The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show

Episode: Weekly Review With Clay and Buck H2 - The Crazy Left
Date: February 21, 2026
Podcast: iHeartPodcasts

Episode Overview

This hour of The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show focuses on their perspectives regarding what they call the "Crazy Left" — addressing developments in Democratic politics, foreign policy missteps, media controversies, and "manufacturing delusion" in American society. The conversation flows from historic context (with Buck discussing his new book), to critiques of high-profile Democrats like AOC and Gavin Newsom, to a robust exchange with Congressman Jim Jordan about border policy, the state of Congress, and upcoming elections. The tone is lively, combative, and full of quips, using history and current events to make their case.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Buck’s New Book: "Manufacturing Delusion"

(02:24–06:37)

• Buck introduces his book, emphasizing the use of history and intelligence world anecdotes to illustrate tactics he believes the left uses: "brainwashing, indoctrination and propaganda."
• He shares a unique account of Soviet/Russian secret police history and his personal CIA stories, including an anecdote from Nigeria.

“Ivan the Terrible in the 16th century had a group that was loyal only to him called the Oprichniki... They had severed dogs' heads that they carried on their saddles just to scare the crap out of everybody.” — Buck Sexton (04:02)

• Book includes CIA-era stories, like "me in The Wesley Snipes VIP Lounge 20 years ago in Abuja, Nigeria."

Notable Quote:

“Let’s beat that Jon Meacham book. He’s a Trump hater, he’s a smug lib, and he has a book out today. So that’s in your hands, my friends.” — Buck Sexton (03:46)

2. AOC’s Foreign Policy Gaffe & Democrat Infighting

(06:37–14:10)

• Clay and Buck criticize AOC’s (Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez) answer to a foreign policy question in Munich, describing it as worse than Kamala Harris’ gaffes.
• Clay claims rivals in the Democratic Party are leveraging AOC’s fumble:

“I think some of AOC’s rivals that expect that she may run for President in 2028 see it as an opportunity to kind of kneecap her with the donor class and just say this is not someone with the depth of knowledge...”— Clay Travis (09:09)

• Trump’s critique is aired, drawing in Gavin Newsom for scorn as well:

“I watched AOC answering questions in Munich. This was not a good look for the United States. I watched Gavin Newscom answering questions in Munich and this was a bad look for our country... She had no idea how to answer... very important questions concerning the world.” — Donald Trump (12:02)

3. Debates About Intelligence in Politics & Media Victimhood

(14:10–19:08)

• Clay and Buck discuss Democratic leaders' intelligence: AOC, Gavin Newsom, Kamala Harris, and Jasmine Crockett are positioned as lacking "depth of knowledge."
• Gavin Newsom vs. Ted Cruz:
  • Ted Cruz called Newsom “historically illiterate,” which Newsom then interpreted as an attack on his dyslexia.
  • Hosts dismiss this as a victimhood tactic by Newsom.
• Segment on bar exam failures:
  • Kamala Harris and Hillary Clinton both failed bar exams on their first attempts; Clay sees this as indicative of insufficient preparation on their part.

“Failing the first time is an indictment. I think so.” — Clay Travis (17:10)

4. Modern Politics & Media: Grades, Credentials, and True Crime

(18:57–24:06)

• Brief commentary on presidential candidates’ college grades (Bush vs. Kerry).
• Media obsession with true crime stories, particularly among women, noting the Nancy Guthrie case coverage despite lack of new developments.

“Women are obsessed with true crime stories. Now the problem, leaving aside the actual crime that took place, is what you’re hitting on. Most true crime stories have evolution. There is a plot point.” — Clay Travis (45:24)

5. Major Interview: Congressman Jim Jordan

(25:34–38:13)

Sanctuary Cities & Border Security

• Jordan lambasts Democratic “crazy” policies like sanctuary jurisdictions, blaming them for releasing individuals charged with crimes back into communities.
• Stresses the significance of 31% of the US population living under such policies.

“What’s happened in now almost a third of the country, 18 cities, 11 states, three counties and the District of Columbia... tell their local law enforcement, don’t work with federal law enforcement...”— Rep. Jim Jordan (27:25)

Federal Supremacy on Immigration

• Clay raises the contradiction of courts blocking Texas’ border actions while blue areas create their own immigration policies. Jordan pushes for legislation to make federal law supreme and withdraw funding from sanctuary policies.

“If you have a state that says... our sheriff, we want to work with federal law enforcement... we want to be able to say no... we will step in and represent them and defend them if in fact, the state comes after them.” — Rep. Jim Jordan (29:49)

2024 Election Cycle & "Normal vs. Crazy"

• Jordan says the GOP will focus their message on achievements (border security, tax cuts, school choice) and paint Democratic policies as "crazy."

“It’s crazy to defund the police. It’s crazy to say you want to abolish ice. It’s crazy not to have a border, which is all the things that were taking place under the previous administration.” — Rep. Jim Jordan (32:37)

• Invokes Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ phrase: “The divide in America today is normal versus crazy.” (34:34)

Transgender Policies & Democratic Party Dynamics

• Buck asks if Democrats authentically believe in the far-left’s positions on gender/ideology or kowtow to their party’s base.
• Jordan thinks most don’t believe it but are beholden to "hard left" political funding and energy.

“I think the vast majority don’t believe that. But I think again, we’re back to the energy in their party has embraced this... crazy policies. That’s where they get the financing, that’s where they get the campaign values.” — Rep. Jim Jordan (36:14)

6. Lighter Moments & Sports

(37:00–38:08)

• Buck and Clay, joined by Jordan, discuss the Winter Olympics, curling controversies, and the athleticism of cross-country skiers, providing a moment of levity.

Notable Quotes

• On Media and Democratic Infighting:

  "When you call Pravda and you tell Pravda, hey, I need to address something... I think it’s evidence that it’s even registering on the Democrat side." — Clay Travis (08:52)

• On Book Promo:

  "Manufacturing delusion. How the left uses brainwashing, indoctrination and propaganda against you." — Buck Sexton (02:29)

• On Sanctuary Jurisdictions:

  “Until they address the sanctuary jurisdiction, crazy policies that are out there, I don’t know how you get a handle on it...” — Rep. Jim Jordan (27:17)

• On Campaign Strategy:

  “I do think the economy is improving. We had 4.3% growth last quarter. Stock market’s at 50,000... remind the voters of that as well.” — Rep. Jim Jordan (32:15)

Important Timestamps

• 02:24: Buck introduces "Manufacturing Delusion" and shares historical/spy anecdotes
• 06:37: Criticism of AOC’s Munich appearance and Democratic infighting
• 12:02: Trump’s comments on AOC and Gavin Newsom at Munich
• 14:10–19:08: Analysis of intelligence in politics, Newsom vs. Cruz controversy, and bar exam talk
• 25:34: Jim Jordan joins (border policy, sanctuary cities, campaigns)
• 27:17: Sanctuary city statistics and their impact
• 29:42: Strategy to challenge blue jurisdictions on immigration law
• 32:37: “Normal vs. Crazy” — campaign rhetoric
• 34:34: Sarah Huckabee Sanders quote invoked by Jordan
• 35:19: Discussion on Democratic party’s stance on transgender ideology
• 43:44: Quick segment on Nancy Guthrie case and true crime coverage

Memorable Moments

• Buck’s CIA Nigeria story: “They had a big oil painting [of] Wesley Snipes… because he went there.” (05:08)
• AOC gaffe described as an opportunity for infighting and memes:
  “Producer Greg is out today, but his mix… of Ms. South Carolina and AOC was very well received on social media.” — Clay Travis (10:14)
• Jordan’s breakdown of sanctuary city impacts:
  “So in roughly a third of the country, left wing political officials tell their local law enforcement, don’t work with federal law enforcement.” — Rep. Jim Jordan (27:25)

Episode Summary

This episode weaves together tough criticism of high-profile Democrats with historical analogies, personal stories, and guest analysis. Major topics include Buck’s new book about propaganda and historical "manufacturing of delusion," the fallout from AOC’s foreign policy misstep, debates about intelligence among Democratic politicians, media handling of political victimhood, and Congressman Jim Jordan’s perspective on the border, sanctuary cities, and 2024 campaign strategy. The hosts promote a “normal vs. crazy” framing for modern U.S. politics and emphasize the importance of fighting what they see as leftist distortions in law, policy, and culture. The tone is adversarial, at times irreverent, but always energetic—serving up right-leaning commentary on the week’s biggest stories.