Summary of "Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show" – Episode: Hour 1 - PC Press Corps (Released June 26, 2025)

In this episode of "The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show," hosts Clay Travis and Buck Sexton delve into the contentious issues surrounding a recent military strike on Tehran, the subsequent leak of classified information, and the ensuing media frenzy. The discussion offers a critical examination of media biases, the integrity of the intelligence community, and the interplay between government officials and the press.

1. Intelligence Leak on Tehran Strike

[02:40] Ryan Seacrest:
Clay opens the episode by addressing a significant leak to major news outlets—CNN and The New York Times—concerning the effectiveness of the recent U.S. military attack on Tehran. The leaked information suggested that the strike was not as effective as presented, leading to a heated response from Pentagon officials.

[02:40] Buck Sexton:
Buck provides context, explaining that the leak appears to be an attempt to undermine President Trump's narrative of strength and effectiveness. He emphasizes the improbability of a single individual within the intelligence community having the authority or credibility to release such classified information without thorough validation.

Buck Sexton [04:31]:
"This was somebody who decided, I'm going to be the one who reigns on Trump's parade here. This was an individual, this was a deep stater... someone who did not have the interests of the United States in mind, but the interests of a very bitter and weak and feckless looking Democrat machine in mind."

2. Pentagon's Response and Criticism of the Press

[07:41] Ryan Seacrest:
Clay introduces a series of statements from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who vehemently criticizes the press corps for alleged bias against President Trump. Hegseth accuses the media of spreading half-truths and manipulated information to sow doubt about the success of the military operation.

[08:09] Pete Hegseth:

"You have to cheer against the efficacy of these strikes. You have to hope maybe they weren't effective... So let's take half truths, spun information, leaked information, and then spin it in every way we can to try to cause doubt and manipulate the mind of the public."

[10:12] Pete Hegseth:

"Time and time again, classified information is leaked or peddled for political purposes to try to make the president look bad... This was a historically successful attack and we should celebrate it as Americans."

3. Media Bias and Press Corps Accountability

[09:36] Buck Sexton:
Buck expands on Hegseth's criticisms, arguing that media outlets, particularly those with a liberal or left-leaning bias, are more interested in attacking the administration than in objective reporting. He compares the situation to past instances where leaks were used to sabotage presidential initiatives.

[13:27] Buck Sexton:

"The ability that the media has to attack them, trip them up, undermine them and then focus on that instead of what's actually happening is, is vastly diminished."

4. Gender Inclusion in Military Reporting

[11:37] Ryan Seacrest:
Clay and Buck address a specific incident where Hegseth was questioned about not acknowledging female pilots in his statement. Hegseth defends his language, emphasizing that terms like "our boys" are inclusive and not meant to exclude women.

[12:25] Ryan Seacrest:

"Why not acknowledge the female pilots that participated?"

[12:25] Pete Hegseth:

"When I say something like 'our boys and bombers,' this is a common phrase, I'll keep saying things like that, whether they're men or women."

Buck criticizes the media's focus on such linguistic choices, suggesting that it detracts from the primary narrative of military success and unity.

5. Intelligence Community's Stance on Trump

[29:11] Ryan Seacrest:
Clay poses a thought-provoking question about the loyalty within the intelligence community toward President Trump. He queries whether a significant portion of the intelligence workforce might be rooting for Trump's failure, thereby compromising national security.

[30:05] Buck Sexton:
Buck provides an analysis, breaking down support levels within different segments of the intelligence community. He estimates that active-duty military personnel show approximately 60% support for Trump, with higher support rates among warfighters and special operations members.

Buck Sexton [31:34]:
"Active duty military people are about 60, 40 pro Trump, 60%, 40% Democrat overall. Now, when you hone that down into warfighters... it gets a lot more like 80, 20. But the big military, you're looking at something like 60, 40."

6. Listener Perspectives and Critique of Media Practices

[36:03] Ryan Seacrest:
Clay shares anecdotes highlighting the media's obsession with gendered language, such as the replacement of "owners" with "governors" in the NBA, arguing that such changes are superficial and divert attention from substantial issues.

[43:31] Unnamed Speaker (Advertisement):
An interruption occurs with a sponsor message for Hyundai, which the hosts synchronize with their ongoing discussion without derailing the main narrative.

[44:32] Buck Sexton:
Buck discusses the broader implications of media narratives, suggesting that the focus on trivial linguistic issues reveals the media's inability to engage with more meaningful topics. He underscores the importance of maintaining focus on national and international security matters over petty language politics.

7. Language Sensitivities and Media Narratives

[36:23] Ryan Seacrest:
The hosts delve deeper into the absurdity of changing well-established terms to appease perceived sensitivities, mocking the idea that "owner" could be linked to slavery connotations.

[37:12] Buck Sexton:
Buck shares a clip from the NATO summit where a reporter questions Trump about being called "Daddy" by the NATO chief, reflecting on the media's tendency to sensationalize and misinterpret phrases.

Buck Sexton [37:12]:
"Mark Rutter, the NATO chief, who is your friend... He called you daddy earlier."

[37:37] Ryan Seacrest:
Clay humorously suggests that Trump could have embraced familial titles for the U.S., adding levity to the discussion about media reporting practices.

8. Conclusion and Teasers for Future Discussions

As the episode progresses, Clay and Buck briefly touch upon upcoming topics, including the New York City mayor's race and the rising socialist sentiments within the Democratic Party. They emphasize their commitment to providing in-depth analysis and engaging discussions on pressing political and social issues.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Buck Sexton [04:31]:
  "This was somebody who decided, I'm going to be the one who reigns on Trump's parade here... someone who did not have the interests of the United States in mind."

• Pete Hegseth [08:09]:
  "You have to cheer against the efficacy of these strikes... So let's take half truths, spun information, leaked information, and then spin it in every way we can."

• Buck Sexton [31:34]:
  "Active duty military people are about 60, 40 pro Trump... when you hone that down into warfighters... it gets a lot more like 80, 20."

• Buck Sexton [37:12]:
  "Mark Rutter, the NATO chief, who is your friend... He called you daddy earlier."

Final Thoughts

This episode of "Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show" provides a robust critique of media practices in the context of national security and political narratives. The hosts dissect the implications of intelligence leaks, defend the administration's actions, and challenge the media's focus on language over substance. Through incisive dialogue and strategic use of quotes, Clay and Buck offer listeners a perspective that underscores the tension between government transparency and media objectivity.