The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show: Daily Review – September 26, 2025
Main Theme & Episode Overview
This episode of The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show is centered on breaking political news, especially the indictment of former FBI Director James Comey. Clay and Buck break down the details, discuss the broader implications for the justice system and American politics, and take deep dives into health care failures and election dynamics in New Jersey and Florida. They combine analysis with humor, personal anecdotes, and interviews, aiming to make complex events accessible and engaging.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Ryder Cup, Trump’s Appearance, and the Weekend Preview
- The show opens with talk about the Ryder Cup being held in New York, where the U.S. is trailing Europe.
- Trump is attending the event along with his granddaughter, Kai Trump (now a college athlete at Miami), underscoring his deep connections to the golfing world.
- Clay and Buck joke about Clay’s golf swing and Trump’s flattering comments about it.
- “He has lied and said that the Clay Travis golf swing is good, which is a sign that Trump is actually a really nice guy.” — Clay Travis [04:19]
2. Breaking Story: James Comey Indicted
- The top story is the grand jury indictment of James Comey, former FBI Director, on two charges in Northern Virginia related to false statements tied to the Russia collusion investigation.
- Trump’s reaction as he boards Marine One:
- “He lied. He lied a lot…he gave a very specific answer and then he verified it numerous times and he got caught.” — Donald Trump [05:43]
- Clay and Buck stress that Comey’s alleged lies are material, not trivial, as they were in service of the Russia hoax narrative.
- “These are material lies…not oh, in a three-hour FBI sit-down you forgot what you had for breakfast…Trump has made it clear it is quite material.” — Buck Sexton [07:19]
- They debate the likelihood of conviction, considering the blue-leaning jurisdiction (80% Democrat) and Obama-appointed judge.
- “You’re starting off and the scoreboard’s already got you down 21 points before you even snap the ball.” — Clay Travis [11:34]
- “It feels like what’s good for the goose is good for the gander.” — Buck Sexton [09:17]
- Concerns raised over potential jury nullification, the process as punishment, and the deep entrenchment of allies in the Department of Justice—citing Comey’s son-in-law in the same district office.
3. Two-Tiered Justice System & Political Retribution
- The indictment is seen as overdue accountability, but also as fraught with the politics of retribution.
- Buck draws analogies to Comey’s pursuit of Martha Stewart and the “Show me the man and I’ll show you the crime” mentality (citing Beria/KGB), arguing that legal weapons fashioned against Trump are now being pointed at their creators.
- “He sent plenty of people to prison for exactly this, lying in the course of an investigation. And he would have sent Donald Trump to prison for heaven knows what.” — Buck Sexton [15:19]
- “If Comey broke the law, the law is the law...I think this is funny.” — Buck Sexton [16:46]
- They note the transformational nature of recent years: after four indictments of Trump, “the Rubicon doesn’t even exist anymore.”
4. Government Shutdown: Blame Games & Obamacare, Health Care Failures
- Trump blames Democrats for shutdown threats, accusing them of prioritizing benefits to illegal migrants and transgender issues over Americans.
- “The Democrats want to shut it down…because they want to give billions, ultimately trillions of dollars to illegal migrants…” — Donald Trump [23:08]
- Clay and Buck turn to problems in health care, citing personal stories and the system’s lack of transparency.
- Clay’s anecdotes: cost of childbirth is opaque, insurance inflates costs, and sometimes being uninsured gets you a better price.
- “None of them could tell me…They compete on bamboo floors and wifi…but they don’t tell you what any of it costs.” — Clay Travis [25:29]
- “If you don’t have health insurance…you pay like $20 or you pay hundreds of dollars if you actually have health insurance. The market is broken.” — Clay Travis [29:42]
- Clay’s anecdotes: cost of childbirth is opaque, insurance inflates costs, and sometimes being uninsured gets you a better price.
- Buck maintains the system is “broken by design” to facilitate redistribution to non-citizens.
- “It’s functioning the way that the Democrats want it to, insofar as you’re paying for everybody else, including illegals, I might add.” — Buck Sexton [31:11]
- Both hosts agree that the public is weary of government shutdown posturing, predicting a late-night resolution and more spending.
5. Election Spotlight: New Jersey Governor’s Race with Jack Ciattarelli
- Interview with GOP gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli, who claims a toss-up race in a Democratic state.
- “Democratic mayors across the state endorsing my candidacy…I think it only reaffirms that people across the state have had it with Phil Murphy's failed policies.” — Jack Ciattarelli [40:21]
- Criticisms of opponent: stock trading scandals, lack of transparency regarding Naval Academy graduation, and out-of-touch policies (e.g., biological males in girls’ sports, LGBTQ curricula, sanctuary state status).
- “Who wouldn’t know if their net worth had tripled in such a short period of time?” — Jack Ciattarelli [42:10]
- Jack pledges to lower taxes, fight sanctuary policies, and address energy rates.
- “On day one…I'll end the immigrant trust directive. We'll no longer have sanctuary cities and we will not be a sanctuary state.” — Jack Ciattarelli [44:27]
6. Florida in Focus: Interview with Byron Donalds, Congressional Rep and Gubernatorial Candidate
- Byron Donalds recounts his rise from the Tea Party to Congress after switching parties in 2010, and outlines an optimistic, conservative vision for Florida.
- “My answer to the people of Florida is a resounding yes. I'm a conservative out of the Tea Party movement...We’re just going to take Florida to a whole nother level.” — Byron Donalds [60:03]
- Emphasizes law and order, educational integrity, cost-of-living reforms, and “keeping Florida free.”
- Mourning the recent assassination of Charlie Kirk, with Donalds reflecting on Kirk’s outsized, irreplaceable impact on conservative youth activism.
- “Charlie Kirk, he has changed the political fabric in this country for conservatism…he’s going to be missed and he’s not going to be replaced.” — Byron Donalds [62:11]
- On the federal budget fight: pins blame for shutdown threats squarely on Senate Democrats, especially Chuck Schumer’s unwillingness to stand up to party radicals.
- “If Chuck Schumer wants to shut down the government and have a Schumer shutdown, it's simply because he wants the radical left policies that the American people rejected to be funded by Donald Trump and executed by Donald Trump. And that's not going to happen, period.” — Byron Donalds [63:47]
- Donalds light-heartedly predicts Florida State football will win in their rivalry game: “I got the Noles by five and a half.” [65:11]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|---------|-------| | 04:19 | Clay Travis | “He has lied and said that the Clay Travis golf swing is good, which is a sign that Trump is actually a really nice guy.” | | 05:43 | Donald Trump | “He lied. He lied a lot. But this was a very important thing…” | | 07:19 | Buck Sexton | “These are material lies…not oh, in a three-hour FBI sit-down you forgot what you had for breakfast…” | | 11:34 | Clay Travis | “You're starting off and the scoreboard's already got you down 21 points before you even snap the ball.” | | 15:19 | Buck Sexton | “He sent plenty of people to prison for exactly this, lying in the course of an investigation...” | | 23:08 | Donald Trump | “The Democrats want to shut it down…because they want to give billions, ultimately trillions of dollars to illegal migrants…” | | 25:29 | Clay Travis | “None of them could tell me…They compete on bamboo floors and wi-fi…but they don’t tell you what any of it costs.” | | 31:11 | Buck Sexton | “It’s functioning the way that the Democrats want it to, insofar as you’re paying for everybody else, including illegals, I might add.” | | 40:21 | Jack Ciattarelli | “Democratic mayors across the state endorsing my candidacy…I think it only reaffirms that people across the state have had it with Phil Murphy's failed policies.” | | 42:10 | Jack Ciattarelli | “Who wouldn’t know if their net worth had tripled in such a short period of time?” | | 44:27 | Jack Ciattarelli | “On day one…I'll end the immigrant trust directive. We'll no longer have sanctuary cities and we will not be a sanctuary state.” | | 60:03 | Byron Donalds | “My answer to the people of Florida is a resounding yes. I'm a conservative out of the Tea Party movement...” | | 62:11 | Byron Donalds | “Charlie Kirk, he has changed the political fabric in this country for conservatism…he’s going to be missed and he’s not going to be replaced.” | | 63:47 | Byron Donalds | “If Chuck Schumer wants to shut down the government and have a Schumer shutdown, it's simply because he wants the radical left policies that the American people rejected to be funded by Donald Trump…” | | 65:11 | Byron Donalds | “I got the Noles by five and a half…” |
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 04:11 – Discussion of Trump's golf swing, Trump and Ryder Cup
- 05:43–06:59 – Trump audio on Comey’s indictment
- 07:19–16:46 – Analysis of Comey indictment progress, problems with the justice system
- 23:08–35:19 – Trump and Buck on government shutdown, health care costs, system failures
- 39:08–50:41 – Interview with Jack Ciattarelli (New Jersey gubernatorial race)
- 56:13–67:02 – Interview with Byron Donalds (Florida politics, Charlie Kirk, budget shutdown, FSU football)
Tone & Takeaways
- Tone: Direct, brash, humorous but earnest; Clay and Buck maintain an irreverent, conversational style, full of quips, pop culture, and sports analogies.
- The hosts view the Comey indictment as a delayed but necessary corrective, albeit with skepticism about procedural justice in blue jurisdictions.
- Repeated emphasis on justice system bias, the failure and hidden redistribution in health care, and the cultural/political stakes in state-level elections.
- Personal stories (childbirth, strep throat treatment) and sports talk ground the episode in relatable, everyday experiences.
- The interviews with Ciattarelli and Donalds provide clear, partisan alternatives to blue-state and national Democratic policies.
Summary for Listeners
If you missed this episode, you'll get a robust, pointed analysis of the Comey indictment and its importance, a skeptical but practical take on shutdown politics, a personal look at why the American health care system frustrates so many, and insight into major state races in New Jersey and Florida. The tone is conversational and combative, with both humor and seriousness. You'll also get memorable interviews with rising GOP figures—complete with sports banter—and detailed critiques of the justice system, federal spending, and the “broken by design” state of healthcare and border policy.
