1. Government Shutdown and Federal Worker Pay
- The episode opens with a discussion of a government shutdown, referred to as the “Schumer shutdown.”
- Senator Cruz criticizes Democrats for voting against legislation that would have paid essential federal workers during the shutdown.
- He highlights specific Democratic senators who voted in favor (Warnock, Ossoff, Fetterman) and criticizes the rest for voting against it.
- Cruz emphasizes the impact on TSA agents, air traffic controllers, and military personnel, warning of potential travel disruptions and national security risks.
- He also notes that members of Congress continue to receive pay during the shutdown, though he claims to have requested his own pay be withheld.
2. Rise of Antisemitism on the Right
- Cruz expresses concern about increasing antisemitism within conservative circles, particularly among younger people.
- He recounts his speech at a Christians United for Israel event, where he warned about the dangers of ignoring antisemitism on the right.
- He criticizes both the left and right for harboring antisemitic sentiments, but emphasizes a recent rise on the right.
- Cruz calls on church leaders and conservatives to actively oppose antisemitism and support Israel, citing national security interests and moral obligations.
3. Opposition to Ambassador Nominee Amer Ghalib
- Cruz discusses his opposition to Amer Ghalib, a nominee for U.S. Ambassador to Kuwait.
- He criticizes Ghalib’s past statements, including praise for the Muslim Brotherhood and controversial social media activity.
- Cruz argues that Ghalib’s views are incompatible with U.S. foreign policy and President Trump’s positions, particularly regarding Israel and the Abraham Accords.
- He predicts that the nomination will likely be withdrawn due to bipartisan concerns.
4. Religious Persecution in China
- The podcast concludes with a segment on the persecution of Christians in China, particularly the arrest of Pastor Jin Mingri and members of the Zion Church.
- Cruz condemns the Chinese Communist Party’s actions and calls for the U.S. to use diplomatic and economic pressure to advocate for religious freedom.
- He emphasizes the importance of the U.S. standing up for persecuted religious minorities globally.
- Cruz expresses hope that President Trump will raise the issue during an upcoming meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Welcome.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
It is Verdic with Center, Ted Kruz, Ben Ferguson with
you and many of you listening on the radio around
the country.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
It's so nice to have you with a center.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
We've got a lot to talk about, including we're still
in a dead gum government shut down and Democrats seem
to be held bent on digging in hurting Americans.
Speaker 3 (00:16):
Well, the Schumer shutdown continues. As of Friday, it was
day twenty four of the Schumer shutdown. The government remains
shut down. Federal employees are not getting paid. We had
a vote on the Senate floor on Thursday on Ron
Johnson's legislation, very simple legislation to pay government workers who
(00:37):
have to work, to have them actually pay their salaries.
In other words, essential workers, workers who are ordered to
come into work should get their salaries. It's a very simple,
common sense proposition. The Democrats voted no. The vote was
fifty four to forty five. So Warnock, Osoff, and Feederman
were the three Democrats who voted to pay the federal
(00:59):
workers that are being forced to work and are not
getting their paychecks, and every other Democrat voted no. No
paycheck for you. So we continue going through the weekend
next week. Next week, the Senate is going to take
up a series of votes uh to to try to
reopen the government again. We're going to break that down
what to expect in this next week and and when
(01:21):
and how this shutdown is going to end. We're also
going to talk to you about the need to fight
anti Semitism on the right. Anti Semitism is rising on
the right, and and and we need to stand up
and combat it. We're going to break that down for you.
We're going to talk about an individual who's been nominated
to be ambassador to Kuwait, who unfortunately has an extreme record,
(01:42):
a record of praising the Muslim brotherhood, of opposing President
Trump's foreign policy objectives and principles, and and and and
I called for his nomination to be rejected. We're going
to tell you all about that. And finally, we're going
to talk about the need to stand up against the
persecut of Christians in China. Communist China is imprisoning pastors
(02:03):
and Christians. I'm leading a bipartisan effort in the Senate
to call out China to stop persecuting Christians. All of
that on today's pod.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
Yeah, we've got a lot to cover.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
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Hillsdale dot edu slash verdict. All right, sat, So let's
start with where we are in the shutdown. It is amazing,
actually thought there could be some movement this week. The
radical left and the Democratic Party clearly is saying no
to that. They want to hurt people right now. It
(04:08):
is hurting Americans, and they don't seem to care about that.
In fact, they seem to be proud of the fact
that people are hurting.
Speaker 4 (04:15):
Well they are.
Speaker 3 (04:15):
You have Democrats going on TV bragging that the shutdown
gives them leverage, although it's not clear what they want
leverage for other than their demand that illegal aliens get
free taxpayer funded health care, and that demand is going
nowhere and is wildly unpopular with the American people. This
shutdown is really just about politics, though, It's about the
(04:35):
fact that Chuck Schumer in March, when the Democrats worked
with Republicans to keep the government open, his left wing
base got furious and he almost lost his job. They
almost fired him. And so this is his saying screw
you to President Trump. This is hit Chuck Schumer and
the Democrats trying to prove to their radical base, to
everyone who's marching in those No Kings rallies, that they
(04:58):
hate Donald Trump as my much as the radicals do.
And and sadly that means the government stays shut and
there are a lot of real consequences. As I said
on Thursday, the Democrats, almost straight party line, voted not
to pay the federal workers who are forced to go
in and work. And by the way, the Association of
Federal Workers both active and retired, supported this this provision.
(05:20):
Democrats are normally always, you know, always eager to be
supporting federal workers. Well they just voted none of them
get paid. Next week, next week we're going to vote
on legislation from Dan Sullivan that I'm a co sponsor
of that will pay our troops, pay our soldiers and
sailors and airmen and Marines and pay our coast guardsmen.
(05:42):
And my suspicion is the Democrats are going to vote
now that they don't want to pay our active duty military. Now.
Right now, the military is being paid because President Trump
has reallocated funds from another portion of the budget. But
this is going to be a straight up vote, do
you want to pay the military or not. My suspicion
is that the Democrat Party is radical enough they'll vote no.
(06:02):
We're also going to vote next week on legislation I
filed to pay those concerned with air travel. So right now, Ben,
there are roughly fifty thousand TSA workers who are going
into work and they're not getting paid. They don't get
a paycheck. There are roughly fourteen thousand air traffic controllers
(06:23):
who are going into work and they're not getting paid.
They don't get a paycheck. Now, the result of that,
we're seeing more and more flight delays, We're seeing more
and more cancelations. Just a couple of days ago, Houston's
Hobby Airport had a ground stop. They had a groundstop
why because of a shortage of air traffic controllers. And
this problem will only get worse. I'll tell you a
senior Democrat aide told Politico that the shutdown will continue
(06:47):
quote until planes start falling from the sky. Wow, that's
not remotely funny. It is reckless, it is dangerous, and
it is imposing real costs on the American people. And so, now,
by the way, is.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
There any accountability for that individual so far that we
know of.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
It was an anonymous quote. So I suspect we'll never
know who said that.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
But amazing.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
The bottom line is, And by the way, if this
shutdown continues through Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving is the busiest travel time
of the year. And if the Democrats have been forcing
air traffic controllers to work for a month with no pay,
you can predict real shortages and delays and cancelations that
will impact Americans across this country. Now, I'll tell you
(07:33):
something that'll make you mad. Ben. You know who is
being paid? Who's that Democrat politicians? Oh?
Speaker 2 (07:39):
Yeah, because they didn't do what you did. By the way,
another conservatives are like, don't pay me during the shutdown.
We don't need to get paid.
Speaker 3 (07:45):
So under the Constitution, the twenty eighth Amendment to the
Constitution provides that members of Congress cannot have their salary
altered during their term in office. And so that means constitutionally,
even when the governments shut down, members of Congress keep
their page coming. Now, as you just noted, you don't
have to do that. And when this shutdown started, I
sent a letter to the Secretary of the Senate and
(08:08):
I said, please hold my paycheck, do not pay me.
I do not want to accept a penny of salary
unlessen until the government opens up. Un lesson, until our
soldiers and sailors and airmen and marines are being paid.
A lesson until our air traffic controllers are being paid,
and all the federal workers, our border patrol agents are
being paid, our FBI agents are being paid. Virtually every
(08:30):
Democrat in the House and Senate has said, no, keep
my paycheck going. I'm going to take away yours. But
you know me, the Democrat politician, I need every penny
of my salary.
Speaker 1 (08:39):
Center.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
Let's talk about another big issue, and that is the
rise of anti Semitism.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
But it's not just on the left.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
We are witnessing it happen within the conservative movement as well,
and that is very concerning to me and you as well.
Speaker 3 (08:53):
It is deeply concerning. So last weekend. Last Sunday night,
I was the keynote speaker at Christians United for Israel
at their annual night to honor Israel. And I was
in San Antonio at Cornerstone Church with Pastor John Hagy,
and I talked about I talked about number one, the
grief and tragedy of October seventh. Number two the incredible
(09:15):
military victory that Israel won and that President Trump won
against Iran. But then I also talked about about the
danger of rising anti Semitism. One of the points I
made is that we support Israel because it is in
America's national security interest to do so. Here give a
listen here, the United States provides roughly three billion dollars
(09:36):
in military assistance to Israel. The benefit we get from
that the massade, the intelligence resources. You look at Iran,
where they knew where every anti aircraft weapon was, every
military leader, every IRGC leader. That benefit. If America tried
to replicate that intelligence network, it would cost us tens
(09:57):
of billions of dollars. And I will tell you every
lunatic terrorist in Hamas or Hesbla or Iran that Israel
took out made America safer. In the United States of
America should say to that little nation, thank you, thank you,
thank you. That's why, as a matter of public policy,
(10:35):
we should support Israel.
Speaker 1 (10:36):
Senator You're absolutely right there.
Speaker 2 (10:38):
It is a bargain for what we get in response
to what Israel and their intelligence community does for us
to keep us safe and others around the world.
Speaker 3 (10:47):
Well, when the terrorists chant death to Israel and death
to America, they mean it. When the Ayahtola refers to
Israel as the little Satan and America is the great Satan,
he means it. And when Israel is taking out those terrorists,
Israel is saving American lives. But I also took them
the opportunity of this keynote speech to directly address a
(11:07):
threat that I think a danger that is deeply concerning.
That is the rise of anti Semitism on the right.
Here give a listen. But there is a danger that
is very real, and we've talked about anti semitism.
Speaker 4 (11:22):
Listen.
Speaker 3 (11:22):
About a decade ago, anti Semitism began rising on the
left and the Democratic Party did nothing, and in the
decade that followed it has consumed the Democrat Party. I
do not believe this is exaggeration to say there is
a real and meaningful pro Hamas contingent of the Democrat
(11:43):
Party in Washington, and the remainder of the Democrats are
terrified of the pro Hamas contingent.
Speaker 1 (11:51):
We know that.
Speaker 3 (11:53):
But the danger that I want to highlight to you
tonight is not anti Semitism on the left. It is
anti Semitism on the right. And I'm here to tell you,
in the last six months, I have seen anti Semitism
rising on the right in a way I have never
seen it in my entire life. Listen, Kufi is extraordinary.
(12:14):
The work that Kufi does is desperately, desperately needed. But
I'm here to tell you the church is asleep right now.
If I pick up my phone and send out a tweet,
if I say good morning, within minutes, I will have
(12:37):
hundreds of blatantly anti Semitic responses. When Prime Minister det
and Yahoo was here a few months ago, I sat
down with him for a couple of hours. I raised
this issue with him and his first reaction was he said, well,
that's cutter, that's Iran. They're paying for it. It's AstroTurf.
And I said, mister Prime Minister, yes, but no, yes,
(13:02):
Cutter and Iran are clearly paying for it, and there
are bots, and they are putting real money behind it.
But I am telling you this is real, It is organic.
These are real human beings and idiots spreading. In the
last year, we had three prominent voices on the right
publicly muse, gosh, maybe Hitler wasn't that bad a guy
(13:25):
after all, Yes he was. He was the embodiment of evil.
And I asked Prime Minister Netanya, who, I said, imagine
how different American political history would have been if rush
(13:47):
Limbaugh had been an anti Semite instead of a philo Semite.
We would have a fundamentally different country if rush Limbaugh
had spent years spreading poor I want to tell, especially folks.
Speaker 4 (14:07):
That are no.
Speaker 3 (14:08):
Longer teenagers, are in your twenties, this poison of anti
Semitism on the right, It is spreading with young people.
It is gaining traction. Part of it is philosophical. There's
an isolationism. So they will argue, what business do we
(14:29):
have supporting Israel? Why should America support Israel? It's their problem.
Let them deal with it. Then let me give you
an answer, as someone elected to represent thirty one million Texans,
and fight every day for your jobs, your freedom, and
your safety and security. The United States supports Israel not
(14:53):
because we are helping out a down on his luck neighbor.
We're not engaged in a charity act. The United States
supports Israel be because it is unequivocally in the national
security interests of the United States to support Israel.
Speaker 2 (15:09):
I couldn't agree with you more of their centator. By
the way, and I think most people listening right now,
it's true. You've got to remind younger people why it
is important to stand with Israel because of so much
anti Semitism we're witnessing now, even on the right.
Speaker 3 (15:24):
Well, and that's where it's spreading, and that's where it's dangerous.
And I don't want us to make the mistake that
the left made a decade ago of sitting there silently.
And I'll tell you in particular, my call was to
church leaders wake up. You know, you look at the polling,
at the number of young Christians who are turning away
from Israel, and it is really sad that they're being misled,
but they're being misled, and they're very few pastors who
(15:47):
are standing up and speaking the truth, speaking teaching biblical
truth that there are very few who are engaging and
confronting these lies. And I think if we do nothing,
will wake up in a few years and the Republican
Party will be lost like the Democrat Party is lost.
That will have two anti Israel parties. And I, for one,
(16:10):
I don't intend to sit quietly and let that happen.
We're going to speak the truth. We're going to speak
the truth on this podcast, and I'm going to speak
the truth in every fourum I can.
Speaker 2 (16:19):
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Make the switch and make a difference every time you
pay your bill. All right, Sata, I want to talk
about something else that happened and this is really important
on Capitol Hill this week it was the confirmation for
the ambassador to Kuwait. Needless to say, there were some
fireworks involved in this ambassadorship conversation and debate and confirmation hearing.
Speaker 1 (18:31):
You were involved in that break it down for us.
Speaker 4 (18:34):
Well.
Speaker 3 (18:34):
Sure, the Trump administration has named as the Ambassador to
Quate an individual named Amer Ghalib, who was the mayor
of Hamtrak, Michigan. Amerghalib is a Democrat, a Democrat mayor,
and in twenty twenty four he endorsed President Trump in
the election campaign, and then that resulted in his being
(18:55):
nominated to be Ambassador to Quait. The problem, however, is
that mister Ghalib's record is really extreme and it is
very far out of touch with President Trump's record, with
his positions, with his beliefs, and with the positions of
the United States. And so we had a hearing this
week in front of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee where
(19:16):
I questioned mister Ghalib on his record. One of the
things in his record, he's publicly praised the Muslim Brotherhood.
He said he finds the Muslim Brotherhood to be an inspiration. Now,
I believe the Muslim Brotherhood is a terrorist organization. I
filed legislation to designate the Muslim Brotherhood is a terrorist organization,
and I think the Trump administration is likely to do so,
(19:37):
and so mister Ghlib's record is squarely out of step
with President Trump's views. Here give a listen to my
questioning mister Ghalib on the Muslim Brotherhood. August of twenty twenty,
you posted that the Muslim Brotherhood was an inspiration. Do
you continue to believe the Muslim Brotherhood is an inspiration?
Speaker 4 (19:57):
Thank you, senator.
Speaker 5 (19:58):
I think a lot of I post written in an
Arabican and mistransplated. I believe that you know there there is.
It's an ideology. It's not just a group of people.
I disagree with a lot of things that they do.
Some of them are extreamith some of them are part
of some governments in them Addle East. So I trust
our government to do the research.
Speaker 3 (20:20):
And Okay, again, my question was simple and straightforward. Do
you continue to believe the Muslim Brotherhood is an inspiration?
Speaker 4 (20:27):
No, I'm not part of that. I don't believe in that.
Speaker 3 (20:29):
But if anybody you did post it in twenty twenty,
let me ask you how would you be able to
serve as an ambassador if President Trump designates the Muslim
Brotherhood as a terrorist organization, I have legislation to do that.
I believe it is likely the Trump administration will designate
the Muslim Brotherhood is a terrorist organization hamas is the
Muslim Brotherhood in Palestine.
Speaker 5 (20:52):
I would trust the President, and then if it's designated,
be committed to implement President Trump's post. I'm not you know,
I trust the President's policy and it confirmed that would
be implementing the policies of the administration. I mean, I'm
I wouldn't go against the President and his policies.
Speaker 3 (21:11):
To mister Gerlie, but I will say from your long
standing public positions, it appears you have a deep felt
and passionate view about the Middle East, but it is
a view that is in direct conflict with the policy
positions of President Trump in this administration.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
I mean, you listen to his background as you just
described it. How did this get to the point where
we're actually having a confirmation hearing for him?
Speaker 3 (21:39):
I don't know. I think this was largely a political decision.
He was a Democrat mayor in Michigan who endorsed President Trump.
And it's not unusual that that that that's something like
an ambassadorship rewards someone who did something politically beneficial and
helped President Trump win the state of Michigan. But but
I don't know that that that the team did. Did
it particularly dive into his record as the mayor of Hamtrak,
(22:06):
that city passed a resolution calling for BDS, calling to boycott, divest,
and sanctioned israelis the first city in America to pass
a BDS resolution that is directly contrary to President Trump's policy.
It's directly contrary, uh to to US foreign policy. Not
not only that, but but mister glib Uh describes Saddam
(22:30):
Hussein as a martyr. And at the same time, he
also liked a Facebook comment that said all Jews are monkeys.
Now that is obviously anti Semitic, and he tried to
(22:51):
run away from it. But here, listen, I questioned him
on this record and how out of step it is
with President Trump. Give a listen. Do not understand is
how you could possibly serve as a United States ambassador
for President Trump in the Middle East when you have
passionate views, including having been a vocal opponent of the
(23:16):
Abraham Accords, the singular and most consequential accomplishment President Trump
has negotiated, and and your long standing views are to
publicly oppose the Abraham Accord.
Speaker 4 (23:28):
Thank you, senator.
Speaker 5 (23:29):
Let me be clear, I support that Brahma Cord, and
I think there's a golden opportunity to get everybody involved
in that. And let me be clear, in February of
twenty twenty two, as the mayor, the first thing I
did is to pass a resolution to condemn anti Semitism.
It's documented. That's what I perform in my official capacity.
The other things people are making assumptions based you know,
(23:50):
trying to judge my intention.
Speaker 3 (23:52):
But you're I'm curious what a statement like all Jews
or Monkeys would that qualifies anti Semitism.
Speaker 5 (23:57):
Well, that's somebody that wrote it who is mentally challenged.
Speaker 3 (24:01):
My question is, does the statement all Jews or Monkeys?
Does that anti Semitism? I don't agree with this that
you're not answering my question.
Speaker 5 (24:10):
It's definitely intestimoni, But clicking on it doesn't mean I
endorse it.
Speaker 3 (24:13):
It's actually like it means exactly that when you like something,
it means you no center.
Speaker 5 (24:18):
Every post since twenty ten every comment, because I used
to have like ten twenty comments. I used to acknowledge
it to read it, but sometimes I would respond under
it to oppose it. And there was a response here
that wasn't translated by the media that says you cannot
say this in your country. It wasn't translated, and I
was when I.
Speaker 3 (24:37):
Not disagreeing with the statement that all Jews are monkeys.
Speaker 5 (24:40):
But let me be clear, now, I disagree with that
and I but you didn't at the time.
Speaker 4 (24:45):
You are making assumption, cirt, I'm asking.
Speaker 3 (24:47):
I'm not making an assumption.
Speaker 5 (24:48):
That's why I did disagree at the time, and I
still disagree.
Speaker 3 (24:51):
Did you disagree publicly? Did you say a word of
disagreement or was your only public statement a like, which
is the universal method of saying you like something and
agree with it.
Speaker 5 (25:01):
Everybody who asked me, I told them it doesn't mean
I endorse it.
Speaker 4 (25:04):
It's just technology reading it.
Speaker 5 (25:06):
But I am opposing that, and I make it clear
now I pass a resolution to condemn anti Semitism in
all forms of shape.
Speaker 3 (25:14):
So you mentioned earlier that the posts were in Arabic
and they haven't been translated, right, I have in my
hands right now one of those Arabic posts on August thirteenth,
twenty twenty, and I have the English translation. Among other
things you talk about, you talk about individuals who died
(25:37):
in Egyptian prisons, and you said quote they die to
be etched on the pages of history, stained in positions
that inspire generations and make millions of Brotherhood fans exposed
to a global demonic campaign and unprecedented demonic media infliction.
I have only seen such situations in the March Sadam
(26:00):
Hussein and his companions. May God have mercy on them.
Speaker 5 (26:04):
Thank you Zana for that question. I was talking about
standing firm for the cause of a person, doesn't mean
I agree with him. I am a strong advocate of
democracy in them at least. Yes, I was against the
military coup and I believe in democracy. That's the best
value that we have and we want everybody to enjoy
that value in the Middle East. So I was advocating
(26:27):
for democracy in the add least. Doesn't mean that I
support certain group, but I support democracy and.
Speaker 3 (26:34):
Well, as I said, I think your long standing views
are directly contrary to the views and positions of President
Trump and to the position of the United States, I
for one am not going to be able to support
your confirmation. And I want to enter into the record
this post in both the Arabic and English translation. I
(26:55):
asked that it be entered into the record.
Speaker 1 (26:57):
It'll be entered into the record without objection.
Speaker 3 (27:00):
And look, I think the facts here are quite clear,
and your long standing position is directly contrary to that
of the presidents.
Speaker 2 (27:10):
So where do we go from here? I mean, this
seems to be pretty damning. Are any of your colleagues
rallying behind this? And what was the reaction in the
room and also afterwards?
Speaker 3 (27:21):
So I don't know what the result will be. I
think we'll see this nomination withdrawn. I think the White
House will make the decision to withdraw this nomination. If
they don't, I will vote now. I'll vote no one committee,
and I'll vote no on the floor. And I don't
think this individual will be confirmed. But let's take one
component where this fellow refers to Sodom Hussein as a martyr. Now, now,
(27:48):
mind you, he's being nominated to be the ambassador to Kuwait.
Kuwait is the country that Sodom is saying invaded that
started the first Iraq War, that George Trobert Walker Bush
went in to liberate Kuwait. So the American ambassador to
Kuwait is someone who describes Saddam Hussein, who was toppled
(28:09):
by America, as a martyr, it's not possible for him
to do his job and faithfully represent President Trump. And
by the way, as I said, he vocally opposed the
Abraham Accords, President Trump negotiated the Abraham Accords, bringing Arabs
and Israelis together. And this individual, I think he believes
(28:31):
every word he's saying. He spent his entire life passionately advocating,
praising the Muslim brotherhood, praising Saddam Hussein. Those are not
the views or position of President Trump or the United
States of America. And that's why I believe that this
individual is not going to be a US ambassador to Kwait.
Speaker 2 (28:50):
Center it's time for us to talk about China, and
a lot of people are talking about the economic issues
with China, sanctions and tariffs. The subject we're about to
talk about is what I hope people share everywhere on
social media. This is why we do this show, and
it's so important, and this is what's happening in China,
cracking down on Christianity right now and is not being
(29:12):
talked about enough well.
Speaker 3 (29:15):
Communist China has a terrible record when it comes to
religious liberty and religious persecution, and in particular the persecution
of Christians, and China has for decades persecuted Christians in China,
but recently they've been cracking down and it's been getting
worth So here's how I put it to Fox News
this week. The Chinese Communist Party is conducting yet another
(29:38):
sweeping crackdown on Christians, and they're again targeting Pastor Gin
and the Zion Church. The CCP fears anything it cannot
directly control, perhaps most of all faith. The United States
has powerful tools to provide protection and relief to people
(29:59):
facing persecution and violence, and we should use those tools
unless and until China releases the members of the Zion Church.
And what has happened is is China arrested several Christian leaders,
including the pastor of one of the country's biggest underground
evangelical church churches, and that's Pastor Jin Mingri, whose children
(30:24):
are US citizens. Grace Jin, who is Mingri's daughters, was
very kind but went out of her way to thank
me for fighting to release her father from prison. And
here's what Grace Jen said. She said, quote his efforts
demonstrate that the world is watching on as the Chinese
(30:45):
government unjustly imprisons pastors and church leaders for the peaceful
exercise of their faith. Thank you to the leaders here
and abroad for all the support and solidarity.
Speaker 2 (30:58):
And centat This is the I think part that's so
frustrating for me and so many listening is this has
been happening for so long, and because so many countries
do business with China, they have deliberately looked the other
way because they're basically saying, Hey, we'd rather just get
along and do trade and get cheap Chinese goods and
actually hold them account for what they're doing to Christians.
Speaker 3 (31:20):
Well, that's happening far too often. And we've discussed before
on this podcast the persecution the mass murder of Christians
in Nigeria. Nigeria the most Christians are murdered for their
faith of any country on earth, and I've been leading
the effort to hold Nigeria do account well in China. Likewise,
for my entire time in the Senate, I've been vocal
speaking out for Christians being persecuted in China and this crackdown. Actually,
(31:44):
next week President Trump is going to Asia and is
gonna meet with with President She of China. And so
just this past week I introduced a bipartisan resolution condemning
China's persecution of Christians in particular and Pastor Gin and
and and I was joined by Chris Coons. Chris is
(32:06):
a Democrat, uh and and and Chris is someone who
cares deeply about religious liberty. And so we joined together
with a bipartisan resolution calling on China to release Pastor Gin,
to stop targeting the Zion Church, to release the pastors
and the Christians who've been imprisoned, and and and to
cease engaging in persecution of religious liberty writ broadly and
(32:31):
and of Christians in particular.
Speaker 2 (32:34):
It really is one of those it's that is frustrating.
And now this comes back to the issue of leverage.
Is this going to be enough leverage to possibly see
a change here, because one thing that we've learned is
China only responds when their pocketbook gets hurt. And if
they don't think we have the political will to stand
up for Christians, uh, then they're going to continue to
persecute them no matter what that's just their mo.
Speaker 4 (32:58):
They are.
Speaker 3 (32:59):
But but they respond to pressure. They respond to pressure
in two forms. Number one to being publicly called out,
to having light shine on their oppression. And number two,
they respond to economic leverage. And President Trump is very
effective at employing economic leverage. I think we should do both.
Our bipartisan resolution is aimed at quote, expressing condemnation of
(33:20):
the Chinese Communist parties persecution of Christians and reaffirming the
United States's global commitment to promote religious freedom and tolerance.
And it also includes a demand that the Chinese Communist
Party respect the human right to freedom of religion and
end all forms of violence and discrimination against religious minorities.
(33:42):
And the resolution notes the CCP's actions mark the largest
coordinated nationwide crackdown against a Christian urban house church in
more than forty years. It also notes that the US
Commission on International Religeious Freedom designated China as a country
(34:03):
of quote particular concern for religious freedom every single year
since nineteen ninety eight, and Pastor Jin of the Zion
Church was detained by Chinese authorities, and indeed that came
as nearly thirty Zion Church pastors and workers were likewise
(34:24):
detained or went missing across Beijing, sen Jing, Shanghai, Chendo, Behai, Jingshing,
and huang Do. And I apologize for my Chinese pronunciation.
Speaker 1 (34:37):
I forgive you.
Speaker 3 (34:39):
But here's what Grace Jen said about this, and she's
Pastor Jen's daughter. One after another they were also taken
detained like they were saying that they were people outside
the doors. Then one at a time they were taken
into custody. This is wrong. And President Trump has an
(35:02):
opportunity when he is in Asia, when he is with
President She, to call on President She to release these pastors,
release Pastor Jin, release the Christians who are being persecuted,
and stop persecuting people of faith. And I think the
United States has a responsibility to be a voice for
religious liberty across the country, to defend Christians when they're persecuted,
(35:26):
to defend Jews when they're persecuted, to defend people of
faith all across the world. You know, you look at
radical Islamic terrorists, many of them target and persecute other
Muslims who are not violent. And I think religious persecution
is wrong regardless of who the victims are, and we
should be a voice for religious liberty. Now, that doesn't
(35:49):
mean that America should go and invade China to try
to break the pastor out of jail. But there are
lots of tools that the president can use, including the
bully hopeit of the presidency, including shining a light, and
including also economic leverage to try to stop this persecution.
(36:10):
And I very much hope President Trump will do so
in the coming week.
Speaker 2 (36:14):
Yeah, you and I both hope that final question on this.
As you watch President trumpet pressure not just on China
but other countries, it does seem to be that his
foreign policy now is if there is a wrong that
needs to be discussed, it's going to be on the table,
front and center. That is pretty different from what we've
seen in past administrations where they're like, well, maybe it's
(36:35):
not the time to bring that up. Right now, he
seems to be willing to bring it all up.
Speaker 3 (36:39):
You're absolutely right, and strong American leadership can stand up
to tyrannies. The Soviet Union was terrified of Ronald Reagan.
That's how we won the Cold War without firing a shot,
and communist China and our enemies across the globe are
terrified of Donald Trump. And that's why we're seeing such
major national security improvements right now.
Speaker 2 (36:58):
It's incredible. Don't forget we do this show three days
a week as a podcast. So download Verdict with Ted
Cruz wherever you get your podcasts.
Speaker 1 (37:06):
You don't miss an episode.
Speaker 2 (37:07):
Please share the show with your family and friends, so
that these important stories that we're talking about here that's
a great example of China, are heard by the masses
and the Senate. And I will see you back here
on this radio station next weekend and all week long
on our podcast as well.
Welcome.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
It is Verdic with Center, Ted Kruz, Ben Ferguson with
you and many of you listening on the radio around
the country.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
It's so nice to have you with a center.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
We've got a lot to talk about, including we're still
in a dead gum government shut down and Democrats seem
to be held bent on digging in hurting Americans.
Speaker 3 (00:16):
Well, the Schumer shutdown continues. As of Friday, it was
day twenty four of the Schumer shutdown. The government remains
shut down. Federal employees are not getting paid. We had
a vote on the Senate floor on Thursday on Ron
Johnson's legislation, very simple legislation to pay government workers who
(00:37):
have to work, to have them actually pay their salaries.
In other words, essential workers, workers who are ordered to
come into work should get their salaries. It's a very simple,
common sense proposition. The Democrats voted no. The vote was
fifty four to forty five. So Warnock, Osoff, and Feederman
were the three Democrats who voted to pay the federal
(00:59):
workers that are being forced to work and are not
getting their paychecks, and every other Democrat voted no. No
paycheck for you. So we continue going through the weekend
next week. Next week, the Senate is going to take
up a series of votes uh to to try to
reopen the government again. We're going to break that down
what to expect in this next week and and when
(01:21):
and how this shutdown is going to end. We're also
going to talk to you about the need to fight
anti Semitism on the right. Anti Semitism is rising on
the right, and and and we need to stand up
and combat it. We're going to break that down for you.
We're going to talk about an individual who's been nominated
to be ambassador to Kuwait, who unfortunately has an extreme record,
(01:42):
a record of praising the Muslim brotherhood, of opposing President
Trump's foreign policy objectives and principles, and and and and
I called for his nomination to be rejected. We're going
to tell you all about that. And finally, we're going
to talk about the need to stand up against the
persecut of Christians in China. Communist China is imprisoning pastors
(02:03):
and Christians. I'm leading a bipartisan effort in the Senate
to call out China to stop persecuting Christians. All of
that on today's pod.
Speaker 1 (02:12):
Yeah, we've got a lot to cover.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
I also want to talk to you about an amazing
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Hillsdale dot edu slash verdict. All right, sat, So let's
start with where we are in the shutdown. It is amazing,
actually thought there could be some movement this week. The
radical left and the Democratic Party clearly is saying no
to that. They want to hurt people right now. It
(04:08):
is hurting Americans, and they don't seem to care about that.
In fact, they seem to be proud of the fact
that people are hurting.
Speaker 4 (04:15):
Well they are.
Speaker 3 (04:15):
You have Democrats going on TV bragging that the shutdown
gives them leverage, although it's not clear what they want
leverage for other than their demand that illegal aliens get
free taxpayer funded health care, and that demand is going
nowhere and is wildly unpopular with the American people. This
shutdown is really just about politics, though, It's about the
(04:35):
fact that Chuck Schumer in March, when the Democrats worked
with Republicans to keep the government open, his left wing
base got furious and he almost lost his job. They
almost fired him. And so this is his saying screw
you to President Trump. This is hit Chuck Schumer and
the Democrats trying to prove to their radical base, to
everyone who's marching in those No Kings rallies, that they
(04:58):
hate Donald Trump as my much as the radicals do.
And and sadly that means the government stays shut and
there are a lot of real consequences. As I said
on Thursday, the Democrats, almost straight party line, voted not
to pay the federal workers who are forced to go
in and work. And by the way, the Association of
Federal Workers both active and retired, supported this this provision.
(05:20):
Democrats are normally always, you know, always eager to be
supporting federal workers. Well they just voted none of them
get paid. Next week, next week we're going to vote
on legislation from Dan Sullivan that I'm a co sponsor
of that will pay our troops, pay our soldiers and
sailors and airmen and Marines and pay our coast guardsmen.
(05:42):
And my suspicion is the Democrats are going to vote
now that they don't want to pay our active duty military. Now.
Right now, the military is being paid because President Trump
has reallocated funds from another portion of the budget. But
this is going to be a straight up vote, do
you want to pay the military or not. My suspicion
is that the Democrat Party is radical enough they'll vote no.
(06:02):
We're also going to vote next week on legislation I
filed to pay those concerned with air travel. So right now, Ben,
there are roughly fifty thousand TSA workers who are going
into work and they're not getting paid. They don't get
a paycheck. There are roughly fourteen thousand air traffic controllers
(06:23):
who are going into work and they're not getting paid.
They don't get a paycheck. Now, the result of that,
we're seeing more and more flight delays, We're seeing more
and more cancelations. Just a couple of days ago, Houston's
Hobby Airport had a ground stop. They had a groundstop
why because of a shortage of air traffic controllers. And
this problem will only get worse. I'll tell you a
senior Democrat aide told Politico that the shutdown will continue
(06:47):
quote until planes start falling from the sky. Wow, that's
not remotely funny. It is reckless, it is dangerous, and
it is imposing real costs on the American people. And so, now,
by the way, is.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
There any accountability for that individual so far that we
know of.
Speaker 3 (07:05):
It was an anonymous quote. So I suspect we'll never
know who said that.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
But amazing.
Speaker 3 (07:10):
The bottom line is, And by the way, if this
shutdown continues through Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving is the busiest travel time
of the year. And if the Democrats have been forcing
air traffic controllers to work for a month with no pay,
you can predict real shortages and delays and cancelations that
will impact Americans across this country. Now, I'll tell you
(07:33):
something that'll make you mad. Ben. You know who is
being paid? Who's that Democrat politicians? Oh?
Speaker 2 (07:39):
Yeah, because they didn't do what you did. By the way,
another conservatives are like, don't pay me during the shutdown.
We don't need to get paid.
Speaker 3 (07:45):
So under the Constitution, the twenty eighth Amendment to the
Constitution provides that members of Congress cannot have their salary
altered during their term in office. And so that means constitutionally,
even when the governments shut down, members of Congress keep
their page coming. Now, as you just noted, you don't
have to do that. And when this shutdown started, I
sent a letter to the Secretary of the Senate and
(08:08):
I said, please hold my paycheck, do not pay me.
I do not want to accept a penny of salary
unlessen until the government opens up. Un lesson, until our
soldiers and sailors and airmen and marines are being paid.
A lesson until our air traffic controllers are being paid,
and all the federal workers, our border patrol agents are
being paid, our FBI agents are being paid. Virtually every
(08:30):
Democrat in the House and Senate has said, no, keep
my paycheck going. I'm going to take away yours. But
you know me, the Democrat politician, I need every penny
of my salary.
Speaker 1 (08:39):
Center.
Speaker 2 (08:40):
Let's talk about another big issue, and that is the
rise of anti Semitism.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
But it's not just on the left.
Speaker 2 (08:47):
We are witnessing it happen within the conservative movement as well,
and that is very concerning to me and you as well.
Speaker 3 (08:53):
It is deeply concerning. So last weekend. Last Sunday night,
I was the keynote speaker at Christians United for Israel
at their annual night to honor Israel. And I was
in San Antonio at Cornerstone Church with Pastor John Hagy,
and I talked about I talked about number one, the
grief and tragedy of October seventh. Number two the incredible
(09:15):
military victory that Israel won and that President Trump won
against Iran. But then I also talked about about the
danger of rising anti Semitism. One of the points I
made is that we support Israel because it is in
America's national security interest to do so. Here give a
listen here, the United States provides roughly three billion dollars
(09:36):
in military assistance to Israel. The benefit we get from
that the massade, the intelligence resources. You look at Iran,
where they knew where every anti aircraft weapon was, every
military leader, every IRGC leader. That benefit. If America tried
to replicate that intelligence network, it would cost us tens
(09:57):
of billions of dollars. And I will tell you every
lunatic terrorist in Hamas or Hesbla or Iran that Israel
took out made America safer. In the United States of
America should say to that little nation, thank you, thank you,
thank you. That's why, as a matter of public policy,
(10:35):
we should support Israel.
Speaker 1 (10:36):
Senator You're absolutely right there.
Speaker 2 (10:38):
It is a bargain for what we get in response
to what Israel and their intelligence community does for us
to keep us safe and others around the world.
Speaker 3 (10:47):
Well, when the terrorists chant death to Israel and death
to America, they mean it. When the Ayahtola refers to
Israel as the little Satan and America is the great Satan,
he means it. And when Israel is taking out those terrorists,
Israel is saving American lives. But I also took them
the opportunity of this keynote speech to directly address a
(11:07):
threat that I think a danger that is deeply concerning.
That is the rise of anti Semitism on the right.
Here give a listen. But there is a danger that
is very real, and we've talked about anti semitism.
Speaker 4 (11:22):
Listen.
Speaker 3 (11:22):
About a decade ago, anti Semitism began rising on the
left and the Democratic Party did nothing, and in the
decade that followed it has consumed the Democrat Party. I
do not believe this is exaggeration to say there is
a real and meaningful pro Hamas contingent of the Democrat
(11:43):
Party in Washington, and the remainder of the Democrats are
terrified of the pro Hamas contingent.
Speaker 1 (11:51):
We know that.
Speaker 3 (11:53):
But the danger that I want to highlight to you
tonight is not anti Semitism on the left. It is
anti Semitism on the right. And I'm here to tell you,
in the last six months, I have seen anti Semitism
rising on the right in a way I have never
seen it in my entire life. Listen, Kufi is extraordinary.
(12:14):
The work that Kufi does is desperately, desperately needed. But
I'm here to tell you the church is asleep right now.
If I pick up my phone and send out a tweet,
if I say good morning, within minutes, I will have
(12:37):
hundreds of blatantly anti Semitic responses. When Prime Minister det
and Yahoo was here a few months ago, I sat
down with him for a couple of hours. I raised
this issue with him and his first reaction was he said, well,
that's cutter, that's Iran. They're paying for it. It's AstroTurf.
And I said, mister Prime Minister, yes, but no, yes,
(13:02):
Cutter and Iran are clearly paying for it, and there
are bots, and they are putting real money behind it.
But I am telling you this is real, It is organic.
These are real human beings and idiots spreading. In the
last year, we had three prominent voices on the right
publicly muse, gosh, maybe Hitler wasn't that bad a guy
(13:25):
after all, Yes he was. He was the embodiment of evil.
And I asked Prime Minister Netanya, who, I said, imagine
how different American political history would have been if rush
(13:47):
Limbaugh had been an anti Semite instead of a philo Semite.
We would have a fundamentally different country if rush Limbaugh
had spent years spreading poor I want to tell, especially folks.
Speaker 4 (14:07):
That are no.
Speaker 3 (14:08):
Longer teenagers, are in your twenties, this poison of anti
Semitism on the right, It is spreading with young people.
It is gaining traction. Part of it is philosophical. There's
an isolationism. So they will argue, what business do we
(14:29):
have supporting Israel? Why should America support Israel? It's their problem.
Let them deal with it. Then let me give you
an answer, as someone elected to represent thirty one million Texans,
and fight every day for your jobs, your freedom, and
your safety and security. The United States supports Israel not
(14:53):
because we are helping out a down on his luck neighbor.
We're not engaged in a charity act. The United States
supports Israel be because it is unequivocally in the national
security interests of the United States to support Israel.
Speaker 2 (15:09):
I couldn't agree with you more of their centator. By
the way, and I think most people listening right now,
it's true. You've got to remind younger people why it
is important to stand with Israel because of so much
anti Semitism we're witnessing now, even on the right.
Speaker 3 (15:24):
Well, and that's where it's spreading, and that's where it's dangerous.
And I don't want us to make the mistake that
the left made a decade ago of sitting there silently.
And I'll tell you in particular, my call was to
church leaders wake up. You know, you look at the polling,
at the number of young Christians who are turning away
from Israel, and it is really sad that they're being misled,
but they're being misled, and they're very few pastors who
(15:47):
are standing up and speaking the truth, speaking teaching biblical
truth that there are very few who are engaging and
confronting these lies. And I think if we do nothing,
will wake up in a few years and the Republican
Party will be lost like the Democrat Party is lost.
That will have two anti Israel parties. And I, for one,
(16:10):
I don't intend to sit quietly and let that happen.
We're going to speak the truth. We're going to speak
the truth on this podcast, and I'm going to speak
the truth in every fourum I can.
Speaker 2 (16:19):
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Make the switch and make a difference every time you
pay your bill. All right, Sata, I want to talk
about something else that happened and this is really important
on Capitol Hill this week it was the confirmation for
the ambassador to Kuwait. Needless to say, there were some
fireworks involved in this ambassadorship conversation and debate and confirmation hearing.
Speaker 1 (18:31):
You were involved in that break it down for us.
Speaker 4 (18:34):
Well.
Speaker 3 (18:34):
Sure, the Trump administration has named as the Ambassador to
Quate an individual named Amer Ghalib, who was the mayor
of Hamtrak, Michigan. Amerghalib is a Democrat, a Democrat mayor,
and in twenty twenty four he endorsed President Trump in
the election campaign, and then that resulted in his being
(18:55):
nominated to be Ambassador to Quait. The problem, however, is
that mister Ghalib's record is really extreme and it is
very far out of touch with President Trump's record, with
his positions, with his beliefs, and with the positions of
the United States. And so we had a hearing this
week in front of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee where
(19:16):
I questioned mister Ghalib on his record. One of the
things in his record, he's publicly praised the Muslim Brotherhood.
He said he finds the Muslim Brotherhood to be an inspiration. Now,
I believe the Muslim Brotherhood is a terrorist organization. I
filed legislation to designate the Muslim Brotherhood is a terrorist organization,
and I think the Trump administration is likely to do so,
(19:37):
and so mister Ghlib's record is squarely out of step
with President Trump's views. Here give a listen to my
questioning mister Ghalib on the Muslim Brotherhood. August of twenty twenty,
you posted that the Muslim Brotherhood was an inspiration. Do
you continue to believe the Muslim Brotherhood is an inspiration?
Speaker 4 (19:57):
Thank you, senator.
Speaker 5 (19:58):
I think a lot of I post written in an
Arabican and mistransplated. I believe that you know there there is.
It's an ideology. It's not just a group of people.
I disagree with a lot of things that they do.
Some of them are extreamith some of them are part
of some governments in them Addle East. So I trust
our government to do the research.
Speaker 3 (20:20):
And Okay, again, my question was simple and straightforward. Do
you continue to believe the Muslim Brotherhood is an inspiration?
Speaker 4 (20:27):
No, I'm not part of that. I don't believe in that.
Speaker 3 (20:29):
But if anybody you did post it in twenty twenty,
let me ask you how would you be able to
serve as an ambassador if President Trump designates the Muslim
Brotherhood as a terrorist organization, I have legislation to do that.
I believe it is likely the Trump administration will designate
the Muslim Brotherhood is a terrorist organization hamas is the
Muslim Brotherhood in Palestine.
Speaker 5 (20:52):
I would trust the President, and then if it's designated,
be committed to implement President Trump's post. I'm not you know,
I trust the President's policy and it confirmed that would
be implementing the policies of the administration. I mean, I'm
I wouldn't go against the President and his policies.
Speaker 3 (21:11):
To mister Gerlie, but I will say from your long
standing public positions, it appears you have a deep felt
and passionate view about the Middle East, but it is
a view that is in direct conflict with the policy
positions of President Trump in this administration.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
I mean, you listen to his background as you just
described it. How did this get to the point where
we're actually having a confirmation hearing for him?
Speaker 3 (21:39):
I don't know. I think this was largely a political decision.
He was a Democrat mayor in Michigan who endorsed President Trump.
And it's not unusual that that that that's something like
an ambassadorship rewards someone who did something politically beneficial and
helped President Trump win the state of Michigan. But but
I don't know that that that the team did. Did
it particularly dive into his record as the mayor of Hamtrak,
(22:06):
that city passed a resolution calling for BDS, calling to boycott, divest,
and sanctioned israelis the first city in America to pass
a BDS resolution that is directly contrary to President Trump's policy.
It's directly contrary, uh to to US foreign policy. Not
not only that, but but mister glib Uh describes Saddam
(22:30):
Hussein as a martyr. And at the same time, he
also liked a Facebook comment that said all Jews are monkeys.
Now that is obviously anti Semitic, and he tried to
(22:51):
run away from it. But here, listen, I questioned him
on this record and how out of step it is
with President Trump. Give a listen. Do not understand is
how you could possibly serve as a United States ambassador
for President Trump in the Middle East when you have
passionate views, including having been a vocal opponent of the
(23:16):
Abraham Accords, the singular and most consequential accomplishment President Trump
has negotiated, and and your long standing views are to
publicly oppose the Abraham Accord.
Speaker 4 (23:28):
Thank you, senator.
Speaker 5 (23:29):
Let me be clear, I support that Brahma Cord, and
I think there's a golden opportunity to get everybody involved
in that. And let me be clear, in February of
twenty twenty two, as the mayor, the first thing I
did is to pass a resolution to condemn anti Semitism.
It's documented. That's what I perform in my official capacity.
The other things people are making assumptions based you know,
(23:50):
trying to judge my intention.
Speaker 3 (23:52):
But you're I'm curious what a statement like all Jews
or Monkeys would that qualifies anti Semitism.
Speaker 5 (23:57):
Well, that's somebody that wrote it who is mentally challenged.
Speaker 3 (24:01):
My question is, does the statement all Jews or Monkeys?
Does that anti Semitism? I don't agree with this that
you're not answering my question.
Speaker 5 (24:10):
It's definitely intestimoni, But clicking on it doesn't mean I
endorse it.
Speaker 3 (24:13):
It's actually like it means exactly that when you like something,
it means you no center.
Speaker 5 (24:18):
Every post since twenty ten every comment, because I used
to have like ten twenty comments. I used to acknowledge
it to read it, but sometimes I would respond under
it to oppose it. And there was a response here
that wasn't translated by the media that says you cannot
say this in your country. It wasn't translated, and I
was when I.
Speaker 3 (24:37):
Not disagreeing with the statement that all Jews are monkeys.
Speaker 5 (24:40):
But let me be clear, now, I disagree with that
and I but you didn't at the time.
Speaker 4 (24:45):
You are making assumption, cirt, I'm asking.
Speaker 3 (24:47):
I'm not making an assumption.
Speaker 5 (24:48):
That's why I did disagree at the time, and I
still disagree.
Speaker 3 (24:51):
Did you disagree publicly? Did you say a word of
disagreement or was your only public statement a like, which
is the universal method of saying you like something and
agree with it.
Speaker 5 (25:01):
Everybody who asked me, I told them it doesn't mean
I endorse it.
Speaker 4 (25:04):
It's just technology reading it.
Speaker 5 (25:06):
But I am opposing that, and I make it clear
now I pass a resolution to condemn anti Semitism in
all forms of shape.
Speaker 3 (25:14):
So you mentioned earlier that the posts were in Arabic
and they haven't been translated, right, I have in my
hands right now one of those Arabic posts on August thirteenth,
twenty twenty, and I have the English translation. Among other
things you talk about, you talk about individuals who died
(25:37):
in Egyptian prisons, and you said quote they die to
be etched on the pages of history, stained in positions
that inspire generations and make millions of Brotherhood fans exposed
to a global demonic campaign and unprecedented demonic media infliction.
I have only seen such situations in the March Sadam
(26:00):
Hussein and his companions. May God have mercy on them.
Speaker 5 (26:04):
Thank you Zana for that question. I was talking about
standing firm for the cause of a person, doesn't mean
I agree with him. I am a strong advocate of
democracy in them at least. Yes, I was against the
military coup and I believe in democracy. That's the best
value that we have and we want everybody to enjoy
that value in the Middle East. So I was advocating
(26:27):
for democracy in the add least. Doesn't mean that I
support certain group, but I support democracy and.
Speaker 3 (26:34):
Well, as I said, I think your long standing views
are directly contrary to the views and positions of President
Trump and to the position of the United States, I
for one am not going to be able to support
your confirmation. And I want to enter into the record
this post in both the Arabic and English translation. I
(26:55):
asked that it be entered into the record.
Speaker 1 (26:57):
It'll be entered into the record without objection.
Speaker 3 (27:00):
And look, I think the facts here are quite clear,
and your long standing position is directly contrary to that
of the presidents.
Speaker 2 (27:10):
So where do we go from here? I mean, this
seems to be pretty damning. Are any of your colleagues
rallying behind this? And what was the reaction in the
room and also afterwards?
Speaker 3 (27:21):
So I don't know what the result will be. I
think we'll see this nomination withdrawn. I think the White
House will make the decision to withdraw this nomination. If
they don't, I will vote now. I'll vote no one committee,
and I'll vote no on the floor. And I don't
think this individual will be confirmed. But let's take one
component where this fellow refers to Sodom Hussein as a martyr. Now, now,
(27:48):
mind you, he's being nominated to be the ambassador to Kuwait.
Kuwait is the country that Sodom is saying invaded that
started the first Iraq War, that George Trobert Walker Bush
went in to liberate Kuwait. So the American ambassador to
Kuwait is someone who describes Saddam Hussein, who was toppled
(28:09):
by America, as a martyr, it's not possible for him
to do his job and faithfully represent President Trump. And
by the way, as I said, he vocally opposed the
Abraham Accords, President Trump negotiated the Abraham Accords, bringing Arabs
and Israelis together. And this individual, I think he believes
(28:31):
every word he's saying. He spent his entire life passionately advocating,
praising the Muslim brotherhood, praising Saddam Hussein. Those are not
the views or position of President Trump or the United
States of America. And that's why I believe that this
individual is not going to be a US ambassador to Kwait.
Speaker 2 (28:50):
Center it's time for us to talk about China, and
a lot of people are talking about the economic issues
with China, sanctions and tariffs. The subject we're about to
talk about is what I hope people share everywhere on
social media. This is why we do this show, and
it's so important, and this is what's happening in China,
cracking down on Christianity right now and is not being
(29:12):
talked about enough well.
Speaker 3 (29:15):
Communist China has a terrible record when it comes to
religious liberty and religious persecution, and in particular the persecution
of Christians, and China has for decades persecuted Christians in China,
but recently they've been cracking down and it's been getting
worth So here's how I put it to Fox News
this week. The Chinese Communist Party is conducting yet another
(29:38):
sweeping crackdown on Christians, and they're again targeting Pastor Gin
and the Zion Church. The CCP fears anything it cannot
directly control, perhaps most of all faith. The United States
has powerful tools to provide protection and relief to people
(29:59):
facing persecution and violence, and we should use those tools
unless and until China releases the members of the Zion Church.
And what has happened is is China arrested several Christian leaders,
including the pastor of one of the country's biggest underground
evangelical church churches, and that's Pastor Jin Mingri, whose children
(30:24):
are US citizens. Grace Jin, who is Mingri's daughters, was
very kind but went out of her way to thank
me for fighting to release her father from prison. And
here's what Grace Jen said. She said, quote his efforts
demonstrate that the world is watching on as the Chinese
(30:45):
government unjustly imprisons pastors and church leaders for the peaceful
exercise of their faith. Thank you to the leaders here
and abroad for all the support and solidarity.
Speaker 2 (30:58):
And centat This is the I think part that's so
frustrating for me and so many listening is this has
been happening for so long, and because so many countries
do business with China, they have deliberately looked the other
way because they're basically saying, Hey, we'd rather just get
along and do trade and get cheap Chinese goods and
actually hold them account for what they're doing to Christians.
Speaker 3 (31:20):
Well, that's happening far too often. And we've discussed before
on this podcast the persecution the mass murder of Christians
in Nigeria. Nigeria the most Christians are murdered for their
faith of any country on earth, and I've been leading
the effort to hold Nigeria do account well in China. Likewise,
for my entire time in the Senate, I've been vocal
speaking out for Christians being persecuted in China and this crackdown. Actually,
(31:44):
next week President Trump is going to Asia and is
gonna meet with with President She of China. And so
just this past week I introduced a bipartisan resolution condemning
China's persecution of Christians in particular and Pastor Gin and
and and I was joined by Chris Coons. Chris is
(32:06):
a Democrat, uh and and and Chris is someone who
cares deeply about religious liberty. And so we joined together
with a bipartisan resolution calling on China to release Pastor Gin,
to stop targeting the Zion Church, to release the pastors
and the Christians who've been imprisoned, and and and to
cease engaging in persecution of religious liberty writ broadly and
(32:31):
and of Christians in particular.
Speaker 2 (32:34):
It really is one of those it's that is frustrating.
And now this comes back to the issue of leverage.
Is this going to be enough leverage to possibly see
a change here, because one thing that we've learned is
China only responds when their pocketbook gets hurt. And if
they don't think we have the political will to stand
up for Christians, uh, then they're going to continue to
persecute them no matter what that's just their mo.
Speaker 4 (32:58):
They are.
Speaker 3 (32:59):
But but they respond to pressure. They respond to pressure
in two forms. Number one to being publicly called out,
to having light shine on their oppression. And number two,
they respond to economic leverage. And President Trump is very
effective at employing economic leverage. I think we should do both.
Our bipartisan resolution is aimed at quote, expressing condemnation of
(33:20):
the Chinese Communist parties persecution of Christians and reaffirming the
United States's global commitment to promote religious freedom and tolerance.
And it also includes a demand that the Chinese Communist
Party respect the human right to freedom of religion and
end all forms of violence and discrimination against religious minorities.
(33:42):
And the resolution notes the CCP's actions mark the largest
coordinated nationwide crackdown against a Christian urban house church in
more than forty years. It also notes that the US
Commission on International Religeious Freedom designated China as a country
(34:03):
of quote particular concern for religious freedom every single year
since nineteen ninety eight, and Pastor Jin of the Zion
Church was detained by Chinese authorities, and indeed that came
as nearly thirty Zion Church pastors and workers were likewise
(34:24):
detained or went missing across Beijing, sen Jing, Shanghai, Chendo, Behai, Jingshing,
and huang Do. And I apologize for my Chinese pronunciation.
Speaker 1 (34:37):
I forgive you.
Speaker 3 (34:39):
But here's what Grace Jen said about this, and she's
Pastor Jen's daughter. One after another they were also taken
detained like they were saying that they were people outside
the doors. Then one at a time they were taken
into custody. This is wrong. And President Trump has an
(35:02):
opportunity when he is in Asia, when he is with
President She, to call on President She to release these pastors,
release Pastor Jin, release the Christians who are being persecuted,
and stop persecuting people of faith. And I think the
United States has a responsibility to be a voice for
religious liberty across the country, to defend Christians when they're persecuted,
(35:26):
to defend Jews when they're persecuted, to defend people of
faith all across the world. You know, you look at
radical Islamic terrorists, many of them target and persecute other
Muslims who are not violent. And I think religious persecution
is wrong regardless of who the victims are, and we
should be a voice for religious liberty. Now, that doesn't
(35:49):
mean that America should go and invade China to try
to break the pastor out of jail. But there are
lots of tools that the president can use, including the
bully hopeit of the presidency, including shining a light, and
including also economic leverage to try to stop this persecution.
(36:10):
And I very much hope President Trump will do so
in the coming week.
Speaker 2 (36:14):
Yeah, you and I both hope that final question on this.
As you watch President trumpet pressure not just on China
but other countries, it does seem to be that his
foreign policy now is if there is a wrong that
needs to be discussed, it's going to be on the table,
front and center. That is pretty different from what we've
seen in past administrations where they're like, well, maybe it's
(36:35):
not the time to bring that up. Right now, he
seems to be willing to bring it all up.
Speaker 3 (36:39):
You're absolutely right, and strong American leadership can stand up
to tyrannies. The Soviet Union was terrified of Ronald Reagan.
That's how we won the Cold War without firing a shot,
and communist China and our enemies across the globe are
terrified of Donald Trump. And that's why we're seeing such
major national security improvements right now.
Speaker 2 (36:58):
It's incredible. Don't forget we do this show three days
a week as a podcast. So download Verdict with Ted
Cruz wherever you get your podcasts.
Speaker 1 (37:06):
You don't miss an episode.
Speaker 2 (37:07):
Please share the show with your family and friends, so
that these important stories that we're talking about here that's
a great example of China, are heard by the masses
and the Senate. And I will see you back here
on this radio station next weekend and all week long
on our podcast as well.
Host
Ben Ferguson
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