The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

Hour 3 – Is Buck Ron Swanson?
Date: January 16, 2026
Podcast: The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show
Host: Clay Travis and Buck Sexton
Guest: Brooke Rollins, Secretary of Agriculture

Episode Overview

This episode features an in-depth conversation with Brooke Rollins, Secretary of Agriculture in the Trump administration. The primary focus is on the newly launched “Making America Healthy Again” (MAHA) initiative, major changes to the U.S. food pyramid and dietary guidelines, inflation and food prices, SNAP benefits reform, and broader commentary on college football culture and Texas traditions. The hour weaves policy discussions with humor and personal stories, particularly as Clay and Buck banter about sports rivalries and Buck’s supposed resemblance to Ron Swanson.

Key Discussion Points

1. New Dietary Guidelines and Food Pyramid Reform

[02:49–05:00]

• Brooke Rollins reveals sweeping changes: Rollins details the reversal of the old “carb-heavy” food pyramid, moving towards a protein, real food, and whole milk-based system.

  • Brooke Rollins: “Instead of focusing on...carbohydrates and breads...we flipped it to eat real food, protein, butter, whole milk, fruits, vegetables, that this will fundamentally transform our nation.” [04:00]

• Driving factors: Chronic disease crisis and government spending on healthcare.

  • “Forty cents of every American tax dollar goes to treating chronic disease, most of which is tied to poor diet, lack of exercise.” [04:20]

2. Addressing Food Prices and Supporting American Farmers

[05:00–08:50]

• Inflation and SNAP under Biden vs. Trump: Rollins explains Biden-era inflation in food/labor/fuel, the explosive rise in SNAP program spending (up by 40%), and contrast with the Trump administration's efforts to reduce these costs.

  • “The cumulative inflation over four years of Biden was over 23%. This is astounding.” [06:20]

• Policy initiatives: Refocusing government nutrition programs to support American farmers by procuring more real, local food.

  • “As we begin to move the American diet back toward eating real food...our American farmers...will begin to move into a golden age.” [08:24]

3. SNAP Program Reform and Health Equity

[09:34–11:34]

• Accessibility for vulnerable populations: New requirements for SNAP retailers to stock double the healthy, real food in line with new guidelines—including frozen and canned options.

  • “250,000 retailers...now requiring them to stock twice as much...healthy, real food. Frozen is fine. Canned is okay. Fresh is obviously great.” [09:50]

• National security angle: Chronic illness among youth undermining military readiness.

  • “Three out of four young adults, 75% of American young adults cannot pass our military readiness test.” [11:20]

4. College Football, Texas Traditions, and Secretary Rollins' Roots

[11:34–16:44]

• Brooke’s Aggie Pride: Rollins shares her allegiance to Texas A&M and details her journey from Aggieland to the University of Texas for law school, with lighthearted ribbing over college rivalries.

  • “I am an Aggie through and through. I like to say that I increased the IQ of both schools when I left Texas A and M and went over to the University of Texas.” [12:13]

• College football culture: Advice for Buck at the national title game and ongoing efforts to “convert” President Trump into a college football fan.

  • Brooke Rollins to Buck: “Other than fighting for America, there is no greater pastime than college football, period. Full stop. No arguments, no question.” [14:12]

• Miami vs. Indiana prediction: Rollins picks Miami, mentions her Miami ties and admiration for both teams.

5. Texas Rivalries and College Football Hand Gestures

[16:18–17:54]

• Hook ‘em vs. Gig ‘em: Clay and Buck fumble through the proper hand signals, with Rollins and listeners offering corrections.

  • “When hook them is like, you're Aggie. Like you want to hook them. Hook them. Horns. The. The A M is. And everybody else really, who plays Texas is the opposite of that. You go horns down.” — Buck Sexton [16:48–17:19]

• Texas is a major listenership hub: Clay and Buck discuss their large Texas audience and plans to broadcast from Texas around the upcoming primary.

6. Trump, Iran, Venezuela, and Foreign Policy Analysis

[28:12–32:53]

• Foreign affairs Q&A: Buck and Clay react to Trump’s statements on Iran (regarding executions), Venezuela (power transitions), and the Insurrection Act.

  • Trump on Iran executions: “They didn't hang anyone. They canceled the hangings. That had a big impact.” [28:23]
  • Trump (on using the Insurrection Act): “If I needed it, I'd use it. I don't think there's any, any reason right now to use it, but if I needed it, I'd use it. It's very powerful.” [30:20]
  • Buck: “These are tough calls...You're always making difficult determinations with lots of different variables and input that are changing in real time...No one really has the answers or knows.” [32:07]

• Analysis on intervention: They emphasize the complexity of foreign interventions and the need for a decisive approach.

  • Buck, channeling Ron Swanson: “Never half ass two things. Whole ass one thing.” [34:29]

7. Listener Engagement, Army and Trucker Shout-Outs, and Show Community

[40:43–43:45]

• Audience demographics: The hosts play “talkback” voicemails from listeners, including truckers, Army veterans, and a grandma.

  • “The truckers with us three hours at a time...It's a great honor.” — Clay Travis [41:07]
  • “Grandmas are the most listeners.” — Listener Monica from San Diego [42:37]

• Guns and military service: Clay riffs on audience members’ firearm preferences, highlighting wide generational appeal.

• Minnesota humor: Listener corrections on regional terminology add levity.

8. Show Wrap-Up and Coming Events

[25:23, 27:32, 44:18]

• Plans for Texas primary coverage: The hosts tease special broadcasts from Texas for the upcoming March 3rd primaries.
• Encouragement to check out the podcast feed and upcoming events.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Brooke Rollins on food policy:
  “We flipped the pyramid...to eat real food, protein, butter, whole milk, fruits, vegetables, that this will fundamentally transform our nation.” [04:00]

• On fiscal impact:
  “This is going to save the American taxpayer hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of billions of dollars.” — Rollins [09:34]

• Clay Travis, about listener truckers:
  “The truckers with us three hours at a time...It's a great honor.” [41:07]

• Rollins’ Aggie pride:
  “I like to say that I increased the IQ of both schools when I left Texas A and M and went over to the University of Texas.” [12:13]

• Buck’s misstep on hand signals:
  “You need to throw the horns down.” [16:40]

• Rollins, on college football:
  “Other than fighting for America, there is no greater pastime than college football, period. Full stop.” [14:12]

• Ron Swanson callback:
  “Never half ass two things. Whole ass one thing.” — Buck quoting Ron Swanson [34:29]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:49] Brooke Rollins joins, discusses food pyramid and MAHA
• [05:00] Rollins on grocery prices, inflation, and support for American farmers
• [09:34] SNAP, food access, and health security
• [12:13] Aggie pride and Texas rivalry discussion
• [14:12] College football culture and Miami pick
• [28:12] International policy: Iran, Venezuela, Insurrection Act
• [34:29] Ron Swanson philosophy on decision-making
• [40:43] Listener call-ins: truckers, military, grandmas

Tone and Style

The conversation balances serious policy debate with humor, warmth, and insider banter—particularly around sports rivalries (“hook ‘em”, “gig ‘em”) and Buck’s “Ron Swanson” persona. The language is direct, conversational, and lighthearted, interspersed with policy expertise.

Summary prepared for listeners seeking a comprehensive understanding of this episode’s content, including policy insight, memorable quotes, audience highlights, and Texas college football deep dives!