Podcast Summary:
The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show
Episode: Buck Brief - Democrats Throw Epstein Smokescreen at Trump Again
Date: November 14, 2025
Host: Buck Sexton
Guest: Katie Zachariah (Legal and Political Analyst)
Episode Overview
This episode dives into the ongoing political climate in California, Democratic strategies at the national level, and touches on broader themes like green energy policy, the aftermath of catastrophic wildfires, media distractions involving Epstein, and everyday surveillance through reservation apps. Host Buck Sexton is joined by legal and political analyst Katie Zachariah, who provides on-the-ground insights from California and an international perspective.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. California Politics and Leadership Transition
- Nancy Pelosi’s Impending Retirement
- Discussion on the implications of Pelosi stepping down.
- Concerns about potential successors like Scott Wiener and the "race to the bottom" among California politicians.
- Sexton on California’s future:
"What's California going to look like without Nancy Pelosi running things...?" (04:15)
2. Green Energy Policy & Affordability in California
-
California's Green Energy Claims and Resident Costs
- Zachariah critiqued Governor Newsom’s touting of “67% green energy,” highlighting a 50% surge in residential electricity prices (05:45).
- Noted California has the highest electricity costs in the nation.
- Quote:
"Green energy defers the cost to the consumer and increases the cost, not decreases."
– Katie Zachariah (05:45) - Discussion of bans on plastic bags/stricter environmental regulations with practical consequences for residents (06:59).
-
Resource Management and Oil Dependency
- California sits on up to 30 billion barrels of recoverable oil but imports up to 75% of its oil, raising national security and economic concerns (07:51).
- Zachariah’s view:
"They've taken a golden opportunity, quite frankly, and wasted it. They burned it." (07:51)
3. Catastrophic Wildfires & Recovery Failures
-
Palisades Fire Aftermath
- Ongoing struggles with rebuilding, insurance, and displacement of elderly homeowners (08:38–10:00).
- Zachariah describes a slow permit process, the plight of those without insurance, and a shift toward low-income housing developments.
- Quote:
"They're going to bleed this out and then they're going to move in low income housing. This has been their plan all along." (10:38)
-
Governor Newsom’s Accountability
- Perception that Newsom deflects blame for slow recovery and policy failures.
- Zachariah contends these failures disqualify him nationally:
"If you just ran on the Palisades alone and the negligence...he should never even have a chance at becoming president..." (11:17)
4. National Political Tactics: The Epstein “Smokescreen”
- Media Distractions Post-Government Shutdown
- Sexton criticizes Democrats for reigniting speculation around Epstein to distract from the recent costly shutdown (12:00–13:08).
- Quote:
"There's nothing. There's no there there. If there was, the there would have been out there a long time ago."
– Buck Sexton (12:55) - Zachariah labels this tactic as “Trump derangement syndrome,” and a distraction from substantive policy discussion (13:08).
- Observes a shift in Democratic Party dynamics, with radical factions gaining more influence (13:20).
5. Gavin Newsom’s Presidential Prospects & Democratic In-Fighting
- Newsom’s State and National Appeal
- Sexton questions whether California and national Democrats see Newsom as a viable candidate versus Trump (14:20).
- Zachariah sees little grassroots enthusiasm for Newsom, even among California Democrats, citing local discontent and weak performance in swing states (14:49).
- Quote:
“His own state...have such a strong distaste based on his ineffectiveness, based on all of the problems that he's created.”
– Katie Zachariah (15:45)
6. Tech, Surveillance, and Consumer Ratings
- OpenTable & Data Use
- Discussion of OpenTable and other platforms collecting behavioral data to inform restaurants about customers’ reliability (17:29–21:14).
- Both express concern about “social credit score” dynamics in the US, referencing China’s surveillance state as a cautionary tale.
- Zachariah:
“If this is some kind of grading situation...I think that gets a little bit big brotherish.” (18:30)
“You can’t take that kind of information and think, Buck, it's not going to be used against you.” (21:14)
7. Personal Backstory & Parenting Insights
-
Katie Zachariah’s China Experience
- Shared details from her time as a lawyer in China during the rise of Xi Jinping and exposure to authoritarian controls (22:23–23:27).
- Quote:
“It was the beginning stages of the Belt and Roads Initiative and...a lot of equity investments into energy companies outside of China.” (22:23–22:53)
-
Parenting Advice
- Zachariah, a mother of four, stresses the importance of not over-micromanaging children, appreciating their individuality, and letting natural consequences guide learning (25:29–27:19).
- Quote:
“Allow them to be themselves and...see four unique humans from the same parents be completely different little people. It’s just such a beautiful thing.” (26:56)
Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)
-
On Green Energy Costs:
“Green energy defers the cost to the consumer and increases the cost, not decreases.”
— Katie Zachariah (05:45) -
On California’s Missed Opportunities:
"They've taken golden opportunity, quite frankly, and wasted it. They burned it."
— Katie Zachariah (07:51) -
On Wildfire Recovery:
"They're going to bleed this out and then they're going to move in low-income housing. This has been their plan all along."
— Katie Zachariah (10:38) -
On Epstein Headlines as Distraction:
“There's no there there. If there was, the there would have been out there a long time ago.”
— Buck Sexton (12:55)“The Democrats don’t have a policy. Their policy is Trump Derangement.”
— Katie Zachariah (13:08) -
On Newsom’s 2024 Chances:
“I don't sense a strong taste in my state for Gavin Newsom as a presidential candidate... his own state...have such a strong distaste based on his ineffectiveness.”
— Katie Zachariah (14:49–15:45) -
On Tech Surveillance/Consumer Ratings:
“If this is some kind of grading situation...I think that gets a little bit big brotherish.”
— Katie Zachariah (18:30)“More and more people are being judged because of tech, because it’s possible now...that’s a new thing.”
— Buck Sexton (19:52) -
On Parenting:
"Allowing them to experience even a slight natural consequence... so they gain understanding that actually my parents do have knowledge... it ends up not being very good for me."
— Katie Zachariah (26:07)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- [04:15] – Introduction to California Politics: Pelosi's departure, Newsom's future
- [05:45] – Green energy policy and affordability
- [07:51] – California’s resource management and energy imports
- [08:38] – Palisades wildfire aftermath and housing crisis
- [12:55] – Epstein headlines as political distraction
- [13:08] – Far-left Democratic Party divisions and distraction tactics
- [14:49] – Democratic base sentiment on Gavin Newsom’s presidential viability
- [17:29] – OpenTable’s data collection and implications
- [22:23] – Katie Zachariah discusses her time as a lawyer in China
- [25:29] – Parenting philosophies and advice
Episode Tone
The conversation is candid, critical, and opinionated, combining analytical breakdowns of policy with real-world anecdotes and some humor. Commentary is colored by conservative skepticism toward Democratic political moves and progressive policy.
For New Listeners
This summary covers all key content – California’s political scene, media distractions, tech surveillance, and personal stories – offering engaging commentary for those keeping up with national politics and policy debates.