China Trade Fight and Rare Earths Leverage

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 Tuesday/Thursday takeaways. Give the guys a listen and then follow and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

Trump is Feelin' It

President Donald Trump’s high-stakes diplomacy, including his call with Vladimir Putin and efforts to broker peace between Russia and Ukraine. They analyze Trump’s strategy to pressure Russia by potentially supplying Ukraine with long-range weapons capable of striking inside Russian territory, and the economic leverage involving oil and gas markets. The conversation expands to Trump’s simultaneous trade showdown with China, highlighting looming 100% tariffs on Chinese goods and the global battle over rare earth minerals critical to modern technology.

The hosts explore whether Trump can realistically achieve a ceasefire in Ukraine, the risks of escalation—including nuclear threats—and the role of frozen Russian assets in Europe as a potential game-changer. They also touch on U.S. defense production challenges, noting America’s limited capacity to ramp up weapons manufacturing compared to Russia’s reserves, and how winter conditions in Ukraine could stall battlefield advances and open a window for negotiations.

Clean Up on Isle Amanpour 

A sharp critique of CNN’s Christiane Amanpour after her controversial claim that Israeli hostages were “treated better than the average Gazan.”  Clay and Buck play the original clip and her subsequent apology, arguing that her first statement reveals the media’s bias toward Hamas narratives. They dismantle myths of “genocide” and “starvation” in Gaza, underscore Hamas’s use of civilians as human shields, and stress the moral clarity of Israel’s position in the conflict.

The conversation pivots to major breaking news: President Donald Trump’s tweet summarizing his lengthy call with Vladimir Putin. Trump described the exchange as “very productive,” noting Putin congratulated him on Middle East peace efforts and agreed to high-level talks aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine war. Clay and Buck analyze the geopolitical stakes, including Trump’s upcoming Oval Office meeting with President Zelensky, Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s role in negotiations, and Hungary as a potential summit location.

Mamdani is Wrong About Everything

New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani and his Fox News interview with Martha MacCallum. Clay and Buck critique Mamdani’s evasive answers on whether Hamas should disarm, comparing his rhetorical style to Abigail Spanberger’s non-answers. They warn that Mamdani’s progressive proposals—such as rent freezes and city-run grocery stores—reflect economic illiteracy that worsens housing affordability and cost-of-living crises. The hosts draw parallels to California’s regulatory failures and Canada’s housing costs, arguing government overreach drives prices higher.

Democrats Have Become a Slur

President Donald Trump’s multi-hour call with Vladimir Putin, which Trump says will lead to high-level advisor meetings and a future summit in Budapest aimed at ending the Russia-Ukraine war. Clay and Buck examine Trump’s diplomatic momentum following the Gaza peace deal and discuss whether his approach could reshape global negotiations.

The conversation shifts to domestic politics, spotlighting New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani and his Fox News interview with Martha MacCallum. Mamdani refused to credit Trump for the Gaza peace agreement, calling it “too early,” and offered vague answers on Hamas disarmament.

Clay and Buck critique Mamdani’s progressive agenda—tax hikes, rent freezes, and city-run grocery stores—arguing these policies would harm New York’s economy and worsen affordability. They also highlight Mamdani’s recent apology to police for past “defund” rhetoric, framing it as political damage control.

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