't know what the number is. I thought this was about getting the deficit down. Now they're saying they're going to give us checks. It reeks of over promising and setting up an under delivery. So that's my angle on it. Efficiencies are good. Finding waste, fraud, abuse, great. The fact that Trump is doing it, so what? It's not bad just because he's doing it or Elon Musk is doing it. But how they do it matters. And all this hype. STEPHEN A. It bothers me.

Stephen A. Smith (39:38)

What do you think the intent is? Assuming that they're getting these things wrong and they're doing it purposefully, they're being disingenuous about it. What could possibly be the benefit from doing that is that painting the government as corrupt because it will facilitate Trump's agenda down the line leading into the midterms, what could it be?

Chris Cuomo (40:01)

Yeah, I think that's it. Musk hates government. He has said it many, many times, many different ways. He has obvious personal incentive to pretend that there's A better way than our government. And, you know, you got to read the disconnect between the Musk and the Oval Office, who Stephen, I was very impressed by. We talked about it a little bit in private, that I thought he was really good. I thought it was bad for him because I thought he outshined the president and you know what happens when you do that. But the difference between him there and on Twitter, I mean, he's just like, you know, just in the amplification of absurdity business on Twitter. And I don't believe he can be this wrong this often. So I think it's intentional. And the response is always, give them time. Give them time. It's not about time. Telling the truth isn't about time. Showing receipts of what you say you found isn't about time. You can do it in real time. I'm not coming after them about the price economy. I know two and three people think he should spend more time on it. I know that people are worried that prices are going the wrong way. I know that he promised something that he didn't deliver, which was quick change. I'm not chasing him on that because I knew he was FOS when he said it during the campaign because I knew it would take time. And we'll see what his policies do. He hasn't even had a budget in yet, so I'm being reasonable about it. But what they can do right now, they should do right now. And that's showing receipts. Let me see where these dividend checks are going to come from. I don't buy it.

Stephen A. Smith (41:38)

How concerned are you by the Democrats reaction on Capitol Hill? We saw the protest. We saw people being a bit vociferous, to say the least, and saying some things that I didn't think was the most advisable thing to say. I think they came across as people that were still campaigning as opposed to recognizing this is the new power in office y'all lost. There's a different mandate, and you got to accept that and. And might be and might be inclined to act a little bit differently, but that's not what transpired. How do you feel about what you've seen from the Schumers of the world and others on Capitol Hill?

Chris Cuomo (42:12)

I can't put it any better than that. They're still in campaign mode. Sounds right. It seems like anything that Trump or Musk does, they have to condemn, and they have to condemn it on the basis of the people. Personally, Trump is a Nazi. Musk has apartheid roots. And to me, it just proves they haven't learned their lesson yet that they should be in a better idea business. And they do seem like they're defending the status quo. They're just defending the establishment. And I don't think that's where you want to be right now. You want to be in the business of better. And they seem like they're still in the business of painting the other side as worse and a little bit that sounds like semantics or a rhetorical device, but I don't think it is. I think it reads to people as, listen, I don't like the guy either, or maybe I do, but either way it doesn't matter. I just want stuff to get better for me and my family. Are you about that or are you just about comparative advantage over the other side? And they have to find a better answer to that question. And, you know, there's a lot of this going on over there. There's a lot of hand wringing going on on the left. And to me that's almost like masturbatory. You know, it's not really about getting them to a better place when they are at their best. Democrats, they are speaking to the masses with dynamic messengers who are taking on the hard work of showing that things can be more light than dark. The Republicans, starting with the, you know, in our lifetime, the contract with America 1993 for Newt Gingrich, him saying that Republicans need to learn how to get mean. And they took toughness as an advantage and it has worked well for them. The Democrats are not going to win a bully contest. They're not going to win a tough guy contest. And they shouldn't want to. They should be in the business of better. You want to find efficiencies.

Stephen A. Smith (44:09)

Awesome.

Chris Cuomo (44:09)

If I were they, I'd say, can't wait for the dividend check. Where are you getting it from? Because we have some ideas. You say you're going to find $2 trillion. I think you got to get rid of the DOJ, the Department of Education, and a huge chunk out of Medicare, Medicaid, and a 25% decrease in Social Security contributions back to the people who paid in to reach that number. That's your plan. That's what they should be doing, but that's not what they're doing. So you're right to call it out.

Stephen A. Smith (44:38)

Is it possible, based off of what you just explained, that that's why the false information is being put out there by Musk to some degree and obviously Donald Trump, who says that he's watching him personally, because I'm thinking, if this is the kind of thing that can spark outrage from the Democrats, right? Then you get the Democrats to act that way, and then you're able to say, see, look at them, same old, same old. They just don't get it. And they're probably acting this way because we're noticing the kind of. Of corruption that was taking place on this side while they were running this country. Is it possible that that's the incentive behind all of this?

Chris Cuomo (45:17)

I don't think it's possible. I think it's probable. The last part, I mean, look, doesn't it sound like that to you? Doesn't it sound how like everything they find is kind of on the Democrats? I mean, you know, one of the interesting points of analysis that we've done, and I'm telling you, look, I have a team, and on my, my own enterprising, I can dig very deep into things with sources and research. I have not had to do that here to find that some of the things that they're calling out as waste or crazy or whatever adjective you want to put on it started under Trump, and they're just ignoring it. Shows you what this is really about is that it's about blaming Democrats for the status quo. And I think the Democrats are playing right into it.

Stephen A. Smith (45:59)

And. Go ahead, go ahead. I'm sorry, go ahead, go ahead.

Chris Cuomo (46:04)

I just feel like AOC is the crystallization of this for me. And again, I'm not anti aoc. I respect her pursuit of passion. I respect that she's built this big platform for herself. I think she's got a lot more reach than resonance. Meaning. I don't know that what she says matters as much as the number of her following, but I think she's kind of the poster boy right now for handling this the wrong way.

Stephen A. Smith (46:30)

And why. What specifically has she done when you mentioned her handling it the wrong way?

Chris Cuomo (46:35)

She seems to be an apologist for the status quo, and everything with her is personal. Musk is dumb. Trump's an asshole. You know, whatever it is, it's like all. Like you're talking about somebody in a. At a fraternity party, you know, as opposed to being a leader and having a better way and showing that you have better ideas, proving that Elon and Musk are imperfect is going to be easy. The problem is nobody thinks you're perfect either. And in fact, as you said, and I got to tell you, I said it at the time, I've said it repeatedly on tv, off tv, man, did you nail it on Bill Maher's show by saying that not Only did they get beaten by a guy who's one of the most unpopular politicians in modern history. But the Democrats have to wake up to the proposition that more people thought that Donald Trump reflected normalcy more than the Democrats do.

Stephen A. Smith (47:32)

That's right.

Chris Cuomo (47:32)

I mean, you know when you said that every once in a while, when it comes to, like, the pursuit of thought and reason and understanding, somebody just puts it right and it just hits you. Like when you get just enough salsa on a chip. Know what I'm talking about?

Stephen A. Smith (47:50)

When you get just enough queso on.

Chris Cuomo (47:53)

The chip, where you're like, that's why I'm here. That was that line. That's exactly what happened. More people thought that Donald Trump reflected normal more than the Democrat offerings, and that would be very embarrassing.

Stephen A. Smith (48:10)

Now, when. When you talk about what Trump did, what programs he started that fell under usaid, can you be specific about those programs are based on a couple of the.

Chris Cuomo (48:19)

Like the tour in Egypt thing that they came out with, where we gave all this money to Tor Egypt, you know, it was started under him. There was a couple of those other programs. Now, here's what Trump has that nobody else gets the benefit of. If this was on Stephen A. Smith, and I said, hey, Stephen A. You did that, too. You'd have a problem. Not Trump.

Stephen A. Smith (48:42)

Right.

Chris Cuomo (48:42)

Whether it's the vaccine or the boosters or anything, Trump gets a pass. Why does Trump get a pass when nobody else gets a pass? Because he is seen differently by his base. Most bases see their people as their agents. He is their spirit animal. He is their ambition to disrupt and destroy what they believe is against them. So they will not go bad on him, because that would be them going bad on that ambition. And that's not going to happen. So being in the Trump sucks business is a bad business.

Stephen A. Smith (49:19)

You're in great shape. You got your big chest out your arms and everything that. The top, the word on the top says angry. That's on your shirt. Why? Why are you wearing that shirt?

Chris Cuomo (49:29)

Because I love the podcast that PJ Rykoff does, and it used to be called the Angry American, now it's called the Independent Americans. But I believe in anger. Anger as passion of pursuit, not anger as animus. You know, you wouldn't have me on. You know, Stephen, you're a tough guy, you're a strong guy, but you're a sweet guy. You don't like bullies. You don't want to hear bullies, and neither do I. But anger is a good thing. If you're angry about something good, work harder at it. If you're angry about something, great, change it. If you're angry about something, use that passion, use that energy, use that provocation to get yourself to a better place. There's nothing more satisfying than saying, oh, you don't think I can? You don't think I can do this? Now you pissed me off and I'm coming for you. I'll prove it to you. Great. It's all how you direct it. I have no problem with people being outraged. There are a lot of things that are outrageous. There are a lot of things that are enraging. I'm enraged. I'm enraged at myself. I'm angry at me for not being able to make things more clear, make them more obvious, be more productive about how I help people be critical thinkers and make their own choices instead of getting pushed into silos. So I'm cool with anger. It's just how you direct it.

Stephen A. Smith (50:49)

With that being said, I mean, as we go on from here, I'm just thinking along the lines of, where is the Democratic Party going to go? Should you shut up and let Trump do his thing, expose himself probably before the midterms, which will position you to make some noises and kind of recover some seats in the House, or do you raise holy hell, albeit in a different way than you've been doing? If you're the Democratic Party, where do they go from here? In light of what we're seeing from Trump and Musk specifically, they have to.

Chris Cuomo (51:20)

Be in the business of better. They're going to have opportunities in the budgeting process to show that one, Trump is being pushed to do things that he said he wouldn't do. Okay? You know, there is. There's a common phenomenon in politics where people, sometimes, most times, they're motivated to their own self interest, okay? Sometimes they're motivated to something that's against their self interest. And that is happening in the MAGA movement. If this guy gets convinced, and I don't like to give him the excuse, but this is just how I see the dynamic. If the Republicans get him to take a bite out of Social Security, a bite out of Medicaid, I'm not talking about waste, fraud and abuse. I'm talking about bone, not fat, okay? I'm talking about muscle and bone. I think that there is an opportunity in that to get back to the masses. Because Medicaid, you can feel any way you want about it. Ever since they put it into practice, 1965, as an extension of the Social Security administration, the need has only grown 5 out of 8 people in nursing homes, 1 in 10 people, or what they call food insecure. We used to call it poor, hungry, one in six kids on Medicaid. And it used to, it was supposed to be like 70, 30 state money, federal money. Now it's 50, 50 and sometimes 65, 35 federal money. The states can't carry the load. And the Republican states, some of them tried to seem austere and refuse expansion during the ACA to kind of smite Obama, to spite him, not smite him. God does that. And they had referenda in some of those states because people need it. So there are going to be opportunities in the budgeting process for Democrats to be in the business of better that. You don't have to cut Medicaid. You don't have to cut for the poor when you can go after the rich without, without creating pain the same way. They're going to be opportunities. But if they're obsessed with playing Gotcha and saying that everything he does is terrible, they're going to stay right where they are and we're going to have another aberration, which is a midterm cycle where the incumbent doesn't lose seats first time out. If they keep it this way, Stephen A. That's what's going to happen to them. Again, nothing changes if nothing changes.

Stephen A. Smith (53:43)

Before I let you go, I'm not going to say much without your okay, but we've got an announcement to make tonight on, on, on on on Cuomo on News Nation. What do you want to tell our audience before your your show tonight at 8:00pm Eastern Standard Time on News Nation about? So the surprise.

Chris Cuomo (54:00)

Stephen A. Doesn't like this. Although my voice has gotten drowned it out in the chorus of just praise this guy gets on a regular basis. I know he's paying for these pieces. I know he's paying for these pieces. Okay. But you know, everybody wants Stephen A. To be president. I would never wish that on a friend. But I will say this, I will say this about what we're going to announce tonight. Nobody's ever done anything like it because nobody has ever had the ambition of being on an even playing field with people who have different ideas. But it's absolutely what this country needs and will benefit from for this slice of the country that is open. Critical thinkers who want ideas weighed and don't want to be siloed. They want to be exposed to really strong representations of different versions of what's happening and why. I believe that Stephen A. Smith is going to be, in short order, the hub of conversation in this country. Everybody wants to talk to him. Agree, disagree, like, dislike. They all want to talk to him. That's his magic. God gives everybody something and it's going to happen. And to be part of that, that growth of Stephen A. Into something that I believe we really need and our culture more than I've ever even benefited from him in sport. And I have, I love him. He's made sports so much more enriching for me. Nothing like what I think he's going to do with public affairs. So what we're announcing tonight is a one of one thing that is a collaborative idea of partners. And I think it is going to not only is it unique, right, which is always nice. It's nice to be part of something that hasn't been done. But I think it suits a need, Stephen, that I think you feel unique. I got to figure out how I'm going to provide value. But I know how you're going to provide value just by how you dress.

Stephen A. Smith (55:53)

Please, please, please. I get back, I have value because I listen to you. You make me look smart because all I do is copy what you say. That's how I do it. That's how I do it. I steal the knowledge from you, my brother. That's what I do.

Chris Cuomo (56:05)

I know you're paying for those pieces.

Stephen A. Smith (56:07)

I know you go and I'll see you tonight, man.

Chris Cuomo (56:10)

When I sent you Stephen A.

Stephen A. Smith (56:12)

When I find out who's placed in.

Chris Cuomo (56:13)

These pieces, I'm gonna come at you like ugly on an eight.

Stephen A. Smith (56:16)

There you go. Stop it. Stop it. Chris Cuomo, man. Love you, man. Appreciate you, man. I'll see you tonight. I love you.

Chris Cuomo (56:23)

Thank you for being all right.

Stephen A. Smith (56:24)

My man, the one and only Chris Cuomo right here on the Stephen A. Smith show tonight, 8:00pm Eastern Standard Time. News Nation. The announcement is coming. You'll know what I'm talking about when you see it coming up asap. Rocky is found not guilty. And is Nike banking on Kim Kardashian to be their next Michael Jordan? We'll dive into that next. Plus an update on Jay Z. And I respond to questions from you, my fans and viewers right here. Up next in the Stephen H. Show, don't go away. Los Angeles Superior Court, county of Los Angeles people, the State of California vs Joaquin Mayors, case number BA5081, 142.01. We the jury entitled action, find the defendant Rakim Mayors not guilty. Welcome back to the Stephen A. Smith Show. You saw the big news yesterday from the world of entertainment with rapper asap Rocky being found not guilty in his felony assault trial. On Tuesday, a Los Angeles jury acquitted the rapper, who was accused of firing a semi automatic handgun at his former friend and ASAP mob member ASAP relly in an altercation in November of 2020 one of two charges of felony assault with the semi automatic firearm. After the first verdict was read, Rocky immediately jumped over the stand to hug his mother, sister, and partner, Rihanna. He also told the jury, quote, thank y'all for saving my life. Thank y'all for making the right decision, end quote. Rihanna expressed gratitude following Rocky's acquittal, writing on her Instagram stories, the glory belongs to God and God alone, end quote. Asap, whose real name is Rakim Meyers, was facing up to 24 years in prison if found guilty. I don't know anything about this case other than what we just read to you. Don't know ASAP Rocky at all. Don't follow him like that. Obviously, I know he's with Rihanna and they've got two beautiful children together and all of that stuff. Stuff. I'm very, very happy for them. I'm very, very happy that he was acquitted. I was very nervous for him because he was in Los Angeles in the jury. And, you know, when you live through Rodney King, you never let go of it. You never let go of it. Okay? Because everybody ain't O.J. all right? Well, you gonna have a jury that let you off. It ain't like that. And so I'm very, very happy for him. But I just wanted to take an opportunity to say something to him and to all the brothers out there who are living good lives, achieving big things. You do understand you're a target, right? You do understand that? I don't know anything about asap, Relly, And I'm not casting any Asperger on him. Again. I don't know him. I know that they said, according to the reports, that he had conflicting testimony and that led to ASAP Rocky being found not guilty. So I do know that. But in the end, what it really, really comes down to is that brothers out here are doing big things. You're always a target. Always a target, especially when you are a black man. We want to act like everything is equal and everything's the same. Everything ain't the same. Everything ain't the same. Twice as good to get half as much and all of this other stuff. Yeah, but you know what? Guilty until proven innocent, that's something that comes with today's society that we live in. And there's a lot of people out there that were looking at ASAP Rocky and thinking, if he's gonna end up in jail, what a beautiful, beautiful woman and a sensational artist you have as your woman in Rihanna. And y'all have a family together. And I'm not saying you're guilty of anything. I don't know what the hell I know is that you were found not guilty. Props to you. What I'm saying is, my brother, I want ASAP Rocky to think about those few tense moments. Not even the months and the years, the months and the weeks and the days leading up to that verdict. I want you to think about when you were standing in between your lawyers and you were facing 24, 25 years in jail. I want you to hold on to that moment and remember you want to do everything in your life possible to make sure you are never in that position again. Somebody can't accuse you of anything. Live your best life. Understand that the life that you have is a life most people. Most people on this earth will only dream of. And I'm only speaking to you as a concerned big brother because of how my mother would speak to me. My mother, God rest us all. I didn't give a damn what situation I found myself in. Her first question to me was always, what did you do? I told this story years ago. I'll tell it again. I'm driving from a Pistons game. I'm driving through Troy, Michigan. I'm headed to the Romulus Marriott at the airport in Detroit. I got three colleagues in the car with me. I got pulled over. Ultimately, eight cops surrounded my car. I did nothing. I showed no resistance. It was completely unnecessary. I knew that the district attorney in the city. I wanted to go after the damn officers. I thought it was excessive. They threw me in jail for four hours. Damn near four hours. One of my dearest friends working at CNN called every five minutes. And why? Because bail was $250. I had $241, and they wouldn't let me out because of $9. Until she came calling. Her name was Audrey. She called every five minutes until the officer, after about three hours or so, came and said, I can't take the calls anymore. I can't take it. Just go. And he let me out because he wouldn't let me out because of $9. And knowing that I had a case and knowing that I had an argument and knowing that I was a position to make some noise, I went and I told my mom. And my mom said, what'd you do? What do you mean, what I did? What you speak. I was not speeding. I wasn't doing anything. Why did they pull you over? Well, they pulled me over for having a suspended license, which is license suspended. You'd have to throw up my hands. That's what they told me. Karen's out. My license was suspended because I had a fine to pay, but I paid the fine late. So there was a $15 late charge attached to it. But I didn't see the notice of the late charge. So even though I paid the ticket, I still owe the 15 for the late charge. And my mother said if you had paid it on time, it would not have been suspended and you would not have been arrested. In other words, it was on me. I tell that story because we don't hear that story enough that sometimes it's on you. Even when you're not guilty of what you're being accused of, sometimes it's on you because of the predicaments we keep ourselves in or put ourselves in. So whether it's me, it's asap, Rocky, it's my nephew Josh. It's anybody. Let's make sure as black men, we do everything we can to guard ourselves as men. Period. I take that back. White, black, Hispanic, don't matter. All y'all my brothers, just remember, we want to do everything we can to avoid situations and circumstances. We don't want to find ourselves in precarious situations that could compromise everything we worked our entire lives for. For that position to be in. That's my message to asap, Rocky. Other than I'm happy for you, my brother. I'm happy for Rihanna and your wonderful family. I wish you nothing but the best, my brother. Nothing but the best. Before I get to Nike's big news, I want to update a story we discussed Monday. The sexual assault lawsuit against Jay Z and Diddy being dropped in to the strife this situation caused his family. Jay Z is now alleging his business, Roc Nation, missed out on deals worth $20 million due to the legal action. In a filing just days before the case was dismissed connected to another lawsuit involving attorney Tony Busby, Sean Carter had this to say. Quote, Mr. Busby's actions undermined my relationship with other businesses in the sports and Entertainment space. After Mr. Busby filed the lawsuit, the media reported that other businesses could end their deals with Roc Nation and forced one to speak out and address whether these false allegations would end our business relationship. My company, Roc Nation, also lost other contracts that would have generated revenues of approximately $20 million per year. Know why Jay Z put that out? Because he's coming for Mr. Busby. He's coming for him. That's why Jay Z put that out. I don't know. I haven't spoken to him. I'm just speculating. But that's what I believe is the case. And if it was just a one, a 1, 800 lawyer coming after him, I don't know that to be the case with Busby or anybody else. But if that is the case, he messed with the wrong one because jay Z's coming. $20 million a year. Roc Nation makes a lot more money than that. I get that. But $20 million a year is $20 million a year, especially based off of false accusations. Case has been dropped. Jay Z has maintained his innocence. He's earned the right to be presumed innocent at this stage and point, especially before being. Before being accused of being guilty. That much I know. He's coming for Busby. He's coming for Busby. Another big celebrity story yesterday was the announcement of a partnership between Nike and Kim Kardashian's Skims shapewear brand. Amid a couple of down years and sagging stock prices, the sportswear giant shocked the world yesterday with the announcement of the collaboration. Nike Skims, which will launch globally in 2026, but will be released in secret retail locations and online this spring, is women's activewear. The partnership is significant because Nike has never partnered with an outside brand like this. Nike has even created a separate internal division to work specifically on Nike Skims, similar to how it runs its $7 billion Jordan brand. Nike stock saw an immediate 6% jump after the announcement. First of all, congratulations to Kim Kardashian. You know, people try to sit up there and get at her all the time. What I marvel at is she's clearly got a business acumen all of us sleep on because the girl knows how to make money. Now, numerous women that I've spoken to, they rave about Kim Kardashian's, you know, sportswear. They do. And these are women that are not inclined to be supportive of Kim Kardashian. They don't like how she got in the news all of those years ago. They don't like, you know, how, you know, she, she. She's always modeling or. Or the reality show. And, you know, I mean, they talk about all of this stuff. There's a lot of women that hate on Kim Kardashian. It's never me. Let me be very, very clear about that. I have no problems with Kim Kardashian whatsoever. You understand what I'm saying? I like I like her personality. She seems cool. I don't know her, but I like her personality. She seems really cool. She always talks nice. And needless to say, she is not difficult to look at at all. But then when you take into account the Nike skims, is what I'm told, I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. Let me just tell you what I'm told. What I'm told is that it's stuck. It tucks your tummy in a little bit, and it formulates and shapes or dare I say, accentuates your figure in the same breath of material is not too heavy and it's not too light. So you can lounge around with it on or you can work out with it on, or you can just rock it in a very, very casual way. I have not met any women out there that have complained about this. Women's. This. This woman Kim Kardashian's clothing gear. So more power to her. She's got a figure. She uses that to market her products. I see no problem with it whatsoever. I don't want to sound like Martin and steal his line for saying this, but all I'm gonna say is, you go, girl. Yes. I'm gonna say that. I ain't mad at all. And connecting with Nike, you could do worse. 6% jump. Nike. Nike stepping out of the box to relate itself to this brand. Kim Kardashian is a reliable brand. The Kardashians, period, are a reliable blend brand. We could talk all we want to. They're billionaires. These people got money because they've been business savvy. We say a lot of things about the Kardashians. We never talk enough about how business savvy they are. They know what they're doing and they know how to make money. My suggestion to all of you out there who don't. Who don't mind making money, pay attention. Pay attention. We can all learn from somebody, and Kim Kardashian is definitely qualified to teach. I'm just saying. I'm just saying let me get to some tweets and some videos before I get on out of here. Please show me the first one. Please let me see it.

Malika Andrews (70:34)

So my big question for you is, as a Steelers fan for as long as you've been and someone who really wants the team to succeed, do you feel that.

Stephen A. Smith (70:49)

There is a way of.

Malika Andrews (70:50)

Flipping the team to be a success this year, or do you think it's going to take multiple years to fix the mess that they have left the team in since Big Ben's retirement.

Stephen A. Smith (71:01)

Well, Big Ben stayed around too long. He should have retired about two years earlier than he did. Let's get that out the way first. Number one, number two. Not only did that happen, but I think the important thing to point out with Big Ben, not really with him, but with the quarterback position, Steelers have really struggled to find Mitchell Trubitsky, Mason Rudolph, Kenny Picketts, you know, all of this other stuff. I like Justin Fields, and I think that Justin Fields still might have some work to do. But it didn't escape me that he was in the starting lineup for the Steelers for the first five or six games or so, and that they won those games. Most of those games. They only had like one loss, if I remember correctly. Plus he ran with the football, which is something we don't normally see Steelers quarterbacks doing in recent memory. So I'm happy about that. But I believe that the Steelers have an opportunity to get Aaron Rodgers. You take it. You got Pickens, you got Friedmuth, you got Harrison Warren in the backfield. You got a decent offensive line, you got a leader like Mike Tomlin. Nobody's voice is going to be louder in that locker room than his. And you got an elite defense, assuming you keep TJ Watt. You get Aaron Rodgers, you get Aaron Rodgers. That's my deal with that. Next up, what we got this tweet. It's hard to see the Twitter handle, but let me ask you this. Good afternoon, Mr. Mr. Stephen A. If you could have only one, what would you choose? Captain America's Super Soldier Serum or Spider Man's power? Me personally, believe it or not, I would tell you this. I would keep Spider Mansion. Here's the reason why, as much as I love Captain America's Serum and I went to see Captain America, by the way, Major Prostitute Anthony Mackie and the crew. That was a damn good movie. Y'all should go see it. He did his thing. Major props to him. But let me say this to you. You know why I would pick Spider Man? Because Spider man ages. See, I don't want to live forever. I don't want to be 30 years of age. Look, I don't want to be 150 years old, but still on this earth looking 30. I don't want to be here when the old goes out and the new comes in. I want to die with my generation. That's what I want to do. I don't want to sit up there. I don't want. I don't want to be somebody that does that that's just not me. So I would tell you I'm averse to that. Me personally, I want the powers, the speed, the agility, the strength. Spider man had all of that. But in the same breath, having said all of that, he aged too. He wasn't somebody that stayed the same while everybody else that he loved and cherished got old and withered away. So that's me with that. That's how I feel about it. Let's get to the next video, please. Philip from North Carolina. But man, am I not happy with you. Kobe can't beat top five because he played with Shaq. LeBron lost in 2011. One All Star on the team, outscored by Jason Terry. 2014 loses to Tim Duncan. 37 going on 38. 37 going on 38 wins the bubble ring. Then don't even make the playing tournament with these two guys. Magic play with Kareem. All five championships. Inherited James Worthy. I will squash you in a goat debate, brother. Squash you? Bring me on the show. You won't squash me. You'd have no chance in hell of squashing me. But I like your enthusiasm, I like your delivery. And guess what, bro. I am gonna bring you on the show. Not even for this debate. I just like the way you roll. Like your personality. I like that delivery is good. You might have a future in television, you might have a future in streaming. So I'm gonna bring you on. I got no problems with it whatsoever. But let's be very, very clear. I'm not talking about KD was better than Kobe. Kobe's a five time champion. What I'm saying is you can't summarily dismiss that KD wasn't Cody wasn't Kobe. When the brothers averaging a career 27.3 points with game. He's 611 with a 76 wingspan. You know, Katie, Trey, we know he's automatic in terms of his offensive prowess. You just can't dismiss it is all I was trying to say. He has to be mentioned in your top 10 of all time. This brother is one of the legitimately one of the top three or four scorers in the history of basketball. The numbers prove it. The efficiency proves it. Do you know that he is shooting 53% of the from the field and 41% from three point range since he came back from his Achilles tear. He's playing better since his Achilles tear as he has aged than he did when he was younger in wreaking havoc. So I don't think you can ignore that. And as much as we love Kobe and we revere Kobe, let's understand why. Because he was an assassin. He was a dog. He wasn't trying to leave teams after being up 3, 1 losing the series and then joining them a month later. Nah, Kelby wasn't that dude. Dude, you understand? Kobe was a dude that accepted and embraced the challenge of the Lakers being his when Shaq departed, that's what he wanted. That kind of stuff. Even though at one point he asked to be traded, told me he'd rather go play on the planet Pluto than return as a Los Angeles Laker before they got the Power Gasol deal done and got him up there and and shipped Kwame Brown out of town. These are the kind of things that happened. In the end, though, KD is nothing to sneeze at. And we got to act like, we got to stop acting like we can ignore that. That's all I'm saying, bro. But again, I loved your delivery and I am going to bring you on the show just because I liked your delivery. It was very impressive. Next tweet what you got at Time Cap Tales, right? Stephen A. Smith, if you could have lunch with one past US president, who would you pick? That's easy.

Kevin Durant (76:32)

1.

Stephen A. Smith (76:32)

Barack Obama. Barack Obama should talk about. That'd be me. You know, number two on that list would be Ronald Reagan. Ronald Reagan. But number one would be Barack Obama without question. You know, matter of fact, I take that back. Reagan would be 3 on the list. Trump would be number 2. Cuz who knows what the hell he'd say over lunch. Who knows what the hell he'd say. I wouldn't mind having lunch with Donald Trump. Okay? But it would be Barack Obama first, then Trump, then Reagan. H.W. now Clinton. I mean, I like relations with that woman Monica Lewinsky. Remember when they did that imitation? You know, I mean Clinton's kind of funny, but it had been Obama, Trump, then Reagan. Right? I think Trump, who knows what the hell he'd say. And I think Ronald Reagan, I think that he would. He would have said more than most think he would because he seemed like a people person. That's just me. Last video, what you got?

Kevin Durant (77:41)

All right.

Stephen A. Smith (77:41)

What's up? Stephen A. I'm out here in New Orleans. Rob you. Parker is your man. That's my co host, of course, the Odd Couple, Fox Sports Radio.

Kevin Durant (77:50)

That's your good friend Stephen A.

Stephen A. Smith (77:52)

Help your boy out. Tell me how I'ma deal with him for the duration of our show. Duration of this contract.

Chris Cuomo (77:57)

Okay.

Stephen A. Smith (77:57)

He you see I got gray hairs kicking in all over the place. This is from me dealing with Rob for three hours a day, five days a week. So that's your man's. Help your boy out. Kelvin, you don't understand. You don't understand. Just the facts. Just the facts. Okay, look. Okay, we're gonna poo, poo that attitude. We're gonna poo, poo that. That's not what we're going to do here on this show. I'm doing a Rob Parker imitation. In case, you know, my audience doesn't know that's how Rob Parker talks. Okay, for the odd couple on Fox Sports Radio. Rob Parker and I go back more than 35 years. He's one of my best friends on the planet. I love him dearly. And Kelvin, I think you're doing an outstanding job as his co host, especially following up being a successor to another one of my brothers, Christopher Broussard. Chris Broussard is one of the best human beings I've ever known in my life. He good people. So for you to be filling in his shoes says a lot about you, my brother. Keep doing big things. But getting back to Rob Parker, let me tell you something right now. Rob Parker is one of the nicest human beings on the planet outside of his job. At his job, it's like a personality transplant kicks in and he just wants to slice and dice people up with no sympathy whatsoever. This dude is on another level. He's the first one to bring up Mickey, man. To drinking, drinking issues, you know. And when he was talking, nobody was thinking about talking about that, but Rob Parker brought it up. Rob Parker brings up everything, you understand when you talk about a hater. That's Rob Parker. No, what? What? What are you talking about? That's not true. That's Rob Parker. That's him. He'll do it and do it. They're like, what? Seriously? You know? And that's how he talks. And that's how he talks. And he's absolutely, positively hilarious. Okay. Sounds a bit slow when he talks, but he's brilliant. It's a really, really smart and educated brother. But he doesn't sound like that when he talks. If you're listening to his voice, not his words, but his voice doesn't sound. Everything is long and drawn out. Okay. Like he's drooling or something. But don't underestimate that brother, Kelvin. You gotta sleep with one eye open dealing with that brother. Because let me tell you something, you slip up, he gonna catch. He gonna catch. That's it for this edition of the Stephen A. Smith show. Hope you all enjoyed it. Thanks again to Kelvin for that interview. Anytime you bringing up my brother Rob Parker. I'm happy about that. Who, by the way, teaches at USC as well. So let's not forget that because a lot of students are benefiting from his tutelage. Thanks again to the one and only Chris Cuomo for coming on the show with us as well. Really, really appreciate the time. That's it for this edition of the Stephen A. Smith Show. I gotta sign off, y'all, but I'll let y'all in a couple of days. Until then, peace and love, everybody. Stephen A. Signing off. What's up, everyone? It's Greg Rosenthal and I'm teaming up with the King of Spring, Daniel Jeremiah. He requires me to say that we're.

Malika Andrews (80:55)

Going to be bringing you 40s and.

Stephen A. Smith (80:56)

Free agents, the only podcast you'll need.

Malika Andrews (80:58)

This NFL draft season.

Stephen A. Smith (81:00)

From DJs mock drafts to my top 101, free agents will have it covered.

Malika Andrews (81:03)

For you with all new episodes every Thursday keeping you up to date as.

Stephen A. Smith (81:07)

We head to the NFL Draft.

Malika Andrews (81:10)

Listen to 40s and free agents starting on March 6th on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast.

Larison Campbell (81:18)

What's up everyone? Julie Swearbinks here along with former NHL player Nate Thompson.

Malika Andrews (81:23)

We're doing a new podcast together.

Chris Cuomo (81:24)

Here we go.

Larison Campbell (81:26)

The name Energy Line with Nate and jsb.

Kevin Durant (81:29)

Each week we'll get together and talk about hockey life.

Chris Cuomo (81:32)

All topics are fair game, right?

Stephen A. Smith (81:34)

It exactly.

Larison Campbell (81:35)

And you'll never know who will drop by to join us.

Kevin Durant (81:38)

Julie is pretty well connected. She has text threads going that you wouldn't believe.

Larison Campbell (81:43)

Listen to Energy Line with Nate and jsb on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast.