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Ben Ferguson
Welcome. It is Verdict with Senator Ted Cruz. Ben Ferguson with you. Senator, we have a special guest in a show tonight that relates to the State of the Union and the Republican response. I'll let you take it away from there.
Senator Ted Cruz
Well, today on the podcast I'm very excited, we have a guest, my friend and colleague, Alabama Senator Katie Britt, who gave the Republican response to the State of the Union. She gave it and the media proceeded to go nuts. They pilloried her. They demonized her like crazy. Well, we're going to talk with Katie about all about that. We're going to, we're going to get into it. Then we're also going to get into Joe Biden's fallout after the State of the Union as he immediately backtracked. And of course, the thing he wanted to correct is that he actually referred to the murder of Lake and Riley as an illegal, which he promptly apologized for. Craven we're going to get into all of that today.
Ben Ferguson
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Senator Ted Cruz
Well, look, that's exactly right. And so we're joined tonight on the podcast with Katie Britt. Katie Britt is senator from the state of Alabama. She was elected in 2022. She is the first woman ever to be elected to the Senate from Alabama. She is the youngest Republican woman ever elected to the United States senate. She's just 42 years old. She's a mom of two teenagers. She has a terrific background. She used to be the CEO of the Business Council of Alabama. She was also the chief of staff to Richard Shelby, who was truly a legend, an icon in the Senate, someone I served with for a long time. He was in the Senate, I think, like 403 years or something like that.
Senator Katie Britt
I think that's about right.
Senator Ted Cruz
And so she, like, ran Shelby's operations and then came in and I gotta tell you, Katie is a star. She is young and energetic and vibrant and passionate. And she did the response. And look, everyone, remember back to last week. We see Joe Biden standing there in the State of the Union. He's an old, cranky, bitter man yelling and screaming, as we said on the pod immediately after the State of the Union. He was the grumpy old man saying, get off my lawn. And then the contrast, you go to a young, happy, beautiful mom sitting there talking about the issues facing American families. And I gotta say, if you're a Democrat, if you're a partisan, this is a nightmare. That contrast is terrifying. And so what has happened is the media has had a conniption fit. They have gone after her with both barrels. They have gone nuts. And so just at lunch today, I pulled her aside and said, hey, you kicked ass last week. And for what it's worth, the fact that the media is losing its mind should encourage you through and through. There's a reason they're attacking you because they are terrified and threatened by you. And we started talking. I said, you know what? Come on the pod tonight, let's talk about it. And she said, awesome. So, Katie, welcome to Verdict.
Senator Katie Britt
Thank you so much. I am excited to be on here. I appreciated you pulling me to the side today and having that conversation, as you said, you know, well, what it's like to be right over the target. And so being able to talk through that with you and reflect on Joe Biden's response, really angry speech and no media attention to that, and then mine, and heaven forbid that you show a little bit of passion about the things that matter to American families was quite different.
Senator Ted Cruz
And by the way, you want, we want the perfect encapsulation, Saturday Night Live. Now, I have to admit, the night of the State of the Union, I knew you were going to be on snl.
Senator Katie Britt
Absolutely.
Senator Ted Cruz
And I knew you were going to be the cold open. But this. You want to really sum up how corrupt the media is. The cold open, a Saturday Night Live, they have Joe Biden for like two minutes and they just kind of have him as sort of a happy doddering, like, yoo hoo, he's happy. They don't have him screaming and bitter and angry. They don't have any of that.
Senator Katie Britt
Right. And he totally gave a campaign speech. Let's be clear. I mean, it was, it was anti Trump. Anti Trump. It was, I mean, the whole thing. Angry, yelling, doesn't make sense. Was speaking some type of gibberish at some point.
Senator Ted Cruz
Yep.
Senator Katie Britt
But. But no. Yeah.
Senator Ted Cruz
And so the cold open, 80% of it is Katie's response. And by the way, okay, the thing that was the coolest is you're played by Scarlett Johansson.
Senator Katie Britt
I mean, how awesome is that?
Senator Ted Cruz
Okay, Katie, look, Scarlett Johansson is hot.
Senator Katie Britt
Yes.
Senator Ted Cruz
And all right, I am genuinely jealous because, look, SNL has come after me a bunch of times, right. They don't ever have Tom Cruise play me. How come you get a gorgeous movie star? And like, you know, that is a real compliment that you ought to be pretty psyched with.
Senator Katie Britt
Well, I actually was pretty pumped about that. I thought, you know what, Obviously, no, we're going to be the cold open. Like, how is this going to work out? And you wonder who in the world is going to play you. Right? And I'll be honest with you, a bingo card of 2024 for Katy Brett. I did not have this on it. Right. And so certainly didn't have Scarlett Johansson playing me. And I was trying. We were talking to the kids about all of it and they were like, oh my gosh, mom and Da and, and we. I said, you know, look, it could be worse. I mean, Scarlett Johansson here you have Black Widow. They bring in someone from Avengers to, to play me in the cold open. I'm here for it. I am, I'm here for it. So it was Pretty. Pretty fun moment.
Senator Ted Cruz
And by the way, in terms of Republican portrayals, like, they have had some vicious one. Okay, let's start off with. At least you were played by a woman.
Senator Katie Britt
That's fair.
Senator Ted Cruz
So when SNL has had me, I've also been played by a woman.
Senator Katie Britt
Stop it.
Senator Ted Cruz
And by the way.
Ben Ferguson
All right, Senator, hold on. You got to tell the story of when Saturday Night Live was messing with you and when they had a chick playing you. Please. For people that missed that Saturday Night Live episode.
Senator Ted Cruz
Yeah. So look, they cast 80 Bryant as me, and she's really funny. And, like, you know, coming off the whole Cancun thing, they had her in, like, cornrows and sipping a margarita, and it was hysterical. I, like, I laughed.
Senator Katie Britt
That is great.
Senator Ted Cruz
I thought it was awesome. And she looks pretty good in the beard, by the way. I mean, it's a good look.
Senator Katie Britt
It works for.
Senator Ted Cruz
But. But you know what? Both of us got treated better than Sean Spicer. You remember Trump's first press secretary?
Ben Ferguson
Oh, my gosh, yes.
Senator Katie Britt
Wait, remind me. I don't remember what happened.
Senator Ted Cruz
They had Melissa McCarthy play him, and she just.
Ben Ferguson
It was amazing.
Senator Ted Cruz
It was funny.
Ben Ferguson
Amazing.
Senator Ted Cruz
There's an SNL episode where he's on the podium, and the podium is a mobile podium going down, like, Fifth Avenue in New York and. And calling himself Spicy Spice. I mean, it's hysterical.
Ben Ferguson
So that happened. When that happened, she was on a Segway in New York City. I was in New York and saw that actually being filmed the first time they did it. And I was like, what is this person who looks like Sean Spicer on a Segway going down the road in New York City? And they were taping. It was amazing.
Senator Ted Cruz
Look, I'm just glad that Trump didn't choose that moment to test his theory that he could shoot someone in Fifth Avenue and not lose any support.
Senator Katie Britt
Fair.
Ben Ferguson
And get away with it. All right, I gotta ask you a question, Senator. And this is. Let's go backwards a little bit.
Senator Ted Cruz
Yeah.
Ben Ferguson
When did you find out you were going to do the rebuttal? And how does that play out?
Senator Katie Britt
Yeah, so I guess maybe a few weeks ago, I got a call, and the first call came from. From Leader McConnell. And I was on the flight. I was on the flight home, and I got a call, and then it said, you know, the text message, like, please call. You know, and you can kind of sort of hear it coming. And I thought, oh, shoot. You know what I did?
Senator Ted Cruz
That's a pretty good Mitch impression. Can you do a little more? Do you have a Kentucky draw.
Senator Katie Britt
I have. If we get into this for a minute, I've got some really good ones.
Senator Ted Cruz
I think that's very welcome. And to be clear, we don't even have a glass of wine. This is.
Senator Katie Britt
We don't. We do not. That's exactly right. So I thought, oh, shoot, you know what? So I tried to call and, you know, got home, because I get home on Thursdays in time to, like, skid in to, like, pick up the kids from practice or go to a game or like, right there in time if. If we get out of here on time. And so tried to. Tried to call, didn't answer. So then I sent a text back and just said, tried to call you and I'll send you headed, you know, out with the kids, but I'll try tomorrow. And he wrote back, it's important. And I thought, oh, darn. He, like, found out, like, I'm going to vote certain way or like, you know, what. What is. What is this about? You know, right? Don't you. You see what I'm saying?
Ben Ferguson
You're going to get reprimanded right here, 100%.
Senator Katie Britt
Right? I'm like, you rarely hear. And I'm like, oh, that's what this is. And so I called back and he just said, you know, Speaker Johnson and I have been talking and we get to select somebody to give the rebuttal to the State of the Union. And, uh, and he said, and, you know, and, and. And we want it to be you and y'all. I really did not know what to say. First off, I kind of sort of thought I was being punked. You know what I mean? Like, is this. It was like an out of body experience. Um, and then I said, I am. And I really wanted to say the word shook, right? But I didn't think that shook would translate in the moment. You know, it's like, not necessarily. I would think something that, like, is in Mitch McConnell's everyday vocabulary. And so I said, I am.
Senator Ted Cruz
So Mitch is literally double Katie's age.
Senator Katie Britt
There's that. And so I just said, yeah, there is that. Yeah. So I just said, I am. And so instead of the word shook, I was really proud of myself. I had a little bit of moment of refinement, and I said, I am without words. And so I just told him how honored I was, how humbled I would be, you know, that. But ask him, you know, could I have some time to think about it? And he said, you know, absolutely, that, that was fine. And then I got a call from Speaker Johnson And Speaker Johnson and I don't have not had an opportunity to really get to know each other, but I had met him previously and met his wife and so he asked the same thing. And the funny thing is he's like, now don't worry about, you know, people are going to tell you horror stories about all of these things that happen and, and people's, people's career being blown up over it. And he's like, it'll be fine, it'll be fine. And he was, he was so kind and just and really welcoming and you know, I think it was a great conversation. But the irony that he's like, don't you worry like that, that that's not. And so talk to both of them. And obviously then finally accepted doing it, but still kind of thought, is this even for real? I mean, I haven't even given a floor speech yet, you know, at the Senate yet, but was excited. And particularly as, as you mentioned earlier, being, you know, the only Republican female with school age kids and kind of bringing that like next generation voice. I mean, you and I were just talking about our, you know, kind of what it's like to, to be parents and doing this in a way.
Senator Ted Cruz
We both have teenagers.
Senator Katie Britt
We both have teenagers and so bring in that voice and particularly that of conservative women to the table. It was an honor to be chosen. But seriously, an out of body experience.
Senator Ted Cruz
So, and a couple of things Katie referenced to give some background. Like number one, there's a tradition in the Senate that freshman senators wait a reasonable period of time before giving their first speech. And the first speech on the floor is called the maiden speech. And you wait for it and it's so like, and it's just sort of, you know, it's an old institution and it's kind of how it operates. But also like the response to the State of the Union, it's chosen by the Republican leader in the Senate and the Republican leader in the House. And the two of them, they often alternate on it, but they get to pick who it is. And you know, Katie, you and I were just talking a few minutes ago. I mean, there are maybe 30 people on planet Earth, right, who've given a response to a State of the Union address. Like it's, I've never done that. I don't know what that experience is like. And so you have the ability to share with verdict listeners. All right, so you get a call from Mitch McConnell, they say, hey, will you do the response you've got, you said a couple of weeks to prepare, like how was preparing and kind of what did you go through to say, okay, what am I going to say and what do I want the message?
Senator Katie Britt
And so, yeah, and on your point about the maiden speech, like, the irony is it's like I, you know, I kind of just trying to keep my head down and learn and listen. Now that maiden speech is going to seem like nothing. Right. But yeah, so you've got a little bit, a little bit of time to prepare, but you also don't know what to prepare for. And to be honest with you, I never thought in a million years he was going to come out there and give this type of like yelling and so just vindictive, particularly towards Trump. You know, it seemed like a full fledged campaign speech. Full fledged. And I expected a little bit more of a statesman to be up there and to really kind of sort of methodically be going through. Now, I thought we would disagree of what his version of the State of the Union was, but I didn't think he would be, you know, I didn't anticipate the posture that, that he had.
Ben Ferguson
But.
Senator Katie Britt
So you're going through, you're kind of sort of saying, okay, I know I'm going to want to talk about the border. I know he's probably not going to talk about it. Irony there. Like, it took him 40 minutes to get into the border. I wanted to start with that. So you're kind of sort of getting those facts together and then seeing like, how can you, how can you synthesize those in a way that the public can grab them? Because there's so much to say. Right.
Senator Ted Cruz
Well. And you told a story about a woman being sex trafficked and the media has gone crazy, quote, fact checking you. The Washington Post gave you four Pinocchios.
Senator Katie Britt
Unbelievable. The interesting thing for me has been that none of the media has covered the fact that under Trump in 2018, that human trafficking was a $500 million business. It is now under Joe Biden, a $13 billion business. Nobody, they want to silence a conservative woman for speaking out on this topic. They don't want to bring light and help the women who are actually being trafficked.
Senator Ted Cruz
Well, and look, there is a reason they view you as an enormous threat. The media wants to that the only Republicans on planet earth are old, fat, bald, white guys. And you don't fit their narrative.
Senator Katie Britt
No, I don't.
Senator Ted Cruz
Like a young mom is going right at. They want voters to think, I'm sorry, if you're a woman, you have to be a liberal Democrat. That's the only Thing allowed.
Senator Katie Britt
Right.
Senator Ted Cruz
And so it was sadly predictable that they went after you.
Senator Katie Britt
It was. And they didn't do their homework too. I mean, you've had to deal with this for quite some time. But the liberal media isn't interested in the truth. They're interested in burying the truth about Joe Biden and his border crisis. But all they want to do is they have an agenda. And if they really wanted to know those stories, they would have taken time to know the facts. And I think when all the facts come out that people, people will see the truth. But, you know, so here you are, like preparing for this, you know, trying to figure out what is he going to say and how are you going to piece it together? And you know, and how can you make things stick? And how, you know, let me ask you this.
Ben Ferguson
On the edits, like how much time do you have? Because you obviously have the speech on the front end. Right. That you've kind of formed, you know, what your response in general is going to be on these core issues. But you're watching him give a speech that you weren't expecting. So how much time do you have to make last minute edits before you went live?
Senator Katie Britt
You know, it is not very much. We actually thought we had gotten word that his speech was going to be a lot shorter than usual.
Senator Ted Cruz
Yep.
Senator Katie Britt
So like they had said, like, this is going to be 25 in and out, like we're, we're going to be done. And it ended up being obviously a really long speech. So, so that was an interesting. Because we kind of sort of thought that he was wrapping up when he wasn't wrapping up.
Senator Ted Cruz
And so his speech was an hour and seven minutes. And I know that because Roger Marshall texted out to a bunch of us a series of bets to have on the speech, one of which was an over under and it was 70 minutes and I took the over. And of course he was 67 minutes, so I was three minutes off winning on that.
Senator Katie Britt
Oh my. See, Ted, so close.
Senator Ted Cruz
Yeah, so close.
Senator Katie Britt
Oh, well, so close. So you're trying to make those kind of in the, in the last minute. And I, I do think, you know, there's also interesting things like we were making edits like when he ended up saying, you know, Lake and Riley's name but said Lincoln Riley. And you know, you're kind of thinking, okay, well let's not go there. But, but like let's make sure that we make him own that because particularly on that, you know, I wanted to get into parole issue because, you know, there's Been a lot of talk. And I figured he was going to blame Republicans for, you know, failed this or failed that when it comes to the border. And I wanted to really bring light to the fact that he wouldn't give up the tools that he was using to abuse the entire, quote, you know, border policies that he had, like, you know, the, the presidential parole that he's been using. So you have Obama and Trump who paroled about 5,600 people on average a year using this presidential parole authority. He has these entire programs where he's paroling, on average about a million people a year, y'all. And, and Lake and Riley's murderer was paroled into the nation under his presidential parole authority. I mean, it was a choice of his, which I also have found interesting because I actually know, really accented that word like that he chose to let into the country, you know, that he, to parole into the country. And they've taken no issue with that because they know that it's his policies that are causing these things. So you're just trying to kind of sort of figure out how do we pack a punch in here in a short amount of time and respond to some of the things he said in a meaningful way.
Senator Ted Cruz
So look, I will say historically the media has had two attacks on Republicans, that a Republican is either stupid or evil. And by the way, history shows stupid is the much better attack. So in the media's telling, Ronald Reagan was stupid, Dan Quayle was stupid, George W. Bush was stupid, Nixon was evil, Dick Cheney was evil, Donald Trump is evil. Between the two, it's clear stupid is better. They sort of took a variation on a theme with you and they went with crazy. And, and look to their narrative. You're not allowed to be a conservative. You're not allowed to embrace common sense. You're, you're not allowed to reject the left wing dogma unless there's something wrong with you. And so, so they didn't go with stupid, they didn't go with evil. They just said crazy, lady.
Ben Ferguson
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Senator Ted Cruz
Yeah.
Senator Katie Britt
Oh, I mean I, yeah, I didn't see the chance from, from go on that. And the interesting thing is is like again, it goes back to the liberal media and they're biased. You've got Joe Biden who actually mentions kitchen table, his, his dad's kitchen table and the quote, trickle down effect of, of economics in his speech. And then I'm sitting at the kitchen table that he references. And let's not forget that Elizabeth Warren actually launched her presidential campaign from her kitchen.
Senator Ted Cruz
Although to be clear, did you happen to see the footage of Elizabeth Warren like awkwardly put, put it pulling beer bottles out of her fridge and it was like the weirdest. I'm sorry, this is not like a normal person who knows how to, like, drink a beer. And of course, she also has a gas stove, which. Which Democrats want to ban.
Senator Katie Britt
Oh, my gosh.
Senator Ted Cruz
And listen, there's a long tradition. I filmed TV commercials in my kitchen. That's where families talk to each other. Exactly. So it's. It's perfectly normal. But. But they had to. The fact that they went after you that hard is proof that it scared them, that they don't want to give permission for women and for moms to be Republican. And the contrast. You could not ask for a starker contrast between Methuselah Scrooge and Katie Brittany. Like, like, that's a hell of a difference.
Senator Katie Britt
Thank you. I appreciate it. I do. And I couldn't agree with you more. I mean, it's. That's what we were talking about is the. Obviously not only kitchen table issues, but that's the place where we gather. And I think that's threatening to them that families gather. That's where. That's where we have conversations. That's where we pray for God's guidance. I mean, that's where we literally talk about our days. That's where we talk about the things we worry about.
Senator Ted Cruz
You know, Katie, they would. They would have liked it if you did, like, a transgender Wicca ritual in your kitchen. Kitchen. That would have been.
Senator Katie Britt
They should have added that in.
Senator Ted Cruz
You know, that's.
Senator Katie Britt
If we had talked about this first, you could have given me that idea.
Senator Ted Cruz
There's a lot of that in Alabama, right?
Senator Katie Britt
I love it. I love it.
Senator Ted Cruz
Taxes was taxing. Now taxes is relaxing. When you file for free.
Senator Katie Britt
I can file for free. TurboTax Free Edition. Roughly 37% of filers qualify. Simple Form 1040 returns only. See if you qualify@turbotax.com free. Hmm. I can file for free.
Senator Ted Cruz
Now, this is taxes. File for free with TurboTax Free Edition and get your maximum refund. No schedules except for earned income tax credit, child tax credit, and student loan interest. See if you qualify@turbotax.com free when you.
Ben Ferguson
Got done with your speech. Like, I know there's that sigh of relief. Okay. And then there's the. How did it go? Right to your close team, your family that's in there watching this. When did you start, by the way?
Senator Ted Cruz
Were your kids watching? Where were your. Where were your kids?
Senator Katie Britt
Yeah, so we watched the. We watched Biden's speech from the couch, like, in the living room together as a family. And then again, we thought that it was going to be shorter than it Was. So they went ahead and headed, you know, out of the room because we were going to. It's the next room over, so we wanted it to be quiet and, like, you know, had to go kind of sort of sit in and get ready. So we watched it there together, and then we did. Did. I did this. And then they came back in Western there.
Senator Ted Cruz
Was he watching the whole thing?
Senator Katie Britt
Yes, yes. I mean, he went out with the kids to, like, watch it from another place. And then he came. He came back in, which actually was one of his favorite things about Saturday Night Live is that Scarlett Johansson was like, my husband Wesley. My husband Wesley loved it.
Senator Ted Cruz
So one of the coolest things. Katie's husband Wesley is completely badass. So. So. So he played. Played football at University of Alabama. Offensive line or defensive line?
Senator Katie Britt
Yeah, offensive line.
Senator Ted Cruz
Offensive line. I mean, he's a mountain of a man. He's enormous. And then he played for the New England patriots for what, 10 years?
Senator Katie Britt
That's right. He prayed for about four or five.
Senator Ted Cruz
So he's absolutely, what, 6, 6, 8, 3, 26, 8, 320.
Senator Katie Britt
You cannot miss him, y'all. He takes up a door frame.
Senator Ted Cruz
And by the way, Ben, Wesley has also played hoop with me in my weekly hoops game. Ben has played also. I played this afternoon. I will tell you, I am grateful to the end of time that Wesley just showed mercy on us. Had he simply swung his elbows, he would have put me and every other person playing in the hospital. And he was a gentle giant, and I am grateful for that restraint.
Senator Katie Britt
He loved playing with you. He said, you're scrappy. He said, man, don't get in his way.
Senator Ted Cruz
He could get in my way, and.
Ben Ferguson
He'D be just fine right now because of our last game.
Senator Ted Cruz
So, you know, he broke his finger playing hoops.
Senator Katie Britt
Did you really, Ben?
Ben Ferguson
Yes, yes. I was thinking about workers comp. You know, calling, you know, one of those lawyers, but that apparently it wasn't worth it.
Senator Ted Cruz
And by the way, playing hoops, this is what, probably two years ago when I was playing hoop, I had a law clerk in. In my office who broke my thumb.
Senator Katie Britt
Oh, my gosh.
Senator Ted Cruz
And like, I went up for a rebound, he came down, and he was Tony from Brooklyn. And, like, Tony's a hell of a ballplayer, but he's a muscular guy, gold chain. And he just, like, he plays like he's in a street fight.
Senator Katie Britt
Yeah, it's.
Senator Ted Cruz
And so he. He broke my thumb. And as I told. Told my youngest daughter Catherine, when that happened, Daddy said a really bad word. And when you break your thumb. That's. That's.
Senator Katie Britt
That's. That's.
Senator Ted Cruz
That's part of it.
Senator Katie Britt
It's part of it.
Senator Ted Cruz
And then. But I am very proud to say that. That I finished the game, we won, and I actually scored with a broken thumb. Now, now, I couldn't do a jump shot. I tried and I literally yelped. But. But I did a finger roll and scored with a broken thumb. And then I went and got it in a brace. And Ben, to his credit, we just played hoops a couple of weeks ago where he broke his finger. And you finished the game with a broken finger. It was a strong move, Ben.
Ben Ferguson
You know, go big or go home, as they say.
Senator Katie Britt
Right? That's right. Don't show weakness. Like, keep going.
Ben Ferguson
Don't show weakness. I wasn't going to. I was going to make sure that was my legacy.
Senator Katie Britt
So.
Ben Ferguson
All right, back to. I got to. I got to get back because I got to know what your thoughts were. You get done, you look at your family, you look at your team, and then when did you kind of figure out that this had gone off the rails and they were coming after you.
Senator Katie Britt
With everything they have, you know, so really fully the next morning, which I'll tell you about. But that, you know, in that moment, obviously, you know, had a lot of passion, put a lot of heart and soul into it, but I think the American people are worth it, you know, and, like, you're fighting, you know, you're fighting for these families and these families that. Ted, like, you're traveling all over, obviously Texas right now, the country, the whole thing, me and Alabama. These people want a voice. I mean, they're saying, why does nobody get this? I feel like I am beating my head up against the wall, and they need somebody to fight for them. And so, you know, have. Have a little passion in there and. And get in there and. But really thought that, you know, I tried to deliver it with. With heart and soul, because I do. I think the people of America are worth that. And so we finished and we were excited. And, you know, my daughter, like her. One of the things that she said was that she really. The part about Lake and Riley really spoke to her. That was the part. She. She is. Does plays volleyball and basketball and runs track. And so she actually goes out on runs, you know, and does. And does that. And you just think, you know, you just. Just all of those things. She was like, mom, that. That to me was. Was the best. And so we were just kind of sort of all talking about it, and we Were excited. And you know, guys, it's strange because here you are preparing, you know, and I'd stayed home for a couple of days, like, preparing for potential topics and how we were, you know, you've kind of got a draft speech, but then, you know, so that you can be nimble with regards to if there's something that you're. You're not expecting or there. But to. To deliver a speech honestly directly into a camera. I've never done that. Yeah, and obviously, if you. If you were to do it again, you'd do it. You know, you would. You would know and have kind of sort of that. The ability to, like, learn from. From doing that. But you give speeches, as, you know, to groups and to, you know, conventions and to all of those kinds of things. And so that's a very different thing to just be looking directly into the camera. And people, A lot of people thought that it was taped. It's like, no, it's live. Like, you literally walk in the other room. When he finishes, they give you a 15 minute countdown and then it's live.
Senator Ted Cruz
Look, I thought you were real. I thought you were passionate. I actually showed you the text I got from my dad that night. He texted me and said, wow, Katie Britt just did an awesome job, by the way. My dad is a tough judge. He does not think that frequently. And listen, there's a long tradition, as you know, of the media savaging in particular Republican responses. So Bobby Jindal, when he did it, they just brutalized him. And you remember Marco Rubio? Poor Marco reached over and grabbed a bottle of water and they went nuts. Oh, my God, he drinks water.
Senator Katie Britt
Yes.
Senator Ted Cruz
Now, I will say, to Marco's credit, his response was pretty good. His campaign website began selling bottles of water. I think he raised like 100 grand.
Senator Katie Britt
That is amazing.
Senator Ted Cruz
Selling water online that.
Senator Katie Britt
Well, we're gonna have to figure out what I can sell. That's amazing.
Senator Ted Cruz
Yeah.
Senator Katie Britt
No, but one of my favorite things was there was a meme that said, why is Alabama Kate Middleton so mad? And I thought, this is the highest compliment. Can we print this out and frame it and put it on my desk?
Senator Ted Cruz
Middleton and Scarlett Johansson, like, that's a good night.
Senator Katie Britt
I'll take it.
Ben Ferguson
If that's your worst day in politics, you're winning.
Senator Katie Britt
Hey, listen, Ben and I told someone, I was like, it felt like the slowest couple of days in politics forever. I mean, I thought, can nothing else happen? How many days can we go where I am? Literally, the stories from the top to the bottom of each one of these things. And you would have thought, like, I would have been better off having, like, behaved like some of our colleagues that are, like, indicted for something or. Or had, like, said something outrageous. I mean, my crime was, like, putting too much passion, too much heart and soul behind the issues that I genuinely care about, and they slaughtered me across the airways. And so watching those things and getting that back, I kept thinking, can there not be another news story? And then finally, Kate Middleton saved me again with her Photoshop. So, I mean, I owe her twice this weekend.
Senator Ted Cruz
Well, we may have to call you, Princess Katie.
Senator Katie Britt
There you go. There you go.
Ben Ferguson
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Senator Ted Cruz
Notice the look of surprise on your face when you walked into the chamber.
Ben Ferguson
You saw Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene. It was priceless.
Senator Ted Cruz
You feigned shock at seeing her.
Ben Ferguson
But during your response to her heckling.
Senator Ted Cruz
Of you, you used the word illegal when talking about the man who allegedly.
Ben Ferguson
Killed Lake and Riley.
D
An undocumented person. And I shouldn't have used the legal. I shouldn't. It's undocumented. And look, when I spoke about the difference between Trump and me, one of the things I talked about on the border was that his, the way he talks about vermin, the way he talks about these people polluting the blood. I talked about what I'm not going to do, what I won't do. I'm not going to treat any, any, any of these people with disrespect. Look, they built the country. The reason our economy is growing. We have to control the border and more orderly flow. But I don't share his view at all.
Senator Ted Cruz
So you, you regret using that word?
Ben Ferguson
Yes, I regret using that word. I'm sorry, basically, to the illegal immigrant for saying he's an illegal immigrant, not talking about Lake and Riley. No one could have seen that, that coming. And that was something you didn't even get a chance to bring up because it hadn't, in essence, happened yet.
Senator Katie Britt
That's exactly right. And I mean, I still can't wrap my head around this. You have him apologizing for, quote, mislabeling her murderer, but not only did he not take that opportunity to correct her name, but the reporter didn't even ask him. I mean, think about that, Ted. This shows they have an agenda. They don't care about the things that they should.
Senator Ted Cruz
Yeah. So that interview is Jonathan Capehart. It's on msnbc. And that exchange, it makes my blood boil. Number one, his little aside, saying they built this country. No, Joe, illegal immigrants did not build the United States of America. That is utter and complete garbage. But number two, think about the priorities he comes off of. And I gotta say, I think There are now two images that sum up the 2024 election. Number one, there is the image of the illegal immigrants in New York City who beat up two New York cops, were arrested, were released without bail, and they came out with both hands flipping the bird at everyone. And that image, flipping the bird right and left hand is what Joe Biden and the Democrats are saying to the American people. That's image number one. And image number two is the contrast right after the State of the Union of Donald Trump with Lake and Riley's family hugging his mother.
Senator Katie Britt
Bingo.
Senator Ted Cruz
Which is actually what someone who's a president who gives a damn about the American people, who like, is siding with our families, our moms, our kids. And simultaneously, Joe Biden is on MSNBC apologizing because he referred to this murderer as an illegal. Well, you know what? He is an illegal. He's an illegal and a murderer. And he never should have killed Lake and Riley. Look at me now, I'm using Joe Biden's phrase. He never should have killed Lake and Riley. And the only reason he was free to do so is because Joe Biden chose to let him go. And not only that, sanctuary city, New York City, let him go again. And that is why that beautiful 22 year old woman is dead now.
Senator Katie Britt
That's it. And too like when you hear him do that and you can't help but be enraged that not only that this is what our President of the United States is choosing to focus on, but then the media doesn't hold him accountable. But I think people should see we have a very clear choice in November. And this says it all. You said it, Ted. You have President Biden over here apologizing for mislabeling her murderer. And then you have President Trump embracing her family. And I think that is all Americans need to know. The choice is clear.
Senator Ted Cruz
When you, President Trump, which side are you on? Which side are you on?
Senator Katie Britt
Bingo.
Senator Ted Cruz
And that's your choice. And if you side with illegal alien murderers, well, you probably should vote for Joe Biden if those are your peeps, if that's where your allegiance is. By the way, msnbc, cnn, they're all voting for Joe Biden because their allegiance is actually with illegal alien murderers. And by the way, you know, not only did Joe Biden not properly Say Lake and Riley's name. He didn't say Jeremy Caceres name either. Jeremy Caceres, beautiful 2 year old boy murdered in Prince George's County, Maryland just a couple of weeks ago, again by another illegal alien, Joe Biden. Released. He didn't mention any of the, of the American, of the teenagers who have been violently raped by illegal immigrants. He takes no responsibility for his own culpability. And it is, you really couldn't ask for a clear contrast.
Senator Katie Britt
No, you couldn't. And then also you think about fentanyl poisonings and you think about the decisions that have been made. They are all his. He inherited the most secure border that our country has had. And then he chose to halt deportations, he chose to stop construction of the border wall. He, I mean, he chose to say, I'm going to give amnesty to millions. This is the thing that free is so frustrating about the liberal media. It's like these policies and then the 94 executive orders in the first 100 days are acting as magnets, Ted, There, there he is saying, come on. And he is putting every one of those men, women and children in harm's way. The cartels are using them in multiple ways. You know, we've talked about some of the horrific things that are happening to them on their way here when they get here. It is mindboggling. It is a not only national security crisis, but a humanitarian crisis that no reporter is telling. You know, and they're choosing you focused. Earlier you said, you know, about, about sex trafficking. They're not telling the story of human trafficking and what's happening under him.
Senator Ted Cruz
Well, and you and I have both looked in the eyes of women and children who have been brutally sexually assaulted by these human traffickers. And when you, when you see the pain, the agony, it sticks with you. It haunts you.
Senator Katie Britt
Absolutely.
Senator Ted Cruz
And this is happening day after day after day. And I gotta say, you know, Katie, just listening to you talk about this, you're making far too much sense. What you said is incredibly reasonable. So that means necessarily you're crazy. I'm sorry, but those are the rules, right? Hey, and if you're making sense, I guess you gotta be cuckoo as cocoa puff.
Senator Katie Britt
You gotta be. And I guess, you know, when you get in the arena, which the irony is in my remote, you know, I wanted to leave people with hope, Ted, because I believe that, that I believe in the people of this nation and I believe in what we're built on and wanted to encourage everyone to get in the arena because that's what we need them to do. Because we are literally fighting for the heart and soul of our nation. We are fighting for the future for our children, and we need everybody stepping up. So I said, you know, get in the arena. Well, I found out real quick that I am in the arena. And when you're in the arena, you get arrows. But it's worth it. If you're fighting for what families need, you're being a voice for the voiceless.
Senator Ted Cruz
Amen.
Senator Katie Britt
Then I'll take those arrows, Ted, all day long, because that is what we're going to have to do in order to get this country back on track and speak truth to power. And we found out where the power is. It's in the media. And they want to silence anyone who doesn't think just like them.
Senator Ted Cruz
And to use a military analogy, if you're not taking flak, you're not over the target.
Senator Katie Britt
There you go.
Senator Ted Cruz
There is a reason they're coming after you, and they tell you who they're afraid of. So I would take. I was actually. I thought you did a terrific job, but I was actually even happier with the job you did by seeing the freak out of the media.
Senator Katie Britt
That's right.
Senator Ted Cruz
Because to be honest, if you'd sucked, they wouldn't have said anything. If it were bad, they would have been like, nothing to see here. And so that they squeal this loudly tells you a great deal.
Senator Katie Britt
Well, and I do think you've got. Here you have the president, literally for an hour and seven minutes, I guess, is what you said. It was yelling and giving a political speech in a space where he's supposed to be bringing our country together. And then, you know, even, you know, as I mentioned, tried to leave the country with hope because I believe in our nation. And I said, our nation's history is written with the grit and the grit of men and women who got knocked down. But we know their stories because they did not stay down. We are here because they stood back up. And this is one of those moments where I'm just gonna have to stand back up because this fight is worth fighting. And we have got. Every voice has got to be lifted loud because there are people that are counting on us, whether it is what's happening at our border, whether it is families that literally cannot make ends meet, I don't think. And I said this in my remarks as well, but, I mean, I actually drove carpool the day that I gave the State of the Union response. So I was in that.
Senator Ted Cruz
That is so awesome. Well, you know, actually, you and Biden have something in common because he was actually hanging outside of a junior high that day, too.
Senator Katie Britt
Oh, I needed that.
Senator Ted Cruz
I'm gonna get in trouble for that comment that, that one.
Ben Ferguson
Ben.
Senator Ted Cruz
Am I allowed to say that?
Ben Ferguson
I don't know. We'll find out. That's. That's your headline, right?
Senator Ted Cruz
So you really drove carpool that day? That is actually very.
Senator Katie Britt
I literally drove carpool that day.
Senator Ted Cruz
Two or from school or both?
Senator Katie Britt
Both.
Senator Ted Cruz
Both.
Senator Katie Britt
I did both. And so when I was in pickup line, actually, the. The head of the middle school was like, what are you doing? She had the little, you know, the little walkie talkie. And she, you know, was. And I said, I need, you know, I need Ridgeway. And she was like, what are you doing? I was like, I'm running carpool. So ran carpool, did all the things. But you think about, like, when's the last time he did something like that? When's the last time you went to the grocery store and saw that eggs are like off the charts and the price of meat and milk and all of the things. And when's the last time he went and filled up his car with gas? Because I promise you, it's just gets it more and more and more. And you think this man is trying to make us energy.
Senator Ted Cruz
Katie, that's not fair. He went to the store and he brought. Bought buttermilk and molasses from corn pop.
Senator Katie Britt
You know what?
Senator Ted Cruz
And so. So he understands.
Senator Katie Britt
I think he maybe went to something or maybe when he went to his beach retreat, he had someone run to the store for him. But. But seriously, you know, and you think about. And I, you know, when I go walking with my friends in the morning and I listen to the things they're connecting, concerned about, you know, this is what people want a voice to. And so if bringing a voice to that, if I get some flack for it. And you know, obviously, you know, gave passionate remarks, but I think that the response.
Ben Ferguson
Never apologize for being passionate. That's for sure.
Senator Katie Britt
That's right. It's like, it's worth it. You know, it's worth it. The people are worth it. Worth fighting for. And I'm going to keep doing it. And hey. And the more they try to silence me, which by the way, they're doing quite a bit right now, it's. So I had to give a speech this morning, dad. And I walk up there and you can tell everybody is just kind of like on edge, right? Because they're thinking, she has just been plummeted for the last solid four days. And We've seen her and in a number of memes and this and that. And I think, you know, that the scary mom one was also a good one because I thought, you know what that means? They really are afraid because everybody knows when your mom. Mom goes into scary mom mode, like, get out of the way because stuff's about to get done.
Senator Ted Cruz
I know, exactly.
Senator Katie Britt
I mean, just don't move over because we're about to take care of business. Right.
Senator Ted Cruz
Look, and. And you know what? There are a lot of moms in America who are pissed off at everything that's happened. And you gave voice to that. And it wasn't the. The angry, bitter way that Biden did it, but it was. If you're paying attention, you ought to be upset. Listen, if you were Lake and Riley's mom, exactly. Like imagine, number one, the grief and agony you feel, but imagine the fury you feel that this was unnecessary and it's a result of a political agenda that said your family doesn't matter. And by the way, the next person murdered by an illegal alien that Joe Biden lets in, they're going to feel the same way. And they keep doing this.
Senator Katie Britt
And that's not who he's apologizing to. And it made me so mad. He stood up there and flippantly said that. Said her name wrong. You know, it just. It I thought you have got. As a mom.
Senator Ted Cruz
And by the way, his response, he said, well, she was killed by an illegal. But how many are killed by legals now? What does that mean? And of course, MSNBC didn't ask about that.
Senator Katie Britt
No.
Senator Ted Cruz
How many are killed by legals? So what you're saying is that your crime policy is terrible also, and there's lots of murders. Yeah, I agree with that.
Senator Katie Britt
Also that.
Senator Ted Cruz
But. But that's not much of a defense. Well, gosh, we're killing even more Americans that. That, that is. And of course, no scrutiny from, from the corporate media on anything.
Senator Katie Britt
None. And he also, he's killing the American dream because he's continuing to put Americans last. And you. We only thing we can ask for is an opportunity to achieve, opportunity to try and fail. And you look at him and he continues to put policies in place that, that limit anyone's ability to try and achieve because he's prioritizing a liberal agenda above, above that. I mean, it's everything from energy to the border to prices. I mean, that's one thing, Ted. Like I'm on the Banking Committee and, and I cannot believe the agenda in the financial sector. I mean, all of the ESG and the D. I mean, it just, it is tremendous. So I feel like at every turn we are having to fight to preserve what I know this nation was founded on and to try to preserve it for our kids and it's worth it. So, so I had a little fun with it. Like I said this morning when I got up to give that those remarks, everyone was on edge and I said, hey guys, I haven't, haven't had access to Twitter. Is there anything going on that I need to know about? And the whole, the whole crowd, whole crowd started, started laughing. But have, have had a little bit of fun with that.
Senator Ted Cruz
Laughter gets you through everything.
Senator Katie Britt
It does, it does. It absolutely does.
Ben Ferguson
So, Senator, thank you so much for coming on. Verdict. It was really fun to hear this outside and different perspective from you and hear behind the scenes of how this happens and the response happens and, and keep up the good fight. I, I love your passion. I love your inspiration for young girls and women who are conservative and proud moms. That is, I think the most important thing here is that, you know, I think the left has done a great job of claiming feminism and claiming women voters. And sometimes we don't do a good enough job, I think of reminding moms like, hey, we're here for you. We're supporting you. We're advocating for you and your kids and the laws that we can advocate for to protect your kids. So thank you for being a voice for that as well. There were so many moms that were watching. I know that. We're very, very proud of you.
Senator Katie Britt
Thank you. It was certainly an honor. Like I said when I spoke to them, when they asked. It is humbling to have the opportunity to speak on behalf of our party and on behalf hard working parents and families who want somebody to fight for them and fight for this country and fight for the issues that matter. And so got in there and gave it all I got. Hey, I would recommend if you're ever giving a speech direct to camera, you know, figure out how that works live. It's a lot, but loved it. And actually I have, it's an honor to take the arrows too because that means that we are right on the issues there. You notice they're not, they are not plummeting me on the issues that I talked about. They're going after my passion and I'm going to keep that passion. I'm going to keep fighting for what I know is right and what I believe in. And Ted, I'll say to you, it is an honor to fight alongside you. There is nobody who is better at being fierce and calling the left down and speaking the truth directly in the way that you do. And so enjoy serving with you, enjoy learning from you, and certainly enjoy the grace you showed me by allowing me to be on here tonight and talk about this super fun few days I've had.
Senator Ted Cruz
Well, this has been a blast. Thank you for joining us and it's a lot of fun to serve with you as well. And I look forward to being in many a foxhole for a long, long time, fighting for our country and fighting with a smile and with joy and fighting back against the lunatics who are trying to take our country down.
Senator Katie Britt
You got it.
Ben Ferguson
Amen to that. Don't forget, we do this podcast Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Hit that subscribe or auto download button and I'll keep you up to date on the breaking news on those in between days. So down with the Ben Ferguson podcast as well, and I'll keep you updated there in the center and I will see you back here Friday morning.
Podcast Summary: Media Lose Their Minds Attacking Katie Britt-She Joins Us to Give the Inside Story behind the SOTU Response that Triggered them SO Badly
Podcast Information
Overview In this engaging episode of The 47 Morning Update, host Ben Ferguson welcomes Alabama Senator Katie Britt to discuss the intense media backlash she faced after delivering the Republican response to the State of the Union (SOTU) address. Joined by Senator Ted Cruz, the conversation delves deep into the dynamics of media bias, the stark contrasts between Britt's and President Joe Biden's SOTU addresses, and the broader implications for the Republican agenda moving forward.
[02:53] Senator Ted Cruz:
Senator Ted Cruz introduces Katie Britt, highlighting her historic role as the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate from Alabama and the youngest Republican woman ever elected to the Senate. His admiration underscores Britt's impactful performance during the Republican SOTU response, setting the stage for a candid discussion about media reactions.
[03:29] Senator Ted Cruz:
“He kicked ass last week. The media losing its mind should encourage you through and through. There's a reason they're attacking you because they are terrified and threatened by you.”
[05:22] Senator Ted Cruz:
Cruz contrasts President Biden's SOTU address with Katie Britt's, emphasizing the media's disproportionate negative reaction to Britt's passionate delivery. He describes Biden as an "old, cranky, bitter man yelling and screaming," whereas Britt appeared as a "young, happy, beautiful mom" passionately addressing American families.
[07:23] Senator Ted Cruz:
“They have gone after you with both barrels. They have gone nuts.”
[09:13] Senator Ted Cruz:
The discussion shifts to how Katie Britt was selected for the Republican response. Cruz recounts Britt receiving calls from Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, ultimately accepting the role despite initial disbelief.
[09:40] Senator Katie Britt:
“I am without words... It was an honor to be chosen.”
[14:28] Senator Katie Britt:
Britt shares insights into preparing her speech amidst unexpected changes, such as the extended duration of Biden's address. She focused on critical issues like border control and human trafficking, aiming to deliver a message that resonated with everyday Americans.
[17:30] Senator Ted Cruz:
He highlights Britt's emphasis on serious issues, pointing out inaccuracies in media coverage, such as the rise in human trafficking under Biden’s administration.
[20:08] Senator Ted Cruz:
“The media wants to silence a conservative woman for speaking out on this topic. They are not allowed to be a conservative.”
[23:24] Senator Ted Cruz:
Cruz criticizes the media for attacking Britt's credibility, labeling her as “crazy” instead of following historical patterns of portraying Republicans as either "stupid" or "evil." He emphasizes that Britt's youthful and passionate demeanor threatens the media's narrow portrayal of Republicans.
[25:17] Senator Ted Cruz:
Discussing the media’s relentless focus, Cruz notes how Britt's passionate remarks about serious issues led to personal attacks and attempts to undermine her, including mocking her role as a mom.
[36:39] Senator Ted Cruz:
The conversation intensifies as Cruz contrasts Biden’s apology for mislabeling a murderer with his own heartfelt response supporting the victim’s family. He asserts that Biden’s actions reflect a disregard for American families and national security.
[39:19] Senator Ted Cruz:
He paints a vivid picture of two conflicting images in the 2024 election: Biden's administration seemingly supporting illegal immigrants who commit crimes versus President Trump's empathetic stance towards affected families.
[40:38] Senator Ted Cruz:
Cruz underscores the clear choice facing American voters: aligning with a compassionate Republican approach or a Democratic administration perceived as lenient towards illegal immigration and its consequences.
[43:49] Senator Ted Cruz:
He emphasizes the importance of Britt’s passionate stance, noting that being labeled as "crazy" is a testament to the effectiveness and threat posed by her message.
[51:03] Senator Ted Cruz:
Cruz praises Britt's performance and reiterates their shared commitment to fighting against media biases and advocating for conservative values.
[53:23] Senator Ted Cruz:
He closes by expressing enthusiasm for future collaborations and the ongoing fight to uphold the country’s founding principles.
[53:40] Ben Ferguson:
Ben Ferguson wraps up the episode, encouraging listeners to subscribe and stay informed through future updates.
Senator Ted Cruz:
“The media losing its mind should encourage you through and through. There's a reason they're attacking you because they are terrified and threatened by you.”
[02:53]
Senator Katie Britt:
“I am without words... It was an honor to be chosen.”
[09:19]
Senator Ted Cruz:
“They have gone after you with both barrels. They have gone nuts.”
[07:23]
Senator Ted Cruz:
“The media wants to silence a conservative woman for speaking out on this topic. They are not allowed to be a conservative.”
[20:08]
Senator Katie Britt:
“We are fighting for the heart and soul of our nation. We are fighting for the future for our children, and we need everybody stepping up.”
[43:04]
Senator Ted Cruz:
“If you'd sucked, they wouldn't have said anything. If it were bad, they would have been like, nothing to see here. And so that they squeal this loudly tells you a great deal.”
[44:28]
Senator Katie Britt:
“Never apologize for being passionate. That's for sure.”
[47:32]
Media Bias:
Senator Katie Britt faced severe media backlash for her passionate delivery of the Republican response to the SOTU, in contrast to the treatment of President Biden’s more combative address.
Contrast with Biden's Address:
Britt's empathetic and issue-focused response sharply contrasted with Biden's lengthy, aggressive speech, highlighting differing approaches to governance and communication.
Preparation Under Pressure:
Britt navigated unexpected changes, such as the extended duration of Biden's address, to deliver a message that emphasized critical issues like border control and human trafficking.
Implications for Republican Strategy:
The episode underscores the importance of strong, passionate voices within the Republican party and the challenges they face from a biased media landscape.
2024 Election Dynamics:
The discussion frames the upcoming election as a clear choice between conservative values championed by leaders like Britt and a Democratic administration perceived as lenient on illegal immigration and national security.
Conclusion This episode of The 47 Morning Update offers a compelling look into the challenges faced by Republican leaders in the current media environment. Through the insightful conversation between Ben Ferguson, Senator Ted Cruz, and Senator Katie Britt, listeners gain a deeper understanding of the strategic responses and resilience required to advocate effectively for conservative values amidst significant media opposition.