Verdict with Ted Cruz: Episode Summary

Title: Media Rewriting Biden Legacy, The Pardoning of Federal Death Row Inmates & Democrats Kicked Ol' Joe to the Curb Week In Review
Host: Senator Ted Cruz & Co-host Ben Ferguson
Release Date: January 4, 2025

In this episode of "Verdict with Ted Cruz," hosts Senator Ted Cruz and Ben Ferguson delve deep into three major stories dominating the political landscape: the media's portrayal of President Joe Biden's legacy, the controversial pardoning of federal death row inmates, and the Democratic Party's decision to remove Biden from the 2024 presidential race. Through a critical lens, they analyze these events, providing insights and predictions that resonate with their conservative audience.

1. Media's Portrayal of Biden's Legacy

Overview:
Cruz and Ferguson kick off the discussion by scrutinizing an article from The Washington Post, which praises President Biden as an "amazing leader" accomplishing "incredible things." The hosts vehemently challenge the accuracy and objectivity of the piece, labeling it as "hagiography" and a blatant attempt to rewrite history.

Key Points:

• Critique of Media Bias: The hosts argue that major media outlets like The Washington Post are biased in their portrayal of Biden, ignoring his administration's failures.

• Analysis of the Washington Post Article:
  Ben Ferguson dissects the article titled "How Biden Leads Joe Biden's Lonely Battle to Sell His Vision of American Democracy," highlighting what he perceives as misleading narratives and unsubstantiated praise.

  Ben Ferguson [01:12]: "...this entire article is hagiography. This entire article is not journalism. It is not only trying to praise breathlessly, but it is profoundly dishonest."

• Contrasting Biden with Trump:
  The hosts contrast Biden's focus on "substance" with Trump's emphasis on "style," suggesting that while the media lauds Biden's substance, it neglects the tangible shortcomings of his policies.

  Ben Ferguson [06:32]: "...nobody helped Donald Trump get elected more than Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. Because his policies were so incredibly unpopular."

2. Pardoning of Federal Death Row Inmates

Overview:
Transitioning to the second major story, Cruz and Ferguson discuss President Biden's unprecedented decision to pardon 37 out of 40 federal death row inmates. They express deep concern over the implications of these pardons, especially regarding high-profile criminals.

Key Points:

• Fulfillment of Predictions:
  Ben Ferguson reflects on a prediction made in August 2023, where he foresaw Biden commuting death sentences.

  Ben Ferguson [24:56]: "My prediction, it was not 100% right. It was 92.5% right. Because instead of commuting 40 death sentences, Biden commuted 37 out of 40."

• Selective Pardoning:
  The hosts emphasize that only the most notorious individuals, including Khalid Sheikh Mohammed (mastermind of 9/11), were exempt from pardons, suggesting political motivations behind these decisions.

  Ben Ferguson [25:12]: "...this podcast put enormous public pressure on the White House... They're trying to frustrate Donald Trump every way they can."

• Constitutional Concerns:
  Cruz and Ferguson criticize the administration's actions as "grotesque" and a sign of disrespect for the rule of law, questioning the ethical foundations of such widespread pardons.

  Ted Cruz [25:12]: "...they are trying to literally break everything on the way out the door."

3. Democratic Party Removes Biden from the Nomination

Overview:
The final segment addresses the Democratic Party's strategic shift to remove Joe Biden from the 2024 presidential race. Ferguson discusses his long-term prediction that Biden would be jettisoned in favor of either Kamala Harris or Michelle Obama, a scenario that unfolded in July 2024.

Key Points:

• Ferguson's Predictions Validated:
  Ferguson recounts his September 2023 prediction that Biden would not secure the Democratic nomination, highlighting its accuracy as the party moved to replace him shortly before the election.

  Ben Ferguson [35:41]: "I believe the odds are north of 80% that the Democrat Party will remove Joe Biden from the ticket and replace him."
  Ted Cruz [37:08]: "...that prediction came 100% true."

• Potential Successors:
  The discussion explores the possibility of Michelle Obama being parachuted into the race, a theory Ferguson deems both strategic and unifying for the fragmented Democratic base.

  Ben Ferguson [31:27]: "Michelle Obama has the ability to parachute in above all four and say, hey, we're not picking among any of you."

• Impact on the 2024 Election:
  Hosts contemplate how Biden's removal could influence the election's dynamics, suggesting it might prevent a repeat of the 2020 outcome where Biden's policies allegedly hurt the Democratic ticket.

  Ben Ferguson [35:54]: "We broke out prediction that Joe Biden would be removed from the ticket."

4. Additional Insights and Criticisms

Governance Style and Policy Failures:
Cruz and Ferguson critique Biden's governance style, particularly his reliance on traditional processes and institutions, which they argue have been weaponized against political opponents.

• Jake Sullivan's Commentary:
  Quoting Jake Sullivan, they argue Biden operates on a "decades" time horizon, mismatched with the "four-year" political cycle, leading to policy missteps.

  Ben Ferguson [07:02]: "...Jake Sullivan said the President is operating on a time horizon measured in decades, while the political cycle is measured in four years."

• Policy Analysis:
  They contend that Biden's major legislative achievements, such as the Inflation Reduction Act, were passed without bipartisan support, undermining their effectiveness.

  Ben Ferguson [06:32]: "...Biden did not work with Republicans. Every damn thing he passed... through on a vicious party line vote."

5. Conclusion and Call to Action

In wrapping up the episode, Cruz and Ferguson reiterate their skepticism toward the mainstream media's portrayal of Biden and underscore the administration's actions as detrimental to America's future. They urge listeners to remain vigilant and supportive of conservative efforts to "get this country back on track."

Ted Cruz [22:42]: "...you want to know why nobody trusts the media? It's because they publish garbage like this without even a tiny nod to facts."

Notable Quotes:

• Ted Cruz [00:01]: "Welcome. It is Verdict with Ted Cruz and the Week in Review, Ben Ferguson with you."

• Ben Ferguson [01:12]: "...this entire article is hagiography. This entire article is not journalism."

• Ben Ferguson [06:32]: "...nobody helped Donald Trump get elected more than Joseph Robinette Biden Jr."

• Ted Cruz [10:26]: "...the Democratic Party learned nothing from losing the Popular vote."

• Ben Ferguson [24:56]: "My prediction, it was not 100% right. It was 92.5% right."

• Ted Cruz [22:42]: "...nobody trusts the media? It's because they publish garbage like this without even a tiny nod to facts."

Final Thoughts:

This episode serves as a comprehensive critique of President Biden's administration, challenging both media narratives and Democratic strategies. Cruz and Ferguson leverage past predictions and current events to argue that Biden's policies and the Democratic Party's decisions are steering the nation away from prosperity and stability. Their analysis is framed to resonate with listeners who are skeptical of mainstream media and concerned about the current political trajectory.