Podcast Summary: "Venezuela Looks to a New Horizon, Democrat Maduro Flip-Flop & Minnesota’s Very Own Civil War – Week in Review"

Podcast: Verdict with Ted Cruz
Hosts: Senator Ted Cruz, Ben Ferguson
Date: January 10, 2026
Main Focus: Analyzing the aftermath of U.S. actions in Venezuela, political hypocrisy in the response, legal justifications for international law enforcement, and Minnesota’s internal political scandals.

Overview

Senator Ted Cruz and co-host Ben Ferguson break down the week’s headlining political stories. The episode explores the historic arrest of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, analyzes the shifting Democratic response, examines challenges for Venezuela's future, discusses legal precedents for international U.S. action, and covers the burgeoning political and social crisis in Minnesota over widespread fraud and political rhetoric.

1. The Fallout in Venezuela: U.S. Intervention and Aftermath

[00:05–10:52]

Key Points:

• Trump Administration Operation:
  Donald Trump ordered a military operation to apprehend Nicolás Maduro, a globally wanted narco-terrorist. The mission was quick—around two hours—and specifically targeted, not a general invasion.
  • “We are not at war with Venezuela…It was a military operation to execute an arrest warrant…it was over.” – Ted Cruz [01:54]
• Delsey Rodriguez Takes Power:
  After Maduro’s arrest, Vice President Delsey Rodriguez was sworn in as interim president—by her brother, Jorge Rodriguez, head of Venezuela’s National Assembly.
  • “She is a corrupt, Marxist, communist, America hating woman.” – Ted Cruz [03:37]
  • Background: Rodriguez’s Marxist lineage traced to her guerrilla leader father. She is under U.S. Treasury sanctions and was caught smuggling gold to Spain.
• U.S. Responsibility & Goals:
  Both Cruz and Ferguson emphasize no interest in U.S. occupation and advocate for “free and fair elections” to ensure a pro-America, free-market-leaning government.
  • “No one should be happy…We do not want to see an American occupation…What should happen is free and fair elections.” – Ted Cruz [05:49]
• Economic Prospects:
  Venezuela’s resources (oil, gold) could resurrect the nation if free-market reforms are established. U.S. oil industry executives are hesitant to invest without government stability and rule of law.
  • “If you want prosperity in Venezuela, you want free enterprise, you want incentives for investment to develop the massive natural resources, and you want to trade with the United States.” – Ted Cruz [09:55]

Notable Quotes:

• “She could be next.” – Ben Ferguson, on why Rodriguez may cooperate after witnessing the Delta Force arrest [05:46]
• “In 1950, Venezuela had the fourth highest GDP per capita in the world…That’s what these communists screwed up.” – Ted Cruz [08:17]

2. Democrat "Flip-Flop" on Maduro and U.S. Action

[12:11–22:57]

Key Points:

• Democratic Criticism, Then Credit Shifting:
  Ben Ferguson plays a 2020 clip of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer criticizing Trump for "not taking out Maduro,” but now criticizing Trump for doing so.
  • “They were angry that Trump hadn’t, like, taken out Maduro. Now Trump takes out Maduro, and now they’re angry at Trump for taking out Maduro. You cannot make it up.” – Ben Ferguson [13:19]
  • “They are just being hypocrites. They just hate Trump.” – Ted Cruz [13:28]
• Legal Justifications:
  Cruz reviews legal precedent for cross-border arrests. Points to 1989 DOJ OLC opinion (Bill Barr), which clarified the executive can order international arrests, and Supreme Court backing that international law violations don’t override U.S. Constitutional and statutory powers.
  • “Article 2.4 of the UN Charter does not prohibit the executive as a matter of domestic law, from authorizing forcible abductions.” – Ted Cruz quoting Barr/OLC [17:15]
  • “The World Court doesn’t have the authority…It is the U.S. Constitution and it is U.S. laws.” – Ted Cruz [17:57]
• Challenges and Legal Precedents:
  Discussed Noriega precedent and possible defenses for Maduro, especially “head of state immunity,” and referenced the Supreme Court’s Medellin v. Texas and United States v. Alvarez Machain decisions.
  • “Unlawful abductions of criminals on foreign soil does not stop the criminal prosecution…if Maduro were just a run-of-the-mill drug dealer…it would be a very easy question.” – Ted Cruz [21:42]

Notable Quotes:

• “All the folks on TV claiming this is illegal are ignoring both the Constitution and Supreme Court precedent, not to mention the binding DOJ opinion from 1989.” – Ted Cruz [22:45]

3. Minnesota "Civil War" and Massive Fraud Scandal

[24:19–32:34]

Key Points:

• Minnesota’s Political Crisis:
  Governor Tim Walz resigns campaign amid revelations of systemic fraud (“the worst instance of fraud…in American history” per Cruz) involving $9 billion stolen, allegedly tied to Somali immigrant-headed institutions.
  • “We’ve never been at war with our federal government…Maybe this is an opportunity for a civil war.” – Ben Ferguson paraphrasing Walz [26:18]
• Rhetoric and Radicalization:
  Cruz accuses Democrat leadership in Minnesota of inciting violence and radicalizing supporters in hopes of distracting the public from the fraud case.
  • “That is a call to violence. That is Democrats very deliberately calling to violence.” – Ted Cruz [26:55]
• Congressional Hearing Clip:
  Rep. Brandon Gill (TX) sharply questions a witness on Somali immigrant household reliance on government welfare compared to native Minnesotans:
  • Food stamps: 54% (Somali) vs 7% (native) | Medicaid: 73% vs 18% | Welfare: 81% vs 9%, with 78% of Somali immigrant households still on welfare after 10 years in U.S.
    • “There’s a big difference between 54% and 7%, is there not?” – Rep. Gill [28:25]
    • “About half [speak English very well after 10 years]. That seems pretty low, doesn’t it?” – Rep. Gill [30:08]
• Political Motivation:
  Cruz claims Democrats deliberately fostered Somali community growth for vote buying and accuses them of subsequently covering up the fraud and inflaming anti-federal sentiment as a distraction.

Notable Quotes:

• “This Somali fraud, it is the worst instance of fraud that has ever been uncovered in American history. $9 billion and counting.” – Ted Cruz [24:58]
• “They want to energize their voters and get everyone not talking about the fraud…They are rooting for a replay of the Black Lives Matter and the Antifa riots.” – Ted Cruz [26:18]
• “This is a scam. The Democrats did it deliberately and they did it to buy votes.” – Ted Cruz [31:29]

Notable Moments & Timestamps

| Timestamp | Segment Description | Notable Speaker/Quote | |------------|-------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------| | 01:54 | Ted Cruz clarifies Venezuela operation | “We are not at war with Venezuela…” | | 03:37 | Background on Delsey Rodriguez | “corrupt, Marxist…America hating woman” | | 05:49 | On U.S. occupation and elections | “We do not want to see an American occupation…” | | 08:17 | Venezuela’s pre-communism prosperity | “In 1950…fourth highest GDP per capita...” | | 13:19 | On Democrats’ hypocrisy | “You cannot make it up.” – Ben Ferguson | | 17:15 | UN Charter not binding – OLC opinion | “The UN Charter is not independently binding…” | | 21:42 | Supreme Court precedent on abductions | “Ker Frisbee doctrine…Alvarez Machain…” | | 26:55 | On Minnesota governor’s rhetoric | “That is a call to violence…” | | 28:10–30:08| Brandon Gill’s hearing—Somali statistics| “There’s a big difference between 54% and 7%...” | | 31:29 | Vote-buying accusation | “This is a scam. The Democrats did it deliberately…” |

Tone and Language

• Direct, Politically Charged: Cruz and Ferguson use combative, pointed rhetoric, especially against Democrats and left-leaning officials.
• Legalistic: Cruz often cites legal precedents, constitutional principles, and Supreme Court cases in a technical but accessible way.
• Engagement and Urgency: Hosts emphasize the seriousness of current events and their broad implications for American listeners, stressing themes of fair governance, hypocrisy, and national interest.

Conclusion

This episode provides a comprehensive, strongly opinionated review of major domestic and international events affecting U.S. policy and politics. Ted Cruz and Ben Ferguson argue for vigilant U.S. strategy abroad (highlighting Venezuela) and denounce what they frame as Democratic hypocrisy and corruption both federally and at the state level. The segment on Minnesota weaves together themes of social unrest, immigration, governance, and electoral politics with pointed statistical and rhetorical argument.

For listeners interested in U.S. foreign policy, legal precedent for presidential actions, and state-level corruption scandals—especially from a conservative perspective—this episode is a must-listen.