Stephen A. Smith

I mean, using threats and intimidation to try to silence people who disagree with you should not be a progressive value. And I've had that happen. I had a town hall meeting last June and could not conduct the meeting because it was just – insults were screamed. I wouldn't let anybody else talk. And the entire civic discourse broke down because of that approach.

So I think we need to be more inclusive and more results-oriented.

So I think we need to be more inclusive and more results-oriented.

And part of that has to be just open and honest conversations. And that's what I've really struggled with in areas where the Democratic Party is essentially a one-party system, which is California, Washington State, Seattle, King County. They tend to grab onto that power and then say, don't you question me. Don't you challenge me.

And part of that has to be just open and honest conversations. And that's what I've really struggled with in areas where the Democratic Party is essentially a one-party system, which is California, Washington State, Seattle, King County. They tend to grab onto that power and then say, don't you question me. Don't you challenge me.

Can I critique that? Because the important part is one of the things I've always said, and I go on Fox News, I think I told you I actually was on Matt Gaetz's podcast a couple years ago. I wrote a book. It was about that. It wasn't about policy. I think we as progressives, as Democrats, we can't cede the ground. I agree. But the thing that kills me about what Gavin is doing –

Can I critique that? Because the important part is one of the things I've always said, and I go on Fox News, I think I told you I actually was on Matt Gaetz's podcast a couple years ago. I wrote a book. It was about that. It wasn't about policy. I think we as progressives, as Democrats, we can't cede the ground. I agree. But the thing that kills me about what Gavin is doing –

You've got to challenge the person. Correct. I mean, sure, don't be there in the trans thing. I think you need to understand that it is not primarily about whether or not trans women should play in sports. It's about the fact that there is a movement in this country. that is trying to dehumanize, target, and act like trans people don't exist and the rhetoric around that.

You've got to challenge the person. Correct. I mean, sure, don't be there in the trans thing. I think you need to understand that it is not primarily about whether or not trans women should play in sports. It's about the fact that there is a movement in this country. that is trying to dehumanize, target, and act like trans people don't exist and the rhetoric around that.

So you want to have a conversation about who should play in what leagues, I'm open to it. But when you're out there saying there's only two genders, when you're banning transgender people from serving in the military,

So you want to have a conversation about who should play in what leagues, I'm open to it. But when you're out there saying there's only two genders, when you're banning transgender people from serving in the military,

When you're denigrating them and insulting them – and I'm going to forget the exact quote, but there was a quote that Charlie Kirk used against – that basically they're freaks and weirdos. I mean he is dehumanizing and challenging the very existence of a group of people. And if you can't stand up and fight back against that, if you get dragged into a conversation –

When you're denigrating them and insulting them – and I'm going to forget the exact quote, but there was a quote that Charlie Kirk used against – that basically they're freaks and weirdos. I mean he is dehumanizing and challenging the very existence of a group of people. And if you can't stand up and fight back against that, if you get dragged into a conversation –

about a little league baseball team.

about a little league baseball team.

Well, there's two ways of looking at it. My confidence level is very low, by the way. One of them is worrisome. The other one is catastrophic. One is that Trump genuinely wants to get a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine.

Well, there's two ways of looking at it. My confidence level is very low, by the way. One of them is worrisome. The other one is catastrophic. One is that Trump genuinely wants to get a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine.

And it's not incorrect to say that as long as Ukraine was insisting on their maximalist goals, retake all of Ukrainian territory, try Putin for war crimes, force Russia to repay. And I've had this conversation with Zelensky as well as with others to say, we're with you. We're going to defend you and help you. But that's a war that you can't win. So we got to get to a path.

And it's not incorrect to say that as long as Ukraine was insisting on their maximalist goals, retake all of Ukrainian territory, try Putin for war crimes, force Russia to repay. And I've had this conversation with Zelensky as well as with others to say, we're with you. We're going to defend you and help you. But that's a war that you can't win. So we got to get to a path.

And if you want to put a little pressure on Zelensky to say, hey, let's come to the table and have that conversation. So the charitable view is that that is what Trump is trying to do. The problem with that view is it only works if you also put pressure on Putin. And this is the argument that I had. last year when we were arguing over passing the supplemental to help Ukraine.