Stephen A. Smith

I have respect for a lot of things he did as president. But you could see him from four years ago. And even if he was doing a good job as president, you could know that he wasn't going to be the effective candidate we need. So I think we do have a hard time making those judgments. Also, I have clashed with Chuck Schumer before. Details of that story aren't worth getting into. So I kind of see that.

But what really worries me is the same people who are pushing this narrative the hardest are are the same people who spent a lot of the time, sorry, not the exact same people, same group, the last year protesting Democrats. When Donald Trump was an existential threat, they were protesting Kamala Harris, they were protesting Colin Allred, they weren't protesting Ted Cruz and Donald Trump.

But what really worries me is the same people who are pushing this narrative the hardest are are the same people who spent a lot of the time, sorry, not the exact same people, same group, the last year protesting Democrats. When Donald Trump was an existential threat, they were protesting Kamala Harris, they were protesting Colin Allred, they weren't protesting Ted Cruz and Donald Trump.

So I think we need to look at the broader coalition message and see what some of the flaws are in that left-leaning approach on policy, on immigration, on economics, on identity politics. on to Ezra Klein's point in his new book, getting things done where we govern. So, yeah, I don't agree with the way Chuck Schumer handled that. I don't think the messaging was strong.

So I think we need to look at the broader coalition message and see what some of the flaws are in that left-leaning approach on policy, on immigration, on economics, on identity politics. on to Ezra Klein's point in his new book, getting things done where we govern. So, yeah, I don't agree with the way Chuck Schumer handled that. I don't think the messaging was strong.

I don't think it's been well organized. I do think Hakeem Jeffries did a great job in the House. I think we ought to give him credit for that. But what I'm worried about is if we buy into that, then do we buy into all this other stuff that has really created problems for the Democratic coalition?

I don't think it's been well organized. I do think Hakeem Jeffries did a great job in the House. I think we ought to give him credit for that. But what I'm worried about is if we buy into that, then do we buy into all this other stuff that has really created problems for the Democratic coalition?

A broad tent. Right, the other part of it, yes, we have to have a broad tent. And the other part is that broad tent has to be really focused on defeating Donald Trump and the MAGA movement. And within our coalition, there's a lot of differences of opinion. We have to figure out how to bring enough of them together so that we can defeat Trump.

A broad tent. Right, the other part of it, yes, we have to have a broad tent. And the other part is that broad tent has to be really focused on defeating Donald Trump and the MAGA movement. And within our coalition, there's a lot of differences of opinion. We have to figure out how to bring enough of them together so that we can defeat Trump.

Because whether you're talking, I mean, on Gaza, and there's a lot of differences of opinion on that. Donald Trump's not better on that issue. The MAGA people aren't better on that issue. And then there's a whole host of other things. So the challenge that I'm trying to take on, politics is about building coalitions.

Because whether you're talking, I mean, on Gaza, and there's a lot of differences of opinion on that. Donald Trump's not better on that issue. The MAGA people aren't better on that issue. And then there's a whole host of other things. So the challenge that I'm trying to take on, politics is about building coalitions.

My fundamental theory is that our coalition is broken and the Democratic Party broken. Brand is broken. And I don't presume to have all the answers, but we have to start the conversation and we have to force it forward and we have to have disagreements about it and not try to say there's only one way to do it and we're going to force everybody into that.

My fundamental theory is that our coalition is broken and the Democratic Party broken. Brand is broken. And I don't presume to have all the answers, but we have to start the conversation and we have to force it forward and we have to have disagreements about it and not try to say there's only one way to do it and we're going to force everybody into that.

And I'm hoping to have that broader open conversation about how to rebuild the coalition. and rebuild the brand and address the policy issues we need to address. Got to challenge Trump for being authoritarian. Got to challenge him on economic issues, on the way that it's impacting people's lives beyond the democracy thing. but then we have to have a reasonable alternative for the American people.

And I'm hoping to have that broader open conversation about how to rebuild the coalition. and rebuild the brand and address the policy issues we need to address. Got to challenge Trump for being authoritarian. Got to challenge him on economic issues, on the way that it's impacting people's lives beyond the democracy thing. but then we have to have a reasonable alternative for the American people.

And I think the biggest reason Donald Trump won was because too many people didn't think we did.

And I think the biggest reason Donald Trump won was because too many people didn't think we did.

Yeah, I think... We have to do multiple things at the same time in terms of messaging. I think, like I said, we do need to make the case against Donald Trump. Now, the one thing I would, I think we need to stop this debate about what the right way to do that is. I put out a statement about the whole Al Green, Alyssa Slotkin thing. We had this huge debate within the coalition.

Yeah, I think... We have to do multiple things at the same time in terms of messaging. I think, like I said, we do need to make the case against Donald Trump. Now, the one thing I would, I think we need to stop this debate about what the right way to do that is. I put out a statement about the whole Al Green, Alyssa Slotkin thing. We had this huge debate within the coalition.

Oh, the Democrats, they're not on the same page. You got Al Green out there screaming. You got Alyssa Slotkin giving, you know, which approach is right? Both churches are right. Okay. Good for Al Green for standing up to Donald Trump and saying, you're a liar. And on January 6th, you besmirched the very institutions that you're asking me to come here and respect.