KSEV Mornings · October 15, 2026 · Hour 2
A debate over Shane Gillis’ SNL monologue, an on-air offer to Ken Paxton, and callers on campaign money, taxes and record-low marriage rates.
The Shane Gillis SNL uproar took over a big chunk of Thursday’s second hour, and it ran alongside the Texas Senate race, with Craig Coglianese and Wayne Dolcefino making an on-air pitch for a sit-down with Ken Paxton. The two hosts also took calls on campaign money, Talarico’s record on taxes and a report on marriage rates.
Talarico, Obamacare subsidies and affordability
The hour began with a few radio-days stories, then moved to James Talarico’s call to bring back Obamacare subsidies. One host said Democrats treat affordability as giving people more, and that a subsidy means taxpayers paying for someone else’s coverage. Wayne described a family member’s bridge Obamacare policy with a $10,000 deductible. One host said Republicans have not yet shown they can fix health insurance. Both pointed to conservative ideas: posting prices publicly, competition across state lines and health savings accounts for direct relationships with doctors.
The Shane Gillis SNL monologue controversy
Craig walked through the controversy over a joke in Gillis’ Saturday Night Live monologue about how women dress at the gym. He said Gillis has now hosted SNL three times, after being hired and then fired by the show before he started over something he posted before he was famous. Craig said Jimmy Kimmel has made a similar joke without the same uproar, and the hosts argued the reaction would be different if the joke had targeted white men. They joked about changing the show’s name to the “misogyny hour.”
Sharon on the NRCC and Paxton
Sharon called to say the National Republican Congressional Committee did not send money to Paxton’s campaign, and that national media are pushing the idea that he is not campaigning. Craig said establishment Republicans probably wanted Cornyn, and that national groups do not usually pour money into Texas. He said Paxton is not a great fundraiser, though he does the work well. Wayne called the money story overblown.
Wayne on podcasts and local media
Wayne said Talarico stayed after the town hall to shake hands and that retail politics still works. Craig said the Trump campaign’s podcast appearances in 2024 showed how a candidate can reach younger audiences, and that Paxton could find a Texas version of that, or sit down with someone like Wayne. Wayne said Houston stations often send a single camera operator to a press conference, so social media gives candidates more ways to be heard. “Tough but fair,” he said, and he repeated he would interview Paxton for free.
Michael on Paxton versus Talarico on taxes
Michael asked how Paxton and Talarico compare on Texas money. The hosts said Talarico supports a state income tax and backed taxes on inherited wealth in 2025, and that Texans for Fiscal Responsibility gives him an F on his record. Wayne said voters who want affordability should expect higher taxes from Democrats. One host said the closing message should use Talarico’s CNN answers to point to his voting record and to question his authenticity.
The Mob Guys pitch a sit-down with Ken Paxton
Before a break, the hosts publicly proposed a half-hour sit-down: Wayne and Paxton, one-on-one, at Wayne’s office or wherever Paxton is, including Austin, with cameras and microphones, aired in full on KSEV. Wayne said he would ask the questions the media wants to ask and that candidates should be willing to take them. He said he picks up when reporters who dislike him call, and that reporters sometimes ask bad questions but a candidate has to be ready.
CBS on Gillis and the Dan Levy double standard
Craig played a CBS Mornings report on the backlash, which named Ego Nwodim, Maren Morris and Dan Levy among those who criticized the joke. Craig said Levy’s show “Schitt’s Creek” had a character joke about how women dress at the gym, so he questioned why Gillis was held to a different standard. The hosts said people have lost their sense of humor, and talked about Archie Bunker-era comedy and how Trump likes to joke in front of a crowd.
Men are visual, and Bart on record-low marriage rates
The hosts argued, with plenty of joking, that men and women are different and that men are more visual. Bart called to cite a report of record-low numbers of married couples. The hosts joked that “marriage is not a democracy” and that happy wife means happy life. Later came a bit about robots telling people what they are allowed to think, plus a marketing aside about Cindy Crawford and a Pepsi ad.
Gillis tells NBC off, and Wayne’s Corpus Christi fight
Craig said that on a podcast Gillis described being on a group chat that included NBC representatives who wanted an apology, and that Gillis said he was not apologizing. Wayne said his records requests to the City of Corpus Christi have gone unanswered for seven months, and that when he called, he told the person who answered that he would sue if he did not hear back in 10 minutes. He said he never got a call back.
Culture war versus voting war
The hosts closed on Talarico’s voting record, saying he voted against several border security bills, and that voters should look at how he votes, not what he says on CNN. They said they believe the culture war is shifting, and One host said younger people he knows are not buying every message. Wayne said Paxton, whom he has met, needs to show authenticity in the final stretch.
Hear Craig and Wayne live weekdays from 7–9 AM Central on AM 700 KSEV, The Voice of Texas. Visit the KSEV Mornings show page for live-listening controls and more episodes.
