April 24, 2025, 2:18 p.m.
Editor's Note: This story first appeared in Margins to Mainstream, our new special report on alternative media. Click here for the entire issue.
A series of podcast appearances by President Trump may have delivered him the 2024 presidential election.
At least that’s what political commentator—and podcaster—Ben Ferguson thinks.
“I think without podcasting, Donald Trump may not have won this election,” Ferguson said. “It was that important to his success.”
He may be right. In the weeks leading up to the election, Trump appeared on a slate of podcasts with hosts ranging from Barstool Sports personalities to YouTube creators such as Logan Paul and the Nelk Boys. The strategy was designed to appeal to low-propensity voters, particularly young men, who might have otherwise stayed home during the election.
Ferguson has been involved in political broadcasting his entire career. At age 13, he was the youngest radio talk-show host in the country. At age 20, he became the youngest nationally syndicated radio host.
Now the host of three podcasts, Ferguson believes the medium is part of the future of news distribution.
“I think it’s the changing of how people get their news, and a lot of people want to be able to do it on their own time, when they want to, how they want to, where they want to,” Ferguson told National Journal in an interview.
Ferguson is in a unique position because he co-hosts a podcast with Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas. Verdict with Ted Cruz ranks as one of the most popular political podcasts in the country and the most popular podcast hosted by a politician, according to Rephonic, which tracks podcast popularity.
“It is a conversation that is honest and pulling back the curtain behind how Washington works,” Ferguson said. “And I think that’s become extremely valuable for messaging.”
National Journal reported last year on the rising prevalence of member-led podcasts and their strength in offering a behind-the-scenes glimpse into congressional life. These shows were especially instrumental in the overthrow of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy led by then-Rep. Matt Gaetz, a prolific podcaster during his time in office.
The Verdict co-host said his show offers listeners insights that may not have yet reached mainstream audiences.
“I think it’s an expectations thing, which is one of the reasons why it’s been so successful—when you’re able to be honest with an audience in a long form, and explain expectations, what’s realistic, and what is or is not going to happen,” Ferguson said.
He pointed to multiple examples in which topics discussed on the show had been out of the mainstream initially, but later became relevant political topics. He said he and Cruz led conversations in April 2023 about transgender athletes’ participation in sports. The issue later became a touchstone in the 2024 elections as the Trump campaign capitalized on previous comments from Vice President Kamala Harris on the topic. Ferguson and Cruz predicted President Biden would pardon his son Hunter, even as the White House insisted the president would not. Biden did exactly that in the waning days of his administration.
The show also offers a way for an elected official to explain otherwise wonky procedures to an audience that may not follow Congress as closely, according to Ferguson. The hosts took listeners behind the scenes on races for House speaker and Senate majority leader.
“Senator Cruz does a great job of explaining those types of things,” Ferguson said.
As Cruz’s co-host, he plays a different role than he does when he hosts his own shows, especially when they discuss the "inside baseball" of politics.
“I try to listen to what he’s saying and interrupt and ask a question that I think a normal, everyday American that is busy—that maybe has kids or grandkids—would ask,” Ferguson said, noting that he approaches his own shows differently.
He also hosts the daily Ben Ferguson Podcast, offering his commentary on the news, as well as The 47 Morning Update, a 15-minute show airing Monday through Friday that summarizes the “three biggest stories coming out of the White House.”
Podcasts—both political and non-political—figure to be an essential part of a candidate or elected official’s arsenal in the future as news-consumption habits continue to evolve.
Some electeds, like Cruz, are already active in the podcast sphere. Republican Rep. Dan Crenshaw hosts a semi-regular show, as does Rep. Andy Biggs, though he has not posted an episode since he began his campaign for Arizona governor. Some members of the House Freedom Caucus also host a series.
But none have quite the reach of Cruz and Ferguson’s show, which dwarfs other members’ podcasts based on YouTube views. Ferguson says he doesn’t think that’s an accident.
“I think there are some members that think, ‘Oh, I'm going to go on there once a week, and I'm just going to do … a dictation of my agenda,’” he said. “And if that's your mind-set, I don't care if you're Republican, Democrat, you’re not going to have an audience.”
Ferguson added that if members are “willing to learn the trade,” they may be successful in the space, pointing to California Gov. Gavin Newsom, whose new podcast has drawn the ire of some of the Left for including conservative guests.
“Now the Holy Grail is to do Joe Rogan,” said Ferguson, referencing the commentator who hosts one of the most popular podcasts in the world. Trump appeared on the show shortly before the election, while Harris’s campaign was unable to secure time on the show. Ferguson noted that 15 years ago the gold standard was to get on the Sunday shows or the late-night television circuit.
“Podcast hosts are the epicenter of where a lot of people get their news,” he said of the shift from cable news to alternative forms. “Because I think they realize it’s more real. It’s more authentic.”
