Verdict with Ted Cruz — Episode Summary

Episode: CNN Insists "Who can tell the Motive?" of Charlie Kirk's Murderer plus "Loving" Texts between the Murderer & His Boyfriend
Date: September 17, 2025
Host(s): Senator Ted Cruz, Ben Ferguson
Topic: Dissecting media coverage of Charlie Kirk's assassination, dispute over the shooter's motive, and reaction to evidence — especially the text messages between the alleged murderer and his boyfriend.

Overview of the Episode’s Main Theme

This episode centers on Senator Ted Cruz’s recent contentious CNN interview with Kaitlan Collins regarding the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Cruz and Ferguson break down mainstream media responses—focusing particularly on whether or not news outlets are acknowledging the murderer's motive. They then dig into the media’s reactions to newly-released text messages between the shooter and his transgender boyfriend, sharply criticizing what they see as the mainstream press "romanticizing" or "sanitizing" both the murderer and the crime.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Ted Cruz Goes on CNN: Purpose & Reaction

• Cruz’s Motivation: Cruz explains why he chose to appear on CNN (03:54):
  • CNN was “pushing so much misinformation” after Kirk's killing, particularly "both sides-ism"—the idea that political violence comes equally from right and left.
  • Cruz wanted to "push back" and confront what he calls “propaganda and dishonesty.”
• Experience with Kaitlan Collins:
  • The interview was remote, with a delay, leading to interruptions and heated exchanges (07:44).
  • Cruz describes Collins as unrelenting in sticking to a political narrative and being “complicit in CNN’s propaganda.”

“She screamed at me. She interrupted me. She did not want the facts. She did not want to admit any of the reality. She had a political narrative and she was gonna stick with it.”
— Ted Cruz (03:54)

2. The CNN Interview: Detailed Breakdown

• Antifa, Transgender Activism, and Motive:

  • Cruz connects the assassination to left-wing activism, noting that shell casings bore "Antifa and transgender slogans" (12:09–14:25).
  • Argues that online evidence and text exchanges indicate clear motive.

• Media’s “Both Sides” Narrative:

  • Cruz frustrated by what he sees as MSM refusal to assign clear blame, painting violence as equal on all sides.

“By both sides are equally responsible. And that is a lie.”
— Ted Cruz (03:54)

“She claims we have no idea what motive. Who could know.”
— Ted Cruz paraphrasing CNN's position (09:29)

• Cruz Pushes Back Against Waiting for Law Enforcement’s Statement:
  • CNN (Collins) repeatedly insists law enforcement hasn’t revealed a definitive motive.
  • Cruz insists the motive is abundantly clear from evidence and confessions, calling CNN's attitude “idiocy.”

"Of course we know we don't have a motive yet. We know we don't have a motive yet. Really, that's CNN's position? He just happened to fire the gun in celebration? You can't tell the motive, Senator?"
— Ted Cruz (14:47)

• Partisan Celebration/Opposition to Political Violence:
  • Cruz argues left-leaning communities online celebrated Kirk's murder, while right-leaning ones hold prayer vigils.
  • Cites polling showing majority of Democrats blamed a Trump supporter for the murder, blaming misinformation.

"Leftists rioted all over this country... In contrast, when Charlie Kirk was killed... We held prayer vigils."
— Ted Cruz (21:48)

3. Cruz’s Viral Moment: Erasing the "F* Charlie Kirk" Graffiti**

• Cruz personally painted over anti-Kirk graffiti on a Houston highway (26:33).
• Seen as symbolic action and a way to “not let that kind of hate linger.”

“It pissed me off... I went down with some paint and a roller and I just covered it up and I erased it and then I put out the pictures.”
— Ted Cruz (26:33)

4. Release of Texts Between Murderer and Boyfriend: Evidence, Motive, and Media Reaction

• Details from Texts:
  • Cruz reads portions of the texts (33:22–37:42): The accused confesses to killing Kirk, discusses motives (“had enough of his hatred”), details covering up the weapon.
  • The texts reveal forethought, specific planning, and admission that the motive was ideological/personal.

“This defendant is the murderer. ... He is confessing to his boyfriend, I did it... his motive is clear.”
— Ted Cruz (37:06)

• Media’s Handling of the Texts:
  • Cruz and Ferguson criticize ABC News for romanticizing the texts and the murderer’s relationship, playing audio clips (38:48–44:15).
  • ABC described the texts as “very touching,” “intimate,” and “portraying a very human experience”—Cruz finds this “repulsive.”

“It was very touching in a way that I think many of us didn’t expect. A very intimate portrait into this relationship...”
— ABC News Reporter (39:03)

“Touching and loving. Oh, these text messages. I murdered this person for you, oh my love, oh my love... That is repulsive.”
— Ted Cruz (40:05)

• ABC News Doubles Down:
  • Ferguson plays a second ABC clip where the reporter again frames the messages as “so touching,” indicating the network “isn't backing down.”
  • Cruz: “I see depraved maniacs who just committed cold-blooded murder. ... There ain’t nothing touching about these two psychopaths reveling in their cold-blooded murder.” (44:18)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [03:54] Senator Ted Cruz:
  “I went on CNN with Kaitlan Collins… I wanted to go on and push back. … She screamed at me. She interrupted me. She did not want the facts. She had a political narrative and she was gonna stick with it.”

• [09:29] Ted Cruz on CNN's approach:
  “She claims we have no idea what motive. Who could know.”

• [14:47] Cruz on motive evidence:
  "Of course we know we don't have a motive yet. We know we don't have a motive yet. Really, that's CNN's position? He just happened to fire the gun in celebration? You can't tell the motive."

• [26:33] Cruz on graffiti:
  “It pissed me off... I went down with some paint and a roller and I just covered it up and I erased it and then I put out the pictures.”

• [33:22] On text message evidence:
  “I'm sorry to do this, but I'm going to read you these text messages because they're horrifying. But it, but it makes clear there is no doubt that this murderer is guilty… his motive is clear.” — Ted Cruz

• [39:03] ABC News reporter describing the texts:
  “It was very touching in a way that I think many of us didn’t expect. A very intimate portrait into this relationship…”

• [40:05] Cruz’s reaction:
  “Touching and loving. Oh, these text messages. I murdered this person for you, oh my love, oh my love... That is repulsive.”

• [44:18] Cruz on ABC’s double-down:
  “I see depraved maniacs who just committed cold-blooded murder. ... There ain’t nothing touching about these two psychopaths reveling in their cold-blooded murder. And for ABC to think it is that... really tells you how messed up ABC is.”

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 03:54 — Cruz explains why he went on CNN and what he hoped to accomplish
• 07:44 — Discussion of remote interview, technical delays, and Collins’ confrontational approach
• 09:29 — Cruz paraphrases CNN’s stance on “unknown” motives
• 12:09–14:25 — Cruz describes evidence tying shooting to Antifa/transgender activism
• 18:18–19:48 — Clash over whether political murder is more prevalent on left or right; debates role of party affiliation/motive
• 21:48 — Cruz claims left celebrates violence politically, right responds with prayer vigils
• 26:33 — Cruz’s account of removing anti-Kirk graffiti
• 33:22–37:42 — Reading and analysis of murderer's text messages to boyfriend
• 38:48–44:15 — Audio and critique: ABC News’ description of texts as “touching”, doubling down on that narrative

Summary Conclusion

Ted Cruz and Ben Ferguson spend this episode dissecting what they see as an egregious media failure to honestly confront the motives behind Charlie Kirk’s assassination. Cruz argues the motive is clear ("left-wing, anti-Kirk hatred") and criticizes major outlets—especially CNN and ABC—for muddying or romanticizing the crime in ways that, in his view, fuel public misinformation and minimize left-wing violence. Both hosts assert that this response is part of a broader trend where violence is sanitized when politically expedient, and they vow to continue directly challenging that perception with detailed evidence and public action.