The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

"Team 47 – Vote Matt Van Epps!"

Date: November 30, 2025
Podcast: iHeartPodcasts
Hosts: Clay Travis & Buck Sexton
Guest: Matt Van Epps (GOP candidate, TN-07)
Special Data Segment: Ryan Gardusky

Overview

This episode centers on the crucial upcoming special election for Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District. Clay and Buck make the case for Republican candidate Matt Van Epps, emphasizing the race’s unexpected competitiveness and the significant resources Democrats are pouring in. They warn listeners about the stakes, call the Democrat candidate “radical,” and repeatedly stress the need for Republican turnout. The show weaves political analysis, humor, and urgency, featuring direct phone interviews with Van Epps and political strategist Ryan Gardusky.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Why This Race Matters (03:00–09:00)

• Red District in Play: Despite Trump’s 22-point win here in 2024 and Mark Green’s past victories, Democrats are heavily contesting the open seat after Green’s retirement.
• Democratic Strategy: Clay and Buck say Dems are banking on low Republican turnout due to the off-cycle December 2 election date—right after Thanksgiving.
• Media Involvement: The hosts cite national coverage, especially by The Bulwark and MSNBC, and claim “coastal Democrat money” is flooding the district.
• District Complexity: The district includes parts of wealthy Williamson County, Nashville suburbs, Fort Campbell, and a vast rural swath—making the geographically irregular seat hard to navigate for voters and campaigns.

"They're going right into your kitchen and they're trying to eat your drumsticks, my friend." – Buck Sexton (07:10)

2. Characterizing the Democratic Nominee, Afton Bain (09:32–15:00; 32:53–42:00)

• Portrayed as ‘Radical’: The hosts repeatedly describe Afton Bain as extreme—accusing her of calling to defund and dissolve the Nashville Police, supporting the burning of police stations, harassing ICE agents, and advocating for progressive ideas like gender surgeries for minors and anti-patriarchal rhetoric.
• Bain’s Own Words: They play several audio clips where Bain expresses dislike for Nashville, country music, and traditional family structures, and where she refers to men giving birth.
• Campaign Framing: Clay calls her “bonkers,” comparing her unfavorably to AOC and Kamala Harris, and implies her victory would signal a shift left even in the GOP heartland.

"She makes Kamala Harris seem conservative." – Clay Travis (13:20)
"I don't want children. I want power. And just screaming it at the top of my lungs." – Afton Bain, audio replayed by Clay (36:49)

3. Mobilizing GOP Voters & High-Profile Involvement (06:31–15:30; 41:00–45:00)

• Call to Action: The hosts urge early voting (open through Nov 26) and stress the importance of confirming district lines due to recent redistricting, which split neighborhoods by street and confused even politically engaged locals.
• Public Figures Engaged: Tomi Lahren, Candace Owens, Brett Cooper, and other conservative voices are pulled into the rallying cry—“call the Avengers,” Buck jokes.
• Turnout Warning: They repeatedly allege Democrats are seeking to “steal” the seat purely by out-organizing apathetic GOP voters during the holidays.

“If you're not sure [which district], worst case scenario, show up.” – Clay Travis (08:12)

4. Conversation with Matt Van Epps (20:10–29:25)

• Van Epps’ Pitch: Emphasizes his credentials—West Point grad, combat veteran, business leader, public servant—and paints Bain as a socialist with extreme positions on taxes, police funding, and parental consent.
• Policy Focus: Van Epps pledges to fight inflation, lower taxes, support nuclear/energy independence, defend law enforcement, and protect traditional family values.
• Specifics on the District: He lists all 14 counties, with particular emphasis on turnout in Fort Campbell, Clarksville, Franklin, Brentwood, and the Nashville area. He gives website details for volunteer/donation efforts.
• Election Reminders: Early voting runs through Nov 26; Election Day is Dec 2.

“You must vote to stop this person. And the only way to do it, is to vote to stop her.” – Matt Van Epps (20:14)

5. Political Analysis with Ryan Gardusky (45:47–59:34)

• Turnout Data: Early vote returns show about 19% of 2024 turnout already, with strong numbers both from Democratic Clarksville/Nashville areas and Republican suburbs/exurbs. Southern rural turnout was softer, which Gardusky identifies as critical to watch.
• District History: TN-07 has been solidly Republican for years, despite strong Democratic cores in certain cities.
• 2026 Outlook & National Trends:
  • Democrats show higher enthusiasm in special elections nationwide.
  • GOP's polling advantage on border security is being neutralized as other issues—Medicare, inflation, AI—rise in voter priority, with Dems gaining trust.
  • Michigan's Senate and gubernatorial races will be key bellwethers.
• Miscellaneous:
  • Clay and Ryan riff on movie sequels, airplanes, and Thanksgiving food preferences, providing levity.

“I'm not that worried… It would take, really, a monsoon [Dem turnout].” – Ryan Gardusky (47:10)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Democratic Mobilization:
  "The crazy base of the Democrat Party, the people who have the most fervent Trump derangement syndrome on the planet, they show up for dog catcher races to vote against Trump." – Clay Travis (05:40)

• On District Confusion:
  “Even in my neighborhood, they divide it by street. So some people are represented by one congressman, others by another. It could be—literally—divided in my neighborhood.” – Clay Travis (07:47)

• On Afton Bain’s Comments:
  “She didn't just say she wanted to defund the police. She said she wanted to shut down the Metro Nashville Police Department.” – Clay Travis (10:15)

• Afton Bain on Nashville:
  “I hate the city, I hate the bachelorettes, I hate the pedal taverns. I hate country music. I hate all of the things that make Nashville apparently what it is...” – Afton Bain, replayed by Clay Travis (34:49)

• On Family and Power:
  “The recurring dream I've had is standing up in a cafeteria full of women...and saying, I don't want children. I want power.” – Afton Bain (36:49)

• On the Urgency:
  "This chick is crazy. She should lose 90 to 10 if people show up and actually understand what she's saying." – Clay Travis (42:00)

Timestamps of Important Segments

• 03:00–09:00 – Overview of TN-07 special, why the seat is at risk.
• 09:32–15:00 – Examination of Afton Bain’s record and political stances.
• 20:10–29:25 – Interview with Matt Van Epps: campaign pitch, district reminder, call-to-action.
• 32:53–42:00 – Deep-dive into more Bain statements, analysis of GOP apathy risk.
• 45:47–59:34 – Ryan Gardusky: early vote data, district background, 2026 trends, lighthearted banter.

Overall Tone

• Urgent, Combative, and Humorous:
  Clay and Buck mix a sense of existential political threat with tongue-in-cheek jabs and pop-culture asides. Language is passionate, pointed, and unabashedly partisan.
• Personal:
  Both hosts stress how directly this outcome impacts them—Clay's residency in the district is referenced repeatedly.

Conclusion

For listeners, the show serves as both an alarm bell and a rallying cry for Tennessee Republicans, warning of a Democratic upset in "safe" territory if turnout falters. The Democratic candidate is painted in the most radical light possible, with copious use of her own quotes. The Republican candidate, Van Epps, is promoted as a steady, traditional alternative, with explicit how-to-vote instructions and a heavy focus on urgency: "Go vote; don’t let Democrats steal this seat."

Resource:

• Matt Van Epps Campaign: mattfortn.com
• Early Voting Ends: November 26
• Election Day: December 2