Podcast Summary: The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show – "The True Story of Thanksgiving"

Date: November 27, 2025
Podcast: The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show
Hosts: Clay Travis and Buck Sexton (with Producers Ally & Greg)
Special Guest Audio & Storytelling: Rush Limbaugh

Overview

In this Thanksgiving special, Clay Travis, Buck Sexton, producers Ally and Greg, and featured clips from the late Rush Limbaugh, revisit the traditions and deeper history of Thanksgiving celebrated annually on the show. Centered on the theme “The True Story of Thanksgiving,” the episode offers Rush’s classic recounting of Thanksgiving’s origins, a reading of George Washington’s first Thanksgiving proclamation, and commentary on how the holiday—and American history—have been depicted and sometimes distorted in modern times.

Key Segments & Insights

1. Opening: Thanksgiving Traditions on the Program

• Hosts Clay Travis and Buck Sexton express gratitude to their audience and introduce a special holiday podcast honoring traditions started by Rush Limbaugh.
• Producers Ally and Greg share the intent: to explore the importance of Thanksgiving for the show and its audience, highlighting classic moments such as Rush’s annual readings and stories.
  • “[Rush] had a couple traditions on Thanksgiving eve.” (Clay Travis, 03:42)
  • “A lot of them were timeless, the stories that he told and why he told them.” (Greg, 03:46)
• They frame the episode as both a tribute and a continuation of these broadcast traditions, especially Rush’s retelling of Thanksgiving's "true story" and George Washington’s proclamation.

2. Rush Reads George Washington’s First Thanksgiving Proclamation

[05:24–11:00]

• Rush Limbaugh delivers the entirety of George Washington’s 1789 proclamation, emphasizing faith, gratitude, and civic duty.
  • “Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God... I do recommend and assign Thursday, the 26th day of November... to the service of that great and glorious being...” (Rush Limbaugh [reading Washington], 05:24)
• Rush highlights religion’s centrality in the founding era, pushing back against modern claims that the founders were largely secular.
  • “How many of you have heard that our founders were not religious?... That is George Washington’s first Thanksgiving proclamation, thanking God in practically every sentence.” (Rush Limbaugh, 10:30)
• Rush critiques contemporary political correctness and speculates on the modern reaction to such a proclamation.
  • “A speech like this or a Thanksgiving proclamation like this, why there would be hell to pay... Imagine Donald Trump reading this proclamation in the name of George Washington...” (Rush Limbaugh, 10:40)
• Hosts Clay and Greg’s reaction:
  • “Put in context of some of what’s happening today, it kind of gives you the chills.” (Clay, 11:00)
  • “It’s amazing that back then they were able to focus on what was really so important...” (Greg, 11:04)

3. The ‘True Story of Thanksgiving’ – Rush’s Annual Retelling

[11:29–25:35]

The Myth vs. The Historical Reality

• Rush explains how popular culture and schools present a sanitized version:
  • “Thanksgiving was about the Pilgrims being saved from starvation... by the loving, good-hearted... Indians. The Pilgrims invited the Indians over for dinner to thank them for saving them... but it isn’t true.” (Rush Limbaugh, 11:36)

The Pilgrims: Persecution, Exile, and Experiment

• Details English persecution that led the Pilgrims to Holland, and eventually to America (the New World) for religious liberty.
  • “The Church of England under King James was persecuting anybody... who did not recognize its civil and spiritual authority. The government was God. The government was the Church...” (Rush Limbaugh, 11:40)
• The Mayflower Compact’s “fairness experiment”:
  • Everything produced was put into a common store, with equal distribution regardless of effort – what Rush calls an early experiment in “socialism.”
  • “They were going to distribute [everything] equally. Everybody would get the same, everybody would be the same... It was a commune.” (Rush Limbaugh, 12:53)

The Pivot to Private Property and Incentive

• Governor William Bradford observed flaws in the system—hard workers’ efforts were diluted, some did little and still received the same as those who produced more.
  • “There were some lazy sloths... just sat around and did nothing all day while the others picked up the slack.” (Rush Limbaugh, 13:22)
• They shifted to a system where people could keep what they produced—a move Rush equates to the birth of American capitalism:
  • “And so they essentially tore up that first contract... And what they did was create a new community based on what we would call capitalism today.” (Rush Limbaugh, 13:30)
  • “The more you produce, the more you got to keep, the harder you work, the greater were the fruits of your labors.” (Rush Limbaugh, 13:39)
• This change led to prosperity:
  • “This had very good success, for it made all hands industrious, so as much more corn was planted than otherwise would have been.” (Rush Limbaugh, 14:18)

Thanksgiving: A Feast of Gratitude for Survival and Prosperity

• The plentiful harvest allowed for sharing with Native Americans, but the “giving of thanks” was to God for survival, perseverance, prosperity, and newly found freedoms.
  • “It is for this that the original Pilgrims gave thanks—not to the Indians saving them, but to God for helping them to survive and thrive in a place none had ever been.” (Rush Limbaugh, 14:55)

The Spread of the American Idea

• Rush credits the Pilgrims’ economic and religious freedoms as inspirational, triggering the “Great Puritan Migration.”
  • “It was so successful, and that’s what they gave thanks for... The word spread, and that began the great Puritan migration.” (Rush Limbaugh, 15:48)

Critique of Historical Narratives

• Complains that modern textbooks, shaped by figures like Howard Zinn, obscure or minimize these details, replacing them with divisive narratives (see also 26:09–end).

4. Rush’s Children’s Books & The Importance of Teaching American History

[25:48–33:18]

• Clay and Greg discuss Rush’s "Rush Revere" children’s books and their significance for young audiences.
  • “Rush later went on to write a whole series of children’s books, the Rush Revere series... he goes into more detail about the Native Americans who helped the arriving pilgrims and what that story actually is...” (Clay, 25:48)
• Rush expounds on why he wrote these books: to counteract what he views as ideological, anti-American tendencies in public education and textbooks.
  • “The greatest illustration... is nobody knows what the Electoral College is for... Because what’s taught now in schools is the United States is guilty of discrimination, guilty of persecution... It does not teach the virtues of America...” (Rush Limbaugh, 26:36)
• He emphasizes these books are for all ages and family reading, and that American history should honor the country’s virtues, not just its faults.

Memorable Rush Quote:

• “We do not have a democracy in that sense... Democracy, pure majority rule, we have protections against such tyranny, which is what that is, democratic tyranny. You can have tyranny with democracy. That’s why the founding of this country... is so, so brilliant.” (Rush Limbaugh, 29:35)

5. Reflections, Show Traditions & Personal Thanksgiving Customs

[33:18–37:10]

• The hosts reflect on Rush’s personal impact and the legacy of “Rush babies” who learned history via his broadcasts and books.
  • “He never had kids of his own, but he raised scores of Rush babies all over the country...” (Clay, 33:18)
• Greg recalls young listeners calling in to discuss Rush Revere and their favorite character, Liberty.
• Clay and Greg exchange family traditions, such as going around the table to share something each person is thankful for.
  • “[We] ask everybody to find one thing that they’re thankful for... and just to share it with everybody.” (Greg, 34:34)
• The hosts talk about in-office traditions, notably the “pull the string on the turkey” game, building camaraderie among coworkers and across departments.
  • “It’s a fun staff game... a turkey hat... with strings... and everyone pulls a string... and there’s something in the envelope. Something good. Something not so good.” (Clay, 35:41)
  • “It’s a good way to bring everybody together because again, it brings everybody from our floor and other floors... and builds some nice camaraderie.” (Greg, 36:29)

6. Closing: Wishes for the Holiday

[37:10–End]

• Clay and Greg offer warm Thanksgiving wishes to listeners and reiterate the importance of tradition, gratitude, and togetherness.
  • “We hope that you have a happy Thanksgiving, a safe Thanksgiving... Watch a little football, eat too much, and don’t worry.” (Clay, 37:25)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “Thanksgiving was to thank God for America, for everything that had happened leading to the founding of America.” (Rush Limbaugh, 13:40)
• “They... set up free enterprise, where the fruits of your labor determined what you got… That’s what they gave thanks for.” (Rush Limbaugh, 14:55)
• “It’s a nice way for sharing… because not everybody... you may see everybody often or maybe only a couple of times a year, but you don’t always have all the details. So to be able to hear somebody tell their story is a nice thing, too.” (Greg, 34:44)
• “He never had kids of his own, but he raised scores of Rush babies all over the country and left such a huge impact on so many that are now adults.” (Clay, 33:18)

Segment Timestamps

• [03:22–04:55] – Opening, traditions, tribute to Rush Limbaugh
• [05:24–11:00] – Rush reads Washington’s Thanksgiving proclamation
• [11:29–25:35] – Rush’s "True Story of Thanksgiving" annual retelling
• [25:48–34:20] – Rush Revere books; commentary on teaching history
• [34:20–37:10] – Personal and show traditions; sharing gratitude
• [37:10–end] – Closing remarks and holiday wishes

Tone

The episode is heartfelt, reverent toward American traditions, and includes both serious historic reflection and light, humorous moments—especially when describing office shenanigans or audience engagement. Rush Limbaugh’s segments blend earnest storytelling with his trademark wit and pointed criticism of modern education and politics.

Final Thoughts

This special edition honors not just the holiday, but its deeper meaning, combining Rush’s classic perspectives with personal stories and traditions from the current hosts and team. Listeners come away with a richer understanding of both the Thanksgiving narrative and the program’s commitment to preserving and passing on American heritage.