Podcast Summary: The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

Episode: Hour 2 - Kimmel Comeback?

Date: September 22, 2025
Host: iHeartPodcasts

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode centers on the controversy surrounding Jimmy Kimmel's suspension from ABC, with Clay Travis and Buck Sexton dissecting the cultural, political, and corporate implications of his possible return to late-night TV. The hosts explore what Kimmel’s suspension and potential comeback say about “cancel culture,” corporate maneuvering (especially at Disney and its affiliates), and shifting political alignments in media. With humor and personal anecdotes, they emphasize the importance of consistency in defending free speech, the impacts of modern media consolidation, and how public controversies intertwine with big business deals and political calculations.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Difference Between “Suspension” and “Cancellation” (03:00-06:18)

• Buck opens the hour by clarifying the nuances between Jimmy Kimmel being "suspended" and truly "canceled," highlighting media confusion and the political uproar.
  • Quote: "The latest reporting is that Disney is considering bringing him back. So this would be a suspension. That's why the suspension versus cancellation is a very interesting part of the conversation." (Buck, 03:35)
• Buck asserts it’s Disney’s decision alone, with no government interference, pushing back against claims of state censorship.

2. Cancel Culture & Corporate Double Standards (06:18-09:08)

• Clay says unless one also defended Roseanne Barr and Gina Carano after their Disney-linked firings, complaints about Kimmel ring hollow.
  • Quote: "Unless you advocated for Roseanne Barr and unless you advocated for Gina Carano...then I don't want to hear a word from you about Jimmy Kimmel." (Clay, 06:18)
• Both hosts advocate for supporting free speech across ideological lines, regardless of personal feelings about those affected.
• Lighthearted personal anecdotes about their mothers defending them online add levity and connect the media conversation to real-life experiences.

3. The Real Corporate/Political Motivation Behind Kimmel's Suspension (10:52-14:21)

• Clay introduces a less-discussed angle: Disney’s desire to curry favor with the Trump administration as it tries to buy the NFL Network.
  • Quote: "I think Bob Iger saw this, saw an opportunity to just curry favor with the Trump administration by benching Jimmy Kimmel, potentially kicking him to the curb. And I don't think it was about Kimmel at all. I think it's about the NFL." (Clay, 12:07)
• Affiliates (Nexstar and Sinclair) may also be leveraging the controversy to gain future regulatory approval.
• The possibility is raised that affiliates could refuse to carry Kimmel’s show, even if ABC brings him back.
  • Quote: "Disney can't just snap their fingers and say, he's back. The affiliates have to agree to carry this show." (Clay, 26:06)

4. Boycotts, Brand Damage & The Barkley Principle (14:06-15:43)

• Buck argues Disney faces backlash from both sides and risks being boycotted by their core and opposed audiences alike.
• Clay shares a Charles Barkley quote about the futility of trying to please everyone:
  • Quote: "If you worry about trying to make the people who don't like you like you, then the people who do like you won't like you anymore." (Clay, 14:23)

5. Broader Media and Political Commentary (15:43-17:41)

• The hosts discuss making one's “circle of care” small—focus on family and direct impact, not external approval.
• Humorous references to generational differences (e.g., Clay’s sons teasing him for his socks) lighten the mood.

6. Listener Calls and Shifting Political Allegiances (22:18-27:33)

• A notable call comes from Cindy, a lifelong Democrat who voted for Trump in 2024. She reflects on why she, and potentially others, have switched allegiances due to disillusionment with her party’s leadership:
  • Quote: "I think I have made the switch. It's just a matter of putting pen to paper." (Cindy, 27:29)
• Clay and Buck highlight this as an example of their show influencing political "converts."

7. Official Statement & No Government Pressure (28:11-28:55)

• Caroline Levitt, White House Press Secretary, is played on air insisting the Kimmel suspension was an ABC-only decision, not Trump administration pressure.
  • Quote: "The decision to fire Jimmy Kimmel and to cancel his show came from executives at ABC...it did not come from the White House." (Caroline Levitt, 28:11)

8. What Should Disney Do? (29:17-31:38)

• Clay suggests the savvy move would be for Disney to permit Kimmel's return only if he apologizes and donates to a conservative cause—a move that would shift the spotlight of accountability to Kimmel himself.
• Buck highlights that the Wall Street Journal reported Kimmel wanted to double down on his original remarks, which contributed to his suspension.

9. Need For Diverse Perspectives in Media (32:42-33:42)

• Clay questions why shows like "The View" and Colbert’s never feature genuine ideological diversity, despite claiming otherwise.
  • Quote: "How can you have a show called the View, which does not have a variety of perspectives from guests?" (Clay, 32:49)
• Buck jokes the show should be called "The View"—singular, not plural.

10. Loyalty, Friendship, and Professional Integrity (34:39-35:50)

• Discuss Adam Carolla’s upcoming appearance and his friendship with Kimmel despite political differences, underscoring the importance of loyalty over ideology.

11. Hypocrisy in Free Speech Defense (43:46-46:45)

• Throwback to Kimmel gloating over Trump’s social media bans in 2020 reveals double standards in cancel culture debates.
  • Quote: "You can't scream First Amendment if you don't stand up for people who you disagree with often." (Clay, 44:32)
• Both hosts list past examples (Roseanne Barr, Gina Carano, tech executives) to illustrate selective outrage.
• Buck sums up: "If Democrats didn't have two sets of standards, they wouldn't have any standards." (Buck, 46:45)

Memorable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• "The latest reporting is that Disney is considering bringing him back. So this would be a suspension...a very interesting part of the conversation."
  — Buck Sexton (03:35)

• "Unless you advocated for Roseanne Barr and unless you advocated for Gina Carano...then I don't want to hear a word from you about Jimmy Kimmel."
  — Clay Travis (06:18)

• "I think Bob Iger saw this, saw an opportunity to just curry favor with the Trump administration by benching Jimmy Kimmel, potentially kicking him to the curb. And I don't think it was about Kimmel at all. I think it's about the NFL."
  — Clay Travis (12:07)

• "If you worry about trying to make the people who don't like you like you, then the people who do like you won't like you anymore."
  — Clay Travis (14:23, quoting Charles Barkley)

• "Disney can't just snap their fingers and say, he's back. The affiliates have to agree to carry this show."
  — Clay Travis (26:06)

• "I think I have made the switch. It's just a matter of putting pen to paper."
  — Cindy (Caller, 27:29)

• "The decision to fire Jimmy Kimmel and to cancel his show came from executives at abc. That has now been reported and I can assure you it did not come from the White House..."
  — Caroline Levitt (White House Press Secretary, 28:11)

• "How can you have a show called the View, which does not have a variety of perspectives from guests?"
  — Clay Travis (32:49)

• "You can't scream First Amendment if you don't stand up for people who disagree, who you disagree with often."
  — Clay Travis (44:32)

Notable Moments & Tone

• Personal anecdotes (e.g., Clay’s mother creating burner accounts to defend him, 08:14-09:08) bring humor and relatability.
• Ridicule is directed at hypocrisy in both Hollywood and corporate boardrooms, with biting sarcasm and playful banter.
  • Example: Buck's riff on The View as "one narrative" (33:42)
• The episode teases an upcoming interview with Adam Carolla, promising further inside perspectives on Kimmel.

Key Timestamps

| Time | Segment Description | |--------------|----------------------------------------------------------| | 03:00-05:12 | Opening: Kimmel’s “suspension,” not cancellation | | 06:18-09:08 | Cancel culture: Defending speech for all sides | | 10:52-14:21 | Disney’s corporate motives: Buying the NFL Network | | 14:06-15:43 | Boycotts, Barkley quote about pleasing everyone | | 22:18-24:26 | Caller Cindy shares journey from Democrat to Trump voter | | 26:06-26:55 | Affiliates might block Kimmel’s return, not Disney alone | | 28:11-28:55 | White House press secretary: No admin pressure | | 29:17-31:38 | What Disney should do: Demand apology and donation | | 32:42-33:42 | Lack of political diversity in late night & The View | | 34:39-35:50 | Loyalty in media friendships | | 43:46-46:45 | Kimmel’s old Trump jokes & hypocrisy on free speech |

Conclusion

In this episode, Clay and Buck dissect the ongoing Jimmy Kimmel suspension saga, using it as a lens to critique the selective application of cancel culture, the business-first logic of media conglomerates, and the inconsistent defense of free speech in American culture. With sharp insights, biting humor, and personal touches, they expose the intersection of entertainment, politics, and corporate self-interest—providing listeners with both information and amusement, even if they missed the original broadcast.