The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

Episode: Hour 3 - Democrats Have Become a Slur
Date: October 16, 2025
Podcast: iHeartPodcasts

Overview

This episode of The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show dives deep into the shifting dynamics within the Democratic Party, the alienation of young men from leftist politics, debates on masculinity, the framing of Republicans in the media, and various cultural and political controversies. With a blend of pointed commentary, humor, and personal perspectives, Clay and Buck explore why “Democrat” is increasingly used as a negative label among certain demographics, highlight left-wing missteps, and share audience reactions and anecdotes.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Trump’s Foreign Policy Moves (01:58–04:16)

• The episode begins with discussion of President Trump’s recent foreign policy activities, including:
  • A multi-hour call with Vladimir Putin leading to possible peace talks on Ukraine.
  • The announcement of upcoming meetings led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
  • Trump’s rising momentum tied to the release of hostages and diplomatic progress.

2. The Left’s Internal Dilemmas and Public Perception (04:16–05:50)

• Mamdani on Fox News:
  The hosts analyze New York City Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani’s appearance and his efforts to dodge responsibility for previous “defund the police” statements.
  • Notable Soundbite:
    Martha McCollum asks if Trump deserves credit for the Gaza peace deal. Mamdani: “It’s too early to say. But if it proves to be something that is lasting, something that is durable, then I think that’s where you give credit.” (04:44)
  • Buck points out selective outrage:
    “He’s saying the five Palestinians were killed. Where’s the outrage … about the public executions … by Hamas?” (04:53)

3. Media Coverage and Democrat Messaging (05:50–07:52)

• The New York Times’ coverage frames Mamdani as emblematic of the far left’s grip on the party.
  • Clay sarcastically critiques Mamdani’s radical proposals:
    “He wants to tax everyone who makes money in New York City into virtual oblivion.” (06:47)
• Discussion shifts to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) and Bernie Sanders’ town hall, focusing on AOC’s broad-brush characterization of Republicans online.

4. AOC’s Claims About Republicans and Masculinity (07:02–09:50)

• AOC’s Rhetoric:
  • She claims Republican success comes from being “clear, especially digitally, about what they believe. That women are inferior, … LGBTQ Americans are subhuman, … and circulating disgusting racial and white supremacist messaging.” (07:15)
  • Buck lampoons AOC’s argument:
    “I want AOC to be the great commie splainer of masculinity for the Democrats. … If they don’t agree with her it’s because they’re sexist and racist. Love it. Keep it going. Blast it from the rooftops.” (08:24)
• On Internet Culture:
  • Clay asserts that AOC’s misunderstanding of young men and digital spaces is driving them away from the Democratic Party.
    “The Democrat brand, it has become a slur for young men. They will accuse each other of being Democrats … I don’t know how they come back from this.” (09:50)

5. Disenfranchisement of Young Men (09:50–12:44)

• The hosts discuss generational shifts:
  • “Young men have been told their entire lives that they are the problem … and this is me getting on the soapbox because I think about this so much.” (11:15)
  • Contrasts culture of meritocracy (past) vs. current perceived male-blame culture.
  • MeToo and rise of social media cited as key moments changing how masculinity and success are viewed.

6. Masculinity’s Role in Civilization (12:44–16:14)

• Buck champions the importance of masculinity:
  • “You could not have civilization as we have come to know it without men embracing their masculinity.” (12:44)
  • Laments what he calls the “sex-and-the-cityfication” of American women and how cultural shifts have undermined family cohesion and fulfillment for both sexes:
    “There's been a huge departure from civilizational norms that are the basis for building our civilization, which is of course family cohesion…” (15:38)

7. The Pitfalls of Androgynizing Gender Roles (16:14–17:11)

• Clay summarizes:
  • “We have told men they should be more like women and we have told women they should be more like men. … You’re actually driving everybody unhappily away from each other.” (16:36)
  • The consequence: a rising sense of alienation and frustration on both sides.

8. Democrats and “Slur” Perception — Listener Calls (22:57–26:52)

• Callers weigh in:
  • A caller, Julianne, shares her 21-year-old son’s view: “He voted for Trump, not because he was a hundred percent Trump fan, but because for his entire life he was told he was evil and bad and responsible for all the ills in the world because he was a white male. And they are tired of that.” (25:53)
  • Clay echoes: this feeling has now spread beyond white men:
    “And then it wasn’t enough to just say white men, you had to say black men, Asian men, Hispanic men and all young men, they feel it, …most things that men helped build throughout the entire history of the United States… are pretty awesome.” (26:18)
• The critique extends to historical literacy, with Clay arguing that all civilizations had slavery, not just America.

9. Lighter Segment — Swimming, Sharks, & Masculinity (29:22–37:37)

• The conversation shifts to caller Kathleen discussing her experience with ocean swims among sharks:
  • “It doesn’t even faze me. … it’s kind of creepy the first five minutes I’m in, I settle in, and sharks are way, way back there in my head.” (30:27)
  • The hosts joke about swimming from Alcatraz and shark risk, using this as a vehicle to riff on courage, fear, and, humorously, masculinity.

10. Closing Thoughts & Tomorrow’s Preview (46:02–47:00)

• The episode closes with Buck teasing future topics (including polls and political ads in Virginia) and inviting listeners to share their own thoughts about swimming at night with sharks.
  • Buck also promotes the broader Clay and Buck podcast network and other hosts.

Notable Quotes

• Buck Sexton on AOC:
  “I want AOC to be the great commie splainer of masculinity for the Democrats … Democrats have AOC tell young men how they should really feel about things. And if they don’t agree with her, it’s because they’re sexist and racist. Love it.” (08:24)

• Clay Travis on party rebranding among young men:
  “The Democrat brand, it has become a slur for young men … I don’t know how they come back from this.” (09:50)

• Caller Julianne:
  “My 21 year old son voted for Trump not necessarily because he was a hundred percent Trump fan, but because for his entire life he was told he was evil and bad and responsible for all the ills in the world because he was a white male.” (25:53)

• Buck Sexton on civilization and masculinity:
  “If it were not for men who were willing to put their lives on the line and lose their lives to fight for something bigger than themselves, … we would not have the civilization that we enjoy right now.” (12:44)

• Clay Travis on modern gender roles:
  “We have told men they should be more like women and we have told women they should be more like men. And … you’re actually driving everybody unhappily away from each other.” (16:36)

• Kathleen (caller, marathon swimmer):
  “I’ve had sharks swim … I call them Bob and Irma. And they just came, swam right by me. Not a problem. I left them alone. They left me alone.” (33:45–33:53)

Timestamps of Important Segments

• Trump and Putin Meeting Announced: 01:58–04:16
• Mamdani’s Fox News Interview & Law Enforcement Apology: 04:16–05:50
• AOC on Republicans (Cut 18): 07:02–07:37
• Critique of AOC’s Masculinity Rhetoric (Cut 19): 09:17–09:50
• Masculinity & Civilizational Value Argument: 12:44–16:14
• Listener Julianne on young men fleeing the left: 25:53–26:52
• Call-in: Kathleen’s Marathon Swims/Sharks: 29:22–37:37

Tone and Style

Throughout the episode, Clay and Buck’s style is irreverent, combative, and often self-deprecating. They blend cultural criticism with humor, personal anecdotes, and sharp asides about both political opponents and media narratives.

Summary

This hour of The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show explores the perceived alienation of young men from the Democratic Party, the issues of masculinity and meritocracy, and the use of “Democrat” as a negative label among youth. The show critiques Democratic messaging from both high-profile figures and the media, invokes historical context, and concludes with lighter moments and broader social commentary. Listeners are left with questions about gender roles, party identity, and how public rhetoric shapes partisan divides in modern America.