The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

Episode: Weekly Review With Clay and Buck H1 – Rush Warned Us
Date: October 11, 2025
Host: Buck Sexton (with Clay Travis)
Platform: iHeartPodcasts

Episode Overview

This episode focuses on recent political and legal developments, particularly around the federal government shutdown and the upcoming trial of former FBI Director James Comey. Buck reflects on the functioning of Washington, D.C. during the shutdown, critiques federal bureaucracy, and discusses the precedent-setting prosecution of Comey. The episode also features a throwback to Rush Limbaugh’s warnings about Comey’s political leanings, considerations about crime and public safety, and how these issues connect to public perceptions and future elections.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Government Shutdown & The D.C. “Ghost Town” Experience

(03:09 – 05:30)

• Buck reports from Washington, D.C., noting the emptiness of the city and decreased traffic due to the shutdown.
• He enjoys the freedom of movement, easy parking, and available restaurant tables.
• Raises the critical question:
  “What do we need all these government workers for if everything seems fine without them going to their jobs? I think it's a fair ask.” (05:00)
• Critiques the size and scope of the federal bureaucracy, arguing that the shutdown is unwittingly demonstrating that many government positions aren’t “essential.”
• Tone: Satirical, wryly humorous, but uses the observation to build a case for government downsizing.

2. James Comey’s Trial and “Lawfare”

(08:00 – 19:00, resuming discussion at 21:30)

• Updates on James Comey's scheduled January trial for allegedly lying to Congress and obstruction.
• Notes Comey’s plea of not guilty and points out that the presiding judge was appointed by President Biden [13:26].
• Highlights the argument that Democrats are hypocritical for worrying about the precedent this prosecution sets after years of legal actions against Trump and his allies.
• Buck asserts:
  “They have used lawfare as a tool, as a weapon to ruin lives, to financially drain them, to undermine them, to malign them, to defame them. All of that they have already done.” (14:45)
• Predicts Comey’s likely acquittal, given the jury pool in Northern Virginia, but insists that simply bringing the charge sends an important message that “nobody is above the law.” (18:00)
• Memorable quote:
  “We are not going to just lie down and accept a two-tiered system of justice in this town, Washington, D.C., or anywhere else for that matter.” (18:57)

3. Rush Limbaugh’s Warning About Comey

(23:10 – 24:19)

• Buck plays an archival clip of Rush Limbaugh:
  • Limbaugh reveals that Comey had self-identified as a communist in a 2003 interview, challenging the claim that he’s a “lifelong Republican.”
  • Limbaugh argues that top national security officials under Obama (Comey and CIA Director John Brennan) had communist backgrounds, questioning their current loyalties.
    “No one ever leaves the KGB. Nobody ever leaves.” – Rush Limbaugh (24:16)
• Buck connects this to his argument that ideological bias may linger among such officials, suggesting that the “collectivist foundation” persists beneath their current roles and that Rush was prescient in warning conservatives about Comey.

4. The “Law and Order” Paradigm – Accountability & Fairness

(24:19 – 32:00, resumes again at 42:50)

• Buck stresses the importance of accountability, especially since Comey prosecuted others aggressively (e.g., Martha Stewart) but may now be treated as above the law.
• Ridicules media talking points suggesting that prosecuting Comey "sets a dangerous precedent," calling them willfully oblivious after the numerous prosecutions of Trump and his circle.
• Memorable exchange with a listener:
  “Nobody is above the law, even if you’re 6 foot 10.” (Listener via talkback, 24:45)
• Buck lampoons Comey’s public persona, referencing his book and “lawman” image, and points out that he’s always been more lawyer than true law enforcement.
• Notable rhetoric:
  “So why should this not be a case of what's good for the goose is good for the gander? That's the phrase, right? Yes.” (31:50)

5. Crime, Safety, and Lessons from Abroad

(32:00–40:05)

• Buck compares public safety in cities across the globe—Tokyo, Taipei, Norway—with crime rates in major American cities.
• Argues that “safe streets” are not solely a product of cultural homogeneity—cites El Salvador’s miraculous drop in murder rate (from 103 per 100k to 1 per 100k in under a decade).
• Key insight:
  "El Salvador is pretty much as safe as Taiwan now. Pretty close. You want to explain that one to me? If they can do it, why can't Chicago?" (38:55)
• Claims that the will to enforce the law is the critical factor, not underlying culture.
• Connects this to Donald Trump’s focus on law and order, especially his advocacy for National Guard deployments to high-crime urban areas.

6. Audience Feedback and Humor

(44:17–45:59)

• Takes calls and talkback messages from listeners, sometimes teasing them or taking friendly corrections on analogies (e.g., Superman vs. Iron Man).
• Responds with humor and self-deprecation, showing an easy rapport with the audience.

7. Political Implications: Lawfare, Stockholm Syndrome, and Urban Politics

(45:59–47:57)

• Listener “Joel” suggests that the "Stockholm syndrome" explains why urban voters keep supporting politicians who fail to keep them safe.
• Suggests Trump’s moves to address crime in cities could be transformative, if successful.
• Buck agrees, noting:
  "If Trump is successful, what then? They can't allow him to be successful because people being a lot safer, they appreciate that, there's a real shift that can happen." (47:16)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “What do we need all these government workers for if everything seems fine without them going to their jobs? I think it's a fair ask.” – Buck Sexton, (05:00)
• “We are not going to just lie down and accept a two-tiered system of justice in this town, Washington, D.C., or anywhere else for that matter.” – Buck Sexton, (18:57)
• Rush Limbaugh (archive): “James Comey used to be a Communist…under Obama, the CIA director and the FBI director both had histories of not just flirtation, but serious immersion into communism.” – Rush Limbaugh, (23:24)
• Listener: “Nobody is above the law, even if you’re 6 foot 10.” (24:45)
• “El Salvador is pretty much as safe as Taiwan now. Pretty close. You want to explain that one to me? If they can do it, why can't Chicago?” – Buck Sexton, (38:55)
• “If Trump is successful, what then? They can't allow him to be successful because people being a lot safer, they appreciate that, there's a real shift that can happen.” – Buck Sexton, (47:16)

Important Timestamps

• 03:09 Buck on shutdown D.C. – the “ghost town” experience and thoughts on federal bureaucracy
• 13:26 Breaking news: Comey pleads not guilty
• 14:45 Critique of Democrats’ “precedent” argument—a rundown of "lawfare" against Trump
• 18:00 Prediction: Comey likely acquitted, but the importance of the charges as a message
• 23:10 Rush Limbaugh on James Comey’s political background
• 24:45 Listener call: “Nobody is above the law, even if you’re 6 foot 10”
• 38:55 Comparing El Salvador and U.S. cities: “If they can do it, why can't Chicago?”
• 47:16 On the political implications if Trump is perceived as successful on crime

Tone & Style

• The hosts mix serious political analysis with humor and a conversational, sometimes satirical tone.
• Openly conservative and combative toward political opponents, particularly the “far left.”
• Engages listeners directly, responding to calls and talkbacks.
• Uses pop culture references, analogies, and witty banter to underscore points.

Summary for the Uninitiated

In this episode, Buck Sexton (and briefly, Clay Travis) frame the ongoing government shutdown as an unintended demonstration of government excess, question the necessity of a bloated federal bureaucracy, and highlight how life in D.C. improves without the “swamp” in action. The episode transitions to a deep dive into the James Comey trial, arguing that simply charging him restores some balance in a justice system previously weaponized against Trump and his allies. Using historical warning from Rush Limbaugh, Buck casts Comey and other senior officials as permanent ideologues, not neutral bureaucrats.

The show then explores questions of public safety, contrasting crime-ridden U.S. cities with international examples like Taiwan and El Salvador to argue that rapid improvements are possible with political will. Listeners’ contributions bolster the discussion, and the hour wraps up with reflections on the coming political battles, particularly around Trump, lawfare, and the consequences of true law-and-order governance.