The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show – "Trump Believes in AMERICA"

Hour 2 | October 31, 2025 | iHeartPodcasts

Overview

In this lively hour, Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the impending New York City mayoral election, broader political polarization, and the persistent allure (or delusion) of far-left policies in urban settings. Joined by Carol Markowitz, they draw on personal experiences, dig into voter behavior and motivations, and dissect the evolving attitudes among city residents—especially in New York. They also explore how national debates from Trump vs. Biden to climate change hysteria are echoing locally, lacing the show with humor, cultural references, and a dose of skepticism about left-wing orthodoxy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The New York City Mayoral Race: Realistic Hopes and Blue Realities

• Voter Mobilization & Sliwa's "Miracle" Chances

  • Buck Sexton urges New Yorkers to vote, but admits a Sliwa (Republican) win would require "something unprecedented" given deep polling deficits.
  • Dissects Mamdani's remarks that wealthy residents will stay or flock to NYC under his administration, dismissing it as "delusional."

    "That is crazy talk… People with tremendous mobility, usually that means people with tremendous resources—for them to stay and/or choose to be there, that is crazy talk."
    (Buck, 04:14)

• Polling & Cuomo’s Prospects

  • Discussion of polling history: Mamdani leads by 17 points – "Would require the polls to be more wrong… than they have ever been" for a surprise upset.

    "[It] would require the polls to be more wrong by far, by an order of magnitude more than they have ever been in the history of polling New York City mayors races."
    (Buck, 08:11)

• Legacy of Democrat Leadership

  • Buck criticizes Cuomo's leadership during COVID as "authoritarian" and blames him for setting the template for harsh policy.

    "Cuomo…is the worst governor. You could argue that during the COVID period, Cuomo was the worst governor in America…setting the tone in so many ways of authoritarianism."
    (Buck, 09:29)

2. Nationalization of Local Politics: Trump, Democrats, and Authoritarian Accusations

• Democratic Warnings about Trump

  • Alyssa Slotkin, Democratic senator and presidential hopeful, claims Trump follows an authoritarian playbook and is accumulating power to protect himself.
  • Buck mocks the "projection," listing actions the Democrats took against Trump as the real authoritarian overreach.

  "No, you, you did the things, you did all the things. You tried to lock Trump up. There were multiple assassination attempts against Trump...What was the thing that they didn't try?"
  (Buck, ~10:40)

• Refuting the 'Trump is a Dictator' Narrative

  • Buck insists Trump operates within legal bounds, and Democrats' fear stems from their own failed attempts to stop him.
  • Points out Trump’s personal motives are rooted in mission and patriotism, not personal gain or power.

  "He believes in this mission. He believes in this agenda…it's working. And that also upsets the Democrats."
  (Buck, ~14:59)

3. Listener Interactions: New York Identity, Halloween Candy, and Pop Culture

• Accent Debate & New York Roots

  • Buck reflects on his "New Yorker" accent, referencing listener feedback from the Curtis Sliwa interview and his time growing up on the Upper East Side.

• Candy & 90s Nostalgia

  • Light-hearted banter on best and worst Halloween candies (“Tootsie Rolls are trash!”), and the legitimacy of the "Tootsie Roll" song/dance.
  • Playful debate over pop culture memories, with Buck recalling radio and pop music in 90s NYC.

4. Guest Segment: Carol Markowitz on New York's Trajectory

• On "Voting for Cuomo" from Florida

  • Carol admits she’d ironically prefer Cuomo over Mamdani, despite leaving New York due to Cuomo’s governance.

    "Andrew Cuomo is why I live in Florida... I would be voting for Andrew Cuomo, crazy as that is. But I think Mamdani runs away with this."
    (Carol, 26:45)

• The Ideological Shift

  • She distinguishes between traditional liberals and a new wave of hard-left activists, especially in places like Park Slope and the Upper West Side.
  • Discusses how the rhetoric of "defund the police" and socialist policies are trendy among wealthy progressives who feel insulated from real-world consequences.

  "These people, yeah, they…think that when they say eat the rich, they don't mean them somehow."
  (Carol, 30:50)

• Jewish Community and Voting Patterns

  • Acknowledges that most Russian Jews are conservative, whereas American Jews (especially those distanced from historical strife) veer left.
  • Polls show an increasing share of Jewish voters rejecting hard-left candidates.
  • Laments left-leaning Jews supporting a candidate hostile to both police and Israel.

  "Polling has the number at around 18 to 20%. Listen, let me not kid myself here. One out of every five Jews in New York City voting for Mamdani is still high. But…Donald Trump got somewhere in the 40% of Jewish vote. That has never happened before."
  (Carol, 32:27)

5. Climate Change & Liberal Groupthink

• Bill Gates' Climate Retreat
  • Carol and Buck observe how Gates' recent remarks ("climate change is no longer a big issue") mark a stunning reversal after years of alarmism.
  • Discuss the performative nature of elite concern—like Gates or DiCaprio flying private jets while preaching doom.

  "If I'm Bill Gates and I really believe in climate change, I can't possibly keep using my private plane. So then that means he does not believe it."
  (Carol, 37:26)

6. Personal Asides and Humor

• NYC Neighborhood Rivalries
  • Buck and Carol banter about reputations of various Manhattan and Brooklyn neighborhoods for their political leanings (“Upper West Side vs. Park Slope”).
  • Carol clarifies her South Brooklyn, Russian-Jewish roots and contrasts real conservatives from recent Park Slope dwellers.
• Halloween Costumes
  • They swap stories about kids' costumes and dressing up pets, injecting levity into the conversation.

Notable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• "It would require the polls to be more wrong by far, by an order of magnitude more than they have ever been in the history of polling New York City mayors races."
  — Buck Sexton, 08:11

• "Andrew Cuomo is why I live in Florida... I would be voting for Andrew Cuomo, crazy as that is."
  — Carol Markowitz, 26:45

• "They think that when they say eat the rich, they don't mean them somehow."
  — Carol Markowitz, 30:50

• "You did all the things. You tried to lock Trump up. There were multiple assassination attempts against Trump... What was the thing they didn't try?"
  — Buck Sexton, ~10:40

• "If I'm Bill Gates and I really believe in climate change, I can't possibly keep using my private plane. So then that means he does not believe it."
  — Carol Markowitz, 37:26

Timestamps – Noteworthy Segments

• NYC Mayoral Election, Polls, & Migration: 02:57–09:29
• Democratic Rhetoric On Trump & Authoritarianism: 09:29–16:55
• Listener Calls, Pop Culture, Candy Debate: 19:31–25:27
• Carol Markowitz Interview (New York, Voter Behavior, Jewish Vote, Climate Change): 25:27–39:01
• Extended Talkbacks & Wrap-up: 44:14–48:26

Memorable Moments

• The candid reckoning with leftward shifts in NYC politics and the sense of futility about moderate or right-leaning candidates' chances.
• Carol’s acknowledgment of her own political journey: fleeing Cuomo-era New York, only to now support him over a more-likely radical successor.
• The lighthearted cultural disputes over 90s music and Halloween candy, serving as a ballast to more sobering political analysis.
• Buck’s persistent jabs at elite hypocrisy on climate change and wealth.

Tone & Style

• Conversational, witty, often sardonic.
• Deeply personal observations from hosts and guest (both proud former New Yorkers now in Florida).
• Alternating between sharp political critique and playful banter—giving substance without losing entertainment value.

For listeners and non-listeners alike, this hour offers both rich insight and engaging cultural commentary on how the national political climate collides with one of America's bluest cities—and how individuals, even as they relocate, remain closely tied to the fate of their hometowns.