Stephen A. Smith Says He's 'Officially Leaving All Doors Open' To Potential Presidential Bid
ESPN host Stephen A. Smith said that he is 'leaving all the doors open' to a potential presidential bid, as his name has been mentioned as a potential unconventional choice in the Democratic field in 2028.
After appearing at the National Association of Broadcasters convention in Las Vegas, Smith posted an article about the speculation and wrote on X, 'Time to stop messing around. Life is great. Especially at ESPN/Disney. Hate the thought of being a politician. But sick of this mess. So I'm officially leaving all doors open.'
More from Deadline
Stephen A. Smith Signs 5-Year, $100M Deal With ESPN – Report
Stephen A. Smith Says Contract Talks With ESPN Have Been 'Constructive,' Calls Report Of $120M Payday 'A Lie'
HBO Sets Premiere Dates For Alex Gibney Docs 'Ohio Confidential' & 'Wealth Of The Wicked'
At the NAB show, Smith talked extensively about the possibility and said he would 'no longer close the door,' according to Forbes.
Smith recently signed a five-year, $100 million deal with ESPN.
There's a big gap between considering a presidential bid and actually launching one, as figures like The Rock and Bob Iger have entertained the possibility, only to stay out of politics. Smith's name has come up in the aftermath of the Democrats' defeat. On The View last month, Smith was asked about polls that showed him among the contenders. 'I make of it that citizens, particularly on the left, are desperate,' he said. He voted for Kamala Harris but has been critical of the Democratic party, appearing on Fox news and shows like Real Time with Bill Maher. Smith also has attacked Trump, lately over the president's across-the-board tariffs.
Best of Deadline
Brad Pitt's Apple 'F1' Movie: Everything We Know So Far
Everything We Know About 'Tron: Ares' So Far
Everything We Know About 'Only Murders In The Building' Season 5 So Far
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
41 minutes ago
- USA Today
UFC 316 predictions: We like one ‘and still,' one ‘and new' in Newark —\u00a0but whom?
UFC 316 predictions: We like one 'and still,' one 'and new' in Newark — but whom? The UFC makes its return to New Jersey this week both bantamweight titles on the line at the top of the bill. UFC 316 (pay-per-view, ESPN, ESPN+) takes place Saturday at Prudential Center in Newark. Get pick results from our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers, as well as additional analysis, below. Kevin Holland vs. Vicente Luque Records: Holland (27-13 MMA, 14-10 UFC), Luque (23-10-1 MMA, 16-6 UFC) Holland (27-13 MMA, 14-10 UFC), Luque (23-10-1 MMA, 16-6 UFC) Past five: Holland 2-3, Luque 2-3 Holland 2-3, Luque 2-3 Division: Welterweight Welterweight Rankings: Luque honorable mention Luque honorable mention Odds (as of 06.07.25): Holland -280, Luque +225 Holland -280, Luque +225 Junkie pick results: Luque 7, Holland 4 Mario Bautista vs. Patchy Mix Records: Bautista (15-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC), Mix (20-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) Bautista (15-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC), Mix (20-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) Past five: Bautista 5-0, Mix 5-0 Bautista 5-0, Mix 5-0 Division: Bantamweight Bantamweight Rankings: Mix No. 6, Bautista No. 7 Mix No. 6, Bautista No. 7 Odds (as of 06.07.25): Bautista +150, Mix -180 Bautista +150, Mix -180 Junkie pick results: Mix 11, Bautista 0 Kelvin Gastelum vs. Joe Pyfer Records: Gastelum (20-9 MMA, 13-9 UFC), Pyfer (13-3 MMA, 4-1 UFC) Gastelum (20-9 MMA, 13-9 UFC), Pyfer (13-3 MMA, 4-1 UFC) Past five: Gastelum 2-3, Pyfer 4-1 Gastelum 2-3, Pyfer 4-1 Division: Middleweight Middleweight Rankings: None None Odds (as of 06.07.25): Gastelum +295, Pyfer -375 Gastelum +295, Pyfer -375 Junkie pick results: Pyer 8, Gastelum 3 Julianna Peña vs. Kayla Harrison Records: Peña (13-5 MMA, 8-3 UFC), Harrison (18-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) Peña (13-5 MMA, 8-3 UFC), Harrison (18-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) Past five: Peña 3-2, Harrison 4-1 Peña 3-2, Harrison 4-1 Division: Women's bantamweight Women's bantamweight Rankings: Peña No. 1, No. 5 pound-for-pound; Harrison No. 3, No. 7 pound-for-pound Peña No. 1, No. 5 pound-for-pound; Harrison No. 3, No. 7 pound-for-pound Odds (as of 06.07.25): Peña +525, Harrison -750 Peña +525, Harrison -750 Junkie pick results: Harrison 11, Peña 0 Merab Dvalishvili vs. Sean O'Malley Records: Dvalishvili (19-4 MMA, 12-2 UFC), O'Malley (18-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC) Dvalishvili (19-4 MMA, 12-2 UFC), O'Malley (18-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC) Past five: Dvalishvili 5-0, O'Malley 4-1 Dvalishvili 5-0, O'Malley 4-1 Division: Bantamweight Bantamweight Rankings: Dvalishvili No. 1, No. 6 pound-for-pound; O'Malley No. 2, No. 14 pound-for-pound Dvalishvili No. 1, No. 6 pound-for-pound; O'Malley No. 2, No. 14 pound-for-pound Odds (as of 06.07.25): Dvalishvili -285, O'Malley +230 Dvalishvili -285, O'Malley +230 Junkie pick results: Dvalishvili 11, O'Malley 0 Individual staff member picks, main card Readers 65-46: Dvalishvili (68%), Harrison (79%), Pyfer (69%), Mix (77%), Holland (53%) Farah Hannoun 72-39: Dvalishvili, Harrison, Pyfer, Mix, Luque Dvalishvili, Harrison, Pyfer, Mix, Luque Mike Bohn 71-40: Dvalishvili, Harrison, Pyfer, Mix, Luque Dvalishvili, Harrison, Pyfer, Mix, Luque Nolan King 71-40: Dvalishvili, Harrison, Pyfer, Mix, Luque Dvalishvili, Harrison, Pyfer, Mix, Luque Abbey Subhan 69-42: Dvalishvili, Harrison, Gastelum, Mix, Holland Dvalishvili, Harrison, Gastelum, Mix, Holland Kenny Hathaway 68-43: Dvalishvili, Harrison, Pyfer, Mix, Holland Dvalishvili, Harrison, Pyfer, Mix, Holland Matt Erickson 68-43: Dvalishvili, Harrison, Pyfer, Mix, Luque Dvalishvili, Harrison, Pyfer, Mix, Luque Simon Samano 65-46: Dvalishvili, Harrison, Gastelum, Mix, Holland Dvalishvili, Harrison, Gastelum, Mix, Holland Brian Garcia 64-47: Dvalishvili, Harrison, Pyfer, Mix, Luque Dvalishvili, Harrison, Pyfer, Mix, Luque Danny Segura 63-48: Dvalishvili, Harrison, Pyfer, Mix, Luque Dvalishvili, Harrison, Pyfer, Mix, Luque George Garcia 61-50: Dvalishvili, Harrison, Gastelum, Mix, Luque Dvalishvili, Harrison, Gastelum, Mix, Luque Matthew Wells 60-51: Dvalishvili, Harrison, Pyfer, Mix, Holland Preliminary card picks Although they don't count toward the standings, MMA Junkie staff members still pick the fights on the prelims. Here are the results:
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Trade Idea Sends Jarren Duran From Red Sox to Mariners For Luis Castillo
Trade Idea Sends Jarren Duran From Red Sox to Mariners For Luis Castillo originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Boston Red Sox have a surplus of outfield talent within the organization. Jarren Duran, Ceddane Rafaela, and Wilyer Abreu make up the Major League talent, but there's also the number one prospect in baseball, Roman Anthony, waiting for a call-up. Advertisement With Anthony sitting in Triple-A, the Red Sox have been speculated to move Duran to pave the way for Anthony. Multiple trade ideas have been made surrounding the potential of a Duran trade. But, a recent trade idea from ESPN's Paul Hembekides had the Red Sox swinging a deal with the Seattle Mariners for multiple MLB-ready pitchers, and one of their top-five prospects. Hembekides proposed an idea that would send starting pitcher Luis Castillo, relief pitcher Matt Brash, and fifth-ranked Mariners prospect, catcher Harry Ford, for just Duran. While Duran is a great player, there are some limitations to his game. His 2024, where he accumulated an incredible 8.7 WAR, is unlikely to be repeated. While he's under team control through the 2028 season, he is already 28 years old. Advertisement Hembekides' trade idea would net the Red Sox three players under team control through at least 2028, including a top 100 prospect and an All-Star starting pitcher. All for just Duran. Boston Red Sox left fielder Jarren Duran (16) runs out of the dugout before the start of a game against the Atlanta Braves at Fenway Canha-Imagn Images Brash is 27 years old and will be in arbitration years from 2026 to 2028. Castillo is under contract for $24.15 million through 2027, with a vesting option for 2028. Ford is a top 100 prospect with at least six more years of control left. Brash has a 0.00 ERA through his first 9.1 innings of work in 2025. In 2024, he threw in a MLB most 78 games, pitching 70.2 innings with 107 strikeouts and a 3.06 ERA. Castillo, in his ninth season in the Major Leagues, has a 4-3 record with a 3.03 ERA. He's struck out 55 batters and walked 23 over the course of 68.1 innings pitched for Seattle. The three-time All-Star is having another solid start to the year and would be a huge boost to the Red Sox rotation if traded. Advertisement Ford, meanwhile, is a 22-year-old catcher who is MLB's 64th-ranked prospect. He has a .321 batting average in Triple-A with six home runs and 28 RBIs, along with an impressive .921. Overall, the Red Sox would land multiple MLB-ready pitchers for the next three seasons, along with a young catcher prospect who's ranked fifth in the Mariners system. All for just Duran. While a great player for the Red Sox, with Anthony waiting in the wings in Triple-A, this haul for Duran would be a hard deal to turn down. Hembekides' trade idea is a wild one, and it would set the Red Sox up for success in 2025 and into the future. Related: MLB Insider Reveals Red Sox Stance Ahead of Trade Deadline Related: Red Sox Trade Idea Sends Jarren Duran to Padres for Three-Time Batting Champ, More This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
How to watch LSU baseball vs West Virginia today: Time, TV channel for Saturday
How to watch LSU baseball vs West Virginia today: Time, TV channel for Saturday LSU Baseball continues its quest for a national championship in the 2025 NCAA Tournament against West Virginia. The Baton Rouge Super Regional kicks off Saturday, the first game of a best-of-three series to determine who makes the trip to Omaha. It would be LSU's second trip in the last three years while West Virginia is in search of its first College World Series appearance. The Mountaineers went 2-1 through the Clemson Regional, defeating the hosts once and Kentucky twice to advance. They earned an at-large bid after a semifinal elimination in the Big 12 Tournament, finishing with a 19-9 conference record. LSU comes into the game after a 3-1 showing in the Baton Rouge Regional, besting Little Rock in the championship game. It will likely send Kade Anderson to the mound for the start and may mix up its batting order once again. Ethan Frey contributed four hits and four RBI on Monday after moving into the two spot. Here's how to watch the LSU baseball vs West Virginia game today, including time, TV schedule, and streaming information: What channel is LSU baseball vs West Virginia on today? TV Channel: ESPN Livestream: Fubo (free trial), ESPN+ (subscriber only) LSU baseball vs West Virginia will be broadcast nationally on ESPN. Streaming options for the game include ESPN+ and FUBO, which offers a free trial to new subscribers. Watch LSU baseball vs West Virginia live on Fubo (free trial) LSU baseball vs West Virginia time today Date: Saturday, June 7 Saturday, June 7 Start time: 1:00 PM CT The LSU baseball vs West Virginia game starts at 1:00 PM CT from Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge. LSU baseball vs West Virginia predictions, picks LSU baseball 5, West Virginia 3: Alex Box will be electric as Kade Anderson takes the mound. I think Anderson rolls and the offense finds the clutch hits to win. We occasionally recommend interesting products and services. If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links, we may earn an affiliate fee. USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently, and this doesn't influence our coverage.
