The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson: Biden's Chinese Balloon Theatre
Release Date: February 6, 2023
Hosted by Ben Ferguson, "The 47 Morning Update" delves into the pressing political and national security issues shaping America. In the episode titled "Biden's Chinese Balloon Theatre," Ferguson engages in a candid discussion with Senator Ted Cruz, primarily focusing on the controversial Chinese spy balloon incident and its broader implications for the Biden administration and U.S.-China relations.
1. The Chinese Spy Balloon Incident
Overview of the Event
Senator Ted Cruz initiates the conversation by outlining the timeline of the Chinese spy balloon:
- January 28, 2023 [00:00]: The balloon was first spotted over Alaskan airspace.
- February 1, 2023 [00:30]: Confirmed sightings in Montana.
- February 3, 2023 [01:15]: The balloon drifted to the Kansas City area.
- February 4, 2023 [01:50]: It was ultimately shot down by a U.S. fighter jet off the coast of South Carolina.
Cruz’s Critique of the Biden Administration
Cruz criticizes the Biden administration for its delayed response, suggesting that the balloon had ample time to gather intelligence before being neutralized. He states:
“...the mission was completed by the Chinese, and then we shot it down after it gotten everything it wanted on the American landscape.” [00:58]
He further emphasizes the administration’s passive stance:
“From January 28th to this weekend, he did not a damn thing.” [03:30]
2. Biden Administration’s Response and Delays
Delayed Action and Intelligence Gathering
Ferguson acknowledges the administration's delayed action but commends the eventual decision to shoot down the balloon:
“I do at least have to commend that he had the guts to shoot the thing down...” [00:58]
However, he underscores the week-long period during which the balloon potentially collected sensitive intelligence:
“...this spy balloon was collecting information, it was hovering over sensitive US Military bases...data...sent back to Beijing.” [02:30]
Political Motivations Over National Security
Cruz argues that the administration prioritized political optics over national security:
“It was a national security question. It was a politics question. It was a PR question.” [05:05]
He suggests that without public awareness, the balloon might have remained undetected:
“If the public hadn't noticed the balloon, Joe Biden would have done nothing.” [03:50]
3. Congressional Oversight and Briefings
Lack of Initial Briefings to Congress
The conversation shifts to the role of Congress in addressing the incident. Cruz points out the absence of immediate briefings to congressional members:
“Congress was in session last week. I was in D.C. last week. They didn't brief us.” [04:18]
Ferguson anticipates that Congress will seek classified briefings in the wake of the incident:
“I have every expectation that they will, because I think members from both sides of the aisle want to know what the heck happened.” [05:20]
4. Potential Chinese Retaliation and U.S. Weakness
Risk of Chinese Retaliation
Cruz raises concerns about China's potential military responses, attributing such risks to perceived U.S. weakness:
“The weaker the President is, the more likely our enemies are to be aggressive and hostile.” [10:32]
He connects this incident to previous foreign policy decisions, such as the Afghanistan withdrawal and sanctions on Russia, asserting that Biden’s approach emboldens adversaries:
“We saw President Biden's weakness in foreign policy... encouraged China, it encouraged Russia, it encouraged Iran, it encouraged North Korea.” [12:10]
Implications for U.S. National Security
Ferguson echoes these sentiments, highlighting the administration's reactive rather than proactive measures:
“They minimized the risk of espionage... It was a communication and media play rather than a military action to keep America safe.” [20:39]
5. U.S.-China Relations and the Democrat Party’s Stance
Structural Pro-China Tendencies in the Democrat Party
Cruz extends his critique to the broader Democrat Party, alleging a structural alignment with Chinese interests:
“The Democrat Party is structurally pro China... big tech, big Hollywood and big universities, all of them, are fully in bed with China.” [14:08]
Legislative Actions Against Chinese Exploitation
He references his own efforts to counteract Chinese exploitation, noting the Democratic opposition:
“In the last Congress, I forced a vote... Every single Democrat except one. Every Democrat except Joe Manchin voted no.” [15:25]
Environmental Agendas Superseding Human Rights
Ferguson adds that environmental priorities within the Democratic agenda often overshadow human rights concerns:
“Today's Democrat Party has handed much of its agenda over to the radical environmentalist left.” [16:10]
6. The State of the Union Address and Political Messaging
Anticipated Presidential Narrative
Cruz anticipates that President Biden will use the upcoming State of the Union to highlight the downing of the balloon as a success:
“I predict an hour and 21 minutes.” [33:04]
Critique of Government Officials’ Statements
Responding to statements from officials like Pete Buttigieg, Cruz remains skeptical about the administration's justifications for delayed action:
“Listen, states infrastructure... They tried to cover this up because Tony Blinken was planning to travel to China.” [19:54]
7. Advocacy for American Hostages in China
Focus on Mark Sweden’s Imprisonment
Shifting to human rights issues, Cruz discusses the prolonged detention of Mark Sweden in China, advocating for his release:
“Mark Sweden has been wrongfully imprisoned in China for over a decade now.” [26:09]
Legislative Efforts to Secure Release
He mentions introducing a Senate resolution demanding Sweden's freedom and criticizes the lack of effective response from the Biden administration:
“I've introduced a resolution in the Senate calling on China to release Mark Sweden... The State Department has concluded he's unjustly detained.” [26:09]
8. Closing Remarks and Future Discussions
Upcoming Special Show
Cruz concludes by announcing a special show following the State of the Union, emphasizing the importance of continued advocacy and public awareness:
“This is a short or long speech under 30 minutes or over 30 minutes. Your thoughts? I'm good. That's an easy one.” [33:04]
Encouragement for Listener Engagement
He urges listeners to stay informed, subscribe, and engage in political activism to support affected Americans:
“Please pray for that American hostage and reach out to your congressman. Senator, we don't need this to lose any momentum right now.” [32:20]
Notable Quotes with Timestamps
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“...the mission was completed by the Chinese, and then we shot it down after it gotten everything it wanted on the American landscape.” — Senator Ted Cruz [00:58]
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“If the public hadn't noticed the balloon, Joe Biden would have done nothing.” — Senator Ted Cruz [03:49]
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“It was a communication and media play rather than a military action to keep America safe.” — Ben Ferguson [20:39]
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“The weaker the President is, the more likely our enemies are to be aggressive and hostile.” — Senator Ted Cruz [12:10]
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“Today's Democrat Party has handed much of its agenda over to the radical environmentalist left.” — Ben Ferguson [16:10]
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“Mark Sweden has been wrongfully imprisoned in China for over a decade now.” — Senator Ted Cruz [26:09]
Conclusion
In this episode, Ben Ferguson and Senator Ted Cruz deliver a critical analysis of the Biden administration's handling of the Chinese spy balloon incident, highlighting perceived delays, political motivations, and broader implications for U.S. national security and international relations. They also touch upon internal party dynamics and advocate for stronger Congressional oversight and action against human rights violations abroad. The discussion sets the stage for ongoing debates and upcoming special shows focused on key national issues.
Note: Advertisements and promotional segments present in the transcript were omitted to focus solely on the substantive content of the discussion.