The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

Special: Verdict with Ted Cruz – "A Message to the Iranian People: You Can Change the World Right NOW, WHY it Matters for the Safety of Americans"

Date: January 13, 2026
Hosts: Senator Ted Cruz and Ben Ferguson

Episode Overview

This episode dives deeply into the historic and rapidly unfolding uprising in Iran, examining its significance for Iranians, the Middle East, and U.S. national security. Senator Ted Cruz and co-host Ben Ferguson discuss the potential collapse of the Iranian regime, the broader geopolitical context—including America’s role and recent U.S. actions—and send a powerful message of solidarity to the people of Iran. Along the way, the hosts explore U.S. foreign policy across administrations, critique media narratives, and reflect on the power of courageous dissent.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Historic Iranian Uprising: Context and Urgency

• Widespread Protests: Over a million Iranians are in the streets, challenging the regime in what could be a transformative moment for both Iran and the world.
  • “The Iranian regime is teetering... That could happen this month. It could happen this week. It could happen in the next 24 hours. It is that potentially imminent.”
    — Senator Ted Cruz (02:33)
• Regime Blackout: The Iranian leadership has cut off internet and communications, trying to hide their violent crackdown.
  • “They've shut off the Internet, they've shut off phones, they've shut down... the TV and the outside world... now they're killing their own citizens.”
    — Ben Ferguson (05:03)

U.S. Foreign Policy: Lessons from History

• Parallels with 1979: Cruz draws a direct line from the Islamic Revolution and Carter’s “weakness” to today, asserting that appeasement emboldens America’s enemies.
  • “Jimmy Carter set the model for what Barack Obama imitated and then what Joe Biden imitated... When the American president is weak and dithering... the bad guys get more aggressive and... American lives are lost.”
    — Senator Ted Cruz (05:25)
• Power of Strength: Both Reagan and Trump are contrasted favorably for projecting “peace through strength.”
  • “Iran released the hostages... moments after Reagan... took the oath of office... They understood that with Reagan, a new sheriff was in town.”
    — Senator Ted Cruz (07:41)

Iran as a Global Threat

• Terror Financing: Iran funds over 90% of Hamas and Hezbollah activities and has directly targeted Americans.
  • “Iran, in a very real sense... funded October 7th.”
    — Senator Ted Cruz (09:58)
• Direct Attacks on Americans: Iran’s IRGC is blamed for at least 593 deaths of U.S. servicemembers through weapons and IEDs supplied in Iraq and Afghanistan.
  • "Many... IEDs... in Iraq were used against our servicemen and women... the odds are overwhelming that the IED... was manufactured in Iran."
    — Senator Ted Cruz (11:38)

Current Revolution: Hope, Bravery, and Risks

• Symbols of Resistance: Viral footage of women burning their coverings and a protester replacing an Iranian flag on the embassy in London exemplify courage.
  • "There's one image... a young Iranian woman... lighting her cigarette by lighting on fire a picture of the Ayatollah... it reminds me of the image of the man standing in front of the tank in Tiananmen Square."
    — Senator Ted Cruz (18:22)
• Personal Connections: Ferguson shares stories of Iranian-American families and the longing for reunion and change.
• Severe Risks: Protesters face death and torture if identified; the stakes are existential.
  • "They know they're risking their lives... if it doesn't go well, they are risking their lives being put into jail or being one of the disappeared ones."
    — Ben Ferguson (16:48)

American Voices Reaching Iran

• Podcast Impact: Despite communications blackouts, downloads in Iran surged. Starlink access has helped circumvent regime restrictions.
  • "People in Iran had surged... to the top 20 countries downloading the Verdict podcast... in the face of... Internet shut down."
    — Senator Ted Cruz (15:00)
• Direct Message to Iran: Cruz passionately addresses Iranian listeners, expressing solidarity, hope for democracy, and a commitment to shared freedom.
  • “If you are standing up right now... know that America is with you. Know that the American people are with you... You are in my prayers.”
    — Senator Ted Cruz (13:33)

The Role of U.S. Leadership & Critique of Media

• Recent U.S. Actions: Trump’s arrest of Nicolas Maduro flagged as a positive move for the region. Military strikes described as a show of resolve to both ISIS and the Iranian regime.
• Media Narratives: The show criticizes media outlets for downplaying Trump’s support of Iranian freedom and highlights the strange airing of Tucker Carlson’s interviews by the Iranian regime as propaganda.
  • "The Islamic regime right now is literally broadcasting Tucker Carlson interviews in Persian on their 24 hour news channel..."
    — Ben Ferguson (31:19)

Conservative Debate: Regime Change & American Interest

• “Regime Change” Term: Cruz distinguishes between support for regime change (as with the fall of the Soviet Union or potential in China/Iran) and support for lengthy U.S. wars.
  • “Should you be for regime change? ...The world would be better off if Iran was not governed by a theocratic, murderous, religious zealot who has killed hundreds, if not thousands of Americans.”
    — Senator Ted Cruz (35:33)
• America First, But Not Isolationist: The hosts advocate for moral, diplomatic, and technological support for Iranian activists, with military intervention not preferred unless directly tied to U.S. security.

Reflections on the Power of Words and Solidarity

• Historical Parallels: Reagan’s resolve—“We win, they lose”—and his “tear down this wall” speech exemplified the power of strong, vocal support for freedom.
• Personal Impact: Cruz shares he received a silk painting from a North Korean dissident inspired by his anti-tyranny speeches.
  • “There may be someone who is risking their life... because they hear our words, are inspired to fight against tyranny. And so I think we have a responsibility to speak truth, to speak for justice.”
    — Senator Ted Cruz (46:00)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “You will bring freedom to Iran, and you will make major steps to bringing peace to the Middle East.”
  — Senator Ted Cruz, direct message to Iranian people (13:33)
• “It’s those acts of bravery that can inspire others.”
  — Senator Ted Cruz on protester scaling the London embassy (13:33)
• “Iran is the biggest story in the world right now. Nothing else is close. This could be the modern day fall of the Berlin Wall moment.”
  — Clay Travis (read by Cruz) (29:53)
• "The Ayatollah is actively waging war on America. He's spending money today funding terrorists that are trying to kill Americans. And there's a real difference. There are regimes... that are cruel and oppressive, but they're not trying to kill us. The Ayatollah is."
  — Senator Ted Cruz (43:11)
• “If the Ayatollah views what I'm saying as his message, clearly we made a mistake here. Let's change course.”
  — Senator Ted Cruz challenging Tucker Carlson, re: being used as regime propaganda (33:39)

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment/Topic | |-----------|--------------| | 02:14 | Opening discussion: Iranian blackout & protests begin | | 05:25 | Historical context: 1979 revolution, Carter/Reagan/Biden parallels | | 09:58 | Iran’s terror funding, attacks on Americans, Oct 7th connection | | 13:09 | Viral protest acts & the role of women in the revolution | | 13:33 | Direct message from Senator Cruz to the people of Iran | | 16:48 | Iranian-American family stories, the high personal stakes | | 18:22 | Iconic protest images and the legacy of prior regime brutality | | 22:30 | Tyranny and the myth of invincibility—“Abandon hope, all ye who enter” | | 24:30 | Lessons of the 12 Day War: morale and military defeat’s impact | | 29:53 | What America and Trump’s message means to Iranian protesters | | 31:19 | Iran airing Tucker Carlson, right-wing media as Iranian propaganda | | 35:33 | "Regime change" arguments, U.S. strategy, and America First principles | | 43:11 | Clarifying threat: Why Ayatollah’s aggression is different from other dictatorships | | 44:47 | Reagan's resolve, Berlin Wall, and lessons for today’s revolutionaries | | 46:00 | Senator Cruz’s story about reaching global dissidents |

Final Thoughts

The episode highlights the gravity of Iran’s current crisis and the real-time potential for regime change. The hosts argue passionately that U.S. support—moral, technological, and rhetorical—is essential, invoking historical moments when strong American leadership inspired dissidents globally. Throughout, the tone is urgent, hopeful, and resolute: a call to solidarity with those on Iran’s streets, and a reminder that the fight for freedom reverberates far beyond national borders.