Stephen A. Smith, the outspoken ESPN commentator, recently addressed the swirling rumors about a possible future in politics. While not making any official announcements, he shared a light update on the topic during a recent public appearance.

Longtime ESPN host Stephen A. Smith appeared on CNN’s State of the Union to discuss the growing buzz around a potential 2028 presidential run—a possibility he says he’s keeping open. While traditionally aligned with Democratic causes, Smith used the interview to sharply critique his party, blaming the far left for damaging its image and losing touch with working-class Americans.

Speaking with CNN’s Jake Tapper, Smith pointed to issues like open borders, excessive government spending, identity politics, and cancel culture as reasons why many Americans feel alienated. He argued that fear of speaking freely, particularly around gender and pronouns, has contributed to psychological strain nationwide and helped fuel Donald Trump’s political rise.

Smith criticized the Democratic Party’s messaging, saying it often feels detached from the real problems people face—like rising costs, crime, and a lack of stability. “People are trying to survive, not argue over political ideologies,” he said.

When asked directly about his own presidential ambitions, Smith admitted he’s not politically experienced or qualified in the traditional sense, but said he’s been encouraged by public figures and everyday citizens alike to consider the idea. He cited a conversation with his pastor, who urged him to keep the door open because “you never know what God has planned.”

Though he emphasized he’s not committed to a run, Smith noted his large platform gives him the opportunity to speak openly about the country’s challenges. He also slammed the performative nature of modern politics, where lawmakers often seem more focused on opposition than solutions. “That’s not leadership. That’s theater,” he said.

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Chevron’s CEO recently shared his thoughts on the state of the U.S. economy, offering a surprisingly optimistic take despite growing chatter about a potential recession. In his remarks, he also took a moment to commend the impact of President Trump’s past economic policies.

In a recent interview on Fox News’ Sunday Morning Futures, Chevron CEO Mike Wirth voiced confidence in the state of the U.S. economy and applauded former President Donald Trump’s economic approach. Despite a slight GDP contraction in the first quarter, Wirth dismissed fears of an impending recession, stating that current data from Chevron’s operations doesn’t point to any immediate downturn and attributing the GDP dip to irregular trade patterns.

Wirth also addressed Chevron’s operations in Venezuela, expressing concerns about energy security due to sanctions disrupting the flow of Venezuelan oil to the U.S.—a type of crude that many Gulf Coast refineries are designed to process. He noted that China has become Venezuela’s largest oil customer and warned that ongoing diplomatic efforts between the two nations could shift even more oil away from the U.S.

While acknowledging the risks, Wirth remained optimistic about Trump’s firm stance on foreign adversaries. He praised Trump’s emphasis on enforcement, particularly regarding sanctions on Iran and Russia, arguing that past administrations had failed to follow through effectively. In contrast, he believes the current leadership is more serious about making those sanctions count, which could reshape global energy dynamics.

Former President Donald Trump has made headlines once again with a bold new directive involving the reopening of a historic federal facility. While the move is still in its early stages, it’s already sparking conversation across political and legal circles.

President Donald Trump made waves on Sunday with a dramatic announcement: he plans to reopen and expand the infamous Alcatraz prison, located on an isolated island in San Francisco Bay. In a fiery Truth Social post titled “REBUILD, AND OPEN ALCATRAZ!” Trump said the move is aimed at cracking down on violent repeat offenders who, in his words, bring “misery and suffering” to America’s streets.

Trump described the decision as a return to a time when the country was “a more serious nation,” one that didn’t hesitate to lock away its most dangerous criminals. He declared that the modern justice system has been too soft and overrun by judges unwilling to take strong action, especially when it comes to deporting violent criminals who entered the U.S. illegally.

He ordered multiple federal agencies, including the Bureau of Prisons, DOJ, FBI, and Department of Homeland Security, to work together to not only reopen Alcatraz but to rebuild and expand it into a high-security facility to hold the country’s most dangerous and unrepentant offenders. According to Trump, the facility will serve as both a real solution and a powerful symbol of law, order, and justice.

The original Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary opened in 1934 and was designed to hold the most notorious and unmanageable inmates in the federal prison system—people like Al Capone and “Machine Gun” Kelly. Its isolated location, frigid waters, and strong currents made escape virtually impossible. Though the prison closed in 1963, it’s remained a symbol of hardline criminal justice ever since, now functioning as a tourist site.

Trump’s announcement comes amid intense legal battles over his administration’s immigration policies, particularly his attempt to deport violent gang members under the Alien Enemies Act. Some federal judges have blocked these efforts, leading Trump to push back with increasingly aggressive measures—this Alcatraz plan being the most high-profile move so far.

Whether the plan will be implemented or face more legal hurdles remains to be seen, but Trump is clearly doubling down on his promise to restore order—and make a bold statement in the process.