Verdict with Ted Cruz - Episode Summary

Episode: "Kamala Says Being Gay or Jewish was a Disqualifier from Being her VP Candidate plus Kimmel BACK on ABC"
Date: September 24, 2025
Hosts: Senator Ted Cruz and Ben Ferguson

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode dives into the fallout from Kamala Harris’ explosive book release, where Harris reveals that she considered but ultimately rejected Pete Buttigieg and Josh Shapiro as vice-presidential running mates—citing Buttigieg’s sexuality and Shapiro’s Jewish identity as political liabilities. Senators Cruz and co-host Ferguson scrutinize these revelations, analyzing what it means for the Democratic Party’s professed values of diversity, inclusion, and tolerance. Additionally, the episode addresses Jimmy Kimmel's controversial return to ABC after making misleading statements about the Charlie Kirk assassination and features a comedic segment involving Jon Stewart’s satire of Ted Cruz.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Kamala Harris’ Book Revelations

Kamala's self-praise, frustration with the Democratic Party, and the exclusion of Buttigieg and Shapiro as VPs.

• Harris’ new book is described as “scorched earth,” throwing various Democratic colleagues under the bus and portraying herself as the only viable candidate ([03:06]).
• Cruz summarizes:

  “She admits that she didn't pick Pete Buttigieg as vp. Why? Because he's gay. And she didn't pick Josh Shapiro as vp. Why? Because he's Jewish... But remember, we're the party of tolerance and inclusion.” ([03:38])

Buttigieg Exclusion

• Harris considered Buttigieg her first choice but decided it was “too big a risk for a black woman to run with a gay man” ([07:07]).
• Cruz and Ferguson highlight Harris’ statement:

  “‘Buttigieg would have been an ideal partner if I were a straight white man. But we were already asking a lot of America to accept a woman, a black woman, a black woman married to a Jewish man.’” ([07:07])

• Cruz critiques the Democratic Party as being intolerant at its core, saying Harris blames her election loss on the country’s supposed racism rather than the administration’s policies.

Shapiro Exclusion

• Harris eliminated Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro despite his electability in a critical swing state, citing concerns about antisemitism within the Democratic base and fear of pro-Hamas protests ([14:36]).
• Quoting Harris:

  “We talked about how to handle the attacks he'd confronted on Gaza and what effect it might have on the enthusiasm we were trying to build. Big protests at the convention were a major concern.” ([16:18])

• Cruz observes that, per Harris’ own writing, being gay (Buttigieg) or Jewish (Shapiro) were effectively disqualifiers for her VP choice, due to fears about the Democratic electorate’s response.

2. Kamala’s Appearance on Rachel Maddow

Confrontation over exclusion of Buttigieg; Maddow’s disappointment and Kamala’s awkward defense.

• Ferguson introduces a tense Maddow-Kamala interview segment ([10:06]).
• Maddow questions:

  “To say that [Buttigieg] couldn't be on the ticket effectively because he was gay, it's hard to hear.”

• Harris attempts to redirect, saying:

  “No, no, no, that's not what I said... It wasn’t about any prejudice on my part. But…with such a short period of time and the stakes so high…maybe I was being too cautious…But that’s the decision I made.” ([10:22-13:11])

• Cruz mocks this reasoning, arguing that Harris is transferring blame for prejudice onto voters, especially within her own party ([13:11]).

3. Broader Implications and Commentary

Who qualifies as a candidate in the Democratic Party? Hypocrisy accusations; analysis of Harris and Biden relationship.

• Cruz and Ferguson express confusion and irony over the eliminations, with Ferguson asking:

  “Who does qualify to be president? So is it just only people that are straight white guys? I'm really confused now in the New Party of the Democratic, like who is an appropriate candidate?” ([18:22])

• Cruz jokes that Kamala settled on "the weirdest white guy"—Tim Walz—as her VP ([18:48]), lampooning the performative nature of identity politics in the Democratic selection process.
• The hosts revisit old Democratic primary dynamics—how Biden, in the wake of the George Floyd killing and the ensuing summer of unrest, was “boxed in” to choosing a black woman as VP, with Harris the only Senate-level option ([24:50-26:38]).

Notable Quotes

• Cruz:

  “Democrats are at their Core racist. They are at their core deeply bigoted.” ([07:07])

• Cruz (on Shapiro elimination):

  “Shapiro was vetoed because he’s Jewish, and Buttigieg was vetoed because he’s gay. That is her own confession written in her own book.” ([18:22])

4. Kimmel's Return and Free Speech Analysis

Cruz and Ferguson discuss late-night host Jimmy Kimmel’s return to ABC after subjecting viewers to misleading commentary on the Charlie Kirk assassination.

• Ferguson:

  “We thought they actually had done the right thing and were willing to say that…it’s no Jimmy Kimmel… but it’s a sentence of going on a vacation for about six days.” ([35:43])

• Cruz highlights the danger in Kimmel’s misinformation:

  “He engaged in active disinformation. His sort of joke…was that the murderer of Charlie Kirk was a right wing MAGA guy. Now that's a lie and it's a lie with consequence.” ([36:34])

• Cruz discusses market vs. government remedies:

  “The federal government, the FCC, should not be threatening the licenses of ABC in order to force them to take someone off the air. Even someone incredibly unfunny with terrible ratings…” ([48:56])

• Both hosts agree market forces should handle Kimmel, noting 66 ABC affiliates refused to air his program. Cruz reiterates the risk of empowering the government against speech, even he disagrees with, referencing his opposition to Biden FCC attempts to de-license FOX News.

5. Comic Relief: Jon Stewart Roasts Ted Cruz

Cruz plays and praises a Daily Show segment where Jon Stewart satirizes his pop culture references and Senate speeches.

• Cruz:

  “Jon Stewart did a whole riff on the Daily show blasting me and it was funny as hell... Stewart is actually funny.” ([39:52])

• Stewart lampoons Cruz’s attempts at impersonations and movie references, drawing laughter from both hosts ([41:05-45:37]).
• Ferguson and Cruz express appreciation for genuine comedy—even at Cruz’s expense—contrasting Stewart’s humor with Kimmel’s partisanship.

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Kamala Book Introduction & Main Claims: [03:06–07:07]
• Kamala on Buttigieg & Maddow Interview: [09:54–13:11]
• Shapiro Exclusion & Commentary on Party Bigotry: [14:36–18:22]
• Biden-Harris VP Selection Dynamics: [24:40–28:12]
• Kimmel Back on ABC/Charlie Kirk Discussion: [35:43–48:56]
• Jon Stewart’s Satirical Take on Ted Cruz: [39:52–45:35]

Notable Quotes

• Ted Cruz:

  "She said, if he weren’t gay...he’d be on the ticket. She decided he couldn’t be on the ticket because he’s gay." ([13:56])

• Rachel Maddow (to Kamala Harris):

  "To say that he couldn’t be on the ticket effectively because he was gay, it’s hard to hear..." ([10:22])

• Ferguson:

  "Who does qualify to be president? ... like who is an appropriate candidate? That’s what I want to know." ([18:22])

• Cruz (on market forces):

  “…market forces are a great check for horrific, unfunny, partisan, dishonest speech…” ([48:56])

• Cruz (on Democrats):

  "They are bean counters. Nobody is an individual. You are not a human being. In their book. You are a white, male, southerner, conservative. You don’t even exist.” ([24:49])

Overall Tone

The conversation is acerbic, biting, and highly critical of the Democratic Party, Kamala Harris, and Jimmy Kimmel, laced with the hosts’ characteristic sarcasm and pop culture riffs. There's a willingness to laugh at their own expense (e.g., via Jon Stewart’s roast), but an underlying seriousness in dissecting issues of inclusion, bigotry, and free speech.

Conclusion

This episode offers an in-depth and provocative breakdown of Kamala Harris’ book, raising questions about the Democratic Party's real views on diversity and inclusion, and featuring spirited, sometimes comedic, discussions on media honesty, internal party conflicts, and the consequences of politicizing identity.

For those interested in conservative analysis of current events with a personal, sometimes humorous touch, this episode is both instructive and engaging.