The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

Episode: Hour 2 - This is America!
Date: February 24, 2026
Host: iHeartPodcasts
Main Guests: Bill O'Reilly, Kelly Leffler, John Minidakis

Episode Overview

In this episode, Clay Travis and Buck Sexton dive into the political and cultural impact of the U.S. Men's Olympic Hockey Team's gold medal win, the ensuing cultural backlash, and the politicization of sports. Special guest Bill O’Reilly joins to discuss the upcoming State of the Union address, the controversy around inviting the hockey teams to the event, and the dynamics of the Democratic presidential field for 2028. The episode also brings in Kelly Leffler (Small Business Administration) and John Minidakis (owner, Jimmy’s Famous Seafood) to discuss viral patriotism and the real-world meaning of American exceptionalism.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. State of the Union Preview with Bill O'Reilly

Timestamps: 02:54–16:34

• Bill O'Reilly’s expectations for President Trump’s upcoming address:
  • "Well, it's gonna be long. That's what it's gonna be. So lots of snacks are gonna be required." (03:45)
  • He predicts Trump will focus on optimism, avoid harping on negative issues or recent Supreme Court setbacks, and try to “cement momentum” for Republicans.
  • O’Reilly cautions Trump to stay positive: "He'd be wise to give the Republicans cement momentum by saying, look, country's in good shape. Very specifically, here's what's going to happen the next 12 months and keep it as positive as possible." (03:45)

2. Culture War Around U.S. Hockey Team’s Win

Timestamps: 04:39–16:34

• The Left’s Reaction:

  • Clay and Bill discuss how progressive commentators tried to undermine the unifying spirit of the men’s hockey team’s win, using it as a political wedge because of Trump’s involvement.
  • O’Reilly distinguishes between “dissenters” and “destroyers” on the Left:

    "There are two types of people who are disenchanted with their country. Dissenters... that's fine. And then destroyers, people who want to just knock out everything. They believe that America is a bad country, not noble at all, and everything has to change." (05:16)

• Women's Hockey Team Controversy:

  • O’Reilly talks about the optics of the women’s team declining the State of the Union invite and sees it as a subtle political jab at Trump:

    "It had to know, by issuing a statement saying the women aren't going to show up, that it would reflect poorly on Trump, which I believe is why they did it. And this goes back to Megan Rapinoe and the soccer team. The culture between the men's hockey and the women's hockey is very different." (08:35)

3. Gavin Newsom, Identity Politics, and 2028 Democratic Field

Timestamps: 09:09–16:28

• Gavin Newsom’s “Low SAT” Remark:

  • O’Reilly insists Newsom’s comment (“I’m like you, I got a low SAT score”) is not racist, calling out both sides for destructive “cry racism” tactics:

    "I'm sure you guys have been accused of being racist. I have all day long. Racist, racist, racist. It doesn't have any meaning anymore. That's how overused it is." (10:09)

  • O’Reilly warns conservatives:

    "To tag him with the racist thing... that's just not right." (11:45)

• Who’s the Democrat to Beat in 2028?

  • O’Reilly: "That's the weakest field I've ever seen in my 51 years of journalism. In 2028 for the Democrats, it's so weak..." (12:06)
  • Mentions names: Amy Klobuchar, Andy Beshear, Josh Shapiro, Gavin Newsom, noting Newsom has "huge money behind him," but his "record is abysmal."

4. Stephen A. Smith as a Political Candidate

Timestamps: 13:06–16:47

• Could Stephen A. Run for President?
  • O’Reilly says it’s “possible,” estimating odds “3 to 1 against,” but notes the door is now open for media figures:

    "At this point in history, whether he runs or not, Stephen A. is a winner because it draws attention to him from the non sporting community." (13:46)

  • He adds: “He doesn't have to decide for two years at least and he can broaden out his brand. So where's the downside? There isn't any.” (13:46)
  • On Stephen A. Smith’s independence:

    “Can he go and overcome the radical left financial machine? That is the question. Because he's not radical left and he's criticized them and he won't get money from them. And they are running the Democratic Party now.” (15:14)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Left’s Response to American Success:

  "So nothing good can happen in this country while President Trump is the leader. Nothing. Everything is bad 100%. So it's a stretch to find something bad about a gold medal for the men's hockey team."
  —Bill O'Reilly (05:16)

• On Culture & Sports:

  “Sports used to be about bringing everyone together. It needs to be there again. But, you know, what they're trying to do is distract from the failures of, you know, kind of this woke era. And we're never going to apologize for winning. We're just getting started, actually, as a country.”
  —Kelly Leffler (24:05)

• On Celebrating Others' Success:

  "You really know more about people based upon whether they can be happy for other people than when they're able to show sympathy for their losses."
  —Buck Sexton (25:34)

• On Social Media & Schadenfreude:

  “There’s a lot of schadenfreude out there... a very much a symptom, I think, of a social media age.”
  —Clay Travis (26:00)

Segment Highlights & Timestamps

Bill O’Reilly on State of the Union and Hockey Team Controversy

• 03:45–09:09: O’Reilly’s SOTU preview, sports unification, the men’s hockey team controversy, culture war analysis.
• 09:09–12:06: Discussing Gavin Newsom’s “low SAT” comment, media race-baiting, and what’s problematic about both political extremes.
• 12:06–16:34: Democratic presidential prospects, and whether media figures like Stephen A. Smith have a path to political stardom.

Patriotism and Viral Moments: Jimmy’s Famous Seafood

• 20:42–24:39: John Minidakis recounts his viral “gfy” response to Huffington Post’s critique of national pride.
• 24:05: Kelly Leffler highlights the endurance and innovation of American small business, emphasizing the connection between economic strength and national pride.

Unity and Greatness in Sports

• 28:35–31:38: The Hughes brothers’ mom on team unity and country pride.
• 31:38: Jack and Quinn Hughes express gratitude to the troops and the nation after their win.

Comedy, Normalcy, and Cultural Divide

• 33:37–38:30: Clay and Buck lament the Left’s inability to “just be normal” and take (or make) jokes, discussing identity politics and generational divides.
• 37:14: Reflection on backlash humor among young men and how oversensitivity is triggering new comedic styles.

Notable Extended Quotes with Attribution & Timestamps

1. Bill O'Reilly on the Culture Divide:

   “There are two types of people... Dissenters who go out and demonstrate against certain policies, and that's fine. Okay? And then destroyers, people who want to just knock out everything. They believe that America is a bad country, not noble at all, and everything has to change. And that's what drives this kind of craziness.”
   —Bill O'Reilly (05:16)

2. Quinn and Jack Hughes' Mother on Teamwork and Unity:

   “Like, at the end of the day, it's just about the country and the moment that these players, both the men and women, can bring so much unity to a group and to a country... That's what it's all about. And the other things they cannot control. They care about humanity, they care about unity, and they care about the country.”
   —Mother of the Hughes brothers (28:35)

3. Jack Hughes on Patriotism:

   “And I want to thank our troops for allowing us to play this game and thank all the support back home. But very special to be a part of this group.”
   —Jack Hughes (31:39)

Additional Takeaways

• Clay and Buck stress the importance of finding people who genuinely celebrate your success, not “energy vampires.”

  • “To the extent that you can avoid getting drawn into that, your lives will be infinitely better.” —Clay Travis (26:29)

• Comedy as a Political Touchstone:

  • The hosts argue that the inability to take or make jokes (citing Trump’s joke about inviting the women’s team) is a defining cultural divide.

• Identity politics and language policing receive a thorough criticism, especially with the “Latinx” debate and the policing of what jokes are socially acceptable.

• The episode ends with listener call-ins that riff further on the divide between the men's and women's teams and on broader voting demographics. Clay adds context that men’s hockey team members, due to greater resources, have an easier time making cross-country trips.

Conclusion

Hour 2 of Clay Travis and Buck Sexton’s “This is America!” delivers a lively discussion of American identity through the lens of sports, politics, and culture. The hosts—alongside Bill O’Reilly and their guests—use the U.S. men’s hockey gold as a springboard to debate patriotism, the culture wars clouding unity, and the state of politics on both sides of the aisle. The episode champions American exceptionalism, the joy of genuine celebration, and the need to “just be normal,” highlighting a deep disconnect between mainstream American sentiment and elite progressive skepticism.