Podcast Summary: "Lying Sacks Of Crap" – Verdict with Ted Cruz Featuring Michael Knowles
Release Date: May 13, 2022

In the episode titled "Lying Sacks Of Crap," Senator Ted Cruz engages in a spirited discussion with Michael Knowles, dissecting the recent Senate vote on the Democrats' attempt to codify Roe v. Wade into law. The conversation navigates through media misrepresentation, the implications of the abortion bill, political strategies, and the cultural battleground shaping America's future.

1. Senate Vote on Democrats' Abortion Bill: Media Misrepresentation

The episode opens with Michael Knowles highlighting a Senate vote aimed at overturning the Democrats' plan to codify Roe v. Wade, which he describes as a "radical national abortion bill."

• Michael Knowles (00:00):
  "About half an hour ago, the Senate voted to shoot down the Democrats plan to codify Roe vs. Wade into law, pass a radical national abortion bill."

Ted Cruz criticizes how mainstream media outlets are inaccurately portraying the vote, particularly labeling it as a "GOP led filibuster."

• Ted Cruz (04:40):
  "The fact is a majority of the Senate voted against this radical bill. But the press doesn't like that news, that the real headline should be Bipartisan majority of the Senate rejects radical Pro Abortion bill."

2. Republican Perspectives on Abortion Legislation

Cruz clarifies that the Democrats' bill doesn't merely codify Roe v. Wade but seeks to implement an unrestricted abortion policy, effectively overturning decades of precedent.

• Ted Cruz (06:00):
  "49 of the Democrats today voted for a law that allows abortion up until the moment of birth. Literally until the child is being born."

He emphasizes the disconnect between Democratic policies and public opinion, citing polling data that shows only 6% of Americans support the bill's provisions.

• Ted Cruz (08:12):
  "6% of Americans agree with the position of 49 out of 50 Democrats."

3. Democrats' Strategy: Distracting with Other Issues

Cruz argues that Democrats are diverting attention from their unpopular abortion stance by bringing up other contentious issues like contraceptives, gay marriage, and interracial marriage.

• Ted Cruz (09:14):
  "You bigoted, moronic, Manhattan leftist elite, lying sacks of crap."

• Ted Cruz (12:49):
  "Today's Democrats are captured by the radical activists on every issue. On immigration, they're captured by the open border radicals. On issues of gender, they're captured by the transgender radicals."

He asserts that the Democrats prioritize appeasing radical elements within their party over addressing the concerns of the average voter.

4. Intimidation of Justices and Pro-Life Centers

The discussion shifts to the troubling increase in protests and harassment directed at Supreme Court justices and pro-life centers. Cruz condemns these actions, highlighting their illegality and the lack of enforcement by authorities.

• Ted Cruz (13:16):
  "It's an attempt to destroy the Supreme Court. It's an attempt to tear down the rule of law, and it's an attempt to use political pressure to bully the justices into changing their votes."

He references federal law (18 USC §1507) that criminalizes such intimidation but criticizes the Biden administration for failing to prosecute offenders.

• Ted Cruz (15:07):
  "It's a straight out federal crime. And Merrick Garland and the corrupt Biden Department of Justice is nowhere to be found. They're not enforcing the law."

Cruz also addresses the vulnerabilities of elected officials like Chuck Schumer, who faces frequent protests at his residence, contrasting their roles with those of unelected justices.

5. Legislative Response: Allowing Military Exemptions for COVID Vaccines

Towards the end of the episode, Ted Cruz introduces a legislative measure aimed at protecting military personnel from being discharged for refusing COVID-19 vaccines.

• Ted Cruz (20:59):
  "The bill would stop the military from firing soldiers and sailors and airmen and marines if they declined to take the COVID vaccine. We're seeing thousands threatened with being fired."

He advocates for personal choice regarding vaccination, framing the bill as a common-sense approach that aligns with individual rights.

6. Mailbag: Rapid Fire Topics

In the concluding segment, Cruz and Knowles address listener questions, touching on various topics:

• Coffee Preferences:

  • Ted Cruz (23:16): "Cream, no sugar. Lots of cream, though."
  • Michael Knowles (23:18): "I take my coffee black."

• GOP's Focus on Fiscal vs. Social Issues:
  Cruz discusses the generational shift within the Republican Party, noting a move towards prioritizing cultural issues amid the ongoing culture wars.

  • Ted Cruz (23:38):
    "More and more people recognize there is a culture war going on and we didn't start it. The left has decided to try to destroy our culture."

• Cultural Wars and Generational Debt:
  The conversation delves into how fiscal irresponsibility reflects cultural decay, referencing Patrick Deneen's viewpoints on national debt as a cultural inheritance.

  • Michael Knowles (25:01):
    "There's no question about it."
  • Ted Cruz (25:25):
    "The boomer generation, the credit card bill they have racked up is the greatest in the history of humanity."

• Potential National Divide:
  Responding to concerns about a growing division between red and blue states, Cruz invokes the principle of federalism as a healthy component of American democracy.

  • Ted Cruz (26:47):
    "Federalism, the system of 50 states, as laboratories of democracy. I think it's perfectly healthy if different states have different policies that reflect the values of their residents."

Conclusion

Throughout the episode, Senator Ted Cruz fervently defends Republican positions on abortion, criticizes media bias, and highlights the rise of political extremism affecting democratic institutions. The discussion underscores the tension between elected officials and unelected justices, the manipulation of public discourse by radical elements, and the legislative efforts to safeguard individual freedoms within the military context. By addressing listener questions, Cruz and Knowles further explore the interplay between fiscal responsibility and cultural integrity, painting a comprehensive picture of the current political landscape.