1. Venezuela “Bagman” (Alex Saab)
- Alex Saab, is a wealthy ally of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, was:
- Previously arrested and accused of corruption
- Pardoned by Joe Biden (in a prisoner swap)
- Later deported again to the U.S. to face charges
- Saab was a potential key witness against Maduro
- Raises suspicion about why a pardon was granted
2. Cuba Crisis Narrative
- Cuba is experiencing severe systemic collapse, including:
- Electrical grid failure (20+ hours without power)
- Fuel shortages
- Food spoilage and hospital strain
- Public protests and unrest
Geopolitical angle:
- Presented as:
- A national security concern for the U.S.
- A situation that could lead to:
- Refugee surges
- Criminal activity
- Increased influence from China, Russia, or Iran
CIA involvement:
- CIA Director made a rare visit to Cuba
- Interpreted as a sign of serious instability or possible regime change
3. U.S.–Cuba–Venezuela Connection
- Cuba’s crisis to loss of Venezuelan oil support
- U.S. pressure/sanctions as accelerating collapse
- Coordinated geopolitical shifts in the region
4. Climate Policy Segment
- Criticizes the United Nations and climate initiatives
- Climate projections were exaggerated or incorrect
- Climate policy is politically motivated (“alarmism”)
Please Hit Subscribe to this podcast Right Now. Also Please Subscribe to the 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson 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.
Listen
Watch
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
I'm about to tell you a story that's a pretty
interesting story, and it involves Venezuelan dictator Nicholas Maduro's billionaire
bagman who's been arrested and extradited to the US three years.
And this is where the story gets interesting. After a
Joe Biden pardon, Venezuelan dictator Maduro's billionaire bagman has been
(00:28):
sent to the US on Saturday. The man's name was
Alex Sab. He's fifty four, a Colombian Venezuelan businessman described
by US officials as a close ally to Maduro. He
was arrested in Caracas during a joint US Venezuelan operation
in February. According to a US law enforcement official, this
(00:52):
happened less than three years after this same bagman, Alex
Sab was part.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Of by President Joe Biden.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
Venezuela migration agency said that Sab was deported the US
to face charges for notorious quote unquote crimes that he
had allegedly committed. Now, Maduro was embracing Sab, even at
an event publicly in January of twenty twenty four. Sab
(01:26):
is apparently a crucial star witness in the Maduro case
who is awaiting trial for his charges in Manhattan. Sab
was described as a Colombian citizen in the press release
by the Venezuelan Ministry of Justice quote the deportation was
ordered considering that the aforementioned Colombian citizen is involved in
(01:52):
the commission of various crimes in the United States of America,
as his public knowledge and widely reported. The statement continued
now of Venezuela's constitution prohibits the extradition of its citizens,
leading to speculation on Saturday that Saab may have been
stripped of his citizenship to allow the deportation to even
take place. The New York Times is reporting a provision
(02:15):
in a nineteen twenty or nineteen twenty two treaty between
Washington and Caracas may also allow exceptions to the rule.
Saba was previously detained in Cape Verde route to Iran
in twenty twenty. Again, this is the guy that Joe
Biden decided to pardon. He was detained and Cap Verde
(02:41):
en route to Iran in twenty twenty on bribery charges
after the US alleged that the Colombian born businessman had
siphoned three one hundred and fifty million dollars out of Venezuela.
He was released under Biden in twenty twenty three, and
in a controversial quote deal in exchange for the release
(03:03):
of ten Americans attained Venezuela, he was pardoned. Now that
pardon was focused on his specific twenty nineteen indictment over
unbuilt low income housing. This is where it gets even shadier.
SAB still faces active federal investigations over alleged bribery conspiracies
involving Venezuelan food import contracts as well. SAB can now
(03:27):
provide US authorities in theory with additional evidence to strengthen
their criminal case against Maduro, who along with his wife,
is being held in New York. The couple, of course,
both deny the criminal charges against him, which include conspiracy
to commit narco terrorism and import cocaine. US prosecutors alleged
(03:49):
a SOB controls some of Maduro's funds as well, and
SOB's arrests and deportation now suggests a new level of
collaboration between America and Venezuela law enforcement under the country's
acting President Rodriguez.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
Now Rodriguez, who previously served.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
As Maduro's vice President's targeting figures who kept the leftists
in power for over a decade. In other words, she
may be working with America because she wants to get
rid of the same people that we can't stand. Now,
you look at this story, and the question that you
have to ask yourself is this, How does a guy
(04:27):
that is this corrupt, with this much baggage actually get
a pardon from the former President United States of America,
Joe Biden, when we know that he's a wanted man
who's committed significant crimes against the United States of America.
That's the question that everyone should be asking right now. Unfortunately,
(04:54):
it looks like the media is not asking that question
at all. This is another story we're going to keep
watching for you. When we talk about Israel, we're not
just talking about a place. We're talking about a people
connected to a promise, a promise made by God, one
he has never broken and one that continues even today.
(05:15):
Because God's character doesn't change what he begins. He sustains
what he promises, he fulfills, and that matters today. Right
now in Israel, families run to shelters as sirens sound.
Now this isn't just a crisis, It's a call to
respond for Christians. Caring for Jewish people isn't rooted in politics.
(05:38):
It's rooted in trust and a God who keeps his word.
So we don't stay distant. We step in with prayer
and practical help. The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews
is on the ground, bringing food, caring for the vulnerable,
and reminding people they're not alone. This is what it
looks like to align your heart with gods, to pray,
(06:00):
to show up, and to care. So join us and
praying for peace of Jerusalem and for the people who
need it. Right now, visit pray. I have CJ dot org.
That's pray. I have CJ dot org. There's also something
else I want to throw on your radar screen. And
(06:21):
it's very interesting. The United Nations has got a new
issue or a problem. I guess you could say, is
President Trump calls it, says good riddance. United Nations led
Committee Climate Committee admits to projections that were actually wrong.
President Donald Trump criticized Democrats this weekend for pushing climate
(06:45):
chain fears and said the United Nations leading Climate Committee
has just come out admitting its projections were in fact
not even close to what they thought they were going
to be. In a post on True Social Trump wrote,
good riddance. After fifteen years of Democrats promising the climate
change is going to destroy the planet, the United Nations
(07:06):
top Climate Committee just admitted that its own projections were.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
Wrong, wrong, wrong.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
For far too long, climate activism has been used by Democrats.
Notice he calls them democrats to scare Americans, push horrible
energy policies and fund billions into their bogus research programs.
Unlike the Democrats who use climate alarmism nonsense to push
their green new scam. My administration will always be based
(07:35):
on truth, science and fact. Sign President Donald J. Trump. Now,
the Trump administration has been working to pull the United
States back from climate issues. And there's also something else
that's interesting. The President says, we're not going to go
long with what the rest of the world says we
(07:56):
must do. Mister President, mister Trump is against humanity. His
absence here demonstrates that is what less leftist Columbian president
said about well not really being involved or attending the
COP thirty climate conference in Brazil earlier this year, and
they showed their disdain for President Trump. Then another one
(08:20):
said it this way, the president of United States of
America at the latest United Nations General Assembly said the
climate crisis doesn't exist.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
That is a lie, is.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
What the Chilean president said about Donald Trump. Earlier this year,
the Treasury Department also announced that the United States had
withdrawn from the UN back Green Climate Fund and relinquished
its seat on the board, basically saying it's nothing but
a waste of time. And the move followed the January
seventh announcement that the United States would withdraw from sixty
(08:52):
six organizations and treaties described as globalists, nearly half of
them affiliated with the United Nations at the state that
decision was the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the
Foundational Treaty for major international climate Agreements, and the Trump
administration of post spending US tax payer dollars on entities
(09:13):
identified as contrary to the interests of the United States.
The Senate Republicans recently introduced legislation and prohibit Democratic run
states from hurting American energy producers through what they described
as climate warfare, and in April, many Democratic states are
increasingly adopting legislation that would allow insurers to suit oil
(09:35):
and natural gas companies for disaster related laws. Critics of
the laws believe these proposals would penalize energy producers at
a time when we need lower energy costs more than
ever before. So there are two very interesting stories here
that come out of all of this. One, you've got
a president that's standing up to the Narco terrace and
(09:56):
also those that well, even in Venezuela, that have a
lot of energy. And then at home, he's also standing
up saying we're not going to go by this insanity
any longer.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
It is really interesting to see all of this work.
Speaker 1 (10:11):
There is a crisis that is unfolding just ninety miles
off America's shore, a crisis that's quickly becoming one of
the most dangerous and unstable moments in modern Cuban history.
Their electrical grid is collapsing. Entire cities are going dark
for twenty to twenty two hours a day. We're now
(10:33):
being told that hospitals are struggling, food is literally rotting,
Protesters are pouring into the streets, and now, in a
stunning development, the director of the CIA, John Radcliffe, has
secretly traveled to Havana for high level talks with Cuban
officials of the communist regime. Fights for their survival. This
(10:55):
is not speculation, This is literally breaking news now. According
to ultiple reports, the CIA director John Ratcliffe traveled to
Cuba this week for rare face to face meetings with
senior Cuban intelligence and government officials, including officials tied directly
to the Castro power structure, and the timing of this
(11:15):
meeting is no coincidence at all, because Cuba is in
the middle of what many experts are now openly calling
a national total collapse. The country has effectively run out
of diesel fuel and fuel oil needed to keep its
power plants operating. Cuban officials themselves admitted they have absolutely
(11:37):
none left in reserves either. Now I want you to
think about that for a second. You have an island
nation of more than eleven million people is now trying
to survive with an electrical system that barely functions. In
many neighborhoods, the lights are off nearly all day long.
That means refrigerators don't work. That means on a hot
(11:59):
eye island, air conditioning doesn't work. That also means the
traffic lights don't work, sell towers don't work. Hospitals and
clinics are operating under emergency conditions. And remember, Cuba is
now entering their hot summer. Now, imagine being in Havana
(12:21):
in May or June with no electricity for twenty hours
a day. It's become so severe that protests are now
erupting in the streets. Demonstrators have been blocking roads, burning
trash and intersections, and screaming for the government to turn
the power back on. Some reports describe this as the
(12:41):
biggest wave of unrest since the anti government protests that
shook Cuba several years ago. And this is where the
story gets even more important for Americans because this isn't
just a humanitarian story anymore. This is rapidly becoming a
national security story. You may ask yourself the question why, Well,
(13:03):
here's the answer. When a hostile regime begins collapsing near
the United States of America, every major geopolitical player begins
circling China, Russia, Iran drug cartels, human traffickers, and the
United States intelligence community watches every one of these very carefully.
(13:24):
And that's why the CIA trip matters so much. According
to reports, Ratcliffe met with top Cuban intelligence officials, including
Castro's grandson, and senior members of Cuba's Interior ministry. Let
me repeat that the director of the CIA, that's America's
top spy chief, personally traveled to Havana during a national
(13:49):
and energy collapse to meet with Cuba's regime. That's something
that almost never happens anywhere in the world. In fact,
Reuter's in multiple out it's noted this is one of
the rarest high level intelligence meetings between the two countries
since the Cuban Revolution. So what's really going on is
(14:09):
the bigger question. Well, publicly, the message from Trump's administration
appears to be this the United States is willing to
engage with Cuba, but only if the regime makes what
officials call fundamental changes. At the same time, the administration
has dramatically increased pressure on Havana. The US has tightened
sanctions and effectively cut off major oil shipments reaching the island.
(14:33):
And you may remember most of their oil was actually
coming from Venezuela. With Maduro gone, that oil disappeared and
others have reportedly reduced our halted deliveries after American pressure
intendified on those countries, and that has pushed Cuba's fragile
energy system right to the very edge of total collapse. Now,
(14:55):
that's what makes the situation also extremely dangerous. Time tells
us when communist governments began losing control internally, they often
become more unpredictable externally, and that may be why John
Ratcliffe went to Cuba in the first place. Now, Cuba
is not just some isolated island. For decades, Cuba has
(15:16):
been directly tied to Russian intelligence operations as well as
anti American networks and increasingly Chinese influence in the Western Hemisphere.
Remember the reports over the last few years about suspected
Chinese surveillance facilities on Cuba and spy operations directly linked
to Cuba. Those concerns have never gone away. In fact,
(15:38):
reports surrounding Ratcliff's visit specifically referenced American concerns about Cuba
becoming a safe haven for adversaries of the United States.
Speaker 2 (15:48):
That means the CIA isn't. Let me say that differently.
Speaker 1 (15:52):
What this means is the CIA isn't just worried about blackouts.
The CIA is worried about instability. The CIA is worried
about foreign influence. The CIA is worried about migration surges.
The CIA is worried about organized crime, and the CIA
is worried about what happens if the Cuban regime loses
(16:13):
its grip on power, because there's a very good chance
the Cuban government may truly start collapsing, and that has
major consequences for places like Florida and the United States
could be well immediately impacted by it. You could have
massive refugee flows, you could see maritime crisises in Florida Straits,
(16:35):
you could see criminal networks exploiting that chaos, and you
could see China or Russia trying to increase influence during
that instability. You can also see internal Cuban factions battling
to control behind the scenes. That's why this story matters
so much to America right now.
Speaker 2 (16:53):
Now.
Speaker 1 (16:54):
Politically, the Cuban government's trying to blame the United States
of America, of course, for their collapse. Their accused America
of imposing what they call an energy blockade. The Trump
administration has been very clear signaling that the communist regime's
economic failures are finally catching up to them. And honestly,
there's truth in the reality that Cuban system has been
(17:15):
collapsing for years. What happened to them right now. Did
not just happen overnight. The Cuban economy has been hallowed
out by decades of communists central planning and then corruption,
then dependency on foreign oil and state control that totally
destroyed productivity, private businesses and innovation. Tourism revenues have totally
(17:39):
collapsed on the beautiful island because why would you go there.
Infrastructure has also deteriorated. Young people have fled the country
as fast as they can get out, and now the government.
Speaker 2 (17:51):
Can't even reliably keep the lights on.
Speaker 1 (17:54):
That is the reality of all this, and at the
same time, the humanitarian side of the crisis is also
very real. Families are suffering, children are suffering, medical care
is deteriorating, food shortages are worsening, and the water systems
are now even understrained. That is a lot even for
ordinary Cumans. Many of hume of them have no power
(18:18):
whatsoever over this regime, and that's been ruining them, that
has trapped them in the middle of this disaster. The
reports coming out of Cuba are brutal, and it's proof
of just how bad communism really is. People cooking over
fires outside because their stoves won't work neighborhoods sitting in
(18:39):
darkness not after night. Small businesses, they say, are collapsing
because they can't refrigerate food or even operate machinery, and
the Cuban government openly is admitting the refuel reserves are
effectively gone. Now, the fact that the CIA director went
personally tells you Washington believes this moment could become historically
(19:01):
significant very quickly. The CIA Director does not randomly hop
on a plane to Havana during a geopolitical crisis unless
something serious is unfolding behind the scenes. There are likely
major conversations happening right now about regime stability, security cooperation,
(19:21):
migration control, intelligence concerns, and yes, humanitarian aid. Also what
a post crisis Cuba could look like. Some reports even
indicate discussions include a possible economic cooperation and even aid packages.
If Cuba agrees to major reforms, that would be extraordinary.
(19:43):
If you watch the collapse of the communist regime in
Cuba all because of President Trump's hard line approach of
peace through strength. That is a massive win, and the
regime pressure has become massive. Now we hope that all
this would end peacefully or smoothly, that the internal government
(20:06):
there in Cuba would say, Okay, let's make a deal
and get the lights turned back on. But the government
is facing internal unrests as well. They've also cracked down
violently on their own people. Cuba's leadership still has deep
ties to anti American actors across the globe. So in
the next hours and days ahead, get ready for what
(20:29):
could happen next. But there is a real chance that
Cuba's castro regime may fall once and for all. I
want to take a quick moment and talk to you
about an incredible organization and it is called Compassion International,
and how you can get involved. I want to be
honest with you for a second about how an act
(20:50):
of compassion really feels. A couple of years ago, I
made the choice to partner with an amazing organization called
Compassion International. Why because I wanted to sponsor a child
in need. It was a nice idea, sure, but I
had no idea just how much that simple act would
change my life as well. I sponsored Nadia and got
(21:13):
to watch your life change right in front of my eyes,
going from starving literally alone on the streets, to getting
the healthcare and education she needs to reach her God
given full potential. I got to be a part of
that change, and the light of that compassion not only
illuminates in her, it illuminates now in me. That is
(21:34):
the power of compassion. The light of Christ shines on
all of us. Feel it for yourself and change literally
a child's life, change the world, and you also change yourself.
You can sponsor child today. Visit compassion dot com. That's
compassion dot com. Democrats, if you listen carefully, will always
(21:59):
tell you it exactly what their plan is now. In
the olden days, Barack Obama didn't actually tell you he
was a socialist. He just said that we wanted hope
and change, and he would dress it up in a
different way. Bill Clinton, for example, didn't tell you that
he wanted there to be massive expansion of government. Instead,
(22:20):
he said that we needed to make government smaller but
also take care of the poor. Translation a massive increase
in the number of people on food stamps and government aid.
But in twenty twenty six, the Democratic Party is no
longer holding back how much disdain they have for the
(22:41):
government of the United States of America, which oddly enough,
they are a part of. They don't like that the
government has checks and balances. They don't like that the
government has different branches in it that they cannot control
that actually keeps other individuals in our government in check.
In other words, they don't like it when they're told no.
(23:04):
And so when they are told no, they now are
saying what they really believe out loud that when they
don't get their way, they want to destroy and completely
alter and change the United States of America's government. That
would also mean that you would get rid of our constitution,
(23:25):
you would get rid of our Bill of Rights, you
would get rid of anything that actually stands in their
way of power. Now, Kamala Harris is dressing it up,
saying it a little bit differently, saying that we need
to have big and bold conversations and have these strategy
thinking sessions. But I want you to listen to what
(23:46):
she actually said. Now this was put out online, and
I want you to listen to Kamala Harris talk about
destroying our government all because Donald Trump and other conservatives
have been left and they don't like it.
Speaker 3 (24:02):
Say, look, this is a moment where there are no
bad ideas, no bad idea brainstorm is what I'd like
to call it. And in that no bad ideas. Brainstorm.
We talk about what we need to do and think
about doing around the electoral College. We talk about the
idea of Supreme Court reform, which includes expanding the Supreme Court.
(24:25):
We invite a conversation about multi members districts. We talk
about Look that if we win the Senate, which we
should and we will, then the Senate Judiciary Committee should
have rules that they put in place so when these
people come before as nominees to the Supreme Court and lie,
(24:47):
that they are held to account and consequence, not just
that somebody goes on cable news and says they lie,
but that there are rules in place to actually penalize
people for lying to an judiciary committee.
Speaker 1 (25:01):
Now let's just pause there. Let's go through the list
of people that we know have lied to Congress. Guy
by the name of Anthony Fauci, former FBI director, James Comy,
former CIA director John Brennan, the list, James Clapper, The
list goes on and on of individuals that have lied
(25:22):
before Congress. Now they have not been held accountable for
the lies, whether it's dealing with COVID, whether it's MAJORCIS
lying to Congress saying the border is secure, when he
knew that there were millions of people coming across the
border illegally. The number of people that Kamala Harris in
her party that have lied to Congress, to Steele dossier,
(25:45):
Russian collusion, the impeachment of Donald Trump one and two
Adam Schiff is a great example. These are all individuals
that have gone before Congress and that have lied before that.
She says we need to be held accountable. But to
be clear, she's not saying they need to be held accountable.
(26:05):
She's saying we want to accuse any Republican that disagree
with it comes before Congress of lying to Congress, and
then we can silence them. There was also something else
she said that was very interesting. She said, we need
to talk about the electoral College translation, get rid of it.
Why because she wants the presidency to be picked by California,
(26:26):
by la by New York, by Chicago. She doesn't want
states like North Dakota, South Dakota, or many of the
southern states like Arkansas, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina to
have power. She certainly doesn't want states like Iowa, New
Hampshire to have any power. Who the president of the
United States of America actually is. She wants to change
(26:49):
it all so that liberal cities will control who the
president is every presidential election cycle. She wants the presidency
to be come down to where if you're a Democrat,
you only really have to campaign in five or six cities,
not even states, just five or six cities in America
(27:09):
because the population is so ins there you can just
win election by getting the majority of those people to
vote for you. She wants to have the majority of
the country befly over country. But she's not done there.
And this is again all because Donald Trump was elected
president and she hates the majority of American voters in
this last election. Keep listening to her radical ideas.
Speaker 3 (27:32):
That we agree that it is right to have ethics
rules for Supreme Court justices, and let's put those in place.
Let's talk about state love for Puerto Rico and DC.
These are the things I think that we've got to do.
We've got to neutralize these red states from cheating, including
(27:53):
blue states expanding their maps and all of this I
think is, Look, we gotta fight fire with fire. These
folks are playing to win. We gotta play to win too.
Speaker 2 (28:05):
We've got to fight fire with fire.
Speaker 1 (28:08):
We have to play to win. Now, these are the
words of an individual who knows that President Trump has
had multiple assassination attempts against them. She doesn't care. She
wants to incite that type of anger and violence. But
you also notice what she said about she wants her
to be two sinators from Washington, d C. And two
(28:28):
sinners from Puerto Rico, because she believes it easily and
based on the makeup, Washington, d C. Would immediately elect
two Democratic sinners, and she believes that Puerto Rico they
could probably do a very good job there and get
at least maybe one, if not two of those sinners
to go for the Democrats as well. And she very
(28:50):
well may be right. But you notice what she's talking
about here. It's about stacking the deck. And by the way,
you notice she mentioned in there she would like to
redo how we do the Supreme Court. Why would she
want to redo how we do the Supreme Court. It's
a very simple answer. She wants to redo the Supreme Court.
(29:14):
Every time they give her a ruling that she doesn't like,
she wants to go after and attack those Supreme Court
justice and maybe get them kicked off the court. And
if that is not enough, then she wants to pack
the court. And every time she needs to make it bigger,
then they would just make it bigger. And every time
that the Supreme Court needs to get even bigger to
(29:36):
give them what they want, they just want it to
get bigger again. So no longer would it be nine.
It could be fifteen, it can be twenty one, then
it can be twenty nine, then it can be thirty five.
Where would it stop? As long as they have power,
that's all they really want is more of the power.
So this is the Democratic Party. They're saying it out loud.
(30:00):
Believe them when they tell you this is what they believe.
Believe them when they tell you that they want to
destroy this country. Because Kamala Harris just laid out their
entire game plan. Don't forget Share this podcast please with
your family and your friends wherever they are, and I
(30:22):
will see you back here tomorrow
I'm about to tell you a story that's a pretty
interesting story, and it involves Venezuelan dictator Nicholas Maduro's billionaire
bagman who's been arrested and extradited to the US three years.
And this is where the story gets interesting. After a
Joe Biden pardon, Venezuelan dictator Maduro's billionaire bagman has been
(00:28):
sent to the US on Saturday. The man's name was
Alex Sab. He's fifty four, a Colombian Venezuelan businessman described
by US officials as a close ally to Maduro. He
was arrested in Caracas during a joint US Venezuelan operation
in February. According to a US law enforcement official, this
(00:52):
happened less than three years after this same bagman, Alex
Sab was part.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Of by President Joe Biden.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
Venezuela migration agency said that Sab was deported the US
to face charges for notorious quote unquote crimes that he
had allegedly committed. Now, Maduro was embracing Sab, even at
an event publicly in January of twenty twenty four. Sab
(01:26):
is apparently a crucial star witness in the Maduro case
who is awaiting trial for his charges in Manhattan. Sab
was described as a Colombian citizen in the press release
by the Venezuelan Ministry of Justice quote the deportation was
ordered considering that the aforementioned Colombian citizen is involved in
(01:52):
the commission of various crimes in the United States of America,
as his public knowledge and widely reported. The statement continued
now of Venezuela's constitution prohibits the extradition of its citizens,
leading to speculation on Saturday that Saab may have been
stripped of his citizenship to allow the deportation to even
take place. The New York Times is reporting a provision
(02:15):
in a nineteen twenty or nineteen twenty two treaty between
Washington and Caracas may also allow exceptions to the rule.
Saba was previously detained in Cape Verde route to Iran
in twenty twenty. Again, this is the guy that Joe
Biden decided to pardon. He was detained and Cap Verde
(02:41):
en route to Iran in twenty twenty on bribery charges
after the US alleged that the Colombian born businessman had
siphoned three one hundred and fifty million dollars out of Venezuela.
He was released under Biden in twenty twenty three, and
in a controversial quote deal in exchange for the release
(03:03):
of ten Americans attained Venezuela, he was pardoned. Now that
pardon was focused on his specific twenty nineteen indictment over
unbuilt low income housing. This is where it gets even shadier.
SAB still faces active federal investigations over alleged bribery conspiracies
involving Venezuelan food import contracts as well. SAB can now
(03:27):
provide US authorities in theory with additional evidence to strengthen
their criminal case against Maduro, who along with his wife,
is being held in New York. The couple, of course,
both deny the criminal charges against him, which include conspiracy
to commit narco terrorism and import cocaine. US prosecutors alleged
(03:49):
a SOB controls some of Maduro's funds as well, and
SOB's arrests and deportation now suggests a new level of
collaboration between America and Venezuela law enforcement under the country's
acting President Rodriguez.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
Now Rodriguez, who previously served.
Speaker 1 (04:06):
As Maduro's vice President's targeting figures who kept the leftists
in power for over a decade. In other words, she
may be working with America because she wants to get
rid of the same people that we can't stand. Now,
you look at this story, and the question that you
have to ask yourself is this, How does a guy
(04:27):
that is this corrupt, with this much baggage actually get
a pardon from the former President United States of America,
Joe Biden, when we know that he's a wanted man
who's committed significant crimes against the United States of America.
That's the question that everyone should be asking right now. Unfortunately,
(04:54):
it looks like the media is not asking that question
at all. This is another story we're going to keep
watching for you. When we talk about Israel, we're not
just talking about a place. We're talking about a people
connected to a promise, a promise made by God, one
he has never broken and one that continues even today.
(05:15):
Because God's character doesn't change what he begins. He sustains
what he promises, he fulfills, and that matters today. Right
now in Israel, families run to shelters as sirens sound.
Now this isn't just a crisis, It's a call to
respond for Christians. Caring for Jewish people isn't rooted in politics.
(05:38):
It's rooted in trust and a God who keeps his word.
So we don't stay distant. We step in with prayer
and practical help. The International Fellowship of Christians and Jews
is on the ground, bringing food, caring for the vulnerable,
and reminding people they're not alone. This is what it
looks like to align your heart with gods, to pray,
(06:00):
to show up, and to care. So join us and
praying for peace of Jerusalem and for the people who
need it. Right now, visit pray. I have CJ dot org.
That's pray. I have CJ dot org. There's also something
else I want to throw on your radar screen. And
(06:21):
it's very interesting. The United Nations has got a new
issue or a problem. I guess you could say, is
President Trump calls it, says good riddance. United Nations led
Committee Climate Committee admits to projections that were actually wrong.
President Donald Trump criticized Democrats this weekend for pushing climate
(06:45):
chain fears and said the United Nations leading Climate Committee
has just come out admitting its projections were in fact
not even close to what they thought they were going
to be. In a post on True Social Trump wrote,
good riddance. After fifteen years of Democrats promising the climate
change is going to destroy the planet, the United Nations
(07:06):
top Climate Committee just admitted that its own projections were.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
Wrong, wrong, wrong.
Speaker 1 (07:12):
For far too long, climate activism has been used by Democrats.
Notice he calls them democrats to scare Americans, push horrible
energy policies and fund billions into their bogus research programs.
Unlike the Democrats who use climate alarmism nonsense to push
their green new scam. My administration will always be based
(07:35):
on truth, science and fact. Sign President Donald J. Trump. Now,
the Trump administration has been working to pull the United
States back from climate issues. And there's also something else
that's interesting. The President says, we're not going to go
long with what the rest of the world says we
(07:56):
must do. Mister President, mister Trump is against humanity. His
absence here demonstrates that is what less leftist Columbian president
said about well not really being involved or attending the
COP thirty climate conference in Brazil earlier this year, and
they showed their disdain for President Trump. Then another one
(08:20):
said it this way, the president of United States of
America at the latest United Nations General Assembly said the
climate crisis doesn't exist.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
That is a lie, is.
Speaker 1 (08:29):
What the Chilean president said about Donald Trump. Earlier this year,
the Treasury Department also announced that the United States had
withdrawn from the UN back Green Climate Fund and relinquished
its seat on the board, basically saying it's nothing but
a waste of time. And the move followed the January
seventh announcement that the United States would withdraw from sixty
(08:52):
six organizations and treaties described as globalists, nearly half of
them affiliated with the United Nations at the state that
decision was the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the
Foundational Treaty for major international climate Agreements, and the Trump
administration of post spending US tax payer dollars on entities
(09:13):
identified as contrary to the interests of the United States.
The Senate Republicans recently introduced legislation and prohibit Democratic run
states from hurting American energy producers through what they described
as climate warfare, and in April, many Democratic states are
increasingly adopting legislation that would allow insurers to suit oil
(09:35):
and natural gas companies for disaster related laws. Critics of
the laws believe these proposals would penalize energy producers at
a time when we need lower energy costs more than
ever before. So there are two very interesting stories here
that come out of all of this. One, you've got
a president that's standing up to the Narco terrace and
(09:56):
also those that well, even in Venezuela, that have a
lot of energy. And then at home, he's also standing
up saying we're not going to go by this insanity
any longer.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
It is really interesting to see all of this work.
Speaker 1 (10:11):
There is a crisis that is unfolding just ninety miles
off America's shore, a crisis that's quickly becoming one of
the most dangerous and unstable moments in modern Cuban history.
Their electrical grid is collapsing. Entire cities are going dark
for twenty to twenty two hours a day. We're now
(10:33):
being told that hospitals are struggling, food is literally rotting,
Protesters are pouring into the streets, and now, in a
stunning development, the director of the CIA, John Radcliffe, has
secretly traveled to Havana for high level talks with Cuban
officials of the communist regime. Fights for their survival. This
(10:55):
is not speculation, This is literally breaking news now. According
to ultiple reports, the CIA director John Ratcliffe traveled to
Cuba this week for rare face to face meetings with
senior Cuban intelligence and government officials, including officials tied directly
to the Castro power structure, and the timing of this
(11:15):
meeting is no coincidence at all, because Cuba is in
the middle of what many experts are now openly calling
a national total collapse. The country has effectively run out
of diesel fuel and fuel oil needed to keep its
power plants operating. Cuban officials themselves admitted they have absolutely
(11:37):
none left in reserves either. Now I want you to
think about that for a second. You have an island
nation of more than eleven million people is now trying
to survive with an electrical system that barely functions. In
many neighborhoods, the lights are off nearly all day long.
That means refrigerators don't work. That means on a hot
(11:59):
eye island, air conditioning doesn't work. That also means the
traffic lights don't work, sell towers don't work. Hospitals and
clinics are operating under emergency conditions. And remember, Cuba is
now entering their hot summer. Now, imagine being in Havana
(12:21):
in May or June with no electricity for twenty hours
a day. It's become so severe that protests are now
erupting in the streets. Demonstrators have been blocking roads, burning
trash and intersections, and screaming for the government to turn
the power back on. Some reports describe this as the
(12:41):
biggest wave of unrest since the anti government protests that
shook Cuba several years ago. And this is where the
story gets even more important for Americans because this isn't
just a humanitarian story anymore. This is rapidly becoming a
national security story. You may ask yourself the question why, Well,
(13:03):
here's the answer. When a hostile regime begins collapsing near
the United States of America, every major geopolitical player begins
circling China, Russia, Iran drug cartels, human traffickers, and the
United States intelligence community watches every one of these very carefully.
(13:24):
And that's why the CIA trip matters so much. According
to reports, Ratcliffe met with top Cuban intelligence officials, including
Castro's grandson, and senior members of Cuba's Interior ministry. Let
me repeat that the director of the CIA, that's America's
top spy chief, personally traveled to Havana during a national
(13:49):
and energy collapse to meet with Cuba's regime. That's something
that almost never happens anywhere in the world. In fact,
Reuter's in multiple out it's noted this is one of
the rarest high level intelligence meetings between the two countries
since the Cuban Revolution. So what's really going on is
(14:09):
the bigger question. Well, publicly, the message from Trump's administration
appears to be this the United States is willing to
engage with Cuba, but only if the regime makes what
officials call fundamental changes. At the same time, the administration
has dramatically increased pressure on Havana. The US has tightened
sanctions and effectively cut off major oil shipments reaching the island.
(14:33):
And you may remember most of their oil was actually
coming from Venezuela. With Maduro gone, that oil disappeared and
others have reportedly reduced our halted deliveries after American pressure
intendified on those countries, and that has pushed Cuba's fragile
energy system right to the very edge of total collapse. Now,
(14:55):
that's what makes the situation also extremely dangerous. Time tells
us when communist governments began losing control internally, they often
become more unpredictable externally, and that may be why John
Ratcliffe went to Cuba in the first place. Now, Cuba
is not just some isolated island. For decades, Cuba has
(15:16):
been directly tied to Russian intelligence operations as well as
anti American networks and increasingly Chinese influence in the Western Hemisphere.
Remember the reports over the last few years about suspected
Chinese surveillance facilities on Cuba and spy operations directly linked
to Cuba. Those concerns have never gone away. In fact,
(15:38):
reports surrounding Ratcliff's visit specifically referenced American concerns about Cuba
becoming a safe haven for adversaries of the United States.
Speaker 2 (15:48):
That means the CIA isn't. Let me say that differently.
Speaker 1 (15:52):
What this means is the CIA isn't just worried about blackouts.
The CIA is worried about instability. The CIA is worried
about foreign influence. The CIA is worried about migration surges.
The CIA is worried about organized crime, and the CIA
is worried about what happens if the Cuban regime loses
(16:13):
its grip on power, because there's a very good chance
the Cuban government may truly start collapsing, and that has
major consequences for places like Florida and the United States
could be well immediately impacted by it. You could have
massive refugee flows, you could see maritime crisises in Florida Straits,
(16:35):
you could see criminal networks exploiting that chaos, and you
could see China or Russia trying to increase influence during
that instability. You can also see internal Cuban factions battling
to control behind the scenes. That's why this story matters
so much to America right now.
Speaker 2 (16:53):
Now.
Speaker 1 (16:54):
Politically, the Cuban government's trying to blame the United States
of America, of course, for their collapse. Their accused America
of imposing what they call an energy blockade. The Trump
administration has been very clear signaling that the communist regime's
economic failures are finally catching up to them. And honestly,
there's truth in the reality that Cuban system has been
(17:15):
collapsing for years. What happened to them right now. Did
not just happen overnight. The Cuban economy has been hallowed
out by decades of communists central planning and then corruption,
then dependency on foreign oil and state control that totally
destroyed productivity, private businesses and innovation. Tourism revenues have totally
(17:39):
collapsed on the beautiful island because why would you go there.
Infrastructure has also deteriorated. Young people have fled the country
as fast as they can get out, and now the government.
Speaker 2 (17:51):
Can't even reliably keep the lights on.
Speaker 1 (17:54):
That is the reality of all this, and at the
same time, the humanitarian side of the crisis is also
very real. Families are suffering, children are suffering, medical care
is deteriorating, food shortages are worsening, and the water systems
are now even understrained. That is a lot even for
ordinary Cumans. Many of hume of them have no power
(18:18):
whatsoever over this regime, and that's been ruining them, that
has trapped them in the middle of this disaster. The
reports coming out of Cuba are brutal, and it's proof
of just how bad communism really is. People cooking over
fires outside because their stoves won't work neighborhoods sitting in
(18:39):
darkness not after night. Small businesses, they say, are collapsing
because they can't refrigerate food or even operate machinery, and
the Cuban government openly is admitting the refuel reserves are
effectively gone. Now, the fact that the CIA director went
personally tells you Washington believes this moment could become historically
(19:01):
significant very quickly. The CIA Director does not randomly hop
on a plane to Havana during a geopolitical crisis unless
something serious is unfolding behind the scenes. There are likely
major conversations happening right now about regime stability, security cooperation,
(19:21):
migration control, intelligence concerns, and yes, humanitarian aid. Also what
a post crisis Cuba could look like. Some reports even
indicate discussions include a possible economic cooperation and even aid packages.
If Cuba agrees to major reforms, that would be extraordinary.
(19:43):
If you watch the collapse of the communist regime in
Cuba all because of President Trump's hard line approach of
peace through strength. That is a massive win, and the
regime pressure has become massive. Now we hope that all
this would end peacefully or smoothly, that the internal government
(20:06):
there in Cuba would say, Okay, let's make a deal
and get the lights turned back on. But the government
is facing internal unrests as well. They've also cracked down
violently on their own people. Cuba's leadership still has deep
ties to anti American actors across the globe. So in
the next hours and days ahead, get ready for what
(20:29):
could happen next. But there is a real chance that
Cuba's castro regime may fall once and for all. I
want to take a quick moment and talk to you
about an incredible organization and it is called Compassion International,
and how you can get involved. I want to be
honest with you for a second about how an act
(20:50):
of compassion really feels. A couple of years ago, I
made the choice to partner with an amazing organization called
Compassion International. Why because I wanted to sponsor a child
in need. It was a nice idea, sure, but I
had no idea just how much that simple act would
change my life as well. I sponsored Nadia and got
(21:13):
to watch your life change right in front of my eyes,
going from starving literally alone on the streets, to getting
the healthcare and education she needs to reach her God
given full potential. I got to be a part of
that change, and the light of that compassion not only
illuminates in her, it illuminates now in me. That is
(21:34):
the power of compassion. The light of Christ shines on
all of us. Feel it for yourself and change literally
a child's life, change the world, and you also change yourself.
You can sponsor child today. Visit compassion dot com. That's
compassion dot com. Democrats, if you listen carefully, will always
(21:59):
tell you it exactly what their plan is now. In
the olden days, Barack Obama didn't actually tell you he
was a socialist. He just said that we wanted hope
and change, and he would dress it up in a
different way. Bill Clinton, for example, didn't tell you that
he wanted there to be massive expansion of government. Instead,
(22:20):
he said that we needed to make government smaller but
also take care of the poor. Translation a massive increase
in the number of people on food stamps and government aid.
But in twenty twenty six, the Democratic Party is no
longer holding back how much disdain they have for the
(22:41):
government of the United States of America, which oddly enough,
they are a part of. They don't like that the
government has checks and balances. They don't like that the
government has different branches in it that they cannot control
that actually keeps other individuals in our government in check.
In other words, they don't like it when they're told no.
(23:04):
And so when they are told no, they now are
saying what they really believe out loud that when they
don't get their way, they want to destroy and completely
alter and change the United States of America's government. That
would also mean that you would get rid of our constitution,
(23:25):
you would get rid of our Bill of Rights, you
would get rid of anything that actually stands in their
way of power. Now, Kamala Harris is dressing it up,
saying it a little bit differently, saying that we need
to have big and bold conversations and have these strategy
thinking sessions. But I want you to listen to what
(23:46):
she actually said. Now this was put out online, and
I want you to listen to Kamala Harris talk about
destroying our government all because Donald Trump and other conservatives
have been left and they don't like it.
Speaker 3 (24:02):
Say, look, this is a moment where there are no
bad ideas, no bad idea brainstorm is what I'd like
to call it. And in that no bad ideas. Brainstorm.
We talk about what we need to do and think
about doing around the electoral College. We talk about the
idea of Supreme Court reform, which includes expanding the Supreme Court.
(24:25):
We invite a conversation about multi members districts. We talk
about Look that if we win the Senate, which we
should and we will, then the Senate Judiciary Committee should
have rules that they put in place so when these
people come before as nominees to the Supreme Court and lie,
(24:47):
that they are held to account and consequence, not just
that somebody goes on cable news and says they lie,
but that there are rules in place to actually penalize
people for lying to an judiciary committee.
Speaker 1 (25:01):
Now let's just pause there. Let's go through the list
of people that we know have lied to Congress. Guy
by the name of Anthony Fauci, former FBI director, James Comy,
former CIA director John Brennan, the list, James Clapper, The
list goes on and on of individuals that have lied
(25:22):
before Congress. Now they have not been held accountable for
the lies, whether it's dealing with COVID, whether it's MAJORCIS
lying to Congress saying the border is secure, when he
knew that there were millions of people coming across the
border illegally. The number of people that Kamala Harris in
her party that have lied to Congress, to Steele dossier,
(25:45):
Russian collusion, the impeachment of Donald Trump one and two
Adam Schiff is a great example. These are all individuals
that have gone before Congress and that have lied before that.
She says we need to be held accountable. But to
be clear, she's not saying they need to be held accountable.
(26:05):
She's saying we want to accuse any Republican that disagree
with it comes before Congress of lying to Congress, and
then we can silence them. There was also something else
she said that was very interesting. She said, we need
to talk about the electoral College translation, get rid of it.
Why because she wants the presidency to be picked by California,
(26:26):
by la by New York, by Chicago. She doesn't want
states like North Dakota, South Dakota, or many of the
southern states like Arkansas, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina to
have power. She certainly doesn't want states like Iowa, New
Hampshire to have any power. Who the president of the
United States of America actually is. She wants to change
(26:49):
it all so that liberal cities will control who the
president is every presidential election cycle. She wants the presidency
to be come down to where if you're a Democrat,
you only really have to campaign in five or six cities,
not even states, just five or six cities in America
(27:09):
because the population is so ins there you can just
win election by getting the majority of those people to
vote for you. She wants to have the majority of
the country befly over country. But she's not done there.
And this is again all because Donald Trump was elected
president and she hates the majority of American voters in
this last election. Keep listening to her radical ideas.
Speaker 3 (27:32):
That we agree that it is right to have ethics
rules for Supreme Court justices, and let's put those in place.
Let's talk about state love for Puerto Rico and DC.
These are the things I think that we've got to do.
We've got to neutralize these red states from cheating, including
(27:53):
blue states expanding their maps and all of this I
think is, Look, we gotta fight fire with fire. These
folks are playing to win. We gotta play to win too.
Speaker 2 (28:05):
We've got to fight fire with fire.
Speaker 1 (28:08):
We have to play to win. Now, these are the
words of an individual who knows that President Trump has
had multiple assassination attempts against them. She doesn't care. She
wants to incite that type of anger and violence. But
you also notice what she said about she wants her
to be two sinators from Washington, d C. And two
(28:28):
sinners from Puerto Rico, because she believes it easily and
based on the makeup, Washington, d C. Would immediately elect
two Democratic sinners, and she believes that Puerto Rico they
could probably do a very good job there and get
at least maybe one, if not two of those sinners
to go for the Democrats as well. And she very
(28:50):
well may be right. But you notice what she's talking
about here. It's about stacking the deck. And by the way,
you notice she mentioned in there she would like to
redo how we do the Supreme Court. Why would she
want to redo how we do the Supreme Court. It's
a very simple answer. She wants to redo the Supreme Court.
(29:14):
Every time they give her a ruling that she doesn't like,
she wants to go after and attack those Supreme Court
justice and maybe get them kicked off the court. And
if that is not enough, then she wants to pack
the court. And every time she needs to make it bigger,
then they would just make it bigger. And every time
that the Supreme Court needs to get even bigger to
(29:36):
give them what they want, they just want it to
get bigger again. So no longer would it be nine.
It could be fifteen, it can be twenty one, then
it can be twenty nine, then it can be thirty five.
Where would it stop? As long as they have power,
that's all they really want is more of the power.
So this is the Democratic Party. They're saying it out loud.
(30:00):
Believe them when they tell you this is what they believe.
Believe them when they tell you that they want to
destroy this country. Because Kamala Harris just laid out their
entire game plan. Don't forget Share this podcast please with
your family and your friends wherever they are, and I
(30:22):
will see you back here tomorrow
Host
Ben Ferguson
Popular Podcasts
Hey Jonas!
Hey Jonas! The official Jonas Brothers podcast. Hosted by Kevin, Joe, and Nick Jonas. It’s the Jonas Brothers you know... musicians, actors, and well, yes, brothers. Now, they’re sharing another side of themselves in the playful, intimate, and irreverent way only they can. Spend time with the Jonas Brothers here and stay a little bit longer for deep conversations like never before.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.