The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

Episode: Weekly Review With Clay and Buck H3 – "If They Could Do This to You..."

Date: November 15, 2025
Podcast Host: iHeartPodcasts

Episode Overview

This episode delves into the abuse and dangers of advanced AI systems spreading misinformation, especially when targeted at conservatives or public figures, and their potentially devastating impact on ordinary citizens. The key segment features a revealing interview with Robby Starbuck, who shares his personal experience of defamation at the hands of Google’s AI. The discussion addresses broader implications of AI-driven reputational attacks, governmental priorities in foreign relations and national security—particularly in the Indo-Pacific and on the China-Taiwan front—plus the ongoing crisis of fentanyl trafficking with direct ties to China.

The tone throughout is urgent, skeptical of Big Tech and bureaucracy, and supportive of proactive conservative leadership.

Key Segments & Insights

1. AI Defamation and the Robby Starbuck Case

Timestamps: 06:42 – 18:29

Key Points:

• Robby Starbuck’s Ordeal:
  Robby describes how Google’s AI (first Bard, later Gemini and Gemma) fabricated salacious, criminal, and defamatory content about him, including invented allegations of sexual assault, fake court and therapy records, and imaginary media stories, affecting not only his reputation but also his access to things like insurance and potentially even future employment.
• Scope and Threat:
  The scale is not limited to high-profile individuals but could "happen to anyone," threatening livelihoods and reputations through algorithmic bias or targeted defamation.
• Barriers to Redress:
  Starbuck highlights the Kafkaesque nature of confronting a tech giant like Google—emails go unanswered, even employees willing to help are ineffective or resign, and many AI models in the wild (offline or in development tools) can never be remotely updated to fix such issues.
• Intent vs. Negligence:
  While legally the repeated refusal to fix known lies suffices for "gross negligence" and "malice," Starbuck suspects deliberate poisoning of the AI models against conservatives, based on technical conversations and pattern repetition.
• Broader Consequences:
  Emergence of fake articles, videos, or audio generated by AI means that in coming years people may be unable to distinguish truth from slander, with devastating social, personal, and political implications.

Notable Quotes:

• On the personal impact:
  “It can't be stressed enough how hard we tried to get Google to stop this… The lies got so intense, so elaborate that you almost can't believe it.”
  — Robby Starbuck (06:42)

• On risk to ordinary Americans:
  “If they could do this to you... why couldn't they do this to anyone in America, where Google... is probably the number one most important thing on the internet?”
  — Clay Travis (08:59)

• On the systemic danger:
  “You're either going to grow poison fruit, and it's going to be to the detriment of humanity. What you bake in that root [of AI] is very important.”
  — Robby Starbuck (10:33)

• AI’s stubborn repetition:
  “It would double and triple down that it did happen... It went so far as to actually create a fake article in a real journalist's name.”
  — Robby Starbuck (16:36)

Action Points:

• Robby Starbuck’s resources:
  “YouTube, X @robbystarbuck or robbystarbuck.com“ for more info or to read the lawsuit.
  — Robby Starbuck (17:59)

2. Global Affairs: The Trump Doctrine in Asia and China-Taiwan Policy

Timestamps: 25:55 – 36:05

Guests:

• Stephen Yates (Heritage Foundation, former Bush admin official, Mandarin speaker)

Key Points:

• Rebuttal to ‘Isolationism’ Claims:
  Contrary to conventional narratives, Trump administration officials are deeply engaged across the Indo-Pacific—Japan, Malaysia, Vietnam, Korea.
• Security Partnerships:
  Major moves and strengthened alliances, especially with Japan’s assertive new prime minister, build deterrence against China.
• Importance of Taiwan:
  Taiwan isn’t just a local issue; it underpins the economic and security architecture of the whole region. Disruptions to its freedom would upend global shipping and the tech supply chain, setting off catastrophic economic and social domino effects worldwide.
• Defense Readiness:
  US allies are increasing defense spending and purchases from America, strengthening deterrents against Chinese aggression.
• Leadership Consistency:
  Secretary Pete Hegseth is praised for “consistency, clarity, conviction” in addressing the China challenge, even in direct talks with Chinese officials.

Notable Quotes:

• “This is opposite of isolationism. The President had a very widespread tour through the Indo-Pacific region. Major meetings and decisions made in that region.”
  — Stephen Yates (26:41)

• “Japan has a fundamental national interest in... Taiwan continuing to be a free and democratic territory.”
  — Stephen Yates (29:55)

• “If you imagine an economy that is rocked by 50% of those containers... going kaput for a time, then this matters.”
  — Stephen Yates (30:29)

3. Fentanyl Crisis and China’s Role

Timestamps: 31:27 – 34:17

Key Points:

• FBI Director Cash Patel’s Announcement (via audio clip):
  China has agreed to list and crack down on all 13 fentanyl precursor chemicals, shutting off the primary supply chain for Mexican drug cartels and significantly disrupting the flow of fentanyl into the US—credited to "direct engagement" from President Trump.
• Personal Tragedy:
  Yates shares his daughter's death by fentanyl poisoning, underlining the personal and national stakes.
• Policy Aspirations:
  There is a call to classify fentanyl precursors as weapons of mass destruction, and to treat trafficking as an act of war/terrorism.

Notable Quote:

• “I have no forgiveness for that [Chinese] regime in the slow and methodical murder of hundreds of thousands of Americans.”
  — Stephen Yates (33:18)

• “This is 10 years too late by China.”
  — Stephen Yates (33:11)

4. Trump’s Prospects, China’s Intentions, and Policy Uncertainties

Timestamps: 34:46 – 36:05

Key Points:

• What if China Invades Taiwan?
  Likely catastrophic economic impact; US credibility and alliances would be at stake. Importance of “improving deterrence” rather than responding after the fact.
• Optimism about Deterrence:
  Positive strides in both US and allied defense postures suggest China may think twice before provoking conflict.

Memorable & Lighter Moments

• Coins, Cash, and Laundry:
  The show closes with a humorous exchange on Clay owing Sean Hannity money and the decline of coins (pennies being phased out). There's playful banter about the value of silver coins and coin-operated laundromats.
  Timestamps: 43:01 – 45:35

• Preview Teasers:
  Tomorrow’s discussions will tackle H1B visas, 50-year mortgages, and the OpenTable app’s user-judging algorithm.
  Timestamps: 41:13 – 46:39

Notable Quotes: Quick Access

• “If they could do this to you... they could do it to anyone in America.”
  — Clay Travis (08:59)

• “There's too many similar threads and too many commonalities... for it to fit a hallucination pattern. I think this was deliberately poisoned.”
  — Robby Starbuck (15:33)

• “If you've seen the AI outputs… imagine our sons and our daughters facing accusations with fake AI videos and audio. We need guardrails.”
  — Robby Starbuck (17:17)

• “Taiwan is not just a Taiwan-only situation... If they're all doing more to protect themselves... we're keeping our partnerships vital... that's a pretty profound deterrent.”
  — Stephen Yates (31:07)

• “Essentially, President Trump has shut off the pipeline that creates fentanyl.”
  — FBI Director Cash Patel (33:02)

Summary Table of Important Segments

| Timestamp | Topic / Segment | Speakers | |------------------ |---------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------| | 06:42 – 18:29 | Robby Starbuck on AI Defamation | Clay Travis, Buck Sexton, Robby Starbuck | | 25:55 – 36:05 | US-Asia Policy, Taiwan, China, with Stephen Yates | Buck Sexton, Stephen Yates, Clay Travis | | 31:27 – 34:17 | Fentanyl Crisis Announcement & Reaction | FBI Director Cash Patel (audio), Stephen Yates | | 43:01 – 45:35 | Banter: Coins, Cash, and Coins’ Value | Clay Travis, Buck Sexton |

Final Thoughts

This episode underscores the growing threats of unchecked AI in information warfare, the failings and dangers of Big Tech’s response to legitimate grievances, and the need for legal and technological safeguards to protect reputation and the democratic process. Meanwhile, it rebuffs “isolationism” claims in conservative foreign policy, detailing active US engagement to deter adversaries and protect allies. The fentanyl crisis is cast as a hybrid threat requiring unflinching response domestically and internationally.

For listeners, the episode is a clarion call to pay attention to AI’s power, the importance of alliances, and the ongoing asymmetric threats to American society.

Listen to the full episode for in-depth interviews, updates on upcoming discussions, and insights into breaking political stories.