'Null & Void' Experts Question the Autopen, Harrowing story of Survival in the Texas Flood plus When Woke Satire Stops Being Funny Week In Review

Summary

Podcast Summary: The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson
Episode: 'Null & Void' Experts Question the Autopen, Harrowing Story of Survival in the Texas Flood plus When Woke Satire Stops Being Funny Week In Review
Release Date: July 19, 2025

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Introduction

In this compelling episode of The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson, host Ben Ferguson delves into three significant topics shaping the political and social landscape: the controversy surrounding President Biden's use of the autopen for pardons, an intense firsthand account of survival during the devastating Texas floods, and a critical examination of the cancellation of Stephen Colbert's late-night show. Throughout the episode, Ferguson provides insightful analysis, notable quotes, and thought-provoking discussions to keep listeners informed and engaged.

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1. 'Null & Void' – Experts Question the Autopen

Overview:
Ben Ferguson kicks off the episode by addressing a burgeoning scandal involving President Joe Biden's use of the autopen in issuing presidential pardons. Recent reports from The New York Times have unveiled that Biden may have authorized categorical pardons without his explicit, individual approval for each recipient, raising questions about the legality and validity of these actions.

Key Points:

• Department of Justice Guidelines:
  Ryan Seacrest explains that according to a Department of Justice opinion issued years prior, the President may use an autopen for executive orders, legislation, or pardons, provided the President makes the individualized determination for each action. However, the issue at hand is whether Biden personally approved each pardon or delegated the authority improperly.

• New York Times Report Findings:
  The report suggests that while Biden set broad criteria for pardons, his aides used the autopen for finalizing lists without his hands-on approval for each individual. Seacrest emphasizes, "Mr. Biden did not individually approve each name for the categorical pardons... they ran the final version through the auto pen, which they saw as a routine procedure" (02:54).

• Legal Implications:
  Seacrest asserts, "If he didn't know and didn't approve, then it's not a valid pardon" (07:19). He recommends that the Department of Justice should investigate these actions, especially focusing on high-profile cases like Dr. Anthony Fauci's pardon, which may have been executed without Biden's direct consent.

• Potential Consequences:
  The misuse of the autopen could render numerous pardons "null and void," undermining their legal standing. Ferguson suggests a thorough legal challenge to clarify the extent of presidential authority in this matter.

Notable Quotes:

• Ryan Seacrest (06:59): "He personally signed the pardon for Hunter Biden. So that one he knew about and he did so."

• Seacrest (08:04): "If he didn't know and didn't approve, then it's not a valid pardon."

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2. Harrowing Story of Survival in the Texas Flood

Overview:
The episode takes a poignant turn as Ben Ferguson shares a harrowing firsthand account of survival during the catastrophic Texas floods. The story, originally reported by Aaron Parsley in Texas Monthly, details the terrifying experience of a family caught in the rapidly rising Guadalupe River.

Key Points:

• Personal Narrative:
  The detailed account begins with Rosemary, a 4-year-old, alerting her family about the impending danger. The family's river house, built on stilts to withstand floods, becomes the scene of a life-threatening ordeal as water levels surge unexpectedly (14:04).

• Descent into Chaos:
  As floodwaters infiltrate the house, the family grapples with the collapsing structure. Critical moments include the roof crashing down, windows shattering, and the realization that their house is afloat in the raging river (21:30).

• Struggle for Survival:
  The narrative vividly describes the intense struggle to stay afloat amidst debris and swiftly moving water. Lynn, one of the survivors, recounts grabbing onto a tree with limited success and the emotional turmoil of witnessing her siblings' peril (25:10).

• Rescue Efforts:
  Miraculously, two family members, Patrick and Lance, manage to reach safety by securing Rosemary onto an inflatable inner tube, enabling her rescue. However, the tragedy remains as Clay, Rosemary's brother, does not survive the flood (25:18).

• Emotional Aftermath:
  The episode underscores the profound grief and survivor's guilt experienced by the family, highlighting the broader impact of the floods on Texas communities.

Notable Quotes:

• Aaron Parsley (14:04): "The last thing I remember from inside the house was seeing the refrigerator coming at me."

• Alyssa (26:37): "Rosemary wanted to play I Spy... She was now safe and it was going to be okay."

• Ryan Seacrest (25:18): "This family... is rejoicing at the lives that were saved and is forever grieving at the lives that were lost."

---

3. When Woke Satire Stops Being Funny: Week In Review

Overview:
In the final segment, Ferguson critiques the recent cancellation of Stephen Colbert's long-standing late-night show. He argues that Colbert's shift towards overt partisan attacks and "woke" satire has alienated a significant portion of the American audience, leading to the show's downfall.

Key Points:

• Stephen Colbert's Transformation:
  Ryan Seacrest vehemently criticizes Colbert, describing him as "a vicious, dishonest, partisan leftist" obsessed with "Trump derangement syndrome" (31:55). He contends that Colbert's approach has stripped late-night comedy of its balanced humor, turning it into a platform for leftist agendas.

• Impact on Late-Night Comedy:
  Seacrest laments the exclusion of Republicans from late-night shows, stating, "None of the late night shows have Republicans on anymore." He believes this shift has ruined the inclusive, humorous environment that earlier late-night hosts fostered (32:33).

• Loss of Humor Balance:
  Jamie Rubin supports the criticism by highlighting that genuine humor often involves making fun of both political sides. She cites the "Team World Police" movie as an example of effective bipartisan satire, contrasting it with Colbert's "sanctimonious woke lecture" (35:54).

• Cultural Consequences:
  The episode discusses how Colbert's blatant disdain for half the country has not only resulted in the show's cancellation but has also contributed to the overall decline of late-night comedy as a unifying cultural force (38:13).

• Audience Reception:
  Seacrest shares personal anecdotes about the negative reception of Colbert's content, including an incident where a skit led to family tensions, underscoring the divisive nature of his current comedic style (38:56).

Notable Quotes:

• Ryan Seacrest (35:54): "It's not funny. It's just, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you is not funny."

• Jamie Rubin (36:14): "Stephen Colbert turned his show into this like sanctimonious woke lecture every night attacking half of America."

• Seacrest (38:33): "Stephen Colbert is now unemployed. He's been canceled because... Americans don't like to listen to someone screaming at them."

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Conclusion

In this episode, The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson offers a deep dive into pressing political controversies, personal survival stories, and cultural critiques. Ben Ferguson, alongside contributors like Ryan Seacrest and Jamie Rubin, provides a platform for discussing significant issues with clarity and conviction. Whether scrutinizing presidential actions, sharing tales of resilience amidst disaster, or evaluating the state of modern satire, the episode serves as an essential listen for anyone seeking informed and unfiltered commentary on current events.

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Note: For those interested in exploring these discussions further, the full podcast episode is available for download on the iHeartRadio app or your preferred podcast platform.

Transcript

[Jamie Rubin]

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[Ryan Seacrest]

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[Jamie Rubin]

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[Jamie Rubin]

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[Ryan Seacrest]

To both Presidents Clinton and Biden.

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[Jamie Rubin]

It is verdict with Ted Cruz Week in Review. Ben Ferguson with you. And these are the stories you may have missed that we talked about this week. First up, Biden's auto pen dilemma and the New York Times now exposing exactly what may have been done without the President's knowledge. And there's an official investigation. We'll dive into that. Also, firsthand account of the tragedy and an update of what's happening with the Texas floods. And finally, Stephen Colbert. Not only did he alienate half the country, but he destroyed a show that had been around for decades. Stephen Colbert has been canceled. It's the Weekend Review and it starts right now. Finally, Senator, I want to move to another issue and it is really exploded over the last 24 hours and that is new information that we now have on Biden's use of the auto pin. It is a scandal that I don't think people understand just how big it is. And what is now been admitted to when it comes the auto pin usage, and Joe Biden maybe not knowing it was being used at all.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Well, so the New York Times on July 13 wrote a major story that says Biden says he made the clemency decisions that were recorded with auto pen. And you and I talked about it in an earlier podcast that the Department of Justice has an opinion that it issued a number of years ago, the Office of Legal Counsel, about whether you can use an auto pen for presidential signatures, whether that's a presidential signature on an executive order, a presidential signature on a law that is being signed into law, or a presidential signature on a pardon. And what the Department of Justice has concluded is that you can use an auto pen for any of those. But the test is the authority is the President's and the President's alone. So the President cannot delegate that authority to anyone else. The President has to make the decision. And what the Department of Justice explained, and this was years ago, is that the operative legal test is, did the President make the individual determination to sign the executive order, to sign the specific piece of legislation to grant the pardon? And if the President made that individualized determination, then you can use an auto pen to reflect that, but the President has to be the decider. Uh, and so that's the legal standard. But what the New York Times reported was, quote, Mr. Biden did not individually approve each name for the categorical pardons that applied to large numbers of people he and AIDS confirmed. Rather, after extensive discussion of different possible criteria, he signed off on the standards he wanted to be used to determine which convicts would qualify for a reduction in sentence. Even after Mr. Biden made that decision, one former aide said the Bureau of Prisons kept providing additional information about specific inmates, resulting in small changes to the list. Rather than ask Mr. Biden to keep signing revised versions, his staff waited and then ran the final version through the auto pen, which they saw as a routine procedure. The aide said, that is stunning because under the Department of Justice guidance, those pardons aren't valid. If the President didn't decide, I am going to pardon Ben Ferguson, you know, if he didn't know that, that would not be sufficient. And the New York Times, the consequence of this, Listen, I think the Trump White House needs to go through the records and look, they have the records because they're now in charge of the White House and examine what specifically has a paper trail that shows Biden signed off on the specific action and those. That. That. That there is no paper trail, that there is no evidence. And the New York Times is reporting. They're admitting. Oh yeah, they're broad categories he didn't know about at all. He didn't know the specific people. Those are null and void. Those have no legal force. And my recommendation to Pam Bondi and the Department of Justice is they should look specifically at the most vulnerable and devise and implement a legal challenge to challenge these and to make clear that an unelected aide running an auto pen does not have the power to grant a pardon under the United States Constitution.

[Jamie Rubin]

So now that we have this information, the big question is, when do these pardons, what happens next? How do you go about undoing this and how big of a legal fight is that gonna be?

[Ryan Seacrest]

Well, look, it's gonna be a termination number one of the White House and the White House counsel assessing what are the records show? What records did they keep of Biden signing off? We know that he personally signed the pardon for Hunter Biden. So that one he knew about and he did so.

[Jamie Rubin]

So that one is, is that also very telling? Yes, he. And is that going to be used in many ways as an example of like, dude, he had no idea what was going on over here. The ones he did know about, he knew he, damn it well, better sign them himself. His son is a great example of that. Does that actually hurt the argument for, for Biden that all the others are valid?

[Ryan Seacrest]

Potentially, although they are arguing that they discussed it with him and he approved. And so some of the high profile ones, like you look at Anthony Fauci, who was pardoned, they're maintaining they discussed it with Biden and Biden said he wanted to pardon him. If that's true, if he made the decision and directed them to sign a pardon, then under the Department of Justice's OLC memorandum, that is valid. The question is, are there ones. And according to the New York Times, there are a lot of that Biden did not know and did not approve the specific individual receiving the pardon. And if he didn't know and didn't approve, then it's not a valid pardon.

[Jamie Rubin]

So when you look at the timeline of this moving forward and some of these could be very significant, one that comes to mind is Dr. Anthony Fauci, for example, this could, this could, I mean, open up a whole lot of can of worms on a lot of different issues.

[Ryan Seacrest]

It could, it depends what. So what I believe, I believe the White House should go through systematically through the records and see what the records demonstrate. And the Department of Justice should pick, starting with a test case to go challenge this. The the. The. The. The. Look for a fact pattern in which there is the clearest absence of any approval from from the actual President and and and go challenge those in particular.

[Jamie Rubin]

Now, if you want to hear the rest of this conversation, you can go back and listen to the full podcast from earlier this week.

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[Jamie Rubin]

Now on to story number two.

[Ryan Seacrest]

I'll tell you, there was an article just came out in Texas Monthly about what happened and I want to take a few minutes and actually read a significant portion of the article. The article is by a fellow named Aaron Parsley and it's entitled the River House Broke. We rushed in the river and he's telling a firsthand story about his family that had a house right along the Guadalupe River. I want you just to listen to this. Rosemary, the 4 year old, woke up first. She told my brother in law Lance, that there was something on the roof. Seven of us were at my family's river house on the Guadalupe between Ingram and hunt for the 4th. Our little stretch of river is wide, green, cool, deep and slow. It's some of the best swimming anywhere and one of the most beautiful spots in Texas as far as I'm concerned. I've spent many peaceful afternoons there, floating and staring up at the cypress trees that tower over the water. The house, a one story cabin on stilts about 50 yards from the river up the steeply sloped yard, was built right after the 1987 flood that devastated this region, it killing 10 teenagers. Concrete pillars put our family's place a few feet above what officials consider the 100 year floodplain. More than once I tried to imagine the waters rising that high, but it seemed impossible. I woke around 3am to the sound of thunder and rain. My only thought was, I hope it stops so I can go on an early morning run. Shortly before 4:30, I would later learn, Rosemary climbed down from the top bunk of the kids bedroom and went to get her father. Lance stepped out of bed to see what was causing all the pounding and creaking. I stirred about that time too, and heard what I figured was the kids running around the house, excited by the storm. What's going on? I asked. We're in trouble, dad said. Big trouble. I looked past them. The river was as high as the deck, 20ft above the ground. We talked through our options. Getting under the roof was impossible. We had no ladder and the eaves were about eight feet above the deck. Patrick weighed whether we could all climb through a window onto the live oak whose branches were near the back of the house, then realized it wasn't reachable. Lance called 91 1, but the dispatcher said he didn't know when anyone could get to us. As we reassembled in the kitchen, the vinyl flooring under our feet started to bubble. Then water began to pool. My dad walked into the bedroom and saw the carpet floating off the floor. The river's musty scent permeated the house, mixed with what smelled like freshly chopped wood. My sister sat Rosemary and Clay on the kitchen island countertop. Rosemary was 4 and Clay was 20 months old. We discussed whether we could get them higher, maybe even on top of the cabinets in the small space below the ceiling. Then the roof over the porch crashed down and we heard glass shatter. In my father's room, just off the kitchen, Rosemary asked, why did the window break? Clay started to cry. When the sliding glass doors opened and water poured in, Lance ran to it, shoved it closed and held it shut. The pendant lamps began to swing wildly over the kitchen counter. The house was shifting. It lurched sharply, and we all struggled to stay on our feet. It felt like walking down the aisle of a plane during strong turbulence. We're moving. We're moving, Patrick said. The realization was terrifying. The rushing, still rising, water had lifted the house off its pillars. It was afloat. And then it wasn't. I saw part of the deck rip away. I heard windows break from every corner. Cracks split the walls. We crashed into something, probably a tree. I don't know how long. It took 10 seconds, maybe 15, for the house to come apart. Alyssa managed to keep both kids on the countertop, one hand on each, still trying to reassure them. As the house came undone, she grabbed one in each arm. This is the part that will forever haunt me. If I or anyone else had been closer to them, we would have helped her. We would have grabbed one of the kids. But we simply didn't know that we were about to be plunged into the water. We simply didn't know. As we were thrust into churning water, into darkness, our disintegrating house sucked us down into the river. The last thing I remember from inside the house was seeing the refrigerator coming at me. Patrick saw the countertop tear away from the kitchen island with Alyssa and the kids on it. As the river carried me downstream, I struggled to stay above water. I was surrounded by branches, by twisted metal, by uprooted trees, by countless smaller objects, bottles of sunscreen, books, couch cushions, coolers that came from inside our home or somebody else's. I realized I lost my shoes and my phone. I grabbed at every branch and every tree that was still standing. A few snapped off in my hands, leaving me with a fistful of leaves. I managed to briefly hold onto one, perhaps for a few seconds, until the force of the water and the constant assault from debris ripped me away. I latched onto a tree with branches large enough to support me and pulled myself out of the water. My breathing was frantic, but my mind was focused. I considered the possibility of death. I thought, if I survive, I'll be the only one. The tree began to crack, creek, and moan. Then it slowly fell into the river, and so did I. I reached for another tree and climbed as high as I could, a couple of feet above the rushing water. I stepped up to a higher branch and then another. If this tree collapsed, I wasn't sure if I would fight to stay above the water again. I pleaded with the tree to hold me, to withstand the power of the river. Please, I whispered. Please. Over the roar of the water and the crackling of the trees, I heard screaming. It was guttural, primal. Who's there? I called. I'm in a tree, too. We have to hang on. Someone will help. It's Alyssa. My sister screamed. I'm with Rosemary. Clay is gone. The memory of those words will never leave me. A combination of profound relief and unbearable sadness overwhelms me now, even as I type this. Alyssa and I kept yelling to each other, though neither of us could clearly make out what the other was saying. Be strong for Rosemary, I implored. You have to survive this. Intermittently I could hear just one word, Clay, as Alyssa cried out for her son. Then I noticed Patrick running along the riverbank. I couldn't believe he was there, fully dressed, wearing his tank top and shorts, his shoes somehow still on. He had lost only his wedding ring, he told me later. Patrick, I'm here. I yelled. For the first time, I thought we had a shot at surviving. Patrick was the first normal thing since the house broke apart. It was like being alone on an alien planet and another human being randomly arrives. And then Lance came jogging up after him. They'd ended up in the same pecan tree, about 200ft away from the riverbank and about 2,000ft from where our house once stood. Lance has a watch with a flashlight that he turned on after Rosemary woke him up. Patrick said he spotted the beam after he climbed into the tree. They're only a few yards apart, close enough that they could talk without yelling. Lance kept repeating, my son. My daughter. There's no way. In the river's roiling churn with Rosemary clinging to her neck while she paddled with one arm. Alyssa had somehow managed to push her daughter onto a branch, which Rosemary hugged with her arms and legs lying flat. Alyssa stayed in the water just below her, gripping the tree's trunk. And as the waters receded, she stood uncomfortably on a branch below her. Alyssa would tell me five days later that Rosemary wanted to play I Spy. While they waited in the tree, Patrick waded into the water to intercept a blue kayak that was floating by. An older couple watching from a house on a nearby hill brought Lance and Patrick an inflatable inner tube, and they decided the tube was the better option to catch Rosemary. More control, softer landing. After that, Rosemary's rescue happened quickly. Patrick and Lance rigged the inner tube with a green garden hose they found and tied it around a downed tree. Lance waded into the water, positioning the tube beneath his daughter. I stood downriver, ready to catch Rosemary if she missed the target and got caught in the stream. Alyssa urged us to hurry, saying she didn't think she could hold onto the tree much longer. She had to pry Rosemary's hands from the branch. Rosemary, terrified, started to cry. Then my sister cradled her daughter and dropped her 20ft into the river where her father was waiting. She landed directly in the middle of the inner tube, and we all cheered. Lance carried his daughter to shore. My sister jumped into the water right after, and I grabbed her, put my arm around her, and together we walked to safety. Alyssa collapsed on the riverbank, crying out for Clay. Rosemary became calm when she reached dry land, but her face had a blue cast. We were all shivering. We told Rosemary how brave she'd been and that she was now safe and it was going to be okay.

[Jamie Rubin]

That's the reality of what it was like for so many down there. And it happened. That article describes it, I think, perfectly.

[Ryan Seacrest]

So quickly, I want you to take a look at this picture. This is Rosemary and Clay. Rosemary survived. Clay did not. This family, like so many Texas families, is rejoicing at the lives that were saved and is forever grieving at the lives that were lost. And this family, like so many Texas families, needs their friends, their loved ones to hold them tight. They need God's blessing and mercy and grace. And I will tell you, everyone in Texas is standing with this family, is standing with all of the parents at mystic, is standing with all the little girls who lost friends. Just today, I was visiting with parents who had two daughters at Mystic. One survived, one did not. They talked about the surviving daughter and the guilt and grief that every one of the survivors feels. Survivor's guilt. Why did my friend. Why did my sister die and I didn't? And and those girls. It's going to take a whole lot of love and a whole lot of time for them to walk through that grief. We'll do that. That's who Texans are. But. But these are hard times.

[Jamie Rubin]

As before, if you want to hear the rest of this conversation on this topic, you can go back and download the podcast from earlier this week to hear the entire thing.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Step into the world of power, loyalty and luck. I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse. With family, cannoli and spins mean everything. Now you want to get mixed up in the family business. Introducing the [e-mail] test your luck in the shadowy world of the Godfather slot. Someday I will call upon you to do a service for me. Play the godfather [e-mail] welcome to the family. No purchase necessary. VGW Group Void we're prohibited by law 21 + terms and conditions apply.

[Jamie Rubin]

In times like these, true peace comes from trusting God's provisions and stewarding it well. And at Kurt Elliott Precious Metals, they believe managing your resour isn't just business, it's a calling guided by biblical principles. That's why I want you to know about the amazing job they do with precious metals. They know wealth isn't just numbers. It's about legacy, purpose and the lives you impact for generations. Gold and silver that you can actually hold, steward and pass on. With Kirk Elliot Precious Metals, you're going to receive three important things. Real bullion. No gimmicks. Just investment grade gold and silver. No overpriced coins. No flashy, ridiculous markups. Also going to get transparent pricing something very hard to find in the gold and silver space. You just pay 8% when you buy and nothing when you sell. No hidden fees ever on transactions. At the end of the day, they're a faith driven, guided company. They treat every client like family, offering honest upfront answers that make you understand exactly what you're doing with your hard earned money. Now, if you're seeking a partner with an eternity mindset, go to kepm.com ben that's ke ben. Or call them 720-605-3900 or online at ke-p m.com ben hey guys, this is.

[Christiane Amanpour]

Lisa Booth from the Truth with Lisa Booth. Are you feeling tired, foggy or low on energy lately? It might not just be stress. Your cells could be running low on fuel. That's why more people are turning to NAD plus and Methylene Blue, two powerful solutions that help boost energy, clear brain fog, and get you feeling sharp again. If that sounds like you or something you've been wanting to explore, check out All Family Pharmacy. They make it easy with fast shipping, no insurance needed, and the doctor's prescription included with every order. They're helping people think clearer, feel better, and finally get their energy back. And it doesn't stop there. This is your go to pharmacy with over 200 medications available, including ivermectin, hydroxychloroquine, antibiotics and even your daily meds. You choose what you need, they take care of the rest. Visit AllFamilyPharmacy.com USA and use code USA10 to save 10 today. That's AllFamilyPharmacy.comUSA with coupon code USA10.

[Jamie Rubin]

Oh, hey.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Hey. Thanks for meeting me here on such short notice.

[Jamie Rubin]

This place isn't bugged, is it?

[Ryan Seacrest]

Bugs. Wait, Jamie, what's going on? It's just you're my only lawyer friend.

[Jamie Rubin]

And I need your professional opinion.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Do you see that brand new Hyundai Tucson out there?

[Jamie Rubin]

Yeah. That's all I paid for it. Ah, I think I need to get back to you on that.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Do you know what you want?

[Jamie Rubin]

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[Ryan Seacrest]

Listen, I don't want to get in your business, but if that's all she paid for it, I'll have what she's having.

[Jamie Rubin]

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[Ryan Seacrest]

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[Jamie Rubin]

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[Ted Cruz]

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[Jamie Rubin]

I want to get back to the big story number three of the week you may have missed, Senator. There is just some news that shocked the left. I, I don't know how this could be true, but the late show has been destroyed by Stephen Colbert. The point where they're like, we're not even just firing you, we're just canceling the entire brand that has been a staple in American culture, an iconic show for decades, and now they're just like, yeah, we're done. I, I mean, it's amazing, right? You alienate half the country. You hate half the country. You mock half the country. No one could have seen this coming.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Well, look, I, I gotta say, what you and I talked about just a few minutes ago, I'm not tired of winning yet. Stephen Colbert is a vicious, dishonest, partisan leftist. He is utterly consumed with Trump derangement syndrome and he hates, he despises more than half of America. He thinks we're idiots. He thinks we're racist. He thinks we're morons. He is a condescending, arrogant jackass. Now look, I say this with direct experience. I've been on Colbert show. There used to be a time. Listen, I'm someone, I love comedy. I love late night comedy. I grew up watching an snl. I grew up watching Johnny Carson and Jay Leno and like really fun late night comedy. And by the way, if you got a sense of humor, you can laugh at both sides. I'm okay with with late night comics making fun of Republicans, making fun of Democrats. Look, both sides are funny. There's lots of jokes to tell. There used to be a time I've been in the Senate 13 years. When I got there, it was part of the job. I've done just about every late night show. I've done Jay Leno, I've done Colbert, I've done Jimmy Kimmel, I've done Jimmy Fallon. It was a fun part of the job. It's disappeared. None of the late night shows have Republicans on anymore. They don't invite anyone. In fact, it was really fitting. Stephen Colbert's show where he announced I've been canceled, I'm pulled off the air. You know who his guest was? Adam Schiff, because of course it was Adam Schiff, because. And Colbert's the worst of them. He's a vicious, nasty. So I remember when I first did a show, you know, you know, the hosts come by and they talk to you in the green room and they chat with you and, you know, I said, look, like all of these late night comics, they think they're going to be, you know, that they're gonna be this like, meet the press, like we're gonna ask you really tough questions. By the way, Democrats, they have love fests. They laugh, they, they joke, they kid around. But with the Republicans, they're gonna nail you to the ground. And I'm like, look, you wanna ask tough questions, that's fine. But you go on a late night comedy show to humanize, to say a little bit of who you are, to laugh. And Colbert just got angry. He's just like, I want to prove you are evil. You are the devil. And by the way, they don't even do that anymore. They just don't have Republicans on. And Colbert, of all of them was the worst. By the way, Jimmy Fallon of the late night guys is the best. Fallon. You know, it's interesting. Fallon inherited Jay Leno's audience. Jay Leno inherited Johnny Carson's audience. Their audience is a lot of Midwestern conservatives. And so Jimmy Fallon, like, I had a great time. I did Jimmy Fallon back, back when I was running for president. He had a very funny skit where he dressed up as Donald Trump and called me and went back and forth. But he was the one late night host who was not a jerk. Actually Leno wasn't either, but that was early on. Colbert is directly responsible, along with his compatriots with destroying late night comedy. And I want to play, by the.

[Jamie Rubin]

Way, it's because it wasn't humor.

[Ryan Seacrest]

It's not funny. It's just, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you is not funny.

[Jamie Rubin]

Yeah, it's also, by the way, the reason why I think Shane Gillis was at the ESPYs, because like humor, humor is actually back. And Colbert turned his show into this like sanctimonious woke lecture every night attacking half of America.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Well, and let me prove it. I want to play just, just a selection of, you know, he became this, this like scold for you must get the COVID vaccine. And here are a couple of examples of this bizarre song he did. You're gonna listen to it. I wish you could see the videos because the videos have him dancing like a fruitcake nut dressed as a human syringe. But just listen to it because you can get a sense of just how sanctimonious he was. Give a listen. Find out the way the vaccine is changing the scene. In our new recurring segment, the vac scene longer.

[Jamie Rubin]

Stall. Why the can.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Can you ask? I asked that myself.

[Jamie Rubin]

The answer public domain.

[Ted Cruz]

It's the answer to most things really.

[Ryan Seacrest]

The vaccine.

[Jamie Rubin]

The vaccine. We are the vaccine. Get your shot right now in your arm. It won't hurt.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Then go hug your mom.

[Jamie Rubin]

Get your shot.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Hug her mom.

[Jamie Rubin]

Get your shot. Hug your mom. But by the way, I, I just wonder like how many of those segments had vaccine commercials from pharmaceutical companies in there? And it's like, hey, I got you. I'll do a big thing.

[Ryan Seacrest]

They I am Stephen Colbert, sponsored by Pfizer, Right?

[Jamie Rubin]

Exactly. They put this thing out, it's 10 minutes and 49 seconds long by the way. I say they literally. The video we just played from you was the quote, vaccine, the box set, the Late show with Stephen Colbert. They put this out themselves and were that proud of it?

[Ryan Seacrest]

No, they were proud of it. And it's, it's vicious, it's nasty and it's not funny. Like I'm fine with a comedy host that makes fun of everyone. That's, you know, one of my favorite movies and we didn't include this when we did on July 4th, our movie section, but one of my favorite movies was Team World Police. Did you ever see that, Ben?

[Jamie Rubin]

Oh yeah. Great movie.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Hysterical movie. And it's done. It is, it's puppets. And it makes fun of both sides. It makes fun of Republicans, but it makes fun of Democrats. And it's now I will warn you, it is profane. I had the incredibly poor judgment to play this video for my in laws on a family vacation. And I will tell you, about nine minutes into it, when they had dropped the 32nd F bomb, I was like, okay, wow, this was a really bad idea. And my mother in law is frowning at me and I'm like wow, okay, nevermind. But unbelievably funny because it's actually comedy. It's making fun. Just watching Stephen Colbert saying I hate Donald Trump. Yes, Stephen, we got you. But you know what? Stephen Colbert is now unemployed. He's been canceled. And he's been canceled because oddly enough, Americans don't like to listen to someone screaming at them. I hate you. I hate you. I hate you. I'm smarter than you. I'm a left wing elitist, I make millions of dollars and I despise you. And so I got to say in response to his his musical medley urging everyone you must get the vaccine. I have a different musical medley that I want to say not just to Stephen Colbert, but also to NPR and and to pbs. Here's my musical response.

[Jamie Rubin]

Truly amazing. You gotta love that song right there. Don't forget we do this podcast this show I say as a podcast three days a week. So make sure you subscribe to Verdict with Ted Cruz wherever you get your podcasts. Cassandra and I will see you back here wherever you are next weekend and hopefully you'll hear us three days a week on the podcast. Have a great one.

[Christiane Amanpour]

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[Ryan Seacrest]

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[Jamie Rubin]

First to show up, first in line, then just waiting.

[Ryan Seacrest]

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[Christiane Amanpour]

I'm Christian Amanpour and I've been on the front lines and interviewing world leaders for more than 30 years.

[Jamie Rubin]

And I'm Jamie Rubin, a former advisor.

[Ryan Seacrest]

To both Presidents Clinton and Biden.

[Christiane Amanpour]

We were married for 20 years and divorced for seven. Now we've joined forces on the X Files to make sense of how we ended up with no world order. Listen to Christiane Amanpour presents the X files on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

[Ryan Seacrest]

This is an iHeart podcast.