1 00:00:00,400 --> 00:00:06,360 Speaker 1: The republic ain't over yet. A major Republican victory in 2 00:00:06,600 --> 00:00:13,200 Speaker 1: Blue Virginia this week, Glenn Junken defeats Terry McAuliffe. The 3 00:00:13,360 --> 00:00:16,319 Speaker 1: race came down not so much to personalities, but to 4 00:00:16,360 --> 00:00:21,119 Speaker 1: a simple question, who has the right to raise your kids, 5 00:00:21,520 --> 00:00:25,320 Speaker 1: who has the right to education? What will the future 6 00:00:25,800 --> 00:00:30,760 Speaker 1: of our country be? And the election victory gave Republicans 7 00:00:30,840 --> 00:00:33,640 Speaker 1: something that we have not had in a very very 8 00:00:33,760 --> 00:00:37,600 Speaker 1: long time. In one word, hope. This is verdict with 9 00:00:37,640 --> 00:00:46,080 Speaker 1: Ted Cruz. Verdict with Ted Cruz is brought to you 10 00:00:46,120 --> 00:00:48,960 Speaker 1: by stamps dot Com. 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I was already feeling 35 00:02:01,800 --> 00:02:04,680 Speaker 1: pretty good after that victory last night, and now I'm 36 00:02:04,880 --> 00:02:09,120 Speaker 1: I'm feeling even better and equally disoriented because we've been 37 00:02:09,120 --> 00:02:11,560 Speaker 1: doing this show now for two years and that is 38 00:02:11,600 --> 00:02:14,560 Speaker 1: the first time that we've ever made any money on 39 00:02:14,560 --> 00:02:17,000 Speaker 1: this show. That's the first time I've ever heard from 40 00:02:17,000 --> 00:02:20,280 Speaker 1: a sponsor. This just coming off of our wonderful Verdict 41 00:02:20,360 --> 00:02:24,240 Speaker 1: Live tour in Wisconsin and Texas and Washington, DC, where 42 00:02:24,240 --> 00:02:27,519 Speaker 1: we were joined by our friend Liz Wheeler. And Liz, 43 00:02:27,639 --> 00:02:31,359 Speaker 1: now you're reading ads for us, and what are you doing? 44 00:02:31,360 --> 00:02:36,080 Speaker 1: Are you actually putting the show on sustainable financial footing? Yes, Michael, 45 00:02:36,080 --> 00:02:38,200 Speaker 1: I like to think of myself as the breadwinner here 46 00:02:38,240 --> 00:02:41,320 Speaker 1: in this situations. It's my honor and my privilege to 47 00:02:41,320 --> 00:02:43,399 Speaker 1: be here. Thank you for inviting me to join you. 48 00:02:43,400 --> 00:02:46,520 Speaker 1: You may notice something different about the pod, which is 49 00:02:46,560 --> 00:02:49,240 Speaker 1: we just finished our campus tour. Liz was part of 50 00:02:49,240 --> 00:02:53,200 Speaker 1: the tour and and was fantastic and by popular demand, 51 00:02:53,240 --> 00:02:57,119 Speaker 1: people really enjoyed Liz being part of the conversation. So 52 00:02:57,160 --> 00:03:00,600 Speaker 1: she's now formerly part of the podcast. And so Liz, 53 00:03:00,880 --> 00:03:02,960 Speaker 1: thank you for being on the road with us with Verdict, 54 00:03:02,960 --> 00:03:05,000 Speaker 1: but thank you for being part of the pod going 55 00:03:05,040 --> 00:03:07,840 Speaker 1: forward as well. Oh it's my pleasure, Senator, it's actually 56 00:03:07,880 --> 00:03:10,960 Speaker 1: an honor to be here having these conversations with you 57 00:03:11,040 --> 00:03:13,400 Speaker 1: and with Michael. So thank you for including me, Thank 58 00:03:13,400 --> 00:03:15,280 Speaker 1: you for the invite. And you know, Liz, you picked 59 00:03:15,360 --> 00:03:17,480 Speaker 1: up pretty good time to join the show because this 60 00:03:17,520 --> 00:03:21,120 Speaker 1: is your first sort of official episode here, you know, 61 00:03:21,280 --> 00:03:23,760 Speaker 1: not as part of one of these live events, and 62 00:03:23,840 --> 00:03:27,280 Speaker 1: it happens to be the greatest day for Republicans in 63 00:03:27,480 --> 00:03:30,480 Speaker 1: recent memory. And Senator, I know that that you were 64 00:03:30,520 --> 00:03:33,320 Speaker 1: there last night. You were at the Young and Victory party. 65 00:03:33,520 --> 00:03:36,080 Speaker 1: You you called this early on. I remember you had 66 00:03:36,120 --> 00:03:38,400 Speaker 1: been providing quite a bit of help to the young 67 00:03:38,520 --> 00:03:41,080 Speaker 1: in campaign, very very early on when people said there's 68 00:03:41,080 --> 00:03:43,720 Speaker 1: no way that the Republicans are going to take back Virginia. 69 00:03:43,760 --> 00:03:46,200 Speaker 1: And then what happened last night, we all got a 70 00:03:46,200 --> 00:03:49,680 Speaker 1: little bit of hope. Yeah. Look, last night was fantastic. 71 00:03:49,720 --> 00:03:53,040 Speaker 1: It was a big damn deal for the country. It 72 00:03:53,120 --> 00:03:54,800 Speaker 1: was a big damn deal for Virginia, but for the 73 00:03:54,800 --> 00:03:57,800 Speaker 1: whole country. And Glenn Yuncan is somewhat I've known a 74 00:03:57,800 --> 00:03:59,720 Speaker 1: long time. I've known a number of years. He's a 75 00:03:59,760 --> 00:04:02,760 Speaker 1: friend end his wife, Suzanne's a friend. Uh. They actually 76 00:04:02,800 --> 00:04:04,760 Speaker 1: have a ranch in Texas. Heidi and I have state 77 00:04:04,800 --> 00:04:08,160 Speaker 1: on their ranch in Texas. And floated in the river 78 00:04:08,280 --> 00:04:12,480 Speaker 1: on inner tubes with a cold beer and a hot 79 00:04:12,520 --> 00:04:16,720 Speaker 1: summer summer's day. Um. And and Glenn is someone I 80 00:04:16,839 --> 00:04:19,640 Speaker 1: endorsed Glenn early in this race. I endorsed him in 81 00:04:19,680 --> 00:04:22,360 Speaker 1: the primary. It was a big contested primary, and went 82 00:04:22,360 --> 00:04:24,919 Speaker 1: out in campaign for Glen. I spent two days on 83 00:04:24,960 --> 00:04:27,120 Speaker 1: the road. In fact, the last two days of the primary, 84 00:04:27,880 --> 00:04:30,640 Speaker 1: I was on the road barnstorming the state of Virginia 85 00:04:30,680 --> 00:04:33,720 Speaker 1: with Glen and we did rallies all over the state. Uh. 86 00:04:33,839 --> 00:04:37,400 Speaker 1: It's a little bit crazy. Uh. There were in that primary. 87 00:04:37,440 --> 00:04:41,000 Speaker 1: About fifty thousand people voted in that primary. We did 88 00:04:41,040 --> 00:04:43,760 Speaker 1: the math. About five thousand of those people came to 89 00:04:43,800 --> 00:04:47,160 Speaker 1: our rallies those last two days, So about ten percent 90 00:04:47,200 --> 00:04:50,479 Speaker 1: of the actual voters in the primaries came and saw 91 00:04:50,560 --> 00:04:54,800 Speaker 1: us at our rallies in person. And he ended up 92 00:04:54,839 --> 00:04:57,040 Speaker 1: winning winning the primary. Big part of the reason I 93 00:04:57,080 --> 00:04:59,080 Speaker 1: backed him as is that I believed he was by 94 00:04:59,120 --> 00:05:02,520 Speaker 1: far the strong candidate to win in November. We needed 95 00:05:02,520 --> 00:05:05,200 Speaker 1: to win in November. Last night, Heidie and I were 96 00:05:05,200 --> 00:05:07,760 Speaker 1: both at the election party. It was awesome. The room 97 00:05:07,839 --> 00:05:11,560 Speaker 1: was rocking, uh, and it was fairly beautiful seeing the 98 00:05:13,400 --> 00:05:18,080 Speaker 1: kind of dazed stupor and rage from the Terry mccauliffe 99 00:05:18,080 --> 00:05:22,280 Speaker 1: camp as they realized that that that that the monarchy 100 00:05:22,360 --> 00:05:26,560 Speaker 1: to which he wanted to resume ruling his subjects in 101 00:05:26,600 --> 00:05:29,919 Speaker 1: the Commonwealth of Virginia, that that that that somehow a 102 00:05:30,000 --> 00:05:33,239 Speaker 1: funny thing happened on the way to the election booth, 103 00:05:33,279 --> 00:05:37,280 Speaker 1: which is the voters said no and hell no, and 104 00:05:37,560 --> 00:05:41,360 Speaker 1: Virginia now has a Republican governor, which is a powerful 105 00:05:41,880 --> 00:05:45,120 Speaker 1: Canarian the coal mine it. It really shows I think 106 00:05:45,160 --> 00:05:49,000 Speaker 1: what's to come November of next year in twenty twenty two. Liz, 107 00:05:49,040 --> 00:05:52,440 Speaker 1: I know you like me, were waiting up until after 108 00:05:52,560 --> 00:05:56,280 Speaker 1: midnight last night because I don't know, I call it cynical. 109 00:05:56,600 --> 00:05:59,719 Speaker 1: I had this fear that around three in the morning 110 00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:03,200 Speaker 1: there would be an undisclosed number of ballots that suddenly 111 00:06:03,240 --> 00:06:06,600 Speaker 1: appeared in Fairfax County or something like that. But no, 112 00:06:06,680 --> 00:06:09,040 Speaker 1: they called it by the end of the night, and 113 00:06:09,080 --> 00:06:11,520 Speaker 1: we finally got to go to bed we did, which 114 00:06:11,600 --> 00:06:14,120 Speaker 1: was amazing. But I mean, I don't know about you, 115 00:06:14,160 --> 00:06:16,320 Speaker 1: but make no mistake, it seemed like the Democrats were 116 00:06:16,320 --> 00:06:20,320 Speaker 1: teeing something up in Fairfax County. Glenn Yunken just pulled 117 00:06:20,320 --> 00:06:22,240 Speaker 1: out such an enormous victory that they knew that they 118 00:06:22,240 --> 00:06:25,839 Speaker 1: didn't stand a chance even with perhaps rescanning ballots. But 119 00:06:26,240 --> 00:06:28,280 Speaker 1: here's the thing. Here's the thing. I think the biggest 120 00:06:28,279 --> 00:06:32,000 Speaker 1: takeaway about this election is the strength of parents. I mean, 121 00:06:32,040 --> 00:06:34,680 Speaker 1: you had Barack Obama, you had Kamala Harris, you had 122 00:06:34,720 --> 00:06:38,400 Speaker 1: Stacy Abram's all campaigning for mccalliff, and yet parents in 123 00:06:38,440 --> 00:06:41,919 Speaker 1: the state of Virginia still defeated him. The strength of 124 00:06:41,960 --> 00:06:45,280 Speaker 1: parents is stronger than the strength of the entire Democratic Party. Well, 125 00:06:45,279 --> 00:06:47,560 Speaker 1: that is a wonderful thing. And I know, I know 126 00:06:47,640 --> 00:06:50,440 Speaker 1: that we're going to be hearing more from some of 127 00:06:50,440 --> 00:06:54,880 Speaker 1: the Verdict Plus members a little bit later, So you're 128 00:06:54,880 --> 00:06:57,599 Speaker 1: going to be fielding questions for them, and then we'll 129 00:06:57,640 --> 00:07:01,320 Speaker 1: have you back on to from all the wonderful people 130 00:07:01,360 --> 00:07:03,840 Speaker 1: who are who are supporting this show. Yes, I've been 131 00:07:03,880 --> 00:07:06,679 Speaker 1: looking around on Verdict Plus and there are some great questions. 132 00:07:06,680 --> 00:07:09,200 Speaker 1: I'm looking forward to hearing both of your answers a 133 00:07:09,200 --> 00:07:11,400 Speaker 1: little bit later on. Anybody who's listening to this or 134 00:07:11,440 --> 00:07:14,480 Speaker 1: watching this who wants to participate in Verdict Plus, go 135 00:07:14,520 --> 00:07:17,480 Speaker 1: to Verdict with Ted Cruz dot com slash plus, submit 136 00:07:17,520 --> 00:07:20,160 Speaker 1: your question. We'll try to get as many answered as 137 00:07:20,200 --> 00:07:22,600 Speaker 1: we can. That is Verdict with Ted Cruz dot Com 138 00:07:22,680 --> 00:07:25,080 Speaker 1: slash Plus. Michael, Senator, I will see you in a 139 00:07:25,120 --> 00:07:28,920 Speaker 1: few minutes. Oh Axon, we'll see you a little bit later. Senator. 140 00:07:28,960 --> 00:07:31,680 Speaker 1: You bring up an aspect of this race that I 141 00:07:31,760 --> 00:07:37,480 Speaker 1: know a lot of conservatives sometimes they don't really seem 142 00:07:37,520 --> 00:07:40,760 Speaker 1: to understand, which is call it the Buckley rule, that 143 00:07:41,080 --> 00:07:45,000 Speaker 1: you vote for the most right viable candidate. And you 144 00:07:45,080 --> 00:07:47,680 Speaker 1: said you felt not only is Glen Yonkin a good guy, 145 00:07:48,000 --> 00:07:49,920 Speaker 1: but that he was the kind of candidate who could 146 00:07:49,920 --> 00:07:53,520 Speaker 1: win in Virginia. Yeah. Look, I mean we need candidates 147 00:07:53,560 --> 00:07:56,880 Speaker 1: who can win. And you look at Glenn. The campaign 148 00:07:56,960 --> 00:07:59,400 Speaker 1: they ran, and by the way, Glenn's political team was 149 00:07:59,440 --> 00:08:02,520 Speaker 1: my political team. It was my senior people that were 150 00:08:02,600 --> 00:08:08,440 Speaker 1: running his campaign. And Glenn is pro life, he's pro 151 00:08:08,520 --> 00:08:11,560 Speaker 1: Second Amendment. He ran on secure in the Border, he 152 00:08:12,000 --> 00:08:15,400 Speaker 1: ran a conservative campaign, and he ran on school choice. 153 00:08:15,440 --> 00:08:19,400 Speaker 1: He leaned in aggressively on school choice. You know Ralph Northam, 154 00:08:19,400 --> 00:08:23,080 Speaker 1: the Democrat who's one of the most radically pro abortion 155 00:08:23,200 --> 00:08:25,880 Speaker 1: governors in the country in fact, who and we've talked 156 00:08:25,880 --> 00:08:28,120 Speaker 1: about this on the pod before. You know, Ralph Northam 157 00:08:28,120 --> 00:08:33,120 Speaker 1: has talked about post birth abortion, which which is horrifying 158 00:08:33,160 --> 00:08:35,400 Speaker 1: at a whole different level in terms of where the 159 00:08:35,480 --> 00:08:39,839 Speaker 1: left is on these issues. Yunkin ran a disciplined campaign 160 00:08:40,679 --> 00:08:44,280 Speaker 1: that number one, he didn't get drawn into to personality politics. 161 00:08:44,280 --> 00:08:47,520 Speaker 1: So the whole attack of the Terry mcculliffe crew was 162 00:08:47,600 --> 00:08:50,680 Speaker 1: that Glenn Yunkin is Donald Trump. That that that was 163 00:08:50,720 --> 00:08:53,040 Speaker 1: sort of their one card, and their other card was 164 00:08:53,040 --> 00:08:55,240 Speaker 1: He's a racist because all Republicans are racist. That that 165 00:08:55,320 --> 00:08:57,719 Speaker 1: was it. That's all they had to say. And and 166 00:08:58,080 --> 00:09:02,239 Speaker 1: I think mcculliffe was shocked that the race was competitive. 167 00:09:02,280 --> 00:09:04,600 Speaker 1: He assumed it would just be a cake walk at 168 00:09:04,600 --> 00:09:09,880 Speaker 1: a coronation and no Republican could win in Virginia. And 169 00:09:10,280 --> 00:09:13,199 Speaker 1: I think what mcculliffe did he really focused on issues 170 00:09:13,240 --> 00:09:15,680 Speaker 1: that that mattered to people across the state and he 171 00:09:15,760 --> 00:09:19,240 Speaker 1: got you know, Biden won Virginia by double digits, and 172 00:09:19,480 --> 00:09:21,800 Speaker 1: that means there were a whole bunch of voters who 173 00:09:22,480 --> 00:09:25,160 Speaker 1: in twenty twenty pulled the lever for Joe Biden, who 174 00:09:25,240 --> 00:09:28,520 Speaker 1: in twenty twenty one pulled the lever for Glen Yonkan 175 00:09:28,640 --> 00:09:31,840 Speaker 1: That that's a big deal. And I think their lessons 176 00:09:31,880 --> 00:09:34,560 Speaker 1: to be learned about about how Yuncan did that and 177 00:09:34,600 --> 00:09:39,559 Speaker 1: he focused on issues that matter. It turns out that 178 00:09:39,559 --> 00:09:44,040 Speaker 1: that suburban moms don't like it when you abolish the police. 179 00:09:44,080 --> 00:09:46,840 Speaker 1: They don't like it when you endanger their families, when 180 00:09:46,880 --> 00:09:50,040 Speaker 1: you endanger their kids. And it turns out that suburban 181 00:09:50,080 --> 00:09:54,880 Speaker 1: moms like it even less when you treat parents as 182 00:09:55,000 --> 00:10:00,840 Speaker 1: as domestic terrorists, when when you say, as as Cliff did, 183 00:10:01,520 --> 00:10:04,120 Speaker 1: that that that that that parents should have no role 184 00:10:04,200 --> 00:10:06,640 Speaker 1: in deciding what their kids are taught in schools, and 185 00:10:07,200 --> 00:10:09,679 Speaker 1: it you know the old joke that a gaff is 186 00:10:09,720 --> 00:10:12,680 Speaker 1: when a politician tells you what he actually thinks. Look, 187 00:10:12,760 --> 00:10:15,439 Speaker 1: mcculliff said that in a debate, and the Juncan campaign 188 00:10:15,440 --> 00:10:19,120 Speaker 1: did a great job of jumping on it and running 189 00:10:19,160 --> 00:10:22,080 Speaker 1: with it. And you know, at the victory party last night, 190 00:10:22,120 --> 00:10:25,400 Speaker 1: I mean it was rocking, But but there were signs 191 00:10:25,440 --> 00:10:28,120 Speaker 1: all over the place. They were signs women for Trump, 192 00:10:28,800 --> 00:10:33,280 Speaker 1: for women for Yunkin. There were signs Democrats for Junkin. Uh, 193 00:10:33,320 --> 00:10:35,880 Speaker 1: there were signs parents for Younkins. And I think they 194 00:10:35,880 --> 00:10:40,679 Speaker 1: did a very good job in particular of mobilizing moms 195 00:10:41,320 --> 00:10:44,120 Speaker 1: who don't want critical race theory taught to their kids, 196 00:10:44,120 --> 00:10:48,000 Speaker 1: who don't want school boards that cover up sexual assaults 197 00:10:48,000 --> 00:10:51,000 Speaker 1: and rapes in the bathrooms, and and and who don't 198 00:10:51,080 --> 00:10:56,280 Speaker 1: want arrogant politicians that view the moms and dads as 199 00:10:56,320 --> 00:11:00,840 Speaker 1: domestic terrorists. And that that that I think decided the 200 00:11:00,920 --> 00:11:03,280 Speaker 1: race and won the race last night. You know, people 201 00:11:03,320 --> 00:11:06,079 Speaker 1: are going to be fighting now over what the big 202 00:11:06,120 --> 00:11:10,080 Speaker 1: issue was. Some people are saying it's because Trump wasn't involved. 203 00:11:10,160 --> 00:11:12,240 Speaker 1: Some people are saying it's because Trump was involved. Some 204 00:11:12,240 --> 00:11:14,800 Speaker 1: people are saying it's because of critical race theories. Some 205 00:11:14,840 --> 00:11:17,360 Speaker 1: people are saying it's because of the COVID lockdowns. Some 206 00:11:17,400 --> 00:11:19,319 Speaker 1: people are saying it you know this, that and the 207 00:11:19,360 --> 00:11:22,120 Speaker 1: other thing. People with their own interests in politics and 208 00:11:22,200 --> 00:11:24,760 Speaker 1: on the right are trying to claim the victory. Do 209 00:11:24,840 --> 00:11:26,800 Speaker 1: you have a sense, being so close as you were 210 00:11:26,840 --> 00:11:30,720 Speaker 1: to the race, what the number one issue was really? 211 00:11:30,840 --> 00:11:33,280 Speaker 1: Was it really education? Was it just a reaction against 212 00:11:33,320 --> 00:11:36,240 Speaker 1: Joe Biden? Do you have any sense? So? I think 213 00:11:36,240 --> 00:11:39,400 Speaker 1: it varied as the campaign moved forward, and so early on, 214 00:11:39,720 --> 00:11:42,040 Speaker 1: I think the COVID lockdowns were a big issue. People 215 00:11:42,040 --> 00:11:44,560 Speaker 1: didn't like the COVID lockdowns. They didn't like small businesses 216 00:11:44,600 --> 00:11:46,960 Speaker 1: being shutdown, they didn't like schools being shut down, and 217 00:11:47,000 --> 00:11:50,440 Speaker 1: so Glenn was campaigning on let's reopen businesses, reopen schools. 218 00:11:51,360 --> 00:11:56,400 Speaker 1: That resonated. I think people didn't like Ralph Northam was 219 00:11:56,559 --> 00:12:00,880 Speaker 1: dumbing down the schools, was dumbing down at danced education 220 00:12:01,000 --> 00:12:03,360 Speaker 1: for students and was saying we're not going to teach 221 00:12:03,400 --> 00:12:06,640 Speaker 1: it advanced education anymore in Virginia schools, and in Glen 222 00:12:06,640 --> 00:12:09,960 Speaker 1: campaigned on yes, we are our kids deserved to have 223 00:12:10,520 --> 00:12:15,520 Speaker 1: advanced courses and the ability to learn and achieve excellence. 224 00:12:15,600 --> 00:12:19,440 Speaker 1: That was powerful Glen campaign on school choice that he 225 00:12:19,480 --> 00:12:21,880 Speaker 1: did so early on. I think school choice is a 226 00:12:21,920 --> 00:12:25,000 Speaker 1: winning issue for Republicans. I think it is a powerful issue. 227 00:12:25,480 --> 00:12:27,600 Speaker 1: If you look at Yuncan's numbers. He went up with 228 00:12:27,640 --> 00:12:30,280 Speaker 1: African Americans, he went up with Hispanics, he went up 229 00:12:30,280 --> 00:12:33,480 Speaker 1: with Democrats, he went up with women. I mean he 230 00:12:33,520 --> 00:12:37,600 Speaker 1: went up across the board. The media want to make 231 00:12:37,600 --> 00:12:41,120 Speaker 1: it all about Trump. I think Yuncan did a good job. 232 00:12:41,160 --> 00:12:44,360 Speaker 1: Trump endorsed him. Yuncan welcome the Trump endorsement, was glad 233 00:12:44,400 --> 00:12:47,880 Speaker 1: to have it, but didn't want to make the entire 234 00:12:48,000 --> 00:12:52,200 Speaker 1: election about the personality of Donald J. Trump. There are 235 00:12:52,200 --> 00:12:55,520 Speaker 1: many people you and I included, who are supporters of 236 00:12:55,559 --> 00:13:00,320 Speaker 1: the president who recognize that he did extraordinarily good things 237 00:13:00,320 --> 00:13:05,480 Speaker 1: as president. But to win, Yunkin needed some voters in Virginia, 238 00:13:05,760 --> 00:13:10,800 Speaker 1: in particular suburban women in Virginia who voted against Trump. 239 00:13:11,320 --> 00:13:13,560 Speaker 1: Yunkin needed them to switch their votes to him, and 240 00:13:13,600 --> 00:13:16,400 Speaker 1: I think he did that. You know, the campaign did 241 00:13:16,440 --> 00:13:19,760 Speaker 1: a very smart job of the first several months. They 242 00:13:19,800 --> 00:13:23,320 Speaker 1: focused on Glenn's story, on who he was and defining him, 243 00:13:23,360 --> 00:13:25,400 Speaker 1: telling his story. You know, he grew up in Virginia, 244 00:13:25,480 --> 00:13:30,800 Speaker 1: grew up in modest circumstances. He went to Rice and Andy, 245 00:13:31,280 --> 00:13:35,400 Speaker 1: played basketball four years at Rice, and met his wife 246 00:13:35,400 --> 00:13:39,280 Speaker 1: Suzanne as a Texan. She went to smu M and 247 00:13:39,320 --> 00:13:41,280 Speaker 1: then he had a career in business and an incredibly 248 00:13:41,280 --> 00:13:43,920 Speaker 1: successful career in business where he was a CEO. And 249 00:13:44,000 --> 00:13:46,559 Speaker 1: I think the campaign did a good job of defining 250 00:13:46,600 --> 00:13:49,840 Speaker 1: who Glenn was, so that when Terry mcculloff came in 251 00:13:49,880 --> 00:13:51,640 Speaker 1: at the back end and said he's Donald Trump. He's 252 00:13:51,640 --> 00:13:54,319 Speaker 1: Donald Trump, people were like, well, no, he's not, He's 253 00:13:55,000 --> 00:13:59,559 Speaker 1: he's that guy. Yeah, And that was that was valuable 254 00:13:59,679 --> 00:14:04,040 Speaker 1: to to to define his own life story, what he believes, 255 00:14:04,160 --> 00:14:08,560 Speaker 1: and to certainly welcome and embrace the support from Trump's supporters, 256 00:14:08,559 --> 00:14:12,719 Speaker 1: but not make it just a personality referendum. I think 257 00:14:12,800 --> 00:14:16,640 Speaker 1: that was smart. I then think the second phase of 258 00:14:17,320 --> 00:14:23,400 Speaker 1: the election really shifted hard to parents and schools, and 259 00:14:24,080 --> 00:14:28,280 Speaker 1: I think Loudon County played a pivotal part in this victory. 260 00:14:28,360 --> 00:14:33,000 Speaker 1: Had the horrific events that transpired in Loudon County, not happened. 261 00:14:34,040 --> 00:14:36,520 Speaker 1: I think the odds are very good. Terry mcculliff would 262 00:14:36,520 --> 00:14:38,960 Speaker 1: be the next governor of Virginia. That that Loudon mccuny, 263 00:14:38,960 --> 00:14:40,840 Speaker 1: And we've talked about it before on the pod, we 264 00:14:41,240 --> 00:14:45,040 Speaker 1: talked about it on our campus tour. But in terms 265 00:14:45,120 --> 00:14:48,880 Speaker 1: of Virginia, I think a lot of parents were offended 266 00:14:49,760 --> 00:14:52,920 Speaker 1: to be treated as domestic terrorists, to be dismissed, to 267 00:14:52,960 --> 00:14:59,560 Speaker 1: be to be ridiculed, to have their concerns just sidelines. 268 00:14:59,680 --> 00:15:03,200 Speaker 1: And and I think the arrogance of the far left 269 00:15:04,480 --> 00:15:08,040 Speaker 1: what was was parents are you guys don't matter? And 270 00:15:08,080 --> 00:15:10,320 Speaker 1: I think there were a lot of parents, in particular 271 00:15:10,440 --> 00:15:14,840 Speaker 1: moms in Virginia that didn't appreciate it. And last night's 272 00:15:14,840 --> 00:15:18,200 Speaker 1: election that played a really pivotal partner. Yeah, you know this, 273 00:15:18,440 --> 00:15:23,200 Speaker 1: this actually brings up another aspect of the past few weeks. 274 00:15:23,360 --> 00:15:25,080 Speaker 1: And I'd like to bring Liz in for this because 275 00:15:25,080 --> 00:15:26,720 Speaker 1: I do I do want to get to our mail bag, 276 00:15:26,800 --> 00:15:28,960 Speaker 1: but I would ask Senator, we're talking about law and 277 00:15:29,080 --> 00:15:33,680 Speaker 1: order and the supposed moderates out there. You grilled Merrick Garland, 278 00:15:33,760 --> 00:15:38,360 Speaker 1: the supposedly moderate judges, the the Attorney General. Now for 279 00:15:38,480 --> 00:15:41,680 Speaker 1: Joe Biden. You grilled him, and I think we would 280 00:15:41,680 --> 00:15:45,520 Speaker 1: be very remiss if we didn't talk about it. So, yeah, Michael, 281 00:15:45,560 --> 00:15:48,840 Speaker 1: that's right. Last week Merritt Garland testified in front of 282 00:15:48,880 --> 00:15:53,280 Speaker 1: the Senate Judiciary Committee, and I took the opportunity to 283 00:15:53,360 --> 00:15:57,120 Speaker 1: question him for very gently but but but but to 284 00:15:57,240 --> 00:16:00,920 Speaker 1: really hold him to account for what I think is 285 00:16:00,960 --> 00:16:04,560 Speaker 1: the politicization of the Department of Justice. You know, at 286 00:16:04,600 --> 00:16:07,920 Speaker 1: his confirmation here in Garland said that he would not 287 00:16:08,040 --> 00:16:11,120 Speaker 1: allow dj to become wanted to become under Barack Obama, 288 00:16:11,160 --> 00:16:15,720 Speaker 1: which was a political weapon used to target the enemies 289 00:16:16,560 --> 00:16:20,600 Speaker 1: of the White House. And in this instance, in particular, 290 00:16:20,680 --> 00:16:24,480 Speaker 1: I think that's exactly what Garland allowed it to happen. 291 00:16:24,520 --> 00:16:27,920 Speaker 1: And so you know, I began with this letter from 292 00:16:27,920 --> 00:16:30,440 Speaker 1: then Association of school Boards and I said, look, dude, 293 00:16:30,760 --> 00:16:33,320 Speaker 1: you know, General Garland, do you know how many instances 294 00:16:33,320 --> 00:16:35,480 Speaker 1: are cited in this letter? The letter was the basis 295 00:16:36,040 --> 00:16:38,760 Speaker 1: of his direction to the FBI and his memo. He said, no, 296 00:16:38,800 --> 00:16:40,760 Speaker 1: I don't know how many. And I said, well, I 297 00:16:40,800 --> 00:16:42,560 Speaker 1: just did a quick count right here. There are twenty 298 00:16:42,600 --> 00:16:45,720 Speaker 1: of them. Do you know how many of them are violent? 299 00:16:45,840 --> 00:16:48,080 Speaker 1: Or arguably violent on their face. He said, no, I 300 00:16:48,080 --> 00:16:49,720 Speaker 1: don't know that either. I said, well, there's a reason 301 00:16:49,760 --> 00:16:51,280 Speaker 1: you don't know that, because you didn't give a damn 302 00:16:51,280 --> 00:16:53,920 Speaker 1: to check. You didn't look, your staff didn't look, No 303 00:16:53,960 --> 00:16:57,160 Speaker 1: one investigated. From my quick examination of the letter, here 304 00:16:57,160 --> 00:17:00,280 Speaker 1: it appears five of them, on their face may have 305 00:17:00,320 --> 00:17:04,000 Speaker 1: been violent. That means fifteen of them were not. Now, 306 00:17:04,040 --> 00:17:08,400 Speaker 1: fifteen of them were expressing speech, sometimes parents who were mad, 307 00:17:08,440 --> 00:17:12,000 Speaker 1: who were expressing vigorous speech, but they were engaged in 308 00:17:12,160 --> 00:17:15,760 Speaker 1: activity protected by the First Amendment. And I put it. 309 00:17:15,880 --> 00:17:20,600 Speaker 1: I said, look, DJ, senators, we've sent letters to DJ 310 00:17:21,000 --> 00:17:23,639 Speaker 1: that for months. You ignore. You don't care what we 311 00:17:23,680 --> 00:17:26,000 Speaker 1: have to say. You just utterly ignore when we write 312 00:17:26,000 --> 00:17:30,000 Speaker 1: the Department of Justice. And yet when these well connected 313 00:17:30,000 --> 00:17:33,680 Speaker 1: democrats who were working with the White House demand that 314 00:17:33,720 --> 00:17:37,320 Speaker 1: you go after parents and target them, five days later, 315 00:17:37,760 --> 00:17:40,320 Speaker 1: you snap your fingers and you direct the FBI to 316 00:17:40,400 --> 00:17:44,520 Speaker 1: do it. And the heat on the National Association of 317 00:17:44,600 --> 00:17:48,160 Speaker 1: school Boards was so great they actually withdrew the letter. 318 00:17:48,200 --> 00:17:51,880 Speaker 1: They apologized for it. They're having you know, local chapters 319 00:17:51,960 --> 00:17:55,679 Speaker 1: resigned from their organization, and that they said they were 320 00:17:55,680 --> 00:17:58,120 Speaker 1: embarrassed by the letter. They withdrew it, and I asked 321 00:17:58,119 --> 00:18:01,000 Speaker 1: the Attorney General, well, are you embarrassed? Do you have 322 00:18:01,040 --> 00:18:05,040 Speaker 1: any Do you have the same integrity, the same sense 323 00:18:05,080 --> 00:18:08,560 Speaker 1: of shame that the n Association of school Boards did. 324 00:18:08,600 --> 00:18:11,960 Speaker 1: And Garland's like, no, no, no, no, no, I apologize 325 00:18:12,000 --> 00:18:17,040 Speaker 1: for nothing. There was nothing that intimidated parents. And it's like, really, really, 326 00:18:17,119 --> 00:18:20,000 Speaker 1: you think sending the FBI to go after parents, that 327 00:18:20,119 --> 00:18:23,680 Speaker 1: that's not intimidating, that doesn't chill their speech, that doesn't 328 00:18:24,440 --> 00:18:30,320 Speaker 1: frustrate our democratic process. And it really was striking. I 329 00:18:30,359 --> 00:18:36,600 Speaker 1: think both the arrogance that Garland conveyed, but simultaneously the 330 00:18:36,680 --> 00:18:40,800 Speaker 1: cluelessness and one component of that. Look, Garland has been 331 00:18:40,840 --> 00:18:44,600 Speaker 1: a judge for twenty four years. He hasn't had anybody 332 00:18:44,680 --> 00:18:47,600 Speaker 1: questioned him in twenty four years. He's not faced a 333 00:18:47,640 --> 00:18:51,960 Speaker 1: single difficult question. He's not had anyone scrutinize what he 334 00:18:52,040 --> 00:18:55,240 Speaker 1: says or does. To be honest, he probably hasn't had 335 00:18:55,280 --> 00:18:59,520 Speaker 1: anyone say an unkind word to him in twenty four years. 336 00:18:59,600 --> 00:19:03,160 Speaker 1: Federal judges, particularly judges on the DC Circuit, the second 337 00:19:03,200 --> 00:19:06,840 Speaker 1: highest court in the land, everybody who interacts with them 338 00:19:07,359 --> 00:19:12,320 Speaker 1: kisses their behinds all day long. And I think Garland 339 00:19:12,400 --> 00:19:15,000 Speaker 1: was willing to play the political hack and give the 340 00:19:15,000 --> 00:19:18,119 Speaker 1: White House what they wanted, and it never even occurred 341 00:19:18,160 --> 00:19:21,960 Speaker 1: to him that he would face scrutiny or oversight from 342 00:19:22,000 --> 00:19:25,480 Speaker 1: anyone else. And he said, well, lawyers who would read 343 00:19:25,520 --> 00:19:28,320 Speaker 1: this memo would understand the Supreme Court case law of 344 00:19:28,359 --> 00:19:30,879 Speaker 1: this case. In the other case, I'm like, I'm sorry, 345 00:19:31,040 --> 00:19:35,680 Speaker 1: Mom doesn't understand that parents aren't reading Supreme Court cases. 346 00:19:35,840 --> 00:19:39,000 Speaker 1: You're the attorney general. You don't think sending a memo 347 00:19:39,800 --> 00:19:42,200 Speaker 1: to the FBI, to the men in black, the g 348 00:19:42,400 --> 00:19:48,119 Speaker 1: men to go target parents's intimidation, then you are being clueless, 349 00:19:48,200 --> 00:19:51,000 Speaker 1: you're not doing your job as attorney general, and you're 350 00:19:51,040 --> 00:19:56,600 Speaker 1: allowing DJ to be politicized. And I think that it 351 00:19:56,680 --> 00:20:01,840 Speaker 1: was shameful, but it was also it played a real 352 00:20:01,960 --> 00:20:07,960 Speaker 1: role in the victory in Virginia last night. Now with that, Liz, 353 00:20:08,040 --> 00:20:11,440 Speaker 1: you're you're back. Now, do we do we have any 354 00:20:11,520 --> 00:20:13,960 Speaker 1: questions from the mail bag from Verdict Plus? We do? 355 00:20:14,000 --> 00:20:15,879 Speaker 1: And by the way, I think you're exactly correct on 356 00:20:15,920 --> 00:20:19,600 Speaker 1: how serious uh Merrick Garland's behavior, how much of an 357 00:20:19,640 --> 00:20:23,159 Speaker 1: impact it had in Virginia. It's almost inarguable that it didn't. 358 00:20:23,200 --> 00:20:24,920 Speaker 1: And you played a really big role in that. So 359 00:20:25,000 --> 00:20:28,119 Speaker 1: I know that our our country appreciates that, especially parents 360 00:20:28,119 --> 00:20:31,159 Speaker 1: of young children who don't want their kids indoctrinated. So, 361 00:20:31,400 --> 00:20:33,639 Speaker 1: anybody who's not part of Verdict plus, I invite you 362 00:20:33,680 --> 00:20:35,800 Speaker 1: to join us over there at Verdict with Ted Cruise 363 00:20:35,840 --> 00:20:39,080 Speaker 1: dot com slash plus, who got exclusive access to the 364 00:20:39,119 --> 00:20:42,200 Speaker 1: Senator himself. A lot of your questions will be answered, 365 00:20:42,359 --> 00:20:44,680 Speaker 1: just like right now, there are some great questions. While 366 00:20:44,680 --> 00:20:46,760 Speaker 1: I t these up, I do want to skip the 367 00:20:46,800 --> 00:20:49,600 Speaker 1: line and ask you a question myself, and that is 368 00:20:49,720 --> 00:20:51,679 Speaker 1: there's a rumor in the United States Senate that you 369 00:20:51,800 --> 00:20:54,280 Speaker 1: lost a wager on the floor of the Senate. Can 370 00:20:54,320 --> 00:20:59,200 Speaker 1: you confirm, Senator, whether this is true or false? Oh 371 00:20:59,200 --> 00:21:05,360 Speaker 1: that's painful. It is very painful. So tragically, my astros 372 00:21:05,440 --> 00:21:08,760 Speaker 1: lost the World Series and we lost last night, and 373 00:21:09,680 --> 00:21:13,399 Speaker 1: I will say you know so Tuesday night, I truly 374 00:21:13,440 --> 00:21:15,840 Speaker 1: was bittersweet because I was at the younke In election party. 375 00:21:15,880 --> 00:21:18,000 Speaker 1: We were celebrating the victory. It looked like a victory 376 00:21:18,040 --> 00:21:20,840 Speaker 1: all night long, but on my phone, I was watching 377 00:21:20,880 --> 00:21:23,159 Speaker 1: the live stream of Game six of the World Series 378 00:21:23,160 --> 00:21:26,560 Speaker 1: and the Braves were just whipping our asses. It wasn't 379 00:21:26,600 --> 00:21:29,639 Speaker 1: even close. First couple innings were pretty good. Then we 380 00:21:29,640 --> 00:21:32,000 Speaker 1: were down three nothing, then we were down six nothing, 381 00:21:32,040 --> 00:21:35,200 Speaker 1: then we were down seven nothing. And so I'm miserable 382 00:21:35,240 --> 00:21:38,640 Speaker 1: watching it, but really happy for Virginia in the country. 383 00:21:39,840 --> 00:21:43,879 Speaker 1: But it gets even worse because I had a wager 384 00:21:44,520 --> 00:21:48,600 Speaker 1: with John Assaff, the new senator from Georgia, over who 385 00:21:48,640 --> 00:21:51,359 Speaker 1: would win the World Series, and the stakes of the wager. 386 00:21:51,480 --> 00:21:54,679 Speaker 1: Now that I've lost, sadly, I'm going to have to 387 00:21:54,760 --> 00:21:59,959 Speaker 1: deliver Texas barbecue and scheinerback beer to his entire staff 388 00:22:00,040 --> 00:22:02,600 Speaker 1: and so we'll we'll treat them to lunch and give 389 00:22:02,640 --> 00:22:05,800 Speaker 1: him Texas barbecue and beer. Um. And it's okay because 390 00:22:05,800 --> 00:22:07,760 Speaker 1: they don't really have barbecue in Georgia. I'll get some 391 00:22:07,800 --> 00:22:12,080 Speaker 1: grief for that comment. Um. But even worse, I'm going 392 00:22:12,160 --> 00:22:14,800 Speaker 1: to have to wear a Braves jersey, which which which 393 00:22:14,840 --> 00:22:18,679 Speaker 1: it'd already burns. I can feel the pain from doing so. Um. 394 00:22:18,840 --> 00:22:22,080 Speaker 1: This is my third World Series wager. Two years ago 395 00:22:22,119 --> 00:22:24,240 Speaker 1: in twenty nineteen, I had a bet with with Tim 396 00:22:24,320 --> 00:22:27,639 Speaker 1: Caine over the Astros and the national Sadly I lost 397 00:22:27,680 --> 00:22:30,159 Speaker 1: that one, and so I delivered to Tim the barbecue 398 00:22:30,240 --> 00:22:34,000 Speaker 1: the beer, and I wore a Nats Jersey. But two 399 00:22:34,080 --> 00:22:36,639 Speaker 1: years before that, in twenty seventeen, I had a wager 400 00:22:36,640 --> 00:22:42,480 Speaker 1: with Kamala Harris, and Kamala delivered California wine and Sees 401 00:22:42,600 --> 00:22:45,639 Speaker 1: chocolate and she live streamed it as as she was 402 00:22:45,680 --> 00:22:50,359 Speaker 1: wearing Astro's gear. And so I got to say, winning 403 00:22:50,400 --> 00:22:52,560 Speaker 1: the bet is a lot more fun than losing the bet. 404 00:22:52,600 --> 00:22:54,800 Speaker 1: And and so I'm not looking forward to paying up 405 00:22:54,800 --> 00:22:56,560 Speaker 1: to aus Off. I will do so, And I talked 406 00:22:56,560 --> 00:22:58,960 Speaker 1: to him tonight about it. I said, look, I'll do so, 407 00:22:59,000 --> 00:23:01,880 Speaker 1: and I'll do so cheery, but but be forewarned I'm 408 00:23:01,880 --> 00:23:04,480 Speaker 1: going to be bitching about it. At the same time, Well, 409 00:23:04,520 --> 00:23:06,719 Speaker 1: we look forward to seeing, you know, at least images, 410 00:23:06,760 --> 00:23:09,560 Speaker 1: if not videos of this over on Verdict. Plus, I 411 00:23:09,600 --> 00:23:12,280 Speaker 1: know we're sorry that you lost the wager, but we 412 00:23:12,320 --> 00:23:14,280 Speaker 1: do want a little peek into this, a little peek 413 00:23:14,320 --> 00:23:17,919 Speaker 1: into this tradition that you've set. And Liz, I do 414 00:23:18,080 --> 00:23:21,919 Speaker 1: have to say, there is something exquisite that the World 415 00:23:22,040 --> 00:23:27,040 Speaker 1: Series was between Texas and Georgia, two states that passed 416 00:23:27,119 --> 00:23:30,920 Speaker 1: voter integrity laws. After Major League Baseball yanked the All 417 00:23:30,960 --> 00:23:35,120 Speaker 1: Star Game out of Atlanta because Georgia passed Georgia voter 418 00:23:35,200 --> 00:23:39,080 Speaker 1: integrity laws. I love the fact that the World Series 419 00:23:39,160 --> 00:23:43,200 Speaker 1: Trophy that Major League Baseball had to present it in Atlanta. 420 00:23:43,359 --> 00:23:45,199 Speaker 1: They have, they had to, they had to go to 421 00:23:45,240 --> 00:23:48,159 Speaker 1: the commissioner, had to go to games in Houston and Atlanta, 422 00:23:48,200 --> 00:23:50,840 Speaker 1: and and it is all I can say is karma 423 00:23:50,920 --> 00:23:54,680 Speaker 1: is a bitch. And it really is a beautiful, beautiful thing. 424 00:23:55,119 --> 00:23:57,359 Speaker 1: It is it is. I mean, that's poetic justice if 425 00:23:57,280 --> 00:23:58,879 Speaker 1: I ever heard it. Okay, we have a lot of 426 00:23:58,880 --> 00:24:01,440 Speaker 1: great questions tonight. I want to it's to Nancy's question first, 427 00:24:01,520 --> 00:24:04,399 Speaker 1: and this I think speaks a little bit to the 428 00:24:04,440 --> 00:24:07,600 Speaker 1: demographic that won the election for Glen Yonkin and Virginia. 429 00:24:07,680 --> 00:24:11,439 Speaker 1: Nancy asks, please explain the difference between suburban voters and 430 00:24:11,480 --> 00:24:15,280 Speaker 1: working class voters. She says, she's both. Yeah. So that's 431 00:24:15,320 --> 00:24:18,280 Speaker 1: a very good question, and it goes right to the 432 00:24:18,359 --> 00:24:21,840 Speaker 1: heart of two demographic trends that are playing out in 433 00:24:21,880 --> 00:24:24,320 Speaker 1: the country, that have played out for the last several years. 434 00:24:25,760 --> 00:24:30,320 Speaker 1: One is working class voters, the blue collar voters who 435 00:24:30,359 --> 00:24:34,840 Speaker 1: have been moving right, and those are truck drivers, steel workers, 436 00:24:34,880 --> 00:24:41,120 Speaker 1: construction workers, cops, firefighters, the men and women with callouses 437 00:24:41,160 --> 00:24:44,960 Speaker 1: on their hands, the people that work at factories union members. 438 00:24:46,280 --> 00:24:50,119 Speaker 1: They've been moving right. That's moved Midwestern states more Republican. 439 00:24:50,160 --> 00:24:55,080 Speaker 1: As a consequence, simultaneously, you have suburban voters, voters who 440 00:24:55,160 --> 00:24:58,840 Speaker 1: live not in the inner cities, but who live in 441 00:24:59,320 --> 00:25:03,560 Speaker 1: the suburb surrounding big cities, and in particular, suburban women. 442 00:25:03,640 --> 00:25:05,439 Speaker 1: You have you know, they used to be called soccer 443 00:25:05,520 --> 00:25:10,760 Speaker 1: moms and and women who live in the suburbs. Historically, 444 00:25:11,440 --> 00:25:15,159 Speaker 1: the suburbs have been Republican. In Texas, for example, the 445 00:25:15,200 --> 00:25:18,479 Speaker 1: suburbs around our cities the way Texas has historically voted, 446 00:25:18,880 --> 00:25:22,560 Speaker 1: the big cities are bright blue, the suburbs have been 447 00:25:22,880 --> 00:25:25,760 Speaker 1: red donuts surrounding the big cities, and then the rural 448 00:25:25,800 --> 00:25:29,840 Speaker 1: areas voted Republican as well, and that that combination kept 449 00:25:30,040 --> 00:25:34,600 Speaker 1: Texas reliably Republican. Well in the last few years, the 450 00:25:34,680 --> 00:25:37,919 Speaker 1: suburbs have turned purple. They're not blue, but they've turned purple. 451 00:25:38,000 --> 00:25:41,720 Speaker 1: That a number of suburban voters, particularly suburban women, had 452 00:25:41,720 --> 00:25:46,400 Speaker 1: begun voting Democrat, and a number of suburban women were 453 00:25:46,440 --> 00:25:49,040 Speaker 1: not fans of President Trump, and it was really a 454 00:25:49,119 --> 00:25:55,880 Speaker 1: personality referendum with some suburban women voters. What we saw 455 00:25:56,000 --> 00:26:00,399 Speaker 1: in Virginia is the working class voters stayed with Junken, 456 00:26:01,240 --> 00:26:03,560 Speaker 1: But at the same time he brought some of those 457 00:26:03,600 --> 00:26:07,240 Speaker 1: suburban women who had shifted Democrat. He brought them back 458 00:26:07,240 --> 00:26:09,399 Speaker 1: to the Republican tally. And if we bring both of 459 00:26:09,440 --> 00:26:13,600 Speaker 1: those together, that's really a winning coalition, it is. And 460 00:26:13,920 --> 00:26:17,080 Speaker 1: if only we could continue this sweet, sweet victory that 461 00:26:17,080 --> 00:26:19,840 Speaker 1: we've been reveling in all day on the Republican side, 462 00:26:19,960 --> 00:26:22,400 Speaker 1: I think that would be great. Okay, the next question 463 00:26:22,640 --> 00:26:26,080 Speaker 1: is the user name of this individual's software nugget who asks, 464 00:26:26,119 --> 00:26:28,399 Speaker 1: I was just watching some of clips of you, Senator 465 00:26:28,400 --> 00:26:30,920 Speaker 1: Cruz on YouTube and wondering why you use the terms 466 00:26:31,040 --> 00:26:34,520 Speaker 1: biological male and biological female, as if there are other 467 00:26:34,560 --> 00:26:38,400 Speaker 1: types instead of just male and female. Yeah, looks it's 468 00:26:38,440 --> 00:26:40,879 Speaker 1: a good question, and I guess I would say it 469 00:26:41,040 --> 00:26:44,960 Speaker 1: is a nod towards modern discussion. That you've got the 470 00:26:45,920 --> 00:26:49,960 Speaker 1: left who bizarrely insists that if I say I'm a woman, 471 00:26:50,119 --> 00:26:52,840 Speaker 1: i am a woman, and just the act of declaring 472 00:26:53,240 --> 00:26:57,800 Speaker 1: I am woman, hear me, roar, transforms me into being 473 00:26:57,840 --> 00:27:03,400 Speaker 1: a woman. And there's so much language police today that 474 00:27:03,440 --> 00:27:07,040 Speaker 1: when you refer to a male or female, given how 475 00:27:07,080 --> 00:27:10,000 Speaker 1: the media covers it, given the sort of bizarre language 476 00:27:10,040 --> 00:27:14,080 Speaker 1: games that we play, there is arguably some ambiguity. And 477 00:27:14,680 --> 00:27:18,159 Speaker 1: so when I use the phrase a biological male, I 478 00:27:18,200 --> 00:27:21,760 Speaker 1: mean someone that's got a Y chromosome and has has 479 00:27:21,800 --> 00:27:25,639 Speaker 1: got the the the equipment that makes a male. A 480 00:27:25,680 --> 00:27:29,639 Speaker 1: biological female. You got two X chromosomes, you have the 481 00:27:29,680 --> 00:27:33,240 Speaker 1: equipment that makes you female. I'm just trying to describe 482 00:27:33,359 --> 00:27:38,520 Speaker 1: the hardware and the genes. I'm not speaking necessarily about 483 00:27:38,560 --> 00:27:41,160 Speaker 1: what you believe, what you want to be, what gender, 484 00:27:41,840 --> 00:27:44,520 Speaker 1: whether male, female, or any of the what is it? 485 00:27:44,600 --> 00:27:47,480 Speaker 1: Facebook has fifty seven different genders. I don't even understand 486 00:27:47,520 --> 00:27:49,680 Speaker 1: all the different worlds of genders people say they are. 487 00:27:51,480 --> 00:27:53,960 Speaker 1: I get the point, but it but for me, at least, 488 00:27:54,000 --> 00:28:00,000 Speaker 1: it's the clearest way to convey in this bizarre language 489 00:28:00,080 --> 00:28:03,520 Speaker 1: Orwellian world we live in, what it is I'm trying 490 00:28:03,520 --> 00:28:06,760 Speaker 1: to convey. I do not use the term biological male 491 00:28:06,880 --> 00:28:10,560 Speaker 1: or biological female because I do fear that it grants 492 00:28:10,600 --> 00:28:12,879 Speaker 1: the premise that there are other kinds of males. You know, 493 00:28:12,880 --> 00:28:15,760 Speaker 1: you're a spiritual mail or psychological mail or something like that. 494 00:28:15,960 --> 00:28:19,280 Speaker 1: But I do understand the prudential reason that people are 495 00:28:19,400 --> 00:28:24,879 Speaker 1: doing it. It is to draw this distinction First of all, 496 00:28:24,960 --> 00:28:27,560 Speaker 1: it is to meet people where they are. It is 497 00:28:27,600 --> 00:28:31,199 Speaker 1: to sometimes to avoid certain bands on big tech platforms 498 00:28:31,240 --> 00:28:34,080 Speaker 1: that will forbid you from referring to a man who 499 00:28:34,119 --> 00:28:36,159 Speaker 1: thinks that he's a woman as a man. I mean, 500 00:28:36,480 --> 00:28:40,680 Speaker 1: there are all of these prudential and instrumental reasons to 501 00:28:40,760 --> 00:28:43,120 Speaker 1: do that. But yes, I do think ultimately the way 502 00:28:43,120 --> 00:28:46,320 Speaker 1: we're going to win is by watching that language very 503 00:28:46,440 --> 00:28:52,040 Speaker 1: very closely and recognizing that even when we appear to 504 00:28:52,120 --> 00:28:56,400 Speaker 1: be opposing the new politically correct jargons, sometimes we can 505 00:28:56,440 --> 00:29:00,280 Speaker 1: inadvertently be accepting some of their premises. And so you know, 506 00:29:01,280 --> 00:29:03,880 Speaker 1: they say it's it's good to be blunt and straight 507 00:29:03,920 --> 00:29:06,280 Speaker 1: talking and call a spade a spade, and yes, I 508 00:29:06,280 --> 00:29:07,840 Speaker 1: think we ought to call a man a man and 509 00:29:07,920 --> 00:29:10,880 Speaker 1: a woman a woman. Well, there you go. And for 510 00:29:10,920 --> 00:29:14,120 Speaker 1: anybody who wants to submit questions for our next episode, 511 00:29:14,120 --> 00:29:16,360 Speaker 1: for the mailbag on that episode, please go over to 512 00:29:16,480 --> 00:29:21,120 Speaker 1: Verdict with Ted Cruise dot com. Slash plus supporters exclusively 513 00:29:21,360 --> 00:29:23,800 Speaker 1: have the option to submit questions for Michael Knowles and 514 00:29:23,800 --> 00:29:26,360 Speaker 1: Senator Ted Cruise. All right, this next question is actually 515 00:29:26,360 --> 00:29:28,520 Speaker 1: one of my favorite questions. I'm very excited to hear 516 00:29:28,560 --> 00:29:31,760 Speaker 1: your answer this is what they ask Senor what three 517 00:29:31,840 --> 00:29:36,360 Speaker 1: government agencies would you most like to abolish? Number one 518 00:29:36,440 --> 00:29:40,800 Speaker 1: the IRS. I think the IRS is a tool of oppression. 519 00:29:42,000 --> 00:29:45,320 Speaker 1: I think it is a tool of intrusion into privacy. 520 00:29:45,480 --> 00:29:48,640 Speaker 1: You can see with the Bernie Sanders budgets the Democrats 521 00:29:48,640 --> 00:29:52,520 Speaker 1: are trying to use the IRS to monitor every financial 522 00:29:52,560 --> 00:29:57,040 Speaker 1: transaction any American engages in over six hundred dollars. I 523 00:29:57,080 --> 00:30:01,280 Speaker 1: would shut down the IRS. I would padlock it. I 524 00:30:01,280 --> 00:30:03,440 Speaker 1: think we ought to have a simple flat tax, where 525 00:30:03,440 --> 00:30:06,640 Speaker 1: you fill out your taxes on a postcard. I've introduced, 526 00:30:06,680 --> 00:30:09,280 Speaker 1: I've laid out the details of a flat tax and 527 00:30:09,360 --> 00:30:11,719 Speaker 1: how you could operate it. That would be incredibly simple 528 00:30:12,080 --> 00:30:15,400 Speaker 1: that virtually the entirety of the IRS would become irrelevant 529 00:30:15,400 --> 00:30:18,880 Speaker 1: and unnecessary. So that would be number one. Very close 530 00:30:18,920 --> 00:30:21,760 Speaker 1: second would be the Federal Department of Education. I think 531 00:30:21,760 --> 00:30:27,360 Speaker 1: the Federal Department of Education has been used to try 532 00:30:27,440 --> 00:30:34,280 Speaker 1: to impose national curriculum standards, to try to violate and 533 00:30:34,320 --> 00:30:37,920 Speaker 1: trample upon the authority of local jurisdictions to run their 534 00:30:37,960 --> 00:30:41,360 Speaker 1: own schools. I don't think we need a federal government 535 00:30:41,760 --> 00:30:46,200 Speaker 1: trying to set local curricula. As for the third ones 536 00:30:46,800 --> 00:30:48,600 Speaker 1: that there are a number of different ones you can 537 00:30:48,680 --> 00:30:50,880 Speaker 1: you can point to. I'd probably point to the Department 538 00:30:50,880 --> 00:30:55,880 Speaker 1: of Commerce's third. The Department of Commerce is a big 539 00:30:55,920 --> 00:30:58,720 Speaker 1: grab bag of all sorts of different whether it is 540 00:30:58,800 --> 00:31:02,640 Speaker 1: corporate welfare and ony ism, are all sorts of different components. 541 00:31:02,640 --> 00:31:06,080 Speaker 1: There's some elements of the Department of Commerce that are necessary. 542 00:31:06,080 --> 00:31:09,600 Speaker 1: For example, the Census Bureau Constitution actually requires the federal 543 00:31:09,680 --> 00:31:12,400 Speaker 1: government to conduct a census every ten years. We still 544 00:31:12,400 --> 00:31:14,520 Speaker 1: need a census bureau, So you could move the Census 545 00:31:14,560 --> 00:31:17,480 Speaker 1: Bureau somewhere else. You don't need the whole Commerce Department 546 00:31:17,520 --> 00:31:20,520 Speaker 1: to do it. There are other elements of the Commerce Department. 547 00:31:20,520 --> 00:31:23,160 Speaker 1: There are some essential functions in it. You know. I 548 00:31:23,240 --> 00:31:26,960 Speaker 1: gotta say, Liz, I think back to nineteen ninety five. 549 00:31:27,000 --> 00:31:29,680 Speaker 1: So nineteen ninety five, I just graduated from law school 550 00:31:30,280 --> 00:31:33,280 Speaker 1: and I was a law clerk in Northern Virginia, was 551 00:31:33,320 --> 00:31:36,640 Speaker 1: clerking for Judge Michael Ludig, who was at the time 552 00:31:36,640 --> 00:31:41,040 Speaker 1: the strongest conservative Federal Pellet judge in the country. And 553 00:31:41,200 --> 00:31:43,920 Speaker 1: it was at the time of the newt Gingrich the 554 00:31:43,960 --> 00:31:46,440 Speaker 1: Republican Revolution had just happened, and then you remember there 555 00:31:46,800 --> 00:31:49,920 Speaker 1: was a government shutdown at the time and only essential 556 00:31:49,960 --> 00:31:53,040 Speaker 1: workers federal workers were allowed to go to work. And 557 00:31:53,080 --> 00:31:54,920 Speaker 1: I remember the Department of Commerce at the time put 558 00:31:54,920 --> 00:31:58,120 Speaker 1: out a press release that they said, seventy percent of 559 00:31:58,120 --> 00:32:00,920 Speaker 1: our workers did not come into work. Only thirty percent 560 00:32:01,000 --> 00:32:05,240 Speaker 1: came in, but they said fear not all essential functions 561 00:32:05,280 --> 00:32:07,360 Speaker 1: were carried out. And I remember laughing at the time 562 00:32:07,360 --> 00:32:09,360 Speaker 1: and saying, great, you've just put out a press release 563 00:32:09,760 --> 00:32:11,720 Speaker 1: saying you only need thirty percent of your staff. That 564 00:32:11,840 --> 00:32:15,280 Speaker 1: seventy percent can be dismissed tomorrow. If all the essential 565 00:32:15,280 --> 00:32:18,200 Speaker 1: functions can be done with thirty percent of your staff, 566 00:32:18,240 --> 00:32:20,520 Speaker 1: we can save some real money. So that So that's 567 00:32:21,160 --> 00:32:24,640 Speaker 1: that's in an initial stabs at three agencies, and listen, 568 00:32:24,680 --> 00:32:27,320 Speaker 1: I'll like any answer that essentially encompasses the idea of 569 00:32:27,360 --> 00:32:30,440 Speaker 1: abolishing the administrative state once and for all. And I 570 00:32:30,480 --> 00:32:33,080 Speaker 1: think those answers are pretty good. All right, Michael, Now, 571 00:32:33,160 --> 00:32:36,280 Speaker 1: same question to you, what three government agencies would you 572 00:32:36,360 --> 00:32:40,000 Speaker 1: most like to abolish? Well, these days, I'd like to 573 00:32:40,040 --> 00:32:43,840 Speaker 1: go after the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. I don't 574 00:32:43,840 --> 00:32:46,840 Speaker 1: really like that this sort of little known agency that 575 00:32:46,960 --> 00:32:51,960 Speaker 1: is now enforcing this draconian vaccine mandate on everybody. That 576 00:32:52,000 --> 00:32:55,360 Speaker 1: would be one that I think should go. The people 577 00:32:55,720 --> 00:32:58,000 Speaker 1: often will say, you know, the Energy Department, and that's 578 00:32:58,000 --> 00:33:00,720 Speaker 1: all well and good, but I'd like to get rid 579 00:33:00,760 --> 00:33:04,360 Speaker 1: of some of these more obscure offices, you know. I'd 580 00:33:04,400 --> 00:33:07,960 Speaker 1: like to get rid of the within each office. I 581 00:33:07,960 --> 00:33:11,400 Speaker 1: would like to get rid of the deputy assistant, deputy 582 00:33:11,560 --> 00:33:14,520 Speaker 1: director or assistant of diversity and inclusion and equity. I'd 583 00:33:14,520 --> 00:33:18,200 Speaker 1: like to get into that. And then really even beyond 584 00:33:18,360 --> 00:33:23,720 Speaker 1: abolishing these agencies and departments, I want to take them over. Okay, 585 00:33:23,920 --> 00:33:26,680 Speaker 1: we've been talking about cutting all these agencies for a 586 00:33:26,720 --> 00:33:29,840 Speaker 1: long time, but I think that assuming we're not going 587 00:33:29,880 --> 00:33:32,520 Speaker 1: to be able to do that all that successfully, I 588 00:33:32,600 --> 00:33:35,080 Speaker 1: want to go in, get our own guys in there, 589 00:33:35,120 --> 00:33:38,960 Speaker 1: and then start wielding the government on the happy occasions 590 00:33:38,960 --> 00:33:41,800 Speaker 1: that the people give us political power, two ends that 591 00:33:41,840 --> 00:33:44,640 Speaker 1: are good and just and moral and right and more 592 00:33:44,680 --> 00:33:48,320 Speaker 1: favorable to conservatives. Well, that that may be easier said 593 00:33:48,320 --> 00:33:50,479 Speaker 1: than done, although I certainly agree with you. All right, 594 00:33:50,480 --> 00:33:52,920 Speaker 1: I'm looking on Verdict plus now all of the great 595 00:33:52,920 --> 00:33:55,840 Speaker 1: people over on Verdict plus. I've been submitting questions, and 596 00:33:55,960 --> 00:33:59,760 Speaker 1: here's a question, Michael, for you. This is the question, 597 00:34:00,400 --> 00:34:05,040 Speaker 1: is the quote unquote common good branch of conservatism, actually conservative. 598 00:34:05,440 --> 00:34:09,120 Speaker 1: Is it constitutional? This question comes from Nancy. Oh, yes, 599 00:34:09,200 --> 00:34:12,880 Speaker 1: of course it is. By definition. You know, a republic 600 00:34:13,040 --> 00:34:15,799 Speaker 1: comes from the rest res publica right, the things we 601 00:34:15,880 --> 00:34:20,359 Speaker 1: have together, the things that are in common. The Constitution 602 00:34:20,480 --> 00:34:24,560 Speaker 1: is pretty clear it's to provide the blessings of liberty 603 00:34:24,600 --> 00:34:27,840 Speaker 1: for the American people, to provide for the general welfare. 604 00:34:27,880 --> 00:34:30,719 Speaker 1: And the whole point of self government is that we 605 00:34:30,800 --> 00:34:35,440 Speaker 1: are going to exercise our judgment and our prudence to 606 00:34:35,600 --> 00:34:37,239 Speaker 1: have a better country for all of us. We don't 607 00:34:37,280 --> 00:34:41,000 Speaker 1: just live as these individualized atoms floating in free space. 608 00:34:41,080 --> 00:34:43,120 Speaker 1: We have a country together, and so we need to 609 00:34:43,160 --> 00:34:47,239 Speaker 1: have things in common. And you know, this didn't used 610 00:34:47,239 --> 00:34:51,839 Speaker 1: to be controversial. I mean, this was the understanding of 611 00:34:51,920 --> 00:34:55,759 Speaker 1: not just the founding fathers, but of statesmen from time immemorial. 612 00:34:56,000 --> 00:34:57,840 Speaker 1: And I think one thing that we've made a mistake 613 00:34:58,280 --> 00:35:01,399 Speaker 1: in recent decades is we have put the cart before 614 00:35:01,440 --> 00:35:03,719 Speaker 1: the horse. That phrase blessings of liberty here, I think 615 00:35:03,840 --> 00:35:08,279 Speaker 1: is pretty important. Liberty is wonderful, true liberty, especially as 616 00:35:08,320 --> 00:35:11,759 Speaker 1: wonderful and individual liberty and the liberty of localities is 617 00:35:11,800 --> 00:35:14,839 Speaker 1: all wonderful, but it's an instrument. It's not an end 618 00:35:14,880 --> 00:35:17,719 Speaker 1: unto itself. It is an instrument towards something. When the 619 00:35:18,120 --> 00:35:20,520 Speaker 1: framers of the Constitution tell us that they are trying 620 00:35:20,560 --> 00:35:23,400 Speaker 1: to give us the blessings of liberty, that they are 621 00:35:23,440 --> 00:35:26,520 Speaker 1: acknowledging something that we all used to know, which is 622 00:35:26,560 --> 00:35:29,160 Speaker 1: that our liberty is not just so that we can 623 00:35:29,280 --> 00:35:31,319 Speaker 1: sit at home and say, by Golly, I'm free, but 624 00:35:31,480 --> 00:35:33,160 Speaker 1: so that we can have a good country, so that 625 00:35:33,200 --> 00:35:35,840 Speaker 1: we ourselves can flourish, our families can flourish, our communities 626 00:35:35,880 --> 00:35:39,600 Speaker 1: can flourish, and ultimately our nation can flourish. It's it's deeply, 627 00:35:39,680 --> 00:35:44,440 Speaker 1: deeply conservative, and the denial of the common good, or 628 00:35:44,480 --> 00:35:48,200 Speaker 1: of the good, or this hyper focus on emancipation and 629 00:35:48,280 --> 00:35:51,839 Speaker 1: liberation or whatever that really historically comes from the left 630 00:35:51,960 --> 00:35:54,560 Speaker 1: much more than it comes from the right or from conservatives. 631 00:35:54,880 --> 00:35:57,920 Speaker 1: This is almost part two. I think of the great 632 00:35:57,960 --> 00:36:02,319 Speaker 1: conversation that we had at Catholic University that spoke to 633 00:36:02,400 --> 00:36:06,360 Speaker 1: the definition of liberty and how that is inherently I 634 00:36:06,400 --> 00:36:10,319 Speaker 1: guess you positive that it includes the common good. It 635 00:36:10,360 --> 00:36:14,520 Speaker 1: was a great debate. Okay, So one more question that 636 00:36:14,640 --> 00:36:17,200 Speaker 1: we have here is a very good question, very pertinent 637 00:36:17,520 --> 00:36:20,680 Speaker 1: to the time that we are in right now, and 638 00:36:20,760 --> 00:36:24,160 Speaker 1: this comes also from Verdict plus from the user name McCracklin. 639 00:36:24,560 --> 00:36:27,800 Speaker 1: He says, should government leaders be making decisions about mandates 640 00:36:27,840 --> 00:36:31,160 Speaker 1: that they or their family will heavily profit from, is 641 00:36:31,160 --> 00:36:34,640 Speaker 1: that a legal or ethical conflict of interest? Certainly it 642 00:36:34,680 --> 00:36:39,000 Speaker 1: would be if a government official stands to reap a 643 00:36:39,120 --> 00:36:42,279 Speaker 1: huge sum of money because of some policy that he's 644 00:36:42,280 --> 00:36:45,759 Speaker 1: foisting onto the public, that would be a major conflict 645 00:36:45,840 --> 00:36:48,640 Speaker 1: of interest. And it relates to another problem we have 646 00:36:48,680 --> 00:36:52,879 Speaker 1: in Washington, DC, which is people legislators in Washington DC 647 00:36:53,200 --> 00:36:56,360 Speaker 1: forcing mandates on their constituents that they do not abide 648 00:36:56,600 --> 00:36:59,480 Speaker 1: by themselves. And the Senator Curtis has alluded to this 649 00:37:00,040 --> 00:37:03,399 Speaker 1: number of times with some of his Democrat colleagues over there, 650 00:37:03,840 --> 00:37:10,120 Speaker 1: and pro mass and pro mandate Democrats throughout our politics, 651 00:37:10,440 --> 00:37:13,200 Speaker 1: who demand one thing of all of us, and then 652 00:37:13,320 --> 00:37:15,080 Speaker 1: when you catch them at a party, or catch them 653 00:37:15,080 --> 00:37:17,000 Speaker 1: at a restaurant, or catch them out on the street, 654 00:37:17,080 --> 00:37:19,840 Speaker 1: or even when they think the cameras are off, they 655 00:37:19,920 --> 00:37:22,120 Speaker 1: will not be following that themselves. And so I think 656 00:37:22,120 --> 00:37:24,640 Speaker 1: there needs to be a lot of accountability, a lot 657 00:37:24,640 --> 00:37:28,320 Speaker 1: of the debate that we've had here on the lockdown 658 00:37:28,480 --> 00:37:33,640 Speaker 1: mandates and the rest of it have focused on ideology, philosophy, 659 00:37:33,880 --> 00:37:36,279 Speaker 1: the science, and all of these ideas, but there is 660 00:37:36,320 --> 00:37:39,600 Speaker 1: just a basic level of corruption you've got to watch 661 00:37:39,680 --> 00:37:41,960 Speaker 1: out for. Two. You do not want your politicians of 662 00:37:42,040 --> 00:37:47,920 Speaker 1: any party being crooked, corrupt, and abusing the public trust 663 00:37:48,000 --> 00:37:50,480 Speaker 1: for their own private game. And so it's something we 664 00:37:50,560 --> 00:37:53,800 Speaker 1: absolutely need to watch out for, especially during this massive 665 00:37:53,840 --> 00:37:57,880 Speaker 1: power grab of the last five hundred ninety two some 666 00:37:58,040 --> 00:38:01,120 Speaker 1: odd days of fifteen days to slow this right, and 667 00:38:01,160 --> 00:38:03,400 Speaker 1: I think maybe the last twenty months, since the beginning 668 00:38:03,440 --> 00:38:07,319 Speaker 1: of COVID, more Americans than ever before have understood have 669 00:38:07,480 --> 00:38:10,000 Speaker 1: firsthand tangible knowledge of what it means when government officials 670 00:38:10,040 --> 00:38:12,920 Speaker 1: are corrupt. All right, this question is just for the Senator. 671 00:38:14,040 --> 00:38:19,040 Speaker 1: Andrew John asks, after the Virginia and New Jersey gubernatorial races, 672 00:38:19,040 --> 00:38:22,120 Speaker 1: just how tense is the air among Senate Democrats from 673 00:38:22,160 --> 00:38:25,120 Speaker 1: your perspective, you know, it's interesting. They ought to be 674 00:38:25,239 --> 00:38:32,719 Speaker 1: freaking out. I think it varies. The hard left. Their 675 00:38:32,719 --> 00:38:37,040 Speaker 1: response to the elections is doubling down. Their response, whether 676 00:38:37,080 --> 00:38:40,840 Speaker 1: it's Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren or AOC. They say 677 00:38:40,920 --> 00:38:44,160 Speaker 1: the reason they lost Virginia is they weren't radical enough. 678 00:38:44,239 --> 00:38:46,480 Speaker 1: They needed to be even more extreme. They needed to 679 00:38:46,560 --> 00:38:50,239 Speaker 1: ram through Bernie Sanders socialist budget. They needed to be 680 00:38:50,440 --> 00:38:53,800 Speaker 1: more spend more money, be more radical, be more crazy. 681 00:38:53,880 --> 00:38:56,759 Speaker 1: That that's why they didn't win. I've got to think 682 00:38:56,800 --> 00:39:01,080 Speaker 1: there's some Democrats that realize that's crazy talk, but if 683 00:39:01,120 --> 00:39:03,279 Speaker 1: they do, they're not saying it. I will say this 684 00:39:03,360 --> 00:39:07,240 Speaker 1: morning in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I went round 685 00:39:07,239 --> 00:39:10,480 Speaker 1: and round with Bob Menendez from New Jersey and Tim 686 00:39:10,560 --> 00:39:15,080 Speaker 1: Kine from Virginia, and we were fighting on the State 687 00:39:15,120 --> 00:39:19,640 Speaker 1: Department in foreign policy, and in particular, the Biden administration 688 00:39:20,440 --> 00:39:23,200 Speaker 1: is withholding one hundred and thirty million dollars of military 689 00:39:23,280 --> 00:39:27,000 Speaker 1: aid to Egypt in order to try to force Egypt 690 00:39:27,120 --> 00:39:34,279 Speaker 1: to release sixteen prisoners who are currently incarcerated, and they 691 00:39:34,320 --> 00:39:38,120 Speaker 1: won't publicly identify who those sixteen prisoners are. And so 692 00:39:38,160 --> 00:39:41,400 Speaker 1: I'm trying to force the administration to name the sixteen 693 00:39:41,400 --> 00:39:44,439 Speaker 1: prisoners to make it public. And I've asked them, are 694 00:39:44,440 --> 00:39:47,040 Speaker 1: they affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood? Are they terrorists? Are 695 00:39:47,040 --> 00:39:51,400 Speaker 1: they anti Semites? Are they are they anti American? What's 696 00:39:51,440 --> 00:39:54,759 Speaker 1: their history? And the Biden administration doesn't want to because 697 00:39:54,800 --> 00:39:58,759 Speaker 1: I think they can't defend the radicals that they're trying 698 00:39:58,760 --> 00:40:01,080 Speaker 1: to get released, and and so we were going back 699 00:40:01,080 --> 00:40:04,359 Speaker 1: and forth, and at the hearing, you know, Tim Kaine 700 00:40:04,400 --> 00:40:07,239 Speaker 1: made a reference to accountability, and I laughed and said, 701 00:40:07,320 --> 00:40:10,799 Speaker 1: you know, Senator from Virginia referenced accountability while I was 702 00:40:10,800 --> 00:40:14,240 Speaker 1: in his state last night. And we had some accountability 703 00:40:14,280 --> 00:40:16,960 Speaker 1: because the voters of Virginia elected a Republican governor. And 704 00:40:17,000 --> 00:40:20,200 Speaker 1: I would note the chairman of the committee, Senator Menendez, 705 00:40:20,239 --> 00:40:23,560 Speaker 1: his state right now is basically tied in the gubernatorial 706 00:40:23,680 --> 00:40:27,120 Speaker 1: race and they've they've since narrowly called it for the Democrat. 707 00:40:28,200 --> 00:40:31,560 Speaker 1: But that's some real accountability. It's accountability for the extreme 708 00:40:31,680 --> 00:40:36,520 Speaker 1: policies of this administration. And at least and that hearing, boy, 709 00:40:36,600 --> 00:40:39,600 Speaker 1: they did not like it. You could see the fury 710 00:40:39,760 --> 00:40:44,440 Speaker 1: and rage. And there's nothing Democrats like less than when 711 00:40:44,440 --> 00:40:48,120 Speaker 1: the voters hold them accountable. And I will be shocked 712 00:40:48,160 --> 00:40:51,320 Speaker 1: if they're not some moderate Democrats right now behind closed 713 00:40:51,320 --> 00:40:56,480 Speaker 1: doors just freaking out, But at least publicly, they're not 714 00:40:56,560 --> 00:40:59,480 Speaker 1: expressing it all that much. Well, I think we've all 715 00:40:59,480 --> 00:41:03,040 Speaker 1: seen the of Kamala Harris, Vice President Harris, while she 716 00:41:03,120 --> 00:41:05,919 Speaker 1: was on the campaign trail for Terry mcculiffe saying that 717 00:41:06,480 --> 00:41:08,880 Speaker 1: the state of Virginia, this gubernatorial race was going to 718 00:41:08,920 --> 00:41:10,680 Speaker 1: be a bell weather, not just for twenty twenty two, 719 00:41:10,680 --> 00:41:13,480 Speaker 1: but for twenty twenty four. My question to you is, 720 00:41:13,600 --> 00:41:16,160 Speaker 1: do you believe that this is accurate? Is the victory 721 00:41:16,160 --> 00:41:18,960 Speaker 1: for Republicans in Virginia a bell weather of what's to come? 722 00:41:20,040 --> 00:41:23,399 Speaker 1: Very much? So? I think that's why Virginia matters so much. 723 00:41:23,719 --> 00:41:25,960 Speaker 1: When I was barnstorming the state of Virginia, when I 724 00:41:25,960 --> 00:41:30,080 Speaker 1: was campaigning with Glen Yungkan, That's something I said at 725 00:41:30,120 --> 00:41:33,000 Speaker 1: every rally we did, I said, listen, Virginia is a 726 00:41:33,080 --> 00:41:35,799 Speaker 1: bell weather. And I pointed out the last time we 727 00:41:35,840 --> 00:41:39,319 Speaker 1: had something like this was was two thousand and nine. 728 00:41:39,360 --> 00:41:44,120 Speaker 1: Barack Obama became president. He was a radical leftist. He 729 00:41:44,239 --> 00:41:49,120 Speaker 1: ran through Obamacare, he ran through Dodd Frank and it 730 00:41:49,200 --> 00:41:53,200 Speaker 1: was he went far to left. And the very next 731 00:41:53,239 --> 00:41:57,799 Speaker 1: election that occurred was two thousand, was two thousand and ten, 732 00:41:57,840 --> 00:42:00,920 Speaker 1: and it was the Virginia Gubnor two thousand and nine, 733 00:42:01,440 --> 00:42:04,600 Speaker 1: the Virginia gubernatorial election. It's the off cycle year and 734 00:42:06,320 --> 00:42:09,759 Speaker 1: and New Jersey, and in that year Bob McDonald won 735 00:42:09,800 --> 00:42:13,680 Speaker 1: a Republican in Virginia and Chris Christi one, a Republican 736 00:42:13,680 --> 00:42:16,680 Speaker 1: in New Jersey. Republicans won both of those elections, and 737 00:42:16,800 --> 00:42:21,680 Speaker 1: it pressaged the two thousand and ten Republican title wave 738 00:42:22,920 --> 00:42:26,120 Speaker 1: that was coming, and it really set that up. I 739 00:42:26,640 --> 00:42:29,719 Speaker 1: think last night was similar that the victory in Virginia 740 00:42:30,360 --> 00:42:32,839 Speaker 1: shows twenty twenty two is going to be a very 741 00:42:32,920 --> 00:42:36,520 Speaker 1: very good election, and if Democrats keep doubling down on 742 00:42:36,640 --> 00:42:41,040 Speaker 1: radical leftist policies, I think it also pressages twenty twenty four, 743 00:42:41,160 --> 00:42:43,040 Speaker 1: which I believe is going to be a very very 744 00:42:43,040 --> 00:42:46,759 Speaker 1: good election. Again. Michael, same question. Do you you know 745 00:42:46,800 --> 00:42:50,800 Speaker 1: it was a great relief last night when the Republicans 746 00:42:50,960 --> 00:42:54,000 Speaker 1: won this election and did very well elsewhere outside of 747 00:42:54,040 --> 00:42:57,000 Speaker 1: Virginia as well, because I think so many of us 748 00:42:57,040 --> 00:43:00,640 Speaker 1: were so depressed. We thought the system is just rigged, 749 00:43:00,800 --> 00:43:03,480 Speaker 1: and they're going to be ballot drops at three o'clock 750 00:43:03,480 --> 00:43:05,120 Speaker 1: in the morning and a water pipe is going to burst, 751 00:43:05,120 --> 00:43:07,400 Speaker 1: and we're just not going to win any elections again. 752 00:43:07,440 --> 00:43:11,239 Speaker 1: And this has this reinforcing effect because if you think 753 00:43:11,239 --> 00:43:13,080 Speaker 1: that it's not possible for you to win elections, then 754 00:43:13,080 --> 00:43:15,880 Speaker 1: you're less likely to turn out, you're less likely to register, 755 00:43:16,000 --> 00:43:18,200 Speaker 1: you're less likely to do those things, and so it'll 756 00:43:18,280 --> 00:43:21,759 Speaker 1: become a self fulfilling prophecy. So I do think it 757 00:43:22,080 --> 00:43:24,839 Speaker 1: reminded us the Republic's not dead yet. There is still 758 00:43:24,880 --> 00:43:29,400 Speaker 1: a chance Republicans can still win. It's really I totally agree. 759 00:43:29,440 --> 00:43:32,160 Speaker 1: I don't think this vodes well for Democrats in twenty 760 00:43:32,239 --> 00:43:35,759 Speaker 1: twenty two or twenty twenty four either. Now we've got 761 00:43:35,960 --> 00:43:37,759 Speaker 1: we've got two things ahead of us. One, we've got 762 00:43:37,760 --> 00:43:40,279 Speaker 1: to make sure the Republicans we just elected actually do 763 00:43:40,400 --> 00:43:44,040 Speaker 1: something and have a record of accomplishment. And as Senator 764 00:43:44,040 --> 00:43:49,319 Speaker 1: Cruz knows well, sometimes his squishier colleagues out there are 765 00:43:49,360 --> 00:43:51,560 Speaker 1: not so good at that, and it's really the stalwarts 766 00:43:51,600 --> 00:43:53,600 Speaker 1: who hold firms. So we've got to do that. We 767 00:43:53,680 --> 00:43:55,279 Speaker 1: got to keep up the focus, we've got to keep 768 00:43:55,360 --> 00:43:58,200 Speaker 1: up the excitement. And I think this is so strange 769 00:43:58,360 --> 00:44:02,400 Speaker 1: for Concernervatives. We actually might have a whole lot to 770 00:44:02,400 --> 00:44:05,640 Speaker 1: look forward to in the coming elections. Liz, it is 771 00:44:05,680 --> 00:44:08,640 Speaker 1: so wonderful for you to join us, for you to 772 00:44:08,719 --> 00:44:11,200 Speaker 1: join us obviously on the tour in person and digitally 773 00:44:11,280 --> 00:44:13,360 Speaker 1: as well. Now we've got to leave it there, but 774 00:44:13,440 --> 00:44:16,200 Speaker 1: before we go, since we so enjoyed being on the 775 00:44:16,280 --> 00:44:18,799 Speaker 1: road for a Verdict Live and seeing all of you 776 00:44:18,840 --> 00:44:21,480 Speaker 1: all around the country. We're doing it again. We are 777 00:44:21,480 --> 00:44:26,080 Speaker 1: partnering with YAF again next semester for the Verdict Live 778 00:44:26,440 --> 00:44:29,160 Speaker 1: Spring Tour. If you want us to come to your school, 779 00:44:29,400 --> 00:44:34,520 Speaker 1: then apply at YAF dot org slash Verdict. You can 780 00:44:34,560 --> 00:44:37,319 Speaker 1: submit an application there, whether you are at some nice, 781 00:44:37,400 --> 00:44:40,760 Speaker 1: wonderful conservative Christian school or maybe you're among the Purple 782 00:44:40,840 --> 00:44:44,279 Speaker 1: Hairs at UC Berkeley. Wherever you are applied today. We 783 00:44:44,360 --> 00:44:46,600 Speaker 1: look forward to seeing you next time. We look forward 784 00:44:46,600 --> 00:44:50,040 Speaker 1: to seeing you in person. But until then, I'm Michael Knowles. 785 00:44:50,200 --> 00:45:02,320 Speaker 1: This is Verdict with Ted Cruz. This episode of Verdict 786 00:45:02,360 --> 00:45:04,920 Speaker 1: with Ted Cruz is being brought to you by Jobs, 787 00:45:04,960 --> 00:45:08,719 Speaker 1: Freedom and Security Pack, a political action committee dedicated to 788 00:45:08,760 --> 00:45:13,440 Speaker 1: supporting conservative causes, organizations, and candidates across the country. In 789 00:45:13,520 --> 00:45:16,840 Speaker 1: twenty twenty two, Jobs Freedom and Security Pack plans to 790 00:45:16,920 --> 00:45:20,200 Speaker 1: donate to conservative candidates running for Congress and help the 791 00:45:20,280 --> 00:45:22,400 Speaker 1: Republican Party across the nation.