A New Cold War

Summary

Podcast Summary: "A New Cold War" on The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson

Episode Details:

• Title: A New Cold War
• Release Date: August 11, 2020
• Host: Ben Ferguson (Note: Transcript features Ted Cruz and Michael Knowles)
• Description: The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson delves into the latest news and political developments, emphasizing the President's administration and its policies. This episode, titled "A New Cold War," explores the escalating tensions between the United States and China, scrutinizing the roles of big tech, human rights issues, and the broader implications for American democracy.

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1. Big Tech's Response to Allegations of Chinese Technology Theft

The episode begins with an examination of a congressional hearing involving major technology executives—Tim Cook (Apple), Sundar Pichai (Google), Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook), and Jeff Bezos (Amazon). The central question posed by a Congressman was whether the Chinese government is stealing technology from U.S. companies.

• Congressman's Inquiry: "Do you believe that the Chinese government steals technology from US companies?" (01:24)

  • Tim Cook (Apple): "I don't know of specific cases where we have been stolen from by the government." (01:35)

  • Michael Knowles: Critiques the executives for their evasive answers, highlighting that only Mark Zuckerberg acknowledged the issue: "The Chinese government steals technology from American companies." (02:47)

  • Jeff Bezos (Amazon): Admits awareness of reports but lacks personal experience: "I have heard many reports of that, and I haven't seen it personally..." (02:18)

  Ted Cruz summarizes the situation: "Of all four of these titans of Big technology, only Mark Zuckerberg would admit what we've all known for decades. China is stealing our stuff." (02:47)

Insight: The conversation underscores a perceived reluctance among big tech leaders to openly condemn Chinese government actions, primarily due to economic dependencies and the substantial revenue generated from the Chinese market.

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2. NBA's Training Camps in China and Human Rights Abuses

The discussion shifts to the NBA's operations in China, particularly focusing on training camps that have come under scrutiny for human rights violations against Uyghur minors.

• Mike Adams' Report: ESPN exposed that NBA-run camps in Xinjiang involve severe physical abuse of Uyghur teenagers, including incidents where coaches physically assaulted players. Moreover, these camps fail to provide basic education, leaving many youths destined for menial jobs. (03:49)

• Uyghur Minority Crisis: The Uyghurs, an ethnic and religious minority in China, are subjected to mass internment and torture in concentration camps. The episode references drone footage depicting Uyghurs being forcibly transported: "There was drone footage that came out showing this Uyghur minority shaved, blindfolded... being loaded onto boxcars." (09:44)

Ted Cruz's Analysis: He connects the NBA's actions to broader economic incentives: "The NBA is a giant cash register... $5 billion. You want to understand why Mark Cuban curls up in a ball... It ain't complicated. And by the way, why do you think Tim Cook can't answer that question? Cuz he wants billions of dollars." (08:00)

Insight: The episode highlights the ethical compromises businesses make for financial gain, criticizing big organizations like the NBA for overlooking human rights abuses in favor of lucrative partnerships with China.

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3. Confrontation with Mark Cuban Over China Criticism

An incident involving Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is discussed to illustrate the broader issue of business leaders' hesitance to criticize China.

• Scenario: Michael Knowles recounts a Twitter exchange where he questions Cuban's willingness to condemn China's actions comparably to criticisms against the U.S.: "Tell us, what do you think of the Uyghurs in concentration camps. Crickets Not a word." (06:10)

• Mark Cuban's Response: Cuban expresses frustration over not being directly tagged in the conversation, leading to a tense exchange that underscores his reluctance to publicly criticize China despite evident issues. (06:05)

Insight: This confrontation exemplifies the challenges conservatives face when attempting to hold influential business figures accountable for their stances on international human rights and economic policies.

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4. The Passing of Conservative Figures and Rising Rhetoric

The episode touches upon the recent deaths of notable conservative personalities like Herman Cain, analyzing the impact on the conservative movement.

• Herman Cain Tribute: Michael Knowles reflects on Cain's contributions, highlighting his role in the Tea Party movement and his advocacy for radical tax reform: "I think his leadership played a foundational role in the Tea Party movement." (10:34)

• Rising Partisan Rhetoric: A listener's question addresses the increasing attacks against conservatives and the need to reduce venomous rhetoric: "Is there any way to tone down the rhetoric?" (09:44)

  • Michael Knowles' Response: Acknowledges the divisiveness but attributes the heightened vitriol primarily to the left, emphasizing the importance of maintaining respectful discourse: "The really overheated rhetoric is more on the left right now." (10:34)

Insight: The discussion emphasizes the internal struggles within American politics, particularly the challenges conservatives face in combating negative rhetoric while mourning the loss of influential figures.

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5. America's New Cold War with China: Strategies and Implications

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to framing the U.S.-China relationship as a new Cold War and strategizing appropriate responses.

• Listener's Question: Norman inquires about avoiding a "costly boondoggle" in the rivalry with China, seeking clarity on America's interests and practical engagement strategies: "How can Republicans avoid making America's new Cold War rivalry with China into another costly boondoggle?" (12:10)

• Michael Knowles' Perspective:

  • Rejection of Military Escalation: Advocates for a firm stance without engaging in direct military confrontation: "We should be very reluctant to engage in military force." (12:39)

  • Defining the Enemy: Asserts that China is at war with the U.S., driven by a pursuit of global domination: "China's intent towards us is entirely malevolent." (12:39)

  • Ronald Reagan's Cold War Strategy: References Reagan's straightforward approach: "We win, they lose." and criticizes calls for détente as surrender: "Detente, which I've joked is French for surrender." (12:39)

  • Modern Parallels: Compares current Chinese actions, like hacking the Vatican, to Soviet-era tactics, reinforcing the need for a strong defense: "The CCP is the new evil empire." (14:30)

  • Peace Through Strength: Emphasizes economic and military robustness as deterrents against aggression: "If we're strong, that's how we avoid the boondoggle." (15:16)

• Ted Cruz's Agreement: Reinforces the notion that weakness invites aggression and underscores the importance of learning from historical precedents: "Weakness invites aggression." (15:16)

Insight: The episode advocates for a clear, uncompromising stance against China's expansionist and espionage activities, drawing lessons from the Cold War era to navigate contemporary geopolitical challenges.

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Conclusion

"A New Cold War" presents a critical analysis of the United States' strained relationship with China, highlighting the complicity of big tech and major corporations in facilitating Chinese economic and technological advancements at the expense of national security and ethical standards. Through incisive conversations between Ted Cruz and Michael Knowles, the episode calls for a resolute and strategic approach to counter China's ambitions, emphasizing that economic interests should not overshadow moral and national imperatives. The discussion also touches upon internal political dynamics, urging conservatives to maintain unity and respectful discourse amidst external and internal challenges.

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Notable Quotes:

• Tim Cook: "I don't know of specific cases where we have been stolen from by the government." (01:35)

• Michael Knowles: "Big Tech in particular has been a willing partner in this. And calling it out is hugely important." (02:12)

• Ted Cruz: "Of all four of these titans of Big technology, only Mark Zuckerberg would admit what we've all known for decades. China is stealing our stuff." (02:47)

• Michael Knowles: "China's not our friend. They are at war with us." (12:39)

• Michael Knowles: "The CCP is the new evil empire." (14:30)

• Ted Cruz: "Weakness invites aggression." (15:16)

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Timestamp References:

• 01:24 – Congressional hearing introduction
• 02:47 – Big tech executives' responses
• 03:49 – NBA's training camps in China
• 06:05 – Interaction with Mark Cuban
• 09:44 – Uyghur minority and political attacks on conservatives
• 10:34 – Herman Cain and rising rhetoric
• 12:10 – Listener's question on the Cold War
• 12:39 – Michael Knowles on U.S.-China relations
• 14:30 – Modern parallels to the Cold War
• 15:16 – Conclusion on strength and aggression

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Final Note: This episode of The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson provides a comprehensive overview of the escalating tensions between the U.S. and China, critiquing the roles of big tech and major corporations in perpetuating these dynamics. Through expert commentary and real-world examples, listeners gain insights into the complexities of modern geopolitical rivalries and the imperative for strategic, principled responses.

Transcript

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[Ted Cruz]

If you're hearing this right now, it means that our big tech overlords have not shut down this podcast yet. Actually, those big tech overlords were just called in for a hearing at Capitol Hill, and they didn't have very much to say for themselves. We will get into all of it. This is Verdict with Ted Cruz. Welcome back to Verdict with Ted Cruz.

[Michael Knowles]

Michael.

[Ted Cruz]

I'm Michael Knowles. You want to talk about a slow bowl? This question was posed to Tim Cook of Apple and Sundar Pichai of Google and Mark Zuckerberg at Facebook and Jeff Bezos at Amazon, who it was kind of funny. He forgot to unmute his microphone. This is one of the most powerful tech executives in the world. Couldn't work the mic. That was a sidebar. The question was very simple. Is China stealing US Technology? Let's take a listen to their answers.

[Congressman]

Have a question for all four. Yes or no answer. Do you believe that the Chinese government steals technology from US companies? Start with Mr. Cook.

[Tim Cook]

I don't know of specific cases where we have been stolen from by the government.

[Congressman]

So you don't believe that the Chinese government's stealing technology from US Companies, or you're just saying that? Not from yours?

[Tim Cook]

I'm saying I know of no case on ours where it occurred, which is I can only speak to firsthand knowledge.

[Congressman]

Mr. Pichai, do you believe that the Chinese government steals technology from United States companies?

[Tim Cook]

Congressman, I have no firsthand knowledge of.

[Michael Knowles]

Any information stolen from Google in this regard, Mr. Zuckerberg. Congressman, I think it's well documented that.

[Ted Cruz]

The Chinese government steals technology from American companies.

[Congressman]

Thank you, Mr. Bezos.

[Jeff Bezos]

I have heard many reports of that, and I haven't seen it personally, but I've heard many reports of it.

[Congressman]

So of all the different products that Amazon carries, you haven't seen that in any of the companies that sell products on Amazon or your company yourself?

[Jeff Bezos]

Oh, well, certainly there are knockoff products, if that's what you mean, and there are counterfeit products and all of that. But the Chinese, if the answer is the Chinese government Stealing technology. That's the thing I have read reports of and but don't have personal experience with.

[Ted Cruz]

Of all four of these titans of Big technology, only Mark Zuckerberg would admit what we've all known for decades. China is stealing our stuff.

[Michael Knowles]

Well, unfortunately, it's an example of how big business is terrified of China, and they're willing to prostitute themselves because they want money. China, they are murderers, they torture people, and they have made intellectual property theft and espionage a state strategy to go after America. Big Tech knows that. They know that fully well. But they're so interested in access to the markets and to billions of dollars that they're terrified of saying anything critical. And it's. Big Tech in particular has been a willing partner in this. And calling it out is hugely important.

[Ted Cruz]

Right now, of course, especially as we're looking toward November. And by the way, it's not just Big Tech that's sucking up to China. You also saw, I mean, there was a report that just came out of ESPN that the NBA is operating some training camps in China that have huge abuses at it. And I can't help but mention I saw you get into a bit of a spat with an NBA team owner, Mark Cuban, over the past week, where I don't even remember the introduction of what Cuban was saying. And you said, hey, Mark, are you willing to criticize China in the same way you're criticizing the United States? And he wouldn't do it. He refused to do it.

[Michael Knowles]

Well, what happened? So this started out, Mark Cuban was having a Twitter fight with a guy named Mark Davis, who is a radio host in Dallas. He's a good friend. And Mark Davis had pointed out that he was going to be really unhappy if the Dallas Mavericks all take a knee during the national anthem and disrespect the national anthem. And he said he loved going to the NBA games, but he just might not go if they do that. And Mark Cuban, who owns the Maverick, theoretically should want his fans to show up. Tweeted out, essentially, buh, bye, we won't miss you. Get the hell out. And I saw that. I'm paraphrasing the get the hell out was implied, but I engaged and retweeted that exchange and said something to the effect of, gosh, do you think it's gonna work out well for the NBA to tell half their fans, go jump in a lake? That's a very odd business strategy to be saying to every police officer, to every soldier, to every veteran, to everyone who actually believes in respecting the flag. We don't Want you to come anymore. We don't want you as customers. That's a very odd business strategy. So I retweeted the exchange and said that. So Cuban comes by and he actually gets pissy. So I guess what, I retweeted it. I didn't tag his Twitter handle. I retweeted it to millions of people in the world. It's not like my response was hidden or secret.

[Ted Cruz]

Private.

[Tim Cook]

Yeah.

[Michael Knowles]

But he comes back and says, well, Ted doesn't have the balls to tag me by name. So look, when I was sitting down, assessing all the things that were going to happen in the past week, Mark Cuban questioning my testicular fortitude. That was not on the list. I didn't have that.

[Ted Cruz]

Wouldn't have put my money on that. No.

[Michael Knowles]

And so I responded, I said, speaking of balls, Mark. And I tagged him this time. Tell us, what do you think of China? I'll wait.

[Ted Cruz]

Right, right.

[Michael Knowles]

And I'm still waiting.

[Ted Cruz]

Yeah.

[Michael Knowles]

Because he was terrified to answer. Because the NBA China is a giant cash register. And, you know, I read that ESPN story, the investigation they did. It's horrifying. So they had three camps the NBA did in China, run by the Chinese government. These are. These are Chinese kids, teenagers, 13, 14 years old. The Chinese coaches were beating the kids, physically beating the kids. There are reports of. Of. Of one Chinese coach throwing a ball point blank into the face of a child. There's another. And then kicking him in the gut. They were beating these kids. Not just that. These are kids that are at an academy that. That, you know, when the NBA announced with great fanfare. Will be great for the development of these kids. Turns out there's no school. They're not teaching. And we're talking 13, 14, 15 year old kids. They're not teaching them to read or write or anything else. And so there were all these coaches who complained, said, listen, you're. Most of these kids are going to end up taxi drivers because they're not getting an education. And they're being beaten by the Chinese coaches. And. And the NBA is looking for the next Yao Ming. Look, I'm in Houston, Texas, right now. Yao Ming was our center. He was a great. But the NBA made a lot of money. And even more stunning. So one of these camps was in Xinjiang, the province in China where there are over a million Uyghurs, an ethnic and religious minority in China that are in concentration camps. That's one of the things I asked Mark Cuban. Tell us what you think of the Uyghurs in concentration camps. Crickets Not a word. So this NBA camp, many of the kids there were Uyghurs. The same people that are imprisoned and tortured and murdered. You've got Uyghur teenagers being beaten by Chinese coaches, not being given an education. And the NBA happily turns a blind eye because do you know how much money NBA China generates? $5 billion. You want to understand why Mark Cuban curls up in a ball and starts trembling when anyone asks him about China? Cuz he wants $5 billion. It ain't complicated. And by the way, why do you think Tim Cook can't answer that question? Cuz he wants billions of dollars. And Jeff Bezos wants billions of dollars. And so sucking up to evil, tyrannical communist tyrants is, in their views, a price they're willing to pay because they can have a payday.

[Ted Cruz]

Even after just in the past few weeks, there was drone footage that came out showing this Uyghur minority shaved, blindfolded. You're talking about a huge number of these people being loaded onto boxcars. You can see it with your own two eyes. But it would appear these that critics, leftist critics in the United States who love nothing more than to criticize their own country will remain silent when they're chasing the almighty dollar in China. We have a question from John Ties in particularly now with the sad recent passing of Herman Cain and some other political figures. Do you think a lot of the attacks against conservatives that pass away are the new norm? We saw this with Mike Adams, the conservative professor who died, Herman Cain going Back to George H.W. bush. Is there any way to tone down the rhetoric?

[Michael Knowles]

I hope so. Right now people are angry, they're divided. I do think the really overheated rhetoric is more on the left right now. Both sides do it. And I wish both sides would not get personal, not get nasty. Doesn't mean we can't disagree. But right now there's a viciousness that's really unfortunate to see. And Herman Cain, I didn't know Herman well, but I got to meet him several times. I spent time with him. I considered him a friend. Look, the guy had an incredible career in business and his presidential campaign where he ran on radical tax reform. I mean, everyone remembers 999. 999 and that. But look, in many ways that was a precursor. When I ran in 2016, I ran on a simple flat tax and Herman Cade, just radical. Simplicity is a revolutionary concept. And I think Herman helped usher that in. I think his leadership played a foundational role in the Tea Party movement. And that's important. And I think he was just 73 when he passed. And certainly our prayers are with his family. And it's tragic. And too many good people have been lost to, to this virus.

[Ted Cruz]

Some people are referring to our state with China right now as a new Cold War. Norman writes in and asks, how can Republicans avoid making America's new Cold War rivalry with China into another costly boondoggle on behalf of democracy or say, humanitarianism? And I take it from his question to ask, what is our interest? What do we want? How do we engage practically in this rivalry with China?

[Michael Knowles]

Well, the answer is we don't engage in another boondoggle. And there are certainly those who want to, who seem to have never seen a country they don't want to invade or happy to send our sons and daughters into harm's way. I don't think that's the right foreign policy. I think we should be very reluctant to engage in military force. But, and this is a very big stop, China's not our friend. They are at war with us. Whether we know it or not, China is at war with us. Their objective, the communist government in China. Their objective is global domination. Their objective is to utterly and completely defeat us. And so when it comes to China, I'm reminded of what Ronald Reagan, when he was elected, he was asked, what's your objective in the Cold War? He said, it's very simple. We win, they lose. And all of the intelligentsia, they were astonished that this ignorant Philistine, no, no, no, you can't have a we win, they lose. No, no, we need detente, which I've joked is French for surrender. China's intent towards us is entirely malevolent. Just today, story broke about the Chinese government hacking into the Vatican. They're literally trying to break in and spy on the Pope. Our answer has to be that we have to defend America. We have to stand up to Chinese aggression not by sending the Marines into Beijing, but by combating them. Stopping their theft of intellectual property, stopping their systematic efforts to destroy US production of critical infrastructure. PPE, pharmaceuticals, rare earth minerals, bringing the supply chain back to America. Calling them out. Reagan understood. Tyrannies fear truth. They fear light. When Reagan called the Soviet Union the evil empire, it was powerful. I actually, in response to the story about the Chinese Communist Party hacking into the Vatican, I tweeted out today, I said the CCP is the new evil empire. That clarity scares the hell out of them and we've got to have clear eyed vision to have the economic strength and the military strength. I believe in peace through strength. If we're weak, then we risk military confrontation. If we're strong, that's how we avoid the boondoggle.

[Ted Cruz]

Weakness invites aggression. It's a lesson that people see seem not to learn from history, but it seems clear to me. All right, we will have to leave it there. Until next time. I'm Michael Knowles. This is Verdict with Ted Cruz.

[Jobs, Freedom, and Security PAC Voice]

This episode of Verdict with Ted Cruz is being brought to you by Jobs, Freedom, and Security Pack, a political action committee dedicated to supporting conservative causes, organizations, and candidates across the country. In 2020, Jobs, Freedom, and Security PAC plans to donate to conservative candidates running for Congress and help the Republican Party across the nation.