The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson Episode: "Bill Barr is the Honey Badger ft. Attorney General Bill Barr" Release Date: June 25, 2020

Overview In this episode of Verdict with Ted Cruz, host Michael Knowles sits down with the former Attorney General William Barr. The discussion delves into pressing national issues such as law enforcement amidst civil unrest, the role of big technology companies, the integrity of the Department of Justice (DOJ), and recent high-profile cases. Barr provides insights into federal strategies for maintaining order, critiques the influence of big tech on free speech, and reflects on his tenure in the DOJ.

1. Maintaining Law and Order Amidst Civil Unrest

Timestamp: 01:46 - 03:15

Michael Knowles opens the conversation by addressing the surge in riots, vandalism, and autonomous zones, questioning how to restore order in a time of perceived lawlessness.

William Barr emphasizes the necessity of collaboration between state, local, and federal governments. He explains that while federal agencies like the FBI are not deployed for everyday policing, they are pivotal in addressing significant outbreaks of violence through joint terrorist task forces.

"The federal government is best positioned to address this kind of violence and lawlessness after it occurs because we don't have FBI agents walking the beat." [01:46]

Barr highlights the establishment of 35 joint terrorist task forces across the country, which have already led to numerous indictments related to arson and destruction of federal property.

2. Evidence of Coordinated Violence and Extremism

Timestamp: 03:06 - 04:22

When asked about the nature of recent violent activities, Barr confirms strong evidence pointing towards coordination rather than spontaneous actions. He identifies groups associated with the Antifa movement as primary instigators aiming to undermine the country.

"Fundamentally, what you have here is you have demonstrators, some of them go there with the intent of demonstrating, but you have a group of provocateurs and agitators... They want to tear down the country." [03:15]

Barr notes the rapid planning and execution of these activities, often with little time for premeditation.

3. Protecting Federal Property and Policy Enforcement

Timestamp: 04:22 - 07:04

The discussion shifts to the President's stance on protecting federal property, highlighting a recent policy announcement on Twitter that mandates strict enforcement against the destruction of federal landmarks.

William Barr clarifies that this policy isn't a shift but a reinforcement of existing obligations to safeguard federal sites. With local authorities sometimes failing to act effectively, the federal government's role becomes crucial.

"We have right now about 500 investigations underway. So it's picking up pace and we are committed to holding accountable the people are engaged in this." [05:22]

Barr underscores the commitment to prosecute offenders, citing severe penalties such as up to 10 years in prison for attacking federal monuments.

"If you attack a monument on federal property, you're going to get prosecuted. 10 years, yep." [05:30]

4. Big Tech Censorship and Rule 230 Reform

Timestamp: 07:55 - 14:23

Michael Knowles raises concerns about the role of big tech companies in censoring political discourse, exemplified by Twitter's blocking of presidential tweets and Google's actions against conservative media outlets.

William Barr elaborates on the DOJ's antitrust investigations into major internet platforms, aiming to curb their monopolistic control over public discourse.

"These behemoths have gotten vast... strong control over the expression of views and public forum here in the United States." [07:55]

Barr criticizes the manipulation of Rule 230, a provision that grants immunity to online platforms for user-generated content. He advocates for modifying this rule to ensure platforms provide clear terms of service and justify content removal transparently.

"We want to modify Rule 230 so that they have to have clear terms of service... and they have to give notice and process to people whose content they take down." [09:45]

The conversation highlights the imbalance where big tech enforces stricter controls on external content while maintaining lax policies on their own subsidiaries like YouTube.

"YouTube is a wholly owned subsidiary of Google... You can find racist, you can find profane, you can find offensive comments all over YouTube." [12:05]

5. Autonomous Zones and DOJ's Stance

Timestamp: 14:02 - 14:47

Addressing the emergence of autonomous zones, Barr dismisses the notion that these areas are separate from the United States. He characterizes them as controlled by agitators who disrupt local communities without proper law enforcement support.

"Well, obviously, they're not separate from the United States. They're a bunch of agitators who have planted themselves in the middle of Seattle and are bullying the people who live there and the businesses that are there." [14:23]

6. Integrity and Politicization of the Department of Justice

Timestamp: 15:41 - 28:39

The conversation shifts to the politicization of the DOJ under previous administrations. William Barr criticizes former DOJ leaders for undermining democratic institutions, citing the DOJ's actions during the 2016 election as unprecedented and damaging.

"We had one of the largest frauds and injustices in American history conducted during the 2016 election by the Justice Department and the FBI right in the center of it." [16:28]

Barr discusses his efforts to rectify these issues by reopening cases like that of General Michael Flynn, arguing that previous prosecutions were politically motivated and lacked substantive evidence.

"We moved to drop the prosecution of General Flynn because... they didn't really have a basis for a counterintelligence investigation." [16:58]

7. Personal Anecdotes and Professional History

Timestamp: 22:25 - 26:39

Ted Cruz shares a personal story about meeting Barr 25 years prior, highlighting Barr's longstanding commitment to legal integrity. The conversation touches upon the proper form of address for the Attorney General, with Barr clarifying the traditional usage.

"The form of address in Britain, New Zealand, Australia and Canada is attorney. The form of address in the United States is general." [22:48]

8. Recent DOJ Actions: Firing of Jeffrey Berman

Timestamp: 29:17 - 31:36

Ted Cruz questions Barr on the DOJ's decision to fire Jeffrey Berman, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. Barr explains that the dismissal was not personal but procedural, aimed at appointing a presidentally nominated Attorney General to the position.

"US Attorneys are assisting the president enforce the law, seeing that the laws are faithfully executed. So they are agents of the President in that respect, constitutionally." [30:00]

Barr emphasizes the importance of aligning U.S. Attorneys with the administration's priorities to ensure effective law enforcement.

9. Conclusion and Acknowledgments

Timestamp: 32:13 - 32:40

Michael Knowles wraps up the interview, expressing gratitude for Barr's candid insights and reinforcing the importance of his efforts in restoring the DOJ's integrity.

Key Takeaways:

• Federalism in Law Enforcement: The necessity of federal intervention when local authorities are overwhelmed or unwilling to maintain order.
• Combating Extremism: Identification and prosecution of coordinated violent activities, particularly those influenced by Antifa.
• Big Tech Regulation: The DOJ's push to reform Rule 230 to prevent censorship and reduce the monopoly power of major internet platforms.
• DOJ's Integrity: Barr's efforts to depoliticize the DOJ and address past abuses, ensuring the department serves justice impartially.
• Autonomous Zones: The government's rejection of claims that these zones are legally separate from the United States, calling for federal action against such agitators.
• Leadership and Accountability: The importance of aligning U.S. Attorneys with the administration to uphold the rule of law effectively.

Notable Quotes:

• "We are committed to holding accountable the people are engaged in this." — William Barr [01:46]
• "These behemoths have gotten vast... strong control over the expression of views and public forum here in the United States." — William Barr [07:55]
• "We had one of the largest frauds and injustices in American history conducted during the 2016 election by the Justice Department and the FBI right in the center of it." — William Barr [16:28]
• "He fired Jeffrey Berman because the President had not nominated his own attorney General for that position." — William Barr [30:20]

This episode offers a comprehensive look into the complexities of maintaining national security, upholding judicial integrity, and addressing the challenges posed by modern technology and political polarization. Attorney General William Barr's insights provide listeners with a deeper understanding of the federal strategies in place to navigate these turbulent times.