The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show
Episode: Hour 3 - Cringe Gavin Newsom
Date: October 27, 2025
Podcast: The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show (iHeartPodcasts)
Overview
In this lively and incisive third hour, Clay Travis and Buck Sexton set their sights on California Governor Gavin Newsom, dissecting his recent media appearances and potential presidential ambitions. The hosts use Newsom’s “rags to riches” narrative as a springboard to critique broader themes of political authenticity, “code-shifting,” and pandering in American politics—sprinkling in their trademark humor, cultural references, and listener emails. They also briefly discuss Donald Trump’s controversial White House ballroom project, lampoon Democratic opposition, and riff on movie accents and public nudity in a series of engaging asides.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. Gavin Newsom’s “Up-From-Nothing” Persona
- (02:26–06:06) Clay and Buck set the stage by recounting Newsom’s attempts to present himself as a self-made man, highlighting a podcast interview where Newsom details supposedly humble beginnings—surviving on “mac and cheese” and practicing basketball in the backyard.
- Clay Travis: "Gavin Newsom has made [California] very expensive, very difficult, very disorderly. And he is trying to tell everybody that he's a guy who made it on these mean streets through nothing but gumption..." [03:16]
- (06:17–08:10) The hosts call out the dissonance between Newsom’s story and reality:
- Buck reviews Newsom’s privileged background: his father was a prominent lawyer for the Getty family, and billionaire Gordon Getty funded Newsom’s initial business ventures.
- Buck Sexton: "Gavin Newsom … is trying to redefine himself as an up by the bootstraps everyday normal guy when the reality is he's born wealthy and he's been wealthy his entire life." [07:50]
- The hosts mock Newsom’s “hardship” narrative.
- Clay Travis (sarcastic): "Oh man, what a rags to riches story from Gavin Newsom." [06:06]
Notable Quote
"First of all, him pretending like mac and cheese is some kind of hardship. Mac and cheese is a luxury, my friends."
— Clay Travis [08:40]
2. Newsom’s Presidential Ambitions and Identity Politics
- (08:10–09:31) Newsom confirms he’s considering a 2028 run:
- Gavin Newsom (clip): "Yeah, I'd be lying otherwise. I'd just be lying and I can't do that." [08:34]
- (09:31–10:16) Newsom frames “anti-woke” sentiment as “anti-black.”
- Gavin Newsom (clip): "All this anti woke stuff is just anti black period, full stop. All the CRT, ESG, DEI stuff. That's all this is. It's this great purge and it's happening in real time." [09:31]
- Both hosts question the political calculus, especially given California’s small Black population (6%) and the centrality of Black voters in Democratic primaries.
- Clay Travis: "I'm not sure that when you get into Democrat primaries in particularly some southern states...his appeal to the black community is going to be as powerful as it needs to be..." [10:16]
3. “Code Shifting” and Political Authenticity
- (10:37–15:32) Clay and Buck critique politicians who adjust their accent or demeanor based on audience—what they term “code shifting.”
- They compare Newsom to Kamala Harris and Hillary Clinton, mocking efforts to pander with fake southern or Black accents.
- Clay Travis: "We can smell a fraud when they try to do this." [13:19]
- They play audio of LSU’s football coach Brian Kelly’s infamous attempt at a southern accent, predicting Newsom will do the same when campaigning in the South.
Notable Quote
"This guy is the most fundamentally inauthentic politician out there and he's trying to connect. He’s trying to make people think he's one of them."
— Buck Sexton [15:32]
- The two riff on hypothetical crossovers, joking about Keanu Reeves and Gavin Newsom with southern accents—"it could end the universe as we know it." [15:26–15:32]
4. Listener Emails – Chick-fil-A Biscuits & Locker Room Nudity
- (20:07–23:35) Sandwiched between ad reads, the show takes a dive into the mailbox, reading a humorous email critiquing Clay’s opinion on Chick-fil-A biscuits (defended vociferously by Clay) and shower etiquette after a dog mishap.
- Clay Travis: "I think it's weirder to be in the shower with the dog in a swimsuit." [22:09]
- The conversation digresses into locker room nudity and construction worker encounters, all presented with the hosts’ characteristic levity.
5. The Trump White House Ballroom – Process, Substance, and Hysteria
- (24:29–35:15) Clay and Buck break down the controversy over Donald Trump’s East Wing ballroom addition at the White House:
- They read excerpts from a Washington Post editorial supporting the ballroom, highlighting that state events at the White House currently require temporary tents and porta-potties for guests.
- Buck Sexton (reading WaPo): "The State dining room seats 140. The East Room 200. Trump says the ballroom...will accommodate 999 guests. The next Democratic President will be happy to have this." [25:23]
- The hosts argue the outrage over the ballroom is more about Trump than the merits of the project.
- Clay Travis: "It's so childish ... that whatever Trump does, we have to say it's horror." [31:11]
- Buck recounts how Trump has pushed for the ballroom since 2010, even before his presidency, and is acting for the benefit of future administrations.
- Clay and Buck suggest that Democrats will ultimately appreciate the ballroom’s utility once Trump is out of office.
Notable Quote
“This is an incredible gift that Trump is giving to the country. And again, every president for the rest of our lives will be able to use it... It's just a no brainer.”
— Buck Sexton [35:15]
6. Mocking Over-the-Top Opposition (and Future Ironies)
- (33:27–35:15) The hosts ridicule Democratic calls to “destroy the ballroom,” referencing Rep. Eric Swalwell’s tweet about taking a wrecking ball to the project.
- Buck notes, “Is he actually this dumb? ... The ballroom is going to be a phenomenal edifice for all parties to be able to host.”
7. Southern Accents, Movie References, and Final Jokes
- (41:13–44:07) Listeners call in with examples of the worst movie southern accents (Keanu Reeves in Devil’s Advocate, Nicolas Cage in Con Air). Buck and Clay see the humor in politicians or actors “code-shifting” and try out some on-air impressions.
- Buck Sexton: "Nicholas Cage and Con Air is a ... The bunny down. I remember that." [42:53]
8. Final Commentary: Political Books and Press Secretaries
- (44:07–45:29) The hosts briefly shift to Karine Jean-Pierre’s book tour, mocking her deflection from questions about regret during her time as White House Press Secretary.
- Buck: “Immediately going to no ... let me talk about the fact that I’m black and gay, in case you didn’t know, rather than actually answer your question.” [44:42]
Notable Quotes (with Timestamps)
- Clay Travis:
- "Gavin Newsom has made [California] very expensive, very difficult, very disorderly." [03:16]
- “First of all, him pretending like Mac and cheese is some kind of hardship. Mac and cheese is a luxury, my friends.” [08:40]
- "We can smell a fraud when they try to do this." [13:19]
- Buck Sexton:
- “Gavin Newsom … is trying to redefine himself as an up by the bootstraps everyday normal guy when the reality is he's born wealthy and he's been wealthy his entire life.” [07:50]
- “This guy is the most fundamentally inauthentic politician out there and he's trying to connect. He’s trying to make people think he’s one of them. It's not gonna work, but it’s coming.” [15:32]
- “This is an incredible gift that Trump is giving to the country. And again, every president for the rest of our lives will be able to use it... It's just a no brainer.” [35:15]
- Gavin Newsom:
- “Yeah, I'd be lying otherwise. I'd just be lying and I can't do that.” [08:34]
- "All this anti woke stuff is just anti black period, full stop. All the CRT, ESG, DEI stuff. That's all this is..." [09:31]
Timestamps for Key Segments
| Segment Topic | Timestamps | |--------------------------------------------------|--------------| | Critique of Gavin Newsom’s “rags to riches” story| 02:26–08:10 | | Newsom’s 2028 aspirations and identity politics | 08:10–10:16 | | “Code shifting” and authenticity in politics | 10:37–15:32 | | Listener mail: Biscuits and nudity | 20:07–23:35 | | Trump ballroom project at the White House | 24:29–35:15 | | Southern accents in movies and politics | 41:13–44:07 | | Critique of Karine Jean-Pierre’s book tour | 44:07–45:29 |
Memorable Moments
- Sarcastic roasting of Newsom's "hardships" involving mac and cheese.
- The prediction that Newsom will “code-shift” with a fake southern accent on the campaign trail.
- Light-hearted sidetrack on the best and worst southern accents in Hollywood films.
- Listener emails providing fodder for jokes about locker room nudity and Chick-fil-A biscuits.
- A parallel is drawn between Trump’s approach to the White House ballroom and his lifelong building ethos—contrasted with hyperbolic resistance from his opponents.
Tone & Style
The episode maintains a fast-paced, conversational, and humorous tone—mixing policy critique with pop culture, sarcasm, and straight-up lampooning of political figures. Clay and Buck don’t shy away from pointed criticism but keep the show entertaining and approachable for a broad audience.
This summary condenses the core of “Cringe Gavin Newsom,” highlighting all major points and tone, with selected quotes and timestamps for orientation. The focus remains on the media-savvy, personality-driven nature of contemporary politics, as exemplified by Newsom, and the perennial battle over authenticity.