The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

Episode: Hour 2 - Welfare and Warfare
Date: October 8, 2025
Podcast: iHeartPodcasts

Overview

In this episode, Clay Travis and Buck Sexton delve into the major headlines shaping politics and policy, weaving through topics such as gubernatorial drama in California, media interactions, and the ongoing government shutdown. The show features a deep dive into Democratic candidate Katie Porter's contentious interview with a CBS journalist, explores allegations about her character and leadership, and hosts a substantive interview with Senator Rand Paul on the fight over welfare and government spending, Obamacare subsidies, and the mechanics of the shutdown. Listeners contribute their diverse viewpoints in thought-provoking call-ins.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. Atmosphere in Washington D.C. Amid Government Shutdown

• Buck opens with levity: D.C. is noticeably emptier and more pleasant with most federal employees off-duty.
  • "This government shutdown's pretty nice. Pretty nice." [00:28] (Buck Sexton)

2. California Gubernatorial Race: Katie Porter’s Interview Controversy

a. The Viral CBS Interview Clip

• Buck introduces a viral interview: Katie Porter (Democratic candidate for governor) clashed with CBS journalist Julie Watts.
• The exchange grows tense as Porter resists direct answers about her need for Trump-voter support in a general election and bristles at multiple follow-up questions.

Notable Quotes:

• "This is CBS... home team stuff for Porter. But if you ask her real questions, apparently she doesn't like it." [02:48] (Buck Sexton)
• "I feel like this is unnecessarily argumentative. What is question?" [04:07] (Katie Porter)
• "I don't want to keep doing this. I'm going to call it. Thank you." [05:17] (Katie Porter)
• "She can't handle that. What exactly... is the reporter maybe... are things getting a little lost in translation?" [05:21] (Buck Sexton)

b. Buck’s Analysis and Reaction

• Buck frames Porter’s reaction as ogreish, unprofessional, and revealing of her character.
• He brings up past allegations against Porter (via NY Post and Politico):
  • Claims of abusive behavior toward ex-husband and staff.
  • High staff turnover and reports of a toxic work environment.
• Buck generalizes that "nasty people in politics are always Democrats," referencing similar stories about Amy Klobuchar.

Notable Quotes:

• "Katie Porter comes across as a really nasty and unlikable person and unprofessional." [02:57] (Buck Sexton)
• "I use that term, people like that one online. Ogrish, as in befitting of an ogre." [05:35] (Buck Sexton)
• "Between the scalding hot potatoes thrown at her ex, the staffers who say that she is a brutish and nasty woman, and now this berating of a reporter for nothing... we can't do the benefit of the doubt thing anymore." [12:56] (Buck Sexton)

c. Listener Phone Calls on Porter Interview

• Caller Mike (Waco, TX): Asserts Porter’s hostility arose directly from being pressed for logical answers.
• Caller Gerard (Louisiana): Suggests Porter must have known the questions in advance; Buck theorizes it’s more about expectation of friendly coverage than prior knowledge.

Notable Quotes:

• "The outrage comes from, what are you doing? You're not supposed to do this." [18:49] (Buck Sexton)

3. Senator Rand Paul Interview: The Shutdown, Welfare, and Obamacare Subsidies

Interview begins: [21:13]

a. Root Cause of the Shutdown

• Sen. Paul: All Democrats previously voted for these spending levels; the current conflict is over renewing temporary Obamacare subsidies, originally set to expire by Democrat design.
• "This is all on the Democrats, and eventually they will fold and vote to reopen the government." [21:39] (Rand Paul)

b. Debate Surrounding Obamacare Subsidies

• Subsidies were described as pandemic relief but now benefit relatively wealthy individuals, not the poor.
• Funding the subsidies requires borrowing (often from China) or money printing, worsening the $2 trillion annual deficit.

Notable Quotes:

• "When you subsidize something, you're increasing the demand for it. You actually are in all likelihood increasing the price of things." [22:52] (Rand Paul)

c. Welfare for Illegals and Democrat vs Republican Policies

• Paul explains laws existing against welfare for illegal immigrants, but enforcement is weak and Democrat-led states are more permissive.
• Democrats are now moving to repeal restrictions preventing illegals from accessing welfare and voting.

Notable Quotes:

• "We do know that illegal people in the country are voting. We also know they're receiving healthcare as well." [24:33] (Rand Paul)

d. Shutdown Politics – Who Gets the Blame?

• Buck and Paul discuss the old narrative that Republicans suffer politically during shutdowns.
• Paul: Republicans aren’t emphasizing enough that Democrats previously approved these spending levels.

e. The Need for Real Spending Cuts

• Paul: Both parties are addicted to deficit spending; even Republicans resist meaningful cuts.
• His “penny plan” would balance the budget in five years by small annual cuts, but only about 60% of GOP Senators support it.

Notable Quotes:

• "The one thing that is bipartisan up here is spending money we don’t have." [27:09] (Rand Paul)
• "There are no Democrats that will vote to cut one penny... On the Republican side, there's a lot of lip service." [29:34] (Rand Paul)

f. Entitlements and the Political Will for Change

• Paul: No substantial reform is possible as long as entitlements like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid are “off the table.”
• He stresses the disconnect between what GOP voters want (cuts and reform) and the actual votes in Congress.

g. How Long Will the Shutdown Last?

• Paul predicts Democrats will hold out through a “left-wing socialist rally” in D.C., then relent; some Republicans will likely side with Democrats to reinstate Obamacare subsidies.

h. Market Reforms for Health Insurance

• Paul proposes allowing large membership organizations (e.g., Costco) to collectively bargain for insurance for their members – a solution he says is currently stymied by federal law.

Notable Quotes:

• "If Costco were to buy your insurance for you, my guess is Costco can get a better price than you can individually." [33:06] (Rand Paul)
• "A way of injecting the market that actually would bring down health care costs." [34:07] (Rand Paul)

4. Listener Reactions and Calls

• Several audience members weigh in with skepticism about group insurance, arguing that modern technology could allow more individualized policies without group-based risk pooling.
• Buck responds, emphasizing the complexity of insurance economics and the necessity of healthy people subsidizing the sick to make insurance work.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:28 | Buck Sexton | "This government shutdown's pretty nice. Pretty nice." | | 02:57 | Buck Sexton | "Katie Porter comes across as a really nasty and unlikable person and unprofessional." | | 04:07 | Katie Porter | "I feel like this is unnecessarily argumentative. What is question?" | | 05:35 | Buck Sexton | "I use that term, people like that one online. Ogrish, as in befitting of an ogre." | | 12:56 | Buck Sexton | "Between the scalding hot potatoes thrown at her ex, the staffers who say that she is a brutish and nasty woman, and now this berating of a reporter for nothing... we can't do the benefit of the doubt thing anymore." | | 21:39 | Rand Paul | "This is all on the Democrats, and eventually they will fold and vote to reopen the government." | | 22:52 | Rand Paul | "When you subsidize something, you're increasing the demand for it. You actually are in all likelihood increasing the price of things." | | 27:09 | Rand Paul | "The one thing that is bipartisan up here is spending money we don’t have." | | 29:34 | Rand Paul | "There are no Democrats that will vote to cut one penny... On the Republican side, there's a lot of lip service." | | 33:06 | Rand Paul | "If Costco were to buy your insurance for you, my guess is Costco can get a better price than you can individually." |

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00-03:00: Opening banter about the government shutdown in D.C.
• 03:06-07:29: Katie Porter’s tense CBS interview with analysis and commentary
• 12:00-15:00: Buck’s deep dive into Porter's character and staff allegations
• 17:07-18:49: Listener calls react to the Porter interview
• 21:13-34:07: In-depth interview with Senator Rand Paul (shutdown, welfare, Obamacare, debt)
• 39:29-40:32: Audience call on group insurance and Buck's closing thoughts

Tone and Style

• Witty, assertive, and opinionated – Buck and Clay mix sharp critique with conversational humor and straight talk, never hiding their personal viewpoints (especially Buck in his monologues).
• The interview with Rand Paul is serious and policy-focused, grounded in fiscal conservatism.
• Listener contributions reflect a range from critical analysis to personal frustrations, all forming a lively, talk-radio atmosphere.

Summary Takeaways

• D.C. is calm during the shutdown—and Buck enjoys it—but the calm belies deeper partisan gridlock over spending.
• Katie Porter’s campaign takes a PR hit: She’s depicted as hostile and evasive with the press, with commentary focusing on alleged patterns of abusive behavior.
• Welfare and warfare spending are at the heart of the shutdown fight: Senator Paul pinpoints unrestrained debt and entitlement spending as bipartisan failings.
• Obamacare subsidies are a sticking point: Democrats push for renewal, but Paul argues they only increase insurance costs and debt.
• Policy reform is stymied by entrenched opposition: Both parties resist real spending cuts; reforms like group health insurance pooling could help, but are blocked by legacy regulations.
• The show is characteristically partisan but information-rich, offering both critique and policy analysis alongside radio-friendly banter and listener engagement.