The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

Hour 1 - Clay's Red Beret Bet

Date: October 27, 2025
Podcast Host: iHeartPodcasts
Hosts: Clay Travis & Buck Sexton

Episode Overview

In this lively and opinionated episode, Clay Travis and Buck Sexton dive into the approaching elections in New York City, Virginia, and New Jersey. The episode spotlights the dramatic New York City mayoral race, the “Red Beret Bet” challenge Clay sets for himself, the broader implications for Democratic politics nationwide, rising left-wing populism, and the city’s future. The duo bring their characteristic blend of sharp humor and political analysis, sharing both direct listener feedback and their own predictions for the races, especially focusing on Curtis Sliwa's underdog candidacy versus “Commie Mamdani.”

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The High-Stakes NYC Mayoral Election

• Election Climate: With just over a week until election day, New York City is in the spotlight due to a heated race featuring incumbent Mamdani, challenger Curtis Sliwa, and a surge in early voting.

  • Buck: “We are a week and a day away from election day ... and probably getting more attention than any other—good old NYC, my hometown.” (02:31)
  • Clay: “I don't think I have a good shot of being elected mayor of New York City, Buck. Let's just say there's lots of New Yorkers. We got some fun talk backs that are not happy with me.” (03:29)

• Red Beret Bet: Clay bets that if Curtis Sliwa wins, he'll wear a red beret for a whole week on air and on Fox News.

  • Clay: “I'll do a full week of shows in Curtis's red beret … I'll go on Fox News at least once wearing the red beret as well.” (22:51)

• Curtis Sliwa on the Show: The hosts announce that Curtis Sliwa will join them on Wednesday for a direct pitch to listeners.

  • Clay: “Curtis Sliwa has agreed to come on the program … you can be looking forward to that on the Wednesday edition.” (04:12)
  • Buck: “Your man Curtis Sliwa will be on the Clay and Buck show … this Wednesday, 1 pm Eastern Time. It's going to be feisty.” (13:45)

• Listener Input: Jacqueline, a Brooklyn poll worker, relays firsthand excitement and high turnout from Curtis supporters.

  • Jacqueline: “A lot of people that came in … they were so excited, like kids in a candy store. They said, ‘I just want to vote for mayor and I just want to vote for Curtis.’” (43:53)

2. National Political Undercurrents

• Democratic Leadership Criticism: Cuomo, Hochul, and Mamdani get roasted for their past governance and current campaigns. The hosts poke fun at Cuomo’s evasiveness and Newsom’s claimed street cred.

  • Clay: “Sometimes we have to let New York City sink beneath the waves in order for the rest of the country to thrive.” (04:12)
  • Buck (on Newsom): “He is so shameless that it is an advantage … a particularly loquacious liar.” (06:58)

• Isolation of Mainstream Media: Clay expresses frustration that left-leaning outlets refuse to engage with dissenting thinkers.

  • Clay: “They really do live in a universe of isolation … I just want to come on and talk about balls. And I just don't know why they don't see that this is a win-win for everyone.” (08:36)
  • Buck: “Fox has the reach and the platform that people ignore at their peril.” (08:36)

3. Early Voting, Polling & Prediction Markets

• Betting Markets vs. Polls: Clay discusses that prediction markets heavily favor Mamdani, but listeners insist Curtis Sliwa has deep support overlooked by traditional polling.
  • Clay: “Mamdani is setting record highs in the prediction markets. These aren't polls, this is where people are betting on what the result is going to be.” (13:52)
  • Jacqueline: “…the polls polled 75% of Democrats. Only 30% collectively—Republicans, conservatives, and independents—were polled. So garbage in, garbage out.” (44:50)

4. Left-Wing Populism and Policy Critiques

• Progressive Messaging: The hosts dissect a Mamdani speech, pointing out the candidate's focus on identity politics and progressive platform, critiquing his reframing of the post-9/11 experience.

  • Mamdani (clip): “I want to speak to the memory of my aunt who stopped taking the subway after September 11th because she did not feel safe in her hijab.” (26:21)
  • Buck: “For 9/11 to be about your aunt creating this fear—you know, this Islamophobia thing—the truth is Americans were incredibly tolerant and decent toward Muslim Americans after 9/11 … The American tolerance after 9/11 is actually a shining example.” (27:10)
  • Clay: “Claiming that someone is opposed to you because of your identity is not actually an argument for or against anything.” (27:52)

• Populist Slogans: The show plays clips of crowds chanting “Tax the Rich” at Mamdani/AOC/Bernie events.

  • Buck (re: rally chants): "That crowd is chanting tax the rich ... High earners who are like, 'Hey Buck, how’s South Florida? Hey Clay, they got some extra houses in Franklin, Tennessee, I’d leave.'" (32:31)

• Class Warfare vs. Race Politics: Buck argues that the left is refocusing from “race communism” to classic redistribution.

  • Buck: "They are beginning to move away … toward more class warfare communism, really the original communism and making this all about ‘rich have to pay more, government has to give me more.’” (30:19)

5. NYC Policy Proposals Under Fire

• Free Public Transit Debate: Mamdani proposes abolishing fares on city buses to reduce conflict, prompting the hosts’ strong rebuttal.

  • Mamdani: “You have a farebox on a bus, it increases a site of tension, of conflict, of assaults. When you remove that farebox … what you find is a safer experience …” (35:54)
  • Buck: “This is like saying, hey, you know what the problem is in all these drugstores in New York that have to have everything locked up? They expect to be paid for this stuff. … This is lunacy." (36:07)
  • Clay: “You know what making all public transportation buses say, free, is going to do? Decrease safety and increase dirty.” (36:38)

• Broken Windows & Quality of Life: Discussion around fare evasion correlating to other crime, personal anecdotes about NYC’s urban environment, and comparative freedom in other American cities.

  • Clay: “Well, the percentage of times people are jumping the turnstiles, a lot of those guys have outstanding crimes, right?” (37:57)
  • Buck: "Producer Ali, you can weigh in ... The subway is so crowded. ... There's an empty subway car just for me. ... It will smell worse than any smell you've ever come across in your life, because it is being used by homeless people who are deeply mentally ill. As a toilet." (37:04)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Curtis Sliwa’s Tenacity

  • Caller Josh (NYC): “Curtis Lewa and the Guardian Angels were still standing.” (21:20)

• On Democratic Candidate Mamdani (Clip)

  • Mamdani: “I want to speak to the memory of my aunt, who stopped taking the subway after September 11th because she did not feel safe in her hijab.” (26:21)

• On NYC’s Progressive Future

  • Buck: “Unfortunately the New Yorkers are going to pay a price.” (34:06)

• On Tax Policy for NYC Residents

  • Clay: “Trust me. Nashville’s awesome. Miami is awesome. Dallas pretty great. Houston pretty great. No state income tax in any of those big cities.” (32:52)

Important Timestamps

• Opening & Election Preview: 02:31 – 05:20
• Cuomo & Newsom Humor: 05:20 – 06:58
• Media Isolation: 08:03 – 09:17
• Book Talk & Vanity URLs: 09:17 – 10:28
• Red Beret Bet Discussion: 22:29 – 23:55
• Listener Call: NYC Poll Worker: 43:41 – 44:53
• Policy Clips & Commentary: 26:21 – 27:52 (Mamdani), 35:54 – 37:04 (Transit Policy)

Conclusion

This episode packs a blend of biting political commentary, local color, playful wagers, and skepticism of mainstream political narratives. With both personal anecdotes and direct calls from listeners in the thick of the NYC race, Clay and Buck paint a vivid, sometimes irreverent, picture of America’s blue city politics at a crossroads—and set stakes for the results with the iconic “Red Beret Bet.” Whether you’re tuned in for the analysis, the banter, or just a bit of schadenfreude, this hour is a microcosm of the show’s mix of humor, candor, and spirited debate.

Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show is available via iHeartRadio and major podcast platforms.