If you’ve been following the media circus lately, you know the name Tucker Carlson is basically a lightning rod for chaos. It doesn't matter if you love him or can't stand the sight of his signature confused-golden-retriever face; the man moves the needle. But his latest string of interviews in early 2026 has been... weird. Even for him.
He’s not just talking to the usual suspects anymore. Honestly, the vibe has shifted from standard partisan bickering to something much more unpredictable and, frankly, aggressive toward his old allies.
The Breakup with Ron DeSantis
The big one that’s getting everyone talking is the Tucker Carlson recent interview involving the fallout with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. It’s a total 180. Remember when DeSantis was the golden boy of the Tucker show? Those days are dead and buried.
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In a sit-down with gubernatorial candidate James Fishback on January 9, 2026, Tucker basically aired out all the dirty laundry. He’s "out" on DeSantis. Why? It’s not just one thing, but two major pillars: foreign policy and what Tucker calls "controlled" leadership.
Tucker is hitting DeSantis hard on the Ukraine War. He claims the Governor flipped his script because of billionaire donors like Ken Griffin. Basically, Tucker’s narrative is that DeSantis went from calling it a "territorial dispute" to a "super important thing" just to keep the checks rolling in.
Then there’s the Israel trip. DeSantis flew to Israel to sign a Florida hate speech law, and Tucker is losing his mind over it. He’s calling it unconstitutional and a sign of "obedience" to a foreign power. It’s a massive rift in the conservative movement that most people didn't see coming two years ago.
The January 2026 Guest List
If you look at who he’s platforming right now, it’s a mix of high-level Trump administration officials and fringe conspiracy theorists. It’s a wild cocktail.
- Scott Bessent (Treasury Secretary): This was a heavy-hitter interview. They spent a massive amount of time talking about the "China Shock" and how the American worker got screwed over the last thirty years. Bessent pushed the idea that economic security is national security. It was actually one of the more "normal" episodes, focusing on tariffs, manufacturing, and why your auto loan is so expensive.
- Megyn Kelly: This aired on January 8, 2026. If you want drama, this was it. They didn't just talk shop; they went after everyone. Ben Shapiro, Mark Levin, and the ongoing mess in Venezuela. Megyn Kelly was surprisingly sharp about Trump’s actions in South America, creating a weird dynamic where two of the biggest names in right-wing media were actually debating the merits of intervention.
- Ian Carroll: This is where things get "Tucker-ish." On January 2, 2026, he hosted Carroll, a guy who has exploded onto the scene by questioning... well, everything. They spent a huge chunk of time on the 2017 Las Vegas shooting. Carroll was throwing out theories about "Jewish mobs" versus "Italian mobs" and CIA operations gone wrong.
Why This Matters Right Now
There’s a reason these interviews are sticking. Tucker is leaning into a "truth at all costs" brand that makes him look like an outsider even when he’s hosting the Treasury Secretary.
He’s playing a dangerous game. By hosting people like Ian Carroll—who has made some pretty wild claims about 9/11 and the Holocaust—he’s drawing massive fire from groups like the Combat Antisemitism Movement and even members of the Israeli Knesset. Dan Illouz, a Knesset member, literally called Tucker a "new enemy" in a speech on January 5.
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But here’s the kicker: his audience loves it. The more the "establishment" (his words) hates him, the more his subscribers on the Tucker Carlson Network (TCN) grow. He’s creating a parallel media universe where he is the gatekeeper.
The Trump Connection and the West Wing
It’s not just podcasts in a wood-paneled room anymore. On January 16, 2026, reports surfaced that Tucker was actually hosted in the West Wing.
Think about that for a second.
He’s interviewing the people running the country while simultaneously platforming people who think the government is a giant conspiracy. It’s a total paradox. One day he's talking to the guy in charge of the U.S. dollar, and the next he's nodding along to theories about Mossad operations in Nevada.
Misconceptions You Should Probably Drop
People think Tucker is just a "Trump cheerleader." That’s too simple.
He’s actually been quite critical of certain "imperialist" phases of the current administration. For instance, while Trump is out there talking about capturing Greenland or shifting gears in Venezuela, Tucker is using his platform to question the "forever war" mindset. He’s trying to hold onto the "America First" crowd that is skeptical of any military movement, even if it comes from the GOP.
Also, don't assume he’s "fading away" because he’s not on cable. The Tucker Carlson recent interview clips get more engagement on X (formerly Twitter) and TCN than most prime-time news shows. He’s successfully moved his base to a subscription model, which gives him the freedom to be as weird as he wants to be.
What’s Next for the Tucker Brand?
He's heading to Saudi Arabia soon. The Real Estate Future Forum 2026 in Riyadh is on his calendar for late January. This signals a pivot toward global "growth and investment" talk, likely tied to his interviews with people like Scott Bessent.
Expect more friction with the "old guard" of the Republican party. The war with DeSantis isn't going to end, and as the 2026 midterms approach, Tucker is clearly positioning himself as the kingmaker who decides who is "actually" conservative and who is "controlled."
Real Actionable Steps for the Curious:
- Check the Source Material: Don't just read the headlines about what he said. If you hear he "supported a conspiracy," go watch the actual 10-minute segment. He often uses "just asking questions" as a shield, and you need to see the context to understand how he's framing it.
- Watch the Guest Overlap: Keep an eye on guests like James Fishback. When Tucker brings on a "nobody" to take down a "somebody" (like DeSantis), it’s usually a signal of a larger political shift in the MAGA ecosystem.
- Follow the Money: TCN is a business. His content is designed to drive subscriptions. When he gets extra controversial, check if it coincides with a new "member-only" series launch. It usually does.
- Cross-Reference Global Reactions: The fact that international politicians (like those in the Knesset) are responding to a podcaster tells you his reach is no longer just domestic. If you're looking at his impact, you have to look at how foreign governments are reacting to his narratives.
Tucker Carlson isn't going back to Fox, and he's not slowing down. He’s becoming something else entirely: a one-man media conglomerate that is increasingly comfortable burning bridges with anyone who doesn't fit his specific, evolving vision of "the truth."
To stay ahead of these media shifts, monitor the guest lists on TCN specifically for names that aren't on the standard news circuit. Analyzing the "Economic Security" episodes versus the "Conspiracy" episodes will give you the best map of where his editorial direction is headed for the rest of 2026.