Podcast Summary: The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

Episode: Hour 3 – Buck Explains Mind Control
Date: February 18, 2026
Host: Buck Sexton (Clay Travis absent this hour)
Guest: Congressman Chip Roy (TX), brief segment with Kevin Hassett

Overview

In this episode, Buck Sexton leads a discussion centered on current political battles over government funding, border security, and election integrity, while weaving in themes from his new book, Manufacturing Delusion. With Congressman Chip Roy as a guest, they break down the drama unfolding in Congress around the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) partial shutdown, sparring over ICE enforcement changes, and the push for the Save America Act. The latter half of the hour shifts to economic discussion—lauding Trump-era policies—and Buck’s reflections on technology’s impact on perception and mass mind control. The episode is marked by Buck’s blend of humor, urgency about civic engagement, and his characteristic deep dives into policy mechanics and cultural trends.

Key Discussion Points

1. Congressional Funding Battles and the DHS Partial Shutdown

[00:21–06:14]

• Current Situation:

  • Congress passed a funding bill covering everything except DHS, funding which temporarily extended but has now expired.
  • Border Patrol and ICE funding are protected, but other agencies like TSA, Coast Guard, and FEMA are left unfunded due to political maneuvering.

• Republican Perspective (Chip Roy):

  • The GOP has tried to fund the government and provide for border security.
  • Democrats are accused of politicizing ICE enforcement and using critical agency funding as a bargaining chip.

  “The bad news is that leaves TSA and the Coast Guard and FEMA dangling while Democrats play politics.” — Chip Roy [01:56]

• Democratic Demands:

  • Additional constraints on ICE, such as extra warrant requirements and operational restrictions.
  • Proposals like body cameras are broadly supported by both sides, but opposition remains to restrictions seen as hampering ICE’s core mission.
  • Dispute over whether ICE agents should be allowed to wear masks for privacy and protection from threats.

  “There are 1.6 million people in the United States under a judge-ordered order of removal...Democrats want to put constraints on that.” — Chip Roy [04:17]

• Outlook:

  • The practical impact of agency shutdowns (like disrupted flights and delayed FEMA aid) could force a political resolution.

2. The Save America Act and Senate Procedural Showdown

[06:14–13:13]

• Legislation Overview:

  • Save America Act = voter citizenship verification + nationwide voter ID for federal elections.
  • Originates from the SAVE Act and expanded to unify electoral safeguards.
  • Passed the House (with one Democrat, Henry Cuellar, voting for it) and awaits Senate action.

  “Only American citizens vote in American elections...checking state voter rolls against our national databases on citizens.” — Chip Roy [06:59]

• Senate Stalemate:

  • Debate centers on procedural tactics—Republicans want Democrats to actively filibuster (i.e., talk and defend their opposition) rather than allowing the so-called "zombie filibuster" (passive blockage requiring 60 votes).
  • Senator Thune and GOP leadership’s reluctance to “lock down” the Senate floor for a protracted battle is highlighted.
  • Roy argues this fight should be the priority once funding is resolved, as the core principle—ensuring only citizens vote—is overwhelmingly popular even among Democrat voters.

  “We are not asking for a single change to the rules. We’re asking the Senate...to use the rules to our advantage to make sure the American people know whose side we’re on.” — Chip Roy [12:28]

• Big Picture Stakes:

  • Roy frames the fight as critical for GOP morale and turnout in November, and for drawing stark lines between the parties.
  • Buck presses the question: What else will the Senate accomplish in an election year if not this?

  “What other big legislation is Thune gonna hold us up on? I don’t see it.” — Buck Sexton [11:40]

3. Economic Optimism and Trump Policy Impact

[15:28–27:25]

• U.S. Economy Under Trump:

  • Buck lauds the performance of the Trump economy, noting that recent economic expansion and job creation has outpaced even his bullish expectations from a year prior.
  • Emphasizes wealth creation is not zero-sum—borrowing from Naval Ravikant—contrasting creation with redistribution, a philosophy Buck dubs “Marxism” when referring to Democrats’ outlook.

  “Wealth creation is something that humanity, and we, the American people, of course, benefit from within a society.” — Buck Sexton [18:04]

• Technology & Abundance:

  • Predicts a productivity revolution: AI, robotics (referencing Elon Musk’s upcoming “Optimus” robots), and access to superior goods/services for all.
  • Warns against “Marxist” climate and social-justice policies that stifle innovation and economic growth.

  “We stand on the precipice of a revolution in productivity that is going to make humanity even more wealthy.” — Buck Sexton [19:18]

• Sound Bite: Kevin Hassett

  • Argues real wages are up under Trump-era policies and jobs are being created for those “at the bottom.”

  “Almost without exception, when you go look at it, incomes are up way more than the cost of living. That’s the real wage gain that this silly Fed study neglects to mention.” — Kevin Hassett [26:42]

4. Critique of Public Spending & Bureaucracy

[27:25–31:32]

• Buck contrasts New York City’s intended budget (especially a bloated education department) with states like Florida to illustrate alleged waste and bureaucratic failure in blue areas.

• Asserts that public spending is not translating to better outcomes—especially in education—harming prosperity.

  “You want to know how you prevent people from becoming more prosperous?... Shovel a whole lot of money into a black hole bureaucracy and just waste, waste it on, on nothingness.” — Buck Sexton [29:37]

5. “Manufacturing Delusion,” Mind Control & The Power of Perception

[32:45–End]

• Book Excerpt:

  • Buck reads from his new book, focusing on the manipulation of perception by tech giants (e.g., Google Gemini’s AI “woke” image generation—black Founding Fathers, etc.)
  • Raises concerns about technology as a tool for mass “mind control,” misrepresentation of history, and managing public beliefs.

  “We are entering this world where perception management, perception control is going to become the most powerful currency of all.” — Buck Sexton [35:20]

  • Connects this to recent events: social media’s role in COVID discourse, Black Lives Matter, climate activism, and transgender debates— all framed as instances of mass delusion or manipulation.

  “The dream of authoritarians has always been total control of the mass mind, or the hive mind, if you will.” — Buck Sexton [36:38]

• Call to Action:

  • Urges listeners to read his book to better understand and resist these influences.
  • Presents the fight for factual reality as essential to the nation’s and humanity’s future.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Politicization of Agency Funding:

  “The bad news is that leaves TSA and the Coast Guard and FEMA dangling while Democrats play politics.”
  — Chip Roy [01:56]

• On Election Reforms:

  “Everybody supports voter ID. Everybody and citizens voting.”
  — Chip Roy [08:33]

• On Wealth Creation vs. Redistribution:

  “Wealth is not zero sum.”
  — Buck Sexton [18:04]

• On Technology’s Societal Impact:

  “This future of abundance. It is happening as long as the lunatic Marxist climate change cult...doesn’t hold us back.”
  — Buck Sexton [19:55]

• On Mass Delusion:

  “Perception management, perception control is going to become the most powerful currency of all.”
  — Buck Sexton [35:20]

Timestamps for Major Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |-------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:00–06:14 | DHS shutdown, border funding drama, ICE mandates (with Congressman Chip Roy) | | 06:14–13:13 | The Save America Act, Senate strategy, and election integrity | | 15:28–27:25 | Economic policy, Trump era gains, and philosophy of wealth creation | | 27:25–31:32 | Critique of Democrat-led budgets, NYC vs. Florida example | | 32:45–End | Book excerpt: Manufacturing Delusion, technology, mind control, call to action|

Tone & Style

Buck maintains an assertive, energetic, and slightly tongue-in-cheek style, balancing earnest policy discussion with humorous asides (such as why he’s not at Mar-a-Lago or references to TV/pop culture). Congressman Roy brings a policy-wonk energy, specifically on internal Congressional mechanics, and Kevin Hassett’s brief appearance underscores the economic theme.

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

This episode is essential listening for those tracking the intersection of political theater in Congress, ongoing fights about border security and election integrity, and the broader technological and cultural trends shaping American public life. Buck’s warnings about “mind control” and mass delusion frame both his book and the hour’s arc, weaving together policy, media criticism, and a call to civic alertness.