The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

Episode: Hour 1 - Get Ready to VOTE
Date: October 28, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Clay Travis and Buck Sexton focus on the imminent 2025 elections, with particular attention to high-stakes local races in New Jersey, Virginia, and New York City. The discussion centers on the political spotlight in NYC, where the potentially radical policies of mayoral candidate Zoran Mamdani come under sharp scrutiny. Interspersed with personal anecdotes and signature humor, the hosts also touch on timely topics such as food stamps fraud, government shutdown politics, and the efficacy of progressive government programs. Throughout, they invite listeners to reflect on the direction of local and national governance as voting day approaches.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Countdown to the 2025 Elections and Civic Engagement

• Voter Urgency:

  • Clay Travis opens with a direct call to action:

    "One week exactly. Exactly until we are officially on the election day of 2025. New Jersey go vote. Virginia go vote. New York City Go vote." (02:25)

  • He shares his own experience voting for alderman, emphasizing local elections' significance.

• Political Stakes:

  • Clay hints at the critical nature of this year’s elections, noting enthusiasm and high projected turnout, especially in NYC.

2. New York City Mayoral Race: Spotlight on Zoran Mamdani

• Critique of Mamdani's Background and Integrity:

  • Clay Travis expresses incredulity at Mamdani’s rise, labeling him “a more transparent liar” and “shape-shifting amoeba.”
    • "He's 35 years old, never really done anything of any significance in his life, was raised in UGANDA, and unbelievably, 24 years after 9/11, we really have hit the Norm MacDonald joke..." (04:41)

• Controversial Islamophobia Anecdote:

  • Mamdani’s shifting story about his “aunt” fearing to wear a hijab after 9/11 is dissected.

    "He now says it wasn't his aunt, it was actually his father's cousin." (04:41) "[Mamdani:] I was speaking about my aunt. I was speaking about Zarafui, my father's cousin sadly passed away a few years ago..." (07:17)

• Buck Sexton's Analysis:

  • Buck draws parallels to the Jussie Smollett incident:

    "This is the Jussie Smollett. How dare you question me when I'm caught in my lie, sir? Well, yeah, actually that's how this works.” (07:59)

  • He challenges the premise of widespread Islamophobia after 9/11:

    "There was so little actual Islamic bigotry on display here after 9/11... They still have to make up stories like this Zoran Mamdani." (08:24)

3. Unpacking Mamdani’s Radical Statements and Policy Positions

• Quotes and Positions:

  • Clay and Buck highlight Mamdani’s past remarks that have resurfaced during the campaign.
    • On NYPD and IDF:

      "[Mamdani:] We have to make clear that when the boot of the NYPD is on your neck, it's been laced by the IDF." (11:41)

    • On policing:

      "[Mamdani:] We need to defund these institutions... We do not need police to be in these places. They do not create safety. We need to take this money, defund the NYPD and refund the people." (12:57)

• Clay’s Commentary:

  "He's a shape-shifting amoeba. That is just an actor more than anything else..." (13:24)

• Electoral Cynicism and Voter Rationalizations:

  • Buck critiques Andrew Cuomo’s lackluster campaign, arguing that voters rationalize Mamdani’s past radicalism by assuming he has “apologized” and will maintain moderate public figures:

    "He’ll keep Jessica Tisch in her role as NYPD commissioner... But how long does he keep her in that role?" (13:37)

4. The Role of Media, Adversarial Feedback, and Political Realities

• Listener Feedback:

  • Buck plays a “salty” podcast listener message calling Clay out on his campaign commentary, injecting levity and underscoring audience engagement. (21:31)

• Curtis Sliwa Endorsement & Guest Tease:

  • Clay references the upcoming appearance of Curtis Sliwa and his willingness to uphold a bet by wearing a red beret if Sliwa wins. (22:42)

5. National Issues: Government Shutdown, Food Stamps, and Policy Effectiveness

• Shutdown Politics:

  • Clay covers Senate developments and alleges that Democrats are keeping the government closed as an election tactic:

    "I think the calculus clearly is that Democrats have decided they want the government shut down, maybe to help juice turnout…" (24:16)

• Food Stamps/SNAP Critique:

  • Buck provides statistics: 40 million Americans are on food stamps, with an estimated $11-12 billion in fraud.
  • Clay and Buck question the real need vs. abuse in the food stamp program, tying it to broader cultural and health issues like obesity:

    "If you could wave a magic wand in this society, do you think we have a bigger issue in America with obesity or with starvation?" (29:42)

• Failed Progressive Interventions:

  • The hosts revisit Michelle Obama’s “food desert” initiatives, pointing out their lack of impact on consumers’ choices.

    "They were not able to statistically in any way measure any change in the buying habits..." (33:36)

6. Mamdani and Government-Run Businesses: Economic Realities

• Groceries and Central Planning:

  • The hosts explain why government-run grocery stores fail, citing business realities and New York-specific logistical challenges:

    "They had those in the Soviet Union. It did not work out well. They have them in Cuba now..." (34:12)

  • Clay lays out why public sector-run businesses in NYC face insurmountable operational hurdles.

• Broader Economic Cause & Effect:

  • Buck details how regulatory policies in NYC (e.g., parking, green initiatives) end up as hidden taxes, raising overall costs for residents.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “He's a theater kid, cosplaying radical, and so it's totally normal for him to make up the story of the aunt who... was the one who was too scared to ride the subway with her hijab. Give me a break, dude.”
  —Buck Sexton (09:53)

• “We have to make clear that when the boot of the NYPD is on your neck, it’s been laced by the IDF.”
  —Zoran Mamdani, clip played by Clay (11:41)

• “If you see what people are buying with food stamps…I see it in my grocery store. I shop, people using EBT cards…they’re getting soda and potato chips. People can say, ‘oh, that’s so classist,’ but that’s what they’re buying.”
  —Buck Sexton (29:21)

• “If you could wave a magic wand in this society, do you think we have a bigger issue in America with obesity or with starvation?”
  —Clay Travis (29:42)

• On government-run groceries:
  “They have them in Cuba now to get meat. Every now and then you will see video of all the people in Cuba lining up to try to go into their government run stores. They're never anything on the shelves.”
  —Clay Travis (34:12)

• Listener feedback:
  "Clay, I don't think my mayoral campaign's going very well, Buck..." (22:01)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Opening/Election Urgency: 02:25
• NYC Mayoral Spotlight—Mamdani Critique: 04:41
• Islamophobia Story Discussion and Scepticism: 07:17–09:53
• Mamdani’s Radical Statements (NYPD, IDF, Defund the Police): 11:41–12:57
• Commentary on Cuomo Campaign and Voter Rationalization: 13:24–15:29
• Listener Feedback Segment: 21:31
• Government Shutdown & Senate Dynamics: 24:16
• Food Stamp Fraud & Obesity Discussion: 26:53–29:42
• Food Desert Policy Failure: 31:14–33:36
• Government-Run Grocery Stores & Economic Realities: 34:12–37:29

Tone and Style

The episode is fast-paced, irreverent, and opinionated, with Clay and Buck combining news analysis, cultural critique, and wry humor. They challenge progressive orthodoxies, highlight left-wing political strategies, and urge their audience to participate energetically in civic life.

Closing Notes

The hour closes with a look ahead to further discussion on Mamdani’s influences, more campaign analysis, and upcoming guest Riley Gaines. The hosts promise continued scrutiny of radicalism on the left, connected by their broader theme of the 2025 elections as a crucial inflection point for the country.