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Ben Ferguson
Welcome. It is Verdict with Senator Ted Cruz, Ben Ferguson with you. It's so nice to have you with us across the country. And Senator, let's just start with obviously the most important story and that has been coming out of Texas. You have spent a lot of time in Kerr county and Kerrville. You're also coming back with President Trump from Washington, D.C. to tour the devastation with him as well. And our thoughts are and prayers so many people affected by this incredible horrific flooding.
Senator Ted Cruz
Well, we are one week out from these catastrophic floods and the damage in Texas. There are not words that can describe it. I can tell you I've spent this entire week dealing with the devastation, dealing with the little girls who were lost to Camp mystic, talking with parents who lost their daughters, talking with families who are grieving, talking with first responders. As you noted, on Friday, I'm going to be flying on Air Force One with President Trump down to Texas to see firsthand the flooding damage, to visit with first responders on the ground. We're going to break that down. We're going to tell you what is happening. What is the latest on the Texas floods? I will tell you, it remains seeing firsthand what happened at Camp mystic remains the most horrible thing I've ever seen. We're going to talk about that. We're also going to talk about President Biden's doctor testified on Capitol Hill and did something really remarkable. You would think about President's doctor. That'll be straightforward. That'll be easy. Well, no, the doctor pled the fifth, refused to answer questions. He said if I give an answer that will incriminate me in criminal conduct, we're going to break that down for you. We're also going to talk about the rising wave of terrorism directed at ice. Left wing radicals who are firing weapons, trying to kill ICE agents. It is a phenomenon that is fueled by the radical rhetoric from the Democrats, from the media. We're going to do a deep dive on that. And finally, the FBI announced an investigation into John Brennan, the former head of the CIA. We're going to talk about why the FBI is investigating him and what that means. All of that in today's podcast.
Ben Ferguson
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Senator Ted Cruz
Well, we are one week out now from these catastrophic floods. It was a week ago on July 4, in the early hours of the morning that the flood waters rose and the Guadalupe river, who is ordinarily a calm, peaceful, beautiful river, a river that people love to Vacation on canoe to swim. 1.8 trillion gallons of rainwater fell on that river. And in less than an hour, the river rose 30ft and it carried out utter devastation. As we are sitting here, one week into it, 119 people are confirmed dead. And there are roughly 200 people that are missing that they're still searching for. And one of the challenges, if you look at Kerr county in central Texas, it is a vacation spot. It is, I think, and this is widely agreed, the most beautiful part of Texas, the Hill Country. There's the reason it's called the Hill Country. It's beautiful rolling hills, it's canyons, it is beautiful, gorgeous rivers. And so people come there. And on the fourth of July weekend, you had thousands of thousands of people who came from all over Texas to vacation. They were in RVs, they were in vacation homes right along the river. One of the challenges is the local authorities don't know everyone that was there. Many of them were from out of town. They were from across Texas, across the country, the RV camps, we saw RV after RV swept into the water, the vacation cabins, many of the cabins are right on the river. The 30 foot wall of water ripped cabins off of their foundations and took them into the water. And so we don't know everyone who is missing. But. But. And the story that has captured the heart of really the country and the world is Camp Mystic. Camp mystic is a Texas institution. It is 100 years old. It was founded in 1926. And for a century, Texas girls have gone to Camp mystic and they make the best friends of their lifetimes. When you go to a closing ceremony at Camp mystic and the other summer camps that are in the Hill country, the closing ceremonies are typically one to two days. And you see, literally, you see grandmothers and moms and little girls, three generations of women and girls who have been to these camps. And it is a beautiful, wonderful tradition. And right now, the extent of the agony, I really cannot overstate it. Every city in Houston, in Dallas, in Fort Worth, in Austin, in San Antonio, all across the state, in West Texas, in the Rio Grande Valley in East Texas, Texans, their little girls go there. As you know, my daughters have gone to camp in the Hill country for a decade. My wife Heidi picked up Catherine a week before these floods from her summer camp just a couple of miles away from Camp Mystic. And so the agony, look, if you go to my home in Houston, in my front yard, the tree, we have a green ribbon around the tree mourning the girls lost in mystic, just about every single home on my street has a green ribbon around the trees mourning the girls lost in Camp Mystic. Texas is suffering. But we will come through this, and we'll come through this because we're coming together. And it is inspirational to see Texans coming together and we will overcome this.
Ben Ferguson
This is one of those stories that I'm so glad we get to shine light on it. Joe Biden's former doctor, when he was the President, refused senator to answer questions in the House oversight probe into basically like, who was running the country, who was in charge of the auto pen. Joe Biden may not have known what he was even doing.
Senator Ted Cruz
Well, this was really astonishing this week. You know, ordinarily, if the president's doctor is testifying, the president's doctor is speaking at a press conference. It's kind of a nothing burger. The president's doctor lays out, here's what happened when we engaged in an investigation. And by the way, there's no notion that presidents have a right to privacy, to have if the president has cancer, if the president has dementia, the president's doctor is supposed to tell the American people, the American people have a right to know if there's a serious health condition affecting the President. Well, instead of answering reasonable questions, The President's doctor, Dr. Kevin O', Connor, sat in front of the House of Representatives and he pleaded the Fifth. He said, I'm not answering anything. I'm not going to answer. If I lied to the American people, I'm not going to answer. If I lied to Congress, I'm not going to answer anything. Now, typically, when people plead the Fifth, they're doing it to avoid incriminating themselves in criminal conduct. That is an astonishing thing. It would be one thing if he said, I'm not going to give the precise diagnosis that I gave to Joe Biden about particular health maladies he had. That's not an unreasonable thing to say. I don't think he should say that because I actually think the president's doctor has an obligation to the American people to be candid. But if he wanted to say that, that would be one thing. He's saying he refused to answer. Were you asked to lie to the American people? I want you to listen to some of the cross examination because his answers are astonishing. And you mentioned the question, who was running the country? I have heard literally over the last four years, hundreds of times people have asked me who was running the country. And I gotta tell you, if the president's doctor has to plead the Fifth to avoid saying, were you lying to the American people? That really raises incredible Questions about the degree of duplicity, the degree of lying to the American people that occurred for the last four years. Here, give a listen to this exchange with Joe Biden's doctor.
Dr. Kevin O'Connor
Dr. O', Connor, were you ever told to lie about the President's health?
Congressional Witness
The advice of counsel, I must respectfully decline to answer based upon physician patient privilege and in reliance on my right under the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution. I am not a lawyer. I must follow my lawyer's advice in this matter.
Ben Ferguson
Simple. 18 seconds, right? Hey, I can't even answer the question if I was told to lie about the president's condition. That is shocking coming from a doctor.
Senator Ted Cruz
It's shocking and it's lawless. The Fifth Amendment does not protect. There's nothing in the patient doctor privilege that protects. That bars you from answering the question. Were you ever told a lie that has nothing to do with the President's condition? Were you ever told a lie? By the way, I think virtually every president's doctor, that would be an easy question because a president's doctor, Ronny Jackson, who is now a member of Congress from Texas, he was the President's doctor. He was President Bush's doctor, He was President Obama's doctor. He's President Trump's doctor. He has gone on TV and said, hey, were you ever asked to lie? No, I was the President's doctor. So I told the truth to the American people. The degree to which that is a confession of deliberate dishonesty. And it's not just on the part of the doctor. Look, the doctor was complicit. The obvious reason he's pleading the Fifth is because the answer is, yes, he was lying. He was lying to the American people. But it wasn't just the doctor that knew that. It was the White House staff, It was the chief of staff, it was the senior staff, it was Jill Biden, it was everyone around Joe Biden. His mental diminishment was massive. And so when the doctor was trundled out to the American people to say, he's sharp as a tack, he was lying. And everyone knew he was lying. And yet he's right now refusing to admit this. I want you to listen to this other exchange from the hearing this week.
Dr. Kevin O'Connor
Dr. O', Connor, before we begin, I would like to go over the ground rules for this deposition. The committee will conduct today's deposition in accordance with the House of Representatives regulations for the use of deposition authority which were furnished to your council. This regulation is incorporated into the rules of the Committee on Oversight and Government reform at Rule 15, which was also furnished to your council. The questioning will proceed in rounds. The majority will ask questions for an hour, and then the minority will have an opportunity to ask questions for an hour if they choose. There will be one staff council per side asking the questions during each round. To the extent members have questions for the witness, they will be propounded during their sides respective rounds. Do you understand?
Congressional Witness
On the advice of Castle, I must respectfully decline to answer based on the physician patient privilege and reliance on my right under the fifth amendment of the constitution. I am not a lawyer and I must follow my lawyer's advice in this matter.
Senator Ted Cruz
So, gentlemen, we intend to assert both privileges with regard to any questions that would be asked at this deposition.
Ben Ferguson
And Dr. O' Connor will not answer any questions. Can we go off the record for one second? I mean, you hear that and then they go off the record. This is just a doctor that clearly can't answer a single question, I guess, truthfully, because it puts him in such a bad light. As a doctor, why wouldn't you want to clear your own name as a doctor? Say, no, I didn't lie and make up things. I didn't lie to the American people. I didn't lie on behalf of the president. United States of America. Wouldn't you want to clear your good name if you're a doctor?
Senator Ted Cruz
Of course. The reason he didn't say that is because he's a liar. That the only reason you plead the fifth, when you're asked, were you asked to lie to the American people? That should not be a complicated question. Any doctor, by the way, any public official ought to be able to answer that. No, that I'm not lying to the American people. I did not lie to the American people. The fact that he's refusing to answer any question. And by the way, I think the house of representatives is going to seriously consider granting this doctor immunity. Now, why is that important? Because if they grant the doctor immunity, it means they can force him to testify. You don't have a right to a fifth amendment privilege if you have immunity. That fifth amendment privilege only protects you from testifying if you face the jeopardy of criminal prosecution. If they grant him immunity, does he.
Ben Ferguson
Get that immunity, though? Like, does he have to agree to that?
Senator Ted Cruz
He does not. They can grant him immunity.
Ben Ferguson
Now you got to talk about.
Senator Ted Cruz
They can grant him immunity. They can drag him in front, and if he refuses to testify, they can hold him in contempt and put him in jail.
Ben Ferguson
Wow.
Senator Ted Cruz
You don't. Once you are no longer facing criminal prosecution, the fifth amendment does not give you the right to refuse to answer questions. I think there's a very real possibility that's what the house is going to do.
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Ben Ferguson
Senator, I want to move to another big story, and that is the rising threat that has just become oh so real with federal law enforcement. And there was a shooter that ambushed Texas Border Patrol agents. Words from elected officials, in my opinion, have major influence, but also consequence. We have seen time and time again right now Democrats coming out and saying that ICE are evil, stand up to ice, fight ice. These are words coming from so many Democrats that are actually elected to office.
Senator Ted Cruz
Well, listen, as you noted, words have consequence. And we have seen an awful lot of Democrats. We have seen the corporate media denounce ice, called them Nazis, call them goose stepping fascists. And unfortunately, that rhetoric fuels a rage. It fuels a rage that we have seen manifesting in violence over and over again, leftists engaging in active violence against ICE agents. So just a few days ago, an active shooter opened fire on ice agents in McAllen, Texas. And here, here, here's the story from FOX News. Active shooter killed an attempt to ambush Border Patrol agents in Texas. One McAllen police officer wounded but in stable condition following apparent planned ambush at Rio Grande Valley facility. And here's what the article says. An active shooter armed with tactical gear and a rifle opened fire upon Border Patrol agents as they arrived at a Border Patrol Annex facility in McAllen, Texas, in the Rio Grande Valley on Monday. Law enforcement sources say agents and local police returned fire and killed the gunman. No federal agents were hit, but one McAllen police officer was struck. Law enforcement sources say the officer is in stable condition. Quote, this morning, an Individual opened fire at the entrance of the United States Border Patrol sector Annex in McAllen, Texas. Both. Both Border Patrol agents and local police helped neutralize the shooter. The Department of Homeland Security said a statement of Fox News, this is an ongoing investigation led by the FBI. More information will be shared as it becomes available. Now, I'll tell you, I have walked into and out of that Border patrol facility in McAllen, Texas, multiple times. The fact that you have violent criminals, and this is a criminal who lost his life because he showed up and wanted to shoot at law enforcement officials. He was doing so. We don't know this conclusively, but we can certainly infer that he was doing so because he's been listening to the extreme rhetoric that these are Nazis. And so he was like, you know what? If you've got Nazis, let's kill the Nazis. That is the consequence of the unhinged and deranged rhetoric on the left right now.
Ben Ferguson
You talk about that rhetoric. Let's give actual quotes. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York said employed people to, quote, fight the Trump administration in the streets, quote, unquote. He also declared ICE agents, quote, will be unsuccessful and protecting their identities no matter what it takes, advocating for doxing and putting their families at risk. ICE agents. Representative Jay Apollo of Washington called ICE agents, quote, unquote, deranged and said it is, quote, inspiring to obstruct immigration enforcement. Representative McIver of New Jersey, who was arrested and charged with forcibly impeding and interfering with federal officers outside ICE detention facility, incited her supporters to, quote, shut down the city because we are at war, quote, unquote. And even the former vice presidential candidate, the Minnesota Governor Tim Waltz, getting in on the action, called ICE agents the modern day Gestapo. Chicago's mayor this past week, Johnson, accused the ICE agents of being, quote, unquote, the secret police and, quote, terrorizing our communities. And, and you add in Eric Swalwell of California. He said it was, quote, his priority to ensure ICE agents, quote, are no longer faceless, comparing them to some 1800s bank robbers or some KGB officers in Russia. Words have consequences. And this is the rhetoric coming from some of your colleagues in D.C. well.
Senator Ted Cruz
And not only do they have consequences with the armed shooter who was killed in McAllen, Texas, but in North Texas, 11 people were arrested for plotting to ambush, to kill ICE correction officers. And I want to read from this story from the daily wire. Quote, 11 people have been arrested in what law enforcement officers described as a, quote, planned ambush of corrections Officers at an ICE detention facility in Alvarado, Texas on July 4. One Alvarado police officer was shot in the neck during the attack and is expected to survive. Quote, early reports indicate that more than a dozen masked individuals dressed in black arrived at the Prairieland ICE Detention Facility late Friday night and vandalized vehicles and security cameras in the parking lot. CBS News reported the individuals launched fireworks in an apparent effort to lure law enforcement. On July 5, Deputy Attorney General Tom Blanche posted on X, quote, we are closely monitoring the attacks on DHS facilities in Prairie Land, Texas and Portland, Oregon and are coordinating with usaos and our law enforcement partners. The department has zero tolerance for assaults on federal officers or property and will bring the full weight of the law against those responsible. On Monday, Acting U.S. attorney Nancy Larson stated, quote, we're here to tell you that late at night on July 4th, Friday night at approximately 10:37pm at Prairie Land Ice Detention center in Alvarado, Texas, 10 to 12 individuals dressed in black military style clothing began shooting fireworks and engaging in acts of vandalism at the facility that was part of an organized attack. Today my Office has charged 10 individuals with three counts of attempted murder of a federal officer. Wow. Each of the 10 are also charged with three counts of discharging a firearm in relation to a crime of violence. Each of these defendants faces a mandatory prison term of 10 years and up to life in prison. An additional co conspirator was charged with obstruction of justice and conspiracy for attempting to conceal and destroy evidence in relation to the attack and faces up to 10 years in prison. And she continued, quote, let's discuss the incident. It was a planned ambush with the intent to kill ICE corrections officers. Make no mistake, this was not a so called peaceful protest. It was indeed an ambush. This is the violence we are seeing. And it turns out when you call law enforcement officers, federal law enforcement officers that are keeping us safe, when you call them Nazis, when you call them Gestapo, lunatics on the left hear that? And sadly we are saying over and over again they are acting, they're acting with violence.
Ben Ferguson
You look at, even on Tuesday, you had Democratic Senator Padilla of California and Cory Booker, New Jersey, they introduced that legislation to require ICE officers to, quote, display clearly visible IDs and not wear masks no matter what during their enforcement operations, accusing, quote, the Trump administration of alarming immigration enforcement tactics that have terrorized communities across California and the nation. And we know what the left has done here. They want to dox these ICE agents, their family members, they've been putting their kids even online and posting people been posting their home addresses, hoping that basically people go after the ICE agents who are just doing their jobs. That's how sick these people are.
Senator Ted Cruz
Well, listen, there's a simple choice. There's a choice for Americans all across the country. Who do you stand with? Do you stand with cops? Do you stand with law enforcement agents? Do you stand with the men and women who risk their lives to keep us safe? You and I both stand with them. Or as the Democrats have chosen, do you stand with illegal immigrants? Do you stand with murderers? Do you stand with rapists? Do you stand with child molesters? Do you stand with Venezuelan gang members who are engaged in human trafficking? Sadly, the Democrats, and inexplicably they've decided to stand with the criminals and not law enforcement. And we're seeing the consequences.
Ben Ferguson
Senator, I want to get into this and get your reaction to the FBI launching an investigation into John Brennan, into James Comey over the Trump Russia probe. I think we need to go back and just remind people of what they were peddling that they knew was false. Basically, in my opinion, it was a, it was a coup attempt against the American people who chose Donald Trump in 16 to be their president. They didn't like it and they're like, no worries. You know, we'll do what the Lisa Page Peter Strucks were doing, right? We'll fix it. We'll take care of it after the fact, after he gets sworn in. And we're going to go after him and we're going to undermine him, we're going to get him impeached, and that'll be all. Fine.
Senator Ted Cruz
Well, I got to say, this is an astonishing story. John Brennan was the head of the CIA. James Comey was the head of the FBI. Both of them are right now under active criminal investigations. Here's what Fox News has reported. Quote, former CIA Director John Brennan and former FBI Director James Comey are under criminal investigation for potential wrongdoing related to the Trump Russia probe, including allegedly making false statements to Congress. Justice Department sources told Fox News Digital. CIA Director John Ratcliffe referred evidence of wrongdoing by Brennan to FBI Director Cash Patel for potential prosecution, DOJ sources told Fox News Digital. The sources said the referral was received and told Fox News Digital that a criminal investigation into Brennan was opened and is underway. DOJ sources declined to provide further details. It is unclear at this point if the investigation spans beyond his alleged false statements to Congress. As for Comey, DOJ sources told Fox News Digital that an investigation into the former director is underway but could not share details of what specifically is being probed. The full scope of the criminal investigations into Brennan and Comey is unclear, but two sources describe the FBI's view of the duo's interactions as a, quote, conspiracy, which could open up a wide range of potential prosecutorial options. The FBI and the CIA declined comment.
Ben Ferguson
I mean, this is massive on so many different levels. And, and John Brennan, by the way, he, he went on TV on msnbc and it was pretty funny because it was like he was just playing dumb. And it was like, I, I don't even know why they would be investigating me. I don't know what they would be looking at. I don't understand how this is even, Even a thing. In his own words. And, and in fact, I'm going to play it because I want you to hear it. I want to get your reaction. Here's John Brennan, msnbc. After finding out target of an investigation.
Podcast Host
If there is an investigation that people will be questioned, I would be questioned about it. But again, I've had no contact from them. But again, I testified in front of many, many congressional committees in the House and the Senate over the years, and I continue to explain exactly what we did during this process, why we tried to make sure we stayed true to our intelligence responsibilities and that we were not going to do anything at all to try to interfere in that election. And again, it was a, it was a challenging time, but also one, I think the people who actually work this, both in terms of trying to collect intelligence prior to the election and then the ones who put together the intelligence assessment, they really, I think, showed the best of what the intelligence community and what CIA is made of. So, again, I am clueless about what it is exactly that they may be investigating before.
Ben Ferguson
That may be the fastest senator I've ever heard John Brennan speak on tv ever. And I've watched him a lot over the years. That seemed like a very nervous man to me.
Senator Ted Cruz
Well, let me give a little more background on who John Brennan is. He was the director of the CIA from 2013 to 2017 under, under Barack Obama. Now, in 1976, John Brennan was a young man. 1976, you were not alive, is that right, Ben?
Ben Ferguson
I was not, no.
Senator Ted Cruz
Now, you're enough of a political student and scholar, let me ask you, who were the presidential candidates in 1976?
Ben Ferguson
Jimmy Carter.
Senator Ted Cruz
Yeah.
Ben Ferguson
All right. And on the Republican side, I love when you play these games with me. Did Reagan. Was Reagan 76 as well?
Senator Ted Cruz
No, no, he. So Reagan ran, but he lost.
Ben Ferguson
It was Ford.
Senator Ted Cruz
It was Ford. Ford was the incumbent president. So remember Richard Nixon had been president, he resigned. So Ford was the incumbent president. Reagan primaried Ford, but he lost in that primary. So the general election was Gerald Ford versus Jimmy Carter. Now let me ask you, all right, in that election, who would you vote for?
Ben Ferguson
I'm gonna probably go with the Republican there. Not Jimmy Carter.
Senator Ted Cruz
Yeah, look. Although I will say, and by the way, do you know this is my first political memory? I'm about 10 years older than you are. My first political memory is when I was five years old, 1976, and my mother voted for Jimmy Carter. My mother's a strong conservative. She just thought Gerald Ford was an idiot. And I remember my father, my father, who's an immigrant from Cuba, he was not yet a U.S. citizen, he is today, but he was not in 76. And my father was furious because he felt like my mom had the family's vote and she voted for Jimmy Carter. And it's funny, my mom is 90 now and she's incredible and a wonderful conservative and an incredible person. But when I bring this up, she's like, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I didn't know. Jimmy Carter was an absolute disaster. He was a left wing wacko. He was the worst president this country had ever seen until Joe Biden. Joe Biden managed to be worse than Jimmy Carter. Now, how is this relevant to John Brennan? Well, John Brennan was in college at the time. He was faced with a choice between Gerald Ford and ultra left wing crazy Jimmy Carter. What do you think John Brennan did?
Ben Ferguson
I'm ready. Give me the punchline here.
Senator Ted Cruz
He cast his vote for a guy named Gus Hall. Do you know who Gus hall was?
Ben Ferguson
I do not.
Senator Ted Cruz
He was the presidential candidate for the Communist Party usa.
Ben Ferguson
And there's your sign.
Senator Ted Cruz
So John Brennan decided Jimmy Carter is too right wing for him. And he voted for someone who, I'm not calling him a communist. He was the nominee of the Communist Party. And John Brennan said, I want America governed by a Communist president. That's who Barack Obama put in charge of the CIA. And that's who played an integral role in orchestrating the whole Russiagate fraud. And it's just, it's important to understand just how extreme and radical this guy is. I gotta tell you, I don't know. To be honest, I don't know anybody else in public life who thought Jimmy Carter was too conservative. John Brennan is literally to the left of every Democrat senator, every Democrat House member, every single person I've ever encountered in public life. The lefty loons all voted for Jimmy Carter, except for John Brennan who said, nope, we need a full on communist. That's who this guy is.
Ben Ferguson
Final question on this. How concerned do you think these two individuals should be about this investigation? Or is this one of those moments where you say, okay, yeah, there's investigation, but I don't have to worry because nothing ever really happens to us when we're the elites.
Senator Ted Cruz
Well, listen, the greatest exposure they have is for lying to Congress because lying to Congress, you're under oath. And lying under oath, that carries a prison sentence. That carries up to five years in prison. James Clapper, who was the Director of National Intelligence under Barack Obama, I think the evidence is very clear that he lied to Congress. Whether John Brennan did, whether James Comey did, I think this investigation will reveal. It will depend upon. There's no doubt they were terrible heads of the CIA and the FBI. Whether they committed criminal conduct or not. I think that that is the purpose of this investigation. But I got to say, it is a big damn deal that the former head of the FBI and the former head of the CIA are being criminally investigated for felony conduct. That's what's happening right now.
Ben Ferguson
Don't forget, we do this show three days a week. So make sure that the subscribe or auto download button and the center and I will also see you back here for the weekend review tomorrow.
Podcast Host
This is an I Heart podcast.
The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson – July 11, 2025
Episode Summary:
In this compelling episode of The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson, host Ben Ferguson engages in a profound discussion with Senator Ted Cruz, delving into pressing national issues. The conversation is segmented into four primary topics: the devastating Texas floods, President Biden’s doctor pleading the Fifth Amendment, the surge in violence against ICE agents fueled by leftist rhetoric, and the FBI’s investigations into former intelligence officials John Brennan and James Comey. This summary encapsulates the key points, notable quotes, and insightful analyses presented during the episode.
Overview: The episode opens with a heartfelt discussion about the catastrophic floods that struck Texas a week prior. Senator Ted Cruz provides an in-depth account of the destruction, particularly focusing on the tragic loss of young lives at Camp Mystic, a revered Texas institution.
Key Points:
Notable Quotes:
Insights: Senator Cruz underscores the emotional and logistical challenges in identifying all affected individuals, especially given the influx of out-of-town visitors during the holiday weekend. He highlights the profound impact on families and the broader Texas community, commending the collective support that has emerged in response to the tragedy.
Overview: The conversation shifts to a controversial moment involving President Joe Biden’s physician, Dr. Kevin O’Connor, who pleaded the Fifth Amendment during a House oversight probe into the President’s health. Senator Cruz critiques this invocation, suggesting it hints at deeper issues regarding presidential transparency and honesty.
Key Points:
Notable Quotes:
Transcript Excerpt:
Insights: Senator Cruz emphasizes the unprecedented nature of a presidential doctor refusing to provide straightforward answers, suggesting it raises serious questions about the administration’s transparency. He advocates for legislative measures to ensure accountability and urges the American public to scrutinize the motivations behind such refusals.
Overview: The discussion transitions to the alarming increase in violent attacks against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, attributing this surge to inflammatory rhetoric from left-wing politicians and media outlets.
Key Points:
Notable Quotes:
Examples of Rhetoric:
Transcript Excerpt:
Insights: Senator Cruz vehemently criticizes the language used by left-leaning officials, arguing that such terminology dehumanizes ICE agents and incites extremist actions against them. He underscores the direct link between aggressive rhetoric and the tangible threats faced by federal law enforcement officers, calling for responsible discourse to ensure the safety and efficacy of ICE operations.
Overview: The episode culminates with a deep dive into the FBI’s ongoing investigations into former CIA Director John Brennan and former FBI Director James Comey. Senator Cruz explores the implications of these investigations on national security and political integrity.
Key Points:
Notable Quotes:
Transcript Excerpt:
Insights: Senator Cruz portrays the investigations as a reckoning against high-level intelligence officials who allegedly compromised presidential integrity and national security. By highlighting the legal proceedings and questioning the motivations behind the Trump-Russia probe, Cruz underscores a narrative of systemic deceit within the upper echelons of federal intelligence agencies. He calls for accountability and transparency to restore trust in these critical institutions.
Conclusion: In this episode, Ben Ferguson and Senator Ted Cruz navigate through a series of weighty national issues, offering a perspective that emphasizes accountability, national security, and the repercussions of political rhetoric. From the heart-wrenching aftermath of the Texas floods to the contentious legal battles surrounding high-profile intelligence figures, the discussion is both thorough and impassioned. Listeners gain a comprehensive understanding of the challenges facing America today, as well as the political dynamics shaping these critical narratives.
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