"EXCLUSIVE: The National Guard enters Memphis to stop violent crime... Memphis Mayor, Paul Young speaks!"

Podcast: The Breakfast Club (iHeartPodcasts)
Date: September 29, 2025
Host: Lauren LaRosa (special segment: The Latest with Lauren LaRosa)
Guest: Mayor Paul Young, Mayor of Memphis

Episode Overview

This exclusive episode focuses on the recent deployment of the National Guard to Memphis in response to violent crime surges. Host Lauren LaRosa sits down with Memphis Mayor Paul Young for an in-depth discussion about why the National Guard is being sent, how the city is preparing, community concerns, and the mayor’s strategy for balancing safety, resources, and community relations during this high-tension moment.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. Context: Why is the National Guard Coming to Memphis?

• Announcement: As of September 29, 2025, the National Guard is being deployed to Memphis per an order from Governor Bill Lee—supported by President Donald Trump—to assist in curbing violent crime.
  (04:01) Lauren contextualizes the atmosphere: “These everyday people, as much as they want the resources and the help… they're scared right now, y’all.”

• Community Response: Lauren describes a city on edge, with residents “buckling down” and preparing to avoid unwanted interactions with the Guard. There’s widespread uncertainty about what the arrival of military force will mean for the predominantly Black community.
  (05:20) “They’re making sure… license and registration is up to date… warrants… because they don’t want to have to have contact with the National Guard.”

2. The Mayor’s Perspective: Strategy, Authority, and Limitations

• Mayor's Role: Mayor Young clarifies that the decision was made above him:
  (07:56) “Our governor has said yes and the President said yes. So as mayor, I don't have a say in whether they come or not.”

• Strategic Focus: Mayor Young is trying to “align how they come, where they're going to show up, what their assignments are going to be” to minimize negative impact and keep the Guard’s focus on violent crime—not petty offenses.
  (08:19) “My goal is to try to keep them focused on violent crime and not, you know, petty crimes and things of that nature.”

• Federal Agency Involvement: He emphasizes that beyond the National Guard, the real value comes from investigative resources like the FBI and DEA, which can help solve more major crimes with their advanced technologies.
  (09:00) “The thing that's going to be helpful is the FBI, DEA… support our police department… different technologies… to solve [crimes].”

• Jail Overcrowding: Lauren asks about the overflowing jail conditions and concern over more arrests. Mayor Young acknowledges this as a significant issue, reiterating his intent to limit action to the “most violent folks.”
  (09:49) “That is a big problem, which is why I think our emphasis needs to be on. Find the most violent folks, and that’s who we focus on. And not just, you know, petty crimes.”

3. Community Fears, Historical Context, and Political Tensions

• Community Skepticism: Lauren relays local worries that increased force might escalate tension—with historic distrust of militarized responses in Black communities.
  (10:07) “A lot of people's [opinion] was it’s just not going to help because of the force that'll be brought to the city..."

• Mayor Young’s Aspirations: While he can’t control National Guard actions, he hopes to use influence to integrate them under existing police guidance—referencing D.C. as a potential model when federal forces aligned with local operations.
  (10:58) “We can’t control it. I mean, but my goal is to try and use influence to do it… when they started folding into the operations that D.C. police had… that's when they were most successful.”

• Crime Data & Progress: Mayor Young points out real progress:
  (11:45) Lauren: “Haven’t you guys seen a decrease? I think she said 30% decrease.”
  (11:49) Mayor Young: “30% on homicides, 19% on violent crime year over year, 37% on car thefts…”

• Political Dynamics: The mayor describes Memphis as a "blue dot in a red state," noting partisan divides and that the National Guard decision was made without local input.
  (13:03) “That’s a different kind of politics. That’s politics above me… that decision was made without us.”

4. Looking Forward: Leadership and Hopes for Memphis

• Leadership Challenge: Mayor Young frames his primary goal as minimizing community harm and turning Memphis into a national example for successfully navigating such tense interventions.
  (13:19) “My goal is to make sure we navigate it in a way that we become an example for the rest of the country… minimize negative impact… maximize positive impact.”

• Closing Reflections: Lauren and Mayor Young express hope but acknowledge the difficulty of the situation, with city sentiment at a “peak.”
  (13:41) Mayor Young: “It’s definitely hard… the government was here. We did a press conference yesterday… the feelings are at a peak right now.”

• Resource for Public Updates:
  (18:26) Lauren: “They have created a website dedicated to... informing the public… memphistn.gov/safeandclean… answers your questions about... what to expect…”

Key Quotes & Memorable Moments

• (05:21) Lauren LaRosa:

  "People were having a lot of conversations with me… to the point where I said to the Pod Box Podcast festival team… is there a way I can talk to the mayor and just, you know, have a conversation with him about what's going on and what the plan… people are scared."

• (07:56) Mayor Paul Young:

  “As mayor, I don't have a say in whether they come or not. So what we're doing now is working to align how they come, where they're going to show up, what their assignments are going to be.”

• (09:47) Mayor Paul Young:

  “That is a big problem, which is why I think our emphasis needs to be on find the most violent folks, and that’s who we focus on.”

• (10:26) Lauren LaRosa and Mayor Young:

  Lauren: “But you think opposite because you feel like you'll be able to work with them?” Mayor Young: “I won't say I think opposite. ... My goal is to minimize the role of the National Guard and try to elevate the role of those other entities.”

• (11:49) Mayor Paul Young:

  “30% on homicides, 19% on violent crime year over year, 37% on car thefts ... when you get to this level, it’s still too high and people are still frustrated.”

• (13:03) Mayor Paul Young:

  “That’s a different kind of politics. That’s politics above me… we’re a blue dot in a red state… that decision was made without us.”

• (13:19) Mayor Paul Young:

  “My goal is to make sure we navigate it in a way that we become an example for the rest of the country. How do you deal with it in a way where you minimize negative impact on the community and maximize positive impact?”

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 04:01 — Lauren sets the scene: Memphis community’s anxiety over National Guard
• 07:36 — Mayor Young begins interview: Lays out the reality of city leadership and preparations
• 08:49 — Discussion of crime, resources, and investigative support from FBI/DEA
• 09:49 — Overcrowded jails, narrowing focus to violent offenders
• 10:26 — Relationship between National Guard, federal agencies, and local perception
• 11:45 — Progress on crime reduction and lingering challenges
• 12:32 — Political context: blue city/red state, decision-making above the mayor
• 13:19 — Mayor’s goal for Memphis as a national example
• 18:26 — Resource for residents: official info site memphistn.gov/safeandclean

Episode Tone and Language

• Lauren LaRosa’s conversation is candid, community-focused, and empathetic, channeling local voices and direct concerns from her Memphis visit.
• Mayor Paul Young is pragmatic yet hopeful, speaks plainly about political limitations, and insists on focusing interventions where they matter most.

Final Reflection

This timely interview captures Memphis at a crossroads—balancing hope for greater safety and real skepticism about militarized solutions. Mayor Young is intent on making the best of a decision imposed on the city and leveraging federal resources to sustain the recent progress in reducing violent crime. The episode is a compelling snapshot of urban governance, community relations, and the push-and-pull between local and state/federal power.
Lauren closes with a call for cities nationwide to watch Memphis as a possible model—or cautionary tale—for the evolving debate over public safety and the role of armed forces in American cities.