The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson

Episode: On the Road in Mexico Urging the Mexican Government to get Serious about Defeating Cartels plus Dems Bemoan Trump's Fighting Violent Crime

Date: September 1, 2025

Host: Ben Ferguson
Guest: Senator Ted Cruz

Episode Overview

On this episode, Ben Ferguson welcomes Senator Ted Cruz fresh off his CODEL (Congressional Delegation) to Latin America, covering El Salvador, Panama, and Mexico. The main focus is on Cruz’s diplomatic efforts urging the Mexican government to collaborate with the United States in combating powerful drug cartels. The second half shifts to domestic politics, with pointed criticism of Democratic leaders like Illinois Governor JB Pritzker for their stance on violent crime and immigration enforcement under the Trump administration.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Senator Cruz’s CODEL Recap: Latin America Security & US Interests

[01:20 – 04:55]

• El Salvador:
  • Met with President Bukele; lauded El Salvador’s dramatic reduction in murder rates (from world’s highest to among the safest).
    • "They've gone from the highest murder rate in the entire world...That number has plummeted by 98%. Last year their murder rate was 1.9 per 100,000." – Cruz [01:37]
  • Attributed this to the government’s tough crackdown on gangs.
• Panama:
  • Toured Panama Canal, stressed its strategic economic and military importance to the US. Raised alarms about China’s growing control (ports, bridge, metro tunnel) near the canal.
    • "[China] could shut down the Panama Canal...which would have massive economic harm to the United States." – Cruz [03:11]
• Mexico:
  • Multiple meetings with top government officials (Foreign, Defense, Agriculture Secretaries).
  • The focus: border security (noting a claimed 99% drop in illegal crossings under Trump) and the fight against drug cartels.
  • Pushed for US-Mexico partnership to dismantle cartels, which he claims have been empowered due to previous US "open borders" policies.

2. US-Mexico Relations: The Cartel Challenge

[07:09 – 23:54]

• Senator Cruz describes talks with Mexican officials as initially cordial, focused on trade and mutual economic benefits, particularly for Texas and border regions ([07:50 – 09:30]).

• Shifted to security issues:

  • Blamed the Biden administration for exponential cartel wealth and violence.
    • "In 2018, the cartels made roughly $500 million from human trafficking. Last year...over $13 billion. That is a 2,600% increase." – Cruz [09:50]
  • Cruz offered US assistance to help Mexico dismantle cartels, framing the new Trump term as a "mandate" for this partnership.

• Mexican Government’s Response:

  • Firm rejection, citing national "sovereignty." President Claudia Sheinbaum publicly declared, "Absolutely not. No, we do not want America's help." – Cruz [12:01]
  • Repeated invocation of "sovereignty" by Mexican secretaries; historical reluctance to allow US military involvement.
  • Cruz brings up El Salvador’s and Colombia’s success with external (especially US) support, contrasting their openness with Mexico’s refusal.
  • Shared an example of Mexican senators fist-fighting over whether to accept US military help ([16:31]).

• Populist/Nationalist Dynamics:

  • Cruz and Ferguson discussed the political incentive in Mexico to reject perceived "Yankee imperialism."
    • "It is good populist politics to rail against the Yankee imperialist from the north...That's elected quite a few politicians in Mexico." – Cruz [16:38]

• US Strategic Options & Warnings:

  • Cruz: US will act, with or without Mexico’s cooperation, due to the direct threat to American lives.
    • "Because we believe in our sovereignty as well, we are going to act...I believe sometime in the next four years, you will see strong, decisive military action against the cartels." – Cruz [19:38]
  • Used analogies to Iran airstrikes and killing Bin Laden to show US resolve ([20:51]).

3. US Domestic Politics: Fighting Crime & Democratic Opposition

[25:34 – 34:32]

Critique of Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Democrat Crime Policy

• Pritzker’s Approach in Chicago:
  • Pritzker claims Illinois is succeeding in fighting violent crime and resists stronger federal immigration enforcement.
    • "What we won't do, however, is engage in what is a federal effort... And by the way, we're succeeding at that job." – JB Pritzker [27:16]
  • Cruz strongly disputes this, citing statistics on Chicago’s murder rate (“most murders of any American city for 13 consecutive years” [27:44]).
    • "Chicago's murder rate is three times higher than Los Angeles, it is five times higher than New York City…it is 15 times higher than Delhi." – Cruz [27:58]
  • Calls Pritzker’s view "reality denying"; compares to Mexican leaders downplaying cartel violence.
  • Criticizes Pritzker for labeling Trump-era immigration enforcement as "dangerous" and "un-American" [28:44].
• Democratic Party Attitude:
  • Cruz accuses Democrats of siding with criminals over victims, repeatedly hammering the view that “Democrats will pick the criminal every single time” when forced to choose between a criminal and a victim ([29:11]).
  • Claims Americans are fed up, referencing poll data showing 68% see urban crime as a top problem.
  • Suggests Democrats have become more extreme, politically isolated, and detached from everyday safety concerns.

4. Political Outlook: 2026 Midterms and Democratic Infighting

[31:35 – 34:32]

• Ferguson floats the idea that the Democratic Party is in disarray, possibly inviting Barack Obama back to “mentor” new leaders.
• Cruz acknowledges Republican advantages due to Democrats’ “extreme” positions but warns of a potential GOP “enthusiasm gap”:
  • “On the positive side for Republicans, the Democrats have gotten so extreme...But on the other side, we have a real enthusiasm gap…That I believe was an enthusiasm gap, that the left is motivated by rage and hate. And that means that they are definitely showing up.” – Cruz [32:31]
  • Cites a surprise Democratic win in an Iowa special election as a warning sign.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the success in El Salvador:

  “They've gone from the highest murder rate in the entire world...That number has plummeted by 98%...El Salvador is now three times as safe [as the US].”
  – Senator Ted Cruz [01:37]

• On Mexican cartels under Biden:

  “In 2018, the Mexican drug cartels made roughly $500 million from human trafficking...last year...over $13 billion...a 2,600% increase. And what Joe Biden and the Democrats did to Mexico was horrible.”
  – Senator Ted Cruz [09:50]

• On Mexican sovereignty:

  “Her answer was, absolutely not. No, we do not want America's help. This is Mexico. We will handle it internally. Essentially, we don't want the Yankee gringos in our country.”
  – Senator Ted Cruz, paraphrasing President Claudia Sheinbaum [12:01]

• On next US actions against cartels:

  “I believe sometime in the next four years, you will see strong, decisive military action against the cartels...We would much rather it be cooperative...but if you refuse to act...the United States is perfectly capable of acting and projecting force anywhere on the planet if American citizens are threatened.”
  – Senator Ted Cruz [19:38–21:26]

• On Democrat attitudes toward crime:

  “The Democrats are becoming more and more open that if they have a conflict between a murderer and a victim...the Democrats will pick the criminal every single time.”
  – Senator Ted Cruz [29:11]

• On the 2026 midterms:

  “We've got cross cutting forces for the midterms...the Democrats have gotten so extreme...but we have a real enthusiasm gap...[Democrats] are outraising Republicans three to one.”
  – Senator Ted Cruz [32:31]

Important Segment Timestamps

• CODEL Recap & Regional Insights:
  • El Salvador & Panama: [01:20 – 04:55]
  • Mexico Meetings Overview: [04:55 – 07:50]
• Detailed Mexico-US Cartel Discussions: [07:50 – 23:54]
• Populist Politics & US Ultimatums: [16:31 – 23:54]
• Governor Pritzker and Crime Policy Debate: [25:34 – 31:35]
• Midterm Elections & Democratic Party Analysis: [31:35 – 34:32]

Overall Tone

Frank, combative, and unapologetically critical of Democratic policies. Ferguson and Cruz are direct and pull no punches in their assessments of both US-Mexico relations and American political dynamics. The discussion is fact-heavy but leans strongly partisan, mixing policy detail with rhetorical flourishes and direct challenges to political opponents.

Summary Takeaway

Senator Ted Cruz reports back from Latin America with warnings about Chinese influence and a stark rebuke to Mexico’s refusal of US anti-cartel cooperation, signaling likely unilateral US action. In the US, the episode attacks Democratic leaders like JB Pritzker for their crime policies, accusing them of being more protective of criminals than citizens—setting up both the administration’s foreign and domestic security postures as central 2026 campaign issues.