Verdict with Ted Cruz – Episode Summary
Episode Title: Dunking on Newsom, Forbidden Words for Democrats & SCOTUS Victory for Trump Cancelling $783M in DEI Grants
Air Date: August 25, 2025
Hosts: Senator Ted Cruz & Ben Ferguson
Overview
In this episode, Senator Ted Cruz and co-host Ben Ferguson tackle three headline political battles:
- Gavin Newsom’s blame game on electricity prices and Cruz’s viral response
- The Democratic “forbidden words” memo cautioning party members against out-of-touch rhetoric
- A significant Supreme Court decision allowing the Trump administration to cancel $783 million in DEI-related NIH grants
Through a mix of pointed humor and policy analysis, the hosts break down liberal messaging strategies and highlight what they see as victories for conservatives in the ongoing cultural and legislative wars.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Gavin Newsom’s Tweet and Electricity Prices
[03:15]–[12:24]
- Newsom Blames Trump: Gavin Newsom tweeted that electricity prices are up 10% since January, sarcastically crediting Donald Trump. Cruz argues this is a distraction from California’s own high costs due to state policies.
- Cruz’s AI Response: Cruz responded using AI (Grok) to list states and cities with the highest electricity rates: Hawaii, California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island—all Democrat-led states with strong renewable mandates.
- Quote: “I didn’t even bother to argue with Gavin. I just simply pointed to facts.” – Sen. Ted Cruz [10:40]
- Why Are Prices Higher?:
- Blue states have higher taxes and strict renewable mandates, driving up costs.
- Environmental regulations, lawsuits, and infrastructure hurdles further add to consumer prices.
- Texas, by contrast, leads the nation in wind and solar but does not rely on mandates.
- Example: New England imports energy from Russia due to pipeline bans in New York, which Cruz calls less environmentally friendly and geopolitically irresponsible.
- Media Bias in Fact-Checking:
- Ben Ferguson notes the lack of fact checks on Newsom’s claim.
- Cruz recounts PolitiFact rating his statement about “Death to America Day” as false, despite factual evidence, illustrating perceived fact-checker bias.
- Quote: “When the Ayatollah chants death to America, apparently the PolitiFact editors are chanting right along with them.” – Sen. Ted Cruz [16:41]
2. Democrats’ “Forbidden Words” List
[19:09]–[26:11]
- Details of the Memo:
- Democrat think tank Third Way’s memo lists 45 words/phrases party members should avoid, fearful they make Democrats sound elitist or out-of-touch (terms like privilege, violence [as in "environmental violence"], microaggression, birthing person, cisgender, the unhoused, and more).
- Key Memo Quote (read aloud):
“To please the few, we have alienated the many, especially on culture issues where our language sounds superior, haughty and arrogant.” – as cited by Ted Cruz [21:00]
- Mockery and Analysis:
- Cruz and Ferguson lampoon the list, referencing George Carlin’s “seven dirty words” bit, and suggest Democrats are more concerned with optics than substance.
- Cruz shares a story about calling out a Senate colleague for repeatedly saying “birthing people” instead of “mom.”
- Quote: “Dude, is your party really that whack job crazy that you can’t say mom?” – Sen. Ted Cruz [22:44]
- Cruz: The memo doesn’t propose changing actual policy, only phrasing. The substance—the “wokeness”—remains.
- Quote: “It’s not just the words… notice the memo doesn’t say to stop believing this stuff.” – Sen. Ted Cruz [25:12]
3. Supreme Court Victory on DEI Grant Funding
[31:27]–[42:24]
- What Happened:
- The Supreme Court (5–4) allowed the Trump administration to cancel $783 million in NIH grants tied to DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) and gender ideology initiatives.
- Case highlights: Plaintiffs sued after losing grants, first winning in Massachusetts district court, but ultimately losing at SCOTUS due to technical jurisdiction (should have brought case in Court of Federal Claims).
- Justice Amy Coney Barrett cast the deciding vote, partially siding with both conservatives and liberals.
- Why It Matters:
- Cruz argues cutting these grants stops wasteful ideological spending and redirects funds toward real scientific research (e.g., cancer research).
- The narrow decision underscores ongoing legal fights over executive power and DEI funding.
- Gorsuch’s concurring opinion scolds lower courts for defying Supreme Court precedents.
- Quote: “All these interventions should have been unnecessary, but together they underscore a basic tenet of our judicial system… judges are duty bound to respect the hierarchy of the federal court system.” – Justice Gorsuch, as read by Ted Cruz [38:44]
- Cruz warns that left-leaning activists will continue lawfare tactics, seeking out sympathetic judges to slow or block conservative executive action.
- Quote: “This is their next generation of lawfare… it is relentless.” – Sen. Ted Cruz [37:24]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|-------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 03:37 | Ted Cruz | “He’s hired some staff that I’m sure are blue-haired transgender freaks…” | | 10:40 | Ted Cruz | “I didn’t even bother to argue with Gavin. I just simply pointed to facts.” | | 12:49 | Ted Cruz | “It’s a whole host of things. One chunk of it is taxes… when you put massive renewable energy mandates, that drives up the cost…” | | 16:41 | Ted Cruz | “When the Ayatollah chants death to America, apparently the PolitiFact editors are chanting right along with them.”| | 21:00 | Ted Cruz (quoting memo) | “To please the few, we have alienated the many, especially on culture issues where our language sounds superior, haughty and arrogant.”| | 22:44 | Ted Cruz | “Dude, is your party really that whack job crazy that you can’t say mom?” | | 25:12 | Ted Cruz | “It’s not just the words… notice the memo doesn’t say to stop believing this stuff.” | | 38:44 | Justice Gorsuch (read by Cruz) | “Judges are duty bound to respect the hierarchy of the federal court system created by the Constitution and Congress.” | | 37:24 | Ted Cruz | “This is their next generation of lawfare… it is relentless.” |
Significant Segment Timestamps
- [03:15]: Ben introduces the viral Newsom/Twitter controversy
- [08:11]: Cruz details his AI (Grok) response to Newsom’s tweet
- [12:49]: Deep dive into why California’s (and other blue states’) energy prices are high
- [16:41]: Cruz and Ferguson discuss media fact-checking and bias
- [19:09]: Introduction and analysis of the Democrats’ “forbidden words” memo
- [21:00]: Breakdown of the specific words on the Democrat blacklist
- [25:12]: Cruz critiques Democrats’ focus on language, not substance
- [31:27]: Ben shifts topic to the NIH/DEI Supreme Court decision
- [38:44]: Cruz reads and explains Justice Gorsuch’s concurring opinion
- [37:24]: Ongoing predictions about lawfare and activist litigation against Trump
Tone and Style
The episode marries political satire and sharp critique, heavily favoring a conservative viewpoint. Ted Cruz and Ben Ferguson use a candid and sometimes mocking tone, especially when discussing political opponents’ language (words like “freaks,” “whack job crazy,” etc.). Policy arguments are often paired with anecdotes and asides, making the conversation accessible and pointed.
Takeaways for Non-Listeners
- The episode challenges Democratic messaging on policy failures, using the electricity price debate as a case study in political blame-shifting.
- Cruz and Ferguson lampoon progressive language, arguing these rhetorical choices alienate mainstream voters.
- The Supreme Court’s DEI grants ruling is heralded as a win for common sense and fiscal responsibility, with the hosts predicting ongoing legal warfare against conservative governance.
- Listeners are given policy breakdowns, legal analysis, and examples intended to arm them with talking points for the public debate.
End of Summary