Taco Bell Sticker Shock and Pop-Tart the Whale | Trevin & Sawyer Morning X
Trevin & Sawyer In The Morning | Austin, TX | Monday, July 13, 2026
🎙️ First Hour
Morning X — Transcript Analysis (First Portion)
Show Date: Monday, July 13, 2026
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Topics/Stories Covered
- Trevin’s return from vacation — Trevin came back from a five-day trip to Port Aransas with his in-laws; his son turned four. He joked about not calling Sawyer once despite promising he would. Plans mentioned for a Disney World trip when the son turns five.
- Taco Bell price shock — Trevin visited the Taco Bell on MLK and was stunned to pay ~$10.68 for a beef chalupa supreme and two crispy tacos. Led to a discussion about franchise vs. corporate pricing, Taco Bell app deals, and inflation (most Taco Bell items up 50%+ since 2019).
- Taco Bell produce recall — Sawyer mentioned Taco Bell has been recalling produce due to a cyclosporiasis (“explosive diarrhea parasite”) outbreak in lettuce. Trevin skeptically dismissed the severity of the headline.
- Conor McGregor’s UFC return — McGregor returned after a five-year layoff at UFC 329 against Max “Blessed” Holloway, threw one kick, blew out his knee, and the fight was over in 65 seconds. Sawyer attributed it to McGregor’s lifestyle (alleged drug use, heavy drinking). Ribbed Paramount+ subscribers for paying for it.
- Sex Pistols interview with Steve Jones — Sawyer interviewed Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones ahead of their appearance at Emo’s on Saturday, September 12th, as part of the 50th anniversary of *Nevermind the Bollocks*. Topics included the origins of punk rock, the famous 1978 Randy’s Rodeo show in San Antonio (which helped spark Austin’s punk scene via bands like the Skunks, the Violators, and the Huns), and what fans can expect from the tour. Austin is the second stop of the U.S. leg. Tickets available at 101x.com.
- Austin Game Expo / Classic Games Fest — Mentioned briefly; the show is giving away tickets to the Classic Games Fest, July 24–26. A giveaway planned at 8 a.m.
- Free humpback whale (headline tease) — Trevin began teasing a headline about a humpback whale in the Salish Sea (U.S.-Canada border area) that had been tangled in fishing gear for a week and was freed. Transcript cuts off before full discussion.
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Austin/Texas News Stories
- Sex Pistols at Emo’s (September 12th) — Austin concert announcement with historical context: the Sex Pistols’ 1978 Randy’s Rodeo show in San Antonio is credited with catalyzing Austin’s punk scene.
- Taco Bell on MLK — Local Taco Bell visit sparks broader conversation about fast food pricing and franchise autonomy.
- Port Aransas — Referenced as Trevin’s vacation destination.
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Austin Events/Concerts/Local Happenings
- Sex Pistols — Emo’s, Saturday, September 12th — 50th Jubilee tour with opening act Panic Shack. Second stop of U.S. leg. Tickets at 101x.com.
- Classic Games Fest / Austin Game Expo — July 24–26 — Ticket giveaway happening at 8 a.m. on this episode.
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Restaurant/Food Discussion
- Taco Bell (MLK location) — Extended bit about sticker shock paying ~$10.68 for a chalupa and two tacos. Sawyer advised using the app’s Lux Cravings Box for better value (~$7 with a drink). Discussion of franchise vs. corporate pricing, inflation, and the produce/parasite recall.
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Funny Bits, Debates & Memorable Exchanges
- Trevin vs. Taco Bell prices — Trevin’s genuine outrage at paying over $10 at Taco Bell was the comic centerpiece of the open. Sawyer calling him out with “You cucked yourself” for not using the app was a highlight. Trevin’s nostalgia for 59-cent tacos vs. modern reality landed well.
- “Explosive diarrhea is fake news” — Trevin’s deadpan take that “explosive diarrhea” is just a media invention to write funny headlines got a good moment. Sawyer pushed back: “I do. I think it is.”
- Steve Jones saying “ditties” — Both hosts laughed at the Sex Pistols guitarist casually referring to their iconic punk catalog as “a few other ditties.” Sawyer: “Is that like his way of saying bangers?” Trevin: “Yes, exactly.”
- McGregor roast — Sawyer’s riff comparing McGregor’s body to his own Busch Light-fueled frame (“I’m blowing out both quads”) was a strong comedic beat.
- “It’s just diarrhea, folks. You’ve had it before. You’ll have it again.” — Trevin’s blunt sign-off on the Taco Bell health scare, immediately followed by noting the time: “Isn’t that nice at 6:36 on the all-new Morning X?”
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Guests
- Steve Jones (Sex Pistols) — Pre-recorded interview conducted by Sawyer. Jones discussed the origins of punk, the Randy’s Rodeo San Antonio show, the new tour lineup (featuring Frank Carter), and what fans can expect at Emo’s.
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Three-Paragraph Summary
Monday’s show opened with Trevin’s return from a five-day Port Aransas vacation with his family, celebrating his son’s fourth birthday. The reunion banter quickly gave way to Trevin’s genuine frustration at paying over $10 at the Taco Bell on MLK for a chalupa and two tacos — a riff that spiraled into a discussion of franchise pricing, Taco Bell’s app deals, and sweeping fast food inflation since 2019. Sawyer piled on with the news that Taco Bell has been recalling produce over a parasite linked to “explosive diarrhea,” which Trevin dismissed as a media-invented phrase designed purely to generate funny headlines.
Sports coverage centered on Conor McGregor’s disastrous UFC comeback at UFC 329, where he blew out his knee in 65 seconds against Max Holloway — earning $30 million in the process. Sawyer delivered a scathing (and comedic) autopsy of McGregor’s career decline, blaming his alleged lifestyle excesses and drawing an unflattering parallel to his own Busch Light consumption. The segment wrapped with a mention of Patty Pimblett as a fighter both hosts actually enjoy, before pivoting to the show’s bigger get of the week.
The standout segment was Sawyer’s pre-recorded interview with Sex Pistols guitarist Steve Jones, promoting the band’s 50th anniversary of *Nevermind the Bollocks* show at Emo’s on Saturday, September 12th — the second stop of their U.S. tour. The conversation covered the origins of punk, Jones’s characteristically dismissive attitude toward genre labels, and the historically significant 1978 Randy’s Rodeo show in San Antonio that Sawyer credited with igniting Austin’s punk scene through bands like the Skunks and the Violators. The hosts also briefly teased a ticket giveaway for the Classic Games Fest (July 24–26) and a feel-good headline about a humpback whale freed from fishing gear — which was just beginning as the transcript ended.
⏰ Second Hour
Morning X Transcript Analysis — Middle Portion (approx. 00:11:40–00:20:35)
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Topics Covered
- Whale entanglement/rescue story (“Pop-Tart” the whale)
- Erewhon’s $12 “Sacred Water” drink
- 2026 FIFA World Cup quarterfinal results and semifinal predictions
- Trevin’s beach vacation to Port Aransas
- Death of Mary Morello, mother of Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine)
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Austin/Texas News
- Trevin mentioned a family beach trip to Port Aransas, Texas, including fishing attempts, family beach time, and his son’s birthday celebration
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Sports Takes & Predictions
- 2026 FIFA World Cup quarterfinal results (as of show date):
- Spain def. Belgium 2–1
- England def. Norway 2–1 (Jude Bellingham, extra time)
- Argentina def. Switzerland 3–1 (Messi advancing to semis)
- Semifinal matchups noted:
- Spain vs. France
- England vs. Argentina (Wednesday)
- [00:17:26] Trevin’s pick: England over Argentina — and jokingly suggested the match should be played at Estadio Azteca for maximum drama
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Food & Restaurant Discussions
- [00:13:10] Erewhon’s $12 “Sacred Water” — mocked extensively; actual ingredients include coconut water, jasmine tea, raw honey, holy basil, anise hyssop, green cardamom, white grape juice, and coconut milk; hosts noted it’s not water at all and described its appearance as a “viscous,” “glazed” white liquid
- [00:19:54] Tortugas — Port Aransas — Trevin recommended it, called it “delicious and a little bit pricey, but well worth it”
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Funny Bits & Memorable Host Moments
- [00:11:50] Sawyer drops a Seinfeld “The sea was angry that day, my friends” reference during the whale story
- [00:12:14] Debate over what flavor Pop-Tart the whale is named after — Trevin insists “Wild Berry,” formerly a Walmart exclusive
- [00:13:33] Extended string of movie/TV coffee quotes layered over the Erewhon transition
- [00:14:26] Sawyer’s “Father, Son, Holy Basil” joke while reading Erewhon ingredients
- [00:15:13] Both hosts struggle to describe the drink’s appearance, landing on “glaze” — then nervously moving past it
- [00:15:22] Tangent about “thick water” for people with swallowing difficulties; Sawyer suggests removing the label and pranking a friend with it
- [00:16:13] Sawyer’s answer to the “would you pay $12 for water?” hypothetical: “They sell Diet Coke at Erewhon? That’s what I’m getting. But it’s $45.”
- [00:17:44] Trevin reveals he cut his finger in a drawer on the first morning of vacation while trying to make coffee before the family woke up, foiling his solo fishing plans
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Pop Culture & National Topics
- [00:11:41] “Pop-Tart” the whale — humpback whale spotted entangled in 100+ feet of rope off Canada; tracked by marine biologists; found free the next day, apparently self-freed
- [00:13:10] Erewhon “Sacred Water” — $12 cup drink from the luxury L.A./NYC grocery chain, marketed as a “clarified herbal tonic”; hosts confirmed no Austin Erewhon locations exist
- [00:20:14] Death of Mary Morello — mother of Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello, passed away at age 102 (born 1923); Tom Morello quoted: *”Mary Morello is forever with the rebels of light and song”*
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Summary
This portion of the show opens with a lighthearted national story about a humpback whale nicknamed “Pop-Tart” who was spotted tangled in over 100 feet of rope off the Canadian coast. Marine crews tracked her unsuccessfully, but she was found free the next day — which prompted a spirited tangent about what flavor Pop-Tart she’d be named after (Trevin says Wild Berry, definitively). The bit included a Seinfeld reference, Limp Bizkit lyrics, and a brief jab at Mitch McConnell, showcasing the show’s free-associative, comedic banter style at its loosest.
The segment transitioned into a sharp take on Erewhon’s viral $12 “Sacred Water,” with both hosts dissecting the drink’s absurd ingredient list live on air — coconut water, holy basil, anise hyssop, white grape juice — and noting that it’s not remotely water, despite being marketed as such. The hosts confirmed Austin has no Erewhon locations and seemed content to keep it that way, with Sawyer’s punchline being that he’d still opt for a $45 Diet Coke over the sacred elixir.
The final stretch covered the World Cup semifinals with Trevin backing England over Argentina for the drama of it, followed by a warm and funny account of Trevin’s Port Aransas family vacation — complete with a self-inflicted drawer injury that derailed his solo fishing plans on day one. He recommended Tortugas restaurant in Port Aransas and reflected on the exhausting but rewarding reality of being a vacationing dad. The segment closed on a more somber note with the announcement of Mary Morello’s passing at 102, Tom Morello’s mother and a beloved figure connected to one of rock’s most iconic bands.
🏁 Final Hour
Analysis: Final Portion of “Trevin & Sawyer In The Morning” — July 13, 2026
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Topics Covered
- Mary Morello’s passing — Tom Morello’s mother, activist and Rage Against the Machine family figure, died at age 102; tributes from Shirley Manson of Garbage noted
- Sawyer’s dog Odie and the destroyed modular couch — extended banter about the pet-proof fabric failure, fabric swatches, and the dog eating three of the four samples
- Sawyer’s dog Maisie’s diarrhea situation — discovered upon returning from a trip, 30+ turds in the yard
- Wimbledon Men’s Final — Yannick Sinner (Italy, world #1) defeated Alexander Zverev (Germany, world #2); Sinner’s PED suspension/exemption controversy discussed
- NASCAR Cup Series at Atlanta Motor Speedway — Ryan Blaney won in dramatic three-car finish
- AI and brain health — discussion of an Atlantic article on four ways to prevent AI from “ruining your brain”; skeptical banter throughout
- Austin proposed city budget — $6.6 billion proposed for FY2026–27, including a 3.5% property tax increase (maximum allowed under Texas law), generating an additional $82 million; 65% of general fund going to public safety; city manager to present to council Thursday, vote next month
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Closing News & Sports Updates
- Wimbledon: Yannick Sinner defeated Alexander Zverev in straight sets to win the men’s final [00:24:54–00:26:00]
- NASCAR: Ryan Blaney won at Atlanta Motor Speedway (referred to on-air as “Echo Park Speedway”) [00:25:40–00:26:01]
- Austin City Budget: $6.6 billion proposed budget for FY2026–27; 3.5% property tax increase; public safety top funded category; council vote next month [00:29:45–00:30:59]
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Guests or Callers
None in this portion.
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Funny Closing Moments & Memorable Quotes
- On the dog eating the fabric swatches: *”He picked them for you.”* — Trevin, suggesting the one swatch Odie didn’t eat should be the new couch color [00:23:16]
- On Yannick Sinner’s PED suspension exemption: *”You can’t play in any matches — except the majors.”* — Trevin, deadpan [00:25:26–00:25:28]
- On the Atlantic AI article: *”How about just don’t use it at all?”* — Trevin, after Sawyer reads the first tip [00:26:36]
- On AI feng shui backfiring: *”The couch became two inches smaller somehow. That’s just the amount of trust you should put into these robots.”* — Sawyer [00:27:57–00:28:01]
- On AI as a societal takeover: *”Where are the people at Truth that got us to quit smoking cigarettes? We need them for AI.”* — Trevin [00:28:55–00:28:57]
- Closing shot at Austin infrastructure: *”How about we re-stripe the highways so it’s not Mopac choose your own damn adventure every time it rains in town.”* — Sawyer [00:30:50–00:30:54]
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How the Show Wrapped Up
The show closed with Trevin’s Austin budget headline segment, ending on Sawyer’s comedic suggestion to use some of the city’s $6.6 billion budget to re-stripe Mopac before the forecasted rain. Both hosts signed off with the running catchphrase *”There’s your news,”* delivered in tandem.
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3-Paragraph Summary
The final stretch of the show opened on a reflective note as Trevin shared the news of Mary Morello’s passing at age 102 — Tom Morello’s mother and a lifelong activist whose work spanned opposition to Jim Crow laws, anti-colonial movements in Africa, and support for the United Farm Workers and Urban League. Trevin noted he once spotted her with the band during their Austin stop in the 1990s, and the hosts gave her a warm, genuine send-off before pivoting to lighter fare — namely Sawyer’s ongoing saga with his dog Odie, who has systematically destroyed a modular mustard-yellow couch over the past year, including eating three out of four replacement fabric swatches sent by the manufacturer. The bit landed well, with Trevin suggesting the one swatch Odie left untouched should be the default pick for the new covers.
Sports headlines came next, with Sawyer covering Yannick Sinner’s Wimbledon men’s singles title over Alexander Zverev — complete with a tangent about Sinner’s PED-related suspension that somehow exempted him from missing any Grand Slams — and Ryan Blaney’s dramatic NASCAR Cup Series win at Atlanta Motor Speedway. The hosts then dove into a lively and skeptical discussion about an Atlantic article offering four tips to stop AI from “ruining your brain,” with Trevin quickly pointing out that “just don’t use it” wasn’t among the suggestions. The conversation escalated into broader concerns about AI dependency and societal complicity, with Trevin invoking Truth.com-style anti-smoking campaigns and Sawyer riffing on Terminator 2, before things wrapped with Sawyer’s admission that his wife’s attempt to use AI for furniture arrangement resulted in the same couch appearing two inches shorter in two different images.
The show closed with Trevin’s local news segment on Austin’s proposed $6.6 billion city budget for FY2026–27, which includes a 3.5% property tax hike — the maximum allowed without a voter referendum — projected to generate $82 million in additional revenue. With 65% of the general fund earmarked for public safety and the city manager set to formally present the proposal to city council on Thursday ahead of a next-month vote, Sawyer closed the segment with a crowd-pleasing parting shot: a plea to use some of that budget to re-stripe Mopac before the rain hits. Both hosts landed the sign-off with their shared *”There’s your news,”* ending the Monday show on a characteristically dry and local note.
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Analysis generated from archived transcripts. Hosts: Trevin Smith and Sawyer Stull. Morning X — 101X Austin, TX.
