The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

Daily Review with Clay and Buck – October 23, 2025

Episode Overview

Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the most pressing current events in news, politics, and sports. With their trademark humor and sharp analysis, this episode explores stories ranging from the shocking NBA betting scandal and political races in Virginia and New York, to debates on government shutdown motivations and the fallout of radical progressivism on state and local politics. Special guest Congressman Jim Jordan brings insider perspective on Congress and the latest controversies in Washington.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. NBA Betting and Mafia Scandal

[04:40 – 17:06]

• Massive FBI Bust:
  The FBI arrested over 30 individuals, including NBA players/coaches Chauncey Billups, Damon Jones, and Terry Rozier, in a coordinated bust spanning 11 states. Charges include illegal gambling, sports rigging, and tens of millions in fraud.
• How the Scam Worked:
  • The mafia rigged high-stakes poker games using contact lenses to read marked cards, cameras in chandeliers, and even X-ray tables ("If you put it in a movie, a lot of us would say there's no way that could actually be true." – Buck, 11:07)
  • NBA prop bets were fixed, notably when Terry Rozier intentionally left a game early after signaling to gamblers, delivering a $200,000 payout.
• Dumb Criminal Moves:
  Clay and Buck express disbelief that NBA players like Rozier, earning over $26 million yearly, risk ruin for a small fraction of their salary.
  • "Mind blowingly stupid. You're going to risk a $26 million salary for 200 grand..." – Clay Travis [10:24]
• Legalized Gambling and Detection:
  Legalization has made it easier to detect irregular betting patterns, as sportsbooks flag unusual wagers (e.g., large bets on obscure games).
  • "The sunshine of legalized sports gambling has shown us how often this has been happening..." – Clay Travis [15:14]
• Broader Implications:
  The hosts predict movies and documentaries on the scandal and reflect on the integrity crisis in sports and the need for robust enforcement.

2. Virginia Governor’s Race & Identity Politics

[23:02 – 34:14]

• Polling Skepticism:
  Clay voices skepticism at polls claiming Abigail Spanberger’s inevitable win, citing closer margins in some surveys.
• Media’s Gender Narratives:
  Mika Brzezinski and others claim Spanberger's struggles are due to sexism, despite her running against another woman and extensive examples of female political success.
  • "How is it that Abigail Spanberger being a woman is the cause of her difficulties?" – Buck Sexton [25:37]
  • "There is neither reason nor accountability..." – Clay Travis, referencing As Good as It Gets [28:12]
• Candidate Accountability:
  Spanberger dodges questions about calling on an attorney general candidate to drop out after inflammatory texts, using evasive and time-worn excuses.
• Warnings for Virginia:
  Buck warns Virginians that Spanberger will govern far to the left, suggesting voters are "being sold a bill of goods."

3. Transgender Sports Controversies & Judicial Overreach

[32:00 – 37:33]

• Minnesota Supreme Court Ruling:
  Seven justices unanimously ruled a male powerlifter must be allowed to compete as a woman, which the hosts see as a sign of ideological overreach.
• Broader Trend:
  Discussion broadens to the left’s push on trans issues, with warnings about state-imposed compliance and the use of “toxic empathy.”
  • "Toxic empathy ruining a state..." – Buck Sexton [34:14]
  • “Our innate kindness...has unfortunately been used as a Trojan horse for the left wing radical agenda…” – Clay Travis [35:45]

4. Government Shutdown & Democrat Party Power Struggles

[39:12 – 49:05; 59:36 – 66:06]

• Shutdown Politics:
  Congressman Jim Jordan joins to discuss the looming government shutdown. He attributes the stalemate to the hard left’s control over the Democrats, particularly the influence of AOC and the threat of primary challenges for Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries.
  • “It’s this phenomena that the hard left has control of that party...” – Jim Jordan [41:05]
• Healthcare Leverage:
  The shutdown is also partly about preserving Obamacare subsidies, the only issue, per Jordan, where Dems have any polling advantage left.
• ‘Quiet Part Out Loud’ Moment:
  Democrat Whip Catherine Clark admits shutdown is “one of the few leveraged times we have” even though “there will be...families that are going to suffer.”
  • “They admitted openly that they have shut the government down and...are using hardworking American families as leverage.” – Speaker Mike Johnson [61:27]
• NYC Power Triangle:
  Buck and Clay argue much of the national Democratic agenda is driven by NYC-based leaders’ fear of being outflanked by further-left challengers, especially after Mamdani’s mayoral primary win.
  • “What seems to be a large national issue...is actually...rooted to fear provoked by Mamdani.” – Clay Travis [64:23]

5. NYC Mayoral Race

[66:06 – 72:34]

• Candidates & Strategies:
  • Curtis Sliwa (Guardian Angels) delivers a passionate populist speech but is not expected to win, potentially acting as a spoiler for former governor Andrew Cuomo.
  • Zorhan Mamdani, the surprise far-left primary winner, avoids taking positions on controversial ballot amendments, prompting accusations of evasiveness.
  • “He’s an incredibly articulate, glib, smiley...politician...but unlike Andrew Cuomo...and Curtis Sliwa...Mamdani is an articulate shadow.” – Buck Sexton [70:13]
• Democratic Calculations:
  Both Schumer and Jeffries have yet to endorse Mamdani, revealing the intra-party stress caused by the hard left’s rise.
• Historical Parallel:
  Clay draws a comparison between Mamdani’s ambiguous campaign rhetoric and Obama’s “evolution” on gay marriage: Democratic voters sometimes knowingly “let their own” hedge or prevaricate for electoral advantage.

6. Additional Topics & Memorable Moments

• Bureaucracy and Accountability:
  Jim Jordan discusses his criminal referral of ex-CIA Director John Brennan for allegedly lying to Congress and the broader theme of accountability.
• Trump 2.0:
  In response to Buck and Clay, Jordan praises Trump’s current administration for its focus, effective personnel, and fulfillment of promises, asserting “no one has done it better.” [47:04]
  • “He said he would cut taxes. He did. He said he’d get men out of women’s sports. He has. ...on and on it goes.” – Jim Jordan [47:34]
• Sports Betting Ethics:
  The hosts debate whether athletes should be allowed to bet on themselves, distinguishing between outright fraud (betting to lose) and perhaps less problematic actions (betting to win, as in some combat sports).

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• "Mind blowingly stupid. You're going to risk a $26 million salary for 200 grand..."
  – Clay Travis [10:24]

• "Legalized gambling makes it more likely that we catch people for this, because the sportsbooks...catch illegal irregular wagering patterns."
  – Clay Travis [14:03]

• "How is it that Abigail Spanberger being a woman is the cause of her difficulties?"
  – Buck Sexton [25:37]

• "There is neither reason nor accountability [in that analysis]."
  – Clay Travis, referencing As Good as It Gets [28:12]

• "Toxic empathy ruining a state."
  – Buck Sexton on Minnesota [34:14]

• "Their plan is...to use state force to make you do crazy stuff on trans the second they can."
  – Clay Travis [32:00]

• "It’s this phenomena that the hard left has control of that party."
  – Jim Jordan [41:05]

• "They admitted openly that they have shut the government down and...are using hardworking American families as leverage."
  – Speaker Mike Johnson [61:27]

• "What seems to be a large national issue...is actually...rooted to fear provoked by Mamdani."
  – Clay Travis [64:23]

• "He’s an incredibly articulate...politician...but unlike Andrew Cuomo...and Curtis Sliwa...Momdani is an articulate shadow."
  – Buck Sexton [70:13]

• "No one has done it better than President Trump. ...He said he’d get men out of women’s sports. He has. ...on and on it goes."
  – Jim Jordan [47:34]

Segment Timestamps

| Segment | Start | End | |---------------------------------------------------------|-----------|-----------| | Welcome & rundown of topics | 02:30 | 04:01 | | NBA betting scandal deep dive | 04:40 | 17:06 | | VA governor’s race, polls, and media narratives | 23:02 | 34:14 | | Trans sports, empathy, and state overreach | 32:00 | 37:33 | | Government shutdown, hard-left Dem influence | 39:12 | 49:05 | | NYC Dem power struggle and its national implications | 59:36 | 66:06 | | NYC mayoral race, Mamdani, and candidate evasiveness | 66:06 | 72:34 | | Jim Jordan: CIA lying, Trump’s “greatest year” | 44:20 | 47:34 |

Tone & Style

Clay and Buck’s approach blends sharp, accessible political analysis with humor and incredulity at the day's most outrageous stories. They maintain a conversational style, challenge narratives, and highlight hypocrisy or notable absurdity in media and politics. Their banter and direct questioning also facilitate a deeper, sometimes skeptical, discussion.

Summary

This episode covers a sweeping range of topics—a sprawling sports scandal, state and national political infighting, and cultural clashes that define the current era. Clay and Buck illustrate how local and national politics are often intertwined, with major Democratic strategies rooted in leaders’ anxieties over radical challengers. Meanwhile, the revelation-heavy NBA betting case and the continuing saga of transgender sports participation highlight evolving challenges across fields. Special guest Jim Jordan offers frank Congressional insight, defending Trump’s record and warning of bureaucratic subterfuge. For listeners, the episode is a rapid-fire, entertaining, and opinionated dissection of the headlines that matter most on October 23, 2025.