Podcast Summary: The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

Episode: Hour 2 - "Don't Vote Crazy"
Date: November 25, 2025
Hosts: Clay Travis & Buck Sexton
Guest: Ryan Girdusky

Main Theme

This episode centers on an urgent warning and call-to-action regarding an upcoming special congressional election in Tennessee’s 7th District. Clay Travis expresses serious concern over the Democratic candidate, Afton Bain, whom he characterizes as representing “crazy” far-left ideas out of step with the district. The episode features audio clips of Bain's controversial statements, analysis of local political dynamics, and a broader cultural discussion around parenthood, political ambition, and the state of American politics.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District Race

• Urgency of the Election:
  Clay Travis highlights an unusual, post-Thanksgiving election (December 2), emphasizing that lower turnout could threaten what is typically a safe Republican seat.

  • “They are relying on the fact that a lot of you are traveling for Thanksgiving…Democrats are trying to steal this seat.” (05:13)

• Matt Van Epps vs. Afton Bain:
  Clay champions Matt Van Epps, the Republican candidate (West Point grad, combat veteran), as an “outstanding choice,” while positioning Bain as deeply out-of-touch with local values.

2. Controversial Audio from Afton Bain

Clay plays and reacts to striking clips from Bain, including:

• On Hating Nashville and Country Music
  [06:21, 06:59]

  “I hate the city. I hate the Bachelorettes. I hate the Pedal Taverns. I hate country music.” - Afton Bain

  Clay's reaction:

  “I don’t know that I’ve ever heard a candidate be more specific about hating a place that she wants to represent…‘I hate country music’ should immediately keep you from being able to be elected to any office in any degree in the entire state of Tennessee.” (07:14)

• On Motherhood and Power
  [08:20]

  “The recurring dream I’ve had is standing up in a cafeteria full of women…saying, I don’t want children. I want power. And just screaming at the top of my lungs…Also the deeply patriarchal structures that these women are involved with because they’ve chosen marriage and they’ve chosen to raise children…” - Afton Bain

  Clay’s analysis:

  • Sees Bain’s comments as “contempt for people who decided to get married and have kids,” calling her “bonkers” and stating, “This chick is crazy.” (09:19)
  • Praises openness, "I respect when you have a crazy opinion. Don't hide from it. Just tell us and let us judge it.” (11:18)

• On Men Giving Birth [12:50]

  “As birther, you know, as women who can give birth. Men and women who can give birth. We could maybe leverage that as collective bargaining…” - Afton Bain

  Clay’s response:

  “This chick should lose 90 to 10 if people show up and actually understand what she’s saying.” (13:31)

3. Political Dynamics & Voter Turnout

• Republican Turnout Concerns:
  Clay notes massive Democrat spending and fears ‘stealth’ win if enough GOP voters don’t show up.
  • “They are pouring money in here. They’re trying to steal this district. We cannot allow it to happen…” (14:16)
• Redistricting Confusion:
  Many voters may not realize which district they're in after recent changes.

4. Listener Calls and Cultural Disputes

• Roberta from Florida Shares Perspective [23:51]:

  “Well, quite honestly, I tear up when I hear this. I’m a mother of four … I feel blessed that, you know, I wanted to go on and have a family and have children … It’s very scary [that Bain wants public office].”

  Clay echoes her sentiment:

  “There’s a difference between … choosing not to have kids … and having contempt for people who have chosen to have children.” (25:05)

5. Political Analysis with Ryan Girdusky

District and Turnout Analysis [28:32]

“So the district … Mark Green won it by 21 points. Trump won it by 22…this is a pretty Republican district...So far in early vote … about 63,000 ballots have already been cast … A lot are coming from Clarksville and Nashville, which are Democratic centers." – Ryan Girdusky

• Ryan tempers Clay’s anxiety:

  "Exurbs of Nashville, which are very Republican, also have extremely high turnout. … I think it'll be enough to counter … I'm not that worried." (29:22)

• Enthusiasm & the National Landscape
  Ryan notes that special elections reflect Democratic enthusiasm—potential warning sign for the GOP.

• Key 2026 Senate Races
  Discusses importance of primaries, especially in Michigan: progressive vs. centrist Democrats could shift odds.

6. Lighter Moments

• Airline Etiquette Debate [27:20]:

  “I never recline my seat ever … It's awful … calm down if it's a two-hour flight, Susan.” – Ryan Girdusky

  • Clay agrees: “He is not a travel terrorist, unlike a lot of you.”

• Pop Culture: Trump and Rush Hour 4 Movie [35:01]

  “President Trump advocated for Rush Hour 4 to be greenlit – and Paramount just greenlit it.” – Clay

  • Discussion of movie sequels the hosts and guest would (or wouldn’t) want.

• Thanksgiving Food Draft [40:18]

  “Yeah, yeah, I'm not a big turkey person. I really prefer ham…” – Ryan Girdusky

7. Political “Narrative Busting”

• Ryan dispels claims that Trump’s immigration stance is hurting him with Hispanic voters.

  “Immigration is not the issue that is moving them [Hispanics]. It is the economy right now.” (39:18)

Notable Quotes

• Clay Travis (About Bain’s statements):

  • “I want to pull my hair out. This chick should lose 90 to 10 if people show up and actually understand what she's saying.” (13:31)

• Roberta, Caller (On Bain’s anti-motherhood comments):

  • “...to go to the other extreme ... what a tragic thing that, you know, Charlie Kirk was assassinated because all he was trying to do was to bring those lost kids back the other way...” (24:33)

• Ryan Girdusky (On turnout):

  • “Given that the Republican exurbs of this district had pretty strong turnout, I think it'll be enough to kind of counter whatever Clarksville and Nashville sit there and throw at them. I'm not that worried.” (29:22)

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |-------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 05:13 | Clay introduces the Tennessee 7th race crisis | | 06:21/06:59 | Clips: Afton Bain on "hating" Nashville, country music | | 08:20 | Clip: Bain on “I don’t want children. I want power.” | | 12:50 | Clip: Bain on "men and women who can give birth" | | 23:51 | Caller Roberta from Florida on motherhood and politics | | 28:32 | Ryan Girdusky analyzes district, early voting, and turnout | | 35:01 | Clay and Ryan riff on Trump and movie sequels (“Rush Hour 4” news) | | 40:18 | Thanksgiving food draft |

Tone & Language

• The tone is sharply partisan, humorous, and conversational.
• Clay is outspoken, combative, sometimes hyperbolic—particularly when calling Bain “crazy.”
• Ryan Girdusky brings data-driven analysis and humor.
• The episode oscillates between dire warnings and lighter banter (travel etiquette, pop culture).

Conclusion

This hour delivers a highly opinionated but detailed breakdown of an under-the-radar congressional race, using soundbites and lively analysis to rally conservative turnout while also reflecting on broader cultural values and the political zeitgeist. The episode also includes some banter about movies and Thanksgiving traditions, but always returns to its central warning: "Don’t vote crazy," and make sure you show up at the polls.