Stephen A's Take: Senate Hearings: Democrats, Trump Won! There's a deep freeze on Trump’s inauguration day.

Summary

The Stephen A. Smith Show
Episode: Stephen A's Take: Senate Hearings: Democrats, Trump Won! There's a Deep Freeze on Trump’s Inauguration Day
Release Date: January 18, 2025

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Introduction

In this episode of The Stephen A. Smith Show, host Stephen A. Smith delves into the tumultuous political landscape surrounding former President Donald Trump's anticipated inauguration as the 47th President of the United States. The discussion centers on the recent Senate confirmation hearings for Trump's key cabinet nominees, the public perception of the 2020 election results, and the broader implications for the Democratic Party moving forward.

Senate Confirmation Hearings Overview

Stephen A. Smith begins by addressing the contentious Senate confirmation hearings that took place over the past week for six of Trump's major cabinet nominees. Notable figures under scrutiny included Pam Bondi for Attorney General, Marco Rubio for Secretary of State, Sean Duffy for Transportation Secretary, and John Radcliffe for CIA Director. These hearings were marked by heated exchanges and sharp questioning from Democratic senators.

Notable Quote:

“Take a listen to some of the sound from Wednesday, when Pam Bondi sat down before the committee.”
— Political Commentator [01:55]

Pam Bondi’s Confirmation Hearing

A significant portion of the episode focuses on Pam Bondi's testimony before the Senate committee. Bondi, who previously represented Trump in the 2020 election interference case in Pennsylvania, faced tough questions regarding her acknowledgment of Joe Biden's legitimacy as President.

Key Highlights:

• Durbin’s Questioning: Senator Durbin pressed Bondi on her willingness to accept Joe Biden’s presidency unequivocally.

  Quote:

  “Are you prepared to say today, under oath, without reservation, that Donald Trump lost the presidential contest to Joe Biden in 2020?”
  — Senator Durbin [01:55]

• Bondi’s Response: Bondi affirmed Biden's presidency but hinted at witnessing irregularities during her advocacy in Pennsylvania, though she did not elaborate.

  Quote:

  “Do I agree with what happened? And I saw so much. ... We should all want our elections to be free and fair and... And the rules and the laws to be followed.”
  — Pam Bondi [02:30]

• Durbin’s Frustration: Senator Durbin expressed dissatisfaction with Bondi's evasive answers, emphasizing the need for clear acknowledgment of the election results.

  Quote:

  “I think the length of your answer is an indication that you weren't prepared to answer. Yes.”
  — Senator Durbin [03:21]

Critique of Democratic Tactics and Integrity

The political commentator provides a scathing analysis of the Democratic Party's handling of the confirmation hearings and their broader political strategies. He argues that Democrats are out of touch, persistently clinging to unfounded claims about election integrity, and failing to present viable alternatives to Trump’s agenda.

Key Points:

• Election Legitimacy: The commentator staunchly believes that Trump lost the 2020 election fairly and criticizes Democrats for perpetuating baseless claims of voter fraud.

  Quote:

  “Do I believe that Trump lost in 2020 fair and square? Absolutely. Do I believe that Joe Biden won the election? Absolutely.”
  — Political Commentator [03:29]

• Democratic Weaknesses: He highlights the Democrats' inability to accept their losses and questions their political resilience, suggesting that their actions during the hearings were reminiscent of campaign rhetoric rather than professional conduct.

  Quote:

  “Why would she come up on Capitol Hill and say otherwise? You knew that you also a tone death. That's how you're coming across if you're a Democrat, because nobody cares about that anymore.”
  — Political Commentator [06:15]

• Future Elections: The commentator expresses pessimism about the Democrats’ prospects in upcoming elections, forecasting victories for conservative candidates like J.D. Vance due to the party's disconnect with the electorate.

  Quote:

  “When you gonna get a candidate that could beat him? And in him, I don't mean him literally, because he ain't running for office again. I mean J.D. Vance...”
  — Political Commentator [08:45]

Trump’s Inauguration Amidst Political Turmoil

The episode also touches upon the logistical and symbolic aspects of Trump's inauguration. Originally scheduled to be an outdoor event, the inauguration had to be moved indoors due to the severe cold forecasted in Washington, D.C.

Key Highlights:

• Historical Context: Stephen A. Smith references the last indoor inauguration in 1985 when Ronald Reagan was sworn in for his second term, drawing parallels to Trump's upcoming ceremony.

  Quote:

  “The last time an inauguration was held indoors was back in 1985 when Ronald Reagan was sworn in for his second term as president.”
  — Political Commentator [01:06]

• Public Sentiment: The commentator underscores the polarized public opinion, noting that millions of Americans continue to believe the 2020 election was rigged, despite evidence to the contrary.

  Quote:

  “Clearly, there are millions of American citizens who believed it was rigged.”
  — Political Commentator [04:10]

Overall Implications and Conclusions

Stephen A. Smith wraps up the discussion by emphasizing the deep divisions within American politics and the challenges that lie ahead for both the Trump administration and the Democratic Party. He underscores the importance of moving beyond partisan conflicts to address pressing national issues such as the economy, border security, and public safety.

Final Thoughts:

• Economic and Security Concerns: The commentator asserts that voters are primarily concerned with tangible issues like the economy and border security rather than political theatrics.

  Quote:

  “Looking at what folks want. They want the economy addressed. They want our border security addressed. They want the streets of America safe.”
  — Political Commentator [09:15]

• Call for Realignment: He calls on Democrats to reassess their strategies and align more closely with the electorate’s desires to regain political footing.

  Quote:

  “Until you learn to live with that reality, you're not gonna resonate with anybody. A matter of fact, you're gonna lose a lot of people.”
  — Political Commentator [09:50]

Conclusion

In this compelling episode, Stephen A. Smith provides a no-holds-barred analysis of the current political climate, focusing on Trump's inauguration and the Democratic Party's ongoing struggles. Through incisive commentary and impactful quotes, the show highlights the intense partisan battles, the challenges of political legitimacy, and the urgent need for a shift in Democratic strategies to reconnect with voters and address critical national issues.

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Note: The timestamps provided correspond to the Political Commentator's segment, which constitutes the core content of this episode.

Transcript

[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 podcasts.

[Julie Swerbinks]

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

[Nate Thompson]

We're doing a new podcast together. Here we go.

[Julie Swerbinks]

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[Nate Thompson]

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[Julie Swerbinks]

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[Nate Thompson]

Julia's pretty well connected. She has text threads going that you wouldn't believe.

[Julie Swerbinks]

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

[Political Commentator]

On Monday, President elect Donald Trump will be sworn in as the 47th president of the United States. The inauguration will officially mark Trump's return to the White House after losing to Joe Biden in 2020. By the way, the event has been moved indoors due to the frigid temperatures forecast in Washington, D.C. on Monday. The last time an inauguration was held indoors was was back in 1985 when Ronald Reagan was sworn in for his second term as president. Meanwhile, six of Trump's big office nominees faced Senate confirmation hearings this past week. Some of the candidates include Pam Bondi for Attorney General, Marco Rubio for Secretary of State, Sean Duffy for Transportation Secretary, and John Radcliffe for CIA Director. The confirmation hearings were often contentious for many of the candidates. Take a listen to some of the sound from Wednesday, when Pam Bondi sat down before the committee.

[Senator Durbin]

Are you prepared to say today, under oath, without reservation, that Donald Trump lost the presidential contest to Joe Biden in 2020?

[Pam Bondi]

Ranking Member Durbin President Biden is the President of the United States. He was duly sworn in and he is the President of the United States. There was a peaceful transition of power. President Trump left office and was overwhelmingly elected in 2024.

[Senator Durbin]

Do you have any doubts that Joe Biden had the majority of votes, electoral votes, necessary to be elected president in 2020?

[Pam Bondi]

You know, Senator, all I can tell you as a prosecutor is from my firsthand experience and I accept the results. I accept, of course, that Joe Biden is President of the United States. But what I can tell you is what I saw firsthand when I went to Pennsylvania as an advocate for the campaign. I was an advocate for the campaign, and. And I was on the ground in Pennsylvania, and I saw many things there. But do I accept the results? Of course I do. Do I agree with what happened? And I saw so much. You know, no one from either side of the aisle should want there to be any issues with election integrity in our country. We should all want our elections to be free and fair and. And the rules and the laws to be followed.

[Senator Durbin]

I think that question deserved a yes or no. And I think the length of your answer is an indication that you weren't prepared to answer. Yes.

[Political Commentator]

I try to keep my cool and all of this. I don't like having our time wasted. The Democrats in this particular situation look utterly pathetic. It's the year 2025, and you're talking about election results from 2020. Clearly, there are millions of American citizens who believed it was rigged. Do I believe they were wrong? Yes. Do I believe that Trump lost in 2020 fair and square? Absolutely. Do I believe that Joe Biden won the election? Absolutely. I also believe that most people didn't vote for Joe Biden. They voted against Donald Trump. Just like I don't believe most people voted for Donald Trump in this election against Kamala Harris. I believe they were voting against woke culture, period. That's how I feel. No matter what your feelings are. You want me to tell you the idiocy of what transpired with some of the Senate confirmation hearings this week, particularly with Pam Bondi. She was an attorney representing Donald Trump in 2020 election interference in Pennsylvania. Why would she admit otherwise? She's working for him. She was fighting against the state of Pennsylvania about the election in 2020. That's what she was doing. Why would you even ask her that? And why would we sit up here now with her in line to be the next Attorney General for the United States of America and asking her about whether she believed he truly, truly lost in 2020? Clearly, she did it. If she was representing him, or even if she did, she was willing to make an argument to support his point. If she supported his point all of these years, why would she come up on Capitol Hill and say otherwise? You knew that you also atone death. That's how you're coming across if you're a Democrat, because nobody cares about that anymore. He's about to be sworn in as the 47th president of the United States of America, period. He was impeached twice. They didn't care. It was 34 felony convictions on a hush money trial that everybody was saying, what's the difference between him going through his lawyer to pay hush money to a former porn star? What's the difference between that and an NDA? They thought it was rigged. They thought the Democrats was using lawfare to keep him out of office because they couldn't beat him on their own. And then he showed up on Election Day and showed them they couldn't beat him. Them. You would think in the face of all of that, you would be quiet or you would strictly stick to the questions pertinent to an attorney general. But they sounded like they were still on the campaign trail, talking to constituencies in front of mass rallies, spewing the rhetoric that would dissuade them from even thinking about Donald Trump. No, the election is over. He won. You lost. Here's a better question, and this one is for the Democrats as opposed to them asking the questions to the other side. When you gonna get a candidate that could beat him? And in him, I don't mean him literally, because he ain't running for office again. I mean J.D. vance, because the way y'all look up on Capitol Hill is so sad. You gonna get J.D. vance elected and you're gonna have a whole bunch of conservatives winning these elections because they're looking at you with your head in the sand, not embracing reality. You lost. Nancy Pelosi is not gonna show up to the inauguration. Fine. At least she's consistent. She doesn't like it. She doesn't want to be there. Michelle Obama's not showing up to the inauguration. Fine. No problem. She doesn't want to be there. Their positions are consistent. Joe Biden called them a racist. Now you working with him. Kamala Harris said a whole bunch of things about him. She's gonna be on that stage. Y'all tried everything. You lost. And the inability to accept the fact that you lost, not just the White House, but the House and the Senate as well, and the inability to look at yourself and to see how tone deaf you are and how annoyed people are at the fact that you are that way. Let me tell y'all something. Looking at that for what it is, you're going this way. You're going this way. Folks are tired of it. They want the economy addressed. They want our border security addressed. They want the streets of America safe. That's what folks want. And if you want to look at him as a criminal. You know what the right said. You know what the conservatives said? The hell with it. He's still a bit closer to normalcy than y'all. That's what they're saying. That's how they're looking at the left. And knowing this, you showed up at a confirmation hearing. This wasn't Hegseth that you're talking to with allegations about his sexual behavior or whatever the case may be. This wasn't Gates, who you absolutely despised and you didn't want an office. And that was the right decision. By the way, this is her, Pam Bondi, whose qualifications nobody questions. All you doing is showing the same level of desperation you showed with Trump and he beat you anyway. Until you learn to live with it, all of you Democrats on Capitol Hill, until you learn to live with that reality, you're not gonna resonate with anybody. A matter of fact, you're gonna lose a lot of people. Cause I ain't about to call myself a Republican, and I ain't about to swear to you that I'm gonna vote conservative and Republican everywhere down the line. But I will say this. I've got no problems avoiding supporting you based on what I'm seeing. It's utterly ridiculous.

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[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.