Verdict with Ted Cruz – Episode Summary

Episode Title: Shutdown Dems Gaslight, claiming they DON'T Want Free Healthcare for Illegals, plus Fighting the Crime Epidemic in Blue Cities
Date: October 3, 2025
Hosts: Senator Ted Cruz, Ben Ferguson

Episode Overview

This episode of Verdict with Ted Cruz tackles three major topics:

1. The ongoing government shutdown, specifically focusing on Democratic leaders’ demands regarding healthcare for undocumented immigrants and claims of Republican misinformation.
2. The rising crime epidemic in Democrat-led cities—referred to by the hosts as "blue cities"—and the impact of progressive policies on public safety.
3. The pattern of ideologically motivated violence from the political left, including anti-police rhetoric, anti-Semitic incidents, and high-profile violent attacks.

Senator Cruz and Ben Ferguson aim to "bring the receipts," arguing that Democrats are "gaslighting" the public about their policy intentions and the consequences of their governance. The episode leans heavily into conservative critique and features extended discussion of specific policy texts, recent hearings, and widely circulated media moments.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The "Schumer Shutdown" and Healthcare for Undocumented Immigrants

[04:44–18:29]

• Premise of the Shutdown

  • Ferguson and Cruz assert that the shutdown was "premeditated" by Democrats, specifically Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, to appease the far-left wing of the party and protect his leadership position.
    • Ben Ferguson: "This shutdown was premeditated. It was well thought out and organized by the left." [05:07]
    • Ted Cruz: "He doesn't have an exit ramp... This is just a temper tantrum." [07:54]

• Gaslighting and Orwellian Doublespeak

  • Cruz references 1984, accusing Democrats of Orwellian doublespeak in denying support for taxpayer-funded healthcare for undocumented immigrants.
    • Ted Cruz: "They are gaslighting the American people... They are shocked, shocked to find that anyone is saying that they want free taxpayer-provided healthcare for illegal aliens." [03:01]

• The Continuing Resolution (CR) Dispute

  • Cruz details three reasons he claims prove Democrats are seeking healthcare for undocumented immigrants:
    • Legislative Text: He cites the proposed repeal of provisions restricting Medicaid eligibility to citizens/legal residents:
      • "That's the language they're repealing. It says you have to be a U.S. citizen or a legal immigrant... That's the language they want to repeal." [11:50]
    • Democratic Presidential Candidates' Debate: All candidates raised their hands to support government coverage for "undocumented immigrants."
      • Ben Ferguson: "That's everybody, Senator, everybody." [13:13]
    • Shutdown as Policy Leverage: The willingness of Democrats to shut down the government is framed as evidence of their commitment to this policy.
      • Ted Cruz: "Why are they shutting down the government that they say right now? ... The reason they're going all in... is they've made the decision their party is all about open borders and free stuff for everyone, especially illegals." [14:06]

• Media Spin and Chris Cuomo Segment

  • Cruz and Ferguson play clips of Chris Cuomo disputing the Democratic leadership’s CR narrative, positioning Cuomo as a rare Democrat speaking honestly.
    • Ted Cruz: "That is Chris Cuomo... saying Hakeem Jeffries, the Democrat leader in the House, is lying to you because you know what? He is." [18:00]

2. Crime Crisis in Democrat-Run Cities

[23:41–33:58]

• Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing

  • Cruz recounts testimony and findings from a hearing on rising crime in blue cities:
    • Department of Justice funds allegedly went to organizations supporting progressive district attorneys (DAs), leading to leniency with violent offenders.
    • Data cited: "Out of the top 20 most crime-ridden cities, 18... are controlled by left wing hardcore Democrats." [23:47]

• Examples of Policies & Consequences

  • Specific cities named: New York (Alvin Bragg), Milwaukee (John Chisholm), Athens, GA.
  • Policies include downgrading felonies, declining to prosecute, bail and prison "reform," and an overall soft stance on violent criminals.
    • Ted Cruz: "This summer, the Senate Judiciary Committee... put out a report that showed that the Biden Department of Justice sent taxpayer funded grants to Soros-backed soft on crime NGOs..." [24:20]

• Testimonies and Notable Quotes

  • Ted Cruz: "Is there going to be an individual I divert or who I put into a treatment program who's going to go out and kill somebody? You bet. That is the Soros DA bragging he's gonna release criminals who murder people." [25:28]
  • Ben Ferguson highlights a father’s congressional testimony about repeated releases of the man who killed his daughter. [26:51]
  • Ted Cruz: "In 2025, there were over 48,000 individuals arrested for misdemeanors in New York county. Wow. But only 3,000 of them were detained." [24:53]

• Suggested Remedies

  • Citing National Guard deployment to D.C. as an example of effective policy (crime "plummeted").
  • Ted Cruz's "Clean DC Act" would roll back soft-on-crime policies and reinstate tougher penalties.
    • D.C. police association president: "I urge Congress to act, support the Clean DC act, roll back failed legislation and work with law enforcement instead of against us. Officers want nothing more than to protect their communities. But they cannot do it alone." [31:32]

3. Ideologically Motivated Violence and the Left

[33:58–41:32]

• Rhetoric, Violence, and Political Climate

  • Cruz and Ferguson argue that left-wing rhetoric (anti-police, anti-capitalist, anti-Semitic) has real-world, often deadly, consequences.
    • Citing BLM riots, campus anti-Semitism, and violent attacks as evidence.
      • Ben Ferguson: "BLM protests... in 2020, there are over 10,000 demonstrations and caused 1 to 2 billion in insured property damage... 19 Americans in the conservative numbers who died directly caused by the demonstrations." [33:58]

• Pattern of Violence and High-Profile Incidents

  • Assassination attempts on Donald Trump; the successful assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk; attempted murder of Justice Kavanaugh.
    • Ted Cruz: "Of course, President Trump the target of two assassination attempts. Tragically, our friend Charlie Kirk successfully murdered in a horrific assassination." [36:12]
  • Cruz contrasts leftist celebration of violence versus perceived conservative condemnation of violence:
    • "The difference is the left celebrates it far too often, encourages it on the front end, celebrates it on the back end..." [39:22]

• Contemporary Examples

  • Recent attacks on ICE agents in Chicago, attributed (by Cruz) to "demonization" of law enforcement by Democrats.
    • Cruz also references Gavin Newsom’s use of the term "fascist" as part of the escalating rhetoric. [38:39]

• Anti-Semitic Attacks in the UK

  • Cited incident of Jihad Al Shami attacking a synagogue on Yom Kippur in Manchester, UK.
    • Ted Cruz: "The hate on the left, it is directed at conservatives, it is directed at capitalism... but it's also viciously anti Semitic." [40:47]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Quote | Speaker | Timestamp | |-------|---------|-----------| | "They are gaslighting the American people... They are shocked, shocked to find that anyone is saying that they want free taxpayer-provided healthcare for illegal aliens." | Ted Cruz | 03:01 | | "This shutdown was premeditated. It was well thought out and organized by the left." | Ben Ferguson | 05:07 | | "He doesn't have an exit ramp... This is just a temper tantrum." | Ted Cruz | 07:54 | | "Raise your hand if your government plan would provide coverage for undocumented immigrants.... That's everybody, Senator, everybody." | Ben Ferguson | 13:01–13:13 | | "That is Chris Cuomo... saying Hakeem Jeffries, the Democrat leader in the House, is lying to you because you know what? He is." | Ted Cruz | 18:00 | | "Is there going to be an individual I divert or who I put into a treatment program who's going to go out and kill somebody? You bet." | Ted Cruz (quoting Milwaukee DA) | 25:28 | | "In 2025, there were over 48,000 individuals arrested for misdemeanors in New York county. Wow. But only 3,000 of them were detained." | Ted Cruz | 24:53 | | "I urge Congress to act, support the Clean DC act, roll back failed legislation and work with law enforcement instead of against us. Officers want nothing more than to protect their communities. But they cannot do it alone." | D.C. Police Officers Union President | 31:32 | | "Of course, President Trump the target of two assassination attempts. Tragically, our friend Charlie Kirk successfully murdered in a horrific assassination." | Ted Cruz | 36:12 | | "The difference is the left celebrates it far too often, encourages it on the front end, celebrates it on the back end... whereas any principled conservative I know of will condemn violence across the board." | Ted Cruz | 39:22 | | "The hate on the left... it's also viciously anti Semitic. And on Yom Kippur in Manchester... Jihad Al Shami... targeted worshipers at a synagogue on Yom Kippur." | Ted Cruz | 40:47 |

Section Timestamps (Main Content Only)

• Opening and Theme Introduction: [02:44–05:07]
• Government Shutdown & Healthcare Policy Debate: [05:07–18:29]
• Crime Crisis in Democrat-led Cities: [23:41–33:58]
• Left-Wing Rhetoric and Ideological Violence: [33:58–41:32]

Conclusion

This episode provides a detailed critique of Democratic leadership during the 2025 government shutdown and argues that progressive policies lead to increased crime and ideological violence. The hosts use direct citations from legislation, media appearances, and congressional hearings to substantiate their perspectives, often emphasizing the idea that mainstream and left-leaning leaders are "gaslighting" the public. Calls for policy reform and direct legislative action appear throughout, notably regarding crime reduction in urban areas.

The tone remains combative and deeply critical of Democratic positions, offering listeners a behind-the-scenes look at Cruz's arguments and evidence, punctuated by memorable media moments and passionate advocacy for conservative policy changes.