Podcast Summary: The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show — "Hour 3: Georgia, You Should be Furious"

Date: December 17, 2025 | Podcast: The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show | Host: iHeartPodcasts

Episode Overview

This third hour of Clay and Buck focuses on political power struggles within the Democratic Party, California's ongoing crises, education system failures, the fallout of LA fires, and the controversy surrounding Georgia prosecutor Fani Willis. The hosts also share personal anecdotes, listener feedback, and touch on the broader implications of immigration policy on housing. Legal and political strategist Katie Zachariah joins as a guest to offer critical insights, particularly from a Californian Republican perspective.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Democratic Presidential Power Struggle: Kamala Harris vs. Gavin Newsom

Timestamps: 02:07 – 09:14

• Kamala Harris' Candidacy: Buck Sexton expresses surprise at Harris' continued viability as a presidential contender. The hosts note current polling puts Kamala slightly ahead of Newsom.
• Gavin Newsom's Limitations: Katie Zachariah argues Newsom can't run on his record outside California, as his policies don't resonate with middle America.
  • Quote (Katie Zachariah, 05:52):
    "We have these two failed politicians out of California... But Gavin Newsom has to eventually run on... his track record, his policy. And they're realizing that he's likely not going to be able to win middle America. So they're going to throw back in Kamala Harris as a Hail Mary..."
• The Importance of the First Primary: Clay highlights DNC manipulation of the primary schedule, speculating South Carolina being first again would be an advantage for Harris due to powerbrokers like Rep. James Clyburn.
  • “If they rig it like they did for Biden in 2024 so that South Carolina is first... Kamala Harris is going to win that primary, and she’s going to win it going away.” (Clay Travis, 07:09)

2. Midterm Focus & Republican Urgency

Timestamps: 08:04 – 09:14

• 2026 Midterms Viewed as Pivotal: Katie emphasizes that without securing the House and passing voter ID laws, Republican prospects for 2028 (even with Trump) remain bleak.
  • Quote (Katie Zachariah, 08:04):
    “If we don’t keep the House... whoever the candidate is, the Democrats kind of know they have the system rigged. And if we don’t keep the House, they will win ’28…”

3. California’s Education Crisis

Timestamps: 09:14 – 11:23

• LA Schools Losing Students, Adding Staff: Despite a 26% decrease in enrollment, staff numbers have risen nearly 20%.
  • Core Critique: “They are not here to educate our children... California on a whole, we have the lowest literacy rate in the nation. We are at 50 of 50.” (Katie Zachariah, 10:00)
• Block to Reform: Vast majority favors school vouchers, but Democrat supermajority and union influence block educational reform.

4. Aftermath of the Palisades and Malibu Fires

Timestamps: 11:23 – 14:27

• Slow Recovery and Blocked Rebuilding: Burned lots remain empty, with permits hard to get and insurance insufficient.
  • “Every single lot still burned down. There are for sale signs on almost every lot on that coastal property in Malibu.” (Katie Zachariah, 12:12)
• Alleged Political Motive: Zachariah accuses officials of intentionally stalling, trying to rezone land for low-income housing and forcing sales to big developers or government.
• Voter Integrity Barrier: Without voter ID in California, she argues no Republican can win statewide.

5. Fani Willis and the Georgia Trump Case

Timestamps: 23:25 – 29:22

• Scandal Summary: Fani Willis’ prosecution of Trump is undermined by revelations she hired and lavishly paid her romantic partner, Nathan Wade, using taxpayer funds.
• Willis’ Defensive Testimony: Audio highlights her bristling at bills/invoices questions and pivoting to alleged personal attacks.
  • Quote (Fani Willis, 24:13):
    “...He was a leader to that team and a public servant. And for that him, like me, has been threatened thousands of times... You want something to investigate as a legislature, investigate how many times they've called me the N word... Why don't you investigate the fact that my house has been swatted?"
• Attention to Billing Fraud:
  • “She say that her paramour billed 160 hours in a week?” (Buck Sexton, 25:30)
  • “…That is time and attendance fraud. Okay? 100 hours a week is insane. 160 hours a week is not possible.” (Buck Sexton, 25:42)
  • Clay and Buck stress that this kind of unethical, potentially fraudulent conduct would be instantly noticed in the private sector.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Buck on California Politics:
  “Katie, is it...a power outage in California because it's run like a third world country?” (05:16)
• Katie on CA Schools:
  “I would never send my kids, never, to a public school in California.” (10:48)
• Clay on Political Strategy:
  "You need to investigate. People said mean things about you because you hired your lover and then he was paid hundreds of thousands of dollars by Georgia taxpayers." (27:01)
• Buck on Billing Fraud:
  “If he charged...the state of Georgia, a private client for 160 hours of work in a week, he is lying. That is fraud.” (28:06)

Other Notable Topics

6. Immigration, Rent, and Housing Economics

Timestamps: 32:26 – 34:21

• Immigration’s Impact on Rents: Quoting Treasury Secretary Scott Besson and a Wharton study, every 1% population increase equates to a 1% rent increase in major urban areas.
  • “Turns out the basic laws of economics, Clay, still apply.” (Buck Sexton, 33:38)

7. Listener Feedback and Personal Bants

Timestamps: 38:07 – 43:13

• Fun exchanges over language, guns, and running podcast bets.
• End-of-year reflections and holiday sign-offs:
  • "It has been truly one of the best years I can remember. ... I became a dad. My wife is incredible. Even Clay's a lot of fun day to day..." (Buck Sexton, 43:07)

Episode Structure & Segment Timestamps

• 02:07 – 14:27: Interview with Katie Zachariah (California politics, schools, fire aftermath)
• 23:25 – 29:22: Fani Willis/Trump Georgia Case discussion and testimony highlights
• 32:26 – 34:21: Housing economics and immigration
• 38:07 – 43:13: Listener talkbacks, personal anecdotes, and holiday messages

Tone & Language

The conversation is casual, irreverent, and often confrontational—especially on topics related to progressive politics and Democratic leadership. Clay and Buck use humor and sarcasm to make their criticisms, while maintaining a friendly, conversational rapport with each other and their guest. Katie Zachariah delivers sharp, critical analysis of California politics and education from a Republican, outsider’s perspective.

Key Takeaways

• Kamala Harris and Gavin Newsom remain the top Democratic contenders, but both have serious vulnerabilities.
• California’s public systems—schools and fire recovery—are hindered by bureaucracy and one-party rule, leading to bipartisan frustration.
• The controversy surrounding Fani Willis in Georgia raises issues of ethical governance and political weaponization.
• Immigration policy is shown to have direct economic consequences for ordinary Americans, particularly in housing costs.
• The episode ends on a personal, festive note, reflecting back on the year and engaging warmly with the audience.