Verdict with Ted Cruz: Election Disaster & Ben on the Ground in Israel

Date: November 5, 2025
Hosts: Senator Ted Cruz & Ben Ferguson

Overview

In a joint episode of "Verdict with Ted Cruz" and "The Ben Ferguson Podcast," Senator Ted Cruz and co-host Ben Ferguson deliver a candid and somber analysis of America's 2025 off-year elections, which saw devastating losses for Republicans across Virginia, New Jersey, and New York City, along with a lopsided redistricting victory for Democrats in California. Interwoven throughout the episode, Ferguson reports live from Jerusalem, sharing firsthand insights and deeply personal stories from his ongoing trip to Israel in the aftermath of the latest conflict with Iran and Hamas. The conversation offers a blend of political debrief and emotional reflection on the state of American and Israeli affairs, emphasizing the stakes for conservatives both domestically and abroad.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Immediate Election Reactions: A “Terrible Night” for Republicans

[02:47] Ted Cruz: “Tonight was a terrible night for Republicans. It was a terrible night for conservatives and it was a terrible night for America.”

• GOP suffers heavy defeats in Virginia, New Jersey, and New York City.
• Cruz emphasizes not only the electoral losses but also the symbolic and policy setbacks that may follow.
• The results are likened to a “canary in the coal mine” — often predictive of broader national trends after presidential elections.

[33:51] Cruz:

• Points to fundraising disparity: “Winsome [Earl Sears] was massively outspent ... maybe even 3 to 1."
• Reflects on the decline from Glenn Youngkin’s victory four years prior amid a perfect storm of schooling and parental rights issues.

2. On-the-Ground in Israel: Tragedy and Resilience

Ben Ferguson's First Pilgrimage to Israel

• Ferguson recounts spiritual and historical moments, including visits to the Wailing Wall, the Sea of Galilee, and Jerusalem, characterizing Israel as “safe” for travelers post-ceasefire.
• Shares stories from Christian Leadership Conference; details meeting survivors and relatives impacted by ongoing hostilities.

Notable Experiences

Meeting War Victims
[09:50] Ben Ferguson:

• Met with “the families…who lost children — 12 kids killed while playing soccer, ages ranging from very young to 17.”
• Received a soccer ball with stickers representing the lost children: “They said they wanted to say thank you for standing up for their kids and telling their story to the world.”

[11:28] Cruz:

• Explains nature of Hezbollah/Hamas attacks: “Most of the rockets they fire have no guidance systems…filled with anti-personnel shrapnel… they just fire them towards Israel because they figure, you know what, they’re Jews over there, so let’s just kill as many of them as we can.”

Touring the North and South

• Ferguson shares stories from Israel’s borders with Syria and Lebanon, witnessing communities evacuated under Hezbollah rocket barrage.
• Details Israel’s agricultural resilience (“pink lady apples”), and the psychological scars from both physical destruction and displacement.

Hostages and Trauma

[23:06] Ferguson:

• Met mother of a recently released hostage: “Her son was underground for two years without sunlight… mentally tortured and told Israel no longer existed.”
• Emphasizes the severe psychological warfare imposed by Hamas and Hezbollah.

Reflections on Faith
[26:33] Ferguson:

• Impact of walking biblical sites: “80% of the biblical history in the Bible with Jesus, I got to witness from standing in one place.”
• Describes spiritual reverence at sites of Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection.

3. State-by-State Election Analysis

Virginia’s GOP Collapse

[33:51–36:40]

• Winsome Earl Sears (R) loses to Abigail Spanberger (D) by 15 points in Governor race—worst than expected.

• AG’s race “truly shocking”: Dem Jay Jones, who texted about wanting GOP opponents' children murdered, wins.

  • Cruz: “Not a single Democrat...condemned Jay Jones...if he were a Republican, they'd have thrown him overboard in a heartbeat.” [46:13]

• Loudoun County “perfect storm” background replayed—highlights swing back to Democrat normalcy.

New Jersey: A Lost Opportunity

[36:46–38:54]

• “This is an even more surprising result for me than Virginia,” says Cruz.
• Jack Cittarelli (R) loses to Mikie Sherrill (D) by 13 points, despite “momentum” and “Democrat mayors endorsing him.”
• Both VA and NJ races signal warning signs ahead for GOP nationally.

New York City: Leftward Lurch to “Communist” Control

[46:59–52:54]

• Zohran Mamdani wins mayoralty as an “explicit Communist and jihadist,” per Cruz, with over 50% of the vote.
• Cuomo’s bid fails even with third-party votes, indicating a clear mandate for the far-left.
• Cruz: “New York is a crown jewel of America ... to have it governed by a radical communist jihadist: More people are going to die…more rapes…more children attacked.” [48:07]
• Ferguson: “This is full blown communism ... a guy that's never had a real job in his entire life.” [46:59]

4. California: Redistricting and Republican Extinction

[53:09] Ted Cruz:

• Prop 50 passes: “California wants to redistrict ... to create five new Democrat seats … They’re trying to eliminate Republicans.”
• Cruz predicts more extreme gerrymandering, describes it as “contempt for democracy.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Tonight was a terrible night for Republicans. It was a terrible night for conservatives and it was a terrible night for America.” — Ted Cruz [02:47]
• “They just fire [rockets] towards Israel because they figure, 'You know what, they’re Jews over there, so let’s just kill as many of them as we can.'” — Ted Cruz [11:53]
• “More people are going to die in New York. Comrade Mamdani is going to wage war against the NYPD.” — Ted Cruz [50:20]
• “We’re going to blow up your neighborhood because you are Jewish. We know you’re not there. We want you to come back to destruction and ruins.” — Ben Ferguson [22:23]
• “A majority of New Yorkers wanted a communist jihadist ... It is truly terrifying.” — Ted Cruz [51:10]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:00] – Introduction, election disaster overview by Cruz
• [06:58] – Ben Ferguson describes spiritual and practical realities in Jerusalem
• [09:50] – Ferguson interviews families of children killed on a soccer field
• [15:17] – Overview of Hezbollah rocket attacks and civilian displacement in Northern Israel
• [23:06] – Story of a newly released hostage and family trauma
• [26:33] – Reflections on faith and the pilgrimage experience
• [33:51] – Deep dive: Virginia election results analyzed
• [36:46] – New Jersey election fallout discussed
• [46:59] – New York City: Mandani’s victory and its implications
• [53:09] – California’s Prop 50 and redistricting explained

Tone & Style

The episode mixes sober, emotional reflection with political rhetoric and hard-edged analysis. Cruz is blunt and at times apocalyptic about the consequences for America’s future. Ferguson’s on-the-ground insights from Israel add a human and spiritual dimension, often solemn but occasionally hopeful, especially regarding faith and resilience.

Conclusion

This special episode swings between personal testimony from war-torn Israel and urgent American political analysis. Both hosts argue that the night’s election results signal a deep crisis for conservatism, warning of both domestic and global threats. Ferguson pledges continued coverage from Israel, promising firsthand stories in the upcoming days, while Cruz calls for sober reflection and renewed mobilization in the face of what they see as a challenging new era.