Hour 3 - It's Hard to Hate the Guy 


Author: iHeartPodcasts February 17, 2026 Duration: 36:44
Podcast episode
Hour 3 - It's Hard to Hate the Guy 

Hour 3 of The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show delivers a fast‑moving blend of political intrigue, media analysis, 2026 election strategy, cultural commentary, and audience interaction. The hour opens with Clay discussing Buck’s newly released book Manufacturing Delusion, highlighting glowing reviews from Megyn Kelly, Glenn Beck, and bestselling author Jack Carr. The show reiterates how Buck’s work explores propaganda, mind‑control tactics, ideological conditioning, and his personal CIA experiences—all timely themes that anchor the hour’s larger political discussions.

The program pivots into heavy election coverage as Clay and Buck preview their upcoming trip to Texas for the first major primary of the 2026 cycle. They examine the high‑stakes Texas Senate race, noting the competitive three‑way Republican contest among John Cornyn, Ken Paxton, and Wesley Hunt, as well as a brewing controversy on the Democratic side. The hosts break down the explosive dispute surrounding Democratic candidate James Talarico’s appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert—an interview CBS declined to air over equal‑time concerns. Colbert publicly blasted CBS executives on his show, turning the incident into a political moment. Clay argues that this conveniently boosts Talarico’s visibility while sidelining rival Jasmine Crockett, suggesting Democratic power players may be orchestrating a soft‑landing for their preferred candidate just as Texans begin early voting.

From there, Hour 3 takes a deep dive into the broader media landscape. Clay and Buck discuss the FCC’s scrutiny of political favoritism in late‑night TV, referencing FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr’s challenges to the idea that partisan talk shows should remain exempt from equal‑time rules. Buck notes that corporate media dominance by left‑leaning networks is finally being openly acknowledged after decades of pretending neutrality. The hosts compare the current era to the “Daily Show effect,” where comedy was long used as a shield to disguise political messaging. They argue that Colbert’s outrage reflects the media’s desire to maintain partisan influence without regulatory scrutiny.

The hour expands into a wider election-season conversation—including the national implications of control of the House and Senate in 2026. Clay emphasizes that the Senate may hold greater long‑term stakes than the House due to aging Supreme Court justices and the potential for major judicial vacancies. They discuss prior examples, such as Justice Anthony Kennedy’s strategically timed retirement versus Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s decision to stay on the bench, underscoring how elections shape the judiciary for generations.

Clay and Buck also take VIP listener emails and talkback messages, fielding questions about potential 2028 Democratic presidential contenders—including Mark Kelly, Josh Shapiro, and Gretchen Whitmer—and the role of intelligence, competence, and electability within the field. This segues into broader reflections on generational language (“back in the day”), the cultural reference points of the 1980s and 1990s, and how political memory shifts across age groups.

Near the close of the hour, they revisit the national conversation around recent transgender‑identified mass shooters. Listeners weigh in with sharp commentary about media inconsistencies, ideological blind spots, and how narratives shift depending on the identity of the perpetrator. Clay and Buck highlight how mainstream outlets often omit relevant details in cases involving trans shooters, contrasting this with how aggressively the media covers crimes associated with conservatives or gun owners.

The final portion takes a lighter, more personal turn as Buck shares stories about AI recommending suit choices, Clay recounts a Valentine’s Day wardrobe mishap, and the hosts joke about cocktails, country‑club drinks, and upcoming travel plans—including Clay’s one‑day trip to Mar‑a‑Lago. The hour concludes with heartfelt listener messages about Rush Limbaugh’s legacy and strong support for Buck’s book, ending the show on a note of gratitude and audience connection.

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: 1:47:34
Season 4, Episode 102.Joe Biden makes another questionable statement, almost 40 million people have lose their jobs, A church is attacked over lockdowns, and Michigan's AG is saying President Trump is banned from the sta…

Duration: 1:46:07
PODCAST SUMMARY HOUR 1:Everyone now echoing Rush: Open up! Barr says what Rush said: Obama won't be prosecuted. Rush will update on his health when he feels like it. Ron DeSantis earns his degree from the Limbaugh Instit…

Duration: 1:47:56
Season 4, Episode 101.Buck met with President Trump in the Oval Office yesterday, he shares details of that meeting. Plus Florida takes a victory lap, A New Jersey gym was locked down again, the CDC has issued policies f…

Duration: 1:45:42
PODCAST SUMMARY HOUR 1:Mark Steyn fills in for Rush while he recuperates from prescheduled treatment. Iran locusts. Michigan floods. Mexico hail. We have flattened the economy. E.U. car sales down 77%. Pompeo’s dog. Susa…

Duration: 1:46:31
PODCAST SUMMARY HOUR 1:Pennsylvania's Ken Matthews guest hosts while Rush undergoes scheduled treatment. Media flips over Trump taking hydroxychloroquine. Are you being treated as a free citizen, or a child? Lady governo…

Duration: 1:47:33
Season 4, Episode 99.David Rubin and Rogan O’Handley join the show. Plus the tyrant Governors strike back, Pelosi calls Trump morbidly obese, impeachment 2.0 could happen, Biden attempts a nickname and do you want Dr. Fa…

Duration: 1:48:50
PODCAST SUMMARY HOUR 1: Mark Steyn fills in for Rush on Monday while he has scheduled treatment and makes one good point every six feet. Victoria Day in Canada. Global protests over shutdown. Obama has to drag Biden acro…

Duration: 1:46:37
Season 4, Episode 98. Dinesh D’Souza and Raheem Kassam join the show. It is time to fight the lockdowns, the libs say protests are spreading the virus, an update on the General Flynn situation and President Obama takes a…

Duration: 1:48:00
Season 4, Episode 97.Lockdowns are the most expensive policy blunder of all-time, a retail apocalypse is underway, Protests are happening on Long Island, Joe Biden claims he won't pardon Trump, and the truth about Georgi…

Duration: 1:47:21
Season 4, Episode 96.David Reaboi joins the show. Plus there is a list of the Obamagate un-maskers, a big lockdown protest in Michigan, 3 million more Americans are unemployed, and an update on the Flynn case.Please subs…

Duration: 1:46:29
Season 4, Episode 95.Bailing out the bailouts, the lockdown rebellion grows, LA says it will be shut down for 3 more months and the Judge won't let Flynn go. Plus Fred Fleitz, David Harsanyi and Tiana Lowe join the show.…

Logo
Select station
VOL