The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show look ahead to the 2026 midterm elections, now just 27 days away, as President Donald Trump prepares to campaign in Texas with Ken Paxton, with baseball legend Roger Clemens expected to introduce the President. The hosts discuss the importance of Republican voter turnout in traditionally red states such as Texas, warning against complacency and noting Democrats’ continued hopes of breaking the GOP’s long statewide winning streak. The conversation then turns to the third anniversary of the October 7 Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel. Clay and Buck reflect on the Israelis murdered and kidnapped during the attack and offer a forceful defense of Israel’s military response to Hamas. They criticize Zohran Mamdani for marking the anniversary while also accusing the Israeli government of genocide in Gaza, an allegation the hosts emphatically reject. They compare October 7 to the September 11 attacks, examine the proportional impact on Israel’s population, discuss civilian casualties and the realities of warfare, and argue that Hamas bears responsibility for initiating the conflict. Clay also recalls visiting Israel, the kibbutzim attacked by Hamas and the Nova music festival site. The discussion expands to younger Americans’ understanding of October 7, social media and political messaging about Israel, and the implications of the Israel-Hamas war for American politics, including the competitive Michigan Senate race and Abdul El-Sayed’s position on Israel.
Clay highlights a speech by Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Athens, Greece, praising Rubio’s defense of Western civilization and his reflections on ancient Greece’s lasting influence. Clay and Buck use the speech to launch a broader discussion of American history, Western values, ancient Greece and Rome, the Founding Fathers, historical literacy, Christianity and the common cultural foundations they believe are essential to preserving the United States and the West. They contrast that worldview with socialism, Marxism, communism, identity politics and the 1619 Project, criticizing Nikole Hannah-Jones and arguing that progressive movements too often seek to dismantle American institutions without presenting a superior replacement. The conversation also covers European welfare states, economic problems in France and comparisons between the United States and Nordic countries such as Sweden and Norway, including Norway’s oil wealth and sovereign wealth fund.
Clay and Buck welcome Yael Eckstein, president and CEO of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, to the show from Israel. Eckstein describes the day as one of mourning, prayer and remembrance for Israelis who lost family members while also emphasizing resilience and international solidarity with Israel. The conversation addresses accusations that Israel committed genocide in Gaza, including statements discussed by the hosts from New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, along with pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel activism on American college campuses and in Europe. Eckstein rejects the genocide characterization and discusses the Fellowship’s Flags of Fellowship initiative, which she says has involved thousands of churches across multiple countries displaying Israeli flags as an expression of Christian-Jewish solidarity. She also discusses the organization’s work assisting persecuted Christians in Syria and Lebanon and warns about antisemitism, Islamist extremism and attempts to reshape the historical narrative surrounding October 7.
Clay and Buck welcome Congressman Matt Van Epps, who is running in Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District. Van Epps discusses President Trump’s upcoming rally in Clarksville and the Republican effort to win all nine of Tennessee’s U.S. House seats. He argues that Republicans should campaign on lower taxes, border security, public safety, military strength and economic prosperity while drawing ideological contrasts with Democratic candidates. Van Epps discusses his opponent Darden Copeland, his assessment of the political environment and the importance of turning out Republican voters. The conversation also examines Tennessee redistricting, with Clay describing how his own congressional district has changed and urging voters to verify which district they now live in and familiarize themselves with new candidates. Van Epps explains that his redrawn district will include significant new territory and discusses Republican congressional candidates including Johnny Garrett, Charlie Hatcher and Brent Taylor. He also highlights his congressional voting record, constituent events and legislation, including a counterterrorism measure that passed the House.
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Hour 1 of The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show opens with Clay and Buck looking ahead to the 2026 midterm elections, now just 27 days away, as President Donald Trump prepares to campaign in Texas with Ken Paxton, with baseball legend Roger Clemens expected to introduce the President. The hosts discuss the importance of Republican voter turnout in traditionally red states such as Texas, warning against complacency and noting Democrats’ continued hopes of breaking the GOP’s long statewide winning streak. The conversation then turns to the third anniversary of the October 7 Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel. Clay and Buck reflect on the Israelis murdered and kidnapped during the attack and offer a forceful defense of Israel’s military response to Hamas. They criticize Zohran Mamdani for marking the anniversary while also accusing the Israeli government of genocide in Gaza, an allegation the hosts emphatically reject. They compare October 7 to the September 11 attacks, examine the proportional impact on Israel’s population, discuss civilian casualties and the realities of warfare, and argue that Hamas bears responsibility for initiating the conflict. Clay also recalls visiting Israel, the kibbutzim attacked by Hamas and the Nova music festival site. The discussion expands to younger Americans’ understanding of October 7, social media and political messaging about Israel, and the implications of the Israel-Hamas war for American politics, including the competitive Michigan Senate race and Abdul El-Sayed’s position on Israel.
Later in Hour 1, Clay and Buck dive deeply into the controversy they call the “Cornell Seven,” discussing allegations arising from a sexual encounter involving Cornell University students and questioning whether the disciplinary consequences imposed on some of the students were justified. The hosts stress distinctions among criminal charges, civil litigation and university disciplinary proceedings, while Clay argues that the publicly described evidence supports his view that Cornell treated some of the male students too harshly. They discuss the timing of the allegations, drug use surrounding the encounter, the students’ potential legal strategies and the possibility of litigation against Cornell University. Buck also examines whether defense attorneys may be intentionally keeping a low profile while authorities determine whether criminal charges will be filed.
The conversation includes Cornell’s decision to bring in Sally Yates, the former acting U.S. attorney general, and broadens into criticism of university leadership, campus disciplinary systems, cancel culture and what the hosts see as institutional risk aversion. Clay and Buck debate how large universities use substantial endowments and potential settlements to manage legal and public-relations controversies, citing Cornell’s multibillion-dollar endowment, and compare that incentive structure with corporate responses to controversies and retail theft policies. They also briefly discuss university honor codes, including policies that can hold students responsible for failing to report misconduct.
Closing out Hour 1 of The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show, the hosts hear from a listener who encourages them to translate their economic and political arguments into short, humorous TikTok videos and social media clips capable of reaching younger voters. That prompts Clay and Buck to return to the economy, inflation, Democrats, Republicans and the 2026 midterms. Clay argues that Democrats have not given voters a persuasive explanation of how their policies would materially improve everyday life and blames the Biden-era Democratic government for the inflation surge that followed 2021. Buck highlights Kamala Harris while the hosts contrast Democratic priorities with Trump and Republican economic policies. Clay concludes Hour 1 by predicting stronger economic conditions in 2027 and 2028 and arguing that an improving economy could put JD Vance or another future Republican presidential nominee in a favorable position heading into the next presidential election cycle.
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Hour 2 of The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show begins with Clay and Buck previewing an upcoming in-studio conversation with Enes Kanter and joking about Clay’s proposed WNBA franchise, which leads into a broader discussion about transgender athletes and biological sex in women’s sports. Clay explains how humor and satire can be used to challenge political and cultural arguments by taking their underlying premises to their logical conclusions, crediting Rush Limbaugh with helping pioneer that approach. The conversation then shifts to President Donald Trump’s upcoming Tennessee rally and plans surrounding the Georgia-Alabama college football game in Tuscaloosa, which could be disrupted by a developing Gulf Coast hurricane threatening Mississippi, Alabama and Florida. Clay says the storm emerged after a remarkably quiet Atlantic hurricane season and could become a major story as it approaches landfall.
The hosts then examine President Trump’s visit to the Baltimore area for the opening of an Anduril shipyard, joined by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Buck discusses Palmer Luckey’s Anduril, the defense technology company known for advanced drones and other military technology, and explains the company’s plans to apply modern technology to American shipbuilding. The discussion expands into concerns about the United States’ shipbuilding capacity compared with China, the importance of rebuilding American manufacturing and Baltimore’s potential economic revival as a major shipbuilding center. Clay and Buck also react to Trump’s comments about the U.S. economy, the strength of the dollar, inflation, factories and manufacturing, as well as his positive assessment of the Paramount-Warner corporate merger involving Skydance. Clay argues that traditional economic indicators are improving significantly even though voters remain frustrated by the lingering high cost of goods. He compares the political environment heading into the 2026 midterm elections with Ronald Reagan’s 1982 midterm losses, arguing that Republicans may be suffering from an economic hangover left by the Biden administration in much the same way Reagan initially faced the consequences of the Carter economy. He also invokes Bill Clinton’s 1994 midterm defeat and 1996 reelection while predicting that continued economic improvement could create a much stronger environment for Republicans by 2028.
Continuing the economic and political discussion in Hour 2, Clay challenges Democrats’ campaign messaging on the affordability crisis, inflation and gasoline prices, arguing that Democratic-led states and cities frequently impose higher fuel taxes while the party simultaneously promises to bring costs down. The hosts return to Trump’s Baltimore appearance, where the President recognized several Baltimore Ravens players and discussed his relationship with the mother of star quarterback Lamar Jackson. That prompts a conversation about Trump’s support among professional athletes, particularly young Black male voters, and how Clay believes political attitudes among Black men may be shifting in ways that are often overlooked by sports media. Clay and Buck discuss athletes who prefer to avoid overt political activism and focus on their sports careers, as well as the role that capitalism, meritocracy and sports culture could play in shaping political preferences.
Hour 2 also takes a detour into Hollywood, movies and entertainment culture as Buck discusses watching the independent film Obsession while recovering from a cold. He praises actress Inde Navarrette and uses the film, along with Young Washington, to argue that compelling movies do not require enormous budgets or established superhero franchises. Buck criticizes what he sees as formulaic superhero filmmaking and argues that strong writing, acting and storytelling remain the essential ingredients for successful entertainment. He and Clay also discuss the influence of DEI and political ideology in Hollywood, with Buck suggesting that some talented writers may have migrated toward the video-game industry because of greater creative opportunities and fewer political constraints.
A major portion of Hour 2 of The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show is devoted to the anniversary of the October 7 Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel, as Clay and Buck welcome Yael Eckstein, president and CEO of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, from Israel. Eckstein describes the day as one of mourning, prayer and remembrance for Israelis who lost family members while also emphasizing resilience and international solidarity with Israel. The conversation addresses accusations that Israel committed genocide in Gaza, including statements discussed by the hosts from New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, along with pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel activism on American college campuses and in Europe. Eckstein rejects the genocide characterization and discusses the Fellowship’s Flags of Fellowship initiative, which she says has involved thousands of churches across multiple countries displaying Israeli flags as an expression of Christian-Jewish solidarity. She also discusses the organization’s work assisting persecuted Christians in Syria and Lebanon and warns about antisemitism, Islamist extremism and attempts to reshape the historical narrative surrounding October 7.
The Israel conversation expands into Jewish history, the Holocaust, antisemitism and U.S.-Israel relations. Eckstein discusses her family’s multigenerational connection to Jerusalem and describes Israel as a democratic country with Jewish, Muslim, Christian and other citizens participating in society and government. Clay asks about comparisons between President Trump and Adolf Hitler, prompting Eckstein, whose family includes Holocaust survivors, to strongly reject such comparisons and argue that they trivialize the historical reality of Nazi persecution and the Holocaust. She also discusses Trump’s support for Israel and the importance of Christian supporters of the Jewish state. The interview concludes with discussion of a recently thwarted attempted hijacking and the broader culture of military preparedness in Israel, including mandatory military service and Eckstein’s own daughter serving near the Gaza border.
Closing out Hour 2, Clay and Buck return to the developing Gulf Coast hurricane threat and play President Trump’s response when asked whether severe weather could change his plans to attend the Georgia-Alabama game in Tuscaloosa. Trump says public safety and emergency response would take priority over his attendance. The final discussion comes from a listener question about Skydance, CNN and the future of the cable news industry. Clay and Buck debate whether new corporate leadership could meaningfully alter what they describe as CNN’s strongly anti-Trump editorial culture before the 2026 midterms. Buck argues that changing CNN would require extensive personnel and cultural changes throughout the organization, while Clay predicts any major transformation would be more likely to emerge in 2027 and ahead of the 2028 presidential election. They close by noting the 30th anniversary of Fox News, contrasting its ratings performance with CNN and MSNBC and arguing that CNN’s audience challenges provide a business rationale, independent of politics, for significant changes at the network.
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Hour 3 of The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show opens with Clay and Buck monitoring a potential Gulf Coast hurricane before turning to the 2026 midterm elections, President Donald Trump’s planned campaign appearances in Texas and Tennessee, and the battle for control of Congress. They preview Trump’s Texas rally alongside Ken Paxton and Greg Abbott, with baseball legend Roger Clemens expected to introduce the President, as well as a Saturday Tennessee rally intended to energize Republican voters. Against the backdrop of the third anniversary of the October 7 Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel, the hosts also revisit Zohran Mamdani’s accusation that Israel is committing genocide. From there, Clay highlights a speech by Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Athens, Greece, praising Rubio’s defense of Western civilization and his reflections on ancient Greece’s lasting influence.
Clay and Buck use the speech to launch a broader discussion of American history, Western values, ancient Greece and Rome, the Founding Fathers, historical literacy, Christianity and the common cultural foundations they believe are essential to preserving the United States and the West. They contrast that worldview with socialism, Marxism, communism, identity politics and the 1619 Project, criticizing Nikole Hannah-Jones and arguing that progressive movements too often seek to dismantle American institutions without presenting a superior replacement. The conversation also covers European welfare states, economic problems in France and comparisons between the United States and Nordic countries such as Sweden and Norway, including Norway’s oil wealth and sovereign wealth fund.
A major focus of Hour 3 is the 2026 midterm election battle in Tennessee, as Clay and Buck welcome Congressman Matt Van Epps, who is running in Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District. Van Epps discusses President Trump’s upcoming rally in Clarksville and the Republican effort to win all nine of Tennessee’s U.S. House seats. He argues that Republicans should campaign on lower taxes, border security, public safety, military strength and economic prosperity while drawing ideological contrasts with Democratic candidates. Van Epps discusses his opponent Darden Copeland, his assessment of the political environment and the importance of turning out Republican voters. The conversation also examines Tennessee redistricting, with Clay describing how his own congressional district has changed and urging voters to verify which district they now live in and familiarize themselves with new candidates. Van Epps explains that his redrawn district will include significant new territory and discusses Republican congressional candidates including Johnny Garrett, Charlie Hatcher and Brent Taylor. He also highlights his congressional voting record, constituent events and legislation, including a counterterrorism measure that passed the House.
The interview with Matt Van Epps then turns to homeland security, terrorism and military service. Buck raises the reported FBI arrest of an 18-year-old accused of planning an ISIS-inspired attack at the Mall of America in Minnesota, prompting a discussion about domestic terrorism threats and the importance of counterterrorism operations. Van Epps recounts his military background with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, the Night Stalkers, including deployments to Afghanistan and support for U.S. special operations missions targeting terrorists. He reflects on being a West Point freshman on September 11, 2001, visiting the World Trade Center site for the 25th anniversary of 9/11, and how the terrorist attacks shaped his military career and current work on the House Homeland Security Committee’s Counterterrorism and Intelligence Subcommittee. He argues that the United States must remain vigilant against terrorist organizations and continue supporting military, intelligence and law-enforcement personnel tasked with protecting Americans.
In the final portion of Hour 3 of The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show, Clay and Buck expand on the breaking Mall of America terrorism case, playing President Trump’s reaction praising the FBI for thwarting the alleged ISIS-inspired plot before anyone was injured. They also discuss another aviation-related terrorism case and assess the broader threat environment ahead of the midterm elections. Clay speculates about the possibility of further terrorist activity amid heightened tensions involving Iran, citing the Iranian economy, inflation and U.S. pressure on Tehran, while Buck discusses whether hostile foreign governments and terrorist organizations have political preferences in U.S. elections. The hosts then compare the intense political and activist attention devoted to the Israel-Gaza war with far less attention paid to ongoing conflicts and humanitarian catastrophes in Ukraine, Syria, Sudan, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Central African Republic. They argue that activist attention has shifted from Ukraine to Gaza even as the Russia-Ukraine war continues to produce significant casualties and attacks on critical energy infrastructure.
Hour 3 closes with a discussion of President Trump, Russia, Ukraine, U.S. foreign policy and energy prices. Clay and Buck argue that despite earlier political narratives surrounding Trump and Russia, the Trump administration has continued substantial American support for Ukraine rather than cutting it off. Buck notes that much of the assistance originated under the Biden administration while emphasizing that the flow of support continued under Trump and that European allies have increased their contributions. The hosts also discuss Ukrainian attacks on Russian refinery capacity and the effect of global conflict and disrupted refining infrastructure on diesel prices, gasoline prices, oil markets and energy costs. The concluding conversation ties together national security, American military support for Ukraine, Trump’s approach to NATO allies and the economic consequences of geopolitical instability, bringing Hour 3 of The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show to a close with a focus on the intersection of the 2026 midterms, terrorism, foreign policy, Western civilization, Ukraine, Israel, Iran and the U.S. economy.
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Is a Democratic wave building ahead of the midterms—or is the polling hiding a much more complicated election?
Ryan Girdusky breaks down the latest Gallup party identification numbers, early voting data and key Senate, governor and House races that could determine control of Congress. He explains where Democratic enthusiasm is surging, where Republicans may be outperforming expectations, and why the political shift isn't happening evenly across the country.
Plus, Ryan looks at Jeff Bezos and the 2028 presidential speculation, major political shifts in Europe and South America, and answers listener questions about NGOs, USAID and America's growing male loneliness crisis.
EMAIL RYAN
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