Stop China: Trump Increases Scrutiny of CCP Ties for Student Visas, plus the Great Phil Robertson Passes & CA Relents on Boys in Girls' Sports

Summary

Podcast Summary: Verdict with Ted Cruz

Episode Title: Stop China: Trump Increases Scrutiny of CCP Ties for Student Visas, plus the Great Phil Robertson Passes & CA Relents on Boys in Girls' Sports
Release Date: May 30, 2025
Host/Author: Premiere Networks
Hosts: Senator Ted Cruz and Co-host Ben Ferguson

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Introduction

In this episode of Verdict with Ted Cruz, Senator Ted Cruz and co-host Ben Ferguson delve into pressing national issues, offering in-depth analysis and their perspectives on recent political developments. The episode addresses the Trump administration's intensified scrutiny of Chinese student visas, California's policy reversal on transgender athletes in girls' sports, the passing of Phil Robertson, and the Trump administration's decision to exclude the American Bar Association (ABA) from judicial selections.

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1. Heightened Scrutiny of Chinese Student Visas

Overview:
The episode opens with a discussion on the Trump administration’s initiative to revoke student visas for Chinese nationals suspected of having ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). This move aims to curb espionage and intellectual property theft linked to Chinese students studying in the United States.

Key Points:

• Statistics Highlighted: Approximately 5,500 American students hold visas in China, while over 280,000 Chinese students are enrolled in U.S. institutions.
• Espionage Concerns: Many Chinese students are perceived as potential agents for CCP’s espionage efforts, targeting intellectual property and sensitive research.
• Policy Implementation: Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced aggressive vetting processes, including thorough background checks and social media scrutiny, to identify and revoke visas of those posing security risks.

Notable Quotes:

• Ted Cruz ([02:39]): “Many of them, by the way, they come in here to spy and rob us of our intellectual property. And the administration, Trump administration is basically saying, we're trying to put a stop to this.”
• Ben Ferguson ([06:08]): “Senator, let's deal with California. And there has been a fight since the President came in with his executive order on trying to protect women from men being in their locker rooms…”

Insights:

• Balancing Act: While the policy aims to protect national security, Cruz emphasizes the importance of not alienating legitimate scholars and bright minds who contribute positively to American innovation and economy.
• Historical Context: Cruz draws parallels to past efforts, highlighting his legislative actions against Confucius Institutes as a precedent for protecting American institutions from foreign influence.

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2. California Reverses Policy on Transgender Athletes

Overview:
The conversation shifts to California's recent policy change allowing transgender athletes to compete in girls' sports, a move seen as a concession to conservative pressures amid growing debates over fair competition and athlete safety.

Key Points:

• Policy Change: California has adjusted its track and field rules to ensure that biological girls retain their places in state championships, even if a transgender girl claims a spot.
• Impact on Sports: The policy aims to protect the integrity and safety of women’s sports, addressing concerns over physical disparities and unfair competition.
• Political Implications: Cruz interprets California’s reversal as a sign that even left-leaning states recognize the contentiousness of the issue and are hesitant to fully embrace radical changes.

Notable Quotes:

• Ben Ferguson ([11:36]): “California decided they were gonna stand up to Donald Trump. And guess what? It didn't go very well for them.”
• Ted Cruz ([14:07]): “We put tens of millions of dollars behind this issue. Well, what's fascinating is the media completely misunderstood the issue.”

Insights:

• Political Strategy: Cruz highlights how addressing this issue resonated with moderate women voters, particularly soccer moms, and became a pivotal factor in his 2024 Texas re-election campaign.
• Public Sentiment: The hosts argue that the broad American public supports protecting girls’ sports, challenging the narrative that such stances are fringe or extremist.

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3. Tribute to Phil Robertson

Overview:
A heartfelt segment commemorates the passing of Phil Robertson, founder of Duck Commander and star of Duck Dynasty. Cruz shares personal anecdotes highlighting Phil's influence and legacy.

Key Points:

• Personal Connection: Cruz recounts hunting trips with Phil, emphasizing his exceptional skills and unwavering faith.
• Legacy: Phil Robertson is celebrated for his contributions to American culture, business, and his role in Cruz’s 2016 presidential campaign.
• Faith and Family: The discussion underscores Phil's commitment to his faith and family values, which resonated deeply with Cruz and his listeners.

Notable Quotes:

• Ted Cruz ([18:51]): “Phil built a business empire as the founder of Duck Commander and on television. He was a unique character...”
• Ben Ferguson ([20:20]): “He was next level... completely different level, that it was just in his blood and he knew how to shoot.”

Insights:

• Cultural Impact: Phil Robertson's influence extended beyond his business ventures, embodying the values of hard work, faith, and family that Cruz champions.
• Political Influence: Phil’s support played a significant role in Cruz’s 2016 campaign, demonstrating the intersection of popular culture and politics.

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4. Trump Administration Excludes the ABA from Judicial Selections

Overview:
The final major topic addresses the Trump Justice Department’s decision to remove the American Bar Association (ABA) from the judicial nomination process, citing the ABA's perceived liberal bias.

Key Points:

• Historical Role of ABA: For 75 years, the ABA played a formal role in evaluating judicial nominees, providing ratings and assessments to the Department of Justice.
• Bias and Unfair Ratings: Cruz criticizes the ABA for its biased evaluations, citing examples like Robert Bork and Edith Jones, highlighting discrepancies between the ABA’s ratings and the nominees' qualifications.
• Policy Change: The Department of Justice, led by Pam Bondi, announced that the ABA would no longer have special access or influence in the judicial vetting process, treating it as just another advocacy group without preferential treatment.

Notable Quotes:

• Ted Cruz ([33:15]): “They are a hard left advocacy organization masquerading as a nonpartisan professional organization.”
• Podcast Announcer ([40:22]): “To not know what Article 2 is is stunning...”

Insights:

• Judicial Integrity: Cruz argues that removing the ABA from the process enhances the fairness and impartiality of judicial selections, ensuring that qualified candidates are chosen without ideological bias.
• Political Ramifications: The move is portrayed as a significant step towards balancing the judicial nomination process, countering long-standing criticisms of ABA’s favoritism towards liberal nominees.

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Conclusion

In this episode of Verdict with Ted Cruz, the hosts provide a comprehensive analysis of critical issues affecting national security, sports integrity, cultural legacy, and the judicial system. Through informed discussions and personal anecdotes, Cruz and Ferguson offer listeners a clear perspective on the Trump administration’s policies and their broader implications for American society. The episode underscores the importance of safeguarding national interests, protecting individual rights, and ensuring a fair and unbiased judicial process.

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Notable Takeaways:

• National Security: Enhanced measures against Chinese espionage in educational institutions are crucial for protecting American intellectual property and maintaining technological leadership.
• Sports Integrity: Protecting girls' and women's sports from unfair competition is both a moral and practical necessity, reflecting broader societal values.
• Cultural Legacy: Honoring influential figures like Phil Robertson highlights the interplay between personal values and public influence.
• Judicial Fairness: Removing biased entities like the ABA from judicial nominations promotes a more equitable and merit-based selection process.

For listeners seeking nuanced discussions on today's most pressing issues, Verdict with Ted Cruz delivers insightful and thought-provoking content.

Transcript

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[Rodney Williams]

I'm Rodney Williams. And I'm Travis Holloway. Welcome to the Wealth Break Podcast, a real conversation about finance. Let's be honest, building wealth doesn't look the same for everyone.

[Travis Holloway]

I feel like sometimes being broke is a cycle and that we might have.

[Rodney Williams]

To revisit that and we're not stopping at success stories.

[Podcast Announcer]

What happens when it doesn't go right? How do you cope with it?

[Rodney Williams]

Because wealth isn't just about money. It's about creating a life where you thrive and help others do the same. Listen to the Wealth Break podcast on the iHeartRadio app.

[J.R. Martinez]

The medal of Honor is the highest military decoration in the United States. Recipients have done the improbable, the unexpected, showing immense bravery and sacrifice in the name of something much bigger than themselves.

[Ted Cruz]

This medal is for the men who went down that day.

[J.R. Martinez]

On Medal of Honor Stories of Courage. You'll hear about these heroes and what their stories tell us about the nature of bravery. Listen to Medal of Honor on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Why should you listen to Armstrong and Getty on demand? We're not boring. A lot of news is boring and tedious and depressing and makes you angry. You don't want to live your life like that. Hey, I'm Jack Armstrong.

[J.R. Martinez]

He's Joe Getty.

[Ryan Seacrest]

We're Armstrong and Getty. We try to bring you the truth and help you figure out this crazy modern world.

[Ben Ferguson]

How about something about a comedic to.

[Ryan Seacrest]

We have a winner.

[Podcast Announcer]

Yes.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Listen to Armstrong and Yeti on Demand on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Leon Neyfakh]

In the fall of 1986, Ronald Reagan found himself at the center of a massive scandal that looked like it might bring down his presidency. It became known as the Iran Contra Affair.

[Ted Cruz]

The things that happened were so bizarre and insane, I can't begin to tell you.

[Leon Neyfakh]

Please do. To hear the whole story. Listen to fiasco, Iran Contra on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Ben Ferguson]

Welcome. It's nice to have you with us on Verdict with Ted Cruz, Ben Ferguson with you as always and center. We've got a lot to talk about.

[Podcast Announcer]

Well, there's a ton happening. The Trump administration announced that they are going to begin revoking student visas for Chinese students and vigorously scouring their applications to make sure that they are not connected to the Chinese Communist Party. That is a welcome step that is much needed. We're going to break that down in detail. California also reversed its policies on transgender athletes, taking a major step to protect women and really showing that the left realizes they are in full retreat. We're going to explain exactly what's going on there. We're also going to talk about the sad news this past week that my good friend Phil Robertson, the great Phil Robertson, passed away. We're going to reflect on the impact he had. And I'm going to take you guys inside. What it's like to go duck hunting with Phil Robertson. One of the most incredible and fun things I've ever had the joy of doing. And finally, the Trump administration announced that the American Bar association, the aba, is no longer going to have any special role in judicial selection. Long overdue. And a great announcement. All of that in today's show.

[Ben Ferguson]

Yeah, it's a good one. I want to talk to you real quick, though, about what's happening in Israel and what we're seeing right now is truly disturbing. Anti Semitism is on the rise around the world and sadly, even right here in America, Jewish schools are being targeted, synagogues are being threatened and families are living in fear. It's something that we hoped we'd never see again in our lifetime. And so let me say this, silence is not an option. This is the moment that we can all take a stand with the people in Israel. And that's why I want you to be involved with the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. You may have heard of it, it's called ifcj. And they are on the front lines providing real help where it's needed the most. They're giving food and shelter to Jewish families that are under threat. They're even building bomb shelters on virtually a daily basis for children in Israel. And they're helping survivors of hate rebuild their lives. And they don't just respond to crisis, they work every day to prevent it. And that's where your gift of only $45, their life saving work by providing food, shelter. And so Much more. So please call IFCJ and stand with God's people in Israel, 888-488 IFCJ. That's 888-488-4325. You can also go online and find out more about IFCJ. And to [e-mail] every dollar helps. Don't wait be the difference. Visit ifcj.org or 888-488ifcj. All right, so let's dive into this big first topic center, and it deals with what you mentioned earlier, China and Chinese student visas. There was an interesting number that was thrown out earlier in the day on tv. And I'm gonna quote it. I, I'm not sure if it's exactly accurate, but it is. And that's why I said it was. I saw it earlier today, and I want to prefix that with. With saying it, but it said that there are about 5, 500American students that have visas in China and more than 280,000 Chinese students in the US is what was said. Why are we doing so much for Chinese students? Many of them, by the way, they come in here that spy and rob of us of our intellectual property. And the administration, Trump administration is basically saying, we're trying to put a stop to this.

[Podcast Announcer]

Well, what the Trump administration has announced. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that they will begin aggressively revoking the visas of Chinese students in the United States. China engages in extensive propaganda and espionage, and they're going to begin vetting and vetting aggressively whether a particular student seeking a visa to come to this country has ties to the Chinese Communist Party. I think this is long overdue, and it's part of a broader effort. They're also engaged with foreign students that are coming to the United States, examining their social media history, examining if they have a history of radicalism. So if you are seeking a student visa to come to America and you've been public saying, I hate America, I want to destroy America, which sadly, we've seen some of these radical students who've said that. And nonetheless, Joe Biden and the Democrats said, welcome to America. We need more people who hate our nation and want to destroy it. Well, I think the president's exactly right to stand up and say, we're not going to welcome people to this country who are trying to undermine and destroy this country. With respect to China, you know, the question of espionage and intellectual property theft, that's existed since the dawn of time. Look, when the first caveman invented the wheel, I suspect somebody stole his idea and Made another wheel that that's part of the human condition. What is not ever before existed is a nation state with massive economic resources like. Like China making it a state policy to engage in the theft of resources. And so I am very. I think it's exactly right that we're gonna vigorously scrutinize those students coming in to make sure that they are not operating as agents of the Chinese Communist Party. Now, let me say at the same time, look, part of the reason you don't get that many Americans going to China to study is you don't have a whole lot of folks that want to go to Chinese universities, whereas people from all over the world want to come to American universities. And I will say, if you have people who. Agents of the communist government, we want the best and brightest in the world coming to America. We end up having inventions coming here because the best and brightest students across the country come and come and study science and engineering, and they make inventions, and those inventions in turn fuel American companies, and they create great jobs. And so I think the administration is cutting the right balance here, which is saying we're gonna stop spies, we're gonna stop terrorists, but at the same time, that doesn't mean that we want to close our doors entirely to brilliant physicists and engineers from around the world being able to come to America and benefiting from the fruits of that.

[Ben Ferguson]

You know, there's one thing that we mentioned, gosh, it was probably a little over a year ago on this show in the podcast that we do, I tell people, this is why you should download Verdict with Ted Cruz. We do it three days a week. We talked back when, under the Biden Harris administration. There was even warnings coming from their administration that the number one threat to this country was China and Chinese espionage and influence operations. That is now a kumbaya moment with the Trump administration, where, in essence, two administrations that saw nothing, eye to eye, both agreed on China and what they were trying to do in stealing intellectual property and sending an incredible number of spies into this country. And many of them come through our university system.

[Podcast Announcer]

Yeah, but the Biden administration did next to nothing to stop it. So they acknowledged it's a problem, but at the same time, they were complicit in it. And I'll tell you, I have for over a decade been leading the fight to stop Chinese espionage, to stop Chinese propaganda, to stop China's malign efforts. I think we need a comprehensive effort to take on Communist China, much like we had under Ronald Reagan, to win the Cold War against the Soviet Union. And I'll tell you, Ben, one of the very first pieces of legislation that I authored and passed dealt with exactly this, and it dealt with what are called Confucius Institutes. So Confucius Institutes were started at US universities all across America, where there were roughly 200 of them. And they were, they were controlled by Communist China. They were paid for by Communist China, by the government, and they were used to engage in propaganda and espionage on campus. I authored legislation and said, if you have a Confucius Institute on campus, you will not get funding from the federal government, from the Department of Defense. I passed it into law. And I'll tell you, that simple piece of legislation resulted in over 100 Confucius Institutes shutting down at universities across the country, shutting down their espionage, shutting down their propaganda. I think the Trump administration's announcement is the next step in that very important fight.

[Ben Ferguson]

Senator, let's deal with California. And there has been a fight since the President came in with his executive order on trying to protect women from men being in their locker rooms, being in their sports, beating them up. We saw it during the Olympics in boxing. We've seen countless women who, their achievements have been taken away from them on the podium because of men claiming their women, which is impossible in reality. And California decided they were gonna stand up to Donald Trump. And guess what? It didn't go very well for them.

[Podcast Announcer]

Well, listen, we've seen the Democrat Party getting more and more radical ever since Donald Trump took the oath of office back in 2017. They hate Trump, and they've gotten more and more extreme on a host of issues. And one of the poster children for their extreme issues is embracing boys and girls sports, men and women's sports. And it is wrong, it is unfair, it invites injury, and it also deprives both girls and women of athletic victories they should have and they've earned. There are differences between boys and girls. There are differences between men and women. That did not used to be a controversial proposition. It is only in today's Looney Tune Left that they can't tell the difference between men and women. But I got to tell you, even though in the Senate, Senate Democrats, all of them, continue to defend men and women's sports and boys and girls sports. We're seeing the state of California, we're seeing the Democrats beginning to retreat. We're seeing Gavin Newsom, the governor, who's been a far left radical governor. He's got ambitions of being president. He's looking at, looking at running in 2028. And he's decided, okay, we're on the wrong side of an 8020 issue. I want to get the hell away from this. And so California announced this is a big deal. They're changing their policy for track and field so that if you are a biological girl and you got, you missed out on making it to the state championship because you were beaten by a biological male who claims to be a transgender woman, then the girl, you will still get your slot, you still get invited to the state championship. Look, that's a significant step in the right direction. And Gavin Newsom is embracing it. And I gotta say, this really illustrates that at least some Democrats realize, wow, we are on the wrong side of an issue that America, America wants to protect girls sports and women's sports. We want to protect our daughters, and we don't want to see them hurt or competing unfairly. And so the crazy thing is that means in track and field in California now, they may give three gold medals, one to the boy, one to the girl, and one to the transgender athlete. You may have gold medals all, all around, but for bright blue California to make this concession, it shows that, that at least some Democrats realize they are way on the wrong side of this issue.

[Ben Ferguson]

This also, I think, is an issue that it's worth fighting for. And I think many that are listening are saying, we don't want to give in and we don't want to give up. And the pendulum went so far to the radical so many years that this is the fight that is worth fighting on and fighting over. And showing California having to change girls track and field championship roles after the Trump threatens funding over the trans athletes is just an example of, hey, we are in many times the silent majority and we need to start acting like it, especially on these types of issues.

[Podcast Announcer]

Well, I'll tell you, Ben, this, this issue is a powerful issue. And as you know, I ran for reelection in Texas last year in 2024. It was a quarter billion dollar race. I was Chuck Schumer's number one target. And my campaign was the first campaign in the country last year to put real time and energy behind this issue of we're going to protect girls sports from boys competing. And we put tens of millions of dollars behind this issue. Well, what's fascinating is the media completely misunderstood the issue. So one of the things that my campaign did is we did focus groups in Houston and Dallas of undecided moderate women to understand what issues move them. And we tested 30, 35 different messages. The number one issue that moved undecided moderate women in Texas was boys and girls sports and when I started campaigning on it, it was very funny. The reporters are like, oh, Cruz is trying to appeal to the crazy right wing. And I was just laughing at him. I'm like, you guys are so clueless. This is not the crazy right wing. This is soccer moms. This is soccer moms who love their daughters. And we led on this issue. And then you saw Senate races all across the country pick up the same message because they were seeing the same data. We were. We saw President Trump lean in hard on this message.

[Ben Ferguson]

Some of those women that you were talking to, let's be very clear, had moved from California because how many people from California moved to Texas over the last six years? A lot.

[Podcast Announcer]

We have over a thousand people a day moving to the state of Texas. And California is overwhelmingly the heaviest, the largest state that is sending people to Texas. But, but this issue, what's fascinating, Ben, is, you know, four years ago, this issue did not work politically. You saw campaigns try to raise it four years ago, and I think people thought then that it was jumping the shark, that it didn't feel real. Four years ago, I think people said, oh, come on, that's not a real threat. Well, you know what? We've now seen Lia Thomas, the swimmer who is a biological man and looks like Michael friggin Phelps. Who, who, who, who. We, we've also seen, and I think this was really a seminal moment in the Olympics. The two dudes competing in, in, in women's boxing and beating the hell out of women. And I think a whole lot of people said, wait, this is not theoretical. This is happening over and over and over again. Enough is enough. And, and, and I think this is another milestone that, that California is retreated shows that truth and sanity are winning.

[Ben Ferguson]

Yeah. And now the question becomes how much are they gonna be able to fight back through the court system? And is this gonna be something that's gonna be unfortunately an issue for probably years to come?

[Podcast Announcer]

Well, look, we'll see. And to be honest, California hasn't conceded altogether. They're still having biological males compete against women, which is, which is unfair. It invites injury. You know, if you're playing volleyball, we've seen women who have a biological man spike the ball into their head. And they, I mean, I mean, it is. California is still Looney Tunes. But the fact that even the lefty government of California is saying we've gone too far. That's a very positive sign.

[Ben Ferguson]

We had some really sad news this week, but also a celebration of an incredible legacy and a life. You know, I'm From Doug Dynasty. Phil Robertson passed away this week. And many people may not realize this. He was actually incredibly influential in your 2016 presidential campaign. He went all in for you and even did an ad for you. Some thought that was political suicide for Doug Dynasty. The brand. Oh, don't get involved in politics, whatever you do. Just, you know, be Doug Dynasty. Sell stuff at Wall, you know, in Walmart, and just be famous. He was not afraid to take a stand for what he believed in, whether it was his faith or in politics. And that's one of the reasons why I absolutely love the legacy of Phil.

[Podcast Announcer]

Well, Phil Robertson was extraordinary. He was one of a kind. He was truly an American original. He passed this at age 79. And Phil built a business empire as the founder of Duck Commander and on television. He was a unique character. He and his family, with their long, scraggly beards, with their love of hunting, with their real. There was a genuineness to Phil and there is to his whole family that is. It is spectacular. And there is also a love of Jesus, a love of God, an open embrace of faith, which frankly, you don't see on TV very much. And it is part. It was integral to who Phil was. I was really blessed. I got to know Phil. I admired him. I considered him a friend. And I gotta say, you know, one of the coolest things I have ever done in my life is I got to go duck hunting with Phil. And this was during the 2016 presidential campaign. They invited me to come to his home. And so I came to his home and went and had dinner with. With him and the whole family, which was really cool. And then, then we got up at 4 in the morning the next morning and went to the duck blind. And, and, and listen, you. You and I both enjoy hunting. Hunting is, is a lot of fun. I've hunted with a lot of different people. I will tell you, hands down, Phil Robertson is the best shot with a shotgun I've ever seen in my life. Like. Like, we.

[Ben Ferguson]

You're not the only person that's told me that. I was talking with another friend that went and hunted with him. They said, like, he was next level. Like, like completely different level, that it was just in his blood and he knew how to shoot. And it was just like, oh, wow. Like, this is like Olympic level is how it's described to me this week.

[Podcast Announcer]

So. So we would be in the blind and you see some ducks flying over the horizon, and Phil would take a shot at a distance. I wouldn't even pick up my gun. Like, like, it's a distance like, there's no way on earth I'm hitting that bird. If the duck flies over by us, I'll shoot it. But, like, that distance, like he. He. That was the thing that really stood out, is that he. He would shoot ducks at a distance that was like 50% further than any other duck hunter I've ever seen. And as I said, they were far enough away that I didn't even buy. I'm an okay shot with a shotgun. I could hold my own. But. But these ducks were so far away, I wouldn't waste the shells. And. And it was. It was impressive to watch. He was also just. Just real. He was. He was fun. All right, I'm going to tell you a neat Phil Robertson story that he told me. So, Phil was a very good athlete. He was actually the starting quarterback at Louisiana Tech University. I did not know that he was the starting quarterback. And then one day he quit. He quit the team and said, I'm not going to play anymore. Now, do you know who his backup quarterback was?

[Ben Ferguson]

Who was that?

[Podcast Announcer]

A guy named Terry Bradshaw.

[Ben Ferguson]

Is that why he quit?

[Podcast Announcer]

Nope. Nope, that's not why he quit. So Terry Bradshaw, who, for those of you who are not. Not football fans, is one of the greatest NFL quarterbacks ever to play, was a quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers, is a legendary quarterback. Terry Bradshaw was Phil Robertson's backup. He was not getting a ton of playing time because Phil Robertson was the starter. He quit because football season interfered with hunting season.

[Ben Ferguson]

No way.

[Podcast Announcer]

And so the story Phil told me is his coach came to his apartment and was trying to convince Phil to come back and play football. And Phil said, hey, coach, Coach, come on in. Come on in. Hey. He said, come on in the bathroom. I'm cleaning a deer here in the bathroom in my bathtub. And so the coach comes in and he's cleaning a deer. And the coach says, phil, I'm not going to convince you to come back and play football, am I? And Phil says, nope, not a chance. But I'm really glad you came over. And so he quit. And Terry Bradshaw, a legend, was born. And then a second legend, Phil Robertson, was born because his love of hunting led him. Led him to form Duck Commander, to start Duck Dynasty. And one of the coolest things. So in 2016, he cut a TV commercial for my presidential campaign. And like the image of it, it's the two of us hunting together, and we're in camo, and we got face paint, and he's talking, but I want to play that ad. You don't have the visuals, but you can Google it if you want to watch the visuals. And it was classic. But this is all Phil. And I'll just say this. Not a word of this was scripted. They just pointed the camera at him and said, phil, talk. And this is what he said.

[Ben Ferguson]

And by the way, let's be clear. This has got to be the only presidential campaign ad that actually starts with duck calling. I just want to point that out, because Phil is calling in the ducks, and that's the first thing you're going to hear.

[Ted Cruz]

Our qualifications for President of the United States are rather narrow. Is he or she godly? Does he or she love us? Can he or she do the job? And finally, would they kill a duck and put them in a pot and make them a good duck gumbo? I've looked at the candidates. Ted Cruz is my man. He fits the bill. He's got me. He loves us. He's the man for the job, and he will go duck hunting. Because today we're going. Ted Cruz is my man. I'm voting for him. Cruz, the reason we're going to vote for you, all of us, is because you're one of us, my man. That's why we're voting for you. It's now or never.

[Ben Ferguson]

I gotta say, it might be one of the best ads I've ever seen. It's the closest you'll ever be to Rambo senator with the. With the face paint. But. But this was a big risk for him. And I'm sure there was a lot of PR people around him. Like, why do you want to get involved in politics? It's going to alienate people that could be, you know, duck commander friends and people that could buy stuff from you. Why do you want to get into politics? He believed in you that much? He said, I don't care.

[Podcast Announcer]

Yeah, look, if he was listening to PR people, I certainly saw no evidence of it. I think he's a man who followed what he believed was right, and he spoke out and he spoke the truth. You know, one of the things I loved about Duck Dynasty is that his faith was real and he talked about it, and he was proud to demonstrate the love of Jesus every day. And I'll tell you a really cool follow up. So he cut that ad, and I asked Phil, hey, would you come to Iowa? Would you campaign with me on the ground in Iowa? Now, it was in the middle of duck season, and Phil had gone hunting every single day of duck season every year for more than 40 years. He had never missed a day. And so we'd asked him to come. We were having a big rally in Iowa. We asked him, phil, would you, would you fly up to Iowa and join us? And we didn't get a definite answer. He had the invite and he told me he actually went to the duck blind at 4, 4:30 in the morning. And he was sitting there and he said he sat there like 20 minutes. And then he got up and left and got on a plane and flew to Iowa. And it was the first day in over 40 years that he didn't go duck hunting on a day during duck season. And instead he came and campaigned in Iowa. He was awesome.

[Ben Ferguson]

How big of an impact did that have in Iowa? Because this was at the height of their fame, obviously in 16.

[Podcast Announcer]

Well, look, we won Iowa. I won Iowa decisively and ended up winning 12 states in 2016. And Phil's coming there played a. Made a real difference. And I'll tell you, Phil spoke at that rally and my dad spoke. And Phil and my dad were about the same age. Phil was a little bit younger than my dad. My dad's 86. Phil was 79 when he passed. But they got along. And my father's a pastor. And like Phil, my dad is unapologetic, like my father. Ben, you know my dad well, he is. He's incapable of guile. He's incapable of telling you, of not telling you what he thinks.

[Ben Ferguson]

Putting it.

[Podcast Announcer]

It really is sometimes to his own fault. My dad will just say exactly what he thinks, consequences be damned. And the back to back at that rally of having Phil talk and my dad talk, that combination was really, really potent.

[Ben Ferguson]

It's an incredible story. I know you know the family as well and I know you wanted to say to them obviously something about their father passing and just how thankful you are for the legacies left.

[Podcast Announcer]

Well, look to the, to the entire family, to Jace and Willie and Si and the entire extended family. You guys have had an incredible impact on America. You've had an incredible impact touching people's lives. You've had an incredible impact speaking up for ordinary Americans. But also you guys have powerfully spread the gospel. And I appreciate that cheerful, happy warrior, that unapologetic willingness to speak truth. Look, we are sad that Phil is not with us. We are mourning. And I'll tell you, Heidi and I are praying for the family that is mourning the loss of the patriarch. But at the same time, we're celebrating a life incredibly well lived. And, and he's with Jesus now. And, and, and Phil, we love you.

[Ben Ferguson]

As a dad, there's nothing more important than having great movies to show my kids. Movies that celebrate family and our values. Well, if you didn't see Angel Studios record breaking animated film King of Kings over Easter, well you're gonna love it. And you should check it out. And Angel's big next hit is already here. The Last Rodeo starring Neal McDonough rides into theaters May 23rd. It's an inspiring, family driven story about a veteran bull rider who returns to the arena to save his grandson. And it features real life PBR stars. Now this is the best thing. I'm gonna give you two free tickets to see the last rodeo on the big screen when you become a premium member of the Angel Guild. That's right, join the Guild and you'll get tickets to every angel theater release. Plus stream angel originals like Homestead, the Shift and more exclusively with your membership. More than 1 million people have joined the movement to reshape entertainment for our family. And you can do it right now by going angel.com verdict to get your free tickets and start Streaming today. That's angel.com verdict the stories that matter from people that do it right. Angel.com verdict to get your free tickets now.

[J.R. Martinez]

The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration in the United States. Recipients have done the improbable, showing immense bravery and sacrifice in the name of something much bigger than themselves.

[Ted Cruz]

This medal is for the men who went down that day. It's for the families of those who didn't make it.

[J.R. Martinez]

I'm J.R. martinez. I'm a U.S. army veteran myself and I'm honored to tell you the stories of these heroes on the new season of Medal of Stories of Courage from Pushkin Industries and iHeart podcast from Robert Blake, the first black sailor to be awarded the medal to Daniel Daly, one of only 19 people to have received the Medal of Honor twice. These are stories about people who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor going above and beyond the call of duty. You'll hear about what they did, what it meant, and what their stories tell us about the nature of courage and sacrifice. Listen to Medal of Honor on the iHeartRadio app, Apple piece Podcast or wherever you get your podcast.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Why should you listen to Armstrong and Getty on demand? We're not boring. A lot of news is boring and tedious and depressing and makes you angry. You don't want to live your life like that. Hey, I'm Jack Armstrong.

[J.R. Martinez]

He's Joe Getty.

[Ryan Seacrest]

We're Armstrong and Getty. We try to bring you the truth and help you figure out this crazy modern world.

[Ben Ferguson]

How about something about a comedic tone?

[Ryan Seacrest]

We have a winner.

[Podcast Announcer]

Yes.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Listen to Armstrong and Yeti on Demand on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Leon Neyfakh]

In the fall of 1986, Ronald Reagan found himself at the center of a massive scandal that looked like it might bring down his presidency.

[Podcast Announcer]

Did you make a mistake in sending arms to Tehran, sir?

[Ted Cruz]

No.

[Leon Neyfakh]

It became known as the Iran Contra affair.

[Ted Cruz]

And I'm not taking any more questions.

[Podcast Announcer]

In just a second, I'm going to ask a term.

[Leon Neyfakh]

I'm Leon Naifak, co creator of Slow Burn. In my podcast, Iran Contra, you'll hear all the unbelievable details of a scandal that captivated the nation nearly 40 years ago, but which few of us still remember today.

[Ted Cruz]

The things that happened were so bizarre and insane, I can't begin to tell you.

[Leon Neyfakh]

Please do. To hear the whole story, listen to fiasco Iran Contra on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hi, I'm Bob Pippman, chairman and CEO of iHeartMedia.

[Ryan Seacrest]

On this week's episode of Math and.

[Leon Neyfakh]

Magic, I'm sitting down with the one.

[Podcast Announcer]

And only Bobby Bones.

[Leon Neyfakh]

We're exploring the power of audio.

[J.R. Martinez]

The word on the street then was, he's too country for pop. But then once I got to country, it was, he's too pop for country. So I kind of never really had a place to fit in. But that's exactly how and why I fit. I just embraced that. Like, yeah, I don't fit into one specific hole. I think that is what endeared me to listeners. That's why I'm here now, because I talk to people that grew up like me, have sensibilities like me, and have loyalties like me.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Listen to math and magic stories from.

[Leon Neyfakh]

The frontiers of Marketing on the iHeartRadio.

[Ryan Seacrest]

App, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Ben Ferguson]

All right, center. So let's dive into this other issue that really is an interesting one. You've got a lot to say about the Trump Justice Department telling the American Bar association that it will no longer comply with ratings for judicial nominees. Now explain the politics behind this. The ABA has had a lot of power and, and they're basically now saying, we're not gonna let you guys have that power because there's been a lot of bias coming out of the American Bar Association.

[Podcast Announcer]

Well, the American Bar association, it's a national organization of lawyers and, and it is a left wing advocacy group. It is not fair. It is not impartial it, it is a radical left organization. And the ABA has had a formal role in judicial selection for 75 years. It started rating judicial nominees in 1953. And until 2001, the ABA actually had a formal role evaluating judicial nominees before they were nominated. So a president, a Department of justice and Administration would share with the aba, hey, we're thinking of nominating Ben Ferguson to be a federal judge. And they'd go and research and interview former clients. And at some point people would say, wait, Ben's not even a lawyer. How the hell's he gonna be a judge? Like, he probably should go to law school first. And by the way, that point is not crazy. But they engaged that they would do a formal role and they would rate the qualifications of judicial nominees. Now, here's the problem. For decades, the ABA's qualification measures were wildly biased. So for example, Robert Bork. Robert Bork. Ronald Reagan nominated Robert Bork to the Supreme Court in 1987. Robert Bork was, by any measure, one of the most qualified federal judicial nominees in the history of this country. Robert Bork had been the Solicitor General of the United States, the chief lawyer for the United States in front of the Supreme Court of the United States. Robert Bork had been one of the most renowned and respected law professors for decades. Robert Bork had been a federal judge on the U.S. court of Appeals for the D.C. circuit. And so a remarkable career. And yet the ABA, when they evaluated Robert Bork, they concluded he was, quote, not qualified to be a judge. They also concluded the same thing for Frank Easterbrook. Again, brilliant, brilliant judge, brilliant professor. One of the greatest judges to have ever served on the Court of Appeals. Frank Easterbrook. The ABA concluded he was not qualified. Also, Edith Jones, Edith Jones is a Judge on the 5th Circuit, federal court of Appeals down in Texas. I know Judge Jones well. She's a phenomenal jurist. One of the best and most conservative judges in the entire country. The ABA rated her not qualified. Well, the breaking news is this week the Trump Justice Department announced the ABA will no longer have a role in judicial selection. They will no longer have a role in vetting. They're out. And the Department of Justice said, you know what? They can chime in like any other left wing advocacy group, but they don't have a role in this process.

[Ben Ferguson]

This is going to have like, I think a big impact on the quality Pam Bomb Bondi informing the ABA that they'll no longer enjoy the special access to judicial nominees. And the left, by the way, when that news came out, they totally freaked out And I think that also shows just how much they were depending on the ABA to get rid of good candidates that were maybe more conservative.

[Podcast Announcer]

Yeah, and, and, and so Pam Bondi sent a letter to the President of the aba and, and, and she said, quote, while the ABA is free to comment on judicial nominations along with other activist organizations, there is no justification for treating the ABA differently from such other activist organizations. And the Department of Justice will not do so. And so previously the Office of Legal Policy, which, which is the, the, the, the office within the Department of Justice that handles judicial selections, they changed. They had previously directed judicial nominees to provide a waiver to the ABA to let the ABA access non public information, including bar records. And, and so no longer is the Department of Justice going to tell judicial nominees give the ABA special access. That is over. And moreover, Pam Bondi says, quote, nominees will also not respond to questionnaires prepared by the ABA and will not sit for interviews with the aba. In other words, you can be like every other whack job organization on the left, but, but you're not going to have any special access whatsoever. This is something I've called for a long time. I have for years, for more than a decade, advocated that the ABA is wildly biased and it should not have a special role in the process. And I want to commend President Trump and Pam Bondi. It's the right thing to do.

[Ben Ferguson]

Senator, we hear a lot about bias and bias against conservatives, but my other question is, were they also biased in advocating for liberals?

[Podcast Announcer]

Absolutely. They are a hard left advocacy organization masquerading as a nonpartisan professional organization. And Joe Biden over the last four years nominated over and over again, radicals and zealots, many of whom were wildly unqualified. And the ABA was more than happy to stamp them with a rating of qualified. And one example is Charnel Bajelkongran, who was wildly unqualified. And yet the ABA happily deemed her qualified and rather than me lay out how bad she was. I want you to listen to this, this cross examination from my colleague John Kennedy to this judicial nominee in the Senate Judiciary Committee here. Give a listen.

[Ted Cruz]

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and congratulations to all of you. Judge on the far end, tell me.

[Podcast Announcer]

What Article 5 of the Constitution does.

[Travis Holloway]

Article 5 is not coming to mind at the moment.

[Podcast Announcer]

Okay, how about Article 2?

[Travis Holloway]

Neither is Article 2.

[Ted Cruz]

Okay.

[Podcast Announcer]

Do you know what purposivism is?

[Travis Holloway]

In my 12 years as an assistant attorney general and my nine years serving as a judge, I was not faced with that precise question. We are the highest trial court in Washington State. So I'm frequently faced with issues that I'm not familiar with and I thoroughly review the law, our research, and apply the law to the facts presented to me.

[Podcast Announcer]

Well, you're going to be faced with it as a if you're confirmed, I can assure you of that.

[Ben Ferguson]

He was dumbfounded at the end there. Like, I can't believe you don't know this well.

[Podcast Announcer]

And let me underscore how simple the first two questions are that he asked. So the Constitution has seven articles. It's not a very long document. Article five is the article through that lays out the process for amending the Constitution. It's fairly basic. That was his opening question. She had no idea what Article 5 was. Article 2 is even more fundamental. So the first three articles of Constitution Article 1 creates the Congress, Article 2 creates the president and the executive branch, and Article 3 creates the federal judiciary. To not know what Article 2 is is stunning. To give you a sense you will flunk constitutional law and not graduate law school if you don't know what Article 2 is. She was being nominated to be what is called an Article 3 judge. I assume she had no idea what Article 3 was, and nevertheless the ABA said she's qualified to be an Article 3 judge even though she has no idea what it is. I'm very glad the ABA no longer has a role in making those determinations.

[Ben Ferguson]

As always, thank you for listening to Verdict with Senator Ted Cruz, Ben Ferguson with you. Don't forget to download my podcast and you can listen to my podcast every other day. You're not listening to Verdict or each day when you listen to Verdict afterwards. I'd love to have you as a listener to again the Ben Ferguson Podcast and the center and I will see you back here for the weekend review on Saturday morning.

[Rodney Williams]

I'm Rodney Williams. And I'm Travis Holloway. Welcome to the Wealth Break podcast, a real conversation about finance. Let's be honest, building wealth doesn't look the same for everyone.

[Travis Holloway]

I feel like sometimes being broke is a cycle and that we might have have to revisit that.

[Rodney Williams]

And we're not stopping at success stories.

[Podcast Announcer]

What happens when it doesn't go right? How do you cope with it?

[Rodney Williams]

Because wealth isn't just about money. It's about creating a life where you thrive and help others do the same. Listen to the Wealth Break podcast on the iHeartRadio app.

[J.R. Martinez]

The medal of Honor is the highest military decoration in the United States. Recipients have done the improbable, the unexpected, showing immense bravery and sacrifice in the name of something much bigger than themselves.

[Ted Cruz]

This medal is for the men who went down that day on Medal of.

[J.R. Martinez]

Honor Stories of Courage. You'll hear about these heroes and what their stories tell us about the nature of bravery. Listen to Medal of Honor on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Why should you listen to Armstrong and Getty on demand? We're not boring. A lot of news is boring and tedious and depressing and makes you angry. You don't want to live your life like that. Hey, I'm Jack Armstrong.

[J.R. Martinez]

He's Joe Getty.

[Ryan Seacrest]

We're Armstrong and Getty. We try to bring you the truth and help you figure out this crazy.

[Ben Ferguson]

Modern world about something about a comedic tone.

[Ryan Seacrest]

We have a winner.

[Podcast Announcer]

Yes.

[Ryan Seacrest]

Listen to Armstrong and Getty on Demand on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Leon Neyfakh]

In the fall of 1986, Ronald Reagan found himself at the center of a massive scandal that looked like it might bring down his presidency. It became known as the Iran Contra Affair.

[Ted Cruz]

The things that happened were so bizarre and insane, I can't begin to tell you.

[Leon Neyfakh]

Please do to hear the whole story. Listen to Fiasco Iran Contra on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Ryan Seacrest]

This is an iHeart podcast.