1 00:00:01,440 --> 00:00:04,480 Speaker 1: Welcome in is Vertic with Center Ted Cruz, Ben Ferguson 2 00:00:04,559 --> 00:00:06,440 Speaker 1: with you. It's nice to have you with usespecially if 3 00:00:06,440 --> 00:00:08,440 Speaker 1: you're listening on the radio around the country. 4 00:00:08,480 --> 00:00:10,200 Speaker 2: And a reminder, this show we. 5 00:00:10,119 --> 00:00:12,080 Speaker 1: Also do as a podcast three days a week, so 6 00:00:12,119 --> 00:00:15,680 Speaker 1: make sure for free you download Verdic with Ted Cruz 7 00:00:15,760 --> 00:00:19,040 Speaker 1: wherever you get your podcast centers. We've got a big 8 00:00:19,079 --> 00:00:22,800 Speaker 1: show for people today, including a really special day for you. 9 00:00:22,800 --> 00:00:26,320 Speaker 1: You got to spend with some amazing heroes who recovering 10 00:00:26,440 --> 00:00:29,560 Speaker 1: in the hospital after they went in in an incredible 11 00:00:29,640 --> 00:00:31,040 Speaker 1: raid in Venezuela. 12 00:00:31,440 --> 00:00:34,960 Speaker 3: Well, Ben, We're living in incredibly consequential times. The entire 13 00:00:35,040 --> 00:00:38,400 Speaker 3: world is changing before our eyes. I started this week 14 00:00:38,440 --> 00:00:41,800 Speaker 3: by having the chance to visit the three soldiers who 15 00:00:41,880 --> 00:00:45,199 Speaker 3: were wounded arresting Maduro, and I got a chance to 16 00:00:45,280 --> 00:00:46,680 Speaker 3: visit with each of them. I'm going to share to 17 00:00:46,680 --> 00:00:50,199 Speaker 3: you exactly what they had to say from there. I 18 00:00:50,240 --> 00:00:54,360 Speaker 3: also this week sat down with Maria Carino Machado, the 19 00:00:54,800 --> 00:00:58,639 Speaker 3: opposition leader in Venezuela. She came to Washington, she met 20 00:00:58,680 --> 00:01:00,520 Speaker 3: with President Trump at the White House. How she met 21 00:01:00,560 --> 00:01:02,880 Speaker 3: with me and several other senators. I'm going to bring 22 00:01:02,880 --> 00:01:05,160 Speaker 3: you inside that meeting tell you what she had to say. 23 00:01:05,640 --> 00:01:08,840 Speaker 3: Beyond that, I joined Secretary Pete Hegseth going to the 24 00:01:08,880 --> 00:01:12,080 Speaker 3: F thirty five Plan in Fort Worth, Texas, an incredible 25 00:01:12,920 --> 00:01:18,959 Speaker 3: an incredible so course support of our military strength. And 26 00:01:19,000 --> 00:01:22,520 Speaker 3: then from there we both went down to Brownsville, Texas, 27 00:01:22,959 --> 00:01:27,479 Speaker 3: to SpaceX, to Starbase with Elon musk and and tour 28 00:01:27,600 --> 00:01:29,920 Speaker 3: the facilities there. We're going to bring you inside all 29 00:01:29,959 --> 00:01:31,319 Speaker 3: of that on Today's Verdict. 30 00:01:31,840 --> 00:01:32,679 Speaker 2: It really is cool. 31 00:01:32,720 --> 00:01:35,080 Speaker 1: I also want to talk to you an amazing organization 32 00:01:36,000 --> 00:01:38,880 Speaker 1: that I want you to know about called Compassion International. 33 00:01:39,319 --> 00:01:42,200 Speaker 1: Right now, somewhere in the world, a kid you've never 34 00:01:42,240 --> 00:01:45,839 Speaker 1: met is writing you a letter. They're telling you about 35 00:01:45,840 --> 00:01:50,040 Speaker 1: their day, their dreams, the goal they scored, the test 36 00:01:50,160 --> 00:01:53,240 Speaker 1: they passed, the new friend they made it school. Maybe 37 00:01:53,280 --> 00:01:56,240 Speaker 1: they're drawing you even a picture. Maybe they've asked you 38 00:01:56,320 --> 00:01:59,920 Speaker 1: about your family, your favorite color, what makes you laugh. 39 00:02:00,200 --> 00:02:03,360 Speaker 1: They're wondering who you are, this person who cares enough 40 00:02:03,360 --> 00:02:06,760 Speaker 1: to be part of their story. And you, you're not 41 00:02:06,880 --> 00:02:10,680 Speaker 1: just sending money. You're writing back. You're showing up month 42 00:02:10,760 --> 00:02:16,040 Speaker 1: after month, letter after letter. You're celebrating their victories, encouraging 43 00:02:16,080 --> 00:02:20,120 Speaker 1: them through challenges and reminding them that they truly matter. 44 00:02:20,440 --> 00:02:24,280 Speaker 1: Now this isn't a transaction, it's an incredible relationship that 45 00:02:24,400 --> 00:02:28,680 Speaker 1: spans continence and changes everything for both of you. That 46 00:02:28,840 --> 00:02:33,280 Speaker 1: is where Compassion International connects you directly with one child, 47 00:02:33,680 --> 00:02:38,880 Speaker 1: real letters, real relationships, and real change, because poverty isn't 48 00:02:38,919 --> 00:02:43,320 Speaker 1: solved with donations alone. It's solved by showing up impact 49 00:02:43,360 --> 00:02:47,120 Speaker 1: the world, one child at a time and learn how 50 00:02:47,240 --> 00:02:53,360 Speaker 1: at Compassion dot Com. That's Compassion dot com. All right, Senator, 51 00:02:53,480 --> 00:02:57,400 Speaker 1: So let's get back to this. Just incredible meeting the 52 00:02:57,480 --> 00:03:00,440 Speaker 1: heroes and the bravery, especially the story is that we've 53 00:03:00,480 --> 00:03:04,000 Speaker 1: been told going in after Maduro and look, the guy 54 00:03:04,000 --> 00:03:07,079 Speaker 1: who lived on a military base, he had these fighters 55 00:03:07,080 --> 00:03:10,640 Speaker 1: that were supposed to be protecting him from Cuba. Seeing 56 00:03:10,760 --> 00:03:12,720 Speaker 1: that what we had compared to what they had on 57 00:03:12,760 --> 00:03:14,680 Speaker 1: the ground and the way that we came out without 58 00:03:14,720 --> 00:03:18,480 Speaker 1: losing a single American life is just unbelievable. There were 59 00:03:18,600 --> 00:03:22,600 Speaker 1: those soldiers, however, that were injured and shot, and you 60 00:03:22,720 --> 00:03:25,919 Speaker 1: got to meet them as they're recovering in the hospital 61 00:03:25,919 --> 00:03:29,200 Speaker 1: in San Antonio, talk about just their story. What did 62 00:03:29,200 --> 00:03:31,160 Speaker 1: they have to say, what was their perspective. 63 00:03:32,240 --> 00:03:34,920 Speaker 3: So we had three of our soldiers who were wounded 64 00:03:35,760 --> 00:03:39,240 Speaker 3: during the raid, and they're all at the hospital in 65 00:03:39,280 --> 00:03:42,040 Speaker 3: San Antonio. They're being treated. The good news is that 66 00:03:42,040 --> 00:03:44,360 Speaker 3: that that they're all in good condition. None are in 67 00:03:44,360 --> 00:03:47,520 Speaker 3: life threatening condition. Now, they were in good spirits. We 68 00:03:47,560 --> 00:03:49,800 Speaker 3: had the opportunity to visit with each of the three 69 00:03:49,840 --> 00:03:51,800 Speaker 3: of them, with each of their wives as well. They 70 00:03:51,800 --> 00:03:54,400 Speaker 3: were there with their wives, and I will tell you 71 00:03:54,440 --> 00:03:58,040 Speaker 3: that the first one we met with was a soldier 72 00:03:58,080 --> 00:04:00,600 Speaker 3: who was in charge of helping plan the entire higher raid. 73 00:04:01,480 --> 00:04:04,000 Speaker 3: He was leading one of the helicopters, and he had 74 00:04:04,040 --> 00:04:07,680 Speaker 3: been shot in the leg, and he continued, even in 75 00:04:07,720 --> 00:04:11,560 Speaker 3: the midst of being shot in the leg. Continued. He 76 00:04:11,640 --> 00:04:14,400 Speaker 3: did not step back from the fight, and he was 77 00:04:14,440 --> 00:04:19,040 Speaker 3: critical in terms of his location, making sure protecting his 78 00:04:19,480 --> 00:04:22,000 Speaker 3: fellow soldiers. You know, I got to tell you he 79 00:04:22,200 --> 00:04:27,280 Speaker 3: was he was in great spirits. His wife was incredibly 80 00:04:27,320 --> 00:04:31,039 Speaker 3: proud of him. And with all three of the soldiers, 81 00:04:32,000 --> 00:04:34,560 Speaker 3: I took an opportunity to tell them, I said, look, 82 00:04:34,760 --> 00:04:39,400 Speaker 3: you were part of history. You were part of history 83 00:04:39,440 --> 00:04:44,960 Speaker 3: in a way without exaggeration, that changed the entire Western hemisphere. 84 00:04:45,080 --> 00:04:48,680 Speaker 3: What you did was profoundly important. And I also told 85 00:04:48,720 --> 00:04:51,680 Speaker 3: them I took the chance on behalf of Texans and 86 00:04:51,720 --> 00:04:54,680 Speaker 3: American just to say thank you, thank you for your bravery, 87 00:04:54,800 --> 00:04:59,159 Speaker 3: thank you for your heroism. They went into a situation 88 00:04:59,240 --> 00:05:03,120 Speaker 3: where they were vastly outnumbered, and and and and the 89 00:05:03,480 --> 00:05:07,919 Speaker 3: Cuban military that were guarding Maduro opened fire and and 90 00:05:07,920 --> 00:05:11,000 Speaker 3: and it is amazing, It is an incredible testament to 91 00:05:11,040 --> 00:05:14,680 Speaker 3: the precision and effectiveness of our military that not a 92 00:05:14,720 --> 00:05:18,400 Speaker 3: single soldier on the American side was was killed, that 93 00:05:18,600 --> 00:05:21,359 Speaker 3: there was a very large number of Cuban forces defending 94 00:05:21,360 --> 00:05:24,800 Speaker 3: Maduro who were who were killed in that firefight, and 95 00:05:24,800 --> 00:05:27,520 Speaker 3: and just taking the chance to to thank them. And 96 00:05:27,560 --> 00:05:30,400 Speaker 3: then the first soldier who had been shot in the 97 00:05:30,480 --> 00:05:33,520 Speaker 3: leg I was there with Pete Hegseth, the Secretary of 98 00:05:33,520 --> 00:05:38,480 Speaker 3: Defense and and and Pete said, uh, you know, if 99 00:05:38,480 --> 00:05:41,159 Speaker 3: there's anything you need, let me know, and and and 100 00:05:41,200 --> 00:05:42,920 Speaker 3: he said, well, actually there is something you could do 101 00:05:43,680 --> 00:05:46,560 Speaker 3: and and Pete said what And he said, I'd really 102 00:05:46,720 --> 00:05:49,800 Speaker 3: like the bullet, the bullet that went into his leg. 103 00:05:50,160 --> 00:05:52,400 Speaker 3: And the hospital had it, and and and the the 104 00:05:52,400 --> 00:05:54,359 Speaker 3: medical director at the hospital he said, well, we have 105 00:05:54,400 --> 00:05:57,240 Speaker 3: the bullet, but we're not allowed to give it over 106 00:05:57,520 --> 00:06:00,480 Speaker 3: unless we get give a waiver, and and to his 107 00:06:00,600 --> 00:06:03,200 Speaker 3: credit said the waiver is granted. You can have the bullet. 108 00:06:03,360 --> 00:06:08,000 Speaker 3: And that soldier was beaming. He was thrilled to have 109 00:06:08,040 --> 00:06:10,599 Speaker 3: the bullet. And actually the second soldier we met, he 110 00:06:10,720 --> 00:06:12,440 Speaker 3: had been he had been shot, but he had also 111 00:06:12,520 --> 00:06:14,240 Speaker 3: been cut by a piece of shrapnel. He had a 112 00:06:14,279 --> 00:06:16,839 Speaker 3: cut that ran the whole length of his arm. Oh wow, 113 00:06:17,279 --> 00:06:21,080 Speaker 3: And he had the exact same request. He said, I'd 114 00:06:21,120 --> 00:06:23,200 Speaker 3: really like the shrapnel. So they had the piece of 115 00:06:23,200 --> 00:06:25,599 Speaker 3: metal that had cut his arm open. And again the 116 00:06:25,640 --> 00:06:28,640 Speaker 3: hospital said, we have it, but we're not allowed to 117 00:06:28,720 --> 00:06:31,520 Speaker 3: give it to him without the waiver. And again Pete said, 118 00:06:31,600 --> 00:06:33,920 Speaker 3: we're granting the waiver, you can have it. So both 119 00:06:33,920 --> 00:06:36,359 Speaker 3: of those I assume that they're going to frame it 120 00:06:36,440 --> 00:06:40,920 Speaker 3: or otherwise keep it as just a memento to the injury, 121 00:06:40,960 --> 00:06:44,480 Speaker 3: the purple heart that they earned fighting for their country, 122 00:06:44,520 --> 00:06:51,120 Speaker 3: but also being a part of profoundly impacting history. 123 00:06:51,400 --> 00:06:53,440 Speaker 1: You mentioned their wives were there, and I don't know 124 00:06:53,480 --> 00:06:56,520 Speaker 1: if you can tell us, but age range twenties thirties, 125 00:06:56,520 --> 00:06:57,920 Speaker 1: for like, how old are these guys. 126 00:07:00,120 --> 00:07:02,279 Speaker 3: One of the soldiers, the first soldier who helped plan 127 00:07:02,520 --> 00:07:04,719 Speaker 3: plan the raid was was a little bit older the 128 00:07:04,760 --> 00:07:07,920 Speaker 3: other two were were young guys and and they were, uh, 129 00:07:08,200 --> 00:07:11,640 Speaker 3: you know, they were young guys, and they they were 130 00:07:11,680 --> 00:07:14,239 Speaker 3: not someone like if you saw them walking down the street, 131 00:07:14,240 --> 00:07:16,200 Speaker 3: you wouldn't do a double take. The first guy kind 132 00:07:16,200 --> 00:07:17,800 Speaker 3: of looked a little like Captain America. He was a 133 00:07:17,800 --> 00:07:22,000 Speaker 3: little but but the other two, look, they were fit, 134 00:07:22,080 --> 00:07:26,480 Speaker 3: they were in good shape. But but the skill that 135 00:07:26,560 --> 00:07:29,160 Speaker 3: you know, they have, the heroism you know they have 136 00:07:29,720 --> 00:07:32,200 Speaker 3: if you just saw them on the street, you you 137 00:07:32,280 --> 00:07:37,040 Speaker 3: wouldn't immediately know that. And and their wives were young 138 00:07:38,760 --> 00:07:42,080 Speaker 3: and and it was interesting their wives were, you know, 139 00:07:42,240 --> 00:07:44,360 Speaker 3: they said, there were women of faith. They were praying 140 00:07:44,400 --> 00:07:47,760 Speaker 3: for their husbands. They were really proud of their husbands, proud, 141 00:07:47,800 --> 00:07:50,640 Speaker 3: proud of everything that they had been through. And I'll 142 00:07:50,680 --> 00:07:56,920 Speaker 3: tell you that the first soldier, he said, well, you know, 143 00:07:56,960 --> 00:07:59,440 Speaker 3: he asked he he heg seth asked him, well, how 144 00:07:59,480 --> 00:08:01,920 Speaker 3: are you feeling? And he said, I'm ready to go again. 145 00:08:02,600 --> 00:08:03,320 Speaker 2: That's amozing. 146 00:08:03,600 --> 00:08:07,960 Speaker 3: And I said, great, can you do Saturday? And he said, well, 147 00:08:08,160 --> 00:08:11,120 Speaker 3: can we hold off till Monday? So that kind of 148 00:08:11,160 --> 00:08:14,720 Speaker 3: gives you a sense of the spirit they were. They 149 00:08:14,760 --> 00:08:20,960 Speaker 3: were really in good spirits. And actually with two of 150 00:08:20,960 --> 00:08:23,960 Speaker 3: the soldiers. There was an additional soldier there that was 151 00:08:24,000 --> 00:08:26,440 Speaker 3: there in the in the hospital room who said he 152 00:08:26,560 --> 00:08:29,560 Speaker 3: used to be their commanding officer and he had rotated 153 00:08:29,600 --> 00:08:32,079 Speaker 3: off the unit about six months before the raid, and 154 00:08:32,120 --> 00:08:34,640 Speaker 3: he said, look, I'm really disappointed. I mean it, it 155 00:08:34,800 --> 00:08:37,839 Speaker 3: broke his heart that he just missed going on the raid. 156 00:08:37,880 --> 00:08:39,840 Speaker 3: So he was there to be with his guys, but 157 00:08:39,960 --> 00:08:41,480 Speaker 3: he did not go on the raid and he was 158 00:08:41,559 --> 00:08:43,160 Speaker 3: just cheering them on center. 159 00:08:43,600 --> 00:08:44,920 Speaker 2: You talk about incredible week. 160 00:08:44,960 --> 00:08:47,960 Speaker 1: You meet with three heroes that that risked their lives 161 00:08:48,000 --> 00:08:51,440 Speaker 1: to go capture mean Duro, that's unbelievable. But you also 162 00:08:51,559 --> 00:08:53,920 Speaker 1: got to meet with who I would describe as another 163 00:08:53,960 --> 00:08:57,720 Speaker 1: hero for Venezuela, and that is the opposition leader. You 164 00:08:57,840 --> 00:08:59,560 Speaker 1: got to meet with her. She met with the president 165 00:08:59,559 --> 00:09:03,120 Speaker 1: and I said America as well. That is a really 166 00:09:03,160 --> 00:09:07,040 Speaker 1: I think a very important moment, a signal that the 167 00:09:07,240 --> 00:09:09,640 Speaker 1: that the president met with her as well to give 168 00:09:09,679 --> 00:09:12,000 Speaker 1: hope to the people in Venezuela. 169 00:09:12,200 --> 00:09:16,079 Speaker 3: Well, Maria Corrino Machado, who is the opposition leader in Venezuela, 170 00:09:16,120 --> 00:09:20,520 Speaker 3: You're right, She's shown incredible heroism, incredible bravery, standing up 171 00:09:20,559 --> 00:09:23,120 Speaker 3: to Maduro, standing up to the communist regime. And by 172 00:09:23,120 --> 00:09:27,079 Speaker 3: the way, other opposition leaders like Leopoldo Lopez, like Juan 173 00:09:27,120 --> 00:09:32,200 Speaker 3: Guido likewise have shown incredible courage, have faced Lopez spent 174 00:09:32,400 --> 00:09:35,320 Speaker 3: years in prison. I mean, I mean, you to stand 175 00:09:35,400 --> 00:09:40,400 Speaker 3: up and be an opposition leader to a communist regime 176 00:09:40,559 --> 00:09:43,520 Speaker 3: like Hugo Chavez or Nicholas Maduro, you are quite literally 177 00:09:43,559 --> 00:09:45,600 Speaker 3: taking your life in your own hands. And a great 178 00:09:45,640 --> 00:09:50,199 Speaker 3: many of the opposition leaders face arrest, face torture, face 179 00:09:50,640 --> 00:09:53,600 Speaker 3: you know, if you're in the opposition, you can face murder. 180 00:09:53,640 --> 00:09:59,000 Speaker 3: And so Machado last year was awarded the Nobel Peace 181 00:09:59,040 --> 00:10:03,560 Speaker 3: Prize for her heroism and in standing up to Maduro. 182 00:10:03,640 --> 00:10:06,600 Speaker 3: And and she came, she came to Washington this week, 183 00:10:06,640 --> 00:10:08,680 Speaker 3: and she went went went to the White House, and 184 00:10:08,720 --> 00:10:11,600 Speaker 3: she met with President Trump. And she did something that 185 00:10:11,640 --> 00:10:14,360 Speaker 3: I think was very very savvy and and showed a 186 00:10:14,360 --> 00:10:17,480 Speaker 3: lot of wisdom and showed a lot of humility, which 187 00:10:17,520 --> 00:10:20,880 Speaker 3: is she presented the Nobel Peace Prize to President Trump. 188 00:10:20,920 --> 00:10:24,120 Speaker 3: She had it framed for him. It's beautifully framed, and 189 00:10:24,120 --> 00:10:27,160 Speaker 3: and and and she had presented to the president and 190 00:10:27,160 --> 00:10:29,280 Speaker 3: and with with the thanks of of the people of 191 00:10:29,360 --> 00:10:33,280 Speaker 3: Venezuela and and and I think President Trump appreciated that 192 00:10:33,440 --> 00:10:35,320 Speaker 3: a great deal. Look, a lot of us, you and 193 00:10:35,360 --> 00:10:38,400 Speaker 3: me included, believe President Trump should have been awarded the 194 00:10:38,400 --> 00:10:41,680 Speaker 3: Nobel Peace Prize. But there's no way, there's no way. 195 00:10:41,880 --> 00:10:46,640 Speaker 3: The lefty Europeans. It doesn't matter if if like he 196 00:10:46,800 --> 00:10:51,360 Speaker 3: cured cancer and and like ended every war that has 197 00:10:51,360 --> 00:10:54,360 Speaker 3: ever happened in the history of humanity, they will not 198 00:10:54,480 --> 00:10:55,920 Speaker 3: give him the Peace Prize because they haint. 199 00:10:55,960 --> 00:10:57,400 Speaker 1: Someone said to me the other day, and I made 200 00:10:57,400 --> 00:10:59,680 Speaker 1: me laugh. They said, the chances of Donald Trump getting 201 00:10:59,679 --> 00:11:02,280 Speaker 1: to know Peace Prize from these like you said, European 202 00:11:02,600 --> 00:11:03,920 Speaker 1: you know, lefties. 203 00:11:04,440 --> 00:11:05,559 Speaker 2: They said, I would. 204 00:11:05,400 --> 00:11:08,319 Speaker 1: Put more money on Vladimir Putin getting it before Donald 205 00:11:08,320 --> 00:11:08,880 Speaker 1: Trump does. 206 00:11:09,160 --> 00:11:11,040 Speaker 2: Not crazy. By the way, that's sad. 207 00:11:11,200 --> 00:11:15,480 Speaker 3: That's not hyperbole. That that's actually not hyperbole. Remember, these 208 00:11:15,559 --> 00:11:20,400 Speaker 3: are the same idiots who awarded Barack Obama the Nobel 209 00:11:20,440 --> 00:11:23,040 Speaker 3: Peace Prize when he'd been in office a couple of months, 210 00:11:23,480 --> 00:11:26,440 Speaker 3: and he was literally awarded it for simply not being 211 00:11:26,520 --> 00:11:27,080 Speaker 3: George W. 212 00:11:27,160 --> 00:11:27,600 Speaker 2: Bush. 213 00:11:27,679 --> 00:11:30,800 Speaker 3: That was the entire basis. You're not Bush, Okay, you 214 00:11:30,840 --> 00:11:34,120 Speaker 3: get the Nobel Peace Prize. He hadn't been there even 215 00:11:34,200 --> 00:11:36,199 Speaker 3: long enough to screw everything up, which he spent the 216 00:11:36,240 --> 00:11:38,800 Speaker 3: next eight years doing. He just he had just moved 217 00:11:38,800 --> 00:11:40,720 Speaker 3: in and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. These are 218 00:11:40,720 --> 00:11:44,120 Speaker 3: also the same people. If you go back several decades, 219 00:11:44,160 --> 00:11:47,199 Speaker 3: you look at Ronald Reagan. Ronald Reagan was never awarded 220 00:11:47,200 --> 00:11:50,440 Speaker 3: the Nobel Peace Prize, despite the fact that he ended 221 00:11:50,480 --> 00:11:52,920 Speaker 3: the Cold War without firing a shot. And so this 222 00:11:53,040 --> 00:11:58,360 Speaker 3: is a very ideological prize, and and I think in 223 00:11:58,440 --> 00:12:02,719 Speaker 3: this past year it is questionable that Donald Trump deserved it, 224 00:12:03,440 --> 00:12:05,959 Speaker 3: but they weren't going to give it. And she showed 225 00:12:06,760 --> 00:12:09,480 Speaker 3: when she was awarded it. She showed real life, like 226 00:12:09,520 --> 00:12:13,760 Speaker 3: I said, wisdom and humility, that it's a beautiful presentation. 227 00:12:14,280 --> 00:12:17,959 Speaker 3: And she just said, look, the difference you have made 228 00:12:18,920 --> 00:12:24,040 Speaker 3: for the people of Venezuela is transformative. I think that 229 00:12:24,240 --> 00:12:26,640 Speaker 3: was a wise decision on her part. 230 00:12:26,840 --> 00:12:29,240 Speaker 1: So let's talk just a little bit about about her 231 00:12:29,440 --> 00:12:33,960 Speaker 1: and what was her message to you, Senator for Venezuela 232 00:12:34,080 --> 00:12:37,360 Speaker 1: its future. Obviously there's a lot of people in Venezuela 233 00:12:37,400 --> 00:12:40,080 Speaker 1: that hope that she would be the leader of that country, 234 00:12:40,559 --> 00:12:44,439 Speaker 1: but she is clearly spending time in DC as an advocate. 235 00:12:44,559 --> 00:12:48,560 Speaker 1: I also think the president meeting with her make no mistake. 236 00:12:48,720 --> 00:12:51,400 Speaker 1: That is to send a message to those in Venezuela 237 00:12:51,840 --> 00:12:54,240 Speaker 1: that if you don't play by the rules that we've 238 00:12:54,320 --> 00:12:57,520 Speaker 1: talked about, we are talking to others that will play 239 00:12:57,600 --> 00:12:58,480 Speaker 1: by those rules. 240 00:12:58,559 --> 00:13:01,400 Speaker 2: I think that's a really and political point as well. 241 00:13:01,880 --> 00:13:04,400 Speaker 3: Well. And Machado right now is an exile. She's in 242 00:13:04,440 --> 00:13:07,200 Speaker 3: the United States. She she fled for her life because 243 00:13:07,240 --> 00:13:09,079 Speaker 3: Maduro was was was going to kill her. 244 00:13:09,640 --> 00:13:09,840 Speaker 1: Uh. 245 00:13:09,920 --> 00:13:11,960 Speaker 3: And and she wants to go back. And and so 246 00:13:12,120 --> 00:13:15,800 Speaker 3: when she when she left the White House, left meeting 247 00:13:15,800 --> 00:13:18,040 Speaker 3: with President Trump, she came to Capitol Hill, and she 248 00:13:18,120 --> 00:13:20,480 Speaker 3: met with about a dozen senators and we sat down 249 00:13:20,520 --> 00:13:23,640 Speaker 3: and spent oh probably forty five minutes talking with her. 250 00:13:24,000 --> 00:13:26,640 Speaker 3: And and and I got to say, I've visited with 251 00:13:26,720 --> 00:13:30,040 Speaker 3: her before. She has uh. I think an enormous amount 252 00:13:30,080 --> 00:13:33,240 Speaker 3: of courage, an enormous amount of grace, grace. I asked her, 253 00:13:34,280 --> 00:13:36,920 Speaker 3: I said, tell me the reaction on the street. Tell me, 254 00:13:36,960 --> 00:13:39,520 Speaker 3: tell me how people are reacting just in Venezuela. And 255 00:13:39,559 --> 00:13:43,520 Speaker 3: she said, they're just they are overjoyed that there's a 256 00:13:43,600 --> 00:13:46,120 Speaker 3: level of relief, there's a level of just they can't 257 00:13:46,400 --> 00:13:52,160 Speaker 3: cannot believe Maduro is finally gone. They've also because the 258 00:13:52,160 --> 00:13:56,360 Speaker 3: Trump administration has been pressing the Maduro regime been pressing 259 00:13:56,440 --> 00:14:00,720 Speaker 3: Delsi Rodriguez, who's the acting president. They've released a significant 260 00:14:00,800 --> 00:14:03,480 Speaker 3: number of political prisoners. So the political prisoners, many of 261 00:14:03,520 --> 00:14:05,199 Speaker 3: them have been released. And she said, there's a lot 262 00:14:05,200 --> 00:14:07,960 Speaker 3: of celebration on the ground for that. But she said, look, 263 00:14:07,960 --> 00:14:11,360 Speaker 3: the political prisoners are still being monitored, They're still being watched, 264 00:14:11,400 --> 00:14:14,680 Speaker 3: they still have to check in. And she emphasized the 265 00:14:14,760 --> 00:14:19,160 Speaker 3: regime is still the communist regime. Delsi Rodriguez is a communist. 266 00:14:20,760 --> 00:14:25,160 Speaker 3: She she was was Maduro's right hand and and and 267 00:14:25,240 --> 00:14:28,920 Speaker 3: so she says, there's there's enormous celebration. But the second 268 00:14:29,040 --> 00:14:33,200 Speaker 3: question I asked her is I said, listen, what steps 269 00:14:33,600 --> 00:14:36,600 Speaker 3: do we need to take to move towards free and 270 00:14:36,640 --> 00:14:39,680 Speaker 3: fair elections? And that was one of the things she 271 00:14:39,880 --> 00:14:42,960 Speaker 3: really wanted to emphasize. She said, look, the people of Venezuela, 272 00:14:43,000 --> 00:14:45,600 Speaker 3: they want UH to have a chance to vote to 273 00:14:45,680 --> 00:14:48,720 Speaker 3: elect their leader. And and and and she said, right now, 274 00:14:48,760 --> 00:14:53,320 Speaker 3: the Rodriguez administration is the Maduro administration. It is illegitimate. 275 00:14:53,360 --> 00:14:57,080 Speaker 3: They were beaten in the last election, they were roundly defeated, 276 00:14:57,880 --> 00:15:01,000 Speaker 3: and and Maduro held onto power just through brute force, 277 00:15:01,040 --> 00:15:03,680 Speaker 3: because he controlled the army, and so the fact that 278 00:15:03,720 --> 00:15:06,400 Speaker 3: the voters voted him out office didn't matter to him. 279 00:15:06,840 --> 00:15:09,120 Speaker 3: Rodriguez is in office for the same reason, and so 280 00:15:09,280 --> 00:15:13,600 Speaker 3: my view is we need to move swiftly towards free 281 00:15:13,600 --> 00:15:17,720 Speaker 3: and fair election. There was some conversation. One Democrat senator 282 00:15:17,800 --> 00:15:22,359 Speaker 3: asked her what time frame for election. She was wisely 283 00:15:22,520 --> 00:15:25,200 Speaker 3: noncommittal on that, and she said, look, I just hope 284 00:15:25,240 --> 00:15:28,160 Speaker 3: it moves swiftly. And the Democrat senator says, well, if 285 00:15:28,200 --> 00:15:30,600 Speaker 3: it goes a year, will that be too long. I'll 286 00:15:30,640 --> 00:15:32,400 Speaker 3: tell you what I chimed in. I said, I think 287 00:15:32,400 --> 00:15:34,400 Speaker 3: it should happen within six months. I think that is 288 00:15:34,440 --> 00:15:36,640 Speaker 3: the right timing. I think you need a little bit 289 00:15:36,680 --> 00:15:40,320 Speaker 3: of transition. But I think the faster we move to 290 00:15:40,440 --> 00:15:44,560 Speaker 3: elections and someone with legitimacy who will be elected and 291 00:15:44,760 --> 00:15:47,280 Speaker 3: will be a friend of America, the faster the better. 292 00:15:49,200 --> 00:15:49,480 Speaker 2: Senator. 293 00:15:49,560 --> 00:15:51,720 Speaker 1: If people just joining us right now, we're talking about 294 00:15:51,720 --> 00:15:53,480 Speaker 1: an incredible wee. Can you get to meet with the 295 00:15:53,480 --> 00:15:57,680 Speaker 1: opposition leader of Venezuela in Washington, d C. 296 00:15:57,960 --> 00:15:59,880 Speaker 2: You mentioned, by the way that the meeting you had. 297 00:15:59,800 --> 00:16:01,440 Speaker 1: With her after she met with the president of the 298 00:16:01,480 --> 00:16:04,040 Speaker 1: United States of America, Donald Trump. Well, it was with 299 00:16:04,080 --> 00:16:06,560 Speaker 1: twelve different centers. So how does that room get made? 300 00:16:06,640 --> 00:16:08,840 Speaker 1: And it sounds like it was by parson You mentioned 301 00:16:08,880 --> 00:16:11,320 Speaker 1: a Democrat that was in that room. Does everybody get 302 00:16:11,320 --> 00:16:13,720 Speaker 1: an invite or only certain people? How does that work? 303 00:16:14,880 --> 00:16:17,800 Speaker 3: So no, it was a smaller subset. And and typically 304 00:16:17,840 --> 00:16:20,600 Speaker 3: what happens when you have heads of state come to Washington, 305 00:16:21,040 --> 00:16:24,040 Speaker 3: they will often reach out to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. 306 00:16:24,080 --> 00:16:26,320 Speaker 3: And I sit on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and 307 00:16:26,360 --> 00:16:30,440 Speaker 3: so often we will have regularly we'll have at like 308 00:16:30,520 --> 00:16:33,640 Speaker 3: afternoon coffees or lunch lunches with heads of state when 309 00:16:33,680 --> 00:16:36,680 Speaker 3: they could they come to town. And and in the capital 310 00:16:36,720 --> 00:16:39,480 Speaker 3: there's an office where the Senate Foreign Relations Committee meets 311 00:16:39,520 --> 00:16:43,200 Speaker 3: with There's a hearing room with this big ornate table 312 00:16:43,240 --> 00:16:45,800 Speaker 3: that they'll set up and they usually put you have 313 00:16:45,880 --> 00:16:50,240 Speaker 3: some coffee and some some pieces of cheese and crackers 314 00:16:50,280 --> 00:16:53,200 Speaker 3: and like a little bit of a good stuff. Yeah, 315 00:16:53,280 --> 00:16:57,400 Speaker 3: you know, it's but it look it is. It's an 316 00:16:57,400 --> 00:17:00,920 Speaker 3: opportunity to visit with with world leaders. In this instance, 317 00:17:00,960 --> 00:17:04,399 Speaker 3: it wasn't the Senate Form Relations Committee. It ended up 318 00:17:04,480 --> 00:17:07,240 Speaker 3: being we met in the office of Dick Durbin, who 319 00:17:07,280 --> 00:17:09,800 Speaker 3: was the number two Democrat. He was the one hosting it. 320 00:17:10,600 --> 00:17:14,679 Speaker 3: And initially I think durban was making the invites. And 321 00:17:14,720 --> 00:17:17,600 Speaker 3: then this is actually something Marina Karina Machado did that 322 00:17:17,720 --> 00:17:20,600 Speaker 3: I think was very wise. Also, she invited a number 323 00:17:20,600 --> 00:17:22,600 Speaker 3: of people. So the reason I was there is because 324 00:17:22,640 --> 00:17:23,280 Speaker 3: she invited me. 325 00:17:23,760 --> 00:17:27,000 Speaker 1: And and look, I say, Durbin, you didn't make the 326 00:17:27,040 --> 00:17:30,280 Speaker 1: cut on Durbin's is group chat. You're not in that 327 00:17:30,320 --> 00:17:31,200 Speaker 1: group chat with them. 328 00:17:31,920 --> 00:17:36,080 Speaker 3: So look, I suspect that there were some Democrats that 329 00:17:36,280 --> 00:17:38,600 Speaker 3: wanted to have at a meeting of just Democrats in 330 00:17:38,640 --> 00:17:41,880 Speaker 3: her Yeah, and I think that would have been really 331 00:17:42,000 --> 00:17:44,440 Speaker 3: unfortunate if that had happened, because I think the Democrats 332 00:17:44,440 --> 00:17:46,879 Speaker 3: would have wanted to use it to attack Trump. And 333 00:17:47,160 --> 00:17:50,720 Speaker 3: I think she realized that that would be that would 334 00:17:50,720 --> 00:17:53,760 Speaker 3: not further the people of Venezuela, that would not be 335 00:17:53,800 --> 00:17:57,119 Speaker 3: good for anyone, and so she reached out. And we 336 00:17:57,160 --> 00:17:59,480 Speaker 3: had four Republicans who was there were there, So I 337 00:17:59,600 --> 00:18:03,000 Speaker 3: was there, Rick Scott from Florida was there. Uh, Bernie 338 00:18:03,080 --> 00:18:06,320 Speaker 3: Moreno uh from Ohio was there, and and then John 339 00:18:06,400 --> 00:18:08,360 Speaker 3: Curtis from Utah was there. So that was the four 340 00:18:08,400 --> 00:18:10,720 Speaker 3: Republicans who were in the room, and then there were 341 00:18:10,720 --> 00:18:13,679 Speaker 3: about seven eight nine Democrats that were there, so it 342 00:18:13,720 --> 00:18:17,120 Speaker 3: was a larger group of Democrats, and they were all 343 00:18:17,160 --> 00:18:20,840 Speaker 3: posing for the cameras and and and and look, I 344 00:18:21,440 --> 00:18:24,880 Speaker 3: think Rick Scott had had obvious reason to be be there. 345 00:18:24,920 --> 00:18:29,360 Speaker 3: There's a big, big Venezuelan population in Florida. Uh, Rick 346 00:18:29,359 --> 00:18:32,160 Speaker 3: Scott has a lot of support from the Venezuelan population 347 00:18:32,240 --> 00:18:35,280 Speaker 3: in Florida, so it made sense for him to be there. Bernie, 348 00:18:35,320 --> 00:18:38,679 Speaker 3: his family's from Colombia, and so you know, he you know, 349 00:18:38,720 --> 00:18:42,040 Speaker 3: Bernie and I are are the two two Hispanic Republicans 350 00:18:42,040 --> 00:18:45,119 Speaker 3: that are in the Senate. Yeah, and and since he's 351 00:18:45,440 --> 00:18:48,119 Speaker 3: Colombian American, I'm Cuban American. We kind of talked smack 352 00:18:48,160 --> 00:18:51,120 Speaker 3: at each other quite a bit, and Colombians and Cubans 353 00:18:51,200 --> 00:18:55,639 Speaker 3: usually throw down a little bit. And and you know 354 00:18:55,680 --> 00:18:58,960 Speaker 3: what it as for me. Look, there's a significant Venezuelan 355 00:18:58,960 --> 00:19:03,600 Speaker 3: population in Texas, in particularly because Venezuela has the largest 356 00:19:03,960 --> 00:19:08,960 Speaker 3: proven reserves of oil in the world, and Houston is 357 00:19:09,000 --> 00:19:11,679 Speaker 3: obviously the energy capital of the world. And so there 358 00:19:11,680 --> 00:19:14,520 Speaker 3: are a lot of Venezuelans who were in Houston. A 359 00:19:14,560 --> 00:19:17,480 Speaker 3: lot of Houston oil companies have been down in Venezuela 360 00:19:17,520 --> 00:19:21,560 Speaker 3: over the years. For many years, there was a group 361 00:19:21,640 --> 00:19:25,400 Speaker 3: called the Sitgo six that were Americans who were imprisoned 362 00:19:25,400 --> 00:19:28,639 Speaker 3: in Venezuela, and they were Houstonians. They worked for Citgo, 363 00:19:28,760 --> 00:19:31,560 Speaker 3: the oil company, and and Maduro had put them in prison, 364 00:19:32,040 --> 00:19:34,520 Speaker 3: and I was their leading advocate in the Senate. I 365 00:19:34,520 --> 00:19:37,280 Speaker 3: went to the Senate floor repeatedly. I spoke out for them. 366 00:19:37,600 --> 00:19:42,800 Speaker 3: I leaned repeatedly on the regime, and ultimately the Sitgo 367 00:19:42,840 --> 00:19:45,679 Speaker 3: six were released. But it had been you know, I 368 00:19:45,800 --> 00:19:50,880 Speaker 3: visited with with brick Orinomachado previously, had been engaged. I'd 369 00:19:50,880 --> 00:19:54,320 Speaker 3: been engaged with the opposition leaders for some time. And 370 00:19:54,320 --> 00:19:57,440 Speaker 3: and part of that is listen, I hate communists. It 371 00:19:58,240 --> 00:20:03,240 Speaker 3: is you know, my family was imprisoned and tortured by communists. 372 00:20:03,280 --> 00:20:05,520 Speaker 3: My dad was in prison and tortured by Batista was 373 00:20:05,560 --> 00:20:09,399 Speaker 3: not a communist, but my aunt, Mike Deasagna, was imprisoned 374 00:20:09,400 --> 00:20:12,800 Speaker 3: and tortured by Castro's goons. And and so when it 375 00:20:12,880 --> 00:20:14,520 Speaker 3: comes to communists, my. 376 00:20:15,280 --> 00:20:17,240 Speaker 2: You're talking, one of the level is extremely low. 377 00:20:17,600 --> 00:20:20,160 Speaker 3: I think they're in the embodiment of evil, and and 378 00:20:20,160 --> 00:20:22,680 Speaker 3: and and one of the real missions that I've had 379 00:20:22,760 --> 00:20:24,960 Speaker 3: really since since the day I got elected to the Senate, 380 00:20:25,680 --> 00:20:28,119 Speaker 3: is trying to highlight dissonance. I think there's a real 381 00:20:28,400 --> 00:20:31,760 Speaker 3: power to dissonance. There's a real power to those that 382 00:20:31,920 --> 00:20:35,239 Speaker 3: stand up to tyrants, that that that show courage and 383 00:20:35,280 --> 00:20:39,840 Speaker 3: that face prison and human rights abuses, because we've seen 384 00:20:40,200 --> 00:20:44,760 Speaker 3: tyrannies collapse because of the threats to their legitimacy. And 385 00:20:44,800 --> 00:20:47,040 Speaker 3: so I've tried in my time in the Senate really 386 00:20:47,080 --> 00:20:49,920 Speaker 3: to shine a light and amplify the message of dissonance. 387 00:20:50,640 --> 00:20:51,879 Speaker 1: And I got you and I, by the way, I've 388 00:20:51,880 --> 00:20:53,440 Speaker 1: talked about this this week when I was up in 389 00:20:53,520 --> 00:20:55,320 Speaker 1: DC and we had Bruce pearl on. By the way, 390 00:20:55,320 --> 00:20:57,639 Speaker 1: if you missed that show, go back and listen to it. 391 00:20:57,720 --> 00:21:01,800 Speaker 1: The famous basketball coach is a man sitting up for 392 00:21:01,920 --> 00:21:02,720 Speaker 1: Israel right now. 393 00:21:02,760 --> 00:21:04,639 Speaker 3: And that was a fun podcast. 394 00:21:05,000 --> 00:21:07,399 Speaker 2: It really was go back and grab it. But you 395 00:21:07,440 --> 00:21:08,200 Speaker 2: and I have talked about it. 396 00:21:08,359 --> 00:21:10,640 Speaker 3: And by the way, I did talk with someone last 397 00:21:10,720 --> 00:21:13,159 Speaker 3: night who said said she loved the podcast, and she 398 00:21:13,240 --> 00:21:16,200 Speaker 3: was she cracked up the most by hearing that Bruce 399 00:21:16,240 --> 00:21:19,200 Speaker 3: and I shared having both run around naked in college 400 00:21:19,600 --> 00:21:21,480 Speaker 3: streaking on campus. So if you want to hear the 401 00:21:21,520 --> 00:21:24,639 Speaker 3: story of that. Go listen, Go listen to the last podcast. 402 00:21:25,280 --> 00:21:27,399 Speaker 2: There you go. That's an easy tease right there. 403 00:21:28,200 --> 00:21:31,040 Speaker 1: You and I I've talked about the moment that we're 404 00:21:31,040 --> 00:21:34,080 Speaker 1: living in right now could be one of the biggest 405 00:21:34,160 --> 00:21:38,520 Speaker 1: historical moments, certainly of my lifetime, and that is we 406 00:21:38,600 --> 00:21:43,040 Speaker 1: have three countries that without Donald Trump being president right now, 407 00:21:43,160 --> 00:21:45,120 Speaker 1: if Kamala Harris is in the White House, we would 408 00:21:45,200 --> 00:21:47,840 Speaker 1: not be having this conversation. I believe that are on 409 00:21:47,920 --> 00:21:50,600 Speaker 1: the verge of quite possibly having free and fair elections 410 00:21:50,640 --> 00:21:53,679 Speaker 1: within the next twelve months. And that would be Iran, 411 00:21:53,880 --> 00:21:57,119 Speaker 1: that would be Venezuela, that would also be Cuba. People 412 00:21:57,160 --> 00:22:00,440 Speaker 1: are standing up for them stillselves and saying to their 413 00:22:00,520 --> 00:22:04,480 Speaker 1: government because they're being inspired by Donald Trump and what 414 00:22:04,600 --> 00:22:06,560 Speaker 1: he's also said, which is we have your back. 415 00:22:07,280 --> 00:22:09,680 Speaker 3: Well, and I want to take a moment for us 416 00:22:09,760 --> 00:22:14,720 Speaker 3: just to reflect on the incredible consequential times we're living. 417 00:22:14,720 --> 00:22:16,520 Speaker 3: And this is a point that I made to Machado 418 00:22:16,600 --> 00:22:19,719 Speaker 3: when she was in DC. I said, Look, it is 419 00:22:19,960 --> 00:22:23,639 Speaker 3: entirely possible that in the next few months, in the 420 00:22:23,680 --> 00:22:28,280 Speaker 3: next six months, we could see the regimes fall in Venezuela, 421 00:22:28,920 --> 00:22:33,840 Speaker 3: in Cuba, and Iran. We could see elections in Venezuela, 422 00:22:34,240 --> 00:22:39,119 Speaker 3: in Cuba and Iran, we could see leaders elected by 423 00:22:39,200 --> 00:22:42,240 Speaker 3: the people who stand for freedom and who want to 424 00:22:42,280 --> 00:22:45,040 Speaker 3: stand with America and be friends with America. We could 425 00:22:45,040 --> 00:22:48,439 Speaker 3: see that in Venezuela, in Cuba, and Iran, Iran. It 426 00:22:48,480 --> 00:22:52,199 Speaker 3: could happen literally in the next few hours of the 427 00:22:52,200 --> 00:22:56,480 Speaker 3: next few days. What is happening in Iran is so consequential, 428 00:22:56,800 --> 00:22:59,639 Speaker 3: what is happening in Venezuela is so consequential. In Cuba 429 00:22:59,720 --> 00:23:05,240 Speaker 3: is not far behind. And if that happens, that will 430 00:23:05,280 --> 00:23:09,760 Speaker 3: be the single most significant foreign policy development the world 431 00:23:09,800 --> 00:23:13,760 Speaker 3: has seen since the Berlin Wall was torn to the ground. 432 00:23:14,240 --> 00:23:20,200 Speaker 3: It will literally remake the geopolitical map and the consequences 433 00:23:20,200 --> 00:23:23,560 Speaker 3: of that. Now, to be clear, there are a thousand 434 00:23:23,600 --> 00:23:25,600 Speaker 3: things that can go wrong. There are a thousand things 435 00:23:25,640 --> 00:23:29,159 Speaker 3: that could go wrong in Venezuela, in Cuba, in Iran. 436 00:23:29,280 --> 00:23:32,639 Speaker 3: It's not guaranteed. In fact, it is guaranteed to not 437 00:23:32,840 --> 00:23:35,639 Speaker 3: be smooth and without challenges at is one hundred percent. 438 00:23:36,280 --> 00:23:39,000 Speaker 3: It will be bumpy and there will be challenges. But 439 00:23:39,920 --> 00:23:42,840 Speaker 3: all three regimes are in a panic, they are in 440 00:23:42,880 --> 00:23:46,320 Speaker 3: a free fall, and the people of all three countries 441 00:23:46,359 --> 00:23:49,639 Speaker 3: are energized. If you were to pick three countries that 442 00:23:49,760 --> 00:23:55,880 Speaker 3: for decades have been explicitly passionately anti American, the regimes, 443 00:23:56,240 --> 00:24:01,000 Speaker 3: the rulers have been responsible for terrorists, I'm responsible for 444 00:24:01,040 --> 00:24:04,600 Speaker 3: threatening the lives of Americans. It would be difficult to 445 00:24:04,680 --> 00:24:09,920 Speaker 3: find three more dangerous than Iran, Venezuela, and Cuba. And 446 00:24:10,359 --> 00:24:14,280 Speaker 3: you're right. This is the direct consequence of strong leadership 447 00:24:14,320 --> 00:24:16,720 Speaker 3: from the commander in chief. And it was interesting. One 448 00:24:16,720 --> 00:24:19,000 Speaker 3: of the Democrat senators who was in the meeting with me, 449 00:24:19,520 --> 00:24:21,920 Speaker 3: he actually pulled me aside afterwards and said, you know, Ted, 450 00:24:22,000 --> 00:24:25,359 Speaker 3: you made this point yesterday that this could be a 451 00:24:25,520 --> 00:24:29,760 Speaker 3: time as consequential as the Berlin Wall being torn to 452 00:24:29,760 --> 00:24:32,399 Speaker 3: the ground. And he said, I hadn't really thought about 453 00:24:32,400 --> 00:24:35,760 Speaker 3: it that way, but you're right, and it was an 454 00:24:35,800 --> 00:24:40,000 Speaker 3: interesting point. And I have to say one of the things, Look, 455 00:24:40,040 --> 00:24:44,160 Speaker 3: I was really impressed with Machado, how she handled her message, 456 00:24:44,600 --> 00:24:49,639 Speaker 3: by the way, to the senators, was that America's support 457 00:24:49,720 --> 00:24:53,720 Speaker 3: is really important to Venezuela and seeing some unity. Look, 458 00:24:53,760 --> 00:24:57,400 Speaker 3: her message, she was not in any way chastising the Democrats, 459 00:24:58,400 --> 00:25:02,240 Speaker 3: but she did say unity is really important, and what 460 00:25:02,440 --> 00:25:05,879 Speaker 3: is happening the people of Venezuela. This would not have 461 00:25:05,960 --> 00:25:08,520 Speaker 3: happened without President Trump. And there were some very partisan 462 00:25:08,560 --> 00:25:11,240 Speaker 3: Democrats in that room who were not thrilled to hear 463 00:25:11,280 --> 00:25:14,720 Speaker 3: that message, because their message every day is Trump bad, 464 00:25:14,720 --> 00:25:17,960 Speaker 3: Trump bad, Trump bad. But but she didn't want to 465 00:25:18,040 --> 00:25:20,240 Speaker 3: argue with them on that. But she just said, listen, 466 00:25:21,200 --> 00:25:25,400 Speaker 3: this is a moment we've waited decades for. And and 467 00:25:25,400 --> 00:25:28,439 Speaker 3: and in the opposition, she said, so many people in Venezuela, 468 00:25:28,520 --> 00:25:30,879 Speaker 3: what they said is this day would never come. This 469 00:25:31,000 --> 00:25:33,320 Speaker 3: day would never come, and it came, and it is here, 470 00:25:33,800 --> 00:25:37,240 Speaker 3: and and and seeing unity from America right now is 471 00:25:37,280 --> 00:25:40,400 Speaker 3: so important. Look, I think the same is true for Iran, 472 00:25:40,560 --> 00:25:46,960 Speaker 3: seeing unity standing with the protesters against the Ayahtola. If 473 00:25:47,000 --> 00:25:49,359 Speaker 3: we are six months from now, with the with the 474 00:25:49,400 --> 00:25:52,840 Speaker 3: governments and the leaders of those three countries being pro 475 00:25:52,880 --> 00:25:56,600 Speaker 3: American and want wanting to be our friends. 476 00:25:56,400 --> 00:25:58,600 Speaker 2: That is like Holy Cow. 477 00:25:59,280 --> 00:26:02,120 Speaker 3: That makes the world much safer, and that makes every 478 00:26:02,119 --> 00:26:03,119 Speaker 3: American much safer. 479 00:26:04,640 --> 00:26:06,439 Speaker 1: Sata, I want to ask you real quick before we 480 00:26:06,520 --> 00:26:08,879 Speaker 1: get back to Texas, where you had an amazing trip 481 00:26:08,920 --> 00:26:11,639 Speaker 1: with the Secretary of War. You got to go to 482 00:26:11,800 --> 00:26:14,920 Speaker 1: the plant where they make f thirty five. That's incredible, 483 00:26:14,960 --> 00:26:16,920 Speaker 1: and you got to go meet with Elon Musk again 484 00:26:17,440 --> 00:26:21,320 Speaker 1: and take a tour of what he's doing down in Brownsville, Texas. 485 00:26:21,480 --> 00:26:23,480 Speaker 1: But one other question I just want to get your 486 00:26:23,520 --> 00:26:26,240 Speaker 1: reaction to, and that is what are you hearing? What 487 00:26:26,320 --> 00:26:29,080 Speaker 1: have you guys been told this week about what's actually 488 00:26:29,119 --> 00:26:31,639 Speaker 1: happening in Iran? To be clear, depending on when you 489 00:26:31,680 --> 00:26:35,119 Speaker 1: hear this, things could change. So it's changing quickly. But 490 00:26:35,160 --> 00:26:38,040 Speaker 1: we've had an internet blackout there, the phones and the 491 00:26:38,080 --> 00:26:40,560 Speaker 1: landlines they've shut down. They didn't want information it out. 492 00:26:40,600 --> 00:26:44,440 Speaker 1: We saw the death toll rise significantly during that blackout period, 493 00:26:44,440 --> 00:26:46,399 Speaker 1: and then the president said the killing had stopped. He 494 00:26:46,440 --> 00:26:48,120 Speaker 1: said that the White House and he's like, look, I'm 495 00:26:48,119 --> 00:26:49,600 Speaker 1: looking at all options on the table. 496 00:26:49,920 --> 00:26:51,720 Speaker 2: What do you know and what have you been told? 497 00:26:52,560 --> 00:26:55,320 Speaker 3: Well, we have been saying for a number of days now, 498 00:26:55,480 --> 00:26:58,760 Speaker 3: over a million Iranians taking to the street day after 499 00:26:58,880 --> 00:27:02,480 Speaker 3: day after day and pro test. It's the administration that 500 00:27:02,560 --> 00:27:04,879 Speaker 3: the regime is doing everything they can to try to 501 00:27:04,920 --> 00:27:09,280 Speaker 3: put the protests down. They're responding with violence. It is difficult. 502 00:27:09,359 --> 00:27:13,160 Speaker 3: Anytime you have a conflict, you have unrest. In this case, 503 00:27:13,200 --> 00:27:15,639 Speaker 3: you have potentially a revolution, that there is a fog 504 00:27:15,680 --> 00:27:18,520 Speaker 3: of war, and so it is difficult to get clear 505 00:27:18,520 --> 00:27:21,840 Speaker 3: and accurate numbers. I've seen death tolls as high as 506 00:27:21,880 --> 00:27:26,040 Speaker 3: twelve thousand Iranians murdered by the regime trying to put 507 00:27:26,080 --> 00:27:29,000 Speaker 3: down the protesters, and they continue standing up and risking 508 00:27:29,040 --> 00:27:32,800 Speaker 3: their lives. It is incredible heroism. It is difficult to 509 00:27:32,880 --> 00:27:36,439 Speaker 3: get accurate information from the ground, although one of the 510 00:27:36,480 --> 00:27:40,600 Speaker 3: things that has helped is Elon Musk is providing free starlink. 511 00:27:40,680 --> 00:27:43,000 Speaker 3: So even though the Iotola and the mulas are blocking 512 00:27:43,080 --> 00:27:47,679 Speaker 3: the Internet, blocking television, starlink is operating for free. You know, 513 00:27:47,800 --> 00:27:49,960 Speaker 3: just a few minutes ago, a friend of mine who's 514 00:27:49,960 --> 00:27:53,120 Speaker 3: a senior official at the State Department, texted me said, 515 00:27:53,160 --> 00:27:57,240 Speaker 3: I'm currently in the Middle East. This region feels ready 516 00:27:57,280 --> 00:28:01,840 Speaker 3: to break free from Iran and turn to the future 517 00:28:02,000 --> 00:28:06,280 Speaker 3: like it. Wow, this could be imminent. This could happen 518 00:28:06,400 --> 00:28:11,120 Speaker 3: within hours or days. And it's powerful. 519 00:28:11,160 --> 00:28:11,679 Speaker 2: What's happening. 520 00:28:12,680 --> 00:28:15,560 Speaker 1: It really is also the president keeping all options on 521 00:28:15,600 --> 00:28:17,520 Speaker 1: the table. I think that's one of the great parts 522 00:28:17,560 --> 00:28:20,040 Speaker 1: of his foreign policy. Yes, there's a lot of people 523 00:28:20,119 --> 00:28:21,879 Speaker 1: that are that are you know, there's warhawks that want 524 00:28:21,960 --> 00:28:24,160 Speaker 1: them just to go in and bomb things. There's also 525 00:28:24,160 --> 00:28:26,040 Speaker 1: I think some Democrats that wanted to do that so 526 00:28:26,080 --> 00:28:29,400 Speaker 1: they can then criticize him. I think he has done 527 00:28:29,400 --> 00:28:33,680 Speaker 1: a masterful job this time with diplomacy and also transparency, 528 00:28:33,680 --> 00:28:35,480 Speaker 1: but also making it clear there is a red line 529 00:28:35,520 --> 00:28:38,840 Speaker 1: with the United States of America and I'm not afraid 530 00:28:39,200 --> 00:28:41,160 Speaker 1: to use the military if I need to save the 531 00:28:41,200 --> 00:28:43,200 Speaker 1: people's lives that are being persecuted. 532 00:28:43,600 --> 00:28:46,720 Speaker 3: Well, and there's a massive difference between now and two 533 00:28:46,800 --> 00:28:48,880 Speaker 3: thousand and nine when you had the Green Revolution. The 534 00:28:48,960 --> 00:28:51,200 Speaker 3: last time you had Iranians really rising up in big, 535 00:28:51,240 --> 00:28:54,080 Speaker 3: big numbers. In two thousand and nine, Barack Obama was 536 00:28:54,120 --> 00:28:56,400 Speaker 3: in the White House and they made a conscious decision 537 00:28:56,880 --> 00:29:00,760 Speaker 3: to undermine the protesters and stand with the regime. And 538 00:29:00,800 --> 00:29:03,440 Speaker 3: it was exactly backwards. And I gotta say. 539 00:29:03,320 --> 00:29:06,480 Speaker 1: People of that scenario because that story still is astounding 540 00:29:06,560 --> 00:29:08,360 Speaker 1: if you think about it compared to what we're seeing now. 541 00:29:08,840 --> 00:29:13,640 Speaker 3: Yeah, look at it was the Obama administration decided they 542 00:29:13,680 --> 00:29:15,600 Speaker 3: were going to stand with the Iatola and stand with 543 00:29:15,640 --> 00:29:19,320 Speaker 3: the Mullas, and so that they discourage the protesters, they 544 00:29:19,360 --> 00:29:22,000 Speaker 3: did not support them. And it is night and day. 545 00:29:22,080 --> 00:29:24,520 Speaker 3: Donald J. Trump is not Barack Obama, and he's not 546 00:29:24,640 --> 00:29:28,440 Speaker 3: Joe Biden. He is instead telling the people of Iran, 547 00:29:28,560 --> 00:29:31,440 Speaker 3: we are with you, we have your back. He's also 548 00:29:31,640 --> 00:29:35,400 Speaker 3: saying he is threatening real consequences to the regime if 549 00:29:35,400 --> 00:29:37,840 Speaker 3: they murder the protesters. I think that's a real deterrent. 550 00:29:38,160 --> 00:29:41,320 Speaker 3: He's telling the protesters write down the names of anyone 551 00:29:41,360 --> 00:29:45,880 Speaker 3: attacking you. There will be consequences. And you're right. President 552 00:29:45,920 --> 00:29:50,680 Speaker 3: Trump has been reluctant to use military force unnecessarily, but 553 00:29:50,760 --> 00:29:54,520 Speaker 3: he hasn't been afraid to wield a stick. And that 554 00:29:54,720 --> 00:29:57,880 Speaker 3: is why our adversaries are so terrified. It's why you're 555 00:29:57,920 --> 00:29:59,920 Speaker 3: seeing change sweeping glow. 556 00:30:00,560 --> 00:30:00,840 Speaker 2: Yeah. 557 00:30:00,920 --> 00:30:03,480 Speaker 1: Now, let's go back to Texas, and in this deal's 558 00:30:03,600 --> 00:30:07,600 Speaker 1: national security as well. Uh, in our military. You you 559 00:30:07,880 --> 00:30:11,000 Speaker 1: toured with a Secretary of Wars, Pete Headseth, a good 560 00:30:11,040 --> 00:30:13,880 Speaker 1: friend of both of ours. Something that I'm jealous. I'm 561 00:30:13,880 --> 00:30:16,200 Speaker 1: not gonna lie. I would have gone. I would have 562 00:30:16,280 --> 00:30:18,760 Speaker 1: driven for this invite. You got to go to the 563 00:30:18,840 --> 00:30:21,520 Speaker 1: F thirty five factory. How cool is that? 564 00:30:22,120 --> 00:30:24,440 Speaker 3: Yeah? So, so Monday was a full day. I started 565 00:30:24,440 --> 00:30:26,960 Speaker 3: in Houston, I drove to San Antonio. I visited the 566 00:30:26,960 --> 00:30:31,360 Speaker 3: three soldiers who were wounded in the Maduro Raid. I 567 00:30:31,400 --> 00:30:33,720 Speaker 3: then flew with the Secretary of Defense to Fort Worth, 568 00:30:33,760 --> 00:30:36,840 Speaker 3: went to the F thirty five plant, then flew to Brownsville, 569 00:30:36,880 --> 00:30:39,280 Speaker 3: went went went to Starbase, and then flew to DC 570 00:30:39,440 --> 00:30:41,280 Speaker 3: all in one day, so it was five cities in 571 00:30:41,360 --> 00:30:41,800 Speaker 3: one day. 572 00:30:42,360 --> 00:30:42,560 Speaker 2: Wow. 573 00:30:43,360 --> 00:30:46,120 Speaker 3: Fort Worth. The F thirty five plant is incredible. The 574 00:30:46,200 --> 00:30:50,680 Speaker 3: plant is over a mile long. They're building F thirty 575 00:30:50,720 --> 00:30:54,680 Speaker 3: five fifth generation fighter jets. The technology on them is incredible. 576 00:30:55,080 --> 00:30:57,840 Speaker 3: One of the reasons that we're able to prevail in 577 00:30:57,960 --> 00:31:00,800 Speaker 3: military conflicts and and no one else can really come 578 00:31:00,880 --> 00:31:04,760 Speaker 3: close is because of the incredible technology and Texans. We're 579 00:31:04,840 --> 00:31:08,440 Speaker 3: proud F thirty five's are built right here in Texas. 580 00:31:09,120 --> 00:31:12,800 Speaker 3: The workers that are there, we had a chance to 581 00:31:12,880 --> 00:31:15,600 Speaker 3: visit with a great many of them. Secretary heag Seth 582 00:31:15,680 --> 00:31:18,080 Speaker 3: gave it address to the workers, thank them for their 583 00:31:18,120 --> 00:31:24,960 Speaker 3: incredible work helping protect America, helping keep America strong. And 584 00:31:25,400 --> 00:31:28,120 Speaker 3: then I got to say down in Star Bas, Elon 585 00:31:28,320 --> 00:31:32,000 Speaker 3: was there. We spent several hours with Elon, toured around 586 00:31:32,000 --> 00:31:33,640 Speaker 3: and I've been I've been to the F thirty five 587 00:31:33,680 --> 00:31:37,200 Speaker 3: plant before, I've been to starbas down in Bocachica multiple times. 588 00:31:37,800 --> 00:31:39,640 Speaker 3: I got to tell you. Every time I go to 589 00:31:39,640 --> 00:31:44,360 Speaker 3: starbas it's advanced further. So this time around they're now 590 00:31:44,360 --> 00:31:47,320 Speaker 3: on the third generation starships. Last time I was there, 591 00:31:47,320 --> 00:31:50,520 Speaker 3: there were on the second generation starships. The third generation 592 00:31:50,720 --> 00:31:54,360 Speaker 3: has substantially more lift. The new engines are in it. 593 00:31:54,480 --> 00:32:00,200 Speaker 3: You look at the degree of rapid innovation, and they're 594 00:32:00,280 --> 00:32:03,280 Speaker 3: objective they want to make. They want to make rocket 595 00:32:03,280 --> 00:32:06,600 Speaker 3: ships like airplanes, where basically you think about an airplane, 596 00:32:06,600 --> 00:32:09,600 Speaker 3: you take off, go to your destination, refuel, and you 597 00:32:09,640 --> 00:32:11,160 Speaker 3: go to the next place, and you refuel and you 598 00:32:11,200 --> 00:32:13,720 Speaker 3: go to the next place. And it is such a 599 00:32:13,800 --> 00:32:18,640 Speaker 3: system change from a paradigm shift from the old world 600 00:32:18,640 --> 00:32:20,600 Speaker 3: that a rocket you fire off once, drop at the 601 00:32:20,600 --> 00:32:25,000 Speaker 3: ocean and you're done. In this instance, the objective is 602 00:32:25,480 --> 00:32:30,360 Speaker 3: to dramatically lower the cost of spaceflight. And I will 603 00:32:30,360 --> 00:32:35,520 Speaker 3: tell you for our military look. Secretary of Hegseeth gave 604 00:32:35,560 --> 00:32:40,600 Speaker 3: a major address at SpaceX talking about innovation at the 605 00:32:40,600 --> 00:32:44,080 Speaker 3: Department of War, talking about moving away from the old 606 00:32:44,160 --> 00:32:48,200 Speaker 3: legacy contractors, moving away from the bureaucracy and instead pride, 607 00:32:48,520 --> 00:32:54,080 Speaker 3: prizing and incentivizing innovation, bringing in new innovators. He's also 608 00:32:54,160 --> 00:32:57,600 Speaker 3: talking about leadership that he's doing to shake up the 609 00:32:57,680 --> 00:33:01,800 Speaker 3: old bureaucracy, and to integrate AI in the decision making 610 00:33:01,840 --> 00:33:05,920 Speaker 3: and and and and obviously Elon and x Ai is 611 00:33:06,040 --> 00:33:09,160 Speaker 3: helping lead the world in AI and and one of 612 00:33:09,200 --> 00:33:11,360 Speaker 3: the challenges this is something Pete and I have talked 613 00:33:11,360 --> 00:33:16,040 Speaker 3: about quite a bit. The Pentagon with some frequency fights 614 00:33:16,120 --> 00:33:19,240 Speaker 3: the last war, they think about the war that just 615 00:33:19,320 --> 00:33:23,040 Speaker 3: happened rather than the next war. And and if we 616 00:33:23,160 --> 00:33:27,120 Speaker 3: find ourselves in a military conflict with say, god forbid China. 617 00:33:27,120 --> 00:33:30,120 Speaker 3: And look, everyone wants to avoid a military conflict with China, 618 00:33:30,160 --> 00:33:32,720 Speaker 3: but if we find ourselves in a military conflict with China, 619 00:33:33,200 --> 00:33:37,480 Speaker 3: it's not likely to be aircraft carriers that that decideth 620 00:33:37,520 --> 00:33:41,360 Speaker 3: the way they have in previous military conflicts. That next war, 621 00:33:41,440 --> 00:33:44,560 Speaker 3: particularly with a near peer power, is likely to be 622 00:33:44,680 --> 00:33:47,800 Speaker 3: fought with thousands or tens of thousands, or even hundreds 623 00:33:47,800 --> 00:33:52,080 Speaker 3: of thousands of drones controlled by AI and and and 624 00:33:52,160 --> 00:33:57,000 Speaker 3: so at SpaceX Elon was leaning in, heg Seth was 625 00:33:57,080 --> 00:33:59,440 Speaker 3: leaning in saying, we are trying to create in the 626 00:33:59,440 --> 00:34:03,080 Speaker 3: Pentagon the innovation mindset, so we are ahead of our 627 00:34:03,120 --> 00:34:07,080 Speaker 3: adversaries so that we can avoid war through peace through strength. 628 00:34:07,400 --> 00:34:09,320 Speaker 2: It's incredible, don't forget. 629 00:34:09,320 --> 00:34:11,040 Speaker 1: We do the show three days a week, so make 630 00:34:11,080 --> 00:34:14,120 Speaker 1: sure you download Verdict with tech Cruz. Wherever you get 631 00:34:14,160 --> 00:34:17,080 Speaker 1: your podcast, hit the subscribe or auto download button. 632 00:34:17,200 --> 00:34:18,279 Speaker 2: If you're lit's stay on the radio. 633 00:34:18,360 --> 00:34:20,040 Speaker 1: We'll see you back here next week as well, but 634 00:34:20,120 --> 00:34:22,200 Speaker 1: grab the podcast in between you and also watch it 635 00:34:22,200 --> 00:34:25,280 Speaker 1: on YouTube. It's been Verdict with Ted Cruse, Ben Ferguson 636 00:34:25,320 --> 00:34:26,480 Speaker 1: with you have a great week.