Verdict with Ted Cruz — Episode Summary

Episode: SAVE America Act—How to Force the Dems' Hand plus Bringing the Receipts on Somali Fraud & Major Victory Stopping Sex-Change Surgeries for Kids
Date: February 6, 2026
Hosts: Senator Ted Cruz & Ben Ferguson
Podcast: Verdict with Ted Cruz

Overview:

In this episode, Senator Ted Cruz and co-host Ben Ferguson break down several hot-button issues:

• The push for the SAVE America Act (formerly the SAVE Act) to require citizenship and photo ID for voting, and the obstacles it faces in the Senate.
• A deep-dive into alleged Somali welfare fraud in Minnesota, with Senator Cruz detailing findings from a recently chaired Senate Oversight hearing.
• The American Medical Association's reversal on supporting sex-change surgeries for children, placing it in broader political and legal context.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The SAVE America Act: Forcing a Senate Vote

[02:21-18:16]

• Purpose of Legislation:
  The SAVE America Act, introduced by Rep. Chip Roy and updated at President Trump’s request, seeks to require proof of U.S. citizenship and photo ID to register and vote.

  • “President Trump did two changes. Number one, he wanted to change the name from the SAVE act to the Save America Act... Number two...add to it...a requirement of photo ID to vote.” —Ted Cruz [06:16]

• Democratic Opposition & Rhetoric:
  Senator Cruz and Ben Ferguson argue that Democrats are dug in against the Act, with Chuck Schumer labeling it “Jim Crow 2.0” despite strong support among all racial groups.

  • “He’s calling it Jim Crow 2.0… the part, though, there that he talks about being Jim Crow, he’s not listening to African Americans in this country, because more than 70% in a poll...said they support it.” —Ben Ferguson [05:00]
  • “It was his party, the Democrats, who enacted the Jim Crow laws...He uses this rhetoric because the Democrats do not care that Democrats overwhelmingly supported voter ID.” —Ted Cruz [10:13]

• Public Opinion & Polls:
  The episode highlights polling data showing overwhelming bipartisan and cross-racial support for voter ID laws.

  • “85% of white people, 82% of Latino, 76% of black Americans favor it. So the bottom line is this. Voter ID is not controversial in this country.” —Ben Ferguson [09:36]

• Why Oppose It?
  Cruz contends that Democrats oppose the measure not because of their voters (who overwhelmingly support it), but to promote policies that enable fraud.

  • “They’re opposing it...because voter fraud is a real...problem. And they count on voter fraud to help them win elections.” —Ted Cruz [11:34]

• Carter-Baker Commission Reference:
  Cruz references President Jimmy Carter and James Baker’s bipartisan commission, noting its recommendations for tighter voting rules and contrasts with current Democratic stances.

  • “The Carter Baker Commission said, if you want to stop voter fraud, limit mail in ballots. The Democrats want mail in ballots in every election.” —Ted Cruz [13:25]

• Ballot Harvesting Explanation:
  Ted Cruz provides a detailed, real-life scenario of ballot harvesting and claims it encourages fraud, especially in vulnerable populations like nursing homes.

  • “You could have a paid political operative...go to a nursing home...fill out the ballots with the elderly people… If you’re an unscrupulous operative…take that ballot and throw it in the trash.” —Ted Cruz [14:11]

• Strategic Path Forward:
  Cruz argues for a “painful” filibuster—forcing Democrats to hold the floor—to pressure their cooperation and push the Act forward, while highlighting the logistical challenges for Republicans to maintain a quorum for such a strategy.

  • “We should nuke what’s called the zombie filibuster… force them one after the other, to stand up, to keep talking, to keep talking…make the filibuster really painful.” —Ted Cruz [15:19]

2. Somali Welfare Fraud in Minnesota

[21:43-34:46]

• Hearings and Findings:
  Cruz describes chairing a Senate hearing investigating what he calls “the biggest fraud in recorded history,” with a focus on welfare benefits received disproportionately by the Somali community in Minnesota.

  • “Federal prosecutors...estimate that half or more of the $18 billion spent since 2018 across 14 Minnesota welfare programs may have been lost to fraud.” —Ted Cruz [22:06]
  • “Minnesota Somali community receives welfare benefits at rates far higher than the state average… 81% of Somali households in Minnesota receive some form of welfare...” —Ted Cruz [24:13]

• Political Implications:
  Cruz strongly links the welfare fraud to Democratic interests, asserting that benefits lead to votes, and alleging deliberate enabling by Minnesota Democrats.

  • “Minnesota Democrats didn’t just fail to stop the fraud. They made it easy and profitable and...silenced anyone who pointed it out.” —Ted Cruz [22:06]
  • “The Democrats are doing this deliberately…Minnesota taxpayers are the number one funder of Al Shabaab, the terrorist Islamist group in Somalia.” —Ted Cruz [26:05]

• Alleged Terrorist Financing:
  Cruz claims Minnesota welfare fraud funds are being funneled to Somalia, aiding Al Shabaab, and displays a poster during the Senate hearing to underline the point.

  • “The single largest funder of Al Shabaab, a terrorist organization in Somalia, is the taxpayers of Minnesota.” —Ted Cruz [28:27]

• Calls for Accountability:
  Cruz demands prosecutions for any politicians complicit in fraud, and sharply criticizes Democratic witnesses who equivocate on accountability.

  • “We need to prosecute every Democrat politician who was complicit in this...not a single Democrat senator disputed it.” —Ted Cruz [29:26]
  • Exchange with Public Citizen Rep:
    “Do you agree that any Democrat politician, or...any Republican politician that had knowledge of the fraud and was complicit should be prosecuted?” —Ted Cruz [30:35]
    “There absolutely should be accountability. It is not normal to prosecute government officials for not prosecuting fraud.” —Public Citizen Rep [31:53]

• Democratic Deflection:
  Cruz comments on Democrats avoiding direct discussion of fraud details, instead pivoting to broader policy themes or attacks on Trump.

  • “The Democrat senators...did not dispute any of what I’m saying. Instead, they just tried to change the subject.” —Ted Cruz [26:05]

• Notable Quote on Political Stakes:

  • “The two closest statewide elections in Minnesota were 1 point races. So…this is the difference between Democrats winning and losing.” —Ted Cruz [34:03]

3. Major Victory: Medical Groups Back Away from Sex-Change Surgeries for Kids

[34:54-39:05]

• Shift in Organizational Stance:
  Cruz and Ferguson celebrate a major shift by the American Medical Association and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, who now advise against gender-affirming surgeries for minors.

  • “The AMA said in a statement that because, quote, the evidence for gender affirming surgical intervention in minors is insufficient for us to make a definitive statement…the AMA agrees with ASPS that surgical interventions in minors should generally be deferred to adulthood. That is a big, big deal.” —Ted Cruz [35:23]

• Legal Catalyst:
  The change is attributed to a high-profile $2 million malpractice settlement for a young detransitioner, which Cruz argues spurred the reversal.

  • “One of the real triggers was the $2 million malpractice lawsuit that was won by D Transition[er], FOX variant.” —Ted Cruz [36:34]

• Contrast with Past Positions:
  In 2021, the AMA “strengthened its established position opposing the governmental intrusion into the practice of medicine...for transgender and gender diverse children,” highlighting how substantial the reversal is.

  • “You want to talk about a massive sea change. That’s a big, big deal.” —Ted Cruz [37:43]

• Cultural Commentary:
  Citing J.K. Rowling’s social media post, Cruz frames the shift as a dawning realization and victory for “sanity” over “woke” ideology:

  • “She goes on to say, this will go down in history as one of the worst medical scandals of all time...You know what? Woke is receding, and that’s a huge victory. It’s a huge victory for kids and it's a huge victory for sanity.” —Ted Cruz [38:11]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Voter ID Support Across Demographics:

  "85% of white people, 82% of Latino, 76% of black Americans favor it. So the bottom line is this. Voter ID is not controversial in this country."
  —Ben Ferguson [09:36]

• On Ballot Harvesting:

  “Let’s take a state like California. Ballot harvesting is legal...you can have one operative collecting hundreds of ballots...if you’re an unscrupulous operative, you know what you do? You take that ballot and throw it in the trash.”
  —Ted Cruz [14:11]

• On Welfare Fraud Funding Terrorism:

  “The single largest funder of Al Shabaab, a terrorist organization in Somalia, is the taxpayers of Minnesota.”
  —Ted Cruz [28:27]

• On Change in Medical Policy:

  “The AMA agrees with ASPS that surgical interventions in minors should generally be deferred to adulthood. That is a big, big deal.”
  —Ted Cruz [35:23]

• On Accountability for Fraud:

  “We need to prosecute every Democrat politician who was complicit in this...not a single Democrat senator disputed it.”
  —Ted Cruz [29:26]

Segment Timestamps

• [02:21-18:16] – SAVE America Act: Purpose, Democratic Opposition, Polls, Filibuster Strategy
• [21:43-34:46] – Somali Welfare Fraud Investigation: Findings, Political Implications, Calls for Accountability
• [34:54-39:05] – Victory on Pediatric Gender Surgeries: Medical Group Policy Reversal, Legal Impacts, Broader Cultural Meaning

Tone & Style

The episode is combative and highly partisan, with Cruz and Ferguson frequently invoking strong rhetoric to frame Democrats as both politically manipulative and complicit in alleged fraud or cultural harm. The style is punchy, direct, heavy on statistics, and frequently pivots to wider political narratives involving national security, election integrity, and social policy.

Conclusion

This episode offers an unfiltered conservative perspective on current legislative battles, alleged government corruption, and the evolving landscape of gender medicine for minors. Senator Cruz seeks to arm listeners with detailed arguments and talking points regarding voter ID laws, welfare fraud scandals, and what he frames as a "sea change" in the medical establishment’s treatment of gender-affirming surgeries for children. The episode underscores the importance of strategy within the Senate and claims significant cultural victories for the conservative movement.