Verdict with Ted Cruz: Episode Summary
Episode Title: Beating Dem Obstruction on Trump Cabinet Nominees, plus Border Executive Orders & Biden Pardons
Release Date: January 24, 2025
Hosts: Senator Ted Cruz and Ben Ferguson

Introduction

In this episode of "Verdict with Ted Cruz," hosted by Premiere Networks, Senator Ted Cruz and co-host Ben Ferguson delve into the current political landscape, focusing on the Republican efforts to overcome Democratic obstruction in confirming Trump-era Cabinet nominees. They also explore recent executive orders on border security and discuss the implications of President Biden's pardons.

Confirming Trump Cabinet Nominees Amid Democratic Obstruction

Senate Confirmations and Democratic Resistance

Senator Cruz begins by addressing the ongoing struggle in the Senate to confirm Trump Cabinet nominees. He highlights the Democratic Party's strategy of using procedural delays to obstruct nominations, pointing out that despite some bipartisan support, Democrats are actively attempting to slow down the confirmation process.

• Quote:
  “The Democrats really, really wanted to defeat Pete Hegseth. So they're just the tool that the opposition party has in the Senate is they can delay.”
  (02:32)

Strategies to Overcome Delays

Cruz outlines the Republican response to these delays, emphasizing the Senate's rules that require a 30-hour debate for major nominations. By choosing to remain in Washington over the weekend, Republicans aim to expedite votes and demonstrate their commitment to confirming nominees promptly.

• Quote:
  “We're gonna be here under the 30 hours. We're gonna vote on Pete Hegseth, I think, at 9pm Friday night. And then we're immediately gonna move to Kristi Noem.”
  (02:32)

Expectations for Upcoming Votes

Cruz expresses confidence in confirming key nominees like Pete Hegseth for Defense Secretary and Sean Duffy for Transportation Secretary. He notes the potential for bipartisan support in these confirmations, referencing the unanimous vote for Sean Duffy.

• Quote:
  “Earlier today, I chaired the Senate Commerce Committee and we voted out Sean Duffy, who is the nominee to be Transportation Secretary. And the vote on Sean Duffy was unanimous.”
  (06:11)

Senate Rules and the Filibuster

Historical Context of Senate Rule Changes

Cruz provides a historical perspective on Senate rule changes, specifically the "nuclear option" initiated by former Majority Leader Harry Reid. He explains how this maneuver lowered the threshold for confirming executive branch nominees from 60 to 50 votes, fundamentally altering Senate dynamics.

• Quote:
  “That's called the nuclear option, because it is essentially breaking the rules of the Senate to change the rules of the Senate.”
  (16:13)

Implications for Current Confirmations

Understanding the Senate's procedural mechanics, Cruz discusses how Democrats might attempt to block confirmations by questioning the quorum, thereby delaying votes. He emphasizes the Republicans' resolve to counter these tactics by potentially staying through weekends to ensure nominations are processed.

• Quote:
  “If you call the question, the way a Democrat or anyone in the minority fights back is stands up and suggests the absence of a quorum.”
  (11:09)

Executive Orders on Border Security

Rapid Implementation of Border Policies

Shifting focus to border security, Cruz lauds the swift execution of executive orders aimed at securing the U.S. border. He contrasts the current administration's efficiency with the previous term, attributing improvements to a more experienced and committed team.

• Quote:
  “These executive orders are all designed to do that, to build the wall, to surge manpower, to go after illegal aliens, to go after criminal illegal aliens.”
  (26:24)

Key Policies Impacting Border Security

Cruz identifies the termination of "catch and release" policies and the reinstatement of the "Remain in Mexico" program as pivotal actions that have significantly reduced illegal border crossings.

• Quote:
  “The single most important thing for dropping the numbers is ending catch and release.”
  (30:31)

Impact on Mexico and Cartels

Discussing international relations, Cruz addresses the challenges posed by Mexican drug cartels. He underscores the increased revenue and influence of these groups, attributing their growth to previous administrations' policies. Cruz expresses optimism that current leveraging, including potential tariffs, will compel Mexico to cooperate in combating cartel activities.

• Quote:
  “I think we will get Mexico to cooperate because at the end of the day, the leverage that the President has is so enormous.”
  (32:21)

Biden Pardons and Legal Implications

Analysis of President Biden's Pardons

Cruz critiques President Biden's recent pardon actions, particularly the decision not to pardon himself. He connects these pardons to broader issues of corruption within the Biden family, suggesting that they were strategic moves to protect key figures from legal scrutiny.

• Quote:
  “We predicted on this podcast when, when we, number one, predicted the Hunter Biden pardon. And in fact, I put the odds of the Hunter Biden pardon at 100%.”
  (36:08)

Implications for Congressional Investigations

The discussion moves to the legal ramifications of these pardons, notably how they eliminate the Fifth Amendment protections for those pardoned. This legal shift potentially forces individuals like Fauci to comply with Congressional subpoenas without the option to refuse based on self-incrimination.

• Quote:
  “The Fifth Amendment says that you can't be forced to testify against yourself. Now, that only applies if you have criminal jeopardy.”
  (38:40)
  “So there's a very real chance that members of the Biden crime family that were pardoned could be asked to come and testify in Congress, and they would be forced to answer the questions for the reasons you just stated.”
  (39:27)

Contempt of Congress and Enforcement

Cruz explains the process by which Congress can hold individuals in contempt if they refuse to testify despite the removal of Fifth Amendment protections, highlighting past instances like the prosecution of Steve Bannon and Peter Navarro.

• Quote:
  “Trump mentioned putting Steve Bannon and Peter Navarro in prison. They did that because they held them in contempt of Congress.”
  (40:30)

Conclusion and Future Outlook

As the episode wraps up, Cruz emphasizes the ongoing battle in the Senate to confirm nominees and secure the border. He remains optimistic about the Republicans' ability to overcome Democratic obstruction through strategic adherence to Senate rules and unwavering commitment. The discussions also highlight the broader implications of executive actions and legislative maneuvers on national policies and legal frameworks.

• Quote:
  “We are going to get these Cabinet nominees confirmed. I think within 30 days, all of the Cabinet nominees will be confirmed.”
  (02:32)

Cruz also touches on personal sacrifices made in the political arena, sharing his anticipation to return home to his family once the legislative battles conclude.

• Quote:
  “Heidi and I, Friday night, were planning to do date night... I told her I think the odds are very slim that I'm gonna make date night tomorrow.”
  (22:18)

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• “We're gonna be here under the 30 hours. We're gonna vote on Pete Hegseth, I think, at 9pm Friday night. And then we're immediately gonna move to Kristi Noem.”
  (02:32)

• “These executive orders are all designed to do that, to build the wall, to surge manpower, to go after illegal aliens, to go after criminal illegal aliens.”
  (26:24)

• “The single most important thing for dropping the numbers is ending catch and release.”
  (30:31)

• “The India cartels being more than happy to murder politicians. They murdered a lot of politicians in Mexico.”
  (33:49)

• “The Fifth Amendment says that you can't be forced to testify against yourself.”
  (38:40)

Final Thoughts

This episode of "Verdict with Ted Cruz" offers an in-depth analysis of the current political strategies within the Senate, the effectiveness of recent executive orders on border security, and the legal complexities arising from President Biden's pardons. Senator Cruz provides a clear-eyed view of the challenges and opportunities facing the Republican agenda, underscored by his strategic approach to navigating Senate rules and confronting Democratic opposition.

Note: Advertisements and non-content sections from the transcript were excluded to maintain focus on the substantive discussions between Senator Ted Cruz and Ben Ferguson.