Verdict with Ted Cruz: Massive School Choice WIN in Texas & Opportunity for Massive WIN Nationally, plus Stopping a Nuclear Iran
Release Date: May 12, 2025
Hosted by Ben Ferguson and Senator Ted Cruz

1. Celebrating a Significant Victory in Texas School Choice

Ben Ferguson opens the episode by highlighting a monumental achievement in Texas: the passage of the most expansive school choice program in the nation. This victory is poised to have far-reaching implications not only for Texas but also as a model for nationwide implementation.

Senator Ted Cruz elaborates on the significance of this legislation:

"Governor Abbott just signed into law the biggest, the broadest, the most significant school choice program in the entire country. This has been the result of decades of battle and hard work."
[07:02]

The program allocates $1 billion to Education Savings Accounts (ESAs), providing nearly $11,000 per student for approximately 90,000 students statewide. Additionally, children with disabilities can receive up to $30,000. These funds empower parents to choose the best educational environments for their children, whether public, private, or parochial schools.

Key Highlights:

• Scope and Scale: Texas represents about 10% of the U.S. population and school-age children, making this a pivotal move with significant national impact.
• Historical Context: Previously, Texas lagged behind states like Florida, Arizona, and Ohio in advancing school choice. Cruz attributes the success to persistent political efforts and strategic endorsements in crucial primaries.
• Overcoming Opposition: The legislation faced resistance primarily from rural Republicans and teachers' unions. Cruz emphasizes his proactive approach in endorsing candidates who support school choice, even at personal political risk.

"School choice is the civil rights issue of the 21st century."
[10:15]
"When you have to fight for your customers, you end up providing a better product."
[15:27]

2. The Federal Landscape: Expanding School Choice Nationwide

Transitioning to the federal level, Senator Cruz discusses the challenges and opportunities in replicating Texas’s success across the country.

Notable Quote:

"There's just about nothing we could do that would have a bigger legacy than school choice."
[23:23]

Key Points:

• Previous Efforts: In 2017, Cruz successfully amended the Trump tax cuts to allow 529 savings plans to include K-12 education, marking a significant federal step towards school choice.
• Legislative Strategy: Utilizing budget reconciliation, Cruz aims to pass a comprehensive federal school choice bill with purely Republican support, bypassing potential Democratic opposition.
• Proposed Federal Bill: The envisioned legislation includes $10 billion annually in federal tax credits for contributions to state-administered scholarship organizations, totaling $100 billion over a decade. This would facilitate the creation of scholarships across all 50 states without stringent federal oversight.

3. Addressing Misconceptions and Highlighting Benefits

Senator Cruz addresses common criticisms from teachers' unions and opponents who argue that school choice undermines public education. He counters by presenting empirical evidence from existing programs:

Notable Quote:

"The claim that it destroys the public schools is objectively false."
[18:30]

Key Insights:

• Improved Educational Outcomes: Students who take advantage of ESAs often see enhanced academic performance and higher graduation rates.
• Benefits to Public Schools: Increased competition compels public schools to improve, leading to overall better educational standards.
• Long-Term Vision: Cruz views school choice as a transformative civil rights advancement, ensuring that all children have access to quality education regardless of their socioeconomic status.

4. Confronting the Threat of a Nuclear Iran

Shifting focus, the episode delves into the pressing issue of Iran's nuclear ambitions. Senator Cruz underscores the existential threat posed by a nuclear-armed Iran and critiques ongoing negotiations that fail to adequately dismantle Iran's nuclear capabilities.

Notable Quotes:

"Iran must dismantle their program. Is that what you understand?"
[29:59]
"A nuclear Iran is an unacceptable threat of seeing an atomic bomb detonated in the skies of New York or the skies of Los Angeles."
[34:36]

Key Points:

• Current Negotiations: Cruz criticizes efforts reminiscent of the Obama-era nuclear deal, arguing that they fall short of ensuring Iran's complete disarmament.
• Administration Stance: He aligns with President Trump's firm red line, insisting that any deal must entail the total dismantlement of Iran's nuclear infrastructure.
• National Security Risks: Highlighting Iran's aggressive rhetoric and actions, Cruz emphasizes the need for unwavering pressure to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

Discussion with Mark Levin: A segment from Mark Levin's show is played, reinforcing the narrative of Iran's untrustworthiness and the necessity for robust action to prevent nuclear proliferation.

5. Moving Forward: Legislative and Political Strategies

Senator Cruz outlines his strategic approach to garnering support within the Senate for the federal school choice bill:

"We can get it done right now. The Democrats cannot stop it if Republicans stand together."
[23:23]

Key Strategies:

• Party Unity: Emphasizing the importance of Republican cohesion to bypass Democratic obstruction.
• Legacy Building: Framing school choice as a lasting legacy that will positively impact future generations.
• Comprehensive Legislation: Advocating for a multifaceted bill that includes tax cuts, small business support, and, critically, extensive support for educational reform through school choice.

Conclusion

In this episode of "Verdict with Ted Cruz," Senator Cruz and co-host Ben Ferguson celebrate a landmark victory for school choice in Texas, explore the potential for nationwide implementation, and address the pressing threat of a nuclear Iran. Through strategic political maneuvering and unwavering advocacy, they outline a vision for educational reform and national security that seeks to empower parents, uplift public education through competition, and safeguard the nation against existential threats.

Notable Quotes Summary:

• "School choice is the civil rights issue of the 21st century." — Senator Ted Cruz, [10:15]
• "The claim that it destroys the public schools is objectively false." — Senator Ted Cruz, [18:30]
• "A nuclear Iran is an unacceptable threat of seeing an atomic bomb detonated in the skies of New York or the skies of Los Angeles." — Senator Ted Cruz, [34:36]

This summary excludes advertisements, intros, outros, and non-content sections to focus solely on the substantive discussions and insights presented in the episode.