Summary of "Verdict with Ted Cruz" Episode: Cruz's Coronavirus Quarantine

Podcast Title: Verdict with Ted Cruz
Host: Michael Knowles
Guest: Senator Ted Cruz
Release Date: March 11, 2020
Duration: Approximately 27 minutes

1. Introduction and Ted Cruz’s Quarantine Experience (00:00 – 05:00)

The episode opens with Michael Knowles addressing the global surge of the coronavirus outbreak and introducing the special segment featuring Senator Ted Cruz, who is currently in self-quarantine.

Key Points:

• Exposure to Coronavirus: Ted Cruz shares his recent exposure to a COVID-19 positive individual at the CPAC conference. Despite the brief interaction—shaking hands and possibly taking a selfie—Cruz proactively decided to self-quarantine following consultations with health authorities.

  Ted Cruz (00:40): "Given the very brief interaction that it was less than a minute... the chances that I had contracted the virus were very, very low. And in fact they said I did not meet the CDC criteria for self quarantine."

• Decision to Quarantine: Emphasizing responsibility, Cruz chose to self-quarantine for 14 days to protect his constituents, despite not meeting the official criteria.

  Ted Cruz (02:55): "I decided the right thing for me to do was to self quarantine nonetheless... I am out, I'm seeing people, I am engaging in people, engaging with people frequently that it made sense to be prudent."

2. Assessing the Severity of the Coronavirus Pandemic (03:01 – 06:58)

Michael Knowles explores the dichotomy in public perceptions about COVID-19—from being compared to the flu to being feared as an apocalyptic threat.

Key Points:

• Cruz’s Perspective: Cruz acknowledges the virus as a serious public health threat, surpassing the flu in both infectiousness and mortality rate, especially among vulnerable populations such as the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions.

  Ted Cruz (03:31): "This is a serious public health threat and we should treat it seriously... its mortality rate appears to be substantially higher than the flus."

• Government Response: He commends local, state, and federal efforts to manage the outbreak, stressing the importance of a fact-based and science-driven approach over political rhetoric.

  Ted Cruz (05:00): "We ought to be calm and sober minded and we ought to be driven by the facts, we ought to be driven by the science, and we ought to be listening to the medical professionals."

3. Potential Government Measures and Economic Impact (06:58 – 14:33)

The discussion shifts to possible government interventions and the economic ramifications of the pandemic.

Key Points:

• Lockdown Measures: Cruz draws parallels with Italy’s stringent lockdowns, suggesting the U.S. might adopt similar measures if the situation escalates.

  Ted Cruz (05:00): "We've got the entire country basically under lockdown... They've canceled sporting events, they've shut down public gatherings because they're trying to contain the spread of it."

• Economic Concerns: While acknowledging the potential negative impact on the economy, Cruz dismisses fears of a complete economic collapse, attributing stock market volatility partly to concurrent events like the oil price war.

  Ted Cruz (12:37): "I think it is fair to expect that the coronavirus outbreak is going to impact people's lives. It's going to restrict, it's gonna restrict what they do, and it may well have a real impact on the economy. That doesn't mean we're headed into the Great Depression."

• Government Proposals: He criticizes congressional Democrats for leveraging the crisis to push broader political agendas, advocating instead for targeted public policy responses, including emergency funding and removing regulatory barriers for medical innovations.

  Ted Cruz (19:22): "We ought to be focusing on, number one, we just passed $8.3 billion in emergency funding for things like first responders, for things like screening, for things like additional resources for testing."

4. Origins of the Virus and Media Narratives (07:20 – 09:50)

Michael Knowles probes into the origins of COVID-19, touching upon the controversial topic of its emergence from the Wuhan Virology Institute.

Key Points:

• Natural vs. Artificial Origins: Cruz references expert opinions stating the virus appears naturally occurring based on genome sequencing, diminishing theories of artificial creation.

  Ted Cruz (09:50): "Based on the sequencing of the genomes, it does not appear to be artificially created, that it appears to be a virus that has occurred in nature."

• China’s Transparency Issues: He criticizes the Chinese government's initial handling of the outbreak, highlighting their tendency to suppress information which may have contributed to the virus's rapid spread.

  Ted Cruz (07:20): "One of the reasons that this virus spread so rapidly and has been so difficult to contain is that early on the communist government in China did not want to be public about it."

• Media Reactions: Cruz compares the media’s response to political sensitivities, referencing the NBA’s apology over comments on Hong Kong as a parallel to the backlash against discussing the virus’s origins.

  Ted Cruz (09:50): "And the collective media acts with this outrage of, okay, take your tin hat off. How dare you even ask that question?"

5. Impact on the 2020 Election and Government Operations (11:22 – 15:15)

The conversation shifts to the potential effects of the pandemic on the U.S. elections and governmental functions.

Key Points:

• Election Delays: Cruz considers the postponement of elections an unlikely outcome, labeling such an event as "extreme circumstances."

  Ted Cruz (11:42): "You know, that would strike me as an extreme circumstance. I don't see that as terribly likely."

• Government Services: While essential services are expected to continue, there is an emphasis on protecting first responders with adequate safety equipment.

  Ted Cruz (15:15): "I think essential and critical government services will continue, but we've gotta make sure that our first responders have safety equipment."

• Advice for Vulnerable Populations: He advises vulnerable individuals, particularly the elderly, to adhere to social distancing and stay home to minimize risk.

  Ted Cruz (15:15): "I've advised people in my family, particularly if they're seniors and they have health issues, if you can stay home, you probably should."

6. Audience Questions and Final Remarks (19:22 – 26:34)

The episode concludes with Michael Knowles presenting listener-submitted questions, which Cruz addresses.

Key Questions & Responses:

• Potential Transmission to Nigel Farage (21:40 – 22:10):

  • Question: Concerns over Cruz potentially infecting Nigel Farage.

  • Response: Cruz clarifies that he interacted with Farage before his exposure at CPAC, effectively negating the risk.

    Ted Cruz (21:40): "The odds of that are zero. Cause I did the Nigel Farage interview before we went to CPAC."

• Senator Chuck Schumer’s Threats (22:51 – 23:58):

  • Question: Whether Senator Schumer's threatening remarks toward Supreme Court Justices violate any laws.

  • Response: Cruz condemns Schumer's actions as crossing the line into intimidation and supports a resolution to censure him.

    Ted Cruz (23:58): "I've joined with a number of other senators in a resolution to censure Chuck Schumer. I think the Senate should act formally to censure him."

• Personal Recount of Receiving the Quarantine Call (24:17 – 26:34):

  • Question: Description of the moment Cruz received news of his exposure.

  • Response: He narrates the experience of deciding to cancel plans for an Eagles concert fundraiser to avoid potential spread, showcasing his commitment to public safety.

    Ted Cruz (24:17): "I missed the Eagles concert... But I did put on Hotel California at home, and we listened to it in our living room."

    Ted Cruz (25:44): "I'm a big Eagles fan. Oh, yeah. So I had suggested it months earlier... but I just got a call that I interacted with someone who tested positive."

Final Thoughts: Cruz emphasizes responsibility, public health adherence, and the importance of listening to medical professionals in combating the pandemic.

Ted Cruz (26:19): "All of us should listen to the health professional, should listen to the CDC."

Conclusion

This episode of "Verdict with Ted Cruz" offers an in-depth look into Senator Cruz's personal experience with the coronavirus outbreak, his assessment of the situation, and his views on governmental and societal responses. By blending personal anecdotes with policy discussions, Cruz provides listeners with a comprehensive understanding of the challenges posed by COVID-19 and underscores the importance of measured, science-based approaches to managing the crisis.

Notable Quotes:

• Ted Cruz on Self-Quarantine Decision:
  "[...] the right thing for me to do was to self quarantine nonetheless [...]" (00:40)

• Cruz on Severity Compared to Flu:
  "[...] mortality rate appears to be substantially higher than the flus." (03:31)

• On Media’s Handling of Virus Origins:
  "[...] How dare you even ask that question?" (09:50)

• Regarding Senator Schumer’s Remarks:
  "[...] trying to intimidate Supreme Court justices [...] crosses the line." (22:51)

• Personal Responsibility in Quarantine:
  "[...] if you're sick, stay home and listen to the doctors that’s good." (18:55)

References

• Transcript Timestamps: Referenced throughout the summary to denote the location of key discussions within the episode.