The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

Episode: Hour 1 - Everything Costs Too Much
Date: November 25, 2025
Host: Clay Travis
Co-Host: Buck Sexton (Out traveling this episode)

Episode Overview

In this first hour, Clay Travis leads a solo edition with humor and energy, exploring the major headline—how "everything costs too much"—and how it will define the national conversation moving into 2026. Clay reflects on President Trump’s first 10 months of his second term, touts the administration’s achievements on the border and crime, and warns that the economy—particularly inflation and prices—will be the central issue for Americans. The episode also features commentary on Thanksgiving travel, the annual White House turkey pardon, ongoing global peace negotiations, and the intersection of culture and politics.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Thanksgiving Travel & Show Updates

• Clay welcomes listeners and acknowledges the heavy travel period ahead of Thanksgiving, with record-setting numbers expected on the road and in the air.
• Buck Sexton is out, traveling to New York City, but will co-host again on Thanksgiving Eve.
• Clay shares plans to broadcast from Florida for the next show.

Quote:
"Today is the busiest day in advance of Thanksgiving travel... Godspeed. Be safe."
—Clay Travis (03:14)

2. The White House Turkey Pardon

• A playful segment on the much-discussed presidential turkey pardon.
• Clay reveals that the show was invited to the White House Turkey Pardon but, humorously, never RSVP'd due to a communication mix-up with producer Ali.
• Clay notes the running joke about how often invites are actually missed for big events.
• Trump's Turkey Pardon remarks were uniquely Trump—irreverent, laced with humor, and direct political jabs at Biden and others.

Notable Quotes:

• "Donald Trump Jr. has already tweeted... 'How long till a leftist federal judge reverses the turkey’s pardon?'" (04:12)
• "Trump even makes the turkey pardon fun... Biden's turkey pardons were auto-penned, probably because Biden doesn't have any energy." —Clay Travis (24:18)

Excerpts from Trump’s Turkey Pardon

• "After a thorough and very rigorous investigation by Pam Bondi and all the people at Department of Justice, the FBI... we've determined that last year’s turkey pardons are totally invalid, as are the pardons of about every other person that was pardoned, other than where’s Hunter? No, Hunter’s was good."
  —Donald Trump (23:01)
• "I was going to call them Chuck and Nancy, but then I realized I wouldn’t be pardoning them. I would never pardon those two people. I wouldn’t care what Melania told me, darling. I think it would be a nice thing to do. I won’t do it, darling."
  —Donald Trump (25:39)

3. 2024 Election & President Trump’s First Year: EBC—Economy, Border, Crime

• Clay recaps the 2024 campaign slogan: "As easy as EBC: Economy, Border, Crime."
• He gives President Trump an A for his performance thus far:
  • Border: Drastic decrease in illegal crossings. Assertive executive action rather than waiting for Congress. Example: Millions of illegal immigrants have left via deportation or voluntarily.
  • Crime: Major drop in crime rates, especially highlighted with Memphis, where murder rates dropped 50%, assaults by 40%, and robberies by 60%. Nashville murders at a 60-year low.

Quote:
"It turns out when you let police officers do their jobs and when you put violent criminals behind bars and you keep them there, it turns out that cities get a lot safer. I know, go figure. It’s wild."
—Clay Travis (14:53)

• National Media Neglect: Crime drop in Memphis is ignored because it's not NYC or LA.
• Culture marker: Clay uses the prevalence of young women jogging in cities as an informal safety barometer (15:58).
• Final word: Border and crime have been handled—the remaining challenge is the economy.

4. “Everything Costs Too Much”: Inflation, the Economy, and the 2026 Race

• Clay highlights the universal frustration at high prices—costs for everyday goods and eating out rose drastically.
• Uses personal anecdotes:
  • $30 for two at Subway when “in my head, that meal should cost $20.”
  • $50+ for Chick-fil-A for his family (18:25).
• Points out that inflation and price hikes anger people across political lines and will be the defining issue in the 2026 midterms.

Quote:
"There is a visceral anger out there in America that crosses party lines from everybody that has to pull out their wallet, that has to pay for goods in this country. I feel it. You feel it. Things cost more than they should. That’s the issue in 2026."
—Clay Travis (18:46)

• Clay compares the current inflation experience to the Carter years and wonders when (and if) price normalization will occur in the current decade.

5. International Affairs: Ukraine-Russia Peace Negotiations & Trump as Mediator

• Clay updates on a potential breakthrough peace plan for Ukraine and Russia, brokered by Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff.
  • Russians and Ukrainians have been asked to articulate acceptable deal terms. The two sides have plans (28-point for Russia, 19-point for Ukraine), with ongoing negotiations.
  • Ukraine’s main concern: any deal must ensure “lasting peace” and guarantees on their territory, fearing a repeat Russian invasion if US administrations change.

Quote:
"Trump is the mediator-in-chief here... He’s deputized Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff to do what bureaucrats can’t: actually cut deals."
—Clay Travis (27:09)

• Clay underscores that Trump is negotiating multiple global peace deals alongside domestic achievements.

6. Signature Trump Humor and Moments

• Trump’s speech at the turkey pardon featured trademark jabs, including a "Pritzker joke" (Illinois Governor), managing to say he wouldn’t “talk about people being fat” while calling Pritzker “a fat slob”—all in the space of a turkey pardon speech.

Quote:
"I refuse to talk about the fact that he’s a fat slob. I don’t mention it."
—Donald Trump (33:54)

7. Culture & Current Events: Gender Policy in Sports

• Clay reacts to news out of Austin, Texas, where a man was crowned “World’s Strongest Woman” before the title was revoked after it was discovered he was biologically male.
• Clay connects this to recurring topics on biological males in women’s sports and the broader “return to sanity.”

8. Listener Engagement: The Airline Reclining Seat Debate

• Clay resumes his “airplane travel terrorist” crusade, taking calls and messages from listeners who defend (or challenge) their right to recline on flights.
  • He jokingly calls seat-recliners "travel terrorists," arguing it’s inconsiderate to those seated behind.
  • Plays tongue-in-cheek listener voicemails defending the practice and provides his rationale—he chooses seats to minimize the risk of being reclined upon.

Quote:
"You are airplane travel terrorists. Not the kind who blow things up, but the kind who blow up decency in the friendly skies."
—Clay Travis (34:41)

Timestamps for Notable Segments

• Opening & Thanksgiving travel: 03:05–06:00
• White House Turkey Pardon & Trump’s remarks: 23:01–26:07
• Clay misses White House invitation: 04:36–06:01
• Border & Crime successes (Memphis stats): 12:30–15:58
• Nashville: city safety & bachelorette capital: 15:58–16:50
• Economy as the 2026 issue: 17:30–19:30
• Inflation and cost of living frustration: 18:25–18:46
• International peace effort—Ukraine-Russia: 26:07–32:37
• Trump’s humor (Pritzker “fat” joke): 33:54–34:31
• Travel “terrorist” listener segment: 44:01–45:47
• Transgender athlete controversy: 41:09–44:01

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Clay on rising costs:
  “Everything has skyrocketed... There is a visceral anger out there in America that crosses party lines from everybody that has to pull out their wallet.” (18:25)
• Trump at the Turkey Pardon:
  “I would never pardon those two people. I wouldn’t care what Melania told me — darling, I think it would be a nice thing to do. I won’t do it, darling.” (25:39)
• Clay, on seat recliners:
  “You are airplane travel terrorists. Not the kind who blow things up, but the kind who blow up decency in the friendly skies.” (34:41)

Episode Tone

• Conversational, humorous, and sharply opinionated
• Clay maintains a high-energy, accessible delivery with quick pivots between big political themes and everyday relatable frustrations.

Conclusion

This episode is a lively blend of political commentary, cultural observations, and listener engagement. Clay Travis uses current events and personal anecdotes to highlight the major national issue of inflation and the cost of living, while also updating listeners on international affairs, sharing lighthearted banter over the turkey pardon, and keeping the show interactive and entertaining. The overarching takeaway? Everything costs too much, and that visceral frustration is reshaping American politics as we head toward 2026.