The Wit & Wisdom of Sen John Kennedy One-on-One

The Ben Ferguson Podcast

iHeartPodcasts

Politics, News, News Commentary

4.9 • 4.7K Ratings

🗓️ 3 November 2025

⏱️ 41 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

1. Kennedy’s Humor and Persona (GRAB SEN KENNEDY'S NEW BOOK HERE!)

Kennedy is a "Southern trial lawyer with a sharp wit", often underestimated due to his accent and folksy demeanor.
He’s known for devastating cross-examinations of judicial nominees, both Democrat and Republican.
His humor is often biting and irreverent, with jokes about colleagues like Chuck Schumer, Mitch McConnell, and even Ted Cruz.

2. Behind-the-Scenes Senate Culture

Kennedy compares the Senate to junior high school, full of cliques, egos, and petty drama.
He shares stories of interactions with nominees who failed basic constitutional knowledge.
The book aims to demystify the Senate and show how disconnected Washington can be from everyday Americans.

3. Critique of Washington

Kennedy argues that Washington lacks common sense, and that change is only possible by removing entrenched interests (“pigs out of the creek”).
He emphasizes the importance of storytelling in politics, using humor to make serious points.

4. Praise and Promotion

Cruz and Ferguson praise Kennedy’s storytelling and comedic timing.
The book is a very giftable item, especially for those with conservative leanings or frustrations with Washington.

Go to BackyardButchers.com and enter promo code “VERDICT”, that’s V-E-R-D-I-C-T, for up to 30% off, 2 free 10-ounce ribeyes, and free shipping when you subscribe.

http://www.backyardbutchers.com/Verdict

Please Hit Subscribe to this podcast Right Now. Also Please Subscribe to the 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson and The Ben Ferguson Show Podcast Wherever You get You're Podcasts. And don't forget to follow the show on Social Media so you never miss a moment! Thanks for Listening

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VerdictwithTedCruz/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/verdictwithtedcruz

X: https://x.com/tedcruz

X: https://x.com/benfergusonshow

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	This is an IHeart podcast.
0:05.4	Welcome at his verdict with Senator Ted Cruz, Ben Ferguson with you.
0:09.2	And this is going to be one of those shows that's just going to be an awful lot of fun.
0:14.4	A good friend of mine and a great friend in the Senate of Senator Cruz has got a new book out with maybe one of the best titles
0:21.8	for 2025. How to Test Negative for Stupid. Senator, you're in D.C. And this is just going to be
0:30.1	one of those shows, which I hope everyone enjoys as much as you and I do hanging out with our next
0:34.7	guest. Well, I'm very glad to welcome to verdict. John Kennedy. John is
0:39.2	one of my dearest friends in the Senate. He is someone I am really glad came to be in the Senate.
0:44.7	He is someone with a wicked sense of humor. He is the most dangerous cross-examiner in the entire
0:52.0	United States Senate. And in fact, entire generations of judicial nominees and nominees from administrations have studied
1:06.0	past John Kennedy cross-examinations.
1:09.0	They still have PTSD from the terror that he puts in them.
1:15.1	And this man, in addition to being brilliant as hell, is also as good a stand-up comedian as I've ever known.
1:25.6	He's written a book, the title of the book, is How to Test Negative for
1:32.1	Stupid and Why Washington Never Will. John, welcome to verdict. I've got to say, your book sucks
1:37.2	and it's not funny. Well, number one, the publisher, Ted, wouldn't let me use the title i wanted i wanted to say always
1:47.2	i wanted the title to be always be yourself unless you suck and they said harper carlin said no
1:53.7	that that's not going to work i also got to tell one of my best ted cruise stores uh oh. Ted's people invited me out.
2:02.7	You remember this.
2:03.9	He had a huge fundraiser somewhere out.
2:06.5	There was some fancy place.
2:07.8	I don't remember.
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from iHeartPodcasts, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of iHeartPodcasts and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.