WSJ Opinion: Potomac Watch Gerard Baker in Conversation with Texas Senator Ted Cruz
20 snips
Apr 16, 2026 
Ted Cruz, U.S. Senator from Texas and former presidential candidate, speaks about national security and conservative strategy. He assesses recent military actions against Iran and whether Tehran can rebuild its capabilities. He debates political polarization, Republican identity, trade tactics, 2028 primary dynamics, and why he would decline a Supreme Court nomination.
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Rapid Military Dismantling Of Iran's Capabilities
- The U.S. military campaign against Iran achieved rapid, decisive degradation of Iran's forces and leadership.
- Ted Cruz cites destroyed air defenses, missiles, drones, sunk ships and killed senior leaders as proof the regime's military capacity was dismantled in about 39 days.
Insist On Zero Enrichment As The Only Acceptable Deal
- Demand zero enrichment and surrender of enriched uranium as a nonnegotiable red line.
- Cruz urged President Trump to accept only exile for Iran's leadership as the sole diplomatic concession, not continued negotiated delays.
Rejecting Mandatory Nation Building After Strikes
- Cruz rejects the Pottery Barn rule that invading requires long-term occupation and nation-building.
- He argues air campaigns can be decisive without committing hundreds of thousands of ground troops and that past nation-building failed in Iraq and Libya.