Entertainment
Stephen A. Smith: Always up for a debate
These days, Stephen A. Smith is everywhere – on the sidelines, at the games, and of course all over TV. His swaggering sports talk has made him a superstar at ESPN, a modern-day Howard Cosell with a multi-million dollar media empire.
Smith begins each weekday morning with his popular cable show, “First Take.” The set is his court. “We do want to one-up one another along the way,” he said, “and when you want to one-up somebody, that’s competition, and that’s what makes it go
“The key, for us, is to be authentic; don’t fake it” he said. “I’m talking about making sure that it’s not choreographed. You’re not just saying something just to be saying it.”
Sports fans like to keep the conversation going. “Remember, the typical stars, they people want your picture, they want your autograph,” said Smith. “Me, they want a debate. They want the pictures, too, but they want a debate. There’s no such thing as, ‘Love you, man, can I get a picture with you?’ and that’s it. It’s, ‘Man, did you really mean that about the Knicks? How could you say that about the Cowboys?'”
CBS News
Smith grew up in the working-class neighborhood of Hollis, Queens, in New York City. His mother, a nurse who worked 16-hour shifts, encouraged him as he struggled with dyslexia …. and with his father. “My father said that I was a lost cause,” said Smith. “My father was the one who told my mother, ‘He’s just not smart.'”
Does that still hurt? “Well, it hurt for a very, very long time. But it subsided significantly once I proved him wrong. And even he had to concede that I was a different beast. My issue was he didn’t take care of the family. So, my mother had to.”
He left New York after he won a basketball scholarship to Winston-Salem State University in North Carolina. But an injury cut short that dream, so he turned to newspapers. Eventually, his columns caught the attention of ESPN executives, who gave him a show.
His first stop after signing the contract? His mother’s office. “I walked up in there and I said, ‘Let’s go.’ And I looked at the person running the center. I said, ‘My mother will not be working here any longer. It’s over.’ And my mother never worked again. And to this day, I’ve achieved a lot of things, but that is the proudest moment of my life. That’s me.”
His combative commentary has its critics (Stephen A. Smith Comes Under Fire for Controversial Remarks on Ayesha Curry). And he has generated controversy, sometimes to the point of ESPN taking action (ESPN’s suspends Stephen A. Smith over domestic abuse comments).
Of his haters, Smith says, “Well, let ’em hate. They ain’t winning. We winning. Do you really, really think a show would be number one for 13 consecutive years if it was unpleasant and uncomfortable for people to watch? The critics that say that want you to think that, because you ain’t watching their show.”
Some critics call him Screaming A. Smith, accusing him of making journalism and sports all about shouting. “Well, those are people that want you and others to ignore my resume,” said Smith. “I was a college beat writer. I was a pro beat writer. I became an NBA columnist. White men are all over the place, screaming all the time. They don’t call them ‘screaming whatever.’ Matter of fact, they call them passionate. And they never associate the word anger. But somehow, they do that with me. Despite this fact that I smile a lot. A lot of reasons to be happy.”
Happy, and busy. Just recently, at age 58, Smith became a big name at SiriusXM, with a daily sports show, and now a weekly political show, too, where the registered independent interviews leaders from both parties.
But this move toward politics has raised eyebrows, in press boxes and Washington. And even President Trump is keeping an eye on Smith, who said while calling into News Nation, “He’s a good guy, he’s a smart guy. I love watching him. He has great entertainment skills. I’d love to see him run.”
But Smith says, “When somebody talks about me being the president or whatever, I have no desire to be a politician, zero. I have no desire to run for office.”
But is he ruling it out? “I’m not ruling it out, because I’d love to be on the debate stages against some of these individuals that think they’re better suited to run the country,” he said. “Because I think that the American people deserve to listen to and hear from somebody who genuinely cares about making life better for them instead of yourself.”
He says, were he to run, it would be as a Democrat: “Yeah, because I couldn’t see myself running as a member of the GOP. I’m a fiscal conservative; I can’t stand high taxes. But I’m a social liberal in the same breath, because I believe in living and let live. I pay attention to the desolate and disenfranchised. Yes, I like strong borders, that’s absolutely true. We never needed open borders, but we don’t need it to be completely closed, either. We are a gorgeous mosaic.”
Sounds like a stump speech. “No, there’s no stump speech,” Smith said, “but I can give a speech without a note in front of me.”
Whether he jumps into politics or not, one thing is clear: Stephen A. Smith is always up for a debate
“I will confess to you, I’m giving strong consideration to being on that debate stage for 2027,” he said. “I’ve got this year coming up, 2026, to think about it, to study, to know the issues, et cetera, ’cause I don’t know everything. But I am gonna spend this year thinking about that before I make a decision as to what I want to do.”
“You’ve only had a few thousand debate practices over the last few years every morning,” I said.
“Right. I’m not worried about a debate one bit, not even a little bit,” Smith replied.
WEB EXCLUSIVE: Watch an extended interview with Stephen A. Smith (Video)
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Story produced by David Rothman, Editor: Ed Givnish.
Entertainment
Netflix renews ‘Love on the Spectrum’ for season 5
Netflix has officially renewed Love on the Spectrum for a fifth season, extending the journey of one of its most celebrated reality series.
The announcement came just days after season 4 premiered to strong reception, reflecting the show’s enduring appeal and cultural impact.
Created by Karina Holden and Cian O’Clery of Northern Pictures, the series has become a global phenomenon since its U.S. debut in 2022, following the original Australian version launched in 2019.
With seven Primetime Emmy Awards to its name including Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program in 2022 and 2025, Love on the Spectrum has carved out a unique space in reality television.
It offers a heartfelt and authentic look at people on the autism spectrum navigating dating and relationships.
Season 4 featured Connor Tomlinson, Dylan Aguilar, Emma Sue Miller, Georgie Harris, James B. Jones, Logan Pereira, Madison Marilla, Shelley Wolfee and Tyler White, whose personal journeys resonated deeply with viewers.
Their stories helped secure the renewal, ensuring that season 5 will continue to explore new paths to love and connection.
The renewal signals Netflix’s confidence in the franchise, which has grown from its Australian roots into a global touchstone.
With season 5 now on the horizon, the series promises to deliver more emotional storytelling and genuine representation, keeping audiences invested in the lives of its cast while reinforcing its reputation as one of the streamer’s most heartfelt reality hits.
Entertainment
An enduring legacy
Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto defied the suffocating politics of his time, nurturing a new consciousness rooted in human rights, dignity, equality and justice. Rejecting absolutism, he sought to transform politics into public service. As we mark his death anniversary, we reflect not only on a remarkable leader but on the enduring imprint he left on Pakistan’s identity and democratic imagination.
Long after his passing, his light refuses to dim, his voice refuses to fade and his vision of an inclusive, just, united, prosperous, strong and dignified Pakistan continues to guide our great nation. I take pride that my own political journey was shaped and inspired by the ideology and ideas of Quaid-e-Awam. His conviction that power belonged to the people has been a guiding light for me through every office I have held. Today, as I preside over the Senate, I see his vision embodied in the constitution he gave us and in the institution he conceived to protect our federation.
Shaheed Bhutto’s journey to leadership was shaped early by the towering figure of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. At just seventeen, he wrote to the Quaid, declaring that he would one day sacrifice his life for Pakistan. And true to his word, he sacrificed his life for Pakistan exactly thirty-four years later in April 1979. Jinnah wrote back, advising him to study politics thoroughly but not neglect his education. That exchange marked the beginning of a relationship that would define Bhutto’s political philosophy. He carried Jinnah’s memory with him throughout his life.
Boasting an illustrious academic career at Berkeley and Oxford, where he completed a demanding law degree in just two years, Bhutto returned to Pakistan. He soon represented the country at the United Nations, and by 1958, at the age of 30, he became the youngest cabinet member in Pakistan’s history.
His diplomatic skills were evident early. When he met US president John F Kennedy in the White House in 1963, Kennedy remarked that if Bhutto were American, he would be in his cabinet. Bhutto’s response was characteristically sharp: “Be careful, Mr President, if I were American, I would be in your place”.
Razor-sharp wit, a formidable intellect and an unshakeable commitment to Pakistan’s sovereignty made him a towering figure on the world stage. As foreign minister, he brought balance to Pakistan’s foreign policy, forging closer ties with China and advocating for an independent course that served the nation’s interests. He supported China’s entry into the UN, a bold move that laid the foundation for the “higher than the Himalayas and deeper than the oceans” relationship that continues to benefit Pakistan today.
However, the true greatness of Shaheed Bhutto emerged like a phoenix from the very ashes of the 1971 war. Those were troubled times. Pakistan was a shattered nation. Half the country had been lost and five thousand square miles of territory was under occupation. The world had written us off. Yet within months, through sheer diplomatic acumen, Bhutto secured the release of our prisoners and the return of our land through the Simla Agreement. He had prepared meticulously, consulting opposition leaders, military commanders, and visiting fourteen Muslim countries to secure their support before entering negotiations with Indira Gandhi.
And, unquestionably, perhaps, his greatest gift to the nation and the country was the 1973 Constitution. Before Bhutto, Pakistan had never enjoyed a democratic constitution framed by the will of its people. He gave us a constitution that declared sovereignty belongs to Allah Almighty, but the people of Pakistan are its trustees. He created the Senate to ensure that every province, large or small, would have an equal voice.
Equally transformative and highly seminal were his domestic reforms. Within three months of taking office, he announced land reforms, distributing over 800,000 acres to landless peasants. He established Pakistan Steel Mills, built Port Qasim and laid the foundation for Quaid-i-Azam University. His government prioritised labour welfare and expanded educational access, making education free up to matriculation. These policies were part of a coherent vision encapsulated in his slogan Roti, Kapra aur Makan.
Years later, that commitment found its most powerful expression in the Benazir Income Support Programme, which I had the honour to launch as Prime Minister. Today, BISP is recognised globally as one of the most effective social safety nets, empowering women and lifting millions from poverty.
Shaheed Bhutto always had his fingers on the pulse of the masses. He understood the geopolitical and strategic alchemy that tied Pakistan’s destiny to the Muslim world. In February 1974, he hosted the Islamic Summit in Lahore, bringing together leaders from thirty-eight Muslim nations. King Faisal of Saudi Arabia, Anwar Sadat of Egypt, Colonel Qaddafi of Libya, and Yasser Arafat were among the distinguished guests.
Equally unwavering was his commitment to Pakistan’s defence. He had famously declared that Pakistan would “eat grass” if necessary to acquire nuclear capability. As prime minister, he initiated the nuclear programme. That programme, completed after his martyrdom, has ensured Pakistan’s security for all time.
And then darkness descended when his democratically elected government was overthrown in July 1977. What followed was a judicial process that the world recognised as a travesty and, ultimately, a ‘judicial murder’. Despite international appeals from leaders across the globe, he was sent to the gallows on April 4, 1979. His daughter Benazir’s account of their final meeting, with iron bars separating father from daughter, remains one of the most poignant passages in Pakistan’s history.
The Bhutto family paid an extraordinary price – the Quaid-e-Awam, his sons Shahnawaz and Murtaza, and his beloved daughter and the first female prime minister of the Muslim world and Pakistan Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto, all gave their lives for the cause of the people. Today, President Asif Ali Zardari and Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari carry this legacy forward with unwavering dedication.
Through my political and parliamentary journey, I have endeavoured to honour that vision. The 18th Amendment, passed during my tenure as prime minister, was a historic step towards realising Bhutto’s dream of provincial autonomy.
Shaheed Bhutto once said, “We are not merely the heirs of a party, we are the custodians of a vision”. That vision was of a Pakistan where the poor are not forgotten, where the provinces are not silenced, where democracy is not a slogan but a way of life.
As we remember him today, let us renew our commitment to that vision. His light continues to guide us. May his soul rest in eternal peace. May his vision continue to inspire generations.
The writer is the chairman of the Senate of Pakistan.
Disclaimer: The viewpoints expressed in this piece are the writer’s own and don’t necessarily reflect Geo.tv’s editorial policy.
Originally published in The News
Entertainment
See Shiloh Jolie debut in K-Pop music video
Shiloh Jolie has made her music video debut, and the internet has ground to a halt, not just because of the appearance itself, but because of just how strikingly she resembles her mother, Angelina Jolie.
The 19-year-old dancer appears in the teaser for K-Pop singer Dayoung’s new single What’s a Girl to Do, due for release on 7 April.
The clip began circulating on social media on Friday, and fans were quick to clock the resemblance when Shiloh appeared later in the trailer.
The reaction was immediate.
“Look at Shiloh, man. Crazy to see Angie’s kids follow in her footsteps,” one X user wrote. “Literally looks exactly like her momma oh my god,” posted another.
A third simply declared: “Holy sh*t, mamma’s good genes are sooooo strong.”
It is not yet clear whether Shiloh will appear in an acting capacity, as one of Dayoung’s dancers, or both.
The Jolie family resemblance is not a new talking point.
Last April, Shiloh was widely noted for appearing to channel her mother’s iconic Lara Croft look from Tomb Raider with a similar hairstyle.
Friday’s teaser has taken those comparisons to a whole new level.
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