Tucker Carlson Says Conservatism Exists to Defend Humans Against the Machine

Tucker Carlson said a reason to have a conservative party is to "defend human beings against the machine," as he discussed vehicle surveillance and data collection with a guest. He also pushed back on unnamed people who, he says, tell him worries about AI are a "psy-op," and on the claim that opposing surveillance in vehicles is a "liberal talking point."

He made the remarks on The Tucker Carlson Show in an episode with former Army Green Beret Mike Glover, author of the preparedness book Prepared. The two spent much of the conversation on license-plate cameras from Flock Safety, new vehicle technology and AI. The episode lands as Republicans are openly divided over whether Washington should override state AI laws.

"If there is any reason to have a conservative party, whatever you call it, Republican party or any name for it, but conservative, it's to oppose stuff like this," Carlson said. "It's to defend human beings against the machine. It's to try to preserve some measure of human autonomy."

Tucker Carlson on the 'Liberal Talking Point' Charge

Carlson brought up the charge after Glover said critics had accused him of repeating liberal arguments by attacking AI and camera surveillance. Carlson said he had heard the same thing.

"So I've had the same experience," Carlson said. "And what they're telling me is AI doomerism is a psy-op. It's all part of regulatory capture."

Carlson described the argument this way: warning about AI plays into Anthropic's "plan for global domination." In this account, AI companies scare the public to win regulations that shut out competitors. "I'm sure there's some truth in that," he said. He added that "these are legitimate concerns and people are just way up in your face about it."

Carlson did not say who had made these arguments to him, but he suggested that the people making them might be taking money from tech companies. Voicing what he would say back to them, he said: "And by the way, are you taking money from any of these tech companies? Because every freaking person I know is taking money from a tech company." He did not name anyone.

He returned to Glover's complaints about data collection in new trucks. "And so for them to tell you it's a liberal talking point to say you don't want to be spied on in your own freaking truck is like beyond belief," Carlson said.

Money on Both Sides of the AI Fight

The regulatory-capture argument Carlson described plays out in an industry fight where both sides are spending heavily. Leading the Future, a super PAC network backed by Andreessen Horowitz and OpenAI President Greg Brockman, launched with $100 million to back AI-friendly candidates. Anthropic has given a total of $40 million to Public First Action, a group that pushes for AI safeguards.

Republicans Split Over Donald Trump's AI Order

Carlson's comments on AI reflect a Republican divide that is already on the record.

President Donald Trump signed an executive order to override state AI laws. The order drew pushback from Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Utah Governor Spencer Cox and Republican state lawmakers, Time reported. Steve Bannon called it "tech bros doing upmost to turn POTUS MAGA base away from him while they line their pockets." The Senate voted 99-1 to strip a moratorium on state AI laws out of the "Big Beautiful Bill," Time reported.

What Polling Shows About AI Concern

Concern about AI crosses party lines, though the partisan pattern has changed. A Pew Research Center survey conducted June 22-28 found that 52 percent of U.S. adults are more concerned than excited about AI's growing use in daily life. The share was 56 percent among Democrats and 49 percent among Republicans. Republican concern has fallen 10 points since 2023, while Democratic concern has risen 10 points.

Support for regulation is broader. A Gallup survey conducted April 25 to May 5, 2025, found that 88 percent of Democrats and 79 percent of Republicans and independents favor keeping rules for AI safety and data security, even if that slows development.

What Happens Next

The Trump administration's push to override state AI laws faces resistance from Republican governors. How far Carlson's view that conservatism should oppose "the machine" spreads through the party's voters and candidates is still an open question.