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Full Show: Stephen A takes on Black right wing conservatives Royce White and Brandon "The Officer" Tatum. - The Stephen A. Smith Show | Wave AI Podcast Notes

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Full Show: Stephen A takes on Black right wing conservatives Royce White and Brandon "The Officer" Tatum.

The Stephen A. Smith Show

Thu May 01 2025

Summary

The Stephen A. Smith Show: In-Depth Discussion with Brandon "The Officer" Tatum on Black Conservatism and Political Dynamics

Release Date: May 1, 2025

In this compelling episode of The Stephen A. Smith Show, renowned host Stephen A. Smith engages in a thought-provoking conversation with Brandon "The Officer" Tatum, a prominent black conservative commentator and former police officer. The episode delves into the intricate intersections of sports, politics, and race, offering listeners a nuanced perspective on contemporary societal issues.

Philadelphia Eagles' White House Visit and D.L. Hughley's Critique

The episode kicks off with Stephen A. Smith discussing the Philadelphia Eagles' recent Super Bowl victory and their traditional visit to the White House. Notably, key players like Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts and wide receivers A.J. Brown and Devontae Smith were absent from the ceremony. Instead, running back Saquon Barkley attended, prompting comedian D.L. Hughley to voice his criticism.

D.L. Hughley [03:13]: "Donald Trump is deliberately trying to erase black people's history... Any black man that does it is going to obviously catch some level of heat."

Stephen A. Smith responds to Hughley's remarks, defending Barkley and questioning the broader implications of such criticisms within the black community.

Brandon Tatum Joins the Conversation

At [17:21], Brandon Tatum is introduced as Stephen A. Smith's guest. Tatum openly addresses past criticisms from Smith and sets the stage for an honest dialogue about race, politics, and the role of black conservatives in America.

Brandon Tatum [18:56]: "You are a Republican. You have been on the record. You are a supporter of Donald Trump."

Tatum critiques D.L. Hughley's stance, arguing that Hughley's remarks perpetuate harmful stereotypes and undermine solidarity within the black community. He emphasizes the importance of open-mindedness and dialogue over division.

Debate on Political Allegiances and Community Support

A significant portion of the discussion revolves around the historical and current political affiliations of black Americans. Stephen A. Smith challenges the Democratic Party's role, highlighting what he perceives as a lack of tangible benefits despite consistent support from black voters over decades.

Stephen A. Smith [33:20]: "We have been voting for Democrats for, I don't know, 40, 50 years now, lockstep. And we still complaining. We still don't have the rights that we want. We still don't have equality in America."

Brandon Tatum counters by addressing the complexities of policy impacts, particularly focusing on Trump's immigration policies and their effects on the black community. He argues that these policies create economic pressures that disproportionately affect black Americans.

Brandon Tatum [35:36]: "When white folks catch a cold, black folks catch pneumonia. It's always worse for us than it is for them."

Critique of Activism and Calls for Unity

The dialogue intensifies as both hosts critique certain strands of black activism. Smith criticizes figures like D.L. Hughley and Al Sharpton for what he perceives as actions that inhibit progress within the black community.

Stephen A. Smith [22:34]: "Black people cannot exist in America, isolating themselves in a cocoon with other black people who... hate on them more than white people do."

Brandon Tatum advocates for unity and practical support systems within the black community, such as supporting black-owned businesses and educational institutions, rather than engaging in divisive activism.

Brandon Tatum [39:17]: "We need to have a conversation and not looking at one another with vitriol because we disagree. Let's butt heads and see whose ideas are better."

Transition to Sports: NBA Playoffs Highlights

Shifting gears, the show touches on the ongoing NBA playoffs, focusing on standout performances from players like Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Stephen A. highlights Edwards' impact and potential to influence the series outcome, reflecting on his growth and star power.

Stephen A. Smith [43:00]: "Anthony Edwards is a superstar brother... That's star power."

Interview with Chris Cuomo on Trump's First 100 Days

In a significant segment towards the episode's conclusion, Stephen A. and Brandon Tatum host Chris Cuomo to discuss President Donald Trump's first 100 days in office. Cuomo emphasizes the importance of addressing public concerns and maintaining a balanced media perspective.

Chris Cuomo [60:05]: "We're there to listen, we're there to express the concerns of the country, have the audience do the same and give the president an opportunity to address it."

The conversation touches on Trump's approval ratings, media portrayal, and the necessity for the administration to present clear and actionable plans to address national issues.

Chris Cuomo [63:22]: "The numbers aren't the story for me. It's the plan. It's the uncertainty and how he deals with that."

Concluding Thoughts on Unity and Progress

The episode wraps up with a mutual acknowledgment of the need for dialogue and unity within the black community and the broader American society. Both Stephen A. Smith and Brandon Tatum advocate for moving beyond partisan divides to focus on substantive policy discussions and collective advancement.

Stephen A. Smith [49:17]: "I want to see us unite. I want to see us stop arguing and bickering over stupid stuff."

Brandon Tatum [53:40]: "The most important message that you're giving is that the Democratic Party has had the black vote for the most part since the 60s... we're the ones without representation."

Conclusion

This episode of The Stephen A. Smith Show offers an incisive exploration of the challenges and opportunities facing black conservatives in America. Through candid discussions with Brandon Tatum and insights from Chris Cuomo, the show underscores the importance of unity, informed dialogue, and proactive engagement in shaping a more equitable society.

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Transcript

Stephen A. Smith (0:00)

Foreign.

Brandon Tatum (0:11)

What'S up everybody? Welcome to the latest edition of the Stephen A. Smith show coming at you over the digital airwaves of YouTube and of course iHeartRadio, as I love to do at the very least three times a week. As always, I'd like to pause for a moment to just say thank you and show my sincere gratitude to my listeners and followers subscribers. We've reached millions of downloads over iheartradio over the last few months and obviously we've eclipsed more than 1.2 million subscribers on YouTube. This show is successful because of you and I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for your support. So thank you so much for giving it to me. I sincerely hope you will continue to continue to like and follow the show. Just click the bell to get notified for all of our newest content and you too shall be considered the the latest member of the Stephen A. Smith show family. And while you're at that, make sure to pick up a copy of my New York Times best selling book, Straight Shooter, A Memoir of Second Chances and First Takes now in paperback. Just go to straightshooterbook.com to get yourself a copy. Once again, that's straightshooterbook.com to get yourself a copy. If you notice, you see, over my shoulder, it's always Straight Shooter Media. At least periodically, because that's the name of my production company, which is named after my book, of course, my best selling book. New York Times best selling book. Very, very lucky to have that happen for my life, my career. Anyway, let me move on and get to the subject at hand because we've got to get started with a story that crosses both sports and politics. We'll get into the NBA playoffs a little bit later. I got my man, Officer Tatum, a right wing conservative voice out there who happens to be a black man speaking very, very directly about a lot of political issues. I'll get into him a little bit later, but we're going to start here with a mixture of sports and politics. Like I articulated, the Philadelphia Eagles went to the White House on Monday to celebrate their super bowl victory with President Donald Trump. The trip is a time honored trip that most teams make upon winning a championship. However, not everyone with the team or organization makes the trip for whatever reason. As for the Philadelphia Eagles, not everyone made the trip, including Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts. Others not in attendance included wide receivers A.J. brown and Devontae Smith, linebacker Zach Bourne, defensive defensive ends Brandon Graham and Josh Sweat, and defensive tackle Jalen Carter, running back, say, Quan Barkley did attend the ceremony and President Trump had this to say about the Eagles star running back. Take a listen. And by the way, I have to tell you something. I was with the Giants and the head coach and some people, and I said, do anything you have to, but don't lose Saquon. They lost Saquon. That was not good. I called that one. That was. That was an easy one to call because he played damn well for the Giants. I can tell you that. Saquon's appearance didn't sit well with comedian and talk show host DL Hughley. Take a listen to what DL had to say about Barkley and other black people who visit the White House in general, particularly the Trump White House. Fourteen players said gonna boycott this. Whose side are you on?

Brandon Tatum (4:07)

Here's what Saquon Barkley posted on X to critics of his appearance at the White House. Quote, laugh out loud. Some people are really upset because I played golf and flew to the White House with the president. Maybe I just respect the office. Not a hard concept to understand. Just golfed with Obama not too long ago and look forward to finishing my round with Trump. Now you get out my mentions with all this politics and have an amazing day. End quote. Saquon Barkley wouldn't have been as flippant as Saquon Barkley, but I understand his underlying point. Ladies and gentlemen, we've got to be bigger than that. I'm not here to insult or castigate DL Hughley in any way. I think that he's a sensational comedian who's made us laugh for many, many years. Kings of comedy and his D.L. hughley show on ABC come to mind. He's done outstanding work throughout the years. He is smart, he is sharp, he is thoughtful, he is conscientious. And I think overall, he's a good brother. He has been critical of me in the past. I do not care. He is entitled to his opinion, and we are entitled to disagree with what we have to disagree with. But in this particular instance, I think he has to be bigger than that. Saquon Barkley is a football player. The Philadelphia Eagles won the championship. Trump is somebody he's played golf with, just like former President Barack Obama is somebody he's played with. Everybody is not into politics the way somebody like Adele Hughley is. Everybody is not paying attention to every policy that's put out there, every executive order that's issued, or whatever the case may be. Everybody's not doing that. Some people go about the everyday rigmarole of their lives, and to them, ignorance is bliss. Not calling Saquon ignorant in any stretch of it, by any stretch of the imagination, but to some people, ignorance is bliss. They want to go about the business of doing their everyday job because they know they have no control over the apparatus and the system that's in place. You're not going to change it. So they're not trying to live their life with everything being a protest. That's their position. We might not like it, but in the same breath, they're entitled to do so, and they should be able to do so without us looking down on them. To get to DL Hughley's points directly stigmatizing black folks, saying, you know who they are, you know who they are, and using that example to describe Saquon Barkley, I'm not saying she's a gold digger, but she ain't messing with no broke. Really. That's what we're doing. Because why? What evidence do you have that that's how they think? I can give you a myriad of issues that affect people's thinking. Some people are about money, and they think money changes everything. Some people look at politicians as just speaking and running their mouths, okay? And really, really just, you know, politicizing things, you know, and grandstanding. Some people look at politicians and they say, okay, you're willing to say one thing, but you're willing to work across the aisle and make things happen. Some people look at politicians and say, you can't believe a damn thing they say on either side of the aisle, because most of them are bought and paid for. In a lot of people's eyes, people bring that stuff up all the time. Some people are more politically conscientious than others. In D.L. hughley's case, some would even describe him as an activist. In this day and time, and we know his positions, Donald Trump questioned Barack Obama's birthright legitimacy. Donald Trump is against black people. This is what DL Hughley has said before. He doesn't have our interests at heart at all. Some people could turn around and look at D.L. hughley and say, well, if black folks are giving the Democratic Party 85 to 90% of the vote, when do you expect the politician on the other side of the aisle of care? Because they're going to cater to their constituency, whoever's going to get them into elected office. But more importantly than that, let me get, or rather bring this home for everybody to understand. Common sense has to kick in. When I thought about what D.L. hughley said, I thought about what he would think about me as an ambassador for HBCU week, led by this wonderful, wonderful woman by the name of Ashley Christopher, based out of Delaware, we've collaborated and assisted one another in raising nearly $100 million in scholarships for over 12,000 students at HBCUs. If we're hearing reports that the federal government may diminish funds that were being allocated to HBCUs, and Trump invited somebody like myself to come to the White House and have a conversation with him, I'm not supposed to do that. I'm supposed to ignore it. I'm supposed to look at his position on dei. I'm supposed to look at him closing the borders. I'm supposed to look at his positions with tariffs. I'm supposed to look at him trying to disband, if not eradicate, the Education Department, I'm supposed to look at him saying, I'm not about defunding the police. I'm supposed to look at him and say, you know what? I question his vitriol towards Black Lives Matter, et cetera, et cetera. And as a result, I'm supposed to not go to the White House. I'm supposed to not do what I can to try to influence him in making a difference. See, when I think about D.L. hughley, and I think about this highly intelligent and accomplished brother who has a voice and who could possibly and in all likelihood impact very formidable lives, I think about that D.L. hughley, and I say to myself, why would you cut off your knees despite your face or cut off your nose to spite your face. Why not keep an open mind? Why not leave yourself open to the possibility that you can communicate with the very people whose actions you may abhor in a political spectrum? Because guess what, you may have the impact to create change and to create a difference for them. And why do I bring that up? Because one of the things that I've been lamenting for a long time, ladies and gentlemen, I've never met Jasmine Crockett. I'm looking forward to talking to her and having her on this show. I've never met aoc I'm not opposed to having her on the show. Now, I don't want to interview Senator Elizabeth Warren because I don't want to feel like the second I disagree with her, I'm going to hell. That's my only problem with the Senator Elizabeth Warren. If you disagree with her, she makes you feel like you're going to hell. Like you have no heart, no soul, no conscience. I'm not dealing with somebody like that. But if you're passionate about what you feel and where you stand and you got facts to back it up, even with your emotions coupled with that, I'm all for listening to what you have to say. Here's my problems with the Democrats. Here's my problems with what DL Hughley came across like. I've heard politicians on Capitol Hill saying, I'm here just to disagree and oppose every damn thing Trump wants to do. Well, why are you up on Capitol Hill? Ain't you supposed to be figuring out what you want to be against and what you could potentially be for? Isn't he known as a deal maker? Hasn't he been, whether it's revered or insulted, as a non politician, hasn't he been somebody that gives you the impression, if you're complimentary towards him about some things that he does and you're willing to sit down and talk with him, he will sit up there and appease you just the way he would ask you to appease him. If you're not willing to talk and work across the aisle on Capitol Hill, what the hell are you up there for? So that is what came to my mind. You have to work with people, people you dislike, people you disagree with, people who you know in your core do not have you, nor your communities, nor your constituencies best interest at heart. You still have to work with them. If Cuomo wins the mayoral seat in New York City, Andrew Cuomo, you think he's not going to try to work with the Trump White House? Josh Shapiro is the governor of Pennsylvania. Westmore is the governor of Maryland. You think they're not going to try to work with Trump and his White House to get things done, even though they're going to speak against him on certain issues? You can't have this closed door, closed minded, resolute belief that allows you the excuse to remain stagnant, therefore ineffective in doing your job. That's my issue with politicians. And I think it's important if you're a DL Hughley with a voice that resonates to many, many people, that no matter how you feel, you keep an open mind about the possibility of communicating just so you can make a difference, because you never know where that difference may come from. That's all I wanted to say about that. I'll leave the rest to D.L. hughley, who I'm going to invite on this show and certainly my next guest who had something to say about him. All right, 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 playoffs are in full effect and with all this action jumping off, 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. You know, just pick more or less on a few player stats and you can win up to 2000 times your cash on a single lineup. Best of all, Prize Picks will give you $50 when you play your first $5 lineup. Win or lose, you'll get 50 bucks for playing. Use promo code SAS and download the app now. Again, download the app and and use code SAS to get $50 instantly after your first $5 lineup. Okay, prize picks. Hey, hey. Run your game today. I'll give you my picks for Thursday night's game between my beloved New York Knicks and of course, the Detroit Pistons. So let's get right to it. First up, will Jalen Brunson score more or less than 28 and a half points? I believe he has to. He didn't have a good game in game, you know, in game five, it didn't happen. You know, New York Knicks had an opportunity to close the Pistons out. He was ineffective primarily because his ankle got re aggravated. We get all of that. But I believe he'll be fine for game six. He needs to be in order for the New York Knicks to have a chance. I'm going with him on this. Next up, Will Cat that is Karl Anthony Town scoring more or less than 23 and a half points. You're damn right. Because he needs to make up for that poorest performance he did in game four. Jalen Brunson had the excuse of being injured. What the hell is up with Cat? Fire away, man. Stop using your postgame. You ain't got that kind of Back to the basket game, okay? You need to shoot face in the basket. Pull up from the logo. That's what you do. Next up, Will Cade Cunningham scored more or less than 27 1/2 points. The brother's special had 14 points in the fourth quarter, 13 to 14 points in the fourth quarter of game five. The brother is special. He's got a game. He got to pull up, J. He can get to the hole. He's got a handle. He's got size. He's got poise. He is legit. And being on his home turf for game six, I think he's going to respond to the challenge. Yes, he's had OG Anunoby on him, who's done a really, really good job against them. But eventually it'll wear you down and obviously they switch and stuff like that. I think he'll score more than 27 and a half points in this game. No doubt. But finally, will Detroit's Tobias Harris score more or less than 15 and a half points? I'm going to go with more. He usually scores a lot of his points early as opposed to late, but for some reason, the Knicks have been letting him score early. I think that will continue. Plus, Tobias Harris is no scrub. He can play. His problem is not an absence of a game, it's an absence of aggression. When he needs to be aggressive, that's his issue. But I like the brother and I think he's going to score. So bottom line is, to recap, Jalen Brunson, Karl Anthony Towns, Cade Cunningham and Tobias Harris. More, more, more and more. That's what it says here. Because that's what we do on Prospect. We're all about giving you more, as in more money. That's why you should listen to your boy. You feel me? Joining me now to discuss this is a conservative political commentator and author, a radio personality, and he has a strong following on YouTube, by the way. I think it's escalated over 3.4 million subscribers. By the way, ladies and gentlemen, he's a former college football player and former police officer who is the host of the hit show the Officer Tatum. Please welcome Brandon Tatum, AKA the Officer Tatum, to the Stephen A. Smith Show. What's up, big time? How are you? Man, nice to finally meet you. How's everything?

Stephen A. Smith (22:34)

And it's because of black people who inherently are in their consciousness are racist individuals because they don't like Clarence Thomas because he got a white woman. But let me tell you this. I bet you a million dollars you won't see D.L. hughley talking about Bubba Wallace, the NASCAR driver that did the fake hoax with the noose. You'd never hear him talk about him because he's willing to say all this activist stuff that he's not really believing in. But he got a white woman. So D.L. hughley is inconsistent with his projection against black people. I'll just say this. Black people cannot exist in America, isolating themselves in a cocoon with other black people who to be honest, hate on them more than white people do. And D.L. hughley is a perfect example of it. Why won't you uplift your brothers? Why won't you celebrate the brothers that got invited to the White House, that won the Super Bowl? Why wouldn't you? Because you just don't like Donald Trump. And I guarantee you would never hear a deal Hughley say anything negative about Donald Trump before he became a Republican president. That's why I don't have no respect for these dudes. And then I'll tell you this, Stephen A. They don't never talk about the thugs in our community. They never talk about the problems, I mean, consistently talk about the, the ailments that are in our community. Talk about, you know, abortions that go on in our community higher than anywhere else in the country. They don't talk about the murder rate in our community that's higher than anywhere else in the country. They don't talk about the education system that has failed black people. They don't talk about these politicians that put illegal aliens before they put black people. Look at Brandon Johnson in Chicago. Billions of dollars spent on illegal aliens won't spend a dime on black folks. Look at Barack Obama. He came from Chicago. Can't name me. Not one policy that benefited black folks, especially not in Chicago. But DL Hughley won't talk about these brothers. They won't talk about these hood winking snake oil salesmen that are acting like they're activists. For instance, Reverend Al Sharpton. These people are the most disingenuous individuals I've ever seen in my life. They can go on a boycott of Target not realizing that there's black people that got product in Target. So why would you boycott Target in the black communities where black people work at the Target. How about we stop wasting energy being victims and start supporting black a. Have a march to support black businesses where we spend our money in black businesses, where we put our money in black banks, where we send our kids to black universities. Stephen A. You know why you would never see them do that? Because they wouldn't dare put their money in a black bank. They wouldn't dare send their kids to black universities. And. And D.L. hughley and the rest of them won't dare live in a black neighborhood. Ask Stephen A. Where he live at. I get you. I guarantee you we look it up. He live around number white folks. So this is why I don't believe these people and why they're detrimental to black people in America.

Brandon Tatum (25:22)

I gotta take a break to pay a bill. Don't go anywhere. We'll be back with more in just a second. 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. What I would challenge you on Officer Tatum, and I respect the hell out of you and where you're coming from. I don't agree with everything you said, but let me say this. A lot of the litany of things that you labeled in terms of problems that exist in our community, problems that exist in our country, you're absolutely right on point. I'm not here to challenge that at all. I love the last part that you made about how they were so focused on immigration, they were so focused on world culture and cancer culture, that they forgot about black folks along the way. The folks on the left, I totally agree with you about that. I've been decrying that for the longest time. And when I think about DL Hughley, I've said this before you came on the show today. I'm like, listen, you can't sit up there and talk mess about somebody, all right, and then expect them to do business with you. You, you've got to be willing to compromise. You got to be willing to cross the aisle, figuratively speaking, in his case, because he's not a politician. You got to be willing to work. You can't be about denigrating the president for every damn thing. Like there isn't a single thing that he says that he doesn't do right. Everything he says isn't wrong. Everything he says isn't off kilter. Some things he said he does have a point about. There's no question about that. I push back on you when you try to lay like somebody like a D.L. hughley. When he pointed out how Obama, Trump challenged his nationality and sisters, whether he was born in the United States or not or not. Let's not forget that. When we point to issues, when we talk about how what have they done for us or what hasn't been done for us, when we see a guy like Clarence Thomas and others, you speak against affirmative action, but you benefited from affirmative action. When we hear Trump come into office and literally a plane collides with a helicopter and he's blaming DEI with no evidence whatsoever, and they're questioning the meritocracy of something or the merits of something, and all of those kind of things are taking place, we do find ourselves. And I think DL Hughley is absolutely entitled to find himself uncomfortable with some of the things that he is seeing. You see, he might have gone too far by saying what he said, I think he did. Anybody that goes to the White House, any, anybody that communicates with Trump, I think that's, I think that's beyond the pale. But him being skeptical, him questioning some things, I don't think that's off kilter. Officer Tatum I don't.

Stephen A. Smith (28:42)

I think he has a big issue and he hate white people deep down in his soul. And that's why everything white people do, he has a criticism. When white people get in the shooting against black people, he has a criticism. I guarantee you I haven't seen his take on the kid in Dallas that stabbed the young man in the heart. I guarantee he took the side of the black man. Let's go back to the birther thing. The birther is argument about the validity of Barack Obama's birth certificate started with Hillary Clinton and there was a whole bunch of other politicians outside of Donald Trump. Donald Trump piggybacked off of things that people had already established. D.L. hughley I mean, we can go down a list of all the other things that you said. His skepticism of policy. What policy is he referring to? That Donald Trump is doing this against black people. Last time I checked, building the economy helps build black people's pocketbook. Last time I checked, when you were talking about immigration and getting all these illegal aliens out of our country, spending taxpayer $, black people pay taxes, that helps and benefits the black community. When you, when you think about Clarence Thomas, this is a black man who worked his way up and decided that we do not need affirmative action because it discriminates against all people. It discriminated against black people because there are black people who are qualified that are not necessarily associated with this affirmative action thing. You know, they may have a family, they come from a good family, a good household, and they're not associated with getting a handout because their parents did the work and their parents put them in a position where they're not considered lower income or people who benefit from affirmative action. But also, it's time for us to move forward. We can't keep living in the past. STEPHEN A. I mean, my God, I just saw a movie that came out called Sinners. I haven't watched it, but the preview of the movie and some of the dialogue around the movie is another movie projecting Black people in the 1930s, and it's the white man against the black man. When are we gonna stop this mess? You know, the Underground Railroad's proliferation and success didn't come from just black people. There were good white people who never owned slaves, who never had nothing to do with slavery, who risked their lives to help Harriet Tubman get black people to freedom. In the history of this country, there has always been good white people that have done positive things to affect change that benefited black people. Now, there have been races, there have been knuckleheads, but generally speaking, in the totality of circumstances, in the American experience, there's nowhere else on planet earth black people can go and benefit and prosper and have a level of success than in the United States of America. And there are so many corporations and so many lenders and investors that are white that have propelled black people to a level of success that we've never seen before. I mean, Stephen A. Your contract is, is. Is very handsome. And I don't think that they're treating you improperly because you black. It's because you earned it. It's because you went years of being consistent, speaking your mind, taking the heat, and then you're getting paid.

Stephen A. Smith (33:42)

And then when I grew up, I started being more informed and started looking at policy positions. As a Christian man, I say, well, wait a minute. I don't think I agree with nothing that the Democrats are doing. I don't think I agree with any of it. I believe in God. I believe putting God first. I believe in marriage is between a man and a woman. I mean, you go down a list, I don't want to pay no crazy amount of taxes just for them to be throwing your money like they had a strip club. So I'm saying when I look at the policy position, not the emotional manipulation of empathy that I see from the Democrat side and from D.L. hughley and others, I look at policy and I say, well, the policy of lowering taxes makes sense. Thomas Sowell, the great economist, have already articulated. Any economist will tell you when they lower the taxes, and taxes seem to be reasonable to the American people, they pay more into the treasury. When you raise the taxes, people try to evade taxes. Therefore, there's lower money coming into the treasury of the United States of America. So I'm for lowering taxes. I'm for, you know, immigration policy. It don't make no sense whatsoever that people have to wait 10 years to come over here. And I think it's prejudice against some of the African nations because they don't get to just walk through the southern border. People waiting in line forever, paying all this money, fleeing actual persecution, and they don't have an opportunity because we have 20 million illegal aliens coming from the southern border right into our country. And D.L. hughley didn't say a thing that I've seen about when, when Joe Biden was doing this and screwing black people over, because where do they go STEPHEN A. When these illegals come into America, they don't go to the foothills, they're not going to the affluent neighborhoods, they're not welcome at Martha's Vineyard. They are going and competing for low skill work in the inner cities. And therefore they're putting black people out of employment because black people are working for citizen wages, which means that you, American citizen, you have to work for minimum wage. These people coming over here that you could pay them under the table.

Stephen A. Smith (40:01)

Well, let me say this. I think that if D.L. hughley was in front of me and we had a debate, it would be the most embarrassing time of his life. He gets no pushback from the, from the black community. None whatsoever. He's in the echo chamber. It's very simple. I would ask Dale Hughley, what policy positions are you saying that Donald Trump has failed in that the Democrats has prospered in? And this is what he will say to me. He will give me a talking point from CNN that's been debunked 20 years ago. He, he doesn't have substance. What I will add to DL is I will say, DL, do you really care about the black community or are you living in an environment where you're worshiping your skin color? Because if you care about the black community versus worshiping a skin color, why are you not out here advocating for things that will help the black community, like school choice, which is a Republican talking point. Democrats don't stand on school choice. And I think young black people, even like my son, should have the choice to go to the school that I think is best for him. I mean, we can go down the list. Illegal immigration. I guarantee you DL will be arguing me that it's wrong that Donald Trump deporting all these Mexican people. He didn't say nothing when Barack Obama did it. And Barack Obama was the deporter in chief. He deported more people than anybody in history. So I think that every single point that DL Hugh has ever made, that I have listened to him make is always incorrect. He probably thinks that Shador not going in the first round is racism because he has this vitriolic behavior against white folks. I don't think that that had nothing to do with race. He think the kid who stabbed the young man in Dallas in the chest is that they're railroading him in his racism. Well, I was a police officer. I know what probable cause look like. And I read the law in Texas and it was a, it was a reasonable charging of that young man who killed another person. So he would never pick the side to support anything white, even if the white person is right.

Stephen A. Smith (42:12)

It's specifically for D.L. hughley. And D.L. hughley likes because there are people who are educated that just have a difference of opinion or they have criticisms. I don't agree with everything Trump does. I've been on his head his last term. I was all over his head and people wanted to unfollow me. I don't, I don't, these people ain't paying my paycheck, so I don't need to do anything for anybody. I'm just here to tell the truth and keep it real. And Donald Trump has done things that have been questionable, in my personal opinion, with the vaccines and all of the such tariffs as well, to tariffs. I agree with Trump. I believe in Trump and in good faith, I think he's doing the right thing. But if a person came out and said, look, I'm concerned about tariffs, I own a company, Stephen A. We partner and do things overseas and it's going to hit us. But I do Trump believe that Trump is doing the right thing for a good reason. And I'm optimistic about the outcome. But if, but if DL Hughley came on and said I think the tariffs may be a bad idea, citing these reasons, I'd say, okay, but D.L. hughley, you know, you can say, he says Donald Trump is removing black existence from society, which is the most asinine thing ever. And you would ask him, what are you referring to? He'll say, books being removed. If you go to Florida and you look at the 120 plus variation of books that have been removed from the Florida school system, it was removed because of pornography. It's because they're showing nudity and talking about sex with elementary students. But, but, but DL Hughley don't do any research. He didn't, he won't look up anything. He just know that he has to oppose Donald Trump at every end. Here's another thing, Stephen. If you asked him, if he come on your show, what's something that Donald Trump has done that have been positive, he will not have nothing to say because he can't say it. Because the people, I call them, the people of the melanin, will eat him alive. If he decided to go to the White House and say, look, I'm gonna set the record straight with Donald Trump. And Donald Trump say, DL come to the White House, let's talk. DL won't go to the White House. Even if he could talk to Trump and even if he could confront Trump face to face, he won't do it because he know he ain't researched nothing. And the black people will eat him alive. Stephen A. You've experienced it. You say one thing that sound conservative and they eat you alive. And now you're a Republican and now you simply for Trump, say Quan Barkley gets invited to the White House like every other person who wins the Super Bowl. I mean, it's not the first time in history of super bowl champs have been to the White House.

Brandon Tatum (45:52)

Let me say this to you before I let you go, there's a couple of things. Number one, I appreciate that message. Cause I co sign with you 1000% on we do need to come together. And my definition of coming together is being able to have a conversation and not looking at one another with vitriol because we disagree. Let's butt heads and see whose ideas are better. In other words, knowing policy, knowing objectives and agendas and coming to a conclusion as to whether what's right and what's wrong. And in our mindset, what would be the reason for that. I've heard Officer Tatum and your crew criticized me before, and I'm going like this. Well, damn. You know, they might have a good point there. I got. I mean, I got. I didn't see it that way. Well, let me look at it. And then there are other things like, no, I'm not budging. I think I'm right and they're wrong. Which is why, by the way, I ain't just ask you to come on my show. I come on your show anytime you want me to. My brother. I ain't hiding. I'm here. But I think that the most important message that you're giving is that the Democratic Party has had the black vote for the most part since the 60s. And we've been so transparent in our support for the party that it's given them a license to take us for granted, and it's given the right, a license to ignore us because they assumed they wouldn't get our vote anyway. Therefore, we're the ones without representation. And then we're wondering, what the hell has happened. Now, Trump disoriented stuff a little bit because I think he. I never called him names and all stuff. My issue with him is how he behaves. Cause I think the presidency is a statesmanship position. And if you don't know how to act and you busy tweeting, going after Kathy Griffin and everybody else, it's something like that. As Katt Williams joked about one time, that's problematic for me, but that's it. And that's how I look at it. And anything else, I'm like, listen, listen. He'll get away with what you want him to get away with. Every president, every. Every president in office wants their policies, and you've got senators and congressional figures that are going to support you. They're going to sway you one way or another. Everything's open for negotiation, and that's the way that it should be. So I completely support where you're coming from in terms of keeping an open mind and listening. And I get where you're coming from. I'll give you the last word in this question. As a black man in the United States of America, with Trump in office right now, with everything that you've already said has been going on due in large part to the left, where do you see us going from here? Because there's a lot of black people that don't see progress when they think about Trump.

Stephen A. Smith (50:53)

It's when he go out and talk about politics. But Donald Trump saying negative things about LeBron James, when Donald Trump said negative things about Rihanna, to me, that's the stupidest thing I ever seen in my life. Why would you engage in that? Let the pundits talk trash. You are above the fray. You the head coach, you the man at the top of the food chain. Let them argue down here, and you play the game of the middle in the. At the top. When I say middle, meaning places where you can unite. Unite. They talk about Taylor Swift. Yeah, I, I didn't like Taylor Swift doing a little shenanigans and pretty much encouraging people to vote Democrat, which it didn't work. But why talk about Taylor Swift? You are above the fray. You are the President of the United States of America. He do a lot of sneak dissing on people that are beneath him. And those things bother me. About Donald Trump, in my personal opinion, him arguing with the media every day, at some point you have to say, I'm not talking to them, but you're not gonna catch me. During COVID while we're talking about COVID 19, talking about. You fake news. You fake news that hurt him. In the election with my dad, my dad said, I like his policies, but the way he handled Covid when the press, he said, I can't deal with it. You know why my dad feel like that? Because my dad is a man of integrity. My father worked 40 years as a firefighter, retired twice as a chief. My dad is a man of integrity. He raised us right. My dad is conservative. He's no nonsense. He. He has decorum. He treats people with respect and kindness. He's a man of God. That stuff that Trump does turns him off. Now, I'm trying to get him to look at the policy and not the person, but if I could give Trump any critique, I'd say scale back on that stuff. Just focus on the policies. Be a uniter. Let the pundits talk the trash. Let Caroline Levitt talk trash and bash the media. You come out and lift people up. You come out and be an encouraging factor to the American people. Don't get in the mud. And he would be beloved amongst everybody.

Brandon Tatum (53:45)

No doubt. You take it easy, my man. Take care of yourself. Coming up, President Trump has now surpassed 100 days in office and I'll be talking about him along with Mr. Bill O'Reilly and Chris Cuomo. I've got a preview of that conversation straight ahead. But first, the Los Angeles Lakers are on the verge of elimination at home tonight as they prepare to face Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves. I'll get into that. How can I not? LeBron James might be about to go home tonight in the first round. Can't skip that. Luka Doncic, too. Can't skip that. That's coming up next right here in the Steven A. Show. Don't go away. Welcome back to the Stephen A. Smith Show. Let's get to the NBA playoffs where LeBron James, Luka Doncic and the Los Angeles Lakers are facing elimination at home tonight against Anthony Edwards in the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Lakers are coming off a tough game for lost Sunday after head coach J.J. redick became the first coach to use the same five players for an entire half of a playoff game since at least 1998. Despite that stat, Redick said yesterday he doesn't believe fatigue played a role in why the Lakers lost. Well, listen, that may be true. LeBron James is in better shape than most, even at age 40, in his 22nd season in the NBA. But he was clearly taking offensive plays off because he had to focus so much on defense. Luka Doncic has never been accused of being in shape. So when the Minnesota Timberwolves are pressing him 94ft all game long, eventually the fourth quarter is going to arrive. In fifth, fatigue is going to set in. Austin Reeves, we thought he was a member of the Big Three. We thought he completed the Big Three in Los Angeles. But Minnesota has had other ideas. We can give all the blame in the world to J.J. redick, Los Angeles Lakers, LeBron James Age Luka Doncic being out of shape. But here's what we can't escape. Anthony Edwards is a superstar brother Jajar, 43. The brother is spectacular. He is a skywalker. He is Jordanesque with a J. He is special and right now he's like a shark in blood infested waters. Just like he swept Kevin Durant and Devin Booker in the first round last year. Just like he took out Gola Jokic and Jamal Murray in the semifinals last year, albeit in seven games before running in the Kyrie Irvin and Luka Doncic in the Western Conference finals are making the huge mistake of saying he wanted to guard Kyrie Irving before the player before that series began. And Lord did he pay for that. This man is on the verge over the last two years of sending home Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Nikola jokic, Jamal Murray, LeBron James and Luka Doncic. Ladies and gentlemen, that's star power. When you consider his personality, that's additional star power. When you consider his game, that's even more star power. When you see the fact that he wants all that smoke cause he's willing to get up in you and guard you, that's even more star power. Ant man has arrived. Now I think the Lakers probably will win game five in Los Angeles at the crypto.com arena and then that puts the pressure back on Minnesota to win a game six on their home turf. But I gotta tell you, when I'm looking at Ant Man, I think he smells blood and I don't think he's coming to play patsy with anybody. I think he's coming to take LeBron James and Luka Doncic out. Now I don't think he's trying to get to a game six. He want to take him out right now. Whether he's going to be able to pull that off remains to be seen. The Lakers JJ Redick doesn't have any faith in his bench. He certainly doesn't have any faith in his big men. And because of that, you're asking LeBron James and Luka Doncic to dig deep, which I believe they're both capable of. And I think that will happen in Game 5 in Los Angeles tonight. But if it doesn't, I'm not going to be surprised because I think I'm going to know why it didn't happen. Ant man, oh, by the way, Julius Randle balling bodying up. LeBron James being physical with him. Jaden McDaniels playing stout defense, but he's also putting up points. Rudy Gobert giving you his 24 to 25 minutes a game, going out at 7ft 2, guarding on the perimeter. There's a whole bunch of things to be positive about with the Minnesota Timberwolves, but nothing compared to Ant Man. That brother is box office. And I gotta tell you, even though I don't have much of a desire to go to Minnesota as the playoffs continue, even though it is warmer this time of year than it is in the winter, of course, because the winters are vicious, here's the reality. To see Ant man with a championship on the line, it doesn't get much better than that. I got news for you. As much as we love seeing LeBron James, as much as we love watching Steph Curry, it's time to make way for the younger generation of cats out there. And it starts with him. Trust me on that. Trust me. Coming up, President Trump just surpassed 100 days in office yesterday. I got Chris Cuomo straight ahead to break down what's been happening at the White House. That's next right here on the Stephen A. Smith Show. Don't go away. Welcome back to the Stephen A. Smith Show. Let's get back to the White House and talk about President Trump's first 100 days in office. On Monday. I broke down the poll numbers that showed Trump's approval ratings 100 days in are the lowest in nearly 80 years. Which senator, Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer, certainly. He didn't fail to point out, by the way, but don't take my word for it. Let's get perspective from the host of Cuomo on News Nation. He, along with the one and only Bill O'Reilly and yours truly, will be speaking with President Trump tonight, 8:00pm Eastern Standard Time on News Nation. Please welcome back to the Stephen A. Smith show, the one and only Chris Cuomo. What's up, big time? How are you, sir? How's everything?