The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

Episode: Daily Review with Clay and Buck - Feb 16, 2026
Date: February 16, 2026
Podcast: The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show (iHeartPodcasts)

Episode Overview

On this special President's Day episode, Clay Travis and Buck Sexton guide listeners through the biggest stories in politics and culture, focusing on progressive missteps, historical revisionism, and the decline of intellectual rigor on the American left. With their signature blend of humor and sharp commentary, Clay and Buck address topics ranging from AOC's performance at the Munich Security Conference and Gavin Newsom’s remarks in Germany, to the legacy of Robert Duvall and the changing representations of fatherhood in pop culture.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. President's Day Reflections & Media Work Ethic

Timestamps: 01:55–03:57

• Buck and Clay note that while President's Day is a federal holiday, only around 20% of private industry workers get the day off.
• They joke about their own demanding schedules in media, contrasting themselves with high-earning hosts like Rachel Maddow.
• Buck plugs his forthcoming book, "Manufacturing Delusion," about leftist propaganda.

“One day we'll be on that Rachel Maddow one day a week, $30 million a year gig. But in the meantime, we're here to bring you all the news.” — Buck Sexton (03:57)

2. AOC, Rubio, and Foreign Policy Ignorance

Timestamps: 04:37–14:44

• Clay and Buck focus on Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's muddled responses at the Munich Security Conference, specifically her inability to answer if the US should defend Taiwan.
• They mock the incoherence and lack of depth in her reply, likening it to “Miss South Carolina’s” infamous beauty pageant flub.
• The hosts offer the simple, "strategic ambiguity" answer they believe even an amateur should give.
• Buck notes AOC’s inability to even sense which viewpoint her base expects.
• They highlight AOC's identity politics-based critiques of Rubio's defense of Western civilization and her simplistic view of “whiteness” versus “real” cultures.

“It's law school class and AOC got called on by the professor, and not only did she fail to do the reading, she doesn't know what case they're talking about.” — Buck Sexton (06:41)

“To me, this kind of answer is disqualifying... What we should do if China invades Taiwan is one of the constant hypotheticals... anyone in American politics should be able to answer just immediately.” — Clay Travis (08:14)

3. Historical Revisionism, Identity Politics, and Cultural Literacy

Timestamps: 10:59–15:00

• Clay and Buck dissect AOC’s comments on Western culture and her misinformed “history of cowboys,” emphasizing the left's confused or willful ignorance about historical facts.
• They critique the left’s fixation on identity politics, colonizer/colonized victim narratives, and the undermining of shared history in favor of superficial division.

“She doesn't know that the natives got their horses from the Spanish conquistadors. She doesn't know, it seems, that Mexicans are descendants of Spaniards.” — Buck Sexton (11:25)

“Identity politics has so overtaken the Democrat Party…they cannot look at anything outside the prism of colonizer and colonized.” — Clay Travis (14:18)

4. Tribute: The Legacy of Robert Duvall

Timestamps: 20:25–22:50

• The hosts share the news of legendary actor Robert Duvall’s passing at 95.
• They discuss Duvall’s iconic roles, from “The Godfather” to “Lonesome Dove,” and the enduring impact of films like "Godfather I & II."
• Buck expresses the timelessness of "The Godfather" versus other dated classics.

“The Godfather is kind of a universally celebrated film… Godfather 1 is incredible still to this day.” — Buck Sexton (22:11)

“I think you can make an argument Godfather 2 is better than Godfather 1, which is one of the rare of all time sequels…” — Clay Travis (22:21)

5. Ongoing Saga: Nancy Guthrie Ransom Letters

Timestamps: 22:50–24:49

• Clay provides an update on the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, mentioning that a fourth ransom letter has surfaced.
• Coverage is described as "obsessive," with little clarity gained from the steady stream of letters and little progress in the investigation.

6. Gavin Newsom in Germany: Comparing ICE to Nazis

Timestamps: 24:49–27:40

• Gavin Newsom, speaking in Germany, likens ICE agents to Nazis—a move Clay and Buck find both tone-deaf and offensive, especially given the location's historic weight.
• Buck points out the cyclical and opportunistic use of Nazi comparisons by Democrats, especially post-2024 assassination attempt on Trump.

“It's even more absurd to go to the birthplace of legitimate Nazis and argue that ICE are Nazis.” — Clay Travis (26:51)

“The people who are saying, hey, maybe we tone down the Nazi rhetoric are people who have said, he's a Nazi.” — Buck Sexton (27:40)

7. The Media Bubble: Left vs Right Intellectual Rigor

Timestamps: 29:53–34:16

• Commentary on media echo chambers—Clay and Buck lament refusal by left-leaning figures/talk shows to engage conservatives, citing “The View” and Bill Maher.
• Buck asserts right-wing commentators are generally sharper from constantly facing pushback, unlike their "flabby" leftist counterparts.

“The right wing ecosystem was one of constant, you know, iron sharpens iron, right? It was constant heat and challenge and difficulty….” — Buck Sexton (32:02)

8. President Rankings & Historical Memory

Timestamps: 36:08–43:02

• Clay reviews a new ranking of American presidents: Lincoln (1), JFK (2), Washington (3), which surprises both hosts.
• They discuss the shifting reputations of figures like Jackson and Hamilton; how historical narratives serve political interests.
• Buck notes rewriting history is a power tactic for the present.

“These fights over history are actually fights over the narrative in the present…” — Buck Sexton (40:33)

9. Obama Interview Analysis: Division, Toughness, and Race

Timestamps: 43:02–48:01

• Buck and Clay play and critique recent Obama interview clips.
• Obama contrasts the "nice, inclusive" left with the "mean, divisive" right, referencing pop culture (Bad Bunny’s halftime show).
• Hosts dissect Obama’s claims, citing BLM riots, divisive policies, and the reality of Obama-era government overreach.

“Barack Obama's tenure was, I think more than anything else, characterized by bringing back race riots in the 21st century.” — Buck Sexton (44:41)

10. Pop Culture Discussion: Good Guys vs. Anti-Heroes & Decline of Positive Father Figures

Timestamps: 55:01–67:55

• Inspired by the passing of Robert Duvall and a listener call, the hosts segue into an analysis of Hollywood’s evolving depiction of masculinity and fatherhood.
• Buck and Clay reminisce on ‘80s and ‘90s TV shows with positive paternal figures (“Full House,” “Fresh Prince,” “Family Matters”) and bemoan the modern rise of the flawed/absent dad or anti-hero.
• They debate the lasting cultural effect of shows and movies where criminals or morally ambivalent characters are glorified, contrasting the mafia's generous pop culture treatment with the brutal reality.

"There is a huge demand, I think for dads and moms who live in a house and like each other… I think that there is an ample opportunity to satisfy a market that has not been served in a long time with good options there." — Clay Travis (67:55)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On modern left-wing discourse:
  “Identity politics has so overtaken the Democrat Party...they cannot look at anything outside the prism of colonizer and colonized.” — Clay Travis (14:18)

• On AOC's performance:
  “She doesn't even know which side of this she's supposed to be on.” — Buck Sexton (09:22)

• On defining culture:
  “What is brownness? What are black and brown people? In her context? This is what's so...” — Buck Sexton (14:09)

• On positive dads in pop culture:
  "Coach Eric Taylor, Friday Night Lights, last great dad character on television." — Clay Travis (59:51)

• On mainstream narrative control:
  "These fights over history are actually fights over the narrative in the present. There is power at the end stake with the history that we believe or with the history that we accept." — Buck Sexton (40:33)

Important Segment Timestamps

| Segment | Timestamps | |-------------------------------------------------|--------------| | President's Day, Media Schedules | 01:55–03:57 | | AOC / Taiwan Foreign Policy Segment | 04:37–14:44 | | Identity Politics & Historical Revisionism | 10:59–15:00 | | Robert Duvall Tribute & The Godfather | 20:25–22:50 | | Nancy Guthrie Ransom Letters | 22:50–24:49 | | Newsom Nazis Remark in Germany | 24:49–27:40 | | Media Bubble & Left-Right Rigor | 29:53–34:16 | | President Rankings & Historical Narratives | 36:08–43:02 | | Obama Interview & BLM/Race Politics | 43:02–48:01 | | Pop Culture, Dads, & Anti-heroes | 55:01–67:55 |

Tone and Style

• The episode is conversational, humorous, and at times caustic—typical of Clay and Buck’s brand.
• There is a strong undercurrent of cultural critique, with a focus on how the political left is failing intellectually and morally.

For Listeners New to the Show

This episode is a robust sampler of everything Clay and Buck are known for:

• Sharp media and political analysis
• Poking fun at left-wing foibles
• Cultural nostalgia and critique of pop culture’s direction
• Deeply conservative perspective—unapologetic, combative, and laced with humor

Whether you’re interested in hot-button news stories or the underlying trends shaping American discourse, the President’s Day broadcast delivers an energetic, wide-ranging take.