1 00:00:01,200 --> 00:00:03,920 Speaker 1: Welcome in his verdict with Ted Cruz, we can review 2 00:00:04,000 --> 00:00:06,120 Speaker 1: Ben Ferguson with you. And here are the big stories 3 00:00:06,120 --> 00:00:08,399 Speaker 1: that you may have missed that we talked about this week. 4 00:00:08,480 --> 00:00:14,600 Speaker 1: First up, Michelle Obama going scorched earth on Americans. She says, 5 00:00:14,640 --> 00:00:18,120 Speaker 1: it's your fault that a woman hasn't become president, and 6 00:00:18,160 --> 00:00:21,120 Speaker 1: that also means she's not gonna grace you as a 7 00:00:21,280 --> 00:00:24,360 Speaker 1: candidate because you don't deserve her. We'll have that in 8 00:00:24,400 --> 00:00:28,440 Speaker 1: a moment. Also, there is a big gambling issue that 9 00:00:28,520 --> 00:00:31,520 Speaker 1: has come to light with game fixing or prop bet 10 00:00:31,560 --> 00:00:35,840 Speaker 1: fixing in major sports. So now what does it mean 11 00:00:35,880 --> 00:00:38,960 Speaker 1: for Congress getting involved. We'll have that for you as well. 12 00:00:39,400 --> 00:00:44,839 Speaker 1: And finally, Christian persecution Nigeria. It is a real problem 13 00:00:45,200 --> 00:00:47,720 Speaker 1: and it's time that we all sound the alarm and 14 00:00:47,760 --> 00:00:49,959 Speaker 1: we'll let you know what you can do to get involved. 15 00:00:50,360 --> 00:00:53,920 Speaker 1: It's the weekend review and it starts right now. Yeah. 16 00:00:53,920 --> 00:00:55,360 Speaker 1: And if you think that, by the way, that the 17 00:00:55,400 --> 00:00:58,960 Speaker 1: only ones that are discontent right now, you would be wrong. 18 00:00:59,160 --> 00:01:02,280 Speaker 1: Let's move to Missie Czell Obama. She has come out 19 00:01:02,320 --> 00:01:05,520 Speaker 1: and basically said I will not grace you with my 20 00:01:05,640 --> 00:01:09,080 Speaker 1: presence as a president of the United States of America. 21 00:01:09,240 --> 00:01:13,440 Speaker 1: You don't deserve me because there's too many massagests out there, 22 00:01:13,480 --> 00:01:16,280 Speaker 1: and I'm not gonna give you my candidacy. 23 00:01:17,160 --> 00:01:19,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, she was asked whether or not she would run 24 00:01:19,920 --> 00:01:23,320 Speaker 2: for president. Her response was, as we saw in this 25 00:01:23,400 --> 00:01:27,880 Speaker 2: past election, sadly, we ain't ready. That's why I'm like, 26 00:01:27,959 --> 00:01:30,480 Speaker 2: don't even look at me about running, because you all 27 00:01:30,520 --> 00:01:33,480 Speaker 2: are lying you're not ready for a woman. You are not. 28 00:01:35,040 --> 00:01:36,840 Speaker 2: And she says, you know, we've got a lot of 29 00:01:36,880 --> 00:01:40,160 Speaker 2: growing up to do. And there's still, sadly, a lot 30 00:01:40,160 --> 00:01:41,840 Speaker 2: of men who do not feel like they can be 31 00:01:41,920 --> 00:01:44,280 Speaker 2: led by a woman. And we saw it what utter 32 00:01:44,360 --> 00:01:47,880 Speaker 2: and complete nonsense by the way Joe Biden was getting 33 00:01:47,920 --> 00:01:50,600 Speaker 2: his ass kicked. Now, I understand the Democrats can't tell 34 00:01:50,600 --> 00:01:52,160 Speaker 2: the difference between a man and a woman. So maybe 35 00:01:52,200 --> 00:01:55,240 Speaker 2: Michelle Obama, a woman, is right that thinks that Joe 36 00:01:55,240 --> 00:01:58,360 Speaker 2: Biden is a woman. But Trump was winning when Biden 37 00:01:58,440 --> 00:02:00,640 Speaker 2: was the nominee. Trump was winning when Missie Tell Obama 38 00:02:00,640 --> 00:02:03,920 Speaker 2: was the nominee. Trump was winning a because the Biden 39 00:02:04,000 --> 00:02:06,960 Speaker 2: Harris Democrat agenda was a train wreck that hurt the 40 00:02:07,000 --> 00:02:10,200 Speaker 2: American people, and b because the American people wanted president 41 00:02:10,200 --> 00:02:12,720 Speaker 2: Trump back in the Oval office here, I want you 42 00:02:12,760 --> 00:02:15,839 Speaker 2: to give a listen to exactly what Michelle Obama said, 43 00:02:15,840 --> 00:02:16,400 Speaker 2: Give a listen. 44 00:02:16,720 --> 00:02:19,320 Speaker 1: Do you think that that impacts the room that we've 45 00:02:19,360 --> 00:02:20,800 Speaker 1: made for a woman to be president? 46 00:02:21,680 --> 00:02:26,360 Speaker 3: Well, as we saw in this past election, sadly, we 47 00:02:26,400 --> 00:02:29,840 Speaker 3: ain't ready. That's why I'm like, don't even look at 48 00:02:29,840 --> 00:02:32,520 Speaker 3: me about running, because you all are lying you're not 49 00:02:32,760 --> 00:02:36,600 Speaker 3: ready for a woman. You are not, So don't waste 50 00:02:36,639 --> 00:02:40,000 Speaker 3: my time. You know, we got a lot of growing 51 00:02:40,120 --> 00:02:42,959 Speaker 3: up to do. And there's still, I'm sadly a lot 52 00:02:43,000 --> 00:02:45,280 Speaker 3: of men who do not feel like they can be 53 00:02:45,360 --> 00:02:47,240 Speaker 3: led by a woman. And we saw it. 54 00:02:48,320 --> 00:02:55,600 Speaker 1: What was the question I just said, so we don't 55 00:02:55,639 --> 00:02:58,960 Speaker 1: need to ask it again. You answered it. I mean 56 00:02:59,040 --> 00:03:01,720 Speaker 1: you would say that and the room goes wild with women. 57 00:03:01,720 --> 00:03:04,600 Speaker 1: It was clearly a female audience that she's talking with there. 58 00:03:05,080 --> 00:03:08,079 Speaker 2: It was also a feminine man. Don't don't don't forget. 59 00:03:08,200 --> 00:03:10,359 Speaker 1: Oh that's true. We can't as I mean. 60 00:03:10,240 --> 00:03:12,040 Speaker 2: This is this is the Democrat Party. 61 00:03:12,639 --> 00:03:15,480 Speaker 1: Yes, we can't assume from the high pitchedness of the 62 00:03:15,480 --> 00:03:17,320 Speaker 1: screams in the room that it was actually when it 63 00:03:17,320 --> 00:03:20,640 Speaker 1: could women, it could be people that identify as a woman. 64 00:03:20,680 --> 00:03:22,320 Speaker 1: That's true, valid point. I apologize. 65 00:03:22,360 --> 00:03:25,240 Speaker 2: When you have a male who's taking estrogen and like 66 00:03:25,639 --> 00:03:29,239 Speaker 2: wearing a tight strap to like tuck in, they have 67 00:03:29,280 --> 00:03:30,440 Speaker 2: pretty high squeals. 68 00:03:30,800 --> 00:03:33,120 Speaker 1: Well you know, they jape during the holidays and shavit 69 00:03:33,120 --> 00:03:36,000 Speaker 1: target get those tucking swimsuits for them, right, And half 70 00:03:36,000 --> 00:03:37,520 Speaker 1: of them used to work at the White House anyway, 71 00:03:37,600 --> 00:03:40,400 Speaker 1: so there's always that as well. When I heard that. 72 00:03:42,000 --> 00:03:44,400 Speaker 1: When I heard that, I laughed because I thought it 73 00:03:44,440 --> 00:03:47,160 Speaker 1: was so funny. One, I don't think there's a bunch 74 00:03:47,160 --> 00:03:49,440 Speaker 1: of people that are wanting her to run run right 75 00:03:49,480 --> 00:03:52,960 Speaker 1: now for president. Her best shout at it would have 76 00:03:52,960 --> 00:03:56,120 Speaker 1: been a coronation like we had with with with Kamala 77 00:03:56,160 --> 00:03:59,440 Speaker 1: Harris that obviously didn't happen. But she's like, you basically 78 00:03:59,440 --> 00:04:03,160 Speaker 1: don't deserve me. That is the weirdest Jedi mind trick 79 00:04:03,200 --> 00:04:04,480 Speaker 1: political thing I've ever seen. 80 00:04:04,960 --> 00:04:08,280 Speaker 2: Well, look, it's just arrogance, and you're right, had she 81 00:04:08,440 --> 00:04:10,480 Speaker 2: wanted to do it, they would have handed it to 82 00:04:10,480 --> 00:04:12,640 Speaker 2: her instead of Kamala Harris. And you and I talked 83 00:04:12,640 --> 00:04:15,240 Speaker 2: about this a lot on this podcast. By the way, 84 00:04:15,280 --> 00:04:19,120 Speaker 2: this podcast predicted more than a year before the Democrat 85 00:04:19,160 --> 00:04:21,480 Speaker 2: Party pulled the rug out from under Joe Biden. We 86 00:04:21,560 --> 00:04:25,560 Speaker 2: predicted on Verdict. Regular listens to Verdict. No, we regularly 87 00:04:25,600 --> 00:04:29,640 Speaker 2: make predictions. We make predictions that frankly are risky, that 88 00:04:29,720 --> 00:04:33,600 Speaker 2: are out there, and the overwhelming majority of the predictions 89 00:04:33,600 --> 00:04:37,040 Speaker 2: we make on this podcast have come true. When you 90 00:04:37,120 --> 00:04:39,839 Speaker 2: and I said a year before Joe Biden was yanked 91 00:04:40,000 --> 00:04:43,279 Speaker 2: unceremoniously off the ticket, that Biden would be pulled off 92 00:04:43,279 --> 00:04:47,480 Speaker 2: the ticket, you and I, and by that I mainly 93 00:04:47,520 --> 00:04:53,400 Speaker 2: mean me. I was mocked mercilessly. 94 00:04:54,000 --> 00:04:56,080 Speaker 1: Hold on, I agreed with you at the time. Get 95 00:04:56,080 --> 00:04:57,599 Speaker 1: me a little bit, then come on. 96 00:04:57,720 --> 00:04:59,440 Speaker 2: No, no, you did agree with me, but they didn't 97 00:04:59,480 --> 00:05:03,799 Speaker 2: make fun of The press went after me and says 98 00:05:03,960 --> 00:05:06,760 Speaker 2: Cruise is a moon bat numbskull. I think they kind 99 00:05:06,760 --> 00:05:09,520 Speaker 2: of bake into the cake that you're moon bat numbskull. 100 00:05:09,640 --> 00:05:11,719 Speaker 1: So do I do host this show with you? So 101 00:05:11,760 --> 00:05:12,839 Speaker 1: there's that, right, Yeah. 102 00:05:12,680 --> 00:05:15,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's guilt by association. Sorry about that, But like 103 00:05:16,080 --> 00:05:20,320 Speaker 2: literally the corporate media went crazy. They had episodes mocking me. 104 00:05:20,400 --> 00:05:23,160 Speaker 2: What a crazy thing for Cruz to say Biden's not 105 00:05:23,200 --> 00:05:27,080 Speaker 2: going to be the nominee. Obviously, anyone with any sense 106 00:05:27,120 --> 00:05:29,120 Speaker 2: at all knows he's going to be the nominee. Well, 107 00:05:29,720 --> 00:05:32,880 Speaker 2: we were right, and if Michelle Obama had wanted it, 108 00:05:32,920 --> 00:05:35,000 Speaker 2: she would have been the nominee. Last time we predicted 109 00:05:35,000 --> 00:05:38,200 Speaker 2: that as well. She didn't want it, but the dripping 110 00:05:38,480 --> 00:05:40,880 Speaker 2: arrogance of her you know, you listen to her comments. 111 00:05:40,920 --> 00:05:44,320 Speaker 2: The American people have a lot of growing up to do. Yeah, 112 00:05:44,360 --> 00:05:49,839 Speaker 2: like the absolute condescension. You people are too immature to 113 00:05:49,960 --> 00:05:55,040 Speaker 2: elect my magnificence. Why not because my ideas are terrible, 114 00:05:55,120 --> 00:05:58,760 Speaker 2: Not because the Democrat ideas are horrible and have resulted 115 00:05:58,760 --> 00:06:01,600 Speaker 2: in open borders of results in people being murdered and 116 00:06:01,720 --> 00:06:04,520 Speaker 2: women being raped and children being assaulted. Not because we 117 00:06:04,560 --> 00:06:09,200 Speaker 2: had rampant inflation. Not because Joe Biden the Democrats caused 118 00:06:09,240 --> 00:06:11,880 Speaker 2: war all over the earth, turn peace and prosperity into 119 00:06:11,880 --> 00:06:14,360 Speaker 2: a war in Ukraine and October seventh and a war 120 00:06:14,440 --> 00:06:18,000 Speaker 2: in Gaza, you know, Not because every single thing we 121 00:06:18,200 --> 00:06:22,719 Speaker 2: touched turned to absolute garbage. No, no, no, no, That's not the 122 00:06:22,800 --> 00:06:27,160 Speaker 2: reason Kamala Harris lost resoundingly. The reason, according to the 123 00:06:27,240 --> 00:06:30,880 Speaker 2: leftist ideology, is you all are bigots and your racist 124 00:06:31,040 --> 00:06:34,240 Speaker 2: and your sexist, and that's the only possible reason. And 125 00:06:34,920 --> 00:06:40,400 Speaker 2: I got to say that contemptuous condescension is one of 126 00:06:40,400 --> 00:06:43,719 Speaker 2: the worst characteristics of the Democrat Party today, but it 127 00:06:43,760 --> 00:06:49,200 Speaker 2: also does indicate this is not a party that is reassessing. 128 00:06:49,720 --> 00:06:51,200 Speaker 1: You know, normally, we got to lose. 129 00:06:51,080 --> 00:06:54,800 Speaker 2: An election, and you lose an election badly. At least 130 00:06:54,960 --> 00:06:58,320 Speaker 2: some people with sense in the party go, huh, I 131 00:06:58,320 --> 00:07:00,520 Speaker 2: wonder why the voters rejected what we say. Maybe we 132 00:07:00,560 --> 00:07:03,799 Speaker 2: should change, you know, you think back to in nineteen 133 00:07:03,839 --> 00:07:06,880 Speaker 2: eighty Reagan was elected. In eighty four, Reagan was re 134 00:07:06,960 --> 00:07:09,480 Speaker 2: elected one forty nine out of fifty states, came within 135 00:07:10,200 --> 00:07:12,560 Speaker 2: a few thousand votes of winning every single state in 136 00:07:12,600 --> 00:07:17,120 Speaker 2: the Union. Reagan won California, New York, Illinois, Massachusetts, every 137 00:07:17,160 --> 00:07:21,160 Speaker 2: state but Minnesota. Nineteen eighty eight, George Herbert Walker Bush 138 00:07:21,240 --> 00:07:27,600 Speaker 2: was elected, and after losing three consecutive presidential races, Democrats said, huh, 139 00:07:27,800 --> 00:07:31,960 Speaker 2: maybe nominating Jimmy Carter and Walter Mondale and Michael Ducaucus 140 00:07:32,040 --> 00:07:36,200 Speaker 2: was a bad idea. Maybe crazy left wing loons do 141 00:07:36,360 --> 00:07:38,600 Speaker 2: not command a majority in an American What did they do? 142 00:07:38,680 --> 00:07:41,760 Speaker 2: They pivoted, They moved dramatically towards the center, and they 143 00:07:41,800 --> 00:07:45,680 Speaker 2: nominated what was then a moderate to conservative Democrat, the 144 00:07:45,680 --> 00:07:48,920 Speaker 2: governor of Arkansas named Bill Clinton, and Bill Clinton won 145 00:07:48,960 --> 00:07:52,520 Speaker 2: two consecutive elections because they shifted. You know what, I 146 00:07:52,560 --> 00:07:55,400 Speaker 2: don't see any Democrats doing that right now. I don't 147 00:07:55,440 --> 00:07:58,280 Speaker 2: see them looking and saying, why did we get clobbered? 148 00:07:58,680 --> 00:08:02,800 Speaker 2: Why did did win all seven of the swing states. 149 00:08:03,520 --> 00:08:05,680 Speaker 2: I don't see Democrats saying that at all, and Michelle 150 00:08:05,720 --> 00:08:08,200 Speaker 2: Obama saying, you people are a bunch of biggots and 151 00:08:08,240 --> 00:08:11,000 Speaker 2: sexists and you just need to grow up. You know 152 00:08:11,080 --> 00:08:14,720 Speaker 2: what I'm saying, Whoever the Democrat nominee is in twenty eight, 153 00:08:14,760 --> 00:08:18,200 Speaker 2: please make Michelle Obama your spokesperson because we really need 154 00:08:18,240 --> 00:08:21,960 Speaker 2: her lecturing the American people how much the voters suck, 155 00:08:22,080 --> 00:08:26,040 Speaker 2: because you know that historically has proved such an effective 156 00:08:26,040 --> 00:08:26,760 Speaker 2: way to campaign. 157 00:08:27,480 --> 00:08:29,880 Speaker 1: Now, if you want to hear the rest of this conversation, 158 00:08:30,120 --> 00:08:32,480 Speaker 1: you can go back and listen to the full podcast 159 00:08:32,559 --> 00:08:36,640 Speaker 1: from earlier this week. Now onto story number two, I 160 00:08:36,679 --> 00:08:40,079 Speaker 1: want to move to another issue, and that is sports gambling. 161 00:08:40,280 --> 00:08:43,480 Speaker 1: This is a issue I just genuinely this is like 162 00:08:43,559 --> 00:08:49,920 Speaker 1: my TMZ, my soap opera. I'm loving watching the corruption 163 00:08:50,280 --> 00:08:53,640 Speaker 1: slowly unfold before our very eyes. I say that because 164 00:08:53,640 --> 00:08:55,560 Speaker 1: I'm a sports fan. You are as well, we've gone 165 00:08:55,559 --> 00:08:58,200 Speaker 1: to games together, we've got to playoff games, and I've 166 00:08:58,280 --> 00:09:00,960 Speaker 1: noticed and I've got friends that are that literally play 167 00:09:01,000 --> 00:09:04,120 Speaker 1: pro sports and they will watch games and they'll textbo, 168 00:09:04,679 --> 00:09:08,040 Speaker 1: that's not normal. That was weird. The end of that 169 00:09:08,120 --> 00:09:12,320 Speaker 1: game was strange. Look at the points spread, what the game, 170 00:09:12,559 --> 00:09:16,040 Speaker 1: what the gambling line was here? Look at the over under. 171 00:09:16,120 --> 00:09:19,200 Speaker 1: I mean, I have friends are in these sports and 172 00:09:19,240 --> 00:09:23,040 Speaker 1: they're like they even are like this is a red flag, 173 00:09:23,160 --> 00:09:26,839 Speaker 1: Like this doesn't make sense. What just happened the last 174 00:09:26,840 --> 00:09:29,240 Speaker 1: two minutes of the game or the last four minutes 175 00:09:29,280 --> 00:09:32,800 Speaker 1: of that game. And now we're finding out we weren't crazy. 176 00:09:32,960 --> 00:09:35,200 Speaker 1: There's a lot of fixing that's going on now. It 177 00:09:35,240 --> 00:09:37,320 Speaker 1: may not be fixing the outcome of the winner and 178 00:09:37,320 --> 00:09:39,160 Speaker 1: the loser. And that's what people need to understand. The 179 00:09:39,240 --> 00:09:42,040 Speaker 1: caveat here. A lot of times this is like total 180 00:09:42,120 --> 00:09:44,080 Speaker 1: number of points that are going to be scored, yep, 181 00:09:44,400 --> 00:09:47,280 Speaker 1: the margin between the two teams. How much will want 182 00:09:47,320 --> 00:09:49,920 Speaker 1: to win by losing. It can even be as simple 183 00:09:49,960 --> 00:09:53,760 Speaker 1: as a certain player not hitting what they were projected 184 00:09:53,800 --> 00:09:57,679 Speaker 1: in points or three pointers or even free throws. And 185 00:09:57,760 --> 00:10:01,199 Speaker 1: you see these these anomalies, A weird things that happen 186 00:10:01,280 --> 00:10:04,680 Speaker 1: with an individual player or faking an injury so that 187 00:10:04,720 --> 00:10:07,280 Speaker 1: they make sure they don't finish the game. This was 188 00:10:07,360 --> 00:10:12,079 Speaker 1: happening in a widespread way among sports, and there were 189 00:10:12,160 --> 00:10:15,280 Speaker 1: people that were literally getting rich off it. It's called fixing. 190 00:10:15,640 --> 00:10:18,079 Speaker 1: It may not be fixing the game as in a score, 191 00:10:18,440 --> 00:10:21,280 Speaker 1: it's fixing aspects of the game that you can bet on. 192 00:10:22,160 --> 00:10:24,600 Speaker 2: Well, look, you and I are both big sports fans. 193 00:10:24,640 --> 00:10:27,079 Speaker 2: Sports is an amazing thing and brings people together and 194 00:10:27,120 --> 00:10:29,880 Speaker 2: gives you something to cheer for. It's powerful, it can unify. 195 00:10:30,120 --> 00:10:31,080 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's so fun. 196 00:10:31,280 --> 00:10:34,120 Speaker 2: But you know, look, unfortunately, as long as there's been sports, 197 00:10:34,160 --> 00:10:37,240 Speaker 2: there's been some risk of corruption in sports, and I 198 00:10:37,320 --> 00:10:41,160 Speaker 2: got to say the proliferation of betting on sports has 199 00:10:41,200 --> 00:10:43,640 Speaker 2: increased that risk. And it's not just betting. It's one 200 00:10:43,679 --> 00:10:46,880 Speaker 2: thing to bet that your team's gonna win or lose. Presumably, 201 00:10:46,920 --> 00:10:49,360 Speaker 2: if you're betting particularly that your team will win, the 202 00:10:49,400 --> 00:10:52,160 Speaker 2: incentives are aligned that all the members of the team 203 00:10:52,240 --> 00:10:55,080 Speaker 2: want to win. But you now have these prop bets 204 00:10:55,080 --> 00:10:57,640 Speaker 2: where you can bet on all sorts of different aspects 205 00:10:57,640 --> 00:11:00,800 Speaker 2: of the game, and that I think significantly increases the 206 00:11:00,920 --> 00:11:05,160 Speaker 2: risk of corruption because a prop bet an individual player 207 00:11:05,280 --> 00:11:08,640 Speaker 2: can can have really significant impact on the outcome of 208 00:11:09,200 --> 00:11:12,240 Speaker 2: that bet. And so we've seen there's an ongoing criminal 209 00:11:12,280 --> 00:11:17,560 Speaker 2: investigation involving the NBA, involving coaches and players fixing games, 210 00:11:17,640 --> 00:11:21,760 Speaker 2: and Major League Baseball as well. And so I'm chairman 211 00:11:21,800 --> 00:11:24,600 Speaker 2: of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Part 212 00:11:24,600 --> 00:11:27,080 Speaker 2: of the jurisdiction of the Commerce Committee is sports, both 213 00:11:27,120 --> 00:11:30,160 Speaker 2: college sports and pro sports. And so I've launched an 214 00:11:30,200 --> 00:11:36,200 Speaker 2: oversight investigation into into the problem of corruption and the 215 00:11:36,240 --> 00:11:39,600 Speaker 2: impact of prop bets in particular on sports. And so 216 00:11:40,920 --> 00:11:42,400 Speaker 2: I want to read to you a portion of I 217 00:11:42,800 --> 00:11:46,559 Speaker 2: sent a letter to Major League Baseball and and let 218 00:11:46,559 --> 00:11:48,760 Speaker 2: me just just read you a portion of it, because 219 00:11:48,800 --> 00:11:51,800 Speaker 2: the facts are really concerning. Here's what my letter said, 220 00:11:52,160 --> 00:11:56,040 Speaker 2: Dear mister Manfred, game fixing allegations are not new to baseball. 221 00:11:56,480 --> 00:11:59,160 Speaker 2: One hundred and five years ago, a Chicago grand jury 222 00:11:59,200 --> 00:12:03,719 Speaker 2: indicted a Chicago White Sox players for allegedly rigging the 223 00:12:03,800 --> 00:12:08,000 Speaker 2: nineteen nineteen World Series, labeled the Chicago Black Sox in 224 00:12:08,040 --> 00:12:12,080 Speaker 2: the press. The players were eventually acquitted by a Chicago jury, 225 00:12:12,120 --> 00:12:15,520 Speaker 2: even though some had earlier confessed, and all eight were 226 00:12:15,559 --> 00:12:20,000 Speaker 2: banned from baseball. For life. Major League Baseball and American 227 00:12:20,040 --> 00:12:23,640 Speaker 2: sports generally are facing a new integrity crisis. Last week, 228 00:12:23,720 --> 00:12:27,160 Speaker 2: prosecutors in the Eastern District of New York unsealed an 229 00:12:27,160 --> 00:12:32,040 Speaker 2: indictment against two pitchers for the Cleveland Guardians, accusing them 230 00:12:32,080 --> 00:12:35,920 Speaker 2: of rigging their own pitches to make a profit. That 231 00:12:36,000 --> 00:12:39,360 Speaker 2: indictment comes just a few weeks after prosecutors leveled similar 232 00:12:39,440 --> 00:12:44,040 Speaker 2: allegations against coaches and players in the NBA. Ranking member 233 00:12:44,040 --> 00:12:46,360 Speaker 2: Cantwell and I sent a letter to the NBA requesting 234 00:12:46,400 --> 00:12:49,079 Speaker 2: documents and information about that matter, and we now seek 235 00:12:49,120 --> 00:12:52,360 Speaker 2: information from Major League Baseball about how the league is 236 00:12:52,360 --> 00:12:57,440 Speaker 2: addressing alleged game manipulation and threats to baseball's integrity. The 237 00:12:57,520 --> 00:13:02,800 Speaker 2: recent indictment alleges Cleveland Guardians played Immanuel Clay and Luis 238 00:13:02,920 --> 00:13:06,680 Speaker 2: Ortiz purposely threw certain pitches. 239 00:13:06,720 --> 00:13:08,840 Speaker 1: For balls or strikes yep. 240 00:13:09,360 --> 00:13:13,240 Speaker 2: Both players allegedly told friends of their plan and to 241 00:13:13,320 --> 00:13:19,559 Speaker 2: place prop bets beforehand. Clace allegedly even made some bets himself. 242 00:13:20,480 --> 00:13:24,079 Speaker 2: Perhaps most shockingly, this scheme lasted more than two years 243 00:13:24,240 --> 00:13:28,079 Speaker 2: before Major League Baseball found out. On May nineteenth, twenty 244 00:13:28,120 --> 00:13:31,040 Speaker 2: twenty three, Clay, pitching in relief against the New York 245 00:13:31,080 --> 00:13:35,680 Speaker 2: Mets allegedly informed friends he would throw a pitch faster 246 00:13:35,800 --> 00:13:39,600 Speaker 2: than ninety four point ninety five miles per hour. He did, 247 00:13:40,360 --> 00:13:43,000 Speaker 2: and his accomplices won twenty seven thousand dollars. 248 00:13:44,200 --> 00:13:46,480 Speaker 1: I mean, can you just hit pause there for a second. 249 00:13:46,480 --> 00:13:49,400 Speaker 1: This sletter so people understand this is like making a 250 00:13:49,440 --> 00:13:52,520 Speaker 1: mockery of the game, but it's also just fixing the game, 251 00:13:52,559 --> 00:13:56,079 Speaker 1: where you're like, hey, I'm going to perform differently so 252 00:13:56,160 --> 00:13:58,760 Speaker 1: that my friends can get hooked up and make twenty 253 00:13:58,800 --> 00:14:02,200 Speaker 1: seven thousand dollars. There. It went on for years, and 254 00:14:02,200 --> 00:14:04,880 Speaker 1: it's not like this was like one person. Yeah, I 255 00:14:04,960 --> 00:14:07,959 Speaker 1: actually believe this is probably a lot more widespread than 256 00:14:08,000 --> 00:14:10,559 Speaker 1: we are being told. And part of that is I 257 00:14:10,600 --> 00:14:12,400 Speaker 1: think that Major League Baseball and others are going to 258 00:14:12,400 --> 00:14:14,880 Speaker 1: cover their ables. Is they want to make sure that 259 00:14:14,960 --> 00:14:17,800 Speaker 1: we don't realize just how bad it actually was or 260 00:14:18,040 --> 00:14:18,840 Speaker 1: is well. 261 00:14:18,880 --> 00:14:21,840 Speaker 2: And with individual players and prop bets, they have almost 262 00:14:21,880 --> 00:14:24,080 Speaker 2: total control over the outcome of that bet. 263 00:14:24,440 --> 00:14:24,680 Speaker 1: Yep. 264 00:14:24,720 --> 00:14:26,800 Speaker 2: And so look, the twenty seven thousand dollars is not 265 00:14:26,840 --> 00:14:28,280 Speaker 2: the worst part. Let me give you a few more 266 00:14:28,280 --> 00:14:31,080 Speaker 2: of the facts from the letter. Clace would go on 267 00:14:31,320 --> 00:14:34,800 Speaker 2: to blow a save opportunity as the Guardians lost ten 268 00:14:34,840 --> 00:14:38,320 Speaker 2: to nine and extra innings. In June twenty twenty three, 269 00:14:39,240 --> 00:14:43,600 Speaker 2: Clace flung a pitch into the dirt in two separate games, 270 00:14:43,680 --> 00:14:47,160 Speaker 2: well short of the strike zone. Well Cleveland fans were 271 00:14:47,240 --> 00:14:52,200 Speaker 2: shouting in frustration. Clace was apparently cashing in. In both games, 272 00:14:52,920 --> 00:14:56,640 Speaker 2: he allegedly sent texts notifying his friends that he would 273 00:14:56,640 --> 00:15:02,720 Speaker 2: throw balls. They placed prop bets on his pitches, winning 274 00:15:02,760 --> 00:15:09,800 Speaker 2: a combined ninety six thousand dollars unbelievable across other games 275 00:15:09,840 --> 00:15:12,480 Speaker 2: from twenty twenty three to twenty twenty five. Clays and 276 00:15:12,520 --> 00:15:16,560 Speaker 2: his accomplices are accused of winning at least four hundred 277 00:15:16,720 --> 00:15:19,000 Speaker 2: thousand dollars through fraudulent bets. 278 00:15:19,280 --> 00:15:21,360 Speaker 1: I mean, that's a lot of money, folks. And that's 279 00:15:21,480 --> 00:15:24,360 Speaker 1: just one example that got busted. You got to wonder 280 00:15:24,640 --> 00:15:27,120 Speaker 1: how many others are out there, right, I mean, we've 281 00:15:27,160 --> 00:15:30,000 Speaker 1: seen what's interesting. I was reading an article the other day. 282 00:15:30,000 --> 00:15:33,000 Speaker 1: I was talking about there has been an uptick in 283 00:15:33,120 --> 00:15:37,120 Speaker 1: wild pitches. Yeah, because you can bet on that, and 284 00:15:37,160 --> 00:15:41,080 Speaker 1: there's they're just saying there is there is certain data 285 00:15:41,360 --> 00:15:47,080 Speaker 1: that has significantly changed since prop betting got introduced nationwide. Basically, 286 00:15:47,120 --> 00:15:49,200 Speaker 1: you know where everybody can bet on these things and 287 00:15:49,280 --> 00:15:52,240 Speaker 1: has grown and it's like that didn't happen for fifty 288 00:15:52,320 --> 00:15:54,640 Speaker 1: years of baseball before when we have data or thirty 289 00:15:54,720 --> 00:15:57,640 Speaker 1: years in football of data or whatever it may be. 290 00:15:58,320 --> 00:15:59,760 Speaker 1: And then all of a sudden they're like, Wow, this 291 00:15:59,840 --> 00:16:03,960 Speaker 1: is happening a lot more often. This is weird that 292 00:16:04,040 --> 00:16:09,160 Speaker 1: they would get worse at these anomalies when technology and 293 00:16:09,880 --> 00:16:13,560 Speaker 1: cameras and coaching has gotten so much better. You think 294 00:16:13,600 --> 00:16:16,960 Speaker 1: that would actually reduce the number of these unique moments 295 00:16:17,000 --> 00:16:18,800 Speaker 1: that happened in sports, And now we're finding out, Yeah, 296 00:16:18,800 --> 00:16:19,840 Speaker 1: it may not be unique at all. 297 00:16:20,440 --> 00:16:23,520 Speaker 2: Well, and negative prop bets are one hundred percent within 298 00:16:23,560 --> 00:16:26,520 Speaker 2: the control of an individual player. So if you think 299 00:16:26,560 --> 00:16:29,200 Speaker 2: about it, if you or I were a major league pitcher, 300 00:16:30,520 --> 00:16:32,280 Speaker 2: we may not be able to win a bet that 301 00:16:32,320 --> 00:16:34,080 Speaker 2: my next pitch will be a strike because you might 302 00:16:34,080 --> 00:16:37,320 Speaker 2: try to throw a strike and fail. I could not 303 00:16:37,400 --> 00:16:39,840 Speaker 2: throw a major league strike. But you know what, you 304 00:16:39,920 --> 00:16:42,400 Speaker 2: and I could win a bet on that my metch 305 00:16:42,560 --> 00:16:46,000 Speaker 2: next pitch will be a ball, because as much like 306 00:16:46,080 --> 00:16:48,800 Speaker 2: I suck at baseball, but yet I can throw the 307 00:16:48,840 --> 00:16:51,480 Speaker 2: ball into the dirt, I'm quite confident I can pitch 308 00:16:51,520 --> 00:16:53,960 Speaker 2: a ball. I could pitch a ball one hundred percent 309 00:16:54,000 --> 00:16:57,400 Speaker 2: of the time with no deviation and some of the times, 310 00:16:57,440 --> 00:17:00,400 Speaker 2: and in this instance, you know, someone who good at 311 00:17:00,480 --> 00:17:03,480 Speaker 2: cheating would not pound it into the dirt. They would 312 00:17:03,520 --> 00:17:05,320 Speaker 2: just be a little bit outside the strike zone, so 313 00:17:05,359 --> 00:17:08,520 Speaker 2: you couldn't tell. It looks really obvious when you don't 314 00:17:08,560 --> 00:17:13,120 Speaker 2: even make it to home plate. But that problem. Look, 315 00:17:13,160 --> 00:17:17,280 Speaker 2: you were a Division one tennis player. I'm pretty sure 316 00:17:17,320 --> 00:17:18,080 Speaker 2: they didn't have a sure. 317 00:17:18,160 --> 00:17:20,600 Speaker 1: I could double fault on command. I could hit a 318 00:17:20,640 --> 00:17:23,080 Speaker 1: ball long on command, one hundred percent of this to 319 00:17:23,119 --> 00:17:26,000 Speaker 1: the net on command. I could whiff at a ball 320 00:17:26,040 --> 00:17:27,840 Speaker 1: if that was a prop bet and make money off 321 00:17:27,880 --> 00:17:31,919 Speaker 1: of it. Yes, all of those things you can a hundred. 322 00:17:31,880 --> 00:17:34,320 Speaker 2: By the way, I want our listeners to know, if 323 00:17:34,359 --> 00:17:36,840 Speaker 2: you also get in Ben's head and screw with him, 324 00:17:37,040 --> 00:17:38,920 Speaker 2: you can make him double fault even when he doesn't 325 00:17:38,960 --> 00:17:42,119 Speaker 2: want to. But that's a totally different He's an infinitely 326 00:17:42,119 --> 00:17:43,960 Speaker 2: better tennis player than I am. But I do have 327 00:17:44,040 --> 00:17:46,360 Speaker 2: a little bit of ability to taunt him, and if 328 00:17:46,359 --> 00:17:48,879 Speaker 2: he gets pissed enough that that that can happen. 329 00:17:49,119 --> 00:17:50,719 Speaker 1: Either that or you're going to get hit with the ball. 330 00:17:50,760 --> 00:17:52,560 Speaker 1: It's one of the two of the one of the 331 00:17:52,560 --> 00:17:56,240 Speaker 1: two is gonna happen one of the two, and that 332 00:17:56,280 --> 00:17:58,320 Speaker 1: would be a great prop bet. By the way, Okay, 333 00:17:58,359 --> 00:17:59,320 Speaker 1: there is that other. 334 00:17:59,400 --> 00:18:01,320 Speaker 2: The sad thing is when Ben and I play tennis, 335 00:18:01,320 --> 00:18:03,879 Speaker 2: we usually play together, So if he's hitting me with 336 00:18:03,920 --> 00:18:06,480 Speaker 2: the ball, he's really doing it wrong. Because it's one 337 00:18:06,480 --> 00:18:08,520 Speaker 2: thing to hit your opponent. If you're hitting your teammate, 338 00:18:08,600 --> 00:18:09,560 Speaker 2: good god, you're doing it. 339 00:18:09,560 --> 00:18:12,280 Speaker 1: It's only when you get lacksaday'sical can you become a target. 340 00:18:12,280 --> 00:18:15,160 Speaker 1: It's just motivation. It's just a straight up motivation. There 341 00:18:15,520 --> 00:18:18,199 Speaker 1: final question on this, I've seen a lot of people 342 00:18:18,240 --> 00:18:23,679 Speaker 1: in sports journalists say, how do you fix this? If 343 00:18:23,760 --> 00:18:27,239 Speaker 1: it's not saying no more prop bets, right, you have 344 00:18:27,359 --> 00:18:31,359 Speaker 1: normal gambling on games, Like I don't know if you 345 00:18:31,400 --> 00:18:33,680 Speaker 1: can even fix this? Is that far out of control? 346 00:18:33,760 --> 00:18:36,080 Speaker 1: And is it the job of major league sports to 347 00:18:36,560 --> 00:18:39,040 Speaker 1: police their own or can they be trusted? 348 00:18:39,880 --> 00:18:42,440 Speaker 2: Look, I think there need to be some steps taken 349 00:18:42,480 --> 00:18:45,080 Speaker 2: to fix this. I'm not sure exactly what those steps are, 350 00:18:45,119 --> 00:18:48,600 Speaker 2: and so I'm starting with sending letters to the NBA 351 00:18:48,680 --> 00:18:51,520 Speaker 2: in Major League Baseball because you've got scandals in both sports. 352 00:18:51,560 --> 00:18:55,680 Speaker 2: And listen, as you know, I'm a die hard Rockets fan. 353 00:18:55,720 --> 00:18:58,200 Speaker 2: I'm a die hard Astros fan. By the way, did 354 00:18:58,240 --> 00:19:02,080 Speaker 2: you happen to see the Rockets last victory against Orlando? No? 355 00:19:02,200 --> 00:19:03,800 Speaker 1: I did not. Was it Was it a beat down? 356 00:19:04,040 --> 00:19:07,480 Speaker 2: Oh no, no, it was an overtime victory. It was spectacular. Look, 357 00:19:07,520 --> 00:19:11,480 Speaker 2: the Rockets actually were trailing almost the entire regular season, 358 00:19:11,520 --> 00:19:13,679 Speaker 2: and I DVR every Rockets game and so I watched 359 00:19:13,680 --> 00:19:14,600 Speaker 2: this actually. 360 00:19:14,680 --> 00:19:17,280 Speaker 1: Way, by the way, you haven't mentioned my almost rebels 361 00:19:17,280 --> 00:19:19,040 Speaker 1: in a few weeks, and I just want everybody to know. 362 00:19:19,119 --> 00:19:21,639 Speaker 1: That's because we're winning and we're now, what is it 363 00:19:21,680 --> 00:19:23,280 Speaker 1: ten and one? I think that's right. Just want to 364 00:19:23,280 --> 00:19:25,480 Speaker 1: throw that out there. Beat the Gators. Just now back 365 00:19:25,480 --> 00:19:28,359 Speaker 1: to your Rockets. But when my team loses one game 366 00:19:28,400 --> 00:19:30,840 Speaker 1: this year, there's two shows in a row that it 367 00:19:30,920 --> 00:19:33,399 Speaker 1: was brought up the other ten weeks. Not a peep 368 00:19:33,440 --> 00:19:35,040 Speaker 1: out of you. I just want to be clear about 369 00:19:35,040 --> 00:19:36,040 Speaker 1: that record. Keep going. 370 00:19:36,680 --> 00:19:38,560 Speaker 2: Look, I got to say, as a Texan and beating 371 00:19:38,600 --> 00:19:41,200 Speaker 2: the Gators, I'm kind of like, that's that's that's interesting. 372 00:19:42,119 --> 00:19:45,040 Speaker 2: That's it's one of my favorite images. When when Florida 373 00:19:45,200 --> 00:19:48,119 Speaker 2: played a and M I tweeted out there was a 374 00:19:48,320 --> 00:19:51,680 Speaker 2: giant barbecue truck in College station that had I think 375 00:19:51,960 --> 00:19:57,240 Speaker 2: five seven foot gators on a rotisseri rotating around being cooked. 376 00:19:57,280 --> 00:19:59,399 Speaker 2: So so, okay, fine, I'm going to you know, you 377 00:19:59,440 --> 00:20:00,000 Speaker 2: guys beat the game. 378 00:20:00,280 --> 00:20:03,880 Speaker 1: That's fine, thank you, Thank you for that moral support there. 379 00:20:03,600 --> 00:20:05,840 Speaker 1: I felt that. I felt that tonight. 380 00:20:07,080 --> 00:20:09,840 Speaker 2: I'm just saying that the Rockets win against Orlando was 381 00:20:09,880 --> 00:20:12,560 Speaker 2: really sweet because we were not playing great during the 382 00:20:12,560 --> 00:20:14,840 Speaker 2: whole of the game and then it was this huge comeback. 383 00:20:15,480 --> 00:20:18,639 Speaker 2: And Katie, I'm going to say right now, I think 384 00:20:18,680 --> 00:20:20,200 Speaker 2: the Rockets can win the whole damn thing. 385 00:20:21,040 --> 00:20:23,280 Speaker 1: Oh that's an early season prediction right there. 386 00:20:23,880 --> 00:20:26,520 Speaker 2: Now, look, most seasons, I think the Rockets can win 387 00:20:26,520 --> 00:20:28,520 Speaker 2: it all. But listen, last season, we. 388 00:20:28,560 --> 00:20:30,439 Speaker 1: Got at it the way you just said it with me. 389 00:20:30,920 --> 00:20:33,560 Speaker 1: With me, like's there's hoping and then there's like the 390 00:20:33,560 --> 00:20:36,040 Speaker 1: real possibility. So you think they're the real deal this year. 391 00:20:36,200 --> 00:20:37,240 Speaker 1: I really do. 392 00:20:37,320 --> 00:20:39,800 Speaker 2: They've got a ton of young talent. They're really good. 393 00:20:39,840 --> 00:20:42,360 Speaker 2: Our problem last season is we didn't have a closer. 394 00:20:42,400 --> 00:20:45,439 Speaker 2: We didn't have someone who in the last two minutes 395 00:20:45,480 --> 00:20:47,359 Speaker 2: of the fourth quarter you could give the ball to 396 00:20:48,240 --> 00:20:51,000 Speaker 2: and he could bring it home. And Katie, I mean Look, 397 00:20:51,000 --> 00:20:53,840 Speaker 2: he's one of the greatest players in history. And in 398 00:20:53,880 --> 00:20:56,440 Speaker 2: the game against Orlando, I mean it was you want 399 00:20:56,480 --> 00:21:00,199 Speaker 2: to talk about cold, he hit two three pointers that 400 00:21:00,240 --> 00:21:03,720 Speaker 2: were just devastating, and and and you had scheng Don, 401 00:21:03,760 --> 00:21:06,000 Speaker 2: who's who's a great center who played a great game 402 00:21:06,040 --> 00:21:06,480 Speaker 2: as well. 403 00:21:07,080 --> 00:21:09,600 Speaker 1: But butt on that over time. By the way, I'm 404 00:21:09,600 --> 00:21:11,600 Speaker 1: just curious, because you're really into this right now. 405 00:21:13,000 --> 00:21:15,520 Speaker 2: I didn't. I just had great joy. And as I said, 406 00:21:15,560 --> 00:21:17,840 Speaker 2: I DVR the games and I watch them typically late 407 00:21:17,880 --> 00:21:20,360 Speaker 2: at night at the end of the day. But anyway, 408 00:21:20,480 --> 00:21:23,640 Speaker 2: my point is it's one thing. And I will say 409 00:21:23,680 --> 00:21:25,560 Speaker 2: I like to I like to play poker, but but 410 00:21:25,560 --> 00:21:27,840 Speaker 2: I've never been in sports betting, so so so among 411 00:21:28,040 --> 00:21:31,720 Speaker 2: vices that that is not one that that has impacted me. 412 00:21:32,480 --> 00:21:35,680 Speaker 2: But I get you know, I'll put five bucks in 413 00:21:35,720 --> 00:21:37,880 Speaker 2: a March Madness pool, and I'm gonna say my picks 414 00:21:37,880 --> 00:21:39,800 Speaker 2: are almost always wrong, so I don't know that I've 415 00:21:39,800 --> 00:21:42,080 Speaker 2: ever won a March Madness pool, but I'll throw in 416 00:21:42,160 --> 00:21:42,400 Speaker 2: my five. 417 00:21:42,640 --> 00:21:44,600 Speaker 1: You're what we referred to as a charity bracket, and 418 00:21:44,600 --> 00:21:47,720 Speaker 1: we appreciate your service to the charity community. 419 00:21:48,080 --> 00:21:50,280 Speaker 2: Okay, so I actually I just pick a homer thing 420 00:21:50,359 --> 00:21:52,960 Speaker 2: I picked Texas teams. I tick teams I like, and 421 00:21:53,000 --> 00:21:54,919 Speaker 2: I'm just like, I'm gonna go with I think my 422 00:21:55,080 --> 00:21:57,720 Speaker 2: final four year or two ago was I think three 423 00:21:57,760 --> 00:21:59,240 Speaker 2: Texas teams in the final four. 424 00:21:59,760 --> 00:22:02,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, worked out too well for you. I'm not gonna lie. 425 00:22:02,920 --> 00:22:05,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, excuse me, did ole miss when the turn? 426 00:22:06,960 --> 00:22:10,119 Speaker 1: We do football very well, sir, We do football very well. 427 00:22:10,480 --> 00:22:15,280 Speaker 1: We win natties and golf, baseball and tennis. I'm just yeah, 428 00:22:15,560 --> 00:22:17,480 Speaker 1: I know where I am, I know where we live. 429 00:22:17,640 --> 00:22:20,119 Speaker 1: Basketball is not there yet. I'm okay with that, but 430 00:22:20,160 --> 00:22:22,080 Speaker 1: I don't pick them to go to the final four. 431 00:22:22,160 --> 00:22:23,080 Speaker 1: That I can promise you. 432 00:22:23,680 --> 00:22:26,719 Speaker 2: Yeah. So look on the question of gambling, and by 433 00:22:26,720 --> 00:22:28,639 Speaker 2: the way, you got pro sports, but I'm also concerned 434 00:22:28,680 --> 00:22:31,840 Speaker 2: about college sports, and in any ways, with such a proliferation. 435 00:22:32,600 --> 00:22:36,399 Speaker 2: You know, you look at a small school with a 436 00:22:36,600 --> 00:22:40,600 Speaker 2: game that's not in the headlines, and an individual player there, 437 00:22:40,880 --> 00:22:43,919 Speaker 2: you know you may have It's one thing for you know, 438 00:22:44,040 --> 00:22:47,760 Speaker 2: am I that worried about massive superstars making millions or 439 00:22:47,760 --> 00:22:50,800 Speaker 2: tens of millions of dollars of being corrupted? Well, yes, 440 00:22:50,840 --> 00:22:54,040 Speaker 2: because we're seeing this in the NBA and Major League Baseball. 441 00:22:54,800 --> 00:22:57,479 Speaker 2: But the incentive is less than some you know, nineteen 442 00:22:57,560 --> 00:23:01,160 Speaker 2: year old kid playing at podunk school, Boule who has 443 00:23:01,160 --> 00:23:05,959 Speaker 2: a chance to make ten grand fixing the game. And 444 00:23:06,000 --> 00:23:09,200 Speaker 2: so I think that is a real challenge. I think 445 00:23:09,240 --> 00:23:11,560 Speaker 2: the leagues can maybe take some steps about it, but 446 00:23:11,600 --> 00:23:13,800 Speaker 2: it would not surprise me to see Congress act. And 447 00:23:13,800 --> 00:23:15,720 Speaker 2: it's one of the reasons I'm just trying to start 448 00:23:15,760 --> 00:23:18,840 Speaker 2: with saying, Okay, tell me the facts of how many 449 00:23:18,880 --> 00:23:22,119 Speaker 2: allegations you're getting of cheating. What are the facts you know? 450 00:23:22,680 --> 00:23:27,040 Speaker 2: Tell me what you know, and then, particularly the more 451 00:23:27,080 --> 00:23:29,520 Speaker 2: serious the problem is. My hope is we may see 452 00:23:29,560 --> 00:23:31,520 Speaker 2: Congress acting a bipartisan way to fix it. 453 00:23:32,040 --> 00:23:33,960 Speaker 1: As before. If you want to hear the rest of 454 00:23:34,000 --> 00:23:36,879 Speaker 1: this conversation on this topic, you can go back and 455 00:23:36,960 --> 00:23:39,399 Speaker 1: dow the podcast from earlier this week to hear the 456 00:23:39,560 --> 00:23:42,920 Speaker 1: entire thing. I want to get back to the big 457 00:23:43,119 --> 00:23:46,080 Speaker 1: story number three of the week you may have missed, Senator. 458 00:23:46,080 --> 00:23:47,919 Speaker 1: One of the reasons why you do this show and 459 00:23:47,960 --> 00:23:49,720 Speaker 1: why I love co hosting it with you, is we 460 00:23:49,720 --> 00:23:53,760 Speaker 1: get to talk about issues that are not getting the 461 00:23:53,840 --> 00:23:57,360 Speaker 1: attention they deserve. One of those right now is the 462 00:23:57,400 --> 00:24:02,520 Speaker 1: persecution of Christians Nigeria. It is shocking what is happening there. 463 00:24:02,920 --> 00:24:05,080 Speaker 1: And I just came back from Israel. We haven't got 464 00:24:05,119 --> 00:24:06,840 Speaker 1: to talk about that as much as we thought because 465 00:24:06,880 --> 00:24:08,879 Speaker 1: the government shut down and we're going to get to that. 466 00:24:08,920 --> 00:24:10,719 Speaker 1: But one of the things that you see when you 467 00:24:10,760 --> 00:24:12,879 Speaker 1: see that people are under attacked because their faith, and 468 00:24:12,920 --> 00:24:16,879 Speaker 1: I witnessed it going into the kibbutz, into the homes 469 00:24:16,880 --> 00:24:19,280 Speaker 1: of those that were killed, including that nine month old child. 470 00:24:19,280 --> 00:24:22,000 Speaker 1: When I met with the parents who lost their loved 471 00:24:22,000 --> 00:24:23,800 Speaker 1: ones on that soccer fill as their kids were just 472 00:24:23,800 --> 00:24:26,879 Speaker 1: playing soccer. When I went to the north and I 473 00:24:26,920 --> 00:24:29,119 Speaker 1: saw the homes that were destroyed and met with people 474 00:24:29,440 --> 00:24:33,760 Speaker 1: whose lives were destroyed by Hamas there and you witness 475 00:24:33,840 --> 00:24:37,400 Speaker 1: this type of persecution and death and destruction, and went 476 00:24:37,440 --> 00:24:39,760 Speaker 1: to the site of where the music festival was and 477 00:24:39,800 --> 00:24:42,440 Speaker 1: watch people die just because they were Jews. It makes 478 00:24:42,480 --> 00:24:46,920 Speaker 1: me angry to now see what's happening in Nigeria. You're 479 00:24:47,000 --> 00:24:49,160 Speaker 1: shining a lot on that. The White House is doing 480 00:24:49,200 --> 00:24:51,439 Speaker 1: that as well, and the American people need to know 481 00:24:51,480 --> 00:24:52,160 Speaker 1: what's going on. 482 00:24:53,000 --> 00:24:57,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, listen, radical Islamic terrorists, they hate Christians and they 483 00:24:57,320 --> 00:25:01,440 Speaker 2: hate Jews, and they have murdered vast numbers of Christians, 484 00:25:01,520 --> 00:25:04,119 Speaker 2: they had murdered vast number of Jews. They continue to 485 00:25:04,160 --> 00:25:07,040 Speaker 2: do so, and they also murder a significant number of Muslims. 486 00:25:07,119 --> 00:25:11,520 Speaker 2: Radical Islamic terrorists. If you don't embrace their radical jihadist view, 487 00:25:13,200 --> 00:25:18,199 Speaker 2: their ideology justifies violence or even murder to force you 488 00:25:18,280 --> 00:25:21,480 Speaker 2: to submit. And the thirteen years I've been in the Senate, 489 00:25:21,480 --> 00:25:24,320 Speaker 2: I've spent a lot of time fighting for persecuted Christians, 490 00:25:24,359 --> 00:25:28,520 Speaker 2: fighting for persecuted Christians all across the globe, especially those 491 00:25:29,240 --> 00:25:33,000 Speaker 2: being persecuted by radical Islamic terrorists. Bokoha Ram that is 492 00:25:33,000 --> 00:25:37,440 Speaker 2: in Nigeria is a vicious radical Islamic terrorist group. And 493 00:25:38,359 --> 00:25:40,919 Speaker 2: if you look at there is no country on planet 494 00:25:40,960 --> 00:25:45,960 Speaker 2: Earth where more Christians have been murdered in the last 495 00:25:46,000 --> 00:25:50,360 Speaker 2: twenty years than Nigeria. Since two thousand and nine, more 496 00:25:50,400 --> 00:25:54,080 Speaker 2: than fifty thousand Christians have been murdered in the country 497 00:25:54,080 --> 00:25:54,760 Speaker 2: of Nigeria. 498 00:25:55,520 --> 00:25:57,560 Speaker 1: I mean literally, these Christians are being hunted down. 499 00:25:58,000 --> 00:26:03,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, they absolutely are are. Over twenty thousand Christian churches 500 00:26:03,720 --> 00:26:07,600 Speaker 2: and schools have been burned to the ground or otherwise destroyed. 501 00:26:07,640 --> 00:26:11,320 Speaker 2: I mean that this has been mass murder and it 502 00:26:11,359 --> 00:26:14,240 Speaker 2: is horrific, and so I filed legislation in the Senate 503 00:26:14,600 --> 00:26:19,040 Speaker 2: to direct the administration to designate Nigeria Country of Particular 504 00:26:19,119 --> 00:26:23,520 Speaker 2: Concern and to impose in particular sanctions on the government officials, 505 00:26:23,560 --> 00:26:27,239 Speaker 2: because there are many government officials who are acquiescing in 506 00:26:27,320 --> 00:26:32,160 Speaker 2: this mass murder against Christians, and so my legislation would 507 00:26:32,200 --> 00:26:36,760 Speaker 2: impose sanctions on particular government officials. That there are twelve 508 00:26:36,800 --> 00:26:40,600 Speaker 2: states in the North where Sharia laws or blasphemy laws 509 00:26:40,600 --> 00:26:44,240 Speaker 2: are enforced. There's also federal Sharia and blasphemy laws that 510 00:26:44,280 --> 00:26:48,040 Speaker 2: are enforced, and the government officials use those laws to 511 00:26:48,119 --> 00:26:52,320 Speaker 2: discriminate against and to persecute Christians. In some instances, they 512 00:26:52,359 --> 00:26:55,560 Speaker 2: simply just turn a blind eye as Bokoharam and other 513 00:26:55,680 --> 00:26:59,760 Speaker 2: radical Islamic terrorists murder Christians. In other instances, they actually 514 00:26:59,800 --> 00:27:04,879 Speaker 2: use use the law to facilitate the persecution. But after 515 00:27:04,920 --> 00:27:09,400 Speaker 2: I filed the legislation and I began pressing the administration 516 00:27:09,520 --> 00:27:13,560 Speaker 2: to designate Nigeria's a Country a Particular Concern, President Trump 517 00:27:13,600 --> 00:27:16,000 Speaker 2: did so and he sent out a tweet. Here's what 518 00:27:16,000 --> 00:27:20,320 Speaker 2: his tweet says. It says Christianity is facing an existential 519 00:27:20,359 --> 00:27:24,800 Speaker 2: threat in Nigeria. Thousands of Christians are being killed radical 520 00:27:24,920 --> 00:27:28,800 Speaker 2: Islamist are responsible for this mass slaughter. I am hereby 521 00:27:28,920 --> 00:27:33,240 Speaker 2: making Nigeria a country a particular concern, but that is 522 00:27:33,280 --> 00:27:36,520 Speaker 2: the least of it. When Christians or any such group 523 00:27:37,200 --> 00:27:41,159 Speaker 2: is slaughtered like is happening in Nigeria thirty one hundred 524 00:27:41,240 --> 00:27:45,320 Speaker 2: Verses four four hundred and seventy six worldwide, something must 525 00:27:45,400 --> 00:27:49,240 Speaker 2: be done. I am asking Congressman Riley Moore, together with 526 00:27:49,320 --> 00:27:52,960 Speaker 2: Chairman Tom Cole and the House Appropriations Committee, to immediately 527 00:27:52,960 --> 00:27:56,080 Speaker 2: look into this matter and report back to me. The 528 00:27:56,200 --> 00:28:00,320 Speaker 2: United States cannot stand by while such atrocities are happening 529 00:28:00,400 --> 00:28:05,000 Speaker 2: in Nigeria and numerous other countries. We stand ready, willing 530 00:28:05,040 --> 00:28:09,359 Speaker 2: and able to save our great Christian population around the world. 531 00:28:09,400 --> 00:28:12,480 Speaker 2: Donald J. Trump, President of the United States, that was 532 00:28:12,600 --> 00:28:15,720 Speaker 2: exactly the right thing to do. I saw President Trump 533 00:28:15,920 --> 00:28:19,800 Speaker 2: shortly after he issued that designation and I thanked him. 534 00:28:19,800 --> 00:28:22,640 Speaker 2: I said, it really makes a difference. It's the right 535 00:28:22,680 --> 00:28:25,359 Speaker 2: thing to do. He was happy to do it. And 536 00:28:25,400 --> 00:28:29,679 Speaker 2: I'll tell you the government in Nigeria is deeply dismayed. 537 00:28:30,240 --> 00:28:34,120 Speaker 2: And their response, their main defense they say, well, they 538 00:28:34,320 --> 00:28:39,040 Speaker 2: argue it's not a genocide. And what they say is well, yes, 539 00:28:39,080 --> 00:28:41,320 Speaker 2: fifty thousand Christians have been killed, but you know what, 540 00:28:41,680 --> 00:28:45,120 Speaker 2: Buko Haram has also killed Muslims, so it's all fine. Well, 541 00:28:45,160 --> 00:28:47,800 Speaker 2: it is true they have killed Muslims. Nobody's disputing that 542 00:28:47,840 --> 00:28:52,560 Speaker 2: they've killed Muslims as well. But radical Islamic terrorists target 543 00:28:52,680 --> 00:28:57,240 Speaker 2: Christians in particular for persecution, and the government is complicit 544 00:28:57,880 --> 00:29:01,320 Speaker 2: in that persecution. That's what this is designed to address. 545 00:29:02,000 --> 00:29:05,800 Speaker 2: And you know, I got to say, you and I 546 00:29:05,840 --> 00:29:11,160 Speaker 2: have talked about before that those who hate Jews hate Christians, 547 00:29:11,440 --> 00:29:15,480 Speaker 2: and those who hate Israel hate America. That that is true. 548 00:29:15,480 --> 00:29:18,400 Speaker 2: We've also talked about rising anti Semitism, and we've talked 549 00:29:18,480 --> 00:29:20,800 Speaker 2: quite a bit about Tucker Carlson because I think Tucker 550 00:29:21,440 --> 00:29:24,560 Speaker 2: has unfortunately gone down a very very dark path, a 551 00:29:25,000 --> 00:29:29,280 Speaker 2: path where he brings on Hitler, praising nutjobs onto his 552 00:29:29,360 --> 00:29:33,520 Speaker 2: show over and over and over again. But it also 553 00:29:33,760 --> 00:29:37,840 Speaker 2: results not only does he attack Israel at almost every 554 00:29:37,880 --> 00:29:41,600 Speaker 2: show he does, but when you go on the path 555 00:29:41,680 --> 00:29:46,040 Speaker 2: of hating Israel and blame everything on the Jews, that 556 00:29:46,280 --> 00:29:50,000 Speaker 2: often that same dark path leads you to embrace the 557 00:29:50,120 --> 00:29:53,160 Speaker 2: enemies of America. So Tucker has said we should apply 558 00:29:53,480 --> 00:29:56,720 Speaker 2: apologize to the family of Osama bin Laden no, no, 559 00:29:56,840 --> 00:29:59,520 Speaker 2: we should not. Tucker has said he doesn't know that 560 00:29:59,560 --> 00:30:02,640 Speaker 2: Hamam is a terrorist organization. They might just be a 561 00:30:02,680 --> 00:30:06,440 Speaker 2: political group. I'm sorry, but when you murder twelve hundred 562 00:30:06,480 --> 00:30:09,440 Speaker 2: innocent civilians and rape women and children, you are most 563 00:30:09,480 --> 00:30:12,600 Speaker 2: definitely a terrorist group. And Hamas has killed a great 564 00:30:12,640 --> 00:30:17,280 Speaker 2: many Americans. But it really was striking. Just recently, Tucker 565 00:30:17,320 --> 00:30:20,160 Speaker 2: did a show where he talked about Nigerians and he 566 00:30:20,280 --> 00:30:23,600 Speaker 2: disputed that Christians in Nigeria are being persecuted. I want 567 00:30:23,640 --> 00:30:26,120 Speaker 2: you want you to give a listen because he took 568 00:30:26,160 --> 00:30:30,200 Speaker 2: the chance to basically defend Boko Haram. Give a listen. 569 00:30:31,240 --> 00:30:33,200 Speaker 4: But he's all of a sudden, kind of out of nowhere, 570 00:30:33,400 --> 00:30:35,480 Speaker 4: deeply concerned with the play of Christians in Nigeria, which 571 00:30:35,520 --> 00:30:37,680 Speaker 4: I want to restate maybe a tolly all concerned now, 572 00:30:38,760 --> 00:30:41,000 Speaker 4: But that's weird. What is that, all of a sudden, 573 00:30:41,000 --> 00:30:43,320 Speaker 4: everybody's cocern about people who clearly have no track record 574 00:30:43,360 --> 00:30:45,840 Speaker 4: being interested in Chritians at all, including San Cruz. What 575 00:30:45,960 --> 00:30:46,440 Speaker 4: is going on? 576 00:30:47,680 --> 00:30:49,160 Speaker 1: That to me was pretty unhinged. 577 00:30:49,160 --> 00:30:54,360 Speaker 2: Senator, Look, I gotta say, listen. I understand that Tucker's 578 00:30:54,360 --> 00:30:56,440 Speaker 2: told the world there's no one he hates more than 579 00:30:56,520 --> 00:30:59,480 Speaker 2: Christian Zionists, and he singled out me and Mike Huckabee 580 00:30:59,800 --> 00:31:01,920 Speaker 2: as the people he hates the most in the world. 581 00:31:02,400 --> 00:31:05,600 Speaker 2: But that's truly a bizarre claim what he says there, 582 00:31:05,640 --> 00:31:09,720 Speaker 2: which is that I have no interest in defending persecuted Christians. 583 00:31:09,800 --> 00:31:12,640 Speaker 2: I've literally spent thirteen years doing that. You know, I 584 00:31:12,720 --> 00:31:15,200 Speaker 2: might ask Tucker that does he have any idea who 585 00:31:15,280 --> 00:31:19,120 Speaker 2: Miriam Ibrahim is? And I suspect he doesn't. So Mariam 586 00:31:19,120 --> 00:31:23,840 Speaker 2: Ibrahim was a Christian woman in Soudan, and she was 587 00:31:24,040 --> 00:31:28,320 Speaker 2: imprisoned and she was sentenced to receive one hundred lashes 588 00:31:28,360 --> 00:31:31,680 Speaker 2: and then to hang by the neck until dead for 589 00:31:31,760 --> 00:31:33,800 Speaker 2: the crime of being a Christian. And this was during 590 00:31:34,160 --> 00:31:36,760 Speaker 2: Barack Obama's presidency. This was early in my time in 591 00:31:36,800 --> 00:31:41,040 Speaker 2: the Senate. And I spoke out vocally for Miriam Ibrahim. 592 00:31:41,720 --> 00:31:44,640 Speaker 2: And she had two little kids. She had a son 593 00:31:44,720 --> 00:31:47,800 Speaker 2: named Martin, and she actually gave birth to a daughter, Maya, 594 00:31:47,960 --> 00:31:50,600 Speaker 2: while she was in leg irons. And I'll tell you, 595 00:31:50,680 --> 00:31:55,920 Speaker 2: I repeatedly practically begged the Obama administration for President Obama 596 00:31:55,960 --> 00:31:58,560 Speaker 2: to just say her name. He would not do it. 597 00:31:58,600 --> 00:32:00,280 Speaker 2: He never once said her name. I went to the 598 00:32:00,280 --> 00:32:03,840 Speaker 2: Senate floor, I gave floor speeches. I shined a light, 599 00:32:04,160 --> 00:32:07,760 Speaker 2: and globally many the pope got involved shining a light 600 00:32:07,800 --> 00:32:11,960 Speaker 2: defending her, and the pressure became so great Soudan released 601 00:32:11,960 --> 00:32:14,680 Speaker 2: her and Ben, I'll tell you it's an amazing thing. 602 00:32:14,720 --> 00:32:17,240 Speaker 2: I actually got to meet Mary Abraheim when she came 603 00:32:17,280 --> 00:32:20,560 Speaker 2: to Washington, and I asked her. She was a little 604 00:32:20,560 --> 00:32:23,280 Speaker 2: bitty woman. She's not very very tall, maybe five to one. 605 00:32:24,240 --> 00:32:26,640 Speaker 2: She couldn't have weighed more than one hundred pounds. And 606 00:32:27,120 --> 00:32:29,400 Speaker 2: I asked her. I said, Maryam, tell me, when you 607 00:32:29,440 --> 00:32:32,720 Speaker 2: were in that prison cell and your babies are in 608 00:32:32,720 --> 00:32:35,760 Speaker 2: front of you, and you've been sentenced to die for 609 00:32:35,840 --> 00:32:40,239 Speaker 2: your faith, how did you not give up hope? And 610 00:32:40,320 --> 00:32:43,000 Speaker 2: she looked at me with a peace that I'll never forget, 611 00:32:43,040 --> 00:32:47,040 Speaker 2: and she just said Jesus was with me. And I mean, 612 00:32:47,120 --> 00:32:52,760 Speaker 2: it was powerful, incredible. But I think this illustrates how 613 00:32:53,720 --> 00:32:57,920 Speaker 2: anti Semitism is a poison that ends up poisoning every 614 00:32:57,960 --> 00:33:01,680 Speaker 2: other view. So now Tucker is running her around defending Hamas, 615 00:33:01,760 --> 00:33:04,640 Speaker 2: defending Book of Haram, saying well, I don't know that 616 00:33:04,760 --> 00:33:07,640 Speaker 2: Nigerians or Christians are being killed in Nigeria, and why 617 00:33:07,640 --> 00:33:11,320 Speaker 2: does anyone care about that. And apparently Tucker is only 618 00:33:11,400 --> 00:33:15,000 Speaker 2: interested in atrocities if he can blame them on Israel, 619 00:33:15,080 --> 00:33:17,760 Speaker 2: and since it's not Israel that's killing Christians in Nigeria, 620 00:33:18,040 --> 00:33:21,080 Speaker 2: it's not a concern for him. Look, I think we 621 00:33:21,120 --> 00:33:24,480 Speaker 2: should defend Christians when they're being persecuted. I think we 622 00:33:24,480 --> 00:33:27,400 Speaker 2: should defend Jews when they're being persecuted. I think we 623 00:33:27,440 --> 00:33:31,080 Speaker 2: should stand up and and and and make a difference. 624 00:33:31,120 --> 00:33:34,560 Speaker 2: Now that doesn't mean that we invade every country in 625 00:33:34,600 --> 00:33:38,040 Speaker 2: which there's injustice, but it does mean we use our 626 00:33:38,200 --> 00:33:43,600 Speaker 2: voice as a voice to stand up for those. And look, 627 00:33:43,600 --> 00:33:47,120 Speaker 2: as you know, my dad was imprisoned and tortured in Cuba, 628 00:33:47,640 --> 00:33:51,160 Speaker 2: and so I have a particular heart for for people 629 00:33:51,200 --> 00:33:55,560 Speaker 2: who are unjustly detained uh and and have spent a 630 00:33:55,720 --> 00:33:59,760 Speaker 2: long time highlighting and and doing everything we can to 631 00:34:00,120 --> 00:34:03,800 Speaker 2: get people out of unjust attentions, whether in in Sudan 632 00:34:04,120 --> 00:34:12,200 Speaker 2: or China or Lebanon or anywhere. And I'm very glad 633 00:34:12,280 --> 00:34:15,120 Speaker 2: President Trump is standing up for the Christians in Nigeria. 634 00:34:15,680 --> 00:34:19,000 Speaker 1: As always, thank you for listening to Verdict with Senter 635 00:34:19,080 --> 00:34:21,480 Speaker 1: ted Cruz ben ferguson whether you don't forget to deal 636 00:34:21,600 --> 00:34:23,840 Speaker 1: with my podcast and you can listen to my podcasts 637 00:34:23,840 --> 00:34:25,799 Speaker 1: every other day you're not listening to Verdict, or each 638 00:34:25,880 --> 00:34:28,319 Speaker 1: day when you listen to Verdict. Afterwards, I'd love to 639 00:34:28,360 --> 00:34:31,440 Speaker 1: have you as a listener to again the Ben Ferguson podcasts, 640 00:34:31,440 --> 00:34:33,960 Speaker 1: and we will see you back here on Monday morning.