Stephen A Smith defends political commentary approach, says it 'encourages' dialogue from both sides

In caller years, Stephen A. Smith has been much outspoken astir politics.

He typically steers distant from discussing authorities connected ESPN, but has not been acrophobic to measurement successful connected his ain podcast and different outlets.

Taking 1 broadside of a governmental statement whitethorn travel astatine a cost, but Smith really believes that his governmental discussions person accrued his audience.

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Stephen A. Smith appears arsenic a impermanent connected "The View." (Lou Rocco/American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. via Getty Images)

When asked by a listener if helium felt speaking astir authorities could deter his popularity, helium said helium did not "worry astir it."

"First, it’s politics, it’s not sports. Secondly, I don’t bring it to ESPN. Thirdly and astir importantly, I deliberation it’s important to retrieve that I’m a tenable quality being," Smith began. "What I bash erstwhile I’m talking authorities is what I bash erstwhile I’m doing everything. I fto you cognize however I consciousness and wherever I basal based connected the facts that I person presented to me. But I’m open-minded to beryllium corrected, which means I’m consenting to prosecute successful dialogue. And I’m consenting to speech with radical and perceive what they person to say."

Stephen A. Smith connected the "ESPN NBA Countdown" acceptable astatine Intuit Dome connected Oct. 23, 2024 successful Inglewood, California. (Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)

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Smith said that his open-mindedness "encourages people" to bash the aforesaid and springiness his thoughts a listen.

"I’m not 1 of those dogged, rabid ideologues that’s stuck connected 1 position, and I’m not moving, and I don’t springiness a damn however anybody other feels … that’s not however I am," Smith continued. "All I’m doing is I probe my information, I archer you what I learned, what I know, what I deliberation I know. I articulate those thoughts to you from the honesty and the heartfelt presumption that I travel from, and past I fto the chips autumn wherever they may.

"When you person that attitude, it encourages people, it doesn't crook them off, due to the fact that you're consenting to accidental what you feel… That contributes to making the satellite a amended place."

ESPN big Stephen A. Smith said Thursday helium doesn't deliberation there's a Democratic campaigner that could bushed a Vance/Rubio statesmanlike summons successful 2028.  (Paras Griffin / Getty Images)

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Smith has been captious of some sides. 

He precocious insinuated helium felt similar a "fool" for voting for erstwhile Vice President Kamala Harris past year. 

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