Join Senator Ted Cruz and co-host Ben Ferguson as they break down the most important news stories of the day and reveal what they mean for you. On "Verdict with Ted Cruz,” you will go behind the scenes of the political debates that define our country. "Verdict with Ted Cruz" is being brought to you by Jobs, Freedom, and Security PAC, a political action committee dedicated to supporting conservative causes, organizations, and candidates across the country. In 2022, Jobs, Freedom, and Security PAC plans to donate to conservative candidates running for Congress and help the Republican Party across the nation.
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Biden Pardons & Autopen Controversy The discussion centers on claims that President Joe Biden improperly delegated or failed to personally authorize thousands of pardons and commutations at the end of his presidency. Cruz argues that under the Constitution, only the President can personally make pardon decisions, and if staffers used an autopen without Biden’s direct involvement, those pardons are “null and void.” The conversation highlights concerns about Biden’s alleged disengagement, pote...
Meet my friends, Clay Travis and Buck Sexton! If you love Verdict, the Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show might also be in your audio wheelhouse. Politics, news analysis, and some pop culture and comedy thrown in too. Here’s a sample episode recapping four Tuesday takeaways. Give the guys a listen and then follow and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Honest Conversations It's time to have an honest conversation about violent crime in America. Clay and Buck focus on two recent tragedies: th...
The “Autopen Pardon Scandal” House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer announced that the committee is wrapping up its investigation into President Joe Biden’s alleged use of the autopen to issue thousands of pardons. Records suggest Biden’s aides, including Chief of Staff Jeff Zients, authorized pardons using the autopen without Biden’s direct involvement. Critics, including Donald Trump and constitutional attorney Mark Smith (on Fox News), argue this raises questions about presidential au...
Alleged Targeting of Christians by the Biden Administration The discussion focuses on a task force created under former President Trump, chaired by Attorney General Pam Bondi, which claims to have uncovered numerous instances of anti-Christian bias within federal agencies during the Biden administration. The report accuses agencies like the Department of Defense, Department of Education, Department of Labor, and others of mishandling or denying religious exemptions, imposing large fines on Chris...
Criticism of JB Pritzker (Governor of Illinois): The speakers argue that Pritzker downplays violent crime in Chicago despite high murder rates. They compare his leadership to officials in Mexico who claim progress while cartels commit violence unchecked. Broader critique of Democrats: Democrats are portrayed as favoring criminals over victims, ignoring rising crime, and pushing policies that weaken law enforcement. The conversation frames them as ideologically extreme and out of touch with publi...
Debate on the Source of Rights The episode opens with criticism of Democratic Senator Tim Kaine, who argued in a Senate hearing that constitutional rights come from the government rather than from God. Cruz frames this as a radical departure from America’s founding principles, citing the Declaration of Independence and Thomas Jefferson’s writings. The discussion emphasizes that if rights come from government, they can be taken away, whereas God-given rights are “unalienable.” Religion and the De...
Meet my friends, Clay Travis and Buck Sexton! If you love Verdict, the Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show might also be in your audio wheelhouse. Politics, news analysis, and some pop culture and comedy thrown in too. Here’s a sample episode recapping four Thursday takeaways. Give the guys a listen and then follow and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Winning Culture Wars Clay highlights the record-breaking ratings of football and the success of American Eagle’s Sydney Sweeney ad campaign,...
Main Focus Florida, under Governor Ron DeSantis and the state Surgeon General, announced plans to eliminate all mandatory vaccination requirements , including those for children in public schools. This would make Florida the first U.S. state to fully withdraw vaccine mandates , representing a sharp departure from decades of public health policy. Arguments Presented Skepticism toward public health institutions: Ben argues that the CDC and medical authorities “lied” about COVID-19 measures (masks,...
1. Venezuelan Narco-Terrorist Strike The hosts discuss a U.S. military strike ordered by former President Trump against a Venezuelan drug-smuggling boat. They describe it as decisive action against narcoterrorists, with 11 alleged gang members killed. The narrative frames Trump as strong and proactive compared to Biden, who they accuse of weakness on border security and cartels. 2. U.S.–Mexico Relations & Cartels Cruz recounts recent meetings with Mexican officials, pressing them to cooperat...
Meet my friends, Clay Travis and Buck Sexton! If you love Verdict, the Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show might also be in your audio wheelhouse. Politics, news analysis, and some pop culture and comedy thrown in too. Here’s a sample episode recapping four Tuesday takeaways. Give the guys a listen and then follow and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Code Switching Clay and Buck dive into the political and cultural landscape shaping the first fall of the Trump 2.0 presidency, highlighting ...
U.S. Military Deployment: The U.S. Navy has increased its presence in the Southern Caribbean with 7–8 warships (including cruisers, amphibious assault ships, and a nuclear submarine), along with 4,000+ personnel and surveillance aircraft. The mission is presented as a crackdown on drug cartels. Targeting Maduro: The U.S. government labels Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro a “narco-trafficker” and has raised the bounty for his capture to $50 million. His government is described as a “narco-stat...
1. Trip Recap & Foreign Relations El Salvador : Cruz praises President Nayib Bukele for drastically reducing homicide rates by aggressively targeting gangs like MS-13 and 18th Street. He contrasts El Salvador’s success with U.S. crime and immigration challenges. Panama : He toured the Panama Canal and highlighted U.S. concerns about China’s growing influence there, including ports, bridges, and tunnels near the canal. Cruz warns that China could disrupt canal traffic in a future conflict, th...
In this episode of The Sean Hannity Show: Sean dives deep into the heartbreaking tragedy at a Minneapolis Catholic school, where two young lives were lost, and many others were injured. He expresses his justifiable anger at the predictable aftermath, where the left rushes to politicize these tragedies instead of addressing the root causes. Sean outlines real, common-sense solutions for preventing school shootings, like installing metal detectors and employing retired law enforcement to safeguard...
Supreme Court Ruling on DEI Grants The Supreme Court ruled 5–4 in favor of the Trump administration, allowing it to terminate $783 million in NIH diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) related grants . The decision centered on jurisdiction — the Court found that lawsuits over federal contracts must be filed in the Court of Federal Claims, not in district court. Justice Amy Coney Barrett cast the swing vote: siding with conservatives to block the payouts but with liberals on preventing reinstatem...
1. El Salvador’s CECOT Mega-Prison for Gang Members Senator Cruz describes his recent visit to El Salvador, where he toured the CECOT (Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo) prison. The prison was built to house up to 40,000 of the country’s most dangerous gang members (MS-13, Barrio 18). Conditions: Cells hold 100 prisoners each , with bunk beds stacked four levels high. Prisoners are locked in cells 23 hours a day , with 1 hour allowed for exercise and religious instruction (both mandatory). ...
T Meet my friends, Clay Travis and Buck Sexton! If you love Verdict, the Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show might also be in your audio wheelhouse. Politics, news analysis, and some pop culture and comedy thrown in too. Here’s a sample episode recapping four takeaways. Give the guys a listen and then follow and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Toxic Empathy Exposed C&B give commentary on the Minneapolis shooting, where the attacker allegedly targeted Christian children and had “Kill D...
Summary of Events The shooter, identified as Robin Westman (born Robert Westman, 23 years old) , carried out an attack at a Catholic church and school during mass. Weapons used: pistol, rifle, and shotgun . Casualties reported: 2 children (ages 8 and 10) killed, 17 others injured (14 children and 3 adults) . The shooter allegedly took their own life inside the church . The FBI labeled the case as a hate crime and domestic terrorism targeting Catholics , though local police had not fully confirme...
Cruz’s Visit to El Salvador Cruz is in El Salvador meeting with President Nayib Bukele, government officials, U.S. military, and embassy staff. He describes dramatic changes in safety under Bukele’s leadership—highlighting the crackdown on gangs, mass arrests of MS-13 members, and construction of a mega-prison. Cruz emphasizes the murder rate dropping from the highest in the world (100 per 100,000 in 2015) to 1.9 per 100,000 in 2024 , a 98% decrease. He contrasts Bukele’s tough-on-crime approach...
Meet my friends, Clay Travis and Buck Sexton! If you love Verdict, the Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show might also be in your audio wheelhouse. Politics, news analysis, and some pop culture and comedy thrown in too. Here’s a sample episode recapping four takeaways. Give the guys a listen and then follow and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Democrats vs. Law Enforcement The show features a critical breakdown of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s MSNBC interview with Joe Scarborough, where J...
House GOP Probe House Republicans, led by Oversight Committee Chair James Comer, launched an investigation into alleged manipulation of Washington, D.C. crime data. Allegations claim Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officials intentionally downgraded charges to make crime statistics appear lower. A whistleblower with knowledge of MPD operations confirmed the alleged manipulation. One commander, Michael Pulliam, was suspended over the incident, but the issue may span all seven patrol district...
1. Dunking on Gavin Newsom Ted Cruz responds to a tweet by Newsom blaming Trump for rising electricity prices. Cruz uses AI (Grok) to highlight that the states with the highest electricity rates are Democrat-led with strong renewable energy mandates. He argues that liberal policies, not Trump, are responsible for high energy costs. The discussion includes a critique of renewable energy mandates and infrastructure challenges in blue states. 2. Democrats’ “Forbidden Words” The think tank Third Way...
1. Recognition of Somaliland The senator discusses efforts to urge President Trump to formally recognize Somaliland as an independent nation. Somaliland is portrayed as a stable, democratic ally of the U.S., strategically located near the Gulf of Aden. The senator criticizes China's influence in Africa , particularly its opposition to Somaliland's ties with Taiwan and the U.S. A letter to President Trump is read aloud, advocating for recognition based on Somaliland’s governance, military coopera...
Trump's Legal Victory in New York The New York Court of Appeals overturned a $500+ million judgment against Donald Trump. The hosts argue this was a politically motivated case by NY Attorney General Letitia James. They claim the penalty violated the Eighth Amendment (excessive fines) and due process. Democratic Party Voter Registration Decline Citing a New York Times analysis, the hosts discuss a significant drop in Democratic voter registration across all 30 states that track it. They interpret...
Meet my friends, Clay Travis and Buck Sexton! If you love Verdict, the Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show might also be in your audio wheelhouse. Politics, news analysis, and some pop culture and comedy thrown in too. Here’s a sample episode recapping four takeaways. Give the guys a listen and then follow and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Clay's Prediction Comes True A breakdown of the New York Court of Appeals' unanimous decision to overturn the $500 million civil fraud fine levied ag...
1. Clemency Controversy Involving Joe Biden Sources allege that in his final days in office, former President Joe Biden issued mass clemency orders using an autopen (an automated signature device). These clemency orders reportedly affected ~2,500 inmates , and were described by the White House as targeting nonviolent drug offenders . However, internal DOJ emails (particularly from Bradley Weinsheimer , a senior DOJ official) suggest: The language in the clemency warrants was vague and legally fl...
Hosts discuss significant progress in Ukraine peace negotiations, facilitated by President Trump's meetings with Putin and Zelensky, and supported by European leaders. They also praise Trump's decision to federalize the D.C. police force, citing impressive crime reduction statistics. The episode critiques media and Democratic resistance to these successes, emphasizing America-first policies and a focus on law and order.
Media Criticism: The episode begins with claims that the mainstream media and the Democratic Party have misled the public about Trump’s diplomatic efforts and intentions. It portrays Trump as being unfairly criticized and underestimated. Diplomatic Developments: Trump allegedly initiated direct contact with Putin and facilitated a potential trilateral peace summit involving himself, Zelensky, and Putin. The meeting is described as historic , with improved tone and cooperation compared to previou...
This episode explores Donald Trump's one-on-one meeting with Vladimir Putin in Alaska, framed as a significant step towards ending the Ukraine war despite media and Democratic criticism. The hosts contend that President Biden's withdrawal from Afghanistan and waiver of Nord Stream 2 sanctions directly led to the conflict. Additionally, Senator Cruz advocates for the U.S. to formally recognize Somaliland, positioning it as a crucial geopolitical move to counter China's growing influence in Africa.
1. Military Action Against Drug Cartels The President (referred to as Trump) has authorized the U.S. military to use force against Latin American drug cartels. These cartels have been designated as foreign terrorist organizations , allowing for military engagement. Historical precedent is cited, such as Plan Colombia under President George W. Bush. 2. Criticism of Democratic Leadership Strong accusations are made against Democratic leaders for allegedly siding with criminals and cartels. The nar...
Allegations of Intelligence Manipulation (Russia Hoax) Claims that high-level intelligence officials (James Clapper, John Brennan, James Comey) deliberately rushed and politicized the 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA) to damage Donald Trump before his inauguration. Tulsi Gabbard is cited as revealing declassified emails suggesting the intelligence process was compromised. NSA Director Mike Rogers expressed concern over insufficient time and access to intelligence data. Big Tech Bias A...
