The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show
Hour 1 - "Remember Operation Chaos?"
Date: February 26, 2026
Podcast: iHeartPodcasts
Hosts: Clay Travis and Buck Sexton
Episode Overview
In this energetic and news-packed first hour, Clay Travis and Buck Sexton dive into the mechanics and political intrigue of "Operation Chaos" in the context of the 2026 Texas primaries. Revisiting Rush Limbaugh's famed campaign to encourage partisan crossover voting, the hosts explore whether Republicans are now employing similar strategies by voting in the Democratic primaries to boost weaker candidates. The discussion expands to recent controversies involving FBI surveillance of Trump advisors, media manipulation, the physical vigor of Donald Trump versus Joe Biden, and strategic voting’s impact on both major parties. The episode blends humor, personal anecdotes, and incisive political analysis, with live listener call-ins that underline the show’s interactive and grassroots feel.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Guests Preview and Current Headlines (02:43–04:32)
- Upcoming Guests:
- Brendan Carr (FCC Chairman) in Hour 2
- Dr. Marty McCary (FDA Commissioner) at 2:30
- Media & Legal Headlines:
- Hillary Clinton testifies about never meeting Jeffrey Epstein; Bill Clinton to follow.
- Paramount vs. Netflix vs. Warner Bros. streaming rivalry.
2. FBI Surveillance of Trump Campaign Staff (04:32–09:04)
- Clay highlights a shocking report:
- Susie Wiles (Trump's 2024 campaign manager) allegedly placed under FBI surveillance. Her lawyer knew, she did not.
- Clay: “As a lawyer...I can't imagine ever agreeing while I was representing someone without my client knowing that we were being listened to.” (05:14)
- Buck contextualizes the post-2024 legal attacks and assassination attempts on Trump:
- Reflects on Democrats’ drive to not just prosecute Trump, but pursue his allies.
- “These Democrats were on a ruthless rampage of political retribution against Trump...” (07:22)
- Mentions normalization of weaponizing the justice system and attempts to remove Trump from the ballot.
3. The Orchestration of Legal Prosecution Against Trump (09:04–11:15)
- Clay recalls warnings about Fani Willis coordinating Trump charges from Atlanta to DC.
- Explains the Democrats' 2024 “courtroom trap” plan:
- “Their plan was to keep President Trump in courtrooms for the entirety of the 2024 political cycle...to imprison him… to bankrupt him.” (09:30)
- Trump's physical stamina spotlighted:
- “Trump stood up and spoke ... for nearly two hours at 80 years old.” (10:36)
- Clay points out how unusual this is compared to most octogenarians, taking a jab at Biden’s comparative capacities.
4. Book Rankings, Media Manipulation, and Bulk Buys (11:15–13:38)
- Buck celebrates #4 on the NYT Bestseller List for his book Manufacturing Delusion and discusses the oddities of bestseller rankings.
- Possible gamesmanship with “bulk buys” and media promotion for more liberal authors.
5. CNN Admits Trump’s Popularity Surge After Address (14:44–16:04)
- Clay shares CNN data showing Trump’s approval jumped 10 points after a recent speech.
- “That was...the most patriotic pro-America State of the Union that we have seen in a very, very long time.” (15:11) – Clay
6. Texas Primaries: Strategic Crossover Voting & ‘Operation Chaos’ (16:04–39:27)
- Launches into possible Republican “Operation Chaos”—voting for Jasmine Crockett in the Texas Democratic primary to boost a weaker opponent for GOP advantage.
- “Are you voting for Jasmine Crockett as a Republican to help her be the nominee?” (17:42) – Clay
- Listener Call-Ins and Anecdotes:
- Multiple conservative listeners confess to Democratic primary votes strictly for strategy.
- John in Austin: “Diehard Republican, but just voted for Jasmine Crockett.” (23:16)
- Phil in Houston: “Voted for Jasmine Crockett... Voted for Bernie Sanders once because I thought Trump had the best shot at beating him.” (23:45)
- Ken in Houston: “Thought Jasmine would be an easier one to defeat.” (28:10)
- Jamie in Houston: “I would never vote out of the party... our gubernatorial races... are extremely important right now.” (31:54)
- Allen in Las Vegas: “Politics is a dirty game... Good to see our side is starting to learn [strategic voting].” (39:04)
- Multiple conservative listeners confess to Democratic primary votes strictly for strategy.
- Clay explains open vs. closed primaries and strategic tradeoffs.
- “If you are a Republican for Jasmine Crockett, you are giving away your opportunity to weigh in on those other races.” (26:33)
7. Rush Limbaugh’s ‘Operation Chaos’ Revisited (43:52–45:14)
- Audio flashback to Rush Limbaugh:
- Recaps 2008 origins and current Texas context.
- “Operation Chaos created by me, 2008… get Republicans in primary states... to vote for Hillary to keep the Democrat race going…” (43:53–44:19)
- New data: As many as 5% of Texas Democratic primary voters previously voted Republican.
- Recaps 2008 origins and current Texas context.
8. Political Sidebars & Memorable Moments
- Fake hate crimes and media manipulation:
- Buck suggests, tongue-in-cheek, that Jasmine Crockett “play the Democrat playbook” and stage a fake incident for fundraising, referencing the Jussie Smollett scandal. (35:54–38:16)
- Running for President = Career Boost:
- “No one loses by running for president.” (33:32) – Clay
- Buck: “Even if she loses, she wins. Even if she's not somebody who's able—” (33:05)
- The absurdities of strategic primary voting games, the “Colbert Bump,” and political fundraising dynamics discussed with humor and a competitive edge.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- Clay Travis on FBI allegations:
- “This report, this story is out there. The fact that she was under FBI surveillance while being the campaign manager is crazy in and of itself.” (05:04)
- Buck Sexton on legal retribution:
- “These Democrats were... on a ruthless rampage of political retribution against Trump.” (07:22)
- Clay Travis on Trump’s State of the Union stamina:
- “Trump stood up and spoke for nearly two hours at 80 years old... just how remarkable it is for that context.” (10:36)
- Rush Limbaugh Flashback (Clip):
- “Operation Chaos created by me 2008... now the media is talking about Operation Chaos happening in Texas.” (43:53)
- Listener John, on voting for the other party:
- “Operation Chaos lives...” (23:20)
- Clay Travis sums up the strategy:
- “If you are comfortable with any of the Republican candidates, and strategically you’re like Jasmine Crockett’s going to lose to all three... that was the more important choice for me to make.” (28:56)
- Buck on “victimhood” in politics:
- “If being a victim of a crime is the greatest thing that could happen to you, maybe we should all be a little bit more skeptical about the fact that you were a victim of a crime.” (36:26)
- Clay on freezing climates for protests:
- "I wouldn’t protest anything if it's zero degrees... I wouldn't watch the Super Bowl if you gave me tickets and it's zero degrees outside." (38:16)
Key Timestamps
| Timestamp | Segment/Topic | |------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:43 | Upcoming guests; overview of big headlines | | 04:32 | FBI surveillance of Susie Wiles, Trump’s campaign manager | | 06:25 | Buck contextualizes post-2024 legal proceedings against Trump | | 09:04 | Orchestration of Trump prosecutions; “courtroom trap” | | 10:36 | Trump’s physical and mental fitness versus Biden | | 11:15 | Book rankings, bestseller list shenanigans | | 14:44 | CNN’s poll: Trump’s post-speech popularity jump | | 16:04 | Texas primaries & 'Operation Chaos'—call-in segment begins | | 23:16 | John in Austin: strategic crossover voting confessed | | 28:10 | Ken in Houston: strategic calculation for Jasmine Crockett | | 33:32 | “No one loses by running for president” – career boost logic | | 35:54 | Buck jokes about “fake hate crimes” for political advantage (Smollett reference) | | 39:04 | Allen in LV: lessons from Harry Reid, the value of strategic voting | | 43:52 | Rush Limbaugh flashback: “Operation Chaos” explained, Texas context | | 45:49 | Clay notes: Democratic primary votes now outpace Republican, possible Operation Chaos impact |
Tone and Style Notes
- The hosts balance pointed political analysis with self-deprecating humor and good-natured ribbing.
- Confessional, interactive vibe as listeners phone in to reveal strategic voting choices.
- Frequent callbacks to political history (Rush Limbaugh, Jussie Smollett, State of the Union Addresses).
- Language and anecdotes are direct, lively, and conversational, maintaining Clay & Buck's trademark blend of irreverence and insight.
Wrap Up
This hour brings the mechanics and mischief of primary politics to life, illustrating how seasoned political players (and their audiences) are learning to game the system—sometimes taking pointers straight from the history books. Whether reviewing the surge in strategic crossover voting or unpacking the backroom drama of presidential campaign surveillance, Clay and Buck deliver an hour that’s both informative and packed with punchlines, making the complex world of American elections feel accessible and, above all, entertaining.