The Tudor Dixon Podcast: The Last Line of Defense with Senator Eric Schmitt

Podcast: The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show (iHeartPodcasts)
Episode Date: September 1, 2025
Host: Tudor Dixon
Guest: Senator Eric Schmitt (Missouri)

Episode Overview

This episode features Senator Eric Schmitt discussing his new book, The Last Line of Defense: How to Beat the Left in Court. Tudor Dixon and Schmitt delve into his experiences as Missouri Attorney General standing up to progressive "lawfare," the importance of legal action in defending conservative values, the culture wars in America—especially in education—and the role of civil courage in the face of government overreach. They also explore the impacts of “wokeness,” discuss urban crime, and reflect on the future of political leadership, emphasizing Donald Trump’s unique influence.

Main Points & Insights

1. Eric Schmitt: Fighting the Left in Court

Timestamps: 03:09 – 06:35

• Schmitt’s Background & Motivation:

  • Schmitt authored The Last Line of Defense as a “field manual” for confronting the “left wing lawfare machine.”
  • Emphasizes conservatives have ceded too much legal territory, allowing left-leaning policy to become entrenched via the courts.
  • As former Attorney General, Schmitt led Missouri through tumultuous times: COVID-19 lockdowns, mandates, border crises, and censorship.

• Key Legal Victories:

  • Student loan forgiveness case—won at SCOTUS.
  • Vaccine mandate lawsuit—won at SCOTUS.
  • Missouri v. Biden: Lawsuit exposing federal collaboration with Big Tech to censor speech.

"I feel like it's like a field manual for what it was like to be on the front lines against this left wing lawfare machine." – Senator Eric Schmitt (04:39)

• Approachability of the Book:
  • Written for everyday Americans, not just lawyers; offers a behind-the-scenes look at major depositions and legal confrontations.

2. The Importance of Not Ceding Ground

Timestamps: 06:35 – 09:58

• On Conservative Resilience:
  • Conservative tendency to “move on” after wins is risky; vigilance is necessary because censorship efforts are ongoing.
  • After Trump left office, many Republicans became less vocal, but Schmitt insists on continued engagement.

“My role was to be that last line of defense, to kind of hold the line until the cavalry arrived. Right? Which was President Trump." – Senator Eric Schmitt (08:09)

• Local Outreach during COVID Restrictions:
  • In Missouri, Schmitt sued more than 50 school districts for mask mandates.
  • Created portals for parents to report school “wokeness,” e.g., CRT, “privilege walks,” DEI sessions.

3. The Dangers of Cultural Marxism and "Wokeness"

Timestamps: 09:58 – 12:24

• School Indoctrination:
  • Dixon and Schmitt discuss how teachers are being told to “apologize for their whiteness,” leading to more division and fear among students and faculty.
  • Schmitt ties this to cultural Marxism: dividing people into oppressor/oppressed categories and fueling a lucrative industry of DEI consultants.

“There's a whole industry attached to it and it's all based on division...it's totally racist.” – Senator Eric Schmitt (10:34)

• Corporate and Media Complicity:

  • References Coca-Cola’s “be less white” training.
  • Mainstream media ignores or downplays these dynamics, making alternative media critical.

• Donald Trump’s Uniqueness:

  • Trump’s authenticity and connection with average Americans set him apart.
  • No one else connects as directly or is as unfiltered.

“He's not careful...careful is such an interesting word to use because politicians are careful, which is a kind way of saying they're not real.” – Tudor Dixon (12:24)

4. Restoring American Manufacturing & Security

Timestamps: 18:39 – 19:52

• Discussion on outsourcing and factory shutdowns in Michigan, referencing the loss of institutional knowledge in manufacturing.
• Emphasizes urgency in rebuilding American ability to produce critical goods for national security.

“We can't, we cannot be reliant on China and other countries for the stuff we need to build F15s. Like... that's insane.” – Senator Eric Schmitt (19:41)

5. Lessons from COVID and The Abuse of Authority

Timestamps: 19:52 – 22:00

• Schmitt recalls the Yale “Milgram Experiment” to illustrate how people comply with authority, relating it to COVID-era restrictions.
• Warnings about the likelihood of government overreach repeating if vigilance lapses.

“If you would have asked me five years ago if I thought that was possible in the United States, I would have said no.” – Senator Eric Schmitt (19:52)

6. Lawfare, Censorship, and the Rules of the Game

Timestamps: 22:00 – 25:30

• Schmitt asserts that the left applies the rules selectively, shielding their own from scrutiny.
• Details government–Big Tech collusion to censor dissenting voices during COVID and Hunter Biden laptop coverage.

“What we got was shocking...the thousands of pages of communication between high ranking government officials saying, ‘this comes from the top, the very top of the White House, take this down.’ And they would take it down.” – Senator Eric Schmitt (23:30)

• FBI and other agencies were directly involved; the Missouri v. Biden lawsuit led to unprecedented revelations about government censorship.

7. Education and the Indoctrination Battle

Timestamps: 25:30 – 27:13

• Discussion of anti-Trump bias in school textbooks, even in Christian schools.
• Dixon expresses concern over continual efforts to shape young minds against conservative ideals.

“There's never a year off for Republicans...the lies are so. They know. They have the kids, they have the teachers, they can get to you.” – Tudor Dixon (25:30)

8. Urban Crime, Policing, and Leadership

Timestamps: 27:13 – 38:13

• Schmitt and Dixon address rising crime in Democrat-controlled cities like St. Louis and Detroit.
• Schmitt stresses the need for a robust law enforcement presence and prosecution of violent repeat offenders.

“If you want to solve violent crime, you have to get the bad guys off the street and you put them in jail, okay?” – Senator Eric Schmitt (27:49)

• Highlights federal partnerships to bolster local enforcement and FBI presence in St. Louis.
• Criticizes “defund the police” rhetoric and hollow gestures like tearing down homes as crime solutions.

“Just because the house is not there, the crime is not gone.” – Tudor Dixon (34:11) “You need more police officers and their presence on the street really matters...it's not 2020 anymore. We don't need to apologize for that.” – Senator Eric Schmitt (35:49)

9. The Path Forward and Schmitt’s Parting Message

Timestamps: 38:13 – 39:04

• Schmitt’s book is a “playbook” for defending constitutional rights in court.
• Encourages conservatives to remain vigilant, informed, and engaged—and to use legal means to push back.

“It recounts all this, this crazy time where we stood up and we fought back. And I hope that it provides a roadmap for the future.” – Senator Eric Schmitt (38:40)

Notable Quotes

• Senator Eric Schmitt on legal battles:

  "We were the only ones doing that at the time because I just felt like this is wrong. There's no science to support 5-year-olds being forced to wear masks all day long." (08:09)

• Tudor Dixon on Trump’s authenticity:

  "Trump is Trump. Be you. It's hard to get people now to be themselves." (12:24)

• Senator Eric Schmitt on government censorship:

  "What we got was shocking... This comes from the very top of the White House. Take this down. And they would take it down." (23:30)

• Senator Eric Schmitt on police presence:

  "You need more police officers and their presence on the street really matters. And you go and arrest bad guys and then you prosecute them and put them away for a long time." (35:49)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Schmitt’s Introduction & Book Premise: 03:09 – 06:35
• Conservative Legal Victories & Role as AG: 04:39 – 06:35
• On Conservative Passivity Post-Trump: 06:35 – 09:58
• CRT, DEI, Cultural Marxism in Schools: 09:58 – 12:24
• The Trump Factor and Political Authenticity: 12:24 – 14:39
• American Manufacturing and Security: 18:39 – 19:52
• Government Overreach Lessons from COVID: 19:52 – 22:00
• Government–Big Tech Censorship: 22:30 – 25:30
• Political Indoctrination in Education: 25:30 – 27:13
• Urban Crime and Policing Solutions: 27:13 – 38:13
• Book Promotion & Final Thoughts: 38:13 – 39:04

Conclusion & Takeaway

Senator Eric Schmitt and Tudor Dixon offer a frank, behind-the-scenes look at the legal, cultural, and political fights facing conservatives in 2025. Schmitt’s book is positioned as both a summary of what’s been learned and a guide for future battles. The conversation is charged, direct, and rife with references to recent events that have shaped both policy and culture. For conservatives feeling besieged by progressive institutions—whether in the courtroom, the classroom, or the streets—Schmitt argues the time for passive hope is past. Organized, ongoing, civil resistance—especially through the courts—is the “last line of defense.”