← Verdict with Ted Cruz
Verdict with Ted Cruz
FBI To Re-Open Investigations on Cocaine in the White House, J6 Pipe Bomber & SCOTUS Leak, plus Comey Advocates Murder of Trump
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- [00:00]
Ryan Seacrest
You're listening to an iHeart podcast. Ryan Seacrest here. When you have a busy schedule, it's important to maximize your downtime. One of the best ways to do that is by going to chumbaccasino.com Chumba Casino has all your favorite social casino games like spin slots, bingo and solitaire that you can play for free for a chance to redeem some serious prizes. So hop on to chumbacasino.com now and and live the Chumba Life, sponsored by Chumba Casino. No purchase necessary. VGW Group void we're prohibited by law 21 plus terms and conditions apply. I'm Rodney Williams. And I'm Travis Holloway. Welcome to the wealthbreak Podcast, a real conversation about finance. Let's be honest, building wealth doesn't look the same for everyone. I feel like sometimes being broke is a cycle and that we might have to revisit that and we're not stopping at success stories. What happens when it doesn't go right? How do you cope with it? Because wealth isn't just about money. It's about creating a life where you thrive and help others do the same. Listen to the Wealth Break podcast on the iHeartRadio app.
- [01:08]
Ben Ferguson
Wholesome family entertainment is so important, especially for my family with my three boys. And there's a new movie I want you to know about. I want to give you free tickets. The Last Rodeo Angel Studios newest family Blockbuster starring Neal McDonough hits theaters May 23rd. And become a premium member right now and get 22 free tickets to see the Last Rodeo on the big screen. Plus you can stream other angel exclusives like Homestead, the Shift, and more, help choose which movies get made, and support film and filmmakers that share our values. So join the angel guild now@angel.com verdict that's angel.com verdict don't miss the Last Rodeo. Only in theaters.
- [01:51]
Ryan Seacrest
This podcast is sponsored by Talkspace. May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and Talkspace, the leading virtual therapy provider, is telling everyone, let's face it in therapy, by talking or texting with a supportive, licensed therapist at Talkspace, you can face whatever is holding you back, whether it's mental health symptoms, relationship drama, past trauma, bad habits, or another challenge that you need support to work through. It's easy to sign up. Just go to talkspace.com and you'll be paired with a provider, typically within 48 hours. And because you'll meet your therapist online, you don't have to take time off work or arrange childcare. You'll meet on your schedule. Plus, Talkspace is in network with most major insurers and most insured members have a zero dollar copay. Make your mental health a priority and start today. If you're not covered by insurance, get $80 off your first month with Talkspace when you go to talkspace.com and enter promo code SPACE80. That's S P A CE83 to match with a licensed therapist. Today, go to talkspace.com and Enter promo code SPACE80.
- [02:51]
Ben Ferguson
The medal of Honor is the highest military decoration in the United States. Recipients have done the improbable, the unexpected, showing immense bravery and sacrifice in the name of something much bigger than themselves.
- [03:05]
Ryan Seacrest
This medal is for the men who went down that day.
- [03:08]
Ben Ferguson
On Medal of Honor Stories of Courage. You'll hear about these heroes and what their stories tell us about the nature of bravery.
- [03:16]
Ryan Seacrest
Listen to Medal of Honor on the.
- [03:17]
Ben Ferguson
Iheartradio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast. Good Wednesday morning. Nice to have you with us. It's Verdict with Senator Ted Cruz, Ben Ferguson with you and Senator, we're gonna get some redos on some cover ups on the Democratic Party. Apparently this is gonna be music to many people's ears on accountability.
- [03:39]
Ryan Seacrest
Well, the FBI has announced three brand new investigations on stories that just broke things that just happened yesterday. So just yesterday, cocaine was found in the White House. Just yesterday there was a secret leak from the Supreme Court of a decision the court had not yet issued. It was a decision overturning Roe versus Wade. It was shocking, it was incredible. And I'll tell you, the FBI was on it. And just yesterday, unbelievably, a pipe bomb was planted outside the dnc. It was on the day of the certification of what ended up being the certification of Joe Biden's presidency. And all three of these, understandably when they occurred, they were major news stories, horrific crimes, grotesque violation of laws. So of course, the FBI devoted all of the resources to discover nothing. Well, we have a new FBI, we have a new doj. And now the FBI and DOJ is going back to do what they should have done years ago. When these stories actually happen, they're going to go investigate and I hope they're going to find, find the the wrongdoers, find the criminals, prosecute them and put them in jail. Also, we're going to look into recent comments and actions by the former head of the FBI, that crack law enforcement official who managed not to investigate those crimes. We just talked about James Comey, who spent the entire Trump presidency, or much of the Trump presidency undermining the President of the United states attacking the president of the United States until finally he was rightly fired. He's made some comments that are nothing short of shocking. And he has effectively called for the assassination of the president of the United States. You might think that as hyperbole, but we're gonna break down exactly what James Comey did. And, and finally we're gonna talk about a lawsuit that NPR has filed. Npr, National Public Radio has filed a lawsuit saying that President Trump trying to cut off taxpayer funding for their wildly partisan, biased, dishonest reporting. Well, their allegation is that not paying for that wildly dishonest, partisan reporting violates the First Amendment to the Constitution that the First Amendment mandates that you and I and all of us pay for NPR's lying. We're going to explain the absolute nonsense of that lawsuit and we're going to get into the details right now.
- [06:05]
Ben Ferguson
Yeah, it's really an incredible story. Let me tell you real quick about the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. And you're seeing something that's really shocking and disturbing. It's anti Semitism and it's on the rise not just around the world, but sadly right here in the U.S. jewish schools have been targeted. Synagogues have been threatened. Families are actually living in fear. And it's something we hoped we'd never see again in our lifetime. And right now is the time that we make sure we're not silent. As this is happening. This is the moment that we can all take a stand for the people in Israel. And that's why I want you to know about the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. They're on the front lines providing real help where it's needed the most. They're giving food and shelter to Jewish families under threat. They're even building bomb shelters for children in Israel as we speak. And they help survivors of hate rebuild their lives. And they don't just respond to the crisis, they work every day to prevent it as well. That is where your simple gift of only $45 will help support their life saving work by helping provide food, shelter and so much more. The Bible is pretty clear. It says I will bless those who bless you. And supporting the IFCJ is a spiritual stand. It's showing up for God's people when it counts. So give them a buzz and get in the game. The number 888488 IFCJ. That's 888-488-4325. You can also go online to IFCJ.org every dollar helps. Don't wait, be the difference. Visit IFCJ.org or 888-488-? IFCJ all right, so center, let's talk about. And. And you had some humor there in the, in the lead up to this topic, because it is insane that we had these three massive investigations that got us no information. Everybody just moved on in the last administration. And the opening up of these investigations yet again by the FBI. I don't think this should be looked at as a issue of, like, revenge. It's an issue of justice that clearly didn't happen and was covered up in the past.
- [08:25]
Ryan Seacrest
Well, understand that when you're dealing with the politicization and weaponization of the Department of Justice and the FBI and the law enforcement apparatus, there are two components of it. One component of it is using it as a weapon to attack your political opponents. We saw Joe Biden and the Democrats do that over and, and over and over again, most notably when they indicted Donald Trump not once, not twice, not three times, four separate times. That was a clear illustration of weaponization. It was designed ultimately to fight democracy. It was designed because they were terrified the voters would do what in fact they did in November, reelect Donald J. Trump as President of the United States. But there's another aspect of weaponization, and that is refusing to investigate crime, refusing to enforce the law against your friends and political allies. And we saw the Biden Department of Justice, the Biden FBI, do that over and over and over again. And these three cases are among the most egregious. You know you're in my friend, Dan Bongino. So Dan Bongino is now the Deputy Director of the FBI. Cash Patel's the Director of the FBI. Dan tweeted out this week the following a few updates. The Director and I have most of our incoming reform teams in place by next week. The hiring process can take a little bit of time, but we are approaching that finish line. This will help us both in doubling down on a reform agenda. Shortly after swearing in, the Director and I evaluated a number of cases of potential public corruption that understandably have garnered public interest. We made the decision to either reopen or push additional resources and investigative attention to these cases. These cases are, number one, the D.C. pipe bombing investigation, number two, the cocaine discovery at the prior administration's White House, and number three, the leak of the Supreme Court Stop. Case. I receive requested briefings on these cases weekly, and we are making progress. If you have any investigative tips on these matters that may assist us, then please contact the FBI. That is really significant. And by the way, I'm gonna Add a fourth one that is not in this tweet, but it is something that both Cash Patel and Don Bogino and also Pam Bondi have committed to, which is transparency regarding Jeffrey Epstein. And I will say the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking case was grotesque. I think the American people need to know every name in that little black book. I think they need to know the clients. I think they need to know everyone who participated in, in, in, in the child sex trafficking. And, and, and I do believe I've had multiple conversations with Pam Bondi, with Cash Patel, with Dan Bongino about it. I do believe we will see transparency. I know a lot of people are frustrated that we haven't seen all that information yet. My understanding from those conference conversations is on Epstein, there is a vast trove of information, much of what, which implicates minors. And, and what I've been told is that is, they are working to put it in a format where it can be released where you don't, where you don't release, say video of a minor being sexually assaulted, which would obviously be inappropriate for protecting that child. A little boy or girl should not have that image released by the government for the world. But at the same time, the assaulter, the criminal, his image should be released. And I have every expectation we will see transparency on that front. And I will continue asking both the Department of Justice and FBI to provide transparency and pressing them to do so as fast as possible. But on, on these three cases as well, look, let's take them one at a time. Cocaine in the West Wing of the White House. All right, Ben, you worked in the West Wing. Tell me how big a deal would it be when you, you worked in the George W. Bush White House? Can you imagine the reaction if cocaine were found in that White House?
- [12:17]
Ben Ferguson
No. And it would have been a wall to wall story and it would have been 24 7. And the media would have dug and dug and dug answers and they would not have let up until they had a name or someone who had been fired or dismissed. And they would have also then I think TMZ it where they would have said how many people are high at the White House? How many people are around the Situation Room? Which by the way, this cocaine was not far from the, the, the, the stories would have exploded out to hurt Ben Bush.
- [12:48]
Ryan Seacrest
Ben, explain to people where this work, where this was, because you said it wasn't far from the Situation Room. You're right. But give people a sense of the layout of the West Wing and where exactly.
- [12:57]
Ben Ferguson
If you walk in the West Wing from basically the eeob, the Old Executive or the Eisenhower Building. There's kind of a breezeway. And when you walk in there.
- [13:05]
Ryan Seacrest
I want to stop you for a second. There is an interesting divide in Washington. And you can tell how long someone has been in Washington by what acronym you use. And you actually just use both of them.
- [13:18]
Ben Ferguson
Yes.
- [13:19]
Ryan Seacrest
So there's a building.
- [13:20]
Ben Ferguson
I was bridging the gap there. Did you like that?
- [13:22]
Ryan Seacrest
I did, but I want to explain it to our listeners because this is, this is a very insidery little thing, but it is kind of funny and it's real. So there's a giant building right next to the White House that is the Executive Office Building. And a lot of the offices that are said to be, quote, in the White House are actually in that building. That building is much bigger than the White House and is part of the White House campus. So when you enter the White House grounds, if you're walking up Executive Avenue, on the right is the West Wing, on the left is the Executive Office Building. Now, folks who have been in D.C. a long time, they call that the OEOB. Why is that? That stands for the Old Executive Office Building. So the O is oeob. And at some point, and I don't know what year actually, maybe when we're talking, you can Google it and give us the answer. Ben. But at some point they renamed the building the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. They put up a sign that says Eisenhower Executive Office Building. And so now it's called eeob. And you can tell people who I would say have been to D.C. in the, in the last decade or two, they call it the EEOB and old farts. And you're actually young enough. You're not fully an old fart. Exactly.
- [14:33]
Ben Ferguson
I'm going to take pride in that, by the way. And by the way, I can tell you when they change the name. Are you ready for this?
- [14:38]
Ryan Seacrest
I heard you typing when I when I said use the Google, you click clacked on your keyboard. So I knew you had an answer.
- [14:45]
Ben Ferguson
Yes, President Bill Clinton approved legislation changing the name on November 9th of 1999 from the old Executive Office Building to was renamed to the Dwight D. Eisenhower Executive Office Building. So there you go. 99, November 9th.
- [15:00]
Ryan Seacrest
So that's just a quick aside and you can really tell someone's. So look, I came to D.C. i was a law clerk in D.C. in 1995-96, and then I was a law clerk at the Supreme Court in 96 to 97. And so when I first moved there it was called the oeob. So I'm just barely on the old fart line of it. But as you said, it was renamed in 1999. So you're very much on the young fart line of it. And yet I like that you use them both.
- [15:28]
Ben Ferguson
Yeah, it's a cool building. And you can also, we always used to laugh because you could always tell who was full of it and who was lying. If they said they worked in the White House and then they actually worked in the eeob, you're like, hold on a second, like, wait, wait, are they flexing, saying that they work in the West Wing when they really don't? Because 99% of the staff does not work in the actual White House. They work in the eob.
- [15:53]
Ryan Seacrest
And so the White House itself, you've got a lot of the White House that's like a museum and that has beautiful rooms and you have tours going through it. And it's, it's, it's a quasi public area. You've got the residence, which is upstairs, and that's where the President, the first family lives. And then you have the West Wing, which is where the senior offices working for the President are. And the West Wing is not very big.
- [16:18]
Ben Ferguson
No, it's tiny.
- [16:19]
Ryan Seacrest
It's three stories. You've got a basement. You got a first floor and second floor. The offices are not very big. Actually, the OEOB offices are much bigger than the West Wing offices. But in the White House, power and prestige is measured by one thing, and that is proximity to the President, proximity to the Oval Office. And so a tiny little closet next to the Oval is much more prestigious than a huge grand office. All right, I'll tell you something funny, Ben. So you know the little office off the West Wing where Bill Clinton did not have sexual relations with Monica Lewinsky?
- [16:54]
Ben Ferguson
Yes.
- [16:55]
Ryan Seacrest
And by the way, for those of y' all too young to remember Bill Clinton, when he was accused of having oral sex with an intern, Monica Lewinsky, he said to press conference, I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Ms. Lewinsky, that was turned out to be a flat out lie because he did. There's a little room off the West Wing where those interactions occurred. Do you know what Donald Trump has turned it into?
- [17:18]
Ben Ferguson
So I know this. It's the laugh. It's the trinket room. Now, if he likes you and he says, come over here, you can get you some swag from the Oval Office.
- [17:27]
Ryan Seacrest
Like it's got, he's got MAGA hats in there, he's got presidential Cufflinks. He's got all sorts of it. He just goes and says, take whatever you like. And there's just, like, a bunch of stuff, and it's really cool. So. So he's got. He doesn't have those in the swag room, but, but, but he also has. Have you seen Trump's challenge coins?
- [17:47]
Ben Ferguson
They're incredible. You. So when you went into the Oval recently, you. You got a couple coming back, and I got to see them. They're amazing, and they're huge.
- [17:55]
Ryan Seacrest
So. So a challenge coin, for those of y' all who are not familiar, a challenge coin is a tradition both in the military and in law enforcement. And so when. When you meet with. With typically senior officers in the military, they'll have a challenge coin that is branded with their unit, with their battalion, and they'll give it to you. And there's a whole culture of, like, having to present your challenge coin, and if you don't have it, having to buy drinks. And so in my office, I have a whole display behind my desk of probably 150 challenge coins that have been given to me by military leaders across the country and across the world. That's behind my desk. And then in front of my desk, on the other end of the office is a display with challenge coins from law enforcement. And so it's a similar thing. Police officers, sheriffs, police chiefs, firefighters, federal law enforcement will have challenge coins, and they give them, and usually they're about the size of a silver dollar, and they're elaborate. Well, Trump has made these presidential challenge coins that are about the size, somewhere between the size, the diameter of a baseball and a softball. I think they're a little bigger than a baseball, but not quite as big as a softball, and they're gorgeous. And of course, Trump's challenge coin is bigger, because how would it be otherwise?
- [19:09]
Ben Ferguson
Yeah, of course. And that's the part about, I do say, people that go to the Oval Office and get to meet with him, you have no idea what you're going to leave with. Including, I will say, his cufflinks. I got a pair in the first in the 45 years. You got the new pair from 47. I'm very jealous because they are absolutely beautiful.
- [19:28]
Ryan Seacrest
Yep. So anyway, where the cocaine was found is right as you walk into the entrance of the West Wing. By the way, that entrance is where. Where Trump now parks his brand new Tesla. It's literally parked right out front. So I, I tweeted out a picture. It's because I've never seen a car of the President. Like when you become president, they take your car keys and they don't let you drive. And you're driven around in the Beast. And so his car is parked right out front. Now, actually, they don't let Trump drive either. So he doesn't get to drive his Tesla. And so I'm told a staffer about once a week has to drive the Tesla like several times around the block. So it just, so it doesn't die entirely.
- [20:07]
Ben Ferguson
That's not a bad job, by the way, if you get that job. But as you mentioned, you walk in that entrance there and where they found the cocaine and it is probably, I don't know, 30 to 40ft away from the door to the Situation Room. Because when you walk in the West Wing, your lockers are to the left where you put your phones up. Traditionally, that's where they found this cocaine was over in that area. You go straight for 10, 12ft. You go to your right and then right down there is a little area we can get food and something to drink. And immediately to your right is where you walk in to the Situation Room. Like it's right there. Like the idea that cocaine was found in the White House, it should have been like held a pay and no one stopped reporting on the story until somebody was arrested.
- [20:58]
Ryan Seacrest
So. So look, I am very glad the FBI is going to investigate that. You take another case. January 6, the Biden Justice Department spent thousands and thousands of man hours, spent enormous money investigating every little old lady on the Mall waving a flag singing God Bless America. They treated those poor little old ladies like they were Osama bin Laden. And, and the actual terrorist who plants a pipe bomb outside the dmc. Look, if you plant a pipe bomb that can blow up people and murder people, there's a word for that. You are a terrorist. If you're planning a pipe bomb. There is video of this dude planning the pipe bomb. And yet we've had four plus years transpire and we know nothing about the actual terrorist who planted a pipe bomb that could have killed multiple people. It was actually, it was found before it exploded, thank God. But it could have been, it could have resulted a serious loss of life if it hadn't. I'm very glad that they're finally investigating that. And then an actual.
- [22:04]
Ben Ferguson
Can we just pause though and ask your gut on this one? Why was it not investigated?
- [22:08]
Ryan Seacrest
I don't know. I really. Look, there's conspiracy theories online. Some of them have to do with FBI informants, undercover agents in the crowd on January 6th, as you know, I've questioned the FBI and the Department of Justice multiple times about the informants they had underground. They refused to make that public. I'll tell you, I also have urged Pam Bondi and Cash Patel to make that public. I hope that they do that. They engage in radical transparency. I don't know. I find it weird because it is the action on that day that could have resulted in the greatest loss of life had the pipe bomb detonated. I mean, it's on a busy public street where people are walking by every minute. It could have killed multiple people, and we don't know. And so all sorts of people. I mean, Twitter and the Internet speculates like crazy. I'm not interested in speculation. I would like to find out who actually planted it, why, and I'd like them to go to jail. And I hope, listen, I'm encouraged by Dan Bongino's post on X that we are making progress. I hope that we can find out who did it. And I will say, of the three, ironically, the one that is the most consequential, I think, is the third one, which is the leak of the Supreme Court's Dobbs case. And it is hard to overstate how much damage that leak did, not just to the Supreme Court of the United States, but also to the rule of law. The way the Supreme Court operates, Justices deliberate on cases, they circulate opinion drafts back and forth, they change opinion drafts. A given opinion, particularly in a consequential opinion, can change 100 times or more. They're literally negotiating over every sentence, over every footnote. And in 200 and nearly 50 years of our nation's history, never once has a draft of an opinion of the Supreme Court been leaked until the Dobbs case. And it did, I think, irreparable damage to the trust between the Justices, to the ability of the Justices to have candor with each other and the person who leaked it. At the end of the day, it is a really small universe of people who would have access to that draft opinion. It is essentially the Justices. And I refuse to believe a Justice did that unless you had irrefutable proof. I just. I have too much faith in the institutions of our country to believe a Justice did it. I believe it was very likely a law clerk and a law clerk from one of the liberal justices. But look, There are only 36 law clerks. There are not that many. And I am confident, having been one of them myself, these people are not master criminals. They are not incredibly adept at hiding their tracks. And so I think we did not get a thorough investigation into it. And of the three, if I could pick one to be solved, it would be finding the leaker of the Dobbs opinion, prosecuting him or her, and locking them up. Because I think that did lasting damage to the rule of law in this country. Hey, Matt Gaetz here. Listen, after everything we've been through the last few years, saying we have trust issues is an understatement. They pushed a questionable vaccine and when we asked for alternatives like ivermectin or hydroxychloroquine, they shut us down. They used pressure lies and red tape to block access to medications that were once easy to get. That cannot happen again. And with All Family Pharmacy, it won't. All Family Pharmacy is redefining health care. No waiting rooms, no delays, no insurance games. Just direct access to over 200 trusted medications, including ivermectin, hydroxychloroquine, menbendazole, antibiotics, emergency kits, and so much more. You can customize your order and have it shipped straight to your door. They believe in medical freedom. You decide what works for your health, not some bloated system. Over 100,000Americans already trust them. And maybe it's time you do too. Go to AllFamilyPharmacy.com USA and use code USA10 for 10% off your first order. Again, that's AllFamilyPharmacy.comUSA with code USA10 for 10% off. You know, in the book of Genesis, God makes a promise to your offspring. I promise this land. Now, that promise is the foundation of Israel. A land the Jewish people have returned to after centuries of exile and bondage and even the horrors of the Holocaust. But that promise is still under threat, especially after October 7th. Now, Israel's safety today depends on the very brave men and women of the idf, the Israeli Defense Forces. Every citizen is required to serve. Your gift of $45 will help provide aid to soldiers and their families by helping to provide food and other bare necessities for these families and emergency supplies for soldiers. Now you can help secure their future. Honor those who are defending the holy land. Call now 888488, IFCJ.
- [27:18]
Ben Ferguson
That's 888488, IFCJ.
- [27:22]
Ryan Seacrest
Just go to their website, it's IFCJ.org.
- [27:25]
Ben Ferguson
And you can give.
- [27:26]
Ryan Seacrest
Today, they are in desperate need of help.
- [27:29]
Ben Ferguson
As a dad, there's nothing more important than having great movies to show my kids. Movies that celebrate family and our values. We. Well, if you didn't see Angel Studios record breaking animated film King of Kings over Easter. Well, you're gonna love it and you should check it out. And Angel's big next hit is already here. The Last Rodeo starring Neil McDonough rides into theaters May 23rd. It's an inspiring family driven story about a veteran bull rider who returns to the arena to save his grandson. And it features real life PBR stars. Now this is the best thing. I'm gonna give you two free tickets to see the Last Rodeo on the big screen when you become a premium member. Angel Guild. That's right, join the Guild and you'll get tickets to every angel theater release, plus stream angel originals like Homestead, the Shift and more, exclusively with your membership. More than 1 million people have joined the movement to reshape entertainment for our family. And you can do it right now by going to angel.com verdict to get your free tickets and start Streaming today. That's angel.com verdict. The stories that matter from people that do it right. Angel.com verdict to get your free tickets now.
- [28:42]
Ryan Seacrest
I'm Rodney Williams. And I'm Travis Holloway. Welcome to the Wealth Break. Let's be honest, building wealth doesn't look the same for everyone. It's not just about saving. It's about investing. It's about navigating systems that weren't built for you, embracing your hustle and relying on your community to create something bigger. And that's exactly why we created the wealthbreak. We made something different, something more human. It's not just another financial podcast. It's a conversation about real life, real struggles and real wins. We're here to talk about the journey. You're hearing from people who've broken barriers, found creative ways to succeed, and learn to build wealth on their terms. Whether it's the first time homeowner, a gig worker, or someone turning a side hustle into a six figure business, we're bringing you their stories. And we're not stopping at success stories. We're breaking down the realities, like what it means to take risk, how to navigate failure, and why resilience matters. Because wealth isn't about money. It's about creating a life where you can thrive and help others to do the same. So if you're ready for a podcast as much as about people as it is about money, you're in the right place. Listen to the Wealth Break podcast on the iHeartRadio app. This podcast is sponsored by Talkspace. May is Mental health Awareness Month, and Talkspace, the leading virtual therapy provider, is telling everyone, let's face it, in therapy by talking or texting with a Supportive licensed therapist At Talkspace, you can face whatever is holding you back, whether it's mental health symptoms, relationship drama, past trauma, bad habits, or another challenge that you need support to work through. It's easy to sign up. Just go to talkspace.com and you'll be paired with a provider and typically within 48 hours. And because you'll meet your therapist online, you don't have to take time off work or arrange childcare. You'll meet on your schedule. Plus, Talkspace is in network with most major insurers and most insured members have a zero dollar copay. Make your mental health a priority and start today. If you're not covered by insurance, get $80 off your first month with Talkspace. When you go to talkspace.com and enter promo code SPACE80. That's Spa CE80. To match with a licensed therapist today, go to talkspace.com and Enter promo code SPACE80.
- [30:58]
Ben Ferguson
This is again goes back to the basic issue of Law and Order. And this is something that this administration keeps saying over and over again like they're not joking. They're going to treat everyone the same and we're going to look at things through the glasses of Law and Order instead of picking winners and losers based on politics.
- [31:19]
Ryan Seacrest
Well, yes, and that is unless the head of the FBI is calling for the murder of the President of the United States. And that is another story that broke in the last few days. So the former FBI director, James Comey, he tweeted out this image and it is an image of seashells on the beach that spell out 86, 47. Now, 47 is obviously Donald Trump. And 86 on the face of it, to 86 someone is standard slang for killing someone. And as I posted on social media, is there any other reasonable interpretation of this other than the former head of the FBI publicly calling for the murder of the President of the United States And Comey backed away from it. I gotta say, part of the reason I think he put it out is he's got a new book coming out and he wanted some attention. But it is unimaginable that a head of the FBI would be particularly a president who has had two assassination attempts. This is not theoretical. Donald Trump was shot. He came within a half inch of being killed in Butler, Pennsylvania. And yet the head of the FBI is openly calling for people to 86 Donald Trump.
- [32:43]
Ben Ferguson
Well, and it's not only as you mentioned, is it a dog whistle, but also, yeah, he had a book coming out. He's like, hey, if I do this and Maybe there's just narcissism and arrogance to a level that even I didn't realize with him. And I thought it was pretty high where he's like, I'm so powerful, I can get away with this. And then everybody will want to interview me. I get to dog whistle this against the present, while also guaranteeing that every single show will want to book me to talk about my book, AKA and also the seashells on the beach. It was one hell of a move, and I think it's one where he thought, nothing's going to happen to me, even if I do get interviewed by the Secret Service, who cares?
- [33:25]
Ryan Seacrest
Well, and I will say he doubled down this week by calling on the FBI essentially to fight the President of the United States and accusing the Trump administration of being, in his words, quite white supremacist adjacent. Listen to this. So follow up on the seashell situation when you were explaining why you took it down, but what were you trying to communicate to the public? Impeach Trump. What was your reasoning for it? No, I just thought it was a cool picture. Someone was expressing a political view in a very clever way in shells that were organized by the same color for each of the letters. I just thought, what a cool thing.
- [34:10]
Ben Ferguson
And I'm well known as a political.
- [34:12]
Ryan Seacrest
Opponent of Donald Trump. And I just thought, that's cool. My Instagram account is family politics stuff, including stuff like this. I put a shell on last fall. I thought it was cool. Someone had painted the inside of a big shell to say Vote Kamala. I thought, that's really cool. So I put that on. But so it's not a particular message other than that. I was just gonna ask you about the MSNBC interview you were doing, because on social media, everyone's saying he's talking about the white supremacist adjacent Republican Party. Everybody in the party voters. What?
- [34:44]
Ben Ferguson
What's.
- [34:45]
Ryan Seacrest
You want to clarify? I want to answer that one. No, thank you, though. No clarification at all.
- [34:49]
Ben Ferguson
No, I'm not going to comment on it.
- [34:50]
Ryan Seacrest
Okay, thank you. Hello.
- [34:53]
Ben Ferguson
I love it. Be well. I'm not going to clarify on that. I'm going to keep that out there as well. Buy my book.
- [34:59]
Ryan Seacrest
What utter garbage. Oh, I just thought it was kind of interesting. I just thought it was, you know, kind of pretty. The seashells were pretty. Like, what an absurd claim. And there's something mocking about it that he could claim. Okay, number one, James Comey is not a stupid man.
- [35:25]
Ben Ferguson
He's smart. He knows what he's doing.
- [35:27]
Ryan Seacrest
He knows exactly what he is doing. And James Comey, number one, he knows who 47 is. He knows exactly who 47 is. 47 is the 47th President of the United States, Donald J. Trump. Number two, the claim that he didn't know what 86 is. Listen, that. That is. That is absurd. It is not remotely credible. And the fact that he's saying that. The fact that he's saying that is mocking. It is a level of contempt. And listen, I gotta say, I don't know Comey personally, but in my view, he is someone who was consumed by power when he was the head of the FBI. I think he had delusions of grandeur. I think he believed he was J. Edgar Hoover and he wanted to have presidents of the United States reporting to him. By the way, do you happen to know off the top of your head what 18 USC section 871 provides?
- [36:35]
Ben Ferguson
No. What is it?
- [36:36]
Ryan Seacrest
What's funny? It's actually a felony. Threatening the President of the United States is a felony that's punishable by up to five years imprisonment. You would think the fba, the head of the FBI, would know that. And yet he blithely said, oh, I just saw some pretty seashells, you know, nothing to see here.
- [36:53]
Ben Ferguson
And let's just remind people when you said that he's smart. This is the same guy that mocked the Trump administration the first time, right when they got into office, when he just sent a couple FBI agents over to try to entrap General Flynn. Like, never forget, that's how calculated this guy is. So for him to. Oh, I just saw a picture here, and I thought it was really cute. Of seashells. I don't buy that crap for a moment.
- [37:16]
Ryan Seacrest
He proposed sending someone wearing a wire to entrap the President of the United States. And I want you to listen to him with Nicole Wallace on msnbc, because I want you to listen to just this smarmy, sanctimonious, dishonest. You can tell what I think about him here. Just play his words and see if you agree with me.
- [37:36]
Ben Ferguson
You are back in the middle of a political firestorm.
- [37:40]
Ryan Seacrest
Yeah, for walking on the beach with my wife. So I don't know how we ended up here. Never occurred to me that it was any kind of controversial thing, but that's the time we live in. Okay, Ben, there's a technical word for what he just said there that would be called a lie. He is deliberately lying. He knows he's lying. He is not in trouble for walking on the beach with his wife. He is. Understandably in trouble for publicly advocating the murder of the president of the United States.
- [38:07]
Ben Ferguson
And yet there's a lot of people think he knew exactly what he was doing. And yeah, he may get hauled in for some questioning, but he's not going to get arrested because he's the former FBI director and that guy never gets in trouble. Right?
- [38:18]
Ryan Seacrest
Well, we shall see. I will say Cash Patel and Dan Bongino are not your typical heads of the FBI.
- [38:26]
Ben Ferguson
Yeah, that's a great point. It'll be very interesting to see what happens moving forward. We'll keep you updated on it. I want to move also the NPR lawsuit and get your take on that Senator as well.
- [38:36]
Ryan Seacrest
So this week, npr, National Public Radio and three Colorado Public Radio stations filed a lawsuit in federal court against the Trump White House against the president's executive order barring the use of funds for NPR and for pbs. And the lawsuit says, quote, it is not always obvious when the government has acted with a retaliatory purpose in violation of the First Amendment. But this wolf comes as a wolf. The order targets NPR and PBS expressly because in the president's views, their news and other content is not fair, accurate or unbiased. Now, now let me stop and say, listen, you, you could file a reasonable lawsuit arguing that on any of these particular executive orders that, where you're dealing with congressional appropriations, that challenging the authority of an executive order to limit congressional appropriations, that's an area that's being litigated. That's going to be litigated. And reasonable minds can differ on what is permissible. And we've talked in previous podcasts that there is a significant dispute over the president's authority to engage in what is called impoundment, which is essentially to decline to spend money that Congress has appropriated. That you want to file a lawsuit over that. Okay, courts will sort that out. That'll be litigated. But here, what this lawsuit is claiming is that the First Amendment prohibits defunding npr. And the reason they say it really is absurd is you can't defund the NPR simply because, quote, their news and other content is not fair, accurate or unbiased. Now, let me say, I think no objective person on planet earth can contend that NPR or PBS are fair, accurate or unbiased. And so we really are in Alice in Wonderland through the Looking Glass, where you now have litigants arguing because NPR and PBS are dishonest and political, you can't cut off funding because cutting off funding would be silencing our right to be dishonest and political and not just, look, you absolutely have a right to be dishonest and political. So MSNBC can publish any nonsense they want. CNN can publish any nonsense they want. Now, nobody watches them. It's kind of a tree falling in the woods. But they have a right to say it. They have a right to say utter Nonsense. But NPR's argument is not only do they have a right to say it, which I agree they do, but they have a right to have the taxpayers fund them forever, that it is illegal for us to stop paying for their partisan lies. I gotta say that is an absurd claim. And it is the simple reality of the absurdity of the left.
- [41:27]
Ben Ferguson
Yeah, it is. And I wonder when we will actually get resolution on this. Is there a real chance you think that we could actually defund NPRPBS and just say, hey, make it on your own? Is there a real chance?
- [41:40]
Ryan Seacrest
Look, I certainly hope so. I am pressing to do so. I'm pressing Congress to do so. I'm pressing Congress to enact and codify the Doge cuts that we've seen Elon Musk and Doge put in place. We're gonna have a battle on Congress. We're gonna have a battle in Congress. If it has to go through regular order, what regular order means is the standard path of legislation. That means it's subject to filibuster. That means you need 60 votes in the Senate, which means you need seven Democrats. If you have to get seven Democrats.
- [42:11]
Ben Ferguson
And that's how they save it, is what you're saying. That's right. That's their ideal situation, is you guys complain about it. And we keep giving billions to our propaganda machines.
- [42:19]
Ryan Seacrest
Yeah. Zero Democrats will vote to defund NPR or pbs, which means if it goes through regular order, it will not happen the the other way.
- [42:28]
Ben Ferguson
Isn't that proof of just how biased they are? The fact that zero of them would would go to defund it because they know how valuable it is to their.
- [42:34]
Ryan Seacrest
Propaganda and they don't care. In fact, I want you to listen to Catherine Marr, the CEO of npr, who describes the First Amendment as the, quote, the greatest challenge that she faces to controlling narratives here. Give a listen. The number one challenge here that we see is, of course, the First Amendment in the United States is a fairly robust protection of rights. And that is a protection of rights both for platforms, which I actually think is very important. The platforms have those rights to be able to regulate what kind of content they want on their sites. But it also means that it is a little bit tricky to really address some of the real challenges of where does bad information come from and sort of the influence peddlers who have made a real market economy around it.
- [43:21]
Ben Ferguson
I mean, that's where your tax towers are going. And that's the woman who's in charge, dammit.
- [43:26]
Ryan Seacrest
That pesky First Amendment. We want to censor, we want to silence voices we disagree with and that First Amendment stands in the way. And here I want you to listen to this, this montage of Catherine Marr being grilled at congressional hearing. Give a listen to just how extreme the NPR CEO is. And I welcome the opportunity to discuss the essential role of public media in delivering unbiased, nonpartisan, fact based reporting to Americans. Madam Chair, thank you so much for the opportunity to address this. I know. Is it up to you and NPR to, to crack down on bad information or decide the truth? Answer the question yes or no. Ms. Mar. Absolutely not. I'm a very strong believer in free speech and I believe that more speech, your, your public statements say otherwise. During the COVID pandemic and the 2020 election, you said you censored information through conversations with government. Which governments were those? Ms. Mar? The Biden administration. Yes or no? Madam Chair? Wikipedia never censored any information. These are your public statements. Ms. Mar. Madam Chair, we are in full compliance and with the FCC's inquiry and we'll continue to cooperate. I remind you, you're under oath. I'm assuming you're concerned. Both of you are concerned about this and that's why you brought so many attorneys with you today. First of all, I want to recognize your concerns. One of the first things that I did in coming in in May was to beef up our editorial standards. Why is NPR even doing editorials? I'm do editor. Federally funded entity that's supposed to provide the news, not provide the news. Of course. Of course. Congressman, an article by Uri Berlinger. I've been at NPR for 25 years. Here's how we lost America's trust. Well, I do want to say that NPR acknowledges that we were mistaken in failing to cover the Hunter Biden laptop story more aggressively and sooner. Our current editorial leadership, we recognize that we were reporting at the time, but we acknowledge that the new CIA evidence is worthy of coverage and have covered it. You didn't talk about the president First Amendment kind of getting in the way of what you want it to get done. NPR is now taking this non biased approach. I so appreciate the opportunity to perhaps clarify some things. My talk about truth was really referencing the way that people use truth to refer to Belief as opposed to facts. Your comments said that truth was getting the way of getting things done and that you were prioritizing what you wanted to get done over truth. Did they come up in your job interview like, do you see a problem, Congressman? Thank you for the question. No, I. They never came up in my job interview. You're a rabid progressive, like. And do you not think it's a problem that your political leanings make it seem to the American people that. That you're not biased and you're not doing your job because you agree that your job is to have journalistic integrity, Right? Absolutely. But there is a strong firewall between the newsroom and anything that I. Let's talk about the newsroom. You have 87 registered Democrats, not a single Republican in your. In your editor boards. I mean, how does that work to give us the perception that you're doing your job of actually delivering unbiased information? I would agree with you that that number is a concern. If it is accurate. I do believe that we need to have journalists who represent the full breadth of the American society so that we can report well for all Americans.
- [46:38]
Ben Ferguson
Well, I just got to stop it there. This goes on for several more minutes, but that part there at the end when he's like, you got 87 people on the editorial board. They're all Democrats. You don't have a single Republican. And then she's like, yeah, if that number is true, then it is a concern.
- [46:53]
Ryan Seacrest
The argument of NPR is that the First Amendment requires for you and me to keep paying for them to propagandize and lie. And I gotta say, one of my favorite facts. As I said, it's not just npr. It's three Colorado radio stations. The statewide Colorado Public Radio station based in Denver, ksut, which was originally founded by the Southern Ute Indian tribe. And this is the one that cracks me up. The Aspen Public Radio, which broadcasts in Aspen, one of the richest communities on planet Earth. If you're in Aspen and you look at the airport, you just see a line of private jets as far as the eye can see. And their argument is the First Amendment mandates that we tax American workers to pay for propaganda in Aspen. Because the poor, wretched masses of Aspen can't afford to pay for their own propaganda. They need to tax American workers instead.
- [47:58]
Ben Ferguson
Yeah, there it is. And now you know why Donald Trump's doing what he's doing. Don't forget, we do this show Monday, Wednesday, Friday. Hit that subscribe or auto download button so you don't miss a single episode. Write us a five star review if you wouldn't mind. It helps us reach new listeners and the center. I will see you back here on Friday morning.
- [48:18]
Ryan Seacrest
I'm Rodney Williams. And I'm Travis Holloway. Welcome to the Wealth Break podcast, a real conversation about finance. Let's be honest, building wealth doesn't look the same for everyone. I feel like sometimes being broke is a cycle and that we might have to revisit that and we're not stopping at success stories. What happens when it doesn't go right? How do you cope with that? It because wealth isn't just about money. It's about creating a life where you thrive and help others do the same. Listen to the Wealth Break podcast on the iHeartRadio app.
- [48:52]
Ben Ferguson
Wholesome family entertainment is so important, especially for my family with my three boys. And there's a new movie I want you to know about. I want to give you free tickets. The Last Rodeo Angel Studios newest family Blockbuster starring Neil McDonough hits theaters May 23rd. And become a premium member right now and get two, two free tickets to see the Last Rodeo on the big screen. Plus you can stream other angel exclusives like Homestead, the Shift and more, help choose which movies get made and support film and filmmakers that share our values. So join the angel guild now@angel.com verdict that's angel.com verdict. Don't miss the Last Rodeo. Only in theaters. The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration in the United States. Recipients have done the improbable, the unexpected, showing immense bravery and sacrifice in the name of something much bigger than themselves.
- [49:48]
Ryan Seacrest
This medal is for the men who.
- [49:50]
Ben Ferguson
Went down that day on Medal of Honor. Stories of Courage. You'll hear about these heroes and what their stories tell us about the nature of bravery.
- [49:59]
Ryan Seacrest
Listen to Medal of Honor on the.
- [50:01]
Ben Ferguson
Iheartradio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [50:05]
Ryan Seacrest
In the fall of 1986, Ronald Reagan found himself at the center of a massive scandal that looked like it might bring down his presidency. It became known as the Iran Contra Affair. The things that happened were so bizarre and insane, I can't begin to tell you. Please do. To hear the whole story. Listen to Fiasco Iran Contra on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Why should you listen to Armstrong and Getty on Demand? We're not boring. A lot of news is boring and tedious and depressing and makes you angry. You don't want to live your life like. Like that. Hey, I'm Jack Armstrong. He's Joe Getty. We're Armstrong and Getty. We try to bring you the truth and help you figure out this crazy.
- [50:51]
Ben Ferguson
Modern world about something about a comedic tone.
- [50:57]
Ryan Seacrest
We have a winner. Yes. Listen to Armstrong and Yeti on Demand on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. You're listening to an iHeart podcast.