The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show

Episode: Hour 3 – Speaker Mike Johnson Calls In
Date: October 6, 2025
Host: Buck Sexton (with guest, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson)
Special Segment: Exclusive Interview with President of Taiwan

Episode Overview

This action-packed hour of The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show dives into two pressing issues:

1. U.S. Government Shutdown: Speaker of the House Mike Johnson calls in to discuss the state of the ongoing government shutdown, assigns blame, and breaks down the contention over healthcare for illegal immigrants.

2. Taiwan’s National Security & U.S. Partnership: Buck debriefs his trip to Taiwan, highlighting his exclusive interview with President Lai. The interview covers Taiwan's domestic civic strength, strategic response to China's aggression, U.S.-Taiwan economic and defense ties, and family formation challenges.

Segment 1: Speaker Mike Johnson on the Government Shutdown

Main Theme: The Republican perspective on the government shutdown, with Speaker Johnson forcefully criticizing Senator Chuck Schumer and Senate Democrats, especially about healthcare benefits for illegal immigrants.

Key Points & Insights

1. Schumer and Political Motivation

• Johnson dubs the situation the “Schumer Democrat Shutdown”.
  “It is the Schumer Democrat shutdown... The truth has been obscured. All these Democrats, their relentless efforts at spinning what everybody knows to be true... We're just simply trying to keep the lights on...” (Speaker Mike Johnson, [02:05])

• Claims the continuing resolution (CR) is “clean”, without partisan add-ons.
  “There's no partisan provisions in it, no tricks, no gimmicks. We're just simply trying to keep the lights on... we ran out of clock because the end of the fiscal year.” ([02:05])

• Asserts Schumer is under pressure from the far left and facing a likely primary threat:
  “The Marxists are now running New York... [Schumer] knows that he's going to get a challenge from his left... it's almost guaranteed to lose. So he's got to show a fight against Trump.” ([03:50])

2. Healthcare for Illegal Immigrants

• Johnson alleges the Democrats are manufacturing a crisis over healthcare for non-citizens (“faux issue”):

  “They're trying to argue that this is suddenly a debate about health care. Never was. This is about... a simple funding measure.” ([04:40])

• Supports claims with reference to Democratic presidential debates:

  “Raise your hand if you would like to give taxpayer funded benefits and health care to illegal aliens. Every single Democrat candidate on the stage raised their hand, including Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.” ([05:44])

• Details Republican action to reverse such benefits:

  “We fixed it, Buck. We passed the one big beautiful bill... we reversed all that nonsense. We took the health care benefits away from illegals.” ([06:05])

• Accuses Schumer of demanding reversal:

  “They are demanding now that we spend $1.5 trillion of additional taxpayer funds on big liberal priorities. Included in that is... restoring taxpayer funded health care to illegal aliens. Fact.” ([07:02])

  • Johnson references page 57, section 2141 of Schumer’s proposal.

• Mechanics Explained:

  “In our bill, we ended Medicaid funding for most noncitizens... ended the emergency care for illegal aliens that had been expanded... hospitals were being reimbursed more for treating illegal aliens than American citizens...” ([08:02])

  “You add it all up, it’s $192.8 billion... Chuck Schumer... would reverse all of it. It’s a fact. They can’t refute it... as John Adams said, facts are stubborn things.” ([09:00])

3. The Path Forward & Impact

• On shutdown resolution:

  “We need five or six additional Democrats in the Senate to come to their senses... They need to recognize real Americans being hurt here...” ([10:12])

• On real-world impacts:

  “Women, infants and children that have their nutrition subsidies being halted... Health services to veterans... Troops and Border Patrol agents... all working to protect Americans with no pay...” ([11:14])

• Furloughs and federal job impacts:

  “Russ Vought... has to sit down and evaluate everything the federal government does and triage it... But he has to... determine the most essential services...” ([11:50])

4. Notable Quotes

• On Schumer’s tenure:
  "Chuck Schumer is a far left progressive politician. Everybody knows that. He's been in Congress for 44 years, brother, about most of our lives, right?... But he is yesterday's news. He's the last generation of leadership." ([03:32])

• On the policy dispute:
  “All the pain inflicted upon the American people is to cover one guy's political future. And his name is Chuck Schumer.” ([04:40])

Segment 2: Buck Sexton’s Taiwan Recap & Exclusive Interview with President Lai

Main Theme: Buck’s firsthand report from Taiwan amidst aggression from China, and a far-reaching interview with President Lai covering Taiwan’s security, strategic partnership with the U.S., and domestic resilience.

Key Points & Insights

1. Buck’s Impressions From Taiwan ([15:13–21:31])

• Taiwanese civic culture:

  “The sense of civic responsibility here, how respectful everyone is here, how safe everyone feels on your streets. Is this not the case in a lot of American cities?... inspiring to tell Americans...” ([21:31])

• On China’s threat:

  "Xi Jinping is a dictator and a scary one, and they're building up an army and a navy that can only really have one purpose and that is for an invasion of Taiwan to take it by force... Taiwan is preparing its defenses for what could be a massive amphibious invasion." ([15:50–16:36])

• Why this matters for the U.S.:

  "They make 90% of the advanced chips... If that production is taken offline... the whole global supply chain is halted... we can't afford to not care about what happens to our ally Taiwan." ([17:13–18:10])

2. President of Taiwan, Lai Ching-te: Interview Highlights

A. Taiwan’s Society & China Relations ([21:31–27:13])

• Taiwan’s civil strength – “superheroes with shovels”:

  "Over 100,000 people of their own accord took their shovels to help those affected... in our society, these people were referred to as superheroes with shovels. So you can feel that in Taiwan there's a lot of warmth, people are kind. So our streets... are generally very safe." – President Lai ([22:29])

• Clarifies Taiwan’s status:

  "The Republic of China and the People's Republic of China are not subordinate to each other. Taiwan is not a part of the PRC. China does not have the right to invade Taiwan." – President Lai ([23:10])

• Peace as strength:

  "We believe that to achieve peace there must be strength. Since taking office, I have implemented the Four Pillars of Peace Action Plan..." – President Lai ([24:05])

  • Defense spending up to 3.32% of GDP (2026), 5% by 2030
  • Arms procurement (from U.S. and others)
  • Economic diversification, reducing dependence on China

• Taiwan seeks dialogue, but prepares for defense:

  "Taiwan is willing to engage in dialogue with China based on parity and dignity... We hope that Taiwan will continue to enjoy the support of President Trump. If he is able to convince Xi Jinping to permanently renounce the use of force against Taiwan, President Trump will surely win the Nobel Peace Prize." – President Lai ([26:30])

B. Message to President Trump & U.S. ([27:13–29:01])

• Regional implications:

  "If [China] is able to annex Taiwan, China will be in a stronger position to compete with the United States... This would eventually also impact U.S. interests. So we hope that President Trump can continue to maintain peace and stability in the Indo Pacific." – President Lai ([27:37])

• On Taiwan’s willingness to defend itself:

  "Taiwan is absolutely determined to ensure its own national security... I believe that people help those who help themselves. So I very much agree... when we show unity and work together, that is when deterrence is at its strongest and that is when we will be able to safeguard peace and stability in the world." – President Lai ([29:28])

C. Economic and Technological Partnership ([34:03–36:58])

• On U.S.-Taiwan cooperation in semiconductors and A.I.:

  "The United States is strong in areas such as innovation, R&D and design... For semiconductors, I would say the United States is still the leader in this ecosystem... Taiwan is very willing to work with the United States to achieve this goal... We want to help the United States re-industrialize and become a global AI hub... and we want to help make America great again." – President Lai ([34:51])

D. Family Formation and Social Resilience ([36:58–39:18])

• Policies to promote marriage and child-rearing:

  "The government is supporting families in jointly raising children... providing monthly subsidies... Tuition is also free... couples who are having problems conceiving, the government subsidizes fertility treatment... We want to reduce the burden on households so that more people can start a family. This will promote social stability and continual growth for the country." – President Lai ([37:54])

Memorable Quotes

• Speaker Mike Johnson:
  "All the pain inflicted upon the American people is to cover one guy's political future. And his name is Chuck Schumer." ([04:40])

• President Lai:
  "Peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are essential elements of global security and prosperity. Our pursuit of peace is an ideal, not a fantasy." ([24:20])
  "If he is able to convince Xi Jinping to permanently renounce the use of force against Taiwan, President Trump will surely win the Nobel Peace Prize." ([26:55])
  "I believe that people help those who help themselves." ([29:28])

Timestamps: Important Segments

• Speaker Mike Johnson on the shutdown: [01:29–12:41]
• Buck's Taiwan Experience & Stakes: [15:13–21:31]
• President Lai Interview - Taiwan's Society & China Relations: [21:31–27:13]
• Message to President Trump: [27:13–29:01]
• Taiwan's Defense Spending & Self-Determination: [29:01–31:27]
• U.S.-Taiwan Tech & Economic Partnership: [34:03–36:58]
• Promoting Family Formation in Taiwan: [36:58–39:18]

Episode Tone

• Political Segments: Assertive, combative, and partisan, with sharp criticism especially from Speaker Johnson toward Democrats.
• Taiwan Interview: Courteous, earnest, and globally minded, with President Lai offering measured encouragement for U.S.-Taiwan solidarity.

Takeaways

• The partisan battle over the government shutdown rests heavily on disputes about immigration and healthcare benefits for non-citizens, as presented by Speaker Johnson.
• Buck stresses the strategic, economic, and moral importance of U.S. support for Taiwan, both as a democracy and as an irreplaceable player in global technology.
• President Lai projects a strong, peaceful, and self-reliant Taiwan, eager for continued robust partnership with the United States.