didn’t Rand Paul criticize Ted Cruz’s “filibuster” because he wasn’t ever going to win or something?
Fillibuster rules require the speaking Senator to yield only for questions and Rand Paul was one of of a few Senators who rose to ask one. Its a technique designed to give the speaking senator an opportunity to rest. Lee, Rubio, & Inholfe also rose to ask questions of Cruz.
This is the first time I've seen this practice of supportive questioning characterized as "criticism".