During Fox News’ Studio B, Shepard Smith tackled the contentious SOPA issue, which has spurred Wikipedia to shutdown on Wednesday. “If you are a content creator, and you are an artist and create something that you own, why should Google or anyone else be able to send it to someone without you being compensated for having created what they clearly want?” Smith questioned Fox Business Network’s Gerri Willis.

Fox News political contributor Ed Rollins appeared on Studio B and told host Shepard Smith he was dismissive of the controversial Donald Trump debate scheduled for December 27, and was skeptical it would even happen. “He’s played in this game, he’s talked about running, he even talked yesterday about if we don’t have a strong enough candidate next May when his contract is up he may run. I think he disqualifies himself for that. This is not a reality show. This is a serious effort to choose a presidential candidate and the media ought to be totally involved in that.”

When news broke earlier this morning that a U.S. missile had reportedly killed Anwar al-Awlaki most reporters were focused on the details (and ethical questions) surrounding the news. But by this afternoon, cable news analysts started to consider what sort of impact this story has on the word of politics. Case in point, Fox News Chris Wallace suggested to Studio B host Shep Smith that the so-called “war on terror” is a political strength for the Obama campaign, noting his administration has taken down the “two greatest threats to America.”

Saturday Night Live is back, and they commemorated it by covering “the 7th or 8th” GOP debate. Bill Hader’s Shep Smith hosted this debate, which was between Mitt Romney, Rick Perry and “six other people who’ll never be president!” Hader had some tough questons for Alec Baldwin’s Perry, who reiterated that he thinks Social Security is a Ponzi scheme, and that 10-year-old girls should be vaccinated against HPV so they can “begin a meaningful sexual relationship.”

Fifteen years ago, a new cable news channel began broadcasting among a fairly loud chorus of media skeptics. “Fledgling Fox News” was an oft-repeated refrain by the media establishment, and oddly, became a rallying cry with founding Fox News Chief Roger Ailes and his loyal support staff. Last night, I was able to attend, on behalf of Mediaite, the 15 year celebration at New York’s Chelsea Piers, and caught up with Mr. Ailes, plus on-air stalwarts like Bill O’Reilly, Shep Smith, and many others to discuss Fox News success.

In an appearance on Fox’s American Newsroom, Mediaite Managing Editor Colby Hall discussed the suggestion that last night’s terror alert was part of some media manipulation by The White House. Hall dismissed the premise as “unfair,” and also wondered why the Obama administration has turned the War on Terror into a “real political strength,” but shows no sign of running on it.

Now that an agreement appears to have been reached between both the White House and the congressional GOP on the debt crisis, the immediate focus for many in the media is to analyze the supposed agreement, and in classic over-simplified terms, declare “winners and losers” even if any such assessment is an over-simplified and cynical attempt look for eyeballs. But honest analysis is a rare and important facet in our political landscape, and to hear Fox News’ Shepard Smith reaction, there is a clear loser in this debt crisis deal: the American people.

On Fox News Channel this afternoon, Shepard Smith was completely baffled by the fact that the loudest liberal voices in America were giving President Obama a pass on his multiple wars. Juan Williams admitted there was frustration on the left with America’s constant involvement in war, but he didn’t have an explanation as to why more anti-war liberals were not furious with Obama.

This morning Sarah Palin appeared on Fox News Sunday and Chris Wallace did not hesitate to ask her about her recent version of historical events that left many a bit perplexed. Wallace said “you realized that you messed up about Paul Revere, don’t you?” Yet Palin informed Wallace, and by extension any of her critics, that in fact they were wrong to think that Revere did not also give a warning to the British.

As is often the case with breaking stories, very specific events often evolve, sometimes rather significantly, in the first few days that follow the breaking of the news. For example, the story of how U.S. commandos captured and killed al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden has been…an iterative one. Unfortunately, the variations of the stories have fueled a number of conspiracy theories and the skepticism of at least one respected news anchor: Fox News Shep Smith.

On Fox News today, Shepard Smith was getting an update from Catherine Herridge regarding new details emerging about the raid on Osama bin Laden‘s compound. Yet Shep was interested in learning whether anyone in government was challenging, or attempting to defend the legality of the operation.

Well there it is. The most respected newscaster at the most watched and dominant cable news network has weighed in on the controversy surrounding Barack Obama‘s citizenship (and legitimacy as president of the United States) and has found for the president. “Fox News can confirm the president of the United States is a citizen of the United States,” said Fox News Shep Smith, adding for dramatic effect, “Period.” Next!

Shepard Smith is eager to learn more details about the American strategy and objective in Libya and asked reporters Jennifer Griffin and Jonathan Hunt to help clue him in regarding the administration’s perspective. When both Griffin and Hunt told Shep that more information was still being learned to fill “knowledge gaps,” Shep began to get frustrated.

Filmmaker Michael Moore is angry, very angry. Appearing last night on The Rachel Maddow Show, Moore spoke passionately about the current financial strain that state and federal governments are feeling and pointed the finger at corporate fat cats and “anybody who works on Wall Street.” If this sounds like a polemical version “second verse, same as the first,” don’t be fooled. This version of Moore’s enmity to America’s wealthy came complete with hand cuffs and a demand for justice.

Earlier today we reported on Cathy Cruz Marrero, America’s latest viral video since golden voiced Ted Williams, who is considering her legal options after footage of her falling into a shopping mall fountain while texting hit it big on YouTube. This afternoon, Fox News’ Shepard Smith had on a panel to discuss the legal ramifications of her case, and good ole Shep (who at one point exclaimed “let me tell you about some YouTube sir!) could not resist calling out the absurdity of the case.

Fox News producer Sib Kaifee was in Pakistan and felt the 30 second 7.4 magnitude earthquake that occurred earlier. He described how it felt to Fox host Shepard Smith and said he “still [has] not been able to stop shaking.”

During a Fox News segment today, anchor Shep Smith tossed to a live shot of a vigil for critically wounded Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, and several seconds into it, as one mourner said “…and I say to you, Sarah Palin…” then cut to a commercial. Sarah Palin, a Fox News contributor, has come under fire in the early aftermath of this mass shooting, as some are connecting it with her “crosshairs” ad from earlier this year.

Perhaps it is no secret that Countdown host Keith Olbermann is not a fan of Fox News, but his blunt Twitter declaration that “Fox News is 100% bullshit” is worth noting, if for no other reason than that it is sure to draw some kind of response from its target. He was responding to a dissonant comparison of Fox News to liberal blog Daily Kos.

Apparently, Coundtdown fill-in host Chris Hayes didn’t get that memo, though, as he joined Rachel Maddow last week in crediting Shep Smith with helping to get the 9/11 First Responders bill passed.

Shepard Smith has definitely taken the lead in calling out the primarily Republican Senators who have, until today, appeared to block the passing of the First Responders bill that allocates additional health care resources for those individuals first on the scene on 9/11. Today the bill passed, and emotions got the best of Smith while reporting this story in a way that reminds viewers why he is among the very best in his game.

It’s a huge victory at the very last minute–the lame duck Congress delivering the 9/11 First Responders bill–and a moment in history.

On Fox News, Shepard Smith, who railed against the Republicans who blocked the bill in the face of 9/11 heroes, asking “how do they sleep” at night, was on set to report the passage this afternoon.

Rachel Maddow turned her attention toward Fox News on her program tonight to—wait, don’t grab your pitchforks just yet! It turns out that the MSNBC host comes in peace… if your name’s Shepard Smith, that is. Maddow praised Shep for the “hullabaloo” he’s been making in the name of the 9/11 First Respodners bill. She’s just thrilled that a man whose network actually matters to Republicans decided to hold Republicans accountable. “All hail Shep Smith at Fox News,” she declared. “And I’m not kidding.”

Fox News Shepard Smith has been way out ahead of the 9/11 First-Responders Bill. Last Friday, after The Daily Show dedicated most of the previous night’s program to the oddly controversial bill, Smith piled on by asking how congressional members who have held up the bill providing health care to emergency relief workers on 9/11 “sleep at night.” Yesterday he called out ever single GOP lawmaker by name who turned down a request to join him on his show. Today? It was Senator Tom Coburn who drew Shep’s ire.

Earlier today, Mediaite Managing Editor Colby Hall appeared on Fox News’ Studio B with Shepard Smith to discuss Mediaite’s Ten Worst Media Disasters of 2010, and after running down the titular list, Smith gave a boost to the site’s street cred. Not only did Smith correctly pronounce the name of our site (unlike Rush Limbaugh), but went on to observe “It’s not like you guys are always wonderful to us, but I always enjoy reading it.”

Reality isn’t always wonderful to them, either, but it is to Fox News’ credit that they aren’t afraid to acknowledge criticism, and still engage with the source of it.

Though Senator Jon Kyl remains skeptical, the Associated Press is reporting that legislators are optimistic that a bill designed to offer increased health care for 9/11 First Responders has enough support to pass before the lame-duck session ends. In a post on the Daily Kos, NY Senator Kirsten Gillibrand suggested that the GOP had been shamed into support by cutting commentary from Jon Stewart and Shepard Smith.

When it comes to the TSA and its “enhanced” security protocols, well Fox’s Shepard Smith is going into Katrina mode–well, sort of. Put it this way: he’s on fire.

You may already have seen Shep warn that “if you touch my junk, I’m going to file a lawsuit against you,” and he took his displeasure over “junk touching” pat downs directly to TSA Chief John Pistole.