Stephen A's Take: Trump's former pick for Attorney General Matt Gaetz is a “Troubled Man.”

Summary

The Stephen A. Smith Show: In-Depth Summary of “Trump's Former Pick for Attorney General Matt Gaetz is a ‘Troubled Man’”

Podcast Information:

• Title: The Stephen A. Smith Show
• Host: Stephen A. Smith and iHeartPodcasts
• Episode: Stephen A's Take: Trump's former pick for Attorney General Matt Gaetz is a “Troubled Man.”
• Release Date: December 24, 2024

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1. Introduction

In this episode of The Stephen A. Smith Show, host Stephen A. Smith delves into the controversial nomination of former Representative Matt Gaetz as the United States Attorney General by former President Donald Trump. The discussion unpacks the findings of the House Ethics Committee regarding Gaetz's conduct, the GOP's handling of the situation, and broader implications for conservative leadership and media representation.

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2. Stephen A. Smith’s Remarks on Matt Gaetz

The episode opens with Stephen A. Smith addressing the recent headlines about his remarks on Fox News, where he referred to Matt Gaetz as a “troubled man.”

• Clarification of Views (03:53): Smith shares his conversation with Mark Levin on Fox News, emphasizing his concerns about Gaetz's suitability for the Attorney General role. He states, “Nobody's backing up from it. Nevertheless, I have to tell you that...” [03:53].

• Regret and Regrets in the GOP (02:18): The headline claiming Smith regrets backing Vice President Kamala Harris is addressed. Smith clarifies, “Anywhere in that headline, did you hear me say I regret voting for Kamala Harris? You did not hear me say that” [02:18-03:00].

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3. House Ethics Committee Report on Matt Gaetz

A significant portion of the episode focuses on the House Ethics Committee's findings regarding Matt Gaetz's conduct.

• Ethics Violations (11:19): Daniel Jeremiah outlines the report's conclusions, stating that Gaetz “violated Florida state laws, including the state statutory rape law” [11:19].

• Details of Misconduct (11:22–11:28): The report reveals Gaetz “paid tens of thousands of dollars to women for sex or drugs on at least 20 occasions,” including an incident with a 17-year-old girl [11:22–11:28].

• GOP’s Response (12:00): Mark Levin criticizes the GOP-led panel for taking action against Gaetz, highlighting the inconsistency: “It’s kind of ironic, dare I say hypocritical, that they would do this to Gaetz” [12:00].

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4. GOP’s Defense of Trump vs. Treatment of Gaetz

The conversation contrasts the GOP's staunch defense of Donald Trump with their approach to Gaetz's misconduct.

• Hypocrisy Highlighted (13:15): Levin points out the inconsistency: “The GOP led panel don't you think? Isn't there an air of inconsistency to defend Donald Trump while he was running for reelection so fervently, yet you're throwing Gaetz under the bus” [13:15].

• Internal GOP Conflicts (14:51): Levin discusses how Gaetz’s anti-establishment actions, such as forcefully removing Kevin McCarthy, alienated his own party, leading to his downfall [14:51].

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5. Concerns Over Trump’s Potential Cabinet Choices

The episode broadens to examine concerns over Trump's ability to select qualified individuals for high-ranking positions.

• Qualification Concerns (16:35): Levin questions the qualifications of Trump’s potential picks, including Gaetz and Pete Hegseth, emphasizing the importance of experience in roles like Attorney General and Department of Defense [16:35].

• Leadership and Competence (18:21): Levin underscores the necessity for competent leadership: “You got the House, you got the Senate, you got a Cabinet, you got chief of staff, you got all of this stuff. This is the military, bro. This is the military” [18:21].

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6. Media Misrepresentation of Political Statements

A recurring theme is the misrepresentation of political statements by conservative media outlets.

• Headline Misrepresentation (02:18 – 04:04): Smith addresses how conservative media can distort his comments for sensational headlines, stressing the importance of understanding the full context: “Conservative media, they won't hesitate to misrepresent your words a bit for a better pro Trump, anti Democrat headline” [04:04].

• Independent Stance (07:51 – 10:01): Smith reaffirms his independence, stating, “Every time I'm on this show and I'm talking politics, I am an independent” [07:51].

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7. Broader Implications for Conservative Media and Leadership

The discussion concludes by reflecting on the broader implications for conservative media integrity and GOP leadership.

• Media Integrity (09:24): Smith emphasizes the need for responsible reporting, contrasting with liberal media’s tendencies to misrepresent conservative voices: “The liberal media will misrepresent your words in a heartbeat to make you seem more extreme” [09:24].

• Call for Accountability (20:01): Levin calls for accountability within the GOP, advocating for qualified and competent individuals in key positions: “You can’t tell me there ain't a bunch of people officially resume wise conspicuously more qualified than what Matt Gaetz brought” [20:01].

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8. Conclusion

In this episode, Stephen A. Smith provides a critical analysis of Matt Gaetz's nomination as Attorney General, backed by the House Ethics Committee's findings. The conversation underscores the GOP's inconsistent stance on party loyalty versus ethical conduct, highlights concerns over Trump's cabinet selections, and calls out conservative media for misrepresenting political statements. Smith's emphasis on independent thought and responsible media reporting offers listeners a nuanced perspective on the intersection of politics, ethics, and media influence within the conservative sphere.

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Notable Quotes:

• Stephen A. Smith on Media Misrepresentation [04:04]:

  “Conservative media, they won't hesitate to misrepresent your words a bit for a better pro Trump, anti Democrat headline.”

• Mark Levin on GOP Inconsistency [13:15]:

  “Isn't there an air of inconsistency to defend Donald Trump while he was running for reelection so fervently, yet you're throwing Gaetz under the bus.”

• Daniel Jeremiah on Executive Qualifications [18:21]:

  “You got the House, you got the Senate, you got a Cabinet, you got chief of staff, you got all of this stuff. This is the military, bro. This is the military.”

• Stephen A. Smith on Independence [07:51]:

  “Every time I'm on this show and I'm talking politics, I am an independent.”

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This detailed summary captures the essence of the episode, providing listeners with a comprehensive overview of the key discussions surrounding Matt Gaetz's controversial nomination, the GOP's handling of internal ethics, and the role of media in shaping political narratives.

Transcript

[Stephen A. Smith]

Are you still quoting 30 year old movies? Have you said cool beans in the past 90 days? Do you think Discover isn't widely accepted? If this sounds like you, you're stuck in the past. Discover is accepted at 99% of places that take credit cards nationwide and every time you make a purchase with your card, you automatically earn cash back. Welcome to the now it pays to Discover. Learn [e-mail] credit card based on the February 2024 Nielsen report.

[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.

[Mark Levin]

Let's get right to it. Okay, some political talk. Specifically my conversation on Fox News this weekend with the one and only Mark Levin. They call him the Great One conservative radio host throughout the country. Plus you can catch him on Patriot radio on Sirius XM channel 125. He's been a phenomenal host there for years. Nevertheless, I appeared on his show Life, Liberty and Levin, which airs on Fox News on Saturday nights and Sunday nights. And while I was there, I gave my thoughts on the 2024 election and expressed some regret about what has transpired with the Democrats and Vice President Kamala Harris. And I've said this on many, many occasions. I don't like what I'm seeing from the Democratic Party. I said it on Life, Liberty and Levin to Mark Levin himself. I've said it to this audience on various occasions. I'm saying it again now. Nobody's backing up from it. Nevertheless, I have to tell you that, and I don't blame Mark Levin for this, but did you see the headline on Fox News? Did you see it? Did you see it? In case you didn't see it, put it up there for us, folks. Let them see it right there. Look at that headline right there.

[Daniel Jeremiah]

Stephen A. Smith Regrets Backing Vice President.

[Mark Levin]

Harris Open to Voting GOP Not Interested in the Fear Mongering. Before I go to the actual clip of what I literally said so I can show you all myself, let me state for the record, I throw no fault in the direction of Mark Levin for the headlines as a reporter, as a commentator and pundit throughout the years, there have been many, many times where I have said something and having no responsibility for the headlines whatsoever, the headlines didn't completely accurately portray what I had said. So if I've gone through that, I'm certainly not going to blame Mark Levin, nor would I ever accuse him of misrepresenting me. Just like I've been friends with Sean Hannity for over 20 years. That also applies to Mark Levin, who I've also known now pretty much 20 plus years. So he is a friend. He is somebody that I communicate with often. No, we do not agree on a lot of our politics, just as is the case for Sean Hannity. But I respect those guys and I've known them for years and they've always watched my back, always. And I always appreciate that. And I'm always going to do the same for them. So it's not about that. But it is important that you all know exactly what I said because headlines like that turn to go viral. So without further ado, this is just a small clip of Mark Levin asking me the question that he asked. And I want you to listen to my answer. Here it is.

[Greg Rosenthal]

Stephen A. Smith. So could you see yourself seeing what you see now? And obviously Donald Trump can't run for president again, but if he could, under the current circumstances, could you see yourself voting for him?

[Mark Levin]

Quite possibly. I'm not going to sit up there and dismiss that anymore. I think we're beyond that. He would have to prove a lot, Mark, and I'm not talking about policy now for a second. Allow me to say this. What concerned me about Donald Trump and the reason I voted against him and voted for Kamala Harris was because I felt that he would be divisive, that he would create chaos because he demands such a level of loyalty and fealty to him and that would take priority over governing our nation. That was my concern. And so I'm looking for both sides to work across the aisle from one another. Having said that, when you see some of the things that he said, if he follows through on some of the things that he has said, it's not just about eradicating inflation, improving the economy, obviously controlling our borders. These are all things that I care about. Make no mistake about that. And I certainly would support him in that regard. But it can't be just about fealty to him and loyalty to him. It has to be about getting the job done on behalf of what's in the best interest of the American People as opposed to yourself, and not engaging in a kind of juvenile tendencies, tweeting all the time and going after people who are really much irrelevant in the grand scheme of things. You do things like that and you show that you're the adult in the room. Yeah. I don't think anybody could dismiss Donald Trump at this particular moment in time, not just because of him, but because of what we've seen the Democrats do. That is what I said. Anywhere in that headline, did you hear me say I regret voting for Kamala Harris? You did not hear me say that. But I understand how it's a fine line because I do have my trepidations and feelings of disgust when it comes to the Democratic Party. How they handled things leading up to the election, how they handled the year prior to the election with Joe Biden refusing to step away and going back on his word to be a transitional president. Okay. I don't like the fact that, you know, they got $1.5 billion, and, you know, next thing you know, they look, we're looking for where the money went. I don't like the fact that people like Oprah Winfrey and others were paid before doing interviews with Kamala Harris. I don't like a whole bunch of stuff. A lot of it smells. But I think it's important to make this point, and this is directly aimed at conservative media. It may be because they've been vilified for years and they found themselves to be at a distinct disadvantage when it comes to the leftists on the media side. I get that part. But it doesn't negate the fact that when it comes to conservative media, they won't hesitate to misrepresent your words a bit for a better pro Trump, anti Democrat headline. Because indeed, they like having prominent, influential voices come over to their way of thinking. To some of them, not all, not most, but to some of them, it makes. It's like, oh, my goodness, you know, there are a lot of folks out there, you know, that do think like us, that do side with us, that do favor our mode of thinking, and we're not as alienated as you think. And I think there's a lot of folks within conservative media that are prone to doing something like that, just like you can look on the left because the liberal media will misrepresent your words in a heartbeat to make you seem more extreme and to work very, very hard to tie you in with the Trump and the MAGA folks. We've seen that happen to me on both sides. So, you know, I just Felt the need to say that, but because it's important that people understand, I'm going to say it again, and I'm going to have it put up on the screen. Every time I'm on this show and I'm talking politics, I am an independent.

[Daniel Jeremiah]

I am not a Democrat. So I apologize for anything anti Dem that I may say, nor am I a Republican, and I'm certainly not apologizing for that. I have things that I am conservative about, and I have things I am liberal about. I am a staunch conservative.

[Mark Levin]

When it comes to my money, I'm a fiscal conservative. You damn right.

[Daniel Jeremiah]

I ain't apologizing nobody.

[Mark Levin]

My man Brandon's in the studio.

[Daniel Jeremiah]

You got a problem with that, B?

[Mark Levin]

I don't have problems.

[Daniel Jeremiah]

You got a problem with that, Betty? You got a problem with that, you better not have a problem with it. I am a fiscal conservative. I can't stand these damn high taxes in New York, New Jersey, and California, okay? So trust you me, anytime I can get away with moving to another place and not having to pay them damn taxes, I'm not gonna hesitate.

[Mark Levin]

Let's get that out the way. But I'm very liberal when it comes to living and let living.

[Daniel Jeremiah]

It doesn't matter whether I approve or.

[Mark Levin]

Disapprove, whether I like or don't like. I believe in living and let living.

[Daniel Jeremiah]

That's how I roll. Gay rights, abortion rights, whatever the case.

[Mark Levin]

May be, live your life. Live your life.

[Daniel Jeremiah]

You understand? You wanna be transgender, Go ahead and be transgender. You're a gay individual. Go ahead, live your life. Now, when you try to say you're a guy and that you're transitioning into.

[Mark Levin]

Being a lady and you want to.

[Daniel Jeremiah]

Compete against women, now we got a problem. Because I think that puts women at a distinct disadvantage. That's how I feel about it. That's me looking out for women. That's not me going up against somebody that's transgender.

[Mark Levin]

And my bigger point is, once again, I wanted to make sure that everybody knew that the headline didn't accurately depict what. What I had said to Mark Levin. If I wanted to call out Vice President Kamala Harris like that, I would. I'm the guy that went at former President Barack Obama for talking down to black men, claiming it must be misogyny and misogyny if you didn't vote for Kamala Harris, I didn't appreciate that. I didn't appreciate that.

[Daniel Jeremiah]

But that's what it is.

[Mark Levin]

I just want to make sure that we're clear. Nobody's backing up or apologizing for who I am and where I stand.

[Daniel Jeremiah]

And as I look at President Elect.

[Mark Levin]

Donald Trump coming into office, let me be very, very clear about what I support when it comes to him. So we all, we're not misconstruing anything. I support eradicating inflation. I support lowering taxes. I support closing our borders. I support prioritizing national security. Yes, I do.

[Daniel Jeremiah]

I, I'm not going to go with his words about Law and Order, but Dammit is one of my favorite shows for a reason. I like it.

[Mark Levin]

I believe in law and order and.

[Daniel Jeremiah]

I want to make sure that I'm clear about that. So everything that Donald Trump has preached about, I'm not against. Which is why if he acts right.

[Mark Levin]

And doesn't engage in pettiness and don't.

[Daniel Jeremiah]

Put incompetence in cabinet positions and stuff like that, I'm going to support the President.

[Mark Levin]

I don't want him to fail.

[Daniel Jeremiah]

I want him to succeed.

[Mark Levin]

As long as it means the country succeeds, not him. The country.

[Daniel Jeremiah]

Now, let me go to another sort.

[Mark Levin]

Of Donald Trump subject here, and it involves former Representative Matt Gaetz because we gonna get to Washington. And the details of the House Ethics Committee's report on former Florida Representative Matt.

[Daniel Jeremiah]

Gaetz obtained by cnn. By the way, the report found that.

[Mark Levin]

Gaetz paid tens of thousands of dollars to women for sex or drugs on at least 20 occasions.

[Daniel Jeremiah]

And one of those occasions included sex with a 17 year old girl.

[Mark Levin]

In 2017. You might recall that Gaetz was nominated by President elect Donald Trump to be United States Attorney General, the top cop.

[Daniel Jeremiah]

The report concludes that Gaetz violated Florida state laws, including the state statutory rape law. The GOP led panel. GOP led panel chose to take the.

[Mark Levin]

Rare step of releasing a report about a former member who resigned from Congress. Here's a portion of the statement from the House Ethics Committee on the findings from the Gates investigation. Quote, the committee determined there is substantial evidence that Representative Gates violated House rules and other standards of conduct, prohibiting prostitution, statutory rape, illicit drug use, impermissible gifts, special favors or privileges, and obstruction of Congress, end quote. As for Gates, he filed a lawsuit today seeking an emergency temporary restraining order trying to stop the release of the report that details the alleged sexual misconduct and alleged drug use. Again, Gates was President Elect Trump's initial pick to run the Justice Department as Attorney General. Y'all are going to find it shocking what position I'm about to take, but I'm going to take it. Considering all the things that Donald Trump was accused of and how the GOP fought to defend him, it's kind of ironic, dare I say hypocritical, that they would do this to Gates. The GOP led panel I'm talking about, don't you think? Isn't there an air of inconsistency to defend Donald Trump while he was running.

[Daniel Jeremiah]

For reelection so fervently, yet you're throwing.

[Mark Levin]

Matt Gaetz under the bus.

[Daniel Jeremiah]

I'm just talking to the gop. The GOP led panel I'm talking about. That's all I'm saying. I'm not absolving Gates from any shred of guilt.

[Mark Levin]

That's not where I'm going.

[Daniel Jeremiah]

I don't know the details. I'm gonna believe what they report. I'm just saying it's a little bit inconsistent.

[Mark Levin]

Having said that to Matt Gaetz, it's called comeuppance, my man. That's what you're receiving. Because you weren't just despised by the Democrats, you were despised by the gop. Your party. They couldn't stand your ass. They don't like you. Remember how you forced Kevin McCarthy out? Remember that? Remember when, during the Republican convention, Kevin McCarthy was doing an interview and you were behind him, trolling him with the childishness? You already got him booted out as speak of the House. You already took care of that. But every chance you had to take a dig at him was something trivial. You didn't hesitate because you didn't like him. Well, there were a lot of people likely on the GOP panel that did like Kevin McCarthy, that did like some of the other Republicans that don't like you. And they said, this is an opportunity to get this dude, even if he's one of our own.

[Daniel Jeremiah]

Think about that.

[Mark Levin]

And you're Matt Gaetz. See what I'm talking about? When I talk about the importance of being the adult in the room, showing a level of class and decorum, so you dissuade people from wanting to come at you to some degree. See what I mean? I'm not.

[Daniel Jeremiah]

Again, I don't know what happened. I don't know what you did with.

[Mark Levin]

Some 17 year old. I don't know about sex tapes or payments people. I don't know anything about this. I don't.

[Daniel Jeremiah]

I'm talking about your behavior with your contemporaries.

[Mark Levin]

That was completely childish and unnecessary. That's what I'm talking about.

[Daniel Jeremiah]

And now they came back and got you.

[Mark Levin]

Now you stepped down from your position.

[Daniel Jeremiah]

In the House because you were supposed.

[Mark Levin]

To be the top cop.

[Daniel Jeremiah]

Which brings me to Trump.

[Mark Levin]

Why would you even consider putting that man in the position where he was going to vie as the top cop in this nation being Attorney General. See, this is the concern that we should have with Donald Trump because Matt.

[Daniel Jeremiah]

Gaetz is a loyalist.

[Mark Levin]

He's somebody that supported you.

[Daniel Jeremiah]

But what about the qualifications? If it wasn't for Republicans letting you know they weren't gonna vibe with that decision, Donald Trump would still have him trying to be the next United States Attorney General. Why? Why? To Pete Hegseth for Fox News, I see your work. You work with one of my best buddies. Will Kane, used to work with me at espn, is now over at Fox. I root for Will Cain all day, every day. Pete Hegseth, they talk about you and some of your personal transgressions, alleged transgressions, that is. I don't know any of that, nor am I trying to talk about that. Handle your business.

[Mark Levin]

Here's my issue.

[Daniel Jeremiah]

You're a host on Fox News during the weekends. Not even a weekday.

[Mark Levin]

The weekends.

[Daniel Jeremiah]

Listen to me, Brandon. I'm talking to you. You're a Fox News host on the weekend. There's nothing inside. I know that you served in the military. I know that you served our country with honor and bravery by everything that I've read. But you're a Fox News host, and suddenly you think it's good that you are going to head the Department of defense. Over 3 million employees. You see, this is the problem. This is the problem. We've got hundreds of qualified people out there who are Republicans who support Donald Trump and Donald Trump.

[Mark Levin]

You gonna go with Pete Hegseth? Really? That's what we doing? Pete Hegseth, man, come on, bro. Now, I understand the presidency is a different animal and it's an elected position. And as a result, you know, but you got the House, you got the Senate, you got a Cabinet, you got chief of staff, you got all of this stuff. This is the military, bro. This is the military.

[Daniel Jeremiah]

You know, should we go to war with Iraq, what's up with Iran, should we pull out of Ukraine, should we continue to support him against Russia? The Israel, Palestinian conflict involving Hamas and ultimately Hezbollah, New leadership, new regime in Syria.

[Mark Levin]

I mean, we're supposed to look at you and say we're comfortable with you being one of the dudes in the president's ear. Main dudes in the president's ear. As the guy running the Department of Defense, I understand you serving in the cabinet in some capacity, but damn, you just gonna wake up and run 3 million people.

[Daniel Jeremiah]

See, this is kind of stuff, B. This kind of stuff that make me hesitant, Betty. This kind of stuff, Griff. This kind of stuff, talking to my staff here, this kind of stuff that makes me worry. That's what I'm talking about when I'm talking about Trump. That's what I'm talking about when I'm.

[Mark Levin]

Talking about some of the folks, some of the folks in conservative media now. Never before in our lifetime would you have tolerated such decisions by an elected official when it came to their cabinet members. Forget the behavior, forget the allegations and the accusations.

[Daniel Jeremiah]

I'm not getting into any of that. Pete Hegseth, I'm sure he's very smart, very knowledgeable, obviously cares about this country. His views might be different than a lot of people, but a lot of people agree with his views. I get that. I'm only talking about going from being a host on Fox News on a Saturday to run in an apartment with 3 million people. That's our military in charge, overseeing generals and lieutenants and captains and everybody else in the front lines.

[Mark Levin]

That is what worries me. That shit is scary. That's what I mean when I talk about how Trump can scare the living daylights out of people and cause chaos. You can't tell me there ain't a bunch of people officially resume wise conspicuously more qualified than what Matt Gaetz brought.

[Daniel Jeremiah]

To the table.

[Mark Levin]

And what Pete Hague said. And I'm not lumping the two because of their accusations. I'm lumping the two because of the qualifications on their resume. Come on, y'all. Come on.

[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.

[Julie Swerbinks]

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

[Stephen A. Smith]

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

[Julie Swerbinks]

The Name Energy Line with Nate and jsb.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Each week we'll get together and talk about hockey life. All topics are fair game, right?

[Julie Swerbinks]

Exactly. And you'll never know who will drop by to join us.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Julie is pretty well connected. She has text threads going that you wouldn't believe.

[Julie Swerbinks]

Listen to Energyline with Nate and JSB on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.