Verdict with Ted Cruz
Episode: "Comrade Mamdani & Gavin Newsom – Commie, Jihadist & the Dem Party Embracing the Nutty Extreme"
Date: October 27, 2025
Hosts: Senator Ted Cruz and Ben Ferguson
Episode Overview
In this episode, Senator Ted Cruz and Ben Ferguson deliver an impassioned critique of what they see as the Democratic Party's overt embrace of far-left extremism, focusing particularly on the political rise of Zohran Mamdani ("Comrade Mamdani") and the symbolic implications of Democratic leadership in major cities. The discussion spans from accusations of Marxism, socialism, and "jihadism" within Democratic ranks to cultural and generational changes among voters, the consequences for America's major cities, and reflections on national political sanity.
Major Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Rise of "Comrade Mamdani": Symbol of the Democratic Party’s Leftward Shift
- Main Point: Cruz and Ferguson argue that Zohran Mamdani, projected as a potential future mayor of NYC, embodies the Democratic Party's explicit turn towards "communism" and "jihadism."
- Cruz: "The Democrat Party is now explicitly, openly, unapologetically communist and unapologetically jihadist. This guy is so extreme. And yet the Democrats in New York don't seem to care." [00:57]
- Mnemonic Joke: Cruz humorously struggles to pronounce Mamdani’s name, creating a mnemonic and quipping it only makes sense with "comrade" in front. [05:48–06:35]
- Cruz: "But the only way to say Mamdani is if you proceed it with comrade. Because when I'm addressing Communists, I call them Comrades, because that is who he is." [06:19]
2. Family Background and Accusations of Anti-American Sentiment
- Key Clip: The hosts play a clip of Mamdani’s father comparing U.S. history and policies to the inspiration for Nazi genocides (reservations for Native Americans as a model for Hitler). [07:24–08:32]
- Mamdani’s father: "America is the genesis of what we call settler colonialism...The US put Indians in reservations. The US invented the model."
- Ferguson (reaction): "I mean, that's where he gets his teachings from. That's pretty clear." [08:32]
- Cruz’s Accusation: Asks rhetorically if Mamdani’s family truly loves America and if there's any evidence Mamdani differs from his father. [08:38–09:09]
3. September 11th and Reaction to Tragedy
- Key Quote: The hosts play Mamdani’s own words focusing on anti-Muslim sentiment after 9/11 instead of condemning the attacks.
- Mamdani's clip: "I want to speak to the memory of my aunt who stopped taking the subway after September 11th because she did not feel safe in her hijab." [10:45]
- Cruz’s Commentary: "He didn't say, I mourn for the people at the top of that tower...He’s like, the horror is the next day my aunt couldn't wear her hijab." [10:59]
- Discussion: Cruz claims Mamdani centers victimhood rather than shared American grief, and expresses confusion at Jewish New Yorkers supporting him, likening it to "sheep voting to elect the butcher." [12:44–13:31]
4. Voting Dynamics and Demographic Shifts in NYC
- Ferguson’s Theory: Asserts "sane" voters left New York due to COVID lockdowns, leaving a more radical electorate. [15:56]
- Ferguson: "They feel like they lost so many sane voters because of the COVID lockdown...The sane voters just left the crazy state under, you know, tyrants like Cuomo." [16:17]
- Cruz’s Counterpoint: Refuses to concede Mamdani will definitely win, but decries normalization of "communist" policies and alliances with radical elements. [17:01]
5. Democratic Socialists, Alleged Ties to Extremism, and Release of Terrorists
- Cruz Presents: Cruz references Mamdani’s meeting with Imam Siraj Wahhaj (linked to the 1993 World Trade Center bombing and calls for "gun-free jihad").
- DSA Statement: Democratic Socialists of America call for release of Elias Rodriguez, described as a leftist who murdered two Jews in DC, which Cruz frames as the DSA openly supporting terrorism. [19:48–21:59]
- Cruz: “Comrade Mandami's political party is telling the world that a terrorist who murders in cold blood two Jews because they're Jews should not be charged...That is the party of Comrade Mondami.” [21:01]
6. Collapse of Traditional Democratic Moderation
- Bill Maher Segment (35:18): Bill Maher (audio clip) warns Democrats nationally that embracing far-left candidates like Mamdani threatens to define the party's identity.
- Maher: “I think the whole Democratic Party in the country is on the ballot, and the whole country will be looking at this race to see which way are the Democrats going to go.” [35:18]
- Cruz’s reaction: “Bill Maher every day makes more and more sense because his party has gone so batcrap crazy...” [36:53]
7. Gavin Newsom: Another "Good-Looking Tyrant"
- Comparison: Cruz likens Mamdani to Gavin Newsom, accusing both of peddling Marxist policies with a smile, and jokes about Newsom’s privileged upbringing vs. his populist narrative.
- Cruz: "Gavin Newsom is running a different scam than Mandani is, but it's the same scam. It is marketing Marxism, socialism, confiscatory government power..." [31:46]
- Cruz, humorously: "...it really feels better if you’re a dissident being lined up for the firing squad, if you know that the communists ordering your death are smiling." [32:31]
8. Youth, College Radicalization, and a Grim Urban Future
- Diagnosis: Cruz blames young voters radicalized by "Marxist professors" for fueling the leftward drift, claiming their angst is redirected into anti-rich and anti-establishment politics.
- Cruz: "It's a bunch of 20 somethings who have never known anything except college life and they've been suckled on the lies of their Marxist professors..." [26:49]
- Ferguson: “It’s Occupy Wall Street 2.0 or 3.0, whatever version you want to describe this as. And I think that’s the part that scares me the most, is that you can now lose another great American city...” [27:36]
9. Predicted Consequences: Exodus and Political Realignment
- Cruz’s "Awards": Cruz predicts a Mamdani victory will make Mamdani “Conservative Party Man of the Year” and “Texas Realtor of the Year” due to anticipated out-migration. [28:42–30:22]
- Cruz: "He is going to rent more U Hauls than the very Best Willy Loman salesman that has ever been in U haul of people moving from New York and coming to Texas and coming to Florida." [30:22]
10. Absence of Democratic Pushback
- Accusation: Cruz and Ferguson lament no mainstream Democrats are calling out their party’s extremes, aside from Bill Maher.
- Cruz: “Elected Democrats are terrified. But again, listen, we endeavor on this podcast to try to be real... So maybe you might say, all right, Cruz, Ferguson, they're not the most impartial, unbiased observers...If you're not inclined to listen to us, perhaps you would be inclined to listen to Bill Maher.” [34:00]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Mamdani as a symbol:
Ben Ferguson – "He is the face of the Democratic Party. I actually think this is a gift that's going to give to conservatives and Republican candidates." [04:49] -
On Jewish voters in NYC:
Ted Cruz – "It's like if you go to a farm and go to the lambs and the sheep and say, hey, we would like to have an election to select the butcher." [13:25] -
On the COVID exodus of voters:
Ferguson – "They all went to Florida, they all moved out. The sane voters just left the crazy state under, you know, tyrants like Cuomo..." [16:17] -
On Democrat Socialists and terrorism:
Cruz – “Free Elias Rodriguez and all political prisoners...They're not saying, let him serve a month in jail... They're saying let him go today with no consequences whatsoever for the cold blooded murder of two innocent people.” [21:14] -
On the generational source of radicalism:
Cruz – "It's a bunch of 20 somethings who have never known anything except college life and they've been suckled on the lies of their Marxist professors..." [26:49] -
On the fate of New York:
Cruz – "People are going to die if and when Comrade Mondami is elected. That is going to be the consequence." [28:42] -
On Newsom’s background vs. his image:
Cruz – "He started a winery with the Getty millions. Billions actually, but millions from them. Started a winery at age 25. Now, Benjamin, let me ask you, did you start a winery at age 25?" [31:24] -
Bill Maher’s warning:
Bill Maher (clip) – "This is not just New York that's on the ballot. I think the whole Democratic Party in the country is on the ballot, and the whole country will be looking at this race to see which way are the Democrats going to go." [35:18] -
On historical Democratic moderation:
Cruz – "If you took a candidate with the identical policy views of Bill Clinton and ran him today, they would tar and feather him and drive him out of the Democrat Party." [38:16]
Key Timestamps
- 00:57 — Initial framing: “The Democrat Party is now explicitly, openly, unapologetically communist and unapologetically jihadist.” (Cruz)
- 07:24–08:32 — Mamdani’s father: US and Nazi analogies; historical grievances.
- 10:45 — Mamdani’s statement on 9/11 aftermath.
- 17:01 — Cruz’s breakdown of Mamdani’s associations and the DSA’s statement supporting terrorist release.
- 28:42 — Cruz: “People are going to die if and when Comrade Mondami is elected...”
- 30:22 — Predictions: “Texas Realtor of the Year.”
- 31:46 — Likeness drawn between Mamdani and Gavin Newsom.
- 35:18 — Bill Maher’s warning to Democrats (audio clip).
- 38:16 — Discussion of Bill Clinton’s “unelectability” in today’s Democratic Party.
Tone & Style
The episode is marked by sarcasm, dark political humor, and a sense of urgency. Cruz and Ferguson employ mnemonic jokes, hyperbolic comparisons, and dramatic warnings to engage listeners, interspersing the discussion with pop-culture references, quips about age, and pointed historical allusions.
Summary Takeaways
- Cruz and Ferguson see Zohran Mamdani as emblematic of the Democratic Party’s “radicalization,” expressing alarm at his ideology, his family’s views, and what they see as his lack of mainstream American values.
- The hosts lament the exodus of centrist voters from New York and the rise of “radicalized” youth voters.
- Cruz frames Mamdani and figures like Gavin Newsom as stylish frontmen for dangerous leftist policies, supported (or at least unopposed) by the Democratic establishment.
- Bill Maher’s commentary is used to underscore that even ideological liberals are alarmed at the direction of their party.
- The episode is a call to arms for conservatives, simultaneously warning of dire consequences and predicting a backlash that could energize conservative politics, while expressing regret for the decline of once-great American cities.