Stephen A's Take: I love the hype, but Democrats, I shouldn't be your Presidential candidate.

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Stephen A. Smith Show

Episode: Stephen A's Take: I love the hype, but Democrats, I shouldn't be your Presidential candidate
Release Date: February 19, 2025
Host: Stephen A. Smith
Produced by: iHeartPodcasts

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1. Introduction: Media Speculation of a Presidential Bid

The episode opens with Stephen A. Smith addressing the recent media buzz surrounding his potential presidential candidacy. Multiple reputable sources, including The Daily Beast and The New Yorker, have speculated on his political ambitions.

• Stephen A. Smith [01:10]:
  "The Daily Beast last week wrote, the headline is Top Dem A Lot to Like About Stephen A. Smith Presidential Bid. That is House Minority Speaker Hakeem Jeffries, who I hope will be on this show in the very near future."

Smith humorously references his appearance in the media, highlighting his fashion choices during a New Orleans party.

• Stephen A. Smith [02:02]:
  "I must admit, I got on like a lavender blazer with a lavender shirt and a purple tie. I was looking pretty fly, if I should say so myself."

2. Clarifying His Intentions: No Presidential Run

Despite the media frenzy, Smith firmly states his lack of intention to run for the U.S. presidency. He addresses a recent TMZ report that fueled speculation about his candidacy.

• Stephen A. Smith [02:21]:
  "Stephen A. Smith, I am not running for U.S. president. I have no intentions of running for the Presidency of the United States of America."

Smith elaborates on his reasons, citing financial considerations and his perception of the political landscape.

• Stephen A. Smith [03:00]:
  "I do not believe that my pockets are deep enough for me to ignore the financial strain that that could potentially have on me. Because obviously I earn more than the President of the United States."

3. Critique of the Democratic Party and the Two-Party System

Smith shifts focus to a critical analysis of the current political system, expressing frustration with the binary choice between Democrats and Republicans.

• Stephen A. Smith [04:15]:
  "I think the binary system that we're in, where we have to choose between the Democrats or the Republicans is a joke. I think it dissuades a vast majority of American citizens from wanting to be a part of the political process."

He argues that the lack of viable options within the Democratic Party has left a void, implicitly suggesting his own suitability as a potential leader.

• Stephen A. Smith [14:00]:
  "Well, guess what? Somebody got to send a message. How the hell can somebody receive a message if there's no messenger?"

4. The Decline of Liberal Donors and Advocacy Groups

Delving deeper, Smith discusses how liberal donors and advocacy groups are withdrawing support, weakening the Democratic base.

• Daniel Jeremiah [09:00]:
  "Liberal donors, I'm sorry, have paused giving, frustrated with what they see as Democrats lack of vision and worried about retaliation from a vengeful president."

Smith underscores the impact of this withdrawal, attributing it to the Democratic Party's misalignment with their core supporters.

• Stephen A. Smith [11:24]:
  "If you're the Democrats, that's why Stephen A. Smith is in the news. Because y'all don't have anybody. You don't have anybody."

5. Examination of Key Political Figures and Policies

Smith critiques prominent Democratic figures, including Kamala Harris and Hakeem Jeffries, questioning their leadership and electability.

• Stephen A. Smith [15:50]:
  "President Obama deported more people than Trump ever did, and you barely heard about it. He just did it knowing that Joe Biden opened borders."

He contrasts former and current administrations, highlighting perceived inconsistencies and failures within the Democratic leadership.

• Stephen A. Smith [17:01]:
  "He lost because we were looking for the courts to help us. Now we fast forward and what are we saying here?"

6. The Frustration with the Lack of Strong Democratic Leadership

Smith expresses frustration over the absence of compelling Democratic candidates who resonate with the broader American populace.

• Stephen A. Smith [18:30]:
  "They don't have that on the left. And now you got a whole bunch of people running scared, talking about leaving the country because they scared of Trump."

He emphasizes the need for strong leadership that can effectively compete with Republican counterparts.

7. Conclusion: The Voice for Change

In his concluding remarks, Smith reiterates his unsolicited consideration for the presidency, emphasizing his passion and determination to challenge the status quo.

• Stephen A. Smith [15:17]:
  "I have no interest in getting involved. More so than pundany and commentary. But you better hope I stay feeling that way. Because let me tell you something right now. I said I'll bring the rain. I lied I'd bring hell."

He calls for a revitalization of the Democratic Party, suggesting that his potential candidacy could catalyze necessary changes.

• Stephen A. Smith [19:25]:
  "That's why Stephen A. Smith is being polled as a presidential nominee. It ain't because I'm qualified. It damn sure ain't because I'm the smartest dude in the room. It's because I got heart, I got guts."

Smith closes the episode by challenging the Democratic Party to regroup and redefine its leadership to better align with voters' needs.

• Stephen A. Smith [24:15]:
  "That's why I'm a candidate. And even though I have no desire to be one, I don't mind the noise. Hopefully it'll make y'all uncomfortable to get y'all back up so you can get your act together and do what the hell you supposed to do."

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Stephen A. Smith [04:15]:
  "I think the binary system that we're in, where we have to choose between the Democrats or the Republicans is a joke."

• Daniel Jeremiah [09:00]:
  "Liberal donors have paused giving, frustrated with what they see as Democrats lack of vision."

• Stephen A. Smith [11:24]:
  "If you're the Democrats, that's why Stephen A. Smith is in the news. Because y'all don't have anybody."

• Stephen A. Smith [15:17]:
  "I said I'll bring the rain. I lied I'd bring hell."

• Stephen A. Smith [19:25]:
  "It ain't because I'm qualified. It damn sure ain't because I'm the smartest dude in the room. It's because I got heart, I got guts."

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Final Thoughts

In this provocative episode, Stephen A. Smith uses his platform to critique the current state of the Democratic Party and the broader American political system. While he dismisses the notion of an actual presidential run, his passionate commentary underscores significant frustrations with political leadership and donor disengagement. Whether intended as satire or earnest critique, Smith's insights offer listeners a candid look at his perspective on American politics.

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Note: This summary excludes advertisements and non-content segments to focus solely on the substantive discussions of the episode.

Transcript

[Jason Alexander]

At&t has a new guarantee because most things in life are not guaranteed like getting through self checkout by yourself. Not guaranteed in a world where Nothing is guaranteed. AT&T is bringing something new to the table. AT&T is introducing a guarantee with connectivity you depend on, deals you want and service you deserve or they make it right. Learn [e-mail] guarantee@&t connecting changes everything. Terms and conditions apply. Visit att.comguarantee for details on the podcast. Really know really? Join best friends Jason Alexander and Peter Tilden along with experts, newsmakers and celebrities in a search for answers to life's most baffling, intriguing and annoying questions. You know those things that make you go really? No really?

[Peter Tilden]

I think There was a 17 year old in Rhode island who ran a candidate that was a deep fake.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Really?

[Peter Tilden]

Wait, wait, that's news to me. That's, that's really no really right there. Really?

[Greg Rosenthal]

No really.

[Jason Alexander]

Listen to really? No really on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Let me switch to a subject near and dear to my heart, me.

[Daniel Jeremiah]

Because once again I'm in the news.

[Stephen A. Smith]

And you would think it would be about something else other than what I'm in the news for, but one thing after another has appeared. I had a couple of articles that I had to pay attention to this week and there is no way around this. So I'm going to tackle it with the fervor that it deserves and let you know what I'm thinking. The Daily Beast last week wrote, the headline is Top Dem A Lot to Like About Stephen A. Smith Presidential Bid. That is House Minority Speaker Hakeem Jeffries, who I hope will be on this show in the very near future. Another article came out this weekend by the New Yorker headline Stephen A. Smith For President, New Yorker.com check it out. I must admit, I got on like a lavender blazer with a lavender shirt and a purple tie. I, I, I was looking pretty fly, if I should say so myself. I just want to throw that out there. Just want to throw that out there.

[Daniel Jeremiah]

Okay, and now the latest is courtesy of tmz.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Now mind you, USA Today, Washington Post, usa. You know, various other publications have written about this as well. Stephen A. Smith, I am not running for U.S. president. This is when TMZ caught me coming out of a Shannon Sharps party in New Orleans during Super bowl week. And I guess they ran this recently and I wanted to go there because I wanted to make sure that I put this to bed once and for all. I have no intentions of running for the Presidency of the United States of America. I do not believe I am an aficionado. I do not believe that my pockets are deep enough for me to ignore the financial strain that that could potentially have on me. Because obviously I earn more than the President of the United States. Right now he makes about $400,000 a year. That position there is. Senate and Congressional figures make anywhere from 170 to 270,000 a year. Needless to say, I make more money than that. And so I'm not really interested on that level. But here's a reason why, while being honest about having zero desire whatsoever to be a politician, because I consider them beggars, donors, you know, campaign donations, you know, sponsors and you know, political figures. And even when you get into office, you gotta curry favor with politicians to get legislation pushed through. And all of this other stuff, I.

[Daniel Jeremiah]

Mean, it's just no peace in my life.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Plus it's giving you a license because I'm asking to legislate the lives of 350 plus American citizens that gives you a license to get into my personal business. And I don't want you in that.

[Daniel Jeremiah]

All of that's true. But there's a reason while. There's a reason that while saying what.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I've said and meaning it, I've often said, even in a half joking way, if the American people wanted me to be the President of the United States and I knew that I had a really, really good shot to win, I can't deny that it's something I would consider. Let me tell you why I say that. Because I think our system sucks. I think the binary system that we're in, where we have to choose between the Democrats or the Republicans is a joke. I think it dissuades a vast majority of American citizens from wanting to be a part of the political process. And I think that something needs to be done about it in order to bring America back to where it should have always been.

[Daniel Jeremiah]

Ladies and gentlemen, I cover sports for a living. Griff, Sherry, Rashawn, everybody listen up.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Because I'm only gonna say this once.

[Daniel Jeremiah]

It's very, very important. Because I know, like I told America.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Before, I've got a bunch of liberals working for me. Some are closet Republicans. They don't want to admit it, but it's true. But I got a bunch of liberals working for me in the whole bit. Let me be very, very clear about where I stand.

[Daniel Jeremiah]

Wes, you need to listen to.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Damn it. You got a family. Listen to me. Listen when I'm talking To you.

[Daniel Jeremiah]

Ladies.

[Stephen A. Smith]

And gentlemen, I cover sports for a living. I like competition. I want legitimate competition between the Republican and the Democratic Party over your ideas of what the country should, should be and how we can get it there.

[Daniel Jeremiah]

I hate it when the left because I firmly believe they politicized a whole bunch of legal stuff against Donald Trump. I'm not questioning the legitimacy or lack thereof. I don't know. You got the 11,000 votes he was seeking in Georgia. You got the 34 felony convictions he received in New York. Some people said it's hush money. Others said, what's the difference between that and an NDA? Damn it. The man cooked up with a porn star and didn't want anybody to know before the election. Oh, my God. Stop the presses. John Edwards got loose as a Democratic nominee or a Democratic candidate when he was running for the presidency. He didn't want people to know. I'm quite sure he would have hit it if he could got if he could have gotten away with it. Gary Edwards did the same thing. You don't think Clinton tried to submerged evidence against him with the whole Monica Lewinsky scandal? Come on. I think it was politicized to some degree anyway. And I hated that because what I was saying is beat him. Go back to the tapes, Griff. Nod your head if I'm lying. I was saying beat him. Don't pussyfoot around. Don't depend on a legal system to wipe him out so you don't have to go against him in the polls. Beat him. What's one of the reasons I think he lost? I think he won because he was saying, you can't beat me. You're using this to get help because you can't beat me on your own. And sure enough, election day rolls around and the Democrats got their kicked. I don't want to hear this noise about how he didn't get 50% of the vote, 49.8% he got. Kamala got 48.3. The man won 50 counties and went up in every one of them. He won all six or seven swing states. The black vote, the Hispanic vote, the young voters all voted for him. He won. He won because we didn't want to engage in competition on the left. We were looking for the courts to help us. Now we fast forward and what are we saying here? I read an article right here. New York Times. I'm reading it right here. New York Times headline, venting at Democrats and Fearing Trump Liberal Donors Pull Back Cash. I'm going to read a couple of excerpts from here from you the small dollar online spigot that powered opposition to the first Trump administration has slowed to a trickle as shaken liberal voters withhold their donations. Charitable foundations that along supported causes like voting rights, LGBTQ equality and immigrants rights are pulling back the voting time to prepare for expected investigations from the Republican led Congress and some of the country's biggest legal donors. Liberal donors, I'm sorry, have paused giving, frustrated with what they see as Democrats lack of vision and worried about retaliation from a vengeful president. Some Democrats say a few of their reliable donors are now openly supporting Mr. Trump or at least looking to curry favor with him. In another paragraph, it says while Mr. Trump has not taken action against any liberal groups or lawmakers, Democrats worry his frequent threats of retribution during the campaign have led to a chilling effect on the charitable foundations and nonprofit advocacy groups that have long been pillars of the country's civil society. Jeff Skoll, a Silicon Valley billionaire and a longtime friend of Elon Musk, said there was an awful lot of pressure to side with Trump this month. Mr. Skoll, who's donated tens of millions to Democratic candidates and causes in recent years but said he did not vote in 2024 presidential election, posted a photo on social media of himself standing with Mr. Trump backstage at the inauguration. On Friday, he had breakfast in Palm Beach, Florida with Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the minority leader, where they discussed the prospect of Mr. Schumer's using.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Mr. Scoal to back channel ideas to the President. Mr. Schumer recalls the conversation differently, according to an aide. Okay, but here's the biggest thing, and.

[Daniel Jeremiah]

I'll stop the reading after this quote. There are people who are absolutely against Trump, never Trumpers, who fear that they'll be retaliated against it.

[Stephen A. Smith]

They'll have to leave the country, Mr. Sco said.

[Daniel Jeremiah]

Folks who wish to oppose them, it.

[Stephen A. Smith]

May take some time before they gather up the courage. But listen to this.

[Daniel Jeremiah]

The result is a political environment that is strikingly different from 2017, when money poured into Democratic causes, fortifying existing organizations and seeding a flowering of new groups to fight different parts of Mr. Trump's agenda. Now, some of those same organizations are struggling to survive, in part because few new major liberal donors have emerged since 2017. Groups that support LGBTQ rights, promote gender equity and champion other progressive causes have cut staffing and announced that longtime leaders are leaving. End United and Citizens United, a left leaning group that aims to overhaul campaign finance laws, laid off its six senior staff members last month as part of a restructuring Run for something which works to Elect Liberal Down Ballot candidates laid off 35% of its staff late last year. And Gelson Glsen, a group dedicated to protecting LGBTQ students, laid off 25 people last month.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Let me tell y'all something. If you're the Democrats, that's why Stephen A. Smith is in the news. Because y'all don't have anybody. You don't have anybody.

[Daniel Jeremiah]

Who you got? Who you got? Kamala Harris better not run. She better not run. She's not going to win a presidency in 2028. Keep in mind respect for her. I'm not going to disrespect the former Vice President of the United States. I will never do that. But we got to be real about something here. When she ran for election on her own, she couldn't make it to Iowa in 2020. She ultimately positions herself against the Vice presidency. They win the election in 2020. Joe Biden is feeling himself after the liberals won the midterms. And instead of being a transitional president like he promised, the man backstabbed the Liberal Party and turned around and said, I'm staying. They wanted him out. So what did everybody, we all notice now. Boo, Boo. The fool can see what happened now. You knew he had lost a step. We don't know what the hell was wrong with him, but clearly his fastball was gone. So you have no primary. You fix it so he doesn't have to face a primary. And then you put him on stage last June 27 for a debate. He embarrasses himself and three weeks later he has to bow out. So Kamala Harris had come in as a Democratic nominee for the presidency of the United States of America at. At a time when they didn't have any time to put somebody else in to compete with her. You don't overcome that after losing the election. America ain't gonna go for it on the left. They ain't gonna go for it. Who else you got? Hakeem Jeffries. I personally support Westmore, the governor of Maryland, but I don't know how much of a national figure he is. I already interviewed Josh Shapiro and oh, by the way to the Republicans listening out there, you're welcome to come on the Stephen A. Smith Show. I'm not one sided. See, this is why my name is in the election. You hear me? Griff, you hear me? Wes, you hear me? Sherry, you hear me? Rashad, you hear me? The Stephen A. Smith team I'm talking to. That's why I'm in the news. I'm not in the news because I'm here. I'm in the news because the Democratic Party is here, damn it. Lower than that, down at the bottom. They suck right now. Horrible. Cuz they don't have a voice. Where the hell is the voice everybody want to sit up there and talk about? I mean, I need a voice. We don't need a voice. We don't need a voice. We don't need a voice. Well, guess what? Somebody got to send a message. How the hell can somebody receive a message if there's no messenger? You got to do it and they don't have anybody. That's why Stephen A. Smith is a candidate. Who the hell told y'all I'd want to be a Democrat? I have conservative ideas. I believe in free market capitalism. I believe in patrolling our borders.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I believe in strong national security.

[Daniel Jeremiah]

But you are right. I'd probably be a Democrat, a moderate, a centrist, leaning left. I'm about that Bill Clinton, Newt Gingrich agreement. I'm about that surplus when Clinton walked out of office. I'm about Obama deporting more than Trump did, but American public didn't notice. I'm about a strong economy. I want Griff to get paid. I want Sherry to get paid. I want Galen to get paid. I want Rashawn to get paid. I just want to get paid, too.

[Stephen A. Smith]

You really, really think that Stephen A. Smith would tolerate crime in the streets.

[Daniel Jeremiah]

To the point where you got to.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Let three people in the store at a time? Do you know anything about me? Do you know what I would do as commander in chief if I saw a crime raiding through our streets and it was affecting jobs and safety and ultimately the economy?

[Daniel Jeremiah]

Do you know who the hell you're talking to or listening to? Hell, Trump might not have anything on me with that. I ain't having it. I ain't having it. So I'm just saying to y'all, that's.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Why I'm a candidate.

[Daniel Jeremiah]

It ain't because I want to. It ain't because I'm some expert. It ain't because I'm some aficionado who's saying that I know more.

[Stephen A. Smith]

You know how much I would have to learn.

[Daniel Jeremiah]

Hell, I don't even know how to pronounce most foreign dignitaries names.

[Stephen A. Smith]

The sad part is that I'd still beat any Democrat out there right now because who the hell is resonating with the American people?

[Daniel Jeremiah]

Hell, even Josh Shapiro came on the show, who I like a lot, by the way, and even he talked about.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I'm just concentrating on Pennsylvania.

[Daniel Jeremiah]

What, what we need more than That.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I have no interest in getting involved. More so than pundany and commentary. But you better hope I stay feeling that way. Because let me tell you something right now. I said I'll bring the rain. I lied I'd bring hell. Hell, cuz I ain't playing.

[Daniel Jeremiah]

I'm there to win.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Our two party system sucks.

[Daniel Jeremiah]

You think I like what I see Elon Musk doing? I don't know whether I like it or not. I don't know if he could be trusted. I don't like the fact that he's getting billions from our federal government while he's doing business on behalf of the President. And the President is talking about, I'll police him myself. I'll watch him. Well, I'm supposed to trust that now.

[Stephen A. Smith]

But President Trump has a right to do it because he won. Because y'all in beat him. Because while he was talking about the economy and he was talking about the price of goods and he was talking about inflation and he was talking about our borders and he was talking about crime in the streets, the Democrats was talking about LGBTQ and transgender rights and 1% of the population at the expense. See, and this is the part that I want to make sure I'm clear about. This was the crime. It's not that they were talking about transgender rights. It's that they forgot 13% of the population in the black community and they forgot nearly 20% of the population in the Hispanic community who supported them at the expense of the 1%. How stupid can you be? I don't believe that's Kamala Harris's fault. I believe that's zealots on the left, on a progressive side, who somehow, someway manage to pull these people to their side. Nobody center left simply looked at them in the face, whether it's AOC or.

[Daniel Jeremiah]

Anybody else from the squad, and asked a simple question.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Where the hell are you going?

[Daniel Jeremiah]

If you don't vote for us, would you go do go vote, vote, vote.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Vote for Trump. You gonna vote right and you on a progressive left.

[Daniel Jeremiah]

If you all the way left, okay, if you all the way left, what you gonna do? A way right? You might not like where somebody is center left, but at least they're closer to the left than the other side. And the center left was capitulating to that. Why? Because you had no strong leadership. You had nobody to tell them to sit there, down, shut up, and follow my lead. I'm the Democratic nominee for the presidency of the United States, not you. We gonna do this my way.

[Stephen A. Smith]

They don't have that on the left. And now you got a whole bunch of people running scared, talking about leaving the country because they scared of Trump.

[Daniel Jeremiah]

Well, maybe if you didn't try to use warfare to get him and you just sat up there and competed with him fair and square about your policies being better than his and articulated that message to the masses, maybe it wouldn't be this way. But you didn't do it.

[Stephen A. Smith]

That's why Stephen A. Smith is being polled as a presidential nominee. It ain't because I'm qualified. It damn sure ain't because I'm the smartest dude in the room. It's because I got heart, I got guts. And if we gonna have a fight, let's get down, let's get it on. America knows I would do that much. And I'd have a clue as to what I'm talking about, and I'd have a clue as to what not to talk about. Like something that's less than 1% of the population. Think about this last point I'm going to make. President Barack Obama deported more people than Trump ever did, and you barely heard about it. He just did it knowing that Joe Biden opened borders. They could talk about how you could open it, but you couldn't necessarily close it after you opened it because of COVID and all this. I don't want to hear that the streets of America were ravaged with illegal immigrants in our nation, and Joe Biden and his administration did nothing about it after Obama had done everything about it other than pass comprehensive immigration reform, which takes both sides of the aisle. President Obama did his job. Joe Biden did not. And the Democrats, who are progressives, that means looking forward, stood up during his State of the Union knowing that he was approaching 82 years of age, and chanted, Four more years. You have no authenticity. You have no legitimacy. Your heart might be in the right place with some of the policies that you're trying to implement, some of the things that you're trying to move forward. While it appears Trump may be trying to turn the clock back. But it's the price you pay when you're incompetent, selfish, tone deaf, devoid of impact. That's what the Democratic Party. That's where the Democratic Party is at right now. And it's exactly why some sports analyst on national TV is a candidate for the presidency of the United States of America. I have no desire whatsoever to compromise my quality of life for this. But I'll say this much about myself. I don't blame millions of Americans if they want me to. Because what the hell is the alternative? Look at y'all. Look at y'all. I'm talking to the Dem specifically. What a travesty. Everybody's jumping shit from y'all. Party has to change. It has to be purged. And those who got in Kamala Harris's ear and told her that that was the strategy they needed to exercise in those 107 days before the election, all of them should be gone. Every living ass, every one of them. What an egregious plan to put forth. She didn't lose this election. Y'all lost it. And with it, you took her presidential aspirations with her and threw it away. That's why I'm a candidate. And even though I have no desire to be one, I don't mind the noise. Hopefully it'll make y'all uncomfortable to get y'all back up so you can get your act together and do what the hell you supposed to do. If not that, holla at me in three years. I might have changed my mind by then. Till next time. Peace and love, everybody. Steven A. Signing off.

[Greg Rosenthal]

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 going to be bringing you 40s and free agents, the only podcast you'll need this NFL draft season. From DJs mock drafts to my top 101 free agents will have it covered for you with all new episodes every Thursday keeping you up to date as we head to the NFL Draft. Listen to 40s and free agents starting on March 6th on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Peter Tilden]

What's up, everyone? Julie Swerbinks here along with former NHL player Nate Thompson. We're doing a new podcast together. Here we go. The name Energy Line with Nate and jsb. Each week we'll get together and talk about hockey life. All topics are fair game, right? Exactly. And you'll never know who will drop by to join us. Julius Prick. Well connected. She has text threads going that you wouldn't believe. Listen to Energy Line with Nate and jsb on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.