The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show: Hour 1 - Bring Back Old School Books!

Date: February 23, 2026
Host: Buck Sexton (Clay Travis is out)
Podcast by: iHeartPodcasts

Episode Overview

In this episode, Buck Sexton helms the show solo as Clay Travis is away. Buck navigates through a range of current events—starting with the U.S. Men’s and Women’s Olympic hockey gold medal victories, moving through a serious security event at Mar-a-Lago, and dissecting the latest political headlines including Gavin Newsom’s controversial remarks. The episode’s underlying theme touches on the value of traditional education tools (like physical books) versus tech-focused alternatives, as well as the political climate’s impact on leadership and public discourse.

Key Topics and Segments

1. U.S. Olympic Hockey Victories (04:10–10:45)

• Celebration of Sports Success

  • Buck opens with an enthusiastic breakdown of the U.S. Men's and Women's teams winning gold in Olympic ice hockey for the first time since 1980.
  • He plays a clip of Team USA's Jack Hughes, highlighting the team’s patriotism:
    "This is all about our country right now. I love the USA. I love my teammates." – Jack Hughes (05:21)
  • Both producers, Greg and Mark, share their excitement and contextualize the victory as especially sweet, given last year’s loss to Canada.

• Notable Quote:
  "I did see some pretty fun memes of like an American bald eagle with its talons just crushing a Canada goose, which is, I think, very apropos for what we just witnessed." – Buck Sexton (07:24)

• Reflections on Patriotism in Sports

  • Buck contrasts the hockey teams’ patriotism with what he describes as less enthusiastic displays by athletes in other sports.
  • He recounts his own struggles with helmet sports, adding a humorous, self-deprecating story about having a head “too big for the helmets.” (22:16)

2. Mar-a-Lago Security Incident (14:04–17:11)

• Incident Description

  • Buck reports on an armed intruder at Mar-a-Lago who was shot and killed by Secret Service after reportedly scaling the fence with a shotgun and gasoline canister.
  • He remarks on the ongoing and heightened threats faced by Donald Trump, likening it to the threat level faced by past presidents, especially noting Reagan.

• Analysis of Media and Public Discourse

  • Buck criticizes the general media for not acknowledging the bravery Trump has shown in the face of persistent threats.
  • Reflects on the public narrative and urges listeners to “say a prayer” for Trump and his security team.

• Notable Quote:
  "This is a president who is someone that is defining a political era, really defining an era of American history and doing things that...benefit the country, but when someone is shaking things up and changing the way the presidency governs, there's going to be those who take it upon themselves to try to stop it by any means." – Buck Sexton (15:45)

3. The Value of Traditional Books in Education (36:37–39:58)

• Textbooks vs. Tech in Schools

  • Buck notes increasing evidence that the shift from traditional textbooks to laptops and tablets in schools is resulting in lower standardized test scores.
  • He emphasizes the unique value of actual physical books and the positive impact visible books at home can have on children’s academic performance.

• Notable Quote:
  "There's just something about an actual physical book that is tough to beat. I think it's a technology that will never be replaced." – Buck Sexton (37:34)
  "Having books in your house is like a reminder that there are these things called books and that you should read them and that books matter and they're important." (38:57)

4. Gavin Newsom’s Controversial Remarks in Georgia (37:30–43:05)

• Newsom’s Comments

  • Buck plays and responds to a speech by Gavin Newsom to a predominantly African American audience in Georgia, where Newsom says:
    "I'm like you. I'm no better than you. You know, I'm a 960 SAT guy... I cannot...you've never seen me read a speech because I cannot read a speech." – Gavin Newsom (approx. 38:49)
  • Buck critiques Newsom’s attempt to connect with the audience by downplaying his own academic achievements and referring to his own dyslexia, suggesting it comes off as patronizing and tone-deaf.

• Political Impact

  • Buck argues these kinds of gaffes rarely harm Democratic politicians due to party loyalty:
    "People who are saying that this is disqualifying, that Newsom is done, that this will haunt him, they're wrong. It won't." (41:30)
  • He predicts Newsom could be the next Democratic nominee for president, criticizing the authenticity of politicians' memoirs versus genuinely authored works.

5. Menticide and Modern Political Discourse (43:05–46:40)

• Definition and Context

  • Buck fields a call from Frank in California about the concept of “menticide”—the killing of the mind—from his book Manufacturing Delusion.
  • He draws parallels between historical totalitarian brainwashing (as identified by Dr. Joost Meerloo) and what he sees happening in America on issues like COVID policy, climate change, and gender ideology.
  • He urges listeners to cherish "mental freedom" as foundational to democracy and the rule of law.

• Notable Quote:
  "This country lost its mind during COVID—or rather, we were forced to lose our minds." – Buck Sexton (44:30)
  "Without mental freedom, democracy, rule of law, none of these things are possible." (45:05)

Noteworthy Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• Patriotism in Olympic Hockey:
  "This is all about our country right now. I love the USA. I love my teammates." – Jack Hughes (05:21)

• On Trump’s Resilience:
  "He just kept going. He really is on a mission. Many of you would say he's on a mission from God. I think Trump would say he's on a mission from God." – Buck Sexton (16:50)

• On Physical Books:
  "There's just something about an actual physical book that is tough to beat. I think it's a technology that will never be replaced." – Buck Sexton (37:34)

• Gavin Newsom Speech:
  "I'm like you. I'm no better than you. You know, I'm a 960 SAT guy... I cannot...you've never seen me read a speech because I cannot read a speech." – Gavin Newsom [audio played by Buck] (approx. 38:49)

Episode Flow & Structure

• 00:00–02:06 – [Ads and Show Open]
• 02:06–07:22 – Buck sets the stage, headlines, and book promo.
• 07:22–10:45 – Detailed reaction to Olympic hockey victory; producers weigh in.
• 14:04–17:11 – Breakdown of the Mar-a-Lago security incident and reflections on threats to public officials.
• 21:11–22:16 – Trump congratulates hockey teams; Buck shares personal anecdotes.
• 37:30–43:05 – Extended discussion of Gavin Newsom’s Georgia speech and commentary on political authenticity.
• 43:05–46:40 – Call-in segment on “menticide” and risk to mental freedom in modern America.

Takeaways for Listeners

• Sports Victories as Unifying Moments: The U.S. Olympic Hockey wins were celebrated as rare and deeply patriotic, reminding listeners of the power of national pride.
• Leadership Under Threat: Security risks for sitting and former presidents continue to be grave, and Buck feels the media underplays the extraordinary resilience shown by Trump.
• Old School Books vs. Tech: Physical books offer profound educational and psychological benefits that digital tools can’t replicate.
• Political Performance: Buck’s analysis of Gavin Newsom’s attempts at relatability highlight the performative aspects of politics and the disconnect between politicians and some audiences.
• Cultural and Psychological Warfare: Buck warns against societal trends toward mind control and conformity, emphasizing the need to safeguard mental autonomy.

Conclusion

This episode combines urgent news items, sports celebration, reflections on education, and sharp political critique. Buck Sexton, flying solo, brings a mix of humor, personal perspective, and earnest warning about the state of the nation’s discourse, centered around a call to return to American fundamentals—whether that’s physical books or fearless leadership.

For listeners:

• Skip to 04:10 for U.S. hockey Olympic victories
• 14:04 for Mar-a-Lago incident analysis
• 37:30 for the Gavin Newsom controversy and discussion on education
• 43:05 for the “menticide” and mental freedom segment

Clay will return in the next episode, but Buck delivers a robust solo hour filled with opinions, analysis, and classic radio storytelling.