Verdict with Ted Cruz

1. Role of Popular Uprising
Millions of Iranians are described as actively protesting against the ruling clerical regime.
The movement is portrayed as organic, domestic, and secular, not Islamist or anti‑Western.
Economic collapse is identified as the primary catalyst rather than a single political trigger.
Protesters are framed as the legitimate engine of change, with the U.S. positioned as a supporter rather than the instigator.
2. Economic Collapse as a Destabilizer
Hyperinflation and currency collapse (rial exceeding 1,000,000 to the dollar) have crippled daily life.
Bazaar closures, labor strikes (notably in energy), and widespread shortages are presented as systemic stressors.
Low global oil prices weaken Iran’s primary revenue source, limiting the regime’s ability to fund repression and foreign proxies.
3. U.S. Policy Contrast: Trump vs. Obama/Biden
There is a sharp contrast between: Obama/Biden: Characterized as conciliatory, passive, and supportive of engagement (e.g., Iran nuclear deal).
Trump: Portrayed as deterrence‑focused, confrontational, and openly supportive of regime change.

Trump’s public endorsement of a “new government” in Iran is framed as unprecedented and strategically consequential.
4. Deterrence Without Occupation
We reject a large‑scale military invasion.
Instead, we support: Targeted military strikes (e.g., nuclear facilities, IRGC leadership)
Covert operations
Clear deterrent threats against mass repression

The killing of Qasem Soleimani is highlighted as a key inflection point that shattered regime confidence.
5. Iran’s Strategic Weakness
Iran’s air defenses and regional influence are described as severely degraded.
Hezbollah, Hamas, and other proxies have been decapitated or weakened.
The regime is increasingly isolated as allies (Venezuela, Syria, Russia) face their own crises.
6. Internal Regime Fractures
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is portrayed as a potential kingmaker or coup actor.
The text suggests the IRGC: Controls vast economic assets
Is deeply unpopular with the public
May abandon the clerical leadership to preserve its own power

A coup becomes likely if U.S. pressure and labor strikes converge.
7. Information Control and Fear
Internet shutdowns and communication blackouts are signs of regime panic.
Supreme Leader Khamenei fears internal reform more than outright confrontation, drawing parallels to Soviet collapse.
9. Broader Geopolitical Context
Iran’s situation is linked to potential domino effects in Venezuela and Cuba.
Energy independence and low oil prices are framed as key U.S. national security tools.
The moment is compared to the fall of the Berlin Wall, suggesting a possible systemic collapse of authoritarian regimes without U.S. ground wars.
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1. Support for Regime Change Without “Boots on the Ground”
Regime change can be morally and strategically justified when it leads to the fall of tyrannical or hostile regimes (e.g., Soviet Union, Iran).
Strongly distinguishes between: Non-military or indirect regime change (diplomatic pressure, moral support, rhetoric, economic pressure)
Full-scale military invasions, which the speaker opposes based on lessons from Iraq and Libya.

Frames “regime change” as a concept unfairly discredited due to past U.S. military failures.
2. Historical Analogy: Reagan and the Cold War
Ronald Reagan is a model: “Peace through strength,” rebuilding the military without large-scale invasions.
Moral clarity and public rhetoric (e.g., “evil empire,” “tear down this wall”) are catalysts for systemic collapse.

The power of words and leadership signaling can inspire dissidents inside authoritarian regimes.
3. Iran as an Active Enemy of the United States
Iran is fundamentally different from prior dictatorships: Actively funds terrorism targeting Americans
Governed by a theocratic regime portrayed as irredeemable

Open U.S. rhetorical and moral support for Iranian protesters and dissidents.
Acknowledges uncertainty and risks following a revolution but argues the status quo is worse.
4. Venezuela: Engagement With María Corina Machado
A bipartisan Senate meeting with Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado following her meeting with President Trump.
Highlights her strategic emphasis on: U.S. unity
Avoiding partisan attacks on Trump

She is an effective, pragmatic opposition leader acting in Venezuela’s national interest.
Strong ties between U.S. senators and Venezuelan communities, especially in Florida and Texas.
5. Trump’s Role in Global Opposition Movements
Donald Trump’s leadership and rhetoric is a motivating force behind opposition movements in: Iran
Venezuela
Cuba

These three countries are simultaneously nearing potential regime collapse or elections.
Claims this could represent the most significant geopolitical shift since the fall of the Berlin Wall, while acknowledging high risks.
6. Military Operation Against Maduro (U.S. Arrest)
A recent military raid targeting Nicolás Maduro: Maduro described as being protected by Cuban military forces
Operation allegedly resulted in: No American fatalities
Multiple enemy combatant deaths


The Senator visited three wounded U.S. soldiers recovering in San Antonio.
Emphasizing: Their bravery
Their role in “changing the Western Hemisphere”
Symbolic gestures (retrieving bullets/shrapnel as mementos)

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1. Visit with U.S. Soldiers Wounded in the Maduro Raid
Senator Ted Cruz visits three U.S. soldiers wounded during a raid intended to arrest Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.
All soldiers are recovering in stable condition and none suffered life‑threatening injuries.
One soldier helped plan and lead the raid and continued fighting after being shot.
Two soldiers requested keepsakes from their injuries (a bullet and shrapnel), which Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth approved as a morale gesture.
Emphasis on: Heroism and discipline of U.S. forces
No American fatalities despite being outnumbered
Significant Cuban forces defending Maduro were reportedly killed

2. Symbolism and Morale
Soldiers and their families (wives present) showed strong morale and faith.
Soldiers expressed eagerness to return to duty.
A former commanding officer expressed regret at missing the mission, reinforcing camaraderie and pride.
3. Meeting with Venezuelan Opposition Leader Maria Corina Machado
Cruz met with Maria Corina Machado, Venezuelan opposition leader now living in exile in the United States.
Machado: Previously awarded the Nobel Peace Prize
Met with President Donald Trump at the White House
Symbolically presented Trump with her Nobel Peace Prize as gratitude for U.S. support

4. Political Situation in Venezuela
Widespread celebration in Venezuela following Maduro’s removal.
Some political prisoners released, though still monitored.
Current acting leadership (Delcy Rodríguez) is described as illegitimate and a continuation of the Maduro regime.
Machado strongly advocates for: Free and fair elections
A swift election timeline (Cruz suggests within six months)

5. Bipartisan Senate Meeting
Machado met with about a dozen U.S. senators, including Republicans and Democrats.
Cruz praises her decision to pursue bipartisan unity instead of partisan attacks.
Unity from the U.S. is portrayed as critical for Venezuela’s democratic transition.
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Meet my friends, Clay Travis and Buck Sexton! If you love Verdict, the Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show might also be in your audio wheelhouse. Politics, news analysis, and some pop culture and comedy thrown in too.

Here’s a sample episode recapping four takeaways. Give the guys a listen and then follow and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

You're Fired!

Clay and Buck open with breaking news of another ICE-involved shooting after agents were attacked during an arrest operation. The suspects—identified as Venezuelan illegal immigrants with final deportation orders—reportedly assaulted an officer, prompting him to fire in self-defense. This follows a string of violent confrontations and protests targeting federal agents, with ICE vehicles vandalized and weapons stolen from government vehicles. The hosts warn that Minneapolis has become the epicenter of Resistance 2.0, echoing the chaos of the 2020 BLM riots, and argue that President Trump must act decisively to prevent nationwide unrest.

The conversation intensifies as Clay and Buck analyze Trump’s Truth Social post threatening to invoke the Insurrection Act if Minnesota officials fail to stop organized attacks on federal law enforcement. They frame this as a defining moment for Trump’s second term, contrasting his current posture with what they call the missed opportunity to crush BLM riots in 2020. Buck emphasizes that Democrats are weaponizing immigration enforcement as a political wedge, portraying ICE as “Gestapo” and encouraging obstruction—language that, they argue, incites violence against officers. Clay underscores the stakes: Trump cannot afford to break faith with voters on border security, making Minneapolis a “crucible decision” for his presidency.

The Left Wants to Abolish ICE

Clay and Buck open with sharp analysis of Rep. Shri Thanedar’s renewed call to abolish ICE, reviving a radical slogan first championed by AOC during Trump’s first term. They argue that Democrats’ strategy is clear: dismantle enforcement while keeping immigration laws on the books to avoid openly admitting their open borders agenda. This, they contend, is part of a long-term plan to reshape America’s demographics and political landscape.

The hosts highlight Trump’s historic success in reversing decades of migration trends, noting that net migration turned negative in 2025 for the first time since the 1920s. Approximately 2.6 million illegal immigrants left the country through deportations and self-removal, a stark contrast to Biden’s border surge that saw monthly inflows soar to 200,000. Clay and Buck frame this as proof that Trump’s enforcement policies are working, even as Democrats and media allies attempt to undermine ICE operations by portraying agents as brutal and lawless. They warn that rhetoric from figures like Hakeem Jeffries—accusing ICE of “brutalizing American families”—is fueling hostility and setting the stage for violence against federal officers, echoing the chaos of 2020’s BLM riots.

Gov't Makes Things Expensive

The conversation then pivots to Trump’s new “Great Healthcare Plan,” unveiled by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, which emphasizes affordability and transparency. The plan aims to permanently lower prescription drug prices, redirect subsidies from insurers to consumers, mandate public price disclosures to eliminate surprise bills, and hold insurance companies accountable with clear rate comparisons. Clay and Buck stress that Trump learned from Republicans’ 2018 midterm losses over healthcare and is now positioning affordability—alongside housing and credit card interest reform—as a cornerstone of his economic message. They argue that Trump’s proactive approach on healthcare and cost-of-living issues could resonate deeply with voters, contrasting his market-driven solutions with Democrats’ push for government control.

Should We Buy Greenland?

Updates on President Trump’s Greenland acquisition push, following high-level meetings between U.S., Danish, and Greenlandic officials at the White House. Clay and Buck explain Trump’s rationale for pursuing Greenland as a long-term national security asset, citing its strategic Arctic location, potential mineral wealth, and historical parallels to Seward’s purchase of Alaska and the Louisiana Purchase. They argue that Greenland could be critical for monitoring nuclear submarine activity and countering Russian and Chinese influence in the Arctic, framing Trump’s vision as a century-long play for American dominance rather than a short-term real estate flip.

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1. Situation in Iran
Mass Killings & Crackdown: Thousands have reportedly been killed or abducted by the Iranian regime during protests.
U.S. Response: President Trump and the White House are applying maximum pressure on Iran.
Actions include canceling meetings with Iranian officials, imposing a 25% tariff on countries doing business with Iran, and signaling possible military intervention.
Military options remain on the table; U.S. security teams are reviewing potential responses, including airstrikes.

Global Reaction: European nations summoned Iranian ambassadors.
Bipartisan U.S. lawmakers advocate restoring internet access in Iran to help protesters organize.

Iranian Threats: Iranian state TV issued threats against President Trump, referencing past assassination attempts.

2. U.S. Domestic Issues
Supreme Court Debate: A major discussion occurred about men in women’s sports and defining what constitutes a woman.
The ACLU reportedly struggled to define “woman” during arguments.

Senate Hearing on Abortion Pills: Focused on safety and regulation of abortion medication (e.g., Mifepristone).
Republicans pushed for stricter oversight; Democrats emphasized access to care.

Controversial Exchange: Senator Josh Hawley questioned Dr. Nisha Verma (OB-GYN) on whether men can get pregnant.
Dr. Verma avoided a direct yes/no answer, citing complexity and patient identities.
Hawley insisted on biological clarity, arguing that biological men cannot get pregnant and criticizing refusal to acknowledge this as undermining science and constitutional protections for women.

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