The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

Guest Host: Brett Winterble
Episode: Hour 1 – Faith, Freedom, and America’s Future
Date: December 22, 2025

Episode Overview

In this energetic and impassioned hour, guest host Brett Winterble fills in for Clay and Buck, focusing on the changing tides in American politics and culture. The show explores themes of faith, traditional values, the evolving conservative movement, generational shifts, and the future of the Republican party as seen through recent political events and speeches at the Turning Point USA (TP USA) conference. Winterble fields calls from listeners around the country, discusses the influence of government and the moral compass of America, and weaves in the significance of community, responsibility, and optimism about America’s future.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Shifting Energy in U.S. Politics

• Winterble asserts that momentum is swinging toward conservative values, particularly among the youth. He references the recent Turning Point USA event as emblematic of new energy.
• Contrasts current Republican momentum with what he describes as stagnation within the Democratic party, noting a lack of fresh ideas since the Clinton or even Carter administrations.
• Quote:

  "The energy is with the youth and the youth is with freedom, not the pink o commie leftist sort of stuff." — Brett Winterble (04:20)

• Criticizes the left as focused on “what am I going to get” entitlements, and links their approach to outdated economic strategies from the FDR era.

2. Economic Agenda and the State of the Country

• The Trump administration’s approach is praised as “firing on all cylinders” concerning the economy, culture, faith, and strength (10:20).
• Winterble highlights improvements in inflation and the positive mood of the country compared to prior years, attributing this to conservative economic policies and less government interference.
• He rebuffs the idea that only “elites” benefited under past Democratic student loan forgiveness policies.

3. Faith and Religious Liberty

• J.D. Vance's Speech at TP USA:
  Vance argues that religious liberty is fundamentally a Christian concept and asserts that Trump has ended what he describes as a "war on Christianity."
  • Quote:

    “Even our famously American idea of religious liberty is a Christian concept. Because we're all creatures of God, we must respect each individual's pathway to that God. But over the last 50 years, there has been a singular focus, a war that has been waged on Christians… Of all the wars that Donald Trump has ended, that is the one we're proudest of.”
    — J.D. Vance (15:35)

• Winterble argues faith and spirituality are inseparable from the nation's well-being, especially during the holiday season.
• Notable Moment:
  The host calls for a renewed embrace of religious and moral values at the heart of the nation’s political outlook (16:12).

4. Electoral Strategy and the Importance of the Midterms

• Listener call-ins reflect deep engagement with the question of how Republicans can solidify gains by focusing on the 2026 midterms.
  • Bill from Massachusetts:

    "Republicans have to start focusing heavily on the midterms. If they don't get that, then the president's a lame duck and it's going to be hard to push anything from then on." (23:51)

• Emphasis on building a “bench” and getting better candidates and more voters registered.

5. Senate Procedures and Legislative Realities

• Mike Lee on Filibuster:
  Senator Mike Lee explains (26:11) the reality of passing legislation in the Senate, breaking the myth that 60 votes are always needed and suggesting Republicans use debate to their advantage.
  • Quote:

    "It doesn't take 60 votes to pass legislation in the Senate. ... The 60 votes is to force debate to come to a close ... There are other ways of getting there." — Mike Lee (26:11)

• Winterble underscores the need for assertiveness and taking lessons from history, referencing alliances in WWII and Reagan’s Democratic roots.

6. Generational Reflections and Moral Foundations

• Caller Spencer from Houston discusses America’s moral heritage, relating family history and the belief that only a moral people can sustain freedom.
  • “Their moral compass was different than ours. ... this is what Donald Trump and Jamie Vance are fighting, that it is a moral spiritual war, that only that kind of people will embrace freedom.” (32:12)
• Winterble affirms:

  "We have an unbroken promise that ... we as the American people, have the ability to do anything that we want as long as we want to do it."

7. J.D. Vance on Christian Politics and Policy

• Vance elaborates on Christian principles guiding policy: respecting labor, restricting visas that bypass American workers, protecting the elderly by ending Social Security taxes, and ensuring social programs help Americans, not fraudsters (33:24).
  • Quote:

    “A true Christian politics... must be at the heart of our full understanding of government. ... We believe in the inherent dignity of human work and every person who works a good job in this country. … It ought to go to Americans because that's who it's there for.” (33:24)

8. Grassroots Concerns: Cost of Living and GOP Free Speech

• Bill from Colorado values open debate within the Republican party, sees internal disagreements as healthy, and foregrounds concerns about the rising cost of food and immigration (40:29).
  • “The feuding is healthy and it's actually allowed within GOP. Aren’t we the party of free speech?” (40:29)
• Gene from Pennsylvania laments the party's tendency not to “fight back” (42:16), with Winterble assuring more is being done.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On political momentum:

  “There is not one particular person who is standing out on the left trying to sell you a plan that's going to work for you.” — Brett Winterble (10:55)

• On government interference:

  "I've never understood why. The default position of the progressive left … is that we must restrain innovation, we must restrain people choosing what they want to do with their lives." (13:05)

• On moral heritage:

  "Our government was designed for a moral people... it is a moral spiritual war, that only that kind of people will embrace freedom." — Caller Spencer (32:12)

Key Timestamps

• [02:59] Introduction by Brett Winterble, setting the show’s tone
• [04:20] The political energy shift and youth involvement
• [10:20] Four pillars of the administration: economy, culture, faith, strength
• [15:35] J.D. Vance speech on religious liberty at TP USA
• [16:12] Winterble’s reflection on faith in American life
• [23:51] Bill from Massachusetts on the importance of midterms
• [26:11] Mike Lee on how the Senate passes legislation
• [32:12] Spencer from Houston on generational moral values
• [33:24] J.D. Vance on a Christian approach to governance
• [40:29] Bill from Colorado on GOP free speech and pressing issues
• [42:16] Gene from Pennsylvania on the GOP’s fighting spirit

Tone and Style

Winterble brings a conversational, upbeat, and sometimes humorous style reminiscent of classic talk radio. Listeners and national figures are directly engaged, with an emphasis on faith, optimism, and a call to civic participation. While the episode is critical of progressive policies, it is at its heart a rallying call for renewed American values and forward-looking action.

Conclusion

This hour of The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show—hosted by Brett Winterble—delivers a passionate argument for a return to core American values of faith, freedom, and personal responsibility. Drawing on prominent conservative voices, listener participation, and historic reflection, it paints a picture of a movement growing in strength and optimism, rooted in moral and religious tradition, and optimistic about the American future.