Stephen A. Smith’s decision to delve into political discourse recently got under the skin of Democratic strategist James Carville, who blasted the longtime ESPN host in a lengthy rant on his podcast on Thursday. And predictably, it didn’t take all that long for Smith to respond.
Carville specifically took issue with Smith’s recent complaints about the Democratic Party, telling him to stick to sports commentary while bashing his political expertise in an expletive-filled rant.
“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 on his Politicon podcast War Room. “Stephen A, are you s****ing me?”
“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. 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.”
Smith took notice of this message from Carville, responding on Friday’s edition of The Stephen A. Smith Show by outlining that he believes Carville’s arrogance is exactly why Kamala Harris lost to Donald Trump in the 2024 Presidential election.
“Sir, do you have to be so rude?” said Smith. “Dropping F-bombs and going off like that. I know that’s your nature, I understand that. But let’s just say two can do that you know. I mean, if you really wanted to get raw, ain’t nobody hiding from that. I could be that way, but my mom told me to respect my elders. And you are 80 years of age if I remember correctly. I’m trying to be respectful so I’m not gonna come at you the way you came at me. I thought that was completely unnecessary.
“I religiously say I am no political aficionado. I religiously say I don’t know politics like that. I read, I watch the news, I am a conscientious observer. But I do have to ask you a question mister James Carville, albeit rhetorically. You do know that you are talking to a voter right? Could that be one of the reasons y’all lost? Just a thought. Because you sound like one of those old curmudgeons that want things to be the way that they used to be. And you are resentful, harboring an abundance of animosity because you are not being heard. That is not Stephen A. Smith’s fault sir. That’s that damn Democratic Party that I was talking about.”
Smith has constantly teased the idea of running as a presidential candidate as of late, claiming that “something needs to be done to bring America back to where it always should have been”.
Whether you believe that this intention is real or potentially just another way to further discuss politics as a media member in the future, it is quite clear that Smith has no intention of halting his political discourse anytime soon, regardless of whether James Carville likes it or not.
About Reice Shipley
Reice Shipley is a staff writer for Comeback Media that graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Sports Media. He previously worked at Barrett Sports Media and is a fan of all things Syracuse sports.