Verdict with Ted Cruz — Bonus: Daily Review with Clay and Buck (October 2, 2025)

Theme & Purpose This bonus episode of "Verdict with Ted Cruz" features guest hosts Clay Travis and Buck Sexton (of The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show) breaking down the most pressing political stories of October 2, 2025. The main topics include the ongoing government shutdown—dubbed the "Schumer Shutdown"—the dramatic collapse in public trust in media, political maneuvering within the Democratic Party, the contentious issue of health care for illegal immigrants, and a detailed interview with Michigan's gubernatorial candidate John James. The episode aims to provide conservative analysis, political predictions, and commentary tailored for listeners who want an unfiltered take on current affairs.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Trust in Media Plummets to Historic Lows

[00:53–08:15]

• Gallup Poll Findings:

  • Only 28% of Americans express any trust in media, a precipitous drop from 72–73% in 1980.
  • Collapse accelerated post-COVID, largely driven by perceived media dishonesty over pandemic coverage and events like the Russia collusion investigation.
  • “Democrats were the last people to really be trusting media… now they are starting to wonder, wait a minute, why didn’t we hear anything about Joe Biden’s issues?” — Clay Travis [05:45]

• Trust vs. Agreement Analogy:

  • Clay distinguishes between "trust" in a source and simply "agreeing" with someone's opinions.
  • Uses the sports analogy:

    “If I told you Patrick Mahomes is not going to win the super bowl this year because he can’t win the big game and he’s never won the super bowl before, you could agree with my conclusion, but you should trust me less because you know the information I’m citing is incorrect.” — Clay Travis [07:20]

• Listener Engagement:

  • Clay encourages audience discussion about who they actually trust in media, regardless of agreement on opinions.

2. The Government Shutdown: "Schumer Shutdown" and Inside Democratic Tensions

[08:15–25:00]

• Political Analysis:

  • Clay argues the current shutdown is a tactical move by Senator Chuck Schumer to fend off threats from his party's left, specifically the possibility of a primary challenge from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC).
  • Key Line:

    “Chuck Schumer is terrified of the left wing of his party... this is about him trying to cut off some of the political support for AOC, who may well challenge him in the Democrat primary.” — Clay Travis [08:10]

• AOC's Political Future:

  • Buck Sexton predicts AOC will run for president in 2028; if unsuccessful, he'll likely pivot to a Senate run against Schumer.
  • Buck’s Prediction:

    “AOC is going to run for President... If that campaign does not go well, I think she's going to pivot and become a senator and knock Chuck Schumer out.” — Buck Sexton [08:47]

  • Discussion of a possible Gavin Newsom–AOC ticket for 2028, referencing a prediction Buck had made.

• Shutdown Messaging & Blame Game:

  • The hosts assert Democrats are now blaming the media (even outlets like The New York Times) for polling that shows the public blames Democrats for the shutdown.
  • Quote:

    “It’s so bad that Chuck Schumer is having to resort to saying the New York Times is biased against Democrats when it comes to this situation.” — Buck Sexton [17:33]

3. Health Care for Illegal Immigrants: Policy Details & Political Messaging

[16:30–25:24]

• Listener Question:

  • Responding to email about whether Democrat bills explicitly include health care funding for illegal immigrants.

• How Funding Actually Works:

  • Federal grants go to states, which then use their own policies to provide health care benefits to illegal immigrants.
  • Hosts claim Democrats obfuscate this by insisting the federal government isn't "directly" funding care for illegals, even as block grants enable it.

• COVID’s Aftershocks:

  • Pandemic-era expansions in government spending embedded controversial expenditures (including health care for illegals) into the baseline budget.
  • Quote:

    “Much of the spending is embedded from COVID... Democrats… saw the crisis of COVID and said: This is the best opportunity we've had in a long time… to increase federal spending.” — Clay Travis [20:42]

• Flashback Audio:

  • Hosts play a clip from the 2019 Democratic debates in which all candidates raised their hand in support of government-sponsored health care for undocumented immigrants.
  • Buck’s Summary:

    “Every hand went up. Every single hand went up. All of these people, all of these Democrats support this…” [24:35]

4. Criticism of Democratic Messaging & Media Narratives

[25:24–39:18]

• Jasmine Crockett Clip:

  • The hosts mock Rep. Jasmine Crockett for claiming that the Biden administration's shutdown messaging may violate the Hatch Act by politicizing government websites.
  • Buck’s Retort:

    “It's illegal to point out that the reason the government is shut down is because Democrats voted to shut down the government.” [25:52]

• Gratitude vs. Resentment in American Politics:

  • Clay contrasts what he sees as Republican gratitude for living in America with Democratic resentment, citing a viral clip of Joy Reid describing the U.S. as not a land of opportunity for immigrants like her family.
  • Quote:

    "Why wouldn’t you go back? If I had been born in Denmark or South Korea or Botswana and I came to the United States and I got here and I said, boy, I expected it to be a lot better, this sucks. I’d go back..." — Clay Travis [41:00]

  • Uses Warren Buffett's "marble in a jar" analogy to extol the privilege of American citizenship.

5. Interview: John James, Congressman and Michigan Gubernatorial Candidate

[46:49–57:59]

• Background:

  • John James describes how Al Sharpton recently suggested Michigan had no Black congressmen, which James points out is inaccurate.
  • Quote:

    “Imagine my surprise when I see this clip… saying there was no Black congressman for Michigan. I think I’ve been Black for the past 44 years.” — John James [47:19]

• Race, Representation, and Policy:

  • James argues Democrats ignore non-liberal Black voices and presides over cities in decline; vows to “combat that with better policies.”

• Michigan’s National Importance:

  • Outlines why Michigan is a crucial swing state, especially for the 2026 and 2028 elections.
  • Quote:

    “Michigan is gonna be the center of the electoral universe in 2026... If Republicans win the governor’s race... and win the state in 2028, we’re gonna have great leadership.” — Clay Travis [49:38]

• James’s Background:

  • West Point grad, Iraq veteran, business leader.
  • Emphasizes service, opportunity for all, and the need for better mental health policy and education reform in Michigan.
  • Quote:

    “We are not serving our veterans, and we are not serving those who struggle with mental health adequately... I'm going to commit my life to addressing the scourge.” — John James [56:00]

• Lighter Note:

  • James predicts (with tongue in cheek) a perfect Detroit Lions Super Bowl season:

    “Lions will go 16 and 1, Super Bowl champions and the score will be 74 to 0. Lions.” [57:27]

6. Listener Engagement, Book Plug, and Closing Discussion

[After 58:00]

• Trusted Hosts in Conservative Media:

  • Clay mentions Jesse Kelly responding humorously to the question “Who do you trust?” with, “Jesse Kelly. I trust me the most. You dead last.”
  • Shares personal anecdotes about the cost of living and inflation (“the Biden inflation”), highlighting audience relatability.

• Announcement:

  • Clay promotes his new book, “Balls: How Trump, Young Men and Sports Saved America,” promising that all proceeds will go to charity.
  • Asks listeners for input on where to donate the proceeds.

• Closing Thought:

  • Reiterates the importance of gratitude and optimism in conservative politics.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Trust in Media:

  “Trust to me is different than, hey, I agree with this person on a lot of their opinions. Trust to me is, hey, I trust this guy or this gal to be honest with me about what the numbers actually show or what the facts are.”
  — Clay Travis [06:20]

• On Schumer’s Political Dilemma:

  “Chuck Schumer is terrified of the left wing of his party... this is about him trying to cut off some of the political support for AOC, who may well challenge him in the Democrat primary.”
  — Clay Travis [08:10]

• AOC’s Future:

  “AOC is going to run for President... If that campaign does not go well, I think she's going to pivot and become a senator and knock Chuck Schumer out.”
  — Buck Sexton [08:47]

• On Healthcare Funding:

  “Here’s the reality. The money goes to the states. So the federal government cuts a big check... state government officials there then take those dollars and allocate many of them to illegal immigrant health care.”
  — Clay Travis [18:49]

• On Michigan’s Story:

  “We are not serving our veterans, and we are not serving those who struggle with mental health adequately. Our schools, our hospitals, and our jails... are not configured to deal with the special needs of folks who are struggling with mental health.”
  — John James [56:00]

• On Gratitude:

  “Before I do anything else, before I get out of bed for about 30 seconds, one minute, I just lay in bed, and I think, hey, here are the things that I am grateful for, because I think gratitude is probably the most underutilized and the most important of all emotions...”
  — Clay Travis [39:18]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Trust in Media Collapse: [00:53–08:15]
• Shutdown & Democrat Infighting: [08:15–16:28]
• Healthcare for Illegal Immigrants Segment: [16:28–25:24]
• Gratitude, Joy Reid Clip, Political Values: [39:18–46:49]
• Interview with John James: [46:49–57:59]

Conclusion

This lively bonus episode delivers a deeply skeptical analysis of mainstream narratives, highlighting corruption, infighting, and political maneuvering within the Democratic Party, especially regarding the government shutdown. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton offer a blend of hard-hitting policy breakdowns, culture war commentary, audience interaction, and a detailed insider's look at the political landscape in key battleground states. The interview with John James provides an optimistic vision of Republican strategy in Michigan, underscoring the practical stakes of upcoming elections. The episode’s tone is intensely partisan, humorous, and strident, closing with a reminder to approach politics with both gratitude and tenacity.