Dems Refuse to Pay Federal Workers, Antisemitism on the Right, Standing up to the Muslim Brotherhood & Defending Christians in China

Summary

Verdict with Ted Cruz

Episode: Dems Refuse to Pay Federal Workers, Antisemitism on the Right, Standing up to the Muslim Brotherhood & Defending Christians in China

Date: October 24, 2025
Hosts: Senator Ted Cruz & Ben Ferguson

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Episode Overview

In this episode, Senator Ted Cruz and co-host Ben Ferguson dissect the ongoing federal government shutdown, address a troubling rise in antisemitism (including on the political right), scrutinize the controversial nomination of Amer Ghalib as ambassador to Kuwait, and highlight new bipartisan efforts to confront the persecution of Christians in Communist China. The hosts share inside perspectives on Senate debates, dig into the moral and strategic stakes of these issues, and call for principled action at home and abroad.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Government Shutdown: "The Schumer Shutdown"

[00:35–09:14]

Discussion:

• The government shutdown has stretched into its 24th day, with Democrats staunchly opposing Republican moves to pay essential federal employees.
• Senator Cruz details failed efforts to secure salaries for federal workers, noting only three Senate Democrats broke party lines to support worker pay.
• Cruz predicts upcoming further votes for military and TSA pay, expressing skepticism about Democratic support.
• Real consequences: air travel delays, danger to public safety, and harmful rhetoric from anonymous Democratic aides.
• Cruz criticizes that while federal workers go unpaid, members of Congress, by law, still receive salaries—prompting him to request withholding his own pay.

Notable Quotes:

• Cruz [00:51]:
  “Warnock, Ossoff and Fetterman were the three Democrats who voted to pay the federal workers…every other Democrat voted no. No paycheck for you.”
• Cruz [08:14]:
  “Virtually every Democrat in the House and Senate has said, nope, keep my paycheck going, I’m going to take away yours. But you know me, the Democrat politician. I need every penny of my salary.”

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2. Antisemitism on the Right: Serious Warnings

[09:14–16:54]

Discussion:

• Cruz recounts his keynote at Christians United for Israel, recapping the military and security alliance between the U.S. and Israel.
• He warns of a dangerous rise of antisemitism now surfacing in some right-wing circles, unprecedented in his lifetime.
• Younger conservatives, especially young Christians, are trending toward isolationism and skepticism of U.S.–Israel ties.
• Cruz pleads for church leaders and conservative influencers to actively confront antisemitism and support Israel as a matter of American national security.

Notable Quotes:

• Cruz (at CUFI speech) [10:07]:
  “Every lunatic terrorist in Hamas or Hezbollah or Iran that Israel took out made America safer. The United States of America should say to that little nation, thank you.”
• Cruz [11:52]:
  “In the last six months, I have seen antisemitism rising on the right in a way I have never seen it in my entire life.”
• Cruz [14:43]:
  “This poison of antisemitism on the right, it is spreading with young people. It is gaining traction. Part of it is philosophical. There’s an isolationism.”
• Cruz [15:58]:
  “If we do nothing, we’ll wake up in a few years and the Republican Party will be lost like the Democrat party has — that we’ll have two anti-Israel parties. And I, for one, I don’t intend to sit quietly and let that happen.”

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3. Ambassador to Kuwait Nominee: Scrutinizing Amer Ghalib

[19:09–29:24]

Discussion:

• The Trump administration nominated Amer Ghalib, ex-mayor of Hamtramck, MI, as ambassador to Kuwait, largely due to his political endorsement of Trump despite being a Democrat.
• Cruz notes Ghalib’s troubling record: praising the Muslim Brotherhood, denigrating Israel and the Abraham Accords, supporting BDS, calling Saddam Hussein a martyr, and liking antisemitic social media posts.
• In Senate Foreign Relations Committee questioning, Ghalib defends, explains, and walks back some positions, leading Cruz to publicly oppose the nomination.

Notable Quotes:

• Cruz [20:32]:
  “In August of 2020, you posted that the Muslim Brotherhood was an inspiration. Do you continue to believe the Muslim Brotherhood is an inspiration?”
• Ghalib [21:02]:
  “No, I’m not part of it. I don't believe in that…”
• Cruz [24:26]:
  “Would a statement like ‘all Jews are monkeys’ — would that qualify as antisemitism?”
• Cruz [27:55]:
  “I think we’ll see this nomination withdrawn. I think the White House will make the decision to withdraw this nomination. If they don’t, I will vote no…It’s not possible for him to do his job and faithfully represent President Trump.”

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4. Defending Christians in China: Bipartisan Action

[32:02–39:26]

Discussion:

• Addressing China’s intensifying crackdown on Christianity, Cruz laments the global silence prompted by economic interests.
• He details the history of Pastor Jin Mingri’s persecution and calls attention to bipartisan Senate efforts (with Senator Chris Coons) to formally rebuke China and call for the release of pastors and Christian prisoners.
• The conversation underscores the leverage of U.S. moral leadership and economic power, urging the President to press China directly on religious freedom in upcoming meetings.

Notable Quotes:

• Cruz [32:26]:
  “Communist China has a terrible record...and in particular, the persecution of Christians…recently they’ve been cracking down and it’s been getting worse.”
• Grace Jin (via Cruz) [34:10]:
  “His efforts demonstrate that the world is watching on as the Chinese government unjustly imprisons pastors and church leaders for the peaceful exercise of their faith.”
• Cruz [36:10]:
  “They [China] respond to pressure in two forms. Number one, to being publicly called, to having light shine on their oppression. And number two, they respond to economic leverage.”
• Cruz [37:51]:
  “President Trump has an opportunity…to call on President Xi to release these pastors…The United States has a responsibility to be a voice for religious liberty across the country, to defend Christians when they’re persecuted, to defend Jews when they’re persecuted, to defend people of faith all across the world.”

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Memorable Moments & Quotes with Timestamps

• Cruz on Democrats refusing federal worker pay:
  “No paycheck for you.” [00:51]
• Anonymous Democratic aide on shutdown:
  "The shutdown will continue, quote, until planes start falling from the sky." [07:00]
• Cruz on U.S.–Israel alliance:
  “The United States supports Israel because it is unequivocally in the national security interest of the United States.” [14:43]
• Cruz on the need for Christian leadership:
  "Very few pastors...are engaging in confronting these lies." [15:58]
• Ghalib defending himself on antisemitic social media activity:
  "Clicking on it doesn’t mean I endorse it…I pass a resolution to condemn anti Semitism in all forms or shape." [24:42]
• Cruz’s call for change on China:
  "I very much hope President Trump will do so in the coming week." [37:51]
• Cruz on American leadership:
  “Strong American leadership can stand up to tyrannies. The Soviet Union was terrified of Ronald Reagan…Communist China and our enemies across the globe are terrified of Donald Trump.” [39:51]

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Timestamps for Major Segments

• Shutdown Deep Dive: 00:35–09:14
• Antisemitism – A Conservative Problem Too: 09:14–16:54
• Ambassador to Kuwait Hearing & Controversy: 19:09–29:24
• Defending Christians in China – Bipartisan Push: 32:02–39:26

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Episode Tone & Language

• Direct, urgent, and sometimes indignant; speakers employ vivid language and examples, aiming to rally listeners to the defense of American, Jewish, and Christian interests at home and abroad.
• Cruz’s speech at CUFI and sharp Senate questioning are especially impassioned, blending policy analysis with moral appeal.
• Ferguson amplifies points for clarity and underscores their personal and political implications.

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Summary

This episode of Verdict with Ted Cruz delivers a fast-paced, pointed analysis of several intersecting crises: the government shutdown and unpaid federal workers; a surge of antisemitism within elements of the political right; a divisive ambassadorship nomination tainted by ties to anti-Israel and antisemitic rhetoric; and a renewed bipartisan stand against China’s repression of Christians. At every stage, the hosts challenge listeners—and conservative leaders—to speak up, act, and defend America’s core values in a turbulent world.

Transcript

[A]

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[B]

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[A]

Welcome. It is Verdict with Senator Ted Cruz, Ben Ferguson with you and many of you listening on the radio around the country. It's so nice to have you with us, Senator. We've got a lot to talk about, including we're still in a dead gum government shutdown and Democrats seem to be hell bent on digging in hurting Americans.

[B]

Well, the Schumer shutdown continues. As of Friday, it was day 24 of the Schumer shutdown. The government remains shut down. Federal employees are not getting paid. We had a vote on the Senate floor on Thursday on Ron Johnson's legislation, very simple legislation to pay government workers who have to work to have them actually pay their salaries. In other words, essential workers, workers who are ordered to come into work should get their salaries. It's a very simple common sense proposition. The Democrats voted no. The vote was 54 to 45. So Warnock, Ossoff and Fetterman were the three Democrats who voted to pay the federal workers that are being forced to work and are not getting their paychecks. And every other Democrat voted no. No paycheck for you. So we continue going through the weekend. Next week, next week the Senate is going to take up a series of votes to try to reopen the government again. We're going to break that down. What to expect in this next week and when and how this shutdown is going to end. We're also going to talk to you about the need to fight anti Semitism on the right. Anti Semitism is rising on the right and we need to stand up and combat it. We're going to break that down for you. We're going to talk about an individual who's been nominated to be ambassador to Kuwait, who unfortunately has an extreme record, a record of praising the Muslim Brotherhood, of opposing President Trump's foreign policy objectives and principles. And I called for his nomination to be rejected. We're going to tell you all about that. And finally, we're going to talk about the need to stand up against the persecution of Christians in China. Communist China is imprisoning pastors and Christians. I'm leading a bipartisan effort in the Senate to call out China to stop persecuting Christians. All of that on today's pod.

[A]

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[B]

Well, they are. You have Democrats going on TV bragging that the shutdown gives them leverage, although it's not clear what they want lever for other than their demand that illegal aliens get free taxpayer funded health care. And that demand is going nowhere and is wildly unpopular with the American people. This shutdown is really just about politics, though. It's about the fact that Chuck Schumer in March, when the Democrats worked with Republicans to keep the government open, his left wing base got furious and he almost lost his job. They almost fired him. And so this is his saying screw you to President Trump. This is Chuck Schumer and the Democrats trying to prove to their radical base, to everyone who was marching in those no Kings rallies, that they hate Donald Trump as much as the radicals do. And sadly, that means the government stays shut and there are a lot of real consequences. As I said on Thursday, the Democrats almost straight party line voted not to pay the federal workers who are forced to go in and work. And by the way, the association of Federal Workers, both active and retired, supported this, this provision. Democrats are normally always, you know, always eager to, to, to, to be supporting federal workers. Well, they just voted. None of them get paid. Next week, next week we're going to vote on, on legislation from Dan Sullivan that I'm a co sponsor of that will pay our troops, pay our soldiers and sailors and airmen and Marines and pay our Coast Guardsmen. And, and my suspicion is the Democrats are going to vote no that they don't want to pay our active duty military. Now, right now, the military, Trump has reallocated funds from another portion of the budget. But this is going to be a straight up vote. Do you want to pay the military or not? My suspicion is that, that, that the Democrat Party is radical enough, they'll vote no. We're also going to vote next week on, on legislation I filed to pay those concerned with air travel. So right now, Ben, there are roughly 50,000 TSA workers who are going into work and they're not getting paid. They don't get a paycheck. There are roughly 14,000 air traffic controllers who are going into work and they're not getting paid. They don't get a paycheck. Now, the result of that, we're seeing more and more flight delays. We're seeing more and more cancellations. Just a couple of days ago, Houston's Hobby Airport had a ground stop. They had a ground stop. Why? Because of a shortage of air traffic controllers. And this problem will only get worse, I'll tell you. A senior Democrat aide told Politico that the shutdown will continue, quote, until planes start falling from the sky. Wow, that's not remotely funny. It is reckless, it is dangerous, and it is imposing real costs on the American people. And so next, is there any accountability.

[A]

For that individual so far that we know of?

[B]

It was an anonymous quote, so I suspect we'll never know who said that, but amazing. The bottom line is, and by the way, if this shutdown continues through Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving is the busiest travel time of the year. And if the Democrats had been forcing air traffic controllers to work for a month with no pay, you can predict real shortages and delays and cancellations that will impact Americans across this country. Now, I'll tell you something that'll make you mad, Ben. You know who is being paid?

[A]

Who's that?

[B]

Democrat politicians.

[A]

Oh, yeah, because they didn't do what you did, by the way. And other conservatives were like, don't pay me. During the shutdown. We don't need to get paid.

[B]

So under The Constitution, the 28th amendment to the Constitution provides that members of Congress cannot have their salary altered during their term in office. And so that means constitutionally, even when the government shut down, members of Congress keep their paychecks coming. Now, as you just noted, you don't have to do that. And when this shutdown started, I sent a letter to the Secretary of the Senate and I said, please hold my paycheck. Do not pay me. I do not want to accept a penny of salary unless and until the government opens up. Unless and until our soldiers and sailors and airmen and Marines are being paid. Unless and until our air traffic controllers are being paid and all the federal workers, our border patrol agents are being paid, our FBI agents are being paid, virtually every Democrat in the House and Senate has said, nope, keep my paycheck going, I'm going to take away yours. But, but you know me, the Democrat politician. I need every penny of my salary.

[A]

Senator, let's talk about another big issue, and that is the rise of anti Semitism. But it's not just on the left. We are witnessing it happen within the conservative movement as well. And that is very concerning to me and you as well.

[B]

It is deeply concerning. So last weekend, last Sunday night, I was the keynote speaker at Christians United for Israel at their annual night to honor Israel. And I was in San Antonio at Cornerstone Church with Pastor John Hagee. And I talked about. I talked about, number one, the grief and tragedy of October 7th. Number two, the incredible military victory that Israel won and that President Trump won against Iran. But then I also talked about the danger of rising anti Semitism. One of the points I made is that we support Israel because it is in America's national security interest to do so. Here, give a listen here.

[C]

The United states provides roughly $3 billion in military assistance to Israel. The benefit we get from that, the Mossad, the intelligence resources, you look at Iran, where they knew, where every Anti aircraft weapon. Was every military leader, every IRGC leader that benefit if America tried to replicate that intelligence network, it would cost us tens of billions of dollars. And I will tell you, every lunatic terrorist in Hamas or Hezbollah or Iran that Israel took out made America safer. And the United States of America should say to that little nation, thank you. Thank you. Than that's why, as a matter of public policy, we should support Israel.

[A]

Senator, you're absolutely right there. It is a bargain for what we get in response to, to what Israel and their intelligence community does for us, to keep us safe and others around the world.

[B]

Well, when the terrorists chant Death to Israel and death to America, they mean it. When the Ayatollah refers to Israel as the little Satan and America is the great Satan, he means it. And when Israel is taking out those terrorists, Israel is saving American lives. But I also took the opportunity of this keynote speech to directly address a threat that I think a danger that is deeply concerning and that is the rise of antisemitism on the right here. Give a listen.

[C]

But there is a danger that is very real and we've talked about antisemitism. Listen, about a decade ago, anti Semitism.

[B]

Began rising on the left and the Democratic Party did nothing. And in the decade that followed, it has consumed the Democrat Party.

[C]

I do not believe this is exaggeration to say there is a real and meaningful pro Hamas contingent of the Democrat Party in Washington. And the remainder of the Democrats are terrified of the pro Hamas contingent. We know that.

[B]

But the danger that I want to highlight to you tonight is not anti Semitism on the left, it is anti Semitism on the right.

[C]

And I'm here to tell you in the last six months, I have seen anti Semitism rising on the right in a way I have never seen it in my entire life. Listen, CUFI is extraordinary. The work that CUFI does is desperately, desperately needed. But I'm here to tell you the church is asleep right now. If I pick up my phone and send out a tweet, if I say good morning, within minutes I will have hundreds of blatantly anti Semitic responses. When Prime Minister Netanyahu was here a few months ago, I sat down with him for a couple of hours. I raised this issue with him. And his first reaction was he said, well, that's Qatar, that's Iran. They're paying for it. It's Astroturf. And I said, Mr. Prime Minister, yes, but no. Yes. Qatar and Iran are clearly paying for it, and there are bots and they are putting real money behind It, But I am telling you, this is real. You, it is organic. These are real human beings and it is spreading. In the last year we had three prominent voices on the right publicly muse, gosh, maybe Hitler wasn't that bad a guy after all. Yes, he was. He was the embodiment of evil. And I asked Prime Minister Netanyahu, I said, imagine how different American political history would have been if Rush Limbaugh had been an anti Semite instead of a Philo Semite. We would have a fundamentally different country if Rush Limbaugh had spent years spreading poison. I want to tell especially folks that.

[B]

Are no longer teenagers or in your.

[C]

20S, this poison of anti Semitism on the right, it is spreading with young people. It is gaining traction. Part of it is philosophical. There's an isolationism. So they will argue, what business do we have supporting Israel? Why should America support Israel? It's their problem. Let them deal with it. And let me give you an answer as someone elected to represent 31 million Texans and fight every day for your jobs, your freedom and your safety and security. The United States supports Israel not because we are helping out a down on his luck neighbor. We're not engaged in a charity act. The United States supports Israel because it is unequivocally in the national security interest of the United States to support Israel.

[A]

I couldn't agree with you more there, Senator, by the way. And I think most people listening right now, it's true, you've got to remind younger people why it is important to stand with Israel because of so much anti Semitism we're witnessing now even on the right.

[B]

Well, and that's where it's spreading and that's where it's dangerous. And I don't want us to make the mistake that the left made a decade ago of sitting there silently. And I'll tell you in particular, my call was to church leaders, wake up. You know, you look at the polling, at the number of young Christians who are turning away from Israel and it is really sad that they're being misled, but they're being misled. And there are very few pastors who are standing up and speaking the truth, speaking, teaching biblical truth. There are very few who are engaging in confronting these lies. And I think if we do, nothing will wake up in a few years and the Republican Party will be lost like the Democrat party has lost that we'll have two anti Israel parties. And I for one, I don't intend to sit quietly and let that happen. We're going to speak the truth. We're going to speak the truth on this podcast and I'm going to speak the truth in every forum I can.

[A]

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[B]

Well, sure. The Trump administration has named as the ambassador to Kuwait an individual named Amer Ghalib, who was the mayor of Hamtrak, Michigan. Amir Ghalib is a Democrat, a Democrat mayor. And in 2024, he endorsed President Trump in the election campaign and that resulted in his being nominated to be ambassador to Kuwait. The problem, however, is that Mr. Ghalib's record is really extreme and it is very far out of touch with President Trump's record, with his positions, with his beliefs and with the positions of the United States. And so we had a hearing this week in front of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee where I questioned Mr. Ghalib on his record. One of the things in his record, he's publicly praised the Muslim Brotherhood. He said he finds the Muslim Brotherhood to be an inspiration. Now, I believe the Muslim Brotherhood is a terrorist organization. I filed legislation to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization, and I think the Trump administration is likely to do so. And so Mr. Ghalib's record is squarely out of step with President Trump's views here. Give a listen to my questioning Mr. Ghalib on the Muslim Brotherhood. In August of 2020, you posted that the Muslim Brotherhood was an inspiration. Do you continue to believe the Muslim Brotherhood is an inspiration?

[D]

Thank you, Senator. I think a lot of my posts were written in Arabic and mistranslated. I believe that, you know, there is. It's an ideology. It's not just a group of people. I disagree with a lot of things that they do. Some of them are extremists. Some of them are part of some governments in the Middle East. So I trust our government to do the research.

[B]

And okay, again, my question was simple and straightforward. Do you continue to believe the Muslim Brotherhood is an inspiration?

[D]

No, I'm not part of it. I don't believe in that. But if anybody.

[B]

You did post it in 2020. Let me ask you, how would you be able to serve as an ambassador if President Trump designates the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization? I have legislation to do that. I believe it is likely the Trump administration will designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization. Hamas is the Muslim Brotherhood in Palestine.

[D]

I would trust the president, and if it's designated, I will be committed to implement President Trump's policies. I'm not, you know, I trust the president's policy, and if confirmed, I will be implementing the policies of the administration. I mean, I wouldn't go against the president and his policies.

[B]

Mr. Ghalib, I will say from your long standing public positions, it appears you have a deep felt and passionate view about the Middle East. But it is a view that is in direct conflict with the policy positions of President Trump and this administration.

[A]

I mean, you listened to his background as you just described it. How did this get to the point where we're actually having a confirmation hearing for him?

[B]

I don't know. I think this was largely a political decision. He was a Democrat mayor in Michigan who endorsed President Trump. And it's not unusual that something like an ambassadorship rewards someone who did something politically beneficial and helped President Trump win the state of Michigan. But I don't know that the team did a particularly deep dive into his record as the mayor of Hamtrak. That city passed a resolution calling for bds, calling to boycott, divest, and sanction Israel. It's the first city in America to pass a BDS resolution that is directly contrary to President Trump's policy. It's directly contrary to US foreign policy. Not only that, but Mr. Ghalib described Saddam Hussein as a martyr. And at the same time, he also liked a Facebook comment that said, all Jews are monkeys. Now, that is obviously anti Semitic, and he tried to run away from it. But here, listen. I questioned him on this record and how out of step it is with President Trump. Give a listen, do not understand is how you could possibly serve as a United States ambassador for President Trump in the Middle east when you have passionate views, including having been a vocal opponent of the Abraham Accords, the singular and most consequential accomplishment President Trump has negotiated, and your longstanding views are to publicly oppose the Abraham Accord.

[D]

Thank you, Senator. Let me be clear. I support the Abraham Accord, and I think there's a golden opportunity to get everybody involved in that. And let me be clear. In February of 2022, as the mayor, the first thing I did is to pass a resolution to condemn anti Semitism. It's documented. That's what I perform in my official capacity. The other thing is people are making assumptions based on, you know, trying to judge my intention.

[B]

But I'm curious, would a statement like all Jews are monkeys, would that qualify as anti Semitism?

[D]

Well, that's. Somebody wrote who's mentally challenged.

[B]

My question is, does the statement all Jews are monkeys, does that qualify as antisemitism?

[D]

I don't agree with it.

[B]

Senator, you're not answering my question.

[D]

It's definitely antisemitism, but clicking on it doesn't mean I endorse it.

[B]

It's. Well, actually, like means exactly that. When you like something, it means you like.

[D]

No, Senator, every post since 2010, every comment, because I used to have, like, 10, 20 comments. I used to acknowledge it, to read it, but sometimes I would respond under it to oppose it. And there was a response here that wasn't translated by the media that says, you cannot say this in your country. It wasn't translated. And I was. When I met with.

[B]

Senator, that's not disagreeing with the statement that all Jews are monkeys.

[D]

But let me be clear now. I disagree with that. And I.

[B]

But you didn't at the time, you.

[D]

Are making assumptions, sir.

[B]

I'm asking, I'm not making an assumption.

[D]

That's what I did disagree at the time and I still disagree.

[B]

Did you disagree publicly? Did you say a word of disagreement or was your only public statement a like, which is the universal method of saying you like something and agree with it?

[D]

Everybody who asked me, I told them it doesn't mean I endorse it, it's just acknowledging reading it. But I am opposing that and I make it clear now. I pass a resolution to condemn anti Semitism in all forms or shape.

[B]

So you mentioned earlier that the posts were in Arabic and they haven't been translated. Right. I have in my hands right now one of those Arabic posts on August 13, 2020, and I have the English translation, among other things, you talk about. You talk about individuals who died in Egyptian prisons and you said, quote, they die to be etched on the pages of history, stained in positions that inspire generations and make millions of Brotherhood fans exposed to a global demonic campaign and unprecedented demonic media infliction. I have only seen such situations in the martyr Saddam Hussein and his companions. May God have mercy on them.

[D]

Thank you, Senator, for that question. I was talking about standing firm for the cause of a person. Doesn't mean I agree with him. I am a strong advocate of democracy in the Middle East. Yes, I was against the military coup and I believe in democracy. That's the best value that we have and we want everybody to enjoy that value in the Middle East. So I was advocating for democracy in the Middle East. Doesn't mean that I support certain group, but I support democracy.

[B]

Well, as I said, I think your longstanding views are directly contrary to the views and positions of President Trump and to the position of the United States. I for one, am not going to be able to support your confirmation. And I want to enter into the record this post in both the Arabic and English translation. I ask that it be entered into the record. It will be entered into the record without objection. And look, I think the facts here are quite clear and your long standing position is directly contrary to that of the president.

[A]

So where do we go from here? I mean, this seems to be pretty damning. Are any of your colleagues rallying behind this? And what was the reaction in the room and also afterwards?

[B]

So I don't know what the result will be. I think we'll see this nomination withdrawn. I think the White House will make the decision to withdraw this nomination. If they don't, I will vote no. I'll vote no in committee and I'LL vote no on the floor. And I don't think this individual will be confirmed. Let's take one component where, where this fellow refers to Saddam Hussein as a martyr. Now, mind you, he's being nominated to be the ambassador to Kuwait. Kuwait is the country that Saddam Hussein invaded that started the first Iraq war, that George Herbert Walker Bush went in to liberate Kuwait. So the American ambassador to Kuwait is someone who describes Saddam Hussein, who was toppled by America, as a martyr. It's not possible for him to do his job and faithfully represent President Trump. And by the way, as I said, he vocally opposed the Abraham Accords. President Trump negotiated the Abraham Accords, bringing Arabs and Israelis together. And this individual, I think he believes every word he's saying. He spent his entire life passionately advocating, praising the Muslim Brotherhood, praising Saddam Hussein. Those are not the views or position of President Trump or the United States of America. And that's why I believe that this individual is not going to be a U.S. ambassador to Kuwait.

[A]

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[B]

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[A]

Senator, it's time for us to talk about China. And a lot of people are talking about the economic issues with China, sanctions and tariffs. The subject we're about to talk about is one I hope people share everywhere on social media. This is why we do this show and it's so important. And this is what's happening in China cracking down on Christianity right now and is not being talked about enough.

[B]

Well, Communist China has a terrible record when it comes to religious liberty and religious persecution and in particular, the persecution of Christians. And China has for decades persecuted Christians in China. But recently they've been cracking down and it's been getting worse. So here's how I put it to FOX News this week, the Chinese Communist Party is conducting yet another sweeping crackdown on Christians and they're again targeting Pastor Jin and the Zion Church. The CCP fears anything it cannot directly control, perhaps most of all, faith. The United States has powerful tools to provide protection and relief to people facing persecution and violence. And we should use those tools unless and until China releases the members of the Zion Church. And what has happened is China arrested several Christian leaders, including the pastor of one of the country's biggest underground evangelical church churches. And that's Pastor Jen Mingri, whose children are US Citizens. Grace Gin, who is Mingri's daughter, was very kind but went out of her way to thank me for fighting to release her father from prison. And here's what Grace Jen said. She said his efforts demonstrate that the world is watching on as the Chinese government unjustly imprisons pastors and church leaders for the peaceful exercise of their faith. Thank you to the leaders here and abroad for all the support and solidarity.

[A]

And Senator, this is the. I think the part that's so frustrating for me and so many listening is this has been happening for so long, and because so many countries do business with China, they have deliberately looked the other way because they're basically saying, hey, we'd rather just get along and do trade and get cheap Chinese goods that actually hold them account for what they're doing to Christians.

[B]

Well, that's happening far too often. And we've discussed before on this podcast, the persecution, the mass murder of Christians in Nigeria. Nigeria, the most Christians are murdered for their faith of any country on Earth. And I've been leading the effort to hold Nigeria to account. Well, in China, likewise, for my entire time in the Senate, I've been vocal speaking out for Christians being persecuted in China. And this crackdown, actually, next week, President Trump is going to Asia and is going to meet with President Xi of China. And so just this past week, I introduced a bipartisan resolution condemning China's persecution of Christians in particular. And Pastor Jen and I was joined by Chris Coons. Chris is a Democrat, and Chris is someone who cares deeply about religious liberty. And so we joined together with a bipartisan resolution calling on China to release Pastor Jin, to stop targeting the Zion Church, to release the pastors and the Christians who've been imprisoned, and to cease engaging in persecution of religious liberty writ broadly and of Christians in particular.

[A]

It really is one of those that is frustrating. And now this comes back to the issue of leverage. Is this going to be enough leverage to possibly see a change here? Because one thing that we've learned is China only responds when their pocketbook gets hurt. And if they don't think we have the political will to stand up for Christians, then they're gonna continue to persecute them no matter what. That's just their M.O.

[B]

They are. But they respond to pressure. They respond to pressure in two forms. Number one, to being publicly called, to having light shine on their oppression. And number two, they respond to economic leverage. And President Trump is very effective at employing economic leverage. I think we should do both. Our bipartisan resolution is aimed at, quote, expressing condemnation of the Chinese Communist Party's persecution of Christians and reaffirming the United States global commitment to promote religious freedom and tolerance. And it also includes a demand that Chinese Communist Party respect the human right to freedom of religion and end all forms of violence and discrimination against religious minorities. And the resolution notes the CCP's actions mark the largest coordinated nationwide crackdown against a Christian urban house church in more than 40 years. It also notes that the US Commission on International Religious Freedom designated China as a country of, quote, particular concern for religious freedom every single year since 1998. And Pastor Jin of the Zion Church was detained by Chinese authorities. And indeed, that came as nearly 30 Zion Church pastors and workers were likewise detained or went missing across Beijing, Shenzhen, Shanghai, Chengdo, Beihai, Jingxing, and Huangdo. And I apologize for my Chinese pronunciation.

[A]

We'll forgive you.

[B]

But here's what Grace Jen said about this, and she's Pastor Jen's daughter. One after another, they were also taken, detained like they were saying that they were people outside the doors. Then, one at a time, they were taken into custody. This is wrong. And President Trump has an opportunity when he is in Asia, when he is with President Xi, to call on President Xi to release these pastors, release Pastor Jin, release the Christians who are being persecuted, and stop persecuting people of faith. And I think the United States has a responsibility to be a voice for religious liberty across the country, to defend Christians when they're persecuted, to defend Jews when they're persecuted, to defend people of faith all across the world. You know, you look at radical Islamic terrorists, many of them target and persecute other Muslims who are not violent. And I think religious persecution is wrong, regardless of who the victims are. And we should be a voice for religious liberty. Now, that doesn't mean that America should go and invade China to try to break the pastor out of jail. But there are lots of tools that the president can use, including the bully pulpit of the presidency, including shining a light and including also economic leverage to try to stop this persecution. And I very much hope President Trump will do so in the coming week.

[A]

Yeah, you and I both hope that. Final question on this, as you watch, President Trump put pressure not just on China, but other countries. It does seem to be that his foreign policy now is if there is a wrong that needs to be discussed, it's going to be on the table, front and center. That is pretty different from what we've seen in past administrations, where they're like, well, maybe it's not the time to bring that up. Right now. He seems to be wanting to bring it all up.

[B]

You're absolutely right. And strong American leadership can stand up to tyrannies. The Soviet Union was terrified of Ronald Reagan. That's how we won the Cold War without firing a shot. And Communist China and our enemies across the globe are terrified of Donald Trump. And that's why we're seeing such major national security improvements right now.

[A]

It's incredible. Don't forget, we do this show three days a week as a podcast. So download Verdict with Ted Cruz wherever you get your podcast so you don't miss an episode, please share the show with your family and friends so that these important stories that we're talking about here, this is a great example with China, are heard by the masses and the center. And I will see you back here on this radio station next weekend and all week long on our podcast as well. This is an I Heart podcast.