Stephen A's Take: Viral Sean Hannity and Stephen A Debate, Trump vs Harris.

Summary

The Stephen A. Smith Show – Episode Summary: "Stephen A's Take: Viral Sean Hannity and Stephen A Debate, Trump vs Harris"

Release Date: October 26, 2024
Host: Stephen A. Smith
Platform: iHeartPodcasts

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Introduction

In this compelling episode of The Stephen A. Smith Show, host Stephen A. Smith delves into the intensifying political landscape as the presidential election looms less than two weeks away. With polls indicating a tight race between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, Smith shares his unique perspective, gleaned from a heated debate with Sean Hannity on Fox News. This summary encapsulates the key discussions, insights, and confrontations that define the episode.

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Appearance on Sean Hannity's Fox News Show

Stephen A. Smith opens the episode by recounting his recent appearance on Sean Hannity's Fox News show, where the central topic was the upcoming presidential election. Smith emphasizes the dead heat between Trump and Harris in the polls, setting the stage for a robust discussion.

Smith [01:06]: "Time to turn to politics, as promised. More specifically, the presidential election, which is now less than two weeks away. Polls have former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris in a dead heat."

During the show, Hannity challenges Smith on Kamala Harris's understanding of President Biden's mental state during his reelection campaign. This confrontation sparks a series of exchanges highlighting the deep political divisions and personal frustrations.

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Debate Points: Trump vs. Kamala Harris

The crux of the debate centers around the cognitive abilities of President Biden and the contrasting leadership qualities of Trump and Harris. Sean Hannity and Senator Lindsey Graham assert that Harris is ill-equipped to handle these assessments, arguing that she downplays Biden's cognitive decline.

Hannity [01:35]: "I know you're not talking about somebody."

Graham [01:48]: "Senator Lindsey Graham is about to come. On this show, articulate himself very well."

Smith counters these assertions by defending his right to express independent opinions, irrespective of party lines.

Smith [04:00]: "There's some things the conservatives are about to hear that they ain't gonna like. There's also some things that the liberals are gonna hear that they ain't gonna like."

The dialogue intensifies as Graham attempts to discredit Harris, labeling her statements about Biden as false and accusing her of lying.

Graham [02:56]: "She knew he was a cognitive mess, and now she's lying."

Hannity, on the other hand, shifts focus to defend Trump, questioning Harris's qualifications and attacking her policy positions.

Hannity [10:27]: "Look at me, Michael. Was she flawless in her performance on the town hall? David Axelrod is a political pundit for CNN who headed the Obama campaign. He wasn't enamored with her choices."

Smith interjects to highlight Harris's credentials, emphasizing her educational and professional background.

Smith [10:27]: "That black woman that way, calling a dumb. She is a graduate of an HBCU. She is a lawyer by trade and profession. She is a former attorney general."

This exchange underscores the polarized views on both candidates, with Smith striving to present a balanced critique while navigating interruptions and challenges from Hannity and Graham.

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Stephen A.'s Observations on Conservatism and Candidate Support

Moving beyond the immediate debate, Stephen A. Smith expands the discussion to address broader issues within the conservative movement. He critiques the unwavering support for Trump despite his divergence from traditional conservative principles.

Smith [14:48]: "Religion mattered to you. Episcopalians and others. You sure that's the candidate you want best represented?"

Smith argues that the loyalty to Trump may cost conservatives the election, suggesting that alternative Republican candidates like Nikki Haley or Ron DeSantis might have presented stronger challenges against Harris.

Smith [14:58]: "And now he's your guy. And if you lose this election, it'll likely be because you backed the wrong horse."

He further criticizes the perceived hypocrisy within the conservative base, pointing out instances of flip-flopping on key issues and the abandonment of core values in favor of political expediency.

Smith [15:54]: "But what has Trump done and who has flip-flopped more than conservatives?"

Smith urges conservatives to reflect on their support choices and consider the long-term implications of their endorsements, emphasizing the need for integrity and adherence to foundational principles.

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Concluding Remarks

In his closing statements, Stephen A. Smith reiterates his frustration with the political discourse and the challenges of maintaining personal relationships across ideological divides. He defends his friendship with Sean Hannity despite their political differences, advocating for mutual respect and understanding.

Smith [05:10]: "Half the time, okay? He's my friend."

Smith also warns of the potential consequences of backing the wrong candidate, emphasizing the importance of thoughtful and principled political support.

Smith [16:35]: "And if you lose this election, it'll likely be because you backed the wrong horse."

He concludes by reaffirming his commitment to unbiased analysis and his anticipation of future engaging discussions with Hannity.

Smith [17:25]: "Looking forward to going back? Yes, I am."

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Stephen A. Smith [01:06]: "Time to turn to politics, as promised. More specifically, the presidential election, which is now less than two weeks away."

• Lindsey Graham [02:56]: "She knew he was a cognitive mess, and now she's lying."

• Stephen A. Smith [04:00]: "There's some things the conservatives are about to hear that they ain't gonna like."

• Stephen A. Smith [10:27]: "She is a graduate of an HBCU. She is a lawyer by trade and profession. She is a former attorney general."

• Stephen A. Smith [14:48]: "Religion mattered to you. Episcopalians and others. You sure that's the candidate you want best represented?"

• Stephen A. Smith [16:35]: "Looking forward to going back? Yes, I am."

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Conclusion

This episode of The Stephen A. Smith Show offers a riveting exploration of the current presidential race, highlighting the tensions between traditional conservative values and the prevailing loyalty to Donald Trump. Through his candid discussion and confrontation with Sean Hannity, Smith provides listeners with a nuanced perspective on the political dynamics at play, urging for thoughtful consideration and integrity in candidate support. Whether you align with his views or not, Smith's analysis is sure to inform and provoke meaningful discourse among his audience.

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

[Stephen A. Smith]

Time to turn to politics, as promised. More specifically, the presidential election, which is now less than two weeks away. Polls have former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris in a dead heat. So with that said, I took the opportunity to appear on Hannity on Fox News to discuss the state of affairs on the campaign trail. Hannity, as always, challenged me on Kamala Harris and her knowledge of President Biden's mental state during his reelection campaign. Here's how I responded. Take a listen.

[Sean Hannity]

I know you're not talking about somebody.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Being lucid and cogent and enunciating their thoughts with clarity.

[Sean Hannity]

And you're bragging about Donald Trump.

[Stephen A. Smith]

We can't be watching the same stuff.

[Sean Hannity]

If that's what you're doing. You ain't gonna do that today. Lindsey Graham. Hold it now.

[Lindsey Graham]

Senator Lindsey Graham is about to come.

[Stephen A. Smith]

On this show, articulate himself very well.

[Sean Hannity]

Not Donald Trump.

[Lindsey Graham]

Now, I have, okay, I have sat with him for hour after hour after hour, topic after topic after topic, and he is so dialed in, he really, you know, it's funny. People try. This is a press conference. Meanwhile. And meanwhile, meanwhile, your friends in the Democratic Party, they ignored the obvious significant, deep cognitive decline of the president for over four years. I said it before the 2020 election. Kamala to this day say, oh, Joe was really cognitively alert. You know, that's a crock. I know that's A croc. Anybody knows it's a croc. Not Donald Trump.

[Sean Hannity]

So what is it? Hold on, hold on. What is she supposed to say? She's supposed to sit up there and.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Say, you know what?

[Sean Hannity]

My president, my boss. I mean, it was. No, you're not.

[Lindsey Graham]

No, you told her, you don't do that.

[Sean Hannity]

You don't dime out your boss. You don't. I do tell the truth for myself, but guess what? So I said I do. I said, I do what I said.

[Lindsey Graham]

However.

[Sean Hannity]

If that's my boss, go ahead.

[Lindsey Graham]

Oh, hang on a second. You know what? I have never watched you hold back. You say what you mean. You mean what you say. That's my point. She is. She knew he was a cognitive mess, and now she's lying. Oh, no, I never noticed it.

[Sean Hannity]

Because Sean. Because, Sean. What?

[Lindsey Graham]

You're trying to lie.

[Sean Hannity]

Because what people. But because what? Listen, I personally. Listen, a year earlier, I was saying, there's slippage. There's something that ain't there. He ain't gonna make it to the election. Y'all better get with the program. Do something about it. I was on the record about Joe Biden, but I'm not a part of the Biden administration, and if I was a part of the Biden administration, I wouldn't have told you that. That's number one. Number two, she's the candidate now. You got to run against her. Are you going to beat a. Sean, are you going to beat her? Are you going.

[Lindsey Graham]

Being confident, straight The American people.

[Sean Hannity]

Are you as confident as you were months ago?

[Lindsey Graham]

Biggest choice.

[Sean Hannity]

I see some slippers on Stephen A.

[Stephen A. Smith]

That was something else. First of all, I. I barely got a few words, and I tried. I was fighting, fighting, fighting. Because that's Hannity. That's just what he's going to do. Here's the deal. It's a couple of things, and I'm going to preface my comments by saying, as always, me being a registered independent, that I am, there are some things the conservatives are about to hear that they ain't gonna like. There's also some things that the liberals are gonna hear that they ain't gonna like. Let me get a portion anyway of what the liberals ain't gonna want to hear. Sean Hannity is my friend. Get the hell over it. I'm talking about people in my personal life. I'm talking about people that work with me. Hell, I might be talking about people that work for me. I don't give a shit. No one dictates who my friends are. When I sat up there and I had my struggles, and I was thrown out like yesterday's bath water, and my career was in shambles. Sean Hannity was a friend. I do not agree with his politics.

[Sean Hannity]

Pretty much at all. I think he's off his damn rocker.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Half the time, okay? He's my friend.

[Sean Hannity]

We get along very, very well. And that's the way it's been.

[Stephen A. Smith]

And damn it, that's the way it's gonna stay.

[Sean Hannity]

While I'm at it, let me get.

[Stephen A. Smith]

This out the way.

[Sean Hannity]

The same applies to Mark Levin. Get the hell over it. No one gets to tell me how to think. No one gets to tell me who.

[Stephen A. Smith]

The hell my friends are. Y'all can kiss my. You know what? We gonna get that out the way right now. I don't give a damn who it is, okay?

[Sean Hannity]

There are plenty of people we work with, we work for, who work with us, for us, who are friends, who are family members, and a whole bit that don't think like we think. Stop acting like that's new. I'm from the streets of New York City, Hollis, Queens. And I can tell you right now, without seeing half of them in years and seeing the other half, some of them gonna vote for Trump. I'm supposed to say they ain't my boys. Really.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I'm not voting for them. I'm not voting for them.

[Sean Hannity]

I'm supposed to disown my friends because they are. I am a person who's pro life as opposed to pro choice. But I don't believe in telling a woman what to do with her body. Therefore, I'm pro choice because I'm always going to support a woman's right to navigate her own body and her own decisions. I'm riding to the end with ladies on that. There are some people who won't. I'm supposed to sit there and say, they not family no more. They're not friends. One of them was my mama, God rest her soul. She was pro life. She wasn't pro choice. If she were alive today and that was her position, I'm supposed to disown her. What's wrong with y'all? The hell is wrong with y'all? This notion right now when you on the left that, oh, my God. You, you, you. You got to turn in your black card. If you're a black person and you don't completely unadulteratedly support Kamala Harris, Why I do support her, primarily because it's.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Either her or Trump, and I'll be damned if I'm supporting him.

[Sean Hannity]

Well, what's her record you trying to tell me when you watched at the town hall last night on cnn, she operated and conducted stuff. That's right. Look at me, Michael. Was she flawless in her performance on the town hall? David Axelrod is a, is a, is a political pundit for CNN who headed the Obama campaign. He wasn't enamored with her choices. He wasn't enamored with her performance. Rather, he didn't like her position on Israeli Palestinian conflict. He didn't like her position on immigration. He didn't like the way she has articulated herself about the economy. There are questions. That's cnn. He's supposed to ignore it. Van Jones. He was supposed to ignore it. Dana Bash. Dana Bash. She's supposed to ignore it. Fareed Zakaria, when he come on this Sunday, he's supposed to ignore it. What is he supposed to do? So Kamala Harris can run around and she could do all her interviews acting like one after another is a rally. Go ahead, knock yourself out.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I'd love to interview her. I doubt it'll happen. I'd love to interview Obama. Oh, would I love to interview him. I doubt it'll happen. Don't think I didn't ask. Was a different ball game when you sit across from your boy. A little bit different.

[Sean Hannity]

I support Kamala Harris.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I support a woman's right to choose.

[Sean Hannity]

I don't support children being separated from.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Their parents like Trump did under his.

[Sean Hannity]

Administration as it pertained to immigrants coming in here illegally. I get all that. I said I support the woman. I didn't have to do that. But that doesn't mean that everything she does I'm going to agree with because I don't.

[Stephen A. Smith]

So let me get that out the way back to Sean Hannity, my buddy. I feel sorry for that man. Cause your boy Trump, there's some slippage. You ain't talking about that, are you? You ain't talk about that at all.

[Sean Hannity]

I don't ever want to hear another.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Word about Joe Biden cogency and his cognitive decline. Have you seen Trump? Have you seen him trying to sing?

[Sean Hannity]

Have you seen him dancing for 30 minutes? Have you seen him rambling on and on? Did you see him talking about Arnold Palmer? Oh, I love women. I love women. But he was a man's man, you understand? When he got out of the shower, the men there say, oh my goodness, all over the place. What that got to do with policy? What that got to do with politics? What they got to do with Kamala Harris? Speaking of Kamala Harris, you think I appreciate the Fact that he's talking about.

[Stephen A. Smith]

That black woman that way, calling a dumb. She is a graduate of an hbcu. She is a lawyer by trade and profession. She is a former attorney. She is a former state attorney general. She is a former senator of the United States who is now the Vice.

[Sean Hannity]

President of the United States of America.

[Stephen A. Smith]

And by the way, to our knowledge, she didn't file for bankruptcy about six, seven or eight times.

[Sean Hannity]

Who the hell do you think you.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Are using the word retarded to disrespect my sister like that? Hell no. Hell to the no. Okay. If you are so successful, stand on your stand on your policies, Donald Trump.

[Sean Hannity]

Stand on what you offer America compared.

[Stephen A. Smith]

To what she offers America.

[Sean Hannity]

You want to call her a radical, that's fair game. You want to get on her about policies involving immigration or the war between Russia and the Ukraine and how ill effective you think she may have been, or the economic policies of the Biden administration has allowed inflation to ravage our economy going away and it threatening to come back. You want to use those as an argument and say times are better under you even though the national deficit went up big time to about 35 trillion under your watch. But that's neither here nor there. You want to make those arguments against her, Fine.

[Stephen A. Smith]

You don't disrespect our sisters, bruh. You don't do that. You don't do that. And to me, when Barack Obama spoke to those black men and he talked to the black men about the need to support the sister, that's something he should have brought up as opposed to accusing folks of being engaging in misogyny as to why they wouldn't support her.

[Sean Hannity]

Reverse that bad boy. Just say, you see how she talk about your sister?

[Stephen A. Smith]

So how you think he talking about you? That would have been an argument to go with.

[Sean Hannity]

See, when Sean Hannity and I were.

[Stephen A. Smith]

On the air last night, because the man knows politics more than me, he does it for a living. He's been doing it for over 30 years. He's a master narrator, no question about it.

[Sean Hannity]

But you see, at some point in.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Time, and here's where I get to the part about the conservatives and how y'all gonna have to live with this reality. Y'all acting like it's easy to support Trump. No, it ain't. You know better. How you feeling about the fact that you didn't support Desantis? How you feeling about the fact that you didn't support Nikki Haley or Governor Chris Christie, even Vivek Ramaswamy? How you Feeling about that right now? How you feeling about that right now? Or back in the day when you didn't support Kasich? You see people with conservative principles but.

[Sean Hannity]

Have decorum in class and know how.

[Stephen A. Smith]

To act like they have common sense and isn't threatening to shred the Constitution.

[Sean Hannity]

Okay. And doesn't violate every tenant that conservatives lived by for decades until he came.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Along, your case would have been more profound. But when we talk about people flip flopping like Kamala Harris is flip flopped on.

[Sean Hannity]

On, on fracking because yes, Anderson Cooper asked about it and I wasn't satisfied with her answer. Or you're talking about the border wall and all of this other stuff and talk about how you only built like 2% of it when actually it was significantly more according to the fact checkers on cnn. While you could make that case okay, about flip flopping against Kamala Harris.

[Stephen A. Smith]

What has Trump done and who has flip flopped more than conservatives?

[Sean Hannity]

I am a Megyn Kelly fan.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I ain't apologizing for that either.

[Sean Hannity]

I'm a Megyn Kelly fan.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I'm friends with Hannity and Mark Levin. Okay. I know plenty of conservatives.

[Sean Hannity]

Obviously. I'm friends with Will Kane. That's my man right there. Don't agree with him. Most of the time I'm talking about a court decency about people. But to the conservatives out there, who's flip flopped more than y'all, once upon a time, y'all cared about adultery.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Don't matter.

[Sean Hannity]

Once upon a time, you cared about fornication. Don't matter. With this candidate, you cared about honesty and integrity, particularly with caring about the American citizen in a free market society and honoring your financial commitments.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Man filing for bankruptcy.

[Sean Hannity]

Religion mattered to you.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Episcopalians and others. You sure that's the candidate you want best represented? Y'all said yes. For years and years and years spanning decades, conservatives lived by tenants that Donald Trump paid no attention to, didn't give a about and flaunted so in so doing. And now he's your guy. And if you lose this election, it'll likely be because you backed the wrong horse. Cuz I got news for you. I think Nikki Haley would have beaten Kamala Harris. Ron DeSantis, if it wasn't for him trying to justify the positive elements of slavery. I think he would have beat Kamala Harris. But y'all back the wrong horse and nobody's talking about that now.

[Sean Hannity]

That's if you lose, it's still possible you can win. It's a tight race, it's up for grabs.

[Stephen A. Smith]

But I think you backed the wrong horse. And I think conservatives will come across as individuals who have flip flopped, dare I say so when you want to sit up there and go at Kamala Harris for what she may have done. All Stephen A. Was trying to say on Sean Hannity show was, folks in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. You feel me? I know you do. I know you do.

[Sean Hannity]

But I enjoyed it. I really did. And I'm looking forward to being on with him sometime again in the near future.

[Stephen A. Smith]

And he's promised to come on this show as well. So it's gonna be entertaining. Make no mistake about that. But let's also make sure we understand there is absolutely, positively nothing from a character standpoint that you can accuse Kamala Harris about that you can't accuse Donald Trump about, with the exception of her not diamond out her boss. The cognitive decline that I swore I saw, alas, a year ago, what the hell is she supposed to admit? Yeah, that was my boss. That was cognitive decline. What's he supposed to do? She can't say anything and you know it. You're reaching. Sean was reaching last night, but I understood. I know the man, so I saw it coming.

[Sean Hannity]

It was a lot of fun.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Looking forward to going back? Yes, I am.

[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? Julius Rippinks 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.