Hour 3 - Steve Hilton: Hold My Beer

Summary

The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

Episode: Hour 3 – Steve Hilton: Hold My Beer (December 5, 2025)
Host: Buck Sexton
Special Guests: Isabel Brown, Steve Hilton

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Episode Overview

The third hour of The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show dives into major stories in politics and culture, blending wit, skepticism, and passionate debate. This episode features lively discussions with Isabel Brown (commentator and Gen Z voice) about her fiery CNN panel appearance and the cultural revival of the American family. The spotlight then turns to Steve Hilton, California gubernatorial candidate, who compares high-profile government fraud scandals between Minnesota and California, lambasts one-party rule, and critiques Democratic leadership, especially Gavin Newsom and Kamala Harris.

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Key Discussion Segments & Insights

1. Isabel Brown Recaps Her CNN Panel Appearance

(Begins at 02:36)

Main Points:

• Isabel discusses her experience on Abby Phillips’ CNN panel, describing it as “spicy” and combative.
• She was pressed on the January 6 controversy, specifically the differences between various forms of protest and violence.
• Isabel notes a pattern of left-leaning panels ignoring her answers and conflating actual violence with ideas or symbols.
  • “Everything is violence except actual violence. To the left, words are violence, ideas are violence. The American flag is violence. But planting pipe bombs actually isn’t violent, I guess, according to CNN.” (Isabel Brown, 05:46)
• The segment spotlights double standards in media responses to political violence and recent events (e.g., the alleged pipe bomber, January 6 prosecutions).

Notable Quote:
“They literally had the audacity to say, well…this guy’s black, so he’ll never get a presidential pardon for planting pipe bombs. The obsession that these people have…with excusing any sort of political violence as long as it fits their agenda…” (Isabel Brown, 06:29)

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2. Parenthood, Faith, and Gen Z’s Cultural Shift

(08:02 – 12:18)

Main Points:

• Buck and Isabel, both new parents, discuss generational attitudes toward family.
• Isabel sees a “revival of faith and family” among Gen Z, pushing back against years of anti-family messaging.
• They criticize media and government attempts to portray parenting and family life as negative or even dangerous (e.g., Surgeon General’s statement).
• Young people are increasingly eager to build families, finding renewed meaning and purpose in this pursuit.

Notable Quote:
“There is a very clear agenda to make you lonely, depressed, and miserable…That means nothing if we don’t have our children to share it with and a legacy to build upon…” (Isabel Brown, 10:23, 13:03)

“My daughter means so much more to me than any paycheck ever will…even young women on the very radical left…are quitting their birth control. They are desperate to find a God-fearing husband and wanting to build a family…” (Isabel Brown, 13:03)

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3. Lighthearted Culture: Fashion and Mom Jeans

(14:26 – 15:29)

Main Points:

• Playful debate about fashion trends, specifically the resurgence of baggy “mom jeans.”
• Isabel embraces the trend, citing comfort, while Buck jokes about oversized clothing.
• Brief humorous riff on seeing burkas as a possible “next fashion statement.”

Notable Exchange:
Buck: “Am I telling her to shut down the mom jeans and she’s wearing them in the studio?” (14:51)
Isabel: “The mom jean has made a return and my postpartum mom body is grateful for it.” (14:40)

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4. Fraud Scandals: Minnesota vs. California (with Steve Hilton)

(19:50 – 37:01)

a. Minnesota’s $300 Million Child Meals Fraud

• Buck summarizes the massive fraud in Minneapolis’ Somali-American community, where funds for children’s meals were siphoned off illegally.
• Political leadership, particularly Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, evades responsibility or accountability.
  • “That’s a non-answer and I know that he’s going to give a non-answer. What’s he going to say? I don’t really care that the Somali Americans stole all this stuff…” (Buck Sexton, 22:35)

b. California’s “Hold My Beer” Response (Steve Hilton)

(Begins at 24:26)

• Steve Hilton argues California’s fraud and mismanagement dwarf Minnesota’s.
  • One-party Democratic rule (15 years) has bred corruption and unchecked spending.
  • Examples:
    • Pandemic unemployment fraud: $20B lost to criminal gangs and improper payments.
    • Homelessness spending: $24B with little to show for it; funds enrich crony nonprofits and developers.
    • Healthcare for illegal immigrants: $13B in the budget for 2024.
  • Total: $57B known misused or wasted in California.
• Hilton’s solutions:
  • Established "califraud.com" whistleblower hotline.
  • Urging for federal-level investigations akin to those in Minnesota.

Notable Quote:
“It is disgusting and shocking. But in California, everything is a thousand times worse...This one-party rule breeds this kind of corruption and an abuse of taxpayer trust.” (Steve Hilton, 24:26)

• On Homelessness:
  • The “homeless industrial complex” keeps the crisis going via overpriced, no-strings-attached housing and political favors.
  • Build cost comparisons: $800K–$1M for “affordable” units vs. $250K–$300K in private sector constructions.
  • Permanent solutions are avoided; cycle of addiction and street homelessness persists.

Notable Quote:
“Permanent supportive housing”—that is a euphemism for a home with no strings attached, that costs a fortune…Meanwhile, the problem gets worse because none of these units have any strings attached…It’s just a total disaster, all of it totally corrupt…” (Steve Hilton, 27:43)

c. Newsom’s Failed Promises and Kamala Harris’s Prospects

• Multiple failed promises from Gavin Newsom (homelessness, disaster relief, infrastructure, communications upgrades).
• Hilton mocks Newsom's "Marshall Plan" for post-fire rebuilds—only one (show) house built years later.
• Kamala Harris has no base even in her home state for a gubernatorial or presidential race.
• Newsom, by contrast, has strong donor class support for higher office bids.

Notable Quote:
“They’re these machine politicians…They have no principles, no beliefs, no convictions, nothing. And that’s why they end up saying totally different things, contradictory things all the time. They lie for a living. They are pathological liars.” (Steve Hilton, 32:35)

• Upcoming governor’s race: Hilton details opposition, including Katie Porter and Eric Swalwell.

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Noteworthy Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On CNN panel behavior:

  • “I was asked two words in, the host just immediately spoke over me and completely ignored everything that I was saying.” (Isabel Brown, 05:46)

• On the family culture shift:

  • “Young people are also having this massive revival of faith. We have to fight for what is good and true and beautiful in culture way more than we ever fight for politics.” (Isabel Brown, 10:23)

• On California’s government waste:

  • “Half a billion dollars can’t even produce a working phone line. He wants to be president. I mean, it’s just such a joke.” (Steve Hilton, 34:51)

• On Kamala Harris’s lack of support:

  • “There’s no appetite for Kamala Harris here in California, just as there isn’t across the country if she decides to run for president.” (Steve Hilton, 33:36)

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Timestamps for Major Segments

• Opening/Panel Recap – Isabel Brown: 02:36–07:50
• Parenthood and Gen Z Family Values: 08:02–13:03
• Cultural Fashion Lightheartedness: 14:26–15:29
• Minnesota Fraud & Political Leadership: 19:50–24:26
• Steve Hilton on California Corruption: 24:26–37:01
• Closing & Podcast Network Promo: 40:53–end

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Summary

This hour of Clay & Buck navigates complex issues ranging from media bias and cancel culture to generational change and government corruption. Isabel Brown brings a firsthand account of ideological clashes in mainstream media and reflects on a generational revival of family and faith. Steve Hilton’s “Hold My Beer” segment starkly contrasts Minnesota’s fraud scandal with California’s daunting legacy of waste, mismanagement, and crony politics. The episode is charged, humorous, and unflinchingly critical, offering both alarm and optimism about America’s direction.

Transcript

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[Buck Sexton]

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[Isabel Brown]

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[Steve Hilton]

This is where mindset comes in.

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Someone will be eliminated.

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Pressure is coming down.

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[Buck Sexton]

Third hour of play and Buck kicks off right now, thanks for being here, everybody. We have Isabel Brown with us. She is the host of the Isabel Brown show on all social platforms for Daily Flyer. Plus, Isabel, I think first time we've had you on radio, but you and I go way back from the, the first TV in the digital days. How you doing?

[Isabel Brown]

Doing fantastic. So excited to be here. I actually think I have been on once, if memory serves, a year and a half plus ago right before the release of my book. And it's crazy how much life has changed since then. So it's great to be back.

[Buck Sexton]

Fantastic to have you back. Your memory is better than mine, which is not surprising because I'm about to be 44 years old, so I am getting more forgetful. So welcome back. It's been 18 months. We should have had you back sooner, but here we are. I hope the book was, hope the book is fantastic, by the way. So just take us into the scene a little bit here. I 10 years ago I used to do CNN. It's been a long time now. It's basically been about 10 years since I've, I've done CNN. You were on CNN last night. We'll play. Oh, we, we have the cut for everybody. So you're, what is the show? You can tell everybody what this one is.

[Isabel Brown]

This is, this was Abby Phillips panel show that runs during the 10pm hour and boy, it was pretty spicy last night, I gotta tell you.

[Buck Sexton]

Yeah, yeah. So let's, let's let everyone hear just a little, a little snippet here. This is cut 27 play.

[CNN Panel Host]

You can speculate all you want, but the authorities who are charging this guy haven't laid out a motive. That's all I've said. The other thing is that no, I'm not suggesting that he was tied to stop the steal, but I'm not sure why you question.

[Isabel Brown]

What had he been to summer right after January 6th.

Individuals who participated.

[CNN Panel Host]

So it's called a hypothetical. Had he been prosecuted alongside all of those other people who were involved in violent acts on January 6, would Donald Trump have pardoned him?

[Isabel Brown]

No, because individuals who the capitol building on January 6th were not planting pipe bombs. What about the one DNC, but what.

[Buck Sexton]

About.

[CNN Panel Host]

The ones that the American.

[Isabel Brown]

But again, it's rich to me that now police officers saying we have no idea what the motive. But Isabelle, hold on this now what.

[CNN Panel Host]

About MSNB, Isabelle, what about the time.

[Isabel Brown]

48 hours of January?

[CNN Panel Host]

What about the people who used an American.

[Isabel Brown]

This was intended to foment additional chaos, to detract law enforcement.

[Buck Sexton]

As if you're not at this table.

[CNN Panel Host]

I get that you don't want to. I get that you don't want to grapple with the fact of what happened. No, Let me ask you, let me ask you a question. Let me ask you a question. What about the people who assaulted and beat police officers on January?

[Isabel Brown]

I regularly said so. Do you think it's a violent crime?

[CNN Panel Host]

Do you think that they are just trespassing, that they were wrongfully prosecuted?

[Isabel Brown]

Well, 1,000 have been set free, didn't beat police officers on January 6th.

[Buck Sexton]

Okay, sorry, there's Israel.

[Isabel Brown]

I know.

[Buck Sexton]

Everyone's like, whoa, what's going on? It's like they're in the middle of the scrum, the melee that's going on. Can I give it to you to just make, make your initial point, because it seems like the host there, slash, whoever else is kind of, you know, chiming in, doesn't understand that walking into the Capitol and taking a selfie and planning a pipe bomb are different things. Work through that for us.

[Isabel Brown]

Well, you know, it's obvious that everything is violence except actual violence. To the left, words are violence, ideas or violence. The American flag is violence. But planting pipe bombs actually isn't violent. I guess, according to cnn, that was just one of many different topics we covered on this very fiery panel last night. I, of course, being the metaphorical punching bag, where every question I was asked two words in, the host just immediately spoke over me and completely ignored everything that I was saying. For example, I answered that question. I think there was one snippet there about if violent protesters deserve to be pardoned or not. I said, of course not. If anyone is beating a police officer, of course they need be in prison for such behavior. And then she just completely ignored that six or seven times. But what was really interesting to me is this panel was so obsessed with running interference for anyone that they remotely associated with being on the left. And when it came to this particular conversation about the arrest that was made against Brian Cole Jr. The alleged pipe bomber from January 5, is when he planted those bombs, 20, 21. But they were discovered on January 6 in the midst of all the chaos. And they, they literally had the audacity to say, well, let's just state the obvious. This guy's black, so he'll never get a presidential pardon for planting pipe bombs. The obsession that these people have, particularly the left wing establishment media, with excusing any sort of political violence as long as it fits their agenda. If that's something as ridiculous as planting a pipe bomb or a school shooting against Catholic school children because they're Catholic and therefore are somehow extremists for our country. Or even all out assassinations of people like our friend Charlie Kirk. It's becoming so obvious to me in the last three months, more than ever before in my career that the demons are getting louder and evil is being exposed with every passing day. The literal darkness I felt in the CNN studio yesterday was very palpable. I said that to my team as I walked out. And I'm realizing after these last few months, I don't know that I'll ever be the same again. Realizing how strong that evil has taken hold in our country.

[Buck Sexton]

So we just went into kind of an intense and serious direction there. But it is a Friday and I'm actually now. Isabelle, you can't. I don't think you can see this, but I am now holding the famous fellow known as Baby Speed.

[Isabel Brown]

Oh, I can't see. I wish I could.

[Buck Sexton]

He's. Anyone who's watching on the YouTube can see it. And he's now speaking up a little bit. Oh, there he is. Oh, he's grabbing the microphone. He's a lot of fun. This is what happens during live radio. You and I have a child about the same age. Whoa. Okay. He's. He loves the mic. I'm gonna give him back now. Thanks. We have a child about the same age. That was just for all the video. Video watchers. What's it like? What's the. What's the whole parent thing been like for you? And. And. Whoa, there he is. Sorry.

[Isabel Brown]

I love that Baby Speed wants to have his own podcast because my daughter Isla constantly is talking all the time. I keep saying there's a lot of money to be added to baby podcast somewhere, so maybe we should start one.

[CNN Panel Host]

I love it.

[Isabel Brown]

I had my daughter at the end of April. Her birthday was April 30th. And truly, as I'm sure you know, as a new parent, my whole life has changed in all of the best ways since then. I am a completely different person. I view the world completely differently, but in the most beautiful, holistic way. I think there's such a greater purpose to what I do every day. It gives me a reason to jump out of bed in the morning to know exactly what I'm fighting for. And I've never experienced this depth of love ever before in my life. It is truly magical.

[Buck Sexton]

It is. It is incredible. I honestly, I love being a parent every single day and even the days when the sleep is not great. And maybe Speed is a pretty amazing baby, but he can be, you know, he's a baby. He can get a little fussy sometimes at night. I will say my wife is incredible and she handles like 90% of the really challenging stuff. But I, I pitch in sometimes. I try to be a very involved dad. But I, I do think, and I want to. You're. Are you Gen Z? Are you like, you know, you're Gen Z?

[Isabel Brown]

I'm very, very proudly. The first year of Gen Z. I will wear that as of honor till the day I die.

[Buck Sexton]

You are Gen Z. I think that there is just from my observation that people are now in the culture here in America thinking about family and building families in a more just generally in a very positive way. But also, I'm talking about the youth, you know, the young people now and at a younger age. Like, I feel like there has been a shift toward family, toward thinking at least about family. The numbers I know don't bear this out. The numbers are that we're going down, but I feel like the conversation has changed. Is that, is that wishful thinking on my part? How do you know?

[Isabel Brown]

I think that's a very beautiful and accurate diagnosis of where young people's culture is at in this country. You're right. The numbers are very, very sad when it comes to the state of America's fertility rate that includes just the choice to have children. We are at a 100 year low fertility rate in our country, which is coupled with one of the lowest marriage rates we've ever had in our country's history. That is the legacy and story, sadly, of the millennial generation who was constantly bombarded with anti marriage and anti family messaging. That messaging has gotten so overtly loud and honestly crazy. Like people are actually running headlines like the Los Angeles Times last year just before the election. It is almost shameful to want to have children. Real headline that I think people are starting to see between the lines and read between all of this craziness to realize there is a very clear agenda to make you lonely, depressed and miserable. I mean, for God's sakes, the last Surgeon General of the United States, our top ranking doctor under the Biden admin, actually issued a public health warning that parenting is dangerous to your health. This was real on the record from the federal government because it seems making more people somehow makes you more lonely, which makes no sense, right? But young people are also having this massive revival of faith. And I think so much of that has to do with voices like Charlie Kirk, like the Clay and Buck show here, and so many other people that are Tapping into this spiritual crisis young people have had for several generations now, realizing we have to fight for what is good and true and beautiful in culture way more than we ever fight for politics. And that the cornerstone of that is rev reviving the American family. All of my friends are engaged, married or having babies. My best friend shout out to Savannah, had her baby last night, first baby. And it's just so exciting to see that revival of family all across our country led by Gen Z. I also.

[Buck Sexton]

Think this is maybe a little bit of an aside, but it's, it's related. You know, they've walked back and Bill Gates and others have walked back. Some of the climate change doomerism stuff that's out there and I feel like they owe an apology to, they managed to convince some people this was a real thing. It's hard to think that it could be, but it was real. That climate extinction or climate change extinction was so severe, meaning that if people didn't stop having kids, we would go extinct because we would overstress the resources of the planet. It's a crazy idea, but they convince people of that, Isabelle. And now they're like, yeah, maybe we, maybe we missed the mark on that a little bit.

[Isabel Brown]

Yeah. In case you didn't hear this, because Lord knows the media didn't cover it. Just a few days ago Bill Gates came forward and said, yeah, oops, actually there is no climate crisis anymore. We fixed it. Sorry to have alarmed you that we're all going to die in literally 12 years. I mean, the propaganda is just insanity. But I have to say I'm just so encouraged to see ordinary people, regardless of where you fall in the political spectrum or what your personal deep held values are, realizing that life is meant to be shared with the people that we love. Just a few days ago, the Wall Street Journal came to our house and covered my family on the COVID of the Wall Street Journal about the revival of the American family and young women really tapping into this idea that we can have thriving careers and entrepreneurship and some of the girl boss culture without the toxic corporate element to that. But more importantly, that means nothing if we don't have our children to share it with and a legacy to build upon which had resoundingly positive effects and lots of great response from people. So I'm incredibly excited about this family revival. My daughter means so much more to me than any paycheck ever will. And the response I'm getting, even from young women on the very radical left about this, that they're quitting their birth control. They're deleting their dating apps. They are desperate to find a God fearing husband and wanting to build a family out of the big city and restoring American roots of what the American dream has always looked like. I love to see it.

[Buck Sexton]

Can you joke? Can you just have a little conversation though with some of your female millennial peers? These oversized, like, like dad. They're not even dad jeans. They're. I don't know what they are. These giant jeans that these women are walking around.

[Isabel Brown]

Am I wearing baggy jeans from the 90s right now? Yes. Yes, I am. You know what? I'm all about it. The mom jean has made a return and my postpartum mom body is grateful for it.

[Buck Sexton]

Allie, is she wearing. Am I telling her to shut down the mom jeans and she's wearing them in the studio?

[Isabel Brown]

Oh, they're not like.

[Buck Sexton]

Jeans that I see these young women wearing. I'm like, you might as well be wearing a burka. I'm just saying, this is crazy talk, but apparently some of you think they're comfortable. I'm not a fashion guys. I sit here in a T shirt.

[Isabel Brown]

But you know, it's funny you say burka. I actually saw several burkas in the wild in Washington D.C. a few days ago. So sadly, here in New York, where I am too, I think that will probably be one of the next fashion statements if we don't bring back a classic cut boot cut jean.

[Buck Sexton]

Yeah, I. I'm all about the classic American gene. All right, Isabel Brown, Isabel Brown show. Go check it out, everybody. And Isabel, thank you for being here with us. Great to talk to you. Thanks for coming to hang with the team in New York.

[Isabel Brown]

Thanks for having me back. Merry Christmas, everybody.

[Buck Sexton]

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Sometimes all you can do is laugh. And they do a lot of it with the Sunday hang. Join Clay and Buck as they laugh it up in the Clay and Buck podcast feed on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Ten athletes will face the toughest job interview in fitness that will push past physical and mental breaking points.

You are the fittest of the fit.

[Isabel Brown]

Only one of you will leave here.

[Trainer Games Announcer]

With an IFIT contract for $250,000.

[Steve Hilton]

This is where mindset comes in.

[Trainer Games Announcer]

Someone will be eliminated.

[Buck Sexton]

Pressure is coming down.

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This is Trainer Games.

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Watch it on prime video starting January 8th.

[Isabel Brown]

Then the space hamster flew his hot air balloon all the way to the.

[Buck Sexton]

Bottom of the ocean.

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[Whimsound Announcer]

Every corner of your home this holiday with the new Whimsound Smart Speaker. Get high resolution Audio with a 1.8-inch touchscreen, smart control and modern design in one powerful screen speaker for just 299. From Quiet Mornings to lively holiday gatherings, Whim sound makes every moment sound better and feel better too. Get the gift of the season for the music enthusiast in your life or for yourself Whim Sound Beautifully designed, effortlessly connected. Shop now at Amazon and search Whim Sound that's W I I M S.

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[Buck Sexton]

Now, I mentioned it before, this fraud that has been uncovered in Minnesota, Minneapolis more so specifically, is where it's really located. And it's pretty staggering. Numbers, billions of dollars and it is all revolving around members of the Somali American community. And people are rightly asking questions like, okay, did they really not know that this was going on? Was this complete? This was able to fly under the radar. In fact, Minneapolis Mayor this guy, I will never forget. Of all the moments I actually. Well, I don't know. This is a tough one. Which is the more.

Preposterous memory?

Nancy Pelosi in the BLM era with other members of Congress. I think Schumer was one of them. But Nancy Pelosi kneeling with kente cloth around her shoulders. She actually. Did you remember that these Democrats with kente cloth which is associated with West Africa has nothing to do with anything but.

Comes from Ghana. But that, that was pretty preposterous. Or the mayor of Minneapolis, Jacob Frey kneeling and crying at the casket of George Floyd.

That was a thing that happened. What you don't know this guy. He was a career criminal, died of a fentanyl overdose. I know that legally speaking they said that the officer and they never introduced the actual way that he was trained with a hold. I can't get it all. The point is he had a lot of fentanyl in his system when he died. And yes, technically that officer was charged with murder. They charged that other guy, the other cop who was just there. He just got out a few years. That's horrible. They just to that guy, horrible. He didn't do anything. But you know, racial reckoning have to have to just throw people to the angry mop. Anyway, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey was asked about whether he should have stopped the fraud in the Somali community of Minneapolis sooner. Should this have been figured out? This is what he said plate 21. This was a fraud scheme that robbed taxpayers of $300 million through a program meant to provide children with meals. Fraud that went on for two years.

[Trainer Games Announcer]

Should Governor Wal, when it comes to.

[Buck Sexton]

The fraud itself, should he have known.

[CNN Panel Host]

About this and stopped it sooner?

[Buck Sexton]

I can't speak to the ins and outs of who knew what when, but the bottom line is that fraudsters should be held accountable for their fraud.

That's a non answer and I know that he's going to give a non answer. What's he going to say? I don't really care that the Somalis, Somali Americans stole all this stuff that they did. Their community votes in one big block for Jacob Frey or for, you know, whoever the Democrat is that's going to continue the various gravy trains, continue the perpetuation of these schemes in one way or another. So that's where it is. Looking for ways to save money in the new year, Lock in an unlimited data lifetime price on your cell phone bill. Less than $30 a month. Month $29.95 is Pure Talk's monthly lifetime price for unlimited data. Unlimited talk, unlimited text with a 30 gig hotspot for life. This is Pure Talk's top tier plan. I've never seen them offer a deal this good. Normally $65 a month, it's now 29.95amonth. You're saving over 50% a month every month. PureTalk provides cell phone service on the same towers and same network as one of the best known cell phone service companies. So you're getting nationwide 5G service as good as any. Offer offer. Make the Switch today. Dial pound 250, say Clay and Buck for PureTalk's best unlimited plan for just $29.95 a month for life. Pure Talk's US customer service team can have you switch in minutes. Keep your phone, keep your number and start saving with unlimited for life for less than 30 bucks a month. Dial £250, say Clay and Buck, to switch to my wireless company, PureTalk. Taxes and fees not included, some restrictions applies. See PureTalk.com for details. Welcome back in everybody. Our guest here running for governor of California. He lives in California and when he's hearing us talk about this story of rampant and really disgraceful fraud in Minneapolis, he says, oh, hold my beer, Minnesota. Let me tell you about a little place called California. Steve Hilton is with us now. Mr. Hilton, thanks for coming back.

[Steve Hilton]

Of course. Hey, but great to be with you. What a disaster. I mean, here's the point, right? You look at Minnesota and what's being revealed there. It is disgusting and shocking. But in California, everything is a thousand times worse. First of all, we've had one party rule for longer in California. In Minnesota, it's been three years, in California, 15 years. And it's this one party rule that breeds this kind of corruption and an abuse of taxpayer trust. And then on top of that, we were the first state in California to have a statewide sanctuary policy. We are the home of the open borders insanity. And that ideology is still held deeply by the Democrats in charge here in California. You can see the way they're fighting the President on every aspect of his immigration agenda. And then you look at the fraud that we already know about in California. $20 billion in the pandemic for just the employment department stolen by criminal gangs and people getting checks when they're on death row and all this nonsense. Then you have $24 billion the state auditor revealed lost on homelessness spending that ended up in the pockets of crony nonprofits and all this corruption there. And then you add to that, again, this is official money that shouldn't be being spent. $13 billion this year in the budget from Gavin Newsom for free health care for illegal immigrants that shouldn't even be here in the country. That's just my basic math. You don't even need Tim Waltz level accounting skills. That's $57 billion that we know about. And that's before you get into the rest of the bloated nanny state bureaucracy and welfare system here in California. So that's why this week I did two things. I set up a fraud hotline because a PIP line because you saw in Minnesota so many brave and honest state workers there trying to blow the whistle on all this for years, but being silenced and intimidated by Tim Waltz and the Democrat machine. So I've set up a line, califraud.com for state workers in California to tell us what's going on. And secondly, I've been in touch with Kristi Noemi, who made that shocking revelation at the cabinet meeting this week that half of the visas that they looked at in Minnesota were fraudulent. I said, look, we need that kind of investigation here in California too. I wrote her letter about that. I've been talking to senior leadership at DHS who agree with me that an investigation is warranted. So hopefully we can make some progress on exposing this kind of nonsense right here in California.

[Buck Sexton]

$24 billion spent in California, as you call it, on the homeless industrial complex. I mean, one thing that I remember seeing Is Gavin Newsom, right when he became governor the first time, talking about how, you know, I'm going to bring homelessness down to the lowest rates, and it's gone. It's gone. Nothing but up. It's just the homelessness problem in California has only gotten worse since he has been in office. So what do they spend the $24 billion on?

[Steve Hilton]

Well, I tell you, actually, just to sort of underline the point, I think we're now in the. Was it the 20? I lose track. I think it's the 22nd year of Gavin Newsom's plan to end homelessness in 10 years. I mean, it's just a joke. The money goes, as I said, into the pockets of.

The two big components of what we call the homeless industrial complex are crony nonprofits who pretend to solve the homelessness problem, but actually they're doing work that continues to let it continue without being addressed. So, for example, they're providing what they call permanent supportive housing. That is a euphemism for a home with no strings attached. That costs a fortune. I've got friends who are supporters of mine in the house building industry, building apartments free of all the government nonsense and all the corruption attached to this. Here in California, they can build an apartment for, I don't know, 250, $300,000 a door, as they call it. So that's the unit cost, the cost for these homeless industrial complex apartments, permanent supportive housing, $800,000, 900,000 just now in San Francisco, in the Bay Area, $1 million. So it's four times the cost for exactly the same kind of building. Why? Because it's being eaten up in payments to the other component of it, not just the crony nonprofits, but the crony affordable housing developers, all of whom are massive donors to Newsom and the Democrat politicians, both at the state level and locally, and these massively inflated contracts to build this stuff. And they're running away with the taxpayer money. And meanwhile, the problem gets worse because none of these units have any strings attached. So people we know that 80% plus of people who are homeless, have drug addiction or alcohol addiction, mental health problems, get given these homes with no strings attached, so they end up back on the street, dealing drugs, using drugs. It's just a total disaster, all of it totally corrupt, and we've got to bring an end to it.

[Buck Sexton]

I. Speaking of building, I saw something where I think it was supposed to be a moment of congratulations in Los Angeles county. But Mayor. Mayor Karen Bass, correct me if I'm wrong. They. They're they're applauding themselves because they just approved the first like four bedroom house since the Palisades fire devastated whole neighborhoods, whole areas of Los Angeles. They've approved the four bedroom house to be rebuilt. Is that right?

[Steve Hilton]

Oh, Bug, I'm so glad you mentioned this. I literally was there yesterday afternoon. I walked right past it, made a little video. It will be posting that, I think over the weekend. So here's the deal. They trumpeted the first house fully rebuilt after the fire. What's the truth about this house? First of all, it's not a real house. It's a show home built by developer. No one's ever going to live in it. Secondly, it was all approved and permitted before the fires. The fires. The one thing that they didn't get was a permit for bulldozing what was on the property beforehand. But that took care of itself with the fires. They didn't need the permit. So the whole thing is a farce. And this is what they're trumpeting as a success. And just on the day when Newsom is in D.C. saying we need federal money, Trump's not given us the support that we need. When it was Gavin Newsom nearly a year ago now, who stood there in the smoldering debris of the Palisades fire and told NBC News, I put the video clip out again yesterday to remind people I am developing a Marshall plan, that's his quote, a Marshall plan to rebuild L. A And they can barely do one house. I mean, this guy's a complete joke.

[Buck Sexton]

It's astonishing. We're speaking to Steve Hilton. He's running for governor in California. And I certainly hope you're able to continue to make a lot of noise about what's going on in, in that state, Steve, because it needs help. But I, I also wanted you to tell us your take on this. I'm sure you might, you probably saw this. It got a little overshadowed by some other news stories this week. But I'll just tell, I'll tell you what happened. Governor Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania was asked about his portrayal in Kamala's awful book, 107 Days, which I will tell you just because I got to take a bow for this one. I read, I read so that somebody on this show, because I told Clay, only one of us has to hop on this hand grenade. So I said, I will read, I'll read it. So I read 107 days. It's terrible. Felt like it was 107 days to read it. And she basically said Shapiro was like arrogant and this is in the whole VP race component of her campaign. I bring it up because Shapiro apparently just swatted this down with. She's just trying to cover her behind, and she's an absolute train wreck, more or less. Is that. I know that we, you and I feel that way because we can observe reality. Are Democrats pretty cold on Kamala in California?

[Steve Hilton]

Yes. They don't want to see her back in any kind of race. There was no support for her floating the idea of running for governor. The donors weren't behind it. The activists weren't behind it. They said, please, that's the last thing we want. So that's even in her home state, for running for governor, there was no support for that. And you've got to believe Shapiro on this because we see the pattern with people like Kamala Harris and with Gavin Newsom and with Biden. They're all the same. They're these machine politicians. They don't believe in anything. They'll say whatever is convenient to try and climb that political ladder and further their careers. They have no principles, no beliefs, no convictions, nothing. And that's why they end up saying totally different things, contradictory things all the time. They lie for a living. They are pathological liars. And so on this particular one, you got to assume that Shapiro's right. But there's no appetite for Kamala Harris here in California, just as there isn't across the country if she decides to run for president.

[Buck Sexton]

Are you already seeing though the early efforts by the Newsom for president? Kevin, are you hearing the super fancy fundraisers in Malibu? Are they going to be getting the hors d' oeuvres ready here in short order? Order. What can you tell us about those machinations?

[Steve Hilton]

Well, not so much in Malibu because they haven't been able to rebuild their homes.

[Buck Sexton]

Oh, whoops. Yeah, I forgot about that. Sorry. Somewhere else where they're fancy. Beverly Hills.

[Steve Hilton]

Exactly. You got to build the luxury mansions back before you do that. Look, I don't know. You're definitely. Certainly there's a. There's. He's in a different category to Kamala. They believe he's a winner. They really do. They think that he's the guy. They are lining up behind him. I'm hearing that definitely from the Dohler community in California. They're going to be proud and excited to support him. So, you know, watch out, America. The worst. And as I call him, Mugger, the most useless governor in America, he's coming your way to try and replicate on the national stage what he's done. Here in California, which is the worst result bills in the country, the highest gas prices, highest electric bills, highest unemployment rate, highest poverty rate, highest cost for everything that matters. 50th out of 50 states on affordability. 50th out of 50 states on opportunity. And this guy thinks. Can I just tell you one last story if we have time?

[Buck Sexton]

Yeah, sure.

[Steve Hilton]

Got much attention. This just came to light. It's such a newsome classic. So just nearly seven years ago, in his first budget as governor, he made a huge fuss about the fact that the state's emergency communication system was antiquated analog, total disaster, not fit for purpose. If there are fires or an earthquake, he was going to modernize the whole thing. So here's what was announced this week. In the intervening nearly seven years, they have spent half a billion dollars on this new, essentially new phone line. And at the end of it all, it doesn't work at all. And they've just announced that they're scrapping the whole thing. This guy for half a billion dollars can't even produce a working phone line. He wants to be president. I mean, it's just such a joke.

[Buck Sexton]

I saw that your possible competition here, I don't think she's announced yet, but people on the Democrats. I talk about Katie Porter, but her numbers are looking a little shaky because the more people know about Katie Porter, it seems the less they want to support Katie Porter for governor of California.

[Steve Hilton]

Well, funny enough, I'm just in San Jose today. I was just literally on the debate. It's not really a debate. They call it a candidate forum with Katie Porter and a couple of the others, including billionaire climate fanatic Tom Steyer, who I had great fun pointing out is one of the main architects of the fact that everything's so expensive in California. So she's still in the race. Her numbers are down a little bit, but not collapsed at all. But the new entrant that we're all very excited to see what happens with is our friend Eric Swalwell, who's now running. And so I, as I, as I say often, I can't decide which who I'd rather face in the general election. Katie Porter with the endless opportunity for mashed potato jokes or Eric with the endless opportunity for fang fang jokes. I don't know, I don't know which to choose in terms of my preference.

[Buck Sexton]

Amazing stuff. Thank you so much for being with us. Steve, what's your website for Governor Steve.

[Steve Hilton]

Hilton 4 governor.com F O R Steve Hilton for governor.com We've got to Beat this Democrat machine. So anyway, any help with that? Gratefully received. Thank you, Buck.

[Buck Sexton]

Good to see you. Gotta beat that machine. All right. If you got sports smarts like our buddy Clay, you want to be putting that to good use on the Prize Picks app. On Prize Picks, you can pick from dozens of projections on player performance and choose two or more to test your knowledge. If your projections are correct, you're going to make a lot of money. Get started today on Prize Picks. Download the app. Get $50 instantly in lineups when you play your first $5. With millions of members and billions of dollars awarded in winnings, Prize Picks is the best place to put your player knowledge to the test. Prize Picks is all about the players and their performance. The app is simple to use. Just pick two or more players across any sport. Pick more or less based on their projection and if you're right, you could cash in Prize picks available in 40 plus states including California, Texas, Florida and Georgia. When you download the Prize Picks app, use my name Buck as your code. Get $50 instantly in lineups when you play $5. That's code BUCK. Buck on prize picks to get $50 instantly in lineups when you play $5. Win or lose, you get 50 bucks in lineups just for playing guaranteed Prize Picks. It's good to be right. Must be present in certain states. Visit prizepix.com for restrictions and details.

Keep up with the biggest political comeback in world history on the Team 47 podcast. Clay and Buck highlight Trump replays from the week, Sundays at noon Eastern. Find it on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcast. Guests.

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[Buck Sexton]

Closing up shop on Clay and Buck for the weekend and I want to tell you to make sure you go check out our Clay and Bach Podcast Network if you're listening on one of our wonderful 560 or so radio stations. Let me tell you, the podcast network has additional content that we don't air on the radio show, but you got people like Carol Markowitz, Dave Rutherford.

Chef Andrew Gruel, tutor Dixon, Ryan Gardusky. Great podcasts that you can listen to, cover. And they're all very. They're all very different. They all have their own flavor. You know, it's different stuff when you listen to it. Not just because one guy's a chef, but different stuff to enjoy over the weekends. The weekend's a great time to catch up on your clay and bug potato, so I'd recommend you go the iHeart app. That's what I think you should do. First, get that iHeart app on your phone. It's free. It's great. I use the iHeart app every day. It's one of those front page apps, you know you know, your front page, your phone, that's the ones you actually use. So I got my iHeart app right there. And you can. You can then subscribe. You go to the Clan Buck page. You subscribe, then you'll see all these podcasts there. I also did, for those of you who are old school, original Saturday Squad people from when I was doing the show solo, many, many years ago, I used to do the Buck Brief on national security. I did like 15 minutes of just everything Venezuela that you need to know. So if you want to get really caught up in Venezuela, I could probably do it here in the radio show, too. I don't know. So it might be a little too. Too much on one topic. I'm sorry. That's going to be released, I'm being told now, Monday morning. No, no, no. We got to release that this weekend. We got to release that this weekend. I'll make. I'll talk to the powers that be. Producer Mark. Producer Mark, don't let me. Don't make me send the New York area people pounding at your door to tell you to release it sooner than that, all right? Producer Mark. Darn it. Fine. He says he'll release it this weekend. Thank you, Producer Mark. See? Real time. The voice of the people heard in real time here. Because you were all saying, what. What's going on? All right, we got to talk back from Clay at the FIFA event on the bracket. Cause I know you're all waiting for the soccer stuff. Play talkback. Cc, Our main. All right, analysis of the draw for everybody out there. Us did very well. Should be tremendous favorites to advance to the knockout stage. Open June 12 against Paraguay in Los Angeles. Another game then coming in Seattle, then back in Los Angeles. Alexi Lawless pronounces our draw stellar. So very good day. Very good result here. Hope everybody has a fantastic weekend. I hope Buck is able to keep his toes warm with those warm blankets that he has from Cozy Earth down in Miami. See you all on Monday. Bye. I'm gonna be enjoying my Cozy Earth blankets this weekend, sir. I'm probably gonna be snuggled up with Carrie and Baby Speed and Ginger Spice under my Cozy Earth blanket. It watching a samurai show, which is actually pretty good. Last Samurai Standing, I think, or something. I'm enjoying it. It's subtitles, though, so you got to be cool with that. The US Grouping is usa, Paraguay and Paraguay. Paraguay, whatever. And Australia, Aussies. Yeah, that's good. That's good for us, you know, America. If America can't beat Paraguay, we got Ecuador, too. That might be a little. A little bit trickier. Is that what I'm saying? Am I right? I'm not sure if that's the right grouping or not. Definitely Paraguay, though, because Clay said that. And if anything's wrong, just blame Clay. That's always my. That's always my routine. Have a great weekend, everybody. I'll see you on Monday. So we'll clay talk to you then.

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10 athletes will face the toughest job interview in fitness that will push past physical and mental breaking points.

You are the fittest of the fit.

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Only one of you will leave here.

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With an IFIT contract for $250,000.

[Buck Sexton]

This is where mindset comes in.

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Someone will be eliminated.

[Buck Sexton]

Pressure is coming down.

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