Forget Platner, Heeere's Jackson plus Mamdani's Government Groceries & the Lawsuits Were Loaded Before America Voted Week In Review
August 8, 2026
AI Summary
5 min readThis episode of Verdict covers three major developments in American politics: the Democratic replacement for Graham Platner in Maine, New York City’s plan for government-run grocery stores, and the revelation that Democratic attorneys general coordinated lawsuits against Donald Trump months before the 2024 election. The hosts argue these stories reveal a party captured by radicalism, but the episode is structured as three distinct items rather than a single thesis.
Troy Jackson: The Replacement for Graham Platner
The Democratic candidate to replace the ousted Graham Platner in Maine is Troy Jackson, whom the hosts describe as a DSA-aligned communist with a record of hostility toward women. They argue that Platner’s disqualifying traits — a Nazi SS tattoo, open communism, misogyny, anti-Semitism — were tolerated by national Democrats until polling turned against him. Elizabeth Warren, who had called Platner “my kind of guy,” now says she is “feeling good” about Jackson. The hosts highlight that Jackson married his second cousin, which they present as further evidence of Democratic hypocrisy: voter ID is racist, but an ID will be required to access the government grocery stores. They also note that Bill Maher, a lifelong liberal, recently warned that the Democratic Party is being taken over by the DSA, quoting DSA figures who openly call for communism and the seizure of p
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What you'll learn
- 1 Verdict with Ted Cruz – Weekend Review
- 2 (02:30) **Opening Roundup** - Ben Ferguson previews three major stories: the Democratic replacement for Graham Platner, NYC's government-run grocery stores, and pre-election lawsuits plotted by Democrat AGs against Trump.
- 3 (03:21) **Troy Jackson Replaces Graham Platner** - Democrats swap one radical for another in the Maine Senate race
- 4 (13:45) **Fauci's COVID Lies** - Brief mention of Fauci's diary contradicting his public statements about the virus's origin
- 5 (17:00) **Mamdani's Government Grocery Stores** - NYC's plan for five state-run grocery stores faces ridicule
- 6 (24:19) **Van Jones on the Democratic "Revolution"** - A left-wing commentator describes the party's insurgent takeover
- 7 (26:27) **Francesca Hong Wants to Cancel Thanksgiving** - The likely Democratic nominee for Wisconsin governor explains her 2021 tweet
+ Full timestamped outline available in the app
Show Notes
In this episode of Verdict with Ted Cruz, Senator Cruz and Ben break down the week's biggest political stories, assess debates shaping the Democratic Party, examine the controversy surrounding government-run grocery stores in New York City, and discuss reports that Democratic attorneys general coordinated legal challenges to Donald Trump before his return to office.
A new Democratic Senate candidate in Maine, a proposal for government-run grocery stores in New York City, and newly reported coordination among Democratic attorneys general before the 2024 election are at the center of this Week in Review. Ted Cruz and Ben Ferguson revisit several of the stories that generated the most discussion during the week and explain why they believe those developments could have broader political consequences.
The episode begins with the Maine Senate race, where Cruz and Ferguson argue that Democratic leaders replaced one controversial candidate with another who shares many of the same ideological positions. They discuss reactions from national Democratic figures and examine what those endorsements reveal about the direction of the party. The conversation then shifts to New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani's proposal for government-run grocery stores. Cruz and Ferguson review details from a public request-for-proposal document, debate the logistics of operating city-backed stores, and question whether the model could achieve its stated goals without creating new costs and complications.
The episode also highlights commentary from figures including Bill Maher and Van Jones, whose recent remarks are presented as evidence of growing debate within Democratic circles about the party's future direction and messaging. In the final segment, Cruz and Ferguson discuss a report alleging that a coalition of Democratic attorneys general began preparing legal strategies against a potential second Trump administration months before the 2024 election. They examine the timeline, the lawsuits that followed, and what they believe it says about the political and legal battles surrounding President Donald Trump.
Topics Covered:
- The Maine Senate race and Democratic candidate Troy Jackson
- National Democratic reactions to controversial candidates
- Zohran Mamdani's government-run grocery store proposal
- Public procurement and operational concerns in New York City
- Bill Maher and Van Jones on the future of the Democratic Party
- Reports of coordinated legal action by Democratic attorneys general against Donald Trump
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