Hour 3 - Special Forces K9s

Hour 3 of the Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show focused on the high-profile South Carolina Republican Senate runoff, family and parenting themes, college send-offs, women’s sports debates, military service stories, and listener interaction. The hour opened with an extended interview featuring Congressman Ralph Norman, one of the two Republican candidates competing to succeed the late Senator Lindsey Graham’s seat in South Carolina. Norman outlined his background as a businessman, Freedom Caucus member, and conservative legislator, while emphasizing his support for the America First agenda, government spending reductions, border security, election integrity, and passage of the SAVE Act. He argued that excessive federal debt remains one of America’s greatest threats and criticized what he described as Senate dysfunction, positioning himself as a proven conservative capable of advancing President Donald Trump’s priorities.

A significant portion of the interview centered on the contrast between Norman and interim Senator Darlene Graham, who is also seeking the Republican nomination. Norman highlighted his congressional voting record, conservative ratings, and policy experience while arguing that South Carolina voters should choose a candidate with a demonstrated history of legislative leadership. The discussion also examined campaign fundraising, political endorsements, Republican primary strategy, and concerns about maintaining a GOP Senate seat in the 2026 election cycle. Clay and Buck reiterated their intention to provide both candidates with a fair platform and noted ongoing efforts to schedule Darlene Graham for an interview before the primary election.

The hosts also discussed President Donald Trump’s endorsement of Darlene Graham and explored broader questions about the role of endorsements in Republican politics. Norman stressed that while he strongly supports Trump and his agenda, he believes South Carolina voters should ultimately evaluate candidates based on their records and qualifications. The segment touched on Republican unity, voter decision-making, Senate control, and the importance of candidate preparedness in competitive statewide races.

Later in the hour, Clay shared that he had briefly stepped away from the broadcast after receiving a phone call from President Donald Trump. Clay recounted a casual conversation covering politics, sports business topics, and Trump’s upcoming South Carolina appearance supporting Darlene Graham. The exchange led to a broader discussion about Trump’s personal communication style, with both hosts reflecting on his ability to connect with people in informal settings. They also discussed the ongoing debate over construction of a new White House ballroom, arguing that political opposition to the project reflects broader partisan conflicts even over non-political improvements to public facilities.

The show then shifted into a wide-ranging conversation with former Navy SEAL, CIA contractor, performance coach, and podcast host David Rutherford, known to listeners as “Rutt.” The interview focused heavily on the emotional experience of sending a child off to college, as Rutherford recently dropped off his daughter at Penn State Harrisburg, where she will play college soccer. Clay shared that he was preparing to send his oldest son to college the following day, prompting a heartfelt discussion about parenting, family milestones, raising children, and the emotional challenges parents face when children leave home. Rutherford described the experience of helping his daughter move in, saying the emotions fully hit him when he later read a letter she wrote expressing her appreciation and love.

The parenting conversation expanded into memories of raising young children, favorite children’s books, and the responsibilities parents feel as their children transition into adulthood. Rutherford reflected on the importance of teaching resilience, values, and independence while still providing unconditional support. The segment resonated as a broader reflection on fatherhood, parenting success, and the emotional realities of family life.

The discussion also returned to one of the show’s most persistent national topics: transgender athlete participation in women’s sports. Drawing on his experience as the father of a college athlete, Rutherford strongly criticized policies allowing biological males to compete against girls and women. He discussed the sacrifices families make to support youth sports participation and argued that biological differences in speed, strength, and physical development create unfair competitive advantages. The conversation touched on women’s athletics, youth sports, Title IX concerns, competitive fairness, and the growing national debate surrounding transgender participation in sports.

Another interesting segment focused on military working dogs and a newly released movie trailer involving a combat veteran and service dog. Rutherford explained the vital role military canines play in special operations and combat environments, describing their extraordinary training, loyalty, and effectiveness during missions. Drawing from his own experience around Navy SEAL teams, he shared stories illustrating the strong bond between operators and military working dogs while praising the capabilities of the dogs and their handlers.

The hour also included lighter moments featuring listener calls and talkbacks covering everything from Subaru owners and car culture to popular television shows and favorite childhood books. One caller highlighted Subaru’s reputation for reliability and performance, while another referenced a memorable scene from the sitcom Friends involving the beloved children’s book Love You Forever. The hosts reflected on the emotional themes of the book, connecting it back to the hour’s broader focus on parenting, children growing up, and family relationships.

The program concluded with Clay and Buck reflecting on an emotional and eventful week, emphasizing family, gratitude, and spending time with loved ones over the weekend. Hour 3 ultimately blended South Carolina Senate race coverage, Ralph Norman’s campaign interview, Republican politics, Donald Trump news, parenting, college move-in season, family values, women’s sports, transgender athlete debates, Navy SEAL stories, military working dogs, youth athletics, and listener-driven conversation, making it one of the more personal and reflective hours of the broadcast.

 

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