Stephen A. Smith is a New York Times Bestselling Author, Executive Producer, host of ESPN's First Take, and co-host of NBA Countdown.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
I want to get into a serious headline from the
world of politics. Police in Pennsylvania have arrested a man
they say broke in the Governor Josh Shapiro's residence early
Sunday and started a fire while Shapiro and his family
were sleeping. Shapiro, his wife Laurie, their four children, and
(00:25):
another family were forced to evacuate the home, which was
significantly damaged by the fire. Thankfully, no injuries were reported.
Thirty eight year old Cody Balmer turned himself into police
and is being held on charges that include attempted murder,
aggravated arson, and terrorism. According to an affidavit, Balmer said
(00:48):
he was angry with the governor and would have beaten
him with a hammer if confronted. I'm gonna repeat that
he would have beaten him with a hammer if confronted.
There is a quote from the fire chief in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania,
(01:15):
and he says, I have absolutely no compassion for anybody
who commits such heinous crimes. Fire chief Brian Interline told
The New York Post following a press conference Monday, just
hours after Bamba lobbed multiple malotov cocktails in the governor
Joshapiro's home early Sunday morning. He said, to anybody that
(01:36):
affects my firefighters and American citizens, you don't deserve any
of the luxuries that we have here when you create
such heinous acts against our own people. That's what he
had to say. He said, I would hope that they
send him to El Salvador for a tough crime, and
absolutely I would support that one. The fire chief continued,
he has no business getting any of the luxuries that
(01:56):
we have to offer here in the United States of America.
I have to tell y'all, ladies and gentlemen, I don't
disagree with a single syllable, the fire chief otter. And
before I explain why, I'm gonna put up this quote
from Governor Josh Shapiro so you see what he had
to say via tweet in the aftermath of what transpired.
(02:17):
He said, last night, at about two AM, my family
and I woke up to bangs on the door from
the Pennsylvania State Police after an arsonist set fire to
the Governor's residence in Harrisburg. The Harrisburg Bureau of Fire
was on the scene, and while they worked to put
out the fire, we were evacuated from the residents safely
by Pennsylvania State Police and assisted by Capitol Police. Thank god,
no one was injured and the fire was extinguished. Every
(02:39):
day we stand with the law enforcement and first responders
who run towards danger to protect our communities. Last night,
they did so for our family, and Laurie and I
are eternally grateful to them for keeping us safe at
Pennsylvania State Police is on the scene leading this investigation
and will keep the public updated. End quote the fire
chief back to him is absolutely correct. See ladies and gentlemen,
(03:03):
this is what I talk about when we're talking about
little old me as a sports commentator being a presidential candidate.
Think about the vitriol that exists on both sides of
the aisle. I'm not going to accuse any politician of
being at fault for this heinous act. Mister Balmer should
(03:27):
be thrown under the jail. There were children in there too,
adults a different family. And what does he say to
the police. I would have beat him in with a
hammer if I could have. Clearly, you want to inflict violence. Why.
We don't know whether this is anti Semitism or not,
but there is no doubt that there will be people
who are supporters of Governor jos Shapiro who will say so,
(03:49):
and who's to say they are wrong. Anti Semitism is
certainly a problem that exists in this country right now,
especially in light of what's been transpiring over in Gaza
and other areas with the Palestinians and Israelis. We all
know what's been going on over the last year and
(04:10):
a half or so, if not more. But here's the deal.
We can't have this as a society. We can't make
this okay, and the rhetoric that we spew we have
to be very very careful because of the potential impact
that it has. I've often said this as a sports guy.
(04:31):
In the end, no matter what you say outside of
the actual participants whose livelihoods are directly affected, for the
rest of us, it's a game. We're covering games, and
we're covering the exploits of magnificent athletes that most, if
not all of us wish we could be but can't.
It's just that simple. But when you're talking about politics,
(04:51):
that's real life. When you're talking about the economy, when
you're talking about inflation, when you're talking about the potential
of a recession. When you're talking about the borders, when
you're talking about safe in the streets, when you're talking
about national security, when you're talking about taxes, when you're
talking about inflation, when you're talking about healthcare, you're talking
about real life issues. And when you're doing that, you
(05:14):
have a responsibility to make sure that you are incredibly,
incredibly sensitive to the potential fallout of one's words and
actions about what transpires in our nation's capital, along with
our state and local governments. Now one would say that
(05:36):
has absolutely nothing. I'm certainly not pointing the finger at
Governor Shapiro. I'm simply saying the vitriol emanating from folks
arrive in large part due to how folks believe their
personal lives are being affected or that of their loved ones, communities, etc.
(05:56):
Which is why, to me, it's important to be moderate
and centrist. Understanding that both sides don't get to get
everything they want, Understanding that both sides have to engage
in compromise, Understanding that both sides need to be pulled
from the fringes to the center. Pulled from the fringes
(06:19):
to the center is incredibly important. Why do I say that.
I say that because if both sides have something to
complain about equally, but even more to celebrate, then people
are not just thinking about what they have to lose,
They're also thinking about what they have to gain. And
(06:39):
as a result, decorum and common sense kicks into the
equation and we don't have to worry about the level
of vitriol we're witnessing. We have to think about that,
(07:00):
We have allow obligation to think about that. That's why
you've been seeing me talk about these issues on this show.
That's why you saw me on this week on ABC.
That's why you'll see me on Hannity's show, in Cuomo's show,
That's why you'll hear about me leaving the door open.
Even though I have no desire to be a politician,
not with the kind of success that I've been enjoying
(07:21):
in my career, why the hell would I want to
do that. There's only one reason. If the world is
so jacked up that whatever I achieve doesn't even matter,
because nothing but mayhem and degradation is surrounding me in
our society. That's the only incentive I think Josh Shapiro
(07:50):
has the potential to be an excellent Democratic nominee for
the presidency of the United States of America. I think
some people fear that, maybe even mister Bull to Bauman himself.
I've mentioned names like Wes Moore, governor of Maryland. I've
mentioned names like former governor of New York Andrew Cuomo.
I'll continue to mention others as the names come along.
(08:14):
But the goal is common sense, a pull to the
center from both sides of the aisle. Just like we
got people on the left worried about what they're worried about,
whether it was Walke or cancel culture or abortion or
you know, now with what Trump is doing with the
tariffs and how it's potentially hurting small businesses in this country.
(08:39):
Even though small businesses, some small business members say they
are a support of the tariffs, far more might say otherwise.
You got other people on the right talking about h
excuse me, what about a third term? Like Steve Bannon
going on with Bill Mahd real time this past Friday,
talking about circumventing the twenty second Amendment of the Constitution
so Trump could run for a third term, implemented in
(09:01):
the Constitution in nineteen forty seven, ratified in nineteen fifty one. Oh,
you're gonna sit up there and say, well, it's relatively new,
and just like there were people that work to make
modifications and alterations and changes to the Constitution back then,
we could do it now. Hell to the no. We
got to come to the center. Otherwise we'll be talking
(09:22):
about the lives of the few flourishing at the flagrant
expense of the very many. We can't have that. We
gotta be in search of more things to celebrate, not
more things to lament.
I want to get into a serious headline from the
world of politics. Police in Pennsylvania have arrested a man
they say broke in the Governor Josh Shapiro's residence early
Sunday and started a fire while Shapiro and his family
were sleeping. Shapiro, his wife Laurie, their four children, and
(00:25):
another family were forced to evacuate the home, which was
significantly damaged by the fire. Thankfully, no injuries were reported.
Thirty eight year old Cody Balmer turned himself into police
and is being held on charges that include attempted murder,
aggravated arson, and terrorism. According to an affidavit, Balmer said
(00:48):
he was angry with the governor and would have beaten
him with a hammer if confronted. I'm gonna repeat that
he would have beaten him with a hammer if confronted.
There is a quote from the fire chief in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania,
(01:15):
and he says, I have absolutely no compassion for anybody
who commits such heinous crimes. Fire chief Brian Interline told
The New York Post following a press conference Monday, just
hours after Bamba lobbed multiple malotov cocktails in the governor
Joshapiro's home early Sunday morning. He said, to anybody that
(01:36):
affects my firefighters and American citizens, you don't deserve any
of the luxuries that we have here when you create
such heinous acts against our own people. That's what he
had to say. He said, I would hope that they
send him to El Salvador for a tough crime, and
absolutely I would support that one. The fire chief continued,
he has no business getting any of the luxuries that
(01:56):
we have to offer here in the United States of America.
I have to tell y'all, ladies and gentlemen, I don't
disagree with a single syllable, the fire chief otter. And
before I explain why, I'm gonna put up this quote
from Governor Josh Shapiro so you see what he had
to say via tweet in the aftermath of what transpired.
(02:17):
He said, last night, at about two AM, my family
and I woke up to bangs on the door from
the Pennsylvania State Police after an arsonist set fire to
the Governor's residence in Harrisburg. The Harrisburg Bureau of Fire
was on the scene, and while they worked to put
out the fire, we were evacuated from the residents safely
by Pennsylvania State Police and assisted by Capitol Police. Thank god,
no one was injured and the fire was extinguished. Every
(02:39):
day we stand with the law enforcement and first responders
who run towards danger to protect our communities. Last night,
they did so for our family, and Laurie and I
are eternally grateful to them for keeping us safe at
Pennsylvania State Police is on the scene leading this investigation
and will keep the public updated. End quote the fire
chief back to him is absolutely correct. See ladies and gentlemen,
(03:03):
this is what I talk about when we're talking about
little old me as a sports commentator being a presidential candidate.
Think about the vitriol that exists on both sides of
the aisle. I'm not going to accuse any politician of
being at fault for this heinous act. Mister Balmer should
(03:27):
be thrown under the jail. There were children in there too,
adults a different family. And what does he say to
the police. I would have beat him in with a
hammer if I could have. Clearly, you want to inflict violence. Why.
We don't know whether this is anti Semitism or not,
but there is no doubt that there will be people
who are supporters of Governor jos Shapiro who will say so,
(03:49):
and who's to say they are wrong. Anti Semitism is
certainly a problem that exists in this country right now,
especially in light of what's been transpiring over in Gaza
and other areas with the Palestinians and Israelis. We all
know what's been going on over the last year and
(04:10):
a half or so, if not more. But here's the deal.
We can't have this as a society. We can't make
this okay, and the rhetoric that we spew we have
to be very very careful because of the potential impact
that it has. I've often said this as a sports guy.
(04:31):
In the end, no matter what you say outside of
the actual participants whose livelihoods are directly affected, for the
rest of us, it's a game. We're covering games, and
we're covering the exploits of magnificent athletes that most, if
not all of us wish we could be but can't.
It's just that simple. But when you're talking about politics,
(04:51):
that's real life. When you're talking about the economy, when
you're talking about inflation, when you're talking about the potential
of a recession. When you're talking about the borders, when
you're talking about safe in the streets, when you're talking
about national security, when you're talking about taxes, when you're
talking about inflation, when you're talking about healthcare, you're talking
about real life issues. And when you're doing that, you
(05:14):
have a responsibility to make sure that you are incredibly,
incredibly sensitive to the potential fallout of one's words and
actions about what transpires in our nation's capital, along with
our state and local governments. Now one would say that
(05:36):
has absolutely nothing. I'm certainly not pointing the finger at
Governor Shapiro. I'm simply saying the vitriol emanating from folks
arrive in large part due to how folks believe their
personal lives are being affected or that of their loved ones, communities, etc.
(05:56):
Which is why, to me, it's important to be moderate
and centrist. Understanding that both sides don't get to get
everything they want, Understanding that both sides have to engage
in compromise, Understanding that both sides need to be pulled
from the fringes to the center. Pulled from the fringes
(06:19):
to the center is incredibly important. Why do I say that.
I say that because if both sides have something to
complain about equally, but even more to celebrate, then people
are not just thinking about what they have to lose,
They're also thinking about what they have to gain. And
(06:39):
as a result, decorum and common sense kicks into the
equation and we don't have to worry about the level
of vitriol we're witnessing. We have to think about that,
(07:00):
We have allow obligation to think about that. That's why
you've been seeing me talk about these issues on this show.
That's why you saw me on this week on ABC.
That's why you'll see me on Hannity's show, in Cuomo's show,
That's why you'll hear about me leaving the door open.
Even though I have no desire to be a politician,
not with the kind of success that I've been enjoying
(07:21):
in my career, why the hell would I want to
do that. There's only one reason. If the world is
so jacked up that whatever I achieve doesn't even matter,
because nothing but mayhem and degradation is surrounding me in
our society. That's the only incentive I think Josh Shapiro
(07:50):
has the potential to be an excellent Democratic nominee for
the presidency of the United States of America. I think
some people fear that, maybe even mister Bull to Bauman himself.
I've mentioned names like Wes Moore, governor of Maryland. I've
mentioned names like former governor of New York Andrew Cuomo.
I'll continue to mention others as the names come along.
(08:14):
But the goal is common sense, a pull to the
center from both sides of the aisle. Just like we
got people on the left worried about what they're worried about,
whether it was Walke or cancel culture or abortion or
you know, now with what Trump is doing with the
tariffs and how it's potentially hurting small businesses in this country.
(08:39):
Even though small businesses, some small business members say they
are a support of the tariffs, far more might say otherwise.
You got other people on the right talking about h
excuse me, what about a third term? Like Steve Bannon
going on with Bill Mahd real time this past Friday,
talking about circumventing the twenty second Amendment of the Constitution
so Trump could run for a third term, implemented in
(09:01):
the Constitution in nineteen forty seven, ratified in nineteen fifty one. Oh,
you're gonna sit up there and say, well, it's relatively new,
and just like there were people that work to make
modifications and alterations and changes to the Constitution back then,
we could do it now. Hell to the no. We
got to come to the center. Otherwise we'll be talking
(09:22):
about the lives of the few flourishing at the flagrant
expense of the very many. We can't have that. We
gotta be in search of more things to celebrate, not
more things to lament.
Host
Stephen A. Smith
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