The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

Hour 3 – Bye, Bye Dept. of Ed?

Date: November 20, 2025
Podcast: The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show
Host: iHeartPodcasts

Episode Overview

In this episode, Clay Travis and Buck Sexton delve into several major political topics alongside their guest, Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin. The central theme circles around accountability and reform in sprawling government institutions: the FBI’s transparency, the impending release of the Epstein files, Department of Education dismantlement, and the challenges of passing substantive legislative reforms. Featuring exclusive commentary from the White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt, the episode also engages listeners with reactions and calls on these national issues, offering trenchant analysis with their signature blend of humor and candor.

Key Topics & Discussion Points

1. FBI’s Transparency & the Thomas Crooks Assassination Attempt

(Start – 07:50)

• Situation Recap: Host Clay Travis opens by discussing the lack of transparency around the Thomas Crooks assassination attempt on Donald Trump, referencing findings by Miranda Devine and Tucker Carlson.
• Sen. Ron Johnson’s Frustration:
  • Senator Johnson shares difficulties obtaining information from the FBI regarding Thomas Crooks:
    • He notes that most critical information was uncovered by his own investigatory staff, not the FBI.
    • Despite issuing a "friendly subpoena," the FBI provided little new information.
    • Johnson confirms: "There's an awful lot unknown about Thomas Crooks that from my standpoint, we should have known quite some time ago." (Sen. Ron Johnson, 06:11)
  • Johnson empathizes with officials like Cash Patel but highlights the entrenched nature of bureaucracy blocking reform and transparency.

Notable Quote

"There's more information that will eventually come out and some that we have not yet discovered. So we're still doing investigation."
— Sen. Ron Johnson, (07:38)

2. The Epstein Files – Congressional Push for Transparency

(07:50 – 10:55)

• Release of Documents: Discussion about unanimous Senate movement to release the Epstein Files, with only one dissenting vote in the House.
• Trump's Delayed Endorsement: Senator Johnson explains why Trump was slow to endorse the release:
  • Cautions about protecting victims’ identities and integrity of information.
  • Skepticism regarding whether any Trump-damaging details might have already leaked under Biden’s DOJ.
• Legislative Process: Files expected to go public 30 days after the President signs the bill, pending specific reviews.

Notable Quote

"You know, in the end, representative government actually works."
— Sen. Ron Johnson, (10:52)

3. Senate Legislative Priorities: Health Care, Nominations, and the Filibuster

(10:55 – 13:32)

• Pending Agenda: Johnson outlines ongoing Senate priorities ahead of recess, including clearing 70–100 nominations and health care reform efforts.
• Obamacare Critique and Reform Proposals:
  • Republicans do possess plans; challenge is passing them through.
  • Criticizes skyrocketing insurance premiums due to flaws in the ACA:
    • "The reason people's premiums are increasing is because of the flawed design of Obamacare." (Sen. Ron Johnson, 11:39)
  • Advocates consumer-driven solutions like Health Savings Accounts (HSAs).
• Filibuster Debate: Johnson echoes Trump’s call to end the filibuster, arguing it's necessary to overcome structural gridlock—especially given Democrats’ willingness to remove it for power consolidation.

Notable Quote

"No, Republicans have solutions. It's how can we overcome the impediment that the structure of Obamacare is with the current filibuster... it’s time to end the filibuster."
— Sen. Ron Johnson, (12:40)

4. FBI Oversight and "Arctic Frost" Investigation

(13:32 – 15:47)

• Arctic Frost: Johnson describes a wide-ranging FBI investigation as "a massive partisan dragnet" targeting Republicans following the 2020 elections and Jan 6th.
  • Everyday citizens and figures like Judge Troopas in Wisconsin were unfairly swept up.
  • Johnson seeks further transparency on ties between Biden officials and state-level actors.
• Lawfare Criticism: Frames these actions as criminalizing normal legal/political behaviors, paralleling JFK’s use of alternate electors (in 1960).

Notable Quote

"They’re literally trying to destroy a person of unbelievable integrity. Judge Troopas... They're attempting to. That’s what all Arter Cross is all about. Criminalizing what basically JFK did in Hawaii."
— Sen. Ron Johnson, (14:24)

5. White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt on Dismantling the Department of Education

(27:07 – 32:53)

• Department's Dismantlement: Levitt announces that Trump is restructuring the Department of Education, moving core functions to other agencies (Labor, Interior, HHS, State) as a precursor to closing the department.
  • Argues this brings education back to state/local control and trims bureaucracy.
  • The recent government shutdown showed the Dept. of Ed is non-essential, per Levitt.
• Hosts’ Analysis:
  • Clay and Buck cheer the move, calling the Department mainly a left-wing policy tool, regardless of which party’s in charge.
  • Question the need for a federal “middleman” for education dollars, arguing states can manage funds directly.

Notable Quotes

"This common sense action brings the Trump administration much closer to finally returning education where it belongs at the state and local level, not in Washington, DC."
— Caroline Levitt, Press Secretary, (27:26)

"Education Secretary Linda McMahon has started a public campaign for the end of her department. Yes, that's what you like to see—the person running it saying, this should not even be a job."
— Clay Travis, (29:19)

6. Political Calls and Listener Talkbacks

(21:56 – 25:21, 45:23 – end)

• Callers’ Concerns:

  • Government overreach, selective outrage on drone warfare, and Democratic duplicity on legal precedents.
  • Listener Ellen critiques an impolite Democratic congressman’s interview with Martha McCallum—“poster boy for mansplaining.” (23:57)
  • Other callers highlight the lack of accountability and the “dog whistle” effect of lawmakers encouraging defiance in the military.

• Podcaster Comments:

  • Hosts agree with callers’ sentiments, share skepticism about Democrats’ consistency, and discuss media stunts by politicians.

Memorable Listener Quote

"It must be pretty nice being a bleeding heart liberal. There’s no accountability, there’s no precedent, there’s no slippery slope and you get to virtue signal in any way you wish."
— Mark from Charlotte, NC, (46:44, paraphrased from talkback)

7. White House, NYC Politics, and Trump’s Colorful Exchange

(32:54 – 44:09)

• Trump Meeting NYC Mayor Zoran Mamdani: Levitt points to Trump’s willingness to meet anyone, including those she calls “communist”—“it speaks volumes that tomorrow we have a communist coming to the White House because that’s who the Democrat Party elected.”
• Trump Media Moment: The hosts close with a clip of Trump telling a journalist "Quiet, Piggy" on Air Force One, highlighting his unfiltered style:
  • "The President of the United States telling a journalist, Quiet Piggy. This is the world as it is, my friends." — Clay Travis (44:20)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "We're still doing investigation." — Sen. Ron Johnson (07:38)
• "If there was something damaging to Trump, you would think that would've already been released." — Sen. Ron Johnson (08:41)
• "There’s no reason for [the Department of Education]... it's just a pass through for a lot of federal dollars." — Buck Sexton (28:54)
• "How can you say you're enforcing Title 9 when a guy can say he’s a girl and play on women’s sports?" — Buck Sexton (30:23)
• "Quiet, Piggy." — Donald Trump, quoted by Clay Travis (44:12)

Timestamps for Core Segments

• 03:33 — Senator Ron Johnson joins to discuss FBI, Crooks case, lawfare, and transparency.
• 07:50 — Epstein Files release and congressional priorities.
• 10:55 — Senate's current agenda: nominations, health care, filibuster debate.
• 13:32 — FBI’s “Arctic Frost” investigation, lawfare accusation.
• 27:07 — Caroline Levitt details Trump administration’s moves to dismantle Dept. of Ed.
• 32:54 — Commentary on NYC politics, Trump’s meetings, and media stunts.
• 36:30 — Caroline Levitt on political violence accusations and the controversial military PSA.
• 44:09 — Trump’s “Quiet, Piggy” moment.
• 45:23 — Listener calls: on military messaging, accountability, and party hypocrisy.

Tone and Style

Clay and Buck apply their trademark blend of sharp political critique, humor, and exasperation over government overreach and media narratives. The episode is lively, engaging, and opinionated, interspersed with listener calls reflecting a broad range of conservative grassroots perspectives.

Summary

Hour 3 of The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show was a robust exploration of government accountability, bureaucratic reform, and the ongoing culture war in American politics. With Senator Ron Johnson, the hosts dissected the FBI’s handling of sensitive investigations, Congressional transparency, the incremental dismantling of the Department of Education, and the fraught process of legislative reform. White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt’s remarks provided exclusive official context to these changes. Listener interactions rounded out the episode, underscoring conservative skepticism about the motivations and accountability of entrenched government institutions and their media enablers.