Verdict with Ted Cruz: Episode Summary Release Date: May 24, 2025

In this episode of Verdict with Ted Cruz, host Ben Ferguson and Senator Ted Cruz delve into three pivotal stories shaping the political landscape: the troubling narrative surrounding President Joe Biden, the historic signing of the Take It Down Act by former President Donald Trump, and a critical discussion on border accountability with guest Tom Homan. Here's a comprehensive overview of their in-depth conversations.

1. The Decline of Joe Biden: Elder Abuse or Executive Power?

[03:37]
Ben Ferguson opens the discussion by expressing concern over President Joe Biden's recent actions, suggesting that Biden is a victim of "elder abuse."

Ben Ferguson ([03:37]): "I actually feel bad for Joe Biden. I think it's very clear that people are taking advantage of him. I think this is a form of elder abuse."

The conversation intensifies as they examine a leaked transcript revealing Biden's handling of classified documents related to Afghanistan. Counsel underscores the legal implications of Biden's inability to recall the intentional retention of these documents.

Senator Ted Cruz ([08:02]): "Legally, that exchange is very important. This is a classified document on Afghanistan that he had in a non-secure location, which is a criminal violation."

Ben Ferguson questions the accountability of individuals involved in the alleged cover-up, emphasizing the need for congressional hearings to uncover the truth and prevent future abuses.

Ben Ferguson ([10:44]): "How do we find out who the five people are and what does Congress's role play in this? To make sure it never happens again."

2. Donald Trump Signs the Take It Down Act: Protecting Against Deepfakes and Revenge Pornography

[17:57]
Senator Cruz shifts focus to the landmark legislation recently signed into law by former President Donald Trump: the Take It Down Act. This act aims to combat the distribution of non-consensual explicit imagery, including deepfakes, by imposing federal penalties and obligating tech platforms to remove such content promptly.

Senator Ted Cruz ([17:57]): "The Take It Down Act makes it a federal felony to post non-consensual intimate images, either real pictures or deep fakes."

He elaborates on the bipartisan effort required to pass the legislation, highlighting the collaboration between Republicans and Democrats, including Senator Amy Klobuchar.

Senator Ted Cruz ([20:44]): "We passed it through the Senate unanimously, it was 100 enough. And then the House took it up and passed it with an overwhelming bipartisan majority."

The senator shares the emotional testimonies of victims, such as Elliston Berry, whose experience with deepfakes inspired the creation of this law. He emphasizes the law's significance in providing victims with a statutory right to have explicit images removed swiftly.

Senator Ted Cruz ([25:54]): "Elliston and Ana are Texans. So Ana picked up the phone and called my office and said, hey, look, you're my senator. Can you help my daughter?"

The episode includes poignant moments from Elliston Berry's appearance on Fox News Channel, illustrating the personal impact of the legislation.

Elliston Berry ([25:54]): "I never would have thought that this could ever be my reality. My mom, she's really an amazing person and she's the one that's been pushing for this."

3. Tom Homan & the Battle for Border Accountability

[32:41]
In the final segment, Tom Homan joins the conversation to critique former Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas's handling of the U.S. border crisis. Homan asserts that Mayorkas's policies have led to increased human trafficking, fentanyl smuggling, and a surge in illegal immigration.

Tom Homan ([33:09]): "What he did was borderline treasonous. He did more damage to this country."

He highlights the dramatic increase in fentanyl trafficking revenues, citing a jump from $500 million in 2018 to over $13 billion last year, a staggering 2,600% growth.

Tom Homan ([37:30]): "The CDC needs to track this more, more, more accurately. But we do know there's been a reduction."

Homan advocates for stronger U.S. military intervention to dismantle Mexican cartels, drawing parallels to successful operations in Colombia. He criticizes the Biden administration for turning these criminal organizations into powerful entities, exacerbating violence and corruption in Mexico.

Tom Homan ([38:17]): "One of the best things President Trump did was designate a terrorist organization because these cartels have killed more Americans than every terrorist organization in the world combined."

Senator Cruz echoes these sentiments, emphasizing the need for robust border security to protect American lives and reduce the cartel's influence.

Senator Ted Cruz ([35:42]): "Look, the men and women who sign up for the Border Patrol do so because they're patriots... They want to keep our communities and our families safe."

The discussion also touches on the recent charges against New Jersey Democrat Congresswoman LaMonica McIver for assaulting law enforcement at an ICE facility, highlighting the importance of holding all individuals accountable under the law.

Tom Homan ([42:11]): "No one's above the law. You're damn right they're not above the law."

Conclusion

Throughout the episode, Ben Ferguson and Senator Ted Cruz provide a critical analysis of current political issues affecting the United States. From questioning President Biden's handling of classified information to celebrating the protective measures of the Take It Down Act and addressing the ongoing border crisis, the hosts offer a comprehensive overview of the challenges and legislative responses shaping the nation.

For listeners seeking a deeper understanding of these topics, the episode encourages revisiting the full conversation in the podcast archives.

Note: This summary excludes advertisements, sponsorship messages, and non-content segments to focus solely on the substantive discussions of the episode.