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Verdict with Ted Cruz

Verdict with Ted Cruz

Written by: Premiere Networks
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Join Senator Ted Cruz and co-host Ben Ferguson as they break down the most important news stories of the day and reveal what they mean for you. On "Verdict with Ted Cruz,” you will go behind the scenes of the political debates that define our country. "Verdict with Ted Cruz" is being brought to you by Jobs, Freedom, and Security PAC, a political action committee dedicated to supporting conservative causes, organizations, and candidates across the country. In 2022, Jobs, Freedom, and Security PAC plans to donate to conservative candidates running for Congress and help the Republican Party across the nation.

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Episodes
  • Oil Means National Security, Rep. Jim Jordan vs Jack Smith & Crime Crashes Coast‑to‑Coast Week In Review

    Oil Means National Security, Rep. Jim Jordan vs Jack Smith & Crime Crashes Coast‑to‑Coast Week In Review
    Jan 24 2026
    1. Oil Prices & National Security Lower global oil prices weaken hostile regimes like Iran, Russia, and Venezuela by reducing their revenue.The Trump administration aims for a “sweet spot” oil price ($60–$70/barrel): Low enough to hurt adversaries.High enough to avoid bankrupting U.S. independent oil producers. If prices drop into the $40s, it could collapse small oil producers in Texas and the Permian Basin. 2. Venezuela’s Oil Infrastructure Venezuela has the world’s largest proven oil reserves, but decades of mismanagement have destroyed its infrastructure.Estimates from oil executives: Increasing production from 1 million to 3 million barrels/day could take 10 years and require $100B+ in investment.Even going from 1 million to 2 million/day would take 5–7 years. Gulf Coast refineries can process Venezuela’s heavy sour crude, but expanded imports would mostly affect Canada and Mexico, not U.S. light-sweet crude producers. 3. Cuba’s Economic Crisis Cuba historically survived on financial support from: The Soviet Union (until its collapse).Venezuela under Chávez/Maduro (oil and money). With Venezuela no longer able to support Cuba, the island is in economic freefall.Mexico is currently providing oil that helps sustain the Cuban regime.The Trump administration may pressure Mexico to cut this supply, potentially pushing Cuba toward political collapse. 4. Jack Smith & January 6th Investigation Smith is accused of leading a politically motivated prosecution against Donald Trump.He allegedly relied on questionable or disproven testimony, notably from Cassidy Hutchinson.Hutchinson’s dramatic claims (e.g., Trump lunging for a steering wheel) were not confirmed by eyewitnesses.Jim Jordan challenged Smith in hearings, accusing him of: Using unreliable witnesses.Conducting a partisan, anti-Trump investigation.Targeting large numbers of Republicans with subpoenas. 5. Crime Statistics & Trump Administration Policies Nationwide murder rates reportedly declined ~20% from 2024 to 2025. Approx. 1,400 fewer murders. Major cities showing decreases: Chicago: 30%NYC: 20%Baltimore: 31%Oakland: 33%Washington, D.C.: 31% (after National Guard deployment) Other violent crimes also declined: Motor vehicle theft: ↓25%Robbery: ↓18%Aggravated assault: ↓8% Law enforcement stats cited: Violent crime arrests: ↑100%Gangs disrupted: ↑210%Fentanyl seized: ↑31%Missing/abducted children located: ↑22%Human traffickers arrested: ↑15%Significant increase in arrests of espionage suspects and fugitives. 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/benfergusonshowYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VerdictwithTedCruzSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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    31 mins
  • Murder Rate Plummets-Trump Literally Saving Lives plus Disastrous Jack Smith Testimony

    Murder Rate Plummets-Trump Literally Saving Lives plus Disastrous Jack Smith Testimony
    Jan 23 2026
    1. Crime Statistics Under the Trump Administration (as claimed in the text) Murder rates dropped ~20% nationwide from 2024 to 2025.Cities cited with major decreases: Chicago: –30%New York City: –20%Birmingham: –49%Albuquerque: –32%Baltimore: –31%Atlanta: –26%Oakland: –33%Washington, D.C.: –31% (after National Guard deployment) Other crimes that have decreased in 2025: Motor vehicle theft: –25%Robbery: –18%Aggravated assaults: –8% FBI Director’s reported statistics included: Violent crime arrests up 100%Gang disruptions up 210%Major increases in fentanyl seizures, child victim rescues, predator arrests, and espionage arrests. 2. Drug Overdose Deaths A 21% drop in overdose deaths from 2024 to 2025: 2024: ~91,694 deaths2025: ~72,836 deaths Approx. 19,000 fewer overdose deaths attributed to: 99% reduction in illegal border crossingsIncreased drug‑trafficker interdictionBorder and cartel enforcement operations 3. Media Coverage Criticism Mainstream media downplays or avoids covering these crime and overdose statistics because they’re positive for Trump.They argue media outlets attempt to disconnect improvements from administration policies. 4. Accusations Against Democrats Democrats misreported or reclassified crime statistics to make numbers appear better before elections.Democratic-led cities or governments artificially adjusted categories of crime. 5. Jack Smith & Abuse-of-Power Allegations Conducting politically motivated prosecutions of Donald Trump.Subpoenaing toll/phone records of: Former Speaker Kevin McCarthyNine U.S. SenatorsAdditional House members Allegedly violating the Constitution’s Speech or Debate Clause.Allegedly obtaining non-disclosure orders to hide his subpoenas from targets and the public.Testifying poorly under questioning by Rep. Jim Jordan and Rep. Brandon Gill.Accused of: Using unreliable witnesses (e.g., Cassidy Hutchinson)Making false statements to obtain judicial approvalsTargeting political opponents in ways compared to abuses greater than Watergate. 6. January 6 Committee & Cassidy Hutchinson Hutchinson is an unreliable witness whose testimony was: Second- or third-handContradicted by Secret Service witnessesStill heavily relied on (185 times in the Jan. 6 report) She fabricated stories, including one involving Senator Ted Cruz 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/benfergusonshowYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VerdictwithTedCruzSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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    35 mins
  • Bonus: Daily Review with Clay and Buck - Jan 22 2026

    Bonus: Daily Review with Clay and Buck - Jan 22 2026
    Jan 22 2026
    Meet my friends, Clay Travis and Buck Sexton! If you love Verdict, the Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show might also be in your audio wheelhouse. Politics, news analysis, and some pop culture and comedy thrown in too. Here’s a sample episode recapping four takeaways. Give the guys a listen and then follow and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Church Protest Precedence The arrest of an organizer tied to the anti‑ICE church disruption in Minnesota, announced by Attorney General Pam Bondi. The hosts react to DOJ confirmation that Nekima Levy-Armstrong (identified by Bondi as a key organizer) was arrested for allegedly coordinating an attack on a church service in St. Paul. Clay and Buck emphasize the speed and clarity of the DOJ’s action, praising the Department of Justice for responding quickly with a charge backed by evidence rather than performative outrage. They contrast the arrest with pre‑arrest media appearances in which the organizer claimed the church protest was “peaceful,” arguing that video evidence flatly contradicts that narrative. Hour 1 of the program breaks down the legal foundation for the arrest, including laws protecting religious services from disruption. Buck explains that statutes originally designed to protect churches—historically justified by Democrats as safeguards against extremist interference—are now being enforced against left‑wing activists. Clay and Buck argue this represents an “open‑and‑shut” case where probable cause is clear, while cautioning that conviction still depends on a Minneapolis jury. Black Lives Mattered to Trump Clay points out one of the most underreported accomplishments of Trump’s second term: a historic drop in violent crime nationwide. Citing newly released data, the hosts highlight that the U.S. murder rate has fallen to its lowest level since 1900, with murders down 21% year‑over‑year, the largest single‑year decline ever recorded. They spotlight staggering city‑level declines, including Washington, D.C. and Omaha, both seeing murders drop by roughly 40%, and argue these results reflect a nationwide return to law‑and‑order policies. Clay and Buck stress that these statistics carry particular significance for Black communities, noting that reductions in violent crime overwhelmingly translate into lives saved among populations most affected by homicide. Clay argues that Trump has, by policy outcomes rather than rhetoric, done more to save Black lives than any modern president—an assertion they say stands in direct contradiction to activist narratives that oppose enforcement‑focused policing. FOFO Multiple Minneapolis church protesters have now been arrested, with Attorney General Pam Bondi announcing additional suspects taken into custody. Clay and Buck focus on reports from CBS News and The Daily Wire that a federal judge refused to sign a criminal complaint allowing Don Lemon to be arrested, despite DOJ efforts. The hosts argue this judicial refusal underscores a growing concern about politicization within the courts, especially when contrasted with how aggressively Trump allies were previously prosecuted. They note that, despite early attempts to downplay the incident, Democrats appear to have abandoned public defense of the protesters due to the overwhelmingly negative optics of storming a church service. A core discussion in Hour 2 of the program centers on sanctuary city policies and obstruction of immigration enforcement. Clay and Buck explain that Minneapolis leadership—including Mayor Jacob Frey—has openly refused to cooperate with ICE, even in cases involving violent offenders already in custody. The hosts argue this refusal forces federal agents into more visible enforcement actions and directly fuels unrest, while also potentially violating the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution. They emphasize that refusing to enforce federal law is not passive resistance but deliberate obstruction. Mayor Jacob Frey claims ICE operations exist solely to “terrorize” communities. Buck sharply disputes those claims, arguing the mayor is misrepresenting facts and ignoring his own refusal to cooperate with federal authorities. They contrast Frey’s statements with DOJ actions targeting protesters who openly challenged and taunted federal officials, including one individual who dared Attorney General Bondi to arrest him—only to be taken into custody hours later. Davos Drama Humor and commentary about California Governor Gavin Newsom’s failed Davos appearance, before welcoming Katie Zacharia, a California political and legal analyst, to unpack Newsom’s national ambitions and the state of Democratic politics on the West Coast. Zacharia explains that Newsom traveled to Davos largely to troll President Donald Trump, only to be politically sidelined as Trump advanced what she describes as a historic Greenland and Arctic security agreement. The discussion ...
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    58 mins
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