In a recent podcast episode, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith faced a flurry of questions regarding his remarks about regretting his support for Kamala Harris, the former Vice President. Hosts Cari Champion and Jemele Hill hinted that his statements might have been aimed at Black women. Smith specified his disappointment with Harris’s comments during an appearance on ABC’s “The View” in October 2024, where she claimed she couldn’t think of anything she would do differently from Joe Biden.
He expressed frustration, saying, “When she had that opportunity and passed it up, it’s not that she lacks intelligence—she has an impressive background as a former state attorney general, senator, and vice president. Her loyalty to Biden seemed to overshadow everything else.” Smith also questioned her ambitions, stating, “Are you really trying to win a presidency? This feels embarrassing.” Hill noted that Harris focused on Biden’s achievements, while Champion pressed Smith on why he expressed regret about voting for her, suggesting it undermined Harris’s efforts.
Smith defended his earlier support for Harris, clarifying that his regrets came after the fact. “I supported her during the election and voted for her. My comments came afterward.” Champion pushed back, asserting he could have criticized her without expressing regret, leading Smith to ask, “Can we consider this a difference of opinion rather than an attack?”
Later on, they shifted to Smith’s interaction with Representative Jasmine Crockett of Texas. Notably, Smith mentioned that Harris did not respond to requests for comments. Curtis Houck of NewsBusters.org highlighted the rarity of such candidness from Smith and noted the need for more transparency in the media. He argued that admitting mistakes should be encouraged within both journalism and politics.
Reflecting on his prior support, Smith recalled telling Sage Steele that he believed Harris could facilitate compromise. However, he soon perceived a disconnect within the Democratic Party, particularly after their election loss. He concluded that despite his initial hope, the party seemed out of touch with reality. In a January 2025 interview, he remarked on feeling foolish for supporting her, believing that she likely wouldn’t have emerged as the Democratic nominee had there been a primary.
