Welcome in his verdict with Senator Ted Kruz ben Ferguson with you as always Happy Monday, and Senator it is a prediction that you predicted a few weeks ago, and it's dealing with Columbia University, but it's also dealing with students that are anti Israel, anti Semitic, and now Donald Trump is paying off on one of his promises.
You know, there's a phrase that's gone viral online. It's fa fo And I got to say, there are a whole lot of anti Israel, anti Semitic radicals that are finding out what that means. And there are also a lot of Ivy League administrators and professors who are finding out what it means. You and I we interviewed on
this podcast. Pambondi, the Attorney General in front of SEAPAC, we interviewed live and I predicted in that interview, I said, the Trump administration is going to go after universities that allow these radical anti Israel pro Hamas anti Semitic protests, and they're going to go after them in a couple of fronts. Number One, it is existing federal law under Title six of the Civil Rights Laws that you cannot create an environment that is hostile, that is discriminating against
people based on ethnicity or faith. And when you have universities like Columbia and much of the rest of the Ivy League that are allowing Jewish students to be afraid for their lives. The Columbia Orthodox Rabbi, in the midst of the very worst protest after October seventh, sent out an email to the Jewish students on campus and said, do not come into campus. You are not safe. Colombia
will not protect you. And what you and I predicted on this podcast with Attorney General Pambondi is the Trump Department of Justice is going to come after these universities and cut off their funds. And I said, you know what, first in line is Columbia University because they've been the most brazen about it. And I predicted second that we are going to see these anti Semitic protesters who are foreigners, We're going to see their visas revoked, and we're going
to see them deported. Well, all of that is happening right now. This past week the news broke the Trump administration is cutting off four hundred million dollars in federal funding to Columbia University, claiming that it has failed to take steps to confront anti Semitism on campus after Hamas's October seventh attack on Israel. The cuts represent the federal
government's first round of grant cancellations for Columbia. According to the administration's newly formed Anti Semitism Task Force, which is leading the effort, Columbia has over five billion dollars let me repeat that again, five billion dollars in active federal grants that are being reviewed by the government. So four hundred million dollars has already been cut off, and they've got a total of five billion dollars in federal grants
that are potentially on the chopping block. And let's be clear, Colombia is just the first of those. But not only that. On top of that, the news was broken in recent hours that immigration agents arrest Palestinian activists who helped lead
the Columbia University protests. The Associated Press is reporting quote federal immigration authorities arrested a Palestinian activists Saturday who played a prominent role in Columbia University's protest against Israel, a significant escalation in the Trump administration's pledge to detain and
deport student activists. Mahmoud Khalil, a graduate student at Columbia until this past December, was inside his university owned department Saturday night when several Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents entered and took him into custody. His attorney, Amy Greer Toward told the Associated Press. Greer says she spoke by phone with one of the ICE agents during the arrest, who said they were acting on the State Department orders to
revoke Khalil's student visa. Informed by the attorney that was in the United States as a permanent resident with a green card, the agents said they were revoking that instead, according to the lawyer, as I mentioned Ben fa Fo.
Yeah, it really is incredible, and we got to remind people how we got to this point, and a lot of it was a revolving around when those three university presidents went to Capitol Hill and even CBS News talking about how the Columbia University president resigned after all this anti semitism was allowed on campus. Here is how CBS This Morning put it when it happened.
Another high profile college leader has resigned after the campus unrust that we saw last spring. Columbia University president Manuch Chaffique had been roundly criticized for her response to the pro Palestinian demonstrations on that campus. The new school year begins in just three weeks, so why now is the question. As Tom Hansen reports, Chaffique is a third Ivy League president to step down in connection to protests against the war in Gaza.
Nearly four months after fierce protests over the Israel Hamas war ripped Columbia University and backlashed by students, faculty, and lawmakers alike over her testimony on Capitol Hill.
Anti Semitism has no place on our campus and I am personally committed to doing everything I can.
The school's president, Menu Schaffique, stepped down Wednesday, just one year into the role. In her resignation letter, Shaffik cited the turbulent period, saying it had been quote a period of turmoil where it has been difficult to overcome divergent views across our community. Columbia University's encampment was the epicenter of pro Palestinian protests across college campuses last spring. At times, those demonstrations took a violent turn and resulted in mass arrests.
After Shaffik twice called in the NYPD to dismantle the tent city, and culminating with hundreds of police office users moving in to clear out protesters that occupied a campus building. Shaffik's actions prompted criticism not just from pro Palestinian students, but also Jewish students who said they lived in fear on campus.
When they harangue us with chance of from the river to the sea. Schaffique doesn't want us to believe our own eyes and.
Ears, resulting in calls for her to step down, including from lawmakers who visited Columbia during the protests.
I am here today joining my colleagues and calling on President Schaffique to resign.
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson, in a social media post last night, wrote, Jewish students at Columbia beginning this school year should breathe a sigh of relief for CBS Mornings. I'm Tom Hanson.
When CBS News says that you're the epicenter referring to Columbia University of all of the worst protests, you know it was bad, and not only has you heard Speaker Johnson called for to resign, you called center for several of these presidents of university to resign as well, and that was certainly said in the right direction. But now we're seeing the payoff from what Trump promised on the campaign trail.
Well, sure, and you go back to last year when you had the presidents of Harvard, Mit, and Penn all testify in the House. It will go down in history as the most disaster disastrous House testimony I think that's ever happened. Within two weeks, two of the three university presidents, Harvard and Penn both resigned. It was a hearing on anti semitism where they basically explained they gave lots of academic jumblie joke, but it's essentially what they were saying
is anti semitism. We don't know what it is, we don't care to stop it because we're leftists, and that's what universities are all about. And their complete obliviousness to creating a hostile environment where a significant percentage of their students, their lives and safety are in danger. It was really astonishing and it's the fruit of the ideological rot that
has happened in our college campuses. Look, I've told the story before of about a year ago I was meeting with a very successful Silicon Valley entrepreneur, a man of the left, a Democrat, who was expressing bewilderment. He says, said, where is all of this hatred, this anti Semitism, this anti Americanism on college campuses? Where is it coming from?
And I told him I referenced the last book I wrote, Unwoke, How to Defeat Cultural Marxism in America, And I said, listen, this is the fruits of cultural Marxism that have taken over our universities and our institutions. And it goes back to the nineteen sixties and seventies, sadly, to Mi alma mater, to Harvard, where you had Marxist that came on to the faculty and they began teaching and dividing the world into a Marxist dichotomy where everyone falls into one of
two categories. You were either an oppressor or a victim. And to the modern day leftist Jews are categorized as oppressors. And importantly, I did not say Israelis. I said Jews. If you are Jewish to a leftist, you are an impressor period the end, and Palestinians in that taxonomy are categorized as victims, and once you slot them into those two categories, the leftist Marxist ideology as they support the
violent revolutionary overthrow by the victims of the oppressors. Which is why you saw so many left wing radicals cheering on the Hamas terrorists who murdered twelve hundred people on October seventh, who raped little girls and women, and you had these leftist radicals cheering them on our academic campuses. Are so sick. This is the ideology that is being taught to our children.
It really is. And this is something that you guys have also been focused on on Capitol Hill when it comes to calling out the Biden administration for doing nothing about the anti Semitic protests that took place on our college campuses. And part of this is you got to have a spotlight on it.
Yep. So this past week, the Senate Judiciary Committee had a hearing on anti Semitism. Now, you might think, given the massive rise in anti Semitism, particularly following October seventh, given the acts of violence against Jews across America, you might think the Senate Judiciary Committee would be looking at this. Do you know how many hearings we had on anti Semitism. When the Democrats had the gavel.
I'm going to go out and a lemon, say zero.
Wow, you got it precisely right to the one hundred deciml point that would be zero point zero zero zero. They do not at all.
If you listen every day, I don't get these trick questions.
Right, even a blind squirrel, not a one. So a month into the new Congress, Republicans of the majority, we held a hearing this past week on anti Semitism. The Democrats were terrified. They didn't want to talk about it, but but I took the opportunity. Listen. I gotta say, this issue pisses me off what we've seen happen to our school, and so I want you to listen to my questioning of the witnesses and what I had to say last week at the hearing on anti Semitism. Give
a listen. Anti Semitism is evil, it is wrong, and it is flourishing with the acquiescence and in many cases active participation of student of students, of faculty, of administrators, and government officials. And sadly, the Democrat Party has a deep and pervasive problem confronting this evil for the last two years. In the wake of October seventh, this committee held zero hearings on anti Semitism in the United States, despite the fact that Republicans repeatedly called for it the
acts of violence. Prior to October seventh, three thousand, six hundred and sixty nine anti sentemitic incidents occurred in the United States. Following October seventh, in less than three months, that number spiked over five thousand. In twenty twenty four, that number skyrocketed to ten thousand and five anti Semitic incidents. This problem is particularly acute on our college campuses Columbia University. Columbia University was a major epicenter where they encouraged, tolerated,
and celebrated this vicious and vile anti semitism. Rabbi Eli Buehler emailed every Jewish student on campus and said quote, the events of the last few days have made it clear that Columbia University's public safety cannot guarantee Jewish student safety in the face of extreme anti semitism and anarchy. I would strongly recommend you return home. This is the rabbi at the university saying your school will not protect your safety, and Colombia didn't do a damn thing about it. No,
I'll tell you what the rabbi wasn't crazy. Here is one picture taken on the campus of Columbia. In the back are Jewish students waving American flags and Israeli flags. In the front is a Columbia student wearing a mask. Because these cowards are oh so brave, they cover their faces, holding a handwritten sign that says al Cassam's next targets. Al Casam is the military branch of Hamas. Understand what this student is saying. She is calling for the murder
of her Jewish classmates. And by the way, this student, the internet being what it is, she's been identified now on the Internet. This is not a Palestinian who's subject to oppression. This is a rich, blonde girl from Atlanta whose parents are multimillionaire real estate developers. And they got so proud. I'm sending my child to an Ivy League education where she'll be indoctrinated to dress up and advocate
Hamas murdering Jewish students because they are Jews. Now, if you agree that is evil and vile, let me ask you something. We're the Democrats. Not a one is here, and it's because the Democrat Party has decided the pro Hamas wing of the party is more important than protecting Jewish students in America. And if you don't believe me,
maybe you'll believe Chuck Schumer. Chuck Schumer, texting with Columbia, said the following On January fourth, then President of Columbia's Shaffick explained to Shipman and her fellow co chair David Greenwald that she had met with Majority leader Chuck Schumer, who advised Shaefik that university's political problems about anti Semitism are really only among Republicans. We the Democrats, we don't
care about this anti Semitism stuff. Ms Lewin, am I the only person that has noticed that these anti Israel, pro Hamas anti Semitic protests, that the tents all match.
No, you are not the only ones who have noticed.
Is it clear that there is significant money funding these attacks on Jewish students and attacks on America.
It is clear that there is coordination and there must be some common funding.
In the last two years under the Biden Justice Department. Are you aware of any investigation to follow the money behind these protests.
I am not.
Are you aware of anyone who has been indicted for funding these protests?
I am not.
Are you aware of any university that has had their Title six federal funds cut off because they've tolerated welcome, celebrated in the center holly put out, had their own officials cheering on anti semitism. Has even one university lost their funding?
I am not aware of any university having actually lost their fund.
And I'll point out also some of the defenders say free speech, free speech. You're right, you have a free speech writer as an American citizen to say vile, hateful, bigoted things. Let me ask you something. If a university student went into the public square dressed up in a clan outfit, burned across and said we should murder African American students, do you have any a doubt the university would expel that student.
I am secarely certain that the universities would take action and ensure that the policies.
They should expel them. If they're foreign students, they should be deported. And mark my words, if you were horrified at the anti semitism, you will see the Trump Department of Justice follow the money Prosecute the people who are paying for this, Prosecute those engaged in violence, and cut off the money from universities that are tolerating and celebrating this.
That is the rule of law. And ask yourself, why did the Biden Justice Department do absolutely nothing about this horror that is unfolding center.
It was unbelievable to hear you call it out, and I do think we just have to remind people this is systematic on our college campuses, especially the IVY leagues. I go back in my head to Harvard and just a defiance of some of these individuals when they were testifying before Congress. They had no problem standing with these anti Semitic protesters.
Look, because they believe the same things that the administrators. They have been teaching the same poison, the faculty has been teaching the same poison. And I'll note that that clip you played while I was questioning at the hearing of anti semitism, as I noted, not a single Democrat senator was in the room. The hearing room was empty, and that really spoke volumes that they don't want to talk about this, and the problem is a political problem
in today's Democrat party. There is a real and meaningful pro Hamas wing of the Democrat Party, and the Democrats are terrified of that pro Hamas wing of the Democrat Party. The question I've asked repeatedly, and look, most of the people who listened to Verdict are I think politically right
of center, are conservative or libertarians. But we actually have fair number of reporters who listened to Verdict, and you know, I'm hoping we have a handful of open minded, free thinking liberals, people who consider themselves left of center, but recognize that if you want to actually have an intelligent understanding of the issues, then you want to hear from a wide spectrum of views and try to process and
ascertain what is right. If you at home are one of those, Let's say you're a Democrat who lives in New York City. Let's say you voted for Kamala Harris, you voted for Joe Biden, maybe you voted for Barack Obama.
If you disagree with the Prohamas wing of the Democrat Party, if you don't like the vile anti Semites that have flourished on college campuses and that have threatened the safety of Jewish students, you ought to ask yourself, very seriously, what happened in the last week Columbia got its money cut off? A one of the organizers of the protests is going to be deported. Why didn't any of that happen under Joe Biden? There was nothing to prevent the
Biden administration from doing this. They had every bit of legal authority. As far as I can tell, they didn't even investigate it. They didn't ask where the money came from. I certainly asked the Attorney General in the FBI repeatedly if they were doing that, if they were investigating it. They refused to tell the Senate. They refused to tell me. And we do know that no one paid any consequences for it because no one was indicted, and that ends
up encouraging more of this. And you have to ask yourself, was that an accident or was there a reason? Listen, if Kamala Harris, god forbid, had been elected president November, Ben, let me ask you this, what do you think of the odds Columbia would have had that four hundred million cut off if Kamala Harris were president?
No, zero percent?
And I bet you the anti Semitism would explode on college chemists is because they would not have any worries at trunction.
She might be marching with the Prohamas protesters. And by the way, this organizer who's being deported, the odds of his being deported if Kamala were president are zero. Elections have consequences, and this issue, this issue matters.
So let's talk about this one student and expand on that just for a second, because I do think this is probably, in my opinion, more than just a quote example. For me, this looks like this is the beginning. This isn't just a one off. I think it's very clear that Trump administration is saying if you were here as a student on a visa and you go out and you participate in this, yes there's going to be accountability.
We're not screwing around. I don't think this is the last time we're going to see this.
Well, and there was an example I use in my Senate questioning that I want to flesh out a little bit because some people will say free speech, free speech, and it is absolutely right that an American citizen has a right to engage in free speech and to say things that are horrible, that are bigoted, that are hateful. You have a right to say that. I will defend your right to say that, but it doesn't mean that you are entitled to be immune from the consequences of
what you say. And so one example I gave if you're a university student, and let's say a university student dressed in a clan outfit and went on to campus and burned across and began screaming that we should murder all the African American students. If that university student was an American citizen, he or she would have a First Amendment right to say that. But I think the odds are one hundred percent the university would expel them. There could be consequences for your speech when they are so
vile and hateful. And if someone did that, advocating for the murder of their fellow students, they would be expelled. Now, they wouldn't be incarcerated. It is not a crime to say that. But a university would be with it its rights to say that we are not going to tolerate this level of hate directed our fellow students. That is what the Prohamas protesters were saying when they said from the River to the Sea, when they said at the University of Washington to Jewish students, you go back to
the ovens. They were arguing. When that Columbius woman held the sign saying al Cassom's next target, pointing at Jewish students, they were arguing for their fellow students to be murdered in this instance because they are Jews. A university is fully within its right to expel that student for doing so. Now, Secondly, if someone is not a US citizen, if they are on a student visa, a student visa is a privilege.
It is the United States making the decision. We think it is beneficial to us to let you come to our country and study in our schools. It is a permissive grant. And if you are organizing radical protests and harassing Jewish students with vicious anti semitism and mind you, vicious anti Americanism, these bastards are burning American flags while in many instances taking federal money in student aid and
basking the protection of the federal government. Listen, I am confident this guy is not the first foreigner who has been a radical who's been admitted under the Obama administration and Biden administration. Who's going to have his visa revoked, and who's going to be deported and he should. It doesn't mean that an American who said that says this would go to jail for saying it. But there are consequences for speech, and that is entirely consistent with protecting robust free speech.
Well, let's remind people, because I do think it's so important that people just remember where this started. And I want to go back to the Harvard president over the students calling and you mentioned this for Intifada on campus. It was a very simple question. She was asked by
lisaphonic and it didn't go well. And that's where I think there was that first moment for many Americans that couldn't believe, as you described it, of these radical extremists taking over our IVY leagues, taking over our college campuses, beneath the IVY leagues, and indoctrinating people with this type of hate. Let's go back to twenty twenty three. This was back in December. On December fifth of twenty twenty three.
Doctor gay, a Harvard student calling for the mass murder of African Americans is not protected free speech at Harvard.
Correct our commitment to it's a yes or no question. Is that corrected?
Is that okay for students to call for the mass murder of African Americans at Harvard?
Is that protected free speech?
Our commitment to free school.
It's a yes or no question. Let me ask you this.
You are president of Harvard, so I assume you're familiar with the term into fada.
Correct.
I've heard that term, yes.
And you understand that the use of the term into fada in the context of the Israeli Arab conflict is indeed a call for violent arm resistance against the state of Israel, including violence against civilians and the genocide of Jews.
Are you aware of that.
That type of hateful speech is personally abhorrent to me?
And there have been multiple marches at Harvard with students chanting, quote, there is only one solution into fada revolution and quote globalize the into fada.
Is that correct?
I've heard that thoughtless, reckless and hateful language on our campus.
So based upon your testimony, you understand that this call for intifada is to commit genocide against the Jewish people in Israel and globally.
Correct.
I will say again that type of hateful speech is personally abhorrent to me.
Do you believe that type of hateful speech is contrary to Harvard's code of conduct?
Or is it allowed at Harvard?
It is at odds with the values of Harvard.
Can you not say here that it is against the code of conduct at Harvard?
We embrace a commitment to free expression, even of views that are objectionable, offensive, hateful. It's when that speech crosses into conduct that violates our policies against bullying?
Does that speech not cross that barrier?
Does that speech not call for the genocide of Jews and the elimination of Israel? When you testify that you understand that is the definition of into fada? Is that speech according to the code of conduct or not?
We embrace a commitment to free expression and give a wide berth to free expression, even of views that are objectionable.
You and I both know that's not the case.
You are aware that Harvard ranked dead last when it came to free speech?
Are you not aware of that report?
As I observed earlier, I reject that characterization.
It's the data shows it's true.
And isn't it true that Harvard previously rescinded multiple offers of admissions for applicants and accepted freshmen for sharing offensive memes, racist statements, sometimes as young as sixteen years old. Did Harvard not rescind those offers of admission?
That long predates my time as president, But.
You understand that Harvard made that decision to rescin those offers of admission.
I have no reason to contradict the facts as you present them.
Correct, because it's a fact.
You're also aware that a Winthrop House faculty dean was let go over for who he chose to legally represent.
Correct, that was while you were dean.
That is an incorrect characterization. Avoid transfer.
What's the characterization?
I'm not going to get into details about a personnel matter.
Well, let me ask you this, Will admissions offers be rescinded or any disciplinary action be taken against students or applicants who say from the River to the sea or into Fada advocating for the murder of Jews?
As I've said, that type of hateful, reckless, offensive speech is personally abhorrent to me.
And today that no action will be taken.
What action will be taken when speech crosses into conduct that violates our policies, including policies against bullying, harassment, or intimidation, we take action, and we have robust disciplinary processes that allow us to hold individuals accountable.
What action has been taken against students who are harassing and calling for the genocide of Jews on Harvard's campus.
I can assure you we have robust.
What actions have been taken.
I'm not askingations underway, I'm asking what actions have been taken against and students.
Given students' rights to privacy and our obligations under FURPA, I will not say more about any specific cases other than to reiterate that processes are ongoing.
Do you know what the number one hate crime in America is?
I know that over the last couple of months there has been an alarming rise of anti Semitism, which I understand is the critical topic that we are here to discuss.
That's correct it.
I'm just going to stop it there, and I think it's so important just to remind people of where we were. And as you mentioned, Senator, elections have consequences. The good news is she's no longer the president.
And that testimony ended her tenure within days. Any immediate fallout of that testimony, she lost her job. Now, mind you, Harvard gave her a cushy job paying her nine hundred thousand dollars a year, so they're still she's just not the president anymore. But they didn't run very far.
No, and others at least lost their jobs being in charge. But like you said, I still think there's a lot of this on college campuses. I still think it would be flourishing if we didn't have Donald Trump in office. And that's why this moment for us to not, as I would say, stop, shine the light on this is so vitally important. Fully agree, don't forget. We do the show Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Hit that subscriber auto download
button wherever you get your podcasts. We will keep talking about these important issues even after the media stops and moves on to something else, because it is important and the Senate and I will see you back here on Wednesday morning.