Podcast host Stephen A. Smith has voiced his frustration with prominent Democrats, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and California Governor Gavin Newsom, for their apparent reluctance to appear on his show.
During a recent episode, Smith addressed criticism from friends over his outspoken views on Democratic figures such as Texas Rep. Jasmine Crockett. Despite the backlash, he remained firm in his stance, revealing that he had extended invitations to several Democrats, including Crockett, Ocasio-Cortez, Newsom, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, only to be met with silence.
"Jasmine Crockett has been on this air invited on this show for four months," Smith stated. "AOC has been invited on this show for four months. Gavin Newsom has been invited on this show longer than that. Props to Hakeem Jeffries. Hes a friend of the show, always welcome on here. I like that man. I respect him. Chuck Schumer has been invited on this show. Hasnt shown up. Where they at?"
Smith further noted, "Every single Republican I have asked to show up on this show has either said yes, or that theyre coming. Not the Dems. Why?"
According to Fox News, Smith's team reached out to the offices of Crockett, Ocasio-Cortez, Newsom, Jeffries, and Schumer for comment. Among those mentioned, Jeffries was the sole Democrat to have recently appeared on Smith's show, having been interviewed in October.
In contrast, Smith has also engaged with other Democratic figures over the past month, including Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, Pennsylvania Rep. Madeleine Dean, Delaware Governor Matt Meyer, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, and New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani.
On the Republican front, Smith has conducted interviews with Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan and House Speaker Mike Johnson earlier this month, as well as Texas Rep. Chip Roy in October. Smith's critique of Crockett last month, where he accused her of prioritizing performative politics over substantive action for her constituents, has sparked criticism from various media personalities. Subsequently, Smith issued a video apology to Crockett.
The apparent hesitance of high-profile Democrats to engage with Smith raises questions about their willingness to participate in open dialogue, especially when contrasted with the responsiveness of their Republican counterparts. This reluctance may suggest a broader trend of selective media engagement, potentially limiting the diversity of perspectives presented to the public.
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