August 27, 2025
On the Ground with President Bukele in El Salvador plus Cracker Barrel Surrenders
The Ben Ferguson PodcastAbout this episode
Cruz’s Visit to El Salvador Cruz is in El Salvador meeting with President Nayib Bukele, government officials, U.S. military, and embassy staff. He describes dramatic changes in safety under Bukele’s leadership—highlighting the crackdown on gangs, mass arrests of MS-13 members, and construction of a mega-prison. Cruz emphasizes the murder rate dropping from the highest in the world (100 per 100,000 in 2015) to 1.9 per 100,000 in 2024 , a 98% decrease. He contrasts Bukele’s tough-on-crime approach with U.S. cities that, in his view, are paralyzed by progressive policies. Cruz stresses that security improvements are also prompting reverse migration : Salvadorans in the U.S. are reportedly returning home. MS-13 and U.S. Politics They discuss Kamar Abrego Garcia , an MS-13 member from Maryland involved in human trafficking and domestic abuse, who is facing deportation. Cruz criticizes Democrats, particularly Senator Chris Van Hollen, for being sympathetic to such individuals instead of supporting law and order. This segment is framed as an example of Democrats prioritizing criminals over public safety. Cracker Barrel & “Go Woke, Go Broke” Cruz and Ferguson mock Cracker Barrel’s recent rebranding decisions, claiming the company abandoned its traditional customer base for “woke” marketing strategies. They compare the backlash to similar situations with Bud Light and Target, noting plummeting stock prices and customer revolt. Cruz highlights investor warnings that leadership ignored, framing the reversal as a victory for conservative consumer pushback. 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.