James Carville is big mad.

And if you’ve followed politics for long enough, you know that when Carville gets mad, he doesn’t hold back. But his latest outburst—aimed at sports commentator Stephen A. Smith—says a lot less about Smith and a whole lot more about Carville himself.

Smith committed the unforgivable sin of pointing out what plenty of Americans already know: the Democratic Party lacks strong leadership, and voters aren’t connecting with the people at the top. That was enough to send Carville into a tirade, blasting Smith as someone who doesn’t “know his ass from a hole in the ground” when it comes to politics.

It was a knee-jerk, condescending response—one that perfectly encapsulates why political insiders like Carville are losing their grip on relevance. They don’t know how to handle the fact that regular Americans are paying closer attention, asking tougher questions, and refusing to be spoon-fed talking points from the political class anymore.

Smith Struck a Nerve, and Carville Knows It

Let’s be clear: Stephen A. Smith doesn’t claim to be a political expert. But that doesn’t mean he’s wrong. He’s got his finger on the pulse of the average American in a way Carville simply doesn’t. Smith talks to people outside the political bubble, people who aren’t fixated on D.C. strategy sessions or backroom negotiations. He understands something that Carville either refuses to accept or is too entrenched in the system to grasp—the Democratic Party isn’t in trouble because of "wokeness" alone, although Carville definitely believes it. It’s in trouble because its policies have hurt everyday Americans, and their leaders aren’t listening.

Carville, despite his colorful personality, has always been a relic of the Clinton-era Democratic Party—the same party that sold working-class America out on trade, cozied up to corporate elites, and then wondered why Trump’s message resonated in 2016. He’s been fighting to stay relevant ever since, trying to walk the line between being a political insider and a man of the people.

But it’s not working.

Carville has been warning Democrats about their arrogance for years, urging them to leave their Beltway echo chambers and actually talk to voters who don’t already agree with them. But when Smith made almost the exact same point, Carville didn’t take it as reinforcement—he took it as an insult. Why? Because Stephen A. Smith is resonating in a way James Carville isn’t. And for a man who built his career as the brash, truth-telling strategist who “gets it,” that’s a bitter pill to swallow.

The Political Class Is Losing Its Hold on the Conversation

Carville’s meltdown over Smith’s commentary is just another example of the political class lashing out as it loses control over the national conversation. The days when people like Carville could dictate the narrative are fading. It seems somewhat funny that for the guy responsible for "It's The Economy, Stupid" doesn't seem to recognize that the Democrats' problems in the last several years have been the economy, stupid.

Americans aren’t just listening to CNN, MSNBC, or legacy newspapers anymore—they’re tuning into podcasters, YouTubers, independent journalists, and yes, even sports commentators like Stephen A. Smith. They are listening to people who sound more like them and care about the things normal people care about.

And that’s a good thing.

I've never been one of those people who gets mad over folks from non-political backgrounds (entertainment industry, sports, etc.) weighing in on politics. I like more discourse, even if some of those folks are speaking from a place of privilege and don't realize it, or are insanely out of touch. You don’t have to agree with Smith’s entire worldview to appreciate the fact that more voices, from more backgrounds, are getting involved in the political discussion. 

The days when only career political operatives got to shape the debate are over. The public is speaking for itself, and that terrifies people like James Carville.

What Happens Next?

Does Stephen A. Smith need to become a politician? No. But should more people like him—people outside the D.C. machine—have a say in how this country is run? Absolutely. That’s what Carville really can’t stand. The political insiders who have controlled Washington for decades are seeing their influence wane, and they don’t know what to do about it.

So instead of having a real conversation, they lash out.

If Carville wants to prove that he still has something to offer, he should take his own advice: get out of Washington, talk to real people, and actually listen. Because right now, Stephen A. Smith is doing a better job at that than he is—and that’s exactly why Carville is so mad.