The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

Episode: Hour 1 – Consequence Culture

Date: September 18, 2025

Overview

In this episode, Clay Travis and Buck Sexton analyze the recent controversy surrounding Jimmy Kimmel's suspension—potentially permanent—after comments made about the Charlie Kirk assassination on his late night show. They explore how this incident ties into the broader debates on "cancel culture" versus "consequence culture," especially in light of similar high-profile firings from the past. The hosts delve into questions around free speech, the evolving rules for public figures, the shifting landscape of late-night TV, and the implications for corporate and political power dynamics. The episode also features reactions from public figures like Donald Trump and Stephen A. Smith, plus reflection on society's double standards.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Stage: What Happened to Jimmy Kimmel?

• Controversial Comment: Jimmy Kimmel made a claim on his show that suggested the assassin of Charlie Kirk was aligned with Trump supporters—a claim that was not substantiated and quickly drew backlash ([04:43]).
• Affiliate Backlash & Broadcast Dynamics:
  • Affiliates like Nexstar and Sinclair refused to air Kimmel's show following the incident, leading to uncertainty about if or when the show will return ([06:42]).
  • Clay explains that most local ABC affiliates are not owned by Disney, but by companies like Nexstar and Sinclair. These affiliates acted independently, highlighting the complexity of broadcast licensing ([05:30], [25:40]).
• Regulatory and Political Dimensions:
  • FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr reminded the public that broadcast networks, unlike cable, are subject to fairness obligations due to their use of public spectrum ([07:30]).

Clay Travis [07:48]:
“Disney basically decided, with Nexstar and Sinclair putting out public comments… that they were not going to be airing the Jimmy Kimmel show. There is no set return date. It is now turned into Jimmy Kimmel is seen as a martyr for free speech on the Left and those on the right are pointing out that this is consequence culture, not cancel culture.”

2. “Consequence Culture” vs. “Cancel Culture”

• Double Standards and Precedents:
  • Clay draws parallels to previous Disney firings, notably Roseanne Barr and Gina Carano, pointing out media and left-wing silence then versus outrage now ([09:40]).

Clay Travis [09:50]:
“When you create a culture where someone can be fired when they say something that is considered offensive, you have created the standards by which your own stars can also be fired… If you didn’t say a word about Roseanne and you didn’t say a word about Gina Carano, I don’t understand how you think you have the moral high horse to suddenly ride in and say, 'Oh my goodness, look at what they’re doing to Jimmy Kimmel.'”

• Buck’s Take:
  • Buck has “no sympathy” for Kimmel, relishes the turnabout in media power, and argues this is not a First Amendment matter ([10:55]).
  • He highlights that during COVID-19, right-wing voices were censored under government pressure—with little outcry from the left or mainstream media ([11:30]).
  • Buck criticizes a 2024 Supreme Court decision that he believes failed to address government-orchestrated private censorship ([12:45]).

3. First Amendment Nuances

• Distinction Between Government and Corporate Action:
  • The hosts detail how government cannot lawfully coerce private actors to suppress speech, and criticize the Supreme Court for not sufficiently recognizing this in recent precedent ([13:56]).
• Personal vs. Corporate Decisions:
  • Clay affirms that businesses can make content-based employment decisions but fears a world where anyone is fireable based on a viral comment or tweet ([14:37]).

Clay Travis [15:58]:
“I think you could fire Jimmy Kimmel if you think he’s not good for Disney—that’s how all businesses work. I personally don’t like the idea that he said something, even if I think it’s wrong, and that is going to be the action that suddenly he’s no longer employable…”

4. Is Late Night TV Still Relevant?

• Declining Audience & Industry Questions:
  • Trump’s response blames Kimmel’s ratings, not just the controversy, for his suspension—claiming Kimmel is “not a talented person” and should have been fired earlier ([22:16]).
  • Clay and Buck debate whether ABC, NBC, CBS can run successful, widely appealing late-night talk shows anymore in a fragmented media era (e.g., streaming/comedy specials vs. traditional TV) ([23:13], [35:33]).

Trump [22:16]:
“Jimmy Kimmel was fired because he had bad ratings more than anything else... he’s not a talented person… This is a similar situation to the Colbert thing…”

• The Gutfeld Example:
  • Fox News's Greg Gutfeld bucks the trend with strong ratings, but the hosts suggest this is due more to the FoxNews platform than just the late-night time slot ([23:33]).

5. Sinclair/Nexstar Demands & the Difficulty of Reinstatement

• Affiliate Statement:
  • Sinclair refuses to air Kimmel’s show until a public apology is issued to the Kirk family and a donation is made, setting a tough condition for Kimmel’s return ([25:40]).

Clay Travis [25:40]:
"Sinclair will not lift the suspension… until formal discussions are held with ABC… [and] calls upon Mr. Kimmel to issue a direct apology to the Kirk family… [and] a meaningful personal donation…”

• Turning Point USA Leadership Change:
  • Announcement that Erica Kirk, widow of Charlie Kirk, will become CEO of Turning Point USA ([26:55]).

6. Media Response & Societal Double Standards

• Stephen A. Smith’s Commentary:
  • Smith questions where the “joke” was and criticizes Kimmel for making a slap at Americans, not a comedic statement ([28:29]).

Stephen A. Smith [28:29]:
“The only thing that I would say as it pertains to Jimmy Kimmel was where was the joke? Because you're a late night host, and obviously that has a comedic attachment to it… Obviously it wasn't anything funny about that.”

• Selective Outrage:
  • Buck and Clay revisit Kimmel’s emotional TV response to the death of Cecil the Lion—pointing out the disparity in his public empathy for a lion versus a murdered conservative leader ([29:25], [32:20]).

Buck Sexton [32:20]:
“He can cry for Cecil the Lion, but he's mocking the Charlie Kirk supporters and saying that they won't deal with the reality that they're responsible for. I mean, think about the mentality.”

• Sinclair’s Programming Choice:
  • Sinclair is airing a Charlie Kirk tribute special during the Kimmel time slot, indicating not just suspension but active replacement with programming reflecting their values ([33:37]).

7. The Changing Comedy & Media Landscape

• Fragmentation and New Avenues:
  • The hosts talk about how the comedy ecosystem has shifted to streaming, social media, and TikTok, making legacy late-night slots less powerful and less able to draw broad, bipartisan appeal ([35:29]-[36:25]).
  • Example: UK comedian Jimmy Carr and others achieving huge audiences through podcasting and online channels ([36:05]).

8. Listener and Broader Reactions

• Caller from Honolulu:
  • Suggests that Kimmel and Colbert were network “useful idiots” for anti-Trump efforts; now, with Trump’s resurgence, there’s no longer a need for them ([44:14]).
• Clay’s Response:
  • Affirms the role of economics—low ratings, higher costs, and political shifts all merge to make Kimmel and Colbert expendable ([45:37]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Buck Sexton [10:55]:
  “The funniest thing that has involved Jimmy Kimmel in a long time is him getting ganked off the air. Ok. Like I think this is hilarious. I have no sympathy for him at all. He’s not a First Amendment martyr.”

• Clay Travis [09:50]:
  “…If you didn’t say a word about Roseanne and you didn’t say a word about Gina Carano, I don’t understand how you think you have the moral high horse…to suddenly…say, 'Oh my goodness, look at what they’re doing to Jimmy Kimmel.'”

• Donald Trump [22:16]:
  “Jimmy Kimmel was fired because he had bad ratings more than anything else. And he said a horrible thing about a great gentleman known as Charlie Kirk. And Jimmy Kimmel is not a talented person. He had very bad ratings and they should have fired him a long time ago.”

• Stephen A. Smith [28:29]:
  "The only thing that I would say as it pertains to Jimmy Kimmel was where was the joke? Because you're a late night host and obviously that has a comedic attachment to it."

• Buck Sexton [32:20]:
  “He can cry for Cecil the Lion, but he's mocking the whole, you know, the Charlie Kirk supporters… I mean, think about the mentality.”

Important Timestamps

• Jimmy Kimmel’s Controversial Comment & Fallout: [04:31] – [07:48]
• Comparisons to Roseanne, Gina Carano, Cancel Culture: [09:40] – [10:55]
• Supreme Court & Free Speech Discussion: [11:30] – [14:37]
• Trump’s Reaction: [22:16]
• Sinclair/Nexstar’s Demands & Statement: [25:40]
• Stephen A. Smith’s Commentary: [28:29]
• Kimmel's Cecile the Lion vs. Charlie Kirk Reaction: [29:25] – [33:37]
• Comedy Landscape Shifts: [35:29] – [37:41]
• Listener Reaction: [44:14]

Conclusion

Clay Travis and Buck Sexton use the Jimmy Kimmel suspension controversy as a springboard to examine the hypocrisy and complexity inherent in the modern culture wars over "cancel culture." They contend that the left, having built the framework for high-profile cancellations, now faces its own standards—and that the rules of engagement for free speech, comedy, and media power have permanently changed. The demise of legacy late-night TV is discussed against an ever-fragmenting media environment, with streaming and social media now setting the terms. Throughout, they highlight the shifting balance of political and economic power and urge listeners to see the current moment as both a consequence of past decisions and a sign of larger societal upheaval.