Podcast Summary: The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

Episode: It's a Numbers Game: Sen. Eric Schmitt on Immigration Fraud, Denaturalization & Ending Taxpayer Abuse
Date: January 16, 2026
Host: Ryan Girdusky (guest-hosting)
Guest: Senator Eric Schmitt (R-MO)
Produced by: iHeartPodcasts

Episode Overview

This episode explores the ongoing debates around immigration enforcement, fraud, and the integrity of U.S. citizenship. Host Ryan Girdusky, filling in for Clay Travis and Buck Sexton, provides data-driven commentary and in-depth interviews. The episode’s central segment features Senator Eric Schmitt of Missouri, focusing on his new legislation aimed at expanding denaturalization for citizenship obtained fraudulently, remittance taxes, and broader reflections on legal and illegal immigration policy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Controversy & Context: ICE and Viral Incidents

Segment: [02:47 - 09:50]

• Ryan opens with a viral news story: An off-duty ICE agent shot and killed Keith Porter, an American citizen, after Porter fired an AR rifle into the air on New Year’s Eve.
  • Activists and media have rallied around Porter’s family, demanding investigation and compensation.
  • Ryan emphasizes the rarity of such incidents: “According to ProPublica ... 170 Americans have been detained by ICE agents as of October ... That's probably lower than any police department in a major city in the country.” [05:10]
• Ryan cautions against narratives that use isolated negative events to push for abolishing ICE:
  • “They're hoping that this will lead to momentum to disband ICE altogether, disband immigration enforcement altogether. That’s what they want to do.” [06:20]
• He asserts that current administration efforts on enforcement should not be derailed by “hyper-emotional” arguments:
  • “We need to stand with ICE.” [08:53]

2. Immigration Statistics & Debates

Segment: [09:50 - 13:19]

• Discussion of new Brookings Institution findings: For the first time in half a century, net migration is negative—up to 295,000 more people leaving than entering the U.S.
  • Contrasts this with Congressional Budget Office estimates of 400,000 net population growth.
  • Emphasizes range and uncertainty in predictions: “They expect the immigration population to continue to decrease in 2026 ... they give a big, big range out. This is a very big deal.” [11:07]
• Cites a BBC story: Visual evidence of mass deportations under Trump is actively deterring would-be migrants in Central America.
  • Notable quote from a Honduran interviewee: “But I see what Trump is doing and this made me think twice, he admits. I'm going to wait to see if the change in government here brings ... Hopefully things will improve.” [12:05]
• Argument: Deportation (or even the threat of it) is reducing incentive for illegal entry.

3. Michigan Gubernatorial Race Analysis

Segment: [13:00 - 13:20]

• Brief pivot from immigration to polling in the Michigan governor’s race, highlighting the rare three-way contest involving an independent with broad support.

4. Interview with Senator Eric Schmitt

Segment Start: [16:24]

Denaturalization for Immigration Fraud

• Schmitt’s new bill would allow the U.S. to revoke citizenship and deport naturalized Americans who committed fraud within a ten-year window:

  “If you're going to come to this country, become a citizen, and then you engage in this kind of fraudulent activity, I'm sorry, you don't get to be a citizen anymore ... You can be denaturalized and like I said, sent back home.” [17:05 - Schmitt]

• Key details:
  • 10-year lookback for denaturalization (since 2015)
  • Includes other felonies, not just fraud

Fraud and Taxpayer Abuse in Social Benefit Programs

• Points to cases of fraud in Somali communities (Minnesota and Maine) as rationale for stronger oversight and prosecution.

  "I think there need to be reforms on the front end of how you actually receive these dollars. Not just a wink and a nod, but you actually have to demonstrate that they're real people." [17:20 - Schmitt]

Internal GOP Dynamics and Legislative Prospects

• Claims White House and key figures (e.g., Stephen Miller) are supportive of his legislation:

  “You gotta have a lot of alignment and you gotta take advantage of the opportunities that you have when you have a White House, a House and a Senate.” [19:08 - Schmitt]

Immigration Policy Philosophies & Partisan Division

• Asserts near impossibility of finding Democratic partners for tough immigration enforcement:

  “The core Democrat base now is an open borders crowd. And that's why you're seeing this reaction to ICE. They don’t actually think we should enforce our immigration laws.” [21:57 - Schmitt]

On Changing the Narrative

• Ryan highlights shifting Democratic attitudes post-Trump, referencing polling that support for border enforcement dropped suddenly when Trump took on the issue.

Taxing Remittances

Segment: [23:32 - 26:51]

• Schmitt advocates a federal tax on remittances (money sent abroad by immigrants).

  “For the first time ever, a remittance tax, it's 1%, but something, it should be higher ... all these things that are kind of a magnet for more people to come here illegally or abuse the legal process... a remittance tax is one way to do it.” [24:10 - Schmitt]

• Notes that some revenue from states like Minnesota may outweigh tax collected, considering the high percentage of Somalians on public assistance.
• Considers enforcement challenges around crypto/alternative money transfers but argues some policy is necessary even if not perfect.

Big Picture Immigration Reform

Segment: [27:02 - 30:57]

• On legal immigration levels:
  • Schmitt doesn’t commit to a specific number but insists current levels are too high, citing wage suppression and job displacement for Americans.
• Advocates for restricting or eliminating H-1B and OPT visa programs, arguing they primarily benefit employers and universities at the expense of American workers:

  “The only difference between those workers is, is the foreign workers are more compliant ... and they’re cheaper. I’m not interested in that. That’s a program that has been widely abused.” [29:15 - Schmitt]

• Critiques chain migration policies as counterproductive, especially over the long term.

Judicial Blocks on Immigration Enforcement

Segment: [32:03 - 37:18]

• Schmitt expresses frustration with “nationwide injunctions” by district court judges, which can temporarily block federal immigration actions.

  "You'd have one district court judge have an injunction that would affect the entire government or the entire foreign policy of the United States of America." [32:21 - Schmitt]

• Supreme Court has reined in some abuses, but manipulation of judge assignment processes remains.
  • Schmitt calls for legislation to enforce true random assignment and even impeachment (“Boasberg”) in cases of observed bias.

Closing and Further Resources

Where to learn more:

• Schmitt highlights his active presence on X/Twitter and other social media ([37:25 - Schmitt]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On ICE and negative videos:

  “The reason you’re seeing the same videos being played over and over again ... is because they want to make sure that this is negative looking because it’s their way to sit there and win on the issue of immigration.” — Ryan Girdusky [06:30]

• On fraudulent naturalization:

  “If you’re going to come to this country, become a citizen, and then you engage in this kind of fraudulent activity, I’m sorry, you don’t get to be a citizen anymore.” — Sen. Eric Schmitt [17:05]

• On partisan divides in the Senate:

  “The core Democrat base now is an open borders crowd. And that’s why you’re seeing this reaction to ICE.” — Sen. Eric Schmitt [21:57]

• On remittance taxes:

  “The amount of money that comes back to Somalia is bigger than their national budget.” — Sen. Eric Schmitt [24:10]

• On judge assignment manipulation:

  “But for somebody like Boasberg in particular, Boasberg, I’ve called for his impeachment and I don’t say that lightly ... This guy in particular gave a speech to judges before he ever had a case from Trump saying this guy isn’t going to follow the law.” — Sen. Eric Schmitt [33:18]

Ask Me Anything: Reflection on Political Discourse

Segment: [41:01 - 45:18]

• Ryan answers a listener question about maintaining humanity and empathy amid divisive politics—regardless of whether the “enemy” is political.

  “If you feel like you are losing sense of humanity when politics is just red team, blue team ... it is important to take a step back.” — Ryan Girdusky [43:40]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:47] – Show proper begins: ICE shooting controversy, immigration narratives
• [09:50] – Net migration statistics and deportation impact
• [13:19] – Michigan gubernatorial race analysis
• [16:24] – Interview: Sen. Eric Schmitt: Immigration fraud, denaturalization bill
• [23:32] – Taxing remittances discussion
• [27:02] – Debate on overall immigration levels, legal immigration, and reform
• [32:03] – Judicial roadblocks to enforcement; nationwide injunctions
• [37:18] – Schmitt on public information, where to follow
• [41:01] – Ask Me Anything: Humanity in political discourse

Tone & Language

The episode is driven by Girdusky’s passionate, data-heavy, often combative style, and Schmitt’s blunt, unapologetic policy arguments. Both are skeptical of progressive narratives, emphasize taxpayer impact, and frequently appeal to “common sense.” The tone is urgent, at times sardonic, and always political.

For New Listeners

This episode offers a sharp, opinionated look at hot-button immigration issues from a right-leaning perspective, full of both stories “from the headlines” and direct policy advocacy. The conversation describes the mechanics of current and proposed immigration legislation, while also contextually addressing broader American political dynamics.