The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show
Episode: Buck Brief - Did Trump Shout Quiet Piggy?
Date: November 24, 2025
Host: Buck Sexton
Guest: Inez Felcher Stepman (Legal/Policy Analyst, Independent Women's Forum)

Episode Overview

This episode of "The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show" features Buck Sexton with guest Inez Felcher Stepman for a "Buck Brief" segment. The discussion centers on recent political developments in New York City, Donald Trump's interactions with the new mayor, and a viral "quiet Piggy" controversy. It then shifts to the dismantling of the Department of Education under the Trump administration and a broad critique of the state of American public education, especially regarding the move away from standardized testing and declining student achievement.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. New York City Politics & Concerns about the New Mayor

[04:11–08:10]

• Background: Inez recently moved to New York, where she and her husband have enjoyed the city, but she expresses significant concerns about the incoming mayor, Mamdani, who has a far-left agenda.
• Public Safety Fears:
  • Mamdani's administration is viewed as aiming to reverse “broken windows” policing policies.
  • Main worries include "defunding the police" and possibly escalating resignations among NYPD officers.
  • Quote:

    “The scariest thing, honestly, about his agenda is a lot of the public safety things that he promised…” — Inez Felcher Stepman [04:48]

  • Buck quips:

    “Maybe their version of broken windows is just break all the windows.” — Buck Sexton [05:26]

• Economic Policy Skepticism:
  • While Mamdani has ambitious plans (e.g., free buses, soaking the rich), Inez and Buck agree he lacks the power to implement most without state or federal support.
  • Still, concern persists that over a longer term, the administration could erode the city economically.

2. Trump Meets New NYC Mayor: Motives and Media Optics

[08:10–08:53]

• Trump’s Approach:
  • Trump is described as willing to meet with anyone worldwide, with Inez pointing to high-profile meetings (Kim Jong Un, Putin) as precedent.
  • Inez suggests Trump just aims to size up opponents:

    “I don't think it needs an explanation. He met with Kim Jong Un, right? Trump is willing to meet with anybody… He's a confident negotiator. Maybe he thinks he can cut a deal, man.” — Inez Felcher Stepman [08:26]

3. "Quiet Piggy" Viral Moment: Fact or Fiction?

[08:53–10:05]

• What Happened:

  • Discussion of a viral moment where Trump allegedly called a reporter "quiet, Piggy."
  • Discrepancy on what was actually said; the reporter’s name is Peggy, not "Piggy," and Buck clarifies it wasn’t a fat joke.
  • Amusement follows over how such gaffes get blown out of proportion.
  • Memorable Quotes:

    "I think Trump is hilarious, but this thing where some reporter was interrupting him and he goes, quiet Piggy. That was naughty. [...] That's Naughty Trump right there." — Buck Sexton [09:03]
    "Apparently, the woman's name is Peggy, so..." — Inez Felcher Stepman [09:07]

• Presidential Zingers:

  • Side conversation recalls Biden's unique insults (“dog-faced pony soldier,” “quiet fat”).

4. Dismantling the Department of Education

[10:06–13:44]

• Policy Moves:
  • Trump administration is actively working to disassemble the Department of Education, fulfilling a longstanding conservative priority since Reagan.
  • The aim is to eliminate redundant bureaucracy while redistributing program responsibilities to relevant departments (e.g., student loans to Treasury, health programs to HHS).
  • Quote:

    “They're spinning out the programs that are actually appropriated by Congress. But Congress, like there's no reason why the department itself has to exist... The Department of Education is essentially a pass through entity.” — Inez Felcher Stepman [12:20]

• Concerns:
  • Inez highlights the importance and uncertainty around the fate of the Civil Rights Division within the department.

5. Crisis in Academic Standards: Test Scores and Grade Inflation

[13:44–17:54]

• Declining Achievement in California and Beyond:

  • California college students increasingly arrive lacking basic math proficiency (even in fractions), yet have high GPAs.
  • Inez attributes this to universities dropping SAT/ACT requirements and grade inflation:

    “Out of the kids in those remedial math classes, like some huge percentage, I think 20% of them had a 4.0 in math and the average GPA within math was 3.7 for those kids who could not do fractions.” — Inez Felcher Stepman [14:36]

• Root Causes:

  • Schools are passing students through without ensuring comprehension or competency.
  • Increased spending per pupil (among highest in the world), but academic outcomes have stagnated or worsened.

• Progressive Policies Criticized:

  • Admission tweaks to prioritize racial diversity over objective measures like test scores have contributed to the crisis.
  • “Every time anyone criticizes the very poor job they've been doing for decades in educating American children, the answer is always, well, we need more money. Well, per capita per student spending has gone through the roof. It's nearly tripled in recent decades…” — Inez Felcher Stepman [17:12]

6. Solutions: Reforming Public Education

[17:54–20:54]

• School Choice & Parental Control:

  • Inez advocates for direct parental control over education funding, especially given high New York City spending.

    “New York spends upwards of $30,000 per child per year… That is more than the tuition of most private schools." — Inez Felcher Stepman [18:16]

• Restoring Classical Education:

  • Calls for a return to classical, rigorous, and inspiring curricula to better engage all students.
  • Critiques current reading lists and lack of challenging material, which she sees as contributing to student disengagement:

    “Have you looked at the reading lists for the average eighth grader? Now, Ivanhoe is not on there. It's all about women sitting in a corner chatting with each other. It's House on Mango Street and the Joy Luck Club. There's nothing for boys to be interested to read.” — Inez Felcher Stepman [19:04]

• Homeschooling and Classical School Movement:

  • Expresses hope due to the growing movement and plans similar paths for her own child if needed.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On NYC Policing Under the New Mayor:
  "Who wants to be the first cop to have to shoot a black perp who's trying to kill you under the Mondani administration and become the new poster child for racism in America?" — Inez Felcher Stepman [05:20]
• On Trump’s Tactics:
  "He met with Kim Jong Un, right? Trump is willing to meet with anybody… He's a confident negotiator. Maybe he thinks he can cut a deal, man." — Inez Felcher Stepman [08:26]
• On the "Quiet Piggy" Fiasco:
  "Apparently, the woman's name is Peggy, so I'm not sure that he actually said piggy, although I almost want it to be that way." — Inez Felcher Stepman [09:07]
• On American Education Spending:
  "Per capita per student spending has gone through the roof. It's nearly tripled in recent decades, and we are one of the highest spenders per student in the entire world. And yet those results are going nowhere." — Inez Felcher Stepman [17:12]
• On Fixing Education:
  "There is a huge classical education movement that is burgeoning. It gives me a lot of hope. I think a lot of parents are…hungry for that kind of education for their children." — Inez Felcher Stepman [20:38]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Welcome & NYC Mayoral Politics: [04:11–08:10]
• Trump Meets NYC Mayor: [08:10–08:53]
• “Quiet Piggy” Controversy: [08:53–10:05]
• Dismantling Department of Education: [10:06–13:44]
• Academic Decline & Testing: [13:44–17:54]
• Education Reform & Solutions: [17:54–20:54]
• Closing & Personal Notes: [20:54–21:46]

Tone and Atmosphere

The conversation is lively, irreverent, and incisive, blending humor with sharp critique. Buck and Inez riff on political absurdities, media exaggerations (like “quiet piggy”), and share a deep skepticism toward progressive education policies and bureaucracy. The tone is conversational, occasionally sarcastic, and strongly opinionated, especially regarding public policy and education reform.