Stephen A. Smith

Do you think it's probably a good, like, is that, if you were a White House comms director, would you come out with muzzle velocity right now?

Do you think it's probably a good, like, is that, if you were a White House comms director, would you come out with muzzle velocity right now?

Yeah, I think he would want muscle velocity. I think the question for Trump, if I'm stepping back from the perspective of a political operative, is are you telling a larger story or are you getting swamped by action? What they are demonstrating right now is action, right? He's doing things, and that is standing in stark contrast to what people perceived of Biden, right? He was largely absent.

Yeah, I think he would want muscle velocity. I think the question for Trump, if I'm stepping back from the perspective of a political operative, is are you telling a larger story or are you getting swamped by action? What they are demonstrating right now is action, right? He's doing things, and that is standing in stark contrast to what people perceived of Biden, right? He was largely absent.

Even though he did a lot of things, a lot of those things weren't public. They didn't see him. And so... I was thinking about this the other day is that in Trump's first term, in the beginning, he suffered, I think, mightily in public perception with the comparison to Obama because he was out there. He was kind of saying dumb, crazy things.

Even though he did a lot of things, a lot of those things weren't public. They didn't see him. And so... I was thinking about this the other day is that in Trump's first term, in the beginning, he suffered, I think, mightily in public perception with the comparison to Obama because he was out there. He was kind of saying dumb, crazy things.

He was not thoughtful, and Obama was much more popular than Trump, so that suffered. In this situation, I think he actually benefits from the comparison to Biden because Biden was perceived to be, fairly or unfairly, as – absent, not doing a lot, not showing strength, not being out there. And Trump is out there 24-7, right? When was the last time?

He was not thoughtful, and Obama was much more popular than Trump, so that suffered. In this situation, I think he actually benefits from the comparison to Biden because Biden was perceived to be, fairly or unfairly, as – absent, not doing a lot, not showing strength, not being out there. And Trump is out there 24-7, right? When was the last time?

The public never really saw Biden, and Trump is out there all the time, so he benefits from it. The question will be, right now, that is a very good short-term strategy. What points are you putting on the board in terms of delivering your campaign promises, right? Or is it just a bunch of noise? And it's early to know whether that's actually true or not.

The public never really saw Biden, and Trump is out there all the time, so he benefits from it. The question will be, right now, that is a very good short-term strategy. What points are you putting on the board in terms of delivering your campaign promises, right? Or is it just a bunch of noise? And it's early to know whether that's actually true or not.

Yeah, and the thing that, I mean, I think Bannon is a smart guy in some ways. he's so ubiquitous that people don't underestimate how consequential he is. But notably absent from the muzzle velocity speech is just like, which way is the gun pointed? What's in it? And it's a strategy that's kind of content neutral. Like they could be announcing anything.

Yeah, and the thing that, I mean, I think Bannon is a smart guy in some ways. he's so ubiquitous that people don't underestimate how consequential he is. But notably absent from the muzzle velocity speech is just like, which way is the gun pointed? What's in it? And it's a strategy that's kind of content neutral. Like they could be announcing anything.

And there was this narrative last year that, well, look, like this time around, Trump has a real plan. They know what they're doing. They have a set of actions planned. And some of the stuff coming out of the muzzle, like some of the particular on immigration, I think is actually like, look, we had a plan. We're going to do some high profile, even if they're not massive raids.

And there was this narrative last year that, well, look, like this time around, Trump has a real plan. They know what they're doing. They have a set of actions planned. And some of the stuff coming out of the muzzle, like some of the particular on immigration, I think is actually like, look, we had a plan. We're going to do some high profile, even if they're not massive raids.

We're going to try to scare people away from the border. We have some legal changes we want. Like that all felt planned. The Elon stuff is obviously, he's just seeing tweets about agencies he's never heard of reacting, canceling stuff, uncanceling stuff. I mean, it's mostly improvisational. And I think... And that's, as you say, like at some point, like these are the fights.

We're going to try to scare people away from the border. We have some legal changes we want. Like that all felt planned. The Elon stuff is obviously, he's just seeing tweets about agencies he's never heard of reacting, canceling stuff, uncanceling stuff. I mean, it's mostly improvisational. And I think... And that's, as you say, like at some point, like these are the fights.

I mean, I think, you know, the laws of gravity still apply. Like you, the president has this hundred days, has this moment at which to set an agenda, to pick their priorities, to pick the fights they're going to pick. And some of the fights they're picking are the fights they plan to pick and wanted to pick. But a lot of fights they're picking are the fights that Elon saw a tweet about yesterday.

I mean, I think, you know, the laws of gravity still apply. Like you, the president has this hundred days, has this moment at which to set an agenda, to pick their priorities, to pick the fights they're going to pick. And some of the fights they're picking are the fights they plan to pick and wanted to pick. But a lot of fights they're picking are the fights that Elon saw a tweet about yesterday.

Yeah.

Yeah.