Reel Justice Redux

Summary

Verdict with Ted Cruz: Episode Summary – "Reel Justice Redux" (February 14, 2025)

Introduction

In the February 14, 2025 episode of "Verdict with Ted Cruz," hosted by Senator Ted Cruz and co-host Ben Ferguson, the duo delves into a nostalgic and heartfelt discussion about their favorite movies. Originally intended to honor Valentine's Day, the episode takes a unique turn as Ben Ferguson falls ill, prompting Ted Cruz to rebroadcast their beloved Christmas Day podcast. This episode, titled "Reel Justice Redux," offers listeners a comprehensive look into Ted and Ben's cinematic passions, personal anecdotes, and the profound impact of storytelling through film.

Valentine's Day Greetings and Podcast Announcement [01:29 – 03:19]

Ted Cruz opens the episode with warm Valentine's Day wishes, encouraging listeners to express love and appreciation to their significant others. Due to Ben Ferguson's unexpected illness, Ted announces the rebroadcast of their favorite Christmas podcast, highlighting its memorable recount of beloved movies. He emphasizes his lifelong love for cinema and invites listeners to immerse themselves in the experience by watching films with their families.

Ted Cruz [01:34]: "I hope you're having a wonderful Valentine's Day... let them know they mean the world to you."

Exploring Favorite Movies [03:19 – 38:36]

1. Building the Movie List [06:50 – 07:05]

Ted Cruz introduces a curated list of 25 movies, acknowledging that these selections are not exhaustive but represent films that have significantly impacted him and Ben. The list is designed to offer a mix of genres, themes, and timeless classics that promise to entertain, inspire, and evoke a range of emotions.

2. Favorite Movies Discussion

• "The Princess Bride" [06:58 – 08:06]:

  Ben Ferguson names "The Princess Bride" as his all-time favorite, praising its exquisite characters and memorable lines. He shares a humorous anecdote about a college drinking game centered around quoting the film, showcasing its enduring popularity and cultural impact.

  Ben Ferguson [07:05]: "I probably watched the Princess Bride... a couple hundred times."

• "The Godfather" Saga [08:12 – 10:26]:

  The conversation shifts to "The Godfather" trilogy, with Ben expressing his admiration for the series' depth and character development. He highlights the challenges of introducing complex dialogue to his young Senate staffers, underscoring the films' sophisticated narratives.

  Ben Ferguson [10:25]: "Leave the gun, take the cannoli."

• "Scarface" and Al Pacino's Performances [10:29 – 11:05]:

  "Scarface" secures the third spot on Ben's list, driven by his appreciation for Al Pacino's iconic portrayal of Tony Montana. Ben connects personally with the film, noting his Cuban heritage and the larger-than-life depiction of his protagonist.

  Ben Ferguson [11:04]: "He has two spots in my top three. I like Pacino."

• "Criminal Minds" vs. "West Wing" [11:05 – 11:21]:

  When asked about his favorite TV shows, Ben favorably contrasts "Criminal Minds" with Ted's selection of "West Wing." While Ted admires the political intricacies of "West Wing," Ben appreciates the procedural depth and character dynamics of "Criminal Minds."

• Comedic Favorites: "Fletch" and "Team America" [11:39 – 17:35]:

  Ben advocates for comedies like "Fletch" and "Team America: World Police," praising their humor and cultural relevance. He recounts a humorous mishap involving Heidi and her parents watching "Team America," emphasizing the film's edgy satire.

• Historical and Inspirational Films: "Amazing Grace," "Unforgiven," and "Hidden Figures" [12:20 – 28:47]:

  The discussion moves to historical dramas and Westerns. Ben highlights "Amazing Grace," detailing its portrayal of William Wilberforce's campaign to abolish the slave trade, and "Unforgiven," commending its subversion of Western tropes. Ted expresses interest in watching these recommended films.

  A particularly poignant moment arises when Ben shares his efforts to honor his mother's legacy by introducing legislation to rename the street in front of NASA headquarters to "Hidden Figures Way," celebrating the African American female mathematicians pivotal to the moon landing.

  Ben Ferguson [27:07]: "And they are going to hear the story of the pioneering African American women who were the mathematicians that got us to the moon."

• Musicals and Broadway Favorites [30:50 – 38:36]:

  Ted and Ben both reveal their appreciation for musicals, listing favorites like "My Fair Lady," "Oliver," "Hamilton," and "Les Misérables." Ben shares personal stories about performing in high school musicals and the emotional impact of songs like "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables" from "Les Misérables." Ted reflects on introducing his parents and daughters to Broadway shows, highlighting the generational and cultural significance of these performances.

  Ted Cruz [35:44]: "Every time. It gets me."

Personal Anecdotes and Legislation Impact

Ben Ferguson intertwines personal narratives with his professional life, illustrating how his love for movies extends beyond leisure into his legislative efforts. His dedication to commemorating "Hidden Figures" culminates in successfully renaming a street near NASA, symbolizing the intersection of art, history, and political action.

Ben Ferguson [27:50]: "And I told the story of the pioneering African American women... they are going to come visit NASA and hear the story."

Conclusion and Future Episodes [38:36 – 40:57]

As the episode wraps up, Ted Cruz and Ben Ferguson encourage listeners to explore their curated list of 25 movies, promising that these selections will provide laughter, inspiration, and emotional resonance. Ted hints at returning to their regular weekend review schedule, assuring listeners that the co-host duo will resume their insightful discussions once Ben recuperates.

Ted Cruz [39:14]: "There you go. That's it. Yeah, I like it."

Notable Quotes

• Ted Cruz [01:34]: "I hope you're having a wonderful Valentine's Day... let them know they mean the world to you."

• Ben Ferguson [07:05]: "I probably watched the Princess Bride... a couple hundred times."

• Ben Ferguson [10:25]: "Leave the gun, take the cannoli."

• Ben Ferguson [27:07]: "And they are going to hear the story of the pioneering African American women who were the mathematicians that got us to the moon."

• Ted Cruz [35:44]: "Every time. It gets me."

Final Thoughts

"Reel Justice Redux" serves as a heartfelt tribute to the power of cinema and its role in shaping personal and political narratives. By sharing their favorite films, Ted Cruz and Ben Ferguson not only entertain but also offer listeners a glimpse into their values, experiences, and the lessons they've drawn from storytelling. This episode underscores the enduring influence of movies in fostering dialogue, inspiring change, and connecting individuals across generations.

Transcript

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[Ted Cruz]

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[Co-host]

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[Ted Cruz]

Terms and conditions apply welcome to Verdict with Ted Cruz.

[Co-host]

This is Ted Cruz.

[Ted Cruz]

I hope you're having a wonderful Valentine's Day. I hope you find the love of your life and give them a hug, give them a kiss and let them know they mean the world to you. Unfortunately, today Ben is sick in bed with a nasty flu. So rather than do our normal pod, what we're going to do is we're going to rebroadcast our Christmas Day pod. And the Christmas Day POD was one. It's one of my favorites. It recounted some of my favorite movies, some of the movies I enjoy watching the most. I am a movie guy. I love movies. I've loved movies my whole life and so I hope today on Valentine's Day you listen to the pod, you enjoy it. Maybe go out and watch a movie and take your wife or husband or boyfriend or girlfriend and have a great time at the movies and we will see you. We'll do our regular weekend review tomorrow on Saturday, and Ben and I will both be back, God willing. And the creek don't rise on Monday morning. Enjoy.

By the way, you're a movie theater guy. Just so people know this.

Oh, I like the real theaters. I like the big screen. I like popcorn and gummy bears and, you know, the experience of being there. And by the way, I'm also rabid about staying until the very end, till the last moment of the credits play. I will not get up and leave. There's a sense of completeness, of appreciating the entirety of the. The movie. And, and so what we decided we'd do today is put together just a compilation of movies that, that I love, that I, that I recommend to you and, and, and hopefully as you're taking some time with your family, maybe you'll go watch one of them and, and laugh or cry and it'll touch you and, and you'll enjoy it. And I think art and storytelling are beautiful, beautiful things.

So with that being said, here are the big shows and the big movies on cinder Cruise's list. Merry Christmas. I get asked all the time from many of you guys that are watching or listening right now, what is Ted Cruz like behind the scenes? So we thought we'd have a little fun. I'm going to ask him some questions, and you're even going to find out what his favorite movies are. Senator, we're going to have a little fun. I get asked all the time when I'm all over the country. It happened this last week in New York. So what is Ted Cruz really like behind the scenes? And I say, I actually, if people got to see the side of you that I know, you're actually really fun to be around, you're also a huge movie buff as well. And so I'm gonna ask some fun questions just to kind of let people know behind the curtain who you really are. So let's start with this. What is the last thing you watched on a plane?

[Co-host]

What is the last thing I watched on a plane was Outer Banks.

[Ted Cruz]

Okay.

[Co-host]

Which is a series. It's a Teeny Bopper series. And it's Phenomen, middle of season three. And there's a reason I'm watching a Teeny Bopper series, which is my youngest daughter, Catherine, loves Outer Banks. She's at camp right now. And when I dropped her off at camp, she said, dad, I want you to watch Outer Banks and I want you to write to me in letters and tell me what you think as the season's progressing. And so I've been regularly, I write to her about every couple of days and I tell her, okay, here's where I am. I'm at this point, I'm at this point, this character just died. Who's your favorite character, J.B. yeah, mine too.

[Ted Cruz]

No, no doubt about it.

[Co-host]

So she asked me that. I'm a little troubled. Her favorite character is JJ who, who is kind of a. Look, I guess if you're a 13 year old girl, he's, you know, he's always doing the dumbest thing imaginable, but he's kind of a. I like John B. John B. Is a good character.

[Ted Cruz]

It's such a fun show. So when you were growing up, what was it that you were watching? High school. College.

[Co-host]

By the way, spoiler alert. I apologize if you haven't seen seen it. I'm going to give a spoiler alert right now. So just fast forward through this if you don't want a spoiler alert. But in season two, when, when, when Ward has blown. Blown up. I knew Ward was not blown up. And so I wrote her, I said, yeah, Ward just died. I'm very confident he's alive. And I remembered they keep scuba gear in the boat. He got in the scuba gear. And then like seven episodes.

[Ted Cruz]

Remember those? You got to figure it out. And you're like, they got to keep this. They got to keep the series.

[Co-host]

So I felt pretty good that I was at least a step ahead of the Teeny Bopper series.

[Ted Cruz]

That's. I like that. So what were you watching in high school? Like, what were your favorite shows? What was your favorite movie growing up? Growing up?

[Co-host]

So I love movies. My parents love movies. Like we would, you know, this is what we do. So every holiday, every Thanksgiving, every Christmas, my family would go out and watch movies.

[Ted Cruz]

Is Die Hard a Christmas movie?

[Co-host]

Of course it is.

[Ted Cruz]

Okay, good.

[Co-host]

Absolutely. Yes. There's only one right answer.

[Ted Cruz]

Okay, good.

[Co-host]

Die Hard is absolutely a Christmas movie. But we would go out and do movies when I was a kid. When I was like 8, 9 years old, my dad would drop me off at the theater all Saturday and I'd watch like five movies. I'd go from one theater to the next to the next and just watch everything there. It's. We all love movies. So what I've done done today for this show is I put together a list of 25 movies. Now, this is not exclusive. This is not the only 25 movies I like. And I don't even know that it's my 25 favorite, but it's 25 awesome movies, which if you haven't watched, I recommend you watch. You will enjoy them, you will laugh, you will be moved, you will get good things from them. So let's go through the 25.

[Ted Cruz]

Well, I gotta ask one more question for you. 25. What movie have you watched the most in your life over and over again?

[Co-host]

Well, that actually happens to be number one on the list.

[Ted Cruz]

I knew it. I like this.

[Co-host]

So my favorite movie of all time is the Princess Bride.

[Ted Cruz]

Really?

[Co-host]

I love the Princess Bride.

[Ted Cruz]

Why?

[Co-host]

I think every character in it is exquisite. Every line from every character is. Is fantastic. I'll tell you. In college, we used to play a game called Drinking Princess Bride. And so the way you play Drinking Princess Bride is you sit down with a bunch of college kids, you put the movie on, and you try to say each line immediately before it's said. If you get it right, you point at somebody, they have to drink. If you screw it up even slightly, you drink. And if two or more people say the same line at the same time, everybody drinks. So when you get to the as.

[Ted Cruz]

Yous Wishes, that's why you were so sober in college. Now I understand it.

[Co-host]

Look, when you get to the as yous Wishes. Yeah, everyone can get them. So they're all socials. And it is a fun game. My problem is I know just about every line from the movie, but I'll screw them up slightly, so I end up kind of getting myself. Cause I try an awful lot of them. But it is an exquisite movie. I probably watched the Princess Bride, I don't know, a couple hundred times.

[Ted Cruz]

No way.

[Co-host]

Yeah, it is fantastic.

[Ted Cruz]

So that's number one on your list?

[Co-host]

Far and away. Number two on my list is the Godfather saga.

[Ted Cruz]

Couldn't agree with you more. One of the best series ever made, period.

[Co-host]

And I'm not gonna break it down between 1, 2, and 3. I even like 3, which is a bit of a heretical idea. I think three stands on its own, as its own movie. The least that three only makes sense in conjunction with one and two, which.

[Ted Cruz]

Is when you're in the club. I kind of like that. Like, you can't fake it and go see number three and think, oh, that was incredible. You have to be in it.

[Co-host]

And look, I quote all of them all the time, you know, from three. Every time I get out, they keep pulling me back in. I will say it was a little depressing with my team where I turned. You know, Senate staffers are all children. You know, your average.

[Ted Cruz]

You should put that on a T shirt.

[Co-host]

Your average Senate staffer is like, 23, 24, 25. So things like Godfather quotes, they just don't get. And so I said something. I said, you know, this is the business we have chosen. And, like, everyone looked at me confused, and I said, okay. And I have, like, six staffers there. I said, all right. Do any of you have any idea what I'm saying? They're all like, no, no, no. I said, okay, this is Godfather 2. And this is a conversation between Hyman Roth, who is clearly modeled after Meyer Lansky, Hyman Roth, and Michael Corleone. And they're down in Miami. And Hyman Roth goes. Michael. I had a friend. I had a friend since childhood. Mo Green was his name. And one day, somebody put a bullet in his eye. I did not ask who was responsible. I did not seek retribution. I said, this is the business we have chosen. None of them had any idea what I was talking about.

[Ted Cruz]

Team building night in the Senate. You should totally. You should totally bring them in. One, two, and three.

[Co-host]

Just nine hours. We're going to sit down.

[Ted Cruz]

This is what you're going to do. That's Team Building 101.

[Co-host]

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Wednesday.

[Ted Cruz]

All right. Favorite line from any of the Godfathers. The best one. Mine's a cannoli.

[Co-host]

Leave the gun, take the cannoli.

[Ted Cruz]

Yeah, no brainer. Number three on your list.

[Co-host]

Scarface.

[Ted Cruz]

Really?

[Co-host]

Oh, I love me some Scarface.

[Ted Cruz]

Why?

[Co-host]

Notice Pacino has two spots in my top three. I like Pacino. Okay. I love crime movies. And look, Scarface. Tony Montana. He's Cuban. I'm Cuban. It's, you know, it is larger than life. I can quote a lot of lines from it, to be honest, I'm not going to because they're pretty off color. And I'm going to avoid putting out on the podcast some of the language from. From it. But it is so crime genre is your thing. And I like Pacino.

[Ted Cruz]

Yeah, he's amazing.

[Co-host]

So my favorite TV show is Criminal Minds. I love Criminal Minds.

[Ted Cruz]

I'm actually shocked by that one, because if there was only one box that I could take with me my whole life, like, if I was stuck on a desert island, it'd be West Wing.

[Co-host]

West Wing is fabulous. I've watched every episode of West Wing. I've watched every episode of Criminal Minds. But Criminal Minds is. I just find it fascinating. Heidi hates it, by the way, when Criminal Minds is on, she's like, turn that garbage off, cuz. You know, you've got evil, vicious murderers. I'm like, no, no. They're the bad guys, though. It's all about stopping them. But she just doesn't like that in the house. All right, number four, Fletch.

[Ted Cruz]

Never seen it.

[Co-host]

You've never seen Fletch?

[Ted Cruz]

Never in my life.

[Co-host]

Go home tonight.

[Ted Cruz]

What's it about?

[Co-host]

And watch Fletch. It may be the funniest movie ever made.

[Ted Cruz]

Really?

[Co-host]

Chevy Chase plays Irwin Fletcher, an undercover investigative reporter. It is absolutely hysterical. You know, I love Chevy Chase.

[Ted Cruz]

So that's. That's.

[Co-host]

It's Chevy Chase's best movie.

[Ted Cruz]

No way.

[Co-host]

Much better. Much better than. Than Lampoon's Vacation. Much better than. And he's done a ton. I love Chevy Chase, but Fletch is. Is head and shoulders above them all. You know, Grant, who heads up my security detail. Grant. And I quote, fletch lines back and forth at each other every week.

[Ted Cruz]

Really?

[Co-host]

Put it on the list. Go and watch the movie.

[Ted Cruz]

I've never seen it.

[Co-host]

It is spectacular.

[Ted Cruz]

All right, Fletch. I'm on it.

[Co-host]

All right, number five, Amazing Grace.

[Ted Cruz]

Also never seen it.

[Co-host]

A lot of people have not seen it, but it is a very good. It is the true story of William Wilberforce. Now, William Wilberforce was a member of Parliament in the United Kingdom who led the effort to abolish the slave trade.

[Ted Cruz]

Very cool. Is it a true story?

[Co-host]

It's a true story.

[Ted Cruz]

Okay.

[Co-host]

And Wilberforce, So when he started as a young mp, the slave trade was the United Kingdom's single greatest source of revenue. It was their business. And he begins as this young MP arguing, we must end the slave trade. It is wrong. It is immoral. And everyone laughs at him. And it would be like if you were in Texas standing up saying, we should ban oil and gas.

[Ted Cruz]

Yeah.

[Co-host]

I mean, it was that absurd of.

[Ted Cruz]

An idea back then.

[Co-host]

And he spends 50 years battling for it. And the movie ends with him successfully championing and passing the legislation abolishing the slave trade and shutting down their most lucrative business because it was evil. And by the way, the title, Amazing Grace, do you know where it comes from?

[Ted Cruz]

What?

[Co-host]

So the person who wrote the hymn Amazing Grace was a friar who had been the former captain of a slave ship.

[Ted Cruz]

Really?

[Co-host]

He was the captain of a slave ship. And think of the words of the song Amazing Grace. Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me I once was lost but now am found Was blind but now I see. And imagine the person writing that in that context was the captain of a slave ship. Presumably, he had murdered people. He had beaten people. He had whipped People, I mean, you think of the evil entailed in being the captain of a slave ship, and then the amazing grace that God offered redemption even in the face of the horrific evil. It puts a whole different character. The book is by Eric Metaxas, who's a fantastic author, Christian author, does great biographies. I highly recommend Amazing Grace, number six, Unforgiven.

[Ted Cruz]

Never seen it.

[Co-host]

Oh, Unforgiveness.

[Ted Cruz]

This is why it makes me laugh when we get to do shows like this. Because, I mean, I will go watch these now.

[Co-host]

Okay, so Unforgiven, best Western ever made, won the Academy Award for best picture. Clint Eastwood is in it.

[Ted Cruz]

I could do an age joke here. Was it in black and white?

[Co-host]

No, no, no, no. It was actually Lady Eastwood. You were actually out of diapers when it came out.

[Ted Cruz]

Okay, gotcha.

[Co-host]

Morgan Freeman is in it. Gene Hackman is in it. Gene Hackman is spectacular. What's interesting about Unforgiven that is so powerful is it turns all of the stereotypes of the western on its head. So, for example, Clint Eastwood plays this outlaw who had turned over a good leaf and was good and then was going back, gets hired. What happens is a woman who is a prostitute is badly cut up by a drunk cowboy, and they put out a reward to kill the cowboy who cut her up. And Clint Eastwood, as this retired outlaw, needs the money and so is coming to collect the reward. And Morgan Freeman, his partner, comes with him. But there's a point where Clint Eastwood, you know, there's a young kid who wants to be a gunslinger and he's like, practicing on shooting fast. And like Clint Eastwood says, well, you know, for me, this is about as fast as I can draw my gun, point it, aim at it, pull the trigger, and hit what I'm aiming at. And he said, in most firefights, people are scared out of their mind and they're just terrified. And whoever can kind of calmly engage is who wins. And there's. There's scenes where, like, everyone's like, oh, crap. And they shoot their foot and they drop their gun and they're like, freaking out. And he kind of. And he would just get drunk and just sort of systematically bang. And really did invert many of the conventional wisdom of being a fast draw and everything else. And Gene Hackman's character is hysterical. It is. He's the sheriff who initially, you think might be the hero, but he very quickly becomes an anti hero. So excellent movie. Number eight, Team America.

[Ted Cruz]

I've actually seen it. Hilarious.

[Co-host]

Okay. And I'm going a little edgy. So Team America. Team America. World Police. It's a puppet movie.

[Ted Cruz]

I remember when it came out and everybody was in shock, but I was dying laughing.

[Co-host]

So Heidi doesn't like movies very much. I took Heidi to see it. She almost fell to the floor laughing.

[Ted Cruz]

So she. Y'all clicked on that one.

[Co-host]

It is screamingly funny now. It makes fun of both sides. It makes fun of Republicans, Democrats, everybody. It's the guys who do south park who did is puppets.

[Ted Cruz]

They are truly equal opportunity offenders.

[Co-host]

It is Now I'm going to give a warning. Every third word is a profanity. If you are offended by profanity, skip this suggestion. I will say, when we were fairly newlyweds, we went on vacation with Heidi's parents down at Lake Powell, which is fabulous. And we brought it with us and we sort of like Heidi. And I remember this is really, really funny. And I think we didn't quite remember that Every third word is a profanity. And I'm sitting there with Heidi's parents as we're listening to Blinkety Blink Blink Blink blink blink. We didn't finish the movie, like 10 minutes into it. We just.

[Ted Cruz]

Heidi, I can't believe you brought this in front of your parents.

[Co-host]

Right? Yeah, yeah, it was. But it's still funny as. I'll get it. All right, next movie. Patton.

[Ted Cruz]

Yep. Amazing, amazing movie. I've watched Patton probably five, six times in my life.

[Co-host]

All right. Do you know what I did before every Supreme Court argument I ever did?

[Ted Cruz]

I can figure it out now. You watch Patton.

[Co-host]

Not the whole thing.

[Ted Cruz]

Just which scene.

[Co-host]

The opening speech.

[Ted Cruz]

Okay.

[Co-host]

Yeah, just the opening speech. George C. Scott in front of the gigantic flag, standing up and saying, men, the objective is not to give your life for your country. The objective is to make that other poor son of a bitch give his life for his country. I mean, I can dig that.

[Ted Cruz]

I can dig that.

[Co-host]

It is sound advice. If you can watch that speech and not be inspired, you're dead. Yeah, like it is.

[Ted Cruz]

See, those are my weakness movies. I love true stories. I love good versus evil movies. I absolutely love sports movies as well. But there's always usually a big speech in those.

[Co-host]

By the way, a buddy of mine collects historical military equipment and clothing and uniforms, and he has Patton's dog tags.

[Ted Cruz]

No way.

[Co-host]

And I actually have worn Patton's dog tags. They have rested on my bare chest, and I literally felt like I was ready to pull out a pistol and start shooting in an airplane. Like it made you. You think about that. That actually rested right above the heart of Patton.

[Ted Cruz]

That's incredible. That's a good thing to own.

[Co-host]

All right, next movie. The Sting. Classic. Have you seen the Sting?

[Ted Cruz]

No.

[Co-host]

You've never seen the Sting?

[Ted Cruz]

I don't even know what it's about.

[Co-host]

Oh, oh, Benjamin, Benjamin, Benjamin. The Sting. All time classic. Robert Redford, Paul Newman, they're con man. It is.

[Ted Cruz]

This is, this is when I could really mess with. Wait, Newman does something outside of like salsa, Like.

[Co-host]

Yeah, it is hysterical. It is beautifully done. Go and watch.

[Ted Cruz]

And what's it about?

[Co-host]

It's about con men. And it's worth watching. I probably watched it a hundred times. It's such a good movie. All right, next movie. Awakenings.

[Ted Cruz]

Yes, I've seen that.

[Co-host]

So Awakenings only once. So Awakenings is fabulous. Robert De Niro.

[Ted Cruz]

You're a De Niro fan?

[Co-host]

I like De Niro a lot. Not a fan of his politics, but a big fan of his acting. He's a great actor, although as much De Niro got all the acclaim, but I actually thought Robin Williams stole the show.

[Ted Cruz]

Well, I love Robin Williams. This is right up my alley.

[Co-host]

Robin Williams is one of my all time favorite actors ever. I mean, he's an incredible comedic actor.

[Ted Cruz]

So you're gonna laugh. I was asked the question if you could have dinner with like any five people who would be at your table living or alive or dead. I had Robin Williams for years in my list because I think he's just one of the most brilliant actors and genuinely funny human beings.

[Co-host]

So when Robin Williams passed, I genuinely cried and I wrote a long statement about Robin Williams on Facebook that I put up and it just. I hammered it out on my iPad because he is so funny. His stand up. If you've ever watched his stand up routine on golf. Oh, I've watched the one on golf. Is again, profane language, warning, but as funny as anything that has ever been said. Like screamingly funny. Awakenings. The portrayal he gives. I actually like Robin Williams even better in dramatic performances than comedy. And he's one of the funniest human beings ever alive. So Awakening put on the list. Yes. Fabulous. All right, the next two I view together, Braveheart and Gladiator.

[Ted Cruz]

Both amazing. No brainers.

[Co-host]

Incredible.

[Ted Cruz]

Mel Gibson, Russell Crowe, right?

[Co-host]

Yes.

[Ted Cruz]

Back to back. How can you get that wrong?

[Co-host]

And both standing and fighting and fighting against oppression and their epic, epic movies. Again, if you're not inspired by them, you're dead. Yeah, I will say Mike Lee, there's an app where you can put yourself you speaking into an audio clip. And he and I used to send things Back and forth. And you know at the end when, when Mel Gibson is being executed, he screams freedom. So Mike would send me videos of him screaming to Mel Gibson's voice. Freedom. It was pretty powerful. All right, next. Beverly Hills Cop.

[Ted Cruz]

Hands down one of the funniest movies ever.

[Co-host]

Just screamingly funny. Eddie Murphy, you're laugh.

[Ted Cruz]

I consider that a Christmas movie because it's like days off. I want to watch the classic. I watch that.

[Co-host]

It is every moment of it. Eddie Murphy remains one of my favorite actors of all times. I love it.

[Ted Cruz]

He's got a new one coming out, a sequel coming out on Amazon. I think it's on Amazon Prime. Did you see that recently? I just saw it this last week. I don't know which one it was, but they were teasing it.

[Co-host]

Yes, yes. They're doing a Beverly Hills Cop 2.

[Ted Cruz]

Okay, is that what it is?

[Co-host]

Or 3? Yeah, but look, the original Beverly Hills Cop is screamingly funny. And I actually have three Eddie Murphy movies in a row because I love Eddie Murphy. Beverly Hills Cop, Trading Places.

[Ted Cruz]

Yes.

[Co-host]

And Coming to America.

[Ted Cruz]

So Coming to America was one of the first movies. It was like really edgy that I remember like in my adolescence seeing hilarious again.

[Co-host]

Screamingly funny. And Eddie Murphy and Arsenio hall and they play multiple characters and all of the different, you know, in the barbershop, when you have Eddie Murphy and Arsenio hall going back and forth, I mean, it's amazing. And you know what? They probably wouldn't let you make that movie today. No, they would not get racially edgy in a way that like now, you know, the woke world. No, no, no.

[Ted Cruz]

You can't laugh about it.

[Co-host]

No, no, no, no, no. You can't. You can't have any of that humor. By the way, you want funny humor, go back to young Eddie Murphy on SNL when he was like 19 years old. Brilliant and edgy and just edgy. Comedic like brilliance. I love. He's by far my favorite character ever on snl, Young Eddie Murphy, because it was just so funny.

[Ted Cruz]

I like it. Mine's Farley, by the way.

[Co-host]

Look, he was great and he put his hole into it.

[Ted Cruz]

Yeah, I mean, you know, I. I also love fat man in a little jacket. Unbelievable. That man down by the river. I mean. But I also love like comedy when there's people falling over and he could do that. His physical comedy was incredible.

[Co-host]

Yep. All right, next on the list, Wall Street.

[Ted Cruz]

Yep.

[Co-host]

Just all time Gordon Gekko. One of the great all time classics. By the way, a line that I quote frequently. Gordon Gekko is. Is in the locker room getting cleaned up after playing. Playing ra and he turns to Charlie Sheen, and he goes, I'm on the board of the Bronx Zoo. Cost me a million bucks. That's the thing about wasps. Love animals, hate people. There's some insight there.

[Ted Cruz]

There is some insight there for sure.

[Co-host]

Hidden Figures.

[Ted Cruz]

Yes.

[Co-host]

Wonderful movie. Incredible movie about the African American female mathematicians who were foundational to America going to the moon. And for me, there are two kind of personal reasons why that movie is significant to me.

[Ted Cruz]

One, it's gotta be because of Houston.

[Co-host]

Well, when we went to see the movie, I took my mother to the movie. I took Heidi to the movie. I took both my daughters to the movie. And it was interesting. My girls, it was the first time they'd seen a movie that had segregation.

[Ted Cruz]

Yeah. The bathroom is one of the most iconic scenes in that whole movie.

[Co-host]

And it led to. I had a long conversation with both of them, and they were like, well, why would people have done that? And to talk about segregation and civil rights and just sort of walk through the history of it. It prompted really good conversations with my girls. But secondly, so my mom. My mom graduated from Rice in 1956, and she had a math degree, and she went to work as a computer programmer at Shell. She subsequently went to work at the Smithsonian. And you remember the movie Hidden Figures begins with Sputnik being launched and sort of the space race beginning. One of my mother's first assignments at the Smithsonian was to help compute the orbits of Sputnik. And so in front of the girls, I asked my mom, I said, mom, you were doing this. And in fact, you were doing it 10 years earlier. You were doing it in the 50s. Hidden Figures is set in the 60s. And I said, how accurate is it? And my mother thought it was very accurate, that it did a really good job of conveying what it was like to be a woman in space and science and a technical environment. And I commented to her, I said, okay, one of the strange things to a more modern ear is that they referred to the women there as computers.

[Ted Cruz]

Yeah.

[Co-host]

And we think of a computer as a piece of metal, but they were.

[Ted Cruz]

Actually called computers because they were actually doing the math.

[Co-host]

And my mother started laughing at me. And she said her first job title was computer. And when she started at Shell, she had a business card that said, eleanor Darrah, Computer, no way. And so in response to that, I introduced legislation to rename the street in front of NASA headquarters Hidden Figures Way. And this is actually a really cool story. I introduced that legislation before it could pass. And we would have gotten it passed, but a D.C. city councilman saw that legislation and said, you know what? That's a great idea. And the D.C. city councilman introduced it in the D.C. city council guy's a Democrat.

[Ted Cruz]

Yeah.

[Co-host]

And he got it passed. So the D.C. city Council passes it.

[Ted Cruz]

That's cool.

[Co-host]

So I went to the street sign dedication, and that is the street sign there. And I was there. I spoke at the dedication.

[Ted Cruz]

And where is it?

[Co-host]

It is the headquarters of NASA in D.C. okay, cool. And so NASA, the address of NASA is one hidden figures way. So I spoke at the dedication. The D.C. city Councilman spoke, and he's a Democrat, I'm a Republican. And I told the story of my mom, which was really cool to get to tell. And I said, look, at some level, you might say, listen, a street sign's not that big a deal that one is. But at another level, 50 years from now, 100 years from now, some little girl, some little boy is going to come visit NASA. They're going to look up and see the street sign, and they're going to say, hey, what does that mean?

[Ted Cruz]

Yeah.

[Co-host]

And they're going to hear the story of the pioneering African American women who were the mathematicians that got us to the moon. And so it's where movies and stories are powerful.

[Ted Cruz]

Did any of the characters of the movie, did any of them get to come to that?

[Co-host]

They had passed by the time we did that, so no. All right, we just got a few more.

[Ted Cruz]

Schindler's List, one of the hardest movies to watch.

[Co-host]

Yes.

[Ted Cruz]

The other one is that I can. I've only watched it one time because I just can't bring myself to watch it again. Is Lone Survivor. Those two movies, to me are must sees. But I just. I don't know if it's because I've become a dad and having kids now and watching the kids, I just can't watch them like I used to.

[Co-host]

So, as you know, a couple of weeks ago, I was at normandy for the 80th anniversary of D Day. And wildly enough, I got to meet Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, which was really cool. And I had pretty extended conversations with both of them. And they've done, look, their politics are both left of center, but they've done an amazing job, really, honoring and telling the stories of the greatest generation, whether Saving Private Ryan, whether Band of Brothers, whether the Pacific. And so we're talking about that. And I was talking with Spielberg about Schindler's List, and just, you know, talking with the Heroes, The World War II heroes, who almost all say, well, I could have done more. I could have done more. And the real heroes are under those crosses behind us. And I was telling Spielberg, I said, hearing them say that reminds me of the end of Schindler's List, where Oskar Schindler is like, I could have done more. And he looks down at his gold watch and he said, this watch. This watch could have saved three more people. Three more people are dead because I kept my watch. And you think about the heroism of his rescuing Jews from the Nazis and the incredible courage, but at the same time, the like, why didn't I do even more? And that, to me, is the most beautiful moment of that movie. Is the sort of.

[Ted Cruz]

Did I do enough?

[Co-host]

Yeah. Okay. I'm gonna take a detour. A detour to the world of musicals. So I like musicals.

[Ted Cruz]

Do you like Broadway?

[Co-host]

I do. I love Broadway. Absolutely.

[Ted Cruz]

So, like you, if you go to New York, you would put it on your list to go see a show.

[Co-host]

I love Broadway. And I'm gonna have four musicals on here.

[Ted Cruz]

I'm ready.

[Co-host]

So number one is. Is my father's favorite movie of all time, which is My Fair Lady.

[Ted Cruz]

Okay.

[Co-host]

And My Fair lady is fantastic.

[Ted Cruz]

I've seen it because of my mom, my sister, multiple times.

[Co-host]

Teach the English.

[Ted Cruz]

I've never watched that.

[Co-host]

Teach children how to speak Norwegians. Learn Norwegians. The Greeks are taught their Greek.

[Ted Cruz]

See, this is why I said this show would be entertaining, because I would have never thought you were musical.

[Co-host]

Oh, it is spectacular Broadway show you've ever been to. I'm gonna get to that.

[Ted Cruz]

Okay, go ahead.

[Co-host]

I'm gonna get to that. So the second one there is Oliver.

[Ted Cruz]

Yep. Great.

[Co-host]

Oliver is spectacular. So. So look, I was in high school. I was president of the drama club.

[Ted Cruz]

I have way too many one liners, but I'll leave that for another show.

[Co-host]

Keep going. You were captain of the tennis team. I was president of the drama club. Okay, I get that there's a reason why you would have stuck me in the locker if we had never seen.

[Ted Cruz]

That would have gotten you a smackdown for sure.

[Co-host]

Yeah, but. So look, I. All politicians are frustrated actors. It's just part of the. It is.

[Ted Cruz]

Did you act in high school?

[Co-host]

Oh, yes. A lot.

[Ted Cruz]

What were you in?

[Co-host]

So I did.

[Ted Cruz]

Do we have eight tracks of this or what was it?

[Co-host]

Beta cam there? They may be somewhere. Okay, so let's see. I've done Sound of Music twice.

[Ted Cruz]

What'd you play?

[Co-host]

So I played. The first time I played Rolf.

[Ted Cruz]

Yeah.

[Co-host]

You know, and I warbled out. You are 16 going on 17.

[Ted Cruz]

No way.

[Co-host]

And then the second time I played Max.

[Ted Cruz]

Yep.

[Co-host]

I also. So I did Oliver, and Oliver's a fabulous classic.

[Ted Cruz]

Yeah.

[Co-host]

So Oliver was my senior year, and the head of the music department told me, hey, we're doing Oliver next year.

[Ted Cruz]

And.

[Co-host]

And he said, you know, I'd love to have you play Fagan if you can sing it. And my curse. Look, I am a terrible singer. I cannot carry you to save my in a bucket like I wish I could. I have singing.

[Ted Cruz]

You were not given that. Neither was I.

[Co-host]

And so I actually went and for like, six months, I took voice lessons to try to get. Be able to sing. Fagan is such a.

[Ted Cruz]

Did you get any better in the six months?

[Co-host]

A little bit, yeah. And so what happened? And the nice thing about Fagan is Fagan's songs are more spoken than sang. So, for example, the song. Reviewing the situation. A man's got a heart, hasn't he? Joking apart, hasn't he? And though I'd be the first to admit that I wasn't a saint I'm finding it hard to be really as bad.

[Ted Cruz]

So you're gonna see your dad next time. I'm gonna say, those six months is worth it now. Right.

[Co-host]

I'm reviewing the situation Can a fellow be a villain all his life? All the trials I Now I'm not worried about it.

[Ted Cruz]

Unless you retire. I know.

[Co-host]

Settle down and get myself a wife and you remember it will cook and sew for you and come for you and go for you and go for you and nag at you the finger she will wag at you how many.

[Ted Cruz]

Tickets they sell for? This is what I really want to know.

[Co-host]

So I prepared. That song was won. Now it's mostly spoken. It's not really. So I could do it marginally, competently after six months practicing. I did that at the tryout.

[Ted Cruz]

And then what did he say?

[Co-host]

And then afterwards, music director said, hey, Ted, stick around. And he went to the piano and he said, sing this. And he went. And I went. And he did it like, three times. He goes, okay.

[Ted Cruz]

Like, damn it, not happening.

[Co-host]

So I was cast as Bill Sykes. It's the second male lead with no singing. Yeah, it's a fun role. You're the villain. You get to, like, beat up Oliver Twist and, like, you're. But. But I wanted your all. I wanted to play that role badly, and. And I did not get it. All right. Two more musicals. Hamilton, which is utterly exquisite. I've seen it multiple times. It is brilliant. It Is beautiful. It is powerful. My girls know the songs. There are few things that make me happier than when my daughters are singing songs from Hamilton. I mean, it was. There was a period where they were obsessed with it.

[Ted Cruz]

You and I were talking about this the other day. My dad. I took him to New York for the first time ever for his 70th birthday. And I. And you said, did you go see a. And I was like, do you want to see Hamilton? He's like, I'd rather go to the Yankees game. And then the next night, I was like, would you say I'd rather have a nice meal? I tried hard. I tried to get him to Hamilton. It just wasn't on the list.

[Co-host]

And then my favorite music of all time is Les Mis.

[Ted Cruz]

Really?

[Co-host]

And I love Les Mis. I. I think.

[Ted Cruz]

Do you get choked up? Be honest, because I'm a sucker for those.

[Co-host]

I get the lump in the throat choked up.

[Ted Cruz]

Yeah.

[Co-host]

All right, so what song gets you choked up?

[Ted Cruz]

Oh, the one. The most famous. I'm terrible with it. It's the one that. Anne Hathaway does it so good.

[Co-host]

Oh. And she won the Academy Award for it.

[Ted Cruz]

Every time. It gets me.

[Co-host]

So. That is beautiful. I'll tell you, the two that get me choked up are number one, when John Valjean is saying, let him live. Yep. And he's looking down and he says, you know, if I die, that one's incredible. Let me die. Yeah, let him live. And it's a prayer to God to let him live every time. I have tears every time. Then the other one that gets me is the song Empty chairs and empty Tables at the end, when everyone has died. And I will confess, at the end of the presidential campaign in 2016, as I walked through the empty campaign office and I saw the empty chairs and empty tables, I heard the refrains of that song. So Les Mis is exquisite. All right. By the way, when I was. All right. So 1993, I was just finished my first year of law school, and I had a job in New York. I was working a law firm in New York for the summer, and I decided to fly my mom to New York for the weekend. And so it's 1993. So I actually FedExed a plane ticket. And this is back when a plane ticket was a piece of cardboard. Yeah, I FedExed a plane ticket to her with nothing else. It was literally. She opened the FedEx package and just a plane ticket to New York fell out. And she called me, and she's like, ted, I assume this is you. I said, Yeah, I had no note, no nothing. Just a plane ticket and the FedEx thing.

[Ted Cruz]

Get on the plane. I'll see you soon, Mom.

[Co-host]

So I flew her to New York, and we went out to dinner at Boulay, which at the time was the nicest restaurant in New York. Was fabulous. And then I took her one night to see Camelot, which was really fun. And then the next night to see Les Miss.

[Ted Cruz]

And did she love it?

[Co-host]

She loved it. And. And it. I.

[Ted Cruz]

That's one of those ironed memories for us.

[Co-host]

Yeah. No, no, that. That was just very cool to go do that. All right, so we have a total of three more. I'm gonna say the Magnificent Seven.

[Ted Cruz]

Incredible. Watched it 10 times.

[Co-host]

The original one.

[Ted Cruz]

Yes. With my dad.

[Co-host]

All right. All right.

[Ted Cruz]

That's like, in my dad's. Like, I grew up on John Wayne and war movies.

[Co-host]

Yeah. Like Magnificent Seven.

[Ted Cruz]

And that was like. I remember watching.

[Co-host]

Other than Unforgiven, Magnificent Seven is the greatest Western. That's actually originally at a Western. Unforgiven was of a modern remake format. But Magnificent Seven, exquisite with, you know, Yul Brenner and. And Charles Bronson and. And that was the Coburn. Oh.

[Ted Cruz]

When mom was out of town, that was one of the movies we watched.

[Co-host]

Oh, it was so good. It's. It's a fabulous movie. And then I'm going to end with two. Quentin Tarantino.

[Ted Cruz]

Is it the Inglorious Basterds? Is that where we're going with this?

[Co-host]

So I'm going to start with Pulp Fiction.

[Ted Cruz]

Okay.

[Co-host]

Which is fantastic. And then the last one is Inglourious Bastards.

[Ted Cruz]

Yep.

[Co-host]

And I feel bad that I left Reservoir Dogs off, because Reservoir Dogs is exquisite, too. But the other one, if you made me pick two, I go with Pulp Fiction and Inglourious. Inglourious Basterds is a spectacular movie. So that's 25 movies, which, if you've got some downtime, download them, watch them, you will enjoy them. You will laugh. You will be moved. You will be.

[Ted Cruz]

And send your critiques on Twitter. We'll take them. And let me ask you one other question. If you could only take one movie and one TV series to a desert island with you, what would you pick? Only one movie and only one TV series. That's all you got to watch.

[Co-host]

The Princess Bride and Criminal Minds.

[Ted Cruz]

There you go. That's it. Yeah, I like it. See, now we know a little bit more about you. Don't forget, we do this show Monday, Wednesday, Friday. Every once in a while, we get to do something fun like this. So make sure you hit that subscribe or auto download button and the Senator and I will see you back here in a couple of days.

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[Ted Cruz]

It's over.

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