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- [00:00]
iHeart Podcast Announcer
This is an iHeart podcast.
- [00:05]
Propane Energy Advertiser
The US electric grid is approaching a breaking point. As demand soars from data centers and home energy use, our aging infrastructure can't keep up. And the Department of Energy warns that without action, blackouts could surge 100 fold by 2030. The good news? One solution is already here. Propane. It's American made, stored on site and always ready, powering homes and businesses with cleaner, reliable energy that doesn't depend on the grid or the weather.
- [00:32]
Clay Travis
Learn more@propain.com wishing the holidays could come early.
- [00:36]
iHeartRadio Advertising Announcer
If you own or manage your business, they can. With help from iHeartRadio, people are already shopping for their loved ones and hunting for deals wherever they can find them, including right here. They're listening to the radio. They're listening to podcasts. They could be listening to you. Don't wait for everyone else to kick off the holidays. Get your best season of the year up and running today. Call 844-844-IHEART or visit iheartadvertising.com.
- [01:05]
Leon Neyfak
When I told people I was making a podcast about Benghazi, nine times out of ten they called me a masochist, rolled their eyes, or just asked why Benghazi?
- [01:17]
Buck Sexton
The truth became a web of lies.
- [01:19]
Leon Neyfak
From prologue projects and Pushkin Industries. This is Fiasco Benghazi.
- [01:25]
WashablesOfSofas Advertiser
What difference at this point does it make?
- [01:28]
Leon Neyfak
Listen to Fiasco Benghazi on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [01:35]
Ben Ferguson
I'm Ben Ferguson.
- [01:36]
Ted Cruz
And I'm Ted Cruz. Three times a week we do our podcast Verdict with Ted Cruz.
- [01:41]
Ben Ferguson
Nationwide, we have millions of listeners.
- [01:43]
Ted Cruz
Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, we break down the news and bring you behind the scenes inside the White House, inside the Senate, inside the United States Supreme Court.
- [01:53]
Ben Ferguson
And we cover the stories that you're not getting anywhere else.
- [01:55]
Ted Cruz
We arm you with the facts to be able to know and advocate for the truth with your friends and family.
- [02:01]
Ben Ferguson
So download Verdict with Ted Cruz now, wherever you get your podcasts.
- [02:06]
Clay Travis
Welcome back in Clay Travis Buck Sexton Show. Appreciate all of you hanging out with us. We are back together on the same show and it is one that is filled with tons of news, most of it very positive. Buck is here in Nashville as he has continued his world tour and we've got a speaking engagement with one of our crew this afternoon evening. So that will be very fun. But right off the top, President Trump yesterday announced that we have what we hope is a lasting peace arrangement right now. Trump is holding a cabinet meeting now, so we will monitor and see what additional news is outstanding there. But let's start. Let's start with all of this basic breakdown. Monday is expected to be the day for the return of the living hostages that have been held now for over two years since the October 7, 2023, terror attacks. Based on what I have seen, it appears that there are around 20 different hostages that are still alive, and they have been held in the most extreme, awful conditions imaginable for the past two years. That return seems likely to happen. There has also been a ceasefire agreed to in Gaza. And let me play a couple of cuts here. Cut one. Is President Trump on the phone with the hostage family members? You can listen to them as they cheer as President Trump lets them know that their family members are coming home. Cut one.
- [03:54]
Buck Sexton
President Trump, you have the best crowd in the world. What do you guys have to say to President Trump? Thank you, thank you, thank you. You did it.
- [04:04]
Clay Travis
You did it.
- [04:07]
Propane Energy Advertiser
Thank you.
- [04:08]
Ted Cruz
This is amazing.
- [04:10]
Buck Sexton
Mr. President, we believe in you. We know you've done so much for us over the past, since you became a president and even before that. And we trust you fulfilled the mission until every hostage, every 48 of the hostages are home. Thank you so much. Blessed be the peacemakers. God bless you, Mr. President. God bless America.
- [04:29]
iHeart Podcast Announcer
Thank you very much.
- [04:30]
Ted Cruz
You just take care of yourselves.
- [04:31]
Buck Sexton
The hostages will come back. They're coming, all coming back on Monday.
- [04:44]
Clay Travis
Buck, here's my big takeaway here. They have spent a decade telling all of us that our Trump supporters, that we are Nazis, that Trump is Adolf Hitler incarnate. And I know that because we're dealing with oftentimes profoundly evil people who are going to continue to enact terror against the people of Israel, that is the Muslim fundamentalists, the Islamic terrorists, they are going to continue to attack. But to the extent that we can have some form of normalcy return to the Middle east and for Trump to get these hostages home, we hope and pray that that will happen on Monday. The ones that are still alive, I think 20 expected to still be alive, 28 bodies that are still being held is my understanding of those 48, that number there. This would be one of the most profoundly transformative, monumental Middle east peace agreements that has ever been entered into by any president. Israel, as I know, I was over there in December, and as you know, you've been there before. But Trump is the most popular American president probably in the history of Israel being a country. And this is a moment that I think many of us believed was likely to occur. And it's one that should provoke a great deal of Cognitive dissonance in the minds of all the people who have been telling us that Trump is Hitler, that he's going to bring about World War 3. This is an incredible accomplishment, and Trump and his entire team should be praised to the high heavens. Regardless of what partisan lens you view this from, this is not just a home run. This is an upper deck grand slam if it comes to fruition, that would lead to one of the greatest outcomes for peace in the history of any of our lives.
- [06:34]
Buck Sexton
Well, even Trump haters are having to put the hate on pause for a second here. I'm sure you've seen some of this, Clay. They're saying, well, even if somebody's wrong 99 times, if they're right on the hundredth, you know, even if he's doing it just because. Just because he wants the Nobel Peace Prize, they're sneering at him over this. But they have to admit that a win is a win. As they say online, a win is a win. You got to take the win, take the w here. And I think it's important to view this. The deal is in phases. Our sense of this should follow. Meaning it is enormously. It is enormous progress, it is enormously encouraging that the war is coming to a stop, a cease fire. This is actually happening, right, that there won't be bloodshed. And, you know, unless at this point, if Hamas were to blow this deal up at this stage, Israel's just going to hunt them all down and kill them all. So I don't think that they're going to do that. This is going to save lives. The fact that hostages are going home, the fact that Israel is trading for 48 total, including some the remains of hostages. Can I also note here, all the hostages should be alive.
- [07:47]
Clay Travis
Yes.
- [07:47]
Buck Sexton
This is something that doesn't get enough. These hostages were in the custody of Hamas. They could have kept them all alive. Something I'm going to keep returning to here. Clay. These are not. Israel and Hamas are not morally equivalent, nowhere near it as entities. This is a situation. People can say it is simplistic, but in terms of the combatants involved here, it is good guys and bad guys. Israel are the good guys. That is just reality. But the war coming to an end is obviously an enormously encouraging humanitarian step. It's a good thing. And Trump was the guy able to get this done because he's somebody who manages to break the usual paradigm, which is you have to be. You're either pro Israeli or you're pro Muslim, pro Arab, and, you know, anti Israeli is kind of the way that this often breaks down with Trump, it's no, hold on guys. I just have a goal here. I want this thing to be done. I'm willing to push and make concessions and deal make for both sides. It's enormously, you know, enormously encouraging and I'm very, very pleased the President has gotten this.
- [08:57]
Clay Travis
Let me hit you a couple of cuts. This is President Trump on our friend Sean Hannity show last night. Here he is cut 8. You heard him say the hostages would be coming home on Monday, but here he is speaking in more detail. We should also say before we play some of these things, there are people who want war to continue. There are many of them. And so it wouldn't stun me or shock me if there are after effects sort of post, post action agreement that is designed to try to derail this between now and then. In fact, I think we should expect.
- [09:32]
Buck Sexton
Them before we play some of those cuts. Can I just throw as a, an addendum to what you just said? There are American Democrats, there are leftists in our country who truly would rather see this conflict, which they call a genocide, mind you, it is not a genocide, but they call it a genocide. If they had their choice, they would rather the quote unquote genocide continue than Trump get the credit for ending this. Which tells you a lot about the people involved. A lot of people who are saying ceasefire within hours of the initial October 7th terrorist attack, which was a bad faith, Israel's not allowed to defend itself, maneuver clay, all of a sudden ceasefires are suspect to them. Isn't that so strange?
- [10:15]
Clay Travis
Yeah. And you would think if you truly believe that a genocide were occurring, that you would take to the streets to celebrate. Have there been celebrations from the pro Palestinian activists? Again, they don't want peace, they want a perpetual war. So my concern is a terrorist actor will try probably multiple of them to stage attacks to derail this peace process. But here is Trump talking about, as you laid out, Buck, this is a multi step process. There are many different actions that have to be undertaken. But Hamas turning over the hostages is basically the end of Hamas being able to bargain in any way. The reason they took these 250 hostages in the first place was so they could continue to bargain in some way with, with Israel. This was very intentional on their part. Once the hostages and the bodies, unfortunately, as you said, Buck, of those hostages whose lives were lost while they were in captivity, once all of that is turned back over, Hamas has no bargaining power left. Again, this is why they took these hostages. But this is Trump last night on Sean Hannity's show Cut, a Cut.
- [11:23]
Donald Trump
I think you're going to see all of that disappear. I think you're going to see people getting along and you'll see Gaza being rebuilt. We're forming a council that, the Council of Peace, we think it's going to be called and it's going to be very powerful and it's going to really, I think to a large extent it's going to have a lot to do with the whole Gaza situation. People are going to be taken care of. It's going to be a different world. I think really the Middle east came together. Amazingly they came together. You know, they have some countries with extraordinary wealth and just spending a small portion of that wealth can do so much for that area. So we'll, we'll be involved in it. But the big, the big thing is hostages are going to be released. It's probably our time would be probably Monday.
- [12:12]
Clay Travis
And the expectation, Buck, is that unless something has changed, the last I saw is that Trump is going to travel to the Middle east and address the Israeli legislature, the Knesset in person for the first time since George Bush Sr. Sorry, George Bush Jr. George W. Bush, since he spoke in 2008. So, so all of this is potentially transformative. Again, there are many different steps that it must be followed. But Trump said he was going to bring peace here. If he can do it, he would deserve the Nobel Peace Prize. I also think this then will put more of a attention on the Ukraine, Russia conflict to see if Trump can basically bring to a large extent peace to the world within the first year of, of his presidency. This is pretty impressive. Even you mentioned it, Buck. Even people who hate Trump. The Washington Post, David Ignatius said, Ignatius, Ignatius, no way this would have happened if it were not for the, for Trump's particular action. When you're getting praise from the Washington Post, that's a sign that, that you've upset the apple cart of expectations.
- [13:29]
Buck Sexton
Cut to the deal that President Trump is announcing played a key part in negotiating is a significant change. This war was blocked for two years. President Biden, who preceded him was unable to find a way to stop it. President Trump found that, found that way by being tough on both sides and he'll take a victory lap for sure over the next few days. But it's deserved. There's no way that I can see that this would have been done without Trump's pressure in the final hours. Yeah, this is what I mean by David Ignatius is not somebody who is pro Trump at all. He's a. He's worked explicitly against the Trump administration and Trump himself in the past as really an activist journalist. But I would say this is just a recognition of the clear reality. People will sometimes draw the line at saying things that everybody will recognize. Sounds dumb. And anybody who can't admit that this is a huge win, not just for Trump, but a huge win for really everybody of good faith in the Middle east, here at home, around the world. A war coming to a terminus and people no longer dying is a good thing. And Trump's role in this is undeniable, and he deserves a bow and maybe the Nobel Peace Prize. Although we should talk about. I have a theory about the Nobel Peace Prize component of this. I'm sure you do, too. We'll get to that.
- [14:52]
Clay Travis
I'm curious, how many people actually, let's just say Jewish in particular, do any of them that have been so virulently anti Trump, primarily in the United States, not in Israel itself. How do they react to this? If you've been telling everybody for a decade, this guy is Hitler 2.0, at some point, do you recognize that you're the bad guy and that you've been wrong about everything, or is it too difficult to acknowledge that you've been wrong such that these. I don't even know how you address this. Do they have the tools to acknowledge.
- [15:27]
Buck Sexton
Yeah, it's weird to say you would think that Trump is Hitler, like, except for the fact that the Jewish state would tell you almost universally, Trump is the greatest ally they've had in the Oval Office in our lifetime.
- [15:44]
Ben Ferguson
That's a weird.
- [15:44]
Buck Sexton
That's a weird circle to square. You know, that's a tough one to make sense of. And this is why people, the cognitive dissonance that is necessary to be a Democrat and as you point out, a. To be a liberal American Democrat Jew who thinks that Trump is Hitler is a bizarre place to be.
- [16:05]
Clay Travis
But.
- [16:05]
Buck Sexton
But that exists.
- [16:06]
Clay Travis
There's plenty how. Yeah, you're right. And I just wonder, because I try to be hyper rational, what are they thinking this morning as they wake up, and what are they going to be thinking when Trump, hopefully on Monday is able to return these hostages after two years in captivity? Well, they're going to say ends.
- [16:23]
Buck Sexton
They're going to say that the war was basically coming to an end anyway and that Trump is taking. You know, they'll always. You can always find a way, man. You can always come up with some rationalization for your hate or your disdain. Let's remember, it's. It's not Trump Analysis Syndrome, it's Trump Derangement syndrome. So I think that's where they are.
- [16:45]
Clay Travis
But bringing peace to the Middle east is a tough one to to to square with the Hitler with the Hitler talk even for them. I think this is a boy. Maybe he's not pure evil and maybe I'm the bad guy historically now, I mean you would have to be rational in some way. But I'm curious what they're thinking. Sabre company making world class non lethal self protection tools. They also happen to make the number one pepper spray projectiles trusted by law enforcement. We've got them in our home. In fact Sabre manufacture it. We have it here to help make our home safer. You should check it out. A good chance that it will make a lot of sense for you to@saberradio.com you can get their pepper spray projectiles for your own self protection. The pepper gel projectile launcher shaped like a pistol or rifle. But it is non lethal but it will guarantee your safety. Trust us. Saber's been at this for 50 years. Family owned. Check out all the products. Make a decision on the right ones for you and your family. Go online to saber radio.com you'll save 15 there. That's s a b r e radio.com you can also call a 844-824 safe. That's 844-824 s a f e making.
- [18:01]
Buck Sexton
America great again isn't just one man, it's many.
- [18:05]
Clay Travis
The team 47 podcast Sundays at noon Eastern in the Clay and Buck podcast feed. Find it on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [18:15]
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- [19:16]
Propane Energy Advertiser
The U.S. electric grid is approaching a breaking point. As demand soars from data centers and home energy use, our aging infrastructure can't keep up. And the Department of Energy warns that without action, blackouts could surge 100 fold by 2030. The good news? One solution is already here. Propane. It's American made, stored on site and always ready. Powering homes and businesses with cleaner, reliable energy that doesn't depend on the grid or the weather.
- [19:43]
iHeart Podcast Announcer
Learn more@propain.com run a business and not thinking about podcasting? Think again. More Americans listen to podcasts than ad supported streaming music from Spotify and Pandora. And as the number one podcaster, iHeart's twice as large as the next two combined. So whatever your customers are into true crime, sports, comedy, culture, they'll hear your message. Plus, only iHeart can extend your message to audiences across broadcast radio. And all this reach means everything. Just think about the universal marketing formula. The number of consumers who hear your message times the response rate equals the results. Now let's get those results growing for you. Think podcasting can help your business? Think iHeart streaming radio and podcasting. Let us show you@iheartadvertising.com that's iheartadvertising.com or call 844-844 iHeart. One more time, call 844-844-IHEART and get podcasting working for you.
- [20:45]
Leon Neyfak
When I told people I was making a podcast about Benghazi, nine times out of ten, they called me a masochist, rolled their eyes, or just asked, why Benghazi?
- [20:58]
Buck Sexton
The truth became a web of lies.
- [21:00]
Leon Neyfak
It's almost a dirty word, one that connotes conspiracy theory.
- [21:04]
Clay Travis
Will we ever get the truth about the Benghazi massacre?
- [21:07]
Leon Neyfak
Bad faith, political warfare, and frankly, bullshit.
- [21:11]
Ted Cruz
We kill the ambassador just to cover something up.
- [21:14]
Buck Sexton
You put two and two together.
- [21:16]
Leon Neyfak
Was it an overblown distraction or a sinister conspiracy?
- [21:20]
Clay Travis
Benghazi is a Rosetta Stone for everything that's been going on for the last 20 years.
- [21:28]
Leon Neyfak
Hi, I'm Leon Nefak from Prologue Projects and Pushkin Industries. This is Fiasco Benghazi.
- [21:34]
WashablesOfSofas Advertiser
What difference at this point does it make?
- [21:37]
Donald Trump
Yeah, that's right.
- [21:38]
Buck Sexton
Lock her up.
- [21:39]
Leon Neyfak
Listen to Fiasco Benghazi on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [21:45]
Ben Ferguson
I'm Ben Ferguson.
- [21:47]
Ted Cruz
And I'm Ted Cruz. Three times a week, we do our podcast, Verdict with Ted Cruz.
- [21:51]
Ben Ferguson
Nationwide, we have millions of listeners.
- [21:54]
Ted Cruz
Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, we break down the news and bring you behind the scenes inside the White House, inside the Senate, inside the United States Supreme Court.
- [22:03]
Ben Ferguson
And we cover the stories that you're not getting anywhere else.
- [22:06]
Ted Cruz
We arm you with the facts to be able to know and advocate for the truth with your friends and family.
- [22:12]
Ben Ferguson
So download Verdict with Ted Cruz now, wherever you get your podcasts.
- [22:16]
Buck Sexton
Welcome back into Clay and Buck. So we have the good news today to celebrate and talk all of you about of the peace deal agreed to between Israel and Hamas. The return of hostages is imminent. We are told that it will happen. Trump just said, Clay, he's holding a cabinet meeting. It's funny, he's got our friends SecDef Hegseth and Sec State Rubio right next to him. They flank him on both sides. But he says it's gonna happen Monday or Tuesday was the latest. So that is in process. That there will be now some, in some cases it will be remains. So there'll be closure for those families. But obviously that's not what we wanted to see. We wanted to see people returned alive. There will be some hostages, though, in this agreement who will be returned alive to their families. And that's a incredibly joyous and wonderful thing. And this has all happened because of the Trump team, because of Howard Lutnick, because of the people around him who have been pushing the combatants here or pushing the two sides of this conflict, Clay, to come to this resolution. And we should talk about what the steps are. I mean, this is. It's a very good day. There's still a lot of work to be done, though, once the war ends.
- [23:32]
Clay Travis
100%. And again, there are going to be a lot of actors that have ill intent that are, I think, gonna try to derail this. And I would just point out all those people have been marching, demanding a ceasefire and that there's a genocide going on. Where are they? Wouldn't they be. Wouldn't they be celebr. So excited?
- [23:49]
Buck Sexton
Oh, some of them, some of them honestly are upset at this ceasefire because it gives Trump too much credit. That's the, that's the truth. They would rather the war continue than Trump get the credit for the ceasefire that they've been demanding for two years. They've been demanding this. Oh, look, one of the better investments that I've made recently, the purchase of gold. This year alone, it's up about 50%. Five zero five zero. Okay. And it shows no sign of slowing either, given the instability in the world, the debts that are piling up, the money printing that's going on so if a portion of your savings hasn't been diversified into gold yet, I think you should give it some real consideration. You can still get in the door now on this opportunity from Birch Gold Group. Birch Gold will help you convert an existing IRA or 401k into a tax sheltered IRA and gold. You don't pay a dime out of pocket. Birch Gold Group, go check them out. Text my Name Buck to 9898 98. Claim your FREE info kit on gold. You can buy actual physical gold, gold coins, gold bullion. That's what I've got at home. You can also convert that IRA or 401k into a tax sheltered IRA in gold. Go with Birch Gold Group. Text Buck to 98. 98 98. Text Buck to 98. 98 98.
- [25:01]
Clay Travis
Welcome back in Clay Travis Buck Sexton show. Appreciate all of you. Okay, Buck, one of the attacks that's being leveled against Trump is all he cares about is winning the Nobel Peace Prize. So you said you had a theory on this. I'll give you my theory. I'm curious if we overlap here. Who cares if I mean, if your motivation is public acclamation and it leads to world peace, isn't that what awards should be based on? I mean, shouldn't they incentivize good behavior? So I don't think this is true. I think Trump just genuinely wants there to be peace. But if an award is designed to make you a better version of yourself and in some way you are motivated because of that award to pursue better versions of yourself, whether it's, hey, I want to be the MVP of a league, whether it's going to be, I want to be the best salesperson at this company because I want the commendation and the public acclaim that comes with that award, isn't that what awards should be for? So I don't even understand the attack. Oh, he's only motivated by a international award of world peace. Well, isn't that why the international award of world peace should partly exist, to incentivize people to pursue world peace? Even if that were the case, which I don't buy it actually seems like this would be a positive result if.
- [26:34]
Buck Sexton
Somebody cured cancer and it's because they wanted to make a lot of money and be famous, I think we could still just celebrate them curing cancer and not care about what their specific motivation was. The point is the great achievement. The point is not trying to get into the psychology. And I agree with you as well. I think that Trump is a far more humane person. We know this. He's a far more humane person than his detractors give him credit for. He's actually a very, very warm and friendly and engaging guy. And, you know, he's a dad, he's a grandfather. And we've seen that side of him, too. I mean, you and I have seen that up close many times. But my, my other part of the theory, Clay, is the Nobel Peace Prize. I want Trump to maybe get it. I don't care if he does or not. Just because it is in some way the ultimate troll of the establishments. It is the ultimate troll of the globalist elite that the guy that they have been telling us for a decade now, going on a decade, is Orange Hitler is actually a Nobel Laureate for the Peace prize, no less. And for a clear accomplishment, even Obama's big fans had to say, I don't know if you should have gotten the Nobel Peace Prize. You know, they, they had to admit that, that the award was never the same after that, too. It was clearly just a kind of absurd. I, I do not like, as a general rule, people on the right in our country, conservatives, caring about. I don't. I don't want us vying for Pulitzers. I don't want us caring about Nobel Prizes because these things don't actually matter. And they have been so politicized for so long that I don't think we should seek them out. But in Trump's case, I'll make an exception because it'll just make all the right people so angry.
- [28:30]
Clay Travis
It would be.
- [28:31]
Ben Ferguson
And I.
- [28:31]
Clay Travis
But I don't think they'll give it to him. And I think that it would be too much of an endorsement of, of Trump and too much of a cognitive. As we talked about earlier, they will.
- [28:45]
Buck Sexton
Not give it to him, by the way. They will not do that.
- [28:47]
Clay Travis
Yeah. For all the people who have spent so long telling us that he was not going to bring peace, but would in fact bring World War three to the nation if he were in office. But I do think even that criticism in some ways is a desperate Hail Mary attempt to refuse. Acknowledging the truth, which is the first 10 months of Trump 2.0 has been one of the most consequential, successful first years that we have seen in any presidential term in any of our lives. And I think it's fair to start, if you want to analyze Trump, I think it's fair to start comparing Trump 2.0 to Trump 1.0. And Trump 2.0 is infinitely more significant and far more impactful on all fronts than Trump 1.0 was. And I do think it's worth pointing this out, too. If Trump had taken office in 2020 for a second term, sworn in in 2021, he would have been nowhere near as impactful in changing the culture as he was letting Biden be in office for four years and then coming back in. I think the real challenge that they're facing here is many of the people who have spent a decade lecturing us that we were on the wrong side of history, if they're being honest with themselves, are having a recognition that they were wrong about all of this and that they're actually the bad guys. And in order to avoid having to recognize that they were wrong about everything and that they misidentified and misattributed motivations for Trump, they're now grasping at straws to come up with reasons why things that are great for everyone are not in reality great. And buck, you hit on something that I think is important here. What Trump has managed to do is be both beloved by Israel and beloved by many different Arab countries. That's pretty difficult to pull off. In fact, almost no one has ever been able to do it. And I think the reason he has been able to pull it off is he connects with the Arab community to a large extent on business. They just see each other. There's not a religious component to it. I'm not trying to wade into the war of religion here. They just see it from a capitalistic perspective. Those guys are trying to build buildings, they're trying to build legacies. From a capitalistic perspective, Trump respects it. They respect his ability to have done that. And on the Israel front, I think Trump, because you can speak to this, having grown up in New York City, I think he sees and has a great affinity for Jewish people. His daughter is Jewish, his grandchildren are Jewish, and his son in law is Jewish. Son in law is Jewish. He's not primarily addressing this from a religious prism. He just wants everybody to be, have peace in the Middle East. And, and, and it's pretty remarkable, honestly.
- [31:55]
Buck Sexton
Well, the fact that he is a results driven guy who is very, you know, what have you done for me lately in his approach to these things? And that's a good thing. It's not ideological for him. To your point, it's not about some deep seated desire to prove one side right or wrong or to. He just wants them to stop killing each other and to stop the warfare from happening. And now to be clear, these are not morally equivalent sides, Hamas and Israel. But Trump's perspective on this is it's the same thing with Russia, Ukraine, I might add. It's not, it's not morally equivalent there either. But we just want people to stop dying on that battlefield. And that is the most pressing issue. One thing that I would say, though, with all of this is Hamas cannot be allowed to stay in charge. That is the, for me. And it's now as part of the deal. That is part of the deal. But there has to be an understanding of that's a red line. The Israelis did not go through all this for two years. The IDF has not fought this, this war for two years and done all of the things that they have done to severely destroy Hamas capabilities so that they can just play this game once again on the Hamas side of we're going to take, we're going to sell the aid on the black market, we're going to build up, you know, we're going to have very rich Hamas leadership, everybody else is poor, and we're going to smuggle in missiles. Again, that cannot happen, okay? Because we didn't go through the last two years for that to happen again. But that means that there has to be accountability on the Hamas side, too. If they start breaking the agreement, there's going to have to be enforcement of that agreement. I know Trump knows this, but I just think we have to keep that in mind, too, because otherwise this is just the cycle continuing with a little bit of a pause.
- [33:49]
Clay Travis
I think that's why the goal is to have Arab countries involved in Gaza governance, because, and I know it's in the weeds, but there is some sort of board that is supposed to be involved in the governance of Gaza. And that's why you want to have countries like Saudi Arabia or Qatar or Bahrain, places where commerce, I would say, is what, to a large extent, is the motivation, the UAE, as opposed to religion. And, and what I mean by that is Iran is a religious theocracy and it has fallen behind places like Saudi Arabia. Not to say that certainly Saudi Arabia is not a religious country, just that if you're looking around in those countries, if you're Iranian, your country and your civilization was one of the strongest in the Middle east for thousands of years. The Persian people. And now you're looking at Saudi Arabia and the UAE and Qatar and all these other countries that have completely dominated you. Now, yes, they have oil, but Iran has oil. And I think that that's a difficult position to be in, which is why Trump, again, connecting on the commerce side with many of these Arab countries, wants there to be rational peace. Because if you can't have. You can't have successful commerce without peace. And the Arab countries, by and large, I think a lot of them get that, and that's why they need to be involved. Whereas Hamas is basically convinced that for thousands of years they're going to be in a perpetual war with Israel. Iran, I think, is on that perspective. But a lot of the Middle Eastern countries are not anymore. And that's why commerce, maybe not with religion, but commerce, could start to be connective tissue here. I think that's what Trump has seen.
- [35:45]
Buck Sexton
Well, these Middle Eastern countries, remember there's the Sunni, Shia divide that has increasingly, I think, opened up opportunities for. For the US in the region, because Saudis, for example, Iran is a huge thorn in their side. And all of the Iranian activities in the region are problematic from the Sunni Arab perspective. This has been the case for decades.
- [36:12]
Ben Ferguson
Well, forever.
- [36:12]
Buck Sexton
But certainly in recent decades, we've seen how this has played out. But, Clay, one of the really encouraging things that is playing out as well is that in the aftermath of this deal, the enemies of Israel, and really, therefore, the enemies of broader diplomacy and stability in the region are more on their back foot. You know, they have been depleted, they have been undermined more than at any time that I can remember. Hezbollah, Hamas, Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, all of these different entities and everyone that they work with is in a really weak spot right now because of the idf. But also, of course, America coming in with the final blow on the nuclear facilities, which was a very. This came up when I was talking to our Taiwanese allies, came up with the president of Taiwan, Clay, last week that the action that Trump took on the nuclear facilities was really encouraging to our allies around the world, that America will still throw a knockout punch at the bully if it has to, and that Trump will certainly do that when he has to. So there's a lot of reason for optimism right now. We go into this with our eyes wide open. You pointed out already there are people. Well, there are people in this country who are. They loved ceasefire and now they don't love ceasefire as much, which tells you all you have to know about their ethics and morality. There are a few ways that this could go in the wrong direction pretty quickly, but right now, at least, this is a huge breakthrough and there's a lot of reason to believe that this could continue to make the region much safer.
- [37:51]
Clay Travis
No doubt we will talk about more of this. We'll take some of your talk back. We're scheduled to be joined, by the way. I don't think we've said it yet by Senator Tommy Tuberville of Alabama in the second hour of the program. But you just heard Israel and Hamas have agreed to phase one of a peace deal that President Trump says will see the release of the remaining hostages, 20 of whom we still believe are alive, along with the 28 who have been killed by Hamas. The deal also has Israel withdrawing its troops from most of Gaza in initiating a ceasefire with Hamas. Big moment for peace and everyone will be holding their breath for the next few days as it all plays out. Past two years have been incredibly difficult, but through it all, America has stood by Israel. One reason is because Israel represents the only true democracy in the Middle east and they've been a consistent ally of the United States since 1948, particularly when we needed friends. And in that part of the world. Many Christians in America are standing with Israel this month by participating in a growing movement created by the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews called the Flags of Fellowship. This countrywide effort, the Flags of Fellowship, unites churches across America. Planting over a million Israeli flags across our country show the world Israel is not alone. To get more information about how you can join the Flags of fellowship movement, visit IFCJ.org that's IFCJ.org sometimes all you can do is laugh and they do a lot of it with the Sunday hang. Join Clay and Buck as they laugh it up in the Clay and Buck podcast feed on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [39:32]
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- [40:32]
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- [40:59]
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- [42:02]
Leon Neyfak
When I told people I was making a podcast about Benghazi, nine times out of ten they called me a masochist, rolled their eyes, or just asked why Benghazi?
- [42:14]
Buck Sexton
The truth became a web of lies.
- [42:16]
Leon Neyfak
It's almost a dirty word, one that connotes conspiracy theory.
- [42:20]
Clay Travis
Will we ever get the truth about the Benghazi massacre?
- [42:23]
Leon Neyfak
Bad faith, political warfare, and frankly, bullshit.
- [42:27]
Ted Cruz
We kill the ambassador just to cover something up.
- [42:30]
Buck Sexton
You put two and two together.
- [42:32]
Leon Neyfak
Was it an overblown distraction or a sinister conspiracy?
- [42:36]
Clay Travis
Benghazi is a Rosetta Stone for everything that's been going on for the last 20 years.
- [42:44]
Leon Neyfak
I'm Leon Naifak from Prologue Projects and Pushkin Industries. This is Fiasco Benghazi.
- [42:51]
WashablesOfSofas Advertiser
What difference at this point does it make?
- [42:53]
Donald Trump
Yes, that's right.
- [42:55]
Buck Sexton
Lock her up.
- [42:56]
Leon Neyfak
Listen to Fiasco Benghazi on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [43:02]
Ben Ferguson
I'm Ben Ferguson.
- [43:03]
Ted Cruz
And I'm Ted Cruz. The three times a week, we do our podcast Verdict with Ted Cruz.
- [43:08]
Ben Ferguson
Nationwide, we have millions of listeners.
- [43:10]
Ted Cruz
Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, we break down the news and bring you behind the scenes inside the White House, inside the Senate, inside the United States Supreme Court.
- [43:19]
Ben Ferguson
And we cover the stories that you're not getting anywhere else.
- [43:22]
Ted Cruz
We arm you with the facts to be able to know and advocate for the truth with your friends and family.
- [43:28]
Ben Ferguson
So download Verdict with Ted Cruz now, wherever you get your podcasts.
- [43:32]
Buck Sexton
All right, welcome back in here to play and Buck.
- [43:35]
Clay Travis
Want to make sure we get to.
- [43:36]
Buck Sexton
Your talkbacks and calls here momentarily, which we will be doing. And also want to tell you to drink some Crockett coffee. Go to crockettcoffee.com a lot of you drink coffee, but some of you are not drinking Crockett coffee. I'm like, why? Our coffee tastes better. It's more about history in America. It's a cooler brand. And 10% of our profits goes to TA Towers Foundation. And if you subscribe now, you'll get the emails about Clay's exciting book, Balls B A All B A L L S, which is coming out in about a month. So that's, that's very, very exciting. So we will be discussing Balls quite a lot on this show and so look forward to that. But go to crocketcoffee.com get some, get some coffee there. All kinds of delicious stuff. Go subscribe Truck.
- [44:21]
Clay Travis
You got to be more careful on some of your phrasing, I see. When I, I didn't expect you to come out as gay.
- [44:27]
Buck Sexton
We don't have to discuss the Polish sausage incident of October 2025. We don't have to discuss this. Okay? You were out, buddy. All right? So that's off limits. What happens when Clay's out stays where it happens.
- [44:40]
Clay Travis
I was not expecting to look down at my phone and see that Buck was talking about his roommate introducing him to Polish soccer. I.
- [44:49]
Buck Sexton
My mentions, my mentions all of a sudden got very feisty, and I was like, oh, God, here we go.
- [44:55]
Clay Travis
I was shopping with my wife, Laura. I looked down at my phone and, and I just couldn't stop laughing. I'm in a, you know, women's clothing store. First of all, awkward for any man to just. If you're. You're not even able to go to the corner of the store where there might be four men's shirts. Like, this store didn't even pretend that they cared about men at all. So I'm already just kind of walking around awkwardly in there, and then I just start giggling like a, like a schoolboy.
- [45:25]
Buck Sexton
They didn't have a husband chair for you. The smart stores always have the husband chair. You know, where you sit. It's pretty comfy, too, if they're, if they know what they're doing.
- [45:32]
Clay Travis
I was looking for the husband chair, but the husband chair had boxes in it because they had recently gotten a shipment. So I'm just standing around awkwardly. You know, every woman's like, you're in the way. You can't even find the place in the store where you can go and not be in the way of everyone else. And. And I'm just standing there giggling at your Polish sausage commentary. So. So that was my, I guess that was what, Tuesday, when you fest your Polish sausage love.
- [45:56]
Buck Sexton
Fond of, fond of Chicago, fond of Chicago trucker Don in St. Louis. Bail us out. What have you got for us from the road?
- [46:04]
Ben Ferguson
Hi, guys.
- [46:05]
Clay Travis
Thank you for taking my call. I appreciate it. Great show as usual. You guys are the best.
- [46:11]
Donald Trump
I first of all, Clay, I feel your pain.
- [46:14]
Buck Sexton
I went to go to the Trump.
- [46:15]
Clay Travis
Rally on the the Harry Truman this weekend with my son and because I.
- [46:22]
Buck Sexton
Didn'T have a star on my license.
- [46:23]
Clay Travis
Since I was not allowed in. So this is the real id, people out there. There's a small contingent of us. Like, we just can't get in places where you're expected to be able to get in.
- [46:35]
Buck Sexton
Civilization requires adhering to rules, gentlemen. We floridians have real IDs. You Tennesseans need to get on the bandwagon.
- [46:43]
Clay Travis
It's. It's unbelievable. At some point, I'm going to have to go to the DMV to get my star. When we come back, Buck, maybe you can confess your love of other sausages. Never know what's going to happen on the show.
- [46:55]
Buck Sexton
I mean, culinary delights are a frequent topic on this show. So we will be back shortly with that and more.
- [47:01]
iHeartRadio Advertising Announcer
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- [47:31]
Leon Neyfak
When I told people I was making a podcast about Benghazi, nine times out of ten they called me a masochist, rolled their eyes, or just asked why Benghazi.
- [47:43]
Buck Sexton
The truth became a web of lies.
- [47:45]
Leon Neyfak
From prologue projects and Pushkin Industries. This is Fiasco Benghazi.
- [47:51]
WashablesOfSofas Advertiser
What difference at this point does it make?
- [47:54]
Leon Neyfak
Listen to Fiasco Benghazi on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
- [48:01]
Ben Ferguson
I'm Ben Ferguson.
- [48:02]
Ted Cruz
And I'm Ted Cruz. Three times a week, we do our podcast, Verdict with Ted Cruz.
- [48:07]
Ben Ferguson
Nationwide, we have millions of listeners.
- [48:10]
Ted Cruz
Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, we break down the news and bring you behind the scenes inside the White House, inside the Senate, inside the United States Supreme Court.
- [48:18]
Ben Ferguson
And we cover the stories that you're not getting anywhere else.
- [48:22]
Ted Cruz
We arm you with the facts to be able to know and advocate for the truth with your friends and family.
- [48:27]
Ben Ferguson
So download Verdict with Ted Cruz now. Wherever you get your podcasts, this is an iHeart podcast.