THE IRAN WAR; TIM BURCHETT (R-TN)

Summary

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The Stephen A. Smith Show: "THE IRAN WAR; TIM BURCHETT (R-TN)"

Date: April 9, 2026
Host: Stephen A. Smith (with guest Rep. Tim Burchett, R-TN)

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Episode Overview

In this dynamic and political-charged episode of Straight Shooter with Stephen A. Smith, Stephen A. moves well beyond the world of sports, tackling one of the most explosive headlines of 2026: America’s escalating conflict with Iran and President Donald Trump’s rhetoric and decision-making. The episode dives deep into questions of leadership, international diplomacy, the fitness of the president, and dysfunction in Washington. Rep. Tim Burchett of Tennessee is interviewed in hour two, offering candid behind-the-scenes insight into Congress, government corruption, insider trading, and the war machine. Throughout, Stephen A. maintains his signature confrontational and passionate style, taking listener calls and igniting conversation with notable sound bites.

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Main Theme

• The U.S.–Iran War and Trump's Leadership:
  An examination and critique of President Trump's approach to Iran, particularly his bellicose rhetoric and threats of destruction, with a focus on what this means for American democracy, global security, and the lived experience of American citizens and service members.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Stephen A. Smith's Take on Trump and the Iran Conflict

Timestamp: 01:28–27:21

• Call for New Leadership:
  Stephen A. reiterates his long-standing view that "we need a new president,” criticizing both extremes of the political spectrum (“not a fan of MAGA...and damn sure ain't a fan of the progressives” [04:23]).
• Trump’s Rhetoric on Iran:
  Outrage over Trump’s incendiary Easter Sunday posts threatening the Iranian regime and, by extension, the country's people.

  “Tuesday will be power plant day and bridge day all wrapped up in one in Iran...Open the fucking straight as in the Strait of Hormuz, you crazy bastards... Praise be to Allah.” (Reading Trump’s post, [06:23])

• Impact on American Public:
  Expresses concern that Trump's language causes national anxiety, particularly for families with loved ones in the military.

  “What about the fear that you're instilling in this country, richest country in the world...their hearts are palpitating.” [09:00]

• Does the End Justify the Means?:
  Challenges whether provoking fear and chaos can ever be justified by ultimate diplomatic or strategic outcomes.
• Democrats vs. Republicans:
  Criticizes both parties for being stuck in “absolute chaos,” and Congress for being largely spineless.

  “435 representatives, 100 senators, a Supreme Court justice... democracy... will never let those concerns happen.” [12:46]

• On Trump’s Economic Claims:
  Skepticism regarding Trump’s promises of economic windfalls from tariffs and Middle East deals.

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2. The 25th Amendment and Calls for Trump’s Removal

Timestamp: 17:45–27:21

• Dismissal of 25th Amendment Chatter:
  Smith dismisses Democratic and media calls for removing Trump, labeling them “an exercise in futility.”

  “You can't do anything to him if you couldn't keep him from getting back into office after he departed.” [21:08]

• Sound Bite of Megyn Kelly's Criticism: Megyn Kelly lambasts Trump’s rhetoric:

  “I am sick of this shit. Can he just behave like a normal human? ...You don't threaten to wipe out an entire civilization.” (Megyn Kelly, [23:04])

• Divisions Within the Right:
  Observes that even longtime Trump allies (e.g., Megyn Kelly, Tucker Carlson) are repelled by the president’s recent extremism.
• Stephen A. Clarifies:
  He’s not for invoking the 25th Amendment because it would elevate JD Vance—a scenario he argues could be “worse” [25:57].

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3. Congress, Corruption, and Dysfunction

With Rep. Tim Burchett
Timestamp: 52:04–88:58

Government Corruption & Congressional “Insider Trading”

• Money and Power over Policy:
  Burchett provides a blunt look at Congress, explaining that leadership and committee power are dictated by fundraising (often millions of dollars) and that party advancement is, at heart, about “kissing a lot of ass and raising a lot of money.” [54:22, 57:07]

  “It has nothing to do with ability. You can figure these lobbyists for certain industries, they want Stephen A. Smith to be the chairman of whatever committee...they give you money for your campaign...” – Rep. Burchett [54:22]

• Insider Stock Trading:
  Reveals that members of Congress routinely own stock in companies affected by congressional action.

  “Who do you think owns stock in that missile defense company?...Members of Congress.” [66:23]

• Both Parties Enmeshed:
  States that corruption and self-enrichment are bipartisan and normalized in Washington.

  “Both parties. Both parties...The thing that they're doing is not illegal, Mr. Smith. It's not...but it should be.” [70:13]

Iran, War, and Trump's Fitness

• Burchett’s Stance on Trump:
  Asserts Trump is “fit for office,” acknowledging his wild style is a negotiation tactic. “He negotiates with Teamsters in New York...he has no filter and he does not care.” [60:24]
• Concerns about “Forever Wars”:
  Burchett worries any escalation could drag the U.S. into endless conflict, invokes Vietnam as a cautionary tale. [58:39]
• Insider Critique of “War Pimps”:
  Blames “portfolio warriors” in Congress for pursuing war for profit, not national interest.

  “Washington is full of war pimps. They love war because they’re portfolio warriors.” [65:57]

Big Oil and Economic Policy

• Subsidies and Profiteering:
  Both Smith and Burchett rail against oil companies and politicians who enable record profits through subsidies.

  “Capitalism is not dumping your hard earned tax dollars in the pockets of a billion-dollar corporation...” [74:13]

• Manipulated Fuel Prices: Burchett calls out oil companies for myth-making and price-gouging the public.

On American Intelligence

• Weak Intelligence?
  Burchett claims that U.S. intelligence community is weaker than advertised, with little transparency and accountability.

  “Our military intelligence is a whole lot like congressional ethics. It just does not exist at much of a level.” [65:44]

Why Remain in Congress?

• Personal Mission:
  Burchett’s motivation is rooted in family legacy and patriotic service.

  “Because the America that [my parents] fought for and endured, I think it's worth fighting for...” [77:41]

Exit Ramp for Iran War?

• Troops on the Ground = Non-Starter:
  Burchett says he’d oppose deploying U.S. forces to Iran and warns about falling into “another endless war.”

  “I couldn't stomach that because that's just another endless war and the big boys profit.” [79:17]

Government Transparency

• On UFO Disclosure:
  Burchett is adamant about the need for government transparency, both about budgetary expenditures and sensational topics like UFOs.

  “America can handle it. I’m sick of hearing this stuff. We can’t handle it.” [82:02]

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4. Listener Calls – The State of America

Timestamp: Throughout (28:51–101:00)

• Skepticism Toward Political Solutions:
  Multiple callers echo Stephen A.’s frustration with superficial political grandstanding, with some supporting the 25th Amendment and others decrying “moral crime” and “war crime” [29:20, 29:54].
• On Why Centrism is Undervalued:
  Stephen A. argues centrists are the great unrepresented, expressing fiscal conservatism with social liberalism, and issues with both MAGA radicals and the “hardcore left.” [49:32–50:51]
• Debate About Running for President:
  Callers urge Stephen A. to consider office, with Stephen A. humorously but firmly refusing: “I ain’t giving up my money, bro!” [44:38]
• Energy Policy and National Debt:
  A caller from Minnesota inquires about industrial policy for energy, prompting a conversation about the importance of energy independence, but also the need for bipartisan sacrifice to tackle debt. [90:46–94:09]

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5. Memorable Quotes

• Stephen A. Smith:
  • “We need a new president. Not because of the reasons you say, but because of the reasons I say.” [03:44]
  • “Does the end always justify the means? If you have the American people scared shitless for six months...and then ultimately it's resolved, but lives are lost...does it matter?” [10:14]
  • “Even the right is divided now...All under the auspices and the stewardship of president number 47, formerly number 45. It’s got to stop.” [25:44]
  • “I do what I got to do because I'm going be a voice. But...I could win the nominee for the presidency of the United States.” [44:13]
• Rep. Tim Burchett:
  • “Washington is full of war pimps. They love war because they're portfolio warriors.” [65:57]
  • “To move up in [Congress]...You got to either kiss a lot of ass and raise a lot of money. You have to do both of those, and I'm really not very good at either one.” [54:22]
  • “I think the trouble we got is when 12% of the population...fails to go to the polls. But you know, they're always griping...” [87:06]
  • “America can handle [the truth about UFOs]. I’m sick of hearing this stuff. ‘We can’t handle it.’” [82:02]
• Megyn Kelly (on Trump’s rhetoric):
  • “I mean, I don’t know about you, but I am sick of this shit. Can he just behave like a normal human?...You don’t threaten to wipe out an entire civilization.” [23:04]

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6. Notable Moments

• Rep. Burchett’s Skateboard Story:
  Illustrates the absurdity of congressional ethics rules: “You can do insider stock trading, but I can’t sell a dadgum skateboard?” [71:00]
• Smith on Running for President:
  Lays out, with humor and candor, why he won’t run unless he can “keep his money” and why the notion of sacrificing his hard-earned living for politics is unthinkable. [42:08–44:38]
• Listener “Khaleesa” Conversation:
  Lively exchange highlighting trust (or lack thereof) in the U.S. intelligence community—and Smith’s knack for defusing tension with humor and affirmation. [95:03–96:54]
• Burchett’s View on Media and Government:
  Burchett and Smith agree on the need for transparency and both suspect most politicians enrich themselves while grandstanding.

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:28–12:10 — Opening Rant: Trump, Iran, and U.S. Leadership Crisis
• 12:38–18:43 — Congress, Fear, and the Problem With Party Leadership
• 23:04–24:16 — Megyn Kelly on Trump’s Iran Rhetoric
• 52:04–88:58 — Interview: Rep. Tim Burchett (Congress, War, Corruption, Insider Trading, UFOs)
• 90:46–101:00 — Listener Calls: Policy, Energy, American Political Disillusionment

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Conclusion

Stephen A. Smith delivers a gripping, uncompromising critique of American political dysfunction, focused on the perils of President Trump’s Iran policy, the hollowness of removal talk, and a Congress mired in self-dealing. Rep. Tim Burchett opens the curtain on the ugly realities of government, exposing the money, patronage, and inertia at the heart of the Capitol—and warning against the temptations of endless war. The episode’s humor, sharp audience engagement, and high-profile guest make it a quintessential installment of "Straight Shooter": real talk, inside info, and unvarnished truth.

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Recommended for:
Listeners who want to understand the new American political landscape, are concerned about war and peace, or just want to hear politicians and pundits say what’s really on their minds.

Transcript

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[Stephen A. Smith]

Straight shooter with Stephen A.

What's up, everybody? Welcome to the latest edition of Straight

Shooter with yours truly, Stephen A. Coming at you as I love to do every Wednesday night, 6:00pm to 8:00pm Eastern Standard Time over the airwaves of SiriusXM POTUS Radio Channel 124. Number to call up, as always, is 866-967-6887. That's 866-967-6787. That's the number to call in. That's 86696 POTUS. You are listening live to yours truly right here on POTUS Radio.

What I'm about to say I've said before.

I was ignored back then. I wasn't paid much attention to.

I was summarily dismissed until people realized

that what the hell I was saying had a point,

ladies and gentlemen.

Couple of years ago, June of 2024 to be exact. So that's less than a couple of years ago,

June of 2024.

I'm sorry, June of 2023.

It was a year before the debate between former President Joe Biden and presidential candidate

number 45, Donald Trump pursuing being number 47.

And on that day in June of 2023, I said then what I'm about

to say now, we need a new president. We need a new president.

And unlike Marjorie Taylor Greene or a bunch of people on the right blow V8, talking out of both sides of their mouth, knowing that they're pushing for something that'll never happen, meaning invoking the 25th Amendment, led by the Vice President, Cabinet members and 2/3 of the House of Congress coming together to unseat a sitting president due to him being unfit I'm not saying it to you because I think it's going to happen. I'm not going to engage in futility. That ain't going to happen as long as he's alive and breathing. Donald Trump's going to be the president until the end of the year 2028. It's just a fact.

But that doesn't mean we can't aspire for some things.

It doesn't mean that we can't look

at him and say, this man is

disastrous for the American people. Not because of the reasons you say, but because of the reasons I say. That's why I'm glad we got a number to call it. That's why I'm glad I got this show on Series XM. That's why I'm glad that you know to call 8669-676887-86696. I want you to call him, cuz I'm not running. This man is a problem.

Because he seems more concerned leading himself than leading the American people.

You see, I didn't get to policies when it came to President Trump because policies are a different matter. I'm a centrist that leads, leans right, fiscally and left with practically everything else. I'm not a fan of MAGA on the extreme right, and I damn sure ain't a fan of the progressives, which is the extreme left. I'm of the Bill Clinton variety. I'm one of the Barack Obama variety. You might sit up there and say he was extreme or whatever the case may be. I'd say, you know what? He was willing to go across the aisle if he had people that were willing to work with him. I'm A senator, John McCain kind of

Republican,

Mitt Romney kind of Republican in terms of that kind of stuff. I like people that talk about the issues and leave themselves open to being persuaded to some degree, because I believe the absence of that leads to what

we have, absolute chaos. And who's a greater instigator of that than Donald J. Trump? Did you see what he said on Easter Sunday?

Easter Sunday, Easter Sunday. Christians all over this world, and especially in this country, this man goes on Easter Sunday and says, and I'm quoting, and Sirius xm, all the honchos forgive the profanity. I'm reading, damn it, it ain't me. He said, Tuesday will be power plant day and bridge day all wrapped up

in one in Iran.

There will be nothing like it. Open the fucking straight as in the Strait of Hormuz, you crazy bastards talking about Muller's running Iran or you'll be living in hell. Just watch.

Praise be to Allah. How do you think Muslims throughout the world felt when they heard that? How do you feel they felt about the flagrant disrespect he displayed, especially in adding that last line on purpose?

And you see, a lot of people want to look at him and they want to say, stephen A. I mean,

get it together, man. What the hell is the matter with you?

Don't you see what he's doing? Stephen A. Can't you tell? Can't you tell? Because as I've tried to tell people before, I'm a reporter by trade. I'm a prober. I'm inquisitive. I ask, I want to listen. I want to learn, I want to hear. I don't think I know everything, but I know how to listen. And I know how to cultivate sources and resources, and I have them on both sides of the aisle. I'm here to tell you POTUS has done wonders for me. It's just opened the floodgates. I thought I had sources before. My God, the people that got me on speed dial and are texting me now from all over the country, both sides of the aisle, sports and politics. I mean, it's crazy. And I had somebody on the right

say this to me. Haven't you gotten him by now?

He's crazy as a fox.

He wants the Iranians to know he means it as a path to ending war peacefully. He knows exactly what he's doing, and he wants them to know he's crazy. He will do it. And he's speaking to the only language those lunatics understand. He doesn't want to blow them up anymore, but the ball is in their court. Fair enough. Like I said, and I reiterate, at this point, last week or a couple of weeks ago, Democrats wanted to deal with Iran, Republicans wanted to deal with Iran.

This president actually stepped up and had the courage to do it. Fair enough.

But what about the residual impact?

What about the American citizens whose hearts

are palpitating

and pumping at an expedited rate because you know what they worried about? Their sons, their nephews, their relatives, their loved ones being sent to Iran because this man has alluded to boots on the ground. What about that? What about the fear that you're instilling in this country, richest country in the world, supposed to be a superpower. We were supposed to, according to this president, having dealt with Iran already because he said last June they were obliterated, only to find out when he Sent some of this, his due to as envoys to Iran. Oh, suddenly they had enough material. Whether it's plutonium or whatever the hell it was, uranium, whatever the hell it was, he's got enough material where they could have a nuclear weapon in a month. That ain't what you told us the previous June. It's all over the place. It's all over the place and it's scaring the American people. I have a very simple question for the American citizens out there. Does the end always justify the means? If you have the American people scared shitless for six months, hypothetically, and then it takes you that long, and then ultimately it's resolved, but lives are lost and chaos reigns and the country is even more divided because you didn't know how to handle stuff diplomatically.

Mr.

Audit a deal.

Where does that get this country? We need a new president. If he's supposed to be such an adroit negotiator, we need somebody who can is an adroit negotiator, but with class.

We need somebody who's an adroit coordinate,

a negotiator, supposedly he is.

We need somebody that's like that but in the same breath knows what the word diplomacy means and what it stands for. We need somebody that thinks about the American people

and not just the ego.

We need somebody that understands the importance of the end being meaningful and productive and beneficial to the American people, but not one who is all about by any means it don't matter because it

does matter and we don't have that in this president.

We have

a man who's told us trillions of dollars are coming into the economy. We still waiting because all those deals he was making over the last year in the Middle east, the tariff wars and the money that it was supposed to generate. No, our economy has not fallen flat on its face. And no, we're not sitting up there and in a recession or a depression or anything like that. But damn it, we're not thriving the way we were promised we would be.

We know. Whether we want to admit it or not, the man was right to close the borders. Because when you let anywhere from 10 to 12 to 15 million people cross the borders illegally in an undocumented fashion, guess what? Something has to be done about that. But did you have to do it

optically the way it was done by ice?

Notice it's not authoritarianism going on in

the United States of America, Thank God, because you know we're not going to allow that.

But I'll be damned if it hasn't been given the impression because you got Republicans barely with a spine that will stand up, impose resistance to them. I got a representative coming on in hour number two and Representative Tim Burton out of Tennessee. I got. I can't wait to talk to him because where's the spine at? See, I don't sit here and fixate myself over the president because of every little thing he does, because I know who he is. My attitude is 435 representatives, 100 senators, a Supreme Court justice. A democracy that is the United States of America will never let those concerns happen. It would never allow it to reach fruition. Therefore, you don't have to worry about the no king's protest. It ain't going to happen until you go out in the streets of America and you see the palpable fear that some people have and these, this guy

seems to thrive in it.

It's almost like he's trying to engage in population control because if people drop dead, that'll be less people to worry about and we'll be okay with the stress he causes.

And after he issued that post on social media on Easter Sunday, how about

what he did

the next day? Where's that post that put this up?

April 7, yesterday, Tuesday, President Donald J.

Trump, A whole civilization will die tonight.

This is after Easter Sunday. This is after the post I read to you about Easter Sunday.

A whole civilization will die tonight, never

to be brought back again.

I don't want that to happen, but it probably will.

However, now that we have complete and

total regime change where different, smarter and less radicalized minds prevail, maybe something revolutionary, wonderful, revolutionarily wonderful can happen.

Who knows?

We will find out tonight. One of the most important moments in the long and complex history of the world. 47 years of extortion, corruption and death will finally end. God bless the people of Iran.

So he ends it with God bless

the people of Iran after threatening to wipe them off the earth. Did you see how many Iranians were on the bridge in Iran trying to get the hell up out? Did you see how many of them scared? This is a president that lamented the fact that 40 to 50,000 of them

of them were killed by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard just months ago. You're lamenting that they were getting slaughtered by their own leaders. You swore up and down you took out the leaders, not taking into account his brethren and how they were going to take control and how they were

going to be uncooperative. Because if you take out their leaders, why should they be assisting you in any way

These are logical things that I'm pointing to.

That's why we need a new president.

We need somebody that's interested in taking into account the consciousness of the American people. Is there some missile, is there some ballistic missile that I have missed, that I don't know about that can reach America from Iran? I'm not aware of it. It's not stopping Israel from doing what it's doing to protect itself. And they're pretty skilled at it. I'm fully aware that they have planes flying in Saudi Arabia airspace, which is uncommon. So clearly they're disgusted with Iran and they want assistance in doing something about Iran, the number one leading sponsor of terrorism, supposedly. So we get why Trump may have acted. We get why you felt the need to collab with Israel and do what you needed to do to take them out while you could. And we certainly get an insistence on opening up the Strait of Hormuz, because guess what? 20% of the world's oil goes through the air. We understand. And you can't have them dictating everything because oil price is going to raise, gas prices going to raise. It's going to inconvenience the world economy. I get it.

There was no other way. Zero. No other way.

Huh?

That's donald trump. The 25th Amendment will not be executed. Stop it.

Just say you think. Just say what Stephen A.

Said.

You got former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene right there. 25th Amendment.

Not a single bomb has dropped on America. We cannot kill an entire civilization. This is evil and madness. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Illinois Lieutenant Governor, Illinois Governor J.B. pritzker. This is not foreign policy.

It's a deranged madman threatening to wipe out an entire country. It's past time. The 25th Amendment must be invoked.

Senator Ed Markey, Democrat, Massachusetts.

The House and Senate must return to session. The House must pass articles of impeachment, and then the Senate must vote to convict and remove the president or the Cabinet and vice president, with congressional concurrence, must invoke the 25th Amendment and remove Trump.

See?

Stop. Stop it. All you're showing is how useless you are to invoke the 25th Amendment. You're going to have to get the vice President to sign off, the Republicans in the House to sign off, Cabinet members to sign off basically declaring him unfit. It's something the President is fully capable of fighting by saying he's not unfit. And as a result, it's a reason why it's never been exercised in American history.

Stop it. Stop it. And by the way, Tarot Connor Democrat out of California, who I like very much. Okay. Along with various others.

Stop with the impeachment stuff. Either.

Did you try that already?

Damn it.

I mean, talk about an exercise of futility. You impeach them not once, but twice. You loaded the courts and got them convicted on 34 felony counts. Some would say, not me. So you got him as a convicted felon. You got him impeached twice. You had the insurrection on January 6, but you forgot to address the fact that the Constitution allows a convicted felon to run for the president's sake. I mean, duh, it never occurred to you that if it wasn't going to stop him from running for the presidency, why would you waste all that effort and and all that taxpayers money trying to evict them, convict them in a court of public opinions and the courts knowing that none of it would have stopped them? You got to beat them. And you didn't do it. Ro Khanna, we need to invoke the 25th Amendment and remove Trump. Threatening war crimes is a blatant violation of our Constitution and the Geneva Conventions, ladies and gentlemen.

Here's the difference between me and them.

I'm saying the man needs to go.

We need a new president because he don't know how to act,

Period.

What they're doing is exercising in futility. I'm only expressing an opinion about how you should feel about him at this moment in time. They're acting like they could do something about it when they know damn well they can't. You can't do anything to him if

you couldn't keep him from getting back

into office after he departed. Once the insurrection happened and you had

all of these charges that you threw at him that he got convicted of once, that didn't stop him from regaining his seat in the White House. You lost all credibility. Shut up. S H A L L P L

O P My former high school teacher, Mr. Berger Voy at Thomas Edison High School in New York City, used to say that. He didn't say, shut up. He said, shalop. My man Jeff is someplace laughing about that. It's the truth. Shallop. You're just talking nonsense. You're full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. I'm simply giving the opinion that as the midterms approach to the Republican Party, look out for yourself. Get a spine. Stand up to some of the rhetoric and the nonsense that this man is spewing. Get him in a corner. Tell him either shut the hell up or stop talking like that. It's kind of productive to the Interest and the peace of mind in the United States of America. Do we have that sound, y', all? Griff, Izzo, Jen, that I sent y' all about Megyn Kelly.

I want y', all, this is what. When I said to people that I did not vote for Donald Trump to be the President of the United States, there has never been a sound bite that encapsulates and captures the exact reason why I didn't vote for this man. More so than Megyn Kelly going off about Trump once he said what he said about wiping Iran off of the face of this earth. Listen to Megyn Kelly right here.

[Megyn Kelly]

Now, as you can imagine, that post did not go over well with the Iranians or with many Americans. I mean, I don't know about you, but I am sick of this shit.

[Caller / Listener]

I'm just.

[Megyn Kelly]

I'm sick of it. Can he just behave like a normal human? I mean, honestly, like the president? 3D, just shut up. Fucking shut up about that shit. You don't threaten to wipe out an entire civilization. We're talking about civilians just casually in a social media post. You know, like, I, I am the first to try to understand Trump and his strategy and to not freak out over his weird social media posts and language that is loose and incendiary. Truly, I've lived with it for 10 plus years. I learned it the hard way when I was on the receiving end of it for nine months. And truly, I think that was a gift to me in many ways because it helped me really come to understand what he does with his social media. But this is completely irresponsible and disgusting.

[Stephen A. Smith]

That was Megyn Kelly responding to Trump's post about how a whole civilization will die tonight. This is a man that asked the Iranian people to free themselves after he took out their leader. One minute you're asking them to free themselves, another minute you're saying their whole civilization will die tonight.

Did he mean it?

Probably not.

Was it engagement in hyperbole?

Probably. The point is the leader of the free world talking like that, acting like that while making sure to pad his wallets and that of his family along the way, and speaking in that fashion, leaving the rest of us devoid of a peace that he may be feeling, showing a willingness and an ability potentially to exercise an unspeakable evil. That's Megyn Kelly, who supports him in some people's eyes anyway, to the degree

that a lot of MAGA folks have

yet her, Tucker Carlson and others,

Candace

Owens and others, they turn against all that.

And now you got other folks on the right complaining about them. So even the right is divided now.

All under the auspices and the stewardship of president number 47, formerly number 45. It's got to stop. It's why he lost the election in 2020. 81 million people didn't vote for Joe Biden. They voted against Donald Trump. Most of whom did so because of the way he acts and the divisiveness and the divide and the chaos he causes in this country. Sure, we need great leadership in the White House and decorum and being a nice guy. That doesn't cut it. I got it. But you don't have to be that. Even the right knows that. We need a new president. 2028 can't come soon enough because we know he ain't going nowhere until then. But we need an adult in the room. And by the way, I'm not for the 25th amendment being invoked because if it were to happen, that means JD Vance would be the president. And I don't think that would be any better. Might be worse. That's right. I said it. I got more. Don't worry about it.

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[Stephen A. Smith]

Start your free [e-mail].

[Caller / Listener]

Think about it.

If the Democrats were in power when Lincoln allowed Sherman to destroy the south, they would have impeached him. Or when Rose Roosevelt destroyed the infrastructure of Germany, they would have impeached him. Or when Truman used the atomic bomb against Japan, they would have impeached him. These people are insane. This president cares about the American public. Democrats are telling you exactly who they are. They're out defending Ayatollah. They're defending the regimes in Cuba and Venezuela. I mean, these people are crazy. They forgot who the hell they represent.

If the United States Congress has any life left in it, every member of Congress and senator must be calling for Trump's removal today based on the 25th Amendment. He's threatening the entire destruction of a civilization. He is calling Iranians animals. He is showing a total disregard for the humanity of people in Iran, in Gaza, in Cuba. This is a moral crime. It is a war crime. We need to be demanding that Congress convene today, and we need to be invoking the 25th Amendment.

[Stephen A. Smith]

See, it's that kind of frivolity that annoys me. I really, really like Ro Khanna. He's been a guest on this show and I think with some of the things that he speaks on, he's somebody that the Democratic Party should really look at strongly and putting more muscle behind. But that kind of rhetoric right there is nonsense. The president, it is not a crime,

one that's impeachable, one that could invoke

the 25th Amendment to be an ass,

to be irresponsible, meaning with your rhetoric, your verbiage to be incendiary, as hard

as it is to stomach, you know that that's not.

What are you going to do? We want to, we. This is the, this is why the

Democrats eff it up so badly.

So we are supposed to work, waste effort. If you're the Democratic Party because the president posted something on Truth Social. Now if he does something that would be different because he posted it on Truth Social, Ro Khanna, you're going to talk about, you're going to, you want articles of impeachment.

Really? When you did impeach him, it still didn't work.

What makes you think talking about impeaching them or drawing up articles is gonna

get it done while he's in the presidency? It makes no sense.

And Sen. And Rick Scott, Senator Rick

Scott, I mean, what are we gonna do? How many times are Republicans gonna get on the knee?

How many times are they going to walk up to the president of the

United States and do everything but literally kiss his ass.

How beneficial is it the Democrats talk like Trump did on the Iran's where Dems would be, you know, would not be called. If the Democrats did it, you know, they wouldn't be calling for the 25th Amendment. That's fine, but they're looney tunes. They've lost their mind. I didn't like what's and I like,

listen, I respect John Kennedy, send it out of Louisiana, but when he comes on the show and he calls up

the loon wing or the loony wing or whatever, we don't like that kind of rhetoric. But at least he gave me examples when he was working across the aisle and assisting in getting stuff done. I'd like to hear that from Rick Scott. Can we stop engaging in the futility? Please stop talking shit and you know you ain't going to do anything. No, Ro Khanna, that's not going to work. I don't want to hear about impeachment. I want the time spent by our politicians on Capitol Hill being used more constructively. Not talking about stuff that ain't gonna happen.

Even if you did impeach him, is that gonna get him removed from office? What's it gonna do? Lip service, political banter, chirping.

You think the American people haven't figured out right by now that y' all

are full of it? Stop wasting our damn time with stuff that don't matter.

This is why you hear Stephen A say stuff like purge Capitol Hill. Because it's too many people that have

been to their been there too damn

long, young and old. They're saying the same old stuff that ain't going to amount to a damn thing.

Like I said, the only reason listen is I have no desire to be a politician. I swear to you, I don't. I do think I would look good in my suits as the President of the United States. I ain't gonna front about that. But I have no desire to be a politician to deal with that headache. 435 representatives, Senate, 100 Senate figures, White House administration, Supreme Court. I mean, all of this other stuff, I got no time to deal with that. Then I think about me being on the debate stage and having an opportunity to stand across these people that have done this to our country, these politicians that have sold us out, padding their wallets, giving us lip service, going on Capitol Hill, enriching themselves and ain't doing a damn thing for the country. Seems to me like half of them, the only thing they mad about is that Trump does It better than them on both sides of the aisle. They piss me off. I'm so disgusted. And I fantasize about being on a debate stage for two hours just to have an opportunity with them trying to come at me. And I get to call them out. I think 100,000,000 people will watch it. I think 100 million people will watch it. Because I can't think of anything that I would be more ready for in my life with what these people have done to our country got us being divided as people when it's really them that have divided us because people in their pockets padding it and they take positions that lead to polarization, that make us enemies with one another at. And we, it's, it's at our expense while they sitting pretty. Ooh, ooh, ooh. 866-967. 6887. That's 86696. POTUS to the phones we go. Greg in Michigan, you're live with Stephen A.

[Caller / Listener]

What's up, Stephen a. Boom shakaraka, Mr. Positive.

[Stephen A. Smith]

What's up?

[Caller / Listener]

You are the most controversial man in show business, politics and sports. Every time I turn around, there's Stephen A. I don't know who this Matt Barnes is and I don't care who he is. I just saw something about him. He's nobody. He's nobody. He's no Stephen A.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Nice.

Be nice. Be nice.

We talk, we hashing it out. It's all good. Go ahead, man.

[Caller / Listener]

Good, good. I love your passion, but I gotta ask you, how does the US look at the negotiating table after what has transpired? The way Trump talks, the way his verbiage is, the way he wants to destroy civilization.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Well, they're working on a 45. They're working on a 45 day ceasefire. And right now you got Iran charging people tolls to get through the Strait of Hormuz. Right. And because of that, that doesn't seem to give us control. It seems to be elevating their level of control over the Strait of Hormuz. But nevertheless, if the 45 day cease

fire leads to a peace agreement and

a disarmament of any potentiality for nuclear weapons, then we got what we came for. So we got to look at it that way. We can't sit up here and look at him as a President, United States, like he has lost or doesn't know what he's doing because we don't know that yet. What we do know, however, is that it's chaotic and the American people are a bit unstable right now and nervous because of what this man may be capable of, and we don't like it. And you also got us involved with Israel. And you know how some people in this country feel about Israel. We know that antisemitism is fomenting and growing because a lot of people don't like some of the things that they did in Gaza, the displacement of Palestinians in an effort to eradicate Hamas and Hezbollah and Houthis in Yemen and all of this other stuff. And because that kind of stuff is going on, and we obviously are incredibly aligned with Israel, even though there's a lot of people in America who fully, wholeheartedly support it, there's also millions of Americans who don't. And so as a result, that leaves us divided and in chaos here at home. And I'm just wondering, when is somebody going to get back to prioritizing our peace? I know Marjorie Taylor Greene has alluded to that, but I don't want to hear too much from her, who came into office worth a few hundred thousand and departed worth 25 million, reportedly complaining about a president whose coattails she rode so hard. I don't even want to put into words what it's described, what it looked like. I want to hear from her now. Just because he turned against you and wouldn't support you for a potential Senate seat in Georgia, nobody trying to hear her, but we got to because she was close enough where her words should matter to some degree as it pertains to being critical of him, because she's got some insight into how he does business. That's where I'm at with it, Greg. That's where I'm at with it. Appreciate the call. Thank you so much.

[Caller / Listener]

You bet.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Take care, Tate. And watched it. You're live with Stephen A. What's up?

[Caller / Listener]

What's up, Stephen? How's it going?

[Stephen A. Smith]

I'm all right. Go ahead, man.

Floor is yours.

[Caller / Listener]

Okay. Sweet. Thank you. I ask you if you're supporting Byron Donalds in the Florida GOP primary and what you think, like you just mentioned this, the divide about foreign aid that is grown in Florida and around the country.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I don't like Byron Donald's unapologetic support, support of Donald Trump. I'd like to hear him be a bit more critical of Donald Trump, but I respect the hell out of him. I've met him on a few occasions. You know, we've text from time to time. We keep in touch from time to time. That brother's smart. He's.

He's got courage. He's very articulate, knows the issues and Ain't scared to go up against any damn body. And I think that he could be

a very formidable foe for the gubernatorial seat in Florida.

Byron Donald is no joke. I just want him to be more open. And I guess it's wishful because again, ladies and gentlemen, it's about maneuvering through the political terrain. And as a politician, this man is trying to win the gubernatorial seat. And an endorsement from Donald Trump would certainly help him. And so speaking against Donald Trump is something that Donald Trump will most clearly hold against you. And as a result, it would compromise what Byron Donald is trying to gain.

So I totally understand why he might

not do that, but I just wish

that from time to time I would hear him disagree.

And maybe I missed it because I

don't see him much meaning on TV

and stuff like that.

I don't see Byron Donald much.

But I would like, when I do

see him, I would like to see

him being a bit more critical from

time to time about the President. But that's what we're all clamoring for from the right because we need them to. To look like they have a spine.

[Caller / Listener]

Yes, sir, I see what you're saying.

My last.

My last thing. I completely understand where you're coming from, but what do you think about the divide that's going on in Florida and around the country about foreign aid and what do you think?

[Stephen A. Smith]

I pay attention to it.

I pay attention to it in the state of Florida. You know, I now have a home near. To keep everything on Front Street. I would tell you that it's not as divided as people think. People have their own. Their own viewpoints.

You know, Florida is almost saying you got a lot of different people there.

Black, white, definitely. The Latino community from all over the place. Cubans, Venezuelans, Guatemalans, Mexicans, Puerto Ricans, you know, Colombians, definitely. You've got the Latino community. I mean, shoot, in certain parts of

Florida, particularly South Florida, English is damn near second language. And so you gonna have these people with their different views and. And rather than vilify anybody, let's make

sure we know what we're vilifying first. Where do the differences lie? Why do the differences lie? Where they lie? Who feels what and why?

Find that out before we make a

decision about where we stand on those issues. That's what my answer to that would be.

Tate, I appreciate the call, though.

Thank you so much. Tom in West Virginia, you're live with Stephen A. What's up, Tom?

How are you live?

[Caller / Listener]

Steven, can you hear me?

[Stephen A. Smith]

I'm here. I'm Right here, bro. Go ahead.

[Caller / Listener]

All right, I got a question. I don't watch you.

I'm.

I don't know too much about you. I just got one question. Are you really gonna try to run for president or no?

[Stephen A. Smith]

No, no.

But.

No, because they said to me that equal air time has to apply. If you remember, when Trump decided to run for president, he gave up to showing The Apprentice. When Dr. Oz decided to run for the Senate seat in Pennsylvania against Fetterman, he had to give up his show. They say that they told. I've been told that the minute I announce that I want to run, I would immediately have to give up my seat. You know, my time on the air, doing first take on ESPN every weekday morning from 10am 12 noon. Likely giving up Sirius XM, my shows and stuff like that. I know it's not FCC per se, but the point is, rules apply to cable to some degree, audio. This is what the people have been saying.

And.

And obviously, that would be a challenge for me because if I have to give up my job, I have to give up my money. And I work too damn hard to give up my money. I ain't giving up my money for no partnering politics. That ain't happening. You can cancel that dream. You know, politicians are coming on the show trying to get money for crying, not this show. But they do what they do trying to get money. I'm not giving up the money that I've earned, worked my whole entire life, adult life, for, to run for office. That ain't happening. But if they said to me, keep your money. You understand?

And you don't have to give up

your job while you're campaigning. You get to campaign. And you know what? The only time you'd have to give up your. Your. Your job is if. Is if you were to win the election, man, I would. I think I would do it. I ain't scared. And I want to be on that debate stage with these folks. I would ache to do it, but not at the expense of my quality of life. I worked too hard for too long to surrender that. To be in that cesspool known as Capitol Hill. Ain't happening.

[Caller / Listener]

I ain't mad at you. I was just wondering because I see you on tv, Bill. Mark, you said the same thing. You ain't want to give up your money.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I understand.

[Caller / Listener]

You don't work too hard.

[Stephen A. Smith]

That's right.

[Caller / Listener]

But, you know, so I was trying to see if he was gonna be our next Malcolm X or something, talking about it. You just gonna be the one that's gonna curse, going to be the criticizer.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Well, listen, I do what I got to do because I'm going be a voice. But I, I really believe that I could win the nominee for the presidency of the United States. You could call it hyperbole, you call it ego, whatever. You know what? Put me on a debate stage, put me on a campaign trail and watch what I do. I ain't going to tell you I'm going to lose because I don't engage in something for feudal purposes. If I do it, it's because I believe I can win.

That's why.

But I ain't giving up my money, bro. That ain't happening. Sorry, not happening. 866-967-6887 is the number to call this. 86696, POTUS back with more of your calls to close out hour number one before Representative Tim Burchett comes on the show to start off hour number two. You're listening live to Straight Shooter.

[Kiana (Shopify Testimonial)]

I'm Kiana and I leveled up my business with Shopify. Once I figured out that Shopify was a thing, I never turned back. I can create a site with my eyes closed. Shopify thinks ahead of us, you know, and it thinks about the customer more than anything. Every day I'm thinking about some other new business, but Shopify is doing it to me because it's so easy to use. It's like, I can't stop. I'm addicted.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Start your free [e-mail] if you, your

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[Stephen A. Smith]

Stephen A. Holl at your boy. Don't go away. Yeah.

[Gerard Freisinger (Voicemail)]

Gerard Freisinger, 88 year old retired physician independent, disappointed with both parties feel that Democrats can instead of constantly dumping on Trump the malignant narcissist, discuss ways to improve affordability for the people through housing, health care, food and goods, energy and utilities, transportation, taxes and income, interest rates and borrowing, education and workforce and local solutions. If you do chat GBT and ask for improving affordability, practical policy options. You can see all of these end of the recording.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Jared in New York, thank you so much. Appreciate that voicemail. Anytime y' all want to leave one, go to SiriusXM.com getserious that's SiriusXM.com getserious David in New York, you're live with Steve Job, A straight shooter with Stephen A. Go ahead David, good evening. How are you?

[Caller / Listener]

Hey. Hey. Okay, comments. So I hear you. I listen to you. You talk about that debate stage. My concern is, when the time comes, you're not going to be on that debate stage. So all I'm saying is, you know, we are relying on you. You're our voice. You got to be there. Don't chicken out when the time comes. There's a million reasons not to be on that stage, but you got to get there.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Who's our voice? When you say ours, who's ours?

[Caller / Listener]

The people in America that are disenfranchised, that are upset with both sides.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Yes, that would be me. That's accurate. That's accurate. But here's the point. I'm not giving up my money. And they say you got to come off the air the second you announce that you want to run. You can't be on the stage unless you want to run. And if you want to run, I got to come off the air. And if I come off the air,

[Caller / Listener]

you can't talk about the debate stage.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Well, that's what.

No, no, no.

I'm answering the question, David. People ask me how I feel, I'm entitled to tell them how I feel. I'm just being honest. And when they said to me, you got to come off the stage immediately. Because originally I was given the impression that I could show up on the debate stage the first couple of times, and let's see what happens. That was immediately debunked.

Oh, no.

You come off the air immediately. FCC equal time rules. You cannot do it. Which means that on a. Maybe I'd have to give up what I worked for my entire career. It's not happening. That's all.

[Caller / Listener]

For eight months, you get right back onto. On tv. You're right back.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Okay. That's what you say. That's what you say. That's not what I'm hearing.

Come on.

I'm talking about my money.

But listen, we got a year. We got a year. Anything's possible. Instead of telling me. Instead of telling me, how about you, Dave?

How about you pull some strings and work it out that I could get on the debate stage and I ain't got to give up a dime of my money. Why don't you work that out?

[Caller / Listener]

I'm pulling you.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I'm telling you to work it out. Y' all figure it out.

If the people want me on a debate stage and they make it happen, they facilitate me not having to give up my money, I. I will show up. I'll be on that debate Stage. I'll campaign throughout this country and still show up on ESPN to do First Take and SiriusXM every day. And I got the energy. I got the energy. Yeah.

Let's go.

Ain't no problems.

Appreciate the call.

Kenny in Virginia real quick, you're live with Stephen A. What's up, Kenny?

Kenny, floor is yours.

Bye, Kenny.

You got to be ready. Y' all gotta be ready.

Chuck in Minnesota, you're live with Stephen A.

What's up, Stephen?

[Caller / Listener]

A big fan of the show. I've been listening for years. I listen to everything you say. When you say that, you know you're conservative, physically. So liberal.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Yep.

[Caller / Listener]

You know, that just so happens to sound like the third largest political party in America.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Yep.

[Caller / Listener]

And there are more centrists in America. And I think that you could be a great spokesperson or hell, even a candidate for the Libertarian Party. And Ron Paul should have won in 2008.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I don't think.

I don't think. I don't think in this binary system that we're living in, with challenges as it pertains to voters, willingness to go to the polls, that a Libertarian will ever win. I think they can make some noise. They could be disruptive. But I would be trying to win. And my problem is not with conventional and traditional Democrats. It's with the progressive left, the hardcore left. That's who I have no use for at all.

At all.

Hell no. You understand yet? Socialism, communism stuff?

Hell no, not in America. I'm a capitalist. One thing you don't have to worry about me as American citizens is I'm going to come along and try to debunk and shove aside capitalistic ways I.e. the United States of America. Hell to the no. Hell to the no.

When people got more to lose, they know how to act. Remember that. Remember that. Hour number two. Up next, Representative Tim Burchette. Burchett. Coming up, don't go away. Hour number two, Straight shooter with Stephen A. Coming right at you.

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[Stephen A. Smith]

Straight Shooter with Stephen A. A member of our government has told you and others, I guess, that there is a form of alien life and machinery which maybe brought this living creature here that interacted in some form with people. Yeah, they have and they've. It's just, it's. It's pretty wild. I know, I know, but I'm just telling you, I'm not going to lie to you. I'd take a lie to tell. You won't put me on a polygraph, I'll take it. But you know, this is what the guy told me. I mean, I've had a, a very high ranking naval official describe, you know, I've talked about this before. Underwater craft, something big as a football field Moving at over 200 miles an hour at date. And there's no fish in the ocean that would do that. We don't even have a sub that'll probably do 40 miles an hour under the. And the last thing he said before he left my office was he was kind of weird because he didn't go out the. He went out the side door, which nobody ever uses. And he looked at me, pulled me up close, he said, tim, they're real. And that's the last thing he said to me. That'll be the title of my book, I guess.

Interesting. Interesting to say the least. My next guest has represented Tennessee's 2nd congressional district district since 2019. He serves on the House Committees on Oversight and Government Reform, Foreign affairs and Transportation and Infrastructure. Please welcome the Straight Shooter for the first time, Representative Tim Burett. Welcome to Straight Shooter, sir. Pleasure to meet you. How you doing? How's everything?

Thank you, sir. It's a big honor being on with you. You're a phenomena. You're something else.

I appreciate it, man. Thank you, thank you.

It's a real pleasure to be with you. Real pleasure.

Thank you so much. We'll get into the aliens later because I'm interested in. Damn it, I believe you. So you don't have to worry about that.

But we could get into all of that later.

I want to go to more pressing issues for us at this particular immediate moment. As a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee what were your thoughts when the President of the United States the other day threatened that, quote, a whole civilization will die, end quote, if Iran does not open the Strait of Hormuz?

It made me think that how he negotiates, he comes on strong so he can pull back. It's a negotiating style. It's not what we're used to in Washington, but nothing. I always tell people that thing that just ran by you was an iceberg, because that's about as fast as Washington is. We can't get out of our own way either party. We pass bills that don't go anywhere in the Senate, and they do vice versa. And the whole town's crooked is a dog's leg. Let's just be honest about that. It's a crooked game to move up in committee leadership, both parties, basically, when you start the congressional session or the year you start, you're issued a piece of paper, and it tells you how much money you need to raise if you want to get to certain committees. I was told. And so I was told when I got to Congress, I met with my representative on that, and he said, you know, we're going to look at, you know, how you vote and your relationship. And then he says how you do across the street. Now, Mr. Smith, across the street, you're not allowed to raise money in the Capitol legally. Like, I must be the only one who, I don't know, I might be the only one that follows that rule. I'm not sure. But you go across street, Republicans have an office over there, and the Democrats, I'm sure, have at the same thing. And so you. You go over there and they look at how much money you raise for the conference. So. And so it doesn't. I always tell people, and my friend Peyton Manning, if he. If it was. If the NFL was Congress, he'd still be waiting to get in. It has nothing to do with ability. And it all just how. And so you can figure these lobbyists for certain industries, they want Stephen A. Smith to be the chairman of. Whatever committee in the industry that will get behind you at an early time and say, we need to get behind this guy. We can mold him. And they give you money for your campaign. It's all legal. It's all you can. You can research it to see. See how much they've given. And then you move up. You move up because of that structure. And there's really only two ways to move up. And I'm going to be blunt. You got to either kiss a lot of ass and raise a lot of money. You have to do both of those, and I'm really not very good at either one.

How much. Go ahead, Representative. Representative, how much money are they talking about you raising? When they, when they sit up there and they tell you you got to raise money, how much money are we talking about? I don't know if anybody's ever asked that. I'm always, how much money are we talking about?

Well, for an A committee, probably two or three million dollars. And, you know, and I serve on B and C committees at best. I serve on three committees, which is very unusual. And I'm chair of a vice chair of a, of a Doge, which is, operates almost like a full committee because the commitment is there. But everybody's on one committee. Some folks are on two, but I don't think anybody's on three committees. But I'm on three committees. I served 16 years in the legislature in Nashville. I didn't go down there to chase women or become a country music star or work on my golf game. I went to work, and that's why I went to Washington. And that's not really cool. Two or three nights a week, I eat peanut butter and jelly for, for supper, a peanut butter jelly. I sleep in my office on a couch. And I don't come from money. Mama was a professor at a historically black college here in Knoxville, Knoxville College. She's actually in their hall of fame. And my daddy was a dean at ut, so you know these guys, and there's nothing wrong with it. More power to the folks that come down there that have money and then, you know, some of them leave with a lot more. But I have, I have not achieved that.

Yes.

And it's not one of my goals,

actually, so I got you. Representative, let me ask you this question. It's currently a two week ceasefire, but are you concerned the conflict will turn into a forever war as it pertains to Iran and what's going on with them and us via President Trump right now?

100%. 100%. Anytime we're involved in any conflict, whether it be sending $180 billion to Ukraine or anything else, we're just one step away from, hey, we need to bring some troops in to monitor something. You remember Vietnam, you and I are, I guess, about the same age. I think you're probably a little younger than I am. But Vietnam, you know, they were going there, it was basically to escort folks in and out and do things like that. And then it escalated and then we started sending troops in and then we were coaching them on how to fight a war. And all of a sudden we're in war, and then that's the way it happens. And these countries overseas, a lot of them, their populations are expendable. They don't care. They don't have the same belief system you and I have. And there's only about 10% of Iran or less has the radical belief system that runs that country. The rest are fairly impoverished people that don't have that belief system but live in fear for their lives. So they're forced to do things.

You know, I gotta ask you, I'm thinking about, you know, the nearly 100 congressional Democrats and some Republicans, including former Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.

You've had people out there calling for

the 25th Amendment to be invoked and for President Trump to be removed from office because they believe he's unfit. Where do you stand with all of that? We all know it's not gonna happen. Let's get that out the way.

He ain't getting removed from office, okay? They can bloviate all they want to.

He's not going anywhere until 2028. But my question to would be, is he fit for office in your estimation, based on some of the things you're seeing him do? Based on some of the things you're

seeing him say, I think he is and I'll. And this is a straight talk situation. So I'm going to be straight talk with you. They, there ain't too many saints get elected to that high of an office. It's a rough and tumble world and people get roughed up. My friend here, Knoxville, Hallerin Hill on the radio, he's got a quote, he says politics is a contact sport. And brother, you better, you better put your cup on and you better put your helmet on if you want to get in this game, because it is a rough and dumb world. And what he's saying is, I remembered when the, the Watergate tapes and all that was going on and they found out Nixon had secretly recorded stuff. And, you know, and he, he's a Quaker and, and nobody ever heard him curse in public or anything. And then they listen to the tapes and he's cussing up a storm, you know, and, and just shocked everybody. I mean, what do you, Trump negotiates with Teamsters in New York. And it's rough talk, you know, that you, you played sports at the most elite league level. And, you know, up close, I mean, I can, up close people say some stuff that, you know, it's pretty, it's pretty rough. But, you know, and that's what Trump is. He has no filter and he does not care. He wants to deliver the goods and that's his goal.

Yeah, well, I didn't, I tried to

play at Winston Salem State. I wasn't that great and wasn't elite. So I, I'm not going to lie about that. But I will tell, I will tell you this, I get where you're coming from. But for me, when I think about the president and the position that he has taken, I do understand those who have supported him, particularly on the right, having the mindset that, you know something, that's him just talking, that's him just bloviating. You know what? He's just running his mouth. It's a negotiating tactic. Here's why a lot of people were against him and didn't vote for him.

Representative because the rhetoric scares a lot

of American people because they don't know.

You don't know what's going to happen.

Like, we're sitting here today and you

got the straight of a move that needs to open up. 20% of the world's oil goes through there.

Trump obviously wants it open. He doesn't want Iran stalling stuff the way that they've done for weeks, doesn't want gas prices elevating, don't want all of this stuff happening. Right.

The American people, when they hear him

talking like that, some of them do

believe he's crazy enough to do what the hell he said he's going to do. And as a result, it could put America in a tremendous, tremendous bind. So to me, that level of chaos coming from the Oval Office, the absence of statesmanship, is what makes you nervous. One of the things that I do in raving about Marco Rubio is I say he's the adult in the room because so many Trump acolytes don't seem like Trump. Even I've said, Vice President Vance, he seems like somebody that wants to be Trump as opposed to somebody that just

wants to do his job. That's where I'm coming from with it.

Do you not find yourself concerned when you hear the president open his mouth and create such chaos, whether it's in

the market or anything else?

Well, we're Christian people in my family. And dropping an F bomb on any time on Easter Sunday, it's not appropriate, in my opinion. I just, I don't aspire to that kind of language. I, I say dadgummit a lot. I told everybody I gotta, if I had a country music album, it would be I got a swear jar full of IOU's because I got a 18 year old daughter and I'm trying to make her think I'm the Christian she thinks I am. So I try to watch my language and I don't like that. But again, you're talking world leaders. And a lot of these world leaders, let's just be honest, they're thugs, okay? They are dirt bags and they're murdering thugs. And we've had people, in my opinion in this country that have risen some pretty high levels that are of that caliber. But because of the media or because their ability to hide that from the public, they've cast themselves in a different light.

All right, is that your way of saying the President is one of them or the President is being the way that he is because he has to

respond to those kind of folks?

I think because he knows he has to respond to those kind of folks. I've been with him many, many times in real life and I've never heard him curse and never heard him curse. And when I've been with him in one on one or in a group. And I'm just being honest with you.

Well, I wasn't talking about him cussing. I wasn't talking about him cussing, Mr. Representative. I was talking about him bombing Iran off the face of the earth, basically alluding to.

That's what he was going to do.

That's what I was talking about.

I don't think that's part of the strategy. I don't think he wants the innocents to suffer because he realized that you're just talking about a 10% thing. I think he's very frustrated though, because his advisors told him we need to arm one group and they'll get the arms to the Iranian people. And they ended up keeping the guns. And Trump warned his people that they would do that because he knew human nature. And you've got these diplomats that have continuously gotten us into these wars. That's part of the problem too. Our intelligence. You know, I always tell people our military intelligence is a whole lot like congressional ethics. It just does not exist at much of a level.

Really?

I didn't realize that. I mean, I hear people bragging about US Intelligence all the time, whether it's FBI, CIA, whatever, and they brag. You're telling me our intelligence is weak, our intelligence is not up to snuff. Is that what you're telling me?

Yes, sir. Yes, sir, I am. Because you're dealing with human nature. And, and in the past, we haven't funded those agencies. We've, you know, we've it's, it's. Look, Washington is full of war pimps. They love war because they're portfolio warriors. Sir, that's going to. Let's, let's look at, look at Ukraine. I give you connect. It's okay if I get. And please call me.

Okay? Yes sir, go ahead.

I get a little look around for some old guy when you, when you

say I got you, I got you, I got you.

Okay, Ukraine. Now we, and I haven't voted for a penny and we, I think we've given them $180 billion so far at least. Well, we gave them our missile defense system. Now our missile defense system is, is the best in the world. Let's just be honest. It's a multi billion dollar apparatus. So we gave them that and in doing so we had to replenish ours, our supply, if that makes sense to you. And in doing that we did it with a multi billion dollar no bid contract. Who do you think owns stock in that missile defense company? In those companies? Members of Congress. Members of Congress own stock in that, sir. So to think that, that you're dealing with an honorable bunch in either party. In either party. That's right. You know, stock trading Bill, the one that I had, it just said you can't own stock. There's more people professional baseball than members of the U.S. congress. They're ought to treat it as an honor. And I'm sick and tired of hearing members of Congress say both parties. You know how much money this cost me Burchett, to be here? Well, dadgummit, go back home and do it. Because the America. This is an. If you don't get off that airplane, sir, and walk up to that Capitol every week and get chills, you need to put your ass back on that plane and go home. Because we need people up there that want to serve and not want to increase their portfolios.

Tim, is that what makes it seem

so easy for folks on the right to turn the blind eye and a deaf ear when we hear the Democrats and not just on Capitol Hill, but a governor like a Gavin Newsom out of California and other, calling President Trump the ultimate grifter, somebody that is not just sleazy but himself, his family padding their wallets, et cetera.

Cuz based on what you're saying, you're basically saying, are you kidding me? Practically everybody does it in Washington. Everybody's trying to pad their wallets. He's just doing it better than the rest. Is that what this is all reduced to too, as a conversation when it comes to that.

I wouldn't point the finger at Trump. I think he's a. If he's doing all those things you're saying he's doing, he's, he's, he's probably at the bottom of the list. And everybody wants to talk about Pelosi and all her trades that she's made and everything. Sir, she's not even in the top 10 in Congress. Not. Yeah, it's. Look, and everybody laughs about it. You know, I get. That's why again, here I am talking about it, I'm sure. And what's going to happen is somebody's going to come see me on the House floor. It'll be a friend of mine and say, hey, Merchant man, you can't be

saying that stuff about, well, damn, it's the truth. You can get away with it. You work with them. You don't work for them. You represent the state of Tennessee. That's what I know.

You're exactly right. And I remind new members that every time I say, guys, you don't work for a dadgum person up here. You don't work for anybody up here. You work for the people back home. And that's part of the problem.

So the bottom line is that we

have a bunch of politicians on Capitol Hill and what you're telling us is

that the inordinate amount of individuals representing our country in the House of Representatives

and in the Senate, essentially, it's a

very profitable job to have, even though, for the record, it says it's a few hundred thousand dollars in salary, but it's not an accident that Marjorie Taylor Greene, for example, came into the House of Representatives, which worth a few hundred thousand dollars if that. And departed reportedly worth 25 million. In other words, you're saying that's normal. That's part for the course. Stephen. A Get used to it. Straight shooter audience get used to it. That's what it is. Is that what you're saying?

Both parties. Both parties. Again, I'm not. And the thing that they're doing is not illegal, Mr. Smith. It's not. Dad. It's not illegal, but it should be. Here, give you one more quick example, please.

I, Please.

I'm an entrepreneur. I'm, I'm, I'm a capitalist. Okay. I enjoy that kind of thing. And so I do things to keep my mind from going because this stuff really frustrates me, sir. So I live on a little farm and I go out at night. I, I don't sleep at night much. I maybe get three or four hours sleep at Night. And I make skateboards. Okay. Got a lot of fences that fall down. They're oak. I got a little sawmill. I cut wood. I do bamboo and stuff. So I make this skateboard out of banana fiber, oak, and bamboo. And I gave it to Tulsi Gabbard. You know who Tulsi is, right?

Yes, I do. Yes, I do.

She's from Hawaii. She and I used to work out. At the first President Trump's first day of the union address, she kind of outed me. She said, merchant. She said, my dad gun birthdays next month. Where's my skateboard? Because I told her I'd make her a skateboard sometimes. So I make her this skateboard. It's pretty cool. And I take it to her. It's a longboard pintail, and I'd give it to her. And so people all over the world are saying, hey, Tim, where can I get a birch it board? Where can I get a Burchett board? So I want to do things right. You know, people like me and you, we got to watch our. We got to watch ourselves, because everybody's looking for us to screw up. I hear people talking about you maybe running for office, and I guarantee you at both parties have looked into you. Your voting record, your business interests, your family. You know that. You know that. You know that. So they. I give this skateboard to Tulsi. She puts it out on the Internet. You know, she's got. She's super popular, especially with young people. And so I get people all over the world say, burchett. Where can I get a Burchett board? So I go down and talk to ethics. I talk to the lawyer, and this is about verbatim what he said. He said, you can't sell it, and you have to put it. Do all this other stuff. And I said, so wait a minute. You're telling me I can do insider stock trading, but I can't sell a dadgum skateboard? And they said, that's right. So I got to form a corporation, or my wife does. I go to work for her. She pays me a. Pays me a salary, but it can't cross like, I think, 17 or $18,000 a year. And then I have to put our. We put our farm in an llc. I mean, it's so ridiculous, sir.

It is.

And all I'm trying to do is be legitimate. But to be legitimate, I got to miss. I got to almost mislead the public on what's going on. It's. It's a scam. It is a scam. And we ought to just. We ought to be. You're technically a member of the media. I don't want to curse you like that. But the number one thing in the media people ought to be about for is disclosure and transparency.

Absolutely.

And so why don't I just say hey I'm Tim Burett. I'm going to make a few dadgum skateboards in my barn and sell them on the Internet and I'm going to tell you how much money I make. And that ought to be enough. That ought to be enough. I mean I do licenses and I. And I pay all my taxes to. I'm talking about all that to the irs. Nothing.

Nothing.

Spec. I mean if you want to get out and sell lemonade on the street corner or something you ought to be able to do that. Mr. Speaker.

That's right. Especially the capitalistic society.

Society. No doubt about it.

Representative Tim Burchard right here with Stephen A. Straight shooter with Stephen A. I got to go back to Iran in this regard. Representative TIM do we have. Do we have an exit strategy and

if so does it depend.

Or rather not if so. But does it depend on regional partners if a land conflict occurs?

Dual question.

Yes sir. Yes sir. I believe we do. I don't. I don't think Trump wants that either. I think he sees the long game is to get. Get the oil. But one thing you need to remember too. And I'm going to step on some more toes here. Okay. If that's all right.

Please. I ain't stopping you. Feel free.

How much oil do you think America gets from Iran?

America gets from Iran.

I'd say 000 oil is going up. We're exporting oil now. Yet it's a commodity. Burchett. You don't understand what a commodity is. Let me tell you something. We give oil companies billions of dollars in subsidies every year and yet. And they come down and pour mouth us and then they get record profits. Diesel. I have a diesel. We got a little farm. I drive a dually. It's five something a gallon out here. Now diesel is the first cut they take. Well it goes I think kerosene. Then diesel. Then gas and then you know the unleaded all the way up to the top. And diesel is the cheapest to make. It's the most expensive. And they say oh it's a commodity. I thought you were a capitalist. Hell yeah I'm a capitalist. But a cap capitalism is not dumping your hard earned tax dollars in the pockets of a billion dollar corporation. That's not capitalism at all. That's some subsidized socialist type thing. And I'll guarantee you they're going to show record profits. And don't tell me that what's in those gas pumps right now is. Has any effect on what's going on overseas. That stuff, it's over to six, eight months ago that was in the ground wherever they got it. And that stuff's been for a long time. And they're ripping us off. And when they say, Burchett, you don't understand commodities. Well, why in the world if it. If it's. It's all about the price of oil, why isn't the oil at the autozone going up in those little. At the same amount? If it's about the oil, it's about the commodity. There's no difference in that oil in that little can than that gasoline in those. In the ground, in those pumps outside your local filling station. They're ripping us off. This is all a scam. And, and we allow them.

Who's ripping us off?

Both parties are in bed with them.

Who's ripping us off?

Specifically, I'd like names.

Who's ripping us off?

The big oil companies, all of them are. That are charging these enormous prices because we are the pri. And they're. And again, they're going to show you all these bogus charts. And as soon as this hits, the big boys are going to call you and say, man, don't get that nut on here again. And this is again why I don't get a lot of contributions but I win reelection because America gets it. They're tired of getting ripped off by big oil and it's just. But the reason they're allowed to do it is because the politicians. That's my bottom line. The politicians allow them to do that. They shower with contributions both sides of the aisle when they need to. Whenever any new technology like fracking or something, I don't know.

So why are you still there? So why do you choose to still be there? Why do you. You got better things to do with your life and you're a capitalist and you know how to make money. Why. Why subject yourself to this? Let me tell you something right now. They can talk about me running all they want to. They don't have anything to worry about. When they told me they gonna take my money because I immediately gotta come off the air the second I announced I'm running. The one thing they ain't doing is taking my money. They ain't gotta worry about me running if they're gonna take my money now if they, they ain't messing with my

money and I could still go to

work, I would be on that debate

stage in a heartbeat.

Going up against mostly the progressive left. I'm a centrist who leans left on certain things, leans right fiscally. But I am not down with maga and I am not down with the progressives. And I'm proud to say that I

don't give a damn what anybody says.

But having said that, I wouldn't hesitate

to be on that debate stage.

With that being said, why are you

still in this, sir?

With what you've described Washington to be,

why put yourself through this?

You see that flag behind me right there? In all sincerity, that's a 48 star flag that was on my uncle's casket. My mama, a schoolteacher, she was a young lady at Army B. Hooker, came to their house in Cheatham county and told my mama and her mama, my grandmother, that her oldest boy Roy had died fighting the Nazis and my dad was all fighting the Japanese in the Marine Corps in some of the most brutal combat. That's why I'm here, because I stand on some pretty cool shelters and I'm an unrepentant mama's boy. My daddy was my best friend. I'm 61 years old and I still go out to their grave and I cry like a baby because the America that they fought for and endured, I think it's worth fighting for. I mean, yeah, I get paid a ton of money. I could sit on the back row and not do anything and, and not fight, but I think it's worth fighting for. I really do. I think God has granted us an incredible gift and we've just got to figure out how to, how to, how to harness it a little better.

You need, you, you need a hell raise up there. That's why, that's one of the reasons I've considered stuff. Because I'd raise hell. I could tell you that much, I promise you that.

But let me ask you this before I got a couple of questions before

I let you get on out of here.

Is there a scenario, is there a

scenario, a scenario in which you'd abandon the President on the Iran issue? Is there any scenario that could come up that could propped up that would make you say, I'm out of here. I can't deal with this. There's no way I'm going to accept this.

I don't see any shape, form or fashion in putting American troops on the ground over there. I say I'm not going to vote for that. I couldn't stomach that because that's just another endless war and the big boys profit. And daddy, when my daddy died, I found a little plaque on his desk and I'm paraphrasing it. It said, old men make decisions and young men die. And that's what in these war camps they'll sell us. They'll sell you. Yeah, I got 18 year old daughter, sir. I don't, I not want to see her going into any of that situation for some other, you know, if it's on the border, if it's on our, in our country or if it's, it's a threat now. They were a threat. Now don't get, don't get missed. Yes, they had nuclear capabilities and they had nuclear power. They had to, I believe it was a plutonium to do it, which they still have. And that concerns me. And I would hope we could, we could have a collaboration because if you saw the Israelis were actually able to fly over Saudi Arabia without any interference, that should tell you right there that the Middle east does not want any shape, form or fashion to do anything with Iran. They realize they are bad actors and they are finally figuring out, sir, that it's a lot more profitable to get involved in the capitalism game than it is sending their young people off to die in war for Allah or whoever else because they realize it. And that's another thing in this country. And thank you for letting me pontificate. You're much cheaper than a psychiatrist.

Right, Go ahead, go ahead now.

But these leaders, world leaders, whether it be out on the world stage in the Middle east or in this country, they love it when black and white folks are killing each other. They love it when Jews and Christians are fighting. They love all this stuff because why it keeps their lousy asses in power. And that's, and Trump is not from that cut. And that's one of the reasons I like him, because he is not their boy and they know it and they're not going to control him. And we've got a real problem in that, in the world because again, it's all about profit.

Before I let you get on out

of here, I got one more question to ask you. And I got to transition. This is about UFOs. I couldn't let you out of here without asking you about that.

You've said you've seen UFO briefings that would, quote, set the earth on fire, end quote.

And you also said publicly you're not suicidal.

That's a serious statement. What exactly are you being told that

the American people aren't allowed to hear sir about?

Well, we go into what's called a skiff, and that's kind of James Bond room. You know, it's lead line. You can't take a cell phone. You got a Fitbit? I don't, but, you know, I've been in those rooms and they say, somebody still getting a signal. Somebody's got a cell phone. And somebody checked your pile. Crap, that's my Fitbit. Sorry, it's my. Whatever. And they have to go out of the room. And we're briefed by the highest level of either our military intelligence, these Alphabet agencies. And they tell us things, which again, you've got one group telling you within some of these things that they. They don't exist. Somebody uses one time, this little punk with a freaking man bun. And then you got these military people tell us that something does exist. And I've been briefed and seen pictures and talked enough, but you got to realize, too, it's all about the money. And this is. Is this a psyop or what? Are they putting this garbage out there so that people will say, gosh, we need to fund these agencies more and so we can research it more? I'm not into all that. It's not about little green men. It's not about flying saucers, sir. It's about, what are they spending tens of your, maybe billions of your tax dollars on? If it doesn't exist, then why are they. Where are they studying it? And if it does exist, as I told President Trump the other day, you need disclosure. We need transparency. America can handle it. I'm sick of hearing this stuff. We can't handle it. It's, you know, and I'm a Christian, and they appealed to me on that level. Bart, this stuff's kind of anti Christian, you know, in your beliefs. I said, no, it isn't. Genesis 1. God created the heavens and the earth.

What do they look like? What do they look like? Can you tell me? I mean, you see, you. You've seen. You've seen Independence Day. You're seeing aliens. You've seen a few things. What do they look like? Give me that one.

Well, it's not Independence Day, I'll tell you that.

Okay, I got you. What can you tell me?

But they're gonna. If they would just look, if I. If they would just release what I was briefed on just a couple weeks ago. Again, we had somebody come in there, a colleague, a friend, if you will, that was basically there to disrupt.

Okay.

They tried to ruffle this guy's feathers and ask him stuff. And, sir, he named names, dates, people in the meetings where these items, if you will, are located. And I mean, you know, it's, it's too much. It's too much, sir. It's too much is going on. But don't believe any of this stuff you see on the Internet, this AI stuff. I wouldn't believe it unless I saw it with. Okay, okay, all right, so, but Trump's the guy to do it. If anybody will do it. If anybody's a disruptor, it's Donald J. Trump, and he will disrupt with this. And I, I had a conversation with folks at the White House today just about that, and we're going to be, hopefully some things will be coming out soon.

And I, well, he, he promised it, he promised it during the campaign, but he also promised a lot of transparency with the Epstein files. That hasn't worked out that way, I

could tell you that much.

But, but, but listen, I know I got, I got to let you go because I got to run, but I'd be remiss in neglecting to bring this up to you, sir. Since Trump returned to office, Democrats have

been somewhat successful, if not, dare I say, very successful at the polls, you know, during elections. How concerned are you about the GOP for the midterms?

I'm of the belief system at the far left takes it over. We lose our country. I think you've got a socialist group. I mean, some of these people, sir, are openly Marxist, whether you hate the Republican Party or whatever. But Marxism does not work. Margaret Thatcher said it best. Pretty soon you run out of rich people. It works in the beginning because you can just, you plunder all the wealth a couple of years into it, and it doesn't work. And there's no incentive for profit and anything else, and it breeds mediocrity. And this country is about excelling. It's about American excellence. Trump talks about about that a lot, at least in private meetings. He does. And the worst, the worst enemy in politics that Republicans have is their messaging. Our messaging stinks. I think we've done some great things. I think there's some really fine stuff within that big, beautiful bill that we just for some reason, just we blunder. And part of the trouble is a lot of our members in both sides of the aisle are so dad gum old. I mean, they're still listening to. They're, they're eight track tape players and they're 1972 Gremlins or something. And they're wearing their powder blue leisure suits in both parties. There's too dad gum old and they can't message to young people. They don't realize that it's, that it's right here and it's podcasts like yourself that are making that are, that are turning the world on its edge. And I think pretty. Someday we're going to figure that out or we're going to, we're going to sell you.

Last, very, very last question. Are you a proponent for age limits for representatives and Senate figures in the nation's capital? Do you believe there should be age limits?

Ideally, yes, sir. But will that happen? No way. There's no way. You're going to have to get Congress to vote to put limit themselves and neither party will do that, sir. And, and I think the trouble we got is when 12% of the population and me as a Christian, almost 40% of people identify as evangelical Christians, fail to go to the polls. Gun owners, 30% failed to go to the polls. But you know, they're always griping and they'll throw up to you. Well, what's it matter? You know, they're going to steal the elections. Well, dadgummit, here's a sports analogy for you. Put enough dadgum points on the board where they can't steal the game when less than 12% of the population or something like that votes that throws away everything that, that, that flag represented that was put on a man's casket that fought so we could go to the polls or we could, you know, or we could listen to what those knuckleheads on the View say, you know, and that, that dictates our, our, our political thinking. I tell kids today, I said, look, when you read an article in the newspaper or hear something, figure out what their agenda is and use that beautiful brain God gave you to figure it out. Don't Fox News it or cnn. Don't. I just, you know, people say, did you see such and such. I say, no, I don't. I just don't watch that stuff. I live it.

Well, you watch me and I appreciate you. I really, really do.

So thank you so much.

All right, I look forward to talking to you again real soon.

Thank you for being on the show. So you take care of yourself.

All right?

All right. I want to take you to dinner one night, come over to the Capitol Hill Club and we'll make people really nervous and all we'll do is talk about foes.

I'm looking forward to it. I'm looking forward to it. I'LL be there in a few weeks actually. So I'll make sure to take you up on that. Thank you so much. For Representative Tim Burchett right here with Stephen A. Straight shooter with Stephen A. 866-967-6887. That's 86696, POTUS.

Yup. Calls and more.

Up next right here with Straight Shooter with Stephen A. Don't go away.

[Caroline Lovett]

With respect to the two week ceasefire announced by President Trump last night, this is a victory for the United States of America that the president in our incredible military made happen from the very beginning of Operation Epic Fury, President Trump stated this would be a four to six week military operation to dismantle the military threat posed by the radical Islamic Iranian regime. Thanks to the unbelievable capabilities of America's war fighters, the United States has achieved and exceeded those core military objects in just 38 days.

[Stephen A. Smith]

CAROLINE lovett, we haven't won a damn thing yet. Cause we're still there. Don't you know by now that the American people never feel like we won if we're still there? When we're not participating, when we're not dropping bombs, when we're not engaging in incendiary rhetoric, scaring the living hell out of the American people, Iranians and others, that's when we've won. When it's over and there's nothing to talk about. Not while there's conflict and there's still something to talk about every day. 43 minutes past album number two. Back here, I'm Straight Shooter with yours truly, Stephen A. 866-967-6887 is the number to call up is 86696, POTUS. You're listening live to the Stephen A. Smith Show, SiriusXM POTUS radio, channel 80, 124, rather. I'm sorry, let's go back to the phones. Let's go to Edwin in Minnesota. You're live with Stephen A. What's up?

[Caller / Listener]

What's up? Stephen A.

Love your show.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Thank you.

[Caller / Listener]

So I have a question. According to the eia, you know, while the source of energy generation has changed,

broadly speaking, since like the Clinton administration, the United States has stagnated on energy generation.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Okay.

[Caller / Listener]

And so I'm wondering if you would

support sort of like an industrial policy

measure, sort of like FDR's TVA or Biden's chip act.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Okay, okay.

You know, I get that part.

Let me throw some, let me throw something at you because you're in Minnesota and we all know what a liberal state that's been.

All right?

I'm not, I'm not false when I say that, you know, we, we've seen a former vice presidential candidates in waltz, what he's going through, it being a sanctuary state, sanctuary city, some of the things has to go through, right. Edwin, let me throw this question at you. I'm all for it. Because obviously being energy efficient is pivotal in this country and we get that part. And rather than having to depend on outside sources to facilitate that happening, for us, utilizing our own resources to our advantage would be incredibly beneficial. But let me throw this at you, Edwin. With 39 minimum, $39 trillion in debt, I think the number's at 39.4 trillion in debt. Clearly, spending is our problem. We keep spending too much, we don't know how to stop. We act like we can't say no to anybody. And there are sacrifices that are going to be made on both sides because everybody's got to deprive themselves of something. Are you willing to concede that reality and ready to make sure that from your side of the aisle the sacrifices are made?

[Caller / Listener]

I am, I'm pretty fully willing. Because the United States should probably drop

spending, at least for now.

That is non productive.

So that would.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on. Don't be slick. I asked you a question because I know that you can point to the other side of the aisle and say there's abundance of things, that they should stop spending. And I don't disagree with you. But we all know that America, as we prosper together, we also have to suffer together. And if you're going to stop, if you're going to stifle spending and you're going to engage in cutting. I'm saying that whatever exists on your side of the aisle, are you prepared to do that to the benefit of the country while also getting your energy issues addressed? Are you willing to do that?

[Caller / Listener]

I mean, we are a nation and we're supposed to sort of share a sort of heritage.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Is that a yes?

[Caller / Listener]

Allegiance.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Is that yes?

[Caller / Listener]

That is a yes.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Okay.

[Caller / Listener]

That is a yes.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Okay. Okay.

All right.

That's all I wanted to hear. Then I'm with you. And I would prioritize energy because that's incredibly important and obviously anything that fuels the economy. Because I believe if you have, if you're flourishing economically, that the country is going to be significantly better and more at peace because people have something to lose. Which means that because they have something to lose, they know how to act and there's not chaos in the streets of America. That's how I view things, and I hope you do as well. Appreciate the call. Khaleesa in New Jersey, you're live with Stephen, A straight shooter. How are you, Khaleesa?

[Caller / Listener]

How you doing? Stephen A.

[Stephen A. Smith]

How are you?

[Caller / Listener]

A couple months ago.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Yes, ma'.

[Caller / Listener]

Am. So I want to talk about Tim. Rep. Tim Bracket. He said that, you know, that our. In our intelligence is not. Yeah, like it's.

[Stephen A. Smith]

That's very alarming. That's very alarming that he said that. Say what?

[Caller / Listener]

I see I a ICIA is very strong. Our enemies cannot see us coming.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Okay. Okay, Khaleesi. Hold on, hold on, hold on.

Khalisa, I got a question.

I got a question. Can you hear me? How do you know that?

[Caller / Listener]

Because we killed the Ayatollah, and that was with the help of the CIA.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Because. Because we did what?

[Caller / Listener]

I'm a military spouse. I'm all up in it because the Ayatollah is dead, and that was with the help of the CIA.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. I know that.

I know that.

You're right about that.

What I'm saying to you. How do you know that our CIA apparatus is strong? Our intelligence community is strong? A sitting representative in the House of Congress knows.

[Caller / Listener]

Because I see. I8. Because I see our eight members aren't coming up deceased. They are doing the deceased thing.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Hold on. So let me ask you a question. How would you know that?

How would you know that CIA officials

are not coming up Because.

Is that something they would advertise? I'm saying. I'm saying it's not something.

That's something.

[Caller / Listener]

No, that's not something they're going to advertise. But I check up when I see I a.

[Stephen A. Smith]

How.

How. What do you do for a living? Well, I'm asking.

What do you do? Feel. I'm curious.

You gotta be curious. What do you do for a living?

[Caller / Listener]

You trying to. You trying to be slick?

[Stephen A. Smith]

No, no, no, no, no, Khalees.

Khalisa. No, I'm not trying to be slick.

I'm genuinely. I'm genuinely asking you a question. You got me laughing now. You got me giggling. I'm just asking you a question. I'm just asking you a question. I swear to you.

[Caller / Listener]

I am a volunteer. Wait a minute. I am a volunteer, okay? For Republicans all around this country. And I engage with Republicans all around this country.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Okay?

[Caller / Listener]

Okay.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Okay.

[Caller / Listener]

But I can say that our. Our CIA is doing the deceasing. They're not coming up deceased.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Okay?

[Caller / Listener]

That's the thing I want to talk about. And the second Thing I want to talk about is you are a strong black, right? We already had this conversation about a couple months ago when I didn't call back because I was driving. Stephen A. You are strong. Don't let what Matt Birds and all of them understand about you. Because let me say something. One thing about me is I am a strong Republican. I'm black. I'm from Newark, New Jersey, and I'm black.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Kalisa, let me tell you something. Let me tell you something, okay? And I appreciate this. So I'm going to say this to you before I let you go, okay? Ain't nobody breaking me. Every argument ain't worth having. Some things you address, some things you don't, some things you rise above it and keep it moving. Because even though you might be righteous and right and definitely armed with receipts to address any subject, sometimes it can slow down and derail the momentum, which is exactly the intent of your opposition from time to time. That may not be the issue. That's not. I'm not accusing that of being an issue with me and Matt Barnes, anybody like that. But understand, I'm fully aware of it. And I'm fully aware of folks on the progressive left that have targeted me. I'm not blind. I was born at night. Last night. I know what I'm dealing with. They haven't figured out who they're dealing with yet, but they will. Stay tuned. Appreciate the call, Khaleesa. Thank you so much. Have a wonderful, Wonderful Week. Bye bye. 8669-676887-86696. POTUS Back to finish out the show with your calls in a minute. It's Stephen A. In the house, straight shooter style. Don't go away. Back to the phones we go. Giovanni in Florida, you're live with Stephen A.

[Caller / Listener]

What's up, Stephen A. My brother. My brother from another mother. Hey, man, congrats on that interview. You talk about telling the teeth that dude told every day.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Yes, he did. Yes, he did. I was sh.

He just told on every.

He just.

He didn't. He didn't mention names. That's the first person I saw mention. Didn't mention a name and told on everybody.

[Caller / Listener]

You know, I was like, God damn, is getting the whole tea out of this dude, right? Holy crap, man. Hey, let me put it to you like this. There's a quick synopsis I want to ask you. Just say hypothetically, Disney, Sirius xm, your soap opera contract, because I, you know, your boy support Brit, you know, appreciate you just say, for instance, they. They call you in the office, and they said, all right, can we amend your contract in terms of. I know they want to take your money. We can freeze your money. Sort of like a woman going on maternity leave. And if you win, the contract's gone. But if you lose, you can come on back and it'll be just like nothing happened. Well, what the hell.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Well, what the hell am I doing while I'm campaigning? That ain't gonna work. Like I told you before, I need to campaign while I got my money. I'm just gonna put it plain and simple. I'm just gonna put it plain and simple. If my check comes twice a month. If my check comes twice a month. And that is in no danger of being compromised. Giovanni, I'll tell you to get on the phone, get on the airwaves, because I will come right here and announce that I am running for the presidency of the United States of America.

[Caller / Listener]

Yes.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Yes, I would announce it. I would announce it the second.

And let everybody get warmed up and

get ready to come at me. You understand? That's exactly what I would do.

Because all of these people.

All these people have done is fire me up.

All they've done is piss me off

and fired me up. They don't understand who they're dealing with.

With.

You understand? Yes. It's a contact sport. It's a bad game. They come at you. Yeah, well, I come at people. Okay, so we could do what we gonna do. You understand? They gonna come at me with lies. They gonna fabricate. They gonna make stuff up. I'mma have the truth because I'm the lone person that ain't the politician. I don't have a political record. They do. You understand what I'm saying? And don't get to me about my personal. Don't get to me about my personal

life compared to the president. Are you kidding me? I'm Gandhi. What are you talking about? What are you talking about? I mean, please. They ain't worried about it. They can. They could bring it on. They could do what they want to do. You know, I ain't worried about it, but I gotta run. Giovanni, I appreciate the call. Call back next week, bro. Thank you so much. Let's go to

Terry in Canada real quick. We gotta go. Terry, you got a minute? Go ahead.

[Caller / Listener]

All right.

What's up, Mr. Smith, you're one of the greatest sports minds out there. I'll make it super quick. Please, A couple things before Burchett came off in regards to the 25th Amendment. To be honest, this guy, I don't think Anyone else in the world could have got, could have done what this guy would have done just to begin with. When it comes to the impeachment, if it wasn't for McConnell, I think they could have got. They would have removed them from office. And if a guy like you was in there, I don't think that you would have accepted him, insulted your wife and then still kept this guy out there without impeaching him or without removing them from office. Also, you got to look at the Supreme Court. Look what had to happen for this guy to get reelected. That Supreme Court gave him presidential immunity. Look at the trials that were out there. He wasn't denying guilty, wasn't plea. He wasn't denying that he did any of those things. He said that he was allowed to do that because. Because he had immunity. And then the Supreme Court granted him that immunity. But to be honest, look at the.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I gotta interrupt you. I asked you to be quick and you're worried. And not only that, you jumped off subject and went up the block, around the corner, through the hood and right back to the. I mean, come on, bro, you got to be on point a little bit better than that. Be more concise into your point in the future. I got to get on out of here. I appreciate the call though, Terry. Thank you so much. Got to get on out of here. Hope y' all enjoyed the show. Thanks again to Representative Tim Pette out of Tennessee, 2nd congressional district in Tennessee. Really, really enjoyed the conversation. He told on everybody without mentioning any names. He told on all the Capitol Hill which is reason to be even more disgusted. I still say we need a new president cuz the man don't know how to act. That doesn't mean you invoke the 25th Amendment. We know that ain't going to work next week. See y' all in. Until then, peace and love. Everybody take care of.

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