The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

Episode: Hour 1 - Jennifer Welch is Awful
Date: December 10, 2025
Host: Clay Travis and Buck Sexton
Podcast: The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show (iHeartPodcasts)

Overview

This episode tackles the cultural and political fallout following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, focusing on the ensuing attacks against his widow, Erica Kirk—specifically highlighting the vitriolic rhetoric of left-wing podcaster Jennifer Welch. Clay and Buck analyze the state of masculinity and femininity in American politics, the shifting coalitions among Democrats, and the societal consequences of blurred gender roles and declining birth rates. Alongside their commentary, they explore viral moments, ongoing debates in women's sports, and the current political climate in light of recent local elections.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Attacks Against Erica Kirk & The Jennifer Welch Controversy

(24:20–36:43)

• Background:
  After the assassination of conservative figure Charlie Kirk, his widow, Erica Kirk, became the target of virulent criticism from left-wing commentators, most notably Jennifer Welch. Welch labeled Erica a "grifter" and likened her to Donald Trump, sparking outrage.

  “While this woman should be kicked to the curb, she is an absolute grifter, just like Donald Trump and just like her unrepentant, racist, homophobic husband was.” – Jennifer Welch [25:46]

• Hosts' Response:

  • Clay and Buck strongly condemn Welch’s comments, arguing that Erica is acting selflessly to preserve her husband's legacy, a role they frame as both noble and expected in marriage.

  • Clay:

    “She’s trying to ensure her husband did not die in vain... Advocating on behalf of your spouse who can no longer advocate for himself is one of the great aspects of marriage that we should all hope that our lives would embody.” [28:05]

  • Buck:

    “This absolutely nasty, ignorant, heinous woman is really the perfect Democrat. Yes, she's actually the distillation. She is purity. She is the ultimate Democrat Female in 2025, going into 2026.” [26:50]

  • They note the “explosive” popularity of Welch and similar voices online, raising alarms about the direction of left-wing digital media.

• Notable Moment:
  Democrat Senator John Fetterman publicly defended Erica Kirk, condemning attacks on a grieving widow regardless of political differences.

  “It shouldn’t be controversial to put our political views aside and extend the grace for a deeply traumatized family to grieve.” – quoting Fetterman via Clay [24:41]

• Discussion of Silence:
  Clay and Buck criticize those—especially Kirk’s public allies—who have failed to defend Erica, drawing a sharp distinction between left and right reactions to political tragedies.

2. Masculinity, Gender Politics, and Birthrate Decline

(05:58–16:29; 10:52–15:39)

• Viral Moment:
  Minnesota Governor Tim Walz claimed on Gavin Newsom’s podcast that Republicans are “intimidated by his masculinity,” sparking ridicule among the hosts.

  “This notion of toxicity and masculinity needs to be separated and I think it's been conflated... I think I scare them a little bit... Why they spend so much time on—No, I'm serious.” – Tim Walz (clip played) [06:49] “Tim Walz is a lesbian woman's idea of a man that will appeal to men.” – Clay Travis [07:04]

• ​Democrat Challenges with Masculinity:
  The hosts argue that the Democratic Party is unable to authentically connect with “normal guys”—their attempts to promote male politicians as masculine (e.g., “Coach Walz,” Carhartt-wearing campaigns) backfire due to tone-deafness on gender issues.

  • Buck:

    “To be in good standing with the Democrat Party, you have to... take positions that normal masculine men find preposterous, find demeaning, find abhorrent.” [08:33]

• Impact on Social Cohesion & Birth Rates:
  Clay links cultural confusion around gender roles to broader societal issues like declining birthrates.

  “The ultimate goal of our species is that we have to have children to propagate the species. We’re failing at that.” [10:52] “It’s actually good to get married in your 20s if you’re a girl. It’s actually good to have children in your twenties if you are female.” [12:16]

  • He cautions against the “girl boss” career-first ideal as potentially leaving women unfulfilled and society demographically unsustainable.

• Humor and Tone:

  • The hosts use irreverence and mock seriousness—discussions of “toxic masculinity,” “geriatric pregnancy,” and Christmas music gripes—to underscore their critique of contemporary social norms.

3. Gender Roles and Family Dynamics

(15:01–16:29)

• Clay and Buck reinforce the traditional family model:

  “Men should be masculine, women should be feminine, and we shouldn’t confuse the two. And that’s actually a very good thing.” – Clay Travis [14:15]

• Illustrative Anecdotes:
  Buck draws distinctions about parenting (kids calling for mom at night, dads defending the home), while Clay argues, “Gender roles exist for a reason.”

4. Political Commentary: Tennis, Democrats, and Miami Election

(04:17–05:53; 41:09–44:28)

• Viral Moment:
  Women’s world #1 tennis player Aryna Sabalenka’s condemnation of men in women’s sports is celebrated:

  “She's absolutely teed off on the idea that there should be any men involved in women's athletics at all... probably the most famous current women's athlete to have spoken out about this.” – Clay Travis [04:19]

• Miami Politics:
  Brief segment on a recent Miami mayoral race described as a “loss... toward socialism.” [41:19]

• Show Banter:
  The hosts end the hour with listener comments, jokes about Christmas gifts for adults, and ongoing in-house ribbing concerning Fox News appearances and “Brozee” (rosé for men). [43:41–44:28]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|---------|-------| | 06:49 | Tim Walz (clip) | “I think I scare them a little bit. No, I'm serious. Because I can fix a truck.” | | 07:04 | Clay Travis | “Tim Walz is a lesbian woman’s idea of a man that will appeal to men.” | | 08:33 | Buck Sexton | “To be in good standing with the Democrat Party, you have to take positions that normal masculine men find preposterous, find demeaning, find abhorrent.” | | 10:52 | Clay Travis | “The ultimate goal of our species is that we have to have children to propagate the species. We’re failing at that.” | | 14:15 | Clay Travis | “Men should be masculine, women should be feminine, and we shouldn’t confuse the two. And that’s actually a very good thing.” | | 25:46 | Jennifer Welch (clip) | “While this woman should be kicked to the curb, she is an absolute grifter, just like Donald Trump and just like her unrepentant, racist, homophobic husband was.” | | 28:05 | Clay Travis | “She’s trying to ensure her husband did not die in vain... advocating on behalf of your spouse who can no longer advocate for himself is one of the great aspects of marriage that we should all hope that our lives would embody.” | | 26:50 | Buck Sexton | “This absolutely nasty, ignorant, heinous woman is really the perfect Democrat.” | | 24:41 | John Fetterman (quoted by Clay) | “It shouldn’t be controversial to put our political views aside and extend the grace for a deeply traumatized family to grieve.” | | 34:56 | Buck Sexton | “The woman who’s attacking her is a psycho.” |

Segment Highlights with Timestamps

• Intro and Setup (02:36) — Clay thanks Birmingham listeners; previews topics.
• Women’s Tennis and Sabalenka (04:17–05:53) — Debate over women’s sports and tennis earnings.
• Masculinity and Tim Walz (05:58–07:04) — Mocking Walz’s masculinity claims.
• Masculinity and Democrat Coalition (07:54–08:33) — Failures in connecting with masculine men.
• Gender Rhetoric and Societal Impact (10:52–15:39) — Concerns over gender confusion and birth rates.
• Listener Banter (21:05–22:49) — On Christmas music controversies and old-guy behavior.
• Jennifer Welch Segment & Erica Kirk (24:20–36:43) — Host & guest reactions to the attacks on Kirk’s widow; Fetterman’s defense.
• Miami Election (41:09–41:24) — Brief summary of local election outcome.
• Show Wrap-up and Banter (43:41–44:28) — Playful exchanges about Fox News, Christmas gifts, and masculinity.

Tone and Style

The episode is fast-paced, irreverent, and laced with inside jokes and cultural commentary. Clay and Buck employ sarcastic humor and take clear ideological stances, balancing outrage with moments of levity and self-deprecation.

Summary Takeaway

This hour of The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show uses the controversy surrounding Jennifer Welch’s attack on Erica Kirk to spotlight broader trends in American politics and culture—specifically, denouncing left-wing rhetoric as toxic and divisive. It blends passionate defense of traditional gender roles and social cohesion with humorous critiques of political adversaries while urging their audience to “take stock” of shifting societal norms and political coalitions.