Straight Shooter with Stephen A.

Guest host Laura Coates fills in for Stephen A. Smith to tackle a packed docket of constitutional controversies, technological threats, and public health debates.
The White House Press Ban: Coates breaks down the legal mechanics of what she dubs "White House ban gate," analyzing the First Amendment and Fifth Amendment due process implications of the administration revoking hard press passes for outlets like CNN, Politico, and MS Now. Constitutional attorney Ken Turkel joins the show to debate whether the ban constitutes illegal viewpoint discrimination or a legally justifiable national security measure.
The "Trump Arch" & AI in Aviation: Congressman Don Beyer (D-VA) stops by to discuss the controversial 250-foot arch being constructed near Reagan National Airport, an homage to the president that will allegedly feature drones and snipers. Rep. Beyer also sounds the alarm on the Department of Transportation's sudden move to implement untrained AI for air traffic control at major airports, calling it a severely untested risk to public safety.
The 2026 Midterm Elections: With the midterms roughly 40 days away, Coates and Rep. Beyer analyze the electorate's top concerns. They discuss how issues like inflation, AI anxiety, and the massive energy consumption of data centers are driving voter behavior as control of the House and Senate hangs in the balance.
Public Health & Vaccine Hesitancy: Coates closes the show by addressing a recent measles outbreak that has claimed four lives in Pennsylvania. She delivers a passionate plea for listeners to consult actual medical professionals—rather than politicians or internet personalities—regarding the safety and efficacy of routine immunizations.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Stephen A. sounds the alarm about warnings that A.I. could end civilization within the next decade and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei’s
calls to slow AI development. Republican gubernatorial candidate John James (R-MI) joins the show to discuss his run for Governor of Michigan, his economic plan for the state, and the war in Iran.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Stephen A. discusses Trump’s declining approval rating, the ongoing war in Iran, and the GOP’s first-ever two-day national midterm convention in Dallas, Texas. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) joins the show to discuss the state of the Democratic Party, the Protect College Sports
Act, and his bestselling book, Crisis of the Common Good: The Fight for Meaning and Connection in a Broken America.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Stephen A. discusses far-right internet personality Laura Loomer’s disparaging remarks about Black female politicians. Physician and Progressive Democrat Dr. Abdul El-Sayed is interviewed about his run for the U.S. Senate in Michigan, and former University of Montana

President Seth Bodnar joins the show to discuss his run as an Independent for the U.S. Senate in Montana.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Guest host Laura Coates steps in for Stephen A. Smith to dissect Meta's massive legal settlement regarding teen mental health, bipartisan efforts to slash exorbitant US prescription drug prices, and updates on space exploration.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.