Straight Shooter with Stephen A.

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

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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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