Podcast Summary: The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show
Episode: Hour 2 - Sorry, New York
Date: October 20, 2025
Host: iHeartPodcasts
Episode Overview
In this engaging and often irreverent hour, Clay Travis and Buck Sexton dissect the fast-approaching New York City mayoral election, using it as a broader lens to examine the recent direction of Democratic politics, urban policy failures, and partisan divides. With Buck broadcasting from Florida and Clay from Tennessee, they address the contentious race, discuss the consequences for New York and the nation, and take calls from listeners across the country—many of whom are exasperated or resigned about New York's fate.
Main Discussion Points and Insights
1. The New York City Mayoral Election: High Stakes, Dismal Choices
[02:38–06:36]
- Clay and Buck open the hour by framing the New York mayoral race as possibly the most consequential and contentious upcoming election, noting how it exemplifies deeper issues within urban Democratic strongholds and broader national politics.
- They discuss the perceived inevitability of the left-wing candidate—Mamdani—winning, with Andrew Cuomo presented as an only slightly lesser-of-two-evils. Neither inspires confidence from Buck, who brands Cuomo “a disaster” and “the meanest person in New York politics” ([03:29]).
- Quote [03:06] - Buck: "Cuomo is also awful. He's not a communist, but he is a very, very bad, authoritarian Democrat... He was a disaster... I've heard that from numerous people that he's a really nasty guy if you cross him.”
2. Trump’s Critique: Radical Associations and Political Optics
[04:46–06:25]
- Trump’s commentary is played, highlighting Mamdani’s apparent association with Siraj Wahhaj, a controversial Brooklyn imam with reported links to the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.
- Quote [04:54] – Trump: “Didn’t the man you’re talking about blow up the World Trade Center? And he’s friends with Mamdani.”
- Buck provides context: the imam is an “unindicted co-conspirator” in the bombing and, per Buck, an advocate for “jihad on the Big Apple.” Yet, to Buck, the imam controversy “isn’t even in the top three” worst things about Mamdani as mayor.
3. The Futility (and Comedy) of Saving New York
[06:36–10:08, 22:24–26:33]
- Clay takes a pragmatic—if bleak—approach, suggesting that perhaps New Yorkers “just need to suffer for the benefit of the rest of the country,” arguing a far-left New York could trigger a national backlash benefitting the GOP.
- Quote [06:46] – Clay: “I think Mamdani is going to win... and when he wins... the nation as a whole will benefit.”
- Predicts mass exodus of New Yorkers to Florida and Tennessee, further driving up real estate prices in those states ([09:47]).
- Quote [10:08] – Clay: “As soon as you move somewhere new, you want to immediately pull up the bridge. You’re like, there's too many people moving in here now.”
- Listeners call in, echoing the sentiment of letting New York “sink beneath the waves of communism” ([25:25], [31:43]).
4. The Electability Conundrum
[16:21–17:22]
- Discussion of the necessity for Democrats to have a “star power” candidate on the national level, dismissing potential moderates like Andy Beshear as non-entities due to lack of charisma or national profile.
- Quote [17:19] – Buck: “Nah. Doesn’t get enough sizzle on social media… He’s too boring, too bland, I think.”
5. The Role of Legal vs. Illegal Immigration Sentiment
[10:31–11:57]
- Buck and Clay debate the miscalculations of Democrats regarding immigration, emphasizing how legal immigrants often oppose illegal immigration even more than native-born citizens.
- Quote [11:18] – Buck: “Legal immigrants are like, ‘you tell those illegal immigrants to go home and do it the right way, buddy.’”
6. Call-In Segment: Reactions, Rants, and Reflections
[26:46–45:20]
- Multiple listeners chime in from Wisconsin, New Jersey, Long Island, and elsewhere. Some criticize the hosts for “giving up” on New York or not backing Republican long-shot Curtis Sliwa. Others argue New York deserves the government it votes for, and Republicans shouldn't “bail them out.”
- Concerns about Mamdani instituting radical policies (like Sharia law or free public transit leading to system abuse) are expressed, with Buck pointing out the limits of the mayor's practical and legal powers ([34:15]).
- Quote [34:21] – Buck: “There are things that Mamdani is not capable of doing… There are other things that I think he will not be able to do logistically or bureaucratically.”
7. Left-Wing Coalition Contradictions: Sharia Law & Identity Politics
[35:54–37:45]
- Clay and Buck highlight the “unholy alliance” between progressive activists and Islamic hardliners, mocking leftists who overlook glaring contradictions (e.g., LGBTQ activists supporting pro-Sharia factions).
- Quote [36:09] – Clay: “I would even offer to fund an airplane to fly the gays to Gaza to protest in favor of Hamas, just to see how it would go.”
8. Broader Takeaways: Urban Exodus and Political Realignment
[43:29–46:08]
- Final callers reference the ongoing exodus from New York City, citing quality-of-life deterioration, crime, and municipal mismanagement as key drivers.
- Quote [44:12] – Chris from Manhattan/Long Island: “I have friends who are cops. They're done, too. This whole thing is going to be a complete and utter disaster. We could see it a mile away.”
- Hosts debate whether New York real estate demand will ever diminish, with Buck noting prices and rents remain at all-time highs despite perceived decline ([45:05]).
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “Cuomo is also awful… the meanest person in New York politics.” – Buck ([03:12])
- “I think Mamdani is going to win… the nation as a whole will benefit.” – Clay ([06:46])
- “If Sliwa stays in, Mamdani wins. So what to do?” – Buck ([06:25])
- “We're good over here now. We've already got the infrastructure problems… these New Yorkers coming down into my Miami.” – Buck ([10:00])
- “Legal immigrants are like, you tell those illegal immigrants to go home and do it the right way, buddy.” – Buck ([11:18])
- “He's one of these guys who, like a Mafia don, basically… if you cross him, he's going to get you back.” – Buck on Cuomo ([04:21])
- “Burn it all down. Sorry, Big Apple.” – Clay ([06:26])
- “These people are actually completely the antithesis of what the left in this country tries to argue…that coalition cannot continue.” – Clay, on leftist contradictions ([37:37])
- “I have friends who are cops. They're done, too. This whole thing is going to be a complete and utter disaster. We could see it a mile away.” – Chris, caller ([44:12])
Timestamps for Key Segments
- [02:38] — Show launches into the New York City mayoral race discussion.
- [03:06–04:21] — Buck’s detailed critique of Cuomo.
- [04:46] — Trump soundbite on Mamdani’s alleged extremist connections.
- [06:36] — Clay on why a Mamdani win could help Republicans nationally.
- [10:08–11:57] — Hosts on migration, legal immigrants’ stance on illegal immigration.
- [12:11] — Mamdani defends himself and his associations.
- [16:21–17:22] — The importance of star power in national politics.
- [22:24] — Clay presents new poll and betting odds, reinforces Mamdani's near inevitability.
- [26:46 –34:15] — Caller segment; debates on whether to “save” New York or let it flounder.
- [35:54–37:45] — Clash of ideologies: leftist identity politics and Sharia law contradictions.
- [43:29–46:08] — Callers describe urban exodus and the state of city services.
Tone, Language, and Style
As always, Clay and Buck blend humor, sarcasm, and frank political commentary. They are unsentimental about New York's fate, favoring ideological clarity (and a few taunts) over futile heroics. There’s banter about “letting New York sink” and lively engagement with callers who run the gamut from frustrated conservatives to ex-New Yorkers.
Summary For Newcomers
This hour serves as both a case study in urban political dysfunction and a meditation on what happens when a city—or party—embraces ideologically extreme leadership. If you’re following the NYC election, worried about leftward shifts in governance, pondering the dynamics of migration from blue states, or entertained by sharp political banter, this episode has something for you.
Key takeaway:
Even if New York seems headed for radical governance, Clay and Buck argue, maybe that’s the lesson America needs—and the rest of the country might be all the better for it.