Tucker Carlson Tonight debuted this past Monday on Fox News Channel and already it’s risen to the level of must-see television for Americans who crave a smart and witty take on news, politics and pop-culture.

Carlson has been a part of the conservative commentariat for twenty years and after stints as host of Crossfire on CNN as well as an entertaining turn on MSNBC (back when there was at least an appearance of balance on that network) he launched The Daily Caller and became the weekend host of Fox & Friends.

But with Tucker Carlson Tonight, the formerly-bow-tie-clad pundit has found his home and hit his stride.

Wednesday night’s broadcast provides a perfect example of why you’ve got to watch or DVR this program.

Carlson had a segment on the anti-Trump protests that have continued in major urban centers for the past week. Rather than invite a panel of pundits to hand-wring and argue over who’s to blame or what should e done he engaged directly with one of the protesters in an interview that needs to e highlighted on every Faceook page in America.

Behold Tucker Carlson, untilizing his affable wit and informed logic to challenge the very premise of Rutgers student Alex Uematsu’s reason for protesting President-elect Trump: Immigration policyCarlson begins his interview with a simple question: “Who do you think has a right to come to this country?”

Uematsu, bless his heart, took the bait and relexivly answered that everyone has a right to come to America. From that point the Rutgers student was forced to defend his position and the logical outcomes of his simplistic notion. Clearly defending his position is something he had not been forced to do in his many years in academia because Carlson picked apart every angle of his Utopian, border-less dream.

Do yourself a favor and watch the whole thing:

My favorite part of the exchange:

CARLSON: Do you think people have a right to lock their doors? Or do you think they have an obligation to let them in? You’re saying the united states has no right to prevent people who want to come here from coming here. I’m asking, do you have a right to keep people out who want to share your apartment with you?

UEMATSU: I think that’s not really a direct analogy. Obviously a nation state is very different from an individual.

CARLSON: It belongs to the citizen so they should be able to decide who comes in or out, wouldn’t you agree? doesn’t a country belong to its citizens?

UEMATSU: I think…  I think that there are certain things…

CARLSON: I think you need to think this through, Alex.

Devastatingly effective with a smile on his face. While the superstars of Fox News’ line-up out of New York City continue to engage in soap opera dialogue and high drama behind the scenes, the 1-2 punch of DC-based Bret Baier and Tucker Carlson are showing the way for intelligent and engaging news and commentary. Perhaps more content out of the efficient and effective DC Bureau should be given more opportunities for programming on the cable network.