Ben Shapiro publicly criticized Tucker Carlson, Candace Owens and Megyn Kelly for ties to extremists and conspiratorial rhetoric, prompting dismissive personal responses. Traditional conservative gatekeepers such as Fox News have ceded ground to louder online personalities and podcasts. With Donald Trump declining to arbitrate, Senator JD Vance urged unity while trying to balance critiques of extremism and broader political messaging.
Conservative Media Wars Leave Senator JD Vance Caught in the Crossfire
During the Trump era, conspiracy theories became a potent engine for conservative media and politics. Now those same narratives are driving public feuds among prominent right-wing commentators — and pulling establishment politicians into the conflict.
Shapiro’s Broadside
Earlier this year Ben Shapiro signaled he would confront Tucker Carlson over Carlson’s flirtations with extremist figures such as Nick Fuentes, his revisionist takes on World War II, and his tendency to drop dark, suggestive hints about conspiracies. At AmericaFest on Thursday, Shapiro expanded that critique, publicly rebuking Carlson along with Candace Owens and Megyn Kelly — the latter a former friend and podcasting peer.
Dismissive, Personal Responses
The targets largely shrugged off Shapiro’s substance-heavy attack and replied with personal barbs. Carlson, who followed Shapiro onstage, dismissed him as "pompous." Kelly mocked the size of the Daily Wire’s audience, and Owens reduced the confrontation to personal insults, including a jab about Shapiro’s height.
A Shift In Conservative Influence
Where Fox News once largely steered conservative messaging, louder online personalities and podcast networks now shape the conversation. Traditional gatekeepers have less unilateral control, even as legacy outlets invest in the podcast platforms that amplify new voices.
Vance’s Tightrope
With no obvious arbiter — and Donald Trump showing little appetite for mediating internal disputes — Republican figures turned to Senator JD Vance for guidance. Speaking at the Turning Point USA (TPUSA) event in Arizona, Vance urged unity: "We have far more important work to do than canceling each other."
In a weekend interview with UnHerd, Vance sought a middle path: he briefly denounced Nick Fuentes while reiterating broader political critiques, including his objections to affirmative-action policies.
What This Means
The clash highlights how conspiracy-driven outrage, once a tool for consolidating conservative energy behind candidates, can now fragment the coalition. As online influencers jockey for attention and legacy outlets adapt, elected officials like Senator Vance face the challenge of keeping a fractious movement focused on policy goals rather than personality wars.
