The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show
Episode: Hour 3 - Brendan Carr Challenges TV Gatekeepers
Date: January 23, 2026
Podcast: The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show
Host: iHeartPodcasts
Episode Overview
This episode centers on FCC Chairman Brendan Carr’s recent letter to television broadcasters and the debate about equal time for political candidates on broadcast TV, particularly surrounding shows such as “The View” and late-night talk shows. The conversation delves into the legalities of the Fairness Doctrine and broadcast regulations, the implications for media gatekeeping and partisanship, current media consolidation issues, and coverage of prominent political stories. The guest segment also features Mary Margaret Olohan (Daily Wire), who provides on-the-ground insight into Vice President J.D. Vance’s visit to Minneapolis and the ongoing protests and media dynamics in Washington, D.C.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. FCC Equal Time Rules and Media Classification
(00:05 – 10:37)
Brendan Carr’s Letter to TV Broadcasters
- Intent: Carr sent a letter reminding broadcasters of their legal responsibilities under the equal time provision, clarifying the rules for candidate appearances on broadcast TV.
- Core Principle: Broadcast TV and radio use public airwaves and must provide equal opportunity to candidates—not about censorship, but about fairness in using public resources.
"It's not about censorship or shutting down debate; it's about making sure that unique access... isn't being put to the partisan advantage of a Republican or a Democrat."
— Brendan Carr (01:18) - Bonafide News Program Exception: If a show is categorized as a "bona fide news program," it’s exempt from equal time rules, but Carr argues not all talk and late-night shows qualify.
The Enforcement Mechanism
- Remedies: If a program isn’t a bona fide news show but hosts a candidate, they must notify the FCC, giving opposing candidates a chance for equal time.
“If there's a pattern of disregarding that FCC rule, that becomes a problem for them in terms of the underlying license itself.”
— Brendan Carr (03:38) - Penalties: Can range from mandated equal airtime, fines, or even impacting broadcast licenses for repeat offenders.
Notable Cultural/Political Criticism
- Left-Leaning Resistance: Carr notes political pushback appears most fervent from the left.
“At least one side of the political aisle seems to be very upset with it, which I guess means maybe they think they've been getting more than equal [time].”
— Brendan Carr (04:12)
Case Study: "The View" and Lack of Conservative Guests
- Clay shares attempts to get invited to “The View”:
“We reached out to the producers… never responded. Almost all their guests are left-wing.”
— Clay Travis (05:14) - Carr opines on shows like “The View”:
“If you’re putting ninety-eight Democrat candidates on and one or no Republican candidates, you know, it’s going to be a pretty uphill fight to say we're just out here bringing people on for newsworthy value.”
— Brendan Carr (06:09)
Next Steps for Enforcement
- Carr urges candidates to notify the FCC if they feel slighted by unbalanced coverage on non-news shows.
“If you're a Republican or Democrat or independent...and we’re seeing candidates on a show that's not bona fide news...we’re prepared to step in.”
— Brendan Carr (07:09)
2. Media Backlash and Late-night Satire
(07:42 – 10:37)
Late Night Response: Jimmy Kimmel
-
Buck reads a Kimmel monologue mocking Carr:
“Trump’s little ferret in the FCC... is trying to say we no longer qualify for the bona fide news exemption... a sneaky little way of keeping viewpoints that aren’t his off the air.”
— Jimmy Kimmel (07:52) -
Carr responds with humor:
“I think that’s pretty funny... Makes me think I should change my Twitter profile to a ferret with an FCC hat on it. That’s probably one of the funniest things I’ve seen coming out of late night in a while.”
— Brendan Carr (09:00)
The Big Picture
- Carr reiterates that bona fide news programs should give equal time over the long run—even if not always symmetric week-to-week:
“If you've got the ball at the five-yard line for years and years on end, it's hard to make the case that you're fulfilling your licensed obligation...”
— Brendan Carr (09:55)
3. Media Consolidation and Streaming Power
(10:37 – 15:25)
Mergers & Antitrust
- Buck and Clay examine the FCC's role amid media mergers such as Netflix and Paramount bidding for Warner Bros., and Disney/ESPN potentially acquiring NFL Network.
- FCC Oversight: Limited direct oversight; DOJ is the primary regulator in such mergers, but the FCC may review licensing implications if broadcast assets are involved.
“One of my north stars in media policies: How do we make sure that licensed broadcasters... have a better position to stand up with and compete against... national programmers...”
— Brendan Carr (12:07)
The Decline of Classic Broadcast Influence
-
As the audience migrates to streaming, the FCC's regulatory impact lessens:
“In the future, the FCC impact and just the larger governmental impact is minimal and the overall power of these streamers is continuing to grow.”
— Clay Travis (13:46) -
NFL Broadcast Rights: The future of sports broadcasting (NFL rights expiring soon) will further shift influence if top content moves to streaming paywalls.
"A really significant fork in the road... is the expiration of the NFL TV broadcast rights coming up in the next two years.”
— Brendan Carr (15:06)
4. On-the-Ground Political Reporting: Minneapolis Protests
(19:00 – 30:20)
Mary Margaret Olohan (Daily Wire) Reports with VP J.D. Vance
- Olohan describes the intensity and organization behind ongoing protests in Minneapolis, chronicling the DOJ’s pursuit of charges against rioters and the difficult conditions for both law enforcement and protesters.
“They are protesting in some really wretched conditions... they are very passionate about what they're doing if they're staying out there for this.”
— Mary Margaret Olohan (21:49) - Coverage of difficulties faced by ICE and local law enforcement, media misinformation, and the strategic response of the Trump administration.
Paid Protesters and Media Narratives
- Mary Margaret details the presence of professional activists—many paid and traveling city to city—fueling protest momentum.
“A lot of these people are coming from out of town, they're being paid to promote this kind of chaos and as long as there are actors that are doing that then I think the protesting will continue.”
— Mary Margaret Olohan (26:56) - Critique of mainstream media for perpetuating unverified or false reports (e.g., “ICE detaining 5-year-olds”) and failing to show the full context of such protests.
5. White House Press Access: Trump vs. Biden
(30:20 – 32:27)
- Olohan testifies to the dramatically increased media access under Trump compared to Biden:
“...people joke to me all the time, legacy reporters, about Biden and his tenure and how when he was there, the White House was so quiet... you might get like two questions into Biden in the course of a year or in the course of the administration...”
— Mary Margaret Olohan (31:08) - Praises the open question policy and energetic political environment in the current administration.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Equal Time & FCC’s Role:
“If you are a ‘bona fide news program,’ then you're exempt from [equal time rules]... but over the years people have misread that.”
— Brendan Carr (01:32) -
On Jimmy Kimmel’s Mockery:
“Trump’s little ferret in the FCC... is doing everything he can to shut us up.”
— Jimmy Kimmel [as quoted by Buck Sexton] (07:52)
“I think that’s pretty funny... a ferret with an FCC hat on it.”
— Brendan Carr (09:00) -
On Declining Power of Broadcast Networks:
“In the future the FCC impact… is minimal and the overall power of these streamers is continuing to grow.”
— Clay Travis (13:46) -
On Paid Protesters:
“A lot of these people are coming from out of town, they're being paid to promote this kind of chaos...”
— Mary Margaret Olohan (26:56) -
On Trump’s Accessibility:
“Everyone is aware that things have dramatically changed and we speak to the president every single day... legacy media included finds it to be a very exciting time.”
— Mary Margaret Olohan (31:36)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 00:05 – 06:59: FCC’s equal time rules, “The View,” bona fide news status
- 07:42 – 10:37: Late-night satire, Kimmel’s reaction, Carr’s sports analogy
- 10:37 – 15:25: Media mergers, FCC oversight, streaming vs. broadcast, NFL rights
- 19:00 – 30:20: Mary Margaret Olohan’s Minneapolis coverage, ICE, media dynamics, protester motivations
- 30:20 – 32:27: White House press access under Trump vs. Biden
Tone and Style
Throughout the episode, the hosts mix serious legal and political discussions with their trademark playful banter and humor, especially when discussing their own media experiences and personal lives. They maintain a conversational, punchy, and sometimes irreverent style.
Summary
This episode delivers a deep-dive into FCC regulations on media fairness, the shifting landscape of TV/streaming media, and the ways in which both legal policy and political activism are playing out in current events. Brendan Carr challenges longstanding media practices, defending public access and fairness amid backlash from left-leaning commentators. Later, on-the-ground reporting from Minneapolis reveals the charged atmosphere surrounding immigration enforcement and protest culture, while White House access under Trump is contrasted favorably against the prior administration. Throughout, Clay and Buck keep the conversation lively, balancing legal minutiae with pop culture references and their audience-focused sense of humor.