The Human Trafficking Maryland Man, 'Don’t Believe Your Lying Eyes' watching Cars Burn & Behind the Israel Strike on Iran Week In Review

Summary

Summary of "The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson" Episode: The Human Trafficking Maryland Man, "Don’t Believe Your Lying Eyes" Watching Cars Burn & Behind the Israel Strike on Iran Week In Review
Release Date: June 14, 2025

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1. Introduction to Key Topics

In this compelling episode of The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson, host Ben Ferguson delves into three major stories that have captured national attention. Joining him is Senator Ted Cruz for an in-depth discussion on:

• The indictment of a Maryland man for human trafficking.
• The media's portrayal of recent protests in Los Angeles.
• Israel's recent strike against Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

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2. Indictment of the Maryland Man for Human Trafficking

Ben Ferguson opens the discussion with the shocking news that a Maryland father, Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, has been indicted for human trafficking. This revelation comes after Democrats had previously campaigned for his return to the United States.

Key Points:

• Duration of Criminal Activity: Garcia is accused of smuggling undocumented aliens from Central American countries into the U.S. over a span of nine years (from 2016 to 2025) [04:04].
• Affiliation with MS-13: The indictment reveals Garcia's ties to MS-13, a notorious transnational criminal organization involved in various illicit activities, including drug trafficking and violent crimes [05:20].
• Scope of Operations: Garcia and his co-conspirators reportedly facilitated the entry of thousands of undocumented individuals, including gang members, into states like Texas, Maryland, New York, and Tennessee [05:26].

Notable Quotes:

• Ben Ferguson emphasizes the severity of the charges: “He has been indicted for human trafficking.” [03:53]
• Senator Cruz skeptically remarks: “Wait, I thought he was just a Maryland dad, not a human trafficker.” [04:04]
• Ferguson details the indictment: “...they conspired to bring undocumented aliens to the United States... using cell phones and social media applications.” [04:07]

Discussion Highlights:

• Political Implications: The conversation highlights the Democratic Party's previous support for Garcia, juxtaposed with his current indictment, suggesting a disconnect between rhetoric and reality.
• Impact on Immigration Debate: Ferguson criticizes Democratic policies, arguing they prioritize illegal immigration over national security by allowing human traffickers and gang members into the country.
• Call to Action: Ferguson urges listeners to question their political affiliations and support measures that protect America from such criminal activities.

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3. Media Portrayal of Los Angeles Protests

The episode shifts focus to recent protests in Los Angeles, where the media has been accused of downplaying the severity of the unrest.

Key Points:

• Contrasting Narratives: Ferguson accuses major media outlets like The New York Times, CNN, The Washington Post, and NPR of misrepresenting the nature of the protests, labeling violent actions as peaceful demonstrations [14:50].
• Governor Gavin Newsom's Response: Newsom has requested the Trump administration to withdraw federal troops from Los Angeles, citing a breach of state sovereignty [15:35].
• Public Perception: Ferguson and Cruz argue that the media is attempting to obscure the truth about the violence, emphasizing acts like car burnings and police confrontations [16:22].

Notable Quotes:

• Ferguson criticizes media headlines: “...the New York Times says... CNN says... The Washington Post says... NPR says...” [16:03]
• Farrukhs on media bias: “With the media doing everything they can to deny the truth...” [16:07]
• Cruz questions the reality presented by media: “None of what you said can be true because I have a montage of the media saying that... it's not rioting...” [14:31]

Discussion Highlights:

• Media Accountability: Both hosts express frustration with how major news outlets are framing the protests, arguing that violent elements are being downplayed or misrepresented as peaceful.
• Political Tensions: The debate touches on broader political battles, particularly between Democratic leadership in California and the Trump administration's stance on law enforcement and border security.
• Public Safety Concerns: Emphasis is placed on the need for effective policing and the dangers posed by allowing criminal activities to persist under the guise of peaceful protest.

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4. Israel's Strike on Iran's IRGC

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to analyzing Israel's recent military action against Iran's IRGC, focusing on its implications for U.S. national security.

Key Points:

• Targeted Strike: Israel launched a decisive attack aimed at eliminating senior leaders within the IRGC, including its terror chief, Hussein Salami [28:06].
• Potential for Escalation: Ferguson warns of Iran's inevitable retaliation, which could involve ballistic missile attacks on Israel and potentially the United States [36:11].
• Strategic Importance: The strike is portrayed as a preemptive move to thwart Iran's nuclear ambitions, with Ferguson emphasizing the existential threat posed by a potential Iranian nuclear weapon [37:57].

Notable Quotes:

• Ferguson highlights the success of the strike: “They've taken out senior leadership of the IRGC... that's a huge victory for the United States.” [28:06]
• Cruz underscores the significance of targeting nuclear scientists: “Taking out new nuclear scientists is absolutely brilliant.” [34:14]
• Ferguson emphasizes the threat: “...if Iran acquires a nuclear weapon, we could face millions murdered.” [36:11]

Discussion Highlights:

• U.S. Positioning: While Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a statement distancing the U.S. from the strike, Ferguson argues for a stronger expression of support for Israel, highlighting the interconnectedness of American and Israeli security [28:06].
• Historical Context: The conversation draws parallels to previous actions taken by former President Trump, specifically the elimination of General Soleimani, to illustrate the ongoing threat posed by the IRGC [34:14].
• Future Implications: Both hosts express concern over the likelihood of further conflict, urging vigilance and preparedness to respond to any Iranian aggression that may follow.

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5. Inspirational Letter from a Young Supporter

In a heartwarming segment, Ben Ferguson shares a letter from Justin, a 10-year-old student who admires Senator Cruz and the podcast.

Key Points:

• Youth Engagement: Justin expresses his appreciation for the podcast, stating it has inspired him to pursue a career in politics [22:00].
• Values Highlighted: The letter underscores themes of patriotism, pro-life stance, and support for American and religious values [22:00].

Notable Quotes:

• Justin writes: “I have learned so much from you about how government works and all the things you are doing to stop the radical left agenda and help President Trump pass the America first agenda.” [22:00]

Discussion Highlights:

• Impact on Youth: The hosts reflect on the importance of engaging young listeners and fostering future leaders who uphold similar values.
• Inspirational Message: The segment serves to motivate both the hosts and the audience, highlighting the positive influence of their work on the younger generation.

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6. Conclusion and Final Thoughts

As the episode wraps up, Ferguson and Cruz reiterate the critical nature of the topics discussed, emphasizing the need for informed citizenship and active participation in combating threats to national security and societal stability.

Key Points:

• Call to Action: Ferguson urges listeners to stay vigilant, support law enforcement, and advocate for policies that protect American interests both domestically and internationally.
• Ongoing Issues: The conversation underscores that challenges such as human trafficking, media bias, and international conflicts are persistent and require continuous attention and action.

Notable Quotes:

• Ferguson: “We need to follow the money and prosecute anyone who is funding riots across this country.” [20:39]
• Cruz: “This is a very dangerous time right now.” [30:57]

Final Remarks: The episode concludes with a reminder for listeners to stay informed by subscribing to The 47 Morning Update and to engage with the content for daily updates on pressing political and social issues shaping America today.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• 03:53 Ben Ferguson: “He has been indicted for human trafficking.”
• 04:04 Ted Cruz: “Wait, I thought he was just a Maryland dad, not a human trafficker.”
• 14:50 Lisa Booth (Advertiser): “The LA county police say that they have it under control. Carrying a flag is, is not illegal.”
• 16:22 Ben Ferguson: “There were people just having fun watching cars burn. That's just good old-fashioned entertainment like get out your popcorn, you know, light some police cars on fire.”
• 28:06 Ben Ferguson: “…pray for the people of Israel and pray for our servicemen and women in harm's way, because this is a very, very dangerous time right now.”
• 36:11 Ben Ferguson: “The Ayatollah chants death to America and death to Israel. I believe he believes that.”

---

Conclusion

This episode of The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson offers a robust analysis of critical national and international issues, presenting a clear conservative viewpoint. Through detailed discussions, supported by factual claims and passionate rhetoric, Ferguson and Cruz aim to inform and mobilize their audience against perceived threats to American security and values.

Transcript

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[Ted Cruz]

Welcome. It is verdict with Ted Cruz Week in Review. Ben Ferguson with you. And we had some major stories that you may have missed that we talked about this week. First up, remember the famous Maryland man, the Maryland father that the Dems demanded be brought back to America? Well, he's coming back to America to face human trafficking charges. We'll have those details on that in just a moment. Also, the media is trying to convince you that what you're watching on TV is not rioting. No, it's just peaceful. Don't believe your lying eyes. We call them out and we've got the proof of exactly what they're saying and how it's wrong. And finally, Senator Cruz talked to the ambassador from Israel moments after the attack on Iran. What did he have to say? We'll break all that down for you. It's the Weekend Review and it starts right now. Now, Democrats have been obsessed with the Maryland father, the Maryland man who just happened to get deported, who was an illegal immigrant who was caught human smuggling through my home state of Tennessee. And they act like it never happened. And now all of a sudden we're like, they were demanding you bring him home, bring him back to America. Well, guess what, the dude's coming home.

[Ben Ferguson]

He is indeed. And he has been brought to be prosecuted. He has been indicted. He has been indicted for human trafficking.

[Ted Cruz]

Wait, I thought he was just a Maryland dad, not a human trafficker.

[Ben Ferguson]

Well, I will tell you, I am holding the indictment in my hand and it is stunning. So how long was he a human trafficker? Well, according to the indictment, from in or around 2016 through in or around 2025. So for nine years.

[Ted Cruz]

That's a pretty good career.

[Ben Ferguson]

Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia and others known and unknown to the grand jury, conspired to bring undocumented aliens to the United States from countries such as Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Ecuador and elsewhere, ultimately passing through Mexico before crossing into Texas. Very nice. They came into Texas. The co conspirators knew the undocumented aliens did not possess authorization to enter the United States. They used cell phones. They used social media applications. The indictment also alleges Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia was a citizen of El Salvador, was not a United States citizen, was living in the United States, and was also a member and Associate of the Transnational Criminal Organization Ms. 13.

[Ted Cruz]

No, he's a dad. Hold on a second. You can't say that. This is just a Maryland dude. Maryland dad. Maryland man.

[Ben Ferguson]

And by the way, they accurately describe MS.13. MS.13 was a criminal enterprise engaged in, among other activities, acts and threats involving murder, extortion, narcotics trafficking, firearms trafficking, alien smuggling, and money laundering. MS.13 operated throughout north and Central America, including in El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, the United States, including in Texas, Maryland, New York, Tennessee and elsewhere. Now, how many illegal aliens do you think he's charged with smuggling?

[Ted Cruz]

I'm assuming zero. Because he's just a Maryland man. He's just a Maryland dad.

[Ben Ferguson]

He's a Maryland dad. I want to read this paragraph. Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, as detailed further below, used his status in MS.13 to further his criminal activity.

[Ted Cruz]

Right? Not his status as a father or dad as a MS.13 gang member.

[Ben Ferguson]

Over the course of the conspiracy, the co conspirators knowingly and unlawfully transported. Wait for it. Thousands of undocumented aliens, many of whom were Ms. 13 members and associates.

[Ted Cruz]

So you're bringing in people that are now a member of a terrorist organization into the country. So not just random people paying. He was smuggling in members of the terrorist organization in the United States of America for not one year, not two, not three, not four, not five years, but nine years.

[Ben Ferguson]

Yes. And look, the fact that DOJ brought this indictment means presumably they have the evidence to prove this indictment. They're gonna put on that evidence. They're gonna put on that evidence that this guy was a gang member for nine years, that he was part of a conspiracy that smuggled thousands of people illegally, including other gang members.

[Ted Cruz]

You think the media is gonna apologize for any of their stories that were attacking Trump and saying that he just sent a Maryland dad, a Maryland man.

[Ben Ferguson]

And understand this is the same illegal immigrant that my colleague, Chris Van Hollen, Democrat from Maryland, flew down and had really, what was a very sweet margarita with. I mean, it was a bro moment.

[Ted Cruz]

It was a hand holding. It was a moment. It was a bro moment.

[Ben Ferguson]

As I tweeted out at the time, find somebody who looks at you the way Democrats look at illegal alien ms.13 gang members. Like the sweet nothings in his eyes as he looked on. And by the way, you saw Democrat House members, you know, all on a parade to go down there.

[Ted Cruz]

They wanted to use your tax dollars to go see the Maryland man.

[Ben Ferguson]

This is the face of the Democrat party. This is who they stand for. So, look, you ought to ask yourself at Home. AM I an MS.13 gang member who's a human trafficker who smuggles in thousands of aliens who smuggles in gang members? If so, the Democrats are the party for me. If you're not, if you kind of think we don't want human traffickers and gang members in America, well, then I don't know what the Democrats have to say.

[Ted Cruz]

Is this like the ultimate fafo like moment? Because for Democrats, and I want people to understand the funniest part of the story, Democrats demanded we bring him back. He's coming back, gonna go to jail for a long time. And then after he serves his time, apparently we're going to send him right back to the country where he just came from. Like it didn't just go from bad to worse. Like he would have been better off just staying where he was. Look, Democrats actually are putting this man in jail.

[Ben Ferguson]

And these facts, the facts that prove he was a human trafficker, the facts and evidence that DOJ is going to put on, I hope and believe the American people need to know those facts because they need to know, look, we've already in this podcast cover how the guy is allegedly a wife beater, that he has a long history of criminality. We played the audio of him being caught human trafficking, but at the time we didn't know that there was a decade worth of thousands of people being trafficked, including other gang members.

[Ted Cruz]

Count for what you wish for, right?

[Ben Ferguson]

And by the way, to understand, look, I don't know specifically what this gang member did, but I'll tell you, Ms. 13, when they are human trafficking, they are raping women, they are raping children, they are abusing women and children, they are abusing little boys, little girls.

[Ted Cruz]

They're soulless. They do not care about human life.

[Ben Ferguson]

Or using human life. Ms. 13 is evil. And in Texas, we see the atrocities they carry out. I fully expect the evidence that comes out in this trial to be nothing short of horrifying. And I gotta say, if you're a Democrat and you've decided the entire future of your party is defending this guy. Yeah. You know what's weird, Ben? I'm not sure the Democrats are worried right now.

[Ted Cruz]

I don't think they are.

[Ben Ferguson]

I mean, that's the strangest thing is in the face of this, there used.

[Ted Cruz]

To be in politics moments where you knew you screwed up, where even your party, they're all in on California and still on defending this guy.

[Ben Ferguson]

Their position is that one Democrat congresswoman said law enforcement get the F out. That's their message. No cops no ice, no border Patrol. We don't defend. We don't defend California, we don't arrest America, but gang members and murderers. Europe peeps.

[Ted Cruz]

Amazing. 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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[Ted Cruz]

Now on to story number two. None of what you said can be true because I have a montage of the media saying that what you just described is a lie. It's not writing, it's not looting, it's not burning of police cars. Here's the media saying you're just wrong.

[Lisa Booth]

The LA county police say that they have it under control. Carrying a flag is, is not illegal.

[Ben Ferguson]

As you know, what did happen in.

[Lisa Booth]

1992 was so different from what we're seeing now.

[Ben Ferguson]

I mean that was, that was a, a real, a real riot. Video after video has shown that these.

[Public.com Representative]

Agents are the ones provoking protesters and also making up, you know, aggression by these protesters. That later video shows people were not aggressive.

[Ben Ferguson]

We are having an administration that's targeting.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Peaceful protests, people that are there to protest.

[Lisa Booth]

The President is sending the National Guard.

[Ben Ferguson]

Because he doesn't like the scenes, he doesn't like the scenes of people peacefully protesting. Unrest is isolated.

[Public.com Representative]

L A is home to millions of people, most of whom are having a.

[Ben Ferguson]

Normal day here on Sunday.

[Navy Federal Credit Union Representative]

You know, you've heard reports that there.

[Ben Ferguson]

Are riots on the streets of Los Angeles. That is not what's happening across the.

[Public.com Representative]

City of Los Angeles. Governor Newsom's right.

[Navy Federal Credit Union Representative]

There wasn't anything like a riot happening.

[Public.com Representative]

On Friday, Saturday, and we just witnessed a protester thanking a National Guardsman for his service here in California.

[Ben Ferguson]

LAPD by most estimates had this under control last night. No, I don't think the National Guard is, is needed now. Things in LA are calm. There was a protest that got a little unruly late at night. There been no violence where anybody that.

[Ted Cruz]

Was protesting hit anybody, shot anybody, threaten anybody.

[Ben Ferguson]

It's nothing has happened.

[Ted Cruz]

What is just a bunch of people.

[Ben Ferguson]

Having fun watching cars burn. Most of those demonstrations were very peaceful. They were chanting, they were shouting, people were driving by honking their horns.

[Ted Cruz]

I mean, that's just normal life out.

[Ben Ferguson]

There, you know, they were just having fun watching cars burn. You know, you know, that's just, that's just good old fashioned entertainment like get out your popcorn, you know, light some police cars on fire.

[Ted Cruz]

You know, tc, next time you and I are just hanging out, you know, we, we should just maybe just, I don't know, find a car and just set on fire and watch it burn. We're not doing anything illegal. Everything's fine, fine.

[Ben Ferguson]

So, so to, to give you a sense of just how, how much propaganda the media is desperately trying to spin, I'm going to read you four headlines. All right, so this is a headline from the New York Times. Quote, the Mexican flag becomes a potent LA protest symbol. Trump officials have cast demonstrators waving the Mexican flag as insurrectionist. But for many protesters who are Mexican American, the flag represents pride in their heritage. Now mind you, they're waving the flag saying, dear God, whatever you do, do not send me back to Mexico. That, that is their message, but apparently it's pride in their heritage. Simultaneously, here's cnn. Quote, trump is acting like an authoritarian. California's crisis now rests on what he does next. That's cnn, nice and objective. All right, how about the Washington Post? Quote, he's waging a war on us. As Trump escalates Angeles defend their city. Across this vast metropolis, residents denounce what they consider an attack on the very fabric of their city, on their neighbors, coworkers, family members. That's the Washington Post. And finally npr, npr, which by the way, you and I are paying for. Every one of us who listens is paying for it through our tax dollars. Here's what NPR says, quote, trump using National Guard in LA is an abuse of power. Says national security expert. That's the media. Well, and, and with the media doing everything they can to deny the truth, to lie, to obfuscate, to pretend that this is all peaceful, that there's no violence, never mind the violence that is unfolding in front of our eyes. You know, Maxine Waters said, don't believe your lying eyes. I'm telling you, there's no violence. What is Gavin Newsom doing? Is he protecting the people of California? No. Instead, he's suing President Trump to stop the president from protecting the people of California. Gavin Newsom tweeted out, quote, I have formally requested the Trump administration rescind their unlawful deployment of troops in Los Angeles county and return them to my command. We didn't have a problem until Trump got involved. This is a serious breach of state sovereignty, inflaming tensions while pulling resources from where they're actually needed. Rescind the order. Return control to California. So Gavin Newsom is. Is not upset that. That illegal immigrants have flooded into this country for the last four years across open borders. He's not upset that murderers, murderers and rapists and child molesters and gang bangers have been released. He's not upset that Californians are being murdered, are being violently assaulted by illegal immigrants. None of that dismays him. He's not upset at the looting. He's not standing with the poor small business owners and shop owners whose stores were destroyed by the violent crime. None of that upsets him. Instead, Gavin Newsom's problem is, damn it, number one, Trump is arresting illegals. And we're the Democrats, we're the party of illegals. And number two, even worse, Trump is sending in federal officers, sending in the National Guard to keep communities safe, to protect families, to protect homes. That is unacceptable. Because if there's one thing the Democrats stand for, beyond illegal immigrations and crime, it is preventing the police from doing their job, preventing them from keeping you safe. I think that really sums up the lunacy of where the left is today.

[Ted Cruz]

Final question on this one. I don't think there's any near end in sight. I think this is going to continue to grow. Do you agree?

[Ben Ferguson]

I do. And let me say, we started by saying this went where we predicted, that this spreads nationally, that we see these protests and these riots in cities across the country. And I think we need to follow the money. And that's certainly what I am urging the President, urging the Department of Justice to do, is follow the money. And anyone who is funding this. This is just like the anti Semitic protests on college campuses, by the way. I suspect it's the same people who funded the anti Semitic protests, who funded the antifa and Black Lives Matter riots. It is the same radicals who hate America. Many of them are openly Marxist. Black Lives Matter is openly Marxist. They're rabidly anti Israel, they're rabidly anti capitalism, they're rabidly anti police, they're rabidly anti law and order, they're rabidly pro criminal, they're rabidly pro violence. But we need to follow the money and prosecute anyone who is funding riots across this country. And I hope that's exactly what the Trump administration does.

[Ted Cruz]

Yeah, no doubt about it. Before we wrap, I gotta just hit pause and you got a really cool letter from a kid. This inspires me. It makes me happy. It reminds me when I got into radio when I was 12 years old. And I want you to just tell us about this letter and I want to read it for everybody listens to Verdict. It's awesome.

[Ben Ferguson]

Well, listen, I had a member of my staff who was down in Texas this past week and was at Fort Cavazos which actually just got renamed back to Fort Hood. And he was there at Fort Cavazos and there was a major who stationed there who gave him a letter and gave him a letter. It was a letter from his 10 year old son. And I'm going to read it. I'm not going to give you his last name, but I'm going to read the letter that I was handed today. Dear Senator Cruz, My name is Justin and I am a student at Hill Country Christian School of Austin and I am pro God, pro life and pro gun Republican who loves America, Jesus and politics. I want to write to you to say thank you for everything you have done for Texas and America. There's a paragraph that's really nice and praising me which I'm going to skip because that seems a little self centered to read a paragraph praising me. But here's the paragraph I want I wanted every Verdict listener to hear. I listened to your podcast Verdict every week. I have learned so much from you about how government works and all the things you are doing to stop the radical left agenda and help President Trump pass the America first agenda. You have helped me to want to be a politician when I'm older. Thank you for everything you do. Sincerely, Justin, age 10 as before, if.

[Ted Cruz]

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.

[Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids Representative]

Use of flavor Tobacco by teens is a crisis. Tobacco companies use flavors like cotton candy, watermelon ice and cool mint to hook kids like me. They seem harmless, but they aren't addiction to nicotine sets us up for a lifetime of health problems. Oregon legislators can do something about it. Passing Senate Bill 702A will keep flavored tobacco away from kids. But there are just a few short weeks left for lawmakers to act. Take action to protect kids like me@ flavorshookorgankids.org paid for by the Campaign for.

[Ben Ferguson]

Tobacco Free Kids Action Fund. And here we have a specimen from the early 2000s, a legacy investing platform. Please don't touch the exhibit folks. It could crash.

[Public.com Representative]

Ready to step out of the Financial history [e-mail] you can invest in almost everything, stocks, bonds, options and more. You could even put your cash to work at an industry leading 4.1% APY. Leave your clunky, outdated platform behind. Go to public.com and fund your account in five minutes or less. Paid for by Public Investing, Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC. Full [e-mail] disclosures.

[Ryan Seacrest]

You know in the book of Genesis, God makes a promise to your offspring. I promise this land.

[Public.com Representative]

Now.

[Ryan Seacrest]

That promise is the foundation of Israel. A land the Jewish people have returned to after centuries of exile and bondage and even the horrors of the Holocaust. But that promise is still under threat. Especially after October 7th. Now Israel's safety today depends on the very brave men and women of the idf, the Israeli Defense Forces. Every citizen is required to serve. Your gift of $45 will help provide aid to soldiers and their families to by helping to provide food and other bare necessities for these families and emergency supplies for soldiers now you can help secure their future. Honor those who are defending the holy land. Call now 888488 IFCJ. That's 888488 IFCJ. Just go to their website, it's IFCJ.org and you can give Today they are in desperate need of help.

[Navy Federal Credit Union Representative]

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[Lisa Booth]

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[Ted Cruz]

I want to get back to the big story number three of the week. You may have missed. One of the things I love about doing the show, Senator, is moments after this attack took place, Israel on Iran. You were actually on the phone with the ambassador from Israel. What did he tell you about this attack? How long had they been planning this? What was the final decision that made this happen in in the last several hours?

[Ben Ferguson]

Well understand this show happens real time. It happens real time in real life. You and I are recording this early in the morning, Friday morning. This podcast will come out later in the day on Friday. So some of you will be listening to this on Friday. Others of you will be hearing this on radio on Saturday or Sunday. And so the world may have changed. 48 hours at the time when a war is initiating is a mountain of time. What I can tell you is late Thursday night, as Israel was launching its attacks before Iran has engaged in a counterattack, I was on the phone with the Israeli ambassador to the United States and he told me that the attack at Least so far, had gone extraordinarily well, that they'd taken out senior leadership of the irgc. And I gotta say, by the way, that's a huge victory for the United States of America. The IRGC has murdered over 600American servicemen and women. They are grotesquely hostile to the United States. And for Israel to take them out, it is an enormous benefit to America. But at the same time, the Israeli ambassador told me that the instruction had gone out in Israel to the people of Israel, go to a bomb shelter. Either be in a bomb shelter or be very near a bomb shelter. Because they are anticipating early in the morning, Friday morning, that Iran is going to launch a massive counterattack with ballistic weapons. And Israel has extensive anti missile defenses, but Iran has sufficient volume that if they launch everything, they have the capacity to overwhelm the defenses. And so there is a very real possibility the people of Israel are braced. They understand. Look, look, they're not playing. They're not playing games. They are playing with real stakes. They're playing with live rounds. The people of Israel understand right now as you and I are recording this, that we may see Israelis die right now because Iran has enough missiles that if they launch them all, there will be Israelis murdered in the minutes and hours ahead of us. But at the same time, Prime Minister Netanyahu made the decision. It's a decision I agree with. It's a decision that I think was right, which is the risk of Israelis dying and of Americans dying if Iran acquires a nuclear weapon is qualitatively different that we could face with an Iranian nuclear weapon. We could face millions murdered. And so listen, I want to underscore what I said at the beginning of this podcast. Pray for the people of Israel and pray for our servicemen and women in harm's way, because this is a very, very dangerous time right now.

[Ted Cruz]

Well, let's talk about who was targeted and what this looks like moving forward from the standpoint of Israel. I mean, the objective here is clearly to put them back when it comes to their nuclear program. But they also went after people that were involved in that program, which is a really big way to move things backwards.

[Ben Ferguson]

Yeah, look, this was a decapitation strike. It was targeted at the senior military leaders in Iran. It was targeted at the nuclear facilities in Iran. It was targeted at the anti air assault facilities in Iran. It was a very targeted but massively effective strike. Now Iran is going to strike back. Understand that that's not a possibility or a probability. It is a certainty that Iran will hit back. Now, what I Hope Iran understands is they should not hit back at America. Hitting back at America would escalate this dramatically. And I will say the Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, he put out a statement Thursday night. Let me read his statement. Quote, Tonight Israel took unilateral action against Iran. We were not involved in strikes against Iran and our top priority is protecting American forces in the region. Israel advised us that they believe this action was necessary for its self defense. President Trump and the administration have taken all necessary steps to protect our forces and remain in close contact with our regional partners. Let me be clear. Iran should not target U.S. interests or personnel. Now look, I'm glad that the Secretary of State was putting out that statement defending our servicemen and women. I wish there had been more in that statement saying we stand with Israel. That was missing from the statement and it shouldn't have been. From my perspective, we stand unequivocally with Israel. But I understand why the Secretary of State didn't do that, which is that he's concerned that Iran may strike at US Military forces. Now in my view, the way to prevent that is not to say to Iran, hey, we had nothing to do with that, which was the main theme of the Secretary of State's statement, but rather to say, if you attack US forces, the consequences will be overwhelming. I think Iran responds more to stick than to carrot, but we shall see. And it is, any way you look at it, on unbelievably dangerous time.

[Ted Cruz]

Senator, let's talk about some of the people that have been taken out here. There's, there's two aspects of these strikes. One, nuclear scientists are being reported that they were targeted and have been killed. And, and that is the, the brains of, of the nuclear program. If you want to stop Iran from doing this, taking out new nuclear scientists is, is absolutely brilliant. It's the computer system, the nervous system of everything they're trying to accomplish. And that's incredible. But we also now know from virtually every news agency is reporting this that the IRGC terror chief Salami has also been eliminated. That is significant as well.

[Ben Ferguson]

Well, we now know that Hussein Salami is lunch meat. And I feel a little cheesy making fun of him, but then again, the guy is a racist, genocidal, homicidal lunatic. So I hope after Salami, baloney and pastrami both get eliminated as well. And if you look at the head of the IRGC, he has responsibility for murdering over 600 US servicemen and women. So if you love the men and women of the armed services, if you are grateful for Friends, family, loved ones who have served defending this nation. Then you ought to say tonight to the nation of Israel, thank you, thank you for taking out the head of the IRGC that is responsible for murdering hundreds of American servicemen and women. President Trump, when he was president the first time he took out General Soleimani. And now today, the Israelis have taken out Solami, a successor who is the terror chief of the IRGC. And, and he is now with his 72 virgins. Although I will tell you, much to his dismay, those virgins are all Gomer Pyle, and it's not what he hoped for.

[Ted Cruz]

I gotta say, one of the best parts about this story, just side note, if you look up Salami on, on his pages on Wikipedia, it already says he's like the former guy in charge of the irgc. I love the Internet, when they get it right, really quickly, center. It is amazing to see this moment in history, because this is a moment in history. And, and I gotta ask you this. Iran now is going to respond, I'm sure, in some way. I'm sure Israel is expecting that. You made it very clear tonight, America's warning and from this administration. What happens next and what is Israel expecting in your mind?

[Ben Ferguson]

Well, it depends on the escalation. I think it is 100% certain that Iran will respond by firing missiles at Israel. Israel gets that. They understand that. They're ready for that. There is some real possibility that Iran will respond by firing missiles or other weapons at Americans. And I think if they do that, they will dramatically escalate this conflict. I think they will provoke. If they murder American servicemen and women, I think you will see President Trump respond with devastating force. And so again, my message to the ayatollahs, do not do that. Their response to Israel, I don't know what it will be. There is a risk that their response is devastating, that it is overwhelming. They have a massive number of ballistic missiles. So if they fire them all, the odds are significant that we will see a very large number of Israelis murdered. What I'm saying, Prime Minister Netanyahu understands. He knows that. He knows that by virtue of engaging in this attack tonight, there is a real risk of a significant number of Israelis being murdered. But he did this because he knows that if Iran has a nuclear weapon, many, many more Israelis and many, many more Americans are at risk of being murdered. Look, the Ayatollah chants death to America and death to Israel. I believe he believes that. And so acquiring a nuclear weapon is not just an academic question. If he gets a nuclear weapon I believe he is trying to acquire one because he wants to carry out his promises of death to Israel and death to America. And that's precisely why Israel has launched this attack, to stop him from getting that capability.

[Ted Cruz]

As always, thank you for listening to Verdict with Senator Ted Cruz, Ben Ferguson with you. Don't forget to download my podcast Podcast and you can listen to my podcast every other day. You're not listening to Verdict or each day when you listen to Verdict afterwards. I'd love to have you as a listener to again the Ben Ferguson Podcast and we will see you back here on Monday morning.

[Ben Ferguson]

Nearly 90% of kids who vape say flavors are why they do it.

[Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids Representative]

A lot of the flavors that I've heard are like peach, mango, watermelon. It makes it seem like more childlike and innocent. Oh, I tried this once. It won't be that much of a problem. But then eventually it becomes a problem.

[Ben Ferguson]

It's time to restrict the sale of flavored tobacco products in Oregon and protect.

[Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids Representative]

Our kids from nicotine addiction. Urge lawmakers to pass Senate Bill 702A.

[Ben Ferguson]

Take action@ flavorshookoreegoids.org paid for by the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids Action Fund. And here we have a specimen from the early 2000s, a legacy investing platform. Please don't touch the exhibit folks. It could crash.

[Public.com Representative]

Ready to step out of the Financial history [e-mail] you can invest in almost everything. Stocks, bonds, options and more. You can even put your cash to work at an industry leading 4.1% APY. Leave your clunky, outdated platform behind. Go to public.com and fund your account in five minutes or less. Paid for by Public Investing Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC. Full disclosures at public.com disclosures stuck in.

[Call of Duty Mobile Representative]

The same day to day routine. Wake up, go to work, Eat, sleep, repeat. Break through the boredom this summer and download Call of Duty Mobile for free. Enjoy fan favorite maps, modes and operators from classic Call of Duty titles. Plus new mobile exclusive content Today doesn't have to suck. Cure your boredom for free with Call of Duty Almost anywhere, anytime. Call of Duty Mobile is available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store for free today. Rated M for Mature.

[Public.com Representative]

I'm Rodney Williams.

[Ben Ferguson]

And I'm Travis Holloway. Welcome to the wealthbreak Podcast, a real conversation about finance.

[Public.com Representative]

Let's be honest, building wealth doesn't look the same for everyone. I feel like sometimes being broke is.

[Ryan Seacrest]

A cycle and that we might have.

[Ben Ferguson]

To revisit that and we're not stopping at success stories.

[Lisa Booth]

What happens when it doesn't go right.

[Ben Ferguson]

How do you cope with it?

[Public.com Representative]

Because wealth isn't just about money. It's about creating a life where you thrive and help others do the same. Listen to the Wealth Break podcast on the iHeartRadio app.

[Ted Cruz]

The medal of Honor is the highest military decoration in the United States. Recipients have done the improbable, the unexpected, showing immense bravery and sacrifice in the name of something much bigger than themselves.

[Ben Ferguson]

This medal is for the men who.

[Ted Cruz]

Went down that day. On Medal of Honor Stories of Courage. You'll hear about these heroes and what their stories tell us about the nature of bravery. Listen to Medal of Honor on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids Representative]

This is an iHeart podcast.