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The Ben Ferguson Podcast

State of the Union Extravaganza

The Ben Ferguson Podcast

iHeartPodcasts

Politics, News, News Commentary

4.85.4K Ratings

🗓️ 25 February 2026

⏱️ 62 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Economic Policy & Affordability

  • "Roaring" Economy: Trump insisted the U.S. is experiencing an "economic boom," citing a rising stock market and job growth despite public polls showing continued voter anxiety over the cost of living.
  • Retirement Savings Proposal: Announced a major new plan to provide workers who lack employer-sponsored 401(k)s with access to a plan similar to the federal Thrift Savings Plan, including a government match of up to $1,000 annually.
  • Tariff Defiance: Following a Supreme Court ruling that struck down his primary tariff authority, Trump called the decision "totally wrong" and pledged to implement "even stronger" alternative import duties.
  • Tech Industry Power: Proposed a "Rate Payer Protection Pledge" requiring major tech companies and AI data centers to build their own power plants to avoid driving up local electricity costs. 

Immigration & National Security

  • Enforcement Triumphs: Highlighted a massive drop in illegal border crossings, claiming arrests had hit their lowest levels since the 1960s due to his administration's strict policies.
  • DHS Funding Clashes: Blamed Democrats for a partial Department of Homeland Security shutdown, demanding they restore funding to the agency.
  • Proposed "Delilah Law": Urged Congress to pass legislation that would ban commercial licenses for immigrants without legal status.
  • Iran Warning: Stated that while diplomacy continues, he would not hesitate to use military force to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. 

Governance & Election Integrity

  • Anti-Corruption Measures: Called for the passage of the "Stop Insider Trading Act" to ban members of Congress and their spouses from trading stocks.
  • SAVE America Act: Pushed for new federal requirements for proof of citizenship to vote, framing it as essential for election integrity ahead of the midterms.
  • "America 250": Invoked the upcoming 250th anniversary of U.S. independence this July 4th as a symbol of national "triumph and freedom". 

Democratic Response Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger delivered the official Democratic response, accusing the President of lying about the economy's health and blasting his immigration tactics as "unaccountable" and "violent".

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Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

This is an I-Heart podcast.

0:02.6

Guaranteed Human.

0:04.3

Welcome.

0:05.0

It is Verdiq with Senator Ted Cruz, Ben Ferguson with you.

0:08.2

And it is 1 a.m. in the morning Eastern time after the state of the union.

0:14.4

I want to be very clear that I am doing this show in protest right now because I was on a plane.

0:20.7

No, no, let me, let me rephrase that.

0:22.6

Senator, true or false, you and I hung out yesterday in your office?

0:26.6

We did, and you were in D.C.

0:28.6

And I can't help it that you fled Washington during the State of the Union.

0:33.6

And listen, karma's a bitch.

0:36.6

And so when you decided you were a little girl and you had to get out of town because the Democrats getting mad at the president were scary.

0:46.4

Yeah, yeah.

0:47.0

There was a consequence, which is for those who are watching on YouTube, a coup has occurred.

0:53.8

The original co-host of verdict has returned and seized the seat.

0:58.9

To be clear, he has relegated Mr. Ferguson to appearing as a little box on a monitor.

1:05.1

Yeah.

1:06.1

We banished Ben.

1:08.0

I saw it, not just the seat, but I saw this cigar and I said, this is very good.

1:12.7

And this has actually become something of a tradition, I've noticed. I've only ever been to two

1:18.7

state of junior. By the way, if only T.C. would tell us that there is a tradition, then I wouldn't

1:23.8

have gone on a plane at two o'clock this afternoon. You could have changed your flight. To then leave Washington, D.C. Like, think about this. Hey, Ben, we should have cigars, I have the State of the Union, and do the show here. Great idea. I'll change my flight. That is how normal people would have done this. Michael and I could have figured this out a year in advance. This happened late on the fly.

...

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