Verdict with Ted Cruz

Lindsey Olin Graham (July 9, 1955 – July 11, 2026) was an American politician, attorney, and Air Force officer who represented South Carolina in the U.S. Senate from 2003 until his death in 2026. He was one of the most influential Republican senators of his era, particularly on national security, judicial nominations, and foreign policy.
Early Life
Graham was born in Central, South Carolina, where his parents owned a restaurant, pool hall, and liquor store. He became the first member of his family to attend college, earning both a bachelor's degree and a law degree from the University of South Carolina. While in school, he suffered the loss of both parents within about 15 months and took responsibility for helping raise his younger sister.
Military Service
After law school, Graham joined the U.S. Air Force Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps, serving as a military lawyer. He served on active duty from 1982 to 1989, including assignments in Germany, and later continued in the South Carolina Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve. During his military career he reached the rank of Colonel and retired in 2015 after 33 years of service.
Entry into Politics
Graham began his political career in the South Carolina House of Representatives, serving from 1993 to 1995. In 1994, he won election to the U.S. House of Representatives from South Carolina's 3rd Congressional District, becoming the first Republican elected from that district since Reconstruction.
During his time in the House, he gained national attention as one of the House managers who prosecuted the impeachment case against President Bill Clinton in 1999.
U.S. Senate Career
Graham was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2002 and took office in January 2003. He won reelection in 2008, 2014, and 2020. Throughout his Senate career he served on several powerful committees, including Judiciary, Appropriations, Budget, and Environment and Public Works. He also chaired the Senate Judiciary Committee and later the Senate Budget Committee.
Key Political Positions
Graham became known for:
Strong support for a robust U.S. military and interventionist foreign policy.
Advocacy for American support of allies such as Ukraine and Israel.
Leadership on judicial confirmations, including helping advance the confirmations of Supreme Court Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett.
Relationship with Donald Trump
One of the most notable aspects of Graham's career was his evolving relationship with Donald Trump. During the 2016 Republican presidential primary, Graham strongly criticized Trump, but after Trump's election, however, Graham became one of his closest allies in Congress and frequently advised him on foreign-policy and judicial matters.
Legacy
His supporters remember him as a skilled legislator, military veteran, and influential voice on national security. Critics often challenged his changing political alliances and hawkish foreign-policy positions. Nevertheless, he remained one of the most recognizable and consequential Republican senators of the early 21st century
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1. Strait of Hormuz and Iran Conflict
Key points discussed include:
Claims that military confrontations between the U.S. and Iran are ongoing.
Concerns about threats to commercial shipping and global energy supplies.
Discussion of a proposed U.S. transit fee for ships using the Strait of Hormuz, which the speaker says was later replaced with trade and investment agreements involving Gulf states.
Assertions that the U.S. is maintaining a blockade on Iranian shipping while protecting international maritime traffic.
Discussion of rising oil prices, shipping disruptions, and broader economic implications.
U.S. actions are necessary to maintain freedom of navigation and prevent Iran from disrupting world trade and energy markets.
2. Inflation and the U.S. Economy
Inflation has fallen significantly.
Economic analysts and media outlets underestimated the improvement in inflation figures.
Lower energy prices contributed heavily to the reported decline in inflation.
The economic results support President Trump's policies and leadership.
This is evidence that media organizations and economists have been overly pessimistic about the economy.
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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.

Clay Travis and Buck Sexton discuss national policy and immigration enforcement, one of the dominant themes of Hour 1. Clay and Buck examined reports that ICE had briefly restricted certain traffic-stop enforcement tactics following recent confrontations involving illegal immigrants and federal agents. The hosts argued that such restrictions would undermine deportation efforts and create incentives for suspects to evade law enforcement. They praised President Donald Trump's decision to restore traffic-stop authority for immigration enforcement operations and discussed broader border security, deportation policy, illegal immigration, sanctuary politics, and growing tensions between federal immigration authorities and Democratic elected officials. The hosts also highlighted remarks from Border Czar Tom Homan, who warned that anti-ICE rhetoric could contribute to additional violence against federal agents.

Tomi Lahren joins the program to discuss the growing political divide over masculinity, military readiness, and the Department of Defense's new testosterone screening initiative for service members. Lahren argued that Democrats continue to struggle connecting with male voters and discussed broader debates surrounding masculinity, cultural values, and political messaging. The discussion tied into ongoing conversations about military preparedness, physical fitness, and the role of strength and performance standards within the armed forces.

Clay and Buck talk about White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt's return to the briefing room following maternity leave and her preview of President Donald Trump's highly anticipated primetime address. Clay and Buck analyzed Leavitt's comments suggesting the president would present significant evidence related to election security concerns and alleged foreign influence in previous elections. Both hosts argued that regardless of the evidence presented, major legacy media organizations would continue to dismiss or minimize Trump's claims due to longstanding opposition to the president. The discussion centered on media bias, election security, voter confidence, and the ongoing national debate surrounding election integrity reforms.

A lengthy discussion examined the strategic dilemma facing the Trump administration regarding Iran. The hosts considered the effectiveness of sanctions, oil export restrictions, and military operations aimed at weakening the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). They debated whether military pressure alone can force regime change, how Iranian leadership calculates long-term risks differently than Western governments, and the limits of relying on internal uprisings to alter political outcomes. The conversation also touched on the role of Kurdish populations, the possibility of regional instability, and the geopolitical consequences of prolonged military confrontation in the Middle East.

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1. Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and its policy platform:
Socialist, communist, and Marxist in nature.
A proposal to replace elements of the existing American constitutional system.
An attempt to eliminate or weaken traditional checks and balances in government.
2. Government Restructuring
DSA supports changes such as:
Eliminating the Electoral College.
Expanding the House of Representatives.
Ending the Senate filibuster.
Reducing the Supreme Court's power of judicial review.
Moving toward a governmental structure centered on a single federal legislature.
Abolishing the U.S. Senate.
Implementing ranked-choice voting.
3. Economic and Social Vision
Reduced work obligations.
Universal access to housing.
Elimination of debt.
No need for private health insurance.
Publicly funded retirement.
Freedom from mortgages and landlords.
4. Immigration and Border Policies
Ending immigration detention and deportation practices.
Granting amnesty to undocumented immigrants.
Reducing border enforcement measures.
5. Influence on the Democratic Party
The DSA has become increasingly influential within Democratic politics.
Establishment Democrats enabled the rise of socialist candidates.
More Democratic candidates are receiving support from socialist organizations and winning elections.
The DSA IS pushing the Democratic Party further left.
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1. Tribute to Lindsey Graham
U.S. Senator 23 years in the Senate
A veteran with 33 years of Air Force service
An influential figure in Republican politics
A close friend and ally of Ted Cruz
2. Trump's First Impeachment Trial
Debate over whether additional witnesses, particularly former National Security Adviser John Bolton, should be called.
Efforts by Republican senators to prevent the trial from expanding into a lengthy investigation.
Arguments that the House impeachment process was rushed and lacked due process.
Discussion of a Senate vote that ultimately rejected calling additional witnesses.
3. Senate Strategy and Politics
Ted Cruz and Lindsey Graham explain behind-the-scenes efforts to persuade key Republican senators, especially:
Lisa Murkowski (Alaska)
Lamar Alexander (Tennessee)
4. Constitutional Issues
Executive privilege
Separation of powers
The Supreme Court and Chief Justice John Roberts
5. Criticism of Democrats
House impeachment managers such as Adam Schiff and Jerry Nadler
Senator Elizabeth Warren
The Democratic Party's impeachment strategy
6. Hunter Biden and Ukraine
Hunter Biden's work with Burisma, a Ukrainian energy company
Questions about conflicts of interest involving the Biden family
Calls for further investigation into those matters
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