Ted Cruz is trying to rebrand, mostly by being a whole lot nicer
With his state devastated from Hurricane Harvey and a re-election race on the horizon next year, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) is rethinking his brand, The New York Times reported Friday. The man who once voted against a relief measure after 2012's Hurricane Sandy is now talking about "unity," "love," and "compassion"; helping families tear drywall out of their flood-ruined homes; and standing in awe at the Coast Guard's strength:
Cruz is also trying to remake his image in the Senate, where he hasn't exactly been popular. He's "dined with colleagues from across the Senate majority" and served as "an unlikely consensus builder among hard-right and moderate Republicans" amid the effort to repeal and replace ObamaCare, the Times noted.
In perhaps his most radical venture, Cruz has taken it upon himself to organize regular bipartisan basketball games in the Senate. Cruz's chief of staff, David Polyansky, pointed out that Cruz actually has some skills on the court — at least when it comes to not needing to "chug water between games," which Polyansky said "far younger participants stagger over" to do. "Endurance of a camel," Polyansky remarked.
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.
Read more about "Ted Cruz 2.0" at The New York Times.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
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
-
6 scenic white water rafting destinations to get your heart racing
The Week Recommends Have a rip-roaring time on the water
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
Dangerous substances in Lunchables are raising concerns over children's health
In the Spotlight High levels of lead and sodium were recently found in the snack packages
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
The Week contest: Fired art
Puzzles and Quizzes
By The Week US Published
-
Puffed rice and yoga: inside the collapsed tunnel where Indian workers await rescue
Speed Read Workers trapped in collapsed tunnel are suffering from dysentery and anxiety over their rescue
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
More than 2,000 dead following massive earthquake in Morocco
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Mexico's next president will almost certainly be its 1st female president
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
North Korea's Kim to visit Putin in eastern Russia to discuss arms sales for Ukraine war, U.S. says
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Gabon's military leader sworn in following coup in latest African uprising
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published