Podcast Summary: "Oil, Racism & CBS Discovers Hunter Biden's Laptop"

Episode Release Date: November 25, 2022
Podcast: The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson
Host: Ben Ferguson
Guest: Senator Ted Cruz
Description: In this episode, Ben Ferguson engages with Senator Ted Cruz to discuss pressing political and economic issues, including gas prices, the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), changes in law school admissions, and media coverage of Hunter Biden's laptop. The conversation delves into the intersection of politics, policy decisions, and media integrity, providing listeners with in-depth analysis and commentary.

1. Gas Prices and the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR)

Ben Ferguson initiates the discussion by addressing the surge in gas prices experienced by commuters after Thanksgiving. He criticizes the Biden administration's portrayal of current gas prices as "really low" despite public dissatisfaction. Ferguson raises concerns about the administration's stance on replenishing the SPR, questioning the timing and rationale behind such decisions.

• Key Quote [00:00]:
  Ben Ferguson: "Senator, a lot of people driving home today seeing gas prices hit these numbers that they're not liking, even though the administration wants you to believe this is really low right now."

Senator Ted Cruz responds by highlighting global economic factors affecting oil prices, such as China's lockdowns and the Federal Reserve's interest rate hikes. He argues that these factors are not effective in reducing oil prices and criticizes the Biden administration for its energy policies, which he claims are intentionally driving gas prices upward to discourage American oil and gas production.

• Key Quote [01:06]:
  Senator Ted Cruz: "The policies of the Biden administration have waged a relentless war on US Oil and gas production. They want gas prices to go up... their view is the more burden they put on you, they'll force you to comply."

2. Political Manipulation of the SPR

Ferguson accuses President Biden of using the SPR for political gain, especially during election periods. He references the administration's decision to release millions of barrels of oil to lower gas prices artificially, framing it as a move to secure electoral advantage rather than a strategic economic decision.

• Key Quote [01:47]:
  Ben Ferguson: "The president decided he's got a problem. If the price was too high on election day, they thought they would lose... They decided to take the strategic oil reserves and dump million, then 2 million barrels a day into the marketplace to artificially lower the price."

Senator Cruz echoes these sentiments, asserting that the Biden administration prioritizes political maneuvers over national security. He emphasizes that the SPR was established to safeguard the nation during emergencies, not to be used as a political tool.

• Key Quote [04:41]:
  Senator Ted Cruz: "The SPR Strategic Petroleum Reserve in some way should be renamed the Strategic Political Reserve because Joe Biden has used it simply as a political fund."

3. Replenishing the SPR and Policy Implications

Ferguson plays a statement from the Biden administration's energy advisor, revealing the administration's plans to replenish the SPR when oil prices reach $70 per barrel. He criticizes the transparency of declaring price points for strategic purchases, suggesting it undermines the SPR's role in national security.

• Key Quote [04:59]:
  Biden Energy Advisor: "We'll look to immediately begin to increase and to repurchase oil into the spro. And that's because we need to have an SPIDER that is full than it is today for national security and economic emergencies in the future."

Senator Cruz argues that setting such price thresholds is unusual and indicative of political strategy rather than genuine national security concerns. He calculates the financial implications, highlighting the administration's increased expenditure to replenish the SPR at higher prices compared to previous administrations.

• Key Quote [10:40]:
  Senator Ted Cruz: "The difference between $75 and $24 a barrel, that's $51 a barrel. $51 a barrel times 200 million barrels is $1.2 billion."

4. Media Coverage of Hunter Biden's Laptop

Transitioning to media criticism, Ferguson critiques CBS News for its handling of the Hunter Biden laptop story. He accuses the network of initial dismissal and delayed acknowledgment, suggesting bias and political motivations behind their reporting practices.

• Key Quote [27:28]:
  CBS News Anchor: "Musk has called for an emergency meeting for all remaining engineers... CBS News is pausing its activity on the social media site as it continues to monitor the platform."

Senator Cruz lambastes the corporate media for what he perceives as fundamental corruption and a departure from journalistic integrity. He underscores the media's reluctance to engage with dissenting voices and accuses them of fleeing from free speech debates.

• Key Quote [27:41]:
  Senator Ted Cruz: "The corporate media is fundamentally corrupt. They are broken. They are damaged and destroyed."

Ferguson highlights the delayed recognition of the laptop's authenticity by CBS News, framing it as an example of media obstruction and bias, particularly against revelations that could harm President Biden.

• Key Quote [31:46]:
  CBS News Anchor: "Hunter for his father. Wait, CBS. You're telling me Hunter's laptop's real now and Joe Biden's the big guy?"

5. Law School Admissions and the ABA's Decision on the LSAT

Ferguson shifts focus to educational policy, discussing the American Bar Association's (ABA) decision to eliminate the Law School Admission Test (LSAT) requirement by 2025. He seeks Senator Cruz's perspective on this move, questioning its rationale and implications for merit-based admissions.

• Key Quote [15:19]:
  Ben Ferguson: "The American Bar association has now voted to end law school's LSAT requirements in the year 2025."

Senator Cruz critiques the decision as a step away from objective measures of merit, attributing it to leftist ideologies that prioritize political over academic qualifications. He connects this change to broader trends in higher education aimed at increasing political conformity rather than academic excellence.

• Key Quote [16:11]:
  Senator Ted Cruz: "The modern left are racists. They are dedicated, passionately dedicated to discriminating based on race... They want to move away from that and they want to move away from merit."

Cruz further elaborates on the historical context of affirmative action and its impact on admissions, arguing that eliminating the LSAT will disadvantage high-achieving minority applicants and undermine the meritocratic foundation of legal education.

• Key Quote [21:03]:
  Senator Ted Cruz: "This decision on the LSAT is a direct response to that... They end up rejecting the same Asian Americans because we don't want too many of them."

6. Impact on Minority Applicants and Meritocracy

Ferguson inquires about the broader consequences of removing standardized testing from law school admissions. He seeks insight into who stands to benefit or suffer from such policy changes.

• Key Quote [21:19]:
  Ben Ferguson: "Who are the biggest losers here and the biggest winners?"

Senator Cruz argues that the policy disproportionately harms minority applicants who excel in standardized testing, thereby reducing opportunities for deserving candidates based on merit. He emphasizes that legacy preferences remain, which advantage applicants with established connections, further entrenching inequality.

• Key Quote [22:25]:
  Senator Ted Cruz: "If daddy went there, if mom went there, but if not, listen, I'm an Hispanic guy who went to Princeton and Harvard and mommy and daddy didn't go there... I got in school because I had really good grades in high school and I did really well in the sat."

7. Conclusion and Final Thoughts

The episode concludes with Ferguson and Cruz reiterating their concerns about political manipulation in both economic policies and educational admissions. They emphasize the need for transparency, meritocracy, and integrity in governmental and institutional decisions. Ferguson encourages listeners to stay informed and engaged, highlighting the importance of accountability in public discourse.

• Final Quote [37:58]:
  Senator Ted Cruz: "When the media does it, when they release it at a time, no one's paying attention. They're engaged in cya."

Ben Ferguson wraps up by urging listeners to subscribe to the podcast, share it with others, and remain vigilant in holding institutions accountable.

• Closing Remark [39:11]:
  Ben Ferguson: "We're going to keep covering this story. We're going to keep watching it, and we'll keep exposing it as it comes out for everybody on the road today."

Key Takeaways:

• Economic Policy Critique: The Biden administration's handling of gas prices and the SPR is portrayed as politically motivated rather than strategically sound, with long-term economic repercussions.

• Educational Policy Concerns: The ABA's move to eliminate the LSAT is criticized as undermining meritocracy and perpetuating racial discrimination under the guise of progressive policies.

• Media Integrity Issues: CBS News' delayed acknowledgment of Hunter Biden's laptop is highlighted as evidence of media bias and complicity in political agendas, raising questions about journalistic integrity.

• Political Accountability: Throughout the episode, Senator Cruz and Ben Ferguson call for greater transparency and accountability in political and institutional actions, emphasizing the importance of merit-based systems and unbiased media reporting.

This summary encapsulates the main themes and discussions from the podcast episode, providing a comprehensive overview for those who have not listened to the full episode.