In Hour 2 of the Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show, Clay and Buck focus heavily on the 2026 midterm elections, President Donald Trump’s campaign push for Republican candidates, the economy, inflation, energy prices, the battle for control of the U.S. Senate, and the long-term importance of the Supreme Court. With Election Day approaching, they discuss Trump’s campaign appearance in Grand Island, Nebraska, and his effort to turn out Republican voters in states he previously carried. After some lighthearted conversation about Nebraska, New York, “flyover country,” and the hosts’ travels around America, they analyze Trump’s midterm message centered on lower taxes, economic growth, border security, illegal immigration, crime, farmers and ranchers, and putting more money in Americans’ pockets. Clay and Buck argue that the political challenge for Republicans is acknowledging voters’ continued frustration with the cost of living and high prices without suggesting that the country is moving in the wrong direction under a Republican administration. They frame the GOP’s central economic argument as asking voters whether they would be better off under Democratic policies and compare the current environment with what they believe the country would have experienced under a Kamala Harris presidency.
Hour 2 expands on the politics of inflation and affordability, with Clay arguing that angry voters can sometimes react to difficult economic circumstances without considering whether the alternative policies would actually improve their situation. Clay and Buck criticize the Biden administration’s spending agenda and discuss Joe Manchin, Kyrsten Sinema, Modern Monetary Theory, federal spending, minimum-wage policy and the inflationary consequences they believe would have resulted from even greater government expenditures. The conversation then shifts to one of Trump’s proposals for addressing fuel costs: an executive action concerning tax-free red-dyed diesel fuel. Buck emphasizes the importance of diesel to trucking and the transportation of goods throughout the United States, while Clay connects rising diesel and energy costs to geopolitical turmoil. They discuss the Russia-Ukraine war, drone attacks on energy infrastructure and refineries, a reported tanker fire in Sochi, disruptions to Russian and Ukrainian oil and gas capacity, and tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, arguing that international conflicts are increasingly affecting American energy prices and the broader global economy. They also reflect on how American public attention has shifted from Ukraine toward the war in Gaza as overseas conflicts continue.
Clay and Buck also turn briefly to riots in France, discussing a report that hundreds of French police officers had been injured during unrest connected to local schools. Their conversation becomes humorous as Clay openly acknowledges his skepticism about the severity of the reported injuries, prompting jokes about French police, the French Foreign Legion, learning French in school, Clay’s old French-class name “Gerard Bonaparte,” French pronunciation, actor Gérard Depardieu and Napoleon Bonaparte. Later, the hosts return to President Trump’s campaign appearances, playing remarks in which Trump discusses supporters calling him the “GOAT,” or greatest of all time, and compares his presidential record with those of Abraham Lincoln and George Washington.
A serious portion of Hour 2 of Clay and Buck centers on the Pentagon announcement that President Trump approved the military death sentence for Nidal Malik Hasan, the former Army major convicted in the 2009 Fort Hood attack that killed 13 people and wounded dozens more. Buck and Clay discuss the unusual presidential role required before a military death sentence can be carried out and express support for the decision. That leads to a broader discussion of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Guantanamo Bay and the unresolved prosecutions involving alleged 9/11 plotters, including years of legal battles over interrogations, admissibility of statements, plea agreements and the death penalty. They also review the rarity and history of U.S. military executions, noting the previous military execution in 1961 and discussing Private Eddie Slovik, who was executed by firing squad for desertion during World War II.
The hosts then return to what they see as one of the most consequential issues in the 2026 midterm elections: control of the U.S. Senate and the future of the Supreme Court. Clay plays comments from Justice Samuel Alito explaining that he considers retirement regularly but believes he can still make a valuable contribution to the Court. Clay argues that Supreme Court appointments can shape American law for decades and praises Trump’s judicial appointments overall, despite Trump sometimes disagreeing with decisions made by his own appointees. The hosts warn that if Democrats gain control of the Senate, they could block future Trump Supreme Court nominees and other federal judicial confirmations during the final two years of his presidency. Buck invokes the example of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, arguing that her decision to remain on the Court ultimately had major consequences for Democrats. For Clay, the possibility of another Supreme Court vacancy is a central reason Republican voters should be motivated to participate in the midterms.
With the election roughly four weeks away, Clay and Buck offer an extended assessment of the 2026 Senate map and Republican prospects in Texas, Michigan, Maine, North Carolina, Ohio, New Hampshire, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota and Georgia. Buck predicts Republicans will retain the Senate but lose the House, while acknowledging substantial uncertainty in individual races. He expresses confidence about Texas and believes Republicans can prevail in Maine and New Hampshire, but is notably more pessimistic about Michigan and concerned about Ohio and North Carolina. Clay is nervous about Senate control because Republicans are defending competitive territory in states where they would normally expect stronger advantages. The hosts discuss Susan Collins in Maine, her history of outperforming polling and her vote to confirm Brett Kavanaugh, while Buck argues that New Hampshire may behave differently from national trends because of a campaign focused heavily on state-specific issues. They describe Michigan as a difficult Republican pickup opportunity, express confidence about Iowa, Texas and Nebraska, and single out Georgia as a frustrating Southern battleground compared with neighboring Republican states. Throughout the discussion, they urge listeners to vote regardless of predictions and emphasize the importance of turnout.
Closing Hour 2 of the Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show, Clay and Buck look beyond the 2026 midterms toward the 2028 presidential election. They argue that the post-midterm political conversation could move almost immediately into the next presidential cycle because both parties are likely to face open nomination contests. Clay predicts that Senate control will matter more than control of the House during the final two years of the Trump administration because of the Senate’s power to confirm federal judges and potential Supreme Court nominees. Buck predicts that a Democratic House majority could lead to another attempt to impeach President Trump but doubts Congress will otherwise produce substantial legislation during the next two years. Clay concludes by arguing that Trump’s political comeback and 2024 victory will ultimately carry far greater historical significance than the results of the 2026 midterms.
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