Podcast Summary: The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show
Episode: Hour 3 – MO Sen. Eric Schmitt
Air Date: August 19, 2025
Overview
In this episode, hosts Clay Travis and Buck Sexton are joined by Missouri Senator Eric Schmitt, author of the new book The Last Line of Defense: How to Beat the Left in Court. The discussion centers on law enforcement, recent legal and political battles, crime in major cities, immigration policy, media censorship, and the long-term consequences of recent political trends. The show’s tone is assertive, energetic, and unapologetically conservative.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Combating Crime in Cities – St. Louis Example
[03:32–05:26]
- Federal vs. Local Law Enforcement: Buck Sexton asks if, with full federal backing, St. Louis’s crime problem could be solved.
- Sen. Schmitt: Critiques federal resources being used for political “weaponization” in DC instead of fighting crime nationwide.
- He describes the Safer Streets Initiative, where state AG staff were deputized as Assistant U.S. Attorneys to circumvent local prosecutors (e.g., Kim Gardner) who refused to prosecute certain crimes.
- The program was ended under the Biden administration, signaling a lack of federal prioritization for urban crime.
“When Biden came in, ironically, he scrapped the program…this just was not their focus.”
— Sen. Eric Schmitt [05:04]
2. Democrats’ Opposition to Trump and Popular Policies
[05:26–07:18]
- Clay Travis notes Democrats’ reflexive opposition to Trump – even on broadly popular issues like stopping crime or keeping biological men out of women’s sports.
- Sen. Schmitt calls it “psychological” — “Trump Derangement Syndrome is real”— and claims even if Trump advocates for life-saving policies, Democrats react out of hatred.
“It truly is a psychosis…Trump derangement syndrome is real…”
— Sen. Eric Schmitt [06:12]
- He argues the party is now “captured by the radical left.”
3. Lawfare and Weaponization of Justice
[07:18–10:03]
-
Buck Sexton reflects on the unprecedented four criminal cases against Trump and their timing with the election.
-
Sen. Schmitt says his book aims to ensure Americans don’t forget these “dark days”:
- Pandemic lockdowns/mandates
- “Open borders”
- DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) and ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) pressures
- “Censorship” by government-social media collusion
-
Missouri brought landmark cases (against vaccine mandates, student loan forgiveness, school mask mandates, and censorship) to the Supreme Court and won.
“…a censorship enterprise so vast that the Biden administration instituted, that was the biggest affront of the First Amendment in American history.”
— Sen. Eric Schmitt [08:45]
- He frames these legal wins as a playbook for future conservative victories.
4. Social Media Bans, Censorship, and Section 230
[10:03–13:42]
- Clay asks how to ensure free speech protections last, even when Trump isn’t in office.
- Sen. Schmitt wants accountability for government and social media figures who suppressed “speech" or engaged in conspiracies (referencing Russia collusion as an example).
- He calls for reforming Section 230: platforms shouldn’t get both liability protections and the power to “edit” content.
“You don’t get the multibillion dollar subsidy…if you try to manipulate what’s on your platform in an editorial-like decision.”
— Sen. Eric Schmitt [12:14]
- Suggests bureaucrats who suppress free speech should be personally liable to lawsuits.
5. Legal Venue and Jurisdiction Challenges
[13:42–15:01]
- Clay brings up the challenges of indicting in DC, a strongly Democratic city.
- Sen. Schmitt explains “conspiracy” charges can be pursued in multiple jurisdictions, potentially broadening legal strategies beyond DC.
6. Ukraine War and U.S. Security Guarantees
[21:35–24:21]
- Buck Sexton analyzes Trump’s ambiguous comments on U.S. military involvement in Ukraine.
- He airs Press Secretary Caroline Levitt’s clear statement: “U.S. boots will not be on the ground in Ukraine, but we can certainly help…provide other means of safety and security guarantees…” [23:53]
- Buck expects Europe, not the U.S., to take on most future security burdens in the region and credits Trump for pushing NATO on military spending.
“NATO is stronger now because Trump held NATO allies to account.”
— Buck Sexton [24:21]
7. Immigration, Sanctuary Cities, and Federal-State Tensions
[30:56–39:46]
- Buck and (pre-recorded) AG Pam Bondi discuss federal moves to break sanctuary city policies, including threats to withhold funds and send in law enforcement.
- Plays audio of Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s defiant response to federal pressure about mass deportations:
“Stop attacking our cities to hide your administration’s failures.”
— Mayor Michelle Wu [34:59]
- Buck critiques this, arguing Democrats ignore federal law for political reasons and that this undermines national sovereignty and public safety.
- He analogizes immigration lawbreaking to tax evasion — both are violations of laws that should apply to all.
8. Law and Order as a Political Winner
[39:46–41:20]
- AG Pam Bondi claims public support — “people [are] walking by, whispering, saying thank you…feel safe now to walk their own neighborhood…” [39:46]
- Buck says even some centrist Democrats in DC privately agree with Trump’s crime policies.
9. Homelessness and Urban Decline
[48:40–49:57]
- A caller asks what will happen to the homeless as cities crack down on encampments.
- Buck anticipates options like treatment centers or shelters; stresses cities can no longer allow street living, which drives crime and urban decay.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “Trump derangement syndrome is real and it manifests itself in just some crazy ways.”
— Sen. Eric Schmitt [06:12] - “They laundered that stupid Steele dossier into an actual intelligence report…they tried to, not only a coup, but to sideline an entire first term of a president.”
— Sen. Eric Schmitt [11:27] - “The book is kind of a playbook on how we did it then and how we can do it moving forward.”
— Sen. Eric Schmitt [09:50] - “We need to start making [bureaucrats] accountable to real people.”
— Sen. Eric Schmitt [12:47] - “NATO is stronger now because Trump held NATO allies to account.”
— Buck Sexton [24:21] - “I have friends who are Democrats…even said, Trump’s right on this…they don’t really want maniacs stabbing them…They realize they’ve been living with that fear.”
— Buck Sexton [40:10]
Timestamps for Critical Segments
- [03:32] – Sen. Schmitt joins, discusses law enforcement reforms in Missouri
- [05:26] – Democrats’ blanket opposition to Trump policies
- [07:18] – Discussion of lawfare, court battles, and political weaponization of DOJ
- [10:03] – Clay asks about social media censorship, future-proofing free speech
- [13:42] – Legal venue/jurisdiction in federal trials
- [21:35] – Buck explains Ukraine war security guarantees and Trump’s NATO stance
- [30:56] – Pam Bondi and sanctuary cities; Buck critiques local leaders’ defiance
- [39:46] – Pam Bondi shares stories of public support for increased law enforcement
- [48:40] – Caller asks about homelessness policy, Buck responds
Overall Tone & Takeaways
The episode is combative and optimistic about recent conservative policy advances, with repeated emphasis on “fighting back” in courts, rejecting past “woke” policies, and focusing on law and order. The hosts and guest see the Trump administration and allied Republicans as taking significant (and popular) action on crime, immigration, and censorship, in contrast with failed policies of Democrats and the radical left.
For listeners wanting a confident conservative perspective on current legal, political, and cultural battles—with practical stories, strategies, and strong anti-elite sentiment—this episode delivers a playbook for continued activism and legal challenge.