Straight Shooter with Stephen A.

In this special pre-midterm edition of Straight Shooter from Washington, D.C., Stephen A. examines key battleground races in Michigan, Virginia, and Texas with Chief Washington Correspondent for MeidasTouch, Scott MacFarlane. Former Governor Chris Sununu and Rep. Glenn F. Ivey (D-MD) weigh in on the Iran War, affordability, tariffs, campaign finance reform, gerrymandering, and term limits. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) joins the show to discuss the Florida gubernatorial race, the Democratic Party’s progressive wing, his opposition to woke policies, the Save College Sports Act, and his presidential aspirations.

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Stephen A. discusses the state of America ahead of the midterm election, the impact of independent voters on turnout, and the issues voters care about most. Josh Turek, a two-time Team USA Paralympic gold medalist and Democratic U.S. Senate candidate for Iowa, is interviewed about working across the aisle, the solutions he will pursue for Iowans, and a controversial campaign ad. Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton discusses his run for California governor, Donald Trump's endorsement, and his plans for California if elected.

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Stephen A. discusses public reaction to his White House visit and appearance on ABC’s The View. Politico Global Anchor, Playbook co-author, and Playbook Podcast host Dasha Burns joins the show to break down her cross-country conversations with voters and candidates ahead of the midterms, the issues shaping the election, and the political shifts that could define 2028. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) discusses his decision not to seek reelection, tensions with Trump, the GOP's future, and his new book, How to Lose Friends and Antagonize Presidents.

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Stephen A. discusses the GOP’s continued decline and Democrats’ plans if they retake the House. Political strategist Chuck Rocha, a contributor to CBS News, CNN, and MS NOW, joins the show to break down voter sentiment, the Latino vote, immigration, and the high-stakes Texas Senate race. Former Senator Joe Manchin (I-WV), former Governor John Kasich (R-OH), Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN), veteran strategists James Carville and Donna Brazile, Fox News commentator Bill O’Reilly, and HBO’s Real Time host Bill Maher call in to celebrate Stephen A.’s birthday.

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Stephen A. discusses Donald Trump’s declining approval ratings, Texas Senate candidate Ken Paxton’s decision not to debate Democratic
opponent James Talarico, and the growing influence of independent voters. Fox News host Sean Hannity sits down with Stephen A. to
reflect on his 30 years at the network, the evolution of conservatism, the Iran War, and the Republican Party’s current state. Former NFL
kicker, sports broadcaster, and Republican candidate for Arizona’s 1st Congressional District Jay Feely joins the show to discuss his entry into
politics, Donald Trump and Turning Point USA’s political support, border security, and election integrity.

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Stephen A. weighs in on President Donald Trump’s 32-day campaign tour, his message to Black voters, and his involvement in the Protect
College Sports Act. Texas Democratic Rep. Gina Hinojosa is interviewed about her run in the hotly contested Texas gubernatorial race, as well
as redistricting, immigration, data centers, and education reform. Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman joins the show to
discuss his run for Governor of New York and his economic plan for the state.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Stephen A. talks with Senator Rand Paul about Dr. Anthony Fauci’s testimony before Congress on the federal government's COVID-19 response.

Encore: Emmy Award-winning media expert, veteran political strategist, and former DNC Chair Donna Brazile joins the show to discuss the future of the Democratic Party, the shifting political landscape, and the upcoming midterm elections. Former West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin and his daughter, Heather Manchin, also join the program to discuss the launch of their new organization, the Independent Leadership Council, and its mission to recruit, support, and elect independent candidates to Congress.

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Stephen A. discusses the rise of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) movement, its influence on the Democratic Party, and whether its policies will appeal to voters in the midterm election and beyond. Florida Republican Rep. Byron Donalds joins the program to discuss voter integrity, the state of both political parties, and his run for Florida Governor.

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Stephen A. discusses Dr. Anthony Fauci’s testimony before Congress on the federal government's COVID-19 response, progressive Democrat Abdul El-Sayed’s victory in Michigan’s primary, and the growing calls from lawmakers for a Pentagon investigation into at least 15 Trump-supported companies that have collectively received more than $3.2 billion in federal contracts, investments, and loans. Emmy Award-winning media expert, veteran political strategist, and former DNC Chair Donna Brazile joins the show to discuss the future of the Democratic Party, the shifting political landscape, and the upcoming midterm elections. Former West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin and his daughter, Heather Manchin, also join the program to discuss the launch of their new organization, the Independent Leadership Council, and its mission to recruit, support, and elect independent candidates to Congress.

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In this special edition of Straight Shooter with Stephen A., CNN Chief Legal Analyst and anchor Laura Coates steps in as guest host to tackle a fiery week of political showdowns on Capitol Hill.

At the center of the episode is Dr. Anthony Fauci’s contentious appearance before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, where he repeatedly invoked his Fifth Amendment rights—over 100 times—when questioned by Senators Rand Paul and Ron Johnson about his private 1,000-page "daily diary" from the COVID-19 pandemic, gain-of-function research, and his presidential pardon.

Coates breaks down the collision of political theater, legal strategy, and public accountability. She delivers her own "Dear Diary" monologue on America's exhaustion with partisan scapegoating and circular firing squads, before bringing on expert guests to dissect the legal ramifications of Fauci's testimony and the political stakes for Democrats with less than 100 days until the midterm elections.

Guest Norm Eisen, Co-founder & Board Member, Democracy Defenders Action; former U.S. Ambassador & Defense Attorney, explains why a figure with a federal presidential pardon would invoke the Fifth Amendment (state-level exposure, civil liability, and avoiding perjury traps), the difference between public statements and private contemporaneous diaries, and how courts are handling congressional subpoenas.

Karen Finney, Democratic Strategist; former DNC Communications Director & Campaign Advisor, discusses how Democrats can navigate voter frustration over economic affordability and healthcare, avoiding internal party finger-pointing ahead of the midterms, and why delivering tangible results matters more than political theater.

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Stephen A. reacts to Secretary of War Pete Hegseth’s $67 billion request to restock arms for the Iran War and New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill’s announcement that a review found that 6,600 noncitizens were registered to vote in New Jersey due to a software error. Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson joins the show to discuss his split from Donald Trump and the Republican Party, the Iran War, the state of race in the U.S., and the prospect of a third political party.

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Stephen A. explains why all factions of the Democratic Party must unite to win the midterm election and beyond. Republican Florida Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna joins the show to discuss insider trading, working across party lines, the state of affairs within the GOP and her support for President Trump.

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CNN's Laura Coates guest hosts for Stephen A. Smith this week. In this jam packed episode, she interviews Rep. Mike Flood (R-NE), Former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, CNN International Reporter Josh Rogin, and Representative Gregory Meeks (D-NY).

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Stephen A. discusses President Trump’s 2025 financial disclosure forms, which revealed he earned over $1 billion since returning to office through his cryptocurrency ventures. CNN Chief Legal Analyst Laura Coates joins the show to break down the landmark Supreme Court rulings on birthright citizenship, transgender athletes in women’s sports, and mail-in ballots.

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Stephen A. discusses the political deadlock in Washington and President Trump’s refusal to sign bipartisan housing legislation unless Congress approves the SAVE Act. He examines the financial dealings that have enriched the Trump family’s business empire, raising questions about who truly benefits. Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin joins the show to talk about the U.S.-Iran agreement, rising tensions in the Middle East, why she thinks the Democratic Party needs fresh leadership, and the growing influence of the progressive movement in American politics.

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