Overview

• Tucker Carlson’s lengthy interview with Senator Ted Cruz challenged the Texas Republican on calls for regime change in Iran and accused him of lacking knowledge about the country.
• The Cruz exchange has amassed nearly 8 million views on Carlson’s X account and 2.5 million views on YouTube, outdrawing Fox News’ average primetime audience.
• Voices from Jon Stewart to Democratic Representative Ro Khanna praised Carlson’s anti-intervention stance despite long-standing ideological differences.
• President Trump labeled Carlson “kooky” even as he prepares to decide within two weeks whether to deploy U.S. forces in the Israel-Iran conflict.
• A Reuters Institute report finds 54 percent of U.S. adults now get news primarily via social media and video platforms, amplifying independent commentators like Carlson.