Ted Cruz names ‘most powerful Democrat’ as he warns socialist rise has paralyzed bipartisanship

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, believes that fear of a rising wave of progressives is paralyzing possible bipartisan work on permitting reform that would otherwise create fertile ground for collaboration.

"That dynamic is dangerous right now because they are terrified of the extreme left. Finding a middle ground on ideological issues right now is … the prospects for success, particularly between now and election day, are not high," Cruz said at an energy summit hosted by Club for Growth and Arnold Ventures on Thursday.