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Carville torches Democratic socialists as 'pack of fools,' praises AOC's political evolution

James Carville dismissed the Democratic Socialists of America as a "pack of fools" while praising Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's political growth.

Published August 18, 2026, 10:30 PM
Updated August 18, 2026, 10:43 PM498
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Carville torches Democratic socialists as 'pack of fools,' praises AOC's political evolution

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James Carville took aim at the Democratic Party's socialist flank Monday, dismissing members of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) as a "pack of fools" amid ongoing debates over the party's future.

"They're a bunch of silly people," the longtime Democratic strategist told "Jesse Watters Primetime."

"Those DSA people, they are a pack of fools. No one pays attention to them."

JAMES CARVILLE WORRIES ABOUT THE 'END OF THE TWO-PARTY SYSTEM' AS DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS GAIN POPULARITY

James Carville speaking onstage at the SCAD Savannah Film Festival

James Carville speaks onstage during the Carville: Winning is Everything, Stupid! Q&A at the 27th SCAD Savannah Film Festival in Savannah, Ga., on Oct. 31, 2024. (Cindy Ord/Getty Images for SCAD)

Carville brushed aside concerns that communists could be "taking over" his party, arguing that the ascendant far-left faction ultimately won't "do anything."

Carville also predicted Democrats will win both chambers of Congress in November's midterms.

He also praised "Squad" Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., a potential 2028 presidential contender, saying she has evolved since her election to Congress in 2018.

"I do think she's very talented. She's certainly to the left of me, but you know what she's doing? What I think good politicians do, she's growing into the job," he told Watters.

ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ SHRUGS OFF PAST 'DEFUND THE POLICE' COMMENTS, JOKING 'WOKE 1 WAS CRAZY'

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 01: Members of the Democratic Socialists of America gather outside of a Trump owned building on May Day on May

Members of the Democratic Socialists of America gather outside of a Trump-owned building on May Day on May 1, 2019 in New York City. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images North America)

"She's not the same person she was when she was elected in 2018, and when people change a position from what I think is a more naive position to a more realistic position, I'm going to praise them."

Carville's remarks come as Democrats debate the influence of the party's progressive flank and which wing will shape its future heading into the midterms and, eventually, the 2028 presidential race.

Ocasio-Cortez has increasingly found herself at the center of that conversation, while other progressive candidates have won high-profile Democratic primaries around the country. The Democratic Socialists of America, meanwhile, has sought to expand its footprint in elected office as other Democrats debate how to respond to the movement's electoral gains.

Carville isn't concerned, however, and argued that Democrats have a deep bench of political talent.

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"There's so much talent in this party people are gonna be blown away after we get past '26 and start running [people]... and the people that we're talking about [progressives] are not going to do anything," he said.

Taylor Penley is an associate editor for Fox News Digital and contributor to FOX Business and Fox Nation who covers media, culture and Flash

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