The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

Episode: "Normally Podcast: Davos, Crime, and Culture Wars"

Date: January 22, 2026
Hosts: Mary Katherine & Carol Markowitz

Episode Overview

In this episode, Mary Katherine and Carol Markowitz ("Normally" sub-podcast hosts) dissect major headlines in politics, culture, and crime, with a special emphasis on the 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos, international relations (especially U.S.-Canada dynamics), shifting crime policies in U.S. cities, and a lighter dive into celebrity family drama. With sharp wit, skepticism towards political theater, and a commitment to "normal takes," the hosts cut through spin to deliver clear insights on hot topics.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. World Economic Forum at Davos: Politics, Tensions & Trump

• Davos Attendance Soars:
  The hosts discuss why attendance at Davos is up, attributing it to heightened geopolitical tension, especially Donald Trump’s assertive rhetoric around Greenland that’s galvanized both European leaders and the U.S. political scene.
  "Attendance very high this year, partly because of Donald Trump’s saber rattling on Greenland, which has energized the European sector to show up at Davos and hear what he has to say." (Mary Katherine, 05:17)

• Gavin Newsom’s “Left Trump” Moment:
  California Governor Newsom, instead of joining other world leaders in pushing back against Trump, scolds his peers for not doing enough:
  "He said... I should have brought a bunch of kneepads for all the world leaders. It’s pathetic. So he’s actually... making him left Trump." (Mary Katherine, 07:41)

• Scott Besant’s Colorful Critiques:
  Referencing venture capitalist Scott Besant’s jabs at Newsom and his critiques of economic double-standards (particularly Europe's ongoing purchase of Russian oil while funding Ukraine’s defense):
  "Europe is still buying Russian oil... some real good economics." (Carol Markowitz, 07:00)

2. Mark Carney’s Davos Speech: American Power, Rules, and Hypocrisy

• Speech Highlights & Critique:
  The hosts analyze Canadian PM Mark Carney’s speech, which laments the breakdown of the rules-based international order and warns that global integration can be weaponized. He romanticizes past American hegemony while decrying its flaws:
  "You cannot live within the lie of mutual benefit through integration when integration becomes the source of your subordination." (Mark Carney, 09:28)

• Host Reaction:
  The hosts are skeptical, calling the speech “Obama-like” but ultimately hollow:
  "People are over the moon because they’re just starved for an Obama-like speech. And this was like... an Obama speech. I will say." (Mary Katherine, 09:51)
  "He said a lot but didn’t really say very much." (Carol Markowitz, 10:02)

• On Canadian Hypocrisy and China Pivot:
  The hosts highlight Carney’s (and Canada’s) inconsistency in criticizing US policies while courting China and benefiting from US defense.
  "From the liberal perspective, is American hegemony... good or bad? Right. It was good and now it’s bad." (Mary Katherine, 10:33)
  "Pivoting towards China seems like the dumbest idea ever when we’re right on their border." (Carol Markowitz, 12:03)

• Washington Post's Caution:
  Hosts quote the Washington Post’s warning on Canada’s China flirtation:
  "Any suggestion that Ottawa and Beijing agree on geopolitical strategy concerning the Arctic is either deeply insincere or worryingly naive." (Mary Katherine quoting, 13:08)

3. US-Canada Dynamics & the Greenland “Play”

• Strategic Interests in Greenland:
  The hosts debate America's interest in Greenland and its strategic value, agreeing on the logic but questioning Trump’s tactics:
  "It strategically makes a lot of sense... Denmark cannot defend it." (Carol Markowitz, 15:26)
  "Even if it’s strategically wise, that bluster is not necessarily the way to get it done… he does not view these things the same way I do." (Mary Katherine, 16:21)

• Canada’s Military Realities:
  "If Canada doesn’t want to be subordinate... they have to militarize… have a giant economy… things they currently do not have." (Mary Katherine, 16:51)

4. Business Sentiment: Davos & Biden-Trump Economic Policies

• Citadel CEO on Regulatory Relief (Davos): Citadel’s CEO describes a “sigh of relief” among US business leaders after regulatory burdens dropped with Trump’s second term, drawing applause at Davos for his candor: "You cannot imagine how painful it was each and every day under the Biden administration to look at what new crazy proposal was being put in place... And to have that literally end on one day, Election day, just gives you so much energy as an offshore to go back and build your damn business." (Citadel CEO, 17:29)

• State-Level Business Outmigration: The hosts highlight the impact of business departures from states with high regulation (like Citadel’s move from Chicago to Florida):
  "When they left, they left a giant gap in the Chicago business community, but also in the philanthropic community." (Carol Markowitz, 19:02)

• Trump’s Impact on NATO Spending:
  NATO Secretary General’s remarks on Trump’s effectiveness in increasing European defense spending echo the sense that unconventional tactics sometimes work:
  "Do you think any of us would have gotten to 2% spending on defense had it not been for Donald Trump?" (Mary Katherine, paraphrased, 19:37)
  "Sometimes, the bluster works." (Carol Markowitz, 20:10)

Crime & Policy: From Minneapolis and Memphis to the DC Metro

1. Memphis Crime Reduction Strategy

• Federal Law Enforcement Collaboration: Memphis saw a sharp drop in serious crime by coordinating local and federal efforts, even from a mayor who initially resisted agencies like ICE and the National Guard:
  "Fighting crime works, it turns out. Having an obvious presence that fights crime brings down crime levels... everyone is in agreement, even those who didn’t want the presence." (Mary Katherine, 24:59)

• Pragmatism Over Ideology: "Democrats are going to oppose ICE no matter what when it clearly works for them to work with ICE... they’re only causing harm to their own people." (Carol Markowitz, 25:46)

2. Washington DC Metro’s “Broken Windows” Redux

• Reclaiming Metro Safety:
  By aggressively pursuing fare evasion (a classic “broken windows” approach), Metro officials have restored public confidence and drastically reduced crime: "In 2025, [the DC Metro] has its lowest crime rate in at least 25 years… they did it by punishing people who broke the law." (Mary Katherine, 27:41)

• Learning Old Lessons:
  "They should like give it a name, like maybe fixing broken windows... That’s what Rudy Giuliani did in New York in the 1990s. And here we are 30 years later with D.C. being like, you know, what works." (Carol Markowitz, 27:41)

• Resistance and Backsliding Elsewhere:
  Despite success, resistance in cities like Minneapolis continues, while Virginia contemplates decriminalizing more behaviors:
  "There’s always this attempt to rewrite history... Every time it works they say, 'Well, that can't be the thing that worked because we don't think that's cool.'" (Mary Katherine, 28:14)
  "What if there were no criminals? Wouldn't that be better?" (Carol Markowitz, 28:58)

Culture & Lighter Topics

The Beckham/Peltz Family Feud: A Celebrity Culture Case Study (32:17)

• Background:
  Victoria and David Beckham’s eldest, Brooklyn, has cut ties with his famous parents after marrying heiress Nicola Peltz, airing grievances on social media—most notably accusing his mother of “inappropriately dancing” with him at his wedding.

• Hosts’ Take:
  Both Mary Katherine and Carol push back on the sensational claims, defending Victoria Beckham’s character and challenging the wisdom of publicized family feuds:
  "I haven’t seen Victoria Beckham dance inappropriately ever in any setting." (Mary Katherine, 34:44)
  "Whatever you want to say about your mom, first of all, don’t take it to the public." (Carol Markowitz, 35:14)
  "It’s also sort of convenient that after having lived the Nepo baby life with your multimillionaire parents... as soon as you marry a billionaire, you’re like, peace, I don’t need you guys anymore." (Mary Katherine, 36:12)

• Universal In-law Drama:
  The story is used as an entry point to discuss more universal family dynamics, with both hosts relating to in-law challenges and the difficulty of merging strong personalities and “family systems.”

Notable Quotes & Moments (All times in MM:SS)

• On Davos and Trump:
  "You can’t be as good as Trump while trying to be Trump... that was a weird comment because they are all kind of attacking Trump mostly." (Carol Markowitz, 07:49)

• On Mark Carney’s Speech:
  "If you care about sovereignty, rule of law, pluralism, liberty, you don’t increase investments in and reliance on the CCP—the Chinese Communist Party. That’s absolutely correct." (Mary Katherine, quoting Rebecca Heinrichs, 14:40)

• Crime & Broken Windows:
  "What works is punishing people for smaller crimes before they go on to commit bigger crimes." (Carol Markowitz, 27:41)

• On Family Feuds:
  "Leave Victoria Beckham alone. Leave Posh Spice alone." (Carol Markowitz, 38:30)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Davos, Trump, and International Relations: 05:07 – 20:38
• Memphis Crime Drop & DC Metro’s Broken Windows Approach: 23:30 – 29:24
• Beckham Family Drama: 32:17 – 38:30

Tone & Style Reflection

The conversation is marked by clarity, humor, exasperation with political media spin, and self-awareness about where their biases have shifted over time. The hosts’ informal but intelligent rapport makes complex headlines approachable—whether unpacking Davos speeches or dissecting the latest celebrity gossip.

Summary Takeaway

This episode balances serious analysis of major world events (Davos, global politics, and crime policy) with incisive, witty commentary and a healthy dose of cultural levity. Whether questioning the motives behind international overtures, examining the pendulum swing of law enforcement policy, or poking fun at celebrity excess, Mary Katherine and Carol Markowitz deliver a "normal take"—grounded, skeptical, and always engaging.