Stephen A. Smith has opinions, and this week, he aimed them straight at Capitol Hill.
On the newest episode of his “Straight Shooter” SiriusXM present, the ESPN character known as out Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) for showing in a viral video alongside 5 different Democratic lawmakers, which has garnered greater than 18 million views on X. Within the clip, the group with army or intelligence backgrounds encourages service members to refuse unlawful orders from the Trump administration.
To Stephen A., that message wasn’t simply dangerous, however it was out of bounds.
“You understand higher, Senator Kelly,” he mentioned, suggesting the video was “crossing the road” and insisting the previous Navy captain had “no enterprise” delivering that sort of directive publicly. Smith argued that if Kelly believed one thing unlawful was taking place, there have been official avenues to handle it — not a viral PSA.
“We have now a Structure,” he mentioned. “You bought an issue, you undergo the required course of.”
Smith doubled down, noting his circle of relatives’s army service and saying none of them considered the lawmakers’ video as acceptable. As an alternative, he identified that if Kelly actually believed unlawful orders had been being issued, Congress already had instruments on the desk: “Begin articles of impeachment… it ain’t like y’all haven’t accomplished it earlier than.”
Trump, after all, was impeached twice throughout his first time period earlier than being acquitted each occasions by the Senate.
The commentator additionally questioned why the video didn’t establish the alleged unlawful orders in any respect, asking viewers: “The place’s the proof?”
The backlash wasn’t restricted to speak reveals. The Division of Protection introduced that it’s opening an investigation into Kelly following the discharge of the video. Trump labeled the clip “SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR” and amplified posts calling for the lawmakers’ execution. This rhetoric instantly sparked concern and criticism.
Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth slammed the video as “despicable, reckless, and false,” whereas the White Home accused the Democratic lawmakers of making an attempt to “sow chaos and mistrust.” Nonetheless, not everybody on the best is aligned in outrage: GOP Sens. John Curtis and Lisa Murkowski issued statements defending Kelly because the Pentagon opinions what it known as “critical allegations of misconduct.”
Smith’s full commentary is out there on his Straight Shooter present beneath.
