BONUS POD: "SHUT IT DOWN!" Biden Immigration Failures leads to Nat. Guardsmen SHOT!

Podcast: Verdict with Ted Cruz
Host: Premiere Networks
Date: November 27, 2025

Episode Overview

This special edition of the 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson, distributed via "Verdict with Ted Cruz," addresses a major news story: two National Guardsmen were ambushed and shot near the White House by an Afghan national, described as an illegal immigrant who overstayed his visa after arriving during the 2021 U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. The episode focuses on the attack's details, the suspect’s immigration background, the policy failures that allegedly allowed the incident to occur, and broader criticism of Biden administration immigration and vetting policies. The tone throughout is urgent, accusatory, and sharply critical of current Democratic leadership.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Details of the Attack

• Incident specifics:

  • Two National Guardsmen were shot near the White House in what was described as a targeted ambush ([03:18], [03:50]).
  • The suspect, a 29-year-old Afghan national, arrived in 2021 via Operation Allies Welcome ([03:50], [06:11], [14:23]).
  • He allegedly lay in wait, ambushed the Guardsmen, shot a female guard in the chest, then executed her by shooting her in the head, took her firearm, and then shot at and wounded another guard ([03:50], [06:11], [14:23]).
  • A third guard engaged and stopped the shooter, who was reportedly yelling “Allah Akbar” during the attack ([06:11], [08:49]).

• Immediate aftermath:

  • The White House went into lockdown as law enforcement responded ([07:05]).
  • The FBI is treating the shooting as a potential act of terrorism ([03:50], [06:11]).
  • Both Guardsmen are in critical condition; the suspect is also wounded and in custody ([06:11]).

2. Suspect’s Background & Immigration Policy Critique

• Suspect's immigration path:

  • Entered under the Biden administration’s Operation Allies Welcome in the 2021 Afghan withdrawal ([03:50], [08:49], [14:23]).
  • Overstayed his visa and was residing illegally in the U.S. ([03:50], [14:23], [15:54]).
  • Law enforcement admits significant vetting was lacking during the operation ([08:49], [11:10]).
  • Department of Homeland Security later acknowledged thousands from the 80,000 admitted had “derogatory information,” including possible terror ties ([11:10]).

• Policy failures highlighted:

  • Host Ben Ferguson repeatedly blames the Biden administration and Democratic Party for failing to vet and control immigration effectively ([08:49], [15:54]).
  • Calls for “shutting down” immigration for those not thoroughly vetted ([13:13]):

    "It is time to shut it all down. People that are coming in that we're not vetting, that we don't know who they are from around the world. We need to shut it down."
    — Ben Ferguson ([13:13])

• Broader policy implications:

  • References to ongoing attacks on ICE agents and recurrences of violence connected to immigration ([08:49]).
  • Cites the suspect’s purported “jihadist indicators”—using “Allah Akbar,” maintaining a religious beard, and drawing historical parallels to other attacks ([08:49]).

3. Dehumanization and Political Rhetoric

• Host accuses Democrats of dehumanizing military and law enforcement, linking this societal trend to violent attacks ([08:49]):

  "Yet again, we are witnessing the dehumanization of our men and women in uniform. Yet again, we are watching Democrats dehumanize our men and women who protect and defend."
  — Ben Ferguson ([03:50])

• Expresses frustration with media coverage, asserting that mainstream news outlets would downplay the terrorism aspects and emphasize gun control or random violence instead ([08:49]).

4. National and Political Reaction

• President Trump’s response:
  • According to Fox News, Trump quickly responded on Truth Social from Florida, saying the suspect will “pay a very steep price” and praising National Guard and law enforcement personnel ([07:05], [15:07]).
• Other officials:
  • Senator Chuck Schumer issued a statement monitoring the situation and thanking first responders ([07:05], [15:07]).
  • Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced the deployment of additional troops to D.C. ([07:05]).
  • Vice President J.D. Vance asked for prayers for the wounded Guardsmen while speaking at Fort Campbell, KY ([07:05]).

5. Calls for Accountability and Transparency

• Demands public release of the suspect’s background, vetting history, mosque affiliations, and possible watchlist hits ([12:42]).
• Explicitly holds President Biden and his administration “responsible and accountable” for the attack ([12:55], [15:54]).
• Advocacy for the death penalty in this and similar cases ([15:54]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On root causes and accountability

  "If you want to know who to blame for this tonight, this is on the Biden administration. This is on the Democratic Party. They allowed millions of people to come into this country illegally. Millions. This is a Democratic policy. It's pretty clear Joe Biden did that... This is Joe Biden."
  — Ben Ferguson ([15:54])

• On the suspect's actions and motivations:

  "When you have an Islamic war cry going out, Allah Akbar, by a 29 year old Afghan illegal immigrant who opened fire on U.S. guardsmen... witnesses described the chilling jihadist indicators... repeated shouts of Allah Akbar, the war cry used in nearly every major jihadist attack worldwide."
  — Ben Ferguson ([08:49])

• On the need for strict immigration controls:

  "It is time to shut it all down. People that are coming in that we're not vetting, that we don't know who they are from around the world. We need to shut it down."
  — Ben Ferguson ([13:13])

• On broader policy failure:

  "Biden's catastrophic 2021 Kabul withdrawal. More than 80,000 Afghans were flown to the US with incomplete vetting. That is a fact we know. The Department of Homeland Security later admitted that thousands had derogatory information... including possible terror ties. Afghanistan remains one of the world's most intense jihadist incubators...”
  — Ben Ferguson ([11:10])

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [03:18] – Ben Ferguson introduces the Thanksgiving Day special and the breaking story
• [03:50] – Full account of the D.C. shooting, suspect’s background, and immediate consequences
• [06:11] – FOX News segment recaps shooting details and suspect’s immigration background
• [07:05] – FOX News updates from the White House and responses from Trump, Schumer, and Hegseth
• [08:49] – Ben Ferguson criticizes media and Democratic responses, details ideological motivations, and policy failures
• [11:10] – Examination of incomplete vetting from Operation Allies Welcome; mention of DHS data
• [12:42] – Demands for detailed disclosure of the suspect’s background and “failure points”
• [13:13] – Ben Ferguson’s explicit call to “shut it all down” regarding immigration
• [14:23-15:07] – Redundant FOX News segment plus White House reactions and suspect background recap
• [15:54] – Ben Ferguson summary: Direct blame assigned to the Biden administration

Summary Flow & Tone

The episode is direct, emotive, and pointedly critical, echoing conservative frustration with perceived Democratic immigration policy failures and linking a violent act to those policy choices without reservation. The host relies on graphic incident descriptions, historical context of jihadist attacks, and explicit calls for sweeping policy change to drive the argument. Quotes from news sources and official responses (mainly from Fox News) reinforce a narrative of policy lapse and national security concern.

This episode provides an unfiltered, conservative-framed analysis of a breaking news event, focusing on policy critique, accountability demands, and calls for reform.