The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show
Episode: Hour 3 – We Can't Lose Focus
Date: December 11, 2025
Host: Buck Sexton (solo; Clay Travis absent, traveling)
Guest: Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI)
Episode Overview
In this third hour, Buck Sexton hosts solo, diving into the day's top stories with characteristic energy and skepticism. The core focus is on the persistent challenges facing the U.S. economy, inflation, and the housing market. Buck examines the political implications, the role of the Federal Reserve, and the broader culture wars. Notably, Buck features an extended, insightful interview with Senator Ron Johnson, tackling economic policy, health care reform, and partisan gridlock. There’s also meaningful reflection on the assassination of Charlie Kirk and the social response, alongside listener calls and moments of levity.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. State of the Economy: Inflation, Housing & Political Stakes
Segment start: [02:20]
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Buck frames the economy as America’s most crucial issue, noting widespread concern over housing affordability:
“You can basically afford half the house you could four years ago... This is unsustainable. This is crazy.” —Buck Sexton [02:40]
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Points out:
- Average housing prices up 50-60% nationwide in four years.
- Blames a failure to construct enough new homes, compounded by excessive bureaucracy and state regulations.
- Calls for deregulation and removal of permitting delays, citing Miami’s slow approval process as an example.
- References the Federal Reserve’s slow response and questions its quasi-governmental nature and lack of rapid action on rates.
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Quote:
“Why should you wait months for permits to do things that are totally lawful and you have every right to do to your own property? It's crazy. Multiply it out millions of times and you see the housing crisis.” —Buck Sexton [05:50]
2. White House Messaging on the Economy
Segment start: [04:03], audio clip
- Caroline Levitt, via the White House press secretary, emphasizes “digging our country and economy out of that hole,” insisting economic metrics are improving despite persistent voter pessimism.
- Levitt accuses Democrats of being “the greatest con artists in history” for now claiming to care about affordability issues they created.
- Buck applauds the administration’s focus but critiques slow institutional responses, especially regarding the Fed and housing.
3. The Assassination of Charlie Kirk: Seeking Transparency
Segment start: [07:30]
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Buck updates listeners on the trial of Charlie Kirk’s alleged assassin, calling for full transparency over government proceedings.
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Plays audio of Erica Kirk (Charlie’s widow), expressing heartbreak and outrage at those justifying or mocking her husband’s murder online.
Notable moment:
“You're sick. He's a human being. You think he deserved that? Tell that to my three year old daughter...There's something very sick in your soul and I pray that God saves you.” —Erica Kirk [11:00]
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Buck reflects on the social media dehumanization and the dangers of ideological depravation:
“We have a fight against evil in this country alongside the fight for political sanity...There’s no agree, disagree on whether what happened to Charlie Kirk was a horrific and monstrous act.” —Buck Sexton [14:32]
4. Right-Wing Distraction & Political Sanity
Segment start: [16:00]
- Buck urges conservatives/the right not to “lose focus,” emphasizing the importance of united action over petty infighting:
“I worry that we're taking our eye off the ball a little bit here... We got a country to save.” —Buck Sexton [16:45]
5. Listener Call: Connecticut Zoning Laws
Segment start: [22:14]
- Brian from Connecticut describes how the state’s Democrat supermajority has overridden local zoning to mandate acceptance of apartment developments—alleging political motives to shift voting demographics.
6. Interview: Senator Ron Johnson (WI) — The Economy, Housing, Health Care, and Political Gridlock
Segment start: [23:51]
A. Economic Recovery & Housing Affordability
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Johnson highlights:
- The prolonged impact of dollar devaluation and inflation, much of it irreversible in terms of prices.
- The importance of driving housing supply through permitting/licensing reform—hampered by recalcitrant Democrats.
- Asserts that Democrats prioritize power retention over real solutions.
Quote:
“The shutdown was all about making sure President Trump is not successful. That's how devious the Democrats are.” —Sen. Ron Johnson [25:10]
B. Health Care Reform
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Explains that America’s third-party payer system (insurance/government paying most health costs) fuels high costs and inefficiency.
- Claims that restoring consumerism and free-market competition would reduce prices.
- Praises cash-only surgical centers and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) as prototypes for lower costs.
Quote:
“The solution is consumerism, free market competition. But we are 180 degrees from that... It's about consumers and they would love a competitive system.” —Sen. Ron Johnson [28:00]
C. Legislative Priorities and Trump’s Reforms
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Johnson discusses confirming judicial nominees, continued oversight of pandemic responses (esp. vaccines), and “repairing the damage done by Obamacare.”
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Recommends “Vaccines on Trial” by Aaron Siri for those seeking to understand vaccine policy skepticism.
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On upcoming 2026 races, Johnson stresses the challenge of getting the Republican message past media bias, but praises Trump’s focus on “the right things.”
Quote:
“He (Trump) is a man who loves his country, and he is a man who is just... determined to do what has to be done to clean up the enormous messes left by Biden.” —Sen. Ron Johnson [34:10]
7. Marketplace Optimism: Howard Lutnick
Segment start: [35:15], audio clip
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Lutnick (CEO, Cantor Fitzgerald) predicts strong Trump-era growth:
“This economy... can grow 4%, it can grow 5%. And I think under President Trump, you're going to see it grow.” —Howard Lutnick [35:32]
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Johnson agrees, contrasting Trump’s “real-world priorities” with the left’s focus on “DEI” and cultural controversies.
8. Comic Relief and Listener Talkbacks
Segment start: [41:27]
- Buck engages with listener comments, sharing a running joke about his disdain for “Hamilton” and preferences in firearms, reinforcing the show’s blend of politics and humor.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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On housing & regulation:
"Why should you wait months for permits to do things that are totally lawful... It’s crazy. Multiply it out millions of times and you see the housing crisis." —Buck Sexton [05:50]
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On political divides:
“We are fighting against often... the forces of the dark side, the forces of evil in this country.” —Buck Sexton [14:40]
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On Democrats' motives:
“For Democrats, it's all about power. I wish Americans would understand that.” —Sen. Ron Johnson [25:30]
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On healthcare:
“When you remove consumers and the benefits of free market competition... you're not going to get low prices, you're not going to get better quality, you're not going to get a high level of customer service.” —Sen. Ron Johnson [27:15]
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On the Trump economy:
“If you bring down interest rates and you bring down energy, you're really grabbing people's pocketbooks and putting more money in them.” —Howard Lutnick [35:24]
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Economic Overview & Housing Crisis: [02:20] – [08:00]
- White House Press Secretary Audio: [04:03]
- Assassination of Charlie Kirk & Erica Kirk’s Response: [07:30] – [14:00]
- Political Focus & Cultural Battle: [14:30] – [16:45]
- Listener Call - Connecticut Zoning: [22:14]
- Senator Ron Johnson Interview: [23:51] – [37:34]
- Housing/Economy: [24:23]
- Healthcare: [26:55]
- Judiciary/Vaccines: [31:17]
- Howard Lutnick’s Economic Outlook: [35:15]
- Listener Talkbacks & Comic Relief: [41:27]
Episode Tone & Takeaways
This hour strikes a serious, battle-ready tone: Buck Sexton hammers at the consequences of inflation, regulatory gridlock, and social unraveling, while Senator Ron Johnson calls for a return to free-market solutions and vigilance against entrenched partisan interests. The show also features moments of anger, moral clarity, and dark humor—especially surrounding the assassination of Charlie Kirk—and, as always, a little banter and community spirit through listener contributions. If you missed the episode, you’ll come away with a vivid sense of today’s Republican/conservative frustrations, their preferred policy fixes, and the urgency of “keeping focus” in turbulent times.