The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show — Bonus: CNN Insists "Who can tell the Motive?" of Charlie Kirk's Murderer plus "Loving" Texts between the Murderer & His Boyfriend

Release date: September 18, 2025

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode centers on the media coverage surrounding the assassination of Charlie Kirk, focusing specifically on what the hosts characterize as deceptive narratives by outlets like CNN and ABC. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton (with Ted Cruz as guest) argue that mainstream media is intent on obfuscating the shooter's openly stated motives, while also critiquing how networks seemingly romanticize the murderer's relationship with his transgender boyfriend. The hosts aim to highlight what they see as stark differences in the political left and right’s reactions to violence, the failure of media to hold left-wing violence to account, and the broader implications for American political discourse.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Ted Cruz’s Contentious CNN Interview

• Purpose for Appearing: Ted Cruz agreed to appear on CNN’s Kaitlan Collins show to push back against what he sees as “misinformation” regarding Charlie Kirk’s assassination and the concept of “both-sides-ism” in political violence.
  • “CNN has been pushing so much misinformation in the wake of Charlie Kirk's assassination that I wanted to go on and push back.” — Ted Cruz [03:30]
• Technical Difficulties & Hostility: Cruz explains that he usually insists on in-person interviews with potentially antagonistic hosts. The conversation suffered from a two-second transatlantic delay, leading to frequent crosstalk and mutual interruptions.
  • “A downside of this interview is their extended portions were basically yelling over each other because of the delay.” — Ted Cruz [07:20]
• CNN's Stance on Motive: The hosts lampoon CNN’s framing that the murder’s motive is unknown, calling this claim “idiocy” and a deliberate avoidance of uncomfortable political facts.
  • “She claims we have no idea what motive. Who could know?” — Ted Cruz (paraphrasing Kaitlan Collins) [09:05]
  • “I think this is really important to push back on the dishonesty from CNN and MSNBC…” — Ted Cruz [09:13]

2. Breakdown of CNN Segment with Kaitlan Collins

Timestamps for Key Exchanges:

• Antifa as Terrorist Organization [09:37–11:31]: Cruz discusses past and future efforts to designate Antifa as a terrorist group and argues for following the financial links behind protest movements.
  • “There is real money that is funding [protests]...I’ve introduced legislation to aid in that. It’s called the Stop Funders Act.” — Ted Cruz [10:09]
• On Bullet Casings and Motive [11:31–14:14]: Cruz claims shell casings from the murder scene had Antifa and transgender slogans, arguing these are clear signals of motive.
  • “We know the shell casings...had antifa slogans on them and had transgender slogans on them.” — Ted Cruz [11:45]
  • “The bullets had carved on them. Antifa and transgender messages.” — Ted Cruz [37:34]
• Disputing Motive Ambiguity [14:14–15:30]: Cruz repeatedly states law enforcement has laid out a motive, while Collins insists no official conclusion has been made.
  • “Of course we know we don’t have a motive yet. We know we don’t have a motive yet. What’s happening, really, that CNN’s position? He just happened to fire the gun in celebration?” — Ted Cruz [14:23]
  • “They have not set a concrete motive. What it was.” — Kaitlan Collins [15:27]
• On ‘Both Sides’ Rhetoric [16:14–17:31]: Cruz criticizes CNN’s “both-sides-ism,” maintaining left-wing violence is disproportionately prevalent and celebrated.
  • “Blue sky is a cesspool of leftists celebrating the murder of Charlie Kirk.” — Ted Cruz [16:26]
  • “It is only one side that justifies this violent violence.” — Ted Cruz [16:26]

3. Media Reaction to the Texts between the Murderer & his Boyfriend

• Summary of the Texts [33:15–37:34]: Cruz reads aloud the text exchanges between the murderer and his boyfriend, arguing they represent a full, detailed confession and a clearly stated hatred-based motive.
  • Notable Exchange:
    • “The murderer says: ‘I had the opportunity to kill Charlie Kirk and I took it... I’ve had enough of his hatred.’”
  • “It is 100% clear...he is the assassin. He is confessing to his boyfriend, I did it. He is confessing details of the crime that only the murderer would know.” — Ted Cruz [36:27]
• ABC’s Coverage Critiqued [38:45+]: The hosts call out ABC for allegedly romanticizing the text exchange, focusing on the intimacy and emotion rather than the gravity of the crime.
  • “[ABC correspondent David Muir:] ‘It was very touching in a way that I think many of us didn’t expect... into this relationship... with him repeatedly calling his roommate who was transitioning, calling him my love...’’ [38:56]
  • “It is repulsive that ABC News is gushing over this psychopathic murderer... and thinks it’s so sweet that he confessed to his transgender boyfriend...” — Ted Cruz [39:58]
• ABC Reporter Doubles Down: Hosts play a second ABC segment where Matt Gutman reiterates how “touching” and “humanizing” the killer’s texts are, instead of centering victims.
  • “‘And on the other hand, there is this duality of a very, a portrait of a very human person, a very human experience.’” — Matt Gutman, ABC [42:22]
  • “Fulsome, touching, loving. It is heartbreaking. Look, I don’t know who this particular reporter is, but I see depraved maniacs who just committed cold blooded murder.” — Ted Cruz [44:11]

4. Discussing the Political and Cultural Divide

• Comparisons of Reactions to Violence: Ted Cruz asserts that conservatives respond to tragedy with prayer vigils, while he claims leftwing activists often riot or celebrate violence, a distinction he feels the media purposely blurs.
  • “When Charlie Kirk was killed...what did conservatives do? We held prayer vigils... In contrast, leftists rioted all over this country [after George Floyd].” — Ted Cruz [21:48]
• Social Media’s Role: Cruz calls platforms like Blue Sky “cesspools” where leftists openly celebrate the assassination, pressing the media’s refusal to address this as evidence of bias.

5. Viral Moment: Ted Cruz Cleans Graffiti

• Painting over Anti-Kirk Graffiti [26:08]: Ted Cruz recounts erasing hateful graffiti targeting Charlie Kirk from a Houston freeway overpass, calling it a small but necessary act.
  • “I went down with some paint and a roller and I just covered it up... we needed to just cover it up and say that this is not okay.” — Ted Cruz [27:16]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “She screamed at me. She interrupted me. She did not want the facts. She did not want to admit any of the reality.” — Ted Cruz on Kaitlan Collins [03:30]
• “This is propaganda 101 on CNN.” — Ben Ferguson [08:53]
• “I did it. I’m sorry. I’ve had enough of his hatred. Some hate can’t be negotiated out.” — Text from murderer, read by Ted Cruz [34:30]
• “It’s 100% certain he is guilty and his motive is clear.” — Ted Cruz [36:27]
• “It was very touching...a very intimate portrait into this relationship.” — ABC News Reporter [38:56]
• “What in the world are you guys doing over there at ABC News with your special report live coverage?” — Ben Ferguson [39:42]

Important Timestamps for Segments

• [03:30] Ted Cruz sets up his motivation for going on CNN and outlines what will be discussed.
• [09:37] CNN Interview segment starts: discussion on antifa, left-wing violence, motives.
• [14:14] Heated cross-talk over whether law enforcement has established a motive.
• [16:26] The "both sides" argument and discussion of left-wing vs. right-wing violence.
• [26:08] Ted Cruz describes painting over anti-Kirk graffiti.
• [33:15] In-depth reading of the murderer's texts to his boyfriend.
• [38:56] ABC's “touching” framing of the text exchange, hosts' visceral rebuttal.
• [42:22] Second, more intense ABC “romantic” take, hosts address how warped that framing is.

Concluding Takeaways

The episode asserts a narrative in which mainstream media is actively misleading the public about the nature of Charlie Kirk's assassination and the political leanings of his murderer. The hosts argue these media outlets are driven by political agendas that both obscure the truth and, in some cases, insensitively romanticize a brutal murder. By replaying the text confession and analyzing network coverage, the episode seeks to demonstrate not just the media’s alleged failure, but what the hosts see as a deep cultural divide in reactions to violence and truth-telling in American public life.