The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

Episode: Hour 2 - Make America Smart Again
Date: February 12, 2026
Host: Clay Travis and Buck Sexton
Guest: Secretary of Education Linda McMahon

Episode Overview

In this episode, Clay and Buck dive into the state of American education, historical literacy, and current education reform efforts, highlighted by an interview with Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. The conversation also examines broader cultural issues around education, mental health, and societal trends, all delivered with the hosts' characteristic blend of sharp opinion and wry humor.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. America 250 and the Presidential 1776 Award

(01:37 – 06:19)

• Context: To mark America’s upcoming 250th birthday, the administration is launching the Presidential 1776 Award—an ambitious initiative to boost historical literacy among American youth.
• Competition Details:
  • Students sign up to take the “Impossible Test”: 90 minutes to answer up to 4,000 American history and civics questions online.
  • The competition is structured like a spelling bee, progressing from local rounds to a final showdown in Washington, D.C.
  • Winners receive hefty scholarships: $150,000 (1st), $75,000 (2nd), $25,000 (3rd).
• Purpose: Raise awareness around declining civic and historical knowledge and encourage student engagement in history through sizable incentives and national prestige.

Notable Quote:

“This is part of the President’s initiative, this 1776 award... to generate interest, he wanted to create the civics award. So the registration is open right now for students who want to enroll.”
—Linda McMahon (02:41)

• Clay & Buck’s Competitive Spirit: The hosts muse about whether media figures should also take the test, jokingly claiming they’d beat any team.
  • “I would put you and I on the 1776 Test as a team up against any duo in media in the country. I think we would win.” —Clay Travis (05:42)

2. Federal Education Reform & Return to State Control

(06:19 – 12:09)

• Executive Order: The administration aims to dismantle the federal Department of Education, returning control (and funding) to the states.
  • Departments and agencies within the DOE will be moved back to their original places in the federal government.
  • Goal: Reduce bureaucracy, increase efficiency, and promote parental and local involvement.

Notable Quote:

“The president’s executive order is to return education to the states and take bureaucracy that exists in Washington out of our education process... We’ve spent $3 trillion on education just throwing more money at the problem and watched our national scores continue to decline. So we’re clearly doing something wrong.”
—Linda McMahon (06:37)

• Philosophy: States, districts, and especially parents, should have oversight over what children are taught. The best solutions come from the ground up, not from Washington.

3. The ‘Mississippi Miracle’—Local Innovation in Education

(08:14 – 12:09)

• Mississippi’s Turnaround: Mississippi adopted "the science of reading"—a phonics-based, classical approach—to impressive results, especially among underprivileged children.
  • The state was previously underperforming but is now being emulated by others.

Notable Quote:

“They adopted the science of reading... going back to the way reading was originally taught. Now... it’s based on phonics... that’s really been, I think, the downfall of our literacy numbers throughout the country.”
—Linda McMahon (09:16)

• States as Laboratories: Successful state-level innovations should be shared and replicated. Linda plans to compile a "toolkit" of best practices from her 50-state tour.

4. Education as a Platform for Activism: The Far-Left’s ‘Protest Shock Troops’

(12:09 – 13:31)

• Recent School Protests: Buck raises concerns about schools shutting down for far-left protests (e.g., Minneapolis ICE).
• Consequences: McMahon warns schools could lose federal funding if protest activities disrupt education.

Notable Quote:

“I would want my children to be in school... not out on the street in the bitter cold protesting... I think it’s outrageous.”
—Linda McMahon (12:37)

5. Promoting the Presidential 1776 Award

(13:31 – 14:46)

• Details on Participation: Registration open through February 21 at presidential1776award.org. The competition is strictly factual and nonpartisan.

Notable Quote:

“These are just historical fact questions... If anybody has any concerns that they’re partisan politics. They are not at all. This, this is just based on facts and history.”
—Linda McMahon (13:59)

6. State of Education & Innovation—Post-Interview Reflection

(15:13 – 19:04)

• Clay and Buck discuss the stagnation and inefficiency within American education, likening much of the system to glorified daycare, and question the suitability of an “8 a.m. to 4 p.m.” school day for younger children.
• A call for more dynamic, experimental approaches in education, with acknowledgment that unions often prioritize teacher welfare over student outcomes.

Notable Quote:

“It’s largely like a glorified babysitting service for a lot of kids. It’s effectively daycare for kids who are too old to be in daycare and the elimination of standards and all these things that go on.”
—Buck Sexton (16:56)

7. Transgender-Related Violence & Media/Police Response

(21:30 – 32:33)

• Shooting in British Columbia: Clay and Buck analyze a mass shooting involving a transgender perpetrator, criticizing media and police for using “preferred pronouns” and, in their view, enabling delusion rather than confronting mental health realities.
• Media Confusion: Discrepancy between biological reality and official statements is highlighted as emblematic of leftist irrationality.
• Broader Critique: Discussion on societal reluctance to address mental health issues within the transgender community and the effects of gender-affirming treatments.

Notable Quotes:

“At what point do we as a society have a conversation about the extreme mental illness that is behind transgenderism and the fact that it should be and has always been treated as a mental illness that deserves and necessitates support and mental health intervention instead of people placating and playing along?”
—Buck Sexton (23:55)

“You’re in a real dystopian situation when the cops are lying to you about who does a mass murder.”
—Buck Sexton (25:42)

8. Societal and Cultural Analysis: “This Is Bonkers”

(29:32 – 32:33)

• Clay lampoons the "party orthodoxy" regarding race and gender identity, illustrating what he sees as increasing societal absurdity.
• Discussion on the danger of prioritizing pronoun respect for mass shooters, and questions about the mental health effects of hormone treatments.

Notable Quote:

“To what extent do all of these drugs that these trans people are loaded with... does that accelerate their mental degradation and make them more prone to violence? That’s a real question we should be asking.”
—Clay Travis (31:22)

9. Solutions and Systemic Challenges in Mental Health

(32:33 – 34:02)

• Buck points out the challenges in involuntary commitment laws and calls for a more robust intervention system for individuals in crisis.
• Both hosts note the reluctance to address warning signs and the media’s complicity in sanitizing or distorting realities.

10. Lighter Notes: Parenting, Personal Updates & Humor

(36:43 – End)

• Clay jokes about his lack of musical knowledge, while Buck shares a moment with his baby son, adding levity after the intense prior topics.

Memorable Exchange:

“He is 10 months old... He’s a happy smiley guy.”
—Buck Sexton (37:08)

Notable Quotes and Timestamps

• “We’ve spent $3 trillion on education just throwing more money at the problem and watched our national scores continue to decline. So we’re clearly doing something wrong.”
  —Linda McMahon (06:37)

• “Mississippi Miracle... They adopted the science of reading... going back to the way reading was originally taught. Now... it’s based on phonics.”
  —Linda McMahon (09:16)

• “It’s largely like a glorified babysitting service for a lot of kids. It’s effectively daycare for kids who are too old to be in daycare and the elimination of standards and all these things that go on.”
  —Buck Sexton (16:56)

• “You’re in a real dystopian situation when the cops are lying to you about who does a mass murder.”
  —Buck Sexton (25:42)

• “To what extent do all of these drugs that these trans people are loaded with... does that accelerate their mental degradation and make them more prone to violence? That’s a real question we should be asking.”
  —Clay Travis (31:22)

Important Timestamps

• Intro to Linda McMahon and 1776 Award: 01:37
• Prize/Competition Details: 02:41
• Media Challenge Discussion: 04:57
• Education Reform & State Control: 06:37
• Mississippi Miracle Explained: 09:16
• School Protests & Funding Threats: 12:09
• Award Registration Details: 13:59
• Critique of Prolonged School Days & One-Size-Fits-All System: 16:56
• Transgender Shooting & Pronoun Politics: 23:04 – 26:20
• Mental Health and Societal Implications: 32:33
• Personal/Parenting Interlude: 36:43

Summary

This episode offers a sweeping and often provocative look at the challenges in American education, blending concrete policy discussion (the 1776 Award, state-level innovations like the “Mississippi Miracle,” and federal-to-state power shifts) with culture war commentary. The conversation with Secretary Linda McMahon anchors the show, providing insights into the administration’s education agenda and the importance of historical literacy. The latter half is punctuated by heated critiques of ideological bias in institutions and the consequences of avoiding uncomfortable truths, especially around mental health and gender identity. Throughout, the hosts maintain their signature wit, competitiveness, and occasional forays into lighter personal territory.