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Buck Sexton
This is an iHeart podcast guaranteed human
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this July 4th, come celebrate at America's Block Party hosted by America 250. America's Block Party is a can't miss 4th of July concert happening at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Experience music, performances from major artists, patriotic tributes and the kickoff to giving 4th, helping to make July 4th the largest day of giving in American history. It's more than just fireworks. Learn more about this landmark celebration at america250.org,
Buck Sexton
after reaching over $5,000 an ounce, gold prices have softened. What does that mean for you? It means this is a buying opportunity. Whether you haven't yet diversified your savings into gold or maybe you just want to buy more, Birch Gold Group can help you. The fundamentals are still out of whack. Surging oil prices keep inflation high, the national debt is still soaring, and central banks are still buying massive quantities of gold. That's why my belief in gold hasn't changed one bit. Educate yourself. Birch Gold will send you a free info kit on gold when you text my name. Buck to 9898 98. There's no obligation, only useful information, including how you can own gold in a tax sheltered retirement account with an A plus rating with the Better Business Bureau and tens of thousands of happy customers. See if buying the dip makes sense for you right now. Text buck to the number 989-898, claim your free info kit and diversify your savings with gold. Text Buck to 9,898 98 with my
Parent Caller
mom and dad living in Orange county, when we bring my five and seven year old to visit, we are sometimes in for a two hour drive that could feel like ten.
Co-Host Clay Travis
Oh, as an avid camper, I know all about this. We'll pack up the RV and know this is either going to be the trip of a lifetime or a complete disaster.
Parent Caller
Which is why we load up the iPads with Lingokids before we even pull out of the driveway.
Co-Host Clay Travis
It's what dreams are made of. Lingokids keeps kids engaged and quiet with over 4000 interactive games, songs and shows that kids simply cannot get enough of.
Parent Caller
You can pack whatever you think you'll need, but Lingokids is the only entertainment you'll need for a stress free car ride.
Co-Host Clay Travis
Or really any ride, plane, train, hovercraft, whatever.
Parent Caller
Download Lingokids for free today or unlock
Co-Host Clay Travis
even more amazing content with LingoKids.
Parent Caller
Plus, choose the yearly plan and save up to 60%. Search LingoKids in the App Store or
Co-Host Clay Travis
Google Play Lingokids everything kids love
real
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Co-Host Clay Travis
Welcome in Friday edition, Clay and Buck. We appreciate all of you hanging out with us. Let's have some fun. We've got a loaded program coming your way at the bottom of the hour. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas will join us. We'll ask him what he thinks about the big Talarico vs. Paxton battle and also this college nil bill that he has introduced. Also Senator John Hust. Ohio one of the true battleground Senate seats. If Ohio stays red, it's one of many seats that the math becomes virtually impossible for the Democrat Party to take back control of the Senate as they have a 53 to 47 disadvantage right now, meaning they would have to pick up four Senate seats. Brianna Lyman from the Federalist will join us at 2:30. You guys are all big fans of her. She's been on several times talking a lot about America 250 and more. We'll see what she thinks about Milli Vanilli as we had some fun with that yesterday. And Buck, as many of those artists have now decided they don't want to play at America 250, which is wasn't an esteemed lineup to begin with.
Buck Sexton
Well, some of them are saying that they received death threats and that the violent response of fourth tier music acts playing at A Celebration of America was that lunatic Democrats were threatening harm against them and their families, which tells you a lot. This doesn't happen in the other direction, by the way, you know. Yes, there's no death threats against somebody who goes to play for and there shouldn't be, of course, goes to play for a Kamala thing or and this wasn't even a Kamala or a Biden or Obama or anything else. This is supposed to be a 250th anniversary of America. But Clay, looks like Milli Vanilli's out after all of our Talk yesterday about Mr. Vanilli. It's very sad.
Co-Host Clay Travis
So we'll talk about that. Have some fun. Great guests coming your way. We'll take some of your calls, talk backs and more. But Buck, we begin, you're leaving out a critical story.
Buck Sexton
Did we talk about Trump on the $250 bill?
Co-Host Clay Travis
No, we need to talk about Trump on the $250bill. And look, I know everybody's gonna be mad about this. I'm actually a huge proponent. I haven't even asked you this. I think we need bigger bills than $100 bill. It used to be when I was a kid, if you paid for something with a hundred dollar bill, it was like you were trying to show off. Now what are you, a drug dealer? What's going on? Now everything costs so much that I feel like if you're gonna pay with cash, which a lot of people don't do anyway, but I feel like you need to be traveling around with hundred dollar bills in your wallet because otherwise you have to have too many twenties. It feels like the 50 largely gets skipped over poor Ulysses S. Grant. But. But we will have some fun with that. We've also got, let's see, Dr. Jill Biden, which we haven't gotten into at all yet, saying that she thought her husband might have had a stroke and then she of course, took him to Waffle House. Spencer Pratt, FOX News tour yesterday. New polls coming out on the LA mayor's race Tuesday next week. This is going to be a big one to put a pin in because it will give us some indication of how the midterms are looking even in a blue state like California. But we begin with the post from President Trump about Iran. President Trump is in the Situation ROOM right now, according to FOX News. And Buck, I want to get your read on this because we talked about some of the ideas behind the Iran deal. This is President Trump being pretty specific about exactly what must happen, and here is his Truth post. Iran must agree they will never have a nuclear weapon or bomb. The Hormuz Strait must be immediately open. No tolls for unrestricted shipping traffic in both directions. All water, mines, bombs, if any, will be terminated. We have removed through detonation numerous such mines with our great underwater mine sweepers. Iran will complete the immediate removal and or detonation of any mines that are left, which will not be many ships caught in the strait due to our amazing and unprecedented naval blockade which will now be lifted, may start the process of heading home. Say hello to your wives, husbands, parents and families from me, your favorite president. The enriched material, sometimes referred to as nuclear dust, which is buried deep underground with virtually collapsed mountains caused by our powerful B2 bomber attack 11 months ago. Sitting on top of it will be unearthed by the United States, which it is agreed is the only country, along with China, with the mechanical capability of doing so in close coordination and conjunction with the Islamic Republic of Iran plus the International Atomic Energy Agency and destroyed. No money will be exchanged until further notice. Other items of far less importance have been agreed to. I will be meeting now in the Situation Room to make a final determination. Thank you for your attention to this matter. President Donald J. Trump. Okay, Buck, uh, now if he could get all of that, let's pretend that this all happened, is it fair to say that the Iran war he would get and the United States military, that is executed on his behalf, an A plus? That's more than we could have expected. I think maybe you only give him an A, maybe not an A plus. But if that were to all occur, would you agree that that is a tremendous success relative to expectations?
Buck Sexton
Well, it would be him completing the mission in the way that he said it would have all or he would all along. I hope that it's. This is where this goes and if it is fantastic, I want what's best for America. This would be great for the region as well. It does start to feel like, is he. All of these demands being listed publicly, is this, does this have anything to do with the Iranian negotiation or is this just telling the American people? I mean, is he convincing us or is he convincing them? You know, convincing the people that have to make this decision? And that's a different thing. So I hope that he's right. I hope that it all goes through and we shall see. It's just we've been told that a deal is going to happen. Now it's May 29th. I have to go back to the beginning. It has been weeks and weeks of we're 95%, we're on the, we're on the five yard line, we're on the goal line. It's about to happen. We've got them right where we want them. Okay. There is fatigue with hearing this, though. Like, I think we're just at the point, I want to hear that we have a deal. The next announcement from the Trump administration about the Iran deal should be we have a deal, not the deal that's gonna happen is gonna be the most amazing deal from, you know, your fate. He is my favorite president, but from your favorite president, you know, I want to hear that there's a deal.
Co-Host Clay Travis
Let me ask you this, how much? So let me take a step back. Everything that Iran wants publicly distributed, we hear because the United States media has people that will take what Iran's government is saying at face value and they will put it into American media. And you can read Iran's perspective in the York Times. You can Watch it on msnbc. There are lots of people with lines of communication into the Islamic Republic there. Therefore we are hearing both sides. And what typically happens, Buck is. And I get the frustration from a lot of people out there is we say something and if you're active on social media within 30 minutes, Iran has a person in media who is their mouthpiece saying, actually that's not true. Right. And so the markets react, they go both directions. Just an idea. If we take this is what I think is going to end up happening, if we take their nuclear dust. Because I think Trump is going to say, we want this nuclear dust, we're going to take it. How many people in Iran even know what happens because they do not have mutuality of media. They have shut down the Internet, presumably the Iranian media outlet. Remember, there was ridiculous propaganda that went out which was that they had shot down one of our planes and they had like really bad AI of this is before the one jet did get shot, shot down. And I think they said they had sunk an aircraft carrier or something. Like there's all sorts of ridiculous propaganda. Would most Iranian people even be aware if we took their nuclear dust? Now, the leadership would, and there are dangers associated with the leadership, but if the leadership says you can't do it, but then privately they're saying something different than what they say publicly. I don't know that the people of Iran even get embarrassed by this because I'm not sure that they're even aware that the United States goes in and takes out their nuclear dust. In other words, we don't have mutuality of information here. And a part of me thinks that some of this may be that they are saying different things publicly than what they're saying privately. And the question goes to what would they actually do? Would they actually attack us if we go in to take out their nuclear dust, or would they posture and just pretend it wasn't happening? I don't know how this is going to play out, okay? But I feel like we have to do it.
Buck Sexton
I think that the taking of the dust, so to speak, it's not as simple as taking dust, obviously. It might require heavy earth moving equipment, if you will. You know, it's more of like a construction job. And you'd have to have a real logistical forward operating base to do this sort of thing again.
Co-Host Clay Travis
I've never.
Buck Sexton
There are some missions where I've sat in a room where we've talked to military folks in the CIA and I've been, been through a lot of how do we kick in the front door. How do we kick in the front door and, you know, shoot Abu Hababu in the face because he's trying to blow up a bunch of people somewhere? That mission, I understand pretty well. This. I don't. I don't really know what Clay, all the logistics would be.
Co-Host Clay Travis
I do think, by the way, I bet you can speak to this too. I bet there isn't a consistent opinion about whether this is even possible.
Buck Sexton
Right?
Co-Host Clay Travis
There's probably guys saying we can do this. There are others that are like, this is way too much of a. Just a radioactive risk. Who knows?
Buck Sexton
But I don't. I don't think. I mean, Clay, they do have the Internet. I think that the. I think they have Internet access back at least.
Co-Host Clay Travis
You know, I don't think they do. I don't think they've had Internet access. The whole country has no Internet for 90 days. They basically have shut down since we started bombing them. I don't think that they had. We tried to give them starlink. I do not think they have allowed the average person Iran because that's one of the things that has been crippling for their economy is the average person who just is trying to do some sort of Internet based job. They have shut it down.
Buck Sexton
I mean, they're saying it's okay. 60% of normal levels is the current. So the Internet is. Is in, you know, rougher position than it was. Clay. I think they would find out if America set up a Ford operating base in the country and, you know, if they had to send.
Co-Host Clay Travis
I think they would just. I think they would just lie to them and say it didn't happen.
Buck Sexton
I mean, I guess that's theoretically possible. Why would they do that?
Co-Host Clay Travis
Because they want to save face. What I'm saying is we do not have a mutuality. We know everything that Iran says. We know everything that our government says. Iran, in this whole situation since February 28, largely has no idea what America has said about this war. They have almost no Internet access at all. Certainly they restrict the Internet access to anything that would be any sort of independent media. I think that there is a world where Iran is saying publicly, we have won this war. America is bending the knee to us. I think they will say it to their public and then privately they are acknowledging that we may come in and take this nuclear dust out.
Buck Sexton
Why the weeks of wrangling over a deal? Because that would be the. If the leadership wanted to do this, then they could have done this weeks ago.
Co-Host Clay Travis
I suspect the reason we're wrangling over a deal is we still don't know who actually has power in Iran. I think that's one of the biggest issues that is going on right now. Who has the ability to bind Iran on any kind of agreement at all? I think there is a battle inside of Iran over who the leaders actually are. And I think that's one of the challenges with any deal you get is I think we're just gonna have to go do whatever we want, because I don't think you can trust them at all. And so what they say publicly, what they actually agree to and everything else, I think we just have to go do whatever we think is right, because I don't think that there's anyone in a position of power to bind Iran or to be relied upon. And I think that they may kill people if they actually try to agree with us. So this is why I just think we're gonna have to go in and do whatever we want. And so to your point, you're just
Buck Sexton
rolling with your gut on these theories. By the way, this is interesting stuff. You have no basis for this whatsoever. But.
Co-Host Clay Travis
No. Well, I mean, who has a basis for any of it? Who actually understands what's going on in Iran? I don't think we have any idea. The senior briefers say that we basically are communicating via carrier pigeons. So I don't trust Iran. I think the President, if these are all his goals, I think we just have to go do it. I think we just have to go in and take the nuclear dust. Presuming that it's possible, I think that Iran may not actually fight us on this, but I think we just have to go do it and end it once and for all. That's my take.
Buck Sexton
You know, you've turned into the head of the SWAT team in Die Hard, the original Die Hard, when he's like, sit in the car, send in the car. They just send in the car to,
Co-Host Clay Travis
you know, the car gets blown up. So I don't love that analogy, but I do think we just have to go in and do it. I don't think that there's any basis to trust that you can rely on Iran's negotiators, to be honest, I do think that the markets are responding positively. If you want a positive, we've got record high stock markets, gas prices continue to decline. The economic cataclysm that many said would exist if we went into Iran has not. But I think we just have to go do it. I think we have to go in, and there is risk associated with it. But I don't think we can sit back and just rely that Iran's going to suddenly say, okay, here's all our nuclear dust. I don't buy that they're going to give it up. So we'll see. In the meantime, I hope you're right.
Buck Sexton
This is a very interesting Tom Clancy novel esque approach.
Co-Host Clay Travis
Well, I think Trump is going to want to do it. I think Trump wants the, wants the cinematic conclusion to this, this raid and I think the nuclear dust, if we can take it, is the way to actually get a conclusion. In the meantime, yesterday we got an email. They're brand new Cozy Earth clothes and we got access to them early and I'm pretty excited about it because they're incredibly comfortable. You go to Cozy earth, you get 20% off right now when you make the choice. Good night's rest. Great overall products. You're going to love them. Cozy Earth sheets will make you very comfortable. All sorts of cool bamboo fabric. You're not going to be too hot, not going to be too cold. You'll feel like you're sleeping on $1,000 sheets even though they are much cheaper than that. If you haven't tried it out yet, go to cozyearth.com use my name Clay for a 20% discount. Every set of Cozy Earth sheets comes with a hundred night guarantee. Sleep on them for three full months before you have to make a final decision plus 10 year warranty. You're gonna love it. Cozyearth.com code clay for 20% off that's cozyearth.com code Clay for 20% off laugh, learn and hang with the guys. Clay and Buck preset on the iHeart
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app this July 4th. Come celebrate at America's Block Party hosted by America 250. America's Block Party is a can't miss 4th of July concert happening at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Experience music, performances from major artists, patriotic tributes and the kickoff to giving 4th, helping to make July 4th the largest day of giving in American history. It's more than just fireworks. Learn more about this landmark celebration@america250.org after
Buck Sexton
reaching over $5,000 an ounce, gold prices have softened. What does that mean for you? It means this is a buying opportunity. Whether you haven't yet diversified your savings into gold or maybe you just want to buy more, Birch Gold Group can help you. The fundamentals are still out of whack. Surging oil prices keep inflation high. The national debt is still soaring and central banks are still buying massive quantities of gold. That's why my belief in Gold hasn't changed one bit. Educate yourself Birch Gold will send you a free info kit on Gold when you text my name. Buck to 9898 98. There's no obligation, only useful information, including how you can own gold in a tax sheltered retirement account with an A rating with the Better Business Bureau and tens of thousands of happy customers. See if buying the dip makes sense for you right now. Text buck to the number 9,898 98. Claim your free info kit and diversify your savings with gold. Text Buck to 9,898 98 with my
Parent Caller
mom and dad living in Orange county, when we bring my five and seven year old to visit, we are sometimes in for a two hour drive that could feel like 10.
Co-Host Clay Travis
Oh, as an avid camper, I know all about this. We'll pack up the RV and know this is either going to be the trip of a lifetime or a complete disaster.
Parent Caller
Which is why we load up the iPads with Lingokids before we even pull out of the driveway.
Co-Host Clay Travis
It's what dreams are made of. LingoKids keeps kids engaged and quiet with over 4000 interactive games, songs and shows that kids simply cannot get enough of.
Parent Caller
You can pack whatever you think you'll need, but Lingokids is the only entertainment you'll need for a stress free car ride.
Co-Host Clay Travis
Or really any ride, plane, train, hovercraft, whatever.
Parent Caller
Download lingokids for free today or unlock
Co-Host Clay Travis
even more amazing content with LingoKids.
Parent Caller
Plus choose the yearly plan and save up to 60%. Search LingoKids in the App Store or Google Play.
Co-Host Clay Travis
LingoKids everything kids love.
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Co-Host Clay Travis
welcome back
Buck Sexton
in here to Clay and Buck. So we are going to be joined shortly by Senator Ted Cruz of Texas and we certainly want to have a conversation with him about a whole range of things, including this. The really the deal points There isn't an Iran deal yet. There are points that the President is asserting will have to be in the final deal. But I have to say, sometimes, Clay, there's just an embarrassment of riches offered to the conservative commentators out there by an issue or by an individual who is running for office. It's just. It's so much. It's such ripe ground for not just analysis, but also outright hilarity. This guy James Talarico, that the Democrat party of the state of Texas thought that this guy should be the one they offer up as their senate candidate is truly hilarious. It's a little scary because they think that this could actually work at some level. But the stuff that we are seeing about Talarico, here he is. This is cut to referring to his female neighbors as neighbors with a uterus instead of women. Plate 2.
Co-Host Clay Travis
Every one of our neighbors with a
Buck Sexton
uterus became the property of the state.
Co-Host Clay Travis
One of our neighbors with the uterus
Senator Ted Cruz
to be able to control their own body.
Co-Host Clay Travis
Our neighbors with a uterus. One of our neighbors with the uterus,
Buck Sexton
also known as women neighbors.
Co-Host Clay Travis
What would your wife say if you referred to her as your neighbor with a uterus?
Buck Sexton
I'd be the neighbor down the street while she figured out what was gonna happen to me.
Co-Host Clay Travis
I just would be bad. Who even comes up with a phrase like that? That sounds like a really bad fantasy football team name. All right.
Buck Sexton
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Co-Host Clay Travis
Welcome back in Clay and Buck. Appreciate all of you hanging out with us. We head now to speak with our friend Senator Ted Cruz of Texas. A bunch to dive into with him, but let's start right off the top because the President is reportedly in the situation room, Senator Cruz, making decisions about what to do going forward with Iran. It wouldn't shock me at all if you've talked with him about this. Where do you see this going. What do you think about the President's perspective based on what is out there right now and what you know to be true?
Senator Ted Cruz
Well, I spoke with the President about Iran the day before yesterday, and we spent about 20 minutes on the phone. Listen, I think what the president has done, striking Iran and taking out their military capacity is the single most important decision of his second term. I think it is enormously consequential. I think the military successes that the United States have had to date have been extraordinary. We have utterly eliminated their ballistic missiles, their missile manufacturing capability, their drones, their drone manufacturing capability. Their air force is in rubble. Their navy is sunken at the bottom of the ocean. The ayatollah is dead. Most of the mullahs are dead. Much of the senior leadership of the IRGC is dead. It took Iran for 49 years to build up that military, and it took us 39 days to just utterly eliminate it. At this point, what I urged the president when we talked day before yesterday was hold the line in particular on nuclear weapons capability, that the bottom line needs to be zero enrichment and Iran needs to hand over all of their enriched uranium. And the president has articulated that red line over and over and over again. And when I talked to him, he articulated again and said, I'm going to hold the line. And they either it's no nukes or there's no deal. And so I think that's exactly what the President is doing, and I think it's making America safer.
Buck Sexton
So, Senator, why is it that the deal has been taking a bit more time than it seemed was anticipated by the White House? Is it more a function of intransigence of the Iranian interlocutors? Is it that the Iranians are. We're not even clear on who can make the deal. That's another part of this that has come up. Why is it that we're hearing about this deal is about to get signed or this deal is very close to the finish line, but we have been hearing that for some weeks at this point.
Senator Ted Cruz
Well, look, both of those are true. Number one, the Iranians are famously intransigent. Their leadership remain that they are religious zealots and Islamists who resist giving an inch and who also routinely lie in these negotiations and make promises that they intend to brazenly flout and break. And there's also chaos in Iran. So it's not even clear you've got competing factions. As you guys know, I do every week. A podcast verdict with Ted Cruz. Monday's podcast was a deep dive on The Iran deal and in particular how there's a lot of misinformation circulating. So the Iranians are pushing out things, claiming that this is what the President is doing. There's a lot of misinformation that is being pushed with money behind it. There are also, within the Trump administration, there are competing factions. And so not everyone agrees on the best course of action for the US Government. I think President Trump has been absolutely right and he has drawn a clear red line. He has been clear eyed. And I think the President understands as commander in chief that when you have a country led by an ayatollah who chants death to America, Iran has murdered, in the 47 years of its existence, this Iranian regime, they have murdered nearly 1,000Americans. I think he understands fully well that allowing radical Islamists who want to kill us to get nuclear weapons could well result in hundreds of thousands of Americans being killed. And I think President Trump is not going to allow that to happen.
Co-Host Clay Travis
You are in Texas. You've won a lot of statewide races. You know Ken Paxton well. In fact, I think Buck and I were with you and Ken Paxton and others, if I remember correctly, for a great Texas Alabama game back a few years ago. What do you think of this, by
Senator Ted Cruz
the way, in that game? Clay, Clay, you can't bring that up without me saying we were robbed. We lost by a point. And the last I checked, if you tackle the quarterback in the end zone, it's a safety. Damn it. We should have had two points and we should have won that game.
Co-Host Clay Travis
That was a great game. It's one of the first big games for Texas in the sec. That's a very good recall by Senator Ted Cruz there. So you've known Ken a long time. You've worked with him a lot. He's been the Attorney General. He's been elected several times to statewide office. He's running against James Talarico, a inferior form of Beto, as some have argued on social media. You know Beto well. You ran against him. What's going to happen in this race? You know the state of Texas very well. Do you buy that it's going to be a challenge to get the win?
Senator Ted Cruz
Look, I think Ken has a very strong record. I think he has the strongest conservative record of any state attorney general in the country. And he's going to run on that record. And I think that record and Ken's policy positions are consistent with where the voters of Texas are. Ken has won statewide multiple times and I believe he can and will win. So I'm supporting Ken enthusiastically in November. That being said, a message that I'm trying to have Texas Republicans and Republicans nationally hear loud and clear, do not take for granted this general election. This Democrat, James Talarico, I think is dangerous. He's very smooth, he's very slick, he's charming, he sounds like a preacher. I prefer the guy is, is, is a hard left wing zealot, but he doesn't sound like it. And I prefer my wolves to come in wolves clothing. What is dangerous about this guy is a voter who doesn't pay a whole lot of attention to politics, who just turns on the TV that they can look at him and say, oh, he seems like a nice young man. And that is very dangerous. So I believe we're going to win. Texas is going to stay red, but I think Democrats are going to flood hundreds of millions of dollars into the state. And so we got to make sure we turn out common sense Texans. If we do that, we'll win in November.
Buck Sexton
Just here's a little Talarico flashback for everybody as we're discussing this. This is cut five guys on how trans people need abortions to play it.
Senator Ted Cruz
I want to acknowledge that our trans
Co-Host Clay Travis
community needs abortion care too.
Senator Ted Cruz
Defending trans Texans is something we have
Co-Host Clay Travis
to do every day at the state capitol and you better believe I'll be
Buck Sexton
giving sermons on that too.
Co-Host Clay Travis
So when I use the word woman,
Senator Ted Cruz
it should not be understood as an
Co-Host Clay Travis
exhaustive term, but rather as a, as
Buck Sexton
a lens through which to understand, examine and interrogate patriarchy. When he uses the term women, Senator, it is to quote, examine and interrogate patriarchy. As we heard before, he prefers neighbors with a uterus.
Senator Ted Cruz
Yes, yes. Look, the guy is a full on left wing zealot. He has said God is non binary. He has said there are actually six genders. His campaign he ran, he said meat is destroying the planet. So he ran a non meat campaign. This is a guy running for Senate in Texas who thinks barbecue is evil and destroying the world. The guy is out there and I tell you the clips that maybe bothered me the most. He's got several interviews, in fact, one sermon that he's preaching in the front of a church where he said that he cries about his whiteness and his masculinity. And listen, I'm going to try to be nice and be gracious, but I will just say if you look at this guy and listen to this guy, if you were making a list of a thousand adjectives that you would come up with to describe him, masculine would not be on the list. Like this guy who is crying about his masculinity. Sorry, dude, you got nothing to cry about. You're fine. But that's how far out he is.
Co-Host Clay Travis
All right. You have introduced a bill. We're talking to Senator Ted Cruz of Texas. You have introduced a bill. I love this buck is like, my God, what's going on with college athletics? This is crazy. You and Maria Cantwell, a Democrat, have introduced a bipartisan partisan bill that is in the Senate right now that would solve many of the issues facing college athletics. What should we know? What is its prognosis as a bill? What's the timeline?
Senator Ted Cruz
Look, I think college sports is an incredible institution in America. It's something at a time when we're divided, when we're yelling at each other about everything else, sports is something that brings us together. That you can be rooting for your home team and you can be with people from a different party, a different race, a different religion, it doesn't matter. Together. And, and, and, and I think college sports in particular is an absolute crisis. That you've got chaos with an unlimited transfer portal, that you've got athletes transferring three, four, five times, essentially no rules on eligibility. So you've got players playing six, seven years, you've got players who are 27, 28 years old playing college sports. You have professional players playing college sports. And you've got an out of control cost spiral that virtually every athletic program in the country is losing millions of dollars, in many instances tens of millions of dollars. So every week you see a different program announced that they're canceling women's sports, they're canceling track and field, they're canceling Olympic sports, they're canceling tennis and clay. I think if Congress doesn't act in three to five years, we're going to see a world where there are 30 to 50 college football programs that are basically a mini NFL, that is the G League for the NFL and that every other program goes away. It basically becomes a glorified high school program without television, without meaningful revenue. And that would be a disaster that would be devastating to college athletes. There are right now more than 500,000 college athletes in America. And athletics has been this incredible avenue for, over the years, millions of young men and women to get a college education, many of whom would never otherwise get a college education, many from low income environments, many African Americans, many Hispanics, where sports is their ticket not only to get a degree, but look, I'm focusing on this. I'm not worrying a whole lot about the superstars The Michael Jordans, the Arch Mannings of the world, they'll do fine. They're going to make millions of dollars. They're going to be perfectly fine. I'm worried about the 99% of college athletes who are never going to play in the NFL. They're never going to play in the NBA. But right now they're getting all of the skills of teamwork and discipline and hard work and sportsmanship that enable them to succeed in life. And if we don't act of those half million kids, we're going to see hundreds of thousands of those slots disappear. So this bill, it is a bipartisan bill. I have spent three years working to bring Democrats and Republicans together. I negotiated it with Maria Cantwell. I'm the chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over about 40% of the U.S. economy, including all of sports. Maria Cantwell is the senior Democrat on that committee. So we introduced it together. We also have Eric Schmidt from Missouri as a co sponsor. He's a Republican. Chris Coons from Delaware, he's a Democrat. He's a co sponsor. Clay, I gotta tell you, I think we have a lot of momentum behind this bill. I believe we're gonna get it done. We're gonna have a hearing next week. It's my intention to move quickly. And I think Congress has an obligation to do this for the athletes, for the universities and for the fans to bring real stability and to preserve and save college sports.
Buck Sexton
Senator Cruz, real quick for you on the way out here, everyone go check out Verdict, his podcast. By the way, it's great Clay respects your opinion, so maybe you can kind of help just bring him back to reality on this a little bit. He says Kamala isn't just going to run, which he's probably right about that, unfortunately, but is going to be the Democrat nominee. Is he insane, Senator Cruz, or can you see that too?
Senator Ted Cruz
Look, he's not insane, at least on this. He has this annoying habit of rooting for Tennessee that I think will never cure him of. But on this, he's not insane. Look, I think the two frontrunners for president on the Democrat side are Gavin Newsom and aoc. And by the way, Republicans who dismiss AOC are, I think, misreading just how radical the Democrat base is right now. I think she is almost purely the ID of the Democrat party. But Kamala is formidable. She was the nominee before. The Democrat Party is a very bean counting party. So I think she probably does run and I think she has a shot at it. But I think Gavin and AOC are probably ahead of her right now.
Co-Host Clay Travis
Really quick on the way out. I know you're an NBA fan. Old school too. Cause the Rockets were good with Hakeem. I'm sure you saw Kathy Hochul call out President Trump for not knowing the Knicks when the Knicks didn't actually win the title. Buck is a big Knicks fan because he grew up in New York City going to the games. Should Trump go to watch the Knicks play or not in your opinion? And who wins Game 7, OKC or the Spurs?
Senator Ted Cruz
Let me start with the second. I'm rooting for the Spurs. They're a great Texas team. I'm a die hard Rockets fan, so if the Rockets were there, I'd be rooting for them. But the Rockets are out of it. The spurs are terrific. When Benyama. Holy cow, the guy is 7:4 and dribbles like a point guard and shoots like Steph Curry. That's a scary mix. Look, OKC is favored and they're crazy good. But I'm hoping the spurs win it. I'd love to see Trump go to a Knicks game. Now he's got to think about whoever wins in the west is probably going to win the Finals. So I'm not certain Trump wants to go and see the Knicks lose. I will say, Buck, I'm sorry to tell you the series that Kathy Hochul was imagining and making up, I was actually at that series. And in 94 in game seven when the Rockets beat the Knicks and won the NBA Finals, I was there in the Summit and it was magical. And in fact, outside the summit, it was the first championship Houston had ever won. You had businessmen in three piece suits crying and hugging homeless men. So, so sorry. John Starks went over 11 that game.
Buck Sexton
Buck, it's okay. Senator Cruz, that's very nice. Your memory lane. Hurtful, hurtful. But I'm glad that you enjoyed it. Thank you Senator Cruz for being here with us. Guys, go check out verdict. And Senator, we'll talk to you again.
Senator Ted Cruz
Take care.
Buck Sexton
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Co-Host Clay Travis
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Parent Caller
and dad living in Orange county, when we bring my five and seven year old to visit, we are sometimes in for a two hour drive that could feel like 10.
Co-Host Clay Travis
Oh, as an avid camper, I know all about this. We'll pack up the RV and know this is either going to be the trip of a lifetime or a complete disaster.
Parent Caller
Which is why we load up the iPads with lingokids before we even pull out of the driveway.
Co-Host Clay Travis
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Co-Host Clay Travis
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Co-Host Clay Travis
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Co-Host Clay Travis
Welcome back in Clay and Buck. Thanks to Senator Ted Cruz. Lots of information I thought very interesting aspects there that we will get into a bit at the top of the next hour and more. Along with Spencer Pratt's campaign, the California campaign, Dr. Jill Biden, all that and more. But I wanted to get to some of your talkbacks. So many of you have been weighing in. You guys are fantastic. Let's go to podcast listener Linda in Arizona.
Buck Sexton
Hi guys, this is Linda and Phoenix. I just wanted to give you another example of why Trump is a big
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sports fan and why I will always
Buck Sexton
remember his birthday is June 14th. That's because on that night in 1994 he was in Madison Square Garden when my Rangers won the Stanley Cup. It was a great night.
Co-Host Clay Travis
That is pot. Let's go to B quickly here. Paul in New York. 70 W O R. Sorry Clay.
Senator Ted Cruz
I think Buck's right on this.
Buck Sexton
Waiting 60 days.
Senator Ted Cruz
How do you keep all of those
Buck Sexton
forces in place to ensure that the deal absolutely gets struck?
Senator Ted Cruz
You can't keep them there for another 60 days doing nothing.
Buck Sexton
Sorry buddy.
Senator Ted Cruz
Buck's right on this.
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Co-Host Clay Travis
mom, can I have Lingokids dad.
Parent Caller
Lingokids, please.
Co-Host Clay Travis
When did we become the Lingokids house?
Parent Caller
No idea. Last week it was dinosaurs.
Co-Host Clay Travis
This week it's Lingokids. Why Lingokids?
Senator Ted Cruz
Because it's the best thing ever.
Co-Host Clay Travis
We can play games with astronauts, wild animals and superheroes.
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Co-Host Clay Travis
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Parent Caller
So no dinosaurs and dinosaurs.
Buck Sexton
Lingo kids, everything kids love, download it for free.
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Senator Ted Cruz
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Buck Sexton
Com.
Episode Title: Hour 1 – Take the Nuclear Dust
Date: May 29, 2026
Host: Clay Travis & Buck Sexton
Featured Guest: Senator Ted Cruz (TX)
In this lively hour, Clay Travis and Buck Sexton dive into the political headlines of the week with their signature mix of sharp commentary and humor. The main focus centers on President Trump’s assertive stance and negotiation tactics regarding the Iran nuclear situation, with deep dives into the possible ramifications of forcibly removing Iran’s "nuclear dust." Senator Ted Cruz joins the conversation, offering insider analysis on the administration’s actions, the complexity of Iran’s leadership, and the ongoing struggle to finalize a nuclear deal. Other discussion threads include the political climate in Texas, the challenges facing college sports (with Cruz’s new bipartisan NIL bill), and the broader electoral landscape.
Trump’s Statement on Iran ([07:17])
Analysis of Trump’s Approach
Logistical and Leadership Challenges
Clay’s Rationale for Action:
Buck’s Quip:
Topics: Iran, Texas Politics, College Sports, and 2026 Elections
On American-Iranian Relations:
On the Impossibility of Mutual Trust:
On Trump’s Iran Tactics:
As always, the hosts maintain a conversational, jocular tone—injecting pop culture analogies (“head of the SWAT team in Die Hard”), jabs at political figures, and a playful rivalry over sports allegiances. Senator Cruz is direct, occasionally sarcastic, but thorough and clear in policy explanations, easily shifting between national security, Texas-specific politics, and college sports complexities.
Hour 1 delivers a deep dive into the so-called “nuclear dust” scenario with Iran, highlighting the mix of military bravado, negotiation skepticism, and on-the-ground complexities in the region. Senator Ted Cruz provides an insider’s view, underscoring the uncertainty not just in Iranian leadership but within U.S. decision-making channels. Meanwhile, the hour deftly shifts between the international, the local (Texas politics), and the cultural (college sports and NBA), keeping the insights sharp and the banter lively.