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: 1:45:13
PODCAST SUMMARY HOUR 1:Democrats know they have nobody who can beat Trump. Media glued to Roger Stone sentencing. There's no rift between Barr and Trump. Bolton blasts Dems' partisan impeachment. Trump tweet on Dem debat…

Duration: 1:49:57
PODCAST SUMMARY HOUR 1:Todd Herman guest hosts for Rush from Seattle on Wednesday. Forget the Green New Deal, Fauxcahontas has a Blue New Deal. Sanders didn’t earn a paycheck until he was 40. Even donors want Biden out o…

Duration: 1:46:52
Season 4, Episode 35.Democrats say Trump is an authoritarian, Bernie vs. Bloomberg is causing problems for the left and Bernie has a stupid solution to housing. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodca…

Duration: 1:46:33
PODCAST SUMMARY HOUR 1:Obama endorses Trump economy by taking credit for it. Bloomberg is buying the Democrat Party. Crazy Bernie can be bought off. Bloomberg has bought off all opposition research in the past, now Trump…

Duration: 1:45:33
Season 4, Episode 34.The Federal Judges call an emergency meeting, Bloomberg qualifies for the Democratic debate, a reminder of what the DOJ was like under the Obama administration and who is funding the socialists? Lear…

Duration: 1:46:48
Season 4, Episode 33.Hillary Clinton could join Mike Bloomberg as his VP running mate, there's a new war against milk, the latest on the coronavirus and can Republicans be friends with Libs anymore? Learn more about your…

Duration: 1:47:46
Season 4, Episode 32.AG Barr wants Trump to Tweet less, continued fallout of the Roger Stone sentencing, Dems want to impeach the AG, Bernie's lead, and no punishment for McCabe. Learn more about your ad-choices at https…

Duration: 1:49:08
PODCAST SUMMARY HOUR 1:Mark Steyn filled in for Rush on Thursday. Bloomberg for Biden. Rush on Roger Stone, jury forewoman’s blatant bias. Trump officially withdraws nomination of ex-U.S. attorney from Treasury post. Gen…

Duration: 1:46:29
PODCAST SUMMARY HOUR 1:Trump's unique tale on New Hampshire primary. Rush predicted on Day One, Biden wouldn't make it. Never Trumpers were secretly working for Biden. Biden's loyalty to Obama was worth nothing. Biden fa…

Duration: 1:46:10
PODCAST SUMMARY HOUR 1:The Democrats are lost and they know it. Rush’s flu unrelated to anything else. Jay Carney, former Democrat spokesman, former TIME journalist, now on CNN interviewed in new role as VP at Amazon. Ho…

Duration: 1:45:32
PODCAST SUMMARY HOUR 1:Rush on Democrat implosion. Rush says he understands what Lou Gehrig felt like, the luckiest man alive, thanks everyone for the outpouring of love. Rush on how SOTU came about, invitation, Medal of…

Duration: 1:48:35
PODCAST SUMMARY HOUR 1:Todd Herman guest hosts on Thursday. Why Rush received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Mitt Romney questions Trump, but not Obama. Live coverage of Trump’s statement on acquittal. Romney isn’t a…

Duration: 1:49:27
PODCAST SUMMARY HOUR 1:Mark Steyn guest hosts for the newest Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient. Rush was stunned to receive the highest civilian honor at the State of the Union. Send megadittos, megaprayers and meg…

Duration: 1:48:57
PODCAST SUMMARY HOUR 1:Mark Steyn guest hosts on Tuesday. Send American's Anchorman your well wishes by going to RushLimbaugh.com and clicking the "Special Notes for Rush" tab at the top left of the homepage. Rush shares…

Logo
Select station
VOL