The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

Episode: Hour 1 - Kamala Catastrophe
Date: September 23, 2025
Podcast: The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show (iHeartPodcasts)

Overview

Clay Travis and Buck Sexton dive into the latest political headlines, centering on the ongoing fallout from Kamala Harris's much-maligned book tour, the shifting priorities of progressive causes like climate change and Ukraine, the return of Jimmy Kimmel to television amid controversy, and the implications of media/corporate censorship. The hosts dissect the Democratic Party’s leadership vacuum, Kamala Harris's political missteps, left-wing cancel culture, and censorship—using both current events and humorous asides to connect with listeners.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. United Nations & Traffic Headaches

[03:00]

• Clay Travis kicks off discussing the chaos in New York City due to the UN General Assembly, joking about relocating the UN to limit disruption.
  • "If we're going to have the UN on US soil...we should have it in like, you know, Wilmington or Omaha or you name it. It should not be in New York City because it makes everything a mess for the 8 million people who actually live there for the two weeks it's there." (03:07, Clay Travis)
• Both hosts riff on the broader topic of government logistics and the tradition of neutral capitals (e.g., Brasília, Islamabad).

2. Trump at the UN & Climate Change Fatigue

[04:00]

• Trump’s firm stance at the UN, particularly pushing back on what he calls “climate change nonsense,” is praised.
• Buck Sexton notes media confusion over why climate change has fallen off the agenda.
  • "Sunday New York Times Magazine cover: 'Why does no one talk about climate change now?' That's hilarious." (05:28, Buck Sexton)
• The hosts frame this as emblematic of progressive trends that become passé: “It went from the thing they were obsessed with…to nobody cares about it.” (06:10, Clay Travis)
• Parallels drawn with the fading media focus on the war in Ukraine.

3. Democrat Disarray & Kamala Harris's Book

[06:30]

• Kamala Harris’s new book receives intense skepticism from both the hosts and, reportedly, political insiders.
  • “It’s just everybody just trashing this thing...” (06:47, Buck Sexton)
• Buck describes buying the book “for the team,” underlining his lack of enthusiasm.
• Discussion sets the stage for deeper examination of Kamala’s media missteps and lack of strong party leadership.

4. YouTube & COVID-era Censorship

[07:41]

• The hosts highlight YouTube’s admission that it censored voices regarding COVID, including those eventually proven correct.
  • "We were censoring everybody about COVID...who ended up being right about everything—our bad, you know, our bad. Sorry." (07:41, Buck Sexton)
• Personal anecdotes about channels being shut down and the general climate of “masking as a religion.”
• Buck frames these trends as indicative of a broader, left-wing cancel culture.

5. Jimmy Kimmel Controversy and Liberal Cancel Culture

[08:52]

• Jimmy Kimmel’s four-day suspension and rapid return is dissected, with the hosts suggesting left-leaning media figures are overly sensitive.
  • "These libs are such babies. This is not even a scintilla...of the cancellation and censorship and everything that the right has been dealing with for 20 years now, especially online." (09:53, Clay Travis)
• Howard Stern’s reaction is lampooned for canceling—then quickly intending to resubscribe to—Disney+.
• Buck sees Kimmel/Disney drama primarily as business-driven, notably Disney’s “headaches” regarding their news divisions and partnerships like the NFL network.
  • "If they could sell ABC News and get out of the news business completely, I think it's just a mess to them. It doesn't make any money. Jimmy Kimmel's show loses money at this point..." (10:36, Buck Sexton)
• Broader implications of media business interests soft-pedaling news to protect profits.

6. Decline of Sports News; Media as Middleman

[13:09]

• Clay describes a shift in sports broadcasting—from hard news to inane debates.
  • "It's always just people having inane discussions, like, is so-and-so's new coaching contract, like, too much or just about, right?...Who cares?" (13:09, Clay Travis)
• The business incentive is now “chatter in between” games, not journalism.

7. Kimmel’s Return: More on Hypocrisy and Ratings

[15:46]

• Hosts reiterate Kimmel’s return was inevitable, and leftists lack any real sense of what censorship means.
  • "Libs have no idea what actual censorship and being shut down is because they don't experience it." (15:46, Buck Sexton)
• Note made that not all ABC affiliates (Nextar, Sinclair) are carrying Kimmel’s show—potentially affecting accessibility for 35% of the audience.

8. Kamala Harris’s Book Tour & Political Vulnerability

[26:18]

• The main segment centers on Kamala’s Vice Presidency, media appearances, and her notorious flubs (“We’ve been to the border…”).
  • "She was disastrous in every role they pretended to give her. She didn't even have to do anything..." (26:18, Clay Travis)
• The Democratic Party’s leadership is described as adrift post-Biden, lacking clear figures compared to past eras (the Clintons, Obama).
  • "There has to be some group of people, if not one person, who are really driving the...decisions about where the party's going. And it's very unclear right now in a way that it has never been." (27:01, Buck Sexton)
• Commentary on Sunny Hostin of The View, with both inside and on-air stories underscoring behind-the-scenes tension and media partisanship.

9. Kamala’s Infamous “No Regrets” Gaffe

[30:40]

• Replay and analysis of Harris’s blunder on The View, denying she would have done anything differently than Biden:
  • QUOTE: "There is not a thing that comes to mind in terms of...and I've been a part of...most of the decisions that have had impact." (30:40, Kamala Harris on The View, October 2024)
• Both hosts lambaste Harris’s inability to provide a basic, prepared, or political answer to a predictable question.
• Sunny Hostin admits immediately realizing Harris’s answer was a disaster, then criticizes Republicans for "weaponizing" it—which the hosts ridicule:
  • "If you knew it was a moronic answer, Sonny. Everybody knew it was a moronic answer." (33:11, Buck Sexton)
  • "They didn't weaponize her answer. They just used her answer." (33:11, Buck Sexton)

10. Lessons in Political Communication

[37:37]

• The hosts offer off-the-cuff model answers they believe would have protected Kamala, emphasizing the basics: acknowledge challenges, pivot to attacks on Trump, and project optimism.
  • "That's a great non answer answer. But that's all she had to do...You don't say, I can't think of anything because that makes you seem like an empty vessel." (38:27, Clay Travis)
• Comparison to Sarah Palin's infamous “What do you read?” interview with Katie Couric.
• Communication and decision-making cited as the President’s two fundamental jobs. Trump’s skill at both is highlighted; Biden’s lack thereof lampooned.

11. Identity Politics & Democrat Coalition Strains

[46:09]

• Clay teases coming coverage about Harris’s vice-presidential selection and its complications due to competing “identity groups”—noting Rachel Maddow’s criticism that Harris wouldn’t consider Pete Buttigieg due to his sexuality.
  • "They've got a lot of pro and conned identity groups now that they're trying to keep together...And then you get this imbecile Tim Walls, who I would love if he lost the governor's race..." (46:09, Clay Travis)
• This intraparty tension is presented as a future liability for Democrats.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Sunday New York Times Magazine cover: 'Why does no one talk about climate change now?' That's hilarious." (05:28, Buck Sexton)
• "It went from the thing they were obsessed with...to nobody cares about it to now they're going to pretend they care again." (06:10, Clay Travis)
• "These libs are such babies. This is not even a scintilla...of the cancellation and censorship and everything that the right has been dealing with for 20 years now, especially online." (09:53, Clay Travis)
• "There is not a thing that comes to mind..." (30:40, Kamala Harris on The View, regarding regrets in the Biden administration)
• "If you knew it was a moronic answer, Sonny. Everybody knew it was a moronic answer." (33:11, Buck Sexton)
• "Trump is an elite communicator. I think he's making really good decisions, too. But those are the two jobs of the president. And if you can't do both at a high level, you're going to fail." (39:58, Buck Sexton)

Important Timestamps

• [03:00] – United Nations General Assembly gridlock and global elite logistics
• [05:28] – Climate change media fatigue and shifting public attention
• [06:30] – Kamala Harris’s book and Democratic Party disarray
• [07:41] – YouTube COVID-era censorship revelations
• [08:52] – Jimmy Kimmel controversy and liberal double standards on cancel culture
• [13:09] – Death of traditional sports news; the rise of sports commentary
• [15:46] – Kimmel's return and affiliate broadcast gaps
• [26:18] – Kamala Harris media tour, missteps, and the Democratic leadership vacuum
• [30:40] – Harris’s “no regrets” answer on The View
• [33:11] – Analysis of the “weaponized” flub and media partisanship
• [37:37] – Political communication advice: what Kamala should have said
• [39:58] – Presidential qualities: communication and decision-making
• [46:09] – Identity politics and VP selection drama

Tone & Style

• Conversational, irreverent, and sarcastic—Clay and Buck use humor to highlight what they see as double standards and incompetence both within the media and the current administration.
• Confident, occasionally caustic—especially when referring to left-wing politicians, celebrities, and media figures.
• Willingness to offer “advice” or demonstrate how they would have out-communicated their political opponents punctuates the analysis.

Summary Takeaways

• The episode frames Kamala Harris’s book and media appearances as emblematic of Democratic Party dysfunction and poor political communication.
• Shifting support for high-profile progressive causes (climate change, Ukraine) is derided as fashion-driven rather than convictional.
• The Kimmel controversy and YouTube’s admissions are positioned as evidence of liberal hypocrisy about censorship and free speech.
• Democratic reliance on coalitional “identity group” politics is cast as sowing the seeds for future instability and leadership paralysis.
• Throughout, Travis and Sexton fortify their points with anecdotes, media critiques, and pointed, humorous analysis, inviting conservative listeners to view current events through their skeptical lens.