Sunday Hang with Clay and Buck - Mar 30 2025

Summary

Summary of "Sunday Hang with Clay and Buck" - March 30, 2025

Podcast Title: The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show
Host/Author: Premiere Networks
Episode: Sunday Hang with Clay and Buck
Release Date: March 30, 2025

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Introduction

The episode of "Sunday Hang with Clay and Buck" begins with the hosts, Clay Travis and Buck Sexton, exchanging banter about their late-night activities and recent binge-watching of HBO's "White Lotus." The conversation quickly shifts from casual talks to a deeper analysis of the show's cultural implications.

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Discussion on "White Lotus"

Initial Impressions: Buck praises the second episode of "White Lotus," describing it as "awesome" (00:32), while Clay criticizes the first episode as "trash" (00:35). Despite their differing opinions, Clay acknowledges Buck's positive view, hinting at personal growth.

Show Overview: Buck provides a concise summary of "White Lotus," highlighting its murder mystery plot set in a luxury resort, focusing on privileged individuals (00:51). Clay and Buck agree on the show's quality, mentioning that both their wives enjoy it, which adds a personal touch to their endorsement.

Character and Political Analysis: Clay delves into a specific scene where a Trump voter is portrayed sympathetically, contrasting it with how liberals from New York and Los Angeles are depicted as judgy and quick to criticize (05:22). He draws parallels to Woody Allen's "Midnight in Paris," where political figures are mocked to undermine their credibility.

Cultural Shift: The hosts discuss the shifting portrayal of Trump voters in mainstream media. Buck notes that "White Lotus" doesn't mock the Trump voter stereotypically but instead shows her as a successful, educated woman, challenging previous negative portrayals (09:08). This shift reflects a larger cultural change where Democrats struggle to counter the growing support for Trump.

Quotes:

• Clay: "They nailed the dynamic of Democrats for a long time now... but now what it exposed a little more was these libs... don't realize that more than half the country voted for Trump." (10:18)
• Buck: "This is emblematic of a recognition that there are a lot of people like you and me out there." (14:45)

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Listener Interactions

Listener Jeff and Rick: Clay and Buck engage with listener feedback, featuring messages from listeners like Jeff, a truck driver from Missouri, and Rick from Mississippi. The exchange humorously pits Missouri truck drivers against Mississippi truck drivers over opinions on "Axle F," showcasing regional stereotypes (01:30, 02:08).

Listener Rick's Perspective: Rick shares his disagreement with Clay and support for Buck's viewpoint on "Beverly Hills Cop," highlighting diverse listener opinions (02:21). Clay humorously criticizes Rick's stance, reinforcing their banter style.

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Cultural and Political Commentary

Pop Culture Influence: Clay and Buck analyze how shows like "White Lotus" reflect and influence current political sentiments. They discuss how the show's portrayal of Trump voters and liberals mirrors real-life conversations and societal divisions (06:52).

Shift in Media Representation: Buck draws connections to Adam Carolla's observations about the entertainment industry's hidden Trump support, emphasizing the challenges faced by liberal artists in a predominantly left-leaning environment (14:45).

Impact on Relationships: Clay shares personal anecdotes about dating and political differences, illustrating how political affiliations can strain personal relationships (07:53).

Quotes:

• Buck: "There are a lot of people who are working on shows... who are more outspoken politically on the left." (14:45)
• Clay: "If you're in super luxury resort... you try to find out who died." (00:35)

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Confession Segment

In a lighter and more personal segment, Buck shares a humorous "confession" about dreaming of befriending Meghan Markle and engaging in baking through an adult study abroad program. This segment showcases the hosts' camaraderie and willingness to venture into playful, self-deprecating humor (15:47).

Quotes:

• Buck: "I dreamed that I was in an adult study abroad program, and in that adult study abroad program, I became best friends with Meghan Markle and that we like to spend our free time baking together." (16:23)
• Clay: "I think we're at the full on multi million person therapy session stage of the show now." (17:55)

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Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Clay and Buck wrap up the episode by reiterating the significance of the cultural shifts discussed, particularly how "White Lotus" serves as a mirror to societal changes. They emphasize the difficulty Democrats face in opposing the rising support for Trump due to the lack of a strong counter-narrative. The hosts also touch on the evolving landscape of political discourse in entertainment and its broader implications (19:45).

Closing Remarks: Buck humorously contemplates the unpredictable nature of future episodes and the potential directions the show may take, leaving listeners with a sense of anticipation for upcoming discussions (21:57).

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Clay (00:35): "The first episode was trash."
• Buck (00:32): "It was awesome."
• Jeff (01:30): "I took Clay's advice and watched Axle F last night. I thought it was pretty good myself."
• Clay (05:22): "...the liberal from New York and the liberal from Los Angeles on the show are made to look a little like they're being kind of judgy..."
• Buck (14:45): "I found in Adam Carolla mentioned this on the air with his buck... a lot of the people that put these shows on... are actually Trump supporters."
• Buck (17:03): "I was in an adult study abroad program, and in that adult study abroad program, I became best friends with Meghan Markle..."

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Key Takeaways

1. "White Lotus" as a Cultural Barometer: The hosts use the show to explore broader societal and political shifts, particularly regarding perceptions of Trump voters and liberal characters.

2. Political Polarization: Clay and Buck highlight the increasing difficulty Democrats face in addressing the growing support for Trump, suggesting a significant cultural realignment.

3. Media Representation: The discussion underscores how entertainment media both reflects and influences political attitudes, with subtle portrayals that challenge or reinforce stereotypes.

4. Personal and Relatable Commentary: Through listener interactions and personal anecdotes, the hosts connect with their audience, offering humor and relatability amidst serious discussions.

5. Evolving Entertainment Industry: The conversation touches on the changing dynamics within the entertainment sector, where political affiliations may be more diverse and complex than previously perceived.

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This episode of "Sunday Hang with Clay and Buck" provides a comprehensive look into how popular culture, political affiliations, and media representations intersect, offering listeners both insightful analysis and engaging conversation.

Transcript

[Clay]

Sunday Hang is brought to you by.

[Buck]

Chalk Natural supplements for guys, gals and nothing in between. Fuel your [e-mail] Bold, reverent, and occasionally random. The Sunday Hang with Clay and Buck podcast starts now. I'm drinking my Crockett coffee. Buck, I had a late night and an early morning. I was watching White Lotus season two. Sorry, season three episode.

[Clay]

What do we think about that first episode? I think you might redeem yourself here. Fear.

[Buck]

It was awesome.

[Clay]

It was a bad first episode.

[Buck]

Second episode was good. I watched it last night. I have no idea how many of you watched. There have been three seasons. It's a murder mystery on HBO about privileged rich people who go away on vacation and you try to find out who died. That's the story in essence.

[Clay]

I'm glad the second because Carrie and I had that one slated for this weekend. But the first episode was. Was. Was trash. So at least you recognize that. Clay, there's hope for you. You recognize the first episode was trash. So there we go.

[Buck]

I want all of you out there to go to crockettcoffee.com use code book go sign up particularly if you have phenomenal taste, as some of you do not only for coffee, but also for pop culture. Crockettcoffee.com code book. You'll get an autographed copy from me. This is truck driver Jeff, man of the people, Spectacular taste in film. He has sent us a message and here is what he had to say.

[Jeff]

Hey, guys, this is Jeff, a truck driver from Missouri. Just wanted to say I took Clay's advice and watched Axle F last night. I thought it was pretty good myself. I don't know what you were thinking, Buck, but hey, you know, everyone has their own taste.

[Clay]

Well, there you go, Jeff. I. I love you, sir. You're a great American and a patriot. But I think you're off on. I. I think you've hit the wrong interstate on this one. Maybe. Maybe it cut somebody off and they got into a little bit of a wreck because I think you're. You're off off the mark on this one. I will raise you Listener Rick from Mississippi. This is Talkback CC.

[Jeff]

Just have to say I disagree with Clay and 100% agree with Buck at Beverly Hills Cop. The new one was trash compared to the originals.

[Buck]

I First of all, is listener Rick.

[Clay]

Also in a truck? I think he might have also been.

[Buck]

In a truck that we have dueling truck drivers over whether Axle F was good or not. And as I've always said, Missouri truck drivers far more trustworthy than Mississippi truck drivers.

[Clay]

I can't believe he's throwing Mississippi truckers under the bus like this just for Axle.

[Buck]

Missouri. Everybody knows Missouri truck drivers have great taste. Mississippi truck drivers, not so much. Sunday, hang with Clay and Buck.

[Clay]

The cultural shift in is is somewhat apparent here in a, in a few ways. And I mean that in terms of the pop culture shift. There's a show, White Lotus, which I think some of you see, very few of you probably overall watch, it's on hbo.

[Buck]

What percentage of our audience do you think has watched season one, season two or season three of White Lotus?

[Clay]

Oh, 10% or less, I would think probably.

[Buck]

I think that's, I think that's accurate, actually. Hit me in Buck on social. I would be curious if you have watched this because I do think what you're about to say is emblematic of how things have changed pretty substantially.

[Clay]

So there are three women. The, the concept of the show is pretty straightforward. Super luxury resort and then stuff happens, right? If you're in a super luxury resort.

[Buck]

A murder is going to happen. You don't know who's going to get killed at the super luxury resort.

[Clay]

Basically something like, yeah, like there's going to be some extreme events that, that occur. And you get to know these different couples who are in the resorts and they do, they do a good job. Like they, they, the characters are interesting and I think it's a pretty well written show. Kerry likes it, I like it. So thank heavens we can actually agree that it's a good show. But they had a Trump moment on it and I've seen so many. Like, one of the reasons I thought the movie Midnight in Paris was pretty entertaining, except the guy who was always taking shots, if you remember this, the Woody Allen movie, every time he would just bring up Trump and it was, yeah, but every time the guy would bring up Trump, it was, he would get, you know, it was made. It was meant to make him look like an imbecile. You know, he's like, well, I think Donald Trump. Well, this is back in 2016, so this is very early. Anyway, I think that, oh no, it wasn't Trump. It was, maybe it was just Republicans. I think it was just the Republican Party. I can't remember how old that movie is. Now, the point is they introduce among these three, you know, wealthy women who are all life lifelong friends who are in their probably 40s, 50s, late 40s, I would say. And so, so they introduce all these people and then one of them, it comes out is probably a Trump voter and she is not an object of ridicule on the show. In fact, I would argue that the liberal from New York and the liberal from Los Angeles on the show are made to look a little like they're being kind of judgy and a little, little quick on the. Quick on the trigger on this issue. What do you, what do you make of it? Because this hbo, which is a very left wing channel, they were not. I have not seen them do mockery of the Trump voter in this situation in that scene.

[Buck]

We need to get the audio to play for you guys, because I was actually impressed. And again, the general consensus is none of these people are great. You see these characters, warts and. But I thought the way it was being characterized, the New York and the LA women were actually coming off worse than the lady from Texas who had voted for Trump and simply said that she was an independent and sort of shocked her friends from LA and New York in the process. And I bet there are a bunch of you men and women out there that voted Trump in 2024 and you've had conversations just like the one that HBO had on Sunday. I want to play for that for you guys because I do think it's emblematic of a culture shift.

[Clay]

We both watch this show because our wives like the show and it's good enough that we enjoy it. To White Lotus on, on hbo. And there was a scene where these three. You could tell there are three women of means in there. I'd say they're all about 45ish. Right? Maybe that's about 45. Uh, and, and they figure out while they're. And they're in this five star resort in Thailand, which is where the whole show is set, and they figure out. Wait a second, one's from la, one's from New York, one is from Austin, Texas. Now Texas, obviously, Red, but Austin, you never know. This is how the exchange goes. Play it.

[Listener Rick]

I didn't know you went to church. Oh, yeah, we go every Sunday. Yeah, ever since we moved to Austin. Is it like a real Texan church, like with Bible thumpers and. Well, the people are, you know, more conservative than like LA people or like New York.

[Buck]

Mm.

[Listener Rick]

Is that weird for you? Why would it be weird? I don't know. If I was just around a bunch of Texans who voted for Trump, I guess I'd just feel a little alienated. They're nice people, really good families.

[Buck]

Cool.

[Listener Rick]

But do you ever talk politics with them? Sometimes. It doesn't get awkward. Why would it?

[Clay]

Because.

[Listener Rick]

Wait, are you a Republican?

[Buck]

No.

[Listener Rick]

I'm an independent, but Dave is an independent. Since when? You didn't vote for Trump, though, did you? Are we really gonna talk about Trump tonight, Clay?

[Buck]

I just love this whole thing, Buck.

[Clay]

I have had versions of that. Like, that is exactly how it goes. The libs keep digging in, digging a little more. They're a little outraged, but they. They want that reassurance. Wait, wait, wait. I've been. I mean, I've been on first dates where it was like that, except it was. Wait, you work. You work for Glenn Beck. Like that. Glenn Beck. What do you do? You like guns? And I'm like, yes, that's Glenn Beck, and I love guns. And that was the end. There was no second date.

[Buck]

I bet there are hundreds of thousands of people out there listening to us right now, maybe even millions that have had a conversation that is very similar to that, because 12 million more people voted for Trump in 2024 than 2016. A lot of people have come on board the Trump train. And I think women in particular probably are responding to that because you got the la. And let me say this, Buck. This is why I think this is significant. This is probably the most popular show for entertainment people in LA and New York. Would you guess like, everybody in the entertainment industry in those two cities watching this show? Yes. And they aren't playing now, Austin, Texas, not the. I. I think a lot of you out there are like, Austin. They should have.

[Clay]

She should have been from Dallas or, Or Houston. Austin would be. That would throw you off. Yeah.

[Buck]

But again, the vibrate is not perfect. But what I thought was interesting is. And there's a later scene where the women are talking about this other woman and they're, like, gossiping about her. How in the world could she be voting Trump? They're not playing the Trump voter as the cheap laughs, stupid redneck unintelligible.

[Clay]

They're not going. They're not going. Tom Hanks from snl.

[Buck]

That's right.

[Clay]

Where he really. He really just. It was unfunny and took cheap shots. And it. They're not even. It's just pathetic because the cheap shots don't even land. And it just showed that he's living in some alternate political reality. But no, that's. That's. What's so interesting is. Is the Trump voter woman. If you watch this scene, you know, all three of the women are like, you know, they're very attractive, they're very well dressed. Right. So there's no.

[Buck]

They're wealthy, they're very successful, educated women.

[Clay]

But the Trump voter is the most, at least in this exchange. Now there's more episodes to come, and for all we know, she could have, like, a pill addiction and be crazy. You know, this.

[Buck]

And by the way, she could end up being the killer. They could still, you know, the awful Dera range Trump supporter. But.

[Clay]

But they nailed the, they nailed the dynamic of Democrats for a long time now. Think in any social situation, in any, Whether you're in the workplace, whether you're at a, you know, a friend's barbecue, a cocktail party, if they are surprised to find a Trump voter or a Republican, which, same thing now, but in the midst, they think that they're allowed to take some kind of umbrage and put you through some interrogation. Whereas on the other side, it's like, yeah, you voted for Kamala. Like, sorry, you don't have good judgment, but enjoy your burger. Like, we don't care.

[Buck]

Yeah, that's right. That's right. And this reminds me of Adam Carolla. And I guarantee you there's a lot of our listeners in California right now that are nodding along in a big way. What I found in Corolla mentioned this on the air with his buck is that there are a lot of people who are working on shows, the grips, the camera guys, the set builders, who will come up and say privately, like, man, thank you for what you're saying. Like, you nailed it, right? Like, in other words, the people standing in front of the camera oftentimes are. Are more outspoken politically on the left. A lot of the people that put these shows on that make them physically possible are actually Trump supporters. And the other thing about this is, increasingly buck, a lot of people who stand in front of the camera are still kind of hiding, but they're also starting to take, like, that half step out where we mentioned this with, like, comedians. There are a lot of comedians out there that are Trump supporting comedians. A lot of the people that you watch and like, but they don't really want. And I get it. If my job was to talk to a hundred percent of people and make them laugh, I wouldn't want to come out stridently, necessarily on one political side of the equation or not. If I had everybody. This is my argument with Michael Jordan back in the day. Republicans buy sneakers too. Why were you not political? Like, I'm a great basketball player. Why would I want 50% of the population to like me less as a basketball player because of my politics? Doesn't make any sense to me. Um, but I do think this is a super popular show and it is indicative of A major vibe shift. And I don't know how many of you watch it, but I guarantee you, if you're in New York City or LA media entertainment circles, this is probably the show that they watch more than any other. And it struck me on Sunday, it struck Buck, too. We wanted to play that for you. Even if you don't watch it as what the vibe shift can feel like.

[Clay]

You know, you know, five years ago or maybe even two years ago, maybe even six months ago, the Trump voter in a pop culture context on an HBO show would have been, you know, yeah, like, I don't know anything, but I just love America and have my flag. You know, it would have been mockery. It would have been much more likely to be, oh, aren't they. They're right to be outraged that this woman voted for Trump or that, you know, we're led to believe she voted for Trump. Whereas now what it exposed a little more was these libs, these left wingers are living in this delusion where they don't realize that more than half the country voted for Trump. And they probably know a lot of people who voted for Trump.

[Buck]

Not only that, too. Some of you out there always say, I don't know why you watch a show like. Like, I watch lots of shows where people might hate my politics because I think I can appreciate somebody's talent in something while also recognizing that they may not have the same opinion as me. I don't presume that everybody is going to think the exact same as me. Doesn't mean I can't like a movie or a television show or, Or a sport, for that matter. Um, but I do think that this is emblematic of a recognition that there are a lot of people like you and me buck out there. And I bet there's a ton of women who love White Lotus, too, that almost. In fact, I go into my mentions. I bet. I bet you've had a conversation almost identical to what those three women just had at some point over the last eight years. I think huge majorities of the women listening to us right now who voted Trump have had a conversation like that with their girlfriends. I think more women than men.

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[Buck]

Sundays with Clay and Buck. I'm about to make a confession. I understand if you and anyone else out there listening right now can no longer trust me after this confession. I was out late last night. Did Fox Nation with Tommy Lahren, Ben Dominich, and Aaron Perini. I was at the Kid Rock, same place where we were for the election night. Kid Rock, Honky Tonk, downtown Nashville. In fact, I was kidding with Tommy Lahren that she was hosting the show last night. And the last time we did a show there, Pete Hegseth was hosting, and now he is the head of the Defense Department. So Tommy Lahren, in line for a promotion, got back home late, went to bed, and I had a crazy dream. I dreamed that I was in and maybe this is the Hillsdale College continuing learning ads that we're doing. I don't know how this happened. I dreamed that I was in an adult study abroad program, and in that adult study abroad program, I became best friends with Meghan Markle and that we like to spend our free time baking together.

[Clay]

I think this is a nightmare, not a dream. Clay, to be clear, this is like.

[Buck]

I woke up and I was like, my friend Meghan Markle. Like, I mean, why are we not still baking? I legitimately, there's a dream. I'm like, I. I don't know that any of you can trust any of my opinions anymore. If I'm now dreaming that I'm going to be doing adult study classes with Meghan Markle and that we're going to be buddies. So I just try to be honest with the audience as much as I can. Maybe this is connected to me becoming the greatest flute player in the world. Maybe I'm just really in touch with my feminine side now maybe I'm actually gay and I just didn't know it, but I don't know what to say about me becoming best friends with Meghan Markle and adult study abroad program and enjoying baking, which is. You well know, Buck, I've never cooked anything in my life, so maybe it. I don't even know how to explain this.

[Clay]

I think we're at the full on multi million person therapy session stage of the show now, Clay, is this. This is.

[Buck]

Is this what happens when you get old? You stop having like really kind of adventurous, awesome dreams and you're just like, I'm gonna go to an adult study abroad program and I'm gonna get into baking? Like, am I, am I like Tim Walls levels testosterone right now? Am I gonna be doing spirit fingers and leg kicks soon? I don't know. I was, I was. I'm troubled. I was troubled when I woke up this morning. I enjoyed this.

[Clay]

I think we can all say it's brave for you to share it with me and people listening on 500 stations across the country, plus all of our podcast audience. So your fearlessness, Clay, has to be respected irrespective of your flute playing. And Meghan Mark. Meghan Markle baking skills.

[Buck]

I know that there is a new Meghan Markle baking show out. I saw Piers Morgan tweeted that he made it through 10 minutes, so maybe that is also resonating. I'll also say this. I needed my Crockett coffee this morning because I had a late night out in downtown Nashville doing Fox Nation television and the Crockett coffee is coming in handy in a huge way. Go to crockett coffee.com, use code book. But Buck, I will also say I w. I was blown away by how many of our audience we talked yesterday about the culture change and the vibe shift and how everything is altering in many ways. I was blown away by how many people had really interesting takes about the White Lotus show, how many of you have watched it, and how many of you pointed out that while Yellowstone is seen as this sort of epitomization of Western values, Red state America jumped the.

[Clay]

Shark, ran ran the pickup truck into a brick wall in the last season, sorry to tell you.

[Buck]

And White Lotus actually ridicules a lot of the woke universe. Now it is a satirical program, so it is ridiculing lots across the spectrum. But I actually thought more and more after we talked about that conversation about the three women and one of them voting Trump. Is White Lotus actually selling itself to a left wing audience while coding that is sort of subtextually actually embracing much of the critique of left wing audiences and doing it in such a hidden way, in such a subterranean fashion, that a lot of the white liberals don't realize how much they're being ridiculed by a show they love. Just an idea out there for some of you that may want to check this out and tell me whether or not you think I'm crazy, because the more I think about it, that conversation among those three women did not stand alone. And I do think it's indicative of the overall larger vibe shift that we have seen that's making opposing Trump so much more difficult for Democrats overall. They just have no counter narrative.

[Clay]

Well, the America that we have all been living in until very recently with Trump's win has been one in which all Democrats believe that if they were to go with their best friends in the whole world on vacation and find out that one of their best friends since they were in college or whatever, you know, of 20 years considered voting for Trump, that is a mic drop, oh, my gosh, catastrophe moment. Whereas Republicans are just like, whatever, man, let's go to the beach. We just don't have that same. Well, for one thing, I think sense of entitlement and sense of, of being able to determine what other people believe and think. And there is a recognition, I think, now that Democrats have gone too far with this stuff, even seeping into pop culture. Although, as we've said, hopefully the Trump voting mom from Austin, Texas on the show, you know, doesn't storm the Capitol or something in the last episode, you know, we don't know like, you know what I'm saying?

[Buck]

That's true. Yes. Who knows, There could be a major pivot.