Stephen A. Smith may not eventually run for President as a Democrat in 2028. But right now he is following the path of current POTUS Donald Trump in sucking up all the oxygen from everybody else. And it seems to have got under the skin of political stalwarts like Democratic strategist James Carville.
Smith has dabbled in politics for years, but thanks to his podcast and his many cable news appearances, he’s been going full steam ahead ever since the most recent election cycle. And what started as a joke has now become a serious conversation as Stephen A. has delighted in toying with the idea of a presidential run.
Sure, it seems like every day Stephen A. Smith’s opinion changes on the subject, but it’s accomplishing his most important objective in the moment – staying in the news.
And now there’s enough momentum to draw takes from the political class, like longtime commentator James Carville.
On his Politicon podcast, Carville shared that he was not amused with Stephen A.’s digs at the Democratic party and how he may have to use his star power to save them from irrelevance in profane rant.
James Carville tells Stephen A Smith to ‘STFU’ about politics:
James Carville: “When it comes to politics he don’t know his ass from a hole in the ground. He’s on there running his goddamn mouth about how he may have to run as a Democrat, because there’s nothing left in the… pic.twitter.com/Y4YkE7J5FJ— Eric Abbenante (@EricAbbenante) February 19, 2025
“When it comes to politics he don’t know his ass from a hole in the ground. He’s on there running his g**damn mouth about how he may have to run as a Democrat, because there’s nothing left in the Democrat party, there’s no talent,” Carville said. “Stephen A, are you s****ing me?”
Carville focused some of his attacks on Smith by invoking the names of Pennsylania Governor Josh Shapiro and Maryland Governor Wes Moore and how they are friends of Smith who could be his potential competitors in a Democratic primary. He urged Smith to actually run some of his political ideas by them since they actually have a chance of stepping up, but to ultimately stay in his lane so the ESPN analyst doesn’t make “a fool of yourself anymore.”
“Before you start running your f***ing mouth off, about politics, a topic of which you really don’t know anything about, you ought to sit back and think about it and call some people and run it by them. But don’t let your political stupidity stand in the way of your outspoken, and I think insightful views, when it comes to American sports, which I think you are an expert at,” Carville continued.
“The last thing they’re thinking is, if I decide that I want to take the next step in American politics, I’m going to be facing some brutal, brutal opposition. And they both know that. And they know it deep down and they know it well. So Stephen A., keep up your s*** on sports, I enjoy it, I like it, but don’t make a fool of yourself anymore talking about politics.”
Those are some strong words from Carville and the political equivalent of Clint Eastwood saying “get off my lawn.”
Of course, given the recent success of the Democratic party and state of their brand with the American voting population, maybe James Carville’s condemnation is actually the biggest endorsement Stephen A. Smith could get right now.
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