The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

Episode: Team 47 - Operation Absolute Resolve
Date: January 11, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the daring U.S. special operations raid that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Clay Travis, Buck Sexton, and guest David Rutherford (former Navy SEAL) break down the operation, analyze its complexity, and discuss its global implications. They compare it to previous high-profile raids and reflect on what this means for U.S. military strategy, American power projection, and potential future actions, particularly regarding drug cartels.

Main Topics and Key Insights

1. Operation to Capture Maduro: Tactical and Strategic Analysis

• Operation Details and Complexity

  • Clay opens by calling it “the most daring special operations raid since the bin Laden raid” (02:48).
  • U.S. Delta Force credited with carrying out the raid, supported by multiple units and joint forces.
  • The raid resulted in Maduro’s capture, reportedly with no U.S. casualties but significant Venezuelan security losses.
  • “They blacked out whole areas of Caracas … that's a cyber capability.” — Clay (09:04)
  • Overwhelming intelligence gathering: “They even knew what pets and what outfits he liked to put on day to day.” — Buck (09:04)
  • Power grid disabled, surface-to-air defense and radars neutralized, rotary and fixed-wing aircraft deployed, and then extraction with “not a single casualty.” (10:02)

• Comparison to Bin Laden Raid

  • Buck: “This was basically what, 10, 20, 30x in terms of the complexity of the moving parts … in one of the most populated cities … to take out Maduro and do it all without a significant impact to the American forces at all.” (07:29)
  • David Rutherford: “The size and scope of [Bin Laden raid] was not probably what, one-tenth the size of this, maybe one-twentieth.” (29:03)
  • All guests and hosts agree this operation surpasses the bin Laden raid in terms of difficulty, coordination, and intelligence.

• Organizational Brilliance and Execution

  • “The operational security was obviously very high… This can go wrong a thousand different ways. And yet they didn’t have a single stumble here.” — Buck (10:02)
  • David Rutherford: “To execute it as flawlessly as they did… it’s like what’s Murphy’s Law? If it’s going to go wrong, it will. And this thing went flawless.” (22:21)

2. America’s Renewed Power Projection

• Message to World Powers

  • Buck says the raid “sends the message to Iran, to Cuba, to frankly probably Russia,” demonstrating U.S. capabilities. (07:29)
  • David Rutherford: "There are some pipe hitters back in control now and things are going to change." (23:55)
  • Clay: “Democrats will put a $25 million bounty on Maduro's head. Trump will actually go and get him.” (14:36)

• Implications for Adversaries

  • “If you’re a cartel and you’re engaged in any type of drug trafficking that directly impacts American civilians, then guess what? You probably just got put on the JSOC door knock list.” — David Rutherford (34:20)
  • The show highlights how the operation places hostile leaders and criminal organizations on notice across the globe.
  • Buck: “If the US can do this to Venezuela, they can do this to me really easily?” (32:53)

• Contrast with Previous Administrations

  • Rutherford calls the Afghanistan pullout under Biden “probably the worst revelation for any GWOT operator … it was like a dagger through your heart. And so now when we finally see some real pipe hitters go in to project American power…” (23:55)
  • Clay points to the difference: “Democrats will say the things they have to say to seem … serious on national security. Republicans, or at least Trump, will actually do the thing.” (14:36)

3. Venezuelan and Domestic Political Reactions

• Maduro’s Status and U.S. Action

  • Maduro pled not guilty to drug and weapons charges in U.S. federal court. “I would imagine that his wife will also plead not guilty.” — Clay (12:05)

• Venezuelan Community Reaction

  • Buck highlights local Miami headlines: “After Maduro’s capture, Venezuelans in South Florida dream of going home. Yeah, they know that their country was ruined by this guy.” (16:32)

• Democrat Critiques and Legacy Media

  • Clips of Chuck Schumer criticizing Trump in 2020 for his Venezuela policy, contrasted with current events.

    “He brags about all these things he wants to do or is doing, but his actions belie his words. … He hasn't brought an end to the Maduro regimen.” — Chuck Schumer (17:15)

  • Buck: “It's harder for legacy media to protect their favored people and their favored arguments because the hypocrisy is just staggering." (18:08)

4. Insider’s Perspective: David Rutherford’s Commentary

• Elite Forces, Training, and Execution

  • Delta Force, Task Force 160 (Night Stalkers), and CIA assets all played key roles.
  • On what it’s like for an operator: “The biggest thing is to remain calm and just relaxed. … They've rehearsed, they know exactly what's going to take place…” — Rutherford (25:54)
  • Night Stalkers praised: “They’re the best pilots I’ve ever seen, I’ve ever worked with. … They put the back gate on an edge as we jumped on board after recon.” (27:16)

• Geopolitical Impact

  • “We are receding the distribution of power in the world and we’re doing it with precision and just absolute perfection." — David Rutherford (27:16)
  • “This is a notice to the world: America is done playing the games of the last administration…” (33:24)

• Potential for Future Operations (Cartels)

  • “If you’re a cartel and engaged in any type of drug trafficking … you probably just got put on the JSOC door knock list.” (34:20)
  • “I think the cartels down there are probably gearing up and starting to realize, hey, this is a different game these guys are playing.” (34:20)

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote/Comment | |-----------|----------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 04:59 | Clay | “Not a single US casualty in this raid … everything working seamlessly, perfectly together. And Trump is saying we’re in charge.” | | 07:29 | Buck | "This was basically what, 10, 20, 30x in terms of the complexity of the moving parts … in one of the most populated cities in the world, candidly Caracas." | | 10:02 | Buck | "The operational security was obviously very high ... This can go wrong a thousand different ways. Yet they didn't have a single stumble here." | | 14:36 | Clay | "Democrats will put a $25 million bounty on Maduro's head. Trump will actually go and get him." | | 16:32 | Buck | "There are more Venezuelan refugees within twenty minutes drive of where I’m currently sitting than anywhere else in the country." | | 21:39 | Clay | "Talk us through this one. … What's it like to get to the level of room clearing speed and precision that this Delta team had to have…?" | | 22:21 | David Rutherford| "To execute it as flawlessly as they did, I mean, it’s like ... what’s Murphy’s Law? If it’s going to go wrong, it will. And this thing went flawless." | | 23:55 | David Rutherford| “The Afghanistan pullout was probably the worst revelation … so now when we finally see some real pipe hitters go in to project American power …” | | 29:03 | David Rutherford| “The size and scope of [Bin Laden raid] was … one-tenth the size of this, maybe one-twentieth. ... We just went in and snatched a world leader in his sleep and didn’t take one casualty. That just is mind blowing to what our capabilities truly are.” | | 34:20 | David Rutherford| “If you’re a cartel and engaged in any type of drug trafficking … you probably just got put on the JSOC door knock list.” |

Important Segment Timestamps

• Operation Maduro: Details and Impact: 02:48–13:37
• Comparing Raids: Bin Laden vs Maduro: 07:29–12:05
• Global Implications And Power Projection: 13:37–15:40
• Venezuelan-American Community Responses: 16:32–18:08
• David Rutherford Interview Begins: 21:09
• Elite Training and Operational Details: 22:21–27:16
• Cartel and Future Operations Discussion: 34:05–35:21

Episode Tone and Style

The conversation mixes expert military analysis with the hosts’ characteristic blend of directness, patriotism, and wit. They maintain an upbeat, sometimes awe-struck tone regarding the special operators’ achievement, while frequently punctuating the discussion with sharp political commentary and criticism, especially toward the Biden administration and Democratic response.

Summary for Non-Listeners

This episode thoroughly unpacks the recent U.S. special operations mission to capture Nicolás Maduro, treating it as a watershed moment for American military prowess and geopolitical strategy. With exclusive insight from a Navy SEAL, listeners gain a sense of the raid’s unprecedented scale, the elite skills required, and its broader impact—both as a warning to U.S. adversaries and a signal of a new era of American force projection. Important comparisons to past operations, political implications, and community reactions (especially in Venezuelan-American communities) provide a well-rounded view of the event and its fallout.