Verdict with Ted Cruz — BonusDaily Review with Clay and Buck

Date: November 20, 2025
Summary of Main Theme:
This episode is a cross-discussion featuring Buck Sexton and Clay Travis ("Clay and Buck"), with guest appearances by Governor Ron DeSantis (FL), Senator Ron Johnson (WI), and Trump White House spokesperson Caroline Levitt. The main themes revolve around recent political developments, especially economic policies in major cities like New York, the contrast between blue state versus red state governance, transparency within federal agencies, the debate over the Department of Education, and ongoing cultural/political battles. The tone is combative, critical of progressive policies, and focused on conservative policy solutions and critiques.

Episode Breakdown & Key Discussion Points

1. Comedy and Coping with Politics

• Opening Tone:
  • Buck Sexton underscores the need to approach politics, especially Democratic “antics,” with humor as a coping mechanism for daily stress ([03:09]):

    “Thanks Buck for reminding me to laugh sometimes at the Democrat antics rather than just feel anger or fear. It's much healthier to recognize it for what it is.” — VIP listener email read by Buck ([03:09])

  • The show positions itself as a place for information and lightheartedness amid the political fight.

2. Analysis of New York's Economic Policies and Rent Control

Major focus on Zoran Mamdani, upcoming mayor of NYC, and his proposed rent freeze and left-wing economic agenda.

Key Arguments:

• Rent freeze sounds good but is destructive

  • Buck details how artificially constraining rent through government policy leads to reduced housing supply and increased prices ([04:53–13:00]).
  • Influences from F.A. Hayek’s “Road to Serfdom” are cited:

    “Government intervention in markets begets more government intervention in markets. The more the government tries to play God... the more distortion in the market...” — Buck Sexton ([05:44])

• Real-world consequences of housing policy

  • Buck explains that tight regulation and inability for landlords to recover investment leaves thousands of apartments unlivable and off the market.
  • Loss of high-income earners threatens city fiscal health:

    “If 1% of New Yorkers left— the whole city budget, I mean, you'd lose half of the revenue.” — Buck ([07:26])

• Root problem ignored by leftist politicians:

  • Mamdani’s approach (rent freezes, public childcare, free buses) is compared to Soviet policies:

    “You know where they had universal childcare as a matter of policy? The Soviet Union... You do not want your kids to be in that.” — Buck Sexton ([13:38])

• Electoral dangers and blame-shifting:

  • Buck argues that Mamdani will worsen NYC’s problems and, when failing, blame “the rich, the millionaires... or Donald Trump” ([13:38]).

Notable Quote:

“They approach it like a child would approach the problem instead of looking at what caused it... What lipstick can I put on the pig, so to speak, to make it prettier?” — Buck ([13:38])

3. Governor Ron DeSantis: Florida’s Fiscal Model & Property Tax Reform

DeSantis explains Florida’s approach to taxation, spending, and how it contrasts with New York/blue states.

Highlights:

• Florida doesn’t need property tax revenue to balance its budget due to a large tax base from part-time residents and businesses ([21:57]):

  “I have a surplus. I have a maxed-out rainy day fund. I don't get property tax revenue, I don't need it.” — Gov. DeSantis ([22:14])

• Local governments spend excessively due to property tax windfalls ([23:13]):

  “We've had a huge increase in the size and scope of local governments because they're getting this [property tax revenue].”

• Homestead property tax exemption:
  Explains why eliminating it would relieve the tax burden mostly on young home buyers, not “just a giveaway to boomers” ([27:50]).

  “If I reduce your taxes, I'm not giving you anything... that's your property, you own it.” — DeSantis ([27:50])

• Safeguards to prevent “tax benefit tourism” for newcomers:

  “I don't want to do a situation where it's going to incentivize people to flood into the state... You're going to have to be somebody that's been here for longer.” — DeSantis ([25:44])

• Stark comparison to New York’s spending:

  “New York City has 8 million people and New York City's budget is bigger than the entire state of Florida's budget... And that's before Mandami, you know, takes over the grocery stores and does things that's going to cost even more money.” — DeSantis ([30:59])

• Critique of New York governance:

  “Their number one thing that's going to drive people out of that city is that he [Mamdani] hates the police... He's going to make Bill de Blasio look like a right winger.” — DeSantis ([33:24])

4. Senator Ron Johnson: FBI Transparency, Epstein Files, and Partisan Lawfare

Topics: The Thomas Crooks investigation, release of the Epstein files, misuses of FBI power against political rivals, and the future of healthcare reform.

Notable Segments:

• FBI and Thomas Crooks (Trump attempted assassin):

  “There's an awful lot unknown about Thomas Crooks that from my standpoint, we should have known quite some time ago.” — Sen. Johnson ([38:16])

• Lack of transparency and bureaucratic inertia:

  “We really have not gotten much. So we've had to go out and contact phone carriers and social media companies. We're pieces things together.” — Johnson ([38:16])

• Release of Epstein files:
  Bipartisan support because of overwhelming public pressure ([41:59]).

  “What this reflects is the public wanted to see this. And so as elected officials, when you, when you for a year are that's the number one thing that people calling into your office is, you know, vote to release the Epstein files... in the end, representative government actually works.” — Johnson ([42:52])

• Critique of Obamacare & health care reform:

  “The reason people's premiums are increasing is because of the flawed design of Obamacare.” — Johnson ([43:15]) “It's time to end the filibuster... We would use ending the filibuster for the benefit of the American people, not our own personal power.” — Johnson ([45:19])

• FBI “Arctic Frost” investigation:
  FBI's sweeping dragnet against Republican allies post-2020, the “criminalization” of normal legal activities.

  “This was a massive partisan dragnet really meant to cripple the Republican Party.” — Johnson ([45:58])

• Thanksgiving Favorite Dish (humorous moment):

  “It's the turkey, it's the dressing, it's the gravy, it's the mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes and corn. That, that is my Thanksgiving dinner... I end with the exact portions for that final bite.” — Johnson ([47:53])

5. White House Press Briefings: Caroline Levitt on Department of Education & NYC Politics

• Shutting down the Department of Education:
  Levitt announces steps toward dissolving the Department of Ed, shifting functions to other agencies ([54:02]).

  “This common sense action brings the Trump administration much closer to finally returning education where it belongs — at the state and local level, not in Washington, D.C.” — Caroline Levitt ([54:02])

  • Buck applauds this as a “deep state operation” finally being unraveled ([54:50]).

• On Zoran Mamdani as NYC Mayor & Trump’s willingness to meet:

  “Speaks volumes that tomorrow we have a communist coming to the White House because that's who the Democrat Party elected as the mayor of the largest city in the country.” — Levitt ([59:48])

  • Buck riffs on the evolution of the American Communist Party into left-wing Democratic policies, and Trump’s ability to handle Mamdani in a “charming and funny” way ([60:21]).

• Exchange over a “military PSA” and Democrat accusations of Trump encouraging violence:

  “They are literally saying to 1.3 million active duty service members not to defy the chain of command, not to follow lawful orders... To suggest and encourage that active duty service members defy the chain of command is a very dangerous thing for sitting members of Congress... And that's what the President wants to see.” — Caroline Levitt ([63:35])

  • Buck:

    “It's meant to undermine the commander in chief... They have to tell stories, fables to themselves to justify their trump derangement.” ([64:32])

6. Ongoing Themes and Tone

• Skepticism of government intervention and regulation:
  Runs through all discussions — from rent control, Department of Ed, Obamacare, to FBI oversight.
• Praise for “red state” governance and fiscal discipline:
  Florida held up as model vs. spendthrift, crisis-ridden New York/California.
• Strong concern about misuse of law enforcement for partisan ends:
  FBI dragnet and transparency issues highlighted as critical challenges for democracy.
• Populist, culture war posture:
  Frequent references to “leftist” control, “deep state,” “woke agenda,” and the necessity for Republicans to fight hard.
• Injecting humor and connecting with real-life concerns:
  Thanksgiving food, comic asides, fan emails — keeping things personable amid political discourse.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• “Government intervention in markets begets more government intervention in markets.” — Buck Sexton ([05:44])
• “You know where they had universal childcare as a matter of policy? The Soviet Union... You do not want your kids to be in that.” — Buck Sexton ([13:38])
• “If 1% of New Yorkers left — the whole city budget, I mean, you'd lose half of the revenue.” — Buck ([07:26])
• “I have a surplus. I have a maxed-out rainy day fund. I don't get property tax revenue, I don't need it.” — Gov. Ron DeSantis ([22:14])
• “If I reduce your taxes, I'm not giving you anything... that's your property, you own it.” — DeSantis ([27:50])
• “Their number one thing that's going to drive people out of that city is that he [Mamdani] hates the police... He's going to make Bill de Blasio look like a right winger.” — DeSantis ([33:24])
• “There's an awful lot unknown about Thomas Crooks that from my standpoint, we should have known quite some time ago.” — Senator Ron Johnson ([38:16])
• “What this reflects is the public wanted to see this [Epstein files]... in the end, representative government actually works.” — Johnson ([42:52])
• “It's the turkey, it's the dressing, it's the gravy, it's the mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes and corn. That, that is my Thanksgiving dinner.” — Johnson ([47:53])
• “This common sense action brings the Trump administration much closer to finally returning education where it belongs—at the state and local level.” — Caroline Levitt ([54:02])
• “Speaks volumes that tomorrow we have a communist coming to the White House because that's who the Democrat Party elected as the mayor of the largest city in the country.” — Levitt ([59:48])
• “To suggest and encourage that active duty service members defy the chain of command is a very dangerous thing for sitting members of Congress.” — Levitt ([63:35])

Important Segment Timestamps

• [03:09] — Opening tone, listener email on levity in politics
• [04:53]–[13:38] — Buck on NYC rent freeze & Mamdani’s leftist policies
• [21:57]–[33:44] — Governor DeSantis on Florida property tax, budget, and New York’s model
• [35:28]–[48:22] — Interview with Senator Ron Johnson: FBI, Epstein files, lawfare, and Thanksgiving moment
• [54:02]–[64:32] — Caroline Levitt on Department of Education, NYC's mayor, and contentious White House briefings

Conclusion

This episode of Verdict with Ted Cruz (with commentary from Clay and Buck) delivers a sharply conservative critique of left-leaning economic, educational, and law enforcement policies, presenting Florida as a case study in fiscal sanity, and highlighting what they view as the dangers of progressive governance in New York and federal agencies. High-profile guests lend authority and inside perspectives, while humor and direct listener engagement keep the tone lively and accessible.