Stephen A's Take: Stephen talks about how Cancer has taken a toll on his family when discussing Biden.

Summary

Summary of "Stephen A's Take: Cancer's Toll on Stephen’s Family and Reflections on Biden"

Podcast: The Stephen A. Smith Show
Host: Stephen A. Smith and iHeartPodcasts
Episode Title: Stephen A's Take: Stephen talks about how Cancer has taken a toll on his family when discussing Biden
Release Date: May 21, 2025

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Introduction: Addressing a Personal and National Crisis

In this poignant episode of The Stephen A. Smith Show, Stephen A. Smith delves deep into the personal and political ramifications of former President Joe Biden's recent prostate cancer diagnosis. Balancing heartfelt personal anecdotes with sharp political critique, Stephen offers listeners a comprehensive view of how cancer impacts not only individuals and families but also the broader political landscape.

Biden's Cancer Diagnosis: A Nation's Shock

Timestamp: [01:13]

Stephen begins by addressing the recent announcement from President Biden's office regarding his diagnosis with an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has metastasized to his bones. He quotes the official statement:

"Last week, President Joe Biden was seen for a new finding of a prostate nodule after experiencing increasing urinary symptoms. On Friday, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer characterized by a Gleason score of 9 with metastasis to the bone. While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone sensitive, which allows for effective management."
— Stephen A. Smith ([01:13])

He further highlights Biden's own heartfelt message shared on platform X (formerly Twitter):

"Cancer touches us all. Like so many of you, Jill and I have learned that we are strongest in the broken places. Thank you for listening, lifting us up with love and support."
— President Joe Biden ([01:30])

Personal Reflections: Stephen's Battle with Cancer

Timestamp: [03:45]

Stephen transitions into a deeply personal narrative, recounting the profound impact cancer has had on his own family. He shares:

"For me personally, it always hits home because we all know my mother passed away in 2017 of cancer. It is an issue that is highly sensitive to me and to millions upon millions of Americans and people worldwide."
— Stephen A. Smith ([03:45])

He elaborates on the loss of his father, who suffered from Parkinson's before succumbing to cancer:

"The likelihood is that I'll never will because it took away from me the greatest human being I have ever known, my father who suffered from Parkinson's and ultimately departed because cancer had sifted through to his spine."
— Stephen A. Smith ([04:10])

Stephen also mourns his uncle Frankie and aunt Normal, both victims of cancer, underscoring the pervasive and devastating nature of the disease:

"My uncle Frankie, my aunt Normal, all cancer victims."
— Stephen A. Smith ([04:25])

From Personal Grief to Political Critique

Timestamp: [05:00]

While expressing his heartfelt wishes for President Biden, Stephen pivots to a critical analysis of the Democratic Party's handling of the news surrounding Biden's condition:

"Hearing of his diagnosis doesn't come with its own suspicions. It is not about him. Once again, it's about the Democratic Party, at least for a second."
— Stephen A. Smith ([05:00])

He questions the timing and transparency of the announcement, raising concerns about what the Democrats may have known prior to the public disclosure:

"How much or how bad off was he before we learned this news? How long was that portion of all of this going on? And what did the Democrats know?"
— Stephen A. Smith ([05:30])

Comparing the Democratic Party to Lance Armstrong

Timestamp: [06:15]

Stephen draws a provocative comparison between the Democratic Party's reaction to Biden's diagnosis and Lance Armstrong's notorious denial of performance-enhancing drug use:

"Do you know who the Democratic Party could easily be compared to right now? Lance Armstrong. You remember that dude? I think it's seven. That's the same Lance Armstrong who won seven Tour de Francisco was the dude that was accused of performance enhancement use for years. And what did he do? He terrorized the accusers knowing he was lying."
— Stephen A. Smith ([06:15])

He criticizes the party's response to allegations about Biden's health, suggesting that their strategies mirror Armstrong's tactics of denial and ostracization of accusers:

"What did the Democratic Party do when people brought up Joe Biden and his debilitation, they didn't just deny it. They attacked and attempted to ostracize those who would dare question it and come to find out as the days and the weeks and the months go by, how so many knew all along."
— Stephen A. Smith ([06:45])

Conclusion: A Call for Transparency and Accountability

Timestamp: [07:10]

Stephen wraps up his critique by emphasizing the need for honesty and integrity within the Democratic Party, drawing parallels to the widespread scrutiny and eventual downfall experienced by Lance Armstrong:

"Think about it."
— Stephen A. Smith ([07:10])

He urges listeners to reflect on the party's actions leading up to the 2024 election, questioning their commitment to transparency and the well-being of their leaders.

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Key Takeaways:

• Biden's Diagnosis: An aggressive and hormone-sensitive prostate cancer diagnosis has significant personal and political implications.

• Personal Connection: Stephen A. Smith shares his own family's struggles with cancer, highlighting the universal and devastating impact of the disease.

• Political Critique: He criticizes the Democratic Party's handling of Biden's diagnosis, suggesting a lack of transparency and drawing unfavorable comparisons to Lance Armstrong's denial tactics.

• Call for Accountability: The episode underscores the importance of honesty and integrity in political parties, especially concerning the health and well-being of their leaders.

Notable Quotes:

• "Cancer touches us all. Like so many of you, Jill and I have learned that we are strongest in the broken places."
  — President Joe Biden ([01:30])

• "For me personally, it always hits home because we all know my mother passed away in 2017 of cancer."
  — Stephen A. Smith ([03:45])

• "They attacked and attempted to ostracize those who would dare question it."
  — Stephen A. Smith ([06:45])

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This episode of The Stephen A. Smith Show offers a compelling blend of personal narrative and incisive political analysis, providing listeners with a heartfelt perspective on the impact of cancer and a critical lens on the actions of the Democratic Party in the wake of President Biden's diagnosis.

Transcript

[A]

You're listening to an iHeart podcast at.

[B]

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[C]

You see the world differently where others see empty lots. You see blueprints where others sit in lecture halls. Future leaders choose Ferris State University to build something real. Ready to dig in and learn through action. Ferris State gives you the tools, the team and training to unleash your potential with paths to high demand careers and in state tuition for non residents At Ferris State, students don't just study, they build. They lead. They succeed. Visit ferris. Edu Ferris State University we build champions.

[A]

Now let's talk about former President Joe Biden for a quick second who was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer. The news came from his personal office on Sunday and the cancer has spread to his bones. Here's a portion of the statement from Biden's office. Quote Last week, President Joe Biden was seen for a new finding of a prostate nodule after experiencing increasing urinary symptoms. On Friday, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer characterized by a Gleason score of 9 with metastasis to the bone. While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone sensitive, which allows for effective management, end quote. And here's a photo and statement from Biden himself that he posted this morning on X. It says, quote, cancer touches us all. Like so many of you, Jill and I have learned that we are strongest in the broken places. Thank you for listening, lifting us up with love and support, end quote. The first order of business is to say best wishes and good luck to our former President, our 46th President of the United States, Joe Biden. For me personally, it always hits home because we all know my mother passed away in 2017 of cancer. It is an issue that is highly sensitive to me and to millions upon millions of Americans and people worldwide. Cancer has ravaged so many lives in this world and regardless of what people say about us beating cancer, I never feel like we've beaten cancer and the likelihood is that I'll never will because it took away from me the greatest human being I have ever known, my father who suffered from Parkinson's and ultimately departed because cancer had sifted through to his spine. My uncle Frankie, my aunt Normal, all cancer victims. So that's the human personal side of me that is sitting here wishing the very, very best for Joe Biden, yet with a palpable fear of the worst. So I'm really wishing and praying for the best for him. Having said that, in the interest of full disclosure, I think it's important to point out that hearing of his diagnosis doesn't come with its own suspicions. It is not about him. Once again, it's about the Democratic Party, at least for a second. Until we read that the news was just given to him by his doctor as it pertains to the severity of his condition. You did find yourself thinking, well, how well was he before the other day? How much or how bad off was he before we learned this news? How long was that portion of all of this going on? And what did the Democrats know? Because once again, we get to a point where whether it's Trump or it's other members of the GOP or it's even independence with heightened suspicions. The bottom line is the Democratic Party has shown itself to be, at least to some degree, some of the things they've accused the GOP of being. Disingenuous, not forthcoming. A bit scandalous there, I say, if not flat out liars. See all the news coming out about what they knew about Joe Biden. See these reports sifting and circulating everywhere. Where was all of that? Do y' all know who the Democratic Party could easily be compared to right now? Not right now, in this second. I'm talking about how they were conducting themselves leading up to the 2024 election. Do you know who they could be compared to? Lance Armstrong. You remember the cyclist extraordinaire, seven time Tour de France winner? Remember that dude? I think it's seven. Eleven. I think it's seven. That's that same Lance Armstrong who won seven Tour de France's was the dude that was accused of performance enhancement use for years. And what did he do? He terrorized the accusers knowing he was lying. What did the Democratic Party do when people brought up Joe Biden and his debilitation, they didn't just deny it. They attacked and attempted to ostracize those who would dare question it and come to find out as the days and the weeks and the months go by, how so many knew all along. And not only did they not admit it, they condemned those who said so. That's how I'm comparing them to Lance Armstrong. Think about it.

[C]

You see the world differently. Where others see empty lots, you see blueprints. Where others sit in lecture halls, Future leaders choose Ferris State University to build something real ready to dig in and learn through action. Ferris State gives you the tools, the team and training to unleash your potential with paths to high demand careers and in state tuition for non residents. And at Ferris State students don't just study, they build. They lead. They succeed. Visit Ferris. Edu Ferris State University we build champions.

[B]

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 and T is bringing something new to the table AT and 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@ connecting changes everything. Terms and conditions apply. Visit att.com guarantee for details.

[A]

You're listening to an iHeart podcast.