Sen. Ted Cruz Says the US Shutdown 'Needs to End Now'

Key Concepts

• Government Shutdown: A situation where non-essential government functions cease due to a failure to pass appropriations bills.
• Air Traffic Control (ATC) System/FAA: The Federal Aviation Administration, responsible for air traffic safety and operations, which can be impacted by a shutdown.
• TSA Agents: Transportation Security Administration agents, responsible for airport security, who may work without pay during a shutdown.
• "Trump Derangement Syndrome": A term used by Senator Cruz to describe what he perceives as an irrational and extreme opposition to Donald Trump by Democrats.
• "No Kings" Rallies: Protests mentioned by Senator Cruz, which he claims were organized and funded by external groups.
• Astroturf: A term used to describe a movement or campaign that appears to be grassroots but is actually orchestrated by powerful interests.
• George Soros: A billionaire philanthropist whose foundations Senator Cruz alleges have funded groups organizing protests.
• Indivisible: A progressive advocacy group mentioned as a recipient of funding from George Soros's foundation.
• Tea Party Movement: A political movement that emerged in the late 2000s, which Senator Cruz references in the context of political energy and mobilization.
• Midterms (2026): The elections scheduled for 2026, which Senator Cruz believes will be influenced by the current political climate and Republican policy achievements.
• "Jawboning" Legislation: Proposed legislation aimed at preventing the federal government from pressuring private organizations, particularly tech companies, to engage in censorship.
• FCC (Federal Communications Commission): The U.S. government agency responsible for regulating interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable.
• Brendan Carr: Chairman of the FCC, whose comments regarding media licenses were discussed.
• Biden FCC: The Federal Communications Commission during the Biden administration, which Senator Cruz claims considered stripping Fox News's license.
• Right of Action: The legal right to sue for damages.
• NASA: The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, responsible for the civilian space program, as well as aeronautics and aerospace research.
• Artemis Program: NASA's program to return humans to the Moon.
• SpaceX: A private aerospace manufacturer and space transport services company.
• Sputnik: The first artificial Earth satellite, launched by the Soviet Union in 1957, which spurred the Space Race.

Government Shutdown and its Impact on Air Travel

Senator Ted Cruz, speaking from Washington D.C. on Bloomberg TV and Radio, addressed the ongoing government shutdown, emphasizing its detrimental effects and calling for its immediate end. He highlighted that the shutdown is impacting essential services and workers, particularly within the aviation sector.

• Impact on Aviation Workers: Senator Cruz stated that 50,000 TSA agents and 14,000 air traffic controllers are working without receiving full paychecks. He described this situation as "not right" and "not fair," accusing Democrats of holding the government and the American people "hostage."
• Delays and Functionality: He expressed concern that the air traffic control system and the FAA's ability to function effectively are being compromised, leading to increasing delays.
• Republican Stance: Senator Cruz asserted that Republicans are unified in their desire to reopen the government and have voted multiple times to do so. He characterized the Democrats' continued voting to keep the shutdown going as "irresponsible."
• Call for Bipartisan Action: He believes the shutdown will end when "seven or eight Democrats" decide enough is enough. He explained that under Senate rules, 60 votes are needed to fund the government, and with only 53 Republicans, at least seven Democrats are required to pass legislation.

Analysis of "No Kings" Rallies and Political Mobilization

Senator Cruz discussed the "No Kings" rallies that occurred over the weekend, expressing skepticism about the reported attendance numbers and suggesting the protests were not organic.

• Skepticism on Numbers: He questioned the reported figure of "some 7 million people," suggesting these estimates likely came from the organizers. He cited an instance where Elizabeth Warren allegedly tweeted a video from 2017 as current for a rally in Boston.
• "Astroturf" Allegations: Senator Cruz claimed the protests were "bought and paid for" and described them as "Astroturf." He specifically pointed to George Soros's foundation, stating it has provided "millions to Indivisible," a group he identified as a lead organizer of these protests.
• "Democrat Rage": He characterized the protests as an expression of "Democrat rage" fueled by hatred for Donald Trump.
• Political Peril and Midterms: While acknowledging the energy and anger on the left, Senator Cruz advised Republicans to take political peril seriously. He argued that the Democratic Party has become "extreme and radical" and is unified by its opposition to Trump. He believes Republicans have strong substantive issues to campaign on for the 2026 midterms, such as border security, ending wars, and economic growth. However, he warned that angry and energized voters on the left could lead to a "dangerous" election if complacent voters do not turn out.

Free Speech and Government Censorship Legislation

Senator Cruz addressed concerns about political rhetoric and violence, specifically referencing his stance on media freedom and his proposed "jawboning" legislation.

• Disagreement with Brendan Carr: He clarified that he disagreed with comments made by Brendan Carr, Chairman of the FCC, regarding media licenses. Senator Cruz stated that "government should not be threatening to strip the license away from a media outlet to remove someone they dislike."
• Biden Administration's Actions: He pointed out that the Biden FCC had also discussed stripping away Fox News's license, an action he "led the fight against" as Chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee.
• "Jawboning" Legislation: Senator Cruz is introducing legislation to make it illegal for the federal government to pressure private organizations, including "big tech," to engage in censorship. The bill would also create a "right of action," allowing individuals to sue if the government pressures entities to censor them. He emphasized the importance of protecting free speech regardless of agreement with the speaker.

NASA, the Artemis Program, and Competition with China

Senator Cruz discussed his work on the Senate Commerce Committee, focusing on NASA and the Artemis program, and the imperative to beat China in space exploration.

• Artemis Contract and SpaceX: Regarding reports that the Artemis contract might go up for bid and involve companies other than SpaceX, Senator Cruz stated he did not know NASA's specific plans but praised Sean Duffy, the acting administrator, for his work.
• Commitment to Space Exploration: He expressed his personal commitment to NASA, noting that Johnson Space Center in Houston is significant to Texas and the nation. He highlighted a provision he wrote in a bill signed by President Trump that allocated $10 billion for NASA to return to the moon through the Artemis program.
• Race to the Moon: Senator Cruz emphasized that the U.S. is in a race with China to return to the moon, with China aiming to do so by 2030. He warned that if China establishes a base on the moon first, it would be a significant blow to America, comparable to the impact of Sputnik.
• Jobs and Beating China: He stated that a unifying theme for his work on the Commerce Committee is "producing jobs and beating China," and that winning the race to the moon is crucial for American leadership. He expressed confidence that under Duffy's leadership, NASA will succeed in returning to the moon and surpassing China.