The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

Episode: BONUS: Proof that Biden Admin Targeted Christians plus Tucker Spirals Out of Control

Date: September 9, 2025
Hosts: Ben Ferguson, Senator Josh Hawley
Production: iHeartPodcasts

Overview

This episode dives into two major topics:

1. Allegations that the Biden administration demonstrated systematic anti-Christian bias, as documented by a newly released Department of Justice task force report.
2. The hosts’ incredulous and critical response to recent controversial statements by Tucker Carlson, particularly his comments on Osama bin Laden’s family and remarks denying that Hamas is a terrorist organization.

Throughout, Ben Ferguson and Senator Josh Hawley use a direct, impassioned, and often irreverent tone, mixing detailed policy critique with pointed sarcasm and political commentary. The discussion is framed as a defense of religious liberty and American resolve against terrorism, while also warning against perceived ideological drift on the political right.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. DOJ Task Force: Proof of Anti-Christian Bias

[03:08–16:24]

• Background:
  Attorney General Pam Bondi leads a DOJ task force assembled by the Trump administration to investigate and address alleged religious discrimination against Christians under the Biden administration.

• Findings Highlighted:

  • The task force’s preliminary report details “numerous instances of anti-Christian bias” and offers recommendations for protecting faith in America.
  • Multiple federal agencies (Dept. of Defense, EEOC, Dept. of Labor) “deprioritized, mishandled or denied” religious exemption requests from Christians regarding COVID-19 mandates.
  • Representative quote:
    • Senator Josh Hawley: “Believing Christians were persona non grata under the Biden administration… The report concludes Joe Biden weaponized the full weight of the federal government against Christians and trampled on their fundamental First Amendment rights.” [03:43]
  • Department of Education imposed “record-breaking fines” on Christian universities, notably:
    • Liberty University ($14M)
    • Grand Canyon University ($37.7M)

• Host Commentary:

  • Ferguson paints these fines as a direct attack on institutions known for Christian values and conservative speakers.
  • Senator Hawley’s perspective:
    • “This pattern... combines the deep distrust and hatred of evangelical Christians with the weaponization of government.” [10:44]
    • Example from DHS: Customs and Border Protection excluded Christian perspectives in detainee directives but included protections for Islam, Judaism, and Rastafarianism.

• Specific Incidents of Persecution/Misconduct:

  • DOJ prosecuted “about two dozen individuals under the FACE Act for praying and demonstrating outside abortion facilities.”
    • Hawley: “They arrested approximately two dozen individuals for praying.” [13:42]
  • FBI targeted “radical traditionalist Catholics as domestic terrorism threats.”
  • Treasury was found to have “debanked” pro-Christian groups.
  • State Department “offered muted response to attacks on Christians compared to other groups” and favored certain non-Christian employees in employment practices.

• Steps for Reform and Accountability:

  • Transparency as Deterrent:
    • Hawley: “Much of this abuse of power...thrives in the darkness. There is power to just shining a light on it.” [12:51]
  • Call for firings and prosecutions:
    • “Any career federal government employee who persecuted Christians should be terminated... If anyone violated the law, if anyone committed criminal conduct, they should be prosecuted.” [17:08]
    • Cites the Lois Lerner/IRS controversy as a precedent for non-accountability under Democratic administrations.

2. Tucker Carlson’s Alleged “Spiral” and Controversial Statements

[24:57–41:41]

• Recent Incidents:

  • Tucker Carlson expressed public condolences to Osama bin Laden’s family and questioned whether Hamas qualifies as a terrorist organization.
  • Hawley and Ferguson express shock and deep disappointment, contrasting this with Tucker’s prior conservative credentials.

• Quotes and Reaction:

  • Tucker Carlson (on Osama bin Laden’s family):
    • “Let me just say I would be totally comfortable sharing condolences with Osama bin Laden's family... That's called like human decency. And anyone who's against that…” [29:53]
  • Sen. Hawley’s response:
    • “This is a bizarre position… I am not remotely sorry that Osama bin Laden is dead. I am not remotely sorry that Adolf Hitler is dead...” [30:39]
    • “When someone who...calls himself a conservative sounds exactly like Ilhan Omar...that ought to be a sign you've got a problem.” [32:37]

• On Hamas as a Terrorist Organization:

  • Tucker Carlson:
    • “Seems more like a political organization, but whatever it is, they're telling us constantly they're Al Qaeda. So it can't also be true that Christians are a member of Al Qaeda.” [34:15]
  • Sen. Hawley’s fact-check:
    • Line-by-line refutes Carlson’s comments, citing Hamas’s charter, international designations, and October 7, 2023, attacks:
      • “Hamas is a terrorist organization. Globally, Hamas is designated [as such] by the United States… by Australia, Canada, Paraguay, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, UK, European Union…” [35:18]
      • Details atrocities committed by Hamas.

• Critique of Carlson’s Motives and Style:

  • Accuses Carlson of “bizarre moral relativism,” “sounding indistinguishable from the woke left,” and being soft on dictators like Putin and Iran’s President.
  • Ben Ferguson:
    • “I wish [Tucker] had this much animosity toward Vladimir Putin when he was interviewing him.” [39:05]
  • Allegation that Carlson targets “anybody that I don't like” in personal attacks, referencing his criticism of Mark Levin’s stepson.

• Takeaway:

  • For the hosts, this marks a “downward spiral”—a former champion of conservatism now “spooning” with America’s adversaries and “engaging in bizarre, counterfactual assertions.”
  • Hawley’s prescription: “If you say something publicly and the words you said are indistinguishable from something said by Ilhan Omar or Rashida Tlaib, that ought to be a sign you've got a problem.” [41:11]

Memorable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• Senator Josh Hawley on anti-Christian bias:

  • “Believing Christians were persona non grata under the Biden administration.” [03:43]

• On government targeting:

  • “They arrested approximately two dozen individuals for praying. Yeah, that was deemed a criminal offense.” [13:42]

• On the importance of sunlight:

  • “Much of this abuse of power...thrives in the darkness. It thrives when it is hidden.” [12:51]

• Tucker Carlson on Osama bin Laden’s family:

  • “[I would] be totally comfortable sharing condolences with Osama bin Laden's family…” [29:53]

• Sen. Hawley’s response:

  • “I'm not remotely sorry that Osama bin Laden is dead. I am not remotely sorry that Adolf Hitler is dead…” [30:39]

• On Hamas:

  • “Hamas is a terrorist organization...This is not just a question of opinion. This is a question of fact.” [35:18]

• On Carlson’s perceived drift:

  • “It is a weird thing when a supposed conservative sounds like Rashida Tlaib, sounds like AOC and says, gosh, we ought to be saying, I'm sorry to Osama bin Laden's family. No, we should not.” [32:37]

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Time | Segment | | ----------- | ---------------------------------------------------------- | | 03:08–16:24 | DOJ Task Force on Anti-Christian Bias – findings, discussion| | 17:08–19:48 | Calls for accountability and prosecution | | 24:57–41:41 | Tucker Carlson controversy and analysis | | 29:53 | Tucker’s quote on Osama bin Laden’s family | | 34:15 | Tucker’s quote on Hamas |

Tone & Style

• The hosts employ a blend of exasperation, dark humor, and direct political commentary.
• Hawley leans heavily on legal-constitutional language when recounting report findings.
• Ferguson often personalizes his reactions, speaking from the perspective of a Christian conservative audience and using direct, emotive responses to the news.
• Frequent use of sarcasm and ridicule, particularly regarding the Biden administration and Tucker Carlson’s controversial positions.

Summary Takeaways

• The episode positions the latest DOJ task force report as damning evidence of Biden-era religious bias and calls for aggressive transparency and accountability.
• The hosts express profound disappointment and disbelief over Tucker Carlson’s recent statements, characterizing them as a betrayal of conservative and American principles.
• The discussion reflects ongoing anxieties on the American right regarding perceived governmental hostility, ideological purity, and the boundaries of debate on issues of faith, free speech, and foreign policy.

For listeners seeking a summary of this episode, expect detailed policy breakdowns, emotional commentary, and sharp criticism of both government action regarding religion and media figures seen as straying from conservative orthodoxy.