Verdict with Ted Cruz - November 28, 2025


BONUS POD： Holiday Spending to Break $1 Trillion as Democrats Push Economic Narrative


Episode Stats

Length

13 minutes

Words per Minute

149.41238

Word Count

1,996

Sentence Count

171

Hate Speech Sentences

8


Summary


Transcript

00:00:00.000 This is an iHeart Podcast.
00:00:02.500 Guaranteed Human.
00:00:05.680 We must now re-examine every single alien
00:00:08.960 who has entered our country from Afghanistan under Biden,
00:00:12.500 and we must take all necessary measures
00:00:14.540 to ensure the removal of any alien from any country
00:00:17.960 who does not belong here or add benefit to our country.
00:00:21.680 If they can't love our country, we don't want them.
00:00:24.240 America will never bend and never yield in the face of terror,
00:00:27.280 and at the same time, we will not be deterred
00:00:29.900 from the mission the service members were so nobly fulfilling.
00:00:34.500 You're listening to the 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson.
00:00:38.380 Good Black Friday.
00:00:39.560 So nice to have you with us on the 47 Morning Update.
00:00:42.820 And we've got a big economic story for you,
00:00:45.300 and it deals with affordability and major changes
00:00:48.340 that have come under the Trump administration
00:00:50.780 in less than a year of being in office.
00:00:53.560 So why are the Democrats all about doom and gloom?
00:00:56.400 And what are the facts actually saying about prices?
00:00:59.900 Especially as so many are spending big bucks today.
00:01:02.880 And we've got the good news for you.
00:01:05.380 But first, did you see that gold just hit an all-time new high
00:01:09.260 of over $4,000 an ounce?
00:01:13.060 And if you hear that and you're like,
00:01:14.340 are you kidding me?
00:01:15.240 And you're thinking, gosh, I missed my opportunity?
00:01:18.220 Well, I don't know if you missed your opportunity.
00:01:20.560 But my friends at Kurt Elliott Precious Metals,
00:01:23.120 they can answer that question for you.
00:01:25.180 You also may not be paying attention to the incredible gains
00:01:28.960 with silver that are happening right now as well.
00:01:31.860 And that's why I trust the guidance of the team at Kurt Elliott.
00:01:36.020 In fact, I literally just got a 100-ounce bar of silver the other day.
00:01:41.560 And the reason why is because after I talked to the team
00:01:44.400 at Kurt Elliott Precious Metals,
00:01:46.720 they let me understand exactly where I could have a big upside
00:01:50.320 in investing in silver.
00:01:51.680 Now, the other part that I love about them is this.
00:01:55.060 They have transparent pricing.
00:01:57.540 There are a lot of gold companies that you'll hear about
00:01:59.860 if you listen to talk radio or podcasts or watch TV.
00:02:03.640 But do they tell you how the pricing actually works?
00:02:07.600 Well, at Kurt Elliott, they're real simple.
00:02:10.260 Just 8% when you buy and zero commissions when you sell
00:02:15.340 with no hidden fees ever.
00:02:17.660 That is the other reason why I recommend them to all of you.
00:02:20.980 They also don't sell you, quote, rare coins or precious coins
00:02:24.900 that you pay insane markups on.
00:02:27.680 And then when you go to sell them, you find out
00:02:29.340 they're really not worth that much.
00:02:31.440 They are a bullion-only approach.
00:02:33.960 They focus on investment-grade metals.
00:02:36.940 No overpriced collectibles, no gimmicks.
00:02:40.200 That means you get more gold or silver for your money
00:02:43.460 at fair value when it's time for you to sell.
00:02:46.560 So if you're ready to find out if gold and silver is right for you
00:02:51.060 and your portfolio, then call them and get a plan.
00:02:55.660 You can visit them at KEPM.com slash Ben.
00:03:00.800 That's KEPM.com slash Ben.
00:03:04.920 Or 720-605-3900.
00:03:10.180 That's 720-605-3900.
00:03:14.720 Kirk Elliott, Precious Metals Online at KEPM.com.
00:03:20.600 It's the 47 Morning Update, and it starts right now.
00:03:24.220 Story number one.
00:03:25.400 There's a word that a lot of you may have heard.
00:03:28.260 Affordability.
00:03:29.120 It is the obsession word of the Democratic Party right now.
00:03:32.060 Well, something they never mentioned when Joe Biden was president
00:03:35.800 of the United States of America.
00:03:37.180 Instead, they lied to you and said that there was no such thing
00:03:39.680 as inflation, that it was transitory,
00:03:42.420 and that things were, quote, getting better,
00:03:44.280 and gas prices really weren't that bad.
00:03:47.000 Well, now they're wanting Americans to believe
00:03:50.140 that the economy is a disaster,
00:03:51.800 and they're trying to blame Donald Trump for everything.
00:03:54.860 So let's talk about the facts of where we were a year ago
00:03:58.560 compared to now specifically around Black Friday
00:04:01.880 and holiday travel.
00:04:05.140 For Thanksgiving travelers, there's a bit of good news.
00:04:08.540 Let me say that again.
00:04:09.620 A bit of good news for you at the pump.
00:04:12.860 Gas prices are holding steady.
00:04:15.560 A far cry from the sticker shock of recent years.
00:04:19.900 GasBuddy is now forecasting a national average
00:04:23.300 of $3.02 per gallon over the holiday,
00:04:27.200 matching, yes, a low price that we needed
00:04:31.540 desperately to help Americans.
00:04:33.660 And we also now know that there's other things
00:04:36.880 that are really exciting.
00:04:38.820 Thanksgiving gas prices,
00:04:40.200 this is the lowest we've had since the pandemic,
00:04:42.760 when the national average hit $3.39 a gallon in 2021
00:04:47.860 and $3.56 a gallon in 2022.
00:04:53.280 Gas prices are coming down.
00:04:56.100 And for many drivers,
00:04:57.080 the national stability is showing up locally as well.
00:05:00.480 Nearly 30 states now boast average prices
00:05:04.200 of under $3 a gallon.
00:05:08.320 From Colorado to New Hampshire to Georgia,
00:05:10.980 according to AAA.
00:05:12.680 Oklahoma tops the list with an average
00:05:15.240 of just $2.50 a gallon.
00:05:18.440 That is a welcome number
00:05:20.000 on many gas stations signs for consumers.
00:05:24.100 Now, at the other end of the spectrum,
00:05:26.140 where liberals are in charge,
00:05:27.760 you've still got pain at the pump
00:05:29.360 with over-regulation and taxation.
00:05:32.680 Let me give you an example of that.
00:05:34.580 California is now topping the list
00:05:36.860 as the most expensive state
00:05:39.760 when it comes to buying a gallon of gasoline.
00:05:42.820 When you look at Oklahoma,
00:05:44.200 a conservative state
00:05:45.540 with not a lot of regulation
00:05:47.280 to make prices skyrocket
00:05:49.300 in certain blends,
00:05:50.260 they demand to protect the environment,
00:05:52.860 right, because of global warming.
00:05:54.860 Well, compare it to what they're paying
00:05:56.920 in California.
00:05:58.360 It is $4.63 per gallon
00:06:02.580 compared to just $2.50 a gallon
00:06:04.480 in Oklahoma.
00:06:06.540 Hawaii is actually cheaper,
00:06:09.140 and that's not something you hear about
00:06:11.020 very often as Hawaii
00:06:12.700 is one of the most expensive places
00:06:14.660 to just get gasoline, too.
00:06:16.840 It is now less expensive
00:06:18.200 to buy a gallon of gas in Hawaii
00:06:20.480 than it is with all the regulations
00:06:22.860 on gasoline in California.
00:06:25.620 Hawaii at $4.47 a gallon
00:06:28.400 compared to $4.63 in California.
00:06:31.460 Washington State,
00:06:32.580 another liberal bastion of,
00:06:34.680 well, socialism,
00:06:35.580 they now are at $4.18 a gallon.
00:06:40.960 And rounding out the top 10
00:06:42.580 are Nevada at $3.84 a gallon,
00:06:45.440 Alaska at $3.75 a gallon,
00:06:48.180 Arizona at $3.37 a gallon,
00:06:50.740 and three states tied at $3.29,
00:06:53.820 Pennsylvania, Idaho, and Illinois.
00:06:57.060 Meanwhile,
00:06:57.860 the most affordable gas
00:06:58.980 can be found in conservative states.
00:07:01.760 Oklahoma at $2.57 a gallon,
00:07:05.720 Mississippi at $2.61 a gallon,
00:07:08.280 and Louisiana at $2.65 a gallon.
00:07:11.000 Those states then follow
00:07:12.340 other conservative states.
00:07:14.120 Tennessee at $2.66 a gallon,
00:07:16.860 Arkansas at $2.67 a gallon,
00:07:19.440 Texas at $2.70 a gallon,
00:07:22.060 Kansas at $2.71,
00:07:24.080 Missouri at $2.73,
00:07:25.860 Alabama at $2.73,
00:07:27.400 and Kentucky at $2.74 a gallon.
00:07:30.400 You notice the trend here.
00:07:32.540 Where there are conservative states,
00:07:34.180 there are lower prices.
00:07:35.780 And when you have
00:07:36.280 the most radical liberals,
00:07:38.140 where at what are their prices?
00:07:39.540 Almost double what is being paid
00:07:42.080 in conservative states.
00:07:44.320 AAA anticipates that
00:07:46.040 nearly 82 million Americans
00:07:48.100 will journey at least 50 miles from home
00:07:51.820 over the Thanksgiving holiday.
00:07:53.820 1.6 million more than last year,
00:07:57.240 marking a record high
00:07:58.900 for Thanksgiving travel.
00:08:01.100 Now the revelation comes
00:08:02.240 that the Trump administration
00:08:03.300 is pushing ahead
00:08:04.480 on energy dominance,
00:08:06.220 independence.
00:08:07.340 It's a key pillar
00:08:08.200 of President Donald Trump's
00:08:09.240 economic and national security agenda.
00:08:12.000 And while Thanksgiving marks
00:08:13.260 the year's busiest travel stretch,
00:08:16.140 it isn't the only time
00:08:17.340 drivers have caught a break.
00:08:19.180 This Labor Day,
00:08:20.100 motorists saw the lowest gas prices
00:08:22.020 in a half a decade.
00:08:24.220 So this is not just
00:08:25.280 one blip on the map.
00:08:26.880 It's a clear trend
00:08:28.140 because of the President
00:08:29.920 of the United States of America
00:08:31.200 putting Americans first.
00:08:33.000 Which also brings us
00:08:34.620 to what's about to happen
00:08:35.960 with U.S. holiday spending.
00:08:38.160 How do Americans actually feel
00:08:40.300 about the economy
00:08:41.360 and where we are right now?
00:08:44.080 U.S. holiday spending,
00:08:45.800 we're now being told,
00:08:46.980 is expected to top $1 trillion
00:08:51.640 for the first time ever.
00:08:56.140 I want you to take a listen
00:08:57.140 to what they had to say
00:08:58.200 about the holidays
00:08:59.560 and shopping patterns this year
00:09:01.940 on Fox Business Channel.
00:09:03.840 Despite concerns
00:09:04.660 about the economy,
00:09:05.940 people are still looking to spend.
00:09:07.600 Jerry Willis has the numbers.
00:09:09.400 She joins us now.
00:09:10.480 Hey, Jerry.
00:09:11.380 Yeah, you know,
00:09:12.680 it's interesting.
00:09:13.980 Everybody asking
00:09:14.680 just how generous
00:09:15.460 American consumers
00:09:16.300 will be this holiday season.
00:09:18.360 It's a question
00:09:18.900 still under debate.
00:09:20.520 Both Pricewaterhouse
00:09:21.480 and Deloitte surveys
00:09:22.460 of consumers showing
00:09:23.520 Americans tightening
00:09:24.680 their purse strings
00:09:25.760 with declines of anywhere
00:09:27.080 from 5 to 10 percent.
00:09:29.120 Gen Z, the most cautious,
00:09:30.640 saying they plan to spend
00:09:31.940 23 percent less than last year.
00:09:35.280 But the National Retail Federation
00:09:37.380 sees sales rising 2.9 to 3.4 percent,
00:09:41.320 breaking through the $1 trillion mark
00:09:43.980 for the first time ever.
00:09:45.940 Now, meanwhile,
00:09:46.460 the big discounters
00:09:47.240 like Walmart, TJ Maxx,
00:09:48.780 showing strong early results.
00:09:50.900 But what can consumers expect
00:09:52.680 as they hit the malls
00:09:53.740 and fire up their web browsers
00:09:55.200 this holiday season?
00:09:57.580 One retail consultant says
00:09:59.120 potential price hikes loom
00:10:00.760 with the elimination
00:10:01.680 of the de minimis tariff,
00:10:03.180 which allowed goods
00:10:04.360 under $1,000 from offshore
00:10:06.260 to enter the U.S. duty-free.
00:10:08.420 She says it could cause
00:10:10.100 sticker shock for some consumers.
00:10:12.620 Listen.
00:10:12.860 You need to buy now
00:10:14.280 because we don't know
00:10:15.540 what's going to happen.
00:10:16.480 Tariffs could go up
00:10:17.320 at any point,
00:10:18.780 in which case
00:10:19.740 those prices will get passed on.
00:10:21.920 The price increase
00:10:22.560 will immediately get passed on
00:10:24.040 to the consumer.
00:10:25.540 Now, travel snafus
00:10:26.600 could also make it difficult
00:10:27.680 to get your presents
00:10:28.580 delivered on time.
00:10:29.680 So Herzog is also recommending
00:10:31.860 shipping presents early,
00:10:33.560 by December 17th at the least.
00:10:35.920 Plus, the best prices,
00:10:38.420 that is,
00:10:38.700 on big-ticket electronics
00:10:39.940 will be available
00:10:40.780 after the holiday season,
00:10:42.860 January 5th and later.
00:10:45.200 Bottom line,
00:10:45.980 if you want to save money
00:10:47.040 this holiday season,
00:10:48.260 make a list,
00:10:49.660 stick to it,
00:10:50.680 and start early.
00:10:52.820 Now, this is also happening
00:10:54.440 as we're seeing something else
00:10:55.960 that's going to make you
00:10:56.780 very happy,
00:10:57.560 and that is,
00:10:58.400 Thanksgiving meal costs
00:10:59.560 have declined
00:11:00.180 to the lowest level
00:11:01.340 in four years.
00:11:03.180 Another example
00:11:04.060 of affordability
00:11:05.120 the Democrats
00:11:05.840 are trying to say
00:11:06.380 is terrible,
00:11:07.360 and actually,
00:11:08.040 it's running yet again
00:11:08.980 in the right direction.
00:11:10.760 The cost of a traditional
00:11:11.980 Thanksgiving meal
00:11:12.800 down sharply,
00:11:14.060 falling to the lowest price
00:11:15.320 since 2021,
00:11:17.060 according to the
00:11:17.880 American Farm Bureau.
00:11:19.740 The Farm Bureau's
00:11:20.480 40th annual survey
00:11:21.500 found that a classic
00:11:22.560 Thanksgiving dinner
00:11:23.420 for 10 people
00:11:24.340 will cost $55.18.
00:11:26.320 That is down 5%
00:11:28.080 from last year.
00:11:29.840 Since 1986,
00:11:31.500 volunteers across
00:11:32.340 all 50 states
00:11:33.380 in Puerto Rico
00:11:34.040 have been organized
00:11:35.680 by the American Farm Bureau
00:11:36.980 to record local prices
00:11:38.420 for turkey,
00:11:39.760 cube stuffing,
00:11:40.960 sweet potatoes,
00:11:42.120 dinner rolls,
00:11:42.840 frozen peas,
00:11:43.700 fresh cranberries,
00:11:44.700 celery,
00:11:45.240 carrots,
00:11:45.760 pumpkin pie mix,
00:11:47.280 and crust,
00:11:48.180 whipping cream,
00:11:49.460 and whole milk.
00:11:50.980 Prices soared
00:11:51.760 during the presidency
00:11:52.480 of Joe Biden,
00:11:53.740 with inflation rising
00:11:55.000 to the worst pace
00:11:55.900 in 40 years.
00:11:57.300 The price of a classic
00:11:58.240 Thanksgiving meal
00:11:59.000 surged 14%
00:12:00.320 in 2021 alone.
00:12:02.440 Biden's first year
00:12:03.260 in office.
00:12:04.040 Then hitting a record
00:12:04.900 high of 53.31.
00:12:07.200 Despite the administration's
00:12:08.620 insistence
00:12:09.240 that the price increases
00:12:10.360 were transitory
00:12:11.420 or the result
00:12:12.480 of a temporary
00:12:13.180 supply shock
00:12:14.120 the following year,
00:12:15.280 what came to be called
00:12:16.500 Bidenflation
00:12:17.220 was even worse.
00:12:18.540 The price of a
00:12:19.160 Thanksgiving meal
00:12:19.800 jumped another 20%
00:12:21.560 to a skyrocketing
00:12:23.420 $6,405.
00:12:26.200 By Biden's final
00:12:27.120 Thanksgiving,
00:12:27.920 the price of a
00:12:28.540 traditional family
00:12:29.240 holiday meal
00:12:29.780 was 24% higher
00:12:31.240 than it was
00:12:31.780 when he took office.
00:12:33.080 Yes,
00:12:33.680 almost a 25%
00:12:35.480 increase.
00:12:37.020 This year's
00:12:37.500 decline was driven
00:12:38.460 by a sharp fall
00:12:39.280 in the price
00:12:39.760 of turkey.
00:12:40.860 A 16-pound turkey
00:12:42.080 will cost an average
00:12:42.840 of $21.50.
00:12:44.340 That is down
00:12:45.020 16%
00:12:46.200 from Joe Biden's
00:12:47.820 final year
00:12:49.240 in office.
00:12:50.720 So,
00:12:51.280 is the economy
00:12:52.480 getting better?
00:12:53.520 Yes.
00:12:54.260 Is pricing
00:12:54.820 getting better
00:12:55.360 for you?
00:12:56.140 Yes.
00:12:57.020 And is this something
00:12:57.620 we should all
00:12:58.100 be excited about?
00:12:58.980 You better believe it.
00:13:00.180 Thank you for listening
00:13:01.100 to the 47 Morning Update
00:13:02.900 with Ben Ferguson.
00:13:04.500 Please make sure
00:13:05.360 you hit subscribe
00:13:06.300 wherever you're listening
00:13:07.760 to this podcast
00:13:08.580 right now.
00:13:09.780 And for more
00:13:10.300 in-depth news,
00:13:11.500 also subscribe
00:13:12.320 to the Ben Ferguson
00:13:13.320 podcast,
00:13:14.220 and we will see you
00:13:15.180 back here tomorrow.
00:13:16.020 This is an iHeart podcast.
00:13:20.720 Guaranteed human.