The Case is Made on the SAA, When the Bible Becomes a Campaign Prop and a Liberal Icon César Chávez Week In Review

Summary

Verdict with Ted Cruz — Episode Summary

Episode Title: The Case is Made on the SAA, When the Bible Becomes a Campaign Prop and a Liberal Icon César Chávez Week In Review
Date: March 21, 2026
Hosts: Senator Ted Cruz, Ben Ferguson

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Episode Overview

This episode of "Verdict with Ted Cruz" offers a week-in-review format focusing on three main political stories: the contentious debate over the Save America Act and its voter integrity provisions, the Texas Senate candidacy of Democrat James Talarico and his unconventional use of biblical language, and a reevaluation of liberal icon César Chávez in light of serious allegations. The tone throughout the discussion is pointed, deeply partisan, and frequently laced with humor and sarcasm, especially in the hosts’ critiques of Democratic positions.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Save America Act (SAA) and the Battle for Election Integrity

Timestamps: 00:43–19:51

• Summary of Senate Vote: The Senate voted 51–47 to take up the Save America Act, with Lisa Murkowski the only Republican voting “no” and Thom Tillis not voting (00:57). Every other Republican supported advancing the bill. Cruz frames this as a battle against unified Democratic opposition.
• The Case for SAA:
  • What the Act Does: Requires proof of citizenship to register for federal elections and mandates photo ID to vote (03:29).
  • Historical Context: Cruz tours the evolution of voting rights in America, highlighting constitutional amendments enhancing inclusivity, but emphasizes that integrity remains core.
  • The Rationale: Cruz asserts that voter ID laws are standard in most democracies to ensure both mechanical integrity and public trust in elections (06:28).
  • Refuting “Jim Crow” Allegations:
    • Cruz addresses the criticism that voter ID is discriminatory and likened to Jim Crow laws. He asserts that these laws were products of Democratic politicians, not Republicans.

      “Our Democrat colleagues should be experts in Jim Crow because it was Democrat politicians who passed the Jim Crow laws. ... But do you know who has rejected their disingenuous claim that photo ID to vote is Jim Crow? The Supreme Court of the United States.” — Ted Cruz (07:00)

    • Cruz cites a Supreme Court ruling upholding Indiana’s voter ID law, noting increased minority participation.
  • Public Support: Emphasizes widespread, bipartisan, and broad minority support for photo ID, calling Democratic arguments “frankly insulting” (09:40).
    • Cruz: “Hispanics are not morons. African Americans are not morons. And when you claim minorities can't figure out how to get a driver's license... that is just out there.”
  • Everyday Usage of ID: Cruz humorously lists mundane situations requiring photo ID to illustrate his case (10:40).

    “You need a photo ID actually, two photo IDs to shovel snow in New York City.” — Ted Cruz (11:52)

  • Illegal Immigration and Voting Fears:
    • Cruz accuses Democrats of intentionally fostering illegal immigration to gain votes and links this to recent terror events for emphasis. He accuses Dems of wanting “insecure” elections (13:09–15:19).

      “They chose to let murderers into this country ... because the Democrats look at those illegal aliens and they want them to cast vote for Democrats in federal elections.” — Ted Cruz (15:21)

  • State of the Union Anecdote:
    • Cruz references how no Democrats stood to support “American citizens first” during a State of the Union address (18:50).
  • Closing Plea: Urges passage of the Act to “Save America” (19:41).

  “If we were voting on the merits... the vote would be 100 to nothing.” — Ted Cruz (19:41)

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2. James Talarico: Religion, Identity, and the Texas Senate Race

Timestamps: 23:00–30:38

• Democratic Candidate Profile:
  • Texas Democrats nominate James Talarico, a young state legislator and seminary graduate, as their Senate candidate.
  • Cruz and Ferguson frame this as a deliberate attempt to court religious voters despite the party’s alleged hostility to Christianity (23:23).

    “They hate people of faith. Unless you happen to be an Islamist and you're trying to kill people, they like them. But other than Islamists ... anyone of faith, they can't stand.” — Ted Cruz (23:23)

• Controversial Religious Rhetoric:
  • God as Non-binary: Talarico uses Genesis to explain God as both masculine and feminine, calling God “non-binary.”

    “God is both masculine and feminine and everything in between. God is non binary.” — James Talarico (24:40)

  • Cruz rebuts that biblical references refer to the Trinity, not “everything in between.”

    “He created Adam, he created Eve, and he stopped.” — Ted Cruz (25:57)

  • Transgender and Abortion Rhetoric:
    • Talarico asserts, “Our trans community needs abortion care too. Defending trans Texans is something we have to do every day.” (26:49)
    • Cruz and Ferguson sharply question Talarico’s grounding in scripture and criticize the use of religious symbols to advocate for abortion.

    “The guy says that in a church and...like, I just want to know where he found that.” — Ben Ferguson (27:08)

  • On Masculinity:
    • Talarico: “No need to sit and cry over, you know, your whiteness or your masculinity. Use it.” (27:57)
    • Cruz quips: “Said no person who had even a shred of masculinity. I mean, this is a guy who makes Pete Buttigieg look manly.” (28:23)
  • American & Texas Symbols:
    • Talarico calls the American flag “complicated—like Jesus, like the cross, it's been co opted and in some ways its true meaning has been betrayed.” (29:03)
  • On Barbecue:
    • Talarico advocates veganism for climate (non-meat campaign).

      “It is now existential that we try to reduce our meat consumption...our campaign has officially become a non meat campaign.” — James Talarico (29:52)

    • Cruz: “The guy hates barbecue. Perfect for Texas.” (30:28)
  • Both hosts lampoon Talarico’s candidacy as out of touch with Texas voters’ culture.

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3. César Chávez: Liberal Icon Under Scrutiny

Timestamps: 33:26–41:08

• Emergence of Abuse Allegations:
  • Cruz discusses a recent New York Times exposé alleging years of child sexual abuse by César Chávez and a subsequent Daily Wire opinion piece decrying how the left lionized him despite longstanding rumors.

    “...for years he was raping little girls. And they come with the receipts that he had raped little girls year after year after year. And the left had covered it up.” — Ted Cruz (33:49)

• Analysis of the Chávez Legacy:
  • Cruz reads extensively from Ariana Guajardo’s Daily Wire essay, which dissects Chávez’s cult of personality and the prevalence of “ethnic tokenism.”
  • Guajardo argues that Chávez was a symbol pressed onto Mexican Americans to prescribe loyalty to the left/union movement and that his ideology reflected division and collectivism.

    “Evil ideology attracts evil people.” — (quoting Guajardo, 36:54)

  • Cruz and Ferguson highlight the symbolism (statues, road names, bust in Oval Office) as evidence of the left’s selective hero-making.
  • Cruz claims:
    • While the left is now retroactively denouncing Chávez, his crimes were widely suspected, yet excused for ideological reasons.

    “So many Democrats, so many leftists, knew that he was a child rapist and they kept their mouths shut because ideology mattered more than truth or protecting kids.” — Ted Cruz (41:08)

  • Ferguson gives rare praise to the New York Times for running the exposé, but both agree it only happened because Chávez is dead and out of political use for Democrats (41:00–41:08).

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• On Voter ID and Jim Crow:

  “Our Democrat colleagues should be experts in Jim Crow because it was Democrat politicians who passed the Jim Crow laws. ... Do you know who has rejected their disingenuous claim that photo ID to vote is Jim Crow? The Supreme Court of the United States.” — Ted Cruz (07:00)

• On Democrats’ Motives Regarding Illegal Immigration:

  “The Democrats in this body want illegals to vote... They want power enough that they are more than happy to undermine democracy to try to seize power.” — Ted Cruz (16:25)

• Satire of Talarico’s Use of Religion:

  “God is both masculine and feminine and everything in between. God is non binary.” — James Talarico (24:40)
  “He created Adam, he created Eve, and he stopped.” — Ted Cruz (25:57)

• Barbecue in Texas:

  “The guy hates barbecue. Perfect for Texas.” — Ted Cruz (30:28)

• On César Chávez’s Downfall:

  “So many Democrats, so many leftists, knew that he was a child rapist and they kept their mouths shut because ideology mattered more than truth or protecting kids.” — Ted Cruz (41:08)

• On Identity Politics and Tokenism:

  “Chavez represents the Hispanic worker. The political left wishes we all were obedient to a union boss and beholden to collectivist ideology.” — Ted Cruz, reading Ariana Guajardo (38:55)

• Moment of Rare Media Praise:

  “I have to give a little credit to the New York Times for actually publishing it.” — Ben Ferguson (41:00)

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Important Segment Timestamps

| Segment | Timestamps | |------------------------------------|--------------------| | Save America Act Debate | 00:43–19:51 | | James Talarico/Bible as Prop | 23:00–30:38 | | Liberals, Identity, and Barbecue | 28:23–30:38 | | César Chávez Allegations | 33:26–41:08 |

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Tone and Concluding Thoughts

• Tone: The hosts’ tone is combative, mocking, and highly ideological. Humor and sarcasm are prominent, especially in the commentary on Texas culture and Talarico’s persona.
• Takeaways:
  • For conservatives: A call to vigilance and legislative action on voting integrity.
  • For Democrats: Accusations of hypocrisy, out-of-touch politics, and tolerating abuse if ideologically convenient.
  • Cultural resonance: Strong defense of traditional Texas/church values, skepticism of redefined identities, and a warning against idolizing flawed figures.

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This episode caters to a conservative audience, presenting the week’s events through the lens of Republican values, critiques of Democratic strategies, and warnings about political and cultural shifts.

Transcript

[Ben Ferguson]

This is an iHeart podcast, guaranteed human welcome. It is Verdict with Ted Cruz, the Weekend Review, Ben Ferguson with you. And here are the big stories that you may have missed that we talked about this week. First up, Senator Cruz lays out why

[Ben Ferguson (Ad Read)]

the Save America act is vital to

[Ben Ferguson]

our nation's voting integrity.

[Ben Ferguson (Ad Read)]

Also, a showdown in Texas.

[Ben Ferguson]

So who is James Talarico? We explain it.

[Ben Ferguson (Ad Read)]

And finally, the liberal icon and hero of the left, Caesar Chavez.

[Ben Ferguson]

Well, now the New York Times is saying he's a child rapist. It's the Weekend Review and it starts right now. So Senator, let's talk about just first, the lay of the land and how we got to where we are today. And the vote.

[Ben Ferguson (Ad Read)]

There's a lot of people wondering what

[Ben Ferguson]

the vote was to move this forward. So now there's debate. And so tell us who didn't vote for this. On the Republican side, it was a very tight vote. And also explain what's going to happen over the rest of this week.

[Senator Ted Cruz]

Well, the vote on the Senate floor to take up the Save America act was 51 to 47. So 51 Republicans voted to take it up. The only no vote was Lisa Murkowski out of Alaska. And then Thom Tillis from North Carolina, who is retiring, did not vote. So he was not a no vote, but he didn't vote. Other than that, every Republican voted to take it up. And we're now in the midst of the battle. Now we can anticipate the Democrats are a hard no. And so we're taking the case to the American people and trying to build support for it.

[Senator Ted Cruz (Speech)]

And so I went to the Senate

[Senator Ted Cruz]

floor to lay out the case for why the Save America act is so critical and why the opposition for the Democrats is so ridiculous. And so here's what I had to say on the floor of the senate this week, Mr. President.

[Senator Ted Cruz (Speech)]

Later this year, American citizens across the country will exercise one of their most valuable and sacred the right to vote. A right that has been hard earned and fought for from the founding generation of our Republic to today. And how was the right to self government, the right to vote, secured? It was secured by American colonists who rejected the royal edict and hurdled TEA into Boston harbor declaring no taxation without representation. It was secured by ordinary men who seized their muskets and fired the shot heard around the world at Lexington and Concord. It was secured by Continental troops who marched to the fields of Saratoga and the coastline of Yorktown repeating those immortal words of Patrick Henry, give me liberty or give me death. For nearly 250 years, Americans have Cast their votes for leaders at every level, from local officials to state representatives to the President of the United States. Every member of this body is here today because we were elected fairly and honestly and given a mandate by our constituents to serve them here in Washington and to protect the liberties and freedoms our founders fought to preserve. The power of the ballot box determines the course of our nation, the history we are writing, and the freedoms that

[Senator Ted Cruz]

we continue to defend.

[Senator Ted Cruz (Speech)]

And while no single ballot in isolation may seem decisive, together the votes of the American people shape the course of our nation and the course of history. But it is worth remembering that our voting system did not begin as it exists today. When this nation was founded, the right to vote was limited. And over time, through debate, sacrifice, a bloody civil war, and constitutional amendment, the right to vote was quite properly expanded. The 15th amendment prohibited denying the vote based on race. The 19th amendment guaranteed women the right to vote. And the 26th amendment lowered the voting age to 18. At every stage of our constitutional amendment process, the goal was the same. To ensure that the right to vote belonged to American citizens and that it was exercised with integrity. And while our system has evolved, one principle has remained constant. Elections reflect the will of the American people. For a right so sacred, for a privilege so hard fought, it is shocking, it is tragic how neglected and vulnerable the protection of our elections has become. That is why I'm here today on this very floor, urging the members of this body to pass the Save America Act. It says that when you register to vote in a federal election, you must provide proof that you are a citizen of the United States, and you must provide photo ID to vote. In simple terms, that's it. This is not some radical, politicized or weaponized piece of legislation designed to restrict Americans from voting. It is a common sense measure that protects the integrity of our elections by ensuring that American citizens, and only American citizens are voting in them. Legitimacy in a democracy rests on two pillars. First, the mechanical integrity of the system to produce a valid result. And second, the public's confidence in that system. If either one fails, the system falters. If both fail, the system collapses. A system that cannot be trusted is a system that cannot govern. If you look around the world, between 2/3 and 3/4 of countries require some form of identification to vote.

[Senator Ted Cruz]

Why?

[Senator Ted Cruz (Speech)]

Because it safeguards the integrity of their elections and reinforces public trust in their system.

[Senator Ted Cruz]

So it begs the question, why hasn't

[Senator Ted Cruz (Speech)]

the United States fully embraced this standard? Well, for the last several months, we have heard claim after claim about how this legislation would somehow Inhibit people from voting, that requiring identification is discriminatory, that the American people do not support voter ID. Mr. President, our Democrat colleagues are fond of bellowing into the TV cameras that photo ID to vote is Jim Crow. They tell us with mock earnestness. Now I will admit our Democrat colleagues should be experts in Jim Crow because it was Democrat politicians who passed the Jim Crow laws. It was Democrat politicians who founded the Ku Klux Klan. It was Democrat politicians for decade after after decade who enforced discrimination, separate but equal poll taxes, and a host of other laws designed to prevent African Americans from voting. But do you know who has rejected their disingenuous claim that photo ID to vote is Jim Crow? The Supreme Court of the United States. Supreme Court of the United States. The State of Indiana passed photo ID law requiring that you show a photo ID to vote. A group of left wing plaintiffs filed litigation challenging that. The case went all the way to the United States Supreme Court. At the time, I was the Solicitor General of the State of Texas. I led a coalition of states before the Supreme Court defending photo ID to vote. And the left wing plaintiffs made the same argument that our Democrat colleagues make today, that requiring photo ID to vote would somehow disenfranchise minorities. The Supreme Court, by a vote of 6 to 3, rejected their argument. The author of the majority opinion was John Paul Stevens. John Paul Stevens was one of the great liberals on the court. He was not a conservative. He was not on the right wing. He was the leading liberal for years on the US Supreme Court. He rejected that claim. And he pointed out that when someone votes illegally, they are stealing the votes of legal voters. They are stealing the votes of American citizens. The Supreme Court explained that when photo ID laws have been implemented, minority participation in the election goes up, not down. And the Supreme Court explained that requiring photo ID enhances the integrity of an election and the integrity of democracy. Now, our Democrat colleagues don't want to acknowledge any of those facts. And I guess it's understandable because the American people have heard their specious arguments and they have rejected them. Mr. President, 81% of Americans support requiring photo ID to vote. But my Democrat colleagues might say, what about African Americans? Well, about three quarters of African Americans in the United States require support requiring photo ID to vote. How about Hispanics? More than 80% of Hispanics in America support requiring photo ID to vote. How about Democrats? Here's an astonishing statistic. If you get out of elected office, if you ask a Democrat on the street, 70% of Democrats in America support requiring photo ID to vote. The one group that doesn't are elected Democrats in the United States Senate and the United States House. And by the way, the premise of their argument that minorities, if you require photo ID to vote, are not going to be able to vote is frankly, frankly insulting. Mr. President, I'm proud to be an Hispanic American. I've been an Hispanic all my life. You know what I've got in my wallet? I have a driver's license. I look at my colleagues across the way, I feel confident they have driver's licenses in their wallets as well. Hispanics are not morons. African Americans are not morons. And when you claim minorities can't figure out how to get a driver's license, well, gosh, what do you need a photo ID to vote to do right now in America? You need a photo ID to purchase alcohol or to purchase tobacco. You need a photo ID to gamble or purchase lottery tickets. You need a photo ID to go into a bar. You need a photo ID to get on a plane. You need a photo ID to rent a car. You need a photo ID just to drive a car. Not even rent a car. Drive a car. You need a photo ID to apply for government benefits. You need a photo ID to enroll in college. You need a photo ID to open a bank account. You need a photo ID to check into a hotel. And I got to admit, this is my personal favorite, you need a photo ID actually, two photo IDs to shovel snow in New York City. These are routine, everyday activities. The gallery is full. I feel confident everyone in the gallery who is not a child has a driver's license. And by the way, you wouldn't be admitted to the gallery if you didn't. And I feel confident every member of this chamber has done just about anything I listed. Well, except shoveling snow. I'm not convinced many of my colleagues have snuggled show.

[Senator Ted Cruz]

Oh, they do shovel other things.

[Senator Ted Cruz (Speech)]

The question is not whether Americans are bright enough to obtain photo id. We know they can and we know they do. The real question is why would we not require the same level of verification for something as consequential as and vital is voting? Are our Democrat colleagues saying voting doesn't

[Senator Ted Cruz]

matter

[Senator Ted Cruz (Speech)]

or is it something else? Voting is not just another everyday activity. It rolls around every year, a few years. It is the vehicle that protects the principles of our Republic and safeguarding what matters. This legislation is necessary because they're individuals and systems and that could undermine confidence in our elections if proper safeguards are not in place. And one of the most apparent ways that we've seen is through the masses of illegal immigrants that our Democrat colleagues let in through open borders. Over four years during the Biden administration, more than 12 million illegal immigrants flooded into this country. The vast majority threw my home state of Texas. Now, Mr. President, understand that was not an accident. That was not something the Democrats could not stop. That was their desired outcome. How do we know that? Because the instant President Trump was sworn into office for his second term, illegal border crossings plummeted 99% overnight. The Democrats said, no, Joe Biden can't secure the border. He needs new legislation. We now know that was a lie. It was objectively false, and they knew it was false. Well, if they could have secured the border for four years and they chose not to. They chose to let murderers into this country. They chose to let rapists into this country. They chose to let child molesters into this country. They chose to let gang bangers into this country. They chose to let terrorists into this country. We've had four radical Islamic terror attacks in the last two weeks. Why, Mr. President, would the Democrats choose to allow more than 12 billion illegal aliens to invade this country? And I'm going to suggest the obvious

[Senator Ted Cruz]

reason,

[Senator Ted Cruz (Speech)]

because the Democrats look at those illegal aliens and they want them to cast vote for Democrats in federal elections. Why are the Democrats lined up and say, no, no, no. Under no circumstances should we test to see if you're an American citizen. Under no circumstances should we require photo IDs. You know, there was one activist a few years ago who filmed himself going into D.C. a D.C. polling place. D.C. polling place said, sir, what's your name? And he said, my name is Eric Holder. Now, this activist was not the Attorney General of the United States at the time, but yet DC handed him a ballot and said, Mr. Holder, please cast your vote? The Democrats are lined up in this chamber because they want our elections to be insecure. They want voter fraud to be rampant and to be easy. Ask yourself, do the American people have a difficult time buying a beer? Do they have a difficult time getting into an R rated movie? Do they have a difficult time getting on an airplane? Well, yes, because the Democrats have refuses to fund the tsa. And so they're long lines right now. But the lack of a photo ID is not an impediment that stops people from flying. This debate is about something very simple. Do our elections matter? Does our democracy matter? And boy, Mr. President, I gotta say, that is a phrase. The Democrats love that they are defending democracy. It's interesting, their voice usually drops an octave when they say that. They clutch Their pearls. And that's just the men defending democracy is what they say. Ask yourself, why are they not concerned at all about 12 million illegals who they let into this country voting illegally? I'll submit Occam's Razor provides the simplest solution is usually the right one. The simplest solution is very clear. The Democrats in this body want illegals to vote for. They want power enough that they are more than happy to undermine democracy to try to seize power. I get that from their personal self interest. But it is not in the interest of the men and women they represent. It is not in the interest of the people of America. This bill is rightly called the Save America Act. And Mr. President, if we were voting on the merits of what was good for America, what was good for democracy, what was good for for American citizens, the vote would be 100 to nothing. Although I would note on the other side of this building, at the State of the Union address that you were at. That I was at, we saw why our Democrat colleagues are so adamantly opposed to this bill. President Trump turned to the Democrats on the right side of the floor of the House and it gave him an opportunity to demonstrate with absolute clarity. He said, if you agree our first priority should be to fight for American citizens and not for illegal aliens, please stand. And every single Democrat in Congress remains seated. Not a one of them. I would note, as we're on the floor Today, of the 47 Democrats in this body, only one is here on the floor. But a whole lot more were on the floor during the State of the Union. Every one of them chose to remain seated because they could not support the statement that we need to support American citizens and not illegal aliens. That's why they oppose the Save America act, because they want to be handed power over this country by the illegal aliens they let into this country. That's why we need to save America. And it's why I urge every member of this body to pass the Save America Act.

[Ben Ferguson]

Now, if you want to hear the rest of this conversation, you can go back and listen to the full podcast from earlier this week. I want you to pause what you're doing for just one minute and I want you to hear about Alejandra. She lives in a remote community with very few resources and little to no healthcare. So when Alejandra gets sick, her parents have no real options, no doctors in their community, and no money for real medical care. By the third day, her body was shutting down. She woke up and just long enough to tell her, mom, I can't take the pain anymore. I can't keep going. Her parents drove hours to find a doctor who tried everything. But she needed a private hospital, and that was impossible for her family to afford. And that is when Compassion International stepped in. Through Compassion, Alejandra was treated. And against all odds, she survived. She lived. Because someone just like you took action. Right now, unfortunately, there are children just like Alejandra who won't survive unless someone like you steps in. Compassion International partners with local churches, providing children with the support that they need. Critical medical care, plus food, education, and the hope of the gospel, all in Jesus name. So help a child just like Alejandra. Today you can visit compassion.com that's compassion.com

[Ben Ferguson (Ad Read)]

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[Ben Ferguson]

now, on to story number two. So, Senator, there's something very interesting that keeps brewing, and it's a theme in Texas. Uh, that theme now is Democrats keep trying to find radical liberals that they masquerade into some sort of, like, moderate to then run for the Senate. But if you just go back and look at their own words.

[Ben Ferguson (Ad Read)]

They're moon bats.

[Senator Ted Cruz]

Yeah, look. So the Democrats in Texas have nominated for the US Senate this guy named James Talarico, who was a state representative. He'd only been in the legislature a couple of years. He had not achieved much of anything. And why did they pick some, like some young state rep to be their Senate nominee? Well, turned out the guy went to seminary. And they're like, oh, look, this is great. Look, today's modern Democrat Party, they hate people of faith. Unless you happen to be an Islamist and you're trying to kill people, they like them. But other than Islamists that are trying to murder people, anyone of faith, they can't stand. And they especially can't stand Christians. But I think the Democrats are frustrated that they keep losing in Texas. They keep getting their butt kicked. And so they're like, all right, we need to find someone. And they're like, oh, this guy went to seminary. He speaks Christian. This is their theory of the case. Like, he can talk to those strange people who believe in that Jesus guy. That's how Democrats.

[Ben Ferguson]

He said that Bible thing before. Right.

[Senator Ted Cruz]

Strategists are thinking. And the only problem is, like, this guy is weird. And again, don't take my word for it. I'm just going to introduce you to James Talarika. First of all, let's listen to this preacher talk about God. What does he have to say about God? Well, give a listen the first two

[James Talarico]

lines of the Bible. The first two lines in Genesis use two different Hebrew words to describe God. One is the masculine Hebrew noun for divinity. The second is the feminine Hebrew noun for spirit. God is both masculine and feminine and everything in between. God is non binary. In Genesis 1:26, God speaks of God's self in the plural, saying, let us make human beings in our image to be like us. That's the infinite multitude of God. The masculine, the feminine, and everything in between. Trans children are God's children made in God's own image.

[Ben Ferguson (Ad Read)]

Now, center.

[Ben Ferguson]

I've heard of stretches before using, using the Bible, but when you're like, let me just take you the very beginning, and here's how I'm going to morph that into like this. Like, that's a whole new level. And even the rune, the people around him are kind of like, looking like, is he really, is he really doing this? It's a great video.

[Senator Ted Cruz]

Look, God ain't non, non binary. And, and yes, God is plural because you've got the, the, the, the, the, the Trinity of, of God, the Father, God, the Son, God, the Holy Spirit, three in one. But, but, but that does not mean that. You know, he says, well, God created male, female, and everything in between. No, no, he created Adam, he created Eve, and he stopped.

[Ben Ferguson]

Yeah.

[Senator Ted Cruz]

He didn't create a third creature that was neither male nor female. He He. He created both. Okay, so you might say, all right, that's. That's fine, but. But maybe that's just sort of a curious theological quirk. What he had more to say about people who are transgender and. And it. And it might kind of surprise you.

[Senator Ted Cruz (Speech)]

Listen.

[Senator Ted Cruz]

Listen to what he had to say about. About the trans community.

[James Talarico]

Before we go further, I want to acknowledge that our trans community needs abortion care, too. Defending trans Texans is something we have to do every day.

[Ben Ferguson]

Now, that one. If you're not watching this on YouTube, I just want to set the stage. Senator there. Is there literally communion table behind him?

[Senator Ted Cruz]

Yep.

[Ben Ferguson]

Two candles that are lit. And he's like, now, let me just tell you, the trans community, they need abortion care, too. Like, I'm just curious, like, where in the scripture is that? Is that in there? Like, I. I'm waiting. You know, this guy that went to ministry, like. Like, I just want to know where he found that.

[Senator Ted Cruz]

The guy says that in a church and I guess is pretending to be a preacher, but you understand this is his priority. Abortions for people who are transgender. Like that. I'm sorry, that is just out there. And this is the pressing priority. But look, I got to admit, the reason he's saying all of this is that he's got to apologize for his own overwhelming masculinity. And again, don't take my word for it. Give a listen to him explaining.

[James Talarico]

No need to sit and cry over, you know, your whiteness or your masculinity.

[Ben Ferguson]

Right.

[Senator Ted Cruz (Speech)]

Use it. Yep.

[James Talarico]

Use it to do something. Yeah, let's be productive.

[Ben Ferguson]

I mean, amen, Pastor, on that one. Right. Like, that is just preach. Sign me up. Where can I go to get more of that?

[Senator Ted Cruz]

Okay, I. Look, I gotta say, for those of y' all who are not watching on YouTube, you really should watch on YouTube, because no need to cry over your masculinity.

[Ben Ferguson]

Yeah.

[Senator Ted Cruz]

Said no person who had even a shred of masculinity. I mean, this is a guy who makes Pete Buttigieg look manly.

[Ben Ferguson]

You're not lying, by the way.

[Senator Ted Cruz (Speech)]

This is a guy.

[Senator Ted Cruz]

If, like, a soy latte could speak, that would be Democrat James Talarico.

[Ben Ferguson]

That is my new official analogy that you've ever said on this show. That is number one.

[Senator Ted Cruz]

Now, I. And by the way, okay, so he's not very masculine. He's crying about his masculinity. What little of it he has, but at least he's an American, right? I mean, he's at least proud of America. Well, not so much.

[Senator Ted Cruz (Speech)]

Give a listen to what he has

[Senator Ted Cruz]

to say about that.

[James Talarico]

I often think when reclaiming symbols, I think about the American flag. I think the Confederate flag is a symbol of treason and terrorism. But the American flag is such a complicated symbol for most of us and in many ways, like Jesus, like the cross, it's been co opted and in some ways its true meaning has been betrayed.

[Ben Ferguson]

By the way, I didn't know that we had co opted Jesus so much like that's breaking news there, Senator.

[Senator Ted Cruz]

So look, this is a supposed pastor who is embarrassed about Jesus, embarrassed about the cross, and now embarrassed about the American flag. But okay, look, you set everything else aside. It's Texas. At least he stands with barbecue, right?

[Senator Ted Cruz (Speech)]

Yes, that's true.

[Senator Ted Cruz]

No, no, no, it's not. Give a listen to what he has to say. On meat.

[James Talarico]

We have, I think, heard more and more issues of animal welfare. I think not just because it's the right thing to do and the moral thing to do, but also it's, as all of you know, necessary to fight climate change. It is now existential that we try to reduce our meat consumption and that we try to respect animals in all aspects of society. And so I, I am proud to say that our campaign has officially become a non meat campaign. So we have, we are, we are only buying vegan products from, from our local vegan businesses.

[Senator Ted Cruz]

The guy hates barbecue. Perfect for Texas.

[Senator Ted Cruz (Speech)]

They've found their candidate.

[Senator Ted Cruz]

The Democrats understand Texans as before.

[Ben Ferguson]

If you want to hear the rest of this conversation on this topic, you can go back and download the podcast from earlier this week to hear the entire thing. I want you to pause what you're doing for just one minute and I want you to hear about love, generosity and compassion. We say those words all the time. And they sound good, they feel good. But here's the truth. Those words don't mean anything unless they turn into action. And right now, not later today, not tomorrow, there's a child in the world who doesn't know if they'll eat, if they'll have a chance to learn, or if there's any hope at all. And while we're all busy, life keeps moving forward. But that child is waiting. This is where you come in. With Compassion International, you have the chance to change a child's future. Not just with words, not with promises, but with real help that provides food, education and hope through local churches and people already in their community. Put your words into action and join me. Introduce a child to a loving heavenly father [e-mail] that's compassion.com.

[Ben Ferguson (Ad Read)]

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[Ben Ferguson]

I want to get back to the big story number three of the week you may have missed. All right, finally, Senator, let's wrap with a story that another hero of the left. Yeah, it looks like it was a crazy person that is now going to go down history in disgrace. This time it's, it's a guy by the last name of Chavez.

[Senator Ted Cruz (Speech)]

So this, this, this is our hypocrisy.

[Senator Ted Cruz]

Not just trifecta, but four of a kind. So we started with Kathy Hochul, the hypocritical Democrat governor of New York. We then went to James Tallarico, the very, very strange Democrat nominee for the Senate. We then went to Joe Kent, the previous Trump supporter, who has decided now that Trump is under an assassination threat from Israel. And finally, Cesar Chavez. Who is Cesar Chavez? He is a hero to the Democrats, a hero to the left, an iconic. He was a union organizer for the United Farm Workers and he is revered except for the fact that that famed right wing publication, the New York Times, just published an expose that for years he was raping little girls. And they come with the receipts that he had raped little girls year after year after year. And the left had covered it up. They'd covered it up because they agreed with his politics. And I got to say that there's a really good opinion piece that the Daily Wire ran by a woman named Ariana Guajardo, who's a Texan and a Latina, and here's what she wrote. I want to read a good chunk of it because it actually is a good insight. It's entitled the Left Hid Cesar Chavez's Rapes and Turned him into a Saint. She begins, when I was in college, I passed the Cesar Chavez statue every day on my walk to class at the University of Texas. Now, Cesar Chavez is the name of the road I take to work, and it's a big road right in downtown Austin. For years, Chavez was presented as the figurehead for Mexican Americans, a symbol we were expected to revere. But he represented a collectivist ideology that perpetuated ethnic tribalism. After the New York Times broke the story of his sexual abuse of young girls, this false idol is finally toppling. My only hope is that he is not replaced by another. Chavez has long been celebrated as a symbol of the civil rights era and is a champion of labor unions in America. He co founded the United Farm Workers Union to fight for better condition for migrant laborers. But in truth, he exploited the very people he claimed to protect. While tying Mexican Americans to socialist ideology, which is of course what the Democrats want. He carefully crafted a public image as a family man devoted to Catholic social teaching. But the reality was much darker. Chavez philosophy echoes Marxist rhetoric about the proletariat and the bourgeoisie. At a UFW convention in 1981, Chavez proclaimed, I would not take one cup of coffee from a grower. And he means a farmer. There's not a good one. I hate them. A few presents, a little talk, then the noose. That's how capitalism works. This is the hero of the left. It isn't just his rhetoric that sounds alarm bells. Early in his career, he worked with Saul Alinsky, the community organizer who defined the modern leftist playbook in Rules for Radicals. Chavez and the UFW later implemented Alinsky's tactics, fostering confrontational, divisive organizing. Then there is the recent revelation of his extensive sexual abuse of minors. The behavior is not distinct from other far left figures such as Joseph Stalin to Mao to Kim Jong Il. Communist and socialist leaders often share a troubling connect connection to sexual predation. We should not be surprised that evil ideology attracts evil people. By the way, that's a sentence worth remembering. We should not be surprised that evil ideology attracts evil people. If the warning signs around Chavez have existed for decades, why did he become the face of an entire ethnicity in America? Partly because he was effective at mobilizing Mexican Americans in California, using rhetoric that created a lasting us versus them mentality. But how did that ideology extend to Texas? Chavez never belonged to the Tejano heritage the same way he does in Chicano culture. The Chicano culture and movement are a direct outgrowth of the California Hispanic labor movement in the 60s and 70s. On the other hand, the Tejano culture traces back to the Mexican settlers of Texas prior to Texas independence and is a component of what created the Texas identity. That history is also tied to farming and a cowboy ethos that is incompatible with with Chavez's ideology. Texas agriculture thrived because of ranchers like my ancestors who embraced a free market approach, not because of unions or collectivist movements. Before the New York Times expose, one could argue that Chavez fought for Mexican Americans and deserved gratitude. Yet his legacy has encouraged a troubling mindset. To be loyal to one's Hispanic heritage, one must embrace left wing ideology. On campus, I was often labeled a, quote, race traitor at conservative events. Accused of, quote, wanting white approval or dismissed as, quote, too white, passing to comment on border and immigration issues. By the way, Jorge Ramos on Spanish television accused me of being a traitor to my race. So I'm quite familiar with that. The type of tribalism promoted by Chavez is just like any other kind of identity politics, limiting and stereotyping the people it is intended to empower. In the political climate in which Texas Hispanics are considering Republicans on the ballot, it is clear why the left is feeling threatened. So why is the street in Austin named after Cesar Chavez? Why did his statue watch me as I walked to class? The answer is clear. Ethnic tokenism. It was fitting for Bill Clinton to award him a Presidential Medal of Freedom. By the way, Bill Clinton, speaking of sexual predators, there may have been a reason there and for Joe Biden to display his bust in the Oval Office. Joe Biden literally put up a bust of Cesar Chavez, who was a child rapist in the Oval Office. Chavez represents the Hispanic worker. The political left wishes we all were obedient to a union boss and beholden to collectivist ideology. The UFW announced it will not be celebrating Cesar Chavez Day this year amid the allegations the idol all Hispanics were once expected to adore is finally falling from his pedestal. My hope is that we do not replace him with another look. I think that is exceptionally well written,

[Ben Ferguson]

well done, and I have to give a little credit to the New York Times for actually publishing it.

[Senator Ted Cruz]

Yes, agreed.

[Ben Ferguson]

Like, I'm shocked. I really am.

[Senator Ted Cruz]

Now, to be clear, Chavez is not a current leftist leader. If he was a current leader of the Democrat Party, I don't think they would have published it. But given that he's dead and buried, I think it was after the fact that. And look, what is sad is that so many Democrats, so many leftists, knew that he was a child rapist and they kept their mouths shut because ideology mattered more than truth or protecting kids.

[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 we will see you back here on Monday morning.