Overview

• Republican leaders are at odds over U.S. support for Israeli strikes on Iran following a public clash between Senator Ted Cruz and commentator Tucker Carlson.
• Carlson used a viral clip to question Cruz’s grasp of Iranian demographics and to advocate for an isolationist policy.
• Cruz asserted a stance as a 'non-interventionist hawk,' backing strong deterrence and assistance for Israel without deploying U.S. ground forces.
• President Trump intervened to reconcile the factions, calling both Cruz and Carlson 'nice guys'; he encouraged unity within the party.
• Israel’s air raids last week on Iranian nuclear sites killed senior officers and scientists, driving the debate over potential U.S. military action.