The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show (Hour 3) Episode Title: Doesn't Have to be This Way
Date: September 2, 2025
Podcast Host: iHeartPodcasts

Episode Overview

This hour of The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show dives deep into the pressing issues of violent crime in major U.S. cities—particularly Chicago—and the political response from both parties. Clay and Buck analyze the effectiveness of sending the National Guard into violence-plagued urban areas, the Democrats’ messaging challenges, and the implications for the upcoming election. The hosts also discuss the emerging Democratic leadership bench, notably Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, and examine controversies around his military record. Calls from listeners, including perspectives from the Black community, add additional dimension to the discussion, while the hosts inject their trademark mix of humor, skepticism, and pointed political critique.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Violent Crime in American Cities: Chicago as a Case Study

Timestamps: 01:05-13:21

• Clay Travis opens by citing Chicago’s recent violent Labor Day weekend: 54 shot, 7 dead. He asserts, "The Democrat party has lost its way, and Trump is uniquely hitting on a story that is very positive: I want to drive down the rate of violent crime" (01:05).
• Buck Sexton argues that Democrats are trapped making weak defenses about urban violence: “Trump is doing an objectively good thing. Not even a politically good thing... and the politics of it are favorable to Trump because the Democrats are coming out and they just refuse to say what we all know” (04:05).
• They both reject arguments (like Gov. JB Pritzker's) deflecting to red state crime: “If Pritzker wants to argue that in blue cities, in red states, there are also super high crime rates… I would welcome the National Guard” —Clay (03:12).

Notable Moment

• Referencing Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s Labor Day remarks, they mock the dramatic invocation of “defend this land,” with Buck quipping: "Who does he think the National Guard is comprised of? ...They would just be there to assist with law enforcement" (06:56).

2. The Argument for and Against the National Guard Intervention

Timestamps: 05:58-13:21

• Buck outlines the preventative power of visible armed National Guard: “When there are men and women who have, you know, M16s… people are less likely to pull out guns and shoot each other. It’s pretty understandable” (07:09).
• Clay underscores the concept of deterrence: “Even if you’re not directly seeing the armed forces… in the back of your mind, you’re thinking they might be there. When you believe there are consequences for crime… it makes a criminal take a pause” (08:13).
• Both critique Democratic mayors who, instead of offering effective alternative plans, default to “social investment” talk. “They start babbling on about investment, they start babbling on about social workers, and it’s just nonsense. It’s unserious,” says Buck (09:06).

Notable Quote

• “How many people are you willing to let die because you're angry that Trump is trying to provide more security to your city?” —Clay (10:55)

3. Political Framing: Crime, Trump, and Partisan Blindness

Timestamps: 11:25-14:23

• Buck points out the tribal mindset: “People are just saying they hate Trump, they're angry he's president, and anything he does, they want to stop. Right. So it's just a continuation of that” (11:25).
• Clay observes that deflections (“why not Memphis, New Orleans, etc.?”) from Democrats actually legitimize Trump’s approach: “You’re actually just legitimizing the fact that it would be successful. And I give Trump that challenge: why not do it everywhere?” (13:04)

Notable Moment

• Buck and Clay note the irony that Democrats gladly deployed the National Guard for COVID restrictions (to check papers!) but denounce its use for combating violence (13:21).

4. Caller Perspectives: Black Democrats, Messaging, and Trump

Timestamps: 16:57-19:41

• Caller Kevin from Oklahoma City (a Black Democrat) says party loyalty is often about opposition rather than substance: “Most Democrats, they just hate Republicans, period. And especially Donald Trump. So it doesn’t matter how Jasmine Crockett or anyone else presents themselves, they're going to support it as long as it's against Trump” (17:54).
• Kevin estimates that, one-on-one, about 50% of Black Democrats will reason about politics; the rest "will die on the hill" of hating Republicans and Trump (18:53).
• Clay asks about shifts in Black male voting—Kevin feels the split persists, with facts or policy making little difference for some (19:41).

5. Democrats' Leadership “Bench”: Gavin Newsom, Wes Moore, and the Bronze Star Controversy

Timestamps: 21:46-27:44

• Clay asserts that, despite his record, Gavin Newsom may be the current de facto face of the party.
• They discuss the emergence of Maryland Gov. Wes Moore, noting optimism on the left about his future—but zero in on Moore’s controversial claims of a Bronze Star:
  • When Moore was pressed about claiming the Bronze Star, his explanations are called “really weak” by Buck (23:54).
  • Clay suspects Moore’s team nurtured the Bronze Star narrative purposefully: “He affirmatively lied in order for that introduction to happen so that he could get credit for something he had not achieved” (25:10).
• Buck likens the episode to past cases of politicians exaggerating or fabricating military service (cites Richard Blumenthal, Hillary Clinton) and notes Democrats are trying to clear the issue early for Moore's potential national run (24:57).

Notable Moment

• Clay offers behind-the-scenes insight: “When you go on Stephen Colbert, they say, hey, how do you want to be introduced?...I think he told them he had it” (25:30).

6. Democrats, Masculinity, and 2024 Election Guesswork

Timestamps: 27:44-33:04

• The hosts dissect Democratic strategy, speculating about a Newsom-Moore ticket to address party weaknesses with men and project a more “masculine” image (31:06).
• They mock Democrat Tim Walz’s failed attempts to appear rugged/relatable and discuss Kamala Harris’ likely presence on the campaign trail, with banter about attending a Harris event in “future is female” attire.
• Clay predicts: “They recognize that they have a significant issue with men… They will go west coast, east coast with probably the two most masculine, young-ish Democrats on the ticket” (31:54).

Notable Banter

• Buck jokes about disguising themselves for a Kamala VIP event: “I will provide you with a future is female fitted T shirt for you to go in and a little scrunchie for your man bun” (37:10).

7. Listener Story: The Value of Truth and Military Honors

Timestamps: 39:00-40:00

• Caller Julia from Florida shares a moving family story: when seeking VA benefits for her mother, she discovered her late father had been awarded three Bronze Stars—but he never boasted about it. “My dad...did not need to tell lies about his service to pump himself up” (39:49).
• Clay invites Julia to stay on, promising to try and help recover her father’s medals (39:58).

Notable Quotes

• Clay Travis (on National Guard):
  • “If Pritzker wants to argue that in blue cities, in red states, there are also super high crime rates… I would welcome the National Guard.” (03:12)
• Buck Sexton (on deterrence):
  • “There’s a reason why bad guys don’t want to do things in front of armed good guys. This is very straightforward.” (07:09)
• Caller Kevin (on Black Democratic loyalty):
  • “Most Democrats, they just hate Republicans, period. And especially Donald Trump.” (17:54)
• Clay Travis (on Wes Moore):
  • “He affirmatively lied in order for that introduction to happen so that he could get credit for something that he had not achieved.” (25:10)
• Caller Julia (on her father):
  • “He did not need to tell lies about his service to pump himself up.” (39:49)

Quick Reference Timestamps for Major Topics

• Chicago violence & Trump proposal: 01:05–13:21
• National Guard/crime deterrence: 05:58–13:21
• Black community, Democratic loyalty call: 16:57–19:41
• Democratic bench, Wes Moore controversy: 21:46–27:44
• Democrats & masculinity, Kamala Harris: 27:44–33:04
• Listener military honors story: 39:00–40:00

Tone and Style

• Language: Candid, critical, humorous, off-the-cuff; hosts mix serious political critique with lighthearted banter (“man bun” jokes, VIP event quips).
• Overall atmosphere: Engaged, combative, unapologetically partisan but includes diverse perspectives through listener calls.

This hour served as a rapid-fire, issue-driven critique of both Democratic city governance and larger party identity, punctuated by listener input and peppered with the duo’s signature wit and skepticism. Anyone concerned with urban crime policy, the current state of U.S. politics heading into the 2024 race, or the drama of modern political branding will find this episode both informative and entertaining.