The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show (Verdict with Ted Cruz)

BONUS: Biden DOJ Subpoenaed MY Phone Records, Spied on 20% of GOP Senators, plus Lunch w Trump in the Rose Garden

Date: October 23, 2025
Host(s): Ben Ferguson, featuring Senator Ted Cruz

Episode Overview

This robust episode dives into explosive allegations that the Biden Department of Justice, under Jack Smith, subpoenaed the personal phone records of at least nine Republican senators—about 20% of the GOP in the Senate—and other conservative figures. Senator Ted Cruz reveals he was among those targeted but shares how AT&T refused to comply with the DOJ demand, sparking a discussion on political overreach, constitutional protections, and the weaponization of federal agencies. The episode also lightens up with behind-the-scenes stories from a recent lunch with President Trump at the White House, featuring details about Trump's latest renovations and interactions with GOP senators.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. News Break: DOJ Subpoenas and Political Spying

• Sen. Cruz describes DOJ/Jack Smith subpoenas:
  • Subpoenas targeted communications data of nine Republican senators and one House member, seeking calls, texts, voicemails (06:45).
  • Verizon complied and handed over records; AT&T did not hand over Cruz’s records, citing constitutional protection under the Speech and Debate Clause (07:51).
  • Subpoenas covered the period around January 6, 2021, aiming to prove coordination with those charged over Capitol events.
• Scope and implications:
  • Cruz underscores the political context—subpoenas were issued after Trump announced his 2024 campaign (11:41).
  • This surveillance covered roughly 20% of Republican senators—"an extraordinary abuse of power" (12:27).
  • Strong assertion that this was not a legitimate criminal probe but a political fishing expedition:

    "None of us engaged in criminal conduct... This was political persecution. This was snooping."
    — Sen. Ted Cruz (12:27)

2. Constitutional and Legal Issues

• AT&T’s refusal:
  • AT&T recognized the subpoenaed number as Cruz’s, consulted legal counsel, and cited the Constitution’s Speech and Debate Clause as grounds for refusal.

    "AT&T...concluded, 'Listen, what Cruz is saying is protected...The Constitution protects the ability of senators and House members to engage in debate, to do our jobs.'"
    — Sen. Ted Cruz (09:42)

• Secrecy Order:
  • Judge Boasberg issued an order barring AT&T from informing Sen. Cruz about the surveillance for a year (09:37).
• Precedent and Dangerous Trend:
  • The episode draws parallels between the Nixon era abuses and what’s now alleged under Biden, warning of a continuing weaponization of federal agencies (21:33).

3. Response and Next Steps

• Congressional Reaction:
  • Cruz confirms hearings are anticipated in both House and Senate; GOP senators targeted are coordinating on a response (18:59).
  • He calls the probe "the Watergate of the Biden DOJ" and says transparency and accountability are paramount.

    "This kind of abuse of power and politicization...This prosecution was called Arctic Frost. I think this is going to be the Watergate of the Biden DOJ."
    — Sen. Ted Cruz (19:22)

• Future Safeguards:
  • Discussion about potential reforms to limit executive branch power in targeting political opponents, especially sitting members of Congress (18:59).

4. Lunch with President Trump in the White House Rose Garden

• Atmosphere and Details:
  • Trump invited all GOP senators for lunch, serving cheeseburgers and fries (29:24).
  • Trump was in "as good a mood as I've ever seen him," excited about ongoing Rose Garden renovations (29:57).
• White House Renovations:
  • Trump paid for new improvements (like a marble patio in the Rose Garden and a soon-to-arrive large ballroom) through private funds—not taxpayer dollars—sparking “Democratic outrage” (28:21).
  • Drains in new patio shaped like American flags, impressing Cruz (31:16).
• Humorous Moments:
  • Trump’s nostalgia about White House renovations by previous presidents—including Nixon filling in JFK’s swimming pool to make the press briefing room; jokes about the "Monica Lewinsky room" (33:38, 35:38).
  • Trump has created a “gift shop” in the White House—a room with branded memorabilia he encourages senators to take as souvenirs (35:38–38:59).

    "He told every senator, take whatever you want. Like, just grab whatever you want. It's all free. He's paying for it all."
    — Sen. Ted Cruz (38:06)

5. State of the Congressional Shutdown

• Current Standstill:
  • Voting to reopen the government has happened repeatedly, but only three Democrats have joined Republicans in these votes (42:20).
  • Legislation needs 60 votes to pass; with only 53 Republicans, at least seven Democrats are needed for bipartisan action (42:20).
• Tribal Politics and the Radicals:
  • Vulnerable senators like Jon Ossoff and Mark Kelly are toeing the radical line in fear of leftist primaries (43:41).
  • The radical base is comfortable with a shutdown:

    "One Democrat told Politico...we'll keep it shut down, 'until planes start falling out of the sky.' That's how radicalized they are."
    — Sen. Ted Cruz (45:19)

• Path Forward:
  • Cruz predicts that eventually retiring Democrats or moderate pressure will re-open the government, but timeline uncertain (44:11, 46:33).

Notable Quotes

• On AT&T’s Refusal to Comply:

  "AT&T, even though they just asked for the number, they looked and realized whose number it was. And they talked with their legal team and they said, listen, what Cruz is saying is protected...So AT&T concluded, listen, we're not gonna comply."
  — Sen. Ted Cruz (09:42)

• On Political Abuse:

  "For the executive branch to engage in wholesale spying on their political opponents...This was a political persecution. This was snooping."
  — Sen. Ted Cruz (12:27)

• On the DOJ Probe Code-named Arctic Frost:

  "This prosecution was called Arctic Frost. I think this is going to be the Watergate of the Biden DOJ."
  — Sen. Ted Cruz (19:22)

• On the Rose Garden Renovation Critics:

  "There have been multiple presidents that...have done different things to the White House...Most of the time it's paid for by taxpayers. This time this is being paid for by Trump and donors. It's a huge improvement...And yet the lies are out there that Trump is destroying the White House."
  — Ben Ferguson (28:21)

• On White House Memorabilia Craze:

  "[Trump] said, it's amazing. You have like some stuff in. In the gift shop. And suddenly senators turn into five year old kids. I mean, we're literally lined up being like, oh, that looks cool."
  — Sen. Ted Cruz (38:43)

• On the Shutdown's Political Dynamics:

  "The Democrats are listening to an echo chamber of the radical base...Their radical base is happy with the shutdown."
  — Sen. Ted Cruz (44:37)

Important Timestamps

• 02:36 — News break: Cruz reveals he was subpoenaed in DOJ probe
• 06:45 — Cruz explains scope of phone records subpoenas
• 07:51–11:20 — How AT&T recognized and refused the DOJ request
• 11:41–13:12 — Cruz and Ferguson on the political intent behind the subpoenas
• 15:03–16:17 — Levity about text messages, AT&T loyalty
• 18:59 — Congressional hearings and future reforms previewed
• 21:33 — Cruz links current actions to historical abuses (Nixon/Obama eras)
• 28:21–38:59 — Trump lunch recap, Rose Garden and ballroom renovations, gift shop anecdotes
• 42:20–46:33 — Deep dive: Congressional shutdown status, how it’s playing out, and Cruz's predictions

Memorable Moments

• Cruz’s facetious envy about being left out of the initial subpoena list until he learned AT&T protected him (07:51).
• Trump inviting all Republican senators, jovially presiding over a cheeseburger lunch (29:24).
• Senators—supposedly dignified—scrambling for Trump memorabilia as if they’re at a kids’ birthday party (38:43).
• Lighthearted banter about the Monica Lewinsky room, Clinton stories, and signature golf towels (35:38–38:17).

Tone

Throughout, the episode blends sharp political criticism with humor and personal anecdotes, maintaining a conversational yet charged tone typical of the "Verdict" series. Cruz and Ferguson balance serious constitutional concerns with light, behind-the-scenes storytelling for listeners interested in both politics and personality.

Summary

This episode of "The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show" (Verdict with Ted Cruz) provides a compelling window into threats to legislative independence via executive overreach, the multifaceted weaponization of federal agencies, and the often-overlooked personality and tradition infused into politics by figures like President Trump. Listeners get actionable insights on constitutional protections, political strategy, and the real-life consequences of bureaucratic power—along with an entertaining peek inside the White House.