Ep 1041 | Sage Steele Joins Jason to Discuss Pat McAfee & ESPN 'Platforming' Donald Trump

9 snips

Nov 12, 2025

Guest

Steve Kim

In this lively discussion, Sage Steele, a veteran sports broadcaster, shares insights from her ESPN days while diving deep into the controversies surrounding Pat McAfee and Donald Trump's recent media appearances. Former player T.J. Moe and journalist Steve Kim join in to explore the implications of Trump's platforming on ESPN and Fox Sports. The panel debates Stephen A. Smith's influence versus McAfee's unique approach and tackles the management of rising star Travis Hunter, making for a thought-provoking episode packed with sports and media analysis.

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INSIGHT

McAfee's Unique Independence

Pat McAfee operates with almost no corporate constraints, allowing ESPN to host controversial guests like Donald Trump.
Sage Steele and the panel argue McAfee's independence forces ESPN to tolerate actions other shows couldn't pull off.

INSIGHT

Timing Eases Controversial Guests

Hosting Trump on Veterans Day framed the interview as appropriate and defused some internal backlash.
Steele notes timing and occasion made ESPN's tolerance easier to justify publicly.

INSIGHT

Location Shapes Editorial Control

ESPN's internal control is stronger at Bristol; remote shows like McAfee's avoid that gatekeeping.
The network tolerates McAfee because his audience and leverage give him de facto authority.

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On today’s episode of “Fearless,” Jason Whitlock is joined by former ESPN host Sage Steele to discuss Pat McAfee and ESPN “platforming” Donald Trump by having him as a guest on “The Pat McAfee Show.” Trump also appeared in the broadcast booth with Kenny Albert and Jonathan Vilma on Fox Sports. Whitlock and Steele unpack the troubles ESPN is facing in its competition with YouTube and analyze Trump’s recent foray into the sports-media world. Guests Jon Root, Steve Kim, and T.J. Moe join the show to provide their insight into Trump’s appearances on ESPN and Fox Sports. Kim and Moe then weigh in on Stephen A. Smith feuding with former ESPN colleagues Michelle Beadle and Cari Champion and Travis Hunter’s season-ending injury and how Deion Sanders primed Hunter for failure. The panel also debate whether they’d rather have Mike Tomlin or Kevin Stefanski as a new coach next season. Heavy-hitting show today — don’t miss it!

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