NBA Hall of Famer and longtime TNT analyst Charles Barkley delivered a blunt critique of elements within the Democratic Party’s platform during a recent appearance on former CNN host’s titular podcast, The Chris Cuomo Project.

“Listen, I’m an independent who who’s voted Democratic most of the time. You think that I’m gonna get on TV with and kill my credibility saying every Democratic like some of these people out here talking about no ICE, no prison. So using words like socialism, like no, I don’t believe in that,” Barkley told Cuomo.

“Wait, no, no cops. I think that’s some of the stupidest I’ve ever heard. Well, what are we going to do without cops? What are we going to do without prisons? Like I’ve seen some of these politicians. I’m like this is the stupidest sh** ever.”

The NBA legend further emphasized that most of this rhetoric is coming from the Democratic Party. “And a lot of, most of them well let me take all of them have been Democrats. I think that’s some of the stupidest sh** I’ve ever heard.” he added.

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💥 Charles Barkley Says Democrats Are Spewing “Some of the Stupidest Sh*t I've Ever Heard”

“Some of these people are out here talking about no ICE, no prisons, using words like socialism. Like no, I don't believe in that … And we need you need to have ID when you go vote!” pic.twitter.com/MF3HCghL9z

— Chief Nerd (@TheChiefNerd) October 1, 2026

Barkley went on to note that he would like to see U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other immigration agents do a “better job,” but stressed that he is not in favor of open or lax border controls, a position held by many elected Democrats.

“We need immigrants in this country. They’re some of the most amazing, hardworking people in the world. But we need to get rid of the crooked immigrants. I don’t even understand,” he said.

Barkley also noted that he is in favor of voter ID requirements.

Several Democratic Party candidates in the 2020 midterm elections, including Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, Texas Senate candidate James Talrico, and a number of self-styled socialist or communist candidates in safe blue U.S. House districts, have presently or in the past endorsed policies such as calls to abolish or sharply curtail Immigration and Customs Enforcement, eliminate prisons, reduce or eliminate police presence, and embrace socialist framing.

Barkley’s comments align with his long-standing description of his politics as middle-of-the-road. He has said for years that he considers himself an independent because he rejects rigid party labels, noting that he once registered as a Republican, later as a Democrat, and has supported candidates from both sides.

He has criticized both parties for prioritizing division over solutions on issues such as crime, immigration, and economic conditions, and he has emphasized that he is not aligned with any team but wants practical results for ordinary people.

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