Podcast Summary: The Tudor Dixon Podcast – "The Fallout of the Russia Hoax with Lee Smith"

Podcast Information:

• Title: The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show
• Host/Author: iHeartPodcasts
• Episode: The Tudor Dixon Podcast – "The Fallout of the Russia Hoax with Lee Smith"
• Release Date: July 28, 2025

Introduction

In this episode of The Tudor Dixon Podcast, host Tudor Dixon engages in a profound discussion with Lee Smith, a seasoned journalist and New York Times best-selling author with over three decades of experience in the media industry. The conversation centers around the controversial Russia investigation, often referred to as "Russiagate," and its implications on American politics, media integrity, and the quest for justice.

Background of the Russia Investigation

[02:48] Tudor Dixon: "Welcome to the Tudor Dixon Podcast. I'm sure you have all seen what's going on with the Russia, Russia, Russia investigation. And now Donald Trump has come out, said that essentially he's accusing Obama of treason."

Lee Smith provides a foundational understanding of the Russia investigation, highlighting its prolonged impact on President Trump's administration and the broader political landscape.

[03:36] Lee Smith: "The Mueller investigation took up nearly two years of his term. The Republicans lost, lost the midterms, the 2018 midterms because of the Russia investigation, because of all the noise about Russia."

Key Discussions

1. The Two Phases of Russiagate

Smith delineates Russiagate into two distinct phases: pre-election activities and post-election maneuvers.

• Pre-Election Phase: Initiated by the Hillary Clinton campaign, funneling anti-Trump narratives into mainstream media.

  [07:02] Lee Smith: "The first part is the pre-election part, where, as you say, this is the Hillary Clinton campaign funneling the Russia garbage into the media."

• Post-Election Phase: Under President Obama’s administration, intensified efforts to delegitimize Trump's presidency.

  [07:02] Lee Smith: "The post-election aspect of Russiagate when Barack Obama took control... Barack Obama went to his intelligence community leaders... and I want Trump smeared as a Russian agent."

2. Accountability and Legal Implications

The discussion shifts to potential legal repercussions for former officials involved in the investigation.

• John Brennan and Intelligence Officials:

  [04:29] Lee Smith: "We're seeing very solid reporting by John Solomon, among others, saying that the FBI and DOJ have opened up a very large criminal conspiracy case regarding the weaponization of the federal government."

• Potential Legal Actions:

  [15:06] Tudor Dixon: "You say that you have evidence against John Brennan, but there is, there's got to be someone."

  [17:34] Lee Smith: "They need to be held accountable as well. Right?"

3. Media’s Role in the Investigation

Smith asserts that mainstream media, particularly CNN, played an active role in the intelligence operation against President Trump.

[17:44] Lee Smith: "The media must also be held accountable as well. Right? This is not the media that, that we may remember from our earlier years. They were the platform for an intelligence operation."

4. The Impact on American Politics and Public Trust

The conversation delves into how Russiagate affected public perception and the political dynamics leading up to the 2024 election.

[12:30] Tudor Dixon: "He has all the information. He's been working on this for years. This is not something he needs to catch up on."

[14:30] Tudor Dixon: "Mar A Lago, the attack against the president, the multiple assassination attempts, the lawfare, all of it is pretty disgusting."

Insights and Analysis

• Strategic Obstruction: Smith emphasizes that the primary goal of Russiagate was to obstruct President Trump from implementing his agenda, affecting not just him but the broader Republican agenda.

  [04:44] Lee Smith: "The purpose of Russiagate was to obstruct President Trump from implementing his agenda. So we're talking about justice here..."

• Justice for Trump and Supporters: The investigation aimed to deliver justice not only to Trump and his aides but also to his voter base who supported his policies.

  [06:15] Lee Smith: "These are the people that I think that are, you know, you're talking about the deferent intelligence officials, officials like Brennan and Comey and some of the top FBI people who are involved."

• Statute of Limitations: The timeframe from 2016 to 2024 is pivotal, ensuring that legal actions remain within prosecutable periods.

  [10:18] Lee Smith: "We're seeing very solid reporting... the statute of limitations have not expired."

• Media as an Intelligence Tool: The collaboration between media outlets and intelligence operations signifies a deeper manipulation within the information ecosystem.

  [19:16] Lee Smith: "Media collapse. The media was part of an intelligence operation targeting the President of the United States."

Notable Quotes

• Lee Smith on Document Revelations:

  [03:36] "The documents that are coming out are shedding more light on the different things that we've been talking about for, for some time now."

• On Accountability:

  [15:06] "Barack Obama is popping his head up all the time with everything. He popped his head up with COVID Right. He's encouraging US Mayors to keep their cities closed, the purpose of which was to destroy Trump's economy."

• On Media's Role:

  [17:44] "This is not the media that, that we may remember from our, from our earlier years. They were the platform for an intelligence operation."

• On Justice and Future Implications:

  [16:30] "President Trump has the right people in place. While we're demanding accountability, there are the right people in place to see that that happens."

Conclusions

The episode underscores the enduring ramifications of the Russiagate investigation on American political integrity and media independence. Lee Smith advocates for a thorough examination and accountability of all parties involved, including high-ranking officials and media outlets. The discussion reflects a broader concern about the manipulation of democratic processes and the importance of ensuring justice and transparency in governmental operations.

Smith remains cautiously optimistic about the pursuit of justice, suggesting that the declassification of documents and the ongoing investigations may finally address the long-standing grievances related to Russiagate.

Final Thoughts

For listeners seeking to understand the intricate web of politics, media influence, and legal battles surrounding the Russia investigation, this episode offers a comprehensive and critical perspective. Lee Smith's extensive experience and detailed analysis provide valuable insights into one of the most contentious political investigations in recent American history.

Listen to the full episode on iHeartRadio or your preferred podcast platform.