It's the kind of thing only assholes liberals point out, but the entire Republican party has been stewing its brains in Fox News for decades. Sam Alito probably fist bumps the air when Tucker Carlson comes on.
An important thing to understand if you're wondering, why, someone like Chuck Grassley, who you, a savvy reporter, once thought of as being a very sensible Republican, acts just like every other MAGA dipshist.