(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . TX-Sen: Lyin' Ted (R) Busted On Tape Confessing To Fox News' Maria Bartiromo That The Big Lie Is BS [1] ['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.', 'Backgroundurl Avatar_Large', 'Nickname', 'Joined', 'Created_At', 'Story Count', 'N_Stories', 'Comment Count', 'N_Comments', 'Popular Tags'] Date: 2023-04-22 Sen. Ted Cruz (R. TX) In case you kissed this: x YouTube Video Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) spoke to Fox News anchor Maria Bartiromo in November 2020 and stressed the importance of network guests coming on air with facts to support their claims about widespread voter fraud, according to audio of the conversation captured by former Fox News producer Abby Grossberg and played Thursday on MSNBC’s The Beat. “It can’t just be, you know, somebody tweeted this,” Cruz told Bartiromo on Nov. 7, the day all major networks called the election for Joe Biden. “It’s got to be demonstrable facts that can be laid out with evidence because that’s what a court of law is going to look to—not just an allegation but actual fact.” Cruz then addressed Rudy Giuliani’s scheduled appearance on Bartiromo’s show the next day. “I’m hoping when Rudy comes on the show tomorrow he has some of those facts and I hope the legal team continues to lay out the specific evidence because that’s what it’s going to take to prevail in court,” he said. Unfortunately for Cruz, in another audio clip from Grossberg that MSNBC’s Alex Wagner played last week, Giuliani admitted to Bartiromo on Nov. 8 that he didn’t have any evidence that Dominion’s voting machines were part of some fraudulent scheme. Despite his private comments, Cruz would still go on to publicly urge colleagues to not certify the election results on Jan. 6 by asking them to consider what those who “believe this election was rigged” would think if they did certify it. MSNBC’s Ari Melber rightfully ripped Cruz a new one: Melber noted that Cruz seems more “tethered to reality” than in his public life. The MSNBC also fact checked that these legal proceedings are what is par for the course of a court of law investigating election fraud. “It sounds like in a diplomatic way in that November call, Senator Cruz already knew that there had been no public information suggesting that there were facts to support overturn the election, that he was even skeptical them coming up short in court,” Melber said. “In a way, you’re hearing a reasoned and diplomatic version of ‘Hey, get ready to lose’ and they did. The Trump team lost all those cases.” Melber then played a public appearance of Cruz on Jan. 6, 2021 in which the senator “used his power” to vote against certifying the Biden election in the absence of the facts he described on the phone. “I want to speak to the Republicans who are considering voting against these objections. I understand your concerns, but I urge you to pause and think what does it say to the nearly half the country that believes this election was rigged if we vote not even to consider the claims of illegality and fraud in this election?” Cruz said. Keep on eye on Texas because it looks like Cruz is going to get another credible challenger: San Antonio Democrat Sen. Roland Gutierrez, who has made his way into the national spotlight for his advocacy on behalf of families who lost loved ones in the Uvalde school massacre, is likely to run for higher office according to a source close to the state senator. One source who works with Gutierrez confirmed to Nexstar on Thursday that the Democrat is considering challenging Republican incumbent U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz in 2024. Gutierrez will continue weighing his options and won’t make a formal announcement about the race until the current legislative session is completed at the end of May. The San Antonio Express-News first reported Wednesday morning that Gutierrez is “nearly certain” to run. Gutierrez and one of his Texas Senate staffers declined to comment on the matter. The source close to the senator asked to not be named due to not being authorized to publicly talk about Gutierrez’s considerations. Here’s a little more info: U.S. Rep. Colin Allred, D-Dallas, is also considering running against Cruz, who has shifted focus to his reelection campaign in recent months after flirting with another presidential bid. Gutierrez has served in the Texas Senate since 2021 after previously serving over a decade in the House. His Senate seat is not on the ballot again until 2026, meaning he would not have to give it up to challenge Cruz next year. The Uvalde massacre happened inside his district, killing 19 children and two teachers, and Gutierrez has dedicated himself this legislative session to trying to address it despite GOP leaders’ resistance to considering any new gun restrictions. He has held several news conferences with families of victims and clashed with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick over the issue on the Senate floor. Gutierrez got his biggest victory yet Tuesday when a House committee held a hearing on a slate of gun bills, including one that would raise the minimum age to purchase certain semi-automatic rifles. Gutierrez previously raised speculation he could challenge Cruz when he introduced legislation to bar U.S. senators from Texas for serving more than two terms. That was a jab at Cruz, who has repeatedly proposed a two-term limit for senators and is now running for his third term. Stay tuned. In the mean time, click here to donate and get involved with the Texas Democratic Party. 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