The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

Hour 2 - "Gov't Spending Porn"
Date: March 6, 2026
Podcast: iHeartPodcasts

Episode Overview

In this hour, Clay Travis and Buck Sexton lead with a major recent political shake-up: the firing of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. They’re joined by Senator John Kennedy (Louisiana), who unpacks the controversy surrounding massive government ad spending. The hour hits on government waste, agency management, political strategy, and electoral integrity. Later, journalist Brianna Lyman of The Federalist discusses the crucial SAVE Act legislation on voter ID and proof of citizenship, plus a statistical case for why voting Republican saves lives. Characteristically, the hosts infuse the conversation with wit, directness, and signature Southern humor.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Firing of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem

Guest: Senator John Kennedy

• Government Ad Spending Scandal

  • Senator Kennedy explains his tough Senate questioning of DHS Sec. Noem regarding a quarter billion dollar ad campaign that prominently featured her (“spending porn”). He calls out the questionable contracting and management decisions.
    • “These ads cost a quarter of a billion dollars. They featured the secretary prominently... I consider this to be spending porn, and I'm gonna call it out every single time.”
      —Sen. Kennedy [06:17]

• Trump's Reaction and Handling

  • Kennedy details a late-night phone call from President Trump, who was furious about the ad spending and Noem’s claim under oath that he approved it.
    • "He was mad as a mama wasp... he told me he had nothing to do with it." —Sen. Kennedy [03:36]

• Management Issues at DHS

  • Kennedy points to deeper problems: alleged obstructing of internal investigations and personal scandals, but clarifies his focus is fiscal stewardship.

• Allegations of Lying Under Oath

  • Clay asks if Noem lied under oath about the president’s approval; Kennedy says he can't say for certain, but that it’s now a closed chapter after her dismissal.

• Personnel Change: Markwayne Mullin

  • The hosts and Kennedy discuss Sen. Markwayne Mullin as the new DHS pick:
    • “Markwayne’s tough as a pine knot... A, he's smart. B, he's tough. C, he's a good businessman... even if those things weren't true, I wouldn't say otherwise because Markwayne would whip my ass. I mean, he's like a cage fighter." —Sen. Kennedy [11:54]

Notable Quotes

• "I squeak when I walk and when I see spending porn or what looks to me like spending porn, I'm gonna call it out." —Sen. Kennedy [06:17]

• "She was as dead as Woodrow Wilson. You know, I can tell when the President's made up his mind and he usually acts pretty quickly." —Sen. Kennedy [03:14]

2. Book Promotion and Personal Moments

• Senator John Kennedy pitches his bestseller:
  • “How to Test Negative for Stupid and Why Washington Never Will” (HarperCollins)
  • Reflects on the surprising success and the work it took to record the audiobook:
    • “If you read the book, I hope it'll make you think—it may discourage you, may make you want to day drink. But every, every bit of it is true.” —Sen. Kennedy [13:17]

3. The SAVE Act & Voter Integrity

Guest: Brianna Lyman (The Federalist)

• Legislation Overview

  • The SAVE Act would require documentary proof of citizenship and photo voter ID for registration.
    • “The only thing standing between a non-citizen and our free and fair elections is...the honor system. And that is absolutely not enough.” —Lyman [22:12]

• Why It's Urgent

  • With extremely tight races (sometimes decided by just a few votes), insecure elections can be swayed by ineligible ballots.

• Problems with Current Safeguards

  • Loopholes: In states like California, gym memberships can serve as ID for registration—no real check on citizenship.

• Blocking the Bill

  • Political will is missing in the Senate. Even though the bill has wide bipartisan public support (~80%), Majority Leader Thune is reluctant to force a talking filibuster to bypass Democratic resistance.

• Rebutting Counterarguments

  • Lyman calls the idea that voter ID is racist “insane” and notes data shows it does not disenfranchise minorities; in fact, election fraud disenfranchises citizens.

Notable Quotes

• “This stuff’s not going to go away for a while. I would like to know about the quarter of a billion dollars that was spent and who got it, whether we can recoup any of it.” —Sen. Kennedy [10:13]

• “If you vote Republican, particularly when it comes to DAs and the prosecution of violent crimes, the data reflects lives are saved because there’s far less violent crime.” —Clay Travis, summarizing Lyman’s article [29:23]

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Sen. Kennedy on Noem Firing & Spending – [01:10] to [12:50]
• Discussion: Book Plug & Humor – [12:50] to [14:56]
• Brianna Lyman Interview (SAVE Act & Crime Study) – [21:01] to [31:23]

4. Crime Study: “Voting Republican Saves Lives”

Summarized by Brianna Lyman

• Recent study shows that electing Republican DAs leads to a 6.6% reduction in deaths among young men.
  • “Republican prosecutors... hold criminals accountable... they levy consequences that restrict criminal access to firearms, reduces suicide, and reduces gun violence.” —Lyman [29:59]

5. Interludes: Listener Feedback and Lighter Moments

• Batman & 80s/90s Pop Culture ([17:50]–[19:37])

  • Playful debate over “The Dark Knight” vs. “Batman Begins”; reminiscence about parenting and sharing 80s/90s music with kids.

• Taylor Swift & Generational Music ([19:19])

  • Clay calls Swift “the Beatles of her modern era.”

• Listener Comments

  • Davy Crockett: Tennessee vs. Texas legend ([33:17])
  • Kurdish fighters respected for their valor ([34:16])
  • Headphone etiquette and the plague of noisy leaf blowers ([36:58])

Most Memorable Moments and Quotes

• “Dead as Woodrow Wilson”: Sen. Kennedy’s signature Southern humor describing Noem’s standing post-scandal. [03:14]

• “He was mad as a mama wasp”: Kennedy’s vivid description of Trump’s displeasure. [04:59, 11:19]

• Lyman on ID Requirements:
  “Your gym membership. What protocols do you go to to get a gym membership? Nothing... And you can use that to verify your identity to vote.” [23:45]

• Lyman’s Closer on The SAVE Act:
  “This is not a 50-50 issue. It is an 80-20 issue.” [28:06]

• On Tough-on-Crime DAs:
  “Republican prosecutors... reductions in deaths among young men, 6.6%. That is not a drop in the bucket. That is a substantial decrease.” [29:59]

Takeaways

• Senator Kennedy’s grilling and the President’s subsequent action underscore the impact of Congressional oversight on executive branch accountability, especially in spending.
• The ad campaign scandal reflects ongoing concerns about government waste and potential conflicts of interest in contracts.
• The SAVE Act debate illustrates the challenge of passing popular electoral reforms in a hyper-partisan Senate.
• There’s strong journalistic data that law-and-order prosecutors reduce violent deaths—a talking point for conservative justice reformers.
• Amidst heavy political discussion, the hosts maintain rapport and relatability with cultural references and listener engagement.

For Those Who Missed the Episode

This hour delivers a rich blend of government accountability, electoral integrity, data-backed conservative policy argument, and off-the-cuff humor—from “spending porn” to “mad as a mama wasp.” Senator John Kennedy distinguishes himself both as a watchdog for taxpayer money and a consummate southern storyteller. Brianna Lyman articulates both the legislative nuts and bolts and real-world stakes of voter integrity laws. Whether you’re tracking political scandal, curious about the mechanics of election law, or just need a dose of personality with your policy, this segment offers insight and entertainment in equal measure.