1) Expansion of “Narco‑Terrorism War”
- U.S. strategy has shifted from targeting drug cartels alone to targeting entire networks, including:
- Governments
- Political elites
- Financial systems (money laundering, shell companies)
- Cartels are portrayed as “transnational terror networks”, not just criminal groups.
- This reframes the issue from law enforcement → national security threat.
2) Government Corruption in Latin America
- Strong emphasis on state‑cartel relationships, especially:
- Venezuela: Allegations that Maduro’s regime operated as a “narco‑state.”
- Mexico: Claims of cartel ties to political officials and protection networks.
3) Financial Networks as the Weak Point
- Focus on individuals like Alex Saab:
- Accused of moving billions through global systems
- Could expose:
- Money laundering pipelines
- Sanctions evasion
- Political corruption
- Insight:
- Financial insiders turning witness could destabilize entire regimes.
4) Strategic Shift by the U.S.
- The U.S. approach is described as:
- Targeting entire ecosystems, not just criminals
- Applying pressure across:
- Legal (indictments)
- Economic (sanctions)
- Political (exposure)
5) Iran Conflict: Uncertain Outcome
- The Iran section highlights:
- Ongoing negotiations vs. potential military escalation
- A central red line:
- Iran cannot have nuclear weapons
- Key uncertainty:
- No clear timeline for resolution
- Could end:
- Diplomatically (deal)
- Militarily (strike/renewed conflict)
6) Risk of Wider War
- Iran could escalate via:
- Proxy groups (Hezbollah, militias, etc.)
- New “fronts” beyond Iran itself
- Global risk factors:
- Strait of Hormuz disruption
- Oil prices & supply chains
7) “Not a Forever War” Narrative
- Administration messaging:
- Avoid long-term occupation
- Focus on targeted pressure
- Balance being communicated:
- Diplomacy first
- Military ready if needed
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
We are watching right now President Donald Trump's war on
narco terrorism expanding across multiple fronts and multiple countries at
the exact same time, and in sending shock waves throughout
Latin America. While so many are focused on what's happening
in Iran, the President's doing an awful lot right here
at home and very close to home as well. Now
(00:22):
this is no longer about drug smugglers running cocaine or
fetanol across our borders. According to US prosecutors and intelligence officials,
this is now about governments, political elites, cartel protection networks,
money laundering operations, and corrupt officials who are allegedly helping
(00:42):
the criminal organizations operate like shadow governments or even shadows states.
Mexico freezes the accounts of governor wanted in US on
drug charges. The president there defending his innocence is a
perfect example of what the President is actually up against. Now,
(01:03):
you can also remember how all this escalated in Venezuela.
I mean, it was just a couple months ago that
Nicholas Maduro, the socialist strongman who ruled Venezuela for years,
was captured in a dramatic US operation, then brought to
New York to face narco terrorism charges US authorities accusing
(01:23):
Maduro and members of his inner circle of helping turn
Venezuela into what critics called the narco state, where cartel activity,
the corruption around it, and political power became deeply intertwined.
You really couldn't have one without the other. Maduro, of course,
and his wife and those around him are denying all
those allegations, and we'll see exactly just how bad it
(01:45):
is when he goes to court. But the crackdown on
people like Maduro is widening. Perfect example is this week
one of Maduro's closest allies, the man often described as
Maduro's moneyman, was suddenly imported to the United States of
America as well. We've talked about him before. His name
is alex sob, the Colombian Boran businessman quote unquote, businessman
(02:08):
who allegedly handled billions of dollars directly tied to Venezuela's
regime's financial operations and obviously the narco terrorist money. For years,
Venezuela's socialist government treated Sab like royalty. They called him
a diplomat, They portrayed him as a hero. Marduro's regime
fought aggressively to protect him from US prosecution, but now
(02:33):
the regime is effectively throwing him overboard to save themselves.
And here's what makes his story even more shocking. After
defending sab for years as a loyal Venezuelan official, members
of Venezuela's government, same ones that protected him are now
reportedly claiming as Venezuelan identification documents may have been fraudulent,
(02:57):
meaning Maduro's own top financial operator may have been using
fake credentials while operating at the highest levels of government power.
At least that's what they're trying to sell to the world. Now,
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Patriot switch today. Now, if you really think about how
incredible that is using fake credentials while operating at the
highest levels of government power. This was not some random businessman.
(04:48):
This is a man tied directly to the president, to Maduro,
to his inner circle, a man accused of helping move
billions and billions of dollars a man sanctioned by the
United States of America and a man who allegedly helped
the regime of ade sanctions and move money internationally. And
now the same Venezuelan officials are suddenly saying, actually, this
(05:09):
guy may not have even been legitimately Venezuelan, in essence
taking away his citizenship. And that tells you exactly how
these corrupt systems operate. Loyalty only lasts as long as
it's useful, or as long as all of you have power,
because once the pressure starts building, that's when the insiders
start turning on each other. Now, according to US prosecutors,
(05:33):
Sam allegedly helped orchestrate money laundering schemes connected to Venezuela's
food subsidy programs and oil transactions. They're using shell companies
and fraudulent financial structures, they said, to move money throughout
the international banking systems. And now many analysts say sob
could become one of the most important witnesses in the
(05:56):
broader US case against Maduro and his network of corrupt
But here's why Americans should really pay close attention to
this story. This is not just happening in Venezuela. At
the exact same time, the Trump administration is tightening the screws.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
On the Duro's network.
Speaker 1 (06:13):
We now have news out of Mexico, and Mexico is
now facing its own corruption scandal tied directly to the
president and the cartel. This week, Mexican authorities froze bank
accounts link to officials wanted in the United States of
America on drug related charges tied to cartel investigations. Among
(06:33):
the names drawing enormous attention is the Cineloa governor. According
to reports, US investigators believe officials tied to the Cineloa
cartel may have used political protection. This is not a
shock and their networks to facilitate cartel operations. Again, this
is standard operating procedure for the cartels. And what happened
(06:54):
next is well the political part that is actually explosive.
Instead of immediately did sensing ourself from the accused officials,
the Mexican president publicly defended Rocha Moya's innocence and question
the basis of the US allegations. Now, that may sound
familiar because it follows the exact same script we've seen
(07:16):
over and over again, and corrupt systems across Latin America.
First comes the denial, then accusations of the United States
is interfering politically, then the claims that prosecutors are exaggerating,
then rhetoric about you know, sovereignty. And only later, when
the evidence piles up, do insiders begin abandoning one another.
(07:39):
And that's exactly what we now appear to be seeing,
not only in Venezuela with alex SOB, but also what
seems to be happening in Mexico. And this is where
President Trump's narcoterrorism strategy becomes critically important for you to understand.
The administration is no longer treating cartels as isolated criminal gangs.
(08:02):
The argument now coming from many within the national security
world is that these organizations function more like transnational tear
networks with logistics and money laundering systems. They have armed
enforcement wings that are large and dangerous. They have corrupt
political protection at the highest levels, and international financial operations
(08:23):
that have tentacles all over the world, including the US.
And that changes everything, because once governments themselves become compromised
by cartel influence and direction, it stops just being a
law enforcement issue. It does actually become a national security issue.
That's why these cases matter so much. You have fetnyl
(08:46):
flooding into American communities, and that does not happen in
a vacuum. Human trafficking does not happen in a vacuum either,
and money laundering does not happen in a vacuum as well.
These operations they survive because up the officials allegedly protect
them at all costs. And now the United States under
Donald Trump's leadership, appears to be targeting not only cartel
(09:09):
operations and operatives, but also the political and financial structures
that prop them up. That is the major escalation, and
you can already see the panic beginning because people like
Alex Sab know where the money moved, They know which
officials signed deals, they know how sanctions were bypassed, and
(09:29):
they know which shell companies are being used or were
being used in the past, and they know which governments
literally look the other way, and they know which leaders
in those governments. Maybe we're even getting the kickbacks needed
to give them the protection. And if SAB cooperates with
US prosecutors, the implications could be enormous. Now you apply
(09:52):
that same exact logic to Mexico. If officials directly tied
to cartel investigations begin co op operating with American authorities,
investigators could potentially uncover deeper financial networks, political relationships that
involve the highest levels of their government, protection schemes and
(10:12):
corruption pipelines tied to organized crime in America. That possibly
alone is enough to shake governments and politically. It also
places leaders like the President of Mexico in a difficult
position every time she publicly now defends officials accused in
cartel linked investigations before those investigations are even resolved, are
(10:35):
basically barely started. Then people start to ask even more questions,
making it appear that political loyalty matters more than rooting
out corruption, which has been a long problem in Mexico.
It's pretty fair to say you don't get any power
in Mexico without the cartels blessing it, or funding it,
or financing your political campaign or career. That's what many
(10:56):
have said about the President in Mexico right now. To be,
accusations are not convictions. Everyone deserves due process. But Americans
also understand something else when multiple high level officials across
multiple countries are suddenly facing allegations tied to narcotics, trafficking, corruption,
(11:16):
money laundering, and organized crime at the same time. This
is not random coincidence. This is part of a much
bigger regional battle that the White House said they were
going to war with. So that battle is escalating, and
the Trump administration's making it clear that the error of
treating cartels as ordinary criminals and criminal enterprises, well that's over.
(11:40):
The message now is this to government officials and financiers
and political protectors who enable narco terrorism networks, Well you're
going to face pressure from the United States of America
like you've never seen. And if these investigations continue expanding,
well this story is only beginning. Trump in charge, I
(12:02):
want to turn to a ran right now. And there's
a lot of people asking a lot of questions. How
much longer is this war going to last? Where are
we with the ceasefire, what's going to happen with the
straight of Hormuz? And all of this could have a
massive impact on the midterm elections. It's obviously a very
big issue with the runoff elections that are happening right
now in this country. Well, President Donald Trump and Vice
(12:24):
President Jady Vance, they're making it clear that the administration
believes the next few days could determine whether this ends
diplomatically or escalates militarily. Now here's where things stand right now.
Vice President Jady Vance said that the United States has
made a lot of progress in negotiations with Iran, but
(12:44):
he also warned very clearly that America remains prepared to
restart military operations if Tehran refuses to permanently abandon any
path to a nuclear weapon. The Vice President asked this
from the podium at the White House.
Speaker 3 (13:01):
Very much just following off on what you just said.
You said that the White House is negotiating with Ron
in good faith. I think Americans tend to believe that.
But what is it about the Iranian side that you
personally have seen where you believe that they are negotiating
with us in good faith?
Speaker 4 (13:20):
Well, first of all, I'd say it's a very complicated country,
and it's a country that I wouldn't pretend that I understand,
even after as deep as I've been involved in this
process from the very beginning. It's a great and proud civilization,
amazing people. We obviously have a great Iranian American community
here in the United States of America, smart people, very
hard working and you see some of that in the
(13:41):
negotiating team on the other side. You also see some
very hardline positions in the negotiating team on the other side.
And so I think you see that conflict the fact
that maybe the Iranians aren't themselves quite clear in what
direction they want to go to. They also are just
a fractured country. So you have the leadership of the country.
There's supreme leader, and there are a lot of officials
(14:02):
below the supreme leader that has some influence the negotiation.
It's not sometimes totally clear what the negotiating position of
the team is. And I don't know if that's sometimes
bad communication, if that's bad faith. I wouldn't pretend to
venture a guest there, but I will say with confidence
it's sometimes hard to figure out exactly what it is
that the Iranians want to accomplish out of the negotiation.
(14:24):
So what we've done is try to be as clear
as possible. What are our redlines, what are the things
that we're willing to be accommodating on, and what are
the things that.
Speaker 2 (14:32):
We absolutely must have.
Speaker 4 (14:34):
And as the President has said, ad nauseum, and I
think I've said it a lot too, Iran cannot have
a nuclear weapon. We want to see not just the
commitment to not have a nuclear weapon, but the commitment
to work with us on a process to ensure that
not just now, not just when Donald Trump is president,
but years down the road, that the Iranians are not
rebuilding that nuclear capability.
Speaker 2 (14:53):
And that's what.
Speaker 4 (14:54):
We're trying to accomplish in the negotiation.
Speaker 2 (14:56):
So are you to follow up.
Speaker 3 (14:57):
As Americans at home, because this has been going on
for several weeks now. I think what people just want
to know is do you personally believe that the Iranians
will come to a deal? Because we keep seeing this
over and over again when they go back and forth.
Speaker 4 (15:10):
So do I personally believe that? The honest answer is,
how could I possibly know?
Speaker 2 (15:14):
Right?
Speaker 4 (15:14):
And you negotiate with people and sometimes you feel like
you're making progress and sometimes you feel like you're not
making progress. What I think. What I think is that
the Iranians want to make a deal. What I think
is that the Iranians recognize that a nuclear weapon is
the red line for the United States of America, that
they've internalized that, but we're not going to know until
we're actually putting pen to paper on signing a deal.
(15:36):
We've had a lot of drafts, a lot of you know,
a lot of pieces of paper going back and forth.
But I will not say with confidence that we're going
to reach a deal until we're actually signing a negotiated
settlement here. And I think that it's ultimately up to
the Iranians whether they're willing to meet us, Because I
think we're certainly doing a good job, and we're certainly
negotiating good in good faith. We're going to have to
(15:58):
see what ultimately happens with them. I can't say with
confidence because I don't know what's in the mind of
the other side.
Speaker 1 (16:04):
Now, look, it's pretty clear the administration is trying to
walk a very delicate line.
Speaker 2 (16:08):
Right now.
Speaker 1 (16:09):
You've got, on the one hand, President Trump that clearly
wants a diplomatic victory and he wants that to happen,
so you don't have a loss of life.
Speaker 2 (16:18):
Now.
Speaker 1 (16:18):
In recent days, he indicated he could potentially accept a
long term suspension of Iran's nuclear program instead of demanding
a permanent dismantling, as long as there are extremely strict
guarantees as well as verification measures that are in place
on the other hand, Trump is also warning that military
action can resume at any moment if the negotiations collapse.
(16:42):
In fact, according to reports, President Trump said he was
very close to ordering a major news strike on Iran
before deciding to give negotiations more time after pressure from
goolth allies were coming in as mediators.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
Now, Trump reportedly warned Iran.
Speaker 1 (16:58):
That a big hit quote unquote could still happen if
Turan keeps stalling and refuses to agree to the Administration's terms.
And this is where the pressure campaign becomes incredibly significant.
The United States still at this hour, has enormous military
assets their positioned throughout the region. US Central Command remains
(17:20):
on high alert. US naval forces are continuing their operations
tied the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most strategically
important waterways.
Speaker 2 (17:30):
And we all know this now in the entire world.
Speaker 1 (17:33):
Roughly a fifth of global oil supplies moved through that
narrow shipping lane, and it's affecting the price of the
pump for Americans. Now, the Administration's position has been essentially this,
Iran can have peace and sanctions relief, or Iran can
face renewed economic and military pressure. Jedi Vance tried to
(17:54):
reassure Americans that this would not become a quote forever war,
and I think most Americans believe him. He emphasized the
administration's goal is targeting the strategic pressure, not endless occupation
or nation building, and I believe the present and most
Americans do as well. Now, these comments, they obviously matter politically.
(18:15):
Why because there's a lot of debate happening inside the
Republican Party right now, and that debate is legitimate, and
it's over how aggressive America should be towards Iran. Now,
there were earlier reports that even suggested that there were
moments where Vance was more cautious internally about escalation while
President Trump and others were pushing for more attacks. Now publicly,
(18:38):
it's fair to say, after hearing what JD. Vance just said,
that he's fully aligned with the present strategy. Diplomacy is
always going to be first if possible, but military force
is also necessary and necessity that may need to be
used again, and Iran clearly understands the stakes. Iranian leaders
have continued insisting they will not completely surrender their Uranium
(19:02):
in Richmond capabilities, but they also are now saying that.
Speaker 2 (19:06):
Well, maybe they're willing to do a deal.
Speaker 1 (19:09):
Look, that is the sticking point. Will the hardliners understand
that America will attack if they don't negotiate the right way?
And look, while all this is happening, at the very
same time, Iranian officials are also warning that renewed attacks
could open quote unquote new fronts throughout the Middle East.
(19:29):
Now that phrase is extremely important because Iran still has
relationships with many proxy groups throughout the region that includes
Hesbela militias in Iraq and Syria, the Hoho Thi linked
operations connected to red sea shipping lanes as well. So
when Iran talks about new fronts, the concern among America's
(19:49):
military analysts is that escalation would not necessarily stay confined
to Iran itself, that they may activate their sleeper cells
that can be all over the world and yes, even
states of America. Now that's the political side. You also
have the global markets that are watching every word coming
out of Washington, and they're also watching every move and
(20:10):
word coming out of Tehran because the straight of our
moves remains central of the world's economy. Any major disruption,
and we've seen it already, impacts all prices impact, shipping impacts, inflation,
impact supply chains globally. And then finally, if you just
look at this from a political standpoint, President Trump is
(20:32):
clearly trying to project strength while also getting a deal done.
That's why you're hearing two messages at the same time.
First that talks are making progress, and second, the United
States is fully prepared, is fully prepared to hit Iran
again and maybe even harder than before if those talks fail.
Speaker 2 (20:53):
JD.
Speaker 1 (20:53):
Van summing it up this way, saying, quote America one's piece,
but the administration is locked and loaded if to diplomacy
breaks down. There's major breaking news out of Miami that
is going to dramatically escalate tensions between the United States
and Cuba, or at least the Cuban regime, and it's
all on purpose. Federal authorities are expected to announce what
(21:17):
sources say is a historic criminal indictment connected to former
Cuban leader Raul Castro, and the announcement is expected to
happen at a high profile event in South Florida. According
to multiple reports, the Department of Justice is preparing to
unseal criminal charges tied to the nineteen ninety six shootdown
(21:38):
of two Brothers to the rescue civilian aircraft, an incident
that killed four men and became one of the most
infamous confrontations between Cuba and the United States in modern history.
The announcement is expected to take place at Miami's famous
Freedom Tower, one of the most symbolic locations in America
(22:00):
for Cuban exiles and anti communist activists. And if you
just take a look at who's expected to be there,
you know this is a big deal. The acting Attorney General,
the FBI director, the US Attorney and Florida Center Ashley Moody,
as well as the Florida Attorney General. That lineup alone
(22:21):
tells you this is not some routine press conference. This
is being treated as a major National Security and Historical
Justice Department announcement. Now there's also another layer to this
story that makes it even more interesting. Sources are now
telling NBC Miami and Reuters that a grand jury has
(22:41):
already been hearing evidence in the case, and then an
indictment has reportedly been returned, although the exact charges have
not yet been publicly released. Now the case again, it
centers around February the twenty fourth of nineteen ninety six,
when Cuban meg fighters shot down two unarmed civilian operated
(23:03):
aircraft by the Miami based exile organization Brothers to the Rescue.
The planes were flying missions connecting to locating and helping
Cuban refugees that were attempting to flee the communist regime.
Four men were killed in the attack over the Florida Straits,
and for decades Cuban exile families have demanded accountability, arguing
(23:28):
the attack was an active murder carried out against civilians
in international airspace. Well nearly thirty years later, the Justice
Department appears ready to move directly against Raul Castro himself.
At the time of the shootdown, Castro was serving as
Cuba's defense Minister and head of the Armed Forces, the
(23:50):
very military organization that carried out the attack. Now this
moment also comes with incredibly tense moments happening between Washington
and Havana. The Trump administration has dramatically increased pressure on
Cuban in recent months through sanctions, through energy restrictions, and
increasingly aggressive rhetoric against communist leadership in the Western Hemisphere.
(24:15):
Reuters also reported that the administration has been openly discussing
stronger actions against hostile regimes connected to America's adversaries. That
would include Russia and China and Iran. And there's another
layer here that's also raising eyebrows. Just days ago, the
CIA director John Ratcliffe reportedly held meetings with Cuban officials
(24:38):
and even communicated messages directly tied to President Trump's demands
for major reforms in Cuba.
Speaker 2 (24:46):
So, of course, now many analysts are.
Speaker 1 (24:49):
Asking was diplomacy failing behind the scenes, and is this
indictment part of a much larger pressure campaign against the
Cuba regime, Because if these charges are formerly unsealed today,
it would mark one of the most extraordinary legal actions
ever taken by the United States against a former Communists
head of state. Of course, in the Western Hemisphere, the
(25:11):
timing of the event is also highly symbolic. The press
conference is reportedly tied directly to a ceremony honoring the
victims of the Brothers to the Rescue shoot down. That
means this is not just being framed as a legal proceeding,
it is being framed as long overdue justice for the
families of Americans killed in the attack. Now, as for
(25:33):
the timing, reports indicate that the dog announcement is expected
today at the Freedom Tower in Miami. Federal officials have
not yet publicly released the exact moment it will happen,
but we do know that NBC News report the event
is scheduled as a combined memorial ceremony and then a
criminal justice announcement. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has already reacted
(25:57):
to earlier reports about the potential indictment, calling the move
long overdue and politically. This is going to send shockwaves
through South Florida as well as Washington and Havana because
for decades, many Cuban exiles believe the Castro regime would
never face accountability in an American courtroom. Now the Department
(26:19):
of Justice appears ready to test exactly how far the
United States is willing to go. I also sat down
with Senator Ted Cruz, whose family came from Cuba. In fact,
many of his family members were actually oppressed by the
Castro regime, and here's what he had to say about
all of this. All right, Senator, I want to move
to the other big breaking news story, and this is
(26:41):
happening as you and I were getting ready to do
the show. There is word now that there could be
indictments coming from the DOJ against the Castro regime family members.
This is significant break it down and what does this
actually mean if it does happen in the next twenty
four hours.
Speaker 5 (26:58):
Yeah, we don't know a whole lot of details right
now because it is Tuesday night. The Department of Justice
sent out an advisory there's an event tomorrow at Miami's
Freedom Tower to honor the victims of the Brothers to
the Rescue murders, and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche is
expected to attend and a Castro indictment is expected to
(27:23):
be announced. So what we are anticipating is that the
Department of Justice will indict Raoul Castro. Raoul Castro is
Fidel Castro's brother. Fidel is dead, Raoul is still alive,
and it is anticipated that the Department of Justice will
indict Raoul Castro. Presumably, we don't have the details, so
this may not be exact. But the Brothers to the
(27:44):
Rescue the Cubans shot down a plane and it resulted
in a loss of life, and I'm assuming that is
the basis for the indictment. We don't know for sure,
we'll find out tomorrow, but that indicting Castro, assuming doj
does that tomorrow, is a big deal. And part of
the reason it's a big deal is remember the predicate
(28:07):
for going in and seizing Maduro's.
Speaker 1 (28:10):
Exactly what I was going to ask you, is is
this Maduro two point zero?
Speaker 5 (28:14):
I don't know. But Maduro had been indicted. Maduro had
been indicted by a grand jury for trafficking, for narco trafficking,
for sending thousands of tons of cocaine to the United States,
and that indictment served as the predicate for the Delta
Force going and arresting him and so indicting Raul Castro.
I don't know if we'll see a military conflict with Cuba.
(28:37):
I'm still I'm still a little skeptical that the president
will engage in a shooting war with Cuba. Right now,
the president is imposing massive economic costs on Cuba. So
if you look at Cuba for the history since the
Communist Revolution in nineteen fifty nine, Cuba spent forty years
as essentially a vassal state of the Soviet Union, and
(28:59):
the Soviet Unions hoarded Cuba with money and with oil,
and then when the Soviet Union collapsed, when America won
the Cold War, Cuba entered into a faustian bargain with Venezuela.
And Venezuela Cuba provided them soldiers, they provided them thugs.
You know, the soldiers that were guarding Maduro were all
(29:20):
Cuban soldiers. And they did this throughout Latin America, where
they would provide thugs and enforcers to abuse and suppress
the populace. And Venezuela reciprocated with money and with oil,
and then that's what kept Cuba's communist regime alive. When
President Trump arrested Maduro, the Venezuelan oil and money dried
(29:41):
up immediately for a brief period of time, Mexico stepped
in the gap and began providing oil to Cuba, and
the Trump administration quite rightly, and this is something I
publicly encouraged, leaned on Mexico and said, cut off the oil,
stopped sending oil to Cuba, and they did Mexico did.
As a result, Cuba is in a massive economic crisis.
(30:03):
Their public transportation is all but halted. They're almost entirely
out of jet fuel. We saw just a week ago
John Ratcliffe, the head of the CIA in Cuba, meeting
with the heads of multiple Cuban agencies. I don't know
what they were discussing, uh, but the economic crisis and
the pressure on Cuba is massive. And I'll say this, Ben, Look.
Speaker 2 (30:23):
We're out of oil. People need to understand, like their
lights are off.
Speaker 5 (30:26):
They're having blackouts. They're yeah, no, I mean, it's it's
an absolute Their economy is shut down. And I also
want to say, look, look, it is a testament to
what an extraordinary moment we are in. There is a
very real possibility that in the next year we will
see new governments in Venezuela, Cuba, and Iran. Now, I
(30:48):
want to be clear, I'm not naive, I'm not Pollyannish
about this. There are a thousand ways those could go wrong,
So those are not guaranteed outcomes. Yeah, but if we
wake up a year from now and we have governments
in Cuba, Iran, and Venezuela who are not enemies of America,
who want to be friends with America, that will be
the single greatest geopolitical shift since the fall of the
(31:09):
Berlin Wall, since America won the Cold War.
Speaker 2 (31:12):
Well, keep following this story.
Speaker 1 (31:14):
I can promise you that we've got a lot more
that's going to happen the days ahead, so make sure
you don't forget. Grab our podcast, The Ben Ferguson Podcasts
wherever you get your podcasts as well hit that subscriber
ont or download button so you don't miss any of
the breaking news
We are watching right now President Donald Trump's war on
narco terrorism expanding across multiple fronts and multiple countries at
the exact same time, and in sending shock waves throughout
Latin America. While so many are focused on what's happening
in Iran, the President's doing an awful lot right here
at home and very close to home as well. Now
(00:22):
this is no longer about drug smugglers running cocaine or
fetanol across our borders. According to US prosecutors and intelligence officials,
this is now about governments, political elites, cartel protection networks,
money laundering operations, and corrupt officials who are allegedly helping
(00:42):
the criminal organizations operate like shadow governments or even shadows states.
Mexico freezes the accounts of governor wanted in US on
drug charges. The president there defending his innocence is a
perfect example of what the President is actually up against. Now,
(01:03):
you can also remember how all this escalated in Venezuela.
I mean, it was just a couple months ago that
Nicholas Maduro, the socialist strongman who ruled Venezuela for years,
was captured in a dramatic US operation, then brought to
New York to face narco terrorism charges US authorities accusing
(01:23):
Maduro and members of his inner circle of helping turn
Venezuela into what critics called the narco state, where cartel activity,
the corruption around it, and political power became deeply intertwined.
You really couldn't have one without the other. Maduro, of course,
and his wife and those around him are denying all
those allegations, and we'll see exactly just how bad it
(01:45):
is when he goes to court. But the crackdown on
people like Maduro is widening. Perfect example is this week
one of Maduro's closest allies, the man often described as
Maduro's moneyman, was suddenly imported to the United States of
America as well. We've talked about him before. His name
is alex sob, the Colombian Boran businessman quote unquote, businessman
(02:08):
who allegedly handled billions of dollars directly tied to Venezuela's
regime's financial operations and obviously the narco terrorist money. For years,
Venezuela's socialist government treated Sab like royalty. They called him
a diplomat, They portrayed him as a hero. Marduro's regime
fought aggressively to protect him from US prosecution, but now
(02:33):
the regime is effectively throwing him overboard to save themselves.
And here's what makes his story even more shocking. After
defending sab for years as a loyal Venezuelan official, members
of Venezuela's government, same ones that protected him are now
reportedly claiming as Venezuelan identification documents may have been fraudulent,
(02:57):
meaning Maduro's own top financial operator may have been using
fake credentials while operating at the highest levels of government power.
At least that's what they're trying to sell to the world. Now,
I'll tell you what, it's pretty awesome. America is entering
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Patriot switch today. Now, if you really think about how
incredible that is using fake credentials while operating at the
highest levels of government power. This was not some random businessman.
(04:48):
This is a man tied directly to the president, to Maduro,
to his inner circle, a man accused of helping move
billions and billions of dollars a man sanctioned by the
United States of America and a man who allegedly helped
the regime of ade sanctions and move money internationally. And
now the same Venezuelan officials are suddenly saying, actually, this
(05:09):
guy may not have even been legitimately Venezuelan, in essence
taking away his citizenship. And that tells you exactly how
these corrupt systems operate. Loyalty only lasts as long as
it's useful, or as long as all of you have power,
because once the pressure starts building, that's when the insiders
start turning on each other. Now, according to US prosecutors,
(05:33):
Sam allegedly helped orchestrate money laundering schemes connected to Venezuela's
food subsidy programs and oil transactions. They're using shell companies
and fraudulent financial structures, they said, to move money throughout
the international banking systems. And now many analysts say sob
could become one of the most important witnesses in the
(05:56):
broader US case against Maduro and his network of corrupt
But here's why Americans should really pay close attention to
this story. This is not just happening in Venezuela. At
the exact same time, the Trump administration is tightening the screws.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
On the Duro's network.
Speaker 1 (06:13):
We now have news out of Mexico, and Mexico is
now facing its own corruption scandal tied directly to the
president and the cartel. This week, Mexican authorities froze bank
accounts link to officials wanted in the United States of
America on drug related charges tied to cartel investigations. Among
(06:33):
the names drawing enormous attention is the Cineloa governor. According
to reports, US investigators believe officials tied to the Cineloa
cartel may have used political protection. This is not a
shock and their networks to facilitate cartel operations. Again, this
is standard operating procedure for the cartels. And what happened
(06:54):
next is well the political part that is actually explosive.
Instead of immediately did sensing ourself from the accused officials,
the Mexican president publicly defended Rocha Moya's innocence and question
the basis of the US allegations. Now, that may sound
familiar because it follows the exact same script we've seen
(07:16):
over and over again, and corrupt systems across Latin America.
First comes the denial, then accusations of the United States
is interfering politically, then the claims that prosecutors are exaggerating,
then rhetoric about you know, sovereignty. And only later, when
the evidence piles up, do insiders begin abandoning one another.
(07:39):
And that's exactly what we now appear to be seeing,
not only in Venezuela with alex SOB, but also what
seems to be happening in Mexico. And this is where
President Trump's narcoterrorism strategy becomes critically important for you to understand.
The administration is no longer treating cartels as isolated criminal gangs.
(08:02):
The argument now coming from many within the national security
world is that these organizations function more like transnational tear
networks with logistics and money laundering systems. They have armed
enforcement wings that are large and dangerous. They have corrupt
political protection at the highest levels, and international financial operations
(08:23):
that have tentacles all over the world, including the US.
And that changes everything, because once governments themselves become compromised
by cartel influence and direction, it stops just being a
law enforcement issue. It does actually become a national security issue.
That's why these cases matter so much. You have fetnyl
(08:46):
flooding into American communities, and that does not happen in
a vacuum. Human trafficking does not happen in a vacuum either,
and money laundering does not happen in a vacuum as well.
These operations they survive because up the officials allegedly protect
them at all costs. And now the United States under
Donald Trump's leadership, appears to be targeting not only cartel
(09:09):
operations and operatives, but also the political and financial structures
that prop them up. That is the major escalation, and
you can already see the panic beginning because people like
Alex Sab know where the money moved, They know which
officials signed deals, they know how sanctions were bypassed, and
(09:29):
they know which shell companies are being used or were
being used in the past, and they know which governments
literally look the other way, and they know which leaders
in those governments. Maybe we're even getting the kickbacks needed
to give them the protection. And if SAB cooperates with
US prosecutors, the implications could be enormous. Now you apply
(09:52):
that same exact logic to Mexico. If officials directly tied
to cartel investigations begin co op operating with American authorities,
investigators could potentially uncover deeper financial networks, political relationships that
involve the highest levels of their government, protection schemes and
(10:12):
corruption pipelines tied to organized crime in America. That possibly
alone is enough to shake governments and politically. It also
places leaders like the President of Mexico in a difficult
position every time she publicly now defends officials accused in
cartel linked investigations before those investigations are even resolved, are
(10:35):
basically barely started. Then people start to ask even more questions,
making it appear that political loyalty matters more than rooting
out corruption, which has been a long problem in Mexico.
It's pretty fair to say you don't get any power
in Mexico without the cartels blessing it, or funding it,
or financing your political campaign or career. That's what many
(10:56):
have said about the President in Mexico right now. To be,
accusations are not convictions. Everyone deserves due process. But Americans
also understand something else when multiple high level officials across
multiple countries are suddenly facing allegations tied to narcotics, trafficking, corruption,
(11:16):
money laundering, and organized crime at the same time. This
is not random coincidence. This is part of a much
bigger regional battle that the White House said they were
going to war with. So that battle is escalating, and
the Trump administration's making it clear that the error of
treating cartels as ordinary criminals and criminal enterprises, well that's over.
(11:40):
The message now is this to government officials and financiers
and political protectors who enable narco terrorism networks, Well you're
going to face pressure from the United States of America
like you've never seen. And if these investigations continue expanding,
well this story is only beginning. Trump in charge, I
(12:02):
want to turn to a ran right now. And there's
a lot of people asking a lot of questions. How
much longer is this war going to last? Where are
we with the ceasefire, what's going to happen with the
straight of Hormuz? And all of this could have a
massive impact on the midterm elections. It's obviously a very
big issue with the runoff elections that are happening right
now in this country. Well, President Donald Trump and Vice
(12:24):
President Jady Vance, they're making it clear that the administration
believes the next few days could determine whether this ends
diplomatically or escalates militarily. Now here's where things stand right now.
Vice President Jady Vance said that the United States has
made a lot of progress in negotiations with Iran, but
(12:44):
he also warned very clearly that America remains prepared to
restart military operations if Tehran refuses to permanently abandon any
path to a nuclear weapon. The Vice President asked this
from the podium at the White House.
Speaker 3 (13:01):
Very much just following off on what you just said.
You said that the White House is negotiating with Ron
in good faith. I think Americans tend to believe that.
But what is it about the Iranian side that you
personally have seen where you believe that they are negotiating
with us in good faith?
Speaker 4 (13:20):
Well, first of all, I'd say it's a very complicated country,
and it's a country that I wouldn't pretend that I understand,
even after as deep as I've been involved in this
process from the very beginning. It's a great and proud civilization,
amazing people. We obviously have a great Iranian American community
here in the United States of America, smart people, very
hard working and you see some of that in the
(13:41):
negotiating team on the other side. You also see some
very hardline positions in the negotiating team on the other side.
And so I think you see that conflict the fact
that maybe the Iranians aren't themselves quite clear in what
direction they want to go to. They also are just
a fractured country. So you have the leadership of the country.
There's supreme leader, and there are a lot of officials
(14:02):
below the supreme leader that has some influence the negotiation.
It's not sometimes totally clear what the negotiating position of
the team is. And I don't know if that's sometimes
bad communication, if that's bad faith. I wouldn't pretend to
venture a guest there, but I will say with confidence
it's sometimes hard to figure out exactly what it is
that the Iranians want to accomplish out of the negotiation.
(14:24):
So what we've done is try to be as clear
as possible. What are our redlines, what are the things
that we're willing to be accommodating on, and what are
the things that.
Speaker 2 (14:32):
We absolutely must have.
Speaker 4 (14:34):
And as the President has said, ad nauseum, and I
think I've said it a lot too, Iran cannot have
a nuclear weapon. We want to see not just the
commitment to not have a nuclear weapon, but the commitment
to work with us on a process to ensure that
not just now, not just when Donald Trump is president,
but years down the road, that the Iranians are not
rebuilding that nuclear capability.
Speaker 2 (14:53):
And that's what.
Speaker 4 (14:54):
We're trying to accomplish in the negotiation.
Speaker 2 (14:56):
So are you to follow up.
Speaker 3 (14:57):
As Americans at home, because this has been going on
for several weeks now. I think what people just want
to know is do you personally believe that the Iranians
will come to a deal? Because we keep seeing this
over and over again when they go back and forth.
Speaker 4 (15:10):
So do I personally believe that? The honest answer is,
how could I possibly know?
Speaker 2 (15:14):
Right?
Speaker 4 (15:14):
And you negotiate with people and sometimes you feel like
you're making progress and sometimes you feel like you're not
making progress. What I think. What I think is that
the Iranians want to make a deal. What I think
is that the Iranians recognize that a nuclear weapon is
the red line for the United States of America, that
they've internalized that, but we're not going to know until
we're actually putting pen to paper on signing a deal.
(15:36):
We've had a lot of drafts, a lot of you know,
a lot of pieces of paper going back and forth.
But I will not say with confidence that we're going
to reach a deal until we're actually signing a negotiated
settlement here. And I think that it's ultimately up to
the Iranians whether they're willing to meet us, Because I
think we're certainly doing a good job, and we're certainly
negotiating good in good faith. We're going to have to
(15:58):
see what ultimately happens with them. I can't say with
confidence because I don't know what's in the mind of
the other side.
Speaker 1 (16:04):
Now, look, it's pretty clear the administration is trying to
walk a very delicate line.
Speaker 2 (16:08):
Right now.
Speaker 1 (16:09):
You've got, on the one hand, President Trump that clearly
wants a diplomatic victory and he wants that to happen,
so you don't have a loss of life.
Speaker 2 (16:18):
Now.
Speaker 1 (16:18):
In recent days, he indicated he could potentially accept a
long term suspension of Iran's nuclear program instead of demanding
a permanent dismantling, as long as there are extremely strict
guarantees as well as verification measures that are in place
on the other hand, Trump is also warning that military
action can resume at any moment if the negotiations collapse.
(16:42):
In fact, according to reports, President Trump said he was
very close to ordering a major news strike on Iran
before deciding to give negotiations more time after pressure from
goolth allies were coming in as mediators.
Speaker 2 (16:56):
Now, Trump reportedly warned Iran.
Speaker 1 (16:58):
That a big hit quote unquote could still happen if
Turan keeps stalling and refuses to agree to the Administration's terms.
And this is where the pressure campaign becomes incredibly significant.
The United States still at this hour, has enormous military
assets their positioned throughout the region. US Central Command remains
(17:20):
on high alert. US naval forces are continuing their operations
tied the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most strategically
important waterways.
Speaker 2 (17:30):
And we all know this now in the entire world.
Speaker 1 (17:33):
Roughly a fifth of global oil supplies moved through that
narrow shipping lane, and it's affecting the price of the
pump for Americans. Now, the Administration's position has been essentially this,
Iran can have peace and sanctions relief, or Iran can
face renewed economic and military pressure. Jedi Vance tried to
(17:54):
reassure Americans that this would not become a quote forever war,
and I think most Americans believe him. He emphasized the
administration's goal is targeting the strategic pressure, not endless occupation
or nation building, and I believe the present and most
Americans do as well. Now, these comments, they obviously matter politically.
(18:15):
Why because there's a lot of debate happening inside the
Republican Party right now, and that debate is legitimate, and
it's over how aggressive America should be towards Iran. Now,
there were earlier reports that even suggested that there were
moments where Vance was more cautious internally about escalation while
President Trump and others were pushing for more attacks. Now publicly,
(18:38):
it's fair to say, after hearing what JD. Vance just said,
that he's fully aligned with the present strategy. Diplomacy is
always going to be first if possible, but military force
is also necessary and necessity that may need to be
used again, and Iran clearly understands the stakes. Iranian leaders
have continued insisting they will not completely surrender their Uranium
(19:02):
in Richmond capabilities, but they also are now saying that.
Speaker 2 (19:06):
Well, maybe they're willing to do a deal.
Speaker 1 (19:09):
Look, that is the sticking point. Will the hardliners understand
that America will attack if they don't negotiate the right way?
And look, while all this is happening, at the very
same time, Iranian officials are also warning that renewed attacks
could open quote unquote new fronts throughout the Middle East.
(19:29):
Now that phrase is extremely important because Iran still has
relationships with many proxy groups throughout the region that includes
Hesbela militias in Iraq and Syria, the Hoho Thi linked
operations connected to red sea shipping lanes as well. So
when Iran talks about new fronts, the concern among America's
(19:49):
military analysts is that escalation would not necessarily stay confined
to Iran itself, that they may activate their sleeper cells
that can be all over the world and yes, even
states of America. Now that's the political side. You also
have the global markets that are watching every word coming
out of Washington, and they're also watching every move and
(20:10):
word coming out of Tehran because the straight of our
moves remains central of the world's economy. Any major disruption,
and we've seen it already, impacts all prices impact, shipping impacts, inflation,
impact supply chains globally. And then finally, if you just
look at this from a political standpoint, President Trump is
(20:32):
clearly trying to project strength while also getting a deal done.
That's why you're hearing two messages at the same time.
First that talks are making progress, and second, the United
States is fully prepared, is fully prepared to hit Iran
again and maybe even harder than before if those talks fail.
Speaker 2 (20:53):
JD.
Speaker 1 (20:53):
Van summing it up this way, saying, quote America one's piece,
but the administration is locked and loaded if to diplomacy
breaks down. There's major breaking news out of Miami that
is going to dramatically escalate tensions between the United States
and Cuba, or at least the Cuban regime, and it's
all on purpose. Federal authorities are expected to announce what
(21:17):
sources say is a historic criminal indictment connected to former
Cuban leader Raul Castro, and the announcement is expected to
happen at a high profile event in South Florida. According
to multiple reports, the Department of Justice is preparing to
unseal criminal charges tied to the nineteen ninety six shootdown
(21:38):
of two Brothers to the rescue civilian aircraft, an incident
that killed four men and became one of the most
infamous confrontations between Cuba and the United States in modern history.
The announcement is expected to take place at Miami's famous
Freedom Tower, one of the most symbolic locations in America
(22:00):
for Cuban exiles and anti communist activists. And if you
just take a look at who's expected to be there,
you know this is a big deal. The acting Attorney General,
the FBI director, the US Attorney and Florida Center Ashley Moody,
as well as the Florida Attorney General. That lineup alone
(22:21):
tells you this is not some routine press conference. This
is being treated as a major National Security and Historical
Justice Department announcement. Now there's also another layer to this
story that makes it even more interesting. Sources are now
telling NBC Miami and Reuters that a grand jury has
(22:41):
already been hearing evidence in the case, and then an
indictment has reportedly been returned, although the exact charges have
not yet been publicly released. Now the case again, it
centers around February the twenty fourth of nineteen ninety six,
when Cuban meg fighters shot down two unarmed civilian operated
(23:03):
aircraft by the Miami based exile organization Brothers to the Rescue.
The planes were flying missions connecting to locating and helping
Cuban refugees that were attempting to flee the communist regime.
Four men were killed in the attack over the Florida Straits,
and for decades Cuban exile families have demanded accountability, arguing
(23:28):
the attack was an active murder carried out against civilians
in international airspace. Well nearly thirty years later, the Justice
Department appears ready to move directly against Raul Castro himself.
At the time of the shootdown, Castro was serving as
Cuba's defense Minister and head of the Armed Forces, the
(23:50):
very military organization that carried out the attack. Now this
moment also comes with incredibly tense moments happening between Washington
and Havana. The Trump administration has dramatically increased pressure on
Cuban in recent months through sanctions, through energy restrictions, and
increasingly aggressive rhetoric against communist leadership in the Western Hemisphere.
(24:15):
Reuters also reported that the administration has been openly discussing
stronger actions against hostile regimes connected to America's adversaries. That
would include Russia and China and Iran. And there's another
layer here that's also raising eyebrows. Just days ago, the
CIA director John Ratcliffe reportedly held meetings with Cuban officials
(24:38):
and even communicated messages directly tied to President Trump's demands
for major reforms in Cuba.
Speaker 2 (24:46):
So, of course, now many analysts are.
Speaker 1 (24:49):
Asking was diplomacy failing behind the scenes, and is this
indictment part of a much larger pressure campaign against the
Cuba regime, Because if these charges are formerly unsealed today,
it would mark one of the most extraordinary legal actions
ever taken by the United States against a former Communists
head of state. Of course, in the Western Hemisphere, the
(25:11):
timing of the event is also highly symbolic. The press
conference is reportedly tied directly to a ceremony honoring the
victims of the Brothers to the Rescue shoot down. That
means this is not just being framed as a legal proceeding,
it is being framed as long overdue justice for the
families of Americans killed in the attack. Now, as for
(25:33):
the timing, reports indicate that the dog announcement is expected
today at the Freedom Tower in Miami. Federal officials have
not yet publicly released the exact moment it will happen,
but we do know that NBC News report the event
is scheduled as a combined memorial ceremony and then a
criminal justice announcement. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has already reacted
(25:57):
to earlier reports about the potential indictment, calling the move
long overdue and politically. This is going to send shockwaves
through South Florida as well as Washington and Havana because
for decades, many Cuban exiles believe the Castro regime would
never face accountability in an American courtroom. Now the Department
(26:19):
of Justice appears ready to test exactly how far the
United States is willing to go. I also sat down
with Senator Ted Cruz, whose family came from Cuba. In fact,
many of his family members were actually oppressed by the
Castro regime, and here's what he had to say about
all of this. All right, Senator, I want to move
to the other big breaking news story, and this is
(26:41):
happening as you and I were getting ready to do
the show. There is word now that there could be
indictments coming from the DOJ against the Castro regime family members.
This is significant break it down and what does this
actually mean if it does happen in the next twenty
four hours.
Speaker 5 (26:58):
Yeah, we don't know a whole lot of details right
now because it is Tuesday night. The Department of Justice
sent out an advisory there's an event tomorrow at Miami's
Freedom Tower to honor the victims of the Brothers to
the Rescue murders, and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche is
expected to attend and a Castro indictment is expected to
(27:23):
be announced. So what we are anticipating is that the
Department of Justice will indict Raoul Castro. Raoul Castro is
Fidel Castro's brother. Fidel is dead, Raoul is still alive,
and it is anticipated that the Department of Justice will
indict Raoul Castro. Presumably, we don't have the details, so
this may not be exact. But the Brothers to the
(27:44):
Rescue the Cubans shot down a plane and it resulted
in a loss of life, and I'm assuming that is
the basis for the indictment. We don't know for sure,
we'll find out tomorrow, but that indicting Castro, assuming doj
does that tomorrow, is a big deal. And part of
the reason it's a big deal is remember the predicate
(28:07):
for going in and seizing Maduro's.
Speaker 1 (28:10):
Exactly what I was going to ask you, is is
this Maduro two point zero?
Speaker 5 (28:14):
I don't know. But Maduro had been indicted. Maduro had
been indicted by a grand jury for trafficking, for narco trafficking,
for sending thousands of tons of cocaine to the United States,
and that indictment served as the predicate for the Delta
Force going and arresting him and so indicting Raul Castro.
I don't know if we'll see a military conflict with Cuba.
(28:37):
I'm still I'm still a little skeptical that the president
will engage in a shooting war with Cuba. Right now,
the president is imposing massive economic costs on Cuba. So
if you look at Cuba for the history since the
Communist Revolution in nineteen fifty nine, Cuba spent forty years
as essentially a vassal state of the Soviet Union, and
(28:59):
the Soviet Unions hoarded Cuba with money and with oil,
and then when the Soviet Union collapsed, when America won
the Cold War, Cuba entered into a faustian bargain with Venezuela.
And Venezuela Cuba provided them soldiers, they provided them thugs.
You know, the soldiers that were guarding Maduro were all
(29:20):
Cuban soldiers. And they did this throughout Latin America, where
they would provide thugs and enforcers to abuse and suppress
the populace. And Venezuela reciprocated with money and with oil,
and then that's what kept Cuba's communist regime alive. When
President Trump arrested Maduro, the Venezuelan oil and money dried
(29:41):
up immediately for a brief period of time, Mexico stepped
in the gap and began providing oil to Cuba, and
the Trump administration quite rightly, and this is something I
publicly encouraged, leaned on Mexico and said, cut off the oil,
stopped sending oil to Cuba, and they did Mexico did.
As a result, Cuba is in a massive economic crisis.
(30:03):
Their public transportation is all but halted. They're almost entirely
out of jet fuel. We saw just a week ago
John Ratcliffe, the head of the CIA in Cuba, meeting
with the heads of multiple Cuban agencies. I don't know
what they were discussing, uh, but the economic crisis and
the pressure on Cuba is massive. And I'll say this, Ben, Look.
Speaker 2 (30:23):
We're out of oil. People need to understand, like their
lights are off.
Speaker 5 (30:26):
They're having blackouts. They're yeah, no, I mean, it's it's
an absolute Their economy is shut down. And I also
want to say, look, look, it is a testament to
what an extraordinary moment we are in. There is a
very real possibility that in the next year we will
see new governments in Venezuela, Cuba, and Iran. Now, I
(30:48):
want to be clear, I'm not naive, I'm not Pollyannish
about this. There are a thousand ways those could go wrong,
So those are not guaranteed outcomes. Yeah, but if we
wake up a year from now and we have governments
in Cuba, Iran, and Venezuela who are not enemies of America,
who want to be friends with America, that will be
the single greatest geopolitical shift since the fall of the
(31:09):
Berlin Wall, since America won the Cold War.
Speaker 2 (31:12):
Well, keep following this story.
Speaker 1 (31:14):
I can promise you that we've got a lot more
that's going to happen the days ahead, so make sure
you don't forget. Grab our podcast, The Ben Ferguson Podcasts
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