Ksenija PAVLOVIC MCATEER: Tucker has crossed the Rubicon; it may be too deep, even for him

Things have changed.

The world is unraveling at a worrisome speed, and Biden’s tenure in the election year is facing not only a domestic challenge at the border but also a geopolitical one from Ukraine to the Middle East. In the Red Sea, Houthis do not seem to be backing down as more attacks on US and UK ships are reported each day.

Biden, old-school as he is, knows that America has a big problem at the southern border. You may be surprised to hear his House leader, Hakeem Jeffries, say that the immigration system is “broken,” but he’s a straight shooter.

The issue is, Republicans believe they are the ones holding the claim on the border issues. First, because Trump wanted to build the wall and second, he had cages and a cruel family separation policy he nonchalantly brushed off as mere continuations of Obama-era practices but without receiving as many headlines.

House Republicans know that they have one shot at the presidency, and they do not seem willing to budge on the border deal. While many Democrats thought Speaker Johnson, in his tailored suit and polished look, would be an easy-to-get-along replacement for Kevin McCarthy, the Louisiana Republican has been shown anything but. He said that the Senate border deal will be “dead on arrival,” and he stood his ground. The Republican leadership in the House has rejected the bill, leaving President Biden in the cold. So frostbitten that the President had to go to the State Dining Room on Tuesday to address the nation so the voters can point the finger of blame squarely at the Republicans, if they succeed in torpedoing the bill.

As Trump is about to cement his GOP nomination, Republicans are only expected to take a much stronger hardline, but the problem they have is that their candidate has been ruled “not immune” from prosecution.

Enter the Supreme Court, faced with an unprecedented and historic decision. Now, who would want to take such responsibility on itself is another question. Should SCOTUS uphold Trump’s claim to presidential immunity, paving his way to reclaim the presidency and potentially having him instigate right-wing authoritarian measures, history will not look kindly upon those judges.

But if the majority-Conservative Supreme Court sees Trump as the only ticket to the next four years in government, they may as well rule in Trump’s favor.

Meanwhile, Biden displays telltale signs of weariness, his fatigue palpable as he mistakenly recounts a meeting with the long-deceased French President Mitterrand, conflating him with Macron. Despite this lapse, Biden managed to recollect the content of the G20 summit conversation accurately. Campaigning with vigor in his late years poses a formidable challenge, yet Trump’s own gaffes, like mistaking Nikki Haley for Pelosi, underscore the age-related concerns surrounding both presidential candidates.

In the ever-complex web of domestic and global politics, the media typically assumes a pivotal role, yet Tucker Carlson is coming in hot to disrupt the official narratives.

He embarked on a vouyage to Moscow to interview Putin. Carlson is probably the only Western journalist who can come into Russia and be greeted as a celebrity and not get worried about being arrested on espionage charges. Tucker, whatever he is in search of, seems a bit out of his depth to be seated in front of Putin, who knows that Tucker’s platform will serve whatever the Russian leader wants. He can speak pretty much unchecked. Tucker is no expert on foreign policy and has little to no knowledge on any other politics than domestic ones. Shallow waters to interview Putin, the man who has been on global stage since 1999.

Tucker’s influence over the US electorate should not be underestimated, and while the 2016 election could have been lost due to Russian meddling and fake news printed out on a computer screen out of North Macedonia to damage Clinton, the 2024 can be influenced just by the power of the American journalist who was fired from FOX to be marginalized, yet he emerged with his own network.

Tucker alters the dynamics of information access, wielding a platform that reaches tens of millions with Elon Musk having his back on X. Going after him on American soil would be difficult given that the First Amendment protects him and he works for himself. But that he uploaded a pre-recorded video message on why he is doing the interview with Putin hints at a strategic awareness.

Tucker knows what he has gotten himself into. Even for Tucker, his pilgrimage to Moscow may prove to be more than he bargained for. Deep waters wash the shore.