In a development that will surprise absolutely no one who has watched American politics for the past decade, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) has decided that the real problem with the Republican Party is that it's not sufficiently opposed to giving people things.

Appearing Tuesday on Fox News's "The Will Cain Show," Cruz took aim at populist Republicans proposing what he called "right-wing socialism," arguing that the strategy will not pay off for the party. "I consider myself very much a populist," Cruz said, presumably with a straight face, before clarifying that "the base that has elected me every time has been blue-collar workers."

"Here's the difference: the way to be a populist is not get in the [Sen.] Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) game of giving away free stuff," the Texas senator told host Will Cain. "The way to be a populist is fight for the jobs of working men and women, fight for small businesses." It's a distinction that apparently hinges on the definition of "free stuff" versus "things people need," but Cruz did not elaborate.

The timing is notable. Earlier this month, President Trump proposed sending every American adult a $5,000 dividend if Republicans hold on to control of Congress in November. Multiple GOP lawmakers, including senators, have criticized the proposal, noting it would add to the $40-plus trillion national debt - a figure that has transcended mere numbers and entered the realm of abstract existential dread.

Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), on the other hand, has said he will prepare legislation to send those dividends to roughly 270 million Americans should the GOP hold serve in the House and Senate. If the federal government sends a check to every adult, the initiative's price tag will exceed $1 trillion. For those keeping score at home, that's a lot of money, even by Washington standards.

Cruz on Tuesday also criticized Democrats for the crop of democratic socialists winning primaries across the country, and urged Republicans to avoid following their lead. "There are two answers to 'right-wing socialism': no, and hell no," Cruz wrote on social platform X, arguing that socialism "has been a train wreck" everywhere it has been implemented. It's a strong stance, delivered with the kind of rhetorical flourish that suggests someone has been workshopping that line for a while.

"There are misguided voices in MAGA saying, 'Let's embrace socialism lite,'" the former presidential candidate told Cain. "You know what? If we campaign and say, 'We'll be just like the Democrats except not as a generous Santa Claus,' that's a path to losing."

So there you have it: the GOP's internal debate over whether to give Americans money is now being framed as a choice between being a generous Santa Claus or a principled one who explains the importance of small business growth instead of handing out presents. One suspects the voters will decide which pitch they prefer - right around November.