Carville Demands “Relentless” Democratic Opposition, Calls for Public to Expose “Stench” of Legislation
Following the narrow passage of President Donald Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” in the House of Representatives on Thursday, veteran Democratic strategist James Carville launched into a fierce and unreserved denunciation of the legislation, urging his party to make it the central point of their opposition through the 2026 midterm elections.
The bill, which passed by a slim 218-214 margin, saw Republican Speaker Mike Johnson successfully wrangle conservative votes, while two Republican representatives, Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania, notably crossed the aisle to vote with Democrats against the measure.
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Speaking on a Thursday episode of the “Politics War Room” podcast, Carville passionately advocated for an uncompromising Democratic stance. “We need to continue to talk about it. This has to be the rallying point of the Democratic Party from now to 2026,” Carville asserted. “We don’t need to discuss any divisions in the party. We don’t need to discuss anything. We need to have a unified, totally vigorous, totally relentless, never looking back opposition to this.” He commended Democratic representatives for their efforts thus far.
Carville implored the public to recognize what he termed the “stink” of the bill, using vivid and colorful language to convey his disdain. “Do anything you can to get this fish out in the sun so it can rot more, and people can get even a better sense of the stench that’s coming from this,” he stated, encouraging widespread public awareness of the bill’s perceived negative impacts.
His criticism extended beyond rhetoric, as Carville directly challenged Republicans who plan to champion the bill publicly. He urged Democrats to proactively counter these efforts with grassroots mobilization. “Find out where some Republican has this on the road and show up. Make your own signs,” Carville suggested, offering examples of potential protest messages such as “More veteran suicide, rural hospital closures, more forest fires. No weather service.”
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Carville highlighted the potential impact on public services, citing the Shenandoah National Park as an example. He expressed concern that the park, a popular national attraction, is “so depleted with park rangers they’re scared to death they’re going to have some emergency this summer.”
He also drew a grim picture of the bill’s potential consequences for vulnerable populations and essential services. “Just like the hospital in rural America, it may not be there,” Carville warned, adding a stark statistic: “Veterans now are committing suicides at the rate of 17.6 a day. It’ll probably go up to 25 a day.”
Carville’s language grew increasingly combative as he rallied for a strong public response. He encouraged individuals to attend Republican rallies with their families, holding signs to visually represent the bill’s alleged detrimental effects. “Let people see exactly what they’re doing,” he urged, decrying the bill as a “giant stinking turd” that Republicans are attempting to “sell.”
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He further declared, “You got to make it stink more,” and dismissed any notion of compromise from within the political establishment. “Pay no attention to the chin scratchers. Pay no attention to the institutionalists. Pay no attention to the assholes that went on morning TV and said we can work with this guy or maybe we can meet him halfway,” Carville asserted, signaling a call for unyielding opposition.
Prior to the bill’s passage, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries made a last-ditch effort to stall the legislation by utilizing a “magic minute” procedural rule, delivering a lengthy, over four-hour speech on the House floor in the early morning hours, which reportedly led some colleagues to fall asleep.
The passage of the “Big, Beautiful Bill” and Carville’s fiery reaction set the stage for what promises to be a contentious political battle leading up to the 2026 elections, with Democrats being urged to maintain a unified and relentless opposition. Sources
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