The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show – Hour 3: What Should We Do About Iran?

Date: January 12, 2026
Podcast Host: iHeartPodcasts
Hosts: Clay Travis & Buck Sexton

Episode Overview

In this episode, Clay and Buck devote their final hour to the unfolding crisis in Iran. With massive anti-government protests erupting against the theocratic regime, the hosts discuss the historical context, the American response (or lack thereof), and invite Iranian-American callers to share their perspectives. They examine why the protests haven’t received significant coverage in U.S. mainstream media and on college campuses, debate what—if anything—the U.S. should do, and weigh the region’s possible future. The conversation is passionate, emotional, and broad-reaching, with input directly from the diaspora.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Significance of the Iran Protests

• Clay opens with a provocative question: Why have American college campuses, which have widely protested other international causes, largely ignored the anti-theocracy movement in Iran?
  • “Have you seen a single major campus protest in support of the Iranian protesters anywhere in America so far?... There hasn't been at least that I've seen any campus protests...in favor of the Iranian people.” (01:07)
• The regime’s brutal repression is condemned—thousands killed, sweeping inflation—yet mainstream media and leftist activists remain mostly silent.
• Clay attributes this to the “identity politics governing much of the choices being made on the left in America,” suggesting that because the protesters' cause doesn’t fit a popular identity narrative, it lacks support and coverage. (02:17)

2. Historical and Political Context

• Buck elaborates on why some international failures don’t resonate in American left circles:
  • Iran was never colonized; its situation can’t be blamed on classic anti-colonial narratives.
  • He draws a comparison with Venezuela, describing both as examples of failed leftist or theocratic governance over resource-rich nations.
  • “What you see in Iran and with the uprising...the people of Iran...are saying that this revolutionary, very Islamic by its own designation, government, is a disastrous, tyrannical failure top to bottom on all counts.” (05:19)

3. American and Global Response Options

Should the U.S. Intervene?

• Clay outlines the dilemma: Could support from outside powers—like the U.S. or Israel—actually undermine the organic opposition, allowing the government to blame “external enemies”?
• He asks Buck: “What is the actual tangible, if any, result that you think the United States should be involved in in Iran going forward right now?” (08:18)
• Buck notes the complexity: “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.” (09:15)
• Buck supports the proposition that the ideal outcome would be the Islamic revolution “collapsing at the hands of the Iranian people.”
• They discuss the large Iranian-American community, many of whom fled as refugees and might play a role in shaping Iran’s future if the regime falls. (10:02–11:33)
• Clay brings up an oft-cited fear: Sometimes a new leader can be worse, not better.

4. The Challenge of Regime Change

• Leadership Vacuum:
  • Even if the Ayatollah is removed, the theocratic and security-state apparatus remains. “It’s not just the IRGC, it's not just the Basij...you got to get rid of the people that run all of those things.” (29:38–30:28)
  • Buck cites history: “The biggest threat to authoritarian regimes is a highly placed insider.” (30:26)
  • Both hosts express uncertainty about who could take over post-revolution: Will it be an outsider like the exiled Crown Prince, or another regime insider? Comparisons are made to Iraq and Afghanistan post-intervention.

5. Iranian-American Perspectives

Callers provide emotional and sophisticated insight (19:56–28:39):

Shah in Clarksville, IN

• “Iranians made a blunder by bringing this Khomeini to power...but now they want to correct that course. And we are looking at the Berlin Wall moment. If this regime falls...it's going to be a seismic change in how the world views Islamic leftism. If the United States and Israel can help us bring about a change...not boots on the ground, but strategic strikes against this structure of the regime...Iran would [be] the shining city on the hill in the Middle East.” (20:40–22:22)
• Practically, Iranian exiles aren’t asking for U.S. troops, but for strategic support targeting regime infrastructure.

Mansoor in NYC

• Dispels the “brutal dictator” narrative of the Shah, suggesting the revolution was a coup, not a legitimate uprising.
• “This was a propaganda to get rid of the Shah, who was a very popular figure in Iran and very powerful...they want Reza Shah to come back.” (24:50–27:27)
• The exiled Crown Prince, Reza Pahlavi, is proposed as a transitional leader to democracy, with the final system to be determined by popular choice.

John in Long Island, NY

• Focuses on the regime’s military grip: “The military over there is really financially taken care of by the Mullers and the Ayatollahs...They don't have a second amendment in Iran...these protests go on, but they don't have any...way to defend themselves.” (28:39)
• Asks Buck about the possibility of a military-driven regime change.

6. Nature of Authentic Revolution

• Buck underscores that indigenous, authentic revolution is preferable:
  • “But the more it is indigenous and authentic from within the Iranian people, the better. That is for sure.” (33:21)
• They warn of complications familiar from Iraq and Afghanistan where external attempts to “parachute in” new leaders failed.

7. The "Berlin Wall" Moment?

• Clay repeatedly frames the protests as a potential world-historical shift:
  • “It could be in a Berlin Wall type moment if things were able to...end up with the Ayatollah going away and the Shah coming back...It could be transformative in many different ways.” (35:10)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Clay Travis (01:07):
  “Have you seen a single major campus protest in support of the Iranian protesters anywhere in America so far?... There hasn't been at least that I've seen any campus protests...”

• Buck Sexton (05:19):
  “The people of Iran...are saying that this revolutionary, very Islamic by its own designation, government, is a disastrous, tyrannical failure top to bottom...”

• Shah, Iranian-American caller (22:32):
  “We would put Trump’s statue in the main streets of Iran. He would do the second Cyrus the great moment for Iran, for the world history, for the Jewish people, for the whole civilized world.”

• Mansoor, Iranian-American caller (27:27):
  “Millions of people are giving us an answer. They're saying, javid Shah, which means long live the king... He [Reza Shah Pahlavi] is putting that choice on the hands of the people. You can't ask for anything more.”

• Buck Sexton (30:26):
  “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.”

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:05–03:22 — Why aren’t U.S. college campuses protesting for Iranian demonstrators?
• 03:22–06:33 — Iran’s unique history; criticism of U.S. and UN focus; failures of the regime
• 06:33–09:15 — Should the U.S. intervene? Dilemmas and risks
• 10:02–12:24 — Iranian-American exiles, regime evils, and the difficulty of regime change
• 19:56–24:12 — Iranian-American callers weigh in (Shah, Mansoor, John)
• 28:39–33:23 — How do revolutions succeed? Military and insider threats to regime
• 33:23–34:46 — Risks post-regime change: lessons from Iraq and Afghanistan
• 35:10–36:08 — Framing this as a potential historic turning point
• 37:33–38:36 — Final (brief) Iranian-American caller: pro-American sentiment among Iranians

Conclusion

This episode delivers a multifaceted, urgent discussion on the Iran situation—combining historical analysis, personal testimony from exiles, and practical musings about American foreign policy. Clay and Buck are skeptical about U.S. boots on the ground but receptive to targeted support that could “hit the regime where it hurts.” They highlight the need for any revolution to be Iranian-led and organic. The voices of Iranian-American callers add emotional power and immediacy to the debate, drawing parallels to the fall of the Berlin Wall and revealing both hope and caution about what comes after the current regime.

For listeners looking for a thorough, impassioned, and informed discussion on Iran’s current crisis—and the U.S. role in pressing for freedom—this episode stands as a vital hour.

Advertisements, show intros/outros, and unrelated call-ins have been omitted from this summary.