Terror Attack in Colorado-Intifada Comes to America plus Ukraine Takes out 41 Russian Bombers in Clandestine Drone Attack

Summary

Verdict with Ted Cruz – Episode Summary: Terror Attack in Colorado-Intifada Comes to America & Ukraine Takes Out 41 Russian Bombers in Clandestine Drone Attack
Release Date: June 2, 2025
Host: Senator Ted Cruz & Co-host Ben Ferguson
Produced by: Premiere Networks

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Introduction

In this episode of Verdict with Ted Cruz, Senator Ted Cruz and co-host Ben Ferguson delve into two major news events: a tragic terror attack in Boulder, Colorado, and a significant Ukrainian drone strike against Russian bombers. The hosts provide in-depth analysis, context, and their perspectives on these incidents, shedding light on underlying political and social issues.

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1. Terror Attack in Boulder, Colorado

Overview:

The episode opens with Cruz and Ferguson addressing a recent and horrifying attack in Boulder, Colorado, targeting pro-Israel protesters. This incident is framed within the broader context of increasing violence from anti-American and anti-Israel leftist groups.

Key Details:

• Incident Description:
  A deranged individual attacked a peaceful pro-Israel demonstration known as "Run for Their Lives" on Pearl Street, Boulder, Colorado. The attacker used Molotov cocktails, resulting in the death of multiple individuals and injuries to others, including a Holocaust survivor.

• Motivation and Perpetrator Background:
  The attacker is identified as an Egyptian national who overstayed his visa, becoming an illegal immigrant in the U.S. This individual's actions are portrayed as a direct consequence of the previous administration's open border policies.

Notable Quotes:

• Ted Cruz [03:22]:
  "A horrific attack in Colorado and also a lot going on with Ukraine and Russia."

• Cruz [08:27]:
  "It was a targeted terror attack... These are multiple acts of grotesque violence directed at Jews, directed at Israel."

• Ryan [10:15]:
  "Was an actual protest going on when this occurred? Were a group of people gathered and..."

Analysis:

Cruz emphasizes the pattern of violence stemming from radical leftist ideologies, highlighting the failure of media to adequately report these incidents. He links the attack to broader issues of immigration control, criticizing the Biden administration for its open border policies that, in his view, have facilitated the entry of individuals capable of committing such acts.

Additional Insights:

• Media Representation:
  Cruz and Ferguson argue that mainstream media downplays the severity and targeted nature of the attack, contrasting it with more sensationalized but ambiguous coverage of other violent acts.

• Law Enforcement Response:
  While acknowledging the complexities of the ongoing investigation, Cruz criticizes local authorities for their cautious approach in labeling the incident as terrorism, contrasting it with the FBI's immediate categorization.

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2. Ukraine’s Clandestine Drone Attack on Russia

Overview:

Shifting focus to international affairs, the hosts discuss Ukraine's recent audacious drone strike against Russian military assets, specifically targeting 41 Russian bombers. This operation is portrayed as a significant tactical victory for Ukraine amidst the ongoing conflict with Russia.

Key Details:

• Operation Spiderweb:
  Ukraine executed a sophisticated drone attack named "Spiderweb," which successfully destroyed over 40 Russian bombers stationed deep within Russian territory, specifically at the Belaya Air Base in Siberia's Irkut region, approximately 3,000 miles from Ukraine.

• Strategic Impact:
  The strike is estimated to have inflicted over $2 billion in damage on Russian military aviation, marking a substantial blow to Russia's aerial capabilities.

Notable Quotes:

• Cruz [22:32]:
  "You and I have also talked about this, and this brings in another aspect of this conversation... how many people came into this country during the last administration."

• Ryan [30:57]:
  "This latest strike, it truly is audacious. So the Ukrainians hit more than 40 Russian bombers inside Russian territory. It was meticulously planned and remarkably effective."

• Cruz [34:37]:
  "We are done sending money to Ukraine that at this point we have sent over $100 billion. Enough is enough."

Analysis:

Cruz and Ferguson interpret Ukraine's successful strike as a turning point that could pressure Russia into seeking a negotiated settlement. They credit Ukraine's strategic ingenuity while critiquing the prolonged conflict, attributing its escalation to what they perceive as the previous administration's weaknesses in handling international relations and sanctions against Russia.

Additional Insights:

• Biden Administration's Role:
  The hosts argue that the Biden administration's policies, including waiving sanctions on Nord Stream 2, directly contributed to Russia's aggression against Ukraine. They hold the administration responsible for enabling the conditions that led to the ongoing war.

• Future Implications:
  Cruz expresses hope that this significant defeat for Russia's military will force Putin to the negotiating table, potentially leading to an end to the war. However, he remains cautious about Russia's potential retaliation and the possibility of further escalations.

• U.S. Support to Ukraine:
  Criticism is leveled at the continuous financial support provided to Ukraine, suggesting that it has reached unsustainable levels without yielding the desired outcomes.

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3. Administration Response and Accountability

Overview:

The discussion shifts to the response from U.S. administration officials regarding the Colorado attack and Ukraine's military actions, focusing on accountability and policy implications.

Key Details:

• FBI and Law Enforcement Statements:
  Initial statements by authorities categorize the Colorado attack as a terror incident, though local officials urge caution in prematurely labeling motives.

• Policy Critique:
  Cruz holds former and current administration officials accountable for their roles in shaping immigration and foreign policies that he believes have led to increased national security risks.

Notable Quotes:

• Cruz [20:55]:
  "Alejandro Mayorkas may be the most dishonest individual to have ever served in the United States Cabinet."

• Ryan [22:59]:
  "The Democrats were more than happy to take that exchange... more Americans being murdered, more women being raped, more children being brutalized."

Analysis:

Cruz advocates for accountability for administration officials like Alejandro Mayorkas and Karine Jean-Pierre, accusing them of dishonesty and negligence in border security. He links their policies directly to the rise in terrorist activities and violent crimes, emphasizing the human cost of what he perceives as failed governance.

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4. Broader Implications and Concluding Thoughts

Overview:

In wrapping up, Cruz and Ferguson reflect on the broader implications of these events on national security, immigration policy, and international relations.

Key Details:

• National Security Concerns:
  The hosts argue that lax immigration policies have compromised national security, making the country vulnerable to internal threats.

• International Strategy:
  The success of Ukraine's drone strike is seen as a testament to Ukraine's resilience and strategic planning, contrasting it with U.S. foreign policy shortcomings.

Notable Quotes:

• Cruz [37:48]:
  "It will end this year... Put it will resolve at the end of the day, but right now, Putin and Zelensky both seem like they want to keep fighting."

• Ryan [39:55]:
  "Creating a life where you can thrive and help others to do the same."

Final Remarks:

Cruz underscores the necessity for stringent immigration controls to prevent further acts of terrorism. He calls for a reevaluation of current policies and greater accountability to ensure national safety. Regarding the Ukraine-Russia conflict, he remains cautiously optimistic about an impending resolution but acknowledges the unpredictable nature of geopolitical dynamics.

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Conclusion

In this episode, Verdict with Ted Cruz provides a critical examination of recent violent events both domestically and internationally. Through detailed analysis and pointed critiques, the hosts highlight the interconnectedness of domestic policies and global conflicts, urging listeners to consider the broader ramifications of political decisions on national security and international stability.

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Notable Excerpts:

• Cruz on Colorado Attack [05:39]:
  "This is not subtle. This is not someone tripped and accidentally hit them... It is a targeted terror attack."

• Ryan on Ukrainian Strike [34:37]:
  "This has similar aspects, it's like something out of Mission Impossible or the Bourne Identity."

• Cruz on Policy Accountability [22:59]:
  "Alejandro Mayorkas is unusually bad at lying, but they were so bad at it that everyone knew they were lying."

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This summary captures the essence of the key discussions, insights, and conclusions presented in the episode, providing a comprehensive overview for those who haven't listened to the podcast.

Transcript

[Ryan]

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[Ted Cruz]

Good Monday morning. So nice to have you with us here on Verdict with Ted Cruz, Ben Ferguson with you and Senator, it was a very weekend when it came to news. A horrific attack in Colorado and also a lot going on with Ukraine and Russia.

[Ryan]

Well, tragically, the radical anti American, anti Israel left keeps getting worse, keeps getting more violence. We saw two weeks ago two Israeli supporters, people who worked in the Israeli consulate in Washington, D.C. murdered on the streets of D.C. murdered by a radical leftist who screamed free Palestine. And then just this weekend, we saw five people in Colorado who were engaged in a pro Israel protest speaking up for the hostages, calling on Hamas to release the hostages, saying enough is enough. And a deranged lunatic firebombed them, threw Molotov cocktails at them, lit them on fire. It was tragic. At this point, it's a little past midnight Sunday night. What we know right now is five people are reported to be injured, two with very serious injuries. And this is sadly the face of the angry anti American left and the angry anti Israel left. They are violent and far too often they are committing acts of enormous violence and even murder. And this pattern, the media apologizes for them, whitewashes what they do, covers up for them. But verdict is not going to do that. We're going to give you the facts. We also have in Russia and Ukraine an extraordinary moment. Ukraine strikes back. Ukraine launched an audacious drone attack on Russia. They took out more than 40 Russian bombers deep inside Russian territory. It was an attack that was meticulously panned out. It is similar to Israel's attack on Hezbollah with the pagers. And that it took enormous preparation to carry out and it was remarkably effective. Hopefully this attack will accelerate ending the war in Ukraine and it may bring Russia to the bargaining table to say Enough is enough.

[Ted Cruz]

Yeah. And that may, like you said, be one of the silver linings of this attack. And it took a long time for them to plan it in preparation for it. We'll give you those details as well in a moment. Let me tell you real quick about Patriot Mobile. You've heard me talk about Patriot Mobile for a while and you probably already know that for years they've stood in the gap for every American that believes that freedom is actually worth fighting for. They're the real deal. So let me ask you this question. Why haven't you switched to Patriot Mobile yet? Now, if the answer is no, then I gotta ask you, like why? Why have you not done it? Are you worried about coverage? You shouldn't be. Patriot Mobile is one of the few cell phone service providers that actually operate on all three of the major networks in this country. The fact is, if you have cell phone service in where you are right now, you're going to get exceptional or even better service with Patriot Mobile. And that's why they offer a coverage guarantee that others just can't. Or maybe you haven't joined Patriot Mobile because you think making the switch is just too painful, too hard. I'm here to tell you I've done it. It's not. In fact, it's incredibly easy. In 2025, there's no need to spend hours in a retail store waiting your turn. You simply call Patriot Mobile's 100% US based team from the comfort of your home or your office and they'll have you activated in minutes. Still locked into a contract. Also not a problem. Patriots Mobile contract buyout program covers up to 4, $500 per device. You keep your same number, keep your phone or treat yourself to an upgrade. And it goes back to my point. What are you waiting for? Join Patriot Mobile today. They support faith, family and freedom and they give about 5% of your bill back at no cost you to amazing conservative causes and organizations. So go to patriot mobile.com verdict that's patriot mobile.com verdict or 972-patriot@ and when you use the promo code verdict, you get a free month of Service. That's patriot mobile.com verdict or 972-patriot all right, Senator, let's talk about the two narratives coming out of of this attack in Colorado. There's many that are wanting this to just be some random attack and you know, kind of move on. They don't want you to know the facts. They don't want you to know how the person got into this country. They don't want you to know who let him in this country. They don't want you to know he overstayed a visa. They don't want you to know he's an illegal immigrant. They don't want you to know that he was an anti Israel individual that was trying to, or not trying setting elderly Jewish individuals who do this walk every week to remember the hostages being held by Hamas. They do this every week and they. And he deliberately was trying to set them on fire and kill them.

[Ryan]

Well, and. And let's set the stage. This is in Boulder, Colorado. It was a weekly event called Run for Their Lives. And it was a weekly gathering of Jewish community leaders that was supporting the hostages that were taken on October 7 and calling for their release from Hamas. So it was a peaceful protest. But I'll tell you what people knew. People knew that at the time of this protest there were going to be Jews there. There were going to be Jews who supported Israel. And the hate of the anti Israel, the left, the hate of the anti America, anti Israel, left is so great that simply knowing that there are Jews who are present somewhere, sadly in those radical circles has proven to be an invitation to violence. And in this instance, the man threw multiple bottles filled with flammable liquids that hit the ground. They exploded in flames and burned multiple people. Now, you and I are describing this at just after midnight Sunday night. And so the event is incredibly recent. So I want to give a caveat that inevitably when you have a bad event, there is a fog of war. Some of the facts that are being reported today will prove less than accurate. But on the face of this, it is obviously a terror attack. It is not complicated to figure out who the targets were. And yet I gotta say, I want you to listen. And the FBI to their credit, said right from the beginning this is a targeted terror attack because they actually are not ostriches with their heads plunged into the sand. I want you to contrast this with the words of the Boulder police chief which if the topic weren't so serious, they almost sound like a Saturday Night Live skit. Give a listen.

[J.R. Martinez]

Was an actual protest going on when this occurred? Were a group of people gathered and.

[Ryan]

Were words said that would indicate this.

[Ted Cruz]

Had anything at all to do with that protest.

[Ben Ferguson]

So what I will tell you on Pearl street, it's a walking pedestrian mall downtown here. There was a lot of people out. Beautiful day. There was a group of pro Israel people that were there in a peaceful demonstration. I wouldn't even call it a protest. I believe that happens frequently down here. They were There in that area, we are looking and actively interviewing victims and witnesses to determine if that group was targeted or others. And we just don't have those answers yet. Those are things we hope to be able to provide you later this evening.

[Ryan]

FBI is already calling it a targeted terror attack. Would you also refer to it as a terror attack?

[Ben Ferguson]

So I've been in contact with our local FBI multiple times. We are in contact with them here. We are not calling it a terror attack at this point. Again, it's way too early to speculate motive. You know, I know there's a lot out there on social media, but I asked people just to give us a little bit of patience while we work through a really complex scene. A lot of witnesses were here. We've taken them to another location to debrief them and interview them. As we do that, I think the picture will become more clear. But it would be. It would be irresponsible for me to. To speculate on motive this early on. We're only a couple hours into this thing. I'll go right here.

[J.R. Martinez]

The description about him, because we know any picture running.

[Ben Ferguson]

I haven't seen it and I. Obviously I wasn't here when he was arrested. All I know is it's an adult male. We're working to identify that person. We're working to figure out where they're from. And we're in contact with our federal partners as well as we figure that out.

[Ted Cruz]

It is amazing to hear the Boulder police chief put it this way and clearly doing it, saying the FBI is the one that's overreacting, calling this a terrorist attack. Clearly I'm not going with those guys over there. Cash, Patel and Bongino have come out very early on and saying, quote, it wouldn't be helpful implying the FBI is like amateur hour at this moment.

[Ryan]

Yeah, look, this sadly is woke politics. If you have Jews who are standing and protesting in favor of hostages in Israel. Taken in October 7, a weekly recurring event where everyone knows, and by the way, this police chief knows, there is vicious terrorism and anti Semitism directed at Jews, directed at supporters of Israel, and they threw Molotov cocktails on them. This is not subtle. This is not someone tripped and accidentally hit them. This is not a random drive by shooting of two gangs were shooting at each other and a stray bullet hit someone. I mean, this is multiple Molotov cocktails directed at a very specific, concrete group of people. And so the FBI is obviously right in calling it terrorism. I mean, this same knucklehead, by the way, it reminded Me of at the tail end of the Biden administration when you had the deranged radical Islamic terrorists drive a car into a crowd in New Orleans, he was flying an ISIS flag. And yet the local FBI person there said, well, we don't know that it's terrorism. You know what? If a guy drives a jeep with an ISIS flag into a crowd and murders people, it's terrorism. You don't need a deep, subtle analysis to tell. And let me give you another fact that miraculously the corporate media is omitting. Bill Melujian, the very best reporter at Fox. He reported tonight, quote, breaking three senior DHS sources tell Fox News that the Boulder terror suspect is an Egyptian national in the US Illegally as a visa overstay who entered the US during the Biden administration. I'm told Mohammed Sabre Solomon arrived at LAX on 82722 on a B1 slash B2 non immigrant visa with an authorized stay through 226 23. But he overstayed and never left. I'm told on 92922 he filed some sort of claim with US C I S potentially an asylum claim. And on 32923 US CIS under Biden gave him work authorization which expired on 328 25. Understand, assuming this reporting is right, this guy was an illegal immigrant who came from Egypt. He overstayed his visa, which made him illegal, and the Biden administration allowed him to stay. They allowed someone to stay who now is charged with and appears to have committed throwing Molotov cocktails at peaceful Jewish protesters, standing up for hostages. It's also been reported one of the victims of this firebombing was a Holocaust survivor. This is the consequence of Joe Biden. The Democrats open borders. When you let terrorists into the country, shockingly, they commit acts of terrorism.

[Ted Cruz]

There's also another aspect of this that the media is refusing to touch and that is the age of the people that were targeted by this individual. They were elderly. They were doing this every week. They were committed to not forgetting those that are being held hostage right now. You just mentioned one of them, a Holocaust survivor. It's being reported. And, and, and yet the media doesn't want to talk about how barbaric the attack is that These are senior citizens, 70s and 80s who were targeted because they were obviously easier to target because of their age.

[Ryan]

Well, and listen, in the last two months, we've seen elderly Jewish protesters firebombed with Molotov cocktails. We've seen a young Jewish couple executed leaving a Jewish Museum in D.C. and as we talked about in a prior podcast that that couple had publicly said they met at an event where I was speaking. I don't believe I had met that young couple, but it reduced me to tears that they came to an event where I was giving a speech on foreign policy. And that's where the two of them met and got engaged. And tragically, they were murdered by a radical leftist who hates Israel, who hates Jews and hates America, and gunned them down. And also within the last two months, we had yet another radical who tried to burn down the home of the governor of Pennsylvania, who was Jewish, with him and his family inside. These are multiple acts of grotesque violence directed at Jews, directed at Israel. And the corporate media will not cover it. And in fact, they treat it as, oh, isn't this cute when you have people at Harvard or MIT or Columbia calling for intifada. Well, the intifada is here. This is Intifada. This is murdering people because they are Jews on the streets. That is Intifada. And we saw this last week commencement speeches at both Harvard and mit. People give radical anti Israel screeds because sadly, our universities have welcomed and nurtured this incredible evil.

[Ted Cruz]

Well, let's talk about also the response here from the administration. And you look at just how quickly you had clarity from those that are in charge. Cash Patel coming out and, and looking again at the facts. And the FBI director just straight up put it out there saying, we are aware of and fully investigating a targeted terror attack in Boulder, Colorado. Our agents and local law enforcement are on the scene already, and we will share updates as more information becomes available. He was short in his words. And, and, and, but letting it know this is a targeted terror attack, you, you, you move a couple hours ahead. Dan Bongino, he comes out and says, our leadership team on the ground in Boulder will be updating you shortly on the attack in Boulder. This act of terror is being investigated as an act of ideologically motivated violence. Based on the early information, the evidence and witness accounts, we will speak clearly on these incidents when the facts warrant it. I find great peace in knowing that we finally have two individuals here. They're saying, we're not playing politics. We're going to tell you the truth.

[Ryan]

Look, everyone knows what this is. It's not complicated. And there are times, there's times when a crime occurs and you don't know why. I mean, sometimes someone's randomly shot on the street and it could be a crime of passion, it could be a lover's quarrel, it could be a robbery gone awry it could be a totally crazy person. Like, there are all sorts of. There are crimes where it is difficult to ascertain what happened and you need to have an investigation. And that's true at every instance. But there are also crimes that, on the face of this, anybody who's not a blithering idiot knows what this is. If you have elderly Jewish people walking along holding signs saying Free the hostages in Gaza, and someone who is an illegal immigrant from Egypt throws a Molotov cocktail at them, or multiple Molotov cocktails at them and lights them on fire, that is not subtle. That doesn't take Sherlock Holmes to figure out what's going on there. When you have, just two weeks ago, two Jewish people walking out of a Jewish Museum in D.C. and you have a radical leftist who screams Free, Free Palestine and guns them down, emptying the magazine into them, firing shots over and over and over again and murdering them on the streets. That is not subtle or complicated, is straightforward. And those who seek to deny it and say, no, no, no, this is not Intifada, this is not antisemitic, this is not targeted terrorism. This. We don't know what this is. They're lying to you. They know. It's not that they don't know, it's that they don't wanna say it because acknowledging what it is conflicts with their political ideology and their political agenda. And sadly, that is true for the overwhelming majority of the corporate media.

[Ted Cruz]

You and I have also talked about this, and this brings in another aspect of this conversation, and it's the one that concerns me, honestly, the most, and that is how many people came into this country during the last administration.

[Ryan]

Yes, yes, yes.

[Ted Cruz]

That are terrorists. This was a terrorist that the last administration not only let in, but then allowed them to overstay and then rewarded them with the ability to take a job while here planning this type of attack. I am terrified of how many other terrorists we may be harboring right now that they let in. How concerned are you now seeing this play out the way it is?

[Ryan]

Deeply, deeply concerned. I think the odds are overwhelming that there is more to come. You know, I gotta say, during the Biden administration, you had Christopher Wray as the head of the FBI. I've known Chris for over 25 years. Chris, I think, made a lot of mistakes as head of the FBI. I do not think he had a good tenure. But the one thing he did do is he repeatedly went before Congress, particularly the last two years, and tried to ring the alarm, tried to scream from the mountaintops, saying, our Risks of a terror attack right now are higher than they've ever been. These open borders, Hezbollah, Hamas, Palestinian, Islamic Jihad, we are inviting terrorists into this country and Americans are going to die because of it. That is tragically true. The Trump administration, I think, is doing a heroic job tracking down and trying to find these guys. But when you have over 12 million people that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris and all the congressional Democrats invited into this country, you can't turn that around overnight. That takes time. And the risks. The risks are that we will see, unfortunately, more terror attacks in the weeks and months to come as a result of the Democrats open borders the last four years.

[Ted Cruz]

Final question. Will there ever be accountability for those that willingly allowed this to happen in the Biden administration or Mayorkas? I mean, I go back to the famous quote from him when he said, the border is secure, the border is secure. We've all heard it a million times. That was a lie then, it's a lie now. This is what was coming in. Will there be any accountability? Or is it just, hey, that's what they did and it is what it is.

[Ryan]

Look, I hope so. Mayorkas may be the most dishonest individual to have ever served in the United States Cabinet. He routinely lied. He lied before Congress. He lied before the American people. He'd go on TV every day and lie. It's actually a close battle between him and Karine Jean Pierre at the White House Press secretary, who also. She actually embodies the opposite of a backhanded compliment. Years ago, when Bill Clinton was president, a backhanded compliment was said of him that he's an unusually good liar. That probably was true. Well, I gotta say, Karine Jean Pierre and Alejandro Mayorkas are unusually bad liars. And sadly, it didn't stop them from lying. They lied constantly. Every time they opened their mouths, they lied. But they were so bad at it that everyone knew they were lying. Even their cheerleaders knew they were lying. When Karine Jean Pierre said, people aren't walking across the border. It's simply not happening. That doesn't happen. Everybody who had ever opened their eyes and turned on the television for 10 seconds knew that that was a lie. She knew that that was a lie. Every reporter in the room knew that was a lie. Then again, the reporters at abc, NBC, cbs, cnn, msnbc, Washington Post, New York Times, they did not report that it was a lie. The same is true with Alejandro Mayorkas. This was brazen. Understand? The presence of terrorists, the presence of murderers and rapists and child molesters and Venezuelan gang members in this country. It is not accident, it is not unintentional. It is the intended result of the Democrats open borders. Now, it's not that they sat around saying, we want more terrorists. It's that they said all we care about is politics. If we let 12 million people here illegally, they will become Democrats. They will vote Democrat, they will register illegally. They will keep us in power. And so if the price for Democrats to stay in power is more Americans being murdered, more women being raped, more children being brutalized, more. More terrorists committing acts of terror, I'm sorry to say the Democrats were more than happy to take that exchange.

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[Rodney Williams]

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[Travis Holloway]

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And that's exactly why we created the wealthbreak. We made something different, something more human. It's not just another financial podcast. It's a conversation about real life, real struggles and real wins.

[Rodney Williams]

We're here to talk about the journey. You're hearing from people who've broken barriers, found creative ways to succeed, and learn to build wealth on their terms. Whether it's the first time homeowner, a gig worker, or someone turning a side hustle into a six figure business, we're bringing you their stories.

[Travis Holloway]

And we're not stopping at success stories. We're breaking down the realities, like what it means to take risk, how to navigate failure, and why resilience matters. Because wealth isn't about money. It's about creating a life where you can thrive and help others to do the same.

[Rodney Williams]

So if you're ready for a podcast as much as about people as it is about money, you're in the right place.

[Travis Holloway]

Listen to the Wealthbreak podcast on the iHeartRadio app.

[Ted Cruz]

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[Rodney Williams]

We used our 2% cash back to.

[Ryan]

Help build our retail presence.

[Ted Cruz]

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[Ryan]

And we get big purchasing power so our business can spend more and earn more.

[Ted Cruz]

The SparkCash card from Capital One. What's in your wallet?

[J.R. Martinez]

Terms and conditions apply. Find out [e-mail] sparkcashplus 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.

[Ryan]

This medal is for the men who.

[Ted Cruz]

Went down that day. It's for the families of those who didn't make.

[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 I Heart 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, 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 Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Ted Cruz]

I want to move to the other big story, and that is Ukraine claims a massive drone strike on Russia and all across liter the the country. From one side, the other, they were hitting sites of Russian bombers and what was called a spider web operation. I want to make sure, though, that people understand this was a response to an attack that took place at the hands of Russia and Putin, that Donald Trump referred him as a crazy man afterwards. So let's give the background before we explain what happened.

[Ryan]

Well, listen, the war has been ongoing for more than two years now. There's been massive casualties on both sides. Russia is the aggressor. Russia is the wrongdoer. Putin invaded Ukraine or another sovereign nation. Putin did so because Joe Biden was so incredibly weak, because he was an ineffective commander in chief. Putin did so because Joe Biden waived the sanctions on Nord Stream 2, the pipeline that was designed to move natural gas directly from Russia to Germany. I authored those sanctions. I passed them into law. And President Trump signed my sanctions legislation into law. Putin shut down Nord Stream 2, literally the day Trump signed my sanctions legislation into law. Biden waived those sanctions, and Putin completed the pipeline and almost immediately invaded Ukraine. So the war has been ongoing and it is the cause. The cause of it is Biden's weakness. Well, what happened today, Ukraine? You know, I'll tell you. At the start of the war, I remember sitting in a classified briefing, and it was a classified briefing with all 100 senators. And we had in that briefing, we had the Secretary of State, we had the Secretary of Defense, we had the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, we had the head of the CIA, the Director of National Intelligence. We had multiple players throughout the national security apparatus. This is all during the Biden administration. Every single one of them briefed all of the senators, they said this war will be over within a week. Russia will sweep in, they'll conquer the whole country. Ukraine will fall, and within a week, Kiev will be a Russian city. Now, that intel, that national security assessment, Ben, it wasn't slightly wrong. It wasn't a teeny bit wrong. It was totally, catastrophically, 180 degrees false. We're sitting here more than two years later, the war is ongoing. And the Ukrainians keep shocking both the Russians and the American analysts who insist that they must lose. They must lose. This latest strike, it truly is audacious. So the Ukrainians hit more than 40 Russian bombers inside Russian territory. And it was a total of 41 strategic Russian aircraft. The name of the operation was Spiderweb. And you can see online there's a video showing a drone attack at the Belaya Air base in Russia's Irkut region, which is In Siberia, nearly 3,000 miles away from Ukraine. So understand this happened not by Ukraine, but 3,000 miles away. And the bombers, they're under attack, their explosions, smoke is rising from the scene. And one source said, quote, preliminary estimates indicate that enemy aviation has suffered over $2 billion in damage. Enemy strategic bombers are burning en masse in Russia. That is a major attack. It is an extraordinary attack. Now that follows the night before Russia launched 472 drones, according to the Ukrainian Air Force. Earlier on Sunday, Ukraine's army said a Russian missile strike killed at least 12 Ukrainian service members and injured 60. So Russia has been very much the aggressor. But this attack, taking out major aircraft resources from Russia is a big victory for Ukraine.

[Ted Cruz]

It is a big, big victory. There are obviously worried individuals, especially in that part of the world, that Russia will then now retaliate in some massive way and then therefore blaming Ukraine, saying, you should not have done this attack. That took them a long time to plan strategically. I want to get your response to that because there does seem to be quite often when Ukraine does something, the narrative becomes, well, they're the ones that are bringing us to the brink of World War Three. Because now Russia is going to respond and it's actually their fault that they went over the top on this one.

[Ryan]

Yeah, look, Russia has been the aggressor from the beginning. Ukraine is defending itself. I want to break down how they carry this out because it's actually, this is the stuff of spy novels. You know, we talked about when Israel struck back against Hezbollah with first the pagers and then with the walkie talkies. That was an extraordinary story. This has similar Aspects, it's like something out of Mission Impossible of the Bourne Identity. And let me read from It's a story in Reuters the specific facts. Here's what Reuters reported. To attack Russian air bases, Ukrainian spies hid drones in wooden sheds. Ukrainian secret services were able to attack strategic bomber aircraft at Russian air bases on Sunday by hiding explosive laden drones inside the roofs of wooden sheds, according to a Ukrainian security official. Ukraine's domestic security agency, the sbu, acknowledged that it carried out the operation codename Spider's Web and said it had caused considerable damage. The sheds were loaded onto trucks that were driven to the perimeter of the air bases. The roof panels of the sheds were lifted off by a remotely activated mechanism, allowing the drones to fly out and begin their attack, the official said. The security official, who spoke on conditions of anonymity, said the strikes conducted on Sunday were on four air bases and that 41 Russian warplanes were hit. An SBU statement posted on the Telegram messaging app estimated the damages caused by the assault at $7 billion. And here's a quote. 34% of strategic cruise missile carriers at the main airfields of the Russian Federation were hit. Wow, that is remarkable. And it is the fact that they could carry it out in wooden sheds that they could smuggle right next to the Russian airfields, that's a significant tactical and strategic victory. Victory.

[Ted Cruz]

So when you look at this, what is the best case scenario for this attack? Does it make Russia realize A, they're vulnerable and B, maybe we need to, we need to go back to the table because as you heard President Trump say, he said Putin was, was crazy last week, a crazy man and refusing to actually stop this war. Instead, he went on this big attack in Ukraine. Ukraine responds.

[Ryan]

Yeah, look, I think President Trump is deeply frustrated with Vladimir Putin right now. President Trump wants this war to end. I believe this war will end. It will end this year. And one of the reasons it's going to end is I think the United States Congress is done sending money to Ukraine that at this point we have sent over $100 billion. Enough is enough. This war needs to end. So the blank checkbook that Joe Biden and the Democrats gave that blank checkbook is done. Now what I believe is it needs to end in a negotiated settlement and it should end in a way that is a clear and objectively discernible loss for Russia. Putin is our enemy. Russia is our enemy. And we want, we want our enemies to be weaker and not stronger. How this ends exactly, it's going to depend on, on Zelensky and Putin. Zelensky right now doesn't want to negotiate a peace. He's looking to fight and defend his country. I understand that. He just doesn't have an entitlement for us to pay for it. Putin. Putin right now. Trump believed that if he leaned in, Putin would agree to come to the table and seek terms of peace, at least so far he hasn't. It is possible this devastating strike on Russia will change Russia's calculus. That being said, look, one of the dangerous things about fighting a dictatorship is that Putin can can inflict enormous pain and misery on the Russian citizenry and still stay in power. So I don't know how this resolves. I believe it will resolve at the end of the day, but. But right now, Putin and Zelensky both seem like they want to keep fighting.

[Ted Cruz]

Yeah, we're going to keep you updated on it. That I can promise you. Don't forget, we do this show Monday, Wednesday and Friday. So hit that subscriber auto download button. Please share this podcast, especially if you would, on social media. It helps us reach new listeners and the Senator and I will see you back here Wednesday morning.

[Rodney Williams]

I'm Rodney Williams.

[Travis Holloway]

And I'm Travis Holloway. Welcome to the Wealth Break Podcast, a real conversation about finance.

[Rodney Williams]

Let's be honest, building wealth doesn't look the same for everyone.

[Ryan]

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

[Travis Holloway]

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

[Ryan]

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.

[Travis Holloway]

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.

[Ryan]

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

[J.R. Martinez]

On Medal of 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]

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. The things that happened were so bizarre and insane, I can't begin to tell you. Please do. To hear the whole story. Listen to Iran Contra on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Why should you listen to Armstrong and Getty on demand?

[Ben Ferguson]

We're not boring.

[Ryan]

A lot of news is boring and tedious and depressing. It 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]

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

[Ted Cruz]

How about something about a comedic tone?

[Ryan]

We have a winner.

[Ben Ferguson]

Yes.

[Ryan]

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