Tucker Carlson’s resounding smackdown of Senator Ted Cruz for parroting Democrat talking points about the so-called “insurrection” has stirred up the party’s media mouthpieces who are piling on the Texas Republican who was put on the spot by the Fox News ratings king for his flippant remark that Trump supporters were terrorists.

On Thursday, Carlson hosted Cruz and raked him over the coals for the misleading characterization that was also used by AG Merrick Garland, remarks that the senator admitted were “dumb” while walking them back in an interview that has leftists jittery over the influence that Tucker will have on GOP candidates as the all-important midterm elections draw nearer.

One talking head who wasn’t pleased about Cruz’s straying from the narrative that the chaos at the Capitol was a legitimate threat to overthrow the entire U.S. government was CNN’s Brian Stelter who bemoaned Carlson’s clout with the Republican base and what he fears will be a “Tucker Carlson primary” this year and in 2024.

During a “CNN Newsroom” segment with co-host Victor Blackwell, Stelter said, “Cruz folded like a paper airplane. I think what it shows is the Republican messaging about being tough on crime, which is something that’s gone back decades, that Cruz was trying to lean into, has come up against this denial of the Jan. 6 crime,” putting a devious spin on the GOP’s anti-crime message.