California's Press Protection & Stephen A. Smith on Trump's Knicks Attendance | June 9, 2026

The first assistant US attorney in California, partnering with the FBI, has announced an investigation into the state's voting processes, specifically highlighting issues in the Los Angeles mayoral situation. Concerns include the slow vote count, suspicious surges for third-party candidates, lack of voter ID, and the practice of ballot harvesting. Federal authorities also express 'serious concerns' about California's voter rolls, noting potential failures to remove deceased voters, those who have moved, or individuals convicted of disqualifying felonies. California has reportedly refused to comply with Department of Justice attempts to audit its voter files for over a year.

The US Attorney's office announced an investigation into the California vote, citing issues like a 7-day vote count in LA, a surge for a 'socialist crazy person,' no voter ID, and unrestricted ballot harvesting. The US Attorney's statement also mentioned concerns about voter roll maintenance (deceased, moved, felons) and California's refusal to allow a federal audit.

Bill O'Reilly criticizes mainstream media outlets like ABC World News Tonight and CNN for immediately labeling claims of voter fraud in California as 'baseless' without conducting any independent investigation. He questions how correspondents could definitively know these claims were unfounded, especially given the rapid reporting turnaround and the complexity of investigating such allegations.

O'Reilly quotes ABC World News Tonight stating Trump made 'baseless claims of fraud' (00:01:13) and notes CNN's Aaron Bernett also used 'baseless, baseless, baseless' across the screen (00:03:23). He challenges how these outlets could know the claims were baseless without investigation.

Stephen A. Smith clarifies that his objection to Donald Trump attending a New York Knicks game was purely logistical, not political. He cited the significant congestion and security 'nightmares' Trump's presence causes in New York City, particularly around Madison Square Garden, which he believes impeded the game-day experience and the team's momentum. Smith, a lifelong Knicks fan, felt Trump's presence was 'thoughtless' given the team's critical moment.

Smith states, 'That is absolutely true. Had absolutely positively nothing to do with politics. It was the inconvenience his arrival was going to call to the congestion in New York City.' (00:08:47) He also mentions 'a whole bevy of logistical nightmares that I thought would impede upon the momentum of the New York Knicks.' (00:09:47)

Stephen A. Smith passionately argues that external factors, such as a high-profile political figure's disruptive presence, can negatively affect a sports team's 'mojo' or momentum, thereby impacting their on-court performance. He contrasts this with Bill O'Reilly's more analytical view, which attributes game outcomes solely to team performance. Smith references Michael Jordan's gambling controversy as an example of off-court issues affecting a player's mental state and subsequent game performance.

Smith asks O'Reilly, 'Do you believe in mojo? Do you believe in momentum? Do you believe in that passion?' (00:18:31) He later recounts Michael Jordan's Atlantic City gambling trip, stating, 'in sports there are things that happen off the court that affect your mental on the court which ultimately affects your game.' (00:26:18)