Hour 3 - Cringe Gavin Newsom

In Hour 3 of The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show, the hosts deliver a dynamic and wide-ranging discussion centered on politics, media narratives, and cultural authenticity, with a strong emphasis on California Governor Gavin Newsom and President Donald Trump. The hour opens with a sharp critique of Gavin Newsom, whom Clay and Buck describe as the “de facto leader of the Democrat Party.” They dissect Newsom’s attempt to portray himself as a self-made man, highlighting his privileged upbringing, financial backing from billionaire Gordon Getty, and his efforts to rebrand ahead of a likely 2028 presidential run. The hosts mock Newsom’s “rags-to-riches” narrative, including his claims of hardship involving mac and cheese dinners and basketball practice, calling it political posturing designed to appeal to working-class voters. A major theme is Newsom’s strategic “code-switching” and rhetorical shifts depending on audience demographics. The hosts analyze his appearance on the “All the Smoke” podcast, where he frames anti-woke criticism as “anti-Black,” and question whether this messaging will resonate with Black voters in key Democratic primary states. They note California’s relatively small Black population (6%) and compare Newsom’s approach to Kamala Harris and Hillary Clinton’s past attempts to connect with Southern voters through accent changes and cultural signaling. The conversation then pivots to President Donald Trump’s controversial yet widely praised initiative to build a new White House ballroom. Clay and Buck defend the project as a long-overdue improvement to the White House’s hosting capabilities, emphasizing its practicality, elegance, and bipartisan utility. They cite support from former Obama and Biden staffers and editorial approval from the Washington Post, framing the ballroom as a legacy gift to future administrations. The hosts ridicule opposition from Democrats like Rep. Eric Swalwell, attributing the backlash to “Trump Derangement Syndrome.” In a lighter segment, the show features listener emails and humorous banter, including a debate over Chick-fil-A biscuits, showering with dogs, and nudity in locker rooms. The hosts also joke about Gavin Newsom adopting a Southern accent on the campaign trail, comparing it to infamous Hollywood portrayals like Keanu Reeves in Devil’s Advocate and Nicolas Cage in Con Air. The hour concludes with commentary on White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre’s book tour. Her refusal to acknowledge any regrets while serving under President Biden is met with skepticism, and the hosts suggest her identity politics deflection is emblematic of the administration’s broader communication failures.