Podcast Summary: Democrats Throw Biden Under The Bus

Podcast: The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson
Episode: Democrats Throw Biden Under The Bus
Release Date: January 25, 2020
Hosts: Michael Knowles and Senator Ted Cruz
Duration Covered: 00:00 – 31:04

Introduction and Podcast Success

The episode begins with Michael Knowles welcoming Senator Ted Cruz to discuss the ongoing impeachment trial related to President Trump. Knowles congratulates Cruz on the success of his podcast, "Verdict with Ted Cruz," noting its rapid ascent into the top 10 podcasts globally after just two episodes (00:00 – 01:27). Cruz humorously shares a personal anecdote about attempting to share his podcast success with his daughter, highlighting the show's growing popularity.

Impeachment Trial Overview

Knowles shifts the focus to the central topic: the impeachment trial. He introduces the complex issues surrounding Burisma, Ukraine, Hunter Biden, and their connection to the impeachment proceedings (01:27 – 03:35). Cruz asserts that House Democrats have effectively undermined President Biden by discrediting the investigation into Burisma, a Ukrainian natural gas company, labeling it as baseless and politically motivated (02:02 – 04:28).

Key Quote:

• Ted Cruz (02:16): "The House Democrats effectively threw Joe Biden under the bus."

Burisma and Hunter Biden’s Involvement

Cruz delves deeper into the Burisma affair, explaining its origins and Hunter Biden’s role. Burisma was established by a Ukrainian oligarch who also served as the Minister of Natural Resources, facilitating corruption through granting natural gas licenses (04:28 – 05:34). Hunter Biden, despite lacking relevant expertise, was appointed to Burisma’s board in May 2014, shortly after his business partner, Devon Archer, joined the board and the company faced significant financial scrutiny from the UK's Serious Fraud Bureau (05:34 – 08:00).

Key Quotes:

• Michael Knowles (05:34): "Burisma is not a natural gas company in the way that you think of, like ExxonMobil."
• Ted Cruz (07:36 – 08:00): "Hunter Biden was getting nearly 10 times as much as a director of ExxonMobil gets in cash compensation."

Nepotism and Conflict of Interest

The discussion highlights the nepotistic nature of Hunter Biden's appointment, citing his admission that his position was due to his father's influence. Cruz references statements from Hunter Biden and associates, including John Kerry’s stepson, Chris Hines, who distanced himself from Burisma, labeling the association as "unacceptable" (08:00 – 10:29).

Key Quotes:

• Ted Cruz (09:23): "It's obvious he was put on the board because daddy was vice president."
• Chris Hines (10:29): "Working with Burisma was unacceptable."

Joe Biden’s Role and Potential Conflict of Interest

Cruz outlines how Vice President Joe Biden pressured Ukraine to fire Prosecutor General Viktor Shokin, who was investigating Burisma, in exchange for $1 billion in loan guarantees. This timeline suggests a quid pro quo arrangement, mirroring the allegations against President Trump (10:29 – 15:16).

Key Quote:

• Joe Biden (Recorded Statement, 14:05): "I'm telling you, you're not getting a billion dollars. Well, son of a bitch got fired."

Media and House Democrats’ Stance

Cruz criticizes mainstream media outlets like The Washington Post and The New York Times for their coverage of the Bidens and Burisma, accusing them of echoing Democratic narratives without acknowledging evidence of corruption (15:16 – 12:11). He also points out that House Democrats have blocked the investigation into Burisma’s corruption, preventing key witnesses from testifying (21:04 – 21:56).

Key Quote:

• Ted Cruz (16:17): "If an investigator sees the son of the vice president of the United States is part of the management of a company, that investigator will be uncomfortable pushing the case forward."

Comparison with Trump’s Actions

The conversation draws parallels between Biden’s actions in Ukraine and the impeachment charges against President Trump, arguing that both involve leveraging foreign aid for political gain. Cruz emphasizes that the Democrats are hypocritically accusing Trump of actions similar to those they themselves have engaged in (22:19 – 23:35).

Key Quotes:

• Ted Cruz (22:19): "What did he do because his son was getting a million dollars?"
• Michael Knowles (23:22): "The Democrats are accusing the president of doing what they themselves did."

Senate Proceedings and Future Steps

Cruz discusses the upcoming Senate vote on whether to call additional witnesses, advocating for reciprocity in witness testimony to ensure a fair trial. He criticizes the House’s one-sided approach and underscores the importance of presenting all evidence, including the recorded video of Biden discussing the prosecutor’s firing (25:00 – 30:43).

Key Quote:

• Ted Cruz (29:21 – 30:43): "The Democrats are accusing the president of withholding aid to Ukraine. Joe Biden did directly withhold or threaten to withhold a billion dollars in loan guarantees to Ukraine."

Conclusion and Call to Action

The episode concludes with a brief mailbag segment where a listener questions the possibility of a Republican pledge to call Hunter Biden if Democrats push for more witnesses. Cruz responds by discussing the potential outcomes of the upcoming vote and reiterates the importance of fairness in the impeachment process. Both hosts encourage listeners to subscribe and support the podcast to combat misinformation surrounding the impeachment trial (30:43 – 31:04).

Key Quote:

• Ted Cruz (30:43): "The Democrats, to coin a line, they can't handle the truth."

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Ted Cruz (02:16): "The House Democrats effectively threw Joe Biden under the bus."
• Michael Knowles (05:34): "Burisma is not a natural gas company in the way that you think of, like ExxonMobil."
• Ted Cruz (07:36): "Hunter Biden was getting nearly 10 times as much as a director of ExxonMobil gets in cash compensation."
• Ted Cruz (09:23): "It's obvious he was put on the board because daddy was vice president."
• Joe Biden (14:05): "I'm telling you, you're not getting a billion dollars. Well, son of a bitch got fired."
• Ted Cruz (16:17): "If an investigator sees the son of the vice president of the United States is part of the management of a company, that investigator will be uncomfortable pushing the case forward."
• Ted Cruz (22:19): "What did he do because his son was getting a million dollars?"
• Ted Cruz (29:21): "The Democrats are accusing the president of withholding aid to Ukraine. Joe Biden did directly withhold or threaten to withhold a billion dollars in loan guarantees to Ukraine."
• Ted Cruz (30:43): "The Democrats, to coin a line, they can't handle the truth."

Final Thoughts

The episode provides a detailed critique of House Democrats' impeachment efforts, focusing on alleged corruption involving Hunter Biden and Joe Biden's actions in Ukraine. Cruz argues that Democrats are hypocritically targeting President Trump for actions they themselves have engaged in, emphasizing the need for a fair and balanced impeachment process. The discussion is rich with specific timelines, quotes, and references to media coverage, offering listeners a comprehensive perspective on the impeachment trial's complexities.