Who said it: Tucker Carlson or Rashida Tlaib?

Get The Gavel
A weekly SCOTUS explainer newsletter by columnist Kimberly Atkins Stohr.
Enter Email
Sign Up
Advertisement
The Islamic Republic of Iran? Pfffft, you don't have to worry about those guys!
It used to be that only lefty champions against islamophobia could see the Supreme Leader's chants of 'Death to America' as cries of resistance against Western colonialism. But these days, some folks on the right seem to see the bright side of the mullahs, too.
Like Matt Walsh, a conservative podcaster, culture warrior, and commentator for the Daily Wire. Walsh posted that Iran 'does not pose any credible threat to the United States,' which is an interesting take given his deep fear of immigrant labor. A regime with the goal of destroying the West has nothing on the dangers to Americans of
Advertisement
Iran does not pose any credible threat to the United States. We do not need to get involved in yet another war in the Middle East for reasons that have nothing to do with defending our own nation.
— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog)
If you're still a bit nervous that a regime that calls us the Big Satan might still be a threat after decades of dodging nuclear restraint, don't worry — there's bipartisan agreement that we're all good!
In fact, some liberal personalities think that Iran's proxies can do some good. Hyper conservative podcaster
Matt Walsh, meet hyper liberal podcaster
Hasan Piker. The left is eyeing Piker as a rising star in the war to win over young men. Problem is, Piker has a few hot takes — like the fact that Iran's terrorist proxies are a force for 'resistance.' During one of his
As far as I know, Mandela didn't kill hundreds of Americans. But hey, it's all about the resistance.
the media is already working in real time to manufacture consent for how israel is still the victim after its direct strike on iran.
— hasanabi (@hasanthehun)
Bibi Netanyahu: The enemy — on the left, and the right
Who knew Representative
Rashida Tlaib, the Democrat from Michigan, and Tucker Carlson had so much in common! Maybe on Tucker's next podcast, they could talk about how an ally that eliminated an impending nuclear threat is the real enemy.
The Israeli government bombing Iran is a dangerous escalation that could lead to regional war. War Criminal Netanyahu will do anything to maintain his grip on power. We cannot let him drag our country into a war with Iran. Our government must stop funding and supporting this…
— Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (@RepRashida)
Whatever you think of tariffs, it's clear that now is the worst possible time for the United States to participate in a military strike on Iran. We can't afford it. Thousands of Americans would die. We'd lose the war that follows. Nothing would be more destructive to our country.…
— Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson)
Fiscal restraint is IN on the left
Everyone knows that Thomas Massie, a small-government conservative representative from Kentucky, is worried about spending the American tax dollar. So is his libertarian-minded compatriot, Republican Senator Rand Paul, also of Kentucky.
Israel doesn't need US taxpayers' money for defense if it already has enough to start offensive wars.
I vote not to fund this war of aggression.
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie)
The American people overwhelming oppose our endless wars, and they voted that way when they voted for Donald Trump in 2024.
I urge President Trump to stay the course, keep putting America first, and to not join in any war between other countries.
Every American should hope and…
— Rand Paul (@RandPaul)
But did you know that the progressive squad member Ilhan Omar is also worried about your tax dollars?
Regardless of what Trump thinks, Israel knows America will do whatever they want and feels confident about their ability to get into war and have the American government back them up. Israel also knows they can always rely on getting America to protect and serve its needs.…
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN)
I certainly appreciate fiscal restraint in my lawmakers. That all comes down to prioritizing essential versus nonessential. This crew can't seem to agree on entitlement spending. But when it comes to
Advertisement
Especially as Republicans surge with working-class voters, it isn't surprising to see more right-wing voices questioning foreign entanglements.
What is surprising is just how much those voices sound like their counterparts on the left — the same people that right-wing personalities have dubbed anti-American for years. And still, figures like Tucker Carlson and Matt Walsh present themselves as true patriots, as truly America First. And they seem to think that by ignoring the rest of the world, and just focusing on domestic issues, that America will be safer.
But there's an issue with that analysis. The Islamic Republic is a regime that is built on the desire to destroy America — and it sure isn't going to ignore us.
Carine Hajjar is a Robert Novak Fellow with the Fund for American Studies.
Carine Hajjar is a Globe Opinion writer. She can be reached at

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

The Hill

20 minutes ago

• The Hill

Beijing official overseeing Hong Kong warns of persisting national security threats

HONG KONG (AP) — A top Beijing official overseeing Hong Kong affairs on Saturday warned of persisting threats in the city as a China-imposed national security law approaches its fifth anniversary, while seeking to allay concerns about the law's impact on the financial hub's openness. Speaking at a forum about the law, attended also by the city leader John Lee and other officials, Xia Baolong, the director of China's Hong Kong and Macao Work Office, said various forms of soft resistance continue to emerge in new forms and external forces have never ceased their intervention in Hong Kong. 'Hong Kong has transformed from chaos to order. But just as a tree desires stillness, the wind continues to blow,' Xia said. The Beijing and Hong Kong governments deemed the law necessary to maintain the city's stability following anti-government protests in 2019. Under the law, many leading pro-democracy activists, including Jimmy Lai, founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper, were prosecuted. Dozens of civil society groups disbanded. This month, authorities have stepped up their crackdown, including charging young activist Joshua Wong, who was already sentenced last year over a subversion case, under the law for the second time and targeting a mobile game app. Last week, China's national security authorities in Hong Kong and the city's police launched their first publicly known joint operation, raiding the homes of six people on suspicion of colluding with foreign forces to endanger national security. Critics say the political changes indicate that the Western-style civil liberties Beijing promised to keep intact when the former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997 are shrinking. But Xia said the law only targeted an extremely small number of people who severely endanger national security. He also sought to allay concerns about Hong Kong's openness and international position. He insisted that normal international exchanges do not violate Hong Kong's national security law but rather are protected by it.

USA Today

28 minutes ago

• USA Today

I'm exhausted by attempts to pretend discrimination doesn't exist in America

Mary-Frances Winters defined the term 'Black fatigue' in her book of the same name, describing it as a form of psychological and emotional exhaustion from persistent racism and microaggressions. You know what I'm tired of? The MAGA movement twisting and co-opting language used to help Americans cope with racism and turning it back on them. The latest example is "Black fatigue." In 2020, author Mary-Frances Winters defined the term in her book of the same name, describing it as a form of psychological and emotional exhaustion from persistent racism and microaggressions. This fatigue can impact one's mental and spiritual well-being, and if left unaddressed, it could also affect physical health and shorten life expectancy. Today, the term has been co-opted by the right – and even people unwittingly using it against themselves. For instance, when five girls attack a woman at the opening night of the Milwaukee Night Market, it is labeled "Black fatigue." When some boys drive recklessly in a stolen car, it is also called "Black fatigue." When a 39-year-old man is arrested in the shooting of a Milwaukee police officer, you guessed it. I reached out to Winters, 74, who said she was not surprised to learn the MAGA crowd had co-opted the term. However, she is disheartened that some are using it against their fellow African Americans. Opinion: I remember my first Juneteenth. It's more than a Black holiday. While it's understandable for people to feel frustrated and speak out when they witness something bad happen, it's important to recognize that no single group has a monopoly on bad behavior. The bigger question is why do Black people often find themselves under greater scrutiny? I believe we know the answer to that. Real 'Black fatigue' gives voice to microaggressions, systemic racism This disparity is precisely why Winters coined the term in the first place, capturing the struggles faced by the Black community in a world that is quick to pass judgment. Ironically, the movement co-opting the term is the one inflicting the pain by pretending bigotry doesn't exist by President Donald Trump's attempt to erase diversity, equity and inclusion programs. Opinion: Trump worries more about South Africa's nonexistent genocide than real US racism When Winters' book was released, America was grappling with a global pandemic and confronting systemic racism after the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who sparked nationwide protests. When she was writing the book, many expressed to Winters, the founder and CEO of The Winters Group, Inc., a 40-year-old global organization development and DEI consulting firm, that they felt exhausted by microaggressions, conveying a sense of pressure to excel at work but thought they were only making minimal progress. Think of it as constantly walking on a new carpet. Over time, you don't realize how the fibers are worn down until you compare before-and-after pictures and see how your repeated steps have diminished the carpet's beauty. That's what racism does. Since Trump took office again, Winters noted that real Black fatigue has intensified due to his rhetoric and policies, which have escalated racial tensions and eroded civil rights protections, further compounding a long history of unacknowledged, unaddressed racism and discrimination. 'He's hurting people. Just think about all the government jobs that have been eliminated," Winters said. "A lot of those employees were Black men and women who now must figure out what they want to do." MAGA uses concept to perpetuate negative, racist stereotypes There are dozens of videos online featuring people discussing the co-opted concept of Black fatigue, and to be honest, it makes me angry. It's not surprising, though, as there are even more videos and websites seemingly dedicated to showcasing the worst behaviors. Sites like and 'Ghetto Fights' often highlight instances of fighting, or just being unkind to each other. Given that our country is so hypersegregated, it's no wonder that people watch these clips and conclude this is representative. And the thing that is so tiring is how the term has been twisted so silently. Dynasty Ceasar, a local community activist who has studied race and racism, was unaware that the definition had changed. She described the issue as 'complex and sensitive,' making it difficult to grasp. 'We need to be mindful of the impact of such statements and avoid language that reinforces negative stereotypes or internalizes racism,' Ceasar said. It's important to clarify that I'm not suggesting that Black people should avoid accountability for their negative actions. What I mean is that everyone, regardless of their race, should be held accountable for their actions but should not be subjected to a different standard than anyone else. It's easy to fall into the trap and use the term incorrectly When I spoke to Winters, I had to be entirely transparent and shared with her that I had inadvertently fallen into the trap. I shared an incident I witnessed while shopping at Plato's Closet, a resale shop in Greenfield. I was about to buy some shoes when I noticed an elderly White woman with her grandson. She was purchasing a pair of sunglasses for him, and I let them skip ahead of me in line because her grandson was very antsy. While we were waiting, a Black woman was selling some shoes and seemed unhappy with what was being offered to her. When the cashier called for the next customer, the older woman accidentally bumped into her, which sparked a verbal altercation. The Black woman began cursing, expressing her frustration about people who bump into her without saying "excuse me." Although the older woman apologized, it only seemed to escalate the situation, as the woman continued to curse and insult her. After both women left the store, several employees asked what had just happened, and I felt compelled to explain the situation. After the incident, I called my cousin and mentioned that I had experienced "Black fatigue" because I felt that the woman's behavior was out of line. My cousin told me that I was misusing the term. Winters and Ceasar both agreed that racism is rarely the result of a single action; it is much more complex than that. While they did not condone the actions of the woman for shouting, Ceasar acknowledged that her outburst might have stemmed from the many times she had been ignored, overlooked as if she did not exist, or made to feel devalued. If Black fatigue can negatively impact on a person's mind, body and spirit, it can also lead to diminished emotional well-being, sometimes manifesting as outbursts to seek acknowledgment. If you find yourself using the term to express disappointment about something bad happening in the world, take a moment to consider how you express that. If your feelings are not specifically related to race, then your fatigue may not be about racial issues at all. It might be about human nature. However, if you believe that only Black people are capable of negative actions and continue to use the term in that context, it might be necessary to reflect on your own biases. That's what I'm tired of. James E. Causey is an Ideas Lab reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, where this column originally appeared. Reach him at jcausey@jrnhttps:// or follow him on X: @jecausey

Miami Herald

35 minutes ago

• Miami Herald

Large oil producers around the Persian Gulf ramp up exports

LONDON -- As fighting between Israel and Iran intensifies, the major oil producers around the Persian Gulf, including Saudi Arabia, have been racing to load tankers with exports, possibly as a hedge against future disruption. These increases are occurring despite jumps in insurance costs and shipping rates and hazards like jamming of navigation systems. Analysts say these producers are preparing for the possibility that fighting could spread to oil export installations, which have been largely spared so far, or that shipping could be disrupted through the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow passageway from the Persian Gulf through which a large portion of both oil and liquefied natural gas travel. 'They want to make sure that they reduce the risks,' said Homayoun Falakshahi, head of crude oil analysis at Kpler, a research firm. 'That means export as much as possible, as soon as possible.' Kpler estimated that Saudi Arabia's oil exports had increased 16% through mid-June from the same period in May. Other producers in the region including the United Arab Emirates and Iraq have boosted shipments around 10%, Falakshahi said. The intent appears to be to put as much oil as possible on tankers and send it out of the Persian Gulf, mostly to Asian countries such as China, which are, increasingly, the main customers for the oil producers. Although countries like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have improved their ties to Iran in recent years, having oil on tankers provides a buffer in case fighting spreads to their lifeblood industry. Even Iran, despite being the target of intense bombing by Israeli jets, appears to have managed a modest recent increase in exports, Kpler said. Because of U.S. sanctions on Iran, nearly all of its exports go to China. Prices for Brent crude, the international benchmark, have risen about 10% since June 13, when the conflict between Israel and Iran escalated. They dropped more than 3% Friday, to about $76 a barrel, after President Donald Trump said he would delay his decision on U.S. involvement for two weeks. There have been no serious disruptions to oil exports from the Gulf, but there are signs of increased concern about operating there. The number of empty tankers in the Persian Gulf ready to take on new cargoes has declined sharply, Falakshahi said, potentially indicating a future fall in exports. Marcus Baker, global head of marine and cargo at insurance broker Marsh McLennan in London, said war risk insurance for shipowners that did business in areas like the Persian Gulf had risen about 60% since the conflict started last week. Before, rates had been at modest levels. 'People are just a little bit nervous,' Baker said. Freight rates on large tankers from the Gulf to China have also risen about 50%, Kpler reported. So far, these added costs are not enough to deter shipping by themselves, Baker said, but there are increasing concerns about the welfare of ships' crews, who have been under stress from conflicts and other disruption in this decade, including monumental port delays during the pandemic. 'Crew welfare, crew safety, mental health of crew has become a big issue in the last few years,' he said. Shipping experts also report an increase in interference in the area with the satellite navigation systems used by ships to report their positions. This jamming, which has been unusually intense, is potentially dangerous because it can cause ships to appear in false locations on tracking systems and make it more difficult for owners to follow them. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Copyright 2025