The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

Episode: Hour 3 – Trump the Mediator
Date: October 17, 2025
Host: iHeartPodcasts

Overview

In this episode, Clay Travis and Buck Sexton explore Donald Trump's emerging role as mediator in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, unpacking his recent interactions with Volodymyr Zelensky and broader efforts toward a ceasefire. The discussion also touches on the mechanics of negotiation, the shifting global balance of power, energy sanctions on Russia, U.S. military support for Ukraine, and the implications for American foreign policy if Trump leaves office. Later, the hosts are joined by former FBI agent Nicole Parker, who discusses her new book and provides an insider’s view of the Bureau’s internal culture and the ongoing impact of political transitions.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Trump as Mediator Between Russia and Ukraine

[01:34 – 05:44]

• Trump-Zelensky Meeting: Buck Sexton reports that Trump is actively working towards mediating peace between Russia and Ukraine, aiming for a ceasefire and durable agreement. Trump describes the acrimonious relationship between Putin and Zelensky and suggests meetings may require mediation in separate rooms, reflecting the depth of animosity.

  • Trump (quoted): "There's a lot of bad blood with the two presidents... These two leaders do not like each other, and we want to make it comfortable for everybody. So one way or the other, we'll be involved in threes, but it may be separated." [02:30]

• Clay Travis on Mediation Process: Clay reflects humorously on Trump as a mediator, comparing high-stakes international diplomacy to heated divorce mediations where the mediator acts as a go-between, sometimes sugarcoating each side’s extreme positions.

  • Clay Travis: "The idea of Trump as... the ultimate adult in the room trying to mediate this very serious disagreement which has frankly cost hundreds of thousands of lives... and he's the adult... tamping down the emotion as opposed to being the emotional lightning rod, is comedically entertaining."

2. Security Guarantees & International Trust in Negotiations

[05:44 – 07:41]

• Zelensky’s Requirements: Zelensky, in his conversation, insists on strong security guarantees before agreeing to meet Putin, identifying NATO membership and bilateral guarantees with Trump as crucial to Ukrainian confidence in any peace process.

  • Zelensky (quoted): "The most important thing for people in Ukraine... is to have really strong security guarantees. NATO is the best, but weapon is very important... bilateral security guarantees between me and President Trump is very important." [06:02]

• Mistrust of Putin: Buck explains Zelensky's skepticism: any agreement would need robust enforcement, as there is little faith Putin would honor a deal without external pressure.

3. Longevity of Agreements and Respect for U.S. Leadership

[07:41 – 10:17]

• Leadership Transitions: Clay warns that peace agreements brokered by Trump might be short-lived if a Democrat wins the next election, as adversaries like Putin and groups like Hamas may only respect or fear Trump’s decisiveness.

  • Clay Travis: "I am a bit concerned that that's what Hamas is doing in the Middle East... If we got, let's just say it, a President Kamala Harris... or President AOC, do you think that the people of Hamas... or Vladimir Putin is going to fear those Democrat leaders?"

• Trump’s Flexibility: Clay notes the media's error in treating Trump’s positions as static; Trump has shown a willingness to adjust tactics as a negotiator throughout his career.

4. Economic Sanctions & India’s Role

[10:17 – 12:49]

• Trump Claims India Stops Importing Russian Oil: Trump announces that India will no longer buy Russian oil, potentially closing a major loophole in sanctions enforcement, which had allowed Russia to sell at reduced prices.

  • Trump (quoted): "India will not be buying oil from Russia and they've already deescalated... They bought about 38% of the oil and they won't be doing it anymore." [10:17]

• Impact on Sanctions: Clay and Buck discuss how India's purchases have blunted the impact of sanctions; ending this trade could exert real economic pain on Russia.

5. Escalation and U.S. Military Support

[13:04 – 14:13]

• Tomahawk Missiles for Ukraine: Trump mentions the possibility of providing Ukraine with advanced weaponry like Tomahawk missiles but expresses hope that the war will end before such escalation becomes necessary.

  • Trump (quoted): "We need Tomahawks and we need a lot of other things that we've been sending over... Hopefully we'll be able to get the war over with without thinking about Tomahawks." [13:28]

• Buck’s Take: Buck highlights the seriousness of such weapons and Trump's underlying message: military aid is leverage for peace, not just support for ongoing war.

6. Message to Maduro and U.S. Foreign Policy Posture

[21:47 – 22:10]

• Venezuela’s Maduro: Trump responds dismissively to Nicolás Maduro's overtures, sending a blunt warning not to "mess around" with the U.S. (paraphrased and censored for broadcast).

  • Trump (quoted): “He has offered everything. You're right. You know why? Because he doesn’t want to [mess] around with the United States. Thank you, everybody.” [21:57]

• Clay's Interpretation: Trump’s approach is presented as instilling fear and respect among adversaries—a recurring theme throughout the segment.

Guest Interview: Nicole Parker, Former FBI Agent

[24:02 – 37:08]

1. Inside the FBI: Bravery, Betrayal, and Political Intrigue

• Nicole Parker's Book: Parker discusses her new book, The Two FBI’s: The Bravery and Betrayal I Saw in My Time at the Bureau, focusing on the cultural rift inside the FBI between agents committed to impartial law enforcement (FBI 1) and those she describes as politicized actors (FBI 2).

  • Nicole Parker: "I basically represent the voice of FBI1, the solid FBI agents... as opposed to FBI 2, the politically and socially weaponized agents." [25:59]

• Federal Indictments: She addresses recent indictments of figures like John Bolton, arguing that, under the Trump-appointed administration, law enforcement is finally being applied fairly, not as political retribution.

2. Political Shifts and the FBI's Culture Wars

• Comey's Firing: Parker rebuts media narratives of frustration following Comey’s firing, painting instead a split within the Bureau—some agents celebrating, others demoralized.
  • Nicole Parker: "FBI one agents like myself were like, thank goodness. Thank you, President Trump. This is absolutely justified. Get him out of here." [29:29]
  • Memorable phrase: “Comey’s homies” – term describing those loyal to Comey in the Bureau.

3. Concerns Over Future Political Influence and Accountability

• Potential for Backslide: Concerns remain about culture swings within the FBI if future administrations shift political direction, especially regarding “social justice warrior” programs from previous administrations.

  • Nicole Parker: "It cannot be this ping pong... No, it literally has to be apolitical. And lady justice must be blind." [31:36]

• Selective Law Enforcement: Parker recounts internal frustrations over the deployment of FBI resources—comparing the lack of support for her late friend (killed during a child predator operation) with the aggressive tactics used against January 6 defendants.

4. Insider Revelations

• Tip-offs and Internal Dissent: Parker confirms suspicions that CNN was tipped off to Roger Stone’s arrest, and recounts that some agents refused to participate in high-profile political raids, such as on Mar-a-Lago.
  • Buck Sexton: "Did you think that someone in the Bureau tipped off CNN to that raid?"
  • Nicole Parker: "100%." [34:12–34:20]

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Clay, on mediation: “Basically, if the two parties are really angry, one party's like, I hope they die... you just have to basically totally lie to both sides that are furious and angry, and they just want to vent.” [03:31]
• Trump, on adversaries: “Because he doesn’t want to [mess] around with the United States.” (re: Maduro) [21:57]
• Nicole Parker, on FBI split: "It really did feel like an internal civil war... you would think you were working for two different agencies" [29:29]
• Nicole Parker, on tip-offs: “100%. You read in my book, that's not a coincidence.” (re: CNN and Roger Stone arrest) [34:19]
• Nicole Parker, on her late friend: "My friend, right before she died, literally, some of her last words... she's like, this looks like political intimidation." [35:05]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Trump mediating Russia-Ukraine war: [01:34 – 05:44]
• Zelensky on security guarantees: [06:02 – 07:14]
• India sanctions on Russian oil: [10:17 – 11:02]
• U.S. military support—Tomahawk missiles: [13:28 – 14:13]
• Trump’s message to Maduro: [21:47 – 22:10]
• Nicole Parker FBI interview starts: [24:02]
  • FBI’s internal divide, culture, Comey, and law enforcement: [24:37 – 30:59]
  • Selective enforcement and resource allocation: [34:53 – 36:58]
  • Personal story of a friend lost in the line of duty: [35:05 – 35:55]

Tone and Style

The show maintains a conversational, often humorous tone, mixing sharp political insights and critiques with banter between the hosts. Clay and Buck take a direct, sometimes irreverent approach to current events, blending analysis with personal anecdotes and strong opinions. The interview with Nicole Parker brings a more serious, insider perspective on law enforcement culture and reform.

Conclusion

This episode provides a thorough look at Trump’s evolving diplomatic role, the delicate and skeptical nature of high-stakes international mediation, and the realpolitik calculations facing world leaders. The candid interview with Nicole Parker offers a rare window into the culture wars within the FBI, illustrating both the agency's challenges and the struggle for impartiality as political winds shift. The episode is a blend of humor, analysis, and first-hand testimony, making it engaging for listeners keen on politics, diplomacy, and institutional reform.