Watch Megyn Kelly ask Ted Cruz about being the 'most hated man in America'
The rising Fox News star starts off her new primetime show, The Kelly File, with a bang. It doesn't last.
Welcome to the new Fox News. Not only does Shepard Smith have a new News Deck — a TV newsroom that's finally worthy of the 21st century, as imagined by the sci-fi writers of the mid-20th century — but longtime news anchor Megyn Kelly has a new prime time program, The Kelly File. Although her 9 p.m. show is between Bill O'Reilly's O'Reilly Factor and Sean Hannity's eponymous program, Kelly says she's going to be a news anchor, not a pundit.
Monday night was the first show, and Kelly's first guest was Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas). Her first question: "What's it like to be the most hated man in America?" That's a pretty bold introduction, and Cruz, after congratulating Kelly on her new show, waded in.
Democrats "are throwing every insult they can, but the reality is most Americans don't care about politicians bickering," he said. "I don't intend to defend myself. I don't intend to reciprocate. Why? What matters is responding to the American people."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Of course, plenty of Republicans are frustrated with Cruz, too, blaming his defund-ObamaCare-or-no-budget strategy for driving the GOP into a ditch with no plan to get the party back out. And the post-shutdown polls aren't tilting in the GOP's favor.
A new Washington Post–ABC News poll shows 70 percent of Americans disapproving of how Republicans are handling the budget negotiations — 51 percent strongly so — versus 24 percent who approve. Democrats in Congress have taken a smaller hit (61 disapprove/35 approve), and Obama's numbers actually improved from last week (51/45). A new Politico poll also shows the shutdown boosting Virginia gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe (D), giving him a wide lead over Ken Cuccinelli (R).
Kelly focused on a different Politico poll, showing Cruz's own underwater favorability ratings:
Kelly asked some borderline tough questions, but while she "teased the segment by citing the blowback against the Texan within his own party," she barely touched on that with Cruz himself, says Brian Lowry at Variety. Kelly did ask if Cruz's shutdown tactic might be "costing" him and his party politically, but mostly she "seemed fairly content to let Cruz engage in another filibuster."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Much of the segment is Cruz blaming Senate Democrats for failing to pass GOP House bills to fund individual parts of the federal government, such as FEMA and the Veterans Affairs department, and for refusing to negotiate. His arguments probably won't change anyone's mind, but he did a fine job with his side's talking points.
While Americans disagree about the shutdown and the politics behind it, most of us have a soft spot for a mom and her new baby — and that's how Kelly ended her inaugural show. She thanked everyone who sent her gifts and messages after the birth of her third son, Thatcher, in July, and showed a photo of her "little guy." Watch, via Mediaite:
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Are 'judge shopping' rules a blow to Republicans?
Today's Big Question How the abortion pill case got to the Supreme Court
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Climate change is driving Indian women to choose sterilization
under the radar Faced with losing their jobs, they are making a life-altering decision
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
'A great culture will be lost if the EV brigade gets its way'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Trump, billions richer, is selling Bibles
Speed Read The former president is hawking a $60 "God Bless the USA Bible"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The debate about Biden's age and mental fitness
In Depth Some critics argue Biden is too old to run again. Does the argument have merit?
By Grayson Quay Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Rwanda plan is less a deterrent and more a bluff'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published
-
Henry Kissinger dies aged 100: a complicated legacy?
Talking Point Top US diplomat and Nobel Peace Prize winner remembered as both foreign policy genius and war criminal
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Last updated
-
Trump’s rhetoric: a shift to 'straight-up Nazi talk'
Why everyone's talking about Would-be president's sinister language is backed by an incendiary policy agenda, say commentators
By The Week UK Published
-
More covfefe: is the world ready for a second Donald Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question Republican's re-election would be a 'nightmare' scenario for Europe, Ukraine and the West
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Xi-Biden meeting: what's in it for both leaders?
Today's Big Question Two superpowers seek to stabilise relations amid global turmoil but core issues of security, trade and Taiwan remain
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published