Clay Travis and Buck Sexton analyzed whether FL Governor Ron DeSantis is likely to launch a presidential campaign shortly after leaving office as governor of Florida. They discussed lessons learned from his 2024 campaign, the timing of future announcements, and how entering the race early could shape media coverage and donor support. The conversation expanded into a broader discussion of potential Republican contenders, including JD Vance, Marco Rubio, and Ted Cruz, with the hosts exploring how the political landscape may evolve following the 2026 results. They also examined candidate positioning, donor networks, state-level political advantages, and the strategic implications of the midterm elections for future presidential hopefuls.

An extensive interview featuring Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, who expressed frustration with the election outcome and offered a candid assessment of what Republicans failed to accomplish during their time in congressional control. Johnson argued that Republicans missed critical opportunities to advance major reforms, criticized Senate leadership processes, called for a thorough postmortem of the election losses, and pushed for a broader discussion about the future direction of the party before leadership elections move forward.

An in-depth conversation with political analyst Ryan Girdusky, host of the podcast “It’s a Numbers Game,” who broke down voter turnout trends, demographic shifts, and the key factors he believes contributed to significant Republican losses. According to Girdusky, turnout disparities played a decisive role, particularly among younger voters, Latino voters, and Black voters, while Republican participation lagged behind Democratic enthusiasm in many critical races. He argued that both persuasion failures and turnout deficiencies contributed to the election outcome, offering a detailed examination of changing voting patterns across key states including Texas, Florida, Tennessee, Mississippi, and West Virginia.

An interview with Brian Kilmeade of Fox News. Kilmeade discussed the magnitude of the Republican election losses, expressing surprise at the scope of Democratic gains in traditionally Republican areas and emphasizing the need for a comprehensive reassessment of political strategy. He offered his perspective on the future Republican presidential field, commenting on Ron DeSantis, JD Vance, and Marco Rubio, while also discussing how President Donald Trump's role within the party may evolve as attention increasingly shifts toward the next presidential contest. The interview examined donor dynamics, party unity, foreign policy disagreements, and the challenge of building a winning coalition moving forward.

Make sure you never miss a second of the show by subscribing to the Clay Travis & Buck Sexton show podcast wherever you get your podcasts! ihr.fm/3InlkL8

For the latest updates from Clay & Buck, visit our website https://www.clayandbuck.com/

Connect with Clay Travis and Buck Sexton: 

X - https://x.com/clayandbuck

FB - https://www.facebook.com/ClayandBuck/

IG -

Hour 1 of The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show focused heavily on the political fallout from the 2026 midterm elections, examining what Republicans, President Donald Trump, and congressional leaders should do moving forward after significant electoral losses. The hosts argued that conservatives must focus on accountability, self-assessment, and future strategy rather than dwelling on the election outcome. A central theme was criticism of congressional Republicans, particularly Senate leadership, for failing to advance a more aggressive conservative agenda despite controlling Congress. The discussion featured extensive analysis of comments from Ron DeSantis, who challenged Republican senators for not pursuing major policy goals on immigration, judicial reform, and other conservative priorities. The hosts debated whether too much blame had been placed on President Donald Trump for the election results while insufficient scrutiny had been directed at Senate Republicans and their legislative record.

A major portion of Hour 1 examined what Republicans accomplished during the first two years of the Trump administration and what opportunities remain before Democrats assume control of Congress. The hosts emphasized the importance of confirming judicial nominees and executive branch appointments during the lame-duck session, arguing that Democrats would likely obstruct future nominations once they take power. They discussed pending priorities including election security measures, proof-of-citizenship requirements, farm assistance related to tariff impacts, national defense funding, and other legislative goals they believe should be completed before the congressional transition. The conversation repeatedly returned to concerns about Senate procedures, judicial confirmations, and whether Republican leadership maximized its governing advantage.

The program also analyzed President Donald Trump's policy record, with the hosts identifying border security and crime reduction as major accomplishments of the administration. At the same time, they argued that the administration's handling of Iran and its broader foreign policy focus may have become politically distracting. According to the discussion, many voters remained more concerned about day-to-day economic realities than international affairs, creating a disconnect between Washington's priorities and the concerns of ordinary Americans. The hosts suggested that debates surrounding Iran, military engagement, and foreign policy often overshadowed economic messaging that they believe voters wanted to hear.

Another significant topic was the economy, inflation, and voter frustration with affordability. Clay and Buck argued that although inflation has declined substantially from its peak levels, many Americans continue to feel financial pressure because prices remain significantly higher than they were before the inflation surge during the Biden years. They discussed how voter anger over the cost of living, groceries, healthcare, housing, and everyday expenses played a decisive role in the election results. The hosts contended that economic dissatisfaction remains widespread even when traditional economic indicators show improvement, creating challenges for elected officials attempting to communicate economic progress.

Housing affordability emerged as one of the most detailed discussions of the hour. The hosts examined rising home prices, elevated mortgage rates, and the challenges facing younger Americans trying to purchase homes. They argued that many prospective buyers have effectively been priced out of the housing market due to a combination of higher home values and significantly more expensive borrowing costs. The conversation highlighted how homeowners with low mortgage rates obtained during earlier years are reluctant to move, reducing available housing supply and contributing to market stagnation. The hosts suggested that housing affordability and mortgage rates represent some of the most politically significant economic issues facing voters today.

The show also explored election messaging and voter behavior, including why Democrats outperformed expectations and why Republican turnout may have lagged. The hosts debated whether voters switched parties or whether Republican voters simply stayed home. They highlighted arguments from political figures including Vice President JD Vance and discussed polling, turnout data, and voter motivation. The broader conclusion was that affordability concerns and economic anxiety appeared to resonate more effectively with voters than many of the policy achievements Republicans emphasized during the campaign.

Additional political discussion included comments from Ashley Moody regarding lessons learned from the election, reports concerning Marco Rubio's future role that were dismissed as inaccurate, the announced departure of Harmeet Dhillon from the Department of

Hour 2 of The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show centered on a deep post-election analysis of the 2026 midterm results, the future of the Republican Party, Senate leadership, government spending, and the emerging landscape for the 2028 presidential race. The hour opened with an extensive interview featuring Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, who expressed frustration with the election outcome and offered a candid assessment of what Republicans failed to accomplish during their time in congressional control. Johnson argued that Republicans missed critical opportunities to advance major reforms, criticized Senate leadership processes, called for a thorough postmortem of the election losses, and pushed for a broader discussion about the future direction of the party before leadership elections move forward.

A major focus of the conversation involved the debate over the Senate filibuster and Republican governing strategy. Ron Johnson argued that Republicans underestimated the willingness of Democrats to use majorities aggressively and suggested the party failed to adequately prepare for long-term institutional battles over legislation, judicial appointments, and federal governance. The hosts discussed criticism from Ron DeSantis regarding congressional Republicans, examining whether Senate leadership effectively used its governing majority and whether procedural constraints prevented conservatives from accomplishing more of their legislative agenda. The discussion also explored leadership questions surrounding John Thune and how Republicans should organize their strategy as they transition into the Senate minority.

Another key theme of Hour 2 was the growing national debt, federal deficits, inflation, and economic uncertainty. Johnson delivered an extended warning about America's fiscal trajectory, discussing the growth of the national debt, rising interest costs, the long-term impact of government borrowing, and what he sees as structural problems within entitlement programs such as Social Security. The hosts connected fiscal policy directly to affordability concerns, arguing that persistent deficits contribute to inflation and reduced purchasing power for American families. The discussion framed economic anxiety, declining confidence in government spending, and concerns about long-term fiscal sustainability as central issues facing both political parties.

The program also examined what Republicans can still accomplish during the lame-duck congressional session before Democrats assume control. Topics included judicial confirmations, executive branch nominations, Senate procedural battles, and whether remaining legislative priorities could be advanced before the change in congressional leadership. Ron Johnson suggested that Republicans needed a clearer strategy and stronger coordination between congressional leaders and the White House during the closing months of unified government.

Election integrity and unresolved races in Alaska and Mississippi became another significant area of discussion. Clay and Buck repeatedly referenced the closely contested Alaska Senate race involving Dan Sullivan and Mary Peltola, discussing concerns about vote counting, ballot processing, and election administration. The hosts criticized media coverage of the race and debated whether national attention toward election procedures has been applied inconsistently. An unusual television interview involving Eric Croft, the Alaska Democratic Party chairman, generated discussion after he used a controversial analogy while describing the state's vote-counting process.

The hour also featured discussion of media narratives surrounding President Donald Trump, democracy, and election outcomes. Clay and Buck argued that predictions of democratic collapse following Trump's election had not materialized and contrasted those warnings with the Republican losses in the midterms. They examined how Democrats have framed Trump as a threat to democracy and debated whether those messages played a significant role in motivating voter turnout. The hosts also discussed high-profile political controversies involving figures such as Hunter Biden and former FBI Director James Comey, arguing that expectations of future prosecutions or major legal consequences were unlikely.

One of the most forward-looking segments focused on the emerging 2028 Republican presidential race. The hosts spent considerable time analyzing whether FL Governor Ron DeSantis is likely to launch a presidential campaign shortly after leaving office as governor of Florida. They discussed lessons learned from his 2024 campaign, the timing of future announcements, and how entering the race early could shape media coverage and donor support. The conversation expanded into a broader discussion of potential Republican contenders, including JD Vance, Marco Rubio, and Ted Cruz, with the hosts exploring how the political landscap

Hour 3 of The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show was devoted to an extensive post-election analysis of the 2026 midterms, featuring political data, Republican Party strategy, the future of the MAGA movement, and early speculation about the 2028 presidential race. The hour began with an in-depth conversation with political analyst Ryan Girdusky, host of the podcast “It’s a Numbers Game,” who broke down voter turnout trends, demographic shifts, and the key factors he believes contributed to significant Republican losses. According to Girdusky, turnout disparities played a decisive role, particularly among younger voters, Latino voters, and Black voters, while Republican participation lagged behind Democratic enthusiasm in many critical races. He argued that both persuasion failures and turnout deficiencies contributed to the election outcome, offering a detailed examination of changing voting patterns across key states including Texas, Florida, Tennessee, Mississippi, and West Virginia.

A major theme throughout Hour 3 was the continued debate over the political impact of the Iran conflict, inflation, energy prices, and broader economic concerns. Girdusky argued that public dissatisfaction with rising costs, fuel prices, and economic uncertainty significantly hurt Republicans at the ballot box. The hosts explored polling data related to President Donald Trump's approval ratings on inflation, gasoline prices, and cost-of-living issues, repeatedly emphasizing that economic anxiety remained a dominant voter concern. The discussion also addressed tariffs, immigration enforcement, and broader public perceptions of Republican governance, with participants debating which policies most influenced voter behavior during the midterm cycle.

The conversation then shifted toward the future of the Republican Party and the emerging 2028 presidential race. Clay and Buck discussed the potential candidacies of Ron DeSantis, JD Vance, Marco Rubio, and Ted Cruz, analyzing fundraising challenges, campaign infrastructure, political positioning, and voter coalitions. Girdusky suggested that DeSantis may have advantages as someone less directly tied to controversial federal decisions, while also discussing reports and speculation surrounding Rubio's future plans and whether he could emerge as a major presidential contender. The hosts examined how candidates would attempt to distinguish themselves in a post-midterm environment and debated which figures currently possess the strongest political advantages heading into the next presidential cycle.

The program also reviewed the Democratic Party's potential 2028 field. Girdusky identified Jon Ossoff, Josh Shapiro, and Kamala Harris as prominent figures likely to attract attention in a future Democratic primary. The hosts discussed demographic, ideological, and electoral considerations that could influence Democratic candidate selection, while analyzing how moderates, progressives, and establishment figures might compete for party leadership in the coming years. The discussion reflected broader interest in how both political parties are already preparing for the next presidential cycle despite the recent conclusion of the midterm elections.

Listener feedback and reaction to the election were also featured throughout the hour. Clay and Buck addressed audience concerns regarding Republican messaging, campaign promises, government spending, border security, foreign policy, healthcare reform, and the Senate filibuster. The hosts revisited ongoing debates about Democratic intentions regarding Senate procedural rules and argued that future battles over the filibuster may become increasingly significant if Democrats regain unified control of government. These conversations underscored continuing concerns among conservative voters about legislative priorities and the long-term direction of federal policymaking.

Another major segment featured an interview with Brian Kilmeade of Fox News and author of "Uniting the States: Six Crucial Moments That Forged the American Miracle – Six Founders Who Shaped America's Revolutionary Democracy." Kilmeade discussed the magnitude of the Republican election losses, expressing surprise at the scope of Democratic gains in traditionally Republican areas and emphasizing the need for a comprehensive reassessment of political strategy. He offered his perspective on the future Republican presidential field, commenting on Ron DeSantis, JD Vance, and Marco Rubio, while also discussing how President Donald Trump's role within the party may evolve as attention increasingly shifts toward the next presidential contest. The interview examined donor dynamics, party unity, foreign policy disagreements, and the challenge of building a winning coalition moving forward.

Kilmeade also promoted his new book, discussing key moments in American history that helped shape the nation. The convers

Republicans suffered a crushing defeat in the midterm elections, and Buck Sexton isn't sugarcoating what went wrong. Buck identifies three major reasons behind the GOP's disastrous performance: Trump's broken promise on avoiding new Middle East wars, the failure to bring down prices, and a string of disastrous Republican candidates. From the Iran war and rising costs to controversial candidates in Texas, Ohio and South Carolina, Buck delivers a tough assessment of the Republican Party's failures and explains why blindly defending every Trump decision has come at a political cost.

Never miss a moment from Buck by subscribing to the Buck Sexton Show Podcast on IHeart Radio, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts! 

Connect with Buck Sexton:
Facebook –   / bucksexton 
X –  @bucksexton 
Instagram –   @bucksexton

TikTok - @BuckSexton                                                                                  

YouTube - @BuckSexton  

Website – https://www.bucksexton.com/

Follow Clay & Buck on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/clayandbuck

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Republicans suffered a crushing defeat in the midterm elections, and Buck Sexton isn't sugarcoating what went wrong. Buck identifies three major reasons behind the GOP's disastrous performance: Trump's broken promise on avoiding new Middle East wars, the failure to bring down prices, and a string of disastrous Republican candidates. From the Iran war and rising costs to controversial candidates in Texas, Ohio and South Carolina, Buck delivers a tough assessment of the Republican Party's failures and explains why blindly defending every Trump decision has come at a political cost.

Never miss a moment from Buck by subscribing to the Buck Sexton Show Podcast on IHeart Radio, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts! 

Connect with Buck Sexton:
Facebook –   / bucksexton 
X –  @bucksexton 
Instagram –   @bucksexton

TikTok - @BuckSexton                                                                                  

YouTube - @BuckSexton  

Website – https://www.bucksexton.com/

Support the show: https://www.youtube.com/@BuckSexton

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Clay Travis breaks down the devastating 2026 midterm elections, admitting his predictions were wrong as Democrats deliver a crushing defeat to Republicans. Clay examines JD Vance's explanation for the GOP collapse, why Trump voters crossed party lines, the impact of the Iran war and inflation, Texas turning blue, and the emerging 2028 presidential battle between Vance, Ron DeSantis, and other Republican contenders.

Plus, Clay celebrates Marsha Blackburn's historic Tennessee governor victory, discusses close Senate races in Alaska and Mississippi, and blasts the College Football Playoff committee over controversial rankings involving Alabama, Tennessee, Ohio State, Indiana, and Notre Dame. Get Clay's reaction to the election fallout, college football playoff chaos, and his latest NFL and college football picks.

Follow Clay & Buck on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/clayandbuck

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Republicans are reeling after a devastating 2026 midterm election as Democrats deliver a stunning blue wave, flipping key races and raising serious questions about Donald Trump's political future. Mary Katharine Ham and Karol Markowicz break down the GOP's election-night disaster, including shocking losses in Texas and South Carolina, voter turnout failures, economic frustration, and growing backlash against the Trump administration.

Is the Republican Party headed for a major shakeup? The ladies examine what went wrong, whether Trump will change course, and how the election reshapes the 2028 Republican presidential race featuring JD Vance, Marco Rubio, and Ron DeSantis.

Plus, they uncover conservative victories buried beneath the Democratic wave, including voter ID measures, women's sports protections, and property tax relief. Is this the beginning of a Republican comeback or a warning of bigger trouble ahead? Find out on Normally.

Follow Clay & Buck on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/clayandbuck

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Writer, filmmaker, and YouTube personality Mike Harlow joins Karol Markowicz to reveal how cancel culture, political conformity, and Hollywood gatekeepers changed his life. From his political transformation and social media bans to launching an independent production company and a political dating show, Harlow shares his fight for creative freedom. Plus, why he believes independent filmmaking is the future and why America desperately needs a political detox.

Follow Clay & Buck on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/clayandbuck

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.