Podcast Summary: The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

Episode: Buck Brief – Antifa Maniacs Storm Campus Event Again

Date: November 12, 2025
Host: Buck Sexton
Guest: Chloe Trepanato (Townhall.com/@ItsAllPolitics)

Overview

This episode centers on recent unrest at a Turning Point USA event at UC Berkeley, where Antifa protesters stormed the venue, leading to violence and a heavy police response. Buck Sexton and guest Chloe Trepanato analyze the motivations behind these protests, the media’s coverage, and the broader political implications, particularly for free speech and campus life. The conversation also touches on public safety in Washington D.C. under National Guard presence, the aftermath of the government shutdown, Chuck Schumer’s political prospects, and the growing popularity of socialism among young Americans.

Key Discussion Points

1. Antifa Protest at Turning Point USA Event at UC Berkeley (03:48–09:11)

• Event Breakdown:
  The show opens with a recap of the chaos at a Turning Point USA (TPUSA) event, described as the "birthplace of the free speech movement" now marred by censorship and violence.
• Antifa’s Tactics & Motivation:
  • Protesters wore keffiyehs and even animal costumes, leading to a “melee in the streets” with police deploying tear gas and riot gear.
  • Chloe: "They didn’t just wear keffiyehs. They also wore the furry costumes...when they show up in a dinosaur costume or some sort of unicorn mask, it really makes them look very serious." (04:42)
  • The perceived objective is to “defund the Charlie Kirk movement,” paralleling “defund the police” efforts, which Chloe deems futile: "They are unserious people...now deemed terrorist or a terrorist organization...I am very excited for those arrests to ensue." (04:42)
• Campus Funding and Reaction:
  Chloe questions why Berkeley receives federal funding given the violent climate and calls for both arrests and possible withdrawal of funds.
• Media & Public Perception:
  • Buck points out that such violent disruptions actually increase the profile of conservative events: “...this means that everyone in the country gets to see them acting like jackasses. And they also go, oh, Turning Point’s having another free speech event, maybe I should go to the next one." (05:50)
  • Chloe observes that spectacle brings more attention and support to the conservative movement, ironically energizing their base: "It's their form of partying in college... No longer are people going out to bars and to frats at these Ivy Leagues. They're simply attending riots." (06:44)

2. Double Standards and Broader Trends in Campus Free Speech (07:24–09:12)

• Asymmetry in Political Protest:
  Buck argues that there’s no conservative equivalent to left-wing campus unrest requiring police intervention: “There is no equivalent of like left wing campus organizations or get togethers...where a bunch of conservatives show up and have to be tear gassed." (07:24)

  • He brands Antifa as "the street thugs of the DNC," directly linking protest violence to Democratic support.

• Atmosphere Inside vs. Outside Conservative Events:

  • Chloe describes the inside of the event as “wholesome Christian conservative” compared to the “rage and ire” outside:
    “Inside...people were applauding, cheering, praying...so much joy. And then right outside...people filled with antidepressants. Rage, ire to all the people inside. And outside of the walls there was violence..." (08:03)
  • She likens this to the national dynamic: inside conservatism, peace; outside, “madness and haywire.”

• Irony of Antifa’s Self-Image:
  Buck notes: “The people that think they're fighting fascism are the ones all dressed in black, forming a mob, using violence to shut down speech. It's like, I think you guys and Antifa have this backwards.” (09:12)

3. Public Safety and National Guard Presence in D.C. (11:03–14:04)

• Decreased Crime Under National Guard:
  Buck references a “60% drop” in DC murders, noting minimal media coverage of the improvement since the Trump-era initiative to make D.C. safer:
  “Murders...are down 60%...and yet we're not hearing about it. Where's the national media on this?" (11:03)

• Chloe’s Perspective as a D.C. Resident:

  • She feels “immensely more safe,” credits the National Guard for peace, and mentions residents’ growing appreciation:
    “You do not hear sirens anymore...the National Guard is everywhere. I see people thanking them on the streets as they’re walking by.” (11:03)
  • However, homelessness remains a visible problem: “There are still a lot of homeless people, still a lot of encampments. The only thing that is left to do is clean that up a little bit.” (12:25)

• The Limits of Enforcement Solutions:
  Buck points out that homelessness is driven by drug addiction and mental illness, noting that policy is failing to provide genuine help:
  “You’re talking about something like 90 to 95% of the people...are drug addicted...very mentally ill...And yet the system has moved away from ‘You can’t live on the street, you have to get help’ to ‘Keep living on the street, it’s your choice’...We’re abdicating a responsibility.” (12:25)

• Chloe concurs:
  “It’s not humanitarian to let them continue to do that. I completely agree with you. Yeah, I think their thinking is flawed there.” (13:38)

4. The End of the Government Shutdown and Chuck Schumer’s Political Future (15:05–17:03)

• Shutdown’s Fallout:
  Buck asks how significant the loss is to Schumer and the Democratic caucus.
• Chloe’s Take:
  “Every single Democrat in their caucus knows that Chuck Schumer is on his way out. He might as well just go join Joe Biden at the beach, grab a cone, lick some ice cream, and spend the rest of his days in a bikini because his time is over, the poor guy.” (15:05)
  • She frames Schumer as politically trapped, forced to choose between enraging Democrats or the broader public. Notably, she underscores the importance of reopening for aiding veterans and vulnerable Americans.
• Blame and Future Challenges:
  Chloe expects Schumer will receive much of the blame inside the party and forecasts further struggles as the party’s progressive flank rises:
  “The Bernie-AOC wing of the party...there’s this sense that they're ascendant...” (16:28)

5. The Leftward Drift and Socialism’s Popularity with Gen Z (17:03–19:04)

• Generational Transformation:
  • Buck highlights upcoming figures like AOC and Bernie Sanders, questioning if socialism is poised to take over the Democratic Party.
  • Chloe views the moment as historic:
    “This is actually going to be the most interesting thing for me to watch play out...We're at an inflection point. Is America going to turn towards socialism completely...?” (17:03)
  • She frames the progressive turn as a slow build, dating back to FDR and LBJ.
  • Emphasizes Gen Z’s positive view of socialism and disconnect from its historical dangers:
    “They didn’t live through difficult times whatsoever...they don’t know the difficulties that come with socialism.” (17:03)
• Chloe’s Reading Recommendations for Young People:
  • George Orwell’s 1984 and Animal Farm
  • Denise D’Souza’s The United States of Socialism

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Antifa’s Protest Tactics (Chloe):
  “They didn’t just wear keffiyehs. They also wore the furry costumes...when they show up in a dinosaur costume or some sort of unicorn mask, it really makes them look very serious.” (04:42)
• On Media Coverage (Buck):
  “This always means that there will be more coverage of the event than there would otherwise be.” (05:50)
• On Campus Riots as College Partying (Chloe):
  “It's their form of partying in college. No longer are people going out to bars and to frats at these Ivy Leagues. They're simply attending riots. And it's quite hilarious.” (06:44)
• On Antifa and Violence (Buck):
  “They really are the street thugs of the DNC. I mean, these are left wing people that support much of the Democrat program.” (07:24)
• On Contrasting Atmospheres (Chloe):
  “Inside...such a wholesome Christian conservative event...right outside...people filled with antidepressants. Rage, ire to all the people inside...outside of the walls there was violence, there were things being thrown, like you said, tear gas, arrests were being made.” (08:03)
• On D.C. Safety and the National Guard (Chloe):
  “You do not hear sirens anymore...The National Guard has done an excellent job at keeping the peace in the city.” (11:03)
• On Chuck Schumer’s Prospects (Chloe):
  “He might as well just go join Joe Biden at the beach, grab a cone, lick some ice cream, and spend the rest of his days in a bikini because his time is over, the poor guy.” (15:05)
• On Gen Z and Socialism (Chloe):
  “All they know is what they've experienced through capitalism and where that's gotten them. So it's going to be very interesting...the Gen Zers should go back, read George Orwell's books, read 1984, read Animal Farm..." (17:03)

Important Timestamps

• 03:48 – Buck introduces the Berkeley event and Chloe Trepanato
• 04:42 – Chloe discusses Antifa’s methods and campus chaos
• 05:50 – Buck on media attention and the impact on conservative events
• 06:44 – Chloe on the irony of campus riots as social gatherings
• 07:24 – Buck on asymmetry of campus protest violence
• 08:03 – Chloe on differences between conservative events and outside protests
• 11:03 – Buck and Chloe discuss crime rates and National Guard in D.C.
• 12:25 – Challenges with homelessness and mental health policy
• 15:05 – Shutdown politics, Schumer’s struggles
• 17:03 – The rise of socialism and generational shifts

Episode Conclusion

The conversation presents a critical, often tongue-in-cheek take on current campus unrest and left-wing activism, while exploring themes of political polarization, public safety, and generational change. The interplay between Buck Sexton and Chloe Trepanato is marked by a mix of humor, frustration, and strategic thinking about conservative engagement and messaging in turbulent times.