Podcast Summary

The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show (Bonus: Government Opens Today – Sparks Democrat Civil War)

Episode: Verdict with Ted Cruz | Date: November 13, 2025
Hosts: Ben Ferguson, Senator Ted Cruz (Guest)

Episode Overview

This episode, a crossover edition of the Verdict with Ted Cruz podcast, breaks down the end of the record-long government shutdown, the contentious dynamics it revealed within the Democratic Party, and how shutdown politics affect ordinary Americans. Senator Ted Cruz offers inside perspectives, critiques on legislative gridlock, and insights into party infighting. Notably, the episode addresses the role of essential federal workers, responses from key politicians, the fallout for Democratic leadership, and the intersection of shutdowns with enduring policy issues like Obamacare.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Government Shutdown—Resolution and Its Immediate Effects

• Shutdown Ending: Senate passed appropriations; House expected to follow; President to sign immediately ([01:55], Cruz).
  • Federal workers, including Capitol Police, TSA, air traffic controllers, and custodians, have gone unpaid for 44 days.
  • Paychecks and resumption of government services could lag even after the signing ([02:45], Cruz).
• Air Travel Impact: Backlog and staffing issues from TSA and air traffic controllers' sick-outs could extend delays for several days ([03:55], Cruz).
  • “What’s driving the delays… is that a lot of the air traffic controllers and TSA agents have been calling in sick.” ([03:55], Cruz)
• Acknowledgment of Leadership: Transportation Secretary and former Trump administration cited for ensuring safety over speed despite delays ([04:56], Ferguson).

2. Essential Worker Pay and Shutdown Politics

• Bonus Proposal: President called for $10,000 bonuses for air traffic controllers who worked during the shutdown ([05:28], Cruz).
• Legislation Blocked: Sen. Ron Johnson’s repeated efforts to guarantee pay for essential workers during shutdowns – consistently blocked by Democrats ([05:50], Cruz).
• Shutdown Leverage: Cruz accuses Democrats of using shutdowns to “inflict maximum pain” as political leverage ([09:58], Cruz).
  • “They want the shutdown to be painful for the American people… that’s where they get leverage.” ([09:58], Cruz)

3. Democrat Party Infighting—The “Shutdown Civil War”

• Internal Rebellion: Eight Democratic-aligned senators broke ranks to end the shutdown, sparking fury within the party and calls for Chuck Schumer’s ouster ([10:40], Cruz).

• Washington Post Headline: “Democrats push for a ruthlessly pragmatic approach to counter Trump.” ([11:04], Cruz)

• Party Base Tensions: Divides deepen as some Democrats are accused of being insufficiently radical; leadership criticized by both base and commentators.

• Memorable Exchange: Fetterman challenged by The View host, rebuffs alignment with far-left posturing ([16:25–18:45]).

  “I don’t need a lecture from whether it’s Bernie or the governor in California… To win the big win, [we need] involving my state and other states… we can’t return to those kind of things and realize we need to find a way forward.”
  —Sen. John Fetterman ([17:10])

4. Schism Over Israel—Fetterman as Outlier

• Cruz Praises Fetterman: Notes Fetterman’s outspokenness on Israel puts him at odds with Democratic mainstream and exposes factionalism ([19:08], Cruz).

  “Being pro-Israel is becoming incompatible with being a proud Democrat now… and that’s put me at odds.”
  —Sen. John Fetterman ([20:58])

• Democratic Attacks: Democrats rumored to be undermining Fetterman due to dissent, similar to treatment of Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema ([22:44], Cruz).

5. Will a Future Shutdown Happen?

• Next Deadline: Current Continuing Resolution expires January 30, 2026; Cruz foresees likelihood of another shutdown due to unchanged dynamics ([28:08], Cruz).

• Senator Pay During Shutdowns: John Kennedy pressed for a rule to withhold senator pay during shutdowns—Cruz coordinated with him for a Rules Committee vote ([29:08], Cruz).

  "No senator should get paid while there’s a shutdown."
  —Sen. John Kennedy (paraphrased by Cruz, [29:08])

6. Public Memory and Political Fallout

• Short-term Recall: Most Americans impacted only if their paychecks or travel plans affected ([32:29], Cruz).

  "Most Americans, if it didn’t impact you… the biggest way… was flight delays."
  —Sen. Ted Cruz ([32:29])

• Avoiding Christmas Deadlines: CR expiration set for January 30 to avoid pressure-cooked, last-minute deals before holidays ([33:25], Cruz).

7. Policy Spotlight: Obamacare Subsidies and Cost

• Shutdown Reveals ACA Issues: Media unintentionally foregrounded soaring ACA subsidies and premiums as evidence of system failure ([38:56], Ferguson).
• Cruz’s Historic Filibuster: Recalls 21-hour protest against Obamacare and reading “Green Eggs and Ham” to his daughters ([40:02], Cruz).

  "It has massively increased the average family's premiums instead…It wasn’t just predictable, it was predicted."
  —Sen. Ted Cruz ([44:22])

8. Broader Systemic Critique

• Cynicism Toward Governance: Both hosts decry the left’s “rage” and “anger” as their only agenda ([45:41], Cruz).

  "Rage is not an agenda... Unfortunately, on the far left in the Democrat Party, that is what they are for."
  —Sen. Ted Cruz ([45:41])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Political Pain of Shutdowns:
  "They want the military not to be paid. They're looking for maximum pain because… that's where they get leverage."
  (Sen. Ted Cruz, [09:58])

• On Democrat Infighting:
  “The Democrats turned on each other with a viciousness that is truly extraordinary.”
  (Sen. Ted Cruz, [10:40])

• On the ACA/Obamacare:
  "It has massively increased the average family's premiums instead… and there's a reason for that…"
  (Sen. Ted Cruz, [42:04])

• On Fetterman & Party Loyalty:
  “Being pro-Israel is becoming incompatible with being a proud Democrat now, too. And that’s put me at odds.”
  (Sen. John Fetterman, [20:58])

• On the Public’s Memory:
  "People will remember what impacted themselves and their families... but do I think by December 1st the shutdown's going to be front and center? Not really."
  (Sen. Ted Cruz, [32:29])

Timestamps of Important Segments

• 01:55–04:56 | Government shutdown ending, impact on workers and travel
• 05:28–07:47 | Shutdown bonuses, legislative attempts to pay essential workers
• 09:58–15:49 | Shutdown politics, Democratic infighting, media reaction
• 16:25–18:45 | John Fetterman’s interview—defiance of party orthodoxy
• 20:35–22:28 | Fetterman’s pro-Israel position and party backlash
• 28:08–31:56 | Likelihood and dynamics of a future shutdown, Kennedy amendment on senator pay
• 32:29–35:18 | Public memory, impact on holidays, rationale for CR timing
• 38:56–45:05 | ACA/Obamacare subsidies, historic filibuster, premium increases

Tone & Style

The episode is combative, sardonic, with a mix of inside political baseball and accessible analogies. Cruz is analytical and biting, Ferguson amplifies with populist frustration, and key segments mix humor (the “Green Eggs and Ham” recall) with earnest warnings about partisanship and gridlock. Democrat positions are characterized as radical and punitive by the hosts, who foreground themes of resilience and fairness for workers and taxpayers.

Summary for Non-Listeners

This episode critically explores the conclusion of the longest U.S. government shutdown, focusing on the hardships for federal workers, the near-term resumption of services, and the intense infighting this triggered inside the Democratic Party. Senator Ted Cruz blames Democrats for seeking leverage by inflicting public pain and preventing pay for essential employees, pointing to legislative maneuvers blocked in the Senate. The conversation spotlights John Fetterman's dissenting voice—especially regarding unwavering support for Israel—as symptomatic of deeper party schisms. The hosts also revisit longstanding critiques of Obamacare, using the renewed debate over subsidies as evidence of policy failure. The episode closes with warnings of another likely shutdown at the end of January and a broader critique of governance driven by “rage” rather than constructive agenda.