Verdict with Ted Cruz: Episode Summary

Title: Israel vs. Iran, Who's Winning, What's Next & Will America Bomb Fordow
Release Date: June 18, 2025
Host: Senator Ted Cruz
Co-Host: Ben Ferguson
Publisher: Premiere Networks

In this episode, Senator Ted Cruz and co-host Ben Ferguson delve into the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, evaluating the current dynamics, future prospects, and the potential involvement of the United States in military actions against Iran's nuclear capabilities.

1. Current Dynamics of the Israel-Iran Conflict

The episode begins with Senator Cruz outlining the recent developments in the conflict between Israel and Iran. He emphasizes Israel's strategic dominance and the impact of their targeted operations against Iran's military infrastructure.

• Senator Ted Cruz [03:22]:

  "Israel is winning massive victories in Iran that they have decimated Iran's military leadership. We've seen one chief of staff after another after another of Iran's military taken out by Israel."

Cruz highlights the precision of Israel's attacks, noting the elimination of senior military figures and the targeting of nuclear facilities.

• Senator Ted Cruz [07:42]:

  "Israel has been so effective, they literally promote someone, boom, they're dead. Promote someone, boom, they're dead."

2. The Role of the United States and Potential Military Actions

A significant portion of the discussion revolves around the United States' potential role in the conflict, particularly concerning the Fordow nuclear facility.

• Senator Ted Cruz [13:12]:

  "Israel is taking out Iran's nuclear scientist. You have a crazy ayatollah who is a religious zealot who routinely chants death to America and death to Israel. He's trying to build nuclear weapons and ICBMs."

Cruz underscores the threat posed by Iran's nuclear ambitions, stressing the necessity of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

• Senator Ted Cruz [18:28]:

  "President Trump has been incredibly consistent saying Iran will not get a nuclear weapon. Period. The end."

The discussion further delves into the feasibility of the U.S. utilizing bunker-buster bombs to target the Fordow facility, a stronghold built deep within a mountain to resist attacks.

• Senator Ted Cruz [28:27]:

  "Israel does not have the military hardware to take out Fordow for now. Their bombs are not big enough. America does. We have bunker buster bombs that are massive enough to take out an underground mountain facility like Fordow."

3. In-Depth Interview with Tucker Carlson

A pivotal moment in the episode is the detailed recounting of Senator Cruz's recent interview with Tucker Carlson, wherein differing viewpoints on foreign policy emerge.

• Senator Ted Cruz [06:09]:

  "We sat down, we did it in my office, and it started off his first question. He was throwing haymakers at me and he was coming at me. And it was a two-hour interview."

Cruz criticizes Carlson's shift from supporting isolationist policies to attacking former President Donald Trump, especially regarding Iran.

• Senator Ted Cruz [07:28]:

  "He's blasting Trump as complicit in this horrible attack and he keeps saying World War 3 is going to happen."

The conversation highlights the tension between interventionist and isolationist factions within the Republican sphere, with Cruz positioning himself as a "non-interventionist hawk."

• Senator Ted Cruz [09:30]:

  "Traditionally, there have been two poles in Republican foreign policy: interventionist and isolationist. I consider myself a third point on the triangle. I am a non-interventionist hawk."

4. Public Opinion and Polling

Addressing public sentiment, Cruz references a poll from Sean Hannity indicating strong support for action against Iran to prevent nuclear armament.

• Senator Ted Cruz [34:53]:

  "A poll showed 75% of Americans agree with President Trump that we should act against Iran to prevent them from getting nuclear weapons using whatever means necessary."

This statistic serves to reinforce Cruz's stance on active measures against Iran, contrasting it with Carlson's more restrained approach.

5. Potential Outcomes and Future Outlook

As the episode nears its conclusion, Cruz speculates on the near-term actions the U.S. might take, including the possibility of deploying bunker-buster bombs to neutralize Iran's nuclear facilities.

• Senator Ted Cruz [32:09]:

  "Dropping those bombs is a compelling argument. There's a real possibility in the next few hours or days that's exactly what's gonna happen."

Cruz asserts that any direct military intervention would be strategic and limited, avoiding prolonged ground engagements while prioritizing national security interests.

• Senator Ted Cruz [33:27]:

  "I have zero interest in coming into the country and trying to turn it into a democratic utopia. We don't. 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."

6. Conclusion and Upcoming Discussions

The episode wraps up with Cruz teasing a follow-up discussion on Friday, where he plans to delve deeper into his interview with Tucker Carlson and further elaborate on his foreign policy perspectives.

• Senator Ted Cruz [36:52]:

  "Friday's POD is going to be all about this. But Tucker is really an outlier in this and I made the point and we're going to talk about this Friday."

Cruz reaffirms his alignment with President Trump's foreign policy stance, emphasizing a strong, America-first approach to international conflicts.

• Senator Ted Cruz [40:20]:

  "This is an iHeart podcast."

Notable Quotes:

• Senator Ted Cruz [03:22]:
  "Israel is winning massive victories in Iran that they have decimated Iran's military leadership."

• Senator Ted Cruz [07:42]:
  "Israel has been so effective, they literally promote someone, boom, they're dead."

• Senator Ted Cruz [34:53]:
  "A poll showed 75% of Americans agree with President Trump that we should act against Iran to prevent them from getting nuclear weapons using whatever means necessary."

• Senator Ted Cruz [32:09]:
  "Dropping those bombs is a compelling argument. There's a real possibility in the next few hours or days that's exactly what's gonna happen."

This episode provides a comprehensive analysis of the Israel-Iran conflict, highlighting the strategic maneuvers of Israel, the looming threat of Iran's nuclear ambitions, and the nuanced debate within American politics regarding intervention. Senator Cruz advocates for decisive action to safeguard national security while critiquing isolationist tendencies within the right-wing media.