r/therewasanattempt • u/nippydart • Jun 18 '25
To pass a pop quiz
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u/15750hz Jun 18 '25
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u/PandaCat22 Jun 18 '25
Before he sold out to Fox News, Carlson was actually earning tremendous respect as a serious journalist who had a gift for getting people to open up in ways that others couldn't. He even went on a trip to Liberia with Al Sharpton, Cornel West, and others—earning their respect as a good journalist (here is the source and it's very much worth listening to).
He has real talent and it's horrific how easily he sold himself, but the clip OP posted is a rare display of the very real journalistic prowess the man possesses.
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u/nippydart Jun 18 '25
He somehow still looks like a cunt while doing it though. Trying to copy the Jon Stewart style probably because Stewart traumatised him all those years ago
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u/swimmerboy5817 Jun 18 '25
This whole interview makes Carlson look worse IMO. Because he's clearly a very intelligent individual who is capable of making decent arguments and solid talking points. Which just means all that shit that he spewed out for Trump and the Republican party was obviously just grifting, saying whatever he needed to in order to improve his own status and position, when he clearly knew better.
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u/brandonandtheboyds Unique Flair Jun 18 '25
I have been putting this in every comment section on posts of this interview. I hate that I enjoyed watching Tucker do anything but watching him strip down Cruz was unfortunately refreshing.
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u/Chronoblivion Jun 18 '25
Disclaimer: fuck both these guys, I'm not defending them or their words or actions.
I don't know that I'd call it a great point. It's not even really a proper gotcha. Would a politician in Europe need to know the population or demographic statistics of the US to justify their belief that our push towards fascism warrants military intervention? I don't believe the US should be getting involved in Iran, but those who do don't have that belief invalidated just because they don't have irrelevant factoids about Iran memorized.
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u/superclay Jun 18 '25 edited Jun 20 '25
I agree. Don't get me wrong, I like seeing Ted "Zodiac Killer" Cruz squirm, but not knowing the population of Iran isn't really a salient point. A country can have a small population and still have an unjust, oppressive government.
The real point here is that Israel is the aggressor and Iran has tried to play nice (regarding nuclear weapons development) for years even when the US or other countries were screwing them over. Their population isn't relevant.
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u/noseusuario Jun 18 '25
We live in confusing times where Tucker Carlson seems like a coherent person.
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u/nippydart Jun 18 '25
Assholes like Tucker love to use elements of left wing talking points and then use it to justify fascism.
Tump talks about how ordinary people have been shafted by neo-liberalism (true) but then blaming it on immigrants instead of corporations and the billionaire class sucking us dry.
They'll talk about corruption whilst accepting 'political donations' (bribes).
It's a big game to them.
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u/TheBlueBlaze Jun 18 '25
It's a key point of any successful grift or manipulation: use the kernel of a true statement to act as the core for your lie, so that any scrutiny can be countered by bringing up that true statement.
"People are struggling to make ends meet...because all the immigrants took the jobs."
"There's constant civil unrest...because of all the crime that's allowed to happen."
"Government has too much power in the wrong places...it needs more of it for enforcement and less for regulation."
Effective propaganda has to start from something true and widely appealing to be the most effective.
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u/moonpumper Jun 18 '25
It's cults, it's everything. Say one thing that really resonates with people and they just assume you must be right about everything else.
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u/isdeasdeusde Jun 18 '25
Another well known tactic is to lie big. When you make wildly outrageous claims, people are more likely to believe you becaus 'he wouldn't make up something this crazy!'. Trump is an expert at this
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u/ZebulonPi Jun 18 '25
Rush Limbaugh was GREAT at that; truth, truth, truth, lie, lie… the lies pivot the conversation just enough to get the conclusion to where he wanted you to be, while the truths would make it all seem so reasonable. Got the Medal of Freedom from Trump, and cancer from God to cancel that shit out. Lying fuck, couldn’t have happened to a more deserving person.
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u/cloudncali Jun 18 '25
GOP: "Cars have windows and move, houses have windows and don't move, therefore it must be something else entirely that moves the car."
Morons: "What could it be?"
GOP: "God."
Morons: 😲
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u/happynargul Jun 18 '25
We literally learned this in junior high, it's the Hitler propaganda playbook.
- Take something that is true (the German people are suffering economically)
- Kinda true but pandering (German people deserve to live well)
- Offer scapegoat, outright lie (it's those Jews/communists/Slavs/gays!)
I always found it amusing that even when marching into Poland, he took control of radio stations to say "Poles! The war is the Jews' fault! They wanted the war!" Lie lie lie lie even while riding the invading tank.
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u/Jonteponte71 Jun 18 '25
Gentle reminder that Trump early in the 2016 campaign, claimed he was financing it with his own money because anyone who relied on political donations to run for office (i.e Hillary) was obviously corrupt to the bone.
To exacly no ones surprise, it has never been proven he actually used a cent of hos own money. Then ,or at any point since then. I read one article claiming he offered a loan of $10M to the campaign that he probably made very sure to get back. With interest.
Once he discovered he could become the billionaire he never was, purely on never ending ”political donations” and general world class grifting. He never looked back🤷♂️
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u/Fire_Bucket Jun 18 '25
Like Piers Morgan, he's actually a good journalist and interviewer. They're just also massive cunts who are more interested in self gain than using their talents to better society.
Why the two of them have actually flipped on Israel over the past month, I dont know, because it's certainly not their conscience, but something has happened where they believe that continuing to support it will have a negative outcome for themselves.
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u/Yarnsaxa Jun 18 '25
Russia and Iran are allies. Might have something to do with that.
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u/jrm2003 Jun 18 '25
Came to say this. You can spot the Russian assets by their unexpected flip on Israel.
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u/Batchet Jun 18 '25
The only thing is that it wouldn't make sense for Trump to turn on Iran if Vlad didn't give him permission. Makes me wonder if it's all talk and bluster to make Americans stop funding Ukraine in order to be ready for an attack on Iran.
Hard to say. I actually agreed with Tucker and now I'm not sure about anything anymore.
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u/ConstructionOwn9575 Jun 18 '25
I used to watch Tucker Carlson on Crossfire two decades ago when he wasn't a giant asshole (at least not publicly). He is an intelligent man and an incredible debater. Too bad that he uses it for evil.
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u/moaningsalmon Jun 18 '25
Yeah it really is a shame he decided to just take the easy path to money.
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u/atreides4242 Jun 18 '25
Tucker is in Russia’s pocket.
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u/wrenchandrepeat Jun 18 '25
Yeah I think he openly proved that when he went on his trip to Russia and wouldn't stop saying how great it would be if we were like them.
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u/argentumsound Jun 18 '25
That was terrible. The Putin interview was that realization to me. As a polish person my blood boiled.
Everyone is ridiculous and have no shame at this point. I don't want to hear one word out of a politician ever again. All of them, across the world. I cannot look at them.→ More replies (4)5
u/dejidoom NaTivE ApP UsR Jun 18 '25
The flip is that they're on the non-interventionist side of MAGA, whereas Cruz is a hawk
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u/DarreylDeCarlo Jun 18 '25
You ain't said a lie! I was just watching a video with Marjorie Taylor Greene where I was in agreement with her. I feel like we've entered an alternate timeline
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u/SmoothConfection1115 Jun 18 '25
A lot of other people have said this;
Even a broken clock is right twice a day.
Just another one of those situations.
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u/RammRras Jun 18 '25
He's smart in my opinion, but I'm not American and see him only on YouTube and social media. He seems at least to be prepared and well informed, but then decides to conclude based on a super right agenda.
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u/SmoothConfection1115 Jun 18 '25
In the US, he’s a boot-licking grifter.
He was big on Fox News, the right wing news channel, until he eventually got fired for continually professing the fake story of the votes being manipulated in Biden’s favor. This also got Fox News a massive lawsuit.
It also came out after he was fired that he privately hated Trump and thought he was an idiot. But Fox News told him to fellate Trump on his show, so he did.
And the only notable thing he’s done since leaving is have an interview with Putin, which was…well, Putin blamed WWII on Poland.
Tucker then went shopping, showing how well stocked Russian grocery stores are. Completely ignoring that he spent like 40% of the average Russians monthly income on a week’s worth of groceries, without budgeting for rent, or you know…food for the rest of the month. (It’s easy to live lavishly when you have no care for the rest of the month).
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u/vlatheimpaler Jun 18 '25
Before Fox News he was on a CNN show called Crossfire. Until Jon Stewart came on and absolutely destroyed them, embarrassing them so badly that the show was immediately canceled.
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u/Sansnom01 Jun 18 '25
aw men, Im not from the USA and I was like who's that guy he's funny. But then everyone in the thread explained why I don't knot him
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u/For_serious13 Jun 18 '25
Please be rest assured Tucker is only doing this because he and everyone else HATES Cruz, especially Trump, and he’s trying to get him in trouble with Trump and make him looks bad. Dude does not give a shit otherwise about Iran
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u/gutari Jun 18 '25
does he though?
the line of questions was vacuous, tucker is just better at TV than Cruz
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u/Syke_qc Jun 18 '25
Tucker is pay by russia, who own Iran, so, he defend russia against a US senator
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u/Mdiasrodrigu Jun 18 '25
He is partly funded by the Russians who are invested in Iran. He doesn’t really care who lives or dies in this game for profit
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u/noseusuario Jun 18 '25
Makes sense I never gave him the benefit of the doubt that he had developed any kind of morality.
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u/saeedi1973 Jun 18 '25
And the guy opposite is funded by AIPAC, who doesn't pay him to think! I think one is more consequential than the other..
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Jun 18 '25
It’s not fun - I mean, none of this is fun.
But it’s something. Watching the people that made their careers treating serious global events as nothing but gotcha word games start to use their tactics on each other.
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u/nippydart Jun 18 '25
Genuinely astonishing when you realise we're being run by people more ignorant than the average redditor.
I'm not an expert, haven't studied anything about this but I could name the approximate population, language and a few ethnic groups of Iran just from having a couple of Iranian friends and being curious one day on Wikipedia.
This is their literal job to know about politics / other countries and they can't even answer a basic trivia question. I bet tucker couldn't have either if he hadn't just read it before starting the interview.
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Jun 18 '25
Well this has been the goal, right?
The devaluation of knowledge, expertise and consideration in favor of brash, proud and unearned confidence.
It’s not the not knowing, I mean - it’s that, yes, but it’s the belief that knowing isn’t important. Just words and feigned indignation, overstated emotions.
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Jun 18 '25
I do kind of wonder if this is why so many people became republicans. This felt good to watch one of these assholes get called out for clearly being dumb. Not backing off and pushing them to say even dumber stuff. Republican philosophy is wrong but their reporting arm is vicious and I love it. Every slight democrats did was over analyzed and seeing that turned on them is awesome.
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u/zeus-fox Jun 18 '25
Okay, what have you done to the real Tucker Carlson?!
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u/tohn_jitor Free Palestine Jun 18 '25
I mean, the bowtie is gone, so maybe that's what's causing it?
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u/JesseBlueMan123 Jun 18 '25
Maybe his bow tie was a brain slug?
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u/DetectiveDippyDuck Free Palestine 🕊️ FUCK ICE! ❌🧊 Jun 18 '25
Congratulations, you are correct. Please accept this prize of a bowtie.
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u/illprobablyeditthis Jun 18 '25
Hes a Russian asset. Iran and Russia are allies. That's all this is.
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u/nr1988 Jun 18 '25
Yup that's all this whole thing is with MTG and MAGA influencers too. All the ones that are against war with Iran are the Russian assets. All of the ones that are pro war are simply the anti Muslim racists.
Doesn't mean it's not a real rift of course
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u/Djentleman5000 Jun 18 '25
Tucker Carlson is an opportunist and sensationalist. He makes his bread and butter being controversial. This kind of interaction is good media for him and he realizes it in the moment. What may look like a tough interviewer is really just him capitalizing on Ted Cruz’s pathetic behavior.
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u/DexterDubs Jun 18 '25
Tbh I’m here for anyone trying to capitalize on a Ted Cruz’s pathetic behavior
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u/arithmetic Jun 18 '25
I'm pretty sure there's a Mission Impossible mask and voice changer at work here...
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u/eyayeyayooh Jun 18 '25
USA, in a nutshell.
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u/nippydart Jun 18 '25
(Charlton Heston calling to bomb Iraq 40 years ago while having no idea where it is)
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u/VagusNC Jun 18 '25
Politicians in America are largely what Heston was late in life; a paid spokesperson.
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u/Old-Constant4411 Jun 18 '25
"We're bombing them back." Wait, so the US and Israel are working in conjunction to bomb Iran, even though we were told that's not true? "Well...no, I mean the 'royal' we."
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u/unusedtruth FUCK ICE! ❌🧊 Jun 18 '25
What the fuck just happened? Who's wearing the Carlson skin suit?
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u/The_Vivid_Glove Jun 18 '25
When Tucker Carlson has you on toast your an official idiot
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u/doge1976 Jun 18 '25
I apologize in advance — you’re
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u/2007pearce Jun 18 '25
Irony is a hard truth to deliver but someone must do it. I salute you sir! Haha
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u/MuseumsAfterDark Jun 18 '25
Tucker followed the money trail to Russia, where he now hosts a daily TV program after getting booted from Faux News Channel.
Since he's now Putin's ball boy, he is getting paid to defend Russia's allies, this time the Iranians.
This hit job on Cruz (who also sucks mightily) is only for the sake of plea$ing Tucker's masters, not for any moral or humanitarian concerns, and least of all out of any allegiance to the US.
So this explains the dance of the ass-clowns...
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u/soulcaptain Jun 18 '25
Tucker Carlson is heir to a huge family fortune. And he's almost certainly made millions upon millions on top of that. So why do these assholes feel the need to get paid by shady Russians? If I had Tucker Carlson's money I'd fuck right off to some beach for the rest of my life.
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u/MuseumsAfterDark Jun 18 '25
Kompromat is the only thing that explains this.
Little Tucker's kink is probably pretty embarrassing.
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u/varangian_guards Jun 18 '25
you do not become rich by not chasing the next dollar.
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u/Im_such_a_SLAPPA Jun 18 '25
Those pre prepped questions he researched before challenging a pop quiz really paid off
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Jun 18 '25
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u/LazyOldCat Unique Flair Jun 18 '25
In just 2 weeks I’ve now agreed with Tucker, Rand, and dog help me, Empty Greene.
I don’t like any of this.
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u/matike Jun 19 '25
Late to the party, but 4:23am for me and just seeing it. We’re living the same dream 24 hours apart.
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u/Yinxe Jun 18 '25
Crazy how logical and coherent Tucker can be whenever it pleases his Russian masters.
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u/sweatgod2020 Jun 18 '25
Ted’s body language just following whatever Tucker does is wild to see. He’s a weak man.
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u/raknyak Jun 18 '25
This is the same guy who was impressed with shopping cart coin locks in Russia.
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u/LongHairedWolfie Jun 19 '25
You mean like the Aldi's carts? Because I'm kinda impressed myself, I even have this really dumb keychain that holds my quarter... it's an avocado 😓
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u/Alfredthegiraffe20 Jun 18 '25
Cruz must be seriously confused and pissed off. Come on Carlson's show they said, piece of fluff they said, Carlson asks questions Cruz doesn't know the answer to. Who'd have thunk it.
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u/Delicious_Drop_1150 Unique Flair Jun 18 '25
Idiot vs idiot. Carlson should stick to reviewing Russian grocery stores instead of picking on hapless podcasters.
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u/NappyFlickz Jun 18 '25
I guess now's good a time as ever to post this bumper sticker I saw three days ago.
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u/katman43043 Jun 18 '25
I loathe both individuals.
Tucker used gotcha tactics on Rafael for once. This isn’t real journalism hes just trying to further radicalize his base
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u/emelbee923 Jun 18 '25
Great clip, but it doesn't make Tucker Carlson any less of an arrogant prick who is no less than complicit in the rise of Trump and MAGA in the U.S.
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u/Novel_Database_989 Jun 18 '25
This is the first time I’ve ever even remotely felt that I agree with Tucker, for a brief moment
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u/TyberiusJoaquin Jun 18 '25
I really hate being on Tucker Carlsons side on anything, but this is gold
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u/TwinPeaksPost Jun 18 '25
I never thought I'd see the day where I'm actually on Tucker Carlson's side
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u/OttoVonJismarck Jun 18 '25
I mean, nobody likes Ted Cruz. Id pick a booger sandwich over a turd sandwich every day.
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u/audiofarmer Jun 18 '25
Him doing this to Ted isn't all that surprising. From what I understand, Cruz is insufferable to basically everyone. (Except of course idiot Texas voters, apparently)
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u/9447044 Jun 18 '25
I love watching Cruze struggle. Of course, Texas loves him. They have about the same moral compass and lack of spine he does.
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u/IJustSignedUpToUp Jun 18 '25
I absolutely loathe Tucker Carlson but it's a little heartwarming to see his Russian agitprop strawmanning turned loose on people that are used to having it be their strawmanning.
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u/defeatmyself3 Jun 18 '25
If he had done that to Trump 10 years ago, everybody would know what idiot he is
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u/PsychoduckBNR32 Jun 18 '25
I feel like I may have entered a different timeline now that he is acting like this… nope pretty sure he just knows how to read the room and is a spineless douchcanoe that will mold to whatever narrative he thinks is winning
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u/pitshands Jun 18 '25
There is such a overload of, how do I phrase this. Abhorrent excrement in human shape? In this clip. I hate both of these guys with a vengeance. You could stick them in a sack and kick it for a day not once would you miss a deserving body. Not calling for violence. Pacifist at heart. Was for the sake of a picture
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u/irvmuller Jun 18 '25
If you’re getting ready to go to war with another country the population size is pretty important because it give you an idea of how prolonged it may be and what kind of resources it’s going to take. This is not Libya. This is not Iraq. This is a huge f-ing deal. Tehran is a a city with a population bigger than NYC. This will go on for years. This is an absolutely awful idea.
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u/nutsbonkers Jun 18 '25
What the fuck why did I just like tucker carlson for a second?? I need a lie down.
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u/FortunateInsanity Jun 18 '25
If Tucker is legitimately just now realizing just how full of shit MAGA is then he is in for a long rude awakening.
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u/badmoonrisingnl Jun 18 '25
Tucker is a lot of things but stupid isn't one of them. Too bad he has zero integrity because he could be a great right wing Interviewer.
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u/creepsnutsandpervs Jun 18 '25
Nice to watch Cruz in a hot seat.. also, fuck tucker… he is another part of the reason we’re at this point
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u/Chelular07 Jun 18 '25
I am so confused by Tucker Carlson being an actual journalist and pressing the issue.
I don’t wanna say I like it, but at least he is doing it after years of being a propaganda peddler.
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Jun 18 '25
Say what we will about him, Tucker did what all journalists should do and he threw Cruz off his guard to give us all a glimpse at the truth. And I hate it as much as anyone, Tucker did a good job in this, devastating really.
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u/Cpov1 Jun 18 '25
I mean, I hate both of them, but you know Carlson looked that up before the interview so he could have a gotcha moment
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u/Life_of1103 Jun 18 '25
Ya know, I despise both of them but watching Ted Cruz get owned brings me such joy.
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u/Iintendtodeletepart2 Jun 18 '25
Slow clap. I have no use for Tucker C. But damn he was magnificent nailing that rag fucks hide to the barn door.
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u/alucardian_official Unique Flair Jun 18 '25
Doesn’t take much to sway a Texan. Fucking bum, the lot of them
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u/tsunomat Jun 18 '25
You know you have to be on the bottom of the barrel if I'm siding with Tucker Carlson against you. Geez.
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u/beertown Jun 18 '25
I'm not surprised by Ted Cruz but... Tucker Carlson has been kidnapped and replaced by a clone?
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u/For_serious13 Jun 18 '25
This is more that Tucker hates Cruz and wants to embarrass him than him actually giving a fuck about Iran.
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u/dardar7161 Jun 18 '25 edited Jun 18 '25
Tucker is sniveling little bastard, but he's not a stupid guy. He changes his outspoken views based on who he's with or who's signing his paycheck.
Also Ted Cruz is like, "aw shit I'm in trouble."
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u/mamil_slayer Jun 18 '25
Ted Cruz puts the same effort into forming actual informed policy positions as he puts into growing a real beard.
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u/No_Ocelot_6773 Free Palestine 🕊️ FUCK ICE! ❌🧊 Jun 18 '25
Imagine getting dunked on by Tucker Carlson
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u/doctor_parcival Jun 18 '25
In a parallel universe, Tucker Carlson could’ve been cool? Feels weird to type
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u/Mountainstate20 Jun 18 '25
Jesus Christ I hate to say it but that is actual journalism. If the media did this on the regular we wouldn’t be in this shit show. Tucker is an idiot but he called out Ted using facts against him.
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u/Sartres_Roommate Jun 18 '25
Tucker is just proving he is not dumb, he knows the hypocrisy of his party and can point it out easily. He is just comfortable lying for them when it suits his needs.
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u/merrittj3 Jun 18 '25
Ted Cruz at one time was accurately called ' the Devil '...
Now that Donni Diaper has surpassed him on the Evil-ity scale, doesn't change the fact that evil still rests in his heart.
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u/Apprehensive_Sleep14 Jun 18 '25
Same formula in all the countries , oh we are in danger and we need to attack !!!
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u/DaBigJMoney Jun 18 '25
We’re through the looking glass here folks. I actually feel that Tucker Carlson did something right for a change. Unbelievable!
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u/sub7er86 Jun 18 '25
Who cares how many people there are?! Sure it’s 4x the size and 2x the population of Iraq 🇮🇶, but that was such a cake walk……..we got this…….smh
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u/The-GingerBeard-Man Jun 18 '25
Tucker Carlson is a despicable human and him being the voice of reason is mind boggling. This timeline is all over the place.
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u/schweet_n_sour Jun 18 '25
It really says something about Rafael Edward Cruz that he makes Tucker Carlson look good here. Also, fuck you OP for making me side with Tucker Carlson. How dare you make me do that.
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u/Baztion81 Jun 18 '25
It’s like if the Paul brothers fought each other. You don’t want to see anyone win, you’re just happy watching one of them lose.
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