Emotions run high over the emotional reaction to the Ukraine call.

At Fox News an entertaining development is underway as two notable personalities have actually locked horns over the Ukrainian/impeachment talk that has consumed Washington D.C. Shepard Smith has joined in the chorus of convinced voices that President Trump has committed a serious violation of ethics and needs to be run out of town on a rail.

Tucker Carlson meanwhile has taken a notably dismissive stance on this controversy, and he was equally dismissive. Things sparked on Tuesday night when Carlson had former U.S. Attorney Joe diGenova on his program, and diGenova was openly critical of Shepard’s guest that day, Fox News figure Judge Andrew Napolitano and his assessment that Trump had admitted to a crime.

Well, Shep did not take kindly to it, and he lashed out at Carlson on Wednesday afternoon,, taking him to task for not defending Napolitano. “Attacking our colleague who is here to offer legal assessments on our air, in our work home, is repugnant.” Carlson then last night responded in return, and was not the least bit chastised.

Fox News’ Tucker Carlson and lawyer Joe diGenova blast leftist Fox News host Shepard Smith and Fox News contributor Andrew Napolitano pic.twitter.com/2M86K0MR8O

— Ryan Saavedra (@RealSaavedra) September 26, 2019

Carlson played a clip from the Shepard Smith show that afternoon. And following that quote “REPUGNANT”, the host chimed out, with some mirth. Carlson continued to address the silliness of the stern and serious stance taken by Smith, and amid chuckles and unimpressed commentary he does something else — he repeatedly refers to Smith as a “daytime host” and other generic labels, never addressing him by name.

Listening to Shep Smith you get the sense that he felt not only offended but fully in control of the scenario. He is trying to dress down Carlson, to put him in his place. Carlson was less than impressed. He goes on in the clip to suggest that the “daytime host” (Smith) might be guided by more emotional intentions.

He closed out by lecturing back at Smith, saying “When you dress up partisanship as news coverage, people tune out.”

It will be interesting to see how long the network will allow this bicker-fest to go on, but Carlson delivered something of a broadside with a veiled mention of ratings. We await to see if Smith responds with more nose-bent prolix.