The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson Episode Summary: "The Newsroom Revolution & Trump Breaks the Media, plus Breaking Down School Choice, and The Border, a Question of National Security the Week In Review" Release Date: November 11, 2023

In this compelling episode of The 47 Morning Update, host Ben Ferguson engages in an in-depth conversation with Senator Ted Cruz and Rick Grenell, delving into pivotal topics shaping the American socio-political landscape. The discussion traverses media integrity, educational reform, and national security, offering listeners unfiltered insights and robust debates.

1. Ted Cruz's New Book: Unwoke: How to Defeat Cultural Marxism in America

Senator Ted Cruz introduces his latest literary work, Unwoke, which critically examines the influence of "Cultural Marxism" in American society. A significant portion of the discussion centers on Cruz's assertion that former President Donald Trump fundamentally disrupted the media landscape.

• Media Breakdown: Cruz shares an anecdote highlighting his strained relationship with mainstream media, particularly CNN’s Jake Tapper. He recounts how Tapper initially dismissed his claims about the Obama administration's knowledge of terrorist threats but later acknowledged Cruz's accuracy after independent verification.

  Ted Cruz [03:22]: "I just kind of smiled and I said, well, you know, Jake, as John Adams said, facts are stubborn things. And what I'm saying is entirely accurate."

• Impact of Trump on Media: Cruz argues that Trump's presidency shattered media objectivity, transforming outlets like CNN from aspiring journalists into partisan adversaries.

  Ted Cruz [08:24]: "The media no longer views its vision as being journalists, as being fair and impartial and presenting both sides. Instead, they have embraced a vision that they are advocates, they are defenders of democracy."

2. School Choice: A Cornerstone for Republican Strategy

The conversation shifts to the critical issue of school choice, with Cruz emphasizing its significance in addressing educational disparities and its potential as a decisive factor in upcoming elections.

• Educational Inequity: Cruz articulates how school choice serves as a civil rights issue, enabling low-income and minority families to access quality education.

  Ted Cruz [16:12]: "Every child in America deserves a right to have access to an excellent education, regardless of their race, of their ethnicity, of their wealth, of their zip code."

• Strategic Advocacy: He discusses tactical endorsements and the importance of supporting legislators who champion school choice, highlighting successes in states like Arizona and Florida.

  Ted Cruz [19:20]: "The stakes are too high. And so we had, last election cycle, seven runoffs with the teachers unions on one side and me on the other, and we beat them in a majority of those races."

3. National Security and the Southern Border

National security concerns related to the southern border take center stage, with Cruz and Grenell critiquing current policies and media handling of border-related intelligence.

• Border as a Security Threat: They assert that an open border poses significant national security risks, including the unchecked entry of individuals on terrorist watch lists.

  Ted Cruz [21:59]: "When you look at the warnings now and you look at what just happened and you look at the warnings of possibilities of the same type of style attack that we just saw in Israel, and yet we still have an open border..."

• Media Complicity: The duo contends that the media's failure to hold Democratic policies accountable exacerbates security vulnerabilities.

  Rick Grenell [23:29]: "The corruption of the media and Donald Trump, I believe, broke the media. He shattered their brains."

• Intelligence Community Reforms: Grenell discusses his tenure as Director of National Intelligence, emphasizing efforts to purge ideological biases and enhance operational efficiency.

  Rick Grenell [30:50]: "When I came into DNI... I just started sending people back to their home agencies and getting rid of every possible person that we could."

4. Comedic Interlude: Jimmy Kimmel Promotes Unwoke

Injecting humor into the discourse, Ben Ferguson shares a segment where Jimmy Kimmel lampoons Ted Cruz's new book. The playful mockery underscores the polarized media environment Cruz critiques.

• Kimmel's Satirical Promotion:

  Jimmy Kimmel [10:27]: "Ted Cruz has a new book. It's called Unwoke. ... The dust jacket doesn't quite fit. It won't, won't button in the front."

• Cruz's Response: Cruz humorously acknowledges the segment, highlighting the media's tendency to undermine conservative voices.

  Ted Cruz [13:01]: "That late night humor I wish was actually funny."

5. Final Thoughts and Call to Action

As the episode concludes, Ferguson encourages listeners to engage further by accessing the full podcast for a more comprehensive exploration of these critical issues.

Key Takeaways:

• Media Skepticism: Cruz's experiences suggest a systemic bias within mainstream media outlets, transforming them from objective observers to partisan critics.

• Educational Reform: School choice emerges as a pivotal policy for bridging educational gaps, with strategic political endorsements playing a crucial role in its advancement.

• National Security Imperatives: Robust border security is portrayed as essential for national safety, with current policies and media narratives falling short in addressing associated threats.

• Media Influence on Public Perception: The episode underscores the profound impact media portrayal has on public opinion and policy support, advocating for vigilant media scrutiny and accountability.

For those seeking a deeper dive into these discussions, download the full episode on your preferred podcast platform.