Episode Summary: "It All Comes Down To This"
Release Date: February 6, 2020
Podcast: Verdict with Ted Cruz

In the episode titled "It All Comes Down To This," hosted by Senator Ted Cruz alongside political commentator Michael Knowles, the discussion centers around the culmination of President Donald Trump's impeachment trial. The hosts delve into the implications of the final impeachment vote, the partisan dynamics at play, and broader political ramifications affecting both the Democratic and Republican parties. Additionally, the episode touches upon ongoing investigations into Hunter Biden and addresses listener questions, providing insights into the current political landscape.

1. Impeachment Vote Outcome and Immediate Reactions

The episode opens with Ted Cruz announcing the conclusion of the impeachment trial:

• [00:00] Ted Cruz: "It all comes down to the final impeachment vote on whether or not to remove President Trump from office."

The verdict is delivered promptly:

• [00:34] Ted Cruz: "The President has not been removed from office."

Michael Knowles immediately reacts to the outcome, highlighting the predictability of the result and its roots in partisan politics:

• [01:05] Michael Knowles: "Impeachment was always a partisan circus, and it was always going to end with acquittal."

He further criticizes the impeachment process as a strategic move by Democrats to appease a fervent base rather than a genuine attempt to convict:

• [01:13] Michael Knowles: "It wasn't about convicting the President. That wasn't the Democrats objective. It was about appeasing their base that hates him."

2. Partisanship and Democratic Strategies

Knowles elaborates on the inherent partisanship of the impeachment trial, drawing parallels with other Democratic actions, such as Nancy Pelosi's reaction to the State of the Union:

• [01:35] Michael Knowles: "Nancy Pelosi ripping the speech in half is the same thing as impeachment. It is all a giant F you apologies to Donald Trump."

Ted Cruz questions the strategic gains Democrats might have sought from such maneuvers, considering the anticipated acquittal:

• [02:03] Ted Cruz: "But then what did they get out of it? I guess if we always knew how it was gonna end and it was always going to be a partisan circus, was there a political victory?"

Knowles responds by asserting that these actions temporarily satisfy the Democratic base, even if they ultimately harm the party's broader political standing:

• [02:13] Michael Knowles: "When you throw blood to the mob, it satiates the mob, at least briefly. Or if nothing else, it gets messy."

He criticizes prominent Democrats like Nancy Pelosi and Jerry Nadler for initially resisting impeachment until their base's pressure became unbearable:

• [02:35] Michael Knowles: "What changed is their base got angrier and angrier and angrier. And ultimately... all of impeachment... is a giant F you apologies to Donald Trump."

3. The Impact of Swing Votes and Senator Romney's Unexpected Stance

The conversation shifts to analyzing the final impeachment vote, highlighting the role of swing senators:

• [04:14] Michael Knowles: "I think that's right. And I think that their base has radicalized and they have no choice but follow them off the cliff."

Cruz points out the surprise element in the voting, particularly focusing on Senator Mitt Romney's decision to break party lines:

• [04:24] Ted Cruz: "There were some surprises today... it was a completely party line vote except for Mitt Romney."

Knowles breaks down the voting dynamics, listing the senators who voted to acquit and those who were expected to follow suit:

• [05:01] Michael Knowles: "We had three Republicans, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Mitt Romney, and three Democrats, Joe Manchin, Kyrsten Sinema, Doug Jones."

He expresses disappointment over Romney's decision to be the sole Republican to vote guilty on one of the charges:

• [06:34] Michael Knowles: "I think he's wrong. I think he is very mistaken and I think that's unfortunate."

Cruz probes whether Romney's vote might influence other Democrats, to which Knowles responds skeptically:

• [07:38] Ted Cruz: "Do you think Senator Romney's decision influenced some of those other swing votes on the Democratic side?"

• [07:58] Michael Knowles: "That's an interesting question... I don't think so."

4. Reflections on Party Loyalty and Political Integrity

Knowles draws parallels between Senator Romney's vote and past Senate actions, specifically referencing the 2017 Obamacare repeal vote:

• [11:27] Michael Knowles: "John McCain and I became friends. I respect and admire him personally... But I had to turn and walk off the Senate floor because if I had spoken to him that night, it would not have been language suitable for the floor of the United States."

He contrasts this with how senators like Susan Collins maintained honesty with their voters despite disagreeing with party lines:

• [13:12] Michael Knowles: "Susan was honest with her voters. She wasn't out there on the stump saying, if you elect me, I will vote to repeal Obamacare."

This emphasis on integrity underscores Knowles' broader critique of partisan politics, suggesting that Democrats' strategies are damaging their own political fortunes while inadvertently strengthening Republican positions.

5. Hunter Biden Investigation and Political Ramifications

Transitioning from the impeachment discussion, the hosts address the emerging topic of Hunter Biden's potential corruption:

• [15:17] Ted Cruz: "This brings us to another point... Senators Chuck Grassley and Ron Johnson have sent letters to the Secret Service requesting information on Hunter Biden's travel records."

Knowles expresses cautious optimism but highlights the political challenges in pursuing such investigations:

• [16:03] Michael Knowles: "The political appetite for any further investigation diminished dramatically because Joe Biden is in free fall."

He critiques the lack of initiative from Senate committee chairs to advance the investigation, attributing it to Biden's declining political standing:

• [18:48] Michael Knowles: "No committee chairman wants to do it. It's gotta be a committee chairman. I don't care if it's judiciary, foreign relations or intel."

Knowles also emphasizes the importance of the Department of Justice in addressing potential corruption but criticizes its current inaction:

• [19:17] Michael Knowles: "Where's DOJ?... Get wiretapped. You got evidence here of a million bucks a year to the son of the vice president."

6. Listener Engagement and Future Directions

As the episode progresses, the hosts engage with listener questions, reflecting on the podcast's trajectory and responding to suggestions:

• [21:18] Michael Knowles: "We ain't going anywhere, all right? We will keep on going and we're going to keep doing the same thing, which is trying to get to the bottom of issues, trying to engage in substance."

Cruz and Knowles discuss the podcast's commitment to providing in-depth analysis beyond the superficial coverage typical of mainstream media:

• [22:10] Michael Knowles: "Look, people have jobs, they have kids, they have lives... But they do want to understand, all right, what's really going on, what are the facts?"

In addressing a listener’s suggestion for him to take a Supreme Court seat, Knowles firmly declines, emphasizing his dedication to legislative work and training young conservatives:

• [23:22] Michael Knowles: "The short answer is that I'm not interested in doing that."

He reflects on the significance of judicial impartiality and his desire to remain actively involved in the Senate to influence policy directly.

7. Conclusion and Closing Remarks

Ted Cruz wraps up the episode by expressing gratitude to listeners and outlining the podcast's ongoing commitment to providing substantive political commentary:

• [28:12] Ted Cruz: "I am glad you're staying in the fight in both places."

Knowles reaffirms the podcast's mission to address pressing issues with depth and integrity, aiming to offer perspectives not commonly found in other media outlets:

• [21:20] Ted Cruz: "We still have the final verdict on impeachment... to look forward at what is at stake coming up."

The episode concludes with a brief mention of sponsorship, which the hosts ensure to skip as per instructions, focusing instead on the core content delivered throughout the discussion.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• [01:13] Michael Knowles: "Impeachment was always a partisan circus, and it was always going to end with acquittal."

• [01:35] Michael Knowles: "Nancy Pelosi ripping the speech in half is the same thing as impeachment. It is all a giant F you apologies to Donald Trump."

• [05:03] Michael Knowles: "It has helped his numbers."

• [06:34] Michael Knowles: "I think he's wrong. I think he is very mistaken and I think that's unfortunate."

• [13:12] Michael Knowles: "Susan was honest with her voters. She wasn't out there on the stump saying, if you elect me, I will vote to repeal Obamacare."

• [19:17] Michael Knowles: "Where's DOJ?... Get wiretapped. You got evidence here of a million bucks a year to the son of the vice president."

• [23:22] Michael Knowles: "The short answer is that I'm not interested in doing that."

Conclusion

"It All Comes Down To This" offers a comprehensive analysis of the political maneuvers surrounding President Trump's impeachment, shedding light on the underlying partisan tensions that influenced the Senate's decision. Ted Cruz and Michael Knowles provide a critical perspective on Democratic strategies, the role of individual senators' votes, and the broader implications for American politics. By addressing contemporary issues like the Hunter Biden investigation and engaging directly with listener inquiries, the episode underscores the hosts' commitment to fostering informed and substantive political discourse.