Overview
- Axios reports Cruz is actively laying 2028 groundwork as he escalates public criticism of Carlson over Israel, Iran and antisemitism, with new speeches and planned remarks to major Jewish groups.
- Carlson dismissed the maneuver as "hilarious" and told Axios "Good luck," underscoring the high‑profile split on the right.
- Republican Jewish Coalition CEO Matt Brooks says Cruz’s stance is drawing notice from pro‑Israel donors, as the senator builds a network through a speaker’s circuit, a planned donor retreat, and his podcast and radio show.
- Fresh polling shows Cruz in single digits and far behind Vice President J.D. Vance in hypothetical 2028 matchups, and Cruz declined to confirm a run when pressed on Fox News.
- The Fuentes episode has roiled conservative institutions including the Heritage Foundation, Vance has denounced Fuentes while staying close to Carlson, and President Trump defended Carlson’s choice of interview guests.