Conservative commentator Ben Shapiro has openly criticized Tucker Carlson, branding him as a major disseminator of harmful ideologies following Carlson's podcast episode with Holocaust-denier Nick Fuentes. On his own show, "The Ben Shapiro Show," Shapiro lambasted Carlson for not challenging Fuentes' openly bigoted statements during the interview.

"The issue here isn't that Tucker Carlson had Nick Fuentes on his show last week. He has every right to do that, of course," Shapiro remarked. "The issue here is that Tucker Carlson decided to normalize and fluff Nick Fuentes and that the Heritage Foundation then decided to robustly defend that performance."

Carlson, the former Fox News host known for his controversial takes, did not respond to requests for comment on Shapiro's criticisms. The interview has ignited fierce debate within the conservative community, particularly after Fuentes used the platform to praise Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin and make antisemitic comments, while Carlson criticized Republican supporters of Israel.

The reaction from conservative circles was split. The Wall Street Journal's editorial board denounced the interview, while Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts defended Carlson, suggesting that efforts to "cancel" Carlson were misguided, though he later condemned antisemitism and distanced himself from Fuentes' views.

Shapiro pushed back against the notion that opposing Fuentes equates to cancellation. "It is not cancellation to draw moral lines between viewpoints," he asserted. "In fact, we used to call that one of the key aspects of conservatism."

This controversy comes at a time when antisemitism appears to be on the rise within certain segments of the right. Shapiro, who has previously supported Republican causes and candidates, expressed concern about the influence of extremist factions within the GOP, facilitated by figures like Carlson.

"The main agent in that normalization is Tucker Carlson, who is an intellectual coward, a dishonest interlocutor, and a terrible friend," Shapiro concluded. At the recent Republican Jewish Coalition leadership summit, efforts were made to distance the GOP from Carlson's recent actions, with signs proclaiming "TUCKER IS NOT MAGA."

As the debate continues, Shapiro warns that the Republican Party risks following a dangerous path. "The left followed its radicals to electoral hell," he stated. "Apparently, many on the right wish to do the same." This internal conflict highlights a growing struggle within the party to define its values in the face of radical elements.