• Biden Pardons & Autopen Controversy

  • The discussion centers on claims that President Joe Biden improperly delegated or failed to personally authorize thousands of pardons and commutations at the end of his presidency.

  • Cruz argues that under the Constitution, only the President can personally make pardon decisions, and if staffers used an autopen without Biden’s direct involvement, those pardons are “null and void.”

  • The conversation highlights concerns about Biden’s alleged disengagement, potential misuse of authority by White House staff, and the legal battles that could arise if the Department of Justice revisits these pardons.

• Persecution of Christians in Nigeria

  • Cruz introduces legislation addressing severe religious persecution in Nigeria, where extremist groups like Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa have killed tens of thousands of Christians, attacked churches, and kidnapped priests.

  • The proposed bill, the Nigeria Religious Freedom Accountability Act of 2025, would classify Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern,” impose sanctions on complicit Nigerian officials, and reinforce designations against jihadist groups.

  • Cruz frames this as part of his long-standing advocacy for global religious freedom and draws parallels to past cases, such as Sudan’s imprisonment of Miriam Ibrahim for her Christian faith.

Please Hit Subscribe to this podcast Right Now. Also Please Subscribe to the 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson and The Ben Ferguson Show Podcast Wherever You get You're Podcasts. And don't forget to follow the show on Social Media so you never miss a moment! Thanks for Listening

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VerdictwithTedCruz/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/verdictwithtedcruz

X: https://x.com/tedcruz

X: https://x.com/benfergusonshow

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

• The “Autopen Pardon Scandal”

  • House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer announced that the committee is wrapping up its investigation into President Joe Biden’s alleged use of the autopen to issue thousands of pardons.

  • Records suggest Biden’s aides, including Chief of Staff Jeff Zients, authorized pardons using the autopen without Biden’s direct involvement.

  • Critics, including Donald Trump and constitutional attorney Mark Smith (on Fox News), argue this raises questions about presidential authority, legitimacy of pardons, and executive power under Article II.

  • Defenders claim the use of autopen is legal and Republicans are politicizing the issue.

• US Military Build-up in Puerto Rico Amid Venezuela Tensions

  • Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Dan Kane made an unannounced visit to Puerto Rico.

  • The visit coincided with rising US-Venezuela tensions following a US military strike on a Venezuelan cartel vessel.

  • The Pentagon is considering Puerto Rico as a hub for counter-narcotics operations, deploying F-35 jets, Marines, and multiple warships to the Caribbean.

  • Officials emphasize the move is not for regime change but to combat narco-terrorism and drug trafficking networks.

  • Puerto Rico’s strategic location is highlighted as key for intercepting drug routes.

Please Hit Subscribe to this podcast Right Now. Also Please Subscribe to the The Ben Ferguson Show Podcast and Verdict with Ted Cruz Wherever You get You're Podcasts. And don't forget to follow the show on Social Media so you never miss a moment! Thanks for Listening

X: https://x.com/benfergusonshow

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

• Migrant Children and Trafficking Allegations

  • The episode claims that hundreds of thousands of unaccompanied minors who crossed the U.S.-Mexico border during the Biden administration were lost after being placed with unverified sponsors.

  • It alleges that many children ended up trafficked, forced into sex slavery, debt bondage, or child labor, and that dozens died in tragic circumstances.

  • Sources suggest the administration deliberately failed to vet sponsors (e.g., no DNA testing, poor record-keeping) to keep border operations flowing.

• Trump Administration’s Response

  • Ben contrasts Biden’s approach with former President Trump’s, stating that Trump’s team has located about 23,000 of the missing children.

  • It emphasizes new policies under Trump such as mandatory DNA testing, background checks, and sponsor verification.

• Chicago and Sanctuary Cities

  • The podcast shifts to Chicago, portraying it as a focal point for problems tied to sanctuary city policies.

  • It reports that Trump is preparing immigration enforcement operations in Illinois, while state and city officials oppose these measures, calling them illegal or authoritarian.

  • Trump and allies frame their actions not as “war with cities,” but as a crackdown on “criminal cartels” and dangerous illegal immigrants.

• Media and Political Spin

  • The narrative accuses mainstream media and Democratic leaders of misrepresenting Trump’s enforcement policies.

  • It frames Trump as committed to public safety, while depicting Democratic officials as obstructing law enforcement and protecting criminals.

Please Hit Subscribe to this podcast Right Now. Also Please Subscribe to the The Ben Ferguson Show Podcast and Verdict with Ted Cruz Wherever You get You're Podcasts. And don't forget to follow the show on Social Media so you never miss a moment! Thanks for Listening

X: https://x.com/benfergusonshow

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

• Alleged Targeting of Christians by the Biden Administration

  • The discussion focuses on a task force created under former President Trump, chaired by Attorney General Pam Bondi, which claims to have uncovered numerous instances of anti-Christian bias within federal agencies during the Biden administration.

  • The report accuses agencies like the Department of Defense, Department of Education, Department of Labor, and others of mishandling or denying religious exemptions, imposing large fines on Christian universities, targeting religious groups through the DOJ and FBI, and showing favoritism toward non-Christian religions.

  • Cruz and Ferguson frame this as government “weaponization” against Christians, emphasizing violations of First Amendment rights and calling for accountability, firings, and possible prosecutions.

• Criticism of Tucker Carlson’s Recent Positions

  • The second half shifts to sharp criticism of Tucker Carlson, arguing he has become increasingly extreme and “unrecognizable.”

  • They cite his comments about offering condolences to Osama bin Laden’s family, questioning whether Hamas is a terrorist group, and sympathetic tones toward authoritarian leaders like Putin and the president of Iran.

  • Cruz and Ferguson strongly denounce these stances as “bizarre,” “unhinged,” and morally wrong, stressing that groups like Hamas and leaders like bin Laden should unequivocally be condemned.

  • They frame Carlson as betraying conservative principles and aligning with rhetoric from figures like Ilhan Omar or Rashida Tlaib, which they see as evidence of his spiral away from mainstream conservatism.

Please Hit Subscribe to this podcast Right Now. Also Please Subscribe to the 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson and The Ben Ferguson Show Podcast Wherever You get You're Podcasts. And don't forget to follow the show on Social Media so you never miss a moment! Thanks for Listening

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VerdictwithTedCruz/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/verdictwithtedcruz

X: https://x.com/tedcruz

X: https://x.com/benfergusonshow

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

• The Joe Biden Autopen Investigation

  • Sources describe an ongoing House Oversight Committee investigation led by Rep. James Comer.

  • The central allegation is that Biden may not have personally signed key documents (pardons, executive orders, etc.) during his presidency, with aides allegedly using an autopen (a device that replicates signatures).

  • Several Biden staffers, including close aides and even the First Lady’s staff, have reportedly invoked the Fifth Amendment instead of testifying.

  • Comer suggests this points to a larger cover-up about Biden’s mental fitness and who was actually in charge in the White House during his later months in office.

  • Future testimony is expected from former White House officials such as Andrew Bates, Karine Jean-Pierre, and Jeff Zients.

• U.S. Military Escalation in the Caribbean and Venezuela

  • The Trump administration is described as taking a hard stance against drug cartels and Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, labeling him a “narco-trafficker.”

  • In late August and early September, the U.S. reportedly deployed 7–8 warships, a nuclear submarine, over 4,000 personnel, and surveillance aircraft to the Southern Caribbean.

  • The official reasoning is to combat drug trafficking, but Venezuela accuses the U.S. of pursuing regime change under the guise of anti-drug operations.

  • The U.S. has placed a $50 million bounty on Maduro, escalating tensions.

  • Venezuelans opposed to Maduro are said to feel “quiet euphoria,” seeing Trump’s moves as supportive of their freedom struggle.

  • Broader discussion includes fentanyl and cocaine trafficking, cartel violence, and U.S. strategies to designate cartels as terrorist organizations, enabling expanded military and intelligence action.

Please Hit Subscribe to this podcast Right Now. Also Please Subscribe to the The Ben Ferguson Show Podcast and Verdict with Ted Cruz Wherever You get You're Podcasts. And don't forget to follow the show on Social Media so you never miss a moment! Thanks for Listening

X: https://x.com/benfergusonshow

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

• Criticism of JB Pritzker (Governor of Illinois):
  The speakers argue that Pritzker downplays violent crime in Chicago despite high murder rates. They compare his leadership to officials in Mexico who claim progress while cartels commit violence unchecked.

• Broader critique of Democrats:
  Democrats are portrayed as favoring criminals over victims, ignoring rising crime, and pushing policies that weaken law enforcement. The conversation frames them as ideologically extreme and out of touch with public safety concerns.

• Midterm election outlook (2025):
  The senator and host discuss Republican opportunities in upcoming elections. They note Democratic fundraising strength but also claim voters are increasingly frustrated with crime and safety issues, which could benefit Republicans.

• The “Clean DC Act”:
  The senator introduces legislation to roll back a 2022 D.C. law that reduced penalties for violent crimes. The bill is framed as a test of whether lawmakers side with “criminals or citizens.”

• Rumors about President Trump’s health:
  A viral social media claim suggested Trump was dead or incapacitated because he wasn’t seen for a few days. The speakers mock Democrats and the media for allegedly celebrating or hoping it was true. Trump himself is quoted dismissing it as “fake news.”

• Drug cartels in the U.S.:
  The conversation highlights a DEA operation in New England that arrested 171 members of the Sinaloa cartel. They emphasize the cartel’s national reach, its trafficking of fentanyl, and the dangers counterfeit pills pose to young people. The epidemic of fentanyl deaths is portrayed as a direct result of “Democratic open border policies.”

• Military and foreign policy against cartels:
  The senator describes U.S. military operations in the Caribbean and Central America targeting drug traffickers, including deploying stealth jets and naval ships. He recounts visiting prisons in El Salvador housing violent gang members to illustrate cartel influence in U.S. communities.

Please Hit Subscribe to this podcast Right Now. Also Please Subscribe to the 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson and The Ben Ferguson Show Podcast Wherever You get You're Podcasts. And don't forget to follow the show on Social Media so you never miss a moment! Thanks for Listening

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VerdictwithTedCruz/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/verdictwithtedcruz

X: https://x.com/tedcruz

X: https://x.com/benfergusonshow

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

• Debate on the Source of Rights

  • The episode opens with criticism of Democratic Senator Tim Kaine, who argued in a Senate hearing that constitutional rights come from the government rather than from God.

  • Cruz frames this as a radical departure from America’s founding principles, citing the Declaration of Independence and Thomas Jefferson’s writings.

  • The discussion emphasizes that if rights come from government, they can be taken away, whereas God-given rights are “unalienable.”

• Religion and the Democratic Party

  • Cruz and Ferguson argue that the Democratic Party is increasingly hostile toward people of faith (Christian, Jewish, Catholic).

  • They highlight responses from religious leaders, including Bishop Robert Barron, who strongly opposed Kaine’s remarks and defended the idea that rights come from God.

• Border Security and the Cartels

  • The podcast shifts to the issue of border security and drug cartels, especially the Sinaloa cartel.

  • They cite a DEA operation in New England that arrested 171 cartel members in one week, seizing fentanyl and counterfeit pills.

  • Cruz and Ferguson warn about the danger of fentanyl-laced pills, especially for young people, describing it as a national epidemic and the leading cause of death among Americans aged 18–45.

• U.S. Government Action Against Cartels

  • They discuss U.S. military and DEA efforts to combat cartels, including operations in Mexico, Venezuela, and the Caribbean.

  • Cruz praises the government’s recent designation of cartels as terrorist organizations and the deployment of military assets to fight drug trafficking.

Please Hit Subscribe to this podcast Right Now. Also Please Subscribe to the 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson and The Ben Ferguson Show Podcast Wherever You get You're Podcasts. And don't forget to follow the show on Social Media so you never miss a moment! Thanks for Listening

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VerdictwithTedCruz/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/verdictwithtedcruz

X: https://x.com/tedcruz

X: https://x.com/benfergusonshow

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

• Public opinion on crime: The podcast highlights a poll suggesting Americans prefer Donald Trump’s approach to crime over Joe Biden’s, comparing Trump to Michael Jordan “towering” over Biden.

• Criticism of Democrats: The piece accuses Democrats of siding with criminals, minimizing crime in cities, and allowing illegal immigrants and even non-citizens to vote (with an example from Maine).

• Drug cartel activity: It emphasizes the reach of the Sinaloa cartel, citing DEA operations in New England that arrested 171 members, seized fentanyl and counterfeit pills, and raised alarms about the threat cartels pose nationwide.

• Media bias claim: It argues that national media avoids reporting cartel activity outside border states to downplay the issue.

• Youth and drugs: It warns of counterfeit pills (fentanyl, Adderall, Oxycodone look-alikes) that target young people online, stressing the DEA’s difficulty in distinguishing real from fake pills.

• Partisan divide: Sources contrast Trump’s aggressive law-and-order stance with Democrats’ resistance, using Adam Schiff’s comments about crime in D.C. as an example of alleged denial.

• Closing argument: The commentary concludes that Americans overwhelmingly want Trump’s law-and-order approach, portraying Democrats as obstructing crime reduction efforts.

Please Hit Subscribe to this podcast Right Now. Also Please Subscribe to the The Ben Ferguson Show Podcast and Verdict with Ted Cruz Wherever You get You're Podcasts. And don't forget to follow the show on Social Media so you never miss a moment! Thanks for Listening

X: https://x.com/benfergusonshow

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Main Focus

• Florida, under Governor Ron DeSantis and the state Surgeon General, announced plans to eliminate all mandatory vaccination requirements, including those for children in public schools.

• This would make Florida the first U.S. state to fully withdraw vaccine mandates, representing a sharp departure from decades of public health policy.

Arguments Presented

1. Skepticism toward public health institutions:

   • Ben argues that the CDC and medical authorities “lied” about COVID-19 measures (masks, distancing, vaccine effectiveness).

   • Because of this, many Americans no longer trust these institutions.

2. Parental Rights vs. Government Mandates:

   • Florida’s decision is framed as empowering parents to make medical choices for their children rather than allowing the federal government to dictate them.

   • Supporters view this as a matter of bodily autonomy, parental choice, and medical freedom.

3. Criticism of the Opposition:

   • Sources claim “liberals” and medical groups oppose the repeal because they want more government control.

   • It portrays media outlets and health professionals as fearmongering about the risks of removing mandates.

Counterpoints & Concerns Highlighted

• Medical Community Response:

  • Organizations like the American Medical Association warn that removing vaccine mandates could undermine decades of progress and lead to outbreaks of preventable diseases (measles, polio, whooping cough).

  • Public health experts stress the immense global and U.S. benefits of vaccines, citing millions of lives saved.

• Political & Public Debate:

  • Florida Democrats and doctors argue the move poses a grave public health risk.

  • There is emphasis on how outbreaks could affect schools and vulnerable groups.

Please Hit Subscribe to this podcast Right Now. Also Please Subscribe to the The Ben Ferguson Show Podcast and Verdict with Ted Cruz Wherever You get You're Podcasts. And don't forget to follow the show on Social Media so you never miss a moment! Thanks for Listening

X: https://x.com/benfergusonshow

#CDC #Publichealth #Florida #GovernorRonDeSantis #stateSurgeonGeneral #SurgeonGeneral #COVID-19 #vaccination #vaccine

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

• Trump’s Direct Involvement

  • The report repeatedly emphasizes that Trump personally ordered the strike.

  • He posted about it on Truth Social and addressed it publicly in the Oval Office.

  • He framed it as both a security measure and a show of strength.

• Symbolism and Messaging

  • A video of the strike (aerial view of the boat exploding) was released, meant as a public warning.

  • Officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio (in this narrative), reinforced the idea of a new, aggressive U.S. stance against cartels.

• International Reactions

  • Mexico’s president dismissed the U.S. action, claiming no threat to America and stressing sovereignty.

  • Venezuela’s leader is described as furious, partly because of a $50 million bounty on his head.

• Escalation Possibilities

  • The Pentagon and CIA are reportedly preparing further strikes on drug labs and cartel strongholds.

  • Commentators suggest drone strikes and broader operations could follow.

• Domestic Justification

  • The narrative appeals to American frustration with drug trafficking and cartel-related violence.

  • Commentators claim the public would support such aggressive actions.

• Risks and Counterpoints

  • Sources acknowledge potential cartel retaliation inside the U.S., through asymmetric warfare.

  • Despite this, it maintains that the U.S. military would overwhelm any response.

Please Hit Subscribe to this podcast Right Now. Also Please Subscribe to the The Ben Ferguson Show Podcast and Verdict with Ted Cruz Wherever You get You're Podcasts. And don't forget to follow the show on Social Media so you never miss a moment! Thanks for Listening

X: https://x.com/benfergusonshow

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.