The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

Hour 3 – Adam Carolla Calls In

Date: September 22, 2025
Podcast: The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show
Host: iHeartPodcasts

Episode Overview

In this third hour, Clay Travis and Buck Sexton are joined by comedian and commentator Adam Carolla for a wide-ranging conversation. They tackle the ongoing controversy around Jimmy Kimmel and Disney, the state of free speech, shifts in corporate America's politics, maintaining friendships across political divides, the resurgence of comedy, California’s rebuilding woes post-wildfires, and Adam’s personal experience with hiring practices in LA’s fire department. The episode also touches on broader trends in politics, the increasing friction around transgender issues in policy and crime, the branding struggles of the Democratic Party, and the changing landscape of media and comedy.

Main Topics & Key Discussion Points

1. Adam Carolla on the Jimmy Kimmel Controversy and Free Speech

Timestamps: 04:36–12:04

• No Real Victims Amongst the Wealthy

  • Carolla puts controversies in context, stressing that “Everybody's going to land on their feet... Everyone’s doing just fine.” He downplays claims of true victimhood among celebrities like Jimmy Kimmel and Trump (04:36).

• Freedom of Speech and Accountability

  • Emphasizes support for both free expression and consequences: "People should be free to say whatever they want... and then whoever pays them should also be free to fire them” (06:20).

• The Corporate ‘Battleship’ Turning

  • Notes a slow shift in corporate America, especially post-Trump: “The companies are going to go wherever the money is going, but sometimes they’re like a battleship. It takes a while to turn around.” (07:50)
  • Observes edgier, more ‘masculine’ marketing replacing social-justice-heavy ads, referencing Michael Jordan’s famous “Republicans buy sneakers too” (07:50).

• On Apologies and Responsibility

  • Carolla describes Kimmel as not being "a big apologizer," but notes Kimmel cares about his staff’s livelihoods, leading to a personal and professional dilemma if forced to apologize or if the show ends (09:21).

2. Maintaining Cross-Political Friendships

Timestamps: 10:29–12:04

• Friendship Over Politics

  • Despite political differences with Kimmel, Carolla keeps their friendship based on common history and mutual respect:
    "Just because you disagree politically doesn’t mean you have to hate the person... not have dinner with the person." (10:42)

• Setting a Good Example:

  • “When there’s a divorce, it’s incumbent upon the parents to act responsibly in front of the kids... I feel like a little bit of a fiduciary duty to... not ruin Thanksgiving because you guys have different political beliefs.” (10:42)

3. The Resurgence of Comedy and Freedom in Art

Timestamps: 12:04–13:55

• Freer Times, Funnier Times
  • Carolla argues that comedy thrives in free environments:
    "Best time for comedy is always going to be the freest time for comedy. That’ll be the best time for all artistic expression." (12:51)
  • Compares stifling environments—such as not speaking freely in a restaurant when someone’s listening—to constraints on comics (12:51).

4. California Wildfire Rebuilding: Carolla’s Firsthand Observations

Timestamps: 13:55–15:50

• Zero Progress in Malibu
  • Carolla, with a construction background, documents almost no post-fire rebuilding in Malibu:
    "There is 100% zero work going on in Malibu... It’s permit, it’s red tape, it’s Coastal Commission, city, it’s the city council, it’s all of the above." (14:38)
  • He predicted it would be an endless bureaucratic ordeal from day one (15:50).

5. Adam Carolla’s LA Fire Department Application Story & DEI

Timestamps: 15:50–18:09

• Seven-Year Delayed Test Due to Racial Quotas
  • Carolla shares he applied to be an LA firefighter and was told:
    "We're not really hiring white guys right now."
    He waited seven years for a testing opportunity while a black woman next to him signed up and took the test within a week (16:12).
  • Memorable exchange:
    Clay Travis: "So you had to wait seven years to take the test... Black woman in line with you signed up and got the test that week." (17:48)

6. Broader Listener and Audience Reflections on 'Preference Points'

Timestamps: 23:11–24:38

• Call-In Testimony:
  • Listener Matt from Wisconsin recounts losing out on a police job due to ‘preference points’ for minority, female, and disabled applicants (23:44).
  • "20 years ago...wrote an exam for our state police... I got surpassed by somebody who was a minority female with a disability... this has been going on for about 20 years." (23:44)

7. Political Trends, Transgender Policy Controversy, and Democratic Messaging

Timestamps: 25:30–37:59

• 2024/2025 Electoral Landscape

  • CNN's Harry Enton: "Republicans who are running with the ball on the top issues—the economy, immigration, and crime." (26:10)

• Transgender Issues & Crime

  • Discussion of multiple recent violent incidents associated with trans individuals, growing public awareness of “trans violence,” and administrative responses (29:15).
  • Buck: "It used to be that transgenderism was considered something that alone was grounds for serious mental health treatment..." (30:00)

• Democrats’ Struggles and ‘Non-Answers’

  • Rep. Abigail Spanberger refuses to directly answer on biological males in female sports and bathrooms:
    Reporter: “Do you personally support these policies?” (32:15) Buck Sexton: “We know why and she won’t and I’m dizzy from her answer. That was a remarkable series of just non sequiturs.” (32:34)

• AOC, Bernie, and the Democrats’ Identity Crisis

  • Discussion of party leaders dodging tough questions to avoid alienating moderate/older voters (35:40–37:28).
  • Clay Travis: “If you’ll lie to me about this, I can’t trust you on anything else." (32:46)
  • On AOC’s presidential ambitions: “She wants all of the benefits that come with making a lot of money without having made the money themselves.” (37:59)

8. The State and Future of Late-Night Comedy

Timestamps: 45:26–46:59

• Listener Suggests: Bring Back Conan

  • Clay and Buck note Conan O'Brien’s politics are still left-leaning, and late-night comedy is now highly partisan (45:26).

• Nate Bargatze as a Model

  • Clay suggests a nonpartisan comic like Nate Bargatze could be a late-night host hoping to appeal to broader audiences, but isn’t sure there’s modern demand for that format (45:53).
  • Buck points out that podcasting and streaming specials have shifted the landscape for comedians and late-night shows (46:45).

• Empowerment Outside TV Executives

  • "The ability of TV executives to end your career on a whim... that’s not how it works anymore. You’re talented and you have an audience, plenty of places for you to go to work your craft." (46:59)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Adam Carolla on Hollywood and Accountability:

  "People should be free to say whatever they want... and then whoever pays them should also be free to fire them." (06:20)

• Adam Carolla on Kimmel’s Quandary:

  “He’s not planning on apologizing... On the other hand, if the show goes away, there’s a lot of people that are going to be out of jobs, and he feels responsible for those people.” (09:21)

• Carolla on Friendship in a Divided America:

  “Just because you disagree politically doesn’t mean you have to hate the person, not break bread with the person, not have dinner with the person.” (10:42)

• On the ‘Salad Days’ of Comedy:

  “Best time for comedy is always going to be the freest time for comedy... If you’re kind of looking over your shoulder... it's never going to be the best version of what you’re going to have to say.” (12:51)

• Carolla’s Fire Department Story:

  “I just said, can I sign up to be a fireman? And the guy said, yeah, fill this out... but don't hold your breath... we’re not really hiring white guys right now.” (16:12)
  “...a young black woman behind me... I said ‘When did you sign up?’ She said ‘Tuesday.’” (17:48)

• Clay Travis on Political Honesty:

  "If you’ll lie to me about this [trans issues and women’s sports], I can’t trust you on anything else." (32:46)

• Buck Sexton on Media Power:

  "The ability of TV executives to end your career on a whim... that's not how it works anymore." (46:59)

Important Segments & Timestamps

• Adam Carolla Joins, Discussion of Free Speech & Kimmel: 04:36–09:21
• Adam on Friendship with Kimmel, Handling Political Differences: 10:29–12:04
• Comedy and Artistic Expression in a Freer Era: 12:04–13:55
• California Wildfires and Bureaucratic Delays: 13:55–15:50
• Firefighter Application and DEI in LA: 15:50–18:09
• Listener Call: Affirmative Action in Police Hiring: 23:44–24:38
• Trans Issues and Violence Trends: 29:15–32:46
• Democrat Messaging & AOC’s Positioning: 32:46–37:28
• State of Late-Night Comedy & Industry Change: 45:26–46:59

Overall Tone and Takeaways

The episode blends light-hearted banter with pointed political commentary, embodying both intelligence and irreverence. Adam Carolla’s candor and personal anecdotes ground the cultural debates, while Clay and Buck contextualize the issues within broader patterns in politics, media, and business. The show ultimately advocates for nuance, freedom of speech, and personal relationships over ideological divides, while highlighting the ongoing evolution of American culture and entertainment.