The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show: Daily Review – July 15, 2025

Hosted by Clay Travis and Buck Sexton on iHeartPodcasts

1. Trump’s Tariffs and Inflation

(00:05 – 05:12)

Clay Travis and Buck Sexton delve into the economic impact of former President Donald Trump's tariff policies. They discuss how, despite widespread media predictions, tariffs have not significantly driven inflation.

• Buck Sexton highlights, “Trump barely got any attention at all” regarding inflation concerns under the Trump 2.0 regime. He notes, “June we had a surplus… because of the tariffs that Trump is bringing to bear.”

• Clay Travis concurs, questioning the consensus among economists: “All economists know that tariffs are going to be inflationary… Maybe we should ask those economists what they really know because that hasn't happened.”

Treasury Secretary Scott Besant is quoted at [03:28] saying, “I wouldn't put too much emphasis on one number. I think it's the trend… tariffs were going to cause a substantial price level rise, which just hasn't happened.”

2. Economic Outlook and Mortgage Rates

(05:12 – 09:21)

The hosts shift focus to the broader economic landscape, emphasizing the challenges posed by high mortgage rates and critiquing the Federal Reserve's policies.

• Buck Sexton expresses frustration over rising mortgage rates: “We went from about 2.5 or 3% mortgage rates to around 7%. And as a result, the housing market is completely frozen.”

• Clay Travis supports Trump's economic strategies, asserting, “It's looking really, really strong and it is a moment in time where he's not getting all the credit that I think he should.”

They discuss the potential for economic recovery if interest rates were adjusted, with Buck stating, “I think our interest rates are about two points too high. And if they would come back by about two points, I think you would see an unfreezing of the housing market.”

3. Border Security and Crime Rates

(09:21 – 28:03)

A significant portion of the discussion centers on improvements in border security and declining violent crime rates, attributing these successes to Trump’s policies.

• Buck Sexton outlines the three-pronged strategy: “Economy, border, crime.” He emphasizes, “Border shut down. Deportation process underway. We've never had a more secure border and crime.”

• Clay Travis adds, “the number of murders is collapsing all over the country because we now have police that are able to do their jobs, because we have ICE agents deporting violent predators and criminals.”

They also touch upon the Democratic Party's struggles to counter these positive developments, especially in the realms of border security and crime reduction.

4. Democratic Messaging and Gavin Newsom

(30:28 – 46:18)

Travis and Sexton critically examine California Governor Gavin Newsom’s policies and his potential candidacy for the 2028 presidential election.

• Buck Sexton critiques Newsom’s stance on transgender issues, stating, “He just kind of jumps from one hot button topic to another without having to take any sides.”

• Clay Travis shares an anecdote about an interview with Newsom, highlighting his evasive responses: “He tries to acknowledge that there is a legitimate reason that people would care about this and then dodges all actual positions.”

The hosts argue that Newsom represents a problematic facet of the Democratic Party, comparing his approach to that of Bill Clinton but without similar substance. They express skepticism about Democrats' ability to present coherent and genuine messaging, especially in light of internal divisions and failed attempts to control narratives.

5. ICE Facilities and Media Critique

(48:34 – 62:26)

Travis and Sexton discuss the media’s portrayal of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and recent developments regarding ICE facilities.

• Buck Sexton references Rachel Maddow’s coverage, mocking her labeling of ICE facilities as “internment camps” and criticizing left-wing media for demonizing law enforcement: “Rachel Maddow still does stuff over there.”

• Clay Travis denounces the media’s approach, likening it to an “invasive species” that overwhelms and controls narratives: “If you let any leftist into an entity, as I always say, it is like in nature an invasive species.”

They highlight an incident at a Major League Baseball All Star Game press conference where a reporter from Defector posed a question linking voter suppression to ICE activities, which Buck Sexton found absurd and indicative of left-wing media’s overreach.

6. BRICS Summit and the US Dollar

(48:34 – 50:18)

The conversation shifts to international economics, specifically the BRICS summit in Brazil and its implications for the US dollar.

• Clay Travis introduces Philip Patrick from Birch Gold Group, who reports that BRICS nations are actively working to reduce their reliance on the US dollar in global trade.

• Buck Sexton reacts with concern: “Yikes. That doesn't sound good.”

The hosts stress the importance of protecting personal savings against the declining value of the dollar, promoting gold investment as a safeguard.

7. MLB All Star Game Press Conference Incident

(30:37 – 62:26)

A notable segment covers a controversial press conference at the MLB All Star Game where a reporter from Defector questioned the event’s location in Atlanta amidst claims of voter suppression and ICE arrests.

• Buck Sexton narrates the incident, stating, “This was the second question at the Major League Baseball All Star Game event yesterday.”

• The hosts criticize the reporter’s approach and the broader implications for Atlanta, a majority-black city, arguing that such narratives unfairly target and punish the city.

8. Conclusion and Final Remarks

(62:26 – 64:00)

Wrapping up the episode, Clay Travis emphasizes the need to focus on economic achievements under Trump while cautioning listeners about long-term fiscal challenges.

• Clay Travis concludes, “Making our nation's economy grow again like it was during President Trump's first term is a huge priority.”

• Buck Sexton reiterates the show’s commitment to highlighting Trump’s economic resurgence, encouraging listeners to stay informed through their podcast.

Notable Quotes:

• Buck Sexton [03:28]: “We are on track for hundreds of billions of dollars in tariffs. And so far the overall cost of goods has not substantially altered. Is it time to say, hey, maybe Trump was right?”

• Clay Travis [05:12]: “All economists know that tariffs are going to be inflationary… Maybe we should ask those economists what they really know because that hasn't happened.”

• Buck Sexton [09:21]: “Every four years, no doubt. Economy, border, crime, it's as easy as EBC.”

• Clay Travis [23:29]: “If you eliminate that opportunity and force business to have to pay American citizens to do the jobs, costs don't go up that much.”

• Buck Sexton [44:16]: “No, 8 year olds should not be able to have their genitals.”

• Clay Travis [62:02]: “You're going to punish Atlanta… You're going to hurt Atlanta, which is a great city, which is a majority black city.”

This episode offers a comprehensive analysis of Trump’s economic policies, the state of the economy, border security, and critiques of Democratic strategies and media portrayals. Travis and Sexton provide their perspectives on current events, aiming to inform and engage listeners with a focus on conservative viewpoints.