The Politics of Water in CA, Benefits of Greenland & Pan Canal plus the Fall of Corporate Media Week In Review

Summary

Verdict with Ted Cruz – Week in Review

Episode: The Politics of Water in CA, Benefits of Greenland & Panama Canal plus the Fall of Corporate Media Week In Review
Release Date: January 11, 2025
Host: Senator Ted Cruz
Co-host: Ben Ferguson
Platform: Premiere Networks

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1. Introduction to the Week's Major Topics

In this episode of "Verdict with Ted Cruz," hosts Senator Ted Cruz and co-host Ben Ferguson delve into three pivotal issues shaping the national and international landscape:

• The Politics of Water in California: Examining how state water policies have exacerbated wildfires.
• Acquisition of Greenland & the Panama Canal: Assessing the feasibility and strategic benefits.
• The Decline of Corporate Media: Analyzing the diminishing influence of traditional media outlets.

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2. The Politics of Water in California and Its Impact on Wildfires

Overview: California's water management policies, spearheaded by Governor Gavin Newsom, have come under intense scrutiny for worsening the state's wildfire situation. The episode explores how these policies led to both drought conditions and the simultaneous dumping of fresh water into the Pacific Ocean, creating a paradoxical impact on wildfire management.

Key Discussions:

• Governor Newsom's Water Policies:

  • Governor Newsom has been criticized for prioritizing environmental concerns, such as protecting the delta smelt, over the immediate needs of Californians. As Ben Ferguson highlights, "California is dumping massive quantities of fresh water into the ocean. They're wasting it" ([02:10]).

• Impact on Wildfires:

  • The refusal to allocate sufficient water to firefighting efforts has left cities like Los Angeles vulnerable. Ferguson cites Donald Trump's stance: “he said that Gavin Newsom wanted to protect an essentially worthless fish called a smelt, but didn't care about the people of California” ([02:10]).

• Governor Newsom's Defensiveness:

  • In a confrontational exchange with a concerned citizen, Newsom deflects responsibility, stating, “What is the situation with the water? ... That's going to be determined by the local” ([06:47]-[07:30]). Cruz criticizes this response: “He literally, as he's saying this, threw his hands up in the air on national TV like, this is, this is, this is a, I guess below my pay grade” ([07:16]).

• Veto of Firefighter Support:

  • Newsom's veto of Assembly Bill 2538, which would have allowed Cal Fire to retain seasonal firefighters, is seen as a direct blow to wildfire management. Assemblywoman Kate Sanchez criticizes the veto stating it “forced the layoff of thousands of seasonal firefighters” ([05:34]-[12:15]).

Notable Quotes:

• Ted Cruz: “You listen to Governor Newsom and bragging about ... tearing down dams to save fish because woke activists said, you got to do it. This is, again, the consequences of actions” ([05:13]).
• Ben Ferguson: “California's main water hub is the Sacramento San Joaquin River Delta...” ([05:13]).

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3. Acquisition of Greenland & the Panama Canal: Feasibility and Strategic Benefits

Greenland Acquisition:

• Strategic Importance:

  • Greenland's vast mineral reserves and geopolitical significance make it a prime candidate for acquisition. Ferguson draws parallels to historical land purchases like the Louisiana Purchase and the acquisition of Alaska, suggesting that purchasing Greenland could yield substantial national benefits ([16:35]-[21:15]).

• Local Sentiment:

  • Reports indicate a strong local desire for independence from Denmark, with many Greenlanders favoring closer ties with the United States. Donald Trump Jr.'s visit to Greenland and the positive reception he received underscore this sentiment ([16:35]-[21:15]).

• Political Support:

  • Democrat Senator John Fetterman acknowledges the conversation around Greenland, comparing it to historical purchases and suggesting openness to its acquisition: “Some things might work out, some may not. But that's part of an ongoing dialogue” ([18:41]-[19:41]).

Panama Canal:

• Historical Context:

  • The hosts discuss the controversial transfer of the Panama Canal from the United States to Panama under President Jimmy Carter as a significant foreign policy mistake that compromised U.S. security and economic interests ([21:15]-[26:16]).

• Trump's Critique:

  • President Trump criticizes Panama for overcharging American ships and allowing Chinese control over the Canal. He states, “China's taking over. China's at both ends of the Panama Canal. China is running the Panama Canal” ([24:12]-[25:00]).

• Potential Outcomes:

  • Ferguson believes Trump’s actions could lead to more favorable terms for the U.S. and reduce China’s influence in the region, although reversing the Canal's transfer seems unlikely ([21:15]-[26:16]).

Notable Quotes:

• Donald Trump: “China's running the Panama Canal. And he says they laugh at us because they think we're stupid. We're not stupid anymore” ([24:12]-[25:00]).
• Ben Ferguson: “India’s growing influence over the Panama Canal is just stupid. It is unacceptable” ([26:16]).

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4. The Decline of Corporate Media and the Rise of Podcasts

Overview: Cruz and Ferguson argue that traditional corporate media entities like ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, and MSNBC have lost their credibility and influence, particularly after the 2024 elections. They assert that these outlets have become overtly partisan, leading to a mass exodus of viewers and listeners to alternative platforms like podcasts.

Key Discussions:

• Erosion of Trust:

  • The hosts highlight significant distrust in corporate media, citing its perceived bias and failure to report objectively. They note that alternative media, especially podcasts like "Verdict," are filling the gap by providing unfiltered and truthful news ([27:48]-[37:03]).

• Impact on Elections:

  • The shift to podcasts has had a tangible impact on electoral outcomes, with listeners receiving information directly from sources they trust rather than through traditional media filters.

• Quantitative Evidence:

  • Ferguson points out that "Verdict" has amassed roughly a million unique listeners, surpassing the viewership of shows like "Morning Joe," which averaged only 691,000 viewers during the same period ([36:18]-[37:03]).

• Corporate Media's Struggle:

  • The hosts discuss how traditional media is struggling to maintain its monopoly on information dissemination due to the rise of decentralized platforms like Twitter (now X), podcasts, and direct communication channels that prioritize truthfulness over partisan agendas ([27:48]-[37:03]).

Notable Quotes:

• Ben Ferguson: “The corporate media has been exposed as liars. We have seen the rise, the democratization of media, we've seen the rise of podcasts” ([29:05]-[31:58]).
• Gavin Newsom (via clip): “Elon Musk sits on Twitter every day or X today saying like, we are the media, you are the media. My message to Elon Musk is bull. You're not the media.” ([33:31]-[34:06]).
• Ted Cruz: “It's America last. And I'm very glad we're gonna have a president that again puts our country first as before” ([26:16]).

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5. Predictions and Future Outlook

ICC Sanctions on Benjamin Netanyahu:

• Legislative Forecast:

  • Ben Ferguson predicts that the U.S. will sanction the International Criminal Court (ICC) for its actions against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He anticipates that this move will occur in 2025, potentially through unilateral executive action by the Trump administration, even if faced with legislative resistance ([37:25]-[38:11]).

• Validation of Predictions:

  • Cruz and Ferguson emphasize their track record in making accurate forecasts, asserting that "Verdict" will continue to be a reliable source for insightful predictions that challenge mainstream narratives ([37:53]-[38:11]).

Closing Remarks:

• Senator Ted Cruz: Calls for listeners to engage with both "Verdict" and his personal podcast, encouraging continued support for alternative media platforms that prioritize truth and integrity over corporate agendas ([38:11]-[38:30]).
• Final Advertisements: The episode concludes with advertisements for Chumba Casino and Hyundai, which are carefully excluded from the core summary as per user instructions.

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6. Conclusion

This episode of "Verdict with Ted Cruz" provides a critical examination of California's water policies and their disastrous impact on wildfire management, the strategic considerations surrounding the potential acquisition of Greenland and the Panama Canal, and a compelling argument for the decline of corporate media in favor of more transparent and truthful platforms like podcasts. Through detailed analysis, notable quotes, and strategic predictions, Cruz and Ferguson offer listeners a comprehensive understanding of these pressing issues, encouraging informed discourse and policy reconsideration.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• Ted Cruz [05:13]: “You listen to Governor Newsom and bragging about ... tearing down dams to save fish because woke activists said, you got to do it.”

• Ben Ferguson [16:35]: “There would be a purchase price like the Louisiana Purchase, like buying Alaska.”

• Donald Trump [24:12]: “China's running the Panama Canal. And he says they laugh at us because they think we're stupid. We're not stupid anymore.”

• Ben Ferguson [29:05]: “The corporate media has been exposed as liars. We have seen the rise, the democratization of media, we've seen the rise of podcasts.”

• Gavin Newsom [33:31]: “My message to Elon Musk is bull. You're not the media.”

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This comprehensive summary encapsulates the key discussions, insights, and conclusions from "Verdict with Ted Cruz," providing a clear and engaging overview for those who have not listened to the episode.

Transcript

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[Ted Cruz]

Welcome. It is Verdict with Ted Cruz and our Week in Review. Ben Ferguson with you. And we've got a lot of major stories that broke this week and we're gonna cover them all for you. First up, the politics of water. Well, it made the California wildfires worse. We'll explain exactly how that happened. And now it seems like everybody in office out there is pointing the finger at one another. Also, there's been a lot of talk this past week about another issue, and that is the US Acquiring Greenland and the Panama Canal. How would this work? Is it a crazy, brilliant idea? We'll explain that. And finally, the demise of the corporate media. Is it fair to say now that the media has lost the war, especially after the last election outcome we just had? It's the Weekend Review and it starts right now. All right. And I also think it's important for us to talk about the other aspect of this, and that is about the water. Gavin Newsom, he made this an issue. He was obsessed with water and fish and all of this Kumbaya ism. And he had press conferences about it. And now all that's coming back to haunt him as well.

[Ben Ferguson]

There's no doubt the water policies have greatly exacerbated the problems with wildfires and the ability to fight the wildfires. And listen, LA right now is facing a drought and at the same time, California is dumping massive quantities of fresh water into the ocean. They're wasting it. Here's what Donald Trump said yesterday when he came, he was in the Senate. He met with me and all the Republican senators. We spent about two hours with him. And what he said is, he said that Gavin Newsom wanted to protect an essentially worthless fish called a smelt, but didn't care about the people of California. Now the ultimate price is being paid. I will demand that this incompetent governor allow beautiful, clean, fresh water to flow into California. He is to blame for this. Now, let's lay out the facts that go behind this. So California's main water hub is the Sacramento San Joaquin River Delta. And among other things, the state of California has been refusing to provide sufficient water to California farmers. And as I said, they're dumping it in the Pacific Ocean instead. And the reason they're doing so is because of. Because of a fish called the delta smelt. And so Trump, when he was president, wanted to divert supply to the farmers. And in response, environmental groups argue that it would hurt the population of delta smelt, small fish that were once crucial to California's ecosystem but has since been rendered effectively extinct. So Trump first promise, and this is from the New York Post, Trump first promised to redirect California's northern runoff south to benefit farmers when he was running for president in 2016. And he made good on the promise in 2020 with a federal memorandum that redirected millions of gallons of water he said was otherwise needlessly flushed into the ocean. So that's what Trump did in 2020. Well, what did Gavin Newsom do? He sued the federal government to stop that water from going to California farmers. Days later, Newsom's administration sued to block Trump's move, and he succeeded in limiting the amount of water that can be pumped from the Sacramento San Joaquin Delta. This is. And now we're facing the enormous frustration of people in Los Angeles when they don't have sufficient water to fight these wildfires. And yet Gavin Newsom continues to fight for not directing water anywhere other than fixing these problems.

[Ted Cruz]

You listen to Governor Newsom and bragging about not only what you described, but bragging about tearing down dams to save fish because woke activists said, you got to do it. This is, again, the consequences of actions. Here is Gavin Newsom cheering on how brilliant his idea was when he did it.

[Gavin Newsom]

Largest dam removal project in U.S. history and one of the most significant, if not the most significant, water restoration project, bringing back salmon and steelhead into this basin. This project could not have happened without extraordinary partnerships with tribal nations. And, of course, our partners in the north and Oregon just finished a celebration with The Secretary of the Interior and our tribal council and tribal leaders. And I couldn't be more proud as a Californian and I couldn't be more proud as a father because my kids and their great, great grandkids will have the opportunity to see something that, well, has been here since time immemorial. And it's about damn time we got this done.

[Ben Ferguson]

That's not you and me characterizing what he did. That's in his own words saying how incredibly proud he is of quote, the largest dam removal project in US history. That's a policy decision he made. Now, what are the consequences of this? Give a listen to Gavin Newsom being asked about LA not having water in its fire hydrants. Here was his answer. During this crisis.

[Ted Cruz]

What is the situation with the water? Obviously in Palisades ran out last night in the hydrants.

[Ryan Seacrest]

I was trying the firefighter on this block.

[Ted Cruz]

They left because there was no water.

[Ryan Seacrest]

In the hydrant here.

[Gavin Newsom]

The local folks are trying to figure that out. I mean, just when you have a system that's not dissimilar to what we've seen in other extraordinarily large scale fires, whether it be pipe electricity or whether it just be the complete overwhelm of the system, I mean, those hydrants are typical for two or three fires. Maybe one fire, you have something at this scale. But again, that's going to be determined by the local.

[Ted Cruz]

Not my problem. It's the local people. And he literally, as he's saying this, threw his hands up in the air on national TV like, this is, this is a, this is, I guess below my pay grade. You ask the local officials. Not my problem as the governor.

[Ben Ferguson]

So local folks are gonna figure that out. Not my job. Without taking any responsibility for his decisions, he's literally sued the federal government to block money going to Californians and bragged about how proud he is of the largest dam removal in U.S. history. And by the way, he's also trying to put all the blame on local officials. And I agree the local officials had policies in place that had a significant consequence. But I'll tell you also, so did Gavin Newsom. We talked a minute ago about firefighters and Karen Bass slashing, slashing the budget for the fire department. Well, last year, Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill that would have let Cal fire the statewide fire agency retain seasonal firefighters to help with staffing shortages. And his veto forced the layoff of thousands of seasonal firefighters. This is from Kate Sanchez, who is a California assembly woman and who goes on to say his veto forced the Layoff of thousands of seasonal firefighters who he never replaced despite his promises. This is negligence of the highest orders. And I want to read to you. So this is September 22, 2024. So not very long. Just a few months ago, Office of the Governor, quote. To the members of the California State Assembly, I am returning Assembly Bill 2538 without my signature. The bill would, among other things, require the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Cal Fire to employ seasonal firefighters through the use of an employment list. This bill would also require the Department of Human Resources to coordinate with the State personnel board and any other relevant state agency to take the necessary actions to allow Cal Fire to to employ seasonal firefighters for longer than nine months in a consecutive 12 month period. Increasing Cal fires capacity is an important objective. And with the introduction of the 66 hour workweek for firefighters, my administration will need to hire more than 2,000 new year round firefighters. Note that California assembly woman said he didn't do that. Significantly increasing the department's capacity in the off season. This bill is therefore unnecessary. So he vetoes hiring more firefighters just like the mayor of Los Angeles did. And I want you to listen to this exchange. This exchange when Gavin Newsom is confronted by a woman asking for answers about his disastrous policies. Give a listen to this exchange.

[Concerned Citizen]

Governor, you got a second? Governor? Governor, I live here. Governor, that was my daughter's school. Governor, please tell me what you're gonna do. I'm not gonna hurt him, I promise.

[Gavin Newsom]

I'm literally talking to the president right now to specifically answer the question of what we can do for you and your daughter.

[Concerned Citizen]

Can I hear it? Can I hear your call? Cause I don't believe it.

[Gavin Newsom]

I'm sorry. There's literally. I've tried five times. That's why I'm walking around to make.

[Concerned Citizen]

Why is the President not taking your call?

[Gavin Newsom]

Because it's not going through. Why have to get cell service.

[Concerned Citizen]

So let's get it, let's get it. I want to be here when you call the President.

[Gavin Newsom]

I appreciate it. I'm doing that right now. And it's to immediately get reimbursements, individual assistance, and to help you. I'm devastated for you.

[Ted Cruz]

I'm so sorry.

[Gavin Newsom]

Especially for your daughter. I have four kids losing everyone who.

[Concerned Citizen]

Went to school there. They lost their homes. They lost two homes because they were living in one building, another. Governor, please tell me, tell me, what are you going to do with the President right now?

[Gavin Newsom]

We're getting the resources to help rebuild.

[Concerned Citizen]

Why was there no water in the hydrants?

[Gavin Newsom]

It's all Literally.

[Concerned Citizen]

Is it going to be different next time?

[Gavin Newsom]

It has to be. Has to be. Of course.

[Concerned Citizen]

What are you going to do to fill the hydrants? I would fill them up personally. You know that I literally have. I would fill up the hydrants myself. But would you do that?

[Gavin Newsom]

I would do whatever I can.

[Concerned Citizen]

But you're not. I see the. Do you know there's water dripping over there, Governor, there's water coming out there. You can use it.

[Gavin Newsom]

I appreciate it. I'm going to make the call to address everything I can right now, including making sure people.

[Concerned Citizen]

I'd like to make sure you can. I can I have an opportunity to at least tell people you're doing what you're saying you're doing.

[Ted Cruz]

Thank you.

[Concerned Citizen]

Could somebody have a contact. Can I have your contact information right now?

[Ted Cruz]

Nothing like ducking into your SUV and then saying, oh, I got to take a phone call with the president. You're.

[Ben Ferguson]

You.

[Ted Cruz]

You move on, lady. I hear what you're saying, but you move on. One of the most shocking parts that exchange those center was the fact that both people involved. The lady who lived there, who's. Her child's school is burned to the ground, and Gavin Newsom are both admitting there will be a next time. And if you know that this is the next time and you know that you deal with these fires, why did you make all these decisions?

[Ben Ferguson]

And it's over and over again repeated decisions, and he's accepting no responsibility. He was warned about the consequences of those decisions, and yet he doesn't change them. The mayor was warned, and she doesn't change them. And look, his first reaction when the woman comes up is to lie to her. Oh, I'm on the phone with the president right now, and I gotta give the woman credit. It's, you know, it's. You know, the old trick pretending to be on a phone call and she's like, great, can I listen? He's like, oh, well, I'm not actually on the phone, but. But. But I'm trying. Like, it is a horrific natural disaster, a horrific crisis. Although I say natural disaster. We're getting also multiple reports of. Of some or all of these fires having. Having originated from arson. We don't know the full details of that. And so it may turn out that these fires are not entirely natural in their origin. That we will find out more, hopefully in the days ahead. But regardless, better forest management and mitigation could reduce the risks of these fires. And yet the politicians in California refuse to do it, investing in firefighters, putting the priority of doing their job and putting sufficient resources there could make a real difference. And yet the politicians actively refused to do so. Both the mayor and the governor and ensuring their sufficient water could make a real difference in fighting these forest fires. And yet the elected politicians repeatedly refuse to do so and brag about how proud they are of these policies. I hope, I hope on the federal government that this prompts a serious reconsideration of the policies of water allowed on federal forest lands. I know President Trump wants to see that happen. And we will see whether our Democrat colleagues in Congress are willing to work to get that done or if they will continue to double down on the same failed policies that are endangering people's lives and costing people's lives. And I just want to close where we started. Listen, we are praying for the people of California who are living through hell right now. We are praying for the firefighters and police officers and first responders and, by the way, just ordinary citizens and churches and charities who are coming together and helping each other. And I will say, you know, in the wake of any disaster you see, people come together and help each other. And that's an amazing, powerful thing. But at the same time, we need to ask, are there policies that caused this disaster or made it worse? And are there policy changes that can reduce the risk of another tragedy like this in the future? And sadly, the answer to those questions is unquestionably yes. And I think for that reason, a whole lot of people in California are understandably and justifiably furious right now.

[Ted Cruz]

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.

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[Ted Cruz]

Now on to story number two. Is this one of those things that would come down to a vote and they would vote on it? How does this actually work? I mean, we. Is there a purchase price? Is it. I mean, explain to people the reality, if this moves forward, what it looks like.

[Ben Ferguson]

So all in all likelihood there would be a purchase price paid to Denmark because Denmark has control. Denmark governs Greenland right now. And so it would be a purchase price like the Louisiana Purchase, like buying Alaska. And there's a long history of countries buying territories one from the other and so that you'd have to go and negotiate it. We saw this week Donald Trump Jr. Flew to Greenland and went there and reported back, reported back that he had a tremendous reception, that people were cheering him on, that they were wearing MAGA hats. You know, I've heard multiple reports that the locals can't stand Denmark, that they're treated as second class citizens by the Danes and that, you know, if you're a young Greenlander, the opportunity to become an American, that's a big deal in terms of your future. If Greenland becomes an American territory, the investment from the United States that goes into Greenland is suddenly very significant. And so that could well be appealing. Now I would think there would be a real likelihood that you'd probably have a referendum of Greenlanders if they want to do it. It's not clear that you would, but I think there's a reasonable chance of that. And so you'd have both Denmark and Greenland to contend with. But I will say from America's perspective, there would be enormous advantages to Greenland becoming an American territory. And I will say just this week, interestingly enough, John Fetterman, Democrat senator from Pennsylvania, he was on Fox News and he brought up Greenland. It was very interesting. I want you to listen to what John Fetterman had to say on this topic.

[John Fetterman]

There's a lot of talk about Greenland, for example, now. And I know a lot of, there's a lot of freak outs, you know, and of course I would never support taking it by force. But I do think it's, I do think it's a responsible conversation. If they were open to acquiring it and you know, whether just buying it outright. I mean if anyone think that's bonkers, it's like, well, we'll remember the Louisiana Purchase. I think Alaska was pretty, pretty a great deal to $50 million. I think it was, it was recorded, it was, it was referred to as Seward's Folly. And now that was Alaska now. So I mean, you know, open to having all kinds of conversations as well. And now I don't think we, it's not helpful to freak out, but some things might work out, some may not. But that's part of an ongoing dialogue. But he hasn't even take office in two weeks and you know, we really need to pace ourselves if we're going to freak out over every last tweet or every last conversation or press conference. But.

[Ted Cruz]

I love this demeanor there. It's like we should be having this conversation. There's nothing wrong with it. Now, the conversation, a lot of people listening are going to say is, Senator, what are we? 35 trillion in debt? How can we afford to buy Greenland? So how does the economics of that work?

[Ben Ferguson]

Well, look, I don't know what a purchase price would be. We'd have to see, but I do think the mineral reserves there are significant, and the national security and geopolitical advantages are significant. And so we invest in policies that make a difference, that make America safer and make America more prosperous. And it is certainly possible, and, in fact, even likely that Greenland would do that. Now, again, I don't know what the price would be. It's something that would have to be pursued. But it's interesting, since Trump started talking about this, you've seen Greenlanders talking about wanting independence, wanting to be their own country. And from Denmark's perspective, they may be sitting there going, well, wait a second, America could buy Greenland from us and we could get a crap ton of money, or Greenland could just declare their independence and they leave us and we get nothing. And so the incentives for Denmark may have changed because Trump is bringing this up and bringing it up in a context that it's driving real conversation. But I think we should lean in and pursue this, pursue this with Denmark and Greenland, because I think there are major advantages to the United States if we were to succeed in this. And I think this is a. This is a serious possibility.

[Ted Cruz]

It's a serious possibility. All right, so. So with that serious possibility, let's move to the third, you know, Panama, big story Panama, the Panama Canal. Donald Trump making it very clear we're being taken advantage of.

[Ben Ferguson]

Well, that's right. And look, you look at Panama and the Panama Canal. Jimmy Carter, number one. America built the Panama Canal. We lost many American lives building it. We invested major money building the Panama Canal. Teddy Roosevelt is one of the most significant things he did as president. Jimmy Carter gave it away, gave it to Panama, and it was egregious. This week is Jimmy Carter's funeral. And when we did, did our remembrance of Jimmy Carter, I tried to find positive things to say about him, not to speak ill of someone who had just passed. But I will say Jimmy Carter's giving away the Panama Canal was one of the most egregious foreign policy mistakes in the history of our country. It was horrific. It undermined the safety and security and economic vitality of America, it made no sense. Now can it be undone? I don't know. I think the likelihood of us getting the Panama Canal back is significantly lower than the likelihood of us acquiring Greenland. It's not nearly as low as the likelihood of Canada joining America. As I said, I don't think that is at all possible. I think that was purely a troll. I think Greenland is quite possible. And I put Panama somewhere in the middle. And Trump's argument is, is, is important on this, which is. Which is that when, when, when Jimmy Carter gave it away, Panama entered into an agreement with the United States, a legal agreement. And, and, and I could tell you, I and my team right now are examining the contours of that agreement to see exactly what Panama committed to. But Trump's argument is that Panama has, has broken the terms of that agreement that they are not living up to. They are violating that agreement, and in particular, that they have, have, have essentially sold significant parts of the Panama Canal to China. That Chinese companies now control both ends of the Panama Canal and they've ceded control to China. That's incredibly harmful. And Trump is also arguing that Panama charges American ships egregious prices. And look, we, we, we need to dig in more to the facts behind that. But that is a legal argument. I'll tell you what I think Trump is really doing is negotiating on price. And I think the outcome of this is going to be that America gets much more favorable prices. And it may also be a significant diminution of China's involvement in the Panama Canal. Both of those are very likely. But I want you to listen to what Trump had to say about Panama and Mar A Lago earlier today.

[Donald Trump]

The deal was that, you know, they have to treat us fairly. They don't treat us fairly. They charge more for our ships than they charge for ships of other countries. They charge more for our navy than they charge for navies of other countries. They laugh at us because they think we're stupid, but we're not stupid anymore. So the Panama Canal is under discussion with them right now. They violated every aspect of the agreement, and it's, they've morally violated it also. And they want our help because it's leaking and not in good repair, and they want US to give $3 billion to help fix it. I said, well, why don't you get the money from China? Because China's basically taking it over. China's at both ends of the Panama Canal. China is running the Panama Canal.

[Ted Cruz]

China's running the Panama Canal. And he says they laugh at us because they think we're stupid. We're not stupid anymore. When you hear the basics, they're charging us more in our Navy more than others. Now they want us to give him a bunch of money to fix the thing. He's got points that aren't political.

[Ben Ferguson]

They're just those are serious. And I think we're going to see a significant change, I believe, in the conduct of Panama concerning the Panama Canal. Will it result in the Canal coming back to America? I don't know. That is a difficult hurdle to clear. But I am very glad President Trump is leaning in on this issue. It's incredibly important. And China's growing influence over the Panama Canal is just stupid. It is unacceptable. And that's leadership that, frankly, can you imagine in a billion years, Joe Biden or Kamala Harris making these points? You can't at all because they don't defend America. They're celebrating and I'm sure they cheered on when it happened. Jimmy Carter's giving it away to begin with, and it's the opposite of America first where Biden and Harris are. It's America last. And I'm very glad we're gonna have a president that again puts our country first as before.

[Ted Cruz]

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 playoffs we're talking about playoffs, you bet.

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[Ted Cruz]

I want to get back to the big story number three of the week you may have missed. We really saw the demise of the corporate media, I call it the state sponsored media. And for decades we have seen the media, especially the big ABC, NBC, CBS, the CNNs, MSNBCs, be able and so much of print to control the narrative and the mindset of so many voters and sway elections towards the left and to Democrats. I hope that we have just witnessed the true demise of the media and their influence and their corruption because so many times we've just seen how biased they are. Whether it was Covid and that issue, whether it was the issue with Hunter Biden in the laptop. We have now seen where there's a lot of Americans that aren't getting their news from not, not just not trust them. They're not even watching anymore, they're not even reading these newspapers anymore. And they're turning to podcasts just like this show and podcast center had a massive impact on the 2024 elections at the local, state and national level. And that is good for everyone.

[Ben Ferguson]

Well, and that's the final, that's prediction number 10. There's no doubt that we are seeing across the media landscape a disintermediation that the mediators, those who had a monopoly on communicating with the public, are losing that monopoly, they're losing that control. And listen, the part of the reason they're losing that monopoly is because they've been so dishonest, they've been such partisan propagandists that they don't report on news, they simply advocate for the left wing of the Democrat party that they have utterly destroyed the trust they had with the American people. And the corporate media has been exposed as liars. We have seen the rise, the democratization of media, we've seen the rise of podcasts. I think this podcast has had a significant impact on the public discourse. I think other podcasts, we saw Donald Trump go on multiple podcasts in the election and go right around the corporate media, go straight to the American people. We see the impact of people like Joe Rogan, which is enormously impactful, going straight to the American people. And the prediction that we made is that we were gonna see more and more democratization both from podcasts and also from Twitter and X and just speaking the truth right around the so called gatekeepers. So I want you to listen to this prediction. This prediction was In August of 2024 give a listen. Why do you and I do the podcast often at 11 o'clock at night or midnight or even one or two in the morning? Why do we do it three days a week? We do it because if your only source of news is the corporate media, if you only watch CNN or MSNBC or abc, NBC, cbs, you do not know what is happening. They are lying to you. And the reason this podcast, we've got roughly a million unique listeners is because people find it valuable. We give you facts that CNN will never air. We play the full segment of what Elon and Trump said about Hiroshima and Nagasaki instead of their dishonestly edited snippet that was designed to mislead you and lie to you. And, and this podcast goes right around the corporate media. And in fact, just about every podcast we put out drives stories in the corporate media. That is going to accelerate. People are going to podcast, people are going to social media, people are going to X. Elon's buying Twitter remains, I think, the single most important step for free speech in decades. And I think that's only going to accelerate and you're going to see a panic as the corporate media, they want a monopoly on what we know, what we hear, what we understand, and they're losing their monopoly. So I, so I predict more and more frantic panic, but also more and more power to the people, which is a very good thing, Senator.

[Ted Cruz]

I mean, it's, this is a, I really do believe, a major turning point. And I think there is proof in the outcome of the election that we just saw. And it's not that I want to have conservative media just have a monopoly. I just want honest journalism and those that are telling the truth to have a real platform with a real audience. And we're gaining that now through podcasts and other venues, as we mentioned.

[Ben Ferguson]

Yeah, that's exactly right. And we're seeing that. Look, these 10 predictions that we've gone through on this podcast and Wednesday's podcast, if you got all your news from CNN, you would have heard zero of these 10 predictions. If you got all your news from the New York Times, you would have heard zero of these predictions. And so it's why people tune in to verdict, because you learn things and you know, things that you cannot get through the corporate media. That this is one of the very few avenues that is putting out the facts. And that prediction, we saw the massive impact of podcasts and x on the 2024 election, but also the prediction that I made about the panic from the media, I want you to listen this is in November 2025 after the election to Axio CEO Jim Vande Heyde just completely losing his mind over Elon Musk saying to everyone on X, you are the media. Give a listen to Jim Vande Hei losing it. Thing we do is under fire.

[Gavin Newsom]

Elon Musk sits on Twitter every day or X today saying like, we are the media, you are the media. My message to Elon Musk is bull. You're not the media.

[Ben Ferguson]

You having, you having a blue check.

[Gavin Newsom]

Mark, a Twitter handle and 300 words.

[Ben Ferguson]

Of cleverness doesn't make you a reporter. You don't do that by popping off on Twitter. Don't do that by having an opinion. You do it by doing the hard work.

[J]

Yeah, come on. So clap, everybody. First of all, I've got to say, extraordinary content. It needed to be said. Yeah, it continues to need to be said. When all of the garbage is flying around on social media lying about reporters, lying about the hard work they do, lying about the hard work editors who lying about everything up and down about not only their alternative set of facts, but alternative set of facts about what people like you do or if social media people lying every day, every hour, every minute about the news. What you do matters. What the New York Times does, matters. What the Wall Street Journal does, matters. What Jonathan Lemire does, matters. What the Financial Times does matter. What NBC News and MSNBC reporters do matters. It matters.

[Ted Cruz]

It matters. I love the self righteousness there. Right?

[Ben Ferguson]

Well, and yes. And that kicked in at the end. Morning Joe to Joe Scarborough and Mika losing their minds, also echoing Jim Vande Hei and just. Yes, yes, yes, he's exactly right. And listen, the corporate media, they hate democracy. They hate the democratization of communication, they hate the rise of podcasts, they hate that people can talk directly to the voters. They hate the ability to get the truth. And this is destroying their monopoly. Now, a big part of the reason so many people turn to podcasts is the corporate media lies. They lie deliberately. And when they had a monopoly, their lies were pretty effective. But people are turning elsewhere. Look, Morning Joe. Morning Joe. During the week that Trump, that Joe Scarborough and Mika went down to meet with Morning Joe, do you know how many viewers Morning Joe averaged every day?

[Ted Cruz]

How Many?

[Ben Ferguson]

They averaged 691,000 total viewers during the week that Joe and Mika went to meet with Trump. 691,000. We have about a million. So Joe, it ought to concern you that you've got an entire corporate bureaucracy, you've got millions of dollars, they're broadcasting your show into every television set in America. And yet Verdict is getting substantially more listeners than you are. And the reason is simple. The corporate media, they lie to you. They are so partisan, they are so brazen. They are willing to lie and they are horrified that their ability to lie is checked by the ability of you and me and others to speak the truth. That's the power of podcast. And I think that's, that's, that's the power of Verdict.

[Ted Cruz]

Finally, let's end with a prediction to watch. Senator, not that long ago you predicted that the US Will sanction the ICC for the egregious move to arrest Benjamin Netanyahu. And that that prediction I want to play for people. Take a listen.

[Ben Ferguson]

I'm going to predict we will take up the legislation to sanction the ICC and we will do it early next year when we have a Republican Congress and a Republican president. I don't even know that we'll need that legislation though, because I expect the Trump administration to act unilaterally. I think there's ample authority under the law for them to act. Even if the Democrats filibuster legislation to sanction the icc, I think the President will have ample authority to act come January 20th.

[Ted Cruz]

Let me talk to you. That was a prediction that you're now saying we should watch this very carefully.

[Ben Ferguson]

Yeah, I think that's going to happen in 2025 and we'll all see it. And you know what? When it happens in 2025, verdict will come back and point out exactly as we predicted it came to pass.

[Ted Cruz]

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.

[Ben Ferguson]

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