Balancing Oil Prices for U.S. Producers

1. Oil Prices & National Security

• Lower global oil prices weaken hostile regimes like Iran, Russia, and Venezuela by reducing their revenue.
• The Trump administration aims for a “sweet spot” oil price ($60–$70/barrel):
  • Low enough to hurt adversaries.
  • High enough to avoid bankrupting U.S. independent oil producers.
• If prices drop into the $40s, it could collapse small oil producers in Texas and the Permian Basin.

2. Venezuela’s Oil Infrastructure

• Venezuela has the world’s largest proven oil reserves, but decades of mismanagement have destroyed its infrastructure.
• Estimates from oil executives:
  • Increasing production from 1 million to 3 million barrels/day could take 10 years and require $100B+ in investment.
  • Even going from 1 million to 2 million/day would take 5–7 years.
• Gulf Coast refineries can process Venezuela’s heavy sour crude, but expanded imports would mostly affect Canada and Mexico, not U.S. light-sweet crude producers.

3. Cuba’s Economic Crisis

• Cuba historically survived on financial support from:
  1. The Soviet Union (until its collapse).
  2. Venezuela under Chávez/Maduro (oil and money).
• With Venezuela no longer able to support Cuba, the island is in economic freefall.
• Mexico is currently providing oil that helps sustain the Cuban regime.
• The Trump administration may pressure Mexico to cut this supply, potentially pushing Cuba toward political collapse.

4. Jack Smith & January 6th Investigation

• Smith is accused of leading a politically motivated prosecution against Donald Trump.
• He allegedly relied on questionable or disproven testimony, notably from Cassidy Hutchinson.
• Hutchinson’s dramatic claims (e.g., Trump lunging for a steering wheel) were not confirmed by eyewitnesses.
• Jim Jordan challenged Smith in hearings, accusing him of:
  • Using unreliable witnesses.
  • Conducting a partisan, anti-Trump investigation.
  • Targeting large numbers of Republicans with subpoenas.

5. Crime Statistics & Trump Administration Policies

• Nationwide murder rates reportedly declined ~20% from 2024 to 2025.
  • Approx. 1,400 fewer murders.
• Major cities showing decreases:
  • Chicago: 30%
  • NYC: 20%
  • Baltimore: 31%
  • Oakland: 33%
  • Washington, D.C.: 31% (after National Guard deployment)
• Other violent crimes also declined:
  • Motor vehicle theft: ↓25%
  • Robbery: ↓18%
  • Aggravated assault: ↓8%

Law enforcement stats cited:

• Violent crime arrests: ↑100%
• Gangs disrupted: ↑210%
• Fentanyl seized: ↑31%
• Missing/abducted children located: ↑22%
• Human traffickers arrested: ↑15%
• Significant increase in arrests of espionage suspects and fugitives.

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

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VerdictwithTedCruz

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.