Nation States: Xi’s Washington Visit and the Test of U.S. Leverage

Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show unpack the fallout from the Lindsay Clancy case, the debate over the insanity defense, and the reaction from The View to Patrick Clancy’s decision to divorce his wife after the deaths of their three children. Clay and Buck discuss continuing scrutiny surrounding the holdout juror in the Clancy case and Patrick Clancy’s recent 60 Minutes interview, before reacting to The View co-host Sara Haines, who questioned why Patrick’s marital love did not endure after his wife became mentally ill. Clay and Buck strongly reject that argument, contending that the killing of a spouse’s children represents an extraordinary and understandable reason for a marriage to end. The hosts broaden the conversation into questions of personal responsibility, mental illness, gender politics, feminism, public sympathy for defendants, and whether someone found not criminally responsible for killing children should ever be considered safe to return to ordinary society. They argue that the public discussion surrounding Lindsay Clancy reflects a troubling willingness among some commentators to prioritize sympathy for an accused or convicted offender over the victims of violent crime. The discussion then turns to Sunny Hostin and her revelation that, before attending law school, she served as the holdout juror in the Daniel Rakowitz “Butcher of Tompkins Square Park” case in New York City. Hostin recounts how she ultimately persuaded the jury to find Rakowitz not criminally responsible by reason of insanity, despite the gruesome circumstances surrounding the killing and dismemberment of his victim. Clay and Buck use Hostin’s account to examine what they see as fundamental problems with the legal standard for the insanity defense, particularly when a defendant takes deliberate actions after a killing that appear designed to conceal the crime. Their conversation encompasses identity politics, political differences between male and female voters, social-media culture, reactions to Luigi Mangione and Charlie Kirk, and a TikTok trend they say involves women discussing abortions after learning they are carrying boys, a subject they preview for a future conversation with Isabel Brown. Buck also invokes the history of European and American witch trials while discussing changing cultural attitudes toward women accused of harming children.   An extensive interview with author and commentator Peachy Keenan of The Spector, who joins Clay and Buck to discuss the continuing controversy surrounding the Lindsay Clancy case, Patrick Clancy’s divorce, and reaction from The View. Keenan criticizes the feminist arguments surrounding the case and contrasts The View’s questioning of Patrick Clancy’s decision to divorce his wife with what she describes as a broader culture that frequently encourages women to leave unhappy marriages. The discussion expands into marriage, divorce, feminism, gender politics, social media, true crime culture, criminal responsibility, mental illness, and online theories claiming Lindsay Clancy did not kill her children. Clay raises statistics about women initiating a large majority of divorces, prompting a broader debate about whether social and financial incentives surrounding divorce differ for men and women and how modern culture treats divorced women versus divorced men. Attorney and political commentator Katie Zacharia joins the program for a wide-ranging discussion of California politics, Gavin Newsom, Kamala Harris and the 2028 Democratic presidential primary. Zacharia reacts to Newsom telling Jake Tapper during a fly-fishing interview that he would not run for president if Harris enters the race, questioning whether Newsom may instead be positioning himself for another role or waiting to see how the Democratic field develops. The conversation examines the political relationship between Newsom and Harris, Newsom’s record as California governor, climate and energy policies, electric-vehicle mandates, electricity costs and the difficulty both California Democrats could face appealing to Middle America and key swing states. Zacharia also discusses Harris’s political activity in Michigan and her support for Abdul El-Sayed, while Clay and Buck examine Democratic fundraising, Harris’s expensive 2024 presidential campaign, potential donor enthusiasm and whether Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez could emerge as another national Democratic contender. 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 - https://www.instagram.com/clayandbuck/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/clayandbuck Rumble - https://rumble.com/c/ClayandBuck TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@clayandbuck Follow Clay & Buck on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/clayandbuckSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hour 1 of The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show focuses heavily on the fallout from the Lindsay Clancy case, the debate over the insanity defense, and the reaction from The View to Patrick Clancy’s decision to divorce his wife after the deaths of their three children. Clay and Buck discuss continuing scrutiny surrounding the holdout juror in the Clancy case and Patrick Clancy’s recent 60 Minutes interview, before reacting to The View co-host Sara Haines, who questioned why Patrick’s marital love did not endure after his wife became mentally ill. Clay and Buck strongly reject that argument, contending that the killing of a spouse’s children represents an extraordinary and understandable reason for a marriage to end. The hosts broaden the conversation into questions of personal responsibility, mental illness, gender politics, feminism, public sympathy for defendants, and whether someone found not criminally responsible for killing children should ever be considered safe to return to ordinary society. They argue that the public discussion surrounding Lindsay Clancy reflects a troubling willingness among some commentators to prioritize sympathy for an accused or convicted offender over the victims of violent crime. The discussion then turns to Sunny Hostin and her revelation that, before attending law school, she served as the holdout juror in the Daniel Rakowitz “Butcher of Tompkins Square Park” case in New York City. Hostin recounts how she ultimately persuaded the jury to find Rakowitz not criminally responsible by reason of insanity, despite the gruesome circumstances surrounding the killing and dismemberment of his victim. Clay and Buck use Hostin’s account to examine what they see as fundamental problems with the legal standard for the insanity defense, particularly when a defendant takes deliberate actions after a killing that appear designed to conceal the crime. They question whether evidence of panic, concealment, or attempts to avoid detection can coexist with a claim that a defendant could not appreciate the wrongfulness of his actions. The hosts also compare the Rakowitz case with the continuing Lindsay Clancy debate, arguing that insanity defenses should face far greater skepticism, especially when children are victims. Hour 1 expands from these criminal cases into a larger debate about crime, punishment, accountability, progressive politics, gender differences, and American culture. Clay and Buck criticize what they characterize as a strain of progressive thinking that extends greater compassion toward perpetrators than victims, contrasting the views of people insulated from crime with those living in communities more directly affected by it. Their conversation encompasses identity politics, political differences between male and female voters, social-media culture, reactions to Luigi Mangione and Charlie Kirk, and a TikTok trend they say involves women discussing abortions after learning they are carrying boys, a subject they preview for a future conversation with Isabel Brown. Buck also invokes the history of European and American witch trials while discussing changing cultural attitudes toward women accused of harming children. A caller raises a gender-reversal hypothetical involving Patrick and Lindsay Clancy, prompting Clay and Buck to ask how the legal system and media would respond if a father had killed his three children, or if a grieving father violently retaliated after discovering his children had been murdered. From there, they compare temporary insanity and PTSD defenses, argue that functioning in society should generally carry an expectation of criminal responsibility, and debate whether mental illness should excuse particularly horrific crimes against children. The conversation concludes with a broader discussion of the death penalty, including cases where there is video evidence identifying the perpetrator, Buck’s evolving support for capital punishment despite his Catholic faith, and a brief discussion of The Green Mile and its anti-death-penalty themes.   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 - https://www.instagram.com/clayandbuck/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/clayandbuck Rumble - https://rumble.com/c/ClayandBuck TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@clayandbuckFollow Clay & Buck on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/clayandbuckSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  Hour 2 of The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show begins with a wave of listener reaction to the Lindsay Clancy case, as Clay and Buck continue their debate over the insanity defense, postpartum depression, postpartum psychosis, criminal responsibility, mental health, gender double standards, and accountability for violent crime. Callers who say they personally experienced postpartum depression argue that experiencing disturbing thoughts is fundamentally different from acting on them, while Clay and Buck contend that mental illness or hormonal changes should not automatically eliminate responsibility for criminal conduct. They explore a series of gender-reversal hypotheticals, asking how the legal system, media, and public would react if a man blamed hormones, psychiatric medication, or a temporary psychological break for committing a serious violent crime. The hosts argue that the public response would be dramatically different and question what they see as a gender-based double standard surrounding the Clancy case. The conversation also touches on vigilantism, jury nullification, parental reactions to crimes against children, regional differences in jury attitudes, and what could happen to Clancy if prosecutors do not obtain a conviction. A caller challenges the premise that Clancy killed her children, leading Clay, drawing on his experience as an attorney, to reject online theories suggesting somebody else was responsible and to warn about misinformation spreading through social media surrounding high-profile criminal cases. The second half of Hour 2 shifts sharply into Kamala Harris and the 2028 presidential election, after Harris makes a political appearance in Detroit and says she has not decided whether she will run for president again. Clay and Buck analyze Harris's defense of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the context of Black maternal health and discuss how identity politics, Black women voters, transgender politics, and progressive terminology could shape a potential Kamala Harris 2028 campaign. They revisit controversies from Harris's previous campaigns, including her past position involving taxpayer-funded gender-transition procedures for incarcerated undocumented immigrants, and debate whether her political messaging could succeed in a Democratic presidential primary while creating serious problems with white working-class voters, Rust Belt voters, swing-state voters, and the national electorate. They also react to Harris's argument that the 2026 midterm elections must come first before 2028 becomes relevant. Clay and Buck then dig into speculation from former Harris advisers about whether she will actually enter the 2028 Democratic presidential primary. They discuss former senior adviser David Plouffe's assessment that Harris's strongest moment could be the opening day of her campaign, skepticism among major Democratic donors, and reports suggesting people close to Harris do not believe she possesses an overriding need to become president. Buck considers whether Harris could instead embrace life as a wealthy Democratic power broker, fundraiser and political kingmaker, while Clay remains convinced that her political circumstances make another presidential campaign likely. Their strategic analysis examines South Carolina, Virginia, New Hampshire and Nevada, Harris's potential strength with Black Democratic primary voters, campaign fundraising, the influence of major donors, and potential Republican 2028 candidates including Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Clay argues that even Democratic donors initially reluctant to support Harris would ultimately rally behind her if she secured the nomination. The hosts also debate Harris's political personality and public image, including whether she would prefer the post-political celebrity lifestyle associated with Michelle Obama or would continue pursuing the presidency as Joe Biden did. They examine Harris's perceived authenticity problems and argue that intensive political coaching can make candidates appear overly calculated when they focus excessively on gestures, speaking style, tone and reactions to criticism. Hour 2 winds down with additional listener calls returning to the Clancy case, including a hypothetical about whether the legal response would be different if the victims had been someone else's children and another discussion of PTSD versus postpartum mental-health defenses. A caller also revisits the cultural debate surrounding Sydney Sweeney, pointing to her performances as boxer Christy Martin and Reality Winner as examples of roles that contrast with discussion of Sweeney primarily as a sex symbol. 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 - https://www.instagram.com/clayandbuck/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/clayandbuck Rumble - https://rumble.com/c/ClayandBuck TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@clayandbuckFollow Clay & Buck on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/clayandbuckSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hour 3 of The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show opens with breaking news that President Donald Trump plans to attend the highly anticipated Texas Longhorns vs. Tennessee Volunteers college football game in Knoxville, where top-ranked Texas and Arch Manning will face Tennessee in a marquee SEC matchup. Clay, who also plans to attend, predicts a Tennessee upset while Buck backs Texas, setting up some friendly rivalry over which school is the “real UT.” The conversation then shifts to an extensive interview with author and commentator Peachy Keenan, who joins Clay and Buck to discuss the continuing controversy surrounding the Lindsay Clancy case, Patrick Clancy’s divorce, and reaction from The View. Keenan criticizes the feminist arguments surrounding the case and contrasts The View’s questioning of Patrick Clancy’s decision to divorce his wife with what she describes as a broader culture that frequently encourages women to leave unhappy marriages. The discussion expands into marriage, divorce, feminism, gender politics, social media, true crime culture, criminal responsibility, mental illness, and online theories claiming Lindsay Clancy did not kill her children. Clay raises statistics about women initiating a large majority of divorces, prompting a broader debate about whether social and financial incentives surrounding divorce differ for men and women and how modern culture treats divorced women versus divorced men. Keenan also joins Clay and Buck for a discussion of a bizarre controversy involving a Massachusetts lesbian bar and its N95 mask mandate, after the establishment reportedly faced intense backlash for temporarily relaxing its masking requirements. The hosts and Keenan react to criticism that dropping the mandate discriminated against immunocompromised patrons and to extreme online responses directed at the establishment, using the story as a jumping-off point for a wider conversation about COVID-era masking, progressive politics, identity politics and political polarization. They then revisit the recent Sydney Sweeney cultural controversy, including a viral street-interview clip asking whether Sweeney’s provocative sports-betting advertising or Lindsay Clancy was “worse for women.” Keenan argues that hostility toward Sweeney reflects tensions within contemporary feminism over beauty, sexuality, body image, mental health and traditional standards of attractiveness. The segment ends on a lighter note when Buck’s young son unexpectedly enters the studio and joins him on camera. Hour 3 then returns to Kamala Harris and the 2028 presidential election, with Clay and Buck replaying Harris’s memorable comments to children about space exploration and seeing the moon’s craters as an example of what they consider her highly scripted public persona. Clay argues that Harris’s political weakness comes from appearing overly concerned with how she is perceived, and he predicts that a prospective Kamala Harris 2028 presidential campaign would lean heavily into DEI, race and gender politics. While Clay continues to view Harris as a likely Democratic nominee, he and Buck question her ability to appeal to blue-collar white voters and Midwestern battleground states, while acknowledging she could potentially perform better in states such as Georgia and North Carolina with larger minority electorates. They also discuss whether Democrats will be hesitant to nominate another woman after the presidential defeats of Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Harris in 2024. Attorney and political commentator Katie Zacharia joins the program for a wide-ranging discussion of California politics, Gavin Newsom, Kamala Harris and the 2028 Democratic presidential primary. Zacharia reacts to Newsom telling Jake Tapper during a fly-fishing interview that he would not run for president if Harris enters the race, questioning whether Newsom may instead be positioning himself for another role or waiting to see how the Democratic field develops. The conversation examines the political relationship between Newsom and Harris, Newsom’s record as California governor, climate and energy policies, electric-vehicle mandates, electricity costs and the difficulty both California Democrats could face appealing to Middle America and key swing states. Zacharia also discusses Harris’s political activity in Michigan and her support for Abdul El-Sayed, while Clay and Buck examine Democratic fundraising, Harris’s expensive 2024 presidential campaign, potential donor enthusiasm and whether Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez could emerge as another national Democratic contender. Zacharia then weighs in on the Lindsay Clancy case, rejecting social-media speculation that Clancy did not kill her children and arguing that online true-crime communities can blur the distinction between documented facts and amateur theories. The discussion returns to Patrick Clancy’s divorce and criticism from The View, with Zacharia defending his decision and calling for greater emphasis on the children, accountability and critical thinking. Clay and Buck broaden the subject to the influence of TikTok, Instagram, true-crime content and social-media culture on public understanding of criminal trials and controversial legal cases. The hour's final major media discussion focuses on the proposed Paramount-Warner Bros. transaction and the future of CNN and CBS News. Clay argues that potential changes in CNN ownership could have significant political consequences if the network shifts toward more straightforward or centrist news coverage, thereby altering the media environment in which Democratic and Republican narratives compete. Zachariah discusses the proposed deal from a California business and political perspective, including antitrust concerns, California Attorney General Rob Bonta, Gavin Newsom, Paramount, Warner Bros., CNN and CBS, and predicts that a reshaped CNN could move closer to the center. Hour 3 of the Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show closes on more personal and lighter subjects. Buck explains that he will miss an upcoming show to attend the burial of his wife’s grandfather, Rear Admiral James Flatley, at Arlington National Cemetery, recounting Flatley’s remarkable history as a Navy test pilot who landed a C-130 transport aircraft on an aircraft carrier. Clay reflects on Arlington’s significance and calls it a place every American should visit. The hosts then return to Trump’s appearance at the Texas-Tennessee football game, the Longhorns-Volunteers rivalry, Arch Manning, and Tennessee history involving Davy Crockett and Sam Houston, before wrapping up with listener talkbacks about childhood school paddling and one final round of jokes about Buck’s baby-blue cable-knit sweater 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 - https://www.instagram.com/clayandbuck/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/clayandbuck Rumble - https://rumble.com/c/ClayandBuck TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@clayandbuck Follow Clay & Buck on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/clayandbuckSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are Republicans beginning to distance themselves from President Donald Trump as the 2026 midterm elections approach? On this episode of It’s a Numbers Game with Ryan Girdusky, Ryan examines what he sees as a late Republican pivot away from Trump as GOP candidates confront voter concerns over the Iran war, rising costs, data centers and the president’s political standing. He looks at Republican Senate and House candidates who have broken with Trump on key issues and explains what the polling could mean for competitive races across the country. Ryan also digs into the enormous amounts of campaign money pouring into Texas and competitive House races, including the Senate contest involving Ken Paxton and James Talarico, and explains why Republicans are spending heavily to defend territory that previously leaned strongly Republican. Plus, Ryan takes aim at Nikole Hannah-Jones’ reflections on her daughter’s education, examining her decision to enroll her daughter in a struggling New York City public school and what Ryan believes the story reveals about education policy, school performance and parental responsibility. Finally, Ryan answers listener questions about Tulsi Gabbard and 2028, possible live midterm election-night coverage, the ideal podcast length, and his disagreements with Clay Travis and Buck Sexton.Follow Clay & Buck on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/clayandbuckSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The people running the West are getting ready for a bigger war. Hegseth just announced a combat test for colonels before they make general. NATO's chiefs of defence met in Copenhagen and told the arms industry to build at scale. And Europe — which can't recruit an army — is suddenly talking about a draft. What you'll hear: • David breaks down Hegseth's Joint Warfighter Evaluation, the Stu Scheller connection, and what a wartime leadership filter is really signaling • Why roughly 850 flag officers today versus about 300 in 1941 tells you 22 years of GWOT produced dead weight • NATO by the numbers: 3.5 million troops, most of whom have never fought • Mark Rutte's "NATO 3.0" — an alliance that no longer plans on America • The recruiting playbook: NATO's new ad, "Send Me" billboards, Isaiah 6:8, and a British politician saying the word conscription out loud • Why Gen Z won't buy the pitch — and why the White House launching Trump TV is part of the same story David Rutherford is a former Navy SEAL and CIA-trained intelligence officer. ✅ Sponsors: ☕️ Black Rifle Coffee: https://www.blackriflecoffee.com/ 🏫 Get coaching by David Rutherford: https://www.froglogicinstitute.com/Follow Clay & Buck on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/clayandbuckSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tudor Dixon sits down with Yasmine Mohammed, author of Unveiled: How the West Empowers Radical Muslims, for a deeply personal conversation about her upbringing, escape from an abusive forced marriage, and her views on the rise of political Islam in Western countries. Mohammed recounts growing up in Canada after her family became increasingly fundamentalist, being forced to wear the hijab, experiencing abuse as a child, and eventually being married at 19 to a man she describes as an al-Qaeda operative. She explains how becoming a mother ultimately pushed her to break away and protect her daughter. Tudor and Yasmine also discuss Islamism, the Muslim Brotherhood, Sharia law, Iran’s Woman, Life, Freedom movement, antisemitism, October 7, and the distinction Mohammed draws between individual Muslims and Islamist political ideology. Mohammed also discusses her work with the Clarity Coalition and why she believes Western societies need to be willing to openly debate religious extremism.Follow Clay & Buck on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/clayandbuckSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Xi Jinping heads to Washington for another summit with President Trump, the real question is not what gets announced, but what gets delivered. Steve Yates explains why implementation matters more than optics and examines the key tests facing U.S.-China relations, from AI controls and Taiwan to Iran, Ukraine, rare earth supply chains, fentanyl enforcement, and the fate of Jimmy Lai. Listen for a practical framework to separate diplomatic theater from meaningful results and understand what success should actually look like for American interests. Follow Nation States with Yates for clear, common-sense insights where Steve Yates serves as your personal national security advisor, breaking down world events in ways that matter to Main Street, not just Washington. Connect with the show at [email protected] and follow on X @NSWithYates.Follow Clay & Buck on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/clayandbuckSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lisa Boothe is joined by Tommy Schultz, CEO of the American Federation for Children, for a wide-ranging conversation about school choice, declining academic performance, teachers unions, and the future of K-12 education in America. They begin with the debate surrounding Nikole Hannah-Jones and her daughter's public-school experience, examining what Schultz argues it reveals about school choice, academic standards, classroom discipline, testing, and the consequences of putting educational philosophy ahead of an individual child's needs. Lisa and Tommy also discuss the relationship between politically powerful teachers unions and literacy reform, declining test scores, the lingering effects of COVID-era learning loss, and the amount of money being spent on America's K-12 education system. Schultz offers his perspective on why additional funding has not necessarily translated into stronger academic outcomes. Plus, Tommy breaks down the new Federal Scholarship Tax Credit, which begins in 2027 and allows eligible taxpayers to claim a nonrefundable federal tax credit of up to $1,700 for qualifying contributions to Scholarship Granting Organizations in participating states. Lisa and Tommy discuss how the program could expand educational options for families and why school choice is becoming an increasingly significant issue nationwidFollow Clay & Buck on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/clayandbuckSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Clay Travis & Buck Sexton break down President Donald Trump’s major United Nations speech in New York City, focusing on American strength, national pride, foreign policy, military power, energy, technology and Trump’s argument that the United States is stronger and better positioned on the world stage. The hosts contrast Trump’s unapologetically pro-American message with previous administrations and discuss why they believe his willingness to impose consequences gives him leverage with foreign adversaries. That leads into the Russia-Ukraine war, Vladimir Putin, the Biden administration’s Afghanistan withdrawal and the enormous human and economic costs of the war in Ukraine, which Buck characterizes as a technologically advanced form of trench warfare combining drones, satellite communications and night vision with largely static front lines. An in-depth conversation about DOGE, Elon Musk, federal government spending, waste, fraud, the national debt and government efficiency. Clay and Buck welcome Tyler Hassen, former acting assistant secretary at the U.S. Department of the Interior, former senior DOGE official and author of Inside DOGE: The Real Story from a Senior Insider. Hassen offers his firsthand account of working with Musk’s DOGE team and argues that waste inside the federal government is substantially worse than most Americans realize. He discusses DOGE’s reported savings, efforts to increase accountability for federal contracts and grants, and an initiative designed to improve information attached to trillions of dollars in Treasury payments. Drawing on his experience at the Interior Department, Hassen describes finding federal contracts for projects such as groundwater assessments in Mauritania that officials struggled to justify, while explaining the DOGE philosophy of forcing agencies to “defend the spend.” Clay and Buck discuss public education, parental involvement, classroom discipline and school culture. Buck argues that successful schools depend heavily on parents who reinforce respect for teachers, rules, order and education at home. The hosts discuss the difficulties public-school teachers face when dealing with disruptive students and school fights, including concerns that educators may hesitate to physically separate fighting students because of liability and disciplinary policies. They also discuss federal education policy and disagreements over whether racial disparities in school discipline should be treated as evidence of discriminatory disciplinary practices. Their broader argument is that school discipline, parental expectations and peer culture can matter as much as, or more than, additional education spending. That discussion leads to one of the hour’s most extended and humorous exchanges: corporal punishment and paddling in American public schools. Clay recounts growing up around Nashville public schools where students could be paddled for serious misbehavior, stunning Buck, who says such practices were completely foreign to his New York City upbringing. The hosts discuss the differences between Southern and Northeastern school culture, the historical use of paddles and “switches,” visits to the principal’s office and the deterrent effect Clay remembers corporal punishment having on classroom behavior. Their production team reports during the program that public-school corporal punishment remains legally permissible in a number of states, which prompts Buck to express disbelief that the practice can still legally exist in parts of the United States. Listeners subsequently send their own stories about paddling by teachers, principals and Catholic-school nuns, including accounts from Michigan, Ohio and Southern California. 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 - https://www.instagram.com/clayandbuck/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/clayandbuck Rumble - https://rumble.com/c/ClayandBuck TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@clayandbuck Follow Clay & Buck on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/clayandbuckSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.