Hour 1 - Senate Passes Big, Beautiful Bill

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show – "Senate Passes Big, Beautiful Bill"

Podcast Information:

• Title: The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show
• Host/Author: iHeartPodcasts
• Description: Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics, and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.
• Episode: Hour 1 - Senate Passes Big, Beautiful Bill
• Release Date: July 1, 2025

---

1. Introduction to the Big, Beautiful Bill (02:04 - 05:00)

J.R. Martinez opens the episode by announcing the recent passage of the "Big, Beautiful Bill" in the United States Senate. Buck Sexton expresses immense excitement about the bill's progress, noting its significance and the anticipation of President Trump's signature:

Buck Sexton [02:09]: "Tuesday edition of the Clay, Travis and Buck Sexton show kicks off now. It is big, it is beautiful, and it is now law. The Big Beautiful bill has just moments ago passed in the United States Senate."

Key Points:

• The bill has successfully passed the Senate and awaits President Trump's signature.
• Buck anticipates minimal delay, comparing the passage to past debt ceiling negotiations.
• The discussion sets the stage for analyzing the bill's contents and implications.

2. Senate Passage Details and Key Votes (05:00 - 08:24)

Buck Sexton delves into the specifics of the Senate vote, highlighting the critical votes that determined the bill's fate:

Buck Sexton [05:00]: "Three Republicans, Rand Paul of Kentucky, Thom Tillis of North Carolina, not running next year, Susan Collins of Maine joined Democrats to vote against the bill."

Notable Votes:

• Rand Paul opposed the $5 trillion debt limit increase.
• Thom Tillis and Susan Collins also voted against the bill, citing concerns over fiscal responsibility.
• J.D. Vance provided the tie-breaking vote, ensuring the bill's passage.

J.R. Martinez emphasizes the last-minute negotiations and amendments, particularly those related to border security and national defense funding:

J.R. Martinez [07:00]: "The bill includes hundreds of billions for border security and national defense, increasing the budget deficit by about $3.3 trillion through 2034."

Key Insights:

• The bill's passage was narrowly achieved, reflecting deep partisan divisions.
• Majority Republican support was essential, with pivotal votes from moderates allowing the bill to pass.
• The inclusion of significant funding for border security was a focal point of negotiation.

3. Economic Implications and Growth Prospects (08:24 - 16:16)

The hosts transition to discussing the bill's economic impact, focusing on growth rates and deficit management.

J.R. Martinez poses critical questions about the economy’s ability to grow sufficiently to manage the increased deficit:

J.R. Martinez [06:37]: "The big question is how fast can the economy grow? Can we get it moving at 3% growth? That's my biggest question."

Buck Sexton agrees but raises concerns about entitlements:

Buck Sexton [11:15]: "Nobody wants to address entitlement spending. It's $37 trillion, not happening."

Key Discussion Points:

• Economic Growth: The necessity for accelerated growth (targeting 3-4%) to offset the deficit increase. Current growth rates are around 1.5-1.8%.
• Federal Reserve Policies: Potential for lowering interest rates to spur growth and unlock the housing market, which is currently stagnated due to high mortgage rates.
• Deficit Concerns: The bill adds $651 billion to the deficit, excluding interest costs, raising alarms about long-term fiscal sustainability.

Notable Quotes:

Buck Sexton [08:24]: "The House Budget framework was clear. No new deficit spending. The Senate's version adds $651 billion to the deficit."

J.R. Martinez [10:00]: "If we can grow the economy at 3%, much of this deficit can be managed effectively."

4. Critique of Entitlement Spending (16:16 - 19:28)

A significant portion of the discussion centers on the unsustainable nature of entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicare.

J.R. Martinez critiques the structure and future viability of these programs:

J.R. Martinez [13:13]: "Social Security is actually not a very good deal. Most Americans don't examine it because it's been established for a long time. The government takes your money, they give you a 3% return roughly on it."

Buck Sexton echoes these sentiments, emphasizing the political challenges:

Buck Sexton [14:34]: "People love their Social Security. The lunatic communists are going to tell people they're taking your Social Security and then they ruin everything."

Key Insights:

• Structural Deficits: Entitlement programs are predicated on a favorable ratio of workers to retirees, which is no longer sustainable due to demographic shifts.
• Political Resistance: Efforts to reform these programs are met with significant opposition, framed as attacks on earned benefits.
• Future Prospects: Without addressing entitlements, long-term fiscal health remains compromised, regardless of short-term economic growth.

Notable Quotes:

J.R. Martinez [15:08]: "Social Security is a big pyramid scheme now. The math doesn't add up for us to get the dollars back that we put in."

Buck Sexton [15:30]: "The average person pays into Medicare less than half of what they take out in terms of actual care costs."

5. Border Security and Alligator Alcatraz (19:28 - 37:40)

A unique segment focuses on the newly established "Alligator Alcatraz," a border detention facility in Florida designed to deter illegal immigration through strategic use of wildlife.

Buck Sexton introduces the concept with humor and detail:

Buck Sexton [24:08]: "President Trump went down to Alligator Alcatraz today... They've got this facility up and running in eight days."

J.R. Martinez and Buck Sexton engage in a humorous yet informative debate about the practicality and safety of the facility, emphasizing its deterrent aspects:

J.R. Martinez [26:09]: "Saltwater crocodiles kill more people in Australia than sharks do."

Buck Sexton [30:20]: "If you're an able-bodied adult human on land, you're in pretty good shape."

Key Points:

• Facility Features: Located in the Everglades, utilizing the natural habitat of alligators and crocodiles to prevent escapes and deter illegal entry.
• Deterrence Mechanism: The presence of dangerous wildlife serves as a natural barrier, reducing the need for extensive physical infrastructure.
• Effectiveness and Risks: While intended to be a formidable deterrent, the practical safety and ethical implications are debated.

Notable Quotes:

Buck Sexton [28:00]: "It's the idea that if somebody gets out, they're done for. Your chances of escaping safely are virtually zero."

J.R. Martinez [33:20]: "Florida's hospitable to all animal life now; you don't know what you're gonna run into."

6. Future Implications and Policy Considerations (37:40 - End)

As the bill moves towards finalization, the hosts discuss the broader implications for U.S. fiscal policy and international standing.

J.R. Martinez highlights the urgency of maintaining tax cuts to avoid significant increases:

J.R. Martinez [37:40]: "If there's no action on tax cuts, the U.S. faces the largest tax increase in history starting next year."

Buck Sexton ties in international concerns, referencing the upcoming BRICS conference:

Buck Sexton [38:07]: "BRICS is trying to get off the dollar as the world’s reserve currency. This would undermine our ability to fund current programs through debt."

Key Points:

• Tax Cuts: Ensuring the continuity of tax reductions is crucial to sustain economic growth and prevent backlash from massive tax hikes.
• International Economics: The BRICS nations' efforts to diminish the U.S. dollar's dominance could have profound impacts on the U.S. economy and its ability to manage debt.
• Economic Strategy: Emphasis on fostering robust economic growth as the primary mechanism to handle deficits without resorting to structural spending cuts.

Notable Quotes:

J.R. Martinez [41:22]: "The growth rate of the country is what can turn this into a net positive bill."

Buck Sexton [43:41]: "The debt is not being dealt with, and that is why the BRICS conference is so interesting."

7. Conclusion and Final Thoughts (37:40 - 46:38)

The episode wraps up with final remarks on the bill's passage, upcoming hosting changes, and a light-hearted discussion on Alligator Alcatraz.

J.R. Martinez previews upcoming shows and emphasizes the importance of the bill's successful passage for the Trump administration's agenda:

J.R. Martinez [42:26]: "With the Big Beautiful bill passed, Trump policies are officially underway. The pivot needs to be unlocking the full growth potential of the American economy."

Buck Sexton reiterates the focus on border security as paramount, asserting that without it, other fiscal measures are irrelevant:

Buck Sexton [36:32]: "If you don't get border under control, nothing else matters. First of all, you want conservatism. You keep letting the third world come in by the tens of millions."

Closing Remarks:

• Buck and Clay discuss logistics for the holiday shows, guest hosts, and maintain a light-hearted banter about alligators and crocodiles.
• The importance of the bill's passage is framed within the larger context of national security and economic strategy.

Notable Quotes:

Buck Sexton [45:08]: "Run faster than the alligator. That's the real important safety tip."

J.R. Martinez [44:25]: "Running diagonally doesn't take you further away from the alligator."

---

Overall Insights: The episode provides a comprehensive analysis of the Big, Beautiful Bill’s passage in the Senate, emphasizing its implications for the U.S. economy, fiscal policy, and national security. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton articulate a perspective that prioritizes immediate border security and economic growth as solutions to long-term fiscal challenges, while critiquing the political hurdles in addressing entitlement spending. The introduction of Alligator Alcatraz serves as a unique narrative to underscore the administration’s commitment to robust border enforcement. The discussion also touches upon international economic dynamics and the necessity for strategic tax policies to sustain growth and manage deficits effectively.

Key Takeaways:

• The Big, Beautiful Bill marks a significant legislative achievement with substantial impacts on border security and economic policy.
• Sustainable economic growth is deemed essential to manage increased deficits without deep structural spending cuts.
• Addressing entitlement spending remains politically challenging but is crucial for long-term fiscal health.
• Innovative approaches, such as Alligator Alcatraz, reflect the administration’s focus on enhancing national security through unconventional means.
• The broader international economic environment, including shifts in global reserve currencies, poses additional challenges that require strategic planning.

---

This summary captures the essence of the conversation between Clay Travis and Buck Sexton, highlighting their analysis and opinions on the Big, Beautiful Bill and its multifaceted implications for the United States.

Transcript

[Buck Sexton]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Clay Travis]

Step into the world of power, loyalty, and luck.

[Buck Sexton]

I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse.

[J.R. Martinez]

With family.

[Clay Travis]

Cannolis and spins mean everything.

[J.R. Martinez]

Now you want to get mixed up.

[Buck Sexton]

In the family business.

[Clay Travis]

Introducing the [e-mail] test your luck in.

[Buck Sexton]

The shadowy world of the Godfather slots.

[J.R. Martinez]

Someday I will call upon you to.

[Buck Sexton]

Do a service for me.

[Clay Travis]

Play the Godfather [e-mail] Welcome to the family. No purchase necessary.

[J.R. Martinez]

VGW Group voidware prohibited by Law 21.

[Clay Travis]

Terms and conditions apply. Let's talk photos. Not just storing them, showcasing them. You've got images that matter, whether you're a photographer, a business updating your followers, or just someone who wants to share life's moments the right way. So why hand them over to Big Tech's one size fits all cloud? Big tech companies are the fast food of photo sharing. Quick, easy, but not exactly gourmet. And what about your data integrity? Jalbum.net is the photo sharing solution that puts you in control. One want to host images on your own server? You can want a layout that actually reflects your brand or style. J Album's customizability is unmatched. And if you're a business sharing regular photo updates with your audience, this tool was built with you in mind. But don't just take our word for it. Over 230 million web pages have been created with Jalbum, and it's got stellar reviews on Trustpilot to prove it. So head to jalbum.net to download your free software and try it out. When you're ready to upgrade, use the code podcast for 20% off. You can your photos, your layout, your rules. Jalbum.net the Medal of Honor is the.

[Unknown]

Highest military decoration in the United States. Recipients have done the improbable, the unexpected, showing immense bravery and sacrifice in the name of something much bigger than themselves.

[Buck Sexton]

This medal is for the men who went down that day on Medal of.

[Unknown]

Honor Stories of Courage. You'll hear about these heroes and what their stories tell us about the nature of bravery. Listen to Medal of Honor on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

[J.R. Martinez]

Welcome to today's edition of the Clay, Travis and Buck Sexton show podcast.

[Buck Sexton]

Welcome everybody. Tuesday edition of the Clay, Travis and Buck Sexton show kicks off now. It is big, it is beautiful, and it is now law. The Big Beautiful bill has just moments ago passed in the United States Senate. Okay, I know Trump has to sign it, but you know it's happening. Trump's going to sign his big, beautiful bill. So the big, beautiful bill has gone through. It will be on the president's desk. This is huge. It is huge. We will get into some of the final items that were in this. We will discuss some of the no votes. There were some no votes. We'll also talk about how Elon Musk, formerly of Doge fame, pretty unhappy with the situation here of the $5 trillion debt ceiling raise.

[J.R. Martinez]

I think they're still potentially buck. A little bit of drama because I think the House will now have to come back and agree to some.

[Buck Sexton]

Oh, they have to go on the reconciliation side. I got ahead of myself there. Too excited. Too excited.

[J.R. Martinez]

So there will, there will be some drama.

[Buck Sexton]

That's the reconciling. It's going to go through. The House is already past it. It's going to go through. But thank you. Yeah.

[J.R. Martinez]

So here we go for the nerdy edition where there will continue to be drama.

[Buck Sexton]

For how long is that going to take, though?

[J.R. Martinez]

I don't know. I just. We have not spent a ton of time on the minute by minute because we knew that this was going to pass and it will pass on some level, but they still have some maneuvering. I think Trump wants it by July 4th. Right. Is the ideal day that he would sign it, which is Friday. And so I imagine that they are hoping that the House will sign off on the changes made by the Senate at some point in time in the next several days. But that's the time frame. So that is the last drama to be had before this thing is officially signed and underway with Trump.

[Buck Sexton]

It's not going to be, it's not going to be any drama. I mean, they're going to, you know what I mean? Like, come on, what's the drama going to be, Clay? Someone's really. The Republicans aren't going to actually do the thing that they've already said they were going to do. I don't, I don't see it. But yes, procedurally speaking, they have to reconcile it. Right. So the House says the Senate. The Senate says the House. Ok, so let's get into what is in the big beautiful bill, which I do believe is its official, is its official name. I'm just seeing now. I think it happened so recently, Clay, that all the, the news sites live and in real time here are still.

[J.R. Martinez]

Updating it legitimately passed as we came on the air like that.

[Buck Sexton]

Yes.

[J.R. Martinez]

The second absolute latest breaking news.

[Buck Sexton]

That's why I got all excited. Ok, so it was Happening in real time. We got to open the show with ah, it is past the Senate 51 50. And J.D. vance had to step in to.

[J.R. Martinez]

Right.

[Buck Sexton]

J.D. vance. I'm reading this in real time because it just happened. Just so you understand. This wasn't like an hour ago. It happened seconds or minutes ago. Three Republicans, Rand Paul of Kentucky, Thom Tillis of North Carolina, not running next year. Susan Collins of Maine joined Democrats to vote against the bill. Paul opposed the legislation's $5 trillion debt limit, et cetera. Okay, so Susan Collins, not a surprise, Rand Paul being Rand Paul, Trump's probably going to have some truths for him that are not very nice. And Thom Tillis here, Lisa Murkowski was the final piece. She backed the bill after discussions with Thune, 24 hours of motions and amendments. Senate Republican leaders altered the bill right up to the final moments. So this was, this was down to the wire, everyone to get the things they wanted to get into in here. Hundreds of billions for border security, national defense, increased budget deficit by about 3.3 trillion through 2020, 2034. Yeah, look, it's, I'll tell you, the White House is very excited about this. I think the economy is going to look really good as a result of this or rather there's gonna be a lot of good things that happen. Clay. We, we knew it would get through. Yeah. Tie breaking vote from J.D. vance. So it was a, it was a close run thing here. We knew it would get through. It's getting through now. Okay. The House reconciles it on their end. What are your thoughts as we sit here and bask in the glow of maga? Another win up on the board.

[J.R. Martinez]

So I think the big question is going to be how fast can the economy grow. So now that this bill is done, the ability to grow the economy is how we end up keeping from having to massively increase the overall debt. And so that is my biggest question. Can we get this economy moving at 3% growth? Doesn't sound outrageous to me, but it is better than we have been growing the economy over the past decade or so. 15 years on average. And so to me the biggest question out there is how fast can we grow the economy? To me, the secondary question on this is can we get the Fed to lower interest rates? Our interest rates are about 2% above where the EU is right now at 4.25. 4.5. You guys can correct me in the, in the studio if I get the percentages wrong. I think the numbers need to be around two and a half, frankly. Where the EU Is if that were to happen, then mortgage rates in theory are going to come back. That would unlock the housing market, which is, I think, the most frozen aspect of the American economy right now. Uh, so many of you got the two and a half or three percent, 15 and 30 year mortgages. Congrats. Uh, but it's been several years and we accelerated those so rapidly that lots of people are unwilling to sell their homes or move despite changing life circumstances because the difference between a 2 and a half and a 3 and a 7% mortgage rate is so massively substantial. If that starts to get unfrozen, then I think a lot of the other aspects of the economy will start to fire on all cylinders.

[Buck Sexton]

So the House Freedom Caucus, I was asking who's going to cause drama here. I was all excited, like, okay, this is finally happening. We're looking at a holiday coming up here, a great holiday weekend. Country's kicking ass, things going really well. House Freedom Caucus says, and this is as of the last 24 hours, House Budget framework was clear. No new deficit spending in the one big, beautiful bill. The Senate's version adds 651 billion to the deficit. And that's before interest costs, which nearly double the total. That's not fiscal responsibility. That's not what we agreed to. The Senate must make major changes and should at least be in the ballpark of compliance with the House budget framework. Are they really going to do this? I really going to do this?

[J.R. Martinez]

I think they're going to be some drama associated with this. And I think ultimately everybody, if the.

[Buck Sexton]

Drama is just so they get attention and then they let this go through, they're just being annoying. I'm just going to say this because we've already, we've already had this discussion.

[J.R. Martinez]

I get it. This is the best you're going to get. And there's people out there who are going to say, look, Rand Paul's right about the deficit. I think he is. Chip, Chip. Roy is right about the deficit. I think he is. This is the best bill that's going to pass. And you just saw. I have yet to see anyone come up with a bill that could get passage in the Senate and the House and do as much of this bill does. Politics is the art of the possible. I get people out there that are upset about the debt, the deficit. I am. Look, the reality is nobody wants to address the fact that entitlement spending, Social Security and Medicare make it virtually impossible to largely restrict the size of the federal government. And as soon as you mention that we get Flooded. And every politician does with, hey, that money is mine. I want it back. And so the structural issues we have at play here, and this is a challenge, and I don't want to be the want want guy, but the structural issues we have in play is there are way more older people now than there are younger people in many advanced countries in the world. And entitlement programs are predicated on there being way more younger people than there are older people. And if you are around our age, the math doesn't add up for us to get the Social Security dollars back that we put in. And that's just the reality. Without adjusting based on retirement ages, based on just looking at population tables, I presume that I'm going to get virtually nothing from Social Security. That's me. I'm 46. You know, people can start taking Social Security. I think it's 62, so I'm not that far away. Well, I don't think it's going to be there.

[Buck Sexton]

This is why I find the whole thing frustrating. And, and I appreciate that Rand Paul wants to. Senator Paul wants to have his voice heard on this. And mathematically he's right, but politically he's wrong because no one's going to do anything about this right now. And there's no willingness among the American people, even people who say they want to tackle the debt, to do it. It's like having a debt ceiling fight. It's a fake fight because we always raise the debt ceiling and we're. And then if they default, they don't really. Rather, there's discussion about default. They're not really going to default. So it just becomes tiresome and you lose. It's the boy who cried wolf. You lose public interest. And I think that, yeah, until people want to talk about entitlements, just to keep spending the money we have to spend to achieve the priorities of the Republican Party. If we don't have a secure border and we don't deal with the illegal immigration issue, Medicare and Social Security in 30 years going to be the least of our problems because we're not going to have a country anymore. So the hundreds of billions of dollars that are going toward border security and the deportation efforts of the illegals who piled in under Biden is absolutely essential. A lot of the things that are covered in the big beautiful bill are going to be, I believe, rocket fuel for the economy. Growth is also really important. Remember, nobody's factoring in the. Trump wasn't, I should say factoring in Trump's tariffs into financial and fiscal matters for the country. It's already $120 billion and it's just getting going. So, you know, there are other pathways maybe that could be considered here that might make the situation better now. I mean, I did, I will say I know that Trump had to sign itself. I forgot that now the House has to reconcile on their side for a second. And I think they're just going to do what they do. We're going to get a bunch of windy speeches about, oh, the debt, the debt, the debt, and then they're going to, and then they're going to vote for it. I don't understand what's. We, we, we all get it. We all understand. There's nothing else to be said. Until, until you want to deal with entitlements, everybody, you don't want to deal with the debt. End of story, full, full stop, end of conversation. And nobody wants to deal with entitlement. So let's just do what we can to achieve the agenda we've got. While Trump's running things, I think that.

[J.R. Martinez]

There'S going to be a recognition that entitlement spending is out of control and everybody's going to have to get their benefits cut. And we should have, we should have a real conversation about Social Security and the fact that it's actually not a very good deal. And most Americans just don't really look into it because it's been established for a long time. The government takes your money, they give you a 3% return roughly on it. And if you die, this is all falling on deaf ears.

[Buck Sexton]

You know that? This is all falling on deaf ears. People love their, People love Social Security. And you know what the problem is, Clay? The lunatic communists who are certainly right now sitting around, a lot of them praising the Mamdani wing of the Democrat Party, they're not going to get into what you're talking about. They're just going to tell people they're taking your Social Security and then they lose and then the communists are in charge and then they ruin everything. So this is, this is the political reality of America right now. And Trump sees it. And I, that's why I have my patience for this thing and my patience even for beyond. Yeah, of course, hear it out, make the case, tell everybody the numbers. But standing in the way of the Trump agenda because you say that you're not getting the cuts you want, you're not getting the cuts, ok, it's not happening. You're not, you're not, you're not actually going to deal with the debt. It's $37 trillion. Not happening.

[J.R. Martinez]

How many people do you think even understand Social Security? What percentage of the American population?

[Buck Sexton]

I mean, they know that they get money when they're. When they're older and they need it. I mean, that's all they care to know.

[J.R. Martinez]

But the fact that it's an awful deal and if you got to keep your own money and you just put it in index funds, you would.

[Buck Sexton]

Don't trust themselves. People don't. They would spend it. People would spend it on a Jet Ski and then they'd say, oh, but I need help now. And, you know, this is. This is the problem, people. Everybody wants somebody else to pay for their stuff, not realizing that they're the ones paying for the stuff they think is coming from other people.

[J.R. Martinez]

I think the biggest challenge is it's so embedded now that most people don't even examine the underlying concept, which is basically a big pyramid scheme. And it's predicated on there always being way more young people than there are old people. And we're not in that era anymore, Clay.

[Buck Sexton]

The average person pays in to Medicare less than half of what they take out of Medicare in terms of the actual cost of their care. But if you tell anybody that you're going to change Medicare, you know what they say? I paid for that. It's not welfare. It's an entitlement. I've paid for it. I deserve it. Okay, well, if I give you money for one ice cream cone, but you keep giving me two ice cream cones, you're going to run out of ice cream cones. Nobody wants to hear it. And honestly, that's. I'm excited about the border. I'm excited about saving the country. I'm excited about the Trump agenda being funded. You know, I'm with Stephen Miller on this stuff, man. Like, we got to save the country now, and we'll figure out the debt later. When people want to have big boy conversations about it, they don't actually. The American people do not want to have the conversation.

[J.R. Martinez]

The answer then becomes the growth rate is everything.

[Buck Sexton]

Yep.

[J.R. Martinez]

Because the growth rate of the country is what can turn this into a net positive bill. So if you are optimistic on AI, if you want to unleash individual American meritocracy, if we ever got the country growing at 4% again, all of these issues vanish, basically, right? 4% a year. 4% a year. 4% A year. We're growing at like 1.5% a year, 1.8% a year. The overall growth rate of the American economy is the key. If Overall, spending is not going to be addressed. And there doesn't seem to be a political will, unfortunately, as you and I believe there should be. If you look at just the basic books, the political will isn't there to address, well, the spending. And so we live in a magic.

[Buck Sexton]

We have to understand it's not convincing Republicans to tackle the debt. It's dealing with the fact that Democrats will call you heartless, you know, ruthless, throwing old ladies off their Medicare and taking away Social Security from hardworking Americans so they can seize power and act like communist maniacs. That's the problem. So this is, it's not just like we're having a talk on our side.

[J.R. Martinez]

And also the concept of cut, which the media, I think, does a poor job of slowing the rate of growth, is not a cut. It's still a growth. But they have managed to create this idea, well, we're going to dial back the growth of the, of the, of the overall spending and that is seen as a cut. Oh, you're cutting spending? No, spending still growing. It's just not growing at the same rate. And honestly, I think a lot of this is just communication failure. I don't think people know the details. I think a lot of people don't care to know the details.

[Buck Sexton]

Spoiler alert. It's going to pass and Trump's going to end up signing it. And everyone who's chirping about this from the Congress in the meantime is going to go along with what's basically there, just throwing it out there for everybody. But the debt is not being dealt with, that is for sure. And that is why the BRICS conference is so interesting. It's going on next week, right around this time. Brazil, Russia, India, China, you know what they're trying to do? Get off the dollar as the world's reserve currency. Why does that matter? Well, that would be a huge lifestyle change for all Americans if that happens. And as it happens over time, it means that we can't fund the things that we fund right now with money printing the same way because other countries aren't going to buy our debt. And we can't just print our way out of whatever our problems are. This is why you need to take action now. And not everything can be solved by this Trump administration. The debt is not going to go away in the next four years. Try gold, my friends. Protect your IRA or 401k from the fallout of the money printing reality from the inflation that's going to continue. With the Birch Gold Group's help, you can diversify into gold. I mean actual physical gold. You could Also transition an IRA or 401k into a gold IRA. Birchgold is the best at this. This is who you should go with. Text My Name Buck to 989898 Text Buck to 989898 that's right. Text My Name Buck to 989898 Today with Birch Gold Group.

[Unknown]

This July 4th celebrate freedom from spills, stains and overpriced furniture with Annabe, the only machine washable sofa inside and out where designer quality meets budget friendly pricing. Sofas start at just $699, making it the perfect time to upgrade your space. Annabe's pet friendly, Stain resistant and interchangeable slipcovers are made with high performance fabric that's built for real life. You'll love the cloud like comfort of hypoallergenic high resilience foam that never needs fluffing and a durable steel frame that stands the test of time. With modular pieces you can rearrange anytime. It's a sofa that adapts to your Life. Now through July 4th get up to 60% off [e-mail] Every order comes with a 30 day satisfaction guarantee. If you're not in love, send it back for a full refund. No return shipping, no restocking fees. Every penny back. Declare independence from dirty outdated furniture. Shop [e-mail] Offers are subject to change and certain restrictions may apply.

[Clay Travis]

Let's talk photos. Not just storing them, showcasing them. You've got images that matter. Whether you're a photographer, a business updating your followers, or just someone who wants to share life's moments the right way. So why hand them over to Big Tech's one size fits all cloud? Big tech companies are the fast food of photo sharing. Quick, easy, but not exactly gourmet. And what about your data integrity? Jalbum.net is the photo sharing solution that puts you in control. Want to host images on your own server? You can want a layout that actually reflects your brand or style. Jalbum's customizability is unmatched, and if you're a business sharing regular photo updates with your audience, this tool was built with you in mind. But don't just take our word for it. Over 230 million web pages have been created with J Album, and it's got stellar reviews on Trustpilot to prove it. So head to jalbum.net to download your free software and try it out. When you're ready to upgrade, use the code podcast for 20% off your photos, your layout, your rules jalbum.net the Medal.

[Unknown]

Of Honor is the highest military decoration in the United States. Recipients have done the improbable, showing immense bravery and sacrifice in the name of something more, much bigger than themselves.

[Buck Sexton]

This medal is for the men who went down that day. It's for the families of those who didn't make it.

[Unknown]

I'm J.R. martinez. I'm a U.S. army veteran myself, and I'm honored to tell you the stories of these heroes on the new season of Medal of Stories of Courage from Pushkin Industries and I Heart Podcast from Robert Blake, the first black sailor to be awarded the medal to Daniel Daly, one of only 19 people to have received the Medal of Honor twice. These are stories about people who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor going above and beyond the call of duty. You'll hear about what they did, what it meant, and what their stories tell us about the nature of courage and sacrifice. Listen to Medal of Honor on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast.

[J.R. Martinez]

We are going to have some fun with all of you. Trump is down at Alligator Alcatraz. We'll have some some discussions about that. It is the last show that Buck and I will do before July 4th. We're going to have Tutor Dixon, our friend from Michigan, part of the Clay and Buck Podcast Network, in guest hosting tomorrow and then Brian Mudd will be guest hosting on Thursday Friday Best of on the July 4th holiday. I'm down on the Gulf of America and it is fabulous and I'm looking forward to hanging out with you guys and having some fun. Talking about best movies. Gallup Polls more as we roll through the program, but I want to tell you all about Cardia right now. You can make sure that you have the best possible heart health with Cardio Mobile, the perfect way to manage your heart health at home. You can easily see, see and use your 6 views of the heart that records right to your phone better than the data of any smartwatch at a fraction of the cost. Give yourself peace of mind. Save 10 off both Amazon and on Kardia's website too. That's K A R D I-a.com on Amazon. You can use the code 10 6L Clay. That's the number 10 as in 10 off the Kardia Model 6 6L Clay to get 10% off your Cardia Mobile 6L today. That's cardia.com code 106L Clay go get signed up today. Check out cardia.com K A R D I a.com.

[Buck Sexton]

Alligator Alcatrax. You may have heard of this one. President Trump went down to it today. It is a reference to a new holding facility set up here in the state of Florida for illegal immigrants in the Everglades, which is actually quite a lovely place. It is not a swamp in the sense that people think of. It is fresh water. It's actually quite clean. The aquifer there provides drinking water for those of us down here in South Florida. Not home to a lot of flamingos, despite what you may think or may have said recently, but a lot of alligators, that is for sure. And I'm surprised I didn't get lit up on this one, Clay, because you brought up the crocodile issue before. Yes, there are. It's the North American crocodile. So there are crocodiles here. Yes, there are not that many of them, but there are crocodiles in Florida. It is a. It is a particular type, the saltwater crocodile. Even though the North American crocodile can go in salt water, the saltwater crocodile refers to the very large one in Australia. But the most dangerous is, in fact the Nile crocodile. When it comes to number of people killed. Now, that may be not just the crocodile, maybe proximity to people in certain countries. Anyway, that's. Have we gotten into our crocodilians enough? Are we good now, having been to.

[J.R. Martinez]

Australia, I will say this. How unfair is it that in Australia you have to be concerned about crocodiles and sharks? When you actually get in the water at the beach, doesn't it seem a little bit unfair that you could be. I think saltwater crocodiles kill way more people in Australia than sharks do, but it seems very unfair. Have you seen some of those videos of the saltwater crocodiles, like just off the shore in, in Australia where you can't even see them at all. And I mean, it seems, I just think it seems unfair to think that you could be attacked by a crocodile while walking along the beach, which can happen in Australia.

[Buck Sexton]

Australia has recorded a total of 44 fatal, fatal crocodile attacks. So that's officially speaking. So it's a. It's usually like a couple a year, I think is what they get. One or two a year. It's a rough way to go. So why are we talking about this? Well, because the president.

[J.R. Martinez]

We agree on. It's a rough way to go.

[Buck Sexton]

It's a rough way to go. You don't want, you know, they get into the death roll, they grab you, they spin, you drown, you're being eaten. It's not good it's an unpleasant way to go. The president's talking about this. This is. We're not just turning this into an episode of Wild Kingdom for no reason. President Trump came down here to the great state of Florida in. Gosh, you know, I'm not that good at the Florida pronunciations yet. I have to admit. There's some funky ones. Ochapi, is that right, guys? I live here, but I don't know all of the. There's some. There's some tough, tough ways to. I should just have Clay read them. Clay, what do you think? Ochapi.

[J.R. Martinez]

What are the odds that I'm going to correctly pronounce anything on this show?

[Buck Sexton]

Well, at least then the pronunciation police will come for you. Trump at alligator Alcatraz. Here he is. Cut to play was nice, and the job they've done is fantastic. And this is what you need. And Ron worked beautifully with Christie and all of the people at Homeland Security and got it done in him. And eight days, all the new facility was up and running. You kind of heard it there. He's saying they. They set it up. It's fantastic to happen. Very quickly, they've got this thing going. Eight days, this facility was up and running. So what they're saying is they're going to be able to hold. They're going to be able to detain people in this. It's. It's like an airstrip. I've seen video of it. The Attorney general here, Attorney General Uthmeyer did a video of this. And this way, people can be taken right there, detained, processed, and removed. And a lot of them would be removed to countries south of the United States. So South Florida is a pretty convenient place to stage these. These deportations from. And Trump is going all in on this one. Clay, He's. He showed up today to talk about it. He said, this is cut six. He said, whatever you do, if you escape alligator Alcatraz, don't run in a straight line.

[J.R. Martinez]

Alligator Alcatraz.

[Buck Sexton]

It's the idea that it does get eaten by an alligator or a space. I guess that's the consciousness sense. This is not a nice business. I guess that's the concept if you, you know, snakes are fast, but alligators, we're going to teach them how to run away from an alligator.

[J.R. Martinez]

Okay.

[Buck Sexton]

If they escape prison, how to run away, don't run in a straight line. Run like this, and you know what? Your chances go up about 1%. Okay. Not a good thing.

[J.R. Martinez]

This is true. Do you know Buck and I've always wondered about this they say that you need to run because alligators have great straight line speed. Right. Do you know this? I, I've done the research.

[Buck Sexton]

They're much faster on land than people think they are because they assume they're mostly water, you know, aquatic.

[J.R. Martinez]

So if you don't run in a straight line, your odds are better because the alligator doesn't shift and change direction very well. Here's the problem. If you run in a diagonal, eventually you run back into the alligator. No one ever. Have you thought about this? Like if you just run in zigzags, eventually you cross right back in front of the alligator. What am I missing here? You're hoping that the alligator is going to follow you on the zigzags. The problem is if the alligator just keeps running straight, you run right back into the alligator. So I don't even under, really understand the zigzag idea. Do you understand what I'm saying? Like if the alligator just stays committed to his line, you just run right back into him. But that's what they tell you to do.

[Buck Sexton]

Yeah, I, I don't, I don't think the zigzag maneuver, first of all, if you try to zigzag, you might zag when you should zig.

[J.R. Martinez]

That's what I'm saying. Like you might run right back into the alligator. Like, if the alligator stays committed to his line, he's going to eat you.

[Buck Sexton]

No, I, I don't, I, I think you just run as fast as you can if you're online, but they're not going to, they're really not going to chase you. On land, what's dangerous for people is when you are at the water's edge and that's where they'll do, you know, their, their predatory behavior. So if you're a small per, if you're a, if you're a pet or a kid, you know, if you're a smaller person or sometimes elderly people, unfortunately, what's happened here in Florida, there have been a few fatalities in the last few years. Elderly people with a dog. Yeah, the alligator actually goes after their small dog and then they try to defend the dog and then the alligator goes after the elderly person. That has happened. Right. So if you are an able bodied adult human on land, you're, you're, you're in pretty good shape. With a gator, you definitely don't want to be. I think someone actually just was in a canoe and got flipped over and killed an alligator recently that just happened. So yeah, you don't want it. You don't want that to happen either. That's very rare, though. That was a very big gator too. That was like a ten footer.

[J.R. Martinez]

Yeah, the alligator Alcatraz. We, we said on this program, Trump is going to love this. We know that Trump wanted to bring back Alcatraz, but we knew that he would absolutely love this idea. And it actually does make a lot of sense because the initial idea behind Alcatraz was you spend less on having to build walls and everything else, because if somebody gets out, they're done for. The idea that you're going to flee through the swamp and get back to some form of safety, virtually zero. Virtually zero percent chance of you being able to escape and be safe, which means that your requirement in terms of building walls and everything else is actually diminished substantially. And I knew that he would love the concept of the alligator Alcatraz. And I give credit to the state of Florida for coming up with this idea because nobody wants to try to swim across a swamp to get away from anything. Even if your odds of getting attacked by the alligator are low, your odds of fleeing through the Everglades are virtually non existent safely in daylight.

[Buck Sexton]

I'm just going to say this, you know, you're probably going to be okay getting away from the. They're, they're more nocturnal hunters. Nighttime. If you're chest deep in the Everglades, I wouldn't like that. I wouldn't, you know, if you had to go.

[J.R. Martinez]

A lot of the challenge is you don't really know because of the sawgrass, where land is or how reliable it is to be land. Right. So in addition to the fact that you're going to have to constantly be wading through water, it's going to be hot, there's going to be a lot of mosquitoes, there's going to be a lot of those pythons and anacondas. Now the challenge is everything that can live lives in the Everglades. Right. Florida is so hospitable to virtually all animal life that nowadays, like, you don't even know what you're gonna run into. Some of those anacondas that they now.

[Buck Sexton]

Have in the pythons, they're not even scary, they're pythons.

[J.R. Martinez]

I think they're anacondas now too, aren't there?

[Buck Sexton]

I'll check. I don't, I don't want to get anything wrong. Florida people light me up, say I'm a fake.

[J.R. Martinez]

Florida. I think basically if you can have an animal and it has, you know, they say Hurricane Andrew is what initially it was an Andrew There have been.

[Buck Sexton]

There have been sightings of pet green anacondas that have been released into the. I mean, so, yes, they're an introduced, but this is a little bit like, are there alligators in Harlem? No, but there was a guy with an alligator in Harlem, New York, like a long time ago because he had it as a pet. Right. It's a real story. There's a guy with like, I think he had an ocelot, an alligator, like a bunch of things. So, you know, that can happen.

[J.R. Martinez]

It's so hospitable that if you release the pet, it will survive. And so, yeah, there are anacondas there now. Certainly there's tons of pythons. And the pythons have reproduced to such an extent that they have huge python searches. Now, your odds of getting out of the anaconda of the alligator Alcatraz, virtually zero.

[Buck Sexton]

Well, also, I mean, what if your options are make a run for it from alligator Alcatraz because you're an illegal who's going to get sent back to your country, make a run for it in this, in this water, which does have a lot of gators, or just get sent home to wherever and maybe try to come back in the United States some other time or find some other place to live. You know what I. It's not like people are being sentenced to life in prison here, is what I'm saying. So you don't need the same level of deterrence to get into that water. You know what I mean? If you were in Alcatraz and you were serving a life sentence, you know, maybe you risk swimming to shore or not. Maybe you decide it's worth, worth a go. If you're waiting a few days before you get deported to, I don't know, Guatemala or wherever, probably just get on the plane and figure things out later. I'm not, I'm not sure that I would take the risk of, of going chest deep in the Everglades. I'm going to take you, Lar, and the voice, by the way, on an alligator Everglades tour. I've been telling you this all along. It's amazing.

[J.R. Martinez]

That was really, really cool. It's really cool.

[Buck Sexton]

The Everglades is actually beautiful. It's a really pristine and amazing wilderness area. And alligators, when you get up close, them are incredible animals. They're a little bit like dogs.

[J.R. Martinez]

I been obsessed with alligators my whole life, so I find them to be utterly fascinating and actually way more interesting than sharks because you're more likely to be around freshwater on a regular basis. Than you are the ocean, generally speaking. And I just, I love this idea. And I think what it speaks to is now that the big, beautiful bill is passed and they have to go back and the House has to get involved in everything else, I think that many of the Trump policies are going to be officially underway. And again, I would suggest that the pivot at this point needs to be to let's unlock the full growth rate and potential of the American economy, because that's what will ultimately make this bill a one that really kind of gets everything firing on all cylinders.

[Buck Sexton]

And this is why I think the, just the border issue alone for me and the funding and the components of this bill that deal with the border, if you do, if you get nothing else but that, it's worth passing this bill, because if you don't get that under control, nothing else matters. First of all, you want conservatism. You keep letting the third world come in by the tens of millions. Conservatism, good luck with that. And you're not going to have a country left to fight for in the, in the first place. So, yeah, these other things, they're structural, they're long term. I get it on the numbers. But, Clay, you know, I've been doing this for 15 years. It's just, yes, you're, you know, it's going to go back to House now and we're going to, you know, Chip Roy and some people, and I like these people, I'm not putting, but, you know, it's, they're going to, they're going to sign off on this. So we're going to hear some, some chirping about some things, and we already know the things. And then the, and then Trump's going to sign it and it's going to be great Independence Day weekend for everybody. So I just, it's like the debt ceiling fights. I just wish we could skip all the nonsense and everyone could just be, you know, honest about what's really going to happen here. What we're not going to, we're not going to enact the Trump agenda as Republicans, you know, we're, we're not actually going to allow him to secure the border. Come on.

[J.R. Martinez]

And I think the other part of this that is super important is the tax cuts are set to expire. So if there is not action taken, then everybody in the whole United States is going to see their tax rate increase, which is exactly what Democrats would want. So the ultimate policy in place has to be continue the tax cuts going forward, otherwise we're going to get the largest tax increase in history starting at first of the year.

[Buck Sexton]

Words of wisdom to live by. Make sure you have a will. When the time comes that you're no longer on this earth, you don't want to have your loved ones guessing about what your wishes are. A will is invaluable in those moments. Look, I know this isn't like fun to talk about, but you should have a will. Everybody should have this done. And creating a will has been easier, is made easier than ever before thanks to our [e-mail] youm don't need to hire a lawyer to create your own will or trust. I mean you can do that, but you can also go online to a website specifically set up to help you author your own and that's trustandwill.com only a third of Americans have a will. That number is far too low. This is something you just, just get it done and then it's done. Then you have to think about it. Then you know you have that peace of mind that you've taken care of this action item and your family will have the peace of mind of knowing what your wishes are when the time comes. Go to trustandwill.com make this simple. Make the simple decision today. It's affordable, it's easy to use. The website is trustandwill.com they're experts in creating personalized trust and wills that protect your legacy.

[Unknown]

This July 4th celebrate freedom from spills, stains and overpriced furniture with Anabe, the only machine washable sofa inside and out where designer quality meets budget friendly pricing. Sofas start at just $699, making it the perfect time to upgrade your space. Annabe's Pet Friendly Stain resistant and interchangeable slipcovers are made with high performance fabric that's built for real life. You'll love the cloud like comfort of hypoallergenic high resilience foam that never needs fluffing and a durable steel frame that stands the test of time with modular pieces you can rearrange anytime. It's a sofa that adapts to your Life. Now through July 4th, get up to 60% off site [e-mail] Every order comes with a 30 day satisfaction guarantee. If you're not in love, send it back for a full refund. No return shipping, no restocking fees. Every penny back. Declare independence from dirty outdated furniture. Shop [e-mail] Offers are subject to change and certain restrictions may apply.

[Clay Travis]

Let's talk photos not just storing them, showcasing them. You've got images that matter, whether you're a photographer, a business updating your followers, or just someone who wants to share life's moments the right way. So why hand them over to Big Tech's one size fits all Cloud? Big tech companies are the fast food of photo sharing. Quick, easy, but not exactly gourmet. And what about your data integrity? Jalbum.net is the photo sharing solution that puts you in control. Want to host images on your own server? You can want a layout that actually reflects your brand or style. Jalbum's customizability is unmatched. And if you're a business sharing regular photo updates with your audience, this tool was built with you in mind. But don't just take our word for it. Over 230 million web pages have been created with Jalbum, and it's got stellar reviews on Trustpilot to prove it. So head to jalbum.net to download your free software and try it out. When you're ready to upgrade, use the code podcast for 20% off your photos, your layout, your rules jalbum.net the Medal.

[Unknown]

Of Honor is the highest military decoration in the United States. Recipients have done the improbable, showing immense bravery and sacrifice in the name of something much bigger than themselves.

[Buck Sexton]

This medal is for the men who went down that day. It's for the families of those who didn't make it.

[Unknown]

I'm J.R. martinez. I'm a U.S. army veteran myself, and I'm honored to tell you the stories of these heroes on the new season of Medal of Stories of Courage from Pushkin Industries and I Heartbreak Podcast from Robert Blake, the first black sailor to be awarded the medal to Daniel Daly, one of only 19 people to have received the Medal of Honor twice. These are stories about people who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor going above and beyond the call of duty. You'll hear about what they did, what it meant, and what their stories tell us about the nature of courage and sacrifice. Listen to Medal of Honor on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

[J.R. Martinez]

Big beautiful bill passes the Senate. We'll see what happens with reconciliation. That news as we started the program. I am right now gearing up for the July 4th holiday, and I am doing so by celebrating American history with Crockett Coffee. Crockett Coffee.com incredible offer right now. What are we 30% off on all subscriptions for the 4th of July? Use my name Clay still get an autographed copy of the book. There aren't that many copies of the book left. I do not know because I'm not in Nashville right now. But Katie who is my fabulous assistant has been sending them out. They will be gone before long. And encourage all of you go to crockett coffee.com celebrate the what are we at? 249th anniversary of the United States this July 4th next year is going to be America 250 which will be a fabulous and fun event. And so that is what we would encourage you to do. Crockett coffee.com Unlike most of the places where you buy coffee, we actually love America. And we come back. There's a Gallup poll out that I know I saw you share Buck which is as we get ready for July 4th America 249 Democrats hate America.

[Buck Sexton]

What a shot.

[J.R. Martinez]

Yes, yes. Democrats do invite in fact hate America.

[Buck Sexton]

You know I also the funny things that people decide to get to get. You know, pick a bone. Have a bone to pick whatever with us. VIP email from Bob Clay and Buck, you know nothing about gators and crocs. Crocs will chase you on land with speeds. I didn't say they won't chase you. I just said an able bodied. Bob, I'm just faster than you are buddy. I don't want to tell you, okay? I'd smoke you in a foot race. And he says gators are active during the day. I know I said they primarily hunt at night. We got to listen for the words here folks. Got to listen for the specific words.

[J.R. Martinez]

My point is just if you run it diagonals and if the alligator stays committed to going straight, you're going to run right back into the alligator.

[Buck Sexton]

The diagonal thing is preposterous. That's just a wives. That's not a real thing. All right?

[J.R. Martinez]

You just run. It relies on the fact that the alligator is going to be chasing you. But again my point is just diagonal is not actually taking you further away from the alligator. If the alligator keeps running at a straight line.

[Buck Sexton]

Well, yeah, well you're supposed to zigzag is the point. So you're using like your, your lateral movement, you know, in order to escape. Because it had this thing. If you don't move fast, it's going to get you. It's going to bite your ass. So you got to move fast. That's, that's the real important safety tip. Run faster than the alligator.

[Clay Travis]

Lets talk photos, not just storing them, showcasing them. You've got images that matter. Whether you're a photographer, a business, updating your followers or just someone who wants to share life's moments the right way. So why hand them over to Big Tech's one size fits all Cloud Big tech companies are the fast food of photo sharing. Quick, easy, but not exactly gourmet. And what about your data integrity? Jalbum.net is the photo sharing solution that puts you in control. Want to host images on your own server? You can want a layout that actually reflects your brand or style. J Album's customizability is unmatched. And if you're a business sharing regular photo updates with your audience, this tool was built with you in mind. But don't just take our word for it. Over 230 million web pages have been created with Jalbum, and it's got stellar reviews on Trustpilot to prove it. So head to jalbum.net to download your free software and try it out. When you're ready to upgrade, use the code podcast for 20% off your photos, your layout, your rules. Jalbum.net the Medal of Honor is the.

[Unknown]

Highest military decoration in the United States. Recipients have done the improbable, the unexpected, showing immense bravery and sacrifice in the name of something much bigger than themselves.

[Buck Sexton]

This medal is for the men who went down that day on Medal of.

[Unknown]

Honor Stories of Courage. You'll hear about these heroes and what their stories tell us about the nature of bravery. Listen to Medal of Honor on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Buck Sexton]

This is an iHeart podcast.