Morning Wire Weekend Edition: Inside Nigeria’s Christian Crisis—Senator Cruz Speaks Out

Date: November 30, 2025
Hosts: Georgia Howe (Daily Wire), John Bickley
Guest: Senator Ted Cruz

Episode Overview

This episode of Morning Wire tackles the escalating crisis of Christian persecution in Nigeria. With harrowing statistics, muted mainstream media coverage, and complex international implications—including the roles of the U.S., China, and Nigeria’s own government—Senator Ted Cruz joins to explain legislative, diplomatic, and moral imperatives for intervention. The discussion covers the Trump administration’s recent actions, media misrepresentations, China’s interests, and the broader landscape of global Christian repression.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Christian Persecution in Nigeria: Scope and Severity

• Senator Cruz highlights the scale:
  • Since 2009: Over 50,000 Christians murdered and more than 20,000 churches and schools destroyed ([03:32]).
  • Perpetrated mainly by Boko Haram and radical Islamic terrorists.
• Cruz ties this to a systemic issue with complicity and inaction from various levels of Nigerian government.

2. U.S. Government Response and the ‘Country of Particular Concern’ (CPC) Designation

• The Trump administration recently designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) ([03:20]), unlocking:
  • Targeted sanctions on state, local, and national officials
  • Heightened diplomatic and economic leverage
• Cruz credits his own legislative advocacy for pressing the administration toward this action.

<span style="color:gray">[05:46] Senator Cruz:</span>
"By designating them as a country of particular concern, it unlocks targeted sanctions to pressure them to stop acquiescing in this violence, to stand up and protect the rights of Christians... because those laws are often used to persecute Christians."

3. Religious Demographics and Legal Framework in Nigeria

• Nigeria is internally divided, with significant Muslim and Christian populations ([05:53]).
• 12 states enforce Sharia law and federal blasphemy laws—these are used disproportionately against Christians, catalyzing persecution.

4. Media Coverage & Critique of Legacy Reporting

• Cruz explicitly criticizes major media outlets (notably the AP) for:
  • Downplaying or misrepresenting the scale of Christian persecution
  • Deflecting blame onto generic “border disputes” or “farmer vs. herder” conflicts
• He accuses journalists of bias, drawing comparisons with their reporting on Israel ([07:28]).

<span style="color:gray">[07:28] Senator Cruz:</span>
"That AP story... you could actually teach in a journalism class as an example of pure political hackery and dishonest reporting... What was my statement? There is mass murder of Christians in Nigeria. They conclude it is a fact."

5. Legislative Action: Cruz’s Bill

• Cruz has introduced a Senate bill to:
  • Direct the State Department to formally designate Nigeria as CPC
  • Impose targeted sanctions on complicit Nigerian officials ([11:47])
• Emphasis on U.S. leverage—“diplomatic and economic”—as a force to pressure change

<span style="color:gray">[11:47] Senator Cruz:</span>
"The United States has enormous leverage, both diplomatic leverage and economic leverage... I think that's exactly what President Trump is doing right now."

6. The China Factor

• China supports the Nigerian government and maintains massive investment in the region ([13:36]).
• China’s interests:
  • Resource access (minerals, oil, young workforce)
  • Prefers Nigerian alignment with China rather than the U.S.
  • Saleh with, or indifferent to, Christian persecution due to parallel repression at home

<span style="color:gray">[13:36] Senator Cruz:</span>
"Africa is one of the major battlegrounds where China is trying to exert its influence... And China is investing billions of dollars... China wants all of Africa to line up with China."

7. Other Countries of Concern

• Beyond Nigeria, North Korea, China, Iran, and much of the Middle East are listed as extremely dangerous for Christians ([15:56]).
• Nigeria stands out for sheer numerical scale, but other countries practice severe forms of persecution (e.g., North Korea: torture; China: church crackdowns).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Presidential Action:

  [03:32] Ted Cruz:
  "This is a step I have been urging for a long time. I introduced legislation that would have directed the State Department to designate Nigeria as a country of particular concern because there's no country on planet Earth where Christians are more persecuted than Nigeria."

• On Media Bias:

  [07:28] Ted Cruz:
  "That AP story in particular... you could actually teach in a journalism class as an example of pure political hackery and dishonest reporting.”

• On China’s Global Strategy:

  [13:36] Ted Cruz:
  "China is engaged in a war of global domination... Africa is one of the major battlegrounds where China is trying to exert its influence."

Important Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|---------| | 03:18 | Cruz describes the scale of Christian persecution in Nigeria | | 03:32 | Explanation of “Country of Particular Concern” designation | | 05:46 | Cruz: What sanctions and U.S. leverage can do | | 07:28 | Critique of AP and legacy media reporting | | 11:47 | Discussion of Cruz’s Senate bill and U.S. legislative action | | 13:36 | The China dimension in Nigeria and broader Africa | | 15:56 | Other countries where Christians are persecuted |

Tone & Style

• The episode maintains a direct, passionate, and at times confrontational tone, especially from Senator Cruz, who sharply criticizes media narratives and underscores the urgency of the crisis.
• Both hosts approach sensitive topics with clarity and urgency, complementing Cruz’s frankness.

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

This conversation offers a clear, if unflinching, look at why Nigeria is considered “ground zero” for Christian persecution; details how and why the U.S. is ramping up formal pressure; and unpacks the geopolitical chessboard featuring both domestic Nigerian politics and China’s expanding influence. Senator Cruz calls for both moral clarity and concrete action, warning that silence and equivocation—internationally or from the media—help perpetuate violence.

If you want a detailed exploration of Christian persecution’s causes, political cover-ups, and global strategies for intervention, this episode provides candid insight and a call to action.