Verdict with Ted Cruz: "Inside the Room with the Heroic Soldiers Wounded in the Maduro Raid & with Venezuelan Opposition Leader Maria Corina Machado"
Release Date: January 16, 2026
Hosts: Senator Ted Cruz, Ben Ferguson
Episode Overview
In this episode, Senator Ted Cruz and Ben Ferguson provide an exclusive, first-hand account of major events impacting Venezuela and the broader geopolitical landscape. The show centers on Cruz’s visit to heroic American soldiers wounded during the raid that captured Nicolas Maduro, his in-depth meeting with Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, and discussions on the historic significance of current events in Venezuela, Iran, and Cuba. The episode also offers behind-the-scenes looks at U.S. military innovation and a candid perspective on U.S. foreign policy leadership.
Key Topics & Highlights
1. Visiting Wounded Heroes from the Maduro Raid
Segment starts: 05:06
- Senator Cruz visits three American soldiers in San Antonio who were wounded during the operation to capture Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro.
- All three are in good condition and good spirits; Cruz met with them and their wives.
- Personal stories of heroism:
- The first soldier, who helped plan the raid, was shot in the leg but continued the mission:
"Even in the midst of being shot in the leg, [he] continued. He did not step back from the fight." – Ted Cruz [05:51]
- Both the first and second soldiers requested to keep the bullet and shrapnel removed from their bodies as mementos; Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth granted them waivers.
- The spirit among the soldiers remains high:
"Hegseth asked him, 'How are you feeling?' And he said, 'I'm ready to go again.'" – Ted Cruz [10:13]
"I said, great. Can you do Saturday? And he said, well, can we hold off till Monday?" – Ted Cruz [10:17] - The soldiers’ wives spoke about faith and pride in their husbands’ service.
- The first soldier, who helped plan the raid, was shot in the leg but continued the mission:
2. Interview with Maria Corina Machado, Venezuelan Opposition Leader
Segment starts: 11:25
- Machado’s courage in opposing Maduro’s regime—she won the Nobel Peace Prize for her activism and is now in exile in the U.S.
- She met with President Trump at the White House and presented him a beautifully framed Nobel Peace Prize, thanking him for supporting Venezuela's people.
"She presented the Nobel Peace Prize to President Trump... I think President Trump appreciated that a great deal." – Ted Cruz [12:06]
- Discussion of the politicization of the Nobel Peace Prize:
"There's no way the lefty Europeans… will give [Trump] the peace prize... These are the same idiots who awarded Barack Obama the Nobel Peace Prize when he'd been in office a couple of months, and he was literally awarded it for simply not being George W. Bush." – Ted Cruz [13:24]
Machado’s Message on Venezuela’s Future
Segment starts: 14:40
- Machado’s priorities:
- Celebration that Maduro is gone, joy among Venezuelans, and the release of many political prisoners.
- Ongoing surveillance of freed political prisoners; the regime’s communist nature remains intact.
- Urgency for "free and fair elections" with the aim to transfer power to a legitimate, elected government.
- She was purposefully non-committal on the exact election timing but emphasized a swift transition.
"The people of Venezuela, they want to have a chance to vote to elect their leader." – Ted Cruz [15:44]
3. Inside U.S. Senate & Bipartisan Diplomacy
Segment starts: 21:52
- Machado met with about a dozen U.S. senators, both Republicans and Democrats.
- The meeting, originally organized by Senator Dick Durbin (D), saw involvement from multiple Republican senators after Machado personally extended invites, ensuring bipartisan participation.
"She realized that... a meeting of just Democrats and her... would not further the people of Venezuela." – Ted Cruz [23:25]
- Cruz and other senators from states with large Venezuelan or Hispanic communities were present. Cruz detailed his own background and advocacy on behalf of Venezuelan dissidents.
4. “A Historic Moment”: The Fall of Authoritarian Regimes
Segment starts: 27:28
- Cruz and Ferguson reflect on the potential for transformative change in Venezuela, Cuba, and Iran.
- Link between Trump’s foreign policy and the momentum for democracy in these countries.
"We could see the regimes fall in Venezuela, in Cuba and Iran... If that happens, that will be the single most significant foreign policy development the world has seen since the Berlin Wall was torn to the ground." – Ted Cruz [28:24]
- Emphasis on American unity and support for freedom movements overseas.
- Direct comparison between Obama’s refusal to support Iran’s Green Revolution in 2009 and Trump’s proactive backing of freedom movements:
"Donald J. Trump is not Barack Obama, and he's not Joe Biden. He is instead telling the people of Iran, we are with you. We have your back." – Ted Cruz [35:12]
5. The Situation in Iran
Segment starts: 32:08
- Ongoing protests in Iran, regime violence, communications blackouts, and possible imminent regime change.
"I've seen death tolls as high as 12,000 Iranians murdered by the regime... And they continue standing up and risking their lives. It is incredible heroism." – Ted Cruz [33:08]
- The role of Elon Musk and Starlink in restoring internet access for protesters.
6. U.S. Military Readiness and Innovation
Segment starts: 36:04
- Cruz tours the F35 fighter jet plant in Fort Worth and highlights Texas’s role in national defense.
"The F35 plant is incredible... The technology on them is incredible. One of the reasons that we're able to prevail in military conflicts and no one else can really come close is because of the incredible technology." – Ted Cruz [36:31]
- Visit to SpaceX’s Starbase with Elon Musk—discussion on the next generation of space flight and its relevance to U.S. national security.
"They want to make rocket ships like airplanes, where basically you think about an airplane, you take off, go to your destination, refuel and you go to the next place... it's such a system change." – Ted Cruz [37:32]
- Focus on moving the Defense Department toward AI, innovation, and away from legacy practices.
Notable Quotes & Moments
- "You were part of history in a way... that changed the entire Western hemisphere." – Ted Cruz to the wounded soldiers [06:45]
- "My view is we need to move swiftly towards free and fair election. ...the faster we move to elections and someone with legitimacy... the faster the better." – Ted Cruz on Venezuela’s transition [16:31]
- "Part of that is, listen, I hate communists... My family was imprisoned and tortured by communists." – Ted Cruz on his personal mission [25:42]
- "This could be a time as consequential as the Berlin Wall being torn to the ground." – Unnamed Democratic senator, reflecting Cruz’s earlier remarks [29:10]
Episode Timeline
| Timestamp | Segment Description | |-----------|---------------------| | 05:06 | Cruz visits wounded soldiers from Maduro raid | | 09:04 | Discussion of soldiers' families and resilience | | 11:25 | Meeting with Maria Corina Machado and significance of Nobel Peace Prize gesture | | 15:15 | Machado’s analysis of Venezuela’s situation and future | | 21:52 | How bipartisanship helped the Senate meeting with Machado | | 27:28 | Global significance: Venezuela, Iran, Cuba democratic wave | | 32:08 | Detailed breakdown of Iran’s unrest and potential for change | | 36:04 | U.S. military innovation: F35 plant tour and SpaceX/Starbase visit with Elon Musk |
Tone & Style
The conversation is direct and passionate, with both hosts displaying deep respect for military service and democratic values. Senator Cruz frequently injects personal stories, humor, and pointed critiques of ideological opponents, maintaining a tone of urgency regarding current historical opportunities.
Recommended Listening
- Previous episodes with notable guests like Bruce Pearl (referenced at 26:54) for further context on activism and foreign affairs.
- Future episodes for follow-ups on the geopolitical outcomes discussed.
Summary prepared for listeners who wish to fully grasp the content and insights of this episode without needing to listen to the podcast in its entirety.