Squawk Pod State of the Union: Senators Cruz (R-TX) & Cantwell (D-WA) 2/24/26
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Feb 24, 2026 
Ted Cruz, U.S. Senator from Texas known for conservative legal and national security stances, and Maria Cantwell, U.S. Senator from Washington focused on media policy and trade, discuss tariffs and the Supreme Court ruling, competing bids for Warner Bros. Discovery, concerns about media ownership and paywalls, and the interplay between trade policy and American competitiveness.
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Tariffs Work Best As Leverage Not Lifers
- Ted Cruz says tariffs can be a powerful bargaining lever rather than permanent protectionism.
- He contrasts two White House camps: one uses threats to open markets, the other wants high tariffs forever, which he warns against.
Court Ruling Will Create Lawsuits Not Policy Shift
- Cruz argues the Supreme Court ruling on the tariff statute will cause litigation but not fundamentally change policy.
- He notes other federal statutes let the president impose similar tariffs, so trading partners likely won't react much.
Opportunity To Topple Rogue Regimes Without Ground Troops
- Cruz praises recent U.S. strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities as decisive and believes regimes in Iran, Venezuela, and Cuba could fall in months.
- He urges supporting and arming Iranian protesters and warns against U.S. ground troops.