Hold These Truths with Dan Crenshaw

SITREP #9: Trump at SOTU, the Ukraine Peace Deal, & the Colony Ridge Crackdown

Date: March 6, 2025
Host: Congressman Dan Crenshaw

Episode Overview

In this SITREP (Situation Report) installment, Dan Crenshaw dissects recent political and policy developments in the U.S. and abroad. He offers a detailed rundown of President Trump's second-term State of the Union address, analyzes progress on Ukraine peace negotiations, discusses Congressional budget battles, reviews aggressive interior immigration enforcement in Texas, and finishes with exciting news on quantum tech innovation. The tone remains direct, insightful, and lightly humorous, giving listeners both political color and a clear, pragmatic understanding of complex current events.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

[00:00–02:54]

Unusual Correspondence & Setting the Stage

• Crenshaw recounts receiving a bizarre letter supposedly from multiple cartels, humorously dismissing its authenticity.
  • “It’s addressed to Representative Ben Crenshaw… it was, it’s a boomer golf fan… they call me Ben because Ben Crenshaw’s a famous golfer...” (01:09)
• Reintroduces the SITREP format as a way to get a concise, meaningful news update.

[02:22–03:39]

The 2025 State of the Union Recap

• President Trump’s first SOTU of his second term — the longest in 60 years at 1 hour 40 minutes.
  • Typical opposition heckling, including the removal of Texas Congressman Al Green.
  • Broad range of issues: border security, fighting drug cartels, AI challenges, rare earth minerals, military readiness, energy, protecting women’s sports, health initiatives.
  • “It was an unapologetic display of his agenda.” (03:39)

[03:39–08:52]

Ukraine Peace Negotiations & U.S. Role

• Trump Administration pivots to scale down U.S. involvement, pushing for European leadership in ending Ukraine war.

  • Trump seeks “European-led” solutions and mutual security guarantees involving critical minerals.
  • Contentious White House meeting with Zelensky, who initially argues instead of agreeing, results in temporary U.S. weapons halt.
    • “Didn’t know when to stop talking. This led to just a very contentious meeting… and Trump stating, well, look, you’re not ready for peace. Don’t, you know, come back when you are.” (05:25–05:46)
  • Zelensky later publicly agrees to deal terms after pressure and clarification.

• U.S. diplomatic strategy:

  • Separate talks with Russians in Saudi Arabia without Ukrainian reps—standard practice for deal-making.
    • “You have to do it that way… you’re not going to get a deal if you’re just yelling at them and chastising them all the time.” (07:27–07:43)
  • Emphasizes Trump’s desire for practical, future-oriented solutions over re-litigating the past.

• NATO burden-sharing:

  • Trump’s push for higher European defense spending is working—Britain, Denmark, and France notably commit to increases.
    • “It’s their continent. And I think most Americans agree with that.” (08:52)
  • Both Ukraine and Russia ramp up drone attacks despite peace talk progress.

[08:52–13:59]

U.S. Budget & Reconciliation Battles

• Explains ‘reconciliation’ and budget resolution process:

  • House passes first phase, instructing committees to cut or spend within guidelines—focus on budget, not policy.
  • “If we actually got it all passed… you’d actually cut about a trillion and a half dollars in spending and your tax rates would remain the same.” (13:24)

• Trump’s stated goal: extend current tax rates, interpreted as a ‘spend’ due to CBO scoring rules.

• Immigration reform proposals:

  • Trump proposes replacing the EB-5 investor visa with a ‘Gold Card’ program—a faster, simpler pathway for economic growth.
  • Floating idea of an American “Golden Dome”—an advanced missile defense system inspired by Israel’s Iron Dome and Reagan-era SDI.
    • “Gold is the theme here, folks.” (14:14)

[15:06–17:16]

Colony Ridge Crackdown and Cartel Violence

• Major joint federal-state enforcement operation in Colony Ridge, a large Houston-area development:
  • 118 arrests, including wanted criminals and sexual predators.
  • “This raid is just the first phase of a larger crackdown targeting criminal illegal aliens in the area.” (15:57)
• Linking local action to broader border security: - Cites the cartel killing of rancher Antonio Céspedes Saldierna in Mexico as spillover cartel violence affecting Americans.

[17:16–18:58]

Tech Innovation: Quantum Leap

• Microsoft’s unveiling of the Majorana 1 chip—a breakthrough in quantum computing:
  • “This isn’t just a step forward, it’s a huge leap to a whole new era of computing, one that could reshape industries from cybersecurity to medicine.” (17:47)
  • Explains basics for laypeople: quantum bits (qubits), multiple states, exponential computing capacity.
  • “It’s amazing that we’re even building these things, because they’ve been theoretical for a very long time.” (18:16)
  • American leadership in such tech is urgent given competition with China.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On SOTU etiquette:
  “It had its typical Donald Trump flair, which was always fun, and went head to head with Democrats, baited them into jeering him… led to Texas Congressman Al Green being removed from the chamber.” (02:54)

• On Ukraine diplomacy:
  “You haven’t talked to Putin for two years. It’s time to try that out. Let him be the one who says, no, it’s war only… which we cannot allow.” (07:44)

• On NATO/Europe:
  "We shouldn’t be talking about them matching our spending—they should be doubling it. It’s their continent." (08:52)

• On quantum computing:
  “I mean, the people who can explain it really well still don’t explain it really well. It’s amazing that we’re even building these things…” (18:16)

• On immigration enforcement:
  “This operation… really underscores the new administration’s commitment to an aggressive interior enforcement.” (16:15)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00 – Opening anecdote, intro to SITREP format
• 02:22 – State of the Union recap: length, tone, major agenda items
• 03:39 – Ukraine peace deal, Trump diplomatic style, minerals deal
• 08:52 – NATO spending debate, European security
• 13:24 – Budget reconciliation explained, tax policy
• 14:14 – Immigration reform: Gold Card & Golden Dome concepts
• 15:06 – Colony Ridge raids, ICE & DPS operation results
• 17:16 – Cartel violence anecdote, border security rationale
• 17:47 – Microsoft’s quantum breakthrough, qubits explained
• 18:16 – America’s lead in quantum, urgency v. China

Tone & Style

The episode strikes a direct, pragmatic note, rich with insight and humor:

• Self-deprecating humor (“I guess it was a boomer golf fan…”)
• Clear, plain-spoken explanations of policy and geopolitics
• Occasional color and inside-Congress commentary
• Non-partisan appeals for results and security

Summary

Dan Crenshaw’s SITREP #9 delivers a robust and informative analysis of several crucial stories: President Trump’s flamboyant, issue-packed SOTU; a fraught but progressing Ukraine peace process with major diplomatic nuance; evolving U.S. fiscal debates; aggressive Texas-based immigration enforcement; and America’s role in the looming quantum computing revolution. Listeners get direct explanations, policy context, and a peer-level view of how Washington and world capitals are reacting to a volatile, changing global order.