Podcast Summary: The Stephen A. Smith Show Episode: Stephen A's Take: Stephen A Responds to Key Takeaways from Biden's "BBC" and "The View" Interviews
Release Date: May 11, 2025

1. Introduction and Context

In this episode of The Stephen A. Smith Show, host Stephen A. Smith delves into recent political developments, specifically focusing on President Donald Trump's announcement to appoint Jeanine Pirro as interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia and former President Joe Biden's appearances on BBC and The View. Stephen A. offers his unfiltered opinions, analyzing the implications of these events on the current political landscape.

2. Trump's Appointment of Jeanine Pirro

Announcement and Qualifications President Donald Trump announced his intention to appoint Fox News host and former prosecutor Jeanine Pirro as the interim U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia via his Truth Social platform. Stephen A. references Trump's praise for Pirro's qualifications:

"Jeanine is incredibly well qualified for this position and is considered one of the top district attorneys in the history of the state of New York." (01:45)

Loyalty Over Qualifications Stephen A. raises concerns about the underlying criteria for such appointments, suggesting that loyalty to Trump may be taking precedence over qualifications:

"I think we all should be alarmed. And if I was talking to the president for a lengthy interview, which I would love to have... loyalty and devotion to him seems to be the criteria for these jobs as opposed to one's qualifications." (05:20)

Influence of Media Personalities He critiques the trend of appointing media figures to significant government positions, questioning the wisdom behind such choices:

"Jeanine Pirro's on the Five. The Five is a very successful show. I watch it often... But when something like this happens, am I in a position where I get to question your objectivity?" (08:10)

3. Critique of Biden's Interviews on BBC and The View

Biden's Comments on The View Stephen A. criticizes President Biden’s recent appearance on The View, where Biden attributed Kamala Harris's failed presidential run to sexism. He finds Biden's statements disingenuous and unfounded:

"Bs. That's straight bs. See, I'm not gonna let y'all get away with that." (10:15)

Comparison to 2016 Election Issues He draws parallels between Biden's remarks and the 2016 election, highlighting inconsistencies in attributing electoral outcomes to gender bias:

"They said we were hitting the same thing about Hillary in 2016... What misogyny got to do with that?" (12:30)

Biden's Handling of Presidency Stephen A. dissects Biden's tenure as president, pointing out various issues such as inflation, open borders, and foreign policy conflicts:

"How could you possibly think you would have beaten Trump when inflation was taking place, when open borders had ravaged us, when the war in Ukraine against Russia was fomented even more..." (14:50)

Biden's Commitment to Being a Transitional President He questions Biden’s deviation from his promise to serve only a transitional term, suggesting that his extended presidency has hindered the Democratic Party's prospects:

"You swore to the American public that you were there to be a transitional president... But you didn't care. Instead, you want to talk about what's for the good of the country." (17:05)

Anticipation of Biden's Tell-All Book Stephen A. speculates on Biden’s intentions behind announcing a forthcoming book, implying it may be a strategic move to influence future elections:

"It's a tell all. It's a sinister game... What you're doing is, what you're saying is I'm going to come out with a tell all book and I'm going to name everybody out." (16:40)

4. Broader Political Implications

Impact on the Democratic Party He argues that Biden’s actions have sown discord within the Democratic Party, potentially jeopardizing their performance in the upcoming midterm elections:

"Your wife did everything she could to cover for you... And now we're walking around and what are we hearing right now?" (17:30)

Reflection on Political Loyalty Stephen A. emphasizes the importance of genuine leadership over political loyalty, cautioning against appointments driven by allegiance rather than merit:

"It's about people doing anything it appears for him. And I don't know how wise that part is." (07:55)

5. Conclusion

Stephen A. wraps up the episode by reiterating his disappointment in both Trump’s appointment choices and Biden’s leadership style. He calls for more accountability and prioritization of qualifications over loyalty in political appointments and leadership roles.

"But it’s a damn shame. All of this stuff that the left wants to complain about with Trump... Once again, my latest example of you bringing it on yourself. You brought it on yourself." (18:15)

Notable Quotes

• On Trump’s Appointment Criteria:

  "Loyalty and devotion to him seems to be the criteria for these jobs as opposed to one's qualifications." — Stephen A. Smith (05:20)

• On Biden’s Claims about Harris:

  "Bs. That's straight bs." — Stephen A. Smith (10:15)

• On Biden’s Transitional Promise:

  "You swore to the American public that you were there to be a transitional president." — Stephen A. Smith (17:05)

• On Biden’s Upcoming Book:

  "It's a tell all. It's a sinister game." — Stephen A. Smith (16:40)

Note: Timestamps correspond to the speaker's commentary and highlight key moments in the discussion. This summary aims to encapsulate the core arguments and sentiments expressed by Stephen A. Smith, providing listeners with a comprehensive overview of the episode's content.