The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show
Hour 1 - Deep State Weaponization
Date: October 7, 2025
Host: Buck Sexton (Clay Travis on vacation)
Podcast: iHeartPodcasts
Episode Overview
In this episode, Buck Sexton (solo hosting while Clay Travis is on vacation) explores the evolving story of “deep state weaponization.” He focuses on alleged political targeting within the FBI, aggressive federal law enforcement actions, and partisan battles involving the Trump administration, Democratic city leaders, and the ongoing role of federal agencies in local governance. Buck also discusses the contentious relationship between Republicans and the media, federal power versus city autonomy, and the Trump administration's approach to pushback from the left.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. FBI Surveillance of Republican Senators & Weaponization Allegations
- Breaking News: Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley released findings on the FBI’s “Arctic Frost” operation, which included surveillance on multiple Republican senators (Kelly, Graham, Haggerty, Hawley, Sullivan, Tuberville, Johnson, Loomis, Blackburn) in the context of January 6 and the 2020 election.
- FBI Leadership Response: Director Patel and Deputy Director Bongino claim they are “cleaning up a diseased temple three decades in the making,” firing employees involved and promising reform. (03:10, Buck paraphrasing Patel statement)
- Trump Reaction: Trump, via Truth Social, condemned prosecutor Jack Smith as a “sleaze bag” and accused him of political overreach.
Quote:
“We are cleaning up a diseased temple three decades in the making, identifying the rot, removing those who weaponize law enforcement for political purposes...”
— Director Patel, as read by Buck (03:40)
2. Pam Bondi’s Testimony on Justice Department Reform
- AG Pam Bondi (in Senate Judiciary): Vows to end “weaponization of justice” and return the DOJ to fighting violent crime, laments secret FBI investigations on Trump allies, and calls it a “historic betrayal” of public trust.
Quote:
“They were playing politics with law enforcement powers and will go down as a historic betrayal of public trust. This is the kind of conduct that shatters the American people's faith in our law enforcement system.”
— Pam Bondi (05:44)
3. The Importance of Public Trust & FBI Reform
- Buck’s Analysis: Links public mistrust to FBI’s “secret police” behavior, referencing past scandals (Crossfire Hurricane, General Flynn, James Comey) and warning against the dangers of partisan federal law enforcement.
Quote:
“When you have what is effectively the secret police in a country playing games, using surveillance powers to undermine one political party or another, it doesn't lead to good places. In fact, sometimes it leads to a straight up coup...”
— Buck Sexton (07:50)
4. Discussion on National Guard Deployment to Chicago
- Pam Bondi to Sen. Dick Durbin: Announces imminent National Guard and federal law enforcement deployment to Chicago due to rising crime; calls out Durbin for failing to keep Illinois citizens safe.
Quote:
“The National Guard is on the way right now as we speak... We’re there to help make America safe and Illinois safe, whether or not you want to.”
— Pam Bondi (10:32, 15:49)
- Buck’s Take: Criticizes Democrats for “obstructing” ICE and National Guard moves, referencing January 6th precedent of extended Guard deployment at the Capitol.
5. Chicago’s “ICE-Free Zones”: Federal vs Local Power Clash
- Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson: Signs an executive order banning federal immigration raids on city property and certain private businesses—an “ICE-free zone.”
- Buck’s Reaction: Compares the move to the Vatican being independent of Italy, calls it legally “insane,” and claims it undermines federal authority and emboldens lawlessness.
Quote:
“The mayor of Chicago ... feels that the best way to represent his constituents is to create the pretense that Chicago is like ... its own statelet that does not have to deal with the surrounding nationality.”
— Buck Sexton (16:20)
- Mayor Johnson’s Rhetoric: Equates current policies to “refusing to accept the results of the Civil War” and claims the Trump administration is militarizing Chicago.
Quote:
“The extreme right in this country refused to accept the results of the Civil War... Chicagoans are clear. Militarizing our troops in our city as justification to further escalate a war in Chicago will not be tolerated.”
— Mayor Brandon Johnson, played by Buck (24:51)
- Buck’s Counter: Argues that Democrats’ inflammatory words incite hatred against law enforcement and create unsafe conditions for officers.
6. Portland & Legal Authority of National Guard Deployment
- Caroline Levitt (WH Press): Argues on CNN against a federal judge’s attempt to block National Guard deployment to Portland, cites U.S. Code 12406 as presidential authority, and assures ongoing legal challenges.
Quote:
“The President is using... his authority as Commander in Chief, US code 12406, which clearly states that the President has the right to call up the National Guard in cases where he deems it appropriate.”
— Caroline Levitt (29:40)
- Buck’s Perspective: Argues Democrats use court challenges to “sabotage” the Trump administration, referencing the post-2016 “not my president” movement, and questions when Trump will override local/federal obstacles and assert executive power.
7. Political Combativeness & Shifting Republican Tactics
- On Republican Officials Fighting Back: Buck notes the Trump administration’s willingness to challenge disrespect and media narratives in a way past GOP administrations (e.g., Bush era) did not.
- Praise for Aggressiveness: Highlights that officials like Bondi, Patel, Rubio no longer accept attacks passively and see the necessity of counter-punching.
Notable Moments & Quotes
-
On FBI Weaponization:
“We cannot have an FBI that is pulling the phone records of Republican senators to try to jam them up on some nonsense.”
—Buck Sexton (06:30) -
On Political Prisoners:
“There are a whole bunch of Republicans who have actually gone to prison from Trump World... for overwhelmingly the most petty offenses imaginable.”
—Buck Sexton (07:15) -
On Inter-agency Conflict:
“If they can send Bannon to prison for nothing and Navarro to prison for nothing... maybe we can send some Democrats to prison for something, as in breaking the law, which they’ve done.”
—Buck Sexton (12:32) -
On Legal Showdowns:
“Judges in Oregon, judges in Illinois, and all over the country... sabotage, the bad faith sabotage of the Trump administration by judges...”
—Buck Sexton (33:45)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- [03:10]: Details on FBI surveillance of Republican Senators and “Arctic Frost” operation
- [05:24]: AG Pam Bondi’s testimony on DOJ weaponization
- [06:07]: Buck explains the threat of “secret police” tactics in the FBI
- [10:32]: Bondi references National Guard deployment to Chicago
- [15:49]: Bondi confronts Chicago’s crime stats and need for federal involvement
- [20:36]: Bondi sharply criticizes Senator Durbin, defends law enforcement
- [24:51]: Mayor Brandon Johnson decries federal militarization of Chicago
- [29:18]: Segment on Portland, National Guard deployment, and presidential authority
Episode Tone and Style
Buck Sexton delivers the episode in his signature style: assertive, occasionally humorous, and combative toward Democratic leaders and media critics. He uses sharp analogies, frequent references to political history, and direct quotes to underline his arguments. The episode leans heavily into the theme of the federal government’s struggle to restore integrity while fighting entrenched opposition from “deep state” actors and progressive city leaders.
Summary
This hour of the Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show delves into the Republican position that justice and national security are being “weaponized” for partisan effect, focusing on the recent revelations around FBI surveillance, aggressive federal law enforcement, and the resistance of Democratic cities led by the likes of Chicago’s Mayor Johnson. Through testimony, legal analysis, and pointed criticism, Buck underscores the urgency of reform and the importance of the Trump administration’s combative stance — while lampooning Democratic attempts to create “enforcement-free zones” as fundamentally unserious and harmful to the nation.