The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show: Hour 3 - Public vs. Private Sector
Release Date: March 12, 2025
Hosts: Clay Travis and Buck Sexton
Publisher: Premiere Networks

1. Introduction to Current Political Climate

In the third hour of The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show, hosts Clay Travis and Buck Sexton delve into the pressing political issues of the day, focusing primarily on the looming government shutdown and the broader implications of public versus private sector management.

2. Government Shutdown: Senate Democrats' Dilemma

Clay and Buck begin by addressing the precarious situation surrounding a potential government shutdown. They highlight the recent developments in Congress where the House Republicans successfully passed a clean, simple bill to keep the government funded for the remainder of the year. Buck states:

“We passed a clean, simple bill to keep the government funded for the rest of the year. And every Democrat except for one... they all voted to do exactly that.”
[08:45] Buck Sexton

This leaves the onus on Senate Democrats, led by Chuck Schumer, to decide whether to support the bill or risk a shutdown. Clay emphasizes the detrimental effects of a shutdown, noting:

“Government shutdowns... are harmful for everybody. We don't need that.”
[10:12] Clay Travis

3. Critique of Democratic Spending and Budget Practices

The hosts critically examine the Democratic Party's approach to government spending, pointing out that a significant portion (approximately 65-70%) of federal spending is on autopilot. Buck articulates:

“Most of the spending is on autopilot. And then the spending that we do try to cut, they tell us it's the most essential stuff ever.”
[12:30] Buck Sexton

They argue that Democrats are more interested in maintaining spending levels rather than implementing zero-based budgeting to genuinely address fiscal issues. Elon Musk's observation is referenced to underscore the inefficiency of government spending:

“If the federal government were a corporation... the company would go bankrupt and the board of directors or the CEO would go to prison. Right. I mean, it would be a mess.”
[14:05] Buck Sexton

4. The Battle Over the Continuing Resolution (CR)

Clay discusses the intricacies of the Continuing Resolution, noting that while Republicans are eager to pass it, Democrats have specific objections unrelated to the spending itself. He mentions:

“The stuff that the Democrats hate in it, they don't hate spending. There are other things that are in this CR that they don't like.”
[16:50] Clay Travis

This indicates that the opposition from Democrats may be more about the provisions within the CR rather than its primary purpose of averting a shutdown.

5. Trump’s Tariff Strategy and Media Criticism

A significant portion of the discussion centers on President Trump's tariff policies, particularly his stance on imposing reciprocal tariffs on Canada. Buck questions the negative portrayal of Trump's tactics:

“Why is it bad to use the threat of tariffs?... Instead, I get tariffs raise prices and they lower aggregate demand.”
[20:30] Buck Sexton

Clay defends the strategy by explaining its fairness:

“Whatever they charge us, we're charging them. Nobody can complain about that. Whatever it is.”
[22:08] Clay Travis

They critique the media’s and Democrats’ hysterical responses to Trump’s policies, suggesting that opposition is driven more by ideological differences than factual disagreements.

6. Department of Education Reforms: Decentralizing Control

The hosts shift focus to President Trump's plans to overhaul the Department of Education, advocating for returning control to individual states. Clay elaborates:

“We're going to move education into the states so that the states, instead of bureaucrats working in Washington, can run education.”
[32:46] Clay Travis

Buck adds that this move leverages the "laboratory of democracy" concept, allowing states to innovate and manage education systems more effectively without federal interference.

7. Historical Context: Nancy Pelosi’s Stance on Waste and Fraud

Clay brings up a historical point, juxtaposing Nancy Pelosi's past concerns about waste and fraud in Medicare with current Democratic practices:

“Here she is 15 years ago talking about how if we don't deal with the waste, fraud and abuse in Medicare, we won't be able to keep Medicare as it is.”
[25:02] Clay Travis

They argue that despite Pelosi’s earlier stance, the problem has only worsened, and Democrats have failed to implement effective solutions, leading to increased fiscal irresponsibility.

8. Media Narrative and Democrat Opposition to Trump’s Policies

The discussion highlights how Democrats and mainstream media consistently portray any positive initiative by Trump as detrimental. Buck points out:

“Anything that Trump does that's good, they think must be bad, because good Trump is bad for them.”
[29:15] Buck Sexton

This relentless opposition, according to the hosts, undermines constructive policy-making and fosters unnecessary division.

9. Concluding Remarks: The Future of Governance

Wrapping up, Clay and Buck emphasize the importance of accountability and effective governance. They assert that Republicans demonstrate a commitment to fiscal responsibility and practical solutions, contrasting sharply with Democratic tendencies towards unrestrained spending and power retention.

Clay concludes:

“Showing an ability to follow through on promises, to govern with sanity, to do math and to take your job in government seriously makes people trust you more, makes voters like you more.”
[33:36] Clay Travis

Buck echoes this sentiment, advocating for continued vigilance and support for policies that prioritize the nation's long-term stability over partisan gains.

Notable Quotes

• Buck Sexton [08:45]:
  “We passed a clean, simple bill to keep the government funded for the rest of the year. And every Democrat except for one... they all voted to do exactly that.”

• Clay Travis [10:12]:
  “Government shutdowns... are harmful for everybody. We don't need that.”

• Buck Sexton [12:30]:
  “Most of the spending is on autopilot. And then the spending that we do try to cut, they tell us it's the most essential stuff ever.”

• Buck Sexton [14:05]:
  “If the federal government were a corporation... the company would go bankrupt and the board of directors or the CEO would go to prison. Right. I mean, it would be a mess.”

• Clay Travis [16:50]:
  “The stuff that the Democrats hate in it, they don't hate spending. There are other things that are in this CR that they don't like.”

• Buck Sexton [20:30]:
  “Why is it bad to use the threat of tariffs?... Instead, I get tariffs raise prices and they lower aggregate demand.”

• Clay Travis [22:08]:
  “Whatever they charge us, we're charging them. Nobody can complain about that. Whatever it is.”

• Clay Travis [32:46]:
  “We're going to move education into the states so that the states, instead of bureaucrats working in Washington, can run education.”

• Clay Travis [25:02]:
  “Here she is 15 years ago talking about how if we don't deal with the waste, fraud and abuse in Medicare, we won't be able to keep Medicare as it is.”

• Buck Sexton [29:15]:
  “Anything that Trump does that's good, they think must be bad, because good Trump is bad for them.”

• Clay Travis [33:36]:
  “Showing an ability to follow through on promises, to govern with sanity, to do math and to take your job in government seriously makes people trust you more, makes voters like you more.”

Conclusion

In this episode, Clay Travis and Buck Sexton offer a staunch critique of Democratic fiscal policies and media narratives, championing Republican efforts to maintain government operations without succumbing to excessive spending. They advocate for practical reforms, such as decentralizing education, and defend President Trump's strategic use of tariffs as fair and reciprocal. The hosts encourage listeners to stay informed and engaged, emphasizing the importance of responsible governance for America's future.