The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

Hour 1 of The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show delivers an energetic, highly detailed breakdown of President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address, which both hosts describe as the most optimistic, patriotic, and compelling State of the Union speech he has ever delivered. The hour opens with Buck praising the address as “soaring,” “majestic,” and “the best state of the union speech” he has witnessed, while Clay balances the enthusiasm by noting the length but agreeing it was a powerful, unifying moment for the country.
A major theme of the hour is the contrast between Republicans’ patriotic optimism and Democrats’ visible hostility during Trump’s speech. The hosts highlight moments when Democrats refused to stand for straightforward pro‑American statements, arguing that this refusal reflects a deeper ideological divide in the country. The discussion emphasizes how Trump framed the future of America around national pride, strong borders, and a revitalized economy—core themes the audience will recognize as central to the show’s commentary.
One of the most celebrated segments of the hour is the hosts’ deep dive into Trump’s honoring of American heroes, especially the emotional recognition of the Olympic men’s hockey team and Chief Warrant Officer Eric Slover, the Chinook pilot wounded in Venezuela who continued his mission despite severe injuries. Clay and Buck praise these moments as cinematic, authentic celebrations of American courage and unity. They also spotlight the moving recognition of World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam veterans, calling the entire address one of the most patriotic events of Trump’s presidency.
A major policy discussion emerges around America’s sharply declining national murder rate, which the hosts argue is a direct result of Trump’s aggressive criminal‑justice and border‑security strategies. They cite dramatic reductions in Washington, D.C. (a 67% drop year‑over‑year), Memphis, and New Orleans, framing Trump’s first year of his second term as producing a 125‑year low in U.S. murders. Clay emphasizes that these improvements overwhelmingly save minority lives—a point they say Democrats refuse to acknowledge because it contradicts their political narrative.
The hosts also explore broader ideological battles, including the failures of DEI bureaucracies, the collapse of the “defund the police” movement, and the political realignment around patriotism versus national shame. This includes a segment on the growing national backlash against the medicalization of gender‑transition treatments for minors, which Buck argues were pushed ideologically rather than scientifically.
Throughout Hour 1, Clay and Buck also preview upcoming show content, respond to listener reactions about the State of the Union, and discuss the continued growth of their radio, podcast, and streaming presence across SiriusXM and YouTube.
This hour is packed with high‑impact political analysis, culture‑war commentary, and strong SEO‑friendly themes including State of the Union recap, Trump second‑term achievements, crime rate collapse, border security successes, Democratic Party reactions, patriotic moments, Olympic hockey team appearance, and recognition of American military heroes. It sets the stage for the remaining hours of the program by emphasizing the sweeping political and cultural implications of Trump’s address and the sharp ideological divide shaping the 2026 election environment.
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Hour 2 of The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show continues the deep dive into the national reaction following President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address, emphasizing how Trump’s economic, border, and crime policies have reshaped American life in his first year back in office. Clay highlights the booming economy—strong GDP growth, falling inflation, four‑year‑low mortgage rates, and surging stock markets—underscoring the show’s message that Trump’s leadership has revitalized key sectors of American prosperity. Buck adds that crime has hit historic lows, reinforcing the program’s recurring theme that Trump’s policies have delivered unprecedented public‑safety gains.
A major segment of Hour 2 examines the media‑driven controversy surrounding the U.S. Men’s Olympic Hockey Team after their White House visit celebrating their historic gold‑medal win. Clay and Buck break down the outrage over Trump’s locker‑room joke—explaining that the joke was aimed at mocking critics who accuse him of sexism, not at insulting the U.S. Women’s Team. They emphasize how the media intentionally distorted the exchange in order to generate a false narrative, comparing it to past political hoaxes that were pushed into public consciousness. The hosts argue this controversy reveals a broader cultural war in which expressions of patriotism are increasingly targeted by left‑wing activists and commentators.
The conversation expands into how sports teams traditionally visited the White House under presidents of both parties, with the hosts pointing out the drastic change in media reactions over the past decade. They contrast past norms—where declining a White House visit was considered disrespectful—with today’s environment where simply accepting an invitation is enough to trigger online outrage. Clay frames this as evidence that the political left has embraced open hostility toward American traditions, national pride, and institutions.
Another major focus of the hour is the Democratic response to the State of the Union, including commentary on prominent Democratic figures who delivered rebuttals. Clay and Buck argue that Democrats campaign as moderates but govern from the far‑left, using reminders from the Biden era as examples. They emphasize that Trump’s optimistic, patriotic message stands in contrast to what they describe as the Democrats’ negativity and refusal to acknowledge national successes.
The hour then shifts to a heated discussion of New York City’s snowball assault incident, where groups of individuals hurled ice chunks at NYPD officers. Clay and Buck strongly condemn the attacks and criticize New York City leadership for downplaying the incident as a “snowball fight.” They argue that the city’s rising permissiveness toward criminal behavior—paired with decisions to defund planned police positions—signals a dangerous return to lawlessness. The hosts warn that soft‑on‑crime policies will inevitably reverse recent nationwide safety improvements.
Interspersed throughout Hour 2 are calls from listeners reacting to Trump’s State of the Union. Callers praise Trump’s strong performance, express disbelief at Democratic lawmakers’ hostility during the speech, and share firsthand examples of improving affordability, such as falling food prices. Clay and Buck highlight these personal stories as further evidence of the positive day‑to‑day effects of Trump‑era policy decisions.

The hour concludes with discussion of the behavior of Representatives Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib during the State of the Union, with the hosts noting their visible anger, inflammatory messages, and ongoing ethics concerns. They argue that such conduct reflects the broader ideological extremism dominating the progressive wing of the Democratic Party.
Overall, Hour 2 blends cultural commentary, political analysis, and audience reactions — focusing on themes like media dishonesty, patriotism under attack, White House traditions, crime policy, and the national meaning of Trump’s State of the Union. It serves as a continuation of the show’s overarching narrative that Trump’s policies are delivering measurable improvements while the political left escalates cultural and political confrontation.
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Hour 3 of The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show continues the team’s full breakdown of President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address, focusing on how Trump framed his first year back in office as a dramatic national turnaround. Clay and Buck revisit Trump’s declaration that he inherited a nation in crisis—marked by inflation, a weak economy, a wide‑open border, low military and police recruitment, rising crime, and global instability—and contrast it with what he claims are today’s strengthened borders, plummeting inflation, rising incomes, a roaring economy, reinvigorated military confidence, and renewed international respect. They use these themes to drive home the show’s position that presidential leadership profoundly shapes national outcomes, and that Trump’s return has produced measurable improvements across the board.
The discussion evolves into a broader critique of Democratic messaging and strategy. Buck emphasizes how some on the political right fall into “black‑pill” fatalism, wrongly believing that political choices don’t matter. Clay pushes back on that notion by emphasizing objective data—such as falling crime rates, stabilized inflation, and rising wages—to argue that leadership clearly affects results. Both hosts stress that Democrats have no strong policy successes to point to and instead rely on emotional appeals and media narratives rather than measurable progress.
A major segment of Hour 3 centers on the collapse of traditional Democratic issue dominance, particularly on healthcare and abortion. Clay highlights that skyrocketing health‑insurance premiums and the failure of Obamacare have made healthcare a political liability for Democrats. He also notes that abortion—once a central Democratic mobilizing issue—has faded dramatically as a national topic after the Dobbs ruling returned decisions to the states. Buck adds that many Americans have now seen that the extreme predictions about the Dobbs decision did not materialize, neutralizing the issue.
From there, the conversation moves into a deeper critique of the U.S. healthcare system, including the lack of price transparency, the distortion created by insurance‑based billing, and the perverse incentives that make procedures like MRIs far more expensive today despite technological stagnation, while competitive procedures like LASIK have become dramatically cheaper. Clay uses this to argue that bureaucracy—not medical need—drives healthcare costs.
The hosts also examine media reactions to Trump’s speech, noting that several major outlets appeared to avoid covering it extensively—a sign, they claim, that Trump’s performance resonated strongly with viewers and undermined Democratic narratives. They also discuss what they view as desperate and baseless political attacks, including renewed attempts in left‑wing media circles to tie Trump to Jeffrey Epstein.
Later in the hour, they highlight a revealing political moment: Senator John Fetterman being the only Democrat to shake Trump’s hand at the State of the Union, a gesture that has made Fetterman unusually popular among Republicans but increasingly unpopular among Democrats. Clay and Buck analyze new polling showing Fetterman with high GOP support and sharply declining Democratic support, framing this as evidence of shifting political realignments
A substantial portion of the hour is devoted to an interview with Senator Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, who shares her reaction to Trump’s speech and emphasizes the dramatic contrast between conditions 18 months ago and today on inflation, wages, crime, and global stability. She also sharply criticizes Democrats for refusing to stand during tributes to victims of crime, Gold Star families, and the U.S. Men’s Olympic Hockey Team—calling their behavior “appalling” and emblematic of a political party more committed to illegal immigrants than to American citizens.
Senator Blackburn then dives into the ongoing social‑media accountability fight, including Mark Zuckerberg’s testimony in a major California court case involving teen mental‑health harms. She argues that Meta has long known its products contribute to anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and self‑harm among teens. She pushes for the Kids Online Safety Act, legislation with overwhelming bipartisan support that would impose duty‑of‑care standards on tech companies and restrict manipulative algorithms designed to keep children online.

The senator also endorses “bell‑to‑bell, no‑cell” policies for schools, noting research showing improved test scores, reduced bullying, and better classroom participation when students do not have phone access during the school day.
Before leaving, Senator Blackburn discusses election integrity, reiterating the overwhelming public support for voter ID and criticizing Democrats for opposing common‑sense verification standards. She also advocates for a federal balanced‑budget amendment, pointing to Tennessee’s successful model.
The hour closes with a lighthearted segment in which Clay and Buck react to Jesse Watters joking on Fox News about Clay’s age, leading to a humorous back‑and‑forth about TV makeup, aging, and behind‑the‑scenes realities of appearing on camera.
Make sure you never miss a second of the show by subscribing to the Clay Travis & Buck Sexton show podcast wherever you get your podcasts! ihr.fm/3InlkL8

For the latest updates from Clay & Buck, visit our website https://www.clayandbuck.com/

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On this episode of The Karol Markowicz Show, Karol sits down with Algemeiner reporter Corey Walker for a wide-ranging and thought-provoking conversation on journalism, media narratives, and the cultural forces shaping today’s political discourse.
Walker shares his journey from the Daily Caller to covering Jewish issues and Middle East politics, offering insight into how longstanding narratives around Israel continue to resurface in modern debates. The conversation dives deep into media bias, the rise of “audience capture,” and how influencers and commentators shape — and sometimes exploit — public opinion.
Karol and Corey also explore the challenges of building a career in journalism today, the power of independent thinking in an era of groupthink, and why reading — not social media — remains the key to understanding the world.
Plus, Walker opens up about overcoming adversity, navigating media pressure, and his vision for the future — including launching his own platform in the evolving digital media landscape.
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In this BONUS episode of Verdict with Ted Cruz, Senator Ted Cruz and Ben Ferguson take listeners through three fast‑moving, deeply charged stories: explosive allegations of FBI surveillance targeting Trump‑world figures, the dramatic contrast between two Olympic athletes competing for different countries, and new polling showing a steep decline in American pride—particularly among Democrats.
Allegations of FBI Spying: Susie Wiles, Kash Patel & a Political Dragnet
The show opens with what Senator Cruz calls yet another escalation in the Biden Administration’s “abuse of power,” pointing to new reporting that the FBI secretly obtained phone records belonging to:
Susie Wiles – then a senior Trump adviser and former campaign manager
Kash Patel – who is described as being spied on when he was still a private citizen
According to the episode, these subpoenas were issued as part of Special Counsel Jack Smith’s investigations, and reportedly swept up far more than just a few political aides.
A Broad Dragnet Targeting Republicans
Senator Cruz notes that more than 20% of Republican Senators—including himself—had their records subpoenaed. He describes the scope as “a massive dragnet” aimed at Republicans aligned with Donald Trump. In his case, Cruz says investigators pulled his office’s main phone line, which fields calls from constituents about routine issues.
Questions About Attorney‑Client Privilege
One of the most jarring moments discussed is a report that Wiles had a phone call with her attorney recorded by the FBI—allegedly without her knowledge. Senator Cruz, speaking as a former DOJ official and practicing attorney, underscores how extraordinary and professionally catastrophic such a scenario would be for any lawyer who knowingly allowed it.
The Timeline and Its Implications
Ben Ferguson emphasizes timing: these alleged recordings took place during the period when Trump was deciding whether to run for president again. Because Wiles was a central architect of early campaign strategy, the hosts argue that listening to her phone calls would effectively reveal donor outreach, staffing decisions, and internal planning.
The discussion compares this to earlier controversies, including FBI actions in 2016 and the Steele dossier, and places the current reporting within what the hosts describe as a long‑standing pattern of political weaponization inside federal agencies.
2. A Tale of Two Olympians: Alyssa Liu vs. Eileen Gu
Shifting gears, the episode dives into the Winter Olympics and two athletes whose stories couldn’t be more different—at least in how the media and listeners responded.
Alyssa Liu: The Inspirational American Story
A large portion of the episode celebrates the emotional, patriotic, and deeply personal journey of Alyssa Liu, who won Olympic gold in women’s figure skating. Her father, Arthur Liu, fled China as a refugee after the Tiananmen Square massacre. Years later, according to the transcript, the FBI informed him that Chinese operatives were surveilling him and his daughter on U.S. soil before the 2022 Beijing Olympics.
Despite intimidation, Alyssa:
trained relentlessly
briefly stepped away from skating to regroup
returned to competition
delivered a flawless gold‑winning performance
Senator Cruz highlights her joy on the ice and the powerful symbolism of a refugee family finding safety—and triumph—in America.
Eileen Gu: A Very Different Path
By contrast, skier Eileen Gu, also of Chinese heritage and raised in the United States, chose to compete for China after reportedly being offered significant financial incentives.
The hosts make clear they hold no animosity toward her—she is a young athlete who made a personal decision—but emphasize how the choice struck many fans differently than typical Olympic nationality decisions. Because Gu trained entirely in the U.S. and then competed for a geopolitical rival, the contrast with Liu’s story is sharp.
Still, Cruz reiterates that political preference or ideology doesn’t determine whether he cheers an American athlete. Even if Liu leans politically liberal, he says it makes no difference: “She competed for America, and I’m cheering for her.”
3. New Polling Reveals Declining American Pride—Driven by Democrats
In the final segment, the podcast examines a new Gallup poll that shows a dramatic drop in the number of Americans who say they are “very proud” to be American.
Across 25 Years: A Sharp Decline
The transcript cites the following comparisons:
2001
Republicans: 90% “very proud”
Democrats: 87%
Independents: 84%
2025
Republicans: 92%
Democrats: 36%
Independents: 53%
The largest decline is among Democrats, dropping from 87% to 36%.
The Interpretation
The hosts describe these numbers as “deeply concerning,” attributing the decline to ideological shifts, cultural narratives, and what they characterize as left‑leaning educational influences that teach students negative views about American history and values.
The episode concludes with a discussion of a recent State of the Union moment highlighted by Senator Cruz, where Democrats remained seated during an appeal to prioritize American citizens over undocumented immigrants. For the hosts, this moment epitomized broader cultural and political divisions over national pride.
👉 Listen and Subscribe to Verdict with Ted Cruz
Want to hear the full discussion and stay informed on the issues that matter most? Subscribe to the Verdict with Ted Cruz podcast today on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. New episodes drop every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday—don’t miss out on expert analysis and insider perspectives from Senator Ted Cruz and Ben Ferguson.
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