The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show
Hour 3 – “The Dragon’s Prophecy”
Date: September 5, 2025
Podcast: The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show
Host: iHeartPodcasts
Episode Overview
In this hour, Clay Travis and Buck Sexton take on urgent issues in news and politics, focusing on the recent escalation in America’s fight against drug cartels – specifically, a dramatic kinetic strike against a suspected narco-terrorist boat. The hosts unpack the legal, ethical, and strategic ramifications of using military force against drug traffickers before welcoming author and filmmaker Dinesh D’Souza for an in-depth discussion on his new documentary, “The Dragon’s Prophecy," exploring the biblical and historical dimensions of the Israel-Hamas conflict. The episode concludes with a blend of cultural commentary, listener interaction, and some lighthearted sports banter.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. U.S. Kinetic Strike Against Narco-Terrorists
[01:18–13:08]
- Breaking News: The U.S. conducted a kinetic strike (lethal military force) against a suspected drug-smuggling vessel in the Caribbean. This is the first known instance of the U.S. using lethal force directly against a non-immediate cartel threat.
- Legal Authority:
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth justifies the strike on the basis of national defense, citing 100,000 American deaths per year due to drugs entering through U.S. borders.
- Quote: “We smoked a drug boat and there’s 11 narco terrorists at the bottom of the ocean. And when other people try to do that, they’re going to meet the same fate.” – Pete Hegseth [02:56]
- Game Changer in the Drug War:
- Clay and Buck discuss how traditional methods have failed and the need for "game-changing" action.
- Cartels’ sophistication: Use of submarines and drones has made them formidable.
- Economic Realities: Cartels still profit even if a majority of shipments are seized; scarcity only raises street prices.
- Designation of drug cartels as terrorist organizations alters rules of engagement, allowing more robust military action.
- Debates on Deterrence:
- Will blowing up drug boats deter smugglers? Clay’s wife suggests this new tactic fundamentally changes the risk calculus for traffickers.
- Buck raises an ethical/philosophical question: Is a quick, lethal end more or less deterrent than the threat of a long prison sentence?
- “Does spending 25 years in a US federal prison seem worse to them than maybe just getting blown up and getting it all done at once?” – Buck [09:32]
- Shift in Border Dynamics:
- With human smuggling routes shut down, cartels may double down on drugs for income.
- U.S. resources have shifted from humanitarian/immigration to focusing more intensely on the drug trade.
Notable Quotes
- Clay: “We haven’t driven up the cost of bringing drugs in to the point where it exceeds the profit opportunity from the drug dealer.” [12:08]
2. Fentanyl Crisis and Parental Advice
[14:49–16:08]
- Public Safety Message:
- Clay warns parents and grandparents: many young people are unknowingly dying from fentanyl poisoning, mistaking it for "party drugs."
- Harm reduction awareness: Some partygoers now use test strips to check for fentanyl contamination.
3. Dinesh D’Souza Interview – “The Dragon’s Prophecy”
[21:59–33:32]
About the Documentary
- Premise:
- “The Dragon’s Prophecy” frames the October 7th Hamas attack on Israel as a historical and biblical event, linking present-day events to the ancient Israelites and Philistines.
- Reveals new and graphic footage of October 7th, including exclusive survivor interviews.
Topics Covered
- Media Response and Propaganda:
- Israeli government restricted public release of attack footage, leading to global misunderstanding as mainstream (often left-leaning) journalists reportedly downplayed the severity.
- Left and Right’s Opposition to Israel:
- The left portrays Palestinians as “colonized” and Israel as “colonizer,” drawing false parallels.
- The right’s criticism focuses more on skepticism of foreign entanglement and conspiracy theories about Israeli influence on U.S. policy.
- Quote: “If the Jews could truly control America, maybe they are the master race.” (sarcasm) – Dinesh D’Souza [26:05]
- Archaeology and Identity:
- Film uses biblical archaeology to answer questions about Jewish historical claims to Israel, aiming to settle debates about biblical validity.
- Endgame in Israel-Gaza Conflict:
- Dinesh gives a sober biblical perspective: the conflict may never be fully solved.
- Trump-era approach suggested: prioritize prosperity via cooperation with neighboring Arab states to manage Gaza.
- “If the Bible is correct, this problem fundamentally will not be solved… It will remain a festering sore.” – Dinesh [32:08]
Notable Quotes
- “The left...accepts the premise of the radical Muslims that Israel is the little Satan and America is the great Satan.” – Dinesh [29:07]
- “Japan started it. An unprovoked attack. You know, it’s almost like...you have a home invasion...he murders your wife, he rapes your daughter, he kills your kids, he runs away...he gets into his car, but then he comes out with his own wife and kids, sticks them in front of him and he goes, ‘You can’t shoot because you’re going to have civilian casualties.’” – Dinesh [30:00]
4. Listener Engagement and Cultural Banter
[37:27–41:30]
- Sports Segment:
- Buck seeks Clay’s tennis predictions for Djokovic vs. Alcaraz at the U.S. Open (Buck likes Alcaraz; Clay roots for Djokovic, referencing his vaccination stance).
- Listener Emails:
- Discussion of children’s literature: Harry Potter vs. Chronicles of Narnia, with Clay advocating for Harry Potter as a great gateway to reading.
- Buck shares a personal anecdote about Tom Clancy being his inspiration for joining the CIA.
- Teaser for Next Week:
- Hints at upcoming guest Dave Rutherford (on Seal Team 6 and North Korea reporting).
Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)
- Pete Hegseth (Secretary of Defense):
“We smoked a drug boat and there’s 11 narco terrorists at the bottom of the ocean. And when other people try to do that, they’re going to meet the same fate.” [02:56] - Buck Sexton:
“Does spending 25 years in a US federal prison seem worse to them than maybe just getting blown up and getting it all done at once?” [09:32] - Clay Travis:
“I think getting blown up changes the calculus. That’s my ultimate analysis of the narco terror community.” [12:08] - Dinesh D’Souza:
“October 7th is not an ordinary attack. It’s a kind of a biblical event…exposes the conflict in the light of ancient biblical battles between the Israelites and the Philistines.” [22:24] - Dinesh D’Souza:
“If the Bible is correct, this problem fundamentally will not be solved...it will remain a festering sore.” [32:08] - Lighthearted Banter:
“He was a vax mandate hero.” – Buck on Djokovic [39:16]
“If you need to get them started in something, I think Harry Potter is a pretty good way…” – Clay on kids’ reading [40:21]
“Jack Ryan. I could do what that guy did. That is how...Tom Clancy books.” – Buck on CIA inspiration [40:37]
Important Timestamps
- Legal and Strategic Analysis of Boat Strike: [01:18–13:08]
- Fentanyl Danger for Youth – Parental Advice: [14:49–16:08]
- Dinesh D'Souza Interview – Deep Dive on Israel-Hamas Documentary: [21:59–33:32]
- Sports & Listener Interaction: [37:27–41:30]
Episode Tone
- Direct and analytical during policy and security discussions
- Cultural/historical depth in the D’Souza interview
- Conversational and humorous in sports and mailbag sections
Resources Mentioned
- Dinesh D’Souza’s film:
https://thedragonsprophecyfilm.com
Trailer also linked at ClayandBuck.com
Summary prepared for listeners seeking critical insights and memorable moments from Hour 3 of The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show (9/5/25).