Fiery Fox News commentator Brett Cooper sidestepped the Fuentes firestorm this week, skating around any outright criticism of infamous white nationalist Nick Fuentes in a high-profile NPR interview. The fast-talking 24-year-old, now a paid contributor for Fox after her stint at the Daily Wire, took pains to insist she ‘makes up her own mind’—but when pressed, she dodged condemning Fuentes’ barrage of antisemitic and racist rhetoric. “I don’t agree with Fuentes on everything,” Cooper admitted, “but I’m not in the business of publicly shaming people one way or another.”
Cooper’s reluctance to call out Fuentes comes hot on the heels of a spat with Texas Senator Ted Cruz. Last month, she accused Cruz of “hypocrisy” after he branded Fuentes a Nazi, riling up the Republican heavyweight enough to fire back, labeling Cooper an “angry lady.” The podcaster wasn’t fazed, using her own show to tear into Cruz and highlight what she says is a changing attitude among young conservatives—a move that’s fueled Cooper’s social media dominance.
It’s been a wild ride on the right lately, after ex-Fox News firebrand Tucker Carlson rolled out the red carpet for Fuentes in a controversial chat that sent shockwaves through the MAGA world. Carlson’s cozy interview with the self-styled leader of the so-called “Groyper Army”—who recently praised Adolf Hitler as “[expletive] cool”—sparked a full-blown conservative crisis, even putting the Heritage Foundation under the microscope after the think tank’s head defended Carlson’s decision.
As the drama unfolded, Cooper took aim at Cruz’s venom but refused to join the chorus of condemnation, instead arguing that Americans have the right to hear all sides—even the most divisive. “If you tune into the Brett Cooper Show,” she declared, “I’m not echoing any senator’s wisdom or parroting party talking points. When Ted Cruz makes waves on X, I want to dissect it.”
During the NPR sitdown, Cooper also swiped at Donald Trump, voicing her disappointment over his suggestion that America needs more high-skilled immigrants because, in his view, U.S. talent falls short. “That’s the kind of line that sinks a presidency,” she said, insisting younger conservatives share her dismay. The outspoken YouTuber likewise jabbed at Trump for dismissing the cost-of-living crisis as a Democratic “hoax,” vowing her show amplifies younger voices and their real-world worries.
As the Republican establishment fractures over Fuentes—and Cruz plots a possible 2028 presidential run atop the chaos—Cooper is emerging as a wildcard, refusing to toe the line and unapologetically stoking debate. With the conservative base at war with itself, Cooper’s strategy to dodge condemnation and foster discussion ensures her name stays front and center in the ever-churning news cycle.
