Iran’s Threats should NOT be Towards Americans, Air Superiority over Tehran & Tucker doesn't buy Iranian Assassination Plan Week In Review

Summary

Verdict with Ted Cruz: Episode Summary Release Date: June 21, 2025

In this episode of "Verdict with Ted Cruz," hosts Senator Ted Cruz and co-host Ben Ferguson engage in a comprehensive discussion on pressing international security issues, focusing primarily on Iran's threats against Americans, Israel's military campaign against Tehran, and a contentious interview with Tucker Carlson regarding Iran's assassination plans targeting former President Donald Trump. The episode provides an in-depth analysis of these topics, offering insights into U.S. foreign policy and the current geopolitical landscape.

---

1. Opening Remarks and Overview

Timestamp: [02:46] - [03:43]

Senator Ted Cruz opens the discussion by outlining the major stories covered in the episode:

• Donald Trump's Warning to Iran: A direct message to Iran sternly warning against attacking American interests.
• Israel's Air Superiority Over Tehran: Israel's successful campaign in achieving air dominance over Iran, signaling a significant shift in the region's power dynamics.
• Tucker Carlson's Denial of Iranian Assassination Plans: An analysis of Tucker Carlson's recent interview where he rejects claims about Iran's attempts to assassinate Donald Trump.

Notable Quote:

Ted Cruz [02:46]: "First up, Donald Trump making it very clear to Iran, do not attack Americans or our interests in the Middle East. And if you do, there will be hell to pay."

---

2. President Trump's Deterrence Strategy

Timestamp: [03:44] - [04:48]

Ryan Seacrest elaborates on President Trump's strategy to deter Iran from attacking American servicemen and interests. He emphasizes the importance of showing strength to prevent aggression, contrasting it with former President Joe Biden's perceived weakness in handling foreign policy.

Notable Quote:

Ryan Seacrest [03:44]: "We want them not to strike our servicemen and women. And by the way, that's the difference between Joe Biden, who was so weak he couldn't deter anything."

---

3. Israel’s Military Campaign Against Iran

Timestamp: [04:48] - [11:35]

Ted Cruz and Ben Ferguson delve into Israel's ongoing military operations aimed at dismantling Iran's nuclear capabilities. They discuss the strategic importance of targets like the Fordow nuclear facility, a subterranean complex built to withstand airstrikes. Despite numerous strikes, Israel lacks the specialized bunker-busting munitions that the United States possesses, posing challenges in fully neutralizing such fortified sites.

Notable Quotes:

Ryan Seacrest [07:18]: "One open question I have for a long time called for the United States to make those bunker busters available to Israel."

Ben Ferguson [11:35]: "Israel and potentially America have complete air superiority over Iran, and Israel has taken out Iran's air defenses. So they're not able to stop Israeli jets in the air."

---

4. Potential U.S. Involvement in Iran’s Nuclear Facilities

Timestamp: [11:35] - [21:35]

The conversation shifts to the possibility of the United States providing Israel with the necessary equipment to target Iran's most fortified nuclear sites. Ryan Seacrest advocates for maximum pressure through economic sanctions and military support, rather than deploying American troops on the ground. Ben Ferguson emphasizes that authorized military actions should focus solely on neutralizing threats without escalations that could endanger American lives.

Notable Quotes:

Ben Ferguson [21:02]: "We will not send boots on the ground. We are not going to invade Iran."

Ryan Seacrest [07:33]: "I'm advocating that we use maximum pressure and economic sanctions to pressure the regime in a way that might encourage this regime to fall."

---

5. Tucker Carlson’s Interview and Iran’s Assassination Attempts

Timestamp: [26:07] - [39:56]

A significant portion of the episode addresses a recent interview between Tucker Carlson and Senator Cruz, where Carlson denied credible reports of Iran's assassination plots against Donald Trump. Cruz and Ferguson present substantial evidence, including a Department of Justice indictment, highlighting Iran's efforts to eliminate Trump and other American officials. They criticize Carlson for dismissing these facts and argue that such denial undermines national security.

Notable Quotes:

Ben Ferguson [32:47]: "For the last two years, Iran has been actively trying to murder President Donald Trump."

Senator Ted Cruz [37:39]: "That's an objective fact. And yet Tucker says, I've never heard a word of it."

They cite a November 8, 2024, political article detailing Iran's orders to assassinate Trump, including the case of Farhad Shaqiri, who was charged with murder for hire by the IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps). Additionally, they reference an animated video released by Iran threatening Trump, further substantiating their claims.

Notable Quote:

Senator Ted Cruz [34:12]: "Insanely bizarre. We went from let's not do anything to oh, they're trying to kill Trump. Well, if that's true, let's just nuke them."

---

6. Media Obsession and Political Divide

Timestamp: [39:56] - [41:27]

Cruz and Ferguson discuss the media's fixation on their debate and the perceived split within the Republican Party over Iran policy. They argue that a vast majority of Americans support strong actions against Iran to prevent nuclear proliferation and assassination threats. The hosts emphasize that only a small, fringe group opposes such measures, underscoring the alignment of their views with mainstream American sentiments.

Notable Quotes:

Ben Ferguson [43:10]: "75% of Americans agree with President Trump that we should act against Iran to prevent them from getting nuclear weapons."

Senator Ted Cruz [39:23]: "If they think that it's okay for Iran to have a nuclear weapon, then they should oppose me."

---

7. Conclusion and Call to Action

Timestamp: [41:27] - [26:07]

Senator Cruz wraps up the episode by reaffirming his support for President Trump's strong stance on Iran and Israel. He invites listeners to download the full podcast for a more detailed discussion and encourages engagement with their platform to stay informed on critical national security issues.

Notable Quote:

Senator Ted Cruz [41:27]: "As always, thank you for listening to Verdict with Senator Ted Cruz. Don't forget to download my podcast and listen every other day."

---

Key Takeaways:

• Deterrence is Crucial: Demonstrating military strength is essential in preventing Iran from attacking American interests.
• Israel’s Role: Israel's military actions against Iran's nuclear facilities are pivotal, but require additional support from the U.S. to fully neutralize deeply fortified sites like Fordow.
• Media Responsibility: Denying established facts about Iran's assassination attempts undermines national security and misleads the public.
• Public Support: There is widespread American support for strong measures against Iran to prevent nuclear proliferation and protect national interests.

This episode of "Verdict with Ted Cruz" offers a thorough examination of the current threats posed by Iran, the strategic military responses by Israel, and the implications of media representations of these issues. Cruz and Ferguson provide compelling arguments for maintaining a robust and proactive stance to safeguard American lives and interests.

Transcript

[iHeart Podcast]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Hey, it's Ryan Seacrest.

[Ted Cruz]

Life comes at you fast which is.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Why it's important to find some time to relax a little. You time. Enter Chumba Casino. With no download required, you can jump on anytime, anywhere for the chance to.

[Ted Cruz]

Redeem some serious prizes.

[Ryan Seacrest]

So treat yourself with Chumba Casino and play over 100 online casino style games, all for free.

[Ted Cruz]

Go to Chumbacasino.com to collect your free welcome bonus.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Sponsored by Chumba Casino. No purchase necessary.

[Ben Ferguson]

VGW Group Void where prohibited by law.

[Ryan Seacrest]

21 + terms and conditions apply.

[Karen Kilgariff]

You know what's great about your investment account with the big guys? It's actually a time machine. Log in and zoom. Welcome back to 1999. It's time for an upgrade. At public.com you can invest in almost everything. Stocks, bonds, options and more. You can even put your cash to work at an industry leading 4.1% APY. Leave your clunky, outdated platform behind at public.com go to public.com and fund your account in five minutes or less. Paid for by Public Investing Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC. Full [e-mail] disclosure hey, it's Karen and.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Georgia from My favorite Murder. Thanks to Hyundai, we got to take a post show drive in the Ionic five.

[iHeart Podcast]

We had snacks, laughs and we even recorded a special episode featuring some unforgettable car themed stories.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Take a listen. I'm gonna tell you a story today, Karen. It's about a pivotal role that cars played in none other than the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

[iHeart Podcast]

Okay, well yes, it's right there in the tit. This episode is brought to you by the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5.

[Rodney Williams]

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.

[iHeart Podcast]

I feel like sometimes being broke is a cycle and that we might have.

[Rodney Williams]

To revisit that and we're not stopping at success stories.

[Georgia Hardstark]

What happens when it doesn't go right?

[Ryan Seacrest]

How do you cope with it?

[Rodney Williams]

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.

[Travis Holloway]

Stuck in the same day to day routine. Wake up, go to work, eat, sleep, repeat. Break through the boredom this summer and download Call of Duty Mobile for free. Enjoy fan favorite maps, modes and operators from classic Call of Duty titles. Plus new mobile exclusive content today. It doesn't have to suck. Cure Your boredom for free with Call of Duty almost anywhere, anytime. Call of Duty Mobile is available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store for free today. Rated M for mature.

[Ted Cruz]

Welcome. It is verdict with Ted Cruz. We can review Ben Ferguson with you. And here are the big stories that you may have missed that we talked about this week. First up, Donald Trump making it very clear to Iran, do not attack Americans or our interests in the Middle East. And if you do, there will be hell to pay. Also, Israel gains air superiority over the entire state of Iran. And now the people of Iran may realize the regime is not as strong as they thought. And finally, Tucker Carlson doesn't believe Iran wants to assassinate or plan to assassinate Donald Trump. It's the week in review and it starts right now. That note that he put out there was very clear because he's saying, hey, hey, we weren't involved in this. And we're going to state that clearly this was Israel doing their thing. But if you think for a moment that you can use this to justify attacking Americans anywhere in the world, there will be hell to pay if you do that.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Yeah. Look, I think if Iran carries out a significant strike on American servicemen and women, then I think America, if they think the bombs coming from Israel are bad, I think they will face massive retaliation. And that's called deterrence. We want them not to strike our servicemen and women. And by the way, that's the difference between Joe Biden, who was so weak he couldn't deter anything. It helps that our enemies are afraid of the commander in chief. That's where actually in the debates about foreign policy, those who argue for isolationism get it wrong. Because if you're so terrified to engage with your enemies, then you end up causing more war. I think Reagan was right. I think Trump is right that when you're strong, when you tell your enemies if you attack and kill Americans, your military leaders are gonna die. What happens is most of the time they say, you know what, we're just not gonna attack. And you end up avoiding war because. Because they're scared of the commander in chief.

[Ted Cruz]

So where does this go from here? And this is where everybody's saying, hey, look, we want an off ramp.

[Ben Ferguson]

Right.

[Ted Cruz]

Like that's something we do want to. We want this. We want to protect lives. But at the same time, Israel is, I think, making it very clear we have no choice but to do this. And we're doing the world a huge service by doing it.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Yeah. So the Israeli government is talking on a timeframe that this could last another Week or two, they're engaged in massive bombings. And at some point, you know, at some point, the question is, how much ordinance do they have, how much capacity do they have to keep bombing, and how many targets do they have? You know, I will say also one of the most significant sites is Fordow. Now, Fordow is a nuclear bunker that is built into the side of a mountain. And it's built deliberately to make it very difficult to strike, to carry out an airstrike. And it's where much of their nuclear research is being conducted. Now, there were reports on Sunday that Israel carried out a strike at Fordow. But at least based on publicly reported material, Israel does not have sufficiently effective bunker buster bombs to be able to take out the deep underground laboratories at Fordow. And so one of the open questions is, to the best of my knowledge, the only military that has those bombs is the United States. We have really big bunker busters that are made to take out deep, deep underground facilities like the Ford Owl nuclear facilities. And so one open question I have for a long time called for the United States to make those bunker busters available to Israel. I think taking out Fordow makes a lot of sense. I think if Israel does it. And by the way, I'll point out, look, Israel is, Is. Is a small country. Israel is about the size of the state of New Jersey. And they are fighting against our enemies, our enemies who have pledged they want to murder us, and they're doing so at great risk to themselves. And so that is something to be grateful for. But understand, they're taking out Iran's nuclear capabilities is very, very good for America because it makes America safer. And I think if Israel finishes the job of taking out their nuclear capability, I think this. These attacks likely end within the next couple of weeks.

[Ted Cruz]

You look at Donald Trump saying we can probably get a deal done is that after we accomplish the mission, if you're reading between the lines here, I mean, you've spoken with them, Is this a. That we gotta allow our ally Israel to do what they need to do in that timeframe as well.

[Ryan Seacrest]

So, listen, I'm skeptical that Iran will ever, ever cut a real deal. I don't think you could negotiate with crazy, and I think these people are crazy. And so I think one of the things that would enhance American security massively is to see the ayatollah fall and to see the mullahs lose power, to see different leadership come to Iran. I think that would make Israel much safer. I think that would make America much safer. And I think that would make the Iranian people better off. Now, let me be clear. I'm not advocating that we send in a bunch of American soldiers to make that happen. I am advocating that we use maximum pressure and economic sanctions to pressure the regime in a way that might encourage this regime to fall. Because I think that they have demonstrated that they are homicidal and murderously directing their urges towards killing Americans. And so removing people from power who are trying to kill Americans makes America safer.

[Ted Cruz]

Let me also go back to something you mentioned earlier, and this seems to clearly be part of Israel's strategy, which is you go after and take out people that are, in essence, holding down the people and silencing the people in Iran in the leadership roles. That's part of who they seem to be going after. That could be huge for allowing what you just described to actually happen, a revolution within Israel, or I should say, within Iran.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Well, and listen, one of the conscious choices that it appears that Israel made was not to target the Ayatollah himself. And I don't have. I have no classified information, by the way. Yeah.

[Ted Cruz]

Out of curiosity.

[Ryan Seacrest]

So I don't know for sure. I have no classified information on this, but I can give an educated guess, which is that taking out the leader of a country through military forces is a significant step. Now, mind you, the Ayatollah is perfectly fine hiring hitmen to try to murder Donald Trump. So the Ayatollah has no problem doing it. And I have no doubt that if the Ayatollah could. Could murder Prime Minister Netanyahu, he would do so in the blink of an eye. He has not been able to do so. But I think the Israelis, given their success in taking out everyone else, I think it's reasonable to assume that they would have had a real prospect of taking the Ayatollah out had they chosen to do so. My guess is that they made a decision that taking out the leader of the country could backfire, especially given that he is also a religious leader, and you run into a danger of potentially making him a martyr. And it is not clear if you toppled him in those circumstances, you might get a younger theocratic lunatic take over instead. And so I think it is a reasonable decision for Israel to say, rather than target the Ayatollah directly, let's take out every one of their top military officers that they would use to prosecute a war. And by the way, those are the same people they use to push down an uprising, to oppress their people and so degrading their capabilities. It's what they've done with Hezbollah. They've taken out their top leadership. It's what they've done. It's what they've done with Hamas. And I'll tell you, on Saturday, Israel conducted a strike in Yemen, killing the Houthi chief of staff, Muhammad Abdul Karim Al Gamari, who was responsible for overseeing Houthi military operations and directing the procurement and deployment of a number of weapon systems for them. The Houthis are another arm of Iran. And so what Israel has done is, is weakened Iran on every front and that oppressive infrastructure, their ability to wage war, their ability to kill Israelis, their ability to kill Americans, their ability to fund terrorism, and their ability to suppress their people, all of those are substantially weakened. That's a very good thing.

[Ted Cruz]

Final question for you on this is as we move forward through this week, I think it's pretty obvious the media is obsessed with Donald Trump somehow not standing with Israel or trying to drive a wedge. Do you think there's any chance at all that can happen? Because in the early questions, it was almost like, you guys are idiots. Come on.

[Ryan Seacrest]

I think President Trump has been the strongest pro Israel president in the history of America. It's an exact contrast with Joe Biden. Joe Biden was the most anti Israel president in the history of America. The fact that they occurred back and back. You want to talk about whiplash, you'll recall we did this podcast when Bibi came to Washington and I met with him for about two hours. He is a good friend. I have not spoken to Bibi since this war broke out, although I did speak with the Israeli ambassador to the United States on Thursday night, the night the war began. And listen, their successes are significant, but they have the complete backing of the Trump administration, and that is important. I do think there are some voices within the administration that are pressing back. And part of the reason I talked to President Trump today was to say what you're doing is exactly right. You're making America safer by allowing Israel to take out Iran's nukes, and you're also protecting American servicemen and women. Keep doing it. And he agreed emphatically.

[Ted Cruz]

Now, if you want to hear the rest of this conversation, you can go back and listen to the full podcast from earlier this week.

[Karen Kilgariff]

You know what's great about your investment account with the big guys? It's actually a time machine. Log in and zoom. Welcome back to 1999. It's time for an upgrade. At public.com you can invest in almost everything, stocks, bonds, options, and more. You could even put your cash to work at an industry leading 4.1% APY. Leave your clunky, outdated platform behind at public go to public.com and fund your account in 5 minutes or less. Pay for by Public Investing Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC. Full disclosures at public.com disclosures Ryan Seacrest.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Here When you have a busy schedule, it's important to maximize your downtime. One of the best ways to do.

[Ted Cruz]

That is by going to chumbacasino.com Chumba.

[Ryan Seacrest]

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 live the Chumba Life sponsored by Chumba Casino. No purchase necessary.

[Ben Ferguson]

VGW Group Void where prohibited by law.

[Ryan Seacrest]

21 terms and conditions apply.

[Unknown Speaker]

Looking for a smarter way to teach your child to ride a bike and support American jobs at the same time? Most kids bikes are cheap imports, heavy, clunky and hard for kids to control. Guardian Bikes is changing that assembling bikes right here in the USA with plans for full US Manufacturing in the next few months. It's a commitment to higher quality and American craftsmanship you can trust. Each bike is lightweight, low to the ground and built to help kids learn to ride faster, many in just one day. No training wheels needed. Guardian's patented sure Stop Braking System. One lever stops both wheels, giving your child more control, faster stops and prevents those scary head over handlebar accidents. It's so easy even a 2 year old can do it. If you're ready to support American jobs and keep your kids Safe, head to guardianbikes.com today. You'll save hundreds compared to the competition. Join their newsletter. You'll get a free bike lock and pump. A $50 value. Guardian bikes built in the USA made specifically for kids.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Hey, it's Karen and Georgia from My favorite Murder. Thanks to Hyundai, we got to take a post show drive in the Ioniq 5.

[iHeart Podcast]

We had snacks, laughs and we even recorded a special episode featuring some unforgettable car themed stories.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Take a listen. The Montgomery Bus Boycott Success was dependent on the action and dedication of many individuals. Of course, today we're going to focus on the work of one of those people in particular. A woman in her 30s. And yes, I love her name. It's Georgia Gilmore.

[iHeart Podcast]

Oh yes. Today's story is centered on a group of courageous women dedicated on taking down Hitler during World War II. They banded together to form an all female ambulance corps which became the first unit of its kind to join an official combat division on the Western front. This is the story of the Rohambeau Group, best known by their nickname, the Rohambels.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Oh my God.

[iHeart Podcast]

Right? This episode is brought to you by the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5.

[Travis Holloway]

Stuck in the same daytoday routine that honestly sucks. Wake up, go to work, eat, sleep, repeat. Well, today doesn't have to suck. Get rid of boredom and download Call of Duty Mobile for free. Enjoy fan favorite maps, modes and operators from classic Call of Duty titles. Plus new mobile exclusive content. You can even earn tons of free rewards just for playing. Did we mention you can play for free on your phone almost anywhere, anytime? Call of Duty Mobile local looks and feels incredible. Characters, maps and weapons practically leap off the screen. This game is so smooth, fast and responsive all on your phone. What are you waiting for? Break the boredom loop and play for free. Now. Call of Duty Mobile is available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store today. Rated M for mature.

[Ted Cruz]

Now on to story number two. Let's also talk about what's happened with the air superiority or the lack of security that Iran actually had over their own country. Yes, and, and that could also spell trouble for the leadership in Iran because now the people may realize, wow, we may have been played by these, these, these horrible leaders. And there is total air superiority now by Israel or anybody that wants to go after Iran.

[Ben Ferguson]

So Israel and potentially America have complete air superiority over Iran, and Israel has taken out Iran's air defenses. So they're not able to stop Israeli jets in the air. And the bombers are bombing the hell out of. As of two days ago, there had been over 720 military strikes in Iran. The number's substantially higher. Now, I don't have the current number, but it was 722 days ago. And Iran is not able to do anything about it because their air defenses have been destroyed. And so they're just sitting ducks. They're just. And I will tell you the dynamic. So there's a delicate question. Israel has been able to. And it actually has succeeded in taking out a massive amount of the military leadership of Iran. They have also succeeded in pounding the hell out of Iran's nuclear facilities, like the Natanz facility, which is where they do much of the nuclear enrichment Israel has bombed the living crap out of. The one exception that Israel is not able to take out is the Fordo nuclear research facility. Now, Fordo is built literally in the base of a mountain, and it was built into a mountain particularly to. To withstand a bombing attack. And Israel does not have the military hardware to take out. For now, their bombs are not big enough. America does. We have bunker buster bombs that are £30,000, that are massive bombs that can take out an underground under mountain nuclear facility. Like for now, Israel also does not have bombers that are big enough to carry a 30,000 pound bomb. That's a big ass bomb. And so the B2 bomber which America has is big enough to carry that bomb. Israel doesn't have bombers that big. And so one of the open questions Israel has asked America, will you fly in the B2 bombers and drop your bunker busters on Ford O and take it out? As you and I sit here at 12, what is it? 12:43am on Tuesday night, Wednesday morning, I do not know if President Trump's going to do that. This is being actively debated. It could, by the time this podcast comes out, it is possible that America will drop those bunker busters. I think that is a real possibility in the next few hours, in the next few days. And in my view, with that being.

[Ted Cruz]

Said, then I got to ask this question so that people understand. I said this earlier tonight on Chris Cuomo show and I said on Piers Morgan's show and I said on Fox the same thing. I am not in favor.

[Ben Ferguson]

But Ben, you're going on a lot of lefty shows.

[Ted Cruz]

Pierce, I'm fighting the commies every day.

[Ben Ferguson]

My fight, you know, is, is like, does Bernie Sanders have a show aoc like, like are you going on with.

[Ryan Seacrest]

With Xi of China?

[Ted Cruz]

I'm trying to go with Tucker next, you know, and just see if I can, I can, I can explain them what, what my foreign policy is, but it's, I'm not in favor of putting troops on the ground. Donald Trump's on favor of putting troops around.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Absolutely.

[Ben Ferguson]

No, no, no. No troops on the ground.

[Ted Cruz]

So what we're advocating for is simply this. If America gets involved, it would be to do exactly what you just said it would be to do what Israel can't do. To take out a nuclear drop a couple of bombs threat.

[Ben Ferguson]

Yes, to drop a couple of bombs. To drop a couple of bombs that Israel can't like. Their bombs are not big enough to take out. Fordo and I will say this from a perspective. My overwhelming touchdown is what protects American national security interests, what keeps Americans safer.

[Ryan Seacrest]

It's America first.

[Ben Ferguson]

It's President Trump's foreign policy. That is my foreign policy. And I will say when he and I talked on Sunday, his comment when I was telling him, you're doing a great job, what you're doing is fantastic. His comment is, he said, ted, on foreign policy, you and I are twins.

[Ryan Seacrest]

And that's right.

[Ben Ferguson]

I agree with him on foreign policy. The reason there is, I think, a compelling argument for America to take out Fordo is Fordo, they are doing research on nuclear weapons technology. They're trying to develop nuclear bombs. They're not doing it because the Ayatollah thinks climate change is a problem and he wants to create civilian nuclear power generation. It is entirely creating a bomb that could murder millions of Americans or millions of Israelis.

[Ryan Seacrest]

They put it in the basement of.

[Ben Ferguson]

A mountain because they didn't want to be bombed. Only America can take them out. And I gotta say, I think dropping those bombs, I have zero interest. We will not send boots on the ground. We are not going to invade Iran. And I have zero interest in coming into the country and trying to turn it into a democratic utopia.

[Ryan Seacrest]

We don't.

[Ben Ferguson]

Look, it would be wonderful if Iran woke up tomorrow and it was Switzerland, but I'm not willing to risk your children or my children to go in and fight a war to make that happen. It is a very different calculus to say, should we drop a couple of bombs and take out a lab and facility where they're developing nuclear weapons to murder Americans? And I think that's a compelling argument. And I gotta say, I think there's a real possibility in the next few hours or days that's exactly what's gonna happen.

[Ted Cruz]

Final question on this. If Donald Trump does, in fact, make decision, I actually don't think this is a tough decision or a hard decision. I think it's a simple decision, as you described it, if we must protect the homeland and we must protect our allies at the same time, and we're both a target, and we know what Iran would do if they got a nuclear weapon, and we know that even if they didn't do it, they might give it to their proxies to do it as well. You add all that up, I think this decision is actually pretty clear if the President does that and we move forward. There's also this big obsession in the media now. There's a massive divide in the MAGA world, and this is going to split the Republican Party. I actually think it's going to be a blip and we're going to move back on to all the issues that we do agree on. I'm not taking the bait on that. I want your take on it as well.

[Ben Ferguson]

Yeah, look, so I did Sean Hannity this evening, and Hannity had a poll that just came out that showed 75% of Americans agree with President Trump that we should act against Iran to prevent them from getting a nuclear weapons using. And the question in the poll was whatever means necessary. 75%. I don't know that 75% of Americans agree on butterflies or rainbows or peanut butter and jelly. Like that's a big percentage in today's divided world. And so it is, frankly a handful of people who are disagreeing. Tucker is really an outlier in this and I made the point and we're going to talk about this. Friday's POD is going to be all about this. But, but Tucker used to be 20 years ago, Tucker was a neocon interventionist who was a cheerleader for the Iraq war and he practically had on a short skirt and pom poms. I think the Iraq war was a catastrophic mistake. And so I think he was far too interventionist.

[Ryan Seacrest]

And Tucker does too.

[Ben Ferguson]

He thinks he was wrong. And I respect that. Look, look, intelligent people will assess, change circumstances and be willing to change their position based on the facts. And so I respect that he changed his views. But the point I made is he went from being an interventionist, far too eager to send in the Marines, to being an isolationist who says we should.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Never ever use the military, even when.

[Ben Ferguson]

We'Ve got a lunatic theocratic zealot who.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Is trying to murder Americans and has.

[Ben Ferguson]

Murdered hundreds of Americans. And so I actually think that view is a really fringe view in America. It's a fringe view in maga, and it's a fringe view across the country. And I think the American people want a president who's going to say we will protect ourselves against people who want to kill us. That's exactly what Donald Trump is doing.

[Ted Cruz]

As before, if you want to hear the rest of this conversation on this topic, you can go back and download the podcast from earlier this week to hear the entire thing.

[Karen Kilgariff]

You know what's great about your investment account with the big guys? It's actually a time machine. Log in and zoom. Welcome back to 1999. It's time for an upgrade. At public.com you can invest in almost everything. Stocks, bonds, options and more. You can even put your cash to work at an industry leading 4.1% APY. Leave your clunky, outdated platform behind. @Public.com Go to Public.com and fund your account in five minutes or less. Pay for by Public Investing Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC. Full [e-mail] disclosures looking for a smarter.

[Unknown Speaker]

Way to teach your child to ride a bike and support American jobs. At the same time, most kids bikes are cheap imports, heavy, clunky and hard for kids to control. Guardian Bikes is changing that, assembling bikes right here in the USA with plans for full US manufacturing in the next few months. It's a commitment to higher quality and American craftsmanship you can trust. Each bike is lightweight, low to the ground and built to help kids learn to ride faster, many in just one day. No training wheels needed. Guardian's patented SureStop braking system. One lever stops both wheels, giving your child more control, faster stops and prevents those scary head over handlebar accidents. It's so easy even a 2 year old can do it. If you're ready to support American jobs and keep your kids Safe, head to guardianbikes.com today. You'll save hundreds compared to the competition. Join their newsletter. You'll get a free bike lock and pump. A $50 value guardian bikes built in the USA made specifically for kids hey.

[Georgia Hardstark]

It'S Karen and Georgia from my favorite Murder. Thanks to Hyundai, we got to take a post show drive in the Ioniq 5.

[iHeart Podcast]

We had snacks, laughs and we even recorded a special episode featuring some unrest unforgettable car themed stories.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Take a listen. The Montgomery Bus Boycott Success was dependent on the action and dedication of many individuals of course. But today we're going to focus on the work of one of those people in particular. A woman in her 30s. And yes, I love her name. It's Georgia Gilmore.

[iHeart Podcast]

Oh yes. Today's story is centered on a group of courageous women dedicated on taking down Hitler during World War II. They banded together to form an all female ambulance corps which became the first unit of its kind to join an official combat division on the Western front. This is the story of the Rochambeau Group, best known by their nickname the Rochambelles. Oh my God, right? This episode is brought to you by the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5.

[Travis Holloway]

Stuck in the same day to day routine that honestly sucks. Wake up, go to work, eat, sleep, repeat. Well, today doesn't have to suck. Get rid of boredom and download Call of Duty Mobile for free. Enjoy. Fan favorite maps, modes and operators from classic Call of Duty titles. Plus new mobile exclusive content. You can even earn tons of free rewards just for playing. Did we mention you can play for free on your phone almost anywhere, anytime. Call of Duty Mobile looks and feels. Incredible characters, maps and weapons practically leap off the screen. This game is so smooth, fast and responsive all on your phone. What are you waiting for? Break the boredom loop and play for free now. Call of Duty Mobile is available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store today. Rated M for mature.

[Rodney Williams]

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.

[Ted Cruz]

I want to get back to the big story number three of the week you may have missed. I want to get back into the Tucker Carlson interview that you did and center. There was some interesting themes that came out of this interview. He was obviously attacking you. He was attacking Israel. He was attacking groups that support Israel. But then there was an even weirder point where I think Tucker probably is hoping that we don't play this or that people didn't watch the whole interview and hear this part. It was about the Iranian regime. They've been trying to murder Donald Trump. They've hired hitmen. They've been trying to hire hitmen. They've come after former cabinet members of Donald Trump. And when you brought it up, he acted like he'd never heard of this before and that you were either lying or this is shocking news to him.

[Ben Ferguson]

Yeah, this was utterly bizarre. And I gotta say, in the whole course of the two hour interview, this was the strangest portion. For the last two years, Iran has been actively trying to murder President Donald Trump. Iran has hired hitmen to murder President Trump. Iran also has been trying to murder Mike Pompeo, President Trump's former Secretary of State, John Bolton, President Trump's former National security Adviser, and Brian Hook, President Trump's former Assistant Secretary of State. All of them, Iran has hired hitman and has been targeting them. Bizarrely, and this has been widely reported. These are objective facts. But bizarrely, Tucker Carlson insisted this has never happened. Here, give a listen.

[Unknown Speaker]

I just want to pull that thread, cuz it's so important. I voted for Donald Trump. I campaigned for Donald Trump. He's our president and we're on the cusp of a war. So if Iran, if there's evidence that Iran paid hitmen to kill Donald Trump and is currently doing that, where is that? Like, what are you even talking? I've never heard that before. Okay, where's the evidence? Who are these people? Why haven't they been arrested? Why are we not at war with Iran?

[Ben Ferguson]

That's a great question to ask.

[Unknown Speaker]

How do you know that that's true?

[Ben Ferguson]

We know that it's true because we have been told that by the military and our intelligence community for the last two years.

[Unknown Speaker]

We, meaning who?

[Ben Ferguson]

Congress has in the public. I mean, they had multiple testimonies. I can send you testimony.

[Unknown Speaker]

We know the names of the people or where this happened or what they tried to do to kill Trump.

[Ben Ferguson]

We do not. We have not apprehended an Iranian hitman trying to kill him.

[Ryan Seacrest]

We know that Iran is trying to.

[Unknown Speaker]

Do so in the United States.

[Ben Ferguson]

Yes. And by the way, like, Iran, this.

[Unknown Speaker]

Just seems like a huge headline and you're acting like everyone knows this.

[Ryan Seacrest]

I didn't know that Iran put out.

[Ben Ferguson]

A whole video about murdering Trump.

[Unknown Speaker]

Right. But I've never heard evidence that there are hitmen in the United States. I mean, trying to kill Trump. Right now. We should, like, have a nationwide dragnet on this and we should attack Iran immediately if that's true, don't you think?

[Ben Ferguson]

No.

[Unknown Speaker]

If they're trying to assassinate our president.

[Ben Ferguson]

They have been for two years, then.

[Unknown Speaker]

Why are we at war with them?

[Ben Ferguson]

Well, we are trying to.

[Unknown Speaker]

Why don't we just nuke Tehran if they're trying to murder our president? There's nothing that you could do that would be worse for the United States than murdering Trump. And I just don't understand why you're not calling for the use of nuclear weapons against the Ayatollah right now.

I'm serious.

If you really believe there's nuclear weapons, whatever part of the problem of. So you don't seem to take the allegations seriously. I do. If you believe they're trying to murder Trump, we need to stop what we're doing and punish them.

[Ted Cruz]

I mean, insanely bizarre. We went from let's not do anything to oh, they're trying to kill Trump. Well, if that's true, let's just nuke them.

[Ben Ferguson]

So you're right. The entire two hours, Tucker's position was do nothing on Iran, do nothing on Iran, do nothing on Iran, do not support Israel, do not support Israel, do not support Israel. But if Iran is trying to murder Trump, then we should nuke them. Okay, Ben, that's absolutely wacky. And look, it's the sign of someone who's not presenting an argument in good faith, no, we should not be nuking Iran. That's not a good idea. And by the way, this is a point where actually facts matter. And part of what was frustrating about this interview is that Tucker just says things that are blatantly false and he doesn't care if they're true or false. So this is an objective fact. I'm going to read to you from a political article on November 8, 2024, not very long ago. Here's the title. Iran ordered an operative to assassinate Trump before the election, federal prosecutors say. The alleged would be assassin is believed to be in Iran and remains at large, prosecutors said. Here's the beginning of the article. The Iranian government ordered an operative to assassinate Donald Trump before the 2024 election, Manhattan federal prosecutors said Friday. The latest in a string of assassination plots directed at the former and future president in recent months. Prosecutors charged Farhad Shaqiri with murder for hire and providing material support to foreign terrorist organization. He is believed to be in Iran and remains at large, prosecutors said. The article continues, quote, According to a criminal complaint unsealed in Manhattan federal Court, Shaqiri said during an FBI interview that in September he was directed by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran to surveil and kill Trump, whom the charging papers identify as victim for. When Shaqiri told an IRGC official that doing so would prove expensive, the official responded that money's not an issue, which Shaqiri understood to mean that the IRGC had previously spent a significant sum of money on efforts to murder victim 4 and was willing to continue spending a lot of money in its attempt to procure victims for assassination, according to the charging papers. So there's literally a Department of justice indictment specifically against an assassin for attempting to murder Trump. There also, by the way, was a separate assassin who was arrested for renting an apartment next to John Bolton, an Iranian assassin that was there to Murder Trump's former national security adviser. And as I noted, the Iranians put out an entire video, a minute and a half video. It's an animated video that shows Donald Trump playing golf and shows the Iranians using a drone attack to kill him. All of that is objectively true. And yet Tucker says, I've never heard a word of it. I don't know anything about this. And I want to play this video right here. This is in Farsi, but I want to play it. And then I'm going to tell you what, what he's saying. So give a listen.

[Ted Cruz]

So let's just be clear. That's the IRGC commander live on Islamic Republic of Iran State tv. And tell people what he just said.

[Ben Ferguson]

Well, his name is Amir Ali Hajazadeh. He's the commander of the irgc. He's on national television, and he says, quote, God willing, we'll be able to KILL Trump, Pompeo, General McKenzie and other U.S. commanders. That's on TV. Now, Tucker spent the entire interview denying that Iran was trying to kill President Trump. That's objectively false. Facts matter. And bizarrely, he said, well, if that fact was true, he thought we should immediately attack Iran and we should nuke Iran. Well, no, that's not the case. We should not nuke Iran. But we should do what President Trump is doing right now, which is support Israel in taking out Iran's nuclear capability and their senior military leadership. That actually makes sense. And I'll tell you that the day after our interview aired, President Trump was asked about the conflict between me and Tucker in the Oval Office. And here, give a listen to the back and forth President Trump had in the Oval with the reporter.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Have you seen the Tucker Carlson Senator Ted Cruz interview?

[Unknown Speaker]

It seems like this issue on whether.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Or not the United States should strike is kind of dividing a lot of your supporters.

[Ben Ferguson]

No, my supporters, affirmative.

[Ted Cruz]

My supporters are America first. They make America great again.

[Ben Ferguson]

My supporters don't want to see Iran.

[Ted Cruz]

Have a nuclear weapon. Tucker's a nice guy.

[Ben Ferguson]

He called, apologized the other day because.

[Ted Cruz]

He thought, he said things were a.

[Ben Ferguson]

Little bit too strong. And I appreciated that. And Ted Cruz is a nice guy. I mean, he's been with me for a long time. I'd say once the race was over, he's been with me ever since.

[Ted Cruz]

Right, but very simple.

[Ben Ferguson]

If they think that it's okay for Iran to have a nuclear weapon, then they should oppose me.

[Ted Cruz]

But nobody thinks it's okay. This goes back to the very beginning and why I think Tucker was so hostile. He wanted a distraction from the fact that he had messed up with Trump. He had to call Trump and apologize. And he thought, all right, if I just go after Ted Cruz, maybe that'll fix all my problems. I don't think it worked well.

[Ben Ferguson]

And look, the reason that Tucker had to apologize to Trump is that he had been publicly blasting Trump. He said Trump was complicit in Israel's war. And he said what Trump was doing was not America first. And President Trump tweeted out and said, look, I'm the one who created America first and I decide what it is. And allowing Iran to have a nuclear weapon, that is not America first. And that's exactly what President Trump said in the Oval. You know what's amazing? We've laid out the facts that is undisputed. By the way, out of 100 senators, all 100 agree that Iran is trying to murder President Trump, even the looniest, even Bernie Sanders, even Elizabeth Warren doesn't dispute that Iran is trying to murder Trump because it's an objective fact. I've laid them out, those facts out repeatedly. You know, Tucker has not responded once to that. He has not said, oh, I was wrong on that. He hasn't said, oh, well, gosh, I said, if that was the case, we should attack Iran immediately and nuke them. Which, by the way, to be clear, we should not. At the end of the day, facts matter. And the good news is the commander in chief's job is to be clear eyed and do what is necessary to keep America safe. President Trump is doing that. I spoke to him just a few days ago And I said, Mr. President, thank you. Thank you for standing with Israel. Thank you for standing up for America. Thank you for defending our servicemen and women. You notice Iran has not attacked our servicemen and women because the President has made clear the consequences would be massive for doing so. And President Trump right now is being strong and resolute and I'm proud to stand with the President that he is doing exactly the right thing. He is embodying America first and he's keeping this country safe.

[Ted Cruz]

As always, thank you for listening to Verdict with Senator Ted Cruz, Ben Ferguson with you. Don't forget to download my podcast and you can listen to my podcast every other day. You're not listening to Verdict or each day when you listen to Verdict afterwards. I'd love to have you as a listener to again the Ben Ferguson Podcast. And we will see you back here on Monday morning.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Hey, it's Karen and Georgia from My favorite Murder. Thanks to Hyundai. We got to Take a post show drive in the Ionic five.

[iHeart Podcast]

We had snacks, laughs and we even recorded a special episode featuring some unforgettable car themed stories.

[Georgia Hardstark]

Take a listen. I'm gonna tell you a story today, Karen. It's about a pivotal role that cars played in none other than the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

[iHeart Podcast]

Okay, well, yes, it's right there in the title, right? This episode is brought to you by the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5.

[Karen Kilgariff]

You know what's great about your investment account with the big guys? It's actually a time machine. Log in and zoom. Welcome back to 1999. It's time for an upgrade. At public.com you can invest in almost everything. Stocks, bonds, options and more. You could even put your cash to work at an industry leading 4.1% APY. Leave your clunky, outdated platform behind at public.com go to public.com and fund your account in five minutes or less. Pay for by Public Investing Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC. Full [e-mail] disclosures I'm Rodney Williams.

[Rodney Williams]

And I'm Travis Holloway. Welcome to the wealthbreak Podcast, a real conversation about finance. Let's be honest, building weft doesn't look the same for everyone.

[iHeart Podcast]

I feel like sometimes being broke is a cycle and that we might have.

[Rodney Williams]

To revisit that and we're not stopping at success stories.

[Georgia Hardstark]

What happens when it doesn't go right?

[Ryan Seacrest]

How do you cope with it?

[Rodney Williams]

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.

[Travis Holloway]

Stuck in the same day to day routine. Wake up, go to work, eat, sleep, repeat. Break through the boredom this summer and download Call of Duty Mobile for free. Enjoy fan favorite maps, modes and operators from classic Call of Duty titles plus new mobile exclusive content Today doesn't have to suck. Cure your boredom for free with Call of Duty almost anywhere, anytime. Call of Duty Mobile is available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store for free today. Rated M for Mature, the Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration in the United States.

[Ted Cruz]

Recipients have done the improbable, the unexpected.

[Travis Holloway]

Showing immense bravery and sacrifice in the.

[Ted Cruz]

Name of something much bigger than themselves.

[Unknown Speaker]

This medal is for the men who.

[Ted Cruz]

Went down that day on Medal of Honor. Stories of Courage. Yul hear about these heroes and what.

[Travis Holloway]

Their stories tell us about the nature of bravery.

[Ben Ferguson]

Listen to Medal of Honor on the.

[Ted Cruz]

Iheartradio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast.

[iHeart Podcast]

This is an iHeart podcast.