Hour 3 - TX Senator John Cornyn

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show – Hour 3 with Texas Senator John Cornyn

Podcast Information:

• Title: The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show
• Host/Author: iHeartPodcasts
• Episode: Hour 3 - TX Senator John Cornyn
• Release Date: July 10, 2025
• Description: Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics, and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.

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Introduction and Disaster Response

Timestamp [00:04] - [00:36] Buck Sexton kicks off the third hour by welcoming Texas Senator John Cornyn to discuss pressing issues affecting Texas and the nation.

Timestamp [00:36] - [03:50]

• Topic: Devastating Flooding in Texas
• Discussion:
  • Senator Cornyn provides a grim update on the recent flooding in Texas’ Hill Country: “...120 confirmed dead. And of course, this happened last Friday. So that number will probably go up” ([00:36]).
  • He explains the sudden overflow of the Guadalupe River, which rose 26 feet in just 45 minutes during the night, overwhelming communities and recreational camps.
  • Cornyn emphasizes the tragic loss of life, including children at camps and individuals celebrating the 4th of July ([00:36]).
  • Buck Sexton inquires about potential technological or systemic failures that could have mitigated the disaster. Cornyn acknowledges the complexity but emphasizes ongoing investigations and dismisses political scapegoating related to staffing reductions at the National Weather Service ([02:29]).

Law Enforcement and Political Rhetoric

Timestamp [04:42] - [06:16]

• Topic: Ambush of Federal Law Enforcement Officers in Texas
• Discussion:
  • Buck Sexton brings up the ambush incident where 11 individuals were charged for attacking ICE officers, highlighting concerns about radical left-wing violence ([04:42]).
  • Senator Cornyn unequivocally condemns the attack: “There is no excuse, no justification for attacking law enforcement officials...” ([04:42]).
  • He criticizes the current Congressional rhetoric, suggesting it has inadvertently sanctioned violence against law enforcement, particularly pointing out Democratic figures like Chuck Schumer and Maxine Waters ([06:16]).
  • Cornyn assures that such acts will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and reinforces the majority American sentiment against such violence ([06:16]).

Border Security and Immigration

Timestamp [06:16] - [07:54]

• Topic: Impact of Border Security Measures
• Discussion:
  • Jim Jordan questions the effectiveness of recent border security measures, noting Texas’ significant burden due to illegal immigration.
  • Senator Cornyn expresses satisfaction with the current state of border control, attributing improvements to stricter enforcement and policies implemented under President Trump ([06:34]).
  • He highlights the relief among Border Patrol agents who can now focus on their primary duties rather than being overwhelmed by the high volume of migrants ([06:34]).
  • Cornyn criticizes the previous administration's handling of detention facilities and immigration policies, emphasizing the necessity of law enforcement focused on border security ([06:34]).

Passing of the Big Beautiful Bill (BBB)

Timestamp [07:54] - [11:09]

• Topic: Legislation Overview and Implications
• Discussion:
  • Buck Sexton inquires about the recently passed BBB, seeking Senator Cornyn’s insights on its critical components and future impact ([07:54]).
  • Senator Cornyn explains the necessity of passing the bill to avoid a multi-trillion-dollar tax increase affecting 62% of taxpayers, debunking claims that it only benefits the wealthy ([08:11]).
  • He outlines key provisions, including tax cuts aimed at the middle class, incentives for businesses to repatriate factories, and measures to stimulate economic growth ([08:11]).
  • Cornyn expresses optimism about the bill’s potential to achieve at least 3% GDP growth in coming years, emphasizing the need for President Trump to effectively communicate its benefits ([08:11], [10:32]).

Texas Senate Race and Political Landscape

Timestamp [11:09] - [15:49]

• Topic: Senate Race Dynamics and Candidates
• Discussion:
  • Jim Jordan shifts focus to the Texas Senate primary, mentioning potential contenders like Ken Paxton and Jasmine Crockett ([11:09]).
  • Senator Cornyn discusses the confidence in his campaign strategy and the historical difficulty Democrats have had in winning statewide elections in Texas ([11:09]).
  • He discourages support for Jasmine Crockett, anticipating a challenging primary due to the political climate and Texas’ voting trends ([12:15]).
  • The conversation briefly touches on the importance of fundraising and public support, especially in light of recent disasters and political tensions ([12:15]).

Disaster Alert Systems and Future Prevention

Timestamp [15:49] - [18:06]

• Topic: Enhancing Disaster Alert Mechanisms
• Discussion:
  • A caller named Greg raises concerns about the effectiveness of current alert systems in notifying residents during sudden disasters, suggesting the implementation of systems similar to AMBER alerts for missing children ([15:49]).
  • Senator Cornyn acknowledges the importance of improving alert systems to prevent future tragedies and expresses openness to exploring potential solutions ([15:49]).
  • Buck Sexton relates this to existing alert mechanisms like truck reversing beeps and tornado sirens, discussing challenges in ensuring public responsiveness without causing alert fatigue ([16:27], [17:00]).

Legislation on Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) in College Sports

Timestamp [22:17] - [26:43]

• Topic: Standardizing NIL Regulations
• Discussion:
  • The hosts delve into the complexities of NIL rights for college athletes, highlighting the need for standardized federal legislation to replace the inconsistent state-by-state regulations ([22:17]).
  • Senator Cornyn outlines the proposed bipartisan bill, emphasizing athletes’ rights to monetize their NIL, work with agents, and maintain privacy ([22:51]).
  • Key components include agent disclosure requirements, NCAA oversight on eligibility and transfers, and a salary cap mechanism to regulate payments ([22:51]).
  • Cornyn expresses confidence in the bill’s passage due to bipartisan support and the collective advocacy from coaches, athletic directors, and conference commissioners ([25:06], [26:43]).

President Trump’s Second Term and Legislative Successes

Timestamp [27:24] - [28:35]

• Topic: Evaluation of President Trump’s Impact in Second Term
• Discussion:
  • The conversation shifts to assessing President Trump’s performance, contrasting it with his first term ([27:24]).
  • Senator Cornyn lauds Trump’s achievements, including successful foreign policy moves like the strike on Iran’s nuclear capabilities and increased NATO contributions ([27:24]).
  • He praises Trump’s energy, work ethic, and commitment to securing the border, attributing these traits to significant legislative successes like the BBB ([28:35]).
  • Cornyn reiterates his optimism for continued economic growth and effective governance under Trump’s leadership ([28:35]).

Potential Congressional Hearings and Investigations

Timestamp [28:35] - [31:28]

• Topic: Momentum for High-Profile Hearings on Joe Biden
• Discussion:
  • Jim Jordan inquires about the possibility of convening primetime hearings akin to the January 6th hearings, focusing on alleged cover-ups involving President Joe Biden ([28:35]).
  • Senator Cornyn acknowledges the potential for such hearings, particularly if a whistleblower comes forward with substantive evidence ([29:07]).
  • He emphasizes the challenges in proving misconduct without concrete testimonies but remains open to holding hearings to scrutinize Biden’s actions and leadership capabilities ([29:56]).

Closing Remarks and Future Discussions

Timestamp [31:37] - [36:58]

• Topic: General Discussions and Listener Etiquette
• Discussion:
  • The hosts briefly touch upon unrelated topics such as public etiquette and proper behavior on airplanes, emphasizing the decline in civility ([33:00] - [36:58]).
  • While informative, these segments are peripheral to the main political discussions and serve as light-hearted content to engage listeners.

---

Notable Quotes:

1. Senator John Cornyn on Flooding:
   • “[...] 120 confirmed dead. And of course, this happened last Friday. So that number will probably go up.” ([00:36])
2. Senator John Cornyn on Law Enforcement Attacks:
   • “There is no excuse, no justification for attacking law enforcement officials...” ([04:42])
3. Senator John Cornyn on the Big Beautiful Bill:
   • “Most of the provisions of this bill that I think people can be very excited about. Number one, not having a huge tax increase on top of 40 year high inflation...” ([08:11])
4. Senator John Cornyn on Border Security:
   • “[...] Border Patrol morale is at an all time high because they are now being allowed to do what they trained to do...” ([06:34])
5. Senator John Cornyn on NIL Legislation:
   • “[...] we allow the entity that governs college sports, and we don't say what it is, but in essence, it's the NCAA to set some rules...” ([22:51])

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Conclusion: In this episode, Senator John Cornyn provides insightful commentary on the recent Texas flooding disaster, emphasizing the need for improved disaster response systems and expressing condolences for the affected communities. He strongly condemns the ambush on law enforcement officers, attributing such violence to irresponsible political rhetoric. Cornyn also highlights the successes of recent border security measures and the passage of the Big Beautiful Bill, projecting optimism for economic growth and legislative progress under President Trump’s leadership.

The discussion extends to the Texas Senate race dynamics, emphasizing the challenges faced by Democratic contenders in a traditionally Republican stronghold. Additionally, the conversation touches on the complexities of regulating NIL rights in college sports, showcasing bipartisan efforts to standardize policies for the benefit of student-athletes.

Overall, the episode offers a comprehensive overview of current political landscapes, legislative achievements, and ongoing challenges, providing listeners with a nuanced understanding of the issues at hand through Senator Cornyn’s perspectives.

Transcript

[Clay Travis]

This is an iHeart podcast.

[Buck Sexton]

Third hour of playing Buck kicks off now. We are joined by Texas Senator Cornyn. Senator, appreciate you making the time for us. The story that is first and foremost in our minds this week is anything you can tell us about updates and what the latest is. With the terrible flooding that hit the hill country in your home state of Texas and all the course thoughts and prayers that this audience has been sharing with the families and the communities affected, what can you tell us, Senator?

[John Cornyn]

Well, thank you for having me on. And yes, it's a very sad time. I think the numbers are now 109 recoveries. Excuse me, it's now 120 confirmed dead. And unfortunately they were then able to account for about another 170 who are missing. Just so your listeners understand this, of course, Guadalupe river there overflowed, went up 26ft in 45 minutes in the middle of the night. But there were in addition to some of the children, the young children at some of these camps like Camp mystic, there were day campers, people who, you know, cast a tent down by the Guadalupe river or had a camper there for the 4th of July and the fireworks. But unfortunately they got swept up in this as well. So 120 confirmed dead, 170 missing. And of course, this happened last Friday. So that number will probably go up.

[Jim Jordan]

What as and I know we're still in the early days of uncovering exactly went wrong, what went wrong. Obviously it's hard to predict anything as it pertains to flooding and exactly when it's going to happen. But I know here, where I live in Nashville, Senator, we had an awful tornado. And you go back and you look and you find out, hey, maybe there could have been a better tornado awareness system in place. Are there better flood related technology that could be applied to help people in a situation like this where it comes through in the middle of the night and maybe people, it seems quite clearly were sleeping and they don't know the severity and how quickly and rapidly the floodwaters are rising until in some cases, unfortunately, it was too late.

[John Cornyn]

Well, that's a very important question and I think there will be a time for us to explore all of that. I know Governor Abbott has added this issue to the special session that will convene later this month in Boston. And of course, we're already starting to look at some of these measures at the federal level too, since we work cooperatively at the state, local and federal level on disaster relief and events like this. But unfortunately, there are always some people who want to make politics out of everything and claiming that staffing reductions at the National Weather Service or some other cut as a result of the department on government efficiency or doge contributed to this. I will tell you that there is no evidence of any of that happening. But it is, I think, fair to ask, and indeed, I think it's necessary for us to ask going forward, what can we do to prevent the loss of life again, if anything, as I said, this flooding occurred so fast in the middle of the night in a way that just it's hard to imagine what could have been prevented it. But maybe there's something we can do in the future.

[Buck Sexton]

Speaking to Senator John Cornyn of Texas and Senator, I also wanted to ask you about a story that if it weren't for the huge story and the tragic story of the flooding, I think would be much more well known nationwide. It also occurred in Texas and it's this ambush, I believe 11 people have been charged so far. Ambush of a federal law enforcement officer and an ICE officer who was hit in the neck. They, they had rifles and tactical gear. And to me, this is a harbinger, unfortunately, I think, of things to come with the way the radical left is going to approach this. What can you tell us about, about that case and about what law enforcement is doing to prepare for more of these radical attacks that are likely to come?

[John Cornyn]

Well, I'm sure you'll agree with me that there is no excuse, no justification for attacking law enforcement officials like these two ICE agents and the police officer in Alvarado, Texas. And I know that a criminal complaint has been filed which alleges that the assailant shot between 20 and 30 rounds from an AR15 style rifle before it jammed. But obviously a whole lot more casualties could have occurred as a result of this, and thank goodness they did not. But unfortunately, I think some of the rhetoric, the irresponsible rhetoric, starting here in Congress, people from Chuck Schumer to Maxine Waters on down have basically sanctioned violence against law enforcement officials. You're familiar with the fact that some of the, some of my colleagues here in the Senate, the Democratic colleagues, have said we need to pass a law that prevents ICE agents from wearing masks. They were the ones who wanted us all to wear masks back during COVID 19. But now when the law enforcement officials are doing their job and trying to protect themselves and their families, they don't want that to happen. So I can't imagine that the, the vast, the overwhelming majority of Americans condemn this sort of attack against law enforcement. And we ought to make clear that there is no excuse for this and it will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

[Jim Jordan]

Texas bore the brunt of illegal immigration more than any state in the nation. Now that illegal immigration has effectively ended, how much difference has it made in Texas? And what are you hearing from people in your state about the border now being shut down?

[John Cornyn]

Well, I think they're gratified that the border is now under control and now the Border Patrol can go back to their job that they were trained to do and that they want to do, which is to secure the border and to protect the country. Given the overwhelming numbers of people that were coming across during the open border policies of the Biden administration, many Border Patrol were doing things like changing diapers, feeding people, transporting migrants and the like just because they were overwhelmed. And we've all, we all remember some of the detention facilities which were jam packed with individuals and what the answer of the Biden administration was to simply parole or to release these individuals and without even a notice to appear for a court hearing in the future. So I will say my constituents in Texas and along the border are as relieved as anybody for this, for President Trump to actually enforce the law. And I know the Border Patrol morale is at an all time high because they are now being allowed to do what they trained to do, what they volunteer to do, which is to secure the port, the border and to protect the public.

[Buck Sexton]

Senator, what can you tell us about the, your, your sense of what is going to happen now that the bbb, the big beautiful bill has been passed? What do you think is most critical that comes from this and what are you optimistic about?

[John Cornyn]

Well, I'm number one, we had to pass that bill because if not we would have seen a multi trillion dollar tax increase on, according to the Wall Street Journal, 62% of taxpayers. So all this propaganda we've heard from the left, from Democrats, that this just advantaged billionaires and millionaires is just not true. And it's shocking to me how easily people lie with impunity here in the nation's capital. But it's become sort of coin of the realm of and they are just, they can't be shamed into stopping it. So we just need to combat that with the truth. And there's a lot of provisions of this bill that I think people can be very excited about. Number one, not having a huge tax increase on top of 40 year high inflation as a result of Biden nomics. The standard of living of Texans and Americans had gone down because of this hidden Tax of inflation and a tax increase is the last thing they need. But President Trump made clear he wanted to extend the benefits of these tax cuts to people who work for Wade for tips and who worked overtime. So this is truly a middle class tax cut. And I believe it will stimulate the economy and economic growth in a way that will create a lot of new jobs. It will bring a lot of companies who built factories overseas, bring them back home and create a lot of good, well paying jobs here. I'm very optimistic about it, but it really can't be viewed in isolation. I think it's part of a larger package of economic reforms that President Trump is committed to that's going to see the economy take off. And right now we're hoping to see at least 3% growth in the economy, GDP in coming years. We made a lot of these provisions permanent, including expensing with new equipment and bonus depreciation for small businesses. So I'm very optimistic about it. But obviously we got to go out and tell the story and we need the guy with the best megaphone, the president, to get out there and help us because people, when he speaks, people listen.

[Jim Jordan]

I know. Last question for you, Senator. I know you're in the middle now of the primary process. I know it's going to be still a ways out. You've got a contender on at least one contender on your side of the aisle in Ken Paxton. I don't know if you saw this, but Jasmine Crockett on the Democrat side is potentially considering throwing her hat in the ring. What can you tell us about the, about the Senate race right now? And you just mentioned President Trump. Do you think he is going to weigh in in the primary? Do you expect him to stay out? How is this going to play out in your mind?

[John Cornyn]

Well, when I saw Jasmine Crockett was a leading candidate in a Democratic primary, I wanted to say run, Jasmine, run. But so I don't know who's going to get in the race. There may be more people in the Republican primary than the race is pretty quick. I mean, the election's on March 3rd, so we're the earliest one in the nation. But I've run a number of races in the past. We know what to do and I'm confident of the outcome. But Democrats are hoping, just hoping that the attorney general is successful because he's probably the only Republican that a Democrat could beat in the general election. And because of all of his many troubles I won't go into right here, but we haven't elected a statewide Democrat for 30 years in Texas. And they're looking to break that winning streak if somehow he's able to squeak out a win in this primary on March 3rd. But I'm determined not to let that happen.

[Jim Jordan]

Senator, we appreciate the time and yeah, run, Jasmine, run. I think there's a lot of people out there that think she would probably be the best possible steward for the Democrat party in the 2020, 2026 Senate race. Appreciate the time, sir. And I want to remind people, everybody out there, we have fundraising opportunities for everybody for the Texas flood victims [e-mail] if you're looking for a good place to donate. Thank you, Senator.

[John Cornyn]

Thanks a lot. Appreciate it.

[Jim Jordan]

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[John Cornyn]

Hey guys. Love you guys. I local truck driver here. So I'm have the ability to listen to it all day long from we love our truckers.

[Buck Sexton]

You guys are rolling with us the whole show. Thank you.

[John Cornyn]

Yeah, to you guys, to Dana Lash and all great programs. But I look forward mostly for you guys. So I love the show. What I wanted to say was I'm not familiar with Texas per se, but here in Florida we have alert systems, AMBER alerts for child children that are missing. I wonder if there's anything in place or could go in place like that for national disaster type events that could help a mitigate or prevent or at least alert larger areas of something.

[Buck Sexton]

Look, it's a very, it's a very good question, Greg. And I think that they're going to look at this and but I'll just point this out, you guys. I know this is going to sound like it's very different, but it'll make sense in a second. You know how when trucks go backwards they beep? Yeah. They make this beeping sound. They've looked into this because still sometimes people get run over by the truck even when it's beeping. And I think you can guess why people get so used to hearing the beeping that and it's so loud.

[Jim Jordan]

The danger isn't there often times too correct.

[Buck Sexton]

Because it's so far away that their brain doesn't process. Oh, maybe there's something actually that's a, that's a real risk here because I'm always. You're hearing that beeping everywhere. Beep, beep, beep all the time. That can be the truth of alerts to you you know, you hear these alerts and if you hear them too frequently, especially about something like flooding in a flood prone area, you know, so then you get into how do you know when it's really the time and you're really telling people and who makes that decision?

[Jim Jordan]

It's a little bit like yes, and, and I think they're going to look into that. And I think it's something again, I mentioned we had tornado sirens here. They go off. And I think it's the most valuable at night because during the day you can assess in some way if the river is coming up. You can see it, you can look outside, you can recognize it. If you're sleeping, even if you're getting alerts on your phone, you may not recognize them. And it can happen so quickly you almost have to wake someone up from sleep. And then the challenge becomes to your point, Buck, sometimes if you do it too frequently, you just presume that it's not an actual danger and you ignore it anyway.

[Buck Sexton]

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[Jim Jordan]

Welcome back in Clay, Travis BUCK SEXTON show Appreciate all of you hanging out with us as we are rolling through the Thursday edition of the program. Join now and by Congressman Jim Jordan, State of Ohio. So many different things going on right now on Capitol Hill. Let's start here. Big beautiful bill gets passed. Was it more dramatic than you expected? Was it about what you expected? What happens now?

[Clay Travis]

No, it was about what I expect. I think the economy takes off. I mean, I Probably. I don't know how many interviews I've done on this issue, but it's like I say all the time, you know, it was a good bill, Clay, because the left hated it. And the left hated it because it actually empowered people, empowered families. Tax cuts for families, school choice for families. Resources, most resources devoted to border security in the history of our country to make sure our border stays secure. And then the work requirements for able bodied adults who currently get your tax money, in the future, they're going to have to work, which is a good thing for the economy, it's a good thing for taxpayers, but most importantly, I think it's a good thing for those individuals.

[Buck Sexton]

What are the most important things that you think we're gonna see now changing in the economy, Congressman, since the bill has been passed? I mean, we talk about tax cuts. That's great. More money in people's pockets, more money for the private sector to let the business of the American people be business. But where do you think we're gonna see some of this in a real life, day to day way, take root and be really helpful to the bottom line of the American people?

[Clay Travis]

Yeah, I think it's just that fundamental point. When you let families, when you let moms and dads keep more of their money to spend on their goals and their dreams, good things happen. That's good for that family, it's good for their community, it's good for their local school, their local business. It's just good for our economy. This was the largest tax cut in history coupled with the largest investment in border security. Those were key items in last fall's campaign. And why the American people, I think, elected President Trump. So I think it's that basic. Now we need the growth because we got a huge deficit, we're running every single year piling up this big debt. We got to begin to deal with that. But step one to deal with all that is to get your economy growing at a faster clip than of course, it was under, under the Biden administration.

[Jim Jordan]

All right. You and I are die hard sports fans. Buck is, I would say, kind of coming along a little bit. He's starting to pepper a lot of sports.

[Buck Sexton]

Wait, wait, wait. Before you ask your real question, Congressman Clay wasn't, wasn't sure that I was going to know how many points you get for a safety in football. Can you believe the disrespect that sometimes I have to brook on this show?

[Jim Jordan]

We played a Jeopardy question for him where the two of the Jeopardy contestants got it wrong and Buck got It right to his credit, but I'll allow you to weigh in.

[Clay Travis]

Yeah, well, no, I figured he would get it right. Everyone knows that. That's. That's two points. But. Except, I guess, a few people on. A few people on Jeopardy. But, yeah, we love sports. I mean, now, I got to tell you, Clay, I shot for me. I'm not the greatest golfer, but I shot an 81 yesterday. So that's a good score for me.

[Jim Jordan]

That's really good.

[John Cornyn]

And it's.

[Clay Travis]

And it's even better when you beat your brother and your two buddies, which we got a chance to sneak out and play a little bit yesterday, because this week we weren't back in D.C. so I'll take that score because I don't normally shoot quite that low, but I'll take that any day.

[Jim Jordan]

All right, so let's dive into this mess, because if you are a sports fan right now, the whole name, image, and likeness universe has been crazy. And for people out there who don't know, just a few years ago, you went from, hey, you get a scholarship to go to college. That's your full compensation. Now you can get basically paid to play. You can also get name, image, and likeness. You guys are working on a bill to try to standardize laws and make these rules consistent. Tell me what you're working on and where you are.

[Clay Travis]

Yeah, we've got legislation. It's actually bipartisan support. The key sponsors are Gus Villarakis from Florida and Scott Fitzgerald, who's on our committee from the great state of Wisconsin. And we try to outline some basic things. We want to make sure we spell out for athletes, you have a right to get nil money. You have a right to work with agents. You have a right to keep that information private. We make sure in this bill that the agents have to disclose. Right now, nobody knows who some of these agents are. They're these kids transfer in every year. So agent disclosure, we put in some guaranteed rights for the student athlete. Now, most of these student athletes already have this, but we want to make sure it's in there. And then probably the key part is we allow the entity that governs college sports, and we don't say what it is, but in essence, it's the NCAA to set some rules and basically say, okay, we're going to give you liability protection. This is the antitrust issue. We're going to give you liability protection so that you can say, here's what it takes to be eligible. You got to maintain a certain gpa. Here's how many years of Eligible. We got kids, student athletes today who are competing like six years. The COVID and everything else, and the red shirts years and everything else. They're doing like six, seven years of competition. So we let the NCAA set eligibility. We let them set the number of times you can transfer. Right now some of these athletes are transferring four, five, six times. And what we're saying is you're going to get one transfer under this, allow them to get one transfer. And then we also put in there this sort of salary cap concept which every sports organization have. And I want to thank you, Clay. I know you've been working on this issue a ton with college, with conference commissioners, with athletic directors and coaches. We're trying not to get too prescriptive, but we think this is the kind of bill that makes sense, particularly after the big decision, the House decision. And then finally there's a few more things where we, where we talk about preempting states. You can't have each state setting up a standard and trying to outdo the other. So that's part of the, part of the legislation as well.

[Jim Jordan]

I've been working on this, you know, because I just think it's important to have a standard set of rules that everybody, I love college athletics. People out there understand this. What is the likelihood? Because some people are going to say, well, Congress, I mean, it's hard to get anything passed. You mentioned that there's bipartisan recognition.

[Clay Travis]

Yeah.

[Jim Jordan]

That this is a mess. And I think anyone who is a college sports fan is nodding along. It is a mess right now. It's a, it's a broken, you know, sort of haphazard system in place. Coaches, players, parents, certainly administrators, everybody. What do you think the chances are that this passes? I know, and I, I'll let you kind of dive in that President Trump has been supportive of trying to get this fixed as well, because he's a big college sports fan. What's the timeframe? What does that look like as you assess?

[Clay Travis]

Well, I think there's a good chance that we can get a pass. I mean, we got Shamari figures, a new member from the great state of Alabama, a Democrat. We got Janelle Biden from Washington. So we got already some Democrats signing on. We think more will do it. And I think it's just a recognition that I use the example. I think the top college wrestling recruit this year is a young man out of Pittsburgh area. And I think the rumors are he's getting like $500,000. So if the top wrestler is getting that, imagine what the quarterbacks are getting paid to go to these top notch big 10 sec universities. I mean, it's a ton of money. There needs to be something done, and everyone understands that. And so I think when you have coaches and college presidents and athletic directors and conference commissioners begin to talk to members of Congress and say, we need something that gives some framework to this, to college sports, something we all love, I think there's a good chance we get the kind of bipartisan support that you don't see a whole lot of these days in Congress. But. But when it comes to college sports, I think you can get it and we'll get something done that I think will be helpful to student athletes and helpful to college sports in general.

[Jim Jordan]

You've been one of the biggest and foremost defenders of Trump for 10 years. I mentioned that. President Trump obviously is a huge sports fan. He's talking about having a UFC fight on the White House lawn, which would be amazing. I bet you'll be there. I'd like to be there. You and I were together at the NCAA wrestling championships in Philadelphia. You just referenced that. When you look at Trump 2.0 and the first six months of Trump 2.0 and you compare it to Trump 1.0, how much different difference is there? And are you blown away like both Buck and myself are at the President's energy and just the efficiency with which they have attacked this new term.

[Clay Travis]

Yeah. And I mean, it's. He's got his team in place around him and key, you know, agencies, cabinet secretaries, and they're just amazing. And you just look at the last. The attack on Iran was in taking out their nuclear capabilities was so successful. He goes to NATO, gets him to ante up more money. So successful, Gets the big beautiful bill passed. So successful. Best border security we've had in who knows our lifetime, probably. And you can just keep going. All the things he's got done. It's truly amazing. And his energy. I called him last night and then I actually went to bed and I woke up this morning and said where? I had a missed call. He called me after 11 last night and then. And you know, he was up early this morning working the phones. I mean, that's just the kind of energy he has. He loves the country. One of the things I always say about him is he, speaking of sports, he totally thinks like an athlete. He hates to lose. He despises losing, which is a great quality. I tell people that's an American quality. And it's certainly a character trait that you want in your commander in chief in Your president and President Trump just has it. So, yeah, I mean, he's off to an amazing start. And I think it's just going to continue to be good things that'll, that'll happen for the country.

[Jim Jordan]

Yesterday we mentioned the idea of primetime hearings surrounding the Joe Biden cover up. I know you paid attention. The doctor took the Fifth Amendment yesterday. We led the show talking about that. Is there any momentum to really kind of put people under the spotlight of a major national hearing, much like occurred with the Jan.6 primetime hearings that Democrats did in, if I remember correctly, the summer of 22 or thereabouts? What kind of momentum, if any, might there be for something such as that?

[Clay Travis]

Yeah, I think, I think that option is certainly on the table with Chairman Comer. There's some things we're looking at in slightly different areas on Judiciary Committee, specifically with the, you know, sort of the auto pen doctor, all that, all that stuff with Joe Biden, I really think it would be maybe the best thing is if you had a whistleblower come forward. I don't know if we're ever going to get that. But that to me seems what we need to really say. Yes, there wasn't really Joe Biden giving the okay on this versus other people. But that'll take a whistleblower coming forward to talk about that. Short of that, I think it's tough to ever prove it. But that doesn't mean you don't have hearings to just highlight how we now, you know, we all saw it at the time, but how we know how just how bad it was when President Biden was in there and his inability, I think, to truly handle the task at hand.

[Jim Jordan]

We're talking to Congressman Jim Jordan. Last question for you, Congressman. Appreciate all the time. You know, I think decently, Cash Patel and Dan Bongino, I know there's a huge flare up. Buck and I have been talking about this all week as to what might or might not be in the Epstein files, all those things. What. And you're not involved in the Department of Justice investigation, so I'm not asking you about that. But what confidence do you have based on your knowledge of the team in Cash Patel and Dan Bongino running the FBI?

[Clay Travis]

I got complete confidence, complete confidence in them. And Pam Bondi and Todd Blanche over at the, you know, Attorney general, deputy attorney general, just night and day compared to what we had with Garland and Ray and that crowd. So no complete confidence. And the latest investigation they've announced in Nakomi and Brennan that has been reported, I mean, I Think this is critically important because never forget what happened with Comey and Brennan and Clapper and these guys in 2016, President Trump wins, and after Election Day, but before Inauguration Day, they all go up to Trump Tower in New York and they brief him on the dossier, knowing at the time the dossier was B.S. they brief him on it so they can leak it to the press and give it and therefore give it some kind of credibility. That's how low they went to go after President Trump. And now Director Radcliffe has people who are saying, oh, this dossier would. Guys are saying what Brennan said in testimony to Congress was contradicted by what they did. So I do think that investigation is critically important.

[Jim Jordan]

Awesome. Appreciate the time, Congressman. Have a good weekend. I know we're not quite there. And keep us updated. Come back on whenever you want.

[Clay Travis]

We will. Take care, Clay. Thanks, guys.

[Jim Jordan]

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[Clay Travis]

Right.

[Buck Sexton]

Whatever it's supposed to be you. Supposed to be me.

[Clay Travis]

Who knows? Close enough.

[Buck Sexton]

Shot today. And Clay and Buck. But Clay, I was gonna let you see set this up because you asked me about this plain etiquette stuff, which I think is unfortunately, maybe I'm just. I'm just old and grumpy now, which is probably true irrespective of how this conversation goes. I think that etiquette in public places is on a steady decline. And I think increasingly the barbarians feel like they can act poorly and then be outraged and intimidate people when anyone tries to say, hey, can you actually be considerate and respectful of those around you? The best example of this is I really think that the speakerphone conversation and public people are winning right now. Like, they should be losing. They should be. If we were in, you know, ancient times, like they would be ostracized from our city state. Like they should be banished forthwith. And yet they increasingly are like, what?

[Jim Jordan]

What?

[Buck Sexton]

It's just like having a conversation. It's not just like having a conversation, actually. You're shouting and we're all hearing this mechanical voice coming up. Okay, so anyway, I could go on this stuff all day, but tell me the situation of the plane, the plain line cutting lady that's getting so much attention, right?

[Jim Jordan]

It's gone, it's gone mega viral. And I don't know if we have a short segment of the conversation, but I think it went mega viral because to your point, there is no sort of common behavior. And I would say on an airplane and everybody who's ever been on an airplane at some point in time, you probably have experienced this. The plane lands, ok? You're allowed to stand up. People who try to rush past you and gain like five rows in overall exiting of the airplane. Earnestness, you get out faster if you don't have a flight that you have to rush to. And if you do, you're being like, hey, I'm so sorry, my flight is going to take off in 10 minutes. The flight's delayed. Could I please go past? And you can talk to people around you in advance. And you can. Everybody kind of gets a sense for that. Sometimes even the flight attendants will say, hey, would everybody stay seated? We've got a few people who have to get to a flight that. But jumping people is infuriating. Don't do it. If you are listening to us, do not walk in front of people in the rows in front of you. It is a savage, indefensible move. But for the limited exception, I said, where you're trying to rush to catch.

[Buck Sexton]

A flight, there's not enough room for everyone to take down their overhead luggage. So people wait and there's not enough room for everyone to stand in the aisle. So you have to be orderly and civilized and allow the people ahead of you to go. You know, I've seen both ends of this. You know, recently I was running late for a flight, and I asked a couple of very kind people if I could cut them in the security line. But I showed them my ticket, and they're like, you are going to miss your flight. Like, you got to get your. Get your butt in gear. And then it's funny because a week later, same thing happened to me. Some guy showed me, and I'm like, yeah, of course you can cut me in the line or, you know, whatever. And everyone in the line, line, let him go because you could prove that there's a need. Same thing with the connection. If somebody has a connection, they have to get. We're all cool with that. But I'm, you know, this is not nom.

[John Cornyn]

There are rules.

[Buck Sexton]

Like, I don't. I don't know why people can't act like they're civilized when they're on planes. It drives. It drives me nuts.

[Jim Jordan]

Don't skip just like when you're waiting in line for a roller coaster. If you actually like fun, unlike Buck, don't skip cut people in the roller coaster line. Producer Ali says, when you're leaving church, don't skip the pew in front of you. Don't jump in line in communion. Just behave like a decent, civilized human being. Wait your turn when the plane lands, making America better and more considerate every single day. We'll be back tomorrow. Thanks for hanging with us on Thursday edition playing Buck.

[Clay Travis]

This is an iHeart podcast.