Scoop: Tucker Carlson lashes out at GOP campaign chief in irate private call
An irate Tucker Carlson phoned Rep. Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), chairman of the House Republican campaign committee, with an ultimatum on Friday:
Either reveal which staff member took a swipe at Carlson's son, a Capitol Hill aide, in an article about internal House GOP politicking — or the Fox host would assume Emmer himself was to blame for the quote.
Why it matters: Just two weeks before the midterms, the chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee — who is headed into a high-stakes leadership race if House Republicans win the majority — finds himself on the wrong side of the nation's most powerful right-wing TV host.
The inside drama illuminates the high stakes, divisions and power jockeying already under way as the GOP seeks to retake power.
Emmer also now finds himself under attack from two MAGA celebrities: Donald Trump Jr. and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.).
The backstory: The source of the Fox News host's anger was a Daily Beast article, published early Friday, detailing the already vicious backroom jousting over leadership slots in a potential House Republican majority.
Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) — who employs Carlson's son, Buckley Carlson, 25, as communications director — is expected to face off against Emmer for House Republican whip, which would be the majority party's No. 3 leadership position.
The Daily Beast quoted an anonymous "GOP strategist" as saying of Banks: "Deep down, he dies to be liked by the Establishment. He hires Tucker Carlson's son, a 24-year-old kid, to be his communications director."
The intrigue: According to four sources briefed on their Friday morning phone call, Carlson told Emmer he needed to name the staffer who brought up Buckley Carlson — or Carlson would have no other choice but to blame Emmer himself.
Emmer repeatedly asserted to Carlson that his office had nothing to do with the background quote about Carlson's son.
Carlson was unpersuaded. He made clear to Emmer that he now had a personal problem with him.
Behind the scenes: In an effort to pacify Carlson, Emmer worked to distance his office from the quote — and even to shift blame to another member of leadership's staff, according to two sources familiar with his private comments.
Carlson does not believe this and still blames Emmer for the story.
NRCC communications director Michael McAdams told Axios in a statement: "Chairman Emmer and his staff have never attacked any other members' staff. Period. These baseless accusations are meant to distract and divide Republicans. Our focus is on retaking the majority and firing Nancy Pelosi."
