When was this published?

This article was first published on July 22, 2026 by Waco Tribune-Herald and curated for The Waco readers.

Who reported this story?

This story was reported by Mark Giannotto USA Today at Waco Tribune-Herald.

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See more local coverage from The Waco, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs.

Stephen A. Smith weighs in on ESPN layoffs: 'Those days are long gone'

Summary by The Waco Editorial Desk · Based on reporting by Mark Giannotto USA Today, Waco Tribune-Herald · July 22, 2026 · 1 min read

"This ain’t the days when ESPN could just hire and hire and hire some more, without having to let go or lay off anybody. Those days are long gone."

Why this matters in The Waco

The recent comments from Stephen A. Smith on ESPN layoffs resonate with the economic realities faced by many Waco businesses. As the local job market continues to evolve, companies in McLennan County are also being forced to reevaluate their staffing needs and make tough decisions to stay afloat. The days of unchecked growth and hiring are indeed behind us, and Waco's business community is not immune to the national trends of streamlining and cost-cutting. As our local economy navigates these challenges, it will be crucial for city government and business leaders to work together to support affected workers and foster an environment that encourages innovation and job creation. By doing so, Waco can position itself for long-term stability and growth, even in the face of uncertainty.

About this story

Original reporting by Waco Tribune-Herald. The Waco surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page.

For the complete original report, visit Waco Tribune-Herald. Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom.

Category: local · Published: July 22, 2026 · Source: Waco Tribune-Herald · Reading time: 1 min

Summary created by	The Waco Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed
Original reporting	Mark Giannotto USA Today, Waco Tribune-Herald
Original story	Read at the source
Source published	Jul 22, 2026
Indexed here	Jul 23, 2026
AI assistance	Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text
Prepublication human review	No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples

Stephen A. Smith weighs in on ESPN layoffs: 'Those days are long gone'

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