Real Coffee with Scott Adams: Episode 3094 - The Scott Adams School 02/13/26
Date: February 13, 2026
Host: Scott Adams (with co-hosts Erica, Owen Gregorian, Marcella, Sergio)
Episode Overview
This episode takes a deep dive into current news stories and world happenings, all examined through Scott Adams’ signature “persuasion filter.” The core four hosts bring their perspectives to topics ranging from brain science, online banking and gender, leadership psychology, the growing problem of cartel-operated drones, and US immigration enforcement updates. Expect lively debate and relatable personal anecdotes as they break down the big issues of the day in the familiar community tone Scott Adams fans appreciate.
Key Segments & Insights
1. Show Introduction & Community Announcement
[00:42 – 04:05]
- Erica welcomes listeners across multiple platforms and reaffirms the ongoing legacy of Scott Adams’ Coffee with Scott Adams and the Locals community.
- Plug for Scott’s content: Listeners are encouraged to subscribe to Scott’s Locals channel for in-depth, unconstrained interviews and community engagement.
- Recap of recent guest Brian Romelli and upcoming opportunities for fan questions.
2. Simultaneous Sip & Scott’s Opening
[04:05 – 05:26]
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Scott opens the episode with his famous “simultaneous sip” and humorously introduces the “hoax of the day.”
“You got your hoaxes. And we have a brand new hoax…the losers and suckers hoax. Goes well with the fine people hoax, the drinking bleach hoax…”
— Scott Adams [04:16] -
Entertains with his signature wit, referencing Michael Forrest Reanol, and kicks off a day packed with real and fake news.
3. Science: Brain Rewards and Anticipation
[05:39 – 08:24]
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Owen brings up a recent study on hippocampal neurons showing how brain reward peaks shift earlier with training (in this case, in mice).
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Key point: Our brains can “anticipate” rewards and get dopamine hits before the reward is actually received—anticipation itself becomes a reward.
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Scott Adams tie-in: Reference to Scott’s advice that intermittent rewards keep people motivated.
“It’s that whole dopamine cycle. Once you get into a habit that is rewarding, you start anticipating it, and the anticipation becomes better than the actual realization.”
— Owen Gregorian [07:33] -
The hosts riff—often humorously—about the joys of sneezing, and Scott’s trick for suppressing sneezes by visualizing the sneeze, with mixed results among the co-hosts.
4. Social Change: Online Banking & Household Money Power
[09:47 – 15:12]
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Owen discusses research showing that online banking is making women five times more likely to manage money independently within marriages, leveling the household financial playing field.
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The panel swaps personal stories about division of financial responsibility in their homes.
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Marcella raises the point about billionaires’ spouses and left-leaning philanthropic spending.
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Discussion expands to the challenges even rich people face in money management, referencing lottery winners and athletes.
“If you’re starting out poor and then you suddenly get millions or billions of dollars…it’s a difficult thing to manage…I think it really does depend on what your prior experience was.”
— Owen Gregorian [14:00]
5. Leadership Psychology: Study on Self-Esteem
[15:18 – 16:36]
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Owen relays new research: High self-esteem predicts leadership pursuit; low self-esteem triggers a “prevention focus.” He questions the value and novelty of such findings.
“I would probably counsel to focus on confidence rather than self-esteem because…I think self-esteem is like your personal opinion of yourself, and confidence is more how you present yourself.”
— Owen Gregorian [16:21] -
The group explores the difference between “self-esteem” and “confidence,” touching on “impostor syndrome.”
6. Crisis at the Border: Cartels & Combat Drones
[16:38 – 26:07]
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Highlight story: Mexican cartels are using drones daily for smuggling drugs, surveillance, attacks, and human trafficking, with up to 27,000 incidents along the US border in late 2024.
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Drones can carry up to 100 kg and have been weaponized since 2021, making countermeasures urgent.
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The US is testing laser technology to shoot down drones; recent Texas airport shutdown illustrates the frictions between federal agencies.
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Sergio, a drone pilot, gives first-hand perspective: Confirms rampant deployment of DJI (Chinese) drones by Mexican cartels; expresses concern about mistaken identity for legal drone operators.
“The main maker of drones is DJI, a Chinese company…cartels have been using those, you know, for war basically against each other and against the military.”
— Sergio [22:00] -
Panel expresses fears over the increasing difficulty of regulating drones and security risks of Chinese-made hardware.
“If China is making all the drone hardware and software, even if it’s the best stuff out there…they might even have some level of control over it or a kill switch…”
— Owen Gregorian [25:12]
7. Corporate Culture War: ICE & Border Patrol Confronted at 7-Eleven
[26:39 – 29:57]
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Viral video: Border Patrol agents reportedly denied service at a 7-Eleven (Speedway), with management explicitly declaring they “don’t support ICE.”
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Trump administration threatens to revoke government purchasing partnerships if such denials persist.
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Parallels drawn to previous incidents with other major brands boycotting or being boycotted due to political actions.
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The group laments the cycle of corporate boycotts and political weaponization of business.
“I would certainly counsel any business to just stay away from politics…you’re cutting off half your customer base.”
— Owen Gregorian [29:08]
8. Immigration Enforcement: Legal Wins & Departures
[30:00 – 36:37]
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Appeals court allows Trump administration to end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for tens of thousands from Nepal, Honduras, Nicaragua, heralded as a “win for the rule of law.”
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Marcella: Notes the significance given the Ninth Circuit’s liberal reputation.
“For the 9th Circuit to agree with the Trump administration is like winning the lottery…So what this means is the law is very clear…temporary protection.”
— Marcella [32:31]
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Voluntary Departures at record highs: 28–38% of detained illegal immigrants now leaving voluntarily, assisted by policies such as free flights home.
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Still, over 1.5 million with final deportation orders remain in the country, many with criminal convictions.
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Ice operations pulling out of Minnesota, with both sides declaring victory—a classic “two movies on one screen.”
“I think this definitely is a case…where both sides are going to claim victory…It really is a matter of perspective.”
— Owen Gregorian [35:54]
Memorable Moments and Notable Quotes
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Scott Adams’ signature satire on “hoaxes”:
“We have a brand new hoax. The hoax of the day. We don’t have a name for it yet. Let’s call it the losers and suckers hoax…”
— Scott Adams [04:16] -
On anticipation as reward:
“The anticipation becomes better than the actual realization.”
— Owen Gregorian [07:33] -
On personal finances in marriage:
“I’d bring him a sandwich…But then he’d get upset again…and then I was like, why don’t I just take that from you?”
— Erica [11:42] -
On drone security concerns:
“It might also mean that they’re watching everything you do with it and…have some level of control over it or a kill switch…”
— Owen Gregorian [25:12] -
On corporate boycotts:
“Now they’re going to get boycotted by the left. It’s a vicious cycle.”
— Owen Gregorian [29:26]
Timestamps Guide to Main Segments
- Intro & Community: [00:42 – 04:05]
- Simultaneous Sip & Scott’s Opener: [04:05 – 05:26]
- Brain Reward/Anticipation Study: [05:39 – 08:24]
- Sneezing, Habit & Dopamine Chat: [07:56 – 09:43]
- Online Banking & Gender Power: [09:47 – 15:12]
- Leadership Psychology Study: [15:18 – 16:36]
- Cartel Drones & Border Security: [16:38 – 26:07]
- ICE at 7-Eleven Incident: [26:39 – 29:57]
- Immigration Law Moves & Two Movies: [30:00 – 36:37]
Conclusion
For listeners who haven’t tuned in, this episode captures the lively, insightful, and sometimes tongue-in-cheek approach of the Scott Adams School crew. From neuroscience to geopolitics, they cover a wide range—always with an eye for how narratives are constructed, manipulated, or misunderstood in the modern persuasion-laden media environment. The news curation, combined with open back-and-forth and real-world examples, makes for a rich, accessible analysis of current events.