The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show — Hour 3: Should We Buy Greenland?

Episode Date: January 15, 2026

Episode Overview

In this lively third hour, Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle a range of hot-button issues with their signature mix of insight and humor. The central theme is the ongoing debate around President Trump’s renewed interest in purchasing Greenland for U.S. national security, the strategic significance of the island, and the broader implications of American foreign policy. The hosts also dissect recent news cycles, including a controversial ICE shooting in Minneapolis, media narratives, and the perennial hypocrisy of elites on climate change. The discussion is wide-ranging, mixing serious geopolitical analysis with comic asides and sharp cultural commentary.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Why Buy Greenland? Strategic & Economic Motives

• Trump's Greenland Ambition:

  • President Trump is determined to pursue the acquisition of Greenland, in the face of Danish and Greenlandic resistance. Clay notes that White House meetings with Denmark and Greenland have not dissuaded Trump (02:42).
  • The rationale isn't about present-day Greenland, which relies heavily on Danish subsidies. Instead, it's long-term—mirroring historic U.S. acquisitions like Alaska and the Louisiana Purchase (06:00, 07:15).

• Economic Facts About Greenland:

  • Population: ~57,000.
  • The economy is heavily dependent on shrimp fishing, not mining—Denmark subsidizes Greenland with about $1 billion annually (05:21).
  • Many residents lack basic infrastructure, such as running water, and shower by melting ice (06:00).

“If you're out there... I bet you're not showering with melted ice, which I would imagine is pretty cold and not an intentional ice bath…” — Clay Travis (06:00)

• Comparisons to ‘Seward’s Folly’ and Real Estate Wisdom:
  • Historic ridicule of the Alaska purchase, initially dismissed as a folly, ultimately proved a visionary move—suggesting Greenland might also pay off for future generations (06:30).
  • “This is not a fixer, upper flopper. This is a long term play.” — Clay Travis (07:28)

2. Climate Change & Elite Hypocrisy

• Malibu Mansions and “Existential Threats”:
  • Discussion pivots to Kamala Harris’s $8 million beach house in Malibu, highlighting the apparent disconnect between climate alarmism and real estate actions of prominent Democrats (08:17–11:00).
  • Noting Barack Obama’s Martha’s Vineyard waterfront purchase, Clay and Buck mock the idea that elites truly believe their climate rhetoric.

“She’s clearly not scared of the erosion of the beaches or the cliffs...” — Buck Sexton (08:40) “It is incredible... the prices of real estate on coastal communities continues to skyrocket..." — Clay Travis (11:00)

3. Global Geopolitics: U.S. vs. Russia and China in the Arctic

• Security Imperatives:

  • Trump’s clip: “If we don't go in [to Greenland], Russia is going to go in and China is going to go in and there’s not a thing that Denmark can do about it, but we can do everything about it.” (19:20)
  • Buck underscores how U.S. rivals are aggressively seeking influence and access around the world, and Greenland would be no exception.

• Modern Arctic Transit & Submarine Technology:

  • Advances in transit and military technology make Arctic access and infrastructure increasingly valuable for U.S. defense and commerce (20:56, 22:48).

"This is a decision... that isn't about the next three years... it's about the next hundred years of American dominance..." — Clay Travis (21:15)

• Territorial Waters and Future Prospects:
  • Control of Greenland implicates territorial waters, crucial for monitoring nuclear subs and projecting power (23:10).

4. Inner Politics and Social Narratives: ICE, Minneapolis, and Media Framing

• Controversial Minneapolis Shooting:
  • Clay and Buck dissect how Rep. Ilhan Omar and left-leaning media frame a Minneapolis ICE shooting as “state-sanctioned violence,” when evidence overwhelmingly suggests it was the result of dangerous interference with law enforcement (25:17–26:47).
  • They highlight how narratives are constructed for emotional mobilization, not factual accuracy, likening the martyrdom myth to past incidents like “hands up, don’t shoot” (27:00).

"This is the creation of their martyrdom myth... they have to emotionalize this issue to draw people away from the facts." — Buck Sexton (26:47)

• Selective Outrage and Policy Hypocrisy:
  • The hosts challenge why certain violent acts—especially when involving illegal immigrants—don’t generate similar outrage or celebrity activism (31:05–32:56).
  • Sanctuary city policies and their consequences are criticized; Clay argues for federal supremacy and the necessity for a presidential crackdown (32:56).

5. Community & Audience Engagement

• Demographics of Show Listeners:
  • Discussion on over-indexing professions among listeners: spec ops/military, pilots, and truckers—a reflection on the show's wide, patriotic reach (42:08–44:04).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• On Greenland’s Current State:
  • "Denmark gives a billion dollars a year to support everyone who lives in Greenland because the economy is otherwise not able to suffice. Buck, a huge percentage of people in Greenland lack running water and actually shower by melting ice." — Clay Travis (05:24–06:00)
• Historic Comparison:
  • "When William Seward bought Alaska, everyone derided the purchase... it ended up being one of the most brilliant acquisitions in the history of the United States." — Clay Travis (06:40)
• Climate Hypocrisy:
  • "Kamala Harris just bought an $8 million house... she's clearly not scared of the erosion of the beaches or the cliffs." — Buck Sexton (08:40)
  • "Remember when Barack Obama, Mr. Climate Change... got a $15 million beachfront mansion in Martha's Vineyard. No one actually believes this." — Buck Sexton (09:13)
• Trump on Greenland:
  • "We need Greenland for national security... If we don't go in, Russia is going to go in and China is going to go in and there's not a thing that Denmark can do about it, but we can do everything about it." — Donald Trump (19:20)
• Narrative vs. Reality in Minneapolis:
  • "All of the evidence reflects that she... decided to floor her vehicle and hit the ICE agent..." — Clay Travis (25:59)
  • "This is the creation of their martyrdom myth... if it's just how do you feel about this?... that can often override... what’s true and not true." — Buck Sexton (26:47–27:00)
• On Elite Performance and Policy:
  • "Trump doesn't pretend to be something he's not. Kamal, the social justice warrior, she's just been enriching herself her whole life." — Buck Sexton (10:51)
• Show Culture:
  • "I'm in D.C. There's no cameras in here. I'm not as dapper today, but I was on Hannity last night, you could see the jacket. No tie." — Clay Travis (39:20)

Important Segments & Timestamps

• Greenland’s Economy and U.S. Interests: 02:42–07:35
• Climate Change Hypocrisy & Kamala’s Malibu Mansion: 08:17–12:57
• Trump’s Statement on Greenland (Clip): 19:20–19:52
• U.S. Geopolitical Strategy in the Arctic: 20:56–23:10
• ICE Shooting, Media Narrative, and Martyrdom Myth: 25:17–32:56
• Show Listener Demographics: 42:08–44:04

Tone & Style

The tone is fast-paced, irreverent, and insightful. Clay and Buck blend sharp analysis of news and geopolitics with banter and cultural commentary, often laced with sarcasm and pointed humor directed at political and media elites.

Conclusion

This episode distills the unique style of The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show: an engaging mix of global affairs, domestic controversies, and cultural critique. The hosts offer thoughtful commentary on America’s long-term strategic interests, elite hypocrisy, and the pitfalls of emotionalized news narratives—peppered with memorable asides and an ever-present sense of humor.

For full episodes, visit the Clay and Buck YouTube channel or find them on the iHeartRadio app.