Daily Review with Clay and Buck - Apr 1 2026

Stealing American Citizenship

Clay Travis and Buck Sexton open by setting the stage for a major address from President Donald Trump, scheduled for later that night, as the administration weighs the possibility of withdrawing from NATO amid escalating tensions surrounding the ongoing U.S.–Iran air conflict. The hosts frame the developments as a pivotal moment in global geopolitics, suggesting Trump is preparing to sharply confront European allies over burden‑sharing and their response to Iran.

After briefly navigating an April Fools prank involving a fictional box of puppies—used to underscore how misinformation now spreads rapidly in an era of AI and social media—the tone of Hour 1 turns sharply serious with a deep dive into Supreme Court oral arguments on birthright citizenship. Clay and Buck analyze the case challenging President Trump’s executive order seeking to reinterpret the 14th Amendment’s Citizenship Clause, focusing on the modern phenomenon of birth tourism. They air excerpts from arguments by the U.S. Solicitor General detailing hundreds of foreign companies—particularly in China—whose sole business model is facilitating travel to the United States for the purpose of giving birth so children can obtain automatic U.S. citizenship.

Clay's Birthright Citizenship Argument

Clay Travis and Buck Sexton open the hour with lighter banter about space exploration and favorite space movies, using the imminent Artemis II mission as a springboard to discuss America’s renewed push for lunar exploration and eventual missions to Mars. They note the symbolic timing of reports that SpaceX is preparing for what could become the largest IPO in history, framing Elon Musk’s achievements as a stark contrast to government inefficiency.

The core of Hour 2 returns to the Supreme Court oral arguments on birthright citizenship, with Clay and Buck expanding on the distinction between citizenship by parentage (jus sanguinis) and citizenship by soil (jus soli). They argue that while citizenship through American parents is universally accepted, automatic citizenship granted solely by birthplace is a global outlier and has become a magnet for abuse through birth tourism, particularly from countries such as China. Clay lays out two proposed policy frameworks he believes could constitutionally reduce the incentive structure without violating a likely Supreme Court ruling: first, a reciprocity standard, where foreign nationals would only receive birthright citizenship if Americans receive the same treatment abroad; and second, imposing minimum residency requirements for pregnant foreign nationals before a child could qualify for U.S. citizenship.

Rep. Jim Jordan

An interview with Congressman Jim Jordan of Ohio about birthright citizenship, congressional gridlock, ICE funding, U.S.–Iran military operations, oil markets, NATO friction, midterm election dynamics, and global energy security.  Chairman Jordan argues that the strongest constitutional case lies in the “subject to the jurisdiction thereof” language of the 14th Amendment, contending that individuals who enter the United States illegally are not fully subject to U.S. jurisdiction and therefore should not automatically confer citizenship through childbirth. While acknowledging common‑sense concerns about large‑scale birth tourism—particularly involving Chinese nationals—Jordan expresses skepticism that legislation alone could survive Supreme Court review, reinforcing the need to secure the border, dismantle sanctuary jurisdictions, and fully fund ICE and Border Patrol enforcement instead.

A significant portion of Hour 3 is devoted to the ongoing DHS and ICE funding standoff, with Jordan sharply criticizing Senate Democrats for attempting to fund most of DHS while excluding ICE. He explains that House Republicans rejected the Senate resolution to avoid establishing a precedent where immigration enforcement is selectively defunded, praising President Trump for reallocating resources to keep operations functioning while Congress remains deadlocked. The hosts and Jordan agree that this funding battle has become a flashpoint illustrating broader institutional dysfunction and partisan hostility toward immigration enforcement.

The discussion then shifts to Iran, with Jordan strongly backing President Trump’s military campaign aimed at neutralizing Iran’s nuclear ambitions. He frames the action as consistent with Trump’s long‑standing promise to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, while acknowledging widespread concern over high gas prices and the desire for the conflict to end swiftly. Clay and Buck situate the Iran strikes within a larger geopolitical context, anticipating that Trump’s 9:00 p.m. national address will sharply criticize European allies for failing to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, despite their heavy dependence on Middle Eastern energy transit.

Trump Addressing the Nation

Clay introduces prediction market data showing Republicans as underdogs to retain control of both the House and Senate, warning that a Democratic takeover would effectively immobilize Trump’s legislative agenda through investigations, impeachments, and judicial blockades. This leads to a broader discussion about Supreme Court succession, with concern that aging conservative justices may risk repeating past strategic retirements that shifted the Court’s balance.

The hosts turn to listener talkbacks, reinforcing themes from earlier hours. Callers share firsthand examples of how other countries handle citizenship strictly by bloodline, underscoring how rare U.S. birthright citizenship policies are globally. Other callers weigh in on the Supreme Court outcome, favorite space movies, cultural debates, and even comedic arguments about fashion norms such as ties and wool suits, providing comic relief to close the program.

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