1 00:00:00,360 --> 00:00:03,199 Speaker 1: Welcome in his verdict with Ted Cruz, A week in Review. 2 00:00:03,320 --> 00:00:05,480 Speaker 1: Ben Ferguson with you, and these are the stories that 3 00:00:05,519 --> 00:00:07,640 Speaker 1: you may have missed that we talked about this week. 4 00:00:07,720 --> 00:00:12,560 Speaker 1: First up, Iran doing everything wrong now attacking countries all 5 00:00:12,600 --> 00:00:15,240 Speaker 1: around them, So what does that mean for the region 6 00:00:15,400 --> 00:00:19,639 Speaker 1: and the escalation of this war. Also, a big shake 7 00:00:19,720 --> 00:00:23,080 Speaker 1: up in the Department of Homeland Security. Is christinom is out? 8 00:00:23,360 --> 00:00:26,840 Speaker 1: Who's replacing her? We'll give you the background. And finally, 9 00:00:26,920 --> 00:00:29,640 Speaker 1: it was election night in America, a big Prime Era 10 00:00:29,720 --> 00:00:33,360 Speaker 1: on Tuesday, and a lot of big things happening in Texas. 11 00:00:33,479 --> 00:00:36,120 Speaker 1: We break it all down for you. It's the weekend 12 00:00:36,159 --> 00:00:39,640 Speaker 1: Review and it starts right now. Well, let's go back 13 00:00:39,640 --> 00:00:41,120 Speaker 1: to the Middle East for a moment. One of the 14 00:00:41,159 --> 00:00:44,479 Speaker 1: things that we talk about, you know, the Iotolin and 15 00:00:44,560 --> 00:00:47,639 Speaker 1: his team, they're homicidal and you could also even say 16 00:00:47,680 --> 00:00:52,280 Speaker 1: suicidal and their obsession with killing you know, innocent people 17 00:00:52,400 --> 00:00:56,720 Speaker 1: in their own country, going after Americans, going after Israelis 18 00:00:56,720 --> 00:00:58,880 Speaker 1: as well. But one of the things that I was 19 00:00:58,920 --> 00:01:01,080 Speaker 1: even a little bit shocked by was how quickly they 20 00:01:01,080 --> 00:01:03,440 Speaker 1: decided to bring in every other country on the side 21 00:01:03,440 --> 00:01:06,640 Speaker 1: of Israel in the US by attacking these other Middle 22 00:01:06,680 --> 00:01:09,400 Speaker 1: Eastern nations around them that weren't involved, right, they were, 23 00:01:09,480 --> 00:01:12,319 Speaker 1: they were outside. I were you as shocked as I 24 00:01:12,440 --> 00:01:14,640 Speaker 1: was that they just decided, all right, like whoever's still 25 00:01:14,720 --> 00:01:17,400 Speaker 1: left standing, let's just go after Bahrain, let's go at 26 00:01:17,400 --> 00:01:19,000 Speaker 1: your guitar, let's go after I mean the list is 27 00:01:19,040 --> 00:01:21,600 Speaker 1: pretty long now. If countries they've attacked, and now they 28 00:01:21,720 --> 00:01:24,840 Speaker 1: brought them into the fold, I mean that to me 29 00:01:25,000 --> 00:01:27,800 Speaker 1: just seems like a suicidal mission on their port. 30 00:01:28,600 --> 00:01:32,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, I will admit I was surprised by that. There's 31 00:01:32,280 --> 00:01:35,040 Speaker 2: been a lot of public reporting that suggested that other 32 00:01:35,080 --> 00:01:40,319 Speaker 2: Middle Eastern nations were discouraging President Trump from going after Iran. 33 00:01:40,440 --> 00:01:44,280 Speaker 2: I'm a little bit skeptical of that. I have not 34 00:01:44,920 --> 00:01:48,240 Speaker 2: recently had those conversations with other Middle Eastern nations, but 35 00:01:48,280 --> 00:01:53,360 Speaker 2: I've had many conversations with the Saudi's UAE Bahrain, and 36 00:01:54,040 --> 00:01:57,920 Speaker 2: they have always been very focused on number one, doing 37 00:01:57,920 --> 00:02:01,280 Speaker 2: everything necessary to stop Iran from getting a nuclear weapon. 38 00:02:01,320 --> 00:02:04,000 Speaker 2: The Saudi's have said publicly if Iran ever got a 39 00:02:04,040 --> 00:02:06,480 Speaker 2: nuclear weapon, that they would do everything possible to get 40 00:02:06,520 --> 00:02:10,160 Speaker 2: a nuke themselves to defend themselves from Iran. Uh and 41 00:02:10,240 --> 00:02:13,360 Speaker 2: so I don't know if it's true or not that 42 00:02:13,440 --> 00:02:17,080 Speaker 2: in the recent weeks Saudi Arabia and and other Middle 43 00:02:17,080 --> 00:02:20,880 Speaker 2: Eastern countries were urging Trump not to attack. But but 44 00:02:20,960 --> 00:02:24,400 Speaker 2: I do know that Iran's behavior so they fired, fired 45 00:02:24,440 --> 00:02:28,040 Speaker 2: miss missiles and sent drones and had attacks at almost 46 00:02:28,080 --> 00:02:30,639 Speaker 2: every single Arab country all throughout the Middle East. So 47 00:02:30,680 --> 00:02:33,600 Speaker 2: they've attacked Saudi Arabia, they've attacked UAE, they've attacked Kuwait, 48 00:02:33,639 --> 00:02:38,399 Speaker 2: they've attacked Cutter, they've attacked Bahrain, UH, they've attacked Jordan, UH. 49 00:02:38,440 --> 00:02:42,239 Speaker 2: And we've seen statements from many of those other UH 50 00:02:42,760 --> 00:02:49,639 Speaker 2: Middle Eastern countries, mostly Arab countries, expressing condemning UH, condemning 51 00:02:49,639 --> 00:02:54,919 Speaker 2: Iran's response. And and you know, in my view that 52 00:02:54,960 --> 00:03:00,760 Speaker 2: they're just indiscriminately firing UH, firing abroad. And I think 53 00:03:00,840 --> 00:03:04,920 Speaker 2: their reasoning was that if the United States and or 54 00:03:05,000 --> 00:03:07,000 Speaker 2: Israel hit them, that they wanted to make it as 55 00:03:07,040 --> 00:03:10,639 Speaker 2: painful as possible for the entirety of the region. What 56 00:03:10,680 --> 00:03:15,119 Speaker 2: they have ensured is is that there's basically nobody standing 57 00:03:15,200 --> 00:03:20,359 Speaker 2: up and siding with the Iranians. They're demonstrating essentially they're 58 00:03:20,400 --> 00:03:23,839 Speaker 2: willing to kill anybody and everybody. I got to say, 59 00:03:23,840 --> 00:03:26,840 Speaker 2: that's also a really powerful illustration. If that's what they 60 00:03:26,919 --> 00:03:27,800 Speaker 2: do now. 61 00:03:28,200 --> 00:03:30,280 Speaker 1: Yeah, what would they have done it with a nuclear weapon? 62 00:03:30,440 --> 00:03:30,680 Speaker 3: Yeah? 63 00:03:30,680 --> 00:03:32,560 Speaker 2: Can you imagine how much worse if they had a 64 00:03:32,639 --> 00:03:35,840 Speaker 2: nuclear weapon. And during the whole go back to Obama 65 00:03:35,880 --> 00:03:40,120 Speaker 2: and the debates on Obama's terrible Iran nuclear deal, I 66 00:03:40,160 --> 00:03:45,520 Speaker 2: always said, most of the debate rotated around, well, if 67 00:03:45,520 --> 00:03:47,640 Speaker 2: they had a nuclear weapon, it would change the balance 68 00:03:47,680 --> 00:03:49,640 Speaker 2: of power, it would make them more aggressive, they would 69 00:03:49,640 --> 00:03:53,200 Speaker 2: fund more terrorism. And I always said, look, that's the 70 00:03:53,240 --> 00:03:56,880 Speaker 2: best case scenario. The best case scenario is a horrible situation. 71 00:03:57,640 --> 00:04:00,240 Speaker 2: The worst case is that they would actually use the 72 00:04:00,320 --> 00:04:03,839 Speaker 2: nuclear weapon. And everyone operates under an assumption, well, having 73 00:04:03,880 --> 00:04:07,320 Speaker 2: a nuclear weapon doesn't mean you use it. Listen when 74 00:04:07,360 --> 00:04:12,800 Speaker 2: the Iatola chance death to Israel and death to America. 75 00:04:13,200 --> 00:04:16,120 Speaker 2: I believe him when he calls Israel the little Satan 76 00:04:16,760 --> 00:04:20,080 Speaker 2: and America the great Satan. I believe him. And I 77 00:04:20,120 --> 00:04:22,520 Speaker 2: think the odds are unacceptably high. I don't know what 78 00:04:22,560 --> 00:04:25,440 Speaker 2: they were, but they were unacceptably high that the Iyatola, 79 00:04:25,520 --> 00:04:28,960 Speaker 2: if he had a nuclear weapon, would detonate it, maybe 80 00:04:29,480 --> 00:04:32,719 Speaker 2: in Tel Aviv, or maybe in New York or Los Angeles, 81 00:04:33,360 --> 00:04:37,440 Speaker 2: and I don't want to wake up and discover uh oh, 82 00:04:37,520 --> 00:04:42,080 Speaker 2: the predictions were wrong because we have a mushroom cloud 83 00:04:42,080 --> 00:04:44,960 Speaker 2: and hundreds of thousands or even millions of Americans being 84 00:04:45,080 --> 00:04:47,840 Speaker 2: killed the reason. And by the way, I've got to 85 00:04:47,839 --> 00:04:52,440 Speaker 2: say a lot of the the news reporting is challenging. 86 00:04:52,520 --> 00:04:55,600 Speaker 2: Why would Trump do this attack? You heard Margaret Brennan 87 00:04:55,640 --> 00:05:00,520 Speaker 2: there say Trump campaigned on not getting in war. I 88 00:05:00,560 --> 00:05:02,760 Speaker 2: did after Face the Nation. I also did State of 89 00:05:02,800 --> 00:05:05,640 Speaker 2: the Union with Dana Bash, and Dana Bash asked a 90 00:05:05,720 --> 00:05:09,880 Speaker 2: question of me. She said, you know, President Trump campaigned 91 00:05:10,040 --> 00:05:15,960 Speaker 2: on no more wars. And I in my response, I said, well, Dana, 92 00:05:16,000 --> 00:05:19,600 Speaker 2: you actually misquoted what the President said. What the President 93 00:05:19,680 --> 00:05:21,960 Speaker 2: said was no more forever wars. 94 00:05:22,120 --> 00:05:26,159 Speaker 1: Yeah, in Afghanistan, he said, totally. And troops on the ground, 95 00:05:26,320 --> 00:05:29,120 Speaker 1: this completely different doctrine. You can tell Yeah. 96 00:05:29,440 --> 00:05:31,960 Speaker 2: And I said, listen, We're not going to see troops 97 00:05:31,960 --> 00:05:33,960 Speaker 2: on the ground in Iran. We're not going to see 98 00:05:34,000 --> 00:05:36,320 Speaker 2: hundreds of thousands of Americans there for an extended period 99 00:05:36,360 --> 00:05:37,800 Speaker 2: of time. I don't think we'll see that at all. 100 00:05:39,200 --> 00:05:42,120 Speaker 2: That is very different. And I said, look, there are 101 00:05:42,120 --> 00:05:46,159 Speaker 2: isolationists who want want America to withdraw from the world. 102 00:05:46,560 --> 00:05:50,599 Speaker 2: Donald Trump has never been an isolationist, and he is 103 00:05:50,760 --> 00:05:55,279 Speaker 2: acting to protect America. This is America first. The reason 104 00:05:55,920 --> 00:05:59,240 Speaker 2: we are striking Iran right now is because the odds 105 00:05:59,240 --> 00:06:02,880 Speaker 2: are unacceptable high. Iran has already killed nearly a thousand 106 00:06:02,960 --> 00:06:05,560 Speaker 2: Americans and they have every desire to kill more. As 107 00:06:05,600 --> 00:06:08,360 Speaker 2: I told the President driving in the beast, I said, 108 00:06:08,360 --> 00:06:11,080 Speaker 2: if the Ayatola could kill the two of us right now, 109 00:06:11,800 --> 00:06:14,479 Speaker 2: he would. The only thing that is preventing him is 110 00:06:14,480 --> 00:06:17,440 Speaker 2: that he's not able to because he is trying. And 111 00:06:17,880 --> 00:06:22,080 Speaker 2: so if we have an opportunity to take out this regime, 112 00:06:22,160 --> 00:06:26,120 Speaker 2: and look, my hope is we see a new government 113 00:06:26,279 --> 00:06:29,640 Speaker 2: in Iran that wants to be friends with America. That 114 00:06:29,720 --> 00:06:35,479 Speaker 2: would make this country massively safer. Removing these cycle paths 115 00:06:35,560 --> 00:06:39,880 Speaker 2: from power and replacing them with anything resembling a normal 116 00:06:39,960 --> 00:06:44,040 Speaker 2: government would massively improve the safety of every American. 117 00:06:44,800 --> 00:06:47,479 Speaker 1: Two questions to wrap things up. Number one, I thought 118 00:06:47,480 --> 00:06:50,200 Speaker 1: it was really interesting to see the comparing contrast of 119 00:06:50,279 --> 00:06:53,360 Speaker 1: the women standing up for themselves in Iran on the streets, 120 00:06:53,440 --> 00:06:57,239 Speaker 1: risking their lives, while women in America were actually standing 121 00:06:57,320 --> 00:06:59,840 Speaker 1: up angry at America for going into Iran. We saw 122 00:06:59,880 --> 00:07:01,400 Speaker 1: that in New York City, for example. We saw it 123 00:07:01,440 --> 00:07:05,800 Speaker 1: in some other college campuses. The disconnect from reality from 124 00:07:05,800 --> 00:07:07,840 Speaker 1: some of these leftists is amazing. I want to get 125 00:07:07,880 --> 00:07:09,560 Speaker 1: your take on that real quick. And then also I 126 00:07:09,600 --> 00:07:12,360 Speaker 1: want to talk about the possible closing strait of our 127 00:07:12,400 --> 00:07:14,360 Speaker 1: moves and what that means in what America's role could 128 00:07:14,360 --> 00:07:15,000 Speaker 1: be in that as well. 129 00:07:15,800 --> 00:07:22,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, so today, Comrade Mandami put out a statement that 130 00:07:22,760 --> 00:07:26,160 Speaker 2: I want to read to you. Today's military strikes on Iran, 131 00:07:26,240 --> 00:07:28,800 Speaker 2: carried out by the United States and Israel, mark a 132 00:07:28,880 --> 00:07:32,880 Speaker 2: catastrophic escalation of an illegal war of aggression, bombing cities, 133 00:07:32,960 --> 00:07:37,000 Speaker 2: killing civilians, opening a new theater of war. Americans do 134 00:07:37,040 --> 00:07:39,920 Speaker 2: not want this. They do not want another war in 135 00:07:39,960 --> 00:07:44,160 Speaker 2: pursuit of regime change. They want relief from the affordability crisis. 136 00:07:44,200 --> 00:07:47,520 Speaker 2: They want peace. I am focused on making sure every 137 00:07:47,520 --> 00:07:49,920 Speaker 2: New Yorker is safe. I've been in contact with our 138 00:07:49,920 --> 00:07:55,440 Speaker 2: Police Commissioner and emergency management officials. We are taking proactive steps, 139 00:07:55,680 --> 00:07:59,920 Speaker 2: including increasing coordination across agencies and enhancing patrols of sense 140 00:08:00,080 --> 00:08:03,760 Speaker 2: of locations out of an abundance of conscience caution. Additionally, 141 00:08:04,520 --> 00:08:07,400 Speaker 2: I want to speak directly to Iranian New Yorkers. You 142 00:08:07,440 --> 00:08:09,360 Speaker 2: are part of the fabric of this city. You are 143 00:08:09,400 --> 00:08:13,080 Speaker 2: our neighbor's small business owner, students, artist, workers, and community leaders. 144 00:08:13,480 --> 00:08:17,400 Speaker 2: You will be safe here. Look, this is Comrade Mondami 145 00:08:18,200 --> 00:08:23,000 Speaker 2: cheering for the Ayatola. Yeah, because they are both Jahadists, 146 00:08:23,640 --> 00:08:28,360 Speaker 2: and they both want to see the great Satan of America. 147 00:08:28,440 --> 00:08:32,440 Speaker 2: They want to see this country fundamentally change and to 148 00:08:32,559 --> 00:08:38,600 Speaker 2: become an Islamic caliphate. That was the Iatola's objective. That 149 00:08:38,840 --> 00:08:43,480 Speaker 2: what that, sadly I believe is Comrade Mandami's objective. And 150 00:08:43,520 --> 00:08:47,920 Speaker 2: I want to contrast that with the reaction of protesters Iranians, 151 00:08:47,960 --> 00:08:50,320 Speaker 2: like his line to Iranians, you will be safe here. 152 00:08:50,800 --> 00:08:53,960 Speaker 2: The the I know a great many Iranians. Ever, every 153 00:08:54,000 --> 00:08:57,960 Speaker 2: Iranian I know hates the regime is cheering. And I 154 00:08:58,000 --> 00:09:00,800 Speaker 2: want you to watch, in particular, this scene that played 155 00:09:00,840 --> 00:09:04,760 Speaker 2: out on the ground in Austin, Texas. And and and 156 00:09:04,840 --> 00:09:08,640 Speaker 2: a CBS News reporter who was told, don't cover the 157 00:09:08,720 --> 00:09:13,560 Speaker 2: protests celebrating, uh, the Iotola being killed. Cover that up, 158 00:09:13,600 --> 00:09:15,880 Speaker 2: And this brave reporter didn't do that. Give a listen, 159 00:09:15,920 --> 00:09:16,440 Speaker 2: give a watch. 160 00:09:23,640 --> 00:09:24,760 Speaker 4: I want to. 161 00:09:32,080 --> 00:09:37,199 Speaker 5: Who I am. 162 00:09:37,360 --> 00:09:40,520 Speaker 1: It's incredible there and again for people that can't see 163 00:09:40,520 --> 00:09:44,160 Speaker 1: the video. You have this Austin CBS reporter. He was 164 00:09:44,240 --> 00:09:47,040 Speaker 1: handed the phone from his cameraman and he reads it 165 00:09:47,080 --> 00:09:50,040 Speaker 1: and he's like, what does that mean? And the cameraman responds, 166 00:09:50,440 --> 00:09:53,320 Speaker 1: they don't want us to focus on this, and this 167 00:09:53,400 --> 00:09:57,200 Speaker 1: brave vocal reporter said, all right, well I am. And 168 00:09:57,360 --> 00:09:59,240 Speaker 1: now it's out there on the Internet of him having 169 00:09:59,240 --> 00:10:01,160 Speaker 1: this moment, and it's sad that you've got to be 170 00:10:01,200 --> 00:10:03,920 Speaker 1: this brave in America at a local affiliate to report 171 00:10:03,920 --> 00:10:06,680 Speaker 1: the news, which was the news that you had people 172 00:10:06,840 --> 00:10:11,520 Speaker 1: celebrating and waving American flags and Iranian flags and standing 173 00:10:11,559 --> 00:10:14,520 Speaker 1: out for the people in the innocent people in Iran, 174 00:10:14,559 --> 00:10:16,160 Speaker 1: and they're like, no, no, we don't want you to focus 175 00:10:16,240 --> 00:10:17,160 Speaker 1: on that. At CBS. 176 00:10:17,679 --> 00:10:20,559 Speaker 2: Yeah, look, this is happening all over the country, all 177 00:10:20,559 --> 00:10:23,040 Speaker 2: over America. It's happening on the ground on the streets 178 00:10:23,040 --> 00:10:25,960 Speaker 2: of Iran. It's happening around the world, you know. Kamala 179 00:10:26,000 --> 00:10:29,240 Speaker 2: Harris today put out a statement quote, Donald Trump is 180 00:10:29,320 --> 00:10:32,240 Speaker 2: dragging the United States into a war the American people 181 00:10:32,280 --> 00:10:35,400 Speaker 2: do not want. Let me be clear, I am opposed 182 00:10:35,400 --> 00:10:37,880 Speaker 2: to a regime change war in Iran, and our troops 183 00:10:37,880 --> 00:10:40,560 Speaker 2: are being put in harm's way for the sake of 184 00:10:40,600 --> 00:10:42,920 Speaker 2: Trump's war of choice. Now, I will tell you I 185 00:10:42,960 --> 00:10:46,840 Speaker 2: responded to her on X and I said, your administration 186 00:10:47,960 --> 00:10:52,839 Speaker 2: gave over one hundred billion dollars to the Ayatola who 187 00:10:53,000 --> 00:10:58,280 Speaker 2: kept killing Americans. We know you're sad that your friend 188 00:10:58,400 --> 00:11:04,520 Speaker 2: isn't with us anymore. Look, the Democrat Party was all 189 00:11:04,559 --> 00:11:07,840 Speaker 2: in in support of the Ayatola. Now sometimes they pretended 190 00:11:07,880 --> 00:11:10,319 Speaker 2: they weren't. But when Joe Biden and Kamala Harris sent 191 00:11:10,360 --> 00:11:13,360 Speaker 2: over one hundred billion dollars flowed that money into the Ayatola, 192 00:11:13,800 --> 00:11:15,400 Speaker 2: they funded his terror. 193 00:11:16,200 --> 00:11:16,600 Speaker 3: Uh. 194 00:11:16,720 --> 00:11:21,239 Speaker 2: The the Obama Iran nuclear deal was designed to inevitably 195 00:11:21,360 --> 00:11:24,880 Speaker 2: lead to a nuclear Iran to the Ayatola with nuclear weapons. 196 00:11:25,320 --> 00:11:28,080 Speaker 2: And so this is I'll tell you and and and 197 00:11:28,320 --> 00:11:31,360 Speaker 2: folks that that deal with with conflict in the Middle East, 198 00:11:31,360 --> 00:11:35,640 Speaker 2: and that that deal with foreign policy. UH frequently refer 199 00:11:35,760 --> 00:11:38,320 Speaker 2: to Iran as quote the head of the snake. Why 200 00:11:38,320 --> 00:11:40,440 Speaker 2: do they call it the head of the snake because 201 00:11:40,480 --> 00:11:43,840 Speaker 2: it's it is what is leading and directing and funding 202 00:11:44,480 --> 00:11:48,480 Speaker 2: the vast majority of the terrorism. You see Without Iran, 203 00:11:49,240 --> 00:11:52,440 Speaker 2: Hamas has no resources. Without Iran, Hesbeal and the Huthis 204 00:11:52,480 --> 00:11:55,880 Speaker 2: have no resources. And so what what President Trump is 205 00:11:55,920 --> 00:11:59,280 Speaker 2: doing here is is being a strong commander in chief 206 00:11:59,400 --> 00:12:01,240 Speaker 2: and making Americans safer. 207 00:12:01,960 --> 00:12:03,719 Speaker 1: Final question on this stir of the horror moves and 208 00:12:04,160 --> 00:12:06,320 Speaker 1: the reality of what's happening there, give us your your 209 00:12:06,360 --> 00:12:09,160 Speaker 1: thoughts and perspective on that and what you think can 210 00:12:09,160 --> 00:12:10,559 Speaker 1: happen moving forward. 211 00:12:11,080 --> 00:12:13,880 Speaker 2: So we don't know that that there is reporting that 212 00:12:13,920 --> 00:12:17,080 Speaker 2: the Iranians may have mine the Straits of Hormus, So 213 00:12:17,120 --> 00:12:19,640 Speaker 2: we don't have an answer to that right now. Right now, 214 00:12:19,679 --> 00:12:22,440 Speaker 2: there's not shipping. There are not ships going through the 215 00:12:22,440 --> 00:12:24,960 Speaker 2: Straits of Hormus until it is determined whether or not 216 00:12:25,040 --> 00:12:25,840 Speaker 2: they have mined it. 217 00:12:26,480 --> 00:12:29,360 Speaker 1: To be clear, that's significant. People that just don't understand 218 00:12:29,400 --> 00:12:32,680 Speaker 1: how important it is a significant amount of oil world 219 00:12:32,720 --> 00:12:34,040 Speaker 1: to which probably goes through there. 220 00:12:34,400 --> 00:12:36,680 Speaker 2: Yeah, so right now that is shut down. By the way, 221 00:12:36,800 --> 00:12:39,960 Speaker 2: right now, civilian air traffic is shut down throughout the 222 00:12:39,960 --> 00:12:44,160 Speaker 2: Middle East. You can't get on an airline and fly 223 00:12:44,320 --> 00:12:46,120 Speaker 2: into and out of most of the cities in the 224 00:12:46,160 --> 00:12:48,680 Speaker 2: Middle East because you've got missiles flying everywhere, and so 225 00:12:48,800 --> 00:12:51,559 Speaker 2: and so all of the countries have understandably shut their 226 00:12:51,559 --> 00:12:52,360 Speaker 2: airspace down. 227 00:12:53,000 --> 00:12:53,120 Speaker 1: Uh. 228 00:12:53,320 --> 00:12:57,520 Speaker 2: And so I am confident that we will have mind 229 00:12:57,559 --> 00:12:59,480 Speaker 2: sweepers go into the straits of horm moves that may 230 00:12:59,480 --> 00:13:02,920 Speaker 2: be happening now, I don't know, and examine and determine 231 00:13:02,920 --> 00:13:05,040 Speaker 2: if their mind's there. But at least right now you're 232 00:13:05,080 --> 00:13:08,080 Speaker 2: not seeing ships go through there because these guys are 233 00:13:08,120 --> 00:13:10,400 Speaker 2: just crazy enough to have put minds there, and so 234 00:13:10,480 --> 00:13:13,840 Speaker 2: no one wants to risk it until it's determined one 235 00:13:13,840 --> 00:13:15,240 Speaker 2: way or another whether it's safe. 236 00:13:15,559 --> 00:13:18,000 Speaker 1: Now, if you want to hear the rest of this conversation, 237 00:13:18,200 --> 00:13:20,600 Speaker 1: you can go back and listen to the full podcast 238 00:13:20,640 --> 00:13:25,640 Speaker 1: from earlier this week. Now onto story number two. There 239 00:13:25,720 --> 00:13:27,520 Speaker 1: was a shake up. You don't want to ever be 240 00:13:27,600 --> 00:13:30,199 Speaker 1: the first one to be a cabinet secretary to get 241 00:13:30,200 --> 00:13:32,640 Speaker 1: the boot, but it was pretty queer. Christyome got the 242 00:13:32,679 --> 00:13:35,240 Speaker 1: boot this week. One of your colleagues is going to 243 00:13:35,320 --> 00:13:37,680 Speaker 1: take over at Department of Home and Security, Mark Wayne Mowhen. 244 00:13:37,720 --> 00:13:39,120 Speaker 1: I want to get your take on all of that. 245 00:13:41,000 --> 00:13:44,079 Speaker 2: Well, the President announced this week that he was removing 246 00:13:44,200 --> 00:13:48,120 Speaker 2: Christy Nome from Secretary of DHS and replacing her with 247 00:13:48,600 --> 00:13:50,880 Speaker 2: Mark Wayne Mullen. I have to say this was not 248 00:13:52,080 --> 00:13:56,080 Speaker 2: much of a surprise to anyone watching closely. Christy Nome 249 00:13:56,120 --> 00:13:59,080 Speaker 2: testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee this week. I was 250 00:13:59,160 --> 00:14:04,120 Speaker 2: part of that hearing. I questioned her on it. The 251 00:14:04,600 --> 00:14:08,240 Speaker 2: questioning was bumpy and and she got The Democrats, of course, 252 00:14:08,280 --> 00:14:11,199 Speaker 2: went after her hard, but a number of Republicans went 253 00:14:11,240 --> 00:14:14,520 Speaker 2: after her heart as well. And I have to say 254 00:14:14,559 --> 00:14:18,240 Speaker 2: one of those that that was the most effective was 255 00:14:18,240 --> 00:14:22,040 Speaker 2: was my my friend and colleague from Louisiana, John Kennedy. 256 00:14:22,120 --> 00:14:26,040 Speaker 2: John has been on this podcast and he's someone who's 257 00:14:26,080 --> 00:14:29,040 Speaker 2: a good friend of mine. I want to play John 258 00:14:29,120 --> 00:14:32,520 Speaker 2: Kennedy's cross examination of Christy Nome because because this was 259 00:14:32,640 --> 00:14:36,520 Speaker 2: this proved very consequential cross examination. Get a listen. 260 00:14:39,440 --> 00:14:45,080 Speaker 6: How do you square that concern for waste which I 261 00:14:45,160 --> 00:14:52,880 Speaker 6: share with the fact that you have spent two hundred 262 00:14:52,920 --> 00:15:03,000 Speaker 6: and twenty million dollars running television advertisements that feature you prominently, sir? 263 00:15:03,160 --> 00:15:05,880 Speaker 4: The President tasked me with getting the message out to 264 00:15:05,960 --> 00:15:08,680 Speaker 4: the country and to other countries where we were seeing 265 00:15:08,720 --> 00:15:12,640 Speaker 4: the invasion come from, with putting commercials out that told 266 00:15:12,720 --> 00:15:15,320 Speaker 4: them that if they were in this country illegally, that 267 00:15:15,360 --> 00:15:17,640 Speaker 4: they needed to leave or we would detain them and 268 00:15:17,720 --> 00:15:19,760 Speaker 4: remove them and they'd not get the chance to come 269 00:15:19,800 --> 00:15:21,120 Speaker 4: back to America the right way. 270 00:15:22,160 --> 00:15:24,200 Speaker 5: That has been extremely effective. 271 00:15:23,920 --> 00:15:28,280 Speaker 3: Ask you to run these advertisements? Is that right? 272 00:15:28,360 --> 00:15:32,560 Speaker 4: We had that conversation, Yes, before I was put in 273 00:15:32,600 --> 00:15:35,360 Speaker 4: this position and sworn in and confirmed and since then 274 00:15:35,440 --> 00:15:35,840 Speaker 4: as well. 275 00:15:36,080 --> 00:15:37,120 Speaker 3: Okay, did. 276 00:15:38,960 --> 00:15:41,800 Speaker 6: You bid at those service contracts? 277 00:15:42,040 --> 00:15:42,600 Speaker 5: Yes, they did. 278 00:15:42,640 --> 00:15:45,640 Speaker 4: They went out to a competitive bid, and career officials 279 00:15:45,680 --> 00:15:50,200 Speaker 4: at the department chose who would do those advertising commercials. 280 00:15:50,720 --> 00:15:54,360 Speaker 3: And the people that you ended up picking. 281 00:15:57,320 --> 00:16:01,120 Speaker 6: Were people who had formerly done your political work back 282 00:16:01,160 --> 00:16:02,000 Speaker 6: in South Dakota. 283 00:16:02,080 --> 00:16:02,600 Speaker 3: Is that right? 284 00:16:02,880 --> 00:16:05,840 Speaker 5: No, that's not correct, sir, No, it's not, sir. 285 00:16:06,720 --> 00:16:10,920 Speaker 4: The individuals who I believe, the careers who they chose 286 00:16:11,520 --> 00:16:16,520 Speaker 4: were two different media firms. There's been conversation about their subcontractors, 287 00:16:16,520 --> 00:16:20,360 Speaker 4: but we have no legal authority to look into subcontractors 288 00:16:20,360 --> 00:16:21,040 Speaker 4: on work like that. 289 00:16:21,640 --> 00:16:21,960 Speaker 3: Okay. 290 00:16:22,960 --> 00:16:28,440 Speaker 6: And you're saying that you're testifying that President Trump approved 291 00:16:28,480 --> 00:16:31,040 Speaker 6: this ahead of time, because I'm understanding. 292 00:16:31,760 --> 00:16:35,240 Speaker 4: We had conversations about making sure that we were telling people. 293 00:16:35,720 --> 00:16:39,880 Speaker 6: I'm asking you a short to interrupt, but the President 294 00:16:39,880 --> 00:16:43,640 Speaker 6: approved ahead of time you spending two hundred and twenty 295 00:16:43,720 --> 00:16:48,040 Speaker 6: million dollars running TV ads across the country in which 296 00:16:48,080 --> 00:16:50,280 Speaker 6: you are featured prominently. Sir. 297 00:16:50,360 --> 00:16:52,880 Speaker 5: We went through the legal processes. Did it correct? 298 00:16:54,600 --> 00:16:57,240 Speaker 3: Yes? He did? Yes, Okay. 299 00:16:59,200 --> 00:16:59,720 Speaker 5: And one thing. 300 00:16:59,640 --> 00:17:02,120 Speaker 4: Senator I think would be helpful to know is how 301 00:17:02,160 --> 00:17:06,720 Speaker 4: effective that communications has been that will go overwhelmed active. 302 00:17:06,480 --> 00:17:07,800 Speaker 3: In your name recognition. 303 00:17:09,119 --> 00:17:13,560 Speaker 6: I mean, I personally just I mean to me, it 304 00:17:13,600 --> 00:17:19,760 Speaker 6: puts the President in a terribly awkward spot. It and 305 00:17:19,800 --> 00:17:21,920 Speaker 6: I just I'm not saying you're not telling the truth. 306 00:17:21,960 --> 00:17:23,480 Speaker 3: It's just hard for me to believe. 307 00:17:23,200 --> 00:17:27,399 Speaker 6: You know, on the president as I do that you said, 308 00:17:27,480 --> 00:17:31,239 Speaker 6: mister President, here's some ads I've cut and I'm going 309 00:17:31,280 --> 00:17:35,159 Speaker 6: to spend two hundred and twenty million dollars running them 310 00:17:35,320 --> 00:17:36,679 Speaker 6: that he would have agreed to. 311 00:17:36,720 --> 00:17:36,920 Speaker 3: That. 312 00:17:37,760 --> 00:17:41,480 Speaker 6: I don't think russ vote at O and B would 313 00:17:41,520 --> 00:17:44,840 Speaker 6: have agreed to that. It's something that we have to defend. 314 00:17:44,960 --> 00:17:53,080 Speaker 6: I'm on the Appropriations Committee. I mean, my research shows 315 00:17:53,160 --> 00:17:57,000 Speaker 6: that you did not bid them out, that you in fact, 316 00:17:57,160 --> 00:18:01,800 Speaker 6: one of the people you picked, the Stratrategy Group. I'm sorry, 317 00:18:02,119 --> 00:18:07,200 Speaker 6: Save America Media was a company formed eleven days before 318 00:18:09,000 --> 00:18:12,440 Speaker 6: you picked them, and that the Strategy Group got most 319 00:18:12,480 --> 00:18:15,600 Speaker 6: of the money and the head of that is. 320 00:18:17,560 --> 00:18:19,679 Speaker 3: Married to your former spokesperson. 321 00:18:19,720 --> 00:18:23,400 Speaker 6: I'm look, we all have friends who are qualified. 322 00:18:23,440 --> 00:18:27,600 Speaker 3: I'm not quipping with that. I'm just it troubles me. 323 00:18:28,280 --> 00:18:32,760 Speaker 6: Quarter a fifth to a quarter of a billion dollars 324 00:18:32,800 --> 00:18:37,040 Speaker 6: of taxpayer money when when we're scratching for every penny 325 00:18:37,080 --> 00:18:43,680 Speaker 6: and we're fighting over recision packages. I just can't agree with, 326 00:18:43,720 --> 00:18:46,159 Speaker 6: Madam Secretary. Are you still running those ads? 327 00:18:46,560 --> 00:18:49,960 Speaker 4: Senator, I did not have anything to do with picking 328 00:18:50,000 --> 00:18:56,600 Speaker 4: those contractors. I had no politicals at the department, followed 329 00:18:56,640 --> 00:18:59,159 Speaker 4: the competitive bid process for you still everything. 330 00:18:59,840 --> 00:19:02,720 Speaker 5: I think the ads are due to end here in March. 331 00:19:02,800 --> 00:19:03,520 Speaker 5: I think within a week. 332 00:19:03,840 --> 00:19:07,360 Speaker 4: I'm not sure the one that is running is focusing 333 00:19:07,359 --> 00:19:09,560 Speaker 4: on Angel families. Have you seen that it is the 334 00:19:09,560 --> 00:19:12,000 Speaker 4: one that's talking about this is our why, this is 335 00:19:12,040 --> 00:19:13,000 Speaker 4: why we work. 336 00:19:12,880 --> 00:19:16,320 Speaker 5: Every day, is for the Angel families and they're victims. 337 00:19:17,480 --> 00:19:20,119 Speaker 1: Center. It was it was not not a good showing 338 00:19:20,160 --> 00:19:24,040 Speaker 1: there for for her, and you know you're colleague there 339 00:19:24,080 --> 00:19:26,840 Speaker 1: Senator Kennedy asking questions I think a lot of Americans 340 00:19:26,880 --> 00:19:29,600 Speaker 1: care about. The presidents also come out saying she did 341 00:19:29,600 --> 00:19:31,199 Speaker 1: not run this by him in the in the in 342 00:19:31,240 --> 00:19:33,760 Speaker 1: the amount of money being spent either. That that also 343 00:19:33,840 --> 00:19:35,359 Speaker 1: didn't work well for her either. 344 00:19:37,320 --> 00:19:43,200 Speaker 2: Well, and that's something that that that John Kennedy pointed 345 00:19:43,200 --> 00:19:48,560 Speaker 2: out he said in the aftermath. Uh he said that 346 00:19:48,640 --> 00:19:53,800 Speaker 2: President Trump was quote mad as a murder hornet, that 347 00:19:53,920 --> 00:19:57,560 Speaker 2: Nome claimed he approved the two hundred million dollar ADS contract, 348 00:19:58,720 --> 00:20:02,720 Speaker 2: uh and and endless. John is a good friend of mine. 349 00:20:02,800 --> 00:20:05,159 Speaker 2: I talked to him today on the Senate floor, and 350 00:20:05,440 --> 00:20:09,359 Speaker 2: I just the number of nominees that his cross examinations 351 00:20:09,359 --> 00:20:13,520 Speaker 2: have taken out it is quite remarkable. And I think 352 00:20:14,000 --> 00:20:17,520 Speaker 2: it was John Kennedy's cross examination that that was pivotal 353 00:20:18,520 --> 00:20:21,040 Speaker 2: in the decision to shift from Christy. 354 00:20:21,480 --> 00:20:21,760 Speaker 3: Look. 355 00:20:21,840 --> 00:20:24,680 Speaker 2: I like CHRISTI personally. I had dinner with with with 356 00:20:24,760 --> 00:20:28,040 Speaker 2: her just a few weeks ago. And I do think 357 00:20:28,160 --> 00:20:30,640 Speaker 2: the results of the Apartment of Homeland Security in terms 358 00:20:30,680 --> 00:20:33,720 Speaker 2: of security in the border have been very effective. Uh 359 00:20:33,800 --> 00:20:38,360 Speaker 2: and and so that that is beneficial. I think John 360 00:20:38,440 --> 00:20:42,120 Speaker 2: Kennedy's line of questioning here was fair and and and 361 00:20:42,280 --> 00:20:48,159 Speaker 2: it was it was incredibly effective. I also think, and 362 00:20:48,240 --> 00:20:52,600 Speaker 2: we've talked about this on the podcast before, that the 363 00:20:52,680 --> 00:20:57,200 Speaker 2: messaging from the administration, particularly following the shooting of two 364 00:20:57,200 --> 00:21:04,000 Speaker 2: different Americans in minneapolish that the messaging was wrong and 365 00:21:04,480 --> 00:21:09,040 Speaker 2: it did real damage that I think the messaging was 366 00:21:10,119 --> 00:21:14,119 Speaker 2: look anytime an American citizen is killed in a confrontation 367 00:21:14,200 --> 00:21:18,000 Speaker 2: with law enforcement. It's a tragedy, and we should see 368 00:21:18,000 --> 00:21:21,800 Speaker 2: our officials acknowledging it's a tragedy. We should see our 369 00:21:21,800 --> 00:21:24,800 Speaker 2: officials saying, listen, if there's an officer involved shooting, there's 370 00:21:24,840 --> 00:21:27,040 Speaker 2: going to be an investigation where you'd examined what ham 371 00:21:27,160 --> 00:21:33,600 Speaker 2: it happened and determine what exactly caused it. And instead, 372 00:21:33,680 --> 00:21:35,520 Speaker 2: the rhetoric immediately. 373 00:21:35,000 --> 00:21:35,600 Speaker 3: Leaped to. 374 00:21:37,080 --> 00:21:43,440 Speaker 2: Really aggressive rhetoric, calling both of the individuals using language 375 00:21:43,480 --> 00:21:48,199 Speaker 2: like terrorists and seeking mass murder, and that was that 376 00:21:48,320 --> 00:21:50,280 Speaker 2: was hard to square with the facts of what occurred. 377 00:21:52,680 --> 00:21:57,199 Speaker 2: I think that rhetoric did damage to the administration, and 378 00:21:57,240 --> 00:21:59,159 Speaker 2: I think it was one of the things that contributed 379 00:21:59,160 --> 00:22:04,800 Speaker 2: to the decision of the President to shift from Christy 380 00:22:04,880 --> 00:22:09,800 Speaker 2: Dome as the leader of Homeland Security Mark Waynemullen. Mark Wayne, 381 00:22:09,960 --> 00:22:14,640 Speaker 2: I've served with him in the Senate. He's a good guy, 382 00:22:14,840 --> 00:22:18,640 Speaker 2: he's someone the President trusts. I think he will be confirmed. 383 00:22:18,680 --> 00:22:20,280 Speaker 2: I think it will be a party line vote in 384 00:22:20,320 --> 00:22:25,360 Speaker 2: the Senate. We may get John Fetterman, but I would 385 00:22:25,400 --> 00:22:27,840 Speaker 2: be surprised if any other Democrat votes for him. So 386 00:22:27,880 --> 00:22:31,560 Speaker 2: my prediction is the vote on Mark wayn Mullen will 387 00:22:31,600 --> 00:22:34,920 Speaker 2: be fifty four to forty six. That forty six Democrats 388 00:22:34,920 --> 00:22:39,560 Speaker 2: will vote now, and I think Mark Wayne look that 389 00:22:39,600 --> 00:22:43,760 Speaker 2: there are advantages to being an experienced elected official. He 390 00:22:43,800 --> 00:22:47,000 Speaker 2: was a House member, he's been a senator. I'm hopeful 391 00:22:47,000 --> 00:22:50,400 Speaker 2: that he will bring a level of professionalism and effectiveness. 392 00:22:51,000 --> 00:22:56,479 Speaker 2: The results of dhs have been quite strong, but I 393 00:22:56,520 --> 00:23:01,000 Speaker 2: do think I do think that the testy that Secretary 394 00:23:01,080 --> 00:23:05,080 Speaker 2: Nome gave it was not an easy day for her, 395 00:23:05,160 --> 00:23:07,920 Speaker 2: and I think John Kennedy Tom Tillis also lit into 396 00:23:07,960 --> 00:23:11,840 Speaker 2: her really hard, but I think the Kennedy cross examination 397 00:23:12,160 --> 00:23:15,400 Speaker 2: was more significant. There's been quite a bit of reporting 398 00:23:15,440 --> 00:23:19,560 Speaker 2: that the President was unhappy that she said that he 399 00:23:19,680 --> 00:23:22,960 Speaker 2: knew about the ads she had run, and I don't 400 00:23:22,960 --> 00:23:25,639 Speaker 2: have independent knowledge of that, but I don't have reason 401 00:23:26,000 --> 00:23:32,000 Speaker 2: to doubt that reporting. Yeah, and so look, we need 402 00:23:32,040 --> 00:23:35,040 Speaker 2: to secure our border. We've had an incredible success rate 403 00:23:35,080 --> 00:23:37,240 Speaker 2: doing so so far, and I'm hopeful that bark Wade 404 00:23:37,280 --> 00:23:40,359 Speaker 2: mullin coming in, will continue with that success and continue 405 00:23:40,440 --> 00:23:41,760 Speaker 2: to keep our family. 406 00:23:41,480 --> 00:23:44,080 Speaker 1: Safe as before. If you want to hear the rest 407 00:23:44,119 --> 00:23:46,960 Speaker 1: of this conversation on this topic, you can go back 408 00:23:47,000 --> 00:23:49,439 Speaker 1: and dow the podcast from earlier this week to hear 409 00:23:49,480 --> 00:23:52,760 Speaker 1: the entire thing. I want to get back to the 410 00:23:52,840 --> 00:23:55,359 Speaker 1: big story number three of the week. You may have missed. 411 00:23:56,040 --> 00:23:59,240 Speaker 1: It was election day on Tuesday in America. It was 412 00:23:59,280 --> 00:24:03,040 Speaker 1: a very big oction day in Texas. There was certainly 413 00:24:03,040 --> 00:24:05,159 Speaker 1: some upsets on the House side. There's a lot of 414 00:24:05,160 --> 00:24:08,280 Speaker 1: people around the country watching Dankrinshaw's race. He lost that 415 00:24:08,440 --> 00:24:11,840 Speaker 1: race to someone that you endorsed. That was a big one. 416 00:24:11,840 --> 00:24:14,600 Speaker 1: That was I was on National TV talking about over 417 00:24:14,600 --> 00:24:17,520 Speaker 1: and over again. And then there's obviously the Senate race 418 00:24:17,600 --> 00:24:20,360 Speaker 1: that's happening as well. That's now gone into a runoff 419 00:24:20,880 --> 00:24:24,359 Speaker 1: between two people that you know, well, you're colleague in 420 00:24:24,400 --> 00:24:26,840 Speaker 1: the Senate and also Ken Paxson, So we're gonna have 421 00:24:26,880 --> 00:24:28,960 Speaker 1: to wait and see how that plays out as well. 422 00:24:29,480 --> 00:24:33,439 Speaker 1: But then there's also the Democrat running against whoever wins 423 00:24:33,440 --> 00:24:36,800 Speaker 1: that runoff. And this is a guy that Democrats are 424 00:24:36,800 --> 00:24:41,399 Speaker 1: really excited about. He's talented, he's radical, he's extreme, but 425 00:24:41,480 --> 00:24:44,359 Speaker 1: he comes across like a very moderate guy if you 426 00:24:44,480 --> 00:24:45,439 Speaker 1: listen to him today. 427 00:24:46,840 --> 00:24:49,760 Speaker 2: Well, we had primary day in Texas this week and 428 00:24:50,080 --> 00:24:52,280 Speaker 2: it was highly consequential. Number One, there were a number 429 00:24:52,320 --> 00:24:57,560 Speaker 2: of House candidates who I endorsed who prevailed. We had 430 00:24:58,480 --> 00:25:02,040 Speaker 2: one Jessica Steinman, who my former regional director in Houston. 431 00:25:02,720 --> 00:25:06,560 Speaker 2: She won decisively the Republican primary. She is going to be, 432 00:25:06,600 --> 00:25:11,320 Speaker 2: in all likelihood, the next Republican congress member from Houston. 433 00:25:12,200 --> 00:25:14,560 Speaker 2: We had another Chris Gober who's been my lawyer for 434 00:25:14,640 --> 00:25:17,720 Speaker 2: ten years. He won his primary decisively. He's going to 435 00:25:17,800 --> 00:25:21,959 Speaker 2: be a new Republican congressman from Central Texas. We had 436 00:25:22,000 --> 00:25:27,080 Speaker 2: another John Bonk who I endorsed, who is a close friend. 437 00:25:27,200 --> 00:25:29,439 Speaker 2: He is the son in law of one of my 438 00:25:29,480 --> 00:25:33,439 Speaker 2: closest friends in the world, who who's been my national 439 00:25:33,440 --> 00:25:34,840 Speaker 2: Finance chairman for years. 440 00:25:35,280 --> 00:25:37,080 Speaker 1: But by the way, that was a fun night. Just 441 00:25:37,680 --> 00:25:39,679 Speaker 1: let's take a moment to talk about how fun that was. 442 00:25:40,000 --> 00:25:42,760 Speaker 1: So you were obviously in d C. But I went 443 00:25:42,800 --> 00:25:45,320 Speaker 1: to the victory party, and it's fun to see someone 444 00:25:45,359 --> 00:25:47,399 Speaker 1: that you and I know personally and a smile on 445 00:25:47,800 --> 00:25:51,320 Speaker 1: your dear friend Willie's face, and even Heidi was there 446 00:25:51,320 --> 00:25:53,600 Speaker 1: as well, at your wife. It was really a cool 447 00:25:53,640 --> 00:25:56,399 Speaker 1: evening to see someone work hard and win. I know 448 00:25:56,520 --> 00:25:58,680 Speaker 1: you had to have a really that had to feel 449 00:25:58,720 --> 00:25:59,440 Speaker 1: personal to you. 450 00:26:00,240 --> 00:26:03,920 Speaker 2: So Willie, who's who's John Bonk's father in law is 451 00:26:04,760 --> 00:26:07,320 Speaker 2: one of my two or three closest friends on planet Earth, 452 00:26:07,359 --> 00:26:09,560 Speaker 2: and I love him. He's he's a good man. He's 453 00:26:09,600 --> 00:26:12,800 Speaker 2: a principled man. He's a conservative, he's a godly man. 454 00:26:13,080 --> 00:26:17,359 Speaker 2: He's someone who frankly I rely on for advice, for 455 00:26:17,560 --> 00:26:22,199 Speaker 2: spiritual counseling. We pray together, we talk together, and and 456 00:26:23,600 --> 00:26:27,119 Speaker 2: John John is very likely to win. He did not 457 00:26:27,200 --> 00:26:29,840 Speaker 2: clear fifty percent, so unfortunately there's going to be a runoff, 458 00:26:29,840 --> 00:26:32,520 Speaker 2: but I think he's going to prevail. I actually did 459 00:26:32,520 --> 00:26:34,320 Speaker 2: a rally for him just a week ago, and in 460 00:26:34,359 --> 00:26:36,840 Speaker 2: the middle of the rally, while I had several hundred 461 00:26:36,880 --> 00:26:39,520 Speaker 2: people there rallying for him, I got the chance to 462 00:26:39,640 --> 00:26:42,240 Speaker 2: announce from the stage while I was up there that 463 00:26:42,720 --> 00:26:46,080 Speaker 2: President Trump had endorsed him. That was a very cool moment. 464 00:26:46,800 --> 00:26:48,560 Speaker 2: We knew it was likely to come. I thought there 465 00:26:48,600 --> 00:26:51,080 Speaker 2: was a chance that that Trump would call on the 466 00:26:51,119 --> 00:26:52,840 Speaker 2: cell phone. If he had called, I would have put 467 00:26:52,840 --> 00:26:54,560 Speaker 2: the cell phone up to the microphone and let him 468 00:26:54,560 --> 00:26:57,920 Speaker 2: announce it to the whole crowd. Instead, I got to 469 00:26:57,960 --> 00:27:01,879 Speaker 2: announce and the crowd went nuts. That was really gratifying 470 00:27:01,880 --> 00:27:06,560 Speaker 2: to have three people who are two who are members 471 00:27:06,560 --> 00:27:08,960 Speaker 2: of my team and have been employees, and another who's 472 00:27:08,960 --> 00:27:12,399 Speaker 2: a very close friend. To see three new likely members 473 00:27:12,400 --> 00:27:15,960 Speaker 2: of Congress coming that that was a big deal. We 474 00:27:16,080 --> 00:27:19,760 Speaker 2: also had Don Hafeien's who I endorsed for comptroller in 475 00:27:19,920 --> 00:27:23,560 Speaker 2: a statewide position in Texas that won decisively. That was 476 00:27:23,600 --> 00:27:28,240 Speaker 2: a big victory. And then you noted Dan Crenshaw. Look 477 00:27:28,600 --> 00:27:33,520 Speaker 2: in my fourteen years in the Senate, I almost never 478 00:27:33,760 --> 00:27:38,880 Speaker 2: endorse against Republican incumbents. And there's a reason if you're 479 00:27:38,960 --> 00:27:41,720 Speaker 2: serving in the Senate, if you're working in Congress, if 480 00:27:41,760 --> 00:27:44,520 Speaker 2: you're endorsing against your colleagues, it makes it very hard 481 00:27:44,520 --> 00:27:48,520 Speaker 2: to get anything done like that makes that makes lifelong enemies, 482 00:27:48,520 --> 00:27:50,840 Speaker 2: and so you just have to be really reluctant to 483 00:27:50,840 --> 00:27:54,200 Speaker 2: do so. I endorse in open races, but I almost 484 00:27:54,400 --> 00:27:59,440 Speaker 2: never endorse in races against Republican incumbents. I've made two 485 00:27:59,480 --> 00:28:02,960 Speaker 2: exceptions in fourteen years. The first was Liz Cheney, because 486 00:28:03,000 --> 00:28:06,000 Speaker 2: Liz Cheney lost her mind and became a radical leftist 487 00:28:06,040 --> 00:28:08,480 Speaker 2: who hated President Trump, and so I endorsed her opponent, 488 00:28:08,800 --> 00:28:12,359 Speaker 2: Harriet Hageman, who beat her and is getting ready to 489 00:28:12,400 --> 00:28:15,280 Speaker 2: be the new Senator from Wyoming now and then I 490 00:28:15,359 --> 00:28:18,000 Speaker 2: did it again for Dan Crenshaw for much the same reason, 491 00:28:18,280 --> 00:28:24,159 Speaker 2: because he had really lost lost his way. He had 492 00:28:24,200 --> 00:28:29,639 Speaker 2: gotten angry with his constituents. There were multiple instances in 493 00:28:29,680 --> 00:28:32,119 Speaker 2: which he yelled. There's one instance where he yelled at 494 00:28:32,160 --> 00:28:37,280 Speaker 2: a fourteen year old girl and just got angry. In 495 00:28:37,359 --> 00:28:39,920 Speaker 2: this race that there's a very good friend of mine 496 00:28:40,000 --> 00:28:43,920 Speaker 2: who's been a longtime supporter and close friend, who was 497 00:28:43,920 --> 00:28:50,360 Speaker 2: supporting Dan's opponent, and Dan decided to just light him up. 498 00:28:50,520 --> 00:28:54,160 Speaker 2: This is a banker, a private citizen in Texas, and 499 00:28:54,480 --> 00:28:57,640 Speaker 2: Dan decided to go after him personally. And I got 500 00:28:57,640 --> 00:28:59,480 Speaker 2: to say, that pissed me off. He's a close friend 501 00:28:59,520 --> 00:29:03,000 Speaker 2: of mine, and and and I didn't like Dan just 502 00:29:03,000 --> 00:29:08,880 Speaker 2: just attacking him directly, and and so I endorsed his opponent, 503 00:29:08,920 --> 00:29:11,320 Speaker 2: Steve Toast. Steve Toath has been a state legislator for 504 00:29:11,320 --> 00:29:15,200 Speaker 2: a number of years. He's a very strong conservative. And 505 00:29:15,200 --> 00:29:18,479 Speaker 2: and it ended up that that that Steve Toath won 506 00:29:18,600 --> 00:29:21,400 Speaker 2: and one decisively won by a big margin. And that 507 00:29:21,480 --> 00:29:26,280 Speaker 2: was a little bit of a cannon shot, you know. 508 00:29:26,360 --> 00:29:30,920 Speaker 2: I will say. Dan also, a couple of months ago, 509 00:29:31,040 --> 00:29:34,080 Speaker 2: we were on a plane landing in DC and and 510 00:29:34,080 --> 00:29:37,960 Speaker 2: and in the jetway walking off, Dan began screaming and 511 00:29:38,000 --> 00:29:41,959 Speaker 2: cursing at me, and and it was really a little unhinged. 512 00:29:41,960 --> 00:29:43,680 Speaker 2: And he was like, why are you coming after me? 513 00:29:44,640 --> 00:29:48,240 Speaker 2: And I was like, well, I'm not. And he was 514 00:29:48,320 --> 00:29:54,080 Speaker 2: mad that that that supporters of mine were supporting his opponents, 515 00:29:54,280 --> 00:29:57,240 Speaker 2: and and look, I don't control what my supporters do. 516 00:29:57,360 --> 00:30:01,400 Speaker 2: They're they're you know, individuals who have free choice. But 517 00:30:01,600 --> 00:30:04,479 Speaker 2: he was literally screaming and cursing at me. And I 518 00:30:04,520 --> 00:30:08,080 Speaker 2: told him at the time, I said, Dan, if I 519 00:30:08,160 --> 00:30:13,720 Speaker 2: come after you, I promise you you'll not like it 520 00:30:13,760 --> 00:30:16,560 Speaker 2: will not be subtle, it will not be hidden. You 521 00:30:16,600 --> 00:30:21,360 Speaker 2: will have full awareness of it. But I told him afterwards, 522 00:30:21,640 --> 00:30:25,280 Speaker 2: I said, listen, in fourteen years in the Senate, you 523 00:30:25,360 --> 00:30:27,680 Speaker 2: were the only house member who's ever screamed and cursed 524 00:30:27,720 --> 00:30:29,440 Speaker 2: at me on an airplane. And that includes all the 525 00:30:29,480 --> 00:30:33,680 Speaker 2: Democrats like and so it just it pushed me beyond 526 00:30:33,680 --> 00:30:37,120 Speaker 2: the edge. And the voters of Texas decided that he 527 00:30:37,240 --> 00:30:40,600 Speaker 2: was not reflecting their conservative values. And so they've elected 528 00:30:40,600 --> 00:30:43,360 Speaker 2: Steve Tothe will be a great member of Congress. He'll 529 00:30:43,400 --> 00:30:46,480 Speaker 2: be a strong conservative. Now we've got the Senate race. 530 00:30:46,520 --> 00:30:50,000 Speaker 2: The Senate race, there is a runoff between John Corny 531 00:30:50,040 --> 00:30:53,560 Speaker 2: and my colleague right now, and Ken Paxton, the Attorney general. 532 00:30:54,200 --> 00:30:56,080 Speaker 2: Both of them I know very well. Both of them 533 00:30:56,080 --> 00:30:58,320 Speaker 2: are friends of mine. Both of them I've worked together 534 00:30:59,200 --> 00:31:02,120 Speaker 2: closely with for years. I've endorsed both of them in 535 00:31:02,160 --> 00:31:04,440 Speaker 2: the past. I've campaigned with both of them in the past. 536 00:31:05,040 --> 00:31:07,120 Speaker 2: And I got to say that this primary is better 537 00:31:07,160 --> 00:31:11,120 Speaker 2: and nasty. Look, it is to date the most expensive 538 00:31:11,160 --> 00:31:17,320 Speaker 2: primary in American history, and John and can really dislike 539 00:31:17,400 --> 00:31:19,760 Speaker 2: each other, and so it is going to be brutal. 540 00:31:19,760 --> 00:31:22,760 Speaker 2: It is going to be ugly. I don't know how 541 00:31:22,760 --> 00:31:25,760 Speaker 2: it's going to resolve. The President Trump tweeted out this 542 00:31:25,840 --> 00:31:28,120 Speaker 2: week that he is going to make an endorsement. He 543 00:31:28,240 --> 00:31:30,600 Speaker 2: is not yet, So we'll see what the President decides 544 00:31:30,640 --> 00:31:33,440 Speaker 2: to do on this. But I will say at the 545 00:31:33,440 --> 00:31:36,680 Speaker 2: same time, the Democrats nominated a guy named James taal 546 00:31:36,760 --> 00:31:39,880 Speaker 2: Rico is a state rep. And this guy is dangerous. 547 00:31:39,880 --> 00:31:44,280 Speaker 2: He's an ordained minister, He's a radical, He's a hardcore leftist. 548 00:31:44,480 --> 00:31:48,240 Speaker 2: And will and subsequent podcast breakdown just how radical and 549 00:31:48,320 --> 00:31:52,280 Speaker 2: extreme his record is. But what makes him dangerous is 550 00:31:52,320 --> 00:31:58,360 Speaker 2: he sounds reasonable. He masks he masks his radicalism in 551 00:31:58,520 --> 00:32:03,440 Speaker 2: reasonable soundings, soft language. He masks it in the language 552 00:32:03,440 --> 00:32:07,680 Speaker 2: of a pastor. It's incredibly deceptive and dishonest, but that 553 00:32:07,760 --> 00:32:10,200 Speaker 2: makes it dangerous. And so we've got a real fight 554 00:32:10,240 --> 00:32:11,880 Speaker 2: in Texas and I don't know what the result to be. 555 00:32:12,240 --> 00:32:15,560 Speaker 1: As always, thank you for listening to Verdict with Sentner, 556 00:32:15,640 --> 00:32:18,040 Speaker 1: Ted Cruz, Ben Ferguson with you don't forget to deal 557 00:32:18,160 --> 00:32:20,320 Speaker 1: with my podcast, and you can listen to my podcast 558 00:32:20,400 --> 00:32:22,360 Speaker 1: every other day you're not listening to Verdict or each 559 00:32:22,440 --> 00:32:24,880 Speaker 1: day when you listen to Verdict afterwards, I'd love to 560 00:32:24,920 --> 00:32:28,000 Speaker 1: have you as a listener to again, Ben Ferguson Podcasts, 561 00:32:28,000 --> 00:32:30,480 Speaker 1: and we will see you back here on Monday morning.