The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

Hour 2 - President Peacemaker (October 9, 2025)
Hosts: Clay Travis & Ben Ferguson (filling in for Buck Sexton)
Special Guest: Sen. Tommy Tuberville

Overview

This episode spotlights recent global ceasefires and peace negotiations led by former President Donald Trump, focusing on his efforts to broker peace between Israel and Hamas, and his broader record of resolving international conflicts. The conversation also critiques the media’s treatment of peace achievements, addresses the ongoing US government shutdown, and highlights political developments in Alabama, including potential candidacies for Senate. The hosts blend analysis with humor, offer listener interactions, and close with lighter segments.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Trump as "President Peacemaker"

[04:29–08:45]

• Trump claims brokering peace in “seven wars or major conflicts,” now an eighth with a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
• Noted peace efforts include Armenia-Azerbaijan, Congo-Rwanda, Iran-Israel, India-Pakistan, Cambodia-Thailand, Serbia-Kosovo, Ethiopia-Egypt.
• Trump expresses optimism about resolving Russia-Ukraine, but highlights ongoing humanitarian toll:

  "They're losing about 7,000 people a week... mostly soldiers, young soldiers... That war should have never happened. It would have never happened if I were president." (Trump, 04:29)

Analysis:

• Hosts praise Trump’s diplomatic focus, arguing his peace orientation contradicts past media portrayals of him as a warmonger.
• Clay offers a possible criticism:

  “He’s too focused on world peace. And many of these conflicts don’t directly involve the United States. ...That is the criticism you could levy.” (Clay, 06:41)

2. The Russia-Ukraine Impasse

[08:45–14:50]

• Ben argues Russia continues the war because “Putin thinks that he’s winning and will keep taking territory with the status quo.”
• Discussion on Russian cultural attitudes toward war casualties, rooted in WWII history.
• Clay and Ben conclude that peace is unlikely unless Putin’s incentives change, possibly via new penalties or military threats.

  “Putin has to fear something. And ultimately, I think that’s what Trump has come to realize...” (Clay, 14:21)

3. Middle East Hostages and Moral Clarity

[13:12–14:09]

• Hosts express emotional relief over some Israeli hostages being released, while mourning those lost.
• Ben emphasizes:

  “They killed civilians that they were holding as hostages. So the moral calculations here should be very clear to everybody about who the good guys are, who the bad guys are.” (Ben, 13:33)

4. Effectiveness of Nobel Peace Prize

[11:40–12:45]

• Hosts deride the Nobel Peace Prize as “a participation trophy” since Obama’s win, but argue if Trump ends Russia-Ukraine, it must retain meaning.

  “If he were to end the Russia, Ukraine war too ... and didn’t get the Nobel Peace Prize, then it’s a total joke.” (Ben, 11:40)

5. Listener Interaction & Humor – “Polish Sausage” Segment

[20:44–22:52 & 43:05–44:27]

• Lighthearted listener voicemails and inside jokes about “Polish sausage.”
• Clay reads a listener-provided Polish joke on-air:

  “What does a Polish man give his wife on their wedding night that is long and hard? His last name.” (Clay, 44:15)

• The segment reflects the show's blend of humor and serious topics.

6. Interview with Senator Tommy Tuberville

[25:59–35:18]

Government Shutdown:

• Tuberville describes GOP unity under strain—some “soft movements” but insists Democrats are “losing in the polling.”
• Emphasizes the need to “clean out the fat of this bloated government of 3 million employees.”

  “We just got to hold on ... get President Trump ... an opportunity to clean out the fat of this bloated government of 3 million government employees.” (Tuberville, 27:41)

Trump's Middle East Success:

• Tuberville hails the Israel-Hamas ceasefire as “huge” and stresses hostage release as the chief goal.

  “President Trump has done his job because that is our main goal, is get these people loose, get them out of these tunnels...” (Tuberville, 29:09)

Alabama Politics:

• Discussion of Paul Finebaum’s potential Senate run. Tuberville is non-committal but offers campaign advice:

  “He’s got to get out and sell himself, not as a media person but as somebody's going to represent the people of Alabama in this country.” (Tuberville, 30:32)

Media and Patriotism:

• Tuberville laments ESPN/Disney’s leftward political stance, contrasts it with patriotism rooted in sports.
• Raises concerns about Democrats’ fidelity to the Constitution, Department of Justice overreach, and recounts being wiretapped as a senator.

7. Statues, Columbus Day, and "Wokeness"

[40:34–43:05]

• Trump reaffirms Columbus Day as a national holiday; press applause in the White House reported.
• Ben recounts the 2020s statue removal craze:

  “All the tear down the statue, people have just suddenly vanished...” (Clay, 42:05)

• Ben likens the frenzy to “mass formation” or “mass psychosis” (referring to his upcoming book).

8. Evolving Media Landscape

[44:55–46:02]

• Hosts preview next hour's discussion on the democratization of public debate via platforms like X/Twitter, reducing the mainstream media’s narrative control.
• Clay argues, “X under Elon is much more of a reflection of honest public opinion...”

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Trump on Peacemaking:

  “We settled seven... This is number eight. ...The one that I thought would be maybe the quickest of all would be Russia, Ukraine. ...That war should have never happened. It would have never happened if I were president.” (Trump, 04:29)

• Ben on the Peace Criticism:

  “Trump doesn’t want wars, which is a very good premise to start with.” (Ben, 05:09)

• On Media’s Double Standard:

  “Once Obama got the Nobel Peace Prize for nothing, it had become a participation trophy...” (Clay, 11:40)

• Tuberville on Government Bloat:

  “We got people that we don’t even know, get a paycheck.” (Tuberville, 27:41)

• Tuberville on Democrats:

  “Very few Americans agree with the Democratic Party on anything that they’ve done or try to do...” (Tuberville, 27:41)
  “The problem that I’m having is ...how much does the Democratic Party really love this country?” (Tuberville, 33:21)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 02:21 – Hosts discuss recent travels and time zones
• 03:39 – Introduction to Cabinet meeting updates and Trump’s peace efforts
• 04:29 – Trump audio on resolving global conflicts (Cut 33)
• 05:15 – Ben lists Trump’s international peacemaking achievements
• 08:45 – Analysis of Russia-Ukraine and Putin’s motives
• 13:12 – Israeli hostages, moral clarity in the conflict
• 14:21 – How to change Putin’s calculus; Trump’s evolving strategy
• 25:31 – Trump audio on the government shutdown (Cut 35)
• 25:59 – Senator Tommy Tuberville interview begins
• 29:09 – Tuberville’s reaction to Middle East peace deal
• 30:32 – Tuberville on Paul Finebaum possibly running for Senate
• 40:34 – Trump declares "Columbus Day is back"
• 44:55 – Tease for discussion on X (Twitter), the new media landscape

Tone & Atmosphere

• Direct, conversational, and frequently irreverent
• Mixes substantive policy discussion with humor, sports analogies, and listener participation
• Openly partisan, celebrating Trump and critiquing Democrats and “the left”
• Frequent asides, pop culture, and self-aware humor

Conclusion

This episode centers on Trump’s international peacemaking reputation, contrasts it against previous media narratives, and explores contemporary political questions, from the government shutdown to Alabama’s Senate race. The hosts balance in-depth geopolitical analysis and culture war commentary with banter, listener jokes, and a humor-laden atmosphere.