The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show – Hour 3: Trump and Zelensky (Released March 3, 2025)

In this engaging and comprehensive third-hour episode of The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show, hosted by Premiere Networks, Clay Travis and Buck Sexton delve into pressing national and international issues, featuring insightful discussions with their guest, Riley Gaines of Outkick and Fox News. The episode navigates through topics such as legislation protecting women in sports, the dynamics of the recent Trump-Zelensky meeting, and shifting public perceptions surrounding global leadership.

1. The Fight for Women in Athletics

Riley Gaines on Legislative Advances and Challenges
Timestamp: [00:30] - [05:11]

Riley Gaines spearheads the conversation by addressing the ongoing battle to ensure women’s sports remain exclusive to female athletes. She highlights significant legislative strides, including President Trump's executive order aimed at banning men from participating in women's sports. Gaines emphasizes the progress made at the federal level, noting,

“We have the ability to, especially at the federal level. We've seen President Trump sign a beautifully and thoroughly written executive order banning men from participating in women's Sports.”
[01:15]

She further discusses HR28's passage in the House and anticipates a challenging cloture vote in the Senate, reflecting the partisan hurdles ahead. Gaines underscores the necessity for states to enact their own protective measures, citing Minnesota as a pivotal battleground. She recounts a successful rally in Minnesota, praising local leaders like Governor Tim Walz (“Tampon Tim”) and activist Jack Brewer for their relentless efforts to safeguard women's athletics.

2. Legislative Roadblocks and Partisan Divide

House and Senate Dynamics
Timestamp: [03:25] - [05:11]

Clay Travis probes deeper into the legislative process, pointing out the substantial Republican support contrasted by minimal Democratic backing. He notes:

“This bill to protect women and ensure that women's sports are only played by women only got two Democrat votes in the House. I believe Republicans uniformly supported it, but only two Democrats did in the Senate.”
[03:25]

Gaines responds by acknowledging the lack of Democratic support in the Senate, with Senator Manchin being the sole member showing tentative approval. She expresses skepticism about securing the necessary 60 votes to overcome the filibuster, especially given the firm party lines.

3. Riley Gaines' NASCAR Prayer and Public Reactions

Integrating Faith and Politics
Timestamp: [06:36] - [08:43]

The hosts shift focus to a personal anecdote from Riley Gaines about her experience delivering a prayer at a NASCAR event. Gaines shares her intention behind the prayer—to bless President Trump and other leaders with divine guidance—only to encounter unexpected backlash from the liberal audience. She states:

“The backlash is just amazing to me. And NASCAR... the response that I received from the audience was... roars of applause, clapping, all the things.”
[07:05]

Despite the mixed reactions, Gaines defends her actions by referencing the biblical mandate for Christians to pray for those in authority, clarifying that her intentions were purely spiritual rather than political.

4. NCAA's Response to Executive Orders

Assessing Institutional Compliance and Policy Loopholes
Timestamp: [08:43] - [10:42]

Clay Travis challenges Gaines on the NCAA's stance following President Trump's executive order. Gaines critiques the NCAA for being "spineless" and points out critical inadequacies in their new policy, such as undefined terms like "male" and "female," which allow bureaucratic reinterpretation. She explains:

“The big problem here is it also it resorts to birth certificates as a way to determine sex, which, again, you can change your birth certificate in all but six states in this nation and across the world, for that matter.”
[09:03]

Gaines asserts that the NCAA's policy is incompatible with the executive order and anticipates further criticism from the White House, urging for more robust measures to genuinely protect women in sports.

5. Democratic Party's Commitment to Gender Policies

Future Implications and Party Strategies
Timestamp: [10:42] - [14:30]

The discussion shifts to the Democratic Party's stance on gender ideology in sports. Gaines expresses disappointment with the party's unwavering commitment, suggesting that it stems from deeply held beliefs rather than political maneuvering. She warns of intense Republican campaign strategies against Democrats who oppose protecting women's sports, stating:

“Senator Warnock... voted no on the Lake and Riley act... there are some eyes on Ossoff for sure.”
[05:11]

Gaines also touches upon the political landscape in Minnesota, anticipating that the bill may pass the House by a narrow margin but likely stall in the Senate, reflecting the state's diverse and polarized political environment.

6. Analyzing the Trump-Zelensky Meeting

President Trump's Engagement with Ukrainian Leadership
Timestamp: [16:17] - [38:15]

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to dissecting the high-profile meeting between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Buck Sexton introduces questions from listeners, leading to an in-depth analysis of the interaction.

Hosts' Perspectives on the Meeting
Clay Travis and Buck Sexton express skepticism about Zelensky's approach during the press conference. They critique his informal attire and perceived confrontational demeanor, suggesting it undermines diplomatic decorum. Clay remarkingly questions:

“How are you not going in hat in hand, begging for what you have to receive in order to continue to be able to fight for your country?”
[21:52]

Public Perception and Support for Zelensky
Referencing a CNN poll, Buck highlights a dramatic decline in American confidence in Zelensky:

“Back in 2022, it was the clear majority, 72%... and by 2024, just 48% of Americans say that they're confident that Zelensky will do the right thing when it comes to world affairs.”
[25:57]

This shift indicates waning support and raises questions about Ukraine's leadership effectiveness in the eyes of the American public.

Historical Context and Leadership Comparisons
Clay draws parallels between Zelensky and historical leaders like Winston Churchill and Abraham Lincoln, pondering how language barriers and leadership styles impact international diplomacy. He reflects on the importance of clear communication and maintaining respect during critical negotiations, emphasizing:

“I think that Zelensky... should have known enough about Trump to know that Trump didn't want him showing up the way that he did. So that's misstep number one.”
[23:47]

War Strategy and Ceasefire Negotiations
The hosts debate the feasibility of a negotiated settlement in the Ukraine-Russia conflict, asserting that a ceasefire is the only viable path forward given Ukraine's untenable position militarily. Buck contends:

“This is a war that he can't win. There's no future in which he can win this war and expel the Russian Federation... So it has to be a negotiated settlement.”
[30:01]

They critique Zelensky's reluctance to commit to a ceasefire without additional guarantees, highlighting the impracticality of absolute assurances in warfare.

Trust in International Media vs. Leaders
Clay poses a provocative question about trust in Vladimir Putin versus the American media's portrayal of Russian interference in the 2016 election. He asserts:

“I trust Putin more. I think that Putin was accurate... The idea that somehow he rigged the 2016 election... they gave themselves all Pulitzers for it. The made up Steele dossier... all of it was a lie.”
[28:20]

Buck reinforces this sentiment by emphasizing doubts about the media's credibility in covering geopolitical events.

7. Concluding Highlights

The episode concludes with lighter segments, including listener interactions and anecdotes, such as Kieran Culkin's humorous recounting of winning an Oscar and fulfilling a personal bet. Clay and Buck maintain a balance between serious discourse and entertaining banter, ensuring listeners remain engaged till the end.

Notable Quotes

• Riley Gaines on Executive Orders:
  “We've seen President Trump sign a beautifully and thoroughly written executive order banning men from participating in women's Sports.”
  [01:15]

• Clay Travis on Democratic Support:
  “There are 53 Republicans that are going to vote for this. But in order for it to actually become a law due to the filibuster, we need 60 total votes. Right. So that would mean seven Democrats senators would need to step forward and support it.”
  [03:25]

• Riley Gaines on NASCAR Prayer:
  “The backlash is just amazing to me. And nascar, of course, when I said that, you can imagine the response of the crowd, roaring, applause, clapping, all the things...”
  [07:05]

• Clay Travis on Trusting Putin Over Media:
  “I trust Putin more. I think that Putin was accurate... The made up Steele dossier, Hillary Clinton's campaign, all of it was a lie.”
  [28:20]

Conclusion

This episode of The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show offers a robust exploration of contemporary issues intersecting sports, politics, and international relations. Through Riley Gaines' passionate advocacy and the hosts' incisive analysis, listeners gain a nuanced understanding of the complexities surrounding gender policies in athletics and the geopolitical tensions exemplified by the Trump-Zelensky engagement. The discussion underscores the persistent challenges in achieving bipartisan consensus and the influential role of public perception in shaping policy and leadership narratives.