The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show
Episode: Hour 2 - Trump's Next Career in Sports?
Airdate: November 10, 2025
Overview
This hour of the show dives into the latest developments in American politics—chief among them the (near) end of a prolonged government shutdown—and explores the cultural momentum of Donald Trump, particularly his growing embrace by figures in sports and media culture. The hosts analyze the shutdown’s fallout, the shifting dynamics within the Democratic Party, particularly surrounding Chuck Schumer and AOC, the long-term impact of Trump’s presence in the lives of young Americans, and include a spirited discussion on Trump’s surprising broadcast appearance at an NFL game.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. The End of the Government Shutdown
- Recap: The 40-day government shutdown appears to be ending, with a bipartisan resolution being finalized (02:03).
- Travel Disruptions: Over 3,000 flights canceled, 11,000+ delays—emphasizing the public’s mounting frustration (02:20).
- Why Now? Hosts attribute the swift shift to the shutdown’s impacts becoming unbearable, particularly air travel chaos and political pressure after key elections (02:44).
- Quote: “A lot of people were and have become super frustrated… particularly relating to air traffic delays.” – Buck Sexton (03:02)
2. Shutdown’s Political Fallout
- Senator Angus King’s Perspective: The shutdown intended to stand up to Trump and tackle ACA tax credit issues achieved neither, instead increasing Trump’s leverage (03:47).
- Quote: “The shutdown actually gave him more power. Exhibit A being what he's done with SNAP and SNAP benefits across the country.” – Angus King, via Buck Sexton (04:06)
- Who Got Paid: Notably, ICE agents kept receiving pay while other federal workers did not (04:18).
- Finger-Pointing: Democrats mostly blame Chuck Schumer; Schumer faces pressure from both the left (AOC) and moderates (05:31, 06:05).
3. Chuck Schumer, AOC, and Democratic Infighting
- Schumer’s Next Move: Clay and Buck argue Schumer will spin the shutdown into a story of resistance and fundraise for the 2026 midterms (06:27).
- “He’s created the narrative to allow him to go to… dinners… to present himself as the resistance against Trump.” – Clay Travis (06:54)
- “People will forget… He will turn it into: ‘Oh, I stood and fought and we got some concessions out of Trump…’” – Buck Sexton (07:04)
- AOC’s Aspirations: The hosts posit AOC is eyeing the presidency more than a Senate seat, but a left-flank challenge to Schumer remains a possibility (07:47, 08:10).
- Vulnerable Democrats: Only those not up for re-election in the next cycle voted to end the shutdown, highlighting political calculation (12:30-13:11).
4. Healthcare: Systemic Flaws and Inevitable Collapse?
- Deep Frustration: The inefficiencies and costs tied to government interventions in healthcare are dissected—blaming roots in Medicare/Medicaid’s inception (39:10).
- Call-In Expert: A retired healthcare administrator asserts the only way forward is back to a true free-market system—with physicians in charge and tort reform (39:45).
- “The problems with health care all go back to 1965 when the federal government created Medicare and Medicaid… Everything since then has been dictated by them.” – Bill, caller (38:40)
- Reality Check: Both hosts agree the system is so entrenched that genuinely fixing it would be politically impossible, and a nationalized healthcare system is likely inevitable by default (40:21).
- “We need to get back to an actual insurance system. We don’t have insurance; we have something else.” – Buck Sexton (41:12)
5. Trump Makes Sports Commentary… and Cultural History?
- NFL Cameo: Trump attended a Commanders (Redskins) vs. Lions game, visited the Fox Sports booth, and reminisced about football legends (22:48–24:32).
- Memorable Moment - Trump’s Modesty: When asked about his high school football stats, Trump laughs, admitting, “I’m not sure I had any. That’s a long time ago… but I never tell a lie.” (25:05)
- Cultural Impact: The Lions performed Trump’s signature dance after a big play, while Trump waved from the owner’s suite, signaling significant cultural comfort with him in sports spaces (25:41–26:46).
- Quote: “Culturally, in Trump 1.0, they would have never thought about putting him in the broadcast booth during an NFL game… Now, players are doing the Trump dance on the field.” – Clay Travis (26:00)
- Why It Matters: The hosts emphasize that public athlete celebration of Trump, and his televised inclusion, signals not just Trump’s resonance—especially among young men—but that political taboos are shifting (26:49–28:08).
- “I think it’s emblematic and reflective of young men and how they have come to see Trump as, in some way, their avatar.” – Buck Sexton (26:56)
- Formative Influence: For many teens, Trump is a constant; the hosts compare the potential future retrospective on “the Trump era” to the way 1990s Republicans longed for a return to “Reaganism” (29:49–31:10).
6. Trump’s “Next Career:” Media Host?
- Joking on Air: Trump tells the Fox broadcast team he’d like their job someday.
- “I’d like to have your job one day.” – Trump (33:01)
- Hosts’ Assessment: Both agree—Trump could successfully host a long-form radio or sports talk show, a feat few presidents could pull off (33:12–34:10).
- “He could sit down and do three hours of radio, no problem… He’d be good at it.” – Clay Travis (33:14)
- “Barack Obama couldn’t do a three-hour radio show. Biden couldn’t have done a fifteen-minute interview with us…” – Buck Sexton (33:36–33:41)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- Shutdown Impact:
- “The shutdown wasn’t accomplishing either goal… Gave Trump more power.” – Angus King, via Buck Sexton (03:57)
- On Schumer’s Political Messaging:
- “He’s going to create a narrative out of this that ignores the truth of what really happened.” – Clay Travis (07:27)
- Trump’s Crossover Appeal:
- “Players on the field doing the Trump dance… It just feels like, again, culturally, in Trump 1.0, they would have never thought about putting him in the broadcast booth.” – Clay Travis (26:00)
- “Young men… have come to see Trump as, in some way, their avatar.” – Buck Sexton (26:56)
- Trump’s Broadcasting Ability:
- “Trump could do a three-hour radio show… Very few politicians… could pull that off.” – Clay Travis (34:06–34:10)
- “Barack Obama couldn’t do it… Biden couldn’t have done a fifteen-minute interview with us.” – Buck Sexton (33:36–33:41)
- On Healthcare Reform:
- “It’s almost impossible to unbake the cake that was created… back in 1965.” – Bill, caller (39:40)
- “We need to get back to an actual insurance system. We don’t have insurance; we have something else.” – Buck Sexton (41:12)
Segment Timestamps
- Shutdown news and fallout: 01:41–07:27
- Schumer/AOC/Democratic infighting: 06:27–13:25
- Healthcare system critique and caller: 38:39–41:42
- Trump at the NFL game, cultural impact: 22:39–34:21
- Discussion of Trump as potential radio/sports host: 33:01–34:10
- On the sports-cultural memory of Trump: 26:49–31:12
Tone and Style
The conversation is delivered with the hosts’ characteristic mix of humor, directness, and insight. Clay and Buck blend sharp political analysis with cultural observation, using sports talk as a window into larger national dynamics. The episode maintains a playful, sometimes self-effacing energy, particularly in segments speculating about Trump’s post-presidential career and in their witty quips about their own broadcasting abilities.
Conclusion
This hour delivers a snapshot of the intertwining of politics, media, and American pop culture in 2025. The episode stands out for connecting the government shutdown’s politics to lasting cultural trends—most notably, the normalization of Donald Trump as a fixture in mainstream entertainment and sports, and the hosts' open speculation about his post-political future on the airwaves. The hosts’ surprise at how deeply Trump is now woven into the American fabric, especially for the younger generation, threads throughout the hour, setting the stage for a broader discussion about the ongoing redefinition of political and cultural “normal” in the country.