Tucker Carlson, who downplayed the riot at the Capitol, accuses Texas Democrats of 'insurrection' by leaving the state to block a vote

• Tucker Carlson accused Democratic lawmakers in Texas of "insurrection."
• The Fox host was referring to their decision to leave the state to block voting on a bill.
• Carlson's approach was very different to the January 6 insurrection, which he repeatedly downplayed.

Tucker Carlson said Tuesday night that Texas Democrats leaving the state to stymie a voting bill were committing an "insurrection."

Speaking on his show "Tucker Carlson Tonight," he slammed the group of at least 51 Democrats who flew out of the state Monday night.

Nearly all of the state's Democratic house members left with the intention of stopping progress in the current legislative session until at least August 6.

Their goal, as the minority party, was to halt the process of several bills, including two on voting rights, by denying the house a quorum, as Insider's Grace Panetta has reported.

Quorum rules mean that votes don't count unless a minimum proportion of the chamber is there. Although the Texas Democrats are too few to outvote their Republican rivals, they can instead use that rule to shut down the session.

Democrats say the bill will trample over existing voting rights, with President Joe Biden describing it as an "un-American" move towards "autocracy" in a Tuesday speech.

It is the second time Texas Democrats have played this tactic over voting rights, sparking intense criticism from Republicans in the state, as The Texas Tribune reported.

Addressing this on Tuesday night, Carlson chose the word "insurrection" carefully.

The Texan Democrats "violated their sworn duty to represent their voters, and they committed to what amounted to - yes - insurrection," he said.

He went on to describe the lawmakers' move as undemocratic.

"Preventing lawmakers from making laws - shutting down the vote - would not seem like a defense of democracy, in fact it would appear to be just the opposite," he said. "It would appear to be an assault on the very core of democracy, which is the legislature, the People's House. Even diabolical old Vladimir Putin never attempted to do that."

It contrasts starkly with his approach to the January 6 riot at the US Capitol, which was widely described as an insurrection, though notably the word has not been embraced by Trump supporters.

Carlson has been forgiving towards those involved. Soon after the riot, Carlson mocked Democratic New York rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for saying she feared for her life that day.

When speaking about the riot, Carlson has used the term "insurrection" in a tone dripping with sarcasm, as UK newspaper The Independent reported in April. In March, he described QAnon followers - who were at the forefront of those who breached the building - as "gentle people waving American flags."

In April, he criticized the pre-trial detention of Capitol riot suspect Eric Munchel, who is accused of storming the Capitol carrying zip-tie handcuffs. Carlson said he had "just walked in to what we used to refer to as 'The People's House."

Fox News did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.