Verdict with Ted Cruz — BONUS: Daily Review with Clay and Buck — Dec 18, 2025
Episode Date: December 18, 2025
Hosts: Clay Travis (Buck Sexton on vacation)
Guests: Brianna Lyman (The Federalist), Jonathan Alpert (Psychotherapist)
Overview
In this special edition episode, Clay Travis (solo hosting for Buck Sexton, who is on Christmas break) delivers an in-depth analysis of the day's big news stories—focusing particularly on the latest economic data showing declining inflation, the public’s continued frustration about the cost of living, and what it all means politically as the U.S. approaches the 2026 midterm elections. The episode also explores American historical literacy and ongoing debates around statues and historical figures, with guest Brianna Lyman, and offers practical psychological advice on handling political disagreements during the holidays from Jonathan Alpert.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Economic Update: Inflation Hits New Lows
(02:37–13:46)
- Headline News: Inflation has come in at 2.7%, its lowest level since spring 2021. The Fed’s target is 2%. Market reaction is overwhelmingly positive, with the Dow, S&P 500, and Nasdaq near all-time highs.
- Historical Context: Clay recounts the rise in inflation following Biden’s COVID-era spending (“stay home, eat Cheetos, the government's got your back”), peaking at 9.1% in June 2022 and resulting in rapidly increasing interest rates.
- Impact on American Consumers: He details how the cost of everyday items (like family fast food) skyrocketed, followed by a housing market freeze as mortgage rates surged and homeowners locked in pre-inflation low rates.
- Trump’s Economic Strategy: Clay credits Trump (in office since 2025) for focusing on lowering interest rates and inflation and putting money “back in your pocket.” However, he warns improvements are felt with a lag: “Things are getting better. The numbers all reflect that. But it takes a while... for the anger of the unprecedented economic failures of the Biden tenure to start to diminish.” (19:02)
Notable Quotes:
- “A big part of the 2026 election is going to be based on cost of goods affordability.” —Clay Travis [03:23]
- “You need to be making, on average, more money in wage increase than the cost of the goods that you are buying... That is how you feel better about your wallet.” —Clay Travis [13:25]
2. Historical Literacy & Statues Debate: Robert E. Lee and the Culture Wars
(21:20–35:52)
- Guest Interview: Brianna Lyman (The Federalist) discusses the removal of the Robert E. Lee statue from the Virginia Capitol and argues for a nuanced understanding of history.
- Deeper Dive: Lyman and Clay explore the importance of historical context—how state identity and post-war reconciliation shaped Lee’s legacy, and dangers in judging historic figures by present-day standards. The fate of statues of Jefferson, Washington, and even Martin Luther King Jr. are debated in light of their complex legacies.
Notable Quotes:
- “Robert E. Lee... is not idolized because he was fighting for the Confederacy, which wanted to preserve slavery. He's more so idolized for what he did after the war—this man became the face of reconciliation.” —Brianna Lyman [22:46]
- “If we are making the standard that if you're not morally perfect, your statue has to come down, then so does Jefferson's, so does Washington's, because they owned slaves.” —Brianna Lyman [25:49]
- “Do we define people by their ceilings or their floors?” —Clay Travis [32:44]
- “They have to focus on trying to sour the sentiment of the American people by bashing our heroes.” —Brianna Lyman [33:50]
3. Handling Political Division During the Holidays
(57:28–68:31)
- Guest Interview: Psychotherapist Jonathan Alpert gives psychological advice for families facing tense political divides (especially over Trump), encouraging boundaries and prioritizing relationships over political arguments.
- Listener Calls: Address real-life scenarios—such as adult children clashing with Trump-hating parents or families avoiding holiday gatherings over politics.
- Historical Perspective: Clay and Jonathan compare current polarization to past eras (Civil War, Vietnam), pondering whether the current trend is lasting or if Americans will eventually recover more civil discourse.
Notable Quotes:
- “People need to recognize that family and friends are—or at least should be—more important than Donald Trump or any political figure. But all too often that's not the case.” —Jonathan Alpert [58:33]
- “Just very, very, very lovingly... say, ‘This isn't about what's going on in politics. This is about Christmas. This is about being with family.’” —Caller Mary [64:55]
- “We have therapy culture that is, you know, placing blame on everyone but their patient... We have grievance culture that's taking hold. We have fragility, and that's a big part of the problem.” —Jonathan Alpert [67:15]
4. Political Violence & Conspiracy Theories
(44:24–54:00)
- Media Analysis: Clay dissects a segment in which Candace Owens appears on Piers Morgan’s show, positing conspiracy theories related to political assassinations. He forcefully rejects the notion of inside involvement in Charlie Kirk’s shooting, noting the real psychological and legal downsides of spreading “crazy, loony-bend takes.”
- Legal Commentary: Clay discusses the challenges of defamation in the modern era, referencing New York Times v. Sullivan and how social media environments encourage unchecked conspiracy.
Notable Quotes:
- “It's, I think, beyond the pale to suggest that someone at Turning Point was involved in the assassination of Charlie Kirk. That is, I think, absolutely a crazy loony-bend take.” —Clay Travis [45:15]
- “...the standard of public figures is you can basically say anything about them and there are no consequences.” —Clay Travis [53:17]
5. Rapid News Coverage & Commentary
(36:16–44:24; 68:34–End)
- Updates on tragedies (plane crash involving NASCAR driver Greg Biffle), the Brown University and MIT shootings, and Trump’s presidential announcements (e.g., executive order on marijuana, Trump Kennedy Center name change).
- Show concludes by promoting sponsors, the iHeart podcast feed, and Clay’s broader message about optimism for America’s future.
Timestamps for Major Segments
- Economic Analysis & Inflation News: 02:37–19:02
- Statues/History & Brianna Lyman Interview: 21:20–36:00
- Political Violence / Candace Owens Conspiracies: 44:24–54:00
- Holiday Family Politics / Jonathan Alpert Interview: 57:28–68:31
Memorable Moments & Quotes
-
Inflation's human impact: "You would go out to get fast food or buy a pizza for your family and everything just started costing way more than it should have." —Clay Travis [09:36]
-
On historical context: "It's very easy for us in 2025 to say, oh, well, they should have been executed. They should have been exiled. But you try holding a country together." —Brianna Lyman [25:21]
-
On political division: "Family and friends are far more important than politics and they should transcend any occupant of the White House." —Jonathan Alpert [65:40]
Tone & Style
Clay maintains a conversational, relatable, and often humorous tone, mixing history nerd-dom (“this is my Civil War history nerd just geeking out here” [24:10]) with clear conservative assessments of the day’s news. Both guests, Lyman and Alpert, are engaged and articulate in their fields, offering deeper cultural and psychological insights.
For New Listeners
This episode is a comprehensive mix of topical economic analysis, culture war commentary, practical life advice, and rapid-fire updates on both major and under-circulated news stories. The focus is always anchored in how big-picture politics and cultural change affect American lives, with a particular emphasis on lessons from the past and maintaining personal relationships amid national division.
Skip to...
- 02:37 for economic analysis
- 21:20 for history/culture wars with Brianna Lyman
- 44:24 for political violence/discussion of conspiracy culture
- 57:28 for practical advice on family politics during holidays
Episode delivers what Verdict listeners expect: robust, unapologetic analysis, a bit of history nerding, and readiness to tackle thorny cultural and political topics head-on, always with an eye toward the future and the durability of the American experiment.