The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

Episode: Weekly Review With Clay and Buck H2 - Cha Cha Change?
Date: November 15, 2025
Podcast Host: iHeartPodcasts

Episode Overview

This episode of The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show dives into the future of cash in America, specifically debating the end of penny production and the cultural shift toward a cashless society. Clay and Buck tackle nostalgia and practicality around coins, explore the impacts of digital transactions, reflect on retail and employment experiences, and discuss the nature of political messaging in the Democratic party. Listener interactions, personal anecdotes, and critiques on shifting norms make for a lively, humorous, and thought-provoking episode.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The End of the Penny & the Coin Debate

• The episode opens with Clay highlighting news that U.S. penny production is ending, sparking a debate on the future of coins.
• Listeners are split on eliminating coins, reflecting societal tensions between tradition and technological advancement (03:09).
• Clay shares statistics on money: "Only about 10% of the dollars in America... physically exist. That's something kind of interesting." (04:37)

Insights:

• Coins (especially pennies) cost more to make than they're worth.
• Transition to a cashless society is happening rapidly, especially among younger generations.
• Buck expresses concerns about loss of privacy with all-digital currency:
  "There are concerns about not having the privacy and the ability to just have currency that the government is not tracking." (05:56)
• Memories of working retail and handling cash are juxtaposed with today's ubiquity of digital payment.

2. The Disappearing Cash Economy: Stories from Retail & Internships

Personal Anecdotes:

• Clay reminisces about working retail at American Eagle and Abercrombie & Fitch, recounting the end-of-day routines of depositing large bags of cash and coins (06:48, 11:36).
• Clay: "If I tried to explain that to my kids, they wouldn’t even understand... it was filled with coins and it was filled with cash.” (11:36)
• Buck discusses unpaid internships and how the culture has shifted toward fairer labor practices, noting the minimal impact of many such internships in the '90s (07:22–09:50).

Memorable Quote:

• Buck: “Your experience of actually working in commerce and capitalism, a much better play for people, and it establishes something of an economic libido. You're like, oh, work harder, work longer, more money.” (07:46)

3. Cash, Crime, and Cultural Shifts

• The hosts touch on pop culture references (e.g., Breaking Bad) and the challenges criminals face dealing with large amounts of cash.
• Buck: "They had so much cash... store it underground in pallets, and rats would eat it... tens of millions of dollars a year lost to rats eating their cash." (12:00)
• Discussion of why the U.S. only prints up to $100 bills—larger denominations facilitate illegal activities (30:13).

4. The Modern Tipping & Savings Culture

• The digital era makes it easier to track tips and transactions, impacting workers who previously relied on unreported cash income (13:17).
• Listener Justin from Arizona shares his family's tradition—saving coins in a fun jar for activities (32:33).
• Buck recalls the satisfaction of cashing in loose change at coin machines during leaner years (32:57).

Notable Quote:

• Buck: "I would tell you it's very satisfying. Very satisfying." (33:29)

5. Listener “Jen” and the Power of Pennies

• A caller, Jen, shares how she saved pennies in secret to pay for a lawyer to leave her husband—demonstrating cash’s unique role in personal autonomy (25:50–28:42).

Notable Quotes:

• Jen: "It was 35 jars of pennies only, and then additional change as well. But it was over $1,000 in just pennies." (27:50)
• Clay: “You’d still be married.”
  Jen: “Probably.” (28:38–28:40)
• Buck likens her perseverance to Shawshank Redemption: "It reminds me of what Andy Dufresne... taking one little piece of dirt at a time, and then he tunnels out." (28:51)

6. The Digital Divide: Old Habits vs. New Realities

• Clay and Buck laugh about being the only ones in their families who still carry cash. They discuss recent occasions they used cash, with Buck noting, "I have cash on hand for church... and tips for delivery guys" (34:14).
• Clay: "I don't remember the last time I got coins... I do not have physically in my possession right now. I don’t think I have any coins." (35:19)
• Buck teases Clay for living “like it’s 1998” given his habits (35:43).

7. Political Messaging: Jasmine Crockett as a Democratic "Messenger"

• The show pivots to political strategy, discussing Jasmine Crockett as a rising, high-impact messenger for the Democratic Party (13:36, 14:39).
• Guest commentator: "Jasmine Crockett is actually what the Democrats should be leaning into... she is the most effective messenger that the Democratic Party has right now, and they need to be using her as a Trojan horse." (14:39)
• Clay questions if embracing such bold, viral personalities is good for the party: "There's almost no consequence for crazy anymore. We aren't crazy enough... you're actually incentivized now to be totally bonkers every day." (16:54)
• Buck proposes an experiment launching a podcast with intentionally crazy, viral takes, tongue-in-cheek, to highlight the incentives in modern media (17:19).

8. Book Recommendations & Lighter Moments

• The hosts briefly recommend favorite historical novels:
  • Buck: "Gates of Fire" by Steven Pressfield
  • Clay: "The Killer Angels" by Michael Shaara (44:00–45:18)
• Thoughts on reading habits: as they’ve aged, they read more nonfiction.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Only about 10% of the dollars in America...physically exist."
  — Clay Travis (04:37)
• "There's almost no consequence for crazy anymore. We aren't crazy enough... you're actually incentivized now to be totally bonkers."
  — Clay Travis (16:54)
• "Patience is a virtue. Be virtuous."
  — Caller Jen (28:48)
• "Coins are one of those things... but I've definitely gone out with a buddy...and get, like, a Chinese all-you-can-eat, you know, $17 with the coins you have together. It's very satisfying."
  — Buck Sexton (33:29)
• "You’re like a time warp, man...this is like 1998 over in the Travis household."
  — Buck Sexton (35:43)
• "Jasmine Crockett is actually what the Democrats should be leaning into..."
  — Guest Commentator (14:39)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 03:09: Debate on eliminating coins and the news about the penny
• 04:30–05:56: How much physical money actually exists; trends in cash use
• 06:16–07:22: Retail anecdotes and generational shifts in money handling
• 12:00–13:35: Drug trade, cash problems, and IRS crackdowns
• 14:39–16:00: Jasmine Crockett as Democratic "Trojan Horse" messenger
• 25:50–28:42: Caller Jen's story of escaping her marriage by saving pennies
• 32:33–33:44: Listener calls on coin-saving traditions and the "fun jar"
• 34:14–35:19: Occasions for using cash and coins today

Conclusion

This episode delivers a lively blend of nostalgia, sharp political observation, economic insight, and humor. By exploring the end of the penny, personal stories about cash, and the changing dynamics of politics and technology, Clay and Buck reflect on both the practicalities and the symbolism of change in modern America—whether it’s money in jars, viral politicians, or old vs. new ways to tip the babysitter. Their banter, listener stories, and eye for the absurd details anchor the show as a fun, thought-provoking ride through current cultural currents.