Episode Overview

Title: Could Cartel Kidnappings Come to America?
Podcast: The Charlie Kirk Show
Host: Charlie Kirk
Date: February 5, 2026

Theme:
This episode centers on the disturbing abduction of Nancy Guthrie, mother of Today Show host Savannah Guthrie, in Tucson, Arizona. Charlie Kirk and co-host Blake discuss the case’s implications—specifically whether the culture of cartel-style kidnappings endemic in Latin America could be taking root in America, especially in the context of open borders. Senator Rick Scott joins in to address border safety, law enforcement, and election integrity. The discussion also touches on cultural issues around the Winter Olympics, identity politics, and "woke" cultural trends.

Main Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Abduction of Nancy Guthrie: National Implications

• Case Background

  • Nancy Guthrie (age 84), mother of Savannah Guthrie, abducted from her Tucson home, close to the US-Mexico border.
  • Failure to arrive at church triggers missing person report; family, neighbors, and federal authorities now involved.
  • The case is still being investigated, but a ransom note believed to be credible has surfaced (08:43).

• Crime Details and Timeline

  • Saturday, Jan 31, 9:30pm: Nancy arrives home.
  • 2:00am (Feb 1): Pacemaker syncs with her Apple device for the last time.
  • 11:00am: Misses church service; family alerted.
  • 11:10am: Family finds her home empty; blood found on porch.
  • Doorbell camera had been physically removed (key detail per Charlie Kirk, 10:55).
  • Authorities: FBI, Customs & Border Patrol, and local law enforcement are involved, with DHS K9 teams on the ground (15:38).

• Notable Quotes

  • Charlie Kirk (07:04): "We don't know who took her. They don't have any leads. They have no suspects...But there are some reasons to believe [the ransom note] probably is [real]."
  • Blake (12:40): "There’s an internationalization of crime in the United States that is entirely downstream of the fact that we have had a totally open border for so long."

• Speculation on Cartel-style Kidnappings

  • Blake: Cites rise of kidnapping for ransom as a 'business model' seen in Venezuela and Mexico, rarely in the US until now. (05:22)
  • Mexican missing persons statistics: 100,000 per year cited (06:25).

2. The Border, Law Enforcement, and Imported Crime

• Link to Open Borders

  • Discussion connects Guthrie’s kidnapping to broader concerns about "border invasion" and importing South/Central American crime patterns.
  • Blake (12:40): Highlights international burglary and fencing rings, cars stolen in Arizona ending up in Mexico, parallel to open border-related criminal trends.

• Civilization and Safety

  • Blake (13:10): "[Civilization] is the ability for the weak, the elderly, the vulnerable to live in safety."
  • Debate over whether elderly Americans should feel safe living alone in border areas.

• Local & Federal Response

  • Special mention of President Trump’s personal outreach to Savannah Guthrie (07:04), and mobilization of all available federal resources.
  • Sheriff’s department action: after initially releasing the house, authorities re-secured the crime scene following new leads (15:49).

3. Interview with Senator Rick Scott: Security in Florida vs. Other States

• Florida’s Approach to Crime

  • No sanctuary cities, tough enforcement laws (serve 85% of sentences), generally a climate where criminals avoid committing crimes in state (19:40).
  • Senator Scott (19:40): "People know where to commit the crimes...We’re not a sanctuary city and we have tough enforcement laws."
  • He notes Venezuelan and Cuban expatriate populations in Florida, but says cartel-style kidnappings haven’t migrated due to strict policies.

• Contrast With Other Regions

  • Florida portrayed as a stronghold with law and order due to strict legal consequences and border distance.
  • Implied message: lax laws and open borders elsewhere foster environments for internationalized crime.

4. Policy & Politics: Election Integrity and the SAVE Act

• SAVE America Act Discussion

  • Push to require photo ID and proof of citizenship to vote.
  • Democrats accused of obstruction, despite broad bipartisan support among the American public.
  • Senator Scott (21:14): "[Democrats] will instinctively oppose even logical, commonsensical things like ensuring that if you’re going to vote...you ought to be an American citizen."
  • Charlie Kirk (26:26): "Voter ID is not controversial by party and it is not controversial by race. The vast majority of Americans agree...you should have a photo ID to vote."

• Procedural Barriers in the Senate

  • Senator Scott and Mike Lee advocate for enforcing a ‘talking filibuster’ instead of the so-called ‘zombie filibuster’ (24:02), to force debates and votes on key legislation like the SAVE Act.

• Notable Quote:

  • Senator Scott (27:25): "They [Democrats] want fraud to win...That’s all."
  • Charlie Kirk (27:42): "The only explanation is they want to cheat. That’s the only thing that. That’s it."

5. The Olympics, Culture, and "Wokeness"

• Olympics Segment: Love for America & Controversies

  • Charlie and Blake reminisce about the unifying nature of the Olympics and America-first patriotism.
  • Discussion pivots to the controversy about the “Ice House” being rechristened the “Winter House” to avoid perceived negative ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) connotations (32:42).

• Diversity Debate in Winter Sports

  • AP report questioned Sweden’s Winter Olympic team for being “too Swedish” (33:15).
  • Both hosts ridicule demands that teams artificially diversify.
  • Charlie Kirk (34:45): "Experts are saying a thing...This is so dumb. Think about how dumb this is."

• Athlete Activism Mocked

  • Response to Team USA skater Amber Glenn’s remarks about ‘ICE’ terminology and its supposed impact on immigrant families back home.
  • Charlie Kirk (36:12): "Shut up and dribble. Okay, I will root for you. I will root for you, Team USA. But now I'm going to do it through grit teeth...Nobody stole the word ice from you. They're saving American lives. You should say thank you."

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Charlie Kirk (07:04, on the case uncertainty):
  "We don't know who took her. They don't have any leads. They have no suspects..."

• Blake (12:40):
  "There’s an internationalization of crime in the United States that is entirely downstream of the fact that we have had a totally open border for so long."

• Charlie Kirk (13:10):
  "Civilization is the ability for the weak, the elderly, the vulnerable to live in safety."

• Senator Rick Scott (19:40):
  "People know where to commit the crimes...We’re not a sanctuary city and we have tough enforcement laws."

• Senator Rick Scott (21:14):
  "Even logical, commonsensical things like ensuring that if you’re going to vote in an American election, you ought to be an American citizen, [Democrats] are going to just instinctively oppose."

• Charlie Kirk (26:26):
  "Voter ID is not controversial by party and it is not controversial by race."

• Senator Rick Scott (27:25):
  "They want fraud. They want...the Democrats know they can't win with their policies. They want fraud to win. That's all."

• Charlie Kirk (34:45), mocking diversity critique:
  "Experts are saying a thing...This is so dumb. Think about how dumb this is."

• Charlie Kirk (36:12), on athlete activism:
  "Shut up and dribble. ...Nobody stole the word ice from you. They're saving American lives. You should say thank you."

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [05:22] – Blake explains "kidnapping for ransom" as a Latin American criminal industry.
• [07:04] – Charlie recaps current investigative status, mentioning ransom note and President Trump’s involvement.
• [13:10] – Discussion of the definition of civilization and safety for vulnerable populations.
• [15:38] – Kristi Noem confirms DHS and Border Patrol involvement in Guthrie case.
• [19:40] – Senator Rick Scott describes Florida’s strong law enforcement and lack of sanctuary cities.
• [21:14] – Debate about the SAVE Act and Democrat resistance to election integrity measures.
• [24:02] – Senator Scott elaborates on the filibuster and the need to reform Senate procedures.
• [26:26] – Kirk: Voter ID is “massively popular” across demographics.
• [33:15] – Blake and Charlie react to AP critique of Swedish Olympic team diversity.
• [36:12] – Kirk critiques Team USA’s Amber Glenn’s remarks about ICE.

Conclusion

The episode delves deeply into whether cartel-style kidnappings now threaten US safety, using the Guthrie abduction as a lens for broader concerns about border security and imported criminality. The discussion leans heavily on policy, law enforcement, and accusations that open borders have created vulnerabilities. Election integrity and cultural controversy around the Winter Olympics provide further grist for the show’s signature critique of left-wing and “woke” policies. Throughout, Charlie Kirk’s unapologetically conservative tone—sometimes incisive, sometimes caustic—drives the analysis.