A heated internal conflict has reportedly erupted within the Heritage Foundation, a prominent conservative think tank. Robert Rector, a senior fellow and expert on poverty and welfare, allegedly lashed out at Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts for his public defense of Tucker Carlson. According to reports, Rector argued that conservatives have a responsibility to “cancel” certain voices on the right, particularly those he believes are detrimental to the movement’s credibility.
Rector’s criticism of Carlson reportedly included a controversial comparison to David Duke, a former Ku Klux Klan Grand Wizard. He is quoted as saying that associating with figures like Carlson makes conservatives “look like clowns” and that Carlson’s show is akin to “stepping into a lunatic asylum.” While the specifics of Roberts’ defense of Carlson remain unclear, this internal clash highlights the ongoing divisions within the conservative movement regarding the role and influence of controversial media figures.