The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show
Episode Title: Hour 3 – It’s Hard to Hate the Guy
Date: February 17, 2026
Podcast: The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show (iHeartPodcasts)
Episode Overview
In this hour, Clay Travis and Buck Sexton dig into the intersection of media, politics, and regulation as the Texas primaries approach. They tackle the controversy over Stephen Colbert’s canceled interview with a Texas Senate Democratic candidate, FCC’s equal time regulations, and partisan media dynamics. Additionally, they discuss the Republican Senate primary in Texas, the ongoing impact of media on elections, the significance of the Senate for judicial appointments, and share anecdotes about political personalities, including Trump’s unique influence through humor. The tone is lively, opinionated, and humorous, staying true to the hosts’ styles.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Texas Republican Senate Primary and Trump’s Non-Endorsement
- Candidates Discussed: Wesley Hunt, Ken Paxton, John Cornyn
- Trump’s Stance: Trump refrains from endorsing, saying, "I like all three." (03:39)
- Clay’s View: Highlights that the primary is a major event with strong contenders and argues that whoever wins is likely to be the next Republican senator from Texas. Emphasizes the importance of voting in every race on the ballot. (04:55)
2. Democrat Side: Colbert, the FCC, and the Equal Time Doctrine
- Colbert Segment: CBS refused to air an interview with James Talarico, a Democrat Senate candidate, citing equal time concerns.
- Quote/Clip (Colbert mocking the situation):
"Well, sir, you’re chairman of the FCC, so FCC-u." – Stephen Colbert (08:23, paraphrased via Clay)
- Hosts’ Analysis:
- Clay speculates elite Democrats orchestrated this to help Talarico over Jasmine Crockett, arguing she has "zero percent chance" of winning statewide (08:41).
- Buck calls out longstanding Democrat dominance in media masked as neutrality, arguing regulations like the equal time rule are often leveraged for partisan advantage (10:43).
- Brendan Carr Mention: FCC Commissioner’s letter questioning the talk show exemption from equal time rules is seen as pivotal (07:45, 13:41).
- Regulatory Outlook (Buck): Expects the FCC/media regulation issue to take a long time to resolve, go through courts, and doubts in the end that true fairness will prevail (11:00).
3. Media Bias, Comedy, and Political Influence
- Comedy as Propaganda (Buck):
“The whole point of it [The Daily Show] was to push Democrat themes through the prism of comedy. But because it was comedy… No, it’s a political show with jokes.” (15:18)
- Trump’s Humor:
- Buck observes that Trump’s comedic style makes it “hard to hate the guy,” undermining critics and connecting to voters (15:22).
- Quote:
"Trump is the funniest politician of our lifetime... The sitting president... is the most humorous politician you or I have ever come across." – Buck (16:23)
- Clay:
- Argues if Talarico appears pre-primary, so should Crockett for fairness (16:47).
4. Supreme Court and Senate Control
- Clay warns:
"If Republicans lose control of the Senate, you lose the ability to get a lot done that has to do with the judiciary in a way that I don’t know very many people have thought about." (31:40)
- Notes rising age of several Supreme Court justices and the high stakes of Senate control for judicial nominations (31:40–34:19).
5. Listener Interactions & Light Moments
- Listener Questions:
- Fun banter about the term "back in the day" and generational perspectives on “recent” history (29:14).
- Beverage Chat:
- Hosts joke about country club drinks versus their own preferences; brief sidebar on “Southside” cocktails (43:38–45:29).
- Wardrobe & AI:
- Amusing discussion about using AI to judge whether their suits fit or get fashion advice (35:11).
6. Book Promotions & Reflections
- Buck’s New Book: "Manufacturing Delusion"
- Clay and Buck encourage listeners to buy the book, read or listen to the audiobook, and mention notable endorsements.
- Clay reads reviews: Megyn Kelly, Glenn Beck, and Jack Carr all praise the book (02:55).
- Buck:
"It's published day and it took me two years to get here. So there we go. Let's rock it up those charts everybody.” (42:51)
- Listeners call in to congratulate and thank Buck for writing it (44:48).
7. VIP Emails and Listener Calls
- Matt asks about Mark Kelly’s intelligence and potential 2028 presidential run; Clay responds diplomatically, noting Kelly’s achievements and likely candidacy (29:14).
- Bert teases the hosts about their use of “back in the day,” prompting generational banter (29:14–31:11).
- Listeners in Texas offer commentary on media biases around mass shootings and transgender issues, with pointed, controversial listener remarks (46:06).
Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments
-
Clay Travis on the Democratic race (08:21):
“Jasmine Crockett has a 0% chance of being elected statewide from Texas. I want to repeat this... If Jasmine Crockett is the nominee, there is a zero percent chance that Republicans have to worry about the Democrat in that race at all.”
-
Buck Sexton on media bias (11:00):
“We have had Democrat dominance of the media under the guise of it being journalism, under the guise of it being neutral for our entire lives.”
-
On comedy and politics (15:18):
“The whole point of it was to push Democrat themes through the prism of comedy. But because it was comedy... No, it’s a political show with jokes.” – Buck
-
On Trump’s appeal (16:23):
"Trump is the funniest politician of our lifetime... it’s hard to hate the guy." – Buck
-
Listener Bert’s email (29:14):
"I've noticed you guys use the phrase back in the day quite often. What exactly does it mean? I'm 93 and I'm sure it does not mean the same to me as it does to you, you young whippersnappers."
-
Buck on book endorsement reactions (43:38):
“It actually is really well written. It’s a good book. You actually wrote this? Well, yes, I actually wrote this.”
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Texas Republican Senate Primary Discussion: 02:36–07:45
- Colbert, FCC, and Equal Time Doctrine: 07:45–13:41
- Media Bias and Late Night Comedy: 15:18–17:27
- Supreme Court and Senate Stakes: 31:40–34:19
- Book Promotions and Reflections: 02:36–03:19, 25:07–29:14, 42:51–45:03
- Listener Q&A on Candidates/“Back in the Day”: 29:14–31:40
- Listener Call-ins (Texas, media bias): 45:49–46:47
Conclusion
This episode blends in-depth political analysis with sharp media critique and lighter personal banter, emblematic of Clay and Buck’s style. The main threads focus on Texas’s pivotal Senate primary, the machinations behind Democratic candidacies, and the persistent tilt of major media outlets. The hosts also spotlight the importance of the Senate for the judiciary, reflect on how humor is wielded in politics, and encourage listeners to participate in both the political process and the marketplace of ideas—with Buck’s new book standing as their latest recommended entry.