Join us as we explore a heated discussion that took place between Tucker Carlson and Senator Ted Cruz about isolationism, the US-Israel relationship, and the influence of religious beliefs on political actions. A stimulating dialogue that steers through the thorny issues of anti-Semitism, foreign lobbies, and military actions against Iran, this episode navigates through these contentious topics with intensity and insight. Alongside the debate, listeners also receive a glance at the feedback from audiences nationwide and the impactful work of the Prison Fellowship Angel Tree Summer Camp campaign.
SPEAKER 04 :
He’s the happy conservative warrior, Mike Gallagher, broadcasting across hundreds of radio stations nationwide and seen on your trusted conservative TV network, Salem News Channel. Here’s Mike.
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Moments ago, Fox News Channel’s Chad Pergram posted on X that Missouri Republican Congressman Mark Alford on Fox Business said, I want to see someone finish the job. Whether it’s Israel, whether it’s the United States, we’ve been dealing with these Islamic terrorists for 43 years. It’s very clear. I was in the Middle East last October, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt. The leaders there want something to be done. They want normalcy in their region. They want good trading partners. He said, Israel has the Ayatollah on the ropes. We’ve got to cut off the head of the snake. We’ve got to eliminate their nuclear capabilities. My district is home to Whiteman Air Force Base, he said. I was there two days ago right in front of the B-2 stealth bombers. They are locked and loaded and ready for the president’s command. What will the president decide? You know, there is a great debate in America over what our role should be, and perhaps the debate is best exemplified by a two-hour conversation between Tucker Carlson and U.S. Senator Ted Cruz. It was riveting. And I urge you to watch the whole thing, but I want to share with you as much of it as humanly possible. It was sometimes contentious, but throughout the whole interview, smart, compelling, informative, and passionate. Here’s a little bit of what it said. And this hour, I want to just tell you, settle in and enjoy this, because I’m going to play a whole lot of this extraordinary conversation between Tucker Carlson and Ted Cruz yesterday on Tucker’s channel. Here’s cut one.
SPEAKER 06 :
It’s interesting you’re trying to derail my questions by calling me an anti-Semite, which you are. I did not. Of course you are. And rather than be honorable enough to say it right to my face, you are in a sleazy, feline way implying it or just asking questions about the Jews. I’m not asking questions about the Jews. I have, there’s nothing to do with Jews or Judaism. It has to do with a foreign government.
SPEAKER 07 :
Isn’t Israel controlling our foreign policy? That’s not about the Jews.
SPEAKER 06 :
You said, I’m asking you.
SPEAKER 07 :
And by the way, you’re the one that just called me, I think, a sleazy feline. So let’s be clear.
SPEAKER 06 :
It’s sleazy to imply that I’m an anti-Semite, which you just did. No, I just said, why is that the only question you’re asking? You answer it. Give me another reason.
SPEAKER 07 :
If you’re not an anti-Semite, give me another reason why the obsession is Israel.
SPEAKER 06 :
I am in no sense obsessed with Israel. We are on the brink of war with Iran. And so these are valid questions. But you’re not asking about Iran or the Ayatollah. You asked me why I’m obsessed with Israel. Yep. Three minutes after telling me that when you first ran for Congress, you elucidated one of your main goals, which is to defend Israel. Yes. And I’m the one who’s obsessed with Israel. I don’t see a lawmaker’s job as defending the interests of a foreign government, period. Any government, including the ones that my ancestors come from. So that’s my position. That does not make me an anti-Semite. And shame on you for suggesting otherwise. And I mean that. And that’s low. And you know it’s low.
SPEAKER 08 :
Wow. Now, you know, there is a great, I think, intriguing dialogue here. as to whether or not it’s anti-Semitic to oppose aiding Israel. I suspect that for some people that’s the default. But on the other hand, we’ve witnessed anti-Semitism in the streets of America. You’re waving around a Hamas flag saying essentially death to the Jews. Well, I’m going to go out on a limb here and call that anti-Semitic. But the role of AIPAC. came up in this interview. And I wanted to share this part with you as well. This is something that a lot of people who oppose standing with Israel invoke. They don’t like people’s involvement with AIPAC. This came up in the conversation. Is AIPAC a foreign lobby?
SPEAKER 07 :
No, it’s an American lobby. It’s the APAC stands for the America Israeli Political Action Committee. What is it lobby for? So, to be honest, not a whole lot effectively. Listen, I came into Congress 13 years ago with the stated intention of being the leading defender of Israel in the United States Senate. I’ve worked every day to do that. APAC, a lot of times… AIPAC, I wish were much more effective.
SPEAKER 06 :
Their folks online were in the fever swamp of terrified of AIPAC. I’m not terrified of AIPAC at all. You’re the one who seems a little uncomfortable when I’m asking this. No, I’m not uncomfortable at all. I’m just asking what AIPAC does. My understanding, having known a lot of people about AIPAC, is that it lobbies on behalf of the Israeli government. Wrong. Oh, okay. When was the last time AIPAC took a position that deviated from Prime Minister Netanyahu? All the time. Okay.
SPEAKER 07 :
Let me go back and give a little history. If you want to do a deep dive on AIPAC. I don’t. I want to do a shallow dive.
SPEAKER 06 :
I want to get to the core question. AIPAC is lobbying for a foreign government.
SPEAKER 07 :
It’s not. It’s lobbying for the United States. It is lobbying for a strong U.S.-Israeli relationship. Okay. So it has nothing to do with the foreign government. It wants America and Israel to be closely allied.
SPEAKER 06 :
Okay, but it’s lobbying on behalf of the interests of another country.
SPEAKER 07 :
So that’s not true at all.
SPEAKER 06 :
It’s not true. How much contact do you think AIPAC leaders have for the government of Israel? No idea.
SPEAKER 07 :
I imagine some. I think the government of Israel is often frustrated with AIPAC because AIPAC is not nearly strong enough.
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Do you think there’s any coordination between the government of Israel and AIPAC?
SPEAKER 07 :
Do they talk? Sure. If you’re lobbying for more U.S.-Mexico trade, would you talk to people in the U.S. and Mexico and the government? Sure.
SPEAKER 06 :
So I’m not mad about that. There are a million countries that lobby Washington. I like a lot of those countries, including Israel. But AIPAC are Americans. They’re not Israelis. Hold on. There are tons of Americans who lobby on behalf of foreign governments. I know them. I’m related to some of them. I know how it works. I’m from here. So my question is not, is it outrageous that foreign governments lobby the United States? They all do, including Israel. My only question is why don’t we admit that is what’s happening? You’re denying it, but it’s true. Because what you’re saying is false. Why aren’t they registered as a foreign lobby?
SPEAKER 08 :
Because they’re not. Okay, ready to get deep? Want to get spiritual? Whoever blesses Israel will be blessed. Whoever curses Israel will be cursed. You’ve heard me say that a lot. It’s from… The good book, it’s from the Bible. That came up in this conversation between Tucker and Senator Cruz.
SPEAKER 07 :
Number one, as a Christian, growing up in Sunday school, I was taught from the Bible, those who bless Israel will be blessed, and those who curse Israel will be cursed. And from my perspective, I want to be on the blessing side of things. Of those who bless the government of Israel? Those who bless Israel is what it says. It doesn’t say the government of, it says the nation of Israel. So that’s in the Bible. As a Christian, I believe that. Where is that? I can find it to you. I don’t have the scripture off the tip of my. You pull out the phone and use it.
SPEAKER 06 :
It’s in Genesis. But so you’re quoting a Bible phrase. You don’t have context for it. You don’t know where in the Bible it is. But that’s like your theology. I’m confused. What does that even mean? Tucker. I’m a Christian. I want to know what you’re talking about. Hey.
SPEAKER 07 :
Where does where does my support for Israel come from? Number one, because biblically we are commanded to support Israel. But number two, hold on.
SPEAKER 06 :
You’re a senator and now you’re throwing out theology. And I am a Christian. I am allowed to weigh in on this. We are commanded as Christians to support the government of Israel. We are commanded to support Israel. And what does that mean? We’re told those who bless Israel will be blessed. But what? Hold on. Define Israel. This is important. Are you kidding? This is a majority Christian country.
SPEAKER 07 :
To define Israel, do you not know what Israel is? That would be the country you’d have asked like 49 questions about.
SPEAKER 06 :
So that’s what Genesis, that’s what God is talking about. The nation of Israel, yes. So is that the current borders, the current leadership? He’s talking about the political entity called Israel?
SPEAKER 07 :
He’s talking about the nation of Israel. Yeah, nations exist. And he’s discussing a nation. A nation was the people of Israel.
SPEAKER 06 :
Is the nation God’s referring to in Genesis, is that the same as the country run by Benjamin Netanyahu right now?
SPEAKER 07 :
Yes. Yes, it is. And by the way, it’s not run by Benjamin Netanyahu as a dictator.
SPEAKER 06 :
It’s a democratic country. He’s the prime minister. Right.
SPEAKER 07 :
But just just like, you know, America is the country run by Donald Trump. No, actually, the American people elected Donald Trump. The same principle is silly.
SPEAKER 06 :
I’m talking about the political entity of modern Israel. Yes. And that is you believe that’s what God was talking about in Genesis. I do.
SPEAKER 07 :
But but that country’s existed since when? For thousands of years. Now, there was a time when it didn’t exist and then it was recreated just over 70 years ago.
SPEAKER 06 :
I’m saying I think most people understand that line in Genesis to refer to the Jewish people, God’s chosen people. That’s not what it says. OK, it is real, but you don’t even know where in the Bible it is. So I don’t know.
SPEAKER 07 :
I don’t remember the scriptural citation, but I keep like Genesis 16 or something like that.
SPEAKER 06 :
But yes, it’s in the earlier part of the book. But the point is, it’s important to know what you’re talking about. I don’t know what you’re saying. As a Christian, if I believe in Jesus, I have to support the modern state of Israel.
SPEAKER 07 :
I’m not saying that you don’t. I’m explaining for me what my vote motivation is.
SPEAKER 06 :
Okay, so I’m just trying to understand. You said God tells you to support the modern state of Israel in the Bible, in some place in the Bible that you heard about, but you don’t know where it is. That’s your theology?
SPEAKER 07 :
You’re going back, am I a sleazy feline again? If you accuse me of anti-Semitism again, I will say that, but I don’t think you will.
SPEAKER 08 :
Wow. See what I mean? See how good this is? Coming up, I’m going to play clips from… The two of them debating what it means to be an isolationist. Ukraine, Russia, the cost of war, spying, quality of life in America. I told you it was good. You’re not going to want to miss a word of this. And if you want, give me some feedback as to who you think. Did the best because on social media, boy, you hear Tucker slammed Ted Cruz. Ted Cruz mastered it and just obliterated Tucker. Give me your feedback on the MyPillow text line, 800-655-MIKE. I’m not going to take a lot of on-air calls because I want to play a lot of these clips. But I want to get your feedback. Feel free to text me what you think. 800-655-MIKE. 800-655-6453. Because, oh yes, we’ve only just begun. phd weight loss has changed my life and i’ve got a little secret for you you know big pharma and semaglutide and the shots in the belly you’ve seen the story recently about the study that shows that a lot of people that are getting this are going blind you don’t want to do this you want a program to lose weight that’s centered around science and nutrition a proven roadmap that has helped over 8 000 clients lose weight and keep it off like me i lost 53 pounds a few years ago and i’ve kept it off i know what to eat and when i know how to quiet any of the cravings i might get and release that that finally release that unhealthy belly fat that i carried along for so long make the phone call that can change your life and the way it changed mine it’s called phd weight loss phd weight loss dr ashley lucas’s program is brilliant and how do i know well 53 pounds later here i am 864-644-1900 is their number. Call and schedule your consultation. You can do this program from anywhere in America. Call 864-644-1900, 864-644-1900, or visit MyPhDWeightLoss.com.
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Mike Gallagher.
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My MyPillow text line is exploding with feedback. California, Tucker is a jerk. Connecticut, I would say right now Tucker and Ted Cruz, a tie, need to hear more, okay? Ask and you shall receive. Here’s Tucker and Cruz talking about isolationism and regime change. Again, if you’re just tuning in, I want to play a lot of these clips this hour. I want you to hear a bunch of this, what I consider to be fascinating, riveting interview that Tucker conducted with Senator Ted Cruz yesterday on Tucker’s platform. Here we go.
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I’m saying if it’s true that Iran is trying to murder Trump, we need to move militarily against Iran immediately. That’s not isolationism. That’s the most – that’s a cult of violence, which I am calling for. If we believe that Iran is trying to murder our president, we need to strike Iran.
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OK, but isolationists say things like, well, then just nuke them, which is what you just said, which is kind of a weird –
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Because I’m taking you seriously. You don’t take your own statements.
SPEAKER 07 :
I take my statements very seriously.
SPEAKER 06 :
So I’ve asked you, where’s the evidence? This is true. And you said they’re trying to assassinate Brian Hook or something, which I’m against, by the way. I’m against hurting any American, period, no matter.
SPEAKER 07 :
So you dispute that they’re trying to murder. I’m not disputing it at all.
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I’m not disputing it at all.
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They literally arrested the hitman with Bolton.
SPEAKER 06 :
I’m not. I don’t know why that’s even relevant. I’m asking about the president of the United States.
SPEAKER 07 :
It’s not relevant that Iran hired hitmen to murder cabinet members in Trump’s administration. That doesn’t go to how credible is it that they’re willing to spend money to do that.
SPEAKER 06 :
I’m totally opposed to that. It’s awful. I am against killing anybody, actually, and especially foreign government. I’m asking about your allegation and the prime minister of Israel’s allegation that is that Iran is trying to murder the president.
SPEAKER 07 :
Killing terrorists is a good thing. Killing people who are trying to murder Americans is a good thing. Because if you’re America first. You want to protect America, and so taking out… Killing Osama bin Laden was a fantastic day for the world.
SPEAKER 06 :
But you don’t really believe that they’re trying to murder Trump? Yes, I do. Then why aren’t you calling for military action against Tehran right now?
SPEAKER 07 :
Because they’re not very effective. In terms of hitmen, their hitmen are not very effective. I do think… Oh, so they’re hitmen, but not the bad kind, the efficient kind?
SPEAKER 06 :
No, they’re just… What are you saying?
SPEAKER 07 :
They’re a weak country who is on its knees, and I think we need to… Then why are we so afraid of them? Why are they the biggest threat if they’re a weak country that’s on its knees? Because they’re trying… I’m trying to keep track. They’re trying to develop…
SPEAKER 06 :
Be a little less snarky. I know you’re right.
SPEAKER 07 :
That is a problem that I have. I’m sorry. They’re trying to develop nuclear weapons. They are close to developing nuclear weapons. And even a weak country with a nuclear weapon. Look, I believe there is a very real possibility if the Ayatollah develops a nuclear weapon that he would detonate it. either in Tel Aviv or New York or Los Angeles. And that would be utterly catastrophic. And I don’t know what the chances are of that. Let me compare and contrast Iran to North Korea.
SPEAKER 06 :
Wait, can I just ask one last question? I’m trying to kill the president. You sincerely believe you promise that right now the Iranian government is trying to murder our president. Yes. And she’ll be like right now. Absolutely. And yet you were not calling for military action against the government that’s trying to murder our president. Can you explain that?
SPEAKER 07 :
Uh, I don’t think they’re very effective. I do think we should. By the way, America is. You’re willing to take that risk. I think we should protect the president and we should take out our enemies. Israel is doing that right now. But aren’t they? Why would we? And by the way, your first question was why we have a regime change. That’s a pretty good example of why I’m for regime change.
SPEAKER 06 :
OK, so you’re saying we should just go in and take out the government of Iran. Why would we outsource it to Israel if they’re trying to murder our president? OK, you sound like the isolationist.
SPEAKER 08 :
That was that rare moment of introspection from Tucker when Senator Cruz said, can you knock off the snark? He said, yeah, you’re right. He also apologized for his, you know, actions or the way he interviews in another part of the interview.
SPEAKER 06 :
What’s the war in Ukraine? I think Joe Biden’s aggression caused it. His aggression? What aggression? He demanded that Ukraine join NATO. How does that help the United States?
SPEAKER 07 :
It is a terrible idea, and I have vigorously opposed Ukraine joining NATO. Okay, so that’s what caused the war. No, it’s not. Do you want to know what caused the war? Look, you do the dismissive. You’re not actually interested in facts. You’re like, okay. OK, tell me.
SPEAKER 06 :
It seems super. You’re absolutely right. And I’m sorry. That is a tick of mine that is wrong. And I mean this with sincerity. I’m sorry to do that to you.
SPEAKER 08 :
Wow. I mean, that’s a very interesting apology by Tucker. More coming up. Portions of our show brought to you by MyPillow and Big Deal. Two sales in one. First, they’re having a closeout sale on the percale bedsheets. Any size, any color, $25. You can get Queens, Kings, Split Kings, California Kings, any size, any color, $25. It’s a crazy sale from MyPillow.com. Look for the Mike Gallagher Special Square. The second sale, Mike Lindell has introduced a brand new energy drink called Rev7. It’s a premium energy drink that’s good for you. It tastes great, gives you energy all day. I sampled it yesterday for the first time. It is delicious. No sugar, no caffeine. Rev7 is so special because it’s powered with a premium nootropic that helps fuel your mind. MyPillow is so confident you’re going to love Rev7 that for a limited time you can try their introductory three-pack absolutely free. Now, these offers aren’t going to last long. So go to MyPillow.com. Use the promo code MikeG. MyPillow.com. Promo code MikeG. Or call 800-928-6034. 800-928-6034. Sing along with me. For the best night’s sleep in the whole wide world, visit MyPillow.com. Promo code MikeG.
SPEAKER 03 :
Mike Gallagher.
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I’m getting a lot of feedback on the MyPillow text line, a lot of it positive. Here’s Spartanburg, South Carolina. This debate between two brilliant men who love America with two totally different points of view. They’re able to articulate their views for America and see the two issues. I tend to agree. I’m grateful to share this with you. Hope you appreciate it as well. I’m also grateful to the many, many people who donated to our Prison Fellowship Angel Tree Summer Camp campaign. We’ve got the banner up there at MikeOnline.com for two more days. Right now we’re sending 1,029 children to a Christian summer camp. These are children who are the sons and daughters of American prisoners, and you did it again every single time we come to you. This audience soars. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Again, two more days with the banner up on the website for a couple of days. So check it out. If you want to go to MikeOnline.com and send a child to a summer camp, the son or daughter of a prisoner, and a child is going to be exposed to Christianity, MikeOnline.com, MikeOnline.com. Thank you again for your support. Let’s go back to the Tucker Carlson interview of Senator Ted Cruz. They covered a lot involving Iran and Ukraine.
SPEAKER 06 :
My question is about results, because I think it’s relevant to what we’re seeing now in Iran. You look back after having you personally voted to send billions and billions and billions of U.S. tax dollars to Zelensky to support a civil service in the war against Russia and all this stuff. Can you say that what you did worked?
SPEAKER 07 :
So I can say what I did personally, sanctioning Nord Stream 2 worked and prevented a war. And if Trump had still been there, if the sanction had been in effect, there would be no war. I’m in favor of avoiding wars.
SPEAKER 06 :
But once the war broke out, you voted to fund it. to the tune of billions and billions and billions. And to be clear. And did that work?
SPEAKER 07 :
OK, to be to be clear what I voted for, I voted for the initial tranche of funding and then I voted against the subsequent one. So it hasn’t worked. So I’ve been in between. I haven’t been on the full Ukraine, full throated hawk side or the anti from day one. I voted for the initial tranche of funding because I wanted Russia to lose. I think the Biden administration administered it in a horrible way. I think they wasted a ton of money. And I think what they did was actually incoherent because they were funding both sides of the war. And I was very vocal and among other things, flooding one hundred million dollars to Iran, which was used, among other things, to help the nuclear program, but also to make drones that Russia used to fight.
SPEAKER 06 :
So here’s my concern. I’m not going to defend the Biden administration really did a lot to wreck the United States. At the end, where we sit now, Russia is stronger. It’s closely allied long-term with China. I don’t know that Russia is stronger. I don’t think that’s right. I think it’s pretty obvious that it is. But it’s certainly not destroyed. And it’s allied long-term with China. Maybe.
SPEAKER 07 :
Look, there’s no doubt Biden’s foreign policy drove Russia into the arms of China, and that’s concerning. They also have a long history of animosity.
SPEAKER 06 :
Western Europe is weaker and more in debt. The United States is weaker and much more in debt.
SPEAKER 08 :
It’s good stuff. Speaking of Russia, they talked a little bit about the flack that Tucker once got. He went to Russia and, you know, showcased how clean and safe and how nice the subways are. Senator Cruz brought that up in this fascinating conversation yesterday.
SPEAKER 06 :
I wonder, I mean, is there anybody who was alive in 1989 who wouldn’t trade that America for the one we live in now? There’s not one person, I don’t think. Oh, sure. But I mean, just the basic metrics, debt, suicide rate, life expectancy. It was I wonder why after that victory, America didn’t. thrive in the way that we thought that it would, that I thought that it would. My family was involved in that. I mean, we were very focused on it in my house. We won. And I wonder two things. Why didn’t the United States kind of declare victory and make some sort of arrangement with Russia that allowed mutual prosperity rather than continuing a Cold War. And second, I wonder why the United States didn’t get a lot better. Like, why don’t we have better infrastructure? Why don’t we have fewer homeless? Why do we have all these drugs? Like, if we won, why does our country look like this? I walked across from Union Station this morning, as you do, I’m sure, every day. And all those people lying in the street and sleeping outside. It’s like, what is that?
SPEAKER 07 :
Look, there’s no doubt there are really dangerous forces in our society. Some of it is politics and some of it is culture. And one of the mistakes people make in politics is thinking everything is politics. So the political answer, which I happen to believe, is is we went much further down the road of liberalism. You look at Bill Clinton, who inherited the peace dividend of the Cold War being over and and. moved us more to the left, and then Obama accelerated it a lot. So there are lots of bad economic policies, but I also think they’re cultural things. You know, the loss of faith, the loss of family.
SPEAKER 06 :
I know what you’re going to say, and I agree 100%. I bet there’s not one word that I would disagree with. All I’m saying is I think it’s important to step back and ask. But I actually think Russia has very little to do with it. So that’s kind of the point that I’m trying to make, which is like we’re all sort of focused on beating our adversaries abroad. But what is victory worth if our own country becomes what it is now? And maybe we’re spending a little too much time focused abroad and not enough time focused on the people sleeping outside Union Station.
SPEAKER 07 :
So, look, I absolutely think we need to focus at home emphatically and we need to focus on prosperity. We need to focus on reducing the debt, reducing spending, empowering people, low taxes, small businesses, American free enterprise. It’s the most powerful force for fighting poverty the world has ever seen. I’m a thousand percent there. I also recognize it is a dangerous world. And part of the responsibility of leaders, part of President Trump’s responsibility is to keep America safe. Let’s go back to where we started.
SPEAKER 06 :
But can I ask, you’ve been in the district a long time in D.C., so have I. And the city’s way more dangerous and Congress runs this. No, no, it’s a complete crap hole. So I’m saying, like, no Iranian’s ever going to kill me, but I could get carjacked here. And I just don’t understand how the Congress could run the city and focus on the dangers of Iran when the city is like garbage. It’s garbage. But Congress doesn’t run the city.
SPEAKER 07 :
We could. Congress does run the city. It’s in the Constitution. It’s in the Constitution, but they’ve given home rule so it’s a Democrat mayor. You can take it back. You control the Congress. I’d vote for it, but it is a question of math.
SPEAKER 06 :
OK, but I’m just saying, like, why? How can people ignore? It’s like if my own kids are drug addicts, but I’m focused on my neighbor’s kids, it’s like I’m neglecting my own kids. And there’s a sense in which the Congress is neglecting the country that elected them in favor of this relentless focus on other people’s problems. That’s the way it feels as an American.
SPEAKER 08 :
I enjoyed this so much, and I really did. I enjoyed the exchange immensely. I tend to side policy-wise with Senator Cruz. I think one of the tells that it’s such a compelling conversation is that as my text line from my pillow is getting bombarded with opinions about who did better than the other, it’s pretty well divided down the line. It might have to do with ideology. I don’t know. But a lot of people think that Ted Cruz held his own just fine. A lot of people think Tucker mastered the conversation and made Ted Cruz look bad. Look, whatever side you’re on, you just cannot escape a compelling, provocative, I think, informative conversation with two points of view that, frankly, are opposing points of view. But I like having both of those points of view At the table. I like both seats at the table.
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SPEAKER 03 :
Mike Gallagher.
SPEAKER 08 :
Let’s dive right back in. I want to go back to Russia. This was fascinating as Ted Cruz and Tucker Carlson, the two-hour debate that I wanted to showcase for you here on our show today. Russia, Putin, and Ukraine.
SPEAKER 06 :
Have you questioned any of your previous assumptions? Did you play any… So what is it costing us? Have you…
SPEAKER 07 :
questioned any of your previous assumptions did you play any role in this at all are you responsible at all of course and like you you said what if you learned of like you you said you’ve changed your mind i voted for the first funding of the ukraine war and i voted against every subsequent funding stream because it wasn’t working and i looked at what was happening and said this is not working And had the money been spent in an intelligent way and not wasted and had it been successful, I might have been willing to fund more. But it wasn’t successful. So I voted no. And the war is going to end. Look, President Trump campaigned on ending the war. I think he’s frustrated because Putin has been less than eager to reach a deal to end the war. But it’s going to end. You’re not going to see another dollar coming from.
SPEAKER 06 :
He wants to end the war.
SPEAKER 07 :
I think Zelensky has behaved horribly. I think his Oval Office meeting will go down in history as the worst Oval Office meeting of any leader that has ever come to the Oval Office. I think he behaved like a pompous ass. And I think he is unrealistic. I think Zelensky spends his time with Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer in the New York Times, and he believed he was going to the Oval Office as a resist figure. And I think he’s doing real damage to his country right now. You described him many times as a hero. I don’t believe I don’t recall ever using the word hero. I will say, look, I’m not I’m not a Zelensky cheerleader and I’m not in the business of saying everyone we support has to be a saint and everyone we oppose has to be a villain. I’m not in the morality game. I’m in the U.S. interest game. Why did I want Nord Stream 2 stopped? Because it would strengthen Russia and Russia’s our enemies. It’s entirely U.S. interest.
SPEAKER 06 :
Did you support the industrial sabotage against it, blowing it up?
SPEAKER 07 :
So I think you believe America did that. Is that right? Of course. OK, I think the chances of that are zero. You think Russia did it? No, I think Ukraine did it. OK, so I don’t know. So I don’t know who did it in terms of the theories that have been put out there. Um, the idea that Russia blew up their own pipeline never made any sense to me at all. That that just I can’t even articulate why they would do that. The idea that Biden did that. Look, I could see it being in U.S. interest to do that, to blow up Nord Stream two. I just think Biden was too weak. I don’t believe Joe Biden.
SPEAKER 06 :
But are you and I guess you and so so that the Norwegians, the. The Ukrainians, NATO, whatever.
SPEAKER 07 :
Look, that leads me to, you know, who benefits? And it leads me to think either the Ukrainians blew it up or Ukraine’s allies. I don’t think Biden did because I just Biden was so weak. I don’t think he would give the order. I find that implausible.
SPEAKER 06 :
But you’re in favor of it.
SPEAKER 07 :
Look, I was in favor of stopping it. I think I think blowing it up is a was a good thing. So so I’m I’m supportive of that. But I don’t think America did that. I don’t think Biden gave that order. But in general, I’m giving that order. But he wasn’t in office.
SPEAKER 06 :
Yeah. And you think that the largest act of industrial sabotage in history helped our allies in Western Europe or other fellow NATO members?
SPEAKER 07 :
Look, I got to say, I don’t understand. For some reason, you are really invested in defending Russia. And I don’t get that. I’m not attacking you with that. I’m genuinely like I don’t get why you’re you’re so passionate about defending Russia.
SPEAKER 06 :
Actually, I was defending Western Europe, the home of my ancestors, and that, you know, tripling their energy costs and destroying their industrial base. No, not like. You just accused me of being an anti-Semite, an isolationist, and a Russia lackey. I’ve not called you a neocon once, which you are, but I haven’t said that.
SPEAKER 07 :
I think that’s absurd. Yeah, those neocons that oppose the Iraq war.
SPEAKER 06 :
Okay, right. But, like, that’s dishonest. Okay, but I haven’t called you that.
SPEAKER 07 :
Well, you just said, which you are, so you just called me that. You just did.
SPEAKER 06 :
I guess what I’m saying is you’re triggered because I use name calling. I get it. I was triggered when you called me names. And I’m triggered once again that you’re calling me a Russia defender when, in fact, I’m defending Western Europe. And I don’t think that you think this is our enemy. Well, he’s literally our enemy.
SPEAKER 07 :
You are funding a war against him. Do you think he is? You’re saying we’re his enemy. Do you think Putin is our enemy?
SPEAKER 06 :
I think it is a tragedy that your policies, your policies, specifically yours, helped drive Putin into the arms of China, forming a bloc that’s larger than you won’t answer that question. I don’t. He is literally our enemy right now. That is a tragedy for the United States.
SPEAKER 07 :
You’re saying but you won’t say he is our enemy. And look like I don’t know in what sense.
SPEAKER 06 :
I don’t want to be enemies with Russia. It doesn’t help us at all. It may help some people in the United States, but in general, I don’t want to be.
SPEAKER 07 :
with russia i don’t think it is in our interest to be at war with russia with china that is a disaster but listen no doubt and i want russian china attention so i agree with you there but but i think putin is a kgb thug i think he is a bad man now i don’t want to go to war with him over that okay but but i’m not naive and like i watched he’s a bad man he’s a bad man okay look i watched your episode where you went to the russian uh grocery store and was that disloyal do you think It was just weird. It was like a promo video for Russia. I don’t understand. I’m not attacking you when I ask why, because I’m genuinely like, I don’t get the thought.
SPEAKER 06 :
Like when you called me and said something, you weren’t attacking me, you were just noticing. But may I ask you a question? So here… Well, let me just answer yours by saying the United States, the Biden administration, with your help, full support, began this war on Russia in response to their invasion of Ukraine. And one of the things they did was they kicked Russia out of SWIFT, of the International Financial System. And my first response was this is going to really hurt the U.S. dollar, which it has. And I hope someday we can have a conversation about that. It’s really, really hurt the one thing that we needed, which was to retain dollar balance. So I was interested in the in the economic condition.
SPEAKER 07 :
By the way, that’s a reasonable point and a serious conversation.
SPEAKER 06 :
I’m aware. I’m aware. And I was. But I can agree with you. Like, like, no, no. But I was accused of being. I think it’s weird that you went to a Russian grocery store and said it was prosperous. No, my point is, it looked like it looked like a commercial. Isn’t this wonderful? It was an argument against the efficacy of sanctions, sanctions against Russia, which you casually and enthusiastically. imposed scoring a little moral victory every time had no material effect that helped the United States. Russia is backstopped by China. And when you can, I recommend that you go there and see it. It is way nicer than Washington, D.C.
SPEAKER 08 :
I will say that as far as the text messages go at 800-655-MIKE, a lot of people sharing feedback, 800-655-6453 on the MyPillow text line. I’d say public sentiment is more in favor of Ted Cruz than Tucker Carlson. All I know is I’m pretty good at what I do for a living. I know that. I mean, I’m not the best, but I think I’m pretty decent, pretty skilled. I wouldn’t want to debate either one of them. want to go one-on-one with Ted Cruz or Tucker Carlson. But I love getting to go one-on-one with you and be surrounded by great people and great messages too. Like the message about my accountant, my CPA. A guy named Dean Owen. Gosh, is he good. And I know that a lot of you are reaching out to Dean. He’s a true leader in tax and financial strategy. In fact, he’s going to start joining us. I’ve invited him on the show maybe every couple of weeks to talk about Roth IRAs and investments. This guy’s amazing. In fact, Accounting Today has ranked Dean Owen as one of the top financial advisors and CPAs in the country. And I know that because he’s my CPA. I know the kind of job he’s doing for me. He specializes in reducing your tax burden. He builds a financial and tax plan with you that’s aligned with your values. Don’t wait. Call Dean Owen today, 270-554-0720. Get that conversation started. My CPA can be your CPA, too. And he’s one of us. You’ll love him. 270-554-0720. Call 270-554-0720. Or visit OwenCPA.com. OwenCPA.com. All right. Tomorrow from New York City. Wish me luck. Pray for me. Godspeed and all of that. Thanks for joining us. Have a great, great Thursday. Be safe and keep fighting the good fight. I’m Mike Gallagher. God bless America.
SPEAKER 05 :
I hope her sister kept her big mouth shut. Nancy Wilson of Heart, so talented, so great, such a great band. And not long ago, Mike said, oh, it’s really embarrassing to be an American right now. And I’ll never be a shut up and sing or shut up and play person. Because if I say it about Heart, it means I’ve got to say it about Ted Nugent. Say what you want. Do what you want. Welcome, my friend. How are you? Busy times in our industry.
SPEAKER 08 :
Well, they really are. And there’s a lot of tension. There’s a lot of concern about what’s next in this war. You know, our friend and colleague Hugh Hewitt writes over at Fox News that the most important decision of President Trump’s life is before him. And, of course, I had a friend who rather cynically said, boy, your buddy Hugh and the neocons are pretty excited about dropping bombs on Iran, aren’t they? And, you know, I get that take. It’s best exemplified in the two-hour interview that Tucker gave to Ted Cruz. And I’m going to tell you right now, right flat out, I’m going to just tell you right now, Everybody inevitably will take sides. Oh, Tucker was a jerk. Oh, Ted Cruz was unprepared. Oh, Ted was great and he bested Tucker. Put that aside for a minute. It’s a master class in two incredibly smart men laying out positions for what is a complicated issue. I know that we got the tease of the minute of, you know, the stupid gotcha question and all that. But the two hours, Mark. It’s great. It’s fantastic. In fact, let me give you a little mention. Let me just share with you one of the things. I’m paraphrasing here. But at one point, Senator Cruz was clearly frustrated. And he said, Tucker, would you stop with the snark? Would you just knock off the snark? It’s kind of my point. Well, you want to know what Tucker said? He said, you’re absolutely right. It’s a quirk of mine. I do it too much. I’m working on doing it less and I got to do better at it. And I’m like, that’s the kind of raw, you know, passion that they both brought to the table. And, you know, and look, Senator Cruz was brilliant. I mean, you know, you’re never going to best Ted Cruz in a debate. But you’re also – it’s really hard to push back against Tucker’s interviewing technique because he’s very good at it too. And there is resistance within our – Our tribe, there are people who are worried about us taking the ball off illegal immigration. Fair or not? Okay, I get that. I think we can do two things at once.
SPEAKER 05 :
I do too. Wait, wait, pause on that. And I get this all. We will get calls. You will get calls. I will get calls. Something big will happen in the news. Something. Not as big as a raging war, but some big thing will happen. Invariably, I’ll get 16 calls and 43 texts. Yeah, Mark. I think the reason this is happening is so that we won’t pay attention to this over here. 15 things can, especially these days, haven’t we learned that 25 things can happen at once? There’s nothing about the Iran-Israel conflict that means we’ve stopped paying attention to the border.
SPEAKER 08 :
I agree with Hugh and with Senator Cruz and with many others who believe that if President Trump orders our military to destroy the most hardened targets in Iran’s nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs, he’s going to end a war that began since, you know, the first Ayatollah Khomeini. You know, we’re going back to 1979. Okay, pause on that.
SPEAKER 05 :
I hope, because I, too, and I don’t think we’re not in a different place on the spectrum, I don’t think. We begin with, and it’s not through any type of hero worship or cult-like thing, my base setting, my default setting is trust of Trump. He has more information than either you or I have, and his instincts, I think, are sound and good, and his heart and his mind are solid. That said… If it’s an American crew and an American bomber that drops that bunker buster on Fordow and takes out that nuclear site, there’s all kinds of good things about that, all kinds of reasons to do that, 100%. Two things that I don’t know happen, that I don’t know. Number one, the regime just falls, or the Iranian regime all of a sudden goes, oh, we’re so sorry, we’ll be better now. I don’t know that that happens. And the other thing that I also don’t know that may be a terrible thing that might happen is what’s left of the Iranian war machine starts lobbing missiles at every American installation they can find. So be careful what you wish for. That’s not me saying don’t do it. It’s me saying it might not be as tidy as some people think.
SPEAKER 08 :
Well, it’s fair. And it also confirms the complicated nature of all of this. You know, you talk about a regime change and toppling the current regime. The mullahs, who’s to say that the ones who replaced them aren’t going to be worse? You know, you just don’t. Happened in Afghanistan.
SPEAKER 05 :
Happened in Libya.
SPEAKER 08 :
That’s right. And best case scenario is that the people of Iran who want a democracy will rise up, you know, and there’ll be supposedly there’s some Iranian, you know, leader living in Virginia right now that’s willing to go back. I think it’s the Shah’s grandson. Reza Pahlavi. Yep. Yep. But look, what we can’t afford and what I believe in, and I’m with you, my default is trust Trump. He’s been saying for years, probably 20 years, he said, I’ve been saying this for 20 years, we cannot allow Iran to get their hands on a nuke. Look what they’re doing now. They just bombed a hospital in Israel. Now, look what Israel’s doing. They’re bombing military targets. Israel’s going after nuclear sites and terrorist military sites. They’re not trying to kill civilians. No. that this is what iran is committed to wiping israel out and wiping us out you know so in a way this is our war and we can pretend it’s not but i also don’t want to pretend that the counterpoint of you the the other view is not existent i don’t i and there is a real knee-jerk inclination for people to say, oh, there’s no division. Yes, there is. Yes, there is. Don’t say that. Tucker Carlson, whatever you think of him, Tucker Carlson has millions and millions of supporters.
SPEAKER 05 :
No doubt. And there are shades along this spectrum of people who are going, okay, you might think that’s a great idea. I don’t know how great it is. But the notion of MAGA world split in two irreparably is wildly overstated and just wishful thinking on some parts. Did you hear the gentleman I talked to leading up to our segment? Sorry, I missed it. There was something Tucker-esque about it in the following way. And a wonderful gentleman. He can call me back any time. Some pretty sound, solid points to make. But the people on the other side, just as Tucker thinks you’re stupid if you disagree with him or you don’t care about the details of regime change is entire. By the way, you’re so 100 percent right. Listen to the two hours. Tucker is so smart and so great. Good Tucker comes out way more than than jerk Tucker. It’s really, really important. But the very title of his post was Ted Cruz wants regime change in Iran and doesn’t care about the details. That kind of condescension and snark, like you said, is just not helpful. The gentleman I spoke to, very thoughtful, said that to be all in for whatever that even means to be really boldly in support of Israel. or for Christians to consider Israel to be religiously significant, that that constitutes Israel worship. I was like, dude, don’t do that. It’s so condescending, you know?
SPEAKER 08 :
This was a huge chunk of the Tucker Cruz showdown. Ted Cruz said something that I’ve said for many years, and I think you have too, right from the Bible. Those who bless Israel, I will bless. Those who curse Israel, I will curse. Well, Senator Cruz invoked that, and Tucker just bagged all over that.
SPEAKER 05 :
And Tucker’s a person of faith.
SPEAKER 08 :
Tucker’s not some agnostic right here. And then that got legs on social media where people were making fun of Senator Cruz. An actual senator is quoting the Bible to defend foreign policy? But see, isn’t that interesting, though? You and I are like, well, duh. However, it’s true. And we do have a spiritual alliance with Israel. And Tucker doesn’t seem to see that at all. I mean, honest to goodness, that was probably five minutes, riveting minutes about whether or not it’s appropriate for a U.S. senator to invoke biblical admonition about our support of Israel. And Tucker just could not believe it. He said, well, what do you mean? Modern day Israel? Benjamin Netanyahu? You think the Bible’s talking about today’s military in Israel? We’re talking about the state of Israel.
SPEAKER 05 :
And Senator Cruz kept saying that. So what do we mean? Let’s take 60 seconds on what we mean by that in 2025. I’m never going to use something biblical to say that that is the one sole beacon for some foreign policy, constitutional, strategic thing I want to do now. But it helps to inform the importance of that country to me, to America, to our – and I know that we’re a country of many, many different religious faiths. So it’s not like that’s the one thing, the guiding beacon, nor does it mean that anything Israel does is magically right and proper and good. Not at all. It just means that against this backdrop, that in a Judeo-Christian rooted country, there is significance here that goes beyond the global strategies of the moment.
SPEAKER 08 :
We have many, many reasons to defend and stand with Israel. And that’s one of them. I think it’s one of the most important ones, frankly. But I don’t want to ignore God. Tucker wants to dismiss God.
SPEAKER 05 :
You knock yourself out. Can you do something? You literally have two minutes. It might take all two minutes for you to do it. And you’ve got to do it because I said I was going to make you do it. Explain the Karen Reid trial to me. Who’s this woman? Why do I care? Why does it lead national newscasts?
SPEAKER 08 :
It’s a fascinating story. I can give you 30 seconds because I also want to tell you about something really important about what’s going on in New York right now with the protests. Karen Reid, this is a woman who was charged with murdering her Boston police boyfriend one wintry night a few years ago. It was a blizzard. They’re all out drunk. She’s drunk. He’s drunk. They’re all drunk. There’s a bunch of cops involved. The accusation is that his fellow officers had some nefarious role to play. He was found dead in the snow. There’s a fascinating documentary about it on HBO about, I think it’s called Man in the Snow, but she was found not guilty yesterday, and what was crazy was in the courtroom where they had cameras when they read the not guilty verdict, you could hear the roar of the crowd outside.
SPEAKER 05 :
She had a huge gathering of She has millions of supporters. Is it right that she was acquitted? Why was the prosecution of her flawed? And again, it’s a local crime story, a salty and bizarre one to be sure.
SPEAKER 08 :
It’s one of those fascinating stories. It’s a Jean Benet kind of a whodunit kind of a mystery.
SPEAKER 05 :
Yeah, but that’s a beauty question.
SPEAKER 08 :
queen kid and it’s weird well this is cops this is corruption allegedly of the cops these are cops that were covering up for one of their own they were railroading her allegedly uh you know they were planning evidence a whole thing it’s it’s pretty fascinating i knew true crime mike would have the answer oh i know but but true crime mike is not decided on her guilt or innocence so i gotta give it i really it’s one of those and i hate those kind of things i normally like to say yeah you did it No, you didn’t do it. I don’t know.
SPEAKER 05 :
We like to tie a bow around things in a tidy way. All right, protests in New York. Go, the people with the Iranian flag wrapped around in Times Square. A massive crowd with the Iranian flag. What are they thinking?
SPEAKER 08 :
Mark, here we go. Well, there we go again. I mean, it’s official. No matter how evil or how diabolical Hamas is. Iran, the left is going to celebrate it. The American left. I mean, what’s next? Hitler and Satan? I mean, there’s no low for them. There is no low they won’t go, Mark. The Iranian flag. What do you suppose that’s about?
SPEAKER 05 :
Does it look like just New York randos? I mean, it’s not like Rashida Tlaib was out there, you know, emceeing the thing, was it?
SPEAKER 08 :
Well, what I know is AOC is celebrating this Democrat socialist who might become the next mayor. And Mark, just mark it down. That happens. I ain’t ever going back to New York.
SPEAKER 05 :
Because this is the guy who says, I’m going to freeze your rent. I will set up. What do you say? I’m going to set up city funded books.
SPEAKER 08 :
And already John Katsimatidis, who owns Gristiti, said, if that happens, we’re out. We’ll shut down all the Gristitis.
SPEAKER 05 :
Grocery stores. Exactly right.
SPEAKER 08 :
Grocery stores.
SPEAKER 05 :
To regulate the prices.
SPEAKER 08 :
$30 minimum wage. $30 an hour. Social workers instead of police.
SPEAKER 05 :
Correct. Defund the police.
SPEAKER 08 :
Yeah, that’ll work. Show up with your comfort doll rather than a gun when somebody’s stabbing you to death. I mean, oh yeah, this guy’s not. But by the way, you want to know the option?
SPEAKER 05 :
Yeah.
SPEAKER 08 :
Cuomo. Andrew Cuomo. I know, I know. He’s back. I mean, he was like unbelievable. All right, well, I’ll be in New York today and tomorrow. Okay, wow. I’ll be there tomorrow and Monday, so pray for me. And we’ve got a lot of challenges ahead of us, but we’ll get through it all.
SPEAKER 05 :
And we’re glad to be walking through them with you. Always so glad to do it every day. Love you. That’s our buddy Mike Gallagher. He is on as soon as we’re done, 10 o’clock right here on 660 AM The Answer. For full shows, live and on demand, it’s the Seattle News Channel.
