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Barack Obama Faces Backlash From Critics After Announcing His New Podcast — &x27;I&x27;ll Use This If I Ever Have Trouble Sleeping&x27; Daniel Gura Wed, August 12, 2026 at 3:42 PM UTC 0 Barack Obama has launched a new podcast.mega, @BarackObama/X Critics are closing the book on Barack Obama&x27;s new podcast before the first episode is even out, RadarOnline.com can report. The former president has announced his new passion project, in which he will discuss books that have "profoundly shaped his worldview and our society." But his haters have already judged the podcast based on its cover.

Barack Obama Faces Backlash From Critics After Announcing His New Podcast — 'I'll Use This If I Ever Have Trouble Sleeping'

Daniel Gura Wed, August 12, 2026 at 3:42 PM UTC

Barack Obama has launched a new podcast.mega, @BarackObama/X

Critics are closing the book on Barack Obama's new podcast before the first episode is even out, RadarOnline.com can report.

The former president has announced his new passion project, in which he will discuss books that have "profoundly shaped his worldview and our society." But his haters have already judged the podcast based on its cover.

Barack Obama's New Audio Adventure

The former president will use the platform to discuss influential books from his life.mega

Obama is set to open a new chapter in his post-presidential life with his podcast, titled simply, A Great Book with Barack Obama.

Each episode will be available on Audible starting Sept. 24, according to the 65-year-old's announcement.

"At a time when fewer people are able to sit down with a book, it’s important to remember the joy and power that can come from reading," he posted on X, along with a throwback photo of himself standing in front of a giant bookcase. "And some books don't just tell a story – they change the way we see the world."

Obama noted: "A while back, I revisited a few of the books that made an impact on me as a young man, influencing how I think about family, faith, race, politics and America: The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin, Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison, All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy, Gilead by Marilynne Robinson, All the King’s Men by Robert Penn Warren, and Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John le Carré.

He revealed the new podcast will feature discussions on these books with some of his famous friends.

"I invited some friends to explore why these books resonate, how they can shape our understanding of ourselves and each other, and why literature matters now more than ever."

Critics Have Already Tuned Out

Critics were quick to dismiss the former president's passion project.@BarackObama/X

However, many of his harshest critics have already turned the page on the podcast, slamming the former president in the comments.

"Thanks, I'll use this if I ever have trouble sleeping," one person snarked, as another mocked, "Omg is this funny. I thought it was a joke... I guess it is, actually."

One person was puzzled by Obama's choice of words when selling his series: "Why do you think fewer people are able to read a book now? This seems odd – I think plenty of people do, and most have time – what a bizarre start to a post."

Barack and Michelle Obama's Divorce Rumors Persist

The new venture comes amid ongoing rumors of marital strife with Michelle.mega

Barack's new adventure comes amid rumors of marriage troubles with his wife, Michelle, especially as the former first lady hasn't shied away from discussing their ups and downs.

During the first episode of her IMO podcast, Michelle revealed she struggled through her years at the White House. However, she gave credit to her brother, Craig Robinson, for helping her "get through" the two terms of his presidency.

"Being married to the president of the United States (is a) thing that none of us kind of banked on," she confessed. "We knew Barack was smart and ambitious, but, you know..."

Michelle also admitted she never wanted her husband to run for president, which he did twice.

Barack and Michelle Clear the Air

The former first couple addressed the rumors on an episode of her podcast.Michelle Obama/YouTube

The couple tried to quell the rumors during a joint appearance on her podcast, as Michelle assured, "There hasn't been one moment in our marriage where I thought about quitting my man. And we've had some really hard times.

"So we had a lot of fun times, a lot of adventures, and I have become a better person because of the man I'm married to."

Barack tried to laugh off the rumors, joking: "She took me back! It was touch and go for a while."

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Published: August 12, 2026 at 12:09PM on Source: PRIME TIME

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August 12, 2026

Barack Obama Faces Backlash From Critics After Announcing His New Podcast — 'I'll Use This If I Ever Have Trouble Sleeping'

Barack Obama Faces Backlash From Critics After Announcing His New Podcast — &x27;I&x27;ll Use This If I Ever Have Tr...

<strong>Whatstrong> <strong>Jeremystrong> Strong told Mark Zuckerberg about &x27;Social Reckoning&x27; role Brendan Morrow, USA TODAYWed, August 12, 2026 at 3:42 PM UTC 0 <strong>Jeremystrong> Strong has revealed he reached out to Mark Zuckerberg, and received a response back, before playing the Facebook entrepreneur in the upcoming movie "The Social Reckoning." The "Succession" star, 47, shared the revelation in a new GQ profile published Aug. 12. Strong told the outlet that he got in touch with Zuckerberg after he signed on to play the Meta CEO in the new film from Aaron Sorkin.

What Jeremy Strong told Mark Zuckerberg about 'Social Reckoning' role

Brendan Morrow, USA TODAYWed, August 12, 2026 at 3:42 PM UTC

Jeremy Strong has revealed he reached out to Mark Zuckerberg, and received a response back, before playing the Facebook entrepreneur in the upcoming movie "The Social Reckoning."

The "Succession" star, 47, shared the revelation in a new GQ profile published Aug. 12. Strong told the outlet that he got in touch with Zuckerberg after he signed on to play the Meta CEO in the new film from Aaron Sorkin.

"I wrote to him – I'm probably going to give Sony an aneurysm – I sent him an email," Strong said. "Just to say that I take this responsibility very seriously, and the veracity of it seriously, and I'm approaching it with respect."

Strong added that Zuckerberg wrote him back, but he did not share what the tech billionaire said. The two have not met in person.

"Listen, I know that he is a reviled person and not a popular person in our culture, but I do not think you should have an actor playing him who wants to set out to condemn him," Strong told GQ.

The Emmy-winning actor is taking over the role of Zuckerberg from Jesse Eisenberg, who played the part in "The Social Network," the Oscar-winning 2010 movie about the founding of Facebook. "The Social Reckoning" is a follow-up film, with Sorkin returning as writer and also stepping into the director's chair; David Fincher directed the first movie.

'The Social Reckoning': Jeremy Strong transforms into Mark Zuckerberg

For his part, Eisenberg revealed on The Hollywood Reporter's "Awards Chatter" podcast in 2025 that he tried to meet with Zuckerberg while he was in rehearsals for "The Social Network," but was advised against doing so.

"I was driving up to meet him," Eisenberg recalled on the podcast. "I was told, 'We're not going to meet them.' Literally, I was in my car. I was just going to go to the [Facebook] office. I figured they would let me in. It was announced that I was in it. So I was driving upstate to see them in California, and I got a call from [producer] Scott Rudin, telling me, 'Do not go there.' He was telling me this, really, on behalf of Sony lawyers and stuff. He was telling me, 'You can't do that, for a variety of legal reasons.' "

Zuckerberg later made a cameo when Eisenberg hosted "Saturday Night Live" in 2011. The Meta CEO has condemned "The Social Network" for not being an accurate depiction of his life. "They just kind of made up a bunch of stuff that I found kind of hurtful," he said in 2014, per The Guardian.

Eisenberg declined to reprise the role in "The Social Reckoning." Speaking with Variety in June, he said he turned down the project because he's "moving in different directions in my life" and doesn't "want to be associated with that character" anymore.

'The Social Network' turns 10: The 10 most iconic lines from Facebook's cinematic origin story

Sorkin, meanwhile, told Vanity Fair he spent three days trying to convince Eisenberg to play the part, but to no avail. The screenwriter and director noted Eisenberg "simply did not want to be conflated with Mark Zuckerberg anymore" and has "his problems with the guy."

Mikey Madison and Jeremy Allen White also star in "The Social Reckoning," which focuses on whistleblower Frances Haugen's (Madison) efforts to expose internal Facebook documents.

In a previous interview with USA TODAY, Strong said he prepared to play Zuckerberg by watching "everything he's ever said and done," adding, "I take it as an enormous responsibility. He's a very important person in our world, and the film touches on essential issues and third-rail issues of our time."

"The Social Reckoning" hits theaters on Oct. 9.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What Jeremy Strong told Mark Zuckerberg about 'Social Reckoning' role

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What Jeremy Strong told Mark Zuckerberg about 'Social Reckoning' role

< strong >What strong > < strong >Jeremy strong > Strong told Mark Zuckerberg about &x27;Social Reckoning...

Messi doubts playing &x27;for much longer&x27; after father&x27;s death Field Level MediaWed, August 12, 2026 at 3:02 PM UTC 0 Soccer legend Lionel Messi doubts his playing career will last "much longer" following the recent death of his father. Jorge Messi passed away on Saturday at the age of 68 after being hospitalized during this summer&x27;s World Cup. Lionel Messi, 39, posted a statement on social media on Wednesday saying he "does not know how to carry on.

Messi doubts playing 'for much longer' after father's death

Field Level MediaWed, August 12, 2026 at 3:02 PM UTC

Soccer legend Lionel Messi doubts his playing career will last "much longer" following the recent death of his father.

Jorge Messi passed away on Saturday at the age of 68 after being hospitalized during this summer's World Cup.

Lionel Messi, 39, posted a statement on social media on Wednesday saying he "does not know how to carry on."

"All I ever did was play football, and now I have a fair few doubts as to whether I'll carry on doing it for much longer," the Inter Miami forward wrote. "You were by my side from the start, we were so close to the end (of his career). Why didn't you hang on just that little bit longer so we could finish it together?"

Messi, an eight-time Ballon d'Or winner as the world's greatest player, currently is in his fourth season with Miami. He led the team to its first MLS Cup championship and won his second straight league MVP award last season.

The Argentina native is under contract with Inter Miami through 2028, earning a reported base salary of $25 million per campaign.

Jorge Messi played a significant role in his son's development and his professional career, having served as his agent and business manager.

Here is the full text of Messi's emotional post:

"Dad, I still can't believe you're gone. I can't get my head round it -- or rather, I don't want to. It's so hard for me to imagine that I won't see you ever again, that we won't talk anymore," the Inter Miami star wrote. "I know you were suffering and that this is for the best, but you left us far too soon. We still had so much left to enjoy together.

"You kept asking me to play in the last World Cup, and it was just days before it started that you took a turn for the worse. It was the first time you weren't going to be at a tournament, but Mum kept telling me you'd get better and that you'd be well enough to travel. I'd tell you that we'd make it to the final so you could travel.

"Every time a match ended, I'd wait for your message and miss it. That's when I realized the situation was really bad. Even so, I couldn't stop thinking about getting as far as possible, to give you time to watch a match. We reached the final and you couldn't be there. I wanted to win it so I could take it to you and show you another trophy. I couldn't do it, my legs wouldn't carry me any further. This time I tried to go against my physical limits, but I couldn't. I never managed to feel right.

"When I got back, you thought we'd lost the final on penalties. We couldn't talk about any of what had happened. You couldn't enjoy any of it. We didn't win the title, but you have no idea how much we enjoyed every match. Once again, you were right: I had to be there and play.

"I'm telling you this because it was the only thing we couldn't talk about, because you already know all the rest. We spoke every day and saw each other whenever we could, depending on my commitments.

"I don't know what I'm going to do without you, I don't know how to carry on. All I ever did was play football, and now I have a fair few doubts as to whether I'll carry on doing it for much longer. You were by my side from the start, we were so close to the end (of his career). Why didn't you hang on just that little bit longer so we could finish it together?

"I know that your happiness came from seeing your family doing well -- your wife and your children, and above all, without the others finding out, watching me play ... (winking emoji)

"Ever since I was a little boy, it was always like that. You'd take me to every training session as soon as you got home from work. Mum used to take me to a lot of them because you were working.

"Of course, you never missed a single match. How you suffered watching me and how you enjoyed it, even though you never showered me with praise.

"You were a dad, a friend and a representative. You were always the person you needed to be at every moment, and you never got anything wrong. Despite the odd reproach or argument, you were always right. In the end, things always turned out as you said they would.

"I'm going to miss you so much, but you'll always be present, and above all in bringing up my children, because I'm teaching and raising them as you both did with me.

"Rest in peace and look after us from up there, just as you did here. Thank you for everything.

"I love you, dad."

--Field Level Media

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Messi doubts playing 'for much longer' after father's death

Messi doubts playing &x27;for much longer&x27; after father&x27;s death Field Level MediaWed, August 12, 2026 at 3:02 ...

Wade Boggs shocks fans — and MLB great — with shirtless photo after beating cancer Bridget Reilly Tue, August 11, 2026 at 11:10 PM UTC 2 Wade Boggs is making everyone else look bad. On Monday, the Hall of Famer shared a shirtless image of himself out on the water fishing that revealed his fit upper body. In May, Boggs revealed he has been cancer free for two years after he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in September 2024. That further amazed sports fans when seeing Boggs’ figure, including fellow Hall of Famer and threetime Cy Young winner Jim Palmer.

Wade Boggs shocks fans — and MLB great — with shirtless photo after beating cancer

Bridget Reilly Tue, August 11, 2026 at 11:10 PM UTC

Wade Boggs is making everyone else look bad.

On Monday, the Hall of Famer shared a shirtless image of himself out on the water fishing that revealed his fit upper body.

In May, Boggs revealed he has been cancer free for two years after he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in September 2024.

That further amazed sports fans when seeing Boggs’ figure, including fellow Hall of Famer and three-time Cy Young winner Jim Palmer.

“100 walks, 200 hits or more for 7 straight years and the Red Sox said you were just a singles hitter.. if you looked like that when you played.. no complaints from the front office. Hope ur well,” the Orioles great posted on X.

“Wade Boggs will drink your beer, eat your chicken, land your fish & kick your ass all before dinner time,” an X user wrote.

“I gotta be honest here. I did not expect Wade Boggs to show up on my timeline looking like an absolute unit today,” another said.

“Some good pasture raised chickens Wade,” a third said.

“I guess I’ll skip the blueberry muffin I bought for breakfast today,” someone else chimed in.

“Prob should have hit a few more homers bro. Haha,” another wrote.

An X user even asked AI chat bot Grok if the image was real.

Wade Boggs waves to fans during the 2026 Hall of Fame Parade in Cooperstown on July 25, 2026. MLB Photos via Getty Images

The account responded: “Modern AI images can be virtually indistinguishable from real ones, so definitive calls from visuals alone are tough. This was posted by Wade Boggs’ official account and matches his recent look. Looking that jacked at 68 after beating cancer is amazing.”

The 67-year-old revealed his cancer update while in Boston at Fenway Park, where he played for 11 seasons, to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the Red Sox’s first home game.

His last treatment was on Nov. 3, 2024.

“I had my checkup a month ago, and I’m completely cancer-free,” he said, per NPR.

“I’m a cancer survivor now. Prostate cancer is null and void. Thank God,” Boggs said after throwing out a first pitch before the Rays-Red Sox game.

Former Boston Red Sox infielder Wade Boggs is introduced before throwing a ceremonial first pitch recognizing the 125th anniversary of the first Red Sox home game before a game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Boston Red Sox on Friday, May 8, 2026, at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. Getty Images

Boggs was drafted by the Red Sox in 1976 out of Plant High School in Tampa, Fl.

After his years in Boston where he earned eight All-Star nods, he went on to play five years for the Yankees and was a crucial member of the 1996 World Series team that upset the Braves.

Boggs played his final two years with the Rays where he earned his 3,000th hit before retiring at 41 in 1999.

His jersey has been retired by both the Red Sox and Rays.

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Wade Boggs shocks fans — and MLB great — with shirtless photo after beating cancer

Wade Boggs shocks fans — and MLB great — with shirtless photo after beating cancer Bridget Reilly Tue, August 11, 2026 at 11...

Rosie O’Donnell Says Filming Sex Scene with Cynthia Nixon in “And Just Like That… ”Was ‘Horrifying’ Yamillah HurtadoTue, August 11, 2026 at 11:41 PM UTC 0 Cynthia Nixon and Rosie O’DonnellCredit: Craig Blankenhorn/Max Rosie O’Donnell opens up about her experience filming her And Just Like That… sex scene with longtime friend Cynthia Nixon “[It was] horrifying for me,” the comedian told Amy Poehler on the Tuesday, Aug.

Rosie O’Donnell Says Filming Sex Scene with Cynthia Nixon in “And Just Like That… ”Was ‘Horrifying’

Yamillah HurtadoTue, August 11, 2026 at 11:41 PM UTC

Cynthia Nixon and Rosie O’DonnellCredit: Craig Blankenhorn/Max -

Rosie O’Donnell opens up about her experience filming her And Just Like That… sex scene with longtime friend Cynthia Nixon

“[It was] horrifying for me,” the comedian told Amy Poehler on the Tuesday, Aug. 11 episode of the Good Hang podcast

O’Donnell guest-starred as a nun who breaks her chastity vow and loses her virginity to Nixon’s Miranda Hobbes in the first episode of the Sex and the City spinoff’s third season

Rosie O’Donnell gets candid about her experience filming her And Just Like That…sex scene with her longtime friend Cynthia Nixon.

O’Donnell, 64, guest-starred in the first episode of the third and final season of the Sex and the City spinoff series as Sister Mary, a nun who breaks her chastity vow and loses her virginity to Miranda Hobbes (Nixon), whom she meets at a lesbian bar while visiting New York City.

During her appearance on the Tuesday, Aug. 11 episode of Amy Poehler’s Good Hangpodcast, the comedian shared that the experience of filming the intimate scene with her good friend was “horrifying.”

Cynthia Nixon and Rosie O’Donnell on ‘And Just Like That...’Credit: HBO Max

“I was so nervous,” O’Donnell said. “The kissing wasn’t hard, but the laying in bed and the wanting us to act like we had just done it. I was like, ‘Uhh.’ But I’m a little immature when it comes to that.” Poehler responded, “I don’t even think that’s immature. I’ve talked to a lot of my friends who have to do intimate scenes, and it’s a skill.” O’Donnell agreed, saying, “It’s a skill. It really is.”

The former television host revealed that when she first signed on to appear alongside Nixon, 60, on And Just Like That…, she had no idea what type of scene it was. “First of all, I love her. Like, I love her. I have so much respect for her,” O’Donnell said of the Ratchedactress.

“She called me, and she’s like, ‘Ro, Michael Patrick [King] wrote you a scene, and it’s with me. Will you do it?’ I said, ‘Of course I’ll do it with you,’” she explained. “Then, I read it, and I’m in bed with just the sheets. I’m like, ‘Oh my God.’”

O’Donnell told Poehler that the only other sex scene she had filmed in her career was with the late Julian McMahon, when she guest-starred on the FX drama Nip/Tuck. “So I was nervous with Cynthia,” she noted. “And then Michael said, ‘You guys can be a little bit more.’ And I’m thinking, ‘I can’t really.’”

Rosie O’Donnell and Cynthia Nixon on ‘And Just Like That...’Credit: Gotham/GC Images

Back in June 2025, Nixon told PEOPLE that O’Donnell’s casting was years in the making.

“Michael Patrick King, who writes our show, and is one of the chief writers on our show, has been trying to write a part for Rosie every season, and it’s never quite worked out,” the actress said.

“So this time when he told me what the idea was, I thought, ‘Oh this is fantastic, and he let me text her myself and describe it and say, ‘Could we please send you this script?’ With all our fingers and toes crossed,” Nixon recalled.

— sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Nixon opened up about having O’Donnell be a part of the Sex and the City world, saying, “she is so funny in the part,” yet “so centered and so real.” She went on to say, “I think that we knew she would be hilarious, but I think we were unprepared for how moving she would be in the part, how incredibly sincere and how much she would wear her heart on her sleeve.”

Earlier on the Good Hang episode, O’Donnell shared what she loved about Nixon, saying, “She is the real deal. Period. End of subject.”

“She’s one of the best actresses that we have. She stands up for injustice wherever she sees it. She puts her money where her mouth is. She loves her children and her wife,” she continued. “I admire her greatly.”

on People

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Published: August 11, 2026 at 08:00PM on Source: PRIME TIME

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Rosie O’Donnell Says Filming Sex Scene with Cynthia Nixon in “And Just Like That… ”Was ‘Horrifying’

Rosie O’Donnell Says Filming Sex Scene with Cynthia Nixon in “And Just Like That… ”Was ‘Horrifying’ Yamillah HurtadoTue, Augus...

Jennifer Lopez Flaunts Chiseled Abs in Bra and Underwear for PinUp Inspired Shoot: ‘Leo Season’ Grace Riley Tue, August 11, 2026 at 6:48 PM UTC 0 Victor Boyko/Getty Images Jennifer Lopez is bodymaxxing. Lopez, 57, took to Instagram on Monday, August 10, to show off her chiseled abs while posing in lingerie. In the pic, she wore a satin balconette bra featuring underwire cups and thick straps. She styled the piece with matching lowrise underwear.

Jennifer Lopez Flaunts Chiseled Abs in Bra and Underwear for Pin-Up Inspired Shoot: ‘Leo Season’

Grace Riley Tue, August 11, 2026 at 6:48 PM UTC

Victor Boyko/Getty Images

Jennifer Lopez is bodymaxxing.

Lopez, 57, took to Instagram on Monday, August 10, to show off her chiseled abs while posing in lingerie. In the pic, she wore a satin balconette bra featuring underwire cups and thick straps. She styled the piece with matching low-rise underwear.

Lopez made her look even more dramatic with white kitten slingbacks adorned with black spots, a bandanna tying her hair back and black, circular sunglasses. She further accessorized with a square bag.

Elsewhere in her steamy post, Lopez shared a pic of herself wearing a white dress featuring a plunging neckline that exposed her cleavage, spaghetti straps, and delicate cutouts over her chest and skirt. Underneath, she wore black, high-cut underwear.

“Leo season continues🦁,” Lopez captioned the post. Her fans praised her in the comments section.

“Gorgeous girl 😍🔥,” one wrote, while another added, “JENN IS FIRE! 🔥✨🌹.” A third follower gushed, “QUEEN ICON LEGEND.”

Jennifer Lopez’s Sculpted Abs Steal the Spotlight While Posing for Mid-Workout Selfies

Lopez previously showed some skin in a naked dress last month during Paris Fashion Week. While attending the Celia Kritharioti Haute Couture fall/winter 2026 show, she stunned in a see-through dress featuring a daringly low-cut neckline, lace embellishments and dangling pink, green and yellow beads. The frock was finished with crystal embellishments.

The singer added even more glamor to her ensemble with a white feathered coat and pearly clutch. She tied her look together with strappy silver heels.

For glam, she donned a full beat including dewy skin, rosy cheeks and glossy lips. Her brown eyes popped with purple eyeshadow blended to her crease and long lashes. Lopez’s caramel highlighted mane was parted down the middle and styled in a bombshell blowout.

Lopez has proven to be the queen of naked dresses. In 2000, she broke the internet when she wore a Donatella Versace dress at the Grammys featuring a neckline so low it plunged to her bellybutton and an airy skirt.

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Jennifer Lopez Flaunts Chiseled Abs in Bra and Underwear for Pin-Up Inspired Shoot: ‘Leo Season’

Jennifer Lopez Flaunts Chiseled Abs in Bra and Underwear for PinUp Inspired Shoot: ‘Leo Season’ Grace Riley Tue, August 11, 2026 a...

Stephen A. Smith says there is &x27;simple&x27; solution to WNBA trans firestorm Joshua Mbu Tue, August 11, 2026 at 5:17 PM UTC 2 Stephen A. Smith has slammed the WNBA over its handling of the transgender athlete firestorm Credit:Getty ESPN sports personality Stephen A. Smith has slammed the WNBA over its handling of the ongoing transgender athlete firestorm and offered a “simple” solution to bring an end to the drama. The WNBA has spent a couple of weeks wrapped up in a trans athlete firestorm sparked by the Indiana Fever’s Sophie Cunningham.

Stephen A. Smith says there is 'simple' solution to WNBA trans firestorm

Joshua Mbu Tue, August 11, 2026 at 5:17 PM UTC

Stephen A. Smith has slammed the WNBA over its handling of the transgender athlete firestorm -Credit:Getty

ESPN sports personality Stephen A. Smith has slammed the WNBA over its handling of the ongoing transgender athlete firestorm and offered a “simple” solution to bring an end to the drama.

The WNBA has spent a couple of weeks wrapped up in a trans athlete firestorm sparked by the Indiana Fever’s Sophie Cunningham. The 29-year-old guard stated her belief in an old ESPN interview that transgender women should not be allowed to compete in women’s and girls’ sports.

Cunningham doubled down long after, sparking a visceral reaction among some and reigniting a national debate that became one of the cornerstones of President Donald Trump’s 2024 election campaign. Seattle Storm co-owner Celeste Keato was fined and suspended by the WNBA after allegedly berating two teenage girls supporting Cunningham at a game against the Fever. It comes as DiJonai Carrington said "it might happen again" while explaining the ugly Cunningham incident.

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Minnesota Lynx head coach Cheryl Reeve, a highly respected figure in women’s basketball, also thrust herself into the limelight after wearing a “Trans Kids Belong” T-shirt during her team’s game against Cunningham and the Fever. Cunningham received some significant high-profile support from President Trump’s administration, in particular.

Vice President J.D. Vance praised Cunningham for staying true to her convictions despite the broader reaction it may provoke. Two former first-round NBA Draft picks then declared for the WNBA Draft, claiming to have found a potential loophole in the league’s wording.

Enes Kanter and Royce White have both declared for the 2027 WNBA Draft, claiming eligibility for the draft process due to what they say is a lack of precision in defining what a woman is. The WNBA's collective bargaining agreement states that "only players who are women are eligible to play in the WNBA.”

Some believe that self-identification is enough. That would mean that a biological male at birth could identify as a woman. The league’s rules refuse to dig in deeper on the criteria an individual would need to meet to become eligible as a woman.

Smith insists the WNBA should follow biology -Credit:Getty Images

The WNBA will now put together a task force to discuss transgender athlete participation. Now, ESPN star Smith says there’s a “simple” solution to the WNBA’s growing political drama. Smith asserted that the WNBA should follow the biology.

“The current WNBA Collective Bargaining Agreement says only players who are women are eligible, but it does not further define women or specify criteria involving gender identity, sex assigned at birth, hormone levels, or physical characteristics,” he said on his SiriusXM show.

“It also does not say that self-identification alone automatically makes a player eligible. So because that's open for debate, it required a response from WNBA Commissioner Kathy Engelbert, who sent a memo to teams last Friday saying the issue would be discussed by a task force of team president and general managers.

“The WNBA separately defended inclusion and condemned hate while saying the union quote will not be used as political pause. Here's Stephen A talking. It's too damn late.

• Anti-trans apparel brand's sales through the roof thanks to Sophie Cunningham

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“If your rules were more finite and clear, you wouldn't have to have a meeting of team presidents and general managers. You're the commissioner, you should already know.

“We literally are living in a where there has to be a debate involving a collective bargaining agreement that explicitly states that the league is for women. Only players who are women are eligible to play in the WNBA.

“So one can easily surmise, ‘Okay, you're a woman that makes you eligible. If you're not a woman, you're not eligible.’ It's simple and plain. What's the complication?”

After the firestorm, Cunningham expressed her desire to refocus on the Fever’s 2026 WNBA campaign. However, it didn’t take long for the guard to be wrapped up in another scandal. The Chicago Sky's Carrington was assessed a flagrant 2 and ejected Saturday after a hard foul across the face and neck of Cunningham.

Sophie Cunningham and DiJonai Carrington were involved in a heated on-court incident recently -Credit:Getty Images

Carrington returned to the Sky locker room and went on social media, saying, “White privilege,” while tagging the Fever franchise.

The Sky player returned to social media on Monday to claim that people were misrepresenting what she had said, only to be accused of gaslighting because of the timing of her comments.

Fever star Caitlin Clark also received a technical in the same game, and due to an accumulation, would have missed the Fever’s next game — only for the WNBA to immediately reverse the decision following outrage and a swift review.

Meanwhile, Megyn Kelly was brutally put in her place after calling Clark a "coward."

Original Article on Source

Source: "AOL Sports"

Source: Sports

Published: August 11, 2026 at 03:27PM on Source: PRIME TIME

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