The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

Episode Title: Buck Brief – Epstein File and Trump Attempted Assassin Bombs are Dropping
Date: November 19, 2025
Host: Buck Sexton
Podcast Network: iHeartPodcasts

Episode Overview

In this “Buck Brief,” Buck Sexton dives into two of the week’s most explosive political stories: the FBI’s handling of the attempted assassination of Donald Trump by Thomas Crooks, and the imminent release of the Epstein files via the Epstein Transparency Act. Buck offers a fact-focused analysis, challenges the official narratives, and explores potential political motivations—particularly questioning Democratic intent behind pushing the Epstein files now. The episode is laced with Buck’s dry humor and emphasis on reason over sensationalism.

Key Discussion Points

1. FBI’s Investigation of Thomas Crooks

(Segment begins: 03:44)

• Was the FBI Incompetent or Hiding Information?

  • Cites Miranda Devine and Tucker Carlson's recent reporting that the FBI missed—or withheld—critical information about Thomas Crooks’ online activity.
  • “The FBI told us Thomas Crooks tried to kill Donald Trump last summer, but somehow he had no online footprint. The FBI lied and we could prove it because we have his posts.” – (Read from Tucker Carlson’s viral tweet, 06:00)
  • Raises the question: Were internet sleuths simply better at finding Crooks’ activity, or did the FBI intentionally suppress this information?

• Reports on Crooks’ Online Activities

  • Crooks used they/them pronouns and had connections to online communities like DeviantArt and the ‘furry’ subculture. Buck cautions that reporting remains limited and nuanced.
  • Expresses skepticism toward the FBI for failing to disclose details that had become public through alternative media sources.

• FBI’s Official Account vs Public Doubt

  • Quotes FBI Director Cash Patel: Over 480 FBI employees, 1,000+ interviews, 2,000 public tips, 20 online accounts reviewed. Their takeaway: Crooks had minimal interactions, planned and conducted the attack alone, and did not share his intent.
  • Buck voices the audience’s skepticism: “The FBI as an institution does not deserve any benefit of the doubt. In fact, if anything, they deserve the doubt of the benefit, if that's a thing.” (08:30)

Notable Quote:

“It’s hard to understand how we're supposed to have faith and trust in the FBI if information like this is kept from the public when the public is capable of finding it themselves.” — Buck Sexton (07:50)

2. Epstein Transparency Act and the Release of Files

(Segment begins: 12:00)

• Legislative Progress

  • House passed the Act 427-1. Buck notes the oddity of the solitary “nay” vote.
  • Expects an easy Senate passage and President Trump’s signature making the files public.

• What Will the Files Reveal?

  • Buck tempers expectations: “I don’t think there’s a bombshell that’s going to come forward out of this. I think it will further dirty up the reputations of primarily a bunch of Democrats and big Democrat donors, but without any smoking gun anything.” (13:24)
  • Emphasizes the distinction between bad judgment and criminality, urging caution before associating anyone in Epstein’s orbit with his crimes absent hard evidence.

• Presumption of Innocence

  • “You better be damn sure if you're going to accuse somebody of the kind of sex crimes and things that Epstein was involved in… You can ruin someone's life with that.” (14:37)
  • Calls for reasonableness and the principle of innocence—both legally and generally—when reviewing the new disclosures.

• Trump’s Detachment from the Epstein Circle

  • Dispels rumors of Trump’s involvement: “He is not involved in any of this stuff at all. And if he was, we would know.” (17:18)
  • Dismisses left-wing speculation and “wishcasting” that the files could damage Trump.

Notable Quote:

“The mass release of these files I think is going to turn into a lot of finger pointing and insinuation without any proof.” — Buck Sexton (16:22)

3. Why Are Democrats Pushing for Epstein Files Now?

(Segment begins: 18:55)

• Buck questions Democratic motives:

  • Despite holding executive and congressional power for years, Democrats waited to act.
  • Suggests they want to control the narrative and distract from other topics, especially recent stories implicating Democrat elites in Epstein’s social web.

• Democratic Connections to Epstein

  • Details several prominent Democratic figures’ connections (Bill Clinton, Bill Gates, Reid Hoffman, Larry Summers), contrasting them with Republicans who, according to Buck, are notably absent from Epstein’s inner circle.
  • Cites Trump as having distanced himself from Epstein, saying he called him out and banned him from Mar-a-Lago.

Memorable Moment:

“If you're morally deformed, chances are you're a Democrat. That can get you in trouble. But it’s true. I mean, you can get in trouble for saying that, but we all know it’s true.” — Buck Sexton (21:10) (Tone: tongue-in-cheek with Buck’s signature irreverence)

• Commits to continued honest analysis, promising to admit if the files do contain a “smoking gun” after all.

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• On FBI trust deficit:
  “The FBI as an institution does not deserve any benefit of the doubt. In fact, if anything, they deserve the doubt of the benefit, if that's a thing.” — Buck Sexton (08:30)

• On Epstein file hype:
  “I don’t think there’s a bombshell… it will further dirty up the reputations of primarily a bunch of Democrats and big Democrat donors, but without any smoking gun anything.” — Buck Sexton (13:24)

• On accusations and evidence:
  “You better be damn sure if you're going to accuse somebody of the kind of sex crimes and things that Epstein was involved in… You can ruin someone's life with that.” — Buck Sexton (14:37)

• On Trump and Epstein:
  “He is not involved in any of this stuff at all. And if he was, we would know.” — Buck Sexton (17:18)

• On why Democrats are pushing release now:
  “Why are the Democrats pushing this all of a sudden?... They also, I think, want to control the narrative and direct… Democrats want to direct away from what Trump has been saying for the last couple of days.” — Buck Sexton (18:55)

• Tongue-in-cheek partisan jab:
  “If you're morally deformed, chances are you're a Democrat… but we all know it’s true.” — Buck Sexton (21:10)

Additional Insights

• Style and Tone:
  Buck Sexton maintains his signature measured, skeptical, and no-nonsense tone, frequently cautioning against sensationalism. He openly questions authority figures and challenges the audience not to jump to conclusions, while mixing in sardonic humor.

• Engagement with Listeners:
  Buck repeatedly assures listeners of his dedication to factual analysis (“How often have I led you astray with this kind of analysis? Almost never.” – 20:51), solidifying his credibility.

Useful Timestamps

• Show content begins: 03:44
• FBI handling of Thomas Crooks: 03:44–12:00
• Epstein files, House/Senate vote, potential revelations: 12:00–18:45
• Democratic motivations & political narratives: 18:55–21:10

Summary Conclusion

This Buck Brief distills two incendiary stories—the Trump assassination attempt investigation and the pending Epstein file release—and sifts fact from speculation. Buck Sexton urges listeners to remain skeptical of both official narratives and online sensationalism, puts special emphasis on due process and evidence, and shares a pointed critique of how political partisans spin or suppress information for their own ends. The episode encapsulates Sexton’s brand: sharp, irreverent, and committed to guiding his audience to think critically about the week's biggest headlines.