The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson: Episode 14 - Live at CPAC

Release Date: February 27, 2020
Host: Premiere Networks
Description:
Hosted by Ben Ferguson, a renowned national radio host, podcaster, and political commentator, The 47 Morning Update delves into the latest news and political developments, particularly focusing on the President's administration, policies, and agenda. The show offers unfiltered insights, exclusive interviews, and candid commentary, providing listeners with a behind-the-scenes look at the issues shaping America today.

Live CPAC Event with Michael Knowles, Ted Cruz, and Ronna McDaniel

Timestamp: [00:00] - [20:09]

The episode air begins with Michael Knowles and Senator Ted Cruz engaging in a lively discussion live from the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), the largest gathering of conservatives globally.

Introduction and Podcast Success

• Michael Knowles opens the session by welcoming Senator Cruz, joking about their close rapport: "Senator, I feel like we're pretty much roommates at this point." [00:00]

• Senator Ted Cruz affirms their camaraderie and highlights CPAC's significance: "This is CPAC. This is the largest conservative gathering in the world." [00:32]

• The conversation shifts to the success of Cruz’s podcast, Verdict with Ted Cruz, launched during the impeachment trial. Cruz shares the impressive growth, noting over 4.5 million downloads and its rise to the number one ranked podcast globally: "It went from zero, non-existent to skyrocketing and becoming the number one ranked podcast in the world." [01:38]

Political Realignment: Republicans as the Party of the Working Class

• Ted Cruz discusses a fundamental political shift where the Republican Party has repositioned itself as the champion of blue-collar workers:
  "Today, the Democrats are the party of rich coastal elites... working men and women... used to form the heart of the Democratic Party... they're Trump Democrats." [04:47]

• Michael Knowles adds historical context, reminiscing about the Reagan era and the GOP’s transformation: "You know, it's not just happening in the United States either. We're seeing this happen throughout the west we saw with Brexit..." [06:24]

Achievements Under the Trump Administration

• Senator Cruz highlights President Trump's accomplishments during the State of the Union, emphasizing record low unemployment rates:
  "The lowest unemployment for African Americans in history, the lowest unemployment for Hispanics in history." [06:47]

• He underscores the administration's impact on reducing dependency on government assistance, sharing a personal story about a single mother in Houston who secured employment and regained her family's dignity:
  "Seven million lives transformed." [07:23]

• Additionally, Cruz points out economic milestones, such as a $6,000 annual income increase for families in Laredo, Texas, and the return of 500,000 manufacturing jobs to the U.S.:
  "That's $6,000 a year in a single mom's pockets, in a working family's pockets." [13:20]

Interview with Ronna McDaniel, Chairwoman of the Republican National Committee

Timestamp: [09:14] - [19:55]

• Michael Knowles introduces Ronna McDaniel, Chairwoman of the Republican National Committee (RNC), to discuss the party's vision and strategies moving forward:
  "Chairwoman, thank you so much for being here." [09:14]

• Ronna McDaniel reflects on the success in Michigan during the 2016 and 2020 elections, crediting President Trump's outreach to working-class voters:
  "President Trump spoke to the working men and women in Michigan and transformed our state and brought new voters into our coalition." [10:10]

• She highlights the flipping of traditionally Democratic counties like Macomb County, emphasizing data-driven campaign efforts:
  "We had the data. We were knocking doors, we were talking to voters, and we saw these forgotten men and women who really felt like Washington had left them behind." [11:09]

• The discussion turns to the threat posed by the Democrats' push to eliminate the Electoral College in favor of a national popular vote:
  "I think it is devastating for our country to get rid of the electoral vote. This is what the founders intended for every state to have representation." [16:46]

• Ronna McDaniel expresses determination to legally challenge these efforts, stating her intent to be the "most litigious chair in history":
  "The RNC is not going to let this go. Let me just say I have an intention to be the most litigious chair in history." [17:01]

• She addresses the Democrats' fear of blue-collar voters, noting their strategy to rely on populous states like California and New York rather than engaging crucial swing states:
  "Because they're scared of blue collar voters. They don't think they can get those blue collar voters back." [17:29]

Electoral College vs. National Popular Vote Debate

• Michael Knowles poses a question regarding the constitutionality of states compacting their electoral votes to follow the national popular vote:
  "Is the popular vote compact a violation of Article 1, Section 10, Senator?" [15:46]

• Senator Cruz responds affirmatively, suggesting it's likely a constitutional violation and highlights recent movements by states like Virginia:
  "It's probably. But it is an open question constitutionally... Virginia was the latest one that voted to give their electoral votes to whoever wins the national popular vote." [16:03]

• Ronna McDaniel vehemently opposes the elimination of the Electoral College, reinforcing the party’s commitment to maintain state-based representation:
  "The RNC is not going to let this go. There's something coming." [16:46]

• The conversation underscores the RNC's plans to litigate against such measures, ensuring the preservation of the Electoral College and state votes:
  "The RNC is going to let this go. And there's something coming." [17:01]

Audience Engagement and Final Thoughts

• Michael Knowles introduces audience questions, emphasizing the show's interactive nature.

• An audience member, Tonka Teddy Bear, asks about the Democratic National Committee's (DNC) strategy concerning Bernie Sanders and the party's primary process:
  "Is it possible that the DNC is not going to nuke Bernie and are writing off this election for two reasons...?" [18:34]

• Ronna McDaniel praises the current DNC leadership sarcastically while criticizing their primary process and superdelegate system:
  "It's funny that they're against the Electoral College, but they're creating the same system in their nominating process where these super delegates get to come in and take away the popular vote." [19:26]

• Ted Cruz and Ronna McDaniel ridicule the Democratic vote-counting process, highlighting inefficiencies and the potential manipulation of results:
  "How hard is it to count the damn votes?" [19:45]
  "The reason they don't want to count the votes is because they don't like the answer that they're going to get." [19:50]

• The episode concludes with Michael Knowles thanking Ronna McDaniel and Senator Ted Cruz, reinforcing the GOP’s commitment to uphold the Electoral College and protect voters’ rights:
  "Thank you all." [20:09]

Key Takeaways and Insights

1. Podcast Growth and Media Influence: Senator Ted Cruz's podcast, Verdict, rapidly ascended to the top ranks, demonstrating the growing influence of conservative media voices in shaping political discourse.

2. Shift in Political Allegiances: There has been a significant realignment where the Republican Party now predominantly represents blue-collar workers, while the Democratic Party is increasingly seen as catering to elites and coastal interests.

3. Administrative Achievements: Under President Trump, notable economic achievements include record low unemployment rates across various demographics, substantial increases in median incomes in regions like Texas, and a resurgence in manufacturing jobs.

4. Electoral College Advocacy: The RNC, led by Ronna McDaniel, is firmly committed to defending the Electoral College against Democratic efforts to switch to a national popular vote, viewing it as a direct threat to state representation and voter influence.

5. Legal and Strategic Response: The GOP is preparing to take legal action to preserve the Electoral College, emphasizing the necessity of litigation to counteract Democratic strategies that undermine traditional electoral structures.

6. Party Consolidation and Future Strategies: Emphasis on the importance of the GOP becoming "the blue collar GOP," focusing on policies that resonate with working-class Americans to secure future electoral victories.

7. Critique of Democratic Processes: The episode criticizes the DNC's handling of primaries and vote counting, suggesting inefficiencies and potential biases that disadvantage their election strategies.

Notable Quotes

• Ted Cruz: "Seven million lives transformed." [07:23]
• Ronna McDaniel: "I have an intention to be the most litigious chair in history." [17:01]
• Michael Knowles: "The reason they don't want to count the votes is because they don't like the answer that they're going to get." [19:50]
• Ronna McDaniel: "The RNC is not going to let this go. There's something coming." [16:46]

Conclusions

Episode 14 of The 47 Morning Update underscores the strategic shifts within the Republican Party to align more closely with the working class, distancing itself from elite influences traditionally associated with the Democratic Party. Highlighting significant economic achievements under the Trump administration, the discussion emphasizes the importance of maintaining the Electoral College to preserve state influence in presidential elections. With the RNC poised to take legal action against attempts to undermine the Electoral College, the GOP demonstrates a robust commitment to safeguarding its electoral strategies and ensuring sustained voter representation across all states.

Listeners are provided with a comprehensive analysis of current political dynamics, the transformative shifts in party allegiances, and the overarching strategies to maintain and expand Republican influence in upcoming elections. The episode serves as a rallying call for conservatives to engage with core issues affecting the working class, emphasizing the necessity of policy-driven advocacy to secure future political victories.