The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

Episode: Hour 2 - Confronting Evil
Date: September 11, 2025
Host: iHeartPodcasts

Episode Overview

This solemn episode centers on the assassination of Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist, which occurred the previous day. The hosts, Clay Travis and Buck Sexton, process their own grief and the collective shock felt across their audience, using the moment to reflect on themes of evil, justice, the condition of American society, and the necessity for courage. The episode features an in-depth conversation with Bill O’Reilly, who recently released a book titled "Confronting Evil," drawing broader parallels between current societal unrest and historical periods in which evil flourished. The discussion wrestles with the state of political discourse, the role of media and progressive movements, and the response required from Americans in the wake of such violence.

Key Topics & Discussion Points

1. Processing Grief and the Death of Charlie Kirk

• The hosts acknowledge the dark and impactful moment marked by Kirk’s assassination, emphasizing its gravity on 9/11, a day of remembrance in America.
• Both hosts share raw, personal reactions, relating the tragedy to their experiences as fathers and reflecting on its immediate and far-reaching impact on young listeners, families, and the conservative movement.

Notable Quote

“It's a solemn day today as we are commemorating 9/11 and of course, as we are also remembering our friend Charlie Kirk, who was killed by an assassin's bullet yesterday… we’ve woken up in a somewhat different and darker country today.”
— Clay Travis (03:07)

2. Interview with Bill O’Reilly: The Nature and Rise of Evil

• O’Reilly draws a direct line between Charlie Kirk’s murder and the increasing prevalence of what he identifies as "evil" in the U.S. and globally.
• He discusses the thesis of his book "Confronting Evil," arguing that permissive justice, progressive ideologies, and a societal tendency to “look away” from wrongdoing have made America increasingly vulnerable.
• He points to historical precedent (1930s Europe) and calls for a “renaissance of a demand for justice.”
• O’Reilly accuses elements of the progressive movement, particularly in media, of encouraging political violence and failing to take responsibility.

Notable Quotes

“This was evil. And that word applies … not only to the assassination of Mr. Kirk, but what's happening in general in this country… we're back now in an age where evil is on the rise and evil is what took Charlie Kirk's life.”
— Bill O’Reilly (04:12)

“If you turn away from evil, you're going to get more of it. It's easier for miscreants to do their horrible deeds now than ever before in American history.”
— Bill O’Reilly (05:36)

3. Justice, Progressivism, and the Call for Accountability

• O’Reilly sharply criticizes progressive politicians and urban DAs, comparing permissive policies to historical atrocities:
  • Voting for New York City DA Mandani is “an act of evil.”
  • Cites failures in Charlotte, Chicago, and other cities where lax justice allegedly led to preventable violence.
• Repeats the call for Americans to “get as angry” and “demand justice” so that Kirk’s death sparks positive change.

Notable Quote

“You have to stop that. You can't enable these people...Every American has got to say, no, we're not voting for that. Judge should be removed.”
— Bill O’Reilly (09:30)

4. The Media’s Role and the Culture of Hatred

• Hosts discuss, with O’Reilly, how corporate media, social media, and algorithmic echo chambers insulate audiences and stoke division, making it harder for sound arguments to break through.
• They highlight instances of media commentary (notably Matthew Dowd on MSNBC) that appeared to blame Kirk for his own death, citing this as evidence of widespread, sanctioned hatred.

Notable Quotes

“The corporations, Disney, Comcast, CBS are partially responsible for the rise in hatred in this country…The corporations make money allowing people like Joy Behar and the others to peddle hate.”
— Bill O’Reilly (15:58)

“They wanted to silence Charlie Kirk because his arguments were so powerful...But they also wanted to send the message, you're next.”
— Buck Sexton (28:20)

5. Personal Reflections: Family, Courage, and the Threat to Free Speech

• Hosts emotionally discuss the impact of Kirk’s death on young people, families, and the conservative youth movement.
• They connect the attack on Kirk, a media figure and not a politician, as an escalation — a warning that even those who simply express dissenting opinions are now targets.
• They urge listeners, especially younger conservatives, not to be cowed but to be “tougher, braver, and stronger.”

Notable Quotes

“If you have to be braver than you think you are, and you are. And so are all of us. For young kids...you are so much stronger than you think you are.”
— Clay Travis (44:18)

“You cannot let people who want to silence you win ever…you have to stand up stronger than you’ve ever been before.”
— Clay Travis (45:27)

6. Details on the Assassination and Its Ideological Dimensions

• The hosts share new reportage: the alleged murder weapon was a “30-06 Mauser bolt action rifle,” found wrapped and engraved with “transgender and anti-fascist ideology.”
• They stress this was an “ideological hit,” framing it as terrorism intended to inspire fear that dissenting opinions would be met with violence.

Notable Quote

“The ammo and the rifle were engraved with quote, transgender and anti fascist ideology. So this was an ideological hit. We knew that before, but we just have further clarity...”
— Buck Sexton (29:30)

7. Calling Out Celebration of the Violence

• The hosts repeatedly denounce those on the left and on social media platforms ("Blue Sky," etc.) who appeared to celebrate or justify Kirk’s assassination.
• They read and play examples from Slate, The Atlantic, and Matthew Dowd on MSNBC, underscoring what they see as the normalization of dehumanizing rhetoric directed at conservatives.

Notable Quotes

“Only the mentally ill would celebrate the assassination of Charlie Kirk.”
— Bill O’Reilly (12:57)

“We try to give people context and...there are 20% at least of Democrat party supporters that are doing cartwheels right now because Charlie Kirk got assassinated...”
— Buck Sexton (31:43)

“What they were writing, you know, without me even having to read them to you. It's just monstrous.”
— Clay Travis (32:04)

8. Impact on the Conservative Movement and Young People

• Reading an email from the parent of a distraught Turning Point USA student, the hosts address the sense of loss and fear felt by conservative youth.
• They urge resilience, emphasizing that those who kill to silence dissent are ultimately weak.

Notable Quote

“He was weak. There was an open mic right there. If you have the best argument in the world, Charlie was providing you a voice to step right up and tell him why he was wrong. And instead of that, from 200 yards away, you took his life…”
— Clay Travis (44:41)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Bill O’Reilly (on the historical moment):

  “We are entering a new age of evil...1930s, the world gravitated toward evil in an enormous way that resulted in 100 million people being killed in World War II. Now, thanks to the United States, we defeated evil...We’re back now.” (04:40)

• Buck Sexton (on the consequences for free speech):

  “When you attack someone who is in the speech and opinion space, you are expanding the arena of people that you’re willing to attack...the message is, if you have the wrong opinions and you’re effective at communicating them, we want to kill you.” (28:20)

• Clay Travis (addressing youth):

  “You have to be tougher than you think you are. If you have to be braver than you think you are, and you are. And so are all of us.” (44:18)

Important Segments & Timestamps

• [03:07] Opening reflections on 9/11 & Charlie Kirk’s assassination; introduction of Bill O’Reilly
• [04:12]–[11:44] Bill O’Reilly’s perspective on “confronting evil,” societal permissiveness, justice, and the media
• [12:57] Discussion on celebration of violence and lack of accountability within the Democratic Party
• [15:58] Media echoes, corporate responsibility, and the challenge of breaking through echo chambers
• [25:21] Processing the emotional toll as fathers and the conservative movement’s collective trauma
• [29:30] Details on the murder weapon, ideological motivations, and the framing of terrorism
• [31:43] Coverage of controversial and celebratory left-wing responses and mainstream media commentary
• [41:40] Reading a parent’s email; supportive message to young conservatives
• [44:41]–[46:22] Host’s call for courage and resilience to young people and listeners

Closing

Throughout this powerful episode, Clay Travis and Buck Sexton provide a mix of grief, outrage, and a call to principled vigilance in the aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s assassination. The dialogue highlights the dangers they see in the country’s current trajectory, focusing on the tolerance of political violence, the abdication of moral leadership by institutions, and a pressing need for individual and collective acts of courage.

Note: All timestamps are in MM:SS format and correspond to content sections, not podcast ad reads or promotional material, which have been omitted for relevance and clarity.