Media Accountability and Athlete Experience During COVID

Meet our friends, Clay Travis and Buck Sexton!  If you love Verdict, the Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show might also be in your audio wheelhouse. Politics, news analysis, and some pop culture and comedy thrown in too.

Here’s a sample episode recapping four Tuesday takeaways. Give the guys a listen and then follow and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

CDC 86's Covid Vax

Hour 1 of The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show kicks off with Clay Travis solo-hosting as Buck Sexton recovers from the flu. Clay reflects on Memorial Day, honoring the sacrifices of American service members, and shares highlights from his visit to the Indy 500, emphasizing the strong presence of Clay and Buck listeners.

The hour dives into major political and cultural topics, starting with breaking news: the CDC has officially removed the COVID-19 vaccine from its recommended immunization schedule for healthy children and pregnant women. Clay highlights this as a significant reversal of previous federal health mandates and criticizes the Biden administration and legacy media for their role in promoting what he calls “COVID shot propaganda.” He underscores the personal and professional consequences many Americans faced for refusing the vaccine, including job loss and social ostracization.

Riley Gaines on Fame

The long-term consequences of COVID-19 policies, the erosion of trust in public health institutions, and the ongoing controversy surrounding transgender athletes in women’s sports. Clay Travis, hosting solo, opens the hour by reacting to breaking news that the COVID-19 vaccine has been removed from the recommended list for children and pregnant women—a decision that sparks a broader conversation about government overreach, vaccine mandates, and the psychological toll of pandemic-era restrictions.

Clay is joined by former NCAA swimmer and women’s sports advocate Riley Gaines, who shares her personal experiences with COVID-era mandates while competing at the University of Kentucky. Gaines recounts the extreme and often illogical protocols athletes endured, including wearing masks between swim laps and facing pressure to get vaccinated despite natural immunity. She reflects on the broader impact of school closures and social isolation on young people, emphasizing how these policies robbed students of formative life experiences.

The conversation shifts to the ongoing debate over biological males competing in women’s sports. Gaines and Travis discuss recent incidents, including a viral protest by a female athlete in California and former President Donald Trump’s public condemnation of transgender participation in women’s competitions. Gaines criticizes the Democratic Party’s unwavering support for these policies and highlights the bravery of young women standing up for fairness in sports. She also addresses personal attacks from media figures like Jemele Hill and Keith Olbermann, reinforcing her commitment to advocating for women’s rights and equal opportunities.

Dr. Marty Makary, FDA Commissioner

Clay welcomes newly appointed FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary, who, alongside Dr. Jay Bhattacharya and RFK Jr. announced the removal of the COVID shot recommendation for healthy children and pregnant women. Dr. Makary explains the need to restore scientific integrity and transparency in public health, criticizing the previous administration’s reliance on unproven theories and lack of clinical trial data. He emphasizes the importance of rebuilding trust by focusing on chronic disease prevention, food quality, and environmental health.

Dr. Makary also reflects on the failures of school closures, the disproportionate impact on low-income and minority communities, and the long-term mental health consequences for children. He calls for a renewed commitment to evidence-based medicine and civil discourse, warning against the dangers of censorship and politicization in science.

President Trump Endorses Clay's New Book!

the Democratic Party’s struggle to connect with young male voters, the cultural alienation of boys, and the broader implications for American society and politics.

Clay opens the hour by discussing a recent New York Times article detailing a $20 million Democratic initiative—codenamed SAM (Speaking with American Men)—aimed at reversing the party’s declining support among young men. He critiques the effort as tone-deaf and disconnected from the realities of modern masculinity, drawing parallels to themes in his upcoming book, Balls: How Trump, Young Men, and Sports Saved America, which has been endorsed by former President Donald Trump.

Throughout the segment, Clay shares personal anecdotes and cultural observations that highlight the erosion of male identity in contemporary America. He recounts a moment with his son in a Target store, where the overwhelming presence of “girl power” messaging sparked a realization about the lack of positive male representation. He also discusses the impact of COVID-19 lockdowns on boys, particularly the cancellation of sports and school activities, which he argues contributed to a growing sense of disenfranchisement among young men.

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