Democrats are playing with fire, warns ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, if they think embracing radical socialist policies will win elections. On his show, Smith unleashed a reality check after seeing New York City’s presumptive mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani—a democratic socialist pushing for free buses, government-run grocery stores, and a $30 minimum wage—capture attention on the left.

“America is about capitalism! America is about dollars and cents! America is about an economy, a flourishing economy, okay!?” Smith said, slamming the fantasy of “free stuff” policies that sound good in a hashtag but fail working Americans in the real world.

While Mamdani has won endorsements from figures like AOC and Bernie Sanders, Smith argued these radical proposals may energize a small segment of the far left but will alienate voters in states Democrats need to win to survive.

Polls back him up: Pew Research Center shows only 6% of Americans view socialism very positively, while a solid 60% see it negatively. Meanwhile, capitalism continues to hold majority support, signaling that Mamdani’s brand of socialism is out of touch with everyday Americans who want lower prices and secure jobs—not empty promises.

Smith’s blunt warning comes as President Trump’s team continues to hammer Democrats for creeping socialism, a strategy that has proven effective in battleground states and among swing voters. The divide within the Democratic Party—between those embracing Mamdani’s radical proposals and those pushing for economic moderation—could define the 2026 election cycle.

As the left chases the dream of government-controlled everything, voices like Smith’s serve as a reminder that Americans still believe in working for a living—and that slogans and freebie promises won’t put food on the table.

Whether Democrats listen to the warning remains to be seen, but if they ignore it, they may find out the hard way that “free stuff” comes with a political price they can’t afford to pay.