By Trendsetter Tribune 
A complex web of media policy and future political ambitions has emerged this week as Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) prepares to lead a high-stakes Senate hearing. At the center is a reported alliance with Newsmax CEO Chris Ruddy, a looming media merger, and a fundamental disagreement with President Donald Trump over the future of broadcast news.
The “Newsmax Primary” Rumors
Rumors are swirling about a strategic pact between Cruz and Ruddy ahead of the 2028 presidential race.
- The Allegation: Sources reported to the Daily Mail that Cruz told donors Ruddy would use Newsmax’s influential platform to secure him the 2028 GOP nomination.
- The Denial: Cruz’s spokesperson, Macarena Martinez, vehemently dismissed the reports as “obvious lies” from anonymous sources.
- The Context: Ruddy has recently increased his pro-Trump signaling—placing the President and First Lady on Newsmax Magazine covers—but observers suggest his alignment with Cruz on media policy is a separate, more calculated long-term move.
Tomorrow’s Hearing: The “39% Cap” Cage Match
On Tuesday, February 10, 2026, Cruz will chair a Senate Commerce Committee hearing titled “We Interrupt This Program: Media Ownership in the Digital Age.” The core issue is the FCC’s 39% ownership cap, which prevents any single broadcaster from reaching more than 39% of U.S. households.
| Witness | Position | Argument |
| Chris Ruddy (Newsmax) | Oppose Lifting Cap | Argues that loosening the rules would allow massive conglomerates like Nexstar to crush independent conservative voices like Newsmax. |
| Curtis LeGeyt (NAB) | Support Lifting Cap | Claims the cap is “antiquated” in an era dominated by Big Tech and streaming services that have no such limits. |
The Nexstar-Tegna Merger Rift
The hearing is a proxy battle for the $6.2 billion acquisition of Tegna by Nexstar Media Group.
- The Deal: If approved, the merger would create a local media behemoth reaching nearly 55% of U.S. homes, requiring a waiver or removal of the current FCC cap.
- Trump’s Reversal: On Saturday, February 7, President Trump posted on Truth Social in support of the deal: “Letting Good Deals get done like Nexstar-Tegna will help knock out the Fake News… GET THAT DEAL DONE!”
- The Conflict: Cruz and Ruddy find themselves at odds with the President. While Trump views the merger as a way to challenge national “Fake News” networks, Ruddy warns it will lead to “dangerous consolidation” that could eventually harm the MAGA movement’s media pipeline.
The Legal Question
Cruz’s hearing will specifically examine whether the 39% cap is statutory (set by Congress) or regulatory (controlled by the FCC). Ruddy and several legal experts argue that FCC Chair Brendan Carr cannot legally lift the cap without an act of Congress—a position that could put Cruz in the position of blocking a deal the President has explicitly demanded.