The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

Episode: Daily Review with Clay and Buck - Nov 24, 2025
Date: November 24, 2025
Podcast: The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

Episode Overview

In this lively, content-rich Thanksgiving week episode, Clay Travis and Buck Sexton deliver their signature blend of conservative commentary, humor, and analysis on the latest political and cultural developments. The focus centers on the high-stakes Tennessee 7th Congressional District special election, concerns about voter turnout, the national implications for the Republican party, the rise of radical left-wing candidates, and a revealing interview with candidate Matt Van Epps. The episode interweaves national issues—like affordability and the right’s media landscape—with lighthearted banter, memorable inside jokes, and interviews, including a guest spot with Kayleigh McEnany.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Tennessee 7th Congressional District Special Election

[03:00 – 15:45, 20:41–31:19]

• Urgency & Stakes: Clay (a resident of this district) and Buck express alarm over Democrats pouring money and resources into this traditionally solid Republican seat. Key concern: A low-turnout, off-cycle election (Dec 2), timed with Thanksgiving, may allow Democrats to “steal” the district if Republicans are complacent.

• District Breakdown: The district covers from Fort Campbell (north, near Kentucky) to Alabama; includes wealthy suburbs and military communities. Confusion over newly redrawn district lines makes it hard for voters to know if they’re eligible.

• Democratic Strategy: Highlighted as relying on the hyper-motivated “crazy base… who have the most fervent Trump Derangement Syndrome” (Clay, [06:09]) to turn out for even minor elections, using the opportunity to set a national narrative ahead of the midterms.

• Afton Bain: The Democratic candidate characterized as an archetype of radical progressivism—advocates defunding/dissolving police, supports militant tactics, and is backed by Socialist groups.

  • Clay’s Reaction: “She is absolutely insane. So again, they're counting on their base of crazies. Think about how crazy she is. She won’t even walk back saying she wants to defund the police…” ([11:32])

• Republican Response: Urgent call to action for ALL potential Republican voters to participate. Special focus on military and suburban voters who may be unaware the election is happening.

  • Quote: “If you're listening to me right now, go vote early right now if you're not going to be back.” — Clay ([15:01])

• Interview with Matt Van Epps (GOP candidate):

  • Mission Statement: “If you don't want higher taxes, defunding the police, gender surgeries for minors without parental consent, you must vote to stop this person.” ([22:14])

  • Background: Husband, father, combat veteran, West Point grad, business and public sector experience.

  • On Awareness Battle: Democrats bank on Republican voters being distracted by the holidays. Early voting runs through Wednesday, then Election Day Dec 2.

  • Stakes & Themes: Affordability, inflation, border security, stopping radical agendas, and promoting energy independence.

  • Call to Action: Matt emphasizes, “We need everyone from every county on our side to get out and vote. Don’t take it for granted.” ([28:54])

• Sociocultural Color: The hosts joke about “calling the Avengers” of right-wing influencers—Brett Cooper, Tomi Lahren, Candace Owens—to defend the district and riff on the media’s anticipation of a GOP embarrassment if the seat flips.

2. National Political Climate & House GOP Drama

[33:33 – 42:55, 51:37–66:25]

• Marjorie Taylor Greene's Resignation: Analysis of the political infighting and primary drama within the Republican Party; Kayleigh McEnany argues narrow majorities mean every seat counts and that more resignations would be a "travesty" ([36:11]). Clay and Buck lament a trend toward “incentivizing crazy” as opposed to policy substance:

  • Clay: “…there is almost no consequence for being wrong. All that matters is do people pay attention to what you're saying?” ([61:10])
  • Buck: “There's a little bit of a disconcerting thing, Clay, where people are getting crazier and crazier, and somehow it's being rewarded…” ([59:00])

• Republican Messaging on Affordability:

  • Concerns over inflation, groceries and gas prices, skyrocketing housing costs, and the need for better GOP messaging.
  • Kayleigh McEnany: “President Trump handed President Biden 1.8% inflation. Biden took that to 9.1%... you have an administration that’s constantly putting out new ideas, be it on housing or health care, sending money directly to the people.” ([37:52])
  • Matt Van Epps: Pitches practical energy policy and health care competition as solutions, touting Tennessee’s small modular reactor as a moonshot for US nuclear. ([26:29])

• Reflection on Conservative Media & “Craze-Baiting”:

  • Buck discusses the fragmentation of right-wing media and the incentives for increasingly “out there” content to chase clicks and attention ([63:25+]).
  • Both co-hosts express concern about “craziness” being rewarded on their side, cautioning it can damage the movement and hand the initiative back to the left.

3. Culture & Gender: Kayleigh McEnany Interview

[33:33–46:19]

• Work-Life Balance for Women: Kayleigh addresses The Wall Street Journal’s “seasons of life” article, giving personal advice for young women balancing ambitious careers and motherhood.

  • Kayleigh: “If God put that desire on your heart to have a child, it is there for a reason… Nothing is more important in life.” ([40:00])

• Inside Jokes & Personality: Banter around Clay’s predilection for Whispering Angel rosé wine (prompted by a viral photo and Kayleigh’s dad’s mock disappointment), bringing levity and an inside-baseball feel to the segment.

  • Kayleigh: “His girlfriend Donya said, yeah, it’s pink. It’s a woman’s drink… But my dad has been your greatest defender, Clay. My dad’s walking around the house going, Clay wrote a book called Balls. That man is a real man.” ([42:02])

• Trump and World Affairs: Kayleigh weighs in on Trump’s recent meeting with Mamdani and expectations for international and domestic political chess.

4. Historical/Nerdy Diversions

[52:24 – 56:39]

• Clay and Buck riff on their experiences touring the Vatican, ancient maps, Roman and European history, and philosophical readings. Entertaining digression underlining both hosts’ intellectual curiosity and relatability.

  • Buck: “My son is named for a guy who made really good maps for the Queen of England in the early 1600s.” ([54:21])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Democratic Strategy:

  • Clay: “The crazy base of the Democrat Party… show up for dog catcher races to vote against Trump. They show up for every race.” ([05:51])

• On District Lines Confusion:

  • Clay: “Even in my neighborhood, they divide it by street. So some people are represented by one congressman, others by another… Worst case scenario, you show up and they say, hey, this is not your district.” ([07:21])

• On Democratic Candidate, Afton Bain:

  • Buck: “I have never heard—have you met anyone or heard of anyone before named Afton?” ([12:44])
  • Clay: “She is the quintessential crazy left wing... white left wing chick that’s been able to support herself in the upper, upper echelons of society with money made by other people her entire life.” ([12:51-13:03])

• On Incentives for ‘Crazy’ in Politics:

  • Buck: “There’s a little bit of a disconcerting thing, Clay, where people are getting crazier and crazier, and somehow it’s being rewarded in the... American Right. And that’s not a good thing.” ([59:00])

• On Messaging and Responsibility:

  • Kayleigh McEnany: “At the end of the day, all of these congressmen need to look in the mirror and realize what's best for the country. Staying on board... It's about the agenda you support, not your personal self-interest.” ([37:15])

Key Timestamps

• [03:00] — Tennessee 7th Congressional District breakdown and GOP turnout warning
• [06:31] — Buck on the national implications for midterms
• [11:01–11:24] — MSNBC ambush transcript of Afton Bain
• [14:17] — Crowd-sourcing support for the GOP candidate, rally planning
• [20:41] — Interview with Matt Van Epps; early voting info, key issues for district
• [22:14] — Van Epps: “If you don’t want higher taxes, defunding the police, gender surgeries for minors... you must vote...”
• [28:54] — Full county/community rundown—who should vote in the district
• [33:33] — Kayleigh McEnany segment: judicial resistance, GOP messaging, and women’s work/life balance
• [42:02] — Kayleigh and her dad on Clay’s “Whispering Angel” wine moment
• [51:37] — History and personal anecdotes: Vatican, maps, and philosophy
• [59:00] — Buck and Clay on rising craziness and problems of “clickbait” in right-wing media
• [61:10] — Clay laments lack of consequences for wild predictions/wrong analysis in today’s media
• [63:25] — Buck on the disaggregation of right-wing media and the problematic incentive structure
• [66:25] — Refocus on affordability as a likely major issue for the 2026 midterms ("referendum on whether people think goods are affordable or not", Clay)

Summary Takeaway

This episode combines urgency about a potentially pivotal congressional race with wider cultural and strategic reflections about the future of conservative politics. While keeping the energy high with humor and insider references, Clay and Buck repeatedly return to a central warning: ignore down-ballot races or chase viral “crazy” at your own peril—because the far left is highly organized and ready to pounce. The conversations with Matt Van Epps and Kayleigh McEnany provide practical perspective and rallying calls to action. Meanwhile, relatable discussions about family, history, pop culture, and even wine keep the tone approachable for regular listeners and newcomers alike.

For anyone who missed the episode:

• The main theme is a clarion call to conservative voters not to be complacent about the Tennessee 7th special election—and, by extension, all 2026 elections—lest the left use turnout and media narratives to gain ground.
• The right needs to focus on substance, affordability, unity, and not be distracted or divided by personality politics or attention-seeking drama.