← The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson
The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson
Merrick Garland Personally Approved DEADLY Force for Mar-a-Lago Raid, plus Tony Blinken Decimated for Undermining Israel & Funding Iran
00:41:28
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- [00:01]
Ben Ferguson
Welcome. It is Verdict with Senator Ted Cruz, Ben Ferguson with you. Senator, we have this show and sometimes we have so much to talk about that it's like, where do we even start? And so tonight this show is important because we're going to deal with a very important cross examination that you had today with Anthony Blinken. But we're also going to get to some other important news as well.
- [00:23]
Senator Ted Cruz
Well, this show is ultimately about arrogance and unaccountability of the Biden cabinet. We're number one, gonna talk about the fact that Merrick Garland, the Attorney General, personally approved the use of deadly force in the raid of Mar A Lago. He sent FBI agents in and he told them, if you need to unload your, your magazines, you do it. It, it is astonishing. We're gonna talk about that. And secondly, we're gonna talk about Tony Blinken, the Secretary of State who testified before the Senate yesterday and he continues to admit nothing to say that Biden has done nothing wrong on foreign policy. To say the mess all across the world is not Biden's fault, to say the fact that they are backing Hamas and undermining Israel, that's all hunky dory. I took the chance to cross examine him and I will say his position, I think was utterly indefensible.
- [01:20]
Ben Ferguson
Yeah, it was incredible. We're going to play some of that for you in a moment. With inflation still well above the Fed's target rate, you know what's happening with your dollar? It's not buying near as much as it was before, certainly not as much as it was two or three years ago. And that is why we're seeing gold yet again this week hit another all time high. Many around the world are looking to gold and silver to protect their hard earned dollars as part of a diversified plan to protect your assets. And that is exactly why I want you to know about Freedom Gold usa. Now here's the number one reason why I tell you to call Freedom Gold. They'll never tell you to put all your money in gold and silver. There's a lot of companies out there, that's exactly what they do. That is not what they believe in and that is not what they will tell you to do. Their goal is to educate all of their clients about how to invest in precious metals to diversify and protect your hard earned dollars. The second reason is this. On average, Freedom Gold USA charges 25 to 30% less than most major gold and silver firms. Simple terms, that means you get 25 to 30% more gold or silver in your account than you will when you go to other places. So if you're ready to look at gold and silver as a hedge against inflation, as a diversification for your portfolio, call my friends at Freedom Gold USA. They're online at freedomgoldusa.com verdict. That's freedomgoldusa.com verdict or give them a buzz at 1-800-655-8843. That's 1-800-655-8883 or freedomgoldusa.com verdict. Senator, when we go back to the Mar? A Lago raid, there was outrage enough just on that happening. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that I would have witnessed the breaking news that took place that said not only did the Biden administration and the Attorney General Merrick Garland authorize this raid, but on top of that, they authorized the use of deadly force.
- [03:37]
Senator Ted Cruz
That's exactly right. According to a filing that was unsealed this week. Here's what it says. Quote, According to an operations order produced in discovery, the FBI believed its objective for the Mar? A Lago raid was to seize, quote, classified information, NDI and US Government records as described in the search warrant. The order contained a policy statement regarding, quote, use of deadly force which stated, for example, quote, law enforcement officers of the Department of Justice may use deadly force when necessary. The agents planned to bring, quote, standard issue weapons, ammo, handcuffs and medium and large sized bolt cutters, but they were instructed to wear unmarked polo or collared shirts.
- [04:33]
Ben Ferguson
There's so many questions that I have right now. One of them, Senator, is the fact that it's like, were you setting this up to be a disaster? Because the Secret Service's job is to protect the President of the United States of America and former presidents at all costs. So if you send in the FBI and you give them this, hey, you've got authorized to use deadly force in this raid and the Secret Service there, whose job is to use deadly force to protect the former President of the United States of America. Why would Merrick Garland set up that disastrous situation to even be a possibility?
- [05:11]
Senator Ted Cruz
Well, and look, they were anticipating potential conflicts with Secret Service. So another one of the documents released says contingencies, should media be present at Mar? A Lago, all personnel will refer to mmosc and I don't know all these acronyms and adhere to FBI media policy as briefed. 2. Should F POTUS, former president of the United States, arrive at Mar? A Lago, FBI, MME, EM and OSCS will be prepared to engage with F. POTUS and U.S. secret Service Security Team so prepare to engage. Should U.S. secret Service provide resistance or interfere with FBI timeline or accesses FBI MMEM will engage with. And it's blocked out. We don't know what it is. And blocked out. Blocked out will engage with US Secret Services point of contact per existing liaison relationships. Should Mar A Lago guest reception be unwilling to provide a list of occupied guest rooms, FBI search team will knock on each guest room door to determine occupation status. FBI will request a map, list of rooms and skeleton key slash card for all rooms from Mar a Lago staff. 5. An FBI MM TTA with lock picking equipment will be on the scene. So they're anticipating Secret Service may actively resist the FBI. And they're prepared to engage. And they're prepared to engage with an order that explicitly authorizes deadly force. Like, what in the hell?
- [06:58]
Ben Ferguson
Let's remind people of Merrick Garland's own words. He was very proud of this raid in August of 2022. He went out there, Justice Department, you know, insignia behind him, the Justice Department flag to his left, the American flag to his right. And he told the world in a live report, everyone carried it this.
- [07:24]
Senator Ted Cruz
There are, however, certain points I want you to know.
- [07:29]
Anthony Blinken
First, I personally approve the decision to.
- [07:32]
Senator Ted Cruz
Seek a search warrant in this matter. Second, the Department does not take such a decision lightly.
- [07:40]
Ben Ferguson
Clearly not, Senator, because they were planning for the use of deadly force to possibly be used.
- [07:46]
Senator Ted Cruz
So let me give a caveat defending this in a tiny respect, and then let me take that caveat away. The caveat I would give is this sort of authorization, and authorization of use of deadly force is standard when the FBI is exercising a search warrant. Look, if you're exercising a search warrant in any context, if you're going to a drug dealer's house or something else, there is a risk of armed resistance. And so an authorization of deadly forces is typical with. With a search warrant. That's the caveat. Now, I'm going to take back every syllable of every word of what I just said. Holy crap. This was the President of the United States. Are you out of your mind? Like, like, like this is. And for Merrick Garland to say, I personally approved it. The absolute hubris of this administration. Listen, Merrick Garland is drunk with power. He believes he should be on the Supreme Court, and he is engaged in a global revenge tour against everyone he thinks who wronged him. But is there no judgment on the part of the Attorney General? Is there no judgment on the part of the Deputy Attorney General? Is there no judgment on the part of any advisers anywhere at doj Is there no judgment on the part of the head of the FBI? Is there no judgment on the, on the part of anyone involved in this process to say, you know, this guy was the President of the United States. Secret Service is guarding him for a reason.
- [09:26]
Ben Ferguson
Yeah.
- [09:27]
Senator Ted Cruz
Maybe we should not be authorizing deadly force like, can you imagine? Listen, well, can I ask you this?
- [09:36]
Ben Ferguson
The chain of command, just for people to understand this. Merrick Garland's over the FBI, but also, isn't he over the Secret Service as well? Is that not under his, the.
- [09:45]
Senator Ted Cruz
No, actually Secret Service reports. So they're in different, different silos.
- [09:51]
Ben Ferguson
So. But wouldn't he be talking or realizing he's setting them up for a war?
- [09:58]
Senator Ted Cruz
You know, I don't know. And listen, it is difficult to imagine. Look, who, who knows what happens? But the idea that, okay, if Secret Service resists, you guys go like, there is no sense. And this reminds me back at the beginning of Crossfire Hurricane. Crossfire Hurricane, you remember, was the DOJ and FBI targeting the Trump campaign back when he was a candidate. They went after him and they went in and wiretapped him and they went after Carter Page and they created fraudulent documents they used to get a warrant from the FISA court. I mean, it was a grotesque abuse of power that the Department of Justice Inspector General detailed in very painstaking detail.
- [10:42]
Ben Ferguson
And the media gave cover because they said Donald Trump was crazy to imply that he was being spied on. His campaign was being spied on. They said he was, he was a lunatic. In fact, he was right the entire time.
- [10:52]
Senator Ted Cruz
He was exactly right. But look, when you go back to the launch of Crossfire Hurricane, part of the problem, and this goes to DOJ during Obama, when this all started, and FBI during Obama, there were no adults in the room. Listen, there are circumstances you could imagine where a criminal investigation, a search warrant, a prosecution has to be authorized against a high level government official, but especially when that high level official is in the opposing party. Especially when that high level official is the leading candidate for the opposing party and the likely opponent for the sitting president. When you're going after your political opposition, the threshold for anything should be extraordinarily high. And it wasn't at all based on some ridiculous half baked oppo research paid for by the Hillary Clinton campaign that contained the notorious pee tape and all that nonsense which has all been debunked. We now know it was all made up. But look, when the Hillary Clinton campaign pays over a million bucks to make up oppo research, they come up with some creative stuff.
- [12:08]
Ben Ferguson
When you look at this, this is going to be, and it has to be, I would assume, a major campaign issue, especially in the presidential campaign. I can't imagine this not coming up at the presidential debates. But there also seems to be panic right now. In response to this, Jim Comey went on MSNBC and said this. Take a listen.
- [12:32]
Anthony Blinken
Are you concerned that it may get a test unlike any other if Donald Trump is reelected? I mean, when you think about a second Trump administration, what do you think the implications would be for the FBI?
- [12:43]
Jim Comey
Oh, serious. For the Justice Department and the FBI, Because Trump is coming for those institutions. He knows their power. And I think he has regrets that he didn't work hard enough to corrupt them last time. So he's coming for them, and that's a danger for all Americans. He's going to put people in positions in those organizations. He, he, he didn't have all stars the last time. He'll have the bottom of the barrel this time. But people who will want to do his will, and that should worry every American. This election matters because of a reason like that. People have to participate. You cannot sit on the sideline. I don't care how you feel about Joe Biden, you must vote for him because the consequences on the other side are too severe.
- [13:23]
Ben Ferguson
I don't care how you feel about Joe Biden, you must vote for him. That's the former FBI director saying that, Senator.
- [13:29]
Senator Ted Cruz
Well, and when he talks about corrupting the FBI, I will say, you know, listen, I would admit Jim Comey as an expert witness in any trial on the planet on corrupting the FBI because he was front and center. He did exactly that. He was the point person behind weaponizing the FBI. Jim Comey is someone who fancies himself, I believe, to be J. Edgar Hoover. He had delusions of power. It is one of the gravest mistakes of the first term of the Trump presidency that Trump did not fire Jim Comey on January 20, 2017, the first day in office. He should have said, thank you for your service to the nation. Your services are no longer needed. Nobody would have blinked. But the White House foolishly thought they could get Comey to be part of the administration, to do his job, to not be a disloyal, power hungry snake. And they were wrong. He's continuing to do that. And by the way, let's understand there's an enormous amount of CYA in Comey and that he's very afraid if they have accountability at the FBI, that his personal rear end is in the sling. And so that's he's like, please, please, please make sure you put people in power that cover up for me and that continue the corruption of the FBI and continue weaponizing it to attack their enemies. Because that's what I did and I don't want to be held for account. That's among the most self interested testimony I've ever heard.
- [14:53]
Ben Ferguson
Final question on this. Now, knowing what we know about the raid, is it warranted and justifiable if Donald Trump is elected again for him to go in and thoroughly clean house in these institutions?
- [15:09]
Senator Ted Cruz
Warranted, justifiable, and incredibly necessary. What has happened is we have hardcore partisans who have corrupted these institutions from the inside. They occupy senior positions in the career bureaucracy. And if Trump is reelected, and I hope and pray that he is, he needs to appoint serious, strong leaders at doj, at the FBI and the rest of the Alphabet soup of the administration who understand what they're doing, who have the seriousness of purpose to go in and clean them out, because we need to restore the institution. Listen, there are some, some Republicans, some conservatives that say things like abolish the FBI. I'm not in that camp. Why? Because the FBI is enormously important. The FBI does hugely important things like, like finding and catching terrorists and stopping them from killing Americans. It does hugely important things like finding kidnappers and child predators and going after the mafia and mobsters and going after Mexican drug cartels. Like all of that is really important. And I don't want to blow that up. What I want to do is restore the integrity of the FBI and the DOJ by getting the partisans out of office who have corrupted it. As you know, Chris Wray, the current Director of the FBI, I've known for 25 years, Chris, interestingly, Chris is not a liberal. He's a Republican. He still considers himself a Republican to this day. Chris's problem, I believe, is that he is a company man. Now look, Donald Trump put him in that position. He appointed him to that position. Chris is a company man. And he has, he and I have had screaming arguments on this where he believes it is his job as administrator of the FBI, director of the FBI, to, to defend the career leaders at the FBI. And I've told him, chris, you are not defending the institution of the FBI if you support people who are corrupting it and destroying its integrity. What does it tell you? That half of America doesn't trust the institution anymore because you've been so politicized. And he has proven utterly incapable of seeing it and even less capable of taking it on and stopping it.
- [17:23]
Ben Ferguson
Yeah, you Talk about accountability. You also talked with Anthony Blinken. And I want to get into that in just a moment. But before I do that, if you've got a cell phone and you're with big Mobile, you may not realize you're helping Democrats running for reelect right now. You may not realize that you're helping Planned Parenthood. You may not realize you're giving money to radical extremist liberal organizations. Now. You don't know that when you're paying your bill, they're taking part of that bill and they're giving major donations to the groups and organizations, including Planned Parenthood, that I just mentioned. And that is why I want you to know about Patriot Mobile. For more than a decade, Patriot Mobile has been America's only Christian conservative wireless provider. But there's a lot of reasons why people are like, well, I don't know if I want to change. I need good service. Well, guess what, you get the same exact service used to right now because you're going to be on the same towers that you're using right now when you switch to Patriot Mobile. The number two reason why people don't switch, they say, I don't want to go into a store and take up an entire day. Well, with technology in 2024, you can switch over the phone and it's easy. I did it the other day, I had to switch over another line and it took no time at all. And you get to keep your same cell phone number, you get to keep your same phone you have right now in your hand or you can upgrade to a new phone. Patriot Mobile. They offer you dependable nationwide coverage. But then here's the best part. They take 5% of your bill every month on average, and they give it back to organizations that support free speech, religious freedom, the sanctity of life, the second Amendment. And they support our military veterans, our first responders and, and are wounded warriors. So when you pay your bill, you're standing up for what you believe in. You're going to have a cell phone bill every month. Why not give your money to a company that supports your values? 972 Patriot is the number to call to switch. That's 972 Patriot 972 Patriot or patriot mobile.com verdict. You'll get free activation when you use the offer code verdict as well. Join me and make the switch today. Patriot mobile.com verdict or 972-patriot Senator, there was a remarkable moment today and I'm privileged to get to see a lot of what you do in Washington. And I Get to listen to a lot of it getting ready for the show. But this was one of, I think, the highlights, and I mean this sincerely, of your career, the cross examination that you had today. The Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, and I want to play it in its entirety for people, what you said, but. But set the stage for us of what he was doing before you guys and what was happening.
- [20:06]
Senator Ted Cruz
Well, the Secretary of State came today to testify before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. I'm on the Foreign Relations Committee, have been for years. And so as one of the members, I took the opportunity to question him. I'll tell you, most of the questioning was fairly quiet, was fairly tame. People were not that exercised. It had been a pretty quiet hearing. Other than you had multiple pro Hamas, anti Israel protesters there? I think there were at least four who were arrested. 1. One protester took a swing at a Capitol Police officer. She was arrested. I had several anti Israel, pro Hamas protesters chased me down the hall, screaming at me. So. So there was the. The fireworks was coming from the radical left that was there. But Blinken's testimony had been fairly quiet and sleepy. And I will say when. When it came my turn to question, I think it's fair to say it was no longer quiet and sleepy.
- [21:01]
Ben Ferguson
Take a listen. It's truly incredible. Cross. Here it is.
- [21:05]
Senator Ted Cruz
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, Senator, Mr. Secretary, you have presided over the worst foreign policy disaster of modern times. When Joe Biden became president, he inherited peace and prosperity in the world. We now have two simultaneous wars waging the worst war in Europe since World War II and the worst war in the Middle east in 50 years. Both, I believe, were caused by this administration's consistent weakness. And indeed, your foreign policy is precisely backwards from what a rational American foreign policy should be. To our friends and allies, this administration has consistently undermined, weakened, and attacked them. And to our enemies, this administration has shown constant appeasement and indeed has flowed billions of dollars to the enemies of America who want to kill us. Senator Barraso asked you about Ibram Raisi. Your State Department put out a statement sending condolences for his death. Mr. Secretary, is the world better today now that Raisi is dead.
- [22:26]
Anthony Blinken
Given the horrible acts that he engaged in, both as a judge and as president? To the extent he can no longer engage in them, yes, the Iranian people are probably better off.
- [22:37]
Senator Ted Cruz
You didn't say that in your statement, did you?
- [22:38]
Anthony Blinken
I believe that. That we did.
- [22:41]
Senator Ted Cruz
And certainly our spokesman today, the United nations is flying their flag at half staff to mourn the death. Would you agree that it is utterly disgraceful for the United nations to be mourning the death of the Butcher of Tehran.
- [22:54]
Anthony Blinken
We're certainly not mourning his death. As I said we would.
- [22:57]
Senator Ted Cruz
You agree it's disgraceful for the UN to be.
- [23:00]
Anthony Blinken
I'll look at what they've done. We certainly would not do that.
- [23:04]
Senator Ted Cruz
What they've done is flown the flag at half staff. Is that disgraceful?
- [23:08]
Anthony Blinken
We wouldn't do that. And we would certainly find that.
- [23:10]
Senator Ted Cruz
And I would note that's the absence of American leadership. All right, let's shift. The Washington Post on May 11 wrote an article. I'm going to read the opening paragraph. The Biden administration, working urgently to stave off a full scale Israeli invasion of Rafah, is offering Israel valuable assistance in an effort to persuade it to hold back, including sensitive intelligence to help the Israeli military pinpoint the location of Hamas leaders and find the group's hidden tunnels, according to four people familiar with the US Offers. Is that paragraph accurate?
- [23:40]
Anthony Blinken
Exactly the opposite. First of all, no one has done more to defend Israel than Joe Biden.
- [23:45]
Senator Ted Cruz
Is that paragraph.
- [23:46]
Anthony Blinken
Let me finish, if I may, please. He was there right after.
- [23:49]
Senator Ted Cruz
I'm not interested in a campaign speech. I have limited time. Is the paragraph in the Washington Post.
- [23:55]
Anthony Blinken
Accurate as you read it? No. To the contrary, we're providing everything we possibly can to Israel to help them find.
- [24:01]
Senator Ted Cruz
So the four sources that briefed the Post, and, by the way, brief multiple other media outlets, they were lying?
- [24:06]
Anthony Blinken
Absolutely.
- [24:08]
Senator Ted Cruz
So, all right. So that. Does the administration. Did the administration offer to provide the locations of senior Hamas leaders to Israel if they didn't invade Rafah?
- [24:18]
Anthony Blinken
That's, again, totally, totally misleading and wrong. Here's what we've said. And here's what. And here's what we're doing. We have said that there is a better way to deal with the challenge, that.
- [24:28]
Senator Ted Cruz
I'm not interested in the speech.
- [24:29]
Anthony Blinken
You don't want to hear my answer.
- [24:31]
Senator Ted Cruz
Offer the location of senior Hamas officials if they didn't invade Rafah. That's a yes or no.
- [24:36]
Anthony Blinken
If we.
- [24:36]
Senator Ted Cruz
No.
- [24:37]
Anthony Blinken
If we had the locations, of course we provide them, irrespective.
- [24:40]
Senator Ted Cruz
So. So this statement, you're saying the Post got it totally wrong, it is utterly false. And. And anyone who said to the contrary was lying and perjuring themselves if they were under us.
- [24:50]
Anthony Blinken
That statement is incorrect. We have done. We'll continue to do everything we can to, if we can do it, develop the information and share the information. I wish we had it.
- [24:58]
Senator Ted Cruz
Does the administration have intelligence on the locations of Hamas officials that you have not shared With Israel?
- [25:04]
Anthony Blinken
No.
- [25:05]
Senator Ted Cruz
Does the administration have the locations of Hamas terror tunnels that you have not shared with Israel?
- [25:09]
Anthony Blinken
No.
- [25:10]
Senator Ted Cruz
Okay, so then your. Your position is that this story is an utter and complete lie.
- [25:15]
Anthony Blinken
As you. As you read it to me, Senator. It's not. It is not accurate.
- [25:20]
Senator Ted Cruz
And we're not interested in playing word games. I've asked you very directly.
- [25:24]
Anthony Blinken
I have.
- [25:25]
Senator Ted Cruz
You're saying there's not a single Hamas leader that you know about that you. That you or the administration has offered will tell you where they are if you don't engage?
- [25:32]
Anthony Blinken
That is correct.
- [25:33]
Senator Ted Cruz
What have you offered them not to invade Rafa?
- [25:36]
Anthony Blinken
We've offered them nothing not to invade Rafa except a plan to deal more effectively with Rafa.
- [25:41]
Senator Ted Cruz
Okay, so your testimony under oath is you've offered them nothing not to invade Rafah. I find that very hard to believe, but I just want to understand what your testimony is.
- [25:50]
Anthony Blinken
I'll be very clear. We have told them we've been engaged in a long conversation with them about the most effective way to deal with the problem we agree must be dealt with.
- [25:59]
Senator Ted Cruz
They are quite aware you disagree with their plan to kill the Hamas terrorists because you and the President have vocally said it. To be clear, your State Department on the morning of October 7, sent out a tweet telling Israel not to engage in military retaliation. I called you out at three in the morning and you deleted that tweet. The next day, you personally, on October 8, sent a tweet saying you'd spoken with a Turkish foreign minister and Israel should not retaliate. From the very beginning, the Biden administration is consistently, at every stage, told Israel. And by the way, when I called your tweet out, you deleted it again. At every stage, you have been telling Israel, do not kill the terrorists. And that has been from day one.
- [26:39]
Anthony Blinken
Senator, I was in Israel five days after October 7th. I've been there seven times since. No one, starting with President Biden, has done more to make sure they have what they need to defend themselves from Hamas, to deal with the threat that.
- [26:51]
Senator Ted Cruz
With all due respect, that. That. That is simply wrong. That. That is ludicrous. Why did. Why have you cut off weapons to Israel then?
- [26:58]
Anthony Blinken
We have not cut off weapons to Israel. In fact, as you know, well, starting many years ago, President Biden was at the heart of the MoU that led to Israel having a 10 year guarantee supply of assistance. When it. Which.
- [27:11]
Senator Ted Cruz
When you became Secretary of. You became Secretary of State. How much oil was Iran selling a day?
- [27:17]
Anthony Blinken
I have to come back to you on any numbers I Don't have the numbers.
- [27:20]
Senator Ted Cruz
You don't know. It doesn't surprise me. You don't know is about 300,000. How much oil is Iran selling today?
- [27:26]
Anthony Blinken
We have. We have. We've applied sanctions against more. How much oil that are engaged in petrochemicals.
- [27:31]
Senator Ted Cruz
How much?
- [27:32]
Anthony Blinken
You can tell me. I'm sure.
- [27:33]
Senator Ted Cruz
Don't filibuster.
- [27:34]
Anthony Blinken
I'm not filibustering.
- [27:35]
Senator Ted Cruz
How much oil are they selling today? You tell me.
- [27:37]
Anthony Blinken
You tell me.
- [27:39]
Senator Ted Cruz
Apparently you don't know. So you don't know how much they were selling. It was 300,000. Today they're selling about 2 million barrels a day. Let me ask you.
- [27:46]
Anthony Blinken
And given the sanctions, given the export controls, given the other controls we put on, the cost of doing that, the evasion that they have to engage in, which we're trying to.
- [27:54]
Senator Ted Cruz
They've made about $80 billion. Let me ask you another question. I'm running out of time, so I'm not interested in speeches. Let me ask you this. How many Ghost Fleet ships did Iran have in November 2020?
- [28:07]
Anthony Blinken
We have sanctioned more than 200.
- [28:10]
Senator Ted Cruz
Question I'm not. How many did they have?
- [28:12]
Anthony Blinken
The total number. I can't tell you what it had in 2021. I'll come back to you with that.
- [28:16]
Senator Ted Cruz
But we have. The number was about 70.
- [28:18]
Anthony Blinken
Yeah.
- [28:18]
Senator Ted Cruz
How many did they have?
- [28:19]
Anthony Blinken
We blocked about 50 of them.
- [28:21]
Senator Ted Cruz
Okay, let's see how effective you are. How many do they have today?
- [28:23]
Anthony Blinken
As I said, we blocked about 50.
- [28:25]
Senator Ted Cruz
How many do they have today?
- [28:26]
Anthony Blinken
You tell me.
- [28:27]
Senator Ted Cruz
I'm sure they have about over 400. Look, this administration desperately wants a new Iran deal. You have been showering cash on Iran from day one. And understand the $6 billion you were asked about is the tip of the iceberg. By refusing to enforce oil sanctions, we have seen Iran's oil sales go from 300,000 barrels a day when you got into office to over 2 million barrels a day today. That's $80 billion. 90% of Hamas's funding comes from Iran. In a very real sense, this administration, you and President Biden funded the October 7 attacks by flowing $100 billion to a homicidal genocidal regime that funded those attacks.
- [29:11]
Anthony Blinken
That statement is profoundly wrong.
- [29:13]
Senator Ted Cruz
Why?
- [29:14]
Anthony Blinken
I'm not even going to humor it. I think it's a disgraceful statement.
- [29:18]
Senator Ted Cruz
Why?
- [29:19]
Anthony Blinken
We have gone at Iran repeatedly with more than 600 sanctions applied against different.
- [29:24]
Senator Ted Cruz
Then why are they selling 2 million barrels a day as compared to 300,000?
- [29:27]
Anthony Blinken
They are working hard to do what they can to get around the sanctions.
- [29:30]
Senator Ted Cruz
So Just the prior administration was schools you didn't have. They were more effective. Or maybe they just weren't desperate to deal with Iran.
- [29:37]
Anthony Blinken
And we continue every single day to go at them.
- [29:40]
Senator Ted Cruz
You are refusing to address the facts.
- [29:42]
Anthony Blinken
I'm not.
- [29:44]
Senator Ted Cruz
Then why are they selling 2 million barrels a day?
- [29:46]
Anthony Blinken
Because they're determined to try to do that. We're determined to cut them off.
- [29:48]
Senator Ted Cruz
They weren't determined when Trump was president.
- [29:50]
Anthony Blinken
They were determined. And of course, unfortunately, we also had their nuclear program in a box. No fissile material being produced.
- [29:57]
Senator Ted Cruz
You're not answering the question. You're filibustering another topic. You got the last word. You get the last word, Billy. You funded our enemies and you undermine our friends. And the world is much, much more dangerous as a result. And Americans that are at greater jeopardy because of it.
- [30:17]
Anthony Blinken
In fact, we brought more countries together that we have stronger allies, stronger partnerships, stronger engagement from countries around the world to deal with a very dangerous world than we had. We were alone. We aren't anymore. And America is leading those efforts.
- [30:29]
Senator Ted Cruz
Remember the Abraham Accords?
- [30:31]
Anthony Blinken
I do. Let me just.
- [30:34]
Ben Ferguson
I love. Senator, the way that you did that. Because it was needed. And it's not just me that's saying this. Mark Dubowitz, who is a guy who is actually sanctioned by Iran And Russia, the CEO of FDD, he said, in my 20 years in Washington, I've never seen a more withering and effective cross examination by a senator of an administration official than this one. He's absolutely right. And it's sad that Anthony Bleakin can sit there and straight up lie. And one of the lies that he told, and I want to get your reaction to it, is, is he said that we haven't withheld any weapons. Well, the White House says he's a liar. Here's Jean Pierre on the 15th.
- [31:19]
Senator Ted Cruz
And we have said that it is one pause, one pause on these bombs. One package, one shipment. And that is obviously connected to Rafah and the potential what could happen in Rafah. And we've been very clear about that.
- [31:34]
Ben Ferguson
So who's lying, Senator? The White House or Blinken? Or is the White House calling Blinken out for his lie?
- [31:40]
Senator Ted Cruz
Well, listen, Blinken is spinning like crazy. And understand when Joe Biden went on TV and threatened to cut off the weapons, that surprised the administration. They didn't know that he was gonna freelance like that. And so they're trying to do cleanup on that, but they're still holding the damn weapons. They're not sending them. So they're trying to spend that they're sending out, we sent other weapons. It's just the current shipment that we're threatening, I gotta say. So, look, the first part of that cross examination, when I was focused on the Washington Post story and you and I covered this in a pod, I don't know, about a week or two ago, the most damning conclusion of that story, that they were offering intelligence on where senior Hamas officials were and where Hamas terror tunnels were in exchange for not going into Rafah, is the necessary implication that they had that information. They knew where the senior Hamas leaders were and they were not telling Israel. Now, I will say Blinken gave a categorical denial. And maybe he's right. I do not know. I know that that story appeared in multiple media outlets simultaneously. So someone was deliberately and directly putting it forward. And if Blinken was lying, then he perjured himself because he was under oath and he was unequivocal in what he said. He said they didn't offer Israel anything not to enter Rafah. Now, I think the chances that Blinken is not telling the truth there are very, very high. But, you know, these issues have a way of, over time, the truth comes out.
- [33:09]
Ben Ferguson
And Tinder. Look, there's the people that don't understand how leaks work in Washington. I think it's important. So you understand there sometimes are leaks that come out that is like one person that's genuinely leaking something. Then there's other strategic leaks that are done on purpose where you can't use their names. And look, I've been a part of that where they're like, hey, will you go to this reporter? And this. And then three other people go to other reporters and then they say, he, hey, we want to get this message out there for in a few days from now. We want to let them know this is coming down the pipeline. When you have four people, it's organized. It's, it's, it's an administration's decision to send people out to give a heads up on something and to get it in the newspaper, to get it in print. Which is exactly what you were quoting.
- [33:52]
Senator Ted Cruz
No, that's exactly right. Anytime you have four people that are going to multiple outlets. It wasn't just the Washington Post. I quoted the Post, but I think it was Reuters. It was several places. There's a decision and someone has made a decision. We want to drive this story. And when four people are going, you're sending, okay, you, you, you and you, you guys go talk and push that story. So somebody pushed that story and those four people who pushed it by the way the reporters know who those four people are, and they now know that one or the other is directly lying. Either the four people who talked to them were lying to them, or Tony Blinken just committed perjury. One of the. One of the other has to be the case so that in time, there may be real consequences to Blinken's testimony on that. The rest, of it, though, listen, I gotta say, when we got into, for example, the Iranian oil, I found it stunning that the Secretary of State didn't know, didn't care. How much oil are they selling? I don't know. How much were they selling? I don't know. How much are they now? I don't know. How many shit ships were in the Ghost Fleece before. I don't know. How many ships are there now? I don't know. It's because they don't give a damn. They don't care.
- [35:05]
Ben Ferguson
When he looked at you and he goes, you tell me. I'm like, you're the Secretary of State. You're the one that's supposed to be up on all of this information on the sanctions. He should know more than you should know on this. Am I right?
- [35:16]
Senator Ted Cruz
If he cared. He does not care. The overwhelming foreign policy objective of Joe Biden and this entire administration, and sadly, most of the Democrats in Congress, is continuing to appease Iran and enter a new Iran nuclear deal, even while Iran is trying to murder Mike Pompeo, the former US Secretary of State, Raisi, who Blinken just put out a statement, you know, commemorating and commiserating his death. Raisi was trying to murder Blinken's predecessor and, like, was trying to murder him two days ago. It is stunning. And so, because they desperately want to deal with Iran, he doesn't care how much oil. By the way, this is the same administration that's doing everything they can to cut off oil and gas production and sales in the United States. This is the same Joe Biden that halted new permits to export lng. So if it's Americans selling oil and gas, they know who's doing it. They want to stop it. But if it's a homicidal religious theocrat who hates Israel, who hates America, who chants, death to America, Death to Israel, he can sell as much oil as he wants. What? You know, what's $100 billion to a psychopath who wants to murder us all.
- [36:33]
Ben Ferguson
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- [38:45]
Senator Ted Cruz
Well look, as I asked on Twitter, only slightly tongue in cheek, I said, you know, you should have seen the condolence letter the State Department put out when Adolf Hitler died. We don't mourn the loss of mass murderers, understand. Raisi was a mass murderer, by the way. He murdered children in his own country. He was in charge of making the morals police in Iran even stricter. You know, the groups that we see online, things like Queers for Palestine. Raisi is the guy in charge of murdering homosexuals. He's the one that takes you to the top of a tall building. Or actually his goons are. To be fair, it's probably not him. Personally. But his goons take you to the top of a tall building and throw you off. He's the one that, if a woman removes her head covering, that is in charge of administering the beatings and whipping and capital punishment. He is a monster, by the way. He is also directly responsible for the murders of hundreds of US servicemen and women. He is directly responsible for October 7, for the murder of 1200 Israelis. He is directly responsible for leading this viciously anti Semitic, hateful regime. The world should celebrate that Raisi is dead, but this administration is not celebrating. And to be clear, the United nations flew their flags at half staff. That's what you do when you commemorate the loss of a world leader. That's what you do when you commemorate the loss of someone who is to be revered, who is to be admired. And in this United nations, they are such vicious, anti Semites. Raisi fits the bill.
- [40:27]
Ben Ferguson
Yeah. I mean, I wonder, if these guys were in charge when we killed Osama bin Laden, would they have then sent condolences to Al Qaeda?
- [40:35]
Senator Ted Cruz
And notice Blinken didn't condemn what the UN Did? I mean, I gave him the opportunity. He's like, well. Well, I need to know the context. What context? Flag poll, halfway up. Okay, you got all the context. Good or bad you agree? I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. Look, I mean, that's. He doesn't want to condemn it. Why? Because he agrees with it.
- [40:55]
Ben Ferguson
Great point, by the way, for everyone listening. We are going to be covering the Trump trial later this week, I can promise you that. So if you're looking for that, it's coming. And don't forget, we do this show Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Make sure that you hit that subscribe auto download button. And if there's breaking news in between. There seems to be a lot of breaking news lately. Make sure you grab my podcast. I'll keep you up to date on those in between days. I do a show every morning. Ben Ferguson podcast. You can grab it as well. And listen on those in between days. And the Senator and I will see you back here in just a couple of days.