The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show—Hour 2: Media Avoids Trans Shooter
Date: August 28, 2025
Podcast: iHeartPodcasts
Hosts: Clay Travis, Buck Sexton
Main Guest: Winsome Sears (Virginia Lt. Governor)
Episode Overview
This episode examines the media's handling of a recent mass shooting in Minneapolis committed by a transgender individual, focusing on alleged media bias and omissions surrounding the perpetrator’s identity and motives. Hosts Clay Travis and Buck Sexton also discuss broader issues related to transgender identity, media narratives, and political positioning on gender and sports. Later, Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Sears joins to discuss her campaign for governor and related political controversies in Virginia.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Update on the Minneapolis Shooting
- Good News Amid Tragedy: Buck begins by stating that, while two children lost their lives in the attack, other wounded victims have survived and will be reunited with their families.
- Quote: “We did lose two children to the horrific terror attack, Trans terror attack in Minneapolis. But … those who were admitted to the hospital with wounds all made it.” — Buck Sexton (01:32)
- Stories of Bravery: The hosts highlight a fifth-grade survivor whose friend shielded him during the shooting, suffering injuries to protect him.
- Quote (from child witness): “My friend Victor, like, saved me … he laid on top of me, but he got hit.” (02:46)
2. Criticism of Media Coverage
- Claim of Media Avoidance: Clay and Buck argue that mainstream outlets are deliberately avoiding mention of the shooter’s transgender status and the explicitly political motive to “kill President Trump” written on the weapon.
- ABC News Critique: ABC’s Aaron Katersky reports only that President Trump’s name was written on the gun, omitting the “kill” directive.
- Quote: “How do you leave out that it was written kill President Trump? … If you're watching that, you could think, oh, that must be a die hard Trump supporter.” — Clay Travis (07:37)
- ABC News Critique: ABC’s Aaron Katersky reports only that President Trump’s name was written on the gun, omitting the “kill” directive.
- Pronoun Prioritization: CNN is criticized for focusing on using the shooter’s preferred pronouns despite their status as a “terrorist killer.”
- Quote: “When you have a killer terrorist and on live television you are worried about using the correct pronoun … it's indefensible.” — Clay Travis (08:54)
- Buck adds that corporate pressures, especially in media, force personnel to toe the line on pronouns for fear of reprisal.
3. Debate over Gender Identity and Societal Impact
- Resistance to ‘Pronoun Culture’: Hosts compare the rise of pronoun enforcement in professional and daily life to the spread of mask mandates during COVID, warning of escalating social coercion.
- Memorable analogy: “It starts out as, oh, it's just a courtesy. And then once they get a critical mass, it's do this or you lose your job. … The slippery slope with this trans madness stuff is absolutely real.” — Buck Sexton (11:15)
- Limits of Identity Dictation: Both hosts mock the idea of individuals dictating not just pronouns, but self-styled adjectives and achievements (“Call me Emperor Lord of the Universe Sexton” [11:33]).
- Breaking the Identity Politics 'Fever': Clay suggests that gay and lesbian people should reject association with the trans movement, seeing their struggles as fundamentally distinct.
- Quote: “There is a pretty big difference between saying, hey, I'm attracted to the same sex, and, hey, I am a different gender than what all of us know to be true.” — Clay Travis (13:07)
- Buck references Dave Chappelle’s comedy sketch critiquing the forced grouping of the LGBT coalition (13:58).
4. Interview: Winsome Sears, Virginia Lt. Governor
[Starts: 19:58]
- Sears Corrects Buck: Winsome corrects Buck that she’s Lt. Governor, not Governor (yet).
- Her Platform:
- Emphasis on economic growth under her tenure—hundreds of thousands of new jobs and business startups.
- Predicts her opponent, Abigail Spanberger, would “dismantle everything we’ve created” if elected (21:47).
- Transgender Issues in Politics:
- Critiques Spanberger for supporting men in women's sports and related accommodations.
- Quote: “She voted for Men, biological men in women's sports. … That’s crazy because she’s got three girls. Is that what you want for your girl children?” — Sears (22:32)
- Claims legacy media is shielding Spanberger and dismissing Sears.
- Critiques Spanberger for supporting men in women's sports and related accommodations.
- Legacy Media Bias: Shares personal anecdotes of being ignored by local press despite her public roles.
- Policy Pledges:
- Continue “common sense” governance: economic growth, supporting police, resisting defunding, protecting parental rights.
- Opposes Spanberger’s alleged policies on unionization, taxes, and public safety (27:33).
- Quote: “With me, it’s all common sense. Money in your pocket, jobs and safety. There you go.” — Winsome Sears (29:35)
5. Community and Listener Responses
- Gay Listener Feedback: Trent and others email to agree with the show’s stance that the modern LGBTQIA+ movement doesn’t represent them—“Trans is not our fight. I’m a gay man. God made me that. God does not make mistakes.” — Listener (32:59)
- Parent of a Trans Child: Lisa from Florida calls in to recount the difficulties with her child’s transition, expressing concern about psychological changes and how gender transition ideologies are handled by schools and mental health professionals.
- Quote: “It immediately started changing the personality … I don’t think that any of these kids are getting better. … Families [are] through the ringer.” — Clay Travis (38:04)
- Buck likens the pressure on parents to accept transitions or risk their child’s suicide to the manipulative tactics of addicts.
Notable Quotes & Moments
- On Media Bias: “How do you leave out that it was written kill President Trump? … If you're watching that, you could think, oh, that must be a die hard Trump supporter.” — Clay Travis (07:37)
- On Pronouns and Societal Pressure: “Slippery slope is almost undefeated. And the slippery slope with this trans madness stuff is absolutely real and established.” — Buck Sexton (11:15)
- On Defining Reality: “Why should you get to pick your pronouns any more than you get to pick your adjectives?” — Clay Travis (11:52)
- On Political Coalitions: “A lot of gay people, frankly, are looking around and saying … ‘I'm fine with the L's, the G's, the B's. This whole trans thing is crazy.’" — Clay Travis (13:07)
- From Winsome Sears: “She (Spanberger) voted for biological men to be able to undress in locker rooms with our young girls. … Is that what you want for your girl children?” — Winsome Sears (22:32)
- Parent perspective: “If I thought that something would happen to my son committing suicide and he would still go to heaven, I would be better living with that than knowing that he went out and killed children or anybody for that matter.” — Lisa, caller (38:00)
Important Timestamps
- 00:13: Show opens with confirmation that most shooting victims survived.
- 02:25: Bravery of child survivors recounted.
- 06:55: Critique of ABC News reporting.
- 08:27: Critique of CNN’s pronoun usage.
- 11:15 - 13:58: Extended discussion on pronoun usage, trans ideology, and breaking identity politics.
- 19:58: Winsome Sears interview begins.
- 21:47: Sears outlines economic success and contrasts with opponent.
- 22:32: Discussion of transgender issues in Virginia politics.
- 25:01: Media bias in Virginia, Sears’ exclusion by legacy press.
- 27:33: Sears lays out platform pledges if elected Governor.
- 32:59: Listener feedback: gay man dissociating from the broader LGBTQIA+ movement.
- 34:42: Lisa, a mother of a trans child, shares her story and concerns.
Tone & Language
The episode is combative, skeptical of mainstream media, openly critical of the left’s approach to gender and identity, and intent on offering a platform to alternative viewpoints—especially those of conservative or dissenting gay and female listeners. The hosts often use sardonic humor and direct, sometimes blunt phrasing. Emotional moments are found in the story of the child witnesses and Lisa's call detailing her family’s turmoil.
Summary for New Listeners
In this episode, Clay and Buck spotlight their belief in inadequate and ideologically skewed media coverage regarding a recent shooting by a transgender perpetrator. They argue that the politics of identity—particularly over gender and pronouns—have infected both public life and journalistic integrity. Inviting Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Sears, they discuss the intersection of these issues with partisan politics, especially in sports and parental rights. Listener contributions—including a gay man’s perspective and a parent’s account of her child’s transition—round out a show focused on media critique, culture, and conservative resistance.