Verdict with Ted Cruz

"Labeling the Muslim Brotherhood, AI needs a Soft Touch plus Cruz Calls Out Carlson & Qatar Week In Review"

Date: December 13, 2025
Hosts: Senator Ted Cruz, Ben Ferguson

Episode Overview

This Week in Review episode dives into three major stories:

1. The push to officially designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization in the US.
2. The national security implications of AI’s rapid development and the need for a streamlined regulatory framework.
3. Tucker Carlson’s controversial trip to Qatar and concerns about foreign influence in US conservative circles.

Senator Cruz and Ben Ferguson frame these topics as both urgent for national policy and as calls to action for their conservative audience, encouraging listener engagement and advocacy.

1. The Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Designation Push

[02:36–11:29]

Key Discussion Points

• Background & Ongoing Efforts:

  • Cruz recounts his decade-long battle to get the US government to designate the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist group.
  • Previous attempts failed due to "deep state, State Department operatives" arguing not all affiliates could be clearly proven as terrorist entities.

• Strategic Shift ('Bottom-Up' Approach):

  • Quote: “So in Trump 2, I inverted the entire approach. Rather than being top down, let's start bottom up.” (Cruz, 04:58)
  • New legislation targets individual affiliates with clear evidence first — for example, Hamas in Palestine.

• Progress Under the Trump Administration:

  • President Trump announced designations for certain affiliates, aligning with Cruz’s legislative framework.

• Congressional Hurdles:

  • House Foreign Affairs Committee recently weakened Cruz’s bill by removing the direct designation authority.
  • Frustration with colleagues' reluctance about Congress’ role in foreign terrorist designations:
    • Quote: "I find that argument to be specious..." (Cruz, 07:42)

• Bipartisan & International Context:

  • Many US allies (Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Kenya) already designate the Brotherhood as a terrorist group.
  • Emphasizes that following suit would not alienate allies but align with them.

Memorable Quotes

• Cruz's Clarity on Threat:
  “The Muslim Brotherhood is a radical jihadist global terror network. They are funding jihadists in countries across the globe.” (Cruz, 10:37)
• Call to Action:
  • Ben Ferguson: “This is when you say, ‘I'm going to take a moment, I'm going to send an email. I'm going to call my senator, I'm going to call my congressman.’” (02:50)

Timestamps

• 02:36 — Introduction to the Muslim Brotherhood topic and call for grassroots action.
• 03:58 — Cruz discusses legislative and executive efforts.
• 06:54 — Senate committee discussion on congressional authority.
• 08:50 — US allies’ alignment on the Brotherhood.
• 10:37 — Cruz's summary and direct warning.

2. AI, National Security, and the Executive Order

[14:40–25:16]

Key Discussion Points

• The Stakes of the AI Race:

  • US vs. China: Whoever wins will “export their values” into AI.
  • Quote: “If you want AI to be defined by the values of China... then you want China to win. If you want it to be free speech and free enterprise... then you want America to win.” (Cruz, 15:45)

• AI and Regulatory Philosophy:

  • Trump and Cruz are pushing for a “light touch” federal standard—preempting heavy and confusing state-level regulations.
  • Comparison to the 1990s Internet boom, where light regulation led to tech and economic dominance for the US.

• Economic and Job Creation Context:

  • AI as the “single most important economic battle” for the US.
  • Acknowledgment of AI’s disruptive potential, but emphasis on opportunity and necessity of US victory.

Trump’s Take (Audio Clip, Paraphrased)

• The executive order ensures a single federal approval process for AI to avoid a patchwork of state rules (16:50–19:49).
• Critiques on state leaders potentially hindering progress—“Especially if you have some hostile [state] actor... you wouldn’t be able to do it.” (Trump, 18:30)

Memorable Quotes

• Historical Parallel:
  “The result was incredible economic growth and jobs in the United States. At the same time, the European Union took a very heavy handed regulatory approach. Here's an amazing statistic ... Today, America’s economy is more than 50% larger than Europe’s. And the two drivers... tech and the shale revolution.” (Cruz, 22:09)
• On Disruption & Leadership:
  “AI. It's going to produce disruption... But it's also going to create millions of jobs... I stood side by side with Donald Trump saying America is going to win the race for AI. We're going to beat China.” (Cruz, 24:05, 25:05)

Timestamps

• 14:40 — Ben introduces urgency of the US/China AI race.
• 15:38 — Cruz details the economic and security stakes.
• 17:16 — Trump explains the executive order.
• 20:07 — Cruz and Ferguson discuss regulatory philosophy and parallels to the Internet era.
• 21:43 — Cruz delivers core argument for a US-led future in AI.
• 24:05 — Economic and geopolitical implications summarized.

3. The Qatar Controversy & Conservative Influence

[28:27–41:57]

Key Discussion Points

• Qatar’s Influence Operations:

  • Qatar spends millions lobbying the US and funding social media bots, anti-Semitic content, and campus protests.
  • Cruz frames Qatar as “profoundly hostile to America” and an ally of terrorist organizations such as Hamas.

• Tucker Carlson’s Visit:

  • Tucker Carlson attends the Doha Forum and interviews the Qatari Prime Minister.
  • Cruz publicly calls on Carlson to ask pointed questions about Qatar’s support for terrorism, Al Jazeera, treatment of women, and funding of US campus protests.
  • Quote: “Tucker knows how to ask tough questions. Here are a few he should ask...” (Cruz, paraphrasing his tweet, 30:22)

• On Female Rights in Qatar:
  “The rights of women are severely limited in Qatar. Males are treated as the decision makers... The rights of women are severely diminished.” (Cruz, 32:56)

• Carlson’s Exchange with Qatari PM:

  • Carlson: “I am... buying a place in Qatar... to make a statement that I'm an American and a free man, and I'll be wherever I want to be...” (Carlson, as quoted by Cruz, 35:03)
  • Prime Minister: “Thank you. Just ask me whatever you want me to do for you, I will do it.” (Qatari PM, 35:31)

• Critique of Carlson:

  • Cruz and Ferguson accuse Carlson of failing to challenge Qatar’s authoritarian regime; pattern seen in his interviews with global adversaries.
  • “He does not ask a single question defending America. Instead, he just embraces leaders that are doing enormous damage to Americans.” (Ferguson, 41:36)

Notable Quotes

• Direct Accusation:
  “I think Tucker Carlson has become the most dangerous demagogue in America. I think he's doing enormous damage...” (Cruz, 29:49)
• On Lobbying:
  “Qatar pays two to three times as much [as AIPAC] in lobbying... Qatar spends hundreds of millions of dollars lobbying the United States government.” (Cruz, 37:37)

Timestamps

• 28:27 — Introduction to Qatar and the controversy around conservative influencers.
• 29:32 — Detailed background on Qatar’s influence operations.
• 30:22 — Cruz’s Twitter challenge to Carlson.
• 31:37 — Qatar’s support for Hamas and context for women’s rights.
• 34:45 — Excerpt from Carlson interview with the Qatari PM.
• 37:29 — Discussion on Qatar lobbying, AIPAC, and Carlson’s priorities.
• 38:45 — Critique of Carlson’s pattern in interviews with adversarial leaders.
• 40:51 — Ferguson and Cruz discuss motivations for Carlson’s uncritical stance.

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• On the Importance of American Leadership in AI:
  “This is the economic battle of the 21st century... America is going to win the race for AI. We're going to beat China.” (Cruz, 25:05)
• On US Allies and the Brotherhood:
  “These are our allies and partners in the Middle east and Africa. And there’s a pernicious narrative that doing the same thing they've done... will somehow alienate these partners.” (Cruz, 08:50)
• On Qatar’s Influence:
  “Qatar spends hundreds of millions of dollars lobbying the United States government, the United States Congress... They are profoundly hostile to America.” (Cruz, 29:32)
• On Carlson’s Interview Style:
  “If you're an enemy of America who wants to murder Americans, he will not ask you a single hostile question.” (Cruz, 34:38)

Episode Structure & Flow

1. Grassroots Advocacy: Kickoff encouraging listeners to engage their lawmakers, beginning with the Muslim Brotherhood debate.
2. National Security Through Technology: Transition to a high-level discussion on AI innovation, regulation, and the US-China rivalry.
3. Accountability in Conservative Media: Shift to the Qatar segment, critiquing foreign influence and prominent figures’ perceived complicity.

Summary for New Listeners

This episode serves as a robust defense of conservative national security policy, a call for US leadership in emerging technologies, and a challenge to perceived complacency or complicity among media figures engaging with autocratic regimes. Cruz and Ferguson stress the urgency and gravity of their topics, consistently framing them as both policy imperatives and grassroots action opportunities for their audience.

Useful For:

• Listeners seeking to understand current conservative priorities in foreign policy and technology
• Constituents wanting ways to engage directly with their representatives
• Observers interested in the intersection of media, influence, and geopolitics