Hour 1 - AOC Whiffs Big Time


Author: iHeartPodcasts February 16, 2026 Duration: 36:52
Podcast episode
Hour 1 - AOC Whiffs Big Time

Hour 1 of The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show kicks off the President’s Day broadcast with a fast‑paced, highly engaging breakdown of the biggest political stories shaping the week. Broadcasting live while most federal employees are off, Clay and Buck open the hour discussing the realities of holiday schedules, the release of Buck’s new book Manufacturing Delusion, and the importance of reading in a digital age. From there, the show dives into a wide‑ranging analysis of U.S. politics, foreign policy, media culture, and social‑media‑driven public perception.

A major focus of Hour 1 is the viral response by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio‑Cortez at the Munich Security Conference. Clay and Buck highlight what they describe as an embarrassing inability to articulate a coherent position on whether the United States should defend Taiwan in the event of Chinese aggression. They compare her answer to the infamous Miss Teen South Carolina “maps” moment, even playing a humorous mash‑up of the two clips. The hosts emphasize how AOC’s comments reflect broader issues within identity‑politics‑driven rhetoric—critiquing her statements on “whiteness,” cultural history, and her confusion over basic geopolitical geography, including incorrectly placing Venezuela below the equator.

The discussion then shifts to Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, also speaking at the Munich conference, whose limited command of foreign‑policy basics becomes a second focal point. Clay and Buck argue that Whitmer’s vague commentary on Ukraine’s war with Russia—despite being on an international security panel—underscores how ill‑prepared certain Democratic rising stars are for national office. They consider both Whitmer and AOC likely contenders for the 2028 Democratic ticket and highlight the strategic importance of Michigan for Democrats. The hosts contrast these politicians’ performances with Marco Rubio’s Munich speech, which they praise as one of the most compelling defenses of Western civilization in recent memory.

Throughout the hour, Clay and Buck expand on how modern politicians increasingly behave like social‑media influencers rather than policymakers, rewarded more for aesthetic appeal and online engagement than substantive knowledge. They explore how partisan media silos prevent audiences from hearing clips that make their preferred politicians look uninformed, examining how MSNBC, CNN, and other outlets selectively filter content to protect partisan narratives. This leads into a broader conversation about the collapsing ratings, possible corporate restructuring, and future ownership of major cable‑news networks—especially CNN—framed with humor and insider insight.

Later in the hour, the hosts tease stories coming in Hour 2, including an Olympic curling scandal, new comments from Barack Obama, and the evolving mystery surrounding Nancy Guthrie, who may have been taken across the Mexican border according to new information sent to TMZ.

Make sure you never miss a second of the show by subscribing to the Clay Travis & Buck Sexton show podcast wherever you get your podcasts! ihr.fm/3InlkL8

 

For the latest updates from Clay & Buck, visit our website https://www.clayandbuck.com/

 

Connect with Clay Travis and Buck Sexton: 

X - https://x.com/clayandbuck

FB - https://www.facebook.com/ClayandBuck/

IG - https://www.instagram.com/clayandbuck/

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/clayandbuck

Rumble - https://rumble.com/c/ClayandBuck

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@clayandbuck

Follow Clay & Buck on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/clayandbuck

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.


More episodes

Duration: 1:54:15
There is no Santa Claus when it comes to national debt and no one seems to care about going bankrupt. The dossier and Christopher Steele. An update on emotional support animals. Buck interviews Kimberly Strassel of The W…

Duration: 1:53:49
Rand Paul filibusters. Aftermath of Nancy Pelosi's marathon speech. Iraq War veteran Jesse Kelly joins the military parade discussion. Uranium One. Buck also interviews legal and sports business analyst Emily Compagno. L…

Duration: 1:53:05
The anti-Trump conspiracy hits a new level. Was Barack Obama getting FBI updates? A case of Trump derangement syndrome. Buck interviews national political reporter Salena Zito. Learn more about your ad-choices at https:/…

Duration: 1:55:09
Immigration legislation. MS-13's fascinating and terrifying story. What's happening with the memo. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comFollow Clay & Buck on YouTube: https://www.youtub…

Duration: 1:54:40
The stock market tumbles. Federal bureaucracy 'gotcha' games. Another memo. Clinton cronies at the State Department? Buck interviews Fox News contributor Sara Carter. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.ihear…

Duration: 1:53:53
The GOP memo gets dissected. How did Democrats get it so wrong? Buck interviews Phil Kerpen president of American Commitment. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comFollow Clay & Buck on…

Duration: 1:54:44
The non-stop memo news cycle. President Trump addresses amnesty. Do democrats want to see our country do well? Buck interviews retried Lieutenant Commander Dan Crenshaw from Texas. Learn more about your ad-choices at htt…

Duration: 1:53:43
President Trump's 'America First' State of the Union. When will we see the memo? More Clinton hypocrisy. Buck interviews Congressman Sean Duffy. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comFol…

Duration: 1:54:44
Trump's State of the Union. The FISA memo is not small potatoes. Immigration and where it stands right now. Ross Gerber, Co-Founder, President and CEO of Gerber Kawasaki Wealth and Investment Management joins the show. L…

Duration: 1:52:38
The House Intel committee voted this evening to release the classified memo alleging abuses by the FBI. Andy McCabe is out at the Bureau. DACA. Hillary is back in the news. Buck interviews Andrew Arthur and Kimberly Stra…

Duration: 1:53:36
Trump conquers Davos and the mainstream media rages. The problems with DACA. Cryptocurrency. Buck interviews Ioan Grillo, author of El Narco: Inside Mexico's Criminal Insurgency and Emily Zanotti. Learn more about your a…

Duration: 1:54:12
The Trump economy. 'Release the memo' debate gets dissected. The DACA fight heats up. Buck interviews Fox News contributor and New York Post columnist Michael Goodwin. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.ihea…

Duration: 1:54:45
Cover up and conspiracy at the FBI? The Mueller probe. Michael Flynn. Buck interviews Dr. Jordan Peterson author of 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastne…

Duration: 1:53:58
A whole lot of discussion about the FBI, DOJ, Comey and text messages. 'Release the memo' movement gains momentum. Buck interviews Andrew Arthur and Sean Davis. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodca…

Logo
Select station
VOL