The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

Daily Review with Clay and Buck – January 12, 2026

Overview

In this episode, Clay Travis and Buck Sexton dive deep into several of the biggest news and cultural stories of the week, with a focus on the fallout from the Minneapolis ICE shooting, the reaction from the world of sports and entertainment, the current wave of protests against the regime in Iran, and broader conversations around immigration, law enforcement, and American politics. The hosts dissect the media narrative, call out what they see as factual inaccuracies from public figures, and open the lines to Iranian-Americans for their perspectives on the unrest in Iran.

Main Themes and Purpose

• Media and Celebrity Reaction to the Minneapolis ICE Shooting: Critique of how Hollywood and NBA figures have responded, framing the event as “murder” and questioning their grasp of the facts.
• Immigration Enforcement and Pop Culture: Analysis of how left-leaning celebrities, politicians, and activists portray law enforcement actions and immigration controversies.
• Iranian Protests: Discussion on the significant but largely unreported (in their view) wave of protests in Iran against the Ayatollah's theocratic government and the U.S. response.
• Listener Perspectives: Live calls with Iranian-American listeners on what real change in Iran could look like, and the role they wish to see America play.
• Political and Legal Implications: Broader conversation about how defamation, legal standards, and public rhetoric impact law enforcement and immigration policy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Minneapolis ICE Shooting and Pop Culture's Response

• Golden Globes & NBA Outrage: The episode begins with clips from comedian Wanda Sykes and NBA coaches Steve Kerr and Doc Rivers, all condemning the ICE shooting as “murder” and accusing the U.S. government and ICE officers of racism and brutality.

  • Wanda Sykes at the Golden Globes:
    “This is for the mother who was murdered by an ICE agent … we need to be out there and shut this rogue government down, because it's just awful what they're doing to people.” (03:51)
  • Steve Kerr, NBA Press Conference:
    “It's shameful, really, that in our country, we can have law enforcement officers who commit murder and seemingly get away with it … it's shameful that the government can come out and lie about what happened when there's video and witnesses who have all come out and disputed what the government is saying.” (04:42)
  • Doc Rivers, NBA Press Conference:
    “What happened in Minnesota was straight up murder, in my opinion … it's clearly to me, it's where we're attacking brown people. And I just happen to be brown. And I don't think it should just be brown people who are upset at this … what's going on in our country right now is absolutely wrong.” (05:46)

• Clay and Buck’s Critique:

  • The hosts challenge the factual basis of these celebrity statements, describing them as “factually inaccurate” and inflammatory.
  • Buck Sexton is especially direct:
    “You can also be a moron and be a head NBA coach … you can be a person of no virtue, wisdom or knowledge whatsoever about the world around you, but you can still be good at coaching basketball.” (07:09)
  • Clay raises the provocative idea of whether the ICE agent should consider a defamation lawsuit against these coaches and their teams for accusing him of murder without evidence. (10:29)

• Broader Cultural Critique:

  • Buck notes the “make-believe civil rights hero” dynamic among celebrities who, in his view, ignore comparable or worse crimes (such as a white man murdered in Florida, cited as an unreported racial crime) when it doesn’t fit a particular narrative. (08:10)
  • The hosts argue that for many on the left, “laws they do not like don’t count” and that this double standard is fueling a dangerous disregard for law enforcement. (11:59)

2. Immigration, Law Enforcement, and Civil Disobedience

• Obstruction of ICE Activities:

  • The hosts play audio from on-the-ground protests where activists aggressively impede ICE officers (13:29).
  • Buck frames it as a deliberate provocation, a “conspiracy to get people shot at these protests so that they could try to shut this down.” (33:20)

• Discussion of Legal Boundaries:

  • Both hosts argue for enforcement of obstruction laws and tougher penalties for individuals physically interfering with law enforcement:
    “Everyone who shows up and tries to obstruct an ICE investigation should be arrested on the spot immediately.” (25:03)
  • Clay even suggests accomplices (“the wife” in the Minnesota incident) should also be charged.

• Use of Cars as Weapons:

  • Buck and Clay discuss the very real dangers of vehicles being used as deadly weapons, referencing terrorist attacks and the context ICE agents are trained to recognize:
    “A car used as a weapon is incredibly lethal and can cause a mass casualty.” (29:55) “Do not box in any law enforcement officer … it is reasonable for them to believe they are being ambushed … and they can use deadly force in response.” – Chicago Police Superintendent, Oct. 2025 (27:58)

3. Immigration Policy, Political Momentum, and Border Security

• Progress on Deportations:

  • Clay cites a figure from Tom Homan: about 2.5 million deported in the first year of the new Trump administration, but warns even at that pace, half of illegal immigrants would remain at term’s end (15:35).
  • Buck underscores the importance of precedent:
    “Now we see what is possible. Now it is beyond a doubt that they made a choice not to secure their border before; it can be done, because it has been done.” (16:10)

• Cynicism vs. Hope:

  • Brief philosophical back-and-forth on whether achieving lasting immigration reform is possible given political cycles; Buck rejects defeatism, urges persistence (16:53).

4. Current Protests and Unrest in Iran

• Scope and Origins of the Protests:

  • Clay outlines the situation: two weeks of large-scale, grassroots protests in Iran due to economic collapse, government brutality, and discontent following the recent war involving Israel (35:14, 38:42).
  • They note the absence of large campus demonstrations in the U.S. in support of Iranian protesters, attributing it to the identity politics of the American left:
    “There hasn't been … any campus protests that have taken over at all in favor of the Iranian people. …Because the Jews are seen as white and they were the bad guys when it came to Palestine…” (36:22)

• Analysis of the Iranian Regime:

  • Buck provides a historical and political breakdown of how the Islamic theocracy has led Iran to economic and social ruin. He compares their failure to Venezuela’s and discusses the international reluctance to address Iran’s status as a terrorist-sponsoring state. (38:42, 41:52)
  • Critique of the Obama administration’s nuclear deal approach, arguing it enabled continued Iranian aggression.

• What Should the U.S. Do?

  • Buck is cautious:
    “It’s complicated, it’s hard because you can make a decision with the best of knowledge and intentions that ... could blow up in your face.” (44:39)
  • Open endorsement of supporting the protest movement but skepticism about boots-on-the-ground U.S. involvement.

5. Iranian-American Callers’ Perspectives (Listener Segment)

• Shaw, Clarksville, IN:
  • Advocates for strategic U.S./Israeli strikes against regime infrastructure, not ground troops. Sees this moment as a potential “Berlin Wall” tipping point.
    “If the regime falls, not only will Iran become a calm, cool country … but I think it's going to be a seismic change in how the world views Islam and leftism.” (56:15) “We would put Trump’s statue in the main streets of Iran. He would be a second Cyrus the Great for Iran, for the world history…” (58:55)
• Mansoor, NYC:
  • Emphasizes the Shah was not the villain portrayed by some in western media and wants a return to monarchy or at least a real vote by the people—supports Reza Shah Pahlavi as a transitional figure. (60:26, 62:46) “He's giving all the choice to the people of Iran. You can't ask for anything more…” (63:46)
• John, Long Island:
  • Concerned that the regime remains entrenched due to control of the military and security services; questions whether there could be a “palace coup,” and whether meaningful change is possible without one. (64:14)
• Buck’s Insight:
  • Explains that authoritarian regimes are most often toppled by inside actors rather than popular uprisings or foreign intervention. The real risk is not just replacing the Ayatollah, but breaking the entire power structure, including the IRGC and Basij. (66:01)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• Buck on NBA Coaches’ Commentary:
  “You can also be a moron and be a head NBA coach … you can be a person of no virtue, wisdom or knowledge whatsoever about the world around you, but you can still be good at coaching basketball.” (07:09)
• Clay on Legal Implications:
  “Both of these guys said that this ICE agent committed murder. That's a pretty defamatory thing to say ... I think there is an argument to be made that ... if this ICE agent filed a defamation lawsuit against not only these NBA coaches but also their teams and the league, I think it could lead to some really interesting outcomes here.” (10:29)
• Buck on Activist Tactics:
  “They want people to get shot and killed. That is their goal here. And they're putting people in these situations and trying to create them.” (13:29)
• Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling (October 2025):
  “If you box in [federal agents] with vehicles, it is reasonable for them to believe that they are being ambushed and ... they can use deadly force in response to stop you.” (27:58)
• Caller Shaw on Importance of Regime Change:
  “If this regime falls ... Iran would be the shining city on the hill in the Middle East.” (56:15)
• Buck on Regimes and Coups:
  “The biggest threat to authoritarian regimes is a highly placed insider. Historically, it's actually not external intervention and it's not even an uprising of the people.” (66:01)

Additional Timestamps for Important Segments

• [03:51] – Wanda Sykes' Golden Globes statement on the ICE shooting
• [04:42] – Steve Kerr’s NBA press conference
• [05:46] – Doc Rivers’ NBA press conference
• [25:03] – Clay: "Obstructing an ICE agent should be an arrestable offense"
• [27:58] – Chicago Police Superintendent warns about use of cars as weapons
• [35:14] – Clay pivots to protests in Iran
• [38:42] – Buck: Background on Iran's theocracy and international response
• [41:52] – Critique of Obama administration’s Iran policy
• [56:15] – First Iranian caller on U.S. options and regime change
• [66:01] – Buck on internal coups as the main threat to authoritarian regimes

Tone and Style

The tone is direct, blunt, and combative, with a mix of humor and frustration—especially toward mainstream media and left-of-center cultural figures. The hosts mix in personal anecdotes, open prediction markets about political outcomes, and frequently cite historical parallels. Listener calls, especially from Iranian-Americans, are treated with curiosity and respect, adding emotional and real-world depth.

Conclusion

This episode provided an in-depth critique of the politicization and misrepresentation of the Minneapolis ICE shooting in popular culture, with the hosts pushing for a fact-based, law-and-order approach and voicing deep frustration with what they see as leftist double standards. The second half’s focus on Iran showcased the complexities and high stakes of international upheaval, with the hosts facilitating informed, passionate discussion from those personally invested in the fate of the country. For listeners seeking a synthesis of law enforcement, pop culture, and foreign policy topics—through a sharply right-leaning, insurgent lens—this episode drew strong lines and offered clear, controversial viewpoints.