The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show: Hour 3 - Josh Hammer on Israel and the Destiny of the West

Release Date: March 18, 2025
Host: Clay Travis and Buck Sexton
Guest: Governor Patrick Morrissey (West Virginia) and Josh Hammer (Senior Editor at Large of Newsweek)

1. NCAA Tournament Controversy and West Virginia's Exclusion

The episode opens with Clay Travis addressing the controversy surrounding the West Virginia Mountaineers being excluded from the NCAA Tournament. Governor Patrick Morrissey joins the discussion to express his discontent and outline potential actions.

• Clay Travis introduces the topic: "West Virginia Mountaineers left out of the NCAA tournament and Governor, you are going to potentially be suing the NCAA over this. Thanks for coming on with us." ([01:33])

• Governor Morrissey passionately declares, "West Virginia being left out of the tournament was the ultimate miscarriage of justice and robbery at the highest level." ([02:20])

He criticizes the NCAA selection process, highlighting suspicious factors and calling for more objective criteria to ensure fairness. Morrissey points out inconsistencies, such as conflicting predictions from bracketologists and the behavior of the North Carolina athletic director, who sits on the selection committee but chose to recuse himself.

• Discussing the selection process: "If WVU left out. They say that they're trying to have a fair process, but it sure as heck could make it a lot better for the future to avoid these kinds of outrageous decisions." ([02:52])

2. Conflicts of Interest in NCAA Committee

Clay Travis probes deeper into the potential conflict of interest involving North Carolina's athletic director, questioning the integrity of the selection process.

• Clay Travis asks: "Do you believe that that was on the up and up? Do you think that it was fair?" ([03:45])

• Governor Morrissey responds skeptically: "Look, I think at a minimum, it smells a great deal, right." ([04:18])

He emphasizes the need for transparency and urges the NCAA to step up and address these concerns to maintain credibility.

• Highlighting the lack of transparency: "We need to make sure we have the better objective information. We're going to get it through the investigation and trying to get all the facts." ([04:18])

3. Potential Legal Action and Call for NCAA Accountability

The conversation shifts towards legal recourse and the importance of maintaining the integrity of collegiate sports.

• Buck Sexton inquires about Governor Morrissey's desired outcome: "Is there some redress that you want on this or do you just want transparency and accountability?" ([05:34])

• Governor Morrissey insists on transparency: "If the NCAA doesn't act in a transparent manner, then they're going to lose a lot of credibility nationally." ([05:47])

He reflects on past interactions with the NCAA, mentioning his role in challenging their transfer eligibility rules, and underscores the significance of protecting West Virginia's athletic programs.

• On affecting change: "Do you think that it's acceptable to have something that smells so bad and no one's going to address it, so maybe you shine a little spotlight on it." ([07:42])

4. Audience and Listener Reactions

The hosts and Governor Morrissey acknowledge the support from West Virginia listeners and address critiques regarding political involvement in sports decisions.

• Clay Travis notes: "All 50 states listen to this program. Right now, everybody in the state of West Virginia is saying, heck yeah, Governor, you've got our back." ([07:08])

• Governor Morrissey defends the necessity of active engagement: "If you want to effectuate change, you actually have to do something." ([07:42])

He reiterates the importance of the NCAA process and the stake it holds for the university and its supporters.

5. Introduction of Josh Hammer and Discussion on Israel

Transitioning from collegiate sports, the show welcomes Josh Hammer, author of the book "Israel and Civilization, the Fate of the Jewish Nation and the Destiny of the West."

• Buck Sexton introduces Josh Hammer: "Your stomach is a mess and you feel lousy... Your gut is a mess... Here's the truth." ([30:56])

(Note: This timestamp seems to be incoherent with the context. Assuming it's a mistake, the introduction likely occurs around [20:56].)

• Josh Hammer elaborates on Israel's strategic position and the end of ceasefire, emphasizing Benjamin Netanyahu's role: "The ball is clearly in Benjamin Netanyahu's court." ([21:41])

He discusses the dynamics of U.S.-Israel relations, Trump's pro-Israel stance, and the ABRAHAM Accords, advocating for a realist approach to Middle Eastern geopolitics.

• On Trump's relationship with Israel: "The Israeli people are about the Trumpiest people in the... world." ([24:22])

6. Insights from Josh Hammer’s Book

Josh Hammer delves into the historical and biblical foundations of American civilization, arguing for a continued alliance between Jews and Christians to influence the destiny of the West.

• Hammer explains the book's premise: "The book is kind of painstakingly arguing that so much of what we take for granted today... really does go back to scripture." ([26:18])

He challenges the notion that U.S.-Israel relations are solely a neoconservative issue, presenting Trump as a foreign policy realist who strengthens ties between the two nations.

• On the importance of U.S.-Israel ties: "The obvious answer, which Trump and Bibi got to in the Abraham Accords is to empower and embolden our allies in the region." ([26:18])

7. Prospects for Peace in the Middle East

Addressing the possibility of peace, Josh Hammer provides a nuanced perspective, attributing regional instability primarily to the Iranian regime and advocating for its dismantlement to pave the way for lasting peace.

• Hammer on peace prospects: "I think that there is such a thing as a more peaceful region... that is less prone to violent eruptions of jihadism." ([28:49])

He underscores the necessity of neutralizing Iran's influence and questions the compatibility of Islam with a Jewish state in the Middle East.

• On Iran's role: "That has to take the Iranian regime to go because the Iranian regime currently is the head of the snake." ([29:12])

8. Closing Remarks

The episode concludes with Buck Sexton reiterating the availability of Josh Hammer's book and encouraging listeners to support his work.

• Buck Sexton: "Israel and civilization, the fate of the Jewish nation and the destiny of the West. Josh Hammer is the author. Go get your copy of the book today." ([30:38])

Notable Quotes

• Governor Patrick Morrissey ([02:20]): "West Virginia being left out of the tournament was the ultimate miscarriage of justice and robbery at the highest level."

• Governor Patrick Morrissey ([04:18]): "We need to make sure we have the better objective information. We're going to get it through the investigation and trying to get all the facts."

• Governor Patrick Morrissey ([05:47]): "If the NCAA doesn't act in a transparent manner, then they're going to lose a lot of credibility nationally."

• Josh Hammer ([21:41]): "The ball is clearly in Benjamin Netanyahu's court."

• Josh Hammer ([24:22]): "The Israeli people are about the Trumpiest people in the... world."

• Josh Hammer ([26:18]): "The book is kind of painstakingly arguing that so much of what we take for granted today... really does go back to scripture."

• Josh Hammer ([28:49]): "I think that there is such a thing as a more peaceful region... that is less prone to violent eruptions of jihadism."

Conclusion

In this episode, Clay Travis and Buck Sexton engage in a robust discussion with Governor Patrick Morrissey regarding the perceived injustices in the NCAA Tournament selection process, advocating for transparency and fairness. Transitioning to international affairs, they welcome Josh Hammer to explore the intricate dynamics of U.S.-Israel relations and the broader implications for Western civilization. The conversation underscores the importance of strategic alliances and the enduring influence of historical and biblical narratives on contemporary geopolitical landscapes.

Note: Advertisements, non-content segments, and lighter talkbacks about pickles and chickens have been omitted to maintain focus on the primary discussions.