Fade Stephen A

Stephen A. Smith’s latest attempt to weigh in on Senator Mark Kelly felt less like analysis and more like a branding exercise aimed squarely at middle-aged conservative white guys who don’t even watch the sports he screams about. He’s always been a pretty reliable “fade” in the sports world—loud, emotional, and rarely anchored in anything resembling sharp process—but now he’s wandered into politics with the same volume and even less understanding.

The guy has openly flirted with running for president in 2028, which is hilarious when you realize he appears to know almost nothing about policy, governance, or markets. His skill set is simple: yell into a camera, create fake urgency, stir up conflict, and generate enough noise to keep the clip machine humming. Clearly it works for ratings; he’s been on TV forever, so someone is entertained. But no one making real money is basing decisions—sports, politics, or otherwise—on Stephen A.’s “insight.”

This is a perfect example of why most mainstream content is actively harmful to your bankroll. If your inputs are hot-take TV and rage-bait clips, your outputs are going to be square bets and terrible reads on reality. You need a small circle of trusted sources and comrades who keep you grounded, challenge your bias, and help you stay creative and ahead of the market. Choosing the wrong voices to let into your head is a silent bankroll killer.

So by all means, watch Stephen A. if you want background noise. But if you’re serious about betting, forecasting, or understanding politics, do yourself a favor: don’t listen to guys like Stephen A.—and definitely don’t tail them.