MEDIAWATCH: Tucker vs Cruz interview is glorious

Oh sweet Jesus this is beautiful….

Tucker Carlson confronts Ted Cruz on Iran as Maga rift erupts into public view

Ted Cruz, the US senator from Texas, and conservative media personality Tucker Carlson have clashed over US military involvement in the Middle East, with the latter shouting: “You don’t know anything about Iran!” in a heated interview that exposes a sharp division within Donald Trump’s coalition as the president considers joining Israel in attacking Iran.

In the confrontation, a short excerpt released ahead of an approximately two-hour interview set to air today, Carlson – an acolyte of the Maga movement which generally argues for American isolationism from foreign wars – challenged Cruz’s knowledge of Iran, which the Republican hawk has advocated attacking.

…the spectacular ignorance of a true fuckwit like Cruz is magnificent!

Nothing cuts deeper than when your own side attacks your sides hollow lies and unchallenged pretensions, that’s why Don Brash went spastic at Matthew Hooton, the truth cuts deeper when it’s your own political wing.

Look at this madness…

“How many people live in Iran, by the way?” Carlson asked.

“I don’t know the population at all,” Cruz replied.

“You don’t know the population you seek to topple?” Carlson pressed.

When Cruz questioned why Iran’s population figures mattered – “Why is it relevant if it’s 90 million, or 80 million, or 100 million?” – Carlson pushed further, asking Cruz about the country’s ethnic composition.

“They are Persians, and predominantly Shia,” Cruz replied, before Carlson jumped in: “You don’t know anything about Iran!”

The exchange escalated when Cruz claimed the US was already conducting military operations. “We are carrying out military strikes today,” he said, only to then clarify in a follow-up that he meant American support for Israeli strikes rather than direct US action.

“You just said ‘we’ were,” Carlson responded. “This is high stakes. You’re a senator. If you’re saying the United States government is at war with Iran right now, people are listening.”

…we’ve seen this bullshit before…

…what I loved was this exchange…

While the roughly two-hour conversation posted Wednesday explored a number of topics including Iran, the war between Russia and Ukraine, and the future of Syria, the interview took a heated turn when Carlson began pressing Cruz on campaign donations from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), which Carlson accused of lobbying U.S. politicians on behalf of a foreign government. 

“That is not only not true, that is false,” Cruz said. According to OpenSecrets.org, Cruz has received more than $1.8 million from the pro-Israel lobby through 2024. 

…we forget how many Christofascist evangelical nutters surround Trump, who all believe in the book of Revelations and that literally directs the foreign policy…

After earlier stating he first ran for Congress in 2012 “with the stated intention of being the leading defender of Israel in the United States Senate,” Cruz offered a twofold explanation, rooted first in his Christian faith. “As a Christian, growing up in Sunday school, I was taught from the Bible that those who bless Israel will be blessed, and those who curse Israel will be cursed. I want to be on the blessing side of things,” he stated, an apparent reference to Genesis 12:3. 

Cruz’s biblical reference drew immediate scrutiny. “Those who bless the government of Israel?” Carlson countered.

“Those who bless Israel is what it says, it doesn’t say the government of, it says the nation of Israel,” Cruz replied. 

When Cruz struggled to pinpoint the chapter and verse, Carlson questioned his theological grounding. “You’re quoting a Bible phrase you don’t have context for, you don’t know where in the Bible it is, and that’s your theology? I’m confused … I’m a Christian, I want to know what you’re talking about,” Carlson said.

Cruz explained his support for Israel is based on the Bible. “Biblically, we are commanded to support Israel. Second — ” “Hold on,” Carlson interjected. “We’re commanded as Christians to support the government of Israel?”

When pressed whether he believes “what God was talking about in Genesis” is a “political entity that’s existed for thousands of years, though it was recreated just over 70 years ago,” Cruz replied, “Yes, but most people understand that line in Genesis to refer to the Jewish people, God’s chosen people.”

“You’re saying as a Christian, if I believe in Jesus, I have to support the modern state of Israel?” Carlson asked. “No, I’m explaining my personal motivation,” said Cruz. “Not everyone I represent is a Christian, so I don’t use my faith as the reason we should support Israel.”

…these religious apocalyptic evangelical freak shows are running America Foreign Policy and their ignorance is deeply dangerous to the rest of us.

Tucker ripping Cruz to pieces will be the best thing you see all week, watching Trump and MAGA apologists twist in the wind is beautiful.

All we have now are a carnival of lies wrapped in Evangelical rapture fantasies.

The American Midnight is upon us, and this time it has Handmaid’s Tale vibes.

Thoughts and Prayers as America launches B-2 Bombers.

 

Increasingly having independent opinion in a mainstream media environment which mostly echo one another has become more important than ever, so if you value having an independent voice – please donate here.