The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

Hour 3 - National Guard to Memphis?

Date: September 15, 2025
Host: iHeartPodcasts

Episode Overview

This episode focuses heavily on the national response to the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and President Trump’s announcement to deploy the National Guard to Memphis in response to escalating violent crime. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton engage Senator Marsha Blackburn for insight into these issues, addressing cultural, political, and societal challenges facing America. The episode also highlights community and public responses to the recent tragedy, the role of social media, and how institutions and individuals are coping and responding.

Key Discussion Points

1. Nationwide Reaction to the Assassination of Charlie Kirk

• Senator Marsha Blackburn’s Reflections

  • Discussed the overwhelming community response, particularly among young people, to the assassination.
  • Shared personal anecdotes about her grandsons’ reactions at school and memorial activities.
  • Noted the widespread grief and solidarity in Tennessee and at the University of Tennessee sporting events.
  • Emphasized Kirk's influence on youth and the global outpouring of support for his family.

  "We could hardly get through the crowd... without people saying, look, we stand with Charlie Kirk. We stand with family values and Tennessee values and morals, and we stand with the president."
  — Sen. Marsha Blackburn (04:43)

• Cultural and Moral Reflections

  • Blackburn stressed the difference between turning the other cheek and refusing to turn a blind eye to evil.
  • Articulated that Kirk's death should serve as a turning point against evil and for standing up for values.

  "While we turn the other cheek... we cannot turn a blind eye. And that is incumbent on us to remember that we have to push back and fight against evil."
  — Sen. Marsha Blackburn (04:43)

2. The National Guard in Memphis – Details and Implications

[08:04] Discussion with Senator Blackburn

• Current Crime Situation in Memphis

  • Memphis labeled as possibly the most dangerous city in the country based on murder rates.
  • Gangs, drug trafficking, and cargo theft highlighted as key issues.

• Federal Intervention

  • Recap of "Operation Viper"—an FBI surge that resulted in over 500 arrests and a significant downtick in crime rates.
  • Explanation of what the National Guard would do: assisting with logistics, paperwork, and traffic to let police focus on criminal apprehensions.

  "Now, the surge with the FBI is over... in order to back up the Memphis Police Department, you will have the National Guard. Now, they can go in, they can do paperwork, they can do logistics, they can do traffic. There are so many things they can do."
  — Sen. Marsha Blackburn (08:40)

• Future Outlook

  • National Guard’s presence intended to support local police and enable focus on organized crime and gangs.
  • Emphasis on restoring safety and the city's economic prospects.

  "We want Memphis to be safe. We want it to be prosperous... a big part of that is getting the crime under control."
  — Sen. Marsha Blackburn (11:32)

3. The Cultural “Rot” and Fixing America’s Soul

[12:41] Question from Clay Travis

• Addressing Cultural Divides and Online Radicals

  • Travis and Blackburn discuss why segments of the public openly celebrated Kirk’s death.
  • Blackburn points to youth isolation, social media, and “evil presence” online as major factors.
  • Mention of legislative efforts, such as the Kids Online Safety Act.

  "It's not going to be fixed by one thing or another thing. But I do believe that strong families can help. I do believe that getting kids off of these social media platforms, that will help."
  — Sen. Marsha Blackburn (13:27)

• Role of Parents, Churches, and Legislation

  • Advocated a multi-pronged approach: family, church, mental health, and tech regulation.
  • Urged adults to take proactive roles in guiding the next generation.

4. Media Ethics: The TMZ Incident

[21:46] Callbacks and Discussions

• Community Debate

  • Listeners and hosts analyze whether TMZ employees actually celebrated Kirk’s death on air.
  • Clay Travis asserts that any hint of such culture in an organization deserves zero tolerance.

  “If that had happened when I ran a media company ... I would fire everyone. ... A culture that celebrates death, legitimately celebrates death is not a culture that I want to be affiliated with.”
  — Clay Travis (23:24)

5. Public Statements and Standing Up for Right

Faculty Social Media Backlash [25:45], Dan Lanning Statement [28:11]

• Universities and Free Speech

  • Travis shares social media posts from a University of Tennessee professor justifying Kirk’s death, arguing for firing such employees.
  • Argues public employees have responsibility in their public discourse.

• Coach Dan Lanning’s Statement

  • University of Oregon head coach Dan Lanning made a public statement of support for Kirk’s family after a game, despite potential backlash in a blue state.

  "If you disagree with me, if you hate me, if you don’t like me, just know this: I love you. And life matters. And that's no way that Charlie should experience that. His family should experience that. There's no way that that evil should exist in this world."
  — Dan Lanning, played on-air by Buck & Clay (28:39)

• Encouragement for Support

  • Travis encourages listeners to use their social media to offer support for those who stand up for good, especially when it comes at a personal cost.

6. Kids, Turning Point USA, and the Influence of Youth

Listener Calls and Community Response [32:37]

• Youth Engagement

  • Multiple callers share stories of young people forming Turning Point USA chapters post-Kirk assassination.
  • Hosts highlight this as a positive silver lining and urge parents to encourage activism.

  "If you've got young boys, and they were particularly troubled by what they saw … have them start Turning Point organizations. Have them speak out and be courageous and brave on Charlie's behalf."
  — Clay Travis (33:03)

7. The Role of Sports and Media Outreach

[35:00] Forward-looking Cultural Strategy

• Sports as Meritocracy
  • Travis reemphasizes the enduring value of sports as a cultural unifier and meritocracy.
  • Ties outreach to emerging media and youth engagement platforms (YouTube, TikTok, etc.).
  • Endorses continued conservative messaging and presence in non-traditional media spaces.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Culture and Evil:
  “We cannot turn a blind eye. And that is incumbent on us to remember that we have to push back and fight against evil.” — Sen. Marsha Blackburn (04:43)

• On the Public Reaction:
  "We could hardly get through the crowd... without people saying, look, we stand with Charlie Kirk." — Sen. Marsha Blackburn (04:43)

• On Organizational Accountability:
  “A culture that celebrates death, legitimately celebrates death is not a culture that I want to be affiliated with. ... I would fire [those staffers].” — Clay Travis (23:24)

• On Legislative Efforts:
  "That is something that has to be done. It's not going to be fixed by one thing or another thing. But I do believe that strong families can help." — Sen. Marsha Blackburn (13:27)

• On Dan Lanning’s Courage:
  “If you disagree with me, if you hate me, if you don’t like me, just know this: I love you.” — Dan Lanning (28:43)

• On Youth and Activism:
  “Have them speak out and be courageous and brave on Charlie's behalf.” — Clay Travis (33:03)

Important Timestamps

• [04:43] Senator Blackburn on Charlie Kirk’s impact and the college response
• [08:04] Discussion on National Guard deployment to Memphis
• [13:27] Solutions to cultural decline and Congressional efforts for kids’ safety
• [21:46] Clarifying the TMZ cheering controversy
• [25:45] Critique of University faculty’s inflammatory comments
• [28:11] Dan Lanning’s tribute and broader cultural support
• [32:37] Listener calls about youth activism in response to tragedy
• [35:00] Reflections on sports, messaging, and cultural platforms

Tone and Style

The tone of the episode is serious, urgent, and at times emotional, especially when dealing with Kirk's assassination and the broader moral challenges. There is a strong undercurrent of conservative values, forthright critique of the left, and an emphasis on action and courage at the personal and community level. The hosts mix direct commentary, listener engagement, and notable public statements with encouragement and humor.

Summary

This episode of The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show delivers a sober assessment of violence, culture, and community, with a focus on Memphis crime policy, the assassination of Charlie Kirk, and what it means for America's future. Key guests, especially Senator Marsha Blackburn, provide policy insight and personal testimony. The hosts and callers explore how families, legislation, media, and personal virtue all play essential roles in restoring order, supporting victims, and resisting evil in American society.