The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show
Episode: Hour 1 - We Need to Talk About This
Date: November 21, 2025
Host: Buck Sexton (solo, as Clay Travis is out)
Episode Overview
Buck Sexton helms the first hour solo, covering major stories in news, politics, and current events. Central themes include the upcoming meeting between Donald Trump and NYC’s new Democratic Socialist mayor Zoran Mamdani, a House resolution condemning socialism, concerns over crime and public safety in major U.S. cities (especially Chicago and New York), and the disconnect between progressive policies and everyday realities for Americans. Sexton delivers his trademark analysis laced with humor, skepticism of left-leaning policies, and calls for stronger accountability.
Main Topics & Discussion Points
1. Holiday Reflections and Setting the Agenda
- Buck opens with enthusiasm for Thanksgiving, ranking it just behind Christmas for sheer enjoyment (not spiritual significance), and muses on the mystery of why stuffing is eaten only once a year.
- [02:23]: “Thanksgiving is… a fun one. I still am yet to get any explanation as to why we don’t eat stuffing the rest of the year.”
- Clay is away due to jet lag, expected back Monday; Buck will be solo for today.
2. Trump’s Meeting with Zoran Mamdani: Optics and Policy
The Meeting
- Major focus on Donald Trump’s anticipated meeting with NYC’s new openly socialist mayor Zoran Mamdani.
- Buck expresses disappointment the meeting is closed to press; promises follow-up Monday.
- Describes the meeting as a “socialism summit,” noting its symbolic significance.
Democratic Party and Socialism
- Buck argues that many elected Democrats are more socialist than they admit.
- Draws comparisons between the U.S. Democratic Party and European democratic socialist parties, especially on taxation, government control, and welfare ideals.
[04:43] “More Democrats are socialist in their hearts than will ever say so out loud. The Democrat party is in so many ways indistinguishable from a democratic socialist party, say in Europe.”
Nordic Comparisons
- Rebuts the use of Sweden and Denmark as “successful” socialist models.
- Notes these countries tax all, including the middle class, and have strong private sectors despite large welfare states.
[06:07] “Those are countries that are actually very economically private sector driven, believe it or not. And what they have is a… high tax level for everyone, including the middle class.”
Symbolism of a Socialist NYC Mayor
- NYC’s capitalist history makes Mamdani’s election especially symbolic.
- Contrasts with Bernie Sanders' rise in small, rural Vermont.
[08:55] “It is a very different thing when the capital of commerce for the whole world… which is New York City, goes socialist.”
Mamdani’s Policy Proposals and Skepticism
- Buck is unconvinced signature policies like free city buses will be implemented, noting fare evasion is already rampant and burdensome.
- Mocks progressive rationalizations for lawlessness, referencing AOC’s arguments for retail theft.
[13:15] “A little sad, but also funny — the buses for a lot of people are already free because they just get on and don’t pay. Just like the subway. … The city of New York is losing to turnstile jumpers.”
Trump and Mamdani: Media Savvy Meeting
- Both are skilled at shaping their media narrative.
- Expectation they'll come out post-meeting “playing to the cameras", each pushing their city vision.
[15:15] “Trump is incredible at how to craft that media narrative. Mamdani, that's really his skill set too... They will come out from this meeting today and they will be both setting up, I think, what their expectations are for the city of New York.”
3. The 2024 Election Framing: Affordability, Class Politics, and Democratic Realignment
The Next Big Political Fight
- Buck predicts affordability will be the dominant election issue.
- Democrats, having pushed cultural progressivism (DEI, trans issues), now seek to reclaim a working-class connection by returning to economic populism.
- MAGA/Trump policies are positioned as competition for this base.
[16:14] “Unless, you know, who knows, crazy things can happen… But it’s set up to be the affordability election…”
4. Update: House Votes to Condemn Socialism
- House passes a resolution (285–98) condemning socialism — 86 Democrats join Republicans.
- Significant in the context of NYC’s socialist mayor and ongoing debates.
5. Crime and Public Safety: The Story from Chicago
Shocking Incident
- Buck details a horrific crime: a white woman set on fire by a black male assailant (Lawrence Reed) on a Chicago train.
- Victim survived but is critically injured; perpetrator reportedly has 70 prior arrests, including violence.
[31:15] “A woman, a white woman is in critical condition still because… a black man named Lawrence Reed, 50 years old, on the Chicago L train… walked over to her, sprayed her with a bunch of flammable liquid and lit her on fire.”
Media Hypocrisy & Political Reaction
-
Contrasts tepid media/political response to this real attack versus massive outcry over the Jussie Smollett hoax.
-
Plays a nonchalant clip from Mayor Brandon Johnson:
[32:51] Mayor Johnson: “As awful and as horrific as this tragedy is, this is an isolated incident. As we continue to invest more in our public transportation system…”
-
Buck criticizes this response as cold, insufficient, and emblematic of failed progressive leadership.
[33:40] “He’s talking about investments. A woman was lit on fire and he’s talking about making sure that we’re redistributing the wealth… This guy’s an—he is truly an idiot and dangerous.”
Systemic Failures
- Buck rails against the criminal justice system, highlighting the absurdity someone arrested 70 times was still free.
- Argues the left’s criminal justice reforms have prioritized ideological goals over public safety, resulting in tragedies.
[39:11] “You can be arrested 70 times in America and still be out on the street. Think about that for a moment.”
Race, Crime, and Double Standards
- Asserts that demographics of attacker/victim impact national coverage and political reactions.
- Claims if roles were reversed, it would dominate headlines and spark protests.
[38:12] “If it were a white man who did this to a black woman, it would be the biggest story in the country by far. We would have marches in the street.”
Broader Urban Policy Concerns
- Connects Chicago’s failures to fears of similar outcomes under Mamdani in New York.
- Warns that refusal to hold criminals accountable, in the name of “racial justice”, only perpetuates violence.
6. Notable Quotes & Moments
- [09:35] “Who needs ChatGPT when you have Buck GPT?”
- [39:56] “It’s not kind to be kind to those who are violating people and doing terrible things.”
- [41:55] “Enough is enough. … I’ve lived in cities where this madness happens and I’m sick of it.”
7. Briefs & Other Stories
- Fugees rapper Pras Michel receives 14-year sentence for illegal 2012 Obama campaign donations.
- [20:01] “I had no idea that was even going on. So I’m just noting that… don’t think they’re putting out any more albums anytime soon.”
- Preview: In the next hour, Buck plans to address a controversial Democrats’ video about illegal orders and Trump’s heated response.
- Announcements: Upcoming guests (Mike Baker, ex-CIA), listener calls in Hour 3.
Key Timestamps
- 02:23 – Musings on Thanksgiving and stuffing
- 04:43 – Democrats and unspoken socialism
- 06:07 – Differences between U.S. and Nordic models
- 08:55 – The significance of NYC electing a socialist
- 13:15 – NY transit fare evasion and progressive excuses
- 15:15 – Trump/Mamdani’s impending narrative battle
- 16:14 – Prediction: 2024 will be the “affordability election”
- 20:01 – Pras Michel’s sentencing
- 31:15 – Details of Chicago subway assault
- 32:51 – Chicago mayor’s “isolated incident” comment
- 39:11 – Systemic failure in policing/repeat offenders
- 41:55 – Buck’s exasperation with progressive urban policy
Tone & Style
- Buck Sexton delivers a blend of wry humor, frustration, and urgent advocacy for public order and traditional values.
- He ridicules progressive policies, expresses anger over violent crime, and offers spirited, albeit partisan, social commentary.
- Listeners are encouraged to consider the real-life consequences of emergent urban policies and the direction of major U.S. cities.
For Listeners Who Missed the Episode
This hour distills the tension between old-school, order-focused urban governance and the current wave of progressive, “socialist” political leadership in America’s biggest cities. Buck Sexton hammers home the theme that policies matter, especially when public safety, affordability, and the soul of American cities are on the line. Expect sharp takes, cultural critique, and inside-baseball political analysis—all with Buck’s signature directness and skepticism.
End of Hour 1 Summary