BONUS POD: The Manchurian Candidate plus a South African Confrontation & Jake Tapper’s Flip-Flop

Summary

Verdict with Ted Cruz Episode: BONUS POD: The Manchurian Candidate plus a South African Confrontation & Jake Tapper’s Flip-Flop
Release Date: May 22, 2025

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Introduction

In this bonus episode of "Verdict with Ted Cruz," Senator Ted Cruz, alongside co-host Ben Ferguson, delves into three pressing political narratives shaping the current landscape. The discussion centers around alleged accountability of the Biden family, a confrontational episode involving President Trump and South African leadership, and the controversial shift in Jake Tapper’s stance on the Biden family. Through a blend of investigative insights and critical analysis, Cruz and Ferguson aim to uncover underlying truths and challenge mainstream media narratives.

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1. Holding the Bidens Accountable: The Manchurian Candidate

Timestamp: [03:17] - [09:31]

Key Points:

• James Comer's Investigation: Representative James Comer, chairman of the House Oversight Committee, has intensified efforts to investigate Joe Biden and his administration for alleged corruption and misconduct. Comer asserts that the Biden family, particularly Hunter Biden, wielded undue influence over national decisions, effectively rendering Joe Biden a "Manchurian president" who wasn't the true decision-maker.

• Media Complicity: Ferguson criticizes major media outlets like MSNBC, The Washington Post, and The New York Times for their perceived failure to scrutinize the Bidens adequately. He highlights a shift in media narrative, suggesting that recent coverage now acknowledges the alleged cover-up of Joe Biden's mental decline and Hunter Biden's pivotal role.

• Evidence and Claims: The discussion references a prior conversation on the "Alex Marlo Show," where Comer emphasizes that the media has been either obstructive or complicit in suppressing information about the Bidens. Ferguson recounts his struggles against mainstream media narratives, asserting that investigative findings reveal significant financial improprieties and influence-peddling by the Biden family.

Notable Quotes:

• James Comer: "We're bringing everyone in for the Biden investigations. It's a long anticipated moment to hold Joe Biden's family and the administration officials accountable for their crimes is finally approaching." [03:22]

• Ben Ferguson: "Joe Biden had no idea what was going on. Hunter Biden was actually calling the shot." [08:27]

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2. South African Confrontation: President Trump Calls Out White Genocide

Timestamp: [09:43] - [14:28]

Key Points:

• Trump's Oval Office Briefing: President Donald Trump reportedly confronted South African President Cyril Ramaphosa with evidence of what he termed "white genocide," accusing South African leaders of promoting discriminatory policies against white farmers and landowners. This confrontation involved multimedia evidence, including videos and printed news stories, which Trump presented as proof of these allegations.

• Media Backlash: Mainstream media, particularly CNN, dismissed Trump's claims as debunked conspiracy theories. They labeled the evidence Trump presented as propaganda from Afriforum, an organization recognized by the Southern Poverty Law Center as a white nationalist group.

• Counterarguments: Cruz and Ferguson argue that the media's dismissal is unfounded, emphasizing that the audio and video evidence presented by Trump substantiates the claims of white genocide and land theft in South Africa. They call on listeners to share this evidence to expose what they perceive as media bias and misinformation.

Notable Quotes:

• Donald Trump: "Never be scared to kill a revolution. Demand that at some point there must be killing because the killing is part of a revolutionary act." [11:20]

• James Comer: "Everything, almost everything that President Trump said in the Oval Office is not true, was inaccurate, has been repeatedly debunked." [10:57]

• Jack Armstrong: "What you just heard there from CNN is a lie... there is a genocide happening in South Africa." [13:27]

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3. Jake Tapper’s Flip-Flop: From Critic to Collaborator

Timestamp: [14:28] - [17:01]

Key Points:

• Book Tour Controversy: Jake Tapper, a prominent journalist and host, is on a book tour promoting his latest publication, which ostensibly reveals truths about the Biden family. Cruz and Ferguson accuse Tapper of altering his stance to align with political gains, suggesting that his previous positions were influenced by a desire to maintain access to Democratic leadership.

• Evolving Narrative: The episode contrasts Tapper’s 2023 statements defending the Bidens with his 2025 assertions that Hunter Biden held significant influence over family and political decisions. This sudden shift is portrayed as opportunistic, leveraging new revelations to undermine the Bidens while abandoning prior journalistic integrity.

• Media Hypocrisy: Ferguson criticizes Tapper and similar media figures for their inconsistency and perceived betrayal of journalistic principles. The hosts argue that Tapper’s changed narrative coincides with the Democrats’ diminished hold on power, implying that his previous reluctance to expose Biden family misconduct was a result of political bias.

Notable Quotes:

• Jack Armstrong: "Isn't it amazing how easy it is for Jake Tapper to all of a sudden be honest with you... he didn't want to lose access to the Democratic Party." [16:21]

• Ben Ferguson: "The media is finally just throwing their hands up in the air and, you know, they've turned on the Biden." [08:58]

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Conclusion

In this episode, "Verdict with Ted Cruz" presents a critical examination of entrenched political figures and media dynamics. By highlighting the intensified investigations into the Biden family, alleged foreign policy confrontations by President Trump, and the shifting narratives within mainstream journalism, Cruz and Ferguson aim to provide listeners with a perspective that challenges prevailing media narratives. The hosts encourage their audience to seek out the truth behind these issues and question the integrity of established institutions.

Final Thoughts: The episode underscores the importance of investigative journalism and political accountability, urging listeners to remain vigilant against potential corruption and media bias. By bringing these issues to the forefront, "Verdict with Ted Cruz" seeks to empower its audience with information and foster a more transparent political discourse.

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Notable Quotes Recap:

• James Comer: "We're bringing everyone in for the Biden investigations." [03:22]
• Ben Ferguson: "Joe Biden had no idea what was going on. Hunter Biden was actually calling the shot." [08:27]
• Donald Trump: "Never be scared to kill a revolution." [11:20]
• Jack Armstrong: "What you just heard there from CNN is a lie... there is a genocide happening in South Africa." [13:27]
• Jack Armstrong: "Isn't it amazing how easy it is for Jake Tapper to all of a sudden be honest with you..." [16:21]

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This comprehensive summary captures the essence of the episode, providing a clear and engaging overview for those who have yet to listen while highlighting critical discussions, insights, and conclusions drawn by Senator Ted Cruz and his co-host.

Transcript

[Ryan Seacrest]

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[Ben Ferguson]

Wasn't that delicious?

[Jack Armstrong]

So good.

[Ryan Seacrest]

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[Ben Ferguson]

I got it.

[Joe Getty]

I got it.

[Jack Armstrong]

No, I got it. Seriously, I insist.

[Joe Getty]

I insisted first.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Don't be silly.

[James Comer]

You don't be silly. People with the Wells Fargo Active cash.

[Jack Armstrong]

Credit card prefer to pay because they earn unlimited 2% cash back on purchases. Okay. Rock, paper scissors for it.

[Joe Getty]

Rock, paper scissors.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Shoot.

[Jack Armstrong]

No.

[James Comer]

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[Joe Getty]

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[Jake Tapper]

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[Ryan Seacrest]

Why should you listen to Armstrong and Getty on demand? We're not boring. Lotta news is boring and tedious and depressing and makes you angry. You don't want to live your life like that. Hey, I'm Jack Armstrong. He's Joe Getty. We're Armstrong and Getty. We try to bring you the truth and help you figure out this crazy modern world.

[Jack Armstrong]

Something about a comedic tone.

[Ryan Seacrest]

We have a winner. Yes. Listen to Armstrong, you Getty on Demand on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Donald Trump]

Never be scared to kill a revolution. Demand that at some point there must be killing because the kill.

[James Comer]

You're listening to the 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson.

[Jack Armstrong]

Good Thursday morning. Welcome. It is the 47 Morning Update and we've got three big stories for you that you do not want to miss this morning. First up, it is time to hold the Bidens accountable and find out who was actually running the United States of America because it sure as hell wasn't Joe Biden. Biden Representative James Comer says everyone they're bringing in for the Biden investigations. I'll have those details for you in just a second. Also, President Donald Trump brought the videos and the pictures to the Oval Office when meeting with the South African president and called them out to their face over the white genocide that's happening. The media of course, responded by saying Donald Trump's a liar. We have the audio to prove that Donald Trump was telling you the truth. And finally, Jake Tapper's on his book tour. And my, oh my, is the man changing his story drastically from what he was saying about Joe Biden and Hunter Biden and the Biden family from just less than two years ago. We've got the receipts and we'll play it for you. It's the 47 Morning Update and it starts right now. Story number one, Representative James Comer is now focused on investigating Joe Biden and the corruption of the second possible cover up, this time with the medical issues with cancer. James Comer saying, quote, we're bringing everyone in for the Biden investigations. It's a long anticipated moment to hold Joe Biden's family and the administration officials accountable for their crimes is finally approaching is how James Comer explained it on the Alex Marlo Show. Comer, the chairman of the House Oversight Committee, faced significant challenges to investigate when Biden was present. But now that Donald Trump is present and the House appears set to pass President Donald Trump's one big beautiful budget bill, Comer and his committee are fired up and ready to harvest the fruits of their investigative labor. Prominent names from Hunter Biden to Biden's senior level advisors will be brought in for either a transcribed interview if they'll come in voluntarily, or a deposition is what James Comer has now said. I want you to hear from him in his own words, take A listen.

[Alex Marlow]

The next topic du jour, Joe Biden. You're one of the top Biden investigators. As the chairman of the House GOP Oversight Committee, I want to get your sense of what's going on in the media. And this discussion of a cover up of Joe Biden mental decline. It's been sort of surreal for me to watch. Having researched Joe Biden extensively and written a bestselling book about Joe Biden just like you did. It's been very odd for me to watch cuz there was no cover up. As far as I could tell. We all knew he was in severe mental decline. We all knew that he had aneurysms, he had massive surgery on those. We all knew that he would confuse his wife and his sister and he didn't know where his son died. And now all of a sudden a CNN anchor says that there was a cover up and we're like, oh yeah, there was a cover up. I don't understand it, Congressman, do you?

[Ben Ferguson]

It's just breathtaking to watch because I was attacked so many times by saying Joe Biden was a mental invalid. I was attacked by saying Joe Biden wasn't the one calling the shots. I was attacked when I said Hunter Biden was the de facto chief of staff. That came out today. That's in, that's in Jake Tapper's book, that Hunter Biden was essentially the chief of staff. If you go back and Google me and Hunter Biden chief of staff and all of that, the press that I received from MSNBC and the Washington Post and the York Times, they blistered me. I mean, Rudy Giuliani and Donald Trump combined never went through what I went through by telling what we were finding about the Bidens. They were crooks. They were lying about the money they were taking in. They weren't paying any taxes on it. Joe Biden had no idea what was going on. Hunter Biden was actually calling the shot. And when the media would say, why are you picking on Hunter Biden? Hunter Biden is not, doesn't work for the government. He was running the government. Jake Tapper put that in his book we found today. I mean, it's just amazing. And for the media to act like, oh, is it a cover up? We had no idea they knew. If they didn't know, they need to resign and go get a job at McDonald's or somewhere because they have failed as journalists. If they didn't know that Joe Biden was a mental invalid and that he wasn't the one calling shots. So what we're doing now on the oversight committee. We requested information from the doctor back when Joe Biden was president and they wouldn't comply with our request. We had questions about the doctor when he said Joe Biden was in perfect health. Now they're saying, well, they never tested his PSA. I'm 52. I've been testing my PSA since I was 30. And you know, so, so nothing that they're saying is true. The American people know it. The media is finally just throwing their hands up in the air and, you know, they've turned on the Biden. So I think we're going to get a lot more information. What we want to know on the overtime committee is who is operating the auto pen.

[Alex Marlow]

Yeah.

[Ben Ferguson]

And who was given the authority to sign pardons and executive orders with this auto pin because it was not Joe Biden.

[Alex Marlow]

So I feel like we're kind of getting Khan to take our eye off the ball a little bit, which is that he was in cognitive decline for a very long time. And the media was complicit in the COVID up. It wasn't just some inner circle of like six Biden aides. It's just Ron Klain and, and Donilon and Joe Biden and it's like Jill, it's like five people. No, it was the whole media allow, including Jake Capper who allowed for this to go on.

[Ben Ferguson]

You know, hypocrisy had no end with the media. But I'm glad the truth's coming out. I always said, and I know you said in your book, I said about the, the history will be kind to those of us who, who were brave enough to, to point out the criminality of the Biden family as well as the fact that Joe Biden was not calling the shots. He was the one president in our history who was, who truly was a Manchurian president. I mean, he, he wasn't the one calling the shot.

[Jack Armstrong]

One thing is for sure, James Comer is telling the American people we are going to hold them accountable and find out who was actually the country because clearly it wasn't President Joe Biden.

[James Comer]

Next story number two.

[Jack Armstrong]

There was a moment in the Oval Office where Donald Trump decided, I'm going to call out a world leader for the white genocide that is happening right now in South Africa and against white and farmers and white land owners. CNN just called Trump showing the president of South Africa the actual evidence of leaders calling for a white genocide and stealing their land. A, quote, ambush of, quote, debunked conspiracy theories. Trump literally brought all the evidence and played it. And what did CNN say?

[James Comer]

This Darrell Ramaphosa brought his best diplomatic self to this meeting. But nothing could have prepared him for this multimedia ambush that President Trump laid out with a video with printed out news stories. This was a laundry list of debunks. This was a laundry list of debunked conspiracy theories. Some South Africans are telling me this is Afriforum propaganda. Afriforum is a white Africana lobby group that's considered a white nationalist organization by the Southern Poverty Law Center. Everything, almost everything that President Trump said in the Oval Office is not true, was inaccurate, has been repeatedly debunked.

[Jack Armstrong]

Now, what you just heard there from CNN is a lie. Not because I say so, but because we actually have the evidence to prove it. And the video that was shown in the Oval Office to the man in charge of South Africa and the audio, well, this is what the leaders of his party, in his government were saying publicly on video in South Africa. Listen carefully to their words.

[Donald Trump]

Never be scared to kill. A revolution demands that at some point there must be killing because the killing is part of a revolutionary act. Shoot to kill your master. Kill the poor, the farmer. Kill the poor, the farmer. The mayor of DA in PE is a white man. So these people, when you want to hit them hard, go after a white man. They feel a terrible pain because you have touched a white man. Not because Mashaba and Soli will not be touched. They will be touched. Don't worry. But we are starting with this whiteness. We are cutting the throat of whiteness. Shoot to kill Yamasa. Kill the poor, the farmer. Kill the poor, the farmer. Should to kill Hamas. Kill the poor, the farmer. Kill the poor, the farmer. I don't know what's on going going to happen in the future. I'm saying to you, we've not called for the killing of white people, at least for now. I can't guarantee the future.

[Jack Armstrong]

Yeah, but I mean, you'd understand somebody.

[James Comer]

Watching that, especially as it gets shared on Twitter.

[Alex Marlow]

They freak out.

[Ben Ferguson]

It sounds like a genocidal crybabies.

[Jack Armstrong]

Crybabies. This is exactly what they were referring to in the Oval Office as the President was calling out the leader of South Africa. You may wonder what is a Boer? It is a white man. So when they say shoot the boar, they're saying shoot the white man. And then they're saying, shoot the farmer. This is exactly what is happening in South Africa right now. No matter what CNN says, as they come out saying there's no evidence of a white Genocide or the stealing of the land. In fact, they say that Donald Trump went after the South African president in what they described as an ambush. It was of the facts. And the President, United States of America, yet again calling out another world leader to his face and bringing the receipts to the Oval Office to prove his point. I hope all of you will take the audio that you just heard and share it on social media wherever you can to yet again call out the liberal media for their lies as there is a genocide happening in South Africa.

[James Comer]

And here is story number three.

[Jack Armstrong]

The media tour continues for Jake Tapper and his big book. It's gonna be a bestseller where he tries to act like a journalist and implies that he's coming clean about the big lie with Joe Biden. Well, it's amazing how easy it is to be honest when you're trying to sell a book instead of trying to get your preferred candidate elected. And I wanna remind you of what Jake Tapper had to say on his own show back in 2023.

[Hunter Biden]

There's no evidence to support the allegation. My father was financially involved in my business because it did not happen. There's no fairness or decency in what these republic. And I do have to say, whatever you think of Hunter Biden and there's certainly a lot of people in this town, Democrats and Republicans that do not think a lot of him, there is a certain kind of like cruelty to the campaign against him. Where is Hunter? Where is Hunter? Where is Hunter?

[Jack Armstrong]

That was in 2023. You're supposed to feel bad for Hunter Biden because he went into hiding. You're supposed to feel bad for the Biden crime family because Joe Biden, just an older guy that deserves one more chance. So what is Jake Tapper now saying in 2025 as he's on his book tour trying to sell books. Listen carefully to how fast his story is changing.

[Hunter Biden]

Hunter was driving the decision making for the family in a way that people. He was almost like a chief of staff of the family.

[Jake Tapper]

Does that strike you as pretty bizarre?

[Hunter Biden]

It's bizarre because I think he is provably, demonstrably unethical, sleazy and prone to horrible decisions.

[Jake Tapper]

I mean, tell me how you really feel.

[Hunter Biden]

Well, I mean I just, I'm just look at the record. I mean, after his brother died, he cheated on his wife with his brother's widow and then got her addicted to crack. That's just one thing I could say. I mean it there. I don't have a lot of personal regard for him.

[Jack Armstrong]

Isn't it amazing how easy it is for Jake Tapper to all of a sudden be honest with you and tell you exactly what he thinks of Hunter Biden now that there are not a threat to his access to the White House. Jake Tapper would never be man enough to tell you this before 2025 because he didn't want to lose access to the Democratic Party, he didn't want to lose access to Joe Biden, and he didn't want to make his viewers angry that he might tell them some journalistic truth. 2023 compared to 2025 isn't that long ago, but Jake Tapper sure as hell is a very different man when the Democrats are in power and he's willing to protect them and sell out at all costs.

[James Comer]

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.

[Joe Getty]

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[Ryan Seacrest]

Why should you listen to Armstrong and Getty on demand? We're not boring. A lot of news is boring and tedious and depressing. Angry. You don't want to live your life like that. Hey, I'm Jack Armstrong. He's Joe Getty. We're Armstrong and Getty. We try to bring you the truth and help you figure out this crazy modern world.

[Jack Armstrong]

How about something about a comedic tone?

[Ryan Seacrest]

We have a winner. Yes. Listen to Armstrong. You get it on Demand on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. In the fall of 1986, Ronald Reagan found himself at the center of a massive scandal that looked like it might bring down his presidency. It became known as the Iran Contra Affair.

[Ben Ferguson]

The things that happened were so bizarre and insane, I can't begin to tell you.

[James Comer]

Please do.

[Ryan Seacrest]

To hear the whole story, listen to Fiasco Iran Contra on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. You're listening to an iHeart podcast.