Hour 2 - Things That Make Us Go Hmmm...

Summary

The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

Episode: Hour 2 - “Things That Make Us Go Hmmm...”
Date: November 14, 2025
Podcast: The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show (iHeartPodcasts)

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Episode Overview

This hour of The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show dives into key political stories with their trademark blend of skepticism, humor, and conservative analysis. The show unpacks the renewed focus on the Jeffrey Epstein scandal and its political weaponization, debates the mysteries surrounding Epstein's fortune, and discusses California’s ongoing crisis with special guest and gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton. The episode offers critical takes on political distraction, institutional incompetence, and the ideological battles shaping the news.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

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1. Political Use of the Epstein Story ([02:03]–[14:13])

• Trump’s Response to Epstein Distraction:
  Clay Travis reads aloud a post from Donald Trump on Truth Social, pointing out Trump’s call for an investigation into Epstein’s connections—notably to Democrats and powerful institutions, countering recent attempts to tie Trump to Epstein by his critics.

  • Quote (Clay Travis reading Trump): “Now that the Democrats are using the Epstein hoax involving Democrats, not Republicans... I will be asking AG Pambondi and the DOJ, together with our great patriots at the FBI, to investigate Jeffrey Epstein’s involvement and relationship with Bill Clinton, Larry Summers, Reid Hoffman, JP Morgan Chase and many other people and institutions...” ([02:35])

• Analysis of Motives & Media Tactics:
  Both hosts argue that resurrecting Trump’s association with Epstein is a deliberate distraction from recent Democratic failures, like the government shutdown.

  • Clay with sarcastic disbelief: “If President Trump were involved in any kind of significant way with Jeffrey Epstein, do you think Joe Biden would have sat on it for four years... while they were charging him with criminal offenses in South Florida and in New York and in Georgia...?” ([04:30])

• Perpetual Targeting of Trump:
  Buck reinforces the point, framing the renewed Epstein focus as part of a pattern of unfounded attacks (e.g., Russia hoax, various indictments) aimed at damaging Trump politically.

  • Quote (Buck Sexton): “The lies that they have told about Donald Trump are completely absurd. They lied about all that and then they brought four bogus criminal prosecutions...” ([05:30])

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2. The Enigma of Epstein’s Wealth ([07:16]–[16:49])

• Where Did Epstein’s Money Come From?
  Clay and Buck press on one of the true, unresolved “Epstein mysteries”—the source of his vast fortune.

  • Clay doubts the plausibility of Epstein’s purported wealth, highlighting the lack of a traceable enterprise or inheritance:
    “There’s a big difference between being worth ten million dollars and being worth a hundred million dollars... as you get up in those big numbers, it becomes almost impossible to be worth $500 million or more without there being a really traceable way that your wealth exists. Except for Jeffrey Epstein...” ([07:33])
  • They note the immense Manhattan mansion he received as a gift, which Buck calls “a very strange move” ([10:01]).

• Bank Transactions & Lack of Transparency:
  Both hosts call for public scrutiny of large financial transactions to Epstein.

  • Buck: “The idea that they’re going to be able to get away with not having more transparency on this... that’s just going to fall by the wayside... Why can't we... be excluded from seeing the financials of all of this?” ([11:56])

• Industry Knowledge & Skepticism:
  Buck, referencing his own investing experience, casts doubt on Epstein’s claim to have grown so wealthy as a mere asset manager. “How do you get from ‘I manage assets for really wealthy people’ to ‘I’m worth $600 million’?” ([12:41])

• Summary Judgment:

  • Buck, turning to AI for research, notes:
    “The origins of Jeffrey Epstein’s wealth remain one of the most debated and opaque aspects of his life. No definitive, fully documented explanation has been made public.” ([14:06])
  • Clay summarizes the issue: “He worked as a teacher at a Manhattan private school... He had no money. He faked his credentials to get that job too. This guy’s been a fraudster his whole life. In addition to everything else, he ends up being worth hundreds of millions of dollars. It just again, it does not add up.” ([16:05])

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3. California’s Dysfunction: Steve Hilton Interview ([23:30]–[38:33])

A. LA Wildfire Rebuilding Failures ([24:14])

• Steve Hilton’s Take:
  Hilton lampoons California’s bureaucratic paralysis in the wake of devastating wildfires, citing endless, circular permitting and insurance requirements.
  • Quote (Steve Hilton): “They go to the building department. It’s a different person each time. They say, ‘We can't give you a permit until you get your insurance.’ You go to the insurance, they say, ‘We can't give insurance until you get a permit.’ And it’s just round and round. This is all months after Karen Bass ludicrously made an announcement saying, ‘I have just signed an executive order streamlining permitting...’ Nothing’s happened.” ([24:34])

B. Political Mood Shifting in California ([26:18])

• Political Fatigue & Breakdown:
  Buck and Hilton discuss how the citizenry’s frustration crosses ideological boundaries—people want competence, not just ideology. San Francisco’s moderate mayor is cited as evidence of a pragmatic shift.
  • Hilton: “People are waking up now... the scale of their failure, every single measure you look at, we are the worst performing state in America. Highest unemployment rate, highest poverty rate, highest cost insurance, rent, home prices...” ([27:46])

C. One-Party Rule & Calls for Balance ([29:40])

• Argument Against Single-Party Dominance:
  Clay and Hilton agree that monopoly governance leads to poor results; Hilton advocates for healthy political competition.
  • Hilton: “We’ve now had 15 years of one party rule. They’ve controlled every statewide office, super majority in the legislature... Let’s just have a bit of balance... That argument goes over very well.” ([30:35])

D. Can Any Governor Reform California? ([31:40])

• Learning from Arnold Schwarzenegger Experience:
  Buck asks whether entrenched public sector power makes real reform impossible.
  • Hilton shares his UK government reform experience and outlines specific strategies, such as overturning legislation via executive power and appointing reform-minded administrators: “I learned how bureaucrats work and how incredibly aggressive you need to be in order to make change happen.” ([32:32])
  • Specific example: Responding to the controversy over biological boys in girls sports, Hilton has prepared legal strategies to challenge enabling legislation ([33:15]).

E. Litigation and the Business Climate ([35:12])

• Legal System Weaponized Against Business:
  Buck and Hilton discuss predatory lawsuits and laws like California’s Private Attorney General Act. Trial lawyers are the second-largest donors to Democrats in California—creating incentives for lawsuit proliferation.
  • Hilton: “It’s a nightmare business at the best of times. In California, it’s the absolute worst because of these people and what they’re doing. But we really can change this…” ([36:07])

F. Other Race Dynamics & Political Humor ([37:05])

• Factors Shaping the Race:
  Clay notes the leftward drift of urban Democrats, and Hilton jokes about the likelihood of facing Eric Swalwell (“endless opportunity for Fang Fang jokes”) or Katie Porter (“endless opportunity for mashed potato jokes”) ([37:31]).

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4. Lighter Moments & Listener Feedback ([42:06]–[43:32])

• Catch-Up and Self-Deprecation:
  The hosts joke about their lack of practical handyman skills after a listener calls in questioning their manliness given their inability to fix houses or cars.
  • Buck, slightly sheepish: “You know, Carrie’s dad said, make sure you marry a guy who knows how to swing a hammer… Missed on that one…” ([43:21])
  • Clay: “Did find a guy who could talk on the radio, and that’s supermanly.” ([43:25])

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Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• Clay Travis (interpreting Trump’s post):
  “This is, I’m reading from President Trump, another Russia, Russia, Russia scam with all the arrows pointing to the Democrats...” ([03:24])

• Buck Sexton on media attacks:
  “They lied about all that and then they brought four bogus criminal prosecutions... What is more likely—that this is yet another effort to lie about Donald Trump, to try to bring him down or even just to slow him down a bit?” ([05:45])

• Clay Travis on Epstein’s wealth:
  “How is he so incredibly wealthy, despite the fact that he’s never really created anything... He’s never founded a company... It's just doesn’t add up.” ([08:37])

• Buck Sexton on need for transparency:
  “Why can't we, on what basis could we be excluded from seeing the financials of all of this?” ([11:56])

• Steve Hilton on California’s wildfires bureaucracy:
  “They go to the building department... ‘We can’t give you a permit until you get your insurance.’ You go to the insurance, they say, ‘We can’t give insurance until you get a permit.’ And it's just round and round.” ([24:34])

• Clay Travis on party balance:
  “Anything that Democrats completely control...you have abject failure.” ([29:40])

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Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |-----------------------------------------------|----------------| | Trump’s Truth Social Epstein statement | 02:03–04:30 | | Analysis of political distraction | 04:30–07:13 | | Epstein wealth mystery - detailed breakdown | 07:13–16:49 | | Steve Hilton interview begins | 23:30 | | CA wildfires rebuilding/debacle | 24:14–26:18 | | Shifts in CA political mood | 26:18–29:40 | | Argument for political balance | 29:40–31:40 | | State governance reform/deep-dive | 31:40–37:05 | | Lawsuit culture and business climate | 35:12–37:05 | | Political humor re: governor’s race | 37:05–38:33 | | Listener feedback & wrap-up banter | 42:06–43:32 |

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Style & Tone

• The episode strikes a balance between deep skepticism, wit, and practical policy critique—mirroring the hosts’ signature blend of “intelligence and humor.”
• The conversation is colloquial, occasionally sardonic, and laser-focused on core conservative criticisms of current governance and media narratives.
• The Steve Hilton interview is rapid-fire, full of specific grievances, policy nuances, and the irrepressible optimism of an insurgent candidate.

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Conclusion

For listeners wanting a clear run-down of current GOP perspectives on political distraction, media gamesmanship, and big-state dysfunction—with a particularly incisive look at the still-unsolved mystery of Jeffrey Epstein’s fortune—this episode delivers. The second hour offers deep dives into headlines, a practical reform roadmap for California, and plenty of laughs—all stitched together with Clay and Buck’s sharp chemistry.

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Transcript

[iHeart Radio Announcer]

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[Buck Sexton]

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[Clay Travis]

Welcome back in hour number two, Clay Travis Buck Sexton show we hope all of you are having a great Friday. We're gonna head out to la, talk with the California gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton friend of ours about the situation in LA as Gavin Newsom attempts to to elevate his profile and argue that he's done a good job out in California. We'll see what the latest is there, but as we begin the second hour of the Friday edition of the program, I teased this which has happened in the last hour or so. President Trump on Truth Social posts as follows now that the Democrats are using the Epstein hoax involving Democrats, not Republicans, to try and deflect from their disastrous shutdown and all of their other failures. I will be asking AG Pambondi and the Department of Justice, together with our great patriots at the FBI, to investigate Jeffrey Epstein's involvement and relationship with Bill Clinton, Larry Summers, Reid Hoffman, JP Morgan Chase and many other people and institutions to determine what was going on with them and him. This is, I'm reading from President Trump, another Russia, Russia, Russia scam with all the arrows pointing to the Democrats. Records show these men and many others spent large portions of their life with Epstein and and on his island. Stay tuned. Triple exclamation points. All right. So Buck, you and I earlier this week said beyond a shadow of a doubt what I believe is true and what I've seen many other people, even begrudgingly people on the left come around and discuss, which is President Trump's association with Epstein was dropped at the time that it was earlier this week to try to distract from the fact that Democrats had enacted a disastrous shutdown and had suddenly decided they needed to bend the knee. And as a result, they were trying to basically just distract from a storyline that otherwise would be told associated with their own failures. I've said for a long time, and we'll open up the phone lines, 800-282-2882. It's Friday. You guys can weigh in on this if you would like. I've said for a long time, if President Trump were involved in any kind of significant way with Jeffrey Epstein, do you think Joe Biden would have sat on it for four years while he was trying to bankrupt President Trump, while they were going through Melania's underwear drawer at Mar? A Lago, while they were charging him with criminal offenses in South Florida and in New York and in Georgia and all of these places, do you really think that they would have been in the situation where they were just not paying attention to wrongdoing, that Trump was involved with Epstein? It's crazy. It doesn't add up.

[Buck Sexton]

I totally co sign on that. And I would add to it, Clay, you could even take a few steps back and say, is it likely that maybe, just maybe, the one figure who has done more to defeat the forces of the demonic left than anybody else in America in the last decade, that they lied about in every imaginable way, the Russia collusion hoax, they were telling everybody that he was working with Putin on some secret Kremlin nonsense. You know, that the lies that they have told about Donald Trump are completely absurd. They lied about all that and Then they brought four bogus criminal prosecutions. The guy almost made it to 80 years old, never once indicted for anything. Then four, all held to coincide with an election year. And then also civil suits brought, including, I mean, what the, the Letitia James one was preposterous beyond words. What is more likely that this is yet another effort to lie about Donald Trump, to try to bring him down or even just to slow him down a bit? I don't think, I think they know they're not going to bring him down, but to slow him down politically or Clay, after all of those lies, they finally found the one. They found the smoking gun in the Epstein files that they've had for many, many, many years and gone through a million times already. Give me a break. Like, this is just, this is absurd. This is not serious. People cannot make this argument to me and be taken seriously.

[Clay Travis]

Correct. And so Trump is now saying, ok, if you want to aggressively go back into the Epstein story, why would we.

[Buck Sexton]

Not.

[Clay Travis]

Why would we not decide that we're going to actually go to. What is the real only mystery I think of Epstein at this point, which is how did he actually get all the money that he had? And I understand some people out there are like, oh, you know, you, you don't really break down the difference of wealth, but there's a big difference between being worth ten million dollars and being worth a hundred million dollars. And there's a big difference between being worth a hundred million dollars and five hundred million dollars or seven hundred million dollars. And as you get up in those big numbers, it becomes almost impossible to be worth $500 million or more. And they're not to be a really traceable way that your wealth exists now. Maybe you inherited it. There's lots of super rich people out there that inherit vast sums of money that occurs and, but that's connected to at some point a windfall that someone in the family got. You're a Walton air because Sam Walton did what he did with Walmart. You're an heir of the Rockefellers or of, of the Gettys or any of these numbers of these families that are just.

[Buck Sexton]

That's the easiest wealth imaginable to trace because it's already been traced before. You get, everybody already knows.

[Clay Travis]

So but you can't, because I'm just here to tell you, you can't be worth over $500 million without typically there being something that you created, something massive that you owned and you sold. Except for Jeffrey Epstein. How is he so incredibly wealthy, despite the fact that he's never really created anything. He's never founded a company that was wildly successful. He's never made, you know, he's not a hedge fund guy who has multi billions of dollars that he's managing and he's taken a share of it just doesn't add up. And so Trump is asking, hey, how about these banks start to explain some of these transactions? And I think that's a really great question because, Buck, I will tell you, the banks typically pay a lot of attention if $1 million is being wired from one place to another. I was looking and reading about this. There were times when there were tens of millions of dollars being wired around to Epstein. Some of these transactions were over $100 million. Buck, what in the world is going on here?

[Buck Sexton]

Have you ever, have you ever seen the, the place that was raided on the Upper east side in the 70s? Have you ever told it?

[Clay Travis]

Spectacular.

[Buck Sexton]

I mean, I, so I grew up a few blocks from there and I always knew, growing up, growing up there that the townhouses between Madison and Fifth Avenue in the 60s, the 70s and some of the 80s truly used to belong to industrial barons of the turn of the century. I mean, some of them, they're now museums or they're embassies or, you know, they've transformed a lot of them. But the ones that are still lived in by people, I think they say that that house that he lived in was a 60 to 80 million dollars townhouse. If you. It's a true mansion. A mansion in one of the most expensive per square foot real estate places on the planet. And he was given it. He didn't purchase it. It was given to him. That's a very strange move. And you look at a lot of the other things here too. Look, this, this guy, there's the idea that they're going to be able to get away with not having more transparency on this, I think is just, that's just going to fall by the wayside. They're going to. Because now the Democrats have opened and they're selectively picking, oh, what about this? What about this? Trying to insinuate things. There's no, there's no wrongdoing of any kind in anything they've released. They're just, oh, so and so said this. They're releasing selective hearsay from Epstein in order to try to make. At some level I'm annoyed because now it is working and that we're all talking about this instead of the huge Democrat failure to shut down. We're talking about this instead of, instead of affordability, which Democrats want, that's going to be the, as I said, you're going to hear about that until we're all just so sick of the word. But you know, it used to be pay your fair share. That was the thing we were, we were hearing from Democrats ad nauseam in the Obama era. Pay your fair share. Pay your fair share. It's going to be affordability. But Clay, when Trump weighs in on this one, I think he might have wrong footed some of his critics here because why, why can't we, on what basis could we be excluded from seeing the financials of all of this?

[Clay Travis]

That's a great question. So what I've been asking for a.

[Buck Sexton]

Long time, that's always the thing that has not added up to me at all. And that's always the component of this that I've heard people say, oh, we know. And I, then I always say, well, but the public doesn't know. We should know what happened here. That's a lot of money. That's a lot of money. Right? I mean they went after Donald Trump with 34 felony charges for a bookkeeping, not even error, just keeping the books the way that he wanted to over, what was it, 150 grand?

[Clay Travis]

Oh, basically, yes.

[Buck Sexton]

Right. It wasn't like something like that. It was like a hundred something grand for the, for the, you know, the NDA payment. And they don't, they can't tell us this. The idea that he was a financial advisor too. I know something about this. I know some financial advisors. 1% is pretty standard in the industry. So please don't call and say, buck, I'll get you a great deal. You know, we, I'll do half a percent. Right. I'm just saying about 1% is usually what an asset manager for individuals will take some will take two. But that can be a little, you know, that's all that, that people will say that feels like a lot, especially over time. How do you get from I manage assets for really, for really wealthy people, as Jeffrey Epstein's, to I'm worth $600 million. That clay, they have found.

[Clay Travis]

Correct.

[Buck Sexton]

This guy was operating at a level of wealth and sophistication. I'm sure there was money stashed in accounts that has not been found.

[Clay Travis]

And his argument, because I've read this, the argument seems to be that he was really good at finding tax avoidance strategies. Okay. There are lots of those guys out there that are pretty good at finding tax avoidance strategies. And I read some of these Emails where he's saying hey, I expect to be paid $80 million this year. It just doesn't add up. And so I give Trump credit here. I think this is a, this is a move that's going to make some people Can I just particularly these banks.

[Buck Sexton]

I just want to say the first thing that comes up from grok okay for anyone who says oh it's shut up. This is known or this is the first you grok I I will say this is a big thing for me, Clay I always wondered when am I, when are those, are those leftists at Google going to lose my search business? They have I grok now over Google every time. If I'm just looking for basic information I grok over Google every time I went into which is the X AI search for any of you don't have it. It's very useful I'm going to tell you and it gives very good information. I use it for a whole range of things and I am an, I am an investor. Just a full disclosure. I'm an investor also and X I But here's what comes up. The origins of Jeffrey Epstein's wealth remain one of the most debated and opaque aspects of his life. No definitive, fully documented explanation has been made public. Much of what is known has come from court documents, investigative reporting and statements by people who knew him. Clay. No definitive explanation has been made public. That is unacceptable. That is unacceptable. I mean they clearly could where where who was giving him the money and.

[Clay Travis]

There'S been a financial accounting on his death because when you die, obviously as a part of the the will in the estate, they have to figure out what your assets are. There have been the huge lawsuits. So the Epstein victims have gotten paid out substantial like over a hundred million dollars, I think among other dollars. I think it's even more than that. So there's been a financial settlement of some sort there but yeah, how the money ever got there. Nobody can really explain how he went from a guy buck. He worked as a teacher at a Manhattan private school. So I mean he had no money.

[Buck Sexton]

Right.

[Clay Travis]

I mean I, we probably got some teachers out there listening in Manhattan right now.

[Buck Sexton]

He faked his credentials to get that job too. And this guy's been a fraudster his whole life. In addition to everything else, he ends.

[Clay Travis]

Up being worth hundreds of millions of dollars. It just again, it does not add up. And I think a lot of you out there, they've skipped over where the money came from that allowed him to even have this lifestyle. But I think it's the most important question out there. So Trump is saying now and Trump has no love lost for a lot of these banks because they debanked him. As Eric Trump has come on and talked about with us, suddenly the Trump Organization after his first term couldn't even have bank accounts. So good for him. I like this move.

[Buck Sexton]

Let's talk about something happy and joyous and take a turn into the holidays here for a second. Look, I'm not saying that I try to just get it all done at once, but I did all of the gifts for my family in New York. I'm talking new sheets, pillows, blankets. Amazing stuff. It all came from Cozy Earth. In fact, my mom was just telling me that she was all wrapped up in her Cozy Earth bubble blanket last night. Absolutely fantastic. And they need it up there in New York. Sorry, getting a little cold up there. Unlike Miami, Cozy Earth products are phenomenal. You can get all of your Christmas gifts, Hanukkah gifts, whatever birthday gifts you got coming up, get it all right at Cozy Earth. The quality is incredible. Carrie and I were sleeping on Cozy Earth sheets last night. Clay's got them in his houses. They're phenomenal. You will love the quality. Right now get 40% [e-mail] their bed sheets are made with a bamboo fabric that's breathable so you never overheat. They also come backed by 100 night sleep trial money back guarantee and a 10 year warranty. That's just one of many great Cozy Earth products. By the way, the sheets Black Friday has come early at Cozy Earth. C o z y cozyearth.com use my name Buck as your promo code on top of their site wide sale for up to 40% off. Get all your Christmas shopping done in one fell swoop right now. That's what I did. My family loves it. Go to cozyearth.com today. Use code Buck and share luxury with yourself and your family this holiday season.

[Clay Travis]

Stories of freedom.

[Buck Sexton]

Stories of America.

[Clay Travis]

Inspirational stories that unite us all. Each day. Spend time with Clay and Bob. Find them on the free iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcast.

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[Buck Sexton]

Welcome back in here to Clay and Buck. Kind of a tight turnaround. So let's just get into. Well, a few things coming up. Don't we have a guest at 1:30 or am I am I imagining that Steve Hilton's way? Steve Hilton, yes, that's what I thought. Thank you. So we're going to have a California deep dive on what's going on on that side of things. And it's interesting to us as always. California is where we have so many fantastic listeners. Our two biggest states for listenership, well, it mirrors population, but it's California and Texas. We have a lot of Republicans who are behind enemy lines. They're still trying to bring some sanity to the Golden State. And I love California. I Just don't love its government. But as a state it's a fabulous.

[Clay Travis]

Place, maybe the most beautiful. I'm going to, I'm going to get angry emails over this. I think California is the most geographically beautiful of all the states. When you think about the variety of the first of all, the state's huge but you think about the redwood forest in the north, you think about the incredible beaches of Orange county and San Diego and you think about the mountains where you can ski and basically the perfect weather by and large of L. A I think it's the most of all the country, the most geographically. Most geographically benefited. Is that the wrong word? Most privileged, most spectacular. What's the gifted? It's just a beautiful place. Blessed. There's a good word. You know what else is great? Rapid radios. We are blessed to be able to stay in touch with so many of our family members. But how many people out there don't want your kids having a cell phone too soon? But maybe you want those kids to be able to get on the bike and ride around in the neighborhood. May you. Maybe you want him to meet with neighborhood kids, play wiffle ball, play touch football. So my son does on a regular basis and we stay in touch with him. Rapid radio maybe you got elderly family members who don't use cell phones that well. Maybe they live in places where you don't have a consistent cell phone signal. You're going to love rapid radios. My mother in law has a rapid radio because she doesn't get great signal in her house but the rapid radio works flawlessly. My son, my 10 year old, 11 year old now runs around with the rapid radios. Get hooked up [e-mail] Buy em direct in Michigan, come straight to your home five days worth of charge.

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[Clay Travis]

Rapidradios.com welcome back in Clay Travis Buck Sexton show We are joined now by our friend candidate for governor of California, Republican candidate for governor Steve Hilton. And Steve, we appreciate you giving us the time here on a Friday as I know you're campaigning all over the state. What is the latest on the rebuild in la And I believe there is the answer is virtually nothing. But how much are you hearing from people that are just fed up over the inability of people to rebuild the homes that they lost in the wildfires coming up on nearly a year ago now.

[Steve Hilton]

So I laughed because it's laughable Clay. It's just unbelievable. Apologies for the noise. I'm on the road. I don't know if you can hear. We're in the Middle of a very major storm, pouring with rain. Rain, of course, which Gavin Newsom and the idiots in charge are going to let run out into the ocean instead of storing it and getting it to our great ag industry. I'm in the central valley of the farms, farmland all around me. Not going to get this water because they're going to send it out to the ocean to protect the delta smelt. That's another story on the Palisades. It's laughable. They haven't done anything. All the time I'm there hearing from people who are so incredibly frustrated, they get just sent from one ridiculous bit of bureaucracy to the next. They go to the building department. It's a different person each time. They say, we can't give you a permit until you get your insurance. You go to the insurance, they say, we can't give insurance until you get a permit. And it's just round and round. This is all months after Karen Bass ludicrously made an announcement saying, I have just signed an executive order streamlining permitting to help rebuild L. A. Nothing's happened. And here's the reason why. When you actually look behind that. I actually watched the video of the press conference where she made that announcement. Here are the words she actually spoke. I have just signed an executive order tasking agency heads with developing paths forward to streamlining permitting. There, in a nutshell, you have the explanation as to why nothing works in California. You've got these ridiculous machine politicians who have no clue how anything works, never done a real job in their lives, no understanding of how to make change happen. Totally ideologically driven, not practical. And that's why we're in such a mess. That's why. Last bit of news for you today. Just seen a poll just come out showing me in the lead in the governor's race, ahead of all the candidates, including all the Democrats. People are sick of this nonsense in California, and it's time for change. We're going to get that change next year.

[Buck Sexton]

Well, that was the next place I wanted to go with you, Steve, which is, you have to think that at some point the people have suffered enough, regardless of where they're ideologically aligned. At some point you just want stuff to work. At some point, you just want to be safe. You're sick of waiting in lines that never get anything done anyway. And I was wondering if you could speak to what we saw in San Francisco recently. It came to our attention that the mayor of San Francisco now isn't some Republican, not a MAGA guy, but isn't Completely certifiably insane and was willing to take a more reasonable approach toward Trump's offer of trying to assist in the cleanup. So do you view that as indicative of what's going on more statewide, where people are seeing the craziness for what it is? Is that more specific to San Francisco? I wanted your take on what's going on up there.

[Steve Hilton]

Yeah, no, it's really interesting. I mean, the mayor you're speaking about, Daniel Lurie, he's a friend of mine, I've known him for years. He's a Democrat, but he's a non crazy Democrat, let's use that term. And he's definitely the kind of person that, you know, he's focusing on practical things. He's not an ideologue. There's another mayor less well known in San Jose, just the other end of the San Francisco Bay, Matt Mahan, who's also got that more pragmatic approach. So you've now got the Bay Area with two major mayors who are in that category. And it does show that people are waking up now. The Bay Area, obviously very heavily Democratic. And so it's not surprising that you're going to have Democrats elected there. A Republican really wouldn't be able to make it work in the Bay Area. I think, however, statewide, I think that exact same mood that I'd say desperation for change is what will help me win next year as governor, as a Republican. Because across the state, it's a much more Republican state actually than people think. The base Republican vote in California has been pretty steady for the last 20 years or so. It's just over 40%. So that's a gap that is big, but it's not unbridgeable. And the scale of their failure, every single measure you look at, we are the worst performing state in America. Highest unemployment rate, highest poverty rate, highest cost insurance, rent, home prices. The worst business climate in America 10 years in a row, according to Chief Executive Magazine. U.S. news and World Report rankings 50th out of 50 for affordability, 50th out of 50 for opportunity. The worst reading scores in the country. I mean, it just goes on and on. They failed on every front and people are really sick of it. The difference this time is they're going to have a really strong, clear, common sense, positive alternative that I'm laying out there. $3 gas, your electric bills cut in half a home. You can afford to buy your first hundred thousand of income free of state income tax. They've never, it's going to be a real shock to them I think to face a candidate like me who's got the business experience, the government reform experience, the media platform, to take them on and I'm going to take them apart and I'm really looking forward to it.

[Clay Travis]

Isn't it interesting, Steve? That was all really well laid out. There are lots of states that have Democrats and Republicans involved that can be successful. There are tons of red states that basically have just said, hey, Democrats, thanks but no thanks. Maybe they still have power in some way a little bit. Like in Nashville area where I live, which is deep red state, but Nashville's a little bit blue. But anything that Democrats completely control, that is where there is no alternative party, you have abject failure. Do you get the sense, like it doesn't mean that Californians have to believe that Republicans have all the answers, but just to say, hey, maybe a monolithic commitment to Democrats is not getting us the best possible result. Are you picking up on that when you're traveling around the state making your arguments?

[Steve Hilton]

I was just about to say exactly that, Clay, which is that, you know, and I get real, you know, when we do our town halls and have meetings, real nodding along when I make the point that, look, we've now had 15 years of one party rule. They've controlled every statewide office, super majority in the legislature, all the big cities and the big counties. Next year it'll be 16 years of party rule. And I say, look, you don't have to become a Republican. Let's just agree it's not healthy to have one party rule for so long. It never is, never works anywhere. So let's just have a bit of balance. Even when I'm elected governor as a Republican, frankly, looking at, you know, we're going to fight for every Republican candidate and I'm actively on the road supporting other Republicans at every level because we got to elect more Republicans. But it looks like they'll still have certainly a majority, probably still a super majority in the legislature. So it's just a bit of balance that we're looking for. That argument I think goes over very well. I've seen it on people's faces and it's part of the story.

[Buck Sexton]

I don't know, Steve, if you sat through the pretty positive spin, but the Schwarzenegger Netflix bio movie that they made a couple of maybe a year or two ago. Anyway, I bring it up. Oh, ok. You have seen it. I bring it up because one thing that the governator, as we all call him, who was at least theoretically a Republican, something that he said is once he got into office that it was impossible to do anything because the machinery of the state, the government bodies, regulatory agencies, public sector unions statewide are so powerful and so entrenched that you can't really do anything. What do you say to that? How could you break. I'm sure there's some truth to that, but how do you break through that if you're given a mandate by the people of California as governor?

[Steve Hilton]

Well, the difference is, and Arnold's a good friend of mine, I've known him for 20 years. The difference is that I will go into this with government reform experience. So I was senior adviser to the Prime Minister in the uk My office right next to the cabinet room there. I'm not saying it's a direct read across, of course not. But it's a similar sized economy and government bureaucracy. And neither am I saying that what we did there, remember, I wasn't the decision maker. I was senior advisor was some perfect success. Far from it. But I learned how the system works. I learned how bureaucrats work and how incredibly aggressive you need to be in order to make change happen. The other lesson, you compare President Trump this time around to the first time around, the years that were spent running up to 2024, getting ready, having the executive orders drafted, the personnel decisions made, the legal arguments clarified and ready to go. I'm doing that work right now on a whole range of issues. Look, we don't have a massive team or resources like President Trump had in between 2020 and 24, but that work is vital. I'll give you a really specific example, one that is very close to your heart. For example, the issue of biological boys and girls sports. So I went to the track and field championships in Clovis, actually here in the Central Valley, back in the summer when that scandal popped up again. And I didn't just want to complain about it, I wanted to lay out what I would do about it. And so part of my, one of the people on my team is Governor Pete Wilson's top legal advisor. And I said to him, look, how are we going to deal with this? That scandal of biological boys in girls sports and locker rooms all goes back to a law that was passed in 2013, AB 1266. Now, we did the work on that and it turns out that the governor has the power to initiate a process to overturn legislation that violates the California state Constitution. We think that law violates the Constitution in two specific places. Section 28, Section 31. I won't go into the details, but it's a good example of how when you, if you're properly prepared and ready for battle, with the right attitude, I think you really can do a lot. The governor's role is much more powerful than people think. You appoint thousands of people to hundreds of state agencies and you can direct their work. That's how I'm going to open up the oil industry so we get $3 gas. That's how I'm going to end the scandal of these extortionate lawsuits that are crippling every small business. There's a whole range of things where actually by appointing the right people, kicking out the ideologues and the kind of bureaucrats and putting common sense people into these agencies, you can make change happen pretty quickly.

[Buck Sexton]

Can I just real, real quick on the lawsuits. I know about this from friends, Steve, who just sell products nationwide, that even if you're selling something as straightforward as, like food, that California, there are these troll law firms and all they do is bring suits for the most, you know, if you don't have that, there's some, like, carcinogen that theoretically exists in the, you know, the beats that you're selling. They'll sue you in California.

[Steve Hilton]

Exactly. And by the way, why? It's another example of the corrupt, rotten system in California, because trial lawyers, if you look at the donations to Democrat politicians, specifically Gavin Newsom, by category, the number one donor to Gavin Newsom over his years in office in California, government unions. Number two, trial lawyers, not surprising. And they. And the same with the legislature. So they create all this legislation that creates opportunity for litigation. So that's another thing you've got to fight and be ready for because it's crippling businesses of all sizes and in all sectors. And as someone who's run a business, I used to run restaurants. It's a nightmare business at the best of times. In California, it's the absolute worst because of these people and what they're doing. But we really can change this. I mean, for example, there's something called the Private Attorney General act, which was passed in 2004 in California. Sounds obscure, but if you're in a restaurant or a bar or a farm or anything, you're being hit by these extortionate lawsuits all the time. And you have to settle. And it costs you hundreds of thousands of dollars, sometimes millions of dollars a year. It's basically a cost of doing business. I've got a plan to end that pretty much overnight by actually understanding how that law is supposed to work. Appointing a labor commissioner who's going to be on the side of business who can make the whole thing go away without any recourse to the legislature. So there's actually a lot of things you can get done if you really know what you're doing and you're properly prepared.

[Clay Travis]

Steve Quick, on the way out here, have you seen any impact on the California governor's race based on Mamdani winning in New York City? Did it sort of rustle the the Democrats out there to think way maybe we're going farther left wing than I thought. I know there's a lot of cross pollination between New York City and la, in particular San Francisco, too. Any reaction that you've seen in California from that win?

[Steve Hilton]

Well, I don't know what category to put this in, Clay, but the latest news on the governor's race is our friend Eric Swalwell is about to jump in the race we hear next week. So I don't know whether he's sensing I don't know whether he's sensing an opportunity here. I can't decide who I'd rather face, Swalwell with the endless opportunity for Fang Fang jokes or Katie Porter with the endless opportunity for mashed potato jokes. It's a tough choice, that one.

[Buck Sexton]

There we go. All right, Steve, when do we see you on the debate stage? When does this thing heat up in California? You're going to be next summer. When does it actually happen? When does it come together?

[Steve Hilton]

The primary is in June. The filing deadline is March. So I would imagine that, you know, March is probably the kickoff when we know exactly who all the candidates are going to be.

[Buck Sexton]

We look forward to you laying it straight for Fang Fang and mashed potatoes and all the rest. Thank you so much, Steve. Great to have you on.

[Steve Hilton]

Fantastic. Great to be with you.

[Buck Sexton]

I want you guys to put the name Preborn at the very top of your list for worthy nonprofit organizations that this holiday season could really use your support. They have two goals. The first is to save unborn babies from the terrible tragedy of abortion. And the second is to help the pregnant women carrying those unborn babies. And this all comes down to saving the lives of unborn children every day. Because when a mom to be walks into a preborn clinic, she's welcomed with open arms, love and support and she's introduced to her baby through an ultrasound. And for the first time she sees life, not loss and is offered hope filled choices. When she chooses life preborn continues walking with her for up to two years, providing maternity clothes, diapers, counseling and so much more. As you think about your year end giving. Consider the greatest investment you could ever make. The Gift of Life as the year closes out, your tax deductible donation can be the difference between life and life and death for a tiny baby. Right now, using your cell phone, dial pound250 and say the keyword baby. That's pound250, say baby or visit preborn.com buck all gifts are tax deductible. Preborn is a five star rated charity. Go to preborn.com buck Sponsored by Preborn.

[Clay Travis]

Stories of Freedom, Stories of America. Inspirational stories that unite us all each day. Spend time with Clay and Buck. Find them on the free iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts.

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[Buck Sexton]

Welcome back in to Clay and Buck. At least one of us likes pennies.

[Clay Travis]

Here we go.

[Buck Sexton]

Not sure which one.

[Clay Travis]

Here we go.

[Buck Sexton]

VIP email from Tony. Guys, whenever. When Uncle Bill was on with you, you never asked him about Patton.

[iHeart Radio Announcer]

You.

[Buck Sexton]

You were going to ask him about the general's death. The accident was only a fender bender. Please have him back. Noted. Fair. We just. We were having too much fun chatting with Uncle Bill, so we forgot about that one. But he's. He's with us every couple of weeks, so we'll have him back. We'll ask him.

[Clay Travis]

That's producer Ali's fault. She should have reminded us that we said we would do that so, you know, we don't cast blame or try to dodge responsibility ourselves. But that one's Ally's fault. Again, not shifting blame, but Ally should have made sure we didn't forget that.

[Buck Sexton]

Let's take Ms. From Phoenix listens on KFYI on the talkback ff. I really don't understand how you guys could have grown up to the age that you are and not know anything about anything as far as it comes to a house or car. Working on it. That's just insane to me. I mean. And you wrote a book called Balls. Yeah. Okay. I mean, call out here, but, I mean, I wish I could. You know, Carrie's dad said, make sure you marry a guy who knows how to swing a hammer. That was his advice to her. Didn't. Missed on that one, I gotta say.

[Clay Travis]

Did find a guy who could talk in the radio, and that's supermanly. When we come back, we'll close out the week. Thanks for hanging out with all of us. Even though we can't fix anything, you.

[Buck Sexton]

Know what your customers are doing right this second? The exact same thing. You are listening to me.

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[Buck Sexton]

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[Clay Travis]

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[Buck Sexton]

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[Clay Travis]

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[Buck Sexton]

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[Clay Travis]

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[Apollo Sales Platform Advertiser]

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[Buck Sexton]

That'S 844-844-iheart or iheartadvertising.com.

[iHeart Radio Announcer]

This is an iheart podcast.