Posted on 06/19/2025 9:17:03 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
For political junkies who cut their teeth on “60 Minutes,” “Meet the Press,” CNN, and Fox News, longform podcasts were a godsend. Finally freed of commercial restraints and surface-level superficialities, longform podcasts took you beyond the talking points, treating audiences to a deep dive of a topic’s intricacies. Even when the podcast host had limited knowledge of the subject matter (Joe Rogan, I’m looking at you), the benefit of the longform platform was that it facilitated an open-ended, free-floating conversation where both sides learned more about the other.
But there was an important catch: It only worked when both sides were acting in good faith. You had to really, truly care about what they say. More than anything else, that’s the secret to Joe Rogan’s phenomenal success: He’s genuinely curious about his guests.
He doesn’t invite them on to mock them or belittle them. He’s not trying to settle stupid feuds, score points, or play a political game of “gotcha.” Instead, Rogan respects his guests and wants to learn more.
That sure wasn’t Tucker Carlson’s approach during his astonishingly mean-spirited interview with Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.). The ex-Fox News host had absolutely no interest in hearing Cruz’s opinions or to better understand his (and President Trump’s) position on Israel, Iran, or anything else. His purpose wasn’t to have a grown-up conversation about grown-up issues, but to mock and belittle Ted Cruz so the video “goes viral”:
Ted Cruz tried his best to be conciliatory: He warmly welcomed Tucker Carlson (the interview was filmed in Cruz’s Senate office).
(Excerpt) Read more at pjmedia.com ...
Cruz is usually better at pithy replies than he did against the idiot Tucker.
It’s all for show. Can’t understand how anyone can get into it as if it’s spectator sport.
Carlson has cut his own throat here and demolished any credibility he may have had remaining. In the very first 5 minutes he claimed the US was trying to assassinate Maduro. He did the old leftist trick of putting such a “fact” into a question. It didn’t work - Cruz called him on it.
What an ass.
Settin’ up a rematch.
Everybody makes mistakes. It would behoove Tucker to recognize that his performance was a mistake, repent from it, and having made the necessary soul changes, move forward again. Tucker has been an asset to MAGA conservativism, and can continue to be — the choice is his.
Good for Tucker to post the entire interview.
As for “America First,” it implies something else is second. Otherwise, it would be “America Only.” So, who is second? It would be our long-time allies and trade partners, a list of countries that should gradually expand over time. Certain people say the hell with our long-time allies and trade partners. They’re either isolationists (and America Only, not America First) or Putinists. (I think those are the choices.)
Our long-term interest is in expanding our allies and trade partners so that, one day, the entire world will be or will practically be pacified. We aren’t there. Not even close. But, we’re closer to there than during WWII (when we’re in a desperate situation) or during the Cold War (when there was rough parity between us and the Warsaw Pact).
Yes, Ronald Reagan pursued “peace through strength,” meaning a policy by which we win and the communists lose the Cold War. But, more than that, he pursued nuclear disarmament and the spread of democracy. He did these things while being circumspect of the limits of what we could actually do in any given short-run. He was pragmatic as well as idealistic.
Now, what is the best way to get Russia or China or Iran to shift from being belligerent countries to being friendly countries? First, it might not be possible at this time. By being overwhelming strong, we can simply wait until an opportunity comes along. Second, it probably involves economics and diplomacy, rather than the use of force. Third, if the use of force is indicated, better we’re talking Grenada than we’re talking Iraq.
While we have never actually lost the shooting part of a war, it is difficult and maybe impossible for a democratic country to maintain the commitment needed for a prolonged occupation.
What is our (U.S.) goal in Iran? I’m quoting Trump, our (U.S.) goal is no Iranian nukes. Trump made a great proposal. Iran and the Sunni Arab countries both would get fuel from international sources, neither able to enrich uranium.
Cruz really came unprepared. It was embarrassing his lack of knowledge. But both acted like toddlers.
He's defending MADURO now? Sheesh. All of Iran's terror proxies are Tucker's new allies. What a POS.
I wish Rush Limbaugh were still alive!
Tucker needs to apply to be a member of The View.
He’s acting more and more like them.
Just needs a sex-change operation. Should consult the former Bruce Jenner about how to go about it.
“””This was a bad-faith interview.
And that’s the PR lesson for Republicans: Tucker Carlson isn’t interested in what you have to say. If you accept an invitation to be on his show, don’t expect to be treated respectfully. Don’t expect it’ll be an honest, open exchange of ideas.””””
Tucker is about to be (or has been) ‘unfriended’ by the GOP.
“[Rogan’s] genuinely curious about his guests.”
And?
He also uses language that makes me turn off the podcast.
Tucker isn’t Rogan
Why all this defense of Cruz. Cruz is nasty, lacking in charisma. No sense of humor. Hides bebhind those willing to throw criticism of Tucker
Tucker is an interviewer. Cruz is a public servant. Tucker fires off questions. Cruz was unprepared. He is unprepared
The congress decides on wars. If Cruz doesn’t know anything about Iran, their population, their leadership, what’s he basing his decision-making on?
I’m glad Carlson is doing the job of getting these conservative in name only Trump hating high powered senators to show us what real dolts they are
Cruz is talking to his constituents via Tucker
I’m a Texan. I’m not any more impressed with him than I was when he picked a fight with Trump
Or when he skipped town leaving us behind freezing with no electricity.
He’s tone deaf
What is with people defending him
He lost me a long time ago pushing for h1b
So, when Ted Cruz runs again, you’re voting for the Democrat who runs against him? Or are you sitting it out?
Neither of them are qualified for the job they want.
RE: Neither of them are qualified for the job they want.
Ted Cruz or JD Vance or Marco Rubio?
These are some of the folks I see in 2028
That wasn’t an interview it was a debate. And there is certainly a place for debates but the guest should be advised he’s walking into a debate and be informed what the topic will be. Whether that happened with Cruz I don’t know.
I have watched some of the interview, Carlson won’t recover from this, it looks like he has decided to focus on a niche audience, which of course can still be very profitable and they tend to be loyal to shows that entertain them and keep feeding them red meat and conspiracies mixed with some space aliens, super health discoveries, and such.
It is an interviewer with a public servant
A debate is between two people of equal stature and professional
Tucker is not living on tax payers money as Cruz is. Cruz must be informed on the country he is going to tell the president to go to war against, on our behalf
History ninth grade level
That is all
What is this defense of Cruz all about
He won’t get it.
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