Stephen A's Take: UFC President Dana White declares he's done with "disgusting" politics.

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Stephen A. Smith Show

Episode: Stephen A's Take: UFC President Dana White declares he's done with "disgusting" politics
Release Date: November 24, 2024
Host: Stephen A. Smith
Co-Host: Max Kellerman
Platform: iHeartPodcasts

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Introduction

In this episode of The Stephen A. Smith Show, host Stephen A. Smith engages in a heated discussion with co-host Max Kellerman about UFC President Dana White's recent declaration to distance himself from politics. The conversation delves into White's political stance, the implications for the UFC and broader American society, and the intersection of sports and politics.

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Dana White's Departure from Politics

The episode kicks off with Stephen A. Smith highlighting Dana White's surprising announcement to abstain from political discourse:

• Stephen A. Smith [01:06]: "We gotta get into politics for a."
• Max Kellerman [01:07]: "Second where there's been a shocking turnaround."

Dana White, previously a vocal supporter of Donald Trump, expressed his disillusionment with the political landscape during an interview at UFC 309 held at Madison Square Garden. Smith references White's candid remarks:

• Stephen A. Smith [01:38]: "Look at this quote from White. White right here where he said this."
• Max Kellerman [01:42]: "I'm never fucking doing this again. I want nothing to do with this shit. It's gross, it's disgusting. I want nothing to do with politics."

White's statement signifies a notable shift from a prominent political ally to a critic of the current political environment.

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Historical Context and Relationship with Donald Trump

Smith provides background on Dana White's longstanding relationship with Donald Trump, emphasizing their mutual support and its impact on the UFC's growth:

• Stephen A. Smith [02:03]: "Dana White has been a friend of Donald Trump spanning nearly 40 years. Donald Trump was one of the original supporters of the UFC. That's how far back he and Dana White goes."
• Smith continues: "Donald Trump assisted in helping the UFC become what it ultimately became, which was a multi-billion dollar establishment."

This deep-rooted friendship underscores the significance of White's current stance, given Trump's pivotal role in the UFC's rise.

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Critique of the Political System

Stephen A. Smith and Max Kellerman delve into White's broader criticisms of politics, discussing the perceived corruption and inefficiency within the government:

• Max Kellerman [02:05]: "All Dana White expressed is how most of us feel about Capitol Hill and the politicians that reside there. We can't stand them."
• Stephen A. Smith [02:18]: "Corrupt it has become because of their behavior, salacious and otherwise, against one another, and how unproductive they've been to the betterment of American society as a whole because of it."

They argue that White's disdain reflects a common sentiment among Americans who are frustrated with governmental dysfunction and partisanship.

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Impact of Dana White's Statement on the UFC and American Society

The hosts explore the ramifications of White's withdrawal from political engagement, particularly concerning the UFC's future and its interactions with political figures:

• Stephen A. Smith [02:55]: "His sport has been compared to a sport of boxing where you got promoters ruined in the sport because they refuse to give us the fights that we want to see, when we want to see it."
• Max Kellerman [03:53]: "This brother said politics is disgusting. It's disgraceful. It's this, it's that. You know how bad you gotta be to hear that from Dana White."

They discuss how White's outspoken nature and eventual retreat from politics could influence the UFC's brand and its relationships with sponsors and political entities.

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Broader Implications on American Politics and Society

Stephen A. Smith and Max Kellerman extend the conversation to the wider political climate, touching on themes of polarization, accountability, and the responsibilities of public figures:

• Stephen A. Smith [04:20]: "When you call somebody a racist and you have no problem with their name being associated with Hitler or with Nazis... How do you then go to Mar Lago to speak with him and then come back over to Airways and don't tell us what the hell you said?"
• Max Kellerman [05:47]: "That's the problem with this binary system we're living in."

They critique the current binary and polarized political discourse, suggesting it hampers effective governance and mutual understanding.

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Call for Maturity and Compromise in Politics

The hosts advocate for a more mature and compromising approach to politics, emphasizing the necessity for cooperation to achieve progress:

• Stephen A. Smith [05:50]: "Are we not going to be grown ups? That's what I'm talking about."
• Stephen A. Smith [06:31]: "People get uglier and uglier and uglier because they want their way devoid of compromise."

Max Kellerman adds to the argument by underscoring the importance of responsible rhetoric:

• Max Kellerman [06:44]: "When you engage in vitriol, particularly of the irresponsible kind, you cut yourself off from the ability to do business on behalf of the people you purport to represent."

They stress that inflammatory language and lack of compromise impede legislative progress and societal harmony.

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Conclusion: The Path Forward

In wrapping up the discussion, Stephen A. Smith and Max Kellerman reflect on the necessity for leaders and influential figures to foster unity instead of division:

• Stephen A. Smith [07:52]: "Facts are facts."

They suggest that moving beyond polarizing rhetoric is essential for effective governance and societal advancement, emphasizing that compromise and mature discourse are pivotal in overcoming current political challenges.

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Key Takeaways

• Dana White's Stance: UFC President Dana White publicly distances himself from politics, criticizing the current political system as "gross" and "disgusting."

• Historical Loyalty: White's longstanding friendship with Donald Trump played a significant role in the UFC's growth, making his political withdrawal noteworthy.

• Systemic Critique: Both hosts agree that the political system suffers from corruption, inefficiency, and extreme partisanship, hindering progress.

• Call for Maturity: There is a strong call for leaders and citizens alike to engage in more respectful, compromise-driven dialogue to foster better governance and societal cohesion.

• Impact on UFC: White's comments may influence the UFC's public image and its interactions with political figures and sponsors moving forward.

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Notable Quotes:

• Dana White on Politics: "I'm never fucking doing this again. I want nothing to do with this shit. It's gross, it's disgusting. I want nothing to do with politics." [01:42]

• Stephen A. Smith on Compromise: "People get uglier and uglier and uglier because they want their way devoid of compromise. And then when you lose and find out you have to compromise, you don't know what to do." [06:44]

• Max Kellerman on Responsible Rhetoric: "When you engage in vitriol, particularly of the irresponsible kind, you cut yourself off from the ability to do business on behalf of the people you purport to represent." [06:31]

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This episode provides a critical examination of Dana White's withdrawal from political involvement, situating it within the larger context of American political dysfunction and the need for more constructive dialogue and leadership.

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]

The name Energy Line with Nate and jsb.

[Nate Thompson]

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.

[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 jsb on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Stephen A. Smith]

We gotta get into politics for a.

[Max Kellerman]

Second where there's been a shocking turnaround.

[Stephen A. Smith]

In some people's eyes anyway, from a.

[Max Kellerman]

High profile Donald Trump supporter who would happen to be named Dana White.

[Stephen A. Smith]

The UFC president now says he wants absolutely, positively nothing to do with politics. After being one of the biggest and loudest supporters of of the president elect, White was asked by the New Yorker about politics Saturday night at UFC 309 at Madison Square Garden where Trump and some of his cabinet picks attended as well.

[Max Kellerman]

By the way, I was there too. Not with them, but I was in the building.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Look at this quote from White. White right here where he said this.

[Max Kellerman]

About being a political pundit. Quote, I'm never fucking doing this again. I want nothing to do with this shit. It's gross, it's disgusting. I want nothing to do with politics. End quote. Ladies and gentlemen, you might think this far fetched, it's far reaching. It's something that you make front page news and all of this other stuff.

[Stephen A. Smith]

All Dana White expressed is how most.

[Max Kellerman]

Of us feel about Capitol Hill and the politicians that reside there. We can't stand them. I'm not talking about individualism. I'm talking about the apparatus. I'm talking about the structure. I'm talking about our government and how.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Corrupt it has become because of their behavior, salacious and otherwise, against one another, and how unproductive they've been to the betterment of American society as a whole because of it. Dana White wasn't getting political. Dana White was supporting his friend. Donald Trump has been a friend of Dana white spanning nearly 40 years. Donald Trump was one of the original supporters of the ufc. That's how far back he and Dana White goes. Dana White has said on numerous occasions that Donald Trump assisted in helping the UFC become what it ultimately became, which was a multi billion dollar establishment. You damn right he was going to stick out his chest and help Donald Trump, because Donald Trump held him before he became who he is now. Fair enough. We all do that. All of us. At least we should. But I'm going to tell you this. When you go a step further and you dig deeper into what Dana White had to say about politicians and politics and when he says the world is dirty, think about this. This man is associated with a pugilistic sport. This man has to sit across from promoters, he has to sit across from fighters, he has to lawyers, and he has to negotiate deals. Things like that get ugly. His sport has been compared to a sport of boxing where you got promoters ruined in the sport because they refuse to give us the fights that we want to see, when we want to see it. And still, in the face of all of that and all the unsavory behavior he's been associated with throughout the years.

[Max Kellerman]

This brother said politics is disgusting. It's disgraceful. It's this, it's that. You know how bad you gotta be to hear that from Dana White. That's what we're dealing with with America. And this is what I'm talking about. When I brought up Morning Joe the other day. I don't have any axe to grind with Morning Joe. Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski have always been cool with me. I'm simply saying, in the interest of.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Fairness, when you call somebody a racist and you have no problem with their.

[Max Kellerman]

Name being associated with Hitler or with.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Nazis, as they did not have a problem with Donald Trump. Associated Donald Trump with such a thing, how do you then go to Mar.

[Max Kellerman]

A Lago to speak with him and.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Then come back over to Airways and don't tell us what the hell you said? What you say? I got one of my producers here, my man Galen. Been a producer for years. Yo, Galen, what's up? If the man or his wife called Donald Trump such a thing, should they not have said, hey, we're sorry, or we meant every word we said? Shouldn't the audience have had the right to know that that's what I'm talking about. That's why I mentioned them, because you got to be consistent. You got the same politicians. We're listening to Representative Clyburn. When Neil Cavuto on Fox brought up Nazis having Donald Trump's name associated with Nazis and asking, was that not out of line? And Clyburn had no problem with it. Well, here's the problem. Now that he's the president elect and the Republicans have the Senate, and the Republicans have the House, and the Republicans have the Supreme Court, how you gonna do business?

[Max Kellerman]

How you gonna get anything passed?

[Stephen A. Smith]

How are you going to serve your constituency and make their lives better? If your incendiary rhetoric made it worse to do business with the other side? Are we not going to be grown ups? That's what I'm talking about. You've heard me say a lot of things. I didn't vote for him. You heard me say that. You heard me talk about childishness. You heard me talk about his unwillingness to galvanize and bring people together. You heard me talk about those things. You didn't hear me bring up racists. You didn't hear me bring up Hitler or Nazis. You didn't hear me bring up stuff like that. It's counterproductive, it's unfair, it's irresponsible when.

[Max Kellerman]

You know that if he wins, you're gonna have to do business with him. That's the problem with this binary system we're living in.

[Stephen A. Smith]

People get uglier and uglier and uglier because they want their way devoid of compromise. And then when you lose and find out you have to compromise, you don't know what to do.

[Max Kellerman]

But isn't it time to ask if at least half this country was wrong on how it conducted themselves? You can feel differently all you want to and vote in a different direction. That's your right as an American citizen. But when you engage in vitriol, particularly of the irresponsible kind, you cut yourself off from the ability to do business on behalf of the people you purport to represent. And where does that leave you? With a president you don't want. But at least half the country said it wants. Which means most of the country told you to go kick rocks. Facts are facts.

[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. We'll 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.

[Nate Thompson]

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

[Julie Swerbinks]

The name Energy Line with Nate and jsb.

[Nate Thompson]

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.

[Nate Thompson]

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

[Julie Swerbinks]

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