Podcast
Verdict with Ted Cruz
Ted Cruz mentioned the children's series in two episodes, recalling it from his own childhood and using the story of the eldest brother’s willingness to fight back as a metaphor for how strength can foster tolerance. He cited the book’s 19th‑century Utah setting and characters to illustrate points about geopolitical and personal resilience.
Episode: Nancy Pelosi, Chief Mask Officer
Senator Cruz referenced this children's book series, set in late 1800s Utah, as an example of how tolerance can be achieved by being prepared to fight back, specifically mentioning the eldest brother, Swendy, and his ability to fight back.
So when I was a kid, I was a big fan of it's a seven book series that's called the great brain.
So it's so it's by guy named John D. John D. Fitzgerald and it is about a family in Utah on the late 1800s.
It's amazing how tolerant someone can be when you can whip them
Episode: Montecristos with Bibi (and Peace in the Middle Ea...
It was mentioned as a children's book series that Senator Cruz read as a kid, and he used it as an analogy for Israel's geopolitical position, suggesting that strength leads to tolerance.
Let me give it an analogy from literature. And you're going to laugh at what the literature is, which is a children's book that I read as a kid. Did you ever read the series called The Great Brain?
The Great Brain is a seven book series that I read as a, I don't know, as a kid. It's by John D. Fitzgerald, J.D. Fitzgerald.
And he is the younger brother and it's talking about his, the middle brother, Tom D. Fitzgerald and the older brother, Swen D. Fitzgerald. And Tom, the middle brother is a con man.