Podcast Summary: "So Help Me God" – The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson

Release Date: October 28, 2020
Host: Ben Ferguson
Episode Title: So Help Me God

In this episode of The 47 Morning Update, host Ben Ferguson delves into the pivotal moments surrounding the confirmation of Justice Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court. Through an insightful discussion with Senator Ted Cruz, Ferguson unpacks the implications of Barrett's confirmation, the dynamics within the Senate, the looming challenges ahead in the political landscape, and the ongoing oversight of Big Tech companies. The conversation offers listeners a comprehensive understanding of the events that have shaped America's judicial and political environment in recent weeks.

1. Confirmation of Justice Amy Coney Barrett

The episode opens with Senator Ted Cruz recounting the historic confirmation of Justice Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court. Cruz describes the emotional and strategic elements that defined the confirmation process.

• Key Moments:

  • Cloture Vote: "We voted at 1pm on Sunday on what's called cloture, which is the vote to end debate on a nomination." (01:05)
  • Senate Floor Dynamics: Cruz highlights the rare scene where Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer was the only Democrat present on the Senate floor during the confirmation vote. Schumer's absence led to a tension-filled environment as he expressed strong opposition to the confirmation.

• Notable Quote:

  • “Justice Barrett was confirmed with a vote of 52 to 48. At that point, there was a standing ovation as the Senate Republicans all burst into applause.” (05:55)

2. Senate Dynamics and Leadership Speeches

Senator Cruz provides an in-depth analysis of the interactions between Senate leadership and the Democratic minority during the confirmation process.

• Mitch McConnell's Speech: Cruz praises Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for his measured and historical perspective on the confirmation process.

  • “I told him afterwards I thought it was the best speech I've ever heard him give because it was sort of a very reasonable assessment of how The Democrats have abused the confirmation process and how what Republicans were doing is consistent with how the Senate has operated for 200 years.” (03:22)

• Schumer's Absence and Implications: Cruz interprets Schumer's absence on the Senate floor as a strategic move, highlighting the lack of Democratic support during the confirmation.

  • “No single Democrat is on the Senate floor while Mitch is speaking.” (04:57)

3. Potential Court Packing and Future Judicial Strategies

The discussion shifts to the Democratic strategy post-confirmation, particularly focusing on the talks around court packing if Democrats regain control in the upcoming elections.

• Court Packing Threats: Cruz warns of the Democrats' intentions to "pack the court" should they win the election, referencing statements by Schumer and positions taken by President Biden.

  • “If they win next Tuesday, they intend to pack the court.” (08:34)
  • “I believe, and that's naturally gonna escalate. So the next time Republicans take power, we will pack the court in response.” (09:09)

• Historical Context: He draws parallels to past political maneuvers, emphasizing the potential for a tit-for-tat escalation that could be detrimental to the judiciary and the country.

  • “If they go to 11, we'll go to 13. That's bad for the court, that's bad for the country.” (09:09)

4. Oversight of Big Tech Companies

Senator Cruz transitions the conversation to the Senate's ongoing and upcoming hearings targeting major Big Tech companies, underscoring the Republican agenda to regulate these entities.

• Upcoming Hearings: Cruz outlines the scheduled hearings with CEOs of Google, Facebook, and Twitter before the Senate Commerce Committee.

  • “Tomorrow, there's going to be a hearing with the CEOs of Google, Facebook, and Twitter in front of the Senate Commerce Committee.” (10:39)
  • “We're gonna have two hearings in the next couple of weeks with Big Tech.” (11:34)

• Conversations with CEOs: He shares insights from his preparatory discussions with Sundar Pichai of Google and Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook, highlighting their stances on free speech and content moderation.

  • “I made the case to him [Zuckerberg] tonight that, listen, y'all should not be in the business of deciding what media stories are allowed to be seen and what media stories aren't.” (13:26)

• Notable Quote:

  • “Big Tech censoring the speech of American citizens is crossing over into censoring the media, which is a major threshold.” (13:26)

5. Senator Cruz's Campaign Schedule and Election Strategy

The conversation veers into Senator Cruz's extensive campaign efforts leading up to the November elections, showcasing his commitment to Republican candidates across various states.

• Campaign Priorities: Cruz outlines his busy schedule, including campaigning for senators in North Carolina, Montana, Iowa, Arizona, and Texas.

  • “Tomorrow night, I fly to Montana. Do, I think two events in Montana with Steve Daines in a very close contested Senate race in Montana.” (19:54)
  • “And then on Sunday, I fly to Arizona, do several stops with Martha McSally, who's running to hold onto her seat there.” (20:04)

• Personal Sacrifices: He shares personal anecdotes about prioritizing family over political events, such as attending his daughter's birthday over World Series tickets.

  • “I've turned down World Series tickets to go to spend it instead for Catherine's birthday.” (19:54)

6. Future of Political Moderation and Party Dynamics

Addressing a listener's question, Senator Cruz discusses the potential for both political parties to return to the center or remain entrenched in their current extremes.

• Introspection and Moderation: Cruz emphasizes the necessity for both parties to undergo introspection following electoral defeats to reassess and recalibrate their platforms.

  • “If you look at elections, typically what happens is if one side gets clobbered over and over again, they engage in some introspection.” (24:45)

• Historical Examples: He references the Democratic Party's shift under Bill Clinton after consecutive election losses and contrasts it with the lack of similar introspection following Trump's 2016 victory.

  • “They came back with Bill Clinton, who ran as a centrist Democrat and won and won twice.” (26:42)

• Future Outlook: Cruz remains hopeful that repeated electoral challenges will eventually drive both parties towards moderation, but acknowledges the current trend towards extremism.

  • “The only way you will see a decline in the dividend is to have one or two electoral thumpings to cause one or the other party to recalibrate.” (26:42)

7. Closing Remarks and Personal Insights

As the episode concludes, Senator Cruz shares personal plans and reflections on campaigning during the COVID-19 era, highlighting the challenges of maintaining personal connections with constituents.

• Impact of COVID-19: He expresses his preference for in-person campaigning and the limitations imposed by the pandemic, which hinder meaningful interactions with voters.

  • “I hate campaigning in the era of COVID because what I like to do is events.” (21:31)
  • “In the era of COVID you can't really do that. I mean, it's miserable.” (21:31)

• Final Quote:

  • “It was miserable. And I really will be grateful to getting back campaigning the way it should be done, which is actually interacting directly with lots and lots of people.” (21:31)

Conclusion

In "So Help Me God," Ben Ferguson and Senator Ted Cruz provide listeners with a detailed exploration of the recent confirmation of Justice Amy Coney Barrett, the strategic maneuvers within the Senate, the Republican approach to regulating Big Tech, and the broader implications for the upcoming elections. The episode underscores the high-stakes environment of American politics, the evolving challenges faced by legislators, and the personal commitments of political leaders amidst a tumultuous period.