The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

Episode: Weekly Review With Clay and Buck H1 - Slow Your Roll
Date: January 17, 2026
Hosts: Clay Travis & Buck Sexton
Special Guest: Senator Ted Cruz

Episode Overview

In this episode, Clay and Buck navigate major current events with their characteristic blend of humor and analysis, zeroing in on hot-button topics dominating the political sphere: the Supreme Court's transgender sports case, the brewing legal-political conflict in Minnesota over ICE enforcement, economic trends, and an in-depth discussion with Senator Ted Cruz on both domestic and foreign policy — particularly the situation in Iran. The show maintains its conservative, conversational tone, mixing opinion, legal insight, and the occasional pointed barb at political opponents.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Supreme Court: Transgender Athletes in Sports

Timestamps: 00:00–02:00 (opening remarks reference), with more detail promised for later segments.

• Both Clay and Buck monitored the Supreme Court's oral arguments on a transgender sports case.
• The hosts are highly critical of the Democratic and progressive positions on transgender athletes in girls’ sports, questioning their rationality and principles.
• Buck: "Democrats are crazy, including some members of the Supreme Court. On this issue, there is no reasoning with them. There is no rational. There is just they want what they want and they're going to try to find a way to get it." (01:17)

2. Minnesota ICE Enforcement Controversy

Timestamps: 02:30–15:00

The Story

• The Biden administration's lax approach to immigration and sanctuary policies in Minnesota are under fire.
• ICE activities and a recent shooting involving an ICE agent (referenced as the Renee Good shooting) have led to legal threats from Minnesota officials against the federal government.
• Minnesota's Attorney General Keith Ellison is considering potential charges against the ICE agent involved in the shooting, though there is skepticism that such a charge would succeed.

Hosts' Analysis

• Buck: Emphasizes the disconnect between legal arguments and political grandstanding around immigration ("Democrats have decided in Minneapolis that they are going to throw up as many legal roadblocks as possible... entirely for political reasons with no basis in legal reality." [07:01])
• Clay: Cites precedent where states lost lawsuits against the federal government over immigration policy, highlighting political posturing vs. legal reality (06:12–07:50).
• Both hosts ridicule the idea that Minnesota could successfully sue the federal government for enforcing federal law.
• Clay: References the failed attempt to remove Trump from the ballot in Colorado as an example of leftist legal futility.

Memorable Quotes

• Buck: "They're going to charge him now. I don't think it's going to stick... When the federal government comes in and knocks out these charges..., how do they lose? ...Trump is the big bad wolf, the scary Nazi, and they're just going to argue that they stood up to him." (11:35)
• Clay: "You only look like the good guys to people who are dyeing their hair purple and learning to be ICE interrupters and have nothing else to do with their lives." (12:46)

Key Audio Example:

• Tom Homan (former ICE director): "We're in Minnesota because, number one, they're a sanctuary state, sanctuary city. They're knowingly releasing public safety threats, illegal aliens, to the streets every day..." (05:28)

3. National Economic Trends & Inflation

Timestamps: 20:57–26:00

Inflation Update

• Clay highlights encouraging inflation news: "Core inflation 2.6% and the core inflation number that is the lowest since March of 2021." (20:57)
• The hosts are cautiously optimistic about the future, anticipating interest rates may come down in 2026.
• CNBC’s Rick Santelli (audio clip) confirms core inflation is trending positively year-over-year.

Political Implications

• Buck contends the economy is always a political target, no matter how well it's performing.
• Clay and Buck briefly discuss the likely impeachment of Trump should Democrats regain the House, largely treating such prospects as political theater.

4. Credit Card Interest Rate Cap Debate

Timestamps: 26:53–31:39, expanded with Senator Cruz

• Clay and Buck float the idea of capping credit card interest rates at 10%.
• Senator Ted Cruz (joining as a caller/interviewee) gives a straightforward critique:
  • "When you cap prices, what you end up doing is you exclude a whole bunch of people from the market. ... If you cap it at 10%, what it's going to mean is they're not going to be able to get any credit cards at all." (29:39)
  • He warns such a policy could harm low-income Americans or those with poor credit, pushing them toward predatory alternatives.

5. Iran: Protests, Regime Stability, and American Foreign Policy

Timestamps: 31:02–40:49

Current Events

• Intense anti-regime protests erupt in Iran; potential for a historic regime change looms.
• Senator Cruz asserts the regime’s defeat in the recent "12 Day War" with Israel shattered its aura of invincibility.

U.S. Stance and Possible Actions

• Cruz credits Trump for supporting Iranian protesters and not repeating Obama-era mistakes from the Green Revolution.
• On potential U.S. intervention: Cruz is open to targeted, limited military action to protect protesters but stresses the revolution should be Iranian-led.
  • "I think we should do everything we can to encourage it without taking it over while leaving the Iranian people as the prime movers..." (35:43)
• Starlink’s activation in Iran is highlighted as an essential tool for protester communication.

Notable & Memorable Moments

• Cruz: "There are very few things, if anything, that could enhance American national security more than seeing the ayatollah and the mullahs removed from power by the Iranian people." (33:20)
• Anecdote: Ayatollah broadcasting Tucker Carlson (in Persian) as propaganda to undermine protests — cited by Cruz as a warning sign for those aligning with regime narratives.

Notable Quotes

• Buck Sexton: "No one's ever going to wake up, be like, you know what's perfect? The American economy. ...There's always gonna be problems. Ok? That's why we have a government." (24:44)
• Clay Travis: "They as they have a zero percent chance of actually succeeding. ...Look, it may play well for the Minneapolis Mayor and ... Dem base ... but as they move up the flowchart, everyone who is a lawyer is going to tell you this is ridiculous." (08:10–08:47)
• Senator Ted Cruz: "If the Ayatollah remains in power, they are likely to find her [a protester], to hunt her down and to torture and kill her. She knows exactly what she's doing, and she is very literally risking her life to try to seek freedom." (32:58)

Quick Segment Timestamps

• 00:00–02:30: Teasers, show open
• 02:30–15:00: Minnesota/ICE legal-political conflict
• 20:57–26:00: Inflation data & economic outlook
• 26:53–31:39: Credit card interest cap debate (Sen. Cruz)
• 31:02–40:49: Iran, regime stability, US policy (Sen. Cruz)

Tone & Takeaways

• The hosts adopt a colloquial, sometimes combative tone targeting the political left, Democratic legal maneuvers, and legacy media.
• Their analysis is peppered with legal precedent, policy critiques, and pop culture ribbing — especially at outlets like MSNBC/CNN.
• Senator Cruz offers in-depth insight and direct policy commentary, typical of his appearances.

This episode offers listeners a fast-paced but substantive tour through vital political and economic issues, with a signature mix of conservative commentary, news breakdowns, and the occasional striking quote or anecdote to keep the analysis lively.