The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show: Christmas Eve Special

Date: December 24, 2025
Hosts: Producers Ally and Greg (after hours special)
Featured Audio: Archive segments from Rush Limbaugh

Overview

This Christmas Eve "after hours" special diverges from the typical Clay Travis and Buck Sexton format, offering listeners a behind-the-scenes look at how the show is produced during the holidays, how guest hosts are chosen, and discussing the broader debate over "Merry Christmas" vs. "Happy Holidays." The episode is driven by lighthearted banter between producers Ally and Greg, a thoughtful exploration of show decisions, and features classic moments from the Rush Limbaugh archives reflecting on holiday traditions and cultural debates.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Behind the Scenes: Filling in for Clay & Buck (03:23–06:49)

Guest Host Selection and Schedules

• Lineup for the Holidays

  • Brett Winterbol (former Rush Limbaugh call screener and EIB alum) filled in after Christmas (04:17–04:41).
  • David Rutherford (the Rut, part of Clay and Buck's podcast network) is debuting as a guest host (03:49–04:09).
  • John Cobalt (KFI), Tudor Dixon, and fan-favorite Brian Mudd are featured during New Year's Week (04:46–05:15).

• Teamwork During Holidays

  • Producers (Ally, Greg, Mark) split responsibilities producing different guest hosts and shows (05:15–05:32).

“We have a great roster of guest hosts, and we're super excited to give them that opportunity and also give Clay and Buck a break.” — Ally (05:48)

• While Clay and Buck rarely use all their vacation time, the producers emphasize the importance of them resting and spending time with family so they— and the show— stay refreshed (05:48–06:21).

Show Prep Never Stops

• Even while officially "off," the production team and hosts remain in constant contact, given the relentless news cycle of Trump's administration (06:21–07:39).
  • Contrast with previous years ("sleepy Joe"): Under Trump, there’s nonstop breaking news and press conferences, making downtime rare.

“I am probably the only person who kind of misses the slow days of sleepy Joe presidency.” — Greg (07:20)

2. Crafting the Holiday Schedule: Balancing ‘Best Of’ Content (07:49–09:56)

• Only three "Best Of" shows air (Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Day), with the rest filled by live guest hosts to keep content fresh and timely.

How ‘Best Of’ Shows Are Selected

• Segments chosen for replay are “evergreen”— topical, but not tied to the specific news cycle (08:21).
• Example: A recent in-depth interview with psychologist Jonathan Alpert on "TDS" (Trump Derangement Syndrome) was flagged as a "Best Of" candidate (08:48–08:55).
• Achieving balance: avoiding too-heavy news segments or overly light fare, which is often reserved for the "Sun to Hang" weekend slots (08:56–09:26).

“It's a delicate balance... sometimes Clay and Buck will go off-roading... and start talking about R and B music.” — Ally (09:26)

Tone & Variety

• Show aims to mix hard news with lighter segments and humor, to avoid being "doom and gloom" and to keep listeners engaged (09:39–09:56).

3. The Great Wrapping Paper Debate: Gender, Relationships, and Gifts (10:06–14:43)

Discussion Origin

• Sparked by Clay and Buck debating whether men should buy separate gifts and use different wrapping paper for Christmas and birthdays for their wives (10:22–11:37).
• Ally passionately disagrees with Clay and Buck’s indifference, emphasizing the importance women place on thoughtful effort (11:37–12:22).

"As a woman... it's the thought, the effort that goes into considering someone." — Ally (11:04)

Men’s Perspective & The Producer Team’s Consensus

• Greg and producer Mike share: most men wouldn't care about wrapping paper, but admit thoughtful details matter in relationships (11:04–13:00).

“You go the extra mile... it's that extra step that will make your wife smile.” — Greg (13:00)

Tips for Thoughtful Gifts

• Ally recommends creating a custom photo calendar using significant photos from each month, making for an annually repeatable, sentimental gift (15:33–16:44).

4. "Merry Christmas" vs. "Happy Holidays": The Culture Clash (16:55–19:49)

Personal Approach

• Both Ally and Greg proudly say Merry Christmas to strangers, regardless of the prevailing “Happy Holidays” trend (16:55–17:13).
• They find offense at “Merry Christmas” misplaced, sharing examples of how they respond cheerfully to other religious greetings, like “Happy Hanukkah” (17:14–18:25).

“I think some people just like to be outraged and like to be angry about certain things.” — Greg (17:25)

Cultural Trends & Conservative Identity

• There was a period where "Happy Holidays" was heavily encouraged for inclusiveness, but Trump’s presidency championed a return to “Merry Christmas,” and the producers agree that most Americans are comfortable with it (18:35–19:35).

Social Media & Outrage Culture

• Ally mocks extremist views by referencing a viral "Libs of TikTok" clip claiming "Merry Christmas" is actually a veiled religious superiority (19:35–19:49).

5. Holiday Wisdom from Rush Limbaugh (20:11–24:35)

Archive Segment: Rush on ‘Merry Christmas’ (21:07–24:35)

• Context: A 2006 call from Terrence in Cambridge, MA, upset by the lack of Christmas cheer among liberals around him.
• Rush’s Advice:
  • Don’t give others power over your happiness (21:57–22:21).
  • Find joy in your own celebrations; don't depend on public validation (22:21–22:58).
  • When you greet someone warmly and are rebuffed, their reaction says more about them than about you (24:29–24:35).

"You are allowing other people...to affect how you feel about yourself. You are giving so much power to a bunch of people that you have no respect for in the first place."
— Rush Limbaugh (21:57)

"They're telling you more about who they are than they are about you."
— Rush Limbaugh (24:29)

• Rush encourages listeners to keep saying “Merry Christmas,” stay positive, and not adopt the negativity of others.

Producer Reflections

• Greg highlights a personal motto:
  "Some people are just not happy unless they're unhappy." (24:47)

6. Closing Tradition: “Silent Night” and Reflections (25:17–28:28)

• Rush Limbaugh’s annual tradition: Ending the last show before Christmas with Mannheim Steamroller’s “Silent Night” and a message of gratitude (26:23–28:20).

"When I'm away over Christmas, I'm actually away from my family in a sense, because that's what you all are. Probably the largest extended family known to exist in the free world."
— Rush Limbaugh (27:00)

“Great listeners make for great radio and a great host.”
— Rush Limbaugh (27:45)

• He expresses deep appreciation for his audience, calling them his extended family and emphasizing the reciprocal relationship of gratitude between host and listeners.

• Humorous close:
  "And remember, don't forget to tell everybody in your family, according to the BBC, that they are fat. You're doing it for their own good." — Rush Limbaugh (28:20)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Show Balance:
  “We want to have balance and we also want to make people laugh.” — Ally (09:53)
• On Gift Thoughtfulness:
  “It’s the little details. They care about the details a lot more than men do.” — Greg (13:56)
• On Outrage Culture:
  “Just avoid them as best you can.” — Greg (25:17)
• Rush’s Seasonal Philosophy:
  “Make your own selves happy by virtue of our own existence and things that we do, pursuing our passions...” — Rush Limbaugh (22:21)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Guest Host Lineup & Behind the Scenes: 03:23–06:49
• “Best Of” Show Selection Process: 07:49–09:56
• Gift & Wrapping Paper Discussion: 10:06–14:43
• “Merry Christmas” vs. “Happy Holidays” Culture Debate: 16:55–19:49
• Rush Limbaugh Archive on Christmas Spirit: 21:07–24:35
• Rush Limbaugh’s “Silent Night” and Christmas Message: 26:23–28:28

Episode Takeaways

The Christmas Eve Special offers fans a unique look at how the show keeps its signature mix of news, humor, and personality afloat during the holidays. The lively discussion around gift-giving, wrapping paper, and holiday greetings is both playful and insightful. Drawing from Rush Limbaugh’s archives grounds the episode in the program’s rich tradition, reminding listeners to seek joy, cherish family, and maintain goodwill—even when the culture wars rage on.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the Clay & Buck Show team!