Sports podcast host Stephen A. Smith has revealed that former US President Barack Obama telephoned him privately before the 2024 election to discuss his political influence, though Obama declined to appear on Smith's podcast. Smith made the disclosure while defending himself against a "thumbs-down" award given to him by the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) at an Atlanta gala, which he described as a "personal hit job" prompted by his earlier criticism of Joe Biden's fitness to run for re-election.

Smith said he would not disclose the contents of his call with Obama, citing a duty of trust, but claimed several prominent Democrats had contacted him privately while avoiding on-camera appearances, including Michelle Obama, Kamala Harris, Jasmine Crockett and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. He said he met Harris for two hours after she reached out following his NABJ criticism, but she did not appear on his show before the election. Smith also said he had contacted NABJ president Errin Haines to discuss the award but that the conversation went nowhere, and that neither the Obama nor Harris camps immediately responded to requests for comment.