BONUS POD: Fake News Flops Again as Trump WINS on Tariffs, Iran & the Border

Summary

Verdict with Ted Cruz: BONUS POD Episode Summary
“Fake News Flops Again as Trump WINS on Tariffs, Iran & the Border”
Release Date: April 8, 2025

In this compelling bonus episode of "Verdict with Ted Cruz," host Ben Ferguson delves into the latest political developments surrounding President Donald Trump, highlighting significant victories and debunking prevalent media narratives. This detailed summary captures the key discussions, insights, and conclusions drawn during the episode.

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1. Republicans Stand United with President Trump on Tariffs

Overview:
Ben Ferguson addresses the circulating media claims that Republicans in the Senate are poised to undermine President Trump’s tariff policies. He presents evidence to the contrary, emphasizing strong bipartisan support for the administration's economic measures.

Key Points:

• Media Misrepresentation: The media alleges that Republicans intend to break ranks with Trump over tariffs.
• Senator James Lankford’s Stance: Contrary to media reports, Senator Lankford asserts that Congress will not obstruct the President's tariff initiatives.

Notable Quotes:

• Senator James Lankford (Oklahoma) [04:19]:
  “I think the president's challenge is not going to be Congress... It's going to be a challenge in the courts, quite frankly, because it's novel, it's new, it's a different way to actually take on the tariffs.”

• President Donald Trump [06:18]:
  “We're not looking at that [pausing tariffs]. We have many, many countries that are coming to negotiate deals with us... This is America first. It's now America first.”

Analysis:
Ferguson underscores that the supposed Republican resistance is unfounded, highlighting Lankford’s confidence in the Senate’s support for Trump’s tariff policies. He emphasizes Trump's commitment to "America First," countering media narratives that portray tariff enforcement as a point of contention within the Republican Party.

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2. Supreme Court Upholds Trump Administration’s Deportation Policies

Overview:
The episode highlights a landmark Supreme Court decision that favors the Trump administration's efforts to deport suspected illegal alien gang members under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act. Ferguson critiques the media's portrayal of the ruling, advocating for a truthful representation of the administration's actions to ensure national security.

Key Points:

• Supreme Court Decision: The Court lifted a block on the Trump administration’s deportation efforts, allowing the removal of members from the Trans de Aragua gang.
• Legal Justification: The ruling focused on procedural aspects rather than the use of the Alien Enemies Act, framing it as a victory for the rule of law.
• Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Statement: Bondi lauds the decision as a triumph for maintaining national safety and presidential authority.

Notable Quotes:

• Attorney General Pam Bondi [08:33]:
  “An activist judge in Washington, D.C. does not have the jurisdiction to seize control of President Trump's authority to conduct foreign policy and keep the American people safe.”

Analysis:
Ferguson argues that the Supreme Court’s decision is a critical win for President Trump, enabling the administration to act decisively against perceived threats. He contends that media outlets like the New York Times obscure the true nature of the ruling, thereby misleading the public about the administration's legitimate efforts to ensure national security.

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3. President Trump Engages in Direct Talks with Iran and Iraqi Militias

Overview:
Ferguson reports on President Trump’s direct diplomatic engagements with Iran over its nuclear program and the surprising willingness of Iranian-backed militias in Iraq to disarm, aiming to deescalate potential conflicts.

Key Points:

• Direct Negotiations with Iran: Trump announces ongoing talks aimed at addressing Iran’s nuclear ambitions, emphasizing the desire to avoid conflict.
• Militias’ Response: Iranian-backed militias in Iraq express readiness to disarm to prevent escalation, following pressure from the Trump administration.
• Strategic Implications: These developments signify a proactive approach by Trump to mitigate threats and foster stability in the Middle East.

Notable Quotes:

• President Donald Trump [12:22]:
  “We're having direct talks with Iran and they've started. It'll go on Saturday. We have a very big meeting and we'll see what can happen... This is America first.”

• Reuters Report [13:03]:
  “Several powerful Iranian-backed militia groups in Iraq are prepared to disarm for the first time to avert the threat of an escalating conflict with the US Trump administration.”

Analysis:
Ferguson highlights the significance of Trump's hands-on diplomacy in addressing complex international issues. By directly engaging with Iran and facilitating talks that lead to the willingness of militias to disarm, Trump demonstrates a strategic effort to enhance national security and promote peace, challenging the narrative that portrays his administration as confrontational.

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Conclusion

In this episode, Ben Ferguson adeptly counters prevailing media narratives by presenting substantial evidence of President Trump’s unwavering support within the Republican Party on tariffs, significant judicial victories that empower the administration’s deportation policies, and strategic diplomatic efforts to address international threats. Through notable quotes and thorough analysis, Ferguson reinforces the message that President Trump remains steadfast in his commitment to "America First," advocating for policies that prioritize national security and economic prosperity.

For listeners seeking an in-depth and fact-based perspective on current political events, this episode of "Verdict with Ted Cruz" provides a comprehensive and engaging overview of the Trump administration's key initiatives and victories.

Transcript

[Ryan Seacrest]

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[Ben Ferguson]

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[Clay]

You know, when you're really stressed or not feeling so great about your life or about yourself, talking to someone who understands can really help. But who is that person? How do you find them? Where do you even start? Talkspace. Talkspace makes it easy to get the support you need. With Talkspace, you can go online, answer a few questions about your preferences, and be matched with a therapist. And because you'll meet your therapist online, you don't have to take time off work or arrange childcare. You'll meet on your schedule, wherever you feel most at ease. If you're depressed, stressed, struggling with a relationship, or if you want some counseling for you and your partner or just need a little extra one on one support, Talkspace is here for you. Plus, Talkspace works with most major insurers and most insured members have a zero dollar copay. No insurance, no problem. Now get $80 off of your first month with promo code space80 when you go to talkspace.com match with a licensed therapist today at talkspace.com, save $80 with code [e-mail] hey Clay, if there was.

[Bach]

A summer camp for critical thinking, we'd be the chief counselors.

[Ben Ferguson]

Those jelly heads in June would be intellectual warriors by August.

[Bach]

Be a lot of fun too. Some Bill and Ted's excellent adventure references thrown in this podcast.

[Ben Ferguson]

Like a daily dose of that. Minus the campfires, archery and pranking the girls.

[Bach]

The bonafide boot camp for critical thinking. You can get in on it for free at the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcast. Just search our names, Clay and Bach. Listen and subscribe.

[Ben Ferguson]

Something unexpected happened after Jeremy Scott confessed to killing Michelle Schofield in Bone Valley, Season one.

Every time I hear about my dad is, oh, he's a killer. He's just straight evil.

I was becoming the bridge between Jeremy Scott and the son he'd never known.

[Donald Trump]

At the end of the day, I'm literally a Son of a killer.

[Ben Ferguson]

Listen to new episodes of bone Valley Season 2, starting April 9 on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

What happens in the meantime?

[Donald Trump]

Should Americans be prepared potentially for years? I'll tell you what happens. We have now $7 trillion of commitments from companies wanting to go. And that takes time. What? It takes time? Are you asking me a question? Are you telling me. Yeah, it takes time. You know, you got to build a thing called the factory.

[Ben Ferguson]

You're listening to the 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson. Good Tuesday morning, Ferguson with you. It's so nice to have you on the 47 Morning Update. And here are the three big stories we're covering for you. First up, there's a big lie that Republicans are going to actually undermine Donald Trump in the Senate and stop him from being able to do what he's doing with tariffs. Well, guess what? It's a big lie made up by the media and we expose it in just a moment. Up next, a major victory for law and order as the Supreme Court is allowing the Trump administration to enforce deportations of gang members under the Alien Enemies Act. And finally, Donald Trump, we're now being told, is in direct conversations with Iran and also talking to militias in Iraq about disarmament. It's the 47 Morning Update, and it starts right now. Story number one. There has been a story that has been circulating, and it's one that we're going to debunk right now. It's that Republicans are going to break with the president and destroy what he's doing on tariffs. Well, Senator James Lankford set the record straight, saying he doesn't think that's going to happen on Capitol Hill at all. He said if anything is stopping the president, it'll be lawfare in the court system. You're noticing a trend with lawfare, right? Take a listen. The senator in his own words from Oklahoma.

[Bach]

So I think the president's challenge is not going to be Congress. There'll be members of Congress saying, hey, this needs to be able to come back to Congress as it typically does. I think it's going to be a challenge in the courts, quite frankly, because it's novel, it's new do. It's a different way to actually take on the tariffs. And so I think the courts are going to jump in and say, hey, we want to be able to take a look at this.

[Ben Ferguson]

So there is a center saying, guess what? What you're being told by the media is yet again another lie to undermine President Trump and his job as the commander in chief. Now, the center also said, yes, there is an attempt in Congress to, quote, rein in the president's capability to manage tariffs, but, quote, I don't think this bill will have an impact on it at all. Now, the Senate narrowly approved a tariff control bill, which could not have won approval if it was not for the support of four Republicans. There's little chance the bill will get majority support in the House. Trump also still has veto control of the bill should it win full approval. You can't make this up. Lankford said the big picture is that Trump is on the right course and he believes his constituents will see the benefits as well, saying, quote, he's not wrong, definitely that China is ripping us off and that we've got bad trade issues all over the world. And I'm looking forward to lots of new negotiated trade agreements all around the world because my farmers and ranchers are folks that do production of lots of different equipment here. They want to be able to sell all over the world. They want to be able to have fair markets. Now, President Trump also getting in on the action at the White House today. He was taking questions with Netanyahu and he was asked by the media about the tariffs. There was a story that started to circulate that Donald Trump was, quote, looking at pausing the tariffs. Well, Donald Trump said, guess what? That's not true. And here's the president in his own words.

[Donald Trump]

Any questions, Mr. President, to the markets today, and would you be open to.

[Ben Ferguson]

A pause in tariffs to allow for negotiations?

[Donald Trump]

Well, we're not looking at that. We have many, many countries that are coming to negotiate deals with us, and they're going to be fair deals. In certain cases, they're going to be paying substantial tariffs. There'll be fair deals. As you know, I spoke this morning with the prime Minister of Japan, and we had a very good conversation. They're coming and I said one thing. You're going to have to open up your country because we sold no cars, like zero cars in Japan, and they sold millions of cars into our country. They don't really take our agriculture, a little bit of it, just to keep us slightly happy. But they don't take what they're supposed to be taking. So we have a great relationship with Japan. We're going to keep it that way. But they're coming in to meet and other countries are coming in with China. As you know, against my statement, they put a 34% tariff on above what their ridiculous tariffs were already. And I said, if that tariff isn't removed by tomorrow at 12 o'clock, we're putting a 50% tariff on, above the tariffs that we put on. So they've gone for years. They've become a rich country because of people again that in the White House that allowed this to happen. Hundreds of billions of dollars a year that make an arsenal trade and it shouldn't be that way. And I have a great relationship with President Xi. I hope it's going to stay that way. I have great respect for China, but they can't do this. We're just, we're going to have one shot at this and no other president is going to do this. What I'm doing, and I'll tell you what, it's an honor to do it because we have been just, just destroyed what they've done to our system. You know, we have trillion dollars of debt for a reason and the reason is that people allowed it to get that way. So we'll be talking to China, we'll be talking to a lot of different countries and I think, you know, if we can make a really fair deal and a good deal for the United States, not a good deal for others. This is America first. It's now America first. And we didn't put America first, we put America last. The people that were in the Oval Office put America last and we're not going to stand for it.

[Ben Ferguson]

So if you want to know who's on your side, it's clearly the President of the United States of America. Yes, the media is having to lie, manipulate and change the headlines and tell you it's all doom and gloom and then lines say the President's going to stop the tariffs, pause the tariffs, back down from the tariffs, show weakness. I think it's pretty clear now from what the President said in the White House, none of that is actually going to happen. Next story number two. It is a major victory for law and order when it comes to the President Donald Trump having power to do his job. The Supreme Court of the United States lifted a block from the U. S. District Judge James Boasberg which was lawfare preventing the Trump administration from deporting suspected illegal alien gang members. They were doing this under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act. Now, this ruling from the Supreme Court is a massive win for President Donald Trump and most importantly for the rule of law in this country. It's also a massive win for his administration because now they can actually do their jobs. It was described, quote, as a narrow and focused on the proper venue for the cases, rather than on the administration's use of a centuries old law to justify its decision to deport suspected illegal alien gang members. That according to the New York Times. So even when the president gets a huge victory from the Supreme Court, just know the hacks of the New York Times are still going to lie to you about the premise of the ruling. Per the New York Times. It was a 5 to 4 decision. Happens all the time, by the way. And the Supreme Court justice found that the migrants had improperly challenged their deportations in Washington, D.C. when they should have challenged them in Texas where they were being held, quote, unquote. From the Times. Now, the real headline should have been this. The Supreme Court sides with the Trump administration and will allow them to continue removing Venezuelan Trans Dear Agua gang members from the country under the Aliens Enemies Act. But no, the media couldn't actually tell you the story the honest way. In a post on X, the Attorney General Pam Bondi responded to the Supreme Court's decision and described it as a landmark victory for, quote, the rule of law. Bondi continued saying this. An activist judge in Washington, D.C. does not have the jurisdiction to seize control of President Trump's authority to conduct foreign policy and keep the American people safe. The Department of Justice will continue fighting in court to make America safe again. Trump also asked the Supreme Court to allow the federal government to deport suspected illegal alien gang members under the Alien Enemies Act. And in March, Trump invoked the Alien Enemies act to allow for the expedited removal of illegal Venezuelan migrants who were suspected of being members of that dangerous gang, the Trans de Aragua gang, also that has been designated as a terrorist organization. These are terrorists that the president's trying to get rid of. This was a massive victory for the president and it's one that the media will not tell you the truth on because they know just how damning it is to their lawfare. At the end of the day, this means that Donald Trump is going to be able to do what he needs to do to keep all of us safe from these gang members. And here is story number three in some very important international news. The Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu met with Donald Trump at White House. But one of the biggest things that came out of the conversation was some breaking news that Donald Trump announced about having direct talks with Iran over their nuclear weapons program. President saying this at the White House sitting next to Bibi.

[Donald Trump]

We're having direct talks with Iran and they've started. It'll go on Saturday. We have a very big meeting and we'll see what can happen. And I think everybody agrees that doing a deal would be preferable to doing the obvious. And the obvious is not something that I want to be involved with or frankly that Israel wants to be involved with if they can avoid it. So we're going to see if we can avoid it. But it's getting to be very dangerous territory and hopefully those talks will be successful. And I think it would be in Iran's best interests if they are successful. We hope that's going to happen.

[Ben Ferguson]

Now, as President Trump was saying this in the Oval Office, Reuters came out with an exclusive report saying that Iran backed militias in Iraq are ready to disarm to avert what they describe as a Trump wrath. That's right. Coming out of Baghdad. Several powerful Iranian backed militia groups in Iraq are prepared to disarm for the first time to avert the threat of an escalating conflict with the US Trump administration. That is what 10 senior commanders and Iraqi officials said to Reuters. The move to defuse tensions follows repeated warnings issued privately by U.S. officials to the Iraqi government since Trump took power in January. According to sources, who include six local commanders of four major militias. The officials told Baghdad that unless it acted to disband the militias operating on its soil, America could target the groups with airstrikes. A senior Muslim politician close to Iraq's government's alliance also told Reuters that discussions between the prime minister and several militia leaders were, quote, very advanced and the groups were inclined to comply with US Calls for disarmament. The factions are not acting stubbornly or insisting on continuing in their current form, he said, adding that the groups were fully aware they could be targeted by U. S. Air strikes. The six militia commanders interviewed in Baghdad by Reuters at a southern province who requested obviously anonymity to discuss the sensitive situation are from multiple different groups. Many of them also had ties to Iran. Trump is ready to take the war with us to worse levels, we know that, one of the commanders said, and we want to avoid such a bad scenario. The most powerful Shiite militia also saying that it's time for us to find a way to work together. You cannot make this up. Why are they doing this now? Because they've witnessed what the president's doing with other leaders that he decides to take out ISIS leaders and the president making it clear that if you don't get a deal now, well, you're probably going to end up dead. The commander said. Their main ally and patron, Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards military force, has given them its blessing to take whatever decisions they deem necessary to avoid being drawn into a potentially ruinous conflict with the United States and Israel. So the moral of the story is, even Iran's military understands that right now is not a time to mess with the Trump administration. And this may be exactly why they're willing to talk directly with the Trump administration to avert military strikes from a president that says he's not bluffing. Thank you for listening to the 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson. Please make sure you hit subscribe wherever you're listening to this podcast right now and for more in depth news. Also subscribe to the Ben Ferguson Podcast and we will see you back here tomorrow.

[Ryan Seacrest]

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[Clay]

No purchase necessary.

[Ben Ferguson]

VGW Group Void where prohibited by law 21 + terms and conditions apply.

[Clay]

You know, when you're really stressed or not feeling so great about your life or about yourself, talking to someone who understands can really help. But who is that person? How do you find them? Where do you even start? Talkspace Talkspace makes it easy to get the support you need. With Talkspace, you can go online, answer a few questions about your preferences, and be matched with a therapist. And because you'll meet your therapist online, you don't have to take time off work or arrange childcare, you'll meet on your schedule wherever you feel most at ease. If you're depressed, stressed, struggling with a relationship, or if you want some counseling for you and your partner or just need a little extra one on one support, Talkspace is here for you. Plus Talkspace works with most major insurers and most insured members have a zero dollar copay. No insurance? No problem. Now get $80 off of your first month with promo code space80 when you go to talkspace.com match with a licensed therapist today at talkspace.com save $80 with code [e-mail] hey clay, if there was.

[Bach]

A summer camp for critical thinking, we'd be the chief counselors.

[Ben Ferguson]

Those jelly heads in June would be intellectual warriors by August.

[Bach]

Be a lot of fun too. Some Bill and Ted's excellent adventure references.

[Ben Ferguson]

Thrown in this podcast like a daily dose of that, minus the campfires, archery and pranking the girls.

[Bach]

The bonafide boot camp for critical thinking. You can get in on it for free at the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcast. Just search our names Clay and Bach. Listen and subscribe.

[Ben Ferguson]

Something unexpected happened after Jeremy Scott confessed to killing Michelle Schofield in Bone Valley Season one.

Every time I hear about my dad is, oh, he's a killer. He's just straight evil.

I was becoming the bridge between Jeremy Scott and the son he'd never known.

[Donald Trump]

At the end of the day, I'm literally a son of a killer.

[Ben Ferguson]

Listen to new episodes of bone Valley Season 2, starting April 9 on the iHeartRadio app app Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.