The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

Episode Hour 3 – FL Rep. Byron Donalds

Date: October 29, 2025 | Host: iHeartPodcasts

Episode Overview

In the third hour of "The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show," Clay and Buck welcome Florida congressman and gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds. The discussion traverses the looming government shutdown, Florida's political transformation, property tax policies, migration trends from blue to red states, and the rise of progressive figures in national politics. The hosts also engage Donalds on sports, particularly college football, before shifting to cultural critiques on identity politics and Democratic Party shifts. The episode blends political insight, humor, and audience engagement, providing a snapshot of the conservative zeitgeist as seen from Florida and beyond.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Democrat Shutdown Strategy and Washington Politics

• The Status of the Federal Shutdown
  • Buck asks about the Democrats' strategy in the ongoing shutdown, which has impacted food stamps and military pay.
    • Byron Donalds asserts, "They don't have a plan. These guys are trying to basically strong arm one of the toughest negotiators in the history of the planet, and they're trying to strong arm him. They don't have a plan. They don't have a strategy." [03:54]
  • Donalds critiques Democrats for political posturing and blames radical policy sets for the absence of a strategy.
  • He points out that Democrats missed opportunities to fund essential workers and attributes the standoff to Chuck Schumer’s parliamentary interests, not policy.

Florida Politics: 2025 Governor's Race

• Byron Donalds for Governor

  • Clay notes Donalds currently has no viable challenger and praises his fundraising and endorsements (from Trump and Rick Scott). [05:07]
  • Donalds credits his success to "seeing people day in, day out," and says he’s working county-to-county.
    • "We're very blessed to have President Trump's full endorsement, Rick Scott's full endorsement... it's about seeing people day in, day out, and that's what we're committed to doing." [05:33]
  • He underlines his commitment to earning voters' trust and sets an energetic tone for the campaign.

• Property Tax Reform in Florida

  • Buck references Gov. DeSantis’s push to eliminate property tax for primary residences. Donalds expresses support but stresses continuing to fund essential services.
    • "I support...removing homestead property taxes...The thing we have to make sure we do is...essential services...continue to be funded." [06:52]
  • He anticipates DeSantis will soon reveal more details about how these services would be protected in the absence of those taxes, and is eager to see the proposal reach the ballot.

Migration from Blue States and National Policy Impact

• Florida vs. New York: Policy and Migration

  • Clay asks how Donalds views Florida’s appeal to out-of-state newcomers, especially those fleeing high-tax blue states.
  • Donalds, born in New York, tells listeners:
    • "If Mamdani becomes the mayor and you feel you got to come to Florida, remember why you came here. Our state, we are a low tax state. We don't have an income tax. Law and order is the baseline principle of our state, and that's not changing." [08:37]
  • He urges new arrivals to embrace Florida’s values, not bring failed policies with them.

• National Influence of Progressive Politicians

  • The hosts raise the rise of left-wing figures (AOC, Mamdani, Bernie Sanders) and ask if winning the NYC mayoralty would make Mamdani a national Democratic star.
  • Donalds responds,
    • "I think he's going to be one of the national faces of that party...I think he's terrible for the country, he's awful for New York and I think it's bad for Democrats because the public policy that these Marxists...are destructive." [10:08]
  • He laments the spread of radical policies from cities like New York, San Francisco, Chicago, and calls for common sense reforms.

The State of the Florida Democratic Party and Upcoming Race

• Opposition Outlook
  • Buck asks what kind of Democrat Donalds expects to face.
  • Donalds is dismissive:
    • "I don't really care...Governor DeSantis...has really put the Florida Democrat Party on life support. They're in bad shape over there...We're focused on...prepar[ing] Florida for the next generation of growth." [11:52]

College Football & Sports Banter

• A Lighter Side: FSU, Gators, and Coaching Drama

  • Buck prompts Donalds to mock Clay’s Tennessee Volunteers, but Donalds demurs, "They actually look okay. They look better than my [team]. I got to be quiet." [12:41]
  • Clay jests about Florida State’s downfall and needles Donalds about past playoff claims.
  • Donalds discusses the pressure on FSU’s coach and rumors about Gators coaching hires: Nick Saban, Lane Kiffin, and others.
    • "I think Lane will be a very good choice for the Florida Gators. Speaking as a Florida State Seminole. No, they can do better than him." [14:42]

• Final Campaign Plug

  • Donalds gives his campaign site and pledges to take “Florida to a whole nother level.” [15:04]

Audience and Talkback Highlights

• Gas Prices and Station Profits
  • Audience members weigh in on claims about gas stations’ slim profit margins (3-7 cents per gallon), confirming it's largely a loss-leader business. [24:55]
• Language Banter
  • The hosts humorously debate the Americanized versus French pronunciation of “Viscount,” leaning on “speaking American.” [47:58]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Democrats and the Shutdown:

  • Byron Donalds: "They have no plan. They got no strategy. But the truth is they haven't had a plan for a long time. And that is because their policy sets are very radical." [03:54]

• On Florida’s Appeal:

  • Byron Donalds: "Our state, we are a low tax state. We don't have an income tax. Law and order is the baseline principle of our state, and that's not changing." [08:37]

• On Progressive Leadership:

  • Byron Donalds: "To be an out and out Marxist and really subscribing to policies that have never worked anywhere in the history of the planet, that's terrible for New York City." [10:08]

• On Sports Diplomacy:

  • Byron Donalds (on the Volunteers): "They actually look okay. They look better than my [team]. So I got to be quiet." [12:41]

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Topic / Quote / Segment | |-----------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 03:54 | Byron Donalds on Democrat shutdown strategy: "They don’t have a plan..." | | 05:33 | Campaign update: "We're going county by county..." | | 06:52 | Homestead property tax stance: "I support what the governor's position has been..." | | 08:37 | Advice to blue-state migrants: "Remember why you came here..." | | 10:08 | On Mamdani/AOC/Bernie national impact: "Terrible for the country..." | | 11:52 | Opponent expectations: "I don't really care. ...life support..." | | 12:41 | Refuses to mock Clay’s team: "They actually look okay. They look better than my [team]." | | 14:42 | On Lane Kiffin as Gators coach (Seminole humor): "They can do better..." | | 15:04 | Campaign pitch: "Just go to byron donalds.com..." | | 24:55 | Gas station economics: "Net profit per gallon...is 3 to 7 cents a gallon..." | | 47:58 | Viscount/vicomte debate—pronunciation humor |

Tone and Style

The conversation is lively, irreverent, and unscripted. Clay and Buck mix policy analysis with good-natured jabs, sports fandom, and down-to-earth economic talk. Donalds embodies confidence and pragmatic conservatism, focused on Florida’s future but unflinching in his criticism of Democrats. Audience participation is welcome, and the show doesn’t shy from pop culture or language debates, but always in a genial, “for the people” tone.

Final Thoughts

This episode gives a clear view of the current conservative take on Florida’s political landscape, the impact of national progressive trends, and the unique blend of policy and personality fueling Byron Donalds’ gubernatorial run. Listeners are treated to insight, humor, and a few jabs at college football—all emblematic of Clay & Buck’s brand.