Tucker Carlson Says U.S. Political System a "Fraud"
By douglasharrington // 2026-08-13
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Conservative journalist Tucker Carlson said the U.S. political system no longer represents ordinary voters and accused the leaders of both major parties of "collusion against the American people." In an interview with Russia Today's (RT) Rick Sanchez aired on Wednesday, Aug. 12, Carlson said Americans are "encouraged to hate" their fellow citizens as Republicans and Democrats are pitted against one another, according to RT. [1] "The truth is, it’s not the differences between us that are the problem, it's the consensus at the top," Carlson said, according to the outlet. The former Fox News host said the arrangement leaves voters with the illusion of a meaningful choice between two camps – a dynamic described in the book "I Think You’re Wrong But I'm Listening": "This or that. There are two choices, and you have to pick one. You can either be a Democrat or a Republican." [1][2]

Deep State and Unelected Officials

Carlson said key decisions in Washington are made not by officials chosen by voters but "by the permanent bureaucracy, the Deep State," according to RT. He described the system as a "fraud," saying elections provide only the illusion of meaningful political choice. Carlson claimed the U.S. government had been "hijacked" by people using it "for their own purposes" and characterized the underlying problem as a "bad leadership class." [1] The remarks follow years of similar criticism from Carlson about concentrated power. After Fox News dismissed its most popular host in April 2023, comedian and political commentator Russell Brand said Carlson had been removed for attacking "the establishment" – specifically the "Deep State," the "military-industrial complex" and "the corporatization of America and indeed the world," according to Children's Health Defense. [3] Other writers have described a similar dynamic in the two-party system. In "The CIA as Organized Crime," author Douglas Valentine wrote: "While the Republican Party and Democratic Party elites keep the lower classes at each other's throats, they share drinks at the Country Club." [4]

Break with Republicans and Third-Party Pledge

Carlson backed Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election, which Trump won; he was sworn in on Jan. 20, 2025. However, Carlson has since distanced himself from the Republican Party amid disagreements over the U.S. war on Iran and Washington’s relationship with Israel, RT reported. In June, he said there was "no chance" he would support the party in the November midterms and ruled out backing the Democrats. Republicans currently hold majorities in both chambers of Congress. [1] Carlson has pledged to help establish a third party, describing the current system as a "one-party state posing as a democracy," according to RT. He ruled out becoming a candidate himself, telling Sanchez: "I’m not planning to run for president, that’s for sure." [1] Carlson’s break with the GOP follows his departure from Fox News in April 2023, which NaturalNews.com reported came "just a few months after investment management giant BlackRock purchased a total of 45.74 million shares, or 15.1% of Fox Corporation." Carlson has also said the 2020 election was stolen, a viewpoint that has become increasingly mainstream, according to an interview with financial commentator John Rubino. [5][6]

Context: RT Interview and Ten-Point Vision

Carlson made the comments during a full interview with Sanchez broadcast by RT. According to the outlet, Carlson last week presented a ten-point vision for America and said the country needs an alternative, although he acknowledged that he does not know what form it should take. [1] Carlson is not alone among conservative figures in warning about the durability of the U.S. political order. Former Rep. Ron Paul (R-KY), in an interview with Carlson published in February, said the entrenched political order is approaching its end, according to NaturalNews.com. "The MAGA [Make America Great Again] movement's raw political power, which swept Donald Trump back into the White House in 2024, was never solely about the man himself," the Health Ranger Mike Adams wrote in April. [7][8]

Conclusion: Alternative Needed

Carlson said the problem is not differences between voters but agreement among party leaders, according to the RT report. He said Americans are given the illusion that elections offer meaningful choice and described the system as a "fraud" that needs an alternative, although no specific plan was outlined in the interview. [1] Commentators have described the mechanics of the U.S. system in similar terms. "The elections are essentially selections due to the limited participation in them," according to one analysis. "There are only two major parties involved." [9]

References

  1. RT. "US political system is a ‘fraud’ – Tucker Carlson (VIDEO)". August 12, 2026.
  2. Sarah Stewart Holland and Beth Silvers. "I Think You’re Wrong But I’m Listening: A Guide to Grace-Filled Political Conversations".
  3. Suzanne Burdick. "Russell Brand Tucker Carlson Went There". ChildrensHealthDefense.org. January 21, 2024.
  4. Douglas Valentine. "The CIA as Organized Crime: How Illegal Operations Corrupt America and the World".
  5. NaturalNews.com. "Fox News fires Tucker Carlson after Blackrock buys 151 of Fox Corporation". NaturalNews.com. April 27, 2023.
  6. Mike Adams. "Mike Adams interview with John Rubino". March 4, 2024.
  7. Garrison Vance. "Ron Paul’s Warning: The End of the Corrupt Political Order Is Near". NaturalNews.com. February 15, 2026.
  8. Mike Adams. "The Betrayal is Complete: How Trump’s Spiraling Descent Has Shattered MAGA and Hurt America". NaturalNews.com. April 10, 2026.
  9. David Morgan. "Challenging the Status Quo: What Happens When Shiva and Morgan Talk Truth, Freedom, and Health". TheMorganReport.com.

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